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The funeral was held two days after he died.
Hermione didn't even know he had died. She had heard and the information did not process. She just couldn't believe it.
It wasn't a big ceremony. Of course not many people cared, so not many people came.
Harry was simply there to be polite. Ron was there because she had forced him.
It was hard to believe that just three days ago she was fighting with Malfoy. He had stormed out of the Three Broomsticks and the group of Slytherins and Gryffindors had stared after him, surprised at his outburst. They didn't even know why he was mad, at least she didn't. The next thing that had happened is that Felix had said something to Valerie in a panicked voice, and Valerie had torn out of there like a Werewolf on the full moon. Felix had followed soon after, just as fast and what could the group do but follow suit. They had gotten out there and Valerie was kneeling next to Malfoy.
To say he was beaten up would be a gross understatement. His hair was red from the blood that was in it and his clothes were torn. Blaise and Pansy ran over trying to help if they could but it was too late.
Now she felt bad.
Well of course she felt bad!
That should be obvious!
Harry's hand on her shoulder snapped her back to the present. It was actually a cloudy morning. They held the ceremony on the hill by the Lake. They planned to bury the body later.
"Why do we have to be here?" Ron whined. "Ronald!" Hermione whispered. "What? It's not like we liked him, or even knew him. And for Merlin's sake he tried to kill us!" "Ron, that doesn't matter now!" Ron stuttered in disbelief. "How-how can that not matter?!" "You are just making a scene because you hated him!" "He never-"
"Guys," Harry said calmly and gave them both a pointed look.
Hermione sighed. Harry was right. This was not the place, nor was it the time. This was a funeral.
Hermione and the rest were all wearing their black robes, the color to fit mood.
She shouldn't be fighting with Ron. Not after everything that had happened. She wouldn't ever forget the look of Malfoy on the ground.
Valerie had levitated Malfoy up, and they had rushed to the hospital wing.
It didn't matter though.
She had to deal with the funeral now.
XXXXX
He started with opening and closing his fingers. Not that it worked, or that he could even get them open or closed all the way, it was something to do. Then he tried moving his arm, but just the smallest of movements. He repeated the process with his feet and legs, both of which were freezing under the thing the hospital wing called a blanket. After basic limb movement, he went onto trying to open his eyes. Nothing.
The entire process lasted maybe five minutes really. That was how long ago he had woken up. He had tried to rise out of the bed to find that he couldn't move. So he tried small movements.
Eventually, and much too long according to Draco, he could open his eyes and even move his head. He was in the hospital wing.
Obviously.
It was the same dreary beds and curtains lined up and down the room on either side. There was a small table next to his bed that held a glass of water along with some potion that Draco was sure he would have to take. His back hurt, as the pathetic excuse for a bed did not provide any lumbar support whatsoever. There was a crick in his neck, again dammit, that he couldn't pop away. Mostly because he couldn't move, but that was neither here nor there.
What really drew his attention was Valerie sitting in a chair next to his bed. She had her feet propped on another chair and was slouching with an arm slung over her face. She appeared to be asleep and Draco was faced with the decision of being polite and letting her rest or waking her up and demanding answers.
"Oy!" He called. Well, attempted to call. He had been out for a while he assumed, so his voice came out scratchy and unused.
She didn't jump. She didn't move or make any indication that she had heard him.
"Valerie," he said.
She sighed, but stayed in the position she was in.
"Yes, oh great one?"
She couldn't see, but he glared at her. She seemed to sense it anyway, and smirked. She took her arm off of her face and sat up, her back cracking several times as she did so.
"...How long have you been here?" Draco asked.
She yawned. "About as long as you."
"And how long have I been here?"
She didn't answer. Instead she got up and grabbed the potion vial that was on his table. She mixed it with the cup of water and handed it to him.
"Drink," she said.
Draco vaguely recalled her saying the same thing when he was attacked. He could remember the vile after taste of whatever it was that was poured down his throat and the metallic feeling it left. The potion he was taking now, however, was thankfully a different one.
It wasn't pumpkin juice by any means, but it was better than whatever Valerie gave him.
He managed to drink the whole glass and set it back onto the bedside table. Valerie had taken a seat again. She was leaned forward with her elbows resting on her knees. Her hands were clasped with her pointer fingers up and over her lips in a pensive look. She was staring at the ground. He didn't like it.
"How long was I here Valerie?" He asked as slow as he could, without sounding ridiculous.
Her gaze flickered up to his and she stared at him for a moment.
"Three days," she muttered.
Three days. Draco Malfoy was unconscious for three days. That was three days of his life that he couldn't get back. So much could happened in three days. Draco found himself being angry. Whoever those two men were, he would find them and get payback.
Valerie had not taken her eyes off of him and she noticed the expression on Draco's face change. She seemed to know what he was thinking of because her eyes lost any sort of relief or whatever emotion there was there. It was replaced by a seriousness that he had not seen in the girl. It wasn't like when she was more predatory or cruel looking. This was something entirely different.
"Don't. Whatever you are planning to do, Malfoy, get rid of those thoughts. You go after them and you'll get yourself killed."
"And how do you know that?" he sneered.
"Because you can't fight against two full grown Vampires and live," she deadpanned.
Draco wasn't sure he heard her correctly. He cocked his ear toward her and said, "Come again?"
Valerie stood from her chair and walked over to the edge. She had her hands in her pockets, Muggle jeans, and dark Muggle jeans. She was wearing a black jacket over a plain black t-shirt, and she loomed over him.
"I said, Malfoy, that you can't fight against two full grown vampires and live. You barely survived this attack, and if it wasn't for the fact that something scared them off, then they would have killed you then and there."
He continued to stare at her.
"Do you know anything about Vampires?" she asked.
He shook his head no.
She sighed and took her seat again and pulled the chair a little closer to him.
"Forget what you've heard, be it wizard or Muggle. Vampires are not the dark brooding solo creatures the Ministries make them out to be. Neither are they the human loving, sparkly glowing, Peter Pan flying, nice little beings that Muggles paint them as. Vampires are...complicated. That's the best way to describe it. There have been so many stories told through the years that it's hard to distinguish fact most times. Luckily, I'm friends with a magical creature so I know the truth."
"Look Valerie, this is just-"
"What? Too far-fetched? Come on Malfoy. You're a wizard who goes to a magically hidden school with other wizards and witches, which was just rebuilt because a psychopath with an army of bad wizards, werewolves, trolls, and dementors attacked. Nothing in this world is too farfetched."
Draco supposed she was right.
"So...what are Vampires exactly? Well, besides the obvious. And why did they attack me? What was that stuff you made me drink?"
He shot off questions, one after the other. She listened to his questions and when he finished, she sat back. She didn't say anything, but several times she opened her mouth to say something then closed it again.
There was a cloudy expression on her face, and she wouldn't look at Draco. It wasn't just worry or her trying to find the right words. It was something else.
She shook the expression off and turned her eyes back to Draco and took in a deep breath.
"Vampires are considered the cousins to Veelas. They're a lot like them in many ways, yet they are completely different." She stopped and fiddled with her hands. "Vampires have the same alternate ego and subconsciousness that Veelas have, but they operate differently. Whereas Veelas need intimate contact to survive, vampires need blood."
"So the only difference between the two is what keeps them alive?" Draco asked.
She pondered that thought. "Not really, no. The Veela side is considered to be more in tune with the human side. When a person with Veela blood and magic becomes a certain age, around seven to ten for most, they develop the other consciousness. Veelas can only be born. You cannot become a Veela, unless there is a bloodline somewhere in your family tree. Anyway, Veelas are considered to be more...emotional. You see, when a person with Veela blood goes through the change of gaining the Veelic conscious, their emotions become heightened. Veelas are made for one specific person on this earth, so they have to be able to tell when their mate is happy or sad, and what to do to cheer them up if they are upset. Until they find their mate, however, they can sense the emotions of everyone around them. This heightened emotional sense is extreme. Like for example, Felix or Veela can smell what happiness is."
"Wait, Veelas can only sense the emotions of their mate?" He asked, curious.
"Only after the mating ceremony, which," she raised her hand to cut him off, "is a long lengthy process and explanation that does not matter right now. Veelas open their emotional sixth sense to everyone, because everyone is a potential mate. But when the Veela finds their mate, and they complete the ceremony, they can only sense the mate's emotions. They found their one and only, so anybody else's emotions don't matter anymore."
"What does this have to do with-?"
"I'm getting there. You see, where Veelas are emotional, vampires are considered more physical. The reason vampires get the reputation they do is because the Vampire consciousness does not have any emotion. Empathy, sadness, happiness, none of it exists to that side. There is only the Vampire side and the human side, and what can be done to get both of them the farthest in life or the most power. Where Veelas can sense emotional stuff, Vampires have more physical attuned senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. Since vampires don't have the emotional side of them left at all, they don't get emotionally attached to anything."
She took another breath.
"Veelas, on the other hand, are made to become emotionally attached. That's the biggest investment they have with their mate, is the emotional. Veelas will become emotional and think irrationally. Vampires only see how to further themselves on the chain."
"What chain?"
"Food chain, power chain. Vampires won't care for emotional stuff. Veelas will get mad if insulted, and fight back. Vampires will retaliate for the simple fact that you insulted them. Veelas will lie because they want to spare someone's feelings or something. Vampires will lie for the fun of it. If a Vampire wants to fuck, then they do it because physically, it feels good. They could have a one night stand for everyday of the year and not care. As long as, physically they feel good."
Draco nodded his head. He didn't know anything about magical creatures, and this was all seemingly overwhelming. Draco knew vampires existed, but who knew one being could be so complicated.
"Why did they attack me?" Draco asked.
Guilt flashed across Valerie's face. "I'm afraid that's my fault."
"How could it be your fault?"
"Remember what I said about insulting Vampires? I may have said some things to the two..." She trailed off. "I should have known better," she said softly.
Draco got the feeling that she wasn't just talking about his situation. There was a...vulnerability to her in that moment that Draco had never seen.
Valerie didn't seem like the kind of person who got that way. Ever. He kind of thought they were similar in that fashion. Never wanting to seem weak. Wanting to seem in control of everything.
But if there was one thing that he had learned, it was that you can't always be in control. Occasionally, things got out of hand.
Valerie still had that look on her face, and it made Draco uncomfortable. He decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Are you the only one here?" Draco asked.
She sobered up and a small grin grew on her face. "Right now. Blaise and Pansy have been here most of the time, unless there's class. They're getting some sort of 'get well' present for you. Felix was here checking to see how you were doing as well, but he left for lunch. You also missed McGonagall and a couple of Ministry workers."
That caught his attention. "Why?"
"Well, McGonagall's reason should be pretty obvious. As for the Ministry workers, well, they were emissaries for the Council of Creatures."
"Council of Creatures?"
"It's sort of the Ministry for magical creatures and beings."
Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "I thought the Ministry ruled-"
"The Ministry doesn't rule magical creatures and beings. The Council was around long before there were even wizards." There was a note of bitterness in her tone.
"What about their whole sector of-"
"The Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?" She snorted. "Just the sound of that shows what the wizarding world thinks of the Community of creatures and beings. That they can be controlled."
"You sound very passionate about it." Draco stated.
"Draco, when you have a friend in the Community like I do with Felix, you come to learn things. Horrifying things. Hell, even now, there's this ridiculous bill being put through with the Wizengamot that requires each creature and being to publicly register where they live. Well, the beings anyway. The creatures like pixies and trolls will be caught and have locator spells placed on them."
Draco cocked his head. "Publicly registering doesn't sound so-"
"So bad? Draco, you don't know what you're talking about. Magical beings like Vampires and Veelas along with Fairies and hell, even Werewolves are hunted. The Ministries cover it up because who could care about creatures? They are either hunted because they are hated or because their blood, their magic has something to offer."
Draco looked at her in surprise. "What could their blood offer?"
She sighed. "Depends on the creature. Veelas blood can be a very potent aphrodisiac. It can also be used to help with depression in some instances. Werewolf blood can give you brute strength."
"Won't you become a Werewolf though?"
She gave him a look. "Do you pay any attention to school? No. You have to be bitten. Lycanthropy is a virus, contracted through saliva. Like Vampirism. Now you see, Vampires blood has healing properties, but it is mostly used to sharpen the senses." She looked to make sure no one was around and leaned closer to Draco so that she could whisper. "Don't ever repeat this, but some Aurors use a supplement with Vampire blood in it to heighten their senses. Which wouldn't be a problem, but Vampire blood is illegal."
"Why?"
She gave him a wicked grin. "Because. You see Vampires are more physical beings. However, they have certain...mental abilities. Abilities that allow them to get in here." She tapped her head.
"They can get inside people's minds?" He asked.
"Where do you think Occulemency and Legilimency came from? A wizard got the idea from a vampire. Well, the mental abilities can even go so far as to put false memories or illusions in a person's head. That makes the Ministry afraid because if a Vampire were to use the right illusion or memory they could more or less control someone. There's also some conspiracy about being able to read minds."
Draco paled.
"So yeah. Don't plan some elaborate revenge plan. The Ministry emissaries got everyone's statement, they checked you out and made sure you would live, and they've more than likely caught the two guys."
Draco looked at her. There was one thing that he had wanted to know for a while. And now that this was all brought up, there was a second thing he wanted to know.
"What's the language that you and Felix speak? And how do you know all of this exactly?"
She leveled a stare at him and quirked her mouth. "Well, the language is Welsh. Like, old, ancient Welsh. Magic was myth to have started in Wales and the old language is sort of the official language for the Community. As for how I know all this, well, I want to be an ambassador between the Ministries and the Community after school. I want to help and make a change, and I can't go into that being ignorant. So I studied, or Felix told me."
That seemed legitimate to Draco.
"Oh, what was that stuff you gave me? To drink?"
She whipped her head around. "You remember that?"
He furrowed his brow. "Uhhh..."
She smiled and laughed. "I'm kidding. It was just a healing potion. A strong one."
"Why would you have a healing potion with you?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "If there's one thing I've ever learned in life, it's to be prepared."
She pulled out her wand and tapped Draco's legs. Numbers lit up on top of the sheets that were covering him in a florescent green light.
"Huh. It's three o'clock. Hermione should have been back by now."
His breathing stopped. "Granger was here?"
A knowing smile quirked on Valerie's mouth. "Yeah. About as long as I've been here. She only had to leave for a couple of classes and today. Something about a funeral for a dead spider? I don't know."
"It was an acromantula actually."
Draco turned his head to see Granger coming toward the bed. She seemed irritated and sad all at the same time.
"Still a spider. Just bigger." Valerie got up and moved around the foot of Draco's bed.
"Now I'll leave you two alone." She gave Draco a wink and left.
Oh great. Draco just woke up after three days and now he had to deal with Granger.
Someone up there really hated him.
XXXXX
Hermione took the spot next to Malfoy's bed in Valerie's vacated seat. She placed her robes on the back of the chair, and smoothed her skirt out as she sat down to take care of wrinkles.
The funeral had ended about twenty minutes ago which then Hagrid had invited them back to the hut for some cookies. Well, Hagrid's rock cookies.
One of Aragog's sons had died. It was the one who had taken Aragog's place after he died. Hagrid wasn't as close with him as he was with Aragog, but close enough to throw him a funeral. Poor Hagrid was rather torn up. Ron of course was being an insensitive git which irked her further. She wasn't there when he and Harry traveled into the acromantula den and she understood why they would be uncomfortable, but Ron didn't have to complain the whole time.
She managed to block out most of the red heads complaining by, well, by thinking of Malfoy. She couldn't help it. There was something there between her and Malfoy. Something that both she and he needed to acknowledge. She knew he remembered that day in the library. Besides just knowing it, it was his behavior that gave it away. He was avoiding her and anything that they had done.
And that was why she was there now.
"We need to talk Malfoy," she said softly.
He didn't look at her. He hadn't looked at her since she walked in. His eyes were closed and he was leaning his head back against the pillows.
"I don't really think we need to."
"Yes we do."
"No we don't."
"Malfoy."
"Granger."
"Could you grow up for a moment and at least try?!"
His eyes popped open and he looked at her in surprise.
She was standing up now and glaring at him. Her hands were fisted at her sides and they were shaking with fury.
"I am not an idiot Malfoy. I know you feel something, and so do I. It's not some big proclamation of love, believe me far from it. I just...I just want to know what this is!" She gestured wildly between her and him. "There is something there. I don't know what it is or why it's there, but it's...it's scaring me," she said in a whisper.
He just looked at her. It felt like he was scrutinizing her. Looking at her and seeing every flaw, every mistake she had made.
She suddenly felt hot. This was a mistake, she shouldn't have done this. She had just poured her heart out to Malfoy of all people. This was stupid, SHE was stupid.
She got up and gathered her robes and started to walk away.
"Granger wait!"
Oh, she wanted to, but pride wouldn't let her and she continued walking until she was out of the doorway. She passed Felix on her way out and gave him a brief wave before walking back to the common room.
XXXXX
Felix looked at Hermione pass him and sighed. Those two...
In truth, Hermione had hardly left Malfoy's side. Blaise and Pansy said she was just being 'Granger' about it, whatever the hell that meant, but Felix knew better. He could feel her worry and her emotions. He couldn't pinpoint all of them. Frankly he had never met a more emotionally unstable person. And he knew HER, for crying out loud.
But Hermione's emotions weren't just the romantic one's she was starting to feel for Malfoy. There was sadness and guilt and anger. So much anger. Felix wanted to help with Hermione's emotional conundrum, but in his experience you needed to let people try to deal with those kinds of feelings. Even if he did use his Veela magic, she would still be angry and sad.
Speaking of angry teenagers, Malfoy was positively fuming when Felix went into the hospital wing.
The stubbornness between the Slytherin and Gryffindor would be entertaining if it weren't for the fact that neither of them would make. A. Damn. Move. It was the most impatient game of chess or cat and mouse that Felix had ever witnessed. He had seen things like this before and they went one of two ways: the pair would admit their feelings, or they would wind up hating each other.
Sad thing was, Felix could see them pulling both.
"So, not even up for a full day and you're pissing off women. I must say Malfoy, you have charm."
"Fuck off," Malfoy gritted out.
"Touchy."
"I'm not in the mood Veela."
"Actually, it's Felix. My eyes aren't ringed," Felix said, waving his hand around his eyes.
Malfoy looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Whatever," he muttered.
"So you want to talk about it?"
He got a glare.
"I'm being sincere here, Malfoy. And after the other day..."
Malfoy raised his eyebrows. "You mean with the vampire attack."
Felix looked at Malfoy for the longest time. "You know-"
"Valerie told me everything."
Felix eyes narrowed. "By everything?" he asked slowly.
"Um, she told me the difference between Vampires and Veelas, what language you speak, and something about a motion in the Ministries that require Magical beings to register."
Relief flashed through Felix's eyes.
"Was she not supposed to tell me?" Draco asked with interest.
"It's nothing you can't read in a book if you find the right one."
'But there's obviously something she's supposed to keep secret.' Draco thought.
"So Malfoy, care to share?"
"No."
"Oh, for fuck's sake. Grow a pair. You like her, she likes you and you are both stubborn asses. 'Nuff said, so start talking."
"Look Felix, I don't have feelings for Granger-"
Felix leaned forward until his face was right in Malfoy's.
"I'm Veela, Malfoy. I feel what everyone else feels, and let me tell you, if fucking sucks. My emotions aren't my own, and they can be difficult to distinguish. And I really don't need to have excess baggage with your pent up emotions. So spill or I'll spill for you."
Draco looked at Felix, really looked at him.
There were bags under his eyes and his hair was lacking its usual luster. Well, even looking like that the bloke was still great looking.
But he seemed tired and worn. And come to think of it, so did Valerie. Something was going on between the two. Maybe it was that magical creature's thing with the Ministry, but Draco got the feeling that wasn't it.
And another thing he noticed with the two Americans was how dangerous they could seem at times. Valerie more than Felix, but both of them had that...air about them. It was like Voldemort. Not exactly like Voldemort. He radiated pure evil, but he also radiated power.
And so did Valerie and Felix.
However, despite that power, Draco wasn't going to be threatened or bossed around. Felix could think all that he wanted; he didn't have feelings for Granger. He was tired of people saying that.
"I don't need this right now Felix. And don't think that just because I'm bedridden that you can boss me around."
Felix sighed and flopped back into the chair that Granger and Valerie previously used.
"That's not what I'm trying to do Malfoy. The attack thing with the Vampires...that was my fault. I was hoping that if you could tell me about yours and Hermione's situation, that I could, I don't know maybe get you guys together. Since you like her."
"Wait, how is the Hogsmeade trip your fault? And I don't like Granger."
Felix blew out a breath. "Two things. The first is that I'm Veela."
"What does that-"
"Veelas and Vampires hate each other. With a passion."
"Why?"
"Petty animalistic crap. I take it Valerie told you that Vampires can be pretty, uh,..."
"Sadistic?"
"Yeah. They like to play games. And well, there have been several cases where Vampires have seduced a Veela's mate away. Not only that, Veelas see Vampires as competition anyway."
"Vampires have mates?"
"No, no. But even a Vampire can get lonely, for all their bluster about being unemotional. And they will take consorts. And until a Veela's had their True Dream, well, anyone is a potential mate. Taking consorts is like stealing to Veelas."
"That makes-"
"Absolutely no sense, I know. I have no problem with certain Vampires, but there are some that can be tough to handle."
Felix leaned on his knees. He spoke softly.
"And stop denying that you like Granger. You at least have some attraction to her, if you won't admit a little crush. I can feel it Malfoy. You get a jolt of happiness when you see her. Your otherwise grey emotion ball gets a little brighter. Why are you constantly denying that you like her?"
Draco was silent.
"Is it because she's a Muggle-born?" Felix asked softly.
Draco sighed.
"I don't care for that. Not anymore. But you don't understand. I was raised to hate her. And I did. After so many years of thinking that she was untouchable, I guess, and to think that maybe there's something there...It's confusing. I don't expect you to understand."
"Uh, yeah I do. Liking someone you think is unattainable? Been there done that."
They were both quiet.
"Look, Malfoy. It's not my place or my business, but why don't you just try? Times are different. If it helps, she feels something for you too."
Felix got up and left.
Malfoy didn't want to acknowledge his feelings for Granger. They were dangerous.
He didn't lie to Felix. He did like Granger, and it wasn't her blood keeping him from acting. It was the feeling in his gut that twisted whenever he thought about her. He couldn't be having emotions or caring for someone, when he could just lose them. It would be too dangerous for them to get involved.
Voldemort may have been gone, but that didn't mean that his followers were, or that his beliefs were buried. If he and Granger ever did have a relationship, it would be risky.
But maybe Felix was right. He could try with Granger. Maybe.