Veela Love

Finally it was September 1st to Draco delight and slight horror. He and Hermione had been sending owls over the past months but he really did not know what to expect.

Their letters had been friendly. They had talked about so many different topics. Draco thought to himself that if he hadn't already wanted to be with her, he definitely would now. Hermione was intelligent and kind. She made sure to cover every topic they wrote about thoroughly. She never made him feel stupid when he asked her about muggle things. So Draco was excited to see her but nervous all the same. He didn’t know how to act around her now that they both knew more about each other.

Draco dressed slowly that morning. He made sure to put on his new robes that allowed for his wings to sprout without ripping his clothing. He wore a white button down with black slacks. His outer robes were also black.

He knew that there was a high chance that he would transform again when he saw her. He had even gone as far as to tell her that they needed to meet in a compartment for it to happen. That way he could put them away and not change in front of the entire school.

Narcissa, still being on house arrest, was unable to accompany her son to the platform. She saw him off at the floo with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He assured her that the school year would go well and that he would write. With that he flooed into Diagon Alley. From there he went to the nearest aparation point and spun on the spot.

As he popped into existence in front of the Hogwarts express, his nerves started to get to him. He moved swiftly to the train and boarded. Once he found a compartment, he stowed his bag overhead, sitting quickly and searching out of the window.

The plan was for him to board first, hopefully before she even arrived at the platform. Once she got there, she would board and head to his compartment immediately. They both thought it best to get the transformation over with before too many others arrived.

So far the plan was working. He had not smelled or sensed her when he arrived. After a few moments, he knew when she had just gotten there. He stood quickly and pulled the shade down on the window, just in case. If he caught a glimpse of her before she reached him, who knew what would happen.

He began to pace. He could feel her presence. He knew where she was in relation to himself. He could sense as she began moving closer to him. His heart rate started to pick up.

What do I say to her? What am I supposed to do when I see here? Is it too much to hug her? Should I shake her hand? Maybe I shouldn’t touch her at all. What if the letters were all fake and she was just being nice? What if she hates- his thoughts cut off as the door slid open. His pacing halted as he continued to look away from the door, scared.

As she stood in the doorway, she thought maybe she should say something. She thought that he probably knew it was her. Everything she had been reading had said the Veela can tell where their mate is, basically at all times. She knew because they hadn’t sealed a bond that it was harder for him but he still could. But the thought of him being able to sense her sent a shiver down her spine, not in fear. He stood facing away from her. She was able to take a look at him without him noticing. She had always found him rather attractive physically. The problem had always been his attitude and personality. Now knowing that it was all an act made her look at him in a different light. Maybe he isn’t just physically attractive? Maybe he is just attractive now that he can be himself? She thought to herself as she started to close the door.

Once the door had fully closed he turned slowly to see Hermione standing there. She was as beautiful as he remembered and just as nervous as he was feeling. She was dressed in a v neck jumper in deep blue and muggle jeans that hugged her curves.

His eyes roamed her body before they snapped to hers just like that day in the courtroom. Her breath caught in her throat. Suddenly his wings sprout from his back. He flinched. She gasped.

”I’m sor-”

”They are beau-“

They both stopped mid sentence, staring at each other.

“I’m sorry.” Draco blurted out. “I thought this would happen. It has been so long since I last saw you. I can’t really control it yet. I think after I see you more often it will stop happening every time. I’m sorry. I just- I’m sorry.”

Hermione blinked slowly as if his dialogue broke her from a trance.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. From what I have read and learned it seems a perfectly natural reaction. I was going to say that they are beautiful.” Hermione said to him, never breaking eye contact.

Draco huffed a laugh, “I look like an oversized chicken. Blaise says I look scary. I don’t want to be scared of me. I promise that I will try to control it better.”

Hermione blushed and smiled softly at him, “Fleur told me that most people see your Veela form as intimidating but your mate will not. In fact I told her I thought you looked beautiful during your first transformation and she told me that it was a sign that I was truly your mate.”

Draco blushed and joked, “You have terrible taste obviously. I mean you don’t have the best track record when it comes to thinking beasts are beautiful.”

”That is not true,” she said indignantly. “I will have you know I have great taste.” Hermione lifted her nose in the air with a huff.

”Ha!” Draco started to count on his fingers, “Crookshanks, Buckbeak, all of the elves you have ever seen, Hagrid's giant brother…. Lockhart”

”Okay fine! I see the point you are trying to make. And for the record, I don’t think ALL house elves are cute.” A little quieter she said, “And you aren’t just beautiful with your wings.”

He blushed but pretended not to hear her. His heart was soaring at that admission but he didn’t want to run her away so instead he said, “I think I might can put them away now. I have only done this once though.“ Draco closed his eyes and imagined his wings retracting. When he opened his eyes, his wings were gone.

“There we go.” He said to himself.

“Hmm, maybe I should go out and then come back in and see if you have a reaction this time?” Hermione asked him with a quirk of her head.

Draco nodded, “That’s a great idea.”

Hermione turned and stepped out of the compartment, closing the door. After a minute she reopened the door and entered.

Draco could feel the urge to transform but he held it at bay.

“I can feel myself wanting to change but I am able to stop it. I do think that maybe we should make a routine until the urge goes away.” He looked at her with a question in his eyes as they sat down across from each other.

She nodded, “That’s a good idea. We can’t have you changing in front of the entire great hall at breakfast tomorrow. How about we meet every morning before breakfast so that you can get it under control?”

“Yeah, I think that could work. Again, I am sorry I am making you deal with all of this.” Draco said to her.

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Draco, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like I won’t be up already. Plus I think McGonagall has the eighth years in a separate dorm this year.”

Draco was not too surprised by this. He knew that the school would probably make some sort of accommodations for them.

“Well that will be helpful.” He said. “So you won’t be staying in the head girl dorm?” He didn’t see her head girl pin but he felt certain that she would get it.

Hermione shook her head, “Actually, I turned it down. I didn’t think it was fair to the seventh year girls. Plus, I don’t want the responsibility. Though I have only told you that.”

Draco opened his mouth to say something, what, he didn’t know. He was saved by the door opening and Theo waltzing in with Harry behind him.

“Oi! Lovebirds. Are you done in here? Can we join you?” Theo exclaimed plopping down next to Hermione without waiting for a response. Draco stared daggers at him. This left Harry either sitting next to Theo or Draco. If he sat with Theo, Harry thought Hermione might think he was trying to be rude to Malfoy.

”Hey Hermione,” He said as he sat down next to the Veela. Harry could see the man staring hard at Theo. He looked as if he wanted to rip his head off for sitting next to Hermione. Harry just rolled his eyes, “Hey Malfoy.”

Draco’s eyes snapped to Harry who was looking at him already. “Hey Potter. How was your summer?” Draco didn’t actually care how his summer was but he knew that Hermione would appreciate the efforts and that is what mattered.

Harry responded, “Yeah, it was alright. How about you mate?”

Draco understood. A mutual agreement had just been made. They would try, for Hermione.

Draco nodded, “Busy but nice.”

Theo watched this interaction seeing both men putting forth the effort. Hermione must have talked to Harry about trying al;ready. Theo turned to Hermione and asked, “And what about you Granger? How was your summer?”

She seemed shocked by everything that had happened since the guys had gotten there. Theo sitting next to her, Draco and Harry getting along, Theo asking after her summer. She shook her head slightly and turned to look at Theo, “It was good. I spent it at Grimmauld Place with Harry. He got the house after Sirius died. We have been renovating it slowly. Ron visited some and we spent Sundays at the Burrow. It was a good summer. What about you?”

”Well my dad was sentenced to Azkaban for life so it was the best summer I have ever had. I stayed at the Manor with Draco. I have lived there since I was about 9 so it was pretty similar to every summer. I am trying to decide what to do with the Nott estate. I want to burn it but aunt Cissa says that I should at least try to profit off of the contents before I do. Then I can burn the whole thing down. Maybe Daphne and I will build a cottage where it used to be…” He trailed off in thought.

“Oh well, that’s nice…” Hermione didn’t really know if it was nice but he seemed happy so she went with it.

Theo nodded, “Like I said, best summer I have ever had, knowing he is locked away forever.”

Harry broke the silence. “I think I just saw Luna and Ginny pass.” He stood quickly and opened the door. Poking his head out he said, “Hey Luna, Gin, sit with us?” Before the girls got there he heard Theo tell Draco, “Blaise is going to be so jealous.”

Odd, Harry thought, Why would Zabini be jealous?

The girls came in and took a seat. Ginny sat next to Theo and Luna sat next to Harry.

Things between Ginny and Harry had been confusing for a while. Harry thought that Ginny liked him and that he liked her but he found out he didn’t really see her in a romantic way. Ginny confessed after they had kissed that she thought of him too much as a brother for anything more to happen with them. They both agreed to remain close friends.

Theo looked like the cat that got the cream as Ginny sat next to him. Harry didn’t know why, Theo was known to be dating Daphne Greengrass for the past 3 years.

“So, Ginevra, tell me about your summer.” Theo said with a slow smile.

Ginny eyed him carefully, “Well, Theodore, I enjoyed it. I flew a lot. What about you?”

Theo’s grin grew wider, “Oh please do call me Theo, and it was quite lovely.”

Ginny smiled back, “Call me Ginny. I insist.”

Hermione broke their staring contest by asking Luna, “How was your summer?”

Luna smiles airily, “Adventurous. Dad and I went hunting for more crumpled-horn snorkacks, but we only found fwooper feathers and a nest of pixies. Of course dad was not discouraged. He says he will continue the hunt and owl me his findings.” She sighed and looked at Draco, “I see you finally have transformed into your full self. Interesting, I always thought she was going to be yours.” Turning to Hermione she continued, “Are you happy with the truth?”

Everyone was stunned silent for a moment.

Draco began, “Luna, how did you -”

”know about all of that?” Hermione finished when he didn’t.

“Oh it was quite clear to me in my first year. I saw the line from Draco to you during my sorting. I just knew that you’d find each other. Draco always did get terribly sick after hurting you. I saw you retching once behind the bleachers in my first year. Hermione was crying and going towards Hagrid’s hut. He always does know what to say…” she trailed off expectantly.

“Oh,” Hermione said looking from Luna to Draco, “Uh yes, Hagrid was very helpful.”

“Well I knew that he had found his true self because his aura has changed. So has yours, Hermione. They look like they would blend much better together now.” Luna then turned to Harry, who had been staring at her. “Your aura is looking healthier. Now seems like it will be the right time.”

Harry stuttered out, “R- right time for what?”

”Oh Harry, you know what, or you will when it is time.” She smiled at him, pulled out her Quibbler, and began to hum to herself as she read.

After that the group had a few visitors. Daphne looking for Theo, Blaise looking for Draco, Pansy looking for Neville but saying she was looking for Blaise, and Ron looking for Harry. And so in the end, the compartment contained Draco, Hermione, Theo, Harry, Ginny, Luna, Daphne, Blaise, Pansy, and Ron.

It was crowded but nice. The ride to Hogwarts was filled with laughter and stories, Hermione was looking forward to the new school year. She was also looking forward to their new group of friends that seemed to all be getting along. Once in a while she could feel Draco’s eyes on her and she would look at him. They would be stuck staring at one another until one of their friends called their attention away.

Hermione thought that this year was already off to a good start.