Hermione
Theodore Nott reminds me of summer. He smells of linens warmed by the sun, lavender, and lemon. His smile is contagious.
"I look forward to working together in this class," his tone is relaxed. "I'm happy to have a partner that knows how to pull their own weight unlike my good friend, Zabini," his voice drops low as if he's telling a secret.
"Of course," I laugh, "History of Magic is such a fun class! We might be fighting over who gets to do what." I tease.
Apples and bergamot fill my senses and suddenly the warm linens and lavender scent doesn't smell quite as good. I don't turn around to look at Malfoy because now I feel silly that I said goodbye and we are in the same class. I keep my focus on Theo and ignore when Malfoy's scent gets overwhelming.
There's no way we want that , I shout to myself. But he smells so good and smells… Malfoy smells angry. He's angry he has to help me . Of course.
I'm thankful when class starts because I can focus on my notes and not Malfoy's annoyed alpha. Once the class is over, I'm out of my seat and onto the next class before lunch.
The rest of the day seems like a blur. Malfoy is in almost all of my classes and we've been paired in a majority of them. If I wasn't with Malfoy, I'd been paired with Theo or Parkinson. Herbology we have no partners, thank Merlin . It didn't keep me from standing next to Neville though. His alpha scent is comforting and feels friendly .
As much as I pray for this class to last forever, it comes to an end.
"Hermione," Neville stands in front of my table, arms full of books, "I'm headed up to the library to work on homework before dinner. Would you like to join me?" His face has a hopefulness to it and is turning red.
I fight my own blush and walk out with him, "I'm sorry, Neville. I have a half class before dinner. I'll see you in the Great Hall though." I give him a smile and a small wave.
"Bye," he calls out and turns to go back to the castle.
After enchanting my heels to not sink into the grass, I start towards the quidditch pitch. I dig around in my backpack and find my perfume roller. I heavily apply the scent inhibitor on my neck and wrist. If there's any one alpha that would figure me out…
No . I'm not going there. He won't . Nobody won't.
"Where you off to Granger?" Malfoy calls out, leaning against a column.
"To the quidditch pitch?" I pause in my step and look at him.
"Practice is happening for Hufflepuff. You won't be able to learn shite in that." He steps away from the wall and raises his brow.
"What do you suggest then?" I ask, fighting the urge to sneer at him.
"Let's head down to Black Lake. There's an empty field next to it." He approaches me as he speaks, "ready?" Malfoy asks and starts towards the lake.
His scent envelopes me again but I try not to focus on it. There is no reason for me to do so. I don't answer and just follow him. Neither of us says anything until we approach the field. He unclips his robes and lays them down. He points his wand towards the castle, " Accio Nimbus 2001 ."
Copying his movements, I pull off my own robes and shuck my heels so I'm barefoot on the grass.
Within moments, a black blur is heading toward us. His broom sets itself in his hand and he looks at me, "you're going to fly in a skirt?" His brow arches up.
"It is the uniform," I remind him. I should have put shorts on under it. But I didn't think I'd be forced into flying today .
"Okay, well, we won't have you go too high. How about we start by calling the broom up? Like we did in first year?" He carefully lays his broom down. "Come up and ask for it to meet your hand."
Nervousness settles in my stomach and I start to feel ill. "Okay," I mumble and step up to stand next to it before letting my hand rest palm down over the broom. "Up," I say confidently to the broom.
The broom stays still in the grass. Not even a little movement. " Up ," I command, my eyes hard on the broom.
"Merlin, Granger, did you not make it past the first class?" Malfoy challenges me, a blonde brow arching.
After a brief moment of seemingly uncomfortable silence, I finally meet his gaze, "no. I did not. I wrote several scrolls on flying to gain the credit."
"I see," he hums and runs his hand through his hair.
"Professor Onyx chose not to recognize the credit and is asking–"
"I know Granger," he cuts me off. "What about flying is so worrisome to you?" He asks, transfiguring one of his books into a chair and taking a seat.
All I can do is shrug. It's not like I can just open up to him and tell him that I have a fear of heights and I honestly don't trust the broom to hold me and carry me where I need to go.
He's patient and doesn't press me for any reason but the ongoing silence is enough of the answer, "c'mon Granger," his tone is different. It makes me want to curl up on his lap and never leave. "Tell me what worries you about flying…" His tone is gentle and firm at the same time, leaving no room for argument.
Malfoy is using his alpha tone on me. Arsehole . But regardless, I can't ignore a right-out demand from him. My biology won't allow it.
"Well, I'm afraid of heights." I nod and pick off invisible lint from my skirt, "and I truly don't trust the broom to… to fly?" My eyes are burning holes into the ground at my feet.
"Ah," he nods as if I just answered every question he has. "Well, the heights thing I can't help too much with… but–"
"Logically, I know the magic from the witch or wizard and the magic in the broom comes together in a low-level magic bond. I'm just unable to create that bond with any broom." I glance at the Nimbus 2001 at my feet.
"Okay, well we can't get you off the ground if you aren't able to create that bond," he hums and shifts his gaze to Black Lake.
"Obviously, Malfoy. Why do you think I wrote scrolls on it rather than doing it?" I give him a look before looking back at the broom.
He stands and approaches me. His heady scent envelopes me and my knees buckle. Malfoy's hand hovers in the air over the broom and without him saying a word, the broom meets his hand. He holds it upright, not letting the broom head touch the ground. "Grab it," he instructs.
A thick swallow comes from me that I hope he interprets as nerves around flying rather than his mouth-watering scent. My hand reaches out and I grip the varnished wood in my sweaty palm at least six inches away from his pale hand.
"Feel that?" He asks eyes on my face.
"What am I supposed to be feeling?" I ask, strengthening my grip on the broom.
"Close your eyes," he instructs in the same tone as he used earlier. Without a second thought, my eyes close. I almost snap them back open out of principle but don't. I'm not sure I can even if I want to.
"Good," his tone is low as he praises me and it goes straight to my clit.
There is a steady, dull throb between my legs but I ignore it, "now what?"
"Stop using that swot brain of yours, feel the magic in the broom."
I almost snap back but don't let myself, "what am I supposed to be feeling?"
" Stop trying to use logic," he says patiently. "Just use your magical intuition. The same way you do in potions or divination."
I hate divination. But I know what he's asking me to do. I take a deep breath and make my mind go blank. Focusing on the broom, I note how it feels. The wood is cool and smooth against my palm. A very distinct contrast from the brooms Hogwarts loaned us during first year.
"Well?" I can hear the impatience in his tone.
"I can't focus on the magic of the broom if you're going to stand there and breathe down my neck, Malfoy. Give me a second." I gripe out.
"Aren't you supposed to be the top student at Hogwarts?" He challenges me.
My eyes snap open and I glare at the alpha before me. "I am the top student at Hogwarts. This is different . If you're not going to be patient about it, then I will just ask Ginny to help me instead."
"And you think I will sign off on it?" He challenges me with a sneer.
I let go of the broom and grab my heels, robes, and book bag off the ground and stomp away in anger. Don't, he'll be mad . I don't care. I argue with myself. He's being pompous and rude as usual .
I'm not even twenty feet away when he zips by me on his broom and I have to hold myself back from flipping him off.
"See you tomorrow, Granger. Be better prepared," he calls back before disappearing from view.
Tosser .
Draco
I'm settled in an alcove, knowing that Granger is due to walk past at any moment. When she doesn't, I move to be able to see the lawns of Hogwarts better. After a few moments, the swot walks to the edge of the walkway. She stares at the grass for a moment before walking onto it confidently. Her direction is carrying her toward the pitch. Of course, she wouldn't know that Hufflepuff is practicing.
"Where you off to, Granger?" I call out to her, leaning lazily against a column.
Her movements stop and she turns to look at me, "to the quidditch pitch?"
Her amber gaze has ensnared me in my position before I force my alpha back down. I push myself off the column, "practice is happening for Hufflepuff. You won't be able to learn shite in that."
"What do you suggest then?" Her tone is snarky and I choose to ignore it.
I walk towards her and answer, "let's head down to Black Lake. There's an empty field next to it. Ready?" I ask and lead us towards the lake.
Even with Granger in my space, I can't smell her. I can never smell her. Besides the sounds of our steps against the earth, silence fills the air until we are in the field. Shucking my robes, I pull my wand out and point it in the direction of the castle, " Accio Nimbus 2001 ." I ignore her disrobing and watch the sky for my broom. No reason to get my alpha unnecessarily riled up. The familiar wood greets my hand. When I finally look at her, it registers in my brain she's in her uniform skirt. "You're going to fly in a skirt?" My brow comes up. Not that it would be a problem per se . I want to see more of those shapely legs- no. I wait for her to dismiss my concern by informing me of her shorts under her skirt in an aloof tone but it doesn't come.
"It is the uniform," she says in her swotty tone.
Does that mean she's not wearing– I fight the eye roll at myself and Granger before focusing on the task at hand. "Okay, well, we won't have you go too high. How about we start by calling the broom up? Like we did in first year?" I lay the broom down and look at her expectantly, "come up and ask for it to meet your hand."
The look on her face makes me want to take her in my arms and soothe away- no .
"Okay," she mumbles and stands next to the broom. Her palm is facing the broom and commands it with an "up" but nothing happens.
Odd.
Another "up" comes from her and she's glaring at it on the ground.
"Merlin, Granger, did you not make it past the first class?" I ask incredulously and raise my brow. The silence that follows the question is deafening. When she finally does look at me, I see the insecurity written across her face.
"No. I did not. I wrote several scrolls on flying to gain the credit."
I'm only a little surprised. But now that I'm thinking of it, I don't ever recall Granger on the broom during first year. "I see," I run my hand through my hair as I think about how to best go about doing this.
"Professor Onyx chose not to recognize the credit and is asking–"
I already knew why we were out here."I know, Granger," I cut her off. Pointing my wand at one of my textbooks, I transfigure it into a chair and settle into it. "What about flying is so worrisome to you?" There is no way I'm getting her off the ground today. She can't even call the broom up.
She doesn't answer me and chooses to give me a wordless shrug.
As a beta, I know my alpha tone would work on her. It always works on anyone who isn't an alpha. I never like using it because it feels wrong . But I need to solve this now . My graduation is on the line if I don't get her to where she passes this class. So instead of trying to keep my alpha at bay behind my occulemancy, I bring the walls down. "C'mon Granger," my tone is cajoling, "tell me what worries you about flying…"
I'm about to ask in a firmer tone as I thought my first attempt didn't work but she finally answers me. "Well, I'm afraid of heights." She nods and is brushing something off her skirt, "and I truly don't trust the broom to… to fly?" Her eyes are trained on the ground in front of her.
Typical of a mud–muggle born, if I'm honest. "Ah," I nod, "well the heights thing I can't help too much with… but–"
She interrupts me but keeps her eyes on the Nimbus 2001. "Logically, I know the magic from the witch or wizard and the magic in the broom comes together in a low-level magic bond. I'm just unable to create that bond with any broom."
"Okay, well we can't get you off the ground if you aren't able to create that bond," I hum and look to the lake, trying to figure out the best way to approach this.
"Obviously, Malfoy. Why do you think I wrote scrolls on it rather than doing it?" Her irritation is palpable and her tone reflects that.
Mulling over her words, I stand up and approach her. My hand hovers over the broom and it meets my wordless call. Holding it out to her, we meet eyes, "Grab it." Just don't touch me . I'm not sure my alpha can handle it.
Nothing comes from her except a loud swallow. I almost think she's not going to grab it until she does.
My magic is intertwined with the broom and her added palm has the wooden broom almost vibrating in my hand. "Feel that?" There's no way she can't feel that.
"What am I supposed to be feeling?" I watch her knuckles whiten as she grips it tighter.
She doesn't feel that? I keep my face smooth. If she can't feel it, that's where we need to start. "Close your eyes," my alpha tone bleeds into my words and her eyes shut immediately. Her obedience stirs something in me. "Good," my alpha praises her before I can stop myself.
"Now what?"
Granger is too in her head. " Stop trying to use logic. Just use your magical intuition. The same way you do in potions or divination." I know that Granger hates divination but it's the same type of magic… Her grip loosens on the broom and her breathing becomes low and even. When did I start paying attention to her breathing? Silence fills the space between us and nothing is happening. After a few more beats, I can't help myself from pressing, "well?"
Her eyes stay closed as she snaps at me, "I can't focus on the magic of the broom if you're going to stand there and breathe down my neck, Malfoy. Give me a second."
Patience isn't a virtue of mine. Maybe I need to rile her up to get it to work? "Aren't you supposed to be the top student at Hogwarts?" I challenge her.
Her eyes snap open and I'm met with an angry glare. "I am the top student at Hogwarts. This is different . If you're not going to be patient about it, then I will just ask Ginny to help me instead."
The weaselette? I should have buried my alpha again but it's too late now. I want to help her. I want to be the one to see the grin of excitement when she finally triumphs. "And you think I will sign off on it?" I sneer at her.
She lets go of the broom and the power in it wanes. I watch her stomp to the pile of her belongings and throw her robe over her arm, pull her book bag on, and pick up her heels. She storms off back towards the castle.
Swot .
I transfigure the chair back into my textbook and shove it into my own book bag along with my robe. I mount my broom and zip past her, "see you tomorrow, Granger. Be better prepared," I call to her before racing towards the castle.
Once I'm at the entrance, I get off my broom and walk inside and head straight for the dungeons. I needed to get my alpha back under control and figure out a better game plan for teaching Granger how to fly on top of completing homework. I'm walking into the dungeon when I hear her.
"Drake! There you are," Astoria pokes her head around the leather wingback chair, "I was hoping we could work on homework together."
"Uh, I'm not sure I can tonight, dove." I hum and walk to the chair she's sitting in. "I have a lot going on," I lean against the chair. I catch the smallest whiff of her scent and my alpha goes dormant.
"Oh," she pouts and looks up at me.
I find myself comparing the gaze of her blue eyes to the amber ones I had on me not just long ago. I know which one I want more. No, which one my alpha wants more of . "I'll let you know when I plan on a library session next, okay?"
"Sounds lovely," she gives me a small smile.
"Wonderful. I need to get ready for dinner. I'll see you in the Great Hall?" I ask as I start towards where the entrance to my room.
"See you, Drake," she blows me a kiss and turns around again so I can't see her anymore.
I'm fucked.