Chapter 4

Hermione woke up and dragged herself out of bed. She crawled down the stairs to make herself a cup of coffee in their kitchenette. The rich aroma filled her nostrils as she held her mug of coffee to her face. She let out a long sigh as she mentally prepared herself for the day.

At that moment, Malfoy walked down the stairs. He was wearing nothing but silk sleep pants and he was sporting tousled hair she wanted to run her hands through. He smirked at her, giving her a knowing look that he knew she was looking him over. She felt her face warm up as she looked away.

Lately it seemed that Malfoy only walked around without a shirt on. It was if he knew how he made her feel and was purposely trying to get a rise out of her. She watched as he stretched his arms above his head as she tried not to look at his muscular frame. She tried to pretend that she didn't notice the soft blonde patch of hair that trailed down under his loungewear. She tried to pretend that she didn't want to feel how hard his body felt against her own.

She set down her mug, a tad more forceful than she wanted. "I'm going for a run." She said aloud as she took the stairs two at a time to her room to change into running gear. As she reached the doorway to leave she heard Malfoy call after her.

"Are you going to wait for me Granger? You know, I think I like this running hobby in the morning. It makes me feel more awake and ready for the day," he said with a bit of pep. It was as if he knew she was trying to escape his presence and was aiming to make her more uncomfortable.

He followed her in silence to the entrance of the school. She appreciated the tight jogger pants he must have ordered after he started running with her. He was also wearing a grey sweater to keep him warm in the fall breeze, but also light enough to give him room to breath when he exerts himself.

As they walked down the stairs to the grounds, Hermione tripped over a rock on a step. Malfoy's quick reflexes grabbed her arm as he snaked his other arm arm her waist to steady her. "You alright Granger?" He asked without letting go.

She realized she was still staring at him without replying. She couldn't help but to feel his touch burn down to her skin, and recognized that his body still felt abnormally warm.

"Malfoy, your burning up." She said lazily, not wanting him to detach himself from her.

"I always knew you thought I was hot Granger." He let her go and gave her a cheeky smile as she scoffed at his answer.

"Are you sure you're alright to run?" She placed her hand on his face without thinking, "It feels as though you still have a fever." She bit her lip and looked him in the eyes and saw him give her a heated look.

He placed his hand over hers and unhurriedly brought it back down to her side. "No Granger, that's just how I always feel around you." He gave her a wink and turned around to start a leisure jog.

Hermione caught up to him easily, but there was something about his words that made her think he was only kidding a little bit. She knew she felt herself warm up whenever he was around her, but there was something peculiar at how hot his skin actually became.

During their silent run, she let his actions throughout the past few months run through her head. He was acting uncharacteristically lately. She originally just thought that it was do to the aftermath of the war, but she felt like it was something deeper. He seemed to have a bit more of a temper lately, and often got into fierce arguments with his friends, but he never once lost his temper around her. He had been opening up to her more often, which surprised her greatly, but there was something odd about the timing.

His quick reflexes. His constant fever. His illness every month around the full moon.

Hermione stopped in her tracks. How could she not see it before. She was supposed to be the brightest witch of her age. She rested her hands atop her knees a drew deep inhalations to catch her breath.

Malfoy must have realized he lost his running partner and quickly came to Hermione's side.

"Hermione, are you okay? Are you hurt?" He looked at her with genuine concern. She didn't let it go unnoticed that he called her by her given name.

She knew that if she said anything to him now he would retreat back into his shell and stop letting her in. She could not and would not let that happen.

"Yes, I'm fine Draco. I just have a stomach cramp. I may have to go back inside." She didn't miss the way goose bumps erected on his body when she said his name. "You can keep on running, I'm okay." She finally caught her breath and stood up straight. His gaze never left her.

"I think I should walk back with you. Maybe you should go to Madame Pomfrey to take a potion to help with the pain. You'll be uncomfortable in you don't take care of it now."

She smiled at his concern. "Don't worry, I have some potion to back back at the dorm. I'm just going to head back there." She started walking towards the front doors on the castle and appreciated the fact that Malfoy followed her back. She allowed herself to look over at the boy and saw genuine worry painted across his face. She watched as a drop of sweat ran down his face from his soaked hair. She didn't know why, but she reached over and stopped the drop in its tracks and wiped it from his face. He looked up at her in surprise before she felt embarrassment rise in her body.

They approached their Head Dorms in silence and Hermione sent a quick thank you his way before going into her room and shutting the door.

Draco Malfoy was a werewolf. He was her wolf.

That was the only thing that made sense to her. It would explain why she felt such a pull to both of them. Why she felt so safe in only their company. It made her wonder though, what does that mean? Does that mean she's his soulmate?

Why hadn't he said anything to her? The wolf would have been able to smell it on her, she was sure of that. Did that mean he didn't want her as his mate?

She had to tell herself to slow down. She didn't even know for a fact that Malfoy was a werewolf. She still had to prove that first before she could let herself get carried away thinking about mates and bonds.

She knew the next full moon was about a week away. If she could just act normal until then, she can at least make sure her wolf would meet and listen to her.

She walked outside the night of the full moon a bit more bundled up than usual. Now that it was the middle of November the night air was a bit frostier than her other two nights outside. She transfigured an extra shirt into a blanket again and awaited her wolf.

She felt more anxious about their encounter tonight. She planned to ask her wolf to stay with her through the night. She knew that it was Draco, and she only hoped that the wolf would trust her.

For the third time, her heart fluttered at the sight of the majestic wolf approaching her. This time he seemed to trot over, apparently excited about her arrival as well.

The wolf circled her before licking her cheek and nuzzling his nostril into her neck and shoulder. Hermione wrapped her arms around the wolf and rested her head on his back.

After a few short moments, they settled into the same position they had been meeting in, with the wolf wrapped protectively around Hermione and her resting her head on his neck. She laid here for a few moments in silence watching the stars, silently praying that this conversation would go well.

"Draco." She simply said, as she felt his body tense and ears perk up.

"Draco is out tonight in the sky." She lifted her hand and aimlessly traced the constellation as she felt the wolf relax his muscles, realizing she was talking about the sky.

"You know my wolf, I am really starting to like him." She started quietly, hoping that showing her vulnerability would help. "Malfoy that is. I find myself gravitating towards him more everyday. I find myself enjoying the way he chews on his quills when he's deep in thought. How he is incredibly grumpy in the morning until he has his coffee. How he challenges me with a single raise of an eyebrow. I find myself waiting for the next moment I hear his laugh, and I always hope I'm the only who causes the laughter to fall from his lips." She sat up and looked over.

"You see I released something important the other day. We were out on a jog together when I made a very important connection, and I had to stop and let myself catch his breath. Do you know what he did?" She waited and watched as the wolf gave her his undivided attention.

"He stopped and came to see if I was okay. He had genuine concern plastered on his face. I couldn't help but to think 'who would ever believe that Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, cared enough for the Gryffindor Princess and notorious muggleborn to offer to bring her to the Hospital Wing.' No sarcastic comments, no remarks over how I got myself into that situation. Just genuine concern. In that moment I decided that yes, I do indeed like Draco Malfoy. I have for a while now too, but it took me a while to figure it out." She paused.

"Draco, I am sorry for it taking so long to figure it out. I know it's you. I know you are my wolf. I think when morning comes around we have a lot to talk about." She stared him into his bright golden eyes and reached a hand out to caress his face. She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his fury one, and closed her eyes.

"Will you please stay with me?" She whispered so quietly she wouldn't be sure he would catch it if it were not for his sensitive hearing.

She felt him nod against hear face as he leaned forward and licked her skin again. They sat in comfortable silence as Hermione enjoyed the way his fur protected her from the fall night air. She felt his chest rise and fall with each breath, and she nuzzled herself further into him to hear his heartbeat. It wasn't for long until she was lulled to sleep.

When she finally woke up to the calls of the morning birds, she found herself wrapped in another blanket, but alone. She shot up suddenly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she looked around.

But there he was. Sitting across from her with his legs criss-crossed and staring at her intently.

"Hi," She whispered sleepily.

"Good Morning Granger," he whispered back.

A/N: updated 6/6/18