Chapter 12

Night with Lions

Harry and Draco separated in the Great hall, kissing each other goodbye. Harry kept his head high as he walked to the Gryffindor Table, finding Ron and Hermione, and sitting between them immediately. "Hello," he said.

"Was Malfoy with you the whole time?" Hermione immediately asked, "he was not in the Prefect carriage."

"Yeah, he was," Harry nodded. "Uh how are you two?"

"Fine," Hermione said a little too shortly.

Harry frowned and looked at Ron, who shuffled in his seat sheepishly. "Hermione and Ginny had a row," he said. "It was awful."

Harry looked at Hermione, who still looked irritated. "Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"What did you and Ginny yell about?" Harry asked.

"Well isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked, "The way she just pushed your trunk over—I get that she's angry at what she choose to believe and it's not like any of us led her on, but still her attitude was just inexcusable!"

"Can agree with you there," Ron grumbled.

"And you are still acting too lax about Malfoy," Hermione said, looking at Ron and Harry. "Both of you—I don't get how you can forget everything he is and who his family is!"

"I don't forget that, I still hate him," Ron shrugged. "But he's Harry's Alpha now—"

"Then you should be angry about that!" Hermione insisted. "For all we know, he can bring Harry to Voldemort—"

"Hermione, please, just stop," Harry said. "Draco won't bring me to Voldemort. Look—there are things I talked about that Ron already knows and I want to tell you too, but not here. Not now."

"Ron knows? What does Ron know?" Hermione asked, looking at the two. "Did he—Harry, did he…" Hermione stopped, she couldn't finish her sentence. Harry frowned and stared at her for a moment before realizing what she was suggesting.

"NO!" He yelled a little too loud. He stopped, seeing others were looking at him and blushed, "No," he said softer, "god no—I'm not pregnant. We didn't even do anything together!" He leaned close and frowned. "Look—it's not about Draco, okay. I can't talk about it now, but can you please trust me when I say he is good?"

Hermione was silent for too long a moment for Harry's liking. It was not until the doors opened and Professor McGonagall led the first years in that she gave in and gave Harry a soft nod. Harry smiled and relaxed, feeling a weight falling off of his shoulders as he turned to focus on the sorting.

His mind started to wonder, turning to Draco as memories of their time together. There was a lot of kissing and cuddling, Harry realized with a smile, but also just the two of them relaxing at the side of the lake in Malfoy Manor. He stared happily at Draco, who was watching the sorting intensely. Taking after his Alpha, the Omega turned to look at the sorting as well—only to see the Headmaster.

The Headmaster who was not smiling and clapping along with the rest of the school but was staring directly at Harry with a frown. For a second their eyes met, and a rush of memories tried to come to the forefront of his mind. The Dursleys, Nagini, his father—he felt a prickling sensation for only a moment before it ended. His father's shield in his mind activated and his thoughts were empty. Harry quickly looked away and hoped that Dumbledore did not look at him or single him out. He was so scared that he did not look back up towards the sorting hat and just stared in front of himself, clapping with the table.

Harry felt nothing for the rest of the sorting, and food appeared. Talk suddenly surged and Harry started to relax once more as Ron said, "Harry, did you know that Neville's an Alpha?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I actually saw him. He, Blaise, and I were actually invited to Professor Slughorn's compartment. He wanted to meet us and a couple others."

"Who else was there?" Hermione asked. "Neville just mentioned that you left with Zabini."

Harry frowned as he thought of McLaggen. "McLaggen," he said. "A guy who's a year ahead of us. Along with a Ravenclaw in seventh year as well. From what I guess, I don't think he or Neville impressed Slughorn sadly."

"Why is that?" Ron asked.

"Slughorn told me, Blaise, and McLaggen to come visit him any time we can but barely said goodbye to Neville," Harry explained.

"Well that's not right," Ron said, "I mean Neville does loads of stuff—you saw how he handled himself in the DA and Ministry!"

"I know but—look I'm not going to defend Slughorn's choices," Harry shrugged. "Anyway, yeah I sensed Neville was an Alpha in there."

"Seems like we're just being surrounded by Alphas, eh?" Ron said. Harry could detect a hint of sadness in his voice and saw that his friend glanced at Hermione. Ron stopped himself by shoving food in his face.

"I guess so, I heard that there are a lot of Betas too," Hermione said, "which makes sense. Surprisingly, Betas take up a little less than half of the Wizarding World. Alphas and Omegas split the other half evenly."

"Really? I didn't know that," Harry said.

Hermione sighed, "Have you two actually read anything?" she asked.

"No, that's what we got you for," Ron said cheekily. "Ow!" he flinched when she reached over to hit him. Harry shook his head, happy that the tension between his friends seemed to be over. His stomach growled and reminded him how hungry he was. He hasn't eaten since breakfast, skipping on anything passed to him in Slughorn's compartment. He was happy that his plate was already filled and began to eat.

Harry dropped his fork as soon as the flavor hit his tongue. Dread washed over him as his stomach lurched and cramped immediately. No. Not here, please no, he begged. He wanted to cry. He didn't want to chew or swallow, but he was left with the food in his mouth. The odd taste soured his tongue and he felt drool beginning to develop. Harry felt trapped. He could feel the poison fill his mouth like sharp daggers waiting to stab at his weak womb. He looked around, there were napkins, but it would be obvious if he spat it out. There was no way he could run to the nearest bathroom either. Everybody would see him. He started to whimper pathetically, and both Ron and Hermione noticed.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked, "Are you crying?"

"Harry, mate?" Ron asked. Harry turned to Ron and pointed at the plate frantically. Realization came to Ron's eyes before turning to anger. He took his napkin and pointed towards the Ravenclaw table, "What the hell is that guy doing?" he asked loudly. People around them turned to look at where he was pointing. Harry took the napkin in Ron's hand and quickly spat out the food, coughing rather violently. He did not risk his own cup and drank from Ron's as Ron got rid of the soiled napkin by throwing it under the table.

"Harry! What happened, are you okay?" Hermione asked, terrified.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Harry said, draining Ron's goblet and clearing his throat. "Ron, I'm sorry but—"

Ron just took his plate and switched it with Harry's, along with his cup. "Don't even ask mate," Ron said, failing to hide his anger. "What the hell is that old man think he's doing!"

"Ron!"

"Hermione!" Ron yelled back.

"What is going on?" Hermione demanded. "What secret are you two keeping from me that is so important?"

"Dumbledore spiked Harry's food," Ron said heatedly. "Alpha Protein is in Harry's food."

"You're wrong, Dumbledore would never do that," Hermione said, "Look somebody else must have—"

"Hermione smell my plate," Harry said. He took his plate from Ron and offered it to Hermione. "Just smell it and you can smell the poison. It's subtle, but it's there."

She did not look convinced, but she took the plate and closed her eyes. After a moment she opened them with a sickening realization. "You must be mistaken," she whispered. "Maybe Draco or another Slytherin—"

"A SLYTHERIN CANNOT SPIKE MY FOOD!" Harry screamed, slamming his fist on the table out of frustration. "Hermione how can you not see this?"

"It could have been an accident—and don't you dare yell at me!" Hermione said back. Harry snatched the plate and gave it back to Ron.

"An accident? Let me tell you about this accident—Mrs. Weasley has been feeding it to me since we returned from Diagon Alley!" Harry yelled. "Why do you think Ron keeps switch plates with me? My womb is weak—if I continue eating this poison not only will my womb be irreplaceably damaged, but I will die as well!"

"Then he mustn't have known," Hermione continued. "It could be a mistake and if he was trying to help—"

"Mustn't know?" Harry gave a cold laugh. "How can someone so smart as you be so stupid, Hermione? The old man knows exactly what he is doing. He is killing me for daring to be me."

"Harry, that hurts," Hermione said. "You don't mean that."

"You know what? I think I do," Harry said. "you are without a doubt the stupidest, most oblivious witch I've ever known."

Hermione stood up, tears in her eyes. "And you are the most spoiled, rude self-centered wizard I've ever met," she said and left with her plate, sitting down with the other girls in their year. Harry raged silently.

"Harry," Ron said softly.

"What?" Harry bit.

"You shouldn't have said that," Ron frowned and left it at that.

The Opening Feast was awkwardly silent after that. Harry and Ron did not talk as they just ate, not knowing what to say. Harry felt terrible immediately. He knew he shouldn't have said that to Hermione, but it frustrated him to no end that she couldn't see and understand what Ron did instantly. He hated himself for how quickly he snapped. Hated Hermione for not understanding, but most of all he hated Dumbledore for causing all of this. I need to get him out of here, Harry thought, remembering his father's words. He wanted Dumbledore out of his life once and for all, but before that, Harry needed to tell Hermione the truth, if she would talk to him again.

Hermione left quickly to escort the first years to Gryffindor Tower. Ron stayed with Harry and the two moved quickly. Harry could still feel everyone staring at him, giggling and whispering all around. "Hermione," he said once they entered the common room, "Can we talk, please?"

"Are you going to insult me some more?" she asked, crossing her arms. Harry frowned and shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry," he said. "I just want to apologize—I shouldn't have snapped at you, but you have to stop blaming Draco and the other Slytherins. They did not do anything."

"How do you know?" she asked. "How do you know that you can trust any of them?"

"Because I trust them more than I trust Dumbledore," Harry said. "Look, can you just come with me and Ron? I want to talk with you."

"Fine then," Hermione said. The three left the common room, Harry leading them to the boys' empty dormitory. He closed the door behind them and sighed. "I just need you to promise me one thing, that you don't freak out and you save your questions till the end, okay?" Hermione agreed and Harry hesitated for a moment, collecting his thoughts.

"I'm not a Potter," he said. "Dumbledore had people stole me away when I was only a month old. My real father found me and showed me memories of me as a child with himself. I know that the memories weren't altered, I saw myself as a baby being doted on by my real father. I stayed with him during the summer before I was forced to go back to the Dursleys before Dumbledore gets suspicious. It was during that time that I met up with Draco and we started dating. My father has always hated Dumbledore and knew instantly that he was the one who ordered my kidnapping; however it wasn't until this year that we finally found each other. I was happy, Hermione, truly happy. Happier than when I'm with you guys if you can believe it.

"When I went to the Burrow everything seemed to be alright until after we went to Diagon Alley. When I threw up? That was because Alpha Protein, which is helpful for you and Ron and poisonous for me, got into my food. It happened each and every night and it wasn't until last night that Ron pulled me aside and told me what was going on. My father was there at the station and he examined me. Hermione, my womb is weak right now—severely weak. I want to have children! This isn't about me dying or anything but—just the thought of Dumbledore doing this, taking away my chance of having children, it hurts. It hurts so much."

"Harry—how do you know that Mrs. Weasley was doing it on purpose? This can all be an accident—"

"It's not an accident," Ron interrupted. "She knew what it was, Fred and George tried to use it on themselves years ago. Believe me when I found out I wanted to yell at my mum, but Harry stopped me."

"Hermione, Dumbledore knows who I really am. He is disappointed that I'm not an Alpha, that I try to live my life the way I want to live it," Harry said. "Do you honestly think I'm okay with this? That I don't feel betrayed?"

Hermione frowned. She looked hesitant, lost. "Who is your father?" she asked. "You didn't name him, so who is he? And who are you?"

"I'm still Harry, I'm still your best friend," Harry said. "As for my father—"

"Harry? Are you sure mate?" Ron interrupted. "I'm still wheeling about it."

"Yes Ron, I'm sure," Harry said. "Hermione is our best friend, and I can't handle secrets between us, not since fourth year." He sighed and looked back at Hermione. "My 'mother' as you would call it was a wizard named Adrian Harrison Riddle, and he was married to Voldemort. They named me after their families, my full name is Harrison Salazar Riddle, but please just call me Harry."

The silence that came after killed Harry. He waited and gritted himself for the meltdown, for yelling or screaming. Instead Hermione just stared at Harry, concerned. She shook her head and said, "Harry, we have to tell Dumbledore."

"Hermione, no—"

"Harry! Something bad must of happened to you!" Hermione said, "Voldemort might have kidnapped you—lied to you altered your memories—"

"HERMIONE! This is not a trick!" Harry yelled desperately, "Please! Believe me!" He didn't know when he started crying, but he felt his cheeks going wet. "Voldemort is my father—he's been nothing but nice and caring to me, along with the Malfoys. We talked and in the end, I believed him. Voldemort is my father, that is what's true. Everything Dumbledore did—taking me away from my family and everything that resulted from that is his fault."

"No, you're wrong Harry," Hermione said. "Dumbledore is fighting against Voldemort to save us—he would never do anything to harm you!"

"Not if you're useful," Harry muttered.

"Harry," Hermione sighed, "Ron, talk some sense into him."

"It seems really out there but I believe him Hermione," Ron said, "And how can you stand and defend a person who keeps sending Harry back to the Dursleys every year! You know what they do to him."

"Yeah they're a little strict—"

"Strict? They outright beat and starve him!" Ron yelled.

Hermione flinched and looked at Harry, "No, Dumbledore personally told me—"

"He told me the same thing and it was just all a lie," Ron said. "Harry was treated horribly by the Dursleys, Hermione. I wish it weren't the case but it's true. It's hard to understand but Harry's better off with You-Know-Who than the Dursleys!"

"Besides, he's sort of dating Remus right now and he trusts him," Harry admitted, "Although he doesn't know that my father is the Dark Lord yet! So Hermione please for the love of god don't tell him."

Hermione frowned, she hesitated and looked between Ron and Harry. "Harry, this is dangerous, I don't know," she said. "Dumbledore—"

"Dumbledore decided I should go to the Dursleys instead of Sirius and Remus who were my godfathers that my parents, the Potters, decided. Dumbledore stole me from my father a month after my dad died in childbirth. Dumbledore led to my father's fall to insanity. Hermione why can't you see that Dumbledore is at fault here?"

"Because—because," Hermione faltered, trying to find a reason. "Because it doesn't make sense! Everything you just told me does not make sense at all Harry."

"At first it doesn't but it's the truth," Harry said, "That's my life. Dumbledore tried to get me to kill my father!"

"Why? Why would he want to do that? Think about this Harry, Voldemort is a Dark Lord. Why would Dumbledore need to result to kidnapping to get Voldemort?" Hermione demanded.

"Because," Harry said, thinking, "because maybe Dumbledore did not like my father's way of thinking. He was working on a book that mixed both Dark Arts with regular magic. Dumbledore must not have liked that. He saw my father's research into the Dark Arts as dangerous—"

"Because they are dangerous, that is why it is outlawed," Hermione said.

"All spells are dangerous in the wrong hands Hermione," Harry argued back. "Look just—I know this is a lot to take in."

"You're joking, right?" Hermione scoffed.

"Just think about it, please," Harry said, "and promise me that you won't tell Dumbledore."

"Harry—"

"Please Hermione," Harry begged. "You and Ron are my best friends. I don't want this to wedge between us."

Hermione still looked conflicted. She had a deep frown as he looked at Harry. "I—I don't know," she said, sounding genuine.

"Please Hermione," Harry pleaded.

She sighed, "Harry... a week. I can—I don't feel right not telling Dumbledore, but I can delay it a week, okay?"

"A week! No," Harry said. "Just please think about it, think about how Dumbledore treated me, how every year I had this immeasurable expectation on my shoulders and hell even how he handled this! The Ministry running with me being a Ruined Omega! For all we know he was the one who leaked it. How can Mrs. Weasley know to poison my food? How can the same poison be in my food and only my food? It makes no sense at all. It can only be Dumbledore."

"Harry listen to yourself," Hermione said, sounding exhausted.

"No, you're not listening," Harry said frustrated. "I don't want to do anything Hermione, but I need to know that you won't tell Dumbledore! Ron trusted me; Ron understood me instantly why can't you!?"

Hermione looked between the two of them. "You believed this?" she demanded. "Why didn't you tell Dumbledore?"

"Because I don't trust him," Ron said simply. "I told you that already."

"This is insane," Hermione scoffed. She turned to the door and said, "Look, I won't tell Dumbledore, and I'll even think about this but you think about this too. This sounds insane and completely dangerous, Harry. In the end, Dumbledore has to know." She left and Harry felt dejected, falling to his bed.

"Don't worry mate, I'm sure Hermione will come around soon," he said, patting Harry's back. Harry sighed and shook his head. He did not get a chance to respond however as the door opened and the rest of their dormmates walked in. Seamus glared at Harry while Dean looked at him with a sort of look that Harry didn't like. Neville, however, stared openly at Harry.

"What?" he said shortly.

Dean and Seamus looked at each other. Harry could smell no scent from them and knew that they were Betas. Seamus stared at Harry hard, his hand holding Dean's tightly. "Dean's off limits," he spat.

"Dude!" Ron yelled.

"You read what he did! What, are you two having fun too?" Seamus demanded.

"Seamus—stop," Dean said. "He only does Alphas anyway."

"What? So we'll just see him sucking off Ron and Neville?" Seamus asked.

"Yeah," Dean snorted. "It'll be hot, right Nev?" He smirked at Neville, who looked between them.

"Oh just fuck off," Harry scoffed. "I'm not dealing with this tonight." He took his pajamas and changed, closing his bed curtains, and sticking them close with a spell. Feeling angry and betrayed by everyone, he just laid there for hours on end. He heard the others go to bed one by one, but still couldn't sleep. There was a strange noise and looked down to see a mass moving in his bed towards him. It hissed and licked his body and a moment later, Nagini appeared from under the covers. "Hello, little snake," she hissed.

"Nagini? Why are you here? How did you even get in here?" Harry asked, confused. Nagini gave an annoyed hiss and smacked the end of her tale into Harry's leg.

"Do not question Mama Nagini," she said. "You're my little snake, so I must protect you even if Master does not know I am here. Not that he notices, Master is too busy with his new Omega." She sounded jealous and Harry giggled.

"Thank you," he said kindly, "Will you sleep with me?"

"Of course I will, that is why I am here! Now go to sleep," she commanded and feeling comforted and safe with her nearby, Harry did.

.

Voldemort felt oddly giddy. He had another date with Remus tonight. They were going out to eat and Voldemort wanted everything to be perfect. He was dressed in his best, looking modernly classy and acceptable in any restaurant, both muggle and magical. Luckily, for both of them, Voldemort has chosen a remote restaurant out of Britain. He smiled at Remus as the man walked into the bedroom.

The werewolf has all but moved into Riddle manor, making the Alpha very happy. Without the stress of Dumbledore and his mission, the man looked well-rested for once. His worry lines were slowly smoothing out and there were less and less days where there stress completely covered his face with lines and heavy bags under his eyes. That, along with actually eating properly meant that the Omega was slowly filling out and looking more and more beautiful to the Dark Lord.

"There is my pup," Voldemort smiled, opening his arms. Remus automatically moved and wrapped his arms around Voldemort, burying his head in the crook of Voldemort's neck.

"Hello Tom," Remus whispered.

"Are you ready for our date?" Voldemort asked.

"Yeah," Remus nodded. "Thank you again, for the clothes."

"You have to stop being so bashful, my puppy," Voldemort said. "You deserve everything I give you. You've been through so much Remus; it is only right that you get to be showered with spoils and love."

"Tom," Remus said, at a loss of words. He kissed Tom's cheek and smiled. Tom kissed back and held Remus close.

"My puppy, before we leave, I have a question for you, but here is not the right place," Tom whispered. They held onto each other tighter and Voldemort apparated them away.

They arrived on a hillside overlooking the ocean. The half-moon was shining beautifully over the ocean, the waves lulling gently with the soft breeze. Remus looked around and saw the moon. "Tom—"

"You have nothing to fear about yourself," Voldemort said. "You are perfect in every single way, from your body to who you are. I accept who you are. I accept your body, your love, your voice, your feelings, and thoughts, and most of all I accept your lycanthropy. You do not need to hide it from me, my puppy. I want you to accept who you are, and I want to help you work on that as your Alpha." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace.

It was a golden necklace with emeralds and aquamarines. It smelled like Voldemort, with the central jewel filled with the Alpha's magic and scent. Remus gasped at the necklace. "Tom?"

"It has been a long time since I made one, I hope that it can do you justice," Tom chuckled. "Will you please accept this, and be my Omega?"

"Yes," Remus said immediately. "Yes, I will."

Smiling, Voldemort slipped the necklace over Remus's neck and pulled him into a long, possessive kiss. "My sweet Omega," he purred, "My lovely, beautiful Omega."

"Alpha," Remus whined. "Keep this up and I'll be wet."

"That is exactly what I want to hear," Voldemort purred. "I want my sweet Omega wet and needy for me, after dinner we are going to celebrate our bonding all night long." They kissed again, Voldemort's hand slipping into Remus's pants, feeling his wet clit. "Come on boy, let's go eat," Tom smirked, pulling his hand out and licking his fingers clean. They held onto each other once more and disappeared.

A/N: I figured out who Ron's Omega will ultimately be! Who? You'll find out later! Thank you all for reading!

Roderick: Uh thanks? I don't know what meme you're talking about but thanks for sticking by.

Guest: Oof, I mean after this chapter I'm sure he really does need to reevaluate his friendships, but he's stubborn. He has this obsession to "fix" things, and his and Hermione's friendship is one of them.

WereBunny87: I love Harry/Cormac, I'm not gonna lie, but it's good watching him get what's coming for him.

Ijustwantfanfic: I'm happy you see Neville's Alphaness as a welcome surprise! He'll be a sweet Alpha, I'm sure of it.

Gindensmi: Glad you're loving!

Love and Fanfic: Draco loves his sweet Omega, Harry is such a good boy for him and both of them are good boys in general.

Love Faith Embers: thank you!

Mizzrazz72: It's impossible for Harry to get separate rooms. And hey, don't be so mean to my Viktor sadface. And gee, I wonder who...

AnnaMerteuil: Lmao either way, I think Neville will be a better Alpha than Cormac will ever be.

DZ2: Oh damn, that is a hot and steamy image. I might add that to my notes with a few changes. I legit only brought Cormac up to bring up that only Omegas can smell Alpha's arousals but if you want me to bring him back…

Rori Potter: Hmm, I will say that no, it was not Hermione nor Krum. Who it is will be revealed SOON! Not next chapter, but soon!