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Chapter Text

The prospect of Draco presenting as an omega was not something he ever worried his pretty head about. After all his father was an omega—albeit a hidden one— and what an omega he was, if he could be at least half as intimidating as his father he wouldn’t give a rat's arse if he presented as such.

He wouldn’t have thought any less of himself and it wouldn’t have been the end of the world, except that The Dark Lord wasn’t happy with him being one, and if he wasn’t happy with him then he was royally fucked because apparently he couldn't perform tasks for him as well as a beta or alpha would.

He hid behind his mother when it was suggested that he spent the next heat breeding little purebloods to pay back for his fathers mistakes and imprisonment.

Luckily, his mother refused, saying that Draco was to stay untouched until marriage-ew, he was too beautiful to tie the knot with anyone anytime soon. He was a romantic at heart, he haven’t been close with anyone, not even his parents, so one day he would start thinking about marriage, he wanted to have an alpha, but first he wanted to be courted and go on dates with an someone of his and his parents choosing. 

The old pureblood custom of marriage before loss of virginity saved him, thankfully, the Dark Lord agreed that breeding without marriage would have been improper.

That day three grown men offered their hands in marriage, and countless their children’s hands in marriage, it still wasn't that bad, he was lucky in a way that the Dark Lord didn’t enjoy the company of male omegas.

Throughout the summer, Draco developed quite impressive skills in locking charms and created his own (with a little help from his mother) wards around his room to make sure no one would catch him off guard when he was asleep.

His mother ordered the same scent blockers and suppressants as Lucius used his whole life, and if something costed one thousand galleons per 150 ml vial then you better believe it would be good, it cancelled every omega function in his body. 

By the time he had to go back to Hogwarts no one could catch a whiff of his scent anymore, he didn't have a heat this month and whilst touching himself down there he didn't produce any slick- not like he was planning on anyone getting into his privates but it was still good to make sure. Fingering yourself as an omega without producing any slick felt very alien, like something that was supposed to be there to make everything easier but it was gone now until he decided to have his heats again. 

He smelled and had the biology of an average beta.

And that was good, because he couldn't let his omega nature distract him from accomplishing his goals. He also had something to prove. 

Draco greatest disappointment this year was the Dark Lord not agreeing that he was worthy of being a Death Eater and it was only because of his second gender, he was sure he was going to get a Dark Mark now that his father was gone before returning to finish his schooling, but the Dark Lord thought different, and he would be stupid to go against his word. 

He was a schoolboy omega desperate to prove himself so his family would return to the Dark Lords graces— Dark Lord threatened his family, thought they were weak and incompetent because of his father, who was currently stuck in Azkaban because of Potter and him being a 'lesser gender', it was left to Draco to prove to him that they weren’t. He received a chance, a chance for his family to be treated with due respect again.

All he had to do was obey the orders and against his beliefs- kill the headmaster. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

His mother kissed him on the cheek while they waited for the express, nuzzling her nose against the spot softly, it was a thing she developed when he presented as an Omega, apparently it was an alpha parent's instinct to put some scent on their child, to scare off anyone who wanted to cause them harm.

“Mother.” Draco scoffed, turning his head to the side discretely to make her stop being over-affectionate. “Not in public!” He stressed, but it did feel nice and his mother smelled the best, but still— not in public.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I just can’t help it. You’ve just presented and it’s your first year as an omega, I don’t want someone to-“

“Mother- Salazar help me....” He stopped her, dreading to have this conversation again, but she continued.

“Don’t have sex, Draco. If someone bothers you go to Severus, he knows.”

“Ah yes. Of course, I will keep that in mind”.

Who did his mother take him for? A weak omega who couldn't shoo a suitor away? He was the bully, always, no one was going to threaten or bully him. 

If someone would dare do him harm, he would make his parents sue the school on his behalf, so he would get the money, then, he would make whoever touched him go to Azkaban, tell his mother to pay the judge for a longer sentence... and before that happened he would get Greg and Vincent to beat them up. 

Speaking of the two- Greg and Vincent, who both presented as two Alphas came rushing to him when they spotted him. He beckoned to his mother with his head shortly.

”Goodbye-“ He began but his mother cut him off.

”I’m sure your father explained to you that there will be temptations but you’re a strong boy-“ 

“Mother!” He pressed affronted, eyes wide. “Who do you take me for?” 

The alpha sighed, reaching a hand to put it on his cheek, letting it travel down to her sons scent gland on his neck to scent him some more, pulling it away when Draco was once again about to tell her off for that. 

“Well, I will be seeing you….” His voice grew quieter, and he didn’t finish the sentence because he realised he won’t be seeing his mother until end of year at the very least, by his own choosing, he didn’t want to go back home for any holidays if he could avoid it, not if there was a possibility Dumbledore would still to be alive, then he wouldn’t be only metaphorically fucked, he was sure The Dark Lord would give him to the ugliest and oldest Death Eater to punish him.

If his father wasn't locked in Azkaban he wouldn't let anyone treat his family this way, his mother was more nurturing for an Alpha, letting her mate run the house and everything else without second thoughts and it was his authority that scared people into respect. His mother was always on the sidelines, looking after the two of them. 

He wished his father was here to make everything better as he always did.

There wasn’t a point of thinking about it, if there was someone who could figure out how to get rid of Dumbledore it was definitely someone as clever as him.

“I hope you stay well.” He whispered instead.

His mothers eyes flashed, then they glistered, with last befitting nods of their heads Draco turned and walked to his friends before his mother would do something ridiculous like hugging him around so many people.

Greg and Vincent were chatting about Quidditch as he approached them, he greeted them with another customary head nod.

And they fell silent.

Draco knew that it was their first time in the presence of an omega.

“I thought you would smell better.” Greg blurted out, Vincent hit him on the shoulder. “I can’t smell a thing, to be honest.” 

“He is wearing suppressants!”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t know… Oh, wait, for suppressing the smell.” Well, at least they kept a hushed tone about it.

“No.” He scoffed, preparing himself for yet another explanation. “Scent blockers block the scent, yes?” He asked patiently, they nodded. “So that’s that. Suppressants are for my heat.” And Salazar did he need them, his first heat was the most lonely, painful and empty experience he ever went through, he wondered if it was as bad with ruts, he surely couldn’t imagine it being worse.

There was an instant reaction at the mention of a heat, the big alphas both straightened, and puffed up, like they wanted to make sure Draco noticed that they were tall and big.

There was a moment of awkward silence as they deflated.

“Carry my suitcase in, one of you.” Draco grunted as he pulled it closer for grabs.

“You always make us carry your stuff.” Vincent whined, then sighed but at the end took the suitcase when Greg made no move to do so.

He always did, that’s why now it wouldn’t look weird if he continued, also he never carried his stuff, and he wasn't going to start now.

“Actually, it would be improper of you to not carry it, seeing as I’m an omega now and all, you should have been the ones to offer.” Draco was going to use the omega-card every time he was too lazy to do something himself now.

After all, being the ‘lesser’ gender had to have some perks at the very least.

And then Draco smelled it, the scent of air right after a storm sharp and piercing, contrasting with the warm, comforting smell of an apple pie… like returning from a Quidditch practice in rain and eating his favourite desert whilst snugly tucked under a blanket, warmed up by heating charms. That was the most delicious and electrifying smell the omega had scented so far, and he needed to know who it belonged to, because he needed to have that person- 

He was about to whip his head around, but he froze in his tracks, head already halfway turned when the owner of the amazing smell spoke.

Of course, Potter would fucking be an alpha- ‘besting’ him in the eyes of society yet again, and he had an insanely compatible scent with him, that blasted sod.

“What the- Merlin.” The mind boggled voice of Potter came from close behind him, he was sniffing at the air then, audibly, like some kind of animal, nostrils flaring to get more of the scent in. “What the hell, what- what is that smell?”

“What smell?” Hermione Granger asked from next to him, as of right now she seemed to be just a beta, or a proper late bloomer.

“This is so bloody weird but- but-“ Draco knew he was sniffing the air again and there was no way Potter could smell him through all the expensive blockers, so he must have been talking about someone else, surely. “Someone here smells so good.” His voice got so low it sounded like if he found the owner of the scent he would have devoured them. 

Potter was aroused at the smell of some random omega with an amazing smell.

The thought upset Draco's stomach because it dropped just at the idea.

He spun around on his heel against his better judgement or reason, he was determined to get Potters attention away from the mysterious owner of such good scent.

He smirked coyly, tilting his head gently to the side, nose high. “Well, well, who- who.... do we have here?” He somehow managed to finish the sentence, even though he faltered in the middle because at the sound of his voice Potter whipped his head in his direction, and Draco had a chance to really take him in.

How was it possible that through this one summer the sod had such a growth spurt? Draco wasn’t short for an omega, his father wasn’t short at all either, they had good genes carefully crafted throughout generations, but here he was, around the same height as Potter, he honestly couldn’t tell who was taller, but it took the words out of his mouth, and he could only stare.

The latter was still slim, but he was broader and his posture was more sure, his features were sharper, harder, and he definitely didn’t have a problem gaining muscle now, he was growing into a beautiful alpha. 

Not a prim and proper, always perfect alpha like Blaise or other purebloods he knew, but a rough around the edges one. Draco was staring- he had to stop staring, Godrick be damned- no, no, no, no he was already whipped. 

Vincent and Greg were always towering over everyone, he didn’t know that being an Alpha automatically made you go from a short minion to- to whatever this was.

Potters wide eyes morphed as he furrowed his brows, realizing, disappointed that it was just him. “Not now Malfoy.” He made to turn around.

“You presented as an Alpha, I see, you must be really happy with yourself, don’t you, presenting as an alpha and locking my father in Azkaban-"

"He tried to kill me." He rolled his eyes dismissively, Draco seethed at being interrupted, he was going to get him for that.

"-always having the best.” He spat. “You must think you’re so lucky. Luck is all going for you- no smarts, no skill, no money....” 

Potter didn’t say anything, but he kept looking.

“Better watch out, your luck might soon run out too."

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco tripped Weasley with a lazy foot as he passed by the Slytherin table at dinner, the latter fell face first onto the ground with a grunt, the croissant he had shoved in his mouth to take a bite flew out on impact, going under the adjacent Ravenclaw table.

Draco, Greg, Vincent and Pansy began laughing their asses off while the ginger boy made a pained noise, pulling himself up, but he must have really smacked his face in because he struggled to catch his balance, managing to get up but dizzily enough that Draco wouldn't have been surprised if he face planted again.

They watched how Blaise Zabini- who as per usual was sitting with them to be with other purebloods but mostly minding his own business - stood up slowly and helped the ginger boy with a hand on the small of his back and the other wrapped around his arm to steady him until his head cleared.

“You alright?” He asked softly.

Draco's and Pansy's mouth opened agape, Blaise Zabini wasn't nice, how did they know? Because he wasn’t nice to them, he talked with them sporadically, but they weren't even friends after years of knowing each other, they had to be acquaintances because they were rich purebloods, but that’s about it, in general, he was actually quite rude and ignorant, he definitely didn't care to help people like he just did with Weasley.

Weasley raised a brow at the Slytherin, nodding curtly before turning to Draco and showing the alpha to let go of him.

Blaise did, putting his hands behind his back, but he kept observing the weasel for some reason.

“You tripped me!”

Draco lifted a brow. “Proof?”

“I know you did, you wanker.” Weasley pressed his lips together, his nose and forehead red from where it collided, he couldn’t find anything else to say, and nearly turned to leave but Draco decided to torment him more before he got out of earshot.

“Going to sue me now? Oh, wait, no. You can’t sue without money. I could trip you down astronomy tower stairs and you wouldn't the able to do anything about it.”

Pansy, just like Draco did before, threw one leg over the sitting bench, lifting her skirt high enough to expose her knee, presenting her 5K galleon, real black dragon hide (illegal now) branded school shoes.

“If you polish this, I will give you enough to sue Draco, if Salazar forbid, you do ‘accidentally’ fall down those long stairs....and survive.”

“A friendly competition, I like it.” Draco nodded to himself, chuckling.

“Very funny.” Weasley mumbled, getting redder and redder on the face as the small group of Slytherins giggled to themselves.

“How many times- nobody gives a shit that you’re rich, Malfoy.” Potter, followed by Granger popped out of nowhere, irritated to the point of Draco's surname ripping a growl out of him.

That sound was… wow. Draco's whole spine vibrated, he balled his fists on his lap to not answer with some kind of pathetic mewl at the anger directed at him.

And then, he made himself smaller on instinct when his group- that also included Blaise, as he was an alpha in their pack and couldn't control his protective side when one of them was being threatened, growled back in warning for Potter to back off.

“Oh for fucks sake.” Draco turned to Goyle and Vincent. “I told you to stop doing that.” The two would growl at the stupidest things like dropping a spoon and the likes and it was grating at his nerves. 

“But-“ Vincent began in an apologetic tone, Draco lifted a silencing hand.

“Stuff it. Did I or did I not say that I don’t want to hear any growling around myself?”

“It’s hard to control.” Greg defended for the hundredth time.

“It is hard to control.” Blaise also added as he sat back down after Weasley moved towards his group of friends. 

“Wait, you’re bothered by that?” Granger asked, Draco scowled, why was she even talking to him?

Instead of answering, he glared to show his distaste towards her but then decided that even looking at her for too long was beneath him.

“Better watch out Malfoy, you might end up an Omega.” Potter teased.

Draco frowned, not liking that he was being teased about it because it was what he already was, and he knew what everyone thought of Omegas, that’s why he was hiding his second gender. “There is nothing wrong with that.”

Potter’s brows rose comically high, eyes wide. Granger and Weasley looked just as confused. “No?” Granger hit her friend gently. “Shit, no, of- of course there isn’t anything wrong with being an omega.” Potter groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I just thought that you would-“

“No need to explain yourself to me, of course I'm not surprised, I can only imagine the disgusting, filthy things that would be going through the mind of a half-blood alpha like you about omegas, horrific.” Pansy backed him up with a gagging sound.

He said it just to say something, but otherwise he knew that Greg and Vincent were proper perverts whilst being pure bloods, guessing by all the crusty tissues Draco found all over their dorm room after the two presented, how their dicks didn’t fall off from all that wanking was beyond him.

He had to remind them that vanishing and cleaning spells existed, otherwise he would not have made it long with the strong scent of two alphas cum-soaked tissues all over what was supposed to be his safe space, rooming with so many alphas was just ridiculous, but it serves him right for hiding his gender from the Headmaster. 

Potter squinted at him. “Because all of you are saints.”

He neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of having improper sexual fantasises about omegas and it made Draco feel some kind of way.

And then the Gryffindor alpha sniffed, perking up and immediately looking all over the Slytherin table and adjacent Ravenclaw table to find the source of the scent.

“I can smell it again.” Completely forgetting about Draco, he turned to look at Hermione and Weasley, who also seemed keen on finding who he was looking for.

Weasley rolled his eyes. “Um right, sorry to rain on your parade like that. But if that perfect person you’re looking for is in Slytherin, they are hardly perfect, then.”

Draco had to hold back an irritated growl of his own, he didn’t like what was going on right now, not one bit.

“Having the good old chinwag? How about you piss off now, I have been through-fully amused with Weasley tripping over his brothers too big hand me down shoes, you may leave now.”

Weasley stepped closer to him, Draco squirmed the tiniest bit away, trying his best to pretend he wasn't scared of a fight if one arose, how dare a bottom feeder like Weasley threaten him like so. “You tripped me-“

“Ron, don’t start. Let’s go.” Granger stopped him from starting anything, they spun around and began walking back to the Gryffindor table.

Potter hovered around a while longer until they were gone.

“Listen, leave Ron alone or else-“

“What?” Draco cut him off for the sake of annoying him, sneering, Potter’s eyes flashed red in frustration only to turn back to green immediately after. “What are you going to do? Nothing at all, because if you do there will be serious consequences.”

“I’m not scared of getting a detention, Malfoy. I will have you know I have bigger problems than that.”

“Oh, poor Potter.” He hissed, throwing his leg around the bench again to sit properly and turn back to the table, showing Potter he was the one to end the conversation and not the other way around. In reality, he could annoy him for days on end and it would still give him sick pleasure. “So busy reading fan mail?”

“…. I honestly don’t care what you think I'm doing in my spare time, I only have one thing to say-“

“You have been dismissed but you’re still here, so you must care.” Draco pointed out, pretending his salad was very interesting as he pushed it around in the bowl.

Potter made a frustrated noise, nearly a sigh but apparently he couldn’t help to add a pissed off, harsh tang to it- a nice sound Draco had to admit.

“Ron has been acting really….” He sighed, rubbing the back of his nape. “Emotional and argumentative this past month and this is the third time you-“

“No wonder, he is about to have his first heat.” Blaise informed him casually, they both snapped their head to look at him.

“You what?” Potter blinked.

“He will present anytime now, I would recommend visiting a healer soon, otherwise he might be in trouble if he goes into heat out and about.”

Potter looked like he didn’t understand the simple words being said. “What?” His words were slow, and he paused, speechless before continuing. “He will have a what?”

“A heat.” Draco pressed, he was a bit offended, the latter looked like he was about to hurl, like Weasley presenting as an Omega was the worst thing in the world. Like he really thought being an Omega was a bad thing.

“And how would you know?”

Blaise smirked, nearly predatory, showing his sharp canines off. “I can smell it.”

“Are you taking a piss? I can’t smell anything.“ Blaise shrugged, indicating that was the end of the conversation, Potter frowned with a little shake of his head and stalked off to join his friends at the feast.

Draco leaned over towards Blaise. "Are you pulling his leg?"

Blaise shook his head, Weasley did look a bit out of sorts today, but Draco and Potter would be able to smell if Weasley was indeed an omega, he couldn't afford suppressants or scent blockers, so he would have to be open with his second gender, unlike Draco. 

"Oh no, Ron Weasley will surely present as an Omega." He said, sure of himself, Draco frowned. 

"How do you know that?" 

"I don't know, but I can smell him already.... he won't afford heat suppressants, which means I will have the opportunity to-" 

Dracos expression turned murderous at the implication, and he warned Blaise from finishing that sentence. 

The alpha smirked, undeterred when he continued. “-help him and make a good impression.” 

Draco’s shoulders slumped, Blaise would have to leave their circle if he finished this sentence in a way that he didn’t like. 

"I know Omegas are a rarity but are you really so desperate you would go for a Weasley? He is poor." He reminded him, as if Blaise didn't know as much. 

"Not for long if he has any brains. Do you know how many pureblood omegas there are in Britain right now, that we know of?" 

As far as everyone knew, it was only Blaise's mother- who became a billionaire after presenting as a pureblood omega and marrying into fortune seven times instead of hiding her gender like so many others had, Draco knew there was him and his father, but no one knew about his father, when it came to him only The Dark Lord’s closest circle knew he was one. "Your mother."

"Yes, and now him. If he has any smarts about him, he will marry rich." 

Draco laughed. "Weasley is a proper idiot." 

Pansy confirmed. “Yes, not only is he filthy poor, but an imbecile as well, I can't see him going far in life, just like his parents."

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco didn't like Weasley, he didn't like him one bit. But he did check in with his mother who checked with St.Mungos on how much the cheapest heat suppressants and scent blockers costed, to see if Weasley would be able to afford them. 

There was a reason there wasn't a lot of Omega's around and that was because only middle class or higher families could afford to send their omega offspring's to get their education in a public setting, most often than not they were home-schooled. Scent blockers were barely affordable, with them being four hundred galleons per 100 ml of perfumes- cheapest, the cheapest heat suppressant was at around a 125 hundred galleons per potion, and they were a one time use, he would need around five hundred galleons each month for suppressants. And it was the kind of suppressants that only made the symptoms more manageable and didn't stop the heat entirely, so it was just a waste of money.

Weasley was either going to drop out of Hogwarts entirely if he had any brain cells to avoid getting harassed- and he doubted his mother was educated enough to be able to do home-schooling, or he would have to be the only single and smelly omega in Hogwarts who would also be forced to have heats in the hospital wing. 

Honestly, that sounded like a horror story to a fellow omega. 

He wasn't convinced if he should try and help, until he stumbled upon the trio arguing on top of the stairs days later in one of the many corridors leading to the Grand Staircase, he hid behind a suit of Armour, who he had to show to be quiet. 

"I don't care what some Slytherin prat told you, I think I would know if I was feeling fucking weird!" Ron shouted at Potter, storming in the direction of his next class with the two following after him "I'm not going to be a bloody omega! I don't feel like a bitch in heat! No one in my family has ever been an omega!"

"Ron, there is nothing wrong in being an omega-" Granger tried to admonish him for his word choices. 

"Oh don't start with me on this now. I know there isn't, doesn't mean I want to be one!" He turned towards the two, glowering. "Everyone in my family has always been betas or sometimes we would have an alpha, I feel perfectly fine!" 

"Wouldn't hurt to go and see Madam Pomfrey about it, would it." Potter grumbled, shutting up when Ron gave him an offended look.

"Tell him, Harry." Granger motioned, the brunet sighed. "Well, go on!"

"Fine." Potter glared at Granger for rushing him. "I can smell you, that's why I said something... I thought Zabini was just having a laugh, but today... I'm sure you will go into- into heat-" He grimaced saying the word. "Any day now. You should go get yourself checked." 

Weasley stared. "You can smell my what?" 

Potter grimaced even harder, and it must have been a wild thing, being able to smell your best mates incoming heat- something so intimate. "Heat." 

Weasley went red in the face, Draco wasn't sure if it was from anger or embarrassment, he could guess it was both. "What the hell, what is wrong with you!" And he ran away, Potters eyes flashed red, and he was about to give chase when Granger grabbed him by the arm to stop him. 

"What?" He growled at her, but as a beta it didn't affect her as much as it affected Draco, the hold he had on his book bag tightened. 

"What are you trying to do?" She asked, Potter looked from her towards where Weasley ran off to, eyes a bit wild. 

"Merlin, Hermione. I don't know what's going on with me, I-I just need to make sure he is fine. What if he goes into heat now? What if he needs my help? I need-" Draco cursed himself for his weak thoughts, he thought that it was quite endearing, what Potter just said. Like he needed to protect his vulnerable friend. 

"You can't help it?" 

"Yes, being an alpha is bloody weird, I don't like it, sometimes... I can't control my own body... the instincts just take over and... if someone would hurt Ron, I think I would rip them apart." 

Yes, this was a good moment for Draco to excuse himself, because he definitely was getting turned on, he couldn't control his body reactions either, if not for the suppressants his pants would have been wet by now. It was the way Potter said it, like he meant it, and he was scared of himself, sweet Salazar, now he was getting turned on by Potter and caring for his stupid omega friend. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Came Weasley's thundering voice, the group of Slytherins jumped, surprised as a heavy bag cluttered onto the middle of the table. 

Draco nearly slapped the ungrateful bastard, them potions and scent blockers costed him five thousand galleons taken out of his father’s vaults behind his back, they would last Weasley at least the next few upcoming months, that was if he didn't break the vials. 

For a second Draco thought that Weasley was shouting at him, but he was facing Zabini, who looked at the bag of suppressants incredulously. 

"What's this?" He asked, reaching for it and examining the contents. "It's not from me."

"Yeah right! Listen here, mate, I don't know what your problem is but you have to stop going around telling my friends I'm a sodding omega!" He was loud, students who sat close by turned to watch the argument. "I don't want your stupidly expensive gifts either." 

Pansy cackled, clapping. "You bought him heat suppressants? That's next level commitment! Just brilliant!" She kept laughing. 

"This is not funny!" Weasley thundered, Potter and Granger arrived at the scene to hear what was going on, in case their friend was being picked on again. "I don't need them stuff, and I for sure don't want a boyfriend, just drop it!" 

"This is not from me." Blaise remained calm, folding the bag neatly before setting it in front of the ginger boy. "But I definitely suggest you take it."

Draco jumped in the conversation. "This is some high quality stuff that you could never dream of affording, so you better just take them, Weasley." He wanted it to sound like he was making fun of him still, he managed a chuckle, the trio glared at him. 

"What is in the bag?" Potter asked anyone who could answer. 

"Zabini brought me heat suppressants and scent blockers!" Weasley growled. 

Potter looked at the bag like it was some kind of treasure. "Really? Why?" His voice was strained, like he wanted to reach and take the bag but restrained from it because he didn't want to take anything from them. 

Whatever, if Weasley didn't want them Draco will just have a stash for later. 

"They are playing a joke on me!" 

"No, the smell of your heat is very intense, surely you can already feel it." Zabini supplied and it was true, today even Draco could smell the faint scent of an omega soon to have his first heat.

Weasley needed those potions and a safe place to stay, otherwise he would simply get raped by the first alpha who smells him, at this point it was stupid of Weasley to pretend like he didn't feel it, he couldn't be this far in denial. 

When Draco was about to present it was his mother who was able to smell it first, and she locked him in his room, but he could feel something coming for days, it was as if he was slowly heating up from the inside, and on the day right before he was burning. 

"Weasley, you should either accept the gift, whoever it is from or find yourself a partner to help you through it." Zabini then smirked. "I would be interested in helping you out." 

Zabini had some balls to say that out loud and stay cool whilst Potter practically glowered at him from behind his friend for saying that.

Ron's cheeks went as bright red as a tomato. "What?!" He squawked. "No way!"

"If you don't want to then that's even better, because I want to court you first." He announced to the omega as per customs. 

Draco didn't know what Zabini saw in him, even if he was an omega, he was still Weasley, no manners, no money, and he wasn't even good-looking. His friend’s grin turned predatory again. "But as I said, if you get lonely, I would rather you come to me than anyone else." 

“Ron.” Potter jumped in, putting a claiming hand on Weasley’s shoulder when the latter was too much of a stuttering, embarrassed mess to refuse Zabini straight away. He pulled the omega behind himself and towards the exit of the great hall. “Let’s go, don’t listen to him.” 

The latter gasped, still red as he turned around, letting his friend guide him. “I wasn’t! No-” He bit his lip, shaking his head vehemently as he stared at Potter, eyes wide. “Seriously I wasn’t- wasn’t planning to-“ 

“I-I-I-“ Pansy teased him, her voice high-pitched and then she laughed, Greg and Vincent laughing with her, Blaise gave his friends a look and all three of them shut up. 

Draco pursued his lips, it was now or the whole plan was over. “Potter!” He shouted, sneering when the alpha turned to glare at him. “Come here a sec.” He motioned, against his better judgement Potter let Weasley go on his own and stalked back over to them. “Don’t forget the bag! Merlin knows Weasley can’t afford his own, you wouldn’t want your friend to get in 'trouble' for being a clueless idiot now, it would be his own fault.”

Potter looked like he was ready to break his face in, his gaze so strong. 

At the end he grabbed the bag. “You’re a prick. You don’t want to push me any harder, stay away from Ron.” He truly did sound disappointed, admonishing even and went away before Draco's stupid omega instinct could do something stupid like apologizing. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Potions class always consisted of finishing his potion before Granger managed to finish her own, making sure that whilst he rushed he still managed to make it better than hers. Potions was the only class he could really show he was better than the girl, and he always managed to rub it in. 

Since Slughorn became the potions' teacher, the lesson was less enjoyable than it used to, not with the older man not paying him any mind, not appreciating the talent he had, praising Potter- who somehow managed to learn how to make proper potions this year- instead, pointedly ignoring real skill. 

Draco knew he was the best in class at potions, and he always made sure to raise his hand if Slughorn asked for a volunteer to make something or answer a question. 

Usually, Slughorn picked anyone but him, today however, no one except him and Granger cared to offer assistance. 

“Mr. Malfoy! Can you tell me what this potion is?” He passed Draco a vial, he uncorked it with interest, though just by the colour he was able to take an easy guess. 

If by any chance he didn’t know before, one sniff was enough to make his head spin and legs go weak, he forced himself to keep standing and his voice to stay strong. 

“Uh, Amortentia, Professor.” He shared, there was an uproar about the potion all over the room as everyone was able to smell the scent of their other halves. 

Draco quickly put the cork back on, he knew that Potter smelled good, but he thought it was just scent compatibility, not even attraction, because he was too good for a half-blood alpha, especially the one The Dark Lord was after. 

“Very good, very good.” He nodded dismissively. “And how does it smell?” 

Draco shifted, clutching the vial to his chest, he wanted to pour that potion all over his bed and clothes, to have that smell all over him at any time of the day, his cock stirred.

He straightened up. “U-um, I would rather not say.” He could feel his face heating up, and he spared a glance towards Potter’s station, he was eyeing him and the vial with interest, like all the other students. 

“Don’t be shy, boy.”

”I’m not shy…” Draco mumbled, grimacing.

”You’re a fellow beta, so you can’t tell how your other half smells. This is a great chance for you to share it, perhaps they are in this class. Contrary to beliefs, betas also have a specific scent to them, but it can only be smelled by trained noses.” He smiled to the beta students all over the class. "I thought this will be a fun experience that might help some of you find your mates quicker."

Draco scowled. “I said I don’t want to, didn’t I? Can’t you hear properly?” He snapped, way too defensive. “You are the most unprofessional potions teacher I-“

“That will be enough!” Slughorn raised his hands in surrender. “Detention, 20 points taken from Slytherin.” 

Draco widened his eyes, he never ever got detention in potions. “Me not wanting to share such personal information about my mate shouldn’t result in a detention.” If he wasn’t so gutted about the detention, he would have felt embarrassed about calling Potter his mate.. he didn’t even like him for his personality! Not to mention, Potter could have a completely different scent than his, because Amortentia wasn't full-proof, it could change. “How dare you think I will let this slide-“

“I apologise for pushing your boundaries, however it’s not about what you said Mr. Malfoy, it’s about how you said it. I will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in my classroom, from anyone.” Some students who Draco must have bullied in past giggled at the disrespect Slughorn was giving him and he only just managed not to threaten the old fool with his father. “Do we understand each other?”

“Clearly, Professor.” Draco managed in a drawl, he sat his ass down after Slughorn told him to pass the potion along.

Some students immediately shared who the smell of their Amortentia belonged to, there were red, embarrassed faces, mumbles and a lot of giggling, how stupid, most of them won’t ever find who the smell of their Amortentia belonged to and for some people it could still change as they developed as people.

"Actually, Amortentia is very popular amongst Betas, because Alphas and Omegas can't scent them some would choose to apply Amortentia on their undeveloped scent glands to pretend they are a different gender or simply for attracting sexual partners- obviously that would be under dubious consent, so they could end up before the court for it, wouldn't recommend any of you doing so, you would be surprised how many Betas take advantage of this potion and end up serving a sentence in Azkaban." 

When Potter smelled his potion, he blushed just like most before him, sniffing it again for a good measure before corking it, eyes blown dark.

“Care to share?”

“It’s a treacle tart… with a lot of lemon, sour, now that I can smell it properly maybe a bit too sour?” He said like he still liked it a lot but was surprised about the intensity now that he could smell it properly so close to his nose. “It’s mostly a really strong, sour smell of lemon and then treacle tart, huh.” 

Of course, it would be a treacle tart, he could have guessed as much, Potter was always eating it, usually at dinner but sometimes he didn’t want to wait, so he ate it at tea time.

Just like with every other before him, he clutched the vial close to him, like he didn’t want to part with it and now Draco was fucking feeling sour- just like that stupid putrid sounding scent of Potters mate.

And what does it mean something smelled too sour? Something could taste sour, not smell, maybe it was such an intense smell to him he could almost taste it on his tongue? Idiot.

He hoped, for no reason other than hate and spite of course, for Potter to never find out who the smell belonged to.

Slughorn then chose someone to show and explain how to make Amortentia- and of course it wasn’t him even after he was the only one who lifted his hand- and then after the presentation the class was dismissed.

Slughorn caught him before he managed to exit the class. “Your detention this week is with me, Monday and Friday at twenty past five.”

“This week?” Draco asked, thinking he heard wrong.

“Yes, next week you will also do Monday and Friday, but it’s Hagrid's week so-“

“No.” Draco gasped. “No, no, no. I don’t want detention with that big oaf.”

“It’s actually Professor Hagrid for you.” Slughorn corrected lightly, collecting his potion vials into a small locker box, then charming it small enough to throw it haphazardly into his pocket.

“I don’t think I deserve two weeks of detention, not with him, he is dangerous, he-“ 

“It matters not what you think is acceptable, Mr. Malfoy, you’re a student and it’s for me to decide the best route of discipline with my pupils.”

“B-but- but-“ He stuttered, eyes wide, oh no he didn’t- who does he think he is? He was going to tell his father about this one for sure.

Yes, this will not slide lightly, he can already say good bye to his position as the potions' professor, the fat prick didn’t even have a potions' mastery diploma, and he thought he could just-

“Mr. Malfoy? Mr. Malfoy?” He waved a rude hand in front of his face.

“Yes, Professor, if that would be all then I shall leave you to it.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco rested his cheek in the palm of his hand as he waited for Slughorn to arrive for his detention.

He politely came on time, but the fat, incompetent man obviously lacked basic manners.

He was not the only one late, it appeared, because soon Potter and Weasley also stumbled into the potions classroom, with Trelawny in tow.

He perked up, sitting himself up primly now that they arrived, Potter was dishevelled, Weasley was looking disturbed in a way only preheat could accomplish.

And he smelled so bloody strong, Draco's nose prickled with the intense smell of a distressed omega- fuelled by the complete ignorance of the symptoms, Draco was laying in bed days before heat, there was no way Weasley was still denying that he was going to be an omega, he basically already presented.

The two were in a state of disarray, panting, Potter looked nearly feral as he assessed his surroundings, as if he wasn’t sure where he found himself, Weasley was sweaty and red, collar undone, tie hanging off him, he dropped his bag at his side and fell into the first better chair, his shaking legs too weak to keep him up.

“Professor Trelawny, you have to believe me, Ron is really an omega, and he is going into heat, he isn’t pretending.”

“Oh I see, when you two are beating someone up, ganging up together on some poor bloke Mr. Weasley would be presenting as an omega, suddenly in heat, even though every omega would know better than going around the school in preheat.”

Ron stuttered out something about not being dumb, but he was covering his nose, no wonder, Potter was emitting some intense aroused mixed with worried alpha smells all over the classroom and Draco realised that he was also covering his nose, thighs tightly shut as he watched the situation.

“That guy tried to rip Ron’s shirt off and snog him, what were we meant to do.” Potter grumbled, sounding bored with this, he was fidgeting in his spot, then he even paced a bit to the window to open it and back to the professor. “What the hell did you expect us to do in that situation.” He growled.

“Mr. Potter! You will not growl at me! You want me to believe an Omega in heat would kick an alpha threatening them in the face? While he was struggling to get up?”

“Serves him right.” Weasley managed to mumble cockily, if Draco wasn’t painfully hard and petrified right now he would have felt smug for his fellow omega for showing that alpha where his place was, it was good payback.

“I apologise.” He pressed, voice low. “Ron needs to-“ Potter cleared his throat. “He needs to go to the hospital wing… please.” Then, out of nowhere, he lifted his Gryffindor sweater to cover his nose and mouth with, breathing shallowly.

The pathetic, desperate gasping sound that escaped past Draco's tight pressed lips when he saw Potters exposed pelvic area was stopped only and hopefully masked by a serious fake coughing fit.

Potter was surely hard in his loose trousers, because he had a vein popping-

Stop it, oh Salazar.

Everyone’s attention zeroed on him, and he had to remind himself that with all the suppressants and blockers he was taking the trio probably didn’t realise he was here, they were truly impressive, if not for the suppressant, he would be sitting in his own slick by now, he was sure of that. Too bad all the stuff he was taking didn’t stop his dirty thoughts or his cock from getting hard in his pants.

“Oh, no, don’t mind me. I love to see you two idiots getting into easily preventable situations. I’m starting to think Weasley wants to get fucked at this point.” After all he had so many heat suppressants and scent blockers at hand, maybe this was all on purpose.

He sneered when Potter made a move towards him, only to be held back and get an earful from Mrs. Trelawney.

“Don’t let the negative emotions fired by your aggressive second nature take control over your mind!” The beta shirked, Draco laughed, aggressive second nature- good one. “Two weeks detention for you! Control yourself!”

“Yes Potter, control the brute inside of you, don’t get blinded by the rage caused by your primitive nature.” He chuckled, but he was getting even more overwhelmed and hard now that he had the latter's attention on himself, the wild, green of his eyes flashing against his sun kissed complexion, hair messier than usual, he looked so good it was overwhelming, even if he looked like he wanted to bash his teeth in.

At least he let the shirt drop back to cover his delicious happy trail.

Draco bit the corner of his lip as he peered back at Potter, he would have been a proper wreck if not protection against exactly was going on right now.

Potter managed to calm himself at the lack of any other inappropriate things coming out of his mouth.

As his body slacked Professor Trelawney let go of his arm. “Alright, Mr. Malfoy, where is Professor Slughorn?”

“Haven’t seen him yet. He might appear soon, seeing how his star arrived to join us.”

“Shit, shit, shit.” Weasley whispered in a hiss, doubling in on himself, hands between his legs and Draco had to cover his airways with a hand once again, the distress rolling of Weasley was dizzying, this was all too much.

“I really need to go, to um- hospital wing. Or- or-fuck-“ Draco understood, Weasley was half coherent half already thinking about just trying to relieve himself, it was frustrating, because you did want to stay in control, but it was only time until you lost it. “I-I need-“

Potter rushed to his friends side, pacing from one foot to the other, Weasley turned in on himself even more when the inconsiderate brunet approached closer, back hunched with hands pressing against his crotch. “What? What is it?”

“Okay, enough of the theatrics-“ The Professor corrected her glasses, looking angry for once.

Potter gave her a look, before crouching next to Weasleys thigh, he tried to put a hand on him, but the omega cursed and turned his back on him.

“Potter, he wants you to move away.” Draco felt bad for Weasley at this point, plus he knew that if someone didn’t intervene the two would at some point just go at it in front of the two ‘betas’, he didn’t want to see it. 

“Yes, bloody hell, mate- can you give a guy some space? I can’t breathe.”

Potter wasn’t breathing any better than Weasley, how he was still able to control himself was a wonder.

The alpha stood up and backed away till he was on the other side of the room— on Draco's side of the room and now he was having the issue Weasley had a moment ago, he had a horny, amazing-smelling alpha brooding and pacing somewhere behind his back.

All he wanted to do was stand up and bend over the desk.

“Listen here, Professor.” He snapped at the woman, he would rather take another two weeks of detention than be in this suffocating situation any longer. “You are a blasted beta, you can’t tell if they are serious or not. And I for one don’t want to see the two going at it, I will sue you, you will lose your job, you will go to Azkaban for putting three students in this situation. So take that omega where he wants to be right now or there will be consequences.” He stood up, about to run out if his threats weren’t taken seriously.

Professor Trelawney was taken aback, her large eyes seeming even larger. She had an internal battle with herself that ended when Weasley thunk’ed his forehead against the desk, resting on it and mumbling something Draco didn’t understand.

“Alight, Mr. Weasley, can you stand up? I will escort you to private quarters.”

Weasley by some miracle managed to stand on his own legs without help, although his hands stayed covering his crotch as he slowly stalked towards the teacher on wobbly feet.

He spared Draco a feverish glance that was probably in reality supposed to be a glare, and he probably though he would be making fun of him later, it would be in his nature, but this was another omega in a bad situation, and he just couldn’t bring himself to make Weasleys first heat worse than it had to be.

“You two, I trust you to behave until I escort Mr. Weasley to the hospital wing and find Professor Slug horn.” She left the room with Weasley following behind.

Draco was painfully aware of the Alpha still somewhere behind him, his skin prickled to look behind, because this was an alpha, and he couldn’t see what he was doing, he should have been feeling in danger, but he was too aroused to think clearly.

Instead of sitting back down, he turned to look at the brunet, his breath hitched when he saw the green eyes on him already, thunderous and up close.

Draco frowned, quickly stepping away. “What?” He pressed. “I helped you, you should be thanking m-me.” He hit the table with his side as he backed away from the alpha who advanced at him.

“Malfoy, I cannot believe you. I knew you are the most spoiled, rotten asshole but saying that Ron is doing all this on purpose….”

Draco didn’t manage to bite his tongue. “Isn’t it just attention seeking? Who knows, he had everything he needed to prevent this.” He hissed. “Haven’t met anyone who would go into heat out in the open if they didn’t want to get their arse- uh-”

Potter pushed him with a hand on his shoulder, so hard he fell backwards, knocking a desk away with his body and loosing his footing, while in the process of falling backwards Potter quickly grabbed his arm and yanked him back to his feet, Draco stumbled helplessly, going where the boy manhandled him.

The omega was affronted and mad at his cock for betraying him, he should not be this excited being roughed up. 

“Potter!” All air left his lungs when a mere second after thinking he was going to connect with the hard floor tiles he was slammed into the wall, the back of his head bouncing against the concrete, his vision went fuzzy and ears rang before he refocused on the latter.

“Let go of me you blasted half-blood! You don’t know what I’m capable of, I can end you!” He shouted- terrified of his own body responses.

The Dark Lord would surely be happy if instead of Dumbledore he got rid of the main problem, a growl ripped from Potters throat, followed with another slam against the wall, Draco cried at the impact, he practically went limp in the latter's hold, ducking his head slightly, to placate them both.

The traitorous part of him that loved Potters smell made him want to offer anything to make the latter calm down, his mind was blanking, this was apparently as much as his suppressants helped him.

He could even apologise right now and Draco did not apologise to anybody, ever. 

“You think he is asking for it? You’re asking for it! You must want me to punch you in the face. I’m so done with you! What is your problem?”

Draco took a shaky breath, happy Potter was holding his arm otherwise he would have been on the floor right now, his legs went so soft, just like the rest of his body at the shouting.

Without thinking, Draco leaned in and kissed him, their lips barely ghosted against each other before Potter shot his head back, eyes wide.

“…Did you just…” The alpha stared at him, but Draco resolutely kept his eyes lowered, his heart was beating fast, his crotch was pulsating, at this moment Potter could do anything he wanted and Draco would take it. 

Draco halted his breath, whimpering against Potters soft lips when he leaned back in. Draco panted, licking against the soft flesh, encouraging him to press against him harder.

He moaned when Potter reciprocated softly-unsure, letting Draco's soft tongue into his mouth, he whined when Potter nearly immediately pulled away from the kiss and let him go, he didn’t step away thought.

“Pants off Malfoy, now.”

Draco blushed, doing quick work with his pants button and pulling them off completely, doing the same to his underwear.

He looked back up at Potter from under his pale lashes, frowning as he searched for a reaction. There was hardly any as Potter raked his eyes over his slim body, jaw still set tight, his features hardened, Draco didn’t like that the alpha wasn’t happy with him still, even when he was doing as he was asked.

And then Potter grabbed Draco under his thigh and pulled his leg up to expose his hole, making the omega stumble and lean on the wall for support.

Draco gasped at being completely exposed, turning his body sideways to rest against the wall as Potter pulled his leg up higher, unabashedly staring at his private area.

His cock twitched despite the humiliating position, he shouldn’t have enjoyed being this spread out for the alpha to see. 

Draco squirmed. He scowled, making a soft, frustrated noise when Potters free hand travelled up to his face, grabbing a tight hold on his jaw and yanking his face in his direction.

He was staring. “What-“ He started to break the silence, wanting to know what the boy was thinking but it died on his tongue when the alpha ran his thumb over Draco’s pink lips, and they parted immediately. He frowned, restraining himself from licking or sucking the digit, but he didn’t have to restrain for long when Potter put two fingers against his lips and told him to suck. 

He opened his mouth obediently, doing as Potter wanted. The fleshy pink tongue wrapping around the digits, coating them in his spit. 

The alpha growled again and Draco mewled around the foreign body in response, getting them wet enough, sucking and hollowing his cheeks.

If he didn’t take his suppressants he would have been sufficiently dripping down there already and wouldn’t need to be prepared, but he did enjoy having Potter in his mouth, so it didn’t matter.

“You insufferable prick.” Potter spat out and pulled his fingers out, Draco following them on instinct so Potter pressed him against the wall harder with the hold he had under his knee. “Been asking for it, huh? Wanted me to get angry and fuck you? And here I thought you just wanted me to punch you.” 

Without warning, Harry pressed the two fingers against his tight hole, pushing them past the ring of muscles without care for the sting.

“N-no I-“ Draco started breathlessly, hissing when Potter grabbed his throat, staring helplessly at the pissed off Alpha as the hold tightened, he let out a broken moan. He understood Potter was mad that he was implying Weasley wanted to get raped, making jabs at him. “S-shut up, I get it already.” 

Realizing Potter let go of his leg to choke him, he grabbed under his own knee to pull it up and expose himself enough for the latter to continue fingering him, closing his eyes tightly shut because he was embarrassed of how little he was fighting back against this… he was actually holding himself exposed for a half-blood to defile his pure virgin body with spit covered fingers, no matter who he told in his circles everyone would shame him for this. 

“No, you never shut up, shut the fuck up.” The command was clear and loud, and Draco couldn’t do anything other than obey. “I don’t want to hear it right now.”

Luckily, the command required not speaking, otherwise Draco would have said something embarrassing like ‘Yes, alpha.’ And that would have been a bit beneath him, Potter was an alpha, but still a nobody in his circles.

So he nodded his head as primly as the hand around his throat allowed him to. “Mhm.”

Satisfied, Potter pulled his fingers out, Draco patiently waiting with anticipation as he blinked his eyes open to see the brunet fumble with his belt and button of his pants.

He cried softly in anticipation when Potter pulled out his dick, it was thick and long and intimidating because it was huge compared to his own, did all alphas have cocks this big or was it just Potter?

He bet it was just a Harry Potter thing, since he always was the best of course he would have the best cock as well. His mouth watered.  

It would probably hurt a bit, considering the size, him not producing slick and that Draco never had sex, and he was a bit scared, but the prospect of having it inside him, like his omega craved to won against Draco's cowardly need to always back away when there was a threat.

He bit the inside of his cheek to stifle the cry that escaped him as Potter pressed the big tip of his cock against his pink entrance.

The latters eyes flickered up, searching for something, Draco pointedly didn’t look back, he instead watched to the best of his ability how the mushroom head of Potters cock rubbed against his tight entrance. 

The omega gasped in trepidation and arousal when Potter spit onto his hole to make the slide in easier, he blushed, shivering at the wet, cold sensation dripping down his perineum and thigh, this was so humiliating, he never though he was going to have anyone treat him this way. 

Potter pushed in, not slow enough, Draco moaned in distress, pain mixed with pleasure was overwhelming his already scent-drunk brain. 

"It hurts?" The alpha asked, he nodded quickly, but he didn't want the brunet to stop, not now. "Good, you know what else hurt? When you kicked me in the face." 

If he wasn't getting stuffed with Potters dick he would have found it in himself to laugh, still smug about getting one up at him after he locked his father up in Azkaban. But all he did instead was tighten the hold on his own leg, feeling unsteady, willing himself to get a grip and tell Potter to stop or to treat him with respect he was entitled to, but he couldn’t bring himself to, this was turning him on too much.

Potter caught his lips in a feather-light kiss, almost gentle, groaning against his panting mouth as he bottomed. When he pressed their lips back together then, it was to shove his tongue past Draco's lips, dominating the kiss and starting to thrust in and out of him.

Draco could do nothing other than letting the feeling of pleasure mixed with quite a lot of discomfort overwhelm him, his head swam, and he was dizzy, it was weird being an omega but being so high on suppressants your body wasn’t reacting as it should.

His hole wasn’t stretching fast enough around Potters dick, he wasn’t producing the much-needed slick and because he was hiding he couldn’t - which right now seemed like the worst part but was a blessing in disguise- call Potter alpha- his alpha on repeat as he fucked him senseless into the wall. 

Draco was tired of holding himself open, his hold weak as he tried to kiss back, Potter bit onto his lip, groaning in warning when the omegas hold under his knee slipped.

He grabbed under Draco's thigh and pulled it high enough that the sting on his muscles was tight, but it allowed Potter to enter into him deep, Draco could feel him so deep it was nearly uncomfortable, the latter’s hips slapped against the top of his thighs every time he bottomed and it started to sting now. Potters hip movements turned jerky, and he stilled as he bottomed into Draco's pink, impossibly stretched hole, his movements turned slow, deep and deliberate, he would be coming soon.

“Fuck.” Potter whispered and Draco's eyes widened when he felt it, the swelling around the base of the alphas cock stretching his twitching entrance.

Draco moaned, suddenly scared. His body couldn’t react as an omegas body should react to being knotted, and instead of pulling out Potter was still slowly pushing in and out of him, his bulge catching on his entrance.

Draco reached a hand to tap his shoulder, against everything inside him he had to fucking tell the idiot what he was thinking he was doing.

“P-Potter, shit. Hey, Potter!” How was he even popping a knot in a betas ass right now? “Fuck, don’t knot me you idiot...” He moaned in pain softly as the base of Potters already big cock expanded, he tried to wriggle out of the latter's hold, but he was weak against the strong grip the alpha had on his thigh, spreading him open just the way he needed him to be without any care. 

He must have been still able to smell omegas heat in the room. And with dread Draco realised that Potter was probably thinking he was fucking Weasley right now.

And he was so unnecessarily upset about it, he whined.

Potter could hardly pay attention to him, pressing him into the wall and chasing his incoming orgasm, long fangs pressed tightly shut as he sped up a little.

“D-don’t knot me.” He whined, throwing his head back, his eyes nearly rolling back when the knot caught against him now with every long drag of Potters thick cock, he was so unbelievably full his prostate was squished, constantly rubbed against the latter's pulsating cock, he rutted against his hole, pulling just enough to pop his knot out and slam back in, Draco breath hitched when it finally caught, the stretch around him making him breathe like he was in fucking labour, it still made him come, because this alpha with the amazing smell of his favourite dessert was doing it.

He didn’t want to think that it happened only because of Weasleys heat.

Potter stilled and came pressing as deep into him as it was possible, head falling to Draco's scent gland and sniffing like he could smell his scent through the expensive blockers he wore. 

Draco rested his head against the wall, breathing in to clear his head, he could feel the latter's cock twitching inside him sporadically as he released more cum into his womb, and Draco shuddered every time- maybe he was having dry orgasms he wasn’t sure, but it felt like he did, like he had a never ending orgasm while being knotted and filled by Potter, he nearly saw stars. The only thing he could think about was the cock inside him releasing warm seed into his guts, still rutting against his prostate. 

There were no other thoughts in his head, as if the knot made him just a dumb, breedable omega bitch. He didn’t think he would have an alpha knot him so early into being back in school, but it was amazing, he didn’t care, this was too good.

Salazar, he hoped that his meds included the ability to not get pregnant, he could hardly ask his parents about it. He couldn’t be pregnant with this alphas pups, not with The Dark Lord around.

He panicked, testing if he could slide off the latter's cock, but it painfully pulled on his stretched rim. He hissed at the sting, clutching onto Potters shoulders as the alpha groaned, pulling him flush against him.

“Omega.” He groaned, sniffing against his scent gland, he licked over where it should be and left a mark on top of it, then with a hand on Draco's jaw he turned his head to the side to nibble at his nape.

Draco froze, maybe he had every omega functions hidden and under control and Potter was babbling because he was still able to smell Weasley in the air but a bonding mark would still work if Potter bit him.

“P-Potter! Don’t bite me! I’m a beta!” He screamed, not caring if someone found them in this position, he pushed against Potters shoulders to push him away from him, not caring that they were still connected. “Get off me!”

Potters eyes were wide and confused as he pulled away, not understanding why he was being shoved. “You're pulling, stay still-“ 

“I’m a beta. You stupid alpha knot-head!” Draco repeated. “Get off me, now!” He whimpered, it stung to pull on it but maybe he could force it out now.

They both winced.

Potter blinked again and then repeated the motion until his eyes cleared, he frowned. “But-“ He tried to lean back into Draco's scent gland, but Draco was over it and put a hand over the latter's mouth crudely to smack him away.

“What you’re smelling is Weasleys heat! I’m a beta and you knotted me.” He huffed and moaned in pain when Potter tried to pull away himself.

Potter looked so, so confused, he even looked around for something. “No, it wasn’t Ron I smelled, it was that smell.” He was talking more to himself, Draco shifted, slowly but  surely, with pain and Potter telling him to just calm down he managed to pull away.

Immediately copious amounts of cum flew out of him, his hole still exposed because Potter was still holding his leg up, and the alpha was staring hungrily at his dripping ass, like he was ready for another round.

Draco blushed. “Let go of me!” He shoved Potter away easier now that they weren’t connected.

He crouched on shaky legs to find his wand in his discarded pants, the brunet stepped closer slowly to crouch next to him, trying to get his attention. “Malfoy, we-“

“It was nothing, forget it ever happened.” He quickly mumbled scourgify and magicked the clothes back on his body.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have knotted you, I was sure I smelled-“

“You can only pop a knot when an omega is in heat, you smelled Weasley. Kind of bloody gross to screw to the thoughts of your best friend, pervert.” Maybe he really managed to smell him through his scent blockers? Impossible, but maybe tomorrow he would put a bit more just in case.

Potters apologetic features dropped, turning darker. “Why do you always have to be such a fucking asshole.”

Draco seethed as he stood up, looming over the crouching alpha. “You knotted me! I don’t stretch magically or produce slick! I told you to stop! It hurt!”

Potters expression hardened as he stood back up. “I apologized, I don’t know what got into me.”

“I don’t give a shit about your stupid alpha needs.”

Potter growled, shaking his head. “Of course not, Prince fucking Malfoy only cares what he wants. What do you want me to do about it now? Get out of my face.”

Draco blinked, he was supposed to say that last line. But if he stayed and argued that it should be the alpha to disappear it would seem like he cared.

So with one last scoff, Draco accioed his bag and left.

Chapter Text

Draco had to go to Hogsmeade the next day to the pharmacy to ask if an alpha who wasn’t in rut could breed an omega who wasn’t in heat if he managed to pop a knot, dreading the worst case scenario of finding out it was possible.

Was it too late to take some kind of pill or potion to stop a child from taking? He couldn’t sleep last night, and he didn’t have anything to eat this morning, he just prepared himself for his venture into Hogsmeade without blessing anyone with his presence in the Great Hall and set off when the gates first opened.

It was embarrassing enough to be asking about such things when he was pretending to be just a beta.

The pharmacist asked what kind of heat suppressants the omega was using, and he was told that with those high quality drugs there was little to no chance of getting pregnant, so Draco's ‘friend’ had near to nothing to worry about. Although they did remind him that students were not allowed to have sexual intercourse in Hogwarts, so he should tell the teachers about it.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco had to use a secretly placed cushioning charm to sit on the hard wooden bench at tea-time, he could not believe he was so stupid to let Potter fuck him in detention last night.

Every-time he thought about it he wanted the floor to swallow him whole, Potter even spit on him and all he did was hold himself open for the alpha to use him, how shameful. 

No, shameful was that he wanted to save himself for his alpha, and he expected his alpha to do the same, but he lost his virginity for the first alpha who cornered him, fuck. 

No, no… the most shameful thing about it all was that Draco could not stop thinking about it, which in turn made him horny all day. 

Not to mention so many things could have gone wrong, Slughorn could have come back with Professor Trelawny, a student who also had detention could arrive in late, Potter knotting him without enough lubricant or sufficient prep was already a mistake, but what if he actually got pregnant? Or bit? What would he had done then?

He would end up unmarried and pregnant with an alpha that he couldn't even be with.

Draco glared at Potter from across the the hall unabashedly every time Potter looked at him, the alpha kept sneaking glances in his direction.

“Did you hear? Weasel is in heat, alone in the infirmary.” Pansy drawled to him so Draco's attention snapped to the beta. “As expected, he didn’t find himself a mate.”

Draco wanted to tell her that Weasley will survive without an alpha, thank you very much, defensive for the omega, but he kept it to himself.

”Oh, Blaise tell him what you did this morning.” Pansy prompted her friend with a grin, smacking him in the chest.

Blaise hummed as he swallowed the pasta he was chewing on. “I made one of the house elves give him something of mine.”

Pansy nodded enthusiastically. “Everyone knows that the easiest way to get an omega hooked on you is to make them like your smell, so he gave him a spare cloak.” She squealed.

Draco's eyes widened. “You’re really courting him?” He thought that Zabini just wanted to shag the omega to see how it would be to do so, Greg and Vincent kept pleading with him to give them something with his scent, so they could know how an omega smelled, so he thought it was just a case of over excited, curious alpha compulsion. 

He didn’t want to think that perhaps one day he would have to share his dorm space with the other omega when Blaise takes Weasley to their room, dreadful. “You know he can still just throw your cloak out if he doesn’t like your scent?”

Blaise raised a brow, bored and confident. “We will see.” He went back to reading his book.

“What is courting?” Greg asked. “Will it get me laid with the omega?”

Draco wanted to puke at having a conversation about alphas shagging Weasley.

“Don’t. Even. Try.” Blaise warned slowly, Greg scoffed at him.

"Courting is said to straighten the bond between the alpha and omega." Draco elaborated simply, so Greg would understand. 

“It's when you let the other know you are interested, the alpha would normally give the omega something of his, so the omega can either see if he likes the scent or get used to it, if it’s an arranged marriage, and then you offer them gifts and get to know each other, very simple. The alpha shows that he cares about what the omega likes and that he can provide while the omega is pregnant, that's about it." Pansy explained, every pureblood knew this custom, well maybe not the Weasley's, they seemed to be completely oblivious to how proper pureblood families operated. 

“It’s not as simple depending on whom the omega is, if they are from a rich family you have to buy them gifts that are on par, you can lose a lot of money.” Vincent added. 

“Well, you’re lucky then Blaise, you could buy Weasley a new pair of shoes from the cheapest shop and it would still be better than what he is wearing now.” Pansy laughed.

“Yesterday someone attacked him in the hallway, right in front of Potter, and they beat the poor bloke up, all because Weasley didn’t listen after everyone warned him to wear scent blockers.” Draco let them know.

“He was kind of asking for it.” Greg mused, Vincent nodded.

“That’s what I’ve been thinking! That idiot.” He snickered, he would never put himself in that kind of predicament if he didn’t want to get ploughed by the first alpha who crossed him.

There was a clearing of a throat, and the group turned to look at none other than Hermione Granger, who looked ready to kill the whole group just with the look of her eyes, she looked terrifying for a beta.

“I would like to see you in that situation.” She mused at Draco and Greg, nose scrunched in disgust.

“The fuck you want?” Greg asked when everyone else turned back to their table to ignore the mudblood.

Granger sighed. “Harry said to tell Malfoy that Slughorn gave both of them another detention today after classes for leaving the classroom early.”

Draco stilled, he didn’t even consider the fact that he still had quite a few detentions to do and Potter was in the same boat as him, so they would be spending the next two weeks together. Ugh, the alpha was going to be moody for speaking badly about Weasley again once Granger told him, great. 

Nobody replied to her, so after she was done talking she left them alone.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco was once again the first one in the detention classroom, sitting primly at his usual spot.

Potter was the second to come, Draco was ready for it, instead of looking to see if the latter was staring he looked down at the open book he prepared in front of himself, reading the same sentence over again, feigning having better stuff to do than entertaining him.

It was a bit disappointing when Potter didn’t try to speak with him, instead he sat at the other end of the room on his assigned potions station, resting his arms on the desk and hiding his face in the crook of his elbows, like he was going to sleep.

Well, if the latter wasn’t looking then there was no point in pretending to be busy, he looked away from the book to watch the door, hoping Slughorn would bless them with his presence soon.

Slughorn came into the classroom half an hour later, carrying two wooden baskets full of ingredients, wartcaps that needed to be crushed, bursting mushrooms, salamander blood in two vials and so on… standard Fire Protection Potion ingredients. He placed the baskets on the closest station to him.

“Good evening! What are you two going to be making?” Slughorn asked cheerfully and loudly, enthusiastically gesticulating to the ingredients in the basket. Potter stirred, lifting his head up slowly to give him his attention. He squinted, rubbed his eyes and then found his glasses in his robe pocket, putting them back on after giving the glass a bit of a clean with his robe.

Potter looked cute after just waking up, squinting at his surroundings to see anything. Did he not sleep well because his friend was in heat or because of him? Draco hoped he was the one because of who Potter couldn’t sleep at night. 

Slughorn was looking at the Gryffindor to answer the question.

“Er-“ He started, reaching into his bag to pull out the book where he could find some answers.

“Fire Protection Potion.”  Draco quickly supplied, so they could have it over and done with as soon as possible, it took eight hours to brew it, so they would have to be here a while.

“Yes, I need it ready for tomorrow, there will be a demonstration, I want you to make one brew each, just in case one fails.”

Draco squinted. “Who will test it?”

“One of you will do, don't try it against full fire, just put a finger above a candle or such.”

Draco scoffed. 

“Alright, you can leave as soon as the potion is brewed. I will leave you to it then.”

He left the ingredients behind.

Draco stood up, going to the station to neatly take everything out of the two baskets, painfully aware of the alphas scent, he would expect him to be at least a bit uneasy having to be here with Draco but if that was the case he was keeping it completely hidden from his keen nose, he could only tell- by looking that the latter was knackered.

When Draco was done sorting everything out he collected half and put it into a basket to take to his usual work station, glaring when Potter passed by him to grab whatever reminded, he was holding an old, tattered black book in his hand, looking at the notes instead of him.

Draco put the basket of ingredients on his station, watching how Potters eyes skimmed over the remaining ingredients, a confused frown ever present as he then switched to reading the notes again, replaying the motion twice before he finally grabbed at the vial Draco left for him.

“What is it?” Potter asked, Draco nearly fell out of his cushioned stool. "If you keep staring I will think you’re asking for it again.” 

“Ugh.” Draco blinked, the audacity to be this fucking rude after yesterday? After he gave Draco the best sex of his life? It was his first but still, it surely would be hard to beat. 

Draco went back on his feet and to the small cupboard hanging in the corner of the room to retrieve the tools he would be using. It was Potter who was staring at him all throughout dinner so it’s him who should be asking what his problem is... until the accident with Granger overhearing them that is. 

“If you have something to say then say it.” Potter grumbled, running a tired hand over his face, his glasses were skewed now, and he quickly corrected them.

“Nothing other than you suck at this subject of course.” Draco sneered, looking for a herb mortar to powder the wartcaps with.

“Oh, wow.” Potter hummed dismissively, not-impressed.

“What were you expecting?”

“Exactly that, to be honest. Not one bit surprised.” Potter walked over to where he was, Draco pulled in on himself at first, thinking he walked closer specifically for him, but he was only trying to get to the cupboard Draco was struggling to find supplies in.

The alpha peered into the cupboard, his smell was as nice as yesterday, or even nicer considering it wasn’t suffocating him. Though after yesterday it was still too much.

“Can’t you wait for your own turn?” He protested weakly, pressing himself closer towards the wall when their shoulders brushed, feeling his whole body getting warmer, especially his lower regions. “All mighty Potter thinks everyone wants to be near him? Huh?” He bristled in panic, willing his cock not to get excited. 

“I want to have this over with, so I won’t have to be here with you longer than I have to.” And to show him how little he cared about Draco's personal space he stepped even closer.

“Potter,“ Draco was sure he was blushing- and then paling as Potter put a hand on the wall to steady himself, trapping Draco in the corner and even if it was casual, and they were barely touching he panicked, worrying about a repeat of yesterday because he couldn’t feel more turned on right now, and he wished the latter would devour him, he already had him cornered and helplessly surrounded by his intoxicating scent. “Potter! You are too close!”

The alpha flinched at Draco's urgent tone, before he could take a step back Draco pushed him away and ducked under his arm to make space between them.

Potter stumbled but caught himself on some boxes, staring at Draco as if he was the crazy one.

Draco grabbed the tools he collected in a rush and ignored the quiet ‘What the hell,’ from Potter, his heart was beating so fast, he returned to his station hurriedly in case the alpha could somehow hear it.

“What was that?” Potter asked, spinning around in his direction, angry and bewildered.

Draco shrugged, busying himself with preparing a chopping board for cutting the ingredients, he couldn’t believe he overreacted this badly in front of the boy, how embarrassing.

“You were standing too close.” He repeated, willing the semi in his boxers to not do this to him.

“Could have just said I should move away.”

“I told you to wait for your turn.”

“… Forget it, I didn’t know you felt uncomfortable.” Potter looked so done with being here, he turned to grab the stuff he needed from the cupboard.

Draco swiftly cut up the ingredients that required chopping, other students used spells so the knifes had free reigns over chopping them but Draco found that doing everything by hand was both relaxing and yielded better results. He dropped a good amount of little wart cap squares into the mortar and used all of his frustration to crush them.

“I wasn’t uncomfortable.” He whispered.

“Well, you shouldn’t considering you took advantage of me yesterday.” The alpha was once again reading the black book as he finally took all his ingredients to his station, unceremoniously letting them drop all over the desk, some falling as he tried and failed to catch them in time.

Draco froze, his hand tightening on the tool he was holding. He laughed then, making Potters eyes snap up at him at the sudden outburst.

“I took advantage of you? Oh I’m sorry, sorry for making you push me up against the wall, sorry for making you shove that big alpha cock in my not prepped, not slick-“

The groan Potter released was hardly apologetic, and it made Draco stir in his pants.

“Do you hear yourself sometimes? Or are you just saying bullshit for the sake of saying it? Just for a good laugh?”

“It’s not my fault you can’t control your stupid urges. I never heard of someone knotting a beta.”

“You see that’s the thing, you’re a beta and you’re the one supposed to control yourself.”

Draco rolled his eyes, to be honest, the amount of suppressants and the quality of them should have helped him to think clearly, like a beta would.  

“Yet here I am, the one sitting on a cushioning charm.” He went back to grinding his caps. Potter was lucky that his knot felt nice, and he wasn't knocked up, otherwise Draco would been really pissed off. 

“You kissed me! You started it, why the heck did you even do that, I couldn’t stop it. Apparently you just wanted me to fuck you."

Draco blushed at the reminder that he was in fact the one to instigate it. “I kissed you, I didn’t tell you to fuck me.” But he did want to have sex with him in the moment, he was lying through his teeth. 

“I don’t recall you saying no either.” The alpha snarled quietly, Draco kept quiet, he enthusiastically participated, there was no denying that. "You kissed me." He repeated. “As I said, I wasn’t thinking, anyone would have done at the moment, Ron was in heat and I-”

Draco dropped the pestle, glaring daggers at Potter because he could not believe the latter just disrespected him like that…But maybe it was true that the latter was heat-crazy, and he would have probably just roughed him up instead of fucking him to unwind if Draco hadn’t kissed him first.

No, Draco was too much of a catch for Potter to not find him desirable, he was better than anyone else Potter could find at Hogwarts, that's for sure. 

Wow. He nearly managed to feel insecure about something for once in his life, what an irrational feeling. 

It was true that he should have been the one to not initiate anything, he was an omega, but he still took his suppressants, they helped to a certain degree, enough to stop himself from fucking with random alphas, yet he still shagged with Potter. 

“It won’t happen again.” He hissed.

Potter stared at him for a moment longer, shifting from looking at this and that and him again, starting on this and that before he just waved a wand and let the potion do itself, Draco didn't object because his will be perfect, there was no need for Potter to try besting him, it wouldn’t happen.

“Why did you kiss me?” Draco heard after a solid half an hour of working the wart caps into powder, another hour of this and he could start brewing.

His stomach did a swoop and his cheeks darkened, he pressed a palm against his temple before deciding to ignore the question and continue grinding.

Potter scoffed, taking a few strides to his station, stopping when Draco lifted a hand.

“Stay there.” He told him, glowering. “Right there, away from me.” That scent too close was bad on his brain, for some reason it didn’t function correctly when this particular person was close.

The alpha scowled. “You’re acting like I forced you yesterday, like you’re scared of me,”

“Me?” Draco pointed at himself, eyes wide. “Scared of you?” He laughed fakely. “Don’t make me laugh…” He stirred the dust around with the pestle, watching it sparkle a bit in the lighting, shaking his head in amusement.

Potter rolled his eyes then and ignored Draco's demand of staying away, before the omega could say anything Potter was already next to him.

“Hey, piss off, Potter.” He got off his seat hurriedly to be at the same eye level at least. “I told you to stay away from me.”

“Why did you kiss me?”

Draco scowled, trying not to let the scent of the alpha get into his head. “I don’t know.” He wanted to turn back to his dust but that twat grabbed his arm, preventing him from doing so with a strong hold, Draco lifted a brow, he yanked his arm away from Potter. “Sod-“ Draco cleared his throat, suddenly it felt like he was salivating. “Sod off.” He grimaced at the stutter.

“Oh c’mon, you kissed me because you wanted to kiss me.”

Did he want to? That’s what his omega wanted to, because of the smell, and now it was everywhere, too thick. He couldn't breathe through his nose anymore, not if he wanted to have one coherent thought. 

“Go," He snapped, beckoning at the door with his head sharply. "Get out, I can do this blasted potion by myself, I won’t tell Slughorn that you left,“ He paused when Potter leaned in to kiss him, Draco's delayed attempt at evading the kiss resulted in what one could describe as endearing peck on the side of the lips, feather-light before the latter pulled away, realising he missed as they stared at each other. 

The failed attack at his lips seemed to wake Potter up from the daze he was in as he made to pull away quickly, Draco grabbed his tie, placing one hand on his shoulder to pull him back in for a proper snog.

Draco blushed, moving his lips against the latter's, he tilted his head, eyes fluttering shut, so he wouldn’t have to look at the boy because it was too overwhelming, especially when Potter didn’t kiss back.

He made a soft, impatient sound to get Potter to respond, hand clutching the alphas shoulder tightly to get him to do something, anything other than stand there, when he did— oh Merlin this was what he needed.

Draco didn’t experiment with anything, it was a Pureblood tradition to keep their bodies as pure as their blood until marriage, his mother made a vow of chastity, his father did, he did, too, that included any sort of sexual contact.

So he knew he wasn’t good at whatever he was trying to do with his tongue right now but Salazar damn him if he didn’t try his best, he couldn’t risk Potter having a reason to laugh at him later.

His breath hitched when Potter grabbed him under his thighs and pulled him on the worktop, knocking into his sparkly dust in the mortar and making it sprinkle everywhere around them.

Draco hardly paid attention, leaning back on the desk with his hands on the edges to ground himself as Potter pressed against him.

Then the brunet pulled away, reaching a hand for Draco’s trousers, he gasped when instead of the alpha unbuttoning his trousers like a normal person he ripped them down the middle so the buttons gave way and then yanked in a way that would have made Draco fall off the desk if it wasn’t for the hold he had on it. 

“Hey! Do you know how much they cost ? They are specially tailored to hug my legs. You will pay for a new pair now,”  He shut up when Potter looked up at him, his eyes were so dark, dilated there was barely any green to be seen.

“Hm, yes, I like it more when you stop talking.” He pulled Draco's pants and underwear all the way off his long legs and discarded them somewhere.

Draco swallowed when the latter leaned in, closing his eyes to await the upcoming snog, instead Potter went to nuzzle his ear and it was ticklish. “Stop that.“

“-Shhh.” Potter nearly purred as he licked lower, past his jaw, aiming for his neck, Draco quickly covered it, remembering the last time.

“No.” He breathed, Potter frowned at him, awaiting explanation.

“Why not?”

And Draco didn’t want to explain himself, he realised that this was a very stupid idea, he couldn’t even tell Potter why he didn’t want him going near his neck. Why he even wanted to have sex with him in the first place, it was only because he was an omega and his scent was nice, that’s it, he didn't want the alpha to get some crazy ideas.

That’s right, if he wasn’t careful he and Potter could go too far like an accidental mating bite and Draco wouldn’t be able to physically leave him then without either a lot of pain or straight up sickness, and he had his family to think about.

What was he doing?

“Forget it, I changed my mind.” He hopped off the desk, wanting to fix his trousers and pants, leave the detention and tell Slughorn that he couldn’t have it with Potter next time.

But the alpha grabbed him and spun him around, with one hand on his nape and another on his hip he bent Draco over the desk, sending the wartcap powder flying and glittering everywhere again.

“Don’t go.” Potter pressed himself against him and Draco didn’t even register him taking his cock out, but here it was resting flush in the crook of his arse, thick and long and the omega wanted it inside him already.

The brunet leaned to press his whole weight gently against Draco's back and to the omega’s dread starting to release calming pheromones subconsciously. 

Draco went pliant on the desk, the sparkly wartcap dust blurry in his vision as he took in the calming pheromones.

The boys cock was pressing against his hole, not pushing, and Potter slowly started to rub his length against his ass to relieve himself, Draco bit on his lip to stay quiet.

He could feel Potters nose ghosting at the back of his neck, he quickly reached both hands and covered the area.

“Stay away from my neck.” He stressed without any bite, nearly slurring, the latter's calming presence did its job.

“Fine.” Potter mumbled, nuzzling against the back of his ear instead.

After a beat Draco reddened when he heard Potter spitting on his hand, using that to lube his entrance and then push a finger into his hole, it was vulgar, he could have just conjured some oil or lube. 

He moaned, it was just one finger and it was already exactly what he needed. 

“So tight.” Potter whispered, scissoring to stretch him faster, Draco hissed but otherwise reminded to lay there, just letting it happen. “Thought you would still be lose after my knot.”

Draco moaned weakly, Potter thinking such inappropriate things about him didn’t cross his mind, after all yesterday was an accident- a mistake… that he was completely letting repeat today, why was it that when the alpha was near with that scent Draco became a dumb omega who couldn’t even pretend he didn’t want it?

He was too high on the calming scent to move, even though he knew it was wrong... somehow it being wrong made it feel even more arousing. 

Potter pushed in another finger, pulling them in and out, in and out, and Draco wished he kept talking because the room was filled with the filthy noises of wet fingers fucking him and Draco's uneven broken moans.

Three fingers were sufficient, Draco felt ready and impatient, he spread his legs further open and planted his feet firmly on the ground. “Go on then.” He rushed impatiently, Potter huffed, pressing and rubbing deeper, looking for something.

“I told you I like you more when you don’t speak.” He pressed another finger in, Draco whimpered at the stretch, trying to fuck back, but he was too weak. “You want it to hurt?” 

Draco moaned, his whole body jerking when the alpha found his prostrate, a long, dragging sound as the alpha kept rubbing it, making Draco arch his back and push himself against the fingers.

The use of the words ‘I like you’ directed at him made Draco want to not utter a sound for the rest of his life, but he knew his mouth had a life of his own and it wouldn’t work.

“Fuck yourself on my fingers.” Potter growled low in his ear, pulling away to stare as his fingers entered and exited his willing, wet meaty ring of muscle. Draco moaned at the demanding tone and wanting to do exactly that he slowly began to grind against the latters hand. “That’s right, show me how bad you want it, liar. Keep going.”

Draco turned his head enough to see Potter, whose eyes snapped up to look at him as soon as he realised the omega did so, the blonde shivered at the intensity of those eyes, green was such a piercing, rich colour- his favourite.

Potter was a stupid joke, honestly- he had the best eyes, the best scent, the best cock, like he was made for Dracos liking. 

“This isn’t enough. Want to fuck myself on your cock.” Draco whined, three fingers just weren’t enough, he wanted the alphas dick, needed it to fill him up like last time.

Potters eyes flashed even brighter at his words, he was still releasing calming pheromones, Draco was sure that this was why he was being so nice- nearly plaint, maybe even- Merlin forbid -drooling. “Yes? You want my cock?”

Draco nodded weakly but enthusiastically, Merlin yes, he wanted it so much he could hardly breathe. “Yes, alpha. Want you to fill me up like last time, your knot felt amazing.”

The sound Potter made was nearly a moan, but so animalistic Draco could melt, biting his tongue not to make a sound of his own.

The fingers left his hole to be replaced by an unrelenting pressure of the alphas soft, big tip pushing against his entrance, Draco blushed with a full body jerk-away when the latter spit at his entrance again, the cold substance slowly trickling down his hole to his cock. 

“Potter I- Ah!“ He tried to say that he didn’t have to be so slow, but was cut short when the brute slapped his ass cheek, effectively making him lose his train of thoughts as he flinched at the sharp sting right after, his body jerk made the latters cock slide out of him. “What was that supposed to be?!”

He went to turn around enough to glare at the brunet, he was from a rich, upstanding and distinguished household. He wasn’t a common omega, and he surely was above being slapped in the ass like one by a common half-blood.

Frankly, he was offended by such treatment. 

When Potter saw him glaring he smirked, cockily tilting his head in question as he lined himself up against his tight heat and pushed again, this time slightly faster, Draco keened quietly as the cock spread his hole open again.

“I didn’t like what you said so…” Potter shrugged.

“Better calm yourself, Pott- stop it!” Draco's whole body jerked again, he hid his heated face in the crook of his elbow to muffle a moan at another slap, this time harder.

“Call me Alpha.”

Draco huffed, embarrassed. “Who do you think you are?” He mumbled, biting his lip when the latter spanked him again but harder, every time he did, Draco clenched around his cock, and he honestly was about to come from just that- twitching and clenching around the latters dick was apparently enough to stimulate Draco into an orgasm. “Uh, just fuck me.” His voice was higher than was fit for a Malfoy, not whiny but close to it, his ass cheek burned as Potter held it, pulling at Draco's hole clenching on his dick.

“C’mon, call me alpha, baby.” Potter breathed as he once again pressed his body against Draco's back, nose nuzzling against the omegas hand that was still protectively covering his nape. “Not Potter, alright?” 

Shit, Draco's insides melted at the endearment, he breathed. “Alpha.” It felt good rolling off his tongue, and it gave the omega inside a warm feeling, it felt right. “Alpha- alpha, move.” He nearly said ‘please’ but since when did a Malfoy beg? It simply didn’t happen, so he cut it off.

Potter released a satisfied rumble from deep in his chest, making Draco's whole body shiver at making him happy.

If sex with an alpha was this bloody good then surely, being an omega was not so bad, right now, in the pheromone haze with the alpha satisfied, he felt really lucky he wasn’t just a beta.

Potter began to move then, luckily he wasn’t trying to break the desk with him, otherwise Draco would have come immediately, instead his thrusts were slow and shallow, not slow enough to be intimate, he was just too distracted sniffing at Draco's neck, like he would be able to smell something if he smelled long enough.

“Ngh-“ He bit on his lip when Potter sneaked a hand under him to touch Dracos painfully hard, neglected cock, thighs squeezing together at the intense pleasure he was feeling, he was practically panting like a dog and moaning loud enough that someone could have heard them outside the room. 

He cried when Potters hand never wrapped around his member, instead it sneaked under his uniform shirt and stayed on his hip to hold him still- a few strokes, and he would have come. “Alpha, touch me.” He panted out, bucking into nothing. 

Potter groaned low, his breathing uneven against Dracos ear. “Why would I touch your dick? You don’t deserve it after what you said about Ron.” He sounded pissed off again, Draco ducked his head, making a pitiful crying sound. 

His eyes widened, he didn’t deserve it? Potter should worship the ground he is standing on for letting him do this to him. “I-“ 

” Shut up, I don’t want my dick getting soft now.” Potter growled and Draco immediately nodded and closed his mouth. The alphas hand didn’t go on his cock, but it sneaked under his uniform, past his jutting hip, his hollow stomach and to his chest, the hand was exploring and hungry, kneading at his flesh until it found one of his hard nipples. 

Draco keened when the latter squeezed, trying to lift himself high enough from the table so the latter could have easier access. 

” You like that?” Potter asked him, Draco didn’t want to say that he liked anything Potter was doing, so instead he chose to let him know that this was it, he was about to come. 

“I-I’m close - gonna come.” He managed, Potter was still rumbling too close to his ear, rubbing his prostate with every deliciously slow thrust of his cock. “Alpha - fuck.” He cried when the alpha pushed into him and stilled, warm come spilling inside him.

That was enough to send Draco coming as well, he rutted weakly against the latter's cock as much as Potters heavy weight on him would allow, he whimpered, it was both too much and not enough, clenching his teeth when Potters hand travelled in between his legs to milk him spent.

Immediately after the amazing high, he felt low. The guilt of once again doing it with a random alpha, a half-blood and of course the most damning - his literal enemy felt heavier on his shoulders than the alpha himself.

He grunted in distress, sneaking a hand under himself to slap Potters hand off his cock, then elbowed him in the ribs to get him off of him.

“Move.” He demanded, digging his elbow harder, Potter scoffed in pain, pulling out of him and clutching his abused side as he gave the omega an accusatory look.

“What? What now?” He asked as Draco picked up his ripped trousers, fixing them with a quick reparo, he quickly redressed himself, Potter also pulled his trousers back up after the standard cleaning charms. “Malfoy? What is it this time?”

“Nothing.” He wasn’t sure what to say, there was a hand on his arm then, he slapped it away, scoffing. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself!”

Potters eyes widened at his usual tone, he dropped his arms at his sides, brows furrowing. “Seriously? I don’t understand, you have-“

“Forget it, it was a mistake.”

“Again?” Potter shifted, like he wanted to grab him again, maybe even hit him or choke him to death, he looked as pissed off as he always did when he had to interact with him. “What the hell, Malfoy. You don’t accidentally fall on someone’s dick twice, you don’t kiss someone twice on accident.”

Right, a moment of omega weakness.

He stared anywhere but at him as he got ready. “You kissed me, too.” 

He wondered if Potter thought that as a beta he was so attracted to him that he just couldn’t help himself, and he felt a great need to tell him just how much he despised him, that he wasn’t sure what was going on himself, and he wished he didn’t have these instincts directed towards him, of all people.

He despised him, he was so much better than him, he was going to have a pureblood alpha- definitely one who wasn’t Harry Potter. There had to be a better smelling bloke for him out there.

” Yes, because I wanted to kiss you.” The Gryffindor said like it was obvious, like there was no other reason he had done it- obviously. 

Draco grimaced, feeling terribly embarrassed, Potter scoffed at his disgusted expression.

He awaited a response for too long, shaking his head. “Look, this — it doesn’t mean anything Malfoy, you don’t have to-“

“Right.” Draco ground out, pushing his hands into his pockets, fists balled. The piece of shit said that this didn’t mean anything to him and before that he said that anyone would have done. “I hate you, so much.” 

Potter should feel lucky Draco let him touch him, because Draco wasn’t anyone and sex with him should have been a privilege- no, a honor. 

Draco swallowed, he was the one who should have said that it doesn’t mean anything, to remind Potter that he is and always will be better than him, he was born better than him.

Instead, he spun around on a heel and left detention early again, not trusting himself to speak his mind around the boy.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco pushed the door to the potions classroom late the next day, just as Slughorn was telling the class that they had no potion for today's presentation.

After leaving Potter in detention yesterday and going to bed to have a quick, frustrated wank he realised that if one of them didn’t do the potion they would end up having detention with each other again, and he wasn’t ready to let Potter fuck him again- as he was sure it would go because he turned into a dumb omega around his scent. 

Slughorn, just like the rest of the class turned to look at him as he strode to the professors desk and placed two vials of perfectly brewed Fire Protection potions on it before stalking back to his desk.

He didn’t have any shut-eye during the night, because he had to stir the pot every 10 minutes for 2 minutes if he wanted the potion to work correctly.

“Sorry, I am late.” Draco apologized as Slughorn inspected the vials. “I slept in.” He lied, giving Potter- who was staring at him a nasty side eye.

“Harry told me you haven’t stayed to do the potion.” Slughorn asked.

“Lies to get me another day of detention, as you can see. You have two vials of it.” 

The Professor nodded. “And did you test them?”

“They will work.” He ground out, not liking how Slughorn always questioned his skills, Severus understood his natural prodigy in the subject, he wasn’t being appreciated enough anymore….. By anyone, not even horny half-bloods who should in all honestly be worshiping his tight, pretty ass.  

He didn’t sleep, and he was overall in a really cross mood, and he had to take a long bath in the prefect's bathroom before he even began to sort out the potions to get the smell of the alpha off of him. This destroyed his mood completely, not because it was a bother to have a wash oh no, he took care of his hygiene, the thing is he didn’t want to take the scent of apple pies and rain storm off of himself, he wanted to smell like Potter- his omega wanted it that is… not him. 

He chanced another glance at the elephant in the room, pretending like he didn’t when they made eye contact.

He looked at his hands instead, reminding himself that he wasn’t supposed to lose his virginity the first month he returned to Hogwarts, he was supposed to fulfil his obligation to the Dark Lord, and he haven’t even started.

He started to think that maybe he was over estimating his intelligence, so confident that an outstanding idea to take down Dumbledore would come to him on its own that even after not receiving the Dark Mark he was sure he would still achieve the goals set for him and be the first outed omega to receive it.

He was still excited for the opportunity given to him, especially after his father failed in the tasks given to him, his family would surely return to their former glory— even with an omega for a son — after he succeeded, maybe the Dark Lord would break his father out of Azkaban.

After he succeeded ….. a month into the school year and all he managed to do was get dogged like a common slut in classrooms after school.

He groaned, feeling his cheeks gain colour at his own crude thoughts.

Chapter Text

“Blaise.” Draco prompted, getting the alphas attention as the dark skinned Slytherin stared down from the balcony at Granger and Potter who were doing school work, sitting at the central hall fountain.

Blaise had been distracted and Draco knew that he was interested in how Weasley's heat was going, if he was truly as interested in the Weasel as he claimed he was, then he was probably sick of waiting for any information by now.

He didn’t even react, just kept staring the Gryffindors down like Weasley was going to pop up out of nowhere early, even if his heat would probably last another day or two, Pansy sneered at the lack of any acknowledgment from the lovestruck Slytherin. 

“We are lucky we are betas, wouldn’t want going around falling for the likes of Weasley.” Pansy whispered.

Draco nodded, he could not imagine a fate worse than having to eat dinner with the family of Weasels in their burrow, he would imagine it was like eating in a pigsty, not like he ever tried that either.

“A miserable existence, indeed.” Draco smirked.

”I mean, who would fall for someone based on them smelling ‘nice’? As a beta it just sounds stupid, I can not comprehend it even.” 

Draco felt like this applied to him, Pansy was making a stupidly on point jab without knowing it but of course he did not fall for Potter and he would not… fall for Potter, ever.

”Right.” He agreed with the girl curtly.  

“Granger was near him, I could smell it.” Zabini finally tore his eyes away from the two. "When she passed by, I smelled him on her." He whispered, his face a stone cold mask.

“She is just a beta, nothing to worry about.” Draco informed in case Zabini didn’t know.

The alpha shook his head, his eyes were more intense than usual, the latter always had an air of nonchalance around him, like nothing could disturb him and he was above caring about anything, but being unable to see an omega who you wanted for yourself had even a collected alpha like Zabini worse for wear.

“I need a favour.” He looked at Draco and Pansy to look for a volunteer, ignoring the two big alphas because Potter wouldn’t tell them how his omega friend was doing. “I need one of you to go and ask them about Ron Weasley.”

There was silence and then all four of them laughed, Zabini didn’t spend too much of his precious time in the company of people, as he preferred to study or be alone, so he must have not known that none of them would agree for a favour like that.

The alphas expression turned stone cold once again at the reaction he received and he regarded them with a superior expression, his impressive height allowing him to loom over all four of them.

“Forget it!” Pansy chuckled, draping herself around Draco's arm to go and eat dinner, but Zabini stopped them by getting in front of them.

“Oh okay, I see. So you’re too spineless to go and ask.”

“Why won’t you do it then?” Vincent growled, Draco still had a hard time getting used to Vincent and Greg completely disregarding him and either speaking too harshly or just plain out growling around him, he supposed it would make him a stronger willed omega when he would inevitably have to go back to the manor full of betas, alphas and Fenrir Greyback, who- to be honest, deserved a category of his own above the three genders.

Blaise sighed. “I’m an alpha, it’s obvious what I want. Ron Weasley and Potter are close, if I ask him now when his only and best omega friend is in heat he will surely bite my head off.”

Draco lifted a brow, he never took Blaise for a coward. “Fight back, then.”

Zabini glowered down at him, Draco could admit he was a bit terrifying when he had someone to care about.

“I can’t, you see I have a plan, and this plan includes not crossing the omega I want to court by hurting his best friend.”

“Fair.”

“Tough luck then, bye.” Pansy tried to make them leave with an eye roll.

“I didn’t know you’re scared of a little mudblood girl and Potter.” Zabini tried again, this time it worked, both Draco and Pansy scowled at him.

“We are not scared.” The Slytherin girl provided stubbornly.

“Then go and ask them how Weasley is doing, if you’re not chicken.”

Draco lifted his nose, he did want to know what happened with all that he brought after all. “Fine.” He untangled himself from Pansy. “I will do it, I certainly could not be scared less by them.”

Blaise looked slightly more at ease and like his usual self at once. “I won’t stop you, then.”

Draco went down the balcony stairs briskly, Potter spotting him before he got there, the alpha perked up as he approached, but his expression was wary, as it usually was when Draco seeked him out, it was always to torment him in some way.

He was definitely standing by what he just told Blaise, but he would rather not engage with Potter, so with a sneer he looked down at the sitting girl instead.

“Hey there, mudblood.” He greeted, awaiting a response from one of them.

He was not disappointed when a nasty snarl ripped out of Potters throat, cut off by Grangers hand on his shoulder, extinguishing the fire in him just enough not to cause a scene.

“Ignore him, Harry.” She flipped a page of her book.

“Just wanted to know how your foolish omega friend is doing.” He went straight to the point.

“Like we would tell you.” Granger supplied and from this close Draco could also smell that she was in the vicinity of the omega long enough to get the faint scent of his heat on herself.

Maybe there was something between them after all.

“Heard you went to see him. A beta can hardly help an omega during a heat, especially a beta woman.”

“Very insightful information, Malfoy. I had no idea, thank you.” The girl was a bit smug with her quip and Draco felt a little embarrassed that she didn’t take the bait and tell if they were in a relationship. Ugh, how he hated acknowledging the existence of the girl at all, how dare a common bloody creature of dirt feel smug when talking to him. 

He decided to drop it for the time being.

“I heard a rumour from the hospital wing, you see.” He pressed.

Granger stayed stubbornly silent, not taking the bait once again, but Potter had less patience.

“What rumour?”

Draco smirked at him. “That Weasley had a little help last night.”

Potters jaw dropped, Draco knew that he would buy it. “What?! Who told you that?”

Grangers rolled her eyes and closed her book. “Harry, he is egging you on, don’t listen to him.” She groaned.

“From the source of course, although half the school already talks of Weasley being desperate to bed with an alpha, seeing as he ignored his heat, prancing around the school a bitch in heat.”

“Not this again.” Granger ran a hand through her bushy, curly hair.

“Malfoy, I will give you a chance to go away now.” Potter warned, Draco shivered at the tone, surprised that he was even getting a warning, normally he was more impulsive.

“Don’t believe me still? There should be a Slytherin cloak covered in alpha pheromones somewhere in reach of Weasley.” This was a perfect opportunity to see if Weasley accepted Blaise's scent at the very least.

Granger scoffed. “Seriously Harry, don’t listen to him, Ron didn’t have a Slytherin cloak anywhere near him, he would burn it if he did. I would notice." She tapped her chin with the feather of the quill. "Besides, if an alpha was there I don't think he would have left.”

Draco hummed, that was too bad then, not the end of the world for Blaise still, it meant he just need to try a bit harder.

“Are you sure?” The alpha looked like he wanted to go and see for himself, Draco's stomach did a nasty swoop— he didn’t like the idea of him going anywhere near an omega in heat, not with how easy he was to fuck.

Because anyone could do.

“Yes, Ron said that he is having a really… ‘shit’ week, is what he said. He looked really tired and uncomfortable, said this was the first time he was truly conscious since the start of his heat. He is really going through it, otherwise he was alone all week, Madam Pomfrey made sure of that, no cloaks in sight.”

Potters shoulders fell. “Good.”

“Well, that’s all I came here for.” He bid his farewell. “Feel free to return to your studies.” He addressed Potter. “Merlin knows you need all the help you can get.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

“You have got to be joking.”

Draco and Potter were having their second and last week of scheduled detentions and with his father being distracted with dementors he didn’t have time to help him out of having his detention with Hagrid.

Draco still had PTSD from when he was a first year, being sent into the Forbidden Forest at eleven not knowing any defensive or offensive spells was no laughing matter even after all this time went by.

And today was giving him a sense of Deja Vu because he was back in the Forbidden Forest with Potter, being abandoned by Hagrid after Fang got terrified of a Niffler popping out from a bush, ran away and now Hagrid went chasing after him.

“Stay in yer group!” He said before disappearing in the darkness.

The only reason Draco even agreed on going was because Vincent and Greg were here. Draco specifically got the two in trouble so they would accompany him to a detention with Hagrid, there was no way he was going into this alone again.

“No, this has to be a joke.” Draco drawled to his two friends, clutching his wand, Lumos was the only source of light in this forsaken place.  “Potter, you need to get him back here.”

The alpha, who was standing behind the crestfallen Slytherin trio snorted. “Yeah right, your highness. I’m on my way.” It was sarcastic, Draco knew it, but he still hoped Hagrid was just having a laugh and he will return at some point, he was terrified even with the three alphas here.

Potter stalked off to sit on a rock not too far from them, arms crossed for heat, Draco felt the need to follow after him, it was dark and he wanted to keep an eye on him. If for some reason they would have split he would rather be with the Gryffindor, he had some brain cells compared to his friends.

“No.” Draco shook his head, repeating himself, he turned to Vincent and Greg. “I’m suing, and I will sue on your behalf as well, this is it. I have enough.”

The two alphas heads bobbed up and down in agreement, Draco wasn’t sure if they knew what it meant to ‘sue’ someone but as long as they stayed agreeing with his every word he didn’t mind much.

Draco heard Potter cursing under his breath.

“Do you have anything to say?” He prompted.

Potter snickered. “Oh no, I’m just loving having to listen to your bitching, again.”

Draco frowned. “I’m really going to get him sacked this time, this is serious, he can’t be leaving students in 'Forbidden Forest'.” The omega made sure to put emphasis on the word ‘Forbidden’, this was absolutely valid, they can die any second and the blame would be on the big oaf. 

“Fuck you, you won’t.”

Draco boiled under his skin. “Yeah? Going to stop me?” He had two alphas with him, he would love to see Potter try. “Go on try it, you know you can’t.”

“Oh, I think I know a way to make you listen.” He whispered to himself, if Draco was a real beta he wouldn’t have managed to hear it.

He swallowed, it has been days since their potions detention and Draco was losing his conviction.

In bed at night he let his mind wander, even if it should’ve been on more pressing matters. He wondered how it would be to go to sleep wrapped in Potters amazing scent, his room was reeking of Blaise's, Vincent’s and Greg's scents, all his clothes were covered in the scents of the three alphas instead of his own or the one he really wanted to have near him.

No omega would stay sane and not sexually frustrated living in a medium-sized room with three teenage alphas- two of three were still leaving crusty tissues around their fucking beds when vanishing spells still existed.

Potter did say that shagging with him didn’t mean anything and Draco knew it wouldn’t result in anything, it couldn’t. So it wouldn’t hurt to do it with no attachments, right? Draco was responsible, he would never let the alpha find out he was an omega, get him pregnant or bite him so it would be perfectly fine for them to have sex with each other, yes.... absolutely. 

If not Potter then he would have to either go to Severus and ask him to put him in a room with betas or he would have to find a different alpha to help him through this school year and he- he didn't find any other alphas attractive or sexually appealing, Potter was the only one he wanted.

Only because he seemed like the best option out of the worst, naturally.

“Greg, give me your cape.” Draco outstretched a hand towards the big alpha.

“Uh, why?” He asked.

“Because I want to sit down and I will not sit on wet grass.”

“Use your own cape?”

Draco heard a snort from where he knew Potter to be sitting, he made an impatient, grabby-hand towards the alpha because he was making him look stupid in front of his enemy. 

“No, because then I will get cold.” He drawled, flinching when Potter laughed again. “Greg, I told you why you should be the one to offer stuff like that instead of me having to ask.” He lowered his voice, really doubting his friend was going to find himself a mate in the future.

The alphas eyes widened, Greg especially sometimes forgot that Draco was an omega, he never smelled like one and the only time the blonde mentioned his second gender was when he wanted something from the two.

“Here.” He took his cloak off and passed it over to Draco who happily accepted it and splayed it on the damp ground, hoping one will be enough otherwise Vincent was going to lose his source of heat as well.

He clicked his tongue when it was still chilly as he took a spot on the cape. “I will try to make a fire, Vincent, go get some wood, try to find dry pieces, don’t try to dry them yourself, I will do it, wouldn’t want a forest fire when I’m here.”

Vincent looked around them, it was pitch black. “Um… alone?”

Draco wanted Greg to stay with him because he was scared of being alone. “Are you scared?” He was going to attack his honour as a big, strong alpha.

Vincent stayed silent for a beat. “…No.”

“Then go and quickly, I hardly doubt Hagrid will come back anytime soon.” He grumbled, already feeling the cold winds seeping under his clothes.

Vincent nodded, puffed up and turned to face the darkness only to pause right then and there, Draco gave him a moment to ask for assistance, but decided to help his ego instead of humiliating him out loud.

“Actually, take Greg with you, you will collect wood faster.”

The two alphas rushed to find wood, leaving Draco sitting alone, it was quiet and dark, the Lumos didn’t illuminate much past the cape Draco was sitting on.

He sat in the darkness, unmoving for a good while until an owl hooted loud and close, Draco pulled his legs closer, imagining some kind of magical creature grabbing his skinny ankle with huge clawed hand and pulling him into the darkness.

Oh hell, that was a morbid imagery.

“Potter.” He prompted, no reply. Draco panicked, thinking the alpha wandered off too. “Potter? You still there?” He turned to check on him, leaning to see if he could see him if he extended his wand enough, he was still there, just pointedly ignoring his presence.

Draco sat back on the cloak properly, correcting it to cover as much area as possible, making space.

He was still there, praise Salazar. He willed his heart to slow down, of course he was there, Draco could smell him.

“Why don’t you come here?” He asked before he could think about it properly.

“What?” Potter sounded surprised.

“I said, you could come here. There is space on the cloak.” He patted the spot next to him, invitingly. 

“…I would rather not, thanks.” Potter sounded like he found the idea particularly disgusting, like he ate a sour candy. “Don’t want to be anywhere near you.”

“Fine, tried to be nice.” Draco wrapped his arms around his knees, he wanted Vincent and Greg to come back already, even without the wood.

“You don’t know how to be nice if you have nothing to gain from it.”

Draco huffed and attempted to sniff the scents of his friends out or hear them stepping on some twigs, but he could hear nothing and with that and the fact that his friends lacked common sense he realised that they are probably lost and not coming back. If he didn’t have scent blockers on the two could probably sniff him out but like this… they weren’t finding him tonight.

He could not stay alone with beasts lurking around him any longer, but he was scared to move. “Potter, I need you to come here.” He whispered.

There was a shift and he hoped it was Potter who made the noise.

“You scared?”

“No, no-“ Draco rushed to deny. “I just—“

“Then I’m not going near you.”

Draco wanted to cry, he was scared to move, repeating like a mantra in his head that he will make Hagrid lose his job for this and how he was going to go about it as soon as he gets out of this forest.

He pressed his lips together, his whole body going rigid when a loud howl of a mongrel sounded throughout the clearing they were at.

Nope, no no no.

Draco stood up on shaky legs, grabbing Greg’s damp cloak off the ground as he went.

“…Where are you going?” Potter rushed to ask, sounding fed up.

“Vincent and Greg are lost, they might-" He swallowed, he was so scared of talking too loud but he tried to keep his voice level. "-might get in trouble, I will go and find them.” He folded the cloak in a rush, he knew Greg’s and Vincent’s scents enough not to need the cloak at hand, he was going to hunt the two down and then not leave their side until morning.

A beat of silence. “And how will you find them? They are far gone, I can’t smell them.”

“My-“ Draco paused, nearly saying ‘my nose’. “Using my head, some people have a nose, like you, some people have brains and everything else going for them, like me. Well, I shall be going.”

He turned to face the direction he saw his friends at last, hoping to maybe see their silhouettes walking back, but the thought of actually seeing something there was so terrifying he was happy when he couldn’t see anything other than twigs.

“Sounds to me like you’re asking to be eaten by a wolf, walking around alone.” A jab, Draco chose to ignore it.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Ron also thought so.” The alpha made his jab a bit more obvious now, rushed because Draco put Greg’s cloak into his book bag, ready to set off.

He swallowed on what felt like a thick bile, his imagination was already supplying an encounter with a giant mongrel at the forefront of his mind. “Well, I am better, smarter and more skilled at everything than Weasley, so-“

“Oh for fucks sake.” Potter let an exasperated groan before he hopped off the rock and caught up to him.

Draco wasn’t going to tell him that he didn’t need him around.

He could relax a little with the alpha walking next to him, Potter wasn’t even using his own Lumos, he was sitting in the dark with Draco's soft light too far to provide any comfort and now he was also relaying on Draco to light the way, how was he so daring?

Draco looked around, trying to pretend like he was indeed relaying on anything other than his nose as he searched for the two, he moved closer to the tree to examine a broken thick branch, but in reality he had to be close to detect a faint scent.

Everything went to shite when just ten minutes into them getting lost in the forest it started to pour, washing away all the traces of scent that could have lingered in the environment.

The rain was so strong Draco could only partly see in front of himself, he nearly knocked into a tree twice, he was sure Potter either face planted into a thick branch or straight up fell once behind him. 

“Good job there, great idea it was to split up!” Potter bit out loudly for him to hear, pulling a hood up over his head and putting his hands in the pockets of his black hoodie, it was not only freezing but also wet now. “And you wanted to go alone!”

Draco pulled his own cape over his head, clasping the buttons of his long cloak shut. He didn’t give Greg his cloak back, the poor lad will be drenched.

”I could have went alone, don’t need Saint Potter around to watch over me!” He bit back just as loud, though it looked like the alpha struggled to hear what he was saying. To be honest he would cry if Potter turned his back on him now, so he better not annoy him further. “Now lower your voice you idiot, there are dangerous creatures lurking everywhere around us!” 

“I know that!” He rolled his eyes. 

Then there was thunder, so light it was blinding, making the forest flash as if it was day time, and Draco moved closer to the alpha on instinct.

Potter slipped and bumped into him as they tried to continue their search, Draco stumbled, but managed to find his balance with a hand on a tree.

"This is stupid!" Potter turned his head to shout right into his ear. “We have to hurry up and find a place to hide from the rain!” Draco snapped his head at the boy, not hearing anything that was just said to him.

“I can’t hear you!” He grabbed Potter by the arms and stopped walking so they could face each other. “Walking in this weather is useless! We have to find shelter, fast!”

Draco searched Potters face to see if he understood what he just said in irritation.

The alpha stared at him blankly before snorting and nodding in agreement.

Draco's right hand travelled down Potters arm to take a strong hold of his wrist so they wouldn’t lose each other during the thunder flashes, even if Draco could maybe smell the latter though the heavy rain— and that would be a stretch— he would definitely not hear him or see him anymore.

Draco guided them back halfway to the clearing where they passed a small cave, it was small and barely managed to fit their whole bodies if their legs weren't bent enough but it would have to do.

He quickly used drying spells on his cloak before water could seep through the clothing, his scent blockers were supposedly waterproof but even the most expensive tool could fail.

He cast warming charms on the small area around them to dry the bottom of the cave but the open space was making the spells useless, at least it helped them both get dry faster.

Draco pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around himself.

“I took Greg’s cloak off him.” He grumbled, he couldn’t see anything past the rain outside.

Potter didn’t say anything back, dismissive.

“He must be soaked wet, I don’t think they know any proper warming charms. And it’s so cold.” He grit his teeth.

“Didn’t know you had a conscience.”

Draco snapped his head to look at the boy in offence, but he was busy staring at the curtain of rain in front of them, it was like a waterfall.

“Piss off, I care about people who deserve it. Greg and Vincent are purebloods from rich families and we have been-“

“Oh, Merlin, shut the fuck up about the blood purity bullshit.” Potter scoffed, dragging every words like he was tired of hearing it over and over again. “You’re so shallow, I can’t bloody listen to it anymore, I don’t care—“

“I couldn’t care less about what you think about me.” He rushed to say, even though he was offended and upset that the alpha seemed so fed up with him.

“Well, I can’t care less about what you think in general.” Potter breathed. “Now, if you don’t stop I’m leaving… I don’t do well with tight closed spaces and your company isn’t helping.” He sounded raw, his voice tight and strained. 

Like he was really uncomfortable sitting here but forcing himself to. He was having shivers but Draco thought it was because of the cold, he was shivering himself a bit. They were sitting so close together and the wall of water really made it seem like they were stuck in a tight, enclosed space together. That fact made him feel slightly warmer down in his lower regions.

“Are you cold?” Draco asked, he was ignored, the boys eyes hard and closed off as he watched the water flow. “I am cold.”

“You’re not getting my hoodie."

Draco rolled his eyes, he shifted a bit closer to Potter slowly, letting their thighs and shoulders touch, the heat their body contact produced was immediate, Draco felt it hard to breathe.

“Hey, Potter.” He leaned closer to whisper into the alphas ear, swallowing to will himself to say the next words. “I can warm you up a bit.”

Draco had to supress a full body shiver as the boy snarled in warning, leaning away. “Stay away from me, what’s your problem? Make up your mind.”

So close to the alphas scent gland all Draco wanted to do was close the distance and press his nose against it, he wanted to lick and taste it, it was nearly as if he could really taste the apples, his mouth watered and he let out a needy sigh, throwing a leg over Potters lap and pulling himself up to hover over him.

The omega hissed when he bumped the rocky, sharp ceiling of the alcove with the top of his head, Potters lips quirked up in a smug smile.

“Ugh, this is a little dodgy.” He put a hand delicately over the hurt spot, having to bow his neck forward a bit to fit on the latter's lap.

“Suits you right.”

Draco let out a rumble akin to a warning growl, it didn’t sound threatening but it did the job. Potter shut up, searching his face. “I’m about to warm your cock, behave, Potter.”

Potter hummed and unceremoniously slapped Draco's ass, it took the omega by surprise like every other time, he gasped, hitting the rocky ceiling again, this time harder.

He really wanted to get off because this position was going to give him a concussion at this point, but then the alphas hand stayed, joined by the other one, he was kneading Dracos butt and pressing his fingers where his hole was under all the fabric. 

“So if I don’t behave myself you will get off?” The latter had a smug smile on his face, Draco kept silent because the answer was no. “Mhm, that’s what I thought.” 

Draco arched into the touch slightly, leaning closer to put a hand next to Potters head to get some leeway and stop hitting the ceiling, they stared each other in the eyes, noses mere inches away, Draco looked down to the latters lips, just to avoid the awkward eye contact.

Potter was having some kind of internal battle with himself as his eyes raked over Draco, quickly losing he sighed.

“Don’t run away when we are done, the weather is bad, you don’t want be out there alone.”

“I don’t run away from you.” Draco reached into the pocket of his cloak and waved it spelling his lower garments off, despite being cold he also had to spell his cloak away, it was long and in the way, luckily Potter was like a furnace against him. “I leave you behind."

“U-huh, same thing.” Potters finger played around Draco's rim, pressing against it but not pushing, like they had all the time in the world.

Maybe they did, who knew how long they would be stuck here. When Potter once again tried to spit on his hand to lube it Draco grimaced and conjured a small vial of lube, spilling some on his own hand and reaching behind himself.

“It really isn’t.” Draco wasn’t losing that one, one was far superior to the other, and he always showed he was superior. 

“And don’t tell me you hate me after, I know it.” 

He held his breath as he nodded, lips softly hanging open as he pushed two slow fingers into himself, just the tips. He didn’t like being so slow about it, his body should have accommodated his fingers faster, produce an abandon of slick to take the sting away, it was as alien to have something back there on suppressants still just like it was the first time, he didn’t like it. 

He couldn’t wait to have proper omega sex with his mate one day, it would be mind blowing if this already felt so good.

He kept shifting and thrusting back on his fingers to find the right angles, but with the limited space he couldn’t finger himself properly. It was tiring but he wasn’t going to be sore again like after the other two times if he could help it. 

Potter was patiently watching him finger himself until now. “Are you done, baby? I want to fuck you now.”

Draco scoffed with a broken moan, nearly managing to get to his sweet spot but no matter how much he arched or spread his legs he just couldn’t do this properly and his arm was starting to hurt.

“It still hurts, not enough space, I can’t reach in this blasted cave- ngh,” He bit on his lip when Potters finger joined his two digits, pushing and stretching his ring of muscles. “Yes, yes, alpha, help me.” He praised, pulling his own fingers out, going back to caging Potter against the wall of the alcove with his hands resting next to the latter's head.

He had his eyes shut as he tried to control his breathing, letting the latter finish the job. When he managed to open them Potter was staring up at him with those green, expressive eyes, transfixed.

“Keep going, feels so good.” He moaned and reached under himself to palm his cock, as an omega he had a quite fast refractory period, so as Potter fingers stretched and abused his prostate he allowed himself to reach his first orgasm. “Faster, fuck me faster.”

He held his breath to not moan right into Potters face, closing his eyes and leaning his head down into the latters neck as his hips buckled into his hand, Potter was jabbing at his prostate with every quick movement of his wrist and then he was coming while inhaling the latter's scent, pressing his nose against the crook of Potters neck. 

The scent of air right after the storm mixed with the natural scent of thunder and rain was quite electrifying if he had to admit. Potters scent was so, so good. 

He licked over Potters scent gland experimentally and then moaned, his cock twitching helplessly in between his legs, he could honestly come all over again just latching onto the alphas neck.

And just like Potter the first time, he felt the possessive need to mark him as his, even if Omegas didn't need to mark alphas as theirs to bond. He moaned again, louder and licked the spot again, pushing back on the boys fingers, then nibbled at the skin with his teeth.

He pressed himself flush against Potter to get as much of his scent on him as possible, his butt arched for easy access.

“Shit, Draco. You’re so hot.” Potter cursed, Draco released a soft noise of displeasure when the alpha pulled his fingers out, he thought he was going to come again after Potter used his first name, probably not even aware of it. “C’mon, sit on me, baby. Warm my cock.”

Desperate to have the alpha inside of him, Draco shifted to hover above the latter's lap, he reached behind himself to grab Potters dick, guiding it to his heat and slowly dropping onto it.

He grimaced, he was going down painfully slow and it hurt, it was easier when it was Potter thrusting into him. 

He pulled off, Potter tried to bring him back but Draco gave him a look as he adjusted, he pulled back on the latter's lap and leaned over the latters dick. 

For a second, he though he was going to put Potters cock in his mouth but he couldn’t bring himself to, instead he collected as much spit in his mouth as he could, parted his lips and jutted the tip of his pink tongue out to drool down at the alphas dick, his spit slowly dripping down onto the head, making Potter shiver and gasp. 

He made sure the latters cock was sufficiently covered in spit before he palmed the boy, getting his spit all over the member and then braced his hands on Potters thighs, guiding the alphas cock to his entrance and trying to sink down it again. 

He rolled his hips to slide it in faster, limited by the confines around them, he liked this position, the boys thick cock felt even more intrusive, reaching deeper, feeling larger and Draco was reminded how good the latter's knot was, how it made him orgasm so many times in a row just because it was pulsating inside him. 

He wasn’t even half way down and he was already frustrated that he still didn’t have the entirety inside him, he whimpered. “Fuck- ah!” He screamed in surprise and the fullness when Potter grabbed his hips and pushed him down on his cock. “Merlin, Potter!” He moaned, clenching around the alphas cock who groaned at the squeeze.

"Shit, Malfoy, relax." The latter hissed out and Draco gave him a look, it was he who slammed him down on his cock. 

He breathed as he tried to get used to the size, they didn't have sex in a few days and Draco refused to masturbate because when he did the alpha popped up in his head.

He reached a hand towards the boy who miraculously managed to understand what he needed without him saying it out loud. He grabbed Draco’s forearm and brought him back to him, so their bodies were as close as they could be.

His face was back tucked into the crook of Potters neck, his smell addicting, he was so high on it he hardly remembered where they were right now, he was already seeing stars. 

Potter sounded pleased when Draco finally rolled his hips again, trying to bounce, but the ceiling was too close.

"Not enough space." He huffed, starting to get annoyed for real. 

Growing as impatient as him, the alpha sprung into action, he grabbed the back of Draco's neck to hold his head tucked away from the rocky ceiling, the other arm he wrapped around his middle, holding him in place, he pulled Draco up, just to have enough space to thrust up into him, and when he did he was relentlessly snapping his hips into the omega's heat. 

They moaned in unison. 

"Yes alpha, faster." The hold on him tightened as he obeyed the demand, encouraging the omega to move down on him as well as much as it was possible by simply moving Draco himself like it was no trouble at all. Draco’s mouth hung parted in a silent cry at the bruising pace, he tangled the fingers of his clean hand in the latter's hair, maybe a bit too tight but it grounded him… and he always wanted to do that, it looked so soft.

The pace was fast and bruising, and they were both panting, Draco pulled Potters head up by his hair to look at him, Potter hissed- short and sharp and when he opened his eyes to look up at Draco his eyes were red. 

Draco claimed his lips in a sloppy, wet kiss, the alphas hips snapped up and he ceased all movement, coming with jerky snaps of his hips, Draco moaned and come right after when the heat flooded inside him. 

Potter dropped his weight back on the ground, grunting when Draco not so delicately dropped with him with his cock still inside. 

Draco pressed against the alpha, practically laying on him and tucked his nose back where the source of the amazing scent came from, just resting.

"Good job, I'm warm again." Despite having his legs exposed he was feeling quite fine, his insides where the alpha filled him felt warm.

Potter was silent for a good while. "I don't-- I don't get you." 

Oh, so now Potter thought they were going to have a proper conversation, the thought of running away crossed Draco's mind, but it was still raining and dark, he was tired, so he stayed, content.

"Not surprising, don't worry that empty head of yours too hard." He snorted, he just couldn't help himself. Potter should be thanking him for being willing to let him fuck him again, because he was too good for him- the best lay at this blasted school, but no. He was so ungrateful, maybe he was the Boy Who Lived and everyone idolised him but Draco wasn't like that, he hardly thought Potter deserved his perfect arse. "It might start hurting." 

Potter chose to ignore him for the better good. "You said there is nothing wrong with omegas." 

Draco stiffened, pulling away enough to make a face at the alpha. "There isn't."

"That's what you said but its not something you would say." 

"What is that supposed to mean?" 

"You make fun of Ron's situation." Potter shrugged. "You're the most entitled, inconsiderate and insensitive person I know, you... hate everyone who isn't like you, so I don't understand--"

"Wow Potter, that's one way to break the mood." He was surprised with how upset the things Potter said about him after their sexual encounters made him feel, literally every time after he came in him he had to insult or offend him at least once. 

He picked his wand up from the ground and swished it, cleaning them both and slipping off the latter's limp dick, he conjured his lower attire back on himself. He got off Potter to sit at his previous spot next to him. 

"It just doesn't make sense. You’re just a horrible asshole."

Draco wanted to stay quiet and ignore him, but he felt a great, irrational need to explain himself to him. 

"There.... was an omega in my family that I looked up to." 

Potters head snapped towards him, tilting. "Sirius?"

Draco didn't know that blood-traitor was an omega. "He was an omega? I didn't know, he must have hid it from my mother." 

"He hid it from his whole family, actually, didn’t want them to arrange his marriage." Potter corrected, looking away. "It doesn't matter if I tell you now, he is dead." 

His voice was deadpan and Draco balled his hand into a fist to prevent himself from comforting the alpha as his scent spoiled with a horrid wave of sadness... just like his mothers did when she found out about the death of her estranged cousin.

"I’m not surprised that he hid it." 

"Yeah?"

"I doubt anyone knew, maybe his friends, but definitely not anyone from his family, even his brother, Regulus would have seen him in a different light, he was extremely into old pure blood traditions, Sirius would have been married as soon as he finished his education." 

"Oh." Potter hummed. "So… who is the omega you're looking up to?"

Draco shook his head, he only ever looked up to his father, although now he noticed that most, if not all males from both sides of his family was an omega, no wonder he was one as well, it must run on both sides of the family. "It wasn’t your Godfather, that’s for sure."

"Who is it then?"

"Can't tell, they hid it, no one knows." 

Potter snickered mockingly. "That's why everyone thinks you only ever have betas and alphas in your family, because the omegas are hiding." 

"It is shameful to be an omega in wizarding society."

"But you don't think it is?" Potter asked slowly, as if he still couldn't believe it, Draco shook his head.

"No, it's perfectly natural.” Didn’t affect or degrade the magic inside his body in anyway; it was pure and powerful. 

"So, what's wrong with muggle borns? They are also just born like that." 

It sounded like Potter was trying to reason with him but Draco he knew that he was right. "I don't need to explain my beliefs to you." He ground out, Potter tsked but dropped it, looking away. 

Draco sniffed, pulling his own and Greg's cloak over himself for some much needed heat. The alpha stiffened, glancing in his direction a few times and fidgeting, everything in a short amount of time, making the omega stressed out when he started smelling irritated. 

"What's wrong?" 

Potters face flushed, he ran a hand through his distressed hair and corrected his glasses. "Uh, the cloak you're wearing... Goyle's cloak...." 

Draco felt uncomfortably warm all of a sudden, guessing where it was going. "What is it?" 

"Ugh, Merlin, it -- it fucking reeks of him, take it off." He snarled, unable to control himself, Draco blushed at the sudden outburst, even if he knew it affected Potter he didn't expert it to bother him that much. The boy cursed, clearing his throat embarrassed, shifting a bit further away. "Sorry, I know you can't smell it, just...we just shagged, can you just, please get rid of it for now?" He forced out, nicer this time.

Draco undid the clasp, folded the cloak and spelled it away, he was so used to Greg's scent on him he forgot it might be an issue for the other alpha. "There, now if I fall sick I will blame you." 

"Thanks." Potter said awkwardly, Draco nodded, looking away because he was sure his face was pink.

"Yeah whatever, Potter." 

Chapter Text

The whole Slytherin table fell silent when whilst eating, Blaise was ambushed by Ron Weasley, who nearly threw the Slytherin robe at the alphas head if it wasn’t for him seeing it coming and catching it swiftly before it could land on him- no surprise he saw it coming, you could literally smell the post-heat on Weasley from the other side of the hall, and you didn’t even need to try.

Draco paused, the spoon he was licking clean of yoghurt stilling in between his lips as he watched the dark-skinned alpha fold the offending piece of material neatly.

He looked calm, maybe slightly ticked off, and if he looked at least a bit ticked off it meant something wasn’t going to plan.

"I don't want your stupid cloak; do you know how many of them I got?" He grumbled, seething, but he only had this one with him and Draco haven't seen him returning anything to anyone until now, so he either liked the scent too much to throw it out or he just wanted to shout at Blaise in particular. "What makes you think I would accept anything from the likes of you?"

"Hm, perhaps a different gift would have done better." Draco had no idea how Blaise stayed so calm when the omega was humiliating him in front of everyone at breakfast, if he was an alpha, he wouldn't let that slide. "Did you like the smell?" He asked, undeterred.

"I," Weasley paused, face going red. "I'm giving it back, seriously, Zabini, is it?”

Draco knew Blaise since they were children, so he didn’t miss the way the alpha straightened up just slightly, back to that soft smirk of his as he grew a bit more confident finding out Weasley already knew his name.

“You can call me Blaise.” He said, voice uncharacteristically soft, Draco watched the two, feeling uncharacteristically jealous for himself, he always had everything he wanted, but he didn’t have this.

The ginger omega took a moment of silence to take it in. “I'm not interested-"

"We will see about that." Blaise's eyes flashed as he smirked at the omega, effectively shutting Weasley up before the rant could fully start.

The omega rumbled irritated before turning away and going to the Gryffindor table where his two best friends were sitting, already looking in his direction, the smell of embarrassment following as he went.

"Wow." Vincent said, eyes wide. "Sweet."

"He smelled so bloody good." Greg finished, eyes following the omega.

"I know." Zabini was strangely not jealous about the two alphas- but who would be jealous of them when they were absolutely no threat to an alpha like him. "He is already mine." He chuckled, Draco grimaced at the alpha’s confidence and the absurdity of it, he still could not fathom being attracted to Weasley.

"He gave you his cloak back." Pansy pointed out, not understanding how the alpha still thought his courting was appreciated.

"But he explained that he received a lot of them." Draco countered, to him it sounded like the omega was unimpressed, rather than completely rejecting his offering. "It sounded like a 'try harder' advice.”

Pansy snapped her fingers. “Oh! You might be right! Maybe Blaise will get laid!”

“I’m right here, Pansy. I will let you know I have everything planned out.”

Draco smirked, looking at the Gryffindor table, he watched how Potter sat way too close to Weasley, giving every alpha who tried to talk to the ginger a nasty look but otherwise staying on the side-lines, even Neville who they were always friends with was being regarded with suspicion as Weasley passed him a jug from the table.

He was so protective, and it was...sweet.

He wondered what kind of things Potter would do if he courted an omega.

“I don’t know, if he won’t start wearing scent blockers he might get snatched before you can lay claim on him yourself.” Draco mused, looking around the hall, alphas from all tables were looking at Weasley like he was a fresh piece of quality meat.

The scent blockers he brought for him, what did Potter do to them?

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Hagrid didn’t take them to the Forbidden Forest today, he kept them in the outdoor classroom, he drew very wonky looking garden pests all over the chalkboard, reading- very badly and slowly from a book page by page on the best way to take care of them, adding his own two cents every few words, making the detention drag out uncomfortably.

He did get a scolding from McGonagall about risking the safety of the students right after she and Severus managed to find them in that little cave they were holed up at, and it was soon after they finished having sex too.

It was for the best because they didn’t have to spend any extra time with each other, but it was a close call.

Greg and Vincent sat together close to the chalkboard while Draco and Potter were sitting behind them.

The face the alpha made once Draco chose to sit right next to him on his own volition without any prompting from Hagrid was priceless, he was so suspicious of Draco pulling something on him, stealing wary glances in his direction ever so often until he relaxed twenty minutes into Hagrid’s rambling.

Draco had other plans than playing a prank on Potter for the hundredth time, he thought that Hagrid would take them to the Forbidden Forest again where he and the latter would have the opportunity to find a private spot, he was even ready to ask Potter if he wanted to excuse himself with him, but now they were an hour in with Greg sleeping behind his open book, Vincent barely keeping himself awake and Draco being sexually frustrated having to inhale Potters pheromones for such a long period of time.

He was slowly but surely dying from his straining dick, hands neatly folded at his lap to cover his crotch chub in the most non conspicuous way he could manage, bored, perhaps slightly constipated expression directed at the stupid half-breed who was tormenting them with his stupid lecture about useless pests.

Godrick be bloody damned, he even prepped himself before this detention, thinking he and Potter would fuck again- who could blame him, they done it on the previous three, he didn’t expect this one to go any different. But Hagrid always had to do exactly the opposite of what Draco wanted.

And now he was feeling stupid because other than pulling Potter aside there was no other reason for them to sit together, and now he was embarrassed that he even sat with the boy like they were best mates, and nothing came of it other than him feeling sexually deprived.

Sitting next to the alpha with a hard on while only thinking about getting himself and Potter alone to be stuffed with the latter’s dick made him feel like a degenerate, this day was going completely wrong.

He started dozing off a little at an hour and a half landmark, wanting to show Hagrid how little care he gave about household pests, he had gardeners and house elves to take care of that, thank you very much. He startled awake when there was a hand tapping his thigh under the table, Draco flinched awake, looking up at the latter.

Potter was quiet as his eyes beckoned to Draco’s crotch, his hands weren’t folded over it anymore, so his bulge was noticeable, he looked back up at the alpha who raised his brows in a silent question and Draco blushed, hastily folding his hands back over his bulge to cover it.

But Potter didn’t look like he was trying to tease him about his erection when his eyes widened just slightly at Draco’s reaction and he looked back to Hagrid's poor presentation, a reddened tint on his cheeks.

And Draco stupidly realised too late that Potter was probably offering to do something about it for him.

He stared at the desk, feeling warm flood all over his body. How he wanted the boy to do something about it, fuck.

Draco glanced at Potter, who was pointedly watching Hagrid, brows lightly furrowed, resting his chin on the palm of his hand, the other hand resting on his own thigh, tapping it impatiently.

With heart that could beat out of his chest the omega hesitantly reached to touch Potters hand with his knuckles, it was just a feather touch, it was the alphas time to flinch as he glanced at him, but Draco kept his eyes on Hagrid as he took a hold of the latter’s hand and brought it to his thigh.

He really hoped he wasn’t interpreting Potter wrong, if he was then he was ready to be laughed at, the risk seemed worth it.

His body tensed and he sat up straighter when instead of retreating the hand away Potter squeezed his thigh gently, like he was testing the waters, all while looking at him.

Draco stayed still, his brows knitted together, he bit the corner of his lips in frustration at how embarrassed he was, what was Potter waiting for? A nod?

He took a hold of Potters hand again and ran it up to his crotch, just barely getting any friction and back down his thigh, and then he repeated it, this time more openly putting the hand right over his crotch, moving up and down slowly, hoping he got the message without him having to outright say it.

When he let go of the alphas hand, he didn’t do what Draco wanted him to, his hand never travelled up to his crotch, he was just resting his hand on his thigh, close but not close enough, squeezing, rubbing circles over his soft flesh but not touching his throbbing erection.

Draco wasn’t sure if he was teasing him or trying to reassure him till the end of the class, probably the first option knowing their relationship.

Draco lips were swollen from biting twenty minutes into the teasing, Potters touches turned intense, more daring as time went by but he still didn’t touch his cock, even when Draco spread his legs for better access, all Potter did was run his knuckles against his bulge while still kneading his thigh and that resulted in Draco feeling like he was being edged.

Draco tried to buck into the hand to show him he really needed it, but the alpha pressed his thigh down against the wooden chair hard enough to hold him in place.

He swallowed, looking over at the Gryffindor who was already looking at him, Draco knew he was, Potter stopped paying attention to Hagrid as soon as he put his hand on him.

Draco leaned over to the alpha, not caring for anything anymore. “What are you doing? Want me to hold your hand or something? Get on with it.”

Potter lifted a brow, smiling. “Wait, did you actually want me to jerk you off right now? You?”

Draco stared. “No.” He shook his head, totally lying, he couldn’t bite his tongue back. “Yes.” He whimpered silently, rolling his hips into Potters hand to get some more friction.

“Wow Malfoy, maybe purebloods aren’t as pure as you always say they are?” The Gryffindor quipped; apparently trying to be a smart-ass, his fingers tapped the inside of Draco’s thigh.

“I hate you so so much,” He forced out, proud that he still could keep his voice calm. “Stop spouting nonsense and do what I want you to, if you don’t-“

“I really did think we would be done by now,” But he didn’t look sorry at all, he was bullying him, another half an hour of this and Draco was going to ugly cry. “I guess Hagrid is trying to give us a proper lecture today, huh.”

Draco never saw Potter smirk before, but he was smirking at him now as he scanned Draco with his eyes.

Draco released a shaky breath, not liking how smug Potter was being for having him in this situation. Draco could just grab Potters hand, press it against his crotch and rut his hips into orgasm but he really, really wanted Potter to give him what he really wanted from this.

Draco leaned right into the latter’s ear, his chest pressing against Potters side, the boy tensed despite himself at how close they were.

“I fingered myself for you, wanted you to fill me up, I want your cock already,” He whispered desperately. “Do something.” He pulled away enough to see if the demand had any effect on the boy.

“You did?” His voice was soft Draco nodded hurriedly. Potter looked nearly disturbed as his wide eyes moved from him to Hagrid, the alpha took his hand away from Draco’s thigh and stood up, Draco glanced down to see he was sporting a tent of his own.

“Hagrid, me and Malfoy have to go, something really important popped up.” The burnet said, stunning Hagrid out of his broken reading, Vincent flinched awake, Greg continued to snore silently. “I will be seeing you later, okay? Me, Hermione and Ron.” He showed Draco to get up.

“Sure thing ‘arry, I will make yer ’em cakes you like.”

Draco cursed, were they really dismissed just like that? Potter could have done that half an hour ago.

He tried to get up, but his legs shook as he tried, he was painfully stiff in between his legs and the movement stimulated him, he thought he was going to finish himself off as he stood up, he flopped back down into his chair, looking up with a frustrated frown at Potter.

“Uh…” He was so horribly embarrassed to be like this in front of the Gryffindor.

Potter offered him a hand, not making fun of him, so Draco took it after a moment of hesitation, it felt good when the Gryffindor wrapped his fingers around his hand.

Draco took his white shirt out of his pants to cover his bulge as he was promptly pulled to his feet.

He held the latter’s hand until he steadied himself, then rushed to let go when he figured he would manage, quickly walking in the direction of the forest first.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

“What did you do with the suppressants and scent blockers Weasley got?” Draco asked after they were done having a quickie behind some bushes on Draco's cloak, it was undignified, but it had to do.

Draco was lying on the soft material of his cloak with the alphas cock still inside him because when he tried to pull out Draco wrapped his legs around him to get him back in, just to feel him connected to him a bit longer.

They were both still coming down from their high when he asked the latter about his suppressants.

“Why?” Potter asked, his brain must have still been mush.

Draco scoffed. “What a dumb question.”

The alpha groaned. “If you excuse me, I will rather not think about my best mate while I’m balls deep in you, okay?”

He flushed pink. “Mhm.”

“A bit awkward, innit?”

Draco rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it.” He corrected, hissing and emphasising the words out. “Watch who you’re talking to.”

“It’s the same thing.” It was Potters turn to roll his eyes, he sat back, shifting inside and Draco wondered if it would be weird if they went again. “Like you aren’t worse.”

Draco couldn’t scowl any harder. “I don’t butcher my English.”

“You use blood purity slurs, Malfoy.” Oh no, not this conversation about mudbloods and half-bloods being equal to Purebloods. “I’m trying to ignore it; Hermione says that you don't know better, but-“  

“I know what I am talking about, and I don’t care what she has to say. What happened to the suppressants then?” Draco dismissed quickly, ignoring that Potter admitted he was talking about him with his friends.

Potter clicked his tongue. “You're so-“

“I asked a question.” He ground out, Potter watched him for a second with hate in his eyes, but then he sighed, dropping the topic again.

“I still have them; Ron doesn’t want them.”

“He is going to get raped one day.” Potters’ expression turned murderous, Draco shivered, realising that was a bit harsh, especially when he was still under him with no way of fighting back.

“Don’t start again. Not right now, I like pretending you’re a decent person when we fuck.”

“I-I-“ Draco stuttered trough the arousal and need to explain himself. “I mean it, I brought them.”

Potter’s eyebrows shot up. “You did?” Draco nodded. “…Because?”

The omega scowled, feeling defensive. “What do you mean— as a joke, of course. But he should start wearing them.”

He was taken aback. “That's a stupidly expensive joke, Malfoy, even for you. I thought you were smarter than doing something so childish…unless you are actually worried.”

“I’m not worried, why would I be worried about a Weasley, just thought it would be funny.” He turned his head and pretended to pick dirt off the cloak he was laying on.

”How much did they cost you then?”

“Five.” He sniffed, feeling embarrassed.

A frown. “Hundred?”

Draco smirked. “Thousand, it’s nothing for me.”

The alphas eyes went comically wide. “You’re insane.”

“Well, know my mercy, he would never afford them, these are the most effective suppressants on the market, only upper-class omegas use these, since he has them now, he should use them, I know he needs them.”

“Huh.” 

Draco squinted. “What?” 

“No, nothing.” 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Blaise found out that Ron Weasley really likes to eat, so he had one of his house elves deliver a slice of cake everyday from the alpha’s favourite Italian bakery- from his home country- apparently the cakes were top notch, from glazes to sponge cakes to ice melts to intricate chocolate detailing and handmade flowers, the cakes were stunning and mouth-watering to look at.

Weasley was the only unmated omega around the castle, also the only unmated omega who would be stupid enough to not use scent blockers, so he was quite popular with the alphas, even if Draco didn’t get what they all saw in him, it must have been their knots thinking, not their brains because other that a slick hole he really had nothing to offer in marriage— unlike Draco, who was pretty all over, had both smarts and money… and a slick hole.

Not that he would ever be jealous of Weasley.

Of course, he was well aware he was a bit of an attention seeker… deserved the attention, truly. 

He had that sense of loneliness every tea-time when Blaise's house elf would deliver Weasley some new slice of cake for him to try and he would love it every time, never saying no to food. And Zabini would be so smiley and uncharacteristically nice for the rest of the day, it was sickeningly sweet.

Ugh, Draco wanted to be courted too, although he hardly deserved to be picky now that he wasn’t a virgin, he kind of spoiled himself for his future mate- he would be angry if he found out the alpha he wanted spoiled himself too, it wasn't a one-way deal, it was a pureblood custom, and he hadn’t met anyone who broke it.

But he couldn’t help it, sex with Potter was simply mind blowing, the best and nearly made breaking his chastity vow worth it— nearly, because he wasn’t sure what the consequences of breaking it will be when he finally found someone to settle with.

They were done with their detentions and since it was already the second month of school year Draco though he should stop shagging with the alpha and do what he was supposed to. His mother was already sending a letter every few days to check on his progress, like she was starting to worry Draco would fail or needed help, but he didn’t even start yet.

He wasn’t quite sure how to go about killing the Headmaster, so he spent the last two weeks in the library, trying to find a quick way to finish his task.

He was once again distracted when Potter cornered him behind a bookshelf (what a coincidence they bumped into each other alone again) and since Draco was worried they would be seen they transferred to have a quickie in the nearest toilets where the alpha gave him his first blowjob.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco was very brief about his non-existent progress in his letter to his mother, he should have expected that someone would at a point come and demand a report from him.

They wanted to scare him enough to make him spring into action, because they sent Fenrir Greyback with his pack of werewolves to ambush him on his next trip to Hogsmeade.

Just as he managed to get a whiff of the horrendous scents of Greybacks pack he was grabbed from behind, pulled off the path and into the forest where he was pushed down onto the grass.

He didn’t manage to catch his footing and landed on his arse.

“I told you to be gentle.” Fenrir growled at the wolf who abducted him, the smaller alpha ducking his head in front of the pack leader, Draco's blood ran cold at just how animalistic the sound was, he wanted to stand up, but he was rendered frozen at the sound. “This is an esteemed guest we have here.”

Fenrir grabbed him by his cape and as if he was feather light pulled him to a stand, ripping at the seams of his cape at the same time.

”Hello, little omega.” Fenrir rumbled moving in front of him, way too close and looking down at him in a way that made Draco feel like a piece of snack.

He refused to duck his head, even if the alphas were releasing crazy amount of pheromones around him, like they wanted him to get aroused or scared and humiliate him. This happened constantly in his Manor since he presented, but all it did was make his skin crawl in annoyance. 

Just so he wouldn't have to look at him, Draco dusted his suit off of any dirt, picking at the smaller particles on it. “What do you want? I assume The Dark Lord knows you came to ambush me?” Because if he didn't then it was over for the pack, he doubted they would be stupid enough to attack him without permission.

Fenrir didn’t move, he was breathing right down at Draco’s face, and it stank, not his scent— although that was bad in itself, he also had this overpowering scent of… masculinity, piss and sweat? And then his whole pack smelled like piss and Draco long assumed Fenrir either scented his own alphas or the most likely case scenario; he was simply pissing on them to mark his pack as his own.

Draco could hardly breathe, he had to take shallow breaths through his mouth to get through this.

“He sent me to ask how your task is proceeding.” He didn’t beat around the bush.

”I will not explain myself to you.” Draco tried for a strong tone, he was a pureblood, and he will not explain himself to bad blood, was The Dark Lord really this upset with his lack of progress already he was humiliating him by sending werewolves to put him in his place? Absurd.

“I can imagine how shameful it is for a little, proud pureblood boy like yourself to answer to a filthy werewolf like me.” He sounded so smug, turned on to have permission to speak like this to him. “So, do you want me to tell your master that you defied his orders?”

Draco grit his teeth. “No.”

“Then answer the fucking question, what’s the report?” He barked, except the hitched breath and a recoil when the alphas spit hit his face as he exclaimed, Draco managed to stay composed, glaring at the beast trying to intimidate him.

He could not harm him, didn’t have the right. 

”Everything is going to plan, tell him that I will be sending my full report at the end of this week, that I will not fail him.” He was brief. “I don’t need to tell a group of dirty werewolves what I’m doing, I refuse.”

Greybacks scent was palatable on the omegas tongue, and it was bitter, he couldn’t breathe anymore, all he could smell was the piss and a furious alpha, but he kept his eyes on the beast nonetheless, because Greyback should be the one to avoid his gaze, stupid dog didn't know his place in society, apparently. 

“Very well.” The alpha snarled. “Don’t test your luck, little omega.” The way he said it, it was like Draco was nothing. “You never know how you might end up, should you fail.” He warned.

“Get out of my face, mutt.” Draco growled, Fenrir and the rest of the group laughed.

“I will be seeing you around, omega.”

The pack left then, still chuckling. He tried to hold it in as he walked towards the exit of the forest but at the end everything started swimming and he had to take a moment to breathe and get rid of yesterdays dinner only moments after they disappeared, overwhelmed by the lingering scent of their pheromones, everything smelled like piss.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco paced, not knowing what to do, he spent the past two days holed up in the library under disillusionment charms, no sleep, and the only thing he ate was an omelet when he demanded a working elf to bring him one, otherwise he was sitting reading books on dark artefacts, hoping he would find one that might do the job.  

He didn’t have to figure out everything, just enough for the Dark Lord to satisfied for now.

He started to worry that the consequences of failure could be far worse than The Dark Lord being upset with his family or arranging a marriage for him.

He sent the scariest alpha to threaten an omega, he was warning him, and Draco understood the threat.

No, no, no, Draco was a pureblood omega, he would go to waste if he had to mate with Fenrir.

He had to write the report in two days, and he had nothing. The library was about to close, so he packed all the books he found and began his walk to the moaning myrtles bathroom, it was the only place where he could concentrate on the task, and the ghost had a crush on him, thinking he was a fellow beta like her when she was alive, that they had things in common, so she wasn't as loud around him.

He walked through a particular corridor on a particular floor and paused when he heard magic wards shifting, he looked back to find gigantic door that weren’t there before.

His eyes widened, this had to be it, this was the room of requirement.

He didn’t want to bring his hopes too high as he walked through the door, until now he thought this was just a story told by students to mess with their friends but here it was.

A room full of everything, and if the stories were true, this room had exactly what he needed to kill Dumbledore.

His stomach dropped at the prospect that he might do it now, looking around the room he knew it will take him until this week's deadline to find what he needed.

He skipped food and classes, he caught a quick nap on a soft armchair under a blanket the room provided, searched for two days and then he found it. A cabinet hidden under carpets, he dug it out and stood it up, he was sure he saw an identical cabinet before.

Yes, this could work, he had something to write home about.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Nobody heard from him the past week, so it was of no surprise when Pansy, Vincent and Greg cornered him as soon as he entered the common room, he had to go get parchment and quill to write another letter to The Dark Lord.

He formulated a plan, and it was a bloody good plan if he had to say so himself, not only will he kill Dumbledore, but if he repaired the two cabinets then he would be able to transfer his allies from Borgin and Burkes and into Hogwarts, until now this was an impossible idea, but with these two cabinets— as long as he could repair them— then he would surely be recognised as the Dark Lords best and most capable servant.

One that deserved better than being Greybacks ‘little omega’.

Vincent’s eyes widened as soon as he was close enough. “Draco, you smell.”

Draco grimaced, he did not shower or bath for the past week, he only used cleaning charms, completely neglecting his hygiene.

“Is it horrendous?” He sniffed at his arm. 

“N-no.” Vincent stuttered, blushing. “You smell like an… omega.”

“Smells really good, way better than Weasley,” Greg supplied; Draco blinked. 

Oh.

Oh no…

He was so busy and shaken by the encounter with the pack that he completely forgot to take his scent blockers and heat suppressants.

His bloody heat suppressants, for a week, this was the last day, he always took them at the start of the week.

“Though he smells sweeter, your scent is kind of ...“ 

“Distinguished.” Vincent supplied, the two Alpha’s nodded to themselves. 

Pansy paled. “Wait… are you an omega?” He stared at her with wide eyes, she matched his ghastly expression. “You are, did you just present?”

Draco scoffed, grabbing the girl’s arm and pulling her up the stairs and into his room where Blaise was sitting at his desk, writing an assignment.

The speed in which Blaise figured out what was going on was impressive, he watched him with a raised brow, but didn’t say anything.

“Blaise.” He greeted as he walked by the quiet boy and stalked over to grab a small chest with his omega stuff from under his bed, pulling out his weekly dose of suppressants and his little vial of blockers. Maybe it wasn’t too late to take the suppressant now, maybe he won’t have to suffer the heat. "I presented last summer, Pansy. I have just been hiding it from everyone because my father advised me it would be for the best."

“I thought omegas are not allowed to share dorms with one alpha, let alone three.” Blaise quipped, looking at the little chest in interest. “How very indecent of you.”

”I’m hardly in the mood to joke right now, Blaise.” He put some of the scent blockers on himself now to block as much of the smell as he could, spelled different clothes on his body and gathered his bath supplies.

"Wait... aren't these the same as the ones Ron Weasley got?" Pansy asked, then gasped loudly, eyes wide. "No way! You brought him the blockers! Not as a joke but because you wanted to help one of your own!"

Draco blinked. "What, one of- of my own?" He scoffed. "Nonsense! Don't ever compare me to the likes of Weasley." He hissed, shaking his head, he was way better than that poverty-stricken, unprivileged idiot.

Pansy smirked. “Whatever you say.” 

He then turned to both of them. “No one can find out about this.” He pleaded, the two nodded.

“Of course.” Zabini spoke first, Pansy opened and closed her mouth, only nodding. "If you stop talking bad about my future mate, that is." He tried to strike a deal; Draco choked on air. "And his friends, I want you to be nice to Granger and Potter until we mate."

"What?" He was asking for a lot, there was just no way he could be nice to the trio.

"Impossible." Pansy chuckled, Draco stared at the alpha, eyes wide.

"You have to behave, that’s it, it shouldn't be that hard." Blaise didn't back down. "Or else tomorrow everyone will find out you're an omega, your choice."

He wasn't really giving him a choice, Draco scowled. "Fine."

Blaise smirked, going back to his essay. "Deal, you better keep your word."

Pansy spun to grab him by the arms. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” She finally managed. “How come Greg and Vince know and I don’t?”

”Goyle and Crabbe knew?” The alpha repeated, this was the only part he couldn’t believe.

“You are a bit of a gossip, Pansy, and they didn’t find out from me. I wouldn’t have told them.” He explained briefly, he will talk this over at breakfast tomorrow. “I need to go have a wash; I need to scrape this smell off me.”

 ☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

He only just managed to round a corner into the corridor leaving the Slytherin dungeons when he smelled the familiar scent of Potter.

It was too late to run away now however, because the alpha was right behind the corner he rounded, and now they were face to face.

”Malfoy.” The alpha breathed, his shoulders relaxing. “It’s just you.” He frowned, confused.

Draco was taken aback, he thought that the alpha came here for him now that he came out of hiding, but apparently, he was here for someone else.

“Were you expecting someone else...?” He asked slowly.

Potter sniffed the air, shaking his head. “N-no, I was waiting here for you- I- it’s just that-“ He couldn’t help but look around the corner Draco just came from, frowning. “I could smell someone, the smell-“

“The too sour one.” He remembered bitterly, scowling, and clutching his bath stuff closer to himself.

Potter nodded slowly, eyes alert, his pupils dilated, Draco swallowed. “It’s perfect.” He licked his lips. “And definitely not too sour, it’s sharp, powerful.”

Draco looked down the hallway he just came through, his chest hurting. He sneered. “Maybe you should check for them, if you like the smell so much.”

He looked like he just might do that, taking a step only to retreat back to the original spot.

He shook his head. “No, I came here to check on you.”

“On me?” He smirked. “You missed me?”

Potter shook his head too fast, scowling in disgust at the ridiculous idea. “No, no. But er- you have been in the library for days and then you disappeared completely-“

“How do you know this?” He cut him off, having a bad feeling that Potter could have stalked him around and that's why they kept somehow bumping into each other all around school every time Draco was out of Room of Requirement. “Are you following me?” He growled, covering his mouth, betas didn’t growl, Draco needed to control his instincts, he needed to take the suppressants.

“No, I-“

”How can you know where I am at all times without following me? You’re a crazy stalker, I—“

“No!” Potter flushed, raising his hands to touch him but he stopped himself just as fast, running a hand through his distressed hair before putting them in the pockets of his robes instead. “No no, that’s not it I—“ He clenched his jaw. “I was just thinking you were hiding from me, but you were doing something and—“

“But how did you know?” He demanded answers, the only valid one was the latter following him.

The alpha glowered. “Tell me what you’ve been doing.” It was a demand; Draco bit his lip.

“Fuck you, Potter.” He hissed, trying to walk past him, Potter stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“What are you doing? I know you're up to something, you need to tell me.” He repeated, Draco tried to yank his arm away. “Does it have anything to do with—“

“None of your business!”

“It is!”

Draco tried to yank his arm away. “I don’t know what kind of idea you developed in that head of yours but— uh-“ The alpha pushed him against the wall, still holding onto his arm, he pulled to bring Draco's forearm closer to him and without asking he pulled the omega’s sleeve up above his forearm.

The relief on the latter's face once he saw the pale expanse of flesh nearly made Draco laugh, but this was no laughing matter, Potter was checking him for a Dark Mark, what if he had one? 

“You-“ His insult was stifled by the brunet kissing him, Potter groaned against his lips, pushing his tongue into his parted mouth and prying Draco's legs apart with a strong thigh in between his legs, pressing on his crotch.

And he immediately forgot he was supposed to be angry.

Draco pressed against the thigh and rutted slowly despite his better judgement, he moaned softly into the kiss, feeling his soft cock stir to life. “Alpha-“ He whined when Potter moved away, he didn’t need much to come, he wanted to hump the latter's thigh some more. “Don't—“

“Shhh, I know.” The latter dropped to a crouch in front of him, unbuttoning Draco's pants and pulling them low to his knees to expose his semi-hard pink cock. Potter was about to dive in and take him into his mouth but froze just shy of doing so.

His eyes widened when the Gryffindor pressed his nose against Draco's pelvis, into the patch of little hairs so light they might have not been there and took a whiff.

Draco blushed furiously, grabbing the alphas mess of hair to try to pull him away, he only used basic cleaning spells on himself, it wasn’t as good as a proper wash. “Ugh, what are you doing? Don't smell there.” He whispered, short of adding that it was bloody weird of him to sniff him so intently.

When the alpha pulled away, his expression was unreadable, he stared at his crotch, making Draco feel very exposed and very hard, then looked up at him.

“I can smell it.”

Draco was sure his cheeks couldn’t feel any hotter, he couldn’t get more embarrassed. “I didn’t have a proper wash in-“

“I can smell the omega on you.” He explained but Draco already felt like he made a fool out of himself for not catching on sooner, his scent blockers were wearing off, his suppressants too, he was surprised he still didn’t produce slick.

“I’m-“

“I didn’t know you shag omegas.” Potter sniffed again, this time closer to his cock, Draco blushed, wanting him to touch it already. “I thought you only fucked with me.”

The Slytherin blinked. “I…I don’t understand.”

“I can smell the omega we were talking about on your bloody crotch Malfoy. Why didn’t you tell me you’ve been fucking around with others.”

Oh.

”How does it smell? I can’t smell it.”

“Treacle tart and lemon.” Potter scowled, standing up. 

Oh, well... shit. 

He was the omega with the amazing smell and Potter thought Draco fucked his perfect mate.

No wonder he was upset.

Draco pulled his pants back up. “U-um…” He struggled to find something appropriate to say, all he wanted to do was tell him that he was the omega.

“You were busy with them this week? That’s why you didn’t come to me?”

Well, better just go with it if Potter was coming up with a story for him. “Uh, yes.”

Potters snarl when he was jealous nearly beat the one Greyback directed at him last week, he flinched.

“Well, I didn't know- I didn't know," He raised his arms in the air. "I won’t fuck with them anymore; they are all yours.” Wow, this was really fucked up because it was him they were talking about.

“I wasn’t— I didn’t mean—“ Potter huffed and puffed, he ran a hand against his face and through his mess of hair, groaning. “Shit, forget it.”

The alpha turned to leave but Draco grabbed him and turned him back to face him.

“Wait, don’t go.” He dropped down to his knees in front of Potter, this felt like a big fight, and he enjoyed having sex with the alpha too much for him to stop now. “I will make it up to you.”

The alphas eyes darkened. “You should go find that omega-“

Draco's stomach twisted in jealousy even though now he knew Potter was talking about him. “No, I want to suck your dick. Shut up and let me do it.”

He quickly undid the latter's belt, swiftly pulling his underwear down in one go just like Potter did to him.

He didn’t give the alpha a chance to run away, quickly wrapping his lips around the soft head of the alphas cock.

He moaned around it in surprise, startled by the intense taste and pheromones down here, no wonder Potter was able to smell him.

His mind went blank, dizzy he grabbed on the latter's thighs for support as he salivated around the member in his mouth, he bobbed his head a few times, he had to quickly pull off to get some fresh air, to be able to form a coherent thought.

He looked up at the boy, Potter still looked mad. Draco whimpered; his omega wanted the alpha to stop being angry with him.

He nuzzled around the latter’s cock, licking until he reached the sack, the scent was strong here, his cock twitched, and his mind swam. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” He explained.

“Never sucked a cock before?”

Draco beckoned his head no gently.

”Right.” Came a curt, unconvinced response, it didn’t help Draco know if he did a good job or not at all. “Go on then, I will help you out.”

The brunet put a hand in Draco's platinum short locks, fingers wrapping securely enough to pull on his scalp a little.

He applied enough pressure for him to understand he was supposed to try again, so he opened his mouth, letting the alpha put his cock back in his mouth.

Draco held Potters gaze as the brunet snapped his hips to thrust in his open mouth, the intoxicating smell making his jaw go slack, sticking his tongue out to lick the underside of Potters cock as it slid in and out, salivating around the member, feeling too high to resist and not able to swallow it properly.

“See? You’re doing too good for someone claiming to be doing it for the first time.” Potter snarled again, thrusting harder, Draco squeezed his eyes shut when the tip hit the back of his mouth, trying to relax his throat and suck.

His muscles relaxed as the boy’s other hand joined the other one in his hair to hold him in place, thrusting harder. Draco choked, the helpless sound vibrating around the alphas cock as it breached his throat. “That’s right Malfoy, look at you, on your knees for me.”

Draco clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into the soft material of his fitted trousers to steady himself, he was tearing up at the punishing pace, he didn’t know how to breathe through his nose, he couldn’t swallow, and he was sure he was drooling.

”For me.” The alpha repeated harshly. “You haven’t sucked anyone else’s cock, huh?” He asked again, Draco whimpered around the member in his mouth, wanting him to believe him. He brought a hand to his own crotch to touch himself through his trousers, furrowing his brows to stop himself from choking again.

“Shit, baby. You look so pretty taking my cock.” The latter relented for now as he stared down at him, even if he was still mad.

Draco came in his pants with a muffled cry, shivering through his orgasm as he obediently kept his mouth slack for the boy to fuck.

He felt so wet, his crotch was wet, his eyes were wet, his chin and uniform collar was soiled with sticky liquids, and he swore he started producing slick as he waited for the alpha to come, but maybe it was just because he came in his underwear.

When Potter came he pressed Draco's face so hard against his crotch that his nose hid in the latter's pubic hair, he tried to swallow the latter's cum, but most of it dripped down his chin, he was a mess when the alpha pulled away, panting to catch his breath, swallowing whatever was left in his mouth, wiping away the threads of spit connecting his lips to the latter’s member.

“Stand up, baby.” Potter asked him, softer now, Draco wiped his chin with his sleeve, trying to do as he was asked on shaky legs, when he did Potter kissed him softly, hand going to sneak under the omegas pants only to find out Draco was wet. “You came?”

Draco nodded against the alpha’s lips, humming, he opened his eyes to see Potter examining him in silence.

“What?” He asked, the boy bit his lip, pulling away. He sighed, dejected.

“No, it’s nothing- nothing you would care about. You can go have that bath.”

Draco grabbed Potters arm to stop him from leaving, he needed a peace of mind. “Was it good? The blowjob.” 

Potter chuckled a little in surprise. “You should test it on that omega you are fooling around with and ask them about it.”  

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

The vanishing cabinets didn’t work, but he dared say he might manage to fix them, it was just a vanishing cabinet- had to transport one thing from one to the other - the foundation was there, he just needed to make sure all the spells worked.

Although the prospect of having some Death Eaters step foot into it only to be gone forever was appealing to him now that more of them visited him in Hogshead to rush him, Fenrir never came again, thank Merlin, probably because Draco's plan was a good one.

But the next ones that came after him were hardly better, because it was the Carrow alpha siblings who were uncomfortable to interact with as well, not as much as Greyback but they also managed to relay the message for him to hurry the hell up or else.

The Dark Lord never sent a beta or his mother to talk to him and there were plenty, which meant he wanted him to feel pressured, to see the promise behind his actions.

Since the blowjob Draco shamelessly offered Potter right at the entrance to the Slytherin common room the alpha made himself scarce around him, which meant a. He was mad Draco fucked ‘his mate' or b. Draco's blowjob skills were bad…it’s not like he did much, just sat there while Potter claimed his mouth.

Luckily, Draco didn’t have time to think about Potter too much when he had cabinets to figure out. 

Chapter Text

Blaise brought Weasley the newest fire bolt, a matching one to his own new broom.

He tried to gift it to the omega before their Slytherin versus Gryffindor Quidditch training match, Draco already warned Potter that Zabini was going to give Weasley an insanely costly present, so he should ensure the omega was in a good mood that day.

Of course, even though Weasley accepted the cakes, he wasn’t going to accept the broom at best and would have been really bloody offended by such an ‘expensive’ gift and told the alpha to piss off for real at worst.

Just like one would imagine, Weasleys eyes grew to the size of saucers as Zabini presented him the still wrapped broom in person for the first time, they were already standing in their groups in their Quidditch uniforms and the game was about to begin when it happened, most likely the alpha chose this moment specifically so Weasley would have an easier time accepting and not enough time to think about declining. Weasleys own broom was borrowed from the school's storage, and they only had ancient models.

When Potter saw the broom, his jaw went slack, and he gave Draco an ‘are you serious?’ look from his side of the pitch, the broom Blaise gifted was better than Potters own model.

“You can’t be serious.” Weasley said what his friend was thinking out loud as he inspected the broom after he took the wrapping off. “How much was it?”

Draco felt the need to shout, ‘More than you will earn in your life’ and the reason he didn’t was only because of the deal with Blaise.

“If you accept it then it was worth the price.” The alpha said instead but Weasley gave him a look that promised to check the pricing anyway in his spare time. “Do you like the gift?”

Weasleys eyes nearly sparkled as he held the broom, he was already testing it in his grip, Blaise probably couldn’t buy him a present he would like more. Then he bit the inside of his cheek, shaking his head.

“I like it, yeah, but that thing you’re doing, courting? I told you to just drop it.”  He murmured, still looking at the broom.

Shit, if Weasley doesn’t take it then he just might, though he would hardly have any time to ride it now, he already decided this will be his last match of the year, the time was nagging and he couldn’t afford to show up for training four times a week, it was impossible right now.

He lost time to do anything other than sit in the room of requirement desperately trying to figure out the cabinets, all he managed to do up until now  was throw the bottom hinge of the door out when he kicked it in frustration.

“It’s an ancient pureblood tradition, it should be upheld.” Blaise’s scent made it clear he was not at all affected by the possibility of the omega refusing his gift.

“It’s a bloody embarrassing one.”

Draco thought that it’s sweet. You couldn’t trust statistics completely, but it was estimated that mated couples that upheld this tradition never broke their bond. And he was a bit of a sucker for romance.

Weasley sighed. “I can’t- take this broom.” And he tried to shove it back at Zabini, but he held out his hand in front to decline. “C’mon mate, it’s too expensive.”

Another advice to buy cheaper gifts if he wanted him to accept them.

“You should keep the gift, seeing how you already call me your mate.” Zabini quipped smoothly, Weasleys naturally red face got even more heated.

“Not— not like that, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“How about this then, if your team wins you can keep the broom, if my team wins, I might accept it back.”

Wesley’s eyes flashed at the challenge and probably a more valid reason to keep the broom, Blaise really thought about it, Draco was impressed.

“Fine.”

As Blaise retreated to their half of the field, he approached Draco. “If you don’t catch the snitch, I will owe you.”

"I will keep your word for it.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

“You should tell Weasley that at some point he has to give Blaise something of his own.” Draco advised Potter after they shagged in the moaning myrtles bathroom, the girl went somewhere on a date with another ghost from the ghost party Peeves done days ago, so they had it all to themselves. “That’s how it works, he can’t be the only one trying.”

“What? No way.” The alpha groaned, still protective, as he put his clothes back on. “I’m not helping Zabini out to fuck my best mate.”

Draco's skin prickled, he squinted. “You know in pureblood circles we only call our bonded mate’s ‘mate’.”

“Well, your pureblood circles are hardly as pure as you always say so I couldn’t care less what you do or say.”

“It’s romantic and appropriate.” Draco corrected. “But what would someone like you know about proper manners anyway.”

Potter was silent for a moment as he finished dressing. “Someone like me. What are you on about this time.”

Draco shrugged. “The usual, you’re a half-blood so-“

“So, you must insult me.”

Draco tsked. “It’s not an insult, it’s a fact, you’re a half-blood, you wouldn’t have a proper upbringing and you wouldn’t know how an alpha should behave.”

“Yes, I must be a fake then.”

Draco sighed, feeling bad. "I didn't mean it like that."

“You don’t know anything about my upbringing or Hermione's.” The last thing Draco wanted was to argue about the mudblood again and he was about to say so but the over-the-shoulder look Potter gave him as soon as his mouth opened stopped him.

He retracted, going back to sitting on the desk. “Anyway, Weasley also has to give Blaise something, and he should be the one to initiate going on a date, if he is interested.”

“Wow, why are you so interested in customs that have nothing to do with you?”

“It’s a sweet tradition.” He pretended he was picking dirt of his shirt, he wanted to see if the Slytherin is going to score or not, he was invested by now.

“Blaise is not bad… I thought he only wanted to…” Potter paused. “But he seems serious, it’s weird.”

“He follows the customs.” Draco nodded. “He isn’t like some alphas, who fuck around instead of finding their mate, who apparently is somewhere close by.” Draco mused.

“I am fine as is, thanks.” The alpha ground out.

Since Potter thought that Draco ‘fucked’ the omega with the amazing scent he didn’t want to acknowledge their existence, getting bothered whenever someone asked about them and closing off, he especially didn’t want to talk about them with Draco.

And Draco enjoyed that Potter would rather have sex with him- a 'beta' than look for his Amortentia chosen mate, quickly catching on that Potter was jealous of him, that he didn't like that Draco was messing with others, not the omega, and it always made him feel good when he brought it up around him now.

“I thought you said they were a ‘perfect omega with an amazing scent’, if I remember correctly.” He teased.

Potter frowned, thinking hard. “No, I don’t remember calling them perfect.” He was grumbling. “I bet they aren’t that good in bed either.”

“Who knows.” Draco drawled.

“Well, you. But keep it to yourself, thanks.”

“Scared they are better than you?” He smirked even though he didn’t think he was better than the alpha, he wasn’t doing much. Potters scent turned bitter.

“Better than me?” Potter grimaced, and when he spoke his fangs looked sharp and dangerous, he was nearly snarling. “What do omegas do anyway? Nothing, they just lay there and take it.” He huffed, grabbing his bag. “Sticking your ass to get screwed is not a skill.”

Ouch. He was so mad he decided to insult all omegas, not just his own.

“What if it's the best ass you ever saw?”

Potter stared at him. “I don’t know, was it?”

Draco shrugged, making the alpha smell even more bitter. “I think it’s a pretty nice ass.” 

Potter made a very unhappy noise and made it to leave Draco alone in the bathroom.

He sighed. "Potter." The boy turned his head to hear him out. "I won't have time for... for this anymore, okay?"

"What? Why?" He asked, as if they were close enough that he required such information.

"It’s not for you to know." The alphas eyes widened slightly, before he schooled his expression and nodded. "It’s only until I figure something out."

"Yeah, sure."

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Everything was going terribly bad, he was sitting on these cabinets for two months already with no luck of fixing them, he was practically living in the room of requirement, a basket of apples next to him to check on his progress as well as his only source of nutrition these days, it was good he loved apples.

The spells on the cabinets were twisted, layers upon layers of useless fucking spells put on by wizards who had no idea what they were fucking doing and now Draco had to figure out what the hundreds of spells were, undo them and leave all the needed ones.

He spent a month doing so, running diagnostics to figure out the kind of magic, then the uses, and then he would look for the spell in the books he took from the library, after which he would have to do research on how to either fix or get rid of the spell or worse- curse, and then repeat it for all the other spells. When he realised just how curse damaged the cabinets were he thought the task of running diagnostics would take him months to finish. He deserves The Dark Lords right hand man position for just this or a position in the ministry as a curse breaker, honestly.

When he was done with that part it was time to see if the cabinets worked, that's where the apples came in, he would put one in the cabinet and wait for Mr. Borgin to realise he was supposed to take a fucking bite and send it back.

He sat in front of the cabinet once he put an apple down in twisted anticipation, he waited for an hour, the magic wasn't shifting, there was no indication that the apple even travelled to Mr. Borgin and back. He stood up and opened the cabinet, checking for any proof that the apple left the cabinet but there was none.

Shit, he messed up somewhere, possibly got rid of needed spells, he had to check on the better cabinet in Borgins and see what spells that one had, then figure out how to apply them to this one... in theory,  he really wasn't sure where he messed up or what exactly needed doing still.

They were going to send Greyback after him again.

Draco bit on the apple bitterly, feeling starved. He was too fucking young to be dealing with this shit. He was a Malfoy, a pureblood for Merlin's sake, he shouldn't be doing all this work by himself, why wasn't his father doing anything to help him? He would be damned before he begged his mother for help, she would think he was weak, look down on his intelligence, no longer be proud of him, he bet she would have an easier way working these cabinets out.

He was a Malfoy, the Dark Lord lived in his house, ate his food, ordered his house elves- he should be able to tell Greyback to tell the Dark Lord he didn't want to do this task, because he was Draco fucking Malfoy and if there was something he wanted people were paid off to do it for him, he was not a house elf to be ordered around, he was a pureblood, Salazar damn all of this.

He pulled out his wand as he sat in front of the Cabinet, glaring at it as he chomped on his apple, contemplating to bombarda that shit to bits.

A break is surely what he needed, two months locked in this room didn't do his brain chemistry any favours, he needed to get out and grab some fresh air and think.

He travelled through all the clutter, exited the room, and went down to the dungeons, halfway there he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, he was pulled into an alcove behind a tapestry, it was a tiny, dark space. He was met with Potter, who he had avoided for the past two months, he simply had no time for the boy.

He must have been terribly ill, because his heart skipped a beat at being so close to him and hearts weren't supposed to do that.

Potter watched him expectantly, searching for something, he looked away, scoffing, this was not what he considered a break. "What?" How was it that every sporadic time Draco left the room of requirement the alpha manged to find him, he didn't even have a scent.

"Something happened this week."

"Spit it out." Draco prompted, not sure if he should be worried or not- he probably shouldn't, Potter's escapades or life shouldn't be one of his worries, he already had enough on his own plate as it was.

"Katie Bell... she had a necklace.... when she touched it, she screamed in pain and.... I thought she was going to die."

Draco pressed his lips together, trying not to give a reaction to his failed attempt on Dumbledore’s life, he only wanted the girl to deliver the necklace, she wasn't supposed to get hurt. He didn't know Potter had been there to see it in person.

"I heard." He managed, Potters gaze was intense, waiting for him to continue expectantly. "What?"

"Did you do it?" Potter finally asked, so unsure he nearly whispered. Draco stared.

If he found out, would he turn him in? What would he do?

"No." He uttered, shaking his head, Potter relaxed momentarily, releasing a breath.

"Do you know who did?"

Draco scoffed, feeling terrible, he already felt guilty enough. "How would I know?" He asked, no bite behind it, just trying to come across as clueless.

“Malfoy… your father is a Death Eater; I think if someone did it or knew who did, it would be you.”

Draco’s eyes widened at the mention of his incarcerated father, he furrowed his brows. “How dare you speak of my father, don’t you dare.” It was because of Potter he was there in the first place; how dare he bring that up. 

“Malfoy, you must understand why I’m bringing this up.”

“Well, I don’t know who did it.” He crossed his arms.

Potter looked sheepish and it made the omega feel even worse. "Sorry, I just know you have been up to something this past few months-"

"It's called studying, you should try it, does wonders for the brain." He hissed, Potter gave him a little apologetic smile, backing him into the wall but he stopped him, he couldn't, he was feeling too much like a total piece of shit for lying to him, lying to Potter was worse on his psyche than nearly taking a fellow students life with a cursed necklace. There was no way he could get hard now. "I don't have time."

"Oh, c'mon Malfoy. Surely you figured out whatever you said you have to figure out by now." They stayed away from each other for two months, they only saw each other on their sporadic joined lessons of potions and care for magical creatures and that’s it with how sporadically Draco appeared anywhere these days.

"It's not as easy as everyone thinks, okay?" Draco growled, he had enough of everyone rushing him, he cursed under his breath when the brunet’s brows shot up.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry, did me letting you get your dick wet make you feel like we are close?" He snarled and pushed the alpha back, so he would let him breathe a little.

Potter stumbled back into the adjacent wall, he didn't go far in such a small place, but Draco had some space to exist now without having yet another stupid alpha looming down at him.

"I'm just saying I can help figure it out. Merlin Malfoy, don't get any ideas." He snapped back, but his scent turned horribly bitter.

"You help me figure something out? I'm smarter than you, I'm better than all of you- I was born better than all of you, I don't need to ask for anyone's fucking assistance with anything, I pay people to do jobs that I don't want to do." He bit out, Potter growled. "Put those fucking teeth away, what are you going to do? Bite me?" He was sure he was brandishing his own canines as well, they were smaller, way less threatening that Potters, he quickly caught himself, betas didn't have fangs. “You speak to me when I tell you can speak to me, when I say I have more important things to do than entertaining myself with you, it means that you should wait like a good horny Alpha until I want-“

"You are so-" His harsh tone was grating the remnants of Draco's nerves, every alpha thought they could speak to him like he didn't amount to anything lately. 

"Don't fucking growl at me. Who do you think you are?"

"No-who do you think you are." Potter corrected; Draco bit his lip. “You are starting to really piss me off, every time I think that-“

“See now, this is where I shall excuse myself.” He motioned between them. “Because, as a half-blood, in the grand scheme that is my life you don’t amount to anything, your opinion is lesser than mine, it holds no value to me, okay?”

Potter stared, expression unreadable.

“Whatever you have to say or think about me is beneath me and I will not grant you my attention until I find time for you in my extremely, impossibly tight schedule.” He stressed. "My problems are bigger than you." 

Potter breathed in and out, he still stank of anger, but he tried to calm it down. “I…Draco I-“

The omega tsked. “See you around, Potter.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

As he long expected, the next time Draco set out to Hogsmeade he was followed by Greyback and his crew. This time, not wanting to cause a scene in the middle of the busy day they stayed in the nearest forest, close enough for Draco to sniff them out.

Going to meet them alone was slightly less humiliating than being abducted, but he still wished it was a bit further away from Hogsmeade, he had to pull a hood over his head to make sure no one would recognise him and tell the Professors he was straying from the specified student areas.

He did tell the pack to tell The Dark Lord he no longer wanted to do the task, but he was promptly laughed at.

“You don’t want to fulfil your duties?” The alpha asked, smirking, Draco shrugged.

“I’m busy with other things.” He drawled, trying not to be openly frightened when the latter moved closer to him. “Someone else should figure something out, I won’t do it.”

Greyback laughed again, his pack following suit, Draco ducked his head and grit his teeth, a pack of piss-soaked mutts was laughing at him.

“I’m leav-“ He didn’t even finish his sentence when the alpha grabbed his hair and yanked his head down, in less than a blink of an eye Draco was on the ground in a compromising position, his face was buried in the grassy, wet moss and his ass was in the air with Greyback pressing his head to the ground.

The alphas growl made him freeze, his head felt like it could crush under the strong hand if only the alpha wanted to do as much, and he fought against his own instinct to submit and do something to get out of this threatening situation.

Instead, he pulled his legs under himself, so instead of presenting he was kneeling.

“I’m going to tell you what happens to little, weak omegas who don’t listen to their masters, all right? Because omegas don’t get to choose.” The alpha started, still pressing his face into the ground so even if he wanted to say something he couldn’t, Draco was fighting to breathe.

“Once you fail- and you will fail. As a pureblood omega you will be bred by the Death Eaters for some pureblood alpha puppies, then, when no one will want you anymore, when you will be of no use, I will take you to my pack. We are always running low on little, weak omegas, they bleed so easily and die so fast… but you’re of pure blood claiming that you’re better, maybe you will last longer and give me some strong pups.” He mused, pausing when other alphas shared their approval. “Once you’re with me, I will breed you, I will chain you. I will make you bleed, you won’t be able to stand after I’m done with you, and you will fucking crawl for being a bad, mouthy omega, I will bite you so often it will never heal, so you will feel my claim on you, and I’m going to mark you with my piss every day, so you will know that you’re mine.”

Draco tried to push his head back to get some air, but Greyback slammed it back down into the moss, then slammed it again and pressed, rubbing the grime and mud into his face, Draco spluttered, his skull pounding.

“I had so many mates, do you know what I do when I get bored of my little, weak omegas?” He asked, Draco whined, he really didn’t want to know, he was shaking all over, not registering that the alpha let him go, he was still in the same position, just lifted his face off the grass to breathe, otherwise unmoving. “I eat them, they taste so sweet."

Merlin, Greyback was insane, Draco stayed still, if he didn’t try anything now they would leave, he had to write to his mother. He heard rumours that the alpha ate human flesh, but he didn't think he would do this to his own mates, it was the cruellest thing he ever heard, to be so heartless to someone you're supposed to treasure and care for, it was against nature to hurt your bonded mate, Greyback was completely insane.

”Do you still want me to tell The Dark Lord what you said? That you’re busy with studies? That you have better things to do?” He taunted. “Answer me, Omega.” He snarled, the command made Draco whimper, he didn’t have a choice.

“No, I will do it.”

He would never, ever let Greyback touch him again, he was going to repair the cabinets and help his family, he was going to prove himself on his own, so no one would ever humiliate him like this ever again.

He was not a weak omega; he could do it.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco startled, tearing his eyes from the book he was reading when a plate of apple pie and a cup of steaming tea was dropped in front of him.

He frowned up at Pansy with an offended look on his face as she and the rest of his group sat down on the soft cushions of the loveseats.

“Eat something.” Ups, he skipped breakfast again without realising it, he started looking for an incantation to a certain spell at 7pm yesterday and it was now- he cast quick tempus - half past three in the afternoon.

Not enough bloody time. Where did it disappear to? Did he really look all night and didn’t manage to find it, or did he have a nap at some point?

The hunger he felt when he stared at the apple pie wasn’t only due to the fact that he was starving, it was also the smell. “Thanks.” He took a hold of the plate and fork and stabbed the pie a bit over enthusiastically.

“Did you sleep this week?” Greg asked, well, if even he noticed he didn’t sleep well then it must have been obvious.

“Yes.” He hissed, wishing he had a mirror to see himself.

“When?” Pansy prompted.

He used tempus again, this time to check the actual date. “Two days ago.”

He was on top of it, he attended all his classes, he washed, he studied for surprise tests, he did his assignments, he took his suppressants regularly and scent blockers after every routine scourgify.

He was going to do everything he supposed, get back into the Dark Lords good graces and take the Death Eaters for a hunt to catch every werewolf that crossed him.

“Earth to Draco.” Pansy clicked her fingers in front of his face, he clutched the dark arts book closer to his chest. “What are you studying this hard for?”

“Something your pretty little head can’t hope to comprehend.” He smirked at her; she stuck her tongue at him.

“Anyway, Blaise and Weasley are practically an item now.”

Draco sighed, closing the book to gossip, he remembered being excited to see the couple progressing in the courtship and he ended up missing it completely.

“We are nothing yet.” Blaise corrected the girl, but he was smiling.

“Did he gift you anything?”

“Not yet.” Blaise shrugged, “I’m not sure if he knows he is supposed to, but he should know, as a pureblood.”

Draco nearly let it slip that he did tell Potter to tell Weasley about it months ago, so maybe he just wasn’t interested in the courtship after all but stopped himself just so.

“Then what are you so happy about? He didn’t even do the first step.”

Blaises smile grew bigger, but it was Pansy who jumped to explain.

“Two weeks ago, it was the Slytherins scheduled training day-“

“We booked the pitch!” Greg barked.

“Yeah!”  Vincent nodded along.

“- and the Gryffindors being stupid as per usual, thought that it was their turn. The captains began arguing about whose turn it was.”

“The Gryffindors just couldn’t figure it out and we were running out of time.” Vincent accused; this time Greg nodded along.

“And he walked over to me, asking if I want to shoot some hoops instead of waiting around.” Blaise sounded so smug about it.

“Yeah, so at the end, the boys, Potter and even the Weaselette were having a friendly game while Weasley stood on the posts.” Pansy waited for his reaction.

He blinked. “You three had a friendly game of Quidditch, on the same team as Potter, and two Weasley’s…shooting some hoops?” He repeated, looking between the alphas, all of them nodded. “No way.”

Pansy laughed. “Exactly! Could you imagine? And that’s not all.” She motioned for Blaise to hurry up and finish the story.

“He asked me later if I want to play again, with him and Potter.” 

“Yes!” Pansy shifted in her seat. “I couldn’t believe it, thought Blaise was going barmy because of blue balls or the likes so I had to see it with my own eyes.”

“It happened more than once?” Draco asked, not only did they specifically brought him apple pie (probably because it was his favourite dessert) but they also started hanging around with Potter…only the second thing was unusual but still.

Pansy nodded, sneering at his expression. “Could you imagine.”

“No, what about that mudblood? Did you start hanging out with her?”

The group laughed like he asked the most ridiculous question there was, and to be honest he never expected to ask that of his friends.

“The mudblood just reads a book on the stands.” Greg sneered.

“We don’t talk to her, at all.” Vincent promised.

Pansy tutted. “I love you, Blaise, but I won’t talk to Granger for you, never ever invite her to sit with us.”

“I don’t care, as long as you tolerate her when she is nearby.” Blaise shrugged the existence of the girl off, scoffing a little but still in good spirits. “Well, it should be fine.”

“Want to practice with us sometime?” Vincent asked.

“With Weasleys and Potter? I don’t think so.” Weasley would bite his head off, he feared the Alpha girl and then he didn’t even talk with Potter for weeks… Besides even if he wanted to, he was busy. “I have more pressing matters than helping Blaise score with carrots.”

Blaise leered at him, smirking. “Do you think he would be upset if I called him carrots? I say it’s a cute nickname.”

“Oh, he would never speak with you again.” Pansy cackled; Draco smiled.

“Yes, perhaps wait until you’re bonded for stuff that otherwise would have made him dump you.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco was curious if they really weren’t pulling his leg- plus he wanted a reason to look at Potter, so he did meet up with Pansy to sit on the stands and watch them practice.

He took two thick books with him and made his way to the pitch. They were indeed playing, Greg and Vince as the beaters as always, Weasley as keeper and the rest as chasers, un-fucking-believable image.

But the funny image was a bored Pansy sitting at one side of the stands staring intensively at her nails and Granger sitting at the other end with her nose in the books, practically at the other ends of the same bench.

He stalked over to Pansy, waving back a bit to Vincent who spotted him first and waved, following by the rest, Weasley glared at him, others just continued playing after spotting him, Potter only spared him a glance before looking away.

Draco quickly walked over to Pansy, sat himself down and allowed himself to waste a bit of time to stare up at the playing group.

If the Dark Lord was back then surely Potter had better things to do that play Quidditch with new buddies, or was he the only one having a hard time?

“Why don’t you join them?” Pansy asked, he looked at her, frowning. “You like this sport, all you’ve been doing for weeks is sit with your nose in the books, surely at some point it stops being good for the brain, especially when you don’t sleep in between days.”

“I told you, it’s only time until I will be done and then I can get a shut eye.”

“You said that over two months ago.”

Draco tapped the hard cover of the book he had on his thighs, choosing not to answer, there was no reason to argue if she was right, he did say it two months ago, he knew he was doing a bad job, that he wasn't as intelligent as he always thought he was. 

“I know what I’m doing, Pansy, you’re so annoying.” She must have forgot that he always knew what he was doing, the betas eyes widened a bit, she grimaced.

“I know, I didn’t mean to sound like-“

“Yet you did. If I say it’s fine if I don’t sleep it means it’s fine if I don’t sleep and there is a reason why I don’t, don’t question my word, Pansy.” Too many people were already doing that, making him feel incompetent for the first time in his life.

“Draco.” Her lips were pressed into a thin line. “Jeez, that’s one way to push people away, be this bloody rude when they are just worried.” She snapped.

He sighed, he started tapping his foot to stay awake, this had been the first time in two weeks since he got some fresh air, and it was making his body feel heavy. “This is really important, a lot is at stake, Pansy, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Yet you were.” She pointed out, smirking at him. He apologised curtly before opening the book on the page he finished on, his break was over, and it was time to continue.

Pansy patted her lap softly and he knew what that meant, without looking away from his book he shifted to lay his head on her lap, it was better to read that way anyway because he wasn’t hunching over the book.

He sniffed the air, it felt refreshing, he should come out more often, maybe he would if his friends were out playing Quidditch and not bothering him.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco must have fell asleep lulled by Pansy’s soft fingers messing with the strands of his hair because when he woke up the whole group was sitting at the stands with them.

The sunlight was blinding at this time of the day despite it being wintertime, he groaned, moving the book he was reading from his chest and onto his face to cover from the light.

The stands were good to take a breather, but they were uncomfortable to sleep on, his legs were on both sides of the bench and his ass was sore from laying on the wooden surface for so long. He intertwined his fingers on his stomach and pulled a leg onto the bench with his knee bent to change the position a little.

Guilt about falling asleep was already creeping in, but he must have only slept half an hour max considering Weasley was talking about just warming up when Pansy made fun of him for letting so many balls through the posts.

It was the girls loud cackle at Weasleys embarrassment and the inability to admit he was playing bad today that made him stir.

“Pansy, you fat, stupid cow. Can you shut up when people are trying to sleep?” He grumbled sharply.

Weasley fell silent when he realised Draco was awake now, no one was speaking for a moment.

There was an awkward silence.

“Oh, yes that’s just perfect.” He mused, yes if they stayed this quiet, he could go back to sleep.

And Pansy broke it, again. “Who are you calling a fat cow?!” She squealed, affronted, and Draco gasped, nearly falling off bench to avoid the girl jabbing him in the ribs. “At least I don’t have a bony ass-“

It was Draco's turn to gasp, both from the accusation and the pain in his side. “Oh, you did not just say that- take it back-“ He grunted and twisted away when Pansy wanted to jab him again, the book he was using as a shield from the sun dropped to the ground as he tried to get away from her insistent hands.

He rolled and covered his sides; he must have flailed his legs because he smacked his foot into something that made a pained sound and then caught his other leg by the ankle before he could have repeated the motion.

Draco looked down to see Potter doubled over on the bench in pain. The alpha let go of Draco’s ankle to cover his nose with both hands, grunting.

He just kicked him in the face, didn’t he, that’s the second time this school year.

He chuckled, a little amused, a little hysterical. “Ups.” How was he supposed to know the latter sat right next to him? It wasn’t his fault Potter chose the spot next to his legs and didn’t announce his presence.

“It’s fine.” Potters voice was muffled in his hands.

Granger moved in to check on her friend. “Oh Harry, you’re bleeding a little.”

“It’s nothing.”

Draco pulled himself up, leaning on his arms. “It’s hardly my fault, I didn’t know you were sitting this-“

“Shit, Malfoy. I didn’t ask but it wouldn’t hurt you to apologise sometimes.” Potter groaned as Granger pulled his hands away from his nose, his glasses didn’t look straight either.

He kept his eyes up as he waited for the beta to fix his nose, clenching his jaw when she did, fixing his glasses right after.

“I knew spending time with Malfoy would be painful, but I didn’t mean literally.” Weasley whispered to his sister who sat at his side.

“I didn’t expect…” Draco eyed Granger, looking at Pansy for guidance who gave him a pointed look, then she beckoned at Blaise, who’s expression dared him to say something nasty about the mudblood, that if he did, he would pay. “Uh…. I didn’t kick you on purpose this time.”

“It’s pronounced ‘I’m sorry’ but I know it’s a lot for you.” Potter chuckled through the pain as he checked his now fixed nose with gentle fingers one last time.

Pansy sneered. “That’s not in Draco's dictionary.”

Draco glared at her. “Like you’re any better.”

“Git.”

Potter was staring, Draco corrected his black suit self-consciously. “What are you looking at?”

He nearly purred having the alpha look at him so intently, but it was nerve wracking because Draco knew he didn’t look his best right now, normally he always looked his best.

His nerves were all over the place, he was a mess and all he wanted was tuck his nose in the alpha’s neck so he wouldn’t have to constantly brood or think, he wanted to go to sleep surrounded by the warm smell of apple pie…maybe if they were alone he would, he wouldn’t be able to help himself, even now it was hard.

Undeterred, Potter perked up. “You, if that wasn’t obvious.”

Draco was about to open his mouth to say that he figured as much when there was a hand on his shoulder, putting enough pressure for him to understand the meaning, it was Blaise and he wanted Draco to shut up and not offend his mates’ friends.

“That's enough of a break.”

He grabbed his broom first, waiting for others, Greg and Vincent quickly finished the food they packed for themselves whilst others grabbed their gear.

After grabbing his broom and gloves Potter lingered close, quickly making up his mind and approaching them again.

“Want some friendly competition, Malfoy? We have a snitch.”

Draco pointed at his books to show he was busy, lifting his brows. Although his stomach did a swoop at him inviting him after all that he said when they last talked.

Potter nodded, disappointed. “Uh, okay. You can join us anytime, by the way.”

Draco smirked. “I know I can, I would be a beater, just to throw some balls at you, specifically.”

Chapter Text

After fulfilling all his scholarly duties and personal care each morning needed to take care of hiding his omega scent Draco would attend his classes, after attending his classes he would sporadically sit on the benches with Pansy — and Granger who sat a while away— there he would note down everything he needed to test in foreseeable future, after Quidditch training was done and he had no excuse to stare at Potter he would go to the Room of Requirement and spend the rest of the day and most of the night there, working on the cabinets.

Then, whilst the Gryffindors, Pansy and Blaise were on easter holidays he decided to tell Crabbe and Goyle about his honourable mission, they offered to keep lookouts whilst the rest of the students returned from holidays, his friends were daft so they couldn’t help him in any other way but he still appreciated it, it felt like he wasn’t alone in this anymore and he didn’t have to worry about anyone finding out what he was doing either. 

Now, most days he didn’t even have anything to try out, so he would just be staring at the cabinet, brainstorming how to fix the damn thing.

And he realised that if it was possible then it was near impossible, that the Dark Lord surely didn’t think he would do this, that a schoolboy wouldn’t manage to kill Dumbledore, it was as if he wanted him to fail.

Why was he treated like this? Was it because he was an omega? Or was it because his father disappointed the Dark Lord? Was he assessing his competence or was he punishing his father? 

Everyone praised and uplifted him all his life and now they had turned on him just like that. 

He believed in himself, there was no way he would accept his God fathers help, it would make him weaker in the eyes of the Dark Lord, and if he presented himself as weak then people were going to eat him alive in his own house, not to mention forget getting the Dark Mark… that he had mixed feeling about. 

After all, Potter looked so relieved when he saw he didn’t have one. 

If he had one when the boy checked him… he could clearly imagine the look of disgust and disappointment on the boy’s face, and the longer he stayed away from him the more he had him on his mind. 

He regretted starting anything with Potter, he could have any alpha he picked, and he wanted this one? Ridiculous, it stood against everything he believed, everything he has been taught, it made him physically disgusted with himself just thinking that this could be more than just attraction.

He was surely just going mad doing his task, being holed up in this room, he tried to think of his family, that this was for them and for himself- for his perfect life he always thought he will have, and everything will go back to normal once he completed his task. He no longer thought he was too young to marry, hopefully his mother and father will pick him a mate right after his father leaves Azkaban and he will forget all about his silly Hogwarts mistake. 

The irritable feeling of longing didn’t disparate once everyone returned from the holidays. Draco attended every Quidditch training Potter played with the Slytherins, they never spoke with each other again, mainly because whenever someone tried to engage him in a conversation he said he was busy, so they just gave up.

Draco stressed his over-bitten lip twirling his wand around as he sat on the floor in front of the cabinet, reading through some new books he asked Yaxley deliver to him from the Manor while he came to ask Draco how the cabinets were going, he had meetings in Hogshead ever so often still, even when he told them he is struggling and has nothing to pass on to the Dark Lord at the moment, but they still mocked him with their unwanted presence to scare him into being on track.  

Worrying what an alpha who he had no future with thought about him or was doing on top of everything else was not ‘being on track’, pointless.

He shouldn’t care if Potter didn’t want him to be a Death Eater, after all soon the latter will probably be locked in the dungeons or on a run once Dumbledore and the ministry falls. The Dark Lord will soon rule over the British Wizard kind, it was inevitable, being in his close circle was the greatest honour. 

What he should be thinking about is these damn cabinets, nothing else, they were his key to a good future, it was either do this and have a happy pureblood life with a pureblood dashing alpha he and his parents planned he will have or… the grim one Greyback warned him of. 

Yes, he was going to show them, Greyback the Dark Lord and Snape, they would all see he would do what they thought was too hard for him. 

And just in case, he still had Madam Rosemerta Imperiused, and he sent her on a mission to give Slughorn a bottle of poisoned mead as a gift to Dumbledore. He came up with this stupid plan after nights of panicking, so he should have expected something would go seriously wrong. 

And it did, it went so wrong he couldn’t believe it once he found out, Weasley ended up in the hospital wing. 

He could barely look Potter in the eyes when the boy came to tell their group Weasley and him won’t be training with them this week.

Blaise was pretending he was fine, but the rancid stench of a worried alpha was as strong as the one Potter was producing, Draco struggled to swallow the piece of sandwich he was chewing.

Potter explained what exactly happened and if the Weasel haven’t nearly died Draco would find humour in the series of unlikely events that led to it. 

As Potter finished talking, he regarded him with an intense, expectant look. Draco raised his brows at him, but he just looked away. 

Blaise took a moment to process the full story. “There is someone trying to kill the students?” 

“I can’t say much, but we think the two attacks were a mistake.” His tone said enough, he had his suspicions already, Draco kept his eyes on his sandwich. “It was too random; Ron and Katie have nothing to do with each other.”

”I don’t care if it was an accident.” Blaise sounded too calm, even for himself, Merlin, the last thing his crumbling mask of nonchalance and sanity needed was another person out to get him.

His knee began to bounce under the table to release some stress, he put a hand over it to make it stop, this was overwhelming.  

He pulled his chair out slowly, he couldn’t stay here, he found out Weasley wasn’t dying slowly in the hospital wing, now he needed to think about everything by himself, he needed some time to calm down. 

“Malfoy, are you okay?” Potter asked slowly, but it felt like he was putting him on the spot, Draco looked up at him and stopped in his tracks.

“Yes.” He looked down at his sandwich, sitting back down, feeling that if he tried to leave now, he would just be followed and confronted.   

The boy was silent for a moment. “You sure?”

“Better than Weasley, that’s for sure.” He managed, biting the inside of his cheek, the two were making him feel worse, he couldn’t simply give up, he had to find a way to kill Dumbledore or else he and his family would be in trouble, he already had things to worry about, he didn’t need to feel this guilty on top of everything else.

Draco missed what the two alphas said to each other but once he came back to it Zabini was already collecting his things and leaving in the direction of the exit.

Potter lingered. 

“What is it?” Pansy grumbled.

The alpha cleared his throat. “Malfoy, I want to speak with you.” He ignored the girl.

“Potter.” Pansy started, shaking her head. “We all know that Blaise and Weasley are courting and all, but we don’t really want to hang with you.” She gestured to them both, Crabbe and Goyle.

Potter snarled suddenly, slamming his hands down on the table as he leaned closer to them, making Pansy flinch away and Draco go completely still even if it wasn’t directed at him. Surprisingly, Crabbe and Goyle- their usual bodyguards ignored it. “Was I speaking with you? I don’t like you either, say one more thing, see how that turns out for you. You both want to watch your mouth around me today.”

Pansy’s eyes went wide, she looked over at Draco to whisper. “Did you hear what he said to me? He threatened me.” He nodded stiffly. “Well, tell him something.” She mumbled; through he was sure Potter could hear her seeing how he was standing right in front of them. 

“Please.” Potter stressed to him, leaning even closer, Draco’s breath hitched at how close they were, his eyes first landing on the latter’s lips before flickering up to give him proper attention. “I need to talk with you.” 

Pansy clicked her tongue. “Um? You’re bothering us? I will call for Professor-“ 

“No, no I will go, it’s fine.” He exhaled, it felt like if he didn’t go with Potter now, he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. He stood up and turned to look down at Pansy. “Just this once.” 

The girl nodded, tilting her head, weirded out that he was going anywhere alone with his number one nemesis. “Okay? I will be waiting in the common room.” 

“Lead the way.” 

Potter nodded, his shoulders dropping, like he didn’t expect him to agree at the end, Draco knew that he was being stupid right now for entertaining this when he should have just told him to bugger off. “Thank you.”

Draco exhaled, he was such a sucker, just the alpha relaxing slightly made him feel better as well. “Just go.” 

They didn’t go anywhere, they only managed to turn around and found Severus standing in front of them. Immediately, Draco straightened up, trying to look non conspicuous as the Professors eyes skimmed over their enemy first and then landed on him intently, how could things get worse than this? Severus was a loyal servant of the Dark Lord keeping an eye on him and here Draco was going somewhere with Harry Potter right after the accident with the mead.

“Well. Well. Well.” The beta drawled slowly. “A dispute in the middle of the hall? This will not do.” 

“We just wanted to talk.” Potter explained briefly, trying his best to be polite to him but dismiss him quickly, he tried to walk past Snape only for the man to stop him with his own body, standing in his way.

The man’s eyes snapped to look at him, again. “Talk? You just wanted to talk?” He repeated, Potter nodded, Draco shrugged. “Do you call intimidation a talk? Or do you truly think that everyone- even those who despise you want to spend time with you?” He paused. “Although I did notice that you are spending a dreadfully long time being friendly together on the Quidditch pitch these days, it had me wondering why.” 

Draco frowned in suspicion, surely, he was telling this specifically to warn him that he noticed, he saw him spend time with their enemies and he could tell on him.

“I would think that you both have… more pressing matters to take care of.” 

“I didn’t intimidate anyone.” Potter ground out. “I said please and then I said thank you, right, Malfoy?” He looked at him for help getting out of this expectantly.

“Yes-“ 

Severus stopped him from continuing with pointed tutting and shaking of the head.

“I always disliked your kind, Potter. All of you think you can order people around however you want, cocky attention grabbers. Thinking you can coerce other students-“

“Sounds like you had a horrible experience with an Alpha.” Potter tried to make his voice sound sympathetic, but his lips quirked up in supressed smugness. “But that wasn’t me.” 

Snape stared at the latter in silence, Draco suspected his God Father was once again talking mainly about Potter’s father. “You will listen to me and not threaten my students.”

“If he didn’t want to go, he wouldn’t go, I doubt just anybody can tell Malfoy what to do.”

“The things is, Potter. That you’re an alpha.” 

Potter rolled his eyes. “And he is just a beta, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t make him do anything.” Potter looked at him again so he would say something.

Draco cleared his throat, weighing his words. “I’m not feeling threatened.”  

“Then why are you willing to go anywhere with Potter?” Draco stared, taken aback by the daring question and couldn’t provide him with any appropriate answer that wouldn’t get him in trouble with either of them. Both of them waited for an answer. 

“Just…” He hesitated.

”Right.” Severus dropped it for now, turning back to the Gryffindor student. “In your current emotional state, I deem you unfit to have a private chat with one of my students.”

Potters jaw clenched; Draco had the crazy idea to kiss it better so he would relax, he didn’t follow up on it, luckily. “You can’t do that, I’m fine, I can talk to whoever I want.” 

“Not quite.” He pressed, eyes back on Draco again, the man stayed silent for a moment, looking in between them, calculating. “I could have you two talk with each other, but only under my supervision.” 

“No.” They both rushed to say at the same time. 

“Forget it, I’m bored of this already.” Draco lifted his nose in the air.

Potter gave him a look. “I still need to talk with you.” 

Draco rolled his eyes, it wasn’t possible anymore, and Severus interfering was for the best, he wasn’t just a beta so who knew what he would end up saying under pressure, the man probably figured as much. 

Severus tutted again. “Have you not heard what I said, Potter? There will be no one-on-one chatting in your emotional state.” 

“I’m not emotional, just worried about the safety of my friends.” 

“As an Alpha you will always be irrationally emotional, leave protection and safety of the students to me.” Snape countered dismissively. “Now, Mr. Malfoy, I will have a word with you.” 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Severus jumped to conclusions, saying he was either conspiring with Potter against their Lord, that he was going to tell him his mission or that the two of them were sneaking around sleeping together- as members of the opposite second gender would, naturally. 

This resulted in Draco adamantly denying the claims- after which Snape tried to use Legilimency on him, making Draco’s head pound at how much mental strain he had to put to keep the skilled man out of his shameful memories. 

Snape told him that if at any point he wanted to conspire against the Dark Lord or defect he should to tell him first- that he must, but there were several reasons why he would never do that, it was never a possibility. 

First and foremost, Severus would rat him out to their Lord, he was surely testing him by questioning his loyalty. 

Secondly, he never considered defecting from the Dark Lord before and he didn’t see how he ever could, he was convinced the man was going to be victorious any day now, it would be foolish of him to defect even if he wanted to.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Potter found him on his way to The Room of Requirement right after Severus and him parted ways, in fact, he was just right around the corner, Draco could scent him before he saw him, but there was no point in hiding from him, Potter somehow always knew where he was at all times except when he was holed up in The Room of Requirement.

”I thought he would never leave you alone.” Potter said as he matched his step, Draco wasn’t sure where to go now, because he couldn’t guide the boy to the room with him.

Potter peered at him, waiting for an answer but Draco stayed stoically impassive. “What were you two talking about for a full hour?” 

“Why would you think I would tell you this time around?” He was feeling better now after his talk with Severus, his mind was a bit clearer, more on track. The man could tell his suspicions to the Dark Lord, he had to remember to be more careful not to be seen one-on-one with the Gryffindor.

“It was still worth a try.” A pause. “I know you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing, I heard you talk with Crabbe that something is taking you longer than it was supposed to, you said that to me too. Do the right thing for once and tell me.”

Draco paused when they were a sufficient distance from Severus and turned to face him. “I didn’t poison Weasley and technically, Slughorn was the one to give your friend poison.” 

Potter watched him, Draco avoided his eyes, his focus fell to the latter’s lips, he was worrying his lips recently, they were chapped and a nice shade of dark pink. 

“Stop it with stupid word games, I know you’re lying.” 

Draco frowned, flickering his eyes back up. “I’m not lying.” 

“I don’t believe you.” 

“If you won’t believe anything I say, then why bother asking? Seems very pointless.” 

Potter groaned. “Because I want you to tell me the truth, fuck, Malfoy.” 

“I didn’t do it!” He hissed. “Do you not have other things to do than obsessing over this?” 

This seemed to shut the brunet up as he recoiled, eyes widening like it was the first time he realised he was letting this bother him way too much. Potter bit his lip, scoffing. “I’m not- I’m not obsessing over you-“ Draco never said the boy was obsessing over him specifically. “I don’t even know why I’ve been trying to help you, you’re obviously just a rotten asshole, aren’t you? I don’t know why I ever thought any different.“

”I don’t know why you would either, seeing how I never tried being nice.”

“You can be really good for me, when you want me.” He corrected, Draco was taken aback by the words, shutting up instantaneously, feeling warm all over. “Tell me what you’re doing.” 

Draco stared; his heart was beating so fast. “I’m not… I’m not a murderer.” He never wanted to kill anybody, first he thought it was what he must do to get what he wanted and that killing someone would be easy, now he felt like he had no choice, not for glory but for survival. “I’m not evil.”

“Now you have a chance to prove it.” Potter pressed. 

Draco wanted to mock him because it wasn’t as simple.

“I didn’t do anything, besides, professor prohibited me from speaking with you anymore, so…”

”What? He can’t do that, he is just a professor, he can’t tell you who you can talk with.” He sounded bewildered.

“He can, he is my God father, and he doesn’t like you, if you haven’t noticed.” 

Potter’s eyes got even larger. “What?” He repeated, shaking his head, then his eyes widened. ”So, if you were doing something dangerous or putting others in danger, he would know? He would be in on it? I knew it-” 

He groaned; the latter was relentless. “Potter.” He warned.

The boy clicked his tongue. “If I find out that it was you…” He sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Draco nodded stiffly, once the boy finds out it was him it will all be over, surely, he was going to finish his task soon and whatever this is would be over. The alphas scent went rancid momentarily. “I don’t even think you’re evil, I think you are so far up your own ass you can’t see reason."

“I didn’t-“ 

“Stop it Malfoy, I don’t believe you.” 

He ducked his head, he didn't need to prove anything here. 

“Well then continuing this conversation would be as pointless as having it in the first place, I have to return to more pressing matters.” He gently shouldered past and left. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco didn’t have time to see Quidditch matches, even the Gryffindor ones he so wanted to see, so he was taken off loop when one morning he found time to eat dinner only to hear from Pansy that Potter sustained a serious head injury from a bludger just hours before and was laying in the hospital wing. 

His stomach dropped and he no longer felt hungry, he stayed silent, eyes wide as Pansy waited for a reaction from him.

“Uh… good.” He managed, going for a dismissive tone as he reached for some more food at random, pretending he was unaffected. “Someone finally knocked some sense into his head.”  

“Yes, it feels like he just can’t help but get injured.”

“He is so dumb.” Draco agreed in a mumble, he needed to know more but the girl was giving him a weird look that he didn’t like because he didn’t know what it meant.

“Hm, do you want to know how he is doing?”

Draco huffed and puffed, rolling his eyes. “Knowing his popularity, I will not be able to escape the ‘is Harry Potter okay’ gossip anyway.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “But go on…” He paused, swallowing. “He isn’t dying, is he?” He had to ask, he needed to know if he was okay.

She watched him with a raised brow for a moment longer before dropping it and shaking her head. “I actually have no idea, it only just happened, no news of him getting better.”

Draco scowled, then why was she offering information? That nasty witch. “Knowing his luck, he is perfectly fine already.”

She shrugged. “Dunno, I heard his head was in bad shape, and the fall was nasty.”

He sighed, his throat went dry, cold shivers went down his spine and he felt great anxiety for no other reason that needing to make sure that the Alpha will be okay, this was getting ridiculous. “Pansy, please stop talking, I have a lot to handle, and I don’t need to hear about problems that don’t concern me.”

“I thought that since we spend more time with them, you're an omega, you know, he always sits next to you on the benches after practice- " Really? Draco didn't even notice that, but now that she pointed it out, she was right, Potter did always claim the spot next to him. "-and you’ve been fine talking to him in private-“

“Like I said, maybe you should stop thinking and coming to conclusions?” He stood up, not feeling like eating anymore, Severus was keeping a closer eye on him already because he thought he had something inappropriate going on with Potter, and now Pansy was getting ideas.

“Fine, whatever. No need to get defensive, I only implied something because before you would never-“

“Shut it.” He warned her, interrupting her because he knew that whatever she wanted to say was off limits to talk or think about too much. “Remember who I am and then who he is, think a little before you insult me, Pansy.”

The girl’s shoulders slumped. “Right.” She sighed, shaking her head. “For a moment I really thought that you and Potter- but you’re right, it was stupid. I mean, you would be risking everything.” She chuckled. “Your parents would cut your allowance for at least a year.” She laughed more openly now.

He frowned. “Right. I have to leave now.”

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

He managed half-an hour without any news on Potters wellbeing before he found himself in front of the Hospital Wing, that time he gave up, now he was few hours in, back in front of the Hospital Wing entrance.

He can just pretend to be injured or sick and check on him… well, he was sick- sick with worry.  

“All right.” He squared up a bit, standing straighter to find the courage to enter the Hospital Wing, he grabbed the handle and was just about to come inside. He held the handle for a moment before letting go of it. “What am I doing?” He whispered, stomach twisting. 

“Malfoy?” Came the voice of Hermione Granger from his side, he jumped in his spot- fucking betas and their ability to sneak behind people- and turned to face her.

“Hello.” He uttered in panic, grimacing at the friendly greeting right after. He looked over the girl, she was holding a tray with two steaming soups and some bread, definitely for Potter and Weasley to eat.

Two soups, maybe Potter was at least conscious.

“Fancy seeing you here.” The girl greeted him back, squinting at him. “What are you doing here?”

Draco looked around, then gestured at the door to the Hospital Wing. “I felt quite… sick so I wanted to consult Madam Pomfrey about… an anti-sickness potion.” He already knew such potions and it would be best to consult Severus about a potion instead of the woman, he grimaced again at the weak lie.

Granger lifted a brow. “Oh, okay. Makes sense.” She didn’t sound convinced at all; she adjusted her grip on the tray.

He nodded. “I heard Potter cracked his skull open during today’s match.” He mused innocently, at once she tensed and glared at him. “He just loves getting into trouble, doesn’t he?”

“Don’t block the door, Malfoy.” She ground out, moving closer towards him and the door, trying to balance the tray using one hand as she reached for the handle.

He acted without thinking and put a hand over the handle, preventing her from opening the door.

“Wait- wait a moment.” He hissed, getting in between her and the door. “Please, just- please.”

She looked as surprised as he felt asking her for anything so politely, she took a step back.

“Okay, what is it?”

He clicked his tongue, this was so awkward. “Potter talks about me with you?”

The girl’s wary expression turned even more bitter. “Unfortunately, I’m tired of hearing it.”

He tried to read her expression in silence, to make her spill everything if he stared long enough but he couldn’t crack her. “Anything… he shouldn’t be telling you?”

“I could do without hearing anything about you, so yes.”

Draco was getting really impatient and ticked off. “Bloody hell, Granger. I’m talking about us... well, being intimate with each other.” He sniffed, getting more and more bashful the more he continued with the sentence.

“Yes, he said something about that.” Now her grimace looked nearly disgusted. “He is so stupid, I swear, I told him nothing good will come from it, he knew it too. But no, he is obsessed, I never saw someone behave like that and he doesn’t even like you.”

“Erm-“ This was painful, he didn’t expect a scolding from the mudblood, how dare she be this mean when he was trying to be civil for once? “Aha, right, I want to know if…” He bit his lip, taking a breath in and out, looking away. “If he is- oh damn it.” He scowled, putting a hand over his temples. “If he is okay, I need to know if he is okay.”

He stared at her with bated breath, her eyes went huge as she assessed his words.

“I-uh.” She looked around, as if she was looking for help, like he managed to say something she wasn’t ready for and now she had no clue how to react. “No, I- I won’t tell you anything, leave Harry alone, don’t egg him on.” She once again tried to go past him, this time she shouldered him, spilling some soup and she still didn’t manage to push him away from the door.

“I don’t want anything from him.” Draco countered hurriedly before someone would see the commotion and help her, because he was blocking the only entrance to the hospital wing. She didn’t understand, he was going to have a panic attack thinking and not knowing if Potter was okay for much longer. “Please, I only want to know if he is okay.”

“How about- I don’t know, you ask him yourself?”

“I don’t want to give him funny ideas.“

“You’re giving me funny ideas.” She glared at him. “What do you want then?”

He shrugged. “Nothing.” Just to know if he was healing already.

The only thing he wanted was for him to be okay. He couldn’t tell her it was because he was a weak-minded omega who apparently couldn’t bare the thought of Potter being hurt.

“Then leave.”

He shook his head. “Granger, I can’t.” He said slowly. “I can’t leave without you telling me how he is, I can’t.”

She watched him for a moment, frowning. “He is conscious, though he is probably sleeping.”

Draco nodded, a weight instantaneously lifting off his shoulders, his mind clearing up a bit, not enough to dawn on him how he was outing himself openly caring for Potter in front of his friend just yet. “Okay, thank you.” And he scowled again, thanking Granger felt wrong.

“Yes, but he needs to rest, I don’t want to see you near him until he feels fine.”

Draco bit his lip to prevent any sort of insult coming out, that was for trying to be nice. “I got what I wanted, might as well leave.” 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco was cornered by the source of his worries under the room of requirement a week later.

He just managed to exit after a long day of working on the cabinets- he was finally getting somewhere - when he was promptly pushed back into the room by Potter, but the room was completely different, and Draco nearly got a whiplash when he was spun and pushed against the door.

Potter pushed him up the door, grabbing under his thighs to hold him up, groaning into his neck where he pressed his face to lick, Draco lifted his brows, calming down momentarily when he realised it was Potter who ambushed him, he wrapped his legs around the latter’s hips on instinct.

He smirked, words could not explain how happy he was to see the boy all well again, he avoided the Hospital Wing at all costs in case he got caught by any of Potters fans.

“How long have you been standing there? I see you're feeling-“ He began but froze when it hit him— the smell of an alpha’s rut. “Oh, hell.” He wasn’t sure what to do when the boy started grinding against him, that combined with everything made his brain turn into mush. “Fuck.” He whimpered, feeling his cock get hard against his zipper. 

This was so unbelievably bad, he reached a hand to cover his nose, keening at how fast he got hard. 

“Malfoy, all this time you’ve been here.” Potter groaned, face hidden in the Slytherins neck, and he was licking and nibbling even if he couldn’t smell anything there— out of pure instinct caused by his rut. “I was sure you’ve been up to something bad.” 

Draco’s eyes fled over the room in panic to see if the cabinet was anywhere in sight, but all this room had was a mattress with loads of pillows and blankets- like a nest. Draco felt his body heat at the implication, apparently riding Potters rut out here for days together was what they really needed right now.

“No, you— idiot, what are you doing out on your rut?” Draco asked while the latter kept grinding their crotches together deliciously slow and hard, he grit his teeth, still a moan escaped past them. “You will get us in t-trouble.” He stuttered when the boy pressed his hard bulge against him and pulled away from his neck. 

"It's fine, you're a beta." He reassured, sweat was glistering all over his heated skin, fluffy hair the usual mess, eyes swirled red, fangs seemed more sharper than normal, and he clenched his jaw as he peered at him through half lidded eyes, still grinding against his willing body.

Draco stared in awe, transfixed at how beautiful the alpha looked. 

Potter squeezed his eyes shut, releasing a long groan when he rubbed against him in just the right way- harsh but he would take it anyway Potter wanted him to take it with pleasure. 

It was scary how much he missed this closeness. 

“I went to sleep really pissed off because-“ Potter grit his teeth, grunting. “Because Kreacher and Dobby said you’ve been bringing different students here.” Draco’s eyes widened. “And I-“ 

The students he was ‘bringing’ here were Greg and Vincent for lookout. Where the bloody hell was his lookout now? Did Vincent just let him through because they played Quidditch together? Apparently, Potter was best buds with his friends now and they held no secrets.

“You made who follow me?”

Draco quickly grew angry, he was being stalked, he knew it.

“Kreacher and Dobby, one was yours? House elves.”

“You had your house elves follow me?” He snarled. “Is that how you always know where I am?”

“No.”

Draco scowled, there was no way he wasn’t lying to him. “Let me down.” 

“Malfoy, I needed to know, feels like… it feels like all I’m able to think about is you.” Potter admitted in a hushed mumble, like he didn’t want to admit it out loud, like he was ashamed of it. 

“Let me down.” He demanded, unwrapping his legs to try and find his footing, flailing them around when he couldn’t quite manage. “Now, Potter! Let go of me!”

Potter smelled apologetic as he unwillingly followed on his demands, but when Draco tried to put distance between them Potter grabbed his wrists and pressed his weight against him, holding him against the door face to face, wrists pinned next to his head.

“Let me talk, baby.” He growled in warning, right against Draco’s ear, making him go as stiff as his dick already was, he squinted his eyes closed when the brunet nuzzled the ticklish area behind his ear, rumbling satisfied at their closeness and lack of resistance from the blonde. 

And they were so close, chest pressing flush against chest, hip to hip, so Draco had no way of struggling away under the heavier weight pressing him to the wood. “I had to know if you’re in trouble, I had to make sure you’re safe.” 

“Uh…” Draco wanted to say that he didn’t care about his stupid overprotective alpha instincts and that he was weak for not being able to control his urges, but he would be a hypocrite because he was the same just a few days ago, going crazy over the possibility of the alpha being in any pain, even now his legs went weak when Potter sucked a mark right under his ear, his omega instincts making him unable to stop this. Potter snook a strong thigh in between his thighs, rubbing his cock through his uncomfortable pants, Draco’s whole body jerked at the sudden contact, and he let out a muffled, breathy sound that managed to escape through his tightly pressed lips. “Potter, you are in rut.” He tried to keep his voice steady, he was on so many suppressants he shouldn’t have a problem resisting this. 

The label said he shouldn’t have a problem, in theory, in practice it appeared to be a load of bullshit. 

“Yeah, so what? I want to spend it with you.” He murmured, sticking his nose against where Draco’s scent gland was. Salazar damn him, he couldn’t say stuff like that, Draco moaned. “I want to fuck you so bad.” His voice was low with a hitch at the end, he sounded desperate for a fuck all right.

“You don’t know what you’re saying…” 

“I know, it’s stupid but I want you. Been thinking about it for weeks, you cocky tease.” Draco didn’t remember doing anything out of the ordinary. “Every time you made me mad, or when you kicked me in the face I wanted to fucking- mess you up.” 

The only thing holding Draco up was the latter's hold on his wrists and the solid thigh pressing against him, he cried, his cock painfully squeezed in his underwear, it would feel much better without them. “Merlin-“ 

“I wanted to bend you over and shut you up, you’re only nice on my cock.”

Draco chuckled breathlessly, rutting against the leg in between his thigh slowly. “Yeah?

Potter smirked just slightly- sharp fangs and all- eyes red, looking quite out of it, rambling. “Mhm, feels like every time you say something nasty, I should stuff your mouth, save everyone from having to listen to your stupid bullshit. You need someone to shut you up, bet you would like it too, you always do.” He rambled. 

His retort died on his lips when Potter pressed his own plush ones against his, licking into his mouth and he let him in, parting his lips, whimpering around the soft tongue as he reciprocated the kiss, leaning into it.

Potter let go of his wrists, one hand going to tangle in his locks, taking them into his fist while the other went under his sweater, up and down his side, over the dip of his waist and up to his ribs and back down to squeeze his hip. 

“But-“ Potter murmured into the kiss. “I will take anything over the silent treatment.” 

Draco gasped into the alphas mouth when the hand encouraged him to rut against his thigh faster, and he obliged, panting in breathless hitches against the brunet’s lips as he sped up, now unabashedly humping the latter’s leg like he was the one in rut in need of release. 

”P-Potter-“ He warned in a whisper, the boy pulled away to watch him rut against him in anticipation, eyes hungry, Draco’s hips stuttered, he put the palm of his hand against his lips and nose to stop inhaling so many pheromones, it was no use anymore, but it helped stifle a high pitched, undignified noise of pleasure he couldn’t help but let out. “I want my pants off.” He said, Potter groaned in annoyance and murmured a spell to vanish the offending piece of clothing away, Draco gasped, left only in his underwear in seconds. “What-“ 

“I didn’t know I could do that.” Apparently, Potter could do wand-less magic if it meant getting his dick inside him faster.

Draco grabbed Potters arm, clutching his Gryffindor jumper, the other he still had pressed against his lips. “Very impressive, for a half-blood.”

Potter groaned, rolling his eyes. “I can’t with you.”

“Likewise.”

"You're so stupid, you know that?" 

Draco's breath stuttered as he tried to snicker. "Not as stupid as you." 

Potter smirked and leaned close. “Don’t run away.” His tone hushed as he slowly went lower down Draco’s neck, just leaving little pecks, strangely soft for an alpha in rut.

But the hand he had on his hip guided him to grind against him harder now, impatiently. 

At the mention of running away, Draco was reminded that this was dangerous, and he should definitely break this up, otherwise he won’t be able to leave later and possibly risk breaking his cover as a beta. 

“Still, we shouldn’t… um-” He tried, losing track of what he was about to say for a moment of weakness, he was about to come and that seemed more important right now- he had to remind himself this could only end badly.

Draco’s hands made a move to Potter’s shoulders to push him away, but he growled, quickly grabbing his wrists and pining them again. “Don’t go.” He repeated. 

“No, really. Because of your rut, this time we really— really can’t-“ Draco forced out, throwing his head back when the alpha continued to pleasure him with his thigh, and he let out a long moan as he came, riding his orgasm out with the help from the latter's relentless leg moving against his crotch. 

Well— Potter was still at the start of his rut, probably just feeling horny. He could still think, and Draco was nearly a beta right now, that hopefully helped them both keep their wits with them. “Okay, but just for a while.” 

“Yes, yes Draco.” His chest rumbled pleasantly. “Stay with me, baby.” He let go of his wrists and Draco slumped against him in his post-nut daze, exposing more of his neck for him to explore. 

Salazar help him through this, Potter was adorable, how could he not stay a little longer?

Chapter Text

This didn't have to turn ugly. If Draco stayed of sound mind and kept in mind he had to leave at the right time, his cover would not be broken and nothing bad would come out of it. And c'mon, he deserved this after months of being tolerable to Granger and Weasley and working his arse off for his Lord.

He snuck a hand to cup Potters hard bulge, squeezing it gently and rubbing through the pesky material separating his hand and the alphas perfect cock, earning a groan against his neck and Draco wished the latter wasn’t so glued to him right now, so he could see his face while he enjoyed himself.

The latter's dick was already at full hardness, long and heavy in Draco's hand, straining to escape the tight confines of his questionable muggle attire. He threw his head back, the dirtiest of sounds leaving past his clenched teeth in a low groan, Draco swallowed, frowning as he watched him, feeling so stupidly happy with himself like he couldn't for months- months of failure and figuring out he wasn't as smart, talented or appreciated as he thought he was. And now apparently, he stooped so low making Harry Potter come made him happy with himself - because he was the one to touch and pleasure him.

Ew, he was like Harry Potter's fans. Staying in the Room of Requirement and stressing made him mad, there was no other explanation for these troubling, endearing thoughts to be crossing his mind. 

The scowl only deepened when Potter caught his eye and his heart rate sped up. The alpha frowned before gripping his jaw, bringing him closer. Draco allowed him to leave a chaste kiss on his lips, breathing shakily and closing his eyes when Potter pecked his temple gently, trying to keep himself in check.

"Stop frowning."

"I know, it leaves wrinkles." Draco agreed, sometimes he just couldn't help himself no matter how many times his father told him to stop having such animated expressions, it wasn't proper, an eye roll there, a scowl here and a sneer there... good that he was rich and anti wrinkle creams existed because he couldn't help making very expressive faces.

Potter snorted breathlessly, his nose ghosting the omegas cheek, he was scenting him, but all that did was make Draco sick, because it all felt too good, and it’s been months.

"No, you look like all you can think about is how much you hate me."

Draco bit his lip, lowering his head to make Potter stop scenting him in such a soft way, he turned his head to the side, that only made the latter latch back onto his neck, he groaned helplessly, fidgeting to subtly make him stop because getting aroused so early after having an orgasm was definitely unhealthy even for an omega.

"Something like that." If he replaced the word 'hate' with the word 'fancy' then Potter was close. "Because we hate each other." Potter only hummed against his skin. "Potter?" He wanted the boy to agree with him, Potter hummed again, Draco worried the inside of his cheek and squeezed the alphas dick to make him come back to it, Potter gasped and bit him on the neck gently.

"Relax." Was all he said, rutting faster against him.

"I am relaxed, don’t try to bite me, you dog." Potter was silent for a second, distracted with using his hand to pleasure himself, and then he nipped him again, a bit harder just to be a little shit, Draco winced and covered the spot with his free hand. “Have you heard me? You never behave.”

“You might not like me, but down there you’re always happy to see me.”

His lips twitched in a smile at the lame line. “Ha ha, you’re annoying.” He hissed, not wanting to bring the ego of the Boy Who Lived up and panicked right after when Potter unglued himself from him, thinking he might have actually wanted reassurance he wasn’t willing to give. "Potter-"

Draco instinctively tried to close the distance between them, stopped by the alphas hand on his shoulder, Potter peered at him with a little tilt of his head, his hand moving from his shoulder up to his neck, against his scent gland first, dipping under the hem of his turtle neck, rolling it low before his fingers momentarily wrapped around his neck, it was a gentle caress really, and Draco swallowed when he realised he was being directly scented, trying not to be too happy about it because he will have to scrub it off later as soon as he leaves.

His eyes wide he stayed completely stiff under the alphas strong gaze. "I want you to call me-"

"Alpha." Draco quickly corrected, because there was no way he would forget, even if it was months since the last time. The latter's eyes flashed as he nodded his approval.

"Yeah." He put some pressure where his hand still caressed Draco's neck, enough for the blonde to understand and drop to his knees, opening his mouth invitingly when Potter pulled his cock out of his pants and pressed the tip against Draco’s plush lips.

He moaned around the head, relaxing when Potter put a hand in his hair to be the one who sets the pace, but he only held his head in place.

Draco sucked the head while Potter used his other hand to jerk himself off quickly, and with a few pumps he was coming into his willing mouth.

Draco fluttered his eyes shut, frowning in concentration not to choke, hissing when he was pulled off- yanked back really, moaning he looked up at Potter, scowling at the rough treatment.

"Shit, don’t-" Potter must have not registered his accusatory look or he simply didn't care, instead he cleared his throat, panting. "don't swallow, did you swallow?" The omega raised his brows at him, he opened his mouth to show he still had it all, Potter groaned, eyes flashing. "Fuck, look at you, Malfoy. I want you to finger yourself, c'mon, wanna see you." 

Draco hummed, yeah he could do that, how could he not when Potter looked at him like that, he drooled over his hand, most of it went where it was supposed to but some of the sticky liquid went down his chin.

Potter kneeled in front of him and pushed him back, down on the ground, Draco snuck a hand under his already sticky underwear and stuck two slicked fingers into his hole, leaning back on his hand and spreading his thighs wider to push his fingers in deeper.

Disgruntled, the alpha rushed to help him out of his underwear, so he could watch.

Growing impatient with just watching just moments later, he leaned in and pulled the hem of Draco's black turtleneck up his chest.

"Hold it."

Draco's hand automatically went to hold his sweater so Potter could freely latch onto one of his pink nipples, sucking on it and licking at the hard nub, Draco cried, flopping back to lay on the floor, Potter following him without stopping licking at his nipple.

Potter lifted his bottom of the floor and he spread his legs to accommodate him between them, rubbing against him without much thought that Draco was fingering himself. 

His cock twitched as it spluttered cum on his stomach. He panted, the second orgasm so sudden it took him by surprise, he just came for the second time already.

And he hardly doubted this would end anytime soon.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Did alphas have a refractory period whilst in rut? Surely there had to be one at some point. Draco was sure Potter came two (or three) times already, it was a bit terrifying- and incredibly hot, he didn't know they could go this many times in a row. 

He hissed, clenching around the latter's cock when the alphas hold on his hips tightened to pull his bum up higher. They were still on the floor, but this time he was on all fours with the latter behind him and he had a hard time staying in one spot when Potter pounded into him relentlessly.

Draco reached a hand towards the door to brace himself. Hiding his face in his arm, he closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath, they were both panting and he didn't remember when was the last time Potter said anything- let alone a full sentence, he had the passing thought that being here with an alpha who was slowly losing his right mind because of insatiable arousal was not his brightest moment, but a pleasant one indeed.

Potter was now barely responsive- as anyone would be during their rut, gradually full sentences changed into words, now he was mostly just panting, growling and moaning.

So was he, to be fair.

But he understood why Omegas synched or forced heats when their alphas were in rut, because it was tiring.

He bit his lip when he felt tension in his private area, he was nearing another orgasm and he sobbed in overstimulation, his cock dripping pre-come from the tip slowly.

"Alpha- alpha," Draco gasped, voice high pitched and tired, losing his train of coherent thoughts.

"Yes, baby?" Potter managed, sounding way more wrecked than Draco somehow while he still managed to thrust him against a wall energetically. Draco sucked in air, feeling like it was continuously pushed out of him.

His stomach tensed. "Harder." Shit, this was not what he wanted to say, he wanted to ask for a break, he adjusted his position, his knees were slipping, sore and red from the hard ground. "M'about to come."

Potter growled into his ear, doing exactly that as he pressed his weight against him, Draco whimpered at the constant assault against his prostate, losing his balance, he folded his arms to lay on the floor, hiding his face and presenting his ass higher for the boy behind him.

His thighs trembled and his stomach twisted uncomfortably, he came under himself again, he bit his lip, at once feeling overwhelmed with the alpha still chasing his own orgasm inside him even if he craved having all that Potter spilled inside him. It surely had something to do with the breeding aspect of his omega nature.

Warm substance trickled down his perineum and cock when Potter stilled deep inside him, coming again but Draco was so full some come escaped as the alpha thrusted into him.

He breathed, moaning long and biting on his bottom lip not to curse when Potter grabbed his arm to pull him off the floor, grabbing his arms he started to thrust into him relentlessly again, angling him just right.

Draco whined helplessly, his spent cock coming back to life as his sensitive prostate was abused yet again and he inhaled the smell of an alpha in rut- no bloody way.

"Oh Merlin, alpha-" He hissed out, but he didn't get a reply, he hung his head low, but Potter was holding him in place, and he could not move any further away. Potter pulled out, only to pull him back onto his cock, and it went deep. "Harry!" He cried.

The latter stilled inside him, but only for a moment as he resumed his movement, this time rutting into him slowly. "What is it?"

What is it?

The only way Draco could be able to aid Potter with his rut would be if he was in heat, and he took too many suppressants to be forced into heat, he was seriously wondering if he could last till the end of the day. He was going to end up in the Hospital Wing and the reason will be too much good sex, Potters rut would be more manageable if Draco didn't come every ten minutes.

He whined. “It feels good but-”

“Yeah?” Potter brought him closer with one arm, cupping his jaw with the other to turn his face for a snog, trying to distract him from adding any 'but's'.

“Yes.” Draco hummed against the latter's lips. “But I need a break. I'm a beta-“

“One more time.” Potter rushed to assure him, but he didn't feel reassured because Potter already said something along the lines an hour ago, he huffed when he was grabbed by his arms again, Potter rocked him back and forth on his cock, Draco's eyes nearly rolled back into his skull.

Merlin, fine- one more time.

He felt Potters lips on his nape, nearly giving him a panic attack, he shrugged the latter's mouth away with his shoulder, yanking his arm until the boy let go of it.

“Don’t bite me.” He hissed, covering his neck with a hand so Potter wouldn’t be able to bite.

“It’s fine, you're a beta.” Potter wanted to move his hand away, so he took his wrist, Draco resisted the pull. “You scared?"

"No." 

"C'mon." 

“No, Potter.” He snapped, glaring back at him.

“Why not?”

“Because I said so and I will hex you if you don’t do as I say.”

The brunet tsked at his snappy tone. “You’re insufferable, don’t know why I like you.” He bit out, before Draco could react to what was said he was promptly let go of, he moaned when the alpha pressed his weight against him, trying to stay on his knees for him but it was getting harder.

He could feel the latter’s breath on the back of his hand. The boy rested his forehead there and stilled.

“Take your hand away.” He asked again, sounding impatient, nearly pleading. “I won’t bite you I-“

“No.” Draco refused, even if he didn’t bite him if he kept licking or rubbing he would get rid of his scent blockers and then he would really go into alpha rut frenzy. 

Potter growled in annoyance, grabbing Draco’s hips tight, his other hand travelled from the omega’s wrist, up his arm to his neck and chest, then stomach, he touched so much skin as he went down to grasp Draco’s hard cock and he arched into the touch, it burned, tingling pleasantly everywhere the Alpha's hand touched.

“A-alpha.” He cried, his free hand travelled down to clutch Potters forearm- the one that was holding his hip in a bruising grip, he hoped it will bruise, it would be nice to have some marks left so he could remember the latter’s touch at least for a few days. “A-ah, I won’t- last.” He hissed.

“Fuck, you’re squeezing me so tight,” Potter rumbled. “come for me, baby.”

Draco cried as he came into the latter’s hand. Tired and with his knees aching from kneeling on the ground so long- as he expected Potter was suffering the same, Draco buckled down onto the wooden floor, ass off the floor enough for Potters hand to squeeze under him, still working his spent cock.

Potter nuzzled his hand, the one still on protecting his nape, Draco gasped when he felt sharp teeth on the back of his hand and before he could react Potter was biting down and into the flesh.

Tremors went through his spine, pain shooting down his arm as the alpha's sharp fangs penetrated the thin layer of skin there, biting deep, maybe even into the little bones in his hand, he whimpered, then hissed when the latter only bit harder, thrusting into him so fast Draco laid down on the floor completely. He saw stars, the bite so close to his neck it was as if Potter was claiming him there as his mate. It was a placebo, but it made him come again despite the pain, breath stuttering when Potter pulled his teeth out and began licking his hurt hand.

He didn’t even realise the alpha came at some point too.

"You..." Draco started, still out of it, his hand was still being licked to soothe the pain.

“Fuck, I’m sorry...” Potter pulled out, Draco blinked the wetness and daze out of his eyes, pulling the bleeding hand away from his own nape and in front of himself to see the damage.

Potter moved off him for the promised break, they both sat down, Draco stared at the damage to his hand. There was a raw, already red rimmed deep bite mark on his hand, neat in the middle. Even moving his fingers and wrist hurt, Draco moved his digits to see if Potter crushed any bones, but he could still move all five of his fingers, it felt sore, sharp pain coming with the throbs. It was red and he was sure that if he left it to heal on its own it would swell or even get an infection, the latter’s sharp teeth dug deep, too deep for this area, he could have taken a chuck of his hand off if he was just slightly more enthusiastic, it wasn’t a bonding mark, it was in the wrong place. The wound was gushing copious amounts of deep red blood onto his sickly pale skin, the contrast made the whole thing look even more gory and drastic.

“Shit, don’t shout. I know I messed up I-“

“Potter, do be quiet for a moment.” Draco admonished weakly, voice hoarse, turning around he picked his wand up from his discarded robe and healed the wound with a basic healing charm twice until it was properly healed, with Potter looming around to see if Draco could fix his mistake.

His flesh sealed, it didn’t hurt anymore but it left a bite shaped silvery scar, it was still reddened where his skin met the scar tissue and it stood out, it was nearly like a proper bonding mark, just not where it was supposed to be to have any effect.

He pressed his lips together, he would have so much explaining to his future mate and his parents when they see it.

Right now, though, the bite mark was neat and perfect, it made his omega feel good. He couldn’t even be angry that the boy nearly bonded with him without permission.

“Draco-“

“Potter, this isn’t fair,” Draco started, looking at him, Potter nodded, looking wary, as if he thought that a nasty outburst was coming.

“I’m sorry, this was an accident. I don’t know what got into me…” He sighed, wiping some sweat of his face. “I mean, I know- but still, I didn’t want to hurt you.“ 

Draco scooted closer to him and took a hold of Potters left hand, bringing it closer to himself unsurely, Potter let him, though he was watching him with a confused frown on his face. This was a stupid and petty idea, but Draco wasn’t going to let anyone bite him without fair consequences, that was what it was about, of course.

Draco gave him one last look before biting down on the flesh in the exact same spot, as hard as he could to leave a mark to match.

The brunet hissed but didn’t pull away, staying still and good that he did because if he yanked it now there would have been serious damage.

He could feel the flesh breaking and blood filling his mouth, he didn’t have to wonder if it caused pain because Draco knew it did, he just had it done to him.

He pressed harder to make sure it would scar; his fangs weren’t as sharp or long as the alphas, but he would be damned if he didn’t try to make the bite stand out more than his own- even if it definitely would against the latter’s sun-kissed complexion.

Draco pulled away and licked over the spot to make it hurt less, his eyes flickering to meet Potter's reaction.

Potter's eyes were dark and dilated, and he was breathing heavy, his cock was hard again. The scent of his rut intensified, it made Draco moan against his hand, he pulled away, licking his lips and quickly used his wand to heal the damaged skin, when it was done Draco presented the bite to him, waiting for his reaction. Potter looked over the bite mark on his hand, as expected the scarring stood out magnificently against his beautiful tan skin, whilst his was silvery white, Potter's mark appeared golden. Draco was quite proud of the damage his little fangs did to produce such a good bite.

The alpha didn’t say anything, he just swallowed before lunging at him and kissing him deep, Draco allowed himself to kiss back, frowning when he pulled him close enough to have his erection pressing heavy on his stomach.

He bit down on the latter's lip, instead of pulling away Potter moaned, kissing him more feverishly, Draco rolled his eyes. He lifted a hand, covering Potter's mouth.

"Hey, where is my break?" He asked accusingly, he bit his lip on a second thought. “I should leave now; I can’t help you with your rut, unfortunately.” And it was unfortunate, but after what just happened it would be a big mistake.

“It will be fine-“

“No, it won’t be.”

“Why?” The alpha rumbled low, frustrated, taking a hold of Draco's arm to stand with him.

Once they were up, Potter let go of him and backed over to the thick mattress the room provided, he flopped down on the edge of it. Draco stared as the boy ran a hand through his hair, releasing a heated huff before his eyes skimmed Draco up and down. Instead of saying anything, he pulled his jumper over his head, his chest was heaving up and down, skin sweaty. "So hot." He mumbled.

Draco fidgeted, eyes wide, it was very hot; the room and Potter both, how was it possible his cock was still responding to this? He was not in heat.

Potter offered his hand, eyes intense, voice low, a rumble. "Come, baby." Draco couldn't help but frown again. "Relax, it's okay."

"You don't understand." He snapped, he was scared because he knew he was going to stay and that it was a mistake because he really didn't want anything from Potter, mating or having anything to do with filthy half-bloods or mud bloods was unacceptable, it still didn't sit right with him, wouldn't sit right with his family, something could happen on accident, hell, it nearly just happened. "Don't bite me, if you do I will...I will hex you so bad..." He tried.

The alphas eyes were darker now. "Come here." It was more urgent this time around, but it wasn't a demand- he pleaded, his cock was laying heavy on his stomach. "Fuck, I need you, take everything off." He growled, low and long, putting a hand on his own dick to pleasure himself, giving it a rub, all while staring at him.

Draco whimpered, relenting again, how was he supposed to resist when Potter was using the right words on his ego and telling him that he needed him? With one swift motion he took his black sweater off, that left him completely naked in front of the latter for the first time.

He wasn't timid, he knew Potter couldn't find anyone prettier than him to shag with even if he let himself go the past few months, so he put his hand in Potters offered one and climbed to hover above Potters lap, the latter's eyes scanned his naked body in appreciative silence before glancing into his eyes, Draco leaned in slowly to peck his lips, in a second there was a hand in his locks bringing him closer and he parted his lips willingly for Potter to lick into his mouth.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco fell back on the soft cushions, panting, he just exhausted the last of his energy to ride Potter Merlin knows which time and he was going to be a pillow princess for the next few hours, no way he was going to be of any help anymore, Potter could do whatever he wanted if it didn't require him moving a finger until he took a nap.

Potter pulled out and grabbed him under his thighs, spreading them wide, looking down at his hole in satisfaction, his eyes were red, and he rumbled pleasantly.

"You're so wet down there." He elaborated on his thoughts, Draco was too busy catching his breath to respond in any way, he covered his eyes with his forearm whilst wiping his face, he was so sweaty... the packaging of his scent-blockers said they were waterproof and could last 48 hours at the very least, so he still had plenty of time. He was wet down there no doubt- he felt soiled, really, wet everywhere. Potter spread his soft hole open with a finger, and he felt even more cum gushing out of him, they both released a noise of pleasure. "Like an omega."

Draco chuckled breathlessly at the irony behind the comparison, his suppressants were really something else, he thought he would be in heat by now,  but he didn't feel any such heat. But he felt dizzy, and he was staring to get stomach cramps, but that was probably because of the activities he and Potter were performing for the past few hours with little to no breaks.

They were fucking like bloody rabbits, and he wasn't even in heat, if he wasn't flushed he would have reddened at the thought, it was so disgraceful and didn't agree with his morals. But there was nowhere he rather be right now.

Potter moved his forearm away from his face whilst still holding one of his legs, the other dropped limply, spread for the alpha to fit in between.

Draco released a soft noise when he entered him again, but he didn't thrust, just stayed there, looking down at him, they were both breathing deeply, Draco was having a break, Potter somehow had one too- he was very slow and lazy with his barely-there thrusts.

They were just taking each other in- really taking each other in without arguing or stolen glances, somehow no matter how long he looked at Potter- and he spent years staring at him, he was still unsettled with how beautiful the alpha was, he was never a sore on the eyes, but now he found him incredibly attractive.

"I think I'm starting to fancy you." Potter whispered out of nowhere, Draco startled, eyes wide. He was in rut, that’s why he said that Draco rolled his hips down, grabbing under his knees to pull his legs spread open. He was about to say something when Potter groaned at the view. “No, I love you.”

"Stop talking nonsense Potter, just- fuck me and then I have to leave." He reminded them both, suddenly feeling like he could think straighter having the latter throw such words at him.

The alpha growled, pushing deep into him as if to punish him for his words, Draco nearly slid of the bed at the force behind it, he threw his head back. "You aren't leaving,"  He growled, trapping him under him, hands caging his head. "Don't leave."

"No." Draco argued weakly, covering his neck when Potter leaned in, earning a frustrated snarl.

"You never listen." He emphasized his reprimanding words with hard thrusts, he wasn't even pulling out of him anymore. "You need to stay here with me."

Draco could barely concentrate on what the alpha was saying, too overwhelmed, he let go of his legs, keeping them spread and clutched at him to not get pushed of the covers of the bed.

"I need to keep you safe."

Draco huffed, not managing a snarky laugh. Potter must have been confused, as long as he did what he was told being under the protection and in the Dark Lords good graces was the safest place one could be when the man was about to come back to power, it was Potter who was in danger.

“Yes? How?” He decided to entertain this, not quite managing long sentence's anymore either.

Potter grunted, somehow managing to speed up, like he wanted to fuck Draco into staying with him. “All you need to do is stay with me, stop whatever you’re doing.”

“I’m not-“ He tried to excuse himself but shut up when Potter snarled in his face.

“You need to stop lying.” He growled, his movement stuttered, erratic, he would come soon, Draco moaned, he couldn’t look away from the alphas red eyes. “And I will defeat Voldemort-“ Potter moaned, Draco clenched around him, his stomach churned, feeling another orgasm coming, somehow the blind confidence- even though the words weren't true, even if it was because of his rut was very arousing.

But he couldn’t have anyone talking badly of the Dark Lord in his presence, what if someone reads his memories?

“Stop talking and come.” His fingers were going to leave marks on Potters arm's with how hard he was holding onto him.

“Stay with me.” He panted, Draco's cock was bouncing against his cum covered stomach with every harsh move, he whimpered. “You will be safe.” Potter repeated.

“I-I am safe.” He argued, but it wasn’t true, not until he fixed the cabinets, not until he completely fucked Potter over.

“No.” He growled harshly, it was exasperated and then his movement halted, and he came inside him again, though Draco felt it gushing out of him, he winced, not happy about it. “Don’t go, not now.” Instead of taking a moment to regroup, Potter resumed his movements, Draco bit his lip, his head going fuzzy, his stomach clenched and hurt.

“You don't understand.”

“No you don't understand, you need to stay with me, Draco.” He bit out, Draco realised then than the boy was still hard, and he was swelling inside him- he was popping a knot.

That was it, he was just an omega, a knot and all that Potter was saying made him reach his breaking point.

“Fuck, alpha, please. Are you going to knot me?” Draco wrapped a hand around his angry pink cock with renewed vigour, hissing because the oversensitivity at the initial stoke nearly made him black out. Potter was going to knot him and it was going to be amazing like the last time, his mind blanked. “Gonna fill me up with your cum?”

Potter held him by the hips, manhandling him on his cock. He came when the alphas knot popped in him, linking them together, but his spent cock just dripped helplessly onto his sticky stomach, feeling more warm liquid inside him, his stomach throbbed.

“Alpha, come here,” He reached a hand and when Potter did as he was told the omega put a hand on his nape and yanked him in for a kiss.

They snogged for a while, Potter pulled him up into his lap and rested his back against the headboard at some point, without any of them trying to detach from each other they stayed connected for far longer, the latter’s eyes were still red as they pulled away from the kiss.

“Now you can’t leave.”

Draco tucked his nose in the crook of the boy’s neck to rest. “I can’t, good job, Potter.” He popped the ‘p’ with a bit less vigour than normal and wrapped his arms around the boy’s middle.

“And after you won’t either.” The alpha rushed to add. 

Potters cock was hard inside him and pressed deep, Draco’s stomach throbbed again, but he thought he was just uncomfortable in the position, ignoring it to catch a break instead.

He hummed, trying to relax.

They rested in a somehow comfortable silence, but Draco’s stomach churned, his head was dizzy, and he had a very uneasy feeling.

Was it because this wasn’t right?

“Potter.” He started, the boy hummed, Draco looked up to see him watching him intently already. “What…” He prepared himself to ask, suddenly feeling sick. “If you’re going to… defeat the Dark Lord.” It was wrong to speak about this, even more so hoping Potter had a good plan. What was he doing? “How are you going to do it?” He whispered.

Potter opened his mouth to speak, then his eyes widened, and he closed them, shaking his head. “I- can’t tell you.” Draco frowned, disappointed and somehow… let down. “Because… you know why.”

Draco looked away, right, because he was a follower of the Dark Lord, and he could tell, Potter was right. Why would he think he would ever tell him, he couldn’t tell him anything for the exact same reasons.

He wanted the alpha to trust him with this, to think good of him, not doubt him, because he wanted to know if the boy was going to be safe. But as a royal servant Draco would be putting himself in an uncomfortable position between endangering Potter and betraying his family and the Dark Lord by keeping away information.

Potter shouldn’t put himself in danger all the time, he was either too stupid or too cocky to realise there was just no way he could win, he wasn’t going to win.

"You should leave the country before-" He swallowed, feeling terrible and it was escalating. "before it's too late, you need to worry about yourself."

He felt sick and weak.

To the point it was unsettling, his stomach cramped again, and he clenched, doubling over in pain.

The alpha hissed in unison with him, for different reasons. “Merlin, Malfoy.” His hands hovered over the Slytherin, but it was Draco who grabbed him first, and clutched when the pain didn’t subside. “Stop- is everything okay?” He realised something is wrong when Draco moaned in pain.

Every muscle in Draco's abdomen clenched, he gasped through his teeth, he had no idea what was wrong himself.

”I don’t feel well.” He explained, trying to play it cool as much as he could, breathing through it when the cramp subsided, although his stomach still ached, and his head pounded. “I need a moment.”

Potter nodded, helping him off. “Are you in pain? Did I do something?” He asked, Draco shook his head, but he wasn’t sure.

After the cramp the pain was manageable, a dull throb. Draco tried to get off the boy to lay down next to him, but he felt horribly dizzy, so he stilled, trying to regain his balance.

Potter was saying something and holding his jaw so he would look at him with a supporting arm wrapped loosely around him, but he was very blurry. “What? Calm down, Potter. I just need a moment.” He explained, though the only reason he said that was to not seem weak in front of him, he felt very out of it. He was saying something again and if Draco squinted and listened closely, he could hear him saying his name and see the worried look of confusion on his face.

He lifted himself up again, trying to roll off him but that’s where everything went black.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco felt someone gently and repeatedly slap his cheek, he squinted at the light in the room, his head and vision buzzing, he was laying on his back, sprawled out under covers on the bed. He blinked his eyes open, confused as he pulled the light cover higher over his naked chest. Potter was blurry, but he was next to him tapping his cheek.

“Oh, you’re awake.” His whole body relaxed, though he looked crazed out as his hands fretted over his heated face. “Thank Merlin.”

It was horribly hot in this room now, and he was all wet.

His stomach cramped again, and he rolled to his side doubling in on himself and whimpering.

“What’s wrong? C’mon tell me, Malfoy,” Potter moved his hair out of his face, his touch was burning against his skin and Draco scowled, hiding his face in the pillow, his insides hurt, his stomach hurt, he cried, he was in so much pain- he was never really in pain before, this was terrifying.  “c’mon baby, what’s wrong?”

If not for the pain… the wetness and the heat, the dizziness, it felt like when he used to have heats.

He whimpered, it couldn’t be it, because this pain made him feel like he was about to have his organs spill out of him.

Potter guided his face up to look at him, tapping his cheek gently again to make him come to. ”Look at me, what hurts?”

Everything- he wanted to curse. Relaxing slightly only for another cramp to come in. “Everything," He managed to hiss out, slapping Potter's hands away from his face, because the touch was burning and irritating. "down there."

The alpha's eyes widened when he heard he was hurting 'down there', thinking he was injured. "I need to get someone.”

“No! No one can know. ” Draco bit out, the pain was overwhelming but no one could know he was having sex with the Boy Who Lived, somehow it would reach Severus and then the Dark Lord would find out. “Just give me a moment.”

“Shut up, okay?” Potter rushed for his pants to find his wand, he dressed them both, the shock must have brought him out of his rut, meanwhile Draco could barely register what was going on. Well, at least no one was going to find him here naked, if Potter was any smarter, he would have cleaned him as well to save him the shame.

He curled in on himself, the clothes felt uncomfortable, on top of the pain he was also getting stupidly distressed that Potter was leaving. He knew the alpha wasn’t in bed with him anymore, he was going to leave him. He whimpered, wrapping his arms around his stomach.

”Potter, don’t do it.” He whispered, trying to lift himself up, Potter snarled as an alpha would to make their omega stop struggling and then Potter pushed him back down by his shoulders, not hardly but with enough force to hold him down for a moment, until he calms down. “Harry, stay with me.” He tried again, taking the latter’s hand and tugging him back into bed. “Don’t leave me.” He pleaded, panicking.

The latter's eyes were wide. “Draco, I think I hurt you, you’re a beta and I... I don't even remember half of it.“

Draco cursed, whining right after to cut him off. He let go of Potters hand to wrap it around himself again, turning away.

“I will come back with help.”

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

A week, a week of mostly blinding pain it took for Draco to come back to his senses enough for Severus to explain to him what was going on with his body, Severus had to have a specialist omega healer come to check what exactly was wrong, who supplied that Draco's body was trying to force itself into heat but the suppressants he was taking were fighting against it and that's why he was in so much pain.

Severus never lost control of his temper, but this might have been the closest he got to it, Draco wasn't sure if the man was more upset because he was indirectly going against their Lord or if he was disgusted with his choice and attraction towards Potter because of his grudge against his father.

Severus didn't care about his wellbeing, because after not respecting his privacy and using Legilimency on Potter and him whilst he was unable to defend himself he found everything out and threatened to letter his mother. All because he was weak enough to continue this absurd, inappropriate relationship with Potter.

Draco sat on the bed, still sweaty and rumbled after a week of whirling around in the bedsheets, practically feeling like he had to force his guts to stay inside his body with a high fever throughout. He was trying not to cry while reading a letter from his clueless mother, she was sick with worry thinking Draco injured himself while trying to complete his task, suggesting that he ought to ask his Godfather for help with it, he pointedly ignored Severus glaring down upon him.

He never had his parents disappointed with him, he didn't want his mother to be in trouble because of him, Severus couldn’t tell anyone. 

He put the letter away, then looked down at his shaking, unnaturally pale hands, on his right he had a bite mark scar, quickly he remembered how he got it, and it made him feel sick.

Sick because he liked the scar, because he was happy he had it.

"I'm sorry, I should have never let anything happen," He croaked, looking up at Severus, but the man had an impassive, calculating expression on his face, too overwhelmed, Draco looked back down at his hands, he wondered if the rest of his appearance looked as sickly as his skin. He worried the inside of his mouth, there was no point in pretending to be proud when he felt anything but. "I'm sorry, I know this was wrong." He hoped Severus understood that by 'this' he meant everything to do with Potter. "I will not get distracted just..." He sighed, wanting to scream. "just please, I beg you, don't tell the Dark Lord, my family can't pay for my mistake," His voice cracked, he looked away, fighting not to cry. "I need another chance."

Severus was silent until Draco dared look at him.

"In hard times we are forced to choose..." He began in his usual monotone drawl, but his tone was patient. "what we are willing to lose for the ones we love."

"Anything, I will do anything for my family." He sounded too sure for someone who had no idea how to repair the cabinets.

Severus watched him, again, and for some reason Draco had a feeling Severus wasn't talking about his family but Potter. 

"You need to make a choice-" Draco winced, this was the second time Severus asked him of that, like he had a choice in the first place.

"There is only one right choice, and it's the one I always wanted." He bit out, trying to sound sure, he made his choice before this school year, he was set on his goals, ready to give anything- even his humanity if it meant reaching his and his family's goals, being in the Dark Lord's closest circle was the biggest honour- always. He looked over at his Godfather, and stood up, his legs were weak, but if he fell it would be that much easier to beg. "You have to believe me, I never thought of betraying our Lord." 

"I did see that the first times you and Potter were... intimate with each other he had to physically restrain you." 

Draco's eyes widened. "I would never let an alpha do that to me if I didn't want it." He had to say it, he was too proud to let Severus think any Alpha could touch him without permission without consequences, Greyback caught him off guard that one time, Draco's hexes were far superior to muscles. 

Severus raised a brow. "Was it your weak omega nature then?" 

He lowered his head. "Yes..." He cleared his throat, feeling humiliated because all his weak omega nature wanted was the boy he couldn't want. "I don't doubt our goal, I need another chance, please."

Severus sighed, and for a second it sounded like he was disappointed with his choice, but that couldn't be true. He turned to the bedside table full of potions that he prepared for him to help him through the pain. "Our Lord, he said he will kill you if you don't hurry, he wanted you to be aware he is running out of patience for your ineptitude."

Draco's eyes widened, kill? He will kill him. But he was a pureblood omega, he was worth something in their society, he could not be discarded like the mudbloods and half-bloods. "What?"

"Leave now, your time is running out, I will tell Potter to leave you alone."

Chapter Text

It was the morning after Draco was released from Severus's bed-arrest and some things changed while he was out cold for a week. 

Draco was trying to stay sane knowing he had but weeks left before the Dark Lord disposes of him should he keep failing with his task, Goyle and Crabbe no longer played Quidditch with Potter, mainly because their fathers forbidden it as well when they heard from Snape that their sons were affiliating with enemy, nothing changed for Pansy, she never cared about the trio so not having to be around them anymore was ideal for her. 

Seeing how Blaise's family was of Italian and Kenyan Pureblood descent, they weren't affiliated with the Dark Lord and he said he doesn't care, that he can just escape abroad if push comes to shove and he wasn't going to stop talking to Weasley just because he could potentially be trying to interfere with the Dark Lord's raise to power.

Blaise wasn't sure if Weasley was conspiring against their Lord, because the omega refused to share any of their plans with the Slytherin alpha, Blaise understood why he wasn't being trusted, and he hardly cared, he was hoping Weasley didn't have a plan, that if a war really broke out he wouldn't take part in it and maybe he could take him to Italy with himself if need be. Draco doubted that Weasley would agree, seeing as his whole family and friends would be left still in danger, being a stupid Gryffindor, he would probably rather get captured with his family than go with Blaise and be safe for the duration of the war.  

Blaise came to stand next to him and their group in line to their first lesson. "He wants to talk with you." He leaned in to whisper to him.

He thought that will be the case, at least Potter didn't approach him himself yet, Draco was petrified of a confrontation with Potter, of the chance of Severus seeing them together. Draco groaned, trying to concentrate on running over his notes, even when standing in the line he was trying to read over every note and spell he used on the cabinets up to date, he knew that somewhere in his notes he would find the key to success.  "Did you tell him I don't want to talk?" 

Blaise nodded, looking mildly curious. "Yes, he said he wants to hear it from you. What is it about? I didn't know you two were on speaking terms."

Draco bit his lip, were they ever on speaking terms? They shagged with each other before quite often before Draco broke things off, and with time they started exchanging words after sex, brief words like 'see you' or 'tomorrow at the same time', that's about it, they were never on speaking terms.  

"Nothing happened." 

Blaise hummed. "Whatever happened, and I don't want to guess anything inappropriate, but he is... quiet, he was always on the quiet side, but it was different." 

"Why would anything inappropriate have to happen? Because I am an omega?" He snapped, scowling at the brunet. "If you didn't notice, all my friends except Pansy are alpha's and somehow, I find you all just as unappealing as ever." 

Blaise tilted his head to the side. "I wasn't trying to say that, and I didn't mean sex, though I can understand why you would think so. I meant, in our circles acquainting yourself with a half-blood alpha is considered inappropriate in general,"

"How about you tell me something I don't know or forever keep your silence?"

Blaise gave him a look at his rudeness, Draco usually tried to keep good relationships with others from upper status but his patience was running thin when it came to everything, he just could not believe the Dark Lord thought so little of him to threaten his life, this resulted in him being very snappy. "...Not to mention you hated each other, I wouldn't think you two would have anything to say to each other, except if your relationship drastically changed." 

Draco scowled. "Mind your own business, all right? Your omega is going to go to a war he will lose." He jabbed, he wasn't going to be the only one under attack. "Your omega isn't listening to you, maybe you should start worrying he will die or worse, be captured and used for unsightly purposes." 

"Worry about yourself, you look like you could use plenty of help with something." Blaise ground out, Draco dared him to growl at him with a glare, but at the end the alpha looked away, jaw set. "He isn't mine, his parents don't know I exist and he never agreed to mate with me, not right now so it's not my place to tell him what he can and can't do, that's not how it's supposed to work." 

"Aha, right." Draco didn't believe that, there was no way any alpha would let their omega stupidly jump into a battlefield with no prospect of winning, and Blaise knew The Dark Lord will be victorious. 

"That doesn't mean I won't highly encourage him to reconsider." 

"Thinking things through isn't Weasley's strong suit." Draco mocked, smirking, but Blaise just looked away to stare at Weasley, who was standing at the end of the line to their Defence Against the Dark Art Class with his Gryffindor friends, Draco avoided looking, because he didn't want to catch Potter's eye, he was going to avoid talking to him no matter what, he wasn't sure if he was mentally strong enough to lie and tell him to leave him alone, not anymore. Draco could die if Potter won't listen, for Salazar's sake. 

If Draco somehow survives this, he will have to have his mother check him for any curses, what were the chances of his whole life going to ruin in just under one year? 

"He knows what I want, if he thinks of me as I think of him, he will want to listen to my advice, not because I forced him to, but because he knows I need him to be safe." Blaise murmured.

They both startled, whipping their heads to the beginning of the line when Severus opened the door to the classroom and demanded them all inside.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco could tell Potter was coming by his scent first, and he braced himself for it. 

"Hey, Draco!" Oh Salazar, so now he called him by his first name in public? Pansy, Greg and Vincent whipped their heads in the direction of the alpha when they heard him use Draco's first name as well, Draco following suit hesitantly. 

They all stopped walking so Potter could catch up, when he did, he turned to him, expression troubled. 

"Are you okay? I was worried, they didn't allow me anywhere near you." Potter asked, and Pansy exchanged a bewildered look with him, she even opened her mouth to speak, but Draco silenced her with a hand. 

"Shut up Pansy, not a word." He knew she would  make a stupid comment, then he looked at Potter, trying to seem clueless. "What the hell, Potter. What do you want?" 

The boy scanned him up and down, most likely for any sign of pain, Draco stood a bit straighter under his eyes. "I needed to know if you're feeling okay now, and what happened, if it was something I did, Snape didn't want to tell me anything." 

Draco's gaze fleeted over his friends, they were looking between each other, but otherwise stayed quiet. "As you can clearly see I am fine. There isn't a need for you to come and bother me." 

Potter frowned at his dismissing tone and the look on all of their faces. "Good, can I talk with you, alone?" 

"No." He quickly declined, no way, never again.

"Is it because of Snape? He told me I'm not allowed to speak to you for both of our good, but I can't just leave it like this, not after what happened between us, it... it meant something- it meant a lot to me. I will tell you everything, just please, hear me out."

Draco grimaced, petrified by the sincerity of the words. "What do you think you are saying? No-"

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, I was in rut, but I know that's no excuse because I should have um- took suppressants on time, I forgot, I had so much going on, seriously. I wish I just listened to you, I guess that's what you meant when you kept telling me you're a beta." He spoke so fast, like he knew that in any second he could get interrupted or dismissed, it was a desperate attempt at any conversation, and he was absolutely oversharing in public right now, but it was Draco who said he didn't want to talk in private. 

His friends heard this, and he knew that even Greg; as daft as he is would have figured out what went on between him and Potter. "No, I just don't want anything to do with you, it's my choice." 

Potter's expression fell. "Don't say that, not again. This time you acted... different, I thought-" He nearly whined in desperation to get something out of him, but bit his lip in the end, Draco stared helplessly, for a lack of anything good to say. "At least tell me if what happened was my fault." Technically it was, because Potter should have taken his suppressants, he only had to take some twice a year, but he didn't, what if he stumbled upon some omega on his way to Draco?

Ugh, great, he tried not to feel jealous, Potter finding a new source to obsess over would be good for both of them, the best solution really.

He didn't want Potter to be hurt because of him, because it was making him feel upset as well. "Just... just leave me alone." He whispered, nearly pleading, he couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore. 

Hearing his crushed tone, Pansy gasped and grabbed his arm, pulling him in the opposite direction of the Great Hall. "You heard him, Potter, he doesn't want anything to do with you." She hissed, then beckoned to Greg and Vincent. "We don't want to be disturbed, okay?" The two alphas nodded. 

Potter didn't try to follow him, just watched as he left in silence, and Draco knew he was probably confused and disappointed, no doubt expecting something when they finally saw each other again after his rut. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

"Don't look at me like that." Draco hid his face in his arms, he was sitting on the ground in Pansy's room, knees pulled to his chest to easier hide his flushed face from the shocked girl. He told her everything, there was no point in hiding it now, not after Potter made it quite obvious, he cared for his wellbeing more than a random person would.

She flopped down next to him, her expression looked put off. "Your parents are probably not going to disown you for liking bad blood, but having sex with one just might push them over the edge." 

"They won't find out, Pansy." He groaned. "It was just sex, okay? It wasn't meant to lead anywhere." He bit his lip. "And my parents wouldn't disown me, they love me." Although he couldn't imagine his father taking it well, especially because he was an omega and he was never swayed by impure blood.

She sent him a doubtful look. "I knew it, you know? For weeks, really, since the boys started training together. The way Potter looks at you? Like he wants you all to himself! And the way you look at him, like you long for-"

"Pansy!" He admonished, but his voice was high pitched. 

"What I am trying to say is you messed up big time, I'm just a beta, but I know that it's easy for you weaklings to develop feelings, even when you don't want to, I will never understand it but it's just how it is." 

"I didn't want to." He needed her to understand, she shook her head. 

"I get it." She reassured him. "And now he doesn't want to leave you alone?" 

"No, he did what I asked, for two months, but he was in-" He cleared his throat. "-in rut so... I guess he couldn't help himself and now... I guess he is worried, if he fancies me, he is worried." He tried not to get too embarrassed about what he just said to Pansy, but to talk to someone about Potter instead of keeping it a secret or straight up trying to pretend there was nothing there was making him horribly bashful. 

"It is quite romantic that he was in rut, yet he came to find you whilst still thinking you're just a beta when he could have found himself an omega, granted, there isn't many of them around." Pansy mused. 

Draco snarled, feeling jealousy just at the possibility of Potter spending his rut with someone else. "Of course, he would pick me over any omega, even as a beta, anyone would pick me." He growled. "Potter wouldn't replace me with just anybody." 

His friend's eyes widened. "Wow, jealous much? Yeah, yeah sweetheart, we all know you are a catch."

He shrugged. "I'm not jealous, just saying that I'm the best option so no wonder-"

She laughed and he felt his cheeks colour. "So, what are you going to do now?" 

He shrugged. "Nothing." He ran a hand through his hair, that's what he was doing for the past few months and now, soon it will all be over, after all Potter couldn't join his side.

"But you want him." He sighed, there was nothing he could do.

"Unfortunately, what I need is for my parents to arrange my marriage and fast, before I do something stupid." When failing meant death and succeeding was the only other choice, he already made his choice, he was a coward scared of death. He already hurt so many people, lied to everyone- to Potter, went through the worst school year of his life- hardly sleeping, failing every class to repair the cabinets. He promised his parents he will help them, he promised himself he was going to make Greyback's pack pay, all he had to do was follow The Dark Lord and he will have the life he planned for himself. The life where he made his parents proud, and he had everything he wanted with minimal effort, just like it always used to be. An impure, unruly, emotional alpha and his insanely dangerous problems didn’t belong in his perfect life. "It will be a pureblood, like we talked about, and I won't have to feel bad every time we have sex." 

The girl frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?" 

Draco winced, rolling his eyes. "Uh, well." He shrugged, once again running a hand through his hair, just to have something to do with his hands. "You know...not during, just- after, I felt way too good during to care, that's why after I felt bad, because it was really bloody good, Pansy." He looked at his friend, she was scowling a bit at his unabashed tone, he groaned. "Merlin, having sex with Potter was-"

"All right sweetie, I think you should calm down before you pop a stiff one." She warned him, laughing when he recoiled, realising he was oversharing now as well, he cringed, sitting back in his spot. "Look at you, I mean, you already broke every pureblood rule imaginable, you don't have that much to lose. I guess just do what you want at this point." 

"Right, except I can lose my family, my wealth and oh, my life." He groaned. 

"Just do what Blaise is going to do, run away to your Mansion in France." She shrugged, and Draco knew she was just trying to be helpful, but she wasn't.

"I'm not going to leave my family behind, and they would never just leave... also I do think that being of pure blood makes me better." Draco looked away, down at his hand where the scar left by Potter was disguised under charms. 

"Of course, we are better than them, just look at us, we have everything going for us and they are all about to be dead soon." Pansy gave up with a little huff, and they sat in an uncomfortable silence for quite a bit of time, Draco felt like the girl was judging him, he wouldn't blame her at all, she was still here at least, and that was more than Draco would do if their positions were reversed, Pansy wasn't kind, but she was kinder than he was.

Hell, Potter was right, Draco was such an inconsiderate jerk... and just a tiny bit of a hypocrite, maybe.

Pansy perked up and turned to him excitedly. "Oh! I remembered something! Victor Krum presented last week! As an alpha no less!"

Oh. "Really? I thought he was a beta?" 

"No, he just presented late! He is a pureblood alpha, you used to have a crush on him, he kind of liked you and your parents like him, maybe you should ask them to arrange something? Before you really go for a half-blood, you're too good for that." She sneered. 

"Oh..." He stared, not knowing what to say, at the start of this year this information would have made him all giddy but now it didn't anymore. "Right." He tried to sound enthusiastic, but it didn't work. "I guess he would be a good option." He tried again and they both grimaced at the lack of excitement on his part. 

He couldn't be too discouraged, it would take time till he would want someone else.

"Pansy, I need you to keep Potter away from me, I can't think around him properly, this is going to get me killed if this keeps up."

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Pansy kept her word of keeping Potter away from him, she warned him whenever he was near and they would go somewhere else, Blaise didn't really give a damn about problems that had nothing to do with him and Weasley, so although he was sitting with both the groups to spent time with his omega he didn't try to convince Draco to talk with anybody. 

If Potter was in the same space as him, Draco pretended he didn't exist. He didn't give him a chance to catch him alone anywhere, not wanting to pull Pansy into his mess he took Greg and Vincent to the Room of Requirement with him just to make sure Potter wouldn't catch him on his own again.

And after seeing the lengths to which Draco went to avoid him, Potter never approached him, finally taking the hint, or he was biding time, giving the Slytherin a chance to come to him himself, but Gryffindors weren't known for being patient and Draco expected that between them two cracking, Potter would go first.  

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco rushed to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, struggling to fucking breathe.

Chances were he was going to die, and he was going to die with Potter angry with him, knowing that all Draco told him were lies. Surely, he had no doubts now, not after Draco practically ran away in panic when he saw him talking with Katie Bell, why was she discharged back? If he suffered the kind of curse damage she did he wouldn't dare come back before the culprit was found.

Leaning over the sink just to hold himself on something, he tried to calm his breathing. He looked up at himself, a haunted sight, a shell of the the proud person he once was. He didn't look anything like himself, he didn't feel like himself. He wanted his happy, perfect, easy life back.

No...but he will never have it back, it wouldn't be the same, even if he somehow survived this. Tears fell down his cheeks, wetting his pursued lips, Moaning Myrtle was trying to make him feel better, but it was no use. Indulging in his own misery, really allowing himself to cry for once, only to stop abruptly when he looked up in the mirror- seeing Potter watching him, Draco didn't even scent him around, he was too in his head. 

The first thing he felt was fear because if Severus saw them together, he wasn't going to get anymore chances, then, he felt anger, what would it take for him to leave Draco alone? Here he was following him like a bloody psycho again. 

Maybe he was just looking for someone to blame, deep inside he knew he should only blame himself for the hopeless situation he found himself in, but he was stubbornly proud, and if there existed a reason for his terrible downfall and failure of course it would have been Potter, Potter was ruining his perfect life just by existing.

He probably just wanted to ask why he was crying, to ask if he can help, but Draco was enraged and tried to hex him, somehow it came to blows, he wasn't sure how, because Potter was telling him to calm down throughout but in his panic and anger Draco didn't register it. He only came to when he realised that he shot an unforgivable at the boy, Potter had his wand outstretched first, he would have been the first to throw a spell at him if only he didn't hesitate, so it was Draco's Crucio that ended up hitting him. Draco gasped when the curse exploded against Potter's body in red, he stumbled back under the force of it. Horrified, Draco watched how the curse washed over him.

But Potter wasn't screaming, wasn't on the floor writhing, wasn't in pain, they stared at each other with wide eyes. 

Draco's hand shook uncontrollably around his wand, his body relaxed in relief, and he ended up dropping his wand, gasping and scrambling to pick it up and aim when the boy took a step in his direction.

"Stay there! Stay away from me!" Draco shouted. "How-"

"The curse won't work if you don't mean it." He explained calmly, trying to approach.

"I told you to stay there!" He warned, nearly in a growl, holding his wand tighter, ready to cast again- some kind of binding or tripping jinx that wouldn't cause damage, he didn't want Potter to be in pain. "Stop following me around, take the bloody hint." He snarled, wiping his wet cheeks.

"Draco, listen, I need you to listen." Potter tried, but he stopped in his approach, he was not aiming his wand at him either, he held it limply at his side, other hand palm up to placate him, behaving like he was trying to calm a scared animal. Draco glanced down, Potter still had his bite scar on his hand, it made him so sickeningly happy to see he didn't disguise it in any way, Draco did with his scar, he hid it under constant glamour. Potter never covered his, unabashedly having it on display for anyone to see. And students were guessing, talking of Harry Potter's potential partner. "I know you lied to me about Katie and Ron."

"I did. So what?" He snapped back.

"Yeah, I know the truth now, I knew from the start, but I wanted to believe you, I understand why you did it-" 

"You don't understand, I didn't lie because I was scared, nor because I was forced to." Draco shook his head. "What are you getting at?"

"You can join us." Potter tried again, Draco glared. 

"I don't want to join you." 

"You do-"

"I think I know best what I want." He groaned. "I don't want to die." He added, voice breaking. "Maybe you and your friends are stupid enough for that, but I am not, so-" 

"You won’t. Trust me." He hissed. "None of us go into it thinking we are going to die, we have a plan, we have allies on the... the…" He paused, backtracking quickly, but Draco could guess by the slip what Potter nearly shared with him. "you have to trust me on this one, please. I will tell you everything." 

Draco stared, apparently all it took for Potter to trust him was a good shag. "I don't want to join you, you will lose, why would I want to join you- stay there!" He shouted when Potter tried another step, Draco backed away, his back hit the sink and he realised he was acting a pathetic fool in front of someone who was supposed to be lesser than him. "Last warning, Potter, don't try me." He growled in warning. 

The alpha growled back. "You have to think about this properly."  

He panicked and used a wordless tripping jinx to make Potter fall to the ground with a surprised grunt. "I said no! Who do you think you are, you are forgetting your place!" He raged. 

"Not this pureblood bullshit again, I thought we were past that..." Potter groaned as he went to pick himself up from the ground. Draco quickly used a binding charm to tie the latter's wrists behind his back, Potter fell back on the tiles in an instant. "Really?" He let out an exasperated groan as he tried to break free from the bond, straining to pick himself up ungracefully to kneel. 

Draco tried to ignore than he liked Potter's position now, kneeling in front of him, tied and helpless, wand laying a distance away, rolled away after he dropped it. "What do you think was going to happen after I told you I want nothing to do with you, huh? That you would ask me to join you, and then what? Die together?" 

"I wouldn't let you die." Potter was still trying to get out of the bounds, huffing and puffing, and his shirt was wet from where he fell into a puddle of water, sticking to his skin, Draco could see under it, it was bloody distracting, his glasses were wonky, he wanted to corrected them so bad, he tightened the hold on his wand. "I thought that even though you are scared, if you could find it in yourself to rely on me just a little, I could get you to join us and tell you our plan, okay? That simple." 

"Potter, are you seriously that stupid? Who do you think you are?" He scoffed. "You're just a boy fighting against an immortal being, somehow what you're saying doesn't reassure me one bit." The bravery wasn't even commendable, it was ludicrous. "You have no idea who you're up against, don't make me laugh." He shook his head, taking a step to go around the alpha and leave, Potter realised he was about to leave him, and struggled even harder. 

"It's not just me, Professor Dumbledore, too, but not just him." He hurried to add, Draco scoffed, not even bothering to entertain it, Dumbledore was a dead man walking. "Draco wait! Wait! He is not immortal, Voldemort is not immortal. He is normal like you and me!" Draco paused, looking back at the boy, against his better judgement, he walked back to Potter's side. 

"Why are you lying? It's not going to get you anywhere." 

"Shit, don't leave." The alpha groaned, looking up at him with big eyes, like he needed him to believe him. "I'm not lying, I will tell you everything, you just need to come with me, okay? I’m not supposed to tell you, but there is someone you trust on our side, they can tell you everything if you don’t believe me. Voldemort is not immortal, he was an orphan, he found a way to split his soul into pieces. And he isn't even a pure-blood. He is a half-blood, like me-" Potter paused, startled when Draco laughed under his breath, but the blonde just couldn't take listening to this anymore. 

"That was hilarious. Well, you definitely managed to make my day better, if anything." He chuckled softly down at the brunet.

"Fuck, Draco." Potter deflated. "You don't believe me." He shook his head no, sneering, Potter must have thought him an idiot, thinking he was going to buy this after being told different his whole life, the Dark Lord had the heritage of Salazar Slytherin, even the Dark Arts books and History of Magic told the Dark Lord was a pureblood. "Please, just this once, okay? He is a half-blood." 

"And I am a bloody mudblood. You're really pissing me off now, thinking you can blatantly lie to me, and I will-" 

"I am not lying to you! You stubborn twat," He snarled, lunging towards his discarded wand, he managed to grab it before Draco could react, but he quickly recovered and before Potter could use it he nudged him with his foot with enough force to make the brunet lose his balance and fall back sideways on the wet tiles, he snatched his wand, Potters mad scent was assaulting Draco's nose, nearly making him stumble to the ground as his legs went weak. "You're the bloody liar! All you did was lie to me, every time I genuinely tried to help you, you didn't care, and you even injured Ron." 

"Why would I care about lying to you? I didn't care, obviously, we weren't close. We are not dating, we were just fucking and-" He swallowed, he had to say something that would make Potter give up on him, he thought that the boy finding out he nearly killed his best friend would be sufficient enough, but now all that was left was a bit of a push. "and that's it, did you really think I would ever want to be with someone like you? Face reality, I already told you what I think about you, over and over again." He growled, Potter fell quiet and stopped struggling, and Draco was surprised to find animosity in his eyes that he haven't seen in a while, he scowled, upset. "You and your friends, my beliefs didn't change, even if- even if there was something there and things were different... I still wouldn't be with you." Because his family was more important than Potter, he looked away, he knew that as soon as he left he was going to cry. 

"I didn't ask you to go out with me, but I gave you a chance to be better." 

"No." He managed out, scared if he said more, he was going to crack and burst out crying again. 

"Then, you still want to be my enemy." 

"Yeah, that's how it has to be." He nodded in a whisper, putting his hand over his disguised one, he clenched his jaw. "As always. Now, leave me alone." He tossed Potter's wand towards him, so he could get out of the binds once he is alone and quickly left the room before it could happen. 

He reckoned Potter would never bother trying to reason with him again after this. He did good, he thought he would crack under pressure once Potter finally confronts him, but he managed. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco will never forget the day of Dumbledores death, the look on the old man’s face before he died... He wasn’t scared of death, it was Draco who trembled, he was the murderer and trembled under the steady gaze of his victim. 

And just now he truly realised that even after all he went through, after repairing the cabinets he still couldn't finish his task, he couldn't do it, at the end he was going to die, he really never stood a chance. And standing there, with the older man trying to persuade him to join his side just like Potter did some weeks ago he would have agreed- seeing as this was his only chance to survive now that he was going to fail, but then Severus and other Death Eaters came, and there was no choosing sides now, he was too late. 

Severus had to kill the headmaster for him, he wouldn't have done it. Because of that and his status he didn’t get the Dark Mark and the Dark Lord didn’t praise him or his family, he just let them be… serving and alive, it was more than Draco expected, but he wasn't grateful, because they didn't deserve to die- but then, no one did, really, and plenty of people died because of him, mudbloods were going to die because of his help, he thought of them lesser still, but they didn't deserve to die. 

Draco always got what he wanted, he thought that this time would be the same, that he only needed to work for it the first time in his life but if he put effort then he could have the life he thought he deserved and planned for himself, everything came easy, but was he so delusional he thought killing another would be just as? At the end Severus had to do the job for him, just like everyone always had to. 

After seeing the death of Dumbledore, dead students laying in the corridors of Hogwarts, the destruction of the great hall he realised that now he didn’t even deserve to have a good life- let alone a perfect one. There was no way he was ever going back to Hogwarts after what happened, next year he decided to stay at the Manor with his parents, it was hardly safe in his home, not with so many unhinged criminals around, but still, it was better than facing his friends, the only reason he wasn't ripping his hair out worried they died during the attack was because he ordered an elf to check on their wellbeing after. 

Harry Potter didn’t return to Hogwarts either, for a moment he thought that maybe he would with his stupid Gryffindor bravery, he would go there without thinking to do something stupid, Draco saw how furious he was with Severus, he would have killed him if he was more experienced, if he had the chance, he wondered if Potter was just as mad at him sometimes, but as time went by it didn't matter, Potter was on the run or dead already, when they catch him, he will die. 

He didn’t know that Potter would have to die for the Dark Lord to rise to power, he foolishly believed that the latter would survive this, maybe locked in cells, banished or on the run his whole life but not die. 

Draco didn’t even understand it, to be honest. What do you mean The Dark Lord cannot live until a schoolboy is dead? Potter was just a half-blood, he shouldn't be this important, or this much of a problem to the strongest Wizard that ever lived, fucking pathetic. The whole Death Eater roster was tasked with killing a child. If half-bloods were lesser than them then why was one boy important to this extent? If mudbloods and half-bloods were inferior in every way, then how come they managed to evade them for months? Draco still had to use glamours on the back of his hand so no one would see the bite mark, the scarring didn’t disappear or fade, it got more prominent as time went on. Draco would know, he was staring at it every night, trying to not feel like the biggest arsehole, for everything he did to contribute to the situation the boy was in.

At night he would stare at the bite mark, he would brood and worry throughout the day, he would sit at the dining table at meal times and wonder just how hungry the latter had to be right now, if he had to go days without a proper meal, he dreaded the day when someone announced that Harry Potter was either dead or caught. 

Draco had it so easy, he definitely didn’t win any favours by nearly completing the impossible task, but the Dark Lord praised him to be extremely smart for an omega. He didn’t gift him to any alpha, and stopped bringing his father down because of his failures, they were just here, being treated just as the next person.

The time did come when The Dark Lord demanded his audience and Draco clenched his jaw, kneeling on one knee as the man praised him for being a pureblood omega- saying it was a shame he was the only one because a lot of responsibility would have to lay on his shoulders. Draco wanted to say that there was also Ron Weasley to save his own ass in panic but stopped himself just before he would damn him for the rest of his life. Plus, Potter would have never forgiven him for turning in his best friend, or Blaise, being a pureblood, he would have to come face to face with Blaise at one point. 

The Dark Lord must have appreciated him to some extent because instead of just making someone breed him- although apparently there was a list with an order - he invited a healer over to check on his health. 

The healer checked him in his room and asked many questions about what suppressants he used until now, asking him how he was feeling about the whole situation and such, just in case the healer was on their side he said it was an honour. Luckily the healer announced to the Dark Lord that although he was a perfectly healthy omega the suppressants he was using stopped all omega bodily functions, that because of the high quality of the product combined with a year of using it consistently meant that even if Draco went into heat the upcoming month a pup would not take, that they needed to wait at least three months before even trying. 

But the healer said that he was not allowed to take any form of suppressants so his body could regulate itself and that he should go off scent-blockers to allow his natural omega scent to help him through it, that it was even unhealthy to wear it for as long as he did, his body couldn’t breathe inside or outside. 

So, Draco spent the past two months letting his body start working properly as an omegas body should, he was shared the list of pureblood families he would be helping get some pureblood alpha and omega puppies in. 

He knew most of them, they were all young alphas from pureblood families in the Dark Lords favour- there was even Vincent, Crabbe and Blaise lower on that list and he wondered if they knew about it or if it would have been as much of a shock for them as it was for him when he found out. Well, they were pretty low on the list and with a pup taking nine months to form and at least a few months to feed, so give or take 2 years per pup, he would probably have to breed with Vincent- who was the first out of them on the list... in  six years?

Greybacks threat was becoming a reality he couldn’t escape.

There was no way he was going to be used as a breeding vessel and he regretted all his life choices up until this point as his eyes scanned the names on the list. He wasn't going to have six bloody puppies, let alone spend twelve years breeding, reduced to an incubator, really. 

Besides, it was doubtful he would be a good father, as spoiled as he was, he didn't even learn how to tie his own shoe laces until he was fifteen...or sixteen? Something along those lines, house elves did that for him until they were busy with other guests at the manor.

He had to talk with his mother and father about this, it was either running away or asking one of his alpha friends to bond with him and he wasn’t really interested- he was still picky even if he knew he shouldn't, so he already decided that before the day of his next heat came he would run away, it was just a question of his parents going with him or staying behind and facing the consequences of having an unruly son. 

He got himself a bit of a reputation of a ‘bad omega’ in his own home, like he was just a mere dog, with him spending most of the day avoiding the more daring alphas who liked his scent a bit too much, he was snarling and growling, aggressive, snappy, ready to hex and the only good part about being the only pureblood omega was that he was untouchable outside of his heats, so he wouldn’t damage or spoil. He was able to tell whatever he wanted to anyone and they couldn't do anything to make him pay for it. 

The alpha's would sometimes bring omegas into the manor, the ones they managed to capture, an omega was a rare find and they usually ended up bonded the same day they were captured. He didn’t see them often, they were locked in their captors rooms so no one else could touch them, being bonded and taken by one alpha was better than being gang raped and held in cells, he supposed that's why they all stayed docile, obediently staying in their rooms.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

His mother wanted to leave the manor with him and run, his father was scared of trying and failing. 

His father has grown docile and obedient, too eager to listen to commands, months of Azkaban and being holed up here damaged his psyche. And he was such a strong omega all his life, only to become just another follower in the end. Draco feared that if he stays any longer here his circumstances and what was happening around him was going to get to him too.

Father didn’t want to go with them, not even mother could change his mind, when she tried to make him as his mate he threatened to summon the Dark Lord and tell him about their plans to defect.

It was crazy really, his father was so scared of the possibility of dying he thought there was no other choice for them other than staying, even if Draco ran away and they received punishment, and Draco realised that his father was acting just like him when Potter and Dumbledore offered him their help and despite all the odds he didn't change sides. Father wouldn’t budge and his mother wouldn’t leave without him, the strain on the bond would make both of them weak, if not kill them, so his mother had to stay. 

Not even his father said Draco should stay with them. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco was asked to identify Potter a week before his escape, he froze as he saw the boy being pulled and thrown onto the ground in the middle of the room, right under the chandelier. His whole face was swollen- from a Stinging Jinx for sure, he could tell it was him despite no trace of his scent on his body.  He was using scent blockers to cover his scent right now, and Draco felt warm thinking that maybe it were the same blockers he provided so long ago, that maybe he helped them stay undetected until now. 

Potters eyes landed on him, they widened for a reason Draco wasn’t sure, it was either because he smelled like a full blown omega that was soon to go into heat or it was just a reaction at seeing him so long after he fucked his life up and disappeared. The alpha managed to school his expression and pretend he didn’t know him fast enough. 

After being called over by his mother, Draco quickly strode over there from where he sat on the armchair talking to his father, trying to convince him without much luck that they would be fine if they left, that they didn’t need this house or their money to make it. 

Draco tentatively put himself in front of Potter, keeping distance from Greyback who only moved closer to him, his gaze was cold as he regarded the big alpha mutt. 

“Well, boy?” Greyback rasped. “If someone were to sniff the scent of an alpha out, even disguised, it would be an omega.” He leered at him. “Not much you are good at, could at least help with this.” 

Draco snarled, hating how he always had to point out his second gender, it always rolled off his tongue like an insult. “That’s it from you, you can leave.” He chose to say instead of starting yet another argument with the werewolf, he wasn’t going to let the alpha talk down to him, still, and he waited for the day he would finally repay him for everything. 

“This is my catch.” 

Draco's face scrunched and he showed his fangs. “I can hardly smell anything with the scent of your fucking disgusting piss plaguing my space.” 

Greybacks growl made everyone in the room flinch, Draco ducked his head but pretending to do so to look at Potter instead of to show submission. 

Lucius cleared his throat. “Well, Draco?” His father paced closer to him, only to stop when he realised approaching would mean having to be anywhere near Greyback and the rest of the snatchers, he stopped short, lingering close by but out of reach. “Is it? Is it Harry Potter?” 

Draco stared at the boy who stared right back, somehow Potter looked more composed than him in a situation where his whole life relayed on Draco’s choice right here and now and he didn’t have a good track record of making the right choices, he looked away, throat dry. “I can’t — I can’t be sure.”

His father nearly jumped out of his skin to get to Potter and check him for himself, also guessing it must have been a stinging jinx that hit him. This was really bad, his father was under the impression that if they gave Potter away everything would return back to normal. Draco didn’t believe it, and even if he could have the life he always wanted, he wouldn’t give Potter away to have it…. because right now as he stared at his grossly disfigured face there was nothing he wanted more than to fix this, he wanted to apologise and save him, he needed to get him out of here. 

He just didn’t know what he could do other than pretend this was someone else for now. 

When his father insisted, Draco quickly mumbled that he just didn’t know if it was Potter, that he was wearing scent blockers, and it would take time to completely wash off- if it were the expensive ones. He then quickly ran away to seek protection by his mother to not give under pressure. 

Then they all jumped on the fact the mudblood girl was with the disguised boy- he said he had no idea who she was because he never paid enough attention to mudbloods.

Greyback then grabbed Weasley by the back of his neck and pulled him to stand when Lucius put attention on him. 

“And this Weasley is an omega.” The alpha announced, shaking the dirty ginger as he did, his hand tight around his nape. “Unmarked, untouched… I can smell it easy. He is a pureblooded omega this one.” Greyback loomed over him, shaking him a bit, Weasley stayed completely still, but he looked like the proximity to the alpha would make him faint any second. 

“Did you hear, Draco?” Lucius spoon to face him- to embarrass him no doubt. “He can take on your omega responsibilities! Everything will go back to normal.” He tried to convince him; Draco grimaced. 

Lucius barked at Greyback not to touch the omega with his dirty paws, and then an argument between his father, the snatchers and his aunt ensued. 

The room was in mayhem, his father and his aunt began arguing between each other who should get to summon The Dark Lord, only for Greyback to remind them that they deserved a reward because it was them who caught them. And then they began fighting with each other, Narcissa pulled Draco halfway behind herself as they both watched. 

They behaved like desperate animals fighting for the last piece of meat, it was painful to watch what had become of his family, these people weren’t proud, they were desperate, they were scared of making their master disappointed, this wasn’t what they were promised, he didn’t recognise himself, he didn’t like his father, his aunt wasn’t a great warrior, she was a sadistic psycho.

His aunt quickly dealt with the alpha's from Greyback's pack, the prisoners were taken up the cellar whilst Draco was tasked with throwing Greybacks alpha pack members into the gardens where his aunt was to finish taking care of them, this task did cause him quite a lot satisfaction as the alpha watched him levitate the snatchers and throw them out like rubbish. 

His aunt had him running doing tasks like a house elf while she was busy torturing Granger for information and all he wanted to do was talk to his mother to help them, she was the master of the wards, she needed to bring them down long enough and at the right moment for the trio to apparate out of here.  Or he could do it, he could side-along with them, but he wasn’t sure how fast his father would react to the shifts in the wards, his mother would keep it to herself but his father… He didn’t trust his father to have his back with this one. 

He couldn’t ask his mother now… perhaps later. He could try to side them along; he was sent to the cellar to fetch the goblin anyway so he could possibly tell them about his plan.

“Stand back. Line up against the back wall. Don’t try anything, or I’ll kill you!” He shouted loud enough for his aunt to hear the threat through Grangers screams, he waited for the prisoners in the room to shuffle. He was a bit afraid that they are just going to tackle him and alert the people upstairs, then his plan would have gone to shit. 

He entered the room, seeing that they did follow his demand to not try anything funny and he stepped in, locking the cellar door behind him. 

“Omega.” Potter sounded nearly faint, Draco grimaced, he was already feeling quite heated for his upcoming heat, Potter's presence made it more prominent, he wasn't sure what to expect. 

“A bloody omega.” Weasley repeated, disbelieving. “So, what, are you just following orders now like an obedient little bitch with your omega pureblood ‘responsibilities’? Had any pups yet or just getting ready?” Weasley was livid, trying to ignore the sounds of pain coming from his beta friend upstairs. 

“Shut up Weasley.” Draco barked, shushing him, his nerves couldn’t take a mistake right now, he wasn’t made to save or help people, he was a coward. “If you don’t want to end up like me, I suggest you shut the hell up.” The omega did, Potter seemed too thrown off the loop to speak, but his expression was rather unwelcoming, and when Draco tried to catch his eyes, he looked away. 

“I need to deliver the goblin.” They knew, they heard. Draco was too scared to tell them he wanted to help, the goblin could rat them out or someone could hear. 

“Malfoy.” Ron began once he seized the little goblin by the arm. “We need to get out of here.” He tried slowly, not begging for help and Draco was surprised because he never expected the ginger to ask for his help. 

"You told me you're not evil, once." Potter prompted, he was making it clear Draco knew he was giving him a chance to help them, again. 

This time, he wasn't going to waste it. 

Draco gazed into his eyes, he nodded slowly, intently, his chest beating too hard. His eyes fell on the alphas hand where the bite mark Draco left shined against the sweat of his skin. He would apparate them both out now, his parents be damned. “Granger-“

“We aren’t leaving without her.” The two said at once, Draco sneered, how stupidly brave, and altruistic they might not get another chance. 

“Well, then I wish you luck, you will need it.” He tried to make it sound like a threat, but he spoke slowly and intently, clutching the goblin closer to himself, turned him towards the door and away from the duo. 

He fished the wands belonging to them out of his back pocket and chucked it to them whilst the goblin wasn’t looking. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

No longer than five minutes after leaving the cellar and going for the back garden where the still stupefied members of Greyback's pack laid Dobby- his old house elf scared the living hell out of him and made him stumble down on his ass in front of the creature. 

“Y-you!” He didn’t remember how the house elf was called, but he recognised him. Draco put a hand on his rapidly beating chest, he thought that somehow someone found out about the wands he gave back to their owners and came to punish him. “What are you doing here…” He blinked, then scrambled towards the elf. “No! This is perfect, go and save your master! He is in the cellar.”

Dobby's large eyes turned larger. “Dobby has no master, Dobby is a free elf and he came to save Harry Potter.” 

He rolled his eyes, same thing. “Okay, okay, now go and do so.” 

“Harry Potter asked to help the Draco boy escape too before he rescues them, asked Dobby to give you a choice.” The elf extended his hand towards him.

The omega shivered at the idea of just getting out of here now, surely anywhere else would be better than here, even if he was to be poor and have to fend for himself… he could do it, he didn’t have to serve the people here, at least he would be free to do whatever he wanted, like before this all started. 

“I can apparate out of here whenever I want, I have partial control of the wards, save your friends.” He didn’t want to leave before Potter did, he had to make sure he was safe. 

Dobby nodded, taking his hand away.  “Do you wish to know where Dobby will be taking them?” 

“Yes.” He breathed, shoot, his omega was so excited to get out of here, he could already feel it. 

But before the elf could tell him, screams and the sounds of a fight could be heard from inside. 

Draco was the first to run inside to see the two Gryffindor's fighting against his mother, father, aunt and Greyback. 

He flinched when his aunt started screaming threats on Granger’s life if they didn’t drop their wands. 

Potter and Weasley did. 

“Draco! Pick them up, pick them up!” She screeched, he rushed to do so, cursing as he did because he just risked his life to give them to them and they already messed up because they couldn't wait just a bit longer. He glared at Potter, who’s expression was that of suppressed anger, the alpha looked furious, and Draco realised he was probably angry at him because he gave him another chance by sending Dobby to him and he was still here-betraying the last bit of trust he might have still had for him. 

He returned to his mother with the wands. 

Then the chandelier fell, and Draco had to cover his face when millions of little shards blew all over the room, Potter was in front of him and he stole the wands Draco was holding back, giving him a disappointed look before returning to his friends.

Before they left, his disarmed aunt tried to throw a knife at the group, panicking that she would hit her desired target that he expected to be Harry Potter, Draco pushed her hard, she stumbled to the ground. 

She looked at him with wide, crazy eyes, picking herself up in fury as the group disappeared away. 

“How dare you betray your own family you ungrateful, spoiled, useless child!” She shirked as she advanced at him. “You little blood traitor! You gave them their wands too?!” Draco had no idea where the group apparated to, but it was hardly important, he was sure that if his aunt caught him, he would never have another opportunity for an escape.

He stepped back from the woman, about to spin on his heel and go when there was a little hand grabbing his own and with a snap of the elf’s fingers he was teleported. He landed knees deep in water on the shore of a beach. 

“Ups, Dobby didn’t mean to get Draco wet, terribly sorry.” The elf apologised as he and Draco stepped to dry land, where the rest of the group was waiting for them. The elf didn’t sound sorry, and Draco assumed he did that on purpose to get back on him for everything his family put him through. 

Once Draco was closer to the group his legs gave out under him, he was shaking too much to walk, he spun around to sit and catch his breath. 

The gravity of his choice fell on him, he couldn’t believe he actually defected, he set a date just days from now to escape anyway, but he didn’t think he actually would, it was right before his heat would start and that was on purpose- so he would think only of getting knocked up and stay, he wouldn’t regret it once he had a pup he heard, because then he would want to stay for the well-being of the pup- that was really his plan, to stall until it was too late. 

But he actually did it and he didn’t have a plan, he will be on the run, he will… he wasn’t sure what poor people did, what poor omegas did, he wouldn’t stoop low enough to give sexual favours for money but he would probably starve and wear the same clothes in a row... no bath for days either… what else… what else did the poor do?

Oh, and his parents, he would have never actually left without his parents, he was alone now-

“Hey.” Came Potter's voice from behind him, Draco jumped a little, looking back at him. “Need some time alone?” 

Draco stared at him, no if he didn’t want to worry himself into returning back to the Manor.

“No.” He faced the ocean again, he wasn’t really looking at it though. Potter sat himself down right next to him. 

“Okay.” He stopped talking but started releasing calming pheromones to make him relax, this time consciously, it did help, he smelled so nice and safe that Draco wanted to use the alpha as a blanket, to wrap himself in that smell, he missed it so much. 

“I didn’t think I would actually do it — I wanted to escape soon, promised myself I would… but if you haven’t shown up, if the elf haven’t came back for me… I don’t think I would.” He explained, fidgeting to move just a bit closer to the alpha. He felt like he needed to make it clear that he wanted to, that he didn’t want to be there, but he couldn’t get himself to leave. "I was acting really stupid, I should have joined your side, I was... very scared." He mumbled, feeling like a proper idiot, he had a reality check at home, and he was quickly humbled by everything that happened there. “Mostly of losing my family, but also of losing everything else I had.” Because he used to have everything, now he had to rely on people he didn’t even like to give him shelter. 

“Who are you and what did you do to Malfoy?” Potter chuckled slightly, clearing his throat a bit awkwardly. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?” He asked instead of taunting him about his mistake, shifting closer so their thighs touched. “Really, anything, just tell me.” 

“No, I’m fine.” He didn’t think he was injured, but maybe he was, and the adrenaline took the pain away. “What about you?” 

Potter perked up, with every move he was unconsciously closer to him, now their sides were flush against each other. “I’m fine. Hermione checked me... she is okay too, just shaken and weak.”

Draco didn’t ask about the mudblood, he didn’t care about her, he sighed. He was such a bad person, not giving one thought about Potter's friends. “Good to know.” 

“Yeah.” Potter nodded, his eyes didn’t stop watching Draco's side profile, the omega ducked his head, glancing at the latter before looking away. “What is it?” He whispered, getting himself ready for Potter to tell him off for everything he did, he deserved it, he lied to him and caused all this. “You know I don’t like it when you stare and don’t say anything-“ 

“I just can’t believe you’re the omega who smells really nice.” He laughed, Draco snapped his head to the side to look at him properly, blushing. “So, when I sniffed you, I was jealous of someone who didn’t even exist.” He chuckled. “It was just you and you didn’t tell me. You definitely thought I was an idiot, must have had a right laugh with Parkinson.” 

“She didn’t know.” Draco shook his head, liking that Potter admitted he was jealous back then. “I didn’t want anyone to know. No one except my future mate was supposed to know, that's why I didn't say anything, to anyone.”

“A lot of people knew.” Potter countered. 

“Yes, well. I presented nearly two years ago in my house around everyone so... not much choice in the matter there, but it stayed in the house, no one else knew.” 

“It makes a lot of sense now.” The alpha mused sheepishly, running a hand through the back of his hair, the one with the scarring, the bite mark at his nape where it should have been. “With you not being able to tell me why you wanted to um- shag with me, it was because you were an omega, not because you actually wanted to.” He grimaced at the realisation. "Shit, that's why you kept agreeing, because I pushed you, and you not wanting me to bite you, erm- because you didn’t want me as your mate."

Draco perked up, trying not to make some desperate noise, his omega— he wanted to now, all these months of thinking if the alpha was safe, of staring at the bite mark that was in the wrong place and the threat of having to bond or worse— just breed with someone other than him made him realise that he didn’t care if Potters blood was different than his if he wanted him this much. 

He looked away, his heart was going to beat out of his chest, he put a hand over the glamoured bite mark, stroking the scarred skin to calm down. It was stupid, Potter surely didn’t want anything to do with him now after everything that he had done.

“Don't worry, I would hex your balls off if you did something I really didn't like, I had mixed feelings because... yeah." Many reasons, really, but he didn’t want to go into the blood purity topic again, he didn’t want to think about it, he was now a blood traitor in his family’s eyes, he supposed now in his circles people would think of him just as little as of a mudblood, so now it didn’t really matter what Potter was. 

The latter hummed, looking down at his hand, choosing not to breach that nasty topic again. “Did the scar disappear?” 

Draco muttered a spell on his hand, showing the bite mark was still there. “I dislike having to answer to people, so I just hid it.” 

“Oh.” The irresistible sod looked up from his hand and at him, then nodded, smiling a little, smell content. “Okay.” 

Draco sighed. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.” 

“Stay here if you want to.” Potter said, he bit his lip after. “I mean… we will leave but… you should stay until we figure it out."

“Who lives here?” 

“Bill and Fleur, Bill Weasley?” 

Oh, bloody hell.

Draco dreaded looking behind him to see in what kind of shack he would have to spend the foreseeable future in, he didn’t know the Weasleys could afford another house…they were probably renting it like the poor. If he stayed, he would have to pretend he was fine with the subpar conditions and company. 

It’s fine, he attended manners and proper conduct lessons since he was five years old, surely, he could pretend to be civil to have a place to stay. 

“You smell sour.” 

“Yes, you did say I smell too sour.” He teased.

The alphas cheeks reddened, and he corrected his glasses. “No, like there is still something wrong.” 

Draco scoffed. “It’s nothing, just wondering if I can get along with the Weasleys.” 

Potter stood up, giving him a hand, Draco dreaded joining the rest, but he might as well, no amount of time was going to change the fact that he had to face them. He gave Potter his hand, letting him help him up. They ended up standing really close to each other, like one would if they wanted to be close to each other, Draco ‘accidentally’ stumbled closer as the latter pulled him up, to test the waters.

He hoped Potter would kiss him, it wouldn’t be right if he was the one to do so now when he done so many horrible things, if he was interested then he had to show him. 

Potter watched him, searching his face before looking away and letting go of Draco's hand. “Oh, right, I nearly forgot. Um… we still have some of the scent blockers you gave Ron, we used them from time to time to time to hide so there isn’t a lot, and then Ron used up all the heat suppressants on the run. Erm- sorry if you need them-“ 

“Suppressants wouldn’t help me right now even if I had some”.  He explained, it wouldn’t be fast after he took suppressants again for his heat to regulate.

Potter nodded so quickly he probably had the spins after. “Okay, I’m sure there will be a spare room for you to have…erm- it.” He finished lamely, awkward hand running through his hair. 

Draco nearly offered for Potter to join but then he realised he was going to be incredibly fertile for this one.  

So of course, he had to say something just as idiotic. “Oh, I wouldn’t expect Weasleys to have one room, let alone a spare one.” It really came out on its own and Potters eyes widened- he was sure his own did the same. “Wait, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” He covered his mouth. “Forget it, oh Merlin, I should obliviate you now.” 

Potter's face did something weird, like he couldn't decide between being mad and laughing at him, he snickered, shaking his head. "You're hopeless, but that’s more what I expected from you, just don't say things like that around them, you’re my responsibility, they didn’t want you here, they won't tolerate you like I do. And if you offend my family, you sleep in the shed because- yes, not only is there a spare room but also a shed.”

Draco bit his lips, he was so embarrassed, he just arrived, and he already said something insulting to Potter, maybe staying here wasn’t such a great idea. “I really am grateful, I didn’t mean to say it out loud.” He grit out, Potter snorted again.

“You thinking it is just as bad- you know what? Never mind, we can work on it. Let’s just go.” 

Chapter Text

Draco refused to leave the room assigned to him, he shared it with Granger and Weasley, but so far they didn’t come once. He already missed the celebratory meal yesterday, pretending he was tired, then breakfast, lunch and dinner today. 

He wanted to sleep and then think about the decision he made, it was inevitably too late to change sides now, he caused too much damage to expect a warm welcome, he really truly only wanted Potter to like him, no one else here mattered, and he doubted they ever would, he could never see himself friends with a mudblood, Weasley was just unsufferable, his family was a shame to be seen with as well. 

He was feeling a lot of self hatred, he had it ingrained in him to hate blood traitors, because they strayed from the correct wizarding values, but he didn’t, he just had to make sure the knife his aunt threw wouldn’t hit Potter, no matter what. 

And then he ran away, it was the only thing he could do to protect himself, the Dark Lord would have took his rights away for helping the opposing side, and would’ve forced him to have children if he haven't ran away, or he would have killed him, so he didn’t regret being a blood traitor, it was justified- he reminded himself. 

His aunts voice shouting 'blood traitor' rang at the back of his mind, preventing him from sleeping. 

He wondered what was happening to his parents now, if they received a punishment, if it was Crucio, what if it was death? What if his father was killed and now his mother was dying from grief or the other way around? Was his father even capable of grieving for someone who wasn't himself?

If anything happened to either of them Draco wouldn't know how to live with himself. 

He sighed, taking the (cheap) blanket off of himself, to stand up, he looked around the bed, looking for soft things he could transfigure into silky cushions and furry blankets, he desperately needed to make himself a comfy nest, he felt his skin crawl having to lay in a rickety bed with overused blankets that Merlin forbid belonged to Mr. Arthurs great, great grandmother (when maybe they once upon a time could afford new blankets). He preferred to have a flat middle with one cushion under his head and plenty of blankets around, so he could lay in the middle comfortably and hug them. 

He inspected the nest he created, managing to find enough things he could transfigure without stealing any pillows from Granger's and Weasley’s beds, it was fluffy around and flat in the middle, satisfied, he climbed inside and continued to mope.  

He wanted his stuff, his real, high quality bedding was much better than this shit, plus he had Greg's, Vincent's, Blaise's, and his mothers stuff in his nest at home, it always helped him relax having scents of people he liked around himself, maybe it had something to do with him being a really sociable person, or maybe it was just because he liked feeling safe, lately his nest at home was the only place he felt safe, surrounded by their scents. 

He sighed again, boring. This was going to be hard.

His heat was adding to his emotions, it was still days if not a week before he went into heat, and he knew it was going to be excruciating, especially because Potter was here. 

Ah yes, Potter, the only saving grace in Draco's miserable life right now, he was happy he could see the alpha again, that he could see him everyday and he didn't need to wonder if the latter was okay, but right now, one bad thought was replaced with another, instead of worrying about his alpha he was worrying about his family, and like usual, it was his fault, because of his selfish decisions people he cared about were in danger, yet he still kept making ones that benefited him.

He bit his lip, he wanted to see Potter- Harry, no one was here to read his thoughts anymore, so he could be Harry now, he wanted to see him right now.

What did he think of Draco now after everything that happened? Was he still willing to give him another chance? He helped him, sure, but from what he seen, the boy was just a good person, willing to help anyone without second though, Draco wasn't special.

Would he join him for his heat if he asked? But he shouldn't, he drank fertility enhancing potions. But he could still imagine it, he wondered if Harry at least liked that Draco was an omega, surely, he would, any alpha would like that, he assumed.

Draco opened his weary eyes to stare at the door, he fished his wand from under his pillow, aiming it at them, he used locking and silencing charms, then he let his hand wander under his vest, feeling his heart racing uncomfortably. 

He imagined not locking the door and Harry coming inside, right now when Draco was alone in this room in his nest, it lacked his scent, he should come and lay next to him. 

The omega whimpered, trying to be quiet, and he knew that if Harry came here and touched him they would need to be quiet, so the people downstairs wouldn't be able to hear what they were doing. Fuck, he wanted that so much.

The hand on his chest travelled to one of his nipples, he gave it a little, fleeting squeeze, traveling down his lean stomach and in between his thighs, his cock was already half hard, and he gave himself a few tugs, rocking his hips into his hand, shaking when he felt slick soiling his pants. He reached behind himself with his free hand to circle his wet hole with a finger.

Impatient, he pushed two fingers into himself, he stretched around the digits easily, so he quickly added more, his body was stretching faster now that he didn't use suppressants and he was sufficiently wet down there, but now every time he was doing this by himself he found that his fingers weren't enough, in his home he had some very basic heat necessities his father had a servant buy him, but here it was just him and his hands. 

Why the hell was Harry still downstairs? He didn't come to check up on him even once, what a prick. 

He squeezed his hand around his leaking, filling dick, hissing at the pressure, he then rolled onto his stomach, lifting his ass in the air, arching his back so he could reach behind himself better, it was a struggle, and he was whining, crying out for something better, if he didn't put silencing charms on the room Harry would have heard him, surely he would have came- bloody fucking hell. 

Damn him being cautious. 

If he came- scratch that, if he is imagining he might as well go all the way- if Harry and he shared a room together and he saw him presenting for him, fucking himself with his fingers fast, desperate for more he would have given Draco what he wanted. 

He realised now, that he would not mind bonding with him anymore, he already thought so for a while unconsciously, but he was scared to admit it even to himself at the Manor. 

He jabbed at his prostate, and moaned into his soft pillow, his whole body tensed, and he stopped jerking himself off, concentrating on hitting that spot with his long fingers, and in no time he was coming with a high-pitched groan into the mattress. 

Breathless, he continued to finger himself languidly to ride his high, hips moving against his hand, then he flopped onto the mattress, into his own mess- its all right, he will clean it in a second. His head was a bit clearer now. 

Ugh, he was starting to get hungry, why did no one bring him food yet? Where was the hospitality? 

Well, fuck him being hungry, how does he make Harry like him? 

He could start brainstorming now, but his cock was already deliciously pressing into the bedding, and he didn't even realise when he started rutting into the mattress, he might as well wank another time, and leave trying to fix things for later. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

It was already second day of no one giving Draco sympathy and bringing him food to bed, he was hungry, he knew that Weasley and Granger knew, because they shared a room at night and his stomach was constantly protesting. Apparently, they were trying to make him get his own food. 

Seeing as everyone were already in bed and he could smell no scents downstairs, this was the best chance to avoid confrontations and eat something. 

He forced himself to roll out of bed, careful not to mess up his nest, he liked it a certain way, all right?

He froze when he heard movement, and Weasley peaked his head out of his covers. 

"What are you doing?" He narrowed his bleary eyes at him, Draco shrugged stiffly, he didn't realise that maybe everyone thought he was still an enemy and could hurt them while they slept. 

"I want to grab something to eat, I am starving." He explained. "Go back to sleep." No way he was going to go eat something alone with Weasley, that would surely be very awkward. 

The boy was sleepy, he could barely keep his eyes open, so at the end he nodded. "Try something and you're done, Malfoy."

Done by who? He wanted to ask, but stopped himself, he wasn't heat crazy enough to joke like that with him, he doubted he ever would be. 

He nodded. "Sleep, Weasley." But when he looked at him, he was already turned away from him, a mop of ginger tucked under a blanket tightly wrapped around his body, an overused, brown blanket, like a cocoon, like a maggot, Draco scowled, Ron's nest was nasty, if you could even call a mess of sheets a nest, his was superior. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco walked downstairs, he decided to explore before finding the kitchen to get familiar with his surroundings, he entered the first room, it was the lounge, not impressive at all, cheap, ran down décor, tacky shells pressed into the walls, that's probably why it was called 'shell cottage' how... innovative, to each their own, it wasn't Draco's house, he didn't have to like it... and some people didn't have the money to buy better furniture, that was okay- it was not his place to judge.

He was about to exit, disinterested in the rest of the house but then he stilled, his eyes zeroing on a haphazardly thrown grey hoodie on one of the armchairs, and he could smell it was Harry’s.

Eyes turning darker, he strolled over there and snatched it, leaning over the armchair a little, he could tell Harry was sitting in this chair for some time, he brough the hoodie closer to himself, then pressed it against his nose and inhaled deeply, muffling a soft mewl into the material, Salazar, he was going to go insane. He sniffed again, just standing there, inhaling the hoodie like a creep, but to his defence it was that time of the month.

Without pulling the hoodie away from his face, he dropped into the armchair, it was as if he was enveloped by the alpha's scent.

Someone coughed pointedly, and Draco shot up, hiding the hoodie behind himself as he checked who was disturbing his soon to be wanking session. 

It was just the Lovegood girl, Luna.

He quickly wiped some saliva from the corner of his mouth, he must have drooled a little sniffing Harry's hoodie... his head cleared and his eyes widened exponentially, his face was already flushed, so he didn't have to worry about the girl seeing him blush to top it all off. 

He cleared his throat, giving a customary nod. "Lovegood." 

"Hello, cousin." She greeted, he groaned. 

"Don't call me that, I don't know you." 

She hummed. "Is that Harry's hoodie?"

He clutched it tighter, he wanted to take it to his nest, but now he had a witness so he couldn't nick it anymore. He dropped it back on the armchair. "Maybe, maybe not." 

"He was wearing it earlier today." She told him gently, but there was a mischievous glint in her eye.

"You saw nothing.” 

"I get it." She left him in the room and went to the room across, Draco followed her there, it was the kitchen, and he paused in the doorway, Luna was kneeling with her head pressed against the floor, peaking into a hole at the bottom of the wall and putting two small pieces of cheese in front of it and now Draco was the one weirded out. 

What a peculiar girl. "And what, might I ask, are you doing?" He asked slowly, not sure if he wanted to know the answer, he was wary of her, she was in his dungeons, and he didn't do much to help her.

"I am leaving cheese for the rats, I can only do it at night, because Hermione scolded me." She explained, Draco gasped, taking a step out of the room. 

"Rats?! What do you mean, this house is infested?" He looked around for more holes, or bug eyes staring at him from under a cupboard, he pressed himself to the wall, trying to take the least amount of space he could, he was scared to move, movement could cause a rat, or plural to come out. 

A gentle hand wrapped around his wrist, Luna tugged him into the kitchen, at first he didn't budge, but her expressionless face put him at ease for some weird reason, he followed her into the kitchen. 

"Hermione doesn't realise that even a small creature, no matter how ugly or how scared she may be, deserves to live, nobody likes to starve." 

"Well, that's true..." As long as it doesn't try to feast on Draco's legs or face while he sleeps, any creature that puts a scar on his skin deserved to have their rights revoked, because it would be a crime to sully something so perfect, but as long as the rats stay away, Draco can be civil with them, it wasn’t his house, he shouldn’t judge.

He pulled his hand away from Luna, deciding she was allowing herself too much contact with him, he quickly went to the pantry, feeling Luna's eyes on the back of his head, 

Right, so there was bread, some meat, some vegetables, a brown sauce he had no idea about, a yellow square thing on a plate with a knife jabbed into it- telling him it was quite soft in texture, there was also milk... now, how does one make something to eat out of these ingredients? 

He narrowed his eyes, a sandwich, he knew how a sandwich looked like, had eaten one before at Hogwarts, but they always came prepared by elves, how does one make a sandwich? He needs bread, bread and meat, which should do, right now as his stomach grumbled anything would do. 

"Do you need help?" Came Luna's patient voice, Draco pursued his lips into a thin line, did he need help? Yes, he bloody did, and he had to swallow his pride, he sighed, head hanging low. 

Wordlessly he just nodded, in a moment Luna was at his side, gathering ingredients, she explained she will help in making toasts with marmalade and chocolate. 

"I will butter the toasts, you will put the condiments, then we can eat together, I also came down to eat something."

Draco didn't like to share, but he supposed for the help he could share his hard work with her, next time he will know how to make it alone. 

Putting chocolate and marmalade on toasts wasn't that hard at all, and a quick spell made the toasts brown to perfection, turned out that the yellow soft square thingy was butter, soon there was a stack of toasts on a plate in front of them, Luna took milk and poured some into two glasses, it was the first time he prepared himself a meal, it was a simple one, and he didn't expect to feel so good with himself for doing something so mundane, something that servants were meant to do, but it did.

He watched Luna eat in silence, she drank some milk and didn't lick her lips after, she had a milk moustache she ignored, munching on a piece of toast in comfortable silence. What a weird… individual.

Halfway through clearing the plate, Luna turned her attention to him. "I never thanked you, Draco." 

His eyes widened, he was just thinking badly of her and she was thanking him. "You shouldn't thank me."

Draco wondered if she already told anyone she was an omega. 

Draco found her in their cellar in pre-heat, about to present, no doubt her presenting then was caused by the interrogations Death Eaters put her through, Draco was forced to bare and watch some torture sessions sometimes, and if one was going to present as an omega, torture would probably force it to happen faster than it was supposed to.

She was lucky it was he who found her first, because if it was anyone else she would be pregnant and bonded by now, she was just a half-blood, her father married a half-blood, so she wouldn't have the privilege of being untouchable that he had. But if Draco could help at least one omega he was going to, he smuggled his suppressants and scent blockers for the girl, they were useless for him now.

She had a week or less before she would present, and he wondered if she already told anyone. 

"Listen... do you know Dobby, the house elf?" He started tentatively; she seemed safe enough to ask for a favour. 

She nodded. "He said he likes me." She said it as if it was something to be proud about, he was more and more weirded out by her, who wanted to be friends with house elves?

"Could you ask him for a- a favour," Favours from elves- pfft, ridiculous. "For me? I wanted to know if my mother and father are okay." He mumbled, he didn't want anyone to hear this conversation in case they wouldn't allow it. 

"What would you do if they were in danger? Maybe it's safer not to know." Luna suggested, Draco's stomach dropped, no, he needed to know. 

He shook his head fast. "If they are in danger... I don't want them to die, I would help them, I would- maybe I would-" He didn't want to say that he would go back there, but he was always loyal to his parents, if their punishment was death, Draco would go back if it meant securing their safety.

"It's okay Draco, we can ask Dobby, I am sure your parents are fine, I can tell that your mother is more than she let's on, she has that look in her eyes, she is different, she knows what she is doing." 

Draco nodded, it was true, he was always closer to his father, following his teaching, wanting to be just like him, his mother was different than them, she was better than them, he knew she would do a lot to protect her family.

His parents wouldn’t stay if they were horribly mistreated, his father because he was only used to luxury and nothing less and mother because she wouldn't let anyone treat her family like that. 

Maybe there was nothing to worry about. 

Draco realised that if they would make Dobby check on his parents, he could grab his belongings and his nest necessities from his bedroom. "Okay, can we do it now? Can you order the elf?” He got his hopes up, but then he could scent a smell of an alpha coming downstairs, and it was not the alpha he wanted around whilst in pre-heat, his body tensed and heart rate spiked up.

He narrowed his eyes, turning around in his stool to see the Weaselette, her pale eyes flashing as she glared at him from the doorway, not stepping in. 

He could sense her presence in the house since yesterday, she shared a room with Harry and Luna and was the first one of the Weasley bunch to visit, but he heard Weasley and Granger saying that more will come to welcome them back from the run.

"You can come in." Luna prompted her, Draco hoped his look told her to back off. Ginny fidgeted where she stood before finally stepping into the kitchen, she walked over to the window and opened it, letting a breeze in, it felt good against his heated skin, a good idea. 

"What are you two up to?" She asked, looking between them, she was standing leaning over the work top a distance away, not to stand too close to him. Her eyes fell to the plate of toasts, and lingered, she relaxed slightly, realising they were just eating. Luna grabbed the plate and outstretched it to the girl, letting her snatch a few of the toasts off, much to Draco's protesting glare, he didn't give consent to sharing his food with the alpha, he made it and so it was his. "Nice, thanks." 

She bit into it, long fangs and all, and she gave an appreciative hum-like moan, Draco felt uncomfortable, he never liked her, he was sure if she had the chance of meeting him on the wrong side she would try to cause him harm, but to be honest he wouldn't blame her.

Back when she was younger he found out she had a silly crush on Harry Potter, but at the time it seemed like a big deal, it was not too long after she came to Hogwarts too, he made Greg hold her head above the sink while Vincent splashed her with Aquamenti, so yeah, she had reasons to dislike him, just like everyone else here, he crossed all of them, even Luna, on multiple occasions. If someone was close to Harry, they were on Draco's blacklist. 

"Did you need anything?" Luna asked, Ginny was eating the toast while trying to kill Draco with her stare. 

There was no way Luna was clueless enough not to feel the tension in this room. 

"I knew you two were down here, and I was wondering if he was going to start killing us off now that he crawled out of his cave." She laughed dryly, stealing another piece of toast off their plate, Draco quickly snatched the last piece of toast, he wasn't hungry, but he didn't want her to eat it. "When better to start than at night when half of the house isn't aware you're up." She mused. 

"You knew I was down here? How? I thought you were asleep when I left the room. " Luna asked, Ginny frowned, finally done with glaring at him to look at her, she looked confused.

She shrugged. "Yeah, but, I dunno, I just... knew you were down here." 

Aha, Draco could tell what was happening here, but he wasn't going to rat Luna out, if she didn't want to tell she didn't have to. 

They all looked in the direction of the stairs when someone hurriedly came down, they could hear him before they could scent him, it was Harry this time, and he stopped in the doorway just like Ginny did, like the scent of Draco's heat was creating a barrier that was dangerous to cross at first, eyes scanning the kitchen. 

Draco tried to go for casual, so he continued on the sandwich, and drank the milk slowly. 

"Hey Harry, what's wrong?" Luna asked again, the brunet zeroed on her, slumping. 

"Oh Luna, you're here." He whispered, rubbing one of his eyes under his glasses, they were a bit wonky, like he rushed to put them on. "Nothing is wrong, just erm- I just knew Draco and Ginny were downstairs and um, didn't want them to have a- a fight." He stuttered, looking like he woke up abruptly. 

Draco tried not to snicker or splutter into his milk, Harry was a horrendous liar, he came downstairs because he thought they were alone, because he couldn't smell Luna and thought they might start going at it if he didn't intervene. 

He didn't laugh, but Ginny did, Luna looked like she was already somewhere else in her head, long gone thinking about better things.

"Ah, right, because we would have a fight." Ginny repeated. "We don't want a nasty fight." She nodded; Harry nodded back quickly. 

Draco motioned at the plate. "I was hungry." He explained, the boy looked at the empty plate, nodding again. 

"Right." 

Ginny pulled off the counter. "Back to bed I go." She looked at Draco as she passed by. "Stinks in here." He gasped; he did not stink! 

"I do not stink! Tell her, Potter." He demanded; Harry's eyes widened. 

"Um." He hummed as Ginny passed him, grimacing. "I think I rather not, I will go to bed, too." 

"Me too." Luna hopped off the stool to follow them, Draco quickly followed. 

"Hey, Potter wait, can I talk with you?" He asked, catching up to him, Harry was already walking upstairs. 

"Erm, no I think I will just go." 

What? Draco frowned, was he avoiding him now? "Just for a moment." 

Harry scanned the empty space, eyes avoiding landing on him at all costs. "Not today, Malfoy." And he rushed upstairs behind Ginny and Luna. 

Draco’s jaw went slack, no way! He was really avoiding him!

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Breathe in… breathe out.

He could do it. All he had to do was go downstairs and meet everyone in the kitchen for dinner, most of the Weasley family was here to welcome the trio back, hopefully not for long, he already missed yesterday's breakfast and tea, pretending he was just so tired and sleeping in, but in reality he was hiding and he was bloody starving, again.

He wronged everyone in this house, he had no allies here, not even Potter. Heck, for all he knew the latter just liked fucking him and whatever soft spot that developed because of it was gone now after the horrible treatment Draco served him, for Merlin's sake, he helped kill a man that Potter cared about, there was surely no going back from that. 

He could smell dinner being done and hear people busying themselves downstairs, he was surprised to find that in this house everyone took part in making meals, in his house not him nor his parents ever entered their kitchens. The food- to his shock smelled delicious, now who would have thought the poor could have good meals? 

His stomach grumbled and he knew he could not delay this anymore.

He got out of bed and made it to the door, hearing them busying about downstairs still, they were talking, Draco squeezed the handle and opened the door as quietly as he could manage to be able to hear if any of the conversations were about him.

Once downstairs he paused in front of the kitchen door when he heard his name coming from one of the twins, they were both betas, so they had no idea he was right there. 

"Do you think snot is going to honour us with his presence today?" Fred asked, Draco frowned, he wanted to barge in but on the other hand he really wanted to hear what they were going to say about him until someone who knew he came down would tell them he was right there. "I guess he doesn't like peasant food, can you imagine if he took a bite and started gagging?" Draco scrunched his nose; he was in fact slightly afraid that because of the low quality of the food the Weasley's could afford he was going to get food poisoning. 

"Oh, Fred, we should find a cockroach and put it in his soup, just in case he actually comes." The other twin snickered. 

"Like it or not he is our guest, and he is in a very vulnerable position right now." A woman he didn't know spoke, that must have been Fleur, seeing how Mrs. and Mr. Weasley still didn't manage to visit, a lot of eyes were on the Weasley family. 

“I understand why you took him with us, Harry, but for all we know he could be just spying on us.” Granger whispered, Draco bit his lip, waiting for Harry to tell them to shut up because he was coming. "He didn't come with us because he found himself or because he wants to help, he is only here because it got bad for him, because he was being victimised for the first time in his life, he doesn't care what happens to any of us as long as he is well, you know that?" 

“He is not spying, I think you’re giving him too much credit, Hermione.” The boy said instead, for some reason deciding to keep Draco’s presence a secret. “Too much of a risk, he doesn’t take risks.” 

Harry was implying he was a coward when he knew he was right here and could hear him. 

Hermione sighed. “I knew he was an omega, okay? The first time you showed me the bite mark, you can see the shape of fangs, betas don’t have those.” Everyone fell silent. “I never wanted you to know, but you found out anyway, unfortunately, and now you’re risking everything we’ve been through until now-“ 

“-because he is in heat.” Weasley continued incredulously. 

“I don’t think we should be having this conversation right now.” Harry sounded a bit sheepish, he and Weasley knew he was right there and now Draco couldn't barge in because he was feeling very embarrassed with the turn of conversation. 

“You said you want nothing to do with him, that you won't forgive him for what he did, but the first thing you do after finding out he is an omega is taking him with us? He is our enemy, he is a murderer, he is a selfish twit who would sacrifice all of us to kiss You Know Who’s ass! Maybe he got orders to kill us? Did you think about that?” 

“I know what I said, I know there is always a chance, but he needed to get out of there, okay? I think he is harmless.”

Fleur clicked her tongue. ”I know you’re all teenagers who been through a lot and that you have needs, but I will not allow anything inappropriate under this roof, between anyone and Draco, okay? Molly would kill me." She admonished and Harry let out a long sigh, Ginny made a disgusted gagging sound. "After his heat, Bill wants him gone." 

Draco took a breath in; he couldn't listen to this anymore because they were trying to convince Harry to turn on him and he could not let this continue any longer. He gripped the handle and decidedly entered the room. 

All the youngsters were sitting at a tiny white table crammed together to make space for everyone, but the table was full of plates with various types of foods a family would have for dinner, like veggies, mash potatoes, slices of meat, nothing to write home about compared to the five star cuisine he was used to at home but it looked as good as it smelled. 

Everyone looked at him at once, and he beckoned his head in greeting, trying not to let show that he was uncomfortable, he spared a glance at Luna, Granger sat on her left, one of the twins sat on her right. Draco was happy to find a spare seat next to the only other person who had some kind of positive feelings towards him, he quickly moved to sit next to Harry, only to be stopped by Fleur, she gave him a plateful of dinner and motioned to an empty seat next to Weasley, who was glaring daggers at him while chewing on a particularly chewy piece of meat. 

"Right there, next to Ron, sweetheart." Her tone was overly sweet as she sent him away, Draco felt heat rising to his cheeks at being so blatantly denied being anywhere near the alpha, he glanced at him briefly, lips pursuing when the git pretended to be busy eating. 

He nodded and sat himself next to Weasley instead, the room was quiet until the twins exchanged looks with each other and snickered, everyone went back to their plates, Draco frowned.

"Well, so I should probably say something in retaliation to what was just said..." He began, trying to get the attention of everyone at the table, though after what he heard he just couldn't force an apology- even a fake one out. "It's true that if I had better circumstances at home I wouldn't have come here, I never wanted to end up... like this, I never wanted to be a blood traitor." He still couldn't wrap his head around his status. "With my selfish actions, I now put the lives of my family in danger, I can only hope they are still alive."

His views didn't change, he still thought muggles and muggle born were a threat and the dissolution of magic, but they didn't have to know that. “I never wanted anyone to die, and I was foolishly refusing to see what was really going on, what my lot stood for until I was on the short end of the stick, until I had to- to see that, they don't want to improve the wizarding society, as I've been told. The Dark Lord wants power, he doesn't care about his loyal followers." If he treated his family better, maybe Draco wouldn't have to be here, although Harry was a saving grace in all of this, and he was happy to see him now. "He treats us, purebloods, as he sees fit, like servants, and we were promised better-"

"Aw." Fred pretended to be sad, the twins burst into giggles. 

"You aren't anything special." Weasley grumbled, Draco tried not to get worked up, he did stray off topic a little and he was around people who only knew poverty and survival, he wasn’t going to get sympathy here. “Nobody owes you anything.” 

"Uh, sorry, I will find a place to stay, until then, even though I know you hate me... for valid reasons, I want to thank you for the hospitality, I will try to be of help to you, it is incredibly generous to house an enemy, and for that you are better than I would ever be." He sighed, his eyes on Fleur. "I don't want to be here either, I am sure we are all very unhappy with this, so I am hoping to sort everything out soon."

"That was a bad apology." Granger commented, giving him a look, Draco spared a glance at Harry to see if he disapproved, but he couldn’t read him.

“I am trying.” He forced out, turning back to Fleur. "Um, so if after what I said I am not welcome... I will leave." He didn't want to go, not before his heat, but he wasn’t going to cry and beg to stay either. 

“No, Draco.” She smiled, and it looked earnest. “No matter who you are, you are safe here.” 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco knew he and Harry had no time to dance around each other any longer, any day the Dark Lord could find them. They should spend whatever they had left together if they were both going to die or worse once the Dark Lord wins because Potter refused to stop being a self-righteous, reckless git and Draco couldn’t cross the border it seemed well suited they shall not waste more time and be together. He decided that they could even bond, they could be a couple. He could give up the courtships and dating he always romanticized so much, what he always wanted for himself, being with Harry will be enough, he was what Draco wanted.

Draco devised a plan of wooing Harry Potter, he needed to get back into the alpha’s good graces, make him stop ignoring him. 

There were but two easy steps to follow in his master plan. He was to show he wasn't useless and pretend to be nice to his friends. That’s about it, Draco didn’t lack much in perfection after all, and who thought different was plain wrong, his worst flaw was being an asshole and a blood traitor, and he knew the alpha didn’t care for the latter. 

Draco approached Harry who was busy washing the dishes, he always did it with his hands, never using spells, he was also the one who made dinner and breakfast two days in a row, Harry was surprisingly good at cooking, not a five star chef but still very tasty, Draco wanted to know where he taught himself all this house work. 

Harry didn’t talk with him yet once, so Draco just grabbed a rag and did his best to dry the plates, there were so many people eating it was ridiculous for one person to do the dishes every single day. 

Draco slowly, inconspicuously shuffled closer so their elbows kept brushing against each other, startling when Harry finally spoke to him, nearly dropping the slippery plate. 

“You don’t have to help me.” 

Draco frowned. “I want to.” 

“There are other chores you could help with, you know?” Draco bit his lip, the problem with other tasks was that they were more difficult and he didn’t know how to do them, Hermione had a horrendous pile of laundry to sort through and fold because she also preferred doing her chores by hand but he couldn’t help as he had no idea how to fold clothes and was above asking a mudblood to show him.

“I want to do this.” He repeated himself, Harry was quiet for a while.

”You’re bothering me, I can barely concentrate on the dishes.” 

Draco smirked to himself. “Is that so?” 

“Yes, so go away, please, I need some space.” 

Draco put the dry plate aside, going for another one. “I just want to help you, Harry, then I will leave.” He played innocent. 

Harry groaned, but dropped it, Draco knew he was pushing the alpha and that’s exactly what he wanted, for him to crack and jump on him first, like he always did. He knew Harry wanted him, he made it very clear he was attracted to his body- very attracted, but the boy had a surprisingly impressive self control, Draco was already in pre heat, he was prancing around a bitch in heat, just like Ronald Weasley so many months ago, but he was being ignored. 

He had no idea reckless Potter could control himself if he wanted to. 

“Who taught you how to cook?” 

Harry didn’t say anything for a moment. “I wasn’t taught.” 

“So, you enjoy it and learned yourself? I can imagine it came in handy on the run.” He pushed for a proper conversation, he hated small talk, but this wasn’t small talk, he was getting to know the alpha for the first time, and he wanted to find out as much as possible before he would have to leave. 

"I didn't learn how to cook because I enjoyed it." He muttered; voice reserved. 

Draco hummed, prompting him to continue. 

"Uh," There was conflict on his face. “I was forced to learn, my family made me cook for them, if I messed up, I would be locked away,” Potter paused, startled when Draco let out a chuckle, the brunet gave him a mind boggled look. “What?” 

Draco smiled and shrugged. “A funny joke.” 

Potters eyes widened slightly before his face morphed into that of indifference, and Draco’s smile fell gradually, he realised by the latter's reaction that he wasn’t trying to joke around with him, but that couldn’t be true, maybe Potter was poor compared to him, but he surely had everything he ever wanted for his status as the Boy Who Lived.

”Wait, not a funny joke,“ He hissed out quickly, trying to back track. “Did I say something wrong? You weren’t joking with me? I wasn’t trying to laugh at you.” Potter turned back to the dishes and after a moment of thinking he dropped the plate into the water, wiped his hands and stormed off, leaving a crushed and a very confused Draco behind. “Harry- oh for fucks sake…” He mumbled, grabbing for the sponge and continuing with the massive pile of plates, sad that he never cared to learn a spell to make the sponge wash the dishes by itself. 

What the hell, what did he mean he was locked away? He was Harry Potter, the Harry who defeated the Dark Lord when he was but a snotty baby, who won a Triwizard tournament before he was legally allowed to participate, the killer of basilisks and saviour of mudblood’s for Merlin's sake, the one the muggle loving side of wizarding world worshipped, did his family dare treat him badly?

This would mean all these years he didn’t know anything about Harry, he was wrong, and what’s worse, he was a- a loser bullying an abused boy.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Harry pulled his hand away as if burned, he wanted to sweep, and Draco made it a mission to go for the broom at the same time so there would be an excuse why their hands touched. 

Draco pulled the broom closer to him once he could. “I can do this, Harry.” 

The boy blinked. “I’ve been doing it since we came here.” 

Draco shrugged. “I want to help you, sorry for before, I really wasn’t trying to be malicious. I want to help you in... anyway I can.” He tried for a suggestive tone, eyes glinting.

Harry shuffled a slight distance away. “Can’t you go ask Fleur for something to do instead of stealing my jobs? Or go help someone else for once? Maybe you can even apologise while you’re at it?” His tone shown that he was rather frustrated with him at this point, Draco pursued his lips.

He scowled. “I just wanted to do something nice, you don’t have to be a twit about it.” He handed Potter the broom back, arguing about this wasn’t going to get him anywhere nice. “It’s been two days since I came here, I feel like you’ve been avoiding me, you aren’t letting me apologise to you properly, I really am sorry.” 

“I don’t want your meaningless apologises, I am avoiding you, so can you go be nice somewhere else? You know you’re about to go into heat? It’s not a good idea to be around me.” 

Draco raised his brows, cocking his head to the side. “Maybe I’m asking for it?” He mused, the boys hold on the broom tightened, and brows furrowed. “Would it be so bad? Doesn't sound too bad to me, not at all.” 

Harry was silent for a second, then shook his head. “Maybe you should go lay down, you’re doing stuff you don’t want to be doing, again.”

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

"You can't just throw the laundry on the line; you have to spread it neatly." Harry explained with some levelled bite, he was holding the basket, Draco was hanging up the laundry, and apparently he was doing it completely wrong, he side-eyed him, hoping to clearly portray that he wasn't liking the tone the alpha was using on him, at least Draco was helping. 

"Well, sorry." He hissed, pulling it off the line for the third time (before it was crumbled), and spreading it neatly over it. "See? Relax, it’s not a big deal, it's not hard." He motioned to the hanged piece, Harry nodded, gesturing for Draco to continue. 

Despite his irritation, he listened and made sure to straighten and put the washing on the line properly. 

"Don't forget to put a peg on them." Harry sounded more patient now. 

"And what's that?" 

"Maybe it's the only other thing I am holding for you?" 

Draco tried to hold his temper at bay, he grabbed three pegs and put them on the hanged washing after he figured out how to clamp them. 

"As I said, It's not that hard."

"It's not hard at all, children can do it, it becomes a pain when you have to do all the chores by yourself, every single day." Harry taunted, lips quirking up in a teasing smile, Draco's heart felt like it skipped a beat at the expression. 

"I guess so." 

"Mhm." Harry ended the conversation, but he wasn't going to let him, not this time. 

"I missed you." Draco said without thinking, watching the boy recoil away. "I’m sorry." 

"You don't have to be sorry about anything, you didn’t do anything wrong." He forced out, but he didn't sound like he was believing what he was saying.  

"No, I was an ass to you, and then I helped kill Dumbledore." 

"I get why you did that, so just don't mention it, ever again." He grumbled, putting the basket down to hang the washing by himself, very quickly, Draco realised he stopped doing it himself, so he went back to work. 

"But I was a huge arse to you." 

"It's what you really think, right? So don't apologise, just own it now." 

Draco could barely breathe under the amount of guilt he was feeling. "No, not everything I said was what I really think, and all the bullying, it seems silly now."

"Right, you do lie a lot." 

Draco scowled. "Crikey, Harry. Can you give me a chance to explain myself?" He growled; Harry put a peg on the last piece of washing. 

"No, Draco. I am over this. We don't have anything to talk about, okay? I had some stupid ideas, but then I found out you're just a fucking omega, Snape was right, I threatened you. You never liked me, I can't even blame you for not telling me because you have the right to keep it private, and now I feel like a- ugh, I don't even want to say." 

No way Harry thought he forced himself on him still, no wonder he was avoiding him so badly. Wooing him was going to be harder than Draco originally thought.

"Harry, no. I- I-" He wanted to say that he loved him, but he had to gather the courage he just never really had in the first place. 

Before he could, Harry called Ron over so they wouldn’t be alone anymore and told Ron that Draco wanted a chore, he cursed, going after Ron to tend to the garden after the two boys rushed him. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco was crouching on a step watching Ron struggle to pull a pesky, fat gnome out of the ground, according to Fleur the gnomes took special liking to her carrots and it was already hard enough to grow vegetables so close to the beach, the vegetable garden was slightly away from the shack- the shell cottage, so Draco could breathe a bit of fresh air away from Ginny's and Harry’s strong pheromones.

”Blimey.” Ron grunted and huffed, pulling on the gnome’s leg to get it out from the hole he tried to bury himself in, all the gnomes in this garden were quite fat and hard to pull out. Draco grimaced, he really wasn’t looking forward to getting dirty, he was already sweaty enough. 

He was lucky Ron didn’t bother making him de-gnome with him after he told him he had no idea how to do it. 

He plucked a white flower from the garden and twirled it around, his garden was full of white roses, it symbolised purity, and he once again felt shit at the reminder of his home, he wanted to have his parents with him, though he didn’t want to imagine how that would go if they stayed in the shell cottage with all the Weasleys. 

“Are you seriously not going to help me?” Ron asked, wiping his forehead when he got rid of yet another gnome. “We are going to be here all day if you’re just going to sit on your arse doing nothing.” 

“As I remember, it was you who told me to sit down and not be in your way.” 

“Yeah! I said that half an hour ago, I think you watched me long enough to try it for yourself now.” Draco really didn’t want to help. 

“Say Ronald, did Harry… did Harry say anything about me?” He mumbled instead, watching the flower in his hand and the bite mark. "Did he have a rough time on the run, that's all I could think about really, while I was in the Manor.”

Ron spluttered on nothing, eyes wide. “You want to know if he had a rough time? Sorry, I know you like Harry miserable, so excuse me if I tell you sod all.” 

Draco's chest felt tight, miserable? "No," He sighed. "I never wanted this, I didn't want to kill Dumbledore, I didn't want Harry in danger… when I ate a meal, I wondered if he ate anything that day, when I tried to sleep, I couldn't, because I knew Harry was probably awake, too, how could he sleep when so many people are after him? And it was my fault."

"Very moving, it was your fault, so you won't fish any information out of me, you won’t get any sympathy from me, and if Harry is smart, he will keep shrugging your off, sorry. I think you heard what he thinks about you." 

"I’m sure he was influenced by the presence of people who hate me, I want to know what he says about me in private.” 

“Yeah? Bugger off.” 

Draco couldn’t bite his tongue. “And where is Blaise, by the way?” 

There was no reply for a moment, until he prompted the latter to answer with questioning sets of hums.

“Who?” 

Draco chuckled. “So, it’s bad?” 

“I haven’t spoken to him in months, so that’s that.” 

“Ouch.” 

Ron groaned, managing to get a grip on yet another gnome, this one was tiny, and he quickly took care of it. “It's not a big deal, you know what I overheard him telling Harry once? That if I wasn't a pureblood, he wouldn't bother." 

Draco chuckled, that did sound like something anyone would say if they were a pureblood, it was curious that Harry would ask about something like that though. "Nobody would be, you don't know how it is, to know that your family will not stand by your decision to mate with anyone other than a pureblood, you lose your family that raised you, you lose your inheritance, you lose your friends and plans for your future. He wouldn't go for anyone his mother wouldn't approve of." 

Ron's face scrunched in distaste. "I'm not saying that I don't get where he is coming from, but I wouldn't do that."

"Would you give up your mother and siblings for a crush?" 

"If my family didn't love me unconditionally, then I don't need them, but they do, so I don't have those kind of problems." 

"It’s not that Blaise wouldn't be interested in you if you were a half-blood, it's all about restraint for us-"

"For you?" Ron smirked; Draco shifted uncomfortably.

"Maybe I failed in the restraint department but let me finish. He might not be with you, but you might still be everything he wanted, just something he can't have."

Draco never thought unconditional love existed before the war, love always had rules, you couldn't fully choose who you spent your life with, not as a pureblood anyway, it was usually arranged on mutual benefit and the continuation of centuries of purest of magic, but you could learn to love someone, you could learn their likes and dislikes, adapt, buy them the things they liked and spoil them, learn to love them. Perhaps, you could even learn to love them unconditionally? Maybe Draco was capable of that, he liked Harry so much already, and he didn't know Harry as a person at all, the more Draco found out about him the more he thought he was an just a good person, he didn’t care about praise, or fame, he just did what he had to do. 

Harry was nearly perfect- no, he was perfect to someone who didn't care about the blood purity bullshit.

Draco's eyes widened... could it be that--he was the problem all along? Harry deserved unconditional love for everything he went through, he was genuinely just a good person.

Harry and he could have that, if Draco got over his ingrained disgust to bad blood and worrying for the approval of his family, what would stop him to love Harry the way he deserved to be loved then?

And maybe, since Harry was such a good person, maybe he wasn't looking for someone who was perfect either and doing all these stupid chores just to prove that he could when he really couldn't do anything was the wrong way of getting him to forgive him? Perhaps a proper conversation without holding anything back was in order? 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco kneeled next to Hermione and her enormous pile of laundry, she was folding with her hands and reading a book at the same time, she glanced away from the book when she noticed him, but quickly went back to it, hands expertly stacking one folded top over the other. 

"Did you come to butter me up now?" 

He shook his head. "You have the worst chore." Partially true, he thought he should force himself to be in a presence of a mudblood- of a muggle born to make himself comfortable around people like her, a practice on how to bite your tongue in a way. "Why do you fold it by hand? You could use a spell." 

"I like to have my hands occupied, be it to write notes down or such while I read, it helps me to concentrate." 

He looked at her hands, she folded fast and perfectly. "Er- can you show me how to fold?" He muttered, she glared at him for a second, but her hands slowed down to a snail’s pace, Draco quickly grabbed a piece of clothing and followed through, only to mess up in the end. 

"Try again, it’s fine, no one can do it on their first try." She didn't sound reassuring, she sounded high and mighty, Draco tried again, this time it looked more like a square, but it wasn't neat. "Try again." He nearly snapped at her to shut up, but stopped himself just in time, Hermione's lips quirked up at his pinched expression. "Just keep folding that one shirt until you figure it out." 

Draco huffed, he didn't really mind this, he would rather fold this perfectly than half assed. "Fine." 

Hermione folded in silence, slower now so Draco could follow. "I am not talking to you about Harry." 

Did everyone know he was working on making Harry like him now? "I had a realisation today, that maybe I am the problem." He said, trying to keep his voice steady because it was weird saying that after thinking he was Merlin's gift to the wizarding community all his life. 

She didn’t say anything, impassive, so he continued. "What I mean is, I understand your animosity, if I was you, I wouldn't want anyone brining me down." If he was already a lowly mudblood, he wouldn't need a pureblood twat reminding him of that. 

"You didn't bring me down, never. But I can see you're trying to understand that the way you acted was wrong, its's better than nothing." 

"What do you mean?" 

“You still think I am lesser than you, it’s easy to tell with the way your worded yourself.”

He was always second best to Hermione in academics and second to Harry in physical classes, so that goes for something. The trio were obviously better than the purebloods, otherwise they would have been caught months ago. He himself didn't understand why he still couldn't stop himself from thinking they were worse than him, it came naturally, to call Hermione a mudblood, everyone in his circles did that, mud bloods weren't good enough to have their names remembered. 

"I always knew you were an extraordinary witch, a bookworm nutcase as well, but a very impressive one, I was jealous." 

They fell into a more comfortable silence, Draco kind of got a hang on folding the clothes properly, trousers were way easier than tops, he struggled with vests, and he left the button ups for Hermione. The girl was reading again, Luna and Ginny came to help them finish the job faster. 

Draco glanced at the book Hermione was reading. "What are you reading?"

She perked up, lifting the cover up to face Draco. It was a book about magic and the search of immortality, it had something to do with the Dark Lord, but he knew better than to ask, seeing as everyone thought he was here to spy.  

"What kind of books do you like reading?" Luna asked him conversationally. 

He shrugged. "Whatever interesting I can find in the library." 

"What about the genre?" Hermione prompted. 

"Just the normal, educational, historical, lectures, my father never allowed me to read anything else, said books can give young people impure ideas." 

"I love fantasy books, and magazines, otherwise, I find reading quite boring." Luna offered. 

"It's not boring! You don't know anything about good literature, Luna, I saw the things you like reading-" Hermione went on a rant about what kind of books are better for the head, she said that her favourite were romance and historical. 

She then offered to borrow Draco some historical muggle books so he could learn about muggle history, which he found  gross because why would he want to learn about muggles, he wanted to say that he didn't need muggle knowledge, but now that he was in this position maybe it would come in handy, just in case he would ever have to, Merlin forbid, mix with muggles to hide from the Dark Lord. 

She was excited to give him books based on race supremacy, slavery and genocide, which apparently was an issue that repeated itself constantly throughout the muggle history in different parts of the world. 

It was silly and intriguing that muggles though they were better than one another when they were all nothing compared to them, they had no clue that in the grand scheme of things they were all just muggles. 

He did start reading the book, but he quickly put it down he wasn't far into it, he didn't see the correlations she was making, because no muggle was better than another muggle, but with wizards it wasn't the same, there were purebloods with pure magic, and then, beneath them, there was the rest, some of them were gifted, sure, but they couldn’t… simply couldn’t be like them. 

Luna and he sent Dobby back to the manor secretly to check on his parents and grab all his nest stuff, his family was okay, but his father looked more stressed than when Dobby saw him last, which in Draco's opinion was hard to imagine him getting any worse. Draco just had to hope that they will continue to be safe. Dobby told his mother that he was safe and in hiding with everyone else, but that he was looking for another place to stay, she wished them all safety.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco hid his face in the pillow and wrapped it around his head, every night Ron would rustle his bedsheets, rolling from side to side for lengths of time, sometimes sighing, sometimes groaning, until he would finally manage to fall into surface level slumber, and Draco really tried to ignore it and be patient for once, maybe after what they all went through on the run the latter omega had problems sleeping, Merlin knows what they had to do to survive in hiding for so long. 

But this was getting ridiculous, Draco couldn't even use the loo in peace, Ron would be awake, asking where he was going, if he was going to strangle someone in their sleep, which in turn would wake Hermione, so he just tried to hold it in today. 

But Ron was still tossing and sighing, and he had enough. 

He raised himself up to sit. "Can you stop? You're messing with my quality sleep." 

Ron sat up as well, looking restless. "Shut up, I don't care, go sleep downstairs on the sofa if you're that bothered."

"No, I can't be bothered setting another nest, especially now that I upgraded this one."

"Nest?" 

Draco's eyebrows shot up, looking over the mess of sheets on Ron's bed. "Are you telling me that you don't know what a nest is?" He asked, getting out of bed. 

"Am I supposed to know?"

"Blimey, no wonder you have trouble sleeping." Especially under these circumstances. 

"Are you going to tell me or not?" 

Draco pointed at his bed; he took the silky white duvet Dobby fetched for him to show the round nest that had enough space for him in the middle. "This is a nest, it helps us sleep, so get out of bed and make one." 

Ron looked uneasy. "Erm, I don't like that, it's like an open coffin, to be honest, I prefer to be wrapped up, like an, um, like a wrap." 

Like a maggot, Draco thought, not bothering to ask what a wrap was, sounded muggle. "Okay, do you like the blankets you have? They are scruffy."

"They are all right." 

Draco scoffed at the dismissive tone, he took one fluffy blanket and one silky blanket from his bed, and let Ron touch it. "Any of these feels better?" 

"Not really." 

"Then just cotton." Draco transfigured one blanket into a cotton one, and Ron liked it more than the others, he was still sheepish about it. "Now, lay them all down the way you like." 

After Ron was done with that and tried out his new cocoon, Draco told him that all that was left was asking people he cared about that had a scent to give him something. That was Harry and Ginny.

"It can be a blanket, a pillowcase, a hoodie, or a top, soft bits and pieces." 

"Bloody hell, mate that's really embarrassing." Draco didn't want to say it out loud, but he was happy Ron referred to him as his 'mate' because in his terms it meant something akin to a closer acquaintance or even a buddy. "Ginny is going to laugh at me." 

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about, it's something we just do, it's normal." He shrugged. “Tell them you can’t sleep, and you need something from them, alphas love feeling needed. I can assure you; it will help you sleep better." 

Ron looked conflicted, but the idea of a night of full proper sleep won and he nodded, telling him he will be right back. He left Draco in the room, and he moved closer to the door to listen as the latter knocked on Harry's, Luna's and Ginny's bedroom door. The idea of Luna being in that room when she was going to present out of nowhere any day didn't sit right with him, purely because he was jealous that something could potentially happen. 

Ginny opened the door, she indeed did laugh at Ron’s request, asking if he wanted her used panties, that woke Harry up, he did take it way more seriously, with a lot of awkwardness, he offered to give Ron his duvet, promising that it was still fresh and that he had a spare one anyway, so it was really fine, when Ron told Ginny to stop being creepy about it she gave him her pillow case. 

A red Ron returned with a whole duvet that he threw over the other stuff on his bed and he quickly changed the pillowcase. "If you're messing with me, I am going to burn your bed down, you will sleep on the floor, no blanket no nothing." He grumbled; Draco sneered. 

"We will see." He said and looked over to his own bed, he walked over and fished out the silk black blanket, transfiguring it back into a black sleeping button-up, just how he originally got it, he hesitated for a second before walking over to Weasley and giving it to him. "I know it smells a bit of me, but it's Blaise's." 

Ron took it, brow raised, he took a sniff and his eyes widened. "Why do you have his shirt?" He asked slowly, Draco smirked. 

"Wouldn't you want to know." He mused, Weasley's expression hardened, he laughed quickly, shaking his head, not wanting to really give him any ideas. "It really isn't what it looks like, I have Greg's and Vincent's stuff as well." He wasn't going to give them away to nobody, he wasn't as close with Blaise as he was with his best friends.

"I thought you two weren't close." Ron read his mind. 

"We got a bit closer last year." The ginger omega started stinking the room with a horribly bitter scent. "Not close enough that I would be sad giving away his shirt."

Ron spared him one last glance before he also chucked that on his bed. "Well, thanks." 

"Can you two stop fretting about and waking everyone up at two in the morning? Every single night, I swear I will swap rooms." Hermione groaned.

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

It was now day five of Draco's stay at shell cottage, and he still refused to stay in his bedroom, pretending he wasn't feeling as bad as he actually felt, after his heat he will have to leave, so he only had these few days to win Harry over now before it happened. 

Today, Mrs. and Mr. Weasley managed to escape the watchful eye of the ministry, so the number of gingers in the house increased way more than Draco was comfortable with. 

He wasn't actively fighting or insulting anyone, so far so good. He heard from Hermione that Harry considered the Weasley parents as his own in a sense, so he wanted to be on best behaviour. 

Fred and George were the worst, they addressed him as ‘snot’ from ‘snotty’ which Fleur said was like her old nickname ‘phlegm”. Fleur was French, Draco was French, they would talk French with each other, and it really annoyed some members of the family. Right now, they were eating breakfast and Fleur was entertaining him with stories of her wedding, in French. Fleur was the only person except Luna that really liked Draco around, he could tell he won her over, and that was because until recently the Weasleys disliked her and treated her like how they treated him.

“Okay, is he speaking waffle, or can he actually speak proper French?” George asked, annoyed with their yapping in a language he didn’t understand, he couldn’t butt in and annoy them. 

“His French is very impressive, if you must know.” 

“What have you been talking about?” Molly asked, Fleur already explained to him that the woman was trying to sweeten her up after the wedding to catch up for the time she was rude to her. 

Draco let Fleur answer the question, he knew he wasn’t welcome to engage in the conversation.

“The wedding!” 

“Aw, bless you two, talking about the wedding.” Molly once again sounded way too nice about it, Draco concentrated on eating the tasty tomato soup and pointedly ignoring the fake tone, almost to the point of fawning. 

Potter joined them in the kitchen, he sat a seat away from Draco, even though the one between them was empty, but that was as close as Molly allowed them to be without raising alarms. 

Draco tried to not stink the whole place up with the smell of an overly happy omega, because he was happy the latter kept choosing to sit close to him now that everyone eased off on him, although he still didn’t stand up for him. They didn’t really speak, it was very awkward between them, Harry was avoiding him anywhere but the kitchen, and he was never alone so he couldn’t even speak with him properly. 

He needed to sort everything out between them, he needed to be close to the alpha, his heat was clouding his brain and the idea of Harry disliking him or blaming himself was too much to bear. 

“Yes. Draco has a lot of good ideas for the catering and decorations… too bad I didn’t have him for the wedding!” She chuckled, Draco smiled, but his smile disappeared as George began talking.

“Yeah, except his ideas are probably mind bogglingly expensive.” 

“Fred! Stop it with the jabs.” Molly admonished her son.

“I dare say he is also quite the romantic at heart! He keeps asking me how I and Bill met and developed our relationship.” Draco frowned when the twins laughed at him and cooed, as it there was something wrong with that. 

"Haha, very funny." 

“That’s sweet.” Instead of looking impressed Molly grimaced. “I assume it would be hard to find a partner during these… trying times.” She cleared her throat. “Though maybe it would be easier for you.” 

Draco lifted his head away from the soup to look at her. Biting back a ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ or ‘Why don’t you ask your son?’. 

“Oh yes, I mean, look at me, obviously it would be easy for me, but I don’t know about my fellow kind, I guess maybe we should ask Ronald.” He used the same sweet tone Molly did, hoping he sounded just as sarcastic. “I wasn’t looking for a partner, I have my eye on someone.”

“I am sure you do.” The woman clenched her jaw. “Actually, I heard from Ron that you will be going into heat very soon, I wanted to make sure you will be all right?”

Draco pressed his lips into a thin line, the only people he wanted to talk about this with were Fleur and Bill because it was their house and he needed to ask for a room. “I had a heat before- as one does, naturally. I will be alright.” He nodded, even the twins weren’t interfering in the conversation, just listening because their mother was in attack mode. 

“Oh no, love. I didn’t want to make it sound like it’s unnatural. It's just that I have to watch out for my family, I won’t let anyone take advantage of my family.” She was insinuating Draco was trying to do harm to someone, he put the spoon down, dammit, he was supposed to be on best behaviour. 

“Excuse me, care to elaborate?” 

And that was when everyone decided to exit the kitchen, Hermione gave everyone pointed looks till they left with her, and Fleur excused herself to do something upstairs. Just when Harry was standing up to also allow privacy, Molly asked him to stay, so he sat back down, this time next to him so he could sit in front of Mrs. Weasley. 

She sighed. “Well, don’t take this the wrong way Draco, dear…” She was hesitant for a second before gaining conviction. “You ask a young alpha for help and shelter right during your heat, of course he will help you then.”

Harry looked sick, Draco scoffed. "Because I’m using my heat to make him agree? You think I took advantage of him.” He asked slowly to make sure they were on the same page. 

She cleared her throat, looking between the two teens, who were sitting so close they were nearly touching. “I just can’t imagine a different reason why Harry would bring you home.” 

“Molly please.” The brunet groaned. “I would never help someone to get in their pants, it’s-“ 

“I know, I know you wouldn’t.” She put a hand on his. “But I know from experience, kids like you… are very gullible and… excited around omegas who are in heat, they end up agreeing to things they normally wouldn’t-“ 

“But I haven’t asked him for anything, I didn't ask to come here.” Draco hissed, great, now even if he dared to ask the alpha to help him with his heat he couldn’t do so because Molly would think it was his evil plan all along. 

“You haven’t?” Molly asked, they both shook their heads. 

“I offered.” Harry said but backtracked when she gave him a look. “Not because I want to bed him!” They both blushed, Draco balled his hands into fists under the table, he got excited just at the idea of spending his heat with the alpha, luckily Molly couldn’t have smelled his arousal. Harry had a different reaction to the sweet scent, he froze and took a long breath in- takin it in- then out, very slow to calm down, eyes stubbornly glued on Mrs. Weasley. “Draco, I want you to-“ 

“Look at me when you talk to me.” He prompted, annoyed, Harry winced, doing so, but instead of looking him into the eyes, his gaze was lowered. 

“I-I want you to know, despite what I did before, I really didn’t bring you here because I am expecting something.” 

Harry was an amazing, selfless person, Draco’s stomach did a twist- this uncomfortable feeling had to be the feeling of love and admiration all along, he just finally put a name to it… butterflies in his stomach, like in that saying muggles used. 

He wanted to say that he never thought so, but then the brunet hastily turned to Molly and continued. 

"I know now what he really thinks of me, he told me himself. He thinks I am some kind of abomination, so don't worry, we are fine, there is nothing between us.” He ground out and Draco's eyes widened as he snapped his head to look at him, he never said he was an abomination. 

"I never said that." Draco rushed to say, he spared him a glance before looking away, Draco was starting to get pissed off with him avoiding looking at him at all costs. 

"You said enough." 

Draco leaned a bit closer to him, Molly be damned, he needed to have a conversation with him. "Harry, I don't-"

"I don't want to talk to you, Draco. Okay? I am tried, I understand everything now." He shut him down, tone adamant on having Draco shut up, so the omega looked away, dejected. “Let’s just forget it, it was a horrible  misunderstanding.” 

“Boys,” Molly pressed.

Draco sighed. “I can’t even spend this heat with anyone.” He rushed to explain to the woman. “Er- I have been taking fertility potions to um … to breed during my heat and, well…” He breathed, Molly and Harry both looked quite alarmed. “So, I really need to spend this one alone, because I will be extremely— fertile.” He managed with some of his dignity intact. 

“You wanted to have children at your age?” 

And the rest of his dignity went to shit. “No,  no of course not, but I had to agree, it is my duty as a pureblood omega.” He grimaced, saying it out loud was as bad as thinking about it, crikey, it sounded as insane coming from his mouth as it did from the Dark Lord's and his father's. “I know how cultish that sounds.” 

“What?” Harry asked. “What’s the big deal anyway?”

“If an omega and an alpha are together, they won’t birth betas. And because they assumed I was the only omega, I was the only suitable candidate for a completely beta-less, pure blooded babies.”

“Did you-“ 

Draco shook his head. 

“Harry, why don’t you go to Hermione and Ron and let us talk for a little while?“ 

He lowered his head, as if that would make it seem like he wasn’t here, he clicked his tongue. “I want to stay.“ 

“Harry.” She warned. “Please, this isn’t a conversation for you anymore.” 

Harry made a disagreeing noise, one that was not becoming of an alpha but did as he was told.

Molly watched him go, the steps on the stairs indicated he followed through with leaving them alone. 

To his dread, he had to tell Molly what they planned to do with him, and what he had to go through. He also explained again that he wasn’t planning on having Harry join him because he didn’t want to be a father this young, and she said that she will talk with Fleur and Bill to provide him with a room only for himself today. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco laid alone in his bed, tossing and turning, feeling hot, uncomfortable and alone.

He wiped his forehead from sweat and laid in a fetal position, he didn't like Mrs. Weasley, after their conversation she kicked Ron and Hermione out of their shared room, the twins left shell cottage, going back home to spare the bedroom they were occupying.

Molly told Draco that he is only allowed to come out in emergency, otherwise his door should stay locked and he better not forget about muffling charms as well. She was a bit too doting to his taste, he still wanted to talk with Harry before his heat, he was going to lose his chances soon. 

Right now, though, he needed a shower, a cold shower, so he collected everything he would need (yes, he sent Dobby to fetch his toiletries as well, nobody had to know, plus he let Dobby choose whatever clothing he wanted to have from him) and exited the room as quietly as he could so Molly wouldn't hear it. 

He felt better after a wash, but still warm, Draco only put his pyjama bottoms on, he will soon lose them too, there wasn't a need to bother dressing up, his bedroom was just across the hallway. He exited the bathroom, quietly closing the door behind himself, he was halfway to his bedroom when Harry exited his. 

He stopped in his tracks, turning to the alpha and giving him his full attention, Harry forgot to grab his glasses this time. 

"Sorry." Harry whispered, so quiet Draco barely heard it, his eyes quickly leaving him to stare somewhere behind the blonde. "I heard you leaving your room, and then Ginny disappeared somewhere, so... you know,"

Draco smiled, amused. "You wanted to check if we weren't killing each other, again?" Harry nodded way too quick. "Is Luna in bed?" 

Harry disappeared in his room, coming back moments later, he had his glasses on now, but he was still avoiding looking at Draco, even more so now. "She isn't." 

"They are probably together, then." He smirked, Harry frowned, confused, but then his eyes widened. 

"Oooh, are you saying-" 

"Yep." 

"That makes so much sense." They both fell silent when there was movement from Molly's bedroom, Harry showed him to be quiet with a finger, then pointed at the stairs. "Can I talk with you? Outside." He murmured, Draco nodded, fuck yes, praise Salazar, finally. Harry closed the door to his bedroom, walking over to him. "You want to, um, do you want to put something on?" 

"No, I am already sweating again." He wanted to take the pyjama bottoms off already, if he was being honest, especially now that Harry was with him. Outside breeze will do him good. 

He followed the boy outside to sit on the doorstep, the light in the kitchen was on, Luna and Ginny were probably late-night eating again, Draco closed the entrance door behind them for privacy, this was the time he and Harry will finally have a proper conversation, he didn't want anything to interrupt them now. 

Draco sat down next to Harry, not too close, but close enough, he wiped his forehead, trying to compose himself, the cold air didn't help much, not around Harry and he had to consciously make sure his breathing wasn't audible. 

"Listen, I am sorry for being mean to you," Harry went first, Draco laughed. 

“I was mean since we were eleven, you’re justified.”

“I am talking about now, you went through a lot at home, I didn’t know. So I needed to apologise.”

“Mean? You meant avoidant." But at least he was here now, right next to Draco, close enough to touch. "I get it, I really get why now." 

“No, um, it’s just that I have no idea how I am supposed to behave around you, you’re not who I thought you were, everything I thought was a big, bad misunderstanding.” His voice cracked. "And, I understand why you went through with your mission to kill Dumbledore; I don't want you to think I am mad about that,"

Draco rushed to interrupt, he wanted to talk over everything and if Harry went on a rant again then they would end up with more unanswered questions. "I wish I listened to you, I regret it so much, I was so worried about you, I blamed myself for everything you were going through, I still do." He moved closer, their sides touched, his skin was so warm, without the pesky material it would burn pleasantly. "What are you upset about?"

If he told him, Draco could work on it, but he was worried the list was too long.

"I am not even mad, I was shocked when I found out you weren't what I thought you were and realised you probably didn't like me, I was disappointed and just mostly mad at myself for thinking... that there was something between us but you pushed me away because of your family, that's what Blaise said, I would have never guessed you were an omega, and it probably took a lot of effort for you to tell me to back off so many times, and I still came onto you. You don't know how that makes me feel, I would have never... If I had known..." Harry made it to scoot away, Draco grabbed his hand quickly, leaning into his space. 

"Don't move away." 

Harry leaned away anyway, and Draco leaned in even more.

"Can you give me some space to breathe?" He sounded breathless suddenly, Draco released a shaky sigh, trying to listen but he didn't really want to, so he couldn't make himself do it. 

"I am sorry I made you feel that way, give me another chance."

Harry went to put a hand on his shoulder, but stopped himself just shy of doing so, instead he used his clothed forearm to push him away, Draco resisted, Harry barely used any power behind it, like he didn't really want to push him away. "What are you on about? Don’t blame yourself. Can you move away, please?" He tried again.

"No, I made you feel like I was disguised with you, I wasn’t, I want to date you, I want to get to know you, Blaise was right, I stopped myself because I was scared of how much I liked you, of what my father would say, but it’s meaningless now, we can be together." Harry finally pushed him away enough to make him stop breathing on him.

“Stop it.” He cut him off quickly.

“I liked it, please believe me? Please, I want to mate. Before it’s too late?” 

"Do you still think we have no chance to defeat You Know Who? It will be all right, you will see."

"I don't think you're going to win."

Was it the right time to beg Harry to escape to France with him? It will be hard with the Ministry watching over the borders, but once they did they would be safe. Would that be too heat crazy?

"We will, we have it all planned out, it's really just a matter of time, we aren't here because we don't know what we are doing, okay? It will be fine, there is a risk, yes, but it’s worth to try. Then, you can find someone you will like."

"I like you, only you." He breathed, he finally said it, but Harry looked pained, he didn't believe him.

"Acting so nice is way too out of character for you, because of your heat-“

"I want to be nice for you, I want to be a good person that you could like, Harry." He tried to go for a kiss, but Harry's arm between their bodies was a stable barrier, he couldn't move in any closer. 

"Merlin, I can't do this, can you move away?" He scoffed in warning and tilted his head to the side, not looking at him again. 

"Can you at least scent me? It will help me sleep."

"You want to go to bed? You're right, maybe- maybe it's a good idea, we will talk another time." He made to stand up, Draco put a hand on his thigh to hold him down, Harry froze at once, halting all movement, his breathing stuttered. 

Draco squeezed the soft flesh, hand travelling up, slowly. “Please, please, alpha. Just a little?" He didn't sound like himself to his own ears anymore.

"Okay fine." Voice tight, Harry placed a hand on Draco's jaw, it was warm, and Draco melted against the touch, leaning into it, he felt safe, and he fought to keep his eyes open and on Harry, worried that if he closed them the alpha would use that chance to run away, because he looked like he was going to bolt any second, like doing this was painful for him.

Draco's eyes flashed, he tiled his head to nuzzle his nose against the palm of the latter's hand, sighing, he breathed in. Harry quickly pulled his hand away. "Well, that was great," He yawned, Draco tried to blink the daze away. "Wow, I am so tired, time to go to bed, seriously-" He cut himself off when Draco took both of his hands and placed them back on himself, both sides of his face. 

"You call that scenting? You can do better than that." He scowled, pursuing his lips, Harry stared at him, but when Draco let go of his hands, they stayed where they were for a beat, his fingers moving against his cheeks, one of them stayed on his jaw, while the other travelled down to his neck, he rubbed there and against his shoulder, but that was more to warm him up. 

"You feel cold." Harry murmured.

"I am not." He was anything but, and his breath hitched when Harry applied some more pressure, hands surer, firmer, the hand on his face dropped to rest on his shoulder, holding him there, Draco was patient, but he could feel himself becoming wet. 

With Harry dropping his guard, Draco quickly got into his lap, the alpha tensed, and Draco used this as an opportunity to lean in and peck him. "Draco-" Harry opened his mouth, not a good idea because he quickly licked into it for a proper snog, muffling whatever protests the alpha had. 

Harry wasn't pushing him away, but he wasn't enthusiastically kissing back, or touching him, the latter's hands were away from him in mid air. Draco leaned away for air, just enough to pant against Harry's lips, and he whimpered, shivering when the cold breeze finally got to him, hitting his naked back. 

He wasn't going to stop now, so he ducked to lick at the latter's scent gland, moaning against it, ignoring the way the boy flinched when Draco grazed his fangs over the area, he could feel himself so close to coming already. 

"Get off me, I will help you to your room." 

The omega gave a disagreeing whine. "No, please, spend my heat with me, I spent your rut with you, so you have to-"

"No, Draco off, now." Tone urgent, he began lifting Draco off him so easily he got scared he would manage and quickly wrapped his arms around him, pressing his weight on the brunet, Harry had to lean on an arm not to fall backwards. 

Draco snarled. "Don't push me away, can't you just forgive me already? How bloody long is it going to take? I am not a patient fucking person." Five days of Harry avoiding him was his limit.

Harry's eyes went big, they were so, so green. "I have nothing to forgive you for, you don't owe me anything. I made you have sex with me, now you can't think straight because of your heat, again. You told Molly today you don't want anyone to help you," 

"I can assure you I won't be at all angry at you tomorrow, so-" 

"Fuck." Harry turned his head towards the door, leaning back enough to reach for the handle and open it. "Luna! I need you! It's an emergency!" He shouted, Draco gasped, putting a hand on his mouth, but it was too late, both Luna and Ginny were there in seconds with their wands out. 

"Oh." Ginny exclaimed, one sniff was enough for her to realise what was going on, the two girls put their wands down. "Oh wow." She covered her nose. 

"Go away." Draco snarled at the ginger girl, her presence right now was grating on his nerves, why did Harry have to shout? They weren't alone now, he wanted to be alone with the alpha, just the two of them, he wanted- He snapped out of it when Harry yanked his hand away from his mouth and held it tightly by the wrist, he did the same with the other one, restraining him. 

"He went into heat, I need you to get Ron and Molly, so they can get him to his room." Draco wanted to say that he will go on his own if Harry goes with him, but he was still sane enough to be embarrassed about Ginny's and Luna's presence. Luna quickly did as she was told, disappearing inside.

"Don't do this," He murmured. 

Ginny hovered for a moment, before clicking her tongue and grabbing Draco by his arm, he flinched, trying to shrug her off, but she grabbed him again. "Okay, wow." She repeated. "Off you go, I am sure we are all very tired,” 

Before Draco could try to push her away, Harry grabbed her wrist, squeezing it until the alpha girl winced in pain, letting go of him, and Harry released the hold he had on her so she could step back.

"Don't touch him." Harry growled, Draco snarled at her, she threw her hands up, eyes wide. 

"Alight? Jeez? Fine, I am gone, enjoy getting molested, Harry." And she went inside, leaving them alone again. 

Draco knew that at any second Molly and Ron will be coming to make sure he would go to his room; they will lock him in there so he wouldn't pull this again. But he was going to spend as much time on Harry's lap as he could before that. 

"Last chance, it will be your loss." He lifted his brows, they can still make it to the shed and lock themselves in before Molly catches them, Harry shook his head. "Can you not reject me? Are you ill?" He reached for Harry’s face, cupping it despite him still holding his wrists, he made the boy lean forward, eye to eye. “Just look at me, no one rejects me.” Harry rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile on his face. 

"Shush." 

"I love you." He had to say it, realising he forgot before. “What can I do for you to believe me?” 

"Maybe… try telling me that in a week? Once you feel better?" 

Draco nodded, if that was what it took for him to believe him, he will. 

Chapter Text

Draco was leaning against the kitchen counter, munching on what Luna told him were 'cornflakes' in distaste, he could literally taste the cheapness of this breakfast, basically cardboard if he she didn't advise him to add copious amount of unhealthy sugar, was this supposed to be nutritious?

In his house he had crepes, pancakes and the likes for breakfast with a side dish of fruit, a whole, healthy breakfast, and he was sick of eating the same thing everyday, cornflakes or eggs in various forms, being here was also the first time in his life he experienced eating left overs, it left a poorly taste in his mouth.

He didn't mind until now, he was blindsided by the need to be a good omega who just went along with everything due to his heat, but he just finished his heat yesterday, and he was cranky, why? Because this was the worst heat of his life, his feelings were justified. 

Half of his heat he spent being a pathetic bitch unbecoming of a Malfoy omega, on his knees, arse high and his eager, wet hole leaking and twitching for a dick that would never come while sobbing into a pillow, all he could think about was the need to be carrying pups of an alpha who blatantly ignored him in his most vulnerable state, who bloody does that? Who ignores a treasure of an omega like him? He was so frustrated knowing Harry was so close but not with him, an irrational feeling of not being good enough- a feeling he experienced plenty while repairing the cabinets, enough to last him his whole life really. 

Before this year he never experienced that feeling, because it was irrational, Draco knew he had everything a desirable omega needed, but after everything that happened, the mistakes he committed, Harry being there and refusing to come to him made him feel rejected, incompetent as an omega, like Harry didn't like him as much as he thought the boy did, he was slowly becoming convinced that Harry really managed to get over him throughout the months of separation and possibly spite. 

And he told Harry that he loved him because of his heat (bloody hell, he didn't even get an 'I love you' back), he wasn't sure they were that far yet, sure they slept with each other, and Draco wanted Harry with every fibber of his weak mind, but they didn't know anything about each other, he didn't love him yet, that usually came after getting to know a person, he thought he did, but it was all Draco's exaggerated imagination of how The Boy Who Lived should have been, real Harry was completely different. 

What Draco knew about Harry was that he always woke up at ungodly hours to start preparing breakfast for everyone, it must have something to do with him being forced to cook for his abusive family, he presumed now that he knew he was made to cook for them.

He wanted to catch Harry by himself, he could already scent the latter walking around upstairs, presumably using the bathroom. 

He just had time to finish his bowl of cereal in a rush, correct his jumper to make sure it was clean and straight and casually lean on the counter in a practised, relaxed, cool manner before the boy was coming downstairs. 

“Hey.” Harry said as he entered the kitchen, Draco nodded in acknowledgment, waiting for him to say something to know where they were standing with each other. “Are you feeling okay?” 

Draco tilted his head, he saw himself in the mirror today, he had horrible redness around his eyes, his skin was sickly pale, his lips were dry, he had horrible bed hair that still didn’t go back to normal fully, his whole body was throbbing and his hands were shaking a bit, honestly, Dark Arts put less strain on the body than spending a heat alone.

“Do I look okay? I've been better.” 

Harry frowned, opened his mouth to say something, but then shrugged and turned to go to the pantry. 

“What did you want to say?” 

Harry’s shoulders stiffened and he hunched his head, he wasn’t facing him. “Nothing.”

Draco furrowed his brows, was he thinking badly of him? Only Draco himself had a pass to say he looked like shit, and sometimes Pansy, but only if he couldn’t be bothered to condemn her. 

“What,” He started again, slowly. “Did you want to say?” 

Harry looked back, holding a pan and a bowl of eggs, he put it down onto the counter. 

“I wanted to say that you always look alright, at least to me.” He murmured. 

Draco snickered, perking up at the weak compliment. Alright? Just alright? He was bloody gorgeous, Harry was honestly lucky Draco was already over the moon enamoured with him, because those kinds of compliments, although endearing, wouldn't be enough to court him.

“Harry, can you come here a sec?” He asked, still leaning over the counter, Harry frowned again. 

“What for?” 

“It’s urgent.” Draco smirked, Harry was hesitant for a moment before walking over to him, confused. “Good,” With seeker's speed, the omega leaned in quickly for a peck before Harry could react, the latter gasped and pulled away just slightly. “-morning.”

Stepping away, Harry he let out a breath. “You can’t be doing that.” 

“No?” Draco tried to be confident, after all anyone would want him and the irrational thought telling him Harry didn’t and that’s why he was pushing him away was stupid. He reached for Harry’s hand. “But my heat is over, I still like you, you know what that means, don't you?” He took the hand and brought it up to his lips, closing his eyes he kissed the bite scar softly, then nuzzled against it to get Harry’s amazing scent on himself. 

His eyes flickered open, Harry’s eyes were wider than normal, but his face betrayed nothing. 

“Do you know what your scent smells like?” Draco asked. 

“Um, Ron told me I smell like an apple dessert, pretty boring.” 

“You smell like so much more, like my mate, my alpha.” He breathed, Harry took a big breath in. “Apples are my favourite.” 

Harry was silent long enough to make him think like he was making a fool out of himself, letting go when they heard steps coming from upstairs, the house was waking up. 

“You want to help me with breakfast?” Harry asked unsurely, Draco huffed as discretely as he could, he didn’t particularly want to do any labour, but it was better than the brunet avoiding him, any time they could spend together before the inevitable he would treasure. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco sat himself next to Harry once breakfast was ready and everyone came to eat. 

The alpha wasn’t avoiding him, even showed him how to fry an egg omelette on a pan, and flip it over in air, Draco failed that particular action, honestly, he even struggled to flick it up in the air high enough, but he was very impressed by Harry doing it so smoothly, he never thought he would find something so mundane hot but he did. 

Now, everyone were eating, Draco was done with his food, and spent the rest of his time messing with the left overs to pretend he had something to do while the rest talked. Except of Luna and occasionally Fleur, the family was ignoring him at the table, no one even said hi to him when they came down.

Not like their approval or friendship was important to him, he didn’t need the approval of people like them so he shouldn’t care. 

Then, there was a hand touching his own under the table, and he glanced over at Harry, his brows high in question. 

”Are you really feeling fine? Your scent turned sour.” He whispered. 

Draco nodded, not wanting to think that he got upset because he wanted friendship of people he always considered dirt under his shoe.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

The trio were training in duels today, fighting interchangeably against each other.

And he watched them, he had nothing better to do.

Feeling absolutely excluded from the fun, he couldn't believe no one asked if he wanted to join, he realised he wasn't going to get invited so if he wanted to duel with Harry he would actually have to ask himself, he hated having to ask for things, especially to be invited to a social event, thinking it was his right, he didn't think so anymore, he wasn't stupid, but he still wished they included him at least in this, after all they already locked him out of the dining room whenever the Order of the phoenix had meetings. 

It's been the third time they were training and there was no point in brooding on the side-lines. He stood up and walked over to trio, Hermione and Harry lowered their wands to give him attention. 

"I want to duel with you, I am so bored. That way at least everyone will have a pair." 

Ron laughed. "You? Can you even duel?" 

Draco frowned when Ron and Harry exchanged looks with each other and snickered, he pursued his lips. "Yes, Ronald." 

"Last time Harry wiped the table with you." Ron teased. 

The omega hissed. "I don't remember him actually winning that duel, I quite remember we had to leave it unfinished." 

"Because you conjured a snake, we were supposed to disarm each other, you weren't playing fair." Harry reminded him. 

"Boohoo, excuses, excuses." Draco turned to Harry and smirked, he spread his arms. "I think you are all just scared of accepting my challenge. Are you scared, Potter?" He drawled, lifting his chin up and he could see the spark of challenge in the alpha's eyes, the hold on his wand tightening. 

Ron rolled his eyes. "We have real-life experience against people who were trying to kill us, Malfoy." 

"Alright, whatever. I think I can still win with all of you." He shrugged, and now even Harry laughed. 

"You know, I actually let you win the last time we fought, Draco." 

Right, he knew that, but what Harry didn't know was now he also had real life experience in duelling against strong opponents. "I am way better than I was the last time we fought. Plus, that's some proper loser talk you're spouting, you don't want to face me in a duel? Scared you will embarrass yourself?" He taunted in a baby tone. "Are you shaking in your pants, don't want to lose against an omega? You think you're a tough thing because you win with Ronald? Maybe he is just a shite duellist?" 

"Show him, mate." Ron encouraged him now with a little shove, fired up to prove him wrong. 

"Fine. But I won't be holding back this time." Harry brough his wand up, preparing to get into a proper duelling position. 

"Me too, then." 

"No dark magic." Hermione quickly interjected. 

Draco hummed and smirked, walking away to put distance between himself and Harry. "Alright, then I will be holding back a little." He got into a stance. 

The duel lasted but minutes and still it was exhilarating, it was a pleasant change fighting with someone who wasn't a dark wizard, without being scared that if you lose you will get punished or looked down upon, his father, mother and aunt weren't here to see him lose, no one was. 

Duelling with the boy was electric, Harry's magic was strong, and he quickly adapted to any spell Draco threw at him, his defence and offense were both on a high level suitable of someone who had to fight for their life before, whilst Draco was definitely better at a strong offensive, relying hugely on charms instead of combat spells because he was always better at them, he barely relayed on shielding spells because his aunt told him that concentrating on defensive is a sign of doubt in one's combat prowess, their reflexes were more of a match now, after Draco spent months trying to improve his spell casting because the last time he fought with Harry, Harry was quicker and indeed if he wanted to, he could have won their fight in the bathroom. 

Draco won with Harry using Expulso on a tree Harry was hiding behind, the explosion caused him to cough and splutter, glasses flying off his nose at the impact. 

He walked over to the boy. "And while you are doing that, I cast a killing curse and you're dead, in a real fight, that is." Draco explained, they were both catching their breaths. Ron and Hermione came closer. 

"That was actually well played, Malfoy. You used Bombarda and Engorgio on the environment to block Harry's escape routes and restrict his movement, he had nowhere to go." Ron analysed the fight like he was really impressed with him, and it made Draco feel surprisingly nice.

"Yes, because Harry's magic is strong and he is a good dueller, but he lacks in planning." He explained, Harry, who had to accio his glasses because they were knocked off during the explosion acknowledged his words with an audible scoff as he walked over. "I bet you didn't notice what I was doing until the end of the fight?" Draco asked him, alarmed that this man was supposed to face off against the strongest wizard soon. 

Harry shook his head, then shrugged. "Next time I will." 

"Next time?" 

Harry smiled. "Yeah, we can go again now, it was fun." 

Draco frowned. "Well, what if there is no next time? You don't have time to be stupid and not pay attention, if this was a real duel you would have been dead." He spoke with a bite, it came across harsher than he wanted to, and Harry looked taken aback. 

"But it wasn't?"

"Do you seriously think you can face You Know Who like this? With this mindset? How?” 

"Um, with a lot of willpower, help and luck? I don't know, it's not like I have a choice," His brows furrowed. "I never said I can beat You Know Who in a duel, believe me, I spent months asking ‘why me’ or ‘how am I going to do this’, okay? You don't need to remind me."

Draco frowned. "So, you don't really know what you are doing, is what you're trying to tell me." 

"Well, Draco, I don't fucking know. Do I look like a God to you? I am doing the best I can over here, I know I can't beat him in a duel, I know I will probably die, but there is nothing I can do about it." He rumbled, Draco was taken aback by his response, this was the first time he openly told him that maybe everything wasn't going to turn out okay. He honestly preferred Harry lying to him and pretending he knew what he was doing. 

"Uh, okay. I apologise, I," -Don't want you to die, he wanted to say. "Was surprised, is all." 

"Well, I am not an amazing, powerful, unbeatable hero everyone thinks I am, I’m exhausted, so yeah, be disappointed." Harry looked away, Hermione was sending Draco a death stare while Ron kicked a stray rock out of the way for lack of anything helpful to say. 

"I never said I was disappointed." Draco groaned, his words were being very misunderstood right now. "I just don't want you to die, you have to pay attention." All four of them were quiet for a beat. "I am not your enemy anymore, I am sorry it took me so long, but I'm not being malicious right now."  

The brunet's shoulders eased down, he looked at him, nodding slowly. "Yeah, sorry." He wiped dirt off his nose, only making it smudge. "Good duel, you are better than you used to be." Harry praised him, Draco could breathe again with a change of topic, he didn't want to think of the alpha dying. 

"Yes, my aunt worked me to the bone because she said I was weak and useless." 

Harry gave him a look. "If it helps, I never thought you were ever weak or useless." 

"Yeah, you are just a bloody coward, it's a very Slytherin trait, apparently." Ron cut in, bitterly. "So, all this tactical duelling experience is still for nothing." 

"Um, it's actually called self-preservation, not cowardice? Maybe you should all try it sometimes? Might save your life in the future?" He mused. "I will not be shamed for choosing to live." Harry, who stood next to him winced, but Draco didn't want to listen the fairy tales of them winning and how much of a possibility it was, the chance was slim if any, and everyone who directly and proudly opposed the Dark Lord were going to be punished, some more severely than others, by not being seen retaliating against the Lord maybe Draco would at least be spared his life when the time came.

"Whatever, duel me now, I really want to hex your arse." Ron offered, Draco took the offer, just to distract himself from his own thoughts. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco, of course easily beat Ron, and it didn't take him as long as it did him to beat Harry, Draco had a duel against Hermione after, who wanted to try herself against him, she overpowered him, she was a skilled opponent and despite not using Dark Arts whatsoever, she knew more duelling spells than him, some that he never heard of and he didn't know how to counter, it didn't take her long, she fired a spell after a spell and before Draco realised he got overwhelmed. 

He congratulated her on her win, telling her it was a good duel, it was something, not insulting her for the win, she seemed surprised with his lack of bite. 

He duelled Harry again after a short break. This time Harry fought with ferocity, completely on the offensive, like he was trying to prove himself. At the end, he used Expelliarmus to steal his wand from him, securing himself a win. 

"See? You just had luck last time." Harry joked lightly as he walked over to give him his wand back.

Draco smiled. "I wasn't expecting Expelliarmus, it's a kindergarten spell, I hardly think it should be used in a life or death duel, it won't save you from Avada Kedavra." He admonished him with a light tone, so Harry wouldn't think he was thinking badly of his skill again.

Harry shrugged. “Who knows, maybe I can take him by surprise and disarm him? What can he do without a wand?” 

Just then Draco looked down with the intention to take his own wand back and saw that he was using a new wand. 

"Speaking of wands, that’s not yours." Harry looked down at the wand before putting it away in his back pocket.

"Oh right, I stole it from one of the snatchers, I used it at your home, too." 

"Really? I didn't even notice..." He was in shock seeing Harry Potter captured in his house, so much then so he could have missed such detail. "That means, you're not fighting with your full potential." Draco pointed out, that meant that the earlier win against Harry wasn't valid, he was at a disadvantage, he realised that Harry was evidently way more powerful than he had expected. He swallowed, impressed yet again. "I didn't know, is it working well?" 

Harry shrugged. "As long as it does what I tell it to I'm not complaining." 

Draco will never understand how people could be fine with sub par things. "Are you a master of this wand?"

"I think Hermione disarmed the snatcher."

Draco hummed, Harry just disarmed him and didn't give him the wand back yet, he was it's master just as much as he was. He bit his lip, looking down at his wand in the latter's loose grasp, Harry noticed he was staring and lifted it up for him to take again.

He shook his head. "No." The alpha tilted his head in confusion. "Try using it in a real fight, you disarmed me, technically it's yours." 

Harry stilled. "What? Draco, no, I-" He paused, speechless. "I can't take your wand-"

"It's fine." 

"No…no it’s not, you won't have anything to protect yourself with." 

"Just take the wand, I won't be of any use anyway, I won't fight against my family, I will be gone soon.” Harry’s expression fell just slightly, as if he thought that at the end he would stay. “Try the wand, it will serve you.” 

Harry looked down at the wand, held it properly, and flicked it to test the grip; then he looked back at Draco, lips quirked into a smile. 

“Huh, you really don’t want me to die, maybe you do like me.” Harry quipped bitterly, like he was joking, which meant he still believed Draco wasn't serious with his attraction to him. 

He tried not to get overly bashful of his behaviour towards someone who still didn’t acknowledge his mating offer, they weren’t even dating, and once Draco left and perhaps, if Harry survived, will he have the guts to approach the alpha again? After the latter ignored his advances so plainly?

He could give him so much more than the wand, if only Harry wanted. 

”Of course, I care for you, I don’t just let anyone do the things you did to me.” He looked away, too embarrassed, but he could feel the boy’s eyes boring into him. “Maybe you won’t die.” He tried, just because now he knew that Harry himself knew this might end badly, and he wanted to reassure him, even if he was lying. 

“Maybe I won’t.” 

Lighten the mood, Draco. 

“You did survive Avada Kedavra once, who is to say you can’t do it again.” He forced out, Harry’s eyes widened slightly, and he chuckled softly. 

“You don’t know how to comfort people, do you?” But he was smiling now, so Draco assumed he didn’t offend him with jumping to the worst conclusions. “Let’s just hope it won’t get to that.” 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco was sitting cross legged, watching Harry duel Ron whilst using his wand, it seemed to listen to him well, like it was made for him. 

He looked down at the spare wand Harry gave him, he wasn't it's master, he could tell it won't listen to him for any complex spells.

Draco didn’t want to give his wand away, he never thought he will like someone enough to give his wand to them, but it was really the least he could do to help after everything he had done to aid the wrong side of the war. 

Hermione sat a beat away, not right next to him but close enough, she cleared her throat and put her book down. 

“He deserves so much more than you.” She said it with so much softness and sadness, Draco stiffened and glanced at her. “He went through so much, maybe he thinks he is not going to survive this, that’s why he didn’t reject you yet.” She pondered out loud, and it was hard for Draco to argue against her when she used that tone- that tone of someone who truly wanted the best for their friend. 

Draco noticed it, of course he did, the way Harry and Hermione would gravitate towards each other amongst everyone else, the way they seemed to understand each other just by looking, their hushed conservations that sometimes excluded Ron, like they were the only two who would understand. 

Something happened between them two that made them that much closer than they were, where before the trio, Harry, Ron and Hermione were best friends, now it felt like Harry and the girl were family, and Hermione was especially protective of him. 

Her disliking him this much was probably affecting Harry’s behaviour with him, something he didn’t consider much before. 

“Maybe,” He started slowly. “He actually likes me?”

Hermione grimaced, tearing her eyes off her friend to look at him. “I will never understand why. You are a horrible person, and you didn’t change, you are just pretending so he would like you, he knows that.” 

Draco wanted to snap at her to mind her own business, but that wouldn’t help his case. “Of course I didn’t change, I’ve been out of my social circle for two weeks, for Merlin's sake.” He agreed with her, hissing. “But I want to be good for him.” 

“A good person would leave Harry alone, it would do you good too, to find someone you actually have things in common with, someone you wouldn't be ashamed of.”

”Well, good that I am not a good person yet.” He didn’t see how he even could leave Harry, seeing as his omega already accepted him as his alpha, no one other that the alpha could make Draco stop pursuing him now. “If he accepts me, I want to be his mate, and I don’t care what you have to say, I know I treated you all horribly, but I am not that person anymore.” Every time he looked back at his behaviour at school, he couldn’t believe he was ever that cruel, at it was mere months ago, felt like forever after everything that happened. 

“Harry has a tendency to be taken advantage of, he wasn’t treated well, in the past, he didn't have nice things, and you’re the kind of person who would take advantage of that,” She spoke in a quiet murmur, Draco could barely hear her, she was staring at her friends again. “I know, as an omega you would naturally want to care for your mate, but, it's just that, your instincts, in reality, you're not a caring person. But if you make him happy, I will accept you, but if you hurt him… or you tell him he is less than you one more time, I will do something I won’t be proud of, but it will be something I won’t regret.” 

“Okay…” He didn't quite agree with everything she said, but knew he deserved it, she had no reason to like or forgive him, he didn’t do anything to be forgiven. “We might never see eye to eye, but we both care for him-“ 

“When are you leaving? You gave your word.” She ground out.

He sighed, someone had to bring it up. “I can be gone by the end of this week.”

”Great,” They were quiet for a moment, but it felt like eternity sitting next to her, knowing she didn’t approve of him. 

But then a spell flashed bright, their heads snapped when they heard Harry’s scoff of pain, when they looked, he fell down to his knees, clutching his shoulder. 

In no time, all three of them were next to him, Hermione kneeled, fretting over him, checking for damage, Ron was apologising profusely, saying that he didn’t think it would hurt that bad. 

Then, Harry dropped onto the grass, groaning, Draco didn’t know what to do, but he didn’t have to, because the boy chuckled and panted out that it was a joke and that he had enough of training for today. 

“Bloody hell, Harry!” Ron snarled and kicked the alpha gently. “Next time be normal and say that you don’t want to continue, we can’t afford an injury now.” 

“Seriously, I knew this was too dangerous,” Hermione huffed, her bushy hair seemingly even puffier when she got angry. “And you shouldn’t joke around like that, what if something actually happened?”  

“I think we all need to relax.” He said, Draco’s shoulders slumped, and despite his conversation with Hermione he let out a laugh, Harry looked at him then and smiled cheekily, it was the timing after all the horrible things Hermione said, Draco laughed, berated at once by Harry’s two friends for condoning that behaviour.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

“Love, can you go with Luna today to pick some mushrooms for dinner tomorrow?” Molly asked the next day, the two women and Harry were busy in the kitchen, preparing quick meals for when Molly and Arthur had to leave, Draco was munching on an apple, loitering in the kitchen, pretending he was hungry, but he just wanted to be around his alpha. 

Draco squinted his eyes at the woman, not liking this one bit, he didn’t want them two to leave into the forest together, Luna was going to present, if she presented next to Harry with no one to stop them Draco’s chances would be over, it wouldn’t be pre-heat anymore, Luna already had that in the dungeons, she would be ripe for the taking and even if Harry could somehow control his urges during Draco’s and Ron’s preheats, it would be impossible to stop himself from mating with Luna if she was in full heat. 

“Yeah, sure.” Harry said absentmindedly, him and the omega girl were standing next to the counter top alarmingly close to each other, peeling a large stock of potatoes, Draco walked over to them, putting himself in between in a quite possessive gesture that none of the two oblivious people noticed, he grabbed a knife and attempted to help them peel. “Today?” Molly nodded. “Okay.” 

“No.” Draco whispered, the brunet raised a brow at him. 

“No?” 

“No, it’s not okay.” He tried again, as nice as he could manage without demanding Harry stay, like he wanted to do. He didn’t want to out Luna, but he wasn’t going to let them go alone together. “Don’t go.”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked, also whispering, Draco glanced at the girl, who ignored the conversation. What was her deal? She knew this could be dangerous for her if she went, only reason Draco could see why she wasn’t protesting against this was that she wanted Harry to go to that forest with her. 

Oh no… not on his watch they won’t. 

“You’re butchering these potatoes.” Harry pointed out, teasingly, he wrapped a hand around Draco’s, around the handle of the knife, the omega shuddered, his grip on the handle going mushy, Harry took the knife from him. “Go sit down, we will do it.” 

He couldn’t even feel mad that the alpha decided he wasn’t much help, he missed this kind of contact with him, immediately he did as he was told, forgetting his mission to keep the two away from each other, remembering as soon as he sat down and saw Harry and Luna next to each other again, Harry was telling something to her ear, when she replied, he burst out laughing, as if she said something fucking hilarious, Draco never made him laugh like this. 

Draco aggressively chomped on his apple, he was surely prettier than her- what was he saying? He was prettier than her, since when did he start doubting himself so much? 

He waited for the two to be done peeling the potatoes and caught Luna in the hallway when she was on her way upstairs.

He grabbed her arm to stop her from walking.

“What are you scheming with Harry?” He went straight to the point, whispering, the girl blinked at him. 

“Are you jealous of him and me going to the forest together when my heat is due any moment?” She asked, no bite behind it, a genuine question that made Draco hold back the nastiest of sounds. 

“Yes, stay away from him, do you like him?” 

“I don’t like him in that way,” She quickly explained, messing with a strand of her hair. “But if nature chooses for me to present, it would be meant to be, I am not going to interfere.” 

Draco stared, buzzing inside, he could not believe it, the girl was insane, she really thought that if she went into heat and there was a random alpha around to fuck her silly and pump her full of pups it would be nature taking it’s course, like in the olden days.

He let her go, there was no point talking to her, she couldn’t be reasoned with, she needed a mind healer. 

Speaking directly with Harry will be a better way to resolve this, he apologised for cornering her and went back to the kitchen. 

Harry glanced at him after he wiped his now clean hands on a table cloth.

“What was all that about before? Are you okay?” Harry whispered as he approached him, Molly was still in the kitchen. “You don’t want me to go?” 

Draco nodded. “Yes, it's really important that you sit this one out, someone else can go with her." He pursued his lips. "Perhaps Ginny has time to spare," He turned to find her, deciding that if Ginny claims the girl, he wouldn't have to worry about Luna wanting his alpha, he would be doing Ginny a favour, really. "I will go and ask her." 

"Hey, hey, wait a second," Harry spun him around before he could leave, after he did, his hand stayed on Draco's shoulder, holding him in place. "What do you mean?"

Draco shrugged, mind halfway somewhere else- on Harry's kissable, plush lips, they were right in his line of vision, so close. "Going there with Luna isn’t going to end good for you.” Luna didn’t even tell him she is an omega, which was obviously her evil plan, take him by surprise, steal Draco's mate from him.  

Harry frowned, leaning closer to him, Draco didn't lean away, he bit his lip instead. “But why?” 

“Trust me, don’t go into the forest with her.” He hissed, he was very close to outing her, but he realised that he was a bit protective when it came to people of his gender. Harry’s features hardened.

The brunet looked around to see if anyone heard the conversation, but everyone were scattered over the house. "Come with me."

He raised his brows. "Okay." He would go anywhere with him, the alpha took him by the forearm and guided him out of the kitchen with a strong grip.

Draco’s eyes widened at the domineering gesture, trying to calm down his heart rate, but he still got aroused. Harry guided them outside and behind the house where they were surrounded by high greenery. He felt his throat go dry and a pleasant sensation down below at the thought that the alpha took him somewhere they were completely alone and in such an assertive way as well. 

“Why-“ 

“What do you know?” Harry demanded, his whole demeanour screamed closed off and his scent was sour, something was wrong, Draco recoiled at the smell and tone alike, it assaulted him after he imagined something much more pleasant taking place. 

“What?”

The alpha’s eyes hardened, he scoffed. “Draco, who is in the forest? An ambush? Are they getting ready to attack? Tell me what you know, we can figure this out, it’s not too late.” 

Draco watched Harry for a good moment, just taking in the situation, he took a step back, a horrible feeling in his chest. 

“No,” He breathed, shocked. “There is no ambush, no conspiracy, what are you on about? You think I plotted against you?” He had to make sure. 

Harry was still wary, but he was also confused now. “You said that it will be better for me not to go into the forest because something will happen, you realise how that sounds, right? What will happen?” 

“Something else.” He said quickly and cursed when Potter scoffed.

”Then tell me what, you can’t say these kinds of things and assume-“ 

“I can say whatever I want, it’s you who is jumping to conclusions,” He corrected, getting frustrated, frustrated because he would give the alpha anything he wanted, he gave him his wand and the boy still questioned him. “I gave you my wand, all I want is a bit of trust, but you don’t trust me, no one here does.” 

“Draco, what is going to happen in the forest? I want to trust you, but you know something I don’t.” 

Draco shook his head. “Do you honestly think I came here on orders?” 

“I didn't until now, don’t change the topic.” Harry snapped. “All I am asking you is to tell me what you know, if it's nothing bad then you can tell me.” 

Draco bit his lip, balling his fists at his sides. “Luna is an omega!” He threw his hands in defeat. “She had her pre-heat at the manor, but I gave her suppressants to stop her heat, and it can happen any second now, when it does it will be very strong,” He explained, each word a furious, low rumble. “I was jealous because I don’t want you to bond, because I keep thinking I have a chance with you, but you don’t trust me one bit. Why did you even help me?” All the anger left Harry, leaving him wide eyed. 

“Because I still like you.” He whispered. 

“Then give me a chance! Just trust me.”

Harry looked pained, but he didn’t even take time to think before speaking. “I can’t, I was willing to, back when I begged you to join us, but you betrayed me, I can't trust you,” Draco wanted to cry, not because he was hurt, he was angry at himself, it was all because of him. “It should be enough that everyone is letting you stay after how you treated them, you shouldn’t demand more.” 

Draco looked away, he was feeling more shame than he ever did. So, in the end, in Harry's eyes he was a horrible person who did irreversible damage to their relationship. “So… that's it, you don't think I can change, you don't want me." He murmured, head low, his hand ghosted over his other, where the bite mark was to calm down, he found himself doing that at the manor when he was in distress. 

“No.” Harry’s voice was tight now, laced with so much suppressed emotion. “I want you so much, for a long time, but-“ Draco cut him off, he couldn’t take this anymore. 

“Then please, give me a chance, until I’m gone-“ 

“But it isn’t enough, not right now, I don't want-“ 

“Did Hermione say something?” Draco cut him off. 

“No, just, you are you.” 

“I know I was mean and cruel, I caused people you care about harm," Draco was digging his own grave here, he knew that after all the damage to their relationship and the unrelenting, heartless bullying of his friends it was a miracle Harry was even spearing him a second of his day. "Everyone I knew my whole life acted like this to anyone who wasn't a pureblood, I know better now, sort of, but you can help me.” Draco tried to counter. 

“You don't even know me, all we ever did was fuck.” 

Draco bit his lip. “But I want to get to know you, I am not asking you to date me, just… until I leave, I will be gone soon.” 

“C'mon, do you really think you wouldn't be ashamed to be with me publicly after this is over? Wouldn't that bring insult to your bloodline? Or something like that.” The alpha wasn't looking at him, and he sounded self-conscious.  "It's not going to be like this, people would know."

"I don't care." 

“I don’t believe you.”

Draco bit his lip. “We might be dead soon, Harry.” He took Harry’s left hand and brought it to his lips, he kissed the bite mark again. “Please, be mine for the next few days? That’s all I am asking for.”

Harry stared, then pulled away. 

Draco's eyes widened after he was dismissed, he grabbed Harry's shoulder to make him stop. "Alpha please, give me a chance, I can be better, I want to be." He whined. 

Harry's lips pursued. "I need to show you something later, just you and me." 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

They sat on the sofa together, everyone went upstairs to sleep, Draco turned to face him completely, showing he was listening after Harry asked him to stay behind. “It’s about You Know Who…I think you need to see this.” Draco felt uneasy, but he nodded regardless, Harry turned towards him fully, sitting cross legged, he pulled out Draco’s wand. "Do you want me to show you?" 

"Yes." 

“It’s in my memories.” 

Draco was worried, he was never as skilled in Legilimency as he was in Occlumency, he tried to learn, but he always found it easier to close himself off rather than force himself into someone’s head, understand their thoughts and emotions perfectly when he couldn't fully understand his own half of the time. 

“Are you sure? My Legilimency… can do with improvement.” The boy nodded, he was acting bravely stupid again. “Alright, well, I will need you to imagine what you want to show me as clearly as you can, I won’t find it myself. If you feel pain or discomfort… don’t panic, it won’t be intentional, just tell me.” 

Last thing he needed was to scramble Harry Potter’s brain when so much was at stake. 

“You will do fine, if you mess up, Hermione and Ron won’t let it slide.” He smirked, if he was trying to be convincing, it wasn’t working. 

He huffed. “It’s your fault for asking.” He shuffled closer, pulling his legs under himself and took his wand from the latter’s grasp. “Alright, think about the memory you want to show me, visualise it clearly, I want you to guide me towards it, tell me when you’re ready.” 

They both closed their eyes, Draco tried to prepare himself for whatever the latter thought was so important, and when Harry whispered that he is ready Draco lifted his wand and after a moment of hesitation forced the spell out of his parted lips. 

In seconds, he was in Harry’s head, he frowned when he couldn’t see anything immediately, this is exactly what he meant when he said he needed practice. 

The atmosphere in Harry’s head was something Draco wasn’t prepared for, it wasn’t calm, it wasn’t remotely soothing. 

There was a feeling of impending doom, and if Draco had a physical body, he would have whipped around to check for the danger he was sure he would find encompassing him in the darkness. It was terrifying, because Draco was sure he would have to face this danger, even if he didn’t want to, he realised this weren’t his thoughts but Harry’s, and he felt the boy’s resignation, like he accepted that being under constant threat was a part of him, but there was also determination, like he knew that he could only move forward. 

This didn’t feel like a recent feeling, more like something that was a part of Harry’s being and everyday thoughts, like this was Harry, and it made Draco sad because he probably added to this feeling throughout the years of bullying and pranks he subjected the alpha to. 

Suddenly, before he could dwell on the latter’s mental state, a visual appeared in his minds eye, surrounding him. He was in a dungeon, and there was a tall, young Slytherin talking. 

Tom Riddle, the boy’s name was, and he was The Dark Lord, looking like a human, he was just a normal boy, angry at his muggle father for leaving. 

It was so human, the reason why, to hate a whole group because of a grudge, classifying and punishing them all for a mistake of just one, it wasn’t ever about pure magic, or preserving the Wizarding ways, the reason was selfish, not noble, another distinctively human characteristic, Draco realised, it was laughable, how spiteful and proud humans could be, and what they could do when wronged.  

When the memory ended, Draco ended the spell, he watched Harry open his eyes, but as soon as he did, the brunets face scrunched up, and he reached for Draco. 

“You good?” Harry’s hand hovered for a second when Draco realised the wetness on his face, he was crying. 

“I- what?” He quickly wiped it off, ducking his head to hide from the latter’s gaze. Instead of calming himself down he sobbed, surprised by his own reaction. “Yeah, I’m good, thank you for showing me this,” He looked up at the alpha, who had an unreadable expression on his face, Draco looked away again, he didn’t usually cry. “I should have believed you. You don’t know how much this means to me,” He said truthfully, it was as if a heavy load dropped off Draco’s shoulders, like there was no reason to continue holding any animosity to muggle born or half-bloods anymore, but he felt worse, because there was never a reason, he was lied to and he believed the lies, to the point he hurt others and maybe that’s why he was crying. “I am such an idiot, Harry…” He had to show this to his father, maybe then he would reconsider and run away. 

There was a hand under his chin, Harry guided him to look at him. “You were.” His voice was breathless. “But it’s not your fault.” Every time he said that before, it was as if he was trying to convince himself that it wasn't Draco's fault, but now it sounded like he really thought so. 

"Hermione is right," He didn't want to say this out loud, feeling stupid after he did, it took them both by surprise, admitting it out loud made it feel real, like he was really a horrible person, like it was the first time he truly realised just how bad of a person he actually was. "No wonder you don't want to be with me," He sniffled, waving his wand once to conjure himself a tissue. "I don't deserve you."

The alpha lifted a brow. "You really think so?" Draco nodded, wiping his eyes, short of blowing his nose into the tissue but that wasn't proper etiquette when someone was looking.

Harry’s eyes fell down to his lips, Draco, feeling his whole face wet after tears trickled down his cheeks ran a tongue over his salty, plush lips, stilling when Harry leaned in, but then the alpha paused, his eyes flickered to meet the omega’s.

”Can I kiss-“

"Yes." Draco closed the rest of the distance between them, Harry groaned against his lips, letting the kiss deepen. 

Draco didn’t have enough when they parted, he chased the alpha’s lips, wanting to get on his lap, but Harry stopped him. 

“After this is all done, if I get out of this alive, then we will talk about… us, okay?” 

He nodded quickly, there was hope now at least. "When this is all over, I will court you." He informed him as per customs. It was usually the alpha's job to court their omega, but in this instance, Draco felt like he needed to show Harry just how much he wanted him to be his mate, that he was going to treasure him the way he deserved to be, not the way Draco treated him until now. 

Harry let out a lovely, surprised laugh.

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Ron and Ginny rounded up on him the next day after Harry no doubt told them he was going to give him another chance after all of this was over. Wanting to put distance between their friend and Draco- who they apparently still both despised even after Draco's best attempt at winning Ron over, they urged him about his leave. 

"You didn't think you could stay here any longer, did you?" Ginny asked him, glaring, she was too close for his liking, he scoffed. 

"No, of course not." He bristled, in all actuality he hoped he would be able to stay here as long as Harry was here, especially now that Draco was getting somewhere with him, he didn't want to leave only to find out Harry was captured or killed, and he wasn't there for him. 

After they kissed and after coming to the realisation that Harry himself didn't think he was going to survive this, he even thought that perhaps he should stay and be by his side, after all, if the boy were to die, Draco, as his omega should be there with him. 

"Then pack your bags and go if you aren't going to help," Ron grumbled, Draco gave him a look, he thought that he managed to get on Ron's good side by now, apparently, he was just tolerating him and giving him Blaise's shirt didn't improve their relationship. 

"What if I would... want to help?" He managed. "Could I stay then?" 

Ron snorted, rolling his eyes. "Yeah right, you help us?" 

He sighed. "I already have someone to pick me up, if you want me gone so much." 

"Okay, who is it? Can they come to pick you up today?" 

Draco shrugged. "It's Blaise, he is in Hogwarts, he told me he has enough and will be going back to his country via portkey, so he can take me with him." 

Ron's eyes widened. "What?" He growled. "Blaise?" He breathed, incredulously now, surprised. 

Draco shrugged. "How many international friends do you think I got? Pansy, Vincent and Greg are all British, not to mention their houses were already searched for me by Death Eaters, I can't trust Victor Krum, I couldn't ask them." 

"So, with all your contacts, you're trying to tell me you only know Blaise outside the country?" Ron repeated, stinking the whole room, his scent was incredibly bitter. "I don't want him here." 

"Ron, it's fine." Ginny tried to calm him down.

"No, it's not fine! He is a coward, and I don't want him anywhere near me!" He growled at his sister, his tone panicked, and Draco realised that Ron must have felt abandoned by the alpha's choice to not stay and fight with him. "Why are all Slytherin's such bloody cowards? All you can do is run away, keep your head down and take it!"

Harry and Hermione barged into the room, wands at hand at the sound of Ron's raised voice and the horrible smell emitting off him, lowering them when they saw that it was just the three of them. 

"What's going on?" Hermione asked, Ginny shrugged, Draco walked over to Harry, slowly, he reached for the alpha's hand, brushing his against the latter's in a silent question for permission, Harry looked down at his hand and after a beat he took it, interlacing their fingers, raising a brow in question at Ron's outburst. 

Molly and Arthur rushed into the room as well now at the commotion, asking what was going on, eyes landing on Draco.

He raised his hand in the air to show he wasn't a threat. "I didn't do anything."

"Blaise is going to take Draco away to his house in Italy, Ron freaked out." Ginny explained.

Molly frowned. "Who is Blaise?" 

Ron spluttered, Draco frowned. "The Blaise Zabini who is courting your son?" The parent's looked confused. "Oh, you don't know." 

The ginger omega ducked his head at the look his mother gave him. "Well, he is not courting me anymore, because he obviously isn't around," He grumbled. "Out of his own choice." He added in a mumble to himself. 

"When is he coming?" Molly asked. 

"Um, I would need to owl him, but he could most likely be here today." Draco said, glancing at Harry, the alpha watched him, then smiled, brows tight, it wasn't a real smile, his scent was off, Draco frowned, giving his hand a squeeze. 

"I can not believe you didn't inform me you were being courted Ronald! My only omega son courted, and I had no clue!" The woman smacked Ron in the head with a kitchen towel she was holding, rushing out of the room. "Well! Don't stand around, we have to get this house ready for his arrival." 

For the rest of the morning until afternoon, the whole house busied themselves making a feast and cleaning the house for Blaise's arrival to make a good first impression. Draco sent a letter to Blaise via owl, it was always a gamble, owl's were being monitored by the ministry, so Draco couldn't give proper address, instead giving him a meeting spot where Bill, Ginny, Harry and Hermione would go to see if he arrived, they wanted Ron to go with them, naturally because if an ambush waited for them they would have strength in numbers, but the omega said that he wasn't planning on going out of his way for the alpha because the alpha didn't want to go out of his way for him. 

Draco watched the family work their chores in appreciation, doing some of the chores he knew with them to speed the process, he found it endearing, how they were all in this because Blaise could be Ron's mate one day, he wished his family was more like this- like a real family. 

When he went outside in search of his alpha, Harry was taking a break on the grass, he was tasked with making the front of the house look acceptable, and was sweating in the sun, Draco went back inside to grab them some water, before stalking over to the boy and joining him on the grass, ignoring that his trousers are going to get dirty. 

"Hi." Harry said, accepting the glass of water from Draco, drinking it in silence, he still had an off smell to him, not quite bitter, but there was something wrong. Draco didn't have to ask him what was wrong, because as soon as Harry stopped drinking, he shared what was on his mind himself. "I don't want you to leave." 

"Harry,”

"Don’t go." 

Draco sighed, he wanted to stay. "If you want me to stay, I will." 

Harry's head snapped to look at him, he scoffed. "You don't have to if you don't want to, sorry, I shouldn't have demanded this kind of thing from you." Harry looked away. "I don't want you to stay just because I want you to." 

Draco nodded. "I get it, I want to stay with you," He bit his lip, reaching for the latter's hand. "I am just so scared, Harry." He hissed, the alpha took his hand and squeezed. He wanted to be a good person for the alpha, someone deserving of him, but he wasn't even brave enough to be there for him, and Harry deserved a brave omega, someone like Ron, Draco never thought he would be jealous of a Weasley, or even remotely envious, but here he was, wishing he was like him. 

Day by day Draco thought that not only was Hermione right, but that he should listen to her and let Harry find someone deserving of him after the war, because if Draco couldn't even be there for him when he needed him the most, then he wasn't worthy to be with him. 

"You think if you stay, you will die," Harry voiced his thoughts, Draco nodded, scoffing, he didn't like being this vulnerable. "And you think I will die." 

Draco nodded again, running a thumb over Harry's hand to soothe himself, he wanted to touch the alpha everywhere, they were running out of time. "There is always a chance." He said, he didn't want to bring the morale down, Harry knew there was a chance already, he resigned himself to it. 

Harry pursued his lips. "Is that why you're going with Blaise?" 

The omega chuckled, startled by the question, it was so stupid, Blaise already had someone he courted, Draco was head over heels enamoured, emotionally bonded with Harry, it was nearly impossible to change desired mates now. 

He sneered, trying to light the mood, he didn't want their last hours together to be sad. "Well, I don't know, will me saying yes make you reconsider going on a suicidal quest? Or make you more determined to come back alive?" 

Harry glowered at him. "Don't joke around like that, it's not funny." 

Draco shrugs, tone light-hearted to make sure the alpha knew he was just being teased. "I am not going to stay single forever, a month, maybe two..." He lied.

"Draco... I know what you're doing." Harry rumbled. "You're such a bad liar." 

He didn't think he was a bad liar, it was just a case of Harry always being able to read him like an open book. "I will wait long enough to make sure you're definitely dead, you're the boy who lived, wouldn't be surprised if you became the boy who lived twice," He continued, smirking when the brunet grabbed his jaw and pulled him closer, the omega leaned into the touch. "I mean, you survived Avada Kedavra when you were teething, who knows what you can pull now." 

"I am serious, I don't want you to go with Zabini." 

"I thought it was you who said we aren't dating?" Harry growled, his hand moved from Draco's jaw to his nape, a solid pressure, the blonde shivered at the possessive gesture. "I can go for whoever I want, alpha."

Harry wrapped a hand around his nape, a tight grip, the other reaching for his wand, then Draco was being spun. 

His noise of surprise was muffled into cushions of his own bed, Harry apparated them into the omega's bedroom, the wards shifted, Harry locked the door to the room. 

Draco groaned into his pillow, so excited already he fisted the sheets of his nest- Harry was finally in his nest where he belonged. "Oh fuck, Harry yes, finally." He moaned the words out, lifting his butt against the latter's crotch. "Yes, yes, yes-" 

"Stay with me, baby." The alpha rumbled. "Mine, you're mine." 

Draco chuckled. "Then you should fuck me like I belong to you." Draco egged him on, Harry let out a noise of agreement, pressing against him with his body, his scent engulfing him, this time, he wasn't going to wash it off.

Blaise was going to be so pissed when he finds out he risked coming here for nothing- though maybe not, he was probably looking forward to seeing Ron. 

Chapter Text

Draco bit on his hand gently, whimpering when fingers grazed over his sensitive bundle of nerves, eyes close to rolling to the back of his head as his prostate was stimulated with every smallest movement. 

The omega arched his back, rocking his hips back onto the fingers, Harry pulled them out then, and he tried to be patient, waiting for something more, trembling when he could feel a puff of breath right at his entrance, releasing a soft noise of appreciation when Harry licked his wet hole.

Harry moaned, his alpha liked the way he tasted, Draco couldn't help but keen in response. "Fuck, Draco,' he slurped and tongued, not licking in, an embarrassing amount of slick was leaking from Draco's creamy entrance. "Omega-“

“Your omega, say it.” He demanded in a quick breath, he needed to hear it.

“My omega.”

"Yours," Instincts made him agree quickly, hiding his heated face in soft pillows, it was hard to breathe, Harry's hand groped his ass, stretching his pink hole open, his tongue dived in, unrelenting and demanding, the string of moans Draco gasped, muffled into the pillow was endless. "S-so wet because of you, Harry." 

Harry smacked his bottom, he flinched, fisting the sheets tighter, a yelp of excitement escaped him. 

This was already better than the beta sex Draco and Harry had before, he was absolutely drenched between his legs, his own slick stimulating him as it dripped down his ass and down his cock slowly, the top of his thighs was wet and cold, a pleasurable feeling every time Harry's heated skin touched him there.  

He could hear him pulling down his trousers, messing with his pants. 

Harry pulled away and without messing around further, positioned himself above him, pushing his thick cock into Draco's welcoming heat, it was an easy slide despite the subpar, nearly not existent prep in their rush to be connected. His entrance automatically stretched around the latter's cock, adjusting to the girth. 

Draco whimpered at the overwhelming feeling of being stretched just right, he stayed still, getting used to the feeling of having something this big in him again, it was a while. 

A while, plus, no matter him trying to ignore it, the latter was still growing, he was getting bigger and taller than Draco, as an omega he just couldn’t catch up, even his cock grew, he could feel it, amazing.

Harry shifted in him, halfway out, then slipped right back in, there was a filthy, wet squelching sound as he bottomed out, Draco gasped in mortification, Harry chuckled behind him and did it again. 

"Didn't even have to prep you to slide right in." 

"Feels like," Draco began, happy that his face was hidden in the cushions, somehow having sex with someone you had strong feelings for was harder than fucking with your enemy, it was making him both bashful and self-conscious, at the same time so happy he could cry. "Uh-" Harry pulled out again, faster, slammed back in, then grabbed Draco's hips in a strong hold, pulling him back as he thrusted in, he completely lost his train of thought. "Ah, yes! Alpha, please..."

Harry leaned over his frame, pressing his nose just under his ear and sniffed, tongue jutting out to lick Draco there, it was ticklish and wet, but Draco still exposed his neck, tilting his head to the side. 

"What did you want to say?" He rumbled into his ear, the omega practically melting at the attention his body was getting from him, finally. 

Tilting his head just enough to look at him, he licked his dry lips. "Feels like I was made for you." He managed to whisper, feeling his ears grow hot at his own words, Sweet Merlin, if anyone heard him right now, it was a wonder he braved to say such endearments to the source of his attentions. 

Harry, the git, had the audacity to look surprised by his words, after giving him his wand, after asking him to join in his heat, after stopping from snapping at his friends no matter how bad he wanted to, multiple times. Draco wondered if, after everything, Harry would never think he could genuinely want to be with him, that he was really what Draco wanted. 

Harry's scent shifted, apple pies overpowered by the electrifying scent of intense rainfall, something changed, but right now, in this moment, Draco didn't care about anything, really.

With sore knees and thighs shaking under the strain of staying in the same position while being constantly pushed, pulled and held down, he laid down on his side, Harry lifted one of his legs, placing it on his shoulder to spread him, slipping back in, the boy leaned over, both sides of the omega's body, caging him under, they groaned at the new position, Draco scrambled against the sheets for purchase as Harry leaned down to kiss him, stretching him open further, it was unreal to be this deliciously full of his alpha's cock, he tangled his fingers in Harry's slightly overgrown hair- in need of a haircut. 

Harry's movement sped up now, kiss sloppy, he panted against Draco's mouth, fucking with purpose, that purpose was clearly to drive Draco insane.

"Mmm! Ah! I-I'm, gonna-" He threw his head back, Harry rumbled low, mouth already on his neck and grabbing a hold of his locks to tilt his face into the cushions, exposing the back of his neck, licking and biting the area, not enough to break the skin but enough to have Draco crying sounds of approval, of pleasure as he came, imagining the alpha biting down and making him his mate. 

He wanted to scream 'just do it' but he still had some pride left, even if he so desperately wanted Harry to fuck up and bite down. 

"Fu-ck," He whimpered when Harry grabbed his spent cock, jerking him off quickly with his thrusts, his body shook as Harry pleasured him through the orgasm, it was nearly overwhelming. "Alpha, kiss- kiss me?" He only had to wait but seconds before Harry was licking into his mouth, breathless and sloppy, his movements were jerky and rough. "S' good," He wanted to say how good it felt to have his virgin omega hole taken by him- but it was such a long sentence that he just couldn't form right now. "I love," He gasped out when a particular jab into his sweet spot made him see stars, cock squirting more cum. "love-" -Harry, but right now his cock, his own twitching when suddenly Harry pulled out, letting Draco's leg drop back down. 

He caught the latter's eye as Harry turned him to lay on his side fully, for some reason, he looked nearly troubled, like something was wrong, that's when Draco noticed the change in scent, hoping Harry was just tired from the exercise they were currently performing. 

Trying to catch his breath, he swallowed. "Are you okay?" 

Harry nodded, his lips twitching in a smile. "Yeah." 

He went behind him, lining his cock back with his entrance, Draco lifted his leg slightly, adjusting, eyes closing as Harry slipped back in, blissed out. "Ah, I love everything about you." He had to say it, this could end any day now, Harry needed to know this much at least. 

Harry wrapped an arm around his frame, under his knee and pulled his leg up, Draco gasped, like this his dick felt even more intrusive. He rocked Draco on his cock. "You're so sweet now." He whispered. 

Draco had to pay attention, but it was a struggle, he loved Harry- and his big alpha cock so much, all that was going through his head was 'love me, love me, love me back-' he was a selfish person, that he couldn't change, he needed his feelings to be reciprocated. 

“Yes Harry,” He rushed to nod. "For you, alpha." 

He felt weightless, full, it was too much, his stomach tightened, somewhere at the back of his mind he could hear Harry whisper that he was squeezing him so tight as Draco quivered in his hold, he was going to cum even with his cock trapped in between his pressed thighs, and he did, moaning so loud he could've been shouting, the feeling of satisfaction when he came didn't compare to the feeling of bliss when he felt Harry still in him, warm load spilling inside him. 

He was right, having sex as a true omega was so much better, especially doing it with someone you fancied, this time it was the first time Draco had no regrets, where he just accepted that he wanted this with this alpha completely, the need to have this closeness with Harry, even if a half-blood, was always there and he was stupid to run away from it for so long, it was a relief, feeling so right- this sure about something. 

He needed, desperately, for Harry to feel the same towards him. 

If he wasn't so conceited and scared, he could have had Harry months ago, when he wanted him just as much, they would probably have been mates by now. 

Harry tried to pull out, Draco quickly grabbed his hip and pulled him back, understanding, Harry stilled, his hold on Draco tightening, he brought him closer against him and rested his forehead on the omega's shoulder. 

He just managed to catch his breath when he felt wetness on his shoulder, he stilled, wanting to turn around, Harry let go of his thighs only to wrap his arm around his waist tightly, keeping him still, rainfall changed into straight up thunder. Being still, unmoving in the alpha's hold, Draco held his breath when instead of telling him what was happening, Harry tucked his face it between Draco's shoulder blades. 

Draco was exhausted and shocked, not understanding what was wrong, they just had a really good time together, didn't they? Or was it just him? Harry was kind of quiet this time, to be honest. But the evidence of the boy's satisfaction was still inside him, so why was he crying right now?

He had no clue what to do. "Why are you crying...?" He tried to sound gentle.

There was a barely-there head shake against his back. "It's fine, just... fuck, Draco." He sniffed, the omega's eyes widened, he was so out of his depth, never having to comfort anyone before. 

"Is it because of me? 

A beat of silence. "Yeah." But the arms around his waist wound tighter. 

"Harry, please, tell me." Draco took a hold of Harry's forearms, loosening the hold around him enough to turn around, Harry met him halfway, quickly pulling himself up to hover over him, trailing kisses down Draco's collarbone and chest, stopping in the middle of his rib cage, arms still tightly wrapped around's Draco's waist. 

"You're so sweet now." He repeated his earlier statement. 

Draco blushed. "Don't exaggerate." Contrary to his words, his hand automatically went to Harry's fluffy hair, carding through them softly. 

"I thought..."  He began but faltered. 

"Continue, you can't cry right after a shag with me and not say anything." 

"I didn't think... I would have this ever again," Hand stilling mid-way through messing with Harry's hair, immediately, Draco felt guilty, horrible, he literally made him cry, at the same time, he felt horribly warm because Harry was happy-crying, so he made his alpha happy- for once, probably the first time. "I thought I will see you locked in Azkaban-" Draco chuckled in surprise, what a grim future he envisioned for him, remaining quiet, he resumed carding through the boys hair.  "Or I will have to see you around, knowing you hate me- that you hate everything about me." 

"I didn't, I never hated you, I know I said I did, but I was lying." Did he think Harry was beneath him to the point of disgust? Yes, but deep down, in a way, he felt like he always wanted Harry, like this was meant to be and the only thing standing in the way of realising this sooner were his horrible views of superiority.  

"Hm, okay." Harry hummed, his pheromones sweeter now, hands going to Draco's waist, he slid them down, to the omega's thighs, pulling his hips against him, Draco gasped, soft cock rubbing against Harry's stomach. 

Are they going to go again? It was just one day after his heat, maybe, just maybe he could still get knocked up with Harry's pups? How he wanted Harry to give him pups, to breed him because what if that was all he was going to have from him if something happened?

The exploring hands travelled up to his chest, then back down, up and down, Draco arched into the hold, trying to rub against him. 

"But you are here now, letting me do this to you again, and you keep telling me you like me, feels unreal." Harry rumbled, an edge to his voice, he was being open with him right now, Draco's omega couldn't be happier. "The last two weeks... you're not like you used to be." 

"I had months to regret my decision in the manor, it didn't happen over night, I'm not pretending." Months too late.

He tried to sound earnest, he didn't want Harry to misunderstand or twist his words again, the boy squeezed his sides gently, he couldn't take this anymore, scrambling to grab onto any part of Harry he could hold on to- one hand in his hair other clutching his shoulder, he pulled at him a bit harshly guessing by the gasp from the alpha, but he needed to kiss him, now. 

They kissed for too long, Harry rubbing his dick against his little one, by the time they pulled away from each other, both of their cocks dripped a mess onto the omega's flushed, sweaty stomach.

Harry rubbed his tip against Draco’s hole, rubbing against him languidly. 

"Put it in- put it in, alpha." He hissed in a rush, he was already really close, and he wanted to come with Harry filling him up. 

So, Harry did, quickly rutting inside him to bring them both over the edge. 

"Don't leave again."  Harry rumbled through clenched teeth, lifting both of Draco's legs under his thighs and pulling them up, to the point Draco’s knees were nearly on both sides of his head, he whined helplessly, holding onto Harry where his hands could reach, scenting him, Harry was going to smell like him, everyone is going to know what they did, take that Ginny, take that Molly, fuck you Ron- 

"I-I already said I'm staying." 

"You are not allowed to change your mind." The words came out a low growl, Draco whimpered in response.

"Fuck, Harry- are you not going to let me go?" 

"I let you, once, not gonna happen again." A promise. "I swear, if you're leading me on-"

"No, love you, my Alpha, I love you." Keening, he came, trying to roll his hips back, Harry came right after, dropping on top of him in a heap of sweaty mass when they were done, Draco huffed at the heavy body on top of him, not the mention the sticky pool of their cum squished between them. He wrapped his arms around the alpha, tucking his nose into his neck, inhaling his electrifying scent, high on it. 

They were breathing through their highs, Harry gave him a kiss on his scent gland. "Love you too." 

Draco's eyes widened, finally, he had some sort of confirmation that he wasn't the only one head over heels, that this could be reciprocated, Harry pulled away to look at him, running a hand through his hair. 

Opening his mouth to say something, Draco flinched when someone banged on the door. 

"Bloody hell! Malfoy how many times do I have to tell you that you're not allowed to lock yourself in? We all want some privacy." It was Ron, growling from the other side of the door. "It's my room too." 

"Uh..." Draco whispered, Harry snickered, rolling his eyes while already getting off him. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Harry was supposed to go with the rest to pick Blaise up, however, they were locked in the room, and nobody wanted to find out what they were doing, so they left him behind. Ron informed them that the group left right before the wards shifted, announcing that they were back already. 

Molly, Fleur and Arthur spilled out of the kitchen, Molly didn't spare him a glance, Fleur however, pointed at Harry, who was standing right next to him holding his hand, then gave Draco a discreet wink while no one was looking, he blushed, not knowing how he should react, so he just smiled. 

Ron sat himself on the armchair nonchalantly, but if he was trying to feign nonchalance and ignorance, it wasn't working, a bitter tang to his normally sweet smell, arms crossed tightly on his chest, if him and Harry were bad at hiding their emotions, Ron was horrid at it. 

Blaise entered, radiating- at least next to everyone else, all of them were worn out to the bone by the war, even Ginny, who spent most of her time at Hogwarts, but she was opposing the dark forces there while Slytherin went with the new rules of the school, he was obviously freshly groomed, refreshed, proper weight as well, dressed in a casual yet clearly expensive casual wizarding, black clothes, he went for an effortless look.  

The alpha greeted everyone in turn, Molly was in love with him at first sight obviously, especially after he produced a bouquet of exotic flowers, imported from Kenya, he gifted Fleur a little flower as well, from France, because Draco told him the woman was from there, ages ago.

He walked over to Harry and Draco, looking in between them, then he waved a wand and magicked a white rose that he offered to him, knowing that Harry and Ron both were gaping at them. 

"Would you look at that." Draco accepted the flower, smiling. "My favourite." 

That's right, let Harry know how a high-class Omega should be treated even by platonic Alpha friends, a pure-blooded bare minimum. 

Blaise smiled back, giving Harry a look, a beckoning nod of a head in greeting, and he was on his way. 

Finally, since there was no one else left, Blaise turned to Ron, who was trying to compose himself, but he looked angry and frustrated, not sparing his alpha a glance as he walked over. 

"Hello, Ronald." Blaise magicked a red rose for him, the omega's bitter scent spiked up as he glanced at the flower, it was just the same like the one Draco got, it wasn't special, not something he would give to someone he was pursuing, he left him for last and used the omega's full name... he wasn't happy with Ron either. 

The ginger scowled, glaring up at Blaise. "Don't want your flower, I hate flowers, do I look-" 

"Ronald." Molly warned, it was only polite to accept the rose, horrible manners. "Don't be rude." 

Her son tsk'ed, taking the rose, but otherwise not saying anything, Blaise also didn't say a word, his scent and a polite smile betraying nothing, he turned back to the family without as much as 'nice to see you'.

Molly quickly invited everyone to the dining room for dinner. 

Ron stayed sat, looking after them, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked his friend. 

"Hm?" Ron snapped to attention, standing up. "Oh right! Dinner! Forgot." He dropped the rose on the armchair he was sitting on and followed the rest into the dining room, Harry and Draco exchanged a look. 

Draco sneered, twirling the rose in between his fingers. "Well, Molly surely accepted him into the family already." 

"Right, we should probably join." Harry said, taking the flower from his hand, wanting to chuck it next to Ron's, Draco gasped, affronted.

"What are you doing? Be gentle!" He took the flower back, picking Ron's up too, he conjured a vase and used Aquamenti to pour a good amount of water, putting the two roses into the vases, taking a sniff of the pretty scent before depositing the vase at the window, at the centre, where it looked pretty. 

"Didn't know roses were your favourite." Harry mused innocently from next to him, tone closed off but trying very hard to play it off as playful.

“White roses, specifically.” He teased. “Beautiful flowers.”

"Aren't you a little too happy about them?"

Draco smiled, done with the roses for now, he walked over to Harry, taking his hand, interlacing their fingers. "Well, about time. I was wondering what an omega got to do to get a flower around here." He smirked, Harry grumbled, scent playful, lifting a brow, crowding into his personal space and leaning over to kiss him- 

Ron stomped back into the lounge, growling quietly under his nose. "Oi, lovebirds, mom's telling you dinner is ready." Bitter, he spun, leaving them to follow. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Dinner was spent in quite a polite manner where Molly asked Blaise about anything and everything to do with him, he told them about his homes in his home countries, as well as his plans for the future, briefly, to not bore anyone at the table with business small talk, Blaise hated small talk, but he was willing to engage in it for Ron, apparently, this was the most Draco had ever seen the latter speak, to anyone.

Molly wasn't pleased that Blaise was a Slytherin, but she quickly got over it when he complimented her cooking, bashful, she said that she wasn't the only one cooking, then she asked him about courting, and other silly pureblood traditions, for example, the fact that most pureblood wizards would wear tight, restricting corsets under their robes, and that's why they had such proper postures. Draco felt quite jealous, everyone in the family already liked Blaise while he spent the last two weeks trying to win them over, but he understood, the Zabini family and the Weasleys never had bad blood between each other, Blaise wasn't a bully, Draco was. 

Blaise proved that he knew a lot about Ron's parents, he must have been asking Ron questions and caring to remember the most mundane of answers, it was impressive and it made Draco feel bad, he never, not even now cared to ask Harry about Hermione or Ron, even the Weasley family and especially not about Harry's parents, it was a sensitive topic, even more so because all Draco ever did was bully Harry for the lack of parental figures in his life. There was much he still needed to improve on, literally anyone would be a better mate than him, Blaise just proved it. 

Halfway through dinner, Blaise dropped the small talk to address the elephant in the room, telling everyone what was happening in Hogwarts, about the torture, about muggle students being ostracised, that he couldn't bare to sit and watch what was happening to everyone but him just because he was a pureblood, Ginny corroborated, it was horrible, he heard from Death Eaters around the Manor just what the students were going through, and Draco was partly- if not majorly to blame.

Blaise turned to Draco then, asking him when they were leaving to Italy, that he didn't want to risk staying here any longer because the Professors must have noticed he wasn't in Hogwarts anymore. 

"Oh... no, I'm sorry, I decided that I want to stay." Draco glanced at Harry for support because he knew no one else- except Fleur and maybe Luna (it was hard to tell what exactly she thought of him) wanted him here, the brunet smiled slightly, encouragingly. He addressed Fleur and Bill, who were sitting opposite of him. "If you let me, I will leave with Harry and others."

Fleur jumped to speak before her husband. "Of course, Draco! You don't even have to ask, it's a pleasure." 

He tried to hold back a smirk, but he lifted his nose in the air just slightly, smugly towards Ginny, then Ron, Ron wasn't looking, he was aggressively inhaling his dinner.  

"What do you mean you're not going?" Blaise didn't need to say it, but he knew the alpha wanted to tell him he just wasted his time, he just stopped himself in front of the Weasley family, but his tone was clear in his message. 

"It means he is staying." Harry bit out, Draco gave him a surprised look, his alpha looked at him apologetically as soon as the words left his mouth, as if he wanted to keep quiet but couldn't help himself, Draco found himself not minding- in fact, liking Harry talking for him, it was quite traditional, actually, assertiveness in an alpha was something to be respected. "I didn't mean to interrupt." 

"I want to stay." Draco addressed Blaise. "I'm sorry, I should have made up my mind sooner." 

The Slytherin wasn't smiling anymore, and fell quiet, eyes moving around the room, landing on Arthur and Molly.  "Excuse my rudeness, it's absolutely nothing against you, but seeing as me and Ron are no longer courting, I risked coming here for nothing." Ouch, he actually said it out loud. 

"Aw," Molly tutted, undeterred. "Nonsense, Ron told me-" 

"Mom! Don't," Ron quickly jumped in the conversation, showing attention for the first time since they sat at the table. When Blaise looked in his direction, frowning, he turned back to continue with his food. 

Molly gave her son a look for interrupting. "Why don't you stay a little longer?"

"No, that won't be necessary, I-" 

"Then leave already." Ron grumbled, this time, when Blaise looked at him, he actually looked pissed off- and he was very good at holding back his emotions. 

"Don't interrupt me." He ground out, his tone icy, Ron, taken aback by the sudden change in the usual dynamic of Blaise always being nice, didn't know how to react at first, but quickly composed himself, huffed under his nose and remained silent for the rest of the meal. "Draco, I want to talk with you later." 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Harry sat down next to him, his arms wound around Draco's waist.

Blaise looked between them. "Can't hope for a private conversation?" 

"He is just going to listen, he wanted to be here." 

"Hm," 

"I-" Harry began, but Draco quickly jumped in to explain. 

"Let me rephrase that, he asked, and I agreed." 

"I understand, nothing wrong with that, good for you, by the way." The other alpha shrugged, he took out his wand to pull himself an armchair over, so he could sit in front of him. "But... what are you thinking, staying here, you know what's going to happen if things get bad." 

"Whatever happens, I want to be there with him." He beckoned his head at Harry.

"It will be okay." Harry whispered, it wasn't true, it wasn't something one could promise.

"Okay." Draco breathed back, not wanting to talk about this again. 

"So, what's the plan?" Blaise asked, leaning closer just so. 

Maybe, if Draco told him, if the plan was good, maybe Blaise would stay too. But Draco didn't know the plan, no one trusted to tell him, and he immediately felt stupid in front of his friend, for being absolutely clueless.

"I-I don't know..." 

"You don't know, but you want to help, unusual." Not a Slytherin thing to do at all, way too selfless, especially for him. Feeling humiliated in front of one of his friends, Draco didn't know what to say or do, he should have demanded Harry tell him everything already, didn't he earn it already? Some trust?

He perked up when Harry nosed at the side of his neck, his warm scent blissfully calming him down. "You will know, I will tell you, everything."  

Draco bit his lip, feeling bitter, wanting to show that he didn't become an obedient pushover. "Well, your friends won't be happy if you do." 

"I will talk to them." 

"What if they say no?"

"It doesn't matter." 

Yes, he was feeling slightly better knowing he was slowly yet surely worming his way between Harry and his friends, not in a way where he wanted to have them building bridges or distancing, but enough to where Draco knew that even if Hermione were to advise Harry to stay away from him, he would tell her to mind her business.  

Testing new waters, he hummed. "What if they make you change your mind? What if you wouldn't want me here, again?" The arm Harry had around him squeezed his side gently, thumb sneaking under the hem of his shirt and massaging his skin, Draco shivered, he loved when his alpha touched him, it was insane how good it felt- it always did, but especially now, that it felt so right. 

"Who said I wanted you to leave in the first place, I never said that." 

"So, if they tell you that they don't want me here, will you say something?" 

"Do you want me to?" 

Draco looked away. "Yes..." 

"I will, can you do something for me?" 

Draco looked at him again, pretending to muse the question in a respectable, sophisticated manner. "Depends on what it is." 

"I want you to apologise to them, you haven't-" 

"I will," He quickly interrupted, he didn't want the alpha asking him such things when he should have done it out of his own accord ages ago, they deserved his apology.

They gazed at each other, Merlin, but Draco could barely breathe when his alpha smiled, when he was so clearly happy with him-

"Well, aren't you two so sweet?" Draco snapped out of his teenage fever, sheepishly turning to look at Blaise, he forgot the boy was in the room, blushing when Harry put his head on his shoulder. Blaise was smiling slightly, like he was happy for them, nonetheless. "Will you tell your parents?" 

Draco's smile fell. "Yeah..." He knew that it wouldn't end well, but there will be a time he will have to do it, that is, if everything goes well, he wanted their approval, in his hopes for the future, in his happy life he wanted for himself, his parents were there, happy with him, so many things changed, but he still wanted their approval, he wondered if there would ever be a chance that his father accepted a half-blood alpha into the family, or what he would do if his father threatened to disown him... 

"I don't care what they will think of me." Harry assured. 

"Hm." He hummed, he did care, but he wouldn't give up on Harry, not again, he already did once. "Doesn't matter what they think." He probably didn't sound convincing in any way, guessing by the way Harry stared at his profile, Draco avoided his gaze. "They are my parents, so I would like them to approve, but I don't need it." 

Blaise hummed, standing up. "Well, I will give you until tomorrow to decide, think about it properly, Molly offered me a spare room." 

Draco couldn't believe Blaise was getting a spare room, the privilege of being the favourite son in law, he will make Molly like him one day, he was just too charming to let this slide. 

"He is not going to change his mind." Harry said for him, effectively making Draco wish this conversation was done and dusted because he was already starting to cream his pants, so Blaise had to go before it would be noticeable.

"Remember what's at stake, in my opinion, you're acting selfish. I understand, wanting your mate close, but it's unsafe, Ron and Draco should go with me." Blaise was talking down on them, literally, he was standing up, and he was already unreasonably tall as it was. 

Harry frowned. "Selfish? You don't just want to take Draco, but also my best mate." 

The omega snarled. "He is not your mate." Harry smirked teasingly.

"Not like that, what I mean is, Draco isn't going to die while I'm there."

Blaise looked at him as if he was lacking in intellect. "Die? That's not going to happen to Omegas after you lose, they are not going to kill them." Harry fell silent, Draco already knew this, but it seemed like the brunet didn't realise that pure-blooded Omega's were too valuable to kill. "Draco."

"Hm?"

"You can choose what you want to do, I'm just giving you an opportunity to avoid the worst outcome. You have until tomorrow, then I'm leaving." 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Harry was acting unnaturally off after what Blaise said, it obviously affected him, the idea of Draco being returned to the Manor to fulfil his Omega duties, it affected him to the point of not responding to his advances as he kissed along Harry's neck, nibbling at his scent glands and sneaking his hands under his top, he just wasn't in the mood.  

But he did tell him the plan, about the way Voldemort became 'immortal' only cementing the fact that he was just a human in Draco's mind, one very desperate one at that. Harry said that they weren't exactly sure what some of the horcruxes were, but they knew where to look and that they were planning to leave at the end of this week to destroy them.

He wasn't happy that the plan everyone was working on behind his back was sub-par at best and left a lot of chances of loss, especially because the identity of the horcruxes remained unknown. But Draco still told Harry that he didn't change his mind, that he was committed to stay by his side no matter what was going to happen.

He tried to convince himself that there was no point in thinking about the worst outcomes, there will be a time for that when the worst comes, if it even does.

Harry then fell silent, saying that he needs to think about everything, didn't want to tell Draco what 'everything' was, so they re-joined the rest of the house, the rest of the day passing by fast. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

"Malfoy, Malfoy, wake up." An irritable voice with an irritable hand was shoving at him, trying to wake him up and he was already in a bad mood, Molly shunned Harry from his bed when they laid down for the night together, didn't she understand that Harry, as his alpha belonged in his nest? She had no clue, she was just a stupid beta. 

Ron was trying to stir him awake, a note of agitation and urgency in his voice. 

"What is it?" He mumbled into his pillow.  

The ginger omega shifted in Draco's nest, distressed. "I need advice, I need your help." 

Draco curled up on his side, trying to block him out, yawning. "Aha, right, I should help you, especially after what you and Ginny pulled on me last time. You're lucky I didn't tell Harry." At the back of his mind, he knew he shouldn't be a git right now, and he could hear Harry's voice, asking him to apologise to Ron, which he should definitely do, he wanted to do it, but not at an ungodly hour of the morning. 

"Bollocks, I'm sorry for that, Ginny asked me to help out, and I didn't really want you to be with my best m- with my best friend, I don't care if you tag along," He tried, it was still more than Draco expected. "If you make Harry happy, then I honestly don't care anymore. Now help me." He shook him by the arm again, the blonde tried to shrug him away, whining tiredly. 

He was not someone you wanted to wake up and bother in the middle of the night. 

"Uh..." He was falling asleep again. 

"C'mon, I need advice, Blaise is acting like he doesn't care, what do I do to fix it?" He whispered between them, so quietly he nearly missed it. 

Draco sighed, not this, not right now, he just worked everything out with his own mate. "Just suck his dick or something, alphas love that, let me sleep." 

There was a gasp. "You're not funny!" Nearly a squeak. 

"Ask Luna then." Luna, per Draco's request was now sharing a room with them instead of Hermione, she still didn't present somehow, Draco was starting to doubt it will ever happen, maybe he was mistaken, maybe she was just a beta all along and he was worried for nothing.

"I did! She told me everything will be as it's supposed to because our energies are aligned a certain way- I honestly blurred her out after that, I had no idea what she was on about! I don't know what that means." He whined, and Ron whining to him was weird, Draco didn't like distressed Omegas around himself, sighing again, he tried to tuck his head under the cover, but Ron was sitting on it. 

"Fine." He sat up. "Calm down, what exactly do you want me to do? What are you worried about?" Draco wiped his sleepy eyes. 

"He isn't interested in me anymore." Ron whispered, leaning close, as if someone other than Luna could have heard. 

Draco pursued his lips when he finally turned to look at Ron, this was the first time he saw him in anything short sleeved- to be honest he never paid attention before, Ron's arms were covered in weird scarring, even his hands, like wines, his eyes widened, trying to hide his reaction not to offend him as he looked at the damage done to the omega. Merlin, what happened to him? He knew that Harry, Ron and Hermione probably went through horrible things on the run, but this amount of scarring must have come along with pain that was unimaginable to him. 

"What do you mean?" He tried for casual. 

"He ignored me until he was done with everyone else, gave me a stupid rose when he knows I don't care about flowers, called me Ronald- he knows I hate being called Ronald, I told him and he never done it once, until today! And then he acted like nothing ever happened between us!" 

Draco blinked. "How is that wrong, considering you don't want him anywhere near you?" Ron's face was beet red, he huffed a breath. "You want him to stay here, don't you." 

Ron nodded. "He isn't going to, I think he is over me." 

Draco frowned, impossible, he had an idea what happened between them, Blaise expected Ron to agree to go with him to Italy, where the omega would be safe, while Ron expected Blaise to risk his life by his side, obviously none of them were going to back down, and they were both disappointed with each other.

"Ron, that's impossible." 

"You're not bad of a guy, if that's possible, anything is." 

Draco chuckled, shaking his head. "Listen, have you ever done anything for him?" Ron thought for a second, a long moment. "A gift? A date? Favour?" Ron remained quiet, looking mortified now. "You didn't." 

"Shit, I don't think I did." 

"He did so much for you, he only wanted one thing, and you broke it off with him because you were upset, he didn't listen to you, that's what happened, wasn't it, you were the one to break up?" He could not imagine a scenario where it would be the other way around. 

"Yeah..." He mumbled. 

"Well, what do you expect then, Blaise is pretty straightforward, he cares about your opinion, the only reason he doesn't want you fighting is because he is worried about you. Ron, he was raised by a single omega, if you tell him you want him gone, he will respect that." 

Ron's eyes were large. "Merlin's balls, so I will have to talk to him? Can't you make him talk to me-" He backtracked when he gave him a judgmental look. "All right, fine I will do it."

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco couldn't fall back asleep, he tossed and turned, but at the end sighed, getting off the bed and quietly making his way to Harry's bedroom, trying to make little noise so Molly wouldn't wake up.  

Opening the door slowly, sneaking into the room, he located Harry's bed, the alpha was sleeping, a little crease between his brows that Draco wanted to kiss better, even in sleep, Harry wasn't getting proper rest, Draco couldn't imagine what he was dreaming of, not with everything he now knew about him, and he still knew so little. 

There was movement from the bed nearest to the window, bushy brown hair moved aside to expose Hermione's sleepy face, the girl eyed him, he shifted on the spot awkwardly, waiting for her to say something, but she just laid her head back and went to sleep.

He sighed, then took the edge of Harry's covers, moving it aside, he tucked himself against Harry's side, content, he wrapped an arm around the brunet's torso, who stirred in his sleep, sniffed the air and rolled on his side towards him, putting his chin on top of the omegas head. 

Draco fell asleep surrounded by fresh apples. 

☪︎★⁺₊ ✮ ₊⁺☆☽

Draco slept so well that night he apparently missed a big commotion, Luna went into heat, what's more, the only available alpha in a separate room was Blaise, who she apparently ambushed, falling victim to the pheromones, Ron had to be the one to intervene, then Ginny woke up, being able to smell the omega in heat, the commotion woke up Hermione, who in turn woke up Molly and Arthur. 

Nothing happened apparently, other than Blaise feeling violated and having a nasty altercation with an angry Ginny, the whole house was quiet in the morning, Luna was locked in Blaise's room, going through her heat, while the rest of the house tried to pretend that never happened. 

Harry and Draco slept through it, Draco haven't had such a good night of sleep in forever, actually, Harry also looked refreshed. 

"So, where is Blaise?" Draco asked Ron during breakfast, the boy looked horrible, like he didn't have a wink of sleep all throughout the night.  

"After what happened, after mom and dad locked Luna away... he didn't want to talk with anyone, just... left, I don't know." Ron sighed. 

"Where is Ginny?" Harry asked next. 

Ron shrugged. "Mom sent her away to Fred and George, she didn't want to leave Luna's bedroom door." 

"These teenagers! I swear, I can't take my eyes from any of you! Only Hermione is decent!" Molly fumed from where she stood, washing the pots. 

"Thank you, Molly, I think it's because I'm the only Beta." The girl supplied. "Biologically, I don't have intense urges." 

She huffed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Did anyone know Luna is an omega? Tell me the truth." They all remained silent, nobody saying a word. "Because it would be incredibly stupid of you to hide that from the rest of us, she will be scolded too, do you all want to be fathers and mothers at the age of eighteen? I don't think so." She fretted about the kitchen. "And I was supposed to leave! Can you imagine what would have happened yesterday without me and dad around?" Nobody said anything. "What's worse, Blaise, Merlin, bless him, came to visit and he was attacked in his sleep! We scared him off!" She fell silent, looking at each of them, huffed and left the room. 

The four of them were quiet for quite some time, eating their breakfast. 

Harry broke the silence. "Listen, Ron... aren't you worried that, if we fail, well, who knows what's going to happen to you."

Ron tilted his head. "What do you mean?" 

"I'm talking about, you know, you're an omega, a-a pureblood omega, you know-" 

"I know." 

"And you are okay with that? Maybe... you both should go with Blaise." He looked away, Ron and Draco snapped their heads to look at him in shock.

"What?" Draco whispered, Ron stared. 

"No." Ron went back to his cereal. 

Harry frowned. "But-" 

"We are all risking something, Harry." Hermione explained. "The stakes are high for everyone, we all know what we are getting into." 

"I'm not leaving." Draco told him- told them all. "I want to help, somehow, in any way." Maybe him being there will reduce the chances of Harry dying. 

"You gave me your wand, the one you have isn't working properly." Harry tried to change his mind. "I think Blaise was right, I was being selfish, you told me you're scared, I should have-" 

"Aren't you scared?" Draco countered, catching Hermione's eye, the girl was staring at him intently. "We can die tomorrow, whatever happens, I don't want to have anymore regrets." He already had too many.

Harry's argument died at his words, instead, the boy took his hand, the one with the bite mark, and ran his thumb over the scar. "Okay, sorry." 

Ron stood up abruptly, moved by the display of affection and Draco's words. "What the hell, you're right, we can die tomorrow. What am I doing?" And he left the room in a rush, there was a sound of front door opening and closing. 

Hermione, Harry and Draco exchanged baffled looks, laughing. 

Chapter Text

Another day, another time Draco forced himself to get out of bed early just so he could spend some alone time with Harry,  he was not a morning person, they did share a bed, but Hermione was in the same room, Ron and Blaise still weren't back, for reasons Draco could only guess at the moment. 

Molly and Arthur had to go back to their everyday lives, Fleur and Bill disappeared somewhere, too. 

Everything that was going on was easier on them than on an average wizard, even though a laughing stock of wizarding society, they were still purebloods after all, he didn't know what was happening out there, but he could assume they were treated well considering their blood status, at least compared to mud- muggleborns, who had it much worse. 

Draco closed his eyes, berating himself in his mind for nearly using the slur, it wasn't the first time he caught himself doing it, and the reason for his discomfort wasn't only due to the possibility of a slip-up in front of Harry or his friends, even if he was scared of doing that because Harry would tell him to fuck off and leave him alone for good. 

He didn't want to use the word, or have anymore thoughts of deluded superiority, if he was going to change- then he had to commit to it, sometimes he would catch himself thinking inappropriately, going back to his old ways, to try and justify the current situation in a way that would stop Harry putting himself in this kind of risk.

The only muggle born sacrificing themselves to the extent Harry was doing was Hermione, everyone else fighting were purebloods, the muggle borns weren't even fighting for their own rights. 

Everyone were doing it simply because it was the right thing to do, Harry and the others were doing the right thing, Draco was just being a coward. 

Hermione and Harry were talking yesterday, about the plan of action, but decided to wait for Ron to join them, Draco was allowed to listen to it, he was quiet throughout, because hearing them talking about it for the first time made it that much real, that Harry will face off against the Dark Lord, soon, and whatever happens will determine everything, whenever the Dark Lord lives or dies, whenever Harry will live or die... Draco couldn't imagine where that left him, or everyone else, yet he seemed the only one entertaining running away.

They probably only had days left, and he had to stop himself from showing just how terrified he was.

He didn't want to do this, he just wanted to be there for his... lover? They weren't mates after all... might never get the chance to be, he wanted to do something, but he honestly started to think he is going to be nothing but a nuisance, a hindrance, freeze or run at the sign of a threat, he was not brave, didn't have his wand, didn't want to die, he just wanted Harry, he would do this for him. 

Why did they have to do this?  

Draco sniffed the air when he heard footsteps going down the stairs, it was Harry, so Draco quickly dismissed all the, frankly, horribly pathetic, shameful musings in his head, one whiff of his scent and Harry would be able to tell he was in a sour mood. 

Craning his neck forward, he exposed his neck to subtly initiate closeness with him. 

It worked, Harry's body pressed against his back, arms wounding their way around his middle.

Draco smiled down at the breakfast he prepared, challenging himself to make omelettes just like Harry showed him, they were misshaped, definitely not round, and despite not wanting to, he did take the most burned one, ashamed of letting anyone but him see the failure, eating it before anyone could have a look at it, and leaving the omelette he was most proud of making for Harry. 

"Good morning, no Molly and Arthur today." Harry murmured as he placed his chin on Draco's shoulder to check what he was doing.

"Hm," Draco mused, tilting his head to grin at him, drawling in a suggestive tone. "That's right, they aren't here." Draco pressed his butt against Harry's crotch, throwing him a heated glance over his shoulder, the brunet hummed, bucking his hips against him involuntarily when Draco pressed harder, feeling the erection starting to harden in the latter's pants. He keened in response, leaning to capture the alpha's lips, but instead, the boy hid his face in Draco's hair above his nape, inhaling, arms secured around his frame. 

"Calm down, Hermione is in the bathroom, she will be coming down any minute now." But his hips buckled into him again and again gently, a slow grind, pressing his erection into the crook of Draco's ass through their trousers mindlessly, as if just to scratch an itch. 

Draco moaned, trying to stop himself from soiling his trousers, clenching. "Shut up, okay?" He quickly pulled his trousers and pants to expose his perky ass. 

Harry chuckled, arms moving from around him to his hips, just holding them there as Draco rubbed against him. "You're so fucking horny." But it was Harry who insisted on 'just one blowjob please' before they went to bed, and he didn't even wait for Molly and Arthur to leave, they had to pretend they were going to the forest to pick mushrooms for Molly to let them leave unsupervised when Harry pointed out that Ginny and Luna went mushroom picking together last and nothing inappropriate happened. 

"Just you wait." He whispered, spinning around to see him, he could already imagine them living together, having a whole space for themselves, no one would be there to catch them in the kitchen, they would do what they want, whenever one of them wanted, just the idea made the omega happy, there would be no one to judge them, and even if, he knew he wouldn't care, just to feel like he was feeling right now everyday, with this alpha. 

"Wait for what?" Harry lifted a brow, but ignored it to grab him under his thighs and put him on the kitchen counter. 

"For me having you all to myself." He quickly attempted to kick his trousers off one of his legs without kicking Harry on accident again, but Harry pulled them back up again right under his butt.

"Keep them on, in case Hermione comes." Made sense, Draco wrapped his legs around the latter's waist, Harry pushed their crotches together, Draco whimpered at the stimulation of their clothed crotches, tensing at the drag and leaning back against the tiles, nearly coming right then and there at the rough grind. "F-fuck-" He wanted Harry's cock, but Hermione was apparently, awake, he couldn't risk undressing, there was no time for that. 

The alpha snook a hand in between Draco's legs, moving the material out of the way and pushing a finger into him, just one, but Draco moaned eagerly, slowly grinding on it, slumping against the wall, head thrown back when Harry immediately angled his hand to press against his prostate with every thrust.

"Spread them, baby." Harry whispered, hiking one of the omega's legs over his shoulder, making Draco's breath hitch, he tried to fucking himself on his finger faster, but he had no leverage, trying to put his foot at the edge of the counter to push himself, but the counter was too much of a tight fit and he groaned in annoyance, frustrated because it wasn't enough. "Slow down Draco, I got you." With that, he pushed another finger in him, the slick making the slide in easy. 

"Yes, alpha." He breathed, making Harry suck in a sharp intake of breath, they both fell silent but not stopping when they heard footsteps upstairs, Hermione went out of the bathroom and back into her room, probably getting dressed. 

Draco pressed his lips together, biting them when Harry's hand sneaked under his top, caressing his hip, ribs and then going to his chest, Draco exhaled, trying to be quiet but his slick hole made wet noises every time Harry's fingers so much as moved in his wet heat. "Nearly there." He murmured, reaching down to wrap a hand around his own cock, rolling his hips against the hand, he caught Harry's piercing gaze, only giving himself two tugs and he was cumming into his hand. 

They both breathed, Draco gave Harry a smile, using the lousy wand to clean himself and the counter, Harry helped him pull his trousers on properly, then, lazily, he pressed his knee against Harry's crotch, met with his erection, stiff as a rock, Harry moaned, leaning on the counter hands on Draco's sides, resting, breathing in his face as he rubbed his crotch against Draco's leg, teeth clenched in a silent snarl to keep quiet. 

His fangs were sharp, making Draco's stomach flip, arousal swirling at the bottom of his belly, he reached for the alpha's face, who was lost in chasing his orgasm against any part of Draco's body his cock could rub against. 

He pulled him closer, the latter had to lean over the counter to be face to face with him, with how Draco was now sprawled over it, if there was enough space Harry would have crawled over him, but Draco's bottom was already halfway off the counter.

He ran a hand over Harry's clenched jaw, pulling at the side of the alpha's mouth to expose the sharp, dangerous fangs, he licked a tongue over them, suppressing a shiver as he dragged his soft flesh against the sharp points, Harry grunted into his mouth in a warning rumble, grabbing a chunk of Draco's hair to tilt his head, licking into his mouth. 

"I want you," Draco stuttered through the kiss. "To bite me- somewhere, anywhere, alpha." 

The kiss continued, breaking apart only when Hermione came down stairs, the two just having enough time to pull Draco's pants and trousers up before she entered the kitchen.

She gave him a nasty look as they separated, Harry scooped him off the counter, he wrapped his arms and legs around the alpha, tucking his nose against the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent.

"Are you two serious?" 

"We were just kissing." He quickly argued, Harry's erection was still digging into his crotch.  

"I hope so." She whispered, Harry chuckled, grabbing his breakfast in his spare hand and then, still carrying Draco went to the lounge. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

When Harry sat them on the armchair, with Draco across his lap and offering him his breakfast, the omega shoved the plate out of the way and attacked Harry's neck, pushing his hand down Harry's trousers. 

"U-uh, yeah Draco, quickly." He stuttered, placing the plate at the nearest side table.

Draco worked his hand over the head of Harry's dick, slicking it with his precome, moving his hand in quick little jerks at an uncomfortable angle because of their position and Harry's trousers. Harry moaned, tensing and struggling to buckle into the hand with extra weight on his lap. 

Draco shushed him, tone teasing. "Shh, Hermione is in the kitchen." 

Harry made a low noise and pushed his hand down the omega's pants, grabbing his cock so suddenly Draco startled in his lap and gasped, quickly covering his mouth to be quiet as well. 

"S-slow down you git." Harry muttered, breathing into the crown of Draco's hair. 

The omega bit his lip, stopping his hand movements to squeeze the base of Harry's cock, where the knot would swell- hard, making the boy jerk, doubling over, whimpering into his hair.

Draco chuckled, tucking his face in the boy's neck, smirking smugly when Harry couldn't help but let of a hiss, buckling into Draco's hand when he began to interchangeably ease and squeeze his hand in quick twitches at the base. "Be quiet, alpha." 

"S-shit, Draco," He groaned, Draco's cock long forgotten in his limp grasp.

Suddenly, Harry grabbed a chunk of his hair, forcing his head against him at an uncomfortable angle, and bit right under his scent gland, Draco would have screamed at the sudden dull pain in his shoulder, if it wasn't for his face being smushed against the boy's sweaty neck, his whole body went limp, and he shivered, seeing white when Harry's teeth clamped down harder, distantly feeling him humping his hand, warm liquid running down his fingers and his thighs. 

Vision clearing, he winced when Harry pulled his teeth out to lick the spot and pepper his neck with kisses. 

"Mmm, this is how I want all my morning to start..." Draco breathed, feeling accomplished, satisfied and blissed out, not bothering to move a muscle.

"Are you going back to sleep?" Harry's tone was amused.

"Shhh." He wiped his hand on Harry's shirt, the boy quickly cleaned them both off. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

"Where is Ron? You don't think he left with Blaise, do you?" Harry looked between him and Hermione, to his dread, the two were planning their leave for tomorrow. 

Ron's absence continued on the second day, and Draco didn't want to be the one to tell the protective alpha that there was probably a different reason for this, he had a sneaking suspicion something else was going on that kept Ron in the forest for so long. 

After an omega in heat came into Blaise's bed, it was highly likely that he went into rut, and that's why he left the house. 

Draco glanced at Hermione, who was already looking at him, with an expression that told him she wanted him to say it, because she already knew the reason Ron was absent, too. 

"I don't think he would get in trouble, Blaise was with him." Harry continued his innocent musings.

"Well, Harry, I don't think Ron would leave us again." Hermione supplied, Draco was mildly curious what that meant but he didn't feel like it was his place to pry. 

The Alpha froze frowning. "Do you think he got lost? What if they got captured? Should we look for them?" Draco nearly laughed, but he cowered it with a cough. "Fuck, he's been out there for nearly two days." Harry stood up from the table, like he was about to leave and look for them, Draco grabbed him and pulled him to sit, Harry's reaction to the two shagging would either be hilarious or deadly, so it wasn't a good idea for him to go. 

"He is with Blaise." Draco reassured.

"There is no way they are still talking though." 

"Right, hm, how curious." Draco drawled, staring at him, he couldn't be this oblivious, but then, he thought Draco was fucking omega's because his crotch smelled like one, so maybe. "Wonder what these two, who were courting for months are doing alone for days." 

Harry gave him a look, but then, as he thought about it, his eyes widened, glancing from him to Hermione, she nodded her head. 

"Don't freak out Harry." She admonished when he visibly shuddered at the thought. "It's perfectly natural for a courting couple to-" 

"I don't want to think about it, Hermione." He ran a hand through his hair, off put. 

"Let's talk over the plan." She suggested. 

Harry's frown only deepened. "Without Ron?" 

"I already talked this over with him, when you two kept disappearing with each other." Draco smiled, resting his cheek on his hand, Harry sighed, nodding for her to continue. 

"Draco, there are four horcruxes left, we know that Helga Hufflepuff's cup is in Bellatrix's vaults in Gringotts, so that's our next stop, but we also know that one of the Horcruxes is located in Hogwarts."

"My aunt is guarding a Horcrux?" 

"Yes, it's a cup."

"How do you know? I hope it's not just a hunch."  

"I can see them." Harry spoke up, but his tone was subdued, this revelation was a bother for him, instead of what Draco assumed would be a miracle, because otherwise they probably wouldn't know anything. "I can see flashes... it's hard to explain, but I can see You Know Who's memories, or what he sees, sometimes, but it's not up to me." 

That left more questions than answers, because it meant the two were somehow connected to each other, but if they wanted to tell him, if they had more information, once again he didn't think it was his place to demand explanations, it was already good enough they trusted him with this. 

"We are going to Gringotts's first, we will use a Polyjuice potion that I brewed," Draco felt a bit offended, because potions was his area of expertise, yet she didn't care to ask him for assistance, and he would be excited to make a potion that could be tested in action. "It should be ready today, that's why we are leaving, I made enough for me and Ron, while Harry and Griphook will be under the visibly cloak, there is just enough space, because I was convinced you wouldn't be here with us at this point, so I don't know where you come into play, Draco." She actually gave him an apologetic look, but he felt lucky, because if it was a Polyjuice mission, and there was not enough Polyjuice or space under the cloak for him, another miracle, really, because he had a reason not to embark on the dangerous mission with them without seeming like he was abandoning his alpha.

"Well, I can just wait here, it's not like you are going to face You Know Who-" 

"The other Horcrux is in Hogwarts, I've seen it, Luna thinks it's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem, you can go there, with Luna, Ginny or potentially, Blaise before us, that's where we are going next." Harry offered, Draco would be impressed with his planning skills if they didn't require Draco taking part in it. 

He was scared of going back to Hogwarts, Death Eaters were there. 

"We have just enough of the scent blockers left that you gave to Ron, you wouldn't be immediately detected." Hermione mused. 

"Are you sure?" He asked, unsurely, but the option of going back to Hogwarts- a place he spent years at was better than going to Gringotts's. 

Harry nodded, but he was already regarding him with that look, like he knew Draco's worries and thoughts. "Yes, only if you are, you don't have to do this." 

Draco swallowed. "You don't have to do this." He repeated, because this wasn't fair, nothing about this was, they shouldn't be here right now, they should be finishing their education, Draco should be getting ready to start courting after graduating, trying to get his parent's to approve of Harry- his future mate, instead they were here, and their future depended on the next few days, he had to do something- anything to improve their chances, so he could have the future he wanted with Harry.

Harry didn't say anything, because if he did he would say that he didn't have a choice, and Draco struggled to resign himself to this. 

He felt faint, so afraid, and when he spoke, it felt like there was a big bile in his throat. "I will do it, whatever I can do to help, I will do it, tell me about that Horcrux." 

"It could be a diadem, and it's hidden." 

"How well hidden can it be, if it was in Hogwarts for decades?" There could be a possibility someone could have already taken it, or moved it. "Someone had to see it somewhere." 

"It's definitely still at Hogwarts, that I'm sure of, we just have no idea where it might be hidden."

Draco frowned, having a sudden revelation. "What about... the room of hidden things?" By name, it would make sense to check there first.

Harry's and Hermione's heads snapped up to stare at him with wide eyes. "What?" The girl asked, scanning a map for it. "I can't see it." 

"It's-" He cleared his throat, trying to recall if he ever saw a diadem there. "It's the room of requirement, really, but people call it the room of hidden things, I think it could be there, I've been there." 

Hermione noted it down, nodding her head furiously. "Brilliant, Draco, that's where you will go." 

Harry hummed, scanning the map, it appeared to be an enchanted map of Hogwarts, the ink was moving, showing people walking around, and Draco knew immediately what it was used for. 

This was how Harry was stalking him! He wasn't following him around in the shadows like Draco thought for months already, so when Draco asked him, and he thought Harry lied about not following him, but he was actually telling the truth, apparently, not  once did Harry lie to him. 

Of course he didn't, he was perfect.

Harry glanced up from the map, catching his eye, his expression was grim, just like Hermione's, surely just like his own. 

Draco glanced at the map, raising a snarky brow, giving him a quirk of lips in what he hoped was a mocking, cheeky smile, he was entirely too unsettled by the upcoming events, but he just wanted Harry to feel better, in the days that remained. 

Harry understood what Draco was insinuating, and grinned slightly, before giving Draco the map, so he could have a look himself. 

Draco could see Greg, Vincent and Pansy moving on the map, his stomach churned at the prospect of seeing them soon, were they still like they used to? Or were they influenced by the propaganda, the torture the Death Eaters had them inflict on other students everyday? Telling them how special they were, that the lesser deserved it. 

What if, if Draco approached them, they would turn him in for choosing to abandon all they were taught? 

He saw his Godfather on the map, he was in the Great Hall, the Carrow twins with him. 

In the past few months of being stuck at the manor waiting to be ready for breeding, Severus was more protective of him and even... not agreeing with The Dark Lords final decision on Draco's role in their community. 

Harry leaned in to see what he was staring at so intently, his expression sharp and tight as he spotted the name. 

"He will pay for what he did." Harry chose to say, it sounded like he was restraining himself from out right declaring he was going to murder him, for the sake of him being Draco's family, Harry deserved revenge, he supposed, but he honestly couldn't imagine Harry ever hurting anyone so badly. 

Not even The Dark Lord. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

"Mate with me, Harry." Draco whispered in the middle of the night, he just couldn't take this anymore, him, nor the boy could fall asleep.

They would be leaving as soon as Ron returned, if he was in any condition to leave, he would probably need a rest, so maybe in the afternoon, but it had to be tomorrow, even if the couple didn't return in time. 

Tomorrow, he will directly oppose the Dark Lord, they will destroy as many Horcruxes as they can tomorrow, he at Hogwarts, the trio going to Gringotts to save on time, then meeting at Hogwarts, everything could change tomorrow. 

He took Harry's hand, running his thumb over the raised scarring of the mark, feeling the still healing one Harry gave him on his shoulder, even through the cloudiness of constant dread at the events that would unfold tomorrow, he felt giddy, he never thought he could love someone this much. 

This could end tomorrow. 

"Mate." Draco lifted a hand to Harry's nape, running his fingers teasingly over it, alpha's didn't need to be bitten, but Draco wanted Harry to know he will be anyway. 

The boys eyes turned darker, but instead of climbing over him, he sat up, taking Draco's hand away from his nape and just holding it, his scent, once again, became clouded, Draco gave him time, it was a long while before Harry sighed, breaking the silence. 

"I-" He paused, exhaling. "I love you." He finished, frowning down at the omega's hand.

Draco nodded, a horrible feeling twisting in his stomach. "So do I, my mate." He quipped lightly, Harry still haven't looked at him. "Let's just do it." 

"No," He shook his head. "After..." Because if they did it now, and Harry wouldn't survive, the consequences on Draco's health could be tragic. "Just in case, you know." 

But if Harry died, Draco wanted to be there with him anyway, not because he wanted to die, but so he wouldn’t be alone, he wasn't going to say it, because he didn't want to argue. 

He groaned, rolling his eyes, wanting to cry and beg Harry to use Blaise's portkey and run away from here, but it would be useless. "You don't understand, without you, I will have nothing, I lost everything, and I don't want anything, you're what I want." 

"You're so dramatic." Harry tried to dismiss the seriousness of his words, how could he still have doubts of the strength of their bond? 

"You don't know your own worth." He was getting upset, he knew he told Harry that he was nothing, so many times, but he was doing everything to correct that. "I want you, I want you to be mine." He added with a hint of a possessive growl to his tone.

Harry snickered, finally looking at him, the omega held his breath when Harry tucked a strand of lose hair that fell on his forehead behind his ear, then placed his hand on his nape, putting pressure on the area. 

Draco exhaled shakily, going pliant at the gesture, Harry pulled him against him, laying back down. 

He wanted the conversation to end, and Draco didn't want to argue about this further, he could have had Harry as his mate, months ago, it was his fault it was too late. 

So instead of throwing a tantrum, he closed his eyes, Harry still had a hand over his nape, his fingers scraping the skin there gently, he had to stop himself from shivering, they were supposed to get some rest before tomorrow. 

Before he fell asleep, the alpha gathered him closer, lips tickling his ear gently, then, he whispered, "I'm already yours." and Draco pointedly pretended he was already asleep. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

When they woke up the next morning they found Blaise and Ron sleeping crammed together on the sofa, smelling positively of time well spent doing inappropriate things for days, rolling around in the mud, they were even dirty, that's probably the most dishevelled he was ever going to see Blaise looking. 

They barely had enough space on the sofa, especially in length, considering they were both tall, Ron had his long digits wrapped around the alpha, without it he would have probably fell of their chosen sleeping spot. 

When Ron's head lulled to the side, Draco's eyes widened to see a pinkish, prominent, perfect bite mark on his nape, properly healed despite it being just put there recently- a bonding mark. 

Merlin, even Ron bloody Weasel got to mate with an alpha- not a shabby alpha, he might add before him, unbelievable. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

"One last time, me, Ron, Harry and Griphook, we are going to apparate to Gringotts to retrieve the cup of Hufflepuff, meanwhile, you apparate before the bridge to Hogwarts, where the closest apparition point is, there is a chance the area is patrolled, if it is, retreat into the forest, apparate back, or, if it's unsafe to apparate, surrender, you're both purebloods so you won't get killed immediately, we will rescue you. As soon as we get the cup, we will meet in Hogwarts using the map, then, we will find an object that will allow us to destroy the Horcruxes." Hermione paused, looking around their small group. "Questions." 

"Yes," Blaise began, Hermione let out a patient, inaudible sigh. "I don't understand why Ron can't come with me, we are mated." He stressed once again, Hermione was already exasperated with him for objecting their plan, she didn't understand that after mating, in the face of danger, alpha's were protective of their mates- new emotions and all.

"Because we know Hogwarts, you've been there, you know what to expect from the Professors, whilst we are going into Gringotts's blind, we need more people, and you're both purebloods-" 

"Ron is, too, a pureblood." Blaise pointed out, voice still smooth but with an edge. "I don't see why we can't swap-" 

"Because you both have absolutely no real duelling experience! Because you two will be safer at Hogwarts!" She snapped, messing her hair. "Because we know that if it came to a life threatening situation, he wouldn't freeze, you can't promise me you won't, you don't know how it is to fight for your life, for the life's of other's, that's why you're going with Draco, where it's safer, all right?" 

Draco and Blaise remained silent, to be honest that's exactly why Draco was relieved that he didn't need to go with them to Gringotts's, a shame was that Harry wasn't going with him, he expected that if they were bonded, Harry would go with him, instead of separating, too. 

Ron nudged Blaise in the arm, quite crudely. "It's alright, we are going to get him." And he sounded convinced, like he didn't entertain any other option.

He was so brave, Draco could never be like him, he was... inferior to him, he found himself being jealous of the other omega, something that would have been incomprehensible a year ago but recently happened too often. 

Ron looked at Harry and Hermione, giving them a sure nod of their head and a smile, a distinct contrast to their gloomy, tight ones. "Who would have thought we will get this far, huh?" 

Hermione's lips quirked into a little smile. "We rest now, I will wake you all when it's time to depart." 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

When Blaise and Draco woke up later that day, the house was completely empty, Luna, Fleur and Bill were gone as well, it was just them. 

Draco concluded that Hermione must have planned to leave without alerting them to prevent any set backs, for example Draco begging his alpha to go back on the plan, it was understandable, but it didn't mean that either him or Blaise were happy about it. 

Nevertheless, they couldn't waste anymore time, who knows when the trio would set to Hogwarts or what time they left, if they even had any rest, if not, then they must have left straight after their meeting, which was hours ago, they needed to leave as well and fast, otherwise them sleeping too long will be the reason of everyone's downfall. 

Blaise and Draco both dressed into Hogwarts uniforms, Blaise his own whilst Draco had to transfigure his, hoping they wouldn't be as noticeable around the school in them on, mixing with other students. They used the last of the scent blockers Ron had from him, to prevent any of the Death Eaters smelling them. 

They apparated into the forbidden forest, where the wards of Hogwarts ended, and marched in silence towards the castle, Blaise didn't look one bit scared, expression attentive but relaxed, maybe he wasn't worried bout himself, after all he was a pure-blooded alpha, all he would get was a punishment and off he goes. 

They stopped in front of the bridge separating them from the school, Theodore Nott- another pureblood was patrolling the bridge, he was a beta- at least he presented as a beta, so his senses were duller than those of Draco and Blaise, he would sometimes sit with them, but now no one could be trusted anymore, and they already decided they will try staying away from Pansy, Goyle and Crabbe as well. 

It was dark, so they managed to sneak close enough for Blaise to grab him from behind and Draco to bind him with a spell, he was trashing around but they put him to sleep, promising to come back for him later. 

Ignoring any going-on's around the school, they made their way to The Room of Hidden Things, it was easy, seeing as it was after curfew, Alecto was patrolling the halls on the second level, but they managed to pass her unnoticed, thanks to the scent blockers. 

"Are you sure the diadem is here?" Blaise asked him as they stood in front to the wall of the room of requirement, Draco paced in front of it as he did many times before, trying to will it to appear. 

"I'm not sure, I know how it looks, seen it on Rowena's portraits, that's about it." He paced, glancing at the wall, wishing harder. 

It didn't appear. 

"Well, where is the room?" Blaise asked, not convinced. 

He had to think for a minute, instead of willing the room of hidden things to appear, he wished for the room of requirement to appear, and it did. 

That could only mean one thing, the room was being currently used for a different purpose with someone inside, because the room could not change if there were people inside it. 

All the bravery and conviction left him knowing that they would have to open the door and see who was behind it, the first real confrontation. 

"There is someone in there." He warned Blaise as he grabbed the handle, Blaise took his wand out of his pocket, Draco decided it would be a good idea to follow suit. 

Draco exhaled a breath, opening the door to the room slowly. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco grunted as he was pushed to the ground, arms bound by the wrists behind his back, he nearly fell on top of Blaise, who was in the same predicament as him, bound and wandless in front of a group of students, none of which were Slytherins. 

Apparently, this room was a hiding spot for students who opposed the dark forces, somehow this knowledge was kept from Blaise, but that wasn't surprising, as he didn't belong to the opposition, whilst Ginny did tell them that there were students working against the headmaster and the Dark Lord in Hogwarts, she forgot to mention their headquarters, which apparently were in the Room of Requirement. 

And their current leader was Neville Longbottom, the biggest loser Draco ever bullied. 

"You don't understand." Draco pressed, it would be useless to struggle against magical bounds and he wanted to show that he wasn't a threat by willingly giving them his wand before they bound him. "We are not with them, we're both working with Harry Potter." 

Neville looked at his friends around the room, they all looked utterly confused, but then his expression hardened as he glanced at them- specifically at Blaise. "Five days ago you were torturing a second year with a cruciatus curse and today you're on our side?" 

Draco scowled, he knew what the Slytherins were doing around the school, and knew that their chances to get everyone to listen to them were slim. 

"I was playing along." 

"Playing along? You and your friends are torturing people, just to keep yourself safe." Neville growled, Draco was surprised to find how much he had changed since they last saw him... they all did. 

"Neville, please," Draco hissed with urgency, shifting to pick himself up into a kneeling position. "I am a blood traitor now, like you!” Neville scowled, Draco didn’t understand what he said wrong but there wasn’t a time to think too hard about it. “You must have heard someone gossiping around school, surely Pansy would know, she is a gossip." He pressed. "This is urgent, I am with- working for Harry Potter, he sent me." Saying that he was in a relationship with Harry Potter could be a bit too hard to believe. Neville's shell was breaking, so the rumour of him being a blood traitor was indeed common knowledge. "Do you have connections to The Order?" 

Neville took a moment of silence before he nodded, deciding the information was innocent enough to share. 

"Contact them, ask for Fleur- or Bill, they will vouch for me." 

Neville beckoned to a person who was operating a muggle device to get someone from the order on the line, after a moment, Ginny's voice rang in the spacious hall. 

Draco cursed, did it have to be Ginny who answered? 

"Hey Ginny, we have Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini here, bound, saying they are working with the Order now." 

Ginny remained quiet for a second. "What are they telling you, what do they want?" 

Draco groaned, she didn't trust them one bit.

Blaise was the one who spoke up. "By any chance, Ginny," He started, the girl remained silent. "Is Molly around?" 

That's right, Molly would vouch for Blaise! Maybe even for him, surely after what he told her she knew he wouldn't go back to the Dark Side. 

Ginny snorted. "No, mom is not here. Why are you at Hogwarts? Grew a pair of balls?" 

"Mated with your brother, actually." Blaise replied quickly, a lot of people in the room sucked in a breath, someone muttered 'which one...?' "We are family now." 

"Wow, seriously?" She sounded out of it. "What are you doing at Hogwarts."

"That's classified." 

Draco stood up from the floor with a lot of struggle, after all his hands were tied behind his back and approached the little square device, leaning to it. 

"Listen! This isn't a time for chitchat, this is between us and your friends, we need everyone out of the Room Of Requirement, Harry Potter will come to Hogwarts today and we have a mission to complete before that happens."

The room broke into loud chatter, excited that The Chosen One will come back and liberate the school. 

"In that case, the Order will gather." Ginny let them know, Neville undid the bindings around Draco and Blaise, approaching the omega and the radio. 

"I will tell you a passage into Hogwarts to remain unseen." He looked at Draco. "Then, we will leave the room for you."

Draco, feeling moved by the trust he didn't deserve, felt, for once really like he was part of this. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

This was stupid, the omega had to convince himself to keep looking for the lone diadem, when all he wanted to do, with every passing minute was to run away using Blaise's Portkey, the boy told him in secret that he took it just in case everything was to go horribly wrong.

They were both getting restless, looking for the Diadem for at least a solid hour with no luck.

Draco wasn't sure where Blaise was anymore, they spent too long here already, Draco was throwing everything about, using spells trying to find any trace of dark magic, to accio the item, it reacting to more than one item, but none of them was the right diadem, as expected, the Dark Lord put incredibly impressive spells over his Horcruxes. 

Draco wanted to cry tears of frustration, this was his only job, the only thing he could help his alpha with and he was failing, he was failing everyone who put trust in him to complete this task, it was a different frustration to what he felt when repairing- and failing to repair the cabinet, then, he only cared about himself and his family- to have their pride back, to keep them safe, now, he was doing this for everyone who needed him to find that stupid, bloody diadem, because people were going to die.

How was the trio doing? Where were they? Surely, they already found the cup, maybe they were on their way to Hogwarts. 

They were supposed to find each other in an allocated place when the trio came back, but at the speed Draco and Blaise were going through the room, they would not find the Diadem until next week. 

Suddenly, a chilling scream broke through the room, followed by the Dark Lord's voice. 

He was giving the whole school an announcement, each word a hiss, he didn't sound any bit affected as he announced that to fight would be a foolish, useless thing to do. Draco looked around the room, Blaise was already walking back towards him, he was hearing this too, it was like it was coming from their heads.

"Give me Harry Potter, do this and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched, give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour" 

And then it stopped. 

Him and Blaise stared at each other, Draco knew he must’ve been looking terrified, because they didn't have the Horcrux yet, and the Dark Lord would come in an hour. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

"Think Draco... think," He told himself, rummaging through yet another pile of junk, minutes passed with no luck, Blaise was at the other side of the room. 

Harry would come soon, and Draco still didn't have the Horcrux, he is going to be disappointed with him-

The doors to the room swung open, hitting the walls as they did, Draco quickly ducked behind the clutter, he didn't know who it could be, so he slowly and quietly made his way towards the entrance. 

Clutching his wand, daring himself to look who it was when he could hear steps getting closer, he flinched when a high-pitched, whiny noise echoed through the room. 

"Well? Potter said Draco will be here, where is he then?!" Pansy groaned, then Draco heard the grunts of his two other friends. 

"I dunno..." Vincent mumbled. 

Draco's heart beat faster, without thinking that they might have bad intentions, he rounded the corner- and another one, until he was face to face with his friends, Pansy squealed when she saw him, and jumped into his arms. 

"You are heavy-" He placed her down so her feet found the floor, he wasn't about to spin her around like she probably wanted him to.  

"Do you know how worried we were when they told us you betrayed the Dark Lord?!" Pansy screeched, holding his face in between her manicured, small hands. "They searched our properties! All seven of mine!" 

"The Dark Lord is terrifying in person." Goyle shuddered at the memory, Blaise joined them, coming out from his own hiding spot. “I’m sure that- I haven’t dared do it, but if I did, if I looked into his eyes- I could probably die.” 

"Harry sent you here?" Draco asked. 

Blaise sighed. “We weren't supposed to tell anyone about the plan." 

"He didn't have a choice but to tell us, right boys?" Pansy glanced behind herself, the two alpha's nodded. "Look at you! What did they do to you? You look like a ghost!" 

Draco smiled, he was so happy to see them he could scent all of them, but that would be not his style. "I was stuck living with the Weasley's, horrible experience, really." He snickered at their ghastly expressions, shaking his head. "But this isn't important, where is he?"

Goyle and Pansy shrugged, Vincent spoke. "Oh yeah, he wanted me to tell you, he, Weasley and Granger went to retrieve something that will help you destroy...it." 

Draco and Blaise exchanged looks, The Dark Lords announcement changed their plans, they were supposed to find each other after the trio returned to Hogwarts, this was no longer the case, they had to rush. 

There were more Horcruxes to find, Draco didn't think it was possible to destroy all of them without them knowing what they were, he didn't see how they could win if the Dark Lord was coming already, but he wasn't going to drop his mission and run, he had to do this, if it helped in anyway. "We need to find Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, I can't tell you why but please... I need your help." 

Pansy's eyes widened. "Did you just ask for help? That's not like you." He must have looked scared out of his mind, because she wasn't smiling anymore, and motioned to the other two to disperse. "A diadem, we will find it, Draco."

They all went to different corners of the room, with it being so vast they still had too much to look through, and they were all frantic now, a charm showed they were running out of time, and the ground would shake sporadically, the battle started outside these walls. 

Draco threw a box after a box away, opening each one and skimming over the contents, what if the diadem wasn't even in this room? He would just be wasting his time, time that he should be spending with his alpha, he wasn't being of any help right now. 

Blaise cursed, Greg asked him if he was okay, only receiving a growl in response, a warning to not test him right now. 

"I think I got it!" Vincent shouted from somewhere in the room, Draco quickly sniffed him out, running to his side, he was there first, and it was really the diadem, hidden in a wooden box, Draco snatched it out of it's hiding spot, jumping to hug Vincent in his excitement, the boy was surprised, but patted him on the back nonetheless. 

"Yes Vincent! That's it! You found it!" 

The alpha cleared his throat, smiling a little, preening with a little shrug. "You're welcome." 

Draco opened his mouth to tell him just how important this was for everyone involved, but the sounds of explosions sounded through the room, and soon it filled with suffocating dust. 

Pansy, Goyle and Blaise joined them, standing behind Vincent and showing them in the direction of the door, the whole room was being bombarded, items falling down from dangerous heights at them. 

"We have to leave! They are attacking!" Pansy rushed them, but there was an explosion that managed to reach the room, the ceiling gave and Vincent just managed to push Draco away from him when dust and rumble assaulted his eyes, ceiling fell around him, horribly loud, he could hear ringing in his ears. 

He coughed, looking around when the rumble cleared, there was nobody with him, and he realised that if Vincent didn't push him away, he would have been crushed by the ceiling. 

"Pansy! Vincent! Can you hear me?" He waited for an answer, there was none, he pulled his wand out, a solid wall of rocks separating him from his friends, he was still clutching the tiara in one hand as he tried to levitate the rocks, but the wand he had wasn't listening, he barely managed to disturb some dust in front of him. "Blaise! Greg!" He shouted louder, no reply. 

Draco tried not to feel scared being left alone, Harry had that map that could tell him where he was, they will all find each other soon. 

But, in case they were preoccupied with more important matters, he should start looking for them himself, keep the diadem safe until they will be able to destroy it. 

☪︎★⁺ ✮ ⁺☆☽

Draco could not find Harry, let alone anyone else he would know, anywhere, he had to fight off a spider, and students who didn't know he was on their side, too.

Stumbling when the wall in front of him burst into pieces, he nearly fell to the ground as his ears rang and his vision spun, if he was further down the corridor he would have been blown to pieces my a nasty bombarda. 

Draco's legs felt like jelly, he could not hear a thing other than eerily quiet sounds of more explosions, they overpowered the screams of pain and incantations, he quickly hid under the stairs, it was a small dark space. He brought his knees to his chest and covered his ears with his hands. 

Merlin, he couldn’t do this after all. He whimpered when his hearing came back, it was overwhelmingly, numbingly loud now.  

The omega regretted not forcing Harry to go with him, but he was under the impression that they will find each other easily with the map the latter had. 

Draco should have pleaded to mate, he would feel the tug of their bond, he would sense and smell the alpha better, and if Harry was dead already- which was highly likely because this was a massacre, he would have known by now. 

Draco sniffled the air, the dust and rumble of all the fallen structures and the smell of blood was making it very hard to scent him. He attempted to gather the guts to crawl out of his hiding spot again, telling himself he could do it, trying to blink through the pollution and see in front of himself properly. 

He only registered the smell of piss too late when a large hand wrapped around his ankle, pulling him by the leg swiftly and out of his hiding spot. 

“And what do we have here? If it isn’t the little, weak Omega.” Greyback sneered when Draco was completely out, the alpha grabbed him by the hair and quickly pulled him to his feet. 

Draco hissed at the pull, trying to smack the arm away, out of every opponent he ended up with the one that was going to maul his face off. 

Greyback didn’t want to chat, he slammed Draco against the nearest wall like a rag doll, then pushed- or rather threw him a distance away from him into a different one, the omega grunted when his body fell because he couldn't catch his footing, his wand clattered to the ground, but it was still intact and he tried to grab it, to wrap his fingers around the hilt and he only needed a few more centimetres when there was a hand on his leg again and he was pulled back to Greyback's feet. 

He was on his stomach in front of the alpha and the big beast placed his boot on the omega's head, then stepped on it once, twice, until there was a crack, Draco's nose or maybe some other bone in his face cracked, he bit his tongue and definitely busted his lip, blood welled up in his mouth. 

“I don’t really care if your face is ugly or if you can't get up, Omega, even a paralysed one, can still produce pups.” Greyback was explaining to him while he pressed his abused face to the hard carpet with his boot, Draco grit his teeth to stop himself from whining at the pain, Greyback stepped on his head again Draco wasn’t sure if the pop he heard was his nose breaking or his skull, more blood filled his mouth, dripping from a busted brow and nose. He spluttered on it. 

“Stop.” He whined weakly, at least he could still talk, but he didn’t move from the ground an inch to show he was submitting and pliant. 

Students were running past them but Greyback ignored them. 

The alpha growled loud. “No omega will tell me when I should stop.” 

He grabbed Draco by the arm, lifting him up, slamming him here and there, stepping on his ankle once when he tried to get away, Draco was aware at the back of his mind that the Dark Lord was talking again, it was a distant thing as Draco was being assaulted by a larger, and definitely more threatening individual, at some point he managed to grab his wand from the floor, when Greyback pressed him to the wall he dropped it again.

“I'm going to bond with you, bite you, then you will hide under that staircase until I come back for you.” 

Students were still sporadically running by, but in this situation, faced with that big of a threat, they continued running, barely sparing them a glance, as far as most people believed, he was on the Dark Side. 

He willed himself to growl, no point in pretending to play nice and pliant with Greyback anyway. "Let go, mutt, I would rather die!" Barely seeing anything through the wetness in his eyes, he tried to scratch at his opponent, when that didn't provide any help and Greyback tried to catch his arms in one hand Draco hit him, aiming for his nose, this made the Alpha pause, giving him enough time to drop down and pick his wand up, clutching it harder to not lose it again. 

Draco lifted his wand high enough to point it at the beast and said as loud as his abused jaw and face allowed him. “Imperio!” It was a curse he used all too often when trying to kill Dumbledore, it was familiar and less unforgivable as the other two in his book, and something that could potentially work with a wand that didn't belong to him due to experience using it. 

Instantly the alpha froze, stepping away, Draco tried to pick himself up, but stumbled back down on the floor, realising one of his ankles was twisted, he tried again this time careful to not step too hard. 

Draco looked up at the beast standing before him, he was dazed, but his face was twitching, as if he was trying to fight the curse off, the omega squeezed his wand in a tight, shaking grip, wanting to kill him, it was what he deserved.

But of course, he couldn't, he could never kill anyone.

“I want you to go attack your own, don't spare anyone who aligns with the Dark Lord except my father and mother, don’t stop until everyone else is... unconscious.” He wanted him to rip them apart, his pack, but he wasn’t going to say it, whatever Greyback interpreted 'unconscious' as he could do. “And after you are done, I want you to obediently submit to the Aurors as they arrive, do you understand?” 

Greybacks eyes turned completely black, he nodded stiffly before getting out of his sight like Draco wanted. 

The omega breathed as he clutched his wand, he nearly got bonded with Greyback… and his body hurt so much he nearly fell after one step, catching himself on his arms before he completely head butted the carpets. 

He reckoned he did quite a good thing by making Greyback do the job for him, for the good side, he was sure the alpha would do a good job running through the Death Eaters, now he won't feel bad about using the rest of his time to find Harry. 

He sniffed, but his nose was broken and clogged with blood, he couldn’t smell a thing anymore. 

Taking it slow, he tried to wipe his face, when he touched it, he felt sharp pain, his broken nose made his eyes water, tears streaming in a steady flow, dust sticking to his wet face, he couldn't see very well and when he lifted his wand to heal his face the spell failed. 

"Unbelievable..." He whispered, he did find the diadem, and no one had to worry about Greyback, but that's all he did, he needed to destroy the thing at least, apparently he would have to do it alone, nothing was going according to Hermione's plan. 

There was a hand on his arm and he snarled, trying to get away, turning to elbow the person who tried to grab him, pausing when he realised it was Ron with Hermione behind him. 

“Oh,” He tried to blink away the dizziness as Ron helped him to his feet. Then he realised who was missing. “Where is he?” 

Hermione guided him back under the little space under the stairs, they all hid under there, she then began doing quick work on fixing his face, he could feel bones mending and popping back into place. 

Instead of answering, Hermione sighed.

“Who did that to your face?” Ron asked him tentatively. 

“Greyback.” He grit his teeth when his nose went back into position, Ron gasped.

“Really? What happened?” He asked, Hermione was curious too, but she could never comprehend being an omega and having to be anywhere near an alpha like him. “He did anything else?”

“No, no…” Draco whispered, wincing when the girl's skilled fingers checked over his legs and pressed on his already swelling ankle, she quickly began healing the area too. “I need to see Harry.” 

“Me too, mat- Draco.” Weasley nodded, he was being a look out, peaking his head out from their hiding place to look around, but everything was eerily quiet. 

Draco realised something. “Blaise, he came with me. We separated, it was- maybe around an hour ago.” 

“An hour?” Granger repeated, sharing a look with Ron, who immediately looked worried. 

“An hour and he didn’t find me? Don’t alphas have like, insanely good noses for their mates?” He stressed, Draco nodded. “But… Merlin, I can’t smell anything other that dust either. I don’t…I need to-“

“I recon he is fine, we should stay together, Ron.” Hermione tried to reassure. “Move your foot, Draco.” 

Draco did as he was asked, telling the girl his ankle didn’t hurt anymore.

“All right, we think Harry went to the forest, we haven't seen him once since we separated." She told him, Draco's heart sank. 

"What...?" This couldn't be true, he wouldn't go without telling them. "He couldn't." 

She nodded. "We can't be sure, but if he did, he might be already... dead." 

"He would come and say something, he would." Draco argued, it wouldn't be like him to not think about others. 

"All we can do now is wait, if he is here, he will find us, if not, we need to be prepared for when... Voldemort comes, did you- did you find the diadem?" 

He nodded, feeling numb, in shock, he pulled the Horcrux out of his tattered robe pocket, passing it to Ron, who stabbed it with a gigantic fang Merlin knows from where, Hermione praised him on a job well done, but he only pursued his lips, feeling equal amounts frustrated and helpless, he was here for Harry, it was all for him, and now he couldn't find him anywhere, and perhaps he will never get to see him again.

They exited the hiding spot, Draco followed the duo mindlessly, the two sat down. 

He frowned down at them incredulously, they should keep looking for him, because if he could fight, Harry wouldn't hand himself to the Dark Lord, he wouldn't-

They looked up when they heard footsteps, Harry was walking down towards them, he looked disturbed, spaced out, there was something horribly wrong, he was covered in blood, not his own- Severus’s.

Harry looked at him, noticing the way he skimmed over his blood covered hands. 

“I didn’t kill him, Draco, Severus is dead. I’m sorry.” Draco nodded, understanding, the loss he felt for his Godfater at the back of his mind as he sensed something was different about the alpha. 

Hermione and Ron asked him where he was, he glanced at them each in turn, jaw set as he looked past them at the entrance. 

"We thought you went to the forest." 

"I'm going there now." Harry replied, his voice slightly shaking, but he stopped to look at them, Draco didn't know what to say, what was he saying? 

"Are you mad? No, you can't give yourself up to him." Ron, just as confused countered, Harry glanced at Draco, quiet and sighed, looking away.

"You are not serious." Draco shook his head, first of all, he would never go down without a fight, second, if he was going then he was going with him, and he didn't want to do that. "You are not going to that forest," Harry's eyes were big, he was pretending to appear okay and failing, obviously in shock, not understanding what he was doing, otherwise he wouldn't do something so stupid. Draco slowly made to reach for his hand, Harry didn't react, but his breathing shook when Draco squeezed i. "You are not going, you wouldn't, we can win this, you know that they will kill Hermione, Ron will-"

"It's not like that." Harry looked away, at his two friends rather than looking at him, he didn't hold Draco's hand back, it was pliant in his hold.

"What is it, Harry? What is it you know?" Hermione prompted.

A longer pause, Draco cursed. "If you don't tell us what's going on, you sure as hell aren't-" 

"I'm sorry, Draco, you did so good." He interrupted him, reaching a hand to put on Draco's cheek, sliding it against his nape, then it fell to his side. "I can't be your mate." 

He pulled away then, turning to Hermione and Ron, Draco was speechless, eyes wide. 

"There is a reason I can hear them, the Horcruxes." Harry swallowed, but he didn't cry, and he didn't look scared, but he must have been. "I think I've known for a while, and I think you have, too." They were looking at each other in morbid understanding, Draco was confused, the hand he was holding slipping from his grasp. “Kill the snake and then it's just him." 

The trio was hugging, Draco watched, understanding dawning on him slowly, there was a finality to what they were doing, no one was going to try to stop him anymore, and Draco knew that he too had to accept this choice. 

Harry wasn't giving up, this was something he had to do for them. 

When the trio separated, Harry turned to him again, fishing out Draco's wand from his pocket and offering it back, he stared down at it, angry tears of frustration welling in his eyes, but he wasn't going to cry, not yet. 

"Take it." Harry insisted. 

"Keep the stupid wand, Merlin," He sighed, trying to control himself. "I won't need it." 

Harry frowned. "I won't need it, take the wand." 

Draco shook his head. "No." 

The alpha was silent for a second, then groaned, because Draco was making this harder than it had to be. "Why not?" 

"Because I'm going with you."