Revised: June 7, 2018

RATED M for language and sexual content

Chapter warning: brief mention of suicide

Besides his considerable wealth, superior intellect, and above average appearance-basically all the important things in life, there was one thing Draco Malfoy was most proud of: his pure and untainted bloodline.

Ever since he was a little boy, he prided himself on his heritage. The fact that he came from a long-line of pure blooded witches and wizards was deeply ingrained in his character. He felt like he was a part of something. Something bigger than himself.

Imagine his fucking surprise when his parents told him otherwise.

Centuries of tradition, and keeping it in the family-all down the drain, and for what?

Because his great-grandfather, Septimus Malfoy-may the old sod rot in hell, gave into Veela temptation, and couldn't keep it in his trousers. Why he didn't just take on mistresses like every other Malfoy man before him, Draco had no idea. But none of that mattered now, the damage was already done.

"In the name of Merlin, stop being so dramatic!" Narcissa Malfoy scolded her son.

Draco didn't understand what else would his mother have him do? Jump up in celebration, and act like they didn't just derail his whole life? Fat chance of that ever happening.

Honestly. What compelled his parents to choose now of all times to finally unload this information on him? He was due for his last year at Hogwarts in a few days, as Head Boy, no less.

"Your mother is right," Lucius Malfoy chimed in. "There's no reason to be alarmed. You're only part Veela," he drawled.

Only part Veela, Draco echoed bitterly in his mind. Now they were teasing him.

Tainted blood was tainted blood. There was no bloody way around it. Ha!

"Well then, pardon my overreaction. I'm only part Veela, you say? I'm so relieved! Ecstatic, actually!" Draco quipped sarcastically. "Tell me, father. When shall I be expecting myself to sprout wings? Or better yet, when shall I expect my beak to grow out of my face?" He ranted.

"When angry, Veela take on a less pleasant appearance; their face elongate into sharp, cruel-beaked bird heads, and long scaly wings burst from their shoulders," Draco remembered reading once.

His father rolled his eyes, trying his best not to lose his temper. It was a lot for Draco to take in, and Lucius understood that. In fact, he'd reacted the very same way, if not worse, when his father came clean about their tarnished bloodline.

"Like I said, you're only quarter-Veela," he reiterated. "If you paid any attention to your studies, maybe you wouldn't be second best to that Granger girl, and you'd certainly be aware of the fact that none of those things you're so terribly worried about will even happen to you," Lucius spit out.

Of course, Draco knew that. But hearing his father say it aloud eased his worries nonetheless.

"If being only part-Veela means I don't get to inherit all their great qualities, why tell me in the first place?" Draco questioned. "Why couldn't you just let me live my life in the unknown? As Muggles like to say, ignorance is bliss," he scoffed.

Lucius raised his brows in bewilderment, "I don't know what worries me more," he paused. "The fact that your mother and I are clearly wasting our galleons on your education or the fact that you've become quite familiar with Muggle sayings," he criticized.

"Now who's being overdramatic, father?" Draco challenged, a smirk donning his face.

"Draco!" His mother chastised. "Listen to your father. Your life may very well be on the line," she begged of her son.

"What do you mean?" He asked worriedly, whilst instantaneously becoming more alert.

"You may not have inherited any of the Veela's...undesirable physical traits, that much is true," Lucius began. "However, that doesn't entirely mean that you didn't inherit something else," he warned.

A look of horror flashed before Draco's eyes. "Father, tell me it isn't so," he gasped in complete panic. In addition to reading about what happened to a Veela when angered, Draco also skimmed through a small section about their mates.

And let's just he wasn't pleased with what he read.

"Given that you're now of age, your other Veela genes will start to...shall we say, kick in," Lucius explained to him.

"Meaning?" Draco inquired.

"Your mate, my darling boy. You have to find your mate," his mother chimed in.

"She's right. If you don't find your mate before your next birthday...you won't survive for long," his father said somberly. "Not only do you have to find her, but she must allow you to mark her when you're at your most carnal," he added.

"You don't mean…" Draco questioned, not entirely sure if his father used the...appropriate words.

"I do mean exactly that," Lucius answered, almost like he read his son's mind. "You have to mark her while you're in the throes of passion. That way, she won't be in as much pain if she's distracted," he explained uncomfortably.

"What happens if she rejects me?" Draco highly doubted it considering who he was-Slytherin Sex God, they all called him, but he still felt the need for additional insight.

"If she refuses to let you mark her, you'll slowly die of a broken-heart. You'll fall into a depressed state, and soon, you'll want to take your own life," his father informed him.

"Can't I just find another?" Draco wondered. It shouldn't be that hard; he'd bribe her with gold if he had to. Merlin knows he had more than enough of that.

"If only it were that simple, my son," Lucius sighed. "You see, the Veela, they mate for life," he added.

Draco inwardly groaned. He couldn't imagine being with the same woman for the rest of his life. Not saying that he was the type of man incapable of being loyal, but he was the type to want to have his options open. But now, his fate was sealed. God willing, he was destined to spend the rest of his miserable life with one woman, and one woman alone. He prayed to Merlin that his mate, whoever she was, would be easy on the eyes, and great in the sack.

"How will I know?" That I've found the one, he wanted to add, but immediately decided against it given how utterly trite it sounded.

"Instinct," his father said simply. "You'll feel it when you're near her. You'll just..know," he drawled.

A/N: What do you guys think of how I've written the characters so far? Let me know what you like about them, or if you have any concerns, and want me to change things up!