Once upon a Veela.

Willing?

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Hearing a loud thud from the forceful closing of the door to the room next to hers broke Hermione out of her unsettled state. Her heart hammered against her chest, while her throat felt dry. Her body was feverishly hot, yet she was shivering like she was standing in freezing water. She felt harsh bites of cold on her flesh and the uncomfortable warmth growing inside herself.

Hermione ignored it all, however. Tried to, at least, to the best of her abilities. She scooted and got down the bed. Her stomach's pain was bearable at the moment, but not mild enough to slip her mind.

Bearing it all, she stood straight.

She walked out of her room and came to a standstill outside the one inside which the blond Veela had locked himself.

It wouldn't be wrong to say she felt furious at Draco for leaving her without an explanation. He ran away from the problem that they both should tackle together.

Hermione knocked on the door, but he didn't answer. She called out to him. No answer. When she tried to open the door, it didn't budge, firmly locked with a spell.

But who is Hermione Granger again?

The brightest witch of her age didn't delay in getting her wand, and without chanting the incantation out loud, a click sounded after an elegant flick of her wand.

Hermione stormed inside Draco's room.

"Draco! Yo-"

"Get out." His calm, emotionless voice sent unpleasant chills down her spine. A frown formed on her face.

"What do you mean? Draco, we need to talk. "

"No. What we need to do is stay away from each other." It pained Draco to see the hurt expression on his mate's face. Every cell in his body scolded him for making her upset. But he had to do this.

He wasn't in control of himself. And someone weak like him, who was a slave to his selfish desires, posed a threat to Hermione. He would do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant to stay away from her for however long necessary.

Hermione felt her eyes burn, but she stopped those treacherous, salty tears from falling. Blinking rapidly, she sniffled.

"What is wrong? Why are you being like this?" asked Hermione, her voice hoarse.

Draco's heightened senses were aware of her grief, yet he did not make any attempts of consoling her. His mate's sweet, sensual scent was drugging him and he was struggling to keep a hold on himself.

He growled out through clenched teeth, "Get out of here, Granger. I will not repeat myself."

Hermione's lips quivered at his harsh tone. Looking at his tense back and cold, detached behavior, she felt a great sense of loss.

She smiled coldly, "I thought you had changed for the better. How foolish of me."

Draco's fangs pressed against his lips. He felt torn when he heard Hermione speak so resentfully.

"You promised you would treat me well. Your bogus promises and commitments are worth not even a grain of sand. You are a coward and a cheat Malfoy." Hermione's vehement tone reeked with bitterness.

Draco felt as if his chest ripped apart, and parts of his broken heart fell out. He had tears of his own, swimming in the pools of his twin vessels. They did not rain down, however. He made sure of that.

Hermione spoke out her mind, unrestrained.

"You were going to mark me, right? Why did you stop? Am I not good enough for you? Has the might Draco Malfoy finally lost interest in his latest toy?"

Draco snapped. The patience of the Veela inside of him ran thin.

With a speed that made him almost invisible to the naked eye, he moved from where he was standing to in front of Hermione.

It startled Hermione when she saw him so near her in the blink of an eye. But she was more shocked to see his menacing fangs bared out, his messy hair and disheveled appearance. He was pale like a ghost under moonlight and his coin like orbs had changed color, glowing red with desire and lust.

Shivers wracked her fragile form when Draco abruptly circled his arms around her petite waist, pulling her so close to him that their chests touched.

Draco's face was so near hers that their nose tips grazed against each other. It was hard, but she summoned all her will-power to not break his piercing gaze. She stared back at him with flames dancing in her wood-colored eyes.

His breath was warm, but he spoke coldly, "Do you want me to mark you now, Granger? You're taking it too lightly, it seems. I could bite my teeth into your delicious skin and make you mine forever, right now. Our souls would bind, not only till the end of our lives, but they'll stay connected even after our deaths. Are you ready for a marriage like commitment, except there's no escape from this one?"

Hermione gulped, and her gaze dropped. Was she ready? She asked herself. Everything had been well until now. She enjoyed his presence like no other's. Her feelings were that of fondness, but that wasn't enough. Since the disclosure of his secret, she knew she was tied to him for life. But now, it seems, it was deeper than that.

She had done research, poured over countless books she could find, and from experience she could say that the bond was only there to bring two soul mates together. It did not force feelings, if there were none to begin with.

Draco had even confessed that in their early years somewhere in all his hatred and jealousy there was a part of him that was attracted towards her.

Though the bond took drastic measures to ensure the couple don't part ways.

But what could she say for herself?

Love was a short, four-letter word, but its meaning was deep like the great oceans, and its power so strong like giant tides that could knock into you anytime, and dramatically change your life.

It could be sweeter than honey, or it could be most unpleasant, creating unrepairable cracks in a relationship.

Hermione had always thought that genuine love was elusive. Attraction lasted temporarily, and feelings were fleeting and treacherous. When a moment's hate and anger could turn into love and tenderness, who knows?

Hermione contemplated over her answer in a panicky room inside her mind. Draco reticently waited a while, roaming his gaze over her defined features.

Draco controlled himself in such proximity with her with great difficulty. He closed his eyes to hide his afflicted emotions and loosened his tight hold.

"Did you really think I would take such a drastic step without asking for your consent?," he exhaled, his gravelly voice low and grieving.

"You don't know how hard it is to control myself right now Hermione," Hermione could feel that his guard was still up, but he was letting his gentleness slip through the cracks.

"Your hesitation is clear as a crystal to me. You don't have to say anything. Leave me for now. I'll come and find you when I have fixed myself." He let go of her and was about to turn when a hand gripped his shoulder, making him pause.

"Stop."

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