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.

Runnign with no beta at the moment and too anxious to just get the story out to you so... All mistakes are mine. Sorry.

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:Brand New; Ben Recter
Lyrics:I am going to love you till my lungs give out.

This is honestly one of my favorite songs in the entire world. If you have not heard it please go and listen. If you wonder what my personality is, he describes it in this song. This is how I feel when I am healthy and with people I love. And I sing and dance to this song even when I am sick.

Love of Mate

Chapter 18
Brand New

Hermione was floating on a cloud of happiness, it was if everything in her life had suddenly fallen into place and fit perfectly. Life with Draco, her mate, was possibly the most amazing thing she had ever experienced. Better even then Felix Felicius running through your system.

But she was also a witch who had survived a war so, so much happiness and bliss left her a bit worried.

Ginny waved her off. "Stop waiting for the other shoe to fall, you are being ridiculous."

Hermione nodded and smiled but she couldn't shake the feeling, it crept in at the oddest times, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

She was also learning that life as Draco's mate meant she would never again go anywhere without hit wizards. When the engagement was announced she got two more guards bringing her total to four, really there were more like ten, they alternated in shifts. She hadn't even bothered talking to Draco about it. Ginny, of course, found it hysterical but sobered when she reminded Hermione that the Malfoy's were worth more than any other family in wizarding Britain and still had enemies from the war.

Hermione had let out a frustrated breath and nodded storming away. She had also had to hire a private secretary to help with the influx of correspondence she was receiving and to manage her diary.

It seemed like every night she was on Draco's arm for some charity function and the donations to her own charity organization had quadrupled with all the extra publicity. They had added philanthropist to her titles whenever she was mentioned in any wizarding publication.

Plans for her wedding where also in full swing, and she was never more grateful to have Narcissa Malfoy as her mother-in-law as when she met with the wedding planner and realized she had simply no desire to commit any time to the absolute chaos the reception ball was going to be.

So, Hermione happily handed off that event to Narcissa and she and Draco organized the bonding ceremony itself. Or rather, Draco did, he had told her he wanted to surprise her and sent her on her way just asking her to pick out a dress she absolutely loved.

"Not dress robes?" She asked curiously.

Draco smirked. "We have to wear ceremonial robes for the bonding, my heart. But I want you to wear the most exquisite dress for before we leave for the bonding circle. There are two parts to the ceremony."

Hermione smiled at him kissing him softly. "You are wishing for me wear a muggle dress to our bonding?"

He nodded kissing down her neck. "Yes, I know mother would have kittens if we suggested such a thing for the reception ball she is planning, but for our bonding, it will be all about you and I. You pick out what you want, promise me."

She had promised him and then spent an hour in her office making love to him when she should have been working. Her desk it turned out, with a good cushioning charm, was a great substitute for a bed.

OoOOooO

The after effects of the bonding were indeed as hard to deal with as Draco had mentioned. She went back to the Manor every day for lunch so that they could physically touch and usually make love. He picked her up at five every evening and they spent the two hours before dinner in one another's arms.

It was a thrilling feeling knowing you were so needed, so wanted, so desired. It was like closing your eyes and spinning in a circle. She felt free, and so loved.

She knew that she was going to make big mistakes trying to implement herself into his world, but it didn't matter because she knew how much Draco loved her and that he would be right there to pick her up when she knocked herself down. And he was so firm that she did not overtire herself as the bonding and reception drew near. He had her private secretary turn down dozens of invitations leading up to the events, insisting they simply didn't have the time.

She had giggled when she heard him tell her in her head that he wanted to spend that time with her naked, not at some stupid ball or charity auction.

OooOoooOOoo

Hermione and Ginny had been able to hire three more workers so she and Ginny could delegate more and even take time off. Their organization was thriving and the girls were thrilled with all the extra help and planning two more major functions for later that year.

With the extra help, they sometimes found themselves with afternoons free, and that was how Hermione found herself in a muggle wedding dress shop in London with Ginny. It was definitely upscale and she was thankful the prices were not listed on the dresses. It was hard getting used to the fact that you no longer needed to live on a budget.

Ginny pulled out a dress and sighed. "Oh this one is fantastic, Hermione what do you think?"

Hermione turned and nodded. "It's very whimsical," she said studying the sheer back which had roses embroidered onto it and butterflies throughout the leaves. It was also a rather dreamy vintage white and had sleeves, something she was discovering where not apparently in vogue for wedding dresses. Almost everything was sleeveless. This dress didn't have long sleeves, but off the shoulder ones in a beautiful silk that somehow worked with the sheer backing.

"What's the front look like?" She asked walking over to Ginny.

Ginny turned it around and they both sighed, it had a tucked in waist with a rose made out of the silk on the side and a sweetheart neckline. The skirt was not a puffy mess with tulle underneath it but tucked in with a straight classic line.

"I love it," Hermione whispered taking it from Ginny and turning it to look at the back again. "No train either, it's perfect."

Ginny nodded and shoved her towards the dressing room. "Go on, go try it on!"

Hermione did and groaned realizing it was not the right size, but Ginny smirked whispering that magic could fix that easily. Hermione turned in the dress that was clipped to her petite frame and nodded back at her best friend.

"This is it."

Ginny snorted a laugh. "Of course it is. Take it off and go buy it so we can get it to a magical tailor. I want to see it when it fits you properly. What are you going to do for your shoes?"

Hermione bit her lip and then smiled. "I think I will find some as whimsical as the dress. Although I have no idea where to even begin to look."

Ginny laughed and shrugged. "Just transfigure some butterflies to match the dress onto shoes that are comfortable, make the butterflies a soft blue, isn't that a muggle thing to have something blue?"

Hermione laughed and nodded. "I think I will do roses, and yes, something blue is a muggle tradition."

They found comfortable shoes with a small kitten heel that Hermione felt would be perfect, especially with an added cushioning charm and left the store happily. Ginny had found a dress last week. Hermione had decided on not having attendants as they were making the wedding intimate and small.

OooOOOoooOOOooO

Her mother and father had declined to attend, it wasn't well known in the wizarding world that her parents were still alive, and Hermione wished to keep it that way. After she had explained about the ceremonies her parents had simply asked if she wanted to have a brunch to celebrate at a later date for her muggle friends and family and she had agreed gratefully. After returning her parents' memories and finally sharing with them the danger they had been in her parents had never fought her on such matters as security again. They didn't even have friends over to their house anymore, instead choosing to meet in public muggle locations and had allowed their daughter to set all the wards she wished on their home and small car.

Hermione would shop with her mother for her dress for the brunch after the madness from the wizarding ceremonies was finished. Draco had assured her parents that he would get them all the pictures of the event they could stand.

Narcissa had been shocked at how pragmatic William and Helen Granger had been when she had been taken to meet them, and Hermine had been shocked at how easily Narcissa Malfoy sat at her parent's kitchen table talking with her mother.

"I had expected them to put up a fight over not seeing you married, dear," Narcissa mentioned as they sat back at the manner having tea after the meeting with her parents.

Hermione shrugged. "No, they understand that there are still dangers to them. And my father is not found of crowds or being on display so he is probably sighing in relief that he isn't being put on the spot to walk me down the aisle in tails."

Draco smiled at that and walked over to kiss her. "We will make the brunch special for them and make sure they have pictures of our bonding. We can say we eloped."

Hermione smiled at him. "I like that idea."

Draco turned to his mother. "That means muggle dress at that ceremony, mother. So don't cause a scene when I am in a muggle suit and not dress robes."

Narcissa sighed dramatically. "What about the Minister? He is performing the start of the ceremony."

Hermione giggled. "Kingsley has muggle suites, he has to meet with the Muggle Prime Minister and attends functions and such. He won't mind wearing muggle attire to marry us."

Narcissa nodded and then waved her hand. "As you two have been so accommodating over the reception, I think that is a lovely idea. Draco is correct, your parents deserve photographs they can show to their friends and family of your wedding. Do we have anyone who can operate a muggle camera?"

Draco shrugged. "I will handle it, mother."

OooOOoOO

That night snuggled in his arms she sighed into his neck and kissed him, biting at him playfully. "Thank you, for being so wonderful to my parents."

Draco pulled her tighter into him and ran his fingers up and down her arm lazily. They were naked, although they hadn't made love that night, yet.

"Of course," he said his voice husky, she knew he was as exhausted as she was after the long day.

"Draco? I don't wish to upset you but I really have to know something."

He turned so they were facing one another and traced her lips. "Yes, my heart?"

"Would your father know about us? Would he know that I am your mate?"

Draco sighed and she saw his eyes flash with anger. "I had to inform him, yes. More for your safety than any real reason to share my life with him."

"What could he do to me from Azkaban? His letters are tracked aren't they?"

Draco snorted. "Yes, which made informing him you were my mate rather tricky. He got the message, because his next letter was much calmer than the one I received after our engagement was announced."

Hermione blew out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and kissed his chest. "He still manages to upset you, doesn't he?"

Draco pulled her over him and kissed her. "Yes, so now that I am awake I think you, my beautiful mate, should distract me."

Hermione's giggle turned into a gasp as he put his mouth to her mating mark and sucked, hard.

Yes, she would be happy to distract him. All too happy. Especially when she got to be on top and could watch his face as they fell apart and back together in orgasm.

She rotated her hips with a smile as she sank down onto him and laughed softly as she watched his face contort with pleasure. She set a slow pace and leaned forward kissing him as if her life depended on taking his breath from him. His hands settled on her hips and would probably leave bruises as he moved her faster, searching for his release.

Hermione reached down and touched her clit knowing that the sight would push her mate over the edge and that the look on his face would spur her on into her completion. They both came gasping the others name and Hermione fell into his arms kissing his neck until sleep claimed her.

Draco didn't even shift her off of his chest when she fell asleep, instead, he left her there and closed his eyes rubbing her delectable bottom where his hands had settled. He loved when she fell asleep right after they made love because she didn't bother to clean herself and he could stay inside of her with his seed and her pleasure leaking out around them and causing the Veela inside Draco to shiver at the scent.

There was nothing better than the smell of their combined lust satisfied.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face and his arms full of his mate, her weight a pleasant pressure on his chest, their legs tangled together.

OooOOooOOOOooOO

If Draco had any idea of the interrogation that was currently going on in Azkaban be wouldn't have been smiling.

Lucius Malfoy had a visitor, someone who was very interested in why his son was marrying a mudblood. A visitor who had ministry clearance, permission to question the prisoner, and was using a new form of veritaserum to find out a truth that hadn't left the Malfoy family in centuries.

A quick memory charm left Lucius Malfoy none the wiser and the man in the dark cloak left full of rage and with a plan that was the very definition of 'the other shoe dropping' but it wasn't Hermione Granger the man was after.

No, the stupid mudblood was not worth his time. He had a far better plan in store for the Malfoy family. Far better plans indeed, and when he succeeded he would have gotten his revenge and his families fortune back all in one fell swoop. With none the wiser that it was even he who had orchestrated it all.

Theodore Nott would have his revenge, and Draco Malfoy would never see it coming.

Author Notes:
Dun, Dun, Dun…
I have decided we will simply have to see a badass Hermione. But first, I think they need a beautiful reception, wedding, brunch, and honeymoon.

My muse seems fit to lure them into a false sense of security. Evil of her. Tink, I hope I do your plot idea justice. Months ago Tink sent me an idea for this story and I am happy to say that I think I will be able to fit it in. So all credit to her for prolonging this fanfic with a bit of a twist. Witout her we would be almost finished and that would make me very sad indeed.

Don't forget you can follow me on Isntagram for updates and art related to the stories: CrystalJeanRed
Cheers,
Cjean