Chapter 1
Hermione gazed out the window of the Three Broomsticks nursing her Butterbeer waiting for her friends to arrive. Neville should have been here already. Luna was in Gibraltar looking for another made up creature and Ginny always showed up late after her practice with the Hollyhead Harpies. Harry and Ron were late, again, as well. She was growing used to them staying later and later at the Ministry. Kingsley had offered her a job in the Auror Department in lieu of finishing her last year, as well, but she had turned it down. Hermione received a Transfiguration Mastery and returned to Hogwarts as a professor. Being back at Hogwarts was odd, as it felt so much smaller. Everyone had fallen into the habit of getting together every Thursday nights when they could.
She look up when she felt the draft from the door but it was some students leaving. She grabbed her novel out of her brown leather satchel and settled down for the wait.
Hermione didn’t look up at the giggle. Pansy Parkinson and Daphne and Astoria Greengrass were being obnoxious just a table away. She would have moved but it was her favorite table and she got here first. She knew why they were in Hogsmeade. Draco Malfoy had starting working at the pub as part of his probation, and then never left. The three were dressed as if they were going Paris Fashion week not out at a pub. In all the weeks she had been coming to the Three Broomsticks, she hadn’t seen Malfoy flirt with anybody.
“Hey there Hermione” Neville brought her a new Butterbeer with his rum. “My detention with McTaffy and Tavers went long. They almost got more detentions for throwing the weeds at each other. Tavers had made…Oof” Pansy Parkinson had tripped backwards into Neville. He looked very alarmed down at her. Pansy had an odd look on her face as she backed slowly away gripping her right hand to her chest. Hermione watch as Neville stood there and there staring at Pansy rubbing the palm of his hand. Hermione was puzzled as it did not look their hands had hit anything.
“My apologies Miss Parkinson” Neville spoke oddly formally.
“Please do so be more careful in the future.” Pansy was being odd as well. Pansy signaled for the Greengrass sisters to get ready to go. Neville continue staring after Pansy and when she left the pub, she looked back at him over her shoulder and he sighed.
“What on earth was that?” Hermione asked.
Neville started startled. “Oh? What? Oh…” He stared down at his palm and Hermione saw a circular mark begin to fade from his palm.
He saw her expression and sighed again. “How much do you know about soul bonds?” She shook her head “I don’t know how to explain it, Hermione, it’s a pureblood thing.” Hermione furrowed her brows.
“This mark means she my soul bond.” He shuddered as he stroked the palm of his hand. The mark reappeared raised and pale.
“Sacred 28 shite. Some families cast bond magic on their sons first birthday. Although, I think it was my Grandmother who cast mine. You see after my seventeenth birthday I would find my soul bond when we touched for the first time.”
“And yours is Pansy Parkinson?”
“I didn’t know until now. It is designed for us to find the best witch for us. It’s very personal though. She’s going to be it for me” Hermione saw some drinks heading their way. Neville smirked, “I’ll take care of her. It gives us a connection that lets me know what she needs. She had to leave in a hurry because now we can’t be in the room together without me declaring my intention first. She wants to be courted proper.” He chuckled at Hermione’s expression.
Neville grinned at Ron and Harry who approached. Ron looked completely knackered.
“Long day?” Ron started complaining loudly about going through and old witch’s house that was attacking the Healers that her family sent to look after her.
Hermione was ruminating. She knew no one had mentioned soul bonds to her before, nor had she read about them anywhere.
“Oi Ron, does your family do soul bonds? I know that Hermione won’t be able to drop the subject.” Ron looked amused at Neville’s question while Harry looked on confusedly.
“No, I don’t even think they did Bill.” Ron said laughingly. “Who got paired up?”
“What’s a soulbond?” Harry was confused. “How do you know she wants to get courted?” Hermione asked at the same time.
Neville got up. “I’m going to be heading out early. I need to go talk to my Grandmother. Pansy isn’t the type of girl who would want to wait”
“Pansy Parkinson?” Ron barked at Hermione as Neville headed out. Hermione spotted Draco Malfoys white blond head behind the bar moving barrels.
Hermione explained the whole thing to Ron and Harry. “Who’d’ve thought Neville Longbottom and the Slytherin princess?”
**
The next Thursday, Pansy showed up on Neville’s arm. Hermione had never seen Neville look so content.
“So, wow, you are really doing this?” Harry blurted out.
“Let’s clear the air. I’m sorry I offered you to the Dark Lord, Potter, Weasley your firewhiskey is dripping off the table, and Granger I am going to go through your wardrobe and get rid of anything without a shape. Stop looking offended your clothes make you look two stone heavier than you are. Drinks are on me tonight” Pansy finished her speech and signaled to Madame Rosemerta.
“She’s worst then Ginny.” Ron sighed.
Regardless Pansy became a regular, as did Daphne and Astoria, and the Thursday Night Club officially expanded.