Hermione
Viktor's response came faster than I anticipated and we set up a date for lunch in Hogsmeade during the first trip of the year, right after my heat. Which is perfect so I'm not easily swayed by his over-the-top alpha habits. He is an alpha that always makes his presence known and has established where he stands in the hierarchy–which is on top .
The morning of the 7th and 8th years going to Hogsmeade, it is cold enough to cause the grass to sparkle in the sunlight with frozen dew.
I pick out a brown, cashmere sweater and tuck it into a black and brown houndstooth plaid skirt with a black, leather belt. With the temperature, I pull on my black thigh-highs and clip them. Pushing my feet into my boots, I grab my purse and jacket before heading down to the common room.
"Look at you , Miss Granger!" Ginny giggles and gives me a twirl.
My hands run over my curls, "I look okay?"
"You look drop-dead gorgeous. I didn't think you had a sense of style," she teases.
Warmth floods my cheeks, "Ginny! I was busy gallivanting in the woods with your brother and boyfriend! I didn't have time to have one," I huff and smooth my skirt down. I'm secretly pleased with the praise. I worked hard after the war to better myself in many ways, and I'm glad my rebranding is so successful thus far.
"Viktor is going to be gobsmacked!" She giggles and loops her arm with mine, leading me out of the common room and towards the courtyard. Many of the seventh and eighth years are already present, their breaths coming out in little puffs from their mouths. The brisk air doesn't dampen the excitement we are all feeling.
I push my arms through my jacket and cast an advanced warming spell over myself. There were many things I don't like about being an omega, but the inability to regulate my homeostasis irritated me more than most other things.
Once the seventh and eight years are accounted for, we start the walk over to Hogsmeade.
My heart is in my throat and my stomach is churning as we walk. Ginny, Luna, and Padma are catching up on gossip but I can't bring myself to pay attention to it. During my morning routine, I layered on my scent inhibiting potion thickly. I don't want anything to cause this to go sideways or expose me.
The sharp scent of apples pulls me from the trenches of my thoughts. Malfoy is here . Subtly, my head does a swivel and I pick out his white-blonde hair. My shoulders relax a bit and I bite the inside of my cheek. That shouldn't relax me . His fingers are laced with Astoria's and she's chattering excitedly. That's why I can smell his alpha so clearly, he's with his mate . A brief pang of jealousy rushes through me and I swallow thickly, tearing my eyes away from the couple.
I'm going on a date and I have the audacity to be jealous of bloody Malfoy . My fucking omega. Damn that part of me.
"Hermione here actually is not going to be hanging out with us today, are you ?" Ginny goads and elbows me playfully in the ribs.
"Gin, stop," I whine and pull my coat tighter around my waist. I love Ginny, truly, but she doesn't know how to keep her gob shut.
"Ooh, spill," Padma leans in as she loudly whispers.
"Is it that nice Bulgarian man?" Luna asks in her soft, melodic voice. "I thought I recognized the owl."
"Is it Viktor Krum?!" Padma gasps, causing a few people to look our way.
Now I really don't have any choice. " Hush ," I hiss at her and the three girls gather closer to me. " Yes , it's Viktor. It was his owl. He asked to catch up with lunch. It's no big deal ." What I am mostly worried about, aside from the rumor mill, is the expectation he might have. When we were 14, we got very much wrapped up in each other in the library and things definitely went physical... Are we supposed to just hop back to where we were? Are we just friends catching up?
"A world-famous quidditch player asked you to catch up over lunch…" Padma points out, "it is a big deal."
"Thanks, Gin," I mutter under my breath and just shrug, "it's not. But I'll see you later. I promised to meet him at the entrance."
"It's just a date," Ginny shrugs nonchalantly.
My lips form a line of disapproval and my face heats up again. The girls giggle and wave before following the rest of the students, leaving me behind at the entrance to Hogsmeade. Finding solace in the silence, I pull out a book to focus on instead of the growing knots in my stomach. My omega feels on edge and I'm not sure I can do anything to help it.
I get through four paragraphs before I hear a pop. Glancing up, I can't help but smile. He still looks as handsome as he did the last time I saw him.
"Hermione," he grins at me, starting towards me and closing the distance between us.
"Viktor," I meet him halfway and wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him close. His strong arms come around my waist and squeeze me. "It's been too long!" His heavy scent of cloves floods the space between us causing my knees to go weak. But something feels off. I don't feel like I did in fourth year where it made me want to curl into his lap and purr loudly.
We part and he gives me a brief once over, "krasiv." His tone is reverent and his gaze is soft on mine.
A distinct memory of Viktor teaching me that it means "beautiful". A shy glow blossoms on my cheeks and I avoid his soft gaze. "Thank you."
"Your hair is different." His finger carefully tucked a tendril behind my ear. "I like it."
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with his compliments and touches, I fiddle with the strap on my purse, "thank you! Are you hungry?" I ask in hopes of distraction.
"Very," his tone suggests he's hungry for more than food. "Let's go," He offers me his arm.
I take his arm and lead him toward the restaurant I have in mind. "How have you been? How's quidditch going?"
"I've been good, busy with quidditch," he nods and reaches out for the door handle, and opens it for me.
A murmur of thanks comes from me as I enter, thankful for the warmth.
"We are in a good position to get the cup this year," he explains and leads us to an empty booth in the back. There weren't very many patrons and I'm thankful. I know both of us are easily recognizable and I'm yearning for a normal lunch.
"That's great!" I smile and lay my napkin over my lap.
"How are you?" He inquires his dark eyes on me.
The alpha pheromones are rolling off of him in waves and I'm not ignorant of the reason for that. "I'm good. I'm happy to be back at Hogwarts. I just want a normal year before I start working at the ministry."
"You plan to get into politics?" He rests his cheek against his hand, gazing at me
"I would love to get involved with the rights and protection of magical creatures," I explain, "maybe do research on the side for fun."
"That's wonderful! I think you're brilliant," he reaches a hand out to cover mine.
My heart is thudding in my chest but I turn my hand palm up and give his hand a squeeze, "thank you. You're rather brilliant yourself. Your knowledge and skill in arithmacy are rather incredible." I compliment back.
A subtle flush graces his cheeks and his eyes darken a bit as he stares at me like I'm something to eat. Viktor holds my hand firmly with warmth before bringing it up to his lips, "sakrovishte," he mumbles against my knuckles before pressing a light kiss to them. I feel the urge to purr build up in my chest and I push it off. At least my omega is finally starting to warm up to him rather than finding solace in the alpha scent of Malfoy .
" Sakrovishte ?" I repeat, leaning towards him.
As he opens his mouth to respond, the door to the restaurant opens. Both of our eyes shift to the new patrons entering.
Astoria comes in first with Draco following her closely.
Any desire my omega was starting to feel towards Viktor and his alpha wanes significantly.
Draco
Astoria and I are already in the courtyard with our friends when Granger and the weaselette walk up. Only allowing myself a glance in her direction, I focus on the beta that's under my arm.
"Oh Drake, I'm so excited! You've been so busy with community service and your courses, I feel like I barely see you outside of meal times." Astoria cuddles herself further into me.
"I know, dove," I press a kiss to the top of her head, "I'm looking forward to our date too." Our mothers will be pleased to know that I'm still courting her to a certain extent. But my alpha keeps wandering back to Granger .
Thankfully, I don't have to dwell on her too long before we are walking towards Hogsmeade. Astoria takes my hand in hers and fits her fingers between mine. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and she looks up at me with a smile.
I return it and she starts to catch me up on all the gossip I've been "missing". I didn't really care too much about it but she obviously did. Thankfully, my alpha is pleased with being desired but also irritated it's not from the female I want the attention from. I do my best to keep myself in check. Only half listening to Astoria, I overhear the Patil girl saying "Viktor Krum". A few heads turn to look at the group of girls but nothing more.
Anyone with two brain cells would be able to piece together what was going on: a Bulgarian owl, Pansy mentioning a Bulgarian word in Granger's letter, and the word "date" being whispered amongst the girls now–Granger is going on a date with Krum. Sparing the group another glance, Hermione is red in the face and her arms are wrapped around her waist
Jealousy rips through my alpha but I quickly build up my occulmency to keep it from affecting my current mood as it has before. A thick wall is between me and my alpha. Because yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the rest of my life, is about Astoria .
We wander in and out of stores that catch her eye before she tells me she's ready to sit down for lunch. Walking hand in hand, we go to Le Petite Mason and enter the cozy restaurant.
The scent of cloves punches me in the gut and I know Krum and Granger are here. The potency of the alpha scent is the same as it was in fourth year. When I follow Astoria to our table, I see Granger's hand in Krum's and his lips resting against her knuckles. The wall I had so strongly built between me and my alpha comes crumbling down. I know Granger will reek when we have flying lessons tomorrow.
My face stays a smooth mask while Astoria and I are sitting across the restaurant from the other couple. I'm sitting where Granger and I can make eye contact and I never have wanted to apparate away more than I do now.
Granger's eyes meet mine and we hold each other's gazes for a moment before she refocuses on Krum and Astoria reclaims my attention.
Through lunch, I'm barely able to focus on what Astoria is saying. It feels like we are sitting for hours. Once the couple across the room gets up and leaves, I feel like I'm finally able to breathe. It doesn't do much to help my focus though. I'm still only able to half listen to Astoria for the rest of our date.
When we meet up with the rest of the students, Astoria is eager to tell our friends who Granger was with while I avoid looking at Granger's flushed face.
Hermione
Apples and cloves do not go together, I decide quickly as Malfoy's scent mingles with Viktor's. After we exchange looks, I don't look at Malfoy again. All it does is rile up my omega and I'd rather keep a firm hold on that side of myself to behave on this not-date date.
Viktor pays the tab and he guides me out of the restaurant with his hand on my lower back. Once outside, we are arm in arm as I take us back to the entrance of Hogsmeade so he can apparate away.
"It was nice seeing you, Hermione." His words have a slight rumble to them and I instinctively pull him closer to me.
"Likewise, it was great catching up," I reluctantly let go of his arm when I realize I pulled him in. His rumbling makes me want to throw myself at him so I put some space between us. "Would you," I swallow thickly and keep my eyes on the ground, "want to meet up again?" I finally drag my eyes up to his.
He grins, "I'd love to, printesto." The blown look in his eyes softens to a look of adoration. He reaches for my hand and draws me closer and leans down. I take the opportunity to go to my tiptoes and meet him in the middle for a chaste peck.
After giving me a second kiss, he pulls away, "I'll write."
"Okay," I respond shyly. "I'll see you soon?"
"Of course," he brushes his knuckles across my cheek lightly, leaving heat in its wake, "bye."
"Bye," I say in a quiet voice, my mind hazy. He pops away and my body robotically starts moving to find my friends. The bright red hair of Ginny is the beacon I'm looking for and I rejoin them.
Ginny has a shit-eating grin on her face, "well, how was it? Spill all the details."