Author's Note: Finally a new chapter! Sorry this took so long to update, but it's here now. I'm going to be putting time indicators before each section that takes place during a different point in the timeline to make the time changes more apparent and easier to follow.
We've been surrounded by vicious cycles
The end - are we truly alone?
The scars on your heart are yours to atone
We've been surrounded
Let 'em sing, let 'em sing!
One week before the first full moon
Draco gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as he attempted to regain control. He tried to let go of her, but his body wouldn't obey. He could feel her chest heaving against his and smell her heady scent. His heightened senses allowed him to feel every single curve of her body and how she fit perfectly against him. Fuck this, he screamed mentally, and with great effort, managed to roll to the side, thus freeing her.
"I think you should leave," Draco warned her from his position on the ground. He tried to concentrate on the patterned ceiling and not the soft sound of her feet padding across the room and the way her breath hitched as she hesitated at the door before finally leaving. When the door closed with a quiet click, he sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees. "A Malfoy does not break. A Malfoy is strong. A Malfoy does not show emotion." He whispered the words to himself over and over again like a prayer. They had been endlessly repeated to him since he was a child, and he clung to them now because if he didn't hold on to something, he was going to fall apart.
Hermione Granger was making him lose control and he hated it. He resented her with every inch of his being, except maybe the part that went furry during the full moon. Logically, he knew it wasn't really her fault, but that didn't make him hate her any less. Draco sighed in frustration. How was he supposed to fight when he had a mate to worry about? A mate he didn't even want, mind you.
Night before the first full moon
"Here." Severus handed him a small vial. "You'll need this for tomorrow night. I've heard that it works best if you take it the morning of the full moon." Draco gingerly took the potion from him with a quiet thanks. "The headmaster has set aside an unused classroom for your transformation. I will ward the door and keep watch from outside." Severus' tone brooked no argument so Draco just nodded tiredly. Severus' eyes softened as he took in Draco's hunched shoulders and lowered head. "Try to eat some rare meat. I've heard it helps with the tiredness and muscle aches," he advised. Draco thanked him and made his way back to his quarters to get some rest. He'd been unusually tired the last few days. He was surprised to find Hermione pacing outside the painting that guarded his room.
"Granger?" Hermione jumped, startled.
"Malfoy! I- I just wanted to see how you were doing. I know the full moon is tomorrow and I just," she trailed off awkwardly as Draco's eyebrows rose higher and higher.
"I'm as prepared as I can be," he told her, "but thanks for the concern, I guess."
"Right. Right," she said absently. "Ok then. I'll see you around I guess." She turned to leave but Draco quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her. Hermione froze and stared at their joined hands, her eyes slowly moving up his arm and further up until they met his. When they made eye contact, Draco dropped her hand as if it had burned him.
"Sorry," he muttered. "Look, it might be best if you avoid me around the full moon. Remus said that we tend to be closer to our... other side around that time and given our s-situation," he stumbled over the word, "it's probably for the best that we see each other as little as possible." Hermione watched him with wide brown eyes.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Okay. See you around then." Draco hurriedly gave the portrait the password and rushed inside, closing the portrait behind him. He collapsed on the floor, leaning against the painting as he took great, gasping breaths.
He had thought her presence was alluring the last time he saw her, but now, she was positively intoxicating. When he saw her standing there so close to him, every cell in his body had screamed at him to grab her and do unspeakable things to her. It had taken all his strength and will to keep control. It was extremely unsettling to feel such a need for someone he barely tolerated. He dreaded what tomorrow night would bring.
Draco slept fitfully that night. His dreams were filled with bloodthirsty howls and the feel of hot breaths on the back of his neck. He dreamed of a faceless girl dressed in white and standing just out of reach.
The night of the first full moon
"Are you ready?" Severus asked. He stood rigidly in the doorway, his hands clasped behind his back. His posture was impeccably perfect and only the slight twitch of his mouth betrayed the nervousness he felt for his godson.
"No," Draco answered truthfully, "but I have to be." He turned away to look out the window. He could see that the sky was just beginning to darken. He heard Severus quietly close the door behind him as he stepped outside, and his mutterings as he set up wards. Draco took a deep breath and stripped down so his clothes wouldn't be ruined by the change. He carefully folded them and set them down in the corner by the door. He noted the pile of blankets and pillows in the center of the room, presumably for him to rest on after the transformation.
Draco could sense the full moon approaching as the minutes ticked by. As his senses heightened with the approach of the full moon, he could hear the thumping of Severus' heartbeat outside the door and feel the faint tingling that caused the hairs on his arms to rise. As the moon became more visible, the thumping grew louder and louder and the tingling turned into an itch and finally a steady burn. His eyes shot open and he caught one glimpse of pure, silvery moonlight before he fell on his knees in agony.
This was worse than being trapped with Greyback. He could feel every bone in his body breaking and healing. He could feel his skin being stretched thin over his newly formed limbs and each hair emerging to cover him in fur. I'm a werewolf, he thought before he thought no more.
Severus shivered as he heard an unearthly howl from the other side of the door. The howl was followed by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch endlessly. Severus calmed himself, rationalizing that Draco must have settled down to wait out the moon. He was startled when something collided against the door from inside the room. The collisions continued and seemed to increase in frequency and strength.
"Draco," he called anxiously. "You need to stay calm. I'm sorry, but I can't released you from inside until the full moon has passed." He heard a ferocious growl and the sound of claws scrabbling against the door, followed by another thump. Severus couldn't understand what was going on. The wolfsbane should have assured that Draco stay in control, but his actions clearly showed that the potion had failed. He quickly checked and reinforced the wards, and prepared for a sleepless night.
Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione bolted upright.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, startled by her sudden movement. The trio had been lazing in front of the common room fire and taking advantage of having the tower to themselves. Hermione shook her head to try and get rid of the strange buzzing in her ears.
"I- I'm not sure. Something just doesn't feel right," she muttered. She couldn't shake the sense that something bad was happening. "I have to go." Hermione rushed out of the common room, following the strange tugging sensation, and the buzzing sound which grew louder and louder. She vaguely noted Harry and Ron scrambling after her as she sprinted down the halls.
After several minutes of sprinting up staircases and down hallways, Hermione finally skidded to a stop when she caught sight of Severus anxiously pacing back and forth in front of a closed door. They could hear howls and scratching coming from the other side of the door.
"Of course," Hermione whispered. Severus halted when he saw the breathless trio and his eyes narrowed.
"What are you three doing out of bed?" Hermione snorted and strode up to the door.
"The school year hasn't started yet. There's no curfew," she retorted primly. "Anyway I," she hesitated, "I had a strange sense that something had gone horribly wrong. I can see now that I was correct." A loud howl followed her statement as if in agreement. Severus glared at her for a moment before giving in with a sigh.
"It seems that Draco's wolfsbane potion has not taken effect, though I am certain the potion was correctly made. Minerva has notified me that Lupin is perfectly fine, and their potions came from the same batch," he informed her. Hermione chewed her lip as she considered this.
"May I?" she asked as she gestured to the door. She wondered if he knew about her bond with Draco. Severus simply raised an eyebrow and stepped back to let her approach the door.
"Be careful," he warned, "he may break through the wards. I've had to recast them several times already." Hermione swallowed hard but mustered her courage and slowly crept forward. As she got closer, the scrabbling grew more frantic. When she laid her hand lightly upon the oak door, Draco let out a single, long, plaintive howl and Hermione felt her eyes water for no reason.
"Draco," she called nervously. The scrabbling stopped and she heard the sound of sniffing, as if he was trying to smell her from the other side of the door. "Draco, you need to stay inside." Draco whimpered. "You need to stay inside," she hesitated, "I want you to stay inside. It's not safe for me if you come out. Do you understand?" She heard another sad howl, but the scrabbling stopped. She heard the sound of rustling and noticed a bit of fur poking out underneath the door. Satisfied, she turned to face Severus, Harry, and Ron. Severus appeared unsurprised by her success, but Harry and Ron seemed dumbfounded and were openly gaping at her.
"What's going on, Mione? Are you a wolf-whisperer or something," Harry asked half-jokingly. Ron was staring at her silently.
"Hardly," Hermione snorted. "It's... a bit complicated. Can we discuss it tomorrow?" she pleaded. Harry and Ron exchanged a quick glance before nodding.
"Very well, we'll be going back then, Professor," she said. Severus gave them a curt nod. The trio walked back down the corridor, but as they were about to turn the corner, they heard another howl, followed by more scratching. Hermione sighed.
"Go back without me," she ordered. "I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast."
"But Hermione," Ron protested.
"Go!" she repeated, more firmly. Ron frowned, but did not protest when Harry tugged him away. Hermione reluctantly walked back towards the door. Ignoring Severus, she crouched in front of the door, laying her palm flat against the wood. "Shh Draco," she whispered, "I'm right here. I'm not going anyway." Draco whined but settled down.
Hermione sat with her back against the door and glanced up at Severus who was watching her with a speculative expression. "You know don't you?" she asked. He gave her a jerky bob. "He thinks he can resist the bond," she mused. "Do you think he'll be able to do it?"
"Draco has been taught from young how to restrain him and stay in control," he answered curtly, then hesitated before adding, "but he may find it difficult to do so in this situation." Hermione nodded absently as she had surmised as much.
Severus kept watch all night. By the time morning came, Hermione was fast asleep, curled up next to the door. He snorted quietly when he opened the door to see Draco similarly curled up on the other side of the door. He idly wondered what fate had in store for the two of them. He carefully stepped past Hermione to wake his godson.
"Draco," he called quietly, shaking him. Draco moaned but slowly opened his eyes to squint up at him. "Here." He helped Draco to sit upright and drink a muscle relaxing potion to take the edge off of the soreness. "You may wish to get dressed before Miss Granger awakens." Draco's eyes flicked towards her sleeping form. He gave a jerky nod and tore his eyes away from her to find his clothing. "Let's get you to the hospital wing," Severus ordered.
"What about her?" Draco croaked out. Severus snorted.
"I'll levitate her along with us. She can continue sleeping there." He was surprised when Draco instead went to pick her up.
"Draco! You're not strong enough," his protests trailed off as Draco silently and stubbornly heaved Hermione up into his arms. She burrowed into his chest slightly, but did not wake. Draco turned to face him, his expression obstinate. Severus simply shook his head and led the way to the hospital wing. He wondered what had changed. The last time they had spoken of Miss Granger, Draco had been quite certain he wanted nothing to do with her.
The walk to the hospital wing was silent, but Severus found himself frequently glancing at his godson out of the corner of his eyes. Draco seemed to be sweating from carrying Hermione coupled with his exhaustion and soreness after his first transformation. Severus opened the hospital wing door, allowing Draco to enter first.
Madam Pomfrey was already waiting for them, having known beforehand about Draco's condition. She appeared startled to see him carrying Hermione, but quickly directed him towards a bed on which to put her down. Draco did so easily, but Severus noted that he kept an eye on her whilst being examined by Madam Pomfrey. After several protests, Draco acquised and took a dreamless sleep potion to allow his body to rest.
Day after the first full moon
When Hermione finally awoke, it was mid-afternoon. She blearily blinked at the unusual brightness. She must have forgotten to close her bed curtains. As she fully woke, she slowly realized with a start that she was not in her bed, but in the hospital wing. She noted that Draco was sound asleep in the bed next to hers. He looked so much more peaceful asleep, she noted idly. He had a slight furrow in his brow though, which she felt the strange urge to smooth. She hesitantly reached her hand out to do so.
"Miss Granger!" Hermione jerked back and looked up guiltily.
"Yes Madam Pomfrey?"
"Seeing as you are awake and well, you are free to leave. Your friends have come by several times asking after you, but I told them they wouldn't be allowed to see you until you were awake. They're quite anxious to see you." She gave her a wry smile. "It might be best if you go meet them." Hermione nodded and swung her legs off the bed.
"Is he okay?" she asked hesitantly as she righted her clothes.
"Yes, yes." Madam Pomfrey answered distractedly as she bustled about adjusting Draco's pillows and blankets. Hermione was slightly amused as she knew Draco would have protested vehemently to her mothering if he was awake. "He's quite exhausted and sore after the transformation, but that's only to be expected. He'll be perfectly fine once he's been able to rest a bit." Hermione nodded and decided to go find Harry and Ron. As she reached the door, she cast one last glance at Draco's sleeping form before silently slipping out.
End note: I realize I'm not following the lyrics prompts very well, but the story is doing what it wants. :/ Leave a review and let me know what you think!