Author's note Let me make one thing clear. This story is not complaint with HBP or Deathly Hallows. Characters act the way they do to serve a purpose in the end of the story. There have been some negativeness about the way I have the Granger's acting now. All I ask is before you start bashing my story to keep this in mind 'things aren't always as they appear' Trust me when I say that somethings will be revealed and explained within the next two chapters. I appreciate everyone's reviews and ask that you try your best to keep in mind that this isn't finished and that some characters are OOC because they have to be to explain the story.

Chapter Three: When World's Collide

It was a struggle to watch his mate rest and not try to wake her up. Draco knew that she would be angry, given her current surroundings. He only hoped that she didn't retaliate by being physically violent towards him. Turning, Draco buried his head in Hermione's neck, breathing in her scent.

Hermione was dreaming, reliving a past memory from her childhood. Her vision blurred a moment before becoming clear.

She was in Florence on one of the many vacations her parents had taken her on. The door to a large monastery-looking building loomed a kilometer ahead, standing tall, a stalwart of protection to those inside. Her parents had left her unaccompanied for the majority of the day, causing her to wander the streets for hours in the pouring rain, having been locked out of the house.

At the age of 6, Hermione had known she was special. Her parents just called her a child with an overactive imagination. This particular day her father had surprised her, which had resulted in the toaster being blown up. She had received a beating, been called a freak and locked out for the night.

She walked quietly towards the building, hoping that she wouldn't be rejected like she had from the other buildings. The wooden door that barred her entrance was a beautiful mahogany, the knocker a dragon gilded in gold. On either side of the door two gigantic gargoyles stood watch warding off evil. Reaching out a shaky hand, Hermione knocked softly on the door, wiping away her tears.

The door was opened by a kind, elderly woman who ushered Hermione in from the rain. "Darling child, what brings you to our doorstep?" the woman asked, as she led Hermione down several long hallways and into a sitting room of sorts.

Hermione smiled weakly at the woman, "I was locked out of my house and it started raining. None of the other places would let me in without my parents. I am sorry to bother you." Mrs. Zabini smiled at the young girl, "My name is Zamora Zabini and I welcome you to my home. Most muggles mistake it for a monastery."

Hermione relaxed a bit as she moved closer to the lit fireplace. There was a phrase that this woman had said that confused her. She had heard it a few times around town. "What is a muggle? I have heard that phrase around town."

Zamora stared at the young witch in front of her, "You are a special child are you not? Please tell me your name and I promise all you questions will be answered." Hermione was a bit nervous as she tried to figure out how this woman knew about her. "My name is Hermione Jane Granger. My parents tell me that I am a freak, that when I make things move or explode it is because I am evil." A part of her couldn't believe she was here pouring her heart out to this woman.

Zamora kept her smile soft, not wanting to scare the girl with what she was about to say. This young girl standing in front of her was the one from the prophecy. "My darling girl do not listed to those muggles. Muggles are what we call non-magic folk. You my dear are a witch and should be proud of that. Before you start to argue, only someone that was magical could have found my house. You may not understand now, but in a few years all of this would become clear to you. Keep this in mind young Hermione, there is a prophecy about you, a wonderful prophecy. I am not the person to tell you about that, you are too young to understand right now. but there will be a time that it all becomes clear. A time when you and Draco fulfill the prophecy. Remember this, you are destined for my great-nephew"

The dream faded out, as Hermione started to wake. She was warm, her body laying on a soft bed and no the hard ground that she remembered before loosing consciousness. A small smile graced her face as she tried to stretch. Something was blocking her, something hard. Her mind started to panic as she blinked her eyes open. There was a body, cradling her to it, blonde hair shining in the light coming from the window. Struggling hard, Hermione tried to pull herself away from Draco.

Draco woke up to find a struggling Hermione in his arms. Smiling down at her he loosened his grip. "Good Morning." he said softly. Hermione looked up into his eyes surprised to see a genuine smile on his face. "Let go of me" she hissed. She was more confused about what was going on than anything else. Draco released her as he watched her crawl out of the bed and away from him.

"What am I doing here? How did I end up here?" Hermione asked Draco as she tried to get out of the room. Draco sighed as he moved so that he was sitting up but nothing more than that. "There is much we must talk about. I don't know all the details, I just know that you are my mate, I felt your pain and my father brought you back here. You are safe here Hermione just relax. Everything will make sense in time." Draco replied.

Hermione looked at Draco with big round eyes, she had retained the word mate and safe. Images of what she had gone through went flashing through her brain as she gasped for breath. "Mate?!" She yelled, she had no idea what he was talking about but she really wanted to go home. "I am a mudblood remember? Why would I be brought here? Why would I be safe here?"

Draco hated to see her so agitated. "My family we are veela. You are my mate. If you don't believe me we have a library full of books that can explain things to you. Why don't I summon one of the house-elves, they can show you to a spare room. Breakfast should be ready soon and you are expected downstairs. I cannot begin to understand how you feel after your ordeal but before your mind goes that way, I did nothing to you other than lay you in my bed. Think what you will, I would never do anything to hurt you further."

Hermione looked at Draco aghast as she took in what he was saying. Why was he talking civil to her? She had expected him to pull his wand on her immediately but there he was, looking regal and speaking to her like an equal. She had a lot to research and figure out before she agreed to anything. She didn't know the Malfoy's well but knew by societies standards that refusing a meal while in someone else's house was rude. Making a decision within herself, Hermione set her jaw and steeled her reserve. "I would like to be shown to a separate room and please tell your parents that I will join them for breakfast as soon as I have had a shower and a change of clothes."

It had been almost an hour since Hermione had been shown to her room in the manor and left to shower and change. Narcissa had made sure to have a varying selection of robes available for the young witch.

All three of the Malfoy's were seated around the dining table talking softly as Hermione was shown into the room. Draco stood and pulled out her chair for her as he took a seat next to her. "How are you feeling dear?" Narcissa asked gently. Lucius had told her what he had witnessed.

Hermione managed a small smile as she answered, "I am better, I do not understand what a Veela mate is however.. Though I have to say, there is much I must research before I believe it." Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son as he studied the girl that was to soon be his daughter-in-law. "Of course Ms. Granger. After breakfast I will show you where the library is." Lucius said as the food was delivered.

They all watched in surprise, Hermione had perfect manners, something rare in someone her age. "I sent a letter to your parents while you were asleep. I wanted them to know that you were now safe and would remain with us until school started." Lucius admitted. What he didn't tell her was that he had received an answering letter.

Breakfast had gone by without much more being said. The food was good and Hermione ate more than she intended to. Lucius had shown her to the huge library that sat on the property. It was larger than the one at Hogwarts and definitely more comfortable. Between every bookshelf was a leather chair and a table with a lamp for reading. Bookshelves spanned out in a circle on the bottom floor, and lined wall after wall on the floor above. "Ms Granger, you will soon discover in here that instead of searching for the book your looking for just think about the topic and all of them that match will be brought to you." had been his parting words.

She found herself drawn to a large, warn, chocolate leather char that sat next to a gigantic fireplace. Curling up in the chair she took a moment to process what Lucius had told her. He explained some of what veela was and how he had been able to save her. He also had told her that she would be safe here. Deciding that she wanted to read up on this veela thing, Hermione was soon looking at several books. Delving in, she started reading thoroughly, tucking certain things away for later use.

After escorting Hermione to the library, Lucius had bid his wife goodbye as she left for a shopping trip in Diagon Alley. Calling Draco to his study, Lucius looked grave as he motioned for his son to sit. "I wanted to discuss a potential issue that we will need to deal with. I sent a letter to Hermione's parents and this is what I got in return." Lucius said as he handed the letter to Draco.

Draco took the letter and was angered by what he read.

Mr. Malfoy,

We don't know why you saw fit to interfere with the life of our daughter but we ask that you stay out of it. She was sent to her cousin's farm for the fact that like you she is a freak. You have no idea of the pain and torment that devil child has brought to our lives.

We do want to thank you for letting us know that she managed to escape. It just means that next time we will have to work harder. I don't recommend you keep her at your home unless you do not fear the Order of the Black Thorn. She is our property and we demand that you return her to us or suffer the consequences when she is hunted.

The Grangers

He couldn't understand why any parent would choose to do this to their child. Their actions just reaffirmed his feelings on how inferior muggles truly were. Right now, he just wanted to go to the library and pull Hermione into his arm and explain that she didn't have to fear her parents. "Who is the Order of the Black Thorn father?" Draco asked.

Lucius snorted, offended that mere muggles would try to threaten him with an organization that he ran. "The Order of the Black Thorn is something I created years ago. The most elite of the Muggle, demonic and wizarding society would come together. The order were assassins, thieves, mercenaries. We did the jobs no one knew about, no one wanted to know about. We are bound by the black tattoo of thorns." He chuckled softly, "I could use the order to take care of them. How they found out about it I don't know but that is something that will be rectified."