A/N: The song fragment is Building a Mystery by Sarah McLachlan. I just like the way it underlines the conversation between Tobias and Hermione. Obviously, he doesn't give full disclosure but it's Hermione! She researches things! I would like to note that this story is totally AU (Werewolf Draco) and EWE (obviously!) Also standard disclaimers apply. I will not repeat that last sentence again. *smiles* Okay, read on.

You're so beautiful
With an edge and charm
But so careful
When I'm in your arms

'Cause you're working
Building a mystery
Holding on and holding it in
Yeah you're working
Building a mystery

The pair had settled into the kitchen, each sipping a cup of tea while they nibbled upon some chocolate biscuits Hermione had found. Finally, when the immediate hunger had abated, the young woman leaned forward, her elbows on the countertop so that she could place her chin on her interlaced fingers.

"I've found something on the back of my neck that wasn't there a few months ago as well as finding myself," she paused and blushed. "Well, drawn to Malfoy. It's odd as back in school, though there was an attraction of sorts on my end, we did not get along and I stayed as far away from him as possible. We sniped quite a bit, you see, and he was a completely racist prick." She blinked and dropped her gaze. "It always made me feel rather dirty, being attracted to that git. The question, I guess, would be could it be his wolf?"

Tobias tossed back his head and released a chortle to the high ceiling above him. Hearing from Hermione about the issues she and Draco had shared was a far different experience than what Draco had told him. Though, if he were totally honest, he could see why the man would try to paint himself in a better light. As soon as the laughter quieted, the young man turned his thoughts to the witch's query. Was it a wolf thing?

"I-I'm not really sure," he stuttered. "If it was a wolf thing, it would be more on his end, less on yours. Even the mate bond would not draw YOU in, not until it's been cemented." He blinked, thought a bit more. "The bump. May I feel it?"

Hermione nodded and waited for him to round the island until he stood just behind her. One slender finger came up to tap the spot lightly. "It's here. I don't know if you can see it but you can definitely feel it under the skin."

Tobias trained his eyes on the area, noting the paleness of her nape and the area the bump, which he could barely see, was located in. He did not reach out to touch it though, fearing that her reaction would be less than welcoming, no matter what she'd said prior. Instead, he leaned forward and inhaled her scent, his sensitive nostrils finding and discarding each one until he was left with the sharp, clean fragrance of what could only be her pheromones. She smelled slightly different than before, muskier, almost wolf-like but not quite.

Once he returned to his seat, he poured himself another cup of tea and asked, "Do you feel submissive, like it's his job to take care of you, like you would give anything to make him pleased with your presence? It could be sexual but it is not meant to be, at least from what I've read."

Hermione nodded. "It's like he's the sun and I am drawn to circle him, like the earth. It's not that way with you or the other wolves I've met, even the Alpha of Ireland pack. It's only him. I dislike it."

Tobias smiled and took another sip of his tea. He had an idea, of course. After Draco's initial request to the Ministry about accessing the Library there, he'd done so, himself, when on break or lunch. He had gathered quite a bit of information but he chose only to impart the bits that he felt might be useful to his inquisitive friend. He already knew that he would tell Draco about this conversation and it was his job to make sure his Alpha had the facts. After all, that was where his loyalty lay, not here in this apartment with the woman across from him.

"Have you ever heard of an Omega? They are female and can only be mated with a specific Alpha. Betas like myself are not strong enough to cause a pull and most Alphas do not resonate. Omegas are destined for one Alpha and they can only be mated with that particular wolf if she chooses him for herself. In all my reading, I don't know if Alpha only refers to wolf designations. It might be possible for you to be drawn to any Alpha personality but I am not sure if being mated or bonded would work in that instance."

Hermione gasped, her honeyed orbs shocked. "So, I could be Omega and Malfoy could be mate if I chose it? What I don't get is the reason for the bump."

Tobias nodded, "The bump there is your mate gland. Only an Alpha can pierce it and only YOUR Alpha would want to. Has Draco noticed yet?"

"I am not sure. I can feel him tracking me with his eyes but I don't think he's aware of the fact that I know he is a wolf, much less an Alpha."

"Huh? You've never brought it to his attention. Is there any way you'd be able to?" Tobias cocked a dark eyebrow in her direction. "It might be the easiest way to broach the subject."

"What if I mentioned the bump to him," Hermione wondered out loud. "Would he know the meaning?"

"Yes. We discussed it months ago before you were offered the job and apartment." He paused. "You do know this is one of his old places? He bought it during the war from the Black family inheritance."

Hermione's eyes flew to his. "So, this was not an apartment attached to the job?"

"No. He wanted you safe, I think. There are wards built in and he's had a fair few added. Looks like you've overlayed some of your own as well. It's probably almost as protected as the Manor."

"Wow," she exclaimed softly. "He must know something then. Maybe my scent pleases him? Though, when I think about it, I am a bit peeved. He should have said, gave me a choice or something." She frowned. "Though the Malfoy I know would have done exactly the same thing, only he would have found a way to rub it in my face later. He probably did not want me to know." A pause. "Should you have told me?"

Now it was his turn to frown, his cinnamon-hued gaze trained thoughtfully on the granite counter top. "Nah. Probably not but what's done can't be undone, you know." He then glanced at his watch with a frown. "I am sure he expects me back at the Manor now. I would use your Floo but I feel that might cause a bit of an issue."

"You are probably right. Apparition would be okay, though."

The young man nodded and rose from his seat. "I can't from here. Didn't you notice the anti-apparition ward? Let's meet for lunch midweek. Maybe I will have some new information for you by them."

"Sure, maybe Wednesday? That's my slow day."

"I will owl you then." With a nod, the russet-haired young man headed for the front door and was through it before she could even say goodbye.

Hermione took a moment to clean up before heading to her library. Maybe she'd find something worth reading in the Beasts and Beings books she'd collected. It was a long shot but any sort of research was better than none, at least to her way of thinking. After all, you couldn't shake a stick at what had always worked before.

Meanwhile, Tobias had entered the Manor and followed his nose to Draco's study, the small one set just across from the massive library on the first floor. The young man in question was bent over his desk but quickly raised his eyes to meet his friend's gaze. A quick sniff brought the scent of Hermione and before he'd given himself a chance to think, he'd risen and approached the male, a low growl rumbling through the oppressive silence.

"Wait!" The younger wolf spoke as the blond moved closer. "I have some news and an explanation."

"News and an explanation as to why you were with Granger?"

"Sit down," Tobias stated quietly. "Let's talk."

What followed was a concise break down of everything he'd learned while researching as well as the conversation he had with Hermione; barring the knowledge that the young man had spilled the truth about her apartment. With each sentence, Draco found himself even more at odds but he finally settled back into the confines of his chair and leveled a look at his friend.

"Do you think she's Omega?"

Tobias nodded. "Yes. She even has the Omega mate mark. I withheld the full meaning behind it but as smart as she is, I am sure she will find out sooner, rather than later. I did tell her to make you aware that she has knowledge of your own status but I doubt she will do so. She feels that would be too intrusive, I suppose." He swallowed and then continued gamely onward. "If she is Omega and drawn to you, it's possible that she would accept the mating, you know."

Draco frowned. "I would not want her to, not now. She works for me. Well, not directly."

Tobias gave him a boyish grin, his irrepressible dimples fully on display. "Ah, but would you have known had she not come to work there? Not only that but the things she'd gotten to accomplish with you? She is much further along in her work, in less than six months no less, than she had managed to get in over a year on her own. None of that would have been possible for her without Malfoy Enterprises."

Draco gave a short bark of laughter. "Being grateful does not mean she should offer her neck to me."

"True, but it's a place to start."

At that disingenuous statement, Draco could only smile. After all, there was truth in it and maybe, just maybe, he could work that to his advantage. He was Slytherin after all.

The next few days were...odd for Hermione. It seemed like Draco was always around, his icy gray eyes following her as if she were some sort of strange creature that he was attempting to dissect. It made her feel like she should hide, keep herself far away. She felt like prey yet needed, desired. The whole thing was strange but she had no idea how to broach the subject. She could not just march up to him and ask him WHY. It was his company, after all, she couldn't control where he went or what he did.

She was also confounded by the gift (use?) of his apartment. What did it mean? She had lucked up on some information during her research over the weekend but even that did not wholly encompass the reasoning behind his generosity. Plus, he'd never brought it to her attention, not in any way. He did not drop by, did not visit. In fact, he kept himself to himself. He only watched her with all of the intensity of the wolf he was.

It unnerved her.

And, if she was to be completely honest, excited her.

It was a Thursday morning, not even ten A.M. when she chanced upon him in an out of the way alcove. Her hair, an abomination of curls, mass and frizz, had been especially heinous while she'd been working in her office, so she'd twisted it up and stuck a quill in place to hold it. This meant that when she'd finally stumbled over him, her nape was fully visible to his gaze. Not to say she saw him, at first. No, before she saw the blond male, she'd felt him, a ripple of awareness which spread from the nape down

Even so, she did not have to feign being startled when he reached out to stop her, his large, long-fingered hand gripping her shoulder just tight enough to stop her forward motion. The young woman paused and glanced at him through lowered lashes. He would have to speak first as she found it impossible to do so.

"Granger, where are you headed?"

"Off to the Ministry. Going to meet with a friend there. Was supposed to go yesterday but was swamped with work. I won't be gone long, but I did promise and I try to always keep my word," she responded, her voice holding just a bit of huffiness.

One long finger swept over the slight bump at her nape and sent a shock of desire straight to her core but she fought it away, determined not to be distracted by his closeness. After all, she'd never mentioned a single word of her conversation with Tobias; she loathed to do so. However, she knew that he could smell it and had felt her shiver, his smile only proved her suppositions to be true when she chanced another glance at him.

"You know about me, don't you," he queried, a hint of roughness in his normally crisp tenor.

"Y-yes."

"What do you know, Granger?"

"That you are a wolf and Alpha," she responded, flatly. "That the small bump you touched marks me as Omega. That I am drawn to, and terrified by, you."

He laughed, low and deep. His words were teasing, yet dangerous. "Then you know more than most, kitten. What would you say to dinner tomorrow night?"

"Would you be willing to tell me more?"

He nodded.

"What time?"

"Seven."

"Okay," she breathed.

He'd finally released her with a chuckle and stepped away from the depression in the wall, brushing past the tiny young woman. "I will see you then."

It was her turn to nod. "Okay, Malfoy. I will see you tomorrow night."