Chapter 5.
Petrificus Totalus
After watching the two Weasleys disapparate Hermione led a very thoughtful Harry back into the house, and without stopping she led him straight up stairs to his bedroom, where she began to try make up for some of the damage she had done to their relationship.
"Hermione," Harry gasped as he came up for air from the first kiss and gently pushed her away.
"Yes love,"
"While we were waiting for Mr Weasley, I was thinking, and I don't get it, why would Ginny fancying me stop you from kissing me and doing things like holding my hand, or just sitting with me while we tried to watch that fuzzy display you call TV?" Harry asked
"Well I…" she began before Harry cut her off.
"I just don't get it, see, I thought you really loved me, you know, the real thing getting married and all that, kind of love, I mean I still kissed you and held your hand even when I knew it was upsetting my so called best friend, it never occurred to me to hide these feelings I have for you, I just don't get it." Harry sat down on the bed his shoulders slumped over; the hurt in his eyes was still there just as it had been when he had made to leave earlier.
Hermione stood with her mouth open, she had no idea she had hurt him so much, she realised that he must have been thinking about the past few days, he was reliving all the times she had pushed him away, all the rejection she had shown toward him, and she had no idea what to say.
"I think I should go back to the Dursleys for a few days," he suddenly said as he got up and opened his trunk.
Hermione was beginning to panic, she felt as though her world was falling apart and she had no idea what to say or do.
"I… I was trying to spare a young girl's feelings, I didn't want to rub it in her face that we were together…" she knew when she said it that it sounded futile.
"See that's the part I don't get," he said as he chucked his few possessions into his trunk and shut the lid, "do you think more of Ginny's feelings than mine?" he asked before he started to pick up his trunk by the handle nearest to the door, "how she feels is more Important than how I felt when you wouldn't kiss me, or hug me, or hold my hand, is that what you are trying to tell me?" Harry threw the last of his shirts into the trunk "you don't need to see me to the door; I'll get the knight bus to the Dursleys." With that he tightened his grip on his trunk and began to drag it to the door.
The spell hit Harry squarely between the shoulder blades as he opened the door. "Petrificus Totalus," Hermione screamed as she pointed her wand at him.
Harry froze in the door way, slowly falling backward onto his trunk, Hermione was furious, not with Harry, but with herself as she thought about just how absolutely stupid she had been, and the stupid reason she had come up with, years of longing for him to notice she was a girl, years of trying to hide her feelings for him because she thought he didn't feel the same way, years of loving him, and now that they were finally together it looked like she had blown it. As he had opened the bedroom door something inside her seemed to snap.
"You are going nowhere Harry James Potter, you are a wizard and you are my fiancée, and you are going to listen to what I have to say," she shouted at him before she levitated him over on to his bed.
The thunder of feet rushing up the stairs was lost on Hermione as her mind spun wildly trying to think of a way to prove her love for the man she would willingly die for.
Sirius was the first to enter the room closely followed by Hermione's parents, "What the heck," Sirius said looking at Harry lying stiff as a board on the bed.
"He was going to leave me," Hermione sobbed.
"Well do you blame him?" Sirius asked pulling out his own wand "you've been so cold toward him I'm surprised he stuck it out so long."
"Hermione love, what have you done?" Mrs Granger asked looking worriedly at Harry.
"He was going to leave me mum," she sobbed again "I've loved him with all my heart since the day we first met, and I waited all these years for him to notice me, I cant remember how many nights I cried myself to sleep because he didn't seem to love me back, then I go and cock it all up because I was afraid Ginny would take him away again…" she trailed off as her mother took her into her arms.
"Did you tell Harry all this," Sirius asked still looking at his petrified godson.
Harry lay on the bed silently screaming at them to free him, then as he listened to Hermione a small tear escaped his eye and trickled down his cheek, he remembered how she had always dealt with things using her head and ignoring her heart, he knew she relied on logic and books to much, he suddenly realised she had done the 'logic' thing again, and she had yet again gone about things the wrong way.
Then he remembered just how much she did love him, and it no longer mattered to him what she had done over the past few days, he thought back over all the things they had been through, things that proved her love for him so much more than any kiss, or hug, or word, could ever do, all he wanted to do now was to get up and hold her in his arms. He tried to move his eyes to plead with Sirius to free him but it was impossible.
"Hermione love, for the past few days you treated him almost like a stranger, if he wants to leave you have let him go, give him time to think it over, now you set him free," Mrs Granger said firmly before she turned and ushered the two men standing behind her out of the room and followed them.
Hermione sat down on the edge of the bed and wiped her tears away, "Harry, I love you with all my heart, and I'm sorry I messed up, I'm going to free you now, please don't be too mad with me, I just… I love you." more tears began to fall down her face as she stood and once again pointed her wand at him and whispered "Finite."
Harry reached for her hand as she moved away from the bed, pulling her till she was forced to sit down next to his pillow, still lying on the bed he then shuffled around a little until he could rest his head in her lap, neither of them spoke as Hermione began to run her free hand through his messy yet silky hair, Harry looked up into her eyes and then gently squeezed the hand he still had a hold of, then he put his free arm around her waist and buried his head into the softness of her stomach squeezing her tightly.
Hermione let her tears fall and gently ran her hand through his silky hair as he held her tight, she knew then exactly how much he did love her, thoughts of how cold hearted she had been for the past few days entered her mind letting her know how close she had come to driving him away, after all what boy would want to be with cold hearted girl who showed him no affection at all, she thanked what ever deity might be in charge realising she had come so very close to ruining her chances and losing him for a second time.
They stayed holding each other like that for what seemed to have been a wonderful piece of eternity until Mrs Granger shouted up to them "Hermione love is everything ok."
Rolling onto his back "We're fine Mum," Harry shouted, a huge smile breaking out on his face "absolutely fine."
"No hanky panky up there," came Sirius's voice with a small laugh in it.
"I think we should go down sweetheart," Harry said quietly.
"I love you so much Mr Potter," Hermione said as she leant over and kissed him tenderly.
"No kissing on the bed," Harry said when she broke the kiss "you never know what might happen." Then he chuckled and sat up.
"Harry James Potter! I have no idea what you mean," Hermione said pouting "besides we're not ready for that yet."
"We weren't ready to face a mountain troll either," Harry said laughing before jumping up from the bed pulling her with him "come on you, before my sixteen year old teenage hormones take over and I ravish that delectable body."
Once down in the kitchen Mrs Granger asked if everything was ok, as the two teenagers nodded she gave a sigh, "Good so have you got some thing you two want to tell me?"
Both Harry and Hermione looked at her as though she was crazy, then looked at each other questioningly.
"What's all this with Harry calling me mum?" Mrs Granger asked looking sideways at them.
"Oh that," Harry said looking at Hermione.
"Yes, oh that," Mrs Granger answered.
"Well Harry and I, we are sort of, well that is Harry asked me, and I said yes, and so we are sort of, you know, engaged," Hermione said rather quietly.
"Thank goodness for that," Mrs Granger sighed as she placed a hand over her heart "for a while there I thought you were, I thought I was going to be a…"
"Mum!" Hermione exclaimed rather loudly.
Harry stood and scratched his head "What did I do this time?"
"Mum thought I was pregnant," Hermione almost squeaked.
"You'd think we'd remember some thing like that, well I mean we would don't you think?" Harry said grinning.
"Harry, my mum thought I was going to have a baby, this is no time for silly grins," Hermione said looking really annoyed at her mother and Sirius who had started to chuckle.
"There's a simple explanation dear," Mrs Granger said scowling at both her husband and Sirius, "After all the yelling, and the spell, and then it went all quiet up stairs, Sirius said that when witches get pregnant they get all hormonal, refusing to speak one minute and yelling the next and throwing spells around, and you seemed…"
"I think you should stop before you dig a hole you can't get out of dear," Mr Granger said as he moved forward and hugged his daughter "Congratulations love, and you Harry," he said letting Hermione go.
"Dad please tell me, you didn't think we were having sex as soon as we were old enough," Hermione said eyeing her parents.
"Well you are a very beautiful young woman, and Harry probably finds you very desirable…" dad stammered.
"Now look who's digging a hole," Sirius laughed.
"I don't know, I rather agree with that," Harry chimed in "I mean about being beautiful, and desirable, not the having sex thing, though I would like to… er I don't mean have sex, well not right now, I mean later, but not like later tonight, I mean… I'll shut up, I think," he added when he saw the look of horror Hermione gave him.
Sirius was roaring with laughter, while Mr Granger was really beginning to blush. Mrs Granger was having trouble not laughing, Harry was so much like her husband in quite a few ways and she could see why Hermione loved him so much.
Five minutes later while Mrs Granger was in the kitchen making some tea, Dad and Sirius had sat down to watch a video; Mr Granger was trying to explain how the remote control worked. Harry and Hermione were walking arm in arm around the garden.
"Harry James Potter, I can't believe you told my parents you want to have sex with me," Hermione said chuckling quietly.
"Did you see your dads face, and I thought your mum was going to explode," Harry said his face going red again.
"Well I don't think it was something they wanted to hear," she laughed "but you did look sort of cute all red faced like that."
"Well I meant every word, maybe not quite the way the words actually came out, what I wanted to say was I would like for us to have a baby, you know be a mum and dad some day," Harry declared "though the having sex part sounds good too."
"Harry!"
"Well its true, teenage hormones and all that, I mean I am only human and you really are a beautiful and sexy woman and I… I think I'll shut up again," he said as they turned toward the house.
They arrived at the kitchen door at the same time as an owl delivered a letter, Mrs Granger was just feeding the owl a treat when Harry and Hermione sat down at the table, both were curious about who had sent the letter.
"It's for you," Mrs Granger said as she read the address "looks like Ron's writing." She handed the letter to Hermione.
Hermione read the letter and Harry watched as she first smiled then frowned, gradually as she read her face began to show anger and then disgust.
She handed it to Harry when she had read it.
Dear Hermione
I am sorry I have not written to you sooner, I am writing to apologise for the way I acted toward you and Harry, I really should have been more understanding, after all you are a very clever witch and you know what you are doing.
I am still in the hospital; you may have heard I have been a little ill.
My Healer tells me I am now on the road to recovery.
Well as I said I should have been a little more understanding, I realise now that you only went out with Harry to make me jealous, and I must say it did work for a while, but I am now quite willing to forgive you as soon as you ask.
Like I said you are a clever witch and you will no doubt finish with the boy who lived just as soon as I tell you how I feel, which is no doubt what you have been waiting for.
I mean we both know that you don't really feel anything for him, I mean how can you, he's always been a miserable and moody person, remember how he yelled at us earlier in the year when he arrived at Grimmauld place, how could anyone fancy someone like that.
What I want you to do when you next see him I want you to tell him it is all over, and then as soon as I get out of here you and I can get together again as a couple, I'm sure you will be much happier with me now that I have forgiven you.
You will of course guessed from this letter how I feel about you, I look forward to your reply.
Ron.
"You were never a couple," was all Harry could say.
"How dare he, how bloody dare he," Hermione seethed
"Language Hermione," Harry said suddenly finding the whole thing funny.
"That evil two faced… ugh, as if, I wouldn't give up half an hour with you for a whole life time with him," she said still seething.
"Why don't you write him a reply and say how sorry we are he won't be at our engagement party this Saturday, and you could also add that we are sorry he can't be at our wedding either, we are sorry about him being in the mental ward but we hope he is getting on ok with his fellow inmate Lockhart," Harry said still smiling.
"Engagement party? This Saturday?" Mrs Granger said spilling some milk.
"Yes I'll ask Dumbledore if we can hold it at Hogwarts right after I destroy those Horcrux things," Harry replied seriously "I could ask him about the wedding ceremony as well, being as we are both Muggle raised there might be something we need to do before we can get married."
"Harry we could have a Muggle wedding, we are both old enough to marry in the muggle world, all we need are parental signatures" Hermione said rather quietly.
"Hermione Jane Granger, you can't possibly be thinking of getting married so young," Mrs Granger gasped.
"Yes I can mum, I want to fulfil my dream, I don't want to wait until this war is over, or to wait to find out if we both survive, I've wanted to be Harry's wife since the day we first met, I don't want to wait any longer," Hermione said looking at Harry "If he still wants me, that is."
Harry's mouth was opening and closing, his eyes wide with surprise his brain seemed disconnected from his tongue that was not responding to his command to say yes.
"Harry, say something please," Hermione said looking as though she was about to cry again.
"Saturday," was all Harry managed to say before Hermione enveloped him in a bone crushing hug.
Chapter 6.
The Wedding
Thursday afternoon found Hermione sitting in her parent's living room talking to Dobby the house elf.
"So if we could some how get one done properly by an elfin elder, we would be totally bonded, body, heart, mind, and soul?" she asked.
"Yes Miss Hermyninny, fully and totally for all time," Dobby answered,
"And has this ever been done on a human before?" Hermione asked trying to verify her research done over many years in her other life.
"Yes Miss Hermyninny, just the once that I knows of, and it was the great masters downfall, when his bonded one turned to the dark arts," Dobby said a very worried look on his face.
"The great Master Dobby, do you mean Merlin, it was the bonding that allowed that evil Morgana to defeat him?" Hermione was fascinated it seemed the very rare handwritten book she had found ten years before had been right, now all she had to do was to get the ceremony completed.
"Yes Miss Hermyninny," Dobby replied.
"So do you think you can you arrange it for two-o-clock on Saturday afternoon at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked the elf with a pleading look.
"Yes Miss Hermyninny, my great uncle is an elder, we'se will be at the great school as you ask," Dobby said still looking a little sad "Master Harry might suffer pain, I is not liking that, but if I is to help the great Harry Potter I is having to do it."
Hermione could not resist getting down on her knees and kissing the elf's cheeks, and giving him a huge hug "this will do more than free Harry it will help to defeat Voldemort too, so thank you so much."
Sirius looked up from his hunched position on the chair opposite Hermione, "I hope this works Hermione, I should hate to see the boy in pain and suffering for nothing."
"Has Dumbledore agreed to get us into the locked room," Hermione asked whilst not actually looking at the worried man, she was just as worried.
"Yes five-o-clock Saturday evening, but…" Sirius trailed off nodding his head slowly.
"I can assure you Sirius, there are just two ways to be sure that it is destroyed, I think I would rather see my Harry in pain for a while, than to have him die and hope he can come back from it again," Hermione said her voice showing more confidence than she felt "the first two ceremonies will weaken it's hold on him and the third one will rid him of it, and destroy it as well."
As soon as a rather red faced Dobby had left them, someone set of the ward alarms, Hermione followed by Sirius, moved faster than she had for quite some time as she rushed from the house ready to take on any Death Eaters that might have found them, running down the garden path Hermione slid to a halt as Harry and her dad were helping Tonks out of the hedge.
"We got it love, we get married at the local chapel at eleven on Saturday morning so we can start to send out our invites," a rather jubilant Harry said as he happily waved a Muggle form around.
"Sorry about the ward alarm," Tonks said as she finally got to her feet.
"She tripped over the step when she led us in," Mr Granger laughed.
With laughter ringing through the garden Hermione led Harry up to the house and then on up to her room, where she explained what was going to happen on Saturday. Harry spent a few minutes telling her how he had had to offer several bribes to the chapel officials to get all the paperwork done and have the usual six week wait while the bans were published, an old English Muggle custom, pushed down to just two days.
Their next task was two fold, Hermione needed to visit the Burrow to talk to Ginny, while Harry had to set about sending out the invites to their wedding, it was going to be a rather small affair with only very close family and friends, among those to invite were Neville and Remus, they needed to be asked to attend, one as the best man and the other to help represent Harry's family along with Sirius, the Weasley family, Luna and three of their other friends from school, Katie Bell, Collin Creevey who they wanted to do the photographs, Alicia and Angelina, Harry's Quidditch team mates.
Hermione kissed Harry rather passionately before she left him in the bedroom writing out the various parchments, It did not take her long to arrive once again at the Burrow, this time though she knocked on the kitchen door and waited, she was greeted just seconds later by Fred or George, she could never tell who was who when it came to the twins, Molly Weasley the Weasley matriarch almost crushed Hermione's ribs as she welcomed the girl she had once hoped would become her official daughter in law, she had now accepted that she would instead become her surrogate daughter in law when she and Harry, the boy she had all but officially adopted, finally decided to settle down.
Molly could see that there was something exciting on the young woman's mind, but she said nothing as she sent George upstairs to fetch Ginny, then she turned to the stove and began to make a pot of tea.
The speed Ginny came running down the stairs surprised everyone including Hermione.
"Is he alright?" Ginny asked before she had reached the bottom step, her face full of fear.
Hermione smiled at the show of worry in Ginny's eyes as they greeted each other "Harry's fine Gin, but I need to talk to you… in private."
Ginny having looked around the kitchen and glared at her twin brothers gestured for Hermione to follow her outside where the twins extendable ears could not reach them. A short walk toward the village of Ottery St Catchpole brought them to a small hump backed bridge that crossed the boundary stream of the Weasley land.
"We can talk here Hermione, no fear of those brothers of mine or anyone else being able to sneak up on us here," Ginny said quietly as she wondered why they needed the secrecy.
"I need to know exactly how you feel about Harry, it's extremely important," Hermione said as she leant on the coping stones of the bridge looking down into the water.
"I love him more than life itself," came from a rather quiet voice from beneath the bridge, "I think I loved him last year as well, but not quite as much, something about those green eyes attracted me first."
"Luna?" chorused Hermione and Ginny as they leaned over the coping to look down.
"Oh it's alright, I know he doesn't love me, though I do think he likes me as a friend," Luna Lovegood announced "That's why I'm here, I was just sending a wish down the stream to the river sprites to help me find a new love."
"Luna, would you be willing to risk your very soul for him?" Hermione asked seriously "and you Gin, would you risk your soul for Harry."
"You do know that losing your soul is worse than losing your life don't you?" Luna asked, her usual vacant look even more obvious because it was no longer there, instead she was regarding Hermione with a piercing look that seemed to see right into the older girls heart.
"But to answer your question, I really do love Harry, and will do anything I can to help him, I know my dad says that I'm to young to be in love, but I think that he is wrong, like most adults he has forgotten that the young can love just as fiercely and deeply as the older people, our bodies are ready to bring new life into the world so why should our hearts be any different."
Hermione and Ginny, stared at Luna for a few moments then Hermione walked the short distance to reach Luna and grabbed the younger girl in a tight hug "I some times forget just how wise you are Luna," she said as she let her go from the hug "and thanks."
Together Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, took a very slow walk back to the Burrow as Hermione told them of what she had planned for them to do at five on the coming Saturday afternoon.
They arrived back at the Burrow to find a rather flustered Molly Weasley trying to coax Hedwig, Harry's owl, down from on top of the large welsh dresser she used to store her best porcelain dinner ware on, while the twins Fred and George stood watching and laughed.
As soon as Ginny entered the kitchen Hedwig swooped down onto her shoulder and gracefully offered her leg, where a small roll of parchment was tied.
Ginny removed the parchment and began to read the short note.
Hedwig then hopped over to Luna and did the same thing with the other leg.
"Well what's it say?" asked one of the twins looking at his gaping sister.
Ginny stared wide eyed at Hermione, "Hermione Jane Granger, why didn't you tell us, how on earth could you keep it quiet like that, why would you keep it quiet?"
"It wasn't easy Gin, believe me," Hermione chuckled as Ginny grabbed her in a hug and giggled "besides Harry wanted to be the one to tell you."
"You are going to have to make more visits here now you know, I'm quite sure mum will teach you how to make that favourite sweet of his," Ginny said still giggling.
"Will one of you girls please tell me what is going on?" Molly asked sounding exasperated.
"Oh nothing much, it's just an invite for us to attend Harry and Hermione's wedding at eleven on Saturday morning," Ginny said grinning at her mothers reaction.
Luna stood to the side and read the invite from Harry, and then began to cry gently into her hands; both Ginny and Hermione were followed by Molly as they hugged the blond haired young witch.
"Luna dear, what ever is the matter?" Molly asked as she rubbed the girls back.
"I never had any real friends before," Luna said wiping away her tears.
At precisely eleven-o-clock on Saturday morning Harry turned around to look behind him, and watched as the most beautiful sight he had ever seen or was likely to see, walked slowly down the aisle of the small chapel toward him. Hermione on her fathers arm smiled at him through her veil making his knees tremble, she was dressed in a rose white Muggle wedding gown, the low cut off the shoulder bodice was formed to show off her figure while the bottom part of the dress was designed like a six petal upside down rose covering several stiff petticoats that reached down to the floor, the entire dress was covered in a sheer material that was elaborately decorated with intricately embroidered pure white roses, a long white train with matching roses was held up by the two brides maids Ginny and Luna, on her feet she wore a pair of white shoes with a stiletto heel slightly taller than the ones she wore to the Yule ball.
Harry let a tear fall as Mr Granger placed Hermione's hand in his, then went and joined his weepy wife on the front pew, Harry looked deep into Hermione's eyes then they both turned as the vicar began the service with "Dearly beloved we are gathered here to join this man and this woman…"
Harry heard nothing more as he stared at the beauty that had just two years ago, been called plain Hermione Granger bookworm, by the daily prophet, and she was now a beautiful woman and was about to become his wife, he wondered at how his luck had finally changed from bad to amazingly good.
Neville gave Harry a nudge in his ribs bringing him back to the here and now as the Vicar stood and stared at him.
"Sorry," Harry stuttered.
"I believe you wish to say something of your own before we say the vows," the Vicar whispered with a slight wink.
Harry nodded as he took both of Hermione's hands in his and then began saying the words from his heart.
"Hermione, my love for you began small and unrecognised when we first met on the Hogwarts express, slowly but surely day by day as the years have passed it grew deeper and stronger until the day you kissed me and it was no longer possible to hide it, or deny it, now that love fills every part of my heart and is still growing, with the promise that I will love you for all time and more, I offer myself to you as your husband for all eternity."
Hermione smiled at him, she had not really expected her quiet Harry to say something so touching. "Harry I love you with all that I am, I have loved you for as long as I have known you, I won't claim that I shall love you till the day I die, because I know this love will last beyond death and throughout eternity, I will love you for all time and more, and I offer myself as your wife for all eternity."
Having made their private promises the ceremony continued, Harry shed another tear when he said boldly "I do," to the Vicars question "do you Harry James Potter, take Hermione Jane Granger to be your lawful wedded wife to have and to hold in sickness and in health till death do you part." He then slipped the plain gold ring on Hermione's finger.
Hermione's cheeks were also glistening with tears as the words she had longed to say for so many years left her lips "I do," she placed the wedding ring she held on to Harry's finger and felt her legs go weak.
When the vicar informed them they could now kiss, a bright golden light enveloped Harry and Hermione as two thick golden ropes appeared from nowhere and gently wrapped around the kissing couple, it was a sight that very few people had ever seen, it was the magical binding of hearts and souls.
Ginny Weasley nodded as she watched the magical ropes bind her two friends, she knew then that Hermione truly did love the man she herself loved enough to watch him marry another, and to wish him a lifetime of happiness.
A rather surprised vicar concluded the service by asking them to sign their names in the marriage register; it would be the very last time Hermione signed her name as Granger.
Arthur Weasley performed a quick memory charm on the vicar making him forget seeing the golden binding, before every one left the chapel and made their way back to the Grangers for the small celebration.
Albus Dumbledore was conspicuous by his absence at the wedding reception, neither Harry nor Hermione had wanted to invite the old wizard, as far as they were concerned he had harmed Harry enough, and they would take no chance on him stopping their marriage.
Sitting alone in his office Albus looked up as he felt a change in the magic around him, then quietly he lifted a small glass of mead and took a small sip, before he set about writing out another entry into his very own personal journal, then hiding it on top of his tallest book case.
Albus wondered absently what world changing event had just affected the planets magic but then he shrugged the thought away as a knock on his door reminded him he had a meeting with Severus Snape.
Chapter seven.
The second ceremony.
The rather small reception they held in the Granger front garden was going well, the sun was bright. A few small fluffy clouds drifted across the blue sky, and the guests both Muggle and magical were enjoying themselves mingling together with out problems, though Tonks did manage to trip and land with her face in Remus's lap, causing the marauder to gasp and wince in pain before a huge blush of a rather deep shade of crimson crept up his face.
Luna was talking to Ginny about some strange unknown magical beast when Hermione joined the two girls and offered them some refreshment.
"You know, I really am confused," Luna said to Ginny, as Hermione filled their glasses with some fruit punch.
"And just what is it that has you confused then Luna?" Ginny asked smiling at her rather odd friend.
"Well, like I said before, I am really deeply in love with Harry, yet all the stories I have read seem to tell me I should therefore hate the girl who gets to marry him, unless it is me of course, but I don't, I still love Hermione as a friend, but still feel a little jealous, so now I'm confused," Luna replied seeming to pick her words carefully.
"I know just what you mean, but maybe we can't hate Hermione because we know she makes Harry happy like no one else could. I know his happiness means more to me than my own happiness ever could," Ginny said hugging Luna tightly.
"Yes I think you're right Ginny, Harry's happy now he is with Hermione," Luna almost whispered.
"Hey you two, I'm still here you know," Hermione chuckled at her friends conversation.
"And why is that, shouldn't you be some where secluded with your husband?" Luna said with an uncharacteristic giggle.
"Luna Lovegood! What ever is going through your mind?" Ginny asked laughing.
"Well if I had married that green eyed hunk, I would be in a quiet bedroom right about now," Luna said with yet another giggle.
"Luna!" Hermione exclaimed her face turning red.
"Well it's true," Luna said with a smile and a dreamy look that was different to her usual dreamy look.
"Where's that husband of yours?" Mrs Granger asked joining the girls and bringing their talk to an end.
"I don't know mum, last I saw of him he was talking with dad, it looked like they were heading around to the back garden," Hermione replied getting a starry look in her eye, that was the second time in just as many minutes that someone had said 'your husband' it gave Hermione a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Well could you go and find them dear, it's time to cut the cake," Mrs Granger said as she turned to walk away.
"Gotta go girls, see you in a minute or two ok," Hermione said as she set off toward the back garden to find her husband and her father.
"Harry James Potter, you get my father down here right now," Hermione shouted as she came to a stop having rounded the corner to the back of the house and seen her father on the firebolt broomstick riding behind Harry.
Harry and her father were both roaring with laughter when they landed in the middle of the lawn,
"By heck Harry that was absolutely bloody marvellous," Mr Granger said as he climbed breathlessly from Harry's broom.
"Language dad," Hermione admonished while trying hard to suppress a laugh.
"Well it was," declared Mr Granger innocently, pouting like a small boy caught pinching cookies.
"We didn't go high love, what with the wards…" Harry said looking like he wanted to burst out laughing again.
"Men!" Hermione declared no longer able to hide her grin. "Come on Harry love we have to cut the cake,"
Mr Granger took off for the front garden and left the two newly weds to walk around together.
"I can think of much better things to do than cut a cake now that we are married," Harry chuckled a very mischievous look in his eye.
"Harry, you know we can't do anything like that until after we have done everything else," Hermione said laughing at the puppy dog look Harry gave her before adding his lopsided smile that he reserved just for her.
At three thirty Hermione looked around at the few guests that still remained in the garden, they were the people who were to accompany them to Hogwarts for the next ceremony. They would be leaving in three groups using port keys supplied by Sirius.
Remus, Tonks, Katie, Alicia, and Angelina were the first to leave, quickly followed by Sirius, Mr and Mrs Granger, Neville, and Colin, next, all the Weasley family except Ginny, who was with Harry, Hermione, Luna and Dobby.
Everyone arrived safely at Hogwarts, landing just outside the main entrance, where professor McGonagall, professor Flitwick, Dobby's uncle, and several of the Hogwarts house elves were waiting patiently for them. The rather grumpy and wrinkled looking eldest elf bid them all to stand in a large pre-marked circle, Harry and Hermione stood in the middle with the old elf, they in turn were encircled by elves, who were then encircled by everyone else. The old elf asked the young couple to hold hands, telling them they were not to let go for any reason, "Is this dangerous?" Harry asked looking worriedly at his new wife.
The old elf chuckled in a deep voice "Only if you's let go master."
The elves around them lifted their hands and with their elfin magic they created a magical dome over Hermione and Harry. Then the magic of the witches and wizards around them suddenly began to form an outer dome with out help from their wands.
Harry and Hermione stood face to face in the centre of the domes of magic and interlocked their fingers, neither wanted to ever let go of the other ever again, after a quick gentle kiss the young witch and wizard stared into each others eyes as the old elf began to chant, over and over he repeated the mixed words of the ancient Elvin language and the modern English,
"Máhan Carilwë maquet for the yára nútë et vérë sina ender his indis join heart with heart the istar et curuni aqua et illumë fëa with fëa sanwë-latya thus maruva illumë Amen"
Slowly a gentle warming wind gathered around the feet of the married couple getting stronger as it began to whirl and rise around them, there seemed no direction or sense to how the wind whirled about, Harry and Hermione hung on to each other as the circle of elves began to fade away to be replaced by a circle full of golden swirling light, slowly so very slowly they felt as though they were dissolving and melting into one single person, blending together into one single being, then again they heard the chanting of the old elf but this time they understood every word he was chanting.
"Supreme one we ask for the ancient bond of this bridegroom and his bride, join heart with heart the good wizard and good witch wholly and always, soul with soul direct, thus will it be always amen,"
on and on went the chant until they felt they were no longer two separate people at all, they were one body, one mind, one heart and one soul. For several seconds or maybe even several hours they revelled in the feeling of being one complete being full of total love, of being one with the love that held the universe together, and then slowly they began to separate back into two people then back into their true selves once more. Once again they could feel the warm wind as it swirled aimlessly around them, once again they felt the ground beneath their feet, then slowly the golden light faded to be replaced once again by the circle of elves. As the wind died and the light vanished completely, with their legs feeling very weak Hermione and Harry fell to the ground, their hands still together their fingers still entwined.
There was a rush of bodies as those around them rushed forward to see what was wrong, the only thing that they had seen was a slight wind blowing around the two Potters', only Hermione and Harry had seen or felt the amazing things that had happened to them.
The two very weak legged glowing teenagers were taken into the great hall, where the Hogwarts elves provided them with drinks to rebuild their strength.
In the centre of the main living room of Malfoy Manor, a large gathering of Death eaters stared at the terrifying sight that was happening right before their eyes, for the second time that day their powerful lord and master was writhing around the floor in screaming agony. Several times the dark lord had screamed out in pain then emptied the contents of his stomach on to the floor and was writhing around in the foul smelling vomit and bile, the Death Eaters looked on powerless as their powerful dark wizard lord was screaming out for help in his pain, but none of them knew what to do and so they just stared helplessly as he repeatedly screamed out in pain.
Over in a dark unnoticed corner of the room Severus Snape, professor, spy, and Death Eater, smiled, although it was a small smile it actually reached his eyes, it was the first time he had truly smiled at all since the Halloween night years before when Voldemort had murdered Lily Potter.
'I must thank that fame seeking brat Potter and his know it all girl friend' he thought as he enjoyed the sight before him, 'suffer you evil wretch' he thought as Voldemort screamed out with excruciating pain once again.
Hermione and Harry sat together in the great hall still holding hands as they were telling their friends and family what exactly had happened to them inside the dome, Sirius kept asking Harry if he was suffering any pain, having been asked three times Harry sat up straight.
"I'm not in any pain, but I know who is, Voldemort is in a great deal of pain, all that love we shared and felt has driven him almost insane with pain, I don't think he will ever be able to use his link with me again with out suffering just as I used to do," Harry said a huge grin on his face.
Hand in hand Harry and Hermione left the great hall, saying that they needed some fresh air, leaving their friends talking about what they had been told, they left the great hall turning left to walk outside on to the grounds, Harry led the way to the black lake,
"We should take a minute to talk," he said as they reached the waters edge, taking out his wand he waved it just once and conjured a nice blanket for them to sit on beneath their favourite tree.
"We should try to find out what happened to us, and exactly what it means," Hermione said as they sat side by side.
'Hermione love I really don't have a clue' Harry thought as he played back the memory of their fantastic journey into total love.
"Well at least the old elf was right about that," Hermione said quietly.
"Huh," Harry said looking at her oddly.
'Ok let's try it like this' Hermione chuckled as she watched his face break into a frown followed by a huge grin.
"I can hear your thoughts!" Harry exclaimed rather louder than he intended.
"Ok can you feel this?" Hermione asked as she pinched her self.
"No, nothing, anyway why would I feel you pinching your… Ouch!" Harry replied as she pinched her self again.
"So it was all true, we are bonded body, mind, heart, and soul," Hermione said in awe.
"Well I don't think the sharing pain bit is exactly handy," Harry laughed as he rubbed at his arm.
"We didn't share the pain Harry my love, you felt it for me, you never know when that might come in handy, that and it can help us to heal each other without having to be together," Hermione told him with a huge grin.
"How the heck did you do that then?" Harry asked eyes wide at the possibilities of remote healing.
'Just thought of you is all' she chuckled.
'Ok time to go and rejoin the others before I give in to this urge to kiss you senseless' Harry thought with a mischievous grin coming across his face.
Hermione got to her feet 'I told you we can't do anything like that until later, now behave yourself and come on' she caught hold of his hand and pulled him to his feet.
A very worried and shaken Lord Voldemort called Wormtail into the room where he sat on a huge throne like chair.
"Yes my lord," Wormtail stuttered as he bowed and scraped his way into the room.
"I want to know how Potter is doing these things, you will go and infiltrate Hogwarts and find out, now get from my sight," Voldemort hissed as he rubbed at his aching head.
"But master could Severus not enter the school easier and find out what the Potter boy is up to," Wormtail asked nervously.
"Fool! Do as you are told, Severus is on his break it would look to suspicious and obvious if he returned to the school now." Voldemort hissed pointing his wand at Wormtail and shouting crusio.
Wormtail lay screaming until Voldemort lifted the curse from him, he then crawled to the wall and used it to pull himself on to his feet, and then he backed slowly and shakily from the room, wondering as he did so how he was to find out what Harry Potter was doing, the school would be closed for the holiday for quite some time yet, then he grinned as he remembered that the all powerful Voldemort had been crying like a baby just a few short minutes ago, maybe it was time to change his allegiances once again if Potter was able to render Voldemort into a weeping wreck, then it seemed obvious to Wormtail that Harry was the stronger of the two wizards, the one who would end up winning in the end, leaving Malfoy Manor for Hogwarts was his best chance of getting out of all this alive.
He grinned again as he remembered how stupidly forgiving Potter was, if he had not been so forgiving Wormtail would be dead, killed by his former friends.
As the door slammed shut behind Wormtail Voldemort once more screamed out in pain.
Harry stopped as they reached the main door to the castle drew Hermione close and placed a rather hot and passionate kiss on his wife's inviting lips, "It's time to move on to the next part of your plan my brilliant and beautiful wife, and the sooner the better."
Chapter eight
The locked room
Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts leader of the Order of the Phoenix sat in his office, his half moon spectacles held in his left hand, while with his thumb and forefinger of his right hand he rubbed gently at the bridge of his nose.
"Damn, damn, damn, Miss Granger, no it's Mrs Potter now, she has ruined years of work and planning," he said as he pulled up the school register and a notebook from the bottom drawer of his desk, their wedding that morning had finally ended his last hope of further manipulating the minds and hearts of his two most powerful students.
Turning once more to talk to Fawkes, he sighed deeply "How did she over come the suggestions that Snape and I planted in her mind, five years should have been long enough to convince her she was falling in love with Mr Weasley, how did she overcome the thoughts we planted in Harry's mind about Miss Weasley, I spent so much more time on him and now it has all been for nought,"
Fawkes gave a plaintive cry that told Dumbledore that even he could not permanently over come real and true destined love.
"But my plan worked with Bill Weasley and Miss Delacour," Albus whispered as he stood to pace his office once again.
Once more the trill from his phoenix told Albus that it was probable Bill and Fluer would have fallen in love what ever he did, and that he could not be sure it was his own manipulations of their minds that had brought them together.
"So I must find a new blood to improve the lines, to reduce the inbreeding of the purebloods before it is to late, though new blood in the Weasley line, new blood especially from some one as brilliant as Miss Granger, and some one as powerful as Mr Potter, would have slowed if not reversed the decline in such an old family line."
Walking back to his desk he sat once more in his chair and opened the register, Miss Greengrass, "what do you think Fawkes Mr Weasley and Miss Greengrass…"
A flash of fire signalled the departure of Fawkes from the office, "You always were a stickler for doing the right thing," Albus huffed as the phoenix vanished.
Albus Dumbledore looked up when he felt something tug at his magical core, for just a few seconds he felt it respond before he was able to stop the intrusion, he knew instantly that the elves were performing the bonding ceremony of Harry and Hermione, 'such a pity, Harry would have been the perfect partner for Miss Weasley' he thought as he went back to his notes.
Down in the great hall Harry and Hermione's friends discussed what the newly weds had told them while they drank tea and waited for the young couple to return, In the entrance hall Harry chuckled as both he and Hermione shared some thoughts, their love had grown with the bonding, grown to the level where it radiated from them when they touched, their auras glowed strongly in the dim light of the unlit hall every time they kissed.
"We won't need any lights tonight if this keeps happening," he said as they kissed one more time.
"What am I to do with you, it will settle down in a day or so," laughed Hermione as they broke their kiss and entered the great hall.
After chatting for some time Hermione checked her watch, it was just after four, time to see the headmaster so that they could move on to the last part of her plan, the visit to the locked room in the department of mysteries.
Remus led them all out to the lawns out side the main entrance and passed around the port keys that would take most of the group home, having all said their goodbye's and shared a few congratulatory hugs the port keys were activated leaving just six of them behind to go on to the ministry.
Professor McGonagall led the way up to the headmaster's office, Dumbledore bid them enter and offered them all a seat, before offering them a lemon drop.
"So sir, how are we travelling to the ministry?" Hermione asked having refused the sweet.
She knew before Dumbledore answered that there was some thing not quite right, then Dumbledore informed them that he had been unable to gain permission for them to enter the department of mysteries. She knew he had lied to them, though she did not know why, she thought that he had probably not even tried to help.
She made the quick decision to take advantage of the moment and ensure that at least one of her plans was not thwarted, it didn't matter if she had to bring that plan forward in time a little, making sure that she kept her eyes down she thought 'Harry don't look at the headmaster's eyes he is using Legilimency on us, once she was sure Harry was looking away from the headmaster's eyes she told him 'you have to disarm him, I'll explain it all to you later'
Harry looked at her and as she gave him the smallest of nods, he suddenly and most unexpectedly pulled his wand and before anyone reacted he had pointed it at Dumbledore and cried out "Expelliarmus."
With the reactions that came from being a seeker on the Quidditch team for five years Harry deftly caught Dumbledore's wand as it soared toward him.
'Hermione love why did I just disarm the headmaster?' he asked as he looked at her once again.
'You can give it back to him now, I'll explain later' Hermione told him as she tried to hold her temper from exploding.
Harry did as she said and returned the wand to a rather surprised Dumbledore saying "Sorry, I..." he rubbed his scar as though he were doing it without thinking.
Hermione stood and then glared at Albus "You lied to us, you had no intention of helping, what game are you playing, what are you up to?" she asked before grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him from the office.
They were followed out of the school by Sirius, Remus, Luna and Ginny, once out on the road that led to the main gates Sirius asked what every one was thinking.
"Why did you take Dumbledore's wand Harry?"
Harry looked just as bewildered as Sirius and the others, "I have no idea," he answered looking at Hermione.
"It was the Elder wand," was all she said as they walked.
"What?" Harry asked "is the elder wand and why did I just take it from Dumbledore?"
Remus cleared his throat before speaking "Hermione the elder wand is just a myth, a tale told to scare people."
"Dumbledore had the wand and the stone of life, all he needed was to take Harry's cloak and he would have reunited the Deathly Hallows," she told them as they left Hogwarts grounds.
"The Hallows are not a Myth?" Sirius asked his voice low.
"No Sirius they are not a Myth, and I asked Harry to disarm Dumbledore because I don't trust him anymore, he's up to some thing, and I don't think it is anything good," Hermione said as she stuck out her wand for the Knight bus.
"Would someone like to tell me what the Deathly Hallows are?" Harry asked just as the bus arrived out of nowhere with a loud crack.
Once on the bus and heading for London Remus and Sirius told the teenagers all about the tale of the deathly Hallows.
As the bus pulled up outside the Leaky Cauldron Luna asked what they would do next, and when would they do it.
"Simple," Hermione said as she opened the door to the pub "we go to the department of mysteries without Dumbledore."
"And when do you plan to do that?" Remus asked following her into the bar.
"As soon as we have had some thing to eat, by the time we are finished the ministry should be quite empty."
"Albus, Mrs Potter asked a very good question, just what are you up to, I've known you too long to think that you simply forgot to tell them about the ministry?" McGonagall asked suspicions growing in her mind.
"I was just trying to do some thing for the good of all," he answered vaguely as he stared at his wand.
"And you thought you could fool Miss Granger, I mean Mrs Potter? That girl is the cleverest person I ever met," she looked at him for a minute before she continued, "you should be careful Albus, or you will come to regret turning the two most powerful people in our world against you."
'I already do, I already do' he thought as he returned his wand to its rightful place.
Minerva McGonagall left the head master wondering if she had been wrong to place her trust in him for so long and with out question. She knew that Hermione Potter was one of the most honest trustworthy and loyal not to mention the cleverest people she had ever met, and if she suspected Albus of doing something that was wrong then there was more than a good chance she was right. She made a mental note to her self to question, and check the things he asked her to do much more closely in the future.
Albus sat in his office and wondered if once again he had made a mistake, he knew that he could no longer rely on the help of Hermione to rebuild the trust that Harry had once had in him. He also knew he had lost what little trust and respect that might have lingered in Hermione.
Having had and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips, Harry led the strange looking group dressed in their robes, through the streets of Muggle London to the visitors entrance to the ministry of magic, Sirius, Hermione, and Harry, went down in the lift to the atrium and waited for the others to join them.
Just ten minutes later they were all standing in the department of mysteries watching while Hermione worked on opening the lock of the door, it took her nearly fifteen minutes and practically every unlocking charm she could remember before she finally heard the welcome click that was the sound of the door opening.
Leaving Sirius and Remus out side the room to stand guard duty, the group of teenagers entered the room.
Hermione stared at the large empty room, there was nothing at all in the room apart from a painted circle in the centre, the circle was about ten feet across and was painted white, other than that the place was totally bare, she could not tell where the light was coming from because there were no lights, no candles or torches, still the room was bathed in a warm white light.
Hermione took hold of Harry's right hand, Ginny took his left and Luna took hold of Hermione's right hand, slowly cautiously they inched forward toward the painted circle.
There was a feeling of happiness that grew into a feeling of love as they neared the circle, the closer they got to the centre the deeper the feeling of love got, by the time they were standing around its edge they were all bathed in a feeling of love deeper than anything they had ever felt before.
Hermione looked first at Harry and then at the two girls with them, with a nod of her head they all stepped into the circle, moments later they were all bathed in warm a red light that seemed to reach down inside them to their very souls, very slowly they inched forward toward the very centre.
As they reached the centre Harry screamed out writhing in some excruciating pain, both Hermione and Ginny struggled to keep their hold on his hands as the light intensified ten fold, and he twisted and screamed even more.
Harry seemed to be fighting something, something inside him that could not stand the feeling of utter love that pervaded their very souls, he was struggling harder and crying out in pain as all three girls wrapped their arms around him and gave him all the love they could give to him, as their love swelled and filled and overcame him Harry began to float, his body lifted gently upward as they tried hard to cling to him.
Just as Hermione thought they were going to fail, their hands were slipping slowly down Harry's legs as he rose higher and their grip began to loosen, something dark and evil seemed to drift from his chest, as the last wisps' of the dark mist finally released its hold on him he began to slowly descend.
The dark mist floating in the light above them seemed to be taking on a shape right before their eyes, it was taking the shape of a man, but before it completed its transformation terrifying screams came from it and rent the air, it began to twist and writhe as it screamed as though in severe agony, just a few seconds later the dark misty shape of Voldemort appeared before he suddenly exploded into thousands of pieces that then began to vanish into the light around them.
Hermione sighed in relief, another Horcrux was destroyed, and Harry was still alive and well.
The three girls carried Harry from the room, they all had to struggle against the desire to remain in the room full of love, and it took them some minutes to reach the door. Luna managed to open the door and dragged Ginny out first, they were then helped by Remus and Sirius who pulled both Harry and Hermione from the rooms loving grip.
The exhausted teenagers slowly made their way to the main lift, helped by the two adults. Once out into the night air of the London Street above the ministry they rested for a while to regain some of their strength.
Fifteen minutes later Remus summoned the Knight bus.
It was a weary bunch of people who entered the wards of the Granger house some twenty minutes later, Mrs Granger made them all a hot drink of chocolate before she sorted them all out with a place to sleep, it was only minutes after finishing their drinks when silence filled the Granger house, everyone was fast asleep, Harry had his first truly nightmare free sleep that night.
At breakfast in the Granger kitchen, even though he was disappointed that his wedding night had not gone exactly as he had expected, Harry felt better than he could ever remember feeling, the dark and depressing feelings of guilt and self doubt he had suffered his entire life were gone, he felt lighter some how, and he also felt some how that he was cleaner, he could not put it in to words, it was just the way he felt.
Sirius and Remus sat and listened as the girls talked about the vast amount of love that Harry had inside him, they had all felt it in the locked room.
Hermione explained to everyone all that had happened in the room full of pure love, how that great amount of love had removed and destroyed the part of Voldemort that had attached it's self to Harry's soul.
Harry was now free and they were well on the way to ridding the world of the evil that was calling it self Voldemort.
Hermione sat and smiled, tonight there would be no reason for them to wait any longer, tonight she would become the thing she wanted most, Mrs Harry Potter in every sense of the word, tonight she would be Harry's completely.
Harry seemed to be thinking the same thing because he too smiled then winked suggestively at her, making her laugh out loud, to the surprise of those around the table.
A/Note sorry that this chapter is not quite as long as some of the others but I have to end it somewhere and I think it ended in just the right place before things warm up for Mr and Mrs Potter. Well if they can find some peace and privacy.