Amo Servo Fulcio

A/N: I noticed that I didn’t mention this before, but this story is AU. It takes place in sixth year, but HPB has not happened. The Disclaimer is in the first chapter. Please review with your thoughts or leave me some constructive criticism. If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them. I understand that this chapter is a bit of an information dump. I apologize for that. Things should be getting far more interesting in the next chapter or two.

“Well, I assume you’ll like to learn a bit more about this bond,” Dumbledore said, reaching for a lemon drop. He waved his hand in a gesture offering the muggle candy to the rest of the group. They all declined, disdain evident in Narcissa Malfoy’s eyes.

“So, what’s it called?” Harry asked, deciding to start with the basics.

“Amo Servo Fulcio,” Dumbledore replied. The old wizard looked as if he was about to expand on the topic when Draco spoke up.

“You said it’s like a marriage bond?” he asked incredulously, disgusted at the thought of being married to his rival.

The headmaster smiled good-naturedly at the interruption. “Yes and no.” Draco raised an eyebrow at the answer, as Dumbledore continued to clarify the topic. “It’s like a marriage bond, but without the emotional attachments.” Sighs of relief were heard from more than one person. “Loosely translated, it means ‘love, protect, strengthen’ but it is the only bond of this nature that does not require love of the participants. You will become tuned in to the well-being of the person you’ve been bonded to and you will have to spend a majority of your time with them at least in the same room. The main purpose of this bond, which is why we are having you participate, is that it strengthens and protects the participants. You will feed off of each other’s magic.”

Harry nodded in reluctant understanding and Draco scowled. Narcissa observed haughtily from her chair. One question was still plaguing Harry, though. “So we won’t have to, you know, do anything, right?” Narcissa frowned at the boy’s immaturity and Draco rolled his eyes.

“No, Harry, nothing of that nature will be required.”

Harry sighed in relief as Draco said, “I can’t believe I have to be bonded to such a bloody idiot.”

Harry jumped up out of his seat in fury. “Shut up, you git!”

Draco shot out of his own seat, yelling right into Harry’s face. “Wanker!”

“Arsehole!”

“Tosser!”

“Prat!”

“Boys!” Dumbledore yelled. “Please, have a seat and try to act your age. May I remind you that you will spend the rest of your lives in very close proximity?”

Both boys looked up from where they had resumed their seats in shock. “What do you mean ‘the rest of our lives’?” Harry demanded.

“Unfortunately Amo Servo Fulcio has no counter of any kind. Once the bond has taken place, you will be bound for life.”

“This is an outrage!” Draco cried heatedly. “I am a Malfoy and I will not put up with something this ridiculous!”

“I would hate to have the law we spoke of enforced. I do not wish you to join your father in Azkaban, Mr. Malfoy,” Dumbledore replied, his usual calm demeanor firmly in place.

Narcissa’s arrogant appearance had remained intact throughout the entire event. “Stop acting like a petulant child, Draco. Don’t disgrace yourself or our name. You will be bonded to Potter. I will not have the Malfoy named tarnished any further because you end up in prison.”

Narcissa somehow seemed cool and impassive throughout her entire speech and Harry wondered just how distant Draco’s parents really were. Harry had never thought his father was very loving, but he had always assumed that his mother spoiled him rotten behind closed doors. That assumption was rapidly becoming less and less likely.

Draco nodded obediently and then turned to the headmaster. “Well, when do we have to do this?”

“The bond will need to take place as soon as possible. How’s tomorrow sound?”

Harry was taken aback. He hadn’t expected that it would happen so soon. Speaking exactly what he was thinking, Harry muttered, “That’s so soon.”

Dumbledore nodded briskly, saying only, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Narcissa took that moment to finally address Dumbledore. “Will there be enough time to make the necessary preparations if the bond occurs that soon?”

Dumbledore nodded. “I believe so. I, of course, will be presiding over the bond. We will need only the two adult males and two adult females that are closest to the boys. Boys, who do you think will be best suited for the roles?”

“Do they need to be family?” Harry asked, hesitantly.

“Absolutely not. Family is not always who is closest to you,” Dumbledore replied with a smile, a knowing gleam in his eyes.

The boys thought it over for a brief moment before Draco nodded decisively. “My mother and Severus.”

Harry looked at him incredulously. “Professor Snape?”

“Why, of course. Severus is my godfather after all.”

“And, Harry, do you know who you would like to join you?” Dumbledore asked.

“Um, well… Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I suppose.” Harry didn’t sound near as sure as Draco did, probably because off the fact that most of the people he had been closest to were dead.

“Well, it’s settled then. Harry, I’ll contact the Weasleys. Tomorrow, you boys will be excused from classes so we may perform the bond and get you settled.” Harry and Draco nodded in understanding, both suddenly feeling the reality of the situation. “Well, then, off you go. Just in time for dinner. Narcissa, I presume you’ll be staying with us for at least tonight.” She nodded curtly. “I’ll show you were you’re staying, then.”

Everyone in the room began to stand and leave the room, walking down the stairs leading outside Dumbledore’s office.

Harry walked to the Great Hall, the nervous feeling in his stomach increasing with each step he took. Trying to put the bond out of his mind, Harry tried to focus on another thought instead. The only thing that came to mind was his body’s unfortunate reaction to Malfoy at the beginning of the meeting. He could come up with no idea as to why he became so aroused at the mere sight of the blond boy. Harry finally reached the Great Hall and as he walked inside to join his friends at the table, he decided to forget about the event and chalk it up to teenage hormones. Sitting down across from Ron and Hermione, who both gave him expectant looks, obviously waiting to hear about why he was called to go see Dumbledore, Harry realized that he would have to explain to his friends that he was soon going to be bound eternally to Draco Malfoy. Things were not looking up in the luck department.