Chapter Text
“Mr. Potter, Please have a seat.”
Harry swallowed and carefully crossed the Headmistress’s office to sit in the indicated chair. His eyes slid over to where the dark figure of Slytherin House stood beside the almost-as-imposing figure of the infirmary matron. Only one thought was on his mind. They know . It had been easy to hide while he’d been on the run with Ron and, mostly, Hermione. Before he’d even been back at Hogwarts a day, the final battle had taken place. Then had been funerals, going with Hermione to retrieve her parents, Snape’s recovery, and trials. Well, the only two trials he had cared about. Mr. Malfoy was serving a five year sentence in Azkaban, stripped of his title; Mrs. Malfoy was on a community service-based probation. The new Lord Malfoy was most likely currently down in the Slytherin dorms enjoying his unoccupied room as none of the other Slytherin boys from their year had taken up the offer to attend the offered eighth year. Snape--resourceful, fearless, skillful, embodiment of Slytherin cunning, potions master that he was--had been fully prepared for his dark “master” and the man’s pet and aided mightily in his own recovery from the poisonous bite. He had been exonerated for any and all “war crimes.” And through it all, Harry had been able to hide what had happened on his seventeenth birthday. Until now. His eyes focused on the hands in his lap.
“Please. You don’t have to tell anyone.” He hesitantly lifted his eyes to meet the Headmistress’s cat-like gaze. “The other students are safe. I swear.”
Madam Pomfrey’s voice spoke from the corner. “You can’t be sure, Harry.”
He closed his eyes. He could. He just couldn’t tell them why. It had been hard enough explaining it to his best friends, and they had already known. “Please,” he said softly once more.
He heard Minerva sigh; she would never again be “McGonagall” to him, not after the last year. “Harry, we are merely concerned. If this gets out, if someone were to leak it to the Prophet, before you Settle...” Harry’s hand twitched in his lap, and he clenched his fists.
“I refuse to discuss this with you,” he said as firmly as he could. His breath caught as the dark, silent figure swooshed across the open space; pale arms braced against the desk and the back of Harry’s chair.
“You will discuss this like the adult you claim to be, Potter.” Snape’s raspy voice sent shivers down Harry’s spine. He clenched his hands again, grabbing at the fabric of his robe. Too close. Too close . “If I am required to provide the appropriate potions for your… affliction-“
Harry scoffed and cut the man off. “I don’t need your potions, Professor. I have a three-month supply of the potion I need.”
Snape jerked back at his words and studied Harry. “I fervently pray you did not brew them. If so, I have grave concerns for the male population of our school.”
Harry felt his cheeks heat up but refused to give in to the blush. “If Hermione can adequately brew Polyjuice in her second year, I have no doubt she can brew this.” Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry, but before the professor could say anything, Harry turned to the Headmistress and spoke. “If I can assure Madam Pomfrey of my… reliability, will you accept my word?”
Minerva studied him for several excruciating long seconds before giving a firm nod. “I will accept your terms, Mr. Potter.”
“I want to see this potion ,” Snape sneered.
“No!” Harry said vehemently. “I will allow Madam Pomfrey a sample. Her judgment is good enough.”
Snape opened his mouth to say something, but Minerva cut him off. “That will suffice. You will, of course, see Poppy at regular intervals and keep her apprised of any… developments?” Harry nodded. “Very good. Please go with Poppy for a full physical and speak with her.”
Harry nodded and rose. “Thank you, Headmistress.” He turned and jerked back at Snape’s sneering frown.
“You can’t just let him walk away like that. With merely his word .”
“It is not just his word, Severus,” Minerva said firmly. “He is speaking to Poppy about this, and she will monitor him.”
Harry glared at the man. “I’m not some werewolf that needs a potion once a month to refrain from attacking students, Snape. And my word was good enough to keep you out of Azkaban.” With that he pushed past the professor and strode out of Minerva’s office, ignoring the “Five points from Gryffindor.”
Not surprisingly, he reached the infirmary before the Mediwitch and waited for her before following her inside. She motioned to one of the beds, and he jumped up onto it and lay back to let her run a scan.
“You are in much better shape than I expected after your… eventful year, Mr. Potter,” she said when she had finished.
He sat up and gave a small shrug. “I think it has more to do with all the food Mrs. Weasley force-fed me this summer. She was quite adamant to make up for the missed meals while we camped.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Camping, Mr. Potter. Is that what you are calling it? Now explain to me how you can be so sure that the other… students will be safe from your… advances.”
He scraped at his fingernail with the opposite thumb. “All the Weasleys are Omegas.”
The mediwitch let out a long exhale of air. “Of course they are,” she said, as if it should have been obvious. “And the ones that chose not to be Beta?”
“Charlie and Ron,” he answered, knowing the next question before she even asked it.
“And you and Ronald…”
He shook his head and reached into his pocket to pull out a small vial. “No. It was easy to ignore at the beginning.”
“You can ignore it?”
Harry shrugged. “Sometimes.”
She gave a small shake of her head as she took the vial. “You must be quite a powerful Alpha, Harry.” She gave a small sniff of the pink liquid inside and looked up in surprise. “This is… You carry this around with you?” Harry nodded. “You have Chosen, but not Settled? Do you know his cycle?”
Harry shook his head. “No. I haven’t been around him enough to Settle.”
She gave him a shrewd look. “But you expect to Settle within the next few months?”
Harry felt his cheeks heat and gave a small nod. “Yeah. I’ll have more exposure with school back in session.”
She gave a firm nod and recapped the vial before handing it back. “You will send your Chosen to me before you Claim him, Mr. Potter. Is he on inhibitor or preventative potions?” Harry shifted on the bed and looked away from her penetrating gaze. “Who is your Chosen, Mr. Potter?” She asked firmly.
“I- I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?” She said shrewdly, and Harry shrugged. “Do you plan to Claim him?”
“I-“ His cheeks flushed guiltily, and his eyes darted around the room.
Fury flashed in her brown eyes. “You will leave your Chosen unclaimed?”
“I don’t have a choice.” Harry clenched his fists and fought back the tears. “I didn’t exactly choose him, okay? I don’t… don’t think I had a choice. I think it was fate or destiny or whatever you want to call it.” Harry swallowed and clutched the warm vial in his hand. “I don’t think he would accept me.”
“Have you tried?” She asked softly.
Harry looked up, knowing his eyes were glaring. “How did you find out? How did you know about me?” She opened her mouth to answer and paused. She snapped her mouth shut, and her brown eyes softened on him.
“Oh, Harry.”
“Yeah.” He slipped from the bed, shoving the vial in his pocket. “Can I go now?” She nodded, and he walked towards the exit.
Her voice stopped him. “Choosing is always an option, Mr. Potter.”
He hung his head. “I know. You won’t tell?” He looked back over his shoulder.
She shook her head sadly. “Healer patient confidentiality, Mr. Potter. I will inform the Headmistress you are safe to be exposed to the Omegas.”
He nodded. “I never would have attacked another student.”
She smiled softly. “I know, Harry. But if- when this gets out, we will have to show we took proper measures.”
Harry nodded. “Am I-“ he swallowed. “Am I the only one this year?” She gave him a sympathetic look, and he snorted again. “Of course I am. The Harry Potter curse strikes again.” He turned back to the door and strode out. He quickly made his way to the tower before he was caught out after curfew and slipped through the nearly-empty common room to the new door that had appeared that September first. He took the stairs up past the seventh year dorms and stuck his head into the eighth year girls’ room. He wasn’t surprised to see Ron and Neville spread out on Hermione’s bed with Hermione and Ginny sitting on Parvati’s bed. With the influx of students who hadn’t been invited to Hogwarts the previous year, most of the common rooms now had an extra set of dorms for the returning eighth and seventh years. Due to the supposed maturity level of the seventh years and up, the boys’ and girls’ dorms were no longer in separate corridors, allowing the adult students to mix freely. Since Parvati was the only other girl in their year to return and spent most of her time in Ravenclaw with her sister, the eighth year girls’ room had become their unofficial meeting place. Ginny noticed him first and smiled over at him.
“Hey, Harry.” The other three turned to greet him with smiles, and he joined the guys on Hermione’s bed. Ron scooted closer to Neville to make room for him, and Harry flopped onto his stomach.
“They know,” he moaned out.
“What?” Ron said in disbelief.
“Who told?” Ginny demanded vehemently.
Harry lifted his head from where he had attempted to bury it in Hermione’s covers and lifted his brows at Ginny. “Who do you think?”
“Do you think he knows?” Hermione asked worriedly. Harry shook his head.
“No. Oh, he might ask you about the potions. I had to tell him where I was getting them. But he doesn’t know which one I’m taking.”
Hermione nodded. “Well, I’m capable of brewing both.”
Harry nodded and rolled over onto his back to hang his head off the bed. He scrunched his nose up at Gin. “How much longer are you going to leave Erics hanging? The poor boy nearly fell down the stairs this morning watching you.”
Ron laughed, and Gin’s cheeks turned a soft pink. “Shut up, Harry. Before I hex you.”
Harry chuckled and let the conversation wash over him as he thought of the day he had met with Snape and his barrister. The trio had figured out sometime during their time at Grimmauld that Harry was an Alpha. His ability to smell Ron in heat and to know when Hermione was ovulating had at first been embarrassing until Ron explained about Alphas and Omegas. Omegas were infinitely more common and most of them chose to live as Betas and marry females. Most Omegas that chose to remain Omegas often found other Omegas to mate with, though this rarely resulted in children. It was not unheard of but was a rare occasion. Alphas were rare, usually only one or two were born a year, so of course Harry would be one. Ron’s scent had intrigued Harry, but he could never be attracted to the man he considered a brother. And after his disastrous attempt with Cho, it had become glaringly obvious that girls weren’t for him.
He hadn’t lied about the war keeping him from dwelling on the scents of Presenting Omegas, but he had ignored them, had been able to resist the lures until that July day when Snape had shown up at Grimmauld Place. Harry was never sure if Snape was coming down from his heat or about to go in, but the man had absolutely enthralled Harry the second he had entered the house. Harry had spent less than five minutes in the room with the man before he’d rushed upstairs to take a potion that would help him control himself and keep him from jumping the man and claiming him there on the table in Grimmauld Place. His subconscious, fate, whatever, had chosen Severus Snape as his mate. And now he had to deal with it. Somehow.
It had only been a matter of time before Harry was called to the Headmistress’s office. Harry had known it. They had all known it on some level. Snape was an Unclaimed, older Omega. He would have known Harry’s Alpha status the moment Harry walked into the school. It had only been sheer luck that Snape had been on a series of potions that caused his Omega instincts to be diminished that day in Grimmauld Place. Harry had, at first, denied his reaction to Snape, telling himself it was merely all the gratitude and respect he felt for the spy as well as the knowledge that the man had been such close friends with his mother. That and he knew his mother would want him to honor her friend. But as the trial progressed and Harry had been exposed to more and more Omegas with no reaction, no desire to seek them out, he had begun to doubt himself. It became glaringly obvious when Ron had Presented once again, and Harry hadn’t even felt the clench of intrigue that usually followed with the smell of Ron’s heat. Hermione had already brewed a batch of the pink potion that would help him control his urges to literally pounce on his Chosen mate. A potion designed to help the Alpha during the time known as Transition, which was a bit like a two-part courting. Once a mate was chosen, an Alpha would Settle, meaning the pair would take their time getting to know each other while they determined the Omega’s cycle; at the same time, Bonding contracts were set up to protect the Omega should something happen to the Alpha after the Claiming. During this time, the Alpha took the Transition potion to dampen his desire to Claim his mate. Transition typically only lasted a few months before the contracts were finalized. Usually.
Hermione had tracked him down just before school started and shoved a box of the pink potion into his chest. “I don’t know who he is or why you feel you have to hide it from us, but there’s a three-month supply.”
The look of hurt in her eyes had told him she had realized he was taking the Transition potion without telling her. He sighed. “It’s Snape.”
Understanding lit her eyes. “You should tell Ron.”
The conversation hadn’t been easy, but even Ron had started to respect the bastard by that point. Once they returned to school, Harry had avoided looking directly at the Potions master and avoided going near him. He had no doubt the man suspected. Most young Omegas could not detect an Alpha’s scent from another Omega’s; but an older, experienced Unclaimed would be able to spot one easily, even not in Heat. So it truly had been no surprise when he’d been called in to Minerva’s office today. Today had been his first potions class of the year; he’d almost made it an entire week.
The next few weeks went by swiftly: between classes and studying with Hermione, Harry barely had any free time. He did his best to ignore Snape’s dark glare that seemed to always be watching him. He knew the man was waiting for Harry to screw up. Harry began to learn the scents and cycles of the other Omegas and wasn’t surprised that Finch-Fletchley had a sweetly enticing scent. He was a bit surprised the day Draco Malfoy strode into Potions class, and Harry nearly gagged at the almost-sulfuric smell that surrounded the Slytherin. Harry quickly moved to the back of the room and sent Hermione up to share a table with Ron. He crossed his arms on the workbench and pressed his head against his forearms. It took him several minutes to catch his breath. Luckily, he was in the potions classroom; Snape’s scent permeated the air, helping to clear Draco’s bitter scent from Harry’s lungs. It wasn’t until he felt his body begin to react that it occurred to him that the fresh, earthy scent was stronger than it should have been. A jab in his side and Gin’s hissed “Harry” had him jerking his head up to meet glaring black eyes.
“If you are feeling…ill, Mr. Potter, perhaps you should remove yourself from my classroom.” The low voice did little to calm his pounding blood. “I do not wish to have to report any… incidents to the Headmistress should your… assurances prove to be superfluous.”
Harry shook his head. “No, sir. I’m fine now. Just a touch of… nausea. Lunch not sitting well I suppose, Professor.”
Snape gave him a narrowed look. “Perhaps you should avoid that particular combination in the future then, Mr. Potter.” With that warning, Snape turned and stalked back to the front of the classroom, a rush of air wafting his scent towards Harry. Harry took it in with a soft moan and closed his eyes.
“Harry?” He shook his head at Ginny’s unasked question and leaned down to grab his book from his bag.
“Remind me to stay away from Malfoy when he’s in heat. His scent disgusts me.” Ginny chuckled and nodded, already pulling out her notes and quill.
A few nights later, Harry woke hot and empty. He tossed in the bed for several minutes before sitting up and grabbing his wand. He shoved his glasses on and pulled on a pair of socks to protect his feet from the cold, stone floor before stepping over to Neville’s bed. He shook the blonde awake, careful to stay in the ex-soldier’s line-of-sight. Neville woke, alert and wand in hand. He blinked at Harry as his mind cleared. He nodded and slipped his wand under his pillow before pushing the covers down.
“Thanks, Harry.”
Harry chuckled. “No problem, Nev. Tell Ron I’ll be in Hermione’s room.”
Neville nodded, and Harry crossed over to the door, careful not to wake the other guys. He slipped across the hall and pushed open the door to Hermione and Parvati’s room. Parvati’s dark hair glistened in the moonlight spilling over her golden-colored pillow. He shook his head at the memory of the girl pulling the set of gold colored sheets from her trunk the first day of school. She was definitely proud to be a Gryffindor. Harry made his way over to where Hermione’s brown curls flared out over her own pillow, a simple white to match the school-provided sheets. He pulled his glasses off and laid them on top of the book resting on the small bedside table; he placed his wand next to them and lifted the covers. He slid into bed beside his best friend and felt her body tense as his leg brushed against her calf.
“Budge over,” he whispered, and she immediately relaxed and scooted over. He lay down beside her and pushed her hair out of the way before settling beside her. “Ron’s in heat.” Her chuckle turned into a yawn, and she snuggled back against him as Harry slipped an arm over her waist and took in her sweet scent. He was soon drifting off to sleep once again.
“Harry!” Harry grumbled at the poke to his side. “Harry James, if you are going to share my bed you had best get up when I tell you too.”
Harry moaned and rolled away from his best friend. “Fine,” he mumbled, “next time I’ll climb in with Parvati. Her sheets are prettier.”
A soft chuckle floated across the room. “You had your chance with me, Potter. I’m still mad at you about that.”
He blinked his eyes open and reached for his glasses, sliding them on before pushing himself up to smile at the girl. “At least you got a dance out of it. Your sister didn’t even get that.”
She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “You still aren’t sharing my bed.”
He laughed and grabbed his wand. “Alright, ladies. Avert your eyes. The great and powerful wizard of Oz is about to subject you to his near-nakedness. Please contain your swooning and sighing.” Hermione and Parvati laughed as Harry slipped from Hermione’s bed. “Oy,” he said in mock offense. “I’ll have you know, plenty of people would love to get their hands on this.” He ran a hand over his red shorts, the golden lions doing their best to avoid the caressing fingers.
“Go get dressed,” Hermione said, launching a pillow at him. Harry left, smothering a chuckle as he slipped into his dorm. Dean gave a small wave before placing a finger over his lips and pointing to the still sleeping figures. Harry nodded and quietly made his way to the loo for his morning ablutions.
Harry, Dean, and Seamus made their way down to breakfast while Ron and Neville were still trying to wake up. Halfway down the last set of stairs, Harry was suddenly ravenous, and the delicious scents coming from the Great Hall spurred him on. Harry spotted Hermione with Ginny just outside the doors and ran to catch up with them. He wasn’t surprised to smell Gin’s sweet scent and leaned over to speak softly in her ear.
“If you and Erics are going to repeat last weekend’s events, you had best go see Madam Pomfrey. Ron is in heat.”
Her face flushed at the implication of Harry’s words, and she automatically grabbed at her stomach as if she already carried a babe. Hermione chuckled, and Ginny shot her a scathing look. Harry’s laughter died on his lips as they stepped through the doors. His entire body clenched with desire and need, and sweat broke out all over, doing little to cool his heated flesh. He backed away, barely registering the girls’ worried “Harry”. He moved over to a small, shadowed corner and dropped to his knees, pressing a hand to his aching cock. A warm hand ran soothing circles over his back, and Hermione’s soft voice broke through the blood pounding in his head.
“What’s wrong, Harry? What happened?”
Harry squeezed his eyes closed as he fought the desire welling inside him. “Heat,” he panted. “Potion.”
“Take my hand, Harry.” He reached a trembling hand up, and it was clasped in Hermione’s soothing grasp. “Search his pockets for the potion.” He felt Gin tugging at his robes as he clasped Hermione’s hand and tried to concentrate on controlling his breathing.
“Here.” The cool glass pressed against his lips, and he tilted his head back as Gin tipped the potion into his mouth. Another hand joined the one already on his back, and Harry pressed his heated forehead against the cool stone of the castle wall. He concentrated on the ambient magic that ran through its ancient walls as the potion worked through his system, dulling the effects of the lust. He took a shuddering breath and gave a small nod. The two girls pulled back, and the three friends rose to their feet.
“Better?” Hermione asked softly.
Harry nodded. “Yeah.” He gave a soft chuckle. “Well, I guess his cycle won’t be hard to remember.” He gave his friends a sly smile, and Ginny blushed while Hermione simply chuckled.
“That was quite a display, Mr. Potter.” The three friends looked up in shock to see the mediwitch standing before them.
“Madam Pomfrey.”
She gave a nod. “A word?” He nodded, and Ginny and Hermione gave him reassuring pats as they headed back towards the Great Hall. He looked back at the mediwitch. “I came to intercept you when I realized the date. I was a bit overwhelmed at your news at our last meeting or I would have pulled his file at that time, and I regret that I have been a tad busy since. I only looked over his file a few days ago and meant to send you a note beforehand.”
“It’s alright, Madam Pomfrey. I had the potion on me, and it’ll be easy for me to remember the date next month. Ron’s in heat also, started last night, and Ginny is ovulating,” he explained at her questioning look. She nodded.
“So the date is not unfamiliar to you.” He shook his head. “That is good. It seemed to affect you fairly harshly. May I ask: will you be able to participate in his class?”
Harry felt his face heat. “I’ll be okay. I mean, I don’t imagine he regularly…um,” Harry shifted on his feet, and his eyes darted around the castle. “You know… seeks release between classes.”
Her brown eyes went wide, and Harry thought it showed how professional she was that she didn’t even blush. “Oh. I see. Yes, I suppose it would make sense for him to… ease the effects before breakfast rather than at the end of the day.” Her eyes focused back on Harry. “He has a three day cycle. Please provide me with a small stock of your Transition potion so that I may have some on hand. When Ms. Granger has need to brew more you may direct her to me, and I will procure the necessary ingredients as well as private time in a lab. I understand the need to leave Professor Snape out of the process, Mr. Potter, and I know he personally hand-picks some of his stock.”
Harry nodded. “Thank you, Madam Pomfrey.”
She gave a small nod. “I will let you get to your breakfast, Mr. Potter. As always, my office is open to you.”
He chuckled at the twinkle in her eyes. “Thank you, Madam.” He headed into the Great Hall, his eyes going to the head table. Dark eyes narrowed on him as he walked in, and Harry couldn’t help the rush of desire that swept through his body. Damn, the man still smelled like Satisfaction. Harry pulled his eyes away before he could give himself away. The Transition potion could dampen his desires and neutralize his pheromones, but only to a certain extent. Any Omega in heat would still be able to smell him if he was too aroused. He slid onto the bench between Hermione and Ginny.
“Everything okay, Harry?” Gin asked.
Harry nodded as he took the plate Hermione had fixed for him. “Yeah. She said to let her know when you needed to borrow a lab, and she would take care of everything.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Hermione said as she took a sip of her morning tea.
“Yeah. I thought you could take a few vials of the potion up to her when you go make the arrangements. She wants to have some on hand.” Harry shoved a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
“That’s a good idea. I didn’t think about that.” She gave him an assessing look. “And how are you doing?”
He gave a small shrug. “I’ll be bloody hard all day but-“
He looked over in alarm at Ginny as she began to choke on her tea. She coughed to clear her lungs. “Blimey, Harry. I do not need to know that.”
He chuckled even as his face filled with heat. “Sorry.”
He looked up as Ron slid into the seat across from him, face flushed and breath heavy from running. Ron opened his mouth to say something and paused. “Bloody hell, Harry. You’re kidding?” His eyes darted to the head table and back to Harry, his red cheeks going even darker. Harry simply shrugged.
“At least I’ll know when his cycle is,” Harry said as he took a bite of toast.
Ron piled food onto his plate and scrunched his nose up. “Great. Like I need to have anything in common with the… guy.”
“But you make such a good alarm system,” Harry teased his friend.
Ron blushed. “Yeah. Thanks for last night, by the way.” Ron glanced over at Hermione. “Hope he didn’t bug you too much.”
Hermione shrugged. “Not the first time I’ve woken up with him in my bed.”
A loud bark of laughter came from Ginny, and she shook her head. “Sometimes, I worry about our conversations. Guess it’s a good thing Skeeter can’t get into the school anymore.”
Harry laughed. “Yeah. I’d just love to hear her interpretations of some of our conversations.” He held his hand up and made a motion as if indicating a headline. “Chosen one in love square. The bed-hopping Gryffindor: Who will he decide on?”
The four friends laughed, drawing attention to them. “Oy, Ron,” Seamus caught the redhead’s attention. “Whad’ya do to poor, Nev? Can’t even let the poor man eat a decent breakfast.”
Ron shot his roommates two fingers as Dean laughed. “Thank Merlin for silencing spells,” Neville’s deep voice came from behind Harry, and a large hand clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks for waking me, mate.”
Harry shrugged and looked over his shoulder to wink at the blonde. “What are friends for?”
Neville laughed and sat down on the other side of Hermione. Dark eyes glared at Harry from the head table. Harry pulled his gaze away and focused on his plate. He was nearly done with his food when he felt his skin flush and the emptiness spread through him. He dropped his fork and pushed his plate back. The reaction to his best friend’s arousal and the enticing scent of Snape’s heat was overwhelming. Harry closed his eyes to concentrate on controlling his reactions. Ron’s heavy breathing seemed to echo in Harry’s ears.
“For Merlin’s sake, Ron, stop it.” Harry growled a little too loud as he moved away from the table.
“Sorry,” a red-face Ron mumbled.
Harry shook his head and grabbed his bag. “I have to go.” He stepped back and spun, bumping into the person standing behind him. He gave an involuntary shudder as the strong, earthy scent washed over him. He stepped back. “S-sorry, Professor.”
The man opened his mouth to say something then glanced from Harry to Ron and back. His dark eyes narrowed, and Harry shook his head and rushed from the room. He barely made it to his dorm room before he had his robe pulled up and his hand down his pants. He pressed his robe to his nose, Snape’s scent still lingering on the fabric. He stroked himself to completion as he moaned Snape’s name into the bundled cloth. A quarter hour later he strode into the greenhouse with another vial of potion in his pocket. The next few days were not going to be easy.
Harry skipped breakfast in the Great Hall the next day, waving at Ron and Neville as they hurried through the common room. Ron joined him for the breakfast Kreacher had brought while Neville continued on to join the rest of their friends. They barely spoke as they shoveled food into their mouths and scribbled on their potions essays due that afternoon. Harry made it through his morning classes and used the lunch hour to finish his potions essay and start his Astronomy homework. He looked up in surprise as Ron and Neville stepped into the common room. Both boys blushed when they saw Harry. He chuckled.
“The least you could have done was take a shower,” Harry said as he stuffed his books into his bag. “Come on. We’re going to be late for potions.” He pulled another vial from his pocket and tossed it back as Neville pulled Ron in for a quick kiss.
“See you after class,” the blonde waved them off. The two Gryffindors hurried down to the dungeons and straggled in behind the last of the Slytherins. Seamus gave a wolf whistle while Dean started a slow clap. Harry laughed at Ron’s red face and nudged his arm.
“Can’t say you didn’t expect that. Shouldn’t have skipped lunch, mate,” Harry told him. Ron mumbled under his breath, and Harry chuckled as they slid into their seats. Harry dropped his bag beside his chair and looked up to meet dark eyes watching him, a frown on the thin lips. Harry tore his gaze away from the man and was glad he had taken his potion just before coming to class as the man’s Heat was only slightly overwhelming. He focused his attention on his brewing and was glad the man chose not to stalk around the room that day.
“Potter!” Harry jerked his head up and felt his body instantly flush at the sight of the dark potions master standing in the Gryffindor common room. He jumped to his feet, dropping his Astronomy textbook to the floor.
“P-professor.” Harry’s eyes darted around the room; looking for an exit or aide, he wasn’t sure.
“Tomorrow is the twentieth,” Snape said plainly. Harry nodded, very much aware of what the date was. “Where is Mr. Weasley?”
Harry blinked at the unexpected question. “Um, C-care of Magical Creatures.”
Snape gave a nod. “You will take him to see Madam Pomfrey today.” Harry blinked. Was Ron hurt?
“Sir?”
Snape held his hand out, a small vial of familiar pink liquid sloshing inside it. Harry stepped back. “I have brought you your potion. You will take it.”
Another step back as Snape moved forward. “I told you, I have some.”
“Which you obviously aren’t taking,” he snapped as he neared Harry.
Harry backed up until his back pressed against the wall. “Yes, I am.”
Snape’s dark eyes glared at Harry. “Do not lie to me, Potter. I could smell Weasley’s heat rolling off him last month.” Snape’s lip curled in a sneer. “And it was a very Satisfied heat.”
Harry glared at the man’s implications. “So because he’s my best friend, I must have Chosen him, right? Don’t you think if that had been the case, Professor , I could have clearly stated that in the Headmistress’s office?”
“You continuously disappeared with him last month during his cycle,” Snape snarled.
“I wasn’t the only one,” Harry blurted out desperately. His skin was burning and sweat was breaking out over his body. Too close. Snape was too close to him, and his Heat was too close. Harry bit back a moan.
“He is a Weasley,” Snape snarled. “You will have him with child before Christmas if you don’t leave him alone. At least afford the man the opportunity to take his NEWTs before you burden him with a pregnancy,” Snape snapped, closing in on Harry.
Harry clenched his fist and shook his head. “It’s not me. Not me. He chose another Omega.” Harry squeezed his eyes closed, trying to fight the Alpha in him. “Please. You need to leave.”
“Of course he chose you. Who wouldn’t choose you?” Snape spat out. “You think I can’t smell the power practically rolling off you? Who wouldn’t snatch that up?” Snape was in his face, and Harry turned away, panting and gritting his teeth.
“You need to leave, Snape,” Harry bit out.
Snape’s hot breath brushed across Harry’s face, and his earthy scent filled Harry’s nostrils. Harry bit back a moan. “That’s ‘Professor,’ Potter. And you will not speak to me in that way. You will respect me and-“
Snape’s words were cut off as Harry reached up and slipped his fingers in Snape’s hair. Harry grasped a handful of the silky strands and yanked Snape down until he was on his knees before Harry. Harry leaned down to growl in the man’s ear.
“ You will earn my respect, Omega. On your knees or on your belly, it matters not. You will not speak to your Alpha like that.” Harry glared down into the upturned face, the sallow cheeks a fierce pink. He yanked on the Omega’s hair. “Understand?” Snape nodded, swallowing thickly; his Adam’s apple bobbing in his exposed throat. Harry bent down and licked a path up the pale skin, suckling on the exposed bump as he inhaled the delicious scent. Snape whimpered beneath him, pulling Harry from his trance. Harry pulled back in horror at what he had done and yanked his hand from the soft strands. “Oh god! Oh fuck!” He backed away from the panting professor. “Fuck. I’m sorry. Sorry, sir. Sorry. Oh god.” Harry did the only thing left to him and turned and ran.