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.


~
Take a look at my body
Look at my hands
There's so much here that I don't understand
Your face say these promises
Whispered like prayers
I don't need them
Because I've been treated so wrong
I've been treated so long
As if I'm becoming untouchable
Well content loves the silence
It thrives in the dark
With fine winding tendrils
That strangle the heart
They say that promises sweeten the blow
But I don't need them, no
I don't need them
I've been treated so wrong
I've been treated so long
As if I'm becoming untouchable
I'm the slow dying flower
In the frost killing hour
Sweet turning sour anduntouchable
Oh, I need the darkness
The sweetness
The sadness
The weakness
Oh, I need this
I need a lullaby
A kiss good night
Angel sweet love of my life
Oh, I need this

My skin - Natalie Merchant

It wasn’t ok. Not at all.

Harry had a long talk with Ron, but the red head refused to see that either of his friends could possibly want something so ..so..twisted.

“I can’t believe it Harry” he argued, “You were always so.. Well normal before. It’s Malfoy I know it is.”

“It’s not” Harry snapped, “This is who I am, what I want. What we want.”

Ron shook his head, his cornflower blue eyes sad and concerned, “No Harry. You were never like this. Not until him. I know about you, about school.”

Harry looked up at him, “What?”

Ron nodded, “About you and him, with Pansy. I know all about it.”

Harry paled but kept his expression neutral. “Is that right? What is it that you think you know?”

Ron leaned forward, “The little master and servant games. The sex. The using. You want to do that to Mione and I won’t let you. No self respecting witch wants or needs two wizards. You have bewitched her and she’d confused.”

Harry laughed at that, “You don’t know shit Ron. As usual you think you’ve got it all figured out and you are so far off the mark it’s not even funny. We love her Ron. More than life. All we want is to make her happy. Now you can either accept that or not, but you are not going to make her miserable.”

Ron shook his head again, “Little late for that.” he muttered.

Harry cocked his head, “What’s that?”

Ron nodded, looking more confident now, “It will hit the papers any day.”

Harry rose sharply from his seat, coming round the desk “What?”

Ron nodded again, now his foot tapping nervously, “Did it for your own good Harry.”

“Did what Ron?”

“I mean someone has to see what he’s doing to you.”

“Ron!” Harry roared, “What have you done?” He gripped Ron’s collar pulling him upward to meet his glaring green eyes.

Ron swallowed in the face of his friend and lord’s wrath. “P..prophet. Daily Prophet.”

“You stupid son of a bitch.” Harry growled before planting his fist firmly in his captain’s face, “You had better hope I can stop this.”

He let go of Ron, the burly man crumpling to the stones as Harry spun in a swirl of robes and stalked from the room.

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

Draco and Hermione were snuggled in the library reading over maps and books, bouncing ideas of Voldemort’s strategy off one another when Harry arrived.

They knew the moment he touched the Manor wards, the entire house shook with his arrival. Draco looked at Hermione in question as she stared out the window.

Harry appeared in the courtyard, a fierce scowl on his face.

“That doesn’t look good” Draco murmured, rising to his feet.

Harry stormed into the house and slammed through the library doors. “Damn him to the seventh level of the hottest hell!” he shouted.

Hermione jumped in Draco’s arms at his angry outburst. “Harry?”

He held up his hand, silently asking for a moment.

Draco pulled her closer, halfway behind him. The dark power fairly leapt from Harry’s form.

Dark lords were unpredictable when their power flared as it was now. Draco knew that only too well. He held his arm behind him, keeping Hermione from moving closer to Harry.

“Draco?” she asked quietly.

He said nothing but gave a slight shake of his head. His silver eyes following Harry carefully.

“What’s happened?” he asked finally when the power began to ebb.

For long minutes Harry was silent and then he spoke in a rough whisper. “Ron.”

They were confused he knew and so he slowly sank into the seat near the hearth. “He’s gone to the daily Prophet.”

Hermione looked up at Draco seeing the twitch in his jaw, “What? Why?”

Draco was beyond pissed, “Isn’t it obvious Hermione?” he ground out, “He can’t have you. Can’t accept what we are, so he is going to discredit us all in the media. Clever idea. Picked a perfect time for it. Many of the Order are in disagreement with Harry over choosing me as a member of the Triumvirate, that will fan some fires.”

Hermione blinked, “No. He wouldn’t” she stammered, “Ron might be a prat but he loyal to Harry.”

“Its why he did this Mione” Harry broke in, “He believes he is helping us. Saving us.”

She laughed at that, her eyes wide and sad. She shook her head, her whole body began shaking. “What…what will happen now?”

Draco pulled her into his arms, gathering her against his warmth. “Well I could go kill the bastard” he said but she flinched in his grasp, “I won’t. I was only teasing.”

But he didn’t want to be.

Harry sighed, looking up at them, opening his arms. Needing to hold someone. Hermione slid from Draco’s grasp to curl on his lap. He pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I’ve been to the Prophet to stop the printing. Won’t work. This is a story they consider to be huge. It hit’s the streets in the morning. If you two want to cover your duties from here I would understand.”

“You mean hide from it?” Draco spat, “Fuck that. We’ve done nothing wrong.”

Harry met his eyes meaningfully. “I think it might be better.”

Draco’s brow furrowed, he would have to ask Harry later. “No, I disagree. We should be united, no matter what.”

Hermione nodded, feeling the fear lodge in her throat, “They need to see it Harry, our conviction.”

Draco nodded, “A united front, we are the Triumvirate. We knew this bump would come along sooner or later. So it chose sooner. We have to face it. Not that it will be easy.”

His silver eyes lit on Hermione, knowing it would be hardest for her. For more than half their lives he and Harry had been fodder for the rumor mill, the vicious snipes and snarks.

Hermione had not.

To someone who had never dealt with such things on a personal level. They could be crushing, devastating.

Most people were good Draco knew, however, the mass of them was not. Try as he and Harry were sure to, they could never hope to protect every part of her from the damage of it.

“No” Hermione said, “It won’t be easy. But we will manage. There are more important things to deal with. We are at war for Merlin’s sake.”

Harry held her closer, knowing that in the darkest times people looked for a diversion.

Sadly, they’d just become it.

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


Secret of Triumvirate Out!!!!

Dashing dark lord Harry Potter made a stir during his holiday party by announcing his intention to form a Triumvirate for governance. Named as his right and left hands were Hermione Granger, the plain but ambitious Muggleborn who has ridden the coattails of Lord Potter since school days, and the infamous Draco Malfoy, son and heir of Slytherin death eater Lucius Malfoy.

As if the choices made were not stunning enough, this dogged writer has uncovered the truth of this newest Trio. While engaging in battle against He who Must not Be Named, they are also currently engaged in far less noble deeds behind closed doors. The three have taken to an illicit three way love affair practicing dark sex magic on the grounds of Malfoy Manor.

While the three are young and bright, this writer wonders if they are up to the challenges at hand. Lets recap what we know.

Harry Potter, the boy who lived as show a tremendous influx of power and is termed a dark lord. His powers, according to unnamed but reliable sources are unstable and growing. His traumatic past influences his daily life as can be seen from his school days.

The Dark Lord appears to be an adrenaline junky seeking the next big high and this cozy little threesome appears to be it. As I said before, desperate cries for attention and psychotic death wishes.

Hermione Granger, often said to be the brightest witch of her age, seems anything but. Her current position as Head of Intelligence should be called into question. Her long history of being sidekick in the Golden Trio has obviously left harsh scars on the woman as she now seeks to bind two powerful wizards to her. No doubt a throw back from her school days. Her short romantic fling with one Severus Snape shows that this poor misguided girl craves the attention of bad boys and degenerates. Talented witch or manipulative hussy?

Draco Malfoy, golden haired playboy and assassin come lately. Son of a convicted death eater and bearing the dark mark himself. Hailed as the Glorious Third, his feats are legendary. Or are they? Often compared to the likes of Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy appears to play both sides against the middle. But this writer isn’t fooled. This is clearly a plot designed by You-Know-Who to weaken the Golden Trio and spell the end of Harry Potter once and for all.

Rather than grace the dark lord’s bed, this writer and many of you, my rabid readers agree he would be gracing a cell in Azkaban.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione was livid, tossing the paper into the fire as she stalked past the floo. Within the course of one night, she had become perhaps the most reviled witch in Britain. Or the most pitied. She wasn’t sure which was worse. Damn that Rita Skeeter all the way to the Christian hell and back again, twice!

Eyes followed her passage through the halls to her office and she almost turned around and headed home. But Hermione Granger was not a coward and she would not tuck tail and run.

She threw open the doors of her department to hear the buzzing murmurs halt and die. She looked around the room at her fellows. Her eyes daring them to say anything to her. Anything at all.

They didn’t and she crossed the room to her office. As she shut the door, she heard the buzz begin again.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm. She could do this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the end of the day she wanted to scream. Oh the whispers and the looks she could deal with well enough but the outwardly hostile she could not.

Lavender Brown and flat refused to deal with her in the administration department.

“I’ve my reputation to think about” the other woman had said before pointing towards the door with an imperious wave of her hand.

Hermione had never wanted to hex her before that moment and now all she could think of was the many ways to do it.

Gema Beasle actually petitioned to have her husband transferred from Hermione’s department due to ‘reasons of morality’. Of course the transfer was approved and Hermione lost one of her most industrious workers.


She put her head down on her desk and groaned, “Why me?”

Her office door opened and the exotically lovely Patil twins waltzed in, seating themselves before her desk and reaching into her biscuits.

“Why you?” Padma asked, daintily brushing crumbs from her slacks, “I’ll tell you”

“Jealousy” her sister threw in, around a bit of cookie, “The lot of them. There isn’t a witch or wizard our age who hasn’t tried that.”

Padma nodded, “Oh, well except Neville.”

Pavarti nodded, “Neville and Luna” she agreed.

Padma shook her head, “Luna had those two witches from Beaubaxtons remember? Said it was a wonderful summer.”

Pavarti nodded, “Oh yes I recall now.”

Hermione blinked owlishly at them. First they barged in unannounced, stole her cookies and now they had told her that Luna had gone lesbian back in the day? What in hell was going on?

“Padma, Pavarti?” she asked, “What are you going on about?”

“You!” they answered together, “This will pass, but its going to be nasty before it does. We just want you to know that you have friends who don’t care who you choose to shag.”

They smiled brightly.

Hermione found herself smiling back, “Thank you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draco moved through the hissed comments like he couldn’t hear them, couldn’t be touched by them. And in many ways he couldn’t. He had spoken to Harry earlier to find that while no one had openly spoken against him, he was feeling the stares as much as anyone else.

He was concerned about Hermione and strode to her office bold as brass. If people wanted to talk, he’d give them a good reason.

Her underlings stared in open curiosity as the tall blonde wizard swept through them. Her secretary a tiny timid sounding woman tried to stop him, saying that Ms Granger was busy and had guests.

Draco smiled his most charming smile and then walked right past her.

Hermione looked up from the twins as the door opened.

Draco stood in the entrance looking ready to do battle, until he saw the two dark heads turn to face him.

“Hello Draco” they chirped.

He grinned then, his posture relaxing as he entered the office, shutting the door and came to stand between them.

“Ladies” he purred. The twins giggled at his antics and Hermione rolled her eyes but he noticed that she smiled.

“About finished here?” he asked Hermione.

She nodded, “Just a bit more, I have to file some paperwork on the resourced used by my department.”

Padma’s brow furrowed, “But that is an admin duty”

Hermione sighed, “Lavender can’t do it, says her reputation is on the line for speaking to me.”

Pavarti grunted, “Fat cow.”

Draco arched a brow, “Lavender Brown?” he asked.

Hermione nodded. He reached over and snapped the papers from Hermione’s desk. “Ladies could you be so good as to see Mione to the floo?”

The twins teetered and nodded.

Hermione watched Draco walk into the hall, “Where are you going?”

She and Padma and Pavarti followed him out. Several curious onlookers paused in their duties to stare. Draco hated them for it. Most, he noticed were witches, and he didn’t miss the appraising stares either.

He winked, “To see Lavender about her duties then I am going to meet you at home and make such hard love to you, you swoon. Promise.”

There were several gasps and he turned meeting every gaze, taking in the rosy cheeks before he strode out into the main corridor.

The Patil twins were laughing cheerfully over his antics. “Serves them right! Nosy crows.”

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

Draco made his way to the Administration department in record time. Storming to the desk of one Lavender Brown who looked up at him in haughty surprise. “Can I help you Mr. Malfoy?” she asked.

Draco smirked down at her, “Yes, you can file these” he replied with just as much sneer in his voice as she’d had in hers.

She looked them over, seeing the department heading clearly. Little bitch.

“I’m sorry but I have already told Hermione that I can’t possibly handle these. You understand.”

Draco leaned closer, “I understand that you are engaged to a Mr. Evan Blassblat, the younger. Prudish isn’t he? Wants a virgin wife?”

Her eyes went wide at his words.

“How about I slip him the photos of you and I? You know the ones Lavender.”

She went pale and shook as she reached for the papers.

“The ones with my cock shoved so far up your arse and you loving it. Ah, virgin, but only by a technicality.”

She looked like she might cry and he was ruthless, “So there will be no more of this nonsense with you and Hermione I am certain.”

She swallowed hard, blinking away the wetness on her lashes and nodded stiffly.

“Good. Have a pleasant evening Lavender” he said sweetly. “Oh and Lavender?”

She looked up at his voice. Lower lip trembling.

“Old Evan likes anal too, might want to do a tightening charm. He’s not built like some of us you know”.

Lavender rose from her desk to file the papers and then she went into the broom cupboard and cried.

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

Harry had settled for taking a walk on the rooftops of the Manor. It was better to inhale the fresh scent of snow and forests than sit and stew over the last two weeks at the moment. Things were getting no better.

Currently there was an US and THEM side in the Order. And that was not something Harry was willing to tolerate much longer. Voldemort was moving and the final battle was coming. The close it got the more he worried of the outcome. There were so many variables and so many people. Half of his teams had been ambushed in the last week, the injuries were high.

He wanted to win in a way that no one would die expect Voldemort. But that was mere fantasy. He knew that. But how was the other side figuring out his varied search patterns?

His entire two weeks had been stressful and busy, he’d returned home so late most nights that he could do nothing more than fall into bed beside his lovers and hold them close. His mind still whirling with the thought that there must be an insider.

Last night Hermione had taken to her own room, in conference with Snape’s portrait until the wee hours. Severus had scoffed at the reactions of others, touting them as unimaginative.

Odd bedfellows did not a traitor make. He was proof of that. Or had been.

Harry knew that even now, Severus was a comfort to her and he often found himself wondering what would have become of them had the crotchety potion’s master lived.

Mrs. Snape. Yes a real possibility. Harry was amused as much as put off by the idea.

But the world they knew didn’t have a Mrs. Snape. They had a Hermione who chose not one but two men. And they would have to come to terms with it and fast.

He hoped that Hermione was truly ready for this, because there would be no going back once they began. His innocent little Hermione, how much she was changing.

He smiled as he thought of her writhing against him. Yeah, he liked it better this way. Now if only they could just enjoy each other.

Drawing himself from his thoughts he looked at the sky, noticing the stars winking to life. Time to get back. Draco would bring her to him soon. He flashed a smile to the stars.

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

Harry was in bed, laying on his back. His hands stacked behind his head as he stared at the enclosing curtains. This would be the second time Hermione had been with both of them.
His door opened and he turned his head to see Draco enter the room, Hermione's hand in his.

"Are you sleeping Harry?" she asked in the dim light. He smirked, hadn't she noticed the tent he was pitching in the bed when they walked in. "Not likely." He muttered. Draco stood behind her now and beckoned to Harry.

Hermione felt thrills of anxiety flash through her as he pressed up against her. Draco crowding up against her back. Harry tangled his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck and pulled her head back gently to fasten his lips to hers. She felt his other hand move to her hips.

Draco cupped her breasts as Harry slid his tongue against hers. She clutched at his arms for balance as they robbed her of reason. She felt the thin robe fall away and then Draco had slipped around to stand behind Harry. Her eyes opened and locked on him.

He pulled Harry's head to the side, dragging his tongue along the muscled shoulder. "His arousal is high Hermione." He told her, running his nose delicately along the other man‘s neck.

Hermione watched as his had snaked over Harry's chest to his hard stomach, before wrapping around his length. He stroked the shaft gently as Harry whimpered against him. "Are you ready for both of us?" Draco asked, "Can you take us both again?"

Hermione smiled a small, seductive smile as she walked forward. Pressing herself full against Harry, she grabbed Draco by the hair. "Oh I think so." She whispered.

Draco made love to her mouth with his tongue and Harry watched the battle for dominance occurring a breath away from him. His hand slid down to cup Hermione.

"She's wet." He announced, "Better get her to bed."

Hermione let them lead her and settle her against the pillows. They were on either side of her and she smiled at them. They kissed her ears, nibbled her neck and she moaned, clasping them by the hair as they kissed her passionately in turn and then one another. She shivered as Draco latched onto her breast, suckling like a greedy piglet, while Harry lowered his face to her heat.

He inhaled her scent, and blew across the wet folds. She jerked and he smiled. He nosed his way into the folds, licking her with soft caresses that sent flames to her toes. "Oh, Harry!" she panted as she drove one hand into the silver blonde tresses at her throat and one into the head moving voraciously between her thighs. Harry added two fingers to his assault, feeling her lift off the bed. Draco was still beside her, whispering in her ear.

Harry nearly blushed at the things he was saying but Hermione was steadily growing hotter against him. Her small hand wrapped around Draco and she stroked him in time with Harry's rhythm against her. Her release was so close. Draco shifted on the bed, and Hermione turned to see his length level with her.

Moving her head a fraction she took him into her mouth. He growled, eyes flashing as she moved her face against him. Harry was stunned at the mewling sound coming from her.

Hermione was damn hot! He resumed his licking, grazing her pearl with his tongue‘s, and suckling it. She was coming apart with every swirl of his tongue. "Mmm, Hermione you taste so sweet." He said against her flesh. His voice vibrating against her.

Draco was up and over her, kneeling before her. Her head propped up on pillows as he moved gently against her mouth. She moaned, flicking her tongue over him. One hand clasped his lean hip as the other moved frantically down to tangle with Harry's. Harry looked up to see his friend’s pale ass before him.

Draco was whining softly as Hermione worked him. Harry cupped a firm cheek with his free hand. Draco moaned and jutted his hips backwards. Harry added Hermione's moisture to his finger and as he licked her quivering flesh, he pushed his finger into Draco.

Draco moaned and his head fell back as Harry mimicked the actions of his tongue with his thick finger. Harry smirked against her, Hermione was there, Draco was there and he had them both on the brink.

With a flick of his tongue and a curling of his finger, he finished them both. Hermione's juices running over his chin as she moaned and panted. Draco let himself go, his seed erupting from his tip and into Hermione's waiting mouth.

He moved away from her as she swallowed the last. There were faint pearly dribbles at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were glazed with passion. Draco kissed Harry deeply as they switched places. Harry smiled at Hermione in a predatory way, he lapped at her lips catching the traces of his lover from her chin.

His tongue tangled with hers and she moaned against him, feeling him groan in his throat. Suddenly she pushed him away and sat up. Draco almost laughed at his lord’s shocked expression. Hermione looked much like a predator herself at the moment. She crawled up over the stunned Harry as he fell back to the mattress.

He stared at her. Was she trying to dominate him? He wasn't given much time to wonder about it. "Poor baby, " she cooed, tracing a fingernail along his well defined chest, "You haven’t had any fun yet have you?" He watched as she licked her way along his stomach, his abs flexed in reaction. Draco was behind her, stroking her softly.

Her lips locked around Harry and he nearly came off the bed. He clutched at the sheets as she sucked his length deeper into her mouth. "H..h-Hermione!" He moaned and she hummed against him.

Draco rubbed against her clit with his fingertips, feeling her arch against him. Almost there, almost there. His groin tightened as he watched her feast on Harry.

The dark lord had his head thrown back against the pillows as Hermione bobbed between his thighs. His jaw was clenched and he was panting as he shredded the sheets below him. Draco chuckled as he reached forward and caught his hands in his own.

Harry's eyes flew open and he watched as Draco put his hands in Hermione's hair. His nails raked lightly at the back of her neck, and she moaned. Harry held Hermione to him, his hips lifting to meet her lips. Draco positioned himself against Hermione, slamming into her. She rocked with the force of his thrusts and Harry vanished further down her throat.

Harry opened his eyes again, watching Draco take Hermione, even as her tongue swept over his tip. She was whimpering now, her tongue teasing his slit, her hands cupping the flesh sacs between his legs.

She pushed at Harry's legs and he drew them up slightly. He groaned as she ran her tongue along the patch of skin just behind his balls. Hermione felt him shiver and pressed her knuckle to that very spot as she sucked hard on his tip. Harry felt her mouth milk him and he cried out her name as he came dangerously close to release.

Draco pounded into her, as his hand flicked against her. She bit out cries as she found her own release feeling him swell within her as he poured his seed deep inside of her quaking womb.

He pulled from her with a satisfied grunt. "Harry." He rasped, as he sat back. Harry wasted no time, flipping Hermione onto her back, hooking her legs over his shoulders, he plunged deep into her still quivering heat. He pumped at a slightly slower pace, bring her back to the brink and then slowing again to keep her there.

She leaned up and bit his shoulder in retaliation. He caught Draco's eyes a moment later and locking his arms around her hips, and a leg around hers, he flipped them. Hermione straddled him, her hands braced against his chest and she rocked against him. Her head falling back only to meet the hard plane of Draco’s chest.

He dragged her hair away from her neck and kissed his earlier bite. She moaned and leaned against him as she bounced on Harry. Draco pushed his chest against her back, making her lean over Harry. "Now, we will both have you Hermione. Relax for me." He breathed. Harry tangled his hands in her hair, drawing her against his chest for a deep tongue twisting kiss.

Draco had brought the small bottle of lube with him and poured a liberal amount in his palm readying himself. He ran his hand and remaining fluid on it between her cheeks. Harry kept his lips fused with hers, one hand moving to stroke her pearl gently.

Hermione felt Draco slowly penetrate her. The tiny O stretching to take him in. He let himself that incredible heat and tightness. She felt the familiar pain and sucked in her breath with a kiss. Harry moaned softly, feeling her channel tighten from her stuffing. Draco gritted his teeth against the pleasure he felt. He could feel Harry's length rub against his through the thin wall of tissue. At last he was seated in her fully.

Hermione whimpered at being so full. Harry increased his pressure on her clit. "Harry! Draco!" she gasped. Draco grabbed her hips firmly and withdrew partially only to slide back in setting the rhythm for the three of them. Harry quickly adapted to the rhythm, one in, one out.

Hermione grunted like an animal as she felt herself pressed between the two hard bodies. She bit her lip, her cries lifting in the dimly lit room. She lowered herself further, her breasts brushing against Harry's hard chest, making her nipple tighten in reaction.

She latched her lips to his, her tongue sliding along his lower lip. He whined softly as she slipped her tongue between his lips and curled it around his tongue before moving on in her exploration.

They rocked with powerful thrusts and when she felt two very different textured hands slide down to touch her, Hermione lost it. As she arched her back taking them even deeper into herself, Harry leaned up and bit her shoulder.

She came so hard, she stopped breathing. Everything in her body locking up as she felt the explosion in her lower belly. Harry felt liquid heat pool against him, as her juices trickled along his length.

Harry felt her heart skip as she tightened almost painfully around him. Teeth locked at her shoulder, his own release tore through him. Her body went limp against him, her energy spent. His eyes closed tightly and he panted, holding her tightly.

Draco pushed into her limp form once, twice more. He pulled from her, letting the last of his own orgasm spatter against the tight joining of the two bodies below him.

He nuzzled her shoulder as he rolled away from them. An arm at her waist pulled Hermione to the side and she let herself flop boneless between them. She barely had strength to lift her hand to cup the back of Draco's head as he kissed her lazily.

Circle complete, he pulled her close, smiling to himself when Harry followed snuggling against her. As her two lovers began to drift off to sleep, Hermione smiled and whispered her precious secret, "I love you."

Though neither wizard said anything in return, they smiled sleepily and nuzzled closer to her. They were obviously pleased with her words. It was enough she supposed. Hermione closed her eyes and slept.

Little did they know that at that very moment dark days were looming before them.

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

“My lord. Are you certain? She is not easily accessible.” came the simpering voice.

Voldemort leaned back in his overstuffed chair, “I am certain. Funny things Prophecies. I want that girl Orville. See to it!”

“Yes my lord.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione was glad that some of the initial tenseness had worn off in the Order. Work was back on track and she hurried through her research. Trying to find Draco’s curse and Harry’s supposed insider.

She was having no luck with either.

She had just tucked away a half of a ham sandwich when Ron walked into her office.

She pushed her remaining food away. No longer hungry. Stomach knotting.

“Ronald” she said primly, “Can I help you?”

He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Can I sit down?”

She gestured to the chair. He might be a git, but had honestly meant well. At least she wanted to believe that. Try as she might to ignore them, Draco’s words resurfaced in her mind. ‘He can’t have you’.

Ron flopped into her chair and looked up at her with a sad if not just a little pouting expression. “I’m sorry about the paper Mione” he said.

She sighed, feigning indifference. “Doesn’t matter anyway Ron” she assured her, “We had every intention of letting the nature of our relationship be known.”

“Did you?”

She nodded, “Of course.”

He sighed, “Can you tell me why him Mione? Just why?”

She closed her eyes and took a breath, “Because Ron” she finally said, “He is a good, brave, decent man.”

“And rich and snotty and good looking”

She chuckled trying hard not to take offense, “And none those things really matter.”

“Guess his being a bloody dragon doesn’t either. You are playing safe aren’t you? Could have kids with tails or that spit up fire!”

She arched her brow, “I love them Ron. Harry and Draco. Love them.”

“And this thing with you three… it’s just strange. Not natural.”

“The unique nature of it of course attracts curiosity and while it has been done before it’s not much the norm these days, so we had hoped to wait until the others were more accustomed to Draco before dropping it on them.”

Ron went very still and silent.

“Ron?”

“Unique you say?”

Hermione saw a victorious light in his eyes and swallowed, “Well yes”.
He reached into his robes and withdrew a thick file. “This is only because I love you Mione” he told her, “I don’t want this to happen to you.”

He set the folder in front of her. Her copper eyes taking in the name of Pansy Parkinson on the edge of it. Her brow furrowed. “What is this?” she asked, suddenly uneasy.

Ron stood, “Open it love”

She did so, her eyes moving over the reports, the photos. Pansy’s mouth open in orgasm, Harry riding her hard. Draco pulling her hair as she swallowed him down. They were there. Together.

The three of them.

“See how unique you are?” Ron asked softly, “Bet they didn’t even tell you about her. Three years Hermione. They played with her for three years in school.”

Hermione’s hands gripped the file tightly and she raised her red eyes to Ron. He could tell by her expression that she’d not known.

She was reeling. “Where did you get this?” she whispered.

Ron felt his heart break at her pained voice, but this was for her own good. “Rita Skeeter. Pansy was going to go public a long time ago and she stopped her.”

Hermione was stunned. Three years. For three years they had been lovers. “Rita Skeeter? That lying, word twisting bitch? You trusted her?” she asked, “These could be fake Ron!”

“They aren’t and you know it.”

“When?”

“The night before the story broke, she came here and met with me.”

Hermione blinked rapidly trying to force the tears to go away before they fell. Became noticeable.

A thought struck her then. One of the photos in the Prophet had been from inside of her office. A place where photos weren’t taken.

She lifted wide eyes to Ron. “You let her in to bug our offices”

“We needed the truth Mione.” he admitted, “I am sorry.”

Hermione shook all over. “No.”

“If they really loved you,” he said, “If this was a noble, good, pure thing. Why didn’t they tell you? What if, Hermione, you are just the latest toy?”

Reports crumpled in her balled hands, “Did you read the reports I gave you some weeks ago?”

Ron blinked confused by the sudden change in topic.

“Erm no. What’s that got to do with it?”

Hermione shot out of her desk, file in hand, “The Death eaters have a spy Ron. One who can get close to ministry officials and in the offices. One who leaves bugs.”

Ron went pale, “No way. You don’t think..”

“You had better hope not.”

Hermione hit the alarm button on the wall and performed a revealing charm on her office. Sure enough, the bug was there. She burnt it to a crisp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the hour the entire Order had been cleared and cleaned. But no one knew what damage had already been done.

The Daily Prophet could not find Rita Skeeter and her flat had been cleared out.

Harry was furious, Draco was worried, Ron was apologetic to the extreme and Hermione was oddly enough missing.

Harry would have worried had Maddy not come to his office to report that Ms Hermione was at the Manor, speaking with Snape.

He relaxed to some degree.

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

“Three years Sev!” she wailed holding the file for him to see.

The potion’s master sighed, of course he had known. Had thought she had been told of this.

“What do you want to do?” he asked.

She shook her head, “I don’t know. What if Ron is right and I am just a toy?”
Severus chuffed, “When as the weasel been right about anything.. Ever”

But Hermione didn’t hear him. Her eyes were scanning the reports again. With every word her depression and rage grew.

These were Draco’s touches, Harry’s touches and though she didn’t begrudge that they had had them. She was angry at not being told. She was feeling used. Her previous doubts rising up with gale force to overwhelm her.

“Mia!” Severus snapped when she didn’t respond.

She turned teary eyes to him and he wished fervently that he was still among the living so that he might tear the red headed buffoon to tiny bits and feed him to carp.

While he was at it he could pound some sense into the two wizards at the heart of the matter.

She looked up at him, “I think…” she whispered, “That I have been a fool”

Snape shook his head impatiently, “Now you are, yes” he said darkly, “This is not the end of the world. Speak to them of this. There is a reason.”

“A reason they didn’t trust me enough to share. I don’t want to stay here” she said, lips set in a mutinous line.

“Then don’t”

“They will search my flat if I am gone” she predicted, “I could go to the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks”.

“My estate” Snape drawled.

She blinked, “What?”

“My home. Go there.”

“But the Death Eaters…”

“Cannot enter. Only those I wish to see may”.

She bit her lip, “You’ll go to your canvas there?”

He nodded, “Of course”

Looking around her room, she shrunk down her belongings and tucked them into her pockets.

Then she went to Draco’s study and set the folder on the desk with a note.

Wiping away a tear she hurried to the gate of Malfoy Manor and apparated to Snape’s reclusive home.

For a man rumored to have no sense of humor whatsoever, he was contrary.

He’d named the estate, Wit’s End.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione soaked in the deep bath, feeling the hot water soothe her frayed nerves. Portraits of the former owner were in nearly every room. Some so small they were easily missed.

He liked to see and know all that occurred in his house.

Currently he was keeping watch over the bathing woman. She had stopped crying and was now silent. Troubled.

“Mia” he said softly, “Go to the bureau in my chambers” he told her as she rose and dried herself.

She pulled his black velvet robe around her form, all but swimming in the inky decadent material.

She nodded, padding on small bare feet through the large dark house that lit and warmed as she moved.

The large doors opened as she approached and she strode to the bureau just in time to see him step into the large frame above it.

“The fourth drawer has a false bottom” he told her, “Lift it. The sky blue potion take it”.

Hermione lifted the bottle and stared at the lovely color, “What is it?” she asked quietly.

“Somnio Pacis” he replied, “Elixir of peaceful dreams”.

She smiled at him, “You always think of everything” she said sadly.

He shushed her, “Take it Mia. Then climb into bed.”

She pulled the stopper and took a large swallow of the cool liquid. The light juniper and mint flavor soothing her throat.

She replaced the stopper and returned the draught to it’s hiding place. Then she climbed into the large bed, that she knew so well. The covers rose up around her and she turned her eyes skyward.

Another frame hung there, and Snape stared down at her. “Now” she said quietly, “Tell me what you wish to dream of…”

Her eyes were already closing, “You”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draco and Harry searched high and low throughout the Manor only to be told that Hermione was at her wit’s end. The wizards were nearly frantic. Ron had tearfully confessed to Harry that he had told Hermione about Pansy.

Draco rushed into Hermione’s room for the fourth time , this time drawing up short at the large dark figure staring back at him.

“Severus” he said, “You’ve been noticeably absent”

The portrait drawled back, “Have I now?”

“Where is she?”

“Her wit’s end”. A small smirk accompanied that response.

Draco swore, “Tell me!”

“Have you been to your study Draco?” he asked.

“Yes, she wasn’t there.”

“No she wasn’t. But her reason for leaving is.”

Draco left the room, rushing down the stairs and throwing the study door wide. He saw Harry at once. Sitting at the desk, looking haunted, looking ill.

Draco stopped in the doorway, “Harry?” he asked softly.

“I don’t think she’s coming back mate” Harry said, his green eyes sad as he held up a very incriminating photo of the two of them slamming into Pansy. Draco hurried forward to grasp it. His silver eyes moving back to Harry.

He sank onto the leather sofa. “There has to be some way to fix this” he said, “We will just explain it to her.”

“And how do we explain that we didn’t tell her before?”

“We thought she’d get the wrong idea”

“Well she definitely has that. Draco, we need to talk to her.”

Draco agreed, “I think I know a way”.

“How? We don’t even know where she is..”

“We don’t” Draco agreed, “But that bat of a godfather of mine does.”