The doors shut behind me. I walk forward. It's a long walk, and the portraits all stare eerily at me as I pass each one. "Thanks for taking the time to meet me," I say. My voice echoes slightly. "I would have sent an owl, but I live very close by and I don't have an owl…"

I reach him.

He remains seated, sharp eyes scrutinising and a droll expression adding a slight smirk to the mouth. "You don't have an owl?" he asks. I feel his gaze rake me from head to toe, lingering on my legs.

"I'm really sorry," I apologise, feeling extremely self-conscious now. "This is considered appropriate dress for business meetings in the muggle world, and…"

Regardless of what my friends think, I do feel stupid often. This is one of those times.

"No, no." He stops me with a slightly raised hand. "Most muggle-borns overcompensate. I find your shamelessness quite refreshing."

I frown to hide my embarrassment. I am self-aware enough to realise that I am guilty of overcompensating. "There's nothing to be ashamed of in being a muggle-born," I say stiffly.

"Of course not," he soothes. "Please, have a seat. Let's discuss your project."

I twist my hands together, taking the proffered seat. "I have to apologise. I didn't expect I'd be meeting you today, so I didn't bring any materials."

I do know my pitch by heart, and I can just owl him the materials tomorrow, but starting off on the wrong foot has thrown me off balance. Figuratively, of course.

"Let's start with what inspired you," he suggests. In the bright afternoon sunlight, his fine blonde hair glows like a platinum hallow, contrasting greatly with his sombre surroundings. It feels like I'm talking to an arch-angel.

I dispel that very muggle perception, and struggle to put coherent thoughts together. "Certainly. Ever since I was told that I was an Omega witch, I have since discovered that there aren't many resources available to help women like me. No resources, in fact, if you discount-"

He lifts a finger. "You were told?"

"Yes, and to add to my point, it was very hard to pull information out of-"

"What do you mean you were told?" he interrupts. "Did you not… discover what you were by yourself?"

I frown, biting my lip. "Well I- Could you clarify what you mean by discover? I should think Viktor did the discovering, but I definitely wouldn't say-"

"Viktor?" he asks coolly. And now he moves, leaning forward in his chair in a creak of leather and metal. "And who is Viktor, Ms. Granger?"

"Er, Viktor Krum, the Triwizard Champion…"

A brow raises. "You mean the Bulgarian seeker?"

"Yes, he was my date to the Yule Ball, and they told me later that he was an Alpha so I think perhaps he might have been more sensitive-"

Draco Malfoy interrupts me again. "What did Mr. Krum do? Nothing… untoward, I hope?"

"No, he was very, erm, nice." I pause to grimace in memory. "I mean he did sort of rub his spit on me, but that was all, really."

For a moment, it doesn't look like he's breathing at all.

I shift awkwardly. "In any case," I continue, in a bid to redirect the conversation, "I soon realised that those in positions of authority are not very forthcoming, and most of the information I've gathered has come from other students."

"Naturally," he says, leaning back. "The families of the Omegas take care of everything. You're the first muggle-born Omega in recorded history. I would imagine your family to be just as clueless as you were."

"Sadly, you are correct." I smile wryly. "With regards to access to information, I am at a disadvantage. But the cultural differences of course more than make up for it. I'm not sure if you are aware, but muggles simply don't marry so young, and arranged marriages have long ago fallen out of favour."

He shakes his head slowly and in apparent incomprehension but otherwise doesn't speak.

"My family would never dream of telling me when to marry," I elaborate, "or whom to marry. And I certainly don't intend to marry in the foreseeable future, or worse, be coerced into having children before I'm ready. But other Omegas are not so lucky. And this is where SLOW comes in. One of our goals is to put an immediate stop to the tradition of arranged marriages. Omegas shouldn't be forced to marry Alphas-"

"How will magical lines continue then?" Draco Malfoy questions, brow raising.

I purse my lips. "Obviously I understand there exists a… desire on the part of many wizarding families to keep their bloodline pure, but that shouldn't stand in the way of freedom of choice. Most pureblood witches are not Omega, and I see no reason why men cannot choose among that pool instead of insisting on an Omega bride-"

His arms cross over his chest. "But given that Omegas and Alphas can only procreate together, that will create quite a problem. How do you intend to solve for that?"

My eyes widen. My mouth closes slowly.

An understanding smile shoots across his face. "Ah," he says. "You didn't know."

"No," I stutter, mind working fast. "No, quite frankly, I didn't. But there are ways to circumvent-"

He stops me, palm out. "Miss Granger, there lies the flaw in your project. It's not a thoroughly researched one. You cannot hope to influence the system without even knowing why it is the way it is."

"I admit this was overlooked," I say, twisting my fingers anxiously and regretting taking this meeting unprepared. It knew it wasn't the best idea, but I had been over-eager and over-confident and now I'm paying for it. Maybe I can still salvage this. "Let me go away and put together-"

Again, he motions for me to stop, smiling kindly. "I can't publicly support a cause so mis-informed, and frankly, so detrimental to the survival of wizarding society. You don't even know the basic facts."

My shoulders drop. Somehow, having my project pronounced a failure feels worse than knowing I am letting down future generations of Omegas.

His smile deepens. "Don't look so put-out. I may still be able to help you."

I blink uncertainly at him and his eyes crinkle with amusement.

"Yes. I am a busy man, but… You are quite an exception, Miss Granger, so for you I'll make an exception of my time. And I think I can help you in more ways than one. I can instruct you in all things Alpha and Omega so you never have to have a deer-in-the-lamplights moment like that again."

I thank him profusely and embarrassedly. "I really appreciate your time and support, Mr. Malfoy. And I want to assure you-"

"Please, call me Draco."

I hesitate. It feels too familiar.

"I insist," he says, voice deepening.

I frown but give in. if he's going to be my mentor-of-sorts, it does make sense to be on a first-name basis. "Okay."

"Okay, Draco," he instructs gently. "Say it."

"Okay, Draco." A strange thrill runs through me. I bite my lip, resisting the urge to shudder, and try and focus on something else instead.

My eyes catch on one of the documents on his desk.

Peeking out from under a proposal for the merger of two Nott and Malfoy companies is an official-looking request for funding with the Hogwarts crest on the letterhead.

A selfish thought enters my head. "Er, I don't want to take up even more of your time, but I was also wondering whether if I were to have some questions about the NEWTS syllabus, if I could come to you with them… I did hear that you scored very highly…"

"I would be pleased to instruct you in all things," he responds pleasantly. He really does look and sound like an angel. Benevolent and powerful. "I heard you were interested in my modified Transedio charm. I can show you how I did that if you want."

"Yes, please," I say enthusiastically. "Thank you."

Draco stands. "You go back to Hogwarts in three weeks, correct? Why don't we set up another meeting a week and a half from now on… the nineteenth? You can floo directly to my office- Ah, I forgot. You're a muggle-born, you wouldn't be connected..."

He eyes me thoughtfully as I stand and adjust my skirt. "I will send you a car with an escort."

My eyes bug out slightly at the idea of being escorted anywhere. "Oh, there's really no need for that," I say, "I can make my own way here. It's perfectly safe."

"I insist," he says, moving forward to walk me out."

I shake my head. What's with these witches and wizards? "No, thank you," I say firmly. "I don't want to sound ungrateful, but really it's very safe."

"Mm." Silver eyes narrow for a second, then he's smiling politely and ushering me out. "As you wish."