The Bonding
Fred Weasley had been waiting for the opportune moment to activate the modifying-appearance charm he had planted on Ron earlier in the day. He was excited to see what color his hair and freckles would turn. He was almost giddy watching the Room of Requirement slowly empty after their successful DA Meeting.
Harry was sending the members out in sets of two to four as he was able. After waiting for most of the students to leave all that remained were George, Fred, Lee, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Lee, George and Fred had been hanging in the far corner of the room discussing their latest ideas. Ron and Harry had been watching the map by the door and Hermione and Ginny were uncharacteristically giggling off to the side off the room.
Sensing his opportunity he slowly pulled his wand out of his sleeve. George and Lee had stopped talking to watch the prank on Ickle Ronnikins unfold. However, before he got to say the incantation his wand was yanked from his hand with the shout of “Expelliarmus!”
Ginny was doubled over in laughter at Hermione’s prank. However, Hermione was suddenly completely distracted by the way Fred’s wand felt in her hand. It felt exactly like her own. It was vibrating with its happiness at being connected to her. She was so focused on her examination of the wand that she didn’t notice the room suddenly turn silent.
She closed her eyes as the warmth consumed her. The magic pulsing through the wand caused her magical core to stir in a frenzy. Her own wand warming in her hand extending the invitation to Fred’s wand. She was startled at the small shriek at her side.
Looking over to see Ginny staring at Hermione wide eyed and mouth agape. She could hardly see her friend through a thick gleam of gold fluttering around her. Doing a quick spin, she was completely encompassed by the magic. Everyone in the room was watching her intently.
She should probably be scared, but she wasn’t. Everything about the magic was warm and safe. Her eyes drifted to a wide eyed Fred who was frozen where he stood across the room. She had no idea what was going on, but it felt good.
“Do you have some sort of protective ward on your wand Fred?” She asked hazily.
With a a big gulp Fred slowly shook his head. After a shove from George who was looking equally as shocked he started moving towards Hermione.
“What’s going on? What’s happening to Hermione?” Harry stepped towards her with his wand held high unsure why no one else in the room was doing anything.
“She’s bonding.” Ron grunted quietly while turning a shade of red.
Fred stopped just outside the golden glow watching it swim around her. His eyes taking in every detail before locking onto her gaze.
“I... You.. Um.” He fumbled.
She really felt like she should be concerned. Especially with everyone’s reactions. Ginny and George had practically melted together in disbelief watching her. Lee stood just next to them with his eyebrows in his hair. Hardly anyone was blinking. Harry stood just behind her with Ron steaming a few paces further back. But she couldn’t take her eyes off of Fred. She couldn’t worry when every cell in her body was screaming for him.
She had a long standing crush on the elder Weasley Twin. She found him brilliant, witty, charming, handsome and caring. She even secretly loved his mischievous side and the way his eyes lit up during a prank. She had smothered her crush because there was absolutely no way anything would come from it. He was older, she was his little brother’s best friend and frankly, she was her. She was the resident know-it-all, teachers pet, she was a prefect for Merlin’s sake. They could not be more different.
The weight of the magic was crushing in her a wonderfully pleasurable way. Fred was standing in front of her, just out of arms reach. Staring at her with, awe? No, that couldn’t be right.
The wands were heating, the magic swirling erratically around her. She leaned her head back as it pulsed through her another time. She felt dizzy by the feeling. She had begun to sway when Fred finally entered the glow causing it to brighten. Those in the room had to squint to see what was happening.
The magic slowed as it washed over them in intoxicating waves. She tilted her head to look Fred in his vibrant blue eyes.
“What’s happening?” She whispered to him as he raised his hands to hers.
“Something very rare. We can’t stop it now though. I’m sure you’ll head off to library once it’s done.” He chuckled.
“Do you feel it?” She lowered her voice even further, slightly embarrassed by what was happening.
“Yes.” He laughed as he laid his hand over his wand in her hand. He did the same with her wand in her other hand. He closed his eyes as the overwhelming, comforting sensation of their magic merging crushed him. It was the most amazing rush he had ever felt. No prank, joke, or laugh could ever make him feel like that.
Their magic, now merged sent a pulse through them that made them buckle to their knees. Reaching out, he grabbed Hermione around her shoulders pulling her to his chest as they fell. Breathing heavily he laid his head into her hair.
“Good Godric.” He mumbled. That felt glorious.
The same comforting, pulsing sensation of their magic swirled at every point their skins touched. It was warm and amazing and he wanted to feel it constantly.
She shifted back, sitting on the heels of her feet, grasping his forearms. “What was that?”
Fred’s eyes were closed as he held tight onto her shoulders anchoring onto the feeling of their merged magic. His breathing was ragged and mind racing a mile a minute to the new information.
Hermione Granger was his soulmate.
Soulmates were unbelievably rare. Even more rare was the opportunity to bond with theirs as wand sharing was either due to dueling or very intimate relationships. The process was only recognizable due to the wizarding world’s bedtime stories for children. He read Ginny countless stories of witch’s and wizard’s discovering their soulmate.
He was in immense shock that he had one, let alone that it would be her of all people.
Yet, here was the Griffyndor Princess, resident bookworm, one third of the golden trio, his soulmate. He had a crush on Hermione for almost as long as he had known her. But she was forbidden goods. Ron had a crush on her. However, they shared a soul, they were literally made for one another. Perfect together. And that made him even giddier.
With a flash of red Hermione was knocked to the floor wrapped in hugs and squeals from Ginny. George had pulled Fred to a stand and kept a hand tight on his shoulder looking him over with glee.
Fred was blinking hard to try to wake up from whatever dream he had surely slipped in to. Time continued to pass and he wasn’t waking. This wonderful feeling had yet to slip. His magic felt super charged as it tangled with hers.
Hermione had pushed Ginny off both laughing. “What has gotten into you? Can someone please explain?” Hermione asked turning her eyes to Fred who was grinning wider than she had ever seen.
“We’re sisters!” Ginny squealed again pulling Hermione up into another hug.
“What?” Harry and Hermione asked clearly lost.
“You bonded with him. Fred of all people. You chose Fred.” Ron spat. The room instantly quieted.
Hermione turned to face him. Ron was red in the face, practically steaming from his ears.
Fred stepped forward putting his hand on Hermione’s shoulder, that pulsing sensation was back. He tried to keep the outright joy from his face. “Ron. That’s not how it works and you know it.” He finished sternly.
He had held back from acting on his feelings because of Ron. But, she was his soulmate. This was such a rare occurrence in the magical world, Ron knew what it meant. There was no way he could expect them not to be together, right? He’d have to get over his anger because from this moment forward every ounce of Fred belonged to Hermione.
“Bonded? Ronald what are you talking about?” Hermione stepped forward putting herself slightly between the two brothers.
“Hermione, we should probably talk privately.” Fred whispered over her shoulder.
While he was overjoyed with today’s outcome. She was muggleborn and obviously didn’t know what happened. He was nervous about how she would take it. Just because they were bonded if she needed time or space he would give it. He didn’t even know how she felt about it, and they were permanently bonded for life at the mere age of sixteen.