The four were shown into Amelia's office and led towards a comfortable seating area; the minister joined them carrying a large book. "Lord and Lady Potter, Mr and Mrs Granger before we start there is something I need to show you because it will have a bearing on all future discussions."
She laid the book on a table and gestured for everyone to read a certain entry
Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger - bond completed 6th June, 1994 10.07pm
The four looked to Amelia for an explanation of what they were reading, "this book magically records all soul bonded couples and yours, by some strange coincidence, completed the same night that Sirius Black escaped from a locked room, a condemned Hippogriff disappeared right under the minister and Dumbledore's noses while someone gave the Dementors such a scare they refuse to leave Azkaban Island. In short Hermione has been Lady Potter since that night."
A very loud silence greeted this news so Amelia continued, "in the wizarding world a soul bond is the highest form of commitment a couple can give to each other, it's extremely rare and a kiss is usually all that is required between soul mates to complete the bond. The second this takes place the couple are considered married in law and nothing can change that."
Harry turned to Hermione with a giant smile on his face, "do you understand what this means Lady Potter?"
Hermione answered over their bond, her mind working at a rate of knots 'that we were bonded in the last timeline, no wonder we knew what each other was going to do…the rings have sped up the process of our link but masked the fact we were soul bonded…that's why we both ended up with your parents, oh Harry even in death we couldn't be parted!'
He never got to say anymore as overwhelming feelings of love flooded their bond and his wife attacked him with hugs and kisses, 'I was going to say, before being interrupted that this means we didn't break our promise to mum and dad, we were married at the time. I hadn't even considered anything else but my beautiful wife once more amazed me with her brilliance.'
Emma shook her head and asked the practical question, "When you two are quite finished what are we going to do about your wedding next week?"
"Oh that can still go ahead," said Amelia "though it will probably take the form of a blessing now as they're already married to each other. When I watched them last night I thought it was a possibility and the book has now confirmed this, congratulations Lord and Lady Potter."
Dan and Emma were now hugging their children and even battle hardened Amelia Bones had a tear in her eye as she watched the happy event unfold in front of her, she was now positive that the young couple could communicate without speaking and it was this suspicion that had her check the book in the first place.
They all eventually sat back down and only the setting stopped Hermione sitting on her husband's knee, it was the minister of magic's office after all.
"Can I assume this changes some of the things you are here for today?" Amelia asked.
"Yes," Hermione answered, "we were originally going to make arrangements to sit our NEWT's to gain as much legality as we could for our magical status but this negates the problem, we are legally married and emancipated in the eyes of our world. A soul bound is undisputable and anyone interfering with it will find himself or herself in serious trouble. We don't need bits of paper indicating our intelligence so we will pass at the moment, they can always be sat at later date."
Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing from her studious daughter, "are you sure about this Hermione? I can't believe you don't want to take exams."
"Mum, Harry and I don't need jobs as such and Lady Potter will be able to achieve so much more than Hermione Granger with twenty NEWT's. We've got the Institute up and running and are now concentrating on finishing Voldemort, waving our NEWT results at him won't get the job done."
Harry chuckled at the thought of Voldemort dieing of shame when his wife beat Riddle's scores in NEWT's, "would it be possible for my wife and I to sit our apparition exams today, our licences would also prove we were legally of age."
They both now saw what it meant to have the ministry on their side as an hour later they were being presented licences for standard, international and side-along apparition having passed the tests with ease.
"I think it's time to deal with our other business now, don't you Lord Potter?" You could actually see the mischief behind Amelia's smile and it was a hesitant Hermione who held onto the portkey provided.
....
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