So a cold has taken me down, I just wish this allowed my brain to find time to write, alas healing is all it is able to accomplish presently.

This has been one of my favourite stories to write that I've ever written, so thank you for all the love you've given this little fic. It will be over four chapters, officially, I don't know why I even bothered to state a chapter count.

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Hermione walked down the corridor, mentally telling herself to not twist her sweaty hands in the fabric of the beautiful dress she wore. She usually only wore cotton dresses and skirts, so would regularly wipe her hands clean on them, but this silk was far too delicate for such treatment. She passed at least half a dozen rooms before she neared a doorway and heard Lord Draco's words.

"Please be sure that Lord Snape's room is well stocked with candles, I've heard he enjoys staying up late to read. And have My Lady's rooms been prepared? I want to make sure she is as comfortable as possible," Hermione heard him take a deep sigh. "Winky, I am worried. She is quite overwhelmed, and I think even scared. This is not the way I wanted to start this relationship with her."

Hermione took a deep, steadying breath, trying to control her own emotions. She knew it was unbecoming to be listening at the eaves, but his open kindness of her was hard to ignore.

"My Lord, I am sure given time she will grow to love it here, and hopefully love you," Hermione a warm, feminine voice speak, and she realised that Lord Snape's words were valid. She didn't know a lot about Lord Draco, but she did know that in addition to losing his mother when he was younger, his father spent the bulk of his time in London and that there was no additional siblings or family. From the way Lord Draco was speaking to the woman, there was more than just a Lord and staffers relationship between them. Her opinion of Lord Draco was changing rapidly.

"I know I sound mad, but I can smell her even now. I did not realise how quickly she would affect me, but I feel her changing me even now," Lord Draco said, and Hermione's heart quickened, he could smell her?

Before the pair could say more, Hermione took the last few steps forward until she stood in the doorway, her eyes automatically landing on Lord Draco who sat at a long wooden table, a goblet in front of him. She noticed that the woman was the same who had smiled at her widely when she had arrived. Hermione couldn't help but smile as well, maybe her future was not looking so dreary.

"My Lady," Lord Draco said jumping to his feet, the plump woman grabbed his drink just before emptied its contents on the wood. He walked to Hermione quickly, his cheeks stained with a blush of light pink. "Are you well, how can I help you?"

Hermione's nerves got the better of her, and before she could speak, she looked down, noticing how sharply dressed Lord Draco was. His leather boots a beautiful shade of brown that matched the brown of his waistcoat perfectly. "I was hoping that you could instruct me on what comes after."

With her eyes down, Hermione did not see the way Lord Draco's pupil's dilated, but he spoke to her softly, "Beg pardon my Lady, what did you say?"

Hermione tried to muster all of her courage and finally raised her eyes to look at her intended, "Lord Snape has explained some things to me, but I was hoping you might be able to inform me about what happens after we are husband and wife."

Lord Draco smirked at her and replied, his tone giving away his tease, "That's what I thought you had said." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek before he turned back around. "My Lady, this is our housekeeper, Winnifred Crouch, who manages our great Rockley Manor."

Hermione stepped forward as the woman curtsied to her, "My Lady is it is a pleasure to have another Lady of the home, and we hope you will be pleased with us. Please let me know if you ever need anything."

"Thank you, Miss Crouch, I will," Hermione said.

"Please, my Lady call me Winny, everyone does," the plump woman said.

"As you wish," Hermione acquiesced.

"Now my Lady, let us head to the library, a room I hope you love as much as Lord Snape says you should, and we will continue your education," Lord Draco said a smirk on his lips as he offered his arm to Hermione. She readily accepted his arm and allowed him to lead her out of the room and to continue along the corridor.

"My Lady, the dress you are wearing was specially made for you, is it to your liking or are there alterations you would have made to it?" Lord Draco asked as they made their way to the library. Hermione looked down at the delicate black lace again. She couldn't help but be fascinated by the quality and the intricacies of the design. The lace was more elegant than anything she owned, and it seemed to her that Lord Draco had seen to it himself that she receive it.

"It is beautiful my Lord, much lovelier than any other dress I own, I couldn't have picked a more beautiful dress," Hermione said her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink again.

"From now on my Lady, you will free to design and wear any number of fine dresses that would please you. Is that something you might enjoy my Lady?" Lord Draco asked his pale eyes looking over at her as he led her down another corridor.

"I am not sure, my Lord, I have only ever worn dresses that were practical, it will be lovely to have access to finer fabrics, thank you, my Lord," Hermione said. Her eyes were focused on her surroundings realising for the first time, that this wasn't just Lord Draco's home, as though she were nothing more than a visitor, but that this would soon be here home. Lord Draco had also invited her to decorate it however she saw fit, and suddenly she wasn't just nervous about what would come after they were married, alone in their bedchambers, but now she would also be expected to run an entire manor. She hoped she was up to the challenge and would not disappoint her intended.

"From your guardian's letters, I am sure that whatever you come up with, with be beautiful. I know it isn't proper, but I hope to have honesty between us, instead of skirting around proprietary, especially with what we will need to discuss in a few minutes. But I would like you to know that I hope you are happy here, and I would be very pleased if you would tell me immediately if there is anything I can do to make you happy," Lord Draco had stopped before a set of double doors. Fixed in the centre was the Malfoy crest which she recognised from the papers Lord Snape had shown her.

Hermione turned to face her attended, having to throw her neck back so she could look into his eyes. As she pulled her arm free of his, he reached for her hand, entangling their fingers while she looked at him, "Thank you, my Lord. I appreciate being able to converse without the need for social rules. Lord Snape has never been one to follow the rules of social decorum, and thus I am not familiar with the dance of words that is sometimes necessary for polite company."

"No, Lord Snape is not one to mince words when things need to be discussed," Lord Draco said, and the hand that wasn't within her own moved forward and brushed a stray curl back away from her face. "Well my Lady, this is the library. I was also told of your great love of books, similar in fashion to the man himself, so I hope you love this room. I had the staff in here for the last month working to prepare it for you. I'm afraid to admit that it is rarely used."

Without letting go of her hand, Lord Draco moved forward and swung the doors wide, and Hermione thanked her strong constitution because she was sure had she been weaker her intended would need to have smelling salts in his possession.

Hermione had always had a love of books, and that was before she had been in Lord Snape's care, a man who would happily fill his home with magnificent tombs of words until there was barely room to walk. But in addition to Hermione, Lord Snape shared the house with Mrs Sprout, his eccentric housekeeper, and gardener. The older woman had a love of all things that grew, and in her own badgering way she made sure that Lord Snape did not leave his books all over the home, they all were forced to share.

Thinking of her old housekeeper brought a pang of emotion to Hermione's heart, but it was quickly forgotten as she took a step into the beautiful museum of books. "This is – it is beyond words Lord Draco."

"I am pleased that you approve, like the rest of this home you are free to make any changes you want or feel are necessary." Lord Draco said still standing at Hermione's side, and though she wasn't looking directly at him, she could feel his eyes on her.

"I think it is rather perfect," Hermione stated simply, in addition to the towering bookshelves along the walls, there were low shelves scattered around the room, filled with so many texts she knew she could spend her life reading them.

"I know this is quite a wonderful distraction from the topic at hand, but do you still wish to learn more about what occurs between us as Husband and Wife," Lord Draco said his voice carefully measured which caused Hermione to turn and face him for the first time since they had entered the library.

Hermione nodded bringing those thoughts to the forefront of her mind again.

"If you would go sit by the window, over there," Lord Draco nodded towards a pair of chairs next to a large window of leaded glass. "I will go and collect a small selection of texts on the topic."

When Lord Draco returned, he carried three books, two of average size, and one that was so small she was sure it must be a diary. "These two," he said indicating the thicker texts. "Are textbooks on the subject of Alphas and Omegas, unfortunately, in my opinion, they have both been written by Alphas and therefore fail to grasp the point of an Omega. Which is why I brought this with me," he handed her the small diary sized text. She opened it to find neatly written handwriting. "This was written by my grandmother on my father's side. It has since been published, though limited as it seems most people don't care to learn the part of an Omega. However, because of my mother's urging, I have spent years learning it."

Hermione flipped through the pages and found that in addition to words there were a few diagrams, that brought heat to her cheeks again. "Thank you for this Lord Draco."

"It is the original, and quite a bit of her findings were published within the book I had sent to your guardian. Unfortunately, we do not have the time for you to read it all, before your heat. So why don't we begin with what you know about Alphas and Betas, and please my Lady do not hold back. While many might find some of the topics improper to speak of, there must always be the most honest of communication between us as Husband and Wife."

Hermione nodded and closed the text, instead rubbing the lavender linen covering of the text. It was signed by someone named Ophelia Malfoy, and Hermione's heart sped up when she realised, that her name would also soon change to Malfoy. She shook her head lightly and tried to focus on the many things she had heard over the years.

Swallowing Hermione began, "I have heard that – well that Alphas once they find or claim a woman that they lose all of their mental faculties and become quite mindless in their pursuit of carnal relations," Hermione's cheeks heated but she tried to bring forth some measure of bravery. "I have heard that many Alphas treat their Omegas as property, as little more than a slave, who is only there for their pleasure. That Omegas will fall under the spell of an Alpha's voice and cease to make decisions for herself."

Lord Draco remained quiet as Hermione continued, "I have heard of the biting that takes place, and I was told that Omegas will be left with marks over their entire bodies. A thing that is not acceptable around polite company, which results on the Omega being forced to stay at home more and more, and become more and more dependent upon her Alpha. I also heard that Alphas care only to – well that is they only care to – care to make an Omega pregnant for the rest of her life."

Hermione raised her eyes when Lord Draco hadn't spoken when a whole minute passed in silence. She found his eyes clouded and dark, and suddenly she was worried that she had spoken too honestly. "I am sorry my –."

Her words were silenced on her lips when Lord Draco flew from his chair, and his lips crashed against her own. They were soft and supple as they moved in a delicate dance against hers, and Hermione was soon breathless. When Lord Draco finally pulled back, they were both quiet again as they caught their breath, "You, my Lady, have nothing to be sorry for. It is I who should apologise, I had worried that if I pressed my attendance on you before today that you would feel overwhelmed. But instead you have spent your life hearing the worst of what Alphas are capable of, and yet you sit here, honestly sharing your fears with me, an Alpha who could be just as guilty of those sins as the ones you speak of."

"You are incredibly brave, my Lady, and I want you to know, that under no circumstances is that how I am, as an Alpha. I am very sorry for not having settled your fears earlier. Would you like to take tea while I silence your fears?" Lord Draco asked finally seated again.

Hermione nodded, "Yes, I would love tea."

Lord Draco stood and walked to the doorway where he used the bell pull and walked back to her, retaking his seat.

"You rang, Master," came a soft voice from the doorway. In the doorway stood the same older man that Lord Draco had spoken to outside when she had arrived.

"Yes, Dobson we would like tea, please," Lord Draco said smiling at the man.

Hermione was momentarily taken back, he honestly did treat his staff well. It was rear for anyone in the aristocracy to ask for things politely from their staff, and yet he did so. She could feel her heartwarming to him by each passing minute she was with him.

"Of course sir, would you care for anything to eat," Dobson asked his large green eyes on Lord Draco.

"Yes, bring anything that Poppy has already prepared," Lord Draco said, and he turned his attention back to Hermione.

"While we wait let me begin, if you have any questions at all, please do interrupt me," Lord Draco said smiling at Hermione. "I will first begin by addressing a few of your concerns and the false information you have been told."

"If I recall you first mentioned that Alphas might lose their ability to think when around their Omega or a woman they might claim, please correct me if I'm wrong. While I cannot speak from experience, my father has shared some of his experiences with me as well as what I have studied, and only a part of that is true," Lord Draco paused as the tea arrived and he prepared them each a cup. Once they were both set, he continued, "When an Alpha finds his mate, the Omega who fits best with him, he can become very focused on them. But that focus extends beyond just carnal relations, it also means that I will be very focused on your other needs, your protection, and your well-being. According to my father, it is similar in the way a parent is mindful of a child's care, but it feels different, as though an Alpha is compelled to worry about their Omega."

Hermione took a sip of tea, trying to hide her surprise at his explanation, that was not what she had ever heard. She was beginning to wonder if anything she had been told was the truth or an exaggerated tale to scare her.

"Omegas do go into heats, you will experience your first one soon, and during that time an Alpha ceases to exist in the world outside of the needs of an Omega. It is commonly understood that an Alpha of any social-rank will disappear during the time of his mate's heat because it is a time where the Omega's needs come before anyone else's. I do not mean to worry you, or to scare you, but during your heat, you will be quite obsessed with your own carnal needs, which I will see to, but in your obsession Omegas tend to forget about their other needs, such as eating and ablutions."

"Do you have any questions about anything I have thus explained?" Lord Draco said pausing to take a sip of his tea. Hermione shook her head, and he continued on. "I cannot say how an Alpha will feel about his Omega, as I have yet to claim you, but I am to understand that you will never be thought of as property. The descriptions I have read, and the stories from my father, have all lead me to believe that an Omega is to be cherished, worshipped, and loved about all else. You, an Omega, are a gift to an Alpha, and not all Alphas will find an Omega for themselves," Lord Draco leaned forward now and entwined his fingers with Hermione's. "I promise you, I could never view you as property Lady Hermione. I have waited for you to reach age for many years, I already feel as though I would turn myself inside out for you."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat, and she hiccuped. His eyes now a dark, molten grey were locked onto her own and she was sure that if a match were lit near them, they would surely catch fire with the heat that was shared between them.

She summoned a bit of bravery and leaning forward she closed her eyes, thankful when he closed the distance and his lips pressed against her own. The kiss was heated, raising the temperature in her body, but ended quickly when Lord Draco leaned back. "I would love to kiss you until we cannot breathe, but I fear that might keep us from our own wedding."

Hermione blushed and looked down as Lord Draco continued, "There is a curious phenomenon that occurs between an Alpha and Omega in regards to voice. I am told that once we are mated, you will be very aware of my voice and that yes, in some form I could order you to do things. But I hope you know I will never, ever allow anything to happen to you that might make you uncomfortable or would cause you harm. I have also read that in addition to voice, we will both be very aware of our scents."

Lord Draco began to laugh at the look on Hermione's face, and her cheeks flushed with his laughter, though the sound was very jovial and she would admit she would love to hear it more. "Not in a bad way, my Lady, but Alphas and Omegas are much more aware of their mate's natural scent, a thing that most cannot smell. You and I will be honed in on each other's, and only ours. You won't suddenly smell everyone or everything, at least that's what I've been told."

Hermione sighed a smile tugging at the corner of her lips with his explanation. She poured herself another cup of tea and offered the same to Lord Draco. She stored his preference for tea in her memory and sat back to let him continue.

"As for the biting and other marks, there is a claiming bite or mark, and that is on every Omega. It is the patch of skin that has been troubling you all day. During your first heat, I will claim you with a bite, it will draw blood, and you will also bite into me, as I'm told. Those bites will heal over time and become scars that should not be noticeable to most people. I have been told that some couples with continue to repeatedly bite them, during each heat, if that is the marks those rumors were indicating then yes, there will be that mark. As for other marks, I cannot speak to knowing of any others," Lord Draco paused and took a sip of his tea. He placed it carefully back on the tea tray and sat back his expression morphing. Hermione wasn't sure what she was reading in his eyes, but there was something almost feral in his gaze, but his features stayed fixed in the comforting mask he had been wearing since they entered the library.

"When it comes to the topic of pregnancy, I have read that Alphas do desire their mates to become pregnant as often as possible, and if history can be believed that is why we have Alphas and Omegas in the first place. However, as I stated before, I would do anything to make you happy, my Lady, and if there comes a time when you do not want children. I will make sure that we prevent them as much as possible."

Hermione's heart was beating a harsh rhythm against her ribs at his words, and his careful expression and voice that barely disguised his emotions almost broke her. She stood, thankful when his manners demanded that he arise with her. She took the step that was between them and lifted her head to gaze up at him, "Thank you, my Lord, for everything you have said and for the instruction you have given. I find myself much more confident in what is due to happen."

"I am glad, my Lady. When we marry, I promise to do all I can to prove to you what an Alpha should really be," Lord Draco said his hand coming up to cup her cheek as he softly brushed his lips against her own.


To be continued. . .