A/N- You guys are awesome, there's just no other way to put it. Everyone out there reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following, you're the bomb dignity. Keep it up.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in the story, or any of my others, truthfully. All characters except filler characters belong to J.K.R. All hail the queen!

Chapter 10

September 7, 1995

Severus took a deep breath as he placed his mask over his face. Albus had had to lift the apparition wards on the school since the Dark Lord has demanded a meeting with him early on a Sunday morning. He usually walked to the gates and carried his mask before apparating, but with all the brats and their beady little eyes watching him, it just wasn't possible. He had already kept the Dark Lord waiting long enough.

He presses the tip of his wand to the Mark on his arm and felt the familiar pull of apparition. When he opened his eyes, he was standing at the gates of Malfoy Manor. He still sneered at the ostentatious wealth of the establishment. It was far too richly overdone if he were to offer up his opinion.

The gates opened immediately and he strode through purposefully. It wouldn't do for him to show fear or weakness now. He had to play everything just right if he were to keep his daughter safe.

As he walked up the long winding drive to the large Manor, Severus let his mind drift to the night before. He had arrived to find both Potter and Weasley waiting for him, Weasley trying to taunt the famous boy while Potter actually read his potions text. Weasley had stepped away quickly when he had heard the door bang open.

Severus had sneered at Weasley, restraining himself as best as he could, and told him that there was a station set up for him to dice rat spleens. He had grimaced, but remained silent. After Weasley was at his station, he turned to Potter who was watching with clear, unafaid eyes.

Confusion had quickly taken over his features when Severus had told him to continue to read his potions text and that he would be available for the next hour if he had any questions. Potter had readily agreed and had even asked what specific potions he would need to memorize if he wanted to become an Auror. While Severus wanted to laugh at his career choice, he didn't. A fifteen year old boy was actually looking to his future and was taking proactive steps towards accomplishing it. it was more than he could say for Draco.

Weasley had protested his detention when he saw what Potter's consisted of. Severus had happily added not only another hour, but another week. If the redheaded weasel wanted to hurt his baby girl, he was going to make sure he had the worst detention experience of anyone in the history of Hogwarts. He had already forewarned Argus and told him the crime for which he was being punished. The old caretaker made it clear that his first job around the castle would be cleaning the boys toilets on every floor with a toothbrush.

Severus was pulled out of his happy thoughts when the front door to the large Manor swung open to reveal Mipsy, the head elf for the main floor. She gave him a slight bow and pointed towards the drawing room. Even though others frowned upon him for it, he bowed back to the little elf and she gave him a small smile.

The door to the drawing room went open of it's own accord, completely soundless, and Severus didn't hesistate to enter. In his line of work, hesitation meant death. The Dark Lord was seated in an enormous throne situated in front of the fire. Nagini was wrapped around the front two legs of the seat with her large head resting on the Dark Lord's bare foot.

Lucius and Narcissa were seated in various chairs around the room, as was Thoros Nott, Corban Yaxley, and Thorfinn Rowle. Severus didn't pay them any mind before he dropped to his knees at the feet of the Dark Lord and gathered his robes in his hands so he could kiss the hem. He detested bowing to this monster, he always had, but there was nothing for it. He had a part to play and this was part of it.

"My Lord, it's been too long since I've last seen you. I've much to report." Severus felt cold fingers thread through hair like a caress. Almost a minute passed before the Dark Lord spoke.

"Rise, Severussss." He instantly went to his feet and from the expression on the snake-man's face, he looked happy.

"I've had interesting newsss of a mudblood by the name of Hermione Granger bearing the appearance of yourself and Alexandra Nott. Tell me what you know of thisss, Severusss." The Dark Lord pointed at the chair next to him and he gratefully took it. He detested groveling on the ground in front of the Dark Lord, but he loathed it even more when there were witnesses.

"The mudblood came to me, my Lord, at the end of the summer, and begged me to brew a paternity potion for her. I bartered with her and told her that I would brew it if she would drop my class at the end of the year so I wouldn't be subjected to her dirty blood any longer than necessary. She agreed, although quite reluctantly." Severus paused for just a moment. The Dark Lord thrived on anticipation and making a scene and since there was an audience, it would be prudent to heed his preferences.

"I called her to me the night of the fifth. I performed the spell and it showed that Alexandra and myself were her biological parents. I was shocked to say the least. She ran from me, rightly so since I had always treated her as the mudblood she believed herself to be. One of the Weasleys, her friend actually, caught her in the corridors and assaulted her when she turned down his advances. Young Draco found her and took her to the Hospital Wing.

When she woke up, she discovered that rather than her awful, mousy existence, she was as she should have been all along. The glamours placed upon her broke, as well as the bind put on her magic. The girl is powerful, my Lord. She performed magic that Dumbledore said he didn't accomplish until two years into his Mastery." Severus knew Dumbledore would be livid with him, but he didn't care. The old fool didn't want him to give the Dark Lord any information if he didn't have to. Severus, however, was determined to do the best he could to protect his flesh and blood and that was make her valuable in Voldemort's eyes.

The look of pure, unadulterated joy in his master's eyes made him want to vomit.

"Let me see, Severusss, let me see what my heir looks like."

There were gasps around the room, but Severus paid them no mind. He made sure that his occlumency shields were firmly in place and met the Dark Lord's eyes. He showed him everything from the reveal of the paternity potion to Hermione leaving the Hospital Wing. He edited out all the information on Potter's prophecy, but decided to show Dumbledore telling about not only his parentage but the prophecy he witnessed. When he felt the Dark Lord retreat from his mind, there was a dull ache behind his eyes.

"I see the old fool told you my secrets, Severussss. Shall we discuss them?" Severus bowed his head in deference.

"Only if you wish to, my Lord." Voldemort cackled as he sat back in his throne.

"I remember well how hard I had to work to gain your loyalty. I was so proud. Do you have any questions for your dear old dad?" The room at large gasped, but Severus acted as if they weren't there. He thought for a moment and decided to take the Dark Lord up on his offer.

"How did my mother seem so convinced that I was Tobias Snape's? Was she covering for you or did you obliviate her?" The Dark Lord set back in his seat and smiled as if he was remembering a fond memory.

"Your mother was exquisite when she was young. I met her in passing at a debutante's ball. We danced together twice and I truly felt like we were a good match. By this time, I had already heard the prophecy so I knew I needed to find a good woman and have her carry my seed. I chose your mother.

When she informed me that she was with child, I was pleased, but knew that she would be hunted by Dumbledore since he had already begun to suspect me of nefarious deeds. I took her to a muggle bar and obliviated her after I introduced her to Tobias Snape.

Once you became old enough, I tasked Lucius with making sure that you were brought into the fold as you rightly should have been. Nobody understood why I wanted you so badly, but now you do. Your daughter will bring about a new age of rule for us all." Severus was screaming on the inside about not only how his life had been miserable because of Tobias Snape, but because he refused to let Hermione lower herself to the likes of Tom Riddle. It was Lucius that interrupted his inner musing.

"My Lord, are you saying that Hermione Granger is your granddaughter?" The Dark Lord turned gleeful eyes to his largest financial supporter.

"Absolutely, Lucius. The old man had her taken from Nott Manor. He heard the same prophecy and had to know that I would eventually bring it to passss. He placed her with filthy muggles, cast glamour charms on her, and bound her magic. Just as the prophecy states, her equal has not been seen in over a century." Severus could already see the gleam in Lucius' eyes, he was already planning to write Draco and tell him to try to get on Hermione's good side. He was drawn out of his thoughts by the Dark Lord.

"Do you know who her two mates are yet? I know the girl is almost sixteen, she has to have love interests by now." This Severus refused to budge on.

"No, my Lord. She does not trust me due to my past treatment of her. I don't want to rush things by asking too soon. I want to gain her trust." The Dark Lord had a maniacal gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, yes, Severussss, gain her trust. I want you to be her most trusted confidant. Cultivate that daddy/daughter relationship. Do what you must to win her over. See if you can speak with the girl without the old fool over her shoulder. She has to be feeling quite betrayed by the fact that her best friend, a pureblood, attacked her and he is allowing him to only receive detention. Promise her that she will be treated better on our side. In fact." The Dark Lord paused for effect and looked out to the followers he had present.

"If anyone sees the youngest Weasley, the boy, he's to be killed on site. His body will be a gift for my granddaughter since he sexually assaulted her. He will serve as a warning for any who hold my granddaughter in contempt. You would do well to pass this information to your children as well." Everyone nodded quickly and Severus played his part. He bowed his head.

"Yes, my Lord, I will do my best to sway her into coming to meet with you. I will let you know as soon as she agrees." The Dark Lord pulled his thin lips back into a grin.

"You are dismissed." Severus rose once more so he could kneel and press his lips to the hem of the Dark Lord's robe.

Once he was dismissed, Severus took his leave. He didn't wait for Mipsy to open the door and let him out. He breezed through them on his own, eager to be away from the stench and blanket of evil that rested over the whole house. He reached the gates and was pleased when he didn't have to wait for them to open. Once he was free and clear of Malfoy Manor, he turned on the spot and disapparated.

Severus reappeared outside the gates of Hogwarts. He whipped out his wand and banished his cloak and mask back to his quarters to hang inconspicuously in his wardrobe. He made the trek to the castle on foot as he usually did, although with more witnesses than usual since not only was it early September, it was also during the day.

After entering the castle, Severus started for the second floor. Albus would be in his office awaiting the report of the meeting with Voldemort. He knew the old man was going to be angry, but he didn't care. The griffin leapt out of the way as he ascended the stairs to the Albus' office. Once the final door was in front of him, he didn't bother knocking. Albus would have already been notified of his presence and he would know exactly why he was there.

When he entered, Albus was already seated behind his desk. He gestured for Severus to take a seat in front of him. He waited in silence for Severus to begin and just as a little smidgen of payback for the hell Albus had brought him through the years, he made him wait a full twenty minutes. When Severus finally broke the silence, his voice was steady.

"He is pleased. He wants me to convince her to come to him. He has ordered a hit for the young Mr. Weasley for daring to touch his granddaughter and heir. He told Lucius, Narcissa, Thoros, Thorfinn, and Corban today exactly who she was. It will be only a day before the secret is out. Maybe not to the whole world, but to Slytherin House as a whole. They were ordered to pass to their children that Hermione is to be treated with the respect she is due." Albus nodded.

"Not anything I didn't expect. We must work doubly hard to keep Mr. Weasley safe from those who would harm him." Severus instantly felt a flare of fury. When he spoke his voice was more like the hiss of his father's snake.

"No, Albus, you must work harder to keep young Weasley safe. He assaulted my daughter and tried to rape her. I wouldn't piss on him if I found him on fire. I will do nothing to keep him safe. I may keep Potter safe against my will, but that's because he's an innocent in all of this, a victim of circumstance. Weasley brought guilt upon himself. I do not suffer fools. Get Minerva to watch her cub." Albus rubbed his hands down his face.

"She won't. Minerva told me the same thing this morning while you were gone. Not quite so graphically, but the message was the same. It's no secret that Hermione is her favorite student since Lily Potter, she won't betray her that way." Severus felt no pity for the old man in front of him.

"Maybe sending him home to his family would be best. All the young Slytherins will by vying for the Dark Lord's good grace by being the one to kill him." Dumbledore shook his head.

"No, then Tom will know you told me. I'll just have to do it myself." Severus nodded. Albus continued.

"Did he ask about her power? About her mates?" Severus knew this was going to cause a blow up of epic proportions.

"He did. I told him exactly how powerful she was and I told him I wasn't sure about her mates." Albus slapped the top of his desk and a wave of magic washed over him.

"You directly disobeyed me, Severus. Don't forget your promises to me and the Order." Severus stood and leaned over the desk so he could get closer.

"I told you lying about that would be a grave mistake. He wants her power. If she displays none, he'll write her off as useless. She is MY daughter and I will protect her as I see fit. If you don't like it, I'll take my promise and shove it up your arse. I don't have to be here, I could find a thousand other things I'd rather do besides teach snot-nosed brats. Before you make that decision, however, make sure that Potter and Hermione will follow you and not me." There was silence for at least five minutes as both wizards fought to gain control over their tempers. When Albus finally spoke, Severus took his seat once more.

"I will defer to you this one time in regards to what Voldemort will be thinking. She is your daughter and yours to protect. Don't think that if she tells him where to go that he'll take pity on her because she's his flesh and blood." Severus stood once more.

"Yes, you will defer to me. I know Tom Riddle far more than you think you do. I would give my life to protect Hermione. Don't act like it's some chore to give me that credit. I know you wouldn't die for her. You'd do everything you could to stick around so you could keep barking orders. If that's all, I have things to discuss with my daughter." Albus didn't say anything, but nodded his head slightly.

Severus took this as his leave and stalked from the room without a backward glance.

-O-

Hermione was enjoying the peaceful quiet of library. After the last twenty-four hours, she felt that she deserved some peace. Harry and Draco had been great. They had both supported her, silent and true, in everything she said or did. While Harry had always afforded her that luxury, it was new experience getting it from Draco, but made her smile nonetheless.

The Weasleys, aside from Ron, had surprised her the most.

*Flashback*

Hermione approached the dinner table with Harry at her side. Draco had seperated from them at the door to the Great Hall, but she had smiled at him as he had walked away. In that moment, she wished that he was a Gryffindor so they could all sit together.

She had been most impressed with how well Draco and Harry had been getting along. They didn't fight a single time, although there were plenty of snide comments between the two of them. After an hour of it, she was beginning to think that was simply how they communicated.

Everyone had been enthralled with her appearance change. She had lost count of how many people had approached her since she left the Hospital Wing to tell her how beautiful she was and ask her exactly what had happened. Case in point? She had lied.

There was no way that she could tell them that she was truly Professor Snape' s daughter, Theo Nott's sister. She couldn't tell them that there was a prophecy about her from several decades before. Therefore, she had lied. Hermione had told them that while she had no idea about why or when the glamour had been placed, Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall were currently researching it.

When she sat down for dinner, Harry to her right as always, her mood dampened slightly when Ginny took the seat on her left and the twins right in front of her. Harry felt her tense and rubbed her thigh underneath the table. Ginny, unsurprisingly, broke the silence.

"Hermione, we are so sorry for what Ron did to you. It was so wrong and we can't believe that he would make that choice. We don't understand, but we wanted to make sure that you knew we didn't agree with it. Please say you aren't mad at us over it."

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Weasleys, well the ones in front of her at least, weren't angry with her and they wanted to make sure that she wasn't angry with them? It was more than she had dreamed of. Ginny and the twins had always been like siblings to her and she had been hurt when she had considered losing their friendship over this whole mess. Finally, she simply threw herself into Ginny's arms.

"How in the world could I be angry at you three? You're the brothers and sister I never had and I was scared to death that you would hate me for all this." Fred leaned forward and squeezed her hand.

"Mina, you're our sister just as Ginny is. If Ron wants to be a stupid prat, that's on him." She couldn't help but laugh. She allowed George to take her other hand before she asked the question she was dreading.

"What's Ron saying?" George sobered up, but there was still anger in his gaze.

"He's waiting upstairs for his detention with Professor Snape to start. He got a whole month. Mum and Dad came to visit and it just ended in an argument." Ginny took over, the least private of all the Weasleys.

"Dad wanted to pull him from Hogwarts, said if he wasn't mature enough to be turned down then he didn't deserve to be here. Mum threw a fit and blamed everything on you, said you had gotten what you deserved for playing games with his mind. Apparently, he told her what you had said when you turned him down the first time. She said that you deserved to be 'put in your place'." Hermione felt herself grow cold at her words. While she hadn't really expected any different, it was still a kick in the pants to hear it. She withdrew her hands, but all the Weasleys protested.

"Mina, we're on your side. So is Dad. From what I understand, Charlie and Bill are appallled at his behavior. Please don't pull away because of those two." Hermione shot all three Weasleys a grateful smile.

"Thanks, guys. You really are the best."

*End of Flashback*

Just when she fully settled into the peacefulness that the library accorded her, she was interrupted by a voice. Ronald.

"Imagine that. The perfect little bookworm in the library doing her homework. How perfect." Hermione continued reading as she didn't hear him. The last thing she needed was another altercation with the boy. Instead of taking the hint, however, he sat down at her table directly across from her.

"How's it feel knowing that you broke up five years of friendship between Harry and I? I hope he's at least getting lucky." She remained silent and focused on her book even though she couldn't truly concentrate.

"Maybe you let them gang bang you. I'm sure they'd appreciate that." Her magic was on the cusp of being out of control and she was doing her best to keep it controlled. Suddenly, a voice startled them both and Ron jumped to his feet.

"What exactly do you think you're doing with Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley? That's another week of detention. Goodbye." As soon as Ron disappeared, Hermione sighed in relief. She shot her father a grateful smile.

"Thank you. I was trying so hard to control my magic, but it was proving difficult." He gave her a soft nod in response before he looked around him. Finding nobody, he apoke.

"I need you to come with me to my have important...test results...to discuss."

Hermione realized instantly that the last thing he wanted to discuss were her test results. She gathered her things quickly and shoved them in her satchel. There were plenty of odd looks as she followed him out of the library and down into the dungeons. Instead of going to his office as she had thought, he took her to a little known portrait that served as the entrance to his quarters.

When she stepped inside, she was instantly struck by how warm and cosy the area was, so unlike what she had imagined for a cold-hearted Slytherin. One solid wall was nothing but bookshelves filled with books. A couch and a single armchair took pride of place before the fire. When she finally quit staring, she turned his way.

"What did he say?" He appeared stunned and didn't answer. She sighed.

"I assume you went and saw Voldemort and told him about me. You hardly couldn't since everyone in the school has seen that I share a striking resemblance to you." He visibly shook himself at her words.

"I told him of your power to protect you. He's ordered a hit on Weasley for daring to harm you. He also wants me to arrange a meeting between the two of you." Hermione took the information in and rolled it around. It really wasn't anything new, pretty much everything she expected.

"Did the Headmaster tell you to tell him how powerful I was?" Her father snorted.

"No, he ordered me to downplay your power and usefulness. I told him anyways because as long as you're useful, or he views you that way, you'll be safe." It was her turn to snort. She had no idea what caused her bold words, but she didn't stop herself from saying them.

"You better watch it, wrong person hears something like that, they'll mistakenly think you care." He raked a hand through his hair and guided her to the couch with his free hand. He sat next to her and turned to face her when he spoke.

"Hermione, I have loved you since the day you were conceived. I understand that it doesn't feel that way because of how I've treated you, but it's the truth. I've spied for you all these years, not Lily Potter. She's dead. I knew Dumbledore had taken you and I wanted to remain close in case you ever were told the truth and wanted a relationship with me." Hermione wanted to believe him so badly, but all she could do was remember the sneer on his face as he told her that he wanted her out of his class. She flew to her feet, suddenly unable to stay there with him alone any longer.

"You made it seem very convincing, Professor, when you bargained with me to get me out your class. I could see the hate in your eyes. There's no need to pretend now that I'm your flesh and blood. If anyone can handle the truth, it's me." He stood quick as a snitch and snagged her wrist as she turned to walk away.

"I had a part to play and as Potter's mudblood, you had your part whether you realized it or not. It was my job to hate you to keep you safe. What do you think the Dark Lord would have done if I had favored the mudblood and praised her every day for how smart she was? You would have been killed alongside me years ago. The hate you saw in my eyes that day was for Black. He does his best to turn everyone in the Order against me just because he doesn't like me. You are his pet, he calls you his poppet. I lashed out because I was angry. I had already decided to let slip to Minerva what had happened so she could protest to Albus and you would be allowed in my class."

She stood there completely still, but Severus could still see just a slight tremor of fear in her hands. He instantly felt guilty. She had just been attacked out of anger two days before. He dropped her wrist and backed away.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm only trying to implore to you how much you mean to me, how much you've meant to me since the day you were born, how much I've loved you." She pulled her wrist to her chest and massaged it lightly while she considered his words. It was over a minute before she spoke.

"You promise you regretted bargaining me out of your class?" He came forward cautiously and grasped her hand in his.

"I swear on my life. I regretted it the second I said it. I couldn't take it back, however, because I have an image to uphold. You would have told Potter and Weasley. Could you imagine it getting back to the Dark Lord that I regretted getting his enemies favorite mudblood out of my class?" She stared at their joined hands and considered his words. When she spoke, she could see the happiness radiate off his features.

"I'm giving you another chance. Don't use it and make me hate you. I wanted that paternity potion so I could find my parents in hopes that they would love me just as well as my adopted parents did. Don't disappoint me." Joy seemed to explode on his face. Before she realized exactly what was happening, he had pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. While it wasn't anywhere near the warmth of Jake Granger, it was something to work with and something to improve on. She had a feeling that it had been many years since he had hugged another human being.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and let him hold her. Her face buried in his robes and she inhaled his comfrting scent of potions. While potions weren't her passion, she still loved them and she loved the smell that they left on his robes. When they finally separated, she grinned at him.

"So what do I call you?" He reached out and fingered her curls. They were so soft and silky, so unlike his lank and lackluster locks that he grinned.

"You may call me whatever you're comfortable with be it Professor, Sir, Severus, or Dad. You choose." He grinned at her when she glanced at his fingers in her hair.

"You really are the best of us. I never would have imagined that a child from my loins would be as beautiful as you are." She settled back on the couch and pulled him down next to her. She didn't lay on him, but she leaned slightly. His arm went over the top of her across the back of the couch.

"I don't know how to be beautiful. I mean, I know I wasn't hideous before, but I also know that I wasn't a beauty queen either. The Headmaster could definetly have done better in terms of glamour charms." He chuckled softly and relished the feeling of her at his side.

"I hardly know you. Whats your favorite subject?" She smiled into his robes again.

"Transfiguration. I've loved it since day one. What would you do if you didn't have to be stuck teaching us snot-nosed brats?" He snorted softly at her words.

"I'd open my own apothecary. Good quality potions are so hard to come by." They asked only the one question of each other. Hermione decided that taking it slow would probably be their best bet.

The pair sat there for almost an hour before the bell rang for dinner. Hermione couldn't believe how quickly the day had passed. She reluctantly rose to her feet and moved forward to hug her father once more before she left. His arms went around her much easier this time.

"I won't disappoint you, Isabella." She started briefly before meeting his gaze. He smiled at her.

"Your true name is Isabella Rose Snape. Your adopted parents named you Hermione. I understand if you want me to use that name." She actually loved her real name, but she wasn't sure how she felt about changing it now.

"Let me think about it. I'll think about visiting dear grandfather as well." He kissed the top of her head and shooed her towards the door. Once she left, she skipped happily through the dungeons to dinner, uncaring of who saw her.

-O-

Draco hadn't ever been happier. While he knew he wasn't dating Hermione, he was also spending most of his free time with her and Potter. He didn't necessarily love the fact that Potter was part of the deal, but he also didn't find it near as repugnant as he normally would have.

Draco wasn't stupid. Hermione was a loving girl that couldn't stand to hurt anyone. That's what had led to her lying to the Weasel the first time he had asked her out. If she hadn't cared, she would have told the redhead to shove off and been done with it.

For this reason, Draco knew that Potter was right. If Hermione felt like she had to choose between them, she wouldn't choose either of them. While it wasn't ideal, Draco could admit that it wasn't terrible either. He had expected to feel jealous, like he was in constant competition with Potter, but he didn't feel that way at all. It was very confusing, but not something he really wanted to dwell on.

Draco watched from the Slytherin table as Hermione literally skipped into the Great Hall and sat next to Harry. In her exuberance, she leaned over and kissed his cheek before she began spooning food onto her plate. When he thought that she had forgotten about him, she raised her eyes and met his before she blew him a kiss. Even though it wasn't as good as what she had given Potter, it still made him feel better.

Dinner passed by at a relatively slow pace. Draco ate his fill of the shepherd's pie and passed on the pudding. He had quidditch try outs coming up in the next week or so and didn't want to worry about extra weight. He had just stood from his place at the table when three owls swooped in and landed on the table in front of Theo, Pansy, and Goyle. Draco had a feeling that Severus had had an audience with the Dark Lord that morning. He was slightly surprised, however, to find that he hadn't rated a letter from Lucius. It made him wonder just what his father was up to.

After leaving the table, he found his way to the entrance of the courtyard where Potter and Hermione were waiting for him. His arm slipped around her waist and she went to her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. He still chuckled to himself when he thought about how powerful she was and how tiny her body was. It just didn't seem possible.

The trio went out to the courtyard and they settled on top of a blanket that Hermione conjured not only without words, but without a wand. Draco knew he had to be imagining things, but when he was around the other two, he felt as if his magic was stronger. Potter had confided in him that he felt the same.

The three of them laid on their backs watching the stars for the longest time. When the silence was finally broken, it was Hermione who spoke.

"I spoke with Professor Snape today. Voldemort wants me to meet with him so he can sway me to his side. He also ordered a hit out on Ron for harming the granddaughter of the Dark Lord." Harry reached out and grasped her hand.

"Dumbledore will keep him safe, don't worry about Ron." She snorted before she turned melancholy.

"Does it make me a terrible person that I didn't worry about him for a second? I can't help but feel like my parents would have been disappointed in me." Potter squeezed her hand while Draco remained silent, stroking her curls. He didn't understand why, but he had a serious obsession with her curls.

"No, it doesn't make you terrible. It makes you human." She smiled to herself and paused slightly before speaking.

"I spoke with Professor Snape. He said he loves me more than life itself. Do you think I should believe him?" Potter glanced over at him and motioned with his eyes to field this question. Draco rolled over just enough to kiss her forehead before he spoke.

"I've always known that Severus cared for me, loved me even, but I've never heard him utter the words. If he actually said those words, you can stake your life on it." She met his gaze for a few moments before she smiled.

"I told him I was going to give him a chance." Draco smiled to himself. He bet Severus wet himself at those words. Instead of voicing this, he grinned.

"I'm sure you made his day." They were quiet for quite awhile after that. The sun was almost gone when Potter broke the silence.

"'Mi, how would you feel if I told you that Draco and I both want to date you?" She sat up instantly and Draco wasn't sure that this boded well for the outcome of the conversation. Her voice was nervous.

"Won't that be weird? How would it even work?" All three of them were sitting up now and even though Draco was slightly uncomfortable, he didn't want Potter fielding the whole conversation.

"All three of us would be in a relationship. We would only be with you and you would only be with us." She gave him a guarded look and he could tell that she was just as uncomfortable as he was. Her hands knotted in her lap.

"Wouldn't you both get tired of sharing me when I have two of you available to me? It seems like a recipe to cheat if you ask me and that's the last thing I want to happen. It would be really hard to forgive either of you for cheating." Potter took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her palm.

"'Mi, Draco and I have talked. We both want this because we know if it's not both of us, it will be neither of us and we both care for you too much for that to happen. If you want only one of us, you need only say so." Draco smirked into the fading light when he saw the faint blush color her cheeks. She ran her hand through her curls.

"I am attracted to you both. I've liked Draco since second year even though he hated me and wanted me to die. I've liked you, Harry, since we rode on the hippogriff together. It was the first and only time I enjoyed flying." Draco wasn't sure what she was talking about, but he remained quiet. She suddenly spoke again.

"Won't you two get jealous? I dont want to be the cause of more arguments, I would rather just be friends if nothing else is possible." Draco shifted so he could pull her feet into his lap and she could see his eyes.

"Hermione, it's different between Potter and I now. I know we were evil little fucks to each other for the first four years of school, but we've found common ground. We've already talked about this. We aren't jealous of each other now and I really think if we were to watch each other with you now, it would just turn us on. There won't be any jealousy. If there is, I'll bow out and you can continue on your merry way with just Potter." Potter nodded.

"I'll pledge the same thing. Please consider it, Hermione." She thought about it for several minutes before she finally nodded.

"I still think it could end disastrously, but I'll consider it. I've had feelings for both of you for quite awhile and don't think I could choose." Both men leaned over and kissed the side of her head. When they pulled apart Hermione yawned. Potter chuckled before hopping to his feet.

"Come on, you're sleepy. Inside with you, before Draco and I get in trouble for carrying your sleeping body through the corridors." She giggled at his words and even Draco found himself chuckling softly.

Hermione linked arms with the both of them, something Draco had never done his whole life, and they meandered their way back inside the castle.

A/N- Praise Jesus, another chapter down! This fic is seriously consuming me right now. Good for you, bad for my laundry! Anyways, leave me your thoughts, they keep me motivated.

Next up, Umbridge strikes by means of a blood quill.

Love,

Alicia