Hermione

Two Weeks Until Sept 1

"You're breaking up with me?" Ron's voice cracks as he stares at me.

Guilt is eating at me but I stand firm in this. Ron and Harry presented in fourth year. Harry after the graveyard incident that took Cedric Diggory's life and Ron shortly after Harry. When we were on the run for the last year, Ron and Harry were made privy to the knowledge that I am an omega. That complicated things with Ron a bit more but we kept dating.

Until now.

He may be an alpha but he's not my alpha.

"I am. I'm choosing to go back for year eight. I want to enjoy school, actually experience a full year of classes and OWLS and NEWTS-"

"We both know you don't have to go back to school. You can have any job that you want! We can still be together while you're-"

"No, Ron, we can't be. I want to enjoy this year with no strings attached. I even turned McGonagall down for Head Girl and being a prefect," I say and watch the busy road in front of us. I took him for ice cream in muggle London and I'm thankful for the visual distractions. I can smell his distress and it is making me uncomfortable. Even though I'm not romantically interested in him, he's still my friend. "Besides, you and Harry will be joining the Aurors training. You'll be very busy as well. I want you to have time to enjoy–"

"What about your heats?" He challenges.

I feel my face flush, "what about them? You don't help me through them now."

"But you'll be at Hogwarts. Only a few of us know that you're an omega, how're-"

"Ronald!" My face is bright red at this point, "I handled them before at Hogwarts without anyone being the wiser. I'm sure I'll do fine now."

"You're really ending it?" He asks me, giving me a pinched face.

"I am," I affirm, "that doesn't mean I don't love you." It's just that biologically we are not a fit. I know his alpha thinks I'm a fit, but any omega is a perfect fit for any alpha when there are hardly any around.

"That's exactly what it means, 'Mione!" He shakes his head and glares out at the road.

The shop is full of muggle families who are none the wiser that I'm breaking "my alpha's" heart. The light pink walls are a bit too bright and with the cheery music, it might not be the best place to end a failing relationship. "No it's not. You are one of my best friends and nothing can change that. I love you like a brother."

"That's even worse!" He whines and tosses his spoon on the table.

I give him a sympathetic look. This is exactly how I expected him to react. Denial, anger, and grief before accepting it.

"It's not. I've got to go. I have to pick up my books for the year. I'll write, okay? I know Harry's waiting for you for your lads trip to America before Auror training. Don't be late," I give him a side hug, holding my breath. I didn't want to smell him anymore.

"Yeah, have a good year." Ron muttered and apparated without another word.

Boys.

I clean up his spot from the ice cream and step outside, apparating to the Leaky Cauldron before my foot hits the pavement.

Now that I got the worst over with, I can focus on being excited for the upcoming year. Now that the stress of a wizard declaring himself a "lord" that was trying to eradicate muggle borns has actually died and I'm not constantly running around, my body has filled out. I grew a few cup sizes over the summer (all of my button downs bulged at the chest buttons and I'm not trying to have all the buttons undone) and my arse and hips got rounder (making my skirts mere centimeters from showing my panties). I splurged on new tailored robes that suited my figure better. Once I have all my school uniforms and robes situated in my purse, I start towards the bookstore and pause outside a lingerie store.

The pieces are gorgeous and intricate. My omega makes me pause at the site of it and pushes me to go in. My eyes travel over all the lace, frills, and sexy undergarments.

"Bonjour! Welcome to ze Dreaming Flower, I am Clarisse. Can I help you?" A blonde, Veela approaches me. Her beauty stuns me and I find it difficult to swallow.

"Hello, I was just looking," I manage to get out and give her a weak smile.

Her smile turns alluring, "nobody comes in to ze Dreaming Flower just to look, mon cherie." Her light blue eyes travel up and down my body once, "I have a few pieces zat I feel you would love."

"I'm just looking," I repeat, "I'm here school shopping." Maybe she'll realize I'm not here to pick up anything to seduce anyone.

"All ze more reason, cherie! Sit, sit," she ushers me to a chair and flicks her long, silver wand, "you're ze Hermione Granger, oui?"

"Oui," I respond flatly, rubbing my knees. I just want to get my school supplies and stop at a cafe. I need a new wand. I've been using Bellatrix's since the end of the war and it… is faulty more times than not. I do not need lingerie.

"Que c'est beau!" She exclaims with a clap, "you're an eight year zen!" Her fingers wave forward some garments. "Zese are a must under any uniform." It's a series of garter belts with matching thigh high stockings with lace.

I almost purr at them. Taking them in my hand, I run my fingers over the soft fabric. They are pretty and my sensitive thighs would appreciate the soft silk rather than the itchy cotton socks I normally wear.

"It iz ethically made from ze zilk bowl worms found deep in ze icy ponds of les Cavités Denses-"

"The Cavity of Dense?" My brow arches.

"Oh! Parles français? Que magnifique! Mademoiselle Granger, zese are a must. Zey come in all zorts of colors." It didn't take speaking French to know the translation.

Is this part of my personal rebranding this year? Instead of knee high socks, I wear stockings? It's allowed, I know the Hogwarts rulebook cover to cover. "Yes, actually." I nod, my omega speaking more than me, "I would love five white, five nude, five black."

"Would you like to zee some of the panties and brasierres we have as well?" Clarisse flicks her fingers and the stockings are putting themselves into paper and then into a bag.

I'm already spending money on stockings, what's the difference if I look for panties and bras to match? It'll feel lovely on me and we will look lovely for an alpha. I almost roll my eyes. To be fair… I'd spent my summer in a sports bra as none of my cup bras fit. I tell her my sizes and ask for white, black, and nude bras and panties as well, requesting the same amount of each.

"Mademoiselle Granger, I must insist you take a look at zese," she brings out jewel tone, lacey panties. Ruby red, emerald green, saphirre blue.

Before spending too much time thinking about it, I nod. "Please, I would love a pair of each."

A short squeal comes from her, "you will look stunning in ze red, I sink." She smiles and leads me to the counter, "I told you, mon cherie, no one comes in ze Dreaming Flower to just look."

I give her a shy smile and pay for my undergarments, "thank you, Clarisse. You were right."

"Please come back, Mademoiselle Granger!" She gives me an air kiss over the counter and I blush again.

"Merci, Clarisse. Je vais te voir. Au revoir," I take the silver bag from her with a shy smile.

A faint jingling is heard, notifying Clarisse of a new patron, "au revoir, Mademsoille Granger! Merci encore!" She puts a comforting hand on my shoulder before going to approach the new customer, "ah! Monsieur Malfoy! Bienvenu!"

At Malfoy's name, I hide behind a scantily clad mannequin and pray she leads him from the front so I can make my escape.

His scent fills my senses and my knees buckle. He sure knows how to make his presence known. I take a moment to breathe in the mind-fogging alpha scent of Draco Malfoy.

"Bonjor, Clarisse. Je suis ici pour ramasser, Greengrass," his perfectly-accented and annuciated voice carries through the shop.

Picking up for Greengrass?

"Ah, oui! Mademoiselle Daphne or Astoria?" Clarisse leads him towards the counter.

"Astoria, s'il vous plaît," he responds, his voice following her steps.

I took the opportunity to dart towards the door. Fresh air clears my head as I exit. Taking another deep breath, I go to Ollivanders. I ignore the lump in my throat from the brief wave of grief that takes over me. There's a line out the door. I'm sure plenty of first years and others replacing their lost wand.

The process could take time with what I could recall. I find a spot in line and put my silver bag into my purse.

"That's Hermione Granger," I hear a whisper.

A flush touches my face but I focus on organizing my purse.

My name starts to be murmured and muttered around me. Before I know it, I'm being rushed to the front of the line.

I stare at Mr. Ollivander, "Miss Granger, vinewood and dragon heartstring. I'm sure you're here for a new wand.

"Mr. Ollivander, I'm so sorry. I was at a spot in the back of the line, let me get back-"

"Tut, tut, Miss Granger, I kept a few wands aside just for you. Should be quick."

"Please, please, forgo the special treatment! I'm happy to wait in-"

"So here, we have a few different vinewood wands, dragon heartstrings…" He flits around the shop and pulls down a box from the back. "A couple variations and what not," he hums to himself and pulls out all the boxes. "Okay, let's start giving them a flick." He cheerfully grins at me.

The eyes on me make me want to cringe and shy away. I didn't want to return to Hogwarts as a celebrity. I get that enough in my general time in wizarding London. But to not make a scene, I just let the preferential treatment happen.

The first few wands are duds, causing various vases to shatter in the store. I feel the blush on my face darken but I continue until one finally feels right.

"Ahh, Miss Granger, I'm surprised you didn't get another dragon heart string," he raises his furry brows.

"It's vinewood again," the wood is soft in my palm and reminds me of my old wand. I miss it terribly.

"That it is… but you have a unicorn hair core this time," he hands me the box, "free of charge."

"Absolutely not! Yourself and many kind people pushed me to the front of the line, let me pay for my wand!" I argue, opening my purse.

"You got yours snapped. This is the only fair," he smiles faintly.

Frustration fills me but I don't push it, "fine, then I'll make a donation for someone who is buying a used wand to get a new one." I place down enough money to cover at least two or three new wands.

He gives me a wry smile, "congratulations for finding a match, Miss Granger."

"Thank you," with that, I put my wand away. I need to turn in Bellatrix's old one to the ministry.

The rest of my time spent in Diagon Alley is mostly uneventful. Whispers follow me but that's nothing new. Leaving the last shop of the day, I collide with someone.

Bergamot and apples fill my senses.

"Bloody hell, Granger," Draco bites out as he stands and wipes the dust off his robes.

As much as I hate to apologize to him, it is my fault for not paying attention. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I hold my breath slightly as he kneels back down to help me pick up my potions requirements.

"Taking advanced potions?" He asks as he hands my things.

"I am," I put the small parcels and books in my purse instead of trying to carry everything again. He's being nice. I frown at myself, that is most definitely my omega just because he smells nice.

"Same," he nods and stands, offering me his hand.

Taking his hand, I let him pull me up. His soft palm rests against mine. His grasp is cool and it shoots sparks all over my body. My stomach tightens and I feel the breath leave me. My body starts to heat up and I don't want to let go. If anything, I want to pull him in, bury my nose in his neck, and hope he holds me too. Damn it. This is Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, Former Death Eater, Boarding School Bully, who stands by and let's me get 'Mudblood' carved into my arm, and sneaking in Death Eaters to start the war, the–I'm, holding his hand too long.

Shoving all feelings down, I let go of his hand and wipe the dust off my jeans, "doing your back to school shopping?" I try to make small talk.

He nods, studying me down the length of his nose. His silver-blonde hair is quafted perfectly and his eyes hold no hatred for me. "Just about finished."

It's weird. "I've just finished. Guess I'll see you on the train."

"Guess so," he gives me one last look, "pay more attention, Granger." Malfoy disappears into the shop I came out of.

With his exit, the air becomes breathable again. Well, not that it isn't breathable when he's around me… Shaking my head, I head back to the Leaky Cauldron to apparate to my cottage.