Everything But Mine

A/N Squuee! I've got a new chapter for you all! The surprises never end in this story, I guess... but I hope you still like it.

Draco’s heart was racing like a herd of wild Hippogriffs

Draco’s heart was racing like a herd of wild Hippogriffs. The veela in him was getting out of the bonds of control now; his body was trembling with the need to make love to the gorgeous mate.

Draco knew that his veela side was very physical in expressing love. It needed hugs, kisses and eventually sex to be happy. And paramount for a veela’s happiness was being mated for eternity.

And that was what the veela was forcing Draco to do. He heard the soft hum of veela magic in the air. It would help him seduce her in an instant; she would succumb to his affections immediately. Just one kiss and his magic would do its work…

It wasn’t what his human side would’ve done, but the veela needed the love so much. The fact that the mate was an innocent spurned the veela on even more. No one else will ever have her. The first time for her would be still painless, as the veela would take the pain from her.

He leaned over her, running his fingers over her soft skin. Every moment of touching her felt like heaven. Draco was about to kiss her, his lips just a few inches away from hers, when she awoke.

‘Draco, what is it?’ she asked, true concern showing in her chocolate eyes.

‘I..’ Draco couldn’t say anything. He was so ashamed of what he had allowed his creature part to do. She didn’t deserve to have her innocence taken only because he was a desperate and needy creature. His Angel deserved a romantic and loving mating when she knew what was going on, not a tumble in the sheets when she was doused by veela magic.

Sure many veelas had done it that way, but not all endings had been happy. Draco didn’t want to keep his mate under his veela magic forever. It seemed wrong to use his creature powers for his gain. Yes, that was so un-Slytherin, but then… She had done a lot for him, and he wanted her to come to him knowing that he was her safe haven.

In the weak light from the fireplace in the room Hermione couldn’t completely distinguish all the emotions showing in Draco’s eyes, but he was definitely upset and she wanted to soothe him. The poor man had gone through so much and he had shown her that he could be actually nice to her without much effort.

‘You couldn’t sleep, I guess?’ she asked, sitting up in the bed.

‘Yes, but I didn’t want to make myself a nuisance,’ he managed to choke out, guilt now washing over him for letting himself be a lust ridden animal even for a moment.

‘You know that I’m here to help you, so if you need me, don’t worry to wake me.’

If only she knew what he was about to do…what he would’ve done if she hadn’t awakened. She would think that he’s a predator and a leech, and send him back to Azkaban as an incurable criminal. Draco shuddered at the thought, but it was true. He didn’t deserve her even for a moment.

‘Come under the covers until you decide what you want to do,’ her soothing voice lured him and he followed her order, climbing into her bed and sliding under the covers, his trembling arms wishing to hold her close.

Hermione had always been the one to stand up for those in need. Draco was no different from a house elf, she guessed, in the way that he needed her. She was right there, so why not do everything to make him calm and comfortable?

‘Now, now, everything’s going to be fine,’ she said as she pulled the trembling man closer.

‘I’m so bad, you’ll hate me,’ he sobbed, snuggling into her embrace. The veela in him was defeated and ashamed. How could the mate still be so caring after all that had almost happened?

‘I don’t hate you, and you’re not bad. What did I tell you about dwelling on the past?’ she asked seriously.

‘That all that matters is what I do now?’ he offered.

‘Exactly, so relax and sleep. You need to regain your strength.’

She heard him murmur something incoherent, but soon he was asleep. Hermione was happy that all her friends had found the right person to be with. Ginny had found a soul mate in Oliver Wood, Ron finally had domestic bliss with Lavender, and even Harry had found someone, even though he hadn’t told anyone who that someone is, a name was unimportant as Harry’s happiness was obvious.

Only she had remained single for now, as her job was more important. Helping people like Walden and Draco to rest their lives was more meaningful than finding a beau. Maybe she would soon have a beau, most likely in the person of Viktor Krum. The pleasant thought drifted her off to sleep easily.

If there was a word to describe complete happiness, Draco didn’t know it. His gorgeous love was still sleeping peacefully next to him. Such a gorgeous and pure Angel. She had been so loving and innocent by allowing him into her bed, not knowing what thoughts could’ve been on his mind. He still had trouble to curb the veela’s wish to mate, but he tried his best.

He would show her that he was worthy to be with her. Maybe they didn’t have a good past, but the future would be bright. Together, they could achieve anything they wanted. She would never know hurt or betrayal from him, only the deepest and purest love.

‘What time is it?’ Hermione asked, squinting from the bright sunlight coming from the window.

‘It’s just a few minutes over ten in the morning,’ Draco told her, wondering why she was asking the time.

‘Shit, I got to be at Viktor’s training at eleven.’

Hermione got out of the bed and hurried to the bathroom. She had told Vikto that she would attend the training session and then go for a late lunch with him, and she was going to keep her word. Draco wasn’t a baby, she assured herself. He could very well fend for himself for a few hours.

Quidditch had never been her passion, but she understood the game and valued talent and skill of a player. Viktor, unlike Harry and Ron, didn’t talk about the game non stop. It was amazing to watch Viktor fly. He had such grace and precision about his every move, it almost looked like an intricate dance.

‘Come to the team’s changing room when the training’s finished,’ Viktor told her as he flew by her and stopped for a second, just to dive in a dangerous twist to catch the Snitch once again.

There was jubilant hollering and applause coming from the stands below her, as a limited amount of the team’s fans was allowed to watch the practices. Hermione was standing alone in the VIP box, wondering why such a famous and accomplished man would even look twice at her.

Pushing all negative thoughts aside, Hermione strode into the private area, flashing her pass to security wizards who were still trying to get the bunch of eager fans out of the pitch.

She had waited about fifteen minutes before going into the changing room, as unlike many other young witches, she wasn’t dying to step into a roomful of naked Quidditch players.

‘Look at what a pretty thing has gotten lost here,’ she heard someone say as she stepped into the changing room.

She was immediately accosted by two of Viktor’s team mates.

‘And just who are you looking for?’ the taller, bulkier one asked first.

‘I’m here for Viktor,’ she answered, wondering what was the polite way to get away from two shirtless sportsmen.

‘Why do you need him,’ the one with a lithe build and a leery smile objected, ‘a Chaser is more flexible for the good fun.’

‘But a Beater has more stamina, my dear’, the second added.

‘Maybe you want us both, eh? Remember- save a broom, ride a Quidditch player!’

Hermione was baffled, maybe it had been a bad idea to come and see Viktor. His team mates were looking at her with such lusty eyes; it almost felt like they were mentally undressing her on the spot.

‘That was enough, Pavlov, Livingston,’ Viktor barked as he crossed the room and embraced Hermione. ‘Get your lusty eyes of my woman.’

‘But aren’t we supposed to share everything as a team?’ both misfits asked in unison.

Viktor glared at them dangerously, and they knew that even though they came close to him in physical strength, they both couldn’t top his skill with a wand. However, it had been worth to give a try and see if they could get a chance with that Granger girl, who was not known to dally with many love interests.

‘Did I come at a bad time?’ Hermione asked, snuggling into Viktor’s chest. She rather liked his muscled build, the ideally sculpted abs and the sure embrace of his strong arms. And she didn’t mind at all that he was shirtless.

‘Not at all, those two are crude idiots, I apologize for their behaviour.’ Viktor’s words seemed so sincere and heart-warming that she stood on her tip toes and kissed his lips softly.

Hoots and wolf whistles filled the air, but she was not listening to that. She was on the way of getting kissed properly for the first time in her adult life. This wasn’t the innocent peck they had shared long ago at Yule. This was all grown up and passionate, just like the bodice-ripper novels described it.

‘Let me get my shirt and then we can go for lunch, yes?’ Viktor asked as he trailed kisses over her neck.

‘Yes,’ she breathed, absolutely taken by the impact of his presence.

Viktor smiled as he saw the pretty flushed face of his intended. It was easy to seduce her, he thought, but it was all the better for him. She was the perfect mate. A few years younger than him, but not too much, intelligent and already famous.

And he was intrigued by her seeming inexperience when she kissed him. It was almost like she was stepping on unknown ground. That even more made him wonder whether she had had many lovers before or maybe none. If he would be her first… yes, that would make her a very special prize indeed.

Then she would be extra dedicated as well, he thought. The perfect wife to suit his aspirations. It wasn’t like he was going to play Quidditch forever. Maybe he had another decade or two in playing the sport, but he didn’t want to quit then and be forgotten. There were so many things he could do later, like run for a post in the Senate of the European Wizard Union. Most people thought of him as an oaf only capable to fly a broom. Ha, he’d show them. With the help of the little witch, who was currently attracting leery glances from his team mates. Hermione was looking nothing like your average Quidditch groupie, with her sensible skirt and chunky cardigan, then again, Viktor knew he needed her, not a bimbo with magically enhanced appearances.

Things were going perfect, in Hermione’s opinion. Viktor was just what she needed to get rid of the stupid thoughts she was getting about Malfoy. True, Draco was prettier, if that word could be applied to describe a man’s looks, but Viktor was all masculine. Not pretty boy baby-faced, like Draco, but with a sharp cut features, which not everyone would find definitely handsome, but his face had a lot of character.

And Viktor wasn’t that bad of a wizard, after all, a Triwizard Champion is never an idiot. That perfectly solved her equation that if the woman was the fragile, emotional part of the relationship, than the man was the strong, athletic part. Jin and jan.

‘Are you ready to go?’

She nodded and let Viktor wrap his arm around her, to Apparate them to wherever he wanted to for lunch. They landed in a spacious entry hall.

‘I thought that maybe it would be a possibility to have lunch at my house so we have a little bit of privacy. But if you don’t like it, we can go where you want.’

‘No, it’s absolutely fine with me.’ She trusted Viktor and she completely understood his wish for privacy. Being best friend of the Boy Saviour had taught her to value every bit of privacy, as reporters like Skeeter were always after a new sensation.

‘I have not redecorated the place since I bought it,’ Viktor explained, leading her up the stairs, ‘maybe you will help me? It is not a big house, only eight bedrooms, but I thought that it’ll be good enough for a while.’

Hermione had heard a lot about the mansions of Wizarding Kensington, but never been to one, as Harry loved Godric’s Hollow and she herself wasn’t much of a schmoozer. What need for redecoration was Viktor talking about? The house was far from a shabby shack, the marble staircase and Persian rugs just as exquisite as the ones at Malfoy Manor. What was Draco doing right now?

Why was she thinking about Malfoy? She had someone else to concentrate on this moment.

‘I have hired one elf for housekeeping. I did remember what you thought of elf rights, so I especially sought out a creature which wanted to be hired, not bound to a master.’

‘Wow, you really remember that?’ she asked, amazed how he had remembered such a detail.

‘Of course, I remember everything about you, Hermione. You’re the only witch that has ensnared me with just being herself.’

Hermione blushed and drove her gaze to the salad the aforementioned elf had just served.

‘I do not know whether I made it clear or not before, but I would love it if you would agree to be my girlfriend,’ he said and looked into her eyes intently.

‘You mean…’ she was too humble to hope that he meant what she hoped he would.

‘As my intended witch,’ he said softly.

‘Yes, I would love to,’ she murmured, blushing even more.

Time was flying as she was chatting with Viktor. He was so charming and caring, interested in what she had to say. Hermione knew that she had just caught one of the most sought after wizards as her boyfriend. That was an achievement for a bookworm like her.

Humming the melody of an old pop song, she finally made her way through the hallways of Malfoy manor to find Draco and see how he’s been spending the day alone. She felt mildly guilty that she had left him alone, but her personal life was important too. It wasn’t that agreeing to take custody of him she had agreed to be his personal bay sitter twenty four seven.

Finally she saw a light under the door of the room Draco had made his study. She knocked, but there was no answer, so she opened the door and stepped in.

Draco was sitting at the desk, his head bent over a large accounting sheet. It seemed that he hadn’t noticed her yet.

‘Draco, I’m back,’ she said but it still seemed that he didn’t take notice of her. She took a deep breath and let her gaze drift around the room, waiting for him to come around from his silence.

She shrieked when she saw an orange ball of something jump in her direction. What the hell was THAT thing?

A/N Hmm..what could that thing be? Veela loves reviews, remember. :)