Everything But Mine

Hope you like this chappie…there is a bit of drunken madness…go and see. And leave the veela a review-will help cure his hangover….

Hermione was glad that she finally got out of the shop. The sales assistants had been all so sweet and subservient. Hermione hated that, she didn’t want anyone to turn into the like of a house elf for her. Yes, she knew that the salespeople were so happy that she got an account there and was a celebrity. If only these women had known how embarrassed she got when they were helping her pick out lingerie, gossiping about how a wizard got weak in the knees seeing a witch in scraps of overpriced fabric.

One thing that Hermione knew for sure was that she wouldn’t sleep with Viktor anytime soon. She had made herself a promise, one which might seem unpopular these days; to stay a virgin as she wanted to give herself to the man she loved and was married to.

Viktor was perfectly sweet and generous. A man who has a good career, stability in life and whom she trusted. She knew she should be on cloud nine now, but she wasn’t.

All the time images of Draco snuck into her mind. His trusting eyes, so big and full of need, his shy smile, the way his longish hair fell into his face… He was so different from school, it was like the nasty prat was exchanged for a wonderful gentle man.

He somehow managed to make her day. She couldn’t get angry at him, even when he got her presents. After all, he presented them to her in a lovely, shy way; not telling her what she has to accept it because that’s what a proper girlfriend does.

Gods, she didn’t want to hurt Viktor’s feelings by declining his wishes. So often she had heard men complain about bitchy and never happy women. She wanted to be a good proper girlfriend, even if that meant sacrificing some opinions. After all, the choice of a dress was such a miniscule thing.

The only one to wake improper thoughts in her had been Draco. The way his body felt next to her when he cuddled her in bed, his long and lean body wrapped around her, his beautiful face so serene in sleep.

True she had thought it had been his wand in his pocket poking her, but it was something else… and she realised with shame that she didn’t feel bad about exploring it, as it had felt nice. If only she hadn’t been molesting him with that. Draco would never be her boyfriend, it was improper, as he was her charge. She was supposed to protect him.

Maybe she should try to do that with Viktor? How would he react if she tried to grope his bits? Hermione bleakly remembered an article in a teen magazine. Not that she was a vigorous reader of those rags, but her mother had thought it would connect her with her Muggle heritage to she had received a packet of those every month.

Hermione had barely read those, but her dorm mates had eagerly looked at the fashions and relations advice pages. She remembered they were once giggling about an article about sexual petting… that it was the safest way to explore each other without complete intercourse.

But could she just go up to Viktor and say,’ Honey, can I grope you to see if you feel just as good as Malfoy?’

Surely that wouldn’t go down too well, Hermione thought. Her head was spinning with all these thoughts jumbled up. It was right to be with Viktor because she had been crushing over him for so long. It was so wrong to want to actually see Draco naked, to explore his boy.

Heat flooded through her at the thought. He would be so beautiful…

The pain from an owl’s light peck brought her back to relality. It was Harry’s owl and it had a little message attached to it.

Hermione,

I have something very important to tell you. I mean really I NEED to see you today. I’m home all day, so feel free to come anytime. Your favourite dinner is already cooking in the oven!

Love,

Harry.

The owl looked at her expectantly, but she waved it off, saying,’I’m going to see him now. I don’t need to write an answer.’

With a swoosh of wings the bird was gone and Hermione focused her mind to Apparate to Harry’s residence.

‘Glad to see you’re here already,’ Harry greeted her and smiled.

‘I just thought to get that dinner as soon as possible,’ she joked as she looked at her best friend. At least in his company she could stop the inappropriate thoughts over her protégé.

‘I see you’ve been shopping,’ Harry said as he took the heavy garment bags from her. ’And posh at hat.’

‘It was Viktor’s idea that I needed a dress for Quidditch Personality of the Year Gala.’

‘Ah that. I got an invite too, but I don’t think I’ll go. Quidditch events are a little too much for me these days.’

They chatted amicably about everyday things like Harry’s job as a freelance Security Advisor to the Ministry of Magic and her job, it was like the old days, minus Ron.

Weasley had decided that he couldn’t handle the memories of the war, so he moved away, far away and now he and his wife Lavender handled Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes in the Americas.

‘I’m seeing someone,’ Harry said cautiously when they were seated for dinner.

I’m happy for you, Harry,’ Hermione said when she saw the insecurity in his eyes. ‘She is obviously making you very happy.’

‘Umm ...’ he stopped, searching for the right word,’ it’s not a woman actually. It’s a man…’ he concluded, his face flushed deep red.

‘No matter who it is, you seem to be very happy. You smile a lot more and you have that glow of a person in love.’

Yes, talking about Harry’s love life was so much better than sorting her own woes, Hermione thought.

‘You might not want me to be with him, though,’ Harry said, casting his eyes down to his dinner plate.

‘Why not? You always make wise choices.’

‘I’m absolutely madly in love with Severus Snape.’

Thud. Hermione’s fork had fallen to the ground. That was an unexpected revelation. She would’ve thought Harry would’ve picked one of the fan boys, not the older and broodier Potions master.

‘You’re not mad at me, are you?’ Harry asked, his eyes hopeful.

‘Of course not, it’s just…unlikely,’ she confessed.

‘I know. I mean, I wasn’t gay before, I just think love has no barriers. It all started when I needed a specific sleeping draught for my nightmares. St. Mungo’s specialist couldn’t brew it as it was too difficult and required a Master level none of them had, so I approached Severus for help. He agreed to help on the condition that I learn to brew it from him so I wouldn’t annoy him endlessly with demands for a new batch. I botched up my first attempts gloriously, but he kept on patiently explaining why I was such a dimwit and didn’t make it correctly. Finally, I was doing well on an attempt when a Pepper Up potion I drunk made me sick…’

Harry sighed dreamily, recalling all the good memories.

‘Severus of course, had the cure for it, and he said that Apothecary potions are often badly made, so I should always make my own. We got talking and…’

‘So you fell in love with him with time?’ Hermione asked, her heart filling with happiness for Harry and Severus.

‘Yes, I realised that there was so much to Severus than his brooding. He’s actually sweet and gentle under his outer shell.’

‘I wish I could find a true love for myself,’ Hermione sighed.

‘Well, aren’t you with Viktor?’ Harry prodded gently.

‘Yes, and he’s charming and all, but I don’t know if I am in love with him yet.’

‘Why so?’

‘Because he is so overwhelming, so dominant one would say. I am trying hard not to disappoint him, but I am still not used to being in the press again.’

‘Have you looked somewhere else?’ Harry asked, pouring her a glass of gin and tonic, her favourite Muggle drink.

‘Draco?’ Hermione flushed as she uttered his name. She hadn’t intended to mention him at all.

‘Why not? He’s handsome, his personality has changed. Severus says you both get a long perfectly in Potions sessions…’

‘I could never…’

‘I put the prejudice about Slytherin behind me, and I discovered Severus to be so amazing. There’s more to Draco than his past.’

‘But I’m his guardian!’ she argues, taking a big gulp of her drink.

‘But he’s not a minor; you’re just his legal guardian. It actually can be transferred to a wife as well. And it is not frowned upon for two consenting adults…’ Harry started, his voice having the self-assured tone he used at work.

‘He’s vulnerable!’ Hermione exclaimed, the alcohol kicking in. The drink and the wine at dinner were making her tipsy, she was not used to handling lots of booze at once.

‘He’s hot mentally disabled however. I looked at his current file as Severus asked me to. Draco is in perfect health and capable to make up his own mind.’

‘So you’re suggesting I have an affair with my charge?’ Hermione was absolutely embarrassed. Maybe another drink would help.

Harry watched Hermione in amusement. Whilst she was already halfway through her second strong gin and tonic, he was just sipping on his first. It was clear she held an attraction for Malfoy, and she was embarrassed to admit it.

‘I am not saying affair, maybe something more serious…’

‘Honestly,. Harry, you’re either nuts or taking the mickey.’

When Harry didn’t answer to her accusations, she sat back in the armchair and sipped on her drink, soon refilling her glass for a third. Harry knew that Hermione’s broody moments were best helped with re-direction of her bad mood.

‘But at least you could make him feel wanted as a friend,’ Harry asked, knowing that this would be hook, line and sinker.

‘I already share the Potions sessions with him, what else do I have to do?’ she slurred, the warm woolly feel of her drunkenness eliminating the need to thing about her want for Draco.

‘What about flying? He was a very good Seeker at school.’

‘I don’t fly,’ she mumbled, staring at the bottom of her empty glass.

‘Why don’t you let him teach you or something. It’s very important to his male self-esteem.’

Harry’s words made her think of something else very male Draco had. It was hot and hard…

‘You seem to be a little tired, Mione. Why don’t we continue this some other day?’ Harry asked, seeing how she tried to stand but was shaky on her legs.

Following harry obediently, she Flooed back to her room at the Manor and quickly changed into pyjamas and then passed out on her bed. She’d have to apologise to Draco later, when her mind would not be as dirty.

Draco was about to get another bottle of brandy or anything really when someone stepped into his study. His first hope was that it would be Hermione, but even with his drink blurred vision he could recognise the unmistakable features of Severus Snape.

‘Draco, I came to let you know that Hermione has gone to visit Harry, so don’t worry that she’s not home yet.’

‘I don’t shink she will come back,’ Draco slurred. The drunkenness let him speak his mind at last.

‘Why on earth are you drunk on a day when you can finally tell her?’ Severus asked, stepping closer to the young man who was absentmindedly swirling around in his swivel chair. ‘Here, I drink this sober up potion and stop the stupidity,’ Severus said softly and put the small vial on the desk. It hurt him to see his godson like this.

Draco stared at the vial, took it in his hand. For a few seconds he watched the the light from the window dance in the crystal cut vial. Then he got bored of it and flung it against the wall. The vial shattered in a rain of crystal and the cream wall was now stained with a blotch of purplish blue.

‘Shiverus, I don’t want to be sober. Drink helps me,’ Draco said and ignored Severus’ intense gaze.

‘It makes you a fool, Draco. She will not like that,’ Severus said, finally noticing the paper on Draco’s desk. It was obvious that the front page picture of Hermione kissing the Quidditch oaf.

‘I is no fool,’ Draco said, his speech still slurry.’ I see what she wants and it isn’t me. She wants a good, clean cut guy. Krum might not be the smartest Kneazle in the litter, but he has reasonable looks, and most importantly-no bad past.’

‘But you’re a different person now, certainly she can see past your mistakes,’ Severus added, wishing he could just get Draco back to his senses. He didn’t have anymore sober up solutions left, and trying to physically influence a depressed veela might have very bad after effects, Severus knew it from the books on Veelas he had read recently. His only hope would be to persuade Draco with words.

‘Oh yes, she will be so excited to hear that a pitiful creature ex convicted Death Eater loves her. Be realistic, Severus! She may be nice to me because she pities me, and only then because she needed me to make the donation to Hogwarts!’

Tears were now falling from Draco’s eyes. He wanted to mend his breaking heart with the lies he had made up and believed. He just knew that his mate would never want to be with him, because of his past. Why would she want someone as sullied as him?

Every moment when he had felt her next to him came back vividly. The nights when he held her close, cocooning her in his embrace as they slept… The smile on her face when she held the kitten for the first time…

These would be the last good memories he would have before he’d die of heartbreak. His Angel had chosen someone else. She didn’t want to kiss the lips of her veela, she’d never want that.

‘I would’ve never thought you’d give up so easily!’ Severus grumbled as he saw Draco dissolving in quiet sobs. Severus’ attempt to embrace the crying veela had been unsuccessful as the veela avoided the embrace.

‘You’re a Malfoy. You can always have what you want. Remember that! Past misgivings and beauty flaws are nothing. It’s love that counts.’ Severus paused, giving up on motivational speeches. He had never been good at these cheering up things anyway, but he hoped he had at least gotten a little closer to dRaco’s sane mind, or at least that what was left of it.

‘As you don’t talk to me I shall leave. Your destiny is in your own hands.’

Draco watched as Severus departed. How could he say that he could get all he wanted? He wanted his mate, yet she didn’t want him.

Even through his drunkenness he noticed tha the wards alerted her arrival. The veela felt an urge to go and see her, to embrace her and ask her if she wants to give him a chance.

His heart was beating wildly as he saw his love. She was asleep, curled atop the covers in a rumpled and mismatched pyjama. Feeling alcohol induced bravery Draco advanced to the bed and stood for a few moments just looking at her.

She was so beautiful. He couldn’t give up on her. His heart didn’t believe the lies he told himself, not when he saw her. He needed his Angel now. he laid down next to her, not caring that he was shirtless and just clad in a pair of skimpy underwear. It didn’t matter how he looked, love was all that counted for him.

‘I love you so much,’ he whispered to her and saw a small smile form on her lips.

‘I need you so much,’ he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as he could. The veela got braver and began to kiss the mates’ face with small ghosting kisses. Finally he dared to kiss her lips. He could taste the remnants of some drink on her perfect mouth, but it dint matter.

Gods, he wished he could do more, show her how much he loved and needed her.

‘I’m your veela and I’m forever yours,’ he murmured and kissed her again.

His dream met reality when her lips parted and she responded to his kiss. Was it reality or just an illusion of his drunken mind?

I hope you like this, lovies! Is this a cliffie? :D