A/N: Reviews as always were amazing. I couldn't believe how many I got, so I made sure to get this up as soon as possible. Keep them up guys! Enjoy!

Physically he could over power her, she was a hell of a lot more talented with a wand but she couldn't reach it. She was vulnerable, a feeling she hated.

"Let me go!" she gasped.

Ron's lips curved in disgust as he looked her up and down. "You let him touch you?"

Hermione shuddered in disgust as his eyes scanned over her body. Thank god she had never let herself be pressured into doing anything she wasn't comfortable with. Right at that moment she had no idea what she ever saw in him.

"I'd get your hands off my mate before you lose them, Weasel!"

Never had she ever been so relieved for a man to come to her rescue. She may be able to look after herself, but just this once she appreciated the back up.

He was so getting rewarded tonight.

Chapter 21

Oh my god…

Did she really just think that?

Hermione rapidly shook her head, not knowing where her inner slut had suddenly come from. But all she did know was that her instincts as Draco normally referred to them as, were screaming at her to drape herself over her man and mould herself to him.

She highly doubted he would object in the slightest.

"Now," Draco's harsh growl filled tone caused her to shiver. "If you know what's good for you, you will release my mate or I will rip you apart!"

Hermione didn't doubt that he would.

Ron on the other hand simply snorted, his grip on her tightening causing her to visibly wince. Draco noticed, snarling lowly as his upper lip pulled back. He was seconds away from baring his canines, and he knew the moment he did the Weasel didn't stand a chance. They had managed to keep his secret so far from the school, but if he went around flashing his fangs he knew it wouldn't be long until the cat was let out of the bag.

He didn't need that shit storm.

"Or what?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Did you not hear me? I will kill you!"

Ron scoffed, rolling his eyes as Hermione desperately tried to dig her nails into his hand to loosen his grip. She cursed the fact she didn't have long enough nails to create such an effective pain.

She had never wanted to hurt Ron more than she did right at that moment.

"You don't have the guts!"

The manic laugh which fell from her mates lips caused even her to shiver. Even so, she was thankful that it wasn't directed at her as she saw Ron's smug expression lesson slightly, especially when he caught sight of pale fingers curled around the base of his opponents wand.

Merlin… she thought.

"I have killed people to survive before, Weasel!" he clipped out. "You are hurting what is mine, and if you do not release her I will do more than hex you. No, I will curse you to cause the maximum amount of pain available, and trust me when I say, I have learnt a lot over the past few years."

Neither Ron nor Hermione doubted as much.

"Fine," Ron seemed to know when to fight and when to flight, and clearly he didn't stand a chance. In a fight he wasn't foolish enough to think that he was physically strong enough to beat Malfoy, nor in a spell dwell did he think he had a chance of winning.

So, he reluctantly backed off.

"Take the bitch!" he roughly pushed his ex-girlfriend in his direction.

Instantly, Draco had his mate back safely in his arms. Checking her over in seconds, seeing that she wasn't seriously harmed, he gently pushed her shaken form behind his much taller one. He would check her over more carefully after he had her back safely in his dorm, but until then she was not leaving his sight for even a second.

He had an idiot to take care of.

For daring to insult his mate, fury like he had never felt before filled him as he took a step forward. He knew he must look incredibly aggressive and threatening as the bastard of a redhead took a hesitant step back almost immediately until his back hit the coolness of the castle wall.

Draco's lips twisted into a silent snarl. He was about to teach the Weasel a lesson he wouldn't be forgetting any time soon.

The thought satisfied his Veela.

Unfortunately, he was interrupted when he saw his Godfather hurriedly come around the corner, obviously having heard their argument as he quickly assed the situation in front of him within seconds. He didn't look pleased in the slightest, sneering at the Weasel.

Draco didn't bother to hide his smirk. He knew what was going through Snapes head, since he was family in regards to being his Godson, that meant in retrospect Hermione was as well by their relationship. If it was one thing about Slytherin's it was loyalty.

Though it seemed Pansy had a few manners to learn.

He would have to remind her of her place.

She didn't rank very high on his scale of importance.

The bitch never would.

"What is going on here, Mr Weasley?" Snape quirked a brow, feeling beyond pissed off with the pathetic Gryffindor in front of him. This was the last thing he needed to make his day even worse.

Ron stuttered. "Urm…nothing, Professor."

"Really now?" Snape snapped. "So you would call me a liar if I hadn't just heard you roughly grab another student by the wrist, and not only that but a female?"

Draco's lips quirked. If there was one thing which really pissed his Godfather off it was the ill treatment off a woman. He had witnessed his mother's constant belittlement by his father after all, Lucius not having treated her as well as a man should treat a woman.

He wondered if Snape was aware that his mother didn't exactly see him as nothing more than a friend, but more so.

He cringed at the thought.

"I let her go!"

"After being threatened by her boyfriend, I myself do not think that it was acceptable for it to have to come to that."

"I didn't hurt her!" Ron protested.

Snape narrowed his eyes at his loud tone. "You want to try and speak like that to me again, boy?"

He shook his head.

"Good. Now you and me are going to be paying a visit to Dumbledore about your less than gentlemanly behaviour. Your mother and me will also be having words."

"But-"

"Don't you interrupt me, boy!"

Sure enough that did the trick, Ron flinching away but otherwise staying quiet. He yelped when he was suddenly being dragged by the ear down the hall, but was smart enough not to protest.

Before he left view the sight of his Godson and his mate Snape turned around, taking note of how territorial his Godson seemed. He sighed; annoyed at the brat he had a grip on. "You are excused from lessons just for today. I will clear it with the Headmaster."

He doubted the brat even knew that he had probably just saved his pathetic life.

As soon as they were out of sight Hermione yelped in surprise as she was soon lifted in Draco's arms bridal style.

"Draco…Draco, I have class!"

"You heard Snape, Mia" he soothed her as he carried her back to their dorms. "We have been excused from lessons."

Still, Hermione protested. "But there is nothing wrong with me! With us!"

"I beg to differ," Draco spoke calmly. He didn't once pause in his steps. "You were just attacked by that-"

"I would hardly call it an attack," she rolled her eyes.

"It was enough for you to send out a warning call, Mia. I take that very seriously, as does my Veela."

Hermione frowned. "A what?"

"A warning call. When you feel threatened it is instinctive that you would wish for me to be closer to you as a form of comfort and protection. When that Weasel touched you, it triggered your natural response which in turn triggered mine."

"Oh," she thought about it. "But you were there in less than a second. You're fast Draco, but even I doubt you could get from the dinner hall to here in the space of two seconds."

"You're right."

When he didn't elaborate further Hermione raised a brow, her arms having instinctively wrapped his neck to keep her balance. She may know that he would never even think about dropping her, but it made her feel safer to have the extra balance.

"I followed you."

She wasn't surprised. "Why?"

"I saw the bastard going after you as soon as she left my sights," he replied simply.

Hermione shook her head in bewilderment. She would have argued further, but she didn't see the need. He had helped her, and while she doubted Ron would have done anything serious, she would be lying if she said she wasn't relieved when Draco came to her rescue.

Because while she hated to admit it, she had needed rescuing from Ron.

She waited until they were standing in the common room of their dorm before reaching up on her tippy toes once Draco had placed her down onto her own two feet gently, pressing her lips against his so softly she herself barely felt it.

The pleasure and satisfaction she felt was both expected and welcomed.

He always seemed to make her feel good, even when he wasn't trying.

It was easy with him. Simple, and she liked that.

"What was that for?" Draco asked huskily when she pulled away. He wanted to do nothing more than to grab her and smash their lips together, invade her mouth with his tongue as he dominated her, but he had already decided that she was running the show.

He would not deny her anything, not if he could help it.

She shrugged. "It's a thank you."

Hermione smiled shyly until she saw the way Draco seemed to be struggling with himself. It confused her. What was wrong with him?

"You ok?" she asked worriedly.

He bit his bottom lip, eyes scanning over her repeatedly before he could no longer take it anymore. He was embarrassed somewhat, but it couldn't be avoided and he prayed to god that Hermione wouldn't either slap him for thinking he was being cheeky or not go along with it. He would never force her, but fucking uncomfortable was nothing compared to how he felt.

"I need you to strip for me." Well, that came out blunter than he intended.

Hermione flushed ten shades of red, openly gaping as she gasped in shock at his words. "W-what?"

Did he really just ask her to strip in front of him? Now?

He nodded. "I-I need to s-see that you're a-alright."

Never before had she heard him stutter like he did just then, and Hermione didn't like his lapse in confidence in the slightest. It just didn't suit him right. It wasn't him.

She knew he was worried about her reaction, and that also didn't settle well with her. She didn't want him to worry about upsetting her, she doubted he could even if he wanted to. It just wasn't him anymore.

She looked towards the portrait nervously. "Is it locked?"

Both surprised and relieved that his smart and selfless little mate seemed to realise just how important it was that he saw with his own two eyes that she was ok he thanked the Gods that he had once again mated with her.

She was perfect.

"I've spelled it shut. It won't open unless I lower the bonds." He told her honestly. He didn't want anyone to see her like that, he wouldn't risk it ever happening.

She was his!

Only hesitating for a few seconds Hermione looked nervously around the room, not meeting Draco's eyes as she slowly began to strip away her clothes until she was left standing in her shirt and panties. She knew she had to be bright red in embarrassment.

This was not the kind of reward she had in mind.

"Can," Draco swallowed. "Can you continue?"

He was enjoying this more than he should be, Hermione stifled the urge to roll her eyes. The only reason she was continuing as she unbuttoned her shirt was because she could also sense the strain in his voice, how his eyes scanned her over continuously, and not in just a sensual manner.

The fact it was more than in a sexual way she had noticed almost immediately. He was genuinely looking for any injury, even though Ron had only touched her wrist.

She just hoped that it wouldn't happen again. Ron needed to leave her alone, for both their sakes.

Abrupt end I know, but it will continue to the next chapter.

Next update will hopefully be sometime next week, fingers crossed.

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