Not So Different (DraMione)

In which Draco is also a Veela (Hurt/Comfort)

Hermione lay curled up on the coach, her head resting in Draco's lap. He tangled in his hands in her hair and then slowly drew them out, the strands gently pulling on her scalp.

She watched his thin face sadly. His cheekbones stood out too much and there were dark bags under his eyes. She didn't know what was wrong and he wouldn't tell her. Maybe he just didn't know and was too proud to admit it. It had been getting worse lately and still seeing him push himself to do romantic gestures was touching but also a little painful. "Dinner was lovely. Thank you, Draco," Hermione murmured, nestling her head into his leg.

"It was no trouble," he answered.

She pried one eye open. "Draco, I know you are sick. I know it was an effort what you did and it was very sweet."

He grunted. "Fine, it was a little trouble. It was supposed to be a bit of a grand gesture, actually, to soften you up for a question I wanted to ask."

Hermione stilled.

"Can you- can you sit up for this?"

She sat up slowly and turned to face him. She adjusted the straps on her dress as she tried to study his face. "What is it?"

He pulled a box from his suit pocket but then it got caught and he had to shake his hand a little before it got loose. "Merlin, these suit pockets are useless," he muttered before clicking it open. There sat a ring with an emerald surrounded by diamonds.

Hermione waited. She hadn't been expecting it, but that didn't mean she didn't want it. In fact, now that she knew what he was about to say she was desperate for it. How could she suddenly want something so badly now that she hadn't even been thinking about before?

"I know it is a bit gaudy for you but it's heirloom and I figured I'd offer it but also tell you we could go ring shopping," Draco explained in a rush.

Hermione bit her lip and waited a little more.

Draco slowly lowered the ring box. "Unless... you don't want..."

Shaking her head, she placed her hands on his. "Draco, you haven't asked me anything yet."

Cheeks tingeing pink, Draco looked down. "Right. Er, well. I know we're young but..." -he glanced up almost shyly- "would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with me as my wife?"

Hermione covered her mouth with both hands and then nodded. She hadn't expected to get so emotional with just one question that she already expected but it seemed to pull at all her hopes for the future and all the love that she had for this silly man in front of her. That affection gushed out of her eyes and made her nose runny.

"Are you sure?" he asked, tilting his head to try to get a good look at her face.

Laughing through the tears, Hermione threw herself forward and hugged him hard. "Yes, I want to be your wife, Draco."

He grabbed her tight to him, as if afraid she would let go. "Are- are you sure? You won't regret it?"

It was such a strange, earnest question. It made dread clench her stomach. She pushed off of his chest and then tried to read his face. "What's going on? Are you dying?"

Shaking his head, Draco closed the ring box and put it back in his pocket. "No, but I do need to tell you something before you give me your final answer."

"Final answer?" Hermione asked, smiling. "I know you like that stupid muggle show, but this is not Jeopardy."

"I'm serious."

"Okay." Hermione let her smile drop and waited, the start of anxiety pulling at her stomach.

"I-" Draco looked several places before he finally faced her again. "I- I'm- I'maVeela."

"A what?" Hermione asked though she had a sneaking suspicion she knew what he had said.

"A Veela," He mumbled, looking down.

"And I'm your mate?" Hermione guessed.

He nodded.

"How long have you known?"

He glanced up at her this time. "The whole time we've been dating."

Hermione abruptly stood up and then paced around the room. Turning towards Draco, she asked angrily, "When were you going to tell me?"

"Now," he answered, unperturbed.

"That was always your game plan? After you proposed?" She clenched her fists.

"I wanted you to know that you loved me before you agreed to be my mate," Draco said as he adjusted on the sofa.

"But I don't!" Hermione nearly yelled at him, putting her hands on her hips. "If you are a Veela then you have been able to manipulate me with your stupid pheromones!"

His eyes drifting shut, he shook his head. "No."

"No, what?" she spat.

"No, I've been taking potions to hold off on the transformation." He gave her a wane smile.

Hermione let her hands fall to her sides. "When will you transform?" Hermione asked.

Shrugging, he leaned his head back on the coach. "When I stop taking the potions, I suspect."

"Will you stop being so weak and sick?" She asked more quietly, hopefully. She hated seeing him like this.

Not opening his eyes, he lifted his shoulders up once again. "I think so."

She marched over to him and shook his shoulders. "Why were you such an idiot? Whatever you are taking is killing you! Why didn't you just tell me?"

Draco finally opened his eyes and smirked. "You barely softened up to me this way. Do you think I had a chance if you knew from the beginning?"

She opened her mouth to argue but Draco held up a hand.

"You would have pitied me, definitely, which I hate the idea of. You would have been turned on for sure." Hermione made a noise of disbelief and he laughed. "I don't even need Veela pheromones to turn you on, Hermione." He patted the cushion next to him. "But those aren't love and I knew you would eventually know that too even if you were blinded at first. You've known too much true love to be fooled by something like that for long."

Slowly, cautiously, she sat next to him. She felt what he was saying was true. For how long had he known her so well?

"So," Draco said as he fished around in his pocket again. "I've got a question I want to ask." He used both hands to get the ring box out again and the shiny emerald glinted in the candlelight. "Would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with me as my wife and mate?"

Laughing, she leaned in to kiss him on the lips and then stuck her hand out.

He plucked up the ring and then paused.

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "What?"

Smirking, he looked up. "You haven't said anything yet."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, you idiot. I will be your wife and mate."

He barely got the ring onto her finger before he pulled her down on top of him and started kissing her. Pulling herself closer to him, she smiled against his lips and silently prayed in gratitude that somehow he had found a way for them to have a truly happy life together and that she didn't have to loose him. He was too caught up in the kissing to realize she had new tears of happiness running down her cheeks.

A/N: What is it about Veela stories that always makes me want to read them? Haha tried to get it out of my system by writing some myself. Just something I did quickly but still hope you enjoy :)