A/N: Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. It was a difficult week for my family.

Sorry for the delay in this, I hope it's to everyone's liking as it's a bit different from how I've ended my other stories. More on that at the end (no spoilers).

Anyway, I still don't own them or anything you may recognize.

*CLM**CLM*

"Hermione."

"I was right."

The pair stood staring at each other for a moment before Hermione stepped back through the wards. This time the feelings that washed over them were warmth and happiness. Hermione immediately recognized her former classmate and after her experiences over the past few weeks, coupled with the dream on Sunday, she suspected why Draco had saved her on that fateful night.

"This is why you left years ago." Hermione motioned to the wings that were glinting in the sun that filtered through the canopy of trees. The wizard gave a sheepish nod and shrugged.

"You deserved better than some Death Eater. And I wasn't even good at that, I was probably the worst one ever." He hoped and dreaded she would agree with him and leave on her own accord. He might actually die then. His heart felt as if it was about to beat out of his chest. Emotionally it already belonged to the witch, if he were to die, she might as well have the physical one as well. Hermione just tutted at him.

"Really Draco? You saved me and made sure Dobby got us all out of the Manor safely. You are the reason I'm still alive. I always knew you had done something but I could never really remember what. I just knew you couldn't be sent away. That nagging feeling in my gut was why my testimony was so forceful. And now I realize it's much more than just me saving you because you saved us. Isn't it?" Hermione had taken a few more steps and was almost within arm's reach of the wizard. He hadn't moved back or forward and seemed to be frozen in place.

It was then Draco realized how close they were standing. He took two long steps backward and lifted his hands to stop the witches from her forward progress. "Please Hermione, I'm on the edge of containing my instincts. Right now there is enough distance where I can still think clearly. If you are much closer I can't promise I won't just take you. You deserve the option."

Hermione looked at the wizard she thought she knew and nodded. "You want to give me the option to be loved unconditionally." She edged forward just slightly while keeping the wizard focused on her eyes. "You want to give me the option to be protected and safe for the rest of my life." She again edged forward, but this time a bit further. Draco's eyes had shuddered closed as she spoke in a calm voice. "You want to give me the world." Draco just nodded.

"Yes, I want to give you everything." Draco's eyes remained shut in worry over what the witch's response would be.

"You will give me whatever I desire and all that I desire is you." Draco inhaled deeply at her final statement and it was then he breathed in her scent. His eyes flew open to find the witch directly in front of him. Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around in his neck and pulled his head down to her level. She slanted her lips on his and with a growl the wizard wrapped his arms around the witch, pulling her against him. His hands cupped her bottom and lifted her. She automatically wrapped her legs around his waist. The tension the pair had felt worked its way out in the their first kiss.

Hermione sighed into his mouth as he pulled back. The wizard blinked a few times and was surprised at how easily he regained his composure. "Are you sure Hermione? If you give me much more I'll not be able to let you go." The witch nodded and nuzzled his neck. "I think we should continue our talk before we go any further." With a resigned sign Hermione nodded again, but did not remove herself from her position of being wrapped around the wizard. Draco slid down a tree and shifted Hermione in order to drape her legs across his lap.

"Fine we can talk. Explain to me what happened that night. I have never been able to understand exactly what happened. After the dream I remember what happened but you didn't move or speak or have your wand." Hermione had been extremely curious at just how Draco had been able to protect her and summon Dobby without anyone else noticing his actions.

"At the time I didn't understand it either. I hadn't transformed yet. Veelas mature more slowly than your normal wizard; however, it wasn't until after the war when I transformed for the first time. But, when Bella started something inside me snapped. Or maybe a better description would be awoke. Apparently my veela had always been there and knew what you would be for us. Probably why I was always such a prat. I wasn't as bad to the other muggleborns you know. I wanted to be near you."

Hermione let out a laugh. "Men, magical or not all behave the same when they are young and face a girl they fancy." Draco looked a bit confused before realizing what Hermione just did.

"Are you, did you…I'm not at all like Weasley. I, at least, had been brought up to believe I was better. He's just…" Draco couldn't continue as a small finger landed on his lips and he looked down to see Hermione had repositioned herself and was now straddling him in order to look him in the eyes.

"Shhh, I'm not saying that, necessarily. It's just all boys don't know how to react emotionally so they lash out in one form or another. But, I apologize for inferring you were like Ronald. Now can we talk about the important bit of information?" Hermione began to remove her finger but Draco couldn't allow that to happen. She was voluntarily touching his lips again. While gently holding her wrist, Draco recreated the dream and kissed her fingertip. The whimper that left the witch's throat brought a smirk to the wizard's mouth.

"The important bit, huh? We can do that here or I can take you to the house. Your call." Hermione's gaze was a bit unfocused as she watched his mouth forming the words. "Hermione?" Her name finally registered and she shook herself to clear her mind.

"House? Do you live in the clearing? I didn't see a house but suspect the clearing doesn't really look like what I've seen through the boundary. I've been comparing…". This time Draco placed his finger on the witch's lips.

"Hermione, I will happily tell you everything and then love to hear all about what you've seen, what you suspect and why you're really here, but I think we would be much more comfortable in the house. Agree?" The witch nodded. "Do you trust me enough to apparate through the wards? I can drop them but they are honestly a pain to put back up."

Hermione didn't respond, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and felt the tug as the pair spun away.

*CLM**CLM*

They landed in an elegant but simple sitting room. Hermione noticed how warm and comforting the room felt as Draco led her to a sofa. After settling Hermione on one side, Draco sat at the other end and turned himself so they were facing each other. He reached for her hand, but instead the witch used his grasp to pull herself forward and move closer to him again.

"We were too far apart." Hermione twisted and wiggled until his arm was draped across her shoulders and her head rested against his body. He let out a shuddering breath as her presence seeped into mind and soul. Draco tried to come up with the words to explain but Hermione beat him. "I think I understand. What little information has been documented about veelas is focused on their protection of their mate. A veela will do anything for the betterment of their mate. I think, what hasn't been as well documented, are the feelings of the mates. I've always felt something was missing."

Hermione lifted her head and gazed at the grey eyes focused on her. "I've never felt attracted to anyone. As a child I refused to admit my attraction to you. You know? You were this annoying prat who treated everyone like dirt on his shoe." Draco shuddered at remembering how he treated people as a young boy. "But that was the result of how you were raised. Over the years I've been in contact with people who knew you. Not that I've asked about you, but they all said the same thing, the Malfoy family thought themselves the top. So how you acted wasn't surprising."

"I do apologize for all that. I only really understood how my actions would impact me after my father explained what was happening. This didn't happen until his return from Azkaban. Not that I didn't understand how wrong my childhood beliefs had been but he reinforced it. The odds of us all escaping the war with our lives were slim and even if we did make it through the war, we stood no chance for escaping Azkaban. We were all just trying to survive at that point." Hermione lifted her face and brushed her lips across his cheek.

"We were all in the same boat, regardless of our side of the battle. In the end, had Riddle won, he would have ended up destroying our world." The couple sat quietly for a few minutes before Hermione continued. "I've never felt as complete as I do now. We have plenty to talk about everything but would it be alright to just enjoy this moment?" Not bothering to respond, Draco wrapped his arms around the witch and turned them so they were laying on the couch.

*CLM**CLM*

Hermione had no idea how long they had laid wrapped in each other's arms. Time seemed to lack meaning and it was only after hearing the sounds of nature start to shift she realized how much time had elapsed. During her research of magical creatures she read about the illusive veela. As with school, she wanted to be prepared for any eventuality and spent months reading about all sorts of creatures in case she encountered them. It was during that time she wished her 'Care for Magical Creatures' class had been taught by someone who could teach instead of just a nature lover.

She found there was very little on veelas that gave any true insight into the actual creature. Based on what she could find in books and her knowledge from Fleur, Hermione had made a few assumptions about veelas. Her interaction with Draco so far had only confirmed and increased Hermione's relatively confident thoughts veela mating. Even without having mated, she could sense how content her veela was. Yes, she was possessive of him and it was just more proof of their connection. It was the next part that would be a bit more tricky and why she snuggled a little deeper into his arms.

"Draco, I need to go back to my hotel and get my things." Draco growled and held the witch a little tighter, not willing to allow her to leave. "I will come back right away. I can portkey back to the boundary and meet you there. If I don't go back it will be obvious and that will eventually bring someone to look for me. We aren't ready for that level of scrutiny yet."

Draco was not sure what he was wanted to do. He completely believed she would return but he wasn't sure if he could let her go. He had found a level of happiness he had never felt before. "Not sure I can let you go yet."

Hermione had suspected that would be the case and nodded into his arms. "How about you come with me and we stay at the hotel tonight. Tomorrow I'll check out, return my car and we can come back here. As far as the muggle world is concerned nothing untoward happened and the magical world only needs to hear from me every so often."

The pair agreed and Draco prepared for his first trip to the civilized world in years. Before she pulled out her wand and portkey, they decided Draco would disillusion himself once they arrived at the car and he would remain hidden until they were safely ensconced in her room.

*CLM**CLM*

It didn't take long for the couple to settle themselves in the room. Hermione quickly packed her things and only left what she would need that night and the next day. Once she was done puttering about the room, they watched each other with a bit of trepidation, mainly due to the newness of it all. At the same time, they found themselves incredibly comfortable in the presences of the other. Before either realized it, they were sleepy and ready for bed. Hermione grabbed Draco pulling him toward the bed.

"I always sleep on the right side so you get the left side." Hermione pushed him down and ran to the other side of the bed and jumped in herself. Draco was a bit stunned but pleased at how non-pulsed she was. He prayed it would continue. Since this was the first time they had slept together, it took a bit of time for the pair to find a comfortable position but soon enough both were in a deep sleep.

As a veela, Draco didn't need the eight hours Hermione would require, but while the witch slept Draco was able to fully immerse himself in her emotions. He was able to sense just how happy, content, comfortable, relaxed and at ease Hermione was. He really couldn't name all the positive emotions that were rolling off of her but the closeness was giving him unparalleled access to what she was feeling. He didn't think he could let her go again. As he began to worry about what the next day and days after that would bring, he held her a little closer. His anxiety was pushing at Hermione's happiness and that was what woke the witch from a very pleasant dream involving the worried wizard holding her, some whipped cream and strawberries.

"If you don't stop worrying I'm never going to get a full night's sleep again." Draco quickly looked into Hermione's eyes and noticed no anger at having been pulled from her sleep. "I think it's time we talked about a few things." Hermione wiggled and shifted, since Draco wouldn't let her go, until they were both seated. She was now curled on his lap again. She sat quietly waiting for Draco, she was curious if his anxiety was related to their eventual mating or if it was something else. Draco let out a little grunt.

"From your silence I assume you want me to start. We Slytherins have a tendency to hold things close to the chest." It wasn't that he didn't want to talk or tell her everything, but he just didn't know where to start. "You've already figured out why I left. And while it may have not be the most courageous method, the journals I've read all told me that eventually our magic would pull us together. Deep down I had hoped enough time would have passed for my family's part of the war to fade. We weren't good people and while we may have been forced, we still did horrible things. Things I wish I could erase but know I can't. Your soul is light and I couldn't bring myself to sully it."

He paused in his ramblings, it wasn't enough to tell her why he left, she had to understand why he didn't leave when she arrived three week ago. "On that first Monday morning, when you dreamed of us for the first time, I could have tried to run again. But I knew it wouldn't work. I didn't know why you were here or how you had found me. I couldn't run, I literally couldn't do it. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come back the next day. I worry I would have followed and done the one thing I swore I wouldn't do to you. I always wanted to give you the option. And now I have you in my arms, but I'm not ravishing you like I would have expected."

Hermione was nodding along as he spoke, she wished she could take notes because he was saying some very interesting things. Alas, she was wrapped in his arms and even her inner know-it-all preferred to stay where she was. "I have a theory on that." The snort that escaped from Draco made her shrug. "I know, but still I think it's a good one. I think that you don't feel the need to claim me because I'm willing here. I haven't attempted to leave without giving you the option to follow. I've expressed my desire to be with you. I don't have access to these journals, but am willing to guess there is probably something mentioned about the difference between mates who are open to their veela versus those that need to be enticed."

"Hm, that is an interesting theory and one we can check back at the house. I brought quite a bit of the library with me which included all the journals the family had amassed over the centuries. But your theory, unsurprisingly, appears sound. As long as you don't run, I won't feel the need to take." The couple lapsed back into silence and before long Draco realized Hermione had fallen asleep. The fact she was so comfortable with him that she fell asleep in his arms made everything that much better in his mind.

Thinking of what Hermione had theorized, Draco adjusted the pair and they dozed for another few hours before it was time to wake for real. After the pair were dressed, Hermione went downstairs and brought up some food. As the selection wasn't great, it ended up being just a little snack to tide them over until they returned to the mountain top and better options.

Draco stood as close to the witch as possible while they walked through the lobby and she checked out. He did the same as she returned the car and the pair slipped outside. It took a bit to find an area where Hermione could leave without the muggle security cameras recording her since Draco was invisible to the muggle technology. Luckily, there had been a large group of people leaving the airport and the magical pair were able to slip into the group and make their way to the far corner of the parking lot. Only after locating a very large vehicle, the pair was finally able to take leave of the muggle world.

*CLM**CLM*

On returning to the house, Draco showed Hermione the library and wasn't let down by her reaction. He chuckled at her wide-eyed awed filed expression and gently led her to where the journals were located. He felt her hand twitching with a desire to touch, explore and read. Draco wrapped his arm around her waist and pointed to the tall shelf. "These journals aren't just from my family. Over the centuries, veela have entrusted my family to protect our history. I can't say that every veela has felt the need to document their life, but there are thousands of lives on these shelves. Veela aren't really that different from your normal wizard. We live and love and make mistakes. I know you will keep what you learn in confidence and only use the information for good."

With that Draco released Hermione. Before she allowed herself to drown in the ancient manuscripts she turned to him understanding the significance of what she was seeing. "Thank you. I'm not going to pretend the opportunity to learn something new about veelas isn't enticing. I think we both know how I get when an opportunity like this appears. That said, I will take what I learn to my heart." With a little squeal of delight the witch dove toward the shelf and gazed trying to decide where to start.

Draco settled himself in a chair and pulled out the book he had been reading prior to Hermione's arrival. Hermione had eventually settled on a pair of journals and settled herself in the chair next to Draco. They only left the library to eat and sleep.

*CLM**CLM*

"Draco, do you ever go back home?" Hermione was on day four of her reading binge and found she had hardly made a dent what was available to her. Though she wouldn't admit it, this was her form of heaven on Earth. Gazing at the large expanse of material she hand't truly explored, she had noticed the archives not only included veela but most other magical creatures. She had cursed a little at how useful the information would have been when she started with her new position. On the other had, she was pleased what she had accomplished appeared to align with the information she scanned. Turning back to the journal she was currently reading, from an eighteenth century Bulgarian veela, she returned her focus to Draco who hadn't responded yet.

"No. My parents have visited here a couple of times but we mostly communicate by letter. Blaise is the only other person who knows about me. Until you arrived, I hadn't seen him since I left Britain."

"I guess it makes sense. I wasn't sure if you did return and kept your presence quiet. Whenever I'm back I try to not garner any attention but considering I end up with one of the Weasley's, eventually I end up in the papers." Draco hadn't brought up any of her friends or his acquaintances during the short time they had been together.

"Hm, that seems to agree with what Blaise had told me. I should tell you, when I left I asked Blaise to be available to my parents should they need help. But in addition to them, I asked him to keep current on you. I knew I'd break eventually. He told me there was tension between you and Weasley. He also mentioned the mother weasel had been reported saying some things about your new position and travel schedule."

Hermione had stopped reading at the casual way Draco had just dropped a dung bomb on her. The only thing that kept her from jumping to any conclusions was having spent the last four days reading the inner most thoughts of veela. She knew he couldn't not have someone watching her. Blaise had never interfered and she questioned the last time she actually saw the other wizard.

"Watch me?"

"Well, not so much watch you, but more keep up with you from the papers. The poor bloke has been reading the Prophet and Witch Weekly religiously for me. He didn't stalk you or anything. That, if I'm honest, would have been me." Draco just shrugged a little and the innocent expression on his face almost made the witch laugh.

"Yes, let's just hold off on the 'Hermione watch' for a bit, shall we? To what I think was your actual question, a few members of the Weasley family have made comments about my life choices. Most loudly were Ronald and his mother. I think they both just expected me to join in the 'big happy Weasley family'. Not that they ever asked what I wanted to do, mind you." Hermione let out a little huff at the end of the statement to which Draco smirked.

"Blaise mentioned that he saved a few of the Prophet's that reported your more colorful public discussions on the topic." Hermione wasn't surprised as she suspected any of the boys who were in their year would have found the articles quite entertaining. A few months after the most explosive article, she had received a few notes from the other Gryffindor boys. Neville said he was stunned at how Ron had behaved and totally supported Hermione. Dean and Seamus's note told her it had taken so long to provide their support as every time they thought about it they started to laugh. All of the boys agreed that to expect Hermione to give up everything to become a mini-Molly Weasley was ridiculous.

"It wasn't my finest moment. So I take it you'd like to know what actually happened instead of the sensationalized version the paper had." Nodding eagerly Draco placed his book on the end table and turned his complete focus to Hermione.

*CLM**CLM*

Hermione's eye shut and she drifted back to when she was more afraid of losing her friends than she was of losing herself. After a good couple of hours Draco was stunned, how anyone would believe sitting behind a desk and making sure she was home to prepare dinner would make Hermione happy was laughable. This was the witch who would forget to eat, not realize the library was closed and typically turned in double the length homework assignments. Hermione let out a little sigh and then sat up straight.

"It's not like I don't want to marry and do those things, but to expect I would be the only one to cook and clean was a bit too misogynic for me. When I told Ronald I would be working he lost his mind. I mean was it too much of a stretch to expect me to work? Keep in mind we weren't really even dating at this point let alone anywhere near planning a future together."

That peaked Draco's interest. "Not together? When was this fight?"

"Shortly after the final battle. He had kissed me and I honestly thought nothing of it. It was a quick kiss. We were pulled apart by someone or other. I was hugged and kissed by any number of friends during the celebrations. But soon, Ronald starting hovering around me before I realized something was different. It wasn't until he started yelling at Neville about me being 'his' that I realized there was some misunderstanding."

"So he kissed you and thought what exactly?"

"I guess that it was the start to some fairy tale. I don't really know, he never said because when I told him I had found this lovely flat near where I grew up, he said no girlfriend of his would be living in the muggle world. He insisted that if I refused to move in the Burrow I should still live in the magical world."

"He wanted you to move in with his family without any formal agreement between the pair of you?" Draco knew the Weasley children had not been raised with the etiquette and protocols that were part of most pureblood children's education but to move a girl who hadn't been introduced as your intended into the family home was a bit premature.

Hermione just shrugged. "I don't know what Arthur would have thought if I had just shown up and moved in with them. Luckily, I was able to find a flat that wasn't too expensive and still had what I needed. We then fought about my job. He wanted me to be auror and had some belief the Ministry would allow him, Harry and me to be partnered together. I don't know what made him think that but once he and Harry had graduated their training course they were each paired with an experienced partner. Both went to Kingsley to ask to be partnered with the other and were told that was not how the department worked. It seemed they expected to be able to do what they wanted. It was a bit of a transition for them. As for me, after the war the absolute last thing I wanted to do was be chasing more danger. I took the first non-auror position I could find and was stuck there."

That had been one of the longest statements Draco had ever heard from Hermione. He took most of the rant to heart, she wasn't unwilling or rigid, but she just wanted to be treated with respect. Instead of dwelling on her pain, Draco went for a bit of humor.

"So Blaise mentioned something about this new position and the Minister creating it for you. I guess it makes sense now why you were always drawn to helping magical creatures." Draco smirked a little at the veiled (or not so veiled) reference to himself.

"Maybe, but in reading these journals and from what we've discussed, I don't think veela are really a magical creature, per say. They seem to be more like an animagi except your form is pre-determined. I don't think veela would actually fall under the Magical Creatures Department but you would be under my protection so I guess that's good."

"Now we are getting somewhere. Being under your protection sounds appealing. So before we get to the whole being under the other topic, let's talk about what exactly brought you here. I am awfully curious how my ever so British witch ends up in the rural hills of the New World." It was Hermione's turn to snort.

"Muggles are too interested in the supernatural. After the influx of books, shows and movies, they have been identifying the actual habitat of magical creatures. To make sure the creatures are safe and muggles are directed in the opposite direction, I use my knowledge of muggle pop culture to identify where the highest risk is and help relocate the creatures impacted or set up wards that re-direct muggles back toward their cities." It all seems so simple but in reality was anything but.

"And here?"

"Oh, well I had helped some centaurs and they mentioned a being living on this mountain. They weren't afraid of you but just wanted to make sure you were going to attack them either. They are quite happy with the protection you've brought them. In fact, the herd is growing for the first time in decades."

"I'm glad they are comfortable. Their presence here, along with the fairies and horned serpents, were the deciding factor for me. I figured if I needed help having magical creatures near would be a good idea." It seemed that little conversation had answered a lot of the questions the pair had for each other.

"I need to confirm the herd knows they are safe." Hermione wondered what she would tell them and also the Ministry. She would have to put together her report and begin her research into the next endangered area. She probably needed to get in touch with Luna as well.

"I've seen that expression before. It was right before you started to freak about OWLS. I believe there were timetables involved. Very complicated and detailed timetables that Potter and Weasley didn't follow at all." Hermione growled at that particular memory. She had worked so hard on the color coordination too.

"Yes, and then they begged for last minute help right before I had my Ancient Runes test. I may have hexed them for that interruption. And now that you have distracted me before I began to worry too much. We do need to talk about a few things that aren't us." Since Hermione wasn't nervous about whatever she wanted to discuss, Draco didn't automatically think the worst.

"Right then, I don't really want to move back. I've found this place very calming but if you need to be there…" Draco allowed the question to hang in the air. He would move back and deal with the hassles if it was what she wanted.

"No, that's not what I wanted to talk about it but it is something else on the list. I don't need to live there. My flat is pretty much a landing pad for my short trips and most of my personal stuff is in storage. I see no reason for you to move there."

Draco's smile split his face and he interrupted Hermione. "So would you want to move your stuff here?" His expression was both excited and nervous. Hermione laughed as she nodded in agreement.

"I don't think we could really be apart and international portkeys are a pain. But I rarely stay at my flat since I am always traveling for work. That is what I wanted to discuss with you. How do we handle that?" For Draco it wasn't even a difficult decision.

"I join you. I have no reason to stay here all day everyday anymore and you would get bored. So I help you with your passion. I get to be with you and you help the world. Win win."

Hermione couldn't contain herself and before Draco realized what was happening, she was on him and proceeded to slam her lips against his. It may have been a quick courtship but Draco had completely accepted Hermione, her desires and her quirks. It was time she accepted Draco and his particular desire to seal their bond. It was a night the pair would never forget.

*CLM**CLM*

A/N2: So it's a bit open ended, I know that. I thought maybe, somewhere in the future, I might do some outtakes on the adventures of our pair. Not really sure what/how but we all know Hermione is going to eventually get herself into trouble and need Draco's help. There's probably a story or two about how the pair's family and friends react. And maybe a side story on Blaise and his addiction with tabloid newspapers. But all of that is in the future. For the short term, this story is done and I'm going to go back and focus on the "redo all seven years but make it different" trope. That will be the one that takes me the longest to complete and is no where near ready. There is still a trope or million out there that will catch my fancy before then.

As always, thank you for your time in reading/reviewing. As I said in the other chapter, seeing people come back to read my stories is quite exhilarating and helps drive me to keep going.

See you next time.