Chapter Seventeen

Third Person POV

A month had gone by and the only people who knew anything about their relationship were the professors, Blaise, Luna, and Draco's mother. Taylor had a feeling that Heromine knew, but she wasn't saying anything. And after talking with Luna, the blonde promised to keep things quiet till they decided others needed to know. She still didn't know that Draco was a Veela and Taylor wasn't about to tell her any different. It was nice to know that someone accepted their relationship without knowing about an underlying detail that brought them together.

Draco was still nervous about people finding out about him being a Veela, but he knew people would find out eventually. Taylor kept reassuring him that no one would find out and Blaise would back her, but they were both wrong.

About a week after Blaise found out about the couple, he at least made an effort to get to know Taylor and he'd come to find he thought she was sweet. If you were to ask him, though, he'd deny it completely. He had a reputation to uphold and hanging out with a Gryffindork wasn't going to help it. He wouldn't say they were friends. In his mind, she was still a half-blood and the 'enemy'. He did, however, ask her to help him in potions. "It's not that hard if you actually pay attention in class!" she scolded as he followed her to the library one Sunday afternoon.

"That's the problem though! Slughorn is so boring! He drawls on about the same thing for twenty minutes and then changes gears so quick, you get whiplash!" Blaise complained and Taylor rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time they'd had this argument. He'd continue to complain about Slughorn and wish that Snape was teaching potions again and she'd eventually smack him in the arm with one of her textbooks to get him to shut up and actually work on the assignment.

"So," Blaise began, feeling embarrassed about what he was about to ask, but he was curious. "What's it like being a Veela's mate? I know you two haven't consummated the relationship or anything, but he acts so differently around you than he does us. I was just...wondering if it was because you're his mate." he explained, an almost invisible blush forming on his cheeks. "I mean, you don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm just curious." he added.

Taylor was silent for a moment before clearing her throat before putting her quill down. "Look, Blaise, Draco being a Veela doesn't make him any different than anyone else. Except for the obvious, physical and new ability differences." she told him and he grinned. "I...don't know why he acts the way he does when he's around me. The book Draco gave me doesn't go that far into detail. Maybe you should ask him. I'm almost positive he knows better than I do." she added with a chuckle.

"Do you love him?" Blaise asked after a moment of silence. Taylor looked up at him wide-eyed, dropping her quill in the process.

"I, um, I-I never really t-thought about i-it." she stuttered, blushing furiously at the question. "I-I mean, I like Draco, but I'm n-not sure I'd go s-so far to say that I l-love him just yet." she went on and Blaise chuckled. "Given time, though, I'm sure I'll feel differently if you were to ask again." she added more confidently.

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Draco wasn't deaf. He could hear the whispers and, as the way went on, they were getting louder and louder. It wasn't until Pansy strolled up next to him with a smug look on her face. "So, you'll never guess what I saw and heard in the library today." she chimed and Draco only rolled his eyes. That was until he remembered that Taylor was tutoring Blaise in the library.

"What?" he asked, deciding to humor her and hopefully get the answers he wanted. He might not like the girl, but that didn't mean he wanted to slam her up against the wall like he'd had to do to Blaise.

"Well, I saw Zabini getting friendly with the new Gryffinwhore." she said and Draco had to suppress a growl to keep from giving himself away. "And you'll never guess what they were talking about!" she chimed again, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, go on! Guess!" she said after a moment, causing Draco to sigh.

"I don't know, Pans. What were they talking about?" he asked, starting to get agitated. Pansy looked around them and took Draco's arm before dragging him to a corridor that was void of people.

"Well, I heard that the Hawkins girl is the mate of Veela!" she said with an evil grin and Draco felt his heart stop. Before Draco could say anything, Pansy stopped him. "I heard everything they said, Drake, so don't try to deny it. What happened to us, Drake? I thought we had something and you leave me for that...that slut!" she began to screeched, clearly furious with the blonde.

"There was no us, Pansy! You were nothing but a lay. And a terrible one at that!" he burst, not wanting to have this conversation with the brunette. Pansy seemed to turn red with anger and then, all of a sudden, she calmed down and smiled at Draco.

"You know what? That's okay. I've already gotten my revenge. By tomorrow, the whole school will know about your little secret and your whore." she spat and Draco blanked. This was bad. Really really bad! He wasn't ready for people to know! And when he was ready, he planned to keep Taylor a secret for her own protection! At least until graduation. Even the Seventh Year Ball would've been a good time to reveal their relationship due to it being so close to the end of the year. There were, not only Gryffindors who still thought he was the enemy, but Slytherins who viewed him, and his family, as traitors. Something bad could happen to her and he wasn't about to let that happen.

"What the hell have you done, Parkinson?" the blonde growled, his eyes narrowing when she grinned smugly.

"If you would've come to your senses, I would've just set out a new rumor about me mishearing everything in the library. You've dug your own grave, Drake. Now it's time to lay in it." she said and was about to stalk away from him, but Draco caught her arm.

"Why are you punishing me for something I can't help, Pansy? I don't regret for one second Taylor being my mate, but I don't see why you think you have a right to punish me for it." he said, gripping her arm tighter than he knew he should have, but he didn't really care anymore. Not after the stint she was deciding to pull.

"Because you're a Malfoy and a pure-blood! Pure-bloods shouldn't have to succumb to half-bloods like her! No matter their race!" she answered, struggling to free her arm.

"Listen here, Parkinson, you're half the woman Taylor is! And that's not the Veela talking. That's the man who's seen you for the selfish bitch you really are. Taylor is a wonderful person and, unlike you, her heart hasn't been frozen solid. If I find you've done or said the wrong thing to her, don't think for one second I won't snap your neck. I won't be penalized at all for protecting my mate." Draco whispered dangerously and Pansy looked frightened for a moment.

"Let go of me, Malfoy!" she shrieked and, before someone heard her or saw them, he dropped her arm and stormed away from the brunette. He was furious and needed to talk with Taylor. Warn her before the rumors got to her first.

A/N: I really like this chapter and hope you do too. It took me a little while to get the wording right, but I think I got pretty well.