Chapter 7

AN: Hello my friends. How are you doing this week? I know it has been a long time. I have bought you another installment of the Dark Shades despite my decreasing free time. Keep reviewing because the chapter after this one will be better. Let me know if it is too fast paced. Oh and if you check my page, there is a new story that my best friend has dragged me into after reading House of Hades. Sorry that I agreed, but she had technical difficulties and she has put it on mine. That one will be updated after I get two more chapters out for Dark Shades. Enjoy!

Hermione reached her hand, trying to feel her magic better. Veelas were supposed to be better at wandless magic. Her slender fingers tingled as she tried to focus her powers .She took a deep breath and pointed her hand at the door again.

"Alohomora." She whispered. Hermione then pulled on the handle. The lock was still in place. She groaned, tossing her hands into her hair before jumping onto her bed. She was having trouble with her magic; it didn't react how it used to. Hermione grabbed her wand and pointed it at the door. Repeating the incantation, a flurry of sparks came out of the wand but the door did not unlock. She threw her wand at the door in frustration and flopped down on her soft bed.

The petite girl lay there, staring at the ceiling. She knew life would never be the same after she learned she was adopted. Yes, by now she had accepted the fact. To mess with her emotional and physical state was one thing, but to mess with her mental state and magical capabilities was too much. Hermione rolled over and pulled out her Potions book and decided to read ahead for the class. She was behind in her lessons anyway.

The hours seemed to blend together into minutes as Hermione finished her assignment. Soon, she heard the familiar shuffle of dragon-skin boots. Malfoy was back. She decided to stay in her room until he left the common room. The shuffling stopped as a knock sounded on her door. Malfoy never knocked on her door before. She closed her book before heading for the piece of wood that separated her from her mate.

She opened it hesitantly and his scent jumped her. Her nostrils flared as the smell of pine and freshly mowed grass invaded her. Hermione looked up at silver pools and tried hard to not fall into its spell.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she asked tersely.

"I just want to talk, Gra-Valéry." He said smirking.

"Go away and talk to someone else. I am very stressed out right now. So if you could come back…"

"I want to apologize." Malfoy abruptly interrupted her. Hermione gaped at him. The incident had taken place over a month ago. What had suddenly brought this up?

"Close your mouth before a fly goes in." her jaw slammed shut and finally she managed to speak again.

"What?"

"Are you daft Valéry? I said I wanted to apologize."

"B-but that was over a month ago Malfoy. What are you playing at?"

"Nothing." The Slytherin Prince sat down in one of the common room chairs. "I realized that we need to work together. We are Head students and we're supposed to set a good example for the other students."

Hermione shook her head at his sudden behavior change.

"Did you hit your head during Quidditch practice? A stray bludger must have hit you. Wait how many fingers am I holding up?" she held two of her finger in his face. His usual cocky mask was replaced with a scowl of irritation.

"Two. So what do you say? Truce," he held out his left hand. She looked down at his left hand for a second. Did Malfoy know what he was doing? Hermione could lose control by just touching him. She slowly grasped his hands and ignored the pleasure and purring coming out of her inner veela.

"Fine Malfoy." Then Hermione turned around and headed back to her room before she could attack Malfoy.

Draco watched in satisfaction as the Gryffindor scurried off to her room. There were so many emotions etched into her eyes. Silly Gryffindors are so trustworthy, he thought. Draco left his chair and entered his room. The bed was neatly made, unlike Hermionie's, with his homework in a neat pile on the desk. He shifted into his chair by the window, remembering his conversation with his friends earlier.

"A veela mate! How is that even possible?" Blaise had screamed for the umpteenth time. Theo sighed and tossed a glass of water on their friend. The Italian spluttered and Draco laughed at his misfortune. The three Slytherins had gone to the Room of Requirement. The room itself had transformed with a dark mahogany table, chairs, and a breakfast platter. The boys were conveniently finishing their meals.

"Will you stop freaking out Blaise? Just the other day, you were telling me how much you wanted to shag Granger." Theo snickered.

"I was joking." He complained.

"It doesn't matter now," Draco waved his hand impatiently. "How do I get Valéry to the Dark Lord? She isn't going to go willingly. She's best friends with Harry Potter for Merlin's sakes."

"You could try knocking her out and bringing her to him." Blaise said.

"Or you could befriend her." Theo took another sip of his pumpkin juice as the other boys looked at him incredulous.

"What?!" The two said in sync.

"Befriend her," Theo said slowly as if he was talking to children. "What does a Gryffindor value above everything else? Loyalty and friendship, much like Hufflepuffs. Give them that and they'll be putty in your hands."

Despite the logic he saw in his friend's plan, Draco knew he couldn't pull that off. He had ruined his chances in his sudden burst of anger over a month ago.

"That won't work my friends." Draco sighed.

"Why not? It is a flawless plan."

"I…I sort of choked her." Draco mumbled.

"What?" Theo cocked an eyebrow.

"It was when I first got the mark and I had a burst of anger."

"And she didn't kill you." Blaise whistled. "I thought you would have had a black eye or something."

"Blaise, if you could focus, you would understand that I am her mate so if she wants to live I have to live. "Draco threw his hands up in the air.

"Why don't you apologize?" Blaise said.

"I'm a Malfoy." Draco crossed his arms indignantly.

"And that justifies what? I'm a Nott," Theo said. "Blaise is right."

"I am a Slytherin. I don't apologize." Draco hissed. He leaned forward in his seat. "And what if I did, who said she would forgive me?"

"It is worth a shot."

His friends were right. And now all he had to do was befriend her, through Head Duties of course. A knock on the door interrupted his thinking. He went to the portrait and opened it to reveal Neville Longbottom.

"Where's Hermione?"

"Right here," Hermione appeared behind him. Her hair was a mess, and the shadows underneath her eyes got a shade darker.

"Professor Dumbledore wants to see you," the boy turned slightly pink seeing her.

"Thanks for telling me Neville. Bye Malfoy," Hermione ran past him to go see one of her favorite professors.

Harry headed to Dumbledore's office for the first time that year. The Gryffindor had been waiting to meet with Dumbledore. He had tried before, but Dumbledore had gone away. His shoes squeaked along the Hogwart floors. Harry had so many questions. Like why did Dumbledore put his best friend on the spot? How was he going to help Harry defeat Voldemort? His jogging slowed when he reached the Gargoyle statue.

"Lemon Drops," Harry said and the gargoyle spun around revealing the long staircase to Dumbledore's office.

"Hello Harry," the aging professor said, smiling at the young man. "I imagine you have some questions to ask me."

"If that's not too much to ask." Dumbledore nodded his head. "Why did you tell the entire school that Hermione was a Valéry? The daily prophet has been sending her so many letters for an interview. Not to mention half the student body looks at her like she is a freak." Harry left out the point that the male population at the school had been extremely excited.

"I have a plan Harry and Hermione has a very vital part in it. But first I would have had to let the news spread that the missing heir was here. Students gossip and the news traveled extremely fast." A twinkle sparkled in the old man's eyes. "And Voldemort needs to divert his attention off of you."

"You are going to use Hermione as bait!" Harry's eyes widened behind his thick rimmed glasses as realization dawn on him.

"Harry there will be no sacrifice. Hermione will be safe."

"How do you know that? He'll kill her."

"Hermione is instrumental for the both of us- The Order and the Death Eaters. She has the power that we need to vanquish Voldemort."

"But the prophecy says-"

"There is another prophecy. One in which Hermione must unleash the Shades."

"The shades?"

"You will find out in due time," a knock sounded on the door. "Come in,"

A drowsy Hermione entered Dumbledore's office. "You called for me professor. Oh, hi Harry."

"Ah yes, Ms. Valéry, I believe it is time for you and Harry to start your training."

"What about Ron or anyone else from the DA?" Harry didn't want his best friend to not have any advanced training.

"This training was specifically engineered for the two of you. But we will have to wait for Lorette."

"Who is Lorette?" At that moment, Dumbledore's floo opened up to reveal a beautiful man with short cropped black hair and icy blue eyes. A woman followed him with flowing auburn hair and warm green eyes. They were both cloaked in white silk, the hoods pulled back. With the dark nighttime backdrop, the pair looked like elves.

"Hello Dumbledore." A strong voice filled the room. "Is that her?" Dumbledore nodded and the tall woman approached Hermione and wrapped her in a hug. Hermione smelled warm chocolate and earth radiating off the woman.

"Oh, you are so beautiful. Isn't she?" The woman pulled back.

"Excuse my mother." Hermione then focused her attention on the man who was speaking. He gave her a shy smile.

"Hermione, I am Loretta and this is Arden. I am your aunt."

AN: So yes, it has been a while, but I am working on the next chapter. There will be more characters because I am trying to get to Hermione's family past. I want to thank everyone for reviewing and please don't stop. As for the review from Guest, this is fan fiction and Dumbledore is a bit sneaky in my story. Lucius and Cissy were there in the prologue, but they thought she was lost as well. The next chapter is going to be a bomb I promise. -KittyKat