Testing The Alpha's

Draco*

Liquid fire burned through Draco's veins, his teeth clacking as he clenched his jaw until it ached. Rarely had his Mark burned in the dark of night but the Dark Lord followed no one's schedule, only the madness that had slowly begun to deteriorate his mind.

Gingerly pulling the sheets back from his body, he scooted out from beneath Granger's weight as she continued to sleep. The short tips of her nails scraping along his abdomen as she clung to him in a way she never did while awake, to take away that which is omega obviously craved was nearly as painful as the burning mark upon his arm.

Never did his shameful branding hurt as much as when his defenses were down. Within the wards of his home his mind always felt settled enough to allow some semblance of relaxation, at least enough so he could sleep. Having Granger by his side had only served to feed that inner calmness he lacked during waking hours. In turn, when he was summoned at night, the pain had increased tenfold in comparison to when his walls were firmly in place.

After donning his dark robes, Draco allowed himself to look upon his omega once more, while he watched, he thought of the way their mornings had started since her heat ended. With an arm wrapped across his chest and one leg tossed over his hips while the rest of her was pressed snugly against his side.

Granger's scent was everywhere now, he couldn't take a single breath without inhaling her sweet aroma, but it was a whole other feeling to wake up to her in his arms. He'd found himself taking extra time just lying in bed when he'd normally be readying himself for the day, letting himself savor the way the softness of her chest pressed against his ribs on every slow inhale and exhale. Sometimes her nose would scrunch in her sleep like she was trying to solve a particularly vexing problem and he let himself enjoy the warmth that spread through his chest in response.

Knowing the more he prolonged answering the call to his master would only increase his pain, Draco exited his room and softly shut the door behind him. He'd just heard the soft snick of metal catching before he heard Theo behind him.

"Should we be concerned?" The hardness in Theo's voice matched the cold stare he leveled Draco with, gone was the gentle kindness, replaced by the war hardened Death Eater preparing to descend into unknown madness that surely awaited them.

"We should always be concerned, Theo, you know this. There is no room for inaction when we enter his chambers. Whatever he wants, it won't be good." Draco had done his best over the years to limit the amount of exposure Theo had to their Lord. He was a cruel wizard who could smell even a drop of perceived weakness a mile away, and that made Draco worry for Theo. Not because Theo was weak, he was anything but. He was kind, warm, and fiercely loyal. Qualities that gave him a strength the Snake master could never hope to understand. Days spent with Luna hadn't dulled Theo or made him vulnerable; they had only deepened his capacity to care, to feel, to hold on to the humanity that so many had long since abandoned. Draco admired that about him. But in the eyes of someone incapable of valuing such traits, Theo's strength would be twisted into weakness, and that was a dangerous thing to be in this world.

With Draco's standing in the army, he had kept his friend so busy with side missions and errands that it had been months since he'd physically stood in the Snake masters presence. All other forms of communication had been via owl if needed at all. He would be lying if he said he wasn't even a little concerned about what the evening would hold for Theo.

In this moment he realized that Weasley's feelings in regard to protecting Granger was the same desire he felt toward Theo. The difference being that Draco had honed his skills over the years, sacrificed every part of himself, in order to be a person thatcouldprotect those he cared for. No matter what lay ahead, he knew in his heart that he would do whatever necessary to keep his friend safe, even if he had to maim, kill or torture to make that a reality.

As if Weasley had even a kernel of the mental fortitude required to delve into the level of darkness required to become such a person.

The thought sent a flash of self-satisfaction through Draco. Knowing that he'd willingly darkened his soul but, in the end, it would behimthat kept Granger safe, and this knowledge alone would make every wrong choice worth it.

Draco snapped to attention, cutting off his inner ruminations as he took Theo's elbow in hand, with a sharp tug the view of his home slipped away as they ripped through time and space until their boots landed with a hard crunch against the gravel of the Manors drive. The pain radiating from their marks evaporated upon arrival, providing a modicum of relief but knowing the tradeoff, Draco was sure it wasn't worth it.

Normally, Draco would have entered through the private Floo connected to his suite at the Manor, but bringing Theo along would have raised too many questions. The sight of both men emerging from Draco's room in the dead of night, fully clad in Death Eater robes, was bound to draw suspicion. Instead, they'd stick to the usual story, that they'd been out late, either prowling Knockturn Alley for witches to fuck or patrolling.

The usual stench of decay hung heavy in the air, clinging to the walls and permeating the floors, no corner left untouched by dark magic and death. Draco was certain even the Grim Reaper himself would shutter at the level of depravity that was now written in the pages of his ancestral home's history.

Draco felt the familiar coldness that accompanied his occlumency walls building themselves higher and higher until the warmth he'd felt less than an hour ago was now a distant memory. If he was to survive whatever the Dark Lord had planned, he needed to keep every thought of Granger hidden deep within his mind.

Snakelike shadows began to crawl along the walls as they neared the war room. Their serpentine bodies melting into each other before separating again. Seeing yet another part of the Dark Lord imprinting himself upon Draco's family home made him yearn for the day he could finally destroy this place and all evidence of tainted magic with it.

"A cunt is a cunt. Doesn't matter if it's muggleborn or pure, as long as it's wet and warm, I'm a happy man." Dolohov's voice slithered from behind the doors, the sound of it reminding Draco of the snakes still swarming on the walls around them. "You alpha's could learn a thing or two about breeding from a wizard like me."

Disgusted by the thought of taking advice of any shape or form from that particular snake, made Draco's stomach clench as he shoved the doors open wide. Careful to maintain his bored appearance, he took measured steps toward the planning table, Theo at his back.

"I fail to understand howyoucould offer any sort of advice on such matters, Dolohov. After all, you are abetaare you not?" Draco drawled while keeping attention on the pawns arranged neatly around the table before him.

Chuckles and murmurs floated through the otherwise quiet room in response to Draco's jab.

"Pretty boy alpha thinks he's so important. You'll see just who the Dark Lord really favors soon." Draco finally turned to look at Dolohov, taking immense pleasure at the ways his cheeks had turned a ruddy color, and his eyes flashed with fury.

The fact that only the alpha's had been summoned to this meeting, apart from Dolohov, had not gone unnoticed by Draco. The observation put him on high alert. "Tell me this Antonin. In a room full of powerful alpha's, what use could you possibly be to the Dark Lord?" Draco asked instead of responding to the obvious threat the man had slung his way.

A smug grin stretched across Dolohov's lips before he stepped back and settled into his seat once more. "Oh, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for our young lord. You'll see soon enough."

Draco hated surprises. Since fourth year he'd not had one that had turned out well. In his gut, he knew this one was going to be the same.

After minutes of oppressive silence passed, Draco's senses snapped to attention. Drawing in a deep lungful of air, he pulled in a faint scent, it was teasing in its familiarity but dancing away before he could name it. The other alphas began to shift in their seats, their nostrils flaring. Then they slipped from their chairs one by one, their pupils dilating as they began to roam around the room in search of the elusive smell.

As if hit with a Depulso, Draco clenched at his stomach as it contracted painfully. He didn't know how, but it was her.

Granger. Omega.

Fear rushed through his veins, pumping straight to his heart until the organ was fluttering uncontrollably in his chest. Draco's eyes snapped to the double doors as they opened wide with a bang and a squat, balding man with thick glasses was carrying a tray with six small, corked vials.

Where was she? How had they gotten her?Draco couldn't control the paranoia building within his mind as his eyes searched frantically for his mate.

Something snapped in Draco as his body remained frozen with fear, but he finally looked at the other alpha's. Apart from Theo, all of them had an unadulterated look of hunger on their faces. Their chests heaved as they breathed in her heavenly scent. Something that should have been solely reserved for him. He could just imagine what they were thinking. Picture the things they would do to his sweet omega if they could get their filthy hands on her.

She's mine!his alpha howled furiously, the thought melting the fear that had left him incapacitated up to this point. In a flash, he was on the nearest alpha. Letting his fists fly, his fear for his omega fueling the protective rage he buried his knuckles every bit of soft flesh he could reach.

Kill them thought should have made Draco pause, consider what he was doing but instead he found himself in firm agreement with the animalistic desire to tear every other alpha from limb to limb until every threat to his mate was eliminated.

"Draco!" Theo's voice rang with authority before he felt ropes wrapping tightly around his body from an Incarcerous.

The breath sawed heavily through Draco's lungs not just from exertion but from the panic he couldn't escape from.

"She's not here, calm the fuck down!" Theo hissed in his ear. Draco visibly deflated at the reassurance but knew that had anyone heard it, he and Theo both would be in danger. He never should have let himself get so out of control. But the idea that Granger had been captured and was being brought as a sort of sacrifice for a group of alpha's was too much for him to bear.

"I am told she isss quite exquisite. Enough to drive a group of my best fighting alpha's mad with lussst," Voldemort, unseen up to that point, hissed as his thin lips morphed into his version of a smile but was far to maniacal and strange to be considered reassuring. Draco felt his body tense further within the binds in response to the Dark Lord's obvious glee at the display of unrestrained violence from his leading general. "Such a shame that we have losssst her. Though, I have faith my most loyal followers will find her and the others. I have ssssuch special plans for them."

He knew. Draco knew he was talking about Granger and forced his muscles to relax, to not react in any way, he couldn't give away that he cared specifically who the Dark Lord spoke of. He just needed to play this off as an alpha's overreaction to an omega's scent.

"This one in particular will ssserve me well. She will further our cause and bring forth a new era of soldiers, the likes of which we've never seen. Until ssuch time, you lucky few will help test a new potion we've created with the assistance of omega one." Draco inwardly bristled at the use of the word assistance.

As if Granger had a choice in the way her body had been used, as if she had wanted to participate in years of torture. Mention of it brought forth the memory of finding Granger in her cell. If hate alone was enough to kill, the Dark Lord would be nothing but ash on the floor from the seething rage burning within Draco. He hated this man more than he had ever hated another person.

"Draco…as my most trusted general it would only make sense that you be the first," Voldemort hissed as he walked toward Draco, his threadbare cloak skating over the floorboards like a whispered hiss.

The binds holding him in place fell away, Draco's skin prickled painfully as blood rushed to his fingers and toes, but he pushed that aside and stood quickly with his spine erect, shoulders back and hands at his sides, all trace of discomfort gone. "I live to serve you, my Lord." His offer of obedience, though simple, satisfied the Dark Lord as he waved once for Draco to come forward.

Pale, unnaturally elongated fingers with thick pointed nails gripped one of the sapphire blue vials before placing it in Draco's outstretched hand. Without hesitation Draco pulled the cork loose and was met with the most delicious scent he'd ever smelled. He had been right, it was Granger, but her floral scent had been amplified tenfold and tinged with something other that he couldn't place.

Draco swallowed around the dryness in his throat trying to focus his mind, to stay present but nothing could chase away the desire burning low in his stomach and up his spine. Seeing those eyes red as burning coals, waiting in anticipation Draco could do nothing but bring the vial to his lips and tip it forward.

Liquid cold as ice flowed past Draco's lips, quickly morphing into lava as it scalded his throat and burned along the lining of stomach. Draco grasped at his throat as he tried to drag in air but could not force his lungs to expand. His eyes bulged painfully in his sockets as he watched Theo take a step toward him. With every bit of willpower he could muster, Draco managed a shake of his head to discourage any further movement.

Theo's face pinched in concern, but he remained rooted where he stood. The other alpha's inched closer to Draco, drawn in by the mesmerizing smell of the potion he'd consumed, obviously not discouraged by the display of pain before them.

"Let us sssee how well my new creation works, shall we? Alpha Draco, Crucio the Nott boy." The Dark Lord's eyes gleamed with unrestrained malice as he waited for his orders to be carried out, his teeth once sparkly and strait, had narrowed and yellowed over time, making him look all the more sinister.

Draco felt an inexplicable draw, a nagging voice at the back of his mind to do just that. Not to question why he felt this urge but to do as he'd been bid. As he stood straight, shoulders back and wand pointing toward Theo, all of the pain melted away until it was replaced by a pleasant fog. His senses felt numb as whatever he'd drank lulled him into a false sense of security. He would feel so much better if he just listened, he didn't have to think, that was his master's job, he just needed to do.

No

The word exploded through the wall of fog that had enveloped Draco's mind. The reprieve from the dream haze lasted long enough for Draco to wrestle back control. The relief that swooped through his chest was short lived though.

"It ssseems I've underestimated you." Gone was the curiosity Voldemort had previously displayed, replaced by a withering glare and deep dissatisfaction. "The rest of you, take your vials and drink."

Draco's shoulders remained tense, but he let his hand drop to his side in a display of submission, years of backstabbing and subterfuge had taught him never to completely let his guard down though, so he kept his fingers clenched around his wand tightly, ready to strike if needed.

The other alpha's eagerly took their potions, Theo being the only one to hesitate but, in the end, knew he had no other choice, drink or be subjected to torture or death. Similar reactions to Draco played out over the next few minutes until one by one the large frames of each alpha stood tall, awaiting their orders.

The Dark Lord moved from one alpha to the next, eerily quiet as he observed their vacant expressions.

Is this what I'd looked like?What are they doing to us?Draco questioned as he waited with bated breath to see what would happen next.

"Sssspectacular. Alpha's. Stand before your general." The five alpha's moved before Draco until they stood in a line, similar to a muggle firing squad.

"Wands forward." Again, Theo hesitated but eventually stood as rigid as the others.

Draco could see it in the Dark Lord's eyes before his lips curved upward in a twisted smile. Real fear lanced through his heart as he locked his mind down, brick after brick he rapidly strengthened his mental walls. Finally, his racing heart slowed from the effect of Occlumency but only a moment before the word was uttered into existence.

"Crucio"

Draco could swear, as the first lash from the torture spell flicked at his skin, that he could see the Dark Lord's black soul through the eyes of the other alpha's. Five Crucio's hit Draco at once, the effect splintering his mind into a million pieces. His soul was being peeled apart, layer by agonizing layer while his veins felt like they were bubbling beneath cracked and flayed skin. The crimson drops leaked through the fabric of his reality as Draco finally lost hold of everything.

"Boy or girl?" Hermione's soft question pulled Draco from his daydream. Her fingers ran through his hair, sending pleasant shivers over his scalp and down his spine after every pass. Those liquid amber eyes, so like the lion of her former house, looked upon Draco with so much love it made him hum with warmth while pondering his answer.

"I'm sorry my dear, I've done it again," Draco apologized with a sheepish grin as he stared up at Hermione, his head lying in her lap while she rested against a tree.

"You'll have to be more specific, Darling." Hermione laughed as she blessed Draco with one of her brilliant smiles.

"What always happens in moments like this, my love. I find myself getting lost in your beauty."

"Lost, are you?" Hermione asked while her fingers continued to wind through the silver strands until he found himself drifting off.

"Yes…but I think I rather like it here," Draco answered, the last thing he saw was a pair of honey eyes and the last thing he felt was her warmth surrounding him like a blanket.