Disclaimer: *Insert smart way to state the standard fanfic disclaimer*

A.N. I know it is mean of me to end the last chapter in a much-awaited moment, but I had no regrets. It gave me time to perfect the dialogue that followed afterward. I do regret that it took so long (there are multiple factors).

Also, I have come to the conclusion that I am a creative drunk. New Year's wine helped me finish the piece. Please send wine to my PO Box 555 BS street #007 in Make Believe, Ca.

Special thanks to Lights-Writes, kyutiepie, RomanceObsessed, love-them-all10, piperholly7, velvetblack, Elased, brittanyjanee, CeruleanDreamCat, .doctors, labyrinthloverxx, dutch potterfan, nostalgiakills, flower123, ndavis77, Blue Luver5000, 1019

Oh, and baker1944, I know where you live. I know your family, I know your crush, and I know where you go to school. I'll see you when I get back to SoCal.

Ch. 10

"When were you planning to tell me that I'm your mate?" Malfoy asked.

Hermione's heart was racing a hundred miles a minute, and her mind was running much faster. But how did he…? Who? Of all the questions in the world, why did he asked that one?

Hermione had hoped that he never had a clue that she was a veela in the first place, let along that he was her mate. In less than in 24 hours, both of those hopes were gone.

Despite the jumbled emotions, Hermione tried to hide the panicked look on her face. She tried to copy Malfoy's calm demeanor. She straightened her face and made sure that her hands were not fumbling.

"Can I answer that question with another question?" Hermione asked. She tried to keep her voice as calm as possible. "What gave you the idea that my mate is you?"

"It's just a hunch," Malfoy said. "Call it a powerful feeling that I am your mate."

"Just a hunch?" Hermione repeated. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you are not my mate."

Malfoy did not show any emotions, but she could tell that he weighed in what to say next.

"You know, Granger, I noticed something very odd last night," Malfoy said. "I was flirting with my date, and the next thing I knew, a veela was lunging at us. Of course, I learned later on that the veela was you, and it got me thinking. Why would you attack me and my date?"

He left the question hanging like an annoying itch Hermione had to scratch.

"I'm afraid I could not answer that," Hermione said. "I mentally blanked out from the pain. It was my first transformation, and it was excruciating as you could imagine."

"I have an idea," Malfoy said. "You saw my date and I flirting with each other, and you got jealous. You saw your mate flirting with another woman, so you transformed into a veela and attacked the two of us."

"That's a rather preposterous claim," Hermione said. "You are assuming that I noticed that you were flirting with your date in the first place."

"I know you were watching me," Malfoy said. "I could feel your eyes on me since I arrived."

Hermione allowed herself a moment to think. She needed to get away from this conversation as soon as possible.

"So you are telling me that you are my mate," Hermione said. "And your proof is that I tried to attack you and your date while I was in my veela form. According to you, I attacked you because I was jealous of the two of you, and you just know this because you could feel my eyes on you the entire time?"

Hermione let the words sink in. She watched as Malfoy's impassive face gave way to a dubious expression as she hoped.

"I'm sorry, Malfoy, but that sounds like a lot of assumptions to me," Hermione said. "Surely, you know that you made several logical leaps to end up with that conclusion."

Malfoy's jaw clenched. Hermione could practically feel his annoyance.

She knew he must feel like an idiot right now, and she wanted nothing more than to tell him that he was right. However, she knew it was better this way.

"I know that I'm your mate," Malfoy said. His voice was laced with authority Hermione never heard from him before.

"Do you have another reason to believe that you are my mate?" Hermione asked.

Malfoy shook his head.

"I just know," Malfoy said.

He sounded so confident and self-assured. How could he be so sure that he was her mate when he had no proof? Unless…

"Did somebody told you that I'm your mate?" Hermione said.

For the first time, Malfoy's eyes looked through her. She knew she hit the nail on the head. Hermione sighed. There was only one person who knew who her mate was.

"Did Harry told you that I'm your mate?"

For the first time, Malfoy looked through her instead directly at her face. It was all the proof she needed. Harry should watch his back the next time they meet. Hermione would cast at least five different curses at him. Or perhaps she could use him as a guinea pig for her experimental spells.

As much as she enjoys planning how to torture, Harry Hermione needed to diffuse the situation.

Hermione made a show of rolling her eyes and shook her head. Just enough for Malfoy to notice, but not comical by any means.

"Oh, Harry." She said. "I'm so sorry he got you involved in this. Harry and I have this prank war going on for years. I guess he thought it would be funny if he told you that you are my mate."

She gave him the best apologetic look she could muster.

"A prank?" Malfoy repeated.

His face looked so confused that he looked like a lost little boy. It was adorable. Hermione had to stop herself from pinching his cheeks.

"Yes. I am so sorry about that. He must have thought that it would be funny to tell you that you are my mate after I transformed. He should not have you involved in our game. I would give Harry a stern talking to the next time I see him." Hermione said.

Malfoy's face was contemplative, which made Hermione nervous and strangely excited.

"The funny thing is Potter told me that you are my mate before you transformed," Malfoy said. "He asked me to talk to him privately soon after I arrived, and he explained to me everything."

Malfoy sat down on the seat adjacent to Hermione's bed. The proximity between him and her was both exciting and uncomfortable.

"This all happened before you transformed into a veela and attacked my date and me for flirting in front of you."

Malfoy's eyebrow rose ever so slightly, daring Hermione to explain that away. A dare Hermione was more than happy to accept.

"All that means is that Harry planned ahead." Hermione shrugged. "He might not have expected that I transformed later on in the party, but that doesn't mean it was not a joke."

Hermione saw Malfoy twitch in annoyance.

"There is one more thing that is bothering me," Malfoy said. "Why would Saint Potter tell his best friend's secret? Let along to me of all people?"

Hermione raised her shoulders to indicate that she does not know.

"He might have thought it would be funnier if he could make you believe that you are my mate?" Hermione supplied.

Malfoy scoffed.

"I have another theory," Malfoy said.

"A hypothesis." Hermione corrected. "You have a hypothesis. A theory has repeated observation and testing and incorporates facts, laws, predictions, and tested hypotheses that are widely accepted. It's a common misnomer."

Malfoy stared at her blankly. Hermione bit her lip. As a scientist, it is one of the pet peeves when people confuse hypothesis and thesis. Moreover, she was hoping that her statement would make him lose his train of thought.

"I have a hypothesis," Malfoy said. "Potter knew that I am your mate for a while now, and he has been waiting forever for you to tell me. He got impatient and took it upon himself to tell me your dirty little secret."

That was Hermione's guest, but she was not going to tell Malfoy that.

"That's an interesting hypothesis, but I like mine better," Hermione said.

Malfoy snarled and clenched his fist. His eyes burned with anger…no, irritation…no, passion. It was the first time Hermione saw him look so passionate. She was scared. She was excited.

"Don't play with me, Granger." He said. "I know Potter was telling the truth. He even warned me that you would deny all allegations that I am your mate until the day you die. I want to know why."

She wanted to tell him why at the same time, she did not. She wanted to tell him the truth, but she knew that it would only complicate things.

She looked on his face in defiance. In defiance of what, she was not sure. Nevertheless, her eyes were sucked into his gray eyes, practically begging her for an answer.

She wondered what it would be like if she woke up staring into those eyes every day? To look at them as they made love?

"Well?" Malfoy asked. "When were you going to tell me that I am your mate?"

His voice broke her out of her reverie. His begging eyes now seemed expectant, pressuring her to give an answer.

Hermione sighed. It was time to switch gears.

"I'll humor you, Malfoy," Hermione said. "Let's say that we live in a universe that you are my mate. What would you have done with that information?"

Malfoy's jaw clenched. It was his turn now to have no answers.

"Would you declare your undying love?" Hermione prodded. "Tell me that you admired me since way back when? Would you have whisked me to live in a nice little cottage?"

Malfoy stared at her. He did not move a muscle.

Hermione could not tell what he was thinking and decided to push things further.

"If I said yes, you are my mate. Would we immediately start making a family?" Hermione asked.

Malfoy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Who said anything about starting a family?" he asked.

"Well, Veelas and their mates usually start a family. At the very least, they have one child together." Hermione said as calmly as she could, but she could not keep her voice from trembling. "It's not that unusual to think that I would start a family with my actual mate once I found him."

"Could you please stop pretending that I am not your mate?" Malfoy asked. "It's starting to get really old."

"Why would I stop pretending that you are not my mate when you are not my mate?" Hermione said.

"Don't give me that bull crap," Malfoy said. "We both know that I am your mate."

"No, Malfoy. You are not." Hermione said firmly.

"I am no fool, Granger," Malfoy said. "I knew it as when your eyes couldn't get your eyes off me while you were fucking that redheaded twat."

Hermione's mouth dropped. She thought that she only imagined him there when she was with Charlie. That was what made the moment so exciting. However, now that she knew it was really him there watching her, she felt embarrassed.

"If I say that you are not my mate, you are not my mate," Hermione said, her false bravado masked her nervous and embarrassed feelings. "Despite what you say, I refuse to believe that my mate would be someone with minimal redeeming qualities like you."

"So, is that your answer?" Malfoy growled. "You had no plans to tell me that I'm your mate because you think I have minimal redeeming qualities?"

Malfoy stood up from his chair. His tall frame towered over Hermione.

"Well, excuse me if I did not turn out to be the prince charming of your dreams. Your Highness. However, that doesn't change the fact that I am your mate. Nor does it change the fact that you should have told me." Malfoy half-shouted to her.

There was a knock on the door. Hermione and Draco both turned their heads when they heard the door open.

"Is there something going on here?" Anthony asked.

Rather than calming down, Anthony's presence made Malfoy even angrier.

"No, nothing is happening, Anthony," Hermione said.

Malfoy glared at the intruder.

"Anthony Goldstein?" Malfoy asked before turning her head back to Hermione. "Are you fucking him too? Of course, you are. I have read the headlines. You two have been dating for a while now."

Anthony's eyebrow furrowed.

"We're not dating," Anthony said.

Malfoy turned his head back towards Anthony. A devious smirk appeared on his face.

"Hey, Goldstein. Did you know that I caught your little girlfriend over here, fucking another guy?"

Anthony's face was calm and confident as he replied.

"Yes. She told me. She tells me everything."

This only served to irritate Malfoy even further.

"Well. I hope you enjoy your little slut." Malfoy spat.

Anthony's eyes widen in surprise while Hermione's eyes started tearing up. Sensing her distress, Anthony rushed toward to Hermione's side. The motion was so quick that he practically pushed Malfoy away from her hand.

"I think you should get out," Anthony said.

"What? You don't like it when I call your little girlfriend for what she is?" Malfoy taunted.

"Then what does that make you?" Anthony spat at him, "I heard from the grapevine that you sleep with different women every week."

Malfoy's jaw clenched in anger, which only further scared Hermione. She wrapped her arms around Anthony. Her head was pressed against his chest while her face was turned towards Malfoy.

"Your presence is no longer welcome here," Anthony said. "Please leave now before I call security to take you out."

Though angry, Malfoy stiffly left the room.

"Was he your mate?" Anthony asked as soon as they were alone.

Hermione hugged him tighter, it was all the answer he needed.

Anthony wrapped his arms around Hermione. He let her press her face against his stomach, waiting for the tears to come out. He let her cry against his chest as he murmured to her that everything would be alright.

Draco Malfoy sat in Blaise Zabini's living room later that evening. The room was grand and dour, as most places owned by former Slytherins tend to be. There were no Christmas lights, nor were there any Christmas decorations of any kind. The only sign of joy during a happy season came from the room's laughing owner.

"I swear Blaise; if you don't stop laughing, I will beat that pretty face of yours," Malfoy growled.

Try as he might, Blaise Zabini could not help but smile toothily, which immediately turned to a deep, loud laugh.

"I said, stop it," Draco growled.

"Okay, okay. Let me try." It only took a second before Blaise's serious expression turned to maniacal laughter.

Malfoy had the biggest urge to punch his dear old friend across the face.

"I'm sorry, mate. I can't help it." Blaise grinned. "The story is just so hilarious. You know, since I was a little child, my nonna told me that her mate is her perfect match."

Blaise reached the brandy in front of him and took a sip. He savored both the drink and his old friend's irritated expression.

"She knew that as soon as she touched him, that he was the one." Blaise continued. "She did absolutely everything in her power to be with my Nonno. She asked around for his name, his address, what are his likes and dislikes. She practically begged my great-grandparents for a date with my Nonno."

"While I enjoy listening to you recall how your grandparents' grand romance, what is your point?" Draco asked.

Blaise smirked that smug smirk that annoyed Malfoy ever since they met.

"Do you know how much self-control it takes for a veela to stop her instincts?" Blaise asked. "She has to control every bone on her body just to stop herself from tracking you down and shagging you senseless. I have to give the girl credit for self-control."

Draco gritted his teeth.

"I'm delighted that you found my situation hilarious." Draco drawled. "But I did not come over in the middle of the night so you could make fun of me."

Blaise shrugged.

"You knew I was going to make fun of you even before you step foot into my home," Blaise said. "What did you do after Potter told you about the know-it-all's little secret?"

"I followed her to the upstairs rooms at Leaky Cauldron," Draco said. "I walked around the rooms, and I found her screwing one to Weaselbee's brothers."

Blaise guffawed as Malfoy's knuckles tightened until it was paper-white.

"Wait," Blaise said. "I thought I read an article about her seeing another bloke with a really fancy job."

Draco's tsked at the thought of that wanker.

"Yeah. He's a Healer at St. Mungo's." Draco said.

"Is she dating him at the same time she was screwing her best friend's brother?" Blaise said.

"Yeah, she's a little slut," Draco said.

Draco gulped down the rest of his brandy and poured himself some more. He raised the glass to Blaise in salute and finished it off with one gulp.

"So, what do you plan on doing next?" Blaise asked.

"I'll have to go contact my family's lawyers," Draco said. "I have to see what the law says about veelas and their mates."

"Veelas have the right to request a private audience with their mate." Blaise recited. "Mates are not required to marry or make a family with the veela. On the other hand, no mate ever refused in history."

Draco raised his eyebrows at his friend.

"I have veela genes in me." Blaise shrugged. "It's always good to know any laws about that part of me just in case I have relative or an offspring that turned out to be a veela."

"Are there any laws about the rights of mates?" Draco asked.

"For the most part, none," Blaise said. "Technically, the mate has a right to refuse the veela's advances, but nobody in history ever rejected a veela's advances before. Nor would they want to. Veelas and mates are usually meant for each other."

Blaise took a quick sip of his brandy as he watched Draco's eyes widen in surprise.

"What do you mean that veelas and mates are usually meant for each other?" Draco asked.

"I mean, veelas and mates are usually soul mates…in a sense." Blaise said.

He crossed and uncrossed his leg. He finished his brandy, got up to the cupboard, grab another bottle, and poured himself some more drink. All the while, Draco squirmed in anticipation.

"My nonna explained it to me this way. In the entire world, there is one person who is perfect for you. Most wizards and witches never get the chance to know for sure whomever they married is the right person for them. Veelas are lucky because they get to know for sure who their anima gemella, their one true love… their soulmate."

Draco absentmindedly swirled his glass of brandy.

"Of course, there are some drawbacks such as transforming into a giant bird," Blaise said. "You win some, you lose some."

Draco watched the burning flames as he finished his drink.

"This…soulmate business," Draco said absentmindedly. "Do people have multiple soulmates, or do they have just one?"

"Usually, it's just one person," Blaise said. "There are some cases when veelas have more than one mate, but that is very rare, and it usually ends with either someone dying or a threesome. Typically someone dying."

"How about wizards?" Draco said. "Do wizards get to have more than one soulmate?"

Blaise raised his shoulders, indicating that he did not know.

"We could have one. We could have two, or we could have none." Blaise said. "Wizards like us would never know."

Draco did not ask any more questions. Instead, he drank his brandy.

"Would you think the press believe it if I start dating Granger?" Draco asked after a while.

Blaise raised his eyebrows at him.

"You plan to turn Granger into one of your toys?" Blaise asked. "I wouldn't recommend it."

"Why not?" Malfoy asked. "She's the veela around in this situation. Her instincts would tell her that she needs me more than I need her. If I'm going to sleep with that mudblood slut, I might as well boost my family's image along the way."

Blaise shook his head.

"You can't treat Granger like all the other mudbloods you used before," Blaise said. "She is a veela, and you are her mate. If you are going to pursue her, you have to say goodbye to bachelorhood."