billetslegers

[billetslegers]

He'd like to say it began with the Dementor attack on the Hogwarts Express, but he's in love, not in denial.

His eyes had strayed far too often on the lithe figure of the blond boy before that, jauging him, judging him, learning his moves and moods by the tone of his voice, the shift of his feet and the color of his eyes. They were usually so pale, discolored like a forgotten piece of paper, but they could become fierce, dark as any storm, quicker than you could say "thunder".

They had imprinted on his mind as soon as he'd stepped up on the dai, dwarfed by the hat and yet refusing to let it touch his hair. Arrogance and fragility wrapped in one tiny blond package.

 He disliked his personality, of course, he wasn't so gone not to see all his flaws, but at the same time, they made him more likeable. Quick to anger, slow and calculating for revenge, bright in magic and eager for recognition. They express it differently but it's astounding how much he can relate to all of these traits.

His brother knows, of course, just as he knows who's George sweetheart. They keep a tally of the time their loved ones fight each other, trying not to be too smug when they win.

But it's a one way street : hopeless young love, not reciprocated (he'd like to live another day). Fred know it will pass, when the blond takes a step too far, spew too much abuse about his family or friends.

The Dementor changes that.

It's freezing on the train, humidity turning into frost and their breath into mist. The lights are out and they both have their wands ready, instincts refined by years of blowing things up. There's a rattle coming from the compartiment door, then it opens with a bang, as something small barges into their wagon.

George is halfway through a spell before Fred pushes his wand down, swopping in to catch the teen barreling into his stomach. He can feel him shaking, small whimpers escaping his mouth as he huddles into the Beater' arms.

"Draco, what's wrong ?" His voice is urgent, tense but caring, leading the blond to a seat. George has taken his position as shield again, leaving Fred the space to care for his crush.

"There's a D-dementor on the train. It hurts." If there was any light, the redhead is sure he would see tears in the corners of his eyes. As it is, he just cups his face with one hand, lending him warmth. Draco is freezing, still shivering, probably terrified. Fred should feel worried too, scared that one of the jailers of Azkaban is here, but he's elated : the blond came to him, for help. Is still accepting his touch.

Georges moves, a silent warning, just as a wave of frost and despair passes before their door. A darker shape glides through the blackness, sending the slytherin in hysterics again. The shape pauses, as if listening to that pain, and Fred feel fear again.

"Go away !" He shouts, jabbing his wand towards the dementor, a flash of blue light that reveals the true form of the monster, rotten hands and discomposed veil reaching towards them. "Leave !"

His twin jumps to action, then, unfrozen beyond the first wave of panic they both felt, and bangs the door close on the creature's fingers. It yowls, making them flinch, but there's a sudden white light, an animal jumping in the corridor that makes the dementor finally retreat.

They stay silent until the lights flicker back to life. Draco has quieted, still huddled around Fred's side but he's wracked with little tremors that have yet to pass.

"Merlin, that was a close one." His twin is white behind his freckles but he put on a brave face now that everyone can see. "You okay, Malfoy ?"

Fred whishes he'd stayed silent, can feel Draco tense, feel the way his body works through the fear to settle back into his usual mask. He mourns the moment already, doesn't move so that the blond has to disentangle himself, sniffing with a false air of superiority.

"Of course I am, Weasley, no thanks to you. You couldn't even use your wand to close the door on that thing."

Georges' face goes stony and he takes a step towards them, fuming, but Fred stand, shaking his head. "Leave him be. Draco, go back to your friends, I'm sure they are looking for you."

The blond had stilled, mindfull of his twin's threat, but he recovers quickly, sneering at them and walking quickly to the door - that he opens with a flick of his hand. He's gone after that, without even a thank you.

"I'll never understand what you like about him." Georges complains but he's joking, crouching to recover their belongings scattered on the floor.

Fred smiles, his face red and heart hammering now that the threat has passed. "Shut up" he mumbles, before helping him clean.

"You know, he let you call him Draco." He nods, going even redder. "Bet you'd love it if he moaned your name, too, right." There's a loud thump, and a crash, as he cracks his head on the window. "Georges !"

[billetslegers]

“I thought you were still into your birth pack, you’re so young!” exclaimed Jaimes’ teacher, his shock concelead between thick foggy glasses. He shrugged, still clutching his emergency contact form. He didn’t feel the need to explain yet again why he had begun his own pack, not to another professor who would look at him differently.

The silence went for a few seconds, before the teacher flushed and accepted his form. “Of course, it’s none of my business. I’ll register them.”

“Thank you.” Jaime said curtly, rejoigning his friends outside the classroom. They said nothing, feeling his irritation, and soon were gossiping about a potentiel new packmate.

“I’m telling you ze’s not ready. I approched ze last week and ze said he wanted some more time. I know Antoine would love another omega in the pack but it’s too soon.” The three girls pouted but didn’t press the issue further. They did continue talking about ze’s haircut and jawline, tittering around him.

---

“Jaime !” The boy turned around, letting his backpack fell to the ground as Isaiah launched himself in his arms. The omega wasn’t so shy now that he had a support system and Jaime had grown used to hug attacks.

“Yes?” He asked, voice muffled in the sweatshirt of his packmate - who seemed to have grown again this past week.

“We’ve been looking for you, Camille’s spoken to Antoine and ze’s willing to try.” The omega was beaming and Jaime smiled as well. He wasn’t as invested as everyone else in getting a new packmate, but Camille was funny.

“Did you speak to Satsuki too ?” His status as Alpha made him look like a leader, and they used it in school and with other packs because it was easier than explaining it all, but Satsuki was the nominal leader. She enjoyed ordering them around way too much for him to ever steal her rank.

“Yes, she texted me, look. She’s still suspended after decking Liam’s beta, but she deserved it.” The taller boy fished his phone out of his pocket, letting Jaime see the texts. He wasn’t going to comment on the fight - after all, he was the one who’d instigated it - but he nodded, linking their hands to walk back to their classroom.

“She’s not bothering you anymore ? That beta ?” He didn’t smell her scent on Isaiah, but you never knew what she could do.

“Nope ! Liam forbade her to come near me, so she’s running in the other direction as soon as we see each other. She left half of her lunch last time I went to the cafetaria.” Who knew Isaiah had a vengeful streak ?

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : pack ranks

Packs usually consist of a family unit - growing larger with the addition of grand-children and/or bonded partners. It is nowadays not unusual among teenagers and young adults to form packs that can last for decades. Packs do not have to live together.

1) Each class has sub-rankings, but no class is “less” than the two others (aka Omegas are not lesser than Betas and Alphas, just biologically different). Rank names differs depending on the country and era.

2) Common sub-ranks for all three classes

Pack leaders 

Pack adjacent : yet to be fully part of the pack, unbonded or in between packs loyalties

Dispersers : pack-less individuals, either voluntarily or not. will often establish a new pack with another disperser

3) Alpha ranks

Alpha in charge : usually pack-leader but not necesseray. Is often in charge of protection / shelter, will scent pack members and stop disputes.

Epsilon : defenders of the pack. accompagny the other members to daily activities, will protect them but do not engage disputes with external persons.

4) Beta ranks

Delta : chief-second, will act as pack leader in its absence. make sure there is no discontent in the pack and solve problems when they arise.

Providers : either in the work force or full time working on pack lands or with pack members. they will take care of elderly and children if they are any in the pack.

5) Omega ranks

Alpha mate : usually pack-leader in low-numbered packs. Usually treasured and in charge of household organisation and financial situation.

Carriers : currently pregnant or having children. All packs will offer shelter to a carrier and they almost never double as dispersers.

Carer : usually an unattached omega. will help pack-members with emotionnal, mental, physical and sexual needs. a pack’ popularity and renomn will often increase with the numbers of carers it can support.

[billetslegers]

It’s night and he should be asleep, he’s got a test tomorrow and he need to do well or his parents won’t let him go to Satsuki’s birthday.

He should be tired, he should be sleeping, but his body is flushed, he’s stressed and he doesn’t know why.

It feels like a tsunami, the taste of stillness and fear sharpening in his gut as he see the wave growing, thundering up the soaked sand towards him.

He’s gasping, jerking upright and clasping his legs in an effort to ground himself.

There’s something inside him, trying to come out, a buzzing in his ears he can’t shake. Not terror : he knows that feeling too well to ever mistake it. A wave inside him make him tremble and whine, like acid lapping at his core.

Suddenly he’s got the urge to bite and before he can think on it, he’s sinking his teeth into his forearm, tasting flesh and blood and wrong, wrong, not his own.

Lights flicker under his door and his dad comes running, hugging him and trying to make him open his mouth. “It’s okay sweetheart, you’re okay, just let go, alright ?” and he wants to obey but he really can’t, his jaw locked even as pain flow from his arm.

There is urgency in his dad’s voice when he calls for his father, and he’s here too, a massive presence that makes him growl and tense all over.

His father is calm as he takes small steps into his room. “Jaime, look at me. You need to bite someone, don’t you?” He whimpers around blood, nodding. He’s very aware that his dad’s neck is pressed to the crown of his hair.

“You’re presenting early. Love, can you...” His parents are speaking but he can’t focus, not when his dad manhandle him and put his nose on his neck, right above the collar of his shirt. “Bite me, sweetheart. I promise it’ll be okay.”

He’s frozen, looking at the column of pale skin at his disposal, but then his jaw open and he doesn’t even feel the pain in his arm as he sinks his teeth again in his dad’s neck.

There’s a curse above, then soft hands carding through his hair, as he relaxes, made heavy by the feelings of belonging, mine, family. His father is there, too, cleaning his arm with cotton and he doesn’t feel threatened now.

He feels complete.

His eyes grow tired and he lounges back, settling into the arms of his parents as they whisper proud words he doesn’t register. He’s asleep before he knows, ocean made calm and sinking beneath the surface, at peace.

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : bonding

There are two types of bonding : ceremonies (not unlike weddings) and heat/rut-bonding. Both are valid engagements, recognised in almost every country.

1) Heat-bonding takes the form of a consensual bite to the center of the neck, and can only happen to alpha / omega pairs. For centuries, it was the ultimate mark of engagement. Heat-bonds are hard to break, as the scents of both partners changes. Heat-bonded omegas will no longer emit an alluring scent to other alphas, and vice versa.

2) Multiple heat-bonds (for a single omega) have been recorded through history, but have yet to be fully explained scientifically.

3) Bonding ceremonies are legal - and sometimes religious - engagements, often practiced by same-class couples and beta/alpha or beta/omega couples, as a way to replace heat-bonds. They do not affect scents.

4) There is a surge in bonding ceremonies between alpha/omega pairs, used to signify the profond mental connection between them, rather than the physical connection given by an heat-bond.

5) Heat-bonds can be broken by : death of one partner, lack of intimacy, life-emergency situations. Stress will also make it harder to form a heat-bond.

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : reproductive organs

1) Female-at-birth persons of all classes possess a functionnal uterus. Alphas can experience less than one fertile period per year while Betas are often regular (moon cycles). Omegas vary vastly, depending on stress, bonding situation and age, but experience an increase in fertility during heats, making condoms an absolute necessity.

2) Male-at-birth persons of all classes possess a functional penis. Alphas grow a knot during the adolescence and have a bigger sperm count than Betas and Omega.

3) It’s a myth that omega males can’t sire children.

4) Male omegas possess a functionnal uterus accessible by the anal canal. Muscles are extremely flexible, to accomodate either a knot or a natural birth, but babies can be significantly smaller (which does not interefere with their future growth).

5) Male omegas do not have periods, but can experience period-like symptoms after an “unsuccessfull” heat.

[billetslegers]

It’s not easy, sometimes, having presented and then feeling none of the instincts all the other Alphas claim to have.

His classmates think he’s faking, but you can’t fake an Alpha scent. That’s why even if people are surprised when they see him, they always accept it.

He knows he’s tiny, quiet. He prefers to watch the world around him than take the lead, and his beta friends are louder than he is but it’s alright.

At least, being an Alpha means he’s not bothered much.

--

“Can you bite me ? Like, on the throat ?” Isaiah ask him one day, not even fully presenting as an omega yet. He’s ten centimeters taller, with curly brown hair and freckles.

“People treating you badly ?” He asks, rubbing one hand against Isaiah’s neck, diffusing his scent. The omega flush a little, nodding and silent. “Sure, I’ll do it. Can I wear yours, too ?”

“You - you want it ?” He doesn’t understand the surprise : marks stay longer when they are reciprocated. Plus, he’s already one of his friends, so people shouldn’t misunderstand. Much.

“It’s okay if you don’t.” He proposes, sending a group-text to his friends. Whoever had been bothering the omega was going to pay.

“No, I mean, I’d love to. Your wrist, right ?” Isaiah’s fingers trace his left hand, toying with his shirt to show white faded marks, piled upon each other. He nods, then offer his hand, palm up, to the omega’s mouth.

The bite itself doesn’t sting, and there’s no blood to clean. A warm feeling diffuse itself from his arm to his heart, tension he didn’t know he carried leaving him. He smiles, then look around, missing the flush high on Isaiah’s face. They’re in between classes but there’s no one around that back entrance.

“Hold still” He whispers then get up on his toes. Not an order, just a suggestion. The other boy curves around him, breath short, and he press his side to keep him grounded, nosing at his sweatshirt to get to the soft skin under.

Alpha bites are more forceful.

Isaiah whines, there’s no other word for it, and he can feel satisfaction curl in his stomach as he bites, deep into the hollow of his throat, tongue pressed to his jugular and feeling the sudden acceleration of his heart. There’s a sweet scent in the air, fresh and minty, but he pays no mind to it. Isaiah’s arousal doesn’t affect him, and it’s flattering, in a way.

He laps the blood leaking into his mouth, feels the omega tremble under his hands, and slide his left hand to Isaiah’s neck, keeping him exposed as he step back and check the mark.

It’s vividly red, the indents already whitening, with some purple on the deeper parts. There is no way anyone will miss it.

“Does it hurt ?” he asks, swiping his thumb around it slowly, feeling for heat or bumps. Isaiah swallows, covering his hand with one of his, and smiles, stepping in for a quick hug, warm and content.

“It’s perfect, thank you.”

---

There’s no feeling of ownership slamming into him, in the subsequent days, Everyone knows he’s the one who marked Isaiah, is whispering about it. The omega himself walk with a strut, head held high and proud, arguing with two girls on the way to their classroom.

But it doesn’t feel him with pride, or lust. It doesn’t wake any protective instincts. It just make him smile and nods in the corridors whenever they see each other. They share a pizza next time there’s a party, and after, when Isaiah nervously introduce his girlfriend, sporting a tiny red mark on his jaw, he let her bite his wrist, too.

He doesn’t have the instincts, but he’ll protect his friends. That’s the only part of being Alpha he understands.

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : mating marks

1) Mating can happen between two members of the same class or of different class

2) Mating marks must be renewed and do not often scar

3) Non-sexual mating marks often happens between friends and family

4) Mating marks are considered polite for heat-partners

5) Mating marks can concern any part of the body, with the neck, wrist and hipbone actually favored

6) Mating marks release endorphins and can calm stressed partners

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : consent

During heats and ruts :

1) Underage means no consent, even with another underage person

2) Leaving an omega or alpha alone in public space can be prosecuted as negligence or endangerement

3) Heat-partners need written proof of consent before sexual activities

Outside of heats and ruts :

4) Sexual activites between underage persons (above the age of 15) can be consensual

5) Violence, pressure and blackmail void any consent given

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons : planned parenthood

1) Every pharmaceutical company has or is trying to offer its own “omega pill”.

2) Omega pills can either : help regulate an omega cycle / stop an omega cycle completely. Both of them have a 99% pregnancy-free rate.

3) Alphas can get implants (required for work in security related sectors). These works for 2-3 years and block heat-induced ruts. Some also reduce fertility rates (45% decrease).

4) All pregnancy-able persons can also get : contraception pill / morning-after pills.

5) Omega pregnancies can be terminated before the 3 month mark, fully covered by universal healthcare (in most countries). Betas and Alphas pregnancies can be terminated before the 4 month mark.

6) Almost all countries and states authorise termination to the term in case of : rape, underage pregnancy, risk to the carrier and health-issues in the foetus.

[billetslegers]

A/B/O headcannons: job

1) Asking about one’s class in a job interview is banned in almost all countries (except parts of USA). Discrimination based on one’s class is legally punishable.

2) Alphas work mainly labour jobs (constructions, repairs, physical stuff) but have 80% of the top jobs in big companies. Laws are being put in place to augment the % of betas and omegas in boards.

3) Betas still have difficulties getting jobs in the army / police forces. Thanks to better representation in movies (beta superheroes), they are now considered “fashionable”.

4) Omegas work primarily in the care and public sectors. They can often get fired after a pregnancy - but more and more cases are being brought to the courts.

5) Sexual harrassment, of any kind, in any circumstances, is a firing and legal offense. Many big companies have implemented “blocker” perfumes in their offices and safe rooms. Medium and small business are beginning to offer payed heat-days.

[billetslegers]

Far from love the Heavenly Father  Leads the chosen child; Oftener through realm of briar  Than the meadow mild,   Oftener by the claw of dragon         Than the hand of friend, Guides the little one predestined  To the native land.

Emily Dickinson (1830–86).  Complete Poems.  1924

[billetslegers]

Continuation of this : 1 2 3

“You are a disgrace to our name. I made my peace with that dragon of yours, but this business with the chinese and that.. thing. This is shameful.”

Lord Allendale had not even turned to look them in the eyes, looking out the large windows onto the lawn, where Temeraire could be seen speaking with Laurence’ mother.

Laurence himself was rigid, still clutching that gorgeous china vase. The Admiralty had given them leave for the day, after they heard the first good news about the remedy.  The captain said he wanted to offer the gift personnally. Harry thought also that Laurence wasn’t going to take any risks with postal services, after having carried that godforsaken monstrosity through war, deserts and diseases.

“You have given me no choice. I thought our last conversation had made more of an impact and that you would know not to come back, but I shall have you formally dishenerited. God knows we are already the talk of the season.”

Silence, once again, fell between the two men, leaving Harry to fidget angrily. He’d understood that Laurence had a less than stellar familial situation - and could relate - but five years with the Chinese had soothed the abuse and replaced it with cold, acid anger. This was His captain that little lord was speaking to.

Stepping more fully into the room, Harry prowled to the desk as silently as his boots allowed and slammed both hands on its nice, lackered wood, leaving claw marks on the papers. Lord Allendale jumped and turned, mouth open in outrage and quite red already, turning even redder at the sight of Harry.

“Now you see here, boy -” he began, just as Laurence groaned in the background.

Wrong answer.

Harry smiled, shutting him up. “Call me boy again and your son will be the new Lord Allendale”, he said quietly.

“Harry, it is alright, I can handle this”, proposed Laurence, but he could hear the resignation in his voice. Good, a few months together had finally taught him when to pick his battles.

“You speak of disgrace and shame to your son - my Captain - but I only see one shameful thing in this room and it is you, Lord.” He was fed up with all those Lords who thought a birth rank meant anything. “Laurence is the adopted son of the Emperor of China and you will give him the respect he deserves, or I’ll burn your little home to the ground.”

“The respect !? To such an ungrategul child ! We are not in China, Mister Harry - ”

“It’s Lord Black to you, and I did not give you leave to call me by my given name.” Ew. Now he sounded like that Prejudice book Hermione had read in second year. “Your son has secured one of the most dangerous creatures of the world for England. He has stopped a war between us and bloody China. He’s a war hero and has done all this and more for England. You know what’s a disgrace ? That you don’t even acknowledge any of this.”

He slammed his hands yet again on the desk, leaning on it and not letting Laurence’s father recover.

“Your son is the reason you’re still speaking English instead of French right now. So you will show him respect.” He hissed, finishing just a few feet away from the terrified old man.

—-

“You were talking about Temeraire today ?”

“What? When?” Asked Harry distractedly, licking the syrup off his hands.

“When you spoke to my Fath- to Lord Allendale. About a dangerous creature”, explained Laurence, buttering yet another toast.

The hybrid frowned, stealing the toast right from his hand and crunching into it before he could protest. “You’re kidding, right ? Temeraire wouldn’t hurt a fly. No, of course…” he smiled again, fangs out in malice “… I was talking about me.”

[billetslegers]

conquered in body progress report : 1,8k

[billetslegers]

Continuation of this : 1 2

“Does it hurt ?” asked Emily, helping Harry put on his new cravat.

“What, the tie ? No, it’s fine-”

“Not the cravat, you moron.” Out of all the modern words, why did she have to pick insults quicker. “The chains.”

She tugged on one, jutting just above his right collarbone, and he slapped her hand away, keeping his claws retracted.

“Careful. They don’t, usually. It’s only when I’m trying to change, or when someone touch them.” For good measure, he jiggled his arm, showing where the metal linked both wing and flesh. “I’ll be happy when they’re gone, though, I can’t dress properly like this.”

“You’ll never look proper anyway.” she retorted absently, looking him over. “You’re too...”

“Handsome ? Roguish ?” proposed Harry, smiling with both teeth and fangs.

“In your dreams, Potter. You’re too dark to pass as a noble, that’s all.”

“First of, that’s racist, okay. Also, I am a noble. My godfather’s a -”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s Lord Black, but he’s not a Nobleman, he’s a Pureblood. Powys’s not going to care about a wizard’ title.”

Harry shrugged, making her huff as his shirt ripped, casualty of his spikes.

“He’s going to care that wizards are trying to come here and that’s the only thing that matters to me.”

[billetslegers]

Continuation of this : 1

The men were silent, looking into the vapors coming out of the teapot as if they could soothe their hearts as well as the tea still infusing.

Laurence, face as dark as his crew had ever seen, spoke softly.

“Have you ever heard of a tournament where children fight dragons ?”

No one spoke, Harry’s casual explanation still fresh on their minds. Who could be cruel enough to send boys to their death like that ? For sport ?

“The lad’s not lying. When you look close enough, he’s covered in burns and claw marks. Old, too. Had to happen years ago.” Granby volunteered, shivering despite the heat.

"It can’t have been in England, sir. There’s almost no wild dragons left, and all the others are accounted for.” reasoned Willhoughby.

Laurence smiled, cold and contained, as the other part of Harry’s story suddenly made sense. “Not in this England, no.”

[billetslegers]

“You are a very peculiar dragon”, said Temeraire, lowering his head towards the ground, sniffing the air and recoiling a little. Something was wrong. “Why do you wear chains ? It smells like they are hurting you.”

The dragon chuckled, revealing glistening fangs, as it took a wobbly step forward, putting its hand out of the silken green cape that covered most of its body. The frail wrist was covered in blood red markings, and a hook went through the skin, linking it to rusted metal.

“This ? They are supposed to stop me from flying.”

Temeraire huffed, whiskers moving nervously. To stop a dragon from flying, what a strange and dangerous idea.

“Why would anyone want to stop you ? I suppose you are so small the wind could carry you away, but that does not seem enough of a reason to go to such ends.”

“They thought I would escape if I could fly.” The creature shrugged, making the cape slips a bit. “Too bad they forgot I could also fight on foot.”

“Escape ? Were you a prisoner ? But why did you keep the chains if you fought ? And who where they ?” The little dragon didn’t seem in imminent danger or asking for help, but it spoke of terrible things so casually that Temeraire did not know what to think.

“I suppose I was, yes. It seems I can’t fly with or without them, so Lien asked that I don’t try to break them off. They are all afraid that I would become even more monstrous that I am now.”

“You don’t seem very monstrous to me.”

“That is because you are a peculiar dragon too, then.”

“Well, if the other chinese dragons are giving you a hard time, I don’t think I’ll like them very much. I could ask my captain to take you with us back to England, where I’m sure they will think differently.”

The dragon laughed at that, launching its head back in a roar. The cape slid completely back, revealing a mane of dark hair and an human-shaped head, with slitted emeral eyes briming with laughter.

“Oh, I like you, Temeraire. I’d love to go to England but they’d kill me on the spot, or burn me on the stake, I suppose. You are very kind, but I’ll stay here.”

Temeraire stood still, head cocked to the side as he took his time looking at the dragon. It made no sense that it would possess a human face, but if you could forget about the draconic elements, it was definitively here. The hand, too, while clawed and scaly looking, ressembled Laurence’s.

This was a mystery, but it sparked no fear in his heart. Since they had begun their journey, they had discovered so many new people and species, this one was just... different.

Hearing Laurence cry his name, as the chinese boy slipped on the pond’s smooth stones, he made his decision and rose higher, putting his tail around so that it would encircle the dragon.

“They would have to go through me first. Come, I’ll introduce you to my captain. What’s your name ?”

“You may call me Harry.”