Shipping Bingo: C4 - Not Actually Unrequited

Trope Bingo: D1 - Omegaverse

Spring Bingo: E4 - Meadow

Team: Thorns

Chimera: Jerry (Love/Hate)

Stacked With: FPC, BAON, Star, Fence, Shower; Ship, SN; Chim, SpB, TrB

Individual Challenges: In a Flash (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y) Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon; Rian-Russo Inversion x2 (Yx2); Ethnic & Present (Y); Setting Sail; Hold the Mayo; Lunar Era (Y); Gryffindor MC x3; Slytherin MC; Alpha & Omega (Y); Old Shoes (Y); Gwen's HP Bribery (Thorns); Culturally Inclined

Representations:

Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Tomorrow's Shade; Mouth of Babes; Second Verse (Sneeze Weasel; Nontrational; Found Family; White Dress; Not a Lamp; Ladylike; Persistence Still); Chorus (Machismo; Peddling Pots; Pear-Shaped)

Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenge(s): SN (Rail; Ameliorate)

Warning(s):

~o0o~

Lily never did much like being an omega. One never could change the circumstances of their birth no matter how much they wanted to, but she was still a human being. She still had thoughts and feelings. She still knew what she wanted in a partner. Why couldn't they have evolved like certain birds did? She was sure she'd be much happier if men were building grand, safe homes or finding the prettiest stones or choreographing magnificent dances in order to attract a mate.

By her sixth year of school, there was some pressure to choose someone to bond with. It wasn't exactly expected, but most people did anyway. When you're stuck in the same classes with the same people ten months out of the year for seven years, you'd be bound to settle for someone eventually. Some found love, some found security, others had no choice.

In her research of the rest of the animal kingdom, Lily found that it was the females (or whatever gender was closest to what humans deemed female) who decided would be their mate. Shouldn't she and other omegas be afforded the same courtesy?

She brought this up to Sirius Black, fellow omega, as they sat in the meadow on the school grounds. Once he and his friends switched their pranking methods to things that were actually funny, she found herself warming up to them. Even James Potter wasn't quite the tosser he used to be. Yes, he still had that Alpha aggression, but someone must've gotten through that thick head of his and he calmed down considerably. If he kept it up, she might be keen to call him a close, good friend.

"I think you have a point," Sirius agreed, drawing lazy circles in the dirt. "Tell you what, if you ever get feelings for a certain Alpha, I'll let him know to bring you the shiniest rock he can find."

Lily shoved him, knowing exactly who he was referring to, and he laughed.

"Careful, Evans, you're being a real Alpha with that sort of behavior."

She cackled and he sent her a satisfied grin. She didn't hate the idea of bonding with James. Yes, for the first few years he was like a puppy that couldn't get the hint but… he was changing. Sometimes when she looked at him, she felt warm and happy.

The fun didn't last and their smiles faded. It was time to get to the heat rooms. Lily could sense it, like it was humming the Jaws theme. She tossed her book in her bag and rose to her feet. She barely made it to the castle before running into Severus Snape. She could hardly believe she once called him a friend. Now, she hated him more than she ever hated James Potter. At least Potter never called her a Mudblood.

"Excuse me," she said, calmly. "I must be getting to my common room."

"Yes," said Severus. "I know. Perhaps… instead of hiding away with the others… you'd find a mutually beneficial relationship with an Alpha?"

This day was coming. She knew it was. Part of her wanted to run and hide, but a louder, angrier voice was telling her to push back.

"Hope you don't mean yourself, Snivellus," said Sirius coolly.

Lily took comfort in his presence and used it to steel her nerves.

"Keep out of it, Black!" Severus snarled. "Or I'll put you in your place. Lily, come."

She hardly realized she'd done it. One moment her former friend was putting his hands on her. The next, he had dropped to his knees and her hand was swelling and throbbing with pain.

"Don't ever come near me again!" she yelled, loud enough for the courtyard to hear.

Severus looked up at her with unadulterated rage. The type of rage she had been wary of since he started hanging out with the Death Eaters. If hers wasn't much stronger, she might have been frightened. Before he could attack, she stomped him in the face and felt his nose crunch underneath her purple clog. She had everyone's attention by now.

"If I'm going to bond with anyone then I get final say! Nobody gets to tell me what to do, especially not some self-absorbed, pig-headed Alpha who thinks bonding is just making another person your property." She whipped her head towards the rest of the courtyard. "And that goes for the rest of you Alphas! You think omegas are weak and subservient? I say no more! Try me and see what happens."

She grabbed Sirius' hand and stomped off towards their common room.

Three months later, James Potter approached her and handed her a shiny geode, then performed a folk dance from Punjab where his parents are from. Lily told him if he built her a nice house, she'd consider a bond, but for the time being she was okay with dating and getting to know each other better.

Other omegas had started to follow her example. Rejecting alphas or even approaching their own.

Change was in the air.