Chapter 4
Prim's footsteps echoed briskly against the polished marble floors as she meandered through the opulent hallways of her new home, clutching two small letters sealed with red wax. For all the new splendor, she still felt an ache in her heart for her cozy mountain home. The memories of her simple life and her beloved Ma called to her from the recesses of her mind. Her father was absent, spending his waking hours securing Prim and her future generations by relighting old connections and allies.
Prim clung to her Papa, but he was a shell of his former self, going through the motions for her sake but eager to move on and join his mate. The only thing that brought her solace was the presence of her best friend, Anne.
A gasp escaped her as she turned another corner, nearly stumbling over an unfamiliar house elf.
"Goodness! I’m so sorry!Prim apologized, steadying herself. The little elf stared after her, mouth agape, and Prim briefly wondered if she was doing something strange – but then, everyone looked at her strangely since the move. “Are you okay, Ma’am?”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no!” The house elves seemed determined to teach Prim the ways of a 'proper lady,' but she remained unconvinced of its necessity. “The lady of the house mustn't apologize to the help, ‘tis beneath you m’lady.” The elf’s voice wavered, her tone soft and melodious.The only elf who treated Prim normal was Simmy, and she was more family than ‘help’ as she’d been in Ma’s family for generations, a free elf but a faithful companion nonetheless. The other elves had very specific expectations of ‘Lady Cromwell’.
“I-uh…Thank you?” Prim knew from experience there was no arguing with or helping the house elves. They were a stubborn lot and set on turning her into a spoiled brat even at the expense of their freedom, which Prim offered regularly. With a resigned smile and a nod she left the house elf to her business and continued on.
Excitement surged through Prim as she skipped toward the guest room, eager to reunite with her friend. After no small amount of pleading and pestering, her Papa had invited Anne to come and go at her leisure, providing her with a permanent guest room to make her own.
The lavish estate, a testament to her father's wealth, was a far cry from Prim’s humble upbringing on the mountain. The scale of the ‘estate’ was ridiculous, Prim had only memorized her way to a few key rooms… What are we meant to fill all this space with?
Anne claimed it was all a status symbol her father believed would offer her protection when he was gone.’
‘Could work.’ Anne had claimed , ‘The wizarding world respects power, and this place reeks of it.”
Arriving at the guest room – now Anne's room – she knocked gently.
Anne greeted her with a wide grin, her freckled face and messy ponytail a familiar sight. Entering the room, Prim was enveloped by warmth and comfort, Anne’s scent of pine and campfire filling the air. The cozy space featured a soft bed, a small desk, and walls adorned with new posters of wizarding heroes and heroines. Anne had made the room her own, and Prim felt overjoyed to have her friend stay so regularly.
"When did you get the posters?" Prim asked, flopping onto her bed and staring at the wall. "I like them."
"Sebastian sent them," Anne replied with a smile.
"How sweet! He must miss you writing so often, Anne. When are you going to invite your family over? I’d love to meet them and—"
Anne laughed. "I willnae introduce you until I ken you’ll no’ go running for the hills. Plus, I dinnae think your Da is ready for more Alphas in his territory. He took to me because I’ve no interest in claiming you as my own. I’ve no’ guarantee Sebastian won’t do just that. You're bonnie, and you’ve a braw scent, and that’s just the outside of you...I’m no’ ready to share you just yet, no’ even with my twin."
"Well, if you’d rather wait... I just feel bad, Anne. Like I’m keeping you from your loved ones."
"It’s no’ a bad thing, Prim. This is my sanctuary from their bickering. I would rather no’ have anyone spoiling my place just yet... And you need me... I like feeling needed. At home, I’m just another thing to fight over, ye ken?"
"I’m sorry, Anne... If it makes you feel any better when they do come to visit, we can keep them in separate wings of this obnoxiously large house - they’d never have to see each other."
"Ha, now that’s a braw idea if I ever heard one." Anne’s laughter tapered off. "I love them, truly, but I dread their fighting whenever I head home."
"It’s so quiet when you're gone, Anne." Prim smiled sadly as she rolled onto her back, staring at the intricate tapestry of the bed canopy. "I hardly see Papa; he keeps to himself so much these days... I know he’s grieving, but... ah... I’m so grateful to have your company, Anne. Thank you for staying with me. I wish Papa would let me go with you when you visit Feldcroft…"
"No need for that, Prim."
"You promise it’s not just instinct or biology keeping you close?"
"For the love of Salazar, it’s no’, Prim!"
"Okay, I’ll stop asking."
"Och, finally, some peace!" Anne laughed, flopping onto the bed beside Prim.
"Well, in other news, I’ve got a little something for us..." Prim pulled the letters out, fanning her face with the crisp envelopes. "But seeing as how you are in dire need of peace, maybe I should just mosey on out of here and leave you be—"
"Prim, is that our Hogwarts letters?" Anne sprang up, bouncing the bed as she moved. "Come on now, give it here!"
"Fine, take it! Demanding Alpha!" Prim laughed, flicking the envelope into the older witch's lap. Anne snatched it up with a huff, ripping it open with little care for the contents within. Prim did much the same, nearly tearing the actual letter in two.
"I’m so excited, Anne!" Prim bounced, torn letter in one hand and list of requirements fluttering in the other. "We’re going to school together!"
"Yer going for Slytherin, right?" Anne cackled, mischief alight in her eyes.
"If that’s where you’ll be, of course I’ll be going for Slytherin!"
"I’ll save you a seat then," she snorted. "Don’t let me down, now."
"I won’t."
***
The days passed in a blur of exploration and new memories. Anne offered to accompany Prim to Diagon Alley for their school supplies – and a book Papa had ordered – Prim accepted with enthusiasm.
As they made their way through the bustling crowds of Diagon Alley, Anne couldn't help but frown. "Feels off being at Diagon Alley without Ominis and Sebastian," she commented.
"Should we invite them?" Prim asked.
Anne shook her head. "No, it's a wee bit late for that."
"Then why don't we get them a gift to make up for your absence?" Prim suggested.
Anne's grin was feral. "Braw idea!"
The crowds in Diagon Alley were overwhelming, and Prim felt the weight of their stares and whispers. Sensing her unease, Anne instinctively stepped in. Gripping Prim’s hand and publicly scenting her. The Scottish witch growled low and fierce whenever an Alpha or even a Beta drew too close. They stopped by Gladrags, more to escape the throngs of people than to shop, and Anne browsed the wares, plucking two green scarves off a rack after an indecently short amount of time. "These'll do nicely, there’s a sale on em’ too." she purred, a grin spreading across her face.
Prim watched the scarves dangle from her arm before plucking them from her friend. “Those…Anne, those won’t do at all. They’re horrible.”
“They are perfectly acceptable, Prim.” She made a grab for them but Prim yanked the scarves out of reach. “The lad’s don’t need anything fancy, just a wee token.”
“No they’re not acceptable, just listen.” Prim laughed, rubbing a scratchy scarf against her cheek with a scowl, “They’re thick but rough and way too itchy.” Omega were known to hoard only the softest textiles for their nests. “Can I help? I wanted to pay for the gifts too since I’ve been keeping you from them…”
Anne huffed, messing Prim’s flaxen hair as she patted her head for the millionth time. Was head patting an Alpha thing? With a chuff- which surprised both Prim and Anne- she nodded her assent.
Prim chirped and took off, browsing the goods by feel and analyzing prospective gifts with the same care she’d give a pillow or blanket she intended for her nest. Finally, she discovered two emerald green scarves of the finest quality, buttery soft against the skin but thick enough to ward off the cold. Perfect. With a soft trill, she called Anne over to inspect the gifts.
“Och, these are braw.”
“I know, right?” Prim blushed from the praise, feeling oddly proud. “I’m tempted to keep them for my nest…” Let’s get them!” They ran up to the shopkeep and paid, picking up the many bags they left in his care.
“Here, scent them.” Anne tossed the scarves to her with a sly grin and a suspicious twinkle in her eye.
“W-what? Anne, shouldn’t you-”
“No.”
“Uh, o-okay, if you insist…But they don’t know me, why am I scenting them instead of you?”
“You're an Omega, your scent is a fine one…”
“Oh.”
“And it’s a status thing…Among us Alpha, you ken?” Prim eyed her, waiting for her to continue. She huffed a sigh, “They’d enjoy the scent, they will be more likely to protect you, it would make other Alpha’s jealous and…It’s difficult to explain. More of an…instinctual thing, like if an Omega trusts them enough to get close then…I dinnae ken how to say.”
“Ha, don’t worry about it, here.” Laying her bags down prim took the scarves, rubbing each along her neck, sniffing the fabric, and rubbing more. She’d never specifically scented anything for anyone else before and it felt intimate… The second scarf held a persistent stench and- to the gasp of Anne- she ended up licking the material until nothing was left but the inviting scent of warm cinnamon sugar and freshly baked sweet bread.
The scarves radiated her scent and pheromones, almost as if she’d imbued them with a charm to keep it that way- she might have, accidentally, actually. “Uh…H-here you go.”
Anne took the garments, pinching them between her fingers and sniffing the air around them with raised brows. “Wow, Prim, outdid yourself, no?”
“Is it too much?” She winced, “I just did what I do with my nesting things…”
“It’s perfect, the lads will love it.” Ann smiled, folding the scarves and stuffing them into a bag, “I’d be surprised if they dinnae sleep with them for the scent you left. Hmm, it be in my best interest to charge em’. I’d wager the lads would pay me a pretty gallien or ten for each...”
“Anne Sallow, you wouldn’t!”
“No’ in front of you, but aye, I would- you’ve near tripled the value.”
“You're terrible, you know.” Prim cackled.
“Oh, trust me, I ken it.”
Navigating the throngs, they found themselves in Flourish and Blotts, where Prim's excitement swelled as she browsed the shelves for books and quills, picking up her Papa's order as she paid.
“Ooh, oh no, no, no.” Prim blushed as she stared down at the special book order. “How embarrassing, Anne. You don’t think Papa’s going to give me ‘the talk’, do you?”
“What is it?” Anne shifted her own stack of books and walked over. Prim jerked the book to her chest- too slow as Anne peered over her shoulder and cackled with mirth. “Oh, Salazar, I love your da’! How awkward! To think he sent you to pick it up yourself, too!”
Prim looked down at the book with a heated blush, her face twisted in distaste as she read the title Modern Omega Witch: A Comprehensive Guide. Flipping the book over had Prim immediately flipping it back, the words ‘slick’, ‘heat’, and ‘knotting’ jumping out at her like angry pixies. “Oh, no.”
“Has he no’ given you ‘the talk’ yet?” Anne snorted, bracing a hand on a bookshelf as she collected herself. “You’ve no’ transitioned fully, and with your Ma gone, I’d say you’ll be needing that. Best keep it to yourself, though.”
“I’ll certainly not be reading this material in front of people.” Prim laughed, clumsily wedging the book between her stack of textbooks.
“I'd like a wee keek at it when you’ve finished, Prim.”
“You know sometimes you say things and I wonder if they are actual words or if you’ve just made them up...”
“And here I was making a right effort to tone it down for you.”
“Pfft.”
“Oh, Wheesht, lassie! You're a cheeky arse is what you are.” Anne grabbed a bag from Prim’s hand, adding it to her own. “I’d suggest a butterbeer but we’re drawing too many eyes. Best we head back.”