Chapter 26

She's nice," said Harry. "John, however, wasn't all that nice to me. As a matter of fact, he seemed quite put out with me. He told me his job was on the line due to the number of times I kept dying."

"We know," said Hermione with a smile.

After the three had approached Professor McGonagall, in her role as Acting Headmistress while the Headmaster was at Saint Mungo's, they explained why they needed to go and talk to Hermione's parents about the bond.

"It is hoped the Headmaster will be back on his feet and well enough to resume his role as Headmaster, soon enough," said the Professor. "I should be able to take you to visit your parents after that."

"Sorry, Professor," said Hermione, shaking her head. "That may be too late. Though my parents do not receive a daily copy of the Daily Prophet, they can always find out about the bond through other means. If we don't go and talk to them about it before they find out, things could become... difficult."

With a sigh, the Professor said, "You are, of course, correct. Though I would much rather wait, we do not know how long it will be before the Headmaster returns." She sat at her desk with the three 'children' sitting opposite and thought about it for a while.

Clearly coming to a decision, she sat forward and said, "I do not like to leave the school without a healer... even for a short time. However, it would probably be best if I send Madam Pomfrey with you to explain things to your parents. Madam Pomfrey will be able to inform your parents what the bond means to the three of you; and to them."

"That would be nice. Thank you Professor," said Hermione, clearly relieved.

"What classes do the three of you have tomorrow afternoon?" the Professor asked.

"A single class with you in Transfiguration straight after lunch," said Harry.

"History of Magic with the 'Claws, for me," said Daphne.

"Sorry, Professor," said Hermione, cutting in. "That won't suit. Both of my parents work. It'll have to be after 5:00pm, at the earliest, before we can visit."

"Then, immediately after an early dinner tomorrow?" she asked, to which Hermione nodded. "I'll have Madam Pomfrey take the three of you to visit Miss Granger's parents, then" said the Professor.

"That works," said Hermione. "Thank you, Professor."

After the three left, Harry turned to them and said, "Now I need... or we need... to get down into the Chamber to at least get the venom."

"You'll need something to store it within, first," said Daphne.

"True," mused Harry. "So, I have to find some large enough glass, sealable containers to store it within."

"The Room of Lost Things, Harry," said Hermione. "There's bound to be something in there you can use."

With a sigh, Harry said, "Of course." Then he leaned over and gave his bushy-haired bondmate a kiss on the cheek.

Hermione was shocked, to say the least. Her emerald-eyed friend - her bondmate - had never initiated such a random display of affection before. It felt... nice.

The three returned to their apartment and, though it was starting to get a little late, started in on their homework. Of course, having gone through it all before, with her amazing memory, Hermione was very quick to get her own done.

Harry found the Occlumency even assisted him with his own memory of the previous events, and allowed him to rapidly get through it, as did Daphne. However, she also appeared quite distracted.

Once they'd finished, Harry packed his work away and was about to head for bed when Daphne stopped him.

Puzzled, he sat back down again. "Daphne?" he asked, worried for her. "What's wrong?"

Blushing, she looked away for a few moments.

Harry turned to look at Hermione, who he saw was just as puzzled. They waited for their new 'friend' - their bondmate - to tell them what was wrong.

Harry was about to ask again when she turned back and, with eyes downcast, quietly asked, "When do you want to finalise the bond?"

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione blush and look away.

Shocked, Harry replied, "Errr... Daphne; I... Sorry, John didn't tell me how to do that. He... kind of intimated you or Hermione would do that. And, I didn't have a chance to do more than lightly skim through those books on bonds. I was more focussed on detection charms for the potions."

Both girls seemed to blush even further. And Daphne's eyes seemed to water.

"Ummm... Harry," stammered Hermione, finding the courage to speak. "Finalising the bond... requires the act of... you know... ummm... s-sexual intimacy."

Surprised and starting to blush a little himself - and wondering how things suddenly got so uncomfortable - in a quiet voice he said, "Oh."

'Why does it suddenly feel so hot in here?' he thought.

Steeling himself and thinking, 'Gryffindors forward,' he rose from the side he was sitting on and went over to sit next to Daphne.

"Daphne," he said, trying to get the other girl's attention. "Please, look at me." He reached over and took her closest hand in his own, and felt her flinch a little.

"Daphne... please," he softly begged.

Taking a breath and sniffling a little, she slowly turned to look at him. Hermione sat on the couch on the other side of the coffee table and quietly stayed out of it. Clearly sensing the anxiety in his familiar's mood, Crookshanks hopped off the seat of the armchair he preferred and hopped up into Hermione's lap. She almost absently petted him as he purred soothing sounds.

When Daphne looked at Harry, he could see her eyes were full of unshed tears.

"I had no idea," Harry softly said to her. "I had no idea... that to finalise the bond requires us to... do that."

He saw her nod in acceptance.

"I promise you this, Daphne Anna Greengrass, I will not... in any way, shape or form... push you to do anything that you're uncomfortable doing with me," he said, with as much feeling as he could generate. "The protections we each needed from the bond are now already there. We need not go any further, if it makes you uncomfortable."

And, with those words, the floodgates of tears suddenly released. Daphne burst into tears.

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