Okay, soo here's the next chapter! I hope you all like it! hopefully I can get another one up soon! College sucks for writing on your own time! Though i did write most of this in Art History! lol

Chapter 7

She sat there next to him for the next 3 hours or so, thats the amount of time that Snape had said he'd be asleep for. She was thankful for the amount of time that she was giving because it aloud her time to think and gain an acceptance for the matter. She could really see how obvious it had been by the way he was acting towards her. Even all the way back to when she found that he had followed her into the forest. What he had said to her that night had really rattled her mind...(Flashback)

'You're clinging to my sweater as if it's a life line." He looked down at his hands as if just realizing that he was still holding onto it. He starred at it and chuckled before replying, "It sort of is."

To say she was confused would be and understatement, he was acting very strange and now talking even stranger. "What do you mean by that Malfoy?" She was trying to get a grip on the situation but it was all a little overwhelming…He bent his head down and almost touched his cheek to hers. She heard and felt him inhale deeply then exhale, partially blowing in her ear it sent a shiver down her spine. Then she heard him speak, "You'll find out soon enough." Then he was gone, all she could see was his back retreating into the darkness of the forest.'

That statement got to her every time, that entire memory gave her chills whether they were good or bad she didn't want to say. She kept assessing every moment they had spent alone together over and over in her head, how had she missed this? She was mentally kicking herself for not being able to come to this conclusion on her own. Then again how many times does a boy acting differently around a girl get blamed on them being a veela?

This was so frustrating she didn't know what to do. She didn't even know how she felt about Draco anymore, she was utterly confused at the situation. Last time they spoke she yelled at him and said to never come near her again, and look where that got him. It sickened her that he pushed himself to this state just because of something she said in the heat of anger. She didn't truly mean to never come near again, she was just really mad and thats what came out.

Snape had told her that Draco's state of health starts to deteriorate after a long period of time without contact with his mate, especially if they aren't mated. She had blushed at that statement, she knew the mating ritual of a veela and their mate and for her teacher to be referring to her and Draco doing that was just embarrassing. That he even knew that she and Draco might end up doing that was something she wasn't comfortable with. Snape had said he was surprised that, at Draco's young age and with so much time still until he needed to mate, that he was affected so quickly by not seeing or being neat her for such a short amount of time was odd.

Hermione felt she knew that Draco was much more affected and drawn to her than normal, she could sense it. That was another reason she believed it though, she was strongly affected by him as well even though they hadn't mated yet. She finally understood the smell that surrounded Draco, it was his scent that only she as his mate could smell. It's what made her want to be near him, a sort of pheromone. She noticed the longer she sat with him the stronger the scent became, it made her happy it meant he was getting better.

She sat there for a little while longer pondering what she should do. She knew she needed to make her decision before he woke up though. Whether for his sake or hers it didn't matter. She needed to know how to handle the situation when he woke up. Her decision will affect what she says and how she acts towards him.

Towards the end of the third hour she heard him start to moan and move in his seat, she had been off to the corner looking at the bookshelf there. When she heard the noise though she made her way towards him and sat down on the ledge while taking his hand. His brow that was furrowed gently relaxed and his face became calm again and he seemed to cuddle a tiny bit closer to her. She held his hand with her left hand and rested them on her lap while she used her right hand to gently caress his hair. He seemed to almost purr as she did so, it made her laugh. When he was asleep he was extremely attractive she noticed. While they were in the company of others this face wasn't there, but when they were by themselves it came out and showed itself. That was the Draco she was growing to like and didn't mind being the mate too. She felt guilty that she had pushed him to this state, she didn't understand why he couldn't have just said something, told her what was going on. Although, she did understand why he didn't too, it's a shocking piece of news and something he probably couldn't stand to hear a rejection to.

He made a sudden movement again and she scooted away a bit, just in case. All of a sudden he gasped and sat up, she almost fell off the couch when he did so. He was breathing heavy and seemed very disoriented, his eyes were shifting left to right frantically. He stilled when he took notice of her, he took in her close proximity and that she was holding his hand. She was sitting there, taken back by his sudden awakening, and had a look of bewilderment on her face.

"Granger? What are you doing here?" He had the most adorable look of confusion on his face she thought. 'That was weird to think,' she thought. She shook her head of the thoughts and looked at him again.

"Well, Professor Snape brought me here he said he needed my help, well that you needed my help." She tightened her grip on his hand. He noticed and looked down at their joined hands resting on her lap and thought that he would die of happiness, she was actually touching him of her own free will after what happened the last time they were this close. Then he took in what she had said and started to get worried.

"How much did Severus tell you exactly?" He was very afraid of the answer at this point. He didn't want her to give in just because she saw him in the state he was just in and felt bad. Then it wouldn't be true and he didn't want that. He wanted her to want this as much as he did.

"Well…" She paused.

"Spit it out granger!"

"Will you stop calling me that, I know it's just an act you have going on, why can't you seem to call me Hermione!" She sat there huffing in frustration. Why couldn't her call her Hermione, especially if he supposedly loved her?

"He told you that much huh? Figures, you tell the guy not to say anything and then he goes and spills everything! Can't trust anyone I guess!"

"You could have trusted ME. Why didn't you just tell me, it's been causing you pain for months now! How could you neglect your health that way especially if you didn't have to? I mean, I'm a very understanding person if you let me be, I could handle something like this." She wanted him to understand that he could trust her and believe that she is not going to think this through irrationally. She understood the gravity of the situation and what's at stake. He needed to believe that she would just hang him out to dry for selfish reasons.

"No, I couldn't have told you, I wanted you to grow to care for me without having this sort of thing bearing on your shoulders! I knew if I told you that feel obligated to just go ahead with it because you'd feel guilty if you didn't. Just like I know you feel that way now, I can sense it!"

She was a bit taken back by his outburst, but she understood it. She knew exactly what he meant, she had had three hours to go over everything in her head. She had come to a decision though and she needed to let him know this decision and that guilt didn't affect it one bit. At yes she felt guilty but she pushed that away and didn't even make it an option. Now she just had to tell him whether he liked the outcome or not, it was for the best she thought.

She walked over to him still sitting on the couch, she had been pacing in front of it the whole time. She sat down to the left of him and took his hand in her own. She knew it affected him, just touching her, she could see his eyes darken and felt a chill run through him. She was affected by how easily she could do this to him by just a touch. His sent made her lean a bit forward to get closer to it. She looked into his eyes, their faces only inches apart, she could see he was trying to hold back.

"Draco…" she said in a low whisper. He could feel her sweet breathe run across his face. She brought her mouth close to his ear, touching her cheek to his. While bringing her right hand to rest where his neck met his shoulder and ran her fingers through the his hair there.

"I've made my decision and know that guilt didn't affect it in any way. I made this choice solely on what I wanted and what I think is for the best. I don't want you to try to change my mind because it won't happen no matter you say or do. Got it?" She felt him nod.

The tone in her voice caused him to believe that she was choosing to not be with him and he had just accepted to not try to change her mind, which he understood. That was the last thing he wanted, to force her to be with him for his selfish reasons. Well, it was time to face the music he thought.

She pulled away and looked him in the eye again and brought her left hand up to the other side of his neck. She paused she could feel her stomach flip with anticipation for what she was about to say.

"Draco" again she whispered, "I choose...to be with you." With that said she kissed him.

There it is I know I'm mean! lol oh well know u must wait! But don't forget to REVIEEEWWW! they make me happy! :) Also if anyone finds my slight change in POV throughout this confusing please let me know. I want it to be almost all in Hermione's POV while throwing in some Draco POV here and there. Hopefully you can pick up on it and it doesn't confuse anyone but remember let me know if it does! thanks k bye!