Triumvirate

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the songs included in this fanfic nor do I make money off them. These stories are for entertainment only.


~
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There`s gotta be somebody for me like that.

`Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they´re not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere.
There`s gotta be somebody for me out there.


Gotta be Somebody - Nickleback

~

The entire fortress was alight with hundreds of silver and gold candles. The great, fat spruce in the center of the hall filled the air with the scent of sharp pine and cold snow. Hermione had taken in upon herself to see the tree decorated.

Large silver and gold ornaments were scattered through it’s heavy boughs and intertwined with the flashy balls were large crystal teardrops. Faceted to catch the lights and refract rainbows throughout the room.

If one looked carefully, each hung from a metallic ribbon, and each bore a name.

A tear for every person lost.

Harry refused to allow them to be forgotten and while many had feared that holding onto them so tightly would only prolong the hurt… they had learned it to be oddly comforting.

For Hermione, that tree was a labor of love. She missed so many who made the tree radiant. Loved them still. Deeply.

One crystal was slightly different from the rest. It bore a small green heart at the top of it. It was the teardrop of Severus Snape. Hermione had made it, and now with bittersweet thoughts, she hung it.

She placed it carefully beside the only other woman he had loved.

Next to Lily Potter.

Draco watched her small, pale hands cradled the crystal, her lips moving in some silent message to his godfather.

“Mione?” he called softly.

She turned quickly to see him framed in the doorway. His silver eyes alight with concern.

“Draco” she gushed, “I didn’t hear you come in.”

He arched one pale brow and stepped forward, “It’s a lovely tree” he commented, “Very large. I would be happy to help if you will allow it.”

He was certain she would deny him. Kindly of course. But the tree was personal to her.

She smiled, “I would like that very much”.

“You miss him don’t you?”

She knew he spoke of Severus. “I do” she said, “He was a very complicated man, and not at all who he seemed.”

Draco shook his head, “No I guess he wasn’t. What surprised you most about him?”

Hermione looked at the gleaming crystal, “How very gentle he truly was.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron came in an hour later to the sound of Hermione’s tinkling laughter. Like silver bells it was, a sound he had not heard ring so brightly in a long while. He found himself smiling at it, rounding the corner to join her in her good spirits.

He stopped in his tracks when he say her perched high on a wooden ladder. Draco Malfoy stood on the bottom rung, handing the shimmering crystals to her. He was smiling up at her.

She chuckled warmly at something the scaly git had said. No doubt said scaly git was getting a good look up Mione’s robes too!

“No no Draco it must go higher!” she protested, climbing to the very top of the ladder.

“Hermione” Draco said in a firm tone, “Come down from there before you fall. We can levitate that up there.”

She shook her head, “That’s like cheating” she informed him.

Ron watched, blue eyes going wide with horror as she misjudged her footing. Her slim ankle turned and with a small cry she toppled from the ladder.

He rushed forward only to have Malfoy pluck her swiftly from the air and press her into the ladder, blocking her in with his longer body.

Hermione felt her heart race from the fright, and from the nearness of her clandestine lover.

“You ok?” Draco rasped against her ear, but she felt the tension in his arms and knew he’d had a fright.

She nodded.

“Don’t you ever do something that foolhardy again” Draco told her, “I swear you took ten years off my life.”

She patted him soothingly, “Well thanks to your wonderful reflexes I am safe.”

“Mione!” Ron shouted, coming to stand near the ladder. His blue eyes were bursting with suspicion and anger, “What the bloody hell are you doing up there?”

She stiffened in Draco’s arms and Ron hadn’t missed the fact that Malfoy did not seem inclined to release her.

“Get your hands off her Malfoy.”

“Now now weasleby” Draco chided, “Can’t you see the lady has had a fright?”

Ron’s arm shot out towards Hermione, hand outstretched, “Come Mione” he said hotly, “You shouldn’t associate with the enemy.”

Hermione leaned away from Draco to peer at Ron, “Who do you think you are talking to?” she asked, her anger growing, “Don’t presume to speak to me like that. I am not your property or your child and Ronald, you had better watch what you say about Draco. Harry has appointed him a captain. That should be enough for you.”

She shoved lightly at Draco, who released her, leaning to one side of the ladder as she descended, “Will you please put the star up Draco? I need to see Harry about something.”

He nodded, already levitating the glittering silver star to the top. He kept an eye on Ron who followed Hermione from the great hall. Perhaps it would have been better if he had remained the secret element in Harry’s war.

It wasn’t helping anyone that he was in love with Hermione. How could her world ever accept him?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Why are you defending him?” Ron shouted at the small woman as she strode through the halls.

“Because you are attacking him Ron. He’s done nothing to you!”

“What about all the things he said and did in school?”

“You were never unkind Ron? Not once? We all were!”

“He’s a Slytherin, and on top of that he’s a bloody big lizard. Not even full human!”

“Ron! Listen to yourself. Do you hear the filth coming from your mouth? He was cursed! He didn’t choose that anymore than Remus chose to be lycan! It makes him no less human. Like I said, he’s done nothing to you!”

“Nothing? He’s a great death eater!”

“So was Snape. The whole world believed that!”

“So that’s what this is then?”

“What?”

“Replacing your slithery boy toy?”

Hermione felt rage as she never had before towards her friend. Her hand swung out and her palm connected with the pink flesh of his cheek.

Her hand stung from the blow and she shook with the need to inflict a more serious blow. “Don’t you ever” she hissed, “You hated Severus but at least you respected his work for the order. I loved him.”

Ron grimaced from the scorching burn of his cheek and her admission of feeling for the potion’s master. “And him?” he grit out.

Hermione tensed, “He is my friend Ron.”

She didn’t want to try and untangle her feelings for Draco and Harry for Ron. That was a private matter and one she wasn’t certain of herself.

Ron backed away from her, “Friend. Yeah. Be careful Mione. His kind bite. Its in their nature.”

He was gone then, robes swirling around him, his fists clenching at his sides.

Hermione watched him turn the corner and then even his footfalls faded.

“Mione?” came Harry’s concerned voice from behind her.

She turned troubled eyes to him, offering no resistance when he pulled her from the hall into a chamber.

His fingertips lifted her chin until their eyes met. “I heard shouting” he said.

She nodded, “Ron. He hates Draco Harry.”

Harry sighed drawing her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her, “I know” he sighed against her hair.

“When you reveal him… well, it won’t be pretty” she predicted grimly.

“Nevertheless” he said firmly, “He will be recognized for all that he has done. He will be recognized as my chosen for the Triumvirate.”

Hermione stepped back, “What if they disagree? Put it to the vote?”

Harry shook his head, “Doesn’t work that way Mione. You know that. Dark Lord is law.”

“Any dark lord but you. You aren’t dark Harry. You don’t do things the dark way.”

“Don’t I?” he said quietly more to himself than her.

Her brow furrowed, but he smoothed it away with his fingers, drawing her close again, “When Hermione?” he breathed against her ear making her shiver, “When will you be ours? Completely.”

Her fingers clutched his robes and she leaned her head against his broad chest. “Soon Harry” she hedged.

“You want it. Want us. Want the Triumvirate.” he told her, baring her soul with his words, “But you are afraid. Afraid of losing all control, of letting it go. Have we not shown you that you are safe with us?”

She nodded, feeling her pulse spike at his words. That velvet tenor of his voice. But part of his words gave her pause. “No Harry” she said softly, seeing the green of his eyes darken. “I do not want the Triumvirate. It matters little to me. I merely want you both.”

His hand threaded into her hair, drawing her face back, his own coming closer. “You love us” he said.

Her eyes fluttered at the warm moist puffs of air against her lips. Harry truly was seduction walking.

“I love you” she admitted. There was no reason not to. Harry loved her back.

“And him?” green eyes probed copper, searching, seeking.

She pulled away, “I don’t know” she whispered, not wanting to talk about it. She gestured to the space between them, “This. Us. It’s new. A little overwhelming, frightening. This is the darker half of you Harry.”

And it was. He’d not deny that.

Hermione wanted to think on some level he was the same boy from long ago. That she was the same girl. But he knew, embraced, that those children were gone. Long dead in the war. They were different people now.

“Tomorrow night” he said at last, “I make the announcement.”

She paled, “And us?”

He shook his head, “They will learn in time. More than half will suspect after being told of the Triumvirate. However, our private lives are that. They may not be ready for the full meaning of that. We will give them time where we can.”

Hermione nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hermione crawled into bed late that night and pulled the covers up. Draco and Harry would come soon. Slipping in on either side of her. Warming her and holding her. She had taken to sleeping with them though they’d not been completely intimate yet.

She had so many niggling fears and concerns. The little voice in the back of her head reminded her that beautiful witches caught and tamed such men. Not mousy little bookworms. She tried to shove it down, but it came again and again to haunt her.

She punched the pillow and closed her eyes. She need the rest, tomorrow would be a difficult time for all of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People gathered and music played brightly. Members of the Order gathered together, exchanging hugs and gifts. Like a large family. One borne of loss and need. Hermione hadn’t yet shown up, though Harry and Draco had arrived nearly an hour ago.

Harry kept Draco close to him, a show of solidarity. However, the dark looks that many shot could not be missed.

Draco flipped his long golden hair over his shoulder just to irritate them. How the hell has he been talked into this fiasco was beyond him. He shot a glare at Harry who merely shrugged and handed him a stiff fire whiskey.

“Perhaps we can forgo this announcement” he muttered as he took it.

“Not a chance” Harry replied, “Where is that Malfoy courage that runs so heavy in your blood?”

Draco rolled his silver eyes, “Dunno. Must have all bled out when you used Sectumsempra on me all those years ago.”

Another guest passed close by, stopping to drop an armful of gifts beneath the tree.


“Oh look” Harry pointed out, “Theres one for you.”

Draco groaned, “Likely an exploding jar of pox powder.”

Harry chuckled darkly looking around, “Where in blazes is Hermione?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione stood before Snape’s portrait. Her lush lower lip caught in her teeth. How Severus wanted to tug it free.

“Are you certain this is ok?” she asked nervously. Her hands sliding over the long skirt of her gown.

Severus let his black eyes rove over her from head to foot. “Perfection”

She reached for a heave wrap to cover her mostly bare upper body and he cleared his throat. “None of that.”

She balked, “My boobs are nearly hanging out, this damned corseted dress idea of yours was terrible! And silver and green…slytherin colors!”

“Look lovely on you” he cut in before her rant took flight, “Besides they are traditional holiday colors as well. The rubies round your neck attest to that.”

Rubies he had once given her. He liked the fact that the gems were held together by small interlocking and fanciful double S links.

“Trust me Mia. That dress will give you power tonight.”

She grimaced and settled for the light, sheer shimmery wrap to cover her bare shoulder and upper arms. “And how the hell does that work?” she grumbled as she turned towards the floo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Head of the Intelligence Department, Miss Hermione Granger”.

She hated being announced, it was archaic. But looking out onto the many faces turned to the stairs, she had to admit that perhaps Severus was correct. The dress did give her power. It made her look bold and sexy, made her feel that way too.

Ron appeared at the steps and smiled up at her, “Hello Mione, blimey you look nice.”

She hadn’t entirely forgiven him for earlier. “Thank you Ronald.”
“You aren’t still mad are you?”

“A bit.” she admitted, seeing Harry wend his way through the people, Draco at his side.

Ah but they cut a dashing pair, she thought. Both tall, both handsome. One like day and one like night. Her sun and moon.

They moved past Ron to catch her elbows, “Took you forever” Harry complained.

Draco snickered, “Been like a prat all night.”

“Have not. Just worried she was going to stand us up.”

“You maybe. Not me”

They glared at each other for a moment before laughing at their own little joke.

“Would you two stop?” she asked, “How much have you had to drink?”

“Quite a lot” Harry offered with a smile.

“Not enough” Draco shot back.

“Honestly Mione, we’re just teasing you. Come on, Kingsley has something for you. Excuse us Ron.” Then Harry was leading them away.

Ron scowled after them.

“You shouldn’t make that face Ron, it might stick that way” came a soft voice from his left.

Ron turned to see Luna Longbottom smiling at him.

“Save it Luna” he snapped, “I don’t want hear another of your it’ll all work out well speeches.”

“Just the same” she pressed, “It will”

“Not bloodly likely, with a bloody death eater snake in our house”

“They say he’s the glorious Third. That he’s been killing off the more powerful in Voldemort’s camp. They say that he’s nearly died several times and that he saved Hermione’s life.”

“They also say that she’s the brightest witch of the age and look at her. Making friends with the git.”

Ron turned and left just as Neville caught up to his odd but lovely wife.

“Hey there Ron” he greeted but the red head was already out of earshot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It wasn’t that Ron had intentionally been snubbed. Kingsley wasn’t staying long and Harry wanted Hermione to see him badly. He had found a very rare book that the witch had been aching to have for many years.

He and Draco watched as the older wizard handed her the parcel wrapped in pale blue paper sprinkled with iridescent glitter. Muggle paper, Harry thought. Something she would like.

She tore into it like an overeager child, showering them both with the glitter from the paper much to the amusement of those watching. Her amber eyes widened and glowed when she saw what he’d brought her.

“Oh! Kingsley! Thank you!” she cried out, launching herself into the wizard’s arms. To his credit Kingsley was prepared and caught her with a booming laugh.

“I’m glad you like it little one” he replied when he set her back on her feet..

She bit her lip, “Oh but yours in under the tree” she said.

He chuckled, “I have the house elves gathering up my new treasures and taking them home” he told her, “I can’t stay tonight. I just wanted to see your face when you got this and wish you all a happy Christmas.”

He departed soon after amid a flurry of waves and choruses of happy Christmas.

Draco winked at her, “I knew I should have bought you a book.”

The feast was prepared in banner fashion, everyone’s favorites were spread on the long table.

As befitting his station as dark lord Harry took a seat at the head of the table. His captains to his flanks.

Tonight Hermione sat at his left and Draco sat at his right. In the space that had long been empty.

The others took their seats, their eyes locked on the golden wizard.

Once the table was full, Harry rose and called for attention.

“Everyone! I have a few announcements to make tonight.”

Silence fell in the great hall and Hermione glanced nervously at Draco who gave her a soft smile of reassurance.

“First, I want to congratulate everyone on jobs well done. Intelligence reports that the death eater camp is dwindling of any real threats.”

There was a round of applause and many slaps on the back at his words.

“Next I would like to offer the minute of silence for our beloved fallen. Followed by the chimes.”

As tradition, hats were removed, and the entire hall was locked in a heavy silence. Then when the minute ended, solemn tones rang out. One for each lost.

“Our loved ones wouldn’t want us to live life in a shadow of their loss” he said, “They would want us to live on, live free.”

His green eyes swept the room, and then rested on Hermione’s face.

“As far as the governing of the wizarding world after the war… as dark Lord I decree a Triumvirate in conjunction with the new ministry. I would ask that you support me in naming Kingsley Shacklebolt as the new minister of Magic once Voldemort falls.”

Cheers rang out and he smiled.

“As for the Triumvirate. The defense of the wizarding world, the punishments of dark witches and wizards, the forwarding of research and education into the dark arts and the balance of power are quite a lot for one person to manage without becoming twisted by that power. We have seen only too well, how it corrupts.

By splitting and sharing that power and responsibility I hope to avoid such issues. Now and in the long term. I ask that you will support that decision as well.”

Again. Cheers.

“For the Triumvirate flanks I have chosen my captains, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.”

There were uneasy murmurs and then a braver voice lifted. “We understand Granger Lord Potter. Why Malfoy?”

Harry met Arthur Weasley’s curious eyes.

“Besides myself, the two most powerful here are Hermione and Draco.”

“Yes, but how powerful is he? And how do you know he isn‘t working for the other side?” another voice asked.

Harry swept the room. This was it. Moment of truth. He looked to Draco who nodded subtly.

“You have all heard the whispers, the rumors. Of the unseen element. The Glorious Third.” Harry said.

Draco slowly rose to his full, impressive height.

“Malfoy is the Glorious Third” Harry revealed.

There were several abrupt denials and shouts of dismay. Harry merely lifted his hand and silence fell once more.

“He is the Third. He has served us well has he not? How many of you can personally attest that you, yourselves were saved by the unseen hand of the Third?”

Slowly hands rose. More than seventy percent.

“If not for him, you would be a crystal on the tree, a tone following the minute of a silence. A blossom in my garden of souls. Think about that.”

“My loyalty has been to Lord Potter for many years now” Draco said then, his smooth baritone washing over them like an arctic stream, “I daresay I have bled more than the lot of you put together. For your cause. My cause. Our cause. I am honored by Lord Potter’s consideration.”

“My Lord!” came another voice, “Will you not reconsider. There are many viable candidates.”

“This matter is done.” Harry said in a firm tone, “let the merriment continue.”

He sat down to see Hermione looking ashen and Draco looking tired. “Well” he said brightly, cutting into his potatoes, “That went better than I had expected.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening when the dancing began, the first person asked to dance was Draco.

Luna stood smiling at him, her hand outstretched, “Come now. I don’t have two left feet.” It was a deliberate show of support, and an extremely political move on her part. Harry couldn’t have been happier.

He watched Draco spin her around the dance floor before pulling Hermione out onto the floor as well.

As they danced, they were aware of flashes. Photos were being taken, they groaned in unison.

“Our gifts are not under the tree” Harry said then.

Hermione blinked up at him, “Sorry?”

“They have been taken to the Manor. Draco’s and my gifts are there for you as well.”

She glanced around the room, and felt Harry’s arm draw her closer. She was able to speak near his ear now, as he leaned down to her.

She nodded, “Will we have to stay much longer, if looks could kill Draco would be dead a hundred times over.”

Harry shook his head, “An hour more. Can you manage?”

Hermione nodded, “I just. Well I have your gifts there too” she admitted.

Harry smiled, “About that. You know what we’d really like…” He waggled his brows outrageously.

“Harry!” but her blush filled smile told him she didn’t mind.

“You look lovely tonight” he told her, his warm breath rushing over her ear.

She shivered in his arms, feeling her knickers grow damp, “I..uh…was wondering.. Tonight.. I thought we might…erm.”

How to put it into words without sounding completely pornographic?

Harry smirked, “Yes?”

She looked at the tie at his throat, “I thought, maybe if you two wanted… we could… consummate our relationship.” She blurted it out quietly, in an embarrassed voice.

Harry felt himself grow hard and hopeful. He nuzzled against her ear, “Are you saying you want to be with both of us, together? Finally?”

She swallowed hard, fighting against the conflicting feelings of swirling butterflies and nervous flops in her stomach.
She raised her head slowly to meet his eyes and nodded. Licking her lips she spoke. “Yes Harry”.

Heat shot through him at her shyly given words. He sensed her lingering fear and her growing desire. They’d take good care of her.

He looked around the room, seeing Draco not far off. Oh how long could an hour be?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very long he admitted a mere twenty minutes later as he danced with Luna. The blond chattering happily away to him, not minding that his mind was clearly elsewhere. But then that was Luna.

She was accepting of everyone. Far more intuitive than most and fiercely loyal.

She had often been a comfort to Harry just with her presence.

“ I think you worry too much about things” she finally said.

He looked down in question. “What?”

“You and Draco and Hermione. It will work out you know. I told Ron that but he doesn’t want to listen. You have to take things one step at a time you know, even though it might take you a little while you will still get there in the end.”

“Luna.. I -”

“Hush Lord Potter” she gently admonished, “I am trying to watch them dance.”

He followed her eyes to see Draco and Hermione dancing. They looked good together. He was tall, towering over her. His moves sure and his steps elegant. Hermione swirled away from him, his fingertips catching hers and then with a nearly imperceptible movement he pulled her back into the shelter of his arms.

She laughed as he dipped her low, his lips hovering inches from hers. Then he winked as he pulled her up and she laughed again.

Harry found himself smiling back.

Hermione felt like she was flying. All eyes were on her and her handsome dance partner. Oddly enough Draco didn’t allow her time to feel self conscious. Severus had been correct. She was empowered. She felt beautiful, not the dusty little bookish imp that tracked down secrets for the Order.

She hadn’t told Draco about her conversation with Harry. Not yet. And this made her feel powerful too.

Apparently Draco’s looks and great dancing made an impression. As soon as the song ended he was swarmed by a small mob of females wanting to dance.

With a careless shrug he indulged them. Twirling them, dipping them, stealing their breath with witty remarks and dazzling smiles. But not one of them was held as close as Hermione had been.

Hermione was cornered by Ron at the libations table. “Can we dance?” he asked.

Hermione had been having such a lovely time that she accepted. She danced with Ron keeping her grimaces firmly under wraps when he accidentally stepped on her toes.

Finally she laughed at it, “Merlin Ron, you are like a cow on my toes!”

He looked red faced and horrified, “Sorry, you know I’m not good at this.”

She laughed, “Why then?”

He looked down at her skirt, “Malfoy made it look so bloody easy”

She squeezed his hand, “And you aren’t him. Just like he isn’t you. Both are dear to me.”

Ron blushed, “Yeah I guess”

Hermione bit back a small smile, “Truce?”

Ron looked up and blanched, “What? With lizard lips?”

She dug her nails into his palm, “Of course” she said with a megawatt smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Draco were watching Neville and Luna dance. Eyes full of stars and each others. Marriage had done nothing to dull that love. And both men felt an unspoken envy for that. Each wanted that.

A love that moved worlds for them.

Harry’s eyes slid to the small woman that he put those hopes into and he frowned.

“Uh Oh” Harry said putting his fire whiskey down on the table.

Draco heard his muttering and looked around expecting a fight, “What? What is it?”

Harry nodded towards where Hermione and Ron were awkwardly rocking back and forth on the dance floor. Ron looked nervous and Hermione was flashing a dazzling smile.

“That smile” Harry said, “Does not bode well. Ron is in trouble again.”

Draco watched with macabre curiosity as Hermione’s smile went from sweet to predatory in a blink. Her lips moved lightly then, and Draco, very adept at lip reading, could make out something about himself.

He frowned and moved to intercept them. Harry’s hand on his arm gave him pause. “Why not?”

Harry shook his head, “You can never make him accept you. I can’t, I can only order it. She can make him understand, in her way, that you are not the boy from school.”

He was right. Damn it. Harry was right. “I guess I will just have to wait then won’t I Lord Potter?”

Harry’s hand slid to give his a brief squeeze, “It’ll work out” he found himself saying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That hour seemed to last an eternity before Harry sent Draco to fetch Hermione from a very drunk and friendly Mr. Blassblat. The bucked tooth old man was nearly salivating over the beautiful woman in his arms.

“Mr Blassblat” Draco said smoothly, “I am afraid that Lord Potter wishes to see Ms. Granger home. Will you be so kind as to excuse us? Of course you will.” Then he neatly took her arm and led her away.

People moved for them. For Draco she mentally amended. She noticed that as they swept passed some people bowed their heads to Draco respectfully. Others met his eyes straight on. Still some refused to look at him or stared at him as though he were a dirty killer in their midst.

She felt herself grow tense with anger and then the warmth of his large hand at the small of her back settled.

She glanced up at him, to see his head up proudly as though what they thought didn’t matter in the least.

How could he look so strong, so unaffected?

But then, she supposed he was used to it. Used to people using, hating, or hurting him. She hated that. He was a good person, he had suffered enough. Everyone deserved to be forgiven and loved didn’t they? To some capacity?

She pulled her arm free from his and he looked down in askance. She smiled up at him and laced her fingers with his, leading him to where Harry stood waiting by the floo. Harry merely smiled at her and then Draco.

“Good night” he called to the remaining party stragglers. Then the floo burst into green flames.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oh I hate these shoes!” Hermione groused as they went upstairs.

“You coming to bed?” Harry asked her.

She nodded, “Just let me get these blasted shoes off my feet and take a shower. I am all hot and sweaty and sticky”

She heard Draco chuckle behind her and turned on the stair, “What?”

“Just the way I like you” he murmured.

She blushed a hundred varying degrees of red and rushed upstairs.

Draco looked back at Harry and shrugged, “What’s that all about?”

Harry leaned closer to Draco’s face, “She’s ready.”

Draco’s silver eyes went wide, “As in… you, me..her”

Harry reached up to tuck an errant blond strand behind his ear, “Oh yes.”

Draco sighed, “This Triumvirate worries me a bit” he admitted, “ You seem to think that she is the bond that will hold it together, but that is a lot of pressure to put on one person”

Harry shook his head, “Not like that Draco. But I would never betray her, and I don’t believe you would either. She will need us both and so she will have us both. It’s not a pressure, it’s a partnership.”

Draco pinned him with metallic eyes, “You remember that. I won’t have her hurt. These types of relationships need more work all around.”

Harry shoved him lightly, “I know that. Learned it from the best” he said sauntering past Draco, as he tugged off his tie.

“Damn right you did” the blonde snarked behind him, swatting his backside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Breathe Mia” Severus commanded of the nervous woman, “You made this choice.”

She nodded, “I know.”

“If you don’t want to go through with it, simply say so”

“I do”

“Then go”

She looked up at the pale features, “I really miss you Sev.”

“I know”

“Love you always”

“I know that too”

She nodded and left the room to find Harry and Draco across the hall.

Severus watched the door close and closed his eyes, “I love you too…always.”