Lucius and Narcissa looked at their son quizzically. There must be a mistake. No Malfoy has ever bonded with a muggle-born.

"Are you certain, Darling?" Narcissa asked confused.

"Yes, Mother. I am. I don't think I would be having thrilling fantasies about her right now if it wasn't the Granger girl."

Blaise snorted. "You're having thrilling fantasies about her? Granger? She's your Mate?" He smiled broadly. "This is gonna be sooo fun." Blaise's eyes had a bright fire in them.

Draco gave Blaise a deathly stare. "Well I can't change who it is. So, if you want me to live, I suggest we get over the fact that she isn't Pureblood. Plus, Hermione is the smartest witch of our age. She is definitely worth my time. She changed over the summer. I mean, did you see her?" Draco looked at the group as they shook her head no. "Good, because she's Mine!" Draco growled lowly.

"Already possessive, Draco? How are you going to survive?" Blaise asked smirking. Draco growled at his friend and Blaise's dark skin paled slightly.

"Well, I can certainly give the girl a chance. What about you, Lucius? She is a bright girl." Narcissa smiled at her son and he calmed slightly.

"I-..." Lucius swallowed, "I guess I could try. I don't really know much about her. She could be our families saving grace after The Dark Lord. You spoke of her much when you were younger, am I right Son?"

Draco's cheeks tinted a slight pink and he turned away. "Yes." He mumbled.

"We have no choice in the matter anyway." Narcissa beamed and hugged her son before he started for the train. "Oh, Draco Darling!" She called quickly. "Great job in becoming Head Boy. I'm proud of you." She smiled warmly as her son nodded and continued to the train with Blaise by his side.

% %

(Back to Hermione)

Hermione sat in the Heads compartment looking out the train window as the trip to the beloved Hogwarts began. She sighed and folded her hands on top of the book in her lap.

"My, my..." Hermione turned sharply at the snide voice entering the compartment. "Little miss Granger not reading a book? Something wrong, Granger? Can't stand being away from Saint Potty and his pet Weaselby?" Draco Malfoy spitting the last sentence and forming a mocking pout on his face.

"Sod off, Malfoy. This compartment is for the Heads only. And you are hardly ever away from your insufferable gang. At least my friends can form a coherent thought." She sneered at Malfoy.

Draco smirked. He tilted his head and clicked his tongue three times while waving his finger at her. "Now, now, Granger. That's no way to talk to the Head Boy, is it?" He asked.

Hermione stared at him in displeasure. "You're the Head Boy!" She said, her temper clearly rising. Draco smirked at her and nodded. She shook her head and turned back to the window. 'This is going to be a very long year.' She thought sullenly.

% %

Draco had been watching Hermione read for the past two hours and he was getting frustrated. 'If only she would give me as much attention as she is giving that book...' He thought and felt his pupils dilate at the thought. He quickly looked away as he thought of his Mate giving him attention he needed, in the way that he wanted. His face flushed a delightful peachy pink and he coughed to cover a rising moan. Merlin, his pants felt a bit tighter. He covered his lap with his robes and leaned back with a sharp exhale. He closed his eyes and mentally slapped himself for such vulgar thoughts of Granger. 'Ugh' He thought, 'It's Mudblood Granger for hell's sake. Why do you hate me, Merlin? Why?' He frowned as a sharp pain shot through him at the word Mudblood. 'You need her, you prick!' A part of his brain screamed at him. 'Shut up.' He bit back with a scowl. 'You're the only reason I need her!' He thought angrily.

He was about to drift off when he heard Hermione scoff in disbelief and shock. "What is so wrong, Granger, that you need interrupt my nap." He said irritably with his eyes still closed.

"Well, Malfoy… It would be much appreciated if you could keep your legs to yourself. I have no idea whatsoever why you would need to stretch yourself so far across the compartment that you end up touching me. It must have been another Slytherin prank. And, I don't appreciate that specific prank because now it feels like my skin is on fire." She glared daggers at him.

Draco's eyes shot open and stared at her. He was suddenly aware of how he was stretched across the compartment. He stood up abruptly and accidentally hit his head on the luggage rack. He hissed sharply and rubbed his head. He looked at Hermione who was stifling giggles as she stood up to see if he was alright. He glared at her as the Hogwarts express stopped at the station with a jerk. They both tumbled to the floor.

He had fallen on top of her. They both froze, their faces inches apart. Draco swallowed thickly as his body flushed with the contact between himself and his Mate. He noticed a tingly sensation that was brought up by Hermione earlier. He felt like his skin was on fire. He looked to Hermione and noticed she was blushing furiously underneath him. Draco took a breath to clear his head. As he breathed in, he could almost taste the sweet scent emanating from his Mate. His eyes rolled back in pleasure and refocused on the girl beneath him, His breath steadily becoming uneven.

% %

As Hermione lay underneath the platinum blond Slytherin, she felt her face flush scarlet and her blood tingled as if on fire. She watched the blond closely as he took a deep breath, presumably to clear his head. Her watching became cautious as his eyes rolled back as if experiencing great pleasure. When his eyes focused back on her, they were no longer their usual dull, icy grey. Hermione blinked a few times before studying Malfoy's eyes again. They were vacillating between shades of violet and lavender. She gasped.

"M-Malfoy? Could… um… could you please remove y-yourself from a-atop me? Quickly, please?" She stuttered in a high voice. She was really shaken at the sight of his eyes.

Malfoy blinked a few times. His eyes became a soft shade of geyser blue as his face showed a mix of pain and sadness. He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened his eyes, they were his normal shade of dull, icy grey.

His pale skin flushed a bright pink as he answered awkwardly. "Of course. I'm sor-Excuse me." He said as he quickly got up, offered her a hand up, grabbed his bag and left the compartment in a swift swirl of his robes.

"Thanks..." She muttered quietly as she watched him. She turned and grabbed her book bag and slowly walked out of the compartment. Frowning, she thought, 'something is up with Malfoy. I'll have to search the library about natural eye color change… ' She made a note to do the research and quickly found her way off the train and towards her friends. Together, they walked toward the Thestral drawn carriages.