A/N: My lovely readers, I'm going to shorten my author's notes from now on by posting updates about this story on my writer's blog. Just click the link on my author's profile. There I'll answer all your questions and you'll know what's going on about my writing! There will also be a link to my main blog so feel free to check it out and get to know me a bit more. Anyways, on to the story!
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Recap: Ginny has told Hermione about her date with Blaise, and Hermione has confided that Draco is a Veela. Meanwhile, Draco has been released from the infirmary and is now deviously plotting with Blaise. All the while, Harry, Ron and Richard remain rather oblivious to the going-on's.
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Chapter 12:
Richard wandered the castle halls, his book bag slung on his shoulder. He'd just about given up searching for Hermione the other evening after his run-in with that rather irritating boy holding cake. He figured that he would manage to run into Hermione eventually so pursuing it in a magical castle of this size was not going to do any good.
He'd heard the rumours floating about the castle grounds. He'd seen the looks. Many glares had been sent his way from his house mates.
What he'd done to bother them, he didn't know, and he would have asked if their looks hadn't been so scathing. Self-preservation, as was his House's favoured trait, was also his forte.
Rumours were still bouncing around left and right as he walked by.
"A transfer student they say," A Hufflepuff in a younger year, second probably, apparent from their height and childish features.
He turned back and called out, "Actually, I'm an exchange student. I leave by November."
The young girl stared at him wide-eyed, before averting her eyes, her cheeks pink from having been caught gossiping.
Richard turned back and continued on his path. He should try finding the Gryffindor tower again. It was his only lead so far.
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Hermione stared at the redhead. "You know, I can probably fit a dragon's egg into your open mouth. Shall I find one to test out my theory or are you done?"
Ginny blinked in an almost trance like daze. "I'm sorry, Mione, but you have to admit that it's not something you expect to hear. Even in the Wizarding world Veela's are a thing of legend, almost."
"From the little that has been said about them in books, they're absolutely fascinating," the brunette witch admitted.
The idea of being that in love, of finding that unwavering support and love, had struck a chord with Hermione. A part of her had envied it. How would it be like to be so in love and so devoted to a single person that you were bonded to them for eternity.
'It's intense,' a now familiar voice sounded in her head. 'Consuming. The kind of love that starts wars, burns hot, and withstands time.'
A part deep within Hermione's heart clenched. A part of her longed for that kind of love, another scared of the amount of vulnerability she would present in offering herself that way.
She sat there, and thought, 'I'm glad to see you're awake. You should be resting.'
'I feel better,' Draco's voice told her softly. 'Thank you for worrying about me.'
'I owled your mother. You should tell her you're feeling better.' Hermione bit her bottom lip slightly. 'After breakfast, you should get some more rest. You have no idea if whatever happened will happen again…'
'If it will make you feel better, love, I'll listen. I'm going to chat with Blaise for a bit over breakfast but afterwardsI'll be in our rooms, and if you need me I'm always… around.'
He sounded so much like himself that Hermione could picture a smirk forming after his last remark. She felt a little relieved. He was feeling better.
And just as softly as he came, he retreated from her mind.
She blinked at the hand that was being waved in front of her face.
"Hermione?" Ginny asked. "Are you alright?"
The older witch nodded. "I'm sorry, I was just… lost in my thoughts I guessed."
Was it wrong that she didn't want to share this part of her relationship with Draco with anyone, just yet? She bit her bottom lip again. Was it wrong that she didn't feel as horrified as she believed she would have been at having called whatever it was she had with Draco Malfoy a relationship?
The redhead stared at her friend, a glazed look in her eyes. Confusion crowded with something akin to longing were mixed in within them.
"How about we go grab some breakfast, hmm? I think that after all of these shocking revelations we've given each other, we can at least do with a little food in our systems," Ginny smiled.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, of course."
Looking down at herself, Ginny laughed. "Maybe I should go put on my jumper first. I doubt I could live with the gossip if I showed my face in the Great Hall wearing these nargle print pyjamas Luna gave me for Christmas."
"But you look so lovely," Hermione giggled.
"Oh hush," Ginny tossed back at her before bumping the couch they were sitting on a little as she got up.
The tabbed yellow book that Hermione had been carrying fell helplessly to the floor, laying innocently upon the ground.
Before Hermione could reach to grab the book, Ginny had managed to pick it up.
Triumphantly the redhead held it, hoping to tease her friend about her quick reflexes honed in by countless Quidditch practices when she passed into a dead faint at her friend's feet.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
"Ginny!" She cried out, checking over her friend to make sure that no other physical signs of injury had occurred. Helplessly she looked around and no one was up to help her.
'Draco,' she called out desperately. 'Draco please…'
A worried voice rang out. 'Hermione? Hermione, love, are you alright? Did something happen?'
His voice was anxious. Desperate.
'It's not me, love, but Ginny… Meet me at the infirmary please. She just…she touched my book and then she fell over.'
'Blaise and I will be there. Do you need any help with her?'
'I think I can manage.'
And Hermione pulled away from her thoughts and quickly levitated her friend. She couldn't carry Ginny, and while levitating the redhead would consume magic and tire her, she had no other option. She hadn't wanted to leave the young woman alone to wake any of the other girls up, nor could she run up to the boys dorms to wake Harry or Ron due to the numerous charms set on the stairs. Draco and Blaise may not know the exact route to Gryffindor tower. Levitating really was the only option.
She had just shoved open the door when she bumped into someone.
Irritatedly, she muttered, "Look, now is not the time…"
"Hermione?"
Hands reached out to lift Ginny in place of the levitating charm, as Hermione turned annoyed.
"Richard?" She glanced worriedly at her friend. "As much a pleasure as it is to see you, we really need to hurry towards the infirmary. Can you please carry her?"
He nodded and together they dashed down the stairs as fast as they could.
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It was only much later, once Ginny was situated on a bed in the infirmary with Madame Pomfrey clucking her tongue in a reprimanding sound that Hermione could really breathe again. The book, though not a dark or sinister one, had had a few hidden charms placed upon that the mediwitch couldn't quite pinpoint the origin.
In her hysteria over seeing Ginny laying prone on the floor, Hermione had forgotten Narcissa's warning of the power of the books.
Luckily Madame Pomfrey had however found the symptoms similar to another charm, so she had poured a metallic appearing potion in Ginny's mouth that would help her to regain consciousness.
Blaise hadn't left Ginny's side, but the brunette witch was a little startled to see that Richard hovered beside the young Weasley's bed as well.
'If only I had reached that book first…' Hermione thought.
Draco laid a hand on her shoulder. "You know, you shouldn't blame yourself for this."
"You shouldn't read people's minds all the time, Draco," Hermione murmured, jumping at the almost static shock she had received from his touch.
He locked eyes with her. "I didn't read your mind this time, Hermione. I just know you enough to read what you were feeling. It was in your eyes."
She had no way to respond, so instead she chose to thank him. "Thank you for telling Madame Pomfrey ahead of time what had happened. It made things move much quicker."
"Blaise had practically shouted it the moment we had reached the infirmary," Draco told her, gaining a little smile from her. He curled his fingers under her chin and titled her face up so they were looking at each other. "She'll be alright."
Hermione nodded slightly. "I seem to be finding myself here quite often now. I'd rather not take up residency here though."
"I'd rather you don't either," the blond nodded, the smile on his lips catching Hermione's attention.
"I'd kiss you but the man you claim to love is right over there," Draco nudged his head in Richard's direction. "I admit I was jealous at first but the chemistry between you two speaks nothing but platonic, so wanna try again?"
Hermione shuffled on her feet, wanting to snap that it wasn't his business, and to deny his claim, but instead she just sighed. "It was a knee jerk reaction. You just… backed me up against the wall…"
"I could back you up into a few more walls," He smirked devilishly, his eyebrows waggling slightly, forcing her to stifle a giggle.
It was so dreadfully hard to feel guilty and upset when he was around, the git.
"Is this really the time to seduce me, Malfoy?"
He chuckled. "It's always the perfect time to seduce you, Hermione. If you'd just admit you like me, even a little."
Hermione coughed. "As I was saying about Richard… He's more like my brother and from the looks of it, he seems to have gained a little crush on Ginny."
"I'm glad I don't have to add him to my death list, but Blaise will more than likely take offense, which will then make me add him back onto my list out of loyalty and friendship and all that rot you Gryffindors seem to think we don't feel," Draco told her, waving his hand in a careless gesture. "Now, back to your seduction and evasion of my question… You do realize you called me love before, don't you?"
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End Chapter 12
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A/N: This chapter has totally changed where I was heading with the story but I definitely like it much more and don't feel so caught in a dead end with it. Review if you like, and don't forget to check my writer's blog, the link found on my author's page, if you want to ask questions about Oh My Veela or learn about other projects I'm working on, as well as just see some delightful Dramione goodness. My main blog link will also be posted on my writer's blog.
Happy reading!