Summary: When Draco unexpectedly shows up at Harry's doorstep, injured and in his pre-heat, Harry finds no reason not to help him. It wouldn't mean anything to him after all. Or so he believes.

Notes: This is the prequel to "Half Of Me", this is set before Harry and Draco become mates and bond to each other.

Tags: Post-War, Post-Hogwarts, Healer Draco Malfoy, Omega Draco Malfoy, Auror Harry Potter, Alpha Harry Potter, Pining, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Scenting, Scent Kink, Scent Marking, Body Worship, Food Kink, Mating Bites, Love Bites, Biting, Rough Sex, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Face-Sitting, Face-Fucking, Rut Sex, Mating Bond, Hair-pulling, Creampie, Multiple Orgasms, Breeding, Breeding Kink, Oral Knotting, Riding, Exhibitionism, Semi-Public Sex, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Anal Sex, Explicit Sexual Content, Possessive Harry Potter, Possessive Draco Malfoy, Possessive Sex, Courtship, Mpreg, Angst with a Happy Ending, Top Harry Potter, Bottom Draco Malfoy, True Mates, Consensual Somnophilia, Soul Bond

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Chapter 1: The Heat Wave

July 5th, 2000

It was a bright and sunny day, just the beginning of July, and all Draco could feel was the heat prickling on his skin despite the cooling charm he had cast on himself earlier. The Omega tried fanning himself with his hand, but it wasn't doing him any good. The heatwave this year was hitting them bad.

"Hey," came a voice from behind him and Draco turned around, smiling when he saw Padma and Katie approaching him with drinks in their hands. "I thought you might need this," Padma said, handing him a cup of iced tea and Draco almost jumped at the Betas to hug them.

"You're saving my life, thank you," he groaned, taking a sip of the tea and humming at the cold meeting his tongue. "Oh, it's so good."

"We know," Katie said, sipping on her iced coffee and glancing around the room. "No patient while we were out?"

"No, thank fuck," Draco said, sitting on one empty bed, continuing, "the number of people coming here due to heat shock is surprising."

"Well, it is good that no more has arrived," Padma said, squinting her eyes before stepping forward and placing her hand on Draco's forehead. The Beta retreated her hand and tilted her head to the side. "Draco, you okay? You're heating up."

"Heating up? Are you having a heat shock too?" Katie asked, and Draco furrowed his eyebrows, staring at them with a puzzled expression.

"What? I'm not," he said, touching his own forehead just in case they were right. "I don't think I am."

"Oh, wait," Katie said, raising her hand up in the air, "maybe your heat is coming? You've stopped using suppressants since Padma told you to, maybe it's coming?"

"No," Draco said, shaking his head. He did stop using suppressants to balance his heat again, since he hadn't done it after he presented and had his first heat two years ago. Padma had told him to stop and let this heat come naturally, or else it'd affect his health immensely. However, his heat wasn't supposed to start now, it was too early. "I'm not going to go into heat, not for another three weeks."

"When did you start feeling hotter than before? That's not from the heatwave," Katie said, already putting her cup of coffee on the table and acting professionally again.

"Well, I don't know, I'm always hot," he said, shrugging as the Betas frowned at his reaction. "Fine, I guess this morning," he grumbled, running his hand through his hair and trying to figure out when it had started, "a few hours ago, I think."

"Okay, just to be safe, you can have a heat leave and go home early today," Padma said while Katie nodded next to her. "I know what you're going to say, you won't do it, but just in case, I think your heat might be coming."

"I'm telling you, girls, I am not going into heats," he said, huffing softly and standing up when the door was opened.

"Oh my god, what the hell happened?" Katie exclaimed when Penelope was dragging Ron inside, who was limping. Neville and Potter were next to them, blood soaking their robes.

"These reckless Gryffindors didn't listen to me," Penelope heaved, pulling Ron into an empty bed and pressing him down flat, "and they jumped in the room first. We had no backup, four against forty, I think that's rather a hard one. We've got them all, but these three got injured the most, especially Harry."

"Okay, Draco, you go heal Harry," Padma gestured, pointing to Potter, who was sitting on the bed next to Neville's. "I'll take care of Ron, Katie will take Neville."

"Me? Why can't I heal Ron?"

"Oh, for the love of Merlin, Draco!"

"Fine," he said, frowning as he approached Potter's bed. Ron and Neville were always better patients, since he was closer to them than Potter. Potter was...different. They weren't that close, not even on the first name basis, not quite.

"What a scandalous thing to see you twice today after a week of your undercover mission, Potter," Draco said, and Potter huffed a small laugh at him. The Alpha had paid St Mungo's a visit in the morning with a nasty jinx, and now he was here again, with a new injury already. "I'd rather you go undercover more. It almost seems like you love getting injured whenever you're back, Potter."

"It seems like you love healing me too, Malfoy," Potter said, chuckling as Draco bared a mocking smile at him. "It's not like I can avoid it, there were forty of them."

"The least you could do is listen to Penelope," the Omega said, shrugging as he glanced at Potter's middle. "Where are your injuries? Can you take off your robes?"

The Alpha glanced down, shrugging off his robes with a hiss. He winced, and Draco knew it was a big wound. "Okay, stop, don't do that, just stay still," he said, stopping Potter from trying. "You're probably making it worse. I'll do it."

He placed his wand on the bed and pushed the robes off the Alpha's shoulders. He leaned closer, pulling the sleeves off Potter's arms so it wouldn't hurt him. Draco hadn't meant to, but he could smell the Alpha's scent from their proximity, and it had his knees weak in under a second.

It was a known fact that Potter was an Alpha, ever since he was thirteen, and an eligible one as well. Everyone loved him, wanted him, and it wasn't a surprise that Draco was one of those people too.

He shook his worries off and focused on unbuttoning Potter's shirts, revealing his sturdy chest and abdomen. Sweats were trailing down his chest, mixing with the blood that was flowing out of a gash in the middle of his stomach. Draco kept his composure and put the Alpha's shirt on the side of the bed, he couldn't be fantasising about Potter like this.

"How bad is it?" Potter asked, his hands propping himself up on the bed, the blood staining the white sheets, but Draco didn't care much, his eyes were fixated on the wound instead.

The Omega knelt on his knees between Potter's opened legs and looked closely at the cut, cocking his head to the side. "I'd say it's bad, Potter," he said, glancing up at Potter, who was having a curious look on his face. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, I just," Potter said, shaking his head, "you...smell different." Draco's eyes widened and he felt his cheeks heating up. Who the fuck would say that kind of stuff? "No, I mean...not that you don't smell good other days. I...-okay, well, you didn't smell like anything for a while, but now, I noticed your smell."

"Yes, I am an Omega, Potter, if that's what you want to say."

"No, no," Potter said, swallowing visibly, "I know that. It's just that...you smell...warmer today. I can't explain it, but it's there, since I came here this morning, it got stronger now."

"What?" he asked, glancing at Padma, who was still healing Ron's leg. She couldn't be true, his heat might be approaching soon. "No, that's nonsense." He cleared his throat and grabbed his wand, murmuring the spells and watching as the wound closed itself up.

The Omega hummed when he saw the wound now healed perfectly, no scar, that was good. He brushed his hand over the Alpha's skin, jerking his hand away when he felt as though there was a strike of electricity running through him. He stood back on his feet and met Potter's gaze again.

"You're okay now," he said, and Potter touched his stomach, smiling triumphantly. "Don't be so smug, Potter. I hate seeing you coming here with a new injury every few hours."

"Are you saying you care about my life?" Potter asked, a grin appeared on his lips, and Draco felt a shiver down his spine. He felt like his skin was burning for some reason. "Because you truly have that face sometimes, Malfoy."

"Face?" He arched a brow, lips curling up, "Do tell, Potter, what face do I have on?"

"The worried one," Potter said, his fangs showing when he smiled, and a small part inside Draco wanted those teeth on his neck. He smacked himself mentally for thinking such things and looked back at the Alpha. "Like you're scared when I'm injured, and you secretly have feelings for me and care about me."

Draco stilled himself there, his heart thumping in his chest, threatening to explode when Potter smiled at him. He couldn't have figured it out by himself. Draco was always subtle with his feelings, and the only one who knew about his feelings for Potter was Pansy. It couldn't be.

"Are you teasing me, Potter?" he croaked out, and when Potter huffed out a laugh, a wave of relief coursed through him. Of course he was joking. The Alpha was too oblivious to see it.

"Sorry, Malfoy, you look like you believed it for a second there." Potter laughed, and Draco glared at him, his lips forming into a scowl.

"Get out, Potter," he said, rolling his eyes, "you and your teasing can return to the Auror Department now, you're fine."

"Thanks, Malfoy."

"Don't come back again."

"I can't promise you that," the Alpha said, grinning at him as he got off the bed.

When Potter finally walked past him, Draco released a breath with his hand on his heart, trying to calm it down. He felt sweats rolling from his neck to under his collar and worried his lower lip. Potter's scent was still lingering here around him, and it was affecting him profoundly. Perhaps he should go home early today.

*

"Thanks for letting me go home at this time," he said, packing his bag and his robes as the girls nodded at him. "I didn't think it'd hit this early."

"It's okay," Padma said, shaking her head and tapping his shoulder softly, "take the next week off, your heat will last five to seven days, right?"

"Not to mention his pre-heat, Padma." Katie pointed out and grabbed a small bag from her table, handing the Omega. "Here, for you."

"Food and drinks? Katie, you didn't have to," he said, looking into the bag and smiling. They were always being such good friends; despite the history they'd all gone through. "It won't take long, I think so."

"Triggered heat is different, Draco, remember that," Padma reminded him with a tilt of her head, "you know well yourself that this is triggered by an Alpha."

"Who could it possibly be?" Katie arched her eyebrow and stepped closer, grinning at him. "Who did you examine this morning, Draco?"

"Okay, what's with this interrogation?" Draco said, thankful that Padma had tugged Katie near her again. "Thank you, I'll just head home now."

"Okay, be safe, and stay away from Alphas," Padma said and Draco nodded, heading to the door.

"And remember what I taught you, a punch in the throat, their groin, and their prick if you have to," Katie yelled out behind him, and Draco chuckled, waving at them before exiting St Mungo's.

It was dark already when Draco stepped into the street, only the lights from either side of the street were shining above him. He kept walking until he saw the Apparition Point, he could always go home straight away. However, something inside him wasn't letting him do just so.

He strode past the Apparition Point, clutching his bag closer to him. He still needed more things to prepare himself for his heat. His parents were staying in the Manor in France instead, hiding away from the heatwave here in London. He'd have the whole Manor for himself, and that was better than he'd expected.

"Well, well, well, look who's here," a voice came from the other side of the street, and Draco glanced up to see Zacharias Smith standing there with Cormac McLaggen. This couldn't be good. Smith and McLaggen were the worst Alphas he could stumble into right now. "We could smell you from a mile away, Omega."

They crossed the street, and Draco's panic rose in his chest. He stepped back, his eyes roaming around the road to see if there was anyone here. No one. Why was there no one in a fucking Muggle street at nine o'clock at night? It seemed like Draco's luck ran out when he started smelling their Alpha's scents in the air. It was revolting.

"Why are you here alone, little Omega?" McLaggen cornered him, and Draco took another step back, his behind hitting Smith's chest. They were fucking trapping him here. "Where's your Alpha?"

"None of your business," he sneered and McLaggen laughed, leaning closer to scent him.

"Ah, no Alpha's scent here," the Alpha said, smirking at him, "I thought I was smelling Potter on you for a second, but it wasn't him, was it?"

Draco swallowed, flinching when Smith placed his hands on the Omega's shoulders from behind him. "Potter? Harry Potter? He's got his scent on you? Seems odd, doesn't it?"

"Are you trying to seduce me or capture me?" Draco asked, chuckling dryly as he slipped away from between them. "Because, let me tell you, Alphas, you might need to work on it. Is that why you're walking together here? Searching for some fragile Omega to fuck? I don't think that's appropriate or legal."

"Ever the bratty mouth," Smith barked, snickering loudly, "And here I thought all Omegas are submissive whores."

"I thought all Alphas are just brainless creatures, but perhaps that's just you two," he said, hiding his scent glands with his collar. He had to get out of here, and these two fools didn't seem like they'd stop if he put it nicely. "Would you mind letting me go home now?"

"After you just insulted us?" McLaggen said, his head dropping back as he let out a laugh. Draco gasped when Smith held him tightly from behind by his arms. "You think we're stupid, Omega?"

"My name is Draco, thank you," he said, wincing in pain when Smith's claws dug into his skin, breaking through the fabric of his shirt. There was no way Draco could escape now. "Fuck you."

"Bratty, bratty Omegas get punished," McLaggen said, stepping forward and gripping the Omega's face by his jaw. "What shall we do with you now?"

"You can start by fucking let me go," he snarled, and it seemed to agitate McLaggen more as his claws showed, piercing through his skin. Draco cried out, his cheeks wet and stinging as blood started dripping down. "Is this what you always do? How many are there before me? I didn't know you two were sex offenders."

McLaggen laughed again, his head tipping back and Draco seized the moment, kneeing the Alpha in his crotch. McLaggen howled, dropping to his knees. He twisted around, getting out of Smith's grasp as he flung his bag against the Alpha's head, sending him stumbling back.

Draco didn't think, he just ran. He knew they would chase him again after they'd recovered, he wouldn't have much time. It was worse since McLaggen knew where he lived, he'd find him after anyway. Draco's mind was overwhelmed, and the pain on his face was aching badly.

He stopped, hands on his knees as he panted heavily. He must have cut them off for now. He looked up and swallowed when he saw the house before him. The Grimmauld Place. What were the fucking odds for this to happen to him?

He could keep running. Blaise's Manor was near here as well, and he could stay over for a night. Pansy's Manor was also in this street, just a few blocks away, and he'd always be welcomed there. However, his heart, which was still thrumming, kept pulling him to the door. He didn't have to stay at Potter's. He shouldn't, it wasn't even that necessary, so why was he feeling this desire to knock on the door?

Draco stared at the black entrance, his hand gripping his bag tightly. His rational senses would tell him to keep going and he'd see Pansy's place in five minutes, but his Omegan instinct was luring him, telling him to go to Potter's place instead.

"Alpha," Draco said, hand covering his mouth as soon as he realised he'd said the words. Heat filled his body, rippling through him and he felt more sweats beading down his forehead. He had overheated again. His heat was close, he could tell. And before he knew it, he was walking towards the place already, his mind blurry as only one thought occupied it. Alpha.

Chapter 2: Hold Me

Harry stepped out of the shower, wrapping the towel around his waist while he exited the bathroom. It was just the thing he needed after the battle he'd gone through today. The wound was nothing he couldn't handle, but it was quite severe. Harry had almost lost his consciousness until he'd arrived at St Mungo's. It was odd, when he became more lucid the moment he stepped in there.

The Alpha dried his hair, putting on his pyjamas and intending to go up to his bedroom before he heard a string of knocks on the door. Harry furrowed his eyebrows when the knocking became more frantic suddenly. He walked to the door and opened it, surprised to see the least expected person appear on his front step.

"Malfoy?" he asked, his eyes widening when he looked at the Omega up and down. His clothes were all dishevelled, his hair tousled as though he had been running. And he was injured. Blood on his cheeks and both of his arms, drenching through his white shirt. "What happened?"

"Can I come in first?" Malfoy asked, his voice rasping as he panted. Harry nodded, opening the door wide to let the Omega in.

"Yeah, sure. Do you need help?" He offered his arm, but Malfoy shook his head, recoiling from his touch, like he was afraid of him.

"Not for now," he said, staggering inside the house with one leg limping. He settled on the couch, leaning his back on it as he sighed. "Fuck me."

"Is that an invitation?" Harry chuckled, and Malfoy turned to glare at him as his cheeks flushed, highlighting his fair skin. "Sorry, not a good time for jokes. Why are you here, Malfoy?"

"I..." Malfoy stuttered, lowering his head to avoid his eyes. His warm scent filled up Harry's sense, and it was drawing him in for some reason. The Alpha sat down next to Malfoy, waiting for his answer. "You're the last one."

"Last one? What are you talking about?" he asked, his brows knitted together as Malfoy exhaled exasperatedly.

"You're the last one to do anything to me," Malfoy said, finally turning to meet Harry's gaze. His eyes were half glassy, staring at him and Harry swallowed, his chest tingled. "I was attacked by Smith and McLaggen."

"You were what?" Harry leaned forward, his Alpha instinct was guiding him in more, telling him to protect the Omega in front of him. However, his rational senses were clarifying that this was Malfoy, and not just some random Omega. He was different. "Why were you attacked?"

"I'm...I'm in my pre-heat," Malfoy said, and Harry leaned back instantly, knowing what it meant. He was close to his heat. He should have known, but he'd rarely encountered any Omega near their heat before, and he'd thought the scent he was smelling from Malfoy was simply his normal scent. His warm, sweet scent. He hadn't thought of it. "They cornered me. I escaped, barely," the Omega said, covering the scent glands on his neck with his hands as he shivered. "I couldn't think of anyone else but you."

"What?"

"You're the last one who'd touch me without permission, Potter," Malfoy said, gulping as he clutched his bag tighter. "Smith and McLaggen know where I live, I can't come back to my Manor."

"Won't your parents be there?"

"No, they're in Paris now," he said, his lashes fluttering, and Harry's mouth went dry. "It's too risky to spend the night there alone. And...you're too noble and righteous to do anything, Potter." He rested his elbows on his knees and turned to Harry, glancing at him with his grey eyes, tinted with a hint of vulnerability. "And you hate me. I know I won't be harmed here. You're the last person who would assault me."

He pushed himself up, leaning closer to Harry, infiltrating Harry's nostril with more of his enticing scent. "And before my mind goes blank and I start acting like what I was born to do, I know you wouldn't hurt me." He brought his hands up, hesitant to touch Harry's, and he ended up retreating it again, dropping on his clothed knees.

"My pre-heat...I'm not sure what will happen, I haven't had them in two years. I might beg, and push myself on you, and try to...kiss you," the Omega said, his cheeks turning red, "but do not give in, please, please don't."

"Malfoy saying 'please'? That's a first," Harry said, chuckling as Malfoy glowered at him again, his lips frowning deeply.

"Shut up, Potter," he groaned, leaning forward as the Alpha's skin tingled again. "I am completely serious right now. I'll jump on you and ride you and your bloody knot if you let me. Do not listen to anything I say then. You understand?"

"Yeah, I know," Harry said, nodding and smiling when Malfoy let out a relieved breath. "I won't touch you. I'll keep you safe." As a person, he couldn't believe he'd agreed to protect Malfoy. As an Alpha, he was thrilled to see an Omega seeking his comfort. His mind was torn between the two.

"Thank you," Malfoy said, baring a soft smile at him. It was short, and left Harry a lingering feeling, he kind of wanted to see more of that smile. He shook the thought off, ignoring the way his stomach did a flip and glancing at the blood on the Omega's face, his chest constricted in worries.

"Come here," he said, and Malfoy's pupils were blown wide, "I'll heal you."

"Oh, okay," Malfoy said, avoiding his gaze before shifting closer. Harry summoned his wand and moved as well, his hand coming up to grab the Omega's face. He felt a flinch from Malfoy, but disregarded it anyway. He murmured the spell, watching as the skin healed with magic. There was something rippling through his skin, he assumed it was just his magic as he finished it up.

"All done," Harry said with a smile. Malfoy glanced up, eyes locking his, and the Alpha's heart thrummed. Malfoy's scent was getting stronger, and it sent heat over Harry's body as well. He wondered if Omegas in their pre-heat could do such things. Even though both his best friends were Omegas, Hermione and Ron were always on suppressants and scent blockers, taking a week off to hide away and they never told Harry many details about it.

"Give me your arms," he said, clearing the silence between and Malfoy nodded without a word, extending his arms for Harry to heal. It was an easy incantation, he knew it, and Malfoy also knew it, he could heal himself, but there was an urge inside him that insisted he should be the one to do it and not the Omega in front of him.

"Okay, you're good now," he said, and Malfoy drew away, seemingly getting flustered even more. "Looks like you're the one prone to injuries now, Malfoy."

"Stop being a tease, Potter," Malfoy said, his lips curling up to form a slight frown. They sat there, without anything to say.

"Do you need to sleep?" he asked, and Malfoy turned to look at him again, a bewildered expression on his face. "You should, it's quite late now."

"Where are you sleeping?"

"Er, it's all right, there's a guest bedroom on the same floor, you can stay there," Harry said, smiling at him. It was the least he could do. "Malfoy, I think you really should rest, it's been a long day."

The moment of silence was long, and their eyes refused to tear away. "Okay," Malfoy said after a while, and they both stood up.

Harry led the way first, walking up the staircase as the Omega followed him just a foot behind. The floor was huge anyway, and their rooms were quite far away despite being on the same floor. He was certain they'd be all right for the night. He opened the door, guiding Malfoy inside the room.

"Sorry, Ron stayed here for a few days last month before he could find a place for himself, and I haven't...cleaned it up," he said, scratching the nape of his neck as Malfoy stepped into the space. It wasn't spacious, but just enough for him to sleep here. Ron had said it was adequate, maybe Draco could stay here.

"It's okay," Malfoy said, settling down on the edge of the bed as he gave Harry a brief smile that was sent straight to his chest. It was soft and warm for some reason. "Thank you, Potter."

"Don't worry about it, Malfoy. Er, consider it something I do to make up for all the times I ended up in St Mungo's with a new wound for you to heal," he said, drawing another light chuckle from the Omega. He balled his fist around the doorknob and gulped; he should go. "Well, goodnight, Malfoy."

"Goodnight, Potter."

Harry closed the door and rushed down the staircase in a hurried manner. He wasn't quite sure what had just happened between them, but it was definitely weird for the first time in his life. He stopped at the kitchen, calming his breath and gathering himself up again. He was acting strangely today as well.

Malfoy was enduring his pre-heat in Harry's house, in Harry's guest bedroom, and he didn't know what to do. Should he leave Malfoy there? Or should he provide him with something? What would he provide Malfoy with, that was not his knot?

He sighed, shaking his head and pulling out his phone. He dialled the only person he could trust to ask weird questions at this hour. It rang twice before the call was picked up.

"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione said from the other line. He heard the rustling of papers and could only assume she was still working at this hour.

"Er, well, do you have some free time, Hermione?"

"Yeah, of course, what do you need, Harry?" Hermione said, letting out a yawn that was quickly muffled. "Is it important?"

"Oh, I think...not," Harry said with hesitance as he looked around his house.

"Harry, you have something on your mind, tell me," Hermione said, and the Alpha sighed, he didn't even know how to begin.

"Malfoy is at my place," he said, and there was a silence between them for the next few seconds.

"Draco's at your place? Why?" she asked, and it only occurred to Harry then that he was the last person who still called Malfoy by his last name. Even Ron had changed it when they started bonding over Muggle things just a year ago. "Is he in trouble?"

"Yeah, I think, he's in his pre-heat."

"Oh, no," Hermione said, exhaling softly, "what does he need?"

"He was attacked by Smith and McLaggen, he came to me with blood and injured-..."

"He was attacked?" Hermione asked, her voice visibly appalled by the announcement. "Do you want me to report it?"

"I'll do it tomorrow and bring them in as well, don't worry, I...I want to catch them myself," Harry said, knowing what the first thing he needed to do tomorrow morning was. He had to bring those two bastards in to interrogate them properly, then he could decide what he should do with them since they'd assaulted an Omega in pre-heat. "Malfoy, he's okay now, and he...he smells extremely warm."

"Warm?" Hermione asked, and Harry groaned, nodding his head as he let out a small rumble.

"Yeah, like, warm and strong, like honey, I just...he smells really good," Harry said, leaning back on the countertop in his kitchen while Hermione only hummed softly without saying anything, "and he told me to let him stay the night to be safe from them, I agreed. I realised...I realised I don't know how to take care of an Omega in pre-heat."

"You...you want to take care of him, Harry?"

"Well, he's exhausted, he's just been attacked, he's now sleeping in my guest bedroom, I feel like I should do something," the Alpha said, and Hermione was quiet again. "Hermione, I'm actually in dire need of your help here."

"Oh, right, sorry," the Omega said, clearing her throat, "I was just thinking about something. Do you need me to come? Should I call Ron?"

"No, I don't want to bother you two," he said, "just tell me what to do, I'll do it. It won't be a lot, right?"

"That's really nice of you, Harry," Hermione said, and Harry knew she was giving him an approving smile from the other side of the line right now. "When Omegas are in their pre-heat, it won't be as extreme as heat. I think you'll be okay for only one night. They will start nesting, they get more emotional around an Alpha, and will cling to you, some will even have a slight fever. They will seek for an Alpha's scents to calm their need to be bred. I'm not sure what's going on with Draco but I'm assuming he's just stopped using his suppressants?"

"Er, yeah, how do you know that?"

"Are you really forgetting who I am, Harry?" Hermione chuckled, adding, "They will get hungry, so make sure you have food in your house, Harry. Do you?"

"I think so," Harry said, opening his refrigerator and scanning his eyes over it. "Actually, do you think he can survive with beer and cheese?"

"Harry," Hermione said, sighing into the phone.

"I'm sorry, the latest undercover mission lasted a week and just ended a day ago, I haven't bought any more food since." He closed the refrigerator and exhaled. How would he even know an Omega would be at his house randomly like this. And not just any Omega. It was Draco Malfoy.

"Well, then, go buy something, Harry, you said you want to take care of him, right?"

"Yeah, but, er, what do I buy?" he asked, putting the money over the kitchen countertop into the pocket of his trousers.

"Anything he can eat, Harry, snacks too, drinks so he can rehydrate," Hermione said, and Harry grabbed a pen from the countertop, scribbling into the palm of his hand. "Maybe you could buy him ice cream, it will help reduce the heat from his body, and with the heatwave, we could all eat some ice cream."

"Snacks, ice cream, drinks, anything edible, got it," Harry said, nodding, "anything else, Hermione?"

"Harry, you should know," Hermione said, her voice softened down, "Omegas in their pre-heat will try to scent you, and might push themselves on you even. They won't even act like themselves, they're in a state where the only thing in their mind is an Alpha. They desire to be with one. Being with an Alpha would only provoke them more. And it's dangerous for an Alpha to be close to an Omega like that without the urge to...act on it. Are you sure you don't want me to come help?"

"No, Hermione, you're working, I'm fine," he said, shaking his head. He knew she only meant well, but he could handle Malfoy, he was certain. "I won't take advantage of him, if that's what you fear."

"Harry, I'm your best friend, I know you won't," she said, sighing, "I'm just saying it is likely to make the situation even more complicated, and with your relationship...Actually, what is the relationship between you two?"

"Very funny, Hermione," Harry said, grinning. He wasn't quite sure himself, they weren't that close to being friends, and they were no longer enemies, so what were they to each other? He wasn't sure there was a name or label for it. Perhaps it was okay like that as well. "I'll go out to buy food now, thanks, Hermione."

"You're welcome, Harry. Call me if you need anything else," Hermione said before hanging up the call. Harry shoved his phone back in his pocket and headed to the door. It should be quick.

*

Harry was sure he'd got it, but when he arrived at the grocery store for wizards with a wallet full of Galleons, he realised it'd be harder than he'd expected. Consequently, now he had a trolley with way too much food. He placed the items on the counter, and the young girl from behind the counter smiled at him.

"Someone's having a party," the girl said, and based on her pheromones, he could tell she was an Omega. "You bought a lot of snacks."

"Oh, no, it's just...I have an Omega, he's in his pre-heat," he said, it was hard to find the right words to describe what he was doing now. It was always complicated when it came to Malfoy and him.

"That's very sweet of you," the young Omega said, putting his items in the bags, "your Omega is very lucky to have you as his Alpha."

"No, we're..." he halted, not sure what was the word he should use as the girl eyed him with a curious look, waiting for him to finish his sentence, "er, yeah, thanks." It was best to just drop it off, it wasn't like he had a problem with people thinking he and Malfoy were together anyway. He was oddly calm at the accusation.

"There you go, sir," the girl said, and Harry handed her the money, bringing the bags with him. "I hope you and your mate have a great night together."

"He's not..." Harry said, swallowing before shaking his head, smiling at the Omega again. It wasn't that big of a deal. "Thank you, we will."

When Harry returned, the place was still quiet, he reckoned Malfoy was still sleeping now. Harry placed all the food he had bought in his refrigerator and left some snacks and a bottle of strawberry juice out into a tray for the Omega just in case he needed it.

Harry got to the second floor and opened the door to Malfoy's room only to see it was empty. He took a quick look around, there was no sign of him in this room, but his bag was still on the bed. Harry turned his head around, scenting the air and following the faint trail of scent, stopping at his bedroom. This was weird.

He opened the door, his hand gripping on the knob as he froze at the sight of Malfoy lying sprawled on his stomach on the bed. He wasn't even wearing his clothes anymore. He was wearing Harry's favourite shirt, the red t-shirt he wore so much that it even had a tiny hole at the back. The bed was filled with Harry's clothes, splaying all over around the Omega. Turned out, this was what nesting looked like.

The Alpha's eyes roamed down Malfoy's smooth, fair legs and breathed in sharply, forcing himself to tear his eyes away. Malfoy's long hair was no longer tied up in a ponytail, now draping just over the middle of his back. He looked...neat. Harry was lying to himself with that. Malfoy looked different than the composure he usually had on. His face was relaxed, no more guards, no more masks, he was just himself. And he was beautiful.

Beautiful. Harry's heart pounded in his chest, too loud for his ears, and yet he was still appalled by what he was thinking. Harry stepped into the room, placing the snacks and the juice on the bedside table, glancing at Malfoy briefly. The Omega let out a pleasant hum, moving his leg and burying his face deeper in Harry's pillow. The Alpha's hand reached out, tempting to push the hair away from Malfoy's face. He stilled, realising what he was about to do and yanking his hand away again. He could not touch Malfoy, not like this.

He covered the blanket over Malfoy carefully before leaving the bedroom and returning to the living room in a rush. He needed to clear his mind off Malfoy for a while. And since his bedroom was taken, he might as well watch something and sleep on the couch. He'd considered sleeping in the guest bedroom, but he knew how much it'd smell like the Omega right now, and he couldn't stay there, he shouldn't.

*

The creaking from the staircase drew Harry's attention from the television, and he turned around, watching as Malfoy saunter into the room still in the t-shirt that was quite big for him as it managed to hide half of his thighs. He looked like he could swim in it. His black boxer showed briefly for a mere second when the shirt was riled up, and Harry's eyes returned to his face.

"Malfoy, what are you doing up-Malfoy, what..." Harry said, his voice turning into a throaty groan when Malfoy settled on his lap. He straddled Harry's legs, pressing their chests together as he buried his face in the crook of the Alpha's neck instantly, inhaling him with his arms around Harry's waist. "Malfoy."

"Hold me." Malfoy's voice was quiet, sweet and alluring. His pheromones attacked Harry's senses again, filling him with his honey scent. "Hold me, Alpha," he purred, and Harry's stomach did a flip, unable to resist as he rounded his arms around Malfoy, locking behind his back as the Omega purred louder into his skin. His voice was like a spell, forcing Harry to do what he asked of him. And Harry was happy to do it.

Hermione had warned him about this, she had told him what could happen. He shouldn't even worry about it. So why was he feeling comfortable holding Malfoy like this? It wasn't even shocking him, it just felt...right.

Malfoy was warm in his arms, purring and scenting Harry with his nose nuzzled against his neck. If anything, he only felt the need to hold him tighter, and to somehow protect him from any harm in the world. Now, this thought was scaring him. They had never been this close before, never touching each other in an intimate manner like this. This, this was for lovers, for mates.

"You feel so good, Alpha," Malfoy droned, murmuring into his skin. His hot breath touched Harry's flesh, and it was stirring him up in more ways Harry would ever admit. "You smell so good."

"Th-thank you," Harry said, tilting his head away from Malfoy's head. Even his hair smelled good, like strawberry and coconut. The Omega tipped his head up, frowning at him, his face fell.

"Are you avoiding me?" Malfoy asked, his eyelashes fluttering and his irises twinkled with a tinge of woe. "Do you hate my scent? Do I not smell good for you?"

"What? No, no," Harry said, attempting to save the situation as he leaned forward when Malfoy turned his head away, scowling deeper. "No, okay, Malfoy? I like your scent. I really like it."

"You just like it?" he asked, still refusing to meet his eyes. Harry balled his hands into fists, trying to remember what Hermione had told him. Omegas become vulnerable like this, they needed an Alpha, they needed comfort. And Harry couldn't just upset him like this. The anguish expression on the Omega's face was wrenching at his chest, making him go tense. It was unnerving.

"I-...I love it," Harry said, the words finding themselves out of his throat, "I love your scent, a lot, okay? You smell heavenly and sweet, and I love it, Malfoy, I promise."

"You're lying." Malfoy turned back to him, his scent becoming headier as time flew by. "You hate me." He sighed softly, his hands resting on Harry's chest, over his thumping heart. It seemed like his pre-heat was controlling Malfoy's mind instead, and his eyes looked glazed. "Why do you hate me, Alpha?"

"Hate is a strong word," Harry said, laughing dryly as he gawked at Malfoy's hands still on his chest, now playing with the fabric of his shirt. "I don't hate you...not anymore, Malfoy." The truth had hit him before he realised it, he meant every word he said. He no longer hated Malfoy, that was in the past now.

"You're still calling me by my last name," Malfoy said, his plump lips jutting out and Harry stared at him, speechless.

"I don't hate you," the Alpha said, "Draco." The name had rolled off his tongue so easily, different than he'd thought. The smile Draco gave him was illuminating. Draco. He could get used to that.

"Then what do you feel about me, Alpha?" Draco shifted closer, nosing under Harry's jawline as the Alpha gripped on the couch until his knuckles turned white. "Do you love me, Alpha? Don't you want to knot me? Bond with me? Mark me with your teeth over my body? My neck?" he purred, his hands trailing up and down Harry's abdomen, sending warmth wherever he went. He could feel the wetness forming under the Omega's boxer, his slick was coming out, and it dampened both of their clothes.

"Fuck," Harry groaned, dropping his head backwards on the back of the couch as Draco continued scenting him. Hermione was right, as always. This was harder than it should be. "Draco, we can't."

"I want your knot so much, Alpha," he hummed, grinding his body against Harry as the Alpha held his hips, holding him still and keeping his slicked bottom away from Harry's crotch. "I want you, Harry."

"Merlin's fuck," Harry cursed, gulping when Draco whispered in his ear. He murmured a spell to conceal his own hardness. He had a feeling it'd grow harder if Draco did anything further than just talking. With the slick, it made things ten times harder, literally. He felt so wrong for having a boner right now, he couldn't resist Draco's scent at all.

His Alphan instinct was wrestling with his rational side to touch the Omega. He forced himself to hold back. He would never touch Draco without his consent, the Omega wasn't even in a clear state of mind right now. And he'd promised. He'd made a promise with Draco, and he wouldn't break that.

"Draco, you know we can't, right?" he asked, an idea sparked in his mind as the Omega met his gaze again.

"Why not?"

"Because you're in your pre-heat," he said, and Draco tilted his head to the side, "and we can't do it until you're in heat, right? That's when it's easiest for me to...to mate with you, right?" He looked at Draco, searching for his expression as a smile danced across the Omega's lips.

"Yeah, that sounds good," he said, beaming brightly as he nodded. "You'd breed me then, Alpha?"

Harry gulped at the word, and even though his chest was beating hard, his mind was still trying to function properly. "Yeah, I will...I will breed you then, Draco. Now, we can just cuddle like this, okay?"

The Omega hummed softly, wrapping his limbs around Harry again with his head nestled on the Alpha's shoulder. "Okay," he said, scenting Harry again and letting out pleasant noises from the back of his throat. "Touch me, Harry."

The Alpha tensed his body at the request. He couldn't decline either. There was a tug at his chest, telling him to obey, and the way Draco smelled so lovely, it was impossible for him to resist. "Harry," Draco nagged, his voice a purr, pleading him.

"I'm here, I'm here, I got you," he said, bringing his hands up to rest one hand on Draco's back, his other hand running into the Omega's hair. It was silky in his hand, sending an unknown feeling in his stomach. His eyes were glued on the television, but he'd forgotten what it was about, his mind could only wrap around one thought. Draco was very comfortable in his arms, and he was too.

*

The movie had ended half an hour ago, and Draco was now sleeping peacefully in Harry's lap. He picked the Omega up, holding him tightly as he ascended the staircase, reaching his bedroom again. Draco wiggled softly in his embrace, purring into his neck and Harry smiled unconsciously. He was quite adorable like this, it was a side that he'd never seen in Draco, and he wondered if he ever acted like this before anyone else or it was just Harry. He hoped it'd only be him.

He pushed the door open, entering the room and placing Draco down gently on the bed. The Omega whined in his sleep, his arms refusing to let go of the grip around Harry's neck. "Draco, go to sleep."

"Stay, Alpha," he murmured, his eyes half opened as Harry looked at him. He blinked at Harry, his eyes a silent plea and Harry became powerless from his expression. "Will you stay with me, Harry?"

Harry pressed his lips together, nodding. "I will, I will stay with you." Draco's smile was bright, and it warmed Harry's heart. He crawled over the other side of the bed, and the Omega rolled on the other side, eyes fixated on Harry's, seemingly waiting for him to say the words. "Come here now," Harry said, the words emitting from his lips as though he'd been saying it for years to Draco.

The Omega smiled, wide and beaming as he moved closer, until his head met Harry's firm chest. The Alpha wrapped his arms around Draco as he felt a pair of arms around his waist as well. He draped the blanket over them and heard Draco's purr against his chest. It was soothing for him.

"Goodnight, Draco," he said, but the steady breathing indicated that Draco was back to sleep already. He smiled, holding Draco tightly and closing his eyes. It wasn't that bad.

*

Harry woke up when he felt a new weight on his chest that definitely wasn't from the blanket. He cracked his eyes open, glancing down at Draco, who was now sleeping entirely on his body. The Alpha's hands were still holding the Omega, and his sleep had been good. Better than any sleep he'd had since the war for the first time. It slightly terrified him, but the feeling of joy was overwhelming him more.

"Draco?"

The Alpha looked at the door when he heard Pansy's voice, faraway and muffled. Draco was still sleeping soundly, head buried in his chest and arms around Harry's sides.

"Draco," Harry said, touching the Omega softly on his arm as he stirred. "Draco, wake up."

The Omega hummed, taking a few seconds to look at the wall in Harry's bedroom before blinking fast and hoisting himself up on the bed. Their eyes locked, but Draco had a stunned look on his face, his pupils wide and his lips parted.

"Drac-oh." Pansy barged into the room, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw the positions they were in. "Harry, good morning."

"Morning, Pansy," he said, smiling at her as Draco stared at Harry before glancing back at his best friend. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, I'm here to pick Draco up and back to his parents. Granger called me last night but I was at a party so I only called her back this morning," Pansy said, her purse swinging in her hand. "What are you doing?" She grinned, gesturing with her finger. "Come here, Draco, we have to go back to your Manor now. I still got an Omega back at my place, so let's hope she doesn't wake up before I return."

"I-..." Draco said, and instantly jumped off Harry's bed, gathering his clothes that were tossed to the floor the night before. He clung to Pansy, and Harry felt a slight protectiveness at the sight. He knew they were close friends, but Pansy was still an Alpha, nevertheless.

"Well, bye then, Harry," Pansy said, waving her hand at him and Harry smiled.

"Bye, Pansy, Draco," he said, and the Omega's eyes widened, his pheromones still warm and strong.

"Shit," he murmured softly next to his best friend and looked everywhere but Harry's eyes. "Goodbye...Potter." The Omega turned on his heels and scurried away first, Pansy looked between them with furrowed eyebrows before giving Harry a smile and leaving the room as well.

Harry flopped back on the bed and sighed, that was definitely something. He groaned, it now smelled like Draco here and he couldn't deny how good it felt. Harry turned to his side, burying his face in the pillow and breathing in the honey scent from Draco. After a few minutes with his nose deep in the Omega's scent, Harry's skin burned, and he felt heat rising in him. He rubbed himself against the bed. He was aroused, and the sudden urge to mate overwhelmed him. Harry snapped his eyes open when he realised it. He was in his rut.

Chapter 3: Lovely Tonight 

"Well, looks who's back," Ron said as soon as Harry entered the office. Neville and Penelope smiled subtly on the side while reading files as if they didn't think Harry would notice them. "I can't believe you went into a rut. I thought you just had it a month ago."

"I did," he said, settling down on his chair as Ron approached his table. "It was a surprise rut, I didn't see it coming."

"You didn't?" Ron asked, lifting his brow as Harry gave him a curt nod. "Okay, now that you're back, I have to tell you that Smith and McLaggen are good and punished now. And I did that for you when you were holed up in your house, humping everything you came in contact with."

"That's not how rut works, Ron," Harry said, chuckling as the Omega shrugged. His rut had come right after Draco had left, and he'd stayed home for four whole days, waiting for it to end. It was excruciating because everything smelled like Draco in his place and even magic couldn't seem to make it go away. All he could see, and feel were Draco's face in his mind when he rutted into the bed, while the air smelled like the certain Omega, and it only riled him up even more.

"Hey, how would I know?" Ron laughed, sliding the new file across the table into Harry's arms. "Anyway, new case, wizards smuggling artifacts into the country illegally. Neville and Penelope are already locating them. Ready when you are."

"Definitely ready," Harry said, opening the file. He was prepared for a new day, and he wasn't thinking about Draco, not anymore.

**

"Draco, you have to go to work," Pansy said, nudging Draco from outside his blanket as the Omega whined, kicking her hand away. "Your heat ended three days ago; you need to go back to work. People need you to save them, remember?"

"I don't want to," he murmured, his voice muffled by the thick blanket around him.

He wasn't ready to go back to work, not after that night. He'd remembered every little detail that had happened, but he hadn't been in control of his behaviour at all. He'd rubbed his own body against Potter, scenting him, pouting at him and cuddling with him all night. And the Alpha had called Draco by his first name. He still could not wrap his bloody mind around it, about everything that had happened that night.

He was utterly embarrassed as his Omegan instinct took control of him. And it wasn't like he hated his own biology, no, that wasn't it. It was because everything he had done that night was purely what he had wanted to do with Potter for years now. It was as if his repressed feeling, every lewd thought he had for Potter that he'd tried so hard to hide were released all out in a haze in his pre-heat.

"Pansy!" Draco yelped when the blanket was yanked off him and tossed to the floor. Pansy stood on the side of the bed with her hands on either side of her hips, scowling at him. "I said I don't want to, and I can still take a break."

"You cannot hide from Harry forever," Pansy said, and Draco shot a glare at her, holding his pillow tighter to his chest. "How bad could it be? So you spent a night at his place and humped him a bit, no big deal."

"Fucking hell, Pansy," Draco groaned, sitting up with his pillow still in his arms as he sighed. "It wasn't just that. I've fucked it all up in just one night. It is a big deal. In fact, it's so fucking huge because I still...I..."

"You what, Draco?"

"I wore his shirt throughout my heat," he said, pulling the red t-shirt that still smelled like Potter from under his pillow. "I couldn't...I could not get enough of his scent, and I thought of him the whole time." He had even held it to sleep with him every night, and wore it in the morning, he was just pathetic like that.

"Yeah, but that's reasonable, Draco, you have a crush on him," Pansy said, sitting on the edge of the bed as Draco scowled at her with a roll of his eyes.

"What are we, Pansy? Teenagers who still gossip about our crushes in school?"

"Okay, Draco, you love him and want his big, fat knot in you, is that okay now?" Pansy smirked at him, and he groaned, flopping back on the bed as she rested her hand on his knee. "Draco, I promise it's not that bad. You've missed almost two weeks of work now."

"I spoke the truth," he murmured, memories of that night flooding back to him clear as days. "I could have confessed my feelings to him back then, I could have ruined everything even more. Oh, I even asked if he liked me, Pansy! I asked him to hold me and touch me. How can I face him now after all I've done?"

"Draco, honest to Merlin, you're being melodramatic right now," Pansy said, rolling her eyes and squeezing his knees. "I promise, it's not that bad. I've just seen him yesterday actually, he seemed fine."

"You did? Why did you see him?" Draco gawked at her, curiosity filled his tone.

"Handling some business matters, that's all," she said, and he nodded. He knew she worked with Alphas and Omegas who wanted to severe their bonds, a professional Bond-Breaker, perhaps. "I ran into him after that, he looked okay to me. He even asked me about you."

"He did?" Draco sat up as a smile stretched on Pansy's red lips. "What did he ask?"

"He asked if you were still okay, because you haven't shown up at St Mungo's, and he preferred you healing him than other Healers there," Pansy said, and Draco stared at her, his hands clutching on the soft fabric of the shirt while his heart drummed. "He looked awfully worried about you. And, come closer."

"What?" Draco shifted closer to her, and Pansy whispered the words to him.

"He still smells like you." Her lips curved up into a smug smile and Draco sat back, heat rising on his cheeks and ears as he thought about how his scent lingered on Potter even now, and how people would walk by him thinking he was already a claimed Alpha. And that Potter belonged to him. Draco's heart seemed to love that idea as it thumped harder in his chest, exploding with bliss at what Pansy had said.

"Draco, listen," Pansy said, head tilting to the side, "you have to go back to work, and what are the chances of you healing Harry again anyway? There are a bunch of Healers there, just ask someone else to do it if you don't want to, okay?"

Draco looked at her, and her Alpha's eyes were convincing the longer their gaze locked. He exhaled, nodding silently as she put up a smile. "There you go, what a good boy."

"Don't ever call me that again, you cow," he said, nudging her as she laughed.

"Hey, I call everyone that, they love it."

"That makes me feel so special," the Omega said, rolling his eyes as he got off the bed. "All right, I will go to work, but you're buying me dinner tonight."

"Tonight is no good," Pansy said, pursing her lips as Draco opened his closet to pick out his Healer robes, "I got a date tonight, maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is good." Draco nodded, turning to her with a curious smile. "And another date? A different girl I presume?"

"Babe, I'm only twenty, an Alpha has got to play around a little," Pansy said, chuckling as she shrugged.

"You're lucky people invented birth control, you slut," Draco said with a hint of jokes in his voice as Pansy cackled louder.

"If we're talking about fucking around with people, maybe try dialling Blaise or Theo." She sent him a wink while he put on his clothes, getting ready for work. Mentally, he wasn't sure he could handle Potter when he saw him, but Pansy was right, he needed to return to his work. "Speaking of them, we can invite them to dinner too."

"Yeah, sure, I'd love that," Draco said, turning to look at his reflection in the mirror as he tied his hair up into a ponytail. "Are they even available?"

"They will be," Pansy said, standing up and grabbing her purse as she walked to him, brushing the dust off his shoulder blades. "You look hot now, don't worry about Harry hating you."

"Pansy," he said, turning around to frown at her. "I do not dress up for him."

"Okay then, just go to work," she said, grinning as they left his bedroom. "Where are your parents anyway?"

"Enjoying the heatwave out in the garden, I think," he said, shrugging. His father, surprisingly, was reported to have had a good attitude while in Azkaban. And after his second trial, in which Potter defended him for some reason, he was released only after one year in prison. He reckoned his mother had had a hand in persuading Potter before the trial, but he had never asked. And now, as odd as it was, Draco could see that his father had changed, and had become a better man. For once, he was actually glad.

"They're actually out in the garden? At this time?" Pansy asked as they descended the staircase, and Draco nodded. "Are they looking to get a tan?"

"Don't even ask." Draco scoffed, already casting a Cooling charm on himself while they walked to the Floo. "Are you coming?"

"You go first."

"This is my Manor, Pansy."

"No, this is your parents' Manor, and you're late for work," Pansy said, pushing him inside the Floo. "Off you go now, darling."

"See you tomorrow."

"Hope Harry knots you."

"Fuck off, Pansy," Draco said with a smile, his cheeks heating up again. The last thing he heard was her laugh as he disappeared into the green flame.

Draco stepped into the large hallway, scanning the other Healers and taking a deep breath. He could do this.

*

It was a pleasant day for Draco, Potter didn't show up at all, and he was still okay healing everyone else that came here. Pansy was right for dragging him to work. He smiled, walking to the corner of the room where Padma was standing.

"Good to see you back again," Padma said, handing him a small piece of chocolate from her hand. "How was the heat?"

"Awful," he said, shivering with the memories of him using his fake knot dildos to fill himself up while thinking it was Potter's instead. "Can I go back to using suppressants now?"

"No," Padma said, already diagnosing him, "you can't, not for the next two heats of yours at least. You've used it since you presented, Draco, that's not good. I know it's hard, but you have to balance it again, relying entirely on suppressants can be bad for your health and even affect your fertility rate."

Draco's stomach coiled at Padma's warning, and he exhaled, nodding at her. "Okay, I will, just because you're telling me-oh, no," he murmured when a familiar figure stepped into St Mungo's again. It was Potter, of course it was Potter. Ron was also next to him, the two of them limping into the room. He turned to Padma, clutching on her arm instantly. "Padma, you have to heal Potter for me this time."

"What? Why does it matter, Draco? You always heal him," Padma said, her eyebrows furrowed as the Omega shook his head. He could already scent Potter from here already, and it was making his body tremble. "What's wrong?"

"I-I can't tell you," he said, squeezing on the Beta's arm, pleading, "Padma, come on, remember when I helped cover for you and Katie here so you two can go on a date together? You girls are dating because of me. Padma, please, help me, I really need it."

Padma looked at him, and his lips jutted out, pouting at her, making it more convincing as her expression softened and she sighed. "Okay, I will help you, but you can't use that excuse now, you know that."

"I know, I know, thank you," he said quietly, letting go of the grip on the Beta's arm as they both approached the Aurors.

"Ron, Draco will help you this time," Padma spoke up, surprising both of them, "Harry, come here, now."

"Er, you will be healing me?" Potter asked, his eyes moving back and forth between Padma and Draco, but the Omega ignored his gaze quickly.

"Harry, come on, your arm is bleeding," Padma said, gesturing with her hand as the Alpha came to her. Draco walked to the other bed, where Ron was already sitting on with a cheeky smile on his face.

"Wow, I can't believe it, Draco," Ron said, snickering, "you're healing me this time. Harry isn't your favourite anymore?"

"Unfortunately," Draco said, smiling and avoiding Potter's gaze that was burning his back. He knew the Alpha was looking at him, he could feel it. It was intense, and he didn't want to look at Potter, not now. "May I?" He gestured at Ron's trousers and the Omega nodded.

"Oh, please, that cut is fucking killing me," Ron said as Draco murmured a spell, cutting his trousers in half, revealing the cut over the Omega's left thigh. "You wouldn't believe what a wizard would do with a real sword in his hand."

"I can see that," Draco said, chuckling as he healed Ron quickly with a flick of his wand, cleaning the blood off his skin as well. "All done."

"Should I ask how you are healing me and not Harry?" Ron asked, his blue eyes met Draco's grey ones, and he swallowed. "Because this is very odd, even for me. It almost feels like I'm in some sort of drama between the two of you that I don't know." Draco blinked at him, chewing on his lower lip as Ron gasped. "It's true? I'm right?"

"Be quiet, Ron," he shushed the Omega and browsed around the room, making sure no one heard them. "It's...it's complicated."

"Oh, do you want to talk about it while discussing how a Muggle computer works?" Ron asked, and Draco suppressed a smile. It was something they enjoyed doing together, weirdly enough.

"Sure, I'd be down to discover that."

"Tomorrow night?"

"Oh, no, tomorrow isn't good," Draco said, shaking his head, "I have dinner with Pansy, Theo and Blaise, so...what...why are you frowning?" He tilted his head to the side when Ron flinched abruptly.

"No, no," Ron mumbled, looking down on his legs and Draco had a feeling he had something to talk about as well.

"How about this weekend? Saturday night?" Draco asked, and Ron met his gaze again. "I'll call Theo, are you free then?"

"Okay, Saturday night is good," Ron said, nodding with a smile. He peeked over Draco's shoulder, pressing his lips together. "You should know, Harry's still looking at you. What should I say if he asked me?"

"Tell him you don't know anything, Ron," he said, and the Omega shrugged with a smile, jumping to the floor on his feet. "I actually don't know what's happening as well."

"It's okay, I get it," Ron said, tapping his shoulder before walking away.

Draco didn't turn around until he heard the door being opened and closed. He breathed out, Potter's scent now remained in the room, refusing to go away with the Alpha. He shrugged the feeling off and turned to see Padma, who gave him a subtle smile before attending to another patient. He better get used to this soon, no more Potter, he had to avoid him, as much as he could.

*

Draco knocked on the door twice, smiling brightly as the door was opened. "Hey," he said, holding up the bottle of wine in his hand. "I brought alcohol."

"Oh, thank fuck," Theo groaned, taking the wine from him as Draco stepped into his flat. The Omega led him in, and Draco grinned when he saw that Ron was already getting comfortable on the couch. "You're the last one, Draco."

"Sorry, I got held up," he said, stripping off his robes and draping it over the back of the couch as he took the empty spot next to Ron. "Work was messy, too many patients."

"And yet you're still avoiding Harry," Ron said, and Draco scowled at the mention of him. It'd only been a few days, however, Potter was still visiting St Mungo's, sometimes more than once a day with a new injury on him. "You know, he still wonders why you don't heal him anymore. He thinks you hate him."

"You hate Potter?" Theo asked, popping open the bottle of wine as he poured it into three glasses on the table. "I thought you have this major crush on him."

"That's what I thought too," Ron said, and Draco stared at them with wide eyes. "Oh, come on now, Draco, you think we don't see it?"

"I never told you guys," he said, as Pansy was the only one who knew. Actually, she also found out herself, he never told anyone about his feelings for Potter, ever. "How do you know?"

"Any living person would know you like him," Theo said, scoffing loudly as Ron nodded. "It's way too obvious, you're not even being subtle at all."

"Except Harry," Ron said, and Theo gasped, humming along with him.

"Oh, yeah, Harry doesn't know anything."

Draco blinked at his friends, appalled by the fact that it seemed all of them knew already. "Who else knows about it?"

"Well, Blaise knows," Theo said, pointing up one finger, "there's Ginny, and Luna too."

"Hermione," Ron said, earning another nod from Theo, "and Neville."

"So, what you two are saying is all of our friends know about my feelings for Potter?" he asked, and both of the Omegas nodded at him. He didn't know he was being that apparent about his emotions for the certain Alpha.

"If you think we're going to tell him, we won't," Ron said, and it did reassure Draco, just a bit. "It's not our place to do it, Hermione made that clear when she gave us that speech."

"Speech? What speech?"

"Oh, well, Hermione gave us a speech about how we can't intervene in your relationship with Harry," Theo said, taking a sip of his wine, "it's a two-hour long speech, she has five major points, I can't remember all of it."

"She even had a binder, a presentation and all."

"I can't believe that," Draco exclaimed, slouching back on the couch and Theo slipped a glass of wine into his hand, rubbing his knee soothingly.

"If it makes you feel any better, I only knew six months ago," Ron said, baring a toothy smile as Draco groaned exasperatedly.

"That does not make me feel any better, Ron," he said, and Ron snickered, shrugging his shoulders.

"So then why are you avoiding him anyway?"

"I..." Draco stuttered, unsure where to even start. He breathed out softly and decided to tell his friends all about that faithful night again.

*

"Where's your wine, Theo?" Draco asked, opening up the cabinets in Theo's kitchen and searching for more alcohol for them. It wasn't his intention to do so, but his story had been so intriguing that they'd all ended up chugging down two bottles already. "And I mean the good ones that all those Alpha courted you with."

"That left cabinet, darling," Theo said, waving with his hand, "they've given me so much. I can't drink all of it, we might as well make use of them now."

"Where do you find such eligible Alphas, Theo? Give me a tip on that," Ron asked, snickering as he nursed the rest of his wine. "I just need one perfect Alpha, that's all."

"They're all boring," Theo said blatantly, shrugging, "believe me, honey. Learn from the best, I've had enough knots in me to know that it's not even satisfying at all. Alphas are such dull creatures."

Draco smiled as Theo and Ron became immersed in their own conversation about Alphas, his mind still unable to forget about Potter. Bloody charming, captivating Potter who touched him so tenderly. Draco shook his head, pulling out the bottle of wine and spotting a small black box in the cabinet.

The Omega pulled it out, scanning the box, it looked odd. "Theo, what's this box over here?" He traced his fingers over the lid, tempted to open it.

"Oh, no, Draco, don't-..." Theo called out, but it was too late. Draco opened the box, and he felt a wave of magic crash over him, then, his body was soaking wet. The Omega gasped, looking at their friends, who were still sitting on the couch with their mouths open.

"Oh, Draco," Theo said with a sigh, "that one is a gift from a certain Alpha who works as a prankster. That box is something he sells. Open it and you will be drenched in water, magic can't dry it off, you'll actually have to wait for it to dry," he explained with a guilty smile. "He said, and I quote, 'this can make you wet, I can too'. I'm sure it's supposed to be flirty."

"A prankster?" Ron asked, and Theo nodded.

"Yeah, he has his own shop and everything."

"Is his name George?"

"I think so," Theo said, and Ron gasped audibly at him.

"My fucking brother courted you?"

"Oh yeah, now that you mention it, he does have red hair," Theo said, shrugging and pursing his lips, forming a grin, "but hey, it's not my fault George thought I was pretty. He gave me that when I visited his shop, that's all." He turned to Draco, pressing his lips together. "Sorry, darling, I should have told you about it."

"Yeah, a little warning would have been nice," Draco said, wiping the water off his face. "Great, now I'm all wet." He glanced down at his shirt, exhaling tiredly. "Can you see my nipples through my shirt?"

"Oh, clear as day," Ron said, sniggering loudly, "Maybe Theo has something for you to change."

"Definitely," Theo said, "don't you worry about that."

"Well then, go," Draco ushered him, and the Omega jumped off the couch, dashing in the bedroom in an instant. "This day could not get worse." He tapped his clothed wet chest and flinched when he heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," he said, walking to the doorway and opening the door. His jaws went slack when he realised his day, in fact, could get worse. "Potter."

"Draco," Potter said, and there it was, he was calling Draco by his first name again, and it sounded so sweet. Intimate. The Omega stared at him, and Potter's gaze slowly trailed down to his middle. Draco's stomach twisted and he flinched, covering his chest as he spoke.

"I...it's...it's an accident."

"Oh, yeah, of course," Potter said, clearing his throat. It was a bad day for Draco to wear a white shirt and tight trousers, since everything now clung to him and he felt incredibly exposed before the Alpha's intense gaze. It was enchanting and he wanted nothing more than to press himself against Potter's firm body.

The Alpha's scent was enticing and slowly became warmer to Draco as their eyes met again. Draco's heart clenched, and he swallowed the invisible lump in his throat. "What...what are you doing here, Potter?"

"I thought you'd call me Harry now," Potter said, the corner of his lips curving up, "since I call you Draco."

"That's..." the Omega muttered, shaking his head, "I'm not calling you that. Why are you here?"

"Oh, right," Potter said, stepping forward as Draco took a step back, just in case he'd be lured in by the Alpha's scent again. "We found a new lead on a case. I need Ron to go on a mission right now."

"Oh, okay," Draco said, turning around, "Ron! Auror Emergency!"

"Fuck!" Ron exclaimed before hopping off the couch, grabbing his robes and rushing to the doorway. "Okay, okay, I'm ready."

"Neville and Penelope are already waiting outside," Potter said, and Ron nodded, waving Draco goodbye before sliding past the Alpha. Draco stood there, unsure what to say as Potter was still looking at him.

"Bye, Potter," he said, his knuckles turned white from gripping on the doorknob. He just wanted to close this door right now and change his clothes. Potter only smiled, nodding his head.

"Yeah, see you later," the Alpha said, walking backwards slowly with the charming smile still plastered on his face. "By the way, you look lovely tonight, Draco."

Potter flashed his fangs at Draco and turned on his heels, leaving the hallway empty. The Omega breathed out sharply, a hot flush rising on his cheeks as he watched the Alpha disappear from his sight. What the fuck was that? Was he flirting with him?

"He was so flirting with you." Draco spun around, stunned when he saw Theo standing behind him with dry clothes on his arm and a smirk on his lips. "Oh, come on, Draco. When an Alpha calls you hot or pretty, they want to fuck you, but when they say you're beautiful, lovely, charming, they want to love you."

"Oh, fuck off, Theo," Draco said, rolling his eyes as he snatched the clothes off Theo's hands. "You're the one to talk."

"Hey, I've slept with enough Alphas to know that, thank you very much, Draco," Theo said, pursing his lips as he grabbed the bottle of wine from the countertop, strutting to the couch again. "But okay, whatever you say, I might be wrong."

Draco stayed quiet and ignored his friend's abysmal accusation, walking to the bathroom to change instead. That was nothing, Potter was just being polite, Draco shouldn't even think about it at all.

Chapter 4: Out Of My Mind

Draco waved his wand, murmuring 'Brackium Emendo' and watching as the broken bone healed by magic again. He breathed out softly, looking at the Alpha. "Really, Ginny. How did you end up like this?"

"Sorry," Ginny said, grinning as she wriggled her arm, now mended and looking normal like before. "A Quaffle hit me, I lost balance, and everything went black. I actually can't remember much after that."

"Well, it's rare you're here, but I won't say I'm happy to see you like this," Draco said, smiling at the Alpha. "How's Teddy, by the way? I haven't had the chance to visit him yet."

"He's okay," Ginny said, pulling her sleeve down and looking at him, "I think so, I'm way too swamped in training these days, my mum is taking care of him now whenever he stays on the weekend at the Burrow. And when I say she's taking care of him, I mean she's feeding him as much as she can."

Draco smiled, that sounded like Molly Weasley enough. "I'm glad he's in good hands, he's gone through enough." He pressed his lips together as Ginny squeezed his arm. Teddy had lost both his parents, Remus and Sirius, in the war. And the Omega had become withdrawn from everyone then, dealing with his losses alone and even though people were offering their help and presence, it still seemed like he was missing something.

"He'll be okay," Ginny said, leaning back on the bed. "If you want to see him, you can go to the Burrow next week."

"Next week? Why?" he asked, eyebrows knitting together as the Alpha scoffed at him. He shouldn't even intrude. He never belonged there; it'd be too awkward to show up at the Burrow randomly like that.

"Hello?" The Alpha gestured with her hand, staring at Draco. "It's Harry's birthday."

"Oh..." he murmured. Right, he had almost forgotten about it. "But why would I be there?"

"You want to talk to Teddy, and Teddy will be there," Ginny said, shrugging as she wiggled her eyebrows at him cheekily. "Or are you still avoiding him?"

"Oh my god, who told you?"

"Literally everyone," Ginny said, rolling her eyes as she snickered. "Oh, relax, Draco. You have nothing to worry about. Harry and I were never a thing, thank fuck for Harry presenting early as an Alpha. It was, I swear to Merlin's arse, the fastest crush I ever had for someone," Ginny spluttered, cackling loudly. "But Ron told me that. So why are you avoiding him anyway?"

"It's...I don't know how to explain it, Ginny," Draco said, exhaling as Ginny tugged at his arm, pulling him onto the bed with her. "Our relationship is not all smooth sailing like you and Luna, we don't just become friends and then turn into lovers. We had a fucked up history."

"Hey, the more fucked up, the better the tension," the Alpha said, elbowing him, "I'm not saying there's no tension between Luna and me, we had an incredible amount of longing before we got together. That's what makes it so amazing."

"You two love each other, Ginny," Draco said, unbothered to even think about how Potter hated him. Sure, the Alpha had said that he didn't hate Draco that night in his pre-heat, but he had no clue whether he said that for Draco's satisfaction or he actually meant it. It could never be the latter option. "Merlin, I don't even know what to do."

"You can start by attending the birthday party," Ginny said, shrugging her shoulders but Draco shook his head. "I can't convince you?"

"No, Ginny."

"Should I bring Luna? She has very persuasive eyes," she said, and Draco chuckled. He didn't doubt that, Luna's eyes were certainly swaying and had managed to change his mind on several occasions before.

"No, thank you, Ginny," he said, suppressing a smile and Ginny pushed herself to her feet.

"All right, can't say I didn't try," the Alpha said, grabbing her broom and poking him with its woody head. "You're going to miss a lot of fun, Draco."

"It's not my place to come, Ginny."

"We're over it, Draco, you're welcome to be there," the Alpha said, sighing softly with a bright smile. "If you play your cards right, my mum might knit you your own sweater this Christmas."

"Tempting." Draco chuckled, torn between the decision. It seemed exciting to be there, but he just wouldn't want to impose.

"And," Ginny said, leaning closer and whispering. "We're going to smash the cake at Harry's face this year."

"That seems quite rude, Ginny," Draco said, smiling with furrowed brows. He didn't know they'd do such things at a birthday party.

"Hey, it's Ron's idea, since Harry and Hermione did that to him on his birthday, he's determined to do the same to them." Ginny's lips curved up, grinning at him. "You really can't come?"

"It's Monday, I know it'd be a busy day here."

"All right, I won't push you anymore," Ginny said, holding her hands up in defeat. "You'll be missing out on a lot. Harry will have cream on his face, you can lick it off, maybe lick the cream from another place off him too."

"Ginny!" Draco gasped in horror, yet a smile still stretched on his lips as he smacked her arm playfully. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"I did not say anything, you interpreted it however you want, Draco," Ginny said, cackling. "Bye."

He waved the Alpha goodbye and sighed as she turned on her heels, walking away. She was close to persuading him, he was almost lured to attend Potter's party then. Draco stilled himself, his thoughts still trapped in his mind when a familiar scent hit his nose.

Draco took a whiff of it, swallowing hard as the door was opened. Potter stepped in. Speak of the devil. The Omega glanced around, seeing Padma taking care of a patient. In the corner, Katie was operating on a patient with a bunch of Healers as well. He was the only one left. This couldn't be happening.

"Draco!" Padma called him, gesturing with her hand. "Go, deal with Harry!"

The Omega sent her a plea through his eyes, but the Beta shot a stern look at him, cocking her head to the side as he sighed, getting off the bed.

"Potter, come here please," he said, and Potter's eyes seemed to gleam radiantly. He walked to him, settling down on the bed and drowning Draco in his warm, musky scent. He took a closer look at the Alpha and noticed his shoulder blade was bleeding through the shirt. "May I ask what happened?"

"Oh, well, we were on a mission, and I-I was distracted, they got me," Potter said, still managed to smile like a goofy idiot before him. Draco cut the shirt carefully apart, unblinking when he saw how long the slash was. It started from the part behind his ear, down to his shoulder blade.

"You're lucky this isn't deep," he said, leaning closer, his nostrils flaring the closer he was with Potter's scent glands. He steadied himself, trying not to lose his footing as he raised his wand. Murmuring the incantation, Draco glanced at Potter, who let out a soft sigh as the Omega's magic coursed through him.

The skin healed quickly enough, the wound closing up and the blood stopped oozing out. Draco raised his hand, touching the place where the cut had been. He couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath, but he shook it off, brushing his fingers up to the spot behind Potter's ear, making sure the spell hadn't gone wrong.

The Alpha's skin was smooth and appealing. Draco looked up, meeting Potter's eyes and his knees almost went weak just from that. The gaze the Alpha was giving him was burning through his skin and rushing straight to his groin. The Omega flinched when he felt slick leaking out himself. He yanked his hand away from Potter's skin, clearing his throat.

"You're good now, Potter," he said, his voice came out weaker than he thought as he took a careful step back, away from the pheromone Potter was releasing. "You can go."

"Hey." Potter's hand shot out, and Draco stared at it, swallowing hard. "Er, I was wondering...if, well, my birthday is next Monday." He looked at Draco, trying to catch his gaze again, but the Omega chose to focus on his forehead instead, right at his famous scar. "I think it'll be nice if you come."

"I don't want to be a burden, Potter."

"No, you're not," Potter said, his arm reaching out further, but Draco dodged it. "I want you to be there."

"I..." Draco said, worrying his lower lip. Potter's voice was inviting, and he found it hard to resist such a temptation.

The door was slammed open before he could think any further. An Auror appeared, body soaked with blood as another Auror led him in. "I-...go, Potter," he turned and said to Potter, whose face fell from his words. Draco didn't have time to care about how upset Potter looked before he rushed to tend the other Auror, his wand in his hand, ready to work.

*

Draco stepped into the shop, amazed by its colourful decoration, and slipping past the crowd until he saw the certain figure with slightly wavy black hair standing near a shelf full of snow globes. From behind, he looked almost like his dad. "Teddy," he said, tapping at the boy's back as he turned around, a soft smile appeared on his lips.

"Draco!" Teddy said, the little Omega had looked slightly better than last year, Draco hadn't had a clue what had helped him, but he was glad. "Thank you for coming."

"Please, I'd do anything to spend a little time with my cousin," Draco said, smiling. Teddy was only two years younger than Draco, he barely graduated from Hogwarts a year ago and was still struggling with his grief more than he would express. "How are you, Teddy? How's training?"

"Well, it's quite hectic in the Magical Creature Regulation Department," Teddy said, heaving a tired sigh, "but Hermione helps me out a lot, even though she's not in the same division as me." Draco smiled, ruffling the Omega's hair. Teddy had chosen the department himself, wanting to dig deeper and understand better about his dad, it was explicable to do so.

"That's good," Draco said, "come to me whenever you need help, Teddy, I'm always there for you." Teddy smiled and nodded, his hands fiddling with one of the snow globes. "Why are we here again?"

"I need your help." Teddy grinned, "I haven't bought any present for Harry, and his birthday is in four days," he said, glancing at Draco, searching for his expression. "And I thought you'd want to come with me, since you're going too."

"I'm not going, Teddy."

"What?" Teddy asked, his mouth dropped as he placed the snow globe back on the shelf, facing Draco. "You're not going? But it's Harry's birthday."

"It's not my place to come."

"What are you talking about? Of course it's your place to come," Teddy said with his hands on his hips as he huffed. "I can't believe you're not coming, Draco."

"I-..."

"You have to come, Draco, I want you to be there," Teddy pleaded, tugging at Draco's robes. "Come on, Draco, you're one of the few people I can actually talk to. It'd be nice for you to be there."

"Teddy, it'd be weird."

"It won't be, I promise, well, maybe a little, since you fancy Harry-..."

"Wait," Draco said, raising his hand in the air as he cut Teddy off. "You know I have feelings for Potter?"

"Oh, sorry, is that a secret?" Teddy asked, smiling lopsidedly at him. "I thought everyone knows that."

"And it actually seems so," Draco said, rolling his eyes. So that was one more person who knew about his feelings. "Teddy, I know you want me to be there, but...I can't. It's too difficult." Teddy nodded at him, playing with the back of a book as he listened to Draco. "I can barely stand upright whenever he's close, let alone join his birthday party, where he'll be laughing and...you know, just have fun with everyone else but me. I-...Just the sight of him makes my stomach roll. And his scent makes me-...I can't."

"Is that how it feels?" Teddy asked, "To like someone?"

"I think so, that's what I always feel when I see him," Draco said, exhaling as he picked up a small hand mirror and looked at his own reflection through it. His cheeks were slightly flushed already at the mention of the Alpha. "My heart beats faster, my knees are weak, my skin tingles with his warm scent, and all I want..." Draco said, sighing, "is for him to kiss me, scent me, mark me as his. Oh, this is so not appropriate for you, Teddy."

"Draco, I'm eighteen already," Teddy said, snickering, "I can be fucking and you wouldn't know."

"Teddy!" Draco gasped, "Are you?"

"No!" Teddy said, grinning as he plucked the mirror out of Draco's grip. "Oh, relax, Draco. It's just an example. No, I haven't done it with anyone yet."

"Okay, because I haven't had the chance to give you the sex talk yet, so we'll have to schedule that."

"I'm not going to have a scheduled sex talk with my cousin, Draco." Teddy laughed, making Draco chuckle as well. That would indeed be weird.

"Hey, my father gave me that talk, I just thought you should hear it too," Draco said, grinning, "Although, 'no sex and only fake dildos' is a rather short talk."

"He did not do that!" Teddy gasped, and Draco snickered, nodding his head. The talk with his father had been so awful that he still remembered it visibly until now. "I can't believe he'd say that."

"You can come to my Manor, and he'll give you the same talk," Draco said, huffing out a laugh. His father was an Omega as well, presenting late like him, and he had always been overly careful with Draco, making sure no Alpha ever forced a bond on him. The talk was actually so scary that it actually worked, and Draco still remained a virgin until now. "Anyway, enough of that sex talk, what do you have in mind for Potter's present?"

"Still calling him Potter?" Teddy asked, snorting when Draco glared at him. "I have no idea. Do you think he'd like books and quills?"

"Are you thinking of Hermione?" Draco arched his brow and Teddy smiled, nodding.

"Right," he said, sighing tiredly. "See? This is why I need your help."

"All right, I'll help you." He smiled, taking the book out of Teddy's hands and putting it back on the shelf. "You're lucky I've known that guy for nine years now."

"And you're sure you're not coming to his birthday party?" Teddy tilted his head to the side, seemingly asking Draco again, more insistent this time. "It'll be fun."

"No, Teddy, I can't," he said, biting the inside of his cheek, sighing. "But, I'll help you choose the gift, so let's begin."

*

Draco wasn't sure why he even bought it. It was foolish of him. He glanced at the box on the table and pondered why he was spending his money on a gift like that for Potter when he wasn't even coming to the party. After spending a pleasant afternoon with Teddy, he couldn't stop thinking about the party, and he'd ended up purchasing the gift the next day in private. He didn't even intend on giving it to Potter in the first place.

He'd even folded Potter's shirt neatly and put it in a red glittery bag as well, thinking of returning it to him. The Alpha's scent had become faint, almost disappearing now. Draco breathed out, looking up at the bright, blue sky and stretching his legs out on the chair in the garden. He'd been so nervous all day that his mother had to push him out here. Get some sun, she'd said, as if it'd make him feel better.

"Hey."

"Holy fuck!" Draco yelped when a face hovered above him. "Ron! What the fuck are you doing here?" He sat up and Ron cackled, walking around the chair to face him properly.

"Did I scare you?"

"Of course you fucking did, you appeared out of nowhere." He smoothed his shirt over and calmed his heart. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I Floo in and your parents told me you're here," Ron said, shrugging. "And I came here to bring you to Harry's party."

"Ron, I said I'm not going."

"I know, Ginny and Teddy told me." Ron nodded, peaking at the box on the table next to Draco. "What's that though?"

Draco's eyes widened as he blinked at the box, wrapped in red papers and a green bow. "It's...a gift from an Alpha."

"An Alpha? Someone courted you?" Ron asked, smirking as if he thought Draco was lying...and he was.

"Yeah, he..."

"What's his name?"

Draco gulped, his eyes roaming around the garden and fixating on one of his father's beloved peacocks. "Gerald...his name is Gerald."

"Gerald?" Ron asked and Draco nodded. "That either sounds like an awfully old man or coincidentally, the name of your peacock right there."

"How did you know?"

"Because before I went out here, your father told me, and I quote, "Draco's out there sulking with Gerald and Fluffy", so I figured that one out," Ron said, and Draco's ears felt hot from embarrassment. "If you had said Fluffy, I'd have died...like right here, on this ground."

"Don't be dramatic, Ron," Draco said, giving Ron the side-eyes as the Omega faked a gasp.

"I'm not the pompous Omega who mopes with his peacocks and a birthday gift for his crush in the garden, Draco," Ron pointed out with a chuckle as Draco sent a glare to him. "Why don't you go?"

"Because...because it's compli-..."

"Complicated, I know," Ron said, humming as he stepped closer, picking up the box. "You even had another gift bag here. So you have not one, but two gifts for Harry."

"One is his shirt," Draco said, looking out into the gate of his Manor as Ron fiddled with the bag. "From my pre-heat, I want to return it to him."

"That's pretty nice," Ron commented, squinting his eyes. "Draco, what's that on your hand?"

"What?" Draco asked, raising his hand while Ron leaned closer. "What? What do you see?"

"Something is on your hand," Ron said, grabbing at Draco's hand and examining it. His grip turned tight as he looked at Draco, a grin flashed across his lips. "Well, hold tight."

"What? Ro-..." Draco's words were lost in his throat as they both disappeared with a loud crack. When he opened his eyes, they were standing before the Burrow, and Draco was practically sitting on the front porch. "Ron, I can't believe you did that!"

Draco stood up, wiping the dust off his behind as Ron snickered quietly next to him. "Ron, I'm not kidding, what if we were Splinched?"

"We didn't though," Ron said, beaming and shoving the box and the bag into Draco's arms. "I got Splinched once, Draco, I know how to be careful when I do it."

"Ron, I'm not going in."

"Draco, look," Ron said, hand halting in the air as he was about to open the door. "It's not that big of a deal. There are quite a lot of people today, even the bunch of trainees are also here, and they love Harry. So you won't even get to talk with Harry, I promise. Teddy is here to keep you occupied if you feel like you want to avoid Harry. Just the fact that everyone wants you to be here says something, Draco. You know that, right?"

Draco stared at him, his lips pressed together as Ron bared a supportive smile at him. He had a point there. They'd only wanted the best for his relationship with Potter, he was just scared, that was it.

"I know you think the night you spent with Harry on your pre-heat ruined something, or everything between the two of you, but trust me, it didn't, okay?" the Omega added, and Draco gripped his gifts tight. "If anything, I actually think it's good." He reached out, his hand on Draco's arm as he smiled. "If you don't want to come in, that's okay, I can give your presents to him. It'd be better if you do though." He leaned closer, murmuring. "And you get to see Harry's face full of cake, that will be priceless."

Draco smiled and Ron nodded, waiting for his response. "So? What's your decision, Draco?" He looked at the Omega and took a deep breath, stepping forward.

"Okay..." he said, a smile dancing on his lips, "okay, I'll come in." He tipped his chin up and squinted his eyes, poking his finger at Ron's chest. "But I swear if it gets uncomfortable and you don't rescue me from the situation, I will leave you bleeding to death the next time you arrive at St Mungo's."

"An excellent threat, I'll keep that in mind. Now, let's go in," Ron said, snorting and opening the door. Draco could hear people talking loudly from inside already. He was still anxious, but perhaps Ron was right, it'd be okay.

*

It wasn't that bad, if Draco was being honest to himself. The party was decent, and Ron was right, there were a lot of people here. Mostly adults, their old classmates, but they were all from Gryffindors, predictably. Draco's gifts had been placed on the table full of other gifts, some were even from secret admirers from his workplace that Ron had brought here. Typical Potter, so many fans even two years after the war.

"Hey," came a familiar voice, and Draco turned to see Hemione standing next to him, leaning on the wall as well with two drinks in her hands. "You look lonely."

"I'm not, I have..." Draco said, glancing at Teddy standing in the corner of the kitchen next to Charlie Weasley. "Teddy...who's talking to Charlie now."

Hermione smiled, extending her hand. "Have a drink, I see you've been staring at Harry for a while now, so I thought I should bring you something."

"So it's true that everyone knows about my feelings for him now?" he asked, taking the drink from the Omega as she snorted quietly.

"Well, except Harry," she said, sipping on her red bubbly drink, something Luna had made herself. "In my defence, you weren't being very subtle. I noticed it on our graduation day."

"What?" he gasped, staring at her with his mouth dropped. "How did you know?"

"Your first heat when you presented was triggered by Harry, wasn't it?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. For a second there, Draco thought she had the same knowing smile as Pansy. "And your recent heat was also caused by him, right? You stopped using suppressants, and he triggered it with his scent."

Draco gawked at the Omega before him, she was no doubt the most brilliant witch. He sighed, slouching back on the wall with his head tipped back. "Can you...not tell him that?"

"I never intended to," the Omega said, "it's not my place to. But, can I ask you why?"

"I don't know what to tell you," Draco said, watching Potter stand in the middle of the room, laughing brightly with his friends. Why did he have to look so captivating? "I...I'm terrified of what will happen if I find out it's only one-sided. A part of me knows it's the truth, but I can't bring myself to face it."

"Draco," she said, tapping his arm with a sigh. "We haven't been friends for the longest time, I can't say I know you." He smiled, turning to look at her. "I just know that...you don't have to fret about it too much like that. Harry...he doesn't hate you. In fact, if we were in Sixth Year, I'd say he's obsessed with you."

"You're joking."

"Do I look like I'm joking around with you?" she asked, lifting her eyebrow as Draco's eyes widened. He couldn't possibly believe that. "Look, Draco, don't overthink it, okay? I think it'll be all right in the end."

"Sometimes, I think you're a little too much like Pansy," he said, and Hermione smiled at him, a slight pink colour appeared on her cheeks.

"Yes, about Parkinson, please tell her to stop walking by my office just to smile at me," she said, looking away. And was that a blush Draco was spotting? He grinned; Pansy was no joke when it came to her flirting skill.

"I'll try my best," Draco said, huffing a small laugh as they turned to look at Ron and Seamus walking to Potter's spot with a huge cake in their arms. It was a rectangle chocolate cake with white whipped cream on top. Draco smiled, anticipating the two of them to smash the cake on Potter's dashing face.

"You can't put him on a suit on his birthday?" he murmured, gesturing to Potter's jeans and black t-shirt, and Hermione chuckled.

"Draco, you're certainly welcome to try. I did the best I could," she said, clapping her hands as everyone else began singing. Draco joined the crowd as well, it was only polite, even if he was acting like he didn't like the certain Alpha.

"Happy birthday, Harry," Ginny said along with some of his friends, smiling at the Alpha. "Make a wish." She gestured and Potter glanced around the room, stopping only when his eyes locked with Draco's. The Omega could feel Hermione elbowing him from the right, but he promptly ignored it. Potter looked back at the cake and closed his eyes, blowing on the candles as the fire went out.

Draco wasn't startled when it happened. Ron and Seamus flipped the cake over, smashing it right against Potter's face before the surprised gasp of everyone in the room. He stifled a laugh with a hand over his mouth as they pulled away, revealing Potter with chocolate cream all over his face, covering it entirely.

"Happy birthday, mate," Ron said, cackling as Potter joined in, laughing as he wiped the cake off his eyes. "How's the cake?"

"I knew you'd do that," Potter said, licking his lips to steal some of the creams away. "Although, the cake is delicious."

"What do you think he wished for?" Hermione asked, and Draco shrugged his shoulder, sipping on his drink.

"If I know how to read his mind, I wouldn't be here avoiding him, Hermione."

"That's a good point," Hermione said, a grin flashing across her lips. "Should we have some cake? You can have some off Harry's face."

"Hilarious, your humour is top-notch," Draco deadpanned, rolling his eyes as the Omega snorted next to him.

"I'll get some," Hermione said, walking away as Draco stayed, watching Potter again, who was now wiping the cake off with a towel. The audacity of the Alpha to look even more dashing with cream on his skin. Unbelievable.

*

Draco pulled at his sleeve, glancing at the watch on his wrist and exhaling. It had been almost two hours, and so far, Potter was still enjoying his party inside the Burrow. It had gone dark outside as Draco looked up at the starry sky. He had resorted to slipping out of the house while Potter talked to his other friends, too busy to even spare Draco a glance, not that he minded it.

The wind blew past him as the Omega slipped on the ground. He could easily go home now, no one would know. However, there was a feeling in him that still lingered here, wanting to stay. He drew his legs up against his chest and leaned his chin on his knee, breathing steadily. Perhaps he should leave. He'd had cake, he'd had drinks, he'd talked to people, he'd done everything. So why was he still sitting here like an idiot waiting for Potter to find him by accident?

"Draco?"

"Potter!"

Draco flinched, looking up at Potter, who was standing near him with the same expression on his face. They both didn't expect to see each other here. Did he just fucking make a wish under a shooting star or something? Draco swallowed, he hadn't noticed Potter was coming, he couldn't smell the Alpha's scent anymore. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, well," Potter said, scratching the back of his head. "Can I join you here?"

Draco looked around, worrying his lower lip. This should be fine, they were the only two people outside, and no one was releasing any pheromones, this was actually better than any scenario he had imagined in his mind. "Yeah, you can."

"Thanks," Potter said, flashing a smile before settling down next to Draco on his right. He was close enough for their shoulders to touch. Draco shivered slightly, unmoving.

"You haven't answered my question, Potter."

Potter chuckled, drawing his legs up and draping his...strong arms over his knees. "It's a bit overwhelming in there. I wanted to find somewhere quiet for a while. I had to slip out of the bathroom's window." The Omega snorted, pressing his lips together.

"Famous Harry Potter, running from the crowd, it's almost as if they were all your fans," Draco said, trying to keep his eyes on the sky instead of the Alpha's alluring eyes. "It's your birthday."

"I know, that's why," Potter said with a smile, turning to look at him. "Why are you here?"

"The same reason as you, I guess." Draco shrugged, flinching when their thighs brushed against each other. His chest was growing warm again despite the fact that there was no scent between them that could be detected anymore. Draco had used scent blocker today as well, not wanting to draw Potter's attention to him.

"You're using scent blocker."

Draco turned to meet Potter's gaze abruptly, his lips parted. Heat grew on his cheeks, he was already painted pink by now. He only hoped Potter wouldn't see it under the night sky. "Your scent is...er, I like your scent. Why would you block it?"

The Omega swallowed, his ears warm as he struggled to form the words in his mind. He averted his eyes away, fiddling with his own fingers. "I...it's to avoid unwanted Alphas. I meet a lot of them in St Mungo's. I hide it so they'd think I'm a Beta."

Potter was quiet for a long moment next to him. Draco saw the way the Alpha clenched his hands and heard a small rumble from his throat. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Why are you sorry?" Draco turned to him, his lips curving up as the Alpha smiled at him. "What about you? What makes the mighty Alpha block his scent tonight?"

"Hermione suggested it," he said, "there were a few trainees from work attending the party tonight, and they..."

"I get it," Draco said, finding himself upset at that fact. He seemed to forget that Potter had many admirers even from work as well. "Unwanted Omegas?"

"It's just for precautions." Potter chuckled, and Draco couldn't tear his eyes away. He didn't want to. The Alpha's eyes were striking, bright and clear even when it was dark already where they were sitting. The green in his eyes was gleaming, as though sending a cool wind to soothe Draco down during the heatwave. It was peaceful staring into Potter's eyes. He almost felt like...like he belonged there.

Draco shuddered at his own thought, turning away and focusing on the stars above them. That was dangerous. "Draco."

"Yeah?" Draco said, his head refusing to turn again.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Potter asked, his voice had almost sounded like he was hurt there. "Am I out of my mind, or are you avoiding me everywhere, especially St Mungo's?"

Draco's mind rushed to find an answer, a lie to his question, and he was hit with the realisation that there was no lie. He couldn't come up with any, and he didn't want to lie to Potter, not even the slightest.

"You're not going insane, Potter," he said, knowing Potter was smiling next to him. "I just...I was embarrassed."

"Embarrassed? Why?"

"When..." Draco mumbled, fiddling with his fingers again, scratching at the black nail polish and clearing his throat. "I-I can't say it, I don't know."

"Draco," Potter said, his voice still gentle, not demanding. "Can you look at me?" Draco chewed on his lower lip, turning his head slowly to face the Alpha again. The expression Potter was showing him was not anger, but concern. "Why?"

Draco let out a sharp exhale, head leaning against the wall of the house as he spoke, "I can't forget what happened that night at...your place. It's...humiliating for me. I did things that I'm not proud of, I've...I've touched you. I-fuck..." Draco buried his face in his hands, cheeks flushing red when he tried to tell Potter what he had been feeling all this time.

"Hey," Potter said, and before Draco knew it, an arm was draped over his shoulder. Draco tipped his head up, his breath hitched when he realised how close their faces were. "Look, don't worry about it. You didn't touch me." He tugged the Omega closer, his gaze unwavering. "I let you in that night, I promised to take care of you, I was the one who agreed. You don't have to blame yourself, whatever happened that night, it's all fine between us."

"You're serious?"

"No, my Godfather was Sirius," Potter said, drawing a chuckle out of Draco. The Alpha smiled, baring his fangs that Draco wished were plunged into his neck. "It's all good, Draco. Not humiliating at all. Okay?" Draco bit the inside of his cheek, giving Potter a slow nod as the Alpha grinned at him again. "Do I earn my first name now?"

"What?"

"Can you call me by my first name now?" Potter asked, his arm still around Draco's shoulder, sending warmth into his flesh. "I think I earned that, comforting you, right?"

Draco tried to hold back the smile, pressing his lips tight as he looked at the Alpha. His eyes trailed down and stopped when he noticed there was still a bit of cream on the part under his jawline. Draco reached out, his finger brushing against the warm skin as he wiped the cream away.

"You still got a bit of cream there," he said, showing Potter the chocolate cream. The Alpha leaned forward, seemingly wanting to clean it, but Draco was faster, sucking his own finger into his mouth, smiling at the Potter. "The cake is good."

Potter's pupils were blown wide at his action, and Draco remained seated there, calm even when the one next to him was stilling himself, his jaws clenched. Did he surprise him? Was he disgusted?

"Draco, can I-..."

"Here you are!" Draco's eyes shot up to see Ron, who was holding a goblet in one hand and his other hand on his hips. "I can't believe you two snuck out here! Harry, your trainees want to give you their gift now."

Draco's heart raced in his chest while Potter swallowed vividly before pulling away, standing up. The Omega got on his feet as well, the two of them still gazing at each other.

"Can I talk to you after the party?" Potter asked, and Draco was wondering how the hell he could say no to a pair of eyes like that.

"Sure, and..." he murmured, quiet enough for only Potter to hear, the corner of his lips curving, "happy birthday, Harry."

The beam Harry gave him was bright, brighter than any star or the moon above them right now. The Alpha turned and returned to the house while Ron was still standing there, puzzled.

"So?" the Omega asked him, stepping forward. "How did I do? I saved you from Harry, right?"

Draco snorted at Ron, giving him a nod. He wouldn't exactly say Ron was saving him, but it was nice of him to look after Draco like that. "Yeah, thanks, Ron. Let's go in."

"What happened out here? What did you guys talk about?" Ron asked as they stood before the window, looking inside the Burrow. "Anything intriguing?"

Definitely intriguing. Draco's smile faltered when his eyes caught a girl near Harry inside. She was clinging to his arm, with a few more people around him. "Who's that?"

"What?" Ron said, following Draco's finger as he pointed at them. "Oh, that's the group of trainees in the Auror Department that I told you about. Harry helps them a lot with training, so they quite adore him."

"Who's that girl?"

"Blonde hair in the tight dress?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, that's Evangeline, an Omega, Half-blood," Ron said, chugging down the beer in his goblet. "Terry Boot even has a crush on her." Ron laughed as Draco's chest tightened, it felt hard to breathe when the girl, Evangeline was smiling and touching Harry's arm up and down now. "Pretty sure she likes Harry more than any other Alpha in the department though."

"Yeah, I can see that," Draco said dryly. The girl handed Harry a red box shaped like a heart, and the Alpha took it gingerly with a smile. Draco's eyes widened and he let out a quiet gasp when the girl stood on her tiptoes, giving Harry a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh, shit," Ron murmured next to him. "I did not see that coming. Did you expect that, Draco? W-...Draco." Ron nudged him, but Draco was rendered speechless, freezing on the spot and Ron sighed, rubbing his back. "I'm sorry."

"Fuck, no, why are you apologising when she's the one who kissed him?" Draco shook his head, shrugging the ache in his chest off as he turned to face Ron. "That's predictable, right? I...I don't know why I even...fuck. I need to go home. This was a bad idea."

"What? Now?" Ron stepped forward, worries filling his face. "Are you okay? Should I call Pansy?"

"No, no, I'm fine," Draco said, waving his hand and huffing out a tired laugh. "I've overstayed my welcome, I need to go home."

"Didn't Harry want to talk to you after the party?" Ron asked, head tilting to the side. "I overheard."

"Oh," he said, realising Harry had asked him to do so, yet he found no energy to stay now, not after what he had just witnessed. "No, I have to go. If he asked, just...tell him I have to go."

"Okay," Ron said, sighing when he couldn't persuade Draco. "Goodnight, Draco."

"Night, Ron," Draco said, turning on his heels and Apparating on the spot. As soon as he arrived back at the threshold before the Manor, the Omega breathed in sharply, tears escaping his eyes and rolling down his still heated cheeks freely. No more Harry, he'd had enough of the Alpha for tonight.

Chapter 5: Stay With Me, Please

Harry waved at his colleagues as they bid him goodbye, leaving the Burrow. Molly was in the kitchen with Ginny, and the others were cleaning the remains in the living room. He scanned his eyes around the room, searching for the certain Omega, but there was no sign of him.

"Hey, Ron," Harry called, and his friend stopped in his track, his hand still grasping at a bag of crisps.

"Yeah?" Ron answered, walking to him as Hermione followed him closely. "Where's the girl? Evangeline?"

"Who?" Harry asked, "Oh, the trainee. She went home, of course. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing," Ron said, averting his eyes as he pursed his lips. "I saw her, when she kissed your cheek."

"Oh," Harry said, shivering slightly when he remembered it. It was so abrupt that he hadn't noticed it coming, and he had immediately cleaned the kiss off him, feeling the ick when she did so. "You did?"

"Yeah, she seems to like you."

"Well, did you see what happen after that?" Hermione chimed in, giving them both a mischievous smile and Harry grinned at her. Ron shook his head, and she continued, "I've never seen anyone scrubbed something off so strongly."

"It's weird, Hermione," Harry said, scratching the back of his head. "I consider her as a sister, and out of nowhere, she said she likes me."

"Out of nowhere?" Ron asked, scoffing softly and nudging him. "Everyone knows she likes you, Harry."

"I'm not very good at noticing people's feelings, er, I have no idea," he said as Hermione and Ron exchanged a look between them, a smile followed, and Harry stared at them, puzzled. "What?"

"Nothing," Ron said, shoving more crisps in his mouth. "Oh, Draco had to go home earlier, if you wanted to ask."

"What? He did?" Harry's jaw went slack, he thought they'd promised. "I don't get why he went home," Harry said, dismay coiled in his stomach. He thought Draco would stay, he said he would. He didn't peg Draco for someone who'd break a promise like that. What caused him to leave so soon and without saying anything? "He told me he'd stay."

"Maybe you did something wrong," Ron said with his mouthful of crisps and Hermione squinted her eyes at him. "Just a thought I have, that's all."

"What an insightful discovery, Ron, would you care to elaborate on that?" Hermione asked, smiling gently, but Ron simply shrugged.

"I really can't tell."

"Ron! We need help in here!" Ginny yelled from the kitchen and Ron groaned, shoving the bag of crisps into Hermione's hands.

"Duty calls, my sister can't do anything," he said, rolling his eyes as he scurried away. Harry sighed, and Hermione rested her hand on his back soothingly.

"Why don't you open some of the presents? Might make you feel better," Hermione suggested, tugging on his arm to lead him to the table full of presents and Harry did as she said.

"I guess," he said, he was feeling a slight disappointment at that. What happened earlier between Draco and him, it was...something else. Harry was sure he had wanted to kiss Draco right there and then. He shocked himself with that fact, but if Ron hadn't caught them, Harry wasn't sure he would stop it himself. Draco had looked so beautiful with the moonlight shining on his features, only highlighting it even more. He was simply mesmerised by his charms.

Harry's eyes roamed over the mountain of boxes on the table, but a certain box wrapped in red papers and a green bow, sitting neatly next atop a red bag caught his attention. He picked it up, plucking the small note out from the top and smiling unconsciously.

Happy birthday, Potter.

"Is that from Draco?" Hermione asked from the side, and he grinned wider.

"Who else?" He looked into the bag first and was surprised to see his own shirt. The one Draco had worn that night. Harry brought the shirt up to his nose and inhaled. It smelled like Draco now, warm and sweet, addicting. The Alpha groaned, burying his face in his own shirt that now smelled like absolute heaven to him.

"Isn't that your shirt? The one I told you to fix the hole on its back?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded, putting the bag back on the table, grabbing at the box, a smaller one, still from Draco himself.

When Harry opened the box, a smile appeared across his lips without warning, and he sucked in a sharp breath. He picked up the watch, with black leather straps and a gold face. He flipped it over and saw the words engraved on the back. His own name was written there, and it was definitely Draco's handwriting, he'd know. This was custom made, Draco had spent his time doing this for him, for Harry. Something tugged at his heart and the Alpha smiled brighter, drawing attention from his friend.

"I take it that you like it?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded, flopping on the armchair nearby. "Wear it then, Harry."

Harry didn't hesitate at all, putting the watch on his wrist instantly, smiling ear to ear. He sighed, slouching on the back of the chair. Hermione seemed to pick up his mood as she settled on the arm of his chair, leaning on his shoulder.

"What's on your mind, Harry?"

"I...I don't know what to feel about this," Harry said, his fingers playing with the watch now, knowing Draco had chosen it carefully. "About Draco."

"Why do you feel like that?" Hermione asked, looking at him as though she was analysing his mind. "Do you still hate him?"

"No, of course not," Harry said. What he had said to Draco on the night of his pre-heat, he meant it, he didn't hate Draco, not anymore. If anything, they'd gone past the enemy line, they just couldn't move forward, until that night. "I don't hate him, I just..."

"Are you attracted to him?"

"I..." Harry mumbled, unsure what to tell her. He hadn't had a clue as well. "If I know, I wouldn't be here now, Hermione. I just know that, that night, I was...I was aroused too. I concealed it, of course, he smelled so...so fucking good, I couldn't get over it. And my rut even happened right after he left. I don't understand why."

"Then would you say you're attracted to him?"

"No? Yes...I, maybe, I don't know." He groaned, grabbing at the shirt and playing with the fabric. "He looked so beautiful tonight. I don't know what to feel. I wanted to kiss him, fuck, I don't know if that was a good idea or not."

Hermione sighed, tugging at his arm until he looked up at her. "I'm asking, Harry, are you attracted to Draco as a person, or are you merely lusting after him like an Alpha desiring an Omega to mate? Do you want to like him and court him truly? Or do you just want to put your knot in him and leave once you've got your fill? Is your heart calling for him or is it your Alpha instinct thinking with your knot?"

"I have no clue, Hermione. I know that there's history between us that can't be erased, but I don't hate him anymore," Harry said, groaning deeply. "I-I just feel like I enjoy his presence a lot. And the conversation we had a while ago was more fun than any other conversation I had with my colleagues tonight. I genuinely laughed when I was with him, Hermione, I was...I'm happy when I was with him. Draco, he looked so...fuck, beautiful. I don't know. Do you know Draco scratches his nail polish when he gets nervous?"

"No, Harry, I don't know that," Hermione said, smiling knowingly at him.

"Well, I've noticed it for a while now. Whenever he's thinking clearly about something, working on the paperwork, he'd twirl his hair. And when he gets anxious, he plays with his own fingers, if it becomes too much, he scratches at the nail polish, scraping them off. And tonight, I saw it again. I just thought..."

"That he looked adorable?"

Harry's eyes shot up to look at her, stunned when she knew what he was thinking. "Yeah...I think so."

"Does that answer my question, Harry?" he asked, leading him to his own realisation.

"I don't know, his scent is just...enticing, I can't get enough, he's beautiful." He exhaled, wondering how one person could look so captivating even when he was just breathing. "He used scent blocker today, I didn't smell him. What we had then...wasn't just an attraction between an Alpha and an Omega, even for a short time...I think, I..."

"Yes, Harry?"

"Maybe?" Harry asked, his voice strained, and Hermione chuckled at him.

"Maybe you're attracted to Draco?"

"Okay, yeah, I think I am, I am attracted to him," Harry said, nodding his head when it struck him. He liked Draco, he was attracted to Draco, to his scent, to his personality, everything, simply to Draco. All the times he had felt upset when Draco avoided him weeks ago, the times he had got slightly jealous when Draco treated other patients and not him, the times he had spent staring at the Omega, and when he had wanted to kiss him tonight. His feelings had noticed before his mind could.

"So what does a person do when they find out they like someone?"

"Er, ask them out?" Harry answered her, pleased when she nodded. He got that one right, finally.

"And for Alphas who are attracted to Omegas?" She gestured with her hand and Harry furrowed his eyebrows.

"Courting?"

"You see where I'm going here, Harry?" Hermione waved her hands in the air and sighed, smacking the back of his head as he hissed. "Pick up the tone, Harry. You're slower than Ron when I helped him realise he swings for both teams."

"Oh!" Harry rubbed the spot Hermione had smacked and stared at her. "You mean...you mean I should court Draco?"

"Yes, that is what I mean if you're sure you like him," Hermione said, arching her brow, "Do you?"

"I do," he said, feeling confident. He could court Draco, even when he had never done it before.

"Then do it, court him, show him how much you like him," Hermione said, getting on her feet as she smiled at him. "Do the best you can, Harry." Harry smiled at her, nodding. Yes, he would do the best, and he'd make it worth it. Draco was worth it.

*

"I beg your pardon?"

Harry swallowed, facing the older couple of Alpha and Omega before him. "I want to ask for your permission to court Draco."

Narcissa stared at him, while Lucius had his mouth dropped, his empty teacup hanging loosely on his fingers. "Have you grown an infatuation with our son, Harry?" Narcissa asked, her red lips pursed up to form a polite smile.

"How could he? He hated-..."

"Lucius," Narcissa said, raising her Alpha voice and the Omega flinched, shifting closer to her, seeking comfort. She turned to Harry, gesturing with her hand. "Harry?"

"Oh, yes," he said, after asking Hermione thoroughly what he should do. He had gone to the Malfoy Manor while Draco was at work to ask for permission from his parents. "I like Draco, a lot. I want to court him appropriately."

Narcissa gazed at him, silence filled the room. Lucius didn't say a word, only waiting for the Alpha in the house to make a decision.

"I agree," Narcissa said, earning a gasp from Lucius, but the Omega didn't disagree with her. "I'll let you court our son, Harry. Treat him well."

"Thank you," he said, smiling at them. He had almost thought they would decline it, he wasn't sure what to do if that had happened. "I will, I will treat him well."

Harry left the Manor quickly, Apparating back to his office, greeted by his colleagues already gathering around his table with a smooth grin on their faces.

"Well, your order came, Harry," Penelope spoke up, flapping the empty little note that she had taken from the bouquet of flowers as Harry snatched it from her hands. "Who are you courting?"

"Someone special," Harry said, putting the note back in the bouquet as Penelope chortled.

"I think it's romantic," Neville said, brushing his hand over the teddy bear on the table.

"It's for Draco, Penelope, you should know," Ron said, and Penelope gasped.

"Oh my, finally," she said, hand on her chest as she leaned over to see the small box next to the bear. "What's that?"

"Don't you have some paperwork to do, guys?" he asked, and they all shook his head, making him chuckle. "It's not a big deal, really. I just purchased a few things to court him, that's all."

"Are you sure he'd forgive you?"

"What?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows when Ron asked him. The Omega flinched, shaking his head.

"Oh, no, I mean," Ron said, scratching his elbow. "Are you sure he'd accept it?"

"Ron, do you know what I don't know?" Harry asked, but Ron shook his head again, gulping.

"No, nothing, I don't know anything," he said, grabbing a file from Harry's table. "We should work now." Harry felt like Ron was hiding something from him, but he didn't push it. Neville and Penelope also returned to their tables. Harry settled on his desk, grabbing at the blank note and his quill. He didn't know what to write there. Compliment Draco? Ask him out on a date? Ask to court him? Harry hummed, this could take a while.

*

Draco returned to the room, now suddenly filled with people, actually, a group of young people in Auror robes. They were all injured one way or another, by the looks of it, none of them was in serious danger.

"Draco, thank fuck, you're back," Katie called out, waving her hand as he approached her. "You go heal that blonde girl there, I'll take care of this group."

The Omega nodded wordlessly, turning on his heels and halting when he realised it was the same girl that had kissed Harry that night. She was sitting on an empty bed, rubbing her upper arm while her forearm was bleeding out. Putting on a professional face, Draco kept walking.

"Hi, I'm Draco," he said, displaying a polite smile at her. "What do we have here? Are you okay?"

"Hi, I'm okay, I think, it doesn't hurt that much," she said, her plump pink lips curved up, her eyes brown and blinking at him. "Can you believe it?" The Omega smiled, showing Draco her forearm, which was soaked with blood gushing out. "My first real mission and I got injured."

"You can't help it, don't think much about it," Draco said, even when considering what she did to Harry last night, he couldn't hate her; she didn't do anything wrong. She only had feelings for an Alpha, and feelings were the most uncontrollable things in the world. Draco should know that. "Being an Auror already has its risks, it's inevitable. It's only a small cut, you'll be fine." He murmured the spell, healing her wound right up. "See? All good. It's your first mission, isn't it? Must have been exciting."

"Yeah, it was," she said, and Draco noticed the slight blush painting her cheeks. "We got to go out on a field mission. It wasn't that difficult, but I was distracted, so...well, that's why I got injured."

"Distracted? How so?" he asked, even though there was an unsettling feeling in him for asking that question.

"Oh, well," the girl mumbled softly, playing with the hem of her robes. "One of the Aurors, he's...I fancy him. He's hot and I can't take my eyes off him. The dark wizard saw an opportunity, and I didn't see it coming."

"Sorry about that." Draco smiled dryly, clearing his throat. "Let me guess, it's Harry Potter, isn't it?"

She gasped, looking up at him. "How do you know?"

"You'd be surprised to find out that I was in the same year with him in Hogwarts," Draco said, leaving out all the unnecessary details about the two of them, she didn't have to know about that. "So, you have a crush on him?"

"Yeah, he's so nice, and brave," she said, cheeks flushing hotter than before. Draco's heart sank, he shouldn't have led her into this conversation. This was a stupid decision. "He would always buy me coffee, and it's cute."

"Someone is special," Draco said, forcing a smile on his lips and she chuckled.

"Well, he buys for all the trainees, but he always gives it to me first, that says something, right?" she asked, and Draco pressed his lips together, nodding while his stomach coiled in annoyance.

"You're one hell of a special girl then, Evangeline." He stepped back and gestured with his hand. "You can return to your department with your friends now." He turned around, checking as all the other ones had been treated already.

"Oh, wait, can I..." she said, "can I use the loo here?"

"Sure, go out to the hall, take a left, you'll see it," he said, offering her a smile as she skipped away. Draco sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed and noticing her wand was still here. He reckoned she would be back again.

He'd tried so hard to sleep last night that he'd ended up dreaming about Harry. It was insane of him. He had thought, for even a moment, that the Alpha had feelings for him. Turned out, everything was just his own imagination. Harry had never had a thing for him. Just like Evangeline said, the Alpha was nice, that was it.

"What's up with you?" Draco turned when Katie approached him with a smile. She nudged him with her elbow as she settled down next to him. "Why are you looking so down, Draco?"

"I'm fine," he said, and heard a chuckle from Katie.

"Should I dig deeper or leave it at that?" she asked, and he huffed a laugh.

"Can you ever leave it?"

"I guess that's correct," she hummed, swinging her leg over the other. "Is it the girl you just talked to?"

"What does it take for you to leave it?" he asked, turning to smile at her. The Beta shrugged, pursing her lips.

"You buy me coffee for a whole week, and I'll shut up. And I mean the fancy ones, not the crappy coffee we got from this bloody hospital," she said, making her offer as Draco considered it carefully. It wasn't that bad.

"Deal."

"And doughnuts."

"That's okay."

"You buy it for Padma as well."

"You're driving a hard bargain, Katie," he said as Katie only snickered at him, nudging her feet against his. "All right, I'll agree to your terms."

"See? It only takes that little to make me shut my mouth." Katie grinned, glancing at the door. "Oh, wow. Look at that."

"What?" Draco asked, following Katie's hand to look at the door, where Harry was actually standing at the door. To Draco's surprise, the Alpha was holding a large bouquet of red roses, a small fluffy teddy bear in his other hand, and a small dark blue box as well.

"Who do you think that's for?" Katie asked, and Draco sat frozen on the spot. He was wondering the same thing. Who could he possibly give that to?

"Katie! I need you here," Padma called, and the Beta tapped Draco's shoulder before scurrying away.

Draco stared at the Alpha, who seemed lost as he glanced around the room. Harry walked forward, and Draco didn't notice it until the Alpha was walking to him. It couldn't be him. The Omega's hand brushed over Evangeline's wand behind his back on the bed and turned to look at it. Right, he must be looking for her.

"Draco," Harry said, stepping forward as Draco stood up, his face blank while he tried to resist the charm Harry was giving out. He was dashing, as always, even more today, somehow. Draco felt like the Alpha had tried to fix his messy hair but dismissed the thought quickly.

"Sorry, Potter, Evangeline is in the loo, she'll be back in a second," Draco said, gesturing to the empty spot next to him. "I assume that's for her?"

"Er, what?"

"Harry!" Evangeline chimed in, appearing behind Harry with a bright smile. "What are you doing here?" Her smile was light, illuminating her whole face with an astounded expression. "Oh my god, is that for me?"

"I-..."

"Oh, surely it's for you," Draco said, his heart ached as he looked away from Harry. Of course the Alpha came to give his favourite trainee flowers and stuffed bear and a gift as well. "To congratulate you on your first mission, right?"

"That's so sweet, thank you so much, Harry!" she said, taking the flower and bear from Harry's hands as the Alpha was still quiet, his lips parted.

"Wait, I—..."

"Oh, no, I have to go back. Penelope will kill me if I return late," she said, taking her wand from Draco's hand and turning on her heels, leaving the room.

"Well, that was utterly sweet of you, Potter," he said, drawing Harry's attention to him. "Make sure your superior doesn't find out. Falling in love with your colleague isn't always the best, Potter."

"Draco, that's-..."

"Please, you don't have to explain yourself to me," Draco said, feigning a smile as he took a step away from Harry. "I understand all about it. After all, I've seen it."

"You saw what?" Harry asked, his hand reaching out, but Draco recoiled from his advance.

"Draco!" The Omega turned as Katie shouted for him. "Terry Boot needs some help."

Draco nodded, looking back at Harry. The Alpha's expression was...confusion? Draco wasn't sure why. He sent Harry a brief smile, speaking up. "Well, if you don't have anything else to say, I'll leave now."

"Draco," Harry called but Draco turned around, walking to Terry Boot's bed, who was still too weak to even move a limb.

Draco shoved his own feeling inside him and focused on his job again. He shouldn't even care about Harry in the first place. He should have known it would never work out.

"Terry," Draco said, smiling at the Alpha when the guy tried to shift in the bed. "What have I told you about moving? You can't, not yet."

"I-I wanted to try," Terry said, his voice raspy as he flashed a smile. An accident on a boat fighting dark wizards had brought Terry to the current situation. "Can you adjust my pillow, please?"

"Since you asked so nicely," he said, smiling as he leaned forward, fluffing up the pillow under the Alpha's head. "All right?"

"Yeah," he croaked, smiling as Draco stepped back. "You...you smell good."

"That's nice of you," Draco said, "but I'm using scent blocker. Are Alphas supposed to be so bad at lying?"

"It's just me, but is that enough for me to get a date with you?" Terry asked, shocking the Omega at his blatant offer. "Until I can move, of course."

Draco let out a soft laugh, completely taken aback by his boldness. "We'll see."

"Is that a yes?"

"That's a 'I will think about it when you can move', Terry," Draco said, tapping the edge of the bed. "Call me if you need help."

He wasn't interested in Terry, but he couldn't just break an Alpha's heart when he was already restrained to the hospital bed and unable to move his body like this.

Draco smiled, turning around and stopping when he noticed that Harry was still standing at the same spot the whole time, looking at him. The Omega gulped, chewing on his lower lip and he sighed, walking to Katie's spot. Harry wasn't his focus anymore.

*

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, he's been like that since he visited St Mungo's."

"So Draco rejected him?"

"I don't think that's it, he doesn't seem heartbroken, he seems-..."

"Guys, I'm right here," Harry said, groaning as he glanced at his two best friends, who were standing in front of him with their hands on their hips. "I can actually hear you?"

"Oh, Harry, what happened?" Hermione approached him, sitting on his right as Ron joined her as well. "Did Draco reject you?"

"I...I honestly don't know what happened," Harry said, slouching on the back of the couch.

Everything had happened so fast, he didn't even have the chance to process it. Draco had acted so weirdly, different from before, like he was upset with something. And the last thing Harry had felt was the boiling jealousy inside him when he saw how Draco was laughing beautifully with Terry Boot. He couldn't think straight when that had happened, all he felt was irritation prickling on his skin, and how he'd wished it was him who Draco was smiling with.

"Mind walking us through it, Harry?" Ron gestured with his hand as Harry stared at the television before him. "What happened when you came?"

"I arrived, and I was going to give Draco the flower, the bear, the box," Harry said, fiddling with the small box in his hands. Fortunately, he still kept it, it was custom made as well, and he wouldn't want Evangeline to take it and misunderstand everything even more. "Somehow, Evangeline thought I came to give her that."

"Evangeline?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded. "The girl that fancies you and does a terrible job because she always ends up staring at you?"

"I wouldn't say she does a terrible job," Ron said, pursing his lips. "Although I'd say she's a bit weird at times. Whenever Harry buys coffee, she'd always run to the front to take it first, and then giggling like a schoolgirl. Penelope is strict on her because she can't focus on anything but Harry."

"I think what you said just proved my point further," Hermione said, arching her brow. "And she just took the flowers and bear?" Harry gave them another nod, sighing. "Odd, indeed. Why would she think you wanted to give her that?"

"It was actually Draco who assumed it first, that's why I'm confused, because I came to him," Harry said, opening the box in his hands, looking at the silver earrings, sitting neatly in it. He'd got it done just for Draco as well, in hopes he'd take it when Harry asked to court him. That didn't go well.

"Maybe because he saw her kiss you," Ron said, covering his mouth with his eyes wide.

"Ron? Do you know something?" Hermione asked, reaching over to grasp Ron's free hand. She squeezed it, drawing a squeak from the Omega. "Ron."

"Fine," he said, exhaling. "Okay, he saw you. Draco saw you." Harry stared at him, confused. "When she kissed you, he saw it from outside. We were standing outside, and he got upset, that's why...that's why he left."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked, and Ron shrugged, frowning slightly.

"He told me not to tell you. I promised him. I'm sorry, Harry," he said, rubbing Harry's shoulder. "Maybe that's why he thought you brought those to her."

"I can't believe that," Harry groaned, closing the box as his friends comforted him.

"Wait," Ron said, pulling out his buzzing phone as he cursed, standing up from the couch, "shit, okay, I have to take this. Hermione, you're on your own now."

Hermione sighed, a smile appearing on her lips, nevertheless. "What happened after that, Harry?"

"I saw him laughing with Terry Boot," he said, and even though Hermione was stunned, she was still silent, a sign for him to keep going. "He was...talking to him, and he...they laughed together. And I-I just had the biggest urge to tell Boot that Draco's mine. But...he isn't. And I just got so...I don't know what I felt."

"Were you jealous?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"You want to show people that you and Draco should be together?"

"Yeah."

"Harry, I'm not sure how to put it in the easiest way for you to understand, and I'm saying this as your best friend, but..." Hermione said, breathing out softly and flicking his forehead as he winced, "are you completely daft, Harry?"

"What?" He leaned back, furrowing his brows at her.

Hermione rubbed her temples, closing her eyes for a moment before looking at him again. "Harry, you took care of Draco when he was in pre-heat, you went into a sudden rut the morning after he left. You two cuddled, slept together without mating, scented each other. And...I'm only pointing this out now, since Ron told me earlier, but the day Draco's pre-heat came, you visited there twice, is that correct?"

"Yeah," he said, smiling when he remembered about that day. It was the first time he had realised Draco's scent was so heady like that.

"And is that when his scent suddenly become sweet to you? Never before that?"

"No, not really, he always uses scent blocker," he said, "That day was after the undercover mission I had, I returned and well, had to go to St Mungo's twice. I noticed it only then."

"And only to you? No one smelled that?"

"I think so."

"So, his pre-heat was triggered by something," Hermione said, waving her hands in the air, "and he found your place that night, when he could go to literally any other places. I know that because Parkinson's place is just five minutes away from yours."

"He said I hate him so I wouldn't touch him, and it was for safety." Harry shrugged. Draco was hurt that day, vulnerable, it was logical that he'd seek help somewhere he wouldn't be harmed.

"Okay, Harry, I..." Hermione said, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she breathed out. "Do you remember what happened on our graduation day?"

"Vividly," Harry said, chuckling. "It was the day I had my first sudden rut, weird as it was."

"When did that happen?"

"I gave Draco's wand back to him," Harry said, shrugging. The day had been so memorable for him, mostly because of his abrupt rut, he still had no clue how it happened. "We spoke for a few minutes; it was the first time we talked without bickering at each other. And when I gave him his wand, he ran away instantly, a while after that, I realised my rut was coming."

Hermione stared at him, her lips pressed together in defeat as if she was trying to find a way to tell him what she was thinking. "Have you ever heard about true mates, Harry?"

"Yeah, I think so? Did Professor Binns teach it in class? About the history of true mates, I don't remember it much."

"Yeah, I can tell, Harry," the Omega said, a soft smile on her lips. "True mates can recognise each other by scent, and it usually induces their first heat or rut, when they've both presented."

"Yeah, I know that," Harry said, and Hermione pulled up her sleeves, rubbing over her wrist.

"Smell this," she said, bringing her wrist up to his face as he tipped his head back. "Harry, it's fine. Luna makes temporary salve as a scent blocker, I tried it to see if it's effective."

"I don't understand what you're proving."

"Just try to smell it, Harry," the Omega said, her eyes stern and Harry stared at her with hesitance before leaning closer. He sniffed in her scent, she smelled like parchment, breezy like the wind. "So, how does my scent make you feel?"

"I don't know, it's fine," he said, shrugging. "You smell okay, it's not as warm and thick as Draco's though."

"Do you want to smell more of that?"

"Er, no."

"And you want to smell Draco more whenever he's near you?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded. His scent was always addicting, Harry wasn't certain why.

"That's what I thought." She retreated her arm and sighed. "Harry, do you remember what you told Ron and me after you gave Draco his wand back?"

"That it wasn't as bad as I thought?" he said, and Hermione gestured for him to keep going. "And, er, that he smelled good?"

"Harry," Hermione said, placing her hand on his knee. "It's not my place to say this, but I honestly don't know what else I can do to make you understand what I'm trying to tell you." She squeezed his knee and continued, "Our graduation day was the day Draco presented as an Omega."

"What?"

"And it happened after he received the wand from you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Merlin's wet tits, Harry," Ron exclaimed, drawing their attention as he rounded the couch with his hands on his hips. "How are you not getting this? Hermione is practically spreading not breadcrumbs but bloody baguettes for you to realise."

"What? What are you saying?" Harry asked, but Ron only ruffled his own hair in frustration.

"She's trying to tell you that Draco's your true mate. Good Godric's arse, Harry," Ron said, hands on his knees to crouch down and tell Harry. Realisation struck the Alpha's mind as he stared at his friend, frozen on the spot. "Your Alpha pheromones triggered his first heat, and his scent triggered your first sudden rut. The same happened weeks ago, he got off suppressants for the first time in two years and saw you again. His heat happened, it's like history repeats itself but both of you didn't know. You two are true mates."

"What?"

"Ron, that was actually nicer than I thought," Hermione said with an approving smile. "I was out of ideas on how to help him see it himself."

"I was standing behind you for a while and I was frustrated myself," Ron said, flopping down on the couch and smacking Harry's back. "So, Harry, how are you feeling?"

"Draco's my true mate?" Harry uttered, taking in the information. It all made so much sense now. How come he didn't know it? Probably because he didn't listen in class when Professor Binns talked about true mates. He couldn't believe he was able to even find his true mate. And it was no other than Draco. Draco, beautiful, intelligent Draco with the best scent he'd ever had the chance to smell.

"Yes," Hermione and Ron said simultaneously.

"I have to find him," Harry said, standing up on his feet as Hermione and Ron grabbed his arms.

"Woah, slow down, Harry," Ron said, pointing at the clock on the wall. "It's nearly midnight, he might be in bed by now."

"You need to think it through, Harry," Hermione said, tugging Harry back down on the couch. "You can see him tomorrow, after work, when there's no one to around you so Draco won't be mistaking your feelings for him for someone else. All right, Harry? You can tell him then."

"That's a good idea, listen to Hermione, Harry," Ron said, tapping his back as Harry exhaled. Draco was his true mate. His destined Omega. His soulmate. Draco.

"Does he know we're true mates?"

"I highly doubt it," Hermione said, rubbing her hand over his back in soothing circles as well. "He seems uncertain. And with the amount of time you two spent in Hogwarts staring at each other, I'm surprised he was second in class when all he did was trying to get your attention."

"I think Hermione's trying to say that he doesn't know too," Ron said, cackling, "I think so too. He thinks you still hate him."

"I don't hate him."

"He doesn't know that, Harry," Hermione said, "So, go to sleep. Think about what you need to tell him tomorrow, and do just that, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," he nodded as Hermione stood up.

"Come on now, Ron, now I need to go deal with your problem too," Hermione said, dragging Ron up by his arm as Harry looked up.

"Wait, Ron, you have problems?" he asked as Ron waved his hand, dismissing his concerns.

"It's nothing big, don't worry," he said, giving Harry a smack on the back as he followed Hermione. "Go to sleep, Harry, you'll need it before confronting Draco."

Harry smiled at them, waving them goodbyes as they disappeared into the Floo. They were right, he needed to talk to Draco tomorrow. He would no doubt ask Draco out tomorrow, properly this time.

*

Harry had a very vague vision of how he would confess to Draco. He had thought he'd be able to pull Draco out of St Mungo's after work, ask him out, and he'd get to go on a date with Draco soon. In other visions of his, it all ended well. Of course, his life wasn't always going that way.

He barely remembered what had happened during the fight, let alone how he got himself injured. The cut had suddenly appeared, drenching his shirt in scarlet. The next thing he knew, he was being hauled up by Ron and Neville.

His eyes were drooping, and soon enough, he was encountered with the smell of the hospital. When Ron kicked the door open to pull him in, Harry lifted his eyes open to see the blurry figure before him. Smiling unconsciously, Harry felt drawn to the Omega instantly, even though he couldn't smell Draco's pheromones. He must be using scent blocker again. It was good, Harry didn't want any other Alpha to know Draco's scent like he did.

"Oh my god, what the hell happened?" Draco stood up from his chair in his Healer robes when he saw Harry. Ron and Neville dragged him to a bed, laying him down as Draco tore Harry's shirt apart.

"A dark wizard," Ron heaved, glancing down at Harry, "he cast a curse on the vase. And when Harry touched it, he just started bleeding. We don't know what curse he used." Harry could still see that Neville was placing the vase down on the table next to him using magic, all of them looking at him with worries.

"Do not die on me, Harry!" Draco said, grabbing Harry's chin tightly. "Harry! Do not close your eyes! Stay awake for me!"

"I-I am," Harry uttered out, his voice broken, and he coughed as more blood surged out of his mouth. He tasted and smelled metal everywhere around him. Draco was murmuring a string of incantations, but the blood won't stop oozing out of the gash.

"What was the curse, Ron?" Draco asked, voice frantic.

"I don't know! I don't know!" Ron said in sheer panic, "he was speaking in Latin, and you know I failed that bloody subject in Hogwarts!"

"Call Blaise! Now!" Draco ordered, and Ron flinched from Blaise's name.

"Can we not? I mean, I can call someone else."

"Ron, call him right now!" Draco's voice was almost a shout while his hands were stopping the blood from flowing out more when his magic couldn't.

Harry's eyes fluttered more, it was harder to keep them open as each second passed by. His entire body had stopped feeling the sharp pain, now he was numb. He could not feel anything but the beat of his heart, slowing down in his chest. "He's the best Curse-Breaker here, and I do not know what the hell happened in that stupid room with you and him two weeks ago, but just call him! For fuck's sake! Call him! Call him now! Your best friend is dying as we speak!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm on it!"

"Neville, call Hermione, we might need her too, please," Draco said, and Neville followed his demand, leaving the room quickly.

"Harry, don't-don't go to sleep, not now." Draco cupped Harry's face with his soft hands, warming the Alpha's skin up. "Harry, I need you to listen to my voice, do not fucking go into the light!"

"Hmm, I-I'm...not-not." Harry tried to shake his head, lips trembling as he bared a smile at the Omega. His ears were ringing loudly, and Harry brought his hand up to touch Draco's cheek, soaking with tears. He didn't want Draco to cry, not at all. He preferred a smile on his lips, and the crinkle in his eyes. He wanted Draco to be happy only.

"I-I guess I can't ask...ask you out for a-a date now," he croaked, coughing out more blood as he tried to bear his heart out for this confession. He wasn't sure if he'd make it or not, he had better tell Draco before his time ended. "I-I'm sorry I took so...so long. I-I truly, deeply like you, Dr-Draco Malfoy."

Swallowing had become hard for Harry as he panted, battling on the verge of unconsciousness. His hand fell from Draco's cheek, going limp on the bedsheet. "No, no, don't, I need you to stay alive," Draco wept, more tears wetting his fair skin as he held Harry's face in his hands. "Don't do this to me! Harry, please, wait, wait just a while!"

Harry sucked in a short breath with his mouth, blinking slowly as Draco intertwined their hands together. "I like you, Harry, I like you too! It's why I came to you that night, Harry, please, listen to my voice." His voice turned into a broken string of words and hiccups. Harry wished he had more time with Draco. Even just a few minutes more would do.

"My heart was seeking you that night! I've always loved you, I-I just never thought you'd actually like me back." He pressed their foreheads together and Harry's heart warmed at the tender touch. "Stay with me, Alpha, stay."

"We're here! We're here!" Harry heard Hermione's voice as the door was slammed open. There were multiple footsteps rushing inside but Harry had no energy to move his head to look anymore.

"Draco! I need you to pull yourself together!" Harry saw Hermione pulling Draco up on his feet before his blurry vision, shaking him softly. "You need to stay calm so you can heal him! Do you understand that?"

"Okay! I am! I am!" Draco said, nodding at her.

"I know what it is," Blaise's voice was low, and Harry saw the relief in Draco when he said it. Draco turned to him, whispering.

"I'll save you, Harry. Stay with me, please." Harry smiled, he had no doubt Draco would be able to save him. The Omega's grip on his hand was the last thing he felt before his eyes closed, and everything went dark.

Chapter 6: I Stayed

Harry couldn't open his eyes for a while, but he had heard everything. He remembered the sound of Draco's voice whenever he talked to Harry, his soft whispers, the silent cry of his that broke Harry's heart, and his delectable scent. He was also able to hear his friends talking, and he knew Molly had come a few times with the rest of the Weasleys. He had also heard the voices of other Healers reassuring Draco that he was all right every day. He even felt the way Draco held his hand, and he knew he just had to wake up.

The Alpha's eyes slowly cracked open, and he noticed it was dark and quiet around him. He blinked a few times, noticing it was midnight, and he was still in St Mungo's. Harry felt warmth radiating from his left hand as he glanced to the side, a smile stretching on his lips when he saw Draco. The Omega was sleeping soundly, head resting on his folded arms over the bed while sitting on the chair. He couldn't believe Draco would do this for him, sleeping at the hospital, waiting for him to wake again.

Their hands were locked together, and Harry had the urge to squeeze it tighter. He stared at the Omega before him, the moonlight shining over his beautiful face, it almost felt like he was glowing. He looked exceptional even when he was sleeping.

Harry glanced around the room, it was a private room, with just the two of them. There were flowers and gifts on the table nearby, he reckoned a lot had visited him while he was out. He wondered how long he had been unconscious. He hoped it wasn't too long, he didn't want to waste more time now that he had woken up with Draco by his side.

The Alpha's nostrils were filled with Draco's scents. He was happy for some reason when he knew Draco didn't put on scent blocker around him. His heady, sweet scent made Harry's heart thrummed, he extracted his own hand carefully out of Draco's, bringing it up to stroke the Omega's silky hair. Draco was just perfect. He hadn't expected to fall for the Omega so fast and hard, considering what they had been through, but now he couldn't wait for them to start being with each other officially.

When Draco stirred softly in his sleep, Harry stilled himself, not wanting to wake the Omega from his sleep.

"If that's not you who's stroking my hair, Harry, I will hex whoever who's doing it," Draco murmured, eyes still closed as Harry huffed out a soft laugh.

"It's me," Harry said, smiling brightly and Draco seemed to take a while to process it.

"Hmm?" he muttered, opening his eyes and staring at Harry with surprise. Their eyes met, and Draco blinked repeatedly. He sat up in his chair and gulped, seemingly stunned. "You're awake?"

"Yeah," Harry said, his hand coming to drape over Draco's trembling one on the bed as the Omega stared at him. "If you're wondering whether it's a dream or not, it's not." He chuckled. "Unless I've died and ascended to heaven."

"You're awake," Draco mumbled, leaning over as Harry squeezed their hands tighter. "I can't believe it." Harry pressed the back of Draco's hands against his cheek, taking a whiff of his scent from his wrist. "I kept...I kept dreaming that you were awake before me, every night. And I was so happy...until I woke up and realised you were still there with your eyes closed." Draco's breath shuddered and Harry rubbed the back of his hand with his thumb. "I-I'm not sure if this is real."

"It is," Harry said, smiling at him, "you're so beautiful, Draco." The Omega's cheeks turned flushed, and Harry kissed the spot over his wrist, drawing a sharp gasp from him. "Did that prove it? That this is real?"

Draco let out a strained whimper in his Omega voice and nodded, and it made Harry's stomach swirled with anticipation.

"How long was I out?" he asked, noticing the tears that were swelling up in Draco's eyes.

"A week, a long one," Draco said, his voice was faltering as Harry smiled.

"I'm here," Harry said, bringing their locked hands closer again and kissing the back of Draco's hand softly. "I stayed, I'm staying with you now, Draco. I won't leave, never again."

Draco broke down entirely, lunging forward to hug Harry, burying his face in the crook of the Alpha's neck as he cried. Harry could feel tears wetting his skin and he used his free hand to pull Draco up until he joined him on the bed on top of the Alpha.

"It's okay," Harry crooned, nose digging into Draco's hair, embracing the Omega, comforting him. "I survived. They don't call me The Boy Who Lived for nothing."

He smiled when Draco let out a muffled chuckle into his skin. He placed a soft kiss over the Omega's head, whispering, "I miss you."

Draco tipped his head up, smiling at Harry. The Alpha wiped his tears away from his cheek, baring the same smile at him. "I miss you too," Draco murmured, "Do not scare me like that ever again."

"I promise," Harry said, nodding. Draco was light atop him, it even felt like he had lost weight. Harry would make sure to feed the Omega well after he got out of here.

He stared into Draco's eyes, his lashes still wet from the tears he had shed, his eyes twinkling under the light that was shining through the window. His eyes dropped to Draco's lips, plump and glossy, kissable. He swallowed, looking back into Draco's eyes, now the Omega was blushing. It seemed like he had caught Harry staring at his lips.

"Draco," he said, seeing the anticipation in the Omega's gaze. "I know before I went into oblivion, it felt like I was talking nonsense, but it was real." He locked his arms around Draco's body, feeling the Omega's scent wrap around him stronger. "I like you, and I was daft for not realising we're true mates."

"I didn't know too," Draco said, his arms settled on top of Harry's chest, gripping at his white shirt. "Ron told me that a few days ago."

"Did he also tell you what happened when I came over with flowers?" Harry said and Draco blushed deeper, averting his eyes away, looking at Harry's chin instead.

"I...I didn't know," Draco said, and Harry freed one hand to tip the Omega's chin up.

"It's all right, I have you here now," Harry said, his thumb brushing over Draco's jawline. "I feel more than happy to see you when I woke up."

Draco smiled again, and it was a divine look on him. He leaned closer, muttering, "I'm sure you feel more than that, Harry." The Omega wiggled softly, and Harry groaned, noticing his tented crotch only then.

"Can you blame me?" Harry chuckled, his hand cupping Draco's cheek and making their eyes meet. "I have a beautiful, clever, perfect Omega right before me, with a scent that smells like paradise."

"I didn't know you were such a flirt."

"That was flirting?" Harry uttered, and Draco smiled wider. He had only said the truth, he wasn't even sure he was good at flirting. He grinned toothily, his other hand coming up to touch the nape of Draco's neck. The Omega picked up the tension as well, he went quiet, gulping. "Can I kiss you, Draco?"

Draco's cheeks darkened with a pink blush, his grip on Harry's shirt turned tighter and he nodded. "Yes, please," he said, a soft plea from the back of his throat, making him even more desirable.

Harry almost melted from his voice only. He surged up, capturing Draco's plump lips in a kiss. His tongue traced the seam of Draco's lower lip until the Omega was whimpering softly and parting his lips, inviting Harry in. The Alpha smiled into the kiss, stroking his tongue against Draco's, and exploring his mouth as if it was a secret treasure Harry had just discovered. And it felt like so as well. Draco was a precious treasure to Harry right now, and he wouldn't change a thing.

Draco enclosed his hands around Harry's neck, gliding over his pulse points and rolling his hips at the same time, sending a growl rumbling through the Alpha's chest and muting by their kiss. Harry bucked his hips up, his hands trailing down to grab Draco's bubbly globes. He spread them apart and already felt the slick soaking the bottom of his trousers. The Omega whined into his lips, hot breath ghosting over Harry's skin and sucking on his Cupid's bow.

"Harry," Draco purred, his hands now kneading Harry's chest over his shirt. The Alpha raised one leg up, sliding his knee between the Omega's open legs as Draco began grinding on it. "Please, Alpha."

Harry groaned, his fingers brushing over the damp crease behind Draco and knew just how much Draco was leaking out and how hard he was right now. He mouthed kisses along Draco's jawline and down the side of his neck. When his nose grazed against the scent gland, Draco pushed against him, whimpering meekly into Harry's neck.

"You're so wet, Draco," Harry crooned, earning a wanton moan and frantic nods from the Omega. "I want to knot you."

"Fuck, yes," Draco's voice was a plea, nosing against Harry's neck, licking over the Alpha's gland and scenting him as Harry kneaded his arse apart. "Wait," Draco murmured, his movements faltering as he tipped his head up to brush his lips against Harry's. "You're recovering."

"You're beautiful," Harry said, looking at Draco's face under the moonlight. He was simply radiant. A rosy colour painted Draco's cheeks as he said it.

"I'm not in heat."

"You don't need to be in heat for me to want to fuck you," Harry said, one hand creeping up to cup Draco's jawline. "I love all of you, Draco."

"Okay," Draco said, his ears red as he placed a kiss over Harry's upper lip. "Yes, yes, Harry."

He leaned back and Harry groaned, tipping his head up to chase after Draco's alluring lips. This time, their kiss was more urgent, more tongue as Harry tried to take Draco's shirt off him. The Omega was moaning into their kisses, his hands tugging at the Alpha's waistband.

Draco gasped, breaking the kiss off as he looked down at their naked forms. He stared at Harry, who was grinning at him. "You and your wandless spells," he murmured with a smile, crouching down to kiss him again. His yelp was swallowed whole by Harry when he rolled them over.

Harry scented him carefully before moving down his chest, peppering kisses over his collarbone and neck. His hands shifted further south, and Draco's legs were already opened wide. The Alpha closed his lips around Draco's nipple, making the Omega arch his back with a whine. He grazed featherlike touches over Draco's inner thighs, feeling him trembling.

"Harry," Draco cried, hands curling into Harry's hair and tugging on it. "Touch me-...touch me." He drew his legs up, presenting himself to the Alpha's eyes as slick flowed out of him excessively.

"Where do you want me to touch you?" Harry released his chest and looked up at his Omega, his hands teasing his inner thighs.

"Harry," Draco breathed out, his hands tightening on the grip on Harry's hair. "I'm not in heat so I can still tell you to fuck off, Alpha." Harry's smile danced on his lips as he crawled up to kiss Draco again. Softer this time. "Everywhere," Draco said between kisses, "Touch me everywhere."

Harry slid one hand up to caress Draco's cheek, touching the blush painting his skin as his free hand moved farther up until he could feel the wetness between Draco's legs. The Omega let out a needy whine, spreading his legs wider and kissing over Harry's jawline, purring into his flesh.

The Omega's back arched into a perfect bow as Harry's fingers glided between the crease of his arse. The tip of his finger reached the rim and more slick seeped out of him. "I can't wait to taste you," the Alpha crooned, sucking a mark on Draco's pulse point as the Omega keened, biting his lower lip with a nod.

"Yes, yes, please, Alpha," Draco said, his toes curling against the sheets when Harry pushed his fingers inside. Two digits slipped in Draco's entrance with ease. Draco's lips parted and his head tipped back. "Harry," he pleaded, his lips seeking Harry's as he claimed the Omega's mouth in a heated kiss. He stretched his fingers, curling and stroking Draco's inner walls until a sudden moan interrupted their kiss. "Alpha, fuck me, fuck me now." Harry pushed in two more fingers and Draco began rocking back, fucking himself on the Alpha's fingers only.

"I can't believe you're here," Harry said, still feeling surreal from his situation right now. Draco was naked under him, wanting him, and Harry wanted him just as much. He looked into Draco's glassy eyes filled with lust and licked the seam of his lips until the Omega opened his mouth to draw Harry in. "Beautiful, divine," Harry said, sucking on Draco's lower lip, "mine."

"Yours," Draco nodded, his voice docile and raspy. "Never anyone else, Alpha." He whimpered when Harry brushed against his prostate, his legs strained from holding them up. The Alpha used his free arm to wrap around Draco's back, lifting his body up to lock his legs around Harry's waist.

"Harry, please." Draco slipped his free hands down, taking hold of Harry's bulge and stroking it, drawing a slight growl from the Alpha. "I love your cock," he said into Harry's ear, licking his lobe, "I've felt it since that night. You think a concealing charm could hide this from me?" He thumbed over the tip that was leaking precum and Harry parted his lips, grazing his fangs over Draco's neck. His stomach coiled and burned as Draco wrapped his whole hand around Harry's cock. "I want your cock in me, Alpha, now."

Harry felt no resistance in denying Draco and he withdrew his fingers, leaving Draco's hole gaping at the sudden emptiness. When the Alpha gazed at his Omega, he felt a pull to Draco as if their own instincts were telling them they had been true mates this whole time. His needs to always be healed by Draco, to get his attention and to see his rare smiles weren't just random. They were destined to be together, forever.

The Omega was lying sprawled on the bed, his ponytail had turned loose under him, his skin glistened with sweats and decorated with the marks Harry had left on him. Harry's cock twitched at the sight of Draco alone. He almost looked unreal, being so striking like that.

"You have no idea what you're doing to me," the Alpha said, his voice low as he scented Draco again, taking in his heady pheromones. He lifted the Omega off the bed, angling his cock at his entrance. When the head of his cock prodded at his loosened hole, he slowly pushed in, past the slick and deep inside until he was buried to the hilt in Draco.

"Oh-please, Alpha, fuck-..." The Omega tossed his head back, his eyes fluttering and his arms locking firmly around the Alpha's neck when Harry started thrusting into him. His chest undulated and his lips opened, searching for Harry again and the Alpha sealed their lips together quickly enough. The Alpha canted his hips, fucking Draco with vigour, making sure he was hitting his prostate with every push.

"Yes-yes," Draco cried, writhing underneath Harry with his legs around Harry and his hands clawing on the Alpha's back. It only seemed to rile Harry on even more. His thrusts became more forceful when he drank in the sight of his Omega. Sweats beading on the Omega's forehead, his hair sticking to his forehead and cheeks, he was glowing brighter than the stars out there tonight.

"You wrap so tightly around me," Harry said, and Draco only released an incoherent moan. "Such a good Omega, taking it so beautifully." He leaned back, hooking his arms under Draco's legs and snapping his hips, increasing his speed.

"Yes-fuck, Harry," Draco cried out, his cock bobbing against his belly and glistening with precum. His nostrils flared when Draco's scent became hotter, indicating that he was close already. Harry glanced down, gazing at the spot where they were connected, mesmerised by how fitting they were, and he never wanted to let go of Draco.

The sounds Draco was making were enticing, mixing with the sound of skin on skin and the creaking of the bed against the wall. He clawed at Harry's chest; his cock twitched every time Harry thrust inside him.

"Give me your knot, Harry," Draco whined, his nails digging deep, almost enough to draw blood from Harry's skin. "Please, Alpha, I want it." He tugged at the Alpha's arm, pulling him down for another frenzied kiss. Draco tasted sweet like candy, making the knot in Harry swell at the base.

The Alpha gave a few more thrusts, bucking his hips as Draco matched his rhythm, rolling his lower body against him. The swell of his cock grew bigger every time he plunged deep inside his Omega.

"Mine," Harry said, trailing down until he was nuzzling up against Draco's scent gland. "Be mine, Draco."

"Yes, yes," Draco keened, intertwining his hands with Harry's, "I'm yours, yours, Alpha." He carded his hands in Harry's hair, tilting his head to the side, exposing his gland. "Mark me, Alpha, please, please."

Harry's fangs showed as Draco's scent attacked his sense. When his teeth broke into the skin, the Omega cried out wantonly, arching his hips as his cock jerked, coming intensely. Harry's senses were drowned with sweet blood and scent from Draco, he growled as his body tensed up when Draco's entrance clenched around him. His knot stretched his Omega out, making him cry out as the Alpha came inside him at the same time, hot fluids filling Draco up and locking them together with his knot.

He rode his orgasm out of him with a few more shallow thrusts, drawing more moans from Draco's throat. The Omega's hands moved up and down his back, caressing him warmly while the Alpha licked at the wound.

Draco's hand came up to touch the mark on his neck, turning to smile at Harry. "Thank you for not bonding me right away." The mark was near Draco's collarbone, and Harry didn't want to upset Draco by bonding him without discussing beforehand. That was something they would talk about in the future, not now, even when they weren't in heat or rut.

Harry answered him with a smile and a gentle kiss on his still swollen lips. He placed another kiss on the corner of Draco's lips, murmuring to him. "It's insane how beautiful you still look right now."

"Easy there, Alpha," Draco said, grinning at him with his cheeks rosy, "We have to at least wait for your knot to go down first. How long is it normally?"

"Half an hour, an hour," Harry said, and Draco's eyes widened. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Draco said, biting his lower lip, "I just realised that was my first time, ever."

It was Harry's turn to stare at Draco with shock. He couldn't believe it was Draco's first time, and he had let Harry mark him, knot him. His heart swelled with bliss, and he smiled. "It's my first time too."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yeah," Harry said, nodding, "After graduation, I jumped into training right away, and work is hectic. It never felt right to be with anyone." He grazed his knuckles over Draco's jawline, and the Omega leaned into his touch. "Until you."

"Sweet talker," Draco said, hiding his blush and tipping his head down. Harry lifted his chin, making their eyes meet.

"Draco," Harry said, pressing a kiss on Draco's cheek, "May I court you?"

The Omega blinked at him for a few seconds before breaking into laughter, his smile dancing on his lips. He nodded, beaming at Harry. "Yes, Harry. I mean, you just knotted me, I think we've skipped a few steps by now."

"I want to do it properly this time," Harry said, his thumb playing with Draco's plump lower lip. "I want to do it right for you."

Draco smiled at him, tenderly as he kissed Harry. The Alpha rounded his arms around the Omega's waist, embracing him tightly as Draco's entrance was still wrapped around Harry's knot. "Court me properly then, Harry." Harry's heart thrummed when Draco purred at him, his voice soothing to the Alpha in every way possible.

Chapter 7: Beautiful 

"Harry! Harry!" Draco tossed his head back on Harry's shoulder, calling out his name as he rode the Alpha's cock with ease. His back was damp against Harry's chest, and the Alpha had his fingers pressing on his Omega's hips, deep enough to bruise.

"What a lewd Omega you are," Harry murmured into Draco's ear, dragging a wanton moan from the Omega. "Look at how well you're riding me."

Draco let out a choked cry, his legs trembling as he rolled his hips. Harry's hands traced up to his chest, fingers playing with the hard and wet buds while his Omega arched his back, pushing back at him. "Show me how good you are, Omega."

"Yes! Yes, Alpha!" Draco had his eyes closed, his mouth wide open. His body was full of bite marks, and his slick had turned the sheets into a wet mess. Their cum had become sticky on them as well, but they both had no intention of stopping at any moment now.

"Spread yourself for me," Harry said, tongue tracing the shell of Draco's ear, "Let me see how good you're taking me."

Draco whined, quivering hands slithering down to spread his globes apart, showing the Alpha where they were connected. It was simply more than Harry could take. He grabbed at Draco's neck, pulling him flush against his chest, his canines grazing at the Omega's shoulder blade.

"Beautiful," Harry said, pressing his lips over the sweating flesh.

"Please, please," Draco said in a strangled tone, unable to form anything besides a plea. He gripped Harry's hand tightly, exposing his scent gland wider. The Alpha sank his teeth in, and Draco cried out in pleasure, his whole body shuddered before coming all over the bed again. Harry growled, his cock pulsating and he was coming at the same time, his knot swelling and stretching Draco out.

The Alpha lapped at the mark, nuzzling his nose against his Omega's neck, scenting him again. He rounded his arms around Draco's waist, holding him close. He felt the rise and fall of Draco's chest as he tried to calm his breath. Harry grabbed his chin, turning his face to look at him again.

Harry closed the distance by a kiss, sucking on his tempting lips again. They hadn't slept for a second since their first time. It had just been knotting, talking while waiting for the knot to go down, and it all continued again like a circle. It almost seemed as if they were in heat or rut that caused them to be like this.

"Harry," Draco murmured, breaking into a smile as Harry peppered kisses down his chin. His hands wandered down to the Omega's thigh, sticky with his own fluids and slick. He felt Draco shiver under his touch and smiled. "Were five rounds not enough, Harry?"

"You're so alluring," Harry said, breath hot against Draco's neck. "I can't get enough of you, it's addictive." He sucked a mark over the Omega's neck, inhaling his sweet scent in. "Tell me to stop and I will."

"Oh, Harry," Draco sighed, leaning his head on Harry's shoulder as he smiled, capturing the Alpha's lips in a chaste kiss. He stared into Harry's eyes, smiling softly. "I can't tell you to stop, but I should tell you this, our friends visit us every morning precisely at eight."

"What?" Harry said, glancing at the watch on his wrist, it was only one minute until eight. "Exactly at eight?"

"Exactly," Draco said, turning to look at the door when they both heard footsteps. The clicking of heels, the squeaking of boots, it had to be more than three people. "Shit, it's them." Harry could hear the murmurs of people talking as they came closer. He had the sudden realisation that they were both extremely naked right now, not to mention, stuck together.

When the doorknob slightly turned, the Alpha aimed his hand at the door, locking it wandlessly. He conjured their clothes back, helping Draco put on his shirt as the doorknob rattled.

"What is it?" He could hear Pansy's voice on the other side and button Draco's shirt up for him.

"It's locked!"

"It can't be locked, Ron, it's never locked."

"Well, it is, Pansy. I can't open it."

"Use your magic, Ron."

"I am trying, Hermione, but it won't budge."

"Harry, hurry up," Draco urged him as Harry put on his own shirt. He summoned the blanket that had fallen on the ground back in his hand and draped it over their exposed lower half.

Harry flicked his wrist, and the door was pushed open with Ron staggering in, almost falling on his face on the floor.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped as their friends all stared at them. Here they were, Hermione, Ron, Pansy, and Neville were standing at the door with their eyes wide with shock. He hoped they were still standing far enough so they couldn't smell their mixed scent in the room.

"Oh, right. I'm awake," Harry said, grinning at them with his hands still on Draco's waist.

"Hold on," Pansy spoke up, tipping her chin up as she sniffed. Her jaw went slack as she gasped audibly at them. "You guys fucked!"

"So that's what the smell is," Neville said quietly next to her. Ron and Hermione were quiet, their cheeks flushed.

"Are you guys...stuck?" Pansy asked, arching her eyebrow as Harry pressed his lips together. Draco glanced at him, and Harry smiled. She let out a loud laugh and nodded at them, tugging at Neville and Ron's arms. "Okay, we get it, we'll be back later."

"Really?" Ron asked, stepping backwards.

"Well, would you rather talk to Harry when he's locked with Draco, Ron?" Pansy asked and Ron blinked at her before turning to look at them.

"Okay, see you in half an hour, Harry," Ron said, turning to Hermione, "That's the average time, right?"

"Yes, Ron," Hermione said, smiling gently as she looked at them, waving. "So, we'll be back. Please make sure you two are properly clothed by the time we're back, okay?"

"Yes, definitely," Harry said as Draco buried his face in the crook of the Alpha's neck, hiding from their friends' gazes. "Half an hour, maybe forty-five minutes."

"Forty-five-..." Pansy murmured, her eyes twinkling, "Yeah, sure, then we will talk about how all of this happened, all right?" She gestured with her hands over their positions and stepped out of the room, closing the door.

Harry sighed and Draco looked up at him again, chuckling. "I can't believe our friends just saw us like that."

"In my defence, you know our friends are bound to walk in on us anyway," Harry said, drawing a smile out of Draco's lips. "You know how many times Ron walked in on his own sister and Luna?"

"Oh, I don't want to imagine that." Draco huffed out a laugh and kissed Harry's lips slowly. "I guess you're right." He exhaled, nosing against Harry's cheek. "How should we tell them?"

"I'm not sure," Harry said, he had no clue what they would tell their friends, but he was certain of one thing. "I know they'll want to know everything though."

"Of course, with Pansy, she will want every little detail," Draco scoffed, smiling when Harry intertwined their hands. "Even the times you've knotted me so far."

"Five, then," Harry said, and Draco laughed into his neck. He pressed a kiss on his Omega's head, comforting him. "It will be okay, I think they all saw it coming."

Draco chuckled, nodding. "You have no idea, Harry."

*

Draco looked up from his table when he saw Katie approaching him, holding yet another bouquet in her arms. She placed the roses on the table, smiling at the Omega.

"So, I'm guessing someone is being courted?" Katie wiggled her brows as Draco blushed, taking the bouquet into his arms. It had only been a day since Harry was allowed to go home, and they would have their first date today. However, that wasn't the problem, he had no idea Harry was such a spoiling Alpha. He'd been sending gifts since the morning, and they had last met twenty hours ago. Draco wasn't annoyed, of course, he just needed some time to handle the abrupt love from an Alpha like this. It was new to him as well.

"Well, it's only understandable, Katie," Draco said, playing with the petals as he smiled, "it's our first date tonight, so Harry's a bit excited."

"A bit my arse," the Beta snorted, gesturing to the bunch of gifts on his table. "Look at this, it's almost like he's obsessed with you."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, I'm not saying that," Katie said, shaking her head and leaning over with a smirk. "If I remember it right, you were always obsessed with him in Hogwarts anyway. I think this is like...making up for lost time?"

"Are you two gossiping instead of treating patients again?" a familiar voice spoke from behind as Katie flinched, turning around to grin at Padma, who was frowning at them with her hands folded over her chest.

"It's not gossiping, we're just talking about how Harry's courting Draco," Katie said, picking up a box of chocolate and opening it, showing Padma the sweets. "I mean, look at this. These truffles are bloody expensive, Padma."

"Give me that, Katie," Draco said, standing up and snatching the box from her hands. "It's not that much, besides, I like it." He took one truffle from the box, putting in his mouth as he hummed. She was right, the chocolate even tasted expensive on his tongue.

"There's nothing wrong with an Alpha spoiling an Omega, Katie," Padma said, smiling at Draco, "Especially when they're true mates. They have a need to provide their mate, to treasure them."

"Thank you, Padma," Draco said, handing her one truffle, "for being nice."

"I'm nice," Katie exclaimed, her mouth going slack. "Oi, don't make me pull out that card again."

"Katie," Draco said, rolling his eyes as he smiled.

"You cursed the necklace that I touched, Draco," Katie grinned, pursing her lips.

"You know you can't use that excuse again for the rest of this year," Draco said, shoving the box at her hands as she smiled widely, giving him a curt nod, and picking up a truffle to eat.

"Draco, do you mind taking the paperwork for Terry Boot? He's being discharged today," Padma said, and the Omega nodded, leaving his table to get to the hallway.

Draco stepped into Wiggins's office, opening the door in only to see the Omega was working hard on some files, not even noticing Draco was inside.

"Wiggins," he said, and the Omega looked up with a smile.

"Draco," Wiggins said, sitting up straight to face him. "What do you need?"

"Discharge papers for Terry Boot," he said, stepping forward as Wiggins nodded, rummaging through his own messy files on the table to search.

"Hold on a minute," Wiggins said, grinning guiltily. "Oh, I heard Harry is courting you?"

"How does everyone manage to find out?" Draco asked, eyes wide as he chuckled. It was shocking that everyone knew about them by now when they hadn't even announced it to anyone yet besides their friends who caught them. "But yeah, he's courting me."

"Words fly by fast, Draco," Wiggins said, winking at him, "Er, also we sort of all saw Harry and you in front of the building yesterday." The Omega grinned, shrugging. "Don't worry, Draco, we're cool with it. I'm glad you two are finally a couple."

"Thank you, Wiggins."

"Ah, here it is," Wiggins exclaimed, pulling out a file from underneath his pile and reaching out his arm to hand it to Draco. "Have a nice day."

"Have a nice day too, Wiggins," Draco smiled, grabbing the file and leaving the office.

As he closed the door and turned on his heels, Draco jumped, his hand instantly went to grab at his wand when he saw a gigantic stuffed bear in front of him. The Omega blinked a few times, staring at the big brown bear with a red bow tie at its neck. It was massive.

"Hi!"

"Harry," Draco gasped when Harry poked his head from behind the bear, "What are you doing here?" A smile danced on his lips as the Alpha let the bear down on the floor. He stepped forward and Harry tugged him in a tight embrace that was followed with a kiss. Draco felt his cheeks flushing when Harry tightened his hold on his waist, pulling him closer. He couldn't scent Harry at all, he must be using scent blocker as well. Draco tipped his head back, breaking from the kiss as he glanced up and down at Harry. "Are you injured?"

"No, I'm okay, I wanted to surprise you," Harry said, gesturing to the bear with a lopsided smile. "Katie said you're here."

"Oh," Draco said, his jaws aching from smiling too much. "You know we will meet in a few hours from now, right?"

"I know," Harry said, shrugging as he still had his hands around the Omega's waist. "I just miss you, and I want to see you."

"Aren't you a sweet Alpha?" Draco grinned, throwing his arms around Harry's neck. "People might think you're obsessed with me, you know."

"I think we've always been obsessed with each other," Harry said, pressing a kiss on Draco's lips. "I don't care what people say, and it's true, I am head over heels for you, Draco Malfoy."

"Why don't you prove how much you like me tonight, Harry Potter?" Draco raised a challenging eyebrow as the Alpha's pupils were blown wide at his sentence. "A nice dinner, then maybe we can end it with me as your dessert."

"I've never wanted to lick a dessert clean before," Harry said, a growl rumbling in his chest as he rubbed his nose against Draco's gland, scenting him again as if he wanted to make sure everyone knew he belonged to him only.

Draco glanced at the giant bear and grinned. "Harry, why did you feel the need to buy such a huge bear? It'd be a hazard pushing it through the door of the Manor."

"I'll do it for you," Harry said, leaning back to smile at him from ear to ear. He scratched the nape of his neck and added, "And, er, I asked Blaise about courting, and he told me to buy you big, expensive gifts."

Draco furrowed his brow, stifling a laugh as he stared at his dork of an Alpha. "Harry, I know that Blaise is an Alpha, but he doesn't know how to court Omegas. He doesn't even have any Omega."

"He does," Harry said, and Draco tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Blaise and Ron are bonded now."

"They what?" Draco audibly gasped out loud. He hadn't had the faintest clue. "When did that happen?" He had heard about it, but Ron had refused to spill anything. He'd been acting weird lately, but he just figured Ron wasn't ready to talk about it yet, and he didn't push it out of him.

"Well, remember when-..."

"Draco!" The Omega cocked his head to the side to see Padma waving at him from the end of the hallway. "Where's the papers?"

"Oh, right," Draco said, extracting himself from Harry and giving the Alpha one last peck on the lips. "See you tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll pick you up," Harry said, smiling as Draco flicked his wand, shrinking the bear down as it fell into the palm of his hand.

He waved at Harry and turned on his heels, walking towards Padma's spot. When he turned his head around again, Harry was still standing there, smiling at him, and folding his arms into a shape of a heart while stepping back. Draco blushed and bit his lips, sending a wink at the Alpha before walking into the room. He couldn't wait for their first date to arrive.

~ to be continue (Part 2 will be updated next)