**Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter the amazingly talented JK Rowling does…I just enjoy playing with her characters.

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Chapter 10:

Hermione stirred in her sleep but didn't open her eyes. She felt content and blissful for the first time in years. After making love to Draco, she had slept soundly without slipping into any nightmares. This morning she could feel the soreness between her legs of tender muscles that hadn't been used in nearly a year. However, she had never felt this content after sex, nor had she ever been so satisfied by a previous lover. Not that Viktor Krum or Cormac McLaggen hadn't tried their best; each of them had even taken their time to teach her a few ways to pleasure a man.

She found neither man to be like Draco as they had primarily concerned themselves with their own pleasure, whereas he had strived to bring her undone over and over again. Silently she vowed to repay his generosity later that day…maybe in the shower.

She snuggled into the pillows as the memories and ideas played in her mind. Smiling to herself as happiness thrummed within her body she noticed, for the first-time, emotions that weren't her own. Concentrating on them she realized they were a mixture of fear and anxiety...but they weren't hers. Instinctively she realized they were Draco's and she sat upright with anxious eyes looking for the blonde-haired wizard.

She found him sitting at the end of the bed with his head held in his hands. Seeing him look so dejected worried her, "Draco what's wrong?" she asked tentatively, unsure if something had happened while she'd been sleeping.

"Mione I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry" he said in a raspy voice through his hands.

"Sorry for what?" she asked, baffled by his apology. He turned and gave her an incredulous look before his eyes darted to her shoulder. She glanced down to see dried blood crusted along her skin. As she thought back to the night before she recalled her climax just before their bonding where Draco sank his fangs into her shoulder; effectively melding their magic and bonding them for life.

She stood and walked to the bathroom mirror to see the mark, curious and fearful of how it looked. Dried blood was caked over the wound so she picked up a washcloth and gently scrubbed the grime from her neck. As the blood was removed, she was pleasantly surprised to find scars from his bite rather than open wounds. There was a faint purple bruising tinting her skin but outside of that the wounds were completely healed.

Scrubbing a bit harder she felt a tingling of magic shoot through her shoulder before it was clean. The mark would be obvious to the wizarding world that she was mated to a werewolf, but she didn't really mind. Her heart skipped a beat as she trailed her fingertips over his claim on her and a smile tugged at her lips knowing he was hers.

After admiring the mark for a few moments, she walked back into the bedroom to find Draco's face still hidden in his hands. "Draco look" she said as she climbed onto the bed "it's not that bad. The mark has already healed, you don't need to worry about it." She wanted to soothe his fears because she wasn't in any danger and judging by how well she felt, she hadn't lost that much blood.

"Don't need to worry?" he said in disbelief. "Hermione, I mated you without your consent…I took away your choice, hell I practically forced you into a life bond with me" he looked at her with red rimmed eyes and she could feel his sorrow pulse through the bond.

"I distinctly recall willingly joining you in bed and even begging you not to stop as the bonding began" she retorted irritably. She couldn't believe he was so upset with this...she felt alive and happier than she could ever remember. How could he think she'd turn away from him now? True she didn't ask to be mated but she knew the risk when falling into bed with him. Knew the risks of getting so close when his wolf seemed unable to control itself around her. She started to be concerned that maybe Draco was upset about being stuck with her...maybe he had just wanted a fling instead of being shackled to a mudblood for life.

Self-doubt infiltrated her thoughts, calling to mind that she wasn't the stunning beauty he'd probably hoped for. She wasn't into clothes and makeup like so many other witches as she valued her mind over her appearance. And though she hated admitting it mattered to him, she wasn't a pure-blood. "I'm sorry your stuck with me" she said, her voice thick with emotion as she fought back angry tears.

"Stuck with you?" Draco's head snapped up, confusion clear in his expression. He saw the frown on her face and could feel doubt and anger pulsing into him from her. "What are you on about Granger?"

"Back to Granger are we" she snapped before getting up and rifling for a shirt in her drawer. She felt too exposed sitting naked with a man that clearly didn't want her for more than a one-time shag. Tears pricked her eyes as she shoved her arms through a long faded purple tee. "Just go Draco, you got what you wanted with an unfortunate bonus that I won't hold you accountable for." Draco sat frozen on the bed as though he'd not heard her correctly.

"Got what I wanted?" he repeated her words trying to process her sudden anger at wanting to push him from the room. "Unfortunate bonus? Hermione, I bonded us for life!" he snapped in confusion. "You seem more upset that we slept together than the fact we're bonded." Pain pulsed through the bond and he could see the tears sliding down her face.

"I get it Draco! We slept together. It's what you were after and your damn wolf took advantage and forced you to mate. I get you don't want to be stuck with me. It's fine. Just get out!" she shouted.

"No! I don't understand why your more upset about the sex than the bond. Bloody hell Hermione, we're basically married and you don't seem to give a damn. I didn't want to take away your choice but the wolf didn't care. I don't regret sleeping with you. I just didn't want..."

"To end up with me permanently" she finished for him. "I get it, I'm not the beautiful pure-blood princess you expected to bond with. I was only meant to be a one-off. Message received. Get. Out." She pointed to the door, her arm trembling in the air as the other curled protectively around her middle.

Comprehension dawned on his face as he realized she was hurt because she thought he didn't want her for life. Women he thought. He couldn't understand how she was wasn't upset with him forcing her into this. He stood from the bed and closed the distance between them. She was sniffling, trying to quiet her tears.

"'Mione…no don't interrupt me" he started as she opened her mouth. "I'm not sorry for last night, and I'm not upset with you being my mate. I'm angry at myself…my wolf…for taking away your right to choose this life" her tear-filled brown eyes looked up at him confused.

As she opened her mouth he put a finger to her lips "No listen. I just bonded you, marked you without your input or consent. I've condemned you to a life with an outcast to society. If this bloody war ends people will sneer at you, it'll damage your reputation, and potentially make it difficult for you to find employment. People in the wizarding world don't take kindly to werewolves and tend to look down on their mates with equal disdain. I didn't mean to condemn you to a lifetime of that." Hermione softened at his words realizing he didn't mind being bonded to her, he was just blaming himself for potentially ruining her future. She mentally scoffed because she wasn't worried about that in the least.

"Draco, I've lived with that my entire life…mudblood remember" she said with a disbelieving chuckle just before anger pulsed through the bond.

"Don't call yourself that" Draco demanded in a low voice. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her tightly to his chest, "There's nothing dirty about you…except maybe me."

"If I can't say I'm a mudblood you can't say your dirty" she chastised. "I am not ashamed to be yours, Draco. I know this has moved fast, but I feel safe with you and you're not the same prat you use to be" she felt elation trickle into the bond "…and…can you feel that? Or is it just my imagination?" Draco smiled at her before leaning down and kissing the tip of her nose.

"And here I thought you knew everything," he chuckled before explaining "it's part of the bonding between a witch and wizard. When their magic melds together it leaves a trace so you can sense what your spouse is feeling. It's old magic, said to make marriage easier between arranged couples. The idea is if they understand how their spouse feels they'll be sympathetic to the other and work to strengthen their marriage by working together." She blinked at him, dumbfounded that he knew so much about marriage bonds.

"How on earth do you know that?" she sounded nearly awed and he felt surprise and intrigue pulse towards him. He laughed and cradled her in his arms, resting his head atop hers.

"Pure-blood remember? Practically raised the prince of the wizarding world. I was expected to know everything about being a proper husband, traditions, marriage ceremonies, bonds, society expectations, manners…you name anything a royal is supposed to know and I had to learn it. Malfoy's couldn't skive off in life. Being at Hogwarts was like a bloody holiday after being forced to learn the proper way to sit, eat, and speak every day."

"Really? You had to know all of that? Why?" she was curious why anyone would put their kids through that torment.

"I was meant to know all of it in order to take over the Malfoy name after I was married and then pass it to my children. Though now I don't expect any of it matters" he trailed off, a mixture of sadness and pain radiated from him.

"So…" Hermione started, determined to cheer her…well her husband up "these lessons that you had to learn did that include things like speeches and proper ways to walk?" she bit her lower lip as he stared down at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew what she was asking, the bond wasn't needed to interpret the question in her mind.

"Yes Hermione, I had to walk with a book on my head…laugh it up" she giggled and her enthusiasm bled into him.

"Okay, so if we went downstairs right now you could balance a book on your head and walk all the way across the room?"

"Not only across the room but back up the stairs" he said lifting his nose slightly into the air in a pompous manner. Hermione snorted at the thought of first year Draco walking around with books on his perfectly gelled hair. "What's so funny?" he asked as she tried to hold back peals of laughter.

"I'm sorry, I can't stop thinking about when you use to gel your hair back and how funny you'd look after walking with a book on your head" she chortled as he scoffed and rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but crack a smile as laughter bubbled up from her. After several moments he leaned in and kissed her into silence. "Mmmm that's not fair."

"I was taught to use whatever I could to gain the advantage…and you my dear can't seem to resist my kiss" he wiggled his eyebrows causing her to chuckle.

"Okay, fine but I have one more question…"

"Only one?" he raised an eyebrow.

"For now," she admitted.

"Okay, one last one before we shower."

"Did your parents make you wear the book while you ran around with your friends playing games, spinning around, or flying your broom" she laughed at the absurdity of it all.

"Very funny…I did not wear the book all the time…just until I mastered sitting and walking. Of course, it wasn't required with playing and dancing. The books would never had held."

"Dancing?"

"Yes, every pure-blood is required to learn how to dance. We begin lessons at the age of three" he admitted and her jaw dropped.

"No, now you're just messing with me. I doubt you would have…Draco no" she squealed as he pulled her close and began to waltz her around the bed in nothing but his boxers. She had to admit he knew what he was doing as he gracefully spun her in place before dipping her back across his arm.

"Doubt me now?" he smiled broadly as she tried to gather her breathe, winded from the excitement. Happiness flooded the bond as she stared into his silver eyes.

"You know now you'll have to take me dancing. You can't show me something like that and not expect me to exploit it" her smile matched his as her eyes sparkled. He leaned forward and captured her lips.

"I think I can manage that" he whispered against her lips before picking her up and carrying her into the bathroom and setting her on the counter.

"Hey" he started "I want to say something that I want you to listen closely to" she leaned back and looked up at him. Her brown eyes gleamed as her unruly curls fell over her shoulders. Having her there in nothing but the faded tee distracted him momentarily before he continued, "You are more beautiful than any pure-blood I've ever met. Don't think I didn't hear what you said a few minutes ago.

"Don't roll your eyes, I'm serious. I've thought you were stunning since fourth year. When you came in with Krum at the Yule Ball it took everything in me not to gawk like a fool. I feel extremely lucky to have you as my mate…my wife" his voice faded on the last word as if he were afraid to say it aloud. "And" he swallowed hard "if we survive this war, I'll give you the wedding you deserve…anything you want. I'll make it happen, no matter what odd jobs I have to take in order to afford it."

"Draco" she whispered.

"No, I mean it. I know this didn't happen how you wanted it to, but well…I just want to give you what you deserved. And I know we're mated…but we can still date and if you don't want to tell anyone I understand. I…"

"Draco shhh, you're rambling" she giggled as she put a finger to his lips. "Maybe someday we will have a wedding, but it's not a big deal to me. Weddings mean crowds and lots of money we'd have to spend, so we'll see later on. I agree we can date, but I'm not hiding this from my friends. This is for life and you're my mate…my husband. I won't hide you" she said adamantly before trailing kisses over his jaw.

Pride and happiness threaded their bond as he ran his hands over her shoulders and down the curve of her breasts. As he reached the hem of her jumper, he slowly pulled it up her body, revealing every inch of her delectable skin. Pulling the material free from her body he gently kissed down her neck and over his mark.

Magic pulsed in the bond as his teeth nipped her skin, eliciting a moan from her as she tilted her head back, silently urging him on. He kissed each scar before tracing them with his tongue and sending shivers down her spine. The pulsing magic of their bond had her eyes rolling back in pleasure.

Soft fingertips ran over the ridged lines of his torso before slipping under the waistband of his boxers and pushing them to the floor. She smiled as she felt his hardened length press into her thigh. "Shower" she murmured as he hummed against her skin. Draco trailed soft kisses back to her lips before obliging and heading to the shower to heat the water.

Hermione smiled, a wicked glint in her eye as she admired his backside walking away. Mmmhmmm was all she could think as lust and yearning pulsed equally across the bond. She hopped off the counter and crossed the floor to him. He turned and smiled before stepping under the steaming water I hope he enjoys surprises she thought as she pressed him against the wall with one hand, the other sliding the door closed behind her.

Draco was startled when Hermione pushed him against the cold tile wall, drawing a hiss from his lips. "What…?" he started before she shushed him. A grin spread across her face while all he could feel from the bond was a mixture of lust and determination. However, he clamped his mouth shut as she dropped to her knees under the spray of the water. His eyes went wide and he was momentarily speechless as she cupped his balls in one hand and slowly stroked his cock with the other.

Swallowing hard he looked down into her soft brown eyes, noticing the water droplets stuck in her lashes as the water darkened her hair. She held his gaze as she leaned forward and lightly trailed her tongue over his weeping tip. His breath hitched as she steadily swirled it around his head and down his shaft, all while maintaining eye contact; as though she wanted to watch him come undone.

Her warm mouth wrapped around his head and she gently suckled his throbbing member. Torturously slow, she began to bob her head taking him deeper a little at a time. It was heaven and hell all at once. He wanted to grasp her head and thrust into her mouth over and over until he came apart, but he let her have control as her leisurely pace gradually built him to the that pleasurable peak.

Just as he reached the back of her throat, groaning in ecstasy, she pulled all the way back to the tip hollowing her cheeks as she went. Drawing his hips forward to follow her delectable lips. She sucked vigorously on his tip using her tongue to massage the ridges of his cock. His eyes rolled back as her tongue worked him over, adding pressure in all the right places.

Merlin, he thought where the hell did she learn this? But just as quickly he pushed it from his mind deciding he didn't want to know. Her hands massaged his balls as they began to tighten and she seemed to smile around his shaft. Without warning she engulfed his entire length, her nose pressed into the apex of his thighs as she hummed around him.

He nearly came on the spot as she cupped his balls in one hand and set a steady rhythm with her mouth. She took him all the way in and back out to the tip continuously massaging him with her tongue. His legs shook as he began hurtling towards completion. The moans and expletives left his mouth without conscious effort as he was lost in sensation.

She felt his balls tighten and used her other hand to gently but firmly massage his perineum. Hearing his breath hitch as he tightened his hold on her hair sent a wave of pride through her. As she beckoned his sensitive spot with her fingers her other hand massaged his firm sacs and she engulfed him one last time.

All the sensations overwhelmed him and sent him shouting her name over the edge as his eyes crossed and he released his climax at the back of her throat. He held her head against him as she sucked and swallowed with each pulse. Breathing hard he leaned against the wall for support as she pulled off him and stood with a broad smile.

"Where the bloody hell did you learn that?" he asked through ragged breaths, completely thrown and elated that she seemed to enjoy undoing him.

"Did you enjoy it?" she asked with a knowing smirk, sidestepping the question. Bonded or not he would not want to hear about any ex's teaching her something like that.

"Gods yes" he breathed before cradling her face in his hands and thoroughly kissing her. She moaned against his lips before pressing a hand against his chest and pulling back.

"We should wash up, I'm famished" she declared as he looked at her with furrowed brows.

"What about you?" he thought he should at least repay her.

"I'm still a little tender from last night, plus this was for you as much as it was for me" she smiled happily before reaching for the shampoo and lathering her hair.

"Thank you" he muttered as he kissed down her neck, forgetting his earlier question as he trailed over her mark once more. They showered and dried off before slipping back into their sleepwear, agreeing to stay home for the day.

After they made their way downstairs, Draco set the table as Hermione started making breakfast. Before long she felt his strong arms wrap around her waist and his lips press down her neck. Warmth spread through her as his lips connected with the scars. He smirked thinking of how the bond could be put to good use. He nipped the mark again and reveled as she moaned and tilted her head back against his shoulder.

"Draco I'm cooking you can't do that" she chided him breathlessly. Smirking he nipped her once more before kissing her briefly and resting his chin atop her shoulder.

"Admit you like it" he whispered against her ear and smiled as she shuddered. It felt so good, so right being pressed against her. If he weren't so hungry, he'd take her back to bed and properly thank her for the shower…which he'd probably do after they ate anyways.

Hermione could feel his pulsing need not only through their bond but pressed right into her backside. She smiled to herself and did her best to concentrate on the pancakes in front of her. Though the bond was distracting she couldn't help but enjoy knowing how he truly felt…especially when he would slide his mask of indifference in place.

She shivered, genuinely afraid of him slipping backwards into the prat she'd once known. She hoped that this new attitude was permanent. The feel of his hands on her, his openness, the lingering touches and kisses…she hoped they'd never stopped.