A/N: Hello! It's been a while, sorry about that. Hope you all are having a great summer! You can find me on tumblr at crochetawayhpff. I post a manip for every chapter. So check it out!
Big thanks to beta extraordinaire, brownlark42, she's like driving down the road with your windows down and your favorite song on the radio.
As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a line!
And I had to break this chapter into two parts. So the second part should be coming out in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!
Draco flopped heavily onto his bed in his childhood bedroom. Its decor hadn't changed for as long as he could remember - Slytherin greens and dark browns covered the room. He stared up at the green canopy as Hermione walked around the space. She opened the door to the bathroom and tossed a grin at him.
"I'm thinking we can put that tub to good use," she said. Draco sat up on his elbow to look at his mate. She was beautiful with her wind-tossed hair. He loved the color. It wasn't just brown, but it had lighter and darker dimensions, and in the candlelight of his room it almost shimmered.
"Now?" he asked as he stood from the bed. He moved toward her, kicking off his shoes as he went.
Hermione responded by tugging her shirt out from the waistband of her skirt and began unbuttoning it.
"No time like the present," she replied as she tossed the shirt from her shoulders. Draco frowned as he spotted the long scar that marred her torso. He didn't regret killing Dolohov, not anymore, but it still upset him that his mate had been hurt and he didn't do anything to protect her. Draco shook his head to clear his thoughts, now wasn't the time to mull over his mistakes. He began unbuttoning his own shirt.
Draco grinned at her and then pulled his shirt over his head. Hermione turned from him and entered the bathroom, stepping out of her skirt and knickers. She turned on the taps of the tub. It was a large tub - not as large as the one in the prefect's bathroom - but big enough for two people to be comfortable. She managed to get the bubbles working and slid into the hot water with a hiss. Draco quickly tore off his pants and joined her.
He laid back against the wall of the tub and reached for Hermione to lay her back against his chest. He brought his arms around her and hugged her to him. Then he put his hands on her thighs, swirling them around, closer to her treasure, and then farther away, teasing her. They stayed there for a few moments, enjoying the heat and the comfort of each other.
"Draco, it's going to be ok, right? Me being here, I mean?" Hermione asked. Her voice was small and Draco could tell how terrified she was. His mate was so brave, walking into a snake pit like this. He nuzzled into her hair at the crook of her shoulder, breathing in her scent. She still smelled delicious after all these weeks - he'd never tire of it.
"Of course, it's going to be ok. I'm here to protect you. And Snape's here. I know Greyback's a monster, but he'll protect you too," Draco told her as he tightened his arms around her. "You're safe with me, love," he kissed the side of her neck.
"I love you," Hermione told him. She turned in his arms and straddled his hips, her knees on either side of him, the water sloshed gently with her movements.
Draco trailed his hands up from her legs, up her sides, and cupped her breasts. He offered her a smirk before he leaned in and licked her nipple. She moaned in response and arched her back, offering herself to him. Draco pinched her nipple with his hand, as he sucked on the other one and rolled it around with his tongue. He was rewarded by Hermione rolling her hips, and dragging her heat across his rapidly hardening cock. The hot water, the steam, and Hermione's hot body was all enough to make him stand at attention.
"Gods, Draco," Hermione moaned. She gripped the back of his head tightly even as she reached between them to palm his shaft. She aligned herself and sank down on him. Draco groaned at the feel of sliding into her slick warmth. She was even hotter than the water that surrounded them.
"Fuck," he panted. "You're so tight." He rolled his hips upward as he slid his hands down to her waist. He pulled her up and slammed her back down again and this time they both gasped. Some water splashed out of the tub, but Draco ignored it in favor of giving Hermione's breasts more attention with his mouth.
"Tell me how you feel, tell me what you want," Draco muttered as he lifted her again. This time she rolled her hips as she descended and Draco felt his eyes roll back. She was so good, this was so good. The water in the tub was splashing in time with their combined rocking.
"You, I want you," Hermione sighed. "Fill me up, feels good."
"Mate," Draco hissed as he pumped his hips to meet her downward stroke. A particularly large splash landed outside of the tub.
"Mate, yours," Hermione agreed. She slid her arms from his shoulders up to his hair and pulled. Draco found himself facing her and her half-lidded eyes were almost enough to do him in. He surged forward and met her lips with his own. He devoured her lips, exploring her mouth and tangling their tongues.
"More," Hermione murmured. Draco pulled back and lifted her again and again. Watching her bounce up and down on his cock was enough. He brought his hand down to swipe at her clit. Water was freely splashing around them now, the floor was soaked, but neither Draco or Hermione cared.
"Come, mate," he commanded her and she did, screaming out her orgasm. Draco followed shortly after with a grunt.
"Fuck, 'Mione," Draco muttered as he gathered her into his arms and held her close.
"Mmm, love you," she said with a small kiss to his chest. Draco nodded his agreement as he stroked his hand up and down her back. He loved her more than he could express in words. He would do anything for his mate. The water in the tub slowly grew calm as they rested their weary bodies.
The following day Draco brought Hermione down to meet the pack. He hadn't really planned on having her meet them, but he was getting bored in his room. He was itching to get out and do something, and he figured the pack would be safe enough for Hermione. And he wouldn't have to subject her to his mother. He loved his mother, but he could also read her. The look she had on her face when she met Hermione was enough for Draco to know that his mother didn't really care about his mate. Draco didn't much care what his mother thought, but he wouldn't subject Hermione to anyone who didn't really like her.
The pack was sure to like her. Mates were rare. So very rare. And a pack that had a wolf with a mate would protect that mate with everything they had. Draco knew this, and he figured it was as good a time as any to get the introductions over with. He also had an ulterior motive. If the pack knew Hermione's scent, they would remember it. They would protect her in the future if necessary. And it would be easier for them to protect her if they knew what she smelled and looked like.
He walked into the old dueling court and grinned to see Rand and Udolf sparring. This was what Draco needed. He hoped he'd get a chance to spar with some of his pack throughout the rest of the Yule holidays.
"Pup!" Greyback cried out when he spotted Draco and Hermione.
"And Pup's mate," he said as he got closer. He pulled Draco in for a hug, which Draco returned with a sinking feeling. It was times like these that Draco didn't want to betray Greyback at all. He was a wonderful Alpha when he was focussed on being Alpha.
Greyback pulled Hermione into a hug next and she let out a squeak as she looked at Draco with wide eyes. Draco grinned to reassure her.
The commotion brought the pack over and introductions were made.
"Our Beta is home for the next few weeks. He's brought his mate with him. We should celebrate!" Greyback announced. At the mention of his mate, the pack cheered and Hermione was brought around to meet each of them.
"Welcome home, Beta," Rand said as he stood next to Draco. They were watching Hermione speak with Seff, and Draco couldn't keep the grin off his face.
"How are things here, Rand?" Draco asked. Rand hummed and Draco turned to look at the other man. He had a dark look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked. Rand glanced at the rest of the pack and pulled Draco further aside.
"Greyback," Rand whispered. Draco stiffened and pulled Rand even further away from the pack.
"What did he do?" Draco asked Rand once they were out of earshot of the rest of the pack. Greyback had ordered a feast be brought in for lunch and the pack was taking full advantage.
"There was a revel a few weeks ago. He didn't cover his tracks as well as he has in the past," Rand hedged. Draco winced. He knew what Greyback did at revels. And he was sure Rand knew that Draco knew.
"What do you mean, in the past? Do you know how Greyback acts at a revel?" Draco asked Rand. This could be a good opportunity for him if he could get Rand on his side. Rand carried a lot of weight in the pack. He was the pseudo-Beta in Draco's absence.
"Greyback didn't bite me to be in his pack, Beta," Rand said. Draco inhaled quickly. Using his official title meant business.
"I thought that everyone here was bit with the creation of the pack in mind. Greyback had pack-sickness and needed to create one," Draco replied.
"Aye, that's true for most. Not me. He bit me as a child. I needed a pack, and he bit me again as an adult to become pack. I remember him from my childhood. I've always known Greyback wasn't a good man," Rand told Draco as he ran a hand through his hair, "I thought he had changed," he muttered.
Draco looked at Rand grimly, "Who else knows?"
"Mingan, Seff, a few others. There was almost an uprising when he walked in here reeking of blood, shit, and come," Rand's hand clenched at his side. The aggression in the other wolf was clear. He could only imagine what the pack thought when they smelled Greyback that night.
"Fuck!" Draco exclaimed and paced away from Rand. He had to think. This was not a complication they needed. He wanted to take over the Alpha-ship, but Draco knew he wasn't ready. Not even close to ready. He didn't have the pack behind him, not yet, not really. Not in any way that mattered to become Alpha. He'd have to leave or finish school to be Alpha. Could he really give up Hogwarts to lead his pack? Draco thought he could. His pack was second only to his mother.
"I'm not strong enough to take him, and I won't be ready before I have to go back to Hogwarts," Draco muttered.
"I know. It's too bad you're still just a pup, in both senses," Rand replied, his voice was resigned and Draco wished that he was stronger, more capable, ready to become Alpha.
"Can you hold the pack together?" Draco asked. He needed the allies, and Rand would make an excellent ally when the time came.
"Maybe... it was near mutiny though. If he fucks up again, the pack will split," Rand warned.
"I'll talk to him," Draco promised. He had to figure out a way to keep the pack together until he could take over.
"And after? After this war? What then?" Rand asked. Draco could appreciate someone with an eye for the future. The war wasn't going to last forever, as Hermione liked to point out.
"I'm working on it," Draco said cryptically. He couldn't afford to tell Rand more. What they were speaking of was already near treason for a pack.
"Are you planning a takeover?" Rand's question was blunt and Draco didn't appreciate the implication. If Rand was secretly more loyal to Greyback than he was the rest of the pack, he could take Draco out with a question like that. Draco had no desire to leave the pack nor be pushed out by a wolf who didn't even want to be Beta when he easily could be.
"I'm not sure we should be having this conversation," Draco scowled.
"I'm not going to be part of a pack led by a madman," Rand replied. That at least Draco could identify with. He was glad Rand had clarified his motives.
"I'm not a madman," Draco replied. "I am working on it. I need you to hold the pack together for me while I figure it out. I have a plan."
"Fine, but keep me in the loop, yeah?" Rand asked. Draco nodded and they shook hands before heading back to the feast.
Draco spent the rest of the afternoon with his pack and his mate. He sparred with several pack members, including Seff and Udolf. He hadn't felt this relaxed since before becoming a werewolf.
Draco eventually found a spot next to Hermione, who had been speaking with Mingan about the history of werewolves and pack sickness.
"Draco, did you know that werewolves without a pack almost all get pack sickness? And that the lone werewolf stereotype is not only extremely rare, but they've never been documented in werewolf lore?" Hermione asked him, speaking a mile a minute.
Draco chuckled. She loved learning new things and he loved seeing her light up when she did.
"I do know that already, and I know a few other things," he leaned in close like he was going to tell her a secret, "I'm a werewolf," he whispered.
Hermione's peal of laughter echoed around the dueling court and most of the pack who had been watching the pair joined in. It was a light-hearted day in the middle of a cold, dark war with winter approaching. Draco looked around the room and smiled contentedly at the scene.
That night Draco and Hermione had a private dinner with Greyback. Draco was reluctant to involve Hermione, but Greyback insisted he wanted to know her better. He was acting the werewolf and not the Death Eater, and Draco had a hard time resisting his Alpha.
They met in Greyback's tent in the dueling court and Seff served them dinner before bowing out of the tent.
"Seff, he's the Omega?" Hermione asked Draco.
"Aye," Greyback replied to her. "Every pack needs an Omega. The Omega keeps the pack together and absorbs excess aggression."
"Absorbs aggression? What does that mean?" Hermione asked. Draco smiled at the perplexed expression on her face. He knew she wouldn't be pleased with the answer, but it was the way of werewolves.
Greyback laughed, "Pup tells me you're smart, I'm sure you can figure it out."
Draco watched as Hermione thought about it for a moment and saw the moment it clicked and the horror that crossed her face, "You mean… you…" she sputtered, she couldn't quite get the words out.
"Depends on the pack, Hermione," Draco explained. "We've got a good pack, and most aggression is taken out during full moons and sparring between moons. Packs with poor leadership allow more aggression to be taken out on the Omega."
Understanding dawned on Hermione and she nodded, "You don't let the others beat up on poor Seff? He's half the size of most of you!"
Greyback laughed, "No, Seff spars plenty. And he's mighty quick too. But I've built my pack with purpose, choosing good werewolves with steady constitutions to be part of it," Greyback told her with obvious pride. Draco smiled, feeling that pride sweep through the collective and fill him up. They shared a look and it wasn't lost on Hermione.
"What was that? That look? Was that the collective? Are you feeling emotions through it?" Hermione's questions made them both laugh.
"Are you writing a book?" Greyback asked, his eyebrows raised in incredulity.
Draco laughed, but Hermione replied seriously, "No, but I might! There's next to nothing written about werewolves and their culture. The little amount of time I've spent around Draco and your pack is fascinating."
"Our pack. It's your pack too, sweetheart," Greyback smirked at Hermione. Draco didn't like the pet name and shot a warning glare at Greyback, who nodded back in reply.
"Our pack," Hermione replied with a bit of wonder in her voice. "I've never been a part of something like this before. You seem to be as close as a family."
"We are a family. Pack, family, they mean the same thing to a werewolf," Greyback told her.
Draco knew how little family Hermione had left and that she wasn't particularly close to her parents. Not since becoming a witch. They had many conversations regarding her sorrow of not being able to share her world with them. He threw his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. It meant a lot to her to be included in something like this. Even if Greyback was the Alpha of this pack.
Dinner continued as they discussed pack dynamics and histories. Hermione found it all enthralling and Draco could see she was itching to take notes. Finally, he summoned her some parchment and a quill and that's exactly what she did.
"If you ever do write a book someday, make sure to run it by your mate or another werewolf. Can't have all our secrets spilled to the outside," Greyback laughed as Draco and Hermione were leaving his tent late that night. Hermione grinned and agreed. Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him to his tent several feet over.
"Not your room?" Hermione asked as they entered the tent.
"Not this time of night, too many Death Eaters between here and there," Draco scowled at the thought of who was in his house at the moment. Hermione nodded and didn't say anything else.
They settled down for sleep in the small bed in Draco's tent, with Hermione practically lying atop him.
"Besides, where do you think you're spending the full moon?" Draco asked her sleepily.
"Not your room?" Hermione guessed.
Draco chuckled deep in his throat and wrapped his arms tighter around her, "Nope, I want you close when I get back in the morning."
Hermione nodded and they soon were both asleep.
It was finally Christmas Eve and Draco was equal parts nervous and excited about the ball that night. He wasn't sure how Hermione's reception would go. The ball was basically their coming out party to the Sacred Twenty-Eight families who weren't inner circle Death Eaters. The couple hadn't even officially come out at school yet.
Maybe Draco hadn't thought this through. How was he to parade Hermione around their schoolmates who didn't know they were dating? Or that Draco was a werewolf and Hermione was his mate? What had he been thinking? Hermione couldn't attend the ball, not as his date at least.
He hurried to his mother's rooms where she had insisted Hermione ready herself for the ball. Draco's mother had a personal house elf that she swore was a French hair designer in an elf's body. Draco wasn't too sure on that, but it was best not to fight his mother on certain things. Beauty was one of those.
"Mother!" Draco shouted as he entered her suite of rooms at the end of the hall. Hermione and the house elf, Elvis, were nowhere in sight, but his mother came barreling out of her dressing room with her wand raised.
"Draco, what is it?" Narcissa asked urgently.
"Who's coming to the ball tonight?" Draco asked.
"Oh, is that all?" Narcissa asked and lowered her wand. She guided Draco to the settee by the window and poured them both a cup of tea.
"I invited the Sacred Twenty-Eight and your brethren, but not the pack," Narcissa frowned. "Should I have included the pack?"
"No, it's fine, Mother," Draco shook his head. "I meant, who of the Sacred Twenty-Eight is coming? Nobody at school knows about Hermione and me, and I've kept me being a werewolf and Death Eater secret from everyone. I don't think Hermione should come to the ball. I'm not going to leave her alone, either, so I think it would be best if neither of us attended."
"Oh, well, only the Death Eaters are attending. Everybody else replied with a no," Narcissa replied. Draco thought she sounded sad, but he was ecstatic. If fewer people knew about what was going on in his house, things would be much better after the war ended.
"It's probably for the best, Mother," Draco reminded her as he patted her hand and drained his cup of tea.
"Is Hermione still here? I'd…"
"You can't see her yet! Elvis isn't finished taming that dreadful hair. You must wait until she's dressed and ready to go down to the ball," Narcissa commanded.
"All right, all right," Draco placated his mother. He would never stand between her and one of her beauty projects. Even if that project was Hermione.
He left his mother with a kiss on her cheek and went back to his own rooms. He was pleased that the only other person staying in the family wing was Snape. It meant he didn't have to see any of the Death Eaters who were occupying the guest wing unless he left the family wing. In the week he and Hermione had been at the Manor, they only left the family wing to go down to the dueling court. They had successfully avoided all Death Eaters and Dark Lords currently in residence. Unfortunately, tonight their presence was going to be required at an event that was exclusively Death Eaters and the Dark Lord.
Draco glanced at the clock and realized the ball would be starting within an hour. He stripped as he headed toward the shower. He had tried on his dress robes earlier in the week and was pleased that with a few minor transfiguration spells, they would still fit his larger frame. He was glad his mother had thought to buy him a set of dress robes in a larger size to accommodate his new body.
He stepped out of the shower and into the steamy bathroom when he realized he wasn't alone. His Aunt Bella was standing in the doorway and she had her wand in his hand. He reached for his towel and just as he grasped it, it went flying toward his aunt.
She tutted at him, "Alone, at last, dear nephew," Aunt Bella crooned. Draco cringed and went to cover himself from her greedy gaze.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Aunt Bella shouted and suddenly Draco couldn't move. He wobbled for a moment before he steadied. He was glad he'd planted his feet and hadn't crashed to the ground. He was utterly helpless to stop his aunt. He began trying to wiggle his fingers or his toes to see if he could break the spell.
"You are beautiful," Aunt Bella commented as she walked forward. She placed both hands on Draco's chest, keeping hold of her wand as she felt him up. Draco winced and tried to recoil from her touch, but was unable to move. She licked his chest, just a small lick right in the center at his sternum. If Draco had the ability, he would have shuddered in revulsion. As it was, he stood stock still. He was glad that in his current position, he couldn't become aroused. The magic would override the physical body. He just hoped that someone would find him before she went too far.
Aunt Bella was circling him now, dragging her hands across the planes of his body. She even slapped his arse.
"Shall I ease up on the spell, Draco?" Aunt Bella said as she cupped his cock and stroked his balls with her fingers. Draco thought he might vomit at the look on her face. What would happen to him if he did vomit in his present situation? Would the magic override that impulse too? Or would he choke on his own vomit? His mouth was closed; there was no escape for it.
"What in the world is going on?" Hermione shrieked from the doorway. She flicked her wand and the steam in the bathroom disappeared, leaving the sickening tableau in full display. Draco was standing stock still with his hands attempting to cover himself, and his Aunt Bella had one hand on his cock as her tongue twirled around his right nipple.
Hermione was beautiful in bright red dress robes that fell to the floor with ruffles down the skirt. She had a red lip to match and her hair was pulled back from her face, but left to flow down her shoulders in soft ringlets. Draco couldn't help the embarrassment that flooded through him. And that he was powerless to do anything about it.
"Draco?" Hermione asked. Draco tried to shoot her a pleading look, but he couldn't move. He was trying his hardest to break the spell, but nothing was happening.
"Care to join us, mudblood?" Aunt Bella asked. "Draco seems to be having fun," she punctuated that with a rather long pull on Draco's cock. He winced internally.
"I… no… I mean…" Hermione seemed at a lost for words. Draco felt the small toe on his left foot move. He was succeeding. Either Aunt Bella was distracted by Hermione or the spell wasn't very strong. Slowly he could feel some of the power come back to his limbs. It presented other problems, though, Aunt Bella's administrations were stirring something inside him. He willed himself to think of anything to stop his cock from hardening.
"I'll just… I'm going to go, ok?" Hermione said and she bolted from the room. Draco wanted to hang his head in shame, but his muscles weren't quite his own yet.
"Good, I'll take you all to myself," Aunt Bella smirked up at him. Draco did feel his lip curl slightly as her sour breath washed his face.
She began kissing her way down his torso and Draco was finally able to close his eyes, but he still couldn't move his arms or hands.