Disclaimer: All characters and the whole world of Harry Potter belong solely to J.K. Rowling. I do not earn any money writing this fan fiction.

AN: I'm back! I went to China, a small village, I had internet, but the weather was too good to stay inside so... but I'm back now. Expect regular updates again.

Nature and Life Changes

by xtyj

Chapter 14

She was waking up. She remembered the carriage. She remembered the frightening house. But that all was temporarily forgotten, because she heard him and she felt his hand. She squeezed it, she wanted to comfort him. The things he said made her happy and she wanted to make him happy too. "Draco." She opened her eyes to see him, he was only a few centimetres away from her. He was still whispering, his head against her skin. She wanted to look in his eyes, she wanted to see him, see his very essence, she needed to know that he too was all right.

With her other hand, she tilted his chin up and once they locked eyes, there was nothing else. Only they were alive, nobody else mattered. In a strong voice she said, "Draco, I'm fine and I forgive you. I was just caught off guard. I'm not afraid because you are here to protect me." She saw the moment her words sunk in. She could see the flicker in his eyes, the softening, moments before they were pleading, but now they were shining with love and acceptance. She was so glad, she could reassure him.

It did take her by surprise when he kissed her full on the lips. Passion poured from his sweet lips onto hers. It only took a moment to return his kisses with even more passion. The angle was slightly off, she still on the sofa, he on the ground. Still they managed to kiss each other with so much passion, it was unheard off.

She did not mind when Draco crept over her on the sofa and lay on her. She could feel his body over hers and she relished in the warmth. It became hotter and hotter. His kisses moved from her lips to her neck, going lower and lower.

But suddenly she shrieked in surprise when she heard another person in the room. Unconsciously she pushed Draco off her and looked around. She noticed Draco grunting and sitting on the ground. She blushed when she looked at him but startled when she saw the other person sitting in a chair across from them. Her face turned redder and redder.

"I see everything is fine here. Have a goodnight. Ms. Granger, you are welcome to stay in a guest room. I'm sure Draco will show you one."

Lucius Malfoy exited the room. She was still looking at the huge doors of the room until she felt Draco sitting next to her. He sat very close to her and he seemed to be determined to be close to her. She let him do, she must have scared him to death. It was not good that a mate scares his veela mate, it was unhealthy, very dangerous and scary. "Draco," she murmured. He was sniffing her and licking her neck again. He was slowly going to her mouth and she could not deny that the things he did with his tongue and mouth excited her extremely. "Mmmm, Draco." She let him do for a moment. She knew he needed to reassure himself that his mate was fine, even if they had not yet bonded. She could hear him purr, when she was moaning for more. She did not want to end this night, there were some setbacks, but she did not mind. It was great to have him near her and her feelings were getting stronger anyway.

They stayed like that for at least an hour, then she could feel Draco lessening his licks and kisses on her skin. She was not sure what it meant, the past hour was like heaven to her, she felt cherished, desired and excited all at the same time. "Draco..."

"Mmmm," he murmured

"What now?" She needed to know what would happen now. They could not sit there in that... library.

"Library!" she screamed, she jumped up and turned around to see walls filled with books from bottom to ceiling. She stood a little perplexed by the amounts of books she saw. This one could easily rival the library of Hogwarts. She could distinctly see the different sections by the colours of the books and she was mentally planning her route throughout the library. She temporarily forgot the man behind her. She was amazed, she was giddy by the thought of all those books.

But when she finally thought about it, something struck her. Her demeanour became less thrilled and she became more or less disappointed. This was Lucius Malfoy's library, was she even allowed to look through all the books here? It was pure torture to have placed her in that room, she would never have known of this splendid library if they had put her in one of the many other rooms. She was sure Draco's manor had them.

She felt two strong arms encircle her, they were warm and soothing.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

Should she tell him of her worries, it seemed so futile to be sad about this subject. She was not even invited or his girlfriend officially. Not that she expected to be allowed in this library when she was officially his girlfriend, it would be a perk anyway.

"Nothing is wrong, is it okay if I go to bed?"

"Sure, no problem, I'll show a room to you." He never let go of her hand. He lead her to a large room in a well lit corridor on the second stage of the manor. He showed her the bathroom some clothes she could wear to sleep.

"Thank you Draco," she said quietly, she was still a little sad about her thought regarding the library. She sat sullenly on the bed waiting on him to leave her along to go to bed.

He did not know what to think. One moment she was so excited and then suddenly she was sad. She brushed him off when he asked her about it. He wanted to see her happy and excited again. But maybe tonight was not the best time. It was well into the night and after all the things that happened, he too was tired. He would rather sleep with her, stay with her, have her in his arms but he knew that it was too early for that.

Draco was so glad, when she woke up in the library. He had spent more than an hour to reassure himself and smell her. It was heaven, he imagined that once they are bonded, the connection will be more potent. And that his desire will increase to unimaginable heights. Just thinking about it made all his blood flow to underparts.

That night he slept much better than the previous three months. When he woke up, he found the colours in his room more beautiful and the scents more potent. He was wondering about it for a moment, contemplating why this was. He had some theories, but only one stayed and kept returning.

'I am sure it is because Hermione.'

Everything in his life was now about her. His sole purpose in life was to have her, love her, embrace her and keep her safe. He found it strange that his actions and character had changed so dramatically, all for her. He thought back to the dream, he had. The perfect dream and it was becoming reality. He was sure of it. Paradise on earth.

He was almost one hundred percent sure that Hermione was falling in love with him. Her actions were saying a lot. She let him hold her hand, embrace her, kiss her and he almost had her yesterday. He was not proud of that moment. He could blame his loss of control to his veela side, but somehow, that would be too easy.

The carriage incident was both exciting and a blow to his ego, now that he thought about it. It was degrading towards Hermione and he was glad that their first time was not in the carriage. He wanted to be in a bed, where it was warm and comfortable. With that he decided to get dressed and make sure that everything is all right with Hermione.

He knocked on the door of the guest room, but he did not get an answer. She was probably still asleep, after all yesterday was a taxing day for her, for them both. He wanted to see her when she was sleeping, realising that he has never seen her sleep. He quietly opened the door and slipped inside. It was a carpet floor, so when he stepped closer to the bed, you could not hear his footstep.

She looked small in the large bed. She lay in the middle and she was surrounded by pillows. He saw that she was embracing one pillow close to her body and that her legs were pulled up. The sight was perfect, it made him want to take off his clothes and slip in. snuggle next to her and sleep a couple hours more. He wanted to take her in his arms and stay that way forever. Draco was already a couple of minutes in the room and her scent had enveloped him entirely. Without thinking about it, he took off his clothes and stepped closer to the bed. Mesmerized by the peaceful expression on her face.

He slipped under the covers with stealth, he slipped closer and closer without making a sound. Then, he gently spooned her back. He was still for a moment when she stirred a little, but then she quickly went back to the blissful realms of sleep. He gently put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. Inhaling her scent, he was finally at peace. His face was close to her hair and he put his nose as close as possible to her neck. Being so close to his mate, made him think about forbidden things. But for now he neglected those thoughts and went to sleep with her in his arms.

AN: Love is in the air.

GRTZ