Chapter 20 - The Beginning

Walking into his dormitory, Lucius Malfoy held his head high, icy blue eyes scanning the room and landing on his three roommates; Edward Greengrass, Dorian Nott, and Augustus Crabbe. His dormitory was a place of familiarity but now it felt almost hostile.

Nott was the first to notice him. He sneered, his Alpha scent filling the room. "Look who decided to show up," he drawled.

Greengrass didn't look up from his book, his expression unreadable. Crabbe, meanwhile, watched the unfolding drama with a gleeful interest.

"Why did you hide your Omegan status from your dear old friends, Lucius?" Dorian asked, a mocking smile on his face as he referred to himself and the two other boys.

Lucius tilted his head, his lips curving into a sarcastic smile. "I didn't realize we were friends, Nott," he replied, his voice cool.

Dorian's smile twisted into a sneer. "How hurtful," he said, feigning offense as he took a step closer to Lucius. His eyes roamed over Lucius, assessing him in a way that made Lucius' skin crawl. "Such a fine Omega like you shouldn't be paired with a blood traitor Gryffindor. If you hadn't hidden your status, I would have courted you myself."

Lucius scoffed, "And why would I ever accept your courting, Nott? Sirius, wild and rebellious as he is, suits me far better than some arrogant toe rag like you."

The room fell silent, Dorian's face turning a deep shade of red. Across the room, Edward chuckled, the sound echoing in the tense silence. 

Dorian whipped his head towards Edward and spat, "Something funny, Greengrass?"

"Just the book I'm reading, Nott," Edward replied, turning a page from his book.

Dorian furrowed his brows but turned his head back to Lucius, his rage palpable. "You should watch your mouth, Malfoy," he snarled, his eyes dropping to Lucius' body with a perverted smirk. "You're lucky to be tied to a blood traitor like Black. Cross me, and you won't be so lucky."

Lucius didn't flinch, standing tall against Dorian's threat. "Is that a threat, Nott?" he asked, his voice filled with icy contempt.

"Consider it a warning," Dorian spat, his alpha aura growing stronger in an attempt to intimidate. 

Dorian leaned his face towards Lucius, "Must have been lonely, spending your heat alone," he drawled, a cruel smirk on his face. "No Alpha to ruin you into submission. I would have been more than happy to help you out, Lucius. He hasn't marked you yet, has he?"

Augustus snickered at Dorian's words, but Lucius didn't react. His face was blank as he stared straight into Dorian's eyes. 

Dorian reached out to caress Lucius' cheek with a slimy grin. "I could pleasure you so much better than Sirius Black ever could, Lucius." 

Lucius' eyes flicked to Dorian's hand, but before he could react, the room was suddenly filled with a powerful Alpha aura.

Dorian turned, his eyes landing on Edward, who was still sat on his bed with his book.

"Your chatter is disturbing my reading, Nott," Edward said, his eyes not leaving the pages of his book. 

Quickly, Lucius slapped Dorian's hand away from his face and moved to gather his last belongings. Dorian watched him, his face contorting in anger. "What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?"

Augustus Crabbe, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, finally noticed that most of Lucius's belongings were already gone. "Where's your stuff?"

"On its way to my new accommodations," Lucius replied, his voice cold and detached. 

"A new room? Why?" Crabbe muttered with confusion marking his face. 

Dorian, who realized the reason faster than his mate, answered, "Because he's an Omega. He can't stay here with us." 

Dorian's eyes flowed back to Lucius as he moved to gather his last belongings. "The mighty Malfoys have truly fallen, haven't they?" Dorian started, a smug smirk on his face. "Their heir, empathizing with mudbloods. And an Omega at that."

Lucius merely raised a brow at the pathetic provocation. Dorian, interpreting the silent response as encouragement, continued his taunts. "It's an eyesore, really, your endeavors to help those halfbloods and mudbloods sorted into Slytherin. They have no rights. It's a waste of your effort. Your just making enemies from the wrong families."

Lucius paused in his packing, turning to face Dorian. His icy blue eyes held a sneer. "How does the Nott family dare to offend the Malfoys and Blacks, Dorian?" Lucius asked, his voice silky with threat. "I am to be the next Matriarch of the Blacks, and my future children will be the heirs to the Malfoy legacy. Even one of our families could easily take care of the Notts. Our families are not on the same level."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. 

"Perhaps it's not me who needs to be careful, Dorian," Lucius continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Perhaps it's you." His eyes were icy, a clear warning. He would not be threatened, and he would not stand for such disrespect.

Dorian seemed taken aback by Lucius's retaliation. The smug smirk was wiped off his face, replaced by a look of surprise. Edward let out another soft chuckle from his corner, finally looking up from his book to observe the scene. He watched as Lucius turned back to his packing, leaving a stunned Dorian in his wake. The power dynamics in the room had shifted, and it was clear who was the true 'Alpha', regardless of their secondary genders.

Lucius cast a final glance at his former roommates. "Enjoy the extra space. Hopefully, you won't be seeing much of me anymore, apart from class and meal times."

With that, Lucius left the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

~~~

The days following the announcement of his engagement and status as an omega were a whirlwind of emotions for Lucius. One moment he was elated, the next moment he was anxious. The constant attention from his peers was something he could have done without. He was relieved when he finally moved to his private dorm, located hidden beside the Slytherin dungeons. It was his sanctuary, away from prying eyes and constant whispers. 

Every day, he would spend his free time in the Room of Requirement with Serena. The room would transform itself into a cozy study with a fireplace, where they would chat about everything and nothing, or simply enjoy the comforting silence. Serena was a good company, she understood what it was like to be under the scrutiny of others. 

When he was not with Serena, he was often seen with Barty. They would be seen engrossed in conversations about the latest spells or Lucius trying to block out stories from Barty's choice of snog partners. Lucius also found himself spending more time with Regulus Black. He was Sirius' younger brother, and despite their differences, Lucius found Regulus to be surprisingly understanding and they got along well. 

During this week, Lucius also noticed Sirius' eyes on him more often. How could he not? His gaze would follow him across the Great Hall, or linger on him walking through the corridors. Each glance sent a thrill through him, making his heart flutter in a way he hadn't felt before. He reveled in Sirius' attention, it was intoxicating. 

He was especially amused one evening when he caught Sirius' gaze from across the Great Hall. The Alpha quickly averted his eyes, but not before Lucius caught the blush spread across his face. He couldn't help the small smile that formed on his lips. He had Sirius' attention now, and he was not going to let it go. 

In his mind, he began to plan. He would take it slow, let Sirius pursue him. He wanted to see the Alpha squirm, regret all those years he ignored him. He had Sirius' attention now, and he was going to relish every moment of it. 

"Oh, Sirius," he mused to himself in the privacy of his dorm, a wicked gleam in his icy blue eyes. "You have no idea what's coming for you." He was looking forward to the chase, the game, and the eventual victory. After all, he was his and only his. Sirius Black didn't know it yet, but he was already caught in Lucius' web, and there was no way out.

~~~

The Gryffindor boys' dormitory was a flurry of activity. James Potter and Peter Pettigrew were engaged in a boisterous match of Exploding Snap, the echoes of their laughter and the occasional bang ricocheting off the stone walls. Remus Lupin sat at his desk, a pile of parchment and books in front of him, his quill dancing across the paper in an attempt to finish his homework amidst the chaos.

Yet amidst the usual joviality, one figure sat detached from the rest. Sirius Black was sprawled on his bed, his brooding gaze fixed on the ceiling, a stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere.

James lost another round of Exploding Snap with a dramatic sigh, throwing his cards onto the small table between them. "For Merlin's sake, Sirius, you're worse than Remus during a full moon," he exclaimed, finally losing patience with his friend's silence.

Remus glanced over at Sirius, his brows furrowed. "I actually prefer this brooding Sirius," he said dryly, "It's quieter."

"But less fun," Peter chimed in, eagerly shuffling the cards for another round.

Ignoring their comments, James moved towards Sirius's bed, followed closely by Peter and Remus. They circled around him like a pack of wolves, their expressions filled with concern.

"Alright, Sirius, out with it," James demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Is this about Malfoy?"

At the mention of the Omega, Sirius twitched but didn't reply. James sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, I know the whole marriage contract thing is a bit... well, shocking. But maybe it's not all that bad."

"And why would that be, Jamesie?" Sirius asked, his voice laced with bitterness.

James shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, maybe because you fancy Malfoy?"

Sirius sat up so quickly he almost knocked Peter off the bed. "What?!"

Remus nodded in agreement with James, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's pretty obvious, mate."

Sirius looked at Remus in disbelief. "And why's that, Remus?"

James cut in before Remus could respond. "You've been watching him, Sirius. C'mon mate, stealing glances? Sulking whenever someone else gets even a bit too close to him? Puh-lease."

Remus chuckled. "And I thought you'd be in an uproar over the whole thing. But you've been surprisingly... docile."

Sirius looked between his friends, his mouth open in shock. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out. From the look on his friends' faces, it seemed they had hit the mark. He fell back onto his bed, his mind racing, his heart pounding. Could they be right? Did he actually fancy Lucius Malfoy?

James looked at Sirius expectantly. "So, what does Malfoy think about this whole thing?"

Sirius shrugged, his cheeks tinged pink. "He said...he said he's okay with it."

James raised an eyebrow. "Just okay?"

Sirius gulped and avoided his friends' gazes. "He... he might have said... that he likes me." 

There was a stunned silence for a moment before Remus broke it. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"No!" Sirius protested, his voice a little too loud.

"Why not?" Peter asked, looking genuinely confused. 

"Got any history with Malfoy that we should know about?" James added, a smirk playing on his lips.

Sirius laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "History with Malfoy?" He wondered aloud, his mind racing back to the memory of their first meeting, the letters, the misunderstanding, the years of avoidance. 

He had been so sure, so certain that Lucius was just like the rest of his family, a dark wizard in the making. But then that conversation happened, in a dusty, forgotten classroom, and Lucius had revealed a side of him Sirius hadn't even considered. He was different, not at all what Sirius had assumed. He sees that now. It was a hard pill to swallow. 

But when he found himself observing Lucius more often, he noticed the way the other students, both muggleborns and half-bloods alike, seemed to gravitate towards Lucius and it intrigued him. They sought his approval, eagerly awaiting his praises as if his word held a significant weight. It was a stark contrast to the image Sirius had painted in his mind of a cold and aloof Lucius, someone who would only associate with pureblood elitists.

As he watched the interactions, Sirius felt a pang of guilt and regret. Regulus and Serena had tried to tell him about the real Lucius, but he had been too blind and stubborn to listen. He had let his assumptions and biases cloud his judgment, never giving Lucius a chance to show his true self. Now, seeing the way he effortlessly commanded respect and admiration, Sirius couldn't help but feel a deep sense of remorse for misjudging him. And all he did was watch, sulk, or brood over it.

It scratched at his heart, realizing how wrong he had been. Lucius had never corrected him, never tried to make him see the truth. And that puzzled Sirius even more. Why had Lucius allowed him to assume the worst about him? Why hadn't he let Sirius know what he was truly like sooner? The questions swirled in his mind, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of unworthiness that washed over him.

But amidst the guilt and remorse, there was something else stirring within Sirius. He was captivated by Lucius' radiance, the way he effortlessly commanded attention and respect. There was a magnetic quality about him that drew Sirius in, making him want to know more. He wanted a chance to see the real Lucius, to understand the person who had been his friend.

"I might have made a mistake," Sirius admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. His friends exchanged a look but didn't interrupt. "I think judged him too quickly, jumped to conclusions. And now... now it feels like I've missed so much."

He remembered the relief he felt when Lucius revealed his views on blood supremacy, how it was completely against what his family believed in. Sirius remembered the hope that bloomed in his chest, a feeling he had suppressed for years. 

In the days following their conversation, Sirius found himself looking for Lucius wherever he went, he couldn't help it, his gaze always drawn to the pale blond hair and icy blue eyes. He admired Lucius from afar. He was pretty, just like the first time Sirius saw him at his 5th birthday party. 

"So, what are you going to do about it?" James asked, breaking Sirius out of his thoughts.

Sirius glanced at his friends, their faces filled with concern and curiosity. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know what he would do, but one thing was clear, he had a lot of things to sort out with Lucius Malfoy. He would find a way to get to know Lucius again, to bridge the gap and rebuild the connection they had lost. He wanted to apologize for his past assumptions, to show Lucius that he was willing to see him for who he truly was. He hoped that Lucius would be open to giving him that chance, that he hadn't been hurt too deeply by Sirius' previous judgments.

"I.. I don't know," Sirius admitted lamely, his eyes reflecting his confusion. "And I still need to see what the contract entails."

James rolled his eyes dramatically. "You need to court Malfoy, of course! Show him you're interested."

Sirius gaped at James, his mind reeling from his friend's casual remark. "Court him?" 

Remus nodded, a serious expression on his face. "It's the proper way, Sirius. When an Alpha is interested in building a relationship with an Omega or, for example, engaged to an Omega, they should court them. It's a sign of respect and commitment."

"Okay, But why are you all so okay with this?" Sirius demanded, his frustration mounting.

Remus looked at Sirius calmly. "My parents always said that being married to an Omega is a blessing. They're rare, Sirius. And Lucius doesn't seem all that bad, considering he's friends with Serena and your brother. You should do whatever you can to keep Lucius."

James nodded enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, mate! And you need to protect him too. There might be other Alphas planning to take him away from you."

Sirius groaned, burying his face in his hands. This was all too much. But then James's words sank in, and Sirius looked up at him, his eyes wide. "Wait, you're saying that even if I'm already engaged to him, other Alphas might try to...?"

"Claim him?" Remus interjected, his tone matter-of-fact. "Yes, Sirius. It's possible. Lucius is desirable, if you hadn't noticed. That's why you need to be there for him."

What the bloody hell?!

"Also," James added, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "from now on, Lucius is part of our pack too. All you need to do is pull yourself together and mend things with him."

Sirius stared at his friends, his mind whirling with their words. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be as bad as he thought. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to rekindle his relationship with Lucius Malfoy.