The Dragon of Hogwarts

The Dragon of Hogwarts

Chapter 7: Mates

It took all of Hermione's patience to get through History of Magic class. Professor Binns was especially boring today and not even keeping Harry and Ron awake was enough to distract her.

She really didn't intend on skipping any classes today, but she didn't see how she was going to be able to force herself not to. The journal in her bag was practically screaming at her to open it, but she didn't dare do it in a room full of people.

A crumbled up a piece of parchment hit her in the head, and she glared at Harry and Ron who were trying to hide their laughter.

Sighing heavily, she straightened out the paper to read Harry's note.

You seem tense. What did Zabini say?

Hermione took a minute to think about what to write. Normally she wouldn't participate in such blatant rule breaking right under the teacher's nose, but she was bored and she needed a distraction.

He said a lot of things. We were right about, what we thought he was. Kind of. I promised I wouldn't write anything about it down, so I'll have to tell you later.

She used her wand to send it back to Harry and grinned when it landed in his ear.

A few minutes later, the paper was headed for her ear. She pretended like she didn't notice it until the last second when she snatched it out of the air.

Binns gave her a look, but she just shrugged apologetically and he went back to his lecture.

Did he hurt you? Does he know who did?

Hermione sighed.

It wasn't him. He knows who did, but he had to take an oath that physically prevents him from telling anyone. Harry, he saved me, I'm sure of it. I don't know who hurt me and I don't know why. You think it's because of you and you're probably right. Blaise is one of the good guys. We can trust him.

She was careful to make sure that the note slid quietly onto his desk, not wanting to attract attention.

It came back to her in much the same way.

Do you love him?

Hermione looked up and met Harry's eyes, startled.

He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged.

I care about him. And I trust him.

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As soon as class was over, Hermione practically ran to the Transfiguration classroom.

Professor McGonagall was putting equations on the board.

"Is there something you need, Miss Granger?" she asked.

Hermione wondered what to say. She didn't like lying, especially to her Head of House.

"Well Professor, I need... uh, some things have happened recently, and I need time to..." she stopped with a sigh.

"I want to skip my last two classes and I have no good reason to give you," she mumbled, looking at the floor.

The silence was heavy as she felt McGonagall studying her.

"Very well, Miss Granger. Go on up to your room, and I'll inform your teachers that you're not feeling well."

Hermione looked up in surprise. The Professor gave her a pitying look and shooed her out of the classroom. As Hermione made her way back to the dorm, she got the distinct impression that McGonagall knew something that she didn't.

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She made herself comfortable on her bed, and pulled out Blaise's journal. It was very hard to not take notes, but she'd promised him she wouldn't.

The hours began to fly by as she immersed herself in the research of Daemon Zabini, Blaise's great-great-great-grandfather.

For the most part, it echoed what Blaise had already told her. Only, it was much more detailed. There was no way to determine if a male Zabini baby would be a dragon shifter, as Daemon named it. It was only after puberty before the symptoms began.

Super strength, an intense resistance to being bruised or cut and an enormous appetite were the most common signs. For the first six months, it was extremely difficult to control the transformations, and any strong emotion could bring on the change. There was a special potion that prevented them from shifting fully, therefore helping them to retain some control. Intense emotion, while on the potion, only resulted in a few physical changes such as eye and skin color. However, on the three nights of the full moon, all bets were off. Potion or no potion, they would shift into their Dragon forms, and take to the skies.

As Hermione read Daemon's description, she could almost imagine herself up there with him.

She was shocked to learn that though they were mostly invincible; they were very vulnerable during the time it took to transform back to human form. During that small space of time, it was very difficult for them to think or speak coherently. The dragon shifters became overwhelmed with hunger, and once full, they slept. It was also very dangerous to be around them during that time, as they had trouble tolerating anyone around them, but their mate. There was a severe warning that no one but their mate should attempt to touch them, until they had completed the change.

"Mate?" Hermione asked aloud with a sinking feeling.

A knock on the door made her look up. Blaise stuck his head in.

"Can I come in?" he asked, hesitantly.

She studied him for a moment.

"Why are you asking? You never have before."

Blaise shrugged and looked down at his shoes.

"I'm not sure how you feel about me now," he admitted.

"Because of the 'mate' thing?" she asked him.

His gaze met hers. "So you know, then."

"No, not really. I haven't got very far yet. Can you give me more time?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'll be in my room, when you're ready to talk," he said and shut the door.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her eyes. She had two hours before dinner and she wanted to be done with this by then. The next several pages just elaborated more on the changing and the potion. She took a minute to memorize it so that she could make it herself if the situation ever called for it.

Finally she found the section on mates. Hermione had to read that part four times before it really began to sink in.

Dragon shifters only have one mate, and it's for life. Once the bonding has taken place, it can never be undone. The mate's life is tied to that of the dragon shifter's, and should one die the other will quickly follow. Even before the bonding, the dragon shifter and his mate may share certain abilities including but not limited to telepathy and empathy.

That explained how Blaise was able to 'hear' her. Did that prove that she was his mate? Her head was pounding now, and part of her wanted to shut the book and forget everything that she'd read. But her desire to know more pushed her on and she finished the passage.

Once the dragon shifter has recognized his mate, he has one year to bond with her. If the bonding does not take place during the year, the dragon shifter will have passed up his chance for love and family. He will be impotent for the rest of his days and no one, not even his mate, will be able to ease his suffering.

Hermione felt tears sting her eyes and this time she did shut the book. She lay face down on her bed and cried. She sobbed out her frustration at how confusing her life had become. She was angry that she had no control over this, and for the first time since she had come to Hogwarts, she wished she was a muggle. Someone who could be oblivious to all of this mess and go to school, and fall in love without worrying about any magical consequences.

"Okay, Hermione, get a grip!" she growled to herself. She sat up and furiously wiped away her tears. It was time to think about this logically.

Blaise couldn't help what he was anymore than she could. According to this journal, they were meant to be together. If she bonded with him, they had a chance at true happiness. If she didn't, Blaise would never be happy, and Hermione had to admit that knowing he was out there miserable somewhere, she'd never be happy either.

So she would bond with Blaise. There wasn't any description of what the bonding actually required, but she was sure that it involved sex. The thought of having sex with Blaise was not in the least bit repulsive to her. And the more she thought about, the more excited she got. She cared for Blaise a great deal. She might even love him, and even if she didn't, it probably wouldn't be all that hard to do so.

He had heard her in his head over the holidays. That meant they had almost an entire year before the bonding had to be done. There was plenty of time to graduate first and slowly insinuate him into her life.

Hermione got out of bed, and stretched. With a small smile playing on her lips, she made her way to the bathroom. She took extra care with her face and hair, before deciding she was ready to face him.

Blaise was in his room, eating while reading from a book in his lap.

She entered the room without knocking and sat beside him on the floor.

He put away his book, and looked at her, expectantly.

"I'm not going to pretend like I'm thrilled about this. But the idea is not repulsive to me. I care about you, Blaise, and I'd do almost anything to help you out. I don't think that I'm in love with you just yet, but I think I could be. So, yes, I'll do it," she said, smiling at him.

His sigh of relief made her giggle and he pulled her to him so that she was sitting in his lap.

"Thank you, Hermione. I just... thank you," he said and lowered his lips to hers.

She was overcome by a sense of rightness, as his lips moved gently against hers.

No, this really wouldn't be such a bad thing.

He deepened the kiss, tilting his head and parting her lips with his own. She moaned as he caressed her tongue with his, and moved her arms up around his neck. She gasped in surprise and pulled away when she felt his hand slide up under her skirt to stroke her inner thigh.

"Blaise, not yet," she panted, sliding off of his lap and getting to her feet.

"When then? We don't have a lot of time," he said, looking up at her in confusion.

"What? We have a whole year."

"Actually, we have nine months. I realized you were my mate when I saved you from Draco on the train," he informed her.

"Okay, so nine months then. What's the hurry?" she asked.

"Well, it probably won't happen the first time..."

"What?"

"Hermione, did you read about how to bond with me?"

"I... no. I just assumed it meant sex," she said blushing.

He sighed in exasperation.

"Then you don't even know what you agreed to do. Go read some more." He ordered, turning his back on her.

"No, I want to hear it from you!" She cried stomping her foot.

"Fine. Bonding with me does mean sex, but it's not complete...official, unless you conceive."

Her jaw dropped in shock.

End Chapter 7