Draco
Wordlessly, I cast Scourgify on my trousers, cleaning away the sticky mess from my earlier encounter with Hermione. I continue to sit and stare at the wall in front of me, lost in the memories of those last moments before I forcibly separated myself from her. I'm starting to regret instructing the Room of Requirement not to let me back in. My alpha is steadily snarling, and it reverberates through my skull, leaving an aching buzz behind my eyes.
The hall darkens as the day fades into night, and the torches automatically ignite, casting eerie shadows around me. I can't bring myself to leave my spot, too worried that I won't be here the moment Hermione's heat is over.
"Draco?" Blaise's voice echoes down the corridor, and I can hear his footsteps approaching.
A low snarl bubbles in my chest, ripping through the otherwise eerie silence in the hall.
Blaise rounds the corner and freezes in his tracks. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you! I heard a rumor you were holding Granger's–"
A deep growl erupts from me, and I feel myself tensing, ready to go on the attack if he doesn't leave this hallway immediately.
"Okay, easy, eas–" Blaise pauses mid-sentence as he scents the air. His sly grin slowly creeps onto his face as he lazily leans against the wall. "Did you and Granger–"
"No," I snap, my gaze still fixed firmly on the wall. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll take the hint and go away.
"Where is she?" Blaise presses, making his way down the hall again.
An angry snarl escapes my lips. "Not available." I point my wand at him.
He holds his hands up, "Okay, okay. I'll stay over here," he says, retreating a few steps and leaning against the wall.
"She smells a bit… different, yeah?" Blaise observes cautiously.
"Careful," I warn, my voice sharp.
"And you're very… sensitive," he adds with a controlled tone, his gaze fixed on me. "Did she go into heat early?"
I slam my fist down on the stone next to me with a deep growl.
"Hey, we both know where I stand with her. And definitely not trying–"
"Shut up," I grit out, pressing my head against the stone wall. "Just go away."
"You can't sit out here and snarl threateningly at every passerby. You have to eat and take care of yourself, and–"
I cut him off with another loud growl. "I promised her I'd be here when she's done. I'm not leaving."
"How is Granger going to get the notes from class?" Blaise presses. "And you won't be able to take care of her if you're exhausted. Aren't you trying to be a good alpha?" His tone is cajoling, and I feel conflicted.
My alpha is telling me not to leave my post, but deep down, I know Blaise is right.
"Drake, c'mon. Let's go eat. You can come back and check. But if she just started her heat, it'll be at least a couple days before you can get to her." Blaise explains, raising his brows. "And she's been through plenty of heats without you guarding the hall, right?"
Fighting every alpha instinct in me, I stand up and focus on the wall. "I-I have to check," I admit before walking three times fast in front of the wall. Open if she's finished .
Of course it doesn't.
"C'mon. We can check after we eat," he grins and starts to meander away. I force myself to follow but can't stop looking over my shoulder to see if the door might've magically appeared.
Hermione
"Granger, I can't," he says through gritted teeth. "Be a good girl and take care of your heat. I'll be here as soon as it's done," he soothes as he pulls away from me.
Granger? Pulling away? "Please, alpha?" I beg through a soft cry. Alpha, please stay , my mind chants, and slick starts to coat my inner thighs.
His cool hand smoothes my hair back, and he speaks through a clenched jaw. "I can't. I can't do this to you. I have to leave right now, or I won't be able to. I'll see you soon, Hermione. We can talk about this after your heat." And the comforting weight of him over me disappears. Sitting up quickly, I watch the door shut and feel like a dementor is sucking my soul out.
The fever of my heat worsens and a loud cry comes from me. I stumble out of the nest and start towards the door, starting to cry. "Alpha! Come back! Please," I beg to the empty room and try to open the door but it stays firmly shut. "Open! Open the door!" I cry and tug against the handle before a wave of need rushes through me and I crumple against the door. He's gone, alpha is gone .
Eventually, I find my way back to the bed, my body tense and hypersensitive. Thoughts of the taste of his cum as I sucked it from his fingers and the intense gaze he gave me when he rubbed it into my glands flash in my mind. With my hands searching around, I locate his jumper and press my face into the plush fabric.
Over the next few days, I underwent one of the most agonizing heats I've ever experienced. My body aches with every orgasm, and even with the knotted toy buried within me, it fails to provide any real relief. It's not enough . The only thing that got me through my heat was the promise from my alpha of being here when it was done.
My heat ends in the early hours of the morning after painful, back-to-back orgasms. I desperately wanted to get out of the sweat and slick soaked sheets but I couldn't bear to move a muscle. My eyes grow heavy and I tuck Draco's sweater against my cheek, even though it doesn't smell of him anymore. I think I hear my name but am already half asleep.
Draco
For the next three days, my routine consisted of diligently collecting notes and assignments for Hermione. Between every class, I'd rush to the corridor, pacing back and forth three times, hoping that the door would materialize, but it remained frustratingly absent. I made sure to eat, albeit with little appetite, and in the evenings, I'd sit against the wall, reading through the books she and I had borrowed. Back in my room, my alpha would wake me up repeatedly during the night to check on the corridor. All the while, my thoughts were consumed by Hermione, and I could only hope she was doing well and taking care of herself.
My eyes snap open, and a sense of urgency washes over me. I need to check on my omega. Swiftly, I pull on a pair of grey joggers, pairing them with my Quidditch jumper. Slipping into my trainers, I sleepily jog through the corridors, my heart pounding. Reaching the seventh floor, I pace in front of the wall, tracing the path three times, hoping for that elusive door to appear.
I fix my gaze intently on the wall, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, the door materializes before me, and I step through it, my senses immediately overwhelmed by the thick scent of her heat. It's as though I can taste her. With every breath, I take in the mouthwatering aroma as I move forward. "Hermione?" I growl out in a hushed tone, my voice laden with desire. But then, I pause. The top sheet conceals the lower half of her body, leaving her bare back exposed. My sweater is nestled against her face, her hair a tangled, damp mess, mirroring the disheveled state of the sheets, and my heart melts. My omega .
I pull the sheet up to cover more of her back, "I'm here. I'll take care of you." I murmur and grab a few blankets to put on the couch. She'll have to settle on the couch while I change the sheets. I'd like to get her in the tub before then too but I'm not going to do any of that before I get permission.
I return to the bed, tucking the sheet tightly around her. With utmost care, I lift her, ensuring her modesty is preserved. A soft whine escapes her, and she nuzzles into my neck, murmuring, "Alpha," with a plaintive tone.
"I'm here," I reply with a gentle rumble as I head toward the couch. The sound of fabric rustling stops me in my tracks, and I turn back around. The bed has been neatly made, and the overpowering scent of her heat has noticeably diminished. As I carry her back to bed, I shift to hold her in one arm, then pull the covers back and tuck her in. Afterward, I remove my jumper and place it at the foot of the bed. I pull her gently against me, allowing the covers to act as a barrier between us.
A quiet noise comes from her but she's settled against me and sleeping soundly. Her skin still smells of slick and sweat, making my mouth water. I rub her back lightly, closing my eyes. My alpha is finally relaxed and I fall asleep.
Hermione
After a dreamless sleep, my eyes gradually open, and I instinctively relax into the warmth around me, taking in a deep breath. I pause, my senses picking up on the heavy alpha scent in the air. Draco . Embarrassment creeps in as fuzzy memories of how desperate I was when my heat started to come back to me. But he kept his promise; he's here . While I'm glad he did the right thing, there's a tiny part of me, buried deep in my thoughts, that wishes he had stayed.
I melt into his embrace and allow my eyes to drift shut again. However, now I'm acutely conscious of our undressed state, with me being naked and him shirtless, and the only barrier between us being the clean blankets. My hair. I raise a hand to touch my hair and wince. Oh well. I'll deal with it later . I'm not going to force myself out of bed like I did the last time I woke up with him. Also, I've been wanting him– an alpha -to take care of me after my heat . My breathing slows and I drift into a light sleep.
Draco
The sunlight pierces my closed eyelids, prompting me to squint and shift away from its intrusion. I hear a soft purring sound and feel gentle fingertips tracing my back.
"She's awake," I murmur in my sleepy state and adjust myself to get a better look at her. She gazes up at me with heavy-lidded eyes, a weary smile playing on her lips.
"I've been awake," she whispers back. "When did you get in?"
"Last night. It's been pretty hard for me to sleep the last few days," I respond, pulling the covers a little higher to keep her warm. "I woke up and decided to come check. I told you I'd be here when you were done."
"You weren't just saying that to placate my omega?" she inquires, her gaze dropping to my chest.
"No," I reply honestly, leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How are you feeling? Did everything go well? I'm sorry I left like that. But I wouldn't have been able to control myself much longer…"
She looks up at me with a tired smile but something in her eyes is unreadable. "It's okay. Thank you for making sure I was safe. I'm okay. I uh, it was unexpected."
Unexpected? "Of course," I hum softly and tenderly smooth her hair back. "Let me take care of you, Hermione. I'll draw you a bath and make you breakfast while you soak. I'll even comb your hair." My words carry a gentle, rumbling tone as I reach up to lightly cover her neck with my hand.
"You want to?" She asks shyly, leaning her head into my hand.
"I do," I admit, brushing over her gland lightly with my thumb. "I can't imagine going through that alone and not having anyone help afterward," I explain, shifting to sit up. "I'm sure the room provided you with pajamas..."
Getting out of bed, I stretch and let out a quiet groan. "Best sleep I've gotten in the past few days." I pull open the drawer, revealing a plain black silk pajama set next to a plain white tee, presumably for me. I opt for the white tee shirt and set the pajamas on the bed. "I'll draw you a bath," I say as I get up and head to the bathroom.
Turning the tap, I watch the hot water fill the tub and add the omega-friendly soap sitting on the edge of the tub. Bubbles start to cover the surface of the water and I shift to stand up and turn it off. I grab the robe that is on the back of the door and come out and hold it out. "Promise not to look." I close my eyes and turn my head.
There's rustling of the blankets and I feel her shrugging into the robe.
Hermione
I tie the robe tight around my waist and pick up the pajamas. "I'm decent," I call out, turning to look up at him . Draco wants to help take care of me.
Draco's eyes open, and he gives me a small smile. "I'll help you detangle what you have going on up there," he says with a quiet chuckle.
Blushing, I try to smooth my hair down. "Well, usually I braid it, but I was caught off guard and couldn't prepare." I start towards the bathroom and listen to him following me.
"All I said was I'd give you a hand," he chuckles and pushes the bathroom door open. "I'll let you get it in. I'm going to start on breakfast. Or at least take whatever the room has prepared and set it up for you. Let me know when you're ready for me to help with your hair."
"Thanks," I hum, shutting the door behind me. I lean against the door, my face warm with a dopey grin and my heart pounding. When I finally look in the mirror, I cringe at the unruly state of my entire person. I attempt to run my fingers through my hair, but it quickly becomes apparent that it's a tangled mess. Frustrated, I give up and step into the hot bath. Sinking into the steaming water, I momentarily submerge my head before resurfacing to take a deep breath. Leaning back against the tub, I bask in the soothing warmth that envelops me. After a while, I take another breath and call out for Draco.
A few moments pass before the door opens. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, I just wanted some company. The bubbles are good to maintain my modesty." I peek around the corner of the tub.
His face reddens slightly, but he nods. "I'll bring in some of the snacks." He disappears briefly, and I settle back into the bath.
Draco returns, holding a tray with mugs and pumpkin pasties. Carefully, he sets the tray over the tub's edge. "There's real breakfast food on the table. But this should hold you over. Have some pumpkin juice too." He picks up a mug and brings it to my lips. As I take a sip, I hum appreciatively at the sweet flavor. "Thank you, Draco."
"Of course," he hums, placing the cup back on the tray before sitting next to the tub. "Oh, I wanted to mention that I've read through all the books we've borrowed in the last couple of days. I think I might have found something."
I reach for the shampoo and squeeze a generous amount into my hand as he speaks. "Oh? What is it?" I inquire, beginning to lather my hair.
He shifts and leans against the tub, his gaze focused on me. My heart flutters a bit at his attention. "May I? I'm sure you're sore."
Pausing, I meet his eyes, my mouth slightly dry at his concern. "Okay," I nod, bringing my hands down. I grab my mug and sip on my juice. "So, what do you think you found?" I ask, closing my eyes as his fingers gently massage my scalp. A soft, contented sound escapes me as he tends to my hair.
"Well," he starts, "there have been multiple books from various regions of Europe as well as the UK that mention the drastic drop-off in fertility rates happened when He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named started to come to power. It began specifically the same year he created a Horcrux while he was at Hogwarts."
My mind immediately begins to sift through all the books and journals I've read this semester. He's right. "That's when I saw the drop-off being recorded in your family journals."
His fingers press lightly on my shoulder. "Good to rinse," he mumbles. "Even if he had anything to do with it, he's dead now, so it should be finished."
"Maybe we need to delve deeper into Voldemort than I initially thought." I sigh and dip my hair back into the water. He assists in rinsing the suds from my hair, and I eventually sit up. Leaning forward, he reaches into the water to pull the plug and turns the taps on for more water.
I observe as he pours conditioner into his hand, carefully coating my tangled curls. After a quick glance around, he finds a comb and gently starts working its teeth through the tangles.
"I could write to my father, but—"
"We should target people who knew him at that age or attempt to find other memories," I interject, picking up a pasty to take a bite of it. "Or maybe we're overthinking it, and he has nothing to do with it. Perhaps it's just a coincidence."
"Could be, but it's better to be safe than sorry," he points out as he works more conditioner through my hair.
We continue to exchange thoughts quietly about what it could be while he finishes combing my hair, and we keep discussing it as we let the conditioner rest on my hair. My fingers start to get pruny, and I finally decide it's time to get out.
"I'm going to take a shower to rinse off... I'll join you for breakfast in a moment?" I say.
"Yeah, of course." He gets up to grab the tray and leave the bathroom.
After rinsing the conditioner from my tangle-free hair in the shower and scrub myself down, I lather myself in lotion, pull on the silk pajamas, and run a comb through my hair. Emerging from the steamy bathroom, I shiver slightly as I leave its warmth behind.
My legs guide me to the bed where I grab the jumper lying at the foot. I return to the table and sit across from Draco, who raises an eyebrow. "Is it chilly enough to root for the Serpents?"
Draco
She always looks stunning in green .
"Well, it was available, and I was cold. Plus, you play, right? I'll happily cheer you on. We're friends," she says with a smile, reaching out for her coffee cup and taking a sip.
Friends don't kiss just to kiss. Friends don't rub their cum on their friend's scent glands . "Why didn't you tell me it was my cum that kept the alphas away?" I ask bluntly. Might as well get through it now .
Her face turns scarlet, and she clears her throat. "I did it without thinking the first time, and when you said I smiled more like me than you…" She trails off, poking at her eggs.
"So you pushed further last night to just get me off?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Yes, no-I mean. It wasn't just to get you off," she hides behind her mug with another sip. "You make me feel good, so it's only fair I return the favor. The fact that scenting myself with your cum puts the alphas off is an added bonus." She mumbles, taking another chug.
A warm sensation spreads through my stomach. "I can make sure we keep you scented," I say with a light rumble in my voice.
"Really?" Hermione asks, her surprise evident.
"Like I said before, it's not like we won't have fun during it," I reply with a wink, leaning back in my chair.
"Granger?" I say, gently guiding her hand down to place her mug on the table.
"Malfoy?" She meets my gaze.
Before I can even ask if I can kiss her, my body moves faster than my mind. It's a rash decision. I press my lips lightly against hers and cup her face. "I'm sorry I didn't stay and help you. You didn't ask for any help until you were entering your heat, and-"
"Draco, I understand. Thank you for helping me today," she smiles and covers my hand with hers. "I need to ask you something, though."
I eye her curiously. "Go ahead."
"What does it mean when heats begin to get painful?" Hermione's eyes drop to the table, and she traces a pattern with the tip of her finger.
Heats getting painful? "I'm not sure. Was… was your heat painful this time around?"
"It was," she admits, biting her lip. "One of the most painful ones I've ever experienced."
My heart tightens, and I feel regret for the first time for not staying and helping her. "I'm not sure, that's odd. We can look into it. But today, you're relaxing and letting me take care of you," I reassure her and stand up, extending my hand toward her. "The bed was remade last night when I picked you up. Want to nest and read?" I remember from learning about omegas that the best aftercare is doing low-energy things they enjoy.
"I'd like that," she admits quietly and takes my hand, allowing me to lead her to the bed. She immediately begins setting up our nest before crawling into it with a contented purr.
"Looks great," I praise, joining her in the nest and pulling her into my arms. "Rest, I can read to you."
Hermione relaxes against my chest and pulls a blanket over us. I accio a book from the shelf in the room and start to read, keeping my voice low and steady. Her purr stays steady and she dozes against my chest. Now she smells just of us rather than her heat.
Hermione
I'm clean, safe, warm, and well-fed. I can't stop the purrs even if I want to. I want Draco to know that I'm happy . Whenever I'm with him my omega and I are at peace. Shifting a bit, I look up at him with heavy-lidded eyes.
When he glances down during a page break, I lean up and press my lips lightly against his. "Thank you for taking care of me," I whisper against his lips before kissing again.
"You're welcome, petal." He breathes out in response, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth.
A small smile comes to my lips at the term of endearment. I bury my face into his chest and enjoy this stolen moment for us.