Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reviewing and favoring this story. If you have read my work before than you know that I am a big Veela fan and therefore most of my story are veela based. I do try to write them differently so I hope this one is as well. I am a big Twilight fan as well and LOVE the imprinting concept. So I decided to write a story of the two together. Please let me know what you think of this idea.
Disclaimer: J.K.R. owns all recognizable characters and Stephanie Mayer owns 'imprint'. I am NOT making any money from writing this story.
123 reviews for three chapters. You guys are awesome!
Chapter Four
~*~ Present ~*~
~*~
The seventh year began without a glitch, for Hermione. Everything seemed so perfect to her. The war was over, and her family and most of her friends were safe. She was even an honorary Head Girl of school this year, for Merlin's sake. Then why was she standing all alone in the cold corridor and looking out of the tall brick window at Hogwart's massive landscape?
The lake was a beautiful orange, reflecting the color of the sky as the sun went down. Hermione could easily see the giant squid, happily playing with his mate. Hagrid had brought in the new female squid for his old friend in hopes that the new future of Hogwarts will be shared with more magical creatures to take care of.
Hermione watched the creatures play in the water until the last of autumn rays of sunshine descended from the sky. She heard a loud splash in the darkness moments later. The creatures must have dived back to the sanctuary of their watery home. How nice it must feel, to have someone to call your own, to be with someone…someone to belong to.
Hermione felt a tingle on her right wrist and looked at it. She sighed as she ran her fingertips over the faint bite mark. The Head Girl closed her eyes and patiently waited. Not a minute later she heard footsteps approach her, before a familiar voice spoke aloud.
"Not hungry again, I suppose?" A definitive voice of a Head Boy echoed though the corridor.
"No," she lied, before turning around to face Draco. Her stomach growled, a moment later, betraying her.
Draco raised one of his meticulously plucked pale eyebrows at the blunt lie. "You were supposed to meet me after dinner so we could work on the new prefects' schedule, Granger." He pulled a ripe Granny Smith apple out of his robes' pocket and tossed it to her.
Reflectively, Hermione caught the apple with one hand and took a deep bite of the juicy fruit. She did not even bother to check for any possible hexes on it, instinctively knowing that Draco Malfoy would not let any harm come her way.
If Hermione was completely honest with herself, she would admit that the only reason she avoided the Great Hall, was that the Head students as well as all the other prefects were required to dine at one table, which was, located a level lower from where the professors sat. She did not want to sit with the Head Boy…did not want to feel the invisible pull toward his veela.
Hermione Granger was not dumb. She read about all the signs and felt the effects of the magnificent creature first hand. Hermione knew that the Malfoy bloodline somewhere tingled with the one of the veela's blood. The blond flowing hair, fair features, and overall beauty were the typical trademarks of that creature.
The Order thought it was peculiar that the notorious death eaters decided to aid their side. There were many guesses as to why they switched, but Molly Weasley was the one who made the most plausible assumption. The plump witch with ginger hair remembered how Lucius had acted toward Narcissa during their Hogwarts years. She guessed that Draco had also found his mate and that his mate either was a member of the phoenix or related to someone within the circle.
It was not, however, until a few weeks before the school year started that Hermione understood that she was the reason why the Malfoys switched to the light side, thanks to her newly found aunt Hope. Sighing softly, Hermione took a deep breath, not wanting to remember her sudden trip with her mother to meet her aunt.
"I already finished the list," Hermione answered once she swallowed a piece of apple. She retrieved a foot long parchment from her backpack, handing it to him. "You just have to look it over at it and tell me whether or not you agree with my choices."
Draco just stood there, parchment in hand, staring at her. His temper was rising. "We were supposed to do it together."
"Yes, well, I just thought you did not want to be bothered with the Quidditch game coming up this weekend and all." Hermione answered calmly before taking another bite of the crunchy apple.
"Did you memorize the list?" He asked nonchalantly. She nodded once and he crumpled the parchment.
"Hey!" Hermione protested as she watched Draco nonverbally burn the paper ball in his fist.
"Now," Draco began as he let the ashes fall to the ground. "Shall we go to the library to work on this list or one of our dorms?"
"The library," Hermione grumbled, choosing the neutral territory.
"My lady," Draco mock-bowed to the Head Girl, in satisfaction. "If you would kindly lead the way..."
"Agh!" Was the only sound Hermione made in response, before she stomped to the library.
Smirking humorously, Draco fallowed his mate.
~*~
That weekend, the Slytherin team won the Quidditch game against Ravenclaw. The crowd of all houses cheered wildly as the two teams shook hands at the end of the game. After the war, there was no more animosity between the four houses. Even Harry and Ron patted Draco and the other fellow Slytherins on their backs, for a game well played.
The Slytherins were throwing a victory party in their common rooms, with everyone invited. The music was blasting; the students were dancing and indulging in refreshments. As usual, the golden duo found their respective girlfriends, Luna (for Harry) and Pansy (for Ron), leaving their third wheel by herself.
Hermione did not mind. She was happy that her friends had someone to call theirs. Hermione stood by herself against the far wall, carefully observing as the party unfolded. The students were dressed in casual clothes and just having a good time. All Quidditch players seemed showered, if the scent of fresh soap and shampoo in the room was anything to go by. It seemed like everyone was there, cramped in the cold dungeons of the Slytherin common rooms. Everyone, except for…
"Hey, Granger," someone said from her left. Hermione turned her head to find Blaise Zabini, one of the Slytherin Quidditch players, with his arm draped around Lavender Brown's shoulder. "Looking for someone?"
"Not particularly," she answered gradually.
"Oh, Hermione! Wasn't the game just funtabulous?" The ditsy Gryffindor chirped. "My Blaise-ikns was just amazing! Did you see? Did you see?"
Hermione scrunched her nose in distaste. Well, it was obvious that Lavender had too many sugary drinks already.
"Come on, darling." Blaise pulled his number one fan back into the crowed. Just before they disappeared from sight, Blaise shouted to Hermione: "The 'someone' you are not looking for is visiting Professor Snape."
The witch's eye twitched because she knew that Blaise was right. Being best friends with the Slytherin Prince had its advantages, she supposed.
She really was there, looking for him, Hermione thought bitterly. All of a sudden, she felt out of place: sad, lonely and cold. She touched the mark on her right wrist and somehow knew that her feelings were coming from a different source.
Making a quick decision, Hermione left the Slytherin dungeon and eventually, the sanctuary of Hogwarts castle in search of Draco Malfoy.
~*~
By the time, Hermione got to the base of the hill, her skin felt numb from the lashes of the whistling wind. The witch quickly cast a warming charm on her body and then looked at her surroundings. The afternoon still had some light and Hermione smiled at the figure floating in front of her.
"Prof. Dumbledore," Hermione greeted the late headmaster of Hogwarts.
"It is nice to see you again, Ms. Granger." Albus' translucent ghost bowed to her somberly.
"You as well," she replied with a smile. "Why are you here, if you do not mind me asking?"
It was rear that Prof. Dumbledore's ghost left the peaceful place of his portrait to venture outside his old office.
"I heard that you were coming this way and decided to speak with you before you reach Severus." Hermione nodded for him to continue. "You are a smart girl and I am sure you already figured out what has happened to you." He nodded toward her wrist that she automatically pressed to her chest.
"You knew?" Hermione asked aghast. "All these years, you knew and did not think it was important to warn me?"
"When I found out, you were already marked." The dead wizard explained soberly. "Since nothing could be done, I just watched our young veela from afar, and made sure he controlled his…urges toward you." After a long silence, Dumbledore asked, "Not once did he try to force you to complete the bond, is that right?"
Hermione felt her cheeks flush at the implication of the question. When she shook her head in denial, Albus smiled at her.
"Curious, isn't it?" He asked the head girl.
"What is?" She frowned.
"That an active veela, in his most primal, refuses himself the most precious thing in the world to him: his mate."
That was curious. "I just assumed he was taking some kind of sedative to calm his veela." Honest to Merlin, she was just happy to be left alone for most of the time.
"Yes," Albus agreed and gently scratched his bearded chin. "But, I am sure there is more than a potion to this story."
"Professor," Hermione began slowly, "Why are you telling me all this?"
"I assume you haven't spoken to anyone about this," Dumbledore said seriously.
"I am afraid that nobody would understand," Hermione said sadly, reveling for the first time how lonely she felt.
"I urge you to speak to him, Ms. Granger." He suggested. "Let him know that you are aware of his situation. Let him explain and have an open mind when you make any final decision."
Sighing, Hermione nodded in understanding. She always held Professor Dumbledore in high regard so she appreciated his opinions.
"Albus," Hermione heard an unmistakable monotone of Severus Snape behind her.
Turning around, Hermione could not help but step backwards from the menacing look of her late potion master, who now, was floating in the air above her head. "Pro…Professor. Snape!" Hermione had not seen Severus' spirit since the final battle, where he died…killed by a killing curse that was meant for her.
"I can see that my absence did nothing to cure your imbecilic stuttering, Ms. Granger." Severus scowled at his still-breathing pupil.
"Come now, Severus." Dumbledore chuckled. "Do not taunt, Ms. Granger. You know what she is going through better than anyone."
"I should hope so." Severus sneered. "It is because of her that I am floating about the air like a soap bubble, after all."
"No one asked you to step in front of the killing curse for me, Professor!" Hermione was highly offended.
"If only that was true," Snape said under his breath.
"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned.
"Even in death, Ms. Granger, unbreakable promises remain just that: unbreakable." Turning to his fellow spirit, the snarky wizard suggested. "Why don't we go to your portrait so you can share those biscuits you've been bragging to the ghosts about?"
"Oh, how splendid," Albus clapped his hands merrily. "Good luck, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore said with a warm smile. "If you need to talk all you need is ask for my ear."
"Thank you, Professor." She whispered as the two spirits started to float toward the castle for some…tea. "Oh, Professor Snape," she called the potion master. The ghost turned around and waited. "I am not sure if you know, but the Slytherins won today's Quidditch game."
"Yes," Snape smirked proudly. "My godson made a point to boast about that accomplishment at my resting site a few moments ago. Is that all?"
"No," Hermione whispered. "I also wanted to thank you for what you've done for me." Wet tears ran down her cheeks at the emotions that uncoiled within her chest. "Thank you, for saving my life, Professor."
"I hope, Ms. Granger," Severus said soothingly, "That my life was not extinguished in vain." Severus Snape floated away.
~*~
Draco was coming down the hill when he saw her body on the damp grass. Heart lodged in his throat, Draco ran forward.
"Granger!" He yelled as he came closer to the motionless body of his mate. He knelt beside her and shook her shoulders.
"Stop yelling, Malfoy!" Hermione replied groggily, pushing his hands away from her body. She opened her eyes and stared at the shocked head boy.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Draco yelled again. "I thought you were hurt or unconscious," Or dead, a voice whispered in his head.
"I was just trying to think, that's all." Hermione provided, sitting in the upright position.
"By laying on the wet grass in the month of November." Draco shot back. "What's next, skinny-dipping with the squid?"
"There is no need for sarcasm, Malfoy," Hermione said exasperated. "I just needed time to myself," She said more softly. "I needed to think."
"About what?" He was still irritated.
"About…us," She answered seriously, looking up at her veela.
Draco felt something squeeze in his stomach. He set down on the ground beside Hermione and waited for her to continue…
TBC…
So what do you guys think so far. I hope it is not too boring. Any suggestions or complains, please leave a review.
Next chapter is almost complete so I hope to post it by the weekend.
A/N: As much as I love that so many of you alert and favor this story, I would love it even more if you review it and let me know what you thought of it. I know they say that action is more powerful than words but in this case I believe your words would give me more power to write ;-)
So....Please review if you want to read more. :-)
