AN: Didn't really get any feedback on whether or not I should post this while I'm working on the next chapter for Little Dragon. But I figured 'what the hell' and so here I am. Lol. Gonna be another LONG day at work. Hope my body doesn't give out from exhaustion, heaven knows that wouldn't be fun. Anywhosies, let me know if you all enjoy it & want me to continue on with it.

Also, I would like to place a WARNING here for anyone who doesn't like fics with characters behaving OOC. This story will have characters that are OOC. Because this is a fanfiction, after all. Emphasis on the fan bit. I very obviously am not JK, so these characters will behave in a manner in which she might not have written them. But that's the beauty of fanfictions, they can be whatever you like. And if you don't like my fic, then you can very easily write your own. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, to those that wish to continue, I do hope that you enjoy my story.

Summary: After a terrible incident which left his partner dead and him permanently changed, an already married Draco finds out that he has a soulmate. And his soulmate definitely isn't his wife. This information throws his whole life out of whack, leaving him battling against himself.

Forbidden Forest: 26 October 2005

Draco knew something was wrong, he could sense it. Like a cold chill creeping into his body to settle deep down in his bones. The woods were quiet, too quiet, as Draco and Harry made their way through the Forbidden Forest. No other sound was able to be heard, outside of the soft squishing noise their boots made as they continued to trek through the mud and deeper into this awful place. It struck Draco as something that was quite suspicious as he and his partner stalked through the woods, in search of the werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. He couldn't hear any form of sound, aside from the sound of their footsteps, and the deafening silence began to make him feel quite leery.

He nervously looked around, concentrating his hearing to see if he could pick up any other kind of discernible sounds outside of their steps. He had been an Auror for the past six years, and over that time he had seen a number of terrifying things, but none of them sent a chill down his spine like the thought of that disgusting monster, Greyback. If his years as an Auror had taught him anything, it was to always trust your gut. And his gut was screaming that something was wrong, the woods were just too quiet. Draco took a calming breath, before coming to a stop and steeled his voice to speak to his partner.

"Potter, tell me something, will you?" He said as he began to look around. "Can you hear anything?" Halting his own steps the dark haired wizard began to look around as he strained to listen to the silent night air around them.

"No. I don't hear anything, Malfoy."

"Neither do I. I don't hear any birds, insects, or any of the other creatures that reside here for that matter... I mean outside of the sound of us walking, I can hear absolutely nothing."

"Can we just keep walking so we can get this over with, Ginny's making a roast tonight, and I'm itching to get home to her. And to be honest, I really don't think I see where you're going with this. " Harry said, looking over to meet Draco's gaze.

An annoyed expression marred the blond's face as he stared back at his partner. "Really Potter? I sincerely hope you haven't let marriage make you this thick, so soon. I can't think for the both of us, so you really need to have your wits about you now more than ever." Rolling his eyes and turning his head to search the area behind himself, he continued speaking, "If the forest is this silent, then the only thing left to assume is that the creatures that reside here have somehow been frightened off. More than likely there is a large predator nearby." He stopped speaking again, looking back at Harry as he waited for the man to piece the puzzle together on his own. When Harry didn't speak, obviously missing his deliberate insinuation, Draco couldn't hide his exasperated expression as he filled in the blanks for him. "Potter, he has to be close. He's the only predator besides an acromantula that's threatening enough to scare off the many inhabitants of these woods.."

Harry paused to consider his words and then began to slowly nod in agreement, he couldn't deny the fact that Draco had a point. It was entirely too quiet. And over these past few years as an Auror, with Draco as his partner, he learned to get past their old grudges and he ultimately began to trust the Slytherin. He also couldn't deny that some of Draco's previous judgement calls in sticky situations had definitely saved their skins. Merlin knows Harry was lucky to be alive after some of the missions they had been on over these past few years as partners. He knew he could trust this man with his life, there was no doubt about it.

But that didn't mean that Harry didn't still find him to be an incessantly, incorrigible prat sometimes.

"Potter I know I keep telling you this, but I'm being serious. Watch yourself and be careful," Draco whispered as he locked eyes with his partner again, attempting to convey to him the severity of their current situation, "Greyback is a sadistic fuck, Potter. So if you see him before I do, signal me immediately and let me know. If we're both on the offence, I have no doubt in my mind that we'll be able to take him down if we're both at the task. I've seen this monster in action Potter, and I know first hand that it'll be harder to take him down if he manages to separate us. And for the love of Merlin, don't let him bite you. I know you saw what he did to Bill Weasley, but that's nothing compared to what some of the more recent reports say.

"Apparently Greyback has found a way to enhance his Lycanthropic genes and now he has the ability to pass on the curse whether he bites you during the full moon or not. There are no more half measures with him, and he doesn't even need to be in his wolf form to infect someone now. He's...he's a merciless indiscriminate beast, Potter. He's already turned ten witches and wizards so far, and most of them were fucking children. Not to mention he's highly infectious, so when we see him it's imperative that we maintain a good distance from him as we subdue him and once he's down, we'll throw that bastard in a cage, and send him off to Azkaban—where he belongs, and then you can get your whipped arse back home to your wife." He joked halfheartedly while forcing a smile on his face. Regardless of his attempt to lighten the mood, Draco still couldn't help the involuntary shiver that ran up his spine as he spoke of Greyback.

Yeah, he knew what the monster was capable of, hell, he'd even seen him in action a few times. And what he read in the reports of Greyback's most recent sightings and activities, only served to chill his bones even more. Draco couldn't believe the fiend had gone so far as to find a way to infect people with the werewolf curse on a whim. The moment he saw the case he knew the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would send him on the mission to procure him. Simply because they believed he knew the monster best from the short time he'd spent as a Death Eater before defecting. He also knew that because of this his partner, by extension, would be required to accompany him on this mission. And currently the man was at a disadvantage because he hadn't had the chance to read the intel Draco had already been privy to.

Suddenly, Draco's spine began to stiffen as the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. Something was near. He looked over his shoulder and into the darkness, silently cursing the gods because he couldn't use a Lumos charm to aid him at the moment. He and Harry had already agreed that the charm would only serve as a beacon, doing nothing more than alerting the werewolf of their arrival.

"I understand Malfoy. You don't have to keep prattling on about it. You've been telling me to be careful since we left our office earlier. I can't help it that I'm eager to get this over and done with as soon as possible so I can get home to the misses. I'm certain she's beside herself with worry because were out here right now on this damned mission as is." He said with a sigh. "I just wish I was still in Egypt right now with her instead of here hunting for a werewolf."

Draco continued to peer into the darkness behind him, even as he rolled his eyes and started speaking. "Potter, get your mind off your wife for one fucking moment and focus on this mission. Staying alive and catching Greyback is the only thing that needs to be on your mind, not your damn honeymoon you git-

His words cut off once he turned back around and saw Greyback's smiling face just over Harry's shoulder, his eyes alight with psychotic glee. He raised a finger to his lips in a mock shushing motion. Draco grabbed for his wand and opened his mouth to warn his partner, just as the werewolf's terrible claw plunged through the young war hero's back and exploded out of his chest. Painting Draco's face in splatters of blood. Draco stumbled backwards and onto his arse at the sight and began inching away, all the while keeping his eyes locked on the werewolf.

"—Malfoyyy" Harry coughed out just before his head slouched off to the side. He watched as the beast slowly pulled his hand out of Harry's body, letting his lifeless form fall bonelessly to the ground beside him, and lifted his bloody fist to his mouth. A wet crunching sound filled the soundless air around them and he knew the monster was eating his heart.

Harry is dead. This can't be happening. Harry defeated the Dark Lord, the most vicious dark wizard to have ever lived. What would his young wife say? They'd only just got back from their honeymoon yesterday. This would surely devastate the poor woman. What of my own wife? I'm probably going to die this evening as well. Greyback's voice broke Draco from his rueful thoughts.

"Hello little Malfoy... long time... no see..." he said while cautiously inching closer to the young wizard.

Draco raised his wand and immediately began to fire stunning and binding spells at the beast, not wanting him to get any closer to him than he already was. The beast dodged every spell, with graceful speed, making Draco even more nervous with fright. With a sickening smile the werewolf turned and ran off and into the woods. Draco didn't waste any time crawling over to his fallen comrade. He pulled the twenty three year old into his lap, cradling his torso in his arms. Harry's head swung lifelessly from side to side as Draco held onto him.

"Potter I'm sorry." He cried, unable to help the tears that formed in his eyes. "This wasn't supposed to happen to you. D-don't worry. I'm g-gonna get you out of here. I won't leave you here... I swear I won't" He sobbed, preparing to hoist his partner's corpse over his shoulder and make a run to the edge of the woods so that he could apparate them both out of this gods forsaken place.

A shiver ran down his spine as he felt a warm gust of air run past his ear, accompanied by a low growl. He winced, aghast at what the implication of the growl meant, and his blood began to run cold. How had he not heard him return?

"Leaving so soon? But the party's just started.." the familiar voice of Greyback said. Before Draco could react, the monster latched onto the junction of flesh between his neck and shoulder. Draco's scream pierced the nighttime air, as the blood began to flow from the wound. Greyback released him and flung him into a nearby tree, knocking the wind from his lungs.

Draco struggled for air as he watched the monster stalk closer to his body. Raising his head defiantly, he began to speak, he wouldn't let this monster see his fear.

"Go on and kill me you filthy beast. Let's just get this over with already. Because if you're looking for me to get on my knees and beg you for my life, you've got the wrong man."

"Oh I'm not going to kill you little Malfoy. Why ever would I do that? I could never kill my own progeny."

"Progeny? The hell are you on about Greyback?"

"You already know the answer to that question, boy. I heard you and your little friend talking about me and what I've been up to."

Draco began to shake his head. No. This couldn't be happening! Greyback wasn't going to kill him...he was going to leave him...leave him to turn into a monster as well. He could already feel the werewolf's venom working at the wound on his neck, mending the

flesh where the bite was and turning it into fat pink scars.

"You can't do this to me! You can't leave me here to turn into-into some animal! Kill me! Kill me damnit! I'd rather be dead than become what you are!"

"You stupid, stupid boy. You won't become like me. There is only one alpha, and I alone hold the ability to shift between my human and wolf form whenever my heart desires. I alone hold the ability to turn men into wolves on any given night of the week. I am the one true alpha. All I've done to you is turn you into one of my many children. And like my other children, you will only become a werewolf on the night of the full moon each month. You should be thanking me for blessing you with such a prestigious gift," he sneered.

Draco's vision began to blur around the edges, as a black fog began to creep over his consciousness and started to envelop him, plunging his mind into a dark abyss as the voice of the monster began to sound like nothing more than murmurs. The last discernible words he could make out before his world went to black, was

"Enjoy the gift I've given you, Malfoy."

Ministry of Magic: 26 October 2006

"What do you mean I'm suspended indefinitely?" Draco fumed at his supervisor.

"We're sorry to let you go Mr. Malfoy, but you're a safety hazard to our other employees and we've been receiving complaints."

"Complaints? I'm one of the best Aurors you have. And what have I done that qualifies me as a safety hazard, huh? I haven't hurt or threatened anyone!" He ran his hand through his hair as he continued to pace back and forth through the office in a rage. "Be a man and tell it to me straight. You're letting me go because I'm a werewolf, right? It's not because I have actually done anything to deserve this and you know it!"

"There have been complaints, and your coworkers no longer feel safe. And it is because of that, that I have to let you go. I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy, now on behalf of the ministry, I want to thank you for your years as an Auror. Now if you would please excuse me, I have a meeting." The man said as he stood up, extending his hand for a farewell handshake, while dismissing Draco from his office.

Draco stood up and brushed past the man, ignoring his hand as he rushed out. How dare they fire me! After everything I've done for this job! After everything that's happened to me as a direct cause of me working here! How dare they fucking fire me. Do they honestly think I'm so thick I don't know the real reason why they're letting me go! As if I didn't know it's because I'm a bloody werewolf! I wouldn't even be a damned halfbreed if it weren't for this gods forsaken place! I can't believe the audacity— his thoughts were interrupted when he bumped into a soft small person that was in his way.

"Hey! Watch—" Just as he was about to tear into whomever it was that bumped into him, his nostrils were filled with the most intoxicating aroma. He closed his eyes and inhaled a little more deeply and recognized it as a combination of things. Who ever it was, smelled like a field of daisies on a rainy spring morning with a small hint of vanilla. It was absolutely heavenly.

"Oomf— I'm sorry. I didn't see you there Draco." As soon as she spoke, he immediately recognised her sing song voice.

Hermione

"Oh it's quite alright Hermione." He replied inhaling her sweet scent once more before craning his neck to look down and meet her gaze. "I should be the one apologising, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking."

"Draco, a-are you okay?" Hermione asked him while inspecting his emotion riddled face.

"Yeah, I suppose so, I just, erm... oh it doesn't bloody matter. Does it?"

"Look, I know we've grown apart over the years and that you may not see me as a close friend anymore, but I still see you as one. And it saddens me to see you upset like this. I just want you to know that well... that you can talk to me if you like? You know? Like we used to back in Hogwarts." She offered, her hazelnut eyes boring into his steel ones.

Draco couldn't help the genuine smile that graced his face at the mention of the closeness they once shared back in Hogwarts. The simple days, back when they shared a dorm as Head Boy and Head Girl. Regardless of that, he didn't want to cross that line again and open up to her like he once had. So when he opened his mouth to speak, he didn't know what compelled him to do it, he really didn't. He honestly had no intention to, but when he opened his mouth to tell her he had to be getting home, something else entirely came out instead.

"I...uh.. I just got fired..." he said in a low somber tone, as he looked down towards the floor, ashamed of how vulnerable he felt due to his openness. Hermione gasped in surprise, like he knew she would. As a solicitor Hermione already knew first hand what an incredible Auror he had been for the past seven years. Everyone who worked in Magical Law knew about him. In the past seven years, he had made close to a hundred arrests. Even after the incident, he fought the depression that had taken over him and persevered. He even aided in the arrest of the monster that killed his partner, the animal that fucked up his life by infecting him, the thing he hated most in this world, Greyback.

"Why the hell did they fire you?!" Hermione asked, completely enraged.

"My assumption is that they did it because I'm a werewolf." Draco growled out, his rage coming back to him for a moment.

"T-they can't do that!" She stammered, as her blood began to boil. She couldn't believe the MLE would be so blatantly discriminatory. "I should know, I mean it was me that helped pass the legislation that bans employers from firing employees due to their Lycanthropy. What exactly did they say to you when they fired you Draco?"

"They told me that they were letting me go because they were receiving complaints about me from my coworkers and then they had the gall to tell me that I'm a safety hazard."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me! They actually said that to you?! That's complete and total shite!" Hermione continued to rage. And Draco couldn't help but to admire her fire and beauty. Her curly hair flowed around her like a veil, and her eyes were bright with her anger; lightening up from their usual dark chocolate colour, to a bright hazel. Her cheeks were flushed pink from rage, and her lips were full and swollen as she chewed on her lip, and he could see her mind working. Her voice broke his mind away from his thoughts. "I could help you, you know?"

"Help me? Help me how?"

"Draco I'm a solicitor. I can help you fight this discriminatory termination before the Wizengamot."

"Oh Hermione, you don't have—

"It's really not a problem Draco." She said cutting him off, "I want to do this. With your termination, the MLE is in direct violation of the Lycanthropy Equality Act. That bill was my baby, and I'm not going to let them get away with what they're doing. And even though I know you have galleons to spare, I'll do this pro bono."

"Pro bono?" Draco asked, even though he already knew what she meant, he just wanted to keep her there and continue to inhale the delicious scent before him. He'd honestly never smelled anything like it before.

"It's a muggle term. It basically means I'll do it free of charge."

"You'd really do that for me?"

"Of course I would."

"If you're doing this because you feel sorry for me, don't, I really don't want your pity Hermione."

"I'm not pitying you, you clod. You're my friend and I seriously want to help you fight this, it's a blatant disregard for the bill I helped pass for all Lycan-kind."

"Well in that case, I suppose I should be thanking you then."

"You really don't have to thank me Draco. I'm more than happy to help you stick it to these imbeciles." She smiled at him before continuing. "Now that we have that settled, do you have any free time to meet somewhere, so we can go over everything in greater detail before I go and file the petition?"

"I... Erm... To be honest with you Hermione, outside of coming here and going to work, I never have plans. People tend to steer clear of me."

"People steer clear of you? What's that supposed to mean Draco?"

"Well I don't know how else to say this, but due to my affliction, I don't really go out much anymore. Since my attack was made so public and everyone knows who I am, people tend to avoid me like the plague. I can't even walk down the street without people watching me fearfully, sometimes yanking their children into their arms, and practically running away from me. It's disheartening to say the least. So most of my free time is spent at home, brewing potions."

She frowned, "Oh Draco, I never knew... I just assumed you wanted your privacy."

"It's fine. I don't blame them. Last year, before all of this happened, I probably would've felt the same way as them."

He hated the pained expression that came over her face as he spoke, "So where would you like to meet Draco?"

"Well like I said earlier Hermione, I don't go out anymore. Everyone makes me feel so uncomfortable. Like I'm some evil demonic thing that they should all avoid. The most comfortable place for me to meet with you, would be at my family's home. And I'm afraid to ask you to come there. I know it's been awhile, but I don't know how comfortable you feel coming to the manor just yet. I know you have painful memories of your time spent there." At the mention of the manor Draco could see Hermione visibly shudder. And he couldn't help but feel a load of guilt behind it.

"I understand if you don't want to do this anymore, especially if you don't want to come to the manor. But if you do, then I can assure you that we wouldn't be anywhere near the drawing room, that is, if you still decide to come. We could even meet directly in my wing of the manor if that suits you better?"

"I'll do it. But only if we hold the meeting in your wing. That's the only way I'll come. Now what day and time should we make this meeting?"

"Heh, hey well you're the one here with a job. So what time are you free to meet?" At that question Hermione took a pause before she answered.

"Well since today is Thursday, and I'm ahead on all of my current paperwork. I suppose this Saturday at twelve would work well for me. Is that a good time for you?"

Before opening his mouth to answer he stood there and pretended to be in deep thought. All the while inhaling the beautiful aroma wafting away from Hermione and up into his nose. He had no idea what this smell could be, but he knew he needed to get this perfume and give it to his wife, it intoxicated his senses in a way like nothing ever had.

What is that delicious smell, he heard a voice growl out from deep within his mind.

Who are you, he asked the voice, because he'd never heard it before.

ANSWER ME! TELL ME WHAT THAT DELICIOUS SMELL IS! The voice snarled back, oozing with irritation at the question.

It's nothing, he lied, hoping he could keep the voice at bay.

It's Her. the voice growled back, focussing Draco's eyes on Hermione's face

"—Draco?"

Give her to me! The voice demanded in a snarl in the back of his head.

This voice was beginning to make him nervous.

"Oh please do forgive me Hermione, I was lost in a thought. Saturday at twelve works just fine for me."

Hermione smiled up at him and he felt his heart melt. He found it endearing how innocently beautiful she was.

"Very well then Draco, I'll see you then. I need to get going, I have a meeting in like ten minutes." She said as she began to walk towards the direction he was just coming from.

"Okay... oh hey Hermione," Draco called out to her and she turned back around to face him.

"Yes Draco?"

"What's the name of the perfume you're wearing? It's rather intoxicating and I would love to get some for Astoria." She looked up at him, her face thoroughly confused as she began to speak.

You imbecile! It is NOT the scent of perfume you smell. It is her!

"Draco... thank you for the compliment I suppose, but I'm not wearing any perfume. I never do. It's not my thing."

"My mistake, sorry I interrupted you."

Take her you fool!

"It's fine Malfoy, see you on Saturday," Hermione said with a wave and a smile, before turning away and continuing on.

Draco had to fight the urge to follow her, just to get another intoxicating drag of her delicious scent. None of this made any sense to him. If she wasn't wearing perfume, why did she smell so damned good. Why did that smell make him want to press his nose into her shoulder? Why did it make him want to bite her? He felt truly disturbed by his thoughts, it made him want to go home and figure out what it was exactly that was making him feel this way.

Why are you letting her get away you idiot?! Run after her! Take her! Take her now for everyone to see! She's mine! I need to mark her! You're letting her get away! Bring her to me! The voice raged at him from within his mind, compelling him to follow her.

He needed to get out of here quickly before he did something truly foolish. His mind began to conjure up depraved images of him yanking Hermione into the nearest supply closet, ripping off every stitch of her clothing, and burying himself to the hilt inside of her. And if that wasn't bad enough already, he really really wanted to bite her. What the fuck? He wanted to sink his teeth into the smooth peachy skin on her neck, as he fucked her like no other. He was going mad. Before he did something regretful, Draco pulled out his hawthorn wand, he wrapped his hand around it and apparated home.

He landed directly in his family's library, and ran straight to the Magical Creatures section in search of a book that would explain what the fuck just happened to him. That's when he found it.

Werewolves: Understanding the Beast

With that book in his hands he set off to the lounge within the library and began to read.