When Living Ain\'t Easy

Chapter Twenty-Four : Seeing What Lies Beneath

Thanks to a quick transfiguration (and wasn\'t Hermione pleased to be able to use magic for that!), the parlor\'s sofa-turned-bed allowed for a wonderful night\'s sleep. Granted, it took almost an hour before her scrambled thoughts would allow sleep to come, but Hermione was used to that occurrence.

So Harry was involved with Snape and Malfoy Senior. No, more basic than that -- he was involved with two men. The concept whipped through her in a whirlwind. If she was honest, it came as little surprise. The unfortunate incident with Cho Chang, compounded by Harry\'s less than comfortable reactions to Ginny, led her to believe that he might not be best suited with a girl.

But two men at once? And those two men specifically? The mind boggled.

Beneath these irksome questions, the overwhelming change in all three Slytherins\' personalities had her completely befuddled. She had never assumed the same prejudice as her classmates about the strict Potions Master, but to see him like this -- caring, tender, almost *gasp* playful -- was an earth-shaking revelation.

Then there was Lucius Malfoy. Had someone asked her just that afternoon if the Malfoy patriarch had any redeeming qualities, Hermione would have laughed in derision. It almost seemed as if an entirely different person was inhabiting his body. The wizard who had spoken with her tonight was... warm, relaxed, even welcoming. He reminded her vaguely of Remus Lupin. What a bizarre notion!

The most troubling change (from the perspective of six years of torment) was with Draco Malfoy. True, she could just ignore him since he wasn\'t one of the men involved with her best friend, but that would hardly solve anything. Harry -- one of the few people she could count as a true, close friend -- had openly stated a desire to call truce with the formally antagonistic Slytherin. Formerly. That said it best. For all the name-calling and hurtful words, for every sabotagued potion or spell, Draco Malfoy was not the petty little tyrant he projects at school. Hermione wondered if she could forgive and forget like Harry had.

It didn\'t escape her notice that the projects for which she had been invited to research fell low on her list of thoughts. Honestly, how could she concentrate on spells when her worldview had been thrown into a blender?

When she finally succumbed to sleep, Hermione\'s dreams nearly sent her into panic. Visions of Harry and Lucius and Severus, kissing and worse, made her breath quicken and her pulse race. Overlapping such voyeuristic scenes was a recurring image of herself and... someone. She refused to focus on his face or voice, almost afraid of his identity.

Sometime near dawn, her dreams tapered off and welcomed the deep rest of dreamless slumber.

~ * ~

Harry woke from his fourth night at the safehouse, refreshed and at ease with his surroundings. Minutes later, he was dressed and ready to start breakfast, unsurprised with he nearly ran into Hermione on their way to the kitchen. Together the two Gryffindors fixed the meal, and had finished the first pot of tea before the two older wizards joined them.

\"Good morning, Harry, Hermione.\" Even fresh from bed, Lucius\' cultured voice was a subtle purr. Severus needed a few cups of singe-your-eyebrows strong tea before he joined the greetings.

When Draco stumbled into the room, Harry nudged his friend and winked evilly. \"Wanna see something really funny?\"

\"Oh Harry, do grow up. Just because some people can\'t wake up alert and bouncy, there\'s no reason to torment them.\"

\"Aww \'Mione, lemme have some fun!\"

\"Harry James Potter, you will *not* add anything to his food, cast any hex or jinx, or otherwise abuse the feeble mental capacities of our resident ferret.\" With a mischievous smirk of her own, she continued, \"Besides, I\'m sure the Ministry of Magic would look down upon mistreatment of household pets.\"

Harry snorted tea through his nose, joined by Lucius. Eyes narrowing dangerous, Daddy Malfoy made a weak attempt to defend his clueless offspring. \"Miss Granger, I\'ll have you know that Draco is most certainly not a pet. If anything, he would be classified as a magical creature.\"

Hermione coughed into her napkin, gasping to keep from laughing too hard.

\"Indeed, he would fall into that category,\" Severus joined the fun. \"Only magical animals have the ability to waste so much time and effort in using charms to beautify themselves.\"

And the battle was lost. Full-throated laughter filled the room, made worse when Hermione noticed their target was still inhaling his meal, with eyes closed.

~ * ~

Paybacks were expected, naturally, but Draco appeared to have no memory of being deemed their resident pet.

Somewhere around half nine, well after everyone else had begun the day\'s research, silver eyes found their focus and the younger blond dragged a complaining Hermione from the study. Half-panicked cries for someone to \'save me from the deranged rodent\' followed the pair down the hall, before a door shutting ended the plea for help.

Harry snickered at his best friend\'s dilemma -- she had agreed, after all. He caught the dual expectant looks from his... lovers (and when would he stop stumbling over the word?), and recounted the previous night\'s conversation.

Assured of immediate privacy, Lucius glided over to his younger lover, purring, \"Harry... you haven\'t said a proper good morning to us yet.\"

Blushing beet red, the Gryffindor tilted his face to meet Lucius\' lips. The first gentle slide of lip to lip sent fireworks down his spine, and Harry gasped against his lover\'s mouth. As any good Slytherin, Luc took advantage of the proffered opening, slipping his tongue in to stroke against Harry\'s.

A whisper near his earlobe issued the admonishment, \"Lucius, do try not to deprive Mr. Potter of his sense before I have had a taste.\"

Were Harry able to find his voice, he would have objected... until a second pair of lips met his. More flavor hit his tastebuds, a stronger caress mapped the roof of his mouth. Severus, a tiny voice in the back of his mind supplied, logging the new data to memory. The differences were easy to determine: where Luc was teasing, coaxing, Sev\'s kiss demanded his full attention. Harry found himself wanting to spend a lifetime simply categorizing the details of his lovers\' (lovers! he could say it, think it) kissing techniques.

By the time the older wizards finished their first exploration of his tonsils, Harry was light-headed. \"Air. Important? No. More!\"

Chuckling, Severus held his new lover in gentle arms, forcing him to breathe before allowing another kiss. Lucius understood the reasoning behind such patience, contenting himself with one hand in the teen\'s hair, the other holding his friend by one cheek.

Harry wanted nothing less than an eternity of those breathtaking kisses. His nether regions promised greater delights if only he were to rid them of clothes, but their vote was overruled. Later, he told his impatient prick, there\'s no rush... See how much they want me? No one\'s ever been so...

The internal battle was called to a halt when Luc once more captured his full attention, and his mouth, in a soul melting kiss, forcing Severus to chose a different target. Lips and teeth nibbled along his neck, up to his left earlobe. And Harry, and his insistent erection, found themselves doubly distracted. Spontaneous eruption imminent, he could only moan approval as four hands learned his chest, back, hips. A vivid flashback of his dream translated into reality.

From the bottom of a deep well of sensation, words broke through Harry\'s passion-clouded mind.

\"Are we going too fast, love?\"

One part said yes, please give me time to figure it all out. Another voice voted -- rather loudly -- for more, to never stop. Harry stubbornly told his infatuated cock to go back to sleep, carefully untangling from his tempters\' arms.

\"Probably,\" he rasped out, startled by how hoarse his voice sounded. Seconds later, Harry cursed his sense of propriety for leaving him cold and alone, as both Slytherins backed away by a good foot. All he wanted was to fly back into their embrace, but he needed time. To think. To convince himself that it was real. To believe he deserved something that felt so good, so perfect.

As if reading his thoughts, Severus stepped closer, winding his arms around the young man and just... holding him. \"Harry, never be afraid to say \'stop\'. Neither Lucius nor I are irresponsible teens. If you need us to back off, you must speak up.\"

\"Yes love, don\'t let us push you beyond what you\'re ready for,\" Lucius added, quietly apologetic. He joined the huddle, weaving his arms around both brunets. \"We aren\'t going to run away, Harry.\"

Had he spoken his fears aloud? Harry didn\'t think so, but he couldn\'t remember. Thinking was too difficult a task when either of his lovers was touching him, even a simple comforting hug. He sighed in contentment and snuggled closer, opting to soak up their warmth and ignore his worries for the time.

~ * ~

\"You promise?\"

\"Of course! A Malfoy\'s word is worth all the gold in Gringotts.\"

\"But... won\'t it hurt?\"

\"Maybe at first, but it\'ll be incredible before we\'re done.\"

\"It sounds so... messy.\"

\"Well, yes, but there are spells to clean up afterwards.\"

\"Why now? Why *me*? You\'ve always hated me.\"

\"Never hated you, pet. And look at this bounty! What sane person wouldn\'t want to wrap themselves up in you, and never find a way out?\"

\"Draco Malfoy, are you still talking about my hair? Or have your hormones taken over...\"

\"Er. Let me get back to you on that.\"

\"Fine, I\'ll let you shape my eyebrows and style my hair. But no waxing til I\'ve read up on the spell!\"

\"\'Mione, you\'re taking all the joy out of the room.\"

\"Over-dramatic, pompous, self-serving git.\"

\"What\'s that you say? You want to go blond?\"

\"I\'m sorry! I\'m sure you\'re a very pleasant person with loads of redeeming qualities.\"

\"And I\'m kind to small animals too.\"

\"Only because you\'ve walked in their shoes.\"

\"Oh, you say you\'d like a bikini wax as well?\"

\"Hmph! Can\'t even tease you til we\'re done then. Talk about \'sucking the joy\'.\"

\"Sweetling, best not to discuss \'sucking\' just now. My attention might move from these scissors, and that would just be tragic.\"

...

\"Mmm, you\'re adorable when you blush.\"

\"Shut up, Malfoy.\"

~ * ~

It was almost three hours after the party had separated that Draco led his latest masterpiece back into the study. He knocked on the door, waiting for approval before opening it -- he would not soon forget walking in on his father\'s naked body twined around his mentor, and while the overall picture was nowhere close to horrifying, there was something very wrong with his libido\'s reaction.

The audience of three were sitting on the sofa, quietly going over a few pieces of parchment and cross-referencing with some old, moldy texts. Harry\'s head laid comfortably against Lucius\' shoulder, while his legs were thrown across Severus\' lap. Hearing the knock, he attempted to straighten his posture into a less incriminating position, but was kept in place by his lovers (and yes, the word still sent shivers through his body).

With all his considerable dramatic flair, the younger blond entered the room, announcing to his audience, \"Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I bring you the unveiling of...\" a pause for suspense \"... Miss Hermione Granger, my finest work to date.\"

On that note, as prompted, the Gryffindor witch entered the room. She took in the reactions from all three men, inwardly preening under their appreciative stares. However Draco had managed to transform her plain jeans, button-up oxford shirt and loafers into this masterpiece, she didn\'t want to know. She felt... like a wanton vixen, a purely sensual creature of passion and poise. No longer was she simply the walking encyclopedia -- all it took was entrusting her appearance to a single Slytherin, and she was a new woman. Correction: for once, she *felt* like a woman, instead of the shy bookworm always taken for granted.

Loafers transfigured into shiny black leather boots with three inch heals, enough to accentuate her legs without making her terribly awkward. Gone were the crisp jeans, replaced with softest suede in deep blood red that hugged her legs and hips as if made specifically to show every curve off in loving detail. The simple light blue oxford was forgotten, charmed into a plunging poet\'s shirt of red, gold and black paisley print -- its loose folds framed her breasts, lengthened her neck, and flowed sensually down her long arms, before it tucked into the waistband of her pants. A thick girdle-style belt kept trousers and blouse in place, showing off her trim waist and the flare of her hips.

A light blush shaded her cheeks, with glossy lipstick in a matching red to bring attention to her mouth. The bold color fought a losing battle with her eyes, however; glimmering shadow of golden browns accented her almond-shaped eyes, with an upswept line on the outer edge to give her a feline look.

Regardless of his threats to butcher her mass of bushy curls, Draco had tamed her hair with the simple expedient of a spiral curl charm -- the effect was... inspired. Falling down almost to her arse, Hermione\'s hair felt light and looked simply stunning. She had even agreed (eventually) to let him put a muted highlight on it, adding layers of shadows-and-light play to the normal mousy brown. Now there were thin streaks of honeyed gold and rich bronze, giving her a more mature and infinitely more *feminine* appearance. Her blunt-cropped bangs were lengthened and spelled into place, framing her sweetheart shaped face in the most becoming manner.

All said, Hermione was beyond impressed. If she wasn\'t afraid of inflating his ego to epic proportions, she would bow down and kiss Draco\'s feet. But that impulse passed quickly enough. She vowed to herself to be a bit nicer to the Slytherin, though; he had definitely earned a reprieve after his awe-inspiring efforts.

And speaking of ego boosts, the looks she received from Harry and his mates almost made her blush in pleasure. She had often made fun of fawning boys at school -- most notably Ron, but none of her male classmates were immune -- for letting their mouths hang open and drool over a pretty face. More accurately, a pretty bum, set of tits, or shapely thigh. If this was how it made those girls feel to be slobbered about, Hermione would have to apologize to the various girls of her acquaintance. She felt... like a fine piece of artwork, placed high on a pedestal and appreciated by the adoring public. Yes, she definitely needed to be kinder to Draco Malfoy.

\"Her-moine? My gods, you look... feckin\' incredible!\" Harry\'s eyes were as wide as saucers, but his mouth eventually closed to form words. Stumbling off the couch, he slowly made his way over to his friend... but detoured before reaching the witch. Draco\'s eyes flew open in surprise when he found himself the recipient of a crushing hug from the Boy-Who-Lived. Whispered so softly that no one else could catch, he thanked the blond, \"She looks perfect, Draco. And it\'s easy to see how much better she feels about herself. I can never thank you enough for giving this to my \'Mione.\"

He release the shaken Slytherin and carefully hugged his best friend. \"Don\'t want to muss you, \'Mione. Gods, you look so damned hot.\" Harry picked up the young woman and twirled her around a few times. Grinning over his shoulder to their hosts, he gave them an evil little smile. \"Y\'know what this means, right?\" A pause for effect, with the blondes reacting first -- sparkling gray eyes lit with approval. \"Another shopping trip! And don\'t argue, Hermione Granger, it\'s my treat. Consider it a combination of birthday, graduation, and Yule present.\"

Severus rolled his eyes, sighing over the situation. He couldn\'t honestly disagree with his young lover\'s enthusiasm, or disregard the remarkable change in the witch\'s appearance. It would be a waste of one more day of training, true, but the probable benefits more than made up for that. If the two Gryffindors were secure enough in the presence of the three Slytherin icons, then it would make for a more conducive environment to training and research. Having made that conclusion, he issued his verdict.

\"Very well, if you three will attend to whatever matters are necessary before departure, we will take this afternoon off and indulge in another trip to the-\" *shudder* \"-mall. Lucius, I trust you can make yourself presentable in short order.\" With a nod to the group, Severus swept from the room. His usual teaching robes were missing, taking away from the overall effect, but his manner still demanded respect. Or it would have, had the group not seen his very thorough examination of Hermione\'s backside on his way out the door.

Snickering, Harry pulled Hermione back into a hug. \"We\'re gonna have a blast! And a word of advice: let Luc and Draco pick everything out for you. They\'re wonderful at that fashion stuff, you\'ve seen what they did for my wardrobe.\" In a flash, he switched targets and grabbed the blond again. \"And you. I apologize for the tobasco and cumin, and for the itching powder and blue hair dye too.\"

\"Uh Harry, there hasn\'t been an incident involving blue hair dye or itching powder.\"

\"Not yet. So I\'m apologizing in advance.\"

A smirk thrown his way, Draco huffed out of his classmate\'s arms and stomped from the room, dragging Hermione with him. \"I see how you are. Just for that, I\'m taking the chit hostage.\" And laughing maniacally, he did just that. Hermione\'s squeals of glee rather ruined the exit.

\"Harry, love, I\'m so very glad that you are pleased with Draco\'s talents... but isn\'t this going a bit over the top?\" Luc\'s arms wound around the brunet\'s waist, his nose nuzzling behind a tender earlobe. \"Our dear Severus seems a bit disappointed about this change of plans.\"

Immediately, Harry\'s face fell into remorse. \"Oh damn, I\'m so sorry, I didn\'t think! Should we not go today? It can wait till just before term, I guess... But... Fuck! Need to find Sev...\"

Trying to unwrap the blond octopus, Harry was held tight. \"None of that, dearling. Severus simply needs to learn how to adapt to a more extensive family. He\'s spent years planning only for himself, alone and lonely and so strictly self-reliant that he would permit no one else to interfere with his schedule. The recent developments between us three, along with acknowledging Hermione\'s role in your life, has expanded his world and shaken it a bit. But he\'ll be fine soon enough.\" Lucius took the brunet\'s face between strong hands. \"Harry, you need to stop worrying about everyone else. You get so few chances to act spontaneously, to be a young person without the weight of the world on your shoulders. Severus would no more want you to waste this opportunity than he would cut off his wand arm. Now go, get ready for our outing. I\'ll find the overbearing bat and bring him to roost.\"

Being shoved out into the hallway, Harry almost contradicted the suggestion, wanting to make amends with Sev. Almost. He thought for a moment about Lucius\' words, and had to agree that it was something his darker lover had also expressed a wish for. With a somewhat lighter heart, he followed the sounds of laughter indicating his classmates\' position.

~ * ~

\"Severus?\"

\"Yes Luc, I\'m in here. And before you start, I am fully aware that this will do our Harry a world of good. Years of teaching have ingrained a certain set of habits, however; when education is placed below a shopping trip... it automatically turns my temper.\"

The elder blond found his friend stuffing his bottomless pockets with various safeguards for their excursion. Just as he\'d expected, Lucius saw little antipathy in Severus\' demeanor. Relieved, he shut the bedroom door and wrapped himself across his lover\'s back. \"Of course it does, love. And you wouldn\'t be you without such high expectations. I for one am glad that Harry feels comfortable enough with us to let himself *want* to act his age for a short time. That Hermione and Draco are agreeable is a pleasant bonus.\"

\"Yes, certainly.\" Sighing, he leaned back into the safe warmth of his lover. \"Luc, I am not upset. My... less than graceful departure was due more to jealousy than anger over changed plans.\"

\"Jealousy? But Sev-\"

\"Luc, it is an utterly ridiculous notion, nothing more. Miss Granger\'s visit simply triggered a few less than pleasant memories for me.\"

\"Oh lovey, I am so sorry-\"

\"No. Lucius, you mustn\'t venture into the past. It is difficult enough for me to distance myself from such things without having to concern myself with your worries as well.\"

\"Nevertheless, you will have my apology.\" Turning his old friend around to speak face to face, the blond kissed stiff lips tenderly, attempting to express what mere words would not convey. \"For too many years, I followed my father\'s expectations. A pureblood wife of impeccable ancestry, a fine male heir to carry on the family name, the image of power and prestige. My only excuse is youthful arrogance, topped with a healthy dose of cowardice. As long as my father lived, I could not find the strength to go against his wishes. Perhaps I flatter myself to think that, if I had to relive the last twenty years, I would easily shake off his influence. Perhaps Draco would have a different set of parents. Perhaps... it would not have taken so long for me to see how poisonous the Dark Lord\'s demands are.\"

A deep breath, and silver eyes caught darkest brown. \"Severus Snape, I have loved you for all of my mature life. It might easily take the next hundred years for me to make amends of all the injury I have caused you, but I will gladly offer everything to such a cause. You are... \"

\"My world.\" Severus\' voice was choked with emotion. He had often wondered why he had never been enough to satisfy his lover. So many questions and doubts that had turned him into a bitter shell of the passionate young man he had once been. To hear that he was not to blame for the wasted years between them... it bolstered his fractured soul. \"And it would seem that Harry Potter is also a part of that world. For us both.\"

The unspoken question demanded affirmation. \"Most assuredly. Sev, I would no more risk what is between us than renounce my only son. If you have any misgivings about our budding affair with Harry, you must tell me now, before we are in so deep we cannot break away without risking-\"

\"No Luc. As much as it prickles my conscience to become... involved with a student, I cannot see turning away from whatever is happening with Harry. It defies explanation, but I feel almost as strongly for him as you.\"

\"As do I. As if we are finally where we all belong. The missing piece to the puzzle of our long relationship.\"

\"Exactly.\"

For several long minutes, the two wizards stood wrapped in each other, offering and accepting comfort, reassurances long needed for both men. Finally, they separated with one last hard kiss as their charges called them back to the present. And if the tiny lines of tension around the dour Potions Master\'s face were lessened, if the aristocrat\'s cold mask was thinned by warmth, none of the teens made mention of it. Each noticed certain looks passing between the older wizards, and were approved whole-heartedly.