Chapter 9

Hu Yetao turned away after forcefully expelling his pent-up frustration at Oscar and rested his forehead against the damp stone wall, hands coming up to press palms against the cool stone on either side of him, eyes closed.

Silence greeted his outburst and he really couldn't care less if Oscar just up and left right now. He hoped he did.

Hu Yetao turned his head to the side at the sound of approaching footsteps. Oscar had moved closer and was watching him with an apprehensive look on his pale, aristocratic face, which was not an expression Hu Yetao was used to seeing on the Pureblood.

Oscar's brow creased as he surveyed Hu Yetao in silence for a moment.

Hu Yetao braced himself for whatever vitriol the blond would spew forth next.

"You're not making this up, are you?"

Hu Yetao couldn't help but laugh hollowly. "You think I'd go to this much effort just to take the piss, Oscar?"

Oscar dropped his gaze, staring reflectively at the gravel-strewn floor for a moment before looking back up. "No, I suppose not," he finally accepted.

Hu Yetao turned and exhaled heavily as he slid down the wall to sit on the floor, uncaring of the filth, arms wrapped around himself in a futile attempt to keep warm.

After a moment's hesitation, Oscar slowly sat down opposite him, arms clasped around drawn-up knees. Hu Yetao eyed his warm woolen cloak with envy.

"Perhaps you should start at the beginning?" Oscar suggested, still looking guarded but no longer accusing.

Hu Yetao took it for the olive branch that it probably was and took a steadying breath, trying to quell his temper. "On my eighteenth birthday, I awoke in the middle of the night feeling ill and called for the help of the family house-elf, who is loyal to me." Hu Yetao waited for a caustic comment on that but none came. "I was going to ask him to fetch some Pepper-up from Chen Zihan when he told me what was happening. He's the one who told me that I was an Omega."

"And he knows this how…?"

Hu Yetao smiled ruefully. "Because of your mum. He mentioned that during his service to the black family, he witnessed Tian Langxing's Alpha inheritance as well as your mum's Omega inheritance, and he knew which was which just by scent. The fact that two Alphas - or three now including you - have reacted strangely to my presence when we're alone, confirms it. And Zhang Xinyao said that I smell like an Omega too."

Oscar's eyes closed briefly, as though to steady himself. "So you're telling me that you're an Omega who is sharing a dorm room with three unbonded Alphas?"

"I know it sounds mad but I assumed the scent masking potions would do their job and no one would know," Hu Yetao replied honestly, suddenly hearing how completely naive he sounded.

Oscar eyed him speculatively. "You do know those potions are not supposed to be taken continuously, right Tao?"

"What? Why?"

A heavy sigh was the first sign that he'd rushed headlong into something without proper research again. "They were created to mask an Omega's scent during their heat if they had to be out in public," Oscar replied knowledgeably. "They are also known to be harmful to your chances for conception if taken regularly."

Hu Yetao's eyes widened with alarm. "What? Fuck."

Oscar's features relaxed for the first time that night as he smirked at Hu Yetao's horrified expression. "I do believe it takes about twelve months or more of non-stop ingestion before you need to panic Tao."

Hu Yetao exhaled in relief and Oscar cocked his head to one side, watching him.

"You want children?" he asked with interest, looking as though he was surprised by this fact.

Hu Yetao looked up and nodded. "Yeah, it's about the only plus side to this whole Omega nightmare."

Oscar's expression unexpectedly pinched as though he were in discomfort.

"What?" Hu Yetao couldn't help asking.

Oscar absently plucked at a thread from the hem of his charcoal grey trousers. "I… I apologize for being so uncertain. You hate the fact that you're an Omega in part because of me."

Hu Yetao blinked in surprise. "I can't blame you Oscar; you've hated me for years and there hasn't been a male Omega for nearly a century, of course, you're going to jump to conclusions."

Oscar shook his head. "I should have realized," he said. "I flatter myself on thinking things through logically and if I had just put aside our petty differences…"

"When have we ever been able to do that?" Hu Yetao asked with a sly grin.

Oscar acknowledged this statement with a small but genuine smile and Hu Yetao felt that familiar tightening of his gut at the sight. Hu Yetao hugged his arms tighter around himself to stave off the shivering that had started up from leaning against a damp stone wall in nothing but a thin t-shirt.

Oscar immediately noticed his discomfort and, without hesitation, unclasped his black cloak and held it out.

"Won't you get cold?" Hu Yetao asked uncertainly.

Oscar shook his head and handed it over. "I don't tend to feel the cold."

Hu Yetao smiled gratefully as he lifted the expensive woolen garment and wrapped it around his shoulders. He was immediately infused with warmth from the cloak and Oscar's lingering body heat. The scent of the Alpha invaded his nostrils, making him want to sigh with contentment.

Hu Yetao hadn't realized that he'd closed his eyes in bliss until he opened them again to see Oscar arching a questioning brow at him.

"Sorry," he mumbled, cheeks heating, "it smells like you."

Oscar blinked, startled out of his mocking amusement.

Hu Yetao determinedly shoved away his self-consciousness to delve into what it was they needed to discuss. "How is it that you can… resist me, for lack of a better word, when the other two Alphas couldn't keep their hands off of me when we were alone?"

Oscar swallowed and nodded, as though freely consenting to Hu Yetao's efforts at steering the conversation towards the crux of the matter. "Self-control?" he speculated.

"Really?" Hu Yetao replied with a skeptical frown. "So… are you using self-control right now?"

"Yes."

As soon as the word was out of Oscar's mouth, it occurred to Hu Yetao that Oscar's inscrutable eyes had been fairly dilated for the entirety of their meeting, from the moment the door had shut behind him. The Slytherin had also been maintaining his distance up until he sat down, but still not close enough to accidentally make physical contact.

"What about you?" Oscar asked stiffly, interrupting his musing. "What are you... feeling?"

Hu Yetao could tell the Alpha was uncomfortable with the line of questioning. "Full disclosure?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Hu Yetao smiled. "It means, let's just forget that we're having the most awkward conversation of all time and not hide anything. No question is off-limits and no emotion is absurd."

Instead of appearing deterred, Oscar looked a little relieved. "Agreed," he nodded.

Hu Yetao exhaled and dropped his chin onto his knees, eyes on Oscar. "I... What I'm feeling is so hard to describe. I guess I should start by saying that since my inheritance, I've only ever felt drawn to you. It's as you said before, I want to be with you all the time, and not just in a 'jump into bed with me' way, but in a serious relationship sort of way."

Oscar nodded in understanding.

"Full disclosure," Hu Yetao muttered, steeling himself before continuing, "and I want… I have this desire for you to take care of me."

Oscar's lips parted and his eyes flashed in the weak light.

"And maybe that doesn't sound strange to you but I've always been a fairly independent person and I've never wanted someone to watch over me before," Hu Yetao tried to explain, squirming a little in embarrassment.

Oscar swallowed before replying. "That… that is like music to an Alpha's ears Tao."

"Huh?" Hu Yetao blinked, astonished. "You… Alphas want me to be like that?"

"If it's your natural reaction, yes," Oscar confirmed. "An Alpha lives to take care of his mate, and if that mate longs for their Alpha's presence and protection…"

"It's like an Alpha's wet dream?"

Oscar's lips twitched into a smile as he nodded. "That and their mate wishing to start a family."

Hu Yetao smiled as he absently rubbed his chin in the soft fabric of Oscar's cloak; stirring the scent of the Alpha up into his nostrils with a tiny sigh of pleasure. "So I'm not completely failing at this Omega thing?"

Oscar smirked. "Do you ever fail at anything?"

Hu Yetao laughed outright and it felt good. "I guess the next question is… now what?"

Oscar's easy expression turned troubled and he hesitated before finally replying. "The proper way of things is for you to register with the Ministry as an Omega so that any enquiring Alpha is informed of your existence and allowed to meet with you."

Hu Yetao held his gaze. "And the un-proper way of things?"

His brown eyes scanned his face intently. "The… un-proper way of things is to just give in to your urges and settle for the first Alpha that piques your interest."

Hu Yetao could feel the atmosphere in the room change as it thickened with a heavy, expectant tension that wasn't altogether unpleasant. "I think I prefer the second option," he replied, mouth suddenly dry and heart pounding wildly in his chest. "If you're interested."

Hu Yetao held his breath, feeling exposed as he laid everything out there and waited for a response. Yes, Oscar had his faults; he concealed his emotions, was relentlessly condescending, sarcastic, and was a bit of a ponce. But he was also intelligent, challenging, interesting, didn't pander to Hu Yetao's celebrity, and, truth be told, was rather easy on the eyes. If they could just reconcile their history, Hu Yetao didn't think he could find a more perfect match.

Oscar's eyes, which had been positively blazing moments before, suddenly dimmed as he dropped his gaze to the floor, a slight frown creasing his brow.

Sharp and immediate disappointment filled Hu Yetao as he nodded mutely and quickly pushed himself to his feet. He wasn't in the mood to hang around to hear the reasons why.

Oscar swiftly stood up as Hu Yetao unclasped the borrowed cloak from around his shoulders and held it out to him.

"Hu Yetao no, wait," he said at once, ignoring the extended cloak in front of him.

"It's okay," Hu Yetao said, forcing a smile. "I just wanted to make sure you knew all the facts before rejecting me."

"No!" Oscar exclaimed fiercely, reaching out with one hand to clamp around Hu Yetao's arm. "I'm not rejecting you. Taotao, I want you. Very much," he said bluntly, breathlessly. "I was planning on approaching you until the idea of a love potion was put into my head. Beta or not, it was beginning to not matter to me anymore. Now that I know you're an Omega and it isn't some sort of trick… I can't… there's just no way that I can let you walk away."

Hu Yetao's eyes widened as his heart soared with sudden joy - then immediately sunk like a lead weight. "There's a 'but' though, isn't there?"

Oscar's gaze was penetrating as he stared back at him. "There is a 'but' - however, it has nothing to do with not wanting you." He took a step closer, directly into Hu Yetao's personal space.

Hu Yetao had to tilt his head back to maintain eye contact. The urge to step back to keep some distance - and a clear head - was strong but he managed to resist as he waited expectantly for an explanation.

"There's something you don't know about me that you need to - before consenting to be my mate."

Hu Yetao felt a shiver run through his body at the title and unconsciously swayed a little towards the Alpha. "What is it?" he asked roughly. A part of him suspected he'd agree to anything Oscar said at that moment, merely from the proximity and intense eye contact.

"I can't tell you here," he replied and Hu Yetao had never seen the Slytherin look so grave. "Tomorrow, away from the school."

Hu Yetao swallowed. "Why?"

Oscar's gaze flicked about the room before returning to rest on Hu Yetao's questioning face. "Someone may hear; this castle has eyes and ears everywhere."

Hu Yetao raised his brow, a tingle of apprehension suddenly running down his spine. "Is this thing something that will affect my decision?"

Oscar's expression didn't change but Hu Yetao saw the brief flash of sorrow in his eyes. "It may," was all he said.

Hu Yetao frowned at the mysterious sadness he instantly knew was buried deep inside the blond, and slowly raised a tentative hand to slide trembling fingers across Oscar's cheek. His thumb came to rest along one pale cheekbone as he cupped his face and stared intently into brown eyes; trying to discover the Slytherin's secrets and reassure him all at the same time.

Oscar closed his eyes briefly and leaned into the touch before mirroring Hu Yetao's action by sliding a warm hand across the chilled skin of Hu Yetao's cheek. His hand continued sliding backward into thick unruly hair and molded firmly to the back of Hu Yetao's head.

Hu Yetao swallowed and allowed the Alpha to guide him forward, his bright eyes dropping to stare transfixed as Oscar ran a tongue over his dry lips, and then his eyes fluttered shut as those lips suddenly brushed against his. It was just a light pressing of lips but it still sent shivers through Hu Yetao's body and made his stomach clench with want.

Oscar's cloak dropped carelessly to the floor as his other arm wound its way around Hu Yetao's waist and pulled him close. He cautiously opened his mouth to deepen the kiss but he needn't have worried, Hu Yetao was only too happy to comply as he submitted completely.

This thing between them had been building for so long that Hu Yetao couldn't have resisted even if he'd wanted to. It struck him again just how different Oscar was to the other Alphas; his movements weren't desperate and depraved, they were slow, methodical, and maddeningly arousing, as though he knew it was a living breathing person in his arms not just an Omega undistinguishable to any other Omega.

Hu Yetao made a needy noise in the back of his throat as his tongue collided messily with Oscar's, sweeping his mouth before tangling insistently, hotly, with his own. Hu Yetao had been hard as soon as his questing fingertips had touched Oscar's cheek and he pressed his erection firmly against Oscar's thigh as they kissed, suddenly wanting the Alpha to feel it, to know how affected he was.

Oscar pulled away from the kiss with a deep shudder that seemed to run the entire length of his body. He rested his forehead against Hu Yetao's and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "Fuck… you are… that was…"

"Yeah." Hu Yetao grinned breathlessly, fingers clenching in the soft cashmere of Oscar's black jumper, pleased to have rendered the articulate Slytherin so incoherent.

Oscar opened his eyes and smirked, eyes still glazed with arousal.

Hu Yetao couldn't help pressing another kiss to that smirking mouth, he'd never been so close to that trademark expression before and it made him positively giddy that it now belonged to him.

Depending on what he was told tomorrow of course. He didn't want to take things too far tonight just in case whatever he heard tomorrow did make him want to walk away from Oscar as a potential mate.

With that in mind, Hu Yetao gently - and reluctantly - extracted himself from Oscar's warm embrace and took a step back. "Tomorrow?" he said, smiling to soften his actions.

Oscar exhaled unevenly, attempting to compose himself, and nodded. He leaned down to retrieve his forgotten cloak from the floor. "I'll meet you at the front gates after last class."

"We're leaving the grounds?" Hu Yetao replied in surprise.

"It's safer that way," Oscar replied evasively. "And it would be prudent to have our conversation with my parents in attendance as well."

Hu Yetao's mouth dropped open. "You want me to go to the Manor? And meet your parents to discuss our relationship?"

Oscar's lips twitched imperceptibly and Hu Yetao covered his face with his hands.

"Oh god, they will not be pleased."

Oscar gently pulled Hu Yetao's fingers away from his face. "You will be fine Tao, once they hear that you're an Omega they'll welcome you with open arms."

Hu Yetao snorted skeptically. "Easy for you to say, they didn't want you dead last year."

"To be fair, only my father wanted you dead," Oscar quipped with another smirk that melted some of Hu Yetao's anxiety.

Hu Yetao smiled wryly as he shook his head. "We must be mental," he proclaimed as he furtively slipped a hand into Oscar's.

"Decidedly," Oscar agreed with a smirk, threading long fingers with Hu Yetao's.

They walked to the door, shoes crunching over the gravel-strewn flagstones. Oscar turned to him, one hand on the handle, the other still firmly clasped in Hu Yetao's.

"I think you should stop taking those potions," he said, concern sharp in his eyes. "Regardless of what happens tomorrow."

"I know," Hu Yetao replied hesitantly. "But… then everyone will know what I am."

"If you cover your scent I- your Alpha won't be able to find you."

"Find me?"

"Yes, your Alpha can detect your scent from miles away if you're not hiding it through potions," Oscar explained. "He'll also be able to distinguish when you're in distress. If… if it was me, I would sleep easier knowing that I would be alerted to any threats to your safety - especially with you sharing a room with those other Alphas."

"Alright, I'll stop." Hu Yetao gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Also, you needn't worry about my dorm mates; Zhang Xinyao is extremely not interested in me in that way, and Fu Sichao is the same as far as I can tell."

"And Kazuma?" Oscar reminded darkly.

Hu Yetao smiled a little. "And Kazuma won't try anything again, he felt guilty the last time, and I'll just make sure that I'm never alone with him. Plus Zhang Xinyao has turned into my bodyguard when it comes to other Alphas. Purely as a friend thing," he hurried to reassure when Oscar's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're not my mate yet Oscar, you can't go all jealous and possessive," he teased, trying to lighten the mood and smooth away those worry lines on Oscar's face.

Oscar's expression immediately relaxed and he tugged Hu Yetao up against him. "The sooner the better," he growled, the sound going straight to Hu Yetao's groin. "Don't think I haven't noticed that you haven't told me who this other Alpha was who attacked you, Tao."

Hu Yetao grinned. "And don't think that wasn't on purpose Oscar."

Oscar chuckled as he suddenly released him and stepped back. "Here, take this," he directed, lifting his cloak and passing it back to Hu Yetao. "Your skin is fucking icy Tao. Don't they teach common sense in Gryffindor?"

Hu Yetao took back the warm garment and swept it over his shoulders. "Just for that, I will take it and you can bloody-well freeze Oscar."

Oscar smirked at Hu Yetao's attempt at a haughty expression and opened the door. They stepped out into the corridor together and Hu Yetao suddenly found that he didn't want them to part just yet.

"You're thinking something sentimental right now, aren't you?" Oscar asked with an arched brow.

Hu Yetao laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Never," he refuted, hugging the cloak tightly around himself.

Oscar wavered, looking disinclined to leave as well. "See you, tomorrow Tao," he finally uttered quietly.

Hu Yetao was learning to look to the Slytherin's eyes for a hint of what he was feeling, and there was a softness there that immediately put a smile on his face.

"G'night Oscar," he said before turning and heading for Gryffindor Tower.

This 'relationship' between them was so different from what he thought finding a mate would be like; he thought it would feel like he wasn't in control and that there would be an instant intimacy, but there wasn't - and that discovery delighted him. The initial attraction and pull were there, but they would still have to work at this, despite being an Alpha and an Omega. Their mateship wasn't going to be a free ride by any means and they would still argue and get annoyed with each other, and everything else that went along with sharing your life with someone. They weren't automatically in love - they still had to fall the old-fashioned way.

He lowered his chin into the soft cloak wrapped around him and inhaled the Alpha's scent indulgently, already knowing that there was a high probability of him sleeping with the cloak tonight - and vowing to never, ever mention that fact to Oscar.