A/N: My readers are seriously the best. The reception this little story has gotten is out of this world! Thank you all soo much! Enjoy this final chater!

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The Adjustment: Chapter 4

Draco

Draco woke slowly, his eyes fluttered as he came to, he was warm and comfortable. His body was the right kind of sore that indicated a truly fantastic shag the night before. He smiled, and inhaled deeply, trying to remember just who it was he had shagged. Pansy, most likely. It must have been a truly amazing night for him to be this sore. Stretching his arms over his head, Draco slowly opened his eyes.

His entire body went cold when he didn't recognize the room he was in. Everything from that year came flooding back, including his status as an Omega. He rolled over to see Granger lying next to him and the scent of Alpha swept over him so quickly he went light-headed. He bolted upright as he tried to remember what exactly had taken place the night before. He'd shagged Granger. He must have, but how? Draco peeked back over at Granger, and watching her lie there in bed, the whole thing came back to him.

Granger had lost control of her Alpha pheromones practically flooding the Head dorm room with them. Draco had tried to fight them, but it felt as if he were swimming upstream. In the end, he'd sighed, and returned to the common room. Then what…? It got a little foggy after that. He knew that they flirted and then…had she straddled him?

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Had she touched his Omega mark? Is that what caused the pleasant, drugged feeling? Whatever happened, it seemed clear that they had crossed a line. Shame flooded his body. He hated being an Omega. He hated that this was what his life was reduced to. A touch to the mark on the back of his neck and he was putty in an Alphas hands. Worse, if Granger had touched his Omega mark, and the more Draco was thinking about it, the more likely it seemed, it meant that if his Omega mark was touched his memory of the following events went fuzzy. It enraged him to think that he had so little control.

Suddenly, Draco was quite sure he was going to be sick. He scrambled out of the bed, looking for his clothes, but not finding any. His wand was on the nightstand though, so he snatched it and summoned a pair of pants, jumping into them quickly. He had to get out of here. He had to get away from her. From her scent. From the shame that filled him at the thought of what they had done.

"Hey," Granger mumbled, rolling over. "'Morning."

Draco glared at her. Did she think they could just act normal after that? If he hadn't been angry before, now he was positively simmering in rage.

"Do you make it a habit of assaulting Omegas you want to sleep with? Should I start a support group with Bones?" Draco hissed nastily.

"Woah," Granger sat up suddenly, the sheet pooling around her waist, exposing her glorious breasts, but Draco had an iron grip on his Omega pheromones and wasn't going to be swayed by her body. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"You touched my Omega mark," Draco spat through gritted teeth. He hated admitting it, but she needed to know. He needed her to know. If for nothing else so that she would know how much she had fucked up. He had never felt this violated before. It was awful. All he wanted to do was get in a hot shower and scrub her from his skin.

"I...what?" she shook her head, finally seeming to realize that she was exposing herself to him and yanked the sheet up, tucking it under her arms.

Draco scoffed. "Oh? Have I found something that the swotty know-it-all doesn't know?"

Granger shook her head. "I really have no idea what you are talking about. I touched your Omega mark. What's wrong with that?"

"You really have no idea?" Draco asked. He was still fucking livid, but he was also half-incredulous that nobody had told her anything about them. Or did she know and she was now playing dumb? Or her mind is clouded because of the amazing orgasms you gave her last night. The minute the thought flitted through his mind, Draco shut it down. He felt too violated to even entertain how amazing the night before had been.

"I…"

"You are a piece of work, Granger. Stay the fuck away from me," Draco spat before turning on his heels and leaving the room entirely.

He went back to his room and showered as quickly as possible, he would take a longer shower later when he got away from the Head dorm and away from her. He packed some necessities and left the head dorm entirely. He'd bunk down in Slytherin for the rest of the year if he had too. There was no way he was planning to stay alone with Granger for any amount of time.

A week went by before Draco felt calm enough to even talk to someone else about what happened. He knew that he wasn't dealing with it well. Confusion, hurt, and disgust swirled through him and he was spiraling out of control. He could barely keep control of his Omega pheromones, unable to even control himself around Alpha's he found absolutely disgusting like Potter or Nott. It was embarrassing and Draco found himself only leaving the Slytherin common room for class.

He was aware that he had consented at the moment. That was clear to him. It was unclear when exactly Granger touched his Omega mark. He couldn't quite remember, but he didn't think it was until they were already fucking. Did she touch it more than once? Were the effects cumulative? Or was one touch enough to leave him feeling completely out of it? He didn't know, but he knew he needed to find the answers.

He decided he should at least get Snape's opinion on the whole episode. Snape was an Alpha, maybe he could provide some insight that Draco was missing. The whole thing irritated him because he just didn't understand. He didn't understand the biology of Omegas and he didn't know why he or any of them hadn't been given clearer instructions on it all. What he did know was that he hated being an Omega. It felt particularly unfair that Granger got to be an Alpha while Draco was an Omega. But that was something he knew he was going to have to get over. He couldn't change biology, not that he hadn't been attempted to try, but everything he read about it, deemed it impossible.

"Come in," Snape intoned after Draco knocked on his office door. Entering the office swiftly, Draco closed the door behind him and waited for Snape to acknowledge him.

Snape looked up at him and sighed heavily before setting down his quill and templing his hands on the desk before him. "Sit."

Draco moved forward and sat in one of the uncomfortable hardback chairs Snape had in his office.

"What do you want, Mr Malfoy?"

"What do you know about Omega marks?" Draco asked. He felt too embarrassed to admit what happened straight out.

Snape lifted one eyebrow. "They are extremely sensitive to an Alpha's touch," he said. "It's considered bad form to touch one without permission."

"Bad form?" Draco almost choked. "It's practically rape," he hissed. He snapped his jaw shut and gripped the arms of the chair he was in. He had said too much and now couldn't meet Snape's eyes for several moments as he tried to get himself under control.

"What happened?" Snape asked. His chilly demeanor had warmed somewhat and was looking at Draco with concern. Draco's gaze darted toward him for a moment before looking away from him again.

"I—we—" he gulped, swallowing the lump in his throat that threatened tears. He was not going to cry in front of Snape. He had been very careful not to cry in front of anyone, but the violation against his person he felt was so strong. It contradicted the lingering want he had for Granger. The lust was still there, Draco just forced it aside. Hoping that ignoring it entirely would make it go away.

"Spit it out," Snape said, snapping Draco out of his fumbling explanation.

"Granger touched my Omega mark. I lost control. I—I'm confused about what I wanted at the moment, but it felt like a violation. And then she acted like she had no idea what it meant."

"Perhaps she didn't," Snape said. "Her education on being an Alpha is likely as spotty as yours on being an Omega. The Omega mark is where, back of the neck, correct?"

Draco nodded tersely.

"And that seems like a rather commonplace to touch when engaged in activities that are frankly out of bounds as Hogwarts students," Snape reminded him.

Draco didn't blush because Snape knew he and Granger had fucked, it was more because he was angry about the entire situation. He sighed and closed his eyes, he knew that it was likely Granger hadn't known about what touching an Omega mark would do. But did that excuse her actions? He didn't know. "Perhaps you're right," he said after several moments of silence.

"Perhaps you should educate her on the importance of consent."

"Why should that be my job? You should do it, you're the professor," Draco said insolently.

"It is not Hogwarts place to educate on biology," Snape said. Repeating a phrase that sounded tired and old even to Draco's ears.

"It's a school, isn't it?" Draco asked snidely.

Snape glared at him. "I don't get much of a choice on the curriculum, Mr Malfoy. If I had it my way, none of you blighters would present until after your seventh year."

"Right," Draco muttered, looking away again.

"Why are you here?" Snape asked.

"I don't know what to do," Draco admitted. "I don't know what to do about Granger. About being an Omega. I never thought...this wasn't how this was supposed to happen. She shouldn't be an Alpha and I shouldn't be an Omega and the whole world is just fucked up. It wasn't what I was expecting." Draco stopped. He knew he was whining, but he couldn't seem to help himself. He took a big breath and met Snape's eyes. Snape looked slightly understanding, which surprised Draco.

"You should think about what you want out of your life. Being an Omega doesn't mean your life is ruined. You can stay out of the Alpha-business altogether and settle down with a Beta. It seems hard now because you can't control your hormones, but your life won't always be like that. Within a year or so, your hormones will matter less. Polite society doesn't really acknowledge the biology in any meaningful way."

"And if I think I want Granger?" Malfoy whispered, unable to meet Snape's eyes, almost unable to admit it to himself.

"Then you should find a way to talk to her," Snape said dourly. Draco wasn't sure which upset Snape more, the fact that he was interested in Granger, or the fact that Draco seemed to want to be a willing slave to his hormones.

Draco thanked Snape for his advice and left the Potions Master's office. He had a lot to think about. Namely, was Granger a good enough shag to want to continue shagging her? Or could he resist the pull for the rest of the school year? He had no doubts, that if he shagged her for months on end, he wouldn't be able to just give her up at the end of the school year. And maybe more importantly than all of that, was how his family was going to feel about it?

He could practically hear his mother's disappointment and his father's disdain. Perhaps that was reason enough to ignore Granger for the next several months.

Draco stewed for another week in the Slytherin dormitory. He kipped on a couch in the common room since there wasn't a spare bed in the seventh year boys' room and was sick of waking up to the chattering of first years every morning. It was a Friday when he decided to head back to the Head dormitory. Perhaps Granger wouldn't even be about.

He tried convincing himself that she wouldn't be there the entire way to their third floor common room. He was completely unsurprised to enter their shared common room to see Granger sitting on the sofa with several books and piles of parchment strewn about on the low table in front of her.

"Malfoy!" she looked up sharply at him. Her eyes widened and surprise and she attempted to tuck her bushy mane behind her ears. When that didn't work she twisted her hands in her lap. "What are you doing here?"

"I do live here," Draco drawled. He entered the room properly but didn't make any further moves.

"I want to apologize," Granger said standing suddenly. She paced toward him and Draco stood stock still as he watched her approach. "I was completely out of line the other week. I—I assaulted you. It was a crime. And if you want to turn me into the Ministry, I completely understand."

By the time she was finished talking, she was standing right in front of him. She looked up at him with large brown eyes that were swimming with tears. Draco grit his teeth. He hadn't meant to make her cry.

"Don't cry, Granger. Of course, I'm not going to turn you into the Ministry. They would excuse it as a bad biological combination anyway. No way would they actually charge you with anything."

"Oh." Granger blinked at him. "I—I didn't know. Regardless, it doesn't matter. I'm truly sorry. It was unconscionable. I've offered McGonagall my Head Girl badge, but she refused to take it."

Draco felt the corners of his lip turn up at that. "Of course, she didn't. It's actually not a punishable crime. Socially unacceptable, yes. Punishable by law, no."

"That...that's not right. That's not fair! Anyone could take advantage of you!"

It was an amazing sight to see Granger indignant on his behalf.

"True, but it's biology. Therefore, not a crime. I do accept your apology," Draco said. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I may have overreact—"

"No!" Granger shouted, holding up her hands. "No! You didn't overreact at all! I can't believe I'd forgotten all about the Omega mark and what it did to Omegas. What it would do to you if I touched it! I'm...I'm horrified that I did this to you," Granger said. Her tears had finally spilled over onto her cheeks and glistened against her skin.

"Please don't cry, Granger. I don't think I could handle that," Draco muttered quietly.

"Sorry," Granger said quickly and scrubbed at her eyes with her hands. "Sorry, of course. You don't need to comfort me. Nor should you. This whole thing is just so ridiculous. Why aren't there any courses on this? They could at least prepare us all better."

Draco snorted. "I find myself asking the same question. I just wish I knew more about being an Omega. There are hardly even any books written on the subject, at least ones that I could find."

"I—let me know if this is totally inappropriate," Granger said, "but I'd really like to see your Omega mark?"

Draco stiffened and took a small step backward. The last thing he needed was her to put him into some sort of semi-catatonic Omega state again.

"I won't touch it!" Granger quickly went on. "I've just not seen one. I'm curious. And like I said, it's fine to say no."

"Ah, no, it's alright," Draco muttered. He turned and tugged down the collar of his shirt to show her. He felt Granger step closer and when her breath brushed across his Omega mark he shivered.

"Thanks," she said quietly. Draco turned back to face her, and she was chewing heavily on her lip, looking like she had something else to say. "This might also be stupid, but maybe we could try to learn together?"

"What do you mean?" Draco asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, you don't understand about being an Omega and what it means, although you seem to be much better at controlling your hormones and your reaction to mine. I feel like I'm in the same boat as an Alpha. Maybe we should learn together. That is, if you're interested."

"I—"

"We can take things slow and learn as we go. Decide what works best for both of us. And once we have better control, then we can go our separate ways. We already live together, so it's not like we'd be spending that much more time together," Granger rushed on with a small shrug.

Draco frowned at her. It wasn't a terrible idea, and what harm could it do, really?

"We'd have to be really good at communication," Draco said.

Granger nodded. "Oh, absolutely. I think that maybe we should have a living contract. One where we add to it as we find limits for each other. That way it will be all written out and agreed to."

Draco snorted. "Of course, you've thought about this."

Granger blushed and looked away. "I just don't want to cause you any pain. I feel awful for taking away your consent. I definitely feel like I should be punished for it, and it kind of kills me that I won't ever be. It's just barbaric that the wizarding world chalks it up to biology."

Draco mulled over her words for a long moment, before nodding slightly. "Alright. Let's give it a try."

"Really?" Granger asked. The look in her eyes was so hopeful that Draco found himself smirking back at her.

"Yes, really."

"Excellent, well, here's a draft contract I've drawn up," she said as she whirled around to dig in her school bag. Draco couldn't help but laugh at that.

Hermione

There were a lot of growing pains over the last few months of the school year. The original document Hermione had drawn up had been written on and bits crossed out and re-added or adjusted so many times that it was practically in tatters. It hung right on the wall next to the fireplace, where they could both see it. But still, it had been immensely helpful for both Hermione and Draco. Hermione could now completely control her Alpha hormones and instincts. Even around Ron, she had no issues. Draco was the same and yet, they couldn't quite stop the physical aspects of their relationship.

Months of physical intimacy seemed to have bred actual intimacy and Hermione found that she was quite in love with Draco. Not that she'd told him that. They had promised to go their separate ways after seventh year, so Hermione didn't have much of a plan to admit her feelings, despite their promise of absolute communication and brutal honesty that they had included in the contract.

What she could do, was go out with a bang. So while Draco was finishing up his Divination NEWT, Hermione had taken the time to set up a truly spectacular end of year bash in their private dorm. It mostly consisted of picnic foods she had begged off of the elves, a bottle of wine she'd bought the last Hogsmeade weekend, and a new set of lingerie she had bought last month that she thought Draco would like. She had candles lit everywhere, the large chandelier she left unlit as it cast too much light about the common room. She'd pushed the furniture to the side, and despite it being late June, she had a small fire going in the fireplace and blankets and pillows piled up on the floor in a truly decadent bed. She'd even charmed the floor softer. The only thing she couldn't decide was if she should be lounging on her makeshift bed when Draco arrived or if she should be hiding in her bedroom? It all felt a little awkward, despite all they'd done in the last few months.

In the end, the decision was taken out of her hands when Draco arrived while she was kneeling down, fluffing some pillows. He stopped short in the doorway, taking in the scene before him with a slow smile.

"This for me?" he asked, eyeing the short, emerald green robe she had tied over her negligee.

Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes. "No, it's for the other person I've been sleeping with for months. Of course, it's for you." She stood quickly and crossed the room. She grabbed his bag from his hands and dropped it to the floor before she began untying his tie.

"You look nice," he murmured, one hand settling on her hip, squeezing her and the other skimming along her back. She hummed and lifted his jumper up, he helped take it off and once he was down to just his trousers and button-up, with several of the buttons undone, she led him to the bed in front of the fireplace.

"Oh," he hummed as he stepped onto the area she'd softened. "Well, consider me romanced, Granger."

"I'm not done yet," Hermione said. She gave him a little push and he collapsed back into the pillows. She quickly straddled his lap and summoned the tray of food and drinks that were sitting on the coffee table. Setting a levitation charm on the tray, she began by feeding him a grape.

"Well, I certainly could get used to this," Draco said as he clasped his hands behind his head.

"I bet you could," Hermione could barely hold back a smirk as she popped a grape into her own mouth. She licked her lips and couldn't help but notice that Draco followed the movement of her tongue. "See something you like?"

"You know I do," Draco murmured. He moved one hand from behind his head and let it rest on her thigh, brushing circles against her skin. Hermione bit her lip and looked up at him coyly before slowly untying her robe.

Draco's eyes both widened and darkened as she took off her robe and he could see the design of the lingerie. It was both ridiculously cliche, Slytherin green with a snake motif, but totally worth it to see that look on his face.

"Sweet Salazar, Hermione," he breathed. He knocked the tray of food to the side as he sat up quickly and pressed his lips to hers. Hermione happily returned the kiss, running her hands through his hair, being very careful not to touch his Omega mark.

"Need you," Hermione grunted, punctuating her words with a roll of her hips.

"Always need you," Draco replied as his lips left hers and he kissed his way down her jaw toward her throat. "Going to fuck you with this on," Draco said as he reached to pull one of her breasts from the bra cup. "Then I'm going to rip it off of you and fuck you without it."

"Mmm, someone has lots of plans for the evening," Hermione gasped as his mouth found a nipple and closed around it.

"Evening? Granger, you must be insane if you think I'm only going to be through with you in an evening."

Hermione stiffened and pulled away from him. She placed a hand on either side of his face and lifted it so she could look him in the eye. "What are you saying?" she whispered.

The look of complete love and trust on his face took her breath away. "Did you think I was going to be able to give you up after all of this?" Draco asked softly.

"I...I didn't know…" Hermione trailed off as Draco's eyes crinkled and he laughed.

"Granger, I don't want to scare you away, but I'm pretty sure you're it for me. I don't think I'm going to ever get sick of you and certainly not in the next hundred and fifty years or so."

Hermione couldn't quite believe that this conversation was taking place, or that he was so confident in his feelings.

"Oh, Merlin. Tell me you feel the same way." He suddenly looked a little nauseous and Hermione realized she had just been sitting there on his lap, not saying anything, with her mouth hanging open. She snapped her mouth shut.

"Granger…"

"I feel the same," she said in a rush. She reached back out to cup his face in her hands. "Merlin, I've been trying to figure out a way to either tell you that I love you or get over the fact that this was all going to end."

Draco's arms tightened around her. "This is not ending," he insisted. "Tell me again."

"I love you," Hermione said with a smile. She closed the distance between their faces, rubbing her nose along his. "I love you."

"I love you," Draco gasped as she finally pressed her lips to his. It was the sweetest thing he could have said and soon Hermione was lost to the sensation of being in his arms once more.

~Fin~