Sands of Change

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 17

"... and ..."

Hermione knew that her world changed from that moment. Once Lucy had said the final teammates name. Seeing the world had frozen. Everyone stopped in midair, making the guild quiet and lifeless. It was a very chilling feeling.

Hermione felt her key heat up. Before a short version of a massive Celestial Dragon stood before her. Making her look at him in worry.

"I didn't want to scare anyone, so I froze time. After sensing you're having a panic attack." She was picturing Draco with an annoying look on his face. "What has gotten you so worked up?"

Hermione huffed, "Finding out the final name of my teammate. Who may also be the name of my mate," she groaned out. "I'm not ready for fate to intervene with my life yet. After seeing what fate did with Harry."

Draco nodded his head. "I can understand, but unlike Pothead. His fate was to end a war. While yours is to find your destined love."

Hermione glared at him. She knew he had a point. But did it always have to be life-changing events for fate to intervene? Because of her wanting to have a happy life for Harry. Hermione even tried to keep him safe from Death Eaters for nearly nine months. It was tiring.

"What if I fail as a mate, like I nearly failed as a friend?"

Draco huffed, "One thing about life Granger, we all fail. It's human nature to fail. But the true question is, are you strong enough to make things work?"

Hermione glanced around the guild. She knew that Draco spoke the truth. Even her Gryffindor nature was roaring at his truth. As a Gryffindor, she knew she was strong enough to face the music. Hearing the name of her mate, while he would be a part of her team.

"What made you change, Draco?"

He chuckled in deep tones. Vibrating her body, from his great power. "Becoming a parent changed me. I was forced to grow up and take on the world. The disease had also changed me, more than physically. But it helped open my eyes to many things.

"Fate is just a small nuisance, Granger. But evolving and becoming better than your best self. Now that brings life meaning. You may hate fate working badly for Potter. But would he be the same as you knew him, if he had his parents?

"No. His father was a bully of a Gryffindor. My father was surprised that smart Evans settled for Potter's father. When he relentlessly hurt her best friend, Severus Snape."

Hermione gaped at him. She did end up learning about Snape and Evans from Harry. But finding out that Harry's father was a bully against Snape. It had finally made sense to her. He protected Harry because of Evans. But hated him because of Potter.

'He loved her…' Tears leaked out of her eyes. 'Was he mean to me, when everyone had voiced I was like Lily Evans? Remus and Sirius sure said it enough.'

"What's in your golden heart, Granger?"

Hermione, through her tears, glared at him. "I… will face fate, dead on. I am here for a reason. Even if I think it's rushing, things like this is mad."

Draco shook his head. "You of all people should know. Life is short. Stop questioning your reality and go for it. And here I thought Gryffindors were brawny."

Before Hermione could give him a piece of her mind. He whisked himself away. Bringing the end of frozen time. Enhancing the sound of life around her. Almost blinding her with a headache.

" " finished Lucy. Not hearing the fourth member's name. She singled for Mira to give her strawberry vodka. Only to take a deep drink from.

"Holy Hell," gasped Cana. "You can drink?!" Pushing herself over the bar to look at her.

Hermione put the drink down, seeing that it was nearly empty. "Not really, but I just needed one."

Lucy rushed over to her with worry in her eyes. "You stopped listening after I said Laxus, didn't you?"

Hermione finished the rest of her drink then. "Sadly." She turned towards her. "So, what name did I miss?"

Lucy looked over Hermione's shoulder. Something told her that the guys on their new team were making their way to them. She knew she wasn't lucky enough to be anyone else, but them.

"Blondie," she heard Laxus behind her. "Interesting how we're on the same team."

"You're blonde too, Sparky," hissed Lucy with a bite in her voice. "We're meeting up for a game plan?"

"Nope," chuckled Laxus. "I just picked up an S-class flier. Taking out a Dark Guild, we leave in the morning, at six o'clock."

"What's the payout?"

"Total, it's 1,500,000 j. They are also throwing in a couple of keys and books. As the money goes, everyone is getting 300,000 each. Since, I will give the last 300,000 j back to the guild. Since Gramps needs the funds to cover damages. Not just here, but with destructive teams, like Team Natsu was."

Hermione turned to look towards him in wonder. "You do this all the time, don't you?"

Laxus grumbled, "Every job." He gave a stiff nod. Then left their area.

"Wow," mumbled Lucy. "That man just got my ongoing respect for him."

Hermione smiled for her. She was happy for her friend. Having a guy, who does care about others, even from the shadows.

"Your man looks very uneasy to talk to you," Lucy whispered to her. "I see Laxus talking to him, after they left here to do so."

Hermione didn't know why she was torturing herself like this. With a deep breath, she turned around to see who their fourth member was. It took a moment to find the massive blonde across the room. Sure enough, he was talking to someone.

"So, you're the new girl's mate," she heard Laxus asking him.

"I am," hearing his deep voice. Even from across the guild, caused her to have shivers.

"Good, because Blondie, is my mate. Have you talked to yours?"

"Once, she wants a date and marriage, before I do anything else."

Laxus looked uncomfortable after that tidbit. "Which means, Blondie is going to want that too." Laxus stood up then. "We got things to plan."

"Agreed," before her mate stood up too. Looking into her brown eyes, were his sinful ruby red eyes. The eyes are known to be the window into someone's soul. What she saw were the eyes of a predator. But she will make it known, she was no prey.

Then the two men left the guild. Feeling, her stomach had dropped to the floor. Once her mate left, through the doors.

"Gajeel looked at you with an intense stare. Do you know why," asked Lucy. Hermione had a feeling that Gajeel Redfox wasn't going to make things easy on her.

Hermione sighed, turned to her with focused eyes. She told Lucy of what she wanted before being mated with him. Then told her what she had overheard with the two Dragon Slayers.

Lucy had then grabbed Hermione and headed back to the apartment. Only to pack for their job that they would be leaving in the morning for.