Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except for the plot.

Summary: On the eve of his 18th birthday, Draco Malfoy finds out a family secret. He is a veela! Now he just has to mark his mate before time runs out. That doesn't sound so hard, right? The only problem is that his mate is Hermione Granger.

Song lyrics to "Time is Running Out" by Muse are in bold.

Time Is Running Out

By bloomingfelton

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "I certainly think that you do know what I am talking about."

Draco's nerves went wild. His breathing became irregular and his heart rate increased. However, he was still able to keep a straight face.

The headmaster went on, "Many of the professors have also noticed your slight infacturation with Ms. Granger."

Dumbledore paused.

Bury it

"In addition, I add that you are not the first part-veela wizard that has come across my path since I began teaching at Hogwarts. You are, prehaps, the most subtle."

Draco was caught, his mind torn in two. He did not want the headmaster's help in his little problem, but it would be greatly beneficial if Dumbledore could help him convince Hermione Granger. Draco took a long breath. "There were others?"

"Of course," said Dumbledore giving his victory smile. "There were your parents. Your mother was half-veela, and I believe your father had some but not alot of veela traits. They were lucky enough to meet their mates before the time limit ended."

"Time limit?" Draco questioned. He had never heard of a time limit.

"Ahh, yes, the time limit. As you probably know already, it was unusal for your mother to be the more dominant Veela with her eighteenth birthday activating the time limit. But it was even more surprising that your father took over that dominant role after your mother had marked him."

Draco listened in confusion. The old man noticed Draco's appearence and Dumbledore's face became serious.

"Hopefully your parents told you about the time limit," Dumbledore added, fading off.

I won't let you bury it

Draco's parents had in fact not told him anything about this time limit. Actually, they hadn't told him anything. Draco just had figured that being a veela wasn't that big of a deal.

"No, sir, they didn't," Draco answered.

Dumbledore sat still for a short pause. "Mr. Malfoy, when was your eighteenth birthday?"

The blonde boy looked confused for a minute before answering, "August 8th."

The headmaster stood and smacked his desk with his hands simontaneously. "Mr. Malfoy, do you have any idea what this means?" Draco didn't move. "You have exactly seven says before your time runs out!"

"But what exactly does that mean- 'my time is running out'?" Draco questioned.

"If one doesn't mark their mate before one month, 31 days, after their eighteenth birthday, they will loose the desire to live. You'll live, but for a horrible price. You won't even be able to form sentences. You won't have a clue about anything happening around and no one will be able to save you."

All was still in the room.

"But I'll live, right?" Draco asked.

"Mr. Malfoy, after your time runs out, it will be like you were kissed by a dementor," Dumbledore stated.

Draco gulped.

I won't let you smother it

"What do I do?"

Draco sat still in his chair in the empty headmaster's office. He had finally surrendered and asked for help. Dumbledore would be returning any moment with some people that Dumbledore said would help him. Within minutes, Dumbledore returned with Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, and Mrs. Fleur Weasley. The potions and transfiguration teachers looked skeptically at Draco as the entered. However when Fleur entered, she squeaked with surprise and became very giddy. Dumbledore conjoured three chairs and ushered the adults to sit.

After becoming settled Dumbledore spoke, "Mrs. Weasley, as you know a matter has reached us. It seems that Mr. Malfoy, here, is part-veela."

"I knew dit!" Fleur said clapping her hands together. "Vonce I saw dat handsome boy, I knew he must be related to ve. Dit was the veela inside of him that drew ve to him."

"Quite right, Fleur." Dumbledore stated. "Minerva, Severus, this is indeed true. Mr. Malfoy, here, is a veela and you assumptions were correct that his mate is none other than Miss Granger."

"Albus! I will not let my best student be marked by a veela!" Professor McGonagall said outraged. "She has the right to fall in love herself!"

I won't let you murder it.

"I am afraid, Minerva, that if Miss Granger does not feel anything for Mr. Malfoy and denies him completely, Mr. Malfoy will lose the will to live and Miss Granger will never be truely satisfied even if she does find true love."

Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to argue once more, but closed it and sat back down.

"I have nothing against it," the potions master said after an awkward silence. McGonagall nodded.

"It is settled then. Mr. Malfoy, all tonight Fleur will teach you everything you need to know about being a veela and you will break the news to Miss Granger tomorrow."

Author's note: I realize that it has been a very long time since I last updated and I will not make excuses for it. But it might be a long time until my other story is updated because I have fallen into the great love of reading Harry/Hermione stories and as you might know, it is very hard to pull oneself out of it and I have completely lost all desire to write the camp story. But not to leave you disappointed, I am going to work on it during the entire summer.

Next Chapter: Draco encounters Hermione as a veela. (This is also one of my favorite chapters so far.)