Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When she woke up, she was being shoved out of a black van. How classic.

They scan her. 

"Omega. Fertile. That building over there. You know where they go."

She hardly recognizes the security. Magic's still being used, clearly. They're able to trace whether or not someone's an Omega using a form of blood magic, and magic that can trace fertility, too. She has a valuable womb. 

They keep a tight grip on her, like the magically bound cuffs don't do that already. "She's a special one," One of them comments. She recognizes as Flint."They have huge plans for her." Oh, that's just great, Hermione thought. On her arm, alongside the MUDBLOOD scar, is a number. #181. She isn't the first then, which scares her. The building on the outside, looks like heaven. Completely white compared to the gloominess that was the new world.

Don't react, don't fight, Hermione thought. The Gryffindor won't help. 

The doors open, and Hermione's shoved inside. 

Girls in grey wait for her, kneeling.

"It's a pleasure, Miss Granger, to join us," Umbridge smiles, a sinister one. She can see the intentions. Hermione just nodded, not understanding anything. The cuffs are taken off, but she has a feeling some of its magic has found its way inside of her.

It always has.

"You may sit over there next to Omega #90 after you change. Your clothes just won't do," Umbridge comments, holding her wand like a ruler. She is rushed then, to a different hall. Hermione doesn't know what this building might've been once before. Or if it existed before the death eaters had that ambush and won.

The dress she's given is ugly and not her style, it's a grandma dress, as she thinks of it. But she's forced into it, so Hermione does that. Her hair's frizzier already, and she hates it. After changing, she goes to her assigned spot, next to #90.

"Cho?"

Hermione looked.

"181, Why are you talking without permission?" Umbridge asked."I'd hate to punish you so soon. But I also know you just came. Your brain is still corrupted." She thought all of this was complete insanity. Had she gone madder than she already was?

"I'm sorry, Ma'am," Hermione said, softly.

"Good."

All of this was very strange, so much so that Hermione felt unnerved. Umbridge was even stranger than before. She stood like she owned the place. Cho did not even look at her, probably out of fear.

"You're very lucky to be here," Umbridge then spoke up."Omegas are not very common. You're all very special. Being an omega is an honor. And now, you'll have the greatest honor of all, repopulating the wizarding world." Hermione and the others gasped.

On the chalkboard was written rules.

"These are the rules that you must follow, or there will be consequences," Umbridge said."Do you all hear me?"

"Yes Ma'am," Everyone spoke in unison.

Umbridge grinned.

- -

2 months in, Hermione's summoned into the office. Every Omega before her has been assigned to a home to be bred. Now, it was her. "Ahem, sit down," Umbridge. "yes, ma'am," Hermione said, softly.

"You've changed in the two months of education, well done," Umbridge said. Like she was trained, kept her hands in her lap. Her grey dress turned to scarlet red. Placed in front of her was the gloves, long cloak, and bonnet, with the white wings. It blocked her vision, she could only see straight, if she wanted to look at a different way, she had to turn her head. The marks were reminders of her being submissive. 

Omegas were naturally submissive.

She had been taking suppressants since she presented at fourteen. Her parents thought it might've been the best thing for her. An omega was dangerous in a school filled with the Alphas and some betas. "I've tried to do you good, Ma'am," Hermione spoke, softly, like an omega. "And you have," Umbridge said."It's time for your first home. Oh! It's always so exciting when this happens! Omegas flying out of the nest."

Hermione knows this process. She'd seen her fellow Omegas go through the same thing.

She places the file in front of Hermione. "You've been chosen, hand picked, reserved," Umbridge said."Months in advance. So this was not necessary, but it is procedure." Oh, Hermione thought, anxious. Whose home would she go to?

"You've been given the honor of serving the dark lord himself," Umbridge grinned. Hermione shivered. "Pardon?" She said, shock on her face. "Ah, I understand, what a shock this might come to you," Umbridge told her."Mudbloods like you deserve the worst, but, it's out of my control. Plans had been made for you."

For the worst thing ever.

She looked down the entire time. To keep her manners, that's what she was told to do. To be well-mannered. To speak only when she could. "When will... I be going?" Hermione asked, hating that she had become the Omega she didn't want to become. 

Submissive, and doing as she was told by Umbridge. 

At least back then, when she was a professor, she had freedom, and no one knew she was an omega. Omegas were rare now, and Umbridge had said it'd been a 'blessing', being a beta was boring. She would know, that despite all her holy duties, she was cursed with being a Beta. 

At least Hermione held that over her, indirectly, and not always verbally.

She had gotten used to being called a Mudblood, at this point, it was like a medical term, rather than a slur or insult. It infuriated her, but she couldn't do anything about it. In this kind of society, Omegas were beneath Alphas, and Betas, even, but betas weren't as superior as Alphas, no one was. Alpha Males, at least. But no females had been Alphas in a while. Not in Hermione's generation, like they'd been sniffed out. 

"Remember, the only reason you Mudbloods have a purpose, is the womb," Umbridge sinisterly smiles."I hope you never forget what you've been taught, 181." 

She smiles at Umbridge."Of course not, Ma'am."

She had forced everyone to be called Ma’am. The first night Hermione was there, all she felt was fear and confusion. She had tried to escape, and they punished her. Not badly, they still needed to be in good condition, and according to others, she was 'special', and she never knew why. 

Well, now she did. 

She walked out of Umbridge's office. This was her turf. No guards were allowed inside, only in emergencies. It was for very specific purposes. Considering majority of the guards were Alphas and might compromise everything.

Suppressants were banned, that was sinful to go against nature. Omegas were meant to go into heats and breed, according to what she was taught. 

That is her only purpose now: To be bred and have children.

Have children or the worst kind of punishment.

Imprisonment.

She knew what that meant, and it terrified her but she would be willing to define the rules to be imprisoned. It was a better fate than giving her children up. 

Hermione was not going to do that.

She couldn't.

Hermione always wanted children, but now? In this world, she had no other choice. And if she could control that by not having children, then so be it. Exiting the office, the others looked at her, the ones that were left. Ron, otherwise known as Omega #100, looked at her. He'd be gone soon, she knows it. The Order members are desirable, apparently. Then, outside of the center, which had once been Hogwarts, a van's waiting for her.

Apparition isn't allowed, apparently. They actually use cars. 

She steps inside, with no resistance.

Then, the darkness is welcomed. the entire ride is awkward. She's in the red dress, bonnet with wings and gloves. The cloak isn't necessary since it is not winter, so it's only in her bags. For now, though, she's in red.

Hermione is more obedient than she thought she would be, in this regime. She thought she would’ve fought more. That’s what the Gryffindor in her would do.

But she then remembers that omegas are naturally submissive. She unfortunately was an omega. She sometimes wished that she was a beta, or Alpha.  That might have made things much more easier for her. No babies to be forced to produced. That must be a good life to have. To have the power and freedom to do as you choose.

Omegas do not get that. 

The van stops. 

It means that she's arrived to the household. The doors open and she's shoved out. They hold her arms like she'll punch them or escape, she knows better than that. Anyway, the torture Umbridge placed on them has done some damage.

The house is elegant, and victorian. In her mind, it was made for a large family, one that was extremely wealthy. It reminded her of Malfoy Manor, except it wasn't. It was more in the countryside.

She's forced to go up to the door. And in a second, a maid opens the door. "Oh, you've arrived," She smiled, She was pretty, with middle-length dark, almost black hair. She had piercing blue eyes and freckles. Hermione wasn't that tall, about 5'4, so this woman had to be 5'7, at least. 

A beta, Hermione knew the scent.

"Come in, you've been expected," She told Hermione, like she was a child. Everything enters inside of the house. "I'll show you your room first, Omega," The maid said. She doesn't even refer to her as her name, but she guessed it no longer mattered. But she still had a name.

The house is pretty.

She walks up the stairs behind the maid. "Aren't I supposed to meet the Master and Mistress of the household?" Hermione asked."To go over the rules?" "They aren't home at the moment, with business," The maid explained."Tomorrow, things will be gone over."

Weird, already, it is out of routine, Hermione thought. 

Her room's bland and boring, as expected. A desk, a shelf, a bed, and then, built like a suite, had a bathroom with a bath, and essentials. No shower, though, which is unusual. At least there's books to entertain herself with. 

She isn't picky. But she knows it won't be fun.

It's not her room.

She already knows who her new household Master and Mistress are, but, she still knows procedure. Did he think he was above that? Or what?

Hermione hated people that thought they were above the rules. 

Then again, he had created the rules. The entire new regime he had created for a reason. Efforts to repopulate the world now that omegas were rare and the most fertile.

She hated that she had little control over her own body autonomy. It didn’t seem fair. There had been rumors of surgery for omegas.  Of course it was mostly hearsay, and it was from before. It was said that it could make it so Omegas wouldn’t go into heat permanently and give them hysterectomies.  If it was true, Hermione should’ve went to that place as soon as possible. It basically would’ve made her a beta. She wanted that more than anything. 

Now she didn’t have that chance at all.

She sat on the bed obediently, waiting. She took the wings off.

After she unpacked, she had organized the drawer. Socks, underwear, winter, summer, spring clothing etc... 

She had a few bonnets and wings too.

In the closet were the cloaks. The suitcase matched her role, red, like blood. Omegas bleed.

"The red represents fertility, and it's a honorable role no one here will be miserable by at the end of this lesson," Umbridge spoke up."You may hate this now, but you won't, in no time."

Was she supposed to enjoy this now?

Hermione thought that she’d like being an omega and this role by now. Yet she still hated it. Maybe she was one of the defective ones, the ones that didn’t believe.

An hour a day for excerise.

The maids used this as an opportunity for shopping, so Hermione took on the responsibility today while the Master and Mistress were out. She didn't mind. Walking might help her think. 

There are boundaries and expectations for this too. they wanted to prevent her and other omegas to not escape. 

As if anyone would try.

"It's much too dangerous to go on your own," The beta maid whom she learned was named Eliza said."You'll get assigned a walking partner. Do not talk, just walk." Waiting was an important key to this.

Hermione turned her head to look.

This wasn't a religious regime, no, quite the opposite. But churches had appeared everywhere. The stores and diagon alley completely changed. Dark Arts only related things. Schooling had changed, too.

A school for Alphas and Betas only. The school for female betas was different. It was mostly on how to be a wife and stay at home with the omega children. They certainly couldn't let them go freely, and do as they wanted like Alphas.

The woman stood beside her. 

“Hello,” She whispered.”I don’t think we are supposed to talk.”

”I was told not to,” Hermione replied.”I want to follow the rules. But this one I can’t.” "Me too," The omega said. She too, also had the same look as Hermione. "By numbers, I'm #70," The omega said."And you're 181, right? the special one?"

"Apparently," Hermione said, and they began the walk.

There's sunshine, and the sky's blue. She can feel the shoes. They're not the best kind of shoes, and red isn't a color she would've picked under normal circumstances. "I know you're looking for Ron," The omega said."My name technically's Susan."

"Susan Bones?"

The girl nodded and Hermione looked. "I belong to Dolohov," She explained."He's terrifying already." "I'm sorry," Hermione told her."I remember during the war he had tried to rape me once. For being an Omega and I hadn't taken my suppressants."

"He's a creep," Susan commented."I feel his eyes on me."

She expected men would act like that. 

"You can always prepare for the births," Umbridge explained."Breathe in, breathe out. Lying down on the ground, legs open." 

The thought of a birth terrified her.

And everyone would have to witness it, how humiliating.  They stop at the first store, for groceries. It wasn't just groceries they needed, there was a few books on the list.  “This is going to be a long trip,” Susan muttered next to Hermione. “Right,” Hermione said.

The whole ‘walking partner' thing was absolutely bullshit in her mind. She didn’t need to be ‘protected’, or monitored 247.  It wasn’t really for protection, as much as they’d like to call it that and pretend all they wanted, most Omegas didn’t need the protection.

The store has changed.

Hermione had gone into this grocery store plenty of times, it was less.. Sterile, but sterile was the intention, clearly.

“Yuck,” Susan commented, in a whisper.”There needs to be more color.” “I couldn’t agree more,” Hermione whispered, and they giggled briefly, before separating. They could not look like they’d been talking. 

Finding things was a little more difficult. They remained together.

Music played above, in the speakers, like before.

“The long and winding road

That leads to your door

Will never disappear

I've seen that road before

It always leads me here

Lead me to your door.

The wild and windy night

That the rain washed away

Has left a pool of tears

Crying for the day

Why leave me standing here?

Let me know the way.”

Hermione knew this song, it was her father’s favorite song, he loved the Beetles, and played it often in the house growing up.

It was a harsh reminder of what happened to them.

The last thing she remembered is they were in Australia, with no memory of her. At least, that’s how it was, until she saw a news article a little later, to get an update on them.

They both were dead in a break-in.

But Hermione knew better, it was definitely the death eaters that had somehow tracked them down, and killed them because of her. A reminder to never disobey, to never be defiant, or your loved ones will be the ones punished first. You're second, because it's less painful. 

Yet, her punishment had been painful. To be raped every month or so, or more. 

She imagines it'll be very painful. 

Hermione wasn’t a virgin, so it won’t be a painful process physically, but mentally, yes. She doesn’t want it.

At least she won’t see the Master and Mistress too often. It looks like they didn’t have an house elf. 

She was at a disadvantage. 

A house elf could've been a ticket out of here, they're easily manipulated, and you can get information out of them easily, but she never saw them like that. She adored House elves, they deserved better than what they got.

However, Hermione couldn't help them now, and she already felt extremely helpless. There isn't anything she could do. The world's been permanently altered, and shaped, twisted into something much more horrid. 

A horrible world.

”You froze for a little,” Susan comments. “Right, sorry,” She responded, grabbing the last of groceries. The payments were strange now but she no longer questioned it.

As they left, Susan said,” Praying can help you get through nights if you need it.”

Hermione just nodded. She had never been a religious person, nor were her parents. She'd been raised atheist most of her life, but praying might help, in the way of giving herself hope. And hope could be very powerful, if it's ignited in the right kind of people, and a lot of people.

She always believed in hope, that it might've been the most powerful weapon of them all. 

Except now she didn't know if that was true. It hadn't helped them at all, and only made things worse. 

Hermione wished she believed in a God. 

Chapter Text

Music played as the 'alarm' went off in the morning. It wasn't really an alarm, but acted like one for her. 

The only pajamas she had were white or grey nightgowns. Nothing less. Femininity was an important thing for omegas, and Hermione found that stupid. She got up, and changed. She always was up early before, but this time, she had to be right on time. 

Breakfast would be where she officially meets the Master and Mistress.

She knew who they were, obviously, but it was routine, and the ritual that she had been taught. Nothing can go against it. She brushes out her hair the best she could, and then changed. Red, and a bonnet. Nothing else. Her hair had to be covered for whatever reason. 

Be a good omega.

She tried to be, as best as Umbridge taught her. Then the maid came in. “It’s time for breakfast,” She said. The bell also went off, so Hermione already knew that. Stepping down the stairs, Hermione anticipated awkwardness. 

During the war, Hermione had heard of Bellatrix and Voldemort marrying. But after some time, no one saw Voldemort in person. It had been entirely the death eaters and Bellatrix representing him. 

She found it odd, at the time. 

Entering the room, She found a younger Voldemort staring back at her. Bellatrix in her spot. And one waiting for her.

”Sit,” He said. And Hermione obeys as she’s supposed to, but remains quiet.  “This one doesn’t speak,” Bellatrix said.”She used to talk too much.” As if that matters, Hermione thought but did not say anything. 

He's young, like early thirties, and she doesn't understand it. 

"The Mudblood has been re-educated, Bellatrix," Voldemort explained."She's different now." Bellatrix huffed, was it out of jealousy or judgment for her being a muggle-born? Bellatrix had always been insecure, Hermione could tell.

For an Alpha, it was ironic. 

"I can tell," Bellatrix said. Her plate's served in front of her. It looks good, and not what she expected. Food at the new Omega Center had been nutritious, but not the best to eat, and she wasn't a picky eater. “Thank you,” Hermione spoke up, the only words she might’ve been allowed to say. She had to pretend to be grateful. She could’ve been somewhere worse. Bellatrix smiled.”You’re welcome, grateful little mudblood. I like that she is so well behaved. Umbridge is doing her job properly then.”

”So it seems,” Voldemort comments. 

"Now we have to go over the rules, Bellatrix said."Don't we, husband?" He nodded, using a handkerchief. She does her best to keep her manners. Punishment can be allowed, but only in circumstances. Other than that, omegas can't be hit. 

A rule follower, is what she was. 

If she wanted to survive, she'd have to follow the rules. "No sneaking out at night, you have to remain in your room," Bellatrix said, as the first rule, in the Alpha authoritative tone that she obeyed within her instincts.

"Second," Her husband continued for her, he had the power and authority more than her,"No smuggling suppressants. Some have tried in the Center. We don't want any interference with pregnancy and the breeding process. Heats must happen."

To make me more willing, Hermione thought.It'd be difficult to rape someone when they don't want it. Her hands remained in her lap, and she tries not to move an inch. 

Hermione nodded as a response while they continue over the rules. “We’ve looked over your file,” He said.”You seem to be pretty fertile according to the checkups and appointments you’ve had during the time with re education.” "Yes, Sir," Hermione explained."I was one of the few that was very fertile." "Good, then I made a right choice handpicking you," He said.  It proved her suspicion, at least. Why had she had been handpicked? Surely it wasn't just because of her fertility, anyone could've had that. But no questions were asked, she wasn't allowed to. Bellatrix was intimidating, and since she had tortured Hermione, she was a bit more afraid she might do it again. 

"Umbridge has also said that you'd become an obedient student, so you'll have no struggles with that here?" Bellatrix asked, curiously. "No, ma'am," Hermione responded."I can assure you I won't be any trouble."

She grinned."Good. I want an obedient omega, and for some reason, that was hard to find." Well, it's understandable, Hermione thought. She was only doing this out of survival.  Omegas weren’t always going to be submissive and obedient. Those just were instincts. Hermione wanted to be known more than just that. Except in this world, that was all she’d ever be.

"I should get going, I have some business to do," Voldemort stood up."This was a good breakfast." Bellatrix nodded, and so did Hermione. It was weird imagining Bellatrix with a baby, she didn't seem to be motherly at all. 

Breakfast had ended smoothly, no disaster. For now.

In Hermione's new room, a window outlooked the front of the large house. So sun had gotten into the bedroom, and she liked the lightness that was the sun in the bedroom. It gave her some hope, some optimism in her new boring life. She sat down on the bed.

She looked around. There could be some exploring in this room that she could do. 

Her closet's nice.

Hermione looked for anything interesting. Then she looked at the books. All of them were not magical books, but rather fictional books. Like Emma, by Jane Austen, a muggle, oddly enough. But she had always known Voldemort wasn't a supremacist, he just used the hate for his own agenda. But It didn't mean he liked muggles. She picked the book out from the shelf, and began reading. 

Hermione adored Jane Austen, she loved her books, as well as Charlotte Brontë. Classic novels were her favorite. 

Reading might be the only comfort she would have in this life. It'd always been a comfort of hers.  She realized quickly that the door could not be locked, but yet the maids still knocked every day, probably out of privacy. 

Hermione appreciated that she had some forms of privacy at least. She didn’t want to completely have to get rid of it.

--

For her time of exercise, she goes out into the garden, without supervision, which is a privilege she realized right away. Not all omegas got that. She looked at how pretty the flowers and plants were. Now, she found a new source of comfort to cling onto. Hermione had followed all the rules as promised. There were plenty of them to follow and listen to. 

“I never liked gardening,” Bellatrix said, standing nearby.”It’s what my sister prefers, and my mother, before she passed.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Ma’am,” Hermione told her. “She’s been dead for a long time, dear,” Bellatrix said.”Sympathy is not needed. And anyway, she would’ve been pleased with what the world has become.”

Not surprising at all.

She expected that the mothers in the Black Family weren’t so lovely and affectionate towards their children, Bellatrix, Hermione could tell didn’t receive much maternal affection. 

So it’d be hard to imagine her as a mother to any children, and by blood, it didn’t continue the black family line by blood. Narcissa and Andromeda, however, did, but it seemed to not matter, apparently, not anymore.

“I garden mostly because it occupies time,” Bellatrix explained, kneeling down to a flower.”Magic is hardly used anymore, which is a shame.”

It might be a good thing, to witches like you, Hermione thought, but simply stared back at Bellatrix.

They’ve never had an ordinary conversation, but things were different. “Magic is still used, of course, but daily as it used to be, He thinks it might make the world healthier,” Bellatrix said.

“I don’t know if that might work,” Hermione admitted. “Me either,” Bellatrix said.”But whatever occupies the time. We’ve won, that is what matters. He’s my husband until death, I must follow him, as he follows me. We’re both Alphas.” And I’m an omega, She thought. I’m meant to be submissive. Not an Alpha.  The mark with her number meant that the MUDBLOOD scar had faded by a lot, and she knew a spell that might get rid of it. 

At least before the world had crumbled.

She blames Fudge partly, he’d been a weak minister. He had been manipulated, and let the Ministry crumble. However, no one could’ve predicted that this might happen, so, yes, it wasn’t his fault either.

He’d been assassinated not too long after Voldemort won. Or before, she always mixed up the dates.

When he fell, the last bit of the unbiased, and government that wasn’t run by Voldemort, had fallen as well, Dumbledore’s legacy.

His death impacted everyone, but especially Harry.

“I hope you don’t mourn what we once had,” Bellatrix told her, lighting a cigarette.”Dumbledore wasn’t an honorable man at all, all of it was bullshit. You surely are smart enough to see that.”

Was Bellatrix lying to try and fool her?

As far as Hermione knew, Dumbledore was an honorable man, and was one of the few people she looked up to, and admired, especially as an eleven-year old girl. So, Bellatrix might've been lying to her.

"I'm not sure," Hermione replied."He seemed honorable." "But he had plenty of secrets," Bellatrix told her."Dark secrets. So, no, he had no honor at the time of his death." She didn't want to discuss it further, but, she had no choice. Bellatrix was pursuing a conversation with her. Therefore, she had to talk.

"Maybe," Hermione replied, not exactly agreeing or disagreeing. 

Bellatrix took a drag from the cigarette.

"Re-education seemed to help, I've seen a couple of your former friends, what was the red-haired boy's name? A Weasley, no doubt," Bellatrix remarked. "Ron.." She spoke. "Oh right," Bellatrix said."An omega, not rare in that family."

Oh.

After the hour is up, Hermione went back up to her bedroom, which is where she always will be in. Besides her outside time, Hermione's trapped in this house, and has no way out. Not one she could think of in the moment, anyway. 

To wait.

To be patient and good.

To be an submissive omega and to breed.

Those were engraved within her mind constantly in the Omega Center, as it was referred to by. She had to follow them carefully, and to be a good girl. To sit, to be patient. That's what she was meant to be in life. Hermione remembers that before, She was independent and could think for herself. In school, good came from Hogwarts. It did not matter if you were an alpha, omega, or even beta. It was strange to think that these were the times, that would be unacceptable now. 

Now, statuses mattered.

Alphas were the highest social status nowadays, and it seemed like they've become rarer and rarer. But this new generation would apparently change that. That was the idea that they wanted to get out. 

Hermione obviously didn't believe it. 

Omegas were desired, but by social status terms, low. They'd never get anywhere in this kind of world. Omegas could be married off, but in certain circumstances. Due to being a 'rebel' and order member, Hermione didn't get that.

She probably wouldn't have, anyway. 

As a muggle-born, she had a disadvantage. If it wasn't being an order member, it would've been that. They wanted her bred out as soon as possible. Pregnancy would be very likely. She was apparently fertile. Hermione could get pregnant without a heat, but it was preferred to be in heat, for a more willing experience.

Even with a heat, Hermione wouldn't ever be willing. she'd make sure of it.

She thought of harry and Ron. 

Ginny, too. 

But she'd never see them again under normal circumstances. They'd be like her, well, Ginny and Ron, anyway. Harry, she had no idea. She hoped he remained alive, but he probably was being tortured, or worse, killed.

She didn't like thinking about it.

The breeding would begin soon and Hermione is terrified. It was like a ceremony but she couldn’t explain it. She did not want it to happen. And she was sure her heat was going to happen too. The symptoms began to show and she was even more scared. What if she became pregnant immediately?

Well, it all depended on if Voldemort was fertile or not. She’d figure that out.

If not then it was a blessing in disguise for her but it’d also mean that she’d be passed onto a new household. That’s how it’d go. A few years and then, after producing children, would go into another home to do the same thing.

To give up children was saddening.

She wanted to be a Mum, not have to spread children out to random strangers and her babies never knowing who she is, or knowing who their true parent is. What confused her was that it didn't seem like Voldemort had any interest in an heir before. So, why the sudden change? 

It had to mean something. 

Clearly. 

Otherwise she wouldn't have been in this position. Or maybe even so, she would've. Who knows? Nonetheless, She can't change it. the waiting period's terrifying .The impending doom that is coming. she sees it as doom, anyway. No one wants to be raped and bred out without a choice. 

Magical Pregnancy, especially on an omega, was different. It had better outcomes, according to healers and what research she had done. It helped with memory, and other things. But still, it should be a choice.

Before the war, she had a dream of becoming a librarian, or go into something political within the Wizarding world or muggle world. None of those had been able to come true. Tonight, there was a special dinner. Hermione had no other choice but to at least be present, to give an example. 

A stupid one at that.

And being surrounded by Alpha men, she was terrified, sickened, even. With no pills to help cover the omega scent, she was doomed. Omegas were like a drug to Alphas. That was why during school they had to take suppressants to help throughout the school year. 

Officially gone, and forbidden.

They'd probably be on the black market, everything always was. They probably banned them officially, but to keep making money, kept stock within the black market. Funding was always necessary.

Hermione found the whole thing ironic, they tried to be not so corrupt but it was still corrupt. Anyway, the whole intention was more power and control and to shape the wizarding world into something darker.

Hermione knew that also included tormenting enemies and muggle borns being even more discriminated somewhat. And she still was grieving her parents.They hadn’t deserved to die just because of her. She had been so careful too. They had no idea who their killers were or even the fact that they were there for their daughter. 

A daughter that they had no idea existed. They must have been so confused. 

"Look, darling," Jean Granger said, pointing to the theatre."It's not that far up." "But I hate walking from the car," Hermione whined. "You could use the exercise," Hugo Granger teased, ruffling her hair.

She pouted, then crossed her arms. At this point, she was eight years old, an impatient little girl. She can tell her parents were different. Whatever her father did, her Mum usually listened easily.

"Ooh, the theatre's beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed."I can't wait for the show any longer."

She loved going to the theatre every year with her parents. She sometimes wished she'd remained in the muggle world, and wasn't a witch. Life might've been easier for her, and maybe Harry and Ron.

It was her fault.

She shouldn’t feel the blame for everything but she felt it naturally. It felt like so much of this was her fault. Maybe if she tried harder and had won the war, none of this would’ve happened to begin with.

They were who people looked up to during the war. 

The Golden Trio.

They weren’t so golden anymore. And when Ron presented as a male omega, that disappointment began. Or when it turned out Harry was a beta. They expected Ron and Harry to be Alphas, and Hermione an omega. At least she didn't disappoint them with that.

Golden Girl.

She didn't live up to that title. Hermione sat by the window, the window seat was comfortable, and she knelt gracefully. A few girls on the street and sidewalks, mostly maids getting groceries or freely walking. They were given that privilege. The children, too, but she understood that. They were children. 

But they'd become brainwashed.

She never wanted that to happen either. Children are the most innocent beings on earth, majority of the time, along with babies and animals. What evil use did Voldemort have for them? She couldn't think of one. 

It didn’t matter what reason he had. She couldn’t justify it at all. All of this was too cruel.

She held her breath.

She was not going to have a panic attack right now. She already had a bad case of anxiety. But especially in times like this, it was at an all time high. Her heart was pounding like crazy. the silence might drive her mad at some point. 

Silence was terrifying.

Hermione watched as the clock tick above on the wall. It tormented her. The tick continued.

Time seemed to move so slowly. 

The only thing she hoped for was that it would go by fast, the rape itself. Apparently it is the right thing to do. Umbridge told them not to think of it like rape but as a sacrifice or an honor, a ritual. But she saw it as rape.

She'd never consent, even if her hormones would try to make her think she would want it. Hermione's not that delusional.

For the first time, Hermione prayed.

Chapter Text

Hermione had a calendar, counting down the days until the 'breeding' day arrived. And her heat. They were around the same schedule considering that they wanted that to be that way. She could feel it in her stomach, her heat coming..

All she felt was warmth...

An Alpha would be nice...

No.

She had to ignore those instincts. To avoid those thoughts, she took night baths, to help her think better. But sometimes she felt that she was being watched, constantly. And one night, she had seen Tom standing by her door. 

She didn't say anything, nor did she give him a reaction. It was mid-bath, she had no way to react in a vulnerable position. Normally, she would've yelled at him to fuck off, but she had no authority here.

He had free will, He could do whatever.

It was that moment she realized that he was strange, stranger than she thought before. The way he looked at her was intense. 

She hadn’t ever seen that look before. 

Cormac maybe, but it wasn’t like this at all, just lust. Was that how all Alphas looked at omegas? She had little experience with those kinds of things.

At least she wasn’t a virgin though.

She was glad she hadn’t lost her innocence in this world. But some would. And she can’t imagine how painful that’d be. Hermione isn’t ready for this night either.Bellatrix wasn’t home too often, and Hermione didn’t mind that at all. 

Now, every night, she knelt, and prayed, not out of any religious belief, but to help her think less and to have more motivation in life. Plus, it looked ideal from the outside. A religious omega.

Hermione was far from religious but there was some hope blooming from within her. But the thoughts that came with a heat were starting to consume her.

Obsessively.

She began to see Voldemort a little differently now. An Alpha. He was attractive, but she never commented on it. She had no reason to. Staring out the window, Hermione's only thoughts are of an escape. 

There had to be a way.

She'd like to pretend that she'll wake up from this nightmare, except it won't. It's reality. There's no nightmare to wake up from, this was the nightmare. But part of her still wanted to think that.  Hermione suddenly could feel the warmth creep up into her stomach. The process of the heat was starting. 

Oh god. 

One of the older maids, Evelyn, startled her by entering the room. "I have a message, but you mustn't tell the wife," She whispered, closing Hermione's door. "Of course," Hermione spoke, standing up.  "he wants to see you after the procedure tonight," Evelyn frowned."Good luck. Alphas can be aggressive with omegas, especially ones close to being in heat, or almost there." I know, Hermione thought. 

Men usually only want one thing, so, she knows that this isn't going to be fun. But she can't refuse, either. Hermione Granger no longer has choices. The Golden Girl has become a caged bird. The key completely out of her grasp.

Her wings had been clipped a long time ago. 

"Fall in love again and again
Fall in love again and again
Fall in love again and again
Fall in love again and again." 

She stared at the ground. "Thank you," Hermione spoke, trying to remain graceful. She had to keep her grace. "You're welcome, Evelyn responded. She looked around 40 years old, she had some gray hairs, and wrinkles. But nonetheless, she was a pretty woman. Most women Hermione had met were beautiful, Evelyn was no exception. She looked clean, prepared for the special dinner that'd be happening in an hour. 

She needed to be a perfect omega, in front of the guests anyway.

Hermione thought that maybe, someone might be willing to help her, to get her out of the mess or at least help her with that. But maybe all of them were just as afraid as she was. What if she saw Harry there? But he wasn't an Alpha, and certainly, wouldn't have gotten off so easily. 

Everyone she loved, was taken from her.

Ripped apart like a page in a storybook.

A doll, is what she was meant to be. A perfect little doll in red to be presented at the dinner. To be poised, to be like a Lady, but not one, she no longer was even able to have control over her body. 

Yet she felt like a piece of meat with the way he looked at her. She yearned for the look of cherishment, affection, yearning. 

- -

"Come. it's time."

Hermione followed behind Evelyn easily, she had almost been like an older sister figure already. She might not confide in her, but there is some respect between the two of them shared, even if it's a little bit. 

Chatter, Talking.

It's a bit strange, eerie, even, for socialization when everything's become hell. She stood there. She then saw a few more omegas when she entered the main room.Hermione wanted to go up to Ron and talk to him but she did not. It had felt like years now since she had last seen him but that wasn’t  the case. Ginny, she hoped to see her too.

Just to even casually talk to her. Just to do girl's talk.

But even then, it'd be risky. So, she stood there. The men chatter, chuckle, and some of them eye at the Omegas. She prayed no one noticed or could sense her scent that heat was approaching.

“Hermione.”

A whisper from Ron. She scooted closer to him, but not in a suspicious way. They could only stand, they couldn’t sit at the tables.

“Are you okay? I can smell your heat,” Ron whispered.”It’s coming soon.” She sighed.”I’m okay, Ron.”

“My new Master is… easier than I thought,” Ron whispered.”Blaise Zabini. They’re nice folk, and his wife.” Hermione never would’ve guessed that. “At least you’re being treated like a human,” She whispered back.  Ron nodded.”They’re good to me. But this world I still don’t enjoy. I’d rather be at home with Mum, Dad and the others.” "I'd rather be there too," Hermione said, keeping her hands together, but it's hard.

One Alpha keeps staring at her, and it's uncomfortable. She recognizes him as Adrian Pucey. And the way he was looking at her was very creepy. An Alpha, but anyone could've guessed that within seconds. He knows she's an omega, but it's also obvious with the way she's dressed. She wonders if some of the omegas had been married off, or if it was only betas and alphas. 

This couldn't be good. 

She turned away, so he didn't think anything out of the ordinary, that she might be interested in him, which she wasn't. "You're a pretty one," Adrian comments, approaching her, while the others just stand like they're told to do. 

"Who do you belong to? I'm sure you could do better," He whispers, his breath making her nauseous. 

Hermione didn't speak up.

"Naturally, Alphas are drawn to Omegas," Umbridge explained."Sometimes it clouds their judgment. Your Master will help you. But do not let an Alpha who you do not belong to tempt you. You will fail quickly. Your instincts will make you drawn to any Alpha within your heat cycle and distance."

Don't encourage them. Men are of flesh, and can be sinful sometimes, filled with lust. Umbridge herself seemed to be a religious woman, and wanted to push it onto her students. However, religion wasn't the intention.

"She's not yours to gawk at, Pucey," She heard the Dark Lord say, he was behind Adrian. 

“Sorry Sir.”

He now is trembling, everyone’s afraid of the dark lord. Hermione still felt uncomfortable no matter what. She wished she could just escape from this moment.

And then she sees someone.

Draco Malfoy.

It had been quite some time now. She's sure she has seen him, just with the death eater mask. He was the right hand, technically, after all. His mother was seemingly proud about the promotion. Narcissa Malfoy. 

Beside him was Astoria Greengrass.

Like with many marriages, Hermione guessed that it was arranged. Arranged marriages had become frequent, considering they wanted everyone married off ASAP. Of course, usually the ones that mattered.

Dolohov had his Omega close by him. He was always strange to her, and creepy. But nonetheless, Hermione’s opinion didn’t really matter anyway. No one would take her seriously.Ron just gave her a look. Adrian might be in trouble now. But he remained in his seat after that. It was a threat, not a warning.

Well, pretty much everything that Voldemort said was a threat and less of a warning. 

She wondered, should she call him by Tom or the name Voldemort? But she never could call him by either of those names anyway. Sir was mostly how she'd refer to him. But she kept her fixation on Draco, for some reason. Maybe the only other person that was a little bit of a resemblance to their days at Hogwarts. 

He served mostly as a reminder.

A reminder of what could have been. She hated remembering the past and it had been complicated with Draco, very much so.

She couldn’t stare for long though. 

He might see her and think she was being creepy. Anyway, she probably was. Staring wasn't polite at all, in any circumstances. "Malfoy," Ron muttered under his breath."Of course he'd be here tonight." Hermione scooted secretly closer to Ron."Well, he's a right hand, and an Alpha, I think."

"Yeah," Ron agreed."I can just sense it. And from the way he presents himself. There's no way he's not an Alpha. His wife, I think, is a beta." The way Astoria was, yes, she gave off Beta. But sometimes, that could've been faked. Ron then is summoned over by his Master, Blaise. It's strange to say Master, but they are the Master of the household, so it makes sense, in a weird fucked up way.

Soon after, Hermione is brought over by her own Master. She hopes she will have a chance to eat later. For now, she just has to stand and look pretty apparently. That's all she had to do, surely, she could do it.

She could.

"Granger."

She looked up, and Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her. "Sir," She whispered. "Oh? No remark, I would've expected that from you," Malfoy said, amusement in his voice. "I'm different now, sir," Hermione spoke softly, keeping her head down, as she was supposed to.  "The Mudblood really has changed," Malfoy commented. "Draco," Astoria hissed."Keep up with the times. You don't need to call a muggle-born a Mudblood." "Despite your beliefs, that's what they are," Draco insisted.

Hermione no longer felt the need to be offended, or to jump and defend her character. Not anymore. 

Astoria rolled her eyes.”Well, like I’ve said, things have changed. Muggleborns are doing a great honor.” “I doubt it,” Malfoy commented. At least Malfoy was allowed to speak so openly on his opinion. Apparently he didn’t even have an omega on his own. He didn’t want one, he didn’t even want a heir. If he did, apparently he wanted one without an omega.

Apparently Astoria wasn't barren, how lucky of her. Most Betas were now, it seemed. 

Hermione hadn't been that lucky. She prayed that she was born a beta, or prayed that she'd be able to be rid of the curse that was being an omega. 

But life wasn’t that lucky for her. It seemed that the world had it out for Hermione Granger for whatever fucked up reason that might be. So she just had to stand there as Malfoy made some sort of new comment towards her. But she knew she had some power over him. He couldn’t hurt her even if he wanted to.

It wasn’t enough power to use it against him, but enough to make her smile. Maybe this could become something useful for her.

A way out.

Morning came after the dinner, the screams of Adrian Pucey haunted her head.

Last night, after the dinner, He had to show Pucey a lesson. For what? bothering her. That was strange, most of them wouldn't give two shits about an Omega that's going to leave within two years. But somehow, it reflected back onto him, so that might've been the true reason why. 

She didn't think it was right, anyway.

Hermione didn't think that just because one creep made one sly comment that he should've been tortured, but, at the same time, he made her feel creeped out. Maybe it was deserved, Adrian hadn't been the best person in Hogwarts, or outside of it. At breakfast, nothing was spoken. Hermione had nothing to say, after all. But Bellatrix was smiling. Her sister wanted to stop by today. She hadn’t seen Narcissa in a while apparently. Not the other sister. Andromeda was dead to her as far as Bellatrix was concerned. 

"Good job, Omega, You didn't step out of line last night," Bellatrix said.

Hermione still ached from what happened after the dinner.

Bellatrix didn't watch, thankfully, as she was fucked into. She laid down on the bed, completely, with legs open, and dress hitched up to her waist, nothing higher or lower. She had gone into heat not long after the dinner, probably due to all the scents of the alphas.

She didn't want to, but in her clouded judgment, she had nearly pleaded for it. 

He thrived off of it, Hermione could tell. 

he didn't say much, but he had gone harder, and she knew he felt tempted to mark, but that wasn't allowed. Marking is romantic, nothing about this is meant to be romantic. Ironically, it could've been, if Hermione actually wanted this. But she had no say in the matter. It'd happen every month, and she couldn't stop it. 

Helplessness, is all she felt.

The entire time she stared up at the ceiling, hating that she somewhat enjoyed it, that she held back a couple of moans. But it was the natural instinct of being in heat, and her body. Not her. She wasn't there, not entirely.

Part of Hermione wanted to open her window and jump, letting herself fall and die. She’d rather commit suicide than try to be here any further.

Except those thoughts wouldn’t get her anywhere. 

The only thing it'd do was just push her into the direction they want her to, hopelessness, and obedience completely. "I need a little more rest," Hermione confessed, getting up, trying not to limp. 

She was inexperienced, having only done it once before. But she didn't count what happened last night to be anything consensual, or an experience for her.

She felt numb now.

It didn’t impact her anymore. The crying had stopped a while ago. The crying had proved nothing for her. What would it do? Nothing. Hermione had to let go of the emotions for now. To survive, she’d be numb. That might’ve been the only way. Emotions couldn’t do anything for her. It wouldn’t change anything.

She couldn't rely on them, she had to rely on her mind and instincts now. 

Maybe she couldn't be Hermione anymore, maybe she just had to be an omega in survival mode. An omega, stripping her of her identity completely. Reproductive rights only. But that was harder to do than to think about. She wanted to be emotional, but she had to survive this. It'd be miserable, yes, but survival was her main priority. She also prayed and hoped that she'd never get pregnant.

Please, she did not want that at all. 

Pregnancy she would try to prevent as much as she could, but there's an extent. She can't completely prevent it. But this time around, she'll make sure of it. She doesn't want to get pregnant right away.

But she knows there must be true believers amongst the Omegas. Some of them probably want to get pregnant and think they truly want this. 

Not her.

Hermione stared up at the ceiling in her bedroom, wondering if this eternal hell might actually end. It felt like hell disguised as a utopia, but it's not that in the slightest. Dystopia is probably the better term for this kind of world.

"Blessed be the fruit."

She stayed there, dazed. The ceiling fan above isn't too loud, but might make her dizzy just from staring at it for so long. It occupies the time though. 

Freedom.

It seemed that no one in the order expected to lose, it should’ve been an expectation. They didn’t want to use any form of dark magic. And while Hermione had been okay with this, they should’ve used stronger magic. Now, she wasn't entirely sure what that kind of was. But she'd done her work, her healing. She sacrificed years for the cause, only to just lose in the end. But she didn't think it meant this was the end, completely. She has hope that the resistance will be reborn, and that Voldemort will be stopped again.

Then, she thought of when she had been with him, alone.

It's dark. 

Night has fallen and Hermione heard crickets. She quietly got up, the best she could. She didn't change, but she knew he'd like her better with her hair down. She took the bonnet off, already, her hair's longer than it was before she'd been taken to the Omega Center.

Quietly closing her door, Hermione walked down the hallway. 

Why did he want to see her?

There was a very specific time. But she had always thought that maybe, he was trying to test her, to see if she'd step out of line. He stood there, waiting for her. "You listened," He told her. "I'll always obey, Sir," Hermione whispered.

"You let your hair down?"

"I... I thought you'd like it. I'm sorry if you don't like it."

He takes a curl from her face, twirling it with his finger."I like it."