Chapter Three: Hiss Mate

I wake surrounded in warmth. I snuggle closer to the warmth, my ears pick up the sounds of soft breathing. I peek open my eyes and see that I have snuggled up to Fred, who throws his arm over me in his sleep. I smile and wriggle closer to him. It's been two weeks since I started dating Fred and George and I'm still not used to waking up next to them. On the other side of me George groans and rolls toward me. When he rolls into the spot I had been only a moment ago he peeks at me through his eyelashes and when he sees me snuggled up to Fred he scootches closer and wraps his arms around my waist. What results is a tug of war between the two of them with me in the middle.

When we finally get around to getting out of bed and going to breakfast everyone else is already awake and seated at the table. "It's about time you three got up." Mrs. Weasley says from the head of the table. "Sorry mum." the twins say in unison as we sit down in the three remaining seats. Hermione across from me looks up from her book long enough to smile encouragingly. I try to make eye contact with Ron, but he just stares at his food. Hermione has been reading the book on neko's that I borrowed from her earlier, I returned it because I didn't have time to read it anymore.

"Here Harry,"

"You have to eat too y'know." Fred and George start piling food onto my plate. I feel my heart swell as I watch them, "Alright, alright. Can I at least feed myself? I feel like a three year old." I grumble, picking up my fork and stabbing a sausage with it. I feel the twins eyes on me as I put the thing in my mouth and bite down. Their eyes are wide as they turn back to thier food. I giggle quietly and keep eating. Peeking across the table I see that Ron is struggling not to laugh as well. I smile and turn my attention back to my food. Maybe Ron can come to terms with me and his brothers after all - and with me being an omega.

After breakfast Hermione pulls me away from the twins and takes me up to Ron's room for privacy. Ron sits down on his bed and appears to pretend I'm not in the room. Hermione lays her book down on the bed that I used to sleep on, "Harry, did you read all of this book?" she asks. I come up beside her and look down at the page she's looking over, "No, I definitely didn't get this far." I say. She looks up at me, "Well you should have- this says that all neko's have a mate." I blink at her, "A what?" I ask.

"A mate! As in 'the act of matching two individuals who are destined to be with one another'!" It takes a second for the meaning of this to sink in. "Are you saying that I have a - a predestined soulmate or something?" I ask. I'm fervently wishing that what she's saying isn't true, but something inside me knows that it is. "Yes. That is exactly what I'm saying."

I feel my knees go weak and sit down on the edge of the bed. A beat of silence passes. I don't know what to say. My mind whirls.

"What about my brothers?" I look up to see Ron staring at me.

"Maybe they are your mates- are they Harry?" Hermione asks. I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a choking sound. I swallow, "How would I even know?" I ask, the whole situation is almost too much for me to process.

Hermione looks a bit embarrassed as she closes the book and lifts it into her arms, "You'd know." she says. They stare at me expectantly, but I have no answer for their question. I didn't even know that I have a mate, much less wether or not the twins are said mates.

"I don't know-" I whisper. I watch as Hermione and Ron share a look. "I know what you're thinking, and just because I don't know for sure that they're my mates doesn't mean anything. They could still be my mates." I say. The numbness that had previously invaded my mind and body, the shock that had preceded the information that I have a mate, melt away, anger taking it's place. My ears flatten against my head and my tail swishes around behind me in agitation. "Of course that's also possible. " Hermione says in a soothing voice.

"Hermione, don't coddle him. If my brothers were his mates he would know wouldn't he?"

"Well, probably, but it is also possible that Harry recognized them as his mates but didn't realize it." she says. Ron's face turns red as he turns to me, "But what if they aren't his mates? If he keeps seeing them under these circumstances then one day he could find out that my brothers aren't his mates!"

"I would never abandon them like that-" I start.

"You wouldn't have a choice! You heard what Hermione said, your mate is the person that you are destined to be with!"

At this point I start crying. My tail droops as I bury my face in my hands. I don't want to hurt Fred and George. Just the thought makes me want to curl up and die, and the thought of being with anyone but them is - unthinkable. They have to be my mates - they just have to be.

"Look what you've done-" Hermione glares at Ron as she puts a hand on Harry's trembling shoulder. "What have I done?" he whispers back.

"You made him cry!" she points out, nodding toward the sobbing neko. Harry's ears droop miserably. Ron stares at his best friend for a second, guilt blooming across his face. "Do something." Hermione whispers angrily. "Fine, I will." Ron gets up and goes to the door of his bedroom. He opens the door and in tumble Fred and George. They stop to glare at Ron as they pick themselves up off the floor. "You put a silencing charm on your door, didn't you?" George asks angrily. "Hermione did." Ron confesses, gesturing to Hermione, who has her arms wrapped around a sobbing Harry. "What have you done now?" Fred asks as George rushes forward and takes Harry into his arms. Harry clings to him, his tears soaking into the front of George's shirt. "I - might have yelled at him." Ron says.

Fred joins George on the bed, hugging the smaller boy against him, "For what?"

"Uh- for-" Ron looks to Hermione for help.

"For making him feel left out. Ron misses his best friend and his brothers, but you three spend so much time together that he never sees any of you anymore" Hermione says quickly. Everyone is silent for a moment as Ron and Hermione wait to see if they buy it.

"That's still no reason to make Harry cry." George says, his expression softening.

"We still love you Ronniekins!" Fred says. He unwinds himself from Harry and George and moves across the room to hug Ron, who glares at Hermione over his shoulder.

"So what do you think they were really talking about?" Fred asks as they carry a sleeping Harry back to thier room. After he had finished crying he had fallen asleep in George's arms. "Dunno - but I don't think Ron was yelling at Harry because he misses us."

George whispers, trying not to wake the sleeping boy up.

Once they reach thier room they lay Harry down on the bed and then sit down on either side of him. As they watch him sleep they hear him whisper something, but it's too quiet for them to make it out. Fred reaches out and bushes away a stray tear as it slips down Harry's cheek. "Should we even bother asking him? If it's something that upsets him-"

"I hate it when he cries - he doesn't do it often, but when he does it's terrible. No, we won't ask him."

"We'll just have to find out for ourselved then." The twins look at each other and nod, silently agreeing never to mention this incident in front of Harry again.

I'm somewhere bright. Everything around me is covered in a white fog. Where am I? "Hello? Is anyone there?" I call. No one answers. My ears twitch, I strain to hear a sound, any sound, but all is silent. Normally, I would be terrified, but for some reason I'm calmer than I have been in a long time. A warmth suddenly envelopes me from behind, "There you are-" a voice whispers in my ear. I want badly to turn and look at them, but somehow I know that I can't. "I've been waiting for you." the voice says. It's a male voice, that much I can tell, and for some reason it seems so familiar to me, but I can't place it. "Who are you?" I ask, relaxing in his arms. I can feel him against my back as though he were really here, but I know that he isn't. He laughs, and the sound is excuisite, "I'm your mate, of course."

I feel for his hand and bring it up to my face to smell of it. "What are you doing?" he asks.

"Memorizing your scent - so I can find you again." I explain, but when I bring his hand to my nose and take a deep breath I smell nothing. "I wish it were that easy, but we're meeting in a dream, silly. You can't smell me in a dream, just like we can't really look at each other." his voice sounds as sad as I feel as he says this. Just then a sound echoes around me, "Harry! Wake up or we'll miss supper!"

"Wh-What was that?" I whisper, clutching at his arms around my waist. "You're waking up." he explains, nuzzling my neck. I sigh in contentment at the feeling, "I don't want to wake up - I want to stay with you." I whisper. "I know, but don't worry, we'll see each other again. We're meant to be." He whispers against the skin of my neck. I shiver at the feeling of his lips on my skin. "HARRY!"

I groan and roll over, "Noo -" I want to crawl back under the covers and go to sleep. I want to see him again, my mate. "Harry, come on-" one of the twins says, shaking my shoulder. I growl at him, wrenching out of his grip and off of the bed. I land on the cold floor, effectively shocking myself the rest of the way awake. I rub my tail where I landed on in, hissing in pain. I search my mind, trying to place that voice. I feel like it's just out of reach, taunting me, but I can't figure it out. I look over at the bed and see Fred standing there with a look of hurt on his face. Realizing what I'd done, I look away, "I'm sorry-"

"It's okay- I probably interrupted a good dream," he says. I look up and see him smiling down at me. He offers me a hand and help me stand. "From the sound of it it was a very good dream." George sneers from the doorway, "Were you dreaming about us Harry?" they ask. I blush and back away, "I - You said supper is ready, right? We should probably go down and eat!" I screech, my voice sounds higher than normal even to me and I wince slightly as I move past them. They follow my silently as we descend the stairs and go into the living room. I can't even look at them now that I know - they are not my mates. How can I keep acting like everything is normal when, for me, everything has changed? I eat in silence, unable to shake the sorrow gripping my soul. I am torn between my feelings for the twins, and how much I yearn to be with someone I may or may not have met before. I eat very little. The one time I look up from my plate I meet Hermione's quizzical stare. I look away quickly, but not before understanding lights up in her eyes. This only makes me feel worse.

I excuse myself before dinner is over and head upstairs to be alone. Unfortunately, I don't get what I want. Hermione quickly catches up to me and pulls me into her and Ginny's room. This time we're alone. "They aren't my mates." I answer, knowing that's what she will ask. "I'm so sorry, Harry, I know how much you wanted it to be them - do you know. . .?"

"No, I don't know who it is. I had this dream-" I pause, blushing.

"Your mate was in the dream with you?" she asks.

"Yeah, but I couldn't see him or smell him. I could hear his voice and - feel him, but other than that everything was white." I explain, blushing even more. Hermione turns pink and looks away, "I see - did you recognize the voice?" she asks.

"I kind of did- but at the same time I couldn't." I explain. "I understand-" she says.

"So what do you think I should do?" I ask.

Hermione looks confused so I elaborate, "About the Twins- should I tell them I have a mate somewhere?" I ask.

"I don't know - it seems wrong for you to keep leading them on while you know that you are destined for someone else." she says.

My heart sinks. I know that she's right. I should let the twins go now to save them pain later, even if it does break my heart to do so. "You're right. I should let them go." I say. My ears droop as I turn toward the door.

I exit the room and run head first into Fred and George. The shock on thier faces tells me everything I need to know. They had been listening. They know everything. I turn on my heel and run for Ron's room.

Once I'm inside I locked the door behind me. I slide to the floor, tears coursing down my face. "Harry, what -?" The door bucks behind me, "Harry, let us in!"

"Talk to us, please!"

Ron stares at the door in horror, "What did you do?" he gasps.

"I - I broke up with them." I start sobbing and I can't stop.

Ron moves forward and sits down on the floor beside me. I can still hear the twins outside the door, yelling at me. Hesitantly, Ron puts his arm around me, "I'm sorry - I know that you had feelings for them Harry."

"I - I just don't want to hurt them." I whisper.

"You did the right thing," he says, "and don't worry. They can't keep that up all night."

When I wake up everything is dark and Ron's head is leaning against my shoulder. I don't know how long we've been sleeping, but I'm a bit sad when I realize that not once did I dream about my mate. I sigh, my head aches from all the banging and yelling and crying. I'm just moving Ron to his bed when the door bangs open.

Standing in the doorway is Fred and George. They're faces are shrouded in shadow, but I can tell that they are angry. Silently I curse myself for not remembering that they can pick a lock.

I take an involuntary step back and trip backwards onto the bed. I try to speak, but all that comes out is an airy sound. "Harry, I'm a little offended that you think we would let you end things like this."

"We don't care that you have a 'mate' out there somewhere. Until they come and take you away from us - you are ours." They growl, stalking closer.

"You - you don't understand- I was didn't want to hurt you." I whisper, crawling backwards across the bed. "The best way to hurt us is for you to leave us." Fred says.

I choke back the tears threatening to overwhelm me once again. I'm so tired of crying. I'm so tired. "I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Just- promise never to do this again, please." They whisper, standing over me. I can't look at them, "I promise," I whisper. My voice cracks. I can feel myself shaking.

A moment later I'm in thier arms, "Please don't cry, Harry." George whispers in my ear. The action reminds me of my mate. I shudder and yawn. "That's right, go on to sleep. We'll be here when you wake up." Fred says.

I'm in the white place again. I can feel the strangely familiar feeling of warmth washing over me as my mate joins me. He pulls me against him again and buries his face in my neck, "You're upset-?" He says it like a question, but it sounds like a statement.

"I've had a hard day-" I whisper. I may not know who my mate is yet, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't need to know that I'm in bed with two guys, both of which aren't him.

"Tell me about it- what happened?" he asks. I squirm in his hold and his arms around me tighten, "Tell me." this time it's more of an order than a request. "I didn't know I had a mate until this morning and -"

"And, what? You have a girlfriend?" he asks.

"Boyfriends." I whisper. I feel him stiffen.

"More than one-" he whispers.

"I tried to break things off, but - they aren't making it easy."

"You have feelings for them - don't you?" he asks.

I hate the blush that overtakes my face, even if he can't see it. I know that he doesn't need me to reply, but I do anyway, "Yes."

He growls and nuzzles my neck roughly, "You are mine." I whimper, my ears drooping in response to his anger, "I'm sorry."

"Are you with them right now?" he asks. I nod miserably.

"I hate that someone else is with you and I'm not." he growls. If he were here- I tremble at the thought of seeing him face to face, "I wish you were here." I whisper, putting my hands over his on my stomach. This seems to please him, "I wish that too -"

For a while we sit in silence, just drinking in each others presence. He's petting my ears when he finally speaks again. I'm purring, completely relaxed in his arms. "I don't want you to sleep with anyone but me," he murmers.

"I won't."

"And you are never to let them kiss you, or otherwise touch you inappropriately, again, ever. Promise me." he growls.

"I promise." I say. He continues his ministrations, seeming happier than before, "Thank you- I know it will be hard for you to do, but I just can't stand the thought of someone else touching you when I can't." I purr louder in an effort to comfort him, "I'm yours," I say.

"Yes - mine." he nips at my ear with his teeth. I giggle at the feeling, "I wish we could stay like this forever." I whisper

The twins curled up on the small bed next to Harry, trying to fall asleep without falling off of the bed, when the little neko starts purring. At first they don't think anything of it, but then it gets louder. "Are you petting him?" Fred asks, raising his head to glare at George accusingly. George glares back, "No- I thought you were."

They stare at the cat eared boy quizzically, "Then why do you think he's-?"

"Hmm- yours." Harry says in his sleep. His ear twitches and he giggles.

Fred and George stare at him, "Do you think he's - with his mate?" Fred asks.

"Maybe - he did tell Hermione that he had a dream about his mate. I think he said he could talk to him or something-"

"And feel him." They share a look of jealousy and look back at Harry.

"I don't care if he does have a 'predestined soulmate' or whatever. I'm not going to let anyone take Harry away from us."

"Ditto."

When I wake up the next morning both Fred and George are lying across me in different directions. I smile as I look at thier sleeping faces. Suddenly I remember what I promised my mate last night. I can't sleep with the twins anymore or kiss them or touch them intimately. I know that when I try to explain this, that I promised my mate in a dream that I wouldn't touch the twins, they won't like it. Gently, I attempt to free myself from beneath them, but I'm not strong enough to lift them off of me. I look around for help and find Ron staring at me from across the room. "Help" I mouth.

"You disgust me." he grumbles as he gets out of bed and crosses the room. Once I'm out from under his brothers he follows me out of the room. "What the hell, man? When I fall asleep you're crying because you broke up with them and when I wake up you're sleeping with them." he says in exhasperation. "It's not my fault, they picked the lock on your door!" I whisper. "Anyway, I won't be sleeping with them again. Or kissing them. Or letting them touch me intimately -" he folds his arms across his chest, "And why is that?" he asks.

"Because my mate made me promise in a dream that I would only sleep with him and that I wouldn't kiss them again or let them touch me like that."

Ron looks suprised, "You promised that? You don't even know what this mate of yours looks like, how can you promise something like that?"

"He's my mate. I can't just ignore his requests, and by the way - I didn't tell you all of that last night so you could mock my mate!" I growl. Ron puts his hands up, "Hey, all I meant was - I just want you to make sure you can trust him before you start promising him stuff."

I snarl, anger rising in my like lava, "Of course I can trust him."

"What is going on here?" Hermione, Fred, and George all look at each othe. It's not uncommon for the twins to talk in unison, but for Hermione to do it as well was rather unusual. "Harry's gone beserk!" Ron squeaks.

"He insulted him!" I growl. Fred reaches out to touch me. I know deep inside that he's just trying to comfort me, like he was dozens of times before, but still I flinch away from his touch.

"Who did you insult?" Hermione asks, addressing Ron.

Ron looks rather sheepish as he turns toward her, "Well, I might have insinuated that his mate is untrustworthy, but really, who promises something like that to someone they don't even know?"

"I know him enough."

"Oh? What's his name then? What color are his eyes?" I lunge forward. My fingers barely brush Ron's face when George grabs me around the waist and pulls me back. This shock the anger out of me. His arms are around my waist, only my mate can touch me there. I gasp and stuggle in his grip. "What did Harry promise his mate?" Fred asks.

Ron glares at me, "well, apparently Harry's mate knows about you two and he isn't happy about it. He made Harry promise not to kiss you or let you touch him intimately and he even made him promise not to sleep with anyone but him."

Fred turns and stares at me, "Harry, you didn't really promise that, did you?" he asks, disbelief clear on his face. I stop struggling, obviously I'm not going to get out of his hold like this, "It's not like he wants me to stop seeing you - he just doesn't like the idea of someone that isn't him touching me like that." I explain, pleading with my eyes for them to see my side of this, his side of this. I want them to understand. George lets me go, his arms around my waist falling to his side. I step away from him and smile at him apologetic, "I'm sorry -"

Hermione steps in front of him, turning his attention away from the twins and Ron, "There's no reason to apologize Harry. You're mate asked you to do something. You couldn't not do it. He is your mate and you are an omega. You couldn't help it."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, "He was just s-so upset about it and I don't want him to be upset." I whisper.

"It's okay. Everything is going to be okay. I promise." She says.

"Oh, yeah, it'll be peachy. You realize you aren't dating if you don't do anything, right?" Ron says maliciously.

I don't look at him. I keep my eyes firmly trained on a spot on the wooden floor. "Oh? What are you saying, Ron?" Ron doesn't answer. "Are we only in a relationship so you can snog me and - and touch me? Am I just a body to you?" Hermione's rage fills the hall. I shrink away from her and back into George's chest. I smile up at him apologetically as I move so we aren't touching. "It doesn't matter to us if we can't touch Harry - or kiss him - or sleep with him." George says loudly, looking from me to Ron. Fred obviously thinks his brother has gone crazy. "We love Harry because - because he's Harry!" George continues.

"That's right." Fred agrees. They smile reassuringly at me and it makes me want to cry. I turn and leave the hall. As I head downstairs I come across Mrs. Weasley. "What is that aweful racket?" she asks me. I listen to Hermione yelling at Ron some more.

"It's nothing Mrs. Weasley. They're just argueing." I say as I continue down. I reach the landing and Fred catches up with me, George comes up behind him. "You should really just let me go - it would save us all a lot of pain." I say when I turn toward them.

"No. I would rather go through pain now and get to be with you than go through the hell of having to let you go." George says. "We wouldn't have it any other way." Fred says. I want to kiss him - I want to kiss them both, but I can't, or won't, break my promise to my mate. I can feel myself being torn in two and it's so painful, but the twins are right. I wouldn't want things to be any other way between us.

In my opinion hugs aren't that intimate, so I hug the both of them.