Once upon a Veela.

Let you go? Never!

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥 

~ 𝕌𝕟𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕟

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Parting from Blaise at a turn, the Veela and his mate made their way towards their quarters. Finally untangling herself from Draco, Hermione had put some distance between them causing the blonde's expression to darken. The atmosphere around them grew heavy with the gloom and despair oozing from the mighty heir of the Malfoy's. Hermione ignored it.

She had her thoughts pestering her. Even when she had newly stepped into the wizarding world and started a life here, entirely different from what she had growing up, she hadn't been as nervous as she felt now. These feelings were welling inside of her, but they were too unfamiliar to her. It wasn't like this when she had a crush on Ron. 'What makes him so different?'

She snuck a glance at Draco, who was walking with drooped shoulders, glaring at the marble floor with an adorable pout on his face. She cooed internally as her heart fluttered faster than a butterfly's wings at this sight before remembering that she was supposed to be mad at him.

It took a lot of mental power and self chidings to stop her hands from moving and squishing his cheeks. She recalled the kiss. Not her first, but it was, without doubt, the best one. Even the memory of it was enough to make warmth travel up her chest, up her neck, and to her cheeks, painting them a faint red. Or maybe pink. The lights in the corridors were too dim, and with her head bending downwards, it wasn't easy to see through the curtain of her chocolate curls.

Draco did not know he was glaring at the ground. His eyes were there, but the picture in his mind was of that blond bug.

' Wait. I am also blond. His hands unconsciously went up to head and smoothed his well-kept hair, which had gotten messy from the long day out in the winds. Mine is surely better. I'll ask Hermione, she will certainly agree with me. Speaking of... '

He turned to look at the girl walking in equal silence as him. Her beautiful face was hidden behind the bronze screen of her hair. His fingers itched to sweep her locks behind her ear and take her small face in the palm of his hands. He could think of nothing but kissing those soft, luscious lips of hers which were the perfect shade of red which showed a hint of pink whenever she bit it, a habit which caused his restraint to falter every time he caught her doing it. Berating himself he forced his heart to stop skipping. His chest pained as he saw the distance between them. He knew her detached behavior was the result of his actions tonight. But he couldn't help himself. There is only so much control that he can have on himself. His jealousy and possessiveness haven't even come out fully, yet they're already causing trouble between them. He despised himself for not keeping a check on his rash emotions and giving in to his fury.

Both of them came out from their turbulent thoughts when they realized they had arrived at the entrance. Draco heard her mutter out the password in a low tone and let her move forward to unlock the door. The two entered the sitting room of their living quarters, the lights blinking on at the feel of their presence. Not knowing what to say they remained in a paused position, a weird tension surrounding them.

"Goodnight," and with these parting words Hermione hoped to dissipate the awkward atmosphere and head towards her room. Her mate had different ideas.

Draco heard her before he acted in a moment of panic. Stretching his long arm, he caught her wrist. The fire in the furnace crackled, proving warmth to the room, which had previously laid cold with the absence of life. Hermione's heart thumped wildly against her chest, a knot of nerves tied in her stomach. She wondered if he could hear the sound from her chest, but only if she knew that his was equally as loud and erratic as hers, if not more.

"Hermione," his voice was deep and raspy, heavy with conflicting emotions weighing down on the both of them. They had to lighten this otherwise they won't be able to carry the burden for long. Draco took a deep breath.

"I will not apologize for clashing with Ev-Ivan," he cleared his throat," nor can I promise that this would be the last time. But I do want to make my reasons and intentions clear to you. Then you judge me, I won't hold your decisions against you." Hermione's chest squeezed with pain. 'Did he think I had started despising him?'

"I have always been surrounded by fake friends, imaginary foes, materialistic benefits and unreal illusions of perfection and pride. When first I learnt of the 'family secret' I felt as if the ground had moved from below my feet and that I was falling deeper into a hole of darkness, despair and a hopeless, unpredictable future. It wasn't easy imagining myself falling in love at this age, when the war has barely been over for a few months, the horrible memories still fresh in the mind. What I hoped to be an opportunity to redeem myself turned into a blind hunt for a person I knew nothing about but had to spend the rest of my life with. The feeling which arose within me when I first fell the mate bond pulling me towards you, was extreme confusion. I had no idea if it was a sick joke played by fate or something else. I knew even if I groveled on my knees it would barely be enough to extract your forgiveness, then how? How could I expect you to return even a fraction of the love which wells within me every time I even think about you. Spending these last few months with you, everyday I fell deeper for you. My feelings for you may have originated from the bond but they were nurtured and grown from our moments together. I can lose anything if it means having you in my life forever. I detest the thought of you with someone other than me. I hate that you could ever be held in the arms of another man. I know this jealousy and possessiveness is irrational, but I am trying to control them to the best of my abilities. I fear losing you because I don't think I can ever let you go."

Hermione felt a lone tear drop from her eyes and slide down her cheeks to her chin before dripping down, leaving a patch of salty moisture on her collar.

She abruptly turned around and attacked the blond boy with a spontaneous hug. Draco felt his eyes widen when he felt her short arms encircle his waist and her head snuggle deeper in his chest.

"Then don't. Hold me as tightly as you can. Embrace me whenever you want. Love me as much as you can, and in return, I'll do the same. Don't leave me, ever, because I won't let you go either."

Draco finally registered her words, and an inexplicable heat coursed through the expanse of his chest. He slowly raised his limp arms from his side and trapped the small waist of the girl within them, pulling her closer to him, as close as he can. Lowering his head, he rested it in the crook of her shoulders. His warm breath grazed Hermione's ears, the closeness causing goosebumps to rise on her body and a pleasant tickling in her stomach. Her knees would have buckled had it not been for his strong and secure hold.

"No worries, my darling otter. Letting you go? Never. I won't ever leave you now, even if you ask me to."

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An otter symbolizes playfulness, life, creativity, transition, agility, protection, adaptation, curiosity, spontaneity, imagination, wisdom, fearlessness, acceptance, and enjoyment.

I wonder what Hermione's reaction to the nickname should be...

Any ideas? Comment, and let me know.