
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/2254917.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      One_Direction_(Band), Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Harry_Styles/Louis_Tomlinson, Zayn_Malik/Liam_Payne, Perrie_Edwards/Zayn
      Malik, Harry_Potter/Ginny_Weasley
  Character:
      Louis_Tomlinson, Zayn_Malik, Perrie_Edwards, Harry_Styles, Niall_Horan,
      Liam_Payne, Eleanor_Calder, Poppy_Pomfrey
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe, Alternate_Universe_-_Hogwarts, Slice_of_Life, Coming
      of_Age, Alpha/Beta/Omega_Dynamics, Gender_Issues, Angst
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-09-04 Updated: 2014-10-08 Chapters: 4/7 Words: 12956
****** Being one of them ******
by Turtlepearlove
Summary
     "All the Tomlinson men have been alphas", father has told him enough
     times for it to sink down to his bones, all it makes him feel is cold
     dread.
     Excerpt:“And we have a son” the woman said, her brown eyes kind “he
     is around Louis’s age”
     The boy is tiny, pink and has curly hair “are you named after Harry
     Potter?” He is nowhere near Louis’s age though, blinks slowly, wide
     green eyes “No”
***** Chapter 1 *****
The crowd was loud enough to be deafening, Louis did his trademark spin round
the stadium that earned a whack from his passing team mate.
“Quit showing off”
He loved this, six years in and he still couldn't believe that he was here
playing, hearing the rhythmic chanting of his fans on the stadium, watching
everything pass by in a blur he could almost let himself believe that he was
happy.
“And that was another spectacular goal by Holyhead harpies chaser Louis
Tomlinson, a sure in for this year’s national team if the rumours are to be
believed”
Louis refused to look at the commentator’s box and add fuel to the rumours; he
could hear the chants go up higher and grinned to himself. The momentary lack
of attention was enough to completely miss the bludger that came hurtling
towards him, the sharp crack that followed was enough to get everyone’s
attention towards him.
He could feel pain and screams that sounded terrifying; he let himself slip
into darkness that seemed to be a welcome relief.
I
Louis first met Harry when he was still 6. The meeting was clearly a big deal,
his mother had stated straightening the collar of his brand new dress robes,
“they are a pureblood family too” He never did understand what pureblood stood
for, but he knew it was important. He had heard enough of his parent’s hushed
conversations to know.
Their house was bigger than Louis and he wanted to run into their backyard and
check for Gnomes, his own backyard was never big enough for gnomes he knew. But
his mother’s hands had his wrist in a tight grip as she marched into the house.
The house is beautiful, wooden panels, a rich maroon and curtains drawn and the
crystal shine of chandeliers. Louis was amazed, his mother’s nails pinch sharp
and subtle ‘Don’t gawk’ is implied. Luce looked uncomfortable too, straight
backed and lips pinched, Louis knew it is his ‘I don’t have time to play’ look.
“And we have a son” the woman said, her brown eyes kind “he is around Louis’s
age”
The boy is tiny, pink and has curly hair “are you named after Harry Potter?” He
is nowhere near Louis’s age though, blinks slowly, wide green eyes “No”
They play with toy broomsticks that barely hover about and then with a flying
train set that Louis loves, Harry is tiny, clumsy and shares easily enough. “I
like you” he says and watches Harry blush.
Louis thinks he likes Harry enough to exchange him for Luce.
 
II
 
The train station is the most crowded place Louis has ever been in, he is half
afraid that his father’s faint grip on his shoulders is not adequate to stop
the maelstrom of people from separating them. He wants to hold his father’s
hands instead, a long forgotten gesture from his childhood.
There is a brief moment that he thinks his father might hug him but he doesn’t,
his mother looks teary eyed and he boards the red train.
It’s noisy and crowded in a way Louis is not used to; he’s pushed and shoved by
older years, hurrying kids and random bursts of wand waving and wayward
trolleys. By the time he finds an almost empty compartment he is soaked through
his shirt with sweat, tired and grumpy “can I sit here?” he asks the tiny boy
with dark black hair and unusually long eyelashes.
“Yes” he says, and looks out of the window.
Louis sighs loudly and settles on the seat next to him “I am Louis Tomlinson”
he says and extends his hands.
“Zayn Malik” says the boy, his grip strong.
The boy doesn’t look inclined to speak, he doesn’t look shy either so Louis
fills in the spaces instead talks about his father, mother, his really old
house elves and his brother in 3rd year Slytherin.
“I have a sister” Zayn says when Louis pauses to take a breath, “she is younger
though”
“Is she nice?”
“Yea”
“nothing like Luce then”
They both grin in unison and that’s when Louis is sure that he has made a
friend.
The sorting is as terrifying as he imagines, the grand entryway, the castles,
the sudden rush of ghosts do not quiet remove his shaky fingers “Better be in
Slytherin son” his father says “the house that our ancestors were in”
He is reminded of them every day, towering portraits of sneering men and woman,
silently standing and judging, his father’s grip on his shoulders feel heavy
“make us proud son”
The giddiness only slips away later when the hat shouts out “Slytherin” to the
hallways and Luce claps and pats his shoulders “well done Louis” and he is
reminded of his father.
He settles next to Zayn who is thankfully sorted to Slytherin as well looks
vaguely displeased “It was a tie with Slytherin and Ravenclaw” he says
unprompted the food appears before he can continue.
III
Hogwarts is giant, terrifying and beautiful, and for the longest time Louis is
terrified of being lost amongst the never ending corridors and shifting
stairways.
“You ask the portraits then” Michael says, another Slytherin first year who
looks strangely closed off. Louis makes friends easily; there is Eleanor with
brown hair and the kindest eyes he had ever seen, there is Michael and Jesse
and Alexander and others who seamlessly flit in and out of his life, even the
nice Gryffindor boy with brown eyes who sits next to him in Herbiology named
Liam. But most importantly Zayn who remains strangely quiet, contemplative,
buried in books.
A week before Christmas break is when he hears the news that his parents are in
Hogwarts, “Is Luce sick?” he asks as he follows his mother’s quick steps to the
hospital ward, she smiles short and stiff “No sweetheart”
Luce’s bed is warded off at the very end- a sterile looking room, he sits stiff
in his bed in white cotton clothes. Luce looks tired but he smiles nonetheless,
“mother father, there was really no need to come”
Father smiles at that which surprises Louis, “Of course I had to come, my first
born an alpha”
The thing is Louis doesn’t really know what that means, he knows that there are
Alphas, Omegas and Betas, that Alphas marry Omegas as is the right thing to do.
He knows that his father is one, his mother is an omega, he knows that it is
rare for pureblood wizarding families to be so otherwise unless they are both
betas.
All of these are just facts till Luce smiles, sharp around the edges like his
teeth are not quite human and he steps behind his mother.
“It’s you next” his father says “all the men in our family have been Alphas”,
his grip around Luce shoulder seems strong and all Louis can feel is cold.
 IV
“Have you ever thought about it?” Louis looked up in surprise, he expected Zayn
of all people to be quiet company especially since he had been buried in books
all week long.
“About what?”
Zayn showed him the title of the huge book “Alphas, Omegas and Betas: The
structure of the wizarding world”
“A bit dry for light reading Zaynie”
Zayn scrunched up his nose in distaste, “I was curious” he said instead.
“Everyone in my family has always been alphas” Louis says and watches the
illustrated image of the first alpha imagined, a half wolf man who looks savage
in torn clothes and alarmingly sharp canines.
“That’s such bullshit” Zayn snorts “It is impossible for everyone in your
family to be alphas”
“Just the males then”
Zayn laughs “a statistical impossibility then”
He toys with the edge of the page slowly “none in the family tree then” He
remembers the tapestry, he remembers the faded lines and he remembers portraits
of babies who are never found as adults.
Zayn moves in closer and they sit together in silence, flipping through images
and laughing at the moving pictures.
V
Second year in Hogwarts comes without much of a fanfare, he grows a little
taller and the long hours of quidditch a little tanner.
“This is the year Zaynie, the year I make it into the Quidditch team”
Michael snorts loudly “you are good Tomlinson, not that good”
Louis retorts by throwing jellybeans at him instead, and settles back into
seat. He wonders why Hogwarts feels more homecoming than any of his years at
home ever did.
But second year brings a lot more surprises than expected when Mrs. Fairweather
ushers them into room and hands them silver charm bracelets and an explanation
about ‘heats’, “they will glow and thrum and you need to go the hospital wing
then”
Stella is the only one who refuses the bracelet “I was tested” she says “the
doctors tested me as a beta”
“Filthy mudblood” Alexander’s spew takes Louis back and ends in detention and
tears. To Louis they feel like prison cuffs.
Zayn walks beside him in silence “Promise me something Louis”
Louis is surprised at the statement looks at him in question “Promise me we
will be friends no matter what we turn out to be” and Louis nods and winds
their arms together.
 
VI
No one turns in their year, except in Gryffindor where Shelby Cartwright’s
bracelet glows bright red and a week later declared Alpha.
Louis doesn’t know if she looks any different, but there is a change to her
step, she walks stronger and her company changes. Zayn looks at her in open
curiosity “did you know that Alphas manifest younger than Omegas?”
The statement makes something uncomfortable churn low in his stomach, Alexander
smiles at him all tooth “All male Tomlinson’s are alphas aren’t they Louis”
Luce sits at the edge of their table, he already knows that most of Luce’s
friends are alphas, there is a girl next to him now. A tiny pale girl who
smiles coquettishly at him hanging on to his every word, Louis looks away in
disgust.
“Yes” he says instead meeting Alexander’s eyes.
He turns to Zayn then who has a book propped up by the pumpkin juice “What
about you Malik?”
“My folks are betas” he says not looking up
“you are small for a beta” Zayn doesn’t look up from his book continues eating
“fuck off”
Much later he tells Louis “I don’t really mind either way”, he dips his feet
into the cold lake water and looks at Louis, “sure it may close off a lot of
employment opportunities but marrying a millionaire is still an option”
Louis sinks down on the soft grass and squints at the bright blue sky “It’s not
really a choice right?”
He thinks that being a beta wouldn’t be so bad, the alternative makes him feel
sick.
 
VII
Being in third year makes Louis feel awfully old, he spends most of his time
playing Quidditch while his brother writes long letters and goes to meetings
with their father. Louis knows that father intends for both of them to follow
his footsteps and get a job in the ministry, he knows that Luce is meeting
important people while Louis throws his heart and soul into being in the
quidditch team. He feels alive in the air, feel his legs ache, his ribs hurt
and his body painstakingly change and plays till his bones hurt.
“Don’t overdo it Louis” his mother admonishes and her fingers twitch as though
she wants to run through his hair but stops.
He slams his door shut with a bang but feels small inside.
 
VIII
Luce holds court at the end of the table, being chosen a prefect only inflated
his ego. Last year’s petite girl has been replaced by a brunette who looks
vaguely ticked off. Louis decides that maybe if he was forced to listen to
Luce’s bragging he would e disgruntled too.
Alexander chooses to sit next to him then, his silver bracelet noticeably
absent when he reaches for the jug next to Louis “you still haven’t
manifested?” Louis is surprised at the warmth of his palms when he grabs
Louis’s writs.
“Will you two please be quiet, my sister is getting sorted!” Whatever angry
comeback Alexander has to say gets swept away with the incoming rush of first
years.
“Malik, Zora” turns out to be a tiny girl with dark black hair that tumble down
to her waist flounces towards the hat at ease, “Rawenclaw” doesn’t seem to
surprise anyone, even Zayn to whom she smiles before settling besides her
grinning peers.
“Is everyone in your family smart?”
Louis zones out the rest of the sorting till a familiar name is called out, he
looks up to see a very curly mop trip twice before reaching the sorting hat.
“I know that kid” he says to Zayn as Harry gets sorted to Griffyndor. He looks
suitably thrilled to be there and Louis feels vaguely disappointed that they
really will have no interactions in the future.
“He had this awesome flying train”
IX
Third year feels a lot like an incoming battle, as they slowly get picked
apart. As more and more - bracelets glow red, people get sorted into different
dorms-Alphas in one and everyone in another.
Louis makes in the quidditch team by the skin of his teeth, Malia cooper the
sixth year Alpha captain is really no softie “you better improve Tomlinson” she
says at the end of his tryouts “Or you are definitely in the reserve before the
first match”
Louis’s 5 out of 7 saves seems lacking somehow.
Zayn appropriately cheers at the sideline in a show of support, even though
most of the match was spent reading some heavy tome instead of paying attention
to Louis.
They walk back to idle gossip as Eleanor joins them “did you hear Liam Payne
manifested?” Zayn looks at her in curiosity “in the Quidditch tryouts no less”
“Gryffindor already had their try outs?”
“So how may are there?” Zayn asks instead, “how may alphas have manifested in
our year?”
“Around 3 I think?”
“why?” Louis asks instead
Zayn bites his lips, “well statistically in a sample of our year in Hogwarts of
roughly 200 students there must 20 alphas in our year”
“Assuming half will manifest at 13 and another half at 14, we should have
roughly 10 alphas in or year”
Eleanor looks impressed but all Louis can feel is dread “so if you don’t
manifest by next year”
“You are definitely not an alpha”
 
X
Louis scores almost five goals in the next match and then plays a significant
part in securing the house cup.
“Keep up the good work Tomlinson” Malia says “if you play this well you are a
sure in for the captain in the future”
But none of this matters when he gets home, when his father talks at the dining
table about how all Tomlinson men have been alphas.
Sometimes he thinks his mother might say something otherwise but she doesn’t,
thins her lips and asks for another cup of tea. He is almost happy that Luce
gets the prefect badge that it diverts his parents attention almost entirely.
The house party he slinks around the corners and hears his father’s loud
booming voice proclaiming how he always knew Luce would make him proud, he is
glad to be forgotten.
XI
Fourth year is a welcome relief to be away from home, he is glad that neither
of his parents bothers dropping him or Luce to the station and Luce disappears
almost immediately to the prefect’s carriage.
He is surprised to see that his usual carriage is already occupied by Michael,
Zayn and Eleanor. Their conversation stops abruptly when Louis walks in, for a
minute he ignores it. But the tension is palpable in the air and Eleanor looks
oddly uncomfortable.
He notices the missing bracelet, the fact that there is something off about her
“you manifested” he says instead trying his very best to keep the bitterness
out of his voice, but something must have bled out for Zayn moves to the seat
next to him. “Congratulations” he says instead
He wonders if that is why he suddenly feels uncomfortable around her, the
sharpness of her mouth must be mostly imagined but he draws away from her
nonetheless.
“I was supposed to meet some other people” They had never given excuses for
leaving the carriage, he knew that Eleanor was social, that what they had
wasn’t some narrow Slytherin clique. Yet the whole thing sits strangely on his
tongue as he says “see you around then”
“Well that was weird” Michael proclaims and fall back into his seat, Zayn
doesn’t say anything at all but Louis is inordinately pleased to note that he
still has his bracelet.
Manifesting as Alphas or omegas or betas meant that you went into heats, but
attraction as such wasn’t something that you felt only in your heats. The thing
was that he had always liked Eleanor, she was undeniably pretty but there was
something about the manner of her words, the curve of her mouth, that he had
left his mind wander on to her one too many times, he pushed her thoughts out
of his mind and rested his head on Zayn’s lap “How was your holiday?”
 
XII
The year divided them into smaller factions, most of the Alphas in their year
knew each other and as more of them manifested they seem to be aloof. The weird
thing was Louis knew that this was to be expected, aurors were predominantly
alphas, so were a lot of high level ministerial positions, even major quidditch
leagues, despite magic being an equalizer as far as alpha omega beta relations
went everyone knew that alphas were physically stronger and faster. He knew
that even with the broadening muggle influences, the wizarding world would
always see alphas as superior; he didn’t question these systems till it was
becoming clearer that he may not be a part of it after all.
He watched Eleanor and Jade sit with Liam Payne from Griffyndor more often than
not, it was strange to know that somehow house loyalty had eroded in the face
of their new found factions.
“I didn’t know they were friends” there was a tiny furrow in Zayn’s eyebrows as
he watched them laugh at some joke.
“Does it matter” there was something about the thinness of his lips that
answered Louis’s question “Did you like her?” he asks instead, surprised.
Zayn didn’t respond, suddenly looked very interested in his pudding instead
“Not her” he said softly.
The thing was that Louis shouldn’t have been surprised at this confession,
wasn’t. Zayn was most likely an omega, he was petite, slender, quiet so
characteristically omega. But Louis knew his wild side, that sarcastic bit that
he smelled like smoke more often than not, that he had never assigned a box for
Zayn regardless of circumstances.
“really” he asks “you could do better”
Zayn pinched his wrist but didn’t say anything, a week later Pierre Edwards had
asked him out and that was that.
Maybe it was watching Zayn’s nervous anticipation that had caused him to ask
Caroline hunt to Hogsmede.
“Are you sure about this?” he refused to roll his eyes at Zayn, considering his
two successful dates with Pierre made him think he was some kind of love
expert.
“Yes” there was no stress in dating her, she was beta and no matter what he
would manifest she wouldn’t care.
He stood with Zayn outside the Rawenclaw dorm hoping she would hurry up,
whatever Zayn was about to say was interrupted by an exuberant call of “Zayn”
and an armful of his little sister. She was followed by two boys who looked a
little alarmed “These are my friends Harry and Niall”
Niall turned out blonde, Irish and Hufflepuff while Harry was still curly, shy
and Griffyndor. “I don’t know if you remember me, but we met once as children”
Harry looked taken aback to be addressed by him “you had this awesome flying
train set”
Harry blushed, his stammered reply was cut off by the arrival of their dates
and Zayn was only let off with promises of candy for his sister.
Hogsmede was loud and noisy as ever with Pierre and Zayn parting their ways
Louis could feel the uncomfortable anticipation growing at the pit of his
stomach “where to first?”
Caroline who was looking at the passing displays said “Zonko’s joke shop, I am
out of fanged Frisbees and nose-biting teacups” and grinned brightly at Louis.
At the end of that day Louis had his first kiss, a tiny fleeting peck that made
his heart pound and left him dopily grinning for the rest of the day.
At the end of that year both Zayn and Louis had their first girlfriends,
neither of them manifested.
 
Louis can barely feel anything below his neck, the lights hurt his eyes, sharp
and prickling when he tries to open his eyes. He tries to speak, instead comes
out as a sharp whine, “don’t jolt him you idiot”
“I am trying to get him in the waiting room” the noises sound loud and
disorienting. There is a bright red light towards him that shocks everything in
his system before he can feel the vice like grip and he screams.
“Fuck” he hears before passing out.
 
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
     Non-linear narrative, pay attention to the numbers peeps.
I
Home life was not any better from what he had expected, he was only thankful it
wasn’t worse. It was clear that he wasn’t going to be an Alpha, his father’s
eyes slid over him like he was no longer worth acknowledging.
It helped that Luce had gotten an internship at the ministry and his father had
to meet several of his ‘old associates’ so that ‘everything would go well’.
September couldn’t come fast enough for Louis, who almost knocked away a group
of tiny second years, who looked alarmed at his speed.
“whoa there Louis” he was surprised to see a grinning Eleanor, she seemed to
closer to his height than not.
“Hi” Eleanor looked nervous as they both stood in the awkward silence, “I don’t
see you around anymore”
A year ago he may have found better excuses to turn away than initiate a
conversation, for now he didn’t particularly care. “Yea we should hang out” She
had got him a muffler for Christmas while he had given her a perfunctory bottle
of perfume, a gift that required little to no thought.
She couldn’t help the pleased grin that tugged her lips and she looked young
again, like the eleven year old who had cuddled next to him at the fireplace
many a times.
He made his way to the usual compartment and settled in to watch parents and
their children’s tearful goodbyes. It is not hard to spot Zayn in the crowd, he
sees Zora first who seemed to have grown considerably over the summer, her dark
hair still in long heavy waves hugging a rather good-looking couple.
Zayn was already dressed in his uniform, looked a little bit taller as he
hugged both his parents goodbye, his mother discreetly wiping her tears away.
Louis felt like his throat, like a heavy weight in his chest, looked away, they
looked happy at a distance.
It took a while for the lump to disappear entirely as he waited for Zayn to
come in.
He was taken aback by the fact that Zora had accompanied her brother to their
usual compartment “Hope you don’t mind Louis” she said settling both of their
bags in. Zayn didn’t greet Louis, was instead standing straight back glaring at
his sister “You don’t have to stay Zora”
“I don’t mind” Louis interjected before the weird sibling standoff intensified
any further “I manifested” Zayn said rather abruptly “I am an omega”
Louis could see Zora straightening up, as if she was prepared to take him on
even though she was almost a foot smaller. He briefly wondered if Luce would
ever do this, stand up to someone stronger, anyone to defend Louis.
“Congrats?” he said tentatively.
Zora relaxed slightly settled on the seat opposite to him “You don’t think I
care do you?”Zayn shook his head relaxing as well. But the implication had been
too clear to go unnoticed, even his best friend of past five years didn’t
expect any different from him.
He wanted to ask Zayn what was different, if manifesting was any different from
being a beta but all of that suddenly seemed too intrusive by the straight line
of his back, “How was summer?” he settled for instead.
Their idle chit chat was soon interrupted as Zora’s friends joined in, both
Harry and Niall had grown taller with the Irish boy sporting braces. “Muggle
parents” he offered as an explanation “Does it hurt?” Louis asked barely
containing the flinch every time he lashes the metal wires that seemed to be
holding his teeth.
“No” he said grinning, seemingly amused at Louis’s discomfort, “But I am
telling all the pureblood kids it hurts like hell”
They fall into an easy conversation after that, even Michael sits down and
doesn’t make a nuisance of himself, no one brings up Louis still fit bracelet
or Zayn’s absence of one.
The only awkward moment is during the ride back to the castle when Louis has to
squeeze in with Harry in the last carriage and he blushes and clams up and sits
stiff backed throughout the ride.
 
II
Louis wakes up on the first day and trudges half way to Zayn’s bed before
realizing that he is no longer in it. ‘New Dorm’ his brain helpfully supplies
as he stands there feeling hopelessly lost, breakfast with Zayn feels odd too.
There is Tamara Pierce and Emma Frost who accompanies him as well, Emma with
her white blonde hair and thinly veiled disdain is introduced with “they share
my dorm”.
Hogwarts fifth year first classes turns out to be nothing more than an
elaborate scare tactic to suppress any sort of joy in coming back to class.
 And much to Louis disappointment he shared every class with Emma as well,
except ‘Care of Magical Creatures’, “such a useless class” Emma had drawled “I
wouldn’t involve myself in anything that had me anywhere near mud and fur”,
whatever witty biting retort Louis has is put to an end by an apologetic Zayn
grinning “I picked Arthimancy as well”
The evenings do not turn any better for Louis, the only thing the captain tells
the team is that they have gotten so much worse over the summer that they would
have try-outs again.
In a strop he walks into someone and scatters their towering pile of books all
over the hallways, he apologizes to a blushing Harry. “I am sorry”
“It’s ok, you looked really angry”
Louis sighed “Yea well growing up sucks”
Harry looked adorably confused at that, “Is it the OWLS?” he asked. 
“No” Louis sighed and managed to pick up the last of the books named “Exotic
potions: Origins and Theory, Potions homework?”
“Something like that” the mischievous tilt to Harry’s lips were unmistakable,
Louis cast a lightening charm on the pile “I will let you get back to it”
“Erm do you want to....maybe...hang out instead, we could go to the kitchens?”
“You know where the kitchens are?”
“Yea” Harry was scratching the back of his head looking sheepish, “I mean I
know we are not supposed to go in...”
Louis laughs, “No I was just surprised”
The thing is Louis knows when he looks at Harry, with his bright green eyes
earnest, the faintest dusting of red high on his cheeks, epitomising the very
look Louis had the first time he saw a Harry Potter poster. He knows the
beginnings of a crush, he knows that he ought to dissuade it, untangle himself
so he doesn’t accidently hurt Zora’s thirteen year old best friend.
“Let’s go then” he says instead.
 
III
Emma’s new found friendship with Zayn doesn’t wither off within the first week
either and Louis doesn’t seem to be the only one bothered by it.
“They seem to be getting along really well” Pierre’s plate consists of mashed
pancakes and tiny sausage pieces that she viciously decimates with her fork
“Yea they share a dorm and everything” this fact doesn’t seem to make Pierre or
himself feel better. He remembers the late night conversations that cemented
their friendship, he wonders if that has changed as Emma places her perfectly
manicured hand on Zayn’s wrist “Looks like I am not wanted here” Pierre says as
she leaves.
Zayn doesn't notice.
 
IV
Quidditch team practices are harsher than ever, over the summer Zoe and Sarah
the team beaters had broken up causing them to direct the bludgers at each
other than away from the players, Louis had more than enough bruises from being
caught in the cross fire.
At the end of the practice with two broken hands, couple of sprains,
innumerable bruises and one hysterical fit by their team captain, they troop
back defeated.
He wanted to sink in front of the fire and bitch to Zayn about how terrible the
day had been, instead found him leaving with a bunch of people who Louis was
unfamiliar with. Mostly it was the fact that Louis was too far away for Zayn to
have seen him in any case, but he couldn’t help but feel left out. Like
everyone had moved forward in life when he was still stuck doing the same
things.
 
V
Louis was surprised to be ambushed by Harry after lunch, he could see Niall and
Zora standing away awkwardly but made no attempts to approach them.
“I was wondering if you could coach us for the Quidditch tryouts” “You are the
only person we know whose on the team”
Louis wanted to claim that he was in a different house, but considering the
fact that none of them were from the same house or even more to the fact that
he had no friends and after two successful dates his date had abandoned him as
well.
“sure why not” he ended up saying instead.
 
VI
Niall was the only one who was a decent Quidditch player “chicks dig Quidditch
players” seemed to be his only motivation for even playing it. Harry was
terrible, he was uncoordinated and found more joy in having competitions in
beating the bludgers to across the pitch than at players :won’t it injure
them?” he asked “seems unnecessarily cruel to me”
Louis refused to groan at the statement “Yes” chimed in Zora “Quidditch seems
to perpetuate unnecessary violence if you ask me”
They ended up lying on the pitch an hour later, Louis was the only one not
completely out of breath, the rest of them panting and wheezing nearby. “This
is horrible” Niall said in between gasping “No sport is worth this much effort”
“You are all terribly out of shape” Louis took off his shirt and used it as a
pillow instead “I think I am just going to lie here and enjoy the sunset”
He turned towards them and found both Zora and Harry staring at his chest “Done
ogling?” he settled for instead watched the sudden flush of red appear on both
of their faces, “ugh just put something on” Zora threw their makeshift Quaffle
at him instead.
After a very long time Louis felt okay.
 
VII
He’s so happy that he stops when he sees Zayn, Zayn who is surrounded by his
new posse. Most of them are omegas, have books opened and Zayn seems to be
writing something that Emma is saying, it looks like a study circle. Louis
tamps down the jealousy he feels, the fact that he was not asked or even
informed about this but walks towards them anyway.
The change is almost palatable when he reaches them, Emma stops talking and
looks at him Zayn looks surprised but doesn’t react. “Hey guys” The girl at the
corner seems to visibly flinch away from Louis, “Hey Lewis” Emma smiles at him
all teeth, Zayn smiles. The tension is awkward “so were you guys studying?”
“Stuff” Zayn says, the top book nearest to Louis reads “1st century omega
politics”, his smile feels strained and forced. “I’ll see you around” he says
abruptly and leaves.
For the first time in the 5 years they have been together at school Zayn leaves
for home at Christmas hols. The whole thing feel pitifully stupid as Louis
stares at Zayn from the owlery, bundled in scarves and coats, his hair is easy
to spot amongst the sea of students, Louis thinks he has an inbuilt Zayn radar
and promptly feels stupid for thinking that.
A week ago he had huddled in an empty classroom with a teary eyed Pierre about
their break up, “It’s Emma” she insisted “I think he likes her”
She went ahead and dyed her hair pink and was last seen holding hands with
Justin, Louis feels like he is the only one unable to move on.
Louis wakes up in the middle of Christmas night with his entire body burning
up, his eyes feel watery and his throat closed up. He realizes what woke him up
were in fact an incessant buzzing and a throbbing red light from his bracelet.
His whole body felt sweaty, he peeled out of his bed glad that his entire dorm
was empty due to the holidays and made his way to the hospital ward.
The last coherent thought that he has is that Madam Pomfrey looks surprisingly
adorable in her nightgown, before slipping away.
He wakes up to heat coursing though his veins, like he is on the wrong end of a
trip, every inch of his body hurts. He tries to pull of his sheet only to
realize it’s hovering above him with a cooling charm cast on it, the lavender
calms him momentary. The second thing that he is aware of, is need, the
actualization of it makes him shudder and groan. He is hard against his stomach
and wet, it barely takes two strokes before he arches off the bed and comes, a
toe curling, soul reaffirming kind of orgasm.
He is vaguely aware that he is in heat, but the wants of his body seem to take
a higher priority.  He is slick, wet and wanting, the first finger slides in
easily, with a few rhythmic tugs and he is coming again with just the knuckles
of his two fingers pushed in. Mostly he feels that it is hot enough for his
brain to melt through his ears, sometime between his lust fuelled haze he
remembers waking up sore, exhausted, and Pomfrey slowly helping him drink water
and potions. “Please” he begs though he doesn’t know what he is begging for,
she smells like medicines and lavender, smoothens his fringe back, matted with
sweat and murmurs “it will be okay, it will be okay” till he falls back to
sleep again.
The feeling of want does not abate, even his dreams are filled with images of
scents and phantom touches that wake him up wanting and shedding tears of
frustration. He is aware it feels better with his fingers in, he fucks in three
fingers and feels raw, fucked and open, he comes twice before falling back to
bed and sleeping before the next wave or madam Pomfrey wakes him up.
The heat last four days he is later told when he stats feeling vaguely human
again, when he feels wrung out, sore and numb. He refuses to think about it, he
refuses to cry, when he tries to stand up his knees buckle like a new born
fawn’s he settles back n his bed.
“And where do you think you are going young man?” Louis attempts to smile
endearingly but is handed over what looks like a green potion that smells
horrible.
 
VIII
Louis remembers that his parents had fought a lot when he was younger, there
were abrupt silences when he walked in rooms where he heard loud noises
previously. He remembers his mother in softer colours then, the Dragon book
that she used to read to him every night written in cursive was the name Thea
Argent. Her touches had disappeared as he grew up, trailing behind his father
for a glance, a word, a scrap of affection thrown at his way, his mother fading
from his memories, his life, to a woman that he only saw at dinners sometimes
and mostly parties where he wore stuffy dress robes and trotted respectfully a
step behind his parents.
He wakes up to someone petting his hair, he is more aware of her scent than
anything else. A hint of something sweet and familiar long faded, jasmines and
tea “Mother?” she smiles at him softly, doesn’t draw her hands away “hello
sweetheart”. He doesn’t remember her being kind, he draws back and attempts to
sit “when did you get here?”
His eyes are drawn to the door, there is not father of Luce, he should not be
surprised he tells himself.
“Your father had this important meeting...”
“Please don’t”
His mother wrings her hands, there is wisps of white in her brown hair now, her
once vivid blue eyes now faded looks apologetic “Louis darling” It was always
different when she said his name, a hint of her accent and smoothened vowels he
always thought it sounded lovely then, affectionate even.
“Will I be disowned then?” his attempts at nonchalance fails at the crack of
his voice, his mother rushes forward and holds him instead. “No no no love”
 
IX
He meticulously packs everything, folds all his clothes painstakingly by hand
and stacks them up in neat little columns of his trunk. His dorm is empty; the
few early returning students were still at dinner or the common room. He picked
out his stiffest robes, all sharp cuts of fabric; he once read somewhere that
dressing for war is the best way to take on life. The stairs doesn’t turn into
a slide when he steps on it; he makes his way to the omega dorms.  
He is thankful that it is empty, the dorm itself is no different, there are
book, stray clothes and mermaid painting interspersed with snake motifs. When
he was younger he used to spend hours looking out the window watching the
bottom of the lake hoping to catch site of the elusive merfolk, or be silently
terrified when the giant octopus swam by. He is surprised to see a silver owl
waiting for him, it always surprised him that owls managed to get it their
dorms without windows, nowadays he is just glad to get letters at all.
He spares a brief moment of panic with thoughts of being disowned flooding his
mind again, but it is not Emmet their family eagle owl. But a flashy snowy owl
that looks ridiculously pretty, the kind he had begged his father to buy first
year. He takes the letter and ties to remember if he had written to anyone at
all, the dragger emblem looks familiar, which becomes much clearer as he opens
the letter.
                                  Dear Louis,
   Your mother had informed me you manifested, your father must be none too
  pleased I suppose. But I am proud by little teapot, I knew you wouldn’t be
                     something as commonplace as an alpha.
Send me a letter if you want to talk, or even ditch your family for a vacation
                                  in France.
                               Your loving aunt
                                 Amelia Argent
He knew his mother had a sister, back when he was a child and summer vacations
in France was an annual thing. He remembered Amelia, who used to whisk them
away to shops and buy them muggle sodas. He wondered if it was his father that
put an end to those, their vacations dwindled as his father’s ministry duties
increased.
He didn’t realize how much hard he was holding the parchment till the end of it
tore, he slumped down on his new bed and uncomfortable sheets. There was a
small pouch of galleons, spending money if his assets were frozen, if he didn’t
have a home to go to.
He is so engrossed that he doesn’t even hear others come up, it takes him by
surprise Zayn who seems to be in conversation with Lilly stops abruptly “Louis
what are you doing here?”
He holds up his bare wrist instead “take a wild guess”
Zayn looks like he wants to say something, perhaps an explanation to why their
five years of friendship meant nothing when he manifested, why their
conversations had become so awkward or stilted, or perhaps why Zayn was so
eager to abandon him at the first sign of new friends.
He doesn’t look like he is going to offer any of these answers so Louis picks
up his letter, parchment and ink and leaves Zayn to his thoughts.
 
X
In the owlery when the last vestige of his anger wears off he feels desperately
alone. He thanks his aunt for the offer and agrees to think about it, an aunt
who he has never seen in the last decade is kinder to him than his own father.
When his letter is send he sits down on the cold had floor that smells like day
old cleaning charms and bird shit. His wallowing is interrupted by another set
of footsteps, Louis’s whole body tenses he knows it’s an alpha before he sees
the person, all sharp edges and the faintest hint of vanilla.
“Louis?”
Harry is still Harry, sans the bracelet, wide eyes and his curly hair hidden
beneath a vivid blue beanie “you okay?”
Perhaps he expected a different reaction instead of Harry settling down beside
him like it didn’t matter.
They spend a couple of minutes in silence “The kitchens always cheers me up”
Louis snorts “I don’t think this is a problem solved by food Harry”
“Is it about the...”Harry vaguely points towards his empty wrist “I mean
nothing has changed”
He looks painfully earnest saying that, like he really truly believes that,
like Louis didn’t lose his family, his best friend all because of this.
Even earnest he can’t quite hold off the faint tinge of pink, “I mean you are
still Louis and I am still Harry” perhaps it’s because Louis is so painfully
lonely that he reaches off and takes Harry’s hand “just let me” he says and
leans against Harry.
Harry feels warm and solid and Louis lets himself believe that everything is
okay.
                                       1.
“Styles, you are wanted at the emergency ward” Harry was jolted awake by the
eagle partronus, his neck ached from the uncomfortable position he had fallen
asleep in.  After his four years of med school and a year in St. Mungo’s he was
still a trainee healer, which meant a barely adequate salary and extra hours at
the emergency ward. Most days he didn’t complain, but tonight was one of those
nights that seemed to drag on forever, every muscle in his body screamed in
protest as he dragged himself to the emergency ward.
Sarah, the mediwizard-in-charge handed him a file, “23, Male, professional
Quidditch player was hit by bludger and suffered a misfired spell by the
mediwizard in charge”
“what seriously?” Harry sighed, the rumours had been rife with regards to the
capabilities of the on-site mediwizards, considering this was the third case in
the last 6 months with Quidditch players and on-site mix ups.
“so what’s the problem then?” he asked, looking at Sarah instead of the file
“Unfinished bond” she said “His body has gone into shock and we can’t cast
healing spells, no one knows who his bond-mate is”
There was an entire quidditch team waiting outside when he reached the doors,
he couldn’t help the mild irritation at their sight, he knew that they were
worried about their team mate, but the crowding and the general hysteria seldom
helped.
There was an angry red-head who seemed to be causing Luke the junior healer to
cower “are you telling me that there is nothing St.Mungo’s can do”
It took Harry a good minute to recognise why the face seemed so familiar, a
face that he had seen plastered on every newspaper article ever so often,
Hollyhead harpies team captain Ginevra Potter. Harry could feel his heart
racing, his eyes darting to her team mates dreading the familiar pair of blue
eyes that he was bound to see.
“there must be some mistake, he has never talked about a bond” The girl had her
hair dyed a vivid blue, Harry dragged his eyes away from her, pushed his way
into the ward instead.
It was always a shock to his senses to suddenly be indoors in complete silence
as opposed to the chaos and noise outside, the blue light surrounding was
unmistakable. The quiet hum of charms around him, all of them diagnostic Harry
knew.
He felt nothing, an odd kind of overwhelming numbness that he couldn’t
comprehend, he had always thought them meeting again would be different, that
maybe he would be overwhelmed by sadness, or that maybe he would feel the
contentment of acceptance. That he would be finally be able to move on, look
back at the time they spent together without pain, bitterness or anger.
Louis looked tiny, face scrunched up in pain even with the sleeping charm that
hovered on the bed, there was angry red glow emanating from his skin. Magic’s
last defence for all omegas, Harry knew, he had read about them in biology text
books. His hair matted, face distorted in pain and a sickly sheen of sweat that
covered his body, all Harry wanted to do was hold him.
He approached the bed carefully hoping that he was correct in his assumption,
Louis’s skin felt cold under his finger tips, he brushed away the hair from the
neck and spotted the red mark, stark against his skin. A familiar mark,
something he had spent the last six years contemplating, after all he had been
the one to put it there. He rubbed along the raised mark, of all the things he
had assumed that he would feel upon seeing Louis again, he never imagined
happiness. The healing charms worked without a hitch and Louis slipped from a
sleep charm to actual pain free sleep. Harry didn’t let go, he knew that they
were long overdue a talk, but mostly the fear that when Louis woke up again he
wouldn’t have a chance to do the same.
 
 
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Summary
     Harry's perspective.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
2.
Harry was eleven when he met Louis for the first time, he remembers because
Zora had insisted that they meet her brother before the summer holidays. He
remembers feeling intimidated and later in the year when Zora had dragged them
to the Gryffindor- Slytherin quidditch match. “There is Louis” she said
pointing to a silver green blur that shot by and she cheered for her apparent
enthusiasm.
Niall uses the opportunity to charm tiny pebbles to fly over and hit random
fans on the other side of the fence.
 
3.
The fact was that Louis had never taken centre stage in his life till third
year, he was always Zora’s older brother’s friend. Once Elaine, a fellow third
year had ambushed them in herbiology “you are friends with Tomlinson right?”
her friends seemed to be holding back giggles. “Yes” even Zora had looked
perplexed, “he is so cute” “Can you introduce him to me” That was the first
time Harry even considered the possibility that Louis might be popular.
“well he is in the Quidditch team” was Niall’s response in between reaching for
his fourth muffin “girls like Quidditch players”
But Harry knew Zora and she didn’t particularly care either way, “everyone is
different I suppose”, but then Zora had blushed and looked away and Harry
didn’t know any better.
 
4.
Third year summer hols brought ‘The Talk’ for the first time, he didn’t know it
then. But later in the evening his mother had walked into his room with a huge
book and her wand “we need to talk love” she said and proceeded to have the
most awkward hour between them.
“I am sure you've stated to find people attractive”
Harry who had taken to hiding behind his pillow refused to answer, his mother
patted his curls “Its ok sweetheart”
“There is no one” he insisted, but his traitorous mind conjured up Louis
Tomlinson in all his glory, post Quidditch victory grinning at him. He blushed
bright red and his mother laughed “It’s ok, you don’t have to tell me”
“I remember when I was young and there was this boy, he had this long shaggy
blonde hair”
“Eww Mom”
 
 5.
It was in their third year that Zayn had manifested, Harry knew because people
were talking about him. It was weird to think of Zora’s brother as attractive,
but when Harry caught sight of them boarding the train, even his heat skipped a
beat.
Zayn had looked something out a fairy tale book, all long lashes and sharp
cheekbones and eyes that seemed to catch the light in a million different ways.
“I mean I would never even admit this to Zora, but whoa huh” Niall had
vocalised much better than Harry, who was stuck staring mutely out of the
window.
“Heard he’s an omega” for the first time in Harry’s life those distinctions
meant something, cause normally Alphas found omegas attractive and vice versa,
“not that it matters” his mother had said “Cause a lot of Alphas love other
alphas and betas and all those things, as long as you are happy”
Later that year in the common room, he would hear other’s talking, even Liam
who Harry always thought was really nice.
“I mean he is really bloody hot right” some unnamed fifth year had said “I
wouldn’t mind giving him a good seeing to”
“There is more I would like to do”
For the first time Harry feels irrationally angry and the stinging hex out of
his mouth before he gives it a thought, the resulting fight lands him in the
hospital wing.
Zora screams and rages, only Niall looks oddly contemplative “People say shit
about omegas all the time you know”
The itching powder prank leaves a lot of players with boils that last for days,
only Liam looks apologetic. It doesn’t matter to Harry but he never quite sees
Liam in the same light again.
 
6.
 
Harry tries his best to reign in his crush, especially since the Zayn-Louis
falling out often leaves Louis in their company, ‘coaching’ them quidditch and
hanging out in them in the kitchens.
It catches him at the most inopportune moments, staring at the slant of his
lips, how delicate Louis’s ankle looks, the hint of canines at his smiles that
Harry never looks away fast enough. He finds that Louis is funny, charming, a
wicked sense of humour with an edge to it that Harry can’t help lean closer. 
He tries dating other people, some girls find him endearing but mostly at night
tucked between his sheets her imagines sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of
Louis’s neck and rocking into him.
Charlie becomes his first girlfriend for a brief time before Christmas break in
his fourth year, some shallow part of him wanted to mention it to Louis, wanted
to watch if there was any reaction, a hint of jealousy.
Charlie was funny and generally a nice person, though more often than not Harry
felt as though he was hanging out with a friend than a date. For a while he
even thought that maybe everything was fine, he still spent time with Louis
whose smiles did not reach his eyes, or Zora who started to look more worried.
Harry was grateful for the Christmas break and futilely hoped that everything
would be okay by the end of it.
 
7.
In the cold December in the cover of his home he manifests, its want and lust
and heat that seems to consume his entire being. He jacks off enough for his
wrist to feel sore, his dick to chaff and yet he can’t seem to want to even
contemplate stopping. It lasts four painful days and in his dreams he tears
into his pillow, canines sharpened, feels more feral than human.
No one mentions the heightened senses, post heat he spends three days in agony
because suddenly everything is too bright and too loud. Smells hit him harder
too; it takes a little longer to get used to “that’s why a lot of Alphas and
Omegas get bonded young” his healer tells him “It helps stabilize your sense,
shortens your heat”
His mother looks agitated instead “you are not advising for it are you?”
“No no of course not” she looks apologetic, but Harry knows with the remnants
of a lot of pureblood hierarchy and the poster on the wall that says “a good
omega is a bonded omega”. The thought of it makes him sick.
 
8.
 
A part of Harry forgets about Louis, he comes back to a still obnoxiously
cheerful Niall sans the band and Zora. There is a sense of relief in the
knowledge that the nature of their relationship does not change with his status
as he shoulders his way through the returning students he can almost pick out
their scents. Or most importantly he can sense the omegas clearer, there is
always an edge of sweetness to their scents he can sense that they move away
from him as well when he pushes through.
He is glad about the relative quiet as he makes his way to the owlery and
wrinkles his nose at the scent of unwashed birds and poop. It takes a minute
for his senses to zone into the other presence, hunched down at the stairwell
looking inordinately sad.
He smells like grass and wet earth and burnt sugar that Harry has to tamp down
the urge to pull him closer.
It takes a moment to place those clear blue eyes “Louis” of course it would be
him, it would be the fact that every inch of his body and mind was urging him
to pull the other boy closer. But he doesn’t, he tries to be a good friend and
later while Louis sinks closer and places his head against his shoulder Harry
tries his best not to push any closer or want anything more.
 
9.
 
It all comes to head sooner than later, in the summer of fourth year when he is
pushed into an empty broom cupboard.
Harry was surprised that the stranger who ambushed him was Louis maybe he
shouldn’t have been surprised Louis had done his fair share of pranking. 
Except he did not look like he was going to share something funny, he looked
pale and agitated.
“Did you know that alphas and omegas are allowed to board outside the castle
during heat season” there was rush of colour at his cheekbones “I mean a lot of
purebloods do it, you just have a write a letter to the head of your house”
“Anyone past third year, I know” Harry said instead, because he felt
uncomfortable. He had understood that his long harboured crush towards Louis
was in vain when Louis manifested, because pureblood, rich, gorgeous and
quidditch player meant he had his pick of Alphas. Harry knew where he stood, he
knew he was good-looking and more than one omega had made their intentions
knows towards him, but not Louis, never Louis.
Louis who looked gorgeous, even in the dim light of heir cupboard, with his
vivid blue eyes and long lashes, the slant of his cheekbones, dainty wrists
that could hit a Quaffle halfway into the goal.
“Do you see where I am getting at Harry?” he was startled into paying attention
to what Louis was saying.
“I am sorry” he settled for instead and smiled, it always seemed to work on
girls, especially the dimples.
Louis blushed instead “I am asking if you want to spend my heat with me?”
Harry would have loved to claim that he had smiled instead and said ‘yes of
course’ instead of choking of air and saying “what?” instead.
Louis had now taken to intently stare at the door instead “only if you want to”
he amended, “yea yes of course” Harry hurried to say, after all he had spent
many a nights imagining how that would feel like.
He had looked momentarily taken aback by Harry’s response, almost as if he was
bracing for rejection instead, leaned forward and kissed him. It was barely
that, the softest, fleeting brush against his lips that sent sparks flying
through his spine.
“Thank you”
 
10.
Harry had imagined this many times, his first time had featured pretty much
every omega in the school so far and a fair amount of betas and the occasional
alpha. And of course Louis, in every position imaginable bent over with knee
high stockings or in candle light, teary eyed and begging.
But standing outside the non decrepit door in the homely looking inn, Harry
hesitated to open. He was already given the key, the cold metal keyed to his
magical signature felt heavy and cold in his palms.
He finally took a deep breath and heaved himself through the room, only to find
it empty and the shower running. Harry sighed in relief, at least this way he
could freak out by himself a little while longer, the room was fairly cosy,
dark comfortable looking sheets, heavy curtains and the bedside table filled
with a few unrecognisable bottles. The first one turned out to be strawberry
flavoured lube that he dropped in haste when the shower shut off.
He remembered 13 after his first heat when his mom had made him cast a
contraceptive charm five times before it shimmered the perfect pale blue. He
remembered blushing so hard that he thought he was going to pass out of sheer
embarrassment “you will thank your mother later young man” the healer in charge
had said and his mother giggled.
That had however insured that he proactively cast the charm only to see the
familiar blue light previously cast.
Louis stepped out of the shower in pyjamas that looked well worn, his hair
looked darker damp curved against his Falmouth Falcons that looked frayed
around the edges. He settled on the edge of the bed, “so you are here”. Harry
could smell his peppermint body wash and the traces of shampoo and an
indefinable smell that makes Harry subtly scoot over, he didn’t look like he is
in heat, not like those shady Playwizard magazines that Niall managed to
smuggle in, all flushed, wet and wanting, pupils blown wide and begging. Louis
looked like he was in control, slightly flushed from the showers and nervous.
Harry felt uncertain and wrong footed.
“So the room has food, in case you want some?” Harry shook his head, they
settled into the sort of uncomfortable silence again. There was a voice
prompting him to say something inside his head, but he found it difficult to
speak anything when he was trying his level best not to look at what the rest
of the bottles on the bedside table was for.
“we should kiss” Louis’s voice was so low pitched that Harry was surprised he
could hear anything, he looked nervous, eyes downcast, Harry moved too fast and
the kiss ended up with an unexpected head bump. He tried to rear back and
apologize, instead found Louis’s hand on the back of his neck.
Louis pressed in again, softer and much more in control, his hand tugging at
the back of Harry’s curls as his tongue swept along his bottom lips  Harry
couldn’t help but open his mouth, sink further in as Louis took control.
“fuck” he breathed out as they broke apart, Harry felt a little undone and
Louis smelled like wet earth and summer rain that made Harry want to bury his
head at his neck and lick a broad stripe till the edge of his ears. Louis’s
grip on his biceps tightened but he didn’t move otherwise, his skin felt
surprisingly warm against Harry’s clammy hands. He pinned Louis on to the bed
mostly because it felt like it was the natural progression, lightheaded he
chased Louis’s mouth again before he drew back.
“we should take off our shirts” Harry almost knocked his elbows into Louis’s
face in a hurry to comply. Louis laughed and then blushed, his eyes skimming
over his torso, placed his hand on the centre of Harry’s chest “your heart’s
beating really fast”
Mostly it felt good Louis warm and solid beneath him chased his mouth back
every time Harry drew back, up close he could see the tiny smattering of
freckles on Louis’s nose, the tip of his lashes golden or the fact that his
pupils were blown wide, when Harry skimmed his fingers along Louis’s ribs and
then his stomach he could feel his abdomen clench and Louis groan, his eyes
pressed shut.
An abstract part of his brain informed him that Louis had started looking more
like his fantasies; his hips had found a stuttering rhythm against Harry, his
fingers in a bruising grip.
The worst bit was that the heat was everything he had imagined it would have
been, he felt that Louis was burned into his skin. All soft cries and an iron
grip, or how sweetly he had begged to “just go faster” and how he had curled up
in the crook of Harry’s shoulder.
He wonders if it’s a one-time thing, and fears that asking would break the
spell that seems to be upon them. Louis had locked up the door, was dressed in
a huge black hoodie that seemed to soften his edges, beneath Harry’s finger he
remembers how thin Louis was, all bones and the beginnings of hard muscles. “We
shouldn’t tell others” his lower lips looked bitten and raw “you are fourteen
and I am being really stupid”
Harry reached over and laced their fingers together “Your heat won’t be for
another six months”
Louis nodded but didn’t draw back “do you want to spend it with someone else”
It felt weird to be asking that, nothing was set in stone and Harry knew that
he looked stupid and clingy for asking about something six months into the
future
“I don’t think I don’t want to” Louis said honestly “but I can’t decide six
months is advance either”
 
11.
 
Harry was aware of his heartbreak, like a big gaping wound that felt raw around
the edges. Niall was not the only one who asked if Harry spent his heat with
someone else, some of them patted his back and asked for details. All he felt
is a vague sense of sorrow, like the world has suddenly grown darker. He didn’t
really want to hang out with Niall and Zora or alienate Louis, but instead
learned that Louis was on better terms with Zayn again.
“It’s really awful you know, I feel like I can’t even recognise Zayn anymore”
The Slytherin group of omegas were popular that much was clear, whether it was
Emma frost, or Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik or Harlow Maddison. The only
Slytherin alpha who had dared make a disparaging comment had ended up with
boils that none of them could charm away.
It was strange to think of Louis as mean, but every time Emma snapped or Zayn
walked away Louis seemed to follow.
Harry’s resolve to move on ended up with him saying yes to Hogsmede with
Charlie again, considering their break previously it only seemed to rekindle
their previous relationship. Charlie found herself with her nose three times
the normal size and an exasperated Madame Pomfrey looking for cure, Harry could
feel the vague nausea curling up in his stomach.
He found himself pulled into another dark brook cupboard and Louis looking
antsy “did you do this?” Harry hated that his words shook and even in his anger
all he could smell was Louis, like wet earth and sweat and blue eyes that were
intense. He pushed forward, pressing his lips against Harry with sweeping
tongue and the sharp edge of his teeth sinking into his lower lip. Harry pushed
him back against the wall and kissed him harder, pouring in every bit of his
frustration, anger and heartbreak. Sharper nips along his neck where there were
faded bruises from last week still till Louis squirmed and pushed him back.
“Harry” he looked frenzied, wide eyed “you can’t date other people”
Harry wanted to snap back, instead found himself being kissed again urgently
“promise me”
And Harry never wanted to leave the cupboard again, with Louis fitting into the
curves of his body like he was meant to, pushing against his, arousal flooding
through his system as he grinded against Louis.
Louis with his fingers curled against Harry, breathing rapidly was trying to
muffle his gasps against Harry’s shoulders. He smelled like want and sweat, and
Harry fumbles his way through his slacks and presses his palm against Louis’s
cock.
All Louis can do is fit in every stereotype of an Omega ever slowly begs Harry
before they are both rutting against each other and panting into each other
mouth. Louis hates that he is easy, hates that all it takes is the scent of
Harry to leave his hard, wet and wanting.
He rests is head on Harry as he casts the cleaning charm, the sharp sting of
bleach lowers his haze significantly “what are you doing to me Louis?”
Except its Louis who looks broken “you can’t leave me” he says instead pressing
his lips against Harry, and Harry who can’t leave even if he wanted to.
Chapter End Notes
     Remember peeps comments and kudos are love! Also let me know if a
     Zayn-Liam interlude would be appropriate, since their relationship is
     a separate part of this story.
***** The Emma interlude *****
Chapter Summary
     A sort of filler chapter hopefully trying some loose ends.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
1
Emma had always knows that she was going to be an omega, perhaps it was the
fact that Veela genes had always predominantly featured in the Frost line, or
even the fact that her hair was enviably platinum blonde “just like your
grandmother” she was told.
Her grandmother Evelyn- no-last-name had eviscerated her grandfather in their
four month mark, irrevocably removing the age old wizarding notion that Veelas
mate for life. Emma had always related to her, her grandmother who came to
visit often, her nimble fingers braiding her hair and left when she felt like
it.
Emma wanted it too, the desire to leave when her heart pleased. When she was
younger she would cry, throw screaming fits to leave with her grandmother and
later she realized as she waited by the arching windows and ornate curtains
that some had more freedom than others.
2
Hogwarts meant freedom of a different sort, Emma was not a fan of the shared
dormitory, the tacky silver bracelet or the over abundance of green and silver
that dominated the Slytherin common room.
“they are not even trying” Harlow had said, settling into the common room
chairs. There was often a sort of repetitiveness that came with pureblood
families, their houses, their mannerisms or even their predictability in their
choice of friends.
She knew there was a new omega in her dorm even before she stepped in, there
was a trunk with ‘Zayn Malik’ written in cursive and a boy slumped over face
first in the neighbouring bed. He smelled like parchment and ink and something
sweet, she always wondered how other omegas felt. If their sense of smell told
them omegas were unattractive, “like the cloying sweetness that only a fellow
omega could smell” Franklin’s monologue had once told. She always found the
scent pleasant, a reinforcement of her wrongness perhaps.
“Hello there” he jolted in surprise, face pale and then a red flush “sorry
didn’t see you there”
He is beautiful Emma realizes, unblemished skin, dark hair and high cheekbones,
she wants to curl her fingers against his wrists and feel if his eyelashes
would feel as soft beneath her kisses. “Newly manifested then?” she asks, he
nods.
3
Zayn is scared she can tell, if she had not prepared for the inevitability of
being an omega she would have been too. Prior to the first Goblin rebellion,
all Omegas had to wear dark green robes, a collar for those who were bonded.
She remembers the history book that eschewed the virtues of this practise, had
she been born before the war they would have stripped her dignity of holding
her head high, a hooded veil for all unbounded omegas, eyes perpetually on the
floor.
She knows the instinctive flinch every time an alpha comes near, their
presence, broad shoulders and how they sweep past with their mere presence
uncaring. She knows she’s smaller, weaker, that even with her heightened sense
twice every year she would want an alpha, a knot, to be fucked with abandon, to
shed everything she had held dear.
Later that year when Jade had wrapped her fingers around Zayn’s wrist when
talking to him, she had bared her teeth and cast a stinging hex. “Don’t you
dare touch him” she had glared back, but Emma did not look away, holding her
gaze till she back away.
“Don’t look down Zayn” she said forcing him to look at her, “don’t trust your
instincts, and fight back”
“Because if you don’t fight back you are nothing, you are nothing but someone’s
last name, someone’s father, someone’s spouse, something that belongs to
others”
“Isn’t that a bit harsh” Harlow had looked uncertain; her ebony curls were now
curled to submission, demure and in place. Harlow who had preferred tag in her
youth, now sat legs crossed voice soft.
“Are you really that stupid love” Emma said, cupping her face in her hands “you
remember what happens to omegas right? We get written off, we settle for lesser
things because half the doors are closed already”
“What do we do then?” Zayn asked.
“We fight back”
4
She knew Luce Tomlinson better than Louis. He had asked her out once, cornering
her after her Charms class looking particularly good in his grey shirt, hair in
an artful disarray.
“How about Hogsmede this weekend?”
She hadn’t bothered keeping the disdain out of her voice “no” he looked
shocked, like he had never been rejected. Her fingers twitched a million curses
in the tip of her tongue, she reached for her wand when he moved only to
realize he was sweeping his hair back.
His eyes widened in understanding, his lips curving into a smirk “not so brave
huh?”
Louis had walked away from them today looking hurt, one too many obvious
exclusions. Zayn’s eyes kept seeking his out in guilt, “It wouldn’t be too bad
mated to a Tomlinson I suppose” Harlow chewed her sausage slowly in
contemplation, “very alpha dominated household though” she said at last,
drawing Zayn’s attention to their conversation.
“It’s harder to let pureblood notions go in a household like that you know”
Zayn nodded absently watching Louis engaged in a conversation with Michael
“Louis is not like that you know”
“Just because he is not an alpha doesn’t mean he thinks omegas are equal” Zayn
pressed his lips together but didn’t speak, his eyes didn’t wander back to
Louis either.
 
 5.
 
Emma did not care much for alphas, she didn’t waste her time thinking about
people who in no way contributed to her life, however being an omega in a dorm
full of them meant that she had to tolerate gossip regardless of her personal
feelings on the matter.
That is why her unnecessary shortcut to the hospital wing surprised her, she
didn’t let Zayn know least he felt the need to check it himself.
She could distinctively see the mop of curly hair laying on the bed with Zayn
little sister and a blonde boy accompanying her. She didn’t intend to overhear,
but she did specifically ask Madame Pomfrey for a sleeping drought without the
shrivelfig which she knew was kept in the cupboard at the other end of the
room.
“I am going to curse those sons of bitches” Zayn sister did not attempt to
lower her voice, Emma discreetly slipped into the neighbouring room “I can’t
believe they said that”
Before she could storm out the curly haired boy grabbed her wrist “do me a
favour and don’t tell Louis”
Emma could sense that the silence that followed was loaded, ‘Tomlinson?’ she
mused to herself. “Harry” Zayn’s sister sounded exasperated, “Please Zora I
don’t want him to worry”
Madame Pomfrey had brought back the potion before she could overhear anymore,
she did catch a glimpse of the curly haired Harry blushing bright red.
Christmas breaks were always the best and the worst, winter solstice brought
her grandmother back, but also the hoards of relatives that she was happier not
seeing. The break aside she was glad to be back at Hogwarts, she did not miss
the additional bed or the fact that Zayn seemed to be sitting straight back,
face pale.
“Is everything all right?”
Zayn pointed at the opposite bed instead “it’s Louis, he’s the new dorm mate”
It took almost all of Emma’s self control not to bawl, she resisted the urge t
have a complete breakdown settled calmly on the bed and laughed.
“Louis Tomlinson”
In a way it was interesting, even though she hated Louis, his high and mighty
attitude, his constant need to be hyper and crack terrible jokes, the voices he
did, his annoying presence, she did want to see how he would fare as an omega.
The following weeks Louis managed to avoid Zayn with a precision that she
grudgingly admired, as Zayn sulked and pouted, Louis spend surprisingly large
amount of time with Zayn’s sister and her two friends. She remembered Harry of
course, the boy who attempted to take down the Gryffindor quidditch team, but
interestingly Harry was without is bracelet which she would find that he had
manifested as an alpha.
As much as she loathed Louis, she had cornered him in the herbology greenhouse,
smiling politely as Louis attempted to feed the snapdragon pods “what do you
want Frost?”
“Well Louie I would like world peace and this wonderful dragon leather boots I
saw at Gladrags”
Louis looked like he was going to snap back instead clenched his jaw, that made
him look surprisingly attractive “What do you want?”
“Talk to Zayn”
Louis looked up fast enough that Emma stepped back “what?”
“Listen Louis, let me make it clear, you can hate me or Zayn as much as you
want but you need her more that we need you” she delicately plucked the pod
that he was clenching tight and showed the correct way to extract their seeds.
Louis was glaring at her “you can pretend all you want Louis but being an omega
changes things, people will treat you differently if they haven’t already, all
those pureblood opportunities you had is shut down unless you are looking to
get married”
She paused as Professor Sprout awarded them five points for extracting the pods
correctly, she smiled at Louis “So go talk to Zayn Louis, you cannot survive on
your own, that’s why you are in Slytherin”
She wasn't even surprised when Louis took the seat next to Zayn during lunch,
Zayn’s eyes that lit up looked inordinately pleased, “Pass the peas Emma” he
said and she smirked at Louis.
 
6.
Emma wouldn’t call herself the leader, sure the ‘Omega reading club’ had been
founded by her and McGonagall seemed very happy at her efforts, it brought
together all omegas and gave them an opportunity to discuss stuff or create hit
lists of alphas who found themselves with warts in places they weren’t eager to
share.
She loved that Zayn had become an expert in casting non verbal spells or that
Louis was surprisingly good at sneaking around. She even loved the fact that
they called her ‘ice bitch’ behind her back, she liked her invisible throne.
Despite their changed status Louis couldn’t seem to completely wean himself
away from the ragtag fourth years that he spent surprisingly large amounts of
time with. She could see the way he was leaning against the curly haired one
with the Gryffindor scarf.
“I am not spending my heat alone this year” she had finally found some time
with Louis alone, working on their Defence against dark arts project, a subject
that she needed no help in.
Louis paused writing “seriously?” he looked surprised.
 
 7.
 
“Yes” she said “heats are terribly as it is, I am taking a room in Hogsmede,
there is this lovely inn by Rosemerta”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Well I assumed you are spending it alone this year either considering the
inordinate amount of you spend with that Gryffindor boy”
Louis blushed and looked away “I am not, it’s not like that”
Emma laughed “don’t tell me you are saving yourself up Louis darling, has the
pureblood drivel brainwashed you? Are you waiting for your bonding day?”
Louis glared “I don’t think we are like that”
Emma just pulled the book closer “He’s an alpha love, I assure you if it’s not
you he’s going to be spending it with some beta girl, don’t come trying to me
then”
She could see Louis mulling, she wasn’t interested in what he was thinking “I
did hear he was with Charlie”
“Blonde, Hufflepuff” Louis clenched his jaw, that afternoon she asked Malia
Cooper to spend her heat with. Malia blushed and nodded, Emma was pleased.
 
Chapter End Notes
     I really hope this has addressed a lot of questions that were
     previously asked. Please do let me know if there is anything further
     you would like to know. Also if you like this fic is general, reviews
     are greatly appreciated!
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