My Mate

My Mate
Chapter 18: Passionate Ploys and Veela Rituals

By the time Draco had pulled away from the kiss, Ginny’s brain had shutdown. She could only stare up at him in a dazed stupor. She was extremely grateful that he looked just as affected as she was.

His eyes were glazed and he was breathing heavy as he levered himself up to his feet. Night had fallen without their notice, the darkness shrouding them and enhancing the feeling of solitude.

“We’d better get back to the castle.” Ginny shivered as a gust of frigid November air hit her. Draco wrapped his arm around her, sharing his heat as they they gathered up their brooms and headed back.

He even walked her to her rooms and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Pulling back, Draco grasped her arms and leaned so he could see her face.

“Meet me by the lake during lunch tomorrow so we can talk about what we need to do.” It was a command, not a question and Ginny bristled.

“I’ll have to check my schedule. I might be busy you know.” The haughty tone in her voice made him quirk a half smile, but his eyes narrowed threateningly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Virginia.”

Ginny wrinkled her nose at his use of her full name and turned into her room.

Draco stood staring at the closed door for a full five minutes.

Olivia sat beside Narcissa’s bed watching the older woman sleep fitfully, lines and shadows around her eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there earlier. She could feel the waves of pain radiating off Narcissa even as she slept. It was almost agonizing being in the same room with her.

Earlier, she had felt some of the same hurt to a lesser degree from Severus and Simeon. Only there had been anger as well, a great deal of it, but it was masking deep pain. Olivia could only guess as to the source. Even now, she didn’t understand the circumstances.

Some part of her mind heard footsteps and saw Dumbledore’s stooped shadow beside her, but it wasn’t until he spoke that she turned to him.

“You don’t need to be here child.”

“Yes, I do. She needs someone.” A bubble of anger burst and she whispered angrily.
“I don’t understand why they can’t see that she’s hurting. How much she regrets how it came about.”

“They are in pain.”

“I know. I can feel it.” She didn’t notice Dumbledore giving her a considering look.

“They can’t see past their own pain, to Narcissa’s. The eyes of an outsider are more objective.”

“I suppose so. I just want them to…” Olivia struggled to find the words. “I just want them not to hurt anymore. To be happy. I hurt for them.”

Dumbledore nodded sagely. “Miss Weasley has a healing touch for the physical, but you my dear have an healing touch for the emotional side of people.”

“No.” Olivia shook her head. “I can’t heal anyone.”

“You may not think so, but in all your years here, I’ve seen more than you might think. You don’t realize how much you help people, but I do. You’re an empath Olivia Greenwood.” Dumbledore sighed.

“You’ve been to long with people who only feel dislike and disapproval. They’ve drained your gift. They feel nothing buth selfishness, greed, and lust. You can do nothing with that. It is time for you to leave them and find your place elsewhere.”

“And where would that be.” Her voice was wry.

“That my dear, is something you have to figure out for yourself.” They sat is silence, the night flowing by. When she finally broke it, it was to say,

“If only he could hear how lovingly she whispers his name in her sleep. It could practically heal his heart.”

Ginny shivered and pulled her robe tighter around her body, then adjusted the knot of hair at her nape. If he wasn’t here in five minutes, she was leaving.

A warm puff of air caressed her neck and arms clamped around her from behind.
“Boo.”

Ginny jumped, then tried to pull away. “Let me go, you idiot! That’s not funny!”

“I thought it was.” Draco mumbled from where his lips were nibbling on her neck.

Ginny sighed resignedly. Her objections were collapsing under the weight of his kisses. She didn’t have the will to try and stop him. It just felt so good. The heat of his breath fanned her ear as he sucked on the lobe.

She jerked and Draco seemed to sense the tension in her body. He buried his head in her neck and sighed.

“It’s getting harder and harder to stop Virginia.”
She frowned. “Stop calling me that. Nobody calls me that.”

Draco ignored her. “We need to complete the next step in the process very very soon, or things could get out of hand.”

Ginny turned around to face him. “How soon is very soon? And what does the ‘next step’ entail exactly?” She asked suspiciously.

Draco thrust her away from him, his voice tight. “How soon? Tonight would be best Virginia!” He started pacing. “It’s not like any of this is a surprise! We agreed, didn’t we?” Draco abruptly stopped and glared at her. “Or did you decide to let me go mad?”

“Of course not you blockhead!” Ginny snapped, offended. “But…”

“Then what exactly are you asking, Virginia! I can only hold on so long. Are you waiting for me to snap?” He stepped close. “Because I guarantee you wouldn’t like it.”

Ginny reared back at the menace in his tone. He was serious, and for the first time, she was actually afraid of what might happen if he did snap. It hadn’t seemed real before, but for some reason, here with the deadly coiled tension in his body and the feral gleam in his eyes, it struck her when all of his rages hadn’t.

“Are you asking me if I have to touch you?” Draco rasped. “Because by now you ought to know the answer to that.” He grabbed her wrist. “Do you want me to tell you what I have to do to you? Is that what you want?”

Ginny tried to pull away, but she might have been pulling on steel post for all the good it did. He was starting to sound wild. “No, I don’t want…”

“First, I’ll take you down to the grass and pin your hands.” His voice pitched low and grating. Then I’ll start with your ears and kiss my way down your neck…”

Ginny shuddered and managed to yank herself away. “Stop it!” In one swift movement, they both tumbled to the ground, Draco on top of her, his weight hot and heavy.

The breath whooshed out of her and then Draco was kissing her. She could feel his hands sliding down her waist to her hips, pulling her tight against him. Ginny whimpered at the sensations it evoked, her nerves zipping and buzzing. Her body had a mind of it’s own; she was gripping the thick layers of muscles covering his back, feeling them bunch and contract beneath the pads of her fingers.

Draco moved from her mouth to her throat, licking and nipping a trail to the edge of her blouse. Ginny almost shrieked when she felt his hand close around her breast and squeeze. Streaks of lightning shot through her body and she writhed in the cold wet snow.

His other hand moved even lower and Ginny arched wildly. Earthshattering waves broke over her, reducing her to trembling quakes. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright with receeding passion, as she panted. Draco had her clutched to his chest, holding her close and she could feel his heart thumping powerfully against her breasts.

Ginny felt cocooned in the heat they’d just created. Draco shifted her in his arms and she felt a strange tendril of awareness unfurling in her mind. It was a weird feeling, as if she was intuned to Draco. His heartbeat sounded louder in her mind, his breathing clearer.

Pushing frantically at his chest to get him off her, Ginny skittered away, eyes wide with shock.

“What did you do to me?” Merlin! She could feel his presence. Ginny closed her eyes and spun in a circle until she felt dizzy. He was somewhere to her left. It was like she had some sort of Draco Malfoy homing beacon in her head.

“What are you talking about?” Draco growled, looking extremely irritated. “You’re raving, you little wench.”

Ginny clenched her hands into little fists at her sides. “You completed the second step didn’t you! Why exactly can I tell where you are without looking now? You’re in my bloody head and I want you out!”

Draco snorted with disgust. “It’s part of being a veela or mate, you idiot! How do you think I found you? Do you think I want you in my head all the time either?” He stiffened into a classic “Malfoy” pose, cool arrogance sliding over his features.

“There’s nothing I can do about it. I’m sorry if it is troublesome and inconvienient, but it’s an unalterable fact. The nature of a veela relationship. You’ll know where I am and I’ll know where you are.” Draco’s eyes narrowed. “Remember that when you’re thinking about the doctor.”

“Are you threatening me?” Ginny was outraged. She had committed herself to him, and he had the gall to think that she would cheat on their relationship? Did they even have a relationship? Not in the conventional sense she supposed.

“Just remember that you’re mine.” He snarled.

Ginny shrieked in fury and holding tenuously to her control, turned and tried to stomp back to the castle, but the effect was lost since it was more like sludging through the ankle deep snow.

Draco stood, a stiff statue behind her, his eyes calculating.



Ginny walked into the Hospital Wing and was greeted by the sight of Olivia and Pompfrey hovering over Narcissa Malfoy’s bed. Madam Pompfrey was clucking and checking Mrs. Malfoy’s vital signs, and Olivia holding one of her thin white hands.

“What’s going on?” Ginny moved closer and Olivia jerked large worried eyes up to her.

“She’s getting worse all of a sudden. We can’t figure out what’s wrong.” Olivia hesitated slightly. “You might want to have Draco come up here.”

As if on cue, Draco flung the door open and stomped in, Dumbledore appearing a few seconds after him.

“I want to talk to my mother.” Draco growled, his eyes glinting dangerously.

“Not now, Mr. Malfoy!” Poppy snapped. “She’s in no condition for visitors at the moment.”

Instantly concern shot to his eyes and he shoved his way to his mother’s side. “What’s wrong with her?” He demanded.

“We’re not sure yet, now give us room to work.” Poppy turned away to bustle around collecting jars and bottles. Ginny had morphed into her professional persona, but paused briefly to lightly squeeze Draco’s shoulder.

Dumbledore’s low husky voice brought everyone’s head around. “Draco, I need you to floo Severus and tell him to get up here at once.” His tone was urgent and it propelled Draco towards the fireplace.

Albus moved to the bed. “Let us all hope this turns out how it should.”

The room lapsed into a silence that left everyone wondering what exactly he meant.