Chapter Two

He lay in bed, trying to clear his mind, an impossible task with her sleeping just on the other side of the wall. It hadn't been this bad before, but after that day, everything changed. He'd told her he'd done what he had to protect her. Truth was, he'd done it to protect himself. The idea of seeing somebody else touching what was his was beyond the pale. He would have been expelled and probably incarcerated for murder.

She didn't know and it wasn't yet time to tell her, thus the sleepless lying in bed. His body demanded he claim his mate, his logical mind telling him it wasn't the time. Sure, the war was over, but they were still in school, still in opposing houses and hated each others friends.

A small smile graced his lips as he thought of their stolen moments. Their flying lessons were going well, she didn't love it yet, but she wasn't petrified by the mere concept anymore. Several nights a week would find them studying in the same space, shooting cautious looks at each other. It was a subtle seduction, one he'd planned to reach it's conclusion the night before graduation at which point he would finally claim his mate and begin the rest of their lives together.

It had been his mothers plan, one she'd made after hearing about the tentative truce they'd formed. She'd suspected that the open hostility between their houses might not be conducive to a successful relationship and recommended he begin to woo her quietly now but wait until after graduation to make it more relationship, less amicable roommates.

He was anxious to proceed to the next step. His animal nature would not let him procrastinate much further, after all, he'd identified her nearly four years ago at an unprecedented early age. Though his kind mated for life, most didn't identify their mates until they were well into their twenties, even when raised with the person. His family had been horrified but eventually accepted it. His father had even taken a curse to protect her during the attack the previous year though he suspected she didn't know about that.

His teeth pierced his bottom lip and he growled his frustration. It was getting worse, less controllable as he waited to claim her. His teeth would protrude at the most inconvenient times, this not being the first time he'd bit through his own lip. He feared what would happen if he ever got Hermione close enough to him to taste. He wouldn't hurt her, would sooner kill himself truth be told, but there was a good chance he'd scare her. She was innocent, he was not, she'd want romance and candles and all that crap and all he needed was to pound her so hard into the mattress that she wouldn't be able to walk for a week.

"Three more months," he growled to the silent common room as he moved towards the lavatory. He paused, smelling her on the air and turned to find her watching him.

"Are you alright?" She asked cautiously. He could feel his inner beast fighting to be let out. It was made ten times worse by the soft silk pajamas that hung loose on her body. They were a pale pink, komono style set that he'd seen her in before. They were actually quite modest except tht she was standing before the fireplace and the bright flames behind her had turned them nearly transparent.

He shook his head, fighting a losing battle against himself. "Fine," he muttered, turning on his heel and stalking off to the loo. He took a shower, dried his hair, everything he could think of to put off going back out there. It wasn't enough apparently as she was still waiting in the Common Room when he tried to return to his room.

She approached him cautiously. "Draco? You're flushed, are you...?" her voice trailed off as she placed her fingertips against his forearm, causing a reactionary growl to erupt from his throat.

He turned his head, holding his breath so as not to be overcome by her scent. "I'm alright. You need to leave me alone now Granger. Let me get a handle on this or ... I don't want to hurt you... please go to your room."

Instead of listening she tightened her grip sliding her fingers down to encircle his wrist. "Draco, what is it? How can I help?"

"You could start by listening," he growled, but he was running out of air and when he took a deep breath all he could feel was her. It was too much temptation, he couldn't... He grabbed her, holding her tight in case she tried to escape and slanted his mouth down over hers. The kiss was not sweet and gentle, nor anything else he'd wanted for their first contact. Instead it was needy and possessive and almost brutal.

He managed to regain a semblance of control and pushed her away from him. "Fuck Granger, go! Now! Before I throw you on the bloody ground and make myself into someone we'll both despise."

She moved quickly and he began to breath again, dreading the idea of tasting her fear in the air. His head began to pound on the wall behind him in rhythmic smacks as her scent wafted over his tastebuds. Surprisingly, he detected no fear, but her desire was making him more lightheaded than the lack of air had. He ran to his room and locked the door, sealing it with a spell that wouldn't release until just before breakfast the next morning.

When his door opened the next morning, his dorm mate was already gone. Her scent lingered but was slowly dissipating, leaving him to believe she'd left more than an hour previous. A smirk creased his lips at the thought. She was such a funny thing, all sorts of contradictions and quirks. He was still smiling when he entered the Great Hall and found her usual seat empty. Thinks to avoid me then does she?

By lunch time he was no longer smiling. All bloody morning without a single glimpse of the blasted hellion. Granted, it was a morning that they didn't share any classes, but usually they at least passed in the hall or exchanged insults in passing. He sniffed discreetly, hoping to find her before his animalistic nature took over. Already he was feeling feral and out of sorts. If she didn't appear soon he was going to lose control.

Finally, fearing for her as well as the other students he approached the Staff Table and caught McGonagall's eye.

"How may I help you Mr Malfoy?" she asked stiffly.

"I was looking for Granger. Have you seen her?"

McGonagall stiffened. "Perhaps it is something I may help you with?"

He snickered, "sorry, no. I need to speak with Granger."

"She was called off grounds late last night. She will be returning tomorrow evening. Now if that is all…" She turned to walk away when he raised his voice slightly.

"No, that's not bloody well all! Where is she?"

She glared at him. "Kindly control yourself Mr Malfoy. Where Ms Granger has gone is her own business and if you ever raise your voice to me again you will lose your position as Head Boy." Again she turned her back on him, attempting to return to her meal.

"Professor," he called, desperation in his voice. "Please, I need to know where she is…"

McGonagall turned, looking fully at him for the first time. "What is going on?" she demanded in a low voice on seeing his silver eyes rimmed in black, his cheekbones a bit more pronounced than usual and his fingers curled into his palms in an attempt to hide the elongated and cat like claws which had formed.

"Where is she?" he demanded right back in the same low voice.

"Follow me Mr Malfoy." She turned and exited the room through the staff door with Draco close behind her.