Moving Forward

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Chapter Three


Draco and Lucius ended up joining them for their trip, offering Severus rooms in the Malfoy compound for free. Being cheap according to Hermione, but budget conscious as he thought of himself, he took them up on the offer. As he was going to have to pay for a suite of rooms otherwise he accepted. Hermione didn’t think it was the best idea in the world and even said as much.


“I would prefer privacy as well, but they are free rooms in the Malfoy compound in Italy, Miss Granger. There will be times we won’t see them I’m sure.”


“Very well,” she murmured. “But keep in mind that there is always more than one way to pay for something.”


The Malfoy family compound was enormous. It was in fact the largest privately owned property in Italy. When Hermione asked how big it was, neither of the Malfoys knew. Lucius offered Severus a glass of his families’ private reserve wine, leaving her with no one to attend to. She went quietly over to the room she was given to stay in and went about unpacking her things.


“Merlin, Granger, that is why we have servants!” Draco exclaimed. “Just stop it! Here.” He walked over to her and handed her a glass of red wine. “Severus told me that you would enjoy this after the long journey.”


“Thank you, Draco,” she murmured, taking the drink from him. “Aren’t you having any?”


“No, I prefer fire whiskey,” he answered absently. “Why are you fucking my godfather?”


She paused in mid-sip and sighed. Hermione had known this question was coming. Ever since he had caught Severus and herself in mid-sex he had been dwelling on it, she was sure.


“He and I work well in that fashion. He allows me to be myself sexually and he gets his freedoms as well,” she answered.


“And that would be what exactly?” he pressed.


“We don’t want a commitment,” she admitted.


“And if he’s lying to you? What if he does want more, have you thought of that?” he argued.


She leaned back, watching him. He had an excellent expressionless face that gave nothing away. He could have played poker professionally with a face like that, she thought, but pushed the notion aside.


“Does he?” she asked him. “Or are you asking me this as a way to make me panic at the thought of commitment?”


“He cares for you,” he muttered.


“And I for him, but it doesn’t mean we want marriage,” she told him. “Enough about my sex life. How are you doing, Draco?”


“The same,” he said coldly.


Sighing heavily she went over to him, stroking his hair away from his face. He looked at her alarmed as she did so. Without a word she pulled him over to the bed, laid him down, and grabbed the book she had set out on the nightstand. She opened it and began to read to him from a thread bear book of French poetry. Soon he was lying down calmly with his head resting in her lap as she continued to read and comb her fingers through his hair. When she had finished reading she set the book aside and looked down into Draco’s eyes.


“I’m gay,” he said hoarsely.


“I knew that,” she said with a grin.


Sitting up straight, he growled, “And what is that supposed to mean?”


“Nothing,” she told him. “I could care less if you were a purple goat boy.” She got up and went to the doorway, but stopped and looked back to him. “But I will say this much—if you look better in a dress than I do, I will scream about the injustice of it all.”


Draco was still laughing as he watched her leaving.


***


Lucius watched as Hermione walked into the study. She drifted over to the porch and slipped into the chair next to Severus.


“Lovely wine,” she said. “Personal stock?”


“It is from our family’s own vineyard,” Lucius said quietly watching her taking a sip.


“Hmm, perfect,” she murmured, looking over to Severus. “Have you taken your afternoon potions?”


“Yes, mother, I have,” he snarled at her.


“Ooh, I love it when you’re snarky,” she teased him. “It just makes butterflies fill my belly.” Hermione let out a lady like burp. “Never mind, Severus, it was gas.”


The former professor snarled at her even as Lucius was chuckling. They watched as Severus got up and shuffled off, muttering curses as he went away to his room in order to take a nap.


“Tell me something, Miss Granger, do you and Severus fuck like you argue?”


“I don’t know,” she said. “How do we argue?”


He moved to the chair his friend had vacated and murmured, “Passionately.”


She thought it over. “I suppose we do, but there is also something else there as well.”


“And that would be?”


“Neediness,” she breathed. “A little desperation as well now that I think of it.”


“Why?”


“That is the question of the hour,” she murmured. “I don’t know his reasons and I seriously doubt you would like to hear mine.”


Lucius leaned even closer to her until she could feel his hot breath on her cheek and neck. “Think again, Miss Granger.”


“You wouldn’t understand where I was coming from if I told you,” she told him. “You are a handsome man who’s always had his looks and his standing. You’ve never had to fight to prove yourself in any other way than to your Dark Lord.”


“Let me tell you something,” he murmured. “I fight to let people know that I have an intellect. People think I didn’t earn what I have and in a way they are right. But let me tell you, I was only given so much and I took the rest.”


“Here’s to fighting for what we want,” she said lifting her glass to his and tapping it.


“You are drunk.”


“That I am, sir.”


He leaned back and asked, “Why Severus?”


“Why not Severus?” she replied. “He is smart, funny, and not to blow his already outstanding ego to even further heights, as hung as a horse. And let me tell you after having Ronald Weasley that means something.” She nodded. “Oh yes, it does.”


“Not a good lover?” he asked and was shocked when Hermione got up and slipped into his lap.


“I love him,” she sighed. “But he is a boy. And boys are lovely when one is young and stupid without a care.” Hermione looked into his pewter eyes. “He wanted to get married and have me fat with his get right away. That is a lovely dream, but it isn’t mine.” She worried her lower lip. “I didn’t want him to see my body after I had been tortured as well. Bella used some slicing spells on me.” She swallowed thickly. “Besides, I could just see it happening. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Hermione, I messed up on the contraceptive charm and here you are pregnant with triplets.’”


“Yes, that boy would do that,” he muttered. “And yet you love him?”


“He is a good person,” she murmured, leaning her head on Lucius’s shoulder. “Ron will find out quickly that I was correct that he will need his NEWTs to make it out in the world as an auror. He will also find out that being called a war hero will only get you so far.” She set her wine down and took his away from him as well. “Enjoy the sunshine with me, Mr. Malfoy. Isn’t it lovely?”


“Miss Granger?”


“Mmm?”


“I’m going to fuck you.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Not this minute, but when I do you’ll be completely and utterly mine.”

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