13 July 2002
Draco and Hermione had fallen into a wonderful weekend routine since she had essentially moved into Malfoy Manor. They would often sleep late, and whoever woke first would start the morning's activities . Brunch would be served at 11am, and Andromeda was frequently present, little Teddy in tow. The Potters made an appearance when they could, but they were often at the Burrow. On Saturdays, Hermione would open the apothecary for a few hours in the afternoon, but Sundays were free days.
On this particular Saturday morning, Draco woke early and went into the hallway. He summoned Darcie to find out how things were going at Hermione's house.
"Oh, Master! It is looking wonderful! The bed is assembled, and the photos is shipped off to Mr. Weasley, and the sheets and blankets is arriving today! Darcie and Tiffy will go to Mistress Hermione's after brunch is through and clean the whole house from top to bottom!" The elf squeaked, overly excited.
Draco smiled at her kindly. "That's wonderful. Make sure there are some fresh flowers and take a few of my things there. Toiletries, some clothes, anything I could need if I stay the night. I'm not sure where we'll be spending our time."
The elf nodded enthusiastically and Disapparated with a tiny crack, and he went back into the bedroom. He couldn't wait to take Hermione home tomorrow evening, but they had to get through most of the weekend first.
They had been up late into the night, their lust all-consuming. He wanted to let his Omega sleep, but she looked so enticing. The sun was starting to streak in through the windows, and her face was softly lit. She was on her back, her hair a mess around her head, and the sheets had slipped below her breasts. His eyes fixated on her nipples, and he knew he couldn't wait. They could sleep tonight.
Draco stripped off the pyjama trousers he had put on and climbed back into bed. Hermione instinctively turned towards him, and he pulled her on top of him. She groaned sleepily and nuzzled her face into his bare chest. Her core was slick against his erection, and he gently rolled his hips up, rocking against her. Another groan came from her, but this one seemed to be a little more sexual in nature. His hands moved between their bodies, seeking access to the breasts that had gotten him into this predicament. When he started teasing her nipples, she ground her slit against his length, coating it in her arousal.
"Good morning, love," he said, a sultry tone in his voice. "Is there anything you wanted from me this morning?"
She lifted her head and met his eyes. "You woke me up, and you were already hard. I'm assuming there is something you want from me, you insatiable beast. I only fucked you three times last night."
Draco laughed. "That's true, but you were in my bed and all naked and the sheets were below your tits."
"I understand now," Hermione chortled. "You're like a teenage boy when it comes to tits sometimes."
His only response was to pull her closer, taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking hard. She moaned and writhed against him. He released the suction and gently blew on it, hardening it further.
"Don't act like you're not into this, my little Omega. You're just as horny as I am in the morning," he taunted before moving his attentions to her other breast.
Hermione tried to arch up out of his reach, but he pulled her back down. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as he tormented her nipple, and he could feel her pussy getting even more slick.
That's it, love, get nice and wet for me. So slick and hot and tight.
The Legilimency really was quite convenient when he didn't want to stop pleasuring his witch with his mouth, or vice versa.
Ah, Gods, Draco. Please. Please, Alpha, I need to come.
At her declaration, he sat up and pulled her legs around his waist, somehow managing to keep her nipple in his mouth. One of her hands moved between them, and she held his cock steady so she could slide down onto it. She rocked her hips, slowly working her way down his shaft until she had taken all of him. They both released shaky breaths, feeling the rush of pleasure in duplicate when their bodies fully joined.
Draco placed one hand on the mattress and wrapped the other arm around Hermione's waist. He started to move, to stroke in and out of her. His eyes locked on her, traveling from her beautiful face framed in sleep-rumpled curls down to her nipples, hardened from his attentions, down to where he could see her body accepting his, his prick disappearing inside of her. The visual stimuli intensified his need to take her. She was his.
His Omega.
Hermione sensed the change in him, and she started riding him faster. Her moans and pants were coming out closer together, her arousal ratcheting up that much higher.
Alpha! Alpha, please, take what you want from me. I'm yours. I want to please you. Fuck me as hard as you like. Bite me, claim me, whatever you want. I'm yours.
With her declaration, Draco couldn't hold back anymore. He pulled her off his lap and tossed her onto the bed. He pinned both of her small wrists above her head with one of his hands and settled himself in the cradle of her hips. She arched her pelvis up towards him, begging to be filled with him again. He obliged, guiding his cock back inside of her. His mouth found her neck and his tongue stroked over her gland lovingly.
The taste of her skin was nearly enough to make him come, but he wanted to get her there with him first.
When Draco started licking and sucking on her scent gland, Hermione nearly convulsed — her mind was quickly fading, leaving only her body present. It moved with Draco's, keeping pace with his hard thrusts and taking all he was willing to give her. But she couldn't form a coherent thought, couldn't speak more than one word if she tried. She heard moans in her voice, mixed with strangled cries of both Alpha and Draco intermittently, but she didn't recall consciously deciding to say anything.
As if he could sense she'd fallen down into subspace again, Draco broke through the fog.
Love, are you alright? Is this too much?
No! Please don't stop. I'm going to come so hard. Please, Alpha, I need it. I need you. Keep going. You can go harder if you want.
Draco didn't fuck her any harder than he had been before his mental intrusion, but his level of care added a whole additional layer of intimacy for her. He was a perfect Alpha, checking in to make sure she was okay with what was going on even if she couldn't respond verbally. He didn't just keep taking from her because it felt amazing for him. No, he wanted to make sure she was in the moment with him.
My Alpha. Mine. He knows how to care for me and keep me safe. He knows how to keep things from going too far. He doesn't take what I'm not willing to give. Perfect, perfect Alpha. Filling me and giving me everything I need.
Within another minute, Hermione was screaming and shaking, her scent bursting out of her like he had sunk his teeth into her neck. She knew he hadn't; he would never do it without days of serious conversation first. Especially after what had happened with Cormac, she knew Draco would never make that decision in the heat of the moment.
"Fuck, Hermione, I don't think you've ever squeezed me that tight," he growled. "I'm right behind you, love. I'm going to knot any second now."
And then she felt it, stretching her and filling her tight walls to capacity. It still seemed impossible sometimes, no matter how many times they'd had sex. His mouth moved back to her neck and he released her wrists, opting to grab her legs and pull them higher so he could sink even deeper before he came. After having the best orgasm of her life, Hermione just moved with him, allowing him to set the pace and depth to chase his own release.
She watched his face, completely enraptured. His blond hair fell into his eyes and his pupils were blown wide, obscuring most of their silvery depths. His scent rolled off of him in waves, and she felt the magic coursing through his veins. It reached out and touched hers, and she knew the bond was just aching to be completed. They were getting so close to her heat, and she knew they would be in a frenzy until then.
After he came, he let her legs fall back to the bed and sank down on top of her. While he was much heavier, she found his weight bearable, maybe even enjoyable. The warmth coming off of his body was absolutely wonderful. She tilted her head up and sucked on his neck, causing his still-swollen cock to twitch inside of her.
"Oh, so that's how it's going to be?" he asked playfully. "Don't you worry, my little Omega. As soon as I can fuck you again, I plan to."
Bliss. Sheer bliss. That's what weekend mornings had become for Hermione. It was a wonder they ever left the bedroom.
When they finally made their way downstairs at half past eleven, Narcissa smirked at them. Hermione felt her cheeks color; this was one of the reasons she was desperate to live in her own home again. She wasn't quite comfortable with how open Draco's mother was when it came to teasing them about their sex life. There was a half-eaten scone on Narcissa's plate, and Hermione knew she was going to make a somewhat awkward comment.
"Draco, dear, I wasn't sure how much longer the pair of you would be, so I had Tiffy bring me a scone. Do you think we can have brunch now, or will you and Hermione need to be excused again?"
I fucking knew it. It was like I had given her a cue card.
Draco's face reddened a bit. "Of course we can have brunch, Mother. You could have started without us if you were hungry."
Narcissa waved a perfectly manicured hand. "Nonsense. Just keep the time in mind on the weekends in the future, yes?"
Draco just nodded, clearly not wanting to pick a fight or prolong the awkward conversation with his mother. Hermione took a deep breath and spoke.
"And how are you this morning, Narcissa?"
"Oh, I'm quite well. I slept soundly and I have plans with Mrs. Parkinson and Mrs. Flint. We're taking a Portkey to Paris to do some shopping!" she replied, her face breaking out into a wide grin at the mention of shopping.
"And by Mrs. Flint, do you mean Marcus' mother? Or Pansy?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the polite conversation up.
The food appeared on the table and, as usual, there was way too much of it. Narcissa started scooping some scrambled eggs onto her plate. "Pansy, of course. Marcus' mother was, quite unfortunately, killed during the war."
Hermione froze. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry. I've put my foot squarely in my mouth."
"It's quite alright, dear. It was quite a few years ago, and you had no reason to know," Narcissa explained.
Hermione focused on filling her plate with her normal toast and fruit. She plucked a strawberry off her plate and bit into it. She felt Draco's eyes on her, and she turned to face him. She smirked and took another bite. There was heat in his gaze, even though they had just finished shagging before coming downstairs. She knew his sense of smell was stronger than hers, and she had been able to smell the sweet juice of the strawberry after she bit into it.
You naughty little lioness… I know what you're up to.
Well, I need my Alpha to keep me from being a wanton little Omega…
Draco snickered and then she placed her hand on his thigh under the dining table, drawing circles with one of her fingers. Hermione noticed Narcissa eyeing them carefully, and she nearly laughed.
"Hermione, dear, are you working this afternoon?" Narcissa asked.
"I am. Just for a few hours."
"Such a pity! You could've come along to Paris with us!" Her focus shifted to her son. "What will you be doing, Draco?"
"I have to run out and take care of a few things in Diagon Alley. I'm stopping at Gringotts. Do you need anything from the vaults?"
Narcissa shook her head. "No, I was there just a few days ago. Besides, you know that I basically only take from the Black family vault now."
Hermione continued eating, starving from the morning's exertions. She knew she wouldn't be eating until she returned from work that night since Saturdays were generally busy at the apothecary. While school wasn't back in session yet, many witches and wizards flooded the village on weekends to do their shopping. Pain potions, Pepper-Ups, and other day-to-day remedies flew off the shelves. Also, her friends would drop in from time to time, visiting with her during slow periods. She didn't think anyone would be popping by today, especially since she'd seen both Harry and Ginny earlier that week, but she never really knew.
After brunch concluded, Narcissa took her leave, heading to the Parkinson Mansion before they departed for Paris. Draco stood from the table, holding his hand out to her. Hermione took it and was pulled into a casual embrace, his lips planting a kiss on top of her head. She heard him inhale deeply, likely checking to make sure she was sufficiently drenched in his scent, and he sighed.
"Are you and Padma going to hire others to work the weekend soon?"
Hermione groaned, preparing to have the same argument they'd just had two weeks ago when she had gone in on a Sunday. "We're going to have to, but I don't know how long it'll take to get them up to speed."
"I want to have free days with you," he began. "I love seeing you every day and sleeping beside you every night, but I want to be able to take you away for a weekend, or go to Diagon Alley together, or just lounge around all day."
I know. I want that, as well. But I shouldn't. I should be focused on the business and making sure everything is running properly. I don't want to go to work today. I want to spend the day with you.
"I know, Draco, but—"
He silenced her with a kiss. "You don't have to justify anything. Just promise me that you'll take a small step back eventually. We lost so much time together. I don't want to lose any more."
Hermione felt her heart melt, knowing he actually cared and wanted to spend time with her rather than letting her spend all of her time at work. She was shocked that he hadn't given the same sullen attitude like last time; he understood her need to get things in order and would give her time to do it. Draco was learning from his mistakes and realizing he couldn't just pout or glare and get his way with her, Alpha/Omega dynamic or not.
A man who understands me and actually pays attention — what a novel concept!
She rewarded him with a deeper kiss, reaching up and running her fingers through his hair. He let out a small growl and pulled her flush against his body. By the time they parted, Hermione felt breathless. When he looked her in the eye, she felt his longing and happiness, his adoration.
"We'll continue that when you get home, yeah?" Draco said with a smirk.
She just smiled and nodded, feeling like anything she said would somehow take away from the moment they'd just had.
After Hermione left for the apothecary, Draco put on wizarding robes and made his way to London. He stepped through the Floo in The Leaky Cauldron, brushing the soot from his clothes. He felt eyes on him, but the sensation wasn't as disconcerting as it had been previously. They felt less disdainful and more curious than anything. He was sure this was because of his relationship with Hermione.
Moving confidently through the crowded pub and then the street, he arrived at Gringotts. He had a specific reason for coming here alone, and he was glad that neither his mother nor Hermione had asked him about it. In addition to the mountains of Galleons in the Malfoy vault, there were countless pieces of jewelry and unset gems. He knew Hermione wasn't fully divorced yet, but he'd decided early on that he wanted to create an original ring for her, rather than using an heirloom or something that could be bought in any jewelry store. He just needed to figure out what he wanted to use.
The ride down to the vault made him feel ill; his anticipation coupled with the breakneck speed of the cart had his stomach roiling. When they arrived at the Malfoy vault, he used his wand to create a small cut on his hand and pressed his palm to the sealed entrance. The door melted away, recognizing his blood and allowing him to enter.
Draco grabbed some Galleons and made his way over to where the jewelry and gems were stored. He searched through, trying to find something that reminded him of Hermione. He immediately set aside emeralds and rubies — no Gryffindor, no Slytherin. He wanted this to be about their union, not what had separated them throughout the years. If he added both emeralds and rubies, it would look like fucking Christmas, and he wasn't keen on that, either. He was left with sapphires and diamonds. Sorting through all of them, he chose a large, oval-shaped sapphire. Weasley had given her a diamond, and he didn't want to do the same.
Knowing it would be easier to let a jeweler choose accenting stones, Draco left the vault. He had a design in mind, and he knew where to have it made. He just had to slip into the store unnoticed; he didn't want any speculation in the gossip rags, and he knew that everyone was waiting for Hermione to get pregnant now that her Omega status had been revealed, and a proposal or engagement would fuel a rumour. He'd have to Floo directly into the shop early on a weekday to prevent a sighting.
He came out of Gringotts with a wide smile on his face, and he walked down the street to Theo's office, wanting to see if he was available to catch up a bit. He knew he had to find out where they stood with the Alpha/Omega laws; Hermione had been wondering if Theo needed anything from her.
When he entered the office, he found Blaise sitting across from Theo and they were both laughing. It had been over a month since Draco had seen Blaise other than in passing. Both of his former housemates grinned when they saw him.
"Granger let you out of bed today then?" Blaise quipped.
Draco narrowed his eyes. "She's working. We don't spend all of our time shagging, you know."
"I wasn't saying that at all, mate. Just a stupid joke. How've you been?"
"I'm excellent. Tomorrow, I'll be even better. I'll be bringing Hermione back to her house, and she'll be able to settle things with her wanker of an ex-husband," Draco answered.
"So you told her that you paid him then?" Theo questioned.
Draco shook his head. "No, I wasn't planning to until after everything is set in stone."
Theo and Blaise exchanged a glance, and then smirked.
"You're going to be hexed so hard. I hope she picks a good one," Blaise snorted.
Draco took a deep breath and held it in, knowing that Blaise was likely right, but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing it. He stayed silent, and the other two seemed hesitant to say anything else.
"So what brings you to my office, Malfoy?" Theo ventured.
Grateful for the change of subject, Draco said, "Hermione was wondering if you need anything from her yet. We know you're going to the Wizengamot in August about the Alpha/Omega laws, and we want to help out in whatever way we can."
"Actually, yes. I need her to give a written statement about her interactions with known Alphas over the years, including you and McLaggen. I think it could be helpful to have at least one Omega's perspective. I'll have a Healer at St. Mungo's review it and give their thoughts," Theo mused.
"She has a whole journal she's kept throughout the years, so I'm sure it won't be a problem for her to put that together rather quickly," Draco stated.
Theo looked like he was still thinking, so Draco let the conversation halt. After a moment, the solicitor spoke.
"Draco, would you be willing to talk to a Healer, as well? I've been thinking, and you're the most atypical Alpha I've come across in my research."
"How so?" Draco asked.
"Well, for starters, you let her go at the end of sixth year. Most Alphas, fully matured or not, wouldn't be willing to do that, regardless of the circumstances. And you stayed away from her after the war. That doesn't seem normal, either. There aren't a ton of anecdotes, but I'm wondering if there is something different about you," Theo explained.
"Of course I will, but I don't really think it's anything medically or magically different. I just — I didn't really know why I felt the way I felt. I wanted her, and I still loved her just as much as I had before, but there was no… sense of entitlement?" Draco struggled to articulate his thoughts. "I wanted her to be mine, but I also didn't feel like I deserved her after everything that happened. I wanted her to be happy, and that's also one of the main drives for an Alpha. She seemed happy, so I didn't let myself anywhere near her."
Theo was writing down notes as Draco spoke, likely analyzing everything in his shrewd way. He always seemed to sort through other people's thoughts and feelings with ease, finding their true motivations and desires.
"Do you think you'd have acted differently if you had known about the Alpha/Omega thing?" Blaise asked.
Draco's first impulse was to say no. No, it wouldn't have made a difference. But, when he started thinking about it, he found he wasn't entirely sure.
If he had known that Hermione required an Alpha to meet her needs and see her through her heats with no frustration and pain, would he have been willing to let Ron Weasley marry her?
He didn't think so — he already felt guilty that she'd been trying to see herself through with toys rather than a person. He was planning on making that up to her in any way he could.
If he had known what their connection was, that it was truly a soul bond, would he have been able to ignore it?
Those bonds were rare. So fucking rare. They couldn't be ignored forever, and that was evident now.
Noticing the dazed look on his face, Theo said, "Ah, so you think it does make a difference. If you'd known, you would've gone to her."
Draco swallowed hard and nodded. "I don't think I would've been able to stay away."
With a grin, Theo stated, "Just as I thought. It's at least partially nature versus nurture."
"What do you mean?" Blaise questioned.
Theo looked more excited than a Ravenclaw on the first day of lessons. "Okay, so, here's what we know so far," he began. "Draco is an Alpha, and he's already partially soul bonded with Granger. She's pissed at him after the war and gets swept up into things with Weasley. She knows about their designations and that there is some kind of bond between them, but she doesn't really understand it because it's not something that happens between Muggles. She likely thinks she's just lusting after Draco because things were so hot between them back in sixth year."
"Okay. But—"
"Don't interrupt me, Blaise! I think I've figured all this out. So, Granger marries Weasley, thinking they're truly in love or whatever, and she tries to ignore the part of herself that wants Draco. Meanwhile, Draco still wants her, but he's feeling so fucking guilty about everything he did during the war, and he doesn't realize that his feelings are so far from normal because he refuses to tell anyone about the Gryffindor-that-got-away," Theo continued, standing up and starting to pace while he spoke.
"He thinks he's just lovesick. I mean, who wouldn't be? This is Granger we're talking about, not just any normal witch. She's the dream—"
"Theo," Draco growled. "Seriously, get to the bloody point. I'm beginning to think you're in love with her."
"Right. So you think you're lovesick, and you do everything in your power to avoid seeing her. Since you don't see her, you don't smell her and get hit with the pheromones and vice versa. You're both able to ignore your feelings since you don't have a chance to act on them, and neither of you really understands the depth of them, either," he explained. "However, Hermione knows she's going to see you at the Victory Ball because you've been there every year. She's probably watched you from across the room, and I'm guessing you've done the same."
"No," Draco replied. "I never let myself watch her. I would've gone to her."
Theo gaped at him. "You managed to keep your hands and your eyes to yourself?"
Draco just nodded, not wanting to really think about the years he'd spent without her, completely miserable and jealous of Weasley.
"Ooookay. So, this year, she decides — either consciously or subconsciously — that she's ready to talk to you. She tries to draw your attention that night, dressing in a way you couldn't ignore and moving around the room on her own. You saw each other, and you both got hit with pheromones. But you didn't act on it, even though I'm sure your body was screaming for her, because you knew it was wrong."
"Right. I wanted to find a lockable room and fuck her senseless," Draco admitted.
Theo went on. "Now, I want you to think about that arsehole McLaggen. He's known he's an Alpha for a long time. He knows the laws and the biology. He bumps into Hermione when she's on her own in the Ministry. I'd be willing to bet she usually went there with Potter or Weasley, and that kept other wizards away from her. But this time, she's alone, and he can smell her. The first time, she had slept in the same bed as you, and I'm guessing you at least kissed her."
"I did," Draco confirmed. "I also licked her scent gland a few times."
"So you scent-marked her a bit. Not a ton, not enough so that McLaggen smelled only you, but enough to put him off. A few days go by and you're away on that case. Did you and Granger correspond at all?" Theo asked.
Draco felt his stomach drop. "We did. It was, uh, not something I'd really want to talk about in front of the Wizengamot."
Blaise grinned. "Naughty owl post?"
"You have no idea," Draco replied shortly, remembering the little knickers that had been transfigured into a ribbon. "And I'm not going to tell you, so don't ask."
"That just confirms my suspicions even more. Granger went into the Ministry all riled up, and McLaggen caught her scent somewhere. She didn't smell like you anymore, so there was nothing to put him off. She was so focused on filing for divorce and then meeting you that she was almost in a fog. He caught her off guard and attacked her," Theo speculated. "Because he figured out that she's an Omega and he knew he was an Alpha, he knew there would be no repercussions if he touched her. She wasn't in heat, but she was probably horny as hell and was a walking cloud of pheromones."
Draco was starting to understand Theo's point. McLaggen had essentially been conditioned to believe it was okay to touch Hermione. He actually believed that his Alpha status gave him the right to rape her.
Blaise interrupted again. "So, Theo, what you're saying is the git wouldn't have attacked Granger if he hadn't known he was an Alpha?"
"I'm not saying he wouldn't have for sure. I think it would have been far less likely if he hadn't known it was okay for him to attack her. He knew there wouldn't be consequences, so he let his body overtake his brain," Theo answered.
"Not that he has much of one to begin with," Draco growled. "He's an idiot."
"But you see what I'm saying, right? Alphas who are taught there are no consequences for their actions are more likely to attack an Omega," Theo concluded.
Draco nodded, silently agreeing with him.
"Have you talked to the Minister?" Blaise asked. "He's an Alpha, and I'm willing to bet he was alone with Granger at one point or another during or right after the war."
"No, but I will," Theo answered before jotting down a note, likely to owl Shacklebolt on Monday.
"So, is your little brain burst over, Nott?" Blaise joked.
With a glare, Theo replied, "Yeah, I'm good now. I'll be able to look at it in a Pensieve if I really need to."
Blaise stood from the chair he'd been lazily slumped in for the whole conversation and stretched. "Right. Well, do you prats want to get something to eat? I'm bloody starving and I need a drink after all of that psychological shite."
Both Theo and Draco snickered in response.
"Zabini, we'll go wherever you want to, as long as you're paying," Theo remarked as they all headed out the door.
Author's Note: I'm sitting down to write on this story now... here's hoping! I still have four more chapters fully written. We're going to finish out somewhere between 65 and 70 chapters, so we're in the home stretch!
If you have any lingering questions, please send them to me! I don't want to miss wrapping anything up.