Disclaimer in Chapter One

Chapter 13: The First Step is Admitting You Have a Problem

Remus and Poppy were pacing awaiting Ginny's return, they hoped with Hermione in tow. Their eyes were drawn again and again to the pale form lying on the hospital bed. The form that looked so different from Draco Malfoy as to be someone completely alien and strange. He keened a high moaning cry that made their hair stand on end along their bodies. His shining pale limbs fought against the restraints that held him as immobile as they could, until the calming draughts could take root in his mind.

Remus looked at the clock. It had only been a few minutes since Ginny had left, but Draco seemed to have become much worse in that short amount of time, it made him fear for Draco.

Hurry Ginny, hurry! Remus said again and again in his mind like a mantra. They all knew enough about the Veela inheritance to know that Draco's mate would be the only one, if anyone, who would be able to draw him from his insanity back to his former self. All of Draco's protections had been stripped away to the point that there may not be any way to get him back at all. Even Hermione's constant presence and touch may not work at this point. They had to try.

Ginny's voice broke into Hermione's misery and she realized with a start she had been weeping into Severus Snape's waist coat! Her eyes got very large as she looked at his face. What she saw there wasn't at all comforting, he had his usual sneer carefully in place. Removing her clutched fists from his robes, she moved back. It was then that she noticed there was a large wet spot on his chest. She leaned in as if to try to rub it away but he moved before she could touch him again.

"Sorry." She mumbled.

"Honestly we don't have time for you to be sorry right now. Come with me." Ginny came forward and grabbed Hermione's arm in a forceful grip.

Hermione had never seen Ginny this urgent about anything, but it didn't make her want to give in. She was still panic stricken.

Almost without thinking she tried to pull away from her friend.

She had only just come to grips with the futility of her trying to find a loophole out of this whole thing. If she saw Draco again, so soon, she might forget that and bolt. She had been at the restaurant. Ginny didn't understand, couldn't understand what Hermione had almost done. In public! She couldn't see him again until she could be assured of her own control. Of course she wasn't sure when that would be, but it definitely wasn't this soon.

"Oh no you don't! Its about time you did something helpful for once." Ginny did a good imitation of Professor Snape and glared at Hermione, never once letting Hermione get her arm free.

Hermione felt irritation come over her at Ginny's obvious disappointment in her. As if she was letting all of them down? Why should it matter? Why should she care? This was her life? Right? She could do what she wanted! No, she couldn't, that fact had already been established in more ways than she could have hoped to understand. She felt the irritation give way to guilt, and meekly gave into Ginny's demanding pulling. Eyes downcast she followed the other girl down toward the infirmary.

There were too many students loitering around the halls after curfew for Severus Snape's well being. So instead of joining Hermione and Ginny he decided to do rounds and pass out much needed detentions. Just because the professors were in an uproar tonight was no excuse for rules breaking. Snape would rise to the occasion, once again, and teach them a much needed lesson.

His black clad figure stalking the halls put a stop to the tittle tattle and wondering little tongues spreading gossip, on subjects about which they hadn't the slightest knowledge.

He frowned, perhaps if the Headmaster hadn't prohibited any interference they might not be in this situation now. But as usual Severus would hold his tongue, and do what was required of him.

Albus Dumbledore was at that very moment walking toward Hogwarts, after having spent the better part of two hours calming and altering a few memories of the patrons of the restaurant. It might be surprising to note that all of the patrons had indeed wanted their memories altered, for their own good of course, when given the option.

The less stigma that followed Draco, and the school, the better, and Dumbledore was not adverse to a bit of persuasion if the need arose. He might be the paean of the Wizarding Light, but that didn't change the fact that he could be quite forceful a personality.

He had cleaned up one mess this evening, but if they couldn't bring Draco back there was no way to avert a much bigger problem. Draco Malfoy was still the Malfoy heir, but an INSANE Draco Malfoy that was an heir of a different colour (no pun intended...well, maybe a bit.) Even a wizard of Dumbledore's status and ability had no desire to inform either of the Sr. Malfoys that their child's mind had gone the way of the Dodo, no that was not a conversation that he wanted to have. Not in his lifetime. It would be hard enough to tell them of tonight, Merlin help him if the results were permanent.

Hermione followed Ginny, her mind numb, her feet simply moving. The fear inside her was still the primary emotion, she still didn't want to see Draco. Didn't want to have those emotions recalled to her. Didn't want that feeling of uncontrollable lust to flow over her again. That was what scared her the most, that feeling of wanting Draco above anything else, despite EVERYTHING else.

The large double doors of the Hospital wing loomed closer and Hermione could sense the Veela barred behind that wooden barrier. She wanted to bolt, but Ginny wasn't giving her that option.

The doors opened at their arrival, as if of their own accord.

Remus stood there sweat beading on his brow.

"Thank Merlin you've come." He took Hermione's free arm and they hurried her forward.

The sight that met her eyes stopped her feet from moving causing Ginny and Remus to come to a halt for a moments as well, before simply dragging her protesting form closer to creature that used to be Draco.

Closing her eyes didn't help, tattooed onto her mind forever would be this drooling, thrashing mad beautiful creature. This creature with such pale and silvered hair. This creature with luminescent skin and feverish rantings that called out to her. A creature who cried for her touch, demanded she give everything she was. There were whispered seductive promises of blood and sex. Two things that suddenly seemed to have infinite appeal within her bewildered mind.

She shook her arms from the bands that held her back from her Mate. Stumbling forward on shaking legs, Hermione could feel the Veela instincts grip her and throw her back, before wrapping her up and moving her forward again. There was no conscious thoughts in Hermione now, she went to Draco because there was nothing else in the room. Nothing that mattered. She got to the bed where Draco lie restrained and fighting. She put a finger to his lips and laughed slightly when he whimpered into her flesh. His eyes opened at the sound, the depth drawing her into his pain befuddled mind, becoming one with him.

"Release him!" Hermione's voice cut through the room causing the hair to stand up on Ginny's neck.

"Hermione, it's not safe..." Ginny trailed off when Hermione turned and gave her a look that promised something Ginny didn't want to know if she didn't do as instructed. With a quick look at Remus, who was standing with his eyes closed and his arms over his chest, she decided she may as well remove the restraints. If Hermione couldn't control him right now what was the point of this whole thing anyway?

"Release him. Release him" Hermione was caressing Draco's face with soft fingers. Her face bent to his. "Release him." She whispered again.

Ginny went only as close as she had to and muttered a quick spell to negate the power of the magical restraints they had placed on Draco. The hair on her arms stood on end and she moved back to stand with Remus and Poppy.

Hermione sat on the bed and placed her arms around Draco's shoulders shifting his torso into her lap, wiping his face with the hem of her robes she turned once again.

"Now out." She hissed the words, her face a fierce mask.

"Hermione..." Ginny tried, but felt her arm taken by Remus.

He led her out of the room and let Poppy close the door after them.

"Do you think that was wise?" Ginny motioned toward the door.

"Ginny do you think we really have a choice?" Remus was rubbing his arms. "Can you feel that? In there?" His eyes closed, and when he opened them again it was a look that Ginny hadn't seen in a long time. His beast had been touched by the Veela instincts.

"Remus...Remus!" She shook him and he leaned toward her, his face twisted in pain.

"Poppy! Get his potion!" The beast was being forced out of him by something other than the full moon. Ginny was in shock! This had never happened before.

Poppy looked at the closed door to the infirmary, and then to Ginny. Without saying a word she ran down the corridor, ostensibly toward the dungeons. Severus always made extra wolfsbane, for emergencies. Not that they had had one up until now.

Ginny was stroking Remus' back and whispering soothing words to him, he arched and cried trying to fight the transformation. What was left of his human mind could tell that it wasn't right. This change was not the natural change, to have a primal force pull his beast from him wasn't something that anyone knew could happen. He couldn't change now, it wasn't safe, no precautions had been taken. He growled lightly and shook his head. Ginny held him more firmly to her chest.

He had started to snuffle at her neck, and grip her shoulders to the point of pain. Ginny forced her lips together, trying not to whimper or act like prey. She couldn't show her fear. Hurry Poppy! Hurry!

Hermione watched the door close and turned back to Draco. He was looking up at her with glazed over eyes and stopped struggling in her arms. A small smile slid across his face and his eyelids dropped closed. The moment the calming draught lulled him to sleep Hermione could feel the compulsion to touch him, also fade to a level where she could once again think. It was still there beating warmly at the back of her mind, but at least she could think of something besides her need.

A deep shaky breath escaped her lips, and her first thought was to RUN! Run and not look back. She moved him off her lap and got off the bed. Her legs still felt shaky. The moment she removed her touch from Draco he started moaning and shifting about on the bed. Even the strong potion running through his system wasn't enough to quiet him.

His thrashing became more violent and she put her hand to his shoulder to prevent him from falling off the bed, and he sighed and relaxed at her touch. Snatching her hand back as if bitten, Hermione watched Draco become frantic again. Ok, so she had to touch him apparently. Fine. She pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down. Her hand touching his cold fingers, cradling them between her palms.

Albus had been attuned to the wards of the school long enough to know when something wasn't right. He had started running toward the castle without even thinking about it, his flamboyant robes held up past his old knobby knees. It should have looked ridiculous, but one look at his face removed any humour from the situation.

He fairly flew into the main hall not stopping but rushing up the flights of stairs toward the infirmary, the lump in his stomach keeping him moving far past the time when his burning lungs were crying for him to stop and take a break.

The corridor turned and he could see Poppy and Severus running in the same direction, ahead of him. Yes he had been right. Something very bad was happening. Severus didn't run, and he WAS running.

A flash from a wand lit the dark hallway and a howl could be heard, he ran faster than he had thought possible at his age.

"Immobulus!" He yelled as soon as he got close enough. Remus had changed and was leaning down over a fallen Professor Snape, tongue lolling from his open jaw. Sharp teeth were mere inches from the potion master's neck. The werewolf blinked and growled low in his throat but was not strong enough to throw off the Headmaster's spell.

After making sure that Remus couldn't move, Dumbledore pulled Severus out from between the werewolf's front legs and to safety. Severus moaned a bit and cursed, clutching his head. Ah, yes he would be ok.

The Headmaster patted his cranky potion's master and looked over to find Poppy kneeling next to someone on the floor. He could see red hair, it was Ginny.

He moved swiftly to them. Poppy was moving her wand and muttering spells under her breath.

"How is she?" He put his hand on her shoulder.

"She will be fine, I just need to get her to..." Her voice dropped off and she looked at the closed infirmary doors.

Albus didn't know why that was such a problem.

"Hermione and Draco are in there." Poppy stated as if that was all that needed to be said.

A thought struck the Headmaster and he looked to where Remus was now lying panting on the floor with Severus leaning over him. He looked out the window and back to Remus.

"What happened here?" His face was filled with confusion.

"His beast was called from him by Draco." Poppy said and turned back to the unconscious Ginny.

"Veela instincts could call out a Werewolf's beast?" In all his long years Dumbledore had never heard anything like that.

"Apparently." Came Severus's dry response.

Dumbledore looked at his potion's master who was cradling his head.

This evening could have been catastrophic. He hadn't realized that Draco's breakdown would have such far reaching consequences. Ginny looked pale, Severus was cradling his head, and Remus was lying on the floor in his changed form whimpering.

"Severus and I will go and see to moving Draco, we will be back."

Severus and the Headmaster entered the infirmary with wands raised and ready.

Hermione was facing them her eyes large.

"Professor what is happening? I heard noise...couldn't leave." She took her hand from Draco who immediately started thrashing in his bed.

Dumbledore and Severus approached the bed when they noticed that Hermione appeared to have calmed down from how Poppy had described her.

"If you had just accepted your fate, none of this would have happened." Severus growled at Hermione, before Dumbledore could say a word.

"Now, now dear boy. We can't blame Miss Granger." Dumbledore patted Severus on the shoulder, not quite believing it himself.

His placating gesture didn't appear to work, the potion's master glared all the harder at Hermione, rubbing his sore head absentmindedly.

"Remus changed without the full moon and we need to bring Ginny in here. Severus and I are going to shift you and Draco to one of the private rooms so Poppy can deal with the others."

"Ginny?" Hermione looked stricken.

Dumbledore patted Hermione this time and the gesture didn't seem to help any more than it had with Severus, perhaps he was losing his touch.

"Let's get you shifted and then we can bring Ginny and Remus in here so Poppy can look after them. She should take a look at your head too my friend." The headmaster turned to Severus.

Severus didn't answer, but Dumbledore hadn't really expected an answer, because in his mind it hadn't been a question.

Severus and the Headmaster levitated Draco toward the back of the infirmary and the private rooms that were behind Poppy's and Ginny's office. Hermione clutched at his hand to keep him calm.

They settled him in the room and Professor Dumbledore transfigured an uncomfortable wooden chair into a fluffy fabric covered grandma chair, doilies on the arms included.

"Go get your head checked Severus." Dumbledore waved the sour man out of the room and pulled up a chair next to Hermione.

"How is he faring?"

Hermione looked at Draco, his head was moving sluggishly on his pillow back and forth. Even with the drugs in his system, and being touched by his mate, he was still visibly distressed.

"Well we certainly have had a bit of excitement this evening..." Dumbledore started.

"I don't think that any of us were aware Draco's Veela instincts had the power to call out Remus' beast. Its very disconcerting to find out new things at my age." He twinkled at Hermione, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are they alright?" She whispered.

"They will be fine Hermione, I am more worried about Draco. I am certain you are aware that neither of you can go as you have been. I am afraid we don't have the luxury of time anymore. You are Draco's mate. Hermione, the sooner you accept that fact the better. For all of us." He patted her on the shoulder and left the room before she could say anything else.

Hermione's heart fell in her chest. No matter how nice the headmaster had been she could hear the censure in his voice.

It wasn't as if she had been denying things for any evil purposes, she just wasn't in love. She looked at Draco, he was attractive there was no denying that. But that didn't equal love, nor did the power that raced through them when they touched. It might sound sappy but Hermione needed more.

She sighed and leaned back in her chair, her fingers still entwined with Draco.
Ginny came back to consciousness slowly, her eyes clearing. Her head ached and she hurt in places she didn't know she had. Groaning she turned her head, and it struck her that she was in the infirmary. Remus was lying in the bed next to her's, his face a pale mask. His breathing so light she couldn't hear him even from this close, if he was breathing at all. Panic hit her. What if he wasn't breathing?

She eased herself into a sitting position and her head felt as if it was going to fall from her shoulders. She put her hand to it and felt a large lump on her temple. It was tender to the touch and was causing a throbbing in time to her heart beat.

Not daring to get up with her head about to fall off, she carefully leaned over the side toward Remus to see if she could detect any movement at all from him. A wave of dizziness flowed over her and she clutched the mattress before she could slide off.

"Ginny Lupin! Get back in that bed." Poppy's stern voice cut through her like a knife.

Groaning she sank back into her bed and closed her eyes. She meant to open them again and tell Poppy she was well enough to get up, but her eyelids refused to open so she gave in and drifted off to sleep.

Hermione woke abruptly when her head fell to the side again. It was still dark outside the sliver of moon the only light in the room. It fell on the bed highlighting Draco's still form. He was resting more or less peacefully, every now and again he muttered something, but Hermione's rubbing the pulse point on his wrist with her thumb seemed to help settle him.

It was clear that she had to stay with him at least until he woke from the draught that Poppy had given him earlier. She hadn't seen the mediwitch since she had first entered the hospital wing, she could only hope that Ginny, Remus and Severus were going to be alright.

She settled her head against the back of the chair and tried to get comfortable. Her neck protested the movement. Sleeping in a chair wasn't ever comfortable, regardless of how fluffy Dumbledore had made the cushions when he had transfigured it.

She removed one hand from Draco's and covered his hand with her other one before he could protest. Holding her arm in that outward stretched position was causing her fingers to go numb, so she shook her arm to get the feeling back and grimaced when the blood flooded the area with pins and needles.

She rested her tingling hand in her lap and attempted to relax back into sleep.

Hermione wasn't sure how long had actually passed before the forearm of her extended arm started to twitch. She switched arms and leaned back again.

A strange ticking noise started in the room and Hermione couldn't identify it. Strange noises you can't identify make it impossible to sleep until you CAN identify them, and so she strained her eyes into every corner of the room to see if she could figure out just what she was hearing. She peered and listened for what seemed hours until noticing there was an owl at the window.

Disentangling herself from Draco's hand she sprinted across the room to open the window. A large owl flew to sit on the headboard of Draco's bed and looked down at him with one eye.

Without Hermione touching him Draco had started to moan and twist. She ran back across the room and put her hand on his arm.

"Lumos." A soft light filled the room.

The owl cocked its head at her, watching as she rubbed her hands in a soothing motion over Draco.

Once he had calmed a bit Hermione coaxed the owl onto the mattress so she could remove the rolled parchment from its leg. Trying to untie anything, from an owl's leg, one handed was not easy.

Finally she got the paper free and unrolled it.

Hermione Granger,

I have just gotten word from Headmaster Dumbledore about the events of the evening. I was horrified to learn that you have denied Draco as your mate. It is typical of a muggleborn wizard to not understand the importance of the Veela bond. The decision is not yours to make. Blood will call, and Veela must obey.

If the Headmaster hadn't forbad me to enter school grounds you would be dealing with me in person, as it is, know that if my son suffers any more at your hands his won't be the only suffering.

Narcissa

PS Do not hesitate to contact me know if you need help with the wedding plans.

By the time Hermione finished reading the letter she was shaking. Her future mother in law indeed. The woman was almost as frightening as Lucius Malfoy.

Hermione couldn't tell if the owl was waiting for a response, a treat, or simply watching her to make sure she was treating Draco the way Narcissa thought she should.

She decided to ignore the owl and try to get back to sleep. If Narcissa wanted to spy that was up to her.

"Nox." The light went out in the room a few minutes later the owl flew out the still open window.

Hermione muttered a spell, waved her wand, and the window closed softly.

No matter how hard Hermione tried there was no way to fall asleep, she was too uncomfortable. The angle that she had to hold her head and her arms weren't conducive to relaxing. She wriggled around in the chair for a few more minutes before giving up.

The night seemed as if it would never end, it was the longest of Hermione's life. She could almost feel the minutes ticking by.
Severus sat in his chair watching the fire, drinking a pain dulling potion. Tonight had been uncomfortable on so many levels. Not the least of which was being thrown to the floor by a slavering werewolf. It brought back memories. Things he didn't want to remember.

He filled his glass again and started to drink himself into a happy oblivion where old childhood humiliations wouldn't matter.
The sun cut directly through Hermione's eyelids to bore into her brain. She opened her eyes carefully. She was leaning forward in a chair with her cheek resting against a mattress.

She tried to sit up but found her head pinned to the mattress by something tangled into her hair. She put her hand up and felt warm fingers. They were Draco's fingers. She remembered where she was.

Well she had been able to get some sleep after all, it seemed. She worked on uncurling his fingers and pulled his hand from her. Sitting up and stretching felt very good after the night she had had. She made sure to keep one hand to Draco's. He seemed to be calmer this morning. Not muttering or twisting.

She yawned and looked around the room.
Remus sat watching Ginny sleeping, a feeling flooded him that he hadn't felt in years. Guilt and hatred of who he was. He had harmed the person he loved most in the world. He stroked his hand through her hair and carefully touched the lump on her temple. Anger at himself curled around his stomach like a fist.

Poppy had mentioned that Severus had been treated as well. His relationship was tenuous enough with the chilly potion's master without this too. This was too close to what had happened years ago, and he knew that Severus would also be remembering it. As soon as Ginny awoke he had better go try to make amends.

Telling himself that neither incident had been his fault didn't seem to help matters a bit.
Dumbledore sat at the head table eating calmly as if half a dozen of his professors were not missing from the table.

There were rumours abounding, the Great Hall fairly buzzed with tales of howling heard in the halls, professors missing, and finally Professor Snape running. The other stories would have been scary enough, but Professor Snape running had the students in an uproar. Something was going on and none of the staff was saying anything about it. So naturally they had come up with the craziest notions and none of them were even half as wild as the truth.

If the Headmaster hadn't been so worried he might have found the whole thing humorous.
Two days, with very little sleep, sitting in a chair with no one but an unconscious Veela for company, was starting to make Hermione feel more than a bit off kilter. She vacillated between guilt and anger. She was one moment determined to leave and let things happen as they may, and the next believing that it was she alone who was responsible for the hurts that had been inflicted upon her friends. Narcissa's letter had been read time and again until her eyes were so tired the words blurred.

Poppy had come in and they had tried to revive Draco at one point, giving Hermione time to go to the toilet and shower. When she had come back he had been wild eyed and frothing at the mouth, no sane thoughts visible in him at all. That had ended her leaving of him but for the shortest of times, now making do with quick trips to the loo and hastily muttered cleaning charms on her frizzy hair and clothing.

While his mind was soothed by her constant contact, Hermione was beginning to feel the stirrings of claustrophobia. A chant of "out, out, out" had begun in her mind, and there was little she could do to push it away. She couldn't even concentrate on the books that the head master had brought her. She was going slowly out of her mind, out of her mind like Draco...both of them together, together in their insanity. Together in a padded cell in St. Mungos, chained together for ever. Painting pretty pieces of pottery...she smiled at her alliteration.

Tears started in her eyes and she swiped them away when she heard the door opening.

Remus looked inside his usual smile on his lips. Taking one look at her face he offered her a bar of chocolate with the promise of it 'helping.' His offer made her smile, his belief in the curative powers of the candy passed all recorded clinical benefits. Still Hermione did take it and it did seem to help, a bit.

They talked quietly for a few minutes until during a funny story about the recent Quidditch game Hermione interrupted him.

"I don't know what to do Remus. I am scared. I feel like I'm going crazy! I can't stay here anymore. I don't think I'm helping. I am only making things worse. I need to get out of this room." Frustrated tears flowed from her eyes again.

"Hermione, you don't have a choice you have to stay." Sympathy coloured his words.

"Why Remus? Why? I can't fix anything. I can't love him...he...I..." She motioned at Draco then trailed off helplessly.

"Hermione give it time, he will get better. Things will work out, you will see!"

"What if they don't though? What if he stays like this? What if I am trapped here forever!" Her voice started escalating. Her emotions rising causing Draco to start moaning on the bed.

"Its ok Hermione. You have to trust that things will get better." He tried again.

"Trust?" She spat the word at him.

"Things will get better." His voice was firm now.

"Its just that I'm just so tired..." Her eyes flooded with tears.

"Well there is something I can do about that." Hermione heard him mutter before everything went dark.

TBC

Happy 4th July to the Americans here and Happy Canada Day on the 1st....yes missed it a bit. Hope the holidays are/were great for everyone.

I want to honestly thank all the people who take time to give me encouragement. I don't want it to sound trite because I truly mean it. You all are the best. :)

Ok and on another note....I think that I am in love with and want to marry Arbitrary...'nuff said. :-P (If that doesn't get another chapter written on Temporary Insanity, I don't know what will...sigh)