Title: A Deep Soul Connection
Author: LilPrincess48
Disclaimer: I said I owned Harry Potter once. I got arrested and spent the whole night in jail. They did the infamous DR torture by locking me in my cell and putting Daniel Radcliffe right beyond my reach. Therefore, I will never say that I own Harry Potter again.
Author's Note: Meep.
Date Begun: June 18, 2004
Date Posted: June 18, 2004
Chapter 3: Theories and Speculation
Harry was quite enjoying the bizarre new effects of this spell.
He was not alarmed to find that the counterspell hadn't worked, although he supposed he should've been. But, really, when you discover that you can read Hermione Granger's mind in the middle of a Potions exam, wouldn't you rejoice as well?
And, as Harry left the Potions classroom with a very surprised looking Snape behind him, he felt quite happy. Quite happy.
"I can't believe you, Harry. You did that spell almost as well as Hermione!" Ron said in awe. Harry felt the waves of pride and slight suspicion radiating off Hermione and looked at her.
"Yes?"
"You did do a good job." She admitted. "But," I felt you peeking around my head, Potter.
Me? You must be mistaken, Granger. Harry beamed at Hermione, who looked away, her cheeks tinted pink, and mumbling something about cheaters. Ron looked at the two confused. "Did I miss something?"
"Er..." Hermione looked at Harry, silently asking if they should let Ron in on what was going on. Harry shook his head. He knew, even if Hermione didn't, that Ron fancied her -- Quite a bit, actually. Telling him that he and Hermione were sharing some kind of mental bond would cause problems. Big problems. Hermione nodded. "You didn't miss anything, Ron."
"Okay then."
Harry, we shouldn't keep this from him. He'll be angry.
Trust me. He'll be angrier when he finds out.
Well, we've got to do something.
Like...?
Talk to Professor Flitwick. He must know something.
Not a bad idea, Mione. We've got Charms next anyway. We can talk to him after class.
The trio entered the Charms classroom where, as usual, Professor Flitwick was standing on top of a pile of books behind his desk. "Today, we're going to do more practice on Bonding spells. Everyone pick a partner and start practicing on objects around the room. Not on each other. Objects."
Harry and Hermione immediately paired up and while a very put-out Ron paired up with Lavender instead, the two headed up to Professor Flitwick's desk. Hermione was the first to speak. "Er... Professor?"
"Yes?" The man asked, peering at them curiously.
"Er, well, you see, er, remember when I tried the Bonding spell and it knocked me and Hermione out?" There was a strange glint in the man's eye as he nodded. "Well, since then we've kind of been able to hear each other's thoughts--"
"And we can tell where the other is at all times." Hermione finished for Harry. "There must have been some side effects to the spell or something. Not even the counterspell will work."
"Well," Said Flitwick, drawing himself up to his full height on the books. "The Binding Spell is not to be used between two humans. The results are usually... Permanent."
"What?!" The two screamed at the same time, drawing the attention of the whole class. Ron was busy trying to get Lavender to get off his arm. Neville had a textbook magically glued to his head. Dean had somehow managed to turn his hair blue.
"I'm sorry, but I did warn you. Now, class is over. See you tomorrow." He leaped off his pile of books and began herding the children out, leaving Harry and Hermione completely puzzled.
Now what?
I don't know. I suppose we could check the library...
What if we can't find anything, Mione? What if we're stuck like this forever?
Oh, and that would be such a bad thing?
I didn't mean--
Right.
Ron was waiting for them when they left the classroom, Harry looking guilty, Hermione looking annoyed. He looked between the two. "Now I KNOW I missed something. What were you talking to Flitwick about?"
"Oh, er, Hermione thought we needed a more in-depth view on the Binding Spell and its purposes. Took all class to explain." Harry lied quickly. Hermione gave him a slightly approving look, while Ron just nodded.
"That's our Hermione. Always finding something to--"
"Hey, Ron, isn't that Ginny over there?" Hermione pointed at the flaming red hair sitting atop the young Weasley girl, who was currently being pinned to the wall...
By Draco Malfoy...
And they were very, very busy....
More specifically, their mouths and hands were very, very busy...
Ron stared. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The couple jumped apart and stared at the source of the noise. Ron screamed again when he noticed that Draco's robes were disheveled and his pants were slightly open, not to mention his hair had that distinct 'full-frontal snogging' look to it and that Ginny's hair was no better, her lipstick was smudged (And all over Draco's mouth and neck) and she was sporting a very nice array of hickies in addition to her disheveled robes.
"Er... Hi Ron." She said sweetly. "How are things?"
"Ginny, what the HELL were you doing snogging MALFOY in the BLOODY HALLWAY?!?!?!" Ron shouted. "MY EYES ARE BURNING!"
"Well, I think it'd be quite obvious, Weasel. When two people feel sexually attracted to one another, they do have a tendency to--"
"You keep your filthy hands off my sister, Malfoy! She isn't losing her virginity to the likes of you." Ginny let out a cough that sounded distinctly like 'Already have' as a smirk grew on Draco's face. Ron stared at Ginny incredulously. "Gin? You're lying. No... You're delusional!"
"Ron... She's not lying." Hermione said. "She told me about it." In a slightly less practical tone and a much more disturbed tone. "All about it."
"My sister IS a virgin, Hermione. She's just... Confused." Ginny snorted.
"If you'll excuse me, Draco and I will go and be 'confused' over there somewhere. Bye bye." Ginny grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him down the corridor and into a nearby classroom. Ron wasn't about to let her off so easily, however.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, get BACK HERE!" Hermione and Harry watched in mild amusement as Ron charged after them, then exchanged glances.
"Should we go to the library now?" Hermione asked.
"Can't now. I have Quidditch practice."
"I'll go then. I'll fill you in later."
"Alright." Harry enveloped Hermione in a warm hug. "I'll see you later, then."
He let her go and Hermione, left missing the warmth, merely waved as he headed down the hallway towards the Common Room before turning and heading to the library.
*
The Bonding Charm is a very powerful spell. Many wizards have used it to prevent things from getting lost. It is usually temporary and can easily be countered by the countercharm. However, when the two people use the bonding spell to bind themselves to one another, the effects are far more permanent.
There is no set way to remove the Bonding Charm when it has been performed between two wizards. But there is speculation. One theory states that if the couple already understands each other on a soul level, then they will receive a choice of whether or not to remove the spell once they have connected on a mental, physical, and emotional level. Another theory states that the spell is only permanent to 'soul mates' and to everyone else it is just for a certain extended period of time, during which the couple becomes so close that they believe the spell is still active when it really is not.
The effects of the bonding charm on the couple results in a mental bond, enabling them to read each other's minds and hear each other's thoughts at will, an emotional bond, enabling them to sense each other's feelings, and a physical bond, resulting in an inability to go more than two days without touching one another in some way. When cultivated, these bonds could become even stronger, leading to a long lasting relationship, romantic or otherwise (Usually romantic).
Many couples in wizarding history have been subject to the bonding charm. They are listed on page 346.
"Find anything, Hermione?" Hermione jumped as Harry came up from behind her and narrowed her eyes at him. He was glistening with sweat from practice but his face glowed with happiness and his hair was windswept. He looked like a god. Or some other really sexy unearthly being. "Er... Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Um... Nothing." Hermione shook herself out of her trance and pointed to the passage she was just reading. "Here's what I found. We're stuck, Harry."
Harry read over the paragraph intently, then looked at her. "Maybe not."
"What are you implying, Harry?" The Boy Who Lived took a seat next to her and pointed to a specific point in the passage.
"Look here. It says that one theory states that if we already understand each other on a soul level, which I kind of think we do, Mione, and if we connect on a mental, physical, and emotional level, then we could get the spell off us." Hermione stared at him.
"Harry, how are we supposed to--"
"I don't know. We'll figure it out. Come on. Check the book out of the library and let's get to the Common Room." Harry pulled Hermione up out of her seat and led the way over to the checkout desk. Hermione stared after him, smiling slightly.
"...if we already understand each other on a soul level, which I kind of think we do, Mione..."
With another soft smile, she followed him.