is pulling her hair out. This story is stressful. I tried writing this, with my overemotional self...
ID REALLY LIKE COMMENT ON THIS CHAPTER! PLEASE! GRRR!
Chapter Four( Becoming One, Mark of the Veela)
Hermione entered the heads dorm with a heavy heart. She was so confused she didn't know what to do with herself. Crossing the room she went into her room and into her trunk. Rumbling through it she withdrew the first two things she laid a hand on; A dark green spaghetti strap tank top that was quite tight and landed just above her cleavage line, and some loose pajama shorts of a blackish-grey color with small silver hearts dancing happily along the fabric. She slid out of her uniform and into her clothes. Her shorts rode low on her hipbones and her top slightly high, coming up to show some slight skin. Hermione almost changed because she wasn't sure if Draco would appreciate it. She knew all too well about his condition and the fact that it made it crazy over his mate, which was her. She didn't want to rile him up, but she decided against it. She always wore clothes like this and it never seemed to bother him before.
Sighing she turned to go to her door. She didn't believe Draco was in yet and she didn't know if she wanted him to be. She wasn't sure what he was going to do or how he'd react. Since he'd told her he was a Veela he was becoming touchy. Especially when she got close to him, he snapped at her during transfigurations, after she sat beside him and sat beside him a little too closely, evidently. She didn't think she was all that close, but he apparently did and chewed her face off for it. She didn't like that too much.
After all, she was in the same boat as him. She didn't want to be with Draco any more than he wanted to be with her. She hated him, with a fiery passion and didn't want to be stuck with him, but she knew she didn't have a choice. Being angry about that would be like her being angry about being born with brown eyes. She may not like her eyes, but she wasn't going to sit and whine about it all the time.
She thought he was acting childish. She believed that if she tried, ignoring the fact that he was a complete jerk, she could make it work with Draco. Seeing as how she had to. But not Draco evidently. He was being stubborn and annoying.
Coming from her room she stopped dead in her tracks; With his hands on his knees and his head low Draco was sitting on the small loveseat, staring right at her. He was looking at her door, waiting for her to come out.
She licked her lips nervously and walked slowly to the chair in front of him. He made no move, though she did see his eyes scope over her as she walked on.
His silver eyes made her feel sick. They were so ridiculously intense that she didn't know how to handle them. Taking a breath she watched him fixedly, waiting for him to make the first move. She knew he wanted to say something. She at least knew him that well. She just didn't know what he wanted.
OOO
Taking a deep breath Draco sat in front of the fire, staring at the door he knew Hermione was behind. Unbeknown to her he was only a few steps behind her as she walked back. He just wasn't in any hurry to catch up with her. He wanted to prolong what he knew must be done for as long as he could.
Just as he expected Hermione came from her room, but not as he expected, she took his breath away. His blood rushed to his ears, and other places uncomfortably. He gulped, though he hoped not too loudly, seeing Granger in another wonderfully lacking, ridiculously stunning outfit that made her look so perfect. She wasn't even wearing clothes and yet he thought she was amazingly dressed.
She sat across from him with an expectant look on her face and he sighed loudly, causing her to jump. He laughed at this.
" What?" She asked, huffily.
" Are you scared of me Granger?" He asked, his voice was low and foreign to his ears.
She looked at him blankly, her eyes searching his face. He stared at her, trying to calm himself down. He didn't understand why he was so…aroused.
" Well," Her voice quivered slightly, it was the first time he'd ever heard her sound so vulnerable. " I'll be honest Malfoy, I used to be. For a long time I was scared of you. Scared to death, but I never let it show" She finished and he nodded his head. He expected her to have been scared of him. " Not now though?" His tone was almost absurdly pleading and he knew that Hermione had caught it this time. It was far too obvious to miss.
She shook her head slowly and he breathed. Lifting his hand he made a decision without thinking, something he hated doing.
She looked at it for a long while before he shook it slightly, waving it in front of her. " Go on, take it, I promise I won't hurt you." He said and she reached out skeptically.
He braced himself and just as he expected as she took it he felt his skin sweltering with heat, like a burn you get after grazing your finger on a hot pan after it's just came from the oven. He pulled lightly on her hand, causing her to walk to him. She got the hint and lowered herself to the couch beside him. They were sitting rather close since the love seat was small and there wasn't much room for the two.
Draco felt disgusted for not feeling disgusted with himself. He was most disturbed with the fact that her being close to him was not making him angry or moody. Actually she was soothing him. So very soothing, aside from the fact that he was slightly turned on, he'd never been more relaxed. He couldn't tell what Hermione was thinking or feeling because she'd suddenly persisted on staring at an obviously interesting spot of the floor. She looked at it nonblinking.
Sighing he shifted in his seat, angling himself more clearly towards her. He watched her closely. He gazed at her sitting beside him, refusing to look at him and breathing hard. Her chest was rising and falling heavily not making it easier for Draco to concentrate on the task at hand; Placing his mark on her.
Getting slightly impatient with her ignoring him he cleared his throat and she jerked her head to him quickly. He smiled; while he hated her, he couldn't deny he was attracted to her and he knew that being his mate he'd have all the perks of being able to be with her all he wanted to. He was itching to test her. He wanted to know how experienced she was and how far she'd let him go. He could tell that she was nervous so he was going to try and keep it from being too awkward or fast for her.
Inhaling he raised his hand to her neck, slowly brushing the hair from her delicate throat. He was surprised to find that her hair was soft and silky. He looked at her while leaning in, " Hermione," It was the first time he'd said her name and it felt awkward on his lips. His voice was low and sultry, " I'm going to mark you now." He told her softly and reassuringly. She nodded. " I can't guarantee you it'll be painless." She nodded again and he noticed her breathing had steadied, almost like his being close to her was settling. Perhaps the Veela wasn't the only one who felt the effects. He realized that the Veela's mate would feel just as much as the Veela and suddenly felt giddy that she would be feeling the same as him. She'd have to go through everything he would. He almost grinned as he leaned further to her neck.
Draco felt a surge of something powerful crash through him when his lips came into contact with her soft, creamy neck. Her skin was warm and velvety and she tasted divine.
Everything felt right in that moment. He was surprised and sickened to hear a moan escape his lips just before he bit into her neck, hard. She gasped but didn't move. His teeth drew blood and he withdrew his mouth like he was being poisoned. There on her neck was a set of teeth. They glowed slightly and he laughed as he knew his mark was complete. Finally he might be able to relax. Now that she was officially his. He snapped his eyebrows together at her touch. He looked down to see her hand on his knee.
She didn't speak, but stayed desperately quite. This undid Draco's nerves more than if she were blabbing her mouth off. He hated the sincere look in her eyes. It made his heart melt.
" What?" He asked as hateful as he could, but he didn't really mean it. None of the bite that was so strong on his voice was really how he felt. She knew that, he was positive. Maybe that was why she didn't flinch at his hateful tone.
She slid her hand from his knee to her lap. " Is this how it's going to be? Even though I'm your mate, are we still going to be at each others throat's Draco?" His name from her lips sent shivers down his back. He didn't want it to be like this, but old habits die hard and he didn't want to let go of his old hatred for her. Though he hardly felt it any longer, he still treated her like he hated her, which repulsed him and made him rather angry. His fathers hold on him was so strong that it stuck with him even through all this.
" Let us hope not Granger, or else we'll both be miserable." He said with a humorous tone to his voice. He was rather relaxed now. Very relaxed actually. She had that effect on him and he wondered why. Only Granger had the power to make him relax. This was part of the reason he had always hated her, because she made him so calm. He couldn't understand it. She wasn't supposed to make him so happy and…content. Not her.
Draco leaned back into the soft loveseat. He sighed and closed his eyes. He could feel Hermione watching him intently but he ignored it fully. Only as she went to stand did he open his eyes.
Half out of reflex and half because his body couldn't and wouldn't allow it, he clasped his hand at her wrist, holding her steady.
She stood deathly still, just looking at him curiously. Her expectant eyes nearly undid him. She was waiting patiently for his explanation and he couldn't give it to her.
" Don't look at me like that Granger." He said, his voice defeated. He leaned back again, without letting go of her arm. She plopped back on the couch with him, not by choice but because she was held fast by his hand and had to go with him, otherwise lose her arm.
" Well," She said rather snappily, sounding rather like the girl he used to know. The one he knew while she was with Potter and Weasley. " How else do you want me to look?"
Draco clenched his jaw. " Listen to me," He seethed, " Don't ever speak to me in that demeaning voice again. I am not an idiot so don't speak to me like one. You understand?" He bit but, as usual she didn't look frightened. She never looked intimidated by him. Another thing he hated about her.
" Yes Sir." She answered, sarcasm oozing from her voice so thick he nearly choked on it.
" Granger…Do you want me to hit you?" He hissed, his voice low and threatening.
" Do it Malfoy…" She said, raising her thin eyebrow. He felt the muscle twitch in his temple. He couldn't. Even if he tried to hit her, he wouldn't be able to. " You can't can you?" She said in a voice so silky he nearly melted. He was proud of her. She would make an excellent Malfoy. " You're a Veela Malfoy. To cause pain to your mate would destroy you mentally and physically as well."
Draco grunted and closed his eyes, pressing further into the couch. He gasped when he felt a small pair of hands slid over his waist and behind his back. He opened his eyes to see Granger leaning in over him. She shifted slightly, adhering herself closer to his side and pressing her cheek to his hard chest. His mind skipped wildly as he realized that he was being hugged. He'd never experienced such a gesture and it was shocking the effect it had on him.
He didn't move. Didn't flinch as she stayed there for moments more. Finally as he couldn't take it anymore he pushed himself up slightly with his hands, shocked to feel her squeeze tighter. He heard her whisper something to him that he was positive was " Don't." Was she pleading him to stay there? To let her hold him? He didn't understand.
She lifted her head up and looked him in the eyes. " Please, just don't fight this Draco. We can make this work. I know you hate me but please," Her voice was breaking and he could see her hazel eyes shinning with tears she refused to shed, " Please, don't make me do this alone."
He felt his heart squeeze tightly in his chest. He wanted to, he realized then, he really wanted to make it work with her, but he didn't know how. Hatred was all he had ever known and he wasn't sure how to react to such a pure, raw feeling that she was offering.
He sighed and let himself drop back into a comfortable position. " I'll try." It was all that he could manage. He let himself be lulled to sleep by her nearness and her breath on his neck. She didn't let go of him. He felt her there nearly the entire night.
He awoke hours later, in the same position and in a complete bliss. He arranged it to where he could lay across the couch without disturbing her. Slowly and carefully he eased sideway's, lowering his body, and her along with him, across the loveseat. She pressed closer to him and he drifted back to sleep knowing that his life with her wouldn't be half as hard as he thought it would. While he still didn't particularly like her, he found that he was beginning to accept her more with each passing day.
