First Fic ever so be nice, criticism is appreciated:)
Disclaimer—Characters belong to JKR. Only the plot line is mine.
Draco Malfoy loved the cold. When he was cold he couldn't feel the pain, the horrible, burning, pain.
Sadly, in early September the only place he could find remotely cool was deep into the Forbidden Forest.
"The Season is in two months, you know?" Blaise had an annoying habit of interrupting Draco's thoughts.
"I won't say I'm sorry for what's going to happen but, you're the person I would least like to kill." Malfoy's never apologized unless it was absolutely necessary. That was the best Blaise was going to get.
"Thanks, mate. Mate. The word has all new meaning now." Blaise said.
"Yes, it does. I think it's time." Draco said as he started to take off his robe.
"Who's afraid of the big, bad, wolves?" The darker man said with a chuckle.
"The poor, unsuspecting, rabbits." Draco responded with all seriousness.
The halls were crowded as Hermione and Harry tried to make their way to Hermione's class. Harry brought it upon himself to walk her to every class since the beginning of the year, now that Ron and Hermione weren't on speaking terms.
"Hermione what's wrong? You've been acting weird since we got back to school." Harry asked with a sympathetic look.
"Nothing. It's just a feeling. Probably just getting use to being in Hogwarts again." Hermione said giving him a strained smile.
"You know you can talk to me. I'm not the really good with these problems but, you are my best friend." Harry looked down at his scuffed shoe.
"I know. You're a good friend. It's the loneliness that bothers me occasionally. When I was with Ron, I never had a moment alone. Now it seems it's all I've got."
"It's always darkest before the dawn." Harry said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"It's always calm before the storm too." Hermione said walking into her Arithmacy class. Hermione walked in and could immediately feel the cold prick. This feeling had started the minute she had stepped foot on Platform 9 ¾. She quickly moved to her seat in the front of the class and began arranging her things. Hermione never noticed Draco Malfoy sit directly behind her.
"Hello, 'Mione." Ginny greeted taking the seat next to her. Seventh and Sixth years were mixed in all classes now due to incomplete schooling during the war, and the decreased student body returning to Hogwarts.
"Ginny, do you feel cold?" Hermione asked, partially hidden behind her hair.
"No I-," A tall dark man in Slytherin robes came billowing in to take the seat directly behind Ginny.
"Yeah, now that you mention it; freezing actually." The red head said, rubbing her arms.
"Got the chills Weasley?" Blaise Zabini asked, tapping his wand against her shoulder.
"Shove off Zabini. Ginny wants nothing to do with the likes of you." The curly haired Gryffindor warned.
"I'd be careful if I were you Granger. Never know what's waiting to gobble little girls like you two up," Zabini said snapping his teeth for dramatic effect. A successfully miffed Hermione turned back around.
"I'd watch what I say Zabini." Malfoy said with a low growl, immediately silencing Blaise.
"Sorry Alpha." Blaise said under his breath.
"Do you feel it, Hermione?" Ginny asked as she quickened her steps away from the Arithmacy room.
"What? The foreboding cold always biting at my arms, or the unending loneliness?" Hermione asked also quickening her steps.
"I think we're going insane." The ginger girl mused quietly to herself than to the other, but Hermione being Hermione responded anyway.
"I know Ginny. I have these nightmares all the time. When I wake up I can't remember who or what was going on. Only that it's horrible and I should remember." Hermione said biting her lip.
"Do you think we need help?"
"I don't know Gin. If it gets worse, I think we might have to talk to the Headmistress."
The stone room was dark and cold but it was what Draco had asked of the Room of Requirements. The alpha's throne was against the wall with the other pack members chairs surrounding it in a semi-circle. They came in one by one, making clicking sounds against the hard floor. Once everyone was accounted for Draco sat down.
"Men, we are here today to discuss an important matter. The Season is in two months and some of you have yet to find your mates. We all know what it will become of you if you should not." Draco spoke solemnly. Murmurs of 'lone wolf' could be heard echoing in the dank room, followed by shudders of distress to anyone who heard or spoke it.
"Yes, now, who among us has yet to find their mate?" Blaise asked.
"I have not yet Beta." Warrington said coldly.
"Neither have I," Flint said.
" Pritchard, Peucy, have you sought yours yet?" Draco asked.
"Tracy Davis sir, already spoke to her about it." Pritchard spoke proudly.
"And her reply?"
"She was ecstatic. Mommy always did want her with a nice Pureblood chap," He said giving a small smirk of satisfaction.
"How about you Peucy?" Draco asked again.
"Daphne Greengrass. I haven't had the chance to broach the subject as of yet." Peucy bowed his head.
"Crabbe, Goyle have you told Buldstrone and Parkinson?" Draco asked.
"'Course we did. Didn't really have much of a choice in the matter but they's was happy enough." Goyle said through his cupcake. Crabbe just nodded his head.
"Good then. Nott, you're the only one left."
"Luna Lovegood sir," Nott said quietly.
"Haha! Looney Lovegood? You must be joking." Crabbe said loudly, earning a growl from Nott.
"At least I don't have a cow for a mate," Nott said nastily. Draco had to stop this before an all-out brawl started.
"Both of you shut it! I wont have you killing each other, at least, until after you've produced heirs." Draco commanded.
"Sir if I my be so bold, who is your mate?" Flint asked cautiously.
"She is: wonderful, amazing, scintillating, petite, gorgeous, powerful and above all else, mine," Draco said with his trademark smirk.
"Those are wonderful attributes, but I was asking more along the lines of her name, Apha," Flint asked timidly.
"Well then you must be more specific when asking questions shouldn't you Flint?" Draco gave no further reply.
"I think it's time I tell you blokes who mine is, then," Zabini started "Ginny Weasley." No one had the audacity to say anything about Blaise's mate. Being beta had many perks, being feared and respected by all else besides Draco was one of them.
"Tomorrow morning, I plan on revealing my mate to the entire school. It may cause controversy, so I trust you all will be at my side" Everyone nodded their head. They all loved their mates dearly but they all were instilled with the need to protect their alpha, beta, and their mates first and foremost.
The corridor seemed empty but as Head Girl Hermione had no choice but to make sure no Fifth years were having any inappropriate escapades in an empty classroom. The silence made her breathing echo in the halls; and then there it was. The cold was biting her arms, face, and neck. The Gryffindor began walking faster until she was sprinting.
She suddenly felt someone beside her and urged her aching legs to go faster.
"I'll give you credit, Granger, you are a fast little rabbit aren't you?" Hermione knew that voice, but, where was it coming from? She stopped running and gripped her wand tightly, backing herself up against a tapestry.
"What do you want?" The question was met with silence. "I'm not scared of you Ferret!I don't know what you want but whatever it is, take it and leave!"
"I plan on it Hermione." The voice said huskily. The cold was intensifying and then, she felt it; the warm ,strong hands seemingly coming out of nowhere. Quite suddenly, she was being hauled behind the tapestry she was thought led to nothing more than a wall.
"I'm sorry it has to be like this Hermione but you would never except me any other way," Draco said sadly as he cast a Silencio on the screaming girl. He pinned her flailing arms above her head with one of his hands and forced her body still with his own.
He leaned down next to her head. All Hermione could hear and feel was his ragged, cold breath.
"You won't be cold after this. I'm only going to do the first step tonight, the rest you have to do willingly. I'm sorry, love."
To say Hermione Granger was never more confused in her life was an understatement. Then, the most bewildering thing occured. Draco Malfoy placed his lips against Hermione's neck, right where it would be impossible to cover up, and bit down. The pain was horrible and the longer it went on the worse it got. Just as Hermione thought she was going to burn up from the inside out, the burning turned to a glowing warmth.
"There, now everyone can see that you're mine. Don't worry, I just had to enclose you with my pheromones. They won't hurt you, just make you a little more, shall we say, compliant." Draco said as he raised his wand and lifted the silencing spell.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Hermione asked as her eyes started to water. The man chuckled half heart-idly.
"That's the million Galleon question isn't it?" Draco asked. "I have no idea, you should have been a Pureblood, but my beast wants you. I want you, Granger."
"I'm going to do whatever you say now aren't I? Whatever you did to me, you took the cold away, and now for some unfathomable reason I want to listen to you. What did you do to me?" Large, warm, honey eyes looked up at him. They pleaded for answers, answers he could not give.
"Granger, sweet, little, innocent, Granger what fun would this be if you didn't have a challenge? Now borrow Potter's invisibility cloak, go to the restricted section in the library and look up Lupi Intus. Then tomorrow morning sit next to me at breakfast. You will do as I say. Understood?" Hermione felt her free will leaving her and knew immediately she would do whatever he asked.
"Yes, I will do as you say." She said biting her tong until it bled.
"Good then, now go to bed and dream of me." He said, giving her a small peck on the cheek before turning on his heel and heading back into the tapestry. Draco was so happy to finally have claimed Hermione, he almost forgot his second mission of the night. Now there was this pesky little problem that needed attending to.
Lupi Intus-(Noun) literally translated means Wolves From Within. They are a group of Pureblood men that shift into wolves when they feel the need arises. Thought to be extinct since the massacre of 1768 in which seven men had stolen the wolves mates and killed them. If a mate is not found and marked by age twenty, the man becomes a lone wolf and lives out his days in wolf form, unable to change. (More on mates please skip to pg. 1789)
Lupi Intus Mates-(Noun) mates are the women that the men of Lupi Intus have found to be compatible partners. The men themselves do not get to choose said mate, however they are undeniably protective and sexually attracted to the Pureblood women. If either mate dies, the other will die in a matter of days.
Hermione shut the book loudly. She was no Pureblood. She needed no mate. Worst of all she didn't need a horny Malfoy trying to "mark" her. A funny image of Malfoy trying to hump her leg popped into Hermione's head, but she quickly scolded herself for the disgusting fantasy. It never occurred to her that she was already physically marked.
Feeling stressed and tired the Gryffindor princess threw the cloak over her shoulders and quickly left the library. The corridors were cold and quiet and if Hermione was to be completely honest with herself, a tad bit scary. As she rounded the corner, she could faintly hear voices talking. Being the inquisitive young woman that she was she decided to investigate. It was surprising how difficult it was to resist the urge to do as Malfoy had told her.
"Malfoy, I don't know what you're talking about." A boy in Ravenclaw robes was pushed against the wall. A tall blonde man, Hermione recognized as Malfoy, had him by the shirt collar. Unfortunately for the Ravenclaw Draco Malfoy was 6'4" and the other man looked to be about 5'10" leaving the Ravenclaw dangling.
"I heard you with my own fucking ears, Ackerley, in the lockeroom, boasting to your teammates about how you deflowered the Gryffindor Virgin. Fucking bastard, I know for a fact you have never ever touched her. You go and tell all your friends that what you said was a lie, tell them she's property of Draco Malfoy now and I don't share." Property? Hermione Granger was certainly no ones property!
Though he was quiet, Hermione could see the suppressed rage. Malfoy's voice was cold and calculating. His face showed no other emotion besides pure disdain. Moreover, she as appalled that boys were talking about her in the lockeroom, even going as far as calling her the Gryffindor Virgin! Sure, she was not as experienced as her classmates and her only real kisses were with Viktor and Ron, but that didn't mean she was a prude. Hermione felt that if the right bloke came around and she thought it was right, she would give him her virginity. However, she had yet to meet a man worthy of such a special gift.
"Look, I was just kidding around Malfoy! You've got to believe me!" The boy was pleading now. Not a smart move. If their was one thing Draco hated more than not being right, it was beggars. He himself had been one in his earlier years. Not now and not ever again. He learned if you wanted something you paid for it, took it, or coerced it.
"If you ever utter her name again, I will rip your throat out. I have men watching you and even more watching Hermione. If you were to talk to her, pass her in the corridor, even look at her, I will know. Now leave before I make good on my promise." Malfoy said as he pushed the boy against the wall and dropped him. Wiping his hands off from the half-blood filth he turned to look directly at the spot Hermione should have been.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she saw his silver eyes bore into her. Rationally, she knew he couldn't see her, but it felt as if he could. Her blood ran cold as a smile made its way across Malfoy's face as he walked closer.
"I can smell you 'Mione, feel your warmth. I thought I told you to be a good little mate and go to bed? I see someone needs to be told more than once." Hermione's breath caught in her throat as Harry's cloak was torn from her. She felt disappointed in herself for not following her mate's orders. She frowned. Wait, why exactly was she feeling this way? It was quite bothersome.
"I'm sorry. Am I not a good mate anymore?" The words were spilling from her mouth before she even had a chance. It was so easy to let this new part of her take over. Draco's smile fell as he slid his index finger down her cheek. His touch sent warm shivers down her body and she felt she wanted more.
"You are a wonderful mate, but you should mind what I tell you. What if someone bad caught you up? You don't want that do you? To be taken away from me forever?" For reasons unknown Hermione pushed her cheek into his hand. The thought of being taken away from her mate made her want to cry.
"No! I want to stay with my mate forever. Please don't make me go away. I'll be a good mate now, I promise!" Hermione could no longer fight the primal part of her that wanted to stay with Draco. The real Hermione never would have said these things, but he smelled so good and felt so warm.
"Don't worry my little lapin, no one could ever take you away from me. Would you like something?" Hermione only nodded her head in response. He took his cloak off and handed it to her. It smelled lovely, like chocolate and grass from the pitch. She did detect something that smelled like nothing she had ever smelled before. Pheromones the rational side of her said; Draco her primal half decided. She put the oversized cloak on and hugged it to herself.
"Now I expect something in return. How about your tie?" Hermione immediately ripped it off and handed it to him. Merlin, it smelled fantastic; lilacs and her.
"You need to go to bed." He said as he looked at his pocket watch. It was nearly three in the morning.
"I'm not sleepy, and..." Hermione bit her lip. Admitting she was afraid of her nightmares was something she would not do.
"And what?" Draco was met with silence. "Hermione..." he growled. It was a low and guttural, warning.
"I have nightmares. Awful ones. I don't remember when I wake, up but I know they're horrible." She spoke timidly.
"I think you'll find your nightmares are gone now. Don't worry I'm here. Always, even if you don't see me." He pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. Draco nuzzled his nose in her hair and breathed in. He could smell the acrid smell of his mate's fear. It did not bode well.