The Other Mark

A/N: First of all, I am so freakin' sorry that I haven't updated. It's been…

*Looks at calendar* *EYES WIDEN*

Ok, I have gone too long without doing anything about this. I may say that this story was not going according to plan. I blame school. And stress. And homework. And drama. And my thoughts. But I will not let this story slip away into the wind out of my hands. No way is that happening.

A few changes will be made onto the story. I will add hints at the end about the next chapter. I thought that would be much more helpful for people and to leave them hanging on what would happen next. So, instead of my constant nagging of absolutely nothing real important, let's get on with the story! For all of the people begging me to update, I'm working my hardest. Thanks!

The snow, drifty and cold as hell, made it difficult to send a letter via owl to his parents about his finding of his mate. One thing's for sure, he was mighty scared of what his father would approve. Even if he was a veela, there was a chance that he could die when his father disapproves of her.

After all, she was a muggle-born and he was a Pureblood. No bloods clash as his father says.

He spent an immense amount of time in the library for research on what would happen, to no avail. They had read through practically every 'veela and their mate' book you could imagine, but nothing helped him except for his parents information on the subject.

The only problem was that he couldn't get contact.

His owl was in the state of not listening to his master from being out in a blizzard multiple times. Draco had gotten irritated with him because he didn't want to be home for the holidays. Christmas was coming to a close, and he wanted to be close to his mate for the time being. Her two bumbling buddies would be at the burrow, and she would be alone. But his owl desists every time.

Hermione had been off with her friend Ginny for the day, while he only had Blaise for company. Not that he was complaining. He missed him at times since they hung out 24/7 before his introduction to veela world.

He walked down from his dormitory as someone knocked on the portrait and was yelling at it from the other side.

"Mates? Veelas? Oh come on! Sugar Quills?"

He chuckled as he heard his friend trying passwords from left to right. Of course, he thought it was something related to what was going on. So in losing points for his house by yelling at a portrait, he casually opened it before he had let his hand collide against the wall.

"Blaise! Fancy seeing you here! I hadn't heard you." he spoke sarcastically as Blaise looked up in surprise.

"Oh. Sorry about that. Your bloody portrait was pretending to be asleep on me! I kept trying to ask what the password was, but she just-"

"It's fine Zabini. Just come in. I'll tell you then." Draco leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. His fine strands of hair had grown out again, making him look dashing, with a sly smirk playing in his lips.

Blaise scoffed. "Fine. Just please act normal! You're turning into a sap!"

::::

A few chats here and there were exchanged. They talked about how the school year has absolutely terrible with new teachers and new class mates, even though Blaise was thoroughly enjoying the sight of Luna Lovegood's 'talents'. Draco had to gag on that. Everything was going well since they were only catching up, that is until he asked how his heritage was going to go down with his mate being Hermione herself.

"I'm not really sure what to do about it Blaise. It's hard to go up to them or even send a letter telling them 'Hi, I found my mate and it's that Hermione Granger, who isn't really bad to be around anymore since she's my mate.'"

"Dunno what to tell you there Draco. You just need to be more careful on what you say to them. You know how short-tempered your parents can be." Blaise acknowledged. Draco nodded whilst looking outside to see a mix blur of two tall students. His heart accelerated. Draco's face lit up. She was back.

"You might want to go get her. It's way too cold out there Dra-" he was interrupted.

"Password's The Black Lake's Giant Squid!" he yelled.

Before he could make another sentence, he had walked out the portrait to leave Blaise alone.

::::

He couldn't wait to see Hermione. He loved being around her now. He honestly didn't know why, but it all worked out in the end.

He watched from a distance seeing her getting closer. He absolutely loved her. No matter what the consequences may be and only in a short amount of time, he loved her. His heart warmed just thinking about how he said it. And she almost said it back.

"Hey, what's with Malferret today? Why is he staring at us?" Ginny asked, looking at him with a weird look. Hermione had her brown eyes wide open as she hadn't told Ginny about what she was doing or what was going on.

"It's alright Gin. He's just making sure that we're okay." Hermione spoke up

"Okay? I understand that you two are heads, but why suddenly sticking up for him, hmm?" Her face turned a shade of red. Draco only gave her his involuntarily smirk. Ginny growled and reached for her wand. Hermione turned to her, and grabbed her by the shoulders, taking her out of her trance.

"Listen Gin, he's just here for… schedule changings. Don't worry about it."

"But you guys have the same schedules… why would you-"

"Like I said Gin, don't worry about it. It's just we aren't the best of rounds together." Since we snog practically every corner.

Ginny gave her another glance and back to Draco. She sighed as the snow only gently fell now. "Fine. But I hope to see you again. Are you coming to the burrow this Christmas?"

"Actually I'm not. I decided it was best to stay here this time." Hermione breathed out.

Ginny shrugged. "Alright then. Hope you have a good Christmas 'Mione!" she exclaimed, and skipped passing Draco with a bump of shoulders.

A few seconds of silence was all it took as he then walked to her casually and wrapped his warm arms around her. She returned the gesture.

"I missed you today." He mumbled in her curly wet hair.

"Mmm...Really?" she whispered as she kept her mouth shut together.

"Of course I did." He said, and lifted up her head to capture her lips with his.

::::

The rest of the night had been sitting on the couch by the warmth of the fire and him. She only knew when to talk and whisper little things into his ear, and he would chuckle softly in the process.

He wasn't really upset or nervous about anything. He had a beautiful girl in his arms, the fire flaming against her closed relaxed face, and he was holding her close. His veela was ecstatic.

He wasn't nervous about what his parents would say yet. He had sent off another letter explaining that he wanted to stay at Hogwarts—even if he hated the dreaded school—it was a onetime deal. Who knows? Maybe something would happen.

He had sent off Blaise's owl in order to get his letter to his parents. Since his owl was being a nuisance.

She gasped as he jolted from something hitting the window. He sat up, and gently scooted her to the back of the couch. She had been asleep still. Thankfully he hadn't woke her.

He opened the window slowly in case of any cold wind blowing into the warm common room. Midnight, Blaise's owl, had a neatly folded letter in its talons, with the Malfoy stamp on it.

He scraped up some food for the owl as he carefully unlatched the letter from it. It flew away before nipping at his finger with affection.

What would they say? He read through and his face slowly fell each time he would scan to another paragraph.

Dearest Draco,

You know if I could, I would let you stay. But your father demands you to come immediately. You have some 'business' to do with him. Your mate will be fine. I'm assuring of it.

Did I say congratulations on finding her? No? Well you've made me proud Draco. I sure hope to meet this lovely young lady very soon.

Please use this port key that came with it and arrive by tomorrow. I love you very much, and so does your father. Even if he doesn't show it.

The way to get home is 'Malfoy residence.' Good luck. Bring your owl with you. We need to get him checked out. I love you.

-Narcissa Malfoy

…

"Draco?" Hermione asked as she opened her eyes from her nap and found him on the ground holding the letter. He was holding back something. She could see through him easily since he was now very vulnerable.

"What's happened? Is it with your parents?" she asked again, walking to him and sitting next to him.

He shook his head, and folded up the letter.

"I have to go home by tomorrow." He murmured, shutting his eyes in frustration.

"Go then. If your parents really need you home, you need to go. I'll still be here when you get back." Hermione whispered into his ear, and gave him a light kiss on his cheek. He looked up and smiled. Yep. Definitely thankful for having her instead of someone else. No one could replace. He inhaled her smell again. He finally figured it out.

She was his secret scent. (HINT: Look back at Amortentia. :P)

~~~DHr~~~

He arrived at 12 O'clock sharp. His mum had been out in the garden watering, while his father was nowhere to be seen.

He walked out to surprise her. Her enchanted plants staying watered, and never died out. A heating charm was placed over the whole garden as he looked around to see snow flurries bouncing off of it and turning into rain.

He tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned with a gasp. "Draco!" she exclaimed, and wrapped her small arms around her tall son. "How I've missed you."

"Don't worry mum. 'M fine. You wanted me here for a reason, right?"

Her face turned a shade of red. Did he find out?

"You just wanted to see me again. It's been too long, correct?" he asked. She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

"Of course dear. Now come. We have a meeting to discuss."

"What meeting?" Draco asked again. Narcissa didn't want to do this to him. What of he hurt his mate?

"Just follow me dear. Father will be attending soon."

::::

She hated this part. Vol-You-Know-Who would be attending the meeting tonight. Tonight Draco was getting another mark.

Draco's eyes widened as his 'master' had walked in with an evil smile on his pale face. Draco immediately bowed, and didn't dare to look at him.

He hated him. Why was he here? Was this all a sham?

"Young Malfoy…" his voice was raspy, as he lifted his head with his wand under the tip of his neck. "How you've grown." He looked to Lucius with pride. Narcissa intruded.

"Sir, please. Do not harm my son. Please don't make him one." Narcissa pleaded. Voldemort gave her a nasty look, and she looked to the ground in shame.

"I was just getting to the good part." He whispered as he told Draco to stand up. He circled him as his wand was put on his neck. Draco gulped.

"You're a half-veela." It was more of a statement than a question. Draco answered softly, "Yes my lord."

"You have a mate." Again, a statement. Another "Yes my lord." What he said next made him shiver.

"You are going to be made a death eater Draco. You will abide my every rule. You will only harm the ones I tell you to. When I make you one, you will kill…"

How Draco wanted to cry. Please not someone I love…Please not someone I love…

"Dumbledore. You will kill him Draco." And with that, he stabbed his wand into Draco's arm and appeared a mark. It hurt like hell that he let the tears fall down his cheeks. He shouldn't have listened to his mum to come as much as it pained him to think that.

He was evil now.

He couldn't be trusted.

He was a monster.

:::::

"Has it worked, my lord?" a voice asked.

"Indeed it has Anderson. Keep an eye out for that mudblood, will you? Reel her in." Voldemort smiled.

"Of course sir." The voice replied, and he walked out.

~~~DHr~~~

I'm SO EVIL. I can't believe that I just wrote this in three hours!

A tad bit OOC, but whatever.

So like I said at the top, I am going to give you a hint.

"Why aren't you telling us the truth, 'Mione? I thought we were your friends. Don't you trust us with a little secret?" "Trust me Harry. It's not little."

So there you have it. Hope ya enjoyed. Again, I'm sorry for not updating.

Reviews are like cookies. :)

-Kyra