The Power Lies Within

Here is an update sorry it took so long. Enjoy and don\'t forget to review.
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Chapter 7
The Copula Cognatus

A very tired Hermione and a worried Harry made there way to Dumbledore’s office. When they entered a very sad and tired Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk with his hands folded and leaning his chin on them. He was deep in thought. Standing by the hearth was Severus. He looked grim. Professor McGonagall was sitting across from Dumbledore with a cup of tea in her but not drinking it. Hermione took one look around and realized what that uneasy feeling was that she had been feeling. “No, please god no.” She sobbed falling to her knees as the tears began rolling down her face.

Harry helped her up and sat her in a chair in front of the fireplace. Dumbledore and McGonagall made their way over to where she was sitting. Hermione continued to sob and repeat, “No, please god no! No, this just can’t be happening.”

“I am assuming that you realize why we brought you in this morning.” said Dumbledore placing a hand on Hermione’s back

Hermione looked up at him, tears rolling freely down her cheeks. She gave an undistinguished noise. She took a few deep breaths and spoke. “H-How (sniff) did (sniff) it happen?”

“There was attack on the house late last night. It seems that they were looking for you, and when they realized that you were not there, they went after your parents.” At this Hermione went into another fit of sobs and when she calmed down a bit Dumbledore continued. “Your parents refused to tell them where you or Harry were. They were killed before they destroyed the house.”

“Who was it?” Hermione asked, her words dripping with fury.

“We don’t know exactly. We know it was one of Lord Voldemort’s followers because the Dark Mark was hanging over the house,” explained McGonagall.

“I will find out who was responsible Hermione. And they will pay.” When Hermione looked up she realized that Severus and stepped closer. The look in his eyes scared her, it was a look that was beyond furious, but there was something else there. It was almost as if he angry with himself. But Hermione had no idea why. Severus had nothing to do with the attack; he was with her last night.

“This does change things,” said Dumbledore.

“How?” asked Harry

“It means that we need to act now in order to protect Hermione. She needs to get married as soon as possible. Until then, she has to stay inside the castle and be with someone at all times. Hermione have you made a decision about what we talked about yesterday?” asked Dumbledore.

“Yes, I have. I’ll do it,” she looked at Severus and added “Not just because of this either.” Hermione could have sworn she saw the slightest bit of relief flicker over his eyes before he gave her the slightest of nods.

“There are a few details that will still need to be worked out. Such as which ceremony you will choose to use,” said McGonagall.

“We talked a little bit about that last night, but we didn’t make a decision,” commented Hermione.

“I think we need to give the most and strongest protection that we can, which means…” said Dumbledore.

“Which means that you want us to go with the Conjugo Anima,” Severus interrupted.

“Yes,” was all Dumbledore said in return.

Hermione looked Severus right in the eyes to read his reaction. “That would be the ceremony that I would choose to do too. I figure that if we are going to do this we should do it right.” There was a moment that Hermione saw a flash of shock pass across Severus face. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“If that is what you want to do than that is what we will do,” Severus said in an even tone.

“Well now that that is decided, we should decide when we will perform the ceremony,” said McGonagall.

“What about on New Year’s Eve?” asked Harry.

“That would be nice, since then it would be like starting the new year on a completely new foot. However, that does not give us much time. What needs to be done for a traditional wizard wedding ceremony?” Hermione asked looking around the room at Dumbledore, McGonagall, and her eyes finally resting and staying on Severus.

“You will need to get wedding robes, get your wedding cord, and a few other little details,” explained Professor McGonagall.

“There is one problem with this,” stated Severus.

“What is that?” asked Harry.

Severus looked to Dumbledore. “For traditional ceremony the couple needs 5 people to attend the wedding, the person performing the ceremony and two family members from the groom’s side and two . . .” said Dumbledore.

“And two from the bride’s side,” Hermione said with a heavy sigh, “That is a big problem. My mom and dad were the only family I had. So I guess we will have to choose a different type of ceremony?” She asked looking to Severus.

“There is another way,” said Dumbledore.

“Really, what?” asked Harry.

“First of all only one must be a blood relative. The other may be merely guardian. And I would fit into that category as your Head of House, because while you are here at school I am your guardian. Hermione, I have been so proud of you all these years, watching you grow into such a wonderful young woman. You are strong, brilliant, sensible, and I would be delighted if you would let me be the other person to participate in the Conjugo Anima,” said McGonagall.

“Well I now have one person, but I still do not have another blood relative,” Hermione said tears threatening to escape again.

“There is another type of bonding, one that bonds people into a new family unit, the Copula Cognatus. Once performed the members become a family unit in every sense of the word, they are bond by blood and thus will have the others blood in their veins and are blood relatives,” said Dumbledore.

“Hermione, do you remember what your dad said to me about a week after we got there fro Christmas break?” asked Harry.

“Yeah, he told you that you were part of our . . . You would do that?” she asked.

“Of course I would. Hermione you are one of my best friends and I would do anything to you. Plus then we would both have a family. We would be each other’s family.”

“Thank you Harry. You don’t know how much that means to me,” She hugged him as she said it.

“Well it seems that we will have even more planning to do, if we are to have the Conjugo Anima and the Copula Cognatus in five days.

The next two days were very busy. There were so many decisions to make: cord colors, robe colors, types of herbs they were going to use, wedding bands. Hermione found herself in the library researching the means of different herbs that would be sprinkled in a circle around the wedding party with Harry when Professor McGonagall came up behind her. “Hermione dear, would you like to follow me? I have a surprise for you.”

“Sure Professor,” Hermione marked her page and looked at Harry. “Would you mind taking this up to the common room so I can continue to look at them later?”

“No problem Hermione.” He said as he too closed the book on Quidditch he was looking at.

“Thanks” Hermione turned and followed Professor McGonagall to the hallway that contained the room of requirements. Just then the door to the room appeared on the wall. McGonagall walked up and opened the door and motioned for Hermione to step in. When she did she could not believe her eyes, the room did not even look like it was even in the castle instead it was what appeared to be a jewelry store. She turned and looked at McGonagall who was smiling at the confused look on Hermione’s face.

“Well you need to pick at a wedding band and you can’t leave the castle, so the jewelry store came to you,” she explained. “Now, see if you can find one that you like.”

Hermione began to walk up and down the glass cases looking at the different rings in each. She thought about what she knew about Severus and tried to find a ring that he would like. ‘It is going to have be of a stronger quality because of the ingredients he uses’ she thought as she passed of the white and yellow gold rings and headed toward the platinum bands. ‘It can’t be really fancy with a big stone, because he would never wear it.’ She thought was she looked a big ring with a huge garnet set in it. McGonagall leaned over her and smiled as she said, “As amusing as it would be to see Severus wearing that I am not sure he would like it very much.”

Hermione giggled as she turned around to look at her Professor. “You are right but it would be worth anything that happened afterward to see his face when he first saw it.” She continued down the cabinet until she came to some beautiful platinum bands. “May I see these please?” she said to McGonagall. With a wave of her wand the bands were on top of the case on a black velvet pillow. Hermione picked one up and examined it closer. It was a platinum band that had a design in silver and gold that twirled around it; it reminded her of two snakes winding around the bracket. It was simple, elegant, understated; it was perfect. “This one!” she said as she handed it to Professor McGonagall.

“Wonderful choice,” McGonagall said as she put the ring in a box and placed it inside of her robes. “Since you have picked the ring, I think it is time to pick your robes.” There was a quiet knock on the door and Madam Malkin walked in.
They spent the next two hours looking at and trying on so many different types of wedding robes that Hermione was starting to feel like a mannequin in a store window. This robe didn’t bring out her eyes enough, that one makes you look frumpy, this one made her hips look big. There was a myriad of reasons why all the robes didn’t work. Finally Hermione put on one that was perfect.

It had an empire waist, with a red ribbon that tied in a bow right under her breasts; it was pure white and made of a material that felt like she was wearing nothing at all. It was light and free flowing, the gown went to the floor and dragged a little behind her, she felt like a princess in it and when Madam Malkin brought the robe that went over the gown, she felt the look was complete. The robe was longer then the dress, it had a large hood that would go over her hair and pool around her neck, the robe too was pure white with red trimming around the edges.

When Hermione looked at herself in the mirror she felt tears begin to form at the corners of her eyes, she was getting married, she was getting married to her Potions Professor, a man that up until two days she thought hated her and now they would be spending the rest of their lives together. The thing that shocked and almost scared her most was that she was not scared, she was not worried, something in her told that everything would work out and the voiced sounded very much like her mother’s and she was comforted by the idea that her mother was watching over her.

Hermione got out of the dress and robe and paid Madam Malkin for everything. After Madam Malkin left, Hermione and McGonagall went down to the Great Hall to join Harry, Dumbledore, and Severus for dinner. There were no students still in the castle and there were very few staff members there either. With the war reaching the height that it had, most wanted to spend as much time with their families as possible, knowing that it might be their last Yule all together. The group sat together joyfully talking about the holidays, Quidditch, and many other things in order to pass the time; Hermione however was quiet. She was eating her dinner and thinking about the life that she would have with Severus. She knew that he respected her, he had said as much not but two days ago, but would he ever like her? Would she ever like him? Would they be friends? Would he ever love her? Would she love him? Yes, she respected him. Yes, she found him attractive. Would he find her attractive? Or would he always think of her as his student? Just then she realized that she would have her husband as one of her teachers. Hermione looked up to see Severus staring at her. How would that work? Especially after they had…. She blushed and looked away.

Severus at the other end of the table had been watching Hermione thinking, she had been biting her lower lip as she usual did while thinking. The harder, it seemed, she was thinking the more she was biting that lower lip. Severus watched her lips and thought about the fact that in three days time those lips would be his. He had to stop thoughts like those right now. But why did he really? She would be his wife soon. They would be sharing chambers and a bed. He wondered how much actually experience she had in that field. She was a seventh year and most students were doing things long before that. He knew he caught most of them in the hall a time or two. Mr. Weasley being one that he caught most often, as the boy was not smart enough to change hiding places very often. Idiotic boy! Severus watched as Hermione angled her head up and looked right at him, there was a worried look in her eyes and then she did something that surprised him she blushed and looked away. Maybe she was not as experienced as he had thought. He wasn’t sure it the idea of her being a virgin aroused him more or that he would be the only person she was ever with disturbed him.

That night after dinner Hermione and Harry went to Dumbledore’s office together. When they arrived he was in midnight blue robes with stars on it. They were dressed in yellow robes to represent perpetuation of family. The only light in the office was candlelight. Dumbledore was standing next to a small alter that had dagger laying on top of it next to a chalice and shallow bowl.”

Dumbledore spoke “Why do you come to me this night?”

“We come to you to be joined.” They intoned together.

“How do you wish to be joined?”

“We wish to be joined by blood.”

Dumbledore held his to the sky. “The gods are listening. What have you brought to show what this union will be built from?”

Hermione reached in her robes and pulled out a large bundle of flowers. Harry too reached into his robes, he, however, pulled out a small pouch in it there were herbs. Hermione handed each flower to Dumbledore: an Acacia to represent their friendship, a red and white rose bond together for unity, a Snowdrop for hope, and finally a violet for watchfulness. As she handed each flower to him he would raise it to the gods in offering before placing it into the shallow bowl.

After all the flowers had been placed, Harry raised the pouch to the gods and in a clear and loud voice intoned, “I bring before you Birch. I swear to protect this child. I bring before you Iris. I swear to share my wisdom with this child. I bring before you Lily of the Valley. I swear to bring peace to this child’s troubled heart. I bring before you Cinnamon. I swear to be a friend always to this child.” When he had finished he handed the pouch of to Dumbledore who placed it onto of the flowers already in the bowl.

“These are the things that we bring to this union. These will be the guiding forces in our lives. We swear to follow that which we pledge this day.” Harry and Hermione said as they placed there wands over the bowl and set the contains aflame. As the mixing of the herbs and flowers scent wafted over them, there was a over welling sense of peace that settled over their hearts.

Dumbledore handed the dagger to Harry. He took it and cut the palm of Hermione’s hand, “Your blood.” Harry turned the dagger on his own hand “My blood.” The two clasped hands “Our blood” A light emitted from where there hands were joined the two began to chant together “Your blood, my blood, our blood.” The light became strong before to surrounded them. When it faded away they let go of each other hands.

“The ceremony is complete. A new family has been formed Harry James Potter and Hermione Jane Granger-Potter.

When Hermione turned her hand over to look at her cut it had already healed over, all that was left was a silvery scar that cut across the length of her palm.

Harry too was looking at his hand, “Well at this least is one scar I don’t mind having. Why again did I have to call you ‘this child’ throughout that whole thing?”

“Because you are the male,” she rolled her eyes at this “And you were actually the one taking me into your family which is also why I now carry your name and you don’t carry mine. You have to remember that this is an ancient ritual from when women had no rights.”

“So does this mean that I am your father now?”

“Eww no. If anything you are my LITTLE brother. I am older.” She said teasing before punching him in the arm and running out of Dumbledore’s office waving goodbye.

Harry stood stunned before yelling, “I am not your little anything. I will get you for that.” He ran after her, which made her yelp and run even faster down the stairs.
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Thank you for all the views and Congrats to GinnyW who guessed why Hermione was borught once abgain to Dumbledore\'s office. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.