The moment they landed in Granger's room was Draco's worst nightmare. They would try and take her again. Rip them apart. That couldn't happen. Not after they became one.

Hermione looked up at him, eyes black and Draco knew she had drifted away from her mind. Both because of the black in her eyes, and because he was fighting not to do the same.

Alpha, she called him, and his heart pounded.

Omega. His omega. That was what she was. More than a girlfriend, wife, or lover. More than what the muggles referred to as soulmates. Hermione was an Omega. And she chose him as her Alpha.

"Alpha," Hermione breathed again, turning in his arms. He kissed her forehead before pulling her face to his gland. She would need to stay calm; he would handle this. He needed to mind his temper if he was going to get them out of it this time.

"Mr. Malfoy!"

"Get fucked, you old bat!" He screamed at McGonagall instead. On accident of course.

An orange light struck him, and he went barreling backwards into the stone wall. He collided with a sickening crack and when he looked up again, Granger was being dragged away.

This couldn't happen a second time.

Hermione was weeks away from the heat coming again, he could tell by her smell and the sweat of her body. But as they held her she fought, and she screamed, and it was ripping his heart out of his fucking chest. She had drifted away from her mind, she was supposed to be at peace, not hysterically being dragged away.

Ropes wrapped around his body, thick and tight and they bound around his wrists and stretched his arms to the side. Another set wound around his legs, tripping him to fall on his knees.

They were forcing Granger away again. Her screams filled her dorm and her voice cracked. He tried to fight, but he knew fighting didn't help last time. They would take her again, and he would fail her. Leave her to suffer without him.

Draco stopped struggling, letting the ropes tighten more around him.

"Wait! Wait- Professor. Give me a moment," Draco said matter of fact. Trying to convey competence, reason.

"You will not hurt Ms. Granger anymore in this castle, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall cried. The old witch looked from his to his omega, watching her struggle and cry in pain. She cared for Hermione, he could see it.

"I'm not hurting her, you are you daft cow!" Draco yelled right as another prefect grabbed his omega's arms. The fucking oaf recklessly grabbing her wrists and she wailed. "LOOK AT HER!"

"MR. MALFOY!"

"She's my omega," Malfoy confirmed, looking at Professor Scamander. He had never heard that term before, but he knew it to be true. "Tell them! Tell them I'd die before hurting her!"

"Uh, well…" The room froze as Professor Scamander spoke, all except for Hermione who wept and fought. Her voice turned hoarse and raw as the prefects kept their grip on her wrists. "Young men, best let her go."

"Absolutely not," McGonagall protested. "She's been cursed. Poisoned. I will not have her be robbed of any more dignity!"

"The people belittling her dignity are you!" Draco screamed, and McGonagall flinched. "Both this time and the last. You think what we are doing is undignified, degrading. But that is because you don't understand."

Draco panted, pulling against the ropes as they stretched his arms further. "Hermione chose me. I'll never understand why or deserve her, but she did. She chose me; trusts me. And every moment you force yourself upon her in her time of need, you violate her even more."

"Ms. Granger is not in her right mind-"

"That's why she has me! She doesn't need to be in control when I'm with her. I'll take care of her. It's carved in my fucking bones to never hurt her. But you can't understand her. Because you are not an Omega. And you are not her Alpha."

McGonagall adjusted her robes, looking from Draco to where Hermione's head hung low in defeat.

"Hermione is perfect. She's strong and powerful and smart, and the reason you feel uncomfortable seeing her this way, is because this part of her is not for you to see," Draco tried to keep his voice calm. Collected. "Do not punish her because her magic is different."

McGonagall scoffed indecisively, looking from Draco to Hermione. "Let her go."

Hermione ran to him, falling into his lap and holding his face in her hands.

"Alpha," she cried, her eyes black. She was supposed to be happy when she drifted away- carefree. He would never forgive the faculty for what they have done to her. But for now, he could pretend.

Hermione kissed him, long and deep as her tongue pushed past her lips. She straddled his lap, pulling herself closer until the heat of her core was pressed against his cock. If she could get his trousers undone and push her tiny shorts to the side, he could slide inside her. Just to connect them, to let her know they were together.

Focus. Now is the time for control, not fucking Granger in front of the faculty.

His omega would love it though. Him claiming her, undeniably, and showing how fucking sexy she was. Some people only saw her as a study, a bookworm. But she was so much more. So soft, and warm, and eager-

"Mr. Malfoy?" Professor Scamander, called pulling Draco from his trance. Hermione had kissed down his neck and started sucking on his gland, nearly drifting him away. "The night of Halloween. What had happened- can you describe it to me?"

Malfoy looked ahead, Granger tucking into his neck and beginning to calm. "Hermione chose me as her Alpha. She came to my room so I could help her with… Something. But the Headmistress took her and locked her away on her own."

"Her heat?" Professor Scamander asked, voice with scholarly interest. "I- well, that is highly unlikely. If Ms. Granger were really an omega, she would not have survived."

Professor McGonagall looked from Draco to Scamander, trying to solve the puzzle in front of her. "Why not?"

"Ah, you see… There are no records of actual omegas. Most historians consider them a myth. But what I've learned is that an omega must chose a mate. And upon the Alpha's acceptance, during her heat he will perform a mating bite- a mark." Professor Scamander explained. "An unmarked omega cannot survive a heat alone. The isolation would lead to death, psychosis at best."

"I bit her," Draco said plainly, almost a growl. Thank fucking Merlin he did, if what Scamander said was true. "It was right before the heat, so it wasn't permanent, but it lasted until a month after."

"Fascinating!" Scamander exclaimed. "This behavior she's exhibiting now, has she done it before?"

Draco's chest rattled as he growled. His precious girl was not some fucking experiment.

"Answer the question, Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said.

Draco clenched his jaw. "Yes. It's… we call it drifting. It's like taking a step away from your mind. Relaxing. Peaceful. Now is the only time she had been under and been this disturbed."

"Sub-space," Scamander said with a nod to McGonagall. "It's an attribute of both parties. A sign of trust and care between a mated pair. It's also often used during times of high stress to comfort each other. You can bring her back up too, you know? Just have to change your intention!"

McGonagall looked uncomfortably between the two as Draco did just that, and Hermione began to stir. "How could Ms. Granger have consented if she was not in her right mind?"

"Oh- this is far beyond the means of the mind, Minerva. Powerful magic. Instinctual. They will know the right thing to do. Their nature won't allow them to go against it. Not unless there is no other choice. Draco, as her Alpha, could never hurt her."

Draco looked down at Hermione, who was now staring up at him with understanding, big, brown eyes. He kissed her lips, taking his time. After she pulled back, Hermione casted a spell to remove the ropes binding him and no one tried to stop her.

Hermione turned towards Scamander, putting the pieces together herself. "What else?"

"It's magnificent really. The magic of the omega, her scent, it's impossible for an Alpha to resist. The omega will pursue an alpha once she presents, and once she has chosen an alpha to assist her in a heat they mate for life," he explained.

Hermione shook her head. "No, Draco had to choose me too. To accept me."

Scamander chuckled without malice, genuinely excited for them both. "I suppose, technically. But no alpha could resist such an offer. No, even if they were repulsed by you, they would be inclined to accept. Blinded by pheromones and primal urges."

That wasn't true. Draco loved Hermione, not just her smell.

"How do we prove it?" Draco asked, trying to keep his mind on the goal. He reached out and grabbed Hermione's wrist, gently stroking it to sooth her.

"Does she have the… glands?" Scamander asked and Draco reluctantly nodded. "Well! That is proof enough. If I may ask you a few questions? There have been no recent records of omegas you see. Alphas- well, alphas are quite common- they can blend in with betas quite easily when there are no omegas around. Several roaming the halls of Hogwarts in fact. But none should be able to control the omega as much as their chosen alpha."

"Control?" Hermione cut in. "What do you mean by control?"

"Omegas are the submissive designation. While they can have any alpha of their choosing, they then must submit to their will. Oftentimes for breeding as many heirs as possible."

Draco's cock twitched. Hermione's belly swollen with their heir was too tempting of a thought.

"I'm- I'm not meant for breeding," Hermione shot back, getting defensive. "And Draco doesn't like me because… It's more than just pheromones!"

Hermione was getting upset. Draco didn't understand why. They were finally getting answers. Understanding how special they were.

"I'm inferior to no one," Hermione said again. "I'm controlled by no one."

"Has Draco ever given you a command? Not as a question, but a clear direction?" Scamander probed. He pulled out a pocket journal and started scribbling notes like he was in class.

Fuck yes, he had. And she obeyed so beautifully. So perfectly. Draco stood and waited for Hermione to tell them all about it. To brag at how flawless and perfect their relationship was, even though no one told them what to do.

Hermione's scent got more defensive, scared. "No one controls me."

"I think it's clear there's been no wrongdoing here, Headmistress," Draco said, pushing forward the conversation that was clearly distressing his omega. "I think you should go."

"Ms. Granger needs her sleep," Mcgonagall said, clearly seeing his omega getting upset and trying to accommodate her. Perhaps he'd let her live afterall. "You are free to go. But we will continue this conversation tomorrow after Professor Scamander has brought me up to speed on everything we know."

"I don't want to sleep, I want to know what is happening to me," Hermione snapped.

"Very well," McGonagall nodded. "Mr. Malfoy, you are to return to your dormitory at once. Ms. Granger will accompany me and Professor Scamander to my office to go over the remaining details."

Draco reached for Hermione, but she stepped away. Not wanting to push her, he placed a kiss on her cheek before whispering in her ear. "I love you, Omega."

Hermione looked at him, eyes large and afraid. "I love you, Draco."

Professor Scamander explained all he knew about alphas and omegas. How her scent attracted all the alphas to her in her heat, and how if she'd been unattended, they would fight over who would get to have her and her omega would graciously accept the winner.

Omegas had died off centuries ago. Ancient magical families started to suppress the trait in the children once they presented to keep them safe from the hunt and control of alphas. Evolution due to survival also causes people to be born with their omega magic suppressed already. This left less for the existing alphas to fight over, and many were stolen and killed in the fights for them.

Presenting. That was when an alpha or omega came of age, and their designation is confirmed and distinguishable in full form. For omegas, it comes with the internal clock leading to their first heat. Urging them to find a mate so they do not die when the time comes.

Selecting an alpha was said to vary from omega. Many, like Hermione, would present their prospects with gifts of favors, and then whittle away prospects based on their reaction and the omega's interest. As far as the alpha wanting the omega in return, Scamander explained while they do not have to accept, no alpha could resist an omega on the brink of heat. Even if they were repulsed by them.

There were other parts that made Hermione want to reject her designation- her internal omega- her passenger. Alphas would be able to control her completely, and she was supposed to be reduced to breeding children. Her arousal would have to be tamed, satiated by constant contact with their alpha or they'd go manic. All the times Draco went looking for her, telling her he could tell she needed him, that she wouldn't make it to the end of the day, it was because he could tell her omega was libidinous.

It was disturbing, but it was not the part that bothered her. It was how Scamander kept assuring her that Draco would never leave her. Because of her smell. Because his instincts would make him undeniably loyal once they mated for life. Even if he hated her. Even if he was repulsed by her.

Which Draco was- or used to be. And while she was falling in love with him, the truth in their designation was that he only wanted her because of her smell. Because of her passenger- the omega- were so rare to find.

Instead of finding Draco, Hermione went back to her dorm. The common room was filled, the students acting normal and ignoring her. The professors must have taken action to keep what happened under the radar.

Once she got into her dorm and closed the door, Parvati jumped up and hugged her. Hermione wept as she led her to sit on her bed. Careful not to touch her glands, careful not to give her verbal directions in case her omega made her a slave to any demand.

"Do you want to talk about it," Parvati asked gently.

Hermione sat up, sniffing and wiping her tears. Something she had become accustomed to doing with her heightened omega emotions. "I love him."

"That's great," said Parvati, kindly. "Especially since it sounds like you'll be stuck with him forever."

"Draco is the one who is stuck with me. I got to choose. I chose him. He just… likes the way I smell. Can't deny me because I'm an omega," Hermione explained.

"Granger, you are an amazing person. Malfoy has to see that," Parvati said.

"The things he wants, it's all influenced now. All tainted by our nature. Our designation. Fucking pheromones," Hermione rattled. "All the things he's told me… it's the biology. He couldn't help it. Like how everything I did was because of mine. Every favor, every act or special moment is controlled by my biology. I don't even know where I start and where the omega takes over."

Parvarti let her speak, listening to how Hermione felt somehow robbed. How the omega fooled her into thinking it was her that he wanted. That it was her people liked.

"At the start of the school year, I was dreading coming back," Parvati admitted, and Hermione met her eyes. "Lavender was my best friend and Padma… Padma was a part of me. The smarter part, the better part. I didn't know how I could live in the castle without them when they were all I knew."

Hermione grabbed her hand. Parvati usually avoided talking about her twin or Lavender when she tried to bring it up.

"But you were there for me. Not as an omega, but as a friend. I didn't know you that well before this year, yet I still grew to love you just the same," said Parvarti.

Hermione smiled. "Love you, too. You're my best friend."

"I certainly can say your smell had no influence on my opinion of you whatsoever," Parvati continued. "So, if you are wondering if Hermione Granger is still a fantastic person, I can confirm she is. Maybe you and your omega are not as separate as you think."

Hermione's mind started racing. She wanted it to be true. That her designation may have added to Draco's interest in her, but that it was herself that he fell in love with. She knew that is how it was for her. That she loved his wit and snark and smile and how posh and spoiled he was-

"Go to him," Parvati said, interrupting her thoughts. "Don't get stuck in your head. You're not alone. Not by a long shot."

Hermione hugged her tightly, unknowing how she'd gotten so lucky. "Thank you."

The third-floor corridor was empty. Hermione entered the library and instantly detected his presence. She walked back to their table, and Draco was sitting with his head resting in his hand.

Hermione made her way around the table, and she could see the tension in his shoulder's increase as he detected her presence. His smell somehow became even more anxious, and Hermione traced her fingers over his gland and he sighed.

"I'm sorry," he muttered from between his hands. "I'm sorry for everything. That you don't want this."

Hermione pushed back his shoulders so she could sit on his lap, straddling him. His hands moved to her legs, rubbing up the bare skin and pushing up her shirt slightly. After a few strokes, his arms wrapped around her middle and he rested his head on her neck.

"I love you, Draco. I love us, together," Hermione murmured into his ear. "I'm so grateful you are my alpha. I'll never deserve you."

"You do, Granger. Merlin," Draco protested, looking up at her instantly. "I know you don't want to be controlled. I would never do that. Never. I love you and respect you so much."

"I was never worried about you abusing your control. I knew you wouldn't when I chose you," Hermione insisted. "I just… I felt like it wasn't me you loved or wanted. I felt like my pheromones were just holding you hostage."

"That is impossible," Draco insisted, grabbing her face and bringing their lips together. "I couldn't even smell you until after I accepted you."

"Oh… I forgot about that," Hermione said, looking down.

Draco used a knuckle under her chin to tilt her head up again. "But I also love your omega side, Granger. I am very drawn to every part of you."

"I'm glad. I'm sorry I freaked out, I just started to overthink everything. That I wasn't good enough, that you could never want me," Hermione explained. "I was already self conscious, and the passenger- the omega- just makes it a million times worse when I'm not with you."

"Hmm," Draco said thoughtfully before turning her head slightly to the side to whisper in her ear. "Passenger?"

Hermione clicked her tongue trying to face him, "Draco."

"Shh, just a moment, Hermione. I am trying to have a quick chat," Draco said, cheekily. Hermione rolled her eyes, before leaning more into his chest. "Passenger, are you there?"

"Hmm," Hermione hummed in confirmation, smiling against his chest.

"I heard you are being mean to Hermione?" Draco whispered further. "Making her question that I love her. How important she is to me. That's not very nice to do to such a kind, smart witch."

Hermione was smiling fully and lifted her chin to rest on his shoulder. "Sorry."

"Hermione is extraordinary. But she is also my omega, and I need to take care of her. So, if you keep being nasty, you'll have to answer to me," Draco continued and his voice sent a shiver down her spine. "Understood?"

"Mm," Hermione hummed again, feeling equally amused and aroused.

"That's a good girl," he praised her before kissing her temple and pulling back to meet her eyes. "She won't be bothering you anymore, Granger."

"You're mental," Hermione laughed before his lips crashed onto hers.

"I've got to meet with McGonagall. Part of my probation to return to school and keep my freedom was keeping to her rules," Draco said.

Hermione stood, letting him get up. "Why didn't you tell me about that? Is that why you are studying so much?"

Draco nodded, pulling her into a hug, not ready to let go. "We were allowed back with the promise of maintaining a perfect record, and passing every subject in N.E.W.T.S. The Wizengamort seemed to believe having high education goals would keep us busy and out of trouble."

"I wish I would have known. I would have helped you."

Draco kissed her. "You did help me. I didn't even have to tell you for you to know."

They kissed again before Draco finally had to depart. It was in high spirits though. Professor Scamander had explained their designation to the point that McGonagall was horrified with how she treated them. She wanted to apologize to Draco and try to make things right. Hermione was so excited for him to walk out of her office feeling empowered. Knowing that they can be together freely now.

"I love you, Draco," said Hermione.

"I love you, Hermione," Draco said, kissing her hair before whispering in her ear. "I love you too, Passenger."

Hermione smiled watching Draco walk away. "Draco?"

He stopped, one hand on the bookcase as he turned and looked at her.

"Me and Passenger… I don't think we are different beings. I think it's just a different part of me. A newer part of me. But… it's still only me."

Draco smiled, sweet and knowing. "I love you twice, then."