Chapter Text
It was an hour past midnight on June 5th when Draco Malfoy came into his inheritance. It felt like waking up from a horrible nightmare. The sheets were sticky with sweat, and an awful vibrating chill ran from the back of his neck all the way down his spine. His hips ached horribly in a way he couldn't explain, like someone was trying to pull his limbs from their sockets. He gasped as he unstuck himself from his sheets and stumbled out of his bed. His legs gave out underneath him, and he was forced to hold himself up on his hands and knees on the viridian green area rug next to his bed.
It was hard to think, but Draco knew what was happening. He realized it was his 18th birthday, and this surge of magic was his inheritance. Struggling, he twisted around, propped himself up on the side of his bed, and layF his head down. With a shaking hand, he reached out and grasped the tiny porcelain medicine cup his mother had left on the nightstand. Draco tossed its contents back like a shot of fire whisky. The liquid tasted tart and sweet like cherry juice, and the effects settled in immediately. The aching in his belly faded slowly until it was barely noticeable. The air around him grew cooler as a comforting magic spread through his body, like a lovely blanket.
With the pain mostly gone, sleep overtook him quickly. He didn’t even bother to get back into his bed.
In one barely conscious movement, he stole a pillow from his bed and flopped onto his bedroom floor as the world slowly faded around him.
The first thing Draco became aware of the next morning was his mother softly speaking and rubbing his shoulder to wake him. The second was the quiet voice of the family healer somewhere nearby.
Healer Velev said, "A male omega is rare."
Narcissca smiled softly, “It’s an honor, truly, I never would have guessed.”
“You never can predict these things. I’ve cared for only two other male omegas in all my time as a healer, and inheritances are always partially rough,” Healer Velev boasted.
Draco slowly pushed himself up from the floor, using his arms for support before sitting back on his heels. He then rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the blur of sleep.
“I feel like I’ve been hit by the Hogwarts Express,” he mumbled.
Draco slowly pulled himself to his feet, feeling unsteady, and walked over to his bed. He climbed in carefully, very aware of how unsteady his body felt. .
He arranged himself against the white downy pillows, sitting with his back pressed gently against the headboard.
“What happened to me?” he asked.
Healer Velev sat down on the side of his bed. “When a female omega comes into her inheritance, she does not need to grow a womb; however, being male, you had to grow one magically.”
Draco was silent. In all honesty, he had never even expected this to be a possibility for him. He was a Malfoy. A strong Quidditch player and future businessman. He wasn’t a wife or mother.
“I don’t want any of this!” he exclaimed.
“It will take a couple of months, but you will adjust, and I think you will find your wants and needs may start changing. I implore you not to be afraid of that; it's only natural,” Healer Velev said in a comforting tone.
"How can I return to Hogwarts?" Draco exclaimed, panicked.
His mother sighed, “We have a while yet before we make any decisions about Hogwarts, but for now, I think it’s time for you to rest.” She then turned to Healer Velev. “When do you think he will start to feel better?”
“I assume it will take a couple of days of recovery, but Draco will be feeling brand new soon,” The healer stated.
“And what about his first heat? Do you have any idea when that might be here?” Narcissca asked. Draco blushed and stared down at his bedspread.
Healer Velev smiled, “I’m not sure, however, with the other two male omega patients I have worked for, their first heats came about two weeks after they came into their inheritance.”
“Thank you, Ellaire,” Narcissa told her sincerely.
Healer Velev picked up her bag and began to leave his bedroom. “Just send for me at any point if he needs me, oh, and Draco… I would recommend buying The Preparatory Guide For The Male Omega. Flourish and Blotts should have it, if not, I’d check Hennrick's Magical Literature.”
With the healer gone, Draco and his mother sat in silence for a moment.
“I’m so excited for you, this is such a lovely journey,” Narcissa said lovingly.
Draco huffed, “I’m not sure what's lovely about growing a whole new organ on your bedroom floor in the middle of the night, mother.”
She laughed, and Draco looked surprised. He very rarely heard his mother laugh; in fact, he hadn't since his father was sent to Azkaban.
“Well, I suppose that part is pretty horrible, and the heats aren't partially enjoyable either before you are mated,” she agreed.
Mated… Draco hadn't thought about that. There were a few facts in the magical world that would not be argued. An Omega had to mate with an Alpha. Not doing so would result in many years of suffering through horribly uncomfortable heats, as well as never being able to have your own children. Another fact was that female Alphas just didn’t exist. Draco would have to mate with a guy. And he hated even more that it wasn't repulsive to him anymore.
Draco rolled over in his bed to face the window, turning away from his mother. Seeing this, his mother sighed softly and pulled the blanket over his shoulders before leaving.
“Later this week, when you're feeling better, we can visit Diagon Alley, we can get that book, and pick you out a birthday gift,” she said before she left him alone to rest.
Resting was the last thing the blonde boy was doing. His thoughts raced. The life he had assumed was ahead of him was now void, and a completely new reality had taken its place. He couldn't imagine himself as a mother. Tiny little babies scared him; they were so delicate. They were also so sweet. He grimaced at the intrusive thought. The worst thing about it all was that he would be the one to receive the claiming mark. In all honesty, he had fantasized about giving one, not about receiving one. Not to mention, he was a male omega. Highly sought after and very valuable. Being an omega as a female was already not the safest. Finding a genuine connection with someone who wanted love, not a trophy would prove difficult.
All of this was going to be terrifying.
Diagon Alley was calm and quiet, or at least as much as it could be. As he walked along the side of the path with his mother, he watched the people mill about and wander through different stores. He had hoped he wouldn't see anyone he knew today. Interacting with any of his classmates, especially his friends who had already presented as alphas, sounded horrible. Whether they would shun him or want to have him as a mate, he didn’t know and honestly didn't want to find out
Unsurprisingly, his mother wanted to stop in Mrs. Lauderfells. The store was intended for female omegas, but as he was informed last night, the primary gender didn’t fully matter in these cases. From the moment they entered the tiny shop, Draco felt uncomfortable. A few women glanced at him oddly for a moment, but quickly lost interest.
His mother noticed her son's nervousness and leaned in toward him. “You know, honey, being a male omega is rare, but it isn't unheard of… It’s about as rare as having green eyes.”
He took a deep breath and began to look around. There were lots of clothes, many of them made of a soft-looking cotton fabric. There were also a few shelves with children's books, toys, and all sorts of things one might need if you were expecting a baby.
However, this wasn't what they were here for. He followed his mother as they headed to the back of the store and stopped in front of a potions counter.
The kind, older-looking witch, whom he could only assume was Mrs. Lauderfell, smiled at his mother, “Narcissa, it’s been so long. How have you been?”
“We’ve been as well as we can be,” his mother smiled sadly. His father's involvement with Voldemort and his subsequent imprisonment was not private knowledge as much as their family wished it were. Draco knew his mother was sad that his father was gone; however, Lucius Malfoy had not been a good husband or father, and both he and his mother strongly believed this.
“What are you needing today, my dear?” Mrs. Lauderfell asked Narcissa.
“Actually, it’s not me we are shopping for today, Draco has just recently presented!” she told the order woman.
Mrs. Lauderfell gasped and giggled a little with excitement. “Oh, how lovely!” She then turned to Draco and lowered her voice. “This new time in your life is going to be most exciting.”
Draco couldn't help but smile. Everyone seemed so happy for him; maybe there was some stock to all this omega stuff being nice. The blonde boy watched the older lady toddle behind the counter and come back with a parchment-wrapped package.
“These are important, especially for when you go into heat, they are self-drying pads you wear in your knickers. It will make sleeping so much more comfortable,” she explained. Draco blushed profusely.
“I… um… thank you,” he told her without making eye contact.
Mrs. Lauderfell then turned to his mother.
“Will you be purchasing any heat suppressant potions or pheromone blockers?”
Draco immediately started scanning the lined-up potions behind Mrs. Lauderfell. The labels were incredibly exciting. It would be wonderful if he could prevent his heats from happening unless he wanted them. Having heats was what Draco had been dreading the most, especially since he would have to take a whole day or two off from classes every time that he had one.
“How long do they last? The heat suppressants," Draco blurted out. Maybe he seemed too excited.
Mrs. Lauderfell sighed. "About five hours. Only use them rarely… heat suppressants aren't good for your body. In fact, using them may make the next heat worse or more unpredictable.”
Draco sighed. This was hell. Being an omega meant losing control…over his own body, over what people expected from him. Over his future. He clenched his jaw.
He let his mother purchase whatever she thought he might need. It was a little annoying how careful she was picking out things like cooling potions and other simple things he could probably brew on his own. But as Mrs. Lauderfell put it, the pre-made ones were more stable and convenient. He sat watching from the quilted armchair in the corner of the store. Everyone in the shop seemed to be so much older than him. Except for one girl.
His eyes widened; it was a blonde Ravenclaw girl from his year. She probably didn’t like him, especially after the Battle of Hogwarts. Draco looked down at his feet, hoping that she wouldn't notice him.
“Is that you, Draco?” He heard her call from across the store. Honestly, he had no idea what her name was, but she apparently knew him.
He looked up, she was walking toward him, “Um.. yes… hello,” he said formally.
“My name is Luna,” she quipped and then just stared at him. She truly was an odd person.
“Hi, Luna,” the blonde boy said awkwardly.
“It’s odd that you're an omega. I would have guessed that you wouldn't be,” she told him.
Draco looked at her oddly. Who even says something like that?
“I don’t mean to offend you. I’m an omega as well. I presented about five months ago,” she shared. Her voice had a strange cadence, but it was surprisingly soothing.
“I presented a few days ago,” Draco told her as he stared at his feet.
“Oh! That’s exciting. I assume you haven't had your first heat yet?” she asked him.
Draco blushed; any talk of heats and presenting was still pretty embarrassing at the moment. “No, not yet.”
They stood in silence for a moment.
“I would recommend you go look in the back room over there” Luna said as she pointed toward a little doorway with a sheer purple curtain.
“I didn’t know anything about heats until after my first one because my mother… wasn't here to explain anything… but I think you’ll find having something like that helpful,” Luna explained. Why was she so cryptic?
“Thank you. I’ll check it out.” Draco said
“I’ll see you at school, Goodbye!” Luna said before she went to the checkout counter and bought whatever little box she had been holding. The blonde boy watched to make sure she left the store before standing up and walking toward the little doorway with the purple curtain.
Feeling a little bashful, he slipped inside once he made sure his mother wasn't looking.
As soon as he realized the contents of the room, Draco felt his face heat up with embarrassment. There were little boxes and all sorts of sizes and colors of rubber dildos and other sexual ‘toys’ on display. There was no possibility he would purchase one of these with his mother present. He turned around and looked at everything before he saw a little wooden coin box in the corner.
There was a note attached to it, ‘This room has anti-stealing charms, please pay the proper amount, and then you can remove your selection from the shelf.’
Well, that was good at least. Draco felt for the few galleons he had shoved in his pocket before they left to shop. He took them out and rubbed them together, trying to come to a decision. Luna had said having something like this would be helpful for his first heat. He assumed his mother would probably never explain this to him. Narcissa was kind; however, sex just wasn't something they ever talked about, and he never wanted to have that discussion with her.
He was sure that his mother was likely almost done with her shopping, and he didn’t want her to know where he had been. He looked at the display case. There were all sorts of different things; however, buying a dildo seemed the simplest and least expensive. There were a few options. Draco already knew that the flesh colored one freaked him out too much. The pink sparkly one next to it looked huge and uncomfortable. Honestly, they all looked uncomfortable.
There, however, was one that didn't look terrifying. It was purple, didn't have any weird glitter, and was about the size of his own parts, maybe a little bigger. A little label below it read, ‘good for beginners’. That seemed like exactly what he needed. He turned to the coin box, slipped in the exact cost of the product, and grabbed the corresponding box from the shelf. As soon as he laid his hands on it, the box's labeling disappeared, leaving it looking incredibly discreet. He shoved the package into his shoulder bag and left the room quickly.
“Draco, are you ready to go?” His mother asked as soon as he reappeared in the main part of the store. He flushed red, hoping his mother had no idea where he had just been,
“Please, let's”.
The blonde boy followed his mother out of the store.
After stopping for a rather nice lunch and a cup of tea, they made their last stop at Flourish and Blotts.
“Let's be quick about this. I’m feeling tired,” his mother told him. He immediately walked up to the front counter.
“Can I help you find something?” A familiar voice asked.
Draco’s eyes widened as soon as he looked up. It was Hermione Granger. Of course, she would work at a bookstore over the summer. Suddenly, he found himself unable to speak. If she knew that he was an omega, he would be mortified. And if she gossiped about him, it would be worse, even if he did deserve it.
He felt his mother come up behind him, “We’re looking for ‘The Preparatory Guide For The Male Omega,’ I’m not sure who wrote it, but our family Healer told us we could find it here,” Narcissa said.
Granger stood there for a second and blinked. She looked at Draco and pursed her lips. She looked like she was trying not to laugh.
“One… moment,” she said slowly as she disappeared behind a shelf. She came back with a blue fabric-bound hardcover book.
“That will be two galleons,” Granger told them. His mother handed over the coins quickly. She thanked Granger like she would any other shopkeep before following Draco out of the store.
“Isn’t she the Muggleborn girl that helped Harry Potter take down the dark lord?” His mother asked him.
“Yeah,” Draco said quietly, “And you shouldn't call him the dark lord anymore, people will think you supported him.”
Narcissa huffed, ‘She is shorter than I would have imagined.”
The walk back through the alley was silent. A few people would glare at them as they passed, but his mother didn't seem to notice. It was silly. After all, hate like that is what caused Voldemort's rise to power in the first place. His mother hadn't been a part of his father's involvement with the dark lord. As an omega, she had been mostly ignored unless his father needed a pretty arm candy at an event or someone to get his anger out on at home. She hadn’t deserved any of it, and luckily, both he and his mother had been proved innocent after Harry Potter testified on their behalf at the trial. Draco had accepted that without that boy's stupid savior complex, both of them would probably be locked behind bars. So now he had to do anything he could to protect his mother, which might have been easier if he had been an alpha; however, he wasn't, so they would just have to care for each other.