A/N: To answer the review by GabzR , harry is a boy physically but due to the fact that he can get pregnant ( which make him a hermaphrodite) he is considered a girl in their society. also see Chapter 1 in the chapter summary for more explanation.

Also thanks to mccargo and archangelmika for favoriting and following this story.

Chapter 8

Harry often visited the Empress Dowager. He went to see her more times than he could count and more than most other concubines, to be honest. It was spring and his health was better than it was in the cold months of winter. The Emperor's mother was an elderly woman who was born from a regular omega and thus has a little bit of magic. She has a frail disposition but Harry could see that she was more steel than bone. The concubines were obligated to greet her once a week like they greet the Empress once a day, but Harry never felt that it was an obligation when he greets her. She was old-fashioned and uncompromising, stubborn to a fault, and yet very wise. She spoke to him about everything under the moon, advising him on palace etiquette and teasing him about his modest appearance. They got along like a house on fire because they were very similar in personality. Harry doesn't care to pretend to be anything less than he is, and she accepts him without reservations. It had been a little less than five months since the altercation with the Emperor and Harry had calmed down somewhat. He knows in hindsight that hiding from the Emperor will accomplish nothing. The man wasn't one to fixate on anything that doesn't ultimately benefit him in some way. He had, of course, made a few visits to Draco Malfoy. Even though he had been relinquished from the duty of looking after him, there was no reason to appear completely cold-hearted. Half of the consorts had ceased to fawn over the blonde on account of his pregnancy because they feared the wrath of the Empress and the other half were mooning over him for the power that the blonde possessed after the baby had been conceived. Harry knew that both halves had legitimate fears, however allowing it to overwhelm them and influence their decisions was not intelligent. Should the baby be born, any associate of Malfoy will enjoy some of the power the blonde will have. Not that Harry wants any power per se, but having a backup plan has never hurt anyone. Presently, Harry was sitting with Empress Dowager, discussing the spring banquet the Empress was planning. The Empress Dowager was in her bed, propped up on a golden silk pillow while sipping tea. Harry sat beside her on a wooden chair with cushions, drinking chamomile tea. There were other concubines here four hours ago, but they had all gone back to their palaces. Harry stayed behind with Hermione to keep Empress Dowager company.

The Dowager Empress had requested for Harry to call her mother a few weeks back, and as much as it bothered Harry to breach protocol he obliged her, currently they were discussing her medications which the Empress refused to take. "Royal mother, I completely agree with the royal healer to continue with your medications even after your symptoms have subsided. As we were saying, the banquet is in a few weeks and we want you to be as healthy as you can be.

The Empress Dowager looked at Harry's furrowed brow in exasperated fondness and handed her tea to her head servant. "My dear, you worry too much. I am not ill, I am just very old. Nobody can escape old age although my son likes to think so," she responded with a dimpled smile. Harry shook his head as he tried not to smile at her antics. Hermione bit her lips too. It was really a losing battle. He genuinely liked the Emperor's mother. If only she listened to his impressive arguments about her health too. Before he could respond, however, the eunuch at the door announced that the Emperor had arrived. Harry vacated from his seat and knelt down into a curtsy immediately. The Emperor entered his mother's chambers in a fitted robe, accompanied by the Kings, and of course Draco Malfoy. The blonde's stomach was now very much showing, a huge bump that complemented his figure, even if he tends to look a tad unbalanced. The child was due very soon. "Greetings Your Majesty, My lords, and Imperial Concubine Malfoy," Harry recited manually. "Rise" The Emperor intoned. "Greetings Mother," the Emperor knelt down on one knee, followed by the two Kings. Malfoy didn't follow suit, he was too far advanced in his pregnancy. He rose again at the same time that Hermione helped Harry up. Harry gestured for her to move him to the seat on the far left to give the Emperor room. Draco Malfoy stood uncomfortably with his hands around his middle, looking nervous and unsure of what to do. The concubine hadn't had much time to interact with the Dowager Empress bar the initial selection. In fact, apart from Harry and the Empress, none of the concubines in the Harem knew how to interact with the Dowager Empress for any length of time. She was more straightforward and direct than any of them were accustomed to. The Onyx King helped the nervous concubine to the cushioned seat Harry had been occupying. "Greetings Empress Dowager, may you live for a thousand years," the blond ventured softly. The Dowager scrutinized him for a second before smiling briefly, turning her eyes back on Harry. "Dear Harry and I were just discussing my health lately, and He was just advising me on the merits of medicine before your entrance," The Dowager teased. Harry's cheeks pinked and he subtly covered his cheeks with his perfumed handkerchief. "Oh? Are the royal healers not doing their job to satisfactory standards mother?" The Onyx King seemed serious in his inquiry, thin lips curling in distaste at the thought. "Leave those poor healers alone Severus, I just do not want to drink their bitter medicine." Harry smiled at her honesty, forgetting to cover his mouth with his handkerchief and inadvertently allowing all those in the room to view it. He quickly averted his eyes when he looked up to see three sets of eyes burning into his skull, looking as though they wanted to devour him. The Dowager noticed the tense atmosphere and started a conversation with Malfoy. "Now then Imperial Concubine Malfoy, I've heard many things about you, I hope you are doing well and looking after my grandchild carefully?" "Y-yes Your Highness, the healers say that the child is healthy and in an excellent position." Harry tuned the rest of the conversation out, opting to leave the royal family to their business. He checked the clock on the uppermost wall and sighed in relief. While he enjoyed the Dowager's company, he couldn't say the same for the rest of the room's occupants, and the late hour gave him an excellent excuse to escape. "Royal mother, I have shamefully taken too much of your time, I apologize. If I may be excused, I have to go and take my medicine," Harry said as he rose from the wooden chair. The Dowager turned to him with a knowing smile on her lips, prompting a deprecating smile from Harry. He gave her his hand by her request, allowing her to hold his palm and bless him before sending him on his way. Harry couldn't tell if the look in Malfoy's eyes was jealousy or admiration. He didn't care for either, to be honest. He once again curtsied and left the room as silent as he had come. -- That evening, as he was taking a walk alone in the gardens in a more secluded section he came across the Emperor sitting on a bench, also alone. He had his eyes closed and Harry stilled, wanting to leave quietly without alerting the Emperor. As he was about to leave he heard the Emperor say, "hello Harry" Now caught and feeling stupid about forgetting that the Alpha could smell him even though his eyes were closed, Harry curtsied, "Greetings Your Majesty" his cheeks blazing. Thomas smiled at him, "How have you been Harry, I see you have been avoiding us" Harry blanched and fell to his knees "I..I apologize, Your Majesty, if you felt that I have avoided you."

Great he did not think he was so transparent, Harry wanted to bang his head and he wanted the earth to swallow him. "Rise, and do not worry Harry, I haven't given you a reason to be in our presence…." "No, Your Majesty it is not that," Harry slowly rose to his feet bowed his head, took a deep breath and said "I am sorry for interrupting you Your Majesty but I forgave you for that altercation a long time back. I knew that you did not want to read my mind, it is just that I did not know how to be in your presence as you did not have to apologize, as I am nothing but a lowly changzai and you are the son of heaven and you have the right to my very being" Thomas shook his head "I had apologized because I had also felt the sufferings of the past omegas and you should not have had to feel that. Even though I did not mean to do it, it still happened. And Harry, you are not just a lowly changzai you are also a supreme omega, be proud of it" he moved towards Harry and took his face in his hands "You do have a right to my apology Harry, you do not know but you are precious to me, Severus, and Lucius. We have been blessed by the Moon Goddess to have you with us" he said softly.

Harry was silenced by the Emperor's words, his breathing erratic, he felt little tingles where the Emperor was touching him,

"Can I scent you Harry?" Harry's eyes widened at the question, he couldn't believe what was happening…..and now the Emperor, the Son of Heaven was asking Harry's permission to scent him, he couldn't form any words so he just nodded his assent. Thomas nuzzled his neck drinking in Harry's unique scent of orchids and oranges, he drew Harry close to him and laid kisses on his gland, felt Harry's scent enveloping him like a thick blanket. Although amazing, he had to move away before he did something drastic. He looked at Harry taking in his beauty, his scent, it was truly a heady feeling that Thomas did not want to stop, his alpha was happy being so close to his omega…… yes that is what Harry was, his omega. He moved Harry to the bench and sat him there, he knew this was the first time that Harry was scented, and he did not know how long the Omega would be in the omegan headspace but Thomas would be here to take care of him.

Harry sat there in a daze after the scenting. Feeling the Alpha next to him was something he couldn't describe; he didn't know how long he sat on the bench but when he came around, he saw the Alpha looking at him. Harry blushed and lowered his eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for taking care of me I am blessed to have you as my Alpha" Harry closed his eyes at his words he couldn't believe he had called the Alpha his……

Bloody hell, I am losing it…… "Yes….. I am your Alpha and you are my Omega" Thomas said possessively, Harry knew he resembled a tomato by now, he was so red. "Go back to your quarters Harry and rest. I believe it must have been exciting for you, I will ask the guards to escort you back, next time do not take a walk alone in the gardens." Harry nodded, he couldn't form any more words, his brain had turned into mush. He curtsied and left with his Alpha's guard. Edited and updated on 29/06/2021.