Author's note: Short chapter? Yes i'm afaid so but ! plan for the next one to be very long. I think there should be about 4 chapters left after this one but knowing me it will extend a bit. Any requests for endings just say though I may not do that particular ending I will definatly take it into consideration. Anyway enjoy and please review!

Chapter 10

The birds are singing the skies are blue, the sun is shining and so are you. It was one of the most beautiful spring days of the year with warm weather, beautiful flowers and a happy calm atmosphere.

"What do you mean by no?" Ron shouted.

"I mean no! I'm not going to give you tips on how to catch girls because I just know your using it against Hermione and she doesn't need to be bothered by you right now. She's got her hands full with her new mate." Bill said crossly at his baby brother. He loved Ron, truly did, there was something good about him the others didn't have but sometimes you could see the dark side of Ron and it was making a full on appearance right now.

"How do you not know I need these skills to catch a girl to get over Hermione?" Next to him Charlie laughed.

"Because that isn't your style Ron. Trust me I know, you're more for the 'I'll take what I want as and I don't want to work hard for it' but for some reason you want to work hard for Hermione because she's been in your life so long."

"Please! I really need your help here! You're my big brothers!"

"Exactly so do what we say." Ron flushed crimson; this was not how this was meant to go.

"Look I know it's hard but you need to move on a bit. According to Ginny they're completely in love and giving each other yucky looks and shit and if that's what she wants let her be. Not to mention Hermione is more than capable to deal with you herself and Draco's a veela and could very well get too you possibly hurt you. For common sense, happiness and safely I would let it drop. Perhaps one day she'll forgive you for acting like a prat and you guys can become friends again."

"Malfoy would never let that happen."

"He might," Bill said after a minute of pondering, "women have a massive sway over what decisions you make and I'm sure Hermione can convince Draco to calm down a bit."

"Is that what Fleur does to you?" Charlie asked cheekily lightly punching Bill on the shoulder. Bill grinned but didn't say anything.

"I don't believe the veela thing is even real!" Ron shouted finally fed up, "They used to hate each other and Draco one day after having done the entire female population of our school tells her she's the one! It just sounds like he wants to have the entire lot!" Charlie sighed. He pitied his brother because Charlie knew how hard it was to let go of sweet hearts. He had had one himself but she left to marry some rich sicko leaving him heart broken. The worst part was she didn't actually loved the guy and even though she liked him well enough it wasn't enough to throw away her chance at a good comfortable life for the rest of her days.

"Look," he said gently, "I've studied all types of animals, done some stuff on veela's and I've actually met Draco Malfoy and the way he's behaving it's totally abnormal, the way animal's personalities change during mating season so even if she wasn't his mate which she is I'm pretty sure they're in love with each other. The same thing happens to dragons. They only mate once they've found they're mate and stay with each other for life. That's one of the reasons they're so rare now. And once they've found each other it's impossible for them to turn back. I don't doubt that Hermione didn't love you it's just she found the one and she can't turn back." Ron got up and staked away.

"I tried. I really tried Ron," Charlie said sadly but what Charlie didn't know is he actually got through to Ron. His words actually hit home.

Hermione walked down the manor stairs absolutely exhausted. She and Draco had gone on that park date he had organised and stayed there hours after sunset as they gazed at the stars together bringing up all they had learned in Astrology class. Draco was seated at the table as well, dressed nicely but just as exhausted as she was.

"After breakfast do you want to go back to bed?" she asked seating herself and grabbing some toast.

"Absolutely," he replied turning the page of the daily profit he was reading. He looked far older when he read the newspaper tuting lightly when he read something or scowling at some ridiculous story.

"Anything interesting?" Draco passed her the paper as he got up to refill his orange juice.

Love is in the air!

Yesterday our reported discovered Draco Malfoy, newly discovered veela with his new mate Hermione Granger together in Fountain Park near Mr Malfoy's home in Wiltshire. They were having a lovely picnic by the rather large romantic pond and one glance and you could see the love they shared for each other. Wrapped only in the little bubble their tartan rug created they spent the entire day and most of the night gazing at the sky and later the stars, feeding each other treats from their beautiful picnic basket and simply spending time with each other. During the end of what seems to be one of the most successful dates ever the couple even did a very beautiful dance under the stars ending in a kiss that could blow even the sturdiest woman off her feet. What a romantic day for the couple. It is the first time they have been viewed together since their discovery and it is plain to see this math is a match made in heaven.

Mr Malfoy is the first discovered male veela in over a century and one of the few to actually find his mate. Hermione Granger is a stunning girl, best friends of Harry Potter and aided greatly in the defeat of the Dark Lord. Many were alarmed when the match between one of the golden trio and Mr Malfoy, an ex-deatheater however Theodore Nott a great friend of both Draco and Hermione told us "They are the perfect match. I've known Draco for years and I've never seen him so happy and peaceful his entire life. She balances him out just as he balances her out so she isn't as stressed as she usually is. You cannot find a better couple anywhere."

"Theo!" Hermione shouted stopping halfway through the rather long article.

"Yes I know what you must think. Why did I give a statement? In fact why didn't stop the article? But people need to find out about you or they'll start making stuff up and we can't have that. They'll invent a rumour which could destroy you and that is exactly the type of thing Pansy would do. I was just covering you exposed arse and if you ask me it's a rather nice article! The writer hasn't said anything crude!"

"Actually what I think Hermione was going to ask was why you were following us," Draco said dryly. Theo tuted at Hermione. What a silly question.

"That isn't the question. If you ever need to ask me a question it is: Why didn't you follow us Theo? But have no fear pumpkin I will always follow you." With that he left with the flourish of his hand.

Harry didn't like this. He didn't like it at all. He should never have agreed to this. He would have preferred to find and destroy another horcrux because at least then he knew what to do.

"I don't like this."

"Come on Harry it's not that bad! I promise we'll go to the Quidditch shop as well and I made Hermione promise she wouldn't complain." She took his hand and dragged him along towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour which had re opened the day after the Dark Lord's defeat.

"Honey muffin!" oh dear god! They were here! He couldn't turn back now.

"Theo you look fantastic!" Ginny cried. He was wearing black Armani jeans that were baggy but somehow managed to hug his legs at the same time, a white silk Ralph Lauren shirt onto of which her wore a purple velvet waist coat.

"Oh please you know this is last season's menswear aside from my beautiful vintage waist coat but enough about me this day is for you and Hermione. Quidditch comes last so we all have something to look forward to. Apart from you Hermione but they have chairs at the back and no doubt Draco will buy you a few new books to read. Now off we go!" Harry was dragged off Ginny going up to skip next to Theo as they discussed something of absolute importance apparently.

"Hey," he called to Hermione who was walking hand in hand with Draco. Hermione looked behind her and smiled at him.

"Hi. Sorry you got dragged along too," he knew she wasn't one for fashion but seeing as she was with Malfoy she probably needed to look good or the papers would say something. She looked up at Draco and after a minute he let go of her hand, not before kissing it tenderly, and walked along behind Theo and Ginny giving them a bit of time to chat.

"How's life?" he asked deciding this was a safe topic to begin with.

"Good. Every one's been extremely nice and welcoming but still…"

"The house feels weird?"

"Yes. I'm not used to big houses and everything creaks and it's different. Not bad different just strange." He nodded understanding. He had seen her house a few times and it was nothing like Malfoy Manor. "But what freaks me out the most are the pictures," she told him about the incident in her room.

"What did Draco say?"

"Not much. I sleep in his room now and that had no portraits just a few pictures of him and his mum. I think one of them used to have Lucius in it but he got ripped out but Draco knows and I think he's trying to do something about it but I think I'll just stay in Draco's room anyway. It's definitely big enough for the both of us." Harry could sense her babbling and decided to get straight to the cause of her nervousness.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want to," she said after a minute, "I knew you would feel guilty and everyone was being so happy after the war and I could manage it myself. I would have moved out of mum and dad's home anyway so why not do it a year early? I didn't mind working and I knew that if I told you, you would probably offer to live with me or something and you and Ginny need some time alone and Ron and me…we weren't right then." Harry sighed still frustrated. If she didn't trust him enough to tell then her parents had died he wasn't being a very good friend.

"Tell me anyway next time," he requested, "I don't like getting surprises from Ginny. Don't tell her that though." Hermione laughed.

"How's Draco been?"

"Protective but getting better."

"I wonder how much I can piss him off?" Harry wondered aloud watching the back of Draco's head. He had been glancing back at them every so often for a while now and as his head turned to look again Harry brought his lips up to kiss Hermione's hand just as Draco had done earlier. Draco's ears turned pink.

"Stop it," Hermione laughed, "you'll make him angry. He's already annoyed." The rest of the day wasn't so bad even as they were dragged through shop after shop even trailing to some of Theo's favourite muggle places. Hermione especially laughed at Draco's face when he saw how muggles exchanged money, taking his hand and giving him a little peck before explaining briefly what a credit card was.

"Not a bad idea to tell you the truth," Draco said making Harry's eye brows shoot up. Hermione was a good influence wasn't she? "Of course it has many disadvantages like it's difficult to keep a track of your money but to those who have unlimited funds…"

"This is the last shop I promise! Hermione can last one more shop!" Theo said after Draco complained to Theo that Hermione had sore feet because Hermione mentioned she had sore feet which wasn't completely true because Harry was the one who told her he had sore feet.

"Fine but Hermione give me your bags. All of them," Hermione obliged actually quite tired, "I'll call one of the house elves to take our bags when we go to the Quidditch shop as it is far too crowded to get a good look with all our bags even if we do-" Hermione felt a second of pain just behind her canines and whirled round looking for the cause. Draco stepped in front of her hiding her from her unknown enemy. She tried to glance round him but Theo blocked the way instantly getting Draco's back and she felt Harry's hand lightly touch her shoulder reassuring her he was there for her if she needed. She craned round the other side and froze. Pansy Parkinson.

Ginny strode up to her and gave her one hard slap across the face that echoed off the entire corridor of clothes.

"You bitch! You may not be the one who impersonated me but I know you're involved. We also know you were the one to poison Theo even if there's no proof and I will catch you and I will make sure your punished. Not whorish Slytherin can get away with shit like that to a Gryffindor no matter how cunning you may be. But you're not cunning you're thick!" The look on Pansy's face was pure hatred.

"Fuck off bitch! I don't care if your Harry Potter's girlfriend or that you slapped me or that you don't trust me, cause I see right through you. You can't control yourself, you're like an animal and just as thick as your fuck ass ugly brother. No wonder your shagging Nott behind Potty's back!" That just undid Ginny who screeched as she grabbed for her wand but Hermione got there first throwing a spell that hit Pansy right on knocking her backwards.

"Theo and Ginny are just friends," she said in a low calm angry voice, "and if you don't leave right now I will use all of the power I possess to make you."

"Oh bitch you seriously don't think-"

"I'm the mate of Draco Malfoy. Didn't you want to marry him? Didn't you want him for yourself? Well that bullshit isn't going to happen so let go Pansy! Just let do and walk away because I can't be bothered to deal with you right now!" Pansy's face twisted into something horrible as she strode forwards fully prepared to deal as much damage as she could but Draco instantly blocked the way. His teeth were fully out now coming down to his chin crystal clear and very strong despite the unbelievable thinness. Pansy stopped not daring to take a step close. Draco was frightening and she was a coward.

"I'll get you bitch!" she shrieked before storming out. The entire shop was silent all the other shoppers gazing with shocked eyes and mouths open.

"Take me home," Hermione said quietly to Draco. He instantly scooped her up into his strong arms and disapparated with a crack.

The incident with Pansy made Draco furious. Why did she still think she had a claim? Everyone else understood their bond but no not her. She had to be a stubborn bitch. He carried Hermione all the way up to his room, it being one of the safest places in the house, and slowly placed her on the bed before pacing around furiously. He needed to walk out all the angry energy in him or he could end up hurting someone he didn't want to hurt. Like Hermione. That just made him walk faster.

"Draco," she said. So many meanings were in that word, it meant calm down the dangers gone. It meant come here I want to hold you. It meant thank you for what you did. He stopped and went to her again seeking her comfort. They held each other for a long time Hermione snoozing lightly on his chest and Draco staring at her memorising her. He heard footsteps outside his door. Mother was here to check on him but then the quiet voice of Theo came out explaining what had happened. He was sad too, about the rumour that he and Ginny were with each other behind Harry's back. If the press got a hold of it they would never let it drop.

"Why?" he whispered out loud the majority of his question not needed to be said but sensed.

"Pansy knows she has no chance to have you now but she can't let go. She wants to hurt us as much as possible. This isn't a quest to get you back anymore. Now all she wants is revenge." Draco sighed placing his head on her shoulder inhaling her addictable scent. He was getting tired of Pansy. Everyone was getting tired of Pansy. He turned his head and kissed her neck, something he really enjoyed and he knew she did too. He would bit there when they had sex after all. He kissed his way up capturing her lips kissing her sweetly. She didn't like it when he teased her but he just couldn't help it. And tonight was her last night. He would be able to claim her after this. His whole body hummed in pleasure as he realised that. It was always different for each pair of mates when they decided to fully mate. Some do it the second they touch others however can wait years first.

Hermione gave a little gasp catching some air before returning to the kiss. He would need to stop now or they wouldn't be able to stop. Hermione was not pleased anyhow.

"I've to talk to mother. Dinner should be ready in an hour I presume," he also needed a cold shower before bed.

Hermione got up once the door closed changing into her comfy clothing, a hoodie and tracky bottoms that her parents bought her when they went to America. She sped through the house searching. She had been there once before but Malfoy Manor was an easy place to get lost in. After 5 minutes of searching she finally found it. The library. She could tell they would mate soon and perhaps she should look up what would actually happen in that good Veela book Theo and Ginny had. Ginny was still reading hers being a very slow reader but Theo had finished long ago placing the book on Malfoy shelves instead of back in Hogwarts. She got it down and sat at one of the many large mahogany desks provided, far lusher than the Hogwarts old oak benches.

The turned to the chapter labelled "Veela Mating's" and read.

Veela mating's are the most important thing to happen to a veela and mate as it binds and finalises the choosing of a mate. After mating the couple can only have children with their mate even once it's partner has passed away (see chapter 14 for the effects of a mates death) which was where the concept of marriage came in Prehistoric times. The process is always under very sexual circumstances almost always ending in intercourse where the male veela will bit his partner in the neck realising-

Hermione slammed the book shut. It felt wrong, completely wrong. It was as if finding out beforehand would spoil the experience in ways that would change her for the worst. When she had read the word 'process' she felt sick. She had never wanted to read that book anyway which was very unlike her and Draco had mentioned he had only read a bit as well so maybe the same thing happened to him too. This was one thing she didn't want to find out beforehand.

The silence was dreadful tension lying heavily in the air. Ginny peaked up through her lashes and turned away. She had nothing to be ashamed for, she hadn't gone behind Harry's back, but she was feeling so guilty and the way Harry held himself as if he had to be strong or he would break hurt her.

"Harry…" what could she say to make this feel less awkward?

"If you wanted to be with him I wouldn't stop you," he mumbled miserably. He didn't have the strength to fight Theo for her, he was just so tired of fighting which he had done the second he turned 11. Harry just didn't fight anymore.

"It's not like that. Pansy-"

"Was lying. Yes, I know but that doesn't really change…"

"It does change things Harry. It's not true and you know it so it does change things. He's just a friend, like Hermione." Harry turned around to look at her. So much had been taken from his during that war leaving him looking desperately tired and very mature.

"I'm in love with you," he said hoarsely and Ginny went forwards kissing him in insides soaring. God how she loved him and she whispered it against his lips as she pulled him closer heading towards the bedroom.

Please review!