Disclaimer: In Chapter One
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Chapter 6: Allergic to Romance
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Hermione fallowed the students off the stands and back to Hogwarts. They all invited her to their common room for a victory celebration but she declined and headed for the library with one thought in her mind.
How to get out of being Draco's mate.
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Draco was at that very moment lying in the infirmary drugged to a fine haze. He felt absolutely delightful. A soft cradle of light supported his head in a tender embrace. A warmth was filling his heart with a safe feeling, and he floated along in bliss.
"Dr-rra-crraco" A fuzzy voice penetrated the fog that surrounded his brain, he opened his eyes and saw Ginny and her twin were leaning over him. He hadn't even known she had a sister. Hnm.
"Hello. Aren't you going to introduce me?" he smiled back.
"Introduce you? Draco are you Ok?" they both asked.
"I am fine, I feel wonderful." He smiled again and his eyes closed.
Within moments he was snoring softly.
Ginny waved her wand over him checking his vital signs and laughed as he made a small snort and smacked his lips. The sleep, induced by the medication high he was on, was probably the most sleep he had had in weeks.
She and Madam Pomfrey had decided that they would keep him in the infirmary for a couple of days and keep him on the pain medications during that time so he could heal with as little discomfort as possible. And if he should also get some much needed sleep, well all for the better.
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Professor Snape sat in front of the fire in his study with a glass of brandy in his hand, and a snarky look on his face.
Damned Draco, Damned Hermione. He couldn't have cared less if they found eternal love with each other, he didn't care if they hexed each other silly to be honest. He just wanted them together at any cost. He needed to stop everyone from thinking he was Draco's mate.
"Blast!" He threw the antique brandy snifter at the fireplace where it shattered to pieces.
Today a perfectly good plan crushed because of that idiotic Gryffindor seeker. He smiled remembering that he had that particular imbecilic child in class tomorrow. An evil chuckle filled the room, ten thousand points from Gryffindor.
Turning his mind away from revenge he turned it once more to his plans for Hermione and Draco. He hadn't done so well with shock tactics, so he would just have to move on to something more romantic. He settled back in his chair and scanned his memory for anything that might help.
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The library's restricted section, seemed to have books on almost every subject. Hermione had sneaked into it on more than one occasion as a student. There hadn't seemed to be any pressing problem to which she couldn't find a solution, if she just looked hard enough. She perused the shelves and came away with an armful that promised to tell her everything she had ever wanted to know about Veelas but was afraid to ask.
Heartened she sat down at a table and started a methodical search. Page after page was turned, passage after passage read. The sun was sinking below the horizon and students were leaving the library heading for the Great Hall. She had been looking for hours, in hopes to find any indication that a Veela could chose an improper mate.
Aside from the whomping willow incident (which no one was completely sure had been a bad match) there was not anything to support her theory that Draco was wrong! She had found out some other sorts of information however.
'....There have been recorded throughout history the incidents of Dark Bondings between Veela and their mates. However there has never been the report of a false bond. Once the Veela instincts are triggered toward the predestined mate, the one of Veela blood will attempt to find that mate. Once the designated mate is found, there will then ensue a brief time of courtship during which the entire focus of the Veela will be entirely upon that chosen one.
The courtship is by necessity of short duration as the Veela instincts will fight with the human side for dominance. The feeling of completion of the soul takes place after a formal bonding ceremony and a consummation of that mateship. Only then will the Veela instincts start to recede. There will always be a certain glamour, and charm issued by the Veela, also a jealousy toward the mate, but after the official Bonding takes place those signs are minimal.
The law gives the Veela authority to claim mates in all circumstances, including: Married mates, mates who might be incarcerated, and other reasons that a mate might be unavailable. Mates that fall under the legal age of consent will be cloistered until the appropriate age of majority is reached, during that time the Veela is retrained and medicated in an appropriate fashion to maintain sanity....'
The book went on and on, and none of it was of any real help to Hermione All she wanted was to be free of Draco Malfoy. Not find out that she was bound to him for ever, until death do they part. A shudder flowed over her, until death do they part. Suddenly she was scared. This was too serious, this wasn't fair. Fair? It was childish to think that life had anything to do with fairness. But it didn't stop Hermione from wanting to stamp her feet.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione regrouped her thoughts.
Well, clearly spending time looking for ways of proving that she was the wrong mate was not going to be beneficial. The next step was to see if there was a way to make Draco not be a Veela. If there was a way to permanently close off those Veela Instincts, without doing any real damage to him, that would serve her just as well. Then everything could go back to normal.
It was with determination that Hermione placed the books back on the shelf and looked for some obscure spell and potions ones instead.
"Miss Hermione." She looked down and saw a house elf was standing next to her. What in the world was it doing here?
"Professor Dumbledore would like to see you miss."
"Professor Dumbledore, wishes to speak to me?" Hermione questioned.
The elf nodded, then seeing that the message had been delivered and received, it snapped its fingers and disappeared.
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Professor Dumbledore's office looked like it always had, slightly messy but filled with so many interesting things. It was only the look on the headmaster's face that stopped Hermione from wandering around touching things.
"Well Miss Granger, unless you hexed that bludger in an attempt to kill Professor Malfoy, I can only assume that you have captured the attention of someone who wants to assist you in your bonding." He steepled his fingers together and looked at a Hermione.
"What do you mean attempt to kill Draco?" Hermione was completely confused.
"Miss Granger do you mean to tell me you have no idea what's happened to Draco?" Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair.
"No, what happened to Draco?" Hermione's voice got higher without her realizing, causing that old familiar twinkle to come back to Dumbledore's eyes.
"Not too worry Miss Granger, that's the reason I brought you here. Today at the game he was struck in the chest by a rogue bludger and will need to be in the infirmary for a while. Madam Pomfrey assures me he has taken his bone mending potions and will be good as new in a couple of days."
Hermione's shoulders lowered and she relaxed, though why she had been nervous in the first place she couldn't say. Less than ten minutes ago she had wanted nothing more than to never clap eyes on Draco Malfoy again.
"Miss Granger, I was hoping you would do me the favor of teaching his classes while he is incapacitated."
Now why did that sound more like a command than a question?
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"Well Draco, I suppose you are ready to get out of here." Ginny handed him a pile of folded clothing, he noticed they were the same ones he had been wearing when hit by the bludger. He grimaced, they were blood splattered and wrinkled.
"Sorry Draco, no one could get past the wards on your door. We couldn't get you anything fresh to wear. I will just leave you alone to change." She gave him a weak smile and pulled the screen around the bed.
Draco sighed, and could feel a remaining twinge in his chest. He clearly wasn't completely healed yet, but at least he had slept through the worst of it. He didn't think that was coincidental. Part of him thanked Madam Pomfrey and Ginny for keeping him drugged to the hilt. The other part of him was mad at them for the exact same reason.
He changed into his damaged robes and pulled the screen back. Ginny turned from the desk and walked toward him.
"Ok Draco you need to take this for another week, two drops in the morning and two before bed. You will still be a little sore for a while so be a bit careful." She handed him a bottle and patted his arm.
With that Draco left the infirmary and headed for his own rooms. What he needed now was a nice hot shower and clean robes.
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A pair of gray eyes watched Hermione walk into the great hall that evening. She didn't notice until she was almost to the head table, and then faltered in her steps when she saw Draco sitting in his usual place beside Professor Sprout. She smiled despite herself and walked past him to sit next to Severus.
When had he gotten out of the infirmary? Was he ok? Would she have to teach his classes anymore? Not that it wasn't sort of fun. She had never seen herself as a Professor, but the last few days she had enjoyed herself immensely.
Dumbledore got to his feet and the room went silent.
"I am sure we would all like to welcome back Professor Malfoy, he appears to be feeling well. I trust we won't have any other incidents like the one with the bludger." His looked over his half moon glasses at the room, then turned to look at each of his professors as well.
"Of course we won't. Now then, eat, eat." he smiled and sat down. The silence in the hall reigned for a few moments more before the usual meal time chatter resumed.
"I wonder who hexed that bludger?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"How should I know? Why would you think I would have anything to do with something like that? Hmph! I certainly do not know!" Severus sneered down his nose at her and turned away.
Well that was fun.
Hermione looked at her plate and began eating.
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The dream was always the same.
Draco was walking through the mist, trees seemed to reach out to tangle branches into his hair. The sound of his breathing was the only thing to be heard.
He was searching for something. Searching the darkness for something. Something very important. He stopped, and stood completely still his mind scrambling to try to remember the object of his pursuit. He couldn't remember what it was, but knew that it was imperative that he found it. His eyes scanned back and forth, peering through the trees trying to find that illusive something.
He felt a shock run up his spine. His heart leapt into his throat and he began running, faster and faster.
The trees seemed to close in around him and the brush on the ground thickened. He felt himself falling and was on his knees before he could catch himself. There was a new sound now, besides his awkward breathing. It sounded like an owl call. He stayed where he had fallen and twisted his head upward, toward the trees above him.
On the lowest branch of a tall willow tree sat a barn owl, preening her feathers. The owl seeing his interest cocked her head to the side and looked down at him with one amber eye.
He pushed himself to his feet and went toward the tree intent upon getting closer to the bird. At his movement she flew to another tree that rimmed the clearing in which he now suddenly stood. This was for whom he had been searching. He needed to get to her. As he walked from tree to tree she flew off, before he could reach her. This went on until his legs would no longer support him and he fell once more to his knees. His sobs broke the night air and tears chased themselves down his cheeks to fall onto the ground beneath him.
As he lie curled into a ball on the ground, he felt something touch his cheek. He started from the suddenness of that touch. Opening his eyes he saw the owl that he had been chasing had flown silently down to rest beside him. Her wings were stretched wide, and it had been her feathers he had felt brushing against his skin. With a tentative hand he reached forth and touched her softness, then pulled her close to himself and wrapped his arms around her.
A feeling burst forth from him that made him want to sing and cry at the same time, the feeling of elation at having the one thing that made him complete made an ache start in his chest and expand. This is what he had been waiting for all his life.
The tears started in earnest.....and then he woke.
Draco sat straight up in bed and wiped the tears from his cheeks. Damn he had had 'the dream' again. He hadn't the slightest idea what it meant, if anything, but he always woken from it with tears on his face. With a sigh he punched his pillows and flopped back down, knowing he would never get back to sleep.
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In another part of the castle someone else was having a very hard time sleeping, but it wasn't because of a dream.
The night seemed to be closing in around her and Hermione gasped slightly, the little air that she was able to force into her screaming lungs was hardly enough to keep her from blacking out. She opened her eyes and sat up straight out of bed.
Her mind immediately grasped the problem.
Her room was filled with flowers. Vases of flowers covered every square inch of available surface space. Not just any flower but roses, blood red roses, it would have been a romantic gesture if Hermione hadn't been deathly allergic to roses. As it was it could be the thing that killed her.
Her throat was swelling shut and she was having a hard time getting any air in at all, she tried to get out of bed, just get to the hallway. She would be able to breathe there.
She made it three steps before her body went into shock and she was on the floor twitching.
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Draco had almost drifted back off to sleep when he felt all his Veela senses flare to life. Something was wrong. He sat up in bed listening. Straining his ears to see if he could hear any sign of the problem. He heard nothing. Hmm...he started to lie back down again and realized the connection between Hermione and himself, the one that was always there in the back of his mind, couldn't be felt anymore.
"Noooo!" With a roar he was out of bed, and running frantically out of his rooms and toward his mate.
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Ginny circled the room again looking at Hermione, and her swollen features. Her eyes were red and mere slits in her face. The tension in Ginny's back and shoulders made her suddenly realize how scared she was to lose another friend. She had lost so many people that she loved during the war, she didn't want to lose another one now. Not Hermione, not Draco. She was more determined than ever to help them get together.
Three hours later Hermione woke up, Ginny went to the bed immediately.
"Where am I?" Hermione asked confused.
"You are in the infirmary, Draco found you in your room. Its lucky he found you when he..." Ginny trailed off.
"In my room...oh the flowers. I'm allergic to roses."
"Yes we figured that out, when he found you you had gone into shock. He rushed you here and we were able to administer a counter agent. Now lie still for a while."
Madam Pomfrey came over to the bed and began taking Hermione's vital signs.
"I will go let the others know she is going to be ok." Ginny told her colleague.
Ginny walked from the infirmary the short way to the teacher's lounge room. Draco was pacing back and forth still only wearing his black pajama bottoms, he must be cold, Ginny thought before turning her eyes to rest of the room.
Dumbledore was there but without his usual cheerful expression. It had surprised Ginny but Severus had kept the vigil as well. Remus looked over at her and Minerva put the book down that she had been pretending to read. (upside down) Someone must have told Hagrid because he was also in the room his large bulk squeezed onto a well made sofa.
"Well Mistriss Lupin, how is our patient?" The headmaster's words were light but his expression wasn't.
"She has just awoken, Madam Pomfrey is with her now. She will be fine. Just needs some rest, as do all of you." She turned her MediWitch eyes on all of them.
"Can I see her?" Why was she not surprised that the voice was Draco's?
"In the morning, its only a few hours until dawn as it is, just wait until morning. Ok?" Ginny smiled at the room at large and walked back to the infirmary.
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After Ginny left, the others drifted away one by one.
Professor Severus Snape let out a sigh, he was glad Hermione was going to be alright, but BLAST! Damn her sideways. Flowers for Merlin's sake, women LOVED flowers. That had been the most romantic gesture he could think of and the chit had to go and almost get herself killed. What was it with those two? Couldn't they do anything normally?
He swept out of the lounge room and down to his dungeons, his mind seething with rage.
He was almost out of ideas. Almost.
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A/N A general thanks so much for your interest in this story! Loved your reviews.
There were a few things that caught my eye....
i aM taMi xPp...It seems that the HP Veela train has left you standing on the station platform. I think that the dozens of writers out there doing this sort of Veela Fic have been taking more than a little artistic license with mythology. We are running on a faulty premise and we are LOVING it...;) If its wrong, well I don't wanna be right...LOL
Lyth Taeraneth....No Ginny/Remus loving for you? Come on now cross-generational loving is sooooo good...well after the age of consent of course. I am a stickler for that sort of thing. ANYWAY if you think that Ginny and Remus are bad, just wait...Its going to get that much worse...:| --scared face.
Ezmerelda...loved your "example" regency romance shared interest, I laughed for a good long time...thanks.
Arbitrary...pot and kettle? hmmm?
As for all the people who participated in my little cliche contest, THANK you! Some of you were thinking like I was, but I did get some very good ideas that hadn't even crossed my mind. Everyone who participated is going to get a preview of that future chapter, whether I use your idea in future chapters or not.....THANKS ALL! :)
Ok that's it for now before the a/n is longer than the chapter...Ugh...also I am going to be trying to update every week for this story.