Reality in Binding

Title: Reality in Binding

Rating: R

Warning: Swearing, yaoi slash, vnce,nce, angst.

Talking Forms: Talking “Word/s” Telepathic speech /Word/s/

Pairings: Draco x Harry, Hermione x Ron, maybe more later.

Author’s Notes: This took a little longer then expected. And this chapter maybe a little boring and confusing…at least it is for me…maybe its not. Anyway it explains what the bond is like for the boys and exactly why they are doing this. I made sure to make this chapter long. ^_^

Please enjoy and no flames.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don’t own the characters, but I do own the plot.

Thanks to: Squirekali - ^_^ glad you like. Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Keikokin - ^_^ yeah I know. I have one Beta read, but she reads for my story ‘Unknown.’ Glad you like the choice of crystals and Star. I love crystals, but I tend to own more citrine then anything. But I’m into Celtic’s and Druids so that tends to help with the story ^_^ I’m glad to see someone else out there that knows the meaning behind crystals. Glad you like. ^_^ Enjoy.

Chapter one – Se astringo Totus

It was a cloudy day, rain threatening to fall for the second time as a cold breeze echoed through the castel. But the two boys’ knone one of this, their eyes were still closed as their minds still pledged in a deep slumber.

Around them stood a small group, each watching the two boys’ for any sign of consciousness. It had been twenty-seven hours since the binding ceremony.

Hermione stood beside Ron, her hand clutched onto his, her knuckles almost white as she struggled to hold back her tears; a saddened gaze on her friend’s sleeping face.

Ron stood tall, struggling and almost winning to hold back his own tears, his blue eyes planted on his friend searching for any sign that would show that the boy will wake.

Near them Millicent Bulstrode sat in a chair at the end of Draco’s bed. Behind her, with his hand resting gently on her shoulder, stood Blaise Zabini. Both faces showing no expression, but both watched their friend intently.

The two professors’s - Dumbledore and Snap - stood further to the back with Madam Pomfrey, also waiting in anticipation for aignsigns of alertness from the figures.

Then finally.

A small moan fell almost like thunder into the silent room, all eyes snapped to its direction and watched in anticipation as the raven haired boy shifted a little in his waking slumber, his head throbbing.

He could feel eyes on him as he shifted a little trying to find a more comfortable position, there was something missing though. The blankets felt almost suffocating against his chest and the mattress below him felt tood and and hard.

In his mind he could feel a distant pull; there was a better warmth then the bed he was in, but where?

Something was there; something was close to him yet not touching him. He needed its touch, he wanted the touch…the pull in his mind grew stronger - harsher almost - as he concentrated more on it.

There was something missing, something wasn’t here, he needed it and he needed it now!

“They’re waking” a voice spoke. It seemed so distant, but it was familiar none the less.

“Harry, can you hear me? Harry, open your eyes” the voice was still distant but it seemed to be coming closer.

He heard a soft moan…was that from him?

“Draco?”

That name. He knew that name and somehow it linked perfectly with this pull that was growing stronger by the minute within him.
His eyes slowly opened. The room was bright, too bright. Groaning he closed his eyes again.

“Harry, mate” Ron spoke watching his friend closely; the boy’s eyes were clenched tight as he shifted his head to the side to escape the blinding light of the hospital room.

Again Harry began to open his eyes - slower this time - but the light on this angle wasn’t as strong.

His gaze began to clear – as much as it could since he wasn’t wearing his glasses – he was facing someone, a pale figure, a soft featured face.

There was something about this form, something that made him want to reach out and touch it. This was the needed thing, this was what his fingers and body was craving. He needed to touch this form!

He stretched for it, yet his hands remained limp at his sides. He could feel himself reaching out to the form, it was almost like invisible hands…no it was invisible hands, and they had touched the sleeping figure, they had wrapped themselves tightly around it, holding it close.

He almost let out a breath of relief, it was there, it was in his arms, or at least in the mental embrace, it helped his heart slow down and lightened the itching in his body and fingers to physically touch it.

It wasn’t enough though; he could feel a pressure on his chest. He needed to physically touch this figure, not mentally, physically, this itching in his body – though not as much – was still there, at the back of his mind reminding him that he wanted to touch this body that lay beyond his reach.

Tightening his mental grip on the figure he seemed to get a response from the action; the figure groaned and moved his head to the side, now facing him.

Slowly pale eyelashes fluttered open to reveal hazy silver eyes, slowly, he watched as the colour cleared to a darker silver, almost grey.

As soon as the eyes were focused on his he recognised it, the grey eyes, pale skin and blonde silky hair…Draco.

/Potter/ His voice!

It was his voice, but it couldn’t be, the cherry lips didn’t move, the voice didn’t hit his ears…it spoke firmly but not aloud, it was in his mind, one of the most confusing feelings he had ever experienced. He was sure the voice was in his head, and it sounded just like Malfoy’s.

“Malfoy” he returned, but he found he had spoken aloud, not this telepathic method that the other seemed to speak.

He realized his mental arms were still around the boy, he could still feel the closeness. The feelings almost radiated off the blonde Slytherin lying across in a bed next to his. But even if this was Malfoy he couldn’t move away from him, he needed this touch, though his mind and body wanted more, he wanted to feel the skin beneath his physical fingers and safe in his physical arms, not these mental arms he had somehow conjured to hold the boy in.

“Harry. Harry are you okay? How are you feeling?” a worried voice broke his train of thought. Turning his head slightly he sighted Hermione and Ron looking over at him, Hermione holding back her tears as Ron tried to offer a small smile, both failing miserably.
“Draco” Blaise spoke with a nod of the head, his eyes never wavering from the boy. Draco looked to Millicent then Blaise, a small wave of confusion flowing out of him. A wave Harry immediately picked up, at first mistaking it for his own before he realised it wasn’t.

Somehow he could tell the difference between his emotions and the ones that were rolling off Malfoy, his emotions were more realistic and Malfoy’s were more like a ghost wind…something he could pick up on and identify, yet not hold.

“How are you boy’s feeling?” Madam Pomfrey asked as she walked over to stand between their beds, looking to one boy then the other.

Harry looked up at her, at first feeling confused then extra confused, it seemed his confusion was being heightened by another’s…ahh there’s that ghost wind again. He was feeling Malfoy’s confusion as well. Silently he wondered if Malfoy felt his emotions as well.

Draco looked towards Potter, there was that odd feeling again, confusion? Yes it was confusion, he felt the emotion roll into him as if his body lived of it, the same way a sponge would suck up water.

He felt no other emotion, he turned his attention to Blaise, the boy was looking back at him with an unreadable expression, though his eyes clearly showed the concern. But there were no emotions rolling off him, neither were there any from Millicent.

He could only sense Potter’s emotions. Suddenly a wave of understanding hit him; it was like a large wave, he was sure if he had been standing he would have swayed on his feet with the intensity of this emotion.

“I…it worked?” Harry’s voice broke the silence, his eyes planted on Dumbledore who was silently approaching them with a grave expression.

Nodding he sat on the edge of Harry’s bed, “Yes my boy, it worked. Both you and Mr Malfoy have successfully been bind, mind and soul” he stated with a small smile sent to the young Gryffindor.

“Oh Harry are you okay?” Hermione asked as she leant forward and placed a soft hand to his bare arms.

It wasn’t expected. A loud yelp erupted as Harry violently pulled away from his friends touch, his teeth clenched together as he hissed in pain. His arm was burning; the touch she made to his skin sent it almost on fire, the pain washed over him in burning gusts.

Draco cringed, his own hand rubbing his upper arm unconsciously as he watched the boy across from. Th. The pain seemed to, only just, slip through the bond, it was like something pinched at their souls, though a small fire was lighting it’s way up the arm from where the touch had been made.

Pomfrey rushed forward, her wand drawn as she began to stream spells out, numbing, healing, cooling and other small charms to fix the given problem.

Hermione had leapt back looking positively scared, Harry had screamed in pain at her touch as if she had cursed him, she had hurt her friend.

She hadn’t noticed she had started crying until arms wrapped themselves around her waist, her face automatically burying itself into the warm chest.

“I…I hurt…him” her voice was muffled but still decipherable. Ron soothed circles on her back.

“It’s alright, his still in the last stages of the after effect from the ceremony” the nurse spoke up as she stepped back from Harry who was now recovering as the sensations died away.

Looking up to the medi-witch questionably she continued to explain for those who didn’t know. “The boy’s can’t be touched by anyone for at least three more hours; their bodies are still adjusting to the link that has been made. Any human touch, to their skin directly, will course severe pain, like fire” she spoke softly. Her eyes skimming over all occupants to make sure they understood.

Hermione sniffed as she looked back to Harry “I…I’m sorry Harry” she said wiping her tears away.

Smiling to his bushy haired friend the boy nodded “You didn’t know ‘Mione, t wot worry” he assured adding a small smile.
“How are you feeling my boy?” Dumbledore broke in, studying Harry.

Frowning a little, the boy gazed over to the pale Slytherin near him, he could still feel emotions rolling off him though he choose not to interpret them, his invisible arms he realized were no longer circling the boy, it made him almost whither, he needed contact, the itchy feeling beneath his skin returned almost ten-folds as strong.

Reaching out with his mind, feeling a little uncertain on exactly what it was he was doing, he felt as - once again - invisible arms were formed and wrapped themselves around the boy’s body. It was more like he was shifting closer to him, like their minds were almost merging together. It felt like they were really touching each other yet at the same time they were too far away…it was confusing.

Draco blinked at the sudden warmth that he had woken up too, he hadn’t noticed that it had slipped away but suddenly it was returning, unconsciously he leaned into it. The need was strong, he didn’t care where the feeling camom, om, it was there and it seemed to satisfy him to a degree but another part of him wanted to make the contact real; he needed it to be real.

The fact that this feeling seemed to be strongly emanating from Potter did ruffle his nerves a little but at the moment he didn’t care, he needed this, he needed more. But for now he will take this.

Harry turned his attention back to Dumbledore once feeling Malfoy’s body settle in his invisible arms.

“I do feel different…but all the right symptoms are there, all the symptoms the book said that will be experienced after bonding are there” Dumbledore nodded clearly waiting for the boy to list them.

“I can feel Malfoy’s emotions…er…and I think he spoke to me telepathically” glancing to the blonde he watched as the boy’s brows pinched together until his eyes widened a little and he nodded.

He remembered that, he had woken up to find green forest eyes looking at him, immediately he recognised the person as Potter but when he went to say the name it almost felt like a slip of the tongue, but he had not realised he had telepathically said it…

“Um, there’s a…um…well like a pull to him…” Harry muttered, a small blush coming to his face.

Dumbledore nodded “This is good, it means the ceremony was a complete success” Harry nodded, his blush slowly fadinay aay as he composed himself.

“So we’re bonded now?” he asked “Or at least in soul and mind?” looking back to Malfoy who was also waiting for the answer, he turned back to the headmaster who nodded.

“Yes, your soul and mind are bonded. Both the mind and the soul bond would be the ones causing the pull you’re both feeling” he explained.

“What do you mean, our mind and soul bond’s are creating the pull, it’s like a pull for us to physically touch each other…or…um…at least it’s like that for me” Harry stammered as he quickly looked to his lap.

Dumbledore nodded “It’s perfectly normal Harry, the soul and mind bonds are trying to get you to bond your bodies and heart, this can only be achieved through…well…you’ve read the books” the man stated for a first looking slightly embarrassed.

Harry’s face heated as he nodded. Draco’s following the same path with a light tinge to his cheeks.

“But we don’t hav-” Draco began with his face screwed up.

Snape stepped in “No. No you don’t have to, you can easily ignore the pull for physical touch, if the pull becomes too strong, which it will sometimes, use your other bonds to suffice you, no doubt you’ve read that your soul and mind bond can give you a small amount of contact without having to touch physically” he spoke showing no signs of embarrassment.

Draco nodded as he noted the invisible arms around him, that must be what Snape was referring too.

Looking to Potter he watched as the boy slowly digested the information.

“We can fight the pull though…can’t we?” he asked as he looked to Draco with uncertainty.

Again Dumbledore spoke “Yes my dear boy, you can fight the pull, at first it may seem hard but with time you can fight it and suffice with mental touches” he spoke, this time not falling into a blush.

Harry nodded. That was good news.

They had studied the books that went into vivid descriptions of the binding ceremony and the task’s needed to bind each body element: Body, mind, soul and heart.

It was almost burnt into their minds, Hermione had read it so many times and forced both boys to read it – though Malfoy put up a large fight – the book wasn’t even found in the library, in fact Dumbledore had to search for it.

‘The Binding ceremonies of ancient times – By Greg Foster’

The Mind bind was created through the ceremony they had just completed. This bond would give each other the ability to send telepathic thoughts and images to the other.

The Soul bind was also created through the same ceremony. This bond would allow them to feel the others emotions not just physically like the body bind, it would allow them to basically read the others souls, see the truth in their feelings.

The Body bind was created through sexual intercourse which was created any time after the main ceremony, basically like a mating ritual. The bonding would give them a strong link to feel when the other was in bodily pain, pleasure or anything else to do with the others body, as well as a share of magical oars.

And last of all, The Heart bind which was created after all three binding ceremonies were completed. This would heighten all other binding effects as well as bring together the power essence that would allow the bonded couple to share magical traits, for example Harry knows wandless magic Draco would pick up the talent. It was like everything they possess is being shared with the other.
But of course both boys only wanted to bond with their mind and soul, there was no need to go any further then that. Not that they wanted to either.

They only needed to bind their minds and souls together to complete their destinies, which they discovered with the help of a powerful seer – Natalia Sooflay.

It was the most unexpected thing that had ever happened to them. They returned to school after the holidays only to discover that both their names had been mentioned in a prophecy and to the fact that it was also mentioned that the boys were to biheirheir minds and souls together.

Dumbledore had tried everything to not place the boys in the fate of binding with each other, he even suggested that they ignored the prophecy – much to Draco’s delight – but it had soon been proven that they could not forget it, it was to haunt them until they carried the prophecy out.

Natalia had even mentioned the ceremony’s name in what they were meant to preform ‘Se astringo Totus’ Latin for ‘To commit oneself to all.’ In the end there was no escape.

They were forced for three months to secretly study the ceremony – since it took them about two months to finally agree to doing the ceremony, though Draco was the hardest to persuade - they were not allowed to mention anything of this to anyone apart from six people the deemed trustworthy.

Those people being Ron, Blaise, Hermione, Millicent, Dumbledore and Snape, though there was a few arguments over this seeing as Draco didn’t want Harry’s choice and Harry didn’t want Draco’s until finally they settled on choosing three each and sticking with it. And of course allowing the Nurse – Madam Pomfrey - to know in case of incidents.

So that was how it happened. Still they were unsure as to why exactly they allowed this bonding to happen, the prophecy only claimed that they were to save the wizarding world together, through the ‘Se astringo Totus’ bind.

“I suggest you both get some more rest” Dumbledore spoke as he stood. Beckoning the rest of the group to leave the room, the door closed behind them leaving the linked boys alone.

Draco and Harry glanced back to each other warily before frowning and facing away from the other.

/Great/ came the mental message from both.

TBC…