A/N: Cecily Mitchell, CatPeach, Aid4, and the Guest who commented on the last chapter. Thank ya'll so much!

I hope you all are safe amidst the pandemic!

Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter

As always, enjoy!

Chapter 15

Hermione followed Lucius down to the drawing room. She tried to ignore the twisting in her stomach when she crossed the threshold. Hermione took a deep breath and focused on a funny looking clock on the mantel just past Narcissa's head.

The doors shut behind her.

"Ah, finally," Narcissa said. The Lady of the Manor stood and glided over to Hermione, "Come now, Hermione, I asked the elves to brew us some tea."

Hermione nodded and allowed Lucius to escort her to the plush couches surrounding the coffee table.

A cute little elf wearing a bright pink dress and a large matching bow between her ears set a tray with tea and sandwiches on the table. Narcissa moored three cups of fragrant tea, adding two sugars to everyone's cups.

How did Narcissa know how Hermione took her tea?

Either way, Hermione gratefully picked up the cup, taking a sip of the wonderfully warm drink.

"I can only imagine how mad you've been going in that room," Narcissa said, taking a sip from her own cup, "three weeks sharing a room with a man who only sleeps."

Hermione's lip twitched. So they were using this time to dig.

"It's not too bad," Hermione said, "gives me plenty of time to read and sleep myself."

Lucius and Narcissa hummed at the same time, turning to look at each other in shock, and Hermione bit the inside of her cheeks to stop herself from laughing.

The horror of what had happened here almost disappeared at the sight of Lord and Lady Malfoy trying not to be awkward towards their son's mate.

Hermione went for another sip of her tea when a crash from above them made her jump, spilling the tea over her jumper. She hurried to try and pat herself dry.

Narcissa set her cup down, and Lucius's cup was still untouched on the table. All seemed well, and Hermione was enjoying the time away from the room.

Malfoy Sr. stood up, his eyes on the ceiling, "What in the name of—"

Another crash and booming steps.

"Hermione!" Came the panic voice of Draco.

Hermione stood, her head spinning at the sudden motion. Lucius ran to the double doors of the drawing room only to have a half dressed Draco run down the stairs and push past the elder Malfoy, knocking the older wizard to the ground.

"Hermione," Draco breathed at the sight of her.

In a flash, Hermione was enveloped by Draco's hold, heat radiating off of him. Her arms were trapped between them.

"Draco," She said into his chest, "are you okay? What's wrong?"

His arms only tightened around her, a growl vibrating against her cheek. Hermione wiggled her arms free and wrapped her arms around the Veela's naked waist.

"What did you do to my mate?" Draco said, his voice not his own.

Hermione turned her head and watched Zabini run into the drawing room, coming to a sudden stop at the sight of Draco, his wand in hand. Narcissa ran to help Lucius up, hooking her arm around his middle.

Draco's heart pounded against her ear, it was too fast, too erratic.

"Draco," Hermione whispered. She turned her head so her chin rested on his chest, looking up at him.

The Veela was either ignoring her or didn't hear.

"Draco, look at me," Hermione said a little louder, her voice calm.

He looked down, his eyes a striking gold. There was a growl in his chest when she tried to pull away.

"Mate," the Veela whispered, his voice inhuman.

Hermione pulled her arms free then slid her hands up his chest, running them up and into his hair.

"Draco, it's okay, I'm okay," Hermione pulled him down and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

The Veela gasped into the kiss, pulling Hermione in closer, his teeth nipping at the soft skin of her mouth.

Draco was the one pull away.

"Hermione," Draco whispered. He seamed to fall into a trance, his lids falling heavily over his eyes. His arms loosened around her. He buried his nose in her hair breathing her in, "You left. They could have hurt you." He muttered.

Hermione hummed, "They wouldn't hurt me Draco."

Draco's arms tightened around her again, his eyes tracking the three other people in the room. His eyes narrowing at his mother and father who were still holding each other. Draco pulled Hermione behind him, shielding the witch behind his still thin frame.

"We need to go," Draco said, "they'll hurt you, again."

Hermione shook her head though Draco couldn't see.

"They won't," the witch whispered.

Draco turned, to face Hermione again, panicked, "I don't trust them, Granger!" He shouted, "Look where they brought you! You were tortured in this room! We stood and watched, and we didn't help!"

"Draco—" Narcissa began.

"— No!" Draco growled, looking back, "We'll always end up hurt her! I have to keep her safe!" Draco paused his eyes filling with defeat, "You should have never brought her here, she shouldn't be shackled to me."

The energy of the room darkened. The Veela was resigned to his fate. He was ready to die.

After everything, Hermione wondered if he thought he deserved to wither away.

Hermione's mind raced. She didn't know much about Veelas other than what she know about Fleur and Draco. Perhaps she should write the French Witch when she has the chance. But for now, she would do the only thing that came to mind.

"Draco," Hermione whispered, "take be back to your nest. I wanna go back where we're safe."

Draco looked back down, his eyes shining a beautiful gold before darkening and becoming a heated gaze.

"Our nest," he muttered in a trance.

"Yes, Draco. The nest you made for us, I want to go back where we can be together." Hermione hummed, "I want to be with my mate. Would you allow me that?"

Draco nodded and in one swoop, he picked the witch up with a strength Hermione wouldn't have guessed he had. He walked her out, Draco's parents and Blaise moving out of the way. The blond wizard rushed up the stairs, and all but ran down the hall to his bedroom where he set Hermione down on her back onto the bed.

He made quick to crawl only the bed and pull Hermione's jumper over her head, throwing it on to the ground.

"Draco?" Hermione whispered.

He pulled his trousers off, leaving him only his briefs, and crawled over to Hermione.

Oh Merlin, this was it, Hermione thought.

The Veela leaned down peppering Hermione's soft neck with kisses. He made himself comfortable between her legs, letting Hermione's body cradle his.

That's when she felt it, the prominent bulge pressing up against her suddenly damp core.

"My mate," Draco purred as he slid down her body, leaving a trail of open mouth kisses in his wake.

He paused at her stomach then looked up, giving her a wicked grin.

Hermione watched him with wide eyes as he started at her muggle jeans, unbuttoning them and peeled them from her legs leaving her in her knickers.

Hermione pressed her thighs together when Draco sat back on his haunches.

Hermione moved up onto he elbows. Draco leaned over and his mouth met hers. Hermione sighed at the gentle touches, Draco's strain hands sliding up her to hold her close and he consumed her.

He pulled away and played beside Hermione. Draco wrapped his strong arms around Hermione, crushing her to him.

"My mate," he said in that inhuman voice, intertwining their legs, "You stay here."

"I'll stay."

With a final kiss to her forehead, he rested his chin on her head. Hermione was pressed against him, her cheek against his heart.

"Not ready," Draco muttered.

For the first time since he came barging into the drawing room, Draco sounded like himself. Hermione tried to wiggle out of his embrace, but he just held on tighter.

"No," Draco muttered.

Hermione stopped squirming and huffed, "you and I need to have a long talk, Malfoy."

Draco was already asleep.