AN: First, I had to change the rating thanks to this chapter because of alcohol reference and dirty dancing. Second, I sent a copy of this to my very best Harry Potter fan friend and she said she was slightly confused by the last chapter. So basically, Hermione is undergoing her transformation into a full blown Veela. The next day her appearance is enhanced and her senses are improved. She is still has one more stage until she is done. Hermione learns from Albus Dumbledore and the Grangers that she is the lost Valéry (pronounced Val-our-éa) heiress and she is indeed a pureblood. Unable to accept the news, she makes an excuse to visit her friends at the Burrow. Sorry if you, the readers, were confused. Don't hesitate to let me know. On a brighter note, I got my first review.
AAN: This is 7th year, Draco is just becoming a Death Eater, and obviously Dumbledore is alive. The final battle has not taken place yet.
Henben: Thank you so much as my first reviewer. I had read lots of stories about Draco as a Veela, and a few with Hermione as a Veela. Unfortunately, Hermione was a muggleborn in those and, as much as I love the character, her story failed to keep my attention. So I thought I would change everything up a bit.
On to the story:
Chapter 3
The Birthday
Hermione landed on her butt as she fell out the fireplace. Stupid Floo system, she thought as she stepped out and wiped off her jeans. She looked around and saw the familiar place she considered her second home. A soft giggling sound erupted from the kitchen. She turned to her left and, with her improved hearing, followed the sound.
"So do you think Mione will like it?"
"Are you kidding? You know she loves books." Hermione sighed. They bought her a new book every year.
"Well, I got her something that will spark a sudden interest from the male population." Hermione heard Ginny say. Hermione groaned inwardly.
"I don't think Mione is ready to date yet."
"God Ron, she is seventeen years old. You have already had your first kiss and I have already had my first four boyfriends. I think it is safe to say she is ready to wake up." Hermione leaned against the door frame to see her friends sitting around a small box. She cleared her throat getting their attention.
"Bloody hell… I mean, hello. I'm Ron Weasley, can I help you?" Ron got up and walked over to her and held out his hand. Hermione giggled and lightly slapped it away.
"Ron, it's me Hermione." She said between fits of laughter.
"Herms?" Harry looked at her, "Um, wow, you look different."
"See boys, you have made Hermione feel so inferior to the male population that she went and used some beauty spells." Ginny argued. Hermione faked a hurt look, leaking a little tear.
"You don't think I am beautiful."
"Oh no, I did not mean it like that." Ginny put her hands up.
"Hermione, what are you doing here? Your birthday isn't until tomorrow." Ron whined dragging Hermione out the kitchen. He was still taller than her at 6ft 5in and his hair was more auburn like his sister's. Harry stepped up behind him. His sparkling green eyes and his untidy hair stayed the same along with his slim frame. But now he had some muscle and stood two inches shorter than Ron. Ginny, now Harry's girlfriend, stood a little taller than Hermione with her hair reaching her shoulders.
"That is what I needed to talk to you about. Can we go up to your room? What I am about to say is private." She whispers. The trio looks at the panicked look on her face; it was no longer glowing with laughter. Ron merely nods and begins to trek up to the top floor.
When they entered, Hermione took note that his room still looked junky. Pig was whizzing around in his cage, hyperactive as ever. Quidditch posters littered the walls and empty chocolate frog containers covered the floor.
"Mum told you to clean your room weeks ago." Ginny whispered, clearly disgusted by her brother's room.
"I did clean it, but Harry came by and well it got dirty again." Ron's ears slowly turned a slight pink. Hermione closed the door behind her and sat on the bed across from Harry's.
"What do you guys know about the Valéry family?" she asked in all seriousness. The childlike qualities completely disappeared from her face, leaving an expression full of grave, poise, and grief.
"They were the most powerful pureblood family of the age. More powerful than the Malfoys, might I add, though they were thought to be close friends. But they were also Death Eaters. They were big supporters of You-Know-Who and were one of his most honored. There were rumors that they were Veelas, derived from the oldest and the greatest dark magic clans. He wanted them because they were power hungry. They were killed the same night as Harry's parents. Something about changing sides and leaking information to the Order. There is a legend about the family though. It was believed before they perished at the hands of You-Know-Who they had a daughter. The lost Valéry heiress who was sent away to protect her from her parents fate. But it is mostly legend; only pureblood families know these stories. Why do you ask?" Ron finished.
"She probably read it in a book somewhere." Harry joked lightly. Hermione took a deep breath and told them what happened that night and in the morning.
"I'm the lost heiress. It makes sense. At least when you ponder it for an hour." She shook her hands.
"I am best friends with a bloody Veela. Now I really feel bad about the Yule Ball." Ron grasped her hands and held them as she cried out.
"I guess you should read the letter." She handed it to Harry while Ginny rubbed her back and she leaned into Ron. "I have to find a mate in 9 months or else I'll die. How do you cope with that? I know I should be happy about turning 17 and being Head Girl, but I can't."
"It will be okay. When do you have to start looking for your soul mate?"
"The clock starts ticking the moment I turn seventeen." Hermione gulped.
"Well, you have help in the looks department to find your mate." Ginny joke lightly. Hermione gave a weak laugh.
"This is pretty clear. Hermione is a pureblood and a Veela." Harry confirmed.
"Can we stop talking about it? I thought it would help, but all I can think about is my impending death." Ginny took her downstairs for some food.
Hermione awoke the next day curled up Ron's bed. It smelled of chocolate frogs and almond spice. Funny, the way things smell after you become a Veela, Hermione smiled. After a lot of coaxing, the boys convinced her to stay in their room. She walked downstairs and welcomed the smell of breakfast.
"Happy birthday Hermione!" The entire Weasley family and Harry screamed happily. She smiled instantly remembering the events from the night before when Fred and George took turns hitting on her, before they realized who she was.
Everything from eggs to toast to mini cakes was laid out on the table. A wonderful birthday breakfast feast, she thought. She sat between Harry and Ron and began helping herself. The entire Weasley family took the news well, although Fleur constantly shot her looks. Ginny told her that Bill told her there was nothing to be jealous of. She giggled quietly.
"Thanks guys. For everything." Hermione said. She started competing with Ron over who could have more on their plate and finish it faster. Hermione surprisingly won and the day continued without complaint.
…
"Come on, just a little makeup."
"I am pretty enough without it Gin. I love you, but I am still me. I may have more confidence, anger, and pride running through me but I am still the same girl you met 5 years ago." Hermione had done some reading up on Veelas which revealed them to be quick thinkers, short tempered and narcissistic. She grinned as she took one last look at her reflection. Oh god, I'm turning superficial, she thought. The boys decided that they would take her out to a club for her sweet seventeenth.
She linked arms with Ron, Harry, and Ginny. Together they Disapparated to Anapneo Deletrius.
…..
A young man downed another glass of firewhiskey. His chiseled pale face glowed in the lights. He turned to his best mate Blaise, who was dancing with two witches in the middle of the floor. His pale eyes narrowed slightly and his trademark smirk came onto his face. Draco Malfoy gracefully got up from his seat and tapped Blaise on the shoulder. His friend looks back at him with an annoyed expression but left his company.
"What was that for?" Blaise seethed.
"Well for one, the witch on the right was trying to take your wallet and the witch on the left was trying to take your wand." Draco replied calmly. "No need to thank me, Zambini." His friend was no longer paying attention to Draco. Instead Blaise set his sights on the brunette on Ron Weasley's arm. She wore a short, tight red dress with 3 inch heels.
"Draco, Weasel has got a girlfriend. It is a pity. She could do so much better." Draco took a look at her.
"I completely agree." They watched as the witch on Ron's arm let go of him arm and kiss his cheek. Ron turned slightly pink.
…
"Ron, if you aren't comfortable dancing, go have a drink with Harry. But I am going to lose it." She kissed his cheek before going to the middle of the dance floor. Ginny tapped her shoulder and handed her a small glass of firewhiskey. She threw her head back and drank it, burning her throat slightly on the way down.
"Thank you. Sure you don't want to dance?"
"Of course I am but first I have to find Harry." Hermione giggled. Ginny did not want to be groped by a bunch of half-drunk men.
…
"If you aren't going to make a move on that girl, I will." Blaise threatened as he peered through the sea of bodies looking for her. The dimming lights made it harder to see.
"Fine." Draco laughed.
"See if you can get her number. I want it." Blaise yelled to him.
Draco found her swaying her hips in the middle of the crowd. She seemed to sense his presence behind her as she fixed herself to see him. The two started to dance in the middle. She was really good dancer and knew how to make her hips and butt look good dancing, Draco thought to himself.
Hermione was too busy trying to remember where she had seen that face before. She dropped to the floor and came back up, gyrating her tush against his thighs. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
A fast muggle song came on and she was just too drunk to care (insert song Cassie-Me &U). Draco saw what she was doing and placed his hands on her hips.
"You're a really good dancer." He whispered in her ear. In Hermione's mind, it was the voice of an angel, rugged but soft. She smiled as she sniffed in the scent of firewhiskey, honey, pine, and some type of French cologne. Instinctively, she turned on the Veela charm.
"And you have a really sexy voice." She whispered back seductively. "And I want to know what else you can do." She pulled her head back to see his wide, surprised eyes before pulling his collar down to her as she kissed him. Her toes curled as a fire ignited between them. They were still partially dancing until he ran his hands through her hands. His scent was like rolling in ecstasy or an exotic fantasy. To Draco, this was the first kissed that ever had some kind of spark. He felt his blood rush as he kissed her soft lips. No one else in the room existed at that moment. He pulled away for a second to see a pair or chocolate eyes stare back at him. She blushed and turned, running away to Ginny.
"What was that?" Blaise asked from behind him. "Did you get her number?" Draco merely shook his head stunned before Disapparating with Blaise.
Hermione touched her lips and thought of his intoxicating scent. Her first kiss. This has been the best birthday ever, she thought before joining her friends.