The Calm Before the Storm
Harry was still encased in Tom’s arms when he woke up his glasses pressing into his face. He felt protected and cherished, which was horribly strange as he and Tom had only met yesterday. But there was something there besides bodies and minds and magic like an invisible thread that tied their souls together. It was this connection that had him call to Tom yesterday on pure instinct. And after his bath there had been a moment that their magic had danced together and his had wagged its tail like an excited puppy. It just made sense, yes, there was something there between them that had a wonderful effect on both of them. Tom hadn’t said anything yet, but Harry was sure that he was lonely– he lived in a beautiful house alone with no one who could understand magic. Harry felt like he was saving Tom as much as Tom was saving him.
Harry felt a sudden stab of pain in his lower abdomen as if a knife had been plunged into him and twisted. He bit his lip to hold in a cry so as not to wake Tom, however it seemed Tom had a sixth sense when it came to Harry because he was pulled more firmly against Tom’s chest and heard soothing murmuring that was slightly raspy. “Shhhhh it’s okay it’s your body telling you it’s close to heat. Let me go see if I can find a heating pad or something.“
Tom then got up and he whimpered as he felt those soothing arms leave him. “Hey, hey I’ll be right back I promise.“ Harry just curled into himself wrapping his arms around his stomach trying to relieve the pain.
Harry didn’t know how long it had been, but he heard Tom’s feet quietly pattering back to him. He heard him plugging something in, and felt a thin, soft pillow being placed under his shirt.
“It’ll warm up soon, I promise.“ Tom whispered and then crawled back onto the bed to curl up with him again. “Try to get some more sleep. It’s only six in the morning.“ Tom plucked his glasses off his face and set them on the nightstand. He felt Tom’s arms around him again and some instinct in him settled and he faded slowly back into sleep.
Later that morning Harry asked Tom if they could get some books on Omegas and heats, while they were both lounging in bed eating breakfast.
“Harry, you realize you are on the very edge of your heat and have an injured ankle?“ Tom said with his eyebrows raised so high Harry wondered if they would disappear into his hairline.
“Tom,“ Harry mimicked the incredulous tone Tom had been using and pushed his glasses further up his nose. “Do you realize i have never had a heat before and have no idea what to expect, and neither do you besides speculations you heard in the locker room when you were a teenager?“ Tom winced and nodded in acquiescence.
Harry sighed. “Tom, we don’t have to go to the most popular bookstore I just need information before my body goes through something I have no understanding of.“ Harry looked down at his hands. “And I’m also really nervous.“ He admitted quietly. Tom looked like he might say something to that, but closed his mouth and nodded again. “And if can be prepared for something, well.... then why shouldn’t I be?“ Harry adjusted the heating pad, letting Tom ponder on what he had said.
“Harry, I have to be honest, I want you to get that information, I really do, but I know for certain that Omegas produce pheromones that broadcast their heat. If there are any unmated Alphas in that store, they will try and claim you.“ Toms voice was deadly serious.
“I know, I know, but if I stay next to you the whole time?“
Tom looked like he was about to flat out refuse but when he looked into Harry’s eyes his posture softened slightly and relented. “We will only go if you promise to stay right next to me the entire time-” Harry whooped in celebration and Tom continued even louder, “however, if there is a hostile Alpha we disappear straight away per apparition.” Tom looked at him with an intense expression. “Harry you have to promise me you will not do anything besides look at the specific books we need, buy them and then leave.“
Harry surged into Tom with an enthusiastic hug, which knocked Tom onto his back with Harry now on top of him. Tom wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist and leaned their foreheads together. “Promise me, Harry.” Tom whispered looking into his eyes.
“I promise.” Harry answered and hesitated for a second before gently brushing their lips together for a second and then tucking his head underneath Tom’s chin.
Tom was meticulously smoothing the material of the silver robes Harry was now wearing–Tom had shrunk a pair of his, it would not do to go to such a public magical place with muggle clothes on, they didn’t want any trouble–and tried not to look at Harry’s soft lips. He could still feel them, the gentle puff of breath and then a short caress that left his lips tingling. He’d never felt any sort of attraction to anyone before, not even wanting to touch other people or be touched, but something about Harry put him at ease and let him enjoy the simple pleasure of that comfort with another person.
He let a deep breath out and held tightly onto Harry’s waist. “You ready?” Tom felt more than saw Harry’s nod. He centered himself and pictured Hogsmeade, with its small shops, and sloped streets, and friendly people, before he felt an insistent tug on his navel and they spiraled through space.
They slammed into the ground outside of the Three Broomsticks and Harry pressed his face into Tom’s chest. He assumed that the travel had upset his already irritated stomach and also not fully healed ankle and rubbed his back in soothing circles, watching the few people shopping to determine if there was a threat.
Once Harry pulled away from Tom, Harry looked around whipping his head back and forth trying to take in all the details indicating that this was a Wizarding town. Tom grabbed his hand and tugged him along to the small bookshop at the end of the street with a crooked sign saying: The Bagnall-Oakeley Bookshop.
Tom stepped in first opening the door and taking a subtle whiff to check who was inside smelling only a mated beta. The older woman was sorting books in a section towards the back and Tom gave a nod and a polite Hello in her direction before tugging Harry to the left where a section was marked ’Secondary Genders‘.
Tom always felt at home in places with lots of books and as such finally calmed enough to be completely absorbed in picking out which titles seemed most appropriate for their situation. They ended up picking two books out: How to Prepare for your First Heat in Just a Few Easy Steps by Helga Heiss and Alphas and Omegas: the Basics by Nyas Neufeld.
Tom started dragging Harry to the counter before a golden book that was flapping through the air like a butterfly caught his attention. Tom snatched it out of the air and it gave another feeble flap before he closed the book to read the cover: Complementary Magics and Myths by Sihir Gratis. Everything in Tom went still before he remembered he had a mission to get Harry back fast and safe and took the book with him to where Harry was chatting with the shopkeeper who looked amused while she added the cost of the books together. She looked up at him before grabbing the book from his hand and added it together as well.
“That’ll be six galleons and five Knuts please.” Tom nodded and dropped the correct amount on the counter while Harry tucked the books in the bag Tom had brought. The shopkeeper took the money, popped it into her safe under the counter and wisked away to the back of the shop.
The door to the shop creaked open and with it came the impossibly pungent smell of a familiar, unpleasant, unmated, and magically powerful Alpha. All of Tom’s muscles tightened in anticipation, before he turned around and saw the last person he wanted to see.