"You," said Malfoy, which caused Hermione to start laughing and it immediately wiped the grin off his face.

"No, really who is it?" she barely got out between the large gulps of air she was now taking in.

"I already told you," said Malfoy. Did she think he was joking? Because he wasn't. When he first found out it was her, he was horrified. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life with a bossy, bushy haired Mudblood, but then things changed. He watched her and noticed her hair had de-frizzed a little and that her bossiness made her strong willed. Silently he thanked his veela blood for picking such a wonderful and beautiful mate.

"Malfoy, stop kidding around. I truly want to know," she said very normal because she had finally stopped laughing.

"Hermione Granger, you are my mate," he stated.

Reality sunk in for Hermione, but she was still, and always would be, hard headed and hard to convince.

"No, I can't be- you've made a mistake," she whispered. She sat down on the couch trying to think of some stupid detail Malfoy missed about how to recognize his mate.

"Granger, I didn't make a mistake. I can sense that you've walked into the room because the hairs on my neck stand up. I can smell you and it's the sweetest scent I've ever come across in my life," Malfoy said as he crouched down to her level on the couch.

"So I'm your . . . mate?" she tried it out and was appalled at the thought.

"If you'll have me as yours?" he asked.

She didn't answer right away and he was starting to feel rejected until she said barely above a whisper, "I would like to speak to Professor Dumbledore in the morning to confirm this-this new revolution. And, until then, we will be civil, but I will not agree to anything before I have all the facts. I'm off to get in a few more hours of sleep."

Malfoy watched as she got up and exited the common room. He even heard the click that meant she had locked the door to keep him out.

He thought it could have gone worse. He knew she didn't believe him and that she was going to try and find away out. Not once had a single mate gotten out and their veela still alive.

Malfoy was lucky enough to find his mate; some have never and end up dying of a broken heart. The problem was that she wouldn't give up her life to save his.

Feeling even more depressed, Malfoy decided to write to his mother and father. He needed to reassure them that he would be alright, although he wasn't certain.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I have found her. She is amazing and exceptionally smart. I hope that in a few days she will agree to be my mate, so far, she hasn't been too thrilled. I'm doing well in school and have achieved top marks so far. I hope all is going well for you guys.

Sincerely yours,

Draco

Malfoy sealed the letter in his custom green envelope and attached it to his eagle, Desmona. He had had her since his first year.

He walked into his room and turned off the lights. He knew he wasn't going to go to sleep, but he just needed to rest.

Malfoy woke up and was delighted to see that Hermione wasn't up yet. That meant he could catch her before she left to talk to the Headmaster.

He got ready and went to wait for her on the couch. When she came out, she was a mess. Her hair look like it was puffier than the first year at Hogwarts and she had heavy bags under her eyes that screamed she didn't have enough sleep.

"Good morning, Malfoy. It looks like you're ready to go to Professor Dumbledore's office," she tried to smile a little, but it look similar to a snarl.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Are you sure you are? It doesn't look like you got much sleep last night," he said as he observed her complete image. Her clothes even looked like they were put on in about two seconds, with a variety of odd garments: a pair of dark blue pants and a pink sweater under her robes.

"I'd have been better if you hadn't snuck into my room last night, woken me up, then proceed to tell me I'm your mate," she enunciated ever syllable.

"Well, shall we go?" he figured now would be a great time to distract her and avoid a big fight.

She didn't respond, but just head straight out of the portrait hole. He had to work to keep up with her she was walking so quickly. Never had he met anyone who could walk at his pace, but she was actually beating him.

When they reached the gargoyle, the second time in 24 hours, both were out of breath. Hermione started firing off random names of sweets of the wizard world. After she ran out of all possible ideas, she started of muggle candies.

"M and M's, Sweet Tarts, Butterfingers, Kit-Kats," as she said the last, the gargoyle opened to a spiral staircase.

Malfoy watched the whole scene, both confused and slightly amused. They ascended the stairs and only knocked once when they were told to enter.

"Good morning, what a pleasant surprise. Is there something about head duties you wish to discuss or is it another important matter?" Dumbledore asked even thought he knew the answer.

Malfoy and Hermione took a seat in the two chairs in front of his desk, neither wishing to start the conversation.

After a long pause, Malfoy answered, "It's about last night- I told her and she would like to know if it is true. I think that sums it up," he spoke the last sentence glaring daggers at Hermione who wished she hadn't come at all by this point.

"Well, Miss Granger it is true. Mr. Malfoy here is a veela and if I'm correct you are his mate," said Dumbledore.

"You are, but how did you know?'' asked Malfoy. He remembered being extremely careful about who he told his family secret to.

"You certainly aren't the first veela to come in to Hogwarts and you won't be the last," Dumbledore looked at Malfoy trying to reassure him that most of the time it works out alright.

Hermione sat there, dumbfounded. They can't possible expect her to give up everything to be with her worst enemy.

"Miss Granger, you've been very quite," Dumbledore turned to her.

"This- I -," she couldn't for a sentence and ended by mumbling something incoherent.

"It takes some time to get used to, but you two will make a great couple," when Dumbledore finished that, both heads shot up. Malfoy knew he had gone too far and Hermione was still dealing with the fact she was a veela's mate, she wasn't ready to be anything like a girlfriend to Malfoy.

"Sir, I don't think I'm ready to be anyone's mate. I'm going to go to the library. I would like to do some research," Hermione excused herself.

Malfoy turned on the professor and was about to start yelling, but Dumbledore beat him to the punch, "Mr. Malfoy, the way you handled this was horrible. Don't expect her to welcome the idea, but you need to lay all the cards down and let her piece it back together. Miss Granger is not one you feed a little information at a time."

Astounded, Malfoy just nodded and exited the room. The headmaster had never been that lecturing. He concluded it to Professor Dumbledore being protective of Hermione and the golden trio.

Hermione had gone to the library and went through half of it before she had to go to potions. She packed up her books and hurried to the dungeons.

"Mrs. Granger, you are late. Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape called out. Hermione rushed to find a seat, but there were none left by Harry and Ron, who were sending her apologetic glances. She chose the empty desk in the back and started to unload when Malfoy graced the class with his presence.

Professor Snape didn't acknowledge his absence, but that wasn't the worst part. The only empty seat was the one next to Hermione and she could have kicked herself for being that stupid.

He walked over and set his bag down. She glared, he glared, it was nothing new until he winked. This is going to be a long day, she thought.

Snape had assigned them to brew their own potion. Hermione chose out a Pick-Me-Up potion that was very easy to make. She gathered the supplies planning to do it all herself.

One thing Malfoys hate is being ignored. He grabbed some of the ingredients from her and started chopping. He had read the instructions and knew the potion was easy.

"Give it back," she hissed.

"It is my grade too,"

"I'm smarter so let me do it," she tried to reason.

"No, I've got this one."

She tugged, he pulled. Next thing they knew, the potion had overturn and its contents were spilling everywhere.

"Mrs. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, I expected better from my two top students. Both of you have detention tonight at eight. Turn in all potions at the front and you may go." Professor Snape said as he cleaned up their mess with a flick of his wand.

Hermione packed up her ingredients and stormed out of the classroom leaving a very baffled Harry, Ron, and Malfoy.

Malfoy went up to their common room hoping to talk to her. He found her cuddled up on the couch reading a novel. She was so engrossed in it; she didn't realize he had made an entrance. He slowly walked over to the couch and sat down which brought her out of the fantasy world.

As she made to leave, he grabbed her arm and whispered, "Please, let's talk about this. I don't want us to be mad at each other."

"You should have thought about that before you made me spill my potion and get my first failing grade because I couldn't complete the assignment." She glared.

"I'm sorry, but we have bigger issues. I assumed you've turned the library upside down," she nodded because she had examined every possible book, "and you have also come to the conclusion that there is no way out."

Again she nodded and became increasingly aware of the horrible situation. She was destined to be his mate, with no if's, and's, or but's about it.

"I want you to know I'm not agreeing to anything yet. I would like to get to know you before and if you turn out to be just as much of a prat as I think you are, then I will let you die." She knew she could never let anyone die at her hand, but she didn't want him to lay a hand on her until she was set.

"Fine, I can respect that. I think we should inform your parents and mine about the unique circumstances that have happened," Malfoy said.

"Why? Your parents would absolutely hate that their pureblood son was destined to be with a filthy Mudblood and my parents are against anything that doesn't make me happy. It would be the most horrific gathering," she finished.

"My parents will meet yours and you because that is what tradition says. I will contact them immediately, along with Dumbledore to make arrangements for their arrival," Malfoy confirmed her worst possible fears.

"You- You have no right. I won't let you bring my parent into my decision. I'm a big girl, Malfoy, and I don't need their help or consent because I'm not your girlfriend and you're not my boyfriend."

"No, I'm not, but you are my mate and have agreed to get to know me better which does include some outings that most normal people call dating," he spoke as if it where the most obvious thing in the world.

Hermione was exhausted from arguing with him and agreed to owl her parents if she was allowed to pick the date and time of their visit.

She wrote her parents,

Dear Parents,

I am writing to ask you to visit me at Hogwarts in three days. There is someone I wish for you to meet and some things we must discuss. Things have been going well and I hope the same for you.

Your daughter,

Hermione