Please note - all mistakes are my own. I do not currently have a Beta/Alpha to help me correct my horrible grammar.

I do not own the characters created by JK Rowling, nor do I make any profit from this fanfiction.

This is all just fun for me.

Chapter Thirty

Hermione rubbed her temples as she sat up. Her body ached from her night on the sofa and the regret ate at her for not moving to her comfortable bed. The light from the windows trickled in casting a warm glow about her flat but she couldn't stop the grimace that pulled at her lips.

"I hate mornings," she muttered as she shoved herself off the couch, dragging herself to her bedroom to prepare for the day. Barefoot and still in her sleep wear, she stared at her closet with a small sense of resentment. All she wanted to do was stay home and sleep more, but it was the middle of the week. It just wasn't possible if she wanted to keep her shop afloat.

With a frustrated sigh, she dug around her closet until she found a pair of jeans and a loose maroon blouse. As soon as she was dressed, she found herself pausing in her doorway to stare blankly at the mark tarnishing her arm. It wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't going to magically disappear. Embracing it would be for the best, she reassured herself but she grabbed a cardigan anyway. The people's stares were too much. Eyes trained on her mark, watching with all the questions in their stares. It was hard to not feel the pressure drilling in on her from all sides.

"Maybe I should think about staying home," she mumbled to her furry creature as she rounded the kitchen counter to slip on a pair of flats.

"Then I suppose you won't want the tea I brought you." She yelped as the voice spoke behind her. Whirling around, wand in hand, she stared at her intruder. Her hand immediately dropped when she came face to face with Draco but her free hand went to her chest as she tried to catch her breath.

"Merlin, Draco," she cursed. "Warn a person, why don't you?"

He smirked. "I wasn't exactly sneaking up on you." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Want me to start announcing myself?"

"Maybe," she mumbled through gritted teeth before taking the hot mug from his offering hands. "Thank you," she murmured as her mouth descended upon the lip of the lid. She hummed her happiness as she started moving about again but was quickly caught around her hip when she felt his fingers tug on her belt loop. Stopping in place, she turned to look at him but froze when his lips brushed her temple. His murmured good morning had all the tension melting out of her body. His show of affection had a smile hiding behind her coffee mug as she moved again.

"How was your trip?" She asked as she started pulling her various items together to get to work. A quick glance had her relaxing when she realized she had another half hour before she needed to be over there. He stood next to the counter, sipping at his own container, watching her through thick eye lashes. He shrugged as he gently set his mug aside.

"It's as I assumed - I'm not accepting of the Veela so we're not… bonding? Him and I, I mean."

"I suppose that would make sense." She placed her thumb nail against her lip and ran it across, back and forth. Her eyes unfocused as she fell into her thoughts. "It's a rejection of one self and it's become a seperation of the soul, so to speak." She winced. "Does that make sense?"

He nodded just before taking a drink from his own cup. "It does."

"So… you don't want to be a Veela? May I ask why?"

His eyes shuddered in a flash and his voice lost that carefree quality it did when around her. He reverted back to his old ways, face shut down from emotions and a slight curl of his lip as he asked her, voice deadly quiet. "Why would anyone choose to be something else?

"That's not what I mean," she responded quietly. "I was just thinking that maybe if we found the reason why you don't want to be a Veela, it may help to fix the issue that lay between you and the Veela."

He hated her logic. It was one of the insufferable things about her, and yet he always admired her thirst for knowledge. Not that he would be letting her know that anytime soon. Cup still in hand, he sipped again as he murmured quietly. "It may be my upbringing or I'm more prattish than I thought, but I liked my life before all this chaos. Not to say I want to go back to Death Eater Draco, but I would like to live a semi-quiet life now that the madman is gone. Ever since this," he waved a hand up and down his body. "Came into my life, I've had nothing but torment and chaos."

Hermione flinched at his words, but tried very, very hard to remain unphased before him. While she was very much aware of what he was saying, this Veela had brought them together. She was secretly thankful for it but trying to put herself in Draco's position was harder than she thought when all she could feel was the hurt. Taking a slow breath in through her nose, she tried to rationalize her thoughts. "I can see how frustrating that would be - especially since he has taken over your body, mind to do what he wishes. That leaves you in the literal dark."

Draco felt the twinge of pain and instantly felt remorse. It hadn't been his intention to hurt her, or for her to take his comments personally - but how could she not? She only came into his life because of the Veela.

"Hermione," he started but she shook her head.

"I know - I know, let's just ignore me for a moment. We've got to get this figured out so this doesn't keep happening to you," she said as she sipped from her cup once more. Her eyes casted down so as not to look at him.

Shaking his head, he set his own cup on the counter and moved forward, slowly, as not to scare her with his presence. With long, nimble fingers he took her cup from her clenched fingers and set it down. Then, with precise movements, he slipped his fingers into the loops of muggle jeans at her hips and pulled her into him. Releasing one grasp on her hip, he lifted his hand and gently nudged her chin up to look at him.

"I do not regret this."

"I know, Draco -"

"No - what I said hurt you, so I need to clarify." His gaze sharpened as he looked into her watery eyes. "I do not regret this change bringing us together. I-I struggle with the fact that something else can control me, and can take over at a moment's notice. It frustrates me that after the Dark Lord, our murky past, I was not given a moment's peace before I was thrown back into chaos."

"I understand," she murmured quietly just before she leaned forward and brushed a gentle kiss against his jaw line. "I'm sorry you have been unable to find peace after everything you had to endure during his time at the Manor."

He let his hand drop to her neck. His thumb brushed against the column of her throat. "Mmm, I find peace when I am with you," he whispered just before he descended. His lips bet hers and the electric current that she felt in his arms went haywire. The fury of sparks that flickered just under her skin went wild, chaotic - racing everywhere it could reach. From her fingertips to the tips of her toes she could feel the current run wild.

His lips were soft, almost hesitant as he kissed her. She pressed against him, firmer, pushing her tongue against the seam in his lips. Worry gnawed at her, at first, when he seemed to hesitate against her silent request. She moved to pull back but the tightening of his fingers against her neck and hip had her humming with approval. His mouth opened but he did not allow her entrance, rather he slipped his tongue through her lips and kissed the breath out of her lungs. As she gently bit down on his bottom lip, she felt his fingers flex against her hip. A thrill traced up her spine at the movement. Merlin, she thought with a soft moan.

They had to come up for air moments later though. His hands flew from her body to clutch the ledge of the counter top as his forehead dropped to her shoulder. Pinning her within his arms, his breath was ragged as he pulled in deep long breaths. Hermione couldn't contain the smile that pulled across her lips even as he remained tucked against her.

"You'll be the death of me," he murmured against her skin before pulling himself upright at the little laugh she couldn't help but release. She bit her lip, trying to contain the smile but she knew she'd been caught when his eyes darted down to where her teeth dug into her bottom lip. "Merlin, but what a way to go." She was pretty positive he hadn't meant to say that out loud because his cheeks stained a lovely shade of pink just before he turned away to grab his long forgotten cup of tea. His gaze was unfocused as he took a sip from the cup but the moment the cool liquid hit his tongue he was making a face. Moving her from her spot at the counter, he poured it down the sink.

"Bloody witch," he hummed good naturedly.

"What?" She asked with a smile.

"I forgot about my tea. It was cold -" Hermione gasped as she caught sight of the clock.

"SHIT! I'm late! I'm never - bloody wizard," she threw over her shoulder just as she raced for the Floo. Her hands barely reached down quick enough to grab her shoes. As she stood on the Floo, she put on her shoes, telling Draco, "I'll see you later!" just before she yelled out her business.

Draco stood rooted to his spot as the force of nature that disappeared from the residence in a blink. Eyebrows disappearing into his hairline, he glanced about the still cluttered space. Books piled higher and higher it would seem. He fought a smile. The Veela purred quietly in the background.

A soft yowl had his gaze dropping down to her feline. "Don't look at me - she's your master." Crookshanks hissed at him before turning back where he came from. "Bloody witch," he murmured through the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he took her forgotten cup and poured the tea down the sink's drain. "Waste of tea," he remarked but he knew the words weren't true as he spoke them.

Draco sat in his office chair as the day drifted on. He had found himself down in the parlor having tea with his mother not long after his return from Hermione's flat - something he hadn't been able to do previously due to the unruliness of his own moods. His mother was the last living person who cared for him. Well, that wasn't quite true anymore, but she was his family and he did everything in his power to protect her from any more harm. Especially from himself.

If she had been surprised, she didn't show it. Probably her pureblood sensibilities and training kept her from expressing that shock, but he appreciated it in the moment nonetheless. They discussed some of his findings, but the rest of the topics went on about her latest excursions with her sister and the recent books she'd picked up from Hermione's shop. He had been surprised to hear she frequented his ma- Hermione's shop, but allowed her to continue on her little trade without interruption about the recent potions journal that had been printed.

His thoughts lingered on the morning's events with Hermione though. He could only half listen to her prattle on before he had to excuse himself to his study.

The Veela was restless, looking quietly in the background, waiting. Draco could feel him poking and prodding - trying impatiently to find a crack in Draco's defenses so he may take over and find her. Unease started to linger in the back of his mind as he recalled Anna's words once again.

Perhaps, if he saw her, got to touch her just once - kiss her - the beast would quiet.

Hermione returned home, a little later than usual since she'd arrived late to open the store. While she'd opened the shop on time, she had run behind for her morning routine of preparing and cataloguing so she had to linger in the store with some of the little things she'd managed to put off.

She used the Floo in the shop to return to her apartment to find Draco lingering in the kitchen, quiet, as he moved about. Most of the lights had been left off, she supposed that had to do with his heightened eyesight, except for the kitchen light. Leaning against the open frame, she watched him move around the counter and stove. The kettle steamed as it seemed to have finished heating the water inside. Two cups sat beside one another on the counter with little tea bags resting inside. She watched him pour the hot water into the cups and add a splash of milk to hers, one sugar cube and then set it aside.

Taking the last cup, he placed it before him and added two cubes of sugar. He turned for the silverware drawer, and murmured under his breath. "You realize I heard the Floo, so I'm well aware you are home."

Hermione pushed off the wall and walked up to him, but she hesitated in grabbing him. He wasn't Harry and he may not appreciate the intimacy all the time, so she ended up reaching for her cup and plastering a smile over her face. She watched him turn to face her, a frown pulling at the corner of his mouth.

Slowly, he set his cup down, eyes still trained on her, as he reached for her. His fingers curled around her own and pulled her closer. Slowly, hesitantly he kissed her cheek. "Good evening," he murmured, his lips brushing against her cheek. Smiling in spite of herself, she returned the sentiment and brushed her lips against his cheek as well. Then she slipped out of his grasp and turned her smile on him.

"How was your day?" He shrugged. "Well, did you find anything more in the books about this separation between you and the Veela?" He shook his head. Sighing, she felt her shoulders drop as she slipped her fingers around her cup. The warmth tickled at her fingertips as she brought it to her mouth. A happy hum escaped when she sipped at the delicious tea.

When she raised her head, she found a mix of silver and storm clouds trained on her. Her brow furrowed though when she noticed the silver slowly leaking more and more into his pupil. His tance was stiff as he stood in the middle of her kitchen.

"Draco?"

"I-I think I'd best leave. Enjoy the rest of your eve-" He walked swiftly around her, careful not to brush against her. She blinked and watched him walk out of the kitchen in as little as two strides. Just as she gained her thoughts from her moment of being stun, she heard the Floo and his voice shout out, 'Malfoy Manor'.

Cup long forgotten in her fingers, she stared at the space he'd vacated and tried to process what had just happened. Furrowing her brow, she looked about her and tried to recall what all had been said since she made her way through her flat.

Crookshanks came out from the hallway and yowled.

"I know, I know." She moved about to find his cat food. "You don't happen to know what's up with Mr. Malfoy, hmm?" Golden eyes stared up at her. The smooshed nose of her creature seemed to turn up more with her question. "Fine, be that way." Food in the dish, she set it on the floor for the fluffy creature. She found herself walking toward her bedroom where she slowly changed out of her work attire, her mind on an endless loop of what had just happened. Pulling a worn t-shirt from her closet and a pair of sleep shorts from the shelves, she changed and went back to the kitchen. Her cup still rested against the countertop. Taking it into her hands, she absorbed the warmth and drank in a long gulp.

Draco knew the moment she'd stepped into his orbit, he'd made a mistake. The Veela was clawing at his defenses, raging to get to her. Her lips touching his did nothing to soothe it so he'd returned the gesture and he felt the fracture in his defenses. With thinly veiled control, he'd stepped away from her. Then the blasted witch had hummed as if she were the happiest thing in existence at his little effort. His heart had thundered and the blasted Veela wanted out to help her more. His barely held up walls were tumbling before he could fix it.

So, with as much speed as possible, he'd whisked off with a curt goodbye and went to the Manor. In his room, he locked himself away until he could feel a sense of control back within his grasp. The Veela was furious, but he would not relent when it meant her safety. Couldn't the Veela understand that? He had thought as he quickly jotted a letter to her. A quick request of a house elf to send it, and he huddled down in the dark, a spell to silence whatever devastation that may come, as the roar in his ears went on and on.

Later that night, half way through a new book, she heard a tap against her window. She pulled herself up from the sofa and walked to the tapping. Opening up the window she allowed the dark owl entrance who promptly dropped a letter at her feet and left the way it came. A familiar scrawl on the envelope had her hesitating picking it up.

"You're being daft," she chastised herself. With a shake of her head, she snatched it up and ripped the item open. Taking the letter from it's containment, she read the letter and felt a mixture of emotions crash through her like a hurricane.

Granger,

I'll be taking a few days to spend time with my mother. Owl if you need anything.

Malfoy

Hermione frowned.

What the hell happened?

A/N: Here you go.
Also - I'm human. I'm an adult. I'm a mom. I'm updating when I can. Please remember that it is not my job to write for you. I do this because I enjoy it. I love to see encouragement and love and kindness, but I can and will stop if I start to feel that this is no longer fun for me anymore.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME :)