Hermione's hands were shaking slightly in her lap as she relayed her story to Harry. She explained that Draco saved her the night of her parent's death, and that she somehow inexplicably was Draco Malfoy's Veela mate. Harry only interrupted once to incredulously ask how come he never heard of people with Veela blood having mates. Hermione took extra time explaining that one, even though Professor Binns had pointed this out several times in class.

She was too afraid to look at him through the entire explanation so she stared at Hedwig's empty cage instead.

"So you see, he couldn't help but save me that night. I guess it just sort of overcame him right then and there, and well, I guess I'm lucky it did otherwise I'd probably be dead."

Hermione sucked in a deep breath and dared herself to look in Harry's direction. He didn't look angry or upset which she took as a good sign, but his brow was furrowed in confusion.

"Okay, so Draco Malfoy is basically in love with you." Harry said finally.

"I never said that!" Hermione retaliated. "He can't help it. It's some genetic thing with people who have Veela blood. Sometime between the ages of fifteen and twenty five their bodies instinctively find them a mate, and from then on it's like a piece of themselves is attached to that person. They'll never be able to not care for them."

"Alright then, let me make sure I've got this right. You're Draco Malfoy's mate. He saved you the night your parents died because you were in danger, and I'm guessing we had his help escaping the manor then?" Harry asked putting pieces together in his head.

"Yeah, basically. He found me searching his room and he was pretty upset." As Hermione said this, Harry looked up concerned. "Oh! No not like that. I mean he was angry at me, but only for putting myself in danger. But he knew I wouldn't go back to safety without you so he put everything on the line and he came up with that brilliant plan to get us out of there. He was hurt badly by Voldemort for it, but I think all three of us got out of there without any long term consequences. Harry, I don't think we would have made it out alive without Draco's help."

"No. No, I don't think we would have." Harry said bringing his hand up to rest on his chin. "I don't understand though, why are you telling me all this now?"

"Well for one, I just found out my theory was right last night. Two, I don't know how to lie to you, and three and most importantly, I think he could be an asset to the Order."

"Hermione!"

"What?" She asked confused.

"Hermione you can't do that." Harry protested angrily.

"Do what?" She asked.

"Use him like that! He's a Veela Hermione. You asking him to be on our side is like asking him to walk to his death! I mean he would do it of course he'd do anything for you now, but at what price?"

Hermione sat in silence for a bit letting Harry's words sink in.

"Oh." She said finally. "You're right Harry. How could I even think of asking him to do something like that? That's like asking him against his will. I mean we both know that Draco Malfoy isn't the nicest person in the world, but that's just inhumane. I can't believe I'd even think of something like that."

"Don't be hard on yourself." Harry ran a hand through his untindy hair, and let it fall in his eyes. "I had the same thought in my head before you spoke it. I'm sure if I gave you few more minutes to think about it, you would have drawn the same conclusion. But we're not death eaters Hermione. We don't sacrifice being humane people just because we're in the middle of a war."

"I agree. Of course I do."

They sat together again and Hermione pushed her feet up onto Harry's bed and leaned back in the chair she was sitting on.

"You know what I thought you were going to say for your third point?"

"No, what?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I thought you were going to say that you felt the same way he did. It makes sense you know? I mean he saved your life twice. Plus it's hard not to like someone who would cross oceans for you."

"Oh." Hermione said, musing over Harry's words. "I suppose I don't hate him anymore, that's for sure. I mean he's not a completely different person or anything, but he definitely has changed in more ways than one. I suppose I like him well enough."

"Who'd have thought? Draco Malfoy, a death eater, saving Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. It's like an alternate world."

"War makes everything feel that way."

"Well, if you're wondering, I'm okay with it. I mean, Draco Malfoy may be a death eater, but it seems to me like you're completely safe in his hands, as am I. I don't propose we use him or ask him to do anything he wouldn't do normally if you weren't his mate, but it does make things a bit different."

"I agree. I mean it does make things very different. Last night proved that. Draco and I are supposed to get together later and talk about it. What it all means."

"Well you'll have to keep me up to date on that one."

"I will." Hermione reached over and squeezed Harry's hand. "Harry, I'm really glad you're okay with this."

"Yeah, I think I am. I mean, there's not really many other ways to feel about the whole thing. I can either get angry about the situation, or accept it and move forward with what's next."

"What is next?" Hermione asked.

"Dinner. I'm starving."

Hermione smiled at her friend. She was glad Harry was taking everything so well, and she was also glad to have an outside perspective snap her out of her idea of asking Draco to be a spy. Of course he would say yes for her, but she didn't want it to be like that. If something such as that was going to happen then she wanted it to be his own choice. She had to make sure from now on that she didn't ask Draco to do anything that would put him in danger. It just wasn't fair.

"Hermione can you do something for me?" Harry asked her, waking her out of her thoughts.

"Of course."

"Can you thank Malfoy?"

"For what?"

"Honestly Hermione, it's hard enough for me to ask you to tell someone this that I've sworn to dislike forever…but just thank him for saving my life."

"I can do that."

…..

…..

…..

After gathering food from the kitchens, Hermione brought it back up to Harry's room and they sat and enjoyed a decent meal as Harry was still too weak to go eat in the great hall. At half past seven Hermione said goodbye to Harry and walked back to her shared dorms. She was suddenly nervous as to what words would be exchanged between her and Draco on the other side of the portrait. She needed to be completely honest with him tonight as it seemed to be the only way to figure everything out.

Hermione took a deep breath and spoke their password as the portrait swung aside and she stepped into the common room.

Draco was already there, his wand was out and his buttoned shirt was opened. He seemed to be running his wand along his chest.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked curiously from the entrance.

Draco hadn't heart her come in at first, but when she spoke he quickly covered his torso and turned away from her and into the kitchenette.

"Hermione, I didn't expect you until eight."

"Well I sort of live here, so I didn't think it'd be a big deal if I came back whenever I felt like it. Are you okay?" She asked moving toward the kitchen a few feet behind him.

"I'm fine." He said suddenly turning to face her, his hand covering the left side of his face.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, moving her hand up to grab his hand and remove it from his face.

She gasped at the view in front of her. Draco's face was covered in dark gashes. Some were healed, but most were still bleeding lightly. Hermione moved her eyes down his body and she saw more marks and blood stains on him.

"Oh no. Oh Draco. Draco you promised nothing like this would happen."

"I was trying to clean it all up before you came in." Draco said quietly.

"Draco, what happened?" She asked, as she lightly moved her free hand over his in an attempt at soothing him.

"I'm sorry I lied to you. I knew something like this was going to happen. It's just my father's way of showing his disappointment. It's not nearly half as bad as what I got last night. I'll be okay with a few quick healing spells Hermione."

"Come on. Let's go sit on your bed. You need to lie down."

Draco didn't protest, so Hermione put her arm around his back and carefully helped him into his room and brought him to a sitting position on the bed.

"Thank you." He said as he began fixing up the rest of his wounds with his wand.

"Of course."

Hermione was hurting inside. Everything was just building up inside of her. First her parents, then everything that had happened so far this year with Ron, not finding the horcrux, nearly dying, watching Draco Malfoy, a boy she swore she'd hate her entire life, put himself in danger for her. It was all becoming too much.

"Draco, this isn't fair. I'm so sorry. I wish that it wasn't like this. I wish we could just go back to hating each other, and I wish that your genes had chosen you a different mate, a safer mate. This isn't fair to you. I'm sure you were perfectly content and happy just being a Malfoy and a death eater and knowing your place in the war. It's not fair that that's all upturned now. I'm sorry."

"I'm not!" Draco said suddenly. "I'm not sorry Hermione. Do you really think I was happy before? Do you think that this beating wouldn't have happened if you weren't my mate? Father would have found an excuse to make it happen. It's always my fault in his eyes. This isn't something that is a onetime thing ever since you came into the picture. It's always been this way."

"Draco! That's horrible. That's not right at all" She said hoarsely. "No one should have to go through that."

"Hermione, really it's okay. It's something I've learned to live with. But wait, let me finish." He took a deep breath. "I'm not sorry you're my mate, and this isn't the Veela in me talking okay? I'm glad that this has enabled me to look at you differently, and to see you for more than just the muggle born I convinced myself you were. You make me see everyone as more than just a blood type and a heritage. I see people as people now. That's a gift I never thought I wanted, but now that I have it I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Hermione couldn't believe what he was telling her. Was it possible that this Veela thing wasn't the only thing driving Draco Malfoy to be near her? Sure it brought him to her in the first place, but now that he was here, was it really possible that he was happy about it? That she was really changing him even in the slightest way?

"Draco, I'm glad. I'm very glad to hear that. You know, I don't expect you to be a whole new person. I mean if you were it'd actually kind of scare me a bit. I mean you've always been…handsome…and arrogant, a bit rude, and also a bit materialistic. I actually like that you've still got all those traits. That's what makes you you, and at least you know that that's the way you are. There's nothing worse than someone who's all those things and doesn't admit to it, but you do. I'm glad you aren't clouded anymore though. I mean, that you can see people as people and not as a pureblood, or a mudblood. I'm glad there's more to it now."

"Did you admit I was handsome?" Draco said smirking at her.

"That's all you took away from my speech?" She said incredulously.

"Hey, you're the one who diagnosed me as arrogant. I didn't want to disappoint you."

"You're impossible." She said smiling over at him. "Yes, I said you're handsome, and you are. Even though I'll probably hate myself for saying this later, I do rather fancy you. I mean as Harry said, it's hard to not like someone who'd cross the ocean for you, but I think there's more to it than that. You're a very unique person Draco Malfoy. I can appreciate that."

Draco smiled at her and he slowly lifted himself off the headboard and he moved over to her on the bed. Hermione leaned back instinctively placing her hands behind her to keep her at a forty five degree angle.

"What are you doing?" She asked breathing heavily, as Draco was leaning over her now, his eyes a bright liquid silver.

"What I believe I've always instinctively wanted to do."

Hermione let her arms give way as he spoke and she slowly fell back on the bed, her back flat against the mattress. Draco's hand caught her head before it hit the blankets and hovered just above her. She looked into his eyes one last time before she allowed hers to close. His own brilliant silver eyes followed suit as he placed his lips lightly on hers and they both released a contented sigh. Draco brushed his lips over hers making soft kisses on every corner of her mouth he could reach. His hands moved through her soft hair and he could feel the skin on her arms as they wrapped themselves around him to pull him closer to her.

Draco had been with plenty of woman, but nothing he had ever done with them made him feel like this one kiss did.

When they finally pulled apart Draco still hovered above her waiting for Hermione to say something. She was breathing heavily and her cheeks were flushed pink.

"Wow." She said finally, pushing herself up into a sitting position. "That was…"

"Yeah." Draco finished for her. There wasn't really a word for either of them to use to describe what had just happened, but neither of them disapproved.

"So what does this mean?" Draco asked her. "I mean, you know how I feel."

"Draco, I…I have no idea. I mean, obviously I like you; otherwise I wouldn't have just let you do that. I mean I don't even think I would mind if you did it again. This is just…confusing. Overwhelming."

"I'm sorry."

"No! No, don't be. Really. I might just need some water."

"I'll get it, I could use some too. I'll be right back."

Hermione was left alone in the cool dark bedroom to gather her thoughts. Her lips were still tingling from the sensation Draco gave her. She had kissed a Krum in her fourth year, and gave Cormac McLaggen the time of day last year, but it was hardly enjoyable. No kiss so far had left her feeling the way Draco's did. There was something there that definitely wasn't there before, and she just wasn't sure yet what she was supposed to do next about it.

Draco came in a second later with a glass of water for her, and some for himself in his goblet. She took a long drink and the cool water felt good on her throat.

"So, how did things go with Potter?" He asked her.

"Good. Really good I think. He gets it. I mean he knows that you feel for me, and he knows now that you saved us. He says thank you by the way."

Draco spit water out all over the floor at this statement.

"He what?"

"Honestly!" Hermione said exasperated. "It's quite simple. You saved my life, and in turn saved his life and he asked me to thank you for it. You're such boys, always holding grudges. I thought Harry was going to choke on his own spit when he asked me to tell you. It was like it was physically causing him pain to ask me to say such a thing."

"Can you blame us? It's weird."

"I guess not, but really things are different now."

"Not really."

"How can you say that? Of course they are. Look at us, we're talking to each other civilly and I just made out with you on your bed." Hermione said, and Draco smirked at her so she rolled her eyes. "Things have to be different now. We can't all just ignore everything that's been happening. There's been some kind of shift in our interactions. It's bound to have to change some things."

"Whatever."

Hermione laughed at his childlike behavior.

"Someone's grumpy at the idea of being on friendly terms with Harry Potter." She said, as she crawled over the foot of space that lay between them and put her hands on his back.

"Did I say you could touch me?" Draco asked suddenly, standing up violently and turning to face her.

"What?" She asked confused.

"I don't think I said that you could. What are you even doing? You just come in here and tell me things are different, that I have to change, that I can be a good person!"

"I never said that Draco!" Hermione said shocked, and suddenly a bit frightened. He reminded her suddenly of the night he hit her in a rage, and again the night when he tried to erase her memory. This must be the sudden bursts of anger Draco was telling her about earlier.

"You did! You just did. You think you're so smart and perfect, that you can just ask me to do whatever you want. You always know I'll come save you, and you just push yourself into the line of danger. Why? Why do you do that? It's like you just want me to get hurt. Is that it Granger? Do you do this to make me hurt? Maybe someone needs to hurt you for a change."

"Draco what are you talking about? You need to stop please. You're scaring me."

"Good! Now you know what I felt like when I was being tortured by Voldemort and my father! What were you even doing in my manor last night? Did you think it would just be fun to go sneak in and get me in trouble? Did you think it'd be funny to watch me hurt? You probably don't even like me; you're just messing with me. Trying to get me out of the picture while I'm helpless to you." Draco was yelling at her now and advancing toward her as she quickly got off the bed.

"Malfoy, no. I wouldn't do that. I promise." Hermione subconsciously reverted back to his surname. "I wouldn't just go into your manor to make you follow me in so you could get hurt! I'm not that kind of person!"

Hermione shouted back at him desperate for him to understand. He nearly had her in a corner now as she could sense his anger radiating off him. She decided to tell him some of the truth.

"We were there looking for something we thought might be hidden there. I promise, that's all."

"What? What would be hidden there Granger? Tell me!" Draco was only a few feet from her now and Hermione cursed herself for leaving her wand in the common room.

"We-we were looking for a cup, okay? An old cup, we thought it might have old magic in it, important magic."

"That's the best you can do sweetheart? That's it? 'We were looking for a cup', and you expect me to believe that? Did you find this 'cup'?" Draco asked mockingly, his voice carrying a crazy edge.

"No. I don't think it was there. We thought it might be. We had information that said it was given to your father so we assumed it would be at your place." Hermione was speaking very quickly.

Draco's face was taking on a more menacing and contorting shape, and Hermione was at a loss to explain it.

He had his wand in his hand and his goblet still in the other and she knew that if he got any closer he could use either to inflict damage on her. The goblet looked to be made of pure gold and one hit to the head with it could knock her out, but Hermione doubted he'd use that against her. He wouldn't want to damage something that looked so valuable. I mean the thing even had jewels encrusted upon it.

"Oh." Hermione said suddenly.

"What! What is it?" Draco said only inches from her now. "Something else you're keeping from me?"

"Draco. Remember those angry spells you told me you were getting? Those ones that you said were inexplicable? I think I know what's causing them, and I think I know why you're having one now."

"Granger I'm not having anything right now. I'm just wondering why the hell you're in my space talking to me like I'm a child and making stupid excuses. I know you're using me. You don't even really like me. Just admit it! Just tell me the truth!" He shouted the last part at her and threw his wand on the bed as he used his now free hand to grab her wrist tightly.

"Draco. You're hurting me. You need to stop." She said as calmly as possible, wincing in pain.

"Why? You're just hurting me, Hermione. You don't have to like me, or be with me, and you know that I will always want you and need to protect you. You just use me."

"Draco, I need you to let go of my wrist, you're hurting me. You promised you'd never hurt me intentionally. You need to let go."

"No." Draco said firmly, anger seething through him. He grip on her slightly loosened but not all the way.

"Then let go of the cup Draco. You don't have your wand anymore, if you let go of the cup you can go grab the wand." Hermione said firmly, but she was still shaking in his grip. If she couldn't reason with her Draco she would have to reason with the crazy one.

She saw her words of common sense ringing through Draco's body, he wanted the wand on the bed and to do that he needed to let go of the cup. He nodded, and she finally heard the cup clang to the ground. As if releasing a spell on him, the moment the cup left his hand, Draco stumbled to the ground as well releasing her wrist in the process. His eyes changed from a dark menacing black to his shining silver eyes as he looked over at Hermione realizing what he'd just done.

"Hermione….Hermione! Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay!"

"I-I'm fine…I'm fine Draco."

"What have I done? What have I done? Hermione I don't know what just came over me. I just…it's like all my worst fears just came out of me, and it made me so angry. I don't know what happened."

"Draco, it's fine." Hermione said looking intently at the cup, and ignoring Draco's pleas for her understanding.

"Hermione I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me. Please, this inexcusable. I don't know why this keeps happening. This isn't me."

"No. No it's not."

"How can you be so calm?" He asked her frantically.

Hermione bent on the ground lying down on her stomach. She was now an inch away from the cup and her eyes were examining it closely without touching it.

"Because, it's not your fault. Something's been messing with your emotions."

"What?" Draco looked flabbergasted at her, watching her examining his goblet as he sat on a pile of misery on the floor next to her.

Hermione lifted her head up off the ground and turned her head to the side so her ear was hovering just above the cup. She heard nothing at first, just the sound of Draco shivering next to her and a few movements from the wind outside.

Then very suddenly, as if it'd been as loud as the screaming that had just taken place, she heard a very distinct human heart beat coming from inside the cup.

She had found the horcrux.