The library was a safe haven for Serena Snape, a place where the noise of the world was hushed by the whispered secrets of the ancient texts. It was quiet, none of the hustle and bustle of the Great Hall or the incessant chatter of the dormitories.
Serena sat at a secluded table, deep in thought, her hands absentmindedly flipping through the pages of a heavy tome. Her mind was not on the text before her, but on an event that had happened two weeks ago.
The memory of the flying lesson made her cheeks heat up. She could still feel James Potter's grip on her waist, holding her steady as they soared through the air. His laugh, bright and exhilarating, echoed in her ears, and his scent, a mix of fresh grass and something uniquely alpha, was still ingrained in her senses.
She rolled her eyes and muttered a curse under her breath. She was an Omega, yes, but that did not mean she had to succumb to the allure of an alpha, especially not James Potter. He was obnoxious, too sure of himself, and far too much ego. But, she had to admit, he had been her savior that day. She owes him another life debt it seems.
She shook her head, a small sneer playing on her lips. The world must have gone mad for her to even consider thinking positively about James Potter.
"Rena?" The soft voice broke her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Lily Evans, her best friend, standing in front of her, a concerned look on her face. "You've been staring at that page for ten minutes. Are you alright?"
Serena blinked and looked down at the book in front of her. She hadn't registered a single word. "I'm fine, Lily," she replied, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Just lost in thought."
Lily didn't look convinced but she nodded, letting the subject drop. Serena sighed in relief. She wasn't ready to share her inner turmoil with anyone, let alone her best friend who was likely to blab it out to James. She turned back to her book, determined to get some studying done. But her thoughts kept straying back to the flying lesson and James' laugh. She scowled at her book. She was Serena Snape, a reincarnated version of Severus Snape, and she was not going to have anything to do with James Potter. Not in this life, nor any other.
~~~
Serena was halfway through her research on Basilisk fangs when she sensed a presence in front of her. Looking up, she was met with the sight of Lucius Malfoy, standing tall and intimidating in his Slytherin robes. His icy blue eyes held a mysterious glint that was both intriguing and unsettling.
He was more feminine than she had remembered him as Severus, his beauty bordering on ethereal. His hair was like spun silk, his skin like fresh snow. In the weeks she had been at Hogwarts, she had noticed his detachment from the usual group of future Death Eaters he used to hang around with. It was strange and it stirred curiosity within her.
"Are you Serena Snape?" Lucius's voice was as smooth as velvet, but there was a hint of authority in it that demanded attention.
She nodded, "That's me."
"Professor McGonagall has requested to see you. Follow me." His words were crisp and to the point, leaving no room for questions.
She looked at him for a moment, wondering why the professor would send Malfoy of all people to fetch her. But she pushed those thoughts away and swiftly collected her belongings, said her goodbye to Lily, and stood up to follow him.
Lucius turned on his heel, leading the way out of the library without another word.
Serena trailed behind him, her mind running with questions about what this unexpected summon could be about. As they walked through the corridors of Hogwarts, she couldn't help but steal glances at Lucius. His aloof demeanor and the way he held himself apart from the others piqued her interest.
What was his story in this life, she wondered?
However, her thoughts were interrupted when Lucius coughed, a clear sign of his impatience. She quickened her pace, pushing her curiosity about Lucius Malfoy to the back of her mind. She had a meeting with Professor McGonagall to attend and she intended to find out why.
~~~
As they stepped into Professor McGonagall's office, Serena was surprised to see Madam Pomfrey, the school's nurse, also present. This wasn't a regular meeting, she realized, but she was still unprepared for the bombshell that McGonagall dropped next.
"As you both are aware, you are the only Omegas in Hogwarts," the professor began, her gaze moving between Serena and Lucius.
Serena's eyes widened in shock, her gaze shifting to Lucius. Lucius, an Omega? But he was-.. Lucius Malfoy! He's supposed to be an Alpha! A leader, not anOmega.
Lucius, the third year senior, didn't seem bothered by her surprise. In fact, he was looking at her with an amused glint in his eyes. "You're a cute little thing, aren't you?" he said, his tone teasing.
Serena was too stunned to respond, her mind still trying to process the information. It was then that Madam Pomfrey stepped forward, her tone clinical as she explained the next steps.
"You can get your scent mask potions from me once a month, Miss Snape, it is called the Scentbane Elixir," the nurse said, her tone gentle. "And it's important that you come in for a monthly check-up on your Omega status. We need to ensure there are no abnormalities."
Serena absentmindedly nodded, her mind still on Lucius. She'd never expected to find another Omega in Hogwarts, least of all him. The revelation brought a strange sense of comfort, a realization that she wasn't alone.
"It's fortunate, I believe, that both of you are in the same house," Professor McGonagall continued, her gaze flickering between Serena and Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy will be close by should you need assistance, Miss Snape. He has been managing his status for a longer time and can offer guidance."
Lucius gave a nod of agreement, his expression softening. "I'm willing to help, little snake. The life of an Omega isn't easy, especially in our world. We must look out for each other."
Serena felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension. She was grateful for the offered assistance, yet unsure of the implications. She had never imagined she would be in a position to need Lucius Malfoy's help in this life too, but life was full of surprises, it seemed.
"Thank you, Lucius," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at him, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I... I will appreciate your guidance."
McGonagall nodded, a sense of approval in her gaze. "That's settled then. Remember, Miss Snape, this is a new journey for you, and it's alright to seek help. You're not alone in this."
Serena nodded, her thoughts whirling. She was still processing the revelation and the sudden shift in her relationship with Lucius.
As she left the office, escorted by Lucius, she knew that her life at Hogwarts was about to become even more complicated. She wasn't the only one hiding her true nature.
She looked at Lucius, her shock slowly giving way to understanding. Perhaps, in this life, they could be allies instead of enemies. After all, they were both Omegas in a world dominated by Alphas. They needed to stick together.
~~~
As they walked through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, the silence between them was palpable. Lucius was the first to break it.
"You must have questions, Serena," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet. "Ask away."
Serena hesitated, her mind filled with questions. She was curious about his experience, about how he had managed to hide his status for so long. But there was one question that she wanted to know first.
"How... how did you feel when you found out you were an Omega?" she asked.
Lucius paused, his icy blue eyes meeting hers. "Surprised, of course," he admitted. "I was raised to be an Alpha, to lead. My father had high expectations of me, and being an Omega... it wasn't part of his plan."
Serena nodded. She knew all too well the pressure of living up to expectations. "And your parents... how did they react?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Lucius let out a soft sigh, his gaze drifting to the floor. "My father was disappointed," he said, his voice barely audible. "He had always seen me as his heir, the future head of the Malfoy family. But my mother... She was supportive. She was happy for me, even."
Serena was surprised by his admission. She had always seen the Malfoy family as strict and traditional, and she hadn't expected such a reaction from Lucius' mother.
"That's... that's good," she said, her voice filled with a hint of relief.
Lucius nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "And as for my father... Well, he told me to keep it a secret until my first heat. To mask myself as a Beta. But after a while, I realized that being an Omega wasn't a curse. It was a part of me, and I learned to embrace it."
Serena nodded and decided to ask him about something that had been bothering her for a while. "How are you progressing with your Omegan magic?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. "I'm still struggling to control and manifest a solid foundation."
Lucius looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "Well, it's not easy, little snake," he admitted. "But it's not impossible either. For instance, 'Scent Manipulation' only manifests after an Omega's first heat when we start producing pheromones to attract. And as for 'Healing Touch', it's all about practice and repetition."
Serena nodded, taking in his words. She had been trying to practice her healing touch, but it was proving to be more difficult than she had anticipated. "So, it's like exercising a muscle?" she asked, seeking clarification.
"Exactly," Lucius confirmed. "The more you strain your Omega magic, the stronger it will become. But the real key to manifest healing touch is emotion. Just like accidental magic, emotions are the fuel to our Omegan Magic."
Serena felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had been so focused on trying to control her magic that she had forgotten about the emotional aspect. "Thank you, Lucius," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'll keep that in mind."
Lucius gave her a small smile, his gaze softening. "You're welcome, little snake."
Serena's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as they continued their walk. She was still trying to process everything Lucius had told her.
"Lucius, what are your plans after your first heat cycle?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "Once everyone finds out you're an Omega... it's going to be dangerous isn't it?"
Lucius paused, turning to look at her. His icy blue eyes were filled with amusement.
"Perhaps, but you don't have to worry about me, Serena," he said, his voice filled with confidence. "It's already been planned."
Serena raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Planned?" she echoed.
Lucius nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yes. After my status as an Omega is announced, my arranged marriage with a certain Alpha will also be announced. That way, no one can forcefully claim me without facing the consequences."
Serena jolted. An arranged marriage? With who?
"Who... who is the Alpha?" she asked, her voice almost cracking.
Lucius' smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Sirius Black," he revealed, his voice filled with satisfaction.
Serena was stunned. Sirius Black? The notorious prankster and member of the Marauders??!? Lucius and Sirius?? What the bloody—
Oh Lord, All Mighty. She couldn't believe it.
"But... but he's a Gryffindor," she stammered, her mind racing. "And he's... he's..."
Lucius chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Yes, he's a Gryffindor. But he's a Black. And he's also an Alpha. My future mate. So, you see, little snake, I have nothing to worry about."
Serena was stuttering now, "D-does he know about the a-arrange marriage?"
Was it just her or did his smile get bigger?
"Not yet, but he will soon enough."