Hermione-
Like the jagged blade from a saw, Hermione's breath raked over the raw skin of her throat until it expelled past her kiss-swollen lips. Flashes from the last few days raced through her mind as she tried to capture the images and force them into some semblance of a timeline of what had played out after she'd lost herself to her heat.
Goosebumps mingled with the other raised marks along her arms and chest as she recalled the way Draco had rained words of praise over her while worshipping her body.
"My omega is the most beautiful thing in this whole fucked up world."
"You are a fucking warrior, despite their best efforts to destroy you."
The softness of Malfoy's words were a contradiction to the almost cruel emotional unavailability that he had offered thus far, and Hermione wasn't sure what to do with that. Yet, even now, her body responded to the memories, warming at the way he'd touched her. The feeling still lingered on the surface of her skin, the proof of it in the ache of her limbs and the smell of their coupling clinging to the sheets wrapped around her body.
The thought of navigating the conversation in regard to what they were to each other made her stomach clench and her heart thump heavily in her chest, and of all the reactions she could have, that infuriated her the most. Hermione's blood boiled at the thought that she had unwittingly opened herself up to further pain, as if she hadn't experienced enough of it in her short life thus far.
The crux of the problem was that she couldn't solve this problem herself. There was no book she could reference, no ancient scrolls with long forgotten runes she could puzzle out. The only way forward was through Malfoy, and she hated that.
After heaving an angry sigh meant to expel the nightmarish thoughts chasing her last bit of sanity in circles, Hermione finally opened her eyes to meet whatever may lie ahead.
She'd expected Malfoy had left after waking and feeling the absence of his body heat near her, but still the confirmation that he was nowhere to be seen stung. Forcing the twinge of abandonment off, Hermione stretched her limbs, her joints crying in relief after however many hours or days spent in bed. A long shower was exactly what she needed before finding Malfoy to discuss her plans.
Draco-
Draco'd finally left Granger's side after three days of juggling her body's sexual and physical needs. Keeping nutrition and hydration potions in her system while ensuring his omega didn't feel alone for even a moment had taken it's mental and physical toll on Draco. His body was made to withstand an omega's heat but with Granger's illness, he'd had to be hyperaware of her needs. This morning as her skin no longer burned, and her scent had returned to normal, he'd assumed she'd be asleep for some time and could afford an hour or two away.
He'd paid Blaise a short visit at his shop, grabbed a few things for Granger at the apothecary and tailor, and made a quick stop at Gringotts before apparating home. Upon stepping through the front door, he knew his omega had awoken far sooner than he'd expected. The knowledge sent a flood of uncertainty swooping through his stomach. Would she be furious that he'd left? Should he have stayed? Draco wasn't used to this feeling of self-doubt, having been so long since he allowed himself to feel even a drop of anything but anger.
"I don't give a fuck what Malfoy would have to say about it. I need to see Harry." Granger's furious voice carried from the living room, the sound of it already making Draco defensive and his alpha furious that anyone had upset his omega.
Rounding the corner, he found Theo standing with his arms behind his back in front of the fireplace, his posture seemingly relaxed but Draco could see the tension around his friends eyes and the white of his knuckles as he clenched his fists. Granger wore the same magically shrunken clothes she'd worn before, which still hung off her thin frame while she jammed a finger repeatedly in the center of Theo's chest and continued her rant, completely oblivious to Draco's presence.
Draco cleared his throat and met each varied expression upon the faces of the rooms occupants. Theo's relieved, Granger's furious and Pansy's amused.
"Well, it's nice of you to grace us with your presence Lord Malfoy. I thought we were going to have to send an official summons through the Dark Lord himself to get your attention. This one," Granger said while poking Theo in the chest again, "seems to think that I need your permission to leave the residence and refused to call you here himself."
Draco braced himself for another round of her fury, clapping Theo on the shoulder before taking his place in front of Granger as Theo sat beside Pansy. "That one, otherwise know as Theo, is right, you will not be leaving, at least not any time soon."
Granger released a surprised scoff before laughing coldly. "I think it's adorable that you think you can stop me. Despite what you might think,alpha,you are hardly the scariest thing I've ever faced." The scornful way she'd said alpha irked Draco, but he pushed the frustration aside.
"Look at yourself, Granger," Draco said, his voice sharp as he waved a hand up the length of her body. His grey eyes lingered for a moment on the oversized clothes hanging off her frame, the fabric swallowing her slender form. "Are you seriously going to fight the Dark Lord without a wand, swimming in those too-large clothes?"
He crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth twitching in frustration as he took a step closer. Her defiant posture didn't waver, but he could see the subtle tremble in her hands where they were clenched at her sides.
"I mean,lookat you!" His voice softened slightly, but the steel edge remained. "Your body is weak, and your mind is recovering. Since you've obviously reverted to the Granger who thinks she knows everything and dives headfirst into danger without a second thought, allow me to correct any misconceptions you've concocted inside that impulsive mind of yours."
Draco paused, letting the weight of his words settle between them, and watched the flicker of emotion in her eyes—anger, yes, but also something deeper. Vulnerability, perhaps? He couldn't quite tell, and it gnawed at him.
"You will not be leaving this house any time soon." His tone dropped, more commanding now. "Even without those signature curls, people will recognize you in an instant. Not to mention, any alpha that scents you would be on you in a heartbeat, and you'd end up right back where I rescued you from. Only this time…" He hesitated, his stomach twisting at the thought. "Instead of three omega playthings, you'd be the star of the show."
His jaw tightened as he pushed the horrifying image from his mind. "Does any of that sound appealing to you?" he finished, his voice low and rough, his gaze locking onto hers.
"You don't know anything about me Malfoy. I'll fight until my last fucking breath to kill that monster, and I'd do it without a stitch of clothing. I don't care if my mind is unraveling or that my body is half starved and riddled with scars. Unlike you, I'm not a coward. I'd let that snake pit you call a home burn to the ground with me in it if it meant I could rid the world of that devil and his sycophantic followers." Granger hissed the last sentence with venomous fury, glaring at Draco as if she could burn him to ash with her anger, but the thought of Granger stepping even a toe into the place he once called home had his own blood boiling as a wave of protectiveness coursed through him.
"You're right Granger. But you don't really know me either. I'm not saying that I don't want you to fight but I want to do this the right way. The way that doesn't end up with you locked up in a concrete cell while the Dark Lord orders unspeakable things to happen to you. Things that are probably more horrible than you've already endured." Draco felt the fragile hold on his anger slipping as he tried to force Granger to see reason. Raking a hand roughly through his hair he began to pace. "Theo, take Pansy upstairs. I need a moment alone with Granger."
"Excuse me?"Pansy scoffed with indignation.
"Now Pansy!" Draco growled as he watched Theo take Pansy's arm and gently pull her from the room before turning back to face Granger.
"What more do I have to do to convince you that I'm on your side, Granger?" Draco's voice rose, his frustration spilling over. He ran a hand through his already-disheveled hair, pacing the room in tight, agitated strides. "I rescued you," he continued, stopping abruptly to face her, his eyes burning with intensity. "I killed those who hurt you. I saw you through your heat." Swallowing hard, he pressed on.
"Since the moment I decided to bring you here, I've only offered myself on a platter at your feet." He spread his arms wide, as if baring himself for her judgment. "And yet, all I've received in return is your judgment and scorn."
His chest heaved as he took a step closer, his emotions boiling over. "All I want," he said, his voice softening but no less urgent, "as a man and as your alpha, is to keep you safe. And you're acting as if I'm the Dark Lord himself for it."
Draco turned away again, raking his hands through his hair once more as he tried to steady himself. "What else do you want from me? What can I offer to make up for my past choices?"
He paused, his back to her, the weight of everything he'd done and everything he couldn't undo pressing down on him. "If I could change them, I would. I would have gladly thrown myself off the Astronomy Tower if I thought it would have stopped this war from ever happening."
Turning back to her, he met her gaze. "But I can't change the past or what would have come, no matter what I did."
Granger sucked in a shocked breath before doubt colored her features. "I don't know what I need from you Malfoy. How can I answer something like that given our history? I thought it was as simple as needing an alpha, but I don't think it's that easy anymore. It was naïve of me to think so in the first place, a thought born from desperation to be out of that place and away from the pain. I don't know if you can give me what I need. How can I trust that anything you said during my heat was the truth? How can I trustyou?" The waiver in Granger's voice and the sheen over her eyes had Draco's alpha howling to make this right. To take away her pain no matter what it took. Draco didn't know how to make that happen, but he swore to Salazar he'd figure it out.
"I know I've done a lot of terrible things in my life and given you little reason to trust me, but I swear to you Granger that I meant every word I said. I want us to move forward, and I want to help you destroy the Dark Lord, but Ineedto keep you safe at the same time. Please give me a chance to prove that I can be what you need. Giveusa chance to figure it out together. Please." Draco took a tentative step closer and grasped Granger's trembling fingers, feeling how small they were compared to his as he met her searching gaze with one of his own.
"Alright," Granger whispered. That simple word had Draco and his alpha practically yipping in relief. "What does that look like though? You proving to me I can trust you?" Those curious brown eyes hesitantly met Draco's before turning to find a seat amongst the soft cushions of the sofa.
Draco followed, taking the seat across from Granger to allow her some semblance of space despite his alpha demanding he take up his post beside her and never allow any distance to come between them again. "I don't know for certain, but I think we should take things slowly. I can't promise that I'm not going to fuck up or that I am going to be an expert in communicating but Icanpromise that I will always try. I only ask for time and your patience."
"What if we don't have time? I don't imaginehe'sthrilled that three of his prized omega's have gone missing."
Draco was grateful in that moment Granger hadn't been exposed to the Dark Lord's fury upon receivingthatbit of information. "In the spirit of gaining your trust, I will tell you that he was less than thrilled." His face must have reflected the revulsion he felt inside at the memory of his aunt's assault.
"That bad, huh?" Granger asked, shocking Draco when she offered a hesitant smile.
"Uh, yes. I've been forced to witness and carry out many horrible deeds in the Dark Lord's service but witnessing one's aunt, no matter how deranged, being assaulted in front of a room full of Death Eater's is enough to turn even my stomach." Draco didn't miss the way Granger's eyes widened fractionally at the mention of Bellatrix nor the way her breath caught for a moment.
"He- I thought she was rather important to the Dark Lord."
"Even his most influential and revered followers are not immune to his rapidly changing whims," Draco admitted, feeling a flash of embarrassment at the fact that he was one of those followers that had been tortured on countless occasions yet still counted amongst the Death Eater ranks.
"That doesn't surprise me but the fact thatsheisn't exempt from such treatment is shocking. I would have thought for sure if anyone was safe it would be her."
"Is there a reason Bellatrix should be exempt?" Draco found himself intrigued by the fact that Granger seemed to be hung up on such an inconsequential bit of information.
Grangers teeth sunk into her lower lip, pulling at the soft flesh Draco himself had bitten not hours who. He could easily recall the way she'd felt surrounding him as he'd kissed her while she'd broken apart beneath him.
"Before we continue with this conversation, I need something, and I need you to not question me about it." Granger's words pulled Draco from his wandering thoughts.
"I am almost certain you started many sentences like that for Potter and Weasley but unlike them I cannot blindly agree to whatever harebrained scheme you've concocted." Draco found his ability to lightheartedly tease Granger astonishingly easy considering how long it had been since he partook in the activity.
"Hey! I was an innocent bystander, merely pulled into their crazy plans. If not for the Sorting Hat I would probably have been sorted into Slytherin and made Ministress for Magic by now."
"Oh, I have no doubt that you'd have ended up in Slytherin if not for that small issue of a certain house's shamefully antiquated belief system. We snakes heard many rumors about some crazy Gryffindor lass that was always getting into mischief far beyond her years. Why do you think we stopped fucking with you after second year?" Draco chuckled before deciding to move to the open spot next to Granger, her pull entirely too alluring to resist as they bantered.
"You can fuck right off. Second year? You were a menace the entire time we were at Hogwarts!" Granger scoffed before slapping a hand across Draco's chest, but he caught her fingers between his own before she could pull away.
"No Granger, we targeted Potter and Weasley. You just happened to be within their vicinity, so it seemed we included you in every attack. In reality we were all terrified you would transfigure or hex us into oblivion. Even though none of us would ever admit to such a thing at that point."
"Oh Malfoy." Granger chuckled, "I am positive those rumors only scratched the surface of what I was really getting up to back at Hogwarts."
"I have no doubt you were the real mastermind, Granger," Draco teased before changing the subject, his thumb gently drawing circles over her knuckles. "Now, what law am I being coerced into breaking?"
The slightly mischievous smile slipped from Granger's lips as she pulled her hand from his, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "I need to see Harry. I know he's alive. I've heard things over the years, tried to keep as up to date as possible, but it's not like the Prophet was available to me ." She grimaced. "So, my information might be a little off. Is this something you could do, though? Bring Harry to me?"
An unfamiliar pressure settled along Draco's sternum as he looked at Granger's now hopeful expression mixed with apprehension. He wanted to do what he could to help but this was a big ask and not something he was certain he could make happen.
"Granger, I know you've been out of the loop for a while, but you do realize I'm still a Death Eater, right? Potter works for the Ministry of Magic as an Auror. There is no way he won't either arrest or kill me on the spot if I approach him." As Draco spoke the thought aloud, noticing how truly crazy it sounded to his own ears, but that hopeful expression remained on Granger's face, and he knew he was fucked.
"Please Granger. Anything but scarhead. How about Weasley? I bet I could have him here in the next thirty seconds without a hair out of place. The man has truly awful survival instincts for an Auror."
"Malfoy. Please. Ineedto speak to Harry," Granger pressed, her body leaning close enough so Draco could smell his soap on her skin. Though he had never associated his hygiene products with sex, he had to admit that anything of his on Granger held a level of sex appeal he wasn't quite prepared for.
"Look. I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do. O- Oof." Before Draco could get the last word out Granger had thrown herself against Draco, his arms automatically embracing her as she wrapped hers around his neck and squeezed until there was no space between them.
"Thank you, Malfoy." Granger murmured against the column of his neck, the warmth of her breath sending pleasant shivers down his spine, strait to his groin where Granger sat upon his lap and a certain hardening appendage.
"Uh yeah. Thank- I mean you- you're welcome. Any time." Draco stuttered as he tried to muster some semblance of self-control while gently pushing Granger off of his lap. He was certain the way his fingers clung a bit tighter around her ribcage for a moment before letting go was his alphas way of displaying his displeasure.
"Right." Granger said with a knowing smirk and glance at the hard bulge beneath his dark jeans. "Anytime?"
Draco felt the color bleed into his cheeks before dragging a hand across his stubbled jaw. "I think I preferred you when you were pissed at know how to handle." Merlin, he felt like a fourteen-year-old caught with his pants down. Had they not had sex that morning? His body was responding to her like it had been years not hours.
Granger released a throaty laugh, her pink cheeks dimpled as she blessed Draco with a radiant smile that made his heart thump heavily in his chest. "Wow…" Draco whispered the words he'd meant to keep inside.
Granger's smile faltered before slipping from her face altogether. "What?" she quipped self defensively.
"I didn't mean-, I uhm- "Draco fumbled to explain what he'd meant to be a private thought without completely embarrassing himself.
"Just spit it out Malfoy." Granger snapped, her eyes pinning him in place with their fiery intensity.
Draco swallowed heavily around the ball of insecurity sitting heavily in the pit of his stomach. There was a difference between the things he'd said during her heat and what he was saying now. Not in the level of truth either held but in the environment, both were presented in. "I was just thinking how beautiful you are. I didn't mean to say it out loud or make you uncomfortable." Draco finally admitted softly, letting the sincerity he felt coat his words as they fell heavily in the small space between them.
Granger released a shaky breath before running her hand over her scalp, a move born from habit he was certain. Her hand fell limply in her lap as dejection flitted through her warm honey eyes a moment before she closed them, long lashes settled against her freckled cheeks while she seemed to process his words and her feelings. "I don't know how to accept that Malfoy. I don't know how to take what I know of myself now and blend that with a word such as beautiful." Draco watched as Granger moved to cross her legs as she sank further away from him and into the other side of the sofa, her eyes still closed as each word hit him like a dagger to the chest.
"I don't want you to misunderstand. I am not ashamed of the marks on my body nor the things I've had to do to survive but I also don't equate the sum of those things to beauty. I equate them to strength, intelligence, and resilience. I will take any of those things over being beautiful any day." Granger's eyes finally opened as she looked at Draco, her eyes pleading for him to understand what she seemed to struggle to explain.
Draco scooted closer, needing the comfort of her touch as he forced his walls to drop further so she would see and hear the sincerity in his words. "Granger, I need you to listen to me. It's not just your ability to smile through everything you've endured but how brightly it shines despite the darkness that tried to take it away. It's the fire in your eyes that refuses to die, I see it in the way it burns when I've pissed you off." She released a watery chuckle that made Draco's stomach flip and his lip twitch in an urge to smile.
"You're not just resilient, intelligent, and strong. You are all of those thingsandbeautiful. It steals my breath Granger, to look at you and see all that you are compared to the monster that lives within me." Draco released a heavy breath before pulling Granger back into his embrace until she sat upon his lap once more, the heat of her body bolstering his resolve to continue. "I'm going to be rather miffed if you go around thinking thatmywitch,myomega isn't the most heartbreaking creature to walk this earth."
With carefully considered hesitation, Draco let his calloused fingers trace the soft curve of his omegas jaw, soaking in the anticipatory sigh she released as he took her chin in hand and tipped her head back slightly. Giving her enough time to pull away, Draco cupped the nape of her neck with his other hand, memorizing the way she fit so easily against his body before leaning forward to capture her lips with his own.
Salazar I can't believe she's words pulsed repeatedly through Draco's mind as their chaste kiss slowly morphed into one of desperation. Those soft lips yielded as he traced his tongue with hers, marveling at the sweet taste catapulting his desire into another stratosphere.
Every soft mewl was like a hit of some illicit drug that had his heart thundering in its cage. The organ begging for a freedom that could only be offered by the one who was quickly claiming ownership over the most hidden part of Draco. His heart was something he could not imagine giving so freely but the thought of Granger being the one to stake that claim only furthered his desire and hunger for the possibility.
Before they completely lost themselves to each other in his living room, Draco pulled back, cursing himself when Granger's half lidded eyes raked over his swollen lips and down his chest to where her thighs straddled his waist. "Salazar, I can't tell you how much I want you right now, Granger but I refuse to let Theo Walk in and see you like this. I don't share."
After one last lingering kiss, Granger moved back to her spot on the sofa and leveled Draco with an expectant look. "So, if a show is off the table, what shall I do to entertain myself while you're off slaying snakes and hunting for Harry?" Her teasing earned her a dark chuckle from Draco before he remembered where he'd been that morning.
"I will hardly be slaying snakes, but the sound ofhuntingPotter does hold a certain level of appeal. But I do have something not just for you but for Pansy and Luna as well." After running to the entry, he grabbed the assortment of packages he'd dropped after hearing Granger raging earlier.
"I grabbed what I could but did want to get back before you awoke. I hope we can find one that works." Draco said before placing the largest parcel before her.
Pulling aside the ribbon that held the thick brown paper together, Granger gasped as an assortment of twenty different wands sat upon the coffee table. "I didn't have time to store each one, sort of just grabbed what was in that particular vault." Draco knew he was rambling nervously but couldn't stop as he watched tears leak slowly down Grangers cheeks.
"Why?" Granger finally asked, her voice hoarse with emotion as she looked up to Draco.
"Why? Because you're a witch." Draco said as if the answer was obvious.
"Well yeah but at least half of Wizarding Britian believes my magic is stolen." Granger rolled her eyes, her opinion on that particular belief obvious.
"No amount of bigotry could ever convince me that you deserve to have your magic ripped away. How anyone could believe the most brilliant witch born in recent history obtained her power through theft is bloody insanity." Draco mimicked Granger's eye roll, also finding the idea ridiculous. "I trust you and I want you to be able to defend yourself should the need arise. Plus, if you're going to take out the Dark Lord, I do think you'll need a wand." Draco's voice rose with emotion as he explained his actions. "Go ahead, try one." He encouraged while taking the spot beside Granger once more and setting the other packages beside him.
Golden eyes scanned the assortment of wands, her fingers tracing softly over the polished wooden handles, some adorned with intricately carved vines, others with rare jewels but all sending waves of magic humming through the air upon contact. The energy floating around Granger was almost hypnotic as each wand vied for the opportunity to be the tool in which she delivered justice.
Finally, her hand paused for a moment over a black walnut with white veins carved throughout and a simple ivory handle. The tip was carved into a sharp point with more of the ivory substance that wove throughout the wand.
As Granger's thin fingers closed around the handle, a rush of magic burst forth, an invisible force laid over Draco like a blanket made of ice, his skin crawling for a moment as fear gripped his heart before the feeling vanished. In it's place a warmth raced through his veins, it almost felt as if Granger's magic was claiming him, imprinting it's intensity within his soul before rushing away, leaving him with a feeling of loss but not abandonment.
"What the bloody hell was that? I've never seen a wand to that." Draco exclaimed as he watched Granger turn the wand over in her hand with a look of contemplation.
"You felt that too?" she finally asked, not surprised but curious.
"Yes. I thought the damn thing was going to kill me for a second. After a moment it was like it decided that I was worthy. Like it let me live. Is that how it felt for you?"
"Sort of. I didn't feel like I was in danger, but it was completely different from the moment I found my first wand. This one seemed to be looking for something within me. I felt it though. The moment it picked me. I get the feeling that this isn't an ordinary wand. Do you know who owned it before?"
"Well, this particular wand hasn't been used in my family for a very long time. I remember my fathers...displeasure when he explained its history. It was owned by a muggleborn that had married into the Malfoy line before our family settled into the manor." Draco explained as he watched Granger stand before moving around the room, flicking her wrist and casting simple charms as she went.
"Quite the scandal but apparently this was an incredibly rare wand fashioned by Abraham Magnus Malfoy for his wife at the time, so it was not destroyed." Multiple books floated around the room, as Granger smiled widely at her display of magic.
"Apparently a Basilisk fang was woven throughout the black walnut. I don't know how it alters ones magic but judging by the way it responded when you touched it, I'd say it's rather loyal and equally as dangerous." The books that had been dancing around clattered loudly to the floor as Granger whipped around to face him, her face pale and her eyes flicking to the wand in her hand.
"Basilisk fang? Are you sure?" Granger asked, the intensity radiating off of her unnerving Draco.
"I can't be certain because the only record maintained is a verbal one. I suppose we could have it examined but I'd rather not raise suspicion. We cannot afford to have people asking questions." The thought that someone might come digging around nearly made Draco and his alpha growl protectively.
"Right well. If what you've been told is true, it's even more urgent that I speak with Harry." Draco itched to question her further but forced himself to respect Granger's boundaries. He needed to trust his omega.
"Well, it sounds like I have plans for the foreseeable future. How does one go about capturing the boy-who-lived?"
"I'm confident you'll figure it out." Granger teased before pecking Draco on the cheek, grabbing the packages on the sofa and leaving him to his thoughts.