Everything But Mine

A/N. I started a new job that’s why the veela was a bit delayed, but now I’m back on track! I hope you like it!

If there was a heaven on earth, then holding his love close all night was it for Draco. The veela nerve induced sickness had immediately vanished once the mate was safely cradled next to him. He hated to be so volatile, but every second of being close to her made up for the moments of harming oneself.

She looked so beautiful to him, like his personal angel. Every time he looked at her, she seemed more beautiful to him. Every curve of her body was perfect and inviting him to devour her, to make sweet pure veela love to her.

He knew that once she was ready, it would be perfect, because she would know that he loved her more than his life and that he would never want another woman because she was the most perfect mate for him.

After the wedding, which should be the way she wanted it, they would live freely, doing whatever they wanted, portkeying from one estate to another. Then, one day when they both would be ready, they have children, not one but as many as they wanted, a whole Quidditch team full if they wanted to.

Krum was a substantial problem, as Draco knew that she was attracted to that bulky oaf. It was true that a veela’s beauty was unmatched, but Draco still needed a week more to blossom into his true looks. Then he would be irresistible with his lithe and muscled physique… the books he had read had been adamant that a veela’s looks usually mesmerized the mate so Draco hoped to stretch the time till he got his looks back and keep her away from Krum.

However, right now Draco had won. Hermione was in his bed, even if she was there out of compassion, things would change soon, but it was good that even now she had the trust to be close to him.

Hermione awoke in the early hours of morning, at first confused about her whereabouts, but she soon realised that she was safely cradled in Draco’s arms.

She knew that it was an odd situation, that she shouldn’t be so comfortable with him because he was her charge and not someone to get over-familiar with. But she just couldn’t stop feeling so good around him.

The fact that he was regaining his good looks didn’t help her at all. His face had lost the pointed features he had as an adolescent; his face now was morphing into a pale perfection. His high cheekbones and the perfect contour of his lips would be the features her favourite romance novel authors described. However, they could never capture the enticing way his blond hair was splayed over the pillow like a pale gold halo. The warmth and contour of his chest made her want to snuggle closer and breathe in his sweet scent. She liked the feel of his chest too, as she could feel the defined contours through the pyjamas’ silk. In all, he was a very nice specimen of a man, she had to admit.


The problem was that she couldn’t think of Draco as an attractive man. No matter how handsome or adorable he was, Draco needed her protection, not her leering over him and using his vulnerable state. The mind blowing kiss he had given her was just a result of his flu-riddled state, most likely he didn’t even mean it, or maybe he had just confused her with a long gone lover. Men like Draco Malfoy didn’t go for simple women like Hermione Granger.

Alas, she didn’t have to be alone anymore. Viktor was back and sweeter than ever, and if she had read his signs right, he was very interested in pursuing her. And she would let him, as he would distract her from looking at Draco in an unprofessional way.

‘You shouldn’t be awake so early.’

Draco’s husky voice startled her. ‘I just couldn’t sleep,’ she replied, avoiding confessing the true reason for her sleeplessness.

‘Do I make you uncomfortable?’ he asked verily, afraid that she wanted to leave.

‘No, I just wonder if it’s even acceptable I’m here.’

‘You help me a great deal. If it wasn’t for you, I would be on the brink of insanity in prison and you’re wondering whether it’s acceptable that you’re doing everything you can to help me?’

‘I…’ she was searching for words but they weren’t coming.

‘Let’s just sleep and think tomorrow,’ he said and pulled her closer, cradling her close to his chest. When she sighed and relaxed in his embrace, he drifted back to sleep, happy that his mate didn’t leave him now.

When the bright sunlight of morning sneaked into the room through the heavy brocade curtains, Hermione gently disentangled herself from Draco’s grasp and quietly left his room.

She was getting too cosy with him, and it just had to stop, she decided when stepping into the shower in her bathroom, lavishing herself in the delicious scents of the soaps she found there.

Hermione had never thought about how she would like to live, she was unlike the other girls who all had ran after rich men only for their money. True, she had agreed to take Draco into her custody in hopes to persuade him to donate to Hogwarts, but she hardly considered that greed, as it was more a plea in favour for their old school, and regardless of his wealth, Draco was a person, first and foremost. Sure, he hadn’t been nice to her in school, but old grudges were the reason for this war, so if there was a chance to make a person happy, then she would do it.

Who would’ve imagined that Draco Malfoy could be tolerable, even more so, extremely adorable and… he just had some unique kind of tenderness about him, she couldn’t explain it, but she felt mesmerized every time she looked at his angelic face…

Steeling herself, she decided that she was just being silly and decided to concentrate on furthering Draco’s rehabilitation into normal life. on her way to the walk-in closet ashe noticed something laid out on the bed. Coming closer, she realised that it was the dress she had been looking at in the shop yesterday. The tags had been removed, but there was a little cream card with a handwritten ‘wear me’ on it.
Most likely it was Draco’s handwriting, as she knew it from school vaguely only because he had a neat, almost caligraphically well-developed style in the prefect meeting register.

She knew that she should’ve gone to Draco and told him that she didn’t need to be given expensive gifts to be favourable towards him. On the other hand, she might hurt his feelings when he just wanted to give her a present. The situation was simple actually; she could still try on the dress and ask Draco why he had gotten it for her.

As she might not have another opportunity to wear such an exquisite dress, she swept her hair up in a loose bun and applied some make up, something she rarely did when working in the damp walls of Azkaban where even most masterfully charmed make up would be a mess within minutes.


Waking up alone wasn’t something Draco liked very much, but he was not upset as his veela senses were calm as the mate was just a few rooms away as he could still hear the water running in the shower in her room.

All was going good for making the mate like him. of course, she was perfect and he wasn’t but their love would take care of that. He wanted to show her that he’d do anything for her and that she’d never want anyone else. He had the love, the material things weren’t a problem.

He was already getting nervous about how long it took her to come down to breakfast. The veela was sick with worry, wondering whether something bad had happened to the mate and wishing to run and see to be completely sure.

Draco’s Slytherin side wanted to send an elf to find out if she was alright or just doing girly morning rituals.

However, all coherent thought was gone from his mind when she stepped into the breakfast parlour. His Angel darling, love looked absolutely fantastic in the dress he had decided to get her, even when she had said that she didn’t want it in the shop.
‘You look gorgeous,’ he said and realised that he hadn’t yet wished her a good morning.

‘Thank you and a good morning to you too, Draco,’ she replied and decided not to start a discussion about the dress as she didn’t want to soil their good mood.

‘I knew it would look great on you,’ Draco added once he had won over the veela’s wish to go and embrace the mate and kiss her.

She smiled shyly and cast her eyes away as she wasn’t used to compliments as Harry and Ron were usually forgetting that she was a woman and not just another bloke. Turning her gaze to the table she noticed that the elves had prepared a helping of many popular breakfast foods, like eggs, bacon, sausages, cereals… not having to cook was definitely a bonus as usually she neglected breakfast in favour of re-reading a file for work for the umpteenth time. Now, there were no files, but a bigger mission- Draco, who somehow managed to look dashing once again.

Hermione was thankful for the silence though, as she didn’t know what to say now as she might appear either overly familiar or too formal.

The post owls’ arrival was a good tension breaker, as she knew that Draco was intending to tell her something but somehow never managed to say a word.
A regal owl dropped a small, neatly packed parcel on Hermione’s side whilst another owl delivered the Daily Prophet to Draco.

Ripping open the quality wrapping parchment, she extracted the letter first.

Dear Hermione,

I could not think of anything but you yesterday. I know that we are both very busy people, but that should not stop us from seeing each other often, as there is nothing more I would like.

With this letter, I have included an All Access Pass to all my games, training and other team events and a Appointment Manager diary, which already has all my appointments for the coming year written in. The diary updates itself magically, so if you add in anything you like, for example a time when you want to meet me, I shall know that immediately through the auto-copy in my diary.

I have a training with my team tomorrow morning in the Chudley Cannons’ pitch. After that we could go to lunch if you like?

All my love,
Viktor

Hermione squealed in delight. She got an admirer, finally! And what a thoughtful one! She kissed the parchment of the letter and then extracted the pass and the diary.
‘From who is the parcel?’ Draco tried to ask casually, trying to persuade the veela curb the jealousy as most likely it was from Potter or Weasley or maybe a catalogue order.

‘It’s from Viktor… and he’s so amazingly sweet! He sent me a diary which has all his appointments in and a pass for all his games! Isn’t that great?’

‘Yes, yes,’ Draco answered, trying to walk past her without pushing her on top of the table and mating with her in a wild veela daze. She deserved a gentle, romantic mating, not a creature’s needs fulfilled roughly. It still didn’t stop him from hating Krum.

‘I must go and have a look at the company reports. Malfoy Enterprises have been neglected far too long.’ He excited the breakfast parlour to think and calm down, as showing obvious dislike towards Krum might lessen his own chances. He needed a bit of finesse in charming her and maybe a bit of help, too.

Grabbing a piece of parchment, he penned a note to the only person he knew who would help him.

Severus,

I usually am not one to ask for help, but it seems that my mate is slipping out of my reach due to the idiot Krum. If you have any suggestions what I could do, please let me know. I don’t want to subject her to a forced mating.

Draco

A few minutes after he had sent of the message he received a curt reply saying that his godfather already had a valid plan and that he would be there as soon as he finishes brewing an important potion. That was just about good enough for Draco. He had put a house elf on watch to make sure that he would be informed as soon as a visitor arrives.

‘Sir, yours visitor has arrived!’ the house elf reported and winked out right after

Draco run to the entry hall to greet his godfather personally and start plotting the seduction of Hermione Granger straight away. He opened the door and froze on the spot, as he hadn’t expected to see Walden Macnair on his doorstep.

‘What do you want, Macnair?’ Draco demanded, jabbing his wand into the visitor’s neck. ‘You better have a good explanation, or I will curse first and ask questions later.’ .


How do you think this confrontation will end? The veela loves reviews and suggestions/wishes! *gives cookies*

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