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.

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: Wild One; Faith Hill
Lyric of choice: She's a wild one with an angels face.

If you are interested, I created a YouTube channel with playlists of all these songs for each of my fanfics. CrystalJeanRed in search should pull it up. :)

Love of a Mate

Chapter 23
Reunited

Hermione paced the floor as Narcissa spoke quietly with the healer and ran through everything she had read in the last three weeks about male Veela's, thankfully, Narcissa had an extensive library for her to explore. Nothing, however, was explaining why her mate was not waking up.

She listened as the healer again mentioned that it must be a healing sleep. Hermione paused and then pivoted walking over to put her hand on Dracos' forehead.

Cool to the touch, breathing strong, his vitals were fine. He just stayed asleep.

"What do we know about the healing sleep?" Narcissa asked the healer wringing her hands.

Hermione paused considering this. What did they know? "It should effect both of us," she whispered frowning as she looked down at Draco, so peaceful but so still.

The healer looked up and then nodded. "Yes, it usually does."

Narcissa made an impatient noise. "And when it does not?"

Hermione went pale, and her hand went from her mate to her stomach. "Oh, oh, oh!"

The healer moved forward using his wand to rush a chair over to a faint Hermione.

"Hermione? What in Merlin?"

Hermione shook her head and looked at the healer who was using a quick spell on her before he gave her a slow nod.

"How long?" She asked carefully.

"Just a few weeks. My guess is he is strengthening his bond to you both as he heals."

Hermione nodded and slumped in relief before she sat up in agitation. "How long will he do that?"

The healer smiled at her and patted her hand. "Perhaps if you got a bit more sleep he will wake up sooner. Your stress level does not just effect you now, my child."

Hermione went pink but gave a slow nod. "What do I need to do?"

Narcissa cut in with impatience. "Hermione is stressed, so he is staying asleep? Did I hear correctly?"

Hermione pleaded with the healer with her eyes; she wanted to tell Draco before she told his mother. The old man nodded discreetly and turned to Narcissa.

"Yes, I think her stress, exhaustion, and general refusal to take care of herself is causing her mate to sleep for both of them. The link between Veela mates is one of the strongest in the magical world. I recommend putting this child to bed, and I will prescribe some tonics and vitamins she must take twice a day."

Hermione groaned as Narcissa nodded, still looking suspicious, but her worry for her son seemed to be more prominent than figuring out what she wasn't being told at that moment.

Hermione crawled into the bed with Draco and snuggled up to him after she took a potion from the healer who assured her in a hushed voice it was perfectly safe for her condition. She had nodded and was asleep as soon as she shut her eyes. She really had been exhausted.

OooOOoOooO

Draco blinked open his eyes and tightened his arms around the small sleeping angel on his chest. He knew it was Hermione, the hair tickling his face and her smell assured him of that.

Looking around he saw his mother sitting up asleep in a plush arm chair, what looked like a book resting in her lap. It was dark out, how long had been asleep? He reached up and felt the stubble on his face and frowned. Obviously longer than a few hours.

Carefully shifting Hermione, he moved out of the bed to use the loo and then called for an elf to have his mother moved to her bed in her own room. Once this was done he showered and shaved. The pull to get back to Hermione, however, was strong. Carefully so as not to wake her he crawled back into the bed, naked, and pulled her into him. She was wearing a soft gown of silk that was milk white and had sleeves that fell off her shoulders. He smiled as he traced the embroidery on the edging over her collar bone. She was wearing the gown he had gotten her for their wedding night.

She moaned and rolled, and her scent washed over him, and he froze. "You're pregnant!"

He regretted his outburst when Hermione shot up and then moaned rolling over him and rushing to the loo.

He got up and rushed after her to find her taking deep breaths over the sink and splashing cold water on her face.

"Sorry, I could scent the baby. It was a surprise. How long did I sleep?" He asked in confusion.

Hermione looked at him and then burst into tears throwing herself into his arms. "Weeks Draco, you have been sleeping for seven weeks!"

Draco pulled back shocked at this revelation. "Seven weeks?"

She nodded frantically and clutched onto him. "I am nine weeks along now. The healer comes to see us every day; he thought if I got more rest and took vitamins and tonics it might help you. He thinks you were sleeping for both of us. For the first few weeks, I was frantic when you did not wake up."

Draco rubbed her back before he picked her up and carried her back to the bed placing her in it and crawling in to sooth her. "Shush, it is all right, I am here now. I must have been in a healing sleep."

Hermione hiccupped and nodded. "My hormone levels were not high enough to keep the baby; it happens a lot in the first trimester. The healer figured it out rather quickly and decided you must be regulating things, so we didn't lose the baby. He started giving me a potion too."

Draco moved his hand down to cradle her still flat stomach. "The babe is well?"

Hermione sighed and put her hand over his. "Yes, everything is fine now. My levels are normal, and the baby is right on track. I finally had to clue in your mother, and she brought in the leading midwife for witches all the way from Germany."

Draco grinned at this and kissed her forehead. "Of course she did. How do you feel?"

Hermione smiled. "Joyful, you?"

Draco kissed her again, this time deeply and on the mouth. "Thrilled."

She giggled and clung to him. "I was so worried."

Draco sighed. "I was careless. It was Theo, my friend, so I didn't bring guards."

Hermione snorted. "Well it was not Theo, he is down the hall recovering from what his father did to him. He blocked his magic, Draco. It is awful."

Draco went totally motionless and then looked down at her his eyes wide with horror. "He blocked his magic?"

Hermione nodded slowly and projected thoughts through their bond. A collection of conversations with healers working on Theo, what had happened when she rescued him that dreadful afternoon. When she got to her killing Theo Senior, she started crying, and Draco rushed peace to her.

"No, be calm my heart. You could not have saved him. He would have received the kiss for what he did. You didn't torture him. I would not have been as collected and rational as you were."

Hermione gave a small watery hiccup and nodded. "Your mother keeps telling me that. They had to take my memories. The Ministry knows now, about you being a Veela. But it's just Harry and Kingsley."

Draco was rocking her. "Harry already knew, and as Minister Kingsley is bound to secrecy."

Hermione cringed. "I might have forced him to take an unbreakable vow when I found out he knew. I wasn't exactly calm those first few days you were out."

Draco chuckled still holding her to his chest. "You made the Minster of Magic take an unbreakable vow?"

Hermine sighed heavily. "Yes. At wand point actually. Looking back I suppose I can blame it on the baby. I was very distressed."

Draco was laughing now. "We are very lucky Kingsley is so afraid of you, my heart."

Hermione scoffed at this. "No, he loves me. Well, and he knows I am not to be crossed." She grew thoughtful, "technically though the laws regarding our mating bond are older than Ministry laws."

Draco nodded moving her so he could look at her clearly. "I have a mate with a face like an angel and a wild spirit."

Hermione smirked. "Only you think I have the face of an angel."

"I would disagree with that, mate."

Hermione laughed and snuggled back into his warm body. "I only care what you think, so it doesn't really matter."

They were silent for a long time, both of them content to just hold one another.

"A baby," Draco said breaking the silence, his hand moving back over her abdomen. "I can since its magic, different, rather strong. I think we will have a bright child."

Hermione looked up at him with laughter in her eyes. "With us as parents, you doubted that? You were not bottom of the class, Draco."

He smiled at her teasing and shook his head. "I was not top though, that was you."

Hermione giggled as he tapped her nose and then sighed yawning. "Well, we need more sleep. Have you eaten? Seen your mother yet?"

Draco shook his head and tightened his arms. "Tomorrow, let's sleep for now. I am tired as well."

Hermione couldn't stop another yawn, and in moments she was lost in peaceful slumber, for once calm, knowing her mate was safe.

OOoOOoOOoO

Hermione knew it was morning because she could feel sunlight on her face, she could sense Draco, and he was tickling her belly. She peeked open an eye and then laughed.

"What are you doing?"

"Kissing my baby hello."

Hermione ran her hands through his hair and tried not to laugh as his morning scruff tickled her skin.

"How do you feel?" She asked looking him over. He looked perfect. As if nothing had happened.

"I should be asking you that," he said grinning up at her as he pulled her nightgown up and over her belly to look at her. "You are lusher."

Hermione flushed and shivered as his hands cupped her breasts. She bit her lip as he moved his mouth up to suck on a nipple softly.

"Sensitive?" He asked with twinkling eyes.

She narrowed her own and pulled at his hair. "Yes, something you are about to take advantage of."

His smirk was brilliant as he dipped his head. "Oh, yes my mate. I do indeed intend to take advantage of every inch of you."

Hermione was lost in sensations. His touch, his lips, his scruff, his breath, his soft words, the smell of him. He kept his word, every inch of her was touched and kissed. He was slow and careful, and she had never felt more loved. By the time he entered her she was at her breaking point and climaxed instantly.

Draco stayed still as she clenched around him his eyes on hers, watching. He didn't want to hurt her, but he needed her, more than he ever had before. She was a jewel, shinning for him to worship. He kissed her as he started moving, her cream bathing his cock as he pushed as deep as he dared go into his mate.

"I love you," he whispered biting her earlobe and causing her to moan.

"I love you too."

He smiled as he kept up a slow and steady pace, wanting to feel her climax around him once more. "I know."

That earned him a pinch on his bottom, so he sucked her nipple a bit harder causing her to arch. This connection between the two of them was the most glorious part of having a mate. He felt her as she felt him, the sensations doubled, amplified and sent between them. As his climax approached he knew she was just as close and when they finally burst through into nirvana, they both collapsed breathing hard, hands clasped together.

"Welcome back," she said in a teasing voice.

Draco squeezed her to him and chuckled. "Life with you will never be boring."

"Not if you wake me up like that every day." She replied sassily. "Now move, I have to use the loo."

Draco rolled over so she could get out and watched her hungrily as she walked naked to the in-suite before he smiled and got up as well.

Shower, make love to his mate again, and breakfast.

It should be a good morning.

OooOOooOOoOOoO

Hermione knew she was flushing as they made their way down to breakfast holding hands. One of the elves, she hadn't caught which one, had caught them making love in the shower. She knew the poor elf must have been sent in by Narcissa to tell them to get down for breakfast. Draco had laughed and assured her the poor elf had covered its eyes as it squeaked out the message and then left with a loud pop.

Draco had, of course, ignored the summons and gone back to making love to her. And her blasted body had not protested. Her embarrassment, however, was now paying the price.

"Stop, we are married, you are upsetting yourself. The elf probably didn't even tell her what we were doing. They try to keep our privacy if they can, my heart."

Hermione took a deep breath and sighed. "I understand it makes no rational sense to feel like I was being naughty-"

He cut her off as he leaned down and kissed her. "I had you pinned to a tiled wall as I fucked you from behind, we were being very naughty-"

She slapped her hand on his mouth her eyes flashing a warning. "Stop it!"

He kissed her palm, but his eyes still danced with laughter. "You're a mother now, what can mine do?"

Hermione shook her head. "Oh so much. She is far scarier than me."

Draco threw back his head laughing. "I am sure there is something worrisome in that. Isn't there a muggle who says that you pick spouses based on characteristics of your parents?"

Hermione looked at him in shock before she laughed. "I look nothing like her!"

Draco nodded. "True, but you both would make great dictators."

Hermione shook her head at his teasing. "I am not having this conversation on an empty stomach."

Draco smirked. "Well, stop stalling and walk into the dining room."

Hermione took a big breath, gathered her Gryffindor courage and marched into the dining room. Theo was already seated and stood up bowing to her before he looked at Draco and let out a long sigh.

"Took you bloody long enough to wake up you prat?"

Draco walked over, and they did that silly man hug patting one another on the back. Hermione smiled at the two and then looked over at Narcissa who raised an eyebrow.

"I trust you had a good lay in?" She said in her soft voice that meant you were in trouble.

Hermione shot Draco a nasty look when he laughed as Theo went a bit red and sat down. Draco held out a chair for her allowing her to take a seat before he found his own.

"Yes, we did," he said serenely.

Narcissa glared at her still smirking son. "You didn't think to tell me you had woken up?"

Draco shrugged but did look a bit guilty. "I had not realised how long I had been asleep when I had an elf send you to your bed. My apologies, mother."

Narcissa gave a regal nod and looked him over before she sighed relief showing on her face and her eyes tearing. "Never scare me in that way again. You should never have allowed this to transpire as far as it did. How did no one notice that Theodore was his father?"

Draco looked over at his friend guiltily. "I was busy wooing Hermione, we noticed things, but he did a bloody good job impersonating you."

Theo shrugged frowning his eyes full of anger and grief. "So I have been told."

"Is your magic back?"

Theo shook his head and then gave a half grin. "Blunt, your wife is rubbing off on you."

Hermione hid her smile as Draco flushed. "What do you need from me?"

Theo smiled now. "An open-ended favour? Draco, should we be making sure it is really you?"

Hermione was unable to hide her giggle as Narcissa smirked into her tea cup.

Draco flushed. "For fuck sakes, Theo. You are one of my best mates. Who do I kill?"

Hermione went pale as Theo sighed. "Your wife took care of that for me."

Draco looked over and cussed moving to bring Hermiones' hand up to kiss it. "My apologies, my heart."

Hermione nodded and took pity on him. "What did the healer say this morning, Theo?"

Theo picked up his cup of tea and sighed. "Give it time; my magic is returning just at a slow pace. He thinks if I went back and recuperated inside the wards of my home it might go faster."

Hermione nodded. "But you don't wish to go back."

Theo glared at the table. "No."

Hermione pondered this as they all ate their breakfast. "The wards, are they in the actual homes or the land?"

Theo looked up at her. "The land I suppose, why?"

She shrugged. "So why not just tear down that pile of bricks and build a new Manor or Castle, or whatever you wish?"

Narcissa gasped. "All the magic in the stones of the place will be lost."

Hermione tilted her head. "So reuse the stones."

"That simple?" Theo asked looking around.

Draco was lost in thought before he nodded. "Yeah, I reckon it is actually that simple. Reuse the stones, keep the magic, new Manor within the wards. You hated that place anyways."

Theo sat back shocked before he laughed. "Draco, I might steal your wife. She is far too brilliant for a git like you. If you will excuse me."

Dracos' eyes went wild, but Theo didn't notice, he was standing up and rushing out, probably to contact a magical architect.

"Draco he was kidding," Hermione said softly pulling him back into the moment.

Draco flushed and picked his fork back up. "Right, sorry, I am a bit territorial over you."

Hermione grinned and leaned over to kiss him. "I am the same with you."

Narcissa cleared her throat. "We need to figure out who else Theodore Senior spoke to about Draco. I managed to get ahold of the pensive memories from that potion maker. He wasn't the first Nott approached."

Hermione looked up from her eggs shocked. "You never told me that!"

Narcissa shrugged. "You were not in a state to hear it. But we can't put it off now."

Draco was still his face full of rage. "Hermione says only Kingsley and Potter know?"

Narcissa nodded. "Yes, and the memories were destroyed after I viewed them. The man was wanted in Russia on another charge, so they sent him there. He had no memory of why Nott Sr wanted you, and I made sure he had no memory of everything regarding this nasty business before he left."

Draco looked between his wife and his mother. "You two are frightening."

"Efficient." Hermione countered before turning to Narcissa. "How did Nott Senior even find this wizard?"

Narcissa folded her napkin primly and sighed. "A rather disgusting bar in Knockturn Alley. I have some of our best hit wizards working on shoring up any leaks."

Hermione paused and put down her fork. "The hit wizards, do they know?"

Draco shrugged. "They know nothing; all are under contracts and vows. Even if they suspected something, they could not speak of it."

Narcissa nodded realising what her daughter in law was getting at and clearly wanting to also address it. "I highly doubt the leak could have come from the hit wizards. I assure you the jinx on the contract would have activated."

Hermione nodded chewing her lip in thought. "Can I view the contract?"

Draco smiled. "Adding more jinxes?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, looking to see if there are any loopholes in the jinx. When I set the jinx on the piece of parchment, the DA members signed it wouldn't have activated if they were under an unforgivable."

Narcissa stood up her eyes wide. "Merlin, she is right!"

Draco threw down his napkin now. "I will get them together. If one of them was cursed, we can figure it out."

Hermione sighed waving off Narcissa and Draco. "You two do that, the baby and I are going to eat these delicious eggs."

Author Notes:
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please feel free to tell me what you thought. Sorry, it took so long to get my muse back on this story. No, it is not on hiatus or abandoned. I just like to end up in hospital. You can follow my Instagram: CrystalJeanRed and if you see me posting fun pics of being stuck in hospital you know not to worry if there is not an update. I have Lupus and it is kicking my tush this year in fun and interesting ways. Bullocks to that.

I also have Twitter, Tumblr, an author page and a blog. Feel free to track me down and follow them all if you like. I won't mind in the least. I deeply enjoy meeting you all either here in reviews or on social media. This last week I even made a youtube channel, along wiht playlists for all the fics you can see old and new videos of Strawberry and Lil Red. :)

See you next update. Fair warning I think there are only a few left. I am trying to respond to reviews personally during physical therapy sessions to distract me from the misery that is physical therapy sessions. If you don't want me to send a reply you better say so or you might end up with one. Fair warning.
Cheers,
Cjean