Soul Bond

Hermione sat on a bench in the garden at River’s Run. She sat silently staring at the river that flowed softly in the distance. She was thinking about what it would be like to find out that you had a child only to loose it so soon after. She knew that Harry was hurting but that he would keep it all in so those around him could grieve. She knew that Harry would want to make sure that Draco and the children were all right before he gave into his own grief. She silently prayed that she would never be a situation like Harry and Draco were.

She was happy with her choice of husband. Neville was everything she could have hoped for in a life mate. He was kind and generous, intelligent and witty. She smiled when she thought of the strong, proud man he had become. She had always known that Neville was more than he portrayed himself to be, but she had been surprised at how capable he had become. He would never be referred to as “Neville Longbottom, the witless wonder,” again.

Hermione smiled when she thought of the incredible lover that her husband was. She hadn’t been a virgin when they married, but he brought her to heights that nobody else had ever done. She felt her body hum with desire when she thought about him. She wondered how long it would be before she would become pregnant. Harry and Draco were already expecting their third child, and she was anxious to start catching up.

She had spent the morning making love to her husband until he had to leave to prepare lessons for the coming week of school. She would have spent the entire day in bed if she could have, but Neville had been putting off lesson plans since their marriage and he really needed to get caught up. Headmistress McGonagall had been patient with him, but they both knew that her patients would be at an end if he continued to slack off. She had decided to enjoy the early afternoon sun before heading to Diagon Alley to purchase birthday gifts for Sirius and Lilly. She wanted to get them something special but still wasn’t quite sure what.

“Hello, my dear. Isn’t it a beautiful day?” Augusta asked startling Hermione from her random thoughts.

“Oh, Grandmother, hello!” she said with a smile.

“Do you mind if I join you?” she asked as she sat down on the bench next to Hermione.

“Sure,” Hermione said with a smile.

“I used to enjoy this garden when I was younger. I spent hours out here enjoying the sound of the wind blowing and the river flowing. I hate to admit that I very rarely get out here now.”

“Why not?”

“My old bones do not enjoy the cool air as much as they used to. I am glad to see that you have made yourself at home here. I had this bench place here my first year as a bride.”

“It is a lovely view,” Hermione said.

“I wanted a place to go that I could be alone. Neville’s grandfather, Franklin, was a very busy man. He enjoyed constant company and people around him. I must admit that I was more of the quiet type. I couldn’t tolerate the constant movement and noise that he craved. He had this garden arranged for me and for many years I tended to it and made it mine.”

“I hope that I am not intruding on your private sanctuary. It was just so beautiful and tranquil here,” she said wistfully.

“Oh no, my dear! Enjoy this lovely garden, and make it yours. I am an old woman now, and I prefer the comfort of my fireplace and lounge chair to the hard bench and cold wind. I am delighted that you would enjoy it as much as I used to.”

“I promise to keep it as lovely as you have,” Hermione said.

“I can’t take all the credit for the way that it now looks. Neville has done a lot to keep it going. He has taken a lot of time and effort to turn it into this floral heaven. I must say that I am quite proud of Neville and his natural proficiency in Herbology. It was a bit surprising when I learned of it!”

“Neville has always excelled in Herbology. I don’t know if you know or not, but he is the one who helped Harry during the Tri-Wizard tournament and told him to use the gillyweed when he had to complete the task in the black lake.”

“I had heard that. Amazing isn’t it, that the boy who everyone thought to be a squib turned out so differently!” she said with pride.

“I can assure you that I never thought of Neville as a squib!” Hermione said indignantly.

“I know you didn’t, dear. That is why my Neville always loved you. You always treated him as an equal and never ridiculed him or put him down.”

Hermione blushed. “I was once told to treat others how I wanted to be treated. I learned that adage didn’t always work, so I adopted, treat others how they treat me. Neville always treated me with kindness and respect. He never once made a disparaging comment regarding my Muggle background and never made me feel like a second-class citizen. I always thought that Neville was a very capable Wizard. I felt that he only lacked confidence. Once he found his confidence, there was no stopping him!”

Augusta smiled at her new granddaughter-in-law. She was an excellent choice for her beloved grandson. “I think that it was your confidence in Neville that helped him.”

“That, and all the training that Harry gave me,” Neville said quietly coming to stand behind his wife and grandmother.

“Neville!” Hermione grinned jumping up and throwing herself into her husband’s arms. “Are you finished early?”

Grinning he said, “I am. I thought that I would accompany you to Diagon Alley for birthday gifts. Our godchildren deserve something spectacular, don’t you agree my love?”

“Why Neville, I didn’t know that you had been named as the godfather of the Malfoy-Potter children!” Augusta exclaimed.

“Actually, Hermione was named as the godmother, and I just sort of adopted them too. Harry and Draco did ask me if I would mind raising them if something happened to them.”

“And of course you agreed.”

“Of course. Harry was a true friend to me while I was a child. I swore an oath to him that I would protect his children with my life.”

“As should you, Neville,” his grandmother said matter of factly.

“Well my dear, shall we?”

Hermione help up her hand to her husband and nodded her head. A moment later they both disappeared.

“Damn!” Augusta said with a frown. “I didn’t get a chance to ask about great-grandchildren!”

“Harry told me that Lilly could only take a few things with her. I want to get her something small that she can carry with her always and think of us and know how much we truly love her,” Hermione said as they looked in yet another shop.

“What about jewelry?” Neville suggested.

“As the only Malfoy female, you don’t think that she already has access to a ton of beautiful jewelry?” Hermione said shaking her head.

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I just can’t think of anything.”

Neville thought for a moment. “How about a remember ball. We can take it to the party tonight and everyone can record a message into it and when she is feeling alone all she has to do is say the name of the person she is missing and that person’s message will play for her.”

“Oh Neville, that’s fantastic! Where can we get one?”

“I bet we could get one at the Weasley’s store. They sell things like that. We might even be able to find something for Sirius there.”

“I wanted to get Sirius a box of never ending brownies. You would not even believe how much that kid loves chocolate!”

“Probably not as much as I love you!” he said kissing his wife passionately.

“Oh gods, Longbottom, get a room!” they heard a voice behind them sneer.

Both turned and grinned at Draco. “What are you doing here? I figured that you would be spending your last bit of time with Lilly,” Hermione said with a smile.

Draco immediately frowned. “I wanted to purchase her something special for her birthday. I am having a hell of a time coming up with something small that she can take with her.”

“Are you doing ok?” Hermione asked seeing the tears that threatened to spill down the proud wizards face.

“I am going to miss her so much!” he cried.

“Oh!” Hermione cried and threw her arms around Draco. “She’ll be fine. A year really isn’t that long!” she said trying to hold back her own tears.

“A year seems like forever to me!”

“Draco Malfoy! Why are you hugging that Mudblood?” a shrill voice demanded.

Hermione and Draco pulled apart and looked at Pansy Parkinson. “I beg your pardon?” he asked in his superior aristocratic voice.

“Why are you letting that Mudblood hug you?”

“Whom are you calling a Mudblood?” he demanded.

“Granger! Have you lost your mind?” she demanded.

“This is Hermione Longbottom, and she is not a Mudblood. She is in fact a Malfoy who has married into another pure blood family!” he sneered.

“What?” Pansy shrieked.

“We don’t have time to stand around and explain things to someone who is to simple to understand common English. Come, Hermione, Neville.”

Both Neville and Hermione bit back their grins and followed Draco away from the stunned girl. They were both glad to be on his side for once and not the other side of his sharp tongue. “Draco Malfoy, did you just claim me in public?” Hermione asked with a grin.

“Well you are a Malfoy,” he said. “And the godmother of my children.”

“She’s a Longbottom now,” Neville argued.

“Either way, she is much to good for the likes of Parkinson. So what shall I purchase for Lilly?”