A/N: You know the drill, so if you sue me I shall be dreadfully upset and hurt –wink- enjoy the new chapter…Your reviews keep me writing, so keep at it! (That means no flames…duh) And (IMPORTANT!) in this chapter, then ending to book six is non-existent. Well, DUH, Dumbledore's still alive…what I meant was that Snape didn't kill Dumbledore, but Lucius tried to. So over the summer, dear old Fudge went and had Lucius…erm…executed, for lack of better word. Lol, so that's something that needs to be cleared up…now, on with the story! Dun da-da DUNNNNNN! Someone slap me…
CHAPTER THREE – JUST BREATHE
"Headmaster!" Dumbledore heard, just as he was about to enter his office. "Headmaster come quick!" The old man turned around to see Draco Malfoy come tearing down the hallway, panting slightly. Dumbledore, alarmed to see his Headboy so distressed immediately asked, "What's wrong, child? Is someone hurt?"
"It's Hermione, sir." Draco told him. "She's in the hospital wing! She's freezing cold and deathly pale, and she won't wake up." He glanced worriedly at the old professor, who was already making his way down the hall.
"I know what is wrong," Dumbledore told him, as they walked along the corridors. "But you shall have to wait outside while Madame Pomfrey and I treat her. You may stay out of class and wait if you wish." Draco, not asking any questions, stayed outside as Dumbledore strode into the infirmary, and was soon joined by Harry and Ron, who looked quite worried as well and had been told the same.
As soon as they noticed him they glared and sat as far away from him as possible, yet so they could still wait for Hermione. Draco sighed and pushed himself up from the wall to walk over to Harry and Ron, who stood up as if to meet him in a fight.
"Calm down, you dunderheads!" Draco said shortly. "I'm not going to attack you or anything! I wanted to…argh, I can't believe I'm doing this!" He stopped and put his head in his hands, then rose again, running a hand through the silky blonde hair he had. "I want to make a truce." He said suddenly. He looked at Harry and Ron for some indication of whether or not that was going to happen, and was met with looks of shock and incredulity.
"What!" He snapped, trying to remain calm. Here he was, trying to make a truce with his enemies of 6 years and all they could do was goggle at him like he was crazy.
"Oy, Malfoy," Ron said slowly, "Are you sure you're not sick too?" He asked, completely serious. Malfoy sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Ok, Weasly…Potter." He addressed. "We've been enemies for the past 6 years, no?" They nodded. "Well, I'm sick of it. It wasn't my fault, you know." He added, "I was brought up with the knowledge that Muggleborns and Gryffindors aren't people I should socialize with, along with the image of them being dirty and stupid." He sighed and looked at the ground. "But my father died this summer, as I'm sure you know – though Hermione didn't – and my hate of everything died with him. It was rather curious," He mused, "I never wanted the life my father planned for me. You always thought I was a Death Eater, or at least that I would follow in his footsteps, no?" He asked. Not giving them a chance to answer, he continued on.
"What I'm trying to get to is the fact that Hermione and I have solved our differences in order to be able to work together as Headboy and Headgirl, and I'm proposing we do the same, for…I don't know, the sake of inter-house unity, if you will." He stuck out a pale, thin hand and waited. When neither of them moved, he shouted, "Oh come on! For Merlin's sake, I've changed I swear it! I never wanted to be a Death Eater and I'm trying to undo all the damage I've done in the past!" He quieted down. "If you must know," He sighed. "I'm under the protection of the Order of the Phoenix." He admitted. "Over the summer when Fudge executed Father they tied me up and tried to make me talk with Veritaserum. All the questions they asked I answered truthfully, and they deemed me worthy enough to become part of the light side." Upon seeing the look on Harry and Ron's faces, he suddenly begged, "I really am trying to make a difference! At least give me a chance. The Draco Malfoy you knew would never dream of doing this, and you know it. At least do it for Hermione." He bit his lip, and held his hand out again.
Hesitantly, Harry put his in it, and they shook hands. "Friends?" Draco asked, hopefully. Harry looked wary, but at last he responded, "I'll try. You know, it might be hard to do it for me, but I honestly will try. Maybe you have changed," He warned, "But how would you want to be friends with someone who, after people had been nothing but cruel to you, tells you that the best house is the one with the murderer's of your parents, and then carries on to tease you about your dead parents?" Draco cringed, but Harry wasn't done. "Then, later on, this person targets the only friends you have, simply because one is a muggleborn and the other is…less then rich?" He shot a look at Malfoy. "So, I'll try, but it might take a while. For Hermione's sake." Draco sighed in relief and smiled, causing Harry, upon seeing it, to let out a small smile as well. He turned and held out a hand to Ron.
"What about you, Weasley?" He asked. "Want to stop all this nonsense?" He brandished his hand and Ron thrust his out, grumbling about how this was all a sign of the Apocalypse. Draco grinned and sat back down, across from Harry and Ron.
"So, Pot – Harry," Draco began. "What is it that you were saying in the hall? Something about a change?" He asked curiously. Harry plopped down so that he was facing Draco with his back against the wall, Ron beside him. Looking at Ron as though asking permission, and receiving a shrug, he decided he may as well tell Draco. Merlin knew that the poor boy had had quite a shock being the one who found her.
"Well, it's like this. Hermione isn't a muggleborn." He said. Draco's head snapped up and he looked at Harry incredulously. He was about to say something but Harry held up a hand to stop him. "Do you know who Requiem and Eternity Valantois are?" Harry asked. Draco nodded and said, "Yeah, they were the first and only Vampire and Veela to mate and successfully create an heir, but no one knows who the heir is so it may be just another legend. What does that have to do with Hermio – no!" He gasped, suddenly grasping what Harry was about to say.
"Yup." Harry nodded. "She's the heir." Draco looked from Harry to Ron in stunned silence, not comprehending that the girl who he had been calling a mudblood all these years was, in fact, more pureblooded then him! Mouth agape, he looked toward the infirmary doors where the brilliant witch lay, and felt a sort of shame come over him. He snapped back when he heard Harry's voice.
"You've found her at the beginning of her change. She didn't tell us what would happen during it, but then again she was expecting in to come in a week, not today. I don't think she's ill, it's just that the Vampire blood takes over first, and since she's a vampire, technically she's a corpse. Though in Hermione's case, since she's Veela as well, she'll simply be cold unless she's fed." Harry said simply. Draco swallowed and asked, "What do you mean, fed?" Pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Since she's a Veela she has a mate, no? Well, every week she'll need to feed from her mate to help sustain her life. Not like the bloodthirsty vampires we see in films, but more sensual." He explained. Ron and Draco both looked at him confusedly, causing him to blush.
"When did she tell you that?" Ron asked, "'Cause I don't remember that part!" Draco just looked at him, waiting to hear the rest.
"Oh, she didn't tell me," Harry said hastily, "Ginny did. Hermione told her." Ron's lips parted in an 'o' and he nodded. "Anyway, Gin said that Hermione told her about the feeding. At the beginning of each week, she has to feed. She'll feed from the neck, like vampires, but with both her Veela and Vampire powers, the bite won't hurt or affect her mate at all; instead it will feel pleasant and almost strongly sexual. At least, that's what she told me." He shrugged. "But Hermione hasn't found her mate yet. She's got until the end of this year to. Oh, and she also said something about finding her mate, though I can't quite…remember…" He broke off in thought, but they were interrupted by Dumbledore opening the doors to the hall. He looked out and upon seeing them peacefully assembled, smiled.
"Miss Granger is awake and fine." He told them. Addressing Draco and raising a fine white eyebrow, he asked "Are you aware of her condition?"
"Yes, sir." Draco replied. "Harry just filled me in."
"Very well," Dumbledore said, pleased that they were finally getting along. "You may see Hermione now, and if you all wish you make take off today. But, know that you will still get any class work done today." He added. Draco, Harry, and Ron shrugged and walked into the Hospital Room, where a new Hermione was waiting for them. She sat up and smiled, revealing sharp white fangs, which she retracted once they saw.
The first word that popped into Draco's head upon seeing her was 'Beautiful'. However as pretty she had been before, she looked amazing now.
Her long brunette hair was shot through with silver streaks making it look black, and her hazel eyes were almost completely gold. Her facial features had a look about them that made her look more like a magnificent painting then a real person. Her dark eyebrows arched perfectly above her eyes, which were framed by dark lashes. Her nose fit her face perfectly, and it was lightly dusted with freckles. Her mouth was slightly changed; her lower lip was slightly bigger, giving her a pout. With her high cheekbones and ovular face, she looked every inch the veela she was.
Seeing how they reacted, for Ron and Harry did nothing but stare as well, she got out of the bed to walk over to them. As the covers slid from her body, Draco noticed that she had taken off the sweat-shirt, so all she wore was the black tank top beneath it. Apparently, Hermione's facial features hadn't been the only part of her that changed. Her body had too, only slightly, but still enough. Her hips and shoulders had widened slightly, and her waist had shrunk, giving her a very definite hourglass shape. She had also spurted a few inches, so she was now 5' 10". As she walked, her hips swayed slightly, but Draco didn't know if that was part of the change or not, though Harry had mentioned something about her attitude changing just a bit.
Stopping in front of them, Hermione spread out her arms and spun around.
"So," She asked, "You like the new me?" Assuming they did, from the looks she was getting, she giggled and waved her arms. "Hey…Helloooo…Boys?" She sighed and snapped her fingers, and the jumped. "I'm guessing that was a yes?" She smirked. Turning to Dumbledore she asked, "Sir, may I stay in the head's tower for the rest of the day? I'll do all my work." He nodded and smiled, gesturing out the door.
"If you wish, Miss Granger. Although, remember what I told you. You have 2 weeks, so for your sake, start looking." With that he dismissed them.
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An hour later Draco and Hermione were up in the head tower, doing the work that their teachers had sent up. Harry and Ron had been stopped in the halls by Snape, who would have given them detention, but settled instead for them staying in classes the rest of the day.
Hermione was laying on the ground in front of the fireplace where, upon her insistence, a small fire was burning. Her potions book was spread out in front of her, and her portable cauldron set sat simmering away. She glanced at the clock and stirred it counter-clockwise 6 times, then added a pinch of something black, from what Draco could see. He was leaning over the edge of the couch, trying to copy her writing, when she suddenly slammed her book shut so he couldn't see and turned around.
Draco, not anticipating that, flew backwards on the couch and rolled off, landing near enough to the giant coffee table that he breathed a sigh of relief. Pushing himself up, he stood and seated himself again, then turned to a smirking Hermione.
"What was that for!" He whined, "I missed the table by an inch at most!" He glared darkly at her, but she pouted and he gave up.
"You know, I have this feeling I'm going to have a hard time living with a Veela-slash-Vampire." He told her. "I mean, hey you're great to look at – OUCH!" He protested as she whacked him with a pillow at the last comment. "Geez, it was a compliment!" He rubbed his shoulder where the pillow hit him and wondered aloud, "What in the name of Merlin do they stuff these pillows with? I could swear something hard as stone hit me!" He shot a look of hurt at Hermione, and she laughed.
"Oh, is the big, bad, Slytherin threatened by and eensy-weensy throw pillow?" She teased. She launched another one at him but this time he was prepared. He caught it and threw it at Hermione, causing her to shriek and duck. As she turned to retrieve it she saw that it had knocked over her potion, which was emitting a thick green smoke.
"Uh oh." She mused, looking at it. "That was a waste." Pointing her wand at it, she muttered 'Scourgify' (A/N: Sorry, don't remember exact spell, too lazy to look it up…you understand, right? right.) The potion immediately vanished, and the cauldron was clean, but the pillow remained smoking, and suddenly caught fire.
"WHOA!" Draco yelled, jumping back as it exploded. "Careful what you light on fire!" He sent a reproachful look her way, but she ignored it, instead checking her notes to make sure they were ok.
"What was that, anyway?" He asked, getting a glass of water from the kitchenette. Looking back over her shoulder, she decided to play a joke.
"Oh, nothing." She said simply. "Just a contraception potion." She grinned evilly as she heard him choke on his drink. "You know," She embellished, "In case the Veela side effects get a little…out of hand." Putting down the notes, she walked over to where Draco was sitting at the table, making sure to sway her hips just a little. Her face lit up in a playful smirk as he watched her, and she suddenly sat on his lap.
Undoing his tie, she purred in his ear, "I guess Harry didn't tell you…everything." She lowered her lips to his neck, and just as Draco thought she was about to kiss him there, she nipped him gently. Draco jumped as another bolt of electricity ran through him, and Hermione must have felt it too, for she stopped and got up.
"Damn," Draco joked weakly, "I was hoping you were serious." Hermione laughed at the expression on his face, but then noticed a trickle of blood running down the side of his neck.
"Oh no!" She cried. "I bit you!" She ran to get a paper towel, and pressed it against the wound. Meanwhile, Draco stared at her like she was crazy.
"Yeah, you just did, like two seconds ago." He looked confused. "Do you not remember doing it?" Hermione sat down at the table across from him and put her head in her hands.
"No." She said at length. "I don't. All I remember was sitting in your lap and then…something shocked me." She frowned. "But that can't be right, not after what Dumbledore said." She suddenly stopped, eyes wide. "Wait." She looked fearfully at Draco, and he sensed something was amiss.
"What?" He pressed, "What can't be right?" He sat back as she jumped up from the table, looking around wildly.
"I..I can't tell you. Not yet, anyhow." She ran a hand through her hair, mussing it thoroughly. "Two weeks!" He heard her mutter, "No way in hell!" She looked at him, suddenly still. It was almost as though she was surveying him, then she turned and ran into her room.
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Hermione sat in the middle of her queen sized bed, trying to decipher what all this meant. In the hospital wing, Dumbledore had told her that since her change went faster then usual, so would the rest of the process. She only had two weeks to find her mate, and until the end of the year to make her bonds!
She cradled her head in her hands and gazed at the wall, remembering the other part of what he had said. He had told her that when she did meet her mate, they would be her complete opposite, and every time they touch, a bolt of electricity would shoot through them both. Of course, Draco had felt it to when she was shocked, which led Hermione to the conclusion that Draco Malfoy was her mate.
She began talking to herself quietly, as she crawled off the bed and began pacing around the room. "Now that I think about it, we are complete opposites. Boy, Girl; Blonde, Brunette; Evil, Good…though that's in the past…and – just ugh! I can't believe this!" She said hysterically. "I have two weeks to make sure this is true. That means two weeks in which I have to not only tell him, but hope he complies. Oh Merlin." She stopped, the sudden realization dawning on her with all she would have to do with him. "Great." She said sarcastically. "Just bloody brilliant." She ran through the bonds in her head, and sighed. "Not only do I have to woo him, I have to shag him by the end of the year! Fan-Bloody-Tastic. I have to shag Draco Malfoy." Shaking her head and still pacing, she grabbed her iPod to try and take her mind off of it. Thrusting the headphones on, she scrolled the dial until she came to a song she hadn't heard in a while. Pressing play she climbed onto her bed once again and snuggled against the headboard, mulling things over.
2 a.m. and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake, can you help me unravel my latest mistake? I don't love him…Winter just wasn't my season. Yeah, we walk through the door so accusing. Their eyes, like they have any right at all to criticize! Hypocrites, we're all here for the very same reason…
Outside Hermione's room stood a severely shocked Draco Malfoy. Having heard Hermione ranting about something, he had gone to stand at the door and knock when she was done, but what she was ranting about caught his attention.
"I have two weeks to make sure this is true. That means two weeks in which I have to not only tell him, but hope he complies." He heard through the door. Wondering what she could possibly mean, and who 'him' was, he pressed his ear against the door.
"Oh Merlin." He heard. "Great. Just bloody brilliant. Not only do I have to woo him, but I have to shag him by the end of the year!" Draco hit his head in surprise against the door, but Hermione must not have heard him, for she continued feebly, "Fan-Bloody-Tastic. I have to shag Draco Malfoy." Then the room went silent, and he guessed she had begun listening to that curious iPod thing.
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button girl, so cradle your head in your hands…and breathe. Just breathe. Oh breathe, Just breathe…
Draco walked away from her door, stunned. He was her mate. Now that he thought about it, there had always been a large amount of sexual tension between them, but they were always so busy fighting that they never noticed it. And now, he had two weeks to come to love her. He walked to his room, wishing his father had known she was so pureblooded. He would have loved for them to be friends, and Hermione would have had longer to know him.
Now, she had two weeks to fall in love with a boy who had tormented her their entire lives together.
May he turn 21 on the base of Fort Bliss, just today he sat down with a flask in his fist. Ain't been sober since maybe October of last year. Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while, but my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles, wanna hold him. Maybe I'll just sing about it…
As he lay on his bed, Draco mentally went over what he could do to help Hermione. Because, when he thought about it, he could learn to love her. Right now they were quite comfortable, but Draco had a feeling that their pull toward each other was what had helped them become so close within those two days. Suddenly, his stomach growled and Draco realized all of the other students would be at lunch right about now.
He crossed to his door and walked over to Hermione's room to ask if she wanted any lunch.
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button boys, so cradle your head in your hands…and breathe. Just breathe. Oh breathe, just breathe.
"Hey, Hermione," Draco called, rapping on her door. It opened and Hermione stood before him, looking rather depressed with her iPod in hand. She paused it so she could hear him. "Come and have lunch with me." He held out and arm, but Hermione shook her head.
"I just had a rather big shock; I don't think I can eat." She said sadly. She turned to go back into her room, but Draco grasped her arm.
"Please." He said pleadingly. "C'mon I want to tell you something." He pouted and Hermione cracked a small smile, and then put down her iPod.
"Ok, ok. Fine." She said grudgingly. "So, what are we having, then?" She asked as they walked to the table.
"I dunno." He shrugged. "Tell the houselves what you want, and they'll bring it to you."
There's a light at each end of this tunnel, you shout. 'Cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out. And these mistakes you made, you'll just make them again. If you only try turning around…
5 minutes later Draco and Hermione sat across from each other at the table, with a feast in between them, and they were chatting like old friends.
"I still can't believe you punched me!" Draco was complaining, yet he was ginning as Hermione blushed and apologized. "You pack a mean punch!"
"Well, you were being a bloody git." She told him. "And at the time, you deserved it."
They both laughed and Hermione leaned back in her chair, biting her lip.
"Draco," She began. "There's something I have to tell you, and you might not like it."
Draco, knowing what she was going to say, prepared himself for his answer.
"You know a Veela has a mate?" Hermione asked, "Well...um…."
"I'm your mate." Draco finished. "And I'll try to be the best."
2 a.m. and I'm still awake, writing a song. If I get it all down on paper it's no longer inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to. And I feel like I'm naked in front of a crowd, 'cause these words are my diary screaming out loud, and I know that you'll use them however you want to…But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable, and life's like an hourglass glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button now, so sing it if you understand…And breathe. Just breathe. Oh breathe, just breathe…
A/N: Song/Lyrics by Anna Nalick "Breathe"