Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

By all accounts, this trip was going to be normal. Several Hogwarts alumni were selected to attend the conference, including the Marauders and most of the Slytherins Regulus hung around in their school days, including his idiot boyfriends. They got put up in a fancy hotel in magical Paris, and all was supposed to be fine. Pete is out giving his Herbology lecture, and Remus is curled up in Sirius’ lap, trying to sleep, while James checks his phone for the umpteenth time today.

“What are you even checking for, Prongs?” Remus grumbles, tucking his face further into Sirius’ neck, warm breath fanning over the scar there. The full moon two days ago hadn’t been too bad, but his rut’s coming up, so he’s been extra clingy.

“Your brother.” James frowns, glancing up at Sirius. “He’s supposed to be giving a lecture today, right? I can’t find the livestream.”

Sirius wrinkles his nose. “I don’t like that you know my brother’s schedule.”

“Do you think he’s sick?” James bites his lip, apparently ignoring Sirius entirely.

“Mate,” Remus turns slightly to stare at James. “You probably got the days mixed up. Why are you so worked up?”

James shifts in his armchair, tucking a foot under him. “I don’t know. I’m like—itchy. I think I might be getting sick, actually, but for whatever reason, all I can think about is checking up on Reggie and his lot. Rosier’s an early riser, too, right?”

Sirius huffs, leaning over to snatch the phone from his hands, Remus still clinging to him. “They’re probably all sitting around discussing dark magic and Ancient Greek mythology. Give it a rest.”

James still can’t get still, but eventually he finds something to do and settles down for a while.

By lunch, James is fully ill. “Prongs, you have to eat something,” Peter says, a little divot between his brows.

“Can’t,” James shakes his head, fully leaning on Sirius’ shoulder. He’s been a wet blanket for an hour now, shivering and feverish. The food at this hotel is good, too, so Sirius knows James has to be horribly ill to not even try it.

“Try,” Sirius puts a roll on his plate, and James pouts. “Prongs, you need food.”

“I think I’ll just throw it up, Pads. I feel like hell.” He looks it, too. The bags under his eyes Sirius noticed this morning are somehow darker, clearly visible even through his glasses.

“Fine, Prongsie,” Sirius sighs, patting his sweaty hair.

It’s not until they head up for the night that Sirius realizes what’s going on. James had begged off after lunch to nap, and they’d let him sleep through dinner, thinking maybe he’d caught something at the orientation day and just needed to sleep it off.

Remus opens the door to James’ room and makes it three steps before stopping and shaking his head like a startled dog. He makes a disgruntled noise as he turns around and walks right back out, standing behind Sirius like he’s going to protect him. “Don’t like that.”

“Okay?” Sirius turns to look at him before stepping into the room and—yeah, alright, he gets it.

The room is a wreck, but that’s secondary to the smell. Cardamom and citrus strong enough to make Sirius’ eyes water. It’s not bad, but a bonded alpha wouldn’t be able to stand it, because the smell of an omega in heat that isn’t their own would be grating on their nose.

Oh. James.

“Prongs?” Sirius says softly, shutting the door behind him as he moves to sit on the edge of James’ bed.

James groans, curling up tighter in his pile of sweaters and blankets. Sirius can smell the fever coming off him, and the slick. It’s probably not helping that James is away from home, from his own bed. The first heat is always the worst, especially if the omega can’t figure out a suitable partner for it.

Sirius had gotten lucky—he’d already been with Remus when he presented just shy of seventeen—so he never spent a heat alone.

“James, I need you to talk to me.” Sirius whispers, reaching out to him slowly.

“Hurts, Pads,” James huffs, turning over and crawling halfway into Sirius’ lap. “Is this me presenting? Not sure I’m a fan of it.”

Sirius barks a laugh, fingers combing through James’ curls as James buries his face in Sirius’ stomach. This is normal, too, the touchiness, and Sirius tries to make his scent as soothing as possible. At twenty-four, James is about five years too old to be presenting—they’d all assumed he was a beta, at this point. Statistically, it would make sense.

But he’s not—that much is clear now. “Yeah, Prongs, welcome to the club.” His mind runs through all the alphas he trusts with James. Lily’s mated, Remus is obviously not an option, and Dorcas isn’t into men. Which leaves—

“Oh my god.” Sirius tilts James’ face up. “My brother?”

James huffs, his brown eyes nearly black, and Sirius gags at the thought. “That’s horrible, James, honestly. It’s practically incest.”

Despite his disgust at the thought of his brother helping James through this, there’s a good chance they’re mates. Like, very good chance. Regulus has been nursing a crush on James since he was eleven, and James has always loved pestering him more than he should. Sirius doesn’t know how Crouch and Rosier would factor in, but if anyone was going to end up with three alphas, it would be James. Too much love to give for just one partner, apparently.

With a long, belabored sigh, Sirius finds a pair of clean pajama pants and a cleanish sweater up by James’ pillows and tugs it onto his friend. Actually, he’s fairly sure it’s Regulus’ sweater, and Sirius stole it months ago. No wonder James doesn’t complain about putting it on. “Alright, Prongsie, let’s go see Regulus,” Sirius grumbles as he pulls James into a standing position, vanishing the mess on his bed.

James hums happily, leaning on Sirius as they make their way out. Remus gives James a weak smile, and James nods to him. Sirius thanks every deity he can think of that Regulus is just on the other end of the hall.

Mary and Lily are by the ice machine, and they both turn as Sirius drags James down the hall. “What’s wrong with Potter?” Mary tilts her head, then her eyes widen. “Oh.”

“Yup.” Sirius grunts as James leans harder. Omega or not, James is a grown man, and a professional Quidditch player to boot. He’s not exactly easy to shoulder.

“Where are you taking him?” Lily asks with a hand over her nose.

Sirius scowls over his shoulder as he continues down the hall. “His mates, apparently.”

Regulus is the one who answers the door, frowning briefly at what he knows is his sweater. “What are you—” He takes a shuddering breath as the smell hits him, his mouth watering instinctively. James. Omega. “What the fuck are you doing here?” He hisses, lifting the neck of his sweater to cover his nose. He’s going to do something really, really stupid if Sirius doesn’t talk really, really fast.

“He just presented. I don’t want him going through his first heat alone, and he’s been stalking you all day.” Sirius steps forward, James all but slung over his shoulder, into Regulus’ hotel room. Wearing Regulus’ clothes. Oh, this is so bad.

“Reg?” Barty asks, eyes sharp, predatory on James. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Stay there,” Regulus orders, and Barty and Evan both settle back to how they were sitting, every line of their bodies tense with anticipation. James smells like a fucking meal.  “So you brought him here? To a room of three alphas? Are you fucking insane?” Regulus gestures wildly, arms open, which James seems to take as an invitation.

He all but collapses into Regulus’ arms, and it’s a struggle not to stumble. Regulus is small for an alpha, not that it really matters, and James is fit, taller and more muscled than he has any right to be. He makes little contented noises into Regulus’ neck, rubbing his nose against the line of his throat. It’s—cute, begrudgingly. It’s also breaking Regulus’ resolve to get James back out of his room.

Sirius gestures at James with an I told you so expression. “Look at him! He wanted you, Reggie, what was I supposed to do?” Regulus opens his mouth to retort that James has never wanted him like that, that this has to be a misunderstanding, but he has to suck in a sharp breath when pain flares hot at his throat.

Sirius’ brow furrows. “What?”

Regulus takes a deep breath, eyes sinking shut as he tries to keep his composure. It takes every ounce of resolve not to rip James’ clothes off with his brother in the room. He can feel Barty practically vibrating with the need to move, to touch. His voice comes out far hoarser than he’d like when he replies, “Ah, James just bit me.”

Sirius looks immediately alarmed. “I—shit, Reggie, are you—”

James licks over the bite, whining low in his throat. Gods, is he even aware of who he’s biting? Does he realize Sirius is right there? Is it ethical to fuck him so long as they don’t claim him? Regulus takes another deep breath and regrets it immediately when James’ scent rushes into his lungs. He tries to make his voice come out even, his fingers starting to shakily comb through James’ curls. “Sirius, I think you should go. We’ve got him.”

“I know.” Sirius grimaces, but his eyes are soft, for James or Regulus or maybe both. “Hurt him and I kill you.” He calls as he all but sprints out of the room.

James rubs his face against Regulus’, pulling back just enough to squint at him. “Hi.” He’s a little dazed, but clearly still coherent—which means he bit Regulus because he wanted to, and likely to get Sirius to leave.

Regulus feels his mouth curl into a smile. “Hi, Jamie.”

James’ responding grin is lazy and brilliant as he pulls away, going for Regulus’ trunk. Ah, the nesting. “Get out of his way,” Regulus says, amused.

 Regulus backs up to the wall, Barty and Evan on either side of him, as James makes an absolute mess of their room. He drags both Regulus and Evan’s trunks into the center of the room, clicking his teeth in warning when any one of them attempts to help. He doesn’t need the help, really, and probably wouldn’t break a sweat doing it any other day. Today, though, he was already sweating when he got here, and he nearly rips Regulus’ sweater (he can rip all of them if he wants) trying to get it off. He arranges it carefully in the nest, intermittently making little hums of contentment and whines of frustration. Eventually, even the trousers seem to be too much clothing, because he steps out of them mindlessly as he surveys his work. Regulus blinks, glancing between the scars on James’ chest and the dark curls between his legs.

Barty groans into his hand, having to look away to keep from jumping James where he stands. “Am I dreaming? Please tell me I’m not dreaming.”

Regulus tilts his head, watching the way James’ thighs flex as he walks, the way his ass moves. “Not dreaming,” Regulus rasps. He’s so hard it hurts, and his cunt is soaking his pants. Perks of being an alpha and trans, he supposes. Right now, the dual reminder of what his body wants is torture.

“We can’t bite him,” Evan murmurs, and both Barty and Regulus turn to him with looks of betrayal. “I—we can’t mate him. Bite anywhere else, not his scent gland.”

Regulus glances back at James, at the flushed brown of his skin and the slick dripping down his legs. “I thought the same thing, but I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself—one of you is going to have to stop me.”

Evan groans as James pouts and goes back to the linen cupboard for another blanket. The muscles in his back shift as he stretches, and Regulus has to wipe the drool from his mouth. Yeah, I think that’s true for all of us.”

Finally, it seems the nest is ready, and James goes down on his knees in the center of it, chest down and ass up. Presenting.

Regulus is on him before he has time to settle into it, peppering kisses on the back of his neck before turning him over. “There you are, Jamie.”

James lets himself be readjusted, Evan sliding behind him to act as a pillow and Barty right next to James, touching anywhere he can reach. Regulus will get to fuck him first, because he’s fancied him the longest, yes, but also because Evan and Barty spoil him. “Please,” James pants, visibly overwhelmed from the attention of three alphas at once. To present at twenty-four—it’s not as scary when you’re expecting it, but Regulus thinks the part of him that isn’t focused on his instincts is probably panicking right now.  

Still, he can’t help but tease. “Please what?”

James takes a shuddering breath, like he’s going to cry, and that panic rises to the surface. The thick, acrid scent of distress hits Regulus’ nose instantly. “Please? I don’t—I just—”

“Shh, it’s alright,” Regulus says, one hand going to James’ face, regretting teasing him. “I’ve got you. We’ve got you, baby.” James’ lashes flutter, and Regulus exhales hard at the scent of fresh slick. “You want me to fuck you?”

James nods so quickly his glasses start to slide, and Regulus adjusts them gently. As soon as his fingers leave the glasses, James leans up to kiss him, gentle and curious, and Regulus melts into it. It’s soft at first, but the instant James’ tongue gets involved, Regulus is devouring him. He’s wanted him too much for too long for it to be anything but feral. He’d given up on anything actually coming of it when he was seventeen, but if James was stalking him in pre-heat—maybe Regulus can let himself hope.

James whines into the kiss, matching Regulus’ energy, and he gasps into it when Regulus’ fingers make their way between his legs. He teases his clit, but he knows James wants to be full, so he slides two fingers into him gently, curls them, and James whimpers.

Regulus pulls back from the kiss panting, smiling when James tries to chase him, dark eyes glassy. James whines when he removes his fingers, then whines again when he brings them to his mouth with a moan. “Oh, fuck,” He pants, running his fingers along James’ hole to catch more slick, sickeningly obsessed with the taste and humming when another wave of it soaks his hand. “Good boy.” James’ legs spread just that much more at the praise.

Evan catches his wrist, and Regulus lets him guide his fingers to his mouth, laughing a little when Barty pouts and reaches between James’ legs himself.

“Oh, shit.” Barty hums around his own fingers, pupils blown out to the edges of his hazel irises. He runs spit-slick fingers down James’ jaw, then his throat, grinning when just a brush against his mating gland sends him keening. “Why can’t we claim him again? Seems stupid now.”

“Please do,” James murmurs, choking when Barty presses down against the gland.

Regulus tugs off his shirt, then wriggles out of his trousers. “You can’t consent like this, baby. We can talk about it after you’re past your heat, alright?”

James whimpers, clearly displeased by this, but he reaches up to tug Regulus on top of him. He’s crying, now, big tears rolling down his flushed cheeks as Barty continues to tease that little triangle of skin where his neck meets his shoulder. “Please—fuck me, please, Reggie,” he pants.

“Barty, leave it be before he passes out,” Regulus chastises, and Barty adjusts easily, lapping and sucking at the safe parts of James’ throat.

Regulus coats his cock in James’ slick before slowly pushing into him. He knows James can take it, that his body is literally begging for it, but he doesn’t want to hurt him, and he’s so tight it almost hurts. Stressed. It makes something in Regulus’ chest pace, the need to soothe and not knowing how. “That’s it, baby, you’re taking it so well for me.”

James moans, back arching as Regulus goes as far as he can, not quite bottoming out. Which isn’t uncommon, he thinks. He definitely couldn’t ta            ke Barty’s cock all the way at first. He’s not really sure how omega anatomy works, which feels like a massive oversight right now. He just didn’t think he’d need it—he’s mated to alphas and eternally crushing on someone everyone was sure was a beta. But if he’s right, James’ body isn’t going to automatically adjust to them, especially in his first heat. Which means they’re probably going to have to stretch him so his body can adjust, or risk bruising him, which is—a very interesting thought. “Oh my god. He’s—Jamie?”

“Mm?” James blinks up at him, eyes unfocused as he takes in Regulus’ pinched expression. Now that he’s thought about fucking James hard enough to bruise, he’s not going to be able to stop thinking about it. “Does it—not feel good? Did I do something wrong?”

All three of them immediately reassure him that that is not the case, because in a heat, any perceived disapproval from them will make him drop. “No, baby, you’re perfect, you’re doing perfect. You just—I can’t get it all in. Do you want me to go slow and get you used to it? Or I can pull out and stretch you out?”

“Seriously?” Evan breathes out. Regulus nods, shivering when Barty runs his finger over where Regulus is fully pressed into James. It’s—they’re all a little sick in the head, and they’ve learned that in the many years they’ve been friends and the four years they’ve been together. The idea of getting to—to shape him to their cocks is—it’s a lot.

“No,” James licks his lips, hips rocking almost absentmindedly. His gaze seems a little clearer now that he’s got a cock in him, but Regulus knows as soon as he moves, that’s going away. “Just fuck me? I don’t think I get it,” he mumbles. Barty snorts.

“It—I’m pretty sure it’s going to hurt you, for a bit,” Regulus admits, trying to prepare himself for the possibility that James asks him to pull out. But James tightens around him, licks his lips. “Oh, baby.”

James tugs his knees up, inviting Regulus to bend him in half, which is just—fantastic, actually. “Please?” And he bats his eyes—teasing Regulus—in such a way that is so James, heat be damned, that Regulus laughs a little as he rocks his hips slow and deep.

James loosens up all at once, sighing as he lays back in Evan’s lap, eyes falling shut, mouth parted on a moan when Regulus snaps his hips hard, lip trapped between his teeth as he tries not to go too fast. His instincts are fucking singing right now, and it’s fucking lucky his rut just passed. James opens one eye. “That the best you can do, alpha?” It’s meant to be a tease, to goad Regulus into fucking him harder, but he sounds too desperate for it to really work.

Regulus breaks down giggling, even as his dick twitches at the way alpha rolls off James’ tongue. “Okay, alright, can you get me a pillow, B?” Barty helps him get a pillow under James’ hips, forcing his back to arch, all while he continues thrusting slow and deep. James will get to the point in his heat where he won’t be able to tease, but not quite yet. “Hold his shoulders for me, Ev—there we are.” Regulus pulls James’ legs over his own shoulders, then leans down, literally folding him in half. James licks his lips, eyes rolling back when Regulus starts to really fuck him, hitting his cervix hard on every thrust. “That better for you, baby?”

James’ breath comes in little pants, but he nods, moaning as Regulus grinds into him, stretching him out. “Oh—shit, yes, more please—” He whimpers, shivering.

Regulus groans, picking up the pace, trying to make it hurt, because obviously James is as fucked up as the rest of them, and he likes the ache. “So good for me, Jamie, taking it so well,” he whispers, nipping at James’ ear and grinning when James whimpers.

It doesn’t take long, between James’ tight heat and pretty little noises, and the smell of all that slick—they’re going to have to pay for damages at this point—for Regulus’s knot to start catching on every thrust. James’ eyes are nearly black on Regulus. “Please—please knot me, please, Reggie,” he scrambles to hold onto Regulus, like he thinks he’s going to disappear. He looks distressed again, the omega instincts making themselves known. Why James thinks Regulus, who has been gone on him for more than a decade, is going anywhere is beyond him.

“Not going anywhere, Jamie,” Regulus murmurs, thrusting until he can’t anymore, until James tenses and shudders, until he’s stuck and filling James with his come. With—

“Merlin and Morgana.” He groans, banging his head on James’ shoulder repeatedly. “Jamie, baby, please tell me you’re on contraceptives.”

Barty sucks in a sharp breath and Evan pauses where he’s been rubbing his thumbs right by James’ scent glands.

James sighs, clearly struggling to focus on the question. “I—I mean, yes? But I didn’t know I was an omega until like. Today. I don’t think they’re the right kind.”

Regulus finally collapses on top of him, nuzzling into his neck. “They are. Thank the gods they are.”

James huffs, rocking his hips experimentally against Regulus’ knot. “What, don’t you want to breed me, Reggie?”

Regulus bites him. Not on his scent gland, maybe two inches away, but he bites hard. James arches against him, whining again. Regulus licks over the wound, sucking and laving at it like he wants to do so badly, just two inches over. “You have no idea, baby, but not right now. Not on your first heat.”

James doesn’t seem to have the energy to argue, his eyes drifting shut as Regulus rocks his hips gently, the knot finally starting to go down. Evan tries to leave, to go tell Dorcas they’ll need people to cover their lectures, but James looks up as soon as he hears the doorknob turn. “You’re leaving?”

“Just to let someone know we’ll be in here, James,” Evan says, then takes a full step away from the door when tears roll fat and sudden down James’ cheeks. Barty slides behind him, holding him tightly while Regulus covers his face in kisses, reluctant to pull out even as his come starts to leak out around his softening cock.

“Okay, okay, no one’s going anywhere, alright, James?” Evan crouches down by the bed, pushing James’ hair out of his face. “I’m just going to shout out the door until someone brings me Dorcas, okay? I won’t leave your sight.” James lip shakes, but he nods.

Evan does exactly that. It occurs to Regulus alone to use one of the many phones in the room, but he finds this more entertaining. “OI! Gryffindors! Could you please get Meadowes for me?” Evan leans against the doorframe, the door itself barely cracked open. The doors have scent-sealant charms, so they’re not worried about anyone smelling what’s going on in the room.

Regulus tries to cast a cleaning charm, but James snatches his wand out of his hands and tosses it across the room, out of reach. “I—did you just throw my wand?”

James shrugs, apparently embarrassed about it. His expression suggests he didn’t even think before doing it. Regulus sighs. “If you don’t want a cleaning charm, you can say that.”

“I don’t want a cleaning charm. I—it doesn’t feel right.” James mumbles. Barty wraps a blanket around his shoulders, and Regulus accios his wand. He summons a glass and fills it with water before pressing it into James’ hands. “That’s fine, Jamie. Whatever you want is fine.”

James sips the water, eyes drooping again, and after a few minutes, Regulus hears Dorcas’ voice. Normally, he loves Dorcas’ voice, finds it soothing, but right now it makes a growl bubble in his chest.

She tries to get inside, but Evan literally slams the door on her hand. “What the fuck, Evan?”

James gently headbutts his shoulder, big brown eyes concerned as they look up at him. Regulus realizes then that he’s still growling and stops it. “Sorry, it’s alright, James.”

“You can’t come in,” Evan says in a low voice. “I—literally cannot let you in right now.”

Dorcas scoffs, then hums. Regulus can almost see her smug smile. “Oh, you three got an omega. Who is it? Someone I know?”

James’ scent goes a little off, like he’s distressed, but not quite, and Regulus turns to rub his scent gland against James’, as close as he can get to claiming him. James goes boneless instantly, humming with a little smile. Evan gives Dorcas a look, and she sighs. “Okay, right, I’ll tell room service to leave meals outside and I’ll go find people to cover you. Does your omega have coverage? I’m assuming they’re a speaker?” Evan nods, and Dorcas laughs, telling them to be safe and have fun. Barty grumbles, nosing up James’ neck and smiling a little at the mix of Regulus-and-James. Evan finally comes back, and they all strip before settling into the nest. James is in the middle, fully on top of Regulus, and Evan and Barty are on either side. They’re lucky this hotel had such big beds.

“I don’t want to wake you up,” James mutters into Regulus’ neck.

Regulus shrugs—as much as he can shrug with a grown Quidditch player on his chest. “Then don’t, I’m pretty sure all of us can get hard in our sleep.” Barty and Evan both make sleepy noises of agreement. “Also, it’s okay if you do wake us up. That’s part of a heat, or a rut—our sleep schedules are all going to be fucked after this, and that’s normal, James.”

James hums into Regulus’ neck, breath evening out soon after. Regulus takes the few minutes before he also falls asleep to sort of—recalibrate. James Potter is sleeping on his chest. Naked. Because James Potter is an omega. An omega who wants Regulus, and Barty, and Evan. He fucked James Potter. James Potter is sleeping naked on his chest right now. By the time he falls asleep, he still can’t quite wrap his head around it.

Chapter Text

It's dark when Evan wakes, the moonlight through the gauzy hotel curtains casting the room in silver. He registers the feeling of someone riding him before he thinks to open his eyes.

James Potter. James, sweet, fit, beautiful James, whose thighs are trembling with effort of riding Evan’s cock so slow it hurts, probably trying not to wake him. His eyes are screwed shut, his pretty mouth parted on a silent moan. Evan bucks up into him, and his eyes fly open, immediately apologetic. “Evan—”

“S’alright, cheri, keep going,” Evan murmurs, settling his hands on James’ hips. He’s burning up, settling into his heat. He leans forward a bit, pressing his hands flat on Evan’s chest, and starts to really move. Evan hums as James fucks himself on his cock, lip trapped between his teeth in concentration. Evan bucks up again, and James falls onto his elbows, moaning at the change in angle. “Yes, yes, yes,” James whispers, grinding back on Evan’s cock with quick rolls of his hips. He latches onto Evan’s neck, sucking and biting anywhere he can reach, until he finds Evan’s gland, which immediately becomes his favorite.

When he sinks sharp teeth into the gland, Evan comes, way too quickly, his knot holding James in place, too deep to be comfortable. Evan moans, then gasps when James keeps moving, the sheer amount of slick he’s producing giving him a little wiggle room. He uses it, uses Evan, until his back arches, and he tightens painfully around Evan’s knot. “Fuck, James,” Evan gasps out, coming again from the look on James’ face as he pushes his hips down, nearly flush to Evan’s and so deep it has to be hurting him.

“Mm?” James hums, settling down on top of Evan, eyes shining in the moonlight. They look bigger without his glasses. He’s drowsy already, only up because he needed a knot, and his eyes flutter shut.

Evan remembers being fifteen and hating James. He was an arrogant prat who strutted about the palace like he owned it, but Evan really only hated him for the way he made Regulus feel. He’s never been so acutely happy to no longer be a teenager, because James Potter as a grown man is something special. By this point, Evan’s been to plenty of Potter Christmas parties, and he can safely say that anyone who doesn’t love James Potter in some form or fashion needs their eyes checked. He’s clever, and a brilliant Quidditch player, and so caring, if he ever stands still long enough to let someone look.

Regulus has known that for a long, long time. Because James may have teased him relentlessly as a child, but when Regulus showed up on his doorstep with an unconscious older brother and more injuries than he’d ever had at once, James is the one who patched him back together. James is the one who took him in and made sure his new room was done up in Slytherin green and dragged him out of the house to play a seeker’s game whenever he got withdrawn.

And now, he’s laying on Evan’s chest, making him come embarrassingly fast and looking terribly pleased about it, even in his sleep.

Barty wakes up first, and he sighs a little at the sight of James completely knocked out on top of Evan, Regulus sprawled out in the middle and somehow managing to have a hand or foot on each of them. Clingy thing.

He takes his time getting up, brushing his teeth and getting a shower while he can. James’ reaction to a cleaning charm that early in his heat doesn’t bode well for them practicing any real hygiene for the next few days. He grabs wipes from his bag and a few towels from the bathroom, then checks the clock and opens the door to grab their breakfast.

“Mm?” He hears a sleep voice from the bed, James’ head, mussed curls like a wild halo, popping up.

“Breakfast.” Barty shakes the bag, and James cocks his head, brows furrowed. “Hungry?”

James’ lips purse slightly, eyes distant, before he shakes his head, sitting up fully and reaching out to Barty. He laughs, dropping the bag on the nightstand and crawling over Regulus to meet James in the middle. James smiles, bright and victorious. “Hello.”

“Hey, James,” Barty chuckles, and Regulus makes a fussy noise in his sleep, reaching out to blindly grope for Barty, sighing when he wraps cold fingers around Barty’s hand. James watches curiously; not jealous, surprisingly enough, more contented.

He licks his lips. “Could you—could we—er. Hm,” James stops and starts, his jaw ticking in apparent frustration. Barty eventually takes pity on him, nodding. “Yeah, sweetheart, lay down for me.”

James settles back into the pillows, eyes wide and blown out as he blinks up at Barty. He’s gentle, arranging James’ thighs—Merlin help him, those thighs will kill him one day—around his hips and grinding into the slick between James’ legs until he’s fully hard. James sighs when he pushes into him, a sweet little sound that Barty wants to chew on, suck the marrow from.

Now isn’t the time for that, though. The three of them can and do have sweet sex, soft and slow and peaceful. There are also plenty of times—especially during their ruts—that the three of them spar for foreplay. That they fuck, bruised and covered in blood, and tempers running so hot they border on too much, and it’s great. But this, this very fragile experience of helping James through his first heat, isn’t like that. Maybe, another time, if James doesn’t run from this experience screaming, they’ll bring him into the more violent rituals of their relationship, but for now, they’ll have lazy morning sex and not shower for three days, and that’s great, too.

Barty presses a kiss to James’ temple, reaches over Evan to get his glasses and carefully settles them onto his nose. His chest clenches at the way James licks his lips and stares up at Barty like he’s an angel. It’s—so much. It’s a slow, wet glide of a fuck, tiny gasps fall from James’ lips and are swallowed by the easy slide of their lips.

“Please,” James sighs against his mouth, brows drawn up and eyes squeezed shut.

“What do you need, sweetheart?”

“Harder,” James swallows, grinding down on Barty’s cock. “Faster? Please?”

Barty pulls out and guides him into turning over, all but yanking his hips up. James wraps his arms around a pillow as Regulus blinks awake. “Tell me if I need to slow down.”

James hums, pushing his ass back to Barty’s hips.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” James sighs, back arching when Barty pushes in. Regulus shuffles closer to James, working spit-slick fingers between the omega’s legs and nipping at his lip. Barty groans at the way James pulses when Regulus sucks on his tongue, then moans when he feels Evan sidle up behind him, arms coming around his waist and mouth latching onto his neck.

Barty fucks him rough now, grinning at the way the muscles in James’ back tense and relax with each change of pace. As he gets closer to his orgasm, he starts to run his mouth. “That’s it, sweetheart. You’ll just take whatever we give you, won’t you? Such a desperate little thing—” He breaks off on a gasp when Evan rolls a nipple between his fingers.

James groans deep in his chest, too worked up to keep kissing, just panting against Regulus’ flushed lips. Barty’s so close, but he won’t come until James does. “That’s alright, love, you look so pretty when you’re desperate, when you’re just gagging for it.” James whimpers, thighs clenching around Regulus’ hand.

“Aw,” Regulus teases, “You like that, baby? You like being told how pretty you look stretched out on our cocks? You’re such a good boy, Jamie, such a good omega for us.” That’s what does it; Regulus’ honey-coated praise sends James over the edge, every muscle tensing before he goes boneless under Barty’s hands. Barty fucks into him once, twice, three times before his knot finally catches, and he’s filling him up. He lets Evan hold him up, laughing at the way James moans when the knot tugs a bit. He ends up sort of collapsing on James’ back and rolling them both to the side. He’s tempted to go back to sleep, with Evan pressing close-mouthed kisses to his shoulder and Regulus humming softly into James’ sweaty curls, but James is still moving, still trying to get more friction even when they’re locked together. “You need more, love?” Barty asks, tugging James’ back flush to his chest.

James sighs at the change in angle. “Yes. More, please.”

“So polite,” Evan mumbles. “You could teach Barty a thing or two.”

“Oh, don’t start,” Barty snarks back. “Don’t act like—” He cuts off at the sound of Regulus’ laugh, bright and startled. “What’s so fuckin’ funny?”

James shifts, and Regulus laughs harder, pressing a gentle kiss to his nose. “I’ve watched him make this face a dozen times before—I thought he was annoyed by all the bickering. I didn’t realize until now that he was trying to figure out if you two were actually fighting or not. That’s just how they flirt, baby, they don’t usually mean it,” Regulus reassures him.

Barty frowns, breathing in at James’ neck. His scent isn’t distressed, really, more apprehensive. He rubs his wrist gland against the place where James’ neck meets his shoulder and smirks at the way he shudders. “You know you can ask, don’t you?”

James huffs, and now that Barty’s knot has gone down enough to allow it, turns over to look at him. Someone’s hand—Evan’s, probably—slides down to guide Barty’s cock back inside of him once he settles. “I just—I want to be good at this.” James has actual doe eyes, deep brown and wide, which Barty thinks is ridiculous. Thank the gods for his glasses, or everyone in the world would be wrapped around his little finger, just for the eyes.

Regulus stretches to rub his neck against James, soothing him, and Barty’s dick twitches at the fresh slick that coats their legs. “You’re doing perfect, sunshine,” Barty mumbles, tucking a flattened curl behind his ear.

Doe eyes light up, and Barty is once again forced to reckon with the fact that this isn’t just some omega they’ve brought home—not that they ever have. Gods, if they’d brought home some random from the club, it would have been a nightmare. They’d have run for the hills before anyone got their clothes off. But no, this is James Potter, tired and sore and covered in cum because he likes it. “Really?” His voice is a little hoarse, a little surprised, and Barty squeezes his waist—doesn’t know where else to put what he’s feeling.

“Yes,” the three others respond emphatically.

Chapter Text

“You wanted more, cheri?” Evan prompts gently, peering over Barty’s shoulder. James feels the fog start to creep back in at the tone of his voice, and he lets it. He’s exhausted—he’s pretty sure twenty-four-year-old bodies aren’t made to handle this sort of thing for the first time—but his instincts have gotten him several orgasms so far, so he’s happy to keep riding them out.

“Mm,” He hums, eyes slipping shut when Regulus mouths at his jaw. Gods, Regulus. James knows he has profound, poetic thoughts about Regulus, but all he can conjure at the moment is want. Alpha.

“Whose cock do you want first, sweetheart?” Barty whispers against his lips, and James’ breath catches like a virgin. Fuck, he’s usually more composed than this. Someone’s fingers slip between his legs, and any insecurity immediately fades to white noise.

“Alpha,” James whines, pressing his forehead into Barty’s as his cock gets hard again, still nestled in James’ cunt.

Evan laughs. “Try again, James.”

“Please?” James musters up half a smile, then groans as the fingers on his dick change rhythm.

“You’re gonna have to pick, sunshine,” Barty tuts, faux-sympathetic. Yes and finally and you can be meaner than that bounce around James’ skull, but he thinks he’s a little too fragile to handle Barty going all out. “Can’t take all three of us at once.”

“Oh,” James chokes out, clenching on the finally-hard cock inside of him and drawing a moan out of Barty. “Please.”

“You little slut,” Evan scoffs, but James preens, because he says it like it’s a good thing—it feels like a good thing when Regulus is finally putting his mouth where James wants it—

Evan shoves Regulus’ face away just before he bites, earning a growl, and James keens at the loss. “No, Evan—please, it’s not fair,” James whines. He thinks he’s crying, either from the desperate need to be mated or the fact that Barty still hasn’t moved.

“I know, love, but—” Regulus gets his face shoved away again. “I will conjure a muzzle if you don’t behave,” Evan snaps, and it’s a tone he doesn’t use with James, deep and a little mean, it’s a command, and it makes James’ head spin. Truly, he’s not sure he can see straight.

Regulus growls again, but it’s only annoyance this time, and he obeys. James’ ear becomes his next victim, and it soothes the sting of not being claimed. He knows they have a reason, but all he can feel in this state is the rejection. “Alpha.”

“No, James,” Evan replies apologetically.

“Why not?” James sounds desperate, even through the fog of his heat. But fuck, just looking at the bite marks on their necks makes his mouth water. “I—I’ve been good? You want me?”

Regulus pants against his shoulder. “Of course we do, Jamie.”

“Then take me,” James begs, and Regulus’ resolve snaps. Barty is just a little bit faster, blocking the bite with his arm and hissing when Regulus’ fangs sink into his skin. James groans again, feeling ironically cockblocked with a cock inside of him.

“We said we wouldn’t, Reg,” Barty warns.

Regulus’ jaw flexes against James’ throat before he releases Barty’s arm, licking the wound like he’s trying to make it bleed more. James shudders at the sight, shifting his hips to get something. “Oh, you like that, love? Fuck,” Evan huffs, eyeing him like he’s something interesting. Like he’s wanted.

“Nasty little omega,” Barty tuts, mouth dropping open on a silent moan when Regulus drags sharp teeth over the wound, more blood welling up in little droplets. “You getting off on this? You like it when your alphas get rough with each other?”

Your alphas.

Mine. And oh, that’s right, they’re his, and if they won’t claim him, there has to be a good reason because this is not rejection. No, this is restraint. Stupid, useless, annoying alphas.

He finally tears his eyes away from the obscenity of Regulus’ blood-soaked tongue to meet Evan’s eyes. “Alpha.” He sees the difference in Evan’s expression, feels it like danger and knows it’s anything but. “Need your knots. Need all of you.”

Right on cue, his abdomen cramps, and Barty curses. “Fuck, Gods, shit, shit—” he hisses, hips bucking and nails digging into James’ waist as he flips him on his back. “Ooooh my gods, you whore, cramping with a fucking cock in your cunt,” he growls between nips at James’ throat, finally fucking him in earnest. “Oh, you poor thing, were you not getting enough attention? Cock’s not enough, you need to be ruined, huh?”

James nods vehemently. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, more—” He arches off the bed at the first catch of Barty’s knot against the abused muscle of his hole, yelps when Barty doesn’t slow down. Regulus yanks the alpha back by his hair when he comes, pulling a whine out of both Barty and James when Barty’s teeth nearly graze his mating gland.

“No, Reg, c’mon,” Barty pants, hips still twitching where they’re locked flush to James’. Evan sits him up, presses a cup to his lips, and James drinks. “Just look—look at him, he’s so—”

Regulus swallows Barty’s protest with a kiss, going up on his knees so Barty has to crane his neck to keep them connected—dominating him. James hums, clenching around the warm come pooling in his cunt. He’s so full, but the fog isn’t going anywhere this time, he just wants and wants and wants. “Evan,” he whimpers.

Evan frowns at him pensively. “Looks like you’re in full heat now. Shit, we should’ve had you eat more last night.” That sounds like regret, and James is distressed. Evan scents him immediately, wrist to neck, and James breathes again. “Shh, you’re alright. We’ve got you, okay?”

“Hey,” Regulus appears on his other side with a slice of plain toast. “It’s charm-warmed, but you need to eat.” James eyes the toast warily. He doesn’t want to eat, he wants Regulus. Regulus is unfortunately unimpressed. “James.” And that tone is different, lights up every instinct like a fucking sparkler until all he can think is yes? and tell me what to do and obeyobeyobey. James’ eyes meet Regulus’ unblinkingly. “Eat the toast.”

He opens his mouth dutifully, and Regulus’ smirk is nothing short of smug when he eats every bite his alpha feeds him. “Such a good omega.”

James hums—purrs, really, but it breaks into a whine when Barty starts to pull out. “No.”

Barty makes a strangled noise, glancing between the other alphas. “Please—”

“No,” Evan and Regulus reply in unison, and Regulus presses a hand to Barty’s forehead. “Are you going into another rut?”

James’ hips roll of their own accord, because yes, please, and the squelching sound it makes is almost enough to make him come again. Barty shakes his head, sweat clumping the strands of his hair together. “No, I don’t think so, I just—” James rolls his hips again, moaning softly. “How am I supposed to not bite him when he’s angling for a third round in, what, half an hour?”

“And wanting all three of us at the same time,” Evan shakes his head. “I know, okay? I don’t doubt he’s our mate.” James purrs so hard his chest hurts, and Evan laughs, petting over his hair. “But he has to tell us, out of heat.”

“And if you bite him,” Regulus tugs Barty’s hair to get his attention. “You will go into rut. And then Evan and I will, too, whether we bite him or not, because you’re ours.” James swallows hard as a fresh wave of slick coats his and Barty’s thighs. The bed beneath him is absolutely soaked with it, and he’s blindingly proud—it’s his nest, the place his alphas are taking care of him, even though they won’t fucking claim him.

Barty growls lightly, but nods. “How are we doing this, then?”

Regulus smirks, and James squirms at the sight of it. “I have an idea.”

Evan snorts. “Oh, I’m sure you have several.”

Regulus just smiles. “Mm. How are you feeling, Jamie?” James chirps in response, and Regulus blinks, startled. “Oh my Gods.”

“Oh, that was devastating,” Evan groans as Barty stares in complete silence, mouth open. They’re all just looking at him, jaws slack and eyes wide.

Regulus looks reverent. “You’re happy, then? That’s a happy noise?” James’ brows pinch, because he hadn’t meant to chirp, but then he nods.

“Yes? I’m happy, Reggie.” Regulus takes a fortifying breath, then nods.

“Good. Bee, roll over, both of you—”

Regulus is trying very hard not to cry, but by the way James frowns as soon as he’s sitting up on Barty’s lap, he can smell it. “Reg?”

Regulus moans a little at the scent James puts out to calm him. It’s thick, and sweet, and it draws him in like an accio. Regulus leans over his shoulder to press an open-mouthed kiss to his parted lips. He’s been obsessed with James Potter for more than half his life, but now he is well and truly addicted. If James walks away after this, Regulus doesn’t know what he’ll do.

James clicks his teeth, pulling back. Barty moans into Evan’s mouth where they apparently got tired of waiting. “You smell wrong.”

“Ouch,” Regulus mumbles, but James just keeps pouting, pressing his cheek to Regulus’ before burying his nose in Regulus’ mating gland. He bites it, without preamble, right on top of the overlapping arcs of Barty and Evan’s claiming bites.

“Fuck—” Regulus whimpers, leaning hard into the steadying hand Evan puts on his shoulder. Omega bites may not stick—he’s not claimed, it won’t scar—but he will smell like James for a while. It is also very nearly enough to send him into a rut, and his head spins with the smell and the feeling and the insistent press of his instincts. He sways, and James purrs, flat-out gnawing on the gland. “God, you—mm.” James pulls off with a wet smacking sound, and he licks the blood from his lips with a hazy smile.

“Better?” James tilts his head, dark eyes searching.

Regulus’ breath leaves him in a rush. “Much,” he manages. And he is, even if his mind is all but wiped. It’s hard to keep up with a heat when he’s not in rut, but it’s just not an option right now.

“Reg,” Evan says softly. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Regulus nods. “Come back here and prep him?” Evan grins, and Barty whines.

“I might need that muzzle,” He groans, and James chirps again, clearly pleased.

“As much as I appreciate your honesty,” Regulus laughs, crawling up to the headboard and positioning himself over Barty’s head. “I don’t think you’re going to need it.”

“Oh, fuck yes,” Barty scoffs, hooking his arms under Regulus’ thighs and dragging him down without another word. Regulus rocks against the messy lapping of his tongue, a soft moan escaping him.

“Lay down, baby, that’s it,” Regulus guides James down onto his stomach, laying his cheek against Regulus’ thigh. His dark eyes are locked on Regulus’ hard cock as he licks his lips. “Do not try to take my knot in your mouth, do you understand?” James pouts but nods, and Regulus carefully guides his cock between his swollen lips. His eyes slip shut as soon as he’s got something in his mouth, expression nothing short of bliss.

“Oh, you’re kidding,” Evan scoffs from where he kneels behind James. “No wonder you’re not satisfied, cheri.”

“What?” Regulus pants, already close from the hot, wet mouths sucking and lapping at him. He shudders as James sinks down a little further, barely able to keep his eyes focused on Evan.

“He’s slick here, too,” Evan says softly, dragging slick-shiny fingers along the cleft of James’ ass. He presses two in with ease and James groans, sending shockwaves through Regulus’ dick. “Gods, I don’t even think I need to stretch him.” His eyes glint as he presses a third finger in, and James’ brows scrunch as he presses back onto Barty and the fingers inside of him.

Regulus sucks in a sharp breath at Barty’s resulting moan, but he tries to focus. He knows that glint, can follow his mate’s gaze to the scent gland practically on display. “Don’t, Ev.”

Evan blinks rapidly, but his eyes don’t move. “Fuck. I don’t know if I can stop myself. I really—he smells so good, Reg.”

“I know,” Regulus sighs as James hollows his cheeks. “You need a gag?”

“Yeah, yes, definitely,” Evan stutters, eyes still locked on James’ neck as his fingers move in and out steadily. Regulus accios the ball gag he brought—one never knows if a silencing charm will be enough—and lifts it to Evan’s mouth.

Finally, his eyes slide up, dark and adoring on Regulus as he nestles the rubber into his open mouth and fastens the smooth leather strap. “There we are. Better?”

Evan’s jaw flexes against the gag, and he hums. James whines around Regulus’ cock, wriggling his hips. Evan huffs a laugh through his nose, finally removing his fingers and lining up his cock. His eyes flutter shut as he pushes in, drool already pooling around the gag. Barty twitches toward the feeling, fingers digging into Regulus’ thighs. He knows how good it feels for Barty to feel his mate’s cock against his own, separated only by a thin wall of muscle. He knows, too, how good James has to be feeling, because they’ve had Regulus like this before and it was fucking paradise.

Regulus licks his lips, fingers weaving into James’ hair and scratching at his scalp. His moan is long and drawn out as Evan pushes all the way in, and he goes boneless under Regulus’ hands. “Good omega. You can relax now, baby, just let us fill you up.”

James makes a happy sound around Regulus’ cock, jaw falling slack. He looks like an angel, flushed and shining with sweat, smelling like a wet dream. He also looks so damn pleased to be used like this, and Regulus is sure. He’s so sure James is their mate, and he knows that as soon as they’re back in London, the four of them are going to have to call out of work for a week for the mess that claiming him will be.

Regulus chokes at the mere thought, his orgasm hitting him like a train. James behaves, doesn’t try to take Regulus’ knot, just holds still and sucks him dry. Regulus shudders as Barty keeps up his ministrations, moaning and gasping into Regulus’ cunt as Evan fucks into James like he’s trying to make it stick.

He knows Evan isn’t going to last much longer, can see the knot where it’s starting to catch on James’ rim. He squirms as Barty and James don’t slow, gasping. He can’t even pull away, what with Barty’s arms still firmly locked over his thighs. “Gods, fuck, so good for me—so—ah,” he whimpers, eyes welling up from the overstimulation.

Evan comes with a muffled shout, hands tight enough to bruise on James’ hips. James finally pulls off of Regulus’ cock, jaw dropping into a drawn-out scream as Barty follows Evan over the edge. “Fuck! Oh, gods, ah, please, fuck, fuck, fuck, so fucking full—” he chants, head lolling against Regulus’ thigh as he shakes.

“Breathe, baby,” Regulus rasps, rubbing soothing circles into his scent gland, setting off another orgasm that leaves Evan and Barty gasping. “We’ve got you.”

James’ first heat lasted five days. He wakes up on the sixth day—the last day of the conference—sore and sticky with various bodily fluids and surrounded by his alphas.

Oh. His alphas. He breathes into the hair in his face—Regulus—and notes the warm chest against his back—Evan. Barty is curled up between Regulus’ legs, face buried in his bare stomach.

James winces as he sits up a bit, shame flooding in fast and harsh. Gods, did he really bite Regulus without asking? He bit all of them. Shit, he begged like a whore for them to bite him.

He’s not ashamed of who he ended up in bed with. He didn’t quite connect the dots, but he’s always been a little…weird about these three. Regulus, of course, but Evan and Barty caught his eye nearly as much in school. When they got together, well, James had to have a stern talk with himself about keeping his thoughts appropriate. Maybe several talks.

So he’s not even surprised, really. Because he’s fancied them for a while now, apparently. But he—imposed himself. He’s half-convinced himself he absolutely has to get out of here, to hide, when Evan’s arm tightens around his waist. “Don’t.”

“Oh…good morning, Rosier,” James says awkwardly.

“Do not call me Rosier, mon cheri, I’ve had my cock in every hole you’ve got,” Evan snorts, face still pressed into the pillow, and James flushes.

“Right. Listen, I’m really sorry.”

“What?” Evan’s eyes widen. James can smell the anxiety souring his scent, and he resists the urge to scent him. It’s a little disorienting, the instincts that were once so subtle now insistent. “Why?”

“I didn’t mean to—well, it doesn’t really matter what I meant. I—”

“You regret it,” Regulus says softly, jaw tense. His face is mostly hidden by his hair, but James can see where his throat bobs. “You regret coming to us.”

“No,” James blurts, can’t even consider not being honest when Regulus smells and looks so damn devastated. “I—not that. It’s not you, it’s…I sort of forced myself on you, didn’t I?”

Barty cracks one eye open, face scrunched up in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I—y’know. I didn’t ask before I bit anyone. I was—I pushed quite a lot.”

“Jamie,” Regulus sighs, shoulders shaking. James thinks he’s crying for a moment, but then he turns on his back, and he’s laughing. “Are you serious?”

James wisely does not make the no, I’m James joke. “Yes?”

“Baby, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was—there was no forcing involved. You needed us, and we were happy to do it. More than happy, really, it’s a bit of a dream come true for me.”

James blinks. “What?”

“Don’t tease,” Regulus pouts, and James wants to kiss it away. Regulus would probably let him, he realizes with a rush of warmth in his chest.

“I’m not! What do you mean a dream come true?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve been gone on you since we were kids,” Regulus says incredulously.

James’ brain shuts down for several seconds. When it finally seems to pull some coherent thought together, James grins. “You fancy me. You—you want me?”

Grey eyes sharpen, mouth twitching at the corners like he’s trying not to laugh. “Was that not established? I wouldn’t have had such a hard time not biting you if this was just—what did you think it was? A favor?”

“…Sort of.”

“Gods,” Evan mutters, jostling James into laying back down. “We’re Slytherins. We don’t give favors without established repayment.”

“Established repayment,” Barty repeats mockingly, and Evan reaches over the bed to flick him in the forehead.

James meets Regulus’ exasperated gaze and grins. “You like me.”

“I love you, James,” Regulus corrects softly. “Rather desperately. So I’m going to be sort of devastated if you want this to be a one-time thing—”

“No,” James shakes his head vehemently, the truth pouring out of his kiss-bruised mouth because even the thought of giving this up makes his skin crawl. “Gods no, I meant it when I said I wanted you to claim me. I…I want this, too. The whole thing.”

“The whole thing?” Regulus repeats. His eyes are bright with hope.

“Yes,” James sighs as he presses a kiss to Regulus’ lips. “All of it.”

Barty huffs. “Let’s start with a shower, yeah?”