Chapter One
Draco's Legacy
Draco Malfoy sat near the door and watched her as she sat across the room from him. He disliked her so much, but couldn't help being attracted to her. Her scent was making his mouth water. He loved the way she moved, the way she interacted with other people. Always frank and honest, nothing hidden, unlike himself.
She was twenty, he barely twenty-one. He had known since he turned sixteen that she was his mate, and had despised her for the longest time because of that. Oh, what a temper tantrum he had thrown when he made the discovery. But he had not felt the desire, the need, for her until his twenty-first birthday a few days ago. He didn't know how much longer he could go. Every part of her was calling to him.
Yes, Draco Malfoy was part veela. He inherited it from his mother. And Lucius, sadly, really was her mate. The poor girl, having to love that retch of a man.
Draco watched as the object of his desire crossed one black clad leg over the other, making the collared, white dress shirt tightly tucked into the pants pull close against her firm middle.
He hated to admit it, but one of the things he found most attractive about her appearance was the fact that she didn't have curves as such, like most women seemed to want. Nor was she emaciated. No, she had muscles. And it would make sense, considering her line of work.
As soon as she had graduated from Hogwarts at age seventeen, she had immediately signed up for auror training. By the time she was eighteen, she had been ranked as the number one trainee and had been officially initiated into the working force. By the time she was nineteen, she had begun making a name for herself as a highly effective field agent. She was one of the people who did all the dangerous assignments and new how to throw a punch, not to mention curse. And now, at twenty, she was one of the most sought-after aurors, not to mention one of the most sought-after single women, at least by "Witch Weekly" standards.
'But not for long,' Malfoy thought to himself. He would have her, it was his legacy left by his mother.
He scowled as she laughed at something the dark-haired guy next to her said.
The sound of her laughter almost brought chills to his spine. God, why did she have to affect him like this.
"Ahem."
The crowed room became quiet as the twenty-five or so assembled at Number 12, Grimmauld Place turned to look at the old man standing up at the front near the door. Albus Dumbledore looked around at them all, proud at the swelling numbers of the Order of the Phoenix. Yet he was dismayed at the thought of putting so many lives at danger, most of whom he had taught.
In fact, most of the new recruitments were Hogwarts graduates that other Order members knew already and had talked to. Some recruits, like Neville Longbottom or Luna Lovegood, were expected. Others, like Blaise Zabini or Draco Malfoy, weren't. In fact, there were still uneasy murmurs at the latter two being allowed in.
"I'm sure you are all aware," Dumbledore began, "Of the sudden activity of the Death Eaters. We still are unsure as to what they are doing now; our sources have not been able to confirm anything yet."
Draco glanced at Blaise.
"But I worry that they are trying to get at Hogwarts, and I will not have that," the old man continued, a note of resolve in his voice. "Besides the fact that I don't want any students hurt, we are still unaware of the loyalties of some of the older students. Head Auror Kingsley has expressed his wishes to heighten security around the school for overall protection. Since he was not able to make it tonight, he has asked me to tell all of you who are aurors that as soon as you finish your current assignments, you will be getting your new ones: to guard Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"You will each be assigned a certain area to patrol and keep watch over. Two will be put in an area just in case. This also means that you aurors will be moving in to the school. I suggest you pack tonight. The Hogwarts Express leaves tomorrow morning.
"As for the rest of you, if anyone has any suggestions or wants to volunteer, I would be pleased to hear from you. Thank you." The beloved Headmaster finished and moved farther into the room.
Draco Malfoy watched as once again the room broke out in chatter. He would not have to worry about being sent to Hogwarts, considering he already worked there.
Eventually, Snape had been found out as the spy working for the Order. So he was now under permanent protection in Hogwarts and finally allowed the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which left the Potions class unmanned. He was also no longer head of Slytherin house.
Draco Malfoy had stepped up to the plate, at that point, for both positions. Of course, his father had encouraged him to do this for the sake of the Dark Lord, like they thought Snape had been doing. Draco was truly surprised that they would fall for the same trick again. Stupid Death Eaters.
'You would think,' he thought to himself, 'that Potter would have gotten to Voldemort by now. But no. We're still waiting for the frickin' knight in shining armor to swoop in and save the day.'
He watched as the people began flitting out of the room, going back to their regular lives. He knew she was still here, even if he wasn't looking at her. Her presence was like an awareness at the edge of his conscience. Like a burning flame at the edge of his mind.
"Zabini," he nodded as his fellow double agent against Voldemort walked passed him.
"Malfoy," Blaise nodded back.
Draco continued to sit there, waiting for the room to clear completely so that he could talk to Dumbledore in private.
He watched her as she got up out of her seat and headed over to their former Headmaster. They exchanged a few words, she seemed to get in to a slight huff, and then she was headed toward the door. He couldn't help but spare her a nod, which she tightly returned, and then she was gone.
He looked almost longingly after her, her scent trailing on the air.
The room was now empty except for Draco and the old man. Draco got up out of his chair and walked over to the other.
"Headmaster," he said by way of greeting.
"Ah, Mister Malfoy. I suppose you've come to talk to me about a certain woman," he said with a twinkle in his glassy eye, indicating the door she had just left through.
Draco looked at him, slightly taken aback but not a bit surprised. "So you know, then."
Dumbledore nodded. "Especially after the looks you have been giving her all night."
"Well, then, you will also know that, for physical reasons beyond my control, I need her near me. I hate it, but it's true."
Dumbledore nodded again. "That is why Kingsley will be assigning her and Blaise to the dungeons. Their rooms, consequently or not, will also be right next to yours. If you don't mind me asking, when are you planning on telling her? You do realize, that because of who you are, this is putting her in danger. If your father, not to mention Voldemort, find out about your veela inheritance, well…"
"I'm taking it one day at a time. I can't figure out if it would be safer for her to know or not." Draco sighed, pushing the long blonde ponytail back over his shoulder in a most unfeminine way. "You must realize by now that this is hard for me. Of all the women in the world, it had to be her. I mean, how fitting. And I still don't like her. I might be physically attracted to her, but I don't like her."
Dumbledore nodded a third time. "Well, changing the subject for a minute: what do we know about Death Eater activities?"
"We don't know anything," Draco said in a frustrated manner, unconsciously rubbing his forearm where the dark mark, against his will, was branded. "Neither I nor Blaise have been told anything, which probably means that it's going to be something big. But we think you're right in assuming it has something to do with Hogwarts. I like the idea of extra security, even if it is putting her in more danger."
The old Headmaster looked down at his shoes for a minute in contemplation, then back up. "Well, Draco my boy, it would be wise of you to get some sleep. After all, tomorrow the Hogwarts Express leaves for the school!"
Draco gave Dumbledore a tight smile before turning to leave, long hair swishing behind him. Before he made it out of the door though, the wiser man stopped him.
"Draco, just be careful with her. She's a very special girl, and she deserves to be treated right. Besides, I think Ginny Weasley will do you some good." He grinned, yet meant what he said.
Draco turned around and gave the Headmaster a small nod and looked at him hard before exiting. He made his way up to his gloomy room in the gross house.
He lay down on his bed and wondered what the little spitfire was doing right before drifting off to sleep.
