Everything But Mine

A/N: The veela-fic muse has been overly happy with your responses! Those who guessed that the lyrics describing Draco were from Backstreet Boys-Shape of my heart were right! Veela-fic muse gives cookies to you! Now, on to the long awaited chappy!

Stepping into his bedroom which was lit only with the stray light of the moon coming from the curtains, Hermione considered her options. One was to wake him up and give him a calming a sleeping potion from her medicinal potions box, but it seemed a bit too impersonal. Watching him thrashing in the bed and sobbing quietly, looking so helpless and alone made her heart ache.

Hermione knew that there was no family left for Draco, he was all alone in this world without anyone taking care of him. did he deserve to be left alone in his pain? A few years ago, she very well would’ve said he deserved everything he’d get, but now… now he was a different person. He had decided to help Hogwarts without long negotiations…

Pushing all professional guidelines away, she climbed into his bed and slid under the covers, pulling his trembling form close to her. Hermione knew from reading dozens of psychology books that very often, human touch was the best remedy for anxiety and stress. In slow, soothing caresses she first massaged his silk clad back, then running her hands through his luscious hair and over his smooth, pale cheek, repeating the gentle movements until his breathing depend and the sobs stopped.

Hermione had intended to stay just long enough to make sure that he was alright and didn’t need her anymore, but somehow, the warmth of his body and the lulling rhythm of his heart beat lured her into slumber.

Last night had been rather exciting for Draco. His gorgeous mate had been amicable with him and she had not shied away and asked him something. Of course, it was for a good cause and even if had been for her own personal gain, he couldn’t say no to her. The subtle kiss she had given him had driven the veela’s senses into overdrive, it hadn’t been expected, and it was so sweet and chaste. After being with her for several days he knew that she as pure and an innocent, meaning that once she was ready, she would be his and his only.

The nightmare which had taken over his sleep had been horrid. Hermione was leaving him for another man, telling him that she didn’t need him, the dirty half-breed. No matter how he begged, she wouldn’t listen to his pleas and tell him that she’d rather kill herself than be with him. However, the painful vision had ended once he had felt her closeness. Draco had remained asleep to not scare her away and hope to get a few more moments next to her.

Now, it was the weak light of dawn, and he had been awake for long, watching his beautiful mate sleep in his arms. She was wearing a silly mint green flannel pyjama with the most ridiculous cartoon cows printed on it. On anyone else, it would’ve looked plain stupid, but on it looked so cute and innocent. She had not come to his bed to seduce him, he knew it but she still looked so delectable to him. Draco could see just a hint of her shape under the baggy flannel, but it was enough to make his mind go over all the things he would do to her once she was truly his. How he would caress every inch of her peachy skin and bring her to the peak of pleasure over and over again, giving her the satisfaction only a veela could give to his mate.

The thing that bothered him was that she seemed still unawares of his true heritage. It had not been mentioned anywhere in his prison files, but it normally never would as veelas were not classified as creatures fully. A veela could decide whether to disclose the true heritage or not, and Malfoys had always adhered to the tradition to keep it quiet, as to not threaten their status as purebloods and not being intermixed with the crowd of dangerous creatures like werewolves and vampires.

Thanks to some industrious ancestors, there were many laws favouring veelas still in power, like the Mating Decree, which in no certain terms stated that the mate had to agree or still be mated against her will. Well, that particular ancestor had died of heartbreak as the forced mate had killed herself before his eyes.

That was something what Draco wanted to avoid at all costs. He wanted her to come to him willingly, needing his love, and not being forced to do so by the age old law pushed by great- great-great grandfather Perselus.

After all, his gorgeous Hermione was slowly taking steps towards being with him. Of course he knew that his presence was affecting her to an extent but it didn’t mean that she was compelled to do it, he kept the veela’s wish to seduce her with the special veela pheromones in check.

Now he only had to make her feel comfortable and give in to him in her own accord. The fact that she had stayed the night in his bed was proof enough that he would be more successful in future.

‘Where am I?’ she mumbled sleepily, squinting at the light coming from the window. When she realised where she was, her frantic attempt to escape the unknown surrounding made her legs tangle in the sheets.

‘Easy now. I don’t bite,’ he joked, ‘unless you ask me to.’ He smiled at her, admiring the flush staining her cheeks.

‘I didn’t intend to stay all night… I’m sorry about that. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright,’ she rambled, blushing deeper as she realised that she had actually slept better than in ages next to him.

‘Don’t be sorry for doing a nice thing. Do I look like I complain?’ he asked cheekily. He loved this innocent, playful banter with her.

‘No, it was just unprofessional of me to overstep the familiarity line and…’ Hermione tried to regain some semblance of control of the situation and not be enthralled by his angelic looks and that sweet smile on his handsome face.

‘Hermione, you said that you’re my friend. Friends don’t have professional barriers.’

‘You’re right, I was just overly worried that you’d take it the wrong way, in the worst, case, you’d think I have something dirty on my mind,’ she gulped and looked away.

‘Do Gryffindors have dirty minds at all?’ Draco teased her.

‘Well, I can’t speak for all, but I’m not dirty…’ she mumbled. ‘I think I’d better go.’

‘Did I scare you away?’ he asked cautiously. ’I was just trying to lighten the mood. I’m sorry I offended you.’

‘You didn’t offend me,’ Hermione replied casually, wondering why she had still wished to be in Draco’s arms now. ‘Maybe we should go to Diagon Alley so you can get whatever things you need? Your parole must already be public knowledge, so you should get accustomed to walking in public. Even though for the first month you would need to be accompanied by me…’ Going into lecture mode really helped to distract herself from the situation she was in and Draco’s enticing scent. It was overwhelming, something warm and pleasant, making her want to be close to him to breathe it in again and again.

‘That’s wonderful. I’m sure we will have a good day out. I promise to be on my best behaviour,’ he laughed.

‘Oh, Draco, I somehow suspect that it’s going to be alright.’ she assured him with a warm smile. ‘I guess I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast then?’

‘We can have breakfast in bed as well, if you like?’ he asked, and it was actually the veela’s question, passionate and desperate for the mate’s company at the same time.

‘Thanks for the offer, but I think I need a shower and get dressed before I look better than an ogre,’ she mumbled, realising that she really must look like death warmed over.

‘I don’t think you look like an ogre, I think you look cute… but do as you wish, my offer still stands.’

‘I guess I’d have to decline,’ she answered, trying to get out of bed gracefully and at the same time stop looking at Draco. There was something incredibly appealing about his look, so relaxed lounging back on the silk covered pillows that she wanted to stay there and…

Hermione knew that these thoughts were all bad, she hadn’t had much contact with people in her job, except for the offenders, plus Harry was away playing Quidditch and Ron was in Auror exchange program in America.

Or in the worst case, she desired to stop being single again. It would be great to wake up in someone’s arms, to get a good morning kiss and hear sweet words every day…
But it was illogical nonsense, Hermione knew it. Life was not like a romance novel where the absolutely fabulous man fell for the simple girl in an instant. Most men who attempted to date her were fame seekers and were trying to bed her for the sake of quick fame. She had never felt so at ease with anyone like she was with Draco.

Thoughts of in what situation she was with Draco didn’t slip from her mind all the time whilst showering and dressing. He was actually charming and well-mannered, with an ice-melting smile and a compassionate soul hidden under the layers of public image.

Where the hell did these thoughts come from? He was just a work relation, someone who needed a gentler approach, but it was still no reason to think of him in such un-business-like terms.

Breakfast was a quiet affair; she was still shaken about the outfit he wore. He had put on the Muggle jeans and shirt she had picked for him a few days ago, and he did look strikingly handsome. Probably, the fever was coming back. Nothing else could explain why she’d find the Ferret handsome.

Draco on the contrary, had been in heaven this morning. His gorgeous love didn’t run away from him but had stayed for a bit of banter. Of course, breakfast in bed would’ve been fantastic, but there was still time for that, when she felt like it. Maybe soon breakfast in bed might incorporate other things, like kissing and touching and ending with another example of what veela love is all about.

He had consciously chosen to wear the clothes she had picked for him; these simple things were more valuable to him than anything else as she had personally chosen them for him. It was the fact that she cared for him that mattered. And through this, he felt closeness to her as well.

She had sat quietly at breakfast, her nose buried in the newest edition of the Prophet. Draco was not upset about that, he knew that she was starting to get affected by his presence. That was the most tender way of the veela’s charms- to make the mate long to be in their company, even if they didn’t know why exactly they felt that way. Legally, it was not classified as a mind-altering magic, it was just part of a veela’s natural magical signature. And who would complain about a bit of creature magic which resulted in being loved for an eternity?

Hermione had returned his wand, letting him know that it was adorned with a tracking charm and a block for Unforgivables, but that it still performed all normal everyday spells. But the wand had mattered less to him than the fact that her hand had brushed his and she had blushed from the contact.

The clothing store they wanted to visit first was in a more expensive area of Diagon Alley, so Draco offered the more reasonable thing to do and do a Side-Along Apparition.
He let his arms linger around her for a few moments longer than necessary, but it seemed that she didn’t notice.
‘Will you help me choose?’ he asked innocently, hoping that then she would go with him to the changing rooms and… and he didn’t know what then. All he wanted was to have her close.

Hermione looked around the shop and felt a bit uncomfortable. She didn’t remember the name exactly, but it was some high end range one.

‘Mr Malfoy! It’s been long since you last visited!’ blonde bimbo showed up from almost nowhere. ‘We have a wonderful new collection and I can personally show you the best bits, ‘the magically enhanced blonde batted her eyelashes.

‘Thank you, but we’ll just look around on pour own now. And I would like the private changing room ready as well.’ He ordered, absolutely nonchalant at the shop girl’s blatant flirting.

The shop girl nodded and went away, giving Hermione a nasty glare. Hermione felt a bit uncomfortable, but she would get over it. It was just a silly shop.

‘If you don’t like it here, we can go somewhere else.’ Draco offered, feeling her slight distress.

‘No, I’m perfectly fine. I don’t even know what to suggest for you, you’ll look good in anything… ‘She realised that she had complimented him and turned away to pretend that she was looking at a dress on display to not lose face.

‘Do you like that dress?’ he asked, trying to get back her attention to himself. ’I’m sure it would look fantastic on you.’

‘Charmer, she quipped, ’better go and choose what you like,’ she shushed him away, moving to the displayed dress to pretend that she was interested in browsing. Actually, the dress was quite nice in her opinion, made of gold and black patterned silk which seemingly flowed. Out of curiosity, she reached for the price tag and after a quick glance let it go. A thousand Galleons for a dress! Crazy was not the word.

‘Do you want to go to the changing room now?’ Draco’s question startled her in its suddenness.

‘Wouldn’t it be better if the shop assistant went with you…or you go alone as I wouldn’t want to interfere with your privacy…’

‘The shop assistant hag has been leering at me since I was eleven, so please don’t even think I’d want her there. The private changing room is more like a lounge and a separate room for changing. So you won’t see anything you wouldn’t want to see.’ He winked at her suggestively and led her to the private section. The veela in him was all excited, but he knew that realistically she wouldn’t do anything untoward. Still, even thinking of that possibility made him wonder about the future.
Draco was happy that she approved all of his outfit choices and the atmosphere in the private changing lounge was rather relaxed, after Hermione had gotten used to the overly posh decorations and his company. Draco was proud that Hermione completely ignored the hag at the till

Now they were in the bookstore where he let her peruse the aisles, while he looked for the annual business report. He could not stay away from her too long, so he found her in the Potions section, looking pensively at the book in her hands.

‘Found anything interesting?’

Why did he have to sneak up on her like this? Hermione had done all she could to be as nonchalant to his presence as possible, even though it had been hard to do. He had been so nice and funny, intentionally amusing her with trying on ridiculous outfits and then fantastic ones. Several times she had thought that he would’ve made lots of money being a model in the Muggle world with his tall, lean body and the hypnotising eyes…

‘I’m just trying to figure out which ones I can afford to buy,’ she answered and tried to concentrate on the books and not the heat coming from his boy from just a step away.

‘Why not take all of them to read at home?’ he questioned, fighting the temptation to take that final step and stand right behind her.

‘Because all of them would cost over a three hundred galleons, that’s why.’

‘It’s nothing; remember that as per the parole contract I have to pay for all your expenses?’ he mumbled, finally giving in to the temptation and standing right behind her.

‘But that is just too much,’ she countered, feeling a shiver run over her spine from the closeness to him.

‘As I said before, I do not worry about money. Just let me take care of you?’ he asked huskily.

‘Alright,’ she breathed, she just couldn’t manage to say anything coherent now.

‘Let’s pay for this and then we’ll go for lunch, does that sound good?’ Draco asked, picking up the book stack.

Hermione just nodded and followed him. What else could she do? It was not like he was bribing her, he was just being polite and generous. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked Draco. Or maybe, she was just as lonely as he and therefore felt drawn to him.

They had just left the bookstore when someone called her name. Hermione turned into the caller’s direction and recognising him run to hug him.
Wonderful, Draco thought, I was so close to gain her trust and HE had to turn up.

A/N 2: So, I know it’s an evil cliffy but- you have to guess who is the contender for Hermione’s attention? It’s neither Harry or Ron and none of the Weasleys. I promise to update soon- seems like I’m finally on a roll.