Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays.

Music is my muse:
Song for this chapter: All Of Me, John Legend
Lyrics: You're crazy and I am out of my mind.

My eternal thanks to Ihrin for her beta work on this chapter.

Love of a Mate

Chapter 11
All Of Me

Hermione opened the door to her flat, still in her bathrobe, to find Draco standing there immaculately clad in fine dress robes made of grey wool and holding up a bag of delicious smelling breakfast pastries.

"I come bearing gifts," he said, his tone laced with humor.

Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled him inside, slamming the door and throwing up wards. He raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently, clearly worried.

Hermione nodded and then sighed again as she got a look at the pastry bag, grabbing it and moving off, mumbling something about starting tea.

Draco held his arms open and she walked into them, burying her head in his chest and taking deep breaths, letting his comforting smell and warmth wash over.

"The flat is surrounded by owls," she said in frustration. "Our office is overrun."

Draco buried his hands in her hair and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Same with my office. All my post goes through screening first so I sent some wizards down to your office to intercept stuff and send it to mine. Minister Shacklebolt sent down an auror to take over if there is something really nasty in the post."

Hermione sighed and leaned back looking at him. "If there is, it's probably for you." She frowned as she fixed his robes and stepped back. "After all, it was you who supposedly dosed me with the most powerful love potion in the world."

Draco smirked. "If they only knew I didn't actually need the love potion. Veela pheromones are much more potent."

Hermione rolled her eyes and then smirked before she watched his eyes go dark with lust as he looked her over.

"You are naked," he said in a growl.

Hermione jumped and then flushed. "I just had a bath."

Suddenly she was pulled forward and his lips were crashing down on hers, his tongue sweeping in and laying siege to her mouth and emotions. She moaned and gripped his robes as the kiss turned primal. When he shoved aside the robe and cupped her breast, she felt her entire body heat up. Breathing hard, she ripped out of the kiss and arched into his hand.

His lips moved down her jawline and then to her collarbone. He gave her small bites as he moved and then took her nipple into his mouth causing her to gasp out a low moan.

"Draco," she whispered raggedly.

He closed his eyes and groaned before he stepped back and pulled her robe closed. "Please go get some clothes on," he said in a rather desperate tone.

She fled to get dressed, passing a smirking Ginny as she did.

When she came out again, this time wearing jeans and a jumper, she was shocked to see Harry sitting at her table in his auror robes with Katie Bell in her healer robes next to him. Ginny was sitting on Harry's lap, laughing at something Katie was saying.

"Hey, 'Mione," Harry said with a wide smile.

Hermione sat down and took the pastry Draco held out for her with a slight blush his gaze was still rather heated.

"What on earth are you two doing here?" Hermione asked, taking the cup of tea Draco handed her with a thankful smile.

Katie laughed. "I am here, on orders from the Minister himself, to examine you for any traces of a potion or charm that would explain your odd behavior last night."

Hermione rolled her eyes while Ginny and Harry chuckled at her expense. "Oh for goodness' sake, I am fine. Do you honestly think Ginny wouldn't have raised the alarm if I were under the influence of a love potion? Think of who she is related to."

Ginny was now crying in laughter as Katie nodded, chuckling. "I know, 'Mione. George already said the same thing when they ambushed him at the shop this morning."

Hermione grunted in annoyance as Draco hid his smirk behind his teacup. Katie moaned as she took a bite of her own pastry.

"Heavenly, aren't they?" Ginny said, reaching down to grab another and feeding it to Harry, causing Katie to gag a bit at them.

"Check them for potions," Draco said, his tone dry, gesturing at Ginny and Harry, who were indeed acting like lovesick fools.

Katie flashed him a smirk and then snorted in laughter as Ginny glared. "We didn't make the front page of the paper, you git!"

Harry grinned and wrapped his arms around Ginny as he shook his head. "It's a real mess at the Ministry right now. The public is demanding you either be admitted to St. Mungo's and looked over or locked up for your own protection. Kingsley is going to be holding a press conference at noon to reassure the public you are fine- just that you have terrible taste in boyfriends."

Hermione sat up angrily. "Hey!"

Draco however just held up his cup of tea with a smirk, which had Katie chuckling again before she finished her pastry and stood up, grabbing her wand from her robes.

"Right. Come here, 'Mione. Let's rule out love potions and spell damage."

Hermione stood up, huffing in annoyance as Katie did her diagnostic spells.

Katie frowned a bit and shook her head in disbelief. "Your magic is different... stronger."

Hermione sat down and looked at Katie curiously. Katie Bell had been her healer for the last three years so if she said something was different, she would know.

"Is that a problem?" Hermione asked.

Katie shrugged. "Not for me, no. You might want to mind your temper. Accidental magic isn't uncommon with levels as high as you have. I wouldn't go anywhere without your talisman. You already had strong magic before whatever happened to cause this increase. Usually, we see this in pregnant witches." Harry sat up, looking angry, but Katie waved him off. "Calm down. She is not with child. She isn't even ovulating."

Ginny was sitting up, her eyes wide. "What could cause an increase in magic like that, then?"

Katie paused and then sat back down, her eyes wide. "Oh, Merlin." She turned to Draco and whispered, "Veela! You're her mate!"

Hermione went pale as Ginny jumped up, grabbing onto Harry, who was reaching for his wand. "What have you done to her?" Harry yelled.

Hermione waved her hand to disarm Harry and she shook her head. "Harry, use your brain. If he is my mate, he couldn't do anything to me I didn't consent to."

Katie nodded, her eyes still wide. "That's true," she said, glancing at Ginny who was looking a bit annoyed.

Harry was breathing hard but calming slowly. Finally he hissed, "Someone better start talking."

Katie sat back and watched the show as Hermione and Ginny explained the situation to an angry Harry. Draco stayed silent, frowning, his eyes set on Harry as if waiting for him to do something that might harm Hermione. When the story was finished, Katie wiped at her eyes and saw that Harry looked horrified.

"But he watched you being tortured. He can't be your mate," Harry said, his voice ragged.

Katie shook her head and sniffled. "It must have almost killed him," Katie said, tears leaking out of her eyes.

Ginny nodded looking just as torn up. "That's what Fleur said, but Hermione had magically tied his hands so he couldn't betray himself."

Harry looked over at Hermione, his eyes wide and his face pale. "That's... Hermione that's awful."

Hermione threw up her own hands, tears sparkling in her eyes. "I know, but if I hadn't done it, he would have been killed!"

Draco cleared his throat. "It was awful, but I think Hermione suffered more. If it's alright with everyone, I would prefer not to speak of it further. I also must ask, for Hermione's safety, that you not reveal we are mated. She could become a target; my family is very wealthy and she could be taken to be held for ransom."

Ginny groaned in horror. "Because they would know that there's nothing a veela wouldn't do for their mate."

Katie nodded. "Including clearing out their family vaults."

Harry went pale and then took a deep breath. "Right. So it doesn't leave this room."

Hermione looked up her eyes sad. "Katie, please don't take this personally, but given your history with Draco can I get an official wand oath?"

Katie wiped at her eyes and sighed looking over at Draco rather uncomfortable. "I am contractually obligated as your healer not to say something, but I don't mind doing a wand oath too, 'Mione."

Draco looked very uncomfortable and shifted. "I never meant to harm you," he said softly, his tone full of self-condemnation. "I was scared and-"

Katie waved her hand. "I think, given what I now know was going on with you, I can afford to be forgiving," she said softly. "I couldn't imagine being in your shoes that year. You had to have been terrified. I know how much your mother means to you, Draco." Katie shrugged, her eyes full of understanding. "And you had a mate to worry about, who happened to be best friends with the boy your master was trying to murder. I am not saying what you did was right but," she shrugged and looked over at Hermione who smiled at her.

"Thank you, Katie," Hermione said sincerely, grateful for her understanding.

Harry stood up and walked out, clearly needing a moment to digest all that he had just been told. Ginny smiled at them all and rushed after him. Hermione wasn't worried about Harry; Ginny would calm him down.

When the wand oath was done, Draco nodded and looked relieved. "Thank you," he said, resorting to his usual formal tone.

Katie gave him a reassuring nod and then sighed, "Wow. What a mess the Prophet has started."

Harry and Ginny walked back in a moment later and they all sat around in a surprisingly comfortable silence, lost in their own thoughts.

Hermione reached over and took Draco's hand before she turned back to Harry and broke the silence. "So what happens now- other than me suing the paper for libel?"

Draco snorted and squeezed her hand. "I think that's my job. After all, they claimed I gave you a love potion- not vice versa."

Hermione flashed him an annoyed look. "They claimed I was stupid enough to be dosed with a love potion."

Harry threw back his head laughing as Ginny shook her head with Katie falling out of her chair giggling.

"Oh, 'Mione," Katie said, wiping at her eyes, "You are too much."

OooOooOooO

Everyone left shortly after. Katie to give her report to the Minister, Draco heading to his office, Ginny to hers, and Harry went with her to make sure the office was safe before he headed back to join Kingsley for the press conference.

Hermione was left sitting at the kitchen table as her anger and resentment again came to a roaring boil. Was it too much to ask the damn Prophet to leave her the hell alone for once?

Draco had kissed her sweetly before he left, urging her to take the day off and not worry about things and assuring her that his solicitor was handling the libel case against the Prophet. It was good advice- taking the day off- but Hermione had never been very good at doing nothing.

Twenty minutes after everyone left, she had decided that she would be at the stupid press conference at noon. She sent off a quick owl to Kingsley and went to get dressed. She chose her favorite dress, which happened to be in a deep emerald green. It had delicate cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and it went down to her knees. It fit her snugly and accentuated her waistline. She put her hair up into a French twist and applied her makeup charms, with special attention to her eyes and lips.

Slipping into her black, four-inch suede pumps, she grabbed her wand and purse and apparated to the Ministry's main lobby. Since no one was expecting her but Kingsley, she slipped through the throngs of people quickly and made it to the lift before anyone spotted her.

Harry looked up as she walked into Kingsley's office and groaned, "I should have known you couldn't just sit at home and let us handle this."

Hermione glared at him and tossed down her purse. She stroked the broach she now wore everywhere she went- a talisman to help ground her magic so that her hair didn't frizz or glow.

"I think that telling them to bugger off is a very productive use of my afternoon," Hermione snipped, sitting down and raising an eyebrow at the Minister who was smirking at her. "What?"

Kingsley leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I haven't seen you this mad in a long time. I am enjoying the fact that your anger is not directed at me this time."

Harry snickered and stood up. "Right. Well, I am off to check on security."

Hermione glared at him until the door closed, then threw up a silencing spell and locked the door. Kings raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "My security hates it when you do that."

Hermione flashed a smirk. "I know, that's why I do it. Did Harry tell you about Draco? I can't imagine he kept that from you."

Kingsley stood up at that, his face a bit grave. "I had to know and I assure you the information will not leave this office. Are you okay with all this, Hermione?"

Hermione sighed and took a beat to collect her thoughts. "Until recently, I always felt like something was missing. Now I know what that something was. Honestly, poor Draco is the one who suffered more than I have. The memory charm only affected me."

Kingsley flinched and then nodded. "Well, we obviously are not disclosing this story to the public. I wasn't going to address your relationship with Mr. Malfoy, but since you are here, perhaps you could make a statement?"

Hermione nodded slowly, feeling her stomach flip, thankful now that she hadn't eaten lunch. "I can make a statement, but I am not going to give them some sappy love story to print."

Kingsley laughed and shook his head. "What do you propose?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Can I finally out Rita Skeeter as an unregistered animagus? She's been made the editor now. This story has her beetle stink all over it."

Kingsley groaned and shook his head. "I would prefer you let us use that lovely bit of blackmail for a later occasion but, if you want to be that vindictive, I don't blame you."

Hermione sat back for a moment, thinking. "I can always drop her a reminder note afterwards I suppose."

Kingsley let out a small breath of relief and nodded at her. "Well, we have ten minutes left. I must go speak with my secretary. You come up with what you want to say and we will walk down together. Shame Mr. Malfoy is not here as well, as it may go down better to show a united front."

Hermione looked up and then smiled her eyes flashing. "I can arrange that."

Kingsley looked surprised. "Could you really?"

Hermione nodded and said very firmly in her head, "Draco, I need you at the Ministry immediately. I've decided to speak at the the press conference. Meet me in Kingsley's office."

OooOooOooOooO

Draco raced through the atrium and up to the Minister's office, nodding briefly at the secretary who waved him in with a small smirk. He glided over to haul up his mate, who was looking divine in green and smiling at him happily.

"Do you ever follow directions? I thought you were taking the day off."

Minister Shacklebolt laughed behind him and Draco looked over to glare at the man. "Was it your idea to parade her around?"

Hermione hit him lightly in the shoulder. "Draco! It was my idea. Kingsley just mentioned that you could be here to support me."

Draco sighed and pulled her into his side. "So what's the plan then?"

Hermione leaned into him and smirked. "We are going to show a united front. Kingsley will make his statement, assuring the public that I was looked over by my healer this morning and found to be perfectly in my right mind. He will state that libel such as what has been printed is not only abhorrentdue to the chaos it created, but also against the law. The Ministry is going to sue the Prophet for the extra hours this caused at the Magical Law Enforcement office today as well as for the cost of having my healer perform an unwarranted home examination on me."

Draco snorted. "My solicitor is already preparing to go after them as well," he said, gently rubbing his thumb over her whitening knuckles.

He could feel his mate shivering at the contact and worked to hide his smirk. He relished that all he had to do to turn her on was touch her- it was intoxicating. He turned his head to look at her and saw that her eyes had gone dark with desire and Draco felt his body tightening.
Well, damn, that backfired.

Kingsley, obviously sensing the tension in the room, cleared his throat. "Right, let's go and appeal to the masses. Draco, I would answer some questions but not make a long speech."

Hermione grinned up at her mate. "He is having me do that. I rarely do, so it will be rather a big deal."

Harry walked in and smirked. "Well, Rita is sitting front and center, surrounded by her reporters and looking far too pleased with herself for causing such chaos."

Kingsley groaned in annoyance and adjusted the hem of his dress robes. "You set them up in the courtroom I requested?"

"Yes but I think Rita was hoping for it to be outside in the atrium." Harry shrugged and turned to Hermione. "What are we going to do about her? She really has gone too far this time and if I have to listen to her smugness much longer I might murder her."

Draco spoke first. "I can neutralize Rita Skeeter."

Hermione elbowed him. "Oh no you don't! If anyone is telling the public that the editor-in-chief of the Prophet is an unregistered animagus, it's going to be me!"

Draco looked at her in shock. "You knew?"

Harry chuckled. "Knew? Of course she did- she kept her as a pet."

Kingsley was looking up at the ceiling with a resigned look on his face, humming to himself, and Draco smirked at his mate. "How positively devious of you. I must have forgotten this bit of information if you told me before."

Hermione flushed as she remembered the sexual tension that usually accompanied their 'conversations'.

Harry groaned. "Oh, don't look so turned on by that."

Draco ignored him and peppered her face with kisses as Hermione giggled and pushed him away from her. "I put holes in the lid," she said defensively as she saw Kingsley's disgruntled look.

Draco burst into laughter as Harry flinched and Kingsley sighed heavily. "I am not hearing this," the Minister said, waving at them. "Please do change the subject so I can claim ignorance if this should ever come up."

Harry grunted and then looked over at Draco his face curious. "How did she talk you into this dog and pony show?"

Hermione glared at him as Draco smirked and said, rather smugly, "She asked nicely. How many are in the courtroom? How heavy is the security?"

Harry sighed wiping a hand down his face. "About three hundred concerned witches and wizards are ready to hear their dear Minister assure them that Hermione Granger is safe and being weaned off of the alleged love potion."

Hermione hit him. "Harry!"

Kingsley chuckled and walked forward. "No wands?"

Harry shook his hand. "They turned them over before entering the courtroom. I have ten Aurors stationed around the room and a few undercover, seated in the public gallery."

Draco let out a huff as Hermione sighed at the wizards. "If you think I am handing over my wand-"

Harry laughed at her. "Hide it in your hair like you normally do. I'm not stupid enough to try and take your wand and you will be walking in with our Minister."

Kingsley sighed and then shrugged. "Draco, do you mind?"

Draco sighed, knowing just what the Minister was asking, and reluctantly handed his wand over to Harry with a grimace, who took it with a smirk and stuck it in his pocket. "I promise to toss it back if you need it, ferret." He winked and chuckled at the childhood nickname and possibly gloated at having Draco's wand in his pocket.

Draco glared at him and tucked Hermione in closer to his body. "If I need it, I am hexing you first, Potter. However I happen to not need a wand to do damage if Hermione is in danger." His eyes made Harry shiver a bit and he nodded an understanding passing between them that never had before.

Hermione groaned at the two and clapped her hands to get them to stop glaring at one another. "Okay, the pissing contests can wait. Kingsley, we are about to be late," she said, turning to look at the older wizard who was clearly amused by the two young wizards in his office.

The Minister nodded and swept out with Hermione. They were followed by Harry, who was still taunting Draco over his shoulder, patting his pocket where the man's wand was.

Hermione quickly stepped up and kissed Draco to distract him. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose. "You really couldn't just stay in and read?"

Hermione snorted. "Hardly." Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the office.
"Stop being a baby. Let's go make them all look like fools."

Author Notes:

Thank you for being so patient with me, I deeply apologize for the delay. I wish to thank you for the well wishes. My son 'little red' is finally not crying all the time and doing much better. Having your tonsils out is not very fun and he is pretty annoyed by the whole process. Even more terrifying my six year old daughter is next, 'strawberry' shall be her code name as she got her Daddy's hair color and not mine.

If you are wishing to have updates on my family my Instagram is public: Crystaljeanred

Feel free to follow me.

Please do leave me your thoughts on the chapter and story so far. I adore hearing from you.

I am writing and cleaning house today as the kids are gone. I hope to catch up on another chapter of Accidental Proposal and Aftermath today.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Up Next: We put Rita in check! I am super excited!