Sword to the Heart
12th of May, 1999.
Dumac looked through the financial work for Harry slowly. They were doing quite well. He had a few things Harry needed to sign. He sent a message. If Harry had the time, he would show up almost immediately. He looked up a moment later when Harry walked in.
"You wanted to speak to me," Harry said.
"Could you look these over," Dumac said. He placed several papers down. He watched Harry as he read through everything and a glint of white-gold caught his eye. "Your man has asked you to marry him?" he said.
Harry smiled. "He did beat me to it," he said.
"Have the two of you considered a clan wedding?" Dumac asked. "The Clan will not recognise a human wedding. You are a member of the clan."
"I will presume there will be no other humans allowed," Harry said.
"None, that do not have reason within the clan," Dumac said.
"My apprentices and siblings?" Harry asked. "He won't have anyone for him unless Bill is allowed."
"Our weddings are very rigid. The fact that you are both men won't be a problem, but he is the outsider so the same rules as if anyone else married one from out of clan would apply," Dumac said. "He has to prove himself to the Clan. We will recognise the humans you have listed as being able to stand in for those who should challenge him."
"So he doesn't need anyone with him?" Harry asked.
Dumac shook his head. He accepted the papers back once Harry had signed them. "Should I inform the Clan?" he asked.
"Let me speak to Charlie first," Harry said. "I'll send you a message later today with our answer."
"It would be better for your standing in the clan," Dumac said. "And it would secure Charlie standing as your husband."
Harry smiled. "I understand," he said. "We will have to speak more of this. The people I am bringing will need to know what to do and Charlie needs to be prepared."
"Of course," Dumac said.
"You will hear from me later," Harry said.
"I look forward to it," Dumack said.
Harry walked out to the main hall of the bank. His name was called and he turned around. "Professor Dumbledore, good morning," he said.
"And a good morning to you, my boy," Albus said. "I do wonder if you have considered our current predicament and what can be done to handle it."
Harry nodded slowly. "I have a lot on my plate right now, but I have thought about it sure," he said.
"As you know there is a group that could really use your aid," Albus said.
"I'll think about it Professor," Harry said. "For now I have things to do. Have a good day." He didn't wait for Albus to respond. He passed through a few shops before heading home. He needed to find his fiancé and ask some rather pressing questions. He understood how important it would be to the Clan that he bonded the same way they did. He wasn't sure he could explain it to Charlie though. He found Charlie and Draco in the Sanctuary with the dragons. He wondered if they could bring their companions with them as well. He knew the dragons would appreciate it.
"So a goblin wedding," Charlie said. "Is it like an Orc wedding?"
"They have similarities I think," Harry said. "Though I believe there will be less blood. Dwemer are more about finesse than just blood."
"It would be good in the eyes of the Clan though," Draco said. He folded his arms over his chest. "It would also be a once in several centuries opportunity. Considering Harry is the first human to join the clan in forever."
"All clans handle these things differently," Harry said. "It would be a unique experience."
"We would still have the other wedding for our friends and family and to make it official in the magical world I guess," Charlie said.
"We don't want to wear nice clothes for the Clan wedding. We will be fighting and knowing the clan it will be without armour," Harry said. "To be honest showing the scars we have might actually be beneficial." There was only one thing he needed to fix before the ceremony. He was having a sword made for Charlie and that needed to be done before the wedding.
"Let's do it," Charlie said. "I trust that you will make sure I won't die trying to marry you."
"Bond with," Harry said absently. "There is so much I have to fix… I need to talk to Hermione and Dudley and Tanya…" he was mumbling as he walked off.
"I'm going to have to fight you," Charlie said as he looked over at Draco.
"Harry will figure things out," Draco said with a smirk. "He will learn what is expected and he will make sure we are ready."
"I have a feeling that things are going to get rougher for a bit," Charlie said.
"Don't act like you don't like it," Draco teased.
14th of May, 1999.
Draco walked into Harry's study. He was holding his own apprentice agreement in his hand and his face was unreadable. Harry looked up from the desk and met his apprentice's eyes. "Yes, Draco," he said.
"Did you write this?" Draco asked. "Our contract. Did. You. Write. It?"
"Your father wrote the original and then Kato copied it so it would be written in my handwriting rather than his. I changed a few words, but he read through and accepted that version before he took it to the Dark Lord for approval," Harry said calmly. "I take it you finally read through the whole thing properly."
Draco seemed to deflate as he sat down. "It is an old agreement," he said.
"Your father thought it might appease the Dark Lord if he thought he was doing Kato a favour," Harry said.
"The Dark Lord expects you to use this?" Draco asked.
"Probably," Harry said. "We did consider creating an opportunity for him to gain that belief if you were up to it at a later date. That has always been up to you."
"You want me to act like you fuck me?" Draco said.
"Well," Harry said. "You would be acting like Kato fucks you. The more submissive you are to him the more gleeful the Dark Lord will be. Your father messed up and seeing you in that position could appease the Dark Lord."
"It is all a big mind game," Draco said. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. He sat there for a good long while as he considered the implications. "I'll think about it," he said finally. He didn't want to make a decision now while he was pissed off about it. He got up and headed out. Harry shook his head. He was surprised it had taken this long, though it was probably good it had since Draco knew him well enough to know he wouldn't act on something just because they had made it a possibility.
26th of May, 1999.
The Dwemers' home beneath Gringotts Bank was beautiful to behold. Harry was moving down a softly lit path to the smithy. The sword he had commissioned for Charlie would be one of five unique swords. They were being made by a cousin of Dumac. Harry would enchant them all and four would stay with the blacksmith for the price of the fifth one that Harry could keep for himself. It was one of the few ways of getting around the very intricate laws of ownership that the Dwemer had on their crafts.
The sword Harry was getting for Charlie would be theirs to keep. He had commissioned a wand from Ollivanders as well. Charlie didn't necessarily need a new wand, but it would bind better with the sword so Charlie could wield that wand the same way Harry did with his. He would keep his old wand so he would use a sword and wand rather than magicka.
"Master Farmir," Harry said with a bow as he entered.
"Ah, perfect timing," Farmir said. "Can you enchant all of the blades at once?"
"Yes, I can," Harry said. "Have enchantments been decided?"
"As the creator, I shall make that decision for all blades but the one you will bring. Come with me and choose your blade," Farmir said. He showed Harry to a side room where all five blades lay. They were all unique and Harry could see where the materials he had provided had been used. He drew his own blade and laid it out next to the rest. "The blade I choose should be its equal, but they should not be the same." While the blade that had ebony woven into it looked like a partner to his own sword it would not suit Charlie. This was a blade that had to work for his fiancé. He knelt before the swords. He touched a handle. "This is dragon bone?" he asked.
"Yes," Farmir said.
"His wand will be made of dragon bone," Harry said. "This is the sword for him. He lifted the sword up and placed it next to his own blade. "Please guide me in the enchanting of the other blades." He grabbed another sword carefully and placed it before himself. Slowly lights sprung along his hands and up his arms. Farmir's instructions were simple. The enchantment would add to what he had already done for the blades. These four would be pieces beyond measure especially since Harry had no intentions of enchanting more swords. The gems adorning Harry's belt were slowly fading as he used their power to lay his enchantments. The swords would use ambient magic to keep their charge once he was done. That was something Katla had once figured out how to do.
Once Harry was done with the other swords he picked up the sword meant for Charlie. He closed his eyes. A smile played on his lips as he pushed his magic out towards the blade. It would never dull, never break. It would catch a dragon's fire and use it to cut searing hot through anything standing in Charlie's way. He had provided gems for each of the blades, but the one he placed in Charlie's sword was one he had carried close to his heart for a long time. He rose with the blade in his hand and summoned his own sword before putting it away. No sheath would be needed since Charlie would be able to turn the sword into a wand for easy transportation. He rose and walked out of the room.
"Done?" Farmir asked.
"All done," Harry said. "Now I just need to pick up the wand. Could I ask for a box? I will need no sheath but I wish to present this to him for the ceremony. Now that I know its weight. I can adapt the sword I use to train him."
"One moment," Farmir said. He came back with a long thin box lined with soft crimson velvet. Harry placed the sword down and closed the box. "I hope that should I need another blade you will be willing to work with me again, Master Farmir."
"I certainly hope you wouldn't go elsewhere," Farmir said. He bowed. "May your legend grow."
"And your skills never falter," Harry responded with a bow. He headed out and made his way back to the surface. He entered Ollivanders and looked around for a bit as Garrick made his way to the front.
"Ah, back to get the dragon bone wand," Garrick said. "It was a true challenge, but I must say that it is a fantastic creation. The fire salts are quite temperamental. I hope the wielder is patient and determined."
"He will do fine," Harry said. He took the box with the wand and opened it up to look at it. He smiled. It was a beautiful wand and would suit the sword perfectly. He had considered binding them together before giving them to Charlie, but the wand wasn't for him. It could bind to him, but it wasn't meant to. He closed the box and placed it on top of the box that held the sword. Now he just needed to get them home before Charlie came back.
6th of June, 1999.
Dudley looked around Gringotts. "So this is your bank," he said. "The tellers look kind of intimidating."
"That's the point," Harry said. "Come let's go meet the others. I have some clothes ready for you. We are trying to match, and I don't want anything of yours to break today."
"That's nice," Dudley said. "You really want me to fight your fiancé?"
"That is tradition. It is better I bring humans in than Dwemer doing the fighting," Harry said. He opened a door and walked inside. "Dudley meet Hermione Granger our sister by magic. You know Draco already and then there is Tanya, my apprentice," he introduced everyone. "This is Dudley Dursley my cousin by blood, but my brother by magic."
"Nice to meet you," Hermione said as she held her hand out to Dudley. She shook it and Dudley looked around at them. When Harry said they would be matching he hadn't quite expected the combat-oriented outfits. Tanya and Draco matched. He wondered if the colours meant anything as he was handing clothes that looked to be the same colour as Hermione's clothes. "You can change in that room," Tanya said and pointed. "And Master Harry you really need to get ready we have twenty minutes before they expect us to be downstairs."
"I know Tanya," Harry said with a smile. "Hermione, will you please help me? The choices I made have some interesting additions."
Hermione shook her head in amusement. "I'll come along," she said.
Dudley walked back out of the changing room and tried to adjust his shirt.
"Hands off you're just making a mess of it," Draco said. He pulled the seems in place and made sure everything was ready."
"You really are a snob aren't you," Dudley said. "Explains how Harry knows so much about stuff like that I guess."
"He needs to have some friends that know their stuff doesn't he," Draco said. "Of course, that is why he doesn't discriminate."
"Is there a reason for the different colours?" Dudley asked.
"We wear green as his apprentices and you and Hermione wear red as his family," Tanya said. "He will be wearing black and orange as a member of the clan and Charlie should be wearing just white I think since he doesn't belong to a clan."
"I guess that makes sense," Dudley said. He turned to the door Harry had disappeared behind as he heard… was that… bells? He raised an eyebrow as Harry walked back out. He had gold and silver bands of bells attached to his ankles and wrists while bigger bells hung along his waist. His chest was bare and his hair was put up in a bun with bells attached.
"What's with all the bells?" Dudley asked.
"Well," Harry said. "The traditions of these ceremonies are quite specific. They don't really care about gender but there are gender-specific clothes sort of. The bells would usually be worn by the woman. They don't have to of course. No one actually is forced to wear anything they don't want, but the bells were an option for me. Charlie is joining my house and my family. He'll be taking my name all things that are traditionally male for Dwemer.
"So you present as the woman because that fits tradition?" Dudley asked. He wasn't sure he understood.
"He is also not wearing a shirt which is very male," Hermione said.
"I'm not the first one of the Clan to do things this way though I am human joining with another human which in itself creates differences, that is a different matter. We made sure to follow tradition as best as we could."
"We need to head down, Master," Tanya said.
"Just remember that Dwemer women aren't prices to be won. Things would work the same if it was a woman joining the clan. She would hold Charlie's position right now," Harry said.
"Though it is more common for men to leave the clan," Hermione said.
"Yes," Harry responded. "And take that glamour off Tanya. It isn't very nice to be glamoured for something like this."
Dudley's eyes widened as Tanya grew cat ears and fur. Her long tail swished behind her. He didn't say anything though. If she hid most of the time, it was safe to say that she might be a bit sensitive to certain comments.
They stepped onto an elevator and Harry reached out to steady Dudley. At least it wasn't that different from the non-magical world. They walked through corridors until they reached a big hall decorated with jewels and flowers. At the head of the room sat a Dwemer in an ornate chair. Dwemer filled the room on either side of a long aisle. Hermione took Dudley's hand and pulled him with her as Draco and Tanya stuck together. Harry had been able to get all his more magical companions up to speed faster than Dudley. He had done his best, but with finals and other hard tasks to do he hadn't been able to spend as much time learning what was expected of him as the rest.
Harry walked up to the throne and knelt.
"Why do you approach the Clan, Master of Many-crafts?" the Chieftain asked.
"I, Harry James Kato Potter Peverell, request the clan's blessing to bond with Charles Septimus Weasley," Harry spoke clearly.
"Who speaks for Harry's right to bond outside the Clan?" Radac asked the room.
Dumac, Glint, Ragnarok, Rourk and Farmir stepped forward from different places in the crowd. "We speak for Harry's right to bond outside the Clan. His chosen mate will benefit the Clan with knowledge of Dragons," they said. It had been a whole thing figuring out exactly what they would say for each part of the ceremony. Several Dwemer had helped Harry get everything right. The fact that Harry had to bond outside of the clan also helped of course, but they still wanted the rest to be legitimate.
"Does anyone dare to speak against the claim?" Radac asked. He could see some Dwemer that weren't too happy about Harry joining in the first place twist in their seats. No one said anything though. No one wanted to fight the people who had stepped forward.
"I, Radac, Chief of Clan Alfknif do hereby accept the claim of Harry James Kato Potter Peverell son of the Clan and Master of Many-crafts. May Charles Septimus Weasley step forward."
Charlie walked out of a side room. As he walked down the aisle, Harry rose slowly, the bells around him making no sound. He walked up and sat down on a smaller throne placed next to Radac's bigger one.
Charlie stopped where Harry had been kneeling just a moment earlier, but he did not kneel. "I, Charles Septimus Weasley, request the right to bond with Harry James Kato Potter Peverell. I stand with no Clan but the dragons I raise." Two dragons scoured down to the floor and grew to their full size. They were taking liberties here since Harry was the official owner of the Sanctuary. Everyone knew that, but it looked flashy and sometimes that was all that was needed.
"Let the Champions test your worth and right to join our Clan," Radac said. He had cut some things out of that speech since the Champions were human and not members of the Clan.
"Your turn," Hermione told Dudley.
Dudley walked forward. Charlie was not a small guy. Sure he was shorter than Dudley, but the fricking burn scars marring his chest were kind of terrifying. Dudley had been told Charlie knew how to box, but they were doing it with no protective gear. Unlike the Orcs back in Skyrim, the Dwemer did allow them to heal between turns at least. "Raise your firsts and show your mettle. I am Harry's brother. Show me your worth," he said. He moved into stance and waited for Charlie to do the same. It felt strange to throw punches at someone with no protection at first, but Charlie wasn't holding back so Dudley had to pick up his pace. He was glad that he only had to fight once.
A bell chimed somewhere and Dudley moved back. He was breathing heavily and a Dwemer moved up and healed their wounds. "You strike true. You have proven your worth," Dudley said. He bowed before turning and walking up to Harry. He sat down on a pillow in front of his throne.
"Good work," Harry said calmly. "The Clan is invested."
"Please say he isn't going to fight the little girl with his fists," Dudley said.
"Oh, he'll have to stay on his toes for Tanya, but it won't be a fistfight," Harry said. "Even if she could do that too."
Tanya stopped in front of Charlie below. She seemed like a strange choice to the Dwemer as she was so young. "Hold your own and don't give in. I am Harry's first apprentice. Don't die," Tanya said. She moved her arms apart and fire spread along her palms. She threw the fire at Charlie and he dodged. They moved quickly around each other and Charlie used every trick he had learnt when mock-fighting Harry to keep up with Tanya.
"She is quite the caster," Radac said. "I think you are gaining standing with the clan. If you can teach one so young such magic people will think twice about messing with you."
"That was part of the point of including her," Harry responded.
The bell chimed and Tanya bowed to Charlie. "You handled yourself well. As long as you keep learning you will suit Master well," she said. She bounced up and settled down by Harry's feet.
"Good work," Harry said.
Tanya smiled at him. "That was fun," she said. "He is pretty good. A bit slow maybe."
"You are very fast," Harry said. He watched Draco as he walked up and faced Charlie. This was one of the few fights they had been able to actually practice. The hand-to-hand combat would come across as more impressive to most Dwemer than the magic that might have impressed wizards. Draco and Charlie traded blows quickly. A lot of what they did looked worse than it was. Dudley looked over at Harry and then at Radac. "Who decides how long a fight is?" he asked.
Harry and Radac shared a look. "One of us," Harry said. "I'm basing it on what Charlie can handle. He bases it on how much the Clan enjoys watching the fight."
"We don't want them to get bored," Radac said.
"So this entire thing is staged," Dudley said.
"Mostly so," Radac said. "Once a member of the clan approaches me here, everything has already been settled. But we enjoy this ceremony so we keep to it. I don't know if it ever meant anything, to be honest."
"Sometimes a ceremony in itself is important," Harry said. He smiled as Charlie downed Draco and the bell chimed.
Charlie pulled Draco up. "You have proven a worthy opponent," Draco said. "Keep challenging my Master." He moved back and joined the rest. He fixed his hair and settled down.
Hermione walked up to face Charlie. "Time to move back to your roots. You are a wizard I am a witch. Our magic doesn't mean much here, but I still have to test you," she said. "I am Harry's sister and you better take me seriously." She drew her wand and they started duelling. She was quick on her feet and cast attacks and shields so fast it was almost hard to tell. Charlie had duelled Harry enough to know he had to keep on his toes if he wanted to stay on pace with someone like Hermione. Her arsenal was varied and she cast a lot of spells he had never seen let alone heard of.
It was entirely up to Radac how long they were allowed to fight. He knew his people better than Harry did. He knew Charlie and Hermione could fight for quite a while. He was surprised at how long it was allowed to go on. He guessed everyone was enjoying the fight.
Hermione moved to the side as a spell passed her. She cast several spells back at Charlie then she blasted him back with a heavy blow. Charlie landed with a thud, but he rolled and got back on his feet. The bell rang and he lowered his wand. Glint walked up to him and patched him back up. "Almost done young man," she said.
"Thank you," Charlie said. He walked back up the aisle to face Hermione.
"Thank you for the challenge," Hermione said. "I hope you can keep it up." She walked up and joined the others around Harry but she did not sit down. Instead, everyone else rose. "We, the Champions, have tested Charles Septimus Weasley and found him worthy," they said.
Harry rose and headed down towards Charlie until they stood side by side facing Radac.
"Harry James Kato Potter Peverell member of Clan Alfknif do you willingly enter into the Ceremony of the Binding of Souls with Charles Septimus Weasley?" Radac asked.
"I do," Harry said.
"Charles Septimus Weasley, do you willingly enter into the Ceremony of the Binding of Souls with Harry James Kato Potter Peverell?" Radac asked.
"I do," Charlie answered.
"Ready yourself for the challenge ahead," Radac said.
"As a hope for a bright future I present a gift to you," Harry said as he turned towards Charlie. Two boxes came floating towards him. He picked up the smaller of the two and opened it. He held it out to Charlie.
"A wand," Charlie said. He could see that it wasn't any old wand, but he was confused. He had a fully functioning wand already. He reached out and lifted the wand up. It was warm to the touch and his grip tightened. He swung the wand through the air and fire spread out around him. His old wand had never felt like this. He looked back at Harry as the second box was opened and a sword lay on display for him. He picked the sword up. Gasps could be heard in the crowd. The boxes disappeared as Harry reached out and took Charlie's hands. He pressed the sword and the wand together. The two became one. Charlie switched between them a few times as Harry drew his own wand and turned it into a sword.
"We are ready to face this challenge together," Harry and Charlie said together. A blue shimmering ring appeared around them. Harry reached out. His arm passed through the translucent wall, but his legs and body could not. "Stuck together it seems," he said. He moved so he was standing with his back to Charlie's and gave a short nod for Radac. All of the goblins grabbed the armrest on the right side of their chairs and started pouring magic into a ritual circle. Shadowy warriors appeared around the couple.
Harry waited until they were close enough to cut down. He slashed his sword through several shades and danced around Charlie. They moved quickly with and around each other as they worked their way through the enemies approaching them. A giant dragon appeared and blew fire at them. Harry reached out and pushed Charlie's sword into the flame. The sword absorbed the fire and glowed. As Charlie swung the sword a crescent of fire slashed out over the field. "Neat," he said.
Dudley followed the fight. He had seen Harry fight when he was taken through his Skyrim memories, but this was something else entirely. The enemies varied and they didn't seem to be using much of any magic except for the flames gathered from the dragons. They moved and weaved to fight their opponents, yet they never seemed to get in each other's way. He had been too tense to hear the bells at first, but as he calmed considering how well Harry was doing he could hear the music every move that Harry made created.
"Harry is showing off," Hermione said.
"You noticed too, huh," Draco said.
"What do you mean?" Dudley asked.
"He is moving around more than he needs to so he can keep to the rhythm. It is a song we've heard him sing a couple of times. He is just doing it to be showy," Hermione said.
Radac smiled. "It is common enough with women who know what they are doing. I bet Glint showed him how to do it. It's keeping the Clan entertained. He is proving even to those who stood against him when he joined that he is truly one of us."
"Is it just me or is their circle shrinking," Tanya said.
"Meant to force them closer together I bet," Draco said. He looked over at Radac. "Just how sexual do you make these ceremonies?"
Radac just smirked. "I am certain Glint taught him how to use the bells," he said. "He is almost uncannily good at that." He said instead of answering the question.
"Harry is a very good dancer," Hermione said. "He's always up for a challenge too so I'm not that surprised."
As if to prove a point Harry's sword disappeared, he pulled himself over Charlie and landed behind him before the sword reappeared so he could slash at a shade. He was smiling as he pushed against Charlie.
"How long do they keep going?" Dudley asked.
"For as long as the Clan offers their magic into the ritual," Radac said. "The longer this goes on the better. The smith that works their bands uses the magic from this. More magic means more beautiful and intricate work. All Dwemer will know what that means."
"You can stop at any time, right?" Hermione asked.
"Some already have," Radac said. "What gladens me is that many of those who were against Harry when he joined are still holding on. It is because they don't use magic in the fight." He could tell that the ritual was nearing its end though. No one could hold on forever. Then his eyes widened as a ring of dragons spread around Charlie and Harry hiding them from view.
"What is going on?" Hermione asked as she stood up. Tanya and Draco joined her. They had all drawn their wands.
Inside the circle, Harry was looking at the dragons. There was a familiarity to them. He reached out and took Charlie's hand. "She isn't here to hurt us," he said. He bowed. "Dremyollok drog Kaan," he said calmly. Charlie moved so he was standing with his arms wrapped around Harry. He didn't care if this was a goddess, she was not taking Harry away from him.
Draco's eyes widened as he heard Harry speak. "Kyne," he said.
"What is going on?" Hermione hissed.
"The goddess Kyne is here," Draco said.
"The one that took Harry to Skyrim?" Tanya asked. "Is she here to take him away?"
"Dremyollok Krinahkro arhk Yolfronin." The voice was other-worldly and seemed to come from everywhere. "Zu nis, I cannot stay for long. Many years have passed since you returned Krinahkro. I could bring you back to Skyrim. Will you go?"
"She offered to take him back," Draco said.
"He won't take it," Hermione said.
"Hin zul los staadnau, your words are hollow," Harry said. "While your offer is vahzah, true you know I will not take it. Only a short while ago I would have considered it but not now."
"Not even if you can, drun rok, bring him?" Kyne asked.
Draco shook his head. "She is offering to bring Charlie along," he said.
"She is testing his resolve," Hermione said. "She is making sure he isn't doing something he will regret in the long run I guess. If he had known this was an option he might have lived his entire life here after coming back differently."
"He wouldn't have cared about us as much," Tanya said.
"It is not a single person that keeps me here," Harry said. "While Charlie is important for my happiness, he isn't my entire world. Here everything about this place makes it my home. A lot of people are dependent on me and I don't want to leave them."
"I forced your hand once," Kyne said. "Take this as a way for me to make myself feel better if you like and good luck. Live well and care for the Jill."
For only a moment the dragons disappeared and a woman seemed to stand before Harry. She leaned in and kissed Harry's forehead. "Koga kos Krinahkro."
As suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone once more. Hermione ran down the stairs closely followed by Tanya. They hugged Harry as soon as they reached him. Tanya whipped the tears from her eyes.
"You really thought I would leave?" Harry asked. He shook his head. "Gods don't understand what it is like to be mortal. What has gnawed on her I have worked through."
"Would you have left before Charlie and you became a couple?" Tanya asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"Better not," Draco said as he reached them. "I still have things I want to learn."
Hermione grabbed Tanya and pulled her back as the floor opened up and two Dwemer, one elderly and one quite young, appeared slowly. The younger one was carrying a tray with several shimmering circles. "So this is our bonded two?" the elder said as she looked upon them. "Quite the display. The smithy is a mess."
"We apologise," Harry said. "Kyne saw fit to stand before us."
"Now bearer of bells," the elderly Master said ignoring him completely. "You have passed through the Ceremony of the Binding of Souls and are hereby presented with tokens of the bond you share. Will you accept?"
"I accept," Harry said. He held his arms out for her. He wasn't sure where she wanted to place the jewellery her apprentice was carrying. She grabbed his left hand tightly and turned it over. She reached out for a glowing ring from the tray and placed it against his wrist. She pressed it against his skin until it sank through him. The band moved out in an intricate pattern and formed dragon words. "Quite interesting," the Master said. "These things always end up the way they want to in the end." She grabbed another band and pressed it above the first. Two dragons appeared chasing each other. Harry leaned back against Charlie as the Dwemer Master grabbed his ankle instead and applied several bands to his right leg before letting go of him.
"New to the clan yet well respected," the Master said. "You have passed through the Ceremony of the Binding of Souls and are hereby presented with tokens of the bond you share. Will you accept?"
"I accept," Charlie said. He moved to step away from Harry, but he was stopped.
"Don't," Harry said. He had turned around without moving away.
The master smirked. "Bonded should stay together," she said as she took Charlie's hand so she could press a band against his wrist.
"Literally," Harry added. "I didn't mean that in general. We are supposed to stay touching."
"I swear Dwemer," Draco said softly while shaking his head earning him a small smile from the Soul-jeweller's apprentice.
"And for the last bit," the Master said. She lifted a small stone-like piece of soul metal and placed it between Harry's shoulder blades. She pressed until the piece disappeared then she weaved her magic around the couple. Harry tightened his hold on Charlie. He felt strangely uncomfortable. He moved his arm so he could kiss Charlie then he pressed himself as close as he could. When they finally moved apart dragons rested over their hearts and the Master was gone.
The Dwemer started, moving around quickly until long tables and food had been brought out. Everyone seemed a little overwhelmed until they had gotten something into themselves. Hermione tried her best to learn as much as she could while also keeping an eye on Harry and eating some of the strange, but quite interesting food that was served. "Is there some special significance to the food served after the ceremony?" she asked Glint who she had ended up next to It had probably been some good planning on Harry's part that had her next to someone who could and would answer her.
"Well, we are serving traditional food," Glint said. "Around the newly bonded is food that would aid in additions to their family. It of course won't make a difference to them since they can't have any. The rest is different dishes added over many years. Harry has added his own addition to this table as is tradition. He did well because I can see quite a few taking seconds."
"How long are they going to be unavailable after this?" Hermione asked as she looked over at Harry and Charlie.
"A few days probably," Glint said.
"Good thing my parents live here then," Hermione said. "It would be a shame to come here and then be ignored. She shook her head in amusement. "I should probably make sure Tanya and Dudley get back too."
"I just take the tram," Dudley said. "Don't worry about me, sis."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked over at his sister. "Draco is taking Tanya," he said. "You really didn't think I had considered these things. I did tell everyone."
"You probably needed to spell it out," Draco said. "I'm just glad you made sure all charms work properly so I don't need to hear you. You didn't want that ten-month gender switch now right because Fred and I still have some issues getting it to work properly.
Charlie blushed and hid his face in Harry's shoulder. "Shut it?" he groaned.
"You will let me monitor that if you ever go ahead," Glint said sternly.
Harry smiled. "If we ever do, I promise I will let you know Master Glint," he said. He looked over at Dudley who was looking at him like he'd grown a second head. "Yes, brother dear?" he said.
"You can do that?" Dudley asked.
"Well not yet," Draco said. "We do have a working potion that will turn a guy into a girl and vice versa. The one that will make it permanent enough to carry a child isn't done yet."
Dudley buried his face in his hands. "You people are crazy," he said. He looked over at his brother. "And you would actually do this?" he asked.
"We have discussed the possibility," Harry said. "I don't currently have any plans to use it."
"Others will though I am sure," Hermione said. "I keep telling them they could just use a surrogate, but they won't listen on that ear."
Dudley shook his head and groaned.
"I really need to shut Bill up," Charlie mumbled into Harry's shoulder.
"There, there love. It will be fine," Harry said. He found it funny that Charlie who wasn't going to drink the potion was the one the most embarrassed by it. He didn't really care. He identified as a guy, but he could be a girl. He stopped himself for a moment. "If the potion messed up and I was stuck as a girl would you stop loving me?" he asked. He could see Hermione catching on immediately. She knew he didn't care. They had talked about it in the past. If a potion that turned him into a girl messed up she would just adapt and be a girl for the rest of her life. He wasn't sure about Charlie though.
"We're leaving," Charlie said. He stood up pulling Harry with him. "Thank you very much for attending our bonding everyone. We will see you all at a later date." He apparated straight to their bedroom. He didn't care what was proper. He locked the door and checked on the spells that would keep sound in the room before turning Harry around so he could look him in the eyes. He walked back so he sat down on the bed and pulled Harry with him. "Nothing… and I mean nothing would make me stop loving you at this point. If you take the potion and you get stuck as a girl that doesn't matter to me," Charlie said. "Do you have the regular potion?" he asked. "Let me prove it to you."
Harry placed his hand against Charlie's chest and smiled softly. "Tomorrow," he said. "Not now." He leaned in and kissed Charlie and the tension that had built up disappeared.
They would figure things out.
They always did.
9th of June, 1999.
Harry walked outside and looked up at the sky. While being alone with Charlie was really nice the bedroom did get boring after a while.
"Please tell me you used protection."
Harry turned and looked over at Draco. "I'm not a fool Draco," she said. "Besides I'm pretty sure it won't matter when I turn back anyway."
"I guess not," Draco said. "I assume he put your mind at ease."
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, we're fine," she said. "We'll be fine. I think I might have broken him, but it will be okay."
"Too much information, Heather," Draco said. He shook his head. "It was an interesting wedding. I'm glad you didn't leave."
"This is my home… besides I can't leave with the Dark Lord still being an arse," Harry said.
"Ever the hero," Draco said. He raised an eyebrow as Charlie walked out of the house and wrapped his arm around Harry.
"Is there some kind of pull with those bands?" Draco asked.
Harry shook her head slowly. "Not really a pull as such. There is something there. I think we can use them to find each other, but it isn't unpleasant to be apart like a pull could be," she said.
"You do realise that Hermione will want to know everything so you better get your thoughts straight before she gets here," Draco said.
Harry rolled her eyes. "I'll manage. I'm sure," she said. "Hermione isn't that scary and she asks very clear questions if she thinks you need them."
"When she thinks you are a bit daft you mean," Draco said.
"I can still kick your ass Draco Lucius Malfoy," Harry said. "I know my centre of gravity just as well this way as I usually do."
"My mother would kill me," Draco said. "Trust me."
Charlie smirked. "Lady Malfoy's anger must be quite the terrifying sight to behold," he said. "Just mom getting angry is quite scary as it is, but she gets angry quite often."
"You have no idea," Draco said. "I need to take care of a potion. Have a nice time among the lowly mortals that live on your lands."
Charlie laughed. He let go of Harry and took her hand so they could walk down to the lake. "Percy broke up with Marigold. He wanted advice from me of all people," he said. "I wasn't sure what to tell him."
"I'll help you when we get back," Harry said. "On a happier note, Ginny will be joining the Harpies after she graduates. She got a letter just this morning."
"That is great," Charlie said.
Harry stepped out of her shoes and walked into the water.
Myta appeared and swam up to them. She saw the signs on their skin and smiled. "You bonded," she said. "That is great." she held her arms out towards them. "The water is lovely," she said.
Harry threw her clothes off and dived into the water. She knew Charlie would follow.