A/N- So happy that people are enjoying this story! I want to say thanks to all those that are reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting, I really do appreciate it. I reply to all the reviews (if possible) but if for some reason I havent, I must have missed it somehow. Please accept my apologies. Anyways, enough chatter for now (:

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the plot, or the setting. I just own my take on the storyline. If only I owned all of the above...

Chapter 10

September 8, 1998

Hermione woke up early, cocooned against Draco's chest. She laid there and pondered everything that had happened since she discovered this wizard was a veela and she was his mate. Hermione had told herself that she wouldn't trust Draco straight off, she'd make him work for her trust, but she discovered that after the first day she did. He hadn't let her walk into the Great Hall by herself, feeding the rumor mill that she was a slag.

Draco hadn't done anything untoward or disrespectful in the time since she had first been with him; he had even asked her permission to kiss her the day before. The memory of that kiss warmed her insides and tempted her to wake him so she could kiss him again. If she had been paying attention, Hermione would have realized that the man wrapped around her had woke up. It wasn't until he dropped a kiss on the top of her head that she noticed his grey eyes smiling down at her.

"Good morning, Angel." She smiled up at him, too shy to make the request now that he was actually awake.

"Good morning, Draco. I didn't say it yesterday, but thank you for staying with me after Harry left. The two of us have only ever had two fights in the whole time we've been friends and the first one was mostly Ron pushing him. It was third year when he had received a Firebolt for Christmas and it wasn't marked who it was from. I told Professor McGonagall, because I was afraid it was from Sirius and they were so angry when she took it to check it for hexes. They wouldn't speak to me for three months. Aside from my first two months at Hogwarts, that was my worst time." Draco pulled her close again, this time pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Your welcome, Mia. Not speaking to you for three months over a broom definitely sounds like something the Weasel would do. Harry just seems a lot more down to Earth than that. What was the second fight?" Hermione could only sigh at the memory.

"It was sixth year. He had gotten an Advanced Potions Book out of the cupboard and it was the property of the Half-Blood Prince. It had notes in it all over, that's why he was phenomenal in Potions that year. I told him all year that was cheating, but it didn't blow up until he cast that spell on you, sectumsempra, and Snape had to heal you. We had a row because he learned that spell from that book and he didn't even know what it did when he cast it. I was yelling at him and he was just taking it because he felt so terrible for what he'd done. I was railing at him for letting down the quidditch team since Snape had assigned him Saturday detentions til the end of the year and Ginny stood up and told me to shut up and leave him alone because everyone knew that I didn't know anything about quidditch and if I tried acting like I did I'd just embarrass myself." Draco couldn't help but chuckle a little but made sure to stop when Hermione propped herself up and narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn't help but laugh a bit when he changed the subject.

"So when the lions play Slytherin, who will you cheer for?" Hermione had no idea how to answer this question so she decided that now was the time to embarrass herself.

"Draco, if I were to ask you to kiss me, would you?" Hermione had to admit that her inner goddess had just shagged the crowned prince when she saw the look on his face.

The Malfoy scion gave her a heated look, a smoldering look that burned its way to her soul, and lowered his mouth to hers. Hermione opened immediately when she felt his tongue trace the seam of her lips, asking for entrance into her mouth. She readily opened and his tongue began massaging hers like it had before. Her body began heating up as he explored her mouth; after a few minutes, Hermione gathered her courage and tentatively pressed her tongue into his mouth and copied his actions. A sense of pride flooded her being when he groaned into her mouth.

The hand that had been threaded in her hair ran down her spine, holding her even closer. Hermione finally broke the kiss, gasping for air, but couldn't bring herself to uncurl her fingers from the shirt on Draco's chest. Draco tipped her chin up to look at him, speaking with a soft voice.

"I want to make love to you tonight, Angel. If you aren't ready, I understand, you need only say so now so I know what to expect. If you are, I promise to be gentle." Hermione couldn't be sure if it was really because she wanted to or if it was from the heated blood from their kiss, but she suddenly wanted to make love very badly.

"I would like that very much." Draco gave her a grin and leaned down to kiss her again before he finally got to his feet and began stretching. When she climbed out of bed as well, he bent to kiss her again to her surprise and bliss, his hands traveled down to her backside where he gave a her a squeeze. Draco gave her a grin as he pulled away.

"I'm going to go get dressed, Angel. I'll meet you in the commons in ten minutes and we'll go to breakfast together. At least you'll have Neville to sit with at the Gryffindor table." Hermione couldn't help but put a hand on his cheek as she smiled at him.

"It's alright, Draco, I promise. If all I have are you, Neville, Luna, Theo, and Blaise, I'll count myself lucky. Do you think we can have Theo come to the common room later so he and I can work on Arithmancy together? I know you didn't take it so he and I are the only ones in our group that do." Draco leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"As long as he wants to, I don't care, Angel. Did you ask him about being in Slytherin?" Hermione nodded, remembering Theo's words.

"Yes, he told me, but asked me not to tell anyone because you were the only other person who knew the truth. I told him about your proposal for holidays together and he seemed excited to have another friend to spend them with." Draco twirled her in a circle before he smiled at her and spoke.

"Well, we know you can count on something amazing from me for Christmas, but it will be something like books from him. Which means his will be better than mine." Hermione couldn't hold back the giggle that burst forth at his words. Finally, she started to shove him towards the door.

"Go on, go change. I need to change myself." Once Hermione was alone, she tried to figure out what she should wear, but was coming up with a complete blank. After much consideration, she finally decided on a pleated jean skirt and a long-sleeved sapphire top. Pairing it with knee-high black boots completed the outfit, meaning that she was ready to face the public down at the Great Hall. Draco's jaw dropped at the sight of her fully dressed and had no problem wrapping his arm around her waist while they walked down to the Great Hall.

Once they seperated, Hermione headed towards the Gryffindor table. Neville was already surrounded by Dean, Seamus, and Parvati so Hermione made her way to the very end of the table, sitting alone. She had just finished her scrambled eggs and was ready to start her toast when Lavender took the seat next to her. Hermione didn't say anything, just focused on her food until Lavender started to speak.

"Ron told me that you know about us now. Not that we're exclusive. Since you're under the impression that Draco's really a veela and he's really going to be faithful to you, I'm giving you the heads up that I'm going after him. Once I have a man in my sight, he doesn't stand a chance." Hermione felt her heart clench in pain but refused to show it.

"Why are you doing this, Lavender?" The other girl just laughed.

"You've humiliated me for years by making me feel stupid. I've been sleeping with your boyfriend behind your back and I'm going to take this boyfriend from you too." Hermione couldn't speak anymore; she simply looked down at her plate, toast and sausages forgotten.

Lavender stood and started towards the Slytherin table. Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to watch once she was talking to Draco. Once an acceptable amount of time had gone by, Hermione peeked over her shoulder to see Lavender in front of Draco, looking curvy, blond, and beautiful. Draco began laughing, as well as all the male Slytherins in close vicinity, and suddenly, Hermione couldn't bear to be in their Great Hall any longer. Jumping to her feet, she hurried out of the Great Hall and out of castle. Nobody was following her, so she felt safe letting her tears fall as she ran for the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione followed the footpath that led to the paddock used for hippogriffs and thestrals, but continued past it. From many years experience, she skirted the area that the acromantulas inhabited and turned more inward. There was always a chance she'd run into centaurs, but they had never bothered her in the past. Finding a good tree, she slid down the slick bark until she was on the dirt.

Finally free of all prying eyes, Hermione let loose the sobs that had been threatening to overtake her as she left the Great Hall. She was completely unsure how her life had become such a disaster in the time since she had been back to school. Realizing that she had come to trust Draco so quickly, only to be let down, made her feel so foolish, so stupid for even considering that he had changed.

Not sure how long she was there, Hermione turned sideways to lean against the tree. Careful to not fall asleep, she contemplated what she would do when she went back to school. When she decided on locking herself in her room to do homework, she heard quiet footsteps coming her way and she knew right away that it was Draco. Strengthening her resolve, she dashed away the tears that remained on her cheeks and scrambled to her feet. Only a minute passed before Draco came into view.

"What are you doing clear out here, Angel? There are things out here that could hurt you." Hermione did her best to keep her voice from wavering.

"I couldn't watch you and Lavender once I saw that you were actually talking to her. I came out here because I've always been the only one to ever like it out here. I know what areas to avoid since I've been coming out here since our first year." Draco tipped his head to the side.

"What did she tell you she was going to do?" Hermione took in a shaky breath.

"It doesn't matter. By the way you all were acting when I left, I'd say she was probably pretty happy." Hermione started to walk past him, but his hand snaked out and caught her wrist, pulling her to his chest. She didn't fight against him but refused to look at him. When he tipped her chin so she would meet his gaze, she couldn't hold her tears back anymore.

"Lavender said she was going to go over and hook up with you, just like she did Ron. She liked causing me pain because she said I made her feel stupid for years. Once she has a man in her sight, nothing stands in her way. When I looked over, you were smiling and laughing with her. I couldn't be there any longer." Hermione couldn't help but bristle with indignation when Draco started laughing.

"Oh, Angel, don't be angry with me. It's just that what you saw and what actually happened are two totally different things." He sat on a downed tree a few paces away and gestured for her to come closer. She moved to sit next to him but at the last second, he pulled her onto his lap and hooked his hands around her hips. Leaning forward, he pressed a line of kisses from her ear to her shoulder, causing goosebumps to erupt all over her skin. Knotting her fingers in her lap, she listened to the story he wove, terrible and brilliant, with her eyes cast off into the horizon.

-O-

Draco cut his ham and cheese omelet into bites as Theo sat down in front of him.

"Mia wants to know if you'd want to come to our commons and work on Arithmancy. I didn't take it and I think she wants someone to bounce ideas off of for whatever project you all are working on. If you're busy, I'm sure she'd understand." Theo gave one of his rare smiles.

"That's great, I'll definitely come. How about I show up right after lunch?" Draco nodded his agreement as he noticed Lavender Brown making her way to sit with Hermione at the end of the table. The girl moved with a confidence, a confidence that she was sexy and she knew men found her that way, that his mate didn't possess. Hermione was sure of her intellect, her rationale, her loyalty, but not that she was attractive and that men found her so.

A stab of pain, guilt, and then fear passed through him as he watched the two women exchange words. Theo turned to follow his gaze and muttered his displeasure when he saw the look on Hermione's face when Lavender stood. Draco was confused as to what could be happening when she started to head his way and his mate stared at her plate. When she made it to his side, he turned to face her, intent to discover the reasoning behind her visit. Her hand came down on his shoulder and Lavender leaned in as if to kiss him. Draco waited until her eyes closed and she was just close enough before he spoke loud enough for half the table to hear.

"Is this an attempt to kiss me?" Her eyes came open and didn't seem to mind that half the Slytherin table was watching them now.

"Of course. Now that I know you like Gryffindors, I wanted to come introduce myself." Draco laughed at her.

"You are aware that I'm a veela, right? I have a mate and she happens to be Hermione Granger. By the way, aren't you already fucking her ex? In fact, I caught the two of you fucking on rounds before they were broke up. Doesn't that make you a dirty slag? I'm not sure what the Weasel was thinking, because even if Granger wasn't my mate, I'm not stupid enough to have ever chose you over her." Lavender was turning red as all the men started laughing around them.

"You're lying, Draco, you would choose me. I'm pureblood and Hermione is muggleborn. She's only with you now for your money." Draco just shook his head at her, chuckling under his breath, smile still on his lips.

"That just shows why she's my mate and you arent. A bird has to have some brains to occupy a man because you can't shag all the time. There's nothing in your head but air." Draco turned to the men closest to him.

"If you had to choose between Brown and Granger, who would you choose for a long-term girl?" They all chorused Granger and it was at that moment that Lavender turned to leave the Great Hall, tears down her cheeks. Draco couldn't help but add one more insult for trying to make his mate feel small and unwanted.

"Keep spreading your legs for Weasley, that's all you're good for anyways." When he and Theo quit laughing, he felt loneliness overtake him and he realized that Hermione wasnt in the Great Hall. Muttering his excuses to Theo, he stood up and went about his way to go find her.

-O-

Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle the giggle that was threatening to break free after hearing his story. Draco saw her holding back and reached over, pulling her hand away. A giggle broke free but she instantly felt bad. Leaning heavily into his chest, she couldn't help but chastise him.

"Draco Malfoy, you are just terrible! I can't believe you said all those things to her. She's good for other things besides sleeping with Ron. Here I am laughing, I should be ashamed of myself." Draco reached out and cupped her cheeks with his hands, brushing her cheekbones with his thumbs.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Angel. I only said those things to her because I saw her talking to you and I felt everything you felt. I don't care two whits about Brown and who she spreads her thighs for. I would have never sought her out and verbally sparred with her. However, she told you that she was going to steal me away and then she actually tried in the most public way possible. And I'm curious as to what else she's good for? And why did you believe that I would trade you in for her?" Hermione stood up, not wanting to be held down while having answers demanded of her. Her hands went to her hips and she started pacing in front of him.

"I can't help that I don't have confidence in myself like you or Lavender. I know I'm not pretty, even my mum used to tell me that even though I would never be more than plain, I could always fall back on my intellect. All through school, I heard comments about my hair, lack of figure, my small size. Who wouldn't want a girl like Lavender? She's tall, blue eyes, blond hair, good figure; Ron wanted her. It makes more sense for someone like you, good looking and wealthy, to want to be with someone like her. You asked what she was good for? Lavender was having an affair with Ron, opening my eyes to who he really is and what he's capable of. If not for her, who knows how long it would have taken me to realize that our relationship was never meant to be." Draco gave her an incredulous look and pulled her towards him. When he saw her eyes were wet, he lifted her into his lap so he could run his fingers through her hair.

"I want you to listen to me, Angel. I'm not lying to you. I will give you the win for Lavender's other use. As for you not being pretty, those who told you that were lying to you. Your mum had no idea what she was talking about. In your younger years, your hair was completely out of control but you were still gorgeous. Now that your hair has calmed down some, you're breathtaking. Your curves are reminiscent of Aphrodite and you arent small, you're petite. I heard ten Slytherins vow they would take you over Brown any day. Granted, I had to restrain myself from ripping their limbs off in order to make a point to Brown, but they all think you're gorgeous. As for me being someone who would want her, I'm nothing special. I once thought I was, I was a boy who thought I deserved to have the world handed to me just because of my last name. Then I was branded and forced to grow up, learning the hard way that the things that mean the most in life can't be bought. I'll never get those things from Brown, but I hope to get them from you. You're my mate and I will not deceive you, ever." Hermione could feel a blush warm her cheeks but she tried to hide it by burying her face in Draco's chest. She felt him lay his head on hers and they sat in silence for a good long while. A question she had asked him before came to mind but she didn't want to ask him right now, not when she was already feeling so self-conscious from her confession. Standing up, she took him by the hand and drug him up off the log, pulling him back the way they had come.

The pair strolled hand in hand through the Forbidden Forest, Hermione wondering just how bad his number of past lovers could be. She worried her lip as she tried to remember all the girls she had seen him with over the years - Pansy, Daphne Greengrass, Astoria Greengrass, Tracy Davis. These girls were just a few she could think of off the top of her head. By the time they had made it to the Black Lake, Draco pulled her to a stop.

"What is bothering you? I can feel you worrying about something." She gave him a small smile and shook her head.

"It's nothing. I don't want to have another difficult conversation right now." Draco gave a deep sigh as he laid her hands on his chest.

"Please tell me, Angel. I hate knowing that you're worrying about something." Hermione sighed and looked down to the ground. Before she could say anything, a strong cool breeze blew across the lake, making goosebumps break out over her legs.

"I was just wondering to myself since I agreed to your request tonight how many girls you've slept with. I didn't want to sound jealous or anything like that since I just had to admit that I have zero self confidence in my appearance. I'm used to being a strong person and I don't feel like I have been since the beginning of this school year. Since the Final Battle really." Draco leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth as he let his thumb run the length of her bottom lip.

"There is no doubt in my mind that you're a strong person. A weak person wouldn't have volunteered to walk into a room full of Slytherins to help her friend, let alone duel five at a time with ease. Trust me, it's been hard for everyone since the Battle." She laid her hand on his before speaking.

"You don't have to tell me right now if you don't want to. We can't learn each others secrets in just a few days." Draco bent to kiss her again, this time on her lips but not delving too deeply.

"I will tell you, Angel, I promise, just not yet. I just don't want the beginning of what we have to be tainted with my sordid past. Just please believe me when I say that it doesn't matter who came before you, none of them meant anything. I'd never even held a woman in my arms. There will never be another woman after you." Hermione gave his hand a reassuring pat before she gave him a small smile.

"I understand. You can tell me whenever you feel is right." Draco wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her back towards the castle.

"It's time for lunch and Theo said he'd come by to do homework with you right after lunch so we better head that way."

The two of them brokered many stares as they walked through the grounds and back into the castle, making their way to the Great Hall. As she made her way to the Gryffindor table, she noticed that Lavender wasn't present, probably due to the embarrassment she had suffered at the hands of Draco. When she took a seat next to Neville, Hermione realized she had only ate a few mouthfuls for breakfast and was, indeed, quite hungry. Neville leaned over and spoke in her ear.

"Are you doing alright? Everyone in the Great Hall saw Lavender go over and try to kiss Draco." She nodded as she swallowed, wiping her mouth before she spoke.

"I wasn't at the time; she came down and told me that since she had stolen Ron from me, she was going to steal Draco as well. I had to leave, I couldn't bear to see him turn against me like Ron did." Neville laughed.

"You have no worries about that. The whole Hall heard what he said to her and saw her run out of here crying." Hermione nodded.

"That's what he told me." Dean started a conversation with Neville before anything else was said so Hermione finished her meal in silence.

When she had ate her fill, Hermione stood and made her way to the main entrance, noting that Draco was already there. He threaded his fingers with hers as they headed towards their common room, swinging their joined hands with a smile on his face. Draco murmured the password to where she couldn't hear it, then sent her to her room after her bag and homework.

Hermione had just gotten back out to the common room and open her text book when the portrait door opened and Theo walked in, bearing his own bag. Giving him a smile, she moved her bag so he could sit. They worked on their Arithmancy projects for an hour without breaking, bouncing ideas off each other. Hermione had been so pleased to be paired with Padma, but she doubted she would want anything to do with her come class. Draco was on the couch behind her, playing with a strand of her hair, when the door to their common room opened. Draco was instantly on his feet, wand out, in a protective stance in front of Hermione as Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Molly Weasley came through the door. Hermione rose to her feet in complete surprise and went around Draco to provide a barrier between him and the woman that hated him most. Harry came forward quickly, causing Draco to growl in warning. Harry reeled in surprise.

"What's your problem, Malfoy? Now you don't want me around her either?" Draco sneered at him before he hissed out a response.

"I had the utmost respect for you until you left her again, all because of a Weasley once again." Confusion settled on his face before Hermione turned and placed a hand on Draco's chest.

"You're the one who told me that if they came back to me to let them. I can't do that if you're growling at them." Draco met her eyes as he picked her hand up off his chest and pressed a kiss to her palm. When she turned again to face the Weasleys, Harry rushed to her and gathered her in a fierce hug.

"I'm sorry, 'Mi, I shouldn't have gotten so mad. Once I calmed down, I realized that if your parents wanted you to stay away from me, I'd make the choice for you and stay away because I know how much they mean to you. I was just blinded by the feeling that you didn't want me anymore, that you were somehow trading me in for Draco here. It's stupid, I know, but I'm a guy and we do stupid things from time to time. That's really my only defense. Can you forgive me?" Hermione couldn't hold back the flood of tears as she buried her face in Harry's shoulder. When she reined in her emotions, she pulled away and looked at him with a smile.

"Even though it's only been a day, I've missed you and Ginny. Of course I forgive you, but only if you'll forgive me." Harry leaned forward and kissed her forehead before relinquishing her back to Draco. When she glanced nervously at Mrs. Weasley and Ron, Harry spoke again.

"I started walking after I left you yesterday and decided to find Ginny. Much to my surprise, she wasn't at Hogwarts. I always knew she was a clever little minx, but never to the degree she displayed yesterday. I think it's a story you'd be interested in hearing." Hermione eyed everyone warily before she gestured for them to all take a seat. Ron stayed planted where he stood but their other three guests took seats around the room. Draco's hands were kneading her shoulders as she took in the general mood of the room. Theo looked like he wanted to escape, but nobody asked him to leave and Hermione didn't feel that she should have to ask her friend to leave just because her company didn't like him. Ginny took hold of Harry's hand and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Well, you see, I knew a letter wouldn't convey what I wanted it to and I had a secret weapon that I had to go see in person." Hermione and Draco looked at each other in confusion, but waited patiently for Ginny to continue her story.

A/N- I know that was the worst ending EVER, but if I continue the story, it could be who knows how long. I am a fan of long chapters, don't get me wrong, but I also like getting y'all a chapter a week if possible. So don't hate to hard on it, how the family discussion went coming in the next chapter, along with some yummy smuttiness! Question...do you all like the role I'm painting for Theo or it too weird? Honestly is key! Anways, lemme know your thoughts (:

Love,

A