New chapter guys! Late, super late I know. I am quite dissatisfied myself and I won't make excuses because it would really seem like excuses. I took a day off and determinedly finished this chapter with some effort.

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Chapter – 9 Meeting Him

"You think it's safe to leave Harry like that?" Hermione finally questioned, craning back her neck for what seem to be like the tenth time she turned around to look at the door.

Oh yes, she was worried, incredibly worried. For all she knew, he could destroy anyone in his way… and if he encountered Malfoy by any chance… she shuddered.

Hermione was sitting down in a plush chair in front of a very focused Sparks, his hair looked disheveled as if touched many a times, his lips pursed. There were set of beautiful quills in his desks, especially one in his hand that was royal blue in color with intricate golden designs.

"You're with me, so his Veela will eventually calm down." Sparks teased his quill as he finally decided to continue, "Unless he meets someone on the way, and that someone, dare I say, turns out to be the one who's the culprit. You must have observed it before he disappeared."

Hermione gave him the look of 'how-can-you-even-joke-about-this?'. She understood Ron, but Sparks?

"He will be fine." Sparks waved a hand off in dismissal, "I don't think I can really explain this, but there is a common understanding between us fellow Veelas, since we're rare creatures… you can say it's a bit like a pack of wolves," Sparks nose crinkled inadvertently, as if he found it a little weird to be compared of werewolves. Hermione raised her eyebrows at that, "We share a common understanding, and you can be safe with me. It will ease Harry's conscience and will buy him some time to calm himself down – that is, if he doesn't think much about it. Meditation helps, really. I am sure young Mrs. Delacour must have taught him that. Now back to what we were talking about – your theory."

Hermione shook her head, he was an attractive man, yes, but a complicated person, "Do you think it will work, sir?"

Sparks gave Hermione a contemplative look, before giving out a slow nod.

"What are you doing..." Sparks started slowly, "I must say I partly agree with Mr. Potter. It's an epitome of Gryffindor bravery itself that you're trying to help Mr. Potter with his... for the lack of better term, condition. This is indeed risky... but workable."

Hermione brightened a bit. A small grimace fanned Sparks eyes as she slowly realized something.

"If it may not seem rude sir - Sparks," Hermione emphasized with a smile at Sparks dramatic sigh, "Have you ever... er, tried this?"

Sparks nodded.

Hermione blinked in astonishment, "So, it worked?"

Sparks gave a short laugh, but it sounded half forced, "I'm afraid Miss. Granger, I was no kind to assert extraordinary self-control like Mr. Potter when I was of his age."

Hermione sighed in melancholy, "So it didn't work."

"It worked... in some ways."

"How?" Hermione asked curiously.

Sparks leaned back in his chair, a thin smile spreading on his face as if he expected something to happen the way he thought.

"He's not waiting for you."

"I know." Hermione answered intently, determined to pull out answers from him. He was not amusing her.

Sparks shook his head, "I let my wife sleep beside me, after much persistence from her of course... and... let's say it didn't turn out good for the first time."

"First time?" Hermione questioned fearfully. Was she... was she...

Sparks snorted, "You misinterpreted my words, although I should have kept that in my mind. It failed when we tried sleeping in the bed for the first time."

Something in his tone unsettled Hermione.

He looked like he didn't want to broach further on this subject, but it left her incredibly curious. What happened that made him look so bitter? His eyes reflected a reminiscent darkness as his eyes blackened, a flicker of self-loathing leaking into his features before that memory faded from his eyes.

"Just keep trying." Sparks said, "I think this might work as you did made out your last night... unscathed. Your 'get-used-to' plan, that is."

Hermione couldn't help but shudder.

"Also about your Occlumency method. I have never tried it... so I don't know much about it. But it might help taming the Veela." Sparks added encouragingly.

"You talk as if..." Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully, "As if, Veela is a person of its own."

Sparks nodded, "Just like in Lycantropy. Like we say, we have to learn to tame the beast. Seeing as you're his mate... he might let you in. He might try to lure you into bonding... that is a heavy possibility." Sparks straightened, looking at her intently, "You don't have to let that happen. You must keep the Veela in control, not the other way round."

Hermione nodded. It was another entity, close to Harry's conscience. And looking back at the morning episode...

"I don't think you need it now Miss. Granger," Sparks said with a smile, "He is doing so much better than I thought. Mr. Potter is determined to not hurt you."

Hermione blushed at Sparks' arch look. But maybe he was right about giving this Occlumency thing a time. When Sparks was saying Harry was doing good, then she must have nothing to worry about. It assured Hermione a lot.

"Er... I should leave... Harry must be waiting for me in the dorm."

Sparks chuckled, "Off you go Miss. Granger."

"Hermione." Hermione grinned, slinging her bag on her shoulder while she made her way to the dorms, planning to read for her next class... or talk Harry out of this irritation he holds towards Sparks. He was a nice guy, what was there to dislike was beyond Hermione. Maybe Harry would have steamed it off by now –

Hermione froze.

"Harry." Hermione greeted, her eyes wide out of surprise.

He didn't reply back. He just walked to her, took her hand and led her through the abandoned corridor that led towards the portrait. She smelled… safe.

And Harry didn't like it one bit. She smelled like Sparks – aftershave, some woman, most probably his wife. He scoffed, probably? He really didn't like this man.

And he didn't know for Merlin's sake why.

"You're fine…" Hermione whispered, albeit warily, "Right?"

Harry just couldn't believe it. He should be happy that at least that incredibly raging scent vanished from her, shouldn't he? Just thinking about that scent made his blood boil. Who was he anyway?

"What was that scent?" Harry growled unintentionally. That spicy and musky scent of his enemy… his chest rumbled incoherently just at the thought of it.

They stopped in mid as Harry glared at her.

Hermione gulped, pushing her Gryffindor gears. Harry was calm enough, surely he could take this.

She dropped the bombshell, "It was Malfoy."

Apparently, opting for truth was a huge mistake. She underestimated the enmity of seven years.

Hermione pulled him back before he could go for the hunt of the bastard who dared touch his Hermione.

She was his! No one will dare touch her!

"Oh for Morgana's sake Harry!" Hermione all but yelled and gripped his shoulders, shuddering at his pitch black eyes and those sharpening teeth.

His Veela rejoiced, slowly breaking free from his control.

Harry grabbed his knees, ignoring the claws. He was loosing control as he panted, flushed like he had just run a marathon. On the second note, it was a bad idea. A very bad idea. She shouldn't have mentioned it was… Malfoy.

Harry gritted his teeth at the very thought of his name.

Hermione's clutched on him tighter when he tried to shake her off. He pulled gently while snarling out loud. Her body shuddered violently at the menace he was emanating. She pushed herself closer.

Veela was tempted. Thoughts of marking her and making her his invaded his mind, trying to shut down his conscious thinking. He wanted to tell her to leave, to run. But his thinning control kept his mouth shut. All could come out was growling and snarling. Even Sparks scent couldn't do anything.

"Snap out of it! Listen to me." Hermione began desperately, grabbing his face and forcing him to look in her eyes. When their eyes connected, Harry just couldn't look away, even though the growling in his chest – the Veela wrecking a mess was audible to Hermione's ears.

She started massaging his shoulder when his trembling lessened, "Yeah, it was… him. And I just happened to run into him, it was an accident. His scent," Hermione wrinkled her nose, "must have gotten on me. Other than that, I swear nothing happened. You trust me right? Then trust me on this. Nothing happened. Just calm down. Please."

It didn't work.

Harry kept staring at her, taking slow but shallow breaths, as if drinking her scent wasn't enough. Those dark eyes still didn't leave him. Some assurance. He needed some reassurance. He wanted to speak, he wanted to protest. As if a someone snatched the control out of him, he kept panting.

"Hey, we're – Luna and I are planning on a double date this weekend," Hermione blurted out randomly, "You want to go?"

"S-sure." Harry shook a little, half-listening, before turning around. He wanted to shout, he wanted… he wanted her. He was going to attack her. He was-

"Harry." Hermione whispered decidedly. Harry looked up at her lips with a mix of surprise and lust before she captured her lips with his.

She kissed him fully before the Veela had the chance to surface, distracting him as she pushed him back, never breaking the kiss.

Harry kissed her back just as passionately, his hands never been bolder as they landed on her hips and pushed them to the wall. The invisible rope holding on to his Veela morale slipped slowly out of his hand, on the brink loosing its grip.

She intended a comforting kiss, enough to be a peck or a full one. Well, she certainly wasn't expecting this. His lips always moved the languorous amorous pace that was Harry. This clearly wasn't the case

Instead, she felt them passionate and exploring.

A dark passion.

She pulled back in shock, meeting Harry's dark, hungry eyes to realize that it was Harry's arousal pressing on her abdomen.

Arousal hard enough to know how much he desired her at this moment.

A moment of pure irritation flickered in Harry's black eyes and before she knew, she was pulled up flush to his body. Hermione gazed back into his eyes, which darted to her neck, seamlessly hooked at her throbbing pulse. His eyes darkened with the rise and fall of her chest as his thumb and fingers caressed down her sides.

When did he undid her robes?

Harry's captured her lips with his own hungry desiring ones, running them deep down in her mouth, wildly trying to explore as he pressed his tongue against her mouth. She gasped in surprise, giving Harry access to her mouth as she felt his sharp nails softly scrape down her stomach. Bare stomach.

Her eyes open sharply as her tongue brushed his fang, the honeyed taste of his venom brought her out of her daze.

Oh no. Harry was totally slipping out of control!

Fear almost took control of her body, throwing her in a paralysis state. She helplessly tried to raise her hand, but she was rendered unable to, suddenly only wanting to feel Harry's passion and snog her senseless.

When Harry felt that her lips were unyielding, his lips travelled down to her jaw, licking slowly down to her ear and suckled on her lobe.

"Mine…" Harry growled softly, possessively, "You're my mate."

This was not Harry.

Hermione clenched her fists, shivering in raw pleasure when his fangs brushed her ear.

It was the Veela.

She didn't want… want it to be like this. She… she wasn't prepared.

Hermione shook her head. It was Harry. She as always there for him. She had to help him. But her body seemed to have other thoughts. Hermione arched against her own will, her body reacting to his scorchingly warm lips, sending a spark of fire through her veins. She shook her head again, trying to dissipate the intense effect Veela charms were having on her.

She promised him didn't she? Hermione wanted to help him and she trusts him. Not this Veela.

Hermione quivered, clutching Harry's hair as he moaned softly in pleasure, letting go of her neck where he was suckling on. Her skin tingled, the pressure of his lips shedding off the stupor his Veela charms had created.

She took control again, pulling on his hands to shed them off her stomach, shivering when her fingers brushed his sharp nails. Hermione pulled him towards her, kissing him fervently. Her lips moved against him in a desperate motion to distract him, pressing soft kisses down his jaw and travelled up to his ear.

"Yours." Hermione breathed, "Harry. I'm yours. Just yours. So stop please."

The Veela trembled with pure joy, his hold on her tightening as she felt his nose brushing her neck, his open mouth darting near her collarbone.

Hermione gasped, fighting against his hold, "Harry, please. Please."

Something seemed to set off of him and he stopped, as he took a deep sniff of her and looked back at her angrily.

"Why are you afraid?" He growled, "Why do you-"

Hermione looked at him, perplexed. The Veela… was he… what did he meant by that? She didn't have time to ponder upon it much, as Harry's face scrunched up, his eyes creaking open to look at her, one black and one green.

He forced himself away from her body in that quick speed, now standing far into the other wall in front of her. Panting as the black slowly dissipated from his eyes. He didn't look up, staring at the ground, not daring to look back up. Hermione sighed in pure relief as she pulled herself up and walked to his direction.

"Stop." Harry growled, "Leave."

Hermione stopped in her footsteps, "Harry?"

"Just… just leave."

Hermione could clearly see it. Guilt. Fear. Anger. Disbelief.

"Har-"

Harry groaned, sliding on the ground, "Damn it Hermione. Please." He shoved his hands through his hair, rubbing his eyes.

"I don't get it." Hermione frowned. Apparently it was a wrong thing to say. She didn't mean it that way either.

Harry's eyes flashed in rage as he looked up at her, reminding her of fifth year. He looked royally pissed now.

"Were you unconscious the whole fucking time?" Harry snarled, "I attacked you! I almost bit you!"

Hermione clenched her fists, but kept her mouth shut. He needed to vent that out.

"You see?" Harry waved his hands in a motion as if trying to describe what Hermione has to see, "It will never work! I'm going to rape you someday and it will haunt us forever! Do you-"

"Is that all?" Hermione said calmly.

Harry's eye twitched menacingly and looked even scarier than before, if it was possible.

"Is. That. All?" He spat each word like venom, his fangs baring and before she could even blink, she was pushed against the wall with Harry's towering frame. She looked up to see him glaring at her, his fangs glistening with venom.

"It would hardly take a second to mark you and make you mine, Mya," Harry said softly, his eyes darkening, "Marking not only means your blood, but also your heart and soul. And I was certainly not aiming for that a few moments ago." He hissed.

Hermione finally snapped, struggling fruitlessly from his vise-like grip, taking Harry by surprise, who let her go.

"Damn it Harry!" She yelled, glaring heatedly, "You snogged the fuck out of me! I get that, I was there! I was the one who initiated it! For you are a Veela and I'm your mate!"

Hermione snorted when Harry gaped at her, taken aback.

She continued, "I don't really see how we won't work. You know what Sparks said to me? You were doing even better than him, or anyone he had seen! You're not going to rape me! If it ever happens, there will always be my consent! Because you know what, I trust you!"

Hermione breathed through her nose as an action to calm the hell down as Harry looked down, looking ashamed and guilty for some reason.

"Harry," she started calmly, as she closed the distance between them and touched his face, she pretended to not notice his shiver, "You're not going to hurt me. You'll never hurt me. At least not willingly. So don't say this is bad. You lost control for a while yes and it happens. We managed to stop it. So please relax for now and let it go."

Harry clenched his fists, "I just can't. I did hurt you. I could smell your fear."

"It just took me by surprise."

Harry gave her a long impassive gaze, finally shaking her hand off with a sigh.

"Let's go. You look tired."

Hermione frowned, but nodded. He wasn't convinced, she knew it. What would she have to do to convince him?

Harry grabbed the goblet of pumpkin juice, taking a long sip. He wanted to relieve this ache. This emptiness.

His Veela didn't show up for days since that incident… but he was suffering. He could feel that distinct presence of him in his mind, subconsciously trying to know about his mate's whereabouts.

Harry shook his head angrily, gulping down the whole juice in one breath. Neither was he going to let the Veela pop out just to cop a feel of his… Hermione, nor he was going to be near her for now. Not until he had tamed his Veela.

It was painful. Mentally and emotionally painful.

Veela wanted to feel her… at least see her. To know she was there, safe… he wanted her near him.

In short, he was just torturing himself.

Hermione tried to clear this up, but he clearly didn't want to. He had to protect Hermione with all he had got. He will protect her, even from himself.

"Mate." Ron's voice brought him out of his reverie.

"Hmm?"

"Why is Parkinson staring at you like a trollop in heat?"

Harry snorted before looking up to meet Pansy's blazing blue eyes. She blinked, startled, before smiling coyly and looked down on her plate. He knew his Veela charms were bloody switched off… hell after that incident, he never even dared to loose control. Then why in blazes was her knickers literally twisting?

"Beats me," Harry muttered.

Ron looked at him and sighed, patting his back awkwardly, "I get it mate. I do."

Harry snorted again, what did he get, really? That all he wanted to do was scowl at her trollop face?

"It's Hermione isn't it?" Ron continued in an understanding tone.

Harry stiffened quite visibly. Veela was growling… rousing after such a long time, vulnerable and… deadly. He pushed his anger down, sighing in melancholy. Ron had a knack to be perspective at odd moments.

"Harry," Ron said with a frown, "Talk to her. You look like a hippogriff herd ran over you and then centaurs danced over you."

"Well," Harry brooded, "I can't."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Maybe because Ron was looking at his black eyes with apprehension written on his face.

"You… er, having troubles?" Ron asked carefully.

"Yes. Yes, I am." To both of their surprise, he actually confessed.

Ron nodded and took a bite of the cheesecake, chewing on it thoughtfully. Harry almost wished Hermione was there to witness this scene, she would have been spluttering in shock. Ron, eating in a human way. People in relationship do change, Harry thought sadly, his thought automatically jumping back to Hermione again.

Harry looked up, catching platinum blond hair which made his blood boil. He bit back a growl. Malfoy. Sodding Malfoy was the whole cause of this shit. If he wouldn't have…

"Talk to Sparks." Ron said suddenly, snapping his fingers, breaking Harry off from his thoughts on how to corner him and eliminate the danger if he could…

"Huh?" Harry replied dumbly, looking back at Ron, who didn't seem to notice his talons slowly seeping back.

"Sparks," Ron nodded, "You told me that he was a Veela too. He must have experience about all of this. Right?"

Harry shook his head, "No need for it. I'll be fine."

Well, that's what he said.

Harry shoved a hand through his hair in utter frustration. It honestly confused him yet again why he was standing near Sparks' office door. Yet, he reminded himself again.

This was for Hermione. This was for Hermione. This was for-

The door suddenly opened, his eyes meeting Sparks expectant gaze.

This was for Hermione… this was for Hermione.

There you go.

Hope to see you soon guys.