Draco and Hermione arrived at the head dorms and Draco murmured the password to the portrait. As it swung open to let them in Hermione was surprised to see an owl perching on the window sill. Once she approached it a letter was dropped into her palm. She breathed a revealing charm and when no spells upon the letter were shown she tore it open with a cautious urgency. Draco knew what was contained in the letter and went to sit in front of the fire. That is until he noticed he was about to sit on the red couch. Deciding Hermione was sufficiently distracted he switched the green couch to the former location of the red couch. Smirking to himself he sat down, and seeing Hermione's puzzled expression only made his smirk grow.

"So what are you reading, Granger? Interesting letter?" Startled, Hermione spun around to face Draco. She frowned at the new common room arrangement and vowed to right it later. Remembering Draco had asked her a question she spat out the first thing she could think of.

"Why would you care?"

"I don't Granger, but you look confused and that's an expression I have never seen you have." Hermione reeled back as if slapped, had Draco Malfoy just given her a compliment? Huffing she tossed him the letter and stomped to the kitchen to make tea when she abruptly stopped. Veela's were jealous creatures and she just gave one who thought she was his mate a love letter written to her. She smiled softly remembering parts of the letter. …hair flowing perfectly like a waterfall of chocolate…eyes so deep and beautiful you get lost in them…always brings me joy to see you in the hallways… Her musings were interrupted by an almost feral growl coming from the living room. She cautiously crept in until she saw Draco rigidly sitting on the couch holding her letter so tight his knuckles were white. Only one though crept through her head before he got up and left. Oh no. His eyes were two pools of obsidian with a stormy expression coating both of them. Sighing she went to her room to read the book she had bought on veelas. There was no way it was necessary to be chained to him all her life if it turned out she was his mate. There must be some way to undo it. Everyone knew however that the only way around it was the veela's death, but everyone also knew Hermione. If there wasn't a good solution she made one.

Draco paced through the castle putting on his well trained calm facade before reaching the class Blaise would be in. Partially quelling his anger he quietly knocking on the classroom door and entered.

"Headmistress McGonagall has requested I fetch Blaise, Professor Flitwick."

"Very well Malfoy, thank you." Nodding Draco waited until he and Blaise left the classroom before snatching the collar of his shirt and dragging him to a dark hallway.

"Hair that flows like a waterfall of chocolate, Zabini? Is there something you would like to tell me? YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH HER AREN'T YOU!" Upon his 'realization' he repeated it quietly in numb disbelief.

"You're in love with my mate aren't you?" Blaise stared at him a questioning look on his face.

"Drake, your eyes are pure black, and mate? What on earth are you on about? I'm not in love with the Mudblood." Hearing that word caused Draco to growl and before he realized what he had done Blaise was staggering back toward the wall. The Italian was not the type to start fights but if someone threw the first punch, regardless of who, he would retaliate. So it came as no surprise to Draco when Blaise's fist came in contact with his chin causing his head to snap back painfully. Draco was the same as Blaise in the prior mentioned regard so Blaise was equally unsurprised when Draco's fist slammed into his gut. Grunting Blaise landed a punch on Draco's eye and Draco retaliated with a fist to Blaise's nose. Eventually Draco's anger simmered down so he sat down shakily against the wall. Blaise slumped down next to him and said the one word Draco didn't want to hear.

"Explain." Draco would have preferred Blaise to yell at him, hate him, perhaps never even speak to him again. Grudgingly Draco began a similar explanation his mother had given to him.

"My father was a Veela, his mate was my mother. This makes me a half Veela. My mate is Hermione and I have to win over before I turn 18. That gives me a few months until I die because Hermione hates me and she is already in love with Weasel, told me so herself…"

Draco trailed off remembering what she had said. Seconds later a look of realization came over Blaise's face.

"Thats what the scene in the Great Hall was about then?" Draco quietly nodded.

"Well I know something that can give you some hope. After the incident in the Great Hall Granger was frantically yelling at Potter to heal you. When he couldn't and said in all basics you were better off dead she slapped him and performed a very rough Legillimens. Despite the fact he was almost unconscious from the force of it she only mumbled an apology and rushed off down the hallway. We can assume straight to the hospital wing. Rumours also say she hasn't talked much to Potty since then. But more importantly you bleeding-heart Veela why didn't you tell me sooner? We could have started sabotaging Weasel King ages ago. Now why don't you go back to Head Dorms so your mate can take care of you?" Seeing Draco's face light up and him start to purr at mention of Hermione Blaise muttered "Bloody Veela indeed" before walking off.

Draco meanwhile took the stairs to his dorm two at a time and pretty much hollered the password at the portrait. Seeing Hermione's shocked look he strode over to her collapsed next to her on the red couch.

"Malfoy, what in Merlin's name happened to you?" Think fast Draco, you want her to take care of you, not add to your injuries.

"I was walking down to the kitchens with Blaise because I remembered I haven't seen Dobby yet this year when someone ambushed us and did this. I don't know who it was but they certainly did a good job because I'm in a allot of pain right now." Surprisingly a conflicted look came across Hermione's face after he'd mentioned Dobby. One like a parent who didn't know how much to tell their child. Finally after what seemed like ages the look cleared and she started to speak.

"Malfoy how much do you remember from the night at your Manor?"

Breathing heavily he hoarsely replied.

"Every bloody moment."

"Then you should remember before Dobby apparted us away Bellatrix threw th-the knife. The one she used t-to do this-" At this Hermione hesitantly pulled up her sleeve to show the 'Mudblood' scar she would have for the rest of her life.

"The knife managed to hit Dobby. There was nothing we could do, he died soon after." This definitely shocked Draco and all he could manage was a weak 'oh'.

"Malfoy, about your injuries you really should go to the hospital wing. Your going to have so many bruises otherwise."

"It would give whoever it was satisfaction to see me in the Hospital Wing, again. Although I am in allot of pain." He added allot of meaning to last line hoping Hermione would catch his meaning and he wouldn't have to beg. At this point he wasn't all too sure he wouldn't beg. I'm sure you would beg. I thought I told you to bugger off!

"You want me to heal you, don't you?" The resigned tone she said this in mildly annoyed Draco but he simply nodded. Hermione, being in her situation decided to have a little fun with the youngest Malfoy.

"Your asking for help, Draco." She all but purred. "What do you say when asking for help? Surly a smart boy like yourself knows…" She trailed off pretending to be deep in thought and Draco found his mouth to be quite dry. She's treading on dangerous ground.

"I-" He forced out, unable to say any thing else.

"Three words, can you say them for me?" Look what your doing, Hermione! He thinks your his mate this isn't helping prove otherwise! A pang of hurt flashed through Draco's chest and he then realized what Hermione had thought. Making a mental note to confront her later he indulged her request. As she knew his secret he no longer had to be tactful.

"Hermione, please help me. I need you right now right here. I'm begging you to help me." He smirked as Hermione instantly flushed before setting to work healing him. The Slytherin Prince allowed himself to get lost in the feeling of her tending to him and wished he had let Blaise do more damage. Suddenly Hermione leapt up and rushed off mumbling something about 'dinner'.

Scurrying down the hallway Hermione thought back on what had just happened. He seemed to get awful flirty after you thought- oh merlins beard. Veela's can hear the thoughts of their mates. Oh crap. Remembering this bit of information made Hermione halt, a slow smile pushing its way onto her face. She knew dinner definitely wouldn't be boring. She all but pranced into the Great Hall sitting as far away from Ron as possible and facing the Slytherin table. Immediately she bent her head so her face was obscured by a curtain of hair and she could subtly watch the rival house. Before long Draco stalked in and sat in his usual seat. Gathering her courage she put her plot to action. Draco looks so sexy right now, I wonder if the rumours are true? I would love to feel his hands running up and down my sides.

Just as she thought Draco started fidgeting in his seat sporting a bright red blush. He was gripping his fork so tight his knuckles were white. Pulling me closer to him with a single hand on the small of my back, joining his soft lips to mine. Then gradually moving down to my neck and eventually lower, tugging at my cloak.

To her great surprise Draco was continuously bashing his head on the table while Blaise and Pansy were attempting to figure out what was wrong. Deciding to leave before he did so she could lock herself in her bedroom she slowly rose from the table knowing his eyes were subtly on her. Taking extra care in swishing her hips she left the Great Hall, breaking into a run as soon as she was out of sight. No sooner than her room door shut and was sealed she heard the portrait slam shut followed by an indignant muttering from the wizard in the portrait.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

"GRANGER THAT WASN'T BLOODY FUNNY! LET ME IN THIS INSTANT I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!" Draco shouted from outside the door, knocking frantically as he did so. Hermione grinned and called back at a lower volume.

"Why should I, Malfoy? Also I haven't the foggiest idea what your blithering about. "

Out side the door Draco bristled. How dare she! Making up his mind he ran down to the potions lab and making sure no one could see he slipped in. Going to Snape's old stores he grabbed a vial of Polyjuice Potion and dashed back to the common room. The moment he was in their bathroom he once again shut and warded the room with every spell knew. Satisfied he set to work. Wincing as he plucked out one of his hairs he dropped it into the potion. He then grabbed a vial of Sleep Stew from his own stores. Sleeping Stew was almost like Dreamless Sleep Draught except you only fell asleep a short amount of time. Grinning he added a bit of both to her toothpaste and began the difficult part. Muttering an incantation he charmed the mirror to show her even after the potion took effect. Smiling and softly whistling he retired for the evening.

The next morning he awoke as Hermione, or shall we say Draco, was leaving the bathroom. He muttered a spell to turn her robes into the Slytherin robes and walked drowsily to the bathroom. Once inside he burst out laughing as he found her hairbrush and added her hair to the remainder of the potion. After he swallowed it he charmed his nightclothes into the Gryffindor robes. Thinking on the spot he grabbed his wand and added several love bites to Hermione's neck. Mine, Weasel. Keep your grubby hands off her. Whistling he made his way out of their common room.