The door was the boundary.
Harry hesitated, his hand hovering over the door handle as he did a quick check over his Veela morale, the beast that was tamed for now.
For once, he would like to question Hermione's sanity. Just once. He never thought it would come to that. She was an intelligent person, combining his and Ron's intelligence would be incomparable.
Honestly, what was she up to?
He sighed, leaning his head on the door. Boundary. Limits.
This was crossing them. He could almost feel the darkening of his eyes as he thought of that alluringly warm body snuggled against him, her calm heartbeat that would lull him to his sleep, and who knows his Veela likes to wander in his sleep. He raked his frustrated hand through his equally frustrated hair as he clenched his fists, his attention going to the vanilla and cinnamon that was his Hermione. This was a test to his control. Not when Hermione did gave that inviting smile when she closed the door.
Harry sighed. Cross the periphery it is.
"I can't believe you're comfortable with this." Harry said closing the door behind him as he heard the dragging of the chair.
"I am not." Hermione shrugged, standing up from her study table and folding the parchment neatly.
It was a bit curious, "What's that?"
"A letter."
Harry rolled his eyes, "To?"
"Fleur." Hermione replied nonchalantly, placing her quills and ink and shifting out from her chair as Harry's gaze attended to her attire. She wore amber orange shorts of modest length with black tank top.
Hermione seemed to be doing the same thing, "We match." Hermione grinned as Harry nervously pulled his dark orange shirt and black shorts, "Well, sort of."
Harry stared as Hermione walked to her bed, the stiffness of her posture telling him how awkward it was for her too.
He frowned. She is trying her best for him. What was he doing?
"Hermione…"
Her reply was an easy hum.
"… Do you think this will work? What if I doend up hurting you?"
Hermione froze. She slowly turned to him, her somber gaze meeting his worried black ones. It somehow dulled the amber in her irises. Harry didn't let himself be distracted. It was pretty difficult though.
"I…" She sighed, "I don't know if this is going to work or not, to be honest. I feel like an idiot." She gave a small chuckle, "And… I just want to do everything in my power to deal with this."
Harry snorted, "Apart from your decision of inviting me here, I don't think you can do anything idiotic even if you want to."
She spared him a glare, but he continued, "You're doing this for me, but what about you? I can hurt you."
Those words almost shattered him with realization. The girl he wants to protect yet he's the one she should be careful with! He can hurt her – in the cruelest way, if he lost control.
Harry's unseeing stare suddenly focused on Hermione reflective gaze.
"That's why I am doing this." Hermione said quietly, her expression changing into one of steely determination when she continued, "I am doing this because I want to. Plus, I think you might get used to my scent-"
"I honestly doubt that." Harry muttered.
Hermione pretended that she didn't hear him, "-and moreover, I know you Harry. Not the Veela, but you. You won't hurt me." She walked to him, grabbing his hands and never breaking their gaze, "And it was always 'we' Harry, so you've got to be kidding me when you say it's only you, that you're alone in this. Because trust me, there are people who care a lot about you."
Hermione gave him a soft peck on lips. It was the barest of touch, but it enveloped Harry with such a peace that all his doubts vanished for now. He will do anything to be in control, if it's dangerous to Hermione.
"Now, Harry James Potter," Hermione said bossily, dragging him to the bed, "I don't fancy having my first kiss and my first fight on the same day, thank you very much."
Harry was too happy to respond with a smarter retort. Hermione pushed him on the bed, climbing the bed from the other side as she snuggled under the comforter.
"Good night." Hermione mumbled, her mind hardly registering his reply.
Warmth of strange satisfaction and gratification enveloped Harry, slowly lulling him out of his peaceful slumber, shifting against a warm – very nice smelling – and comfy… body.
Oh right. He wasn't sleeping alone.
But with… who?
Harry's emerald eyes cracked open.
The first thing Harry focused on was Hermione's deep frown, which really did surprise him, seeing how close her face was. It made him realize that her arm was securely binding her waist – dangerously close to her arse – while his other hand…
"Great – shite, sorry." Harry pulled his hand that was wandering over her inner thigh, not to mention close to the source of the scent that almost knocked him over with its intensity.
That was when he noticed Hermione wasn't frowning at him.
She was… restraining herself?
"Would you…" Hermione's nostrils flared, "Would you mind switching off your pheromones?"
Oh great…
Hermione released her long whoosh of breath Harry didn't even realize she was holding when Harry used his Veela magic to switch it off. The blanket of silky warmth that was erupting from his body was pulled back almost immediately, seeping inside his body.
"I am… sorry?" Harry wanted to bash his head on the nearest object, really, he made it sound like a bloody question!
Hermione didn't answer for a minute, her head between her knees.
"Quite a good morning call." She finally said in a breathy whisper.
Harry didn't know how to reply. He was only hoping that she wouldn't hex the living daylights off of him – before rejecting him, or worse – kicking him out of her bed.
He chuckled; he's starting to sound like Hermione!
"You think… you think this is funny Potter?" Hermione gasped disbelievingly. Oops… last name… never in his life did she use his last name on him, and it really didn't sound good…
"Er… no, not really-"
"Imagine being assaulted by the feelings of humping the one sleeping beside you! Then you'll understand." Hermione groaned, shutting off her alarm clock which could only reach its first ring as she stomped on her feet and made a walk for a bath.
"We need to do something about this! Okay Harry? I won't wake up like this everyday!" Hermione shouted from the bathroom.
Well, the 'getting-used-to' plan couldn't have gone any better.
"Your first class is Divination." Luna murmured to Ron.
Ron stopped stuffing his face as he cocked an eyebrow, "And?"
Luna sighed. She couldn't do this… why was she feeling this… hesitance? He already knew about eighth year and seventh year being combined. This is… frustrating.
It all revolved around Ron, Luna smiled, he made her feel things she never had an affinity to.
Ron looked a little concerned now as he dropped his fork, "Tell me," he murmured back, glancing back at a brooding Harry and a nonchalant Hermione, "Is everything alright?"
Luna shook her head, "Everything is fine. There's something I want to tell you later."
Ron nodded, looking at her a second longer, then continuing with his eggs on a thoughtful pace.
Luna didn't know why, but she felt lighter than before. She cast a glance at a sulking Harry, whose eyes seem to flickering at Hermione's after every minute, sighing as if it was a physical pain for him to see his girlfriend like this.
"Something wrong with you two?" Luna asked.
Hermione raised her head from the scrambled eggs she was mercilessly stabbing as Harry gave her a very relieved and grateful look.
"It's nothing…" Hermione sighed.
"But you should at least eat your breakfast." Harry wheedled.
Hermione gave him a look of huge disbelief.
"You're not eating your breakfast either." She snapped.
"He can't." Luna said, before Harry could respond, "Not until his mate starts eating."
Both Harry and Hermione looked surprised at that.
"That wasn't in the book." Hermione bit her lip, glancing at Harry and hastily fumbled with her jammed toast and took a bite.
Harry's scrunched up expression finally slackened as he looked at her, ensuring Hermione took few more bites as he pulled the nearest plate and started filling his plate, "Makes sense. I can't pinpoint it, but it's like, there inside me."
"Like what?" Hermione, Luna and Ron asked curiously.
Harry shifted uncomfortably, "Er… I don't really know how to explain this… but, I just can't do it until she eats, as if I am barred from it, my prime concern is that she should at least eat properly."
Ron's ginger eyebrows rose almost to his hairline while Hermione flushed pink. Luna noticed Harry slight darkening of eyes as she blushed, his instinctual reaction as his face angled in such a way that his nose was in the direction of Hermione's face. Luna was sure he didn't even realize. Her eyes darted to Ginny, who was gazing the couple with an impassive look.
"Wow, mate, you're so whipped." Ron said tactlessly.
Hermione's eye twitched, "That's quite an interesting way to put it Ronald."
Ron shrunk with the power of Hermione's glare. Luna could understand her boyfriend though, she was scary sometimes.
Hermione pressed her lips, checking her watch as she stood up, "I'm stealing your girlfriend for a while."
"Whoa. Wait. Where? Why?" Ron protested.
Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't answer.
"Bloody women." Ron muttered.
"Talk to Sparks," Luna said when Hermione was finished with her last night tirade, nodding her head sagely, "He will help."
"I thought about it." Hermione sighed, gazing at the floor of the viaduct entrance they chose for their talk, their first class Arithmancy 30 minutes away.
Luna frowned, "But?"
"I-I am just embarrassed to ask." Hermione said with a blush.
Luna shook her head, "I think you should bid farewell to embarrassment if you have to look through the solution of this problem."
Hermione sighed again, leaning against the wall. That was the problem, it confused her. It confused her so much, the Veela characteristics didn't have any holes, and every single trait seemed to only pronounce his… his Veela-ness more. But she had to do… something!
"What?" Luna asked as Hermione brightened.
Why didn't she think of that before!? "How about Occlumency?"
Luna perfectly understood her, "Good plan if you want to restrain Harry's Veela charms."
Hermione gave her a one armed hug, "Aren't you the Ravenclaw."
Luna grinned.
"So what's with you two?" Hermione asked, leaning against the wall, shifting slightly as to settle herself properly, "You were constantly bugging Ron by blurting out something."
"How did you know?"
Hermione shrugged, "I may look like I was thinking, but I was observing you two."
"Well, I didn't tell him you two are going to join to the date." Luna said in a somnolent voice, "If he's okay with that when you two were…"
"Just ask him." Hermione assured her, thinking about confronting Harry, "It will be fine."
Both of them bid their good bye as Hermione walked away, pulling out the letter to Fleur as she crossed the bridge to the Owl tower. The sooner she posted the letter, the better. She wanted to know how she was doing after being announced pregnant, but she didn't fail to mention to share her experience as a female Veela, and special care she should take as a mate. Maybe she should also start practicing Contraceptive spells.
Hermione blushed as a rather vivid image of Harry and her doing… inappropriate things flashed in her head.
She emphatically shook her head, listening to her mind rather than giving in to her hormones, not after that embarrassing episode of the morning. Maybe she should start writing a journal to help poor mates like her, who would be feeling as bloody confused as she was feeling. Every remedy she thought about seemed useless.
Hermione bristled. She was confident the Harry can get used to the scent. The school owl flapped its wings, soaring high in the slightly cool breeze that softly caressed Hermione's face, the sunlight not enough to brighten the day and her mood.
Hermione walked back as she processed what she might talk about with Professor Sparks, about Harry… and those stupid pheromone thingy of his-
Hermione almost toppled over the guy she rammed into as she steadied herself, gripping the man's sweater as she opened her eyes.
She let go as if burnt, "Malfoy."
Draco cringed, "Granger."
Hermione shuffled, more worried about Malfoy's safety, but was again blocked by his body, she shifted to the right – to be blocked again.
Hermione finally gave an exasperated sigh, grabbing Draco's shoulder and circling him to the other side. Before she could make up her mind to walk away, her curious eyes landed on the letter.
"Posting it to your Mum?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.
Draco stiffened.
"Sorry. Er, delete what I asked just now." Hermione said with discomfort, swirling around, her hair hitting his face, "Sorry!" she said frantically, without turning her back.
Unable to bear the heaviness anymore, Hermione didn't care whether she looked like she was running. It was really awkward!
"No." Hermione froze at his reply, "No, I didn't mind. It's, eh, fine to ask."
She turned around slowly, offering him an unsure smile. What happened to the time they talked in the train – it felt totally strange now! She knew the answer, but was hesitant to acknowledge that the last episode with Harry had created some tension between the three of them.
Hermione walked away with an absent mind, worried about this new development. She didn't really want to involve Malfoy, no. Ron was already enough. She had to be careful as to how she talked to males, all the physical proximity…
Needless to say it was all that remained in her mind during the Arithmancy classes.
Before she knew, Transfiguration finally arrived.
"Hey." Harry greeted when she tapped his shoulder, patting the seat beside him, stiffening when she sat down.
"That's strange." Harry said gravelly, his eyes darkening as he gazed at her face which made Hermione anxious for some reason.
"What?" Hermione asked with confusion.
Harry's voice thickened, more on the edge of a growl as his eyes darkened deeper, claws were beginning to grow and his lips curled into a dangerous displeasure, "I almost didn't recognise your scent. It's mixed with…" Harry's gripped her wrist, "Something familiar… and there's a scent of a…"
Man… Hermione gasped. Malfoy!
Thankfully, Professor Sparks chose the right time to enter.
Or maybe not.
What would she do now? Hermione tried to scoot away when Harry instinctively leaned down to take a deep sniff, a low growl erupting from his throat. The grip on her hand got tighter, almost to the point of hurt.
Her soft groan of pain somewhat knocked him back to his senses, slowly letting go of her hand, yet she felt his penetrating onyx gaze on her face as she looked ahead.
"Who were you with?" Harry asked in a restrained voice, almost trembling with command as he gripped the table.
"I wasn't with anyone Harry." Hermione whispered in her most normal voice. Oh why did she have to literally run into Malfoy…
Harry inconsiderably relaxed as Sparks turned to the blackboard, his head leaning at the teacher's direction, "I am trying… but the Veela is angry…" Harry groaned.
Hermione blinked in understanding, "Should I take him to the Hospital Wing?" She asked Sparks
"No," Harry muttered, beads of sweat forming on his temple, "I'm fine."
What was he restraining anyway? Hermione thought with fear. Hunting and beating the shite out of Malfoy, marking her as his, or destroying the whole bloody classroom?
"He says…" Harry fisted his hands, a soft groan of a complaining table which was being mercilessly gripped by him reaching her ears, "Touch me."
That will help? "Okay." Hermione tried to scoot closer to him.
"No." Harry's protest sounded almost like a quiet snarl, if that was viable to achieve, "Keep that distance, that scent will do no good. Just touch me like that."
How to touch him like… what? Hermione didn't know what to do or how to start, but instead of feeling utterly useless like before, she just did what her instinct drove her to. She placed a hand on his knee, softly caressing it.
"Oh, Harry…" Hermione sighed, "I really didn't do anything. I will explain it all to you after the class, so please, calm down for now."
She hardly registered what she said, her caress turning into a massage – his trembling stopped. Hermione grabbed his hand, threading her fingers through his.
"That's better." Harry gasped. He used his other hand to pull her hand of his knee, yet dragging their busy hand underneath the desk, away from prying eyes.
The class went on without any further hitch.
"It was an interesting class, wasn't it?" Hermione said with a smile, capping her quill and packing her bag. Well, maybe it didn't dissipate the tension that was starting to cloud. She almost gasped at a threatening look in Harry's black eyes. She really worried about Malfoy now.
"We need to talk." Harry said darkly.
"Er… Miss. Granger?"
Hermione turned around to find Professor Sparks standing, a hesitant smile lighting his handsome features.
"Yes, sir?"
Sparks shook his head with a laugh, "Sir? Nevermind, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"She's coming with me." Harry said in a more sober voice, gripping her hand, "You two could talk later."
"Harry." Sparks said, the light tone dropping a notch or two, replaced by a more coaxing but a warning undertone, "You can stay outside if you want. I just want to talk to her about her problems which I think I can help her with."
Harry looked at him impassively.
He dropped her hand.
"Fine." He snarled again, racing out of the classroom in that freakish speed of his, making Hermione jump.
"He doesn't like me, does he?" Sparks said with a sigh.
Hermione shook her head, "It's not that… well, I don't really know what it is – but it's definitely not that."
Sparks gave her an amused glance. He walked to his office, climbing up the stairs, "Let's talk."