Chapter Ten:
My Heart is Beating, in a Different Way
Summary: Four years after the war ended, Draco Malfoy now works alongside Harry Potter as an Auror. Along with others, they work together to track down and capture the last remaining followers of the Dark Lord. During one mission, Draco discovers that not only is he a Veela, but he only has until his twenty third birthday to find his mate. Will he find her in time, or will he be too late?
Author's Note: I'm very sorry about the delay in chapters. I've been having some issues at work that have been taking up most of my time, due to the fact that the HR department seriously needs to get it's ass in gear rather than wasting my time. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, because Hermione's robbery aside, that's as calm as it's going to get for a while. May I present to you ladies and gentlemen, the first obstacle that will be getting in Draco's way...
Featured Review: Claclm ~ Ahhh I thought you were being cruel in the last chapter, but this THIS WHY? I'm so curious now and with a lot of theories. I love it (as always) can't wait for the next.
Thank you for this lovely review and I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Well, the title is Cruel Wanting, if I wasn't cruel to the readers what kind of writer would I be xD Anyway, I'm glad to hear you have several theories, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Special Mentions: WinterWillows, Guest (x2) & andherestograce
. . . . . . .
The mahogany grandfather clock was ticking too loudly for her liking, almost as if it were somehow doing it on purpose to annoy her. But she pushed it aside and focused on the far more important matters at hand. It was finally time to get what she deserved. All she needed was one final signature, and the document would be finished.
"Miss Edgecombe, he's ready for you." The young woman at the desk stated.
"Thank you." Marietta smiled, standing up from her seat before walking into the office. Upon entering, the first thing she was met with was the very powerful smell of oranges. The citrus scent travelled up her nose and almost made her gag. But she managed to keep herself composed as she travelled to the mahogany desk at the back of the room where an elderly man was seated, watching her approach with curiosity.
"Miss Edgecombe, I must say this is a pleasant surprise. How is your Father?" The man asked, lifting a steaming cup up to his lips before taking a very loud sip from it.
"He's very well thank you sir, he sends his regards." Marietta stated, smiling politely at him while trying her best not to claw her eyes out while listening to his loud sips.
"You know, Ike and I go way back. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have agreed to see you today. Your Father called in a favour for his only daughter, so who was I to turn him down. But if it had been anyone else requesting my services, who couldn't afford them, I would have turned them down flat. So consider yourself lucky girl." The man snarled.
"I do sir, you have been very generous to grant me some of your invaluable time." Marietta nodded. Flattery and compliments went a long way with this man. His ego fed upon them like a tick on a fat dog. A smirk slowly spread across the man's lips.
"So, what can I do for you today?" He asked, leaning back in his brown leather chair.
Grabbing her handbag off the floor, she quickly pulled the file out from within it and placed it on the desk in front of him. Without hesitation, the man took the folder and opened it, examining the contents within. After a few minutes, he glanced up at her with an almost disapproving look upon his face. But she knew it didn't matter what his opinion of it was, he was a man of his word, and he'd vowed to do this for her.
"Do you really believe this is a good idea, Miss Edgecombe. He's a dangerous man, especially in the state he's in. I seriously this contract would go down well with him, who knows what he would do." The man scoffed, pushing the file back over to her.
"Whether he's happy with it or not doesn't matter. His daddy signed the deed, meaning he is legally bound to follow through with the conditions of this contract." Marietta scoffed, pushing the file back towards the man, standing up as she did so. His eyes instantly widened at the gesture, looking up at her in shock as well as fear.
"And what makes you think he'll follow through with those conditions?" The man asked.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeves. Now do as you promised, and sign." Marietta ordered, picking up a pen before throwing it at him. She watched with satisfaction when he jumped in fear before nervously picking up then pen to sign the document. It wouldn't be long now, all these months of planning would finally result in her reward.
. . . . . . .
Oh shit! Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!
Those two words were all that were echoing through his head. His heart was beating ten times faster than it was meant to, his skin was becoming clammy and sweaty. He could smell her scent coming from inside. What the hell was she doing at the Manor? Taking a deep breath, he slowly summoned the courage to ring the doorbell. Moments later, Jinx opened the door and looked up at him with a raised brow.
"Master Malfoy, what brings you here?" Jinx asked, disgust obviously in his voice.
"I've come to visit my Mother jinx, she sent me an owl stating I needed to come over as soon as possible." Draco explained, trying his best not to strangle the rude creature.
"Mistress Malfoy is in the living room." Jinx stated before stepping aside so Draco could walk in. Without even thanking the elf, Draco marched in and headed straight for the living room. The increasing power of his mate's scent only confirmed what he feared in the first place, not only was she in the house but she was also with his Mother. When he reached the living room, he froze slightly in shock.
Sitting on the sofa was Hermione Granger, cuddling the orange ball of fluff she called a pet. Her hair was a mess, several bruises were forming on her arms and there was a slight gash on her forehead. He wanted to pull her into his arms and find out what had happened to her, he wanted to show her how much he cared about her, hell he wanted to mark her right then and there and claim her as his own. But something told him that she probably wouldn't appreciate that right now. Noticing his entrance, Hermione put Crookshanks down and ran over to him, hugging him tightly. He instantly stiffened, having not expected that kind of reaction from her, but returned the embrace eagerly. This was the first contact he'd had with her after finding out she was his mate and he wasn't going to waste a second of it, he was going to treasure each and every moment.
"Draco, it's so good to see you! How have you been? Are you adjusting well with the whole Veela situation? Do you need help with anything?" She asked, her voice a mixture of rushed excitement and concern. Smiling softly, he grabbed her cheeks softly.
"I'm fine Granger, honestly. Now, more importantly, what happened to you?" Draco inquired, looking directly into her eyes, hoping she would see he was far more worried about her than catching up. Before she could have spoken, his Mother interrupted.
"Miss Granger will be staying with us for a little while. Someone broke into her house in the early hours of the morning. Mister Potter believed she'd be safer here, as it's somewhere no one would think to look for her." Narcissa explained, smiling softly.
While he loved his Mother dearly, he sometimes wished she wouldn't interfere with his personal life. She wasn't aware Hermione was his mate, but something told him that she had her suspicions. Nodding softly, he looked back at Hermione.
"Do you know who it was that broke into your house?" Draco asked.
"No. All I know is that they took a piece of paper and then left as quickly as they could." Hermione stated, shaking her head as she spoke. Sighing, Draco pulled her closer and hugged her once again. What if something worse had happened? What if she'd got seriously hurt? He'd never be able to live with himself if that had happened. He was surprised when she returned his hug with equal enthusiasm. Had she really missed him that much? He'd only been gone for a little while. Noticing the look his Mother was giving him, he quickly pulled away and tried his best to hide his blush.
"Well, I should probably try to get ahead on some of my assignments. Even though I'm not needed at work, that doesn't mean I'm sitting around doing nothing for these next few weeks. Thank you once again for letting me stay here Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione smiled, giving a brief nod of gratitude before leaving the front room and rushing up the stairs as quickly as she could. Once she was gone, Draco turned around to see his Mother smirking at him, her arms folded across her chest.
Rolling his eyes, he closed the door and sat down on the sofa.
"So, when were you planning on telling me that she is your mate?" Narcissa asked.
"Whatever gave you that impression?" Draco scoffed, leaning back in his seat.
"Other than the fact you were blushing brighter than a firefly, your eyes had a slight golden tint to them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that only happens in the presence of a Veela's mate." Narcissa shrugged, sitting down next to her son with a smug smile.
"Should I bow down and congratulate you on your discovery?" Draco sighed.
"There's no need to act like that Draco. I'm just pleased it's someone like her, she's smart, kind, pretty and she's good to you. What's more important is that she cares about you. I'd much rather that than someone who merely seeks you out for a title." Narcissa stated, stroking his cheek. He swatted her hand away, but smiled all the same. At least he knew his Mother approved. All that was left was his Father.
"I don't know how to tell her." Draco mumbled, looking down at his feet as he spoke.
"The sooner you tell her the better. It will become more and more difficult the longer you leave it. And I think I might have a way to help you do that." Narcissa stated.
"How so? It's not like it's going to be easy." Draco scoffed.
"Not when you're constantly coming and going. That's why I've made arrangements for Miss Granger to be relocated with you." Narcissa explained, looking at Draco smugly.
"WHAT?!" His eyes were wide, full of shock and fear. She couldn't stay with him! There's no telling what he'd do if he couldn't keep the Veela under control. She was safer in the Manor, not with him! How could his Mother not see that?! Was she insane?!
"I sent an owl to Mr. Potter shortly after I sent one to you. He agreed it might be more suitable to have her stay with you. Seeing as I am required to leave from time to time, she'd be much safer around you, since you hardly ever leave your home." Narcissa pointed out. Sighing softly, Draco ran a hand through his hair and stood up. While it was true, Hermione would be a lot more safer with him around, especially considering the fact a Veela would die to protect their mate, there was still no telling if she'd be safe from him. He was still struggling to control his emotions whilst he was alone. Only Merlin could know what he'd be like around his mate all hours of the day. She'd be sleeping right across the hall for crying out loud! She'd be bathing in his…
NO! Don't think about that! Don't think about it! La la la la la! Kittens! Puppies!
"Draco? Is everything alright?" Narcissa asked, placing a hand on her son's shoulders when she noticed his distant and vacant expression. Snapping out of his thoughts, Draco nodded and smiled softly. Sweet Merlin, save him from all this stress.
"I guess I'd better let Granger know she needs to pack up her stuff." Draco sighed, then left the living room and headed upstairs slowly. He could already smell her scent. It was heavenly, it almost made rationally thinking impossible as it filled his senses. Reaching the guest bedroom, he knocked softly on the door before entering.
"Granger? There's been a slight change of pla-..." Draco started, the stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed that Hermione was half way through taking her shirt off.
. . . . . . .
The first thing she heard was a scream from a woman, followed by a yell from a man and finally the sound of a loud thump coming from upstairs. Cautiously, she put down her bags and ascended the staircase, wanting to know what on earth had happened. As she got closer to the source of all the commotion, she could hear voices arguing.
"What the hell Draco?!" The female's voice demanded, sounding very embarrassed.
"I'm sorry! I didn't realise you'd be changing!" The male's voice responded. Draco?
"That's why you wait for a response before you come barging into the room! Didn't anyone ever teach you patience?!" The female groaned, anger now filling her voice.
"I said I'm sorry!" Draco's voice repeated, slight irritation lining on his own voice.
"What did you even want?" The female's voice sighed.
"I believe what my son was going to tell you was that there has been a change of plans. You'll be staying with him for the next few weeks rather than with myself. Given my position, I'm not always going to be in the house, and while I trust my house elves with your safety, I think Draco may provide a better source of it with his constant presence." Narcissa announced, interrupting the arguing young adults. Looking between them, she couldn't help but smile when she noticed Draco's blushing cheeks and Hermione's dropped jaw. It was going to take some work, but she'd definitely get them together.
"Concerning you previous statement: yes, someone did teach him patience. However it seems apparent that the message did not go through. Please do not hesitate to hex him should it ever happen again." Narcissa added, casting a glare in Draco's direction.
"Don't worry. I won't." Hermione snarled, also glaring at Draco who bowed his head in a mixture of shame and fear. Smiling softly, Narcissa looked over at Hermione.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pick up Flora from St. Mungo's. It appears she is well enough to come home for the rest of her recovery." Narcissa stated, Smiling then left the pair of them to sort things out between themselves. She had no doubt that Miss Granger would be able to put Draco in his place whenever the situation called for it. She had no fears for the girl being alone with her son, she was very well capable of standing up for herself, and making Draco feel like a five year old who had been caught stealing cookies from the jar. She could understand why Draco was probably concerned about her staying with him, but she had faith in her son too. She knew he'd be able to keep his emotions under control, and maybe just even tell Hermione the truth while he was at it. Reaching the fireplace, she took a deep breath before declaring her destination and watched as the green flames surrounded her entire body.
. . . . . . .
Tapping the spoon on the side of her teacup, Pansy Parkinson watched as Marietta Edgecombe walked over to her slowly. The woman seemed more egotistical than usual. There was a smug smirk on her face, one that seemed to spread a feeling of dread throughout Pansy's entire body. What had that woman done now?
"Pansy, funny running into you here. How is everything?" Edgecombe asked sweetly.
"It was a lot better before I saw you. What do you want Marietta? My time is precious and I can't be wasting it on you." Pansy scoffed, taking a quick sip of her tea.
"Why so hostile Pansy? We're practically the same, you and I. When we want something, we don't stop until we get it, no matter the costs." Edgecombe smirked, sitting down opposite Pansy, even though she'd received no invitation to do so.
"We are nothing alike, Edgecombe. I have morals and respect for other people. You on the other hand are a vindictive bitch who takes pleasure in ruining people's lives." Pansy snarled, staring at Marietta with such hate she'd be dead if it were possible.
"Really? Would Miss Chang agree with that statement?" Marietta asked. A slight pang of guilt spread through Pansy's heart, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it had formed. Cho had broken several confidentiality agreements, and there was no way those stupid Aurors would have found out in the time for any action to be taken. She needed to be punished for the crimes she'd committed. Right there and then.
"It's not like you care about what happens to Cho. You've used her as a means to get your stories for years. She trusted you and you betrayed that trust just so you career wouldn't have been a failure like most people expected it to be." Pansy hissed.
It was in that moment, Pansy knew she'd hit a nerve, as Edgecombe's eye twitched slightly. Obviously her bad start in journalism was a tender spot. Smirking slightly, Pansy raised her cup to her lips and took a very slow sip, watching her smugly.
"You watch your mouth Parkinson, because I could easily ruin you." Marietta spat. A loud laugh escaped Pansy's lips, making everyone currently occupying the cafe look in their direction. An uncomfortable expression soon formed across Marietta's face, but Pansy on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to their newly formed audience.
"Name one way you could ruin me." Pansy giggled, enjoying the sight of her squirm.
"Well for one, I could tell the press about the abuse you gave Cho." Marietta stated.
"True, but would that really work out for you? In my interrogation, I'd have to give a reason for why I did it, and don't you think for a moment I wouldn't hesitate in telling them that you've been breaking conduct for years in your field by obtaining classified information through unintentional means without consent. I may be given a few months in Azkaban, or maybe some community service or house arrest, but your career would be over in the blink of an eye. No one would take you seriously, you'd lose everything. Anything else, Edgecombe?" Pansy asked, no longer hiding her smirk. Glaring at her, Marietta stood up quickly and gathered her handbag from the floor. Turning around to leave, she paused slightly and looked back at Pansy.
"You may think you're in a great position right now, you may think you've got me exactly where you want me, but trust me, the tables will turn soon and I'll be the one laughing as your life crumbles around you." Edgecombe snarled, then stormed off.
"Sure, keep telling yourself that love." Pansy scoffed, finishing her cup of tea.
"Is there anything else you require Madam?" The waiter asked, standing beside her whilst picking up her now empty cup. Looking up at him, Pansy smiled softly.
"No, thank you Carlton. I'll just have my bill please." She stated kindly.
"Of course Miss Parkinson." The waiter nodded, walking off quickly to fetch her bill.
Whilst she was waiting, Pansy couldn't help but think about what Marietta had said before she left. What had she meant when she'd said the tables were going to turn? What did that evil woman have planned? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
. . . . . . .
Hermione watched as Draco carried her luggage up the stairs. He seemed a lot more muscular now she thought about it. There were definitely muscles where previously there had been none, or very little. Was this the Veela gene kicking in? Or had he just been working out in his spare time? Taking the time while he was gone, Hermione decided to have a quick look around. She was going to be living there for the next few weeks, she figured it might be a good idea to familiarise herself with the surroundings. It was in a sense, just a smaller version of Malfoy Manor. The only difference being the added flares of Draco dotted around here and there. Entering the living room, Hermione couldn't help but smile when she noticed a familiar picture on the fireplace mantle. Walking over, she picked it up and sat down on the sofa as she watched the memory play out before her, almost as if it were only yesterday.
A few years back…
"Family is a very simple word to define. Normally, if you asked someone what a family is, they'd say a group of people who are related by blood or marriage. But I personally have a different definition. Family is not always about blood, it's about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it most. Someone you met yesterday can be more like family to you than someone you've know for years. It's one of life's greatest blessings to have a family, they're a unit of people who love and support one another through both the good times and the bad. Harry, I've always thought of you as my brother. I don't need a sheet of paper to tell me that. But nonetheless, welcome to the family. Here's to the happy couple. Oh, and if you hurt my sister, you're dead." Ron chuckled, raising his glass. A collective laugh erupted around the room, but soon the guests followed and raised their glasses to toast the newly weds.
"Thank you for that moving speech Mr. Weasley. Now, it's time for our happy couple to take to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife." Minerva McGonagall smiled, giving a quick flick of her wand, making the lights dim ever so slightly around the room except for the dance floor. Offering her his hand, Harry stood up and guided Ginny out onto the dance floor. As soon as the music began playing, the couple danced elegantly across the room, earning several cheers and whistles from the audience.
"Something tells me that Harry doesn't give a damn about all eyes being on him right now. I know that bothers him, but in this moment, I think the only person he sees in the entire room is the woman in his arms." Draco stated, sitting down next to Hermione.
"I think you may be right. He's far too happy to care about the people watching him." Hermione nodded, smiling fondly at the man who she too had thought of as a brother. She'd been incredibly happy that the pair had decided to tie the knot. They both deserved each other, anyone could see that they were a match made in heaven.
"Well, looks like Weasley is dragging some poor unfortunate girl onto the dance floor. I think we should get out there so everyone's looking at us to save that girl the embarrassment of being seen dancing with Weasley." Draco smirked, offering her his hand. Rolling her eyes, Hermione took his hand and followed him onto the dance floor.
Just as he'd speculated, several people started murmuring when they saw the pair dancing together. No one was focusing on Ron's "dancing" any more, instead, they were interested in seeing the Slytherin Prince and the Gryffindor Princess entwined in one another's arms. Giving her a 'I told you so' look, Draco effortlessly twirled her around, then brought her back up against his chest. She giggled softly, clinging onto his shoulders for support after having gone a little bit dizzy. A tap on Draco's shoulder made the pair stop dancing and look behind them, where Harry was standing.
"If you don't mind Draco, I'd like to switch partners for a little bit." Harry smiled.
"Alight Potter, but I'm leading." Draco shrugged, placing one hand on Harry's back before gently grabbing his hand. The blush on Harry's cheeks could have rivalled the brightness of the sun. Rolling her eyes, Hermione took Harry's free hand and guided him away from Draco before placing her hand on his shoulder. Ginny then approached Draco, slapping his ass quickly which resulted in a yelp from the blonde.
"Consider that avenging my husband. Now, will you honour the bride with a dance?" Ginny smirked, holding her hand out expectantly at him. He took it and bowed slightly.
"Of course, your highness. I expect any other response would have resulted in me being even more publicly humiliated?" He inquired, beginning to dance with her.
"You are correct. So, what's going on between you and Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"I'm not quite sure what you mean." Draco shrugged, spinning Ginny around quickly.
"I've seen the way you look at her. There's something there, whether you're aware of it or not yet, you feel something towards her. Mark my words, somewhere down the line, you're not going to be able to think of anyone else..." Ginny smirked.
Present Day…
Draco stood in the doorway, watching from a distance as Hermione examined the picture that had been resting on the mantle of his fireplace. The photo contained him and Hermione standing at the front of a small group, sticking their tongues out. Harry and Ginny were behind them, sharing a tender kiss whilst Ron was at the back, staring at a woman's ass as she so happened to walk past while the picture was being taken. The words Ginny had told him when they'd been dancing that night, suddenly came crashing down on him. She'd been right the entire time. While he may not have been aware of it, there had been something there between him and Hermione. It had been in his genes all along, he'd been destined to fall for the woman sitting on his sofa.
"It was a fun night, wasn't it?" Hermione smiled, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Oh definitely, seeing Weasley get so drunk he fell over while trying to dance definitely mad my night." Draco chuckled, sitting down next to her while watching the picture.
"I think my favourite part was when Harry came over to you asking to switch partners, and you grabbed him saying you were going to lead." Hermione giggled.
"Think he's still mad at me about that?" Draco asked, a smirk forming across his face.
"Oh definitely. I've seen his basement. There's loads of angry scribbles on the wall that say 'die, Draco, die!', and pictures of you with darts in them." Hermione teased.
Chuckling softly, he placed the picture back on the mantle and looked over at her.
"Mitzi is preparing dinner. It will be ready at six, but if you want to unpack and get sorted in the mean time, your bedroom is on the top floor at the end of the corridor." Draco stated. Nodding softly, Hermione stood up and walked towards him.
"Thank you for letting me stay here Draco, I do really appreciate it. I know you've been busy with the whole Veela ordeal. If you need any help with that by the way, I'd be happy to lend you a hand. But, that aside, I know you've had other things on your plate and I do really want to thank you for helping me out." Hermione smiled, hugging him softly. Blushing slightly, Draco wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. Her scent was overpowering. She smelled divine! He wanted to take her right there and then, on the fucking floor if he had to. Or on the sofa. Or by the fireplace…
Stop it! You're doing it again! Stop thinking about her like that you pervert! Think of something else! Like rainbows...or bubbles...Hermione in a bubble bath. Fuck!
"I'll go get unpacked. But I'll see you at dinner. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you out, whether it's research or little jobs around the house. I may be a guest here, but that doesn't mean I don't want to help out." Hermione stated, then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving the living room and ascending up the stairs. Draco however, remained a solid statue until he heard the sound of her bedroom door shutting. A soft growl left his lips, followed by his shoulders finally relaxing after having been tensed for so long. Looking down, he sighed softly.
"Now for a cold shower." He muttered.