A/N: Hello fellow readers! Well this isn't the first fan fiction story I've written BUT it is my first Harry Potter fic…and a Dramione at that! It was just a little something that was floating in my mind! So I decided to write it especially since there aren't many Veela stories out there. Hope you all enjoy it and nice constructive criticism is always welcomed!

-Ana

Scarlet Matrimony

Chapter 1: Unwilling to Desire

He stood gloriously at the end of an emerald aisle. His grey mesmeric eyes held an enticing feral glint as he appreciatively drank the sight of her. She took a quick tentative step forward but a sharp movement to her left made her stop. Hermione snapped her head towards the movement and gasped as she caught sight of a gorgeous woman clad in an elegant silver-white mermaid-styled, strapless wedding gown. It was designed with a cascading train that trailed behind her in elegant silver folds, giving her the resemblance of a goddess.

The woman's eyes were wide with awe as she stared at Hermione and that's when she realized that she was staring at her own reflection. Her honey-colored eyes observed the sight she made. She looked utterly breathtaking. Enhancing makeup made her skin look flawless and it pronounced the vivid gold hue that deepened her eyes. Her tumultuous hair was pinned at the top of her head in smooth, perfect ringlets that tumbled down silkily. The gown hung to her curves sensuously and sparkled as the diamonds woven into the thick satin caught the rays of sunlight filtering through the high cathedral windows.

She realized a man's arm was linked to hers and she looked at him with wide eyes. It was her father. He smiled at her and told her she looked perfect. Hermione was suddenly aware that she was a bride and that she was getting married. But married to whom? Her eyes slowly trailed up the aisle, to where the handsome man stood. There was an arrogant air about him yet appealing. He was tall and lean; sinewy muscle could be recognized under the obviously expensive tailored black suit he wore. Panic gripped her heart as she took in the sight of the familiar flash of brilliant white-blond hair and mercurial silver eyes.

"Malfoy," she whispered to herself. She suddenly felt ill and the walls of the impressive gothic cathedral seemed to close in on her. Her breath came out in short gasps as her eyes darted around for an exit. Her mind screamed and begged for her to run but she knew she couldn't. Why was she doing this? Frustrated tears threatened to spill over as she still watched the man she was about to wed. Hermione looked at the many people in the church pews, their faces blurred by the angry tears. But she knew they contained her family and friends. How could Harry and Ron let her do this? Why didn't they stop this madness?

Hermione looked back to the dashing groom. The aura around him seemed to have darkened with threat and anger, as if he knew what was going on through her mind. His grey eyes flashed dangerously; a threat directed at her. Instead of a smile gracing his mouth it was set in a grim, tight line. Hermione dug her heels into the emerald carpet and let a dismayed gasp escape her lips. She stared at the young Malfoy, his face a solid cold and indifferent mask but his eyes were livid. He purposely strode down the thick carpet towards her and grasped her wrist; she looked around weakly for help but everyone had melted away in a mist. Her eyes darted back to the stormy ones, "Draco, why are you doing this to me? Why are we getting married?" she pleaded for answers, "I don't want this!"

His eyes softened slightly and he tugged her small body against his strong one. He traced her lips with an elegant long finger as he murmured, "It doesn't matter what you want or not because you belong to me."

Hermione's eyes fluttered open and she couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine. She turned to her side and curled herself into a fetal position as she put her knuckles in her mouth to keep the long string of curse words to escape her lips. That particular dream always bothered and angered her. It always reminded her how she had felt the day she married Draco Malfoy. She had felt utterly powerless since she couldn't stop the wedding.

Hermione wished that being Malfoy's bride would remain a nightmare but alas she was no longer Hermione Granger; she was Hermione Malfoy now. A smooth, lean arm wrapped itself around her waist and she stiffened. He shifted to get closer to her and even though she wished she were repelled by his inviting warmth, she wasn't. Hermione fought with all her might to resist him.

"It's been two weeks Hermione," he said softly, his voice husky with sleep and she couldn't help the tremor of desire his voice coaxed. It was difficult to remain upset when such strong desire coursed through her body every time Draco touched, kissed or spoke to her. Heck, she even had a hard time feeling upset towards the blond man when she thought of him.

"Two weeks since I was forced to marry you," Hermione snarled quietly. Draco snickered, amused by her viciousness and he twisted her around gently for her to face him.

"Don't think of it that way-"

"How can I not?" she hissed.

"We were meant to be. You are mine. You belong to-"

"No one, I don't belong to anybody. I'm not just some object you can stake claim to!"

Draco's gaze darkened.

"You are mine and legally too and I will have to claim you very soon, you know it's inevitable."

"Well I don't want you," Hermione cried stubbornly. His eyes softened with the hurt that her words caused and he replied, "You can't do anything about it anymore Hermione, you might as well give in completely. I need to make you mine and mark you."

"I'm not interested-"

Her words were cut off as Draco pressed his soft lips to hers. Fire burned through her veins and desire automatically fogged her brain, but she was Hermione and she fought hard, she refrained from succumbing to his seduction.

He groaned in frustration and pulled away, knowing she was fighting and that she was practically immune to his sensual ministrations.

"Why do you fight it?"

"I wouldn't if it was anybody but you," she murmured heatedly.

"Ouch. Now Mrs. Malfoy play nice," Draco laughed, which made the ire within her rise.

She pulled away from him roughly and scrambled off the king-size bed of green and silver silks. She glared at him with pure hostility.

"I hate you."

Draco crossed his arms behind his head as he lay arrogantly in the middle of the huge bed and he smirked.

"Keep telling yourself that, in about a week's time you'll be saying the opposite."

"Ha! That's what you said many weeks ago Malfoy. I doubt I would ever be capable of loving you. Claiming me would be a waste of your efforts to make me actually give a damn about you."

At this Draco jumped off the bed angrily and pinned her against the wall. His face was contorted in furious agitation. His nose was practically against hers as he sneered, "The law gives me the right to take whatever I feel is rightfully mine from your part and whenever I want, so tread carefully Granger. Neither Potty nor Weasel will save you from me Hermione, because they stand behind that law, as should you. So maybe you should show a little appreciation will you? Start by at least acting like you do care about me."

Hermione's felt the tears of resentment burn her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall; she hated that he had so much control over her. She was frustrated because she was powerless to change what had befallen her.

"What are you going to do? Force me? Just like you forced me to marry you?"

Draco smirked at this and he brushed a silky tendril from her face, brushing her cheek tenderly in the process.

"There's no forcing to be done. We are mates, a little hesitation with your defenses from your part and you will be mine; in not only body but also heart. I care for you Hermione. I have been giving you time to adjust these past two weeks since I didn't give you enough time to adjust to the idea of marrying me so soon."

"But I didn't- I don't want this! You were cruel to me in school and now suddenly we're married. I didn't want to marry you, I wanted a choice-"

"Shh. Listen to me," Draco said smoothly to the fuming woman as he rubbed her arms with his hands in a comforting manner, "When any other man kissed you or touched you, did you feel the desire and satisfaction as you do with me? Did you feel the same overwhelming lust towards any of them as you do with me?"

Hermione was silent; she didn't want to admit it. Every relationship she had tried to build in the past had been a failure. She knew it had been because of her, she had been detached because every man she had been with stimulated exasperating ennui, therefore she never sought anything else. There were no sparks and no chemistry with any of them; it was bland and she never felt the sense of true carnal desire. The first time she had ever felt such fascinating passion was the first time she dreamt of Draco Malfoy in their last year at Hogwarts. So she resorted to glaring at the blonde man in front of her, stubbornly refusing to reply.

"Admit that your heart, mind and soul were searching restlessly for a man that would awaken those feelings that are only heard in fairytales or felt in your dreams of me…admit it, please."

"Why does it matter if I admit it? I'm sure you already know the answer," Hermione said waspishly with narrowed eyes.

"It will make me feel immensely better."

"Why would I to a man who ridiculed me because of my blood and treated me like scum in school? How can I forget that?" Hermione snapped.

"I didn't know I loved you or what you actually were to me and even then I would put you down because I was attracted to you, I craved your attention. There was no other way for you to pay any heed to the spoiled little boy that I was, unless I insulted you. Hermione we've gone through this already," he scowled in irritation.

"Even if you didn't know you loved me, you shouldn't have treated me that way. There are other more civilized ways of gaining someone's attention," Hermione sniffed.

"I don't disagree with you there, although you are aware of why I was that way. Principles of blood purity were engraved into my mind since I was born, it wasn't entirely my fault that I was completely ignorant," Draco said solemnly and he leaned forward to kiss her lips softly. Hermione felt dizzy with tantalizing pleasure that only he could coax from her. But before she could give into his tempting ministrations she quickly pushed him away.

"I'm going down to the beach," she muttered. Hermione headed towards the entrance of the fairly small cottage.

"It's still dark out," he drawled as he sauntered back to the bed. "It's five-thirty in the morning Hermione, don't be ridiculous."

"I'll see you in an hour or two Malfoy," Hermione said as she waved nonchalantly, "I'm only going for a walk anyway."

She made it out of the little cottage without any other words spoken by Draco. She heard the hiss of the waves and she breathed in the salty tropical air. Hermione sighed and proceeded towards the water. The sand was cold but the water was the perfect temperature. It was a bit on the chilly side but she felt she needed it to simmer down her anger and frustration. A breeze blew through her long tumultuous curly hair and made the red silk ripple around her legs.

She decided to go into the ocean for a swim. Hermione bit her lip not wanting to re-enter the cottage so she decided to go in with her sleeping gown. As she entered the ocean, gooseflesh automatically rose on her body and she quickly dove into the waves before she had any second thoughts. The water automatically enlivened her senses and Hermione swam into deeper water at ease; the silk nightgown flowed around her body in a pool of blackened crimson.

The cool darkness of the morning gave it a nice thrill as the water shocked her sleepy form. While she swam in the salty sea water her mind was soon bombarded with thoughts of the blond man residing in the cottage at the moment.

There were no doubts that he was an extremely handsome man and there was a darkness about him that had her nerves electrified with sensual yearning. He was tall and lithe, his lean muscled body lined with hidden strength. His white-blonde hair was as soft as the silk she had slept on for the past two weeks and it fell gracefully above his eyes in smooth platinum wisps. His eyes were the most stunning of all his beauty. His grey eyes defined him. Hard, cold metal when his defenses were up or his aristocratic arrogance appeared, dark silver when angry or frustrated and smoky when aroused. Hermione closed her eyes as a pang of carnal passion sizzled through her blood, a reaction she was getting used to when she thought of Draco…her mate.

Another A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! Tell me what you think, I'm truly interested because I want to see if I should continue to post this story or not. It depends the feedback I receive because I am a little uncertain about this story since the ship (Dramione) and category (Harry Potter!) are completely new to me. All your reviews are very important to me because they serve as great encouragement.

- Ana

Review Please! :]