AN: Firstly, I want to say a big thanks to all my readers, I really appreciate you taking the time to read and enjoy this fanfic.

Secondly, I want to apologise to those readers I do disappoint, if you've even made it this far to see this. This fanfiction was originally written in 2012 and I haven't edited it since so I'm aware the plotline probably has many holes and isn't always realistic and my writing style is very amateur. I do appreciate it's not fantastic and I mainly post this fanfic more from enjoyment of myself and the readers who are already following this story, so I apologise if you feel dissatisfied by the quality of this fanfic. But can I please ask that if you don't like this fanfiction don't read it, and if you feel the need to review, constructively criticise rather than post hate. Thank you.

Chester99, I understand that it is really rude to give out the password when she shares with Draco, particularly for privacy reasons, but for the sake of the situation it was given out, though the passwords at Hogwarts do get regularly changed, so her friends wouldn't have access for long. I hope this helps reassure you a little about the situation, because in reality I wouldn't be comfortable with giving passwords out either, so I understand how it can be a bit annoying when it happens in fanfics.

Okay, so this chapter is pretty big in the whole relationship and you can probably guess why already so…Read and review please!

Song suggestion: One love, Justin Bieber.

Chapter Twenty Seven: Birthday bites.

Hermione sat thinking back on her day while waiting for Malfoy to finish in the bathroom.

It hadn't been so bad. Through her classes Harry and Ron spoke more to her but it was strained because they kept eyeing her shirt collar which she had tugged up to cover her love bite. After school they had a small party in her room, just Harry, Ron, Ginny, Blaise and Pansy, Malfoy and herself. It didn't last long as they atmosphere was heavy with the glares Harry and Ron shot at Malfoy and the way Malfoy was overly protective of Hermione, Blaise and Pansy didn't help much as they were like exhibit A of what was going to happen eventually to Hermione. Then there was Ginny who was trying to help but really it was a failure. So her eighteenth birthday was pretty much the worst.

Though she got some really nice presents. Ginny got her some really nice perfume, Harry got her a special eighteenth key like most Muggles got for their eighteenth birthday, Ron and Lavender (though she couldn't make it) gave her some earrings. And though Neville and Luna couldn't make it she got a pretty blue plant that came with the note Helps keep the Umgubular Slashkilter away. While Blaise and Pansy-probably Pansy more-got her a nightie that she refused to take out of the box to show anyone and Blaise laughed at her crimson blush while Pansy winked and mouthed 'good luck'.

It was over by seven and everyone left barring Blaise who-as the Groom tomorrow-had to stay in their room due to tradition and was now camped out on the couch. She was to get up early in the morning to join Pansy and the rest of the Bridal party to get ready while the boys got ready here.

"I'm sorry." Malfoy's voice floated to her as he leaned against the bathroom door frame clad in only his boxers as usual for bed.

"For what?" She smiled at him and cleared her thoughts of her depressing birthday.

"With your friends…"

"Malfoy, its fine." She walked up to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, "It doesn't matter, this will all blow over. They'll understand soon enough."

"But it ruined your birthday." He sighed, "And it was your eighteenth as well."

"It didn't." She shrugged it off, "I got some really lovely presents." She shimmied her shoulders so her dress robes moved. He'd got her expensive deep green dress robes, "Was it on purpose you'd picked green?"

"Maybe." He smirked.

"Well, that was very bad of you, I'm a Gryffindor." She joked and giggled as he backed her up to the bed.

"So what did Pansy and Blaise get you?"

"None of your business."

"I'll just presume worse."

"It's just a nightie." She huffed.

"Ah." And he chuckled, "Will I ever see it?"

"Not in this lifetime."

"So did you get everything you wanted?"

"Mmm…" Mulling over the nightie idea. Glancing at its place at the bottom of one of her drawers she chewed her lip.

"Is everything okay?" He asked.

"Fine." She looked at him. The glamour he used in the day with everyone else didn't work when they were alone sometimes and she could tell that just by her being eighteen that it was taking its toll. If she didn't finish the Ritual by his eighteenth birthday he died and because she was now eighteen it automatically reflected on him.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm going for my bath." She forced herself to walk over to the drawer and discreetly pull out the nightie along with her knickers from the other drawer. Grabbing her dressing gown and slippers she rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

"Okay." She heard him say from the other side.

She wasn't going to allow him to suffer anymore.

Quickly-well as quick as you can in a luxurious bath-washed herself before pulling on her knickers and standing in front of the floor to ceiling length mirror with the black lace-so you could see underneath except where it was thicker so it covered her certain areas-nightie shaped so it would enhance her cleavage and slim her waist-not that she needed it-and the bottom only just covered the very tops of her thighs. It wouldn't hide much and it made her self-conscious but determined to do the right thing she slipped it on and splashed on the perfume Ginny had bought her with an afterthought. Shoving her dressing gown and slippers on she walked out.

Malfoy lay relaxing in the bed reading a book as she slowly walked around the bed to her side. She sighed, took a deep breath before shedding her dressing gown and slippers and kneeling on the bed beside him but he seemed too engrossed in his book to notice.

"Draco." She used his first name for the first time. He looked up at her and his eyes got that hungry look which Hermione decided was his Veela side coming out as she'd hoped.

"Hermione…" He whispered, placed his book on the bedside table without looking away from her before running his hands down her arms in wonder.

"Kiss me." She requested and leaned in. Suddenly his Veela side took complete control for once and she was clutched against him. His lips pressing into hers, her body straddling his thighs, as his hands roved over her and she held his head. He groaned and rolled her over so he was on top of her and slid his tongue in her mouth. Hermione moaned and he moved to kiss her neck.

"Hermione." He whimpered against her neck, sucking at the same spot as the love bite was.

"Draco…" She griped as she felt his teeth touching the area, fangs sharper than usual. She knew it was time and her body didn't tense it relaxed around his and she gripped his neck, so he wouldn't change his mind last minute, "Bite me." She cried when his teeth sliced her skin and a red glow erupted around them-not that they noticed, as tears spilled down her cheeks in pain but dried up quickly once his Veela venom was released. She felt gold pure pleasure shot through her and her eyes rolled back in her head.

Suddenly she was very aware of his body's reaction to all of this and she gasped. He sensed and heard her so he finished making his bite mark before licking the wound closed and kissing it once before looking up at her, the red glow dying. Her face was painted in shock and a tinge of fear and he knew they would go no further now. Carefully he rolled off her and she hugged her body into a curled position and turned her back to him.

"Hermione?" He reached out and touched her once he shook off his Veela impulses, she flinched and scooted away.

"I'm okay; I just…need to sleep."

"Okay…goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Draco." She murmured as he covered them both with the covers but kept his distance.

Stage one of the Veela Mating Ritual complete.