A/N: Okay, finally getting somewhere. (I find it odd that when I solo write I tend to put off citrusy things in favor of story but when I indulge in written roleplays on other sites, my stuff devolves into so much smut, so quickly!) This chapter is basically set up for the official Draco/Hermione marking heat thing. *smiles* Hopefully I've not forgotten anything of importance. (I tend to read through everything countless ties and nitpick for dates and the like) and that this chapter isn't as gawdawful as I fear.

By the beginning of May, the status quo hadn't changed. Hermione still hadn't encouraged any sort of further intimacy and Draco hadn't pushed. In fact, he seemed to be just fine with what she did offer~ kisses, snuggles, touches. She found herself worried that the intimacy they shared wasn't enough yet couldn't force herself to give more as the idea of furthering their relationship made her feel rushed.

Even if she wasn't.

Of course, Draco talked about his lack of sexual relief with both Tobias and Theo. Many a night had been spent in his office (or the large library of the Manor) in discussion and it was Theo who pointed out the fact that if she wasn't ready, maybe he should just move on. She knew of his interest and her lack of acknowledgment could be seen as a "No." even if it wasn't meant to be.

In Theo's words~ "You are both adults and she knows what she is to you. If she hasn't encouraged you yet, perhaps she never will."

Tobias agreed. "You've been patient for a wolf, for an Alpha. I would have already stopped trying by now. Omega or not, it's possible she just isn't worth the hassle."

However, fate decided to step in just after the full moon and it started with a letter on the twelfth, sent from inside the large multi-story building that housed his business.

Draco,

I will need at least a week and a half off for reasons that I am sure you understand. I would appreciate it if, this time, you could come to me. Today started with fever and tremors so I assume things will be dire by Sunday.

I wanted to wait until now. I know that it made you crazy but I did not know how to go about approaching you. You are very commanding and I wanted to make sure that what I offered was what I wanted, not just what you needed.

So, I will leave my floo open for you, set for tomorrow night. I will also change the anti-apparition wards so that YOU can apparate directly into my home. Last time, it lasted for almost nine days. I hope that if you come, it will shorten the time.

I'm scared.

Hermione

Draco read the words over and over. his mind a blank. He hadn't expected that, hadn't thought that she would wait until the heat was upon her to offer. Did she understand what would happen if he showed up? She would be marked, he would pierce that little node on her nape and claim her for eternity. Was she aware of what she was giving him? He wasn't sure but a response seemed to be in order.

So, he turned quill to parchment.

Kitten,

The days off are granted.

As for the rest? Do you understand that if I come to get you through, I will mark you? I will claim you. I won't be able to help it. Is this truly what you want?

The rest doesn't matter. As long as you acknowledge that this will happen and that you will accept it, then expect me tomorrow night.

Draco

Hermione scanned the short note, her eyes gliding over the elegant script, her rounded cheeks flushed from fever, embarrassment and the beginnings of desire. She shoved a slim hand through her mass of curls and tapped a finger to her mouth. There was no point in crafting a response via note. Instead, she found Theo and warned him of her impending departure before she left to beard a wolf in his den.

The journey to the top floor went quickly, the gleaming lift not stopping once she had stepped inside. She could feel herself shaking, knew she was flushed and the headache was coming on but he needed words and so, she would give them to him. Once she reached his assistant's desk, she asked the young man if he was available for an extremely short meeting.

The blond rose from his seat and headed for Draco's office door. After a brief knock, he then pushed it open and asked, "Sir, Hermione Granger would like to know if she can have a few minutes of your time?"

The man motioned her forward and ushered her inside. Draco sat behind his desk, his eyes almost glowing in the bright light, platinum locks loose and falling over his shoulders. The curly-haired young woman strode forward and settled herself on his couch, her body held tautly.

"I've come to tell you that yes, I understand and yes, I choose it. Will you come?"

Draco stood and moved, with an uncanny grace, to her side. With a small sigh, he leaned in close, his sensitive nostrils picking up a new scent. She was fertile. With a low growl, he ripped himself away and moved to the opposite side of the couch, his hands aching to grab her, his body humming with desire.

"You're fertile now. Do you know how to prevent pregnancy under these circumstances?"

She nodded. "I cast the appropriate charm this morning. It will last until my fertile period ends. I needed something specific since you are a werewolf but research turned up just what I needed." She hitched a quiet breath and continued. "Lucky, huh?" Another pause, chocolate gaze darting toward his stern countenance. "So, I will see you tomorrow night then?"

A nod met her query even as slate gray eyes closed. "I will be there. Now go home. You can use my floo."

Hermione nodded and stood up, slender hands picking at nonexistent dust and creases. She paused for a moment, allowed herself to think about kissing him goodbye but she noted the strain around his mouth, the gleam of gold in his shining orbs and decided against it. Doing that would be a tease to them both and she was still worried enough that she did not want to deal with any of it until she had to.

"Well, see you soon, Draco."

She turned and headed for the large fireplace. A moment later, she'd tossed a handful of powder into its cavernous depths and called, softly~ "Hermione's apartment." Then? She was gone.

Draco found himself staring at the spot where she had just been, his body still taut with a need to take her, claim her, mark her, impregnate her so that no one else would ever look at her. He wanted to follow, to go to the apartment and trap her there, beneath him, over him, with him. With a slight head shake, he forced himself to focus on the job at hand, namely closing out his day and making sure that Theo knew that he'd be out of the office for at least a week, maybe a bit longer.

He wasn't going to leave his witch until this heat was safely past.

Theo made the delivery of the message much easier as he stumbled into Draco's office a few minutes later. A smile wreathed the lanky wizard's features even as his dark blue gaze met the gray-eyed gaze of his friend.

"So, Hermione's off for another few weeks? Omega issue?"

Draco nodded and quirked a grin at his friend. "Yeah. This time she wants me to get her through so I..."

Theo interrupted. "Wait! She wants you?"

The platinum blond nodded once more. "She says she's ready and that she was just waiting until now. So I won't be in until it's over. Last time was eight or nine days. She is hopeful that our joining will shorten it to more acceptable levels since the first go-round was based mostly on her magical core strength. This time would be based around my 'needs' or at least that is what she assumes."

The smile that appeared on Theo's face was decidedly perverse and was underlined by the words that tumbled from his mouth. "Hell, it could be twice the length if I know how backed up you are!"

Draco snorted. "True."

Soon after, the subject was changed and the pair settled down to deal with Draco's upcoming absence. There were two separate board meetings that had to be rescheduled as well as the finalization of the buy-in for Slug and Jiggers Apothecary. It would give the company an outlet for the extra Aconite and copper/silver mix as well as becoming a place for wolves to place orders for their wolfsbane potions. The deal was all but completed so Theo offered to finish it himself.

Draco immediately agreed.

By six, the young Alpha was ready to leave and head for home. His nerves and thoughts were all over the place but he figured the silence of the woods and Manor would help him to focus more fully on what he would soon be undertaking. Not that any of this should require thought, not really. It should be as natural as breathing but it wasn't. He'd never dealt with a heat of any sort before. Reading about something or knowing it instinctively did not make one prepared, did it?

He needed to do right by his kitten, his Golden girl, his Hermione.

Once home, he headed directly for his rooms, once his parents' suite, now his own. A moment later, a tiny blue-eyed elf appeared, his large ears almost drooping to his shoulders. "Mister Draco, can I be getting you dinner?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, Turret. Something small. Not sure if Tobias..."

"Mister Tobias is home. He ate out, he said. Do you need him," the diminutive creature asked, his wide blue eyes focused on the tall wizard before him.

"No. I will find him later. He and I have much to talk about. Matter of fact, have him meet me in the Library in about an hour."

"Yes, Sir." The young elf disappeared with a quiet pop.

After Draco had showered and eaten, he'd made his way to the East wing and the main library. A hurried sniff had indicated that Tobias was waiting for him inside and so, with something akin to a dramatic entrance, the blond had flung open the door and stalked inside.

"Good. You're here. Hermione asked me to see her through her heat. Anything you can add to my useless store of knowledge?"

Tobias blinked, his cinnamon shaded gaze sparking with good humor. "She wants you to see her through? You did warn her about the mate claim, right?"

Draco nodded and ran slender fingers through his slightly damp hair. "I did. She said she understood and still wants me there. Any helpful words?"

"Nah," Tobias smirked. "It's just sex. Sex for hours, sex until you're scared your dick is gonna fall off. Sex that will leave you both sore. Almost a year of waiting, I'm sure you can handle that."

A wicked smile blossomed on Draco's face, mobile lips turned so far upward that he felt as if his face would rip. "Oh yeah, I'm sure I can handle that. What I am worried about is the marking."

Tobias shifted in his seat and locked eyes with his Alpha. "That will be easy enough for you to handle. It won't even matter when you choose to mark her, especially since she's already given you permission. Your wolf will know the most opportune time. Just trust yourself."

Another nod met this pronouncement and soon enough the pair were indulging themselves with some really good firewhiskey.

While Draco spent time unwinding and getting his worries under some sort of control, Hermione had attempted to do the same. However, her headache made her nauseous, her internal temperature had ramped up which caused all sorts of dizzy spells and she found it hard to concentrate on anything beyond how awful she felt. She couldn't remember being as sick in February but since it had been her first heat, she was sure that the newness of it all had wiped most of her memory, away.

Which sucked.

By ten, the young witch was in bed, her skin covered in sweat and goosebumps as her body seemed unable to decide if it felt hot or cold. She forced herself to relax~ counted sheep, recited Arithmancy numbers, thought on Rune lore and on and on until she finally drifted into a fitful sleep. She still felt awful and her dreams, once they started, were just as confused and jumbled as she was.

Pitiful.