Harry had known he was an Omega from the time he'd presented in the aftermath of one of his very first detentions with the esteemed Dolores Umbridge. Terrified, Harry had managed to cast a Concealment Charm upon his wounded hand, and had dashed to the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had patiently explained things to him, and had given him suppressants to ensure that he didn't wind up pregnant or mated to an Alpha he couldn't stand. Only Madam Pomfrey, and, later, Ron and Hermione, knew about him and, when they'd gone to hunt for Horcruxes, Hermione had broken into the hospital wing to get Harry a full years' supply of suppressants, just in case. Of course, she'd gotten some for herself as well, as she had presented that year, after Ron and Lavender had broken up. Ron, meanwhile, as an Alpha, didn't need suppressants, although he had been sniffing around Hermione more than usual lately.

Once the war had ended and Voldemort had been vanquished, Harry had thanked the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, for the opportunity to become an Auror without his NEWTs, but had declined to join the department, or any department at the Ministry of Magic for that matter. Instead, he completed his NEWTs with Hermione over the summer, while Ron himself jumped right into the rigorous training held at the Auror Academy. When Harry told Hermione about his future plans academically, she helped him in getting the best books he'd need to sit his A-Levels, as he fully intended to attend a Muggle university, and sat for them the following spring.

While he waited, Harry diligently studied French with official classes, morning and night, as well as with a private tutor in preparation for his A-Levels. The courses he'd decided to take were French, Food and Nutrition, and Business Studies. When spring arrived, Harry was pleased to report that French was officially his second language, and, if all went well, he would be attending university in France once everything was over. Harry took his A-Levels on schedule, and received A* on each of them, much to his, Ron, Hermione's, and the rest of the Weasley family's delight.

In between all of his, his personal life had differed greatly than what he had believed he'd wanted when he was growing up. He'd sat down with Ginny after the round of funerals in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, and informed her that, given that he was an Omega, he wouldn't be able to give her what she deserved. While he, Ron and Hermione had been on the hunt for Horcruxes, he'd had long discussions with them about this, and they told him to be considerate, yet direct. Surprisingly, Ginny had hugged him and kissed him on the cheek, thanked him for telling her, and promised him to be a supportive friend and sister in whatever it was he'd wanted to do, informing him that she'd presented as an Omega as well when the Golden Trio had been on the run. Harry was relieved, and Ron was just pleased that Harry hadn't broken his only sister's heart.

Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, were quite a dedicated couple, as Ron worked hard at the Auror Academy, and Hermione trained to be an Unspeakable. Bill and Fleur announced their first pregnancy; Charlie continued rising the ranks at the Romanian Dragon Preserve; Percy spent more time at home in between his duties as Senior Undersecretary for Minister Shacklebolt; George continued operating the Wheezes in Diagon Alley and had begun a relationship with Angelina Johnson, who was now a Healer for St. Mungo's; and Ginny, much to everyone's surprise, was flying high with the Holyhead Harpies as their newest Chaser, and was in a committed relationship with a reformed Draco Malfoy.

The Wizengamot trials, in Harry's opinion, had been a complete joke and publicity stunt, but he had, nevertheless, testified on behalf of the Malfoys, as well as for Professor Snape. All three had been acquitted of any wrongdoing in the Second Wizarding War, with the Malfoys returning to Malfoy Manor, and Professor Snape tendering his resignation to Minerva, who took over Headmistress duties at Hogwarts. Harry had heard that Draco was taking up the mantel as Lord Malfoy, as his mother and father were retiring to the Riviera, while Professor Snape himself was going into independent potioneering and potions research. Harry was truly happy for the man, who had seemingly been lacking for so long in his life, and was pleased that he seemed to be gaining a semblance of happiness in his everyday life.

Harry, meanwhile, applied to many culinary schools once his A-Level results had been posted, and was pleased to be accepted into his first choice—Le Cordon Bleu – Paris. He excitedly shared the news with his chosen family, just a week after Bill and Fleur had welcomed their daughter, Victoire, and they were all very pleased for him. Harry made an appointment at Gringotts to have his accounts transferred to their French branch, as well as an appointment with an estate agent to find suitable accommodation for the nine months of his study.

The house Harry ended up selecting was at the heart of the city, not too far away from campus, and he was given Apparition instructions in case he was ever running late. Harry spent a few weeks acclimating to Paris, with frequent owls and Floo Calls home, and was pleased to spend time in his new environment. He frequented Place Cachée quite regularly, and became familiar with the locals there as well. Although they had heard of Harry Potter, and a few congratulated him in his efforts in the Second Wizarding War, he was not fawned over, which was definitely an improvement, he reasoned.

Harry began his classes on time in September, and was pleased to meet his fellow students, who were of a similar age to him and wanted to know all about his life. As they were Muggles, he had to amend the details, but they all got along famously. They could talk endlessly about pastry making, creaming ingredients, as well as the precise preparation of fruit, and Harry, for the first time in a Muggle educational environment, was in heaven.

During those nine months abroad, Harry felt free to explore his sexuality for the first time, both in and out of the Wizarding World, though he kept his Omega status hidden. The first came in the form of Jean Luc, a Muggle who attended the Paris College of Art. Jean Luc was very serious and polite, but it was strictly casual between the two of them, and their liaison had ended after three months. Next came a Pureblood named Gaspard, who was a distant cousin of Draco Malfoy, whom Draco had introduced Harry to when Ginny had a match with the French National Quidditch Team near Christmastime. That fling had ended sometime in the spring, leading to Harry meeting Alexandre, a Muggleborn, who had been in an exchange program with the Unspeakable Division, and had briefly met Hermione in her work when he'd been briefly transferred to the British Ministry of Magic, though Harry had broken things off with him by June.

Time passed quickly, and Harry received his Le Grand Diplôme the following June, and was very pleased to see that Ron, Hermione, Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Draco, Neville, and Luna had come to celebrate with him. Ron and Hermione spent the weekend with him, and helped him clear out his house, while Harry told them about the storefront he'd purchased in Diagon Alley, as well as the flat upstairs, plus his plans to turn it into a French bakery. The both of them were very excited, telling Harry that they would support him in any way they could. They asked Harry about Jean Luc, Gaspard, and Alexandre, but respected his decision to end things with them all because Harry had known that they wouldn't have lasted.

Harry returned to England and to Diagon Alley, accepted the keys to his new storefront, and began the arduous task of remodeling. He intended to open the shop by the time students came to the alley to buy their school supplies, and hoped that the schedule he'd set up for himself would actually work out. In the end, he wasn't disappointed; the establishment had a black and white tile floor, comfy plush and pink chairs at every carved rosewood table, a beautiful white marble fireplace, a large and gilt-framed bay window which boasted a large shelf so as to display all his wares, and three glass cases to display his other wares. The kitchen was in the back, although he could easily prepare the drinks and the simpler baked goods in the front, and Harry was confident that his business venture would turn a decent profit.

The week before he was due to open, Harry granted Luna an exclusive interview with The Quibbler to give a last hurrah to advertising his business, knowing full well that she would print the truth. He didn't want some soppy story penned by Rita Skeeter, and Hermione put a Jinx around both entryways (plus the Floo Connection) of the shop so as any unregistered Animagi couldn't come in. Harry beamed when he got the Morning Edition of The Quibbler three days later, and admired the title for several moments: Harry Potter opens Sorcerer's Sweets, a Delightful French Bakery & Bistro in the Heart of Diagon Alley.

The article made mention of their years in school together, along with a cursory blurb about Harry's defeat of Voldemort in the Second Wizarding War, all written with Harry's approval, as he had personally signed off on the final draft once Luna had presented it to him. Luna had told Harry in the aftermath of the final battle that her father was worried that Harry would never want to associate with them again, due to his calling the Death Eaters to potentially capture Harry, Ron, and Hermione before their imprisonment at Malfoy Manor. Harry had been quick to assure Luna that, in times of war, our families mean most to us, and he had sat down with Xenophilius before he had taken his NEWTs and informed him that he completely understood his reasonings, and even offered the man a card for the mind healer he'd been seeing, and Xenophilius had been very receptive. He was clearly happier now that his daughter was safe, in a relationship with Neville, and that Neville was supportive of all the creatures Luna saw.

On opening day, Harry gathered his employees around him to give them a pep talk. Draco had volunteered to work the front end of the store with him, could read the menu backwards and forwards, and had even memorized the daily food and drink specials. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan would be in later that evening to clean up, while Molly Weasley would be in the kitchen working with Luna on Harry's patented recipes that he'd developed in the last several months, at Le Cordon Bleu and beyond. Meanwhile, Harry said encouraging words to Draco, Molly, and Luna, letting them know that, as it was their first day, they didn't absolutely need to be brilliant, but to merely do their best, and they all three were very supportive of him.

Harry, before he lost his confidence, ventured towards the front door and unlocked it at precisely six o'clock, knowing that morning commuters could potentially be interested in a pastry or two and a hot beverage. They had all manners of coffee and tea, as well as hot chocolate, British, American, and French versions of the drink. Harry had spent months doing research on coffees and teas, and had had taste tests with his nearest and dearest, until he had cultivated various blends that he hoped the wizarding public would enjoy.

As Harry pulled the door open, his jaw immediately dropped at the crowd that had gathered, and, beaming, welcomed them all inside. "Welcome to Sorcerer's Sweets," he proclaimed, feeling his eyes sparkling with excitement as they all poured in, and he stoppered the door open so as he could help Draco at the front counter. "Hello, I'm Harry," he said to the witch garbed in a purple cloak and golden jewelry. "What can I get you today?"