A/N: Once again I come offering my little bit of fluff for your brains. I tried to combine the best parts of Alpha/Omega stuff (well the best parts to ME) and that included heats. However, Hermione being herself, don't believe for one moment that means hot sex is in the offing. Not yet anyway. Just read along and let me know what you think.

He wasn't there though his scent still lingered~ on her skin, on the pillows, in the air. Something about that felt wrong. He should have remained, right? At the very least, he should have stayed to tell her goodbye. That is what a gentleman would do or so she'd been taught to think, maybe? A real man would never just wander off and leave a woman, wondering.

It would be...unseemly.

Yet, once she'd fully awakened, his absence had been irrefutable. There was no growling chuckle, husky murmur, warm hands or glinting gray eyes. There was only silence. Unending. Deep. Sad.

And she had felt a little bit broken.

She retreated, her slim form wrapped only in her favorite red flannel robe, to the library and the book she hadn't finished because things kept spinning away from her control. With no thought (A smart choice due to the possible influx of teary squalls) Hermione had resumed the small book by the Omega writer and allowed herself to fall under the spell of those long ago words, once more. After all, there were a few chapters that she hadn't taken notes on or read for that matter.

It was the second to last chapter that caused her to understand. The heat. Her notes on the phenomenon were a bit more in-depth as she felt she would soon deal with that issue, especially since Draco had disappeared on her with no warning. She noted, in part, that:

Most Omegas, when mated, experience cycles, usually every three months. As far as can be determined, it does not matter whether their mates are wolves, veela or wizard. The cycle does not change and is known to be overwhelming, lasting anywhere from three days to a full week and is dependent upon the wizard in question.

Why dependent?

Each Alpha has a different cycle, different sexual needs, and since an Omega is ultimately the perfect match for their particular mate her own needs coincide with his. That means that most wizards range from three to four days, Veelas for seven with wolves coming in at five to six. Of course, there have been longer than average heats by type but on average these numbers will suffice.

An Omega heat can be experienced without a full mate bond (as long as they are entertaining an Alpha mate, exclusively) but that is also fairly rare and is likely judged by the strength of the witch's magical core. The stronger the core, the faster a heat is likely to overtake her. Wolves can usually sense the beginnings of a cycle quickly, especially when dealing with their own prospective Omega and, if they are gentlemen, will work to avoid the issue by leaving her alone until after the first heat has run it's course. (It must be noted that an Omega can survive a heat on her own. Lots of masturbation can take the edge off enough to survive.)

It is best if the Omega avoids all masculine company, especially if they do not wish to be fully mated at that point. Symptoms which precede the upcoming heat include high fevers, tremors, flushed skin, sensitivity to clothing and lack of appetite. These precursors will last, at most, one to two days before the initial cycle. Any arrangement-

She was interrupted from her note-taking by a loud tap to the library window. It was Draco's owl, complete with a small scroll gripped within the right talon. She hurried to let him in and once a treat had been accio'd and given, she'd set about reading what he'd sent. Of course, his words only underlined what she'd dreaded; her heat would soon arrive. He had wanted to remain but his own morals would not allow for it. Instead, he had slipped from her and would remain away until she was, once more, aware of her own mind. He also informed her that she was not, under any circumstances, to return to work for the next two weeks and that he would tell Theo himself.

Since the beautiful white owl had waited, she quickly penned a response letting him know she understood and that she would floo call him once she was...better. After that, she had no choice but to check food stores and pain potions to prepare for the upcoming storm.

The fever and sensitivity started that night with the addition of other symptoms by Monday morning. The next week (Eight days? Nine?) were spent in a dream-like state, body overheated, flushed, needy. She hardly ate, rarely slept, could not deal with the throb of water against her skin which meant showers were a no go and baths were short when she could remember them. (If she were honest? She did not remember very often.)

She ached.

Screaming. Crying. Clawing at herself because her hands were too small and she couldn't get deep enough and she did not like or have toys and it was too much, far too much. She couldn't breathe or think, she could only rub or tweak or pinch or thrust and whimper, so much whimpering. It was all hazy and almost hellish because she wanted...oh she wanted but she couldn't leave, couldn't reach out, couldn't stop, couldn't have.

Until it was over.

Hermione awakened on the morning of Wednesday, the twenty-first, her slim body splayed on her living room floor, muscles aching from overuse, hair a rat's nest of curls and frizz. Her apartment was freezing, no fires lit, all warming charms long vanished and the place, at least from what she'd noticed in that first stretch, was an absolute pigsty. Obviously, she would have to do something about it because fuck, no one should wake up to that! However, cleaning was not to be her first priority.

No, a bath and some warm clothes before lighting the fireplaces in the library. living room, bedroom. Those things would be her first priorities, just as soon as she could drag herself up from her sprawled position. What if someone saw her like this? What if HE saw her like this? He'd be so disgusted, he'd look at her like she was a 'Weak Omega slut.' No, she had to get up.

A half hour later, she was dressed in warm flannel pajamas with her hair still slightly damp from the long, hot, shower she'd indulged in and on her way into the living room to light the final fire. A long-lasting warming charm had been used in the bathroom and library so that, by the time she made herself FEEL human, the apartment was regaining its usual ambient temperature, a lovely 20 °C. Of course, none of that mattered once she finally saw the state of her home.

It was trashed.

There were empty crisps packets and biscuit tins, paper and bits of broken glass-everywhere. Her apartment looked as if a hurricane had swept through it, leaving nothing untouched. Hell, somehow there was even a broken egg on her kitchen ceiling, the fucking ceiling! Truth be told, Hermione couldn't remember much past last Tuesday morning so this mess could have appeared at any time, on any day... she just didn't know.

'Thank Merlin for house cleaning charms!' A delirious thought.

The next few hours were spent in a flurry of activity. Broken mugs and glasses were repaired, dishes were tended to and put away, dusting (because dust adds up when not properly dealt with!) was accomplished, a free elf for hire was contracted to handle the laundry (not that there was much of it but the dress definitely needed to be properly tended to and when was she going to find the time to do that?) By the time she'd gotten her home back into shape, morning had morphed into early afternoon and she was in dire need of another bath.

However, before that, she needed to contact Draco.

'He is probably at work. Will just Floo call...no. Will get dressed and go see him,' her thoughts were a mess. After all, the heat was over, there was no reason why she couldn't. And, if she were to be completely honest with herself, she had missed him. He'd been the last thing on her mind on the previous Monday and the first thing on her mind as soon as her eyes had opened that morning. She had to see him.

So, another bath and clean clothes. She had chosen muggle wear (jeans, boots and a sweater) but that didn't matter; she was not going into work until the following Monday. With nary a thought, she tossed a handful of powder into her large fireplace and called out~ "Malfoy's office." As she stepped from his fireplace her gaze connected immediately his. He had risen from his desk almost as soon as she'd appeared and his gaze seemed to be everywhere, all at once, as he checked her over. He husked out a greeting, his hands fisted by his side.

"Hello Draco," she opened even as she strode forward to pull him into a hug for the first time. He seemed a bit shocked since she never initiated intimacy but that didn't stop him from enclosing her in the tightness of his embrace, his lips touching down at the top of her head.

"I missed you, at least when I could think," she whispered quietly.

Draco gave a chuckle and then scooped her up, cradling her close to his chest. Turning slightly, he carried her to his couch and settled there with her on his lap. Solicitously, he asked, "Was it difficult, your first heat? Are you okay?"

Hermione nodded and moved to tuck her head beneath his chin so that she would not have to meet his gaze. "It was...intense, I think. I-I don't remember much of it, though it lasted longer than I thought it would. You must have a very strong sex drive since I am supposed to be a perfect match for you in all things."

He chuckled and she could feel him as he nodded. "I was always that way although the need has increased since my change. Once we've been together physically, I doubt you will ever spend a day without me inside of you, not unless circumstances dictate otherwise."

He felt the heat of her cheeks, probably due to a blush, but her mass of curls hid her face from view. In an attempt to calm her, he spoke again, his voice husky. "As I've told you before, I will not force you. You choose when and where. Even a full bonding is your choice." His large hands tangled into her curls and tilted her head back and then slightly to the side so that he could capture her gaze with his own. "I am sure that once you are ready, between your thighs will be the best place I've ever been."

She shuddered, the pink of her cheeks deepening toward a rosy hue. "The things you say are quite inappropriate."

A shrug met her pronouncement before his mobile mouth found her ear. "Maybe," he whispered, "But I will say them all the same."

Hermione released a small groan before pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. She then made to rise but the strong bands of his arms stopped her. "I need to get back home, Draco. I only wanted to see you for a few minutes. You still have half a day to get through." She paused and then ducked her head. "I would like it if you'd come by after your day is done, though."

His silver eyes sparkled, glee or something else? However, he only returned her kiss with one of his own before he lifted her and settled her on her feet. "Okay," he husked out, "I will be there after six. You gonna cook for me?"

She nodded and turned toward his fireplace so she could Floo home.

"Yes, love."

And then she was gone, taking her warmth and scent with her.

He found that it didn't matter. After all, her endearment had made him smile.