A Deep, Soul Connection

Title: A Deep Soul Connection

Author: LilPrincess48

Disclaimer: I own Harry Potter. As you can see, Harry and Hermione got together by Book 3, if not sooner. Ginny is dating Draco behind Ron’s back, there are many more mentions of Harry’s parents, Voldemort is gay, Sirius Black has been declared innocent of all charges, the Dursleys were turned into peppermints and Peter Pettigrew got his head chopped off, instead of just his finger.

… Obviously, since none of this has happened in the books, I don’t own Harry Potter.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Challenge Fic. Thanks to a spell gone wrong, Harry and Hermione's souls have been bound together. Not only can they sense each other's emotions, know where each other is at all times, and read each other's minds, but these effects are bringing them a lot closer together. And, in Ron's opinion, that's a little too close for comfort. HHr, one-sided RHr, some DG

Author’s Note: Gosh, I'm taking challenges left and right. Oh, but it's so fun! And it gives me something to do until they allow me to post fanfics.

Category: Romance. Humor. Fun.

Spoilers: Probably from books 1 - 4, if any.

Feedback: Would be great.

Setting: Hogwarts, 6th Year

Date Begun: June 14, 2004

Date Posted: June 15, 2004






Chapter 1: A Spell Gone Wrong




“D’ya think I could borrow your History of Magic notes again, Hermione?” Ron asked as he, Hermione, and Harry made their way to the Charms classroom. The girl gave him a sharp look, her doe-like brown eyes piercing into him.


“Well, Ron, if you’d pay attention—“


“Oh come on, Mione.” Harry interjected before it could turn into a full-blown argument. “You know that Professor Binns is the most boring teacher in the world. You’re the only one with enough patience to actually make it through class without falling asleep.”


“Well,” Hermione said, clearly happy at the compliment, but trying not to show it. “You can’t expect me to always be able to—“


“I don’t.” Ron protested. “I’m just expecting you, as a friend, to be willing to help out another friend, which is me if you didn’t get that.”


The trio took a seat in the front of the classroom and unpacked their books. Professor Flitwick had yet to enter. Hermione sighed in aggravation, but handed her notes over to Ron with no further protest. The Weasley boy grinned and tucked them away into his bag.


“Honestly, you two.” Was all she said before Professor Flitwick entered and class began.


“Now today, students.” Said the Professor, standing on his usual pile of books so he could be seen over his desk. “We’re going to learn a very complicated charm that can be dangerous if not used right. Therefore, please pay close attention.”


Harry didn’t even have to look up to know that Hermione was alert as always, her quill in her hand and ready to take notes.


“Does anybody know how the Binding Charm works?” Unsurprisingly, Hermione raised her hand. “Yes, Miss Granger?”


“The function of this particular charm is to bind things to you and make it so you can never lose them. It does so by making it so that the object cannot go within a certain distance from you without you knowing.” She rattled off, sounding much like a textbook. Flitwick smiled.


“Very good. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now, for example, if I were to place this charm upon myself, and then upon this apple and leave the room, I would instantly know if anyone had moved it. However, I would not advise binding oneself to something so easily destroyed as once the object you are bound to ceases to exist, so will you unless the proper countermeasures are taken.


“Now,” Flitwick raised his wand. “I will demonstrate. May I please have a volunteer?”


No one raised their hand. Harry wasn’t surprised. Nobody ever did. Except, maybe Hermione, but it seemed as if even she didn’t want to be subjected to such a spell.


“OWWWW!” Harry screamed, standing up as he felt something sharp poke into his buttocks. He flipped around and glared at Lee Jordan, who was snickering and holding up a pin.


“Thank you, Harry.”


“Wait, no, I didn’t—“ Before he could finish, Professor pulled Harry to the front of the room and the Boy-Who-Lived made a mental note to slip pixies into Lee’s bed or something later.


“Okay, now, I’m going to show you the spell, alright? Then I’ll show you the counterspell. Then you'll copy me. After that you may return to your seat and practice with your classmates.”


“Yes, Professor.”


“Now, watch me. Adnexus—“ Professor Flitwick waved his wand once over his head, then pointed it at his desk. “Desk.”


Harry watched as there was an explosion of pale blue light that surrounded both the Professor and the desk before it faded. “Not that you can tell, but I am now bound to the desk. Now, for the counterspell.” Flitwick once again waved his wand over his head and then pointed it at the desk. “Disiunctum.”


This time, there was an explosion of lavender lights so bright that Harry had to cover his eyes to see. When it faded, Professor Flitwick was staring at him expectantly. “Now you try, Harry.”


“Okay. Er…” He looked around for something to bind himself to momentarily and decided on the parchment Hermione was holding in her hand. He waved his wand above his head, then pointed it at the parchment. “Adnexus Parch—“


Before he could successfully finish the spell, the pale blue explosions of light started up without warning and he felt a sort of detached feeling, as if he were floating away from his body. He heard Professor Flitwick shouting and Hermione’s scream, but none of this really registered with him as he floated… Floated free…


Am I dying? He wondered as he saw his body lying in a faint on the floor.


He looked down at the other students, only to see that Hermione had passed out as well and that a spirit-looking version of her, with a pale yellow light outlining it, was floating towards him. He watched as he hand reached out and grasped hers tightly, before the blue lights flashed brightly one last time, he fell back into his body, and everything went black.

Title: A Deep Soul Connection

Author: LilPrincess48

Disclaimer: Mm, forget Harry Potter. I wanna own Daniel Radcliffe!

Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait and, gosh, thanks for the reviews. I love you guys! ^___^ I’m down with a fever right now so before I’m gone for another long period of time, here’s the next chapter.

Date Begun: June 15, 2004

Date Posted: June 15, 2004


Chapter 2: Let The Freakiness Begin




When Harry awoke, he noticed two things that were wrong. One, there were lots of oddly shaped midgets staring at him. Two, everything was white. He blinked to clear his vision and noted, with some amusement, that the 'oddly shaped midgets' were actually Ron, Ginny, and Neville.

"Oh, Harry, I rushed over as soon as I heard what happened!" Ginny shouted. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." He immediately reassured, sitting up and noticing that he was in the Hospital Wing. That explained the whiteness. "How's Hermione? Where is she?"

Potions.

"Oh." Ron said, an air of bitterness to his tone. "Snape came in the exact moment Hermione was waking up and decided she was fit enough to come to class so she's in Potions, worrying her arse off about you right now. What?" Asked, Ron, noticing the bewildered look on Harry's face.

"I... I... Er..." How was he supposed to explain that he'd just known, exactly, where Hermione was? He shook it off. No need to worry them further and besides, it was probably just a fluke. "Nothing. Shouldn't we be getting to class, too?"

"Of course not, mate. You're still delirious." Ron pushed Harry back down on the bed. "Besides, me and Neville have been granted permission to miss Potions and watch over you, so you better bloody well make sure you're sick for the next half-hour, okay?"

"Right then." Harry said, grinning despite himself. "If Madam Pomfrey comes back, tell her I'm on the verge of death and may not wake up all day."

Ron laughed. "You got it, mate."


•. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •.


It was a full week later before Harry noticed the weird things that had been going on. And Hermione, as usual, noticed it first.

Hermione caught up with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall. Instead of saying hello, she seized Harry's arm and said, "We need to talk."

"Do we have to talk now, Mione? I'm in the middle of my pumpkin pie!" Harry protested, but Hermione was not to be swayed.

"Harry James Potter, if you don't get up from this table right now, I'll--"

"Withhold sex for a month?" Dean asked, sending the entire table into a fit of laughter, minus Ron, who turned an interesting shade of pink and narrowed his eyes at Harry, Hermione, whose mouth curled into a thin line even as her cheeks flamed a bright red, and Harry, who was too busy trying to finish off his pie to acknowledge what Dean had said.

"Shut your mouth, Dean Thomas, before I hex it off." Her wand came out in a flash. "And you know that I can."

Harry swallowed his last piece of pie and stood. "We'll just be leaving, then."

Dean, who was uncharacteristically pale, said nothing. Neither did anybody else at the table. Harry grinned and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall and into the hallway.

"What's on your mind, Mione?" He asked, leaning against the wall.

"You." Harry nearly fell over in surprise, his face heating up as he stared at her incredulously.

"Hermione... I... I mean... And you... Er..." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that, you git." Harry felt his face cool down... And a sense of disappointment replaced his heavy blush. Which confused him more, he wasn't sure. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened in class and--"

Before she could finish her sentence, everybody came parading out of the Great Hall, heading to their individual classes. Unfortunately, or fortunately in Harry's case since he was still a bit red from Hermione’s comment, the two had separate classes so they were swept in opposite directions.

Harry distinctly felt a sense of utter frustration that was not his won before he heard a voice, sounding much like Hermione's hiss I'll talk to you later. Not only didn't she sound happy, but the fact that Harry was hearing voices -- And Hermione's voice no less -- Didn't make him very happy either. As a matter of fact, he was slightly disturbed.

"What'd Hermione need to talk to you so badly about, anyway?" Asked Ron, coming up next to him. Harry looked at Ron wearily, then rubbed his temples.

"I have no idea. You all came out before she could tell me." Was it just him, or did Ron perk up considerably after that statement? Shaking it off, Harry ventured, "Ron, when you start hearing a girl's voice in your head, what does that say about you?"

"Either you're bonkers," Ron said breezily. "Or you're in love."

Harry really didn't like his options.


•. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •.


"Mmm, Potter, I see a great and horrible death in your future. Very close, too. I also see a--" Harry had tuned Professor Trelawney out the instant she said 'death'. He exchanged glances with Ron. Didn't she ever get tired of predicting his premature death?

I bet Trelawney’s filling his head up with nonsense. She never had much sense in the first place.

Harry clapped a hand to his head, attracting the attention of everyone in the room. There was Hermione's voice again. He was tempted to bang his head on the desk to get rid of it, but noticed the stares he was getting and resisted.

"Are you alright there, Harry?" Ron whispered once everybody had gone back to their crystal balls. Harry was about to answer when Hermione's voice rose up again.

--Got to find some way to talk to him before Potions. We have to find out what's going on.

Harry groaned. "Ron, I think I'm crazy."

"So do we." Parvati and Lavender snickered and then went back to their work. Ron glared at them, then spared Harry a concerned glance.

"What makes you say that?"

"I keep hearing--" Professor Trelawney came up beside them, staring down at the crystal balls sitting in Ron and Harry's laps and pointing as she got the rest of the class' attention.

"Ah. Class. Turn here. What a lovely set of balls Mr. Potter and Weasley have."

Harry's next words were drowned out in the uproarious laughter of the class and by the time they were through, class was over, and Ron was snickering too much on the way to Potions to listen to a word.


•. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •. •.


Although he'd managed to avoid her for another week and a half, Harry wasn't the least bit surprise when he was suddenly dragged into an empty classroom on his way back to the Common Room. For some unexplainable reason, he'd known that Hermione was in there, and because of her constant chatter in his head, he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about, so, when she opened her mouth to begin, he cut her off.

"No, I don't know what happened to us in Flitwick's class, yes, I did fully recover from said thing, and, no, I don't know why you can hear my voice in your head and vice versa. Can I go lose to Ron at chess now?'

"Harry, this is serious." She said, folding her arms and sitting on a desk. "This could be more serious than we think."

"Hermione, I'm tired. I'm hungry because you spent all of dinner clearing your throat so much I couldn't eat. I've got a grand total of ten and a half parchments to write up for homework. Trelawney predicted my premature death again. Everybody's been laughing every time they pass by Ron at me and staring in... Places. And, to top it all off..." He paused. "My arse hurts from falling off my broom in Quidditch practice."

"Trust me, I know. Look, Harry, I think what's going on has to do with that Binding Charm Professor Flitwick taught to us a few weeks ago. And I think maybe this can be easily reversed. We just have to say the counterspell and that should do it." She whipped out her wand and Harry took that as a key to whip out his, even though he really had no idea what Hermione was on about. "Alright, ready? Since you cast the spell in the first place, you should be the one to disengage it." Harry looked at her blankly. "Say the counterspell Harry." Another blank look. "Oh honestly. Disiunctum."

"Okay." Harry copied the moves with his wand that he remembered from class. "Disiunctum."

The familiar lavender light explosions appeared, surrounding he and Hermione. When they faded away, both looked slightly daze. Hermione was back to business at once. "Did it work?"

"How should I know?" Harry asked. "I'm more concerned about the fact that my arse is burning ten times worse than--"

"Thanks for sharing."

"What are you two doing in here?" Both turned to see Ron standing in the door, a suspicious look on his face. Ginny was with him. She giggled.

"Maybe they were snogging."

"Oh please. We're not you and Malfoy, Ginny." Hermione snapped. Ginny's eyes widened and she backed out of the doorway, taking off down the hall before Ron exploded with a:

"WHAT'S THIS ABOUT YOU AND MALFOY SNOGGING?!?!?!?! GET BACK HERE, GINNY!"

And took off after her. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.

"I suppose we can't do anything but wait for now." Hermione said, pocketing her wand. She looked extremely tired. Harry wondered if it would really bother her that much to be bonded to him.

" 'Spose." Harry agreed. "Let's go back to the Common Room."

Hermione nodded and the two of them walked out of the classroom, both of their minds racing, but neither willing to talk about it.

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.

Title: A Deep Soul Connection

Author: LilPrincess48

Disclaimer: Once upon a time ago, I was tiny princess in a palace by the sea. A princess with great dreams of own Harry Potter... It ain't happening.

Author's Note: Well, my PS2 is working again, but I can't find the controls. And my book list is piling up and my new high school sent me a massive summer reading list. Stressed? Nah....

Date Begun: June 26, 2004

Date Posted: June 26, 2004


Chapter 4: Ron Gets Suspicious

Ronald Weasley was not very happy by the time he stormed into the Common Room.

He had looked ALL over Hogwarts for his best friend and current love interest, Hermione Granger, but either she was using some sort of concealer spell, or she was just plain avoiding him -- Ron didn't like either option.

The first thing he spotted as he entered was Harry sitting in front of the fireplace, reading a book. Ron peered at the title. Theories And Speculations Of Bonding Charms. Ron raised an eyebrow at Harry, but said nothing about it. What he said instead was, "Where's Hermione?"

"Library." Harry answered instantly. "And she's rightly pissed off at you, mate, so you'd better – No, wait, here she comes. Hang on a minute. She's just about to walk in—“

Hermione walked in and looked at the two, her eyes narrowing when they saw Ron, then un-narrowing when they fell on Harry. Completely ignoring Ron's presence, she plopped down next to Harry and looked at the book. "Find anything?"

"Nothing new." Harry told her. "But I have figured out what they might mean by mental, physical, and emotional level, though."

Ron blinked cluelessly while Hermione looked interested. "Well?"

"Well, I think mentally is the mind reading, but not just invading, you know? Like inviting the other person to read your mind and sharing every single personal thought and detail in your head with them, not holding anything back because you trust them... I think that's mentally. Then, emotionally is being able to sense what the other person's feeling, and knowing exactly what to do, and feeling it, too. Without the use of the bonding spell. Just KNOWING, instinctively. And then, physically--” Here, Harry blushed and looked at Hermione meaningfully. The girl stared at him, confused, until she, too, got it, and turned bright re din the process. "Um, yeah."

"What the bloody hell are you two on about?" Ron interrupted at last. Both teens jumped as if they'd forgotten he was there. They looked at him, then their eyes went distant as if they were focusing on something else, before they returned and looked at him again.

"Oh, nothing Ron. Just, you know, extra credit for Flitwick's class. We need it after Harry caused that explosion." Hermione said, although something in there didn't ring true. Ron narrowed his eyes at his best friends, who were still sitting side by side on the couch, looking absolutely innocent.

"Alright, whatever." Ron said after awhile. He gave up trying to figure those two out. It was obvious that they were going out of their way to keep something from him. He'd figure it out. Eventually. "Hermione, was Harry right when he said--"

"Yes, I am mad at you, Ronald Weasley. What do you mean by telling Dean that I'm a fussy old worrywart?" The boy turned almost as red as his hair. "You thought I didn't know, but I was walking in the halls just as you said it!"

"Shouldn't have said that, Ron. You hurt Hermione's feelings." Harry said, leaning back on the couch. "Wasn't very nice, either."

"Well... I... He... I..." Ron sputtered, still bright red. Harry yawned while Hermione glowered at him.

"Anybody else tired?" Ron and Hermione ignored him. Harry shrugged and picked up his book, excusing himself to his dorm, leaving the two to battle it out. Ron wished he hadn't lefty because as soon as he did -- All hell broke loose.

*

By the time a pale-faced and shaking Ron, harboring two huge hex welts on his arms, entered the dorm, Harry was knee-deep in the book. He'd already read about the history of the Binding Charm, its creator, its true purposes, and its abuse. Now he was on Chapter Eleven.

What very few know about the Binding Charm is that it is at it's most powerful when it is performed about two soul mates. Those who were not destined to be, at most, only get the mind reading power. Only those with a deep soul connection receive the other symptoms of empathy, instant location, etc. Indeed, those gifts are only granted to true soul mates.

This paragraph caused the heat to rise in Harry's cheeks and he found himself blushing. Could it be possible that he and Hermione were... Soul mates? That they were meant to be together forever? Did he even think of his best friend that way?

Even as he asked himself the question, Harry knew the answer. Yes, he did love Hermione. He had loved Hermione long before this. But Ron had loved her first so Harry had done his best to squander the feeling, to no avail. He, Harry James Potter, was in love with his best friend Hermione.

And they were, quite possibly, soul mates...

Ron was going to flip.

*

Soul mates, huh? Hermione telegraphed Harry from her Ancient Runes class. Harry, she knew, was with Ron in Divination at the moment, a class, in Hermione's opinion, that was good for nothing more than filling your head with a load of bull that the real world would prove untrue moments after stepping out there. It taught them nothing but absolute bullocks.

Ron and Harry seemed to like it though, if not because all they had to do was make up the most gruesome and wild things imaginable to get an A. Hermione preferred to work harder for her grades.

That's what the book said. Harry sent back. Hermione detected a hint of embarrassment but when she tried to pry in to investigate, she was immediately locked out. Obviously Harry's private thoughts were just that: Private.

So, I guess you were right about us being close on a soul level then, Harry. As the twins would say: Kudos to you! She heard him chuckle, even though he was nowhere nearby.

Thank you. Thank you. And for my encore performance, I have a proposition.

Oh really? Fill me in.

I will. Later. Right now, Trelawney’s predicting that I'm going to get run over by a carriage full of magical seals, then maimed, drowned in the pond by the giant squid and have my bones burned until crisp and eaten. I think I'd better pay attention. Hermione snorted at this, but sent a mental okay and brought her mind back to her lesson although, she had to admit, lessons with Harry in her head were more interesting.

Why thank you, Mione.

Harry James Potter, stop reading my mind!

Can't help it. We're connected, you know. Hermione rolled her eyes and blocked her thoughts from him, feeling him pout and doing her best not to care. By the time she focused her attention back on the class, it was over.