Disclaimer - The world of Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and various publishers. I make no claim to ownership.
A/N: Thanks to my beta Vettesr, and those kind enough to review. Warning, more Lemon.
Chapter 17: The Wedding (part 2)
Chaos reined in the hall! Students screamed and Dumbledore had to shoot off a loud purple firework to regain control. "Everyone will please stay calm. Prefects will escort the students back to their dormitories, teachers will seal the doors and allow no one outside until we get to the bottom of this."
The Aurors had quickly taken up positions to protect the ministers.
Fudge tried to bluster his way through, claiming he had jurisdiction, but was quickly silenced by the Headmaster, who pointed out that Hogwarts was not under the control of the Minister. Only the governors had authority over him.
Harry quickly helped Hermione to her feet. "Did you see what happened love?"
"No Harry, my back was turned. It looks like a student was struck! Harry! It's Draco! I think he's dead! He was standing just in front of us. I didn't even see him."
"I saw a green light flash over us just as I pulled you down. It must have hit Draco."
The Headmaster was bending over Draco, examining him. "I'm afraid you're right Hermione. He was struck by the killing curse. Who could have fired it, I wonder? I think it was meant for one of you two. We'll have to examine everyone's wands to check for the curse. I fear, however, that who ever attacked is now gone. I thought I saw a figure fleeing before I could secure the hall. Still, we'll have to check everyone."
"How could this happen Professor? Except for the students and staff, everyone was supposed to be checked before they entered," Harry said exasperated.
"I'm afraid someone must have snuck in, Harry," the old man said sadly. "This will be a terrible blow to the Malfoy family."
"Mum and Dad!" Hermione exclaimed. "Where are they?"
"Here they come Hermione," Harry said calmly. "They look a bit shaken up though."
"Hermione! Harry! Are you alright?" Jean asked.
"We're fine Mum. It looks like we'll have to reschedule the wedding though. A student was killed."
Hermione, as ravishingly beautiful as Harry had ever seen, had tears in her eyes. She had waited for this day and now it was ruined.
"Poor Draco, I know he hated us, but that's an awful thing to happen to him. He was so young," Hermione sobbed.
Holding her closely, Harry comforted her, letting the tears fall on his robes. "It's alright Hermione, we'll get by this."
Albus offered to accommodate the Grangers for the day until the mess was sorted out. They gratefully accepted, glad that they would have a chance to comfort their daughter and Harry.
….
Lucius sat at home with his head buried in his hands. `I've killed my son!' How could his plans have gone so wrong. `Potter will pay for this,' he thought, furiously. Narcissa was beside herself with grief. He had not told her that he had accidentally killed their son. His wife would have killed him immediately if she found out. He told her only that he had arrived at Hogwarts only to see his son killed by an unknown person.
There was no stopping him now. Any chance he had, he would kill them both without a seconds hesitation. Perhaps a gathering of his Death Eater friends would be in order. The Mudblood had to have a home. He would draw them there and kill them. Potter's home was unplotable but perhaps after school was out and he left for home…
….
A week later, the Headmaster rescheduled the ceremony. Draco's mother had reclaimed her son, tears streaming from her eyes. She demanded to know who killed her son, but the Headmaster had been unable to answer her. All the wands had been confiscated and checked but the perpetrator was still unknown.
This time only the staff, students, and Hermione's parents were invited. Ron, Luna, Neville, Emily and Ginny were there as planned. The ceremony went ahead as if nothing had happened. Harry waited at the alter for his bride. Her father escorted a radiant Hermione down the isle.
Hermione, looking beautiful in her wedding dress and Harry in his father's dress robes took their places in front of the Headmaster. It wasn't as big an affair as originally planned, but that suited Harry and Hermione just fine.
"Dear friends," the Headmaster intoned. "We are gathered together to unite this young couple in magical matrimony. For as much as they have proven their love to one another, and with Merlin's blessing, I unite you in life and in death, body and soul, in health and sickness forever bonded.
"Harry James Potter, do you take Hermione Jean Granger for your wife under magical law?"
"I do."
"Hermione Jean Granger, do you take Harry James Potter for your husband under magical law?"
"I do,"
"The rings please?" Dumbledore requested.
Ron presented the rings to the Headmaster.
Muttering a long incantation and touching each ring, he presented each ring to Harry and Hermione.
"You may exchange the rings now."
As they each fitted the rings to the other, together Harry and Hermione spoke the incantation.
(Translated from Celtic) "With this ring I thee bind, body and soul forever."
There was a brief flare of violet light and the two rings touched each other as their ring hands clasped together.
The small gathering gasped, not expecting this. Dumbledore smiled, sensing a true union of spirits had occurred. These two would now be protected even more than before. The school had protected them before and enhanced their magic, now the rings would expand that protection.
"Harry, you may kiss the bride," Dumbledore told him.
Gathering Hermione in his arms, he kissed her thoroughly and she responded with equal passion.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Potter, or more properly Lord and Lady Potter."
The crowd clapped and whistled, obviously pleased.
The chairs were quickly moved and tables appeared with a wave of the Headmasters wand. The wedding feast lasted an hour with Professor McGonagall giving the toast to the newly married couple.
"I have know Harry sine he was a baby, and while I would have wished he had lived a better life as a child at his relatives place, we see before us a fine young man.
"Hermione Granger has been the brightest witch in the school since the first year, excelling in all her studies. Together, they make a fine team and under the soul bond will be a powerful force for good in the wizarding world,"
After the speeches (and there were quite a few from people that knew the pair, the tables and chairs were removed and the dancing commenced.
The first dance was Harry and Hermione, soon joined by Ron and Luna. Neville danced with Emily and Ginny, both girls blushing freely. Hermione had instructed Harry in dancing several weeks ago. With Harry holding her close, she was lost in the moment, not remembering much except how wonderful it felt to dance with him. Harry breathed deeply, the scent of Hermione lifting him to the peak of ecstasy. They seemed to float across the hall, lost in each other's embrace.
….
Later, Harry carried Hermione over the threshold of the apartment the Headmaster had assigned them in the castle.
Once inside, all pretense at decorum vanished as the pair quickly shed their clothes. Running for the bed, they feverishly fell into each other's arms.
"Oops, we forgot to do the charms and take the potion," Hermione reminded him.
Quickly taking care of that chore, they resumed their embrace. Hermione wrapped her legs around Harry, drawing him closer. Harry was ready for her, his member fully erect as it pushed against her slit. She was slick already and he found ready entrance to her, plunging deeply while pushing her back on the bed. The slow rhythm of love continued, both wanting to prolong the ecstasy as long as possible. Moaning, Hermione ground her hips against Harry and started bucking under him, driving faster. Harry picked up the pace and soon brought them over the edge.
Throughout the night, they continued to make love, sometimes Harry on top, other times Hermione. The explored different positions and finally fell asleep at daybreak, completely sated and exhausted.
After sleeping for most of the day, they were starving when they finally arose. A house elf provided food for the couple and disappeared. All of their favorites were there and they ate heartily. Gone was the need to watch what each other ate. They could select what their bond did. Taste was one of the first things they learned to control. They also learned to selectively listen to each other's mind. Conversation still took place in their heads, but they ignored mundane thoughts. Emotions still overrode any attempt to block them, and that was as it should be. Seeing what each other could see only came under stress or if they concentrated on the other.
Their magic continued to grow as they learned how to control it. In this, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were key in training them. They had extra classes with the two professors, three times a week in the evenings. They could now cast a nearly impenetrable shield spell wandless. Professor Flitwick started to teach them dueling, since everyone realised that Lockhart was really not up to the job as DADA teacher. Even the Headmaster came to the conclusion that Lockhart's credentials were suspect, but it was too late in the year to change things now.
As the days passed, exams became the most important thought on all student's minds. Harry and Hermione haunted the library, revising and testing each other. They would have to take their exams separately because of their bond, but this was easily arranged. With the exams just a few weeks away, they almost forgot that they had an appointment to see Madam Pomfrey for a checkup.
Entering the hospital ward, Poppy greeted them cheerfully.
"Well, you two look bright and chipper this morning. I was hoping to check Hermione to see if our potions and spells were effective against your magic. The Headmaster was quite worried that your enhanced magic would overpower the precautions and you would wind up pregnant.
Sitting on one of the ward beds, Hermione was nervous. Her period was delayed and she was afraid the potions wouldn't be enough protection. They had shagged almost every night for the past two weeks and although they had always taken the potion and did the charm, she was now at least a week past her time.
As the Mediwitch passed her wand over Hermione, Harry could feel the tension in Hermione. He tried to calm her, but felt the same as she did.
Madam Pomfrey scowled and tried the test again. The results were still inconclusive. She couldn't tell for sure if Hermione was pregnant or not.
"There seems to be something blocking my tests, Hermione. I can't tell for sure, but if your period doesn't start in another week, I think we can probably say you're pregnant. I can't get a clear indication one way or the other, so I'd say cross your fingers. This is the first time I haven't been able to tell if a witch is pregnant or not."
Leaving the ward, Harry and Hermione were determined not to let it upset them. If she was pregnant, then they would deal with it. Harry was very supportive and buoyed Hermione's mood considerably.
….
Emily and Luna wondered where Ginny was. Asking around, they discovered no one had seen her.
"She's disappeared again Luna," Emily said. "I wonder where she goes."
"We've tried asking her, but I get the impression that even she doesn't know."
….
Ernie Macmillan was walking the second floor corridor with Zacharias Smith, when they rounded the corner and spotted the floor flooded again. Glancing up at wall, they gaped at the red letters written underneath the original message: `Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever'
A crowd soon formed and a prefect was sent to notify the Headmaster.
Albus and several teachers quickly arrived. Professor McGonagall called to the prefects to escort the students back to their dormitories. Harry and Hermione had been walking with Emily when they came across the crowd. Moving close to the front, they saw the writing on the wall.
Who do you think was taken Harry?
"Ginny's missing!" Emily blurted.
A moment later, the Headmaster confirmed their fears when he whispered to Professor McGonagall that it indeed had been Ginny that had been taken.
Harry and Hermione were stunned. They had almost forgotten about the Chamber of Secrets and their efforts to find it.
Hermione, we have to find Moaning Myrtle! All this water appears whenever something like this happens. I bet she knows something.
Let's hide in this classroom until the corridor clears. Oh! What about Emily?
Bring her inside with us, Hermione, she knows Ginny better than we do.
"Quick Emily, come inside this classroom with us. We need to talk to you about Ginny!" Hermione stated.
Closing the door behind them, they waited until the corridor cleared.
Emily told them about the diary and that Ginny seemed to be obsessed with it. "She disappeared quite often and when we asked her where she'd gone, she couldn't answer us. It's like she couldn't remember."
"The coast is clear," Harry said, peeking around the door. "Let's go."
"Wh-where are you going guys?" Emily asked nervously.
Harry explained their suspicions about Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, urging them onward.
Myrtle was home, but the bathroom was awash, with water puddle everywhere.
"Um, Myrtle," Harry asked. "how did you die?
"Ooh, nobody ever asked me that before Harry. I was sitting in this stall, crying. Olive Hornby had been teasing me about my glasses and then I heard a boy enter the bathroom. He spoke this funny sort of made up language and I left my stall to tell him that boy's were not allowed in the girls bathrooms. And then I died."
"But how did you die, Myrtle?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I looked up and these great yellow eyes looked at me, and then I died."
"Myrtle, when did this happen?" Harry asked.
"Oh about fifty years ago. Why?"
"That's when the Chamber of Secrets was opened," Hermione stated.
"Um, Myrtle? Harry asked. "Did you see anyone come in here today, besides us?"
"Yes, a girl came in here about an hour ago. She went over to that sink and said something like a made up language."
Harry walked over to the sink and examined it closely. It looked dirty and hadn't been used in quite awhile.
"That faucet doesn't work Harry," Emily said. "It seems to be stuck."
As Harry examined the faucet, he felt a mark on the side. Looking closer, a small engraved snake appeared. "I wonder…"
Speaking Parseltongue, Harry asked it to open.
A great rumbling started and the trio jumped back. Their astonishment grew when the sink began to move out of the way and a large hole appeared in the floor.
Harry carefully examined the opening, finally deciding this was the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
"Well, it doesn't look too clean, but this looks like it's been used recently. I wonder if there is an easy way down instead of sliding," Harry wondered.
"Um, Harry," Emily started, "I don't think I've told you that Ginny has been reading this diary that I found. When you write in it, the ink disappears and then the diary writes back. Luna and I were suspicious of the diary, but Ginny said she wanted to borrow it and test it more thoroughly."
"Emily, you know better than to trust something that can think for itself if you don't know where its' brain is!" Hermione angrily replied.
"Shh, love," Harry warned, "we have to figure a way down here. I wonder if there are hidden stairs."
"Try Parseltongue, Harry," Hermione suggested.
`STAIRS', Harry hissed, and a set of spiral stone stairs appeared around the edge of the hole.
"Well done Harry," Hermione smirked. "I guess we go down the easy way after all."
"Emily, you can't come, it's too dangerous," Hermione stated. "You'd best fetch the Headmaster."
"You and Harry can't go down there by yourselves!" Emily cried. "At least wait for Professor Dumbledore."
"By then, Ginny could be dead, Emily. We have to go now!" Harry replied.
"Then I'm going with you!"
"There's a Basilisk down there Emily! One look from it's eyes will kill you. And if it didn't, Mum would if she found out we allowed you to put yourself in danger."
"Ooooh! Okay, but you two be careful! I'll get the Headmaster."
Harry and Hermione quickly descended the stairs. The blackness was complete the deeper they went. Hermione softly said "Lumos", and a weak light lit the tip of her wand. They continued down, it seemed forever. They must be a hundred feet underground now. There was a greenish light far below them, as they carefully worked their way down. The air was distinctly colder and felt damp. Finally they reached the bottom.
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