Draco’s POV
I frowned as I read and reread the short letter in my hands. It was short and did nothing to calm the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling… or rather we were feeling.
Pulling out a spare piece of parchment I began my reply.
I would very much like to get to know each other better, so you can ask me anything. No matter what time of the day or night.
Draco
My frown deepened as I reread my own words. It would do.
“Take this to Hermione, and wait for her to reply please?” I asked my owl Amity, who gave a soft hoot in response before taking flight. I watched in silence as Amity flew, slowly getting smaller and smaller.
“I take it she replied then?” I recognized the voice immediately and didn’t bother turning.
“Yes.” I muttered softly.
“Not what you were hoping for?” Blaise asked.
“I don’t know what I was hoping for, but for now it’ll do.” I responded as I turned to face him.
“One day.”
“Yeah… one day.” I sighed in longing.
Hermione’s POV
I frowned and turned towards the window as a tapping sound started. I gently pushed the window open and watched as a beautiful white owl landed on the ledge. It gave a soft hoot and held its leg out for me to untie the letter.
“Well aren’t you beautiful.” I spoke softly as I stroked the bird’s wing. It gave a content hoot in response before settling down next to me. I picked up an owl treat off my desk and gave it to the bird who gently nipped me in thanks.
I turned my attention to the letter and knew immediately who it was from when I saw the neat cursive scroll.
Draco
I scanned the short sentence as I walked back to my desk. Ask him anything… geez where did I even begin?
Did you always know you were a Veela? Can you tell me about what will happen to me? Also what’s your bird’s name? She’s very beautiful.
I release my lip with a hiss. Unknowingly I had been biting it, the last sentence about Veelas had caused me to bite down harder.
“Can you take this to Draco please?” The bird gave a soft hoot, allowing me to attach the letter before taking flight.
“Who are you sending letters to so late at night?” Ginny asked as she came to stand beside me. I hadn’t told her about the letter from Draco earlier.
“Draco. He sent me one earlier today and then another just before.”
“He’s not trying to hound you is he, I’ll hex him if he is.” She swore but I shook my head.
“No, just wanting to talk. Some form of contact while he’s giving me time.”
“Getting to know each other?” She asked.
“Yes in a way and asking him… questions.” I trailed off knowing I didn’t need to speak the words out loud for Ginny to understand.
“That’s nice of him.” She hinted and I nodded in response.
“He apologized…in the earlier letter.”
“Will you forgive him?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Yes.”
“Yes… I think I already forgive him but for right now I just can’t forget.”
“I think that’s reasonable given your past.” I made no comment and stayed silent as I watched out the window to the Black Lake.
“You know I was thinking earlier about what you said about Veela and not knowing as much as you thought. Have you thought of maybe talking to fleur? She is from a Veela family and would know a lot.” Ginny spoke and I frowned in thought.
“That’s… that’s not a bad idea actually. Do you think the headmaster would let me go to her? Or at the very least her come here to me?” I asked as I turned to her.
“Hermione, I think Dumbledore would do just about anything you asked for right about now.” She said with a small smile.
“I’ll go and see him first thing in the morning then, before breakfast.” I decided and I watched as she nodded in her agreement.
Next morning
“Professor, can I speak with you for a moment?” I asked as Professor Dumbledore walked down the corridor heading towards the great hall.
“Of course Miss Granger, what can I help you with?” He asked as he ushered me to walk beside him at a slower pace.
“Um… well you see, I’ve been thinking and I remembered Fleur Weasley is from a Veela family.”
“Yes Mrs Weasley is from a very long Veela heritage. You were wanting to know whether I would allow you to go and speak with her?” I blushed at how easy I was to read but nodded nonetheless.
“I’m afraid Miss Granger I can’t allow you to leave the castle, and I’m sure you can guess why.” He looked down at me with a quirked eyebrow and I nodded as my shoulders slumped.
“It is for the protection of everyone involved let me assure you Miss Granger; however I have no problems with letting the young Mrs Weasley into Hogwarts to speak with you. In fact I rather think it is a very good idea.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“Would you like me to send an OWL explaining the situation to Mrs Weasley?”
“Um, I’m not really sure to be honest Sir.” I fretted as I bit my lip as I thought about it. It would be better coming from Dumbledore.
“Yes… yes please Professor if you wouldn’t mind?” I asked as I looked up at the older wizard.
“Not at all Miss Granger. May I ask though how are you feeling?”
“Confused, angry, upset… though I don’t know which one of us is actually feeling what.”
“I suspect that would be normal to begin with. Professor Snape tells me Mr Malfoy is doing as well as can be expected given the distance. He’s regained his strength now that he’s found you, his mate. I don’t think I have to warn you Miss Granger of the consequences should you-“
“Reject him sir? No I’m fully aware.” I bite out as a silence falls over us.
“Miss Granger you do have a choice, you know that don’t you?” He asked gently and I sighed, turning to face the older man as we came to a stop outside the great hall.
“Yes but when it’s a choice between life and death I think you know which one I won’t be choosing Professor.”
“Yes I do. He will take very good care of you Miss Granger; you will never have to worry about that I can promise you. I will owl Fleur after breakfast and request her presence here by dinner tonight.” He promised and I nodded in response, sending him a grateful smile.
“Thank you Professor.” He nodded before entering the hall leaving me standing in the foyer alone.
I frowned as I read and reread the short letter in my hands. It was short and did nothing to calm the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling… or rather we were feeling.
Pulling out a spare piece of parchment I began my reply.
I would very much like to get to know each other better, so you can ask me anything. No matter what time of the day or night.
Draco
My frown deepened as I reread my own words. It would do.
“Take this to Hermione, and wait for her to reply please?” I asked my owl Amity, who gave a soft hoot in response before taking flight. I watched in silence as Amity flew, slowly getting smaller and smaller.
“I take it she replied then?” I recognized the voice immediately and didn’t bother turning.
“Yes.” I muttered softly.
“Not what you were hoping for?” Blaise asked.
“I don’t know what I was hoping for, but for now it’ll do.” I responded as I turned to face him.
“One day.”
“Yeah… one day.” I sighed in longing.
Hermione’s POV
I frowned and turned towards the window as a tapping sound started. I gently pushed the window open and watched as a beautiful white owl landed on the ledge. It gave a soft hoot and held its leg out for me to untie the letter.
“Well aren’t you beautiful.” I spoke softly as I stroked the bird’s wing. It gave a content hoot in response before settling down next to me. I picked up an owl treat off my desk and gave it to the bird who gently nipped me in thanks.
I turned my attention to the letter and knew immediately who it was from when I saw the neat cursive scroll.
Draco
I scanned the short sentence as I walked back to my desk. Ask him anything… geez where did I even begin?
Did you always know you were a Veela? Can you tell me about what will happen to me? Also what’s your bird’s name? She’s very beautiful.
I release my lip with a hiss. Unknowingly I had been biting it, the last sentence about Veelas had caused me to bite down harder.
“Can you take this to Draco please?” The bird gave a soft hoot, allowing me to attach the letter before taking flight.
“Who are you sending letters to so late at night?” Ginny asked as she came to stand beside me. I hadn’t told her about the letter from Draco earlier.
“Draco. He sent me one earlier today and then another just before.”
“He’s not trying to hound you is he, I’ll hex him if he is.” She swore but I shook my head.
“No, just wanting to talk. Some form of contact while he’s giving me time.”
“Getting to know each other?” She asked.
“Yes in a way and asking him… questions.” I trailed off knowing I didn’t need to speak the words out loud for Ginny to understand.
“That’s nice of him.” She hinted and I nodded in response.
“He apologized…in the earlier letter.”
“Will you forgive him?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Yes.”
“Yes… I think I already forgive him but for right now I just can’t forget.”
“I think that’s reasonable given your past.” I made no comment and stayed silent as I watched out the window to the Black Lake.
“You know I was thinking earlier about what you said about Veela and not knowing as much as you thought. Have you thought of maybe talking to fleur? She is from a Veela family and would know a lot.” Ginny spoke and I frowned in thought.
“That’s… that’s not a bad idea actually. Do you think the headmaster would let me go to her? Or at the very least her come here to me?” I asked as I turned to her.
“Hermione, I think Dumbledore would do just about anything you asked for right about now.” She said with a small smile.
“I’ll go and see him first thing in the morning then, before breakfast.” I decided and I watched as she nodded in her agreement.
Next morning
“Professor, can I speak with you for a moment?” I asked as Professor Dumbledore walked down the corridor heading towards the great hall.
“Of course Miss Granger, what can I help you with?” He asked as he ushered me to walk beside him at a slower pace.
“Um… well you see, I’ve been thinking and I remembered Fleur Weasley is from a Veela family.”
“Yes Mrs Weasley is from a very long Veela heritage. You were wanting to know whether I would allow you to go and speak with her?” I blushed at how easy I was to read but nodded nonetheless.
“I’m afraid Miss Granger I can’t allow you to leave the castle, and I’m sure you can guess why.” He looked down at me with a quirked eyebrow and I nodded as my shoulders slumped.
“It is for the protection of everyone involved let me assure you Miss Granger; however I have no problems with letting the young Mrs Weasley into Hogwarts to speak with you. In fact I rather think it is a very good idea.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“Would you like me to send an OWL explaining the situation to Mrs Weasley?”
“Um, I’m not really sure to be honest Sir.” I fretted as I bit my lip as I thought about it. It would be better coming from Dumbledore.
“Yes… yes please Professor if you wouldn’t mind?” I asked as I looked up at the older wizard.
“Not at all Miss Granger. May I ask though how are you feeling?”
“Confused, angry, upset… though I don’t know which one of us is actually feeling what.”
“I suspect that would be normal to begin with. Professor Snape tells me Mr Malfoy is doing as well as can be expected given the distance. He’s regained his strength now that he’s found you, his mate. I don’t think I have to warn you Miss Granger of the consequences should you-“
“Reject him sir? No I’m fully aware.” I bite out as a silence falls over us.
“Miss Granger you do have a choice, you know that don’t you?” He asked gently and I sighed, turning to face the older man as we came to a stop outside the great hall.
“Yes but when it’s a choice between life and death I think you know which one I won’t be choosing Professor.”
“Yes I do. He will take very good care of you Miss Granger; you will never have to worry about that I can promise you. I will owl Fleur after breakfast and request her presence here by dinner tonight.” He promised and I nodded in response, sending him a grateful smile.
“Thank you Professor.” He nodded before entering the hall leaving me standing in the foyer alone.