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DECLARATION NO. 5471 In accordance with the law, The Ministry will oversee all soul bonds and marriages to ensure the survival of our race. PLEASE SEE PAGE II for more.
"God that is absolutely vile." Sirius crammed a half a piece of toast in his mouth as Remus held the paper up, reading it opposite him.
"Agreed. Thank goodness none of us will likely be getting hitched while this is happening." James piped up.
"Oh fuck." Remus cursed.
Sirius dropped his fork onto his plate with a loud crash, Remus never used profanities.
"What is it?" James asked but Remus looked as though he'd been petrified. James grabbed the paper from his hand and skimmed down the page.
"....active immediately letters will be sent to both soulmates parties with a name and place of residence to insure they can take proper steps to bond. This will be for all witches and wizards age seventeen to fifty. Bonds and/or marriages will be mandatory by the end of each month that the recipients receive their letters."
"How can they even do this? What about school?" James asked no one in particular.
Sirius paled. His head was spinning. As if being an omega under normal circumstances wasn't bad enough, he would now be forced to have sex with someone. Possibly a complete stranger, as many times as took to get pregnant. Sirius ran from the great hall. He leaned over against the wall and gripped his chest. James ran after him.
"Hey, you're okay. I've got you." He rubbed his back, to comfort him. This wasn't the first panic attack Sirius had had with him.
"Let's go back to the dorm. You're okay. I'm here."
~~~~
"Siri, tell me what's wrong. I mean I know it's fucked up but it's not like you're in this alone. We all are going to have to do it.
James was right. Oh god... Remus could be exposed as a werewolf! "Fuck... Remus. We should go find him." Sirius wiped his eyes. James caught his meaning immediately.
"Christ, I didn't even think about that. Let's go."
It took a while to find Remus. He was underneath the canopy of the covered bridge. He had his legs fitted through the hand rails dangling off the side.
"Hey Mooney." James sat next to him and laced his arm around his shoulder. Sirius took the other side as well as his hand.
Remus didn't say anything he just looked out across the empty air. James nor Sirius knew what to say. They all felt the effects of this.
~~~~
The great hall was silent as the owls brought the mail on Thursday at noon. Even though the younger students didn't understand what was happening they could feel the darkness that seemed to hang in the air.
Sirius knew it was going to happen, but still when he, James, Remus and Peter all received letters from the ministry it was a shock.
Sirius shoved his in his pocket. James just stared at his in his hand. Remus' eyes were filled with tears and he looked like he might have panic attack. Peter however was happily opening away.
"Susan Warbeck. She isn't at Hogwarts." Peter said somewhat confused. It snaps James out of his daze.
"Where is she, Wormy?"
"Says Plymouth. I've never heard of her.
"Sirius feels he might throw up. This is exactly what he was afraid of. Even though they are your soulmate, and you are supposed to love them, you aren't supposed to be forced to meet them.
"Are you going to open yours James?" Peter asked warily.
James shook his head. "I...no. Not yet Wormtail."
Remus pushed away from the table and walked from the hall. Sirius watched him wondering if he should follow, or if Remus wanted to be alone. Maybe he was going to open his letter. Sirius stomach churned.
"Pads are you okay? You look a little green." James asked.
Sirius forced himself to nod."Can you take me to hospital?" The words came from his mouth before he even realized he was going to say it.
James face was alarmed. Sirius never went to the hospital wing for himself, ever. "Yeah, of course." James tried to make it sound like he wasn't worried. Like it was no big deal.
As they walked towards the quad, Sirius wondered why they were going. Why had he asked? He had a dull pain in his lower stomach and a pounding headache. As well as waves of nausea that seemed to come and go as they pleased but he knew he was just stressed and Madame Pomfrey couldn't fix that.
"Oh, you poor thing." Madame Pomfrey pulled Sirius into her arms as soon as they walked in the infirmary. Sirius was shocked. She had never hugged him before, and that worried him that she was now.
"What is it Miss P.? Is he okay?" James asked visible upset.
"I'm sorry Potter. I'll need you to leave for a few hours." Sirius thought she seemed rather calm so it must not be life threatening.
"I'm not leaving! I have to be here for him just like we all are for Remus. There's no difference." James was throwing a fit. Sirius was his best friend and he would not leave him.
"I'm sorry Potter, but there is a difference and if I could let you say I would. But I can't." Pomfrey told him again to leave.
"It's okay Jamie. I'm okay. Promise. Just wait up for me and I'll tell you all about it." Sirius tried to console him. James being upset was just making him feel worse.
"Okay, okay. Fine. I'll go." James backed out of the room not taking his eyes off Sirius until he had to.
~~~~
"So what's wrong with me Doc?" Sirius tried to lighten the mood. Madame Pomfrey scowled at him."This is no laughing matter Mister Black. You've triggered your heat."
Sirius face paled.
"You're very lucky you came straight here and James didn't notice. This is what we call pre-heat."
Sirius' nausea returned.
"I'm fairly certain this was stress induced. Unfortunately I can't prescribe a heat suppressant because they've been outlawed as well as birth control. I do have a few other things that will help you feel better though."
Madame Pomfrey held out a pack vials. "For the nausea, for the headache." She pointed out the different ones. Sirius looked at the last vial. It wasn't like any potion he had seem before. It looked creepy, though he couldn't explain why.
"This is all I have left to offer you for reassurance. If you get pregnant and you don't want it, this will get rid of it."
Sirius was horrified. He knew this was undoubtedly outlawed too but she was willing to give it to him anyways. He took the vials and slipped them into his pocket.
~~~~
James was sitting on Sirius' bed waiting for him to come back. Remus was still gone and Peter was in the library, trying to find some reference to his soulmate.
James turned his envelope over and over in his hands. He held it up to the light but couldn't make out any of the words.He took a deep breath and slid his index finger along the edge breaking the wax seal.
Greetings, Mr. James F. Potter
We are pleased to inform you of your soulmate's name. Sirius Orion Black. His current residence is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland. If you need further assistance please contact Mathilda Topps at the Ministry of Magic, Department of Procreation and Reproduction of Wizards
James stared at the letter. Focusing solely on his solemate's name. Sirius Orion Black.This was good right? He should be happy it wasn't a stranger, but why then did he not feel relieved? Why did he feel like this was just as bad?
~~~~
As Sirius made his way up to the dorm that all his friends shared, he saw Remus sitting in the corner of corridor, huddled in a ball, knees to his chest. Immediately he went to him.
"Remus are you okay?" Sirius asked apprehensive but full of concern.
"I opened my letter."
Sirius nodded, he had thought so.
"I don't have a soulmate." Remus' voice trembled and he wiped at his eyes.
"Well I assume I do somewhere, they just told me I don't because they don't want a..... me procreating. I may have made it in Hogwarts because of Dumbledore's loophole but the Ministry will never view me as a wizard."
"Oh Remus." Sirius pulled him into his arms.
"I'm so sorry.... But maybe you will meet them like you were supposed to now."Remus shuddered.
"I just hope they didn't.... hurt them to make sure I can't...." he sucked in air between words, causing hyperventilation. Sirius hugged him tighter.
"No, no. They didn't Remus, I'm sure." He wasn't sure. The Ministry would do whatever they deemed necessary for survival. If that meant killing a werewolf's mate so that they could kill out a line of possible werewolves. They'd do it.
~~~~
When Sirius came in James was laying on his bed. When he saw him he jumped up and instantly hugged him.
"You're okay! What happened? Why did I have to leave?" James was nervous, wondering if Sirius had read his letter yet.
Sirius debated lying to James to avoid the awkwardness but he hated lying to his friends and he was alone in this and scared. They would probably smell him soon anyways. Dread filled his whole body.
"Well I was stressed about... ya know... the letters and started feeling sick. Apparently I triggered a pre-heat."
James just looked at him stupefied.
"Pomfrey said, suppressants have been banned as well as birth control. So I'm totally exposed to every alpha in the school." Sirius was surprised how calm his voice sounded as he explained this to James.
James swallowed his growl of possessiveness. Sirius was his. No one would touch him, hurt him. He cleared his mind.
"Come here." He held his arms out for Sirius to climb into. "I'll think of something. You're safe as long as I'm with you." James said, really without meaning too. Although it was true. Even unclaimed, another alpha wouldn't fight him for Sirius.
Sirius buried his face into James chest. He smelled so good, safe, warm. Alpha."Oh fuck." Sirius pushed anyway from him. He didn't want to feel this way.
"I.... can't be here." James could hear the panic in his voice.
"Okay. Okay, let's go to the shack."That was brilliant! Sirius wondered why he hadn't thought of it.
"That's a really good idea, but you can't come." James was offended. He was supposed to protect his friends, his omega.
"Oh."
"What?" Sirius jumped at James' simple word. Hundreds of thoughts ran through his mind. Did he smell him? Would he try to breed him? Claim him?
"I... I understand. Let me take you to the shack, then I'll leave."
Sirius had thought that was a great idea until they were almost to the whomping willow. What if James wouldn't leave? What if he...
"I'm okay from here James." Sirius stopped him in the courtyard. James didn't understand. "Let me see you into the tunnel at least. Another alpha could still find you before you get there."
Sirius almost told him that it wasn't anotherthis much blood or it would hurt this bad.
Sirius stomach gave a painful twist, he groaned and wrapped a protective hand around his abdomen. Even though he didn't want a child, right now, the thought he could carry one was pleasant. He assumed that feeling was part of his biology. Feeling the need to please his alpha, carry his child.
Christ, James' child. Their child.
He slept fitfully, rooting through his robes for a pain potion during the night, dreading the morning.
The morning after a pre-heat you can go into actually heat or it can subside. Usually with suppressants. Sirius laid perfectly still as the sun filled the shack with light, thinking he could trick his body into delaying the heat.
After a few hours he realized just how unprepared he actually was. The blood was dried to his legs, he needed to piss, he was woefully hungry, filthy, and worst of all he could feel himself starting to overheat, even in the drafty shack with expired heat charms.
His options at this point were even more limited. James wasn't likely to stay away and the truth was he needed him. Not because of the heat or because they're soulmates. Because they're best friends and he needed his best friend right now.
He scorgifiyed his clothes and put them on the best he could. The fabric felt like needles, chafing and rubbing, as he walked down the long tunnel back to the willow.
James, Remus, and Peter were sat on a large rock in the line of vision of the secret passage.
"I can just go take the food to him. His heat won't affect me." Peter offered.
"No." James snapped.
"Come now Jamie, Pete's a little beta. No threat." Remus chuckled and put his arm around James' shoulder. James relaxed into the touch. He needed to care for his omega.
"Okay, Wormy. Go ahead." James relented. Peter took a sack of food and made his way into the passage. A few seconds later Peter was yelling. "Guys! Come down here!"
James was reluctant, afraid of making Sirius mad again. But that all changed when he laid eyes on his omega.
"Jamie." Sirius sobbed as he saw his best friend. James ran to him, surprised when Sirius flung his arms around his neck.
James grabbed his legs started walking back to the castle carrying Sirius bridal style. Sirius buried his head in James' shoulder mortified by everything.
"I'm in heat." He whispered against James skin.
"I know." James responded nonchalantly. Even though he felt feral with Sirius' lips on him. He could smell it on him the second he saw him. His slick, mixed with blood. His pheromones screaming at James to breed him. But he pushed it aside. Sirius needed his friend not his alpha.
"What about the other alphas?" Sirius asked, watching Remus and Peter trail a ways behind them.
"The whole school is in a frenzy. Almost all the omega's heats were triggered. Some alphas that don't have access to their soulmates are in ruts. No one will bother you if you are with me."
Sirius soaked in the words. If he could only trust James not to hurt him then everything would be fine.
~~~~
"Can you stand?" Sirius felt nervous again, being alone with James in the dorm. He nodded and James stood him up. As soon as they weren't touching Sirius felt like his skin was on fire. He gripped James' hand tightly and the burning subsided.
"I was just going to run you a shower Pads."Sirius didn't know how to explain it.
"I need to touch you, because of the heat. It makes it not so bad."
James furrowed his brow. If they needed to be touching, how was Sirius going to shower?
"So how do you want to do this?" James asked a bit uncomfortably. He couldn't lie, the thought of being naked with Sirius was arousing and he was hard in his pants from just his smell alone. In a perfect world Sirius wouldn't be scared to ask James to shower with him and it be just simply that, but this was very far from a perfect world.
"Oh, um. Would you mind just putting your hand on the wall?" James turned away from him and put his hand inside the shower.
Sirius stripped off his stale clothes and threw them on the floor. He was already starting to overheat but he could handle it for a few more seconds then he summoned clean clothes. As Sirius showered, James kept his hand on the wall. Every few seconds Sirius would touch it, sometimes with his finger tips, sometimes with his palm.
The act of feeling him and not seeing him was erotic to James, because of course it was. Like he needed any help with engorging his cock right now.
"I'm done. You can wait in the bedroom while I dress." Sirius said as he turned off the shower.
James silently removed his hand and left the bathroom. He thought about jerking off while Sirius was dressing but he wouldn't be long and it was only likely to make him more frustrated if he didn't finish.
Sirius was only wearing a oversized t-shirt with boxers. James smiled at him as he trudged across the carpet, and sat down on the bed next to him.
"So, you gonna tell me why you were so freaked about being around me yesterday?" James asked softly. Sirius brushed his fingers over James' to cool his body.
Sirius kept looking at the floor and wouldn't meet his eyes. James tried again, slightly more forceful this time. The only way they could move forward was to communicate.
"Sirius, I need you to talk to me so I understand." His tone was strong and Sirius' eyes fluttered up to see his face.
"I'm greysexual." He wasn't surprised to see the look of confusion on James' face. He probably didn't know what this meant. Sirius hadn't known himself until he had researched to find why he didn't seem to like things everyone else seemed to enjoy."It means that I don't experience sexual attraction like other people."
James nodded like he understood but Sirius highly doubted he could. Not based on this conversation alone. He was exhausted and knew he wasn't in a position to explain himself correctly.
"Why would this make you scared of me though?" James was scared to say the word, afraid that it was true. Sirius was scared of him.
"We're soulmates. That means we have to mate. It's sort of in the title James." Sirius groaned and buried his face into his palms.
"Well yeah but that doesn't mean..." James ran his fingers through his own hair. "You know I'd never... force you to do anything. Right?"
Sirius screwed his face up. He wanted to believe that. "You're an alpha. I'm in heat. How long do you think... what if you..."
James stood up and paced the floor. "I'm not an animal Sirius. I would never do that. Never." Rape. Sirius thought he would do that. Merlin.
"I....I just thought we'd have more time, to talk about this. To figure out what it means for us."
That had been his plan when he had found his soulmate. Have a sane conversation with them. But instead here he was still starving and sleep deprived, head pounding with a confused, and by the bulge in James' trousers, aroused alpha in the room.
James dropped to his knees in front of him. "Sirius. You mean more to me than anything in the world. You always have. I'd never let anyone hurt you, not because I'm your alpha, but because I can't bare to see you in pain. So I would be the last person you should ever be worried about hurting you. Your happiness is what is important to me. Over my own."
Sirius was quite speechless. James was being so vulnerable with him it was beautiful and unexpected. He felt like shit for thinking James would hurt him. It was James, his best friend. He didn't suddenly change into a different person.
"Jamie. Christ. I'm sorry, I am just scared. This whole thing is really insane. I just feel so alone and helpless. We have to bond, the ministry..."
"Fuck the ministry. You're all I care about. If you don't want to bond with me then we won't do it." James words stung slightly, although Sirius couldn't imagine why. He should be grateful that James was willing to fight for him over everything else. Maybe a part of him, the most basic part, did want James. He just couldn't think about all this right now.
"I know we need to talk about...all this. But my head is splitting. I really need something to eat and my potions."
James nodded. He would do anything for Sirius. "Of course, you're right. I'll get you something to eat."
~~~~