Chapter Text
My body shivered for the 100th time this week, despite me being wrapped tightly in my bulky blankets. I know it isn't just my room that's absolutely freezing, so at some point throughout the week, I thought I may have contracted a cold.
But that isn't very likely since I don't go anywhere very much, plus, the number of colds I've gotten in my life was very limited. I take very good care of myself and make sure to take extra precautions to avoid catching any viruses. And yet, I feel like I'm in a literal freezer.
If I were at Hogwarts, I would've made myself a warming potion, but unfortunately, magic outside of Hogwarts is prohibited. I always thought that rule was stupid. I've been doing magic with my father since I was 6, and they've never caught me. And as much as I'd love to bother my dear father about the very concerning temperature levels, he'd probably tell me to suck it up.
Not very helpful.
I've been staring at my wall for 30 minutes and I still can't go to sleep. One reason was that I was dying of fucking hypothermia and the other was because my second gender would start presenting itself soon.
I know there is no reason for me to worry about what rank I'll get, but still, it determines a lot of factors in my life. I know I'll be an alpha since alphas run deep in both the Malfoy and Black bloodline. I don't necessarily know the symptoms of presenting as an alpha, but I imagine it to be painful since you're going through drastic changes in such a short amount of time.
Well, maybe not "short" but within two weeks.
Father told me when alphas start presenting, their jawline and canines sharpen, and their body broadens. Ultimately becoming stronger to defend their future mate. He said it's like completing puberty all in two weeks.
Mother and father looked fine when I saw them earlier, and I soon concluded that the low-temperature drops I'm experiencing may only be an individual experience. Meaning I may be going through inheritance right now! I'm almost 100% sure that's what it is. Unless I'm just ridiculously cold for no reason, but I'm not entertaining that possibility.
The thought of me waking up tomorrow with dashing masculine features and a stronger build, excited me. Basically every wizard's dream. But it would kinda suck if you presented as a beta though. I don't even know what they do. They either suck up to all the alphas or try to outperform them in everything they do. Competitive little buggers they are.
I enjoy guessing the rank of everyone at my school by how they act. Crabbe and Goyle will probably be alphas since they also come from relatively long lines of alphas. Pansy and Blaise are definitely alphas. That quiet kid Nott is probably a beta. All that boy does is read and sit by himself. He'll talk to us once in a while but then completely dissociate from everyone and everything around him. He's weird... but anyway—
Everyone else will probably be a beta because they all suck and don't contribute to society in any way. I of course will be an alpha like my parents. It actually was a miracle my parents even conceived me. It's very challenging to have kids when you're both alphas since female alphas have a very low chance of getting pregnant. Most of them are infertile. But it's a good thing alpha males are very fertile for the sole purpose of producing an heir.
My mother and father have raised me to act and think like an alpha. So my future is definitely already decided. I will carry on the alpha legacy my mother and father carried themselves. I know for sure I'll present before school starts since alpha inheritances are the fastest. School starts in three weeks and I'm so ready to show off my second gender.
Maybe after I get back, I'll make Pansy my girlfriend. She's had a crush on me since our first year and isn't as good at hiding it as she thinks she is. Either she is very bad at hiding her feelings or I'm just a fucking genius. It's probably the latter knowing me.
After about forty minutes, I'm finally tired of staring at the wall. My eyes close and I tuck my body inside the warm sheets of my bed for further comfort.
__________
I can't believe I still haven't hit inheritance yet! I've already made it back to Hogwarts and I don't really see any differences. Other than me being cold 24/7 and having softer skin? Never mind I think I'm just imagining things.
The point is I haven't gotten my second gender yet and it's been three weeks. Alpha Inheritance usually doesn't take this long unless I'm a beta. And I'm really hoping that isn't the case. I'm going to assume I'm just a late bloomer and it'll come any day now.
I've seen some of my friends on the train and they've definitely grown. Most of them have gotten taller and muscular. I've also grown taller, almost as tall as Blaise. I take pride in my height since I've always been pretty tall for my age.
It's the first day of school and I'm already drained from all the walking and celebrations. I'm laying in my bed with my legs sprawled out lazily, but it's not like anyone's in my room right now anyway. Crabbe and Goyle joined the rest of the Slytherins for game night, so that leaves me by myself. I usually join them but my stomach hurts for some reason so I decided to skip it today.
I was actually surprised to see Crabbe and Goyle's weight loss. They were much chubbier last year than this year, and I'm not necessarily complaining—just kinda shocked since they were always big-boned.
I just want to sleep but I can't sleep with my stomach pain and chills. And it doesn't help that I sleep in the lowest part of the school: the dungeons. So it's always cold down here, but it's never been this cold before. I swear if I looked in a mirror I'd have blue lips from how cold I feel.
The pain in my stomach increased and it caused me to groan a little. I should probably take some pain relieving potion but then I'd have to actually move and I don't know how far I'd actually make it.
I feel my eyes droop slowly and I almost feel as if my entire body went numb. Darkness overcame my vision fast and I couldn't help but succumb to it.
A few hours later ~
I woke up with my entire body on fire. Well, not literally but it felt like it. The cramping in my stomach seemed to have traveled to my legs and arms. It was almost unbearable. Until the nausea hit.
I shot up from my bed that was drenched in sweat and aimed for the bathroom that I barely made it to. I don't even think I closed the door but I wasn't exactly worried about that when I was seconds away from puking my guts out.
The second my head hung over the toilet, vomit flew out of my mouth. So much came out that I was scared I'd start puking blood. The vomiting session only lasted four minutes, but my body still felt like it was burning from the inside out, and my limbs were refusing to respond to any direction I was trying to give.
I could barely lift my hand to flush the pale liquid in the toilet bowl. My arm dropped to my side lifelessly and my head laid against the wall beside me. Pins and needles attacked my whole body along with the burning sensations and overwhelming cramping.
This was unbearable. The pain was too much.
I don't know when I started getting lightheaded but it was becoming stronger by the minute. I want to stand up and walk back to my bed but my legs and arms were paralyzed in their resting position. I could do nothing but let my head drop down and let sleep take over.
__________
I heard a knocking at my door which instantly woke me up. I tried lifting my body off the ground but I was immediately hit with a soreness I'd never experienced before. "Give me a-" I stopped myself from going any further.
"You okay in there? It's almost breakfast!" Goyle yelled on the other side of the door.
I was scared to talk again. The way my voice sounded was similar to mine but... not. It had a soft, gentle ring and a smooth flow that didn't belong to me. I sounded... soft-spoken?
The realization made my heart speed up. I looked down at myself and was shocked at what I saw.
My arms looked so... slim? Slimmer than they usually are. Like way slimmer. All the muscle from my arms and hands have disappeared and softened out.
I caressed my arm and almost flinched when I felt how soft the flesh was. No bloody way. Even the blond hairs on my arms had vanished.
I needed to see what happened.
Despite my soreness, I pushed myself up using the wall and toilet. I reached for the counter and grasped the edges in desperation. The beating of my heart was almost impressive.
The slow rising of my head to look at the mirror was so scary because I just knew that this wasn't part of an alpha's inheritance.
The moment my eyes met the mirror my heart dropped. The glow in my eyes wasn't that of an alpha or beta. It was a rank that had never even crossed my mind before.
It was the glow of an omega.