Earlier (from chapter 2) :

She nodded, her smile genuine now. "Will you call me?"

"I will."

Then in a moment of mad impulsiveness that surprised even him, he moved impossibly close and cupped her face with his hands, staring into her eyes with an expression that was so raw and humble, yet so earnest, it brought tears to her eyes. Lowering his head, he kissed her, a soft tender pull that was equal parts apology and desire.

"Tomorrow?" he asked afterward, his lips still touching hers.

Chapter 3:

The tomorrow Draco promised before Hermione left to go home actually turned into later that evening.

Once she was gone, the young wizard stewed, unable to relax. He paced the floors; he took another long walk in the woods; he even took to the ice and skated until he was out of breath and the evening's first stars began to shine. But nothing he did settled him. There was an itch…..a restless longing….an ache he was only just discovering he had. He wondered what it meant. By all counts, he should be ecstatic. His day with Granger turned out far better than he'd dreamed. So what was making him feel so agitated and nervous?

When he trudged back into the manor, tired from his exertions, he went into the kitchen and plopped down into a chair by the wooden table where Nelly was sitting, busy polishing something or another. The air still contained the pleasant aromas from earlier in the day, but for whatever reason, it now seemed hollow. Something was missing. Something vital that had given it warmth and life. Then he recalled the exotic scent of Hermione's perfume and how it had affected him.

Good Lord, I must have it bad.

He rubbed the back of his neck wearily, sighing so loudly his elf looked up, concerned. "What's wrong, Master?"

"I'm miserable."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Draco had a good idea what the answer was, but hedged. "I'm not sure. I just feel out of sorts."

Nelly gave him a knowing smirk before turning her attention once again to the spoons in her hand. Casually, she mentioned, "Master didn't appear to be that way when Young Mistress was here."

"I wasn't. At least, I don't think so. It's just….." he sighed, fidgeting in his seat, " I am…..confused."

"Perhaps it's because Master's mind is warring with his heart."

Draco looked up. "What?"

"Master will be at peace when he's with Young Mistress again. She needs to be home."

"She is home, Nelly. That's where she went."

"No, no Master. Malfoy Manor is now Mistress's home. It's where she belongs. That's what's wrong, and why Master feels the way he does. The bond between Master and Miss Hermione is too new for them to be separate. The cords are not strong enough. Master needs to bring Nelly's mistress back."

At first, Draco sat back in shock at the words of this elf. They were absurd, yet something in him clicked upon hearing them. His heart skipped in delight before he realized what they meant.

He somehow had a connection with Granger. And not just any connection but a soul bond, if he was understanding Nelly correctly. He began to chuckle at the sheer craziness of it all. Of all people to have a bond with, it would just have to be the girl he'd hated in school. What's more, he would have to tell her. If Nelly was right, she deserved to know. And how was he going to do that without getting hexed? An apology kiss was one thing...but an eternal bond? She would think he'd lost his mind. Maybe he had.

"Nelly…..how am I going to tell her? She won't believe me. Not that I blame her. I'm not sure I believe this myself."

He watched as his elf slowly put down her polishing cloth and approached the chair where he sat. With infinite gentleness, she placed her bony hand on his. Looking up into his eyes, the gaze she gave him reminded him inexplicably of his mother. His heart clenched, and he gave her hand a loving squeeze.

"Nelly has known Master since he was a tiny wizard with no hair. Nelly understands Master; his family; his magic. She knows he fears rejection. Yet what Master does not know is that there will be none. Nelly can feel the magic of young mistress as well. She's just like Master. She aches, too."

Hermione felt the same way he did? Draco didn't see how it was possible. "She deserves better than me, Nelly. We've already talked about this."

"Yes...Master talked much, but listened little," she said, her tone surprisingly curt. For a few moments nothing else was said as the elf went back to her stool, attacking a fork with her polishing cloth. Draco watched as her capable hands made the utensil glisten. Then she paused and sighed. "Master…..have you ever wondered why we elveses is happier than wizards?"

What a random question. It took Draco by surprise. He wondered where she was going with it. "No….I guess I haven't."

"Nelly didn't think so. But the truth is….we is happier than your kind because we don't dwell on ourselves so much. Wizards be too much thinking of how good they are or how bad they are….but it all ends up being about them, see? And that is an unhappy place for any creature."

Draco chuckled. "Are you implying that wizards are self-absorbed?"

She ignored his question. "Nelly's just saying that if Master would quit thinking about himself so much and bring young mistress home instead, we would all be a lot happier."

"Why don't you tell me what you really think," he muttered to himself. Out loud, he said, "What you're suggesting….it's not only far-fetched…it beggars belief. What could I possibly say? Oh, Granger….this is magic, so forget about common sense. Oh, and while you're at it, forget also about courtship or falling in love….or even a proper engagement or wedding. Just come live with me and that will be that!"

Nelly gave him a withering look. "Nelly didn't say Master and Mistress couldn't have those things."

"You say you can feel her magic. Well then, tell me this. Would you want to be strapped to a wizard who fought on the wrong side of a war? Who was a constant bully to you in school and verbally abused you at every opportunity? Who mocked your very existence?"

"But that Master no longer exists!" Nelly, her patience long gone, all but shouted.

Draco faltered, completely nonplussed.

She continued. "Why does my Master insist on living in the past? The past is dead. That Master is dead. Today's Master is nothing like that."

Draco hung his head, ashamed. "But it's the only Draco she knows," he whispered.

He looked up when he heard Nelly huff. "She saw a different Master today. And she liked him very much. It's true, Master…and don't be giving Nelly that look. I watched very closely, just to be sure."

He couldn't help but chuckle. What would he do without this little creature who was so much more than a servant? "Nelly…you silly little thing….I do love you. But you're a right pain in the arse sometimes, did you know?"

She snickered, not the least bit offended. "Nelly knows. It comes from being a member of this family. Now scoot. Bring my mistress home."

Draco stared at the front door before reaching for the doorbell. Hermione's muggle house in Hampstead Village was very pretty. It made him wonder what her parents had been like before she'd obliviated them. The practice of dentistry must be very rewarding, for it was clear the Grangers must have had deep pockets to afford this place. Probably not to his family's standard of wealth, of course, but very well off. Just from what he could tell by first glance, their home was one he would be comfortable in; his mother, too, and that was saying something.

After Nelly had ordered him off, he'd taken another shower and dressed a bit more casually. At first he thought he would not be able to find Hermione, but once again, his magic had taken him to her. To be honest, it was a bit disconcerting to find it to be so accurate.

This was it. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the ringer and waited. A few moments later, he heard footsteps before the door slowly opened.

"Draco?" Hermione's voice was a strange mixture of disbelief and hope. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

It reminded Draco of when he'd discovered her at the mission. She'd asked almost the same thing then. "May I come in?"

"What? Oh….yes, of course," she said as she moved aside to let him enter.

Stepping into her home, he saw that past the foyer was a beautifully appointed living room with a large fireplace and even larger conservatory-styled windows. The crackling fire she had going felt good. He'd forgotten to cast a warming charm on himself and had gotten quite chilled.

"Can I take your coat?"

Giving it to her, he stood silent; however, his eyes were speaking eloquently. Hermione must have been able to read all that was inside them, because her expression broke into one of undisguised longing. "Draco," she pleaded, her voice breaking.

He instantly drew her into his arms and buried his face in her abundant curls. Hermione hugged him back fiercely, abandoning his coat without a thought; he glanced down to see it crumpled on the floor, but neither of them cared.

"I don't understand this," she said a few moments later, her words muffled against his chest, "but it hurts to be away from you." She lifted her face and searched his. "Am I going mad?"

He smiled softly and shook his head. "It's the same for me. My magic knows where you are. It's at rest when you're near, but when you're not….."

"It's in pain?" she finished.

"Something like that." Cradling her face, he kissed her gently, his heart soaring when her lips lingered against his, her reluctance to the end the kiss obvious. "Nelly says…mind you, I'm just repeating what she told me…..she said Malfoy Manor is where you belong now."

Draco anxiously watched as Hermione processed that piece of information.

"You're always quoting Nelly…..but what about you? How do you feel about all this?"

He swallowed. "I'm like you. I don't understand it, either. But I know I feel….restless and….well, lost when you're not near. Like I'm missing something important."

He waited while she processed that, all the while carefully studying her expressions. They were changing so fast; it was as if he could almost see the wheels as they turned in her head.

"It's eerily like what happens with veelas when they come of age and find their mate," she mused to herself. Her eyes widened as she took in his tall form and white-blonde hair. "Draco….you're not one, are you?"

"Veela?" He shook his head. "No, I'm not. I know the Malfoys have the look, but the veela strain is not present in our family."

"What about your mother's side? All kinds of transformative magic have manifested in that family."

"That's true….but I don't think they have it, either."

"Then what is this?"

He sighed. "I don't know. Would you hate me if I admitted I'm glad you feel it, too?"

"Of course not," she said. "But I wonder why now? Why didn't it show up when we were younger?"

Neither one of them had a clue to the answer, but Draco knew someone who might. "Grab a bag and pack up a few things. Come home with me and let's consult Nelly. Maybe she knows more than she's been saying."

"Nelly…..where are you? I have your mistress back now," Draco called out once he and Hermione made it back to the Manor. It had taken a bit of time for her to pack up a suitcase; she hadn't known how many days to plan for, but Draco reminded her that she could always floo back if she needed something. Hermione sheepishly grinned at the reminder that she was, in fact, a witch and promptly opened her wards to allow two-way transports from anyone living at Malfoy Manor.

It was just a moment before Nelly popped in, sporting a wide smile. "Oh mistress….Nelly is so happy that you'll be staying here with us!"

"About that…..I think the three of us need to have a little chat, don't you?" Draco asked with a pointed expression on his face.

The old elf, not the least bit intimidated, nodded back. "Let Nelly fetch some tea and then she'll be explaining because Merlin knows Master won't be able to."

Hermione couldn't help it; broke out in a fit of silly giggles. The little elf looked very proud of herself. Draco mock-groaned. "Is this a preview of my future? Merlin help me."

"Master not be needing Merlin's help; that's what Nelly is for," she airily declared as she levitated the tea cups to each one of them.

Huffing in barely concealed amusement, he replied, "Fine. I'll let you do the talking."

"Please Nelly….I would be so grateful if you would help me understand what's going on."

The elf's eyes shined with affection. "Young Mistress is so kind. Nelly's magic sings and grows strong from the power of it. And Master does too, although he may not have noticed it yet."

"Ah, now you're wrong there, Nelly. I have felt it, and it's amazing. It's…..addictive, actually."

Hermione's responding look contained such blatant affection, he began to blush.

Nelly watched the exchange between the two with a glad heart, but decided not to comment. Instead she said, "Like I told Master before, Mistress is the balance to our house. And we's be the balance to you."

Hermione noticed that Nelly was including herself in this. She smiled; the love the elf and Draco had for one another ran deep. They really did consider each other as a package deal; a family.

"Well, tell me the part you told Draco about….er…my blood." Hermione still felt rather squeamish about it, but she wasn't going to get answers by tip-toeing around that part.

"Oh….well that's how Nelly first knew, because Mistress's magic is in her blood. The Manor knew, too. Only Master didn't."

That comment didn't actually explain anything to the young witch, but she was too polite to say so. "Ah, knew what exactly?"

"That you and Master were each other's true love. A true anchor bringing calm and stability. As I said, balance."

Hermione looked over at Draco.

"You mean….like soulmates?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes, Mistress. Two pieces that fit just so."

"Symmetry," Draco uttered under his breath, but Nelly heard him.

"Yes, Master. 'Tis a rare thing nowadays, but it's how things were meant to be."

"What do you mean?"

"It is said that magic was born from the first perfect union...do you see?"

Draco glanced at Hermione. Was she understanding this?

Nelly sighed at their looks of confusion. "Too many souls now choose chaos over calm. Many speak of peace, but few seem to really want it."

"I'm….not sure I understand."

Nelly nodded. She didn't know why wizards were so slow in grasping the most basic things her kind intuitively knew, but she supposed that was their burden to bear. No species was good at everything.

"Unions are supposed to bring a strengthening of magic….a balance…..like having two legs instead of just one. But imagine having one leg shorter than the other, or it being in the wrong place….."

Hermione chuckled. "A leg sprouting from one's elbow would be a bit difficult to bear, I imagine."

Draco grinned.

"Just so, Young Mistress. Yet, that is what so many have chosen. Few these days find sure footing. It is why their magic never grows to its potential and why some veer off course and become dark. They have no balance and easily stumble into one thing or another."

Hermione glanced at Draco. She whispered in his ear, "So where does this leave us?"

He paused as he was about to speak; looking over her head, Draco could see Nelly with a ridiculously hopeful grin on her face.

"Nelly…..can you give us a moment, please?"

The elf winked before snapping her fingers and disappearing with a small crack.

"This can be whatever you want it to be," he answered. "I won't push you for more than what you're comfortable with."

"Thank you. But this doesn't involve just me. What do you want, Draco?"

He took a large breath. "I…I think I want everything." Seeing her eyes widen, he quickly added, "but we can take our time. There's certainly no rush on when we….." he paused, not wanting to scare Hermione off but trying to think of the best way to express himself.

"When we….?"

Draco sighed. "Officially bond. At least, that's what I'll want eventually. I was brought up that way…to revere the old ways. I would understand it though, if you didn't want that. I know you're getting the short end of the stick, Hermione. And I'm just man enough to admit it. I know you deserve someone better. Someone more noble…worthy."

"Magic would say otherwise. Apparently, it thinks you're plenty worthy enough for me," she whispered, her eyes glassy with tears. Then she let out a water chuckle. "Anyhow, you're better than a leg hanging off my elbow."

Draco's eyes crinkled, affording her a glimpse of a rare genuine smile. Tenderly cupping her face with his hands, he said, "That's what gives me hope. Not the leg thing, but the Magic of it all. There's been no human influence. Pure magic just is. It's no different than the air we breathe or the sunlight we feel; it has no bias, no intent for good or ill." Resting his forehead against hers, his breath ghosted across her cheeks when he said, "I was lied to nearly my entire life; I believed the wrong things….trusted the wrong things, but right now, I'm willing to believe what's going on between us is true and right for the exact reason that's it's magic doing it. There's no one pulling the strings. I'm willing to trust what magic is telling us."

Hermione studied Draco. He'd always had an expressive face; had always talked with his eyes. Right now, they were clear and light, no shadow of falsehood marring them. He was being honest with her.

He kissed her tenderly before whispering, "The question you need to ask yourself is whether you can do the same."

Yes, that was indeed the question. As Hermione gazed into the face she was quickly beginning to adore, she asked herself if she could take the same leap.

Could she trust magic?

She watched as Draco pulled away and picked up her bags. "Come on. I'll show you your room. I imagine you're pretty tired."

She was. But she doubted sleep would find her that night.

A/N: I rewrote chapter 3 because I didn't like the first attempt. It was hindering me from moving forward. Now I can progress.