She was perfection. No word could describe her better than that. Her auburn hair, her glowing pale skin, those subtle curves he could see through her uniform… Everything about her was flawless.
Draco watched her from his favourite armchair as she continued sleeping in his bed.
He'd slept together with her for a few hours, spooning her and breathing in her lovely scent, but he had awoken early and wanted nothing more but to stare at her as she was sleeping peacefully.
He remembered how much he used to dislike her. Less than a year ago, he had looked down on witches like her. Mudbloods. He gave a shudder at that word. He had thrown that insult at her on more than one occasion. He had tormented her, looked down upon her with repulse, hurt her. He had ignored her pleas for help as she was being tortured by his lunatic aunt. He clenched his fist at that memory and snarled almost inaudibly. No more. From now on he would protect her, take care of her every need. She'd lack for nothing with him at her side!
Suddenly everything was clear. He'd felt hopeless after the war. Drained from every ounce of happiness and hope. His entire world was shaken. Gone was the respect for the Malfoy name. Gone was the influence they held in the Ministry. Instead of power and prestige like he'd always been told would come with bearing the Malfoy name, all they had was shame and traumas. Their wealth, still as vast and alluring as always, had been their saving grace. Because everybody loves money, no matter how bloodied the hands that gives it to them. But all that was of no importance anymore. She was here, his mate, his future. She was the only thing that mattered from now on. His great prize and promise of future happiness.
He kneeled down to stroke her cheek. She gave a small smile in her sleep and he reciprocated with one of his own.

"I hope you're dreaming of me, love", he whispered in a seducing tone, before standing back up and slowly leaving the room.

"Good morning, mother, father"

Both Malfoys looked up from where they were sitting at the breakfast table in their rose garden.

"Draco, love, I had no idea you were here", Narcissa said as she gracefully stood up from her seat and went to embrace her son.

"Draco. Don't tell me you're in any kind of trouble. You know we have to refrain from sullying our reputation even further", his father replied severely from the head of the table.

"I'm aware, father", he replied with a sneer towards Lucius as he returned the embrace his mother was giving him.

"I come bearing good news."

Narcissa looked up to her son and searched his eyes for the answer she wanted.

"You've found her, haven't you, my dragon?" she whispered, too gobsmacked to smile.

"I have, mother. My future wife is asleep in my bed as we speak."

Lucius stared at his son with unhidden interest.
Narcissa grabbed her son's hand in hers before giving him a proud smile.

"I knew you'd find her, Draco. You make us so proud."

"Do we know the girl?" his father inquired.

Draco looked the man straight in the eyes. He knew his mother would accept his mate even though her blood was less than desirable. He knew that for her his happiness and contentment were far more important than blood and heritage. She'd proven that when she'd lied to the Dark Lord just so she could go look for him. But his father, oh his father was something else. From as long as he could remember, Lucius Malfoy was his biggest hero and idol. He loved his mother the most, no doubt about that but he wanted nothing more than to be just like his father: powerful, well respected and enviable. But all that changed when the Dark Lord reappeared and his family fell out of grace with him. His father, once powerful, had his wand taken from him. And though once very respected, he had to kneel at the feet of a madman, begging for mercy. And during that time in his life not even the lowest of creatures envied Lucius anymore. Draco would never forget those years, just like he'd never forget how much pain his father had inflicted both on his family and on his little mate. A rage burned in him at the memory of Lucius insulting her and standing passively as his crazed aunt tortured her! The love and protectiveness he felt for her was of remarkable proportions and even though he knew it wasn't logical to feel this passionate about a girl he hadn't really cared about for 8 years, he knew nothing would change his feelings.

"Draco, I asked you a question. Do we know her?"

His mother, sensing his mood, continued to hold his hand and turned around so she was standing next to him, facing his father.

"You do, father, but you'll be disappointed."

Both his parents looked at him with questioning eyes.

"My mate is Hermione Granger."

He could feel his mother's hand stiffen around his own and his father looked as if frozen in place.
After a few silent minutes, where Lucius stared into space with an unreadable look on his face, Narcissa was the first to speak as she turned to look her son in the eyes once more.

"She is a powerful witch and an elegant woman, my dragon. As your mate, she is your entire happiness and that's always been my greatest wish for you. No matter her heritage from now on she belongs to this family."

"Thank you, mother", her son replied and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You mother is right, son", Lucius said, shocking Draco, as he finally stood up and walked towards his wife and son. "Though her blood is not ideal, and I can't say I find her particularly worthy of you, she is your mate and belongs to you. From this day forward, she'll be treated as a rightful Malfoy and be a true part of this family."

He put a hand on his son's shoulder and squeezed it while giving Draco a grimace that could almost pass for a smile.

"I'm thankful, father", replied Draco, still too gobsmacked to completely understand that his father had given him his blessing to woo his mate, not that he had needed it.

"Let's have breakfast together as you tell us all about her, Draco", his mother said whilst elegantly accepting the elbow his father had offered her to lead her back to her seat.

"She's brilliant", he said when they were all seated. "And her skin is unblemished and she's just exquisite. She feels like home."

"She'll make a wonderful wife for you, Draco", his mother replied.

"And she'll be a true asset to our family", his father added, already scheming how he could use the girl's status as a hero to improve his family's reputation and social postion in society.

"Have you told her of her role yet?" Narcissa inquired.

"No, I found out just yesterday evening, in the library. We were snogging when Blaise entered with that old coot, McGonagall."

Both his parents went white at the mention of the new Headmistress.

"Did you hurt them, Draco?" his father asked with more worry for his family's reputation than for any potential injury inflicted on McGonagall and Blaise.

"I sort of stunned them and left with Hermione. She wanted to separate her from me. She deserved it."

"Indeed she did, my son, but one must always be careful when it comes to keeping the family secret. I suggest you write to Nott and ask him for his assistance."

Draco nodded. " I will, father."

"It won't be an easy task to woo the girl", he said to Draco. "She seems very stubborn. And she doesn't like you."

Draco's heart clenched at that, but he felt a secure sense of determination rising up in him.

"She is stubborn, but she will learn to like me. That I promise."

"Of course she will, Draco", his mother supplied, "no woman is able to resist the Malfoy charm and definitely no woman who was made for you."

"Still you must proceed carefully. We don't want to scare her away."

"Don't worry, father, I won't let that happen. She's mine and she'll learn to embrace and cherish that role."

His father seemed proud of his determination and self-confidence. After a few moments of careful contemplation, Lucius Malfoy spoke up again.

"What about the Weasley boy?"

Draco's jaw clenched and his eyes darkened with hatred at the mention of that particular name.

"What about him?" he asked in his most callous and terrifying voice.

His father exchanged a quick glance with his mother, who mouthed 'no', but gave no reaction otherwise.

"Won't he be a problem? Last I read, he and miss Granger has some sort of understanding…"

His father couldn't finish his sentence as Draco slammed his hands on the table. His eyes were stormy, his magic was cracking and his body language that of a man eager to go to war.

"She's mine! No one else's! If he just as much as looks at her or makes any move to seduce her, I'll rip him to shreds and feed what remains of his useless pathetic body to the peacocks! I'll burn him! Annihilate him! In fact, I'll think I'll do that regardless of the fact if he looks at her or not, just to show him that I'm in control! The only understanding there will ever be between them is that she's untouchable and he nothing more but a mere peasant, too low to ever deserve her.
She's sleeping in my bed. She'll be taking my surname soon and if I get my way, which I will, she'll be carrying my heir in less than a year!"

And with that, he stomped back to the manor, leaving Lucius breathless and Narcissa completely delighted!

"He's brilliant, isn't he? The girl won't be able to resist him! I'll have a daughter in no time!" she spoke happily.

"I've never seen him like that…" Lucius replied, staring at Draco's rapidly retreating back.

"That's the look of a Veela laying a claim on his mate", his wife answered.

"She's a mudblood."

Narcissa flinched at the word used to describe her son's future bride.

"It doesn't matter. She's his mate. They belong together. She's powerful and intelligent and she'll bear him champions. Veela unions are holy. I despise muggleborns, but she, she will be the exception. And I'll pretend to be over my prejudice if it means she'll accept our son. I suggest you do the same", and with that she resumed her breakfast, clearly having nothing more to add to the conversation.

"Of course, the only exception…yes…", Lucius replies, still in awe of Draco's power.