Hey guys :) we're back after a rather long break (for which we are extremely apologetic) - it results from a lack of internet connection :( still, here is the next chapter.

Oh, as for those of you who get freaked out by guy/guy stuff, I'm going to put in a warning for you to skip those sections in future :)


Chapter 10

Hermione hotfooted to a small café where her parents used to take her every Saturday for an English Breakfast. She ordered a hot chocolate and whilst the kindly elderly waitress went to get it, she dialled a number in her mobile and pressed call, desperately hoping that she would get an answer. She did.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Luke, are you busy?" Hermione asked.

"Umm, no, actually, it's my day off, why?"

"I could use your company," Hermione listed the place she was at and he informed her that he wouldn't be long.

In fact, he wasn't. Hermione still had her hands wrapped around the mug of hot chocolate when he turned up. His face lit up when he saw her and he slid into the seat directly across from her.

"What's wrong? You didn't sound too good on the phone," Luke asked instantly.

"It's too long a story and too difficult to explain and I doubt you would understand anyway so there's no point explaining it anyway," Hermione sighed. "It's relationship troubles."

"Oh, I see," he took one of her hands in his. "Why don't you try talking to me?"

"Promise not to judge me?"

"I promise," Luke swore.

"My boyfriend suggested to me that we try a threesome with another guy and I went along with it. But it's become quite serious, as if all three of us were in a relationship rather than just two and I've just found out that my boyfriend and this other guy used to be lovers and I reckon that they only thought up this threesome thing so they could fuck one another again. My boyfriend practically suggested it himself," Hermione rattled this all out in a single breath. She hardly dared to look at Luke afterwards just in case he laughed at her.

"That's pretty terrible," Luke sighed. "What jackasses. A pretty girl like you should never have to deal with guys like that; they're not worth it."

"They may not be worth it but I do love them," Hermione managed to get out before she started crying.

Luke was by her side in a flash, hugging her. He let her cry onto his shoulder, glaring at everyone who had the cheek to stare wide-eyed at them. After a couple of minutes he led her out of the shop, taking her back to his.

"Hermione, you're at my place now, okay?" Luke said to her.

She didn't give him a second look and she didn't even look at her surroundings. He took her hand and escorted her up the stairs, only letting go of her to open the door to his flat. Once inside he left her by the door and did some quick tidying up (aka, throwing things behind the sofa). It didn't matter to her though; she was too distraught to care about something as trivial as a little bit of mess.

Whilst he was cleaning rapidly, Hermione quietened down, easing into a thoughtful yet depressed state. Luke made her some tea before sitting her down on the now (relatively) clean sofa and giving it to her.

"What do I do?" She moaned, staring into the cup as if hoping it would offer her some answer.

"Well, you say that your boyfriend and this other man were together a while ago?" Luke mused for a moment. "Do you know the nature of their relationship?"

"No, to be honest, I don't," Hermione sighed, taking a warming sip of her cup. "I didn't know before today."

"Can you not think of anything that would help?" Luke persisted. "Knowing the nature of their relationship is key to understanding them."

"They were into S&M," Hermione murmured, half-ashamed to admit it.

"Let me guess, your boyfriend was the sub?" Luke asked. Hermione nodded once, never looking up from her tea. "Then the reason why they want to be with each other has nothing to do with love, it's about loyalty and sexual pleasure. From what you've told me, they care about you, especially your boyfriend, but the sort of pleasure that comes from S&M cannot be replicated in a normal relationship. How often do you have sex?"

"Once," Hermione saw the look on his face and instantly snarled. "We were taking it slowly. We've only been dating for about two months."

"I see," Luke said. "I wasn't assuming anything from it. How was the sex?"

"Lovely," Hermione sighed, a far-off look in her eye. "Romantic. Everything you could hope for. But it was a little rough because we were both rather sexual charged."

"I thought as much," Luke placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hermione, he's not sure how to act with you. He loves you, that much is clear. A guy is never romantic in bed with a girl unless he really genuinely cares about her, trust me on that. But I expect that you are the first relationship he's had since he's been a sub. It's scary for him and so he goes running back to what he knows best."

"But why did he wait until now to tell me?" Hermione cried.

"He told you?" Luke was shocked. "I thought you just happened to find out."

"No, he told me," Hermione said. "He told me in the kitchen of my parents' house whilst Severus was there."

"Oh, Hermione, you've completely misinterpreted the situation and the meaning behind this. Has your relationship become more serious lately?"

"I told him I love him," Hermione replied. "Why?"

"He's told you this because he cares too much about you for you to not know," Luke explained softly. "I expect that this was all pre-arranged between them just before you told him that and he just went along with the plan. But now he loves you and he's realised that you love him and he doesn't want to keep it a secret. You said you love both of them, right?"

"Yes," Hermione breathed. "That I do."

"Well, if you truly love them, accept the situation," Luke said. "Make it clear that it is your boyfriend that is your number one and just realise that what's happened in the past is the past. They care about you, you care about them, are you really going to let something come between you that is rather pointless? You agreed to this threesome in the first place; it's your fault as much as theirs."

"Wow, that is true," Hermione looked at him. "How the hell do you know all this stuff?"

"My older sister is a sex therapist," Luke beamed.

"Wow," Hermione repeated. "Thanks for the tea, Luke, but I've got to go and salvage my relationship. I'll definitely text you and let you know how it went."

She stood up at the same time as Luke and she flew into his arms, kissed him chastely on the lips and left, a spring in her step as she walked down the street.

When she reached her house, she disillusioned herself, meaning to surprise them with her sudden appearance. She sneaked in through the backdoor and made her way through the house, searching for them.


guy/guy section - skip to the next bold print if you want


The original plan had been for her to shock them, not them to shock her. They were having sex in the living room, the curtains drawn, and the light on. Hermione covered her mouth to stop the gasp that threatened to escape.

Draco was on his hands and knees, his head down as Severus thrusted into him hard. As she watched, Severus grabbed hold of Draco's hair and yanked his head up, displaying Draco's tear-stained face to her. Hermione was horrified, the sight of her boyfriend being used like an animal sickened her to her core, and she realised in that split second that Severus was exactly like she had thought throughout seven years of her life.

"Come now," Severus growled, as his hand encircled Draco's engorged penis and tugged.

One tug and Draco came undone, crying out loud. It was only through sheer determination that he was able to stay on his hands and knees, and Severus thrusted harder and harder into him, milking him for every last second he had.

Hermione knew when Severus came; it was when his hand tightened on Draco's hair and then suddenly released. He thrusted a couple more times before pulling out. Only then did Draco's arms and legs give out and he fell to the floor, panting hard. Hermione noticed with a slightly jerk of her heart that Draco's ass was bright red.

Severus cleaned them up and then, much to Hermione's surprise, he picked up Draco like a baby and sat down on the sofa with Draco cradled in his arms. He gently kissed the top of Draco's head.


okay, safe from now...


"I've missed all of this," Draco sighed.

"So have I," Severus replied. "That's the first time since you left me."

"Really?" Draco looked up at him, wonder in his eyes.

"Yeah, really," Severus was sullen. "Draco, I know you love her, why did you tell her?"

"I didn't want to hide it from her," He climbed off Severus's lap and sat with his head in his hands. "I wanted her to know. We're bonded together for life."

"Is that what that choker is all about?" Severus asked. "I thought you had come over to the dark side and collared her."

"I could never collar her!" Draco said outraged. "I love her, Severus. I would never force her into this world. Never! She's too pure and too perfect."

"Is that why you didn't stay with me?" Severus asked, emotion clouding his voice. "Because I'm morally corrupt?"

"Severus, you're not corrupt," Draco hugged him tightly. "You meant everything to me. You still do mean a lot to me. I loved you, that much is true, but I couldn't deal with it any more. And now I've found someone who loves me for who I am and I don't want to lose her. But my past has come back to haunt me and there's no way she's come back."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Hermione revealed herself to them.

Draco gasped and went to hug her, before realising he was naked. He babbled, pointing backwards and forwards between him and Severus, attempting to explain the situation.

"No need to explain, I saw it and I understand," Hermione put her hand up to shut him up.

"You understand?" Draco asked.

"Yep," Hermione smiled at him. "I understand and I'm happy to continue, but as long as you realise that I'm your girlfriend."

"I know you are," Draco said.

"I mean that I should be more important than Severus," Hermione said, then blushed. "No, that came out wrong, sorry, Severus."

"It's okay," Severus shrugged his shoulders. "You two are in the relationship so you two can deal with the feelings and I'm the third wheel so you come to me for sex."

"Exactly," Hermione said pleased. "I'm glad someone understands me."

"I get it," Draco said. "I do understand what you mean. Hermione, I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

They stepped towards each other and then kissed, neither minding that Draco was naked. In fact, Hermione took the opportunity to feel up his lovely pert bottom, much to his amusement.

"Anyway, we should get decent, I think," Severus said, rather pointedly.

Hermione and Draco broke apart, both a little embarrassed. Draco and Severus dressed, and then Severus offered to cook dinner.

"Can you cook?" Hermione blurted out before she could stop it. "I mean, sorry, I don't mean to tell you that your cooking sucks but I've never seen you cook."

"Hermione, how often do you see me in the Great Hall?" Severus asked her.

"Beginning of the year, end of term feast and special occasions," Hermione rattled off much to the other's surprise. "I pay attention, you know."

"Oh, I know," Severus said darkly. "What do you suppose I do during the rest of the time – starve?"

"House-elves," Hermione said subdued.

"No, I cook for myself," Severus snapped. "Now, I am going to go and cook dinner. Goodbye."

He left the room, his face dark with an unknown expression. Hermione stared after him for a moment before Draco dragged her onto the sofa, sitting her down next to him.

"So, Malfoy Manor," Hermione said.

"Yes," Draco beamed. "Christmas time."

"Just Christmas or?" Hermione asked.

"Well, you were actually invited for the whole of the holiday but I told my mother that you wouldn't be too happy with that considering that you'd want to see your mother," Draco said. "So you can come and go as you please."

"Really?" Hermione bit her lip.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, taking both of her hands in his.

"Your family's really rich," Hermione said. "How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to wear?"

"You act normally and you dress how you want," Draco replied smiling. "But don't wear jeans. My mother can't abide jeans."

"But most of my wardrobe is jeans!" Hermione cried in angst.

"Don't worry about it," Draco said. "You've got some things that aren't jeans and you can work with that."


Hermione looked down at her outfit and sighed. She felt silly. She had gone to great lengths to find something half-decent to wear for her Christmas dinner and now that she had picked her outfit she felt horribly over-dressed. She had picked a simple white wrap-around dress with a green cardigan but she worried that she should have worn trousers.

It was never this difficult at home! She normally woke up Christmas morning, threw on her dressing gown and ran downstairs to open her presents with her parents. When it was time to get dressed, it was always in a pair of jeans and a lovely warm jumper – obviously something she couldn't wear now if Narcissa was dead set against jeans.

Draco apparated to her side with a pop! Last night, whilst she had gone up to the hospital, Draco and Severus had gone to Malfoy Manor in order to help Narcissa set up for today. Narcissa had kindly extended her invitation to Severus, and now he was stuck there, more than likely scowling at having to celebrate his least favourite holiday.

"Wow, darling, you look beautiful," He pecked her on the cheek.

"I'm not too overdressed, am I?" She asked worriedly.

"No, not at all," Draco smiled at her.

He was wearing fitted black trousers with a white jumper, something that suited him perfectly. She left her little black handbag in her bedroom, making the judgement call that she didn't need it whilst there. In fact, the only reason she had it in the first place was from taking up her mother her Christmas card and also a pair of small gold hoop earrings, similar to the ones that her mother had pawned to fund her habit.

"You ready to go?" Draco asked.

Hermione smiled nervously, then took the arm Draco offered to her. In an instant they were being sucked through that crushing vortex, only to land in the middle of a country lane, the surroundings perfectly white with snow. As Draco led her up to the Manor, Hermione marvelled at the beautiful landscape, the snow gently dusting the ground, the icicles that had formed off the branches of an old willow tree. The ground crunched under her sensible black shoes.

"Welcome to my home," Draco said.

Hermione stared open-mouthed. She knew it was uncouth but she couldn't help it. It was the biggest place she had ever seen, three floors of majestic grey stones, with gargoyles that actually moved menacingly whenever someone approached. The windows were large, and several were beautiful stained-glass designs. The gates that signalled the beginning of the Malfoy property were large, iron-wrought, perfectly smooth and they opened automatically.

"They open for anyone with Malfoy blood," Draco explained.

They walked up the long driveway, passing several trees and a large frozen pond on the way. Hermione still couldn't wrap her mind around how stunning the place truly was, and it caused her heart to stutter as they reached the huge oak door that was the front door. She was more nervous than ever, concerned once more about her appearance and about making a good impression.

"This place will be yours one day," Draco whispered to her.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, wide-eyed.

Draco hooked her choker with one finger and tugged lightly, reminding her of their eternal bond.

"Oh, shit, Draco, I couldn't live here!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Yes, you can and you will," Draco said firmly, as the door was opened by none other than Severus.

"Hi!" Hermione beamed at him as she reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly.

"Narcissa will be down in a minute," Severus warned gently, trying to remain serious and stern but failing as the warmth from her kiss spread through her body.

"Oh, do I look okay?" Hermione touched her perfectly styled hair.

"You look beautiful," Draco assured her.

She crossed the hallway to a mirror that was there and looked herself over, making sure that her eyeliner was set perfectly and her hair, which she had curled into ringlets, was still piled high on her head with several loose ringlets dangling by her ears.

There was a loud crack and Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. She whirled around to see a house-elf wearing a smart little dress stood in the middle of the hallways.

"Mistress Cissy is just about to arrive," the female said importantly, before disapparating.

"Was that house-elf wearing clothes?" Hermione asked astonished.

"Yes, Mila was wearing clothes," a smooth, very feminine voice said.

Hermione looked at the stairs, where a very beautiful woman was stood. She had met Narcissa before, under unfortunate circumstances and she had been pretty then. Now, in her own home, free from her husband and dark forces, she was stunning, the most beautiful woman that Hermione had ever seen. She was wearing a cream skirt with a black shirt, and she looked very chic. Her hair, which had been the same colour as Draco's when she last saw her, had turned a glossy black colour, which highlighted her bright blue eyes.

"Hermione, I presume," Narcissa smiled at her. "It's a pleasure. I've heard quite a lot about you."

"Mrs Malfoy," Hermione gave a single nod for politeness, fighting the urge to courtesy.

"Please, call me Narcissa," She walked over to her. "You will end up as my daughter-in-law, after all." Her hand reached out to touch the choker but she stopped just short.

"Mum, I'm just going to go check on the dinner," Draco said skilfully, taking Severus with him as he left the room, leaving the two women alone.

Hermione made a mental note to seriously hurt him lately for sticking her with a woman who was clearly her superior in every way.

"Please forgive me for the impoliteness, but why was Mila wearing clothes?" Hermione enquired to start the conversation.

"After Lucius passed away I gave all of the house-elves clothes," Narcissa explained. "I gave them the option to leave or stay. The majority stayed."

"You must be a good mistress then," Hermione commented.

"I was always polite to them, it was my husband who was a dick," Narcissa said.

Hermione looked at her in shock at hearing such an uncouth word coming from her mouth.

"I can assure you, Hermione, that worst things have come out of my mouth," Narcissa laughed. "Now, will you please relax? I am a perfectly normal woman and I am not my dead husband. I have different principles to him."

"Why did you go along with it then?" Hermione tried to keep the shimmering heat of rage buried deep inside her but it was difficult. "You stood there whilst I was being tortured."

"Do you mean to tell me that if you, Harry or Ron had captured Bellatrix Lestrange that you wouldn't have tortured her for information?" Narcissa asked her, her voice calm but the question harsh.

"That's a different situation!"

"How?" Narcissa questioned. "Why is it any different? We did everything we could for the side we thought was right, just like you did. And I can assure you that whilst I did not believe what they did – some of my best friends have been muggle-born – I was a woman in love and I would have done anything for my husband. I would have – and I did – kill for him. I understand that you are angry, and I understand why, but I implore you to see it from my point of view. Would you have done the same in my position?"

"Probably, yeah," Hermione sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry."

"No need to apologise, Hermione," Narcissa took her by the arm and led her into a large sitting room. "It was something that needed dealing with. Now, down to serious business, why are you with my son?"

"Huh?" Hermione looked confused as Narcissa repeated the question. "Because I love him."

"Not after money or anything?" Narcissa questioned.

"Not at all!" Hermione was appalled. "Money doesn't mean that much. I mean, after the war I could apply for any job and ask for any salary and I'd get it, but I'm with your son because I love him. There is no hidden agenda."

"Okay, good," Narcissa resumed her happy demeanour. "Pray excuse me for a minute."

Narcissa left the room and Hermione sat on one of the sofas, a little confused by the whole conversation. Narcissa was an odd woman, whose moods and conversations could change tone within a split second, and Hermione wasn't quite sure if she liked her or not. The woman was beautiful and charming, but Hermione couldn't quite get the image of her being a Death Eater out of her head.

Narcissa entered the room a couple of minutes after she left with a small box in her hands.

"I noticed that you didn't have any jewellery on and I didn't buy you a present so I'm giving you some of the Malfoy jewellery," Narcissa said, giving Hermione the box.

"I don't want anything, thank you," Hermione said, holding the box as if it would explode.

"You may not want it but you are having it," Narcissa replied firmly.

Hermione opened the box and saw a beautiful emerald earrings and necklace set. They were drop designed, and Hermione marvelled over them. Narcissa urged her to put them on and she did so with shaking hands, wondering just how much they cost.

"I wouldn't wear them too often," Narcissa said. "Although they aren't worth much compared to a lot of the Malfoy jewellery, they are worth thousands of pounds."

"What if I lose them?" Hermione asked worried.

"Don't concern yourself with that, dear," Narcissa smiled that beautiful smile again. "I can assure you that they can easily be replaced."

As Hermione fingered the necklace, she wondered just exactly how much the Malfoys were worth. To live in a Manor like this, and to own jewellery that is 'cheap' at thousands of pounds must been that they would be rolling in it.

"So, how are my beautiful women getting on?" Draco entered the room, a huge smile on his face.

"We are getting on fabulously," Narcissa answered her son with her trademark smile. "Aren't we, dear?"

"Well, as well as we possibly could," Hermione said, a little ambiguously. "Narcissa is a lovely woman."

"Thank you, Hermione," Narcissa said. "I think you are well suited to my son."

"Really?" Draco looked as shocked as Hermione felt.

"Indeed," Narcissa replied. "She's smart, intelligent, and she has good connections."

"Is connections all you ever think about, Narcissa?" Severus's silky voice filled the room. "Look at Hermione, she thinks that you are only encouraging this relationship because of the positive publicity that it would bring upon the Malfoy family. Are you, Narcissa?"

"No, I am not, Severus," Narcissa's voice was icy, making Hermione believe that there was history between them.

"It certainly seems that way," Severus stepped up to her.

Narcissa flinched, but didn't back down, something that Hermione admired. She had often been on the receiving end of one of Severus's infamous glares, and she could only imagine the courage that it took to stand up against him like that.

"Mistress Cissy and guests, dinner is served," The house-elf from earlier, Mila, squeaked.

Narcissa had found the excuse to move away from Severus, which she did so eagerly. She adopted her smile once more and led the way into the extravagant dining room. A large dining table, enough to seat at least fifty people took up the centre of the room, and all around the walls were prominent Malfoy figures, including Draco's grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy and also Brutus Malfoy, who had been the chief editor of Warlock at War, which had been a huge anti-muggle periodical. Hermione instantly felt uneased, and she was on edge throughout the dinner, which was large and extravagant, matching the whole façade of Malfoy Manor.

That's what she realised it was. All the beautiful landscape and the stunning house could not hide years of torment and anguish. She dreaded to think how many muggles and muggle-borns had lost their lives in this Manor, and she felt as if she could hear their screams of pain. The Malfoys displayed their wealth so that people would be superficially impressed and forget just what the Malfoys stood for: purity.

She was beginning to feel sick.

"Draco, I need to leave," she whispered to her boyfriend, who had either not heard her or had chosen to ignore her. She desperately hoped it was the former.

She looked across to Severus, who seemed to understand what she needed and stood up, interrupting the cheerful conversation between mother and son.

"Is something wrong?" Narcissa enquired.

"Hermione's not feeling very well," Severus said, walking over to help her up. "I'm going to take her home. Draco, you stay here and come home later when you've finished. Goodbye, Narcissa, it was a lovely dinner."

Before Hermione could apologise to Narcissa, Severus had escorted her from the room and they hurried out of the Malfoy property so that it was possible to apparate home. Although Hermione knew where she wanted to go, she was still feeling nauseous, so Severus was the one who apparated them.

Hermione only relaxed slightly once she was sat in her own kitchen.

"I don't like the place," Hermione said.

"I don't blame you," Severus sat down opposite her. "It's a truly horrible place."

"It's so repressive for muggle-borns," Hermione shivered as she thought about it. "They hide behind their wealth."

"Severus, what happened between you and Narcissa?" Hermione asked tentatively, remembering Narcissa's reaction to Severus's presence.

"Ahh, I thought you would ask about that," he sighed. "We used to be lovers. Lucius suggested to the Dark Lord that because I didn't have a wife I should be allowed free roam of all the female Death Eaters and any prisoners. He was trying to help me but it was disgusting. He frequently offered Narcissa to me and I took her, purely because she was so beautiful."

"But you said you were lovers, not that you used to have sex," Hermione pressed.

"She enjoyed it," Severus continued. "She enjoyed it to the point where she didn't want to have sex with her own husband any more. But she fell pregnant."

"But, what?"

"Not Draco," Severus assured her. "This was after Draco was born. However, there were complications and Narcissa lost the baby, almost bleeding to death. The very next day, Lucius took her to one of the revels and offered her to me again. I tried to refuse."

"What happened?" Hermione asked, half-afraid to hear the answer.

"I was put under the Imperious curse and forced to have sex with her," Snape covered his face with his hands. "It was horrible. I couldn't stop and she knew I couldn't stop, but I had to. She was screaming in agony throughout the whole time because they forced me to be rough and she bled everywhere, all over me, all over my clothes. She spent two months in a coma and couldn't walk for three months more. And then she was told she couldn't have more children, she was too damaged from the rape that she wouldn't be able to hold a baby. She blamed me."

"It wasn't your fault," Hermione reached out and touched him, hugging him when he responded. "It wasn't your fault."

"I used to have nightmares about it," Severus admitted. "But then Draco came along and they stopped."

"Do you love Draco?" Hermione asked.

"No," He answered. "I don't think I ever did. But I cared about him so much, almost to the point where I loved him, but it didn't end up as love."

"Severus, why did you want this threesome?" Hermione dared to ask the question that she had wanted the answer to for a while.

"Because I wanted you both," He answered honestly. "I never stopped wanting Draco, and I started to want you when you strutted your stuff about with Potter and wiggled your ass in my face."

"Oh," Hermione blushed red. "I got you a Christmas present."

She handed him a flat package, and he opened it to find a photo of the three of them, sat in his study, laughing loudly at a joke Draco had said. He looked up at her astonished.

"You cover your walls with quotes because you have nothing to put up," Hermione said softly. "You don't have any family and you never made friends. But you have two people who love you and care about you and I think you should display it. I hid a camera on your bookshelf and this was one of the photos that it took. I thought it was the best one because it shows you that there is happiness and friendship in life, even in the darkest moments."

Severus ran his fingers across the photo wordlessly and felt as if he were going to cry. Not only had she got him a Christmas present, but she had got him something that he would treasure forever.

"Thank you," his voice was a little choked.

"You're welcome," Hermione kissed the top of his head and wisely left him alone, leaving him to look at the photo and wonder.


"Mum, I'm going back to Hogwarts tomorrow," Hermione said.

She was back up at the hospital, as she had been every day that holiday. Throughout the time her mother had begun to look cleaner and healthier as she was slowly weaned off the drugs and eased back to health. It would take a long time for her to be back to normal, at least as normal as she could be without her husband.

Hermione had managed to get her mother out of hospital to attend her father's funeral a few days earlier. As per his request, he had been cremated, and now his ashes sat in a beautiful urn next to her mother's hospital bed.

In fact, her mother looked at the urn before talking to her precious daughter.

"I know, Hermione, and I know that you're worried about me," She said. "But please, don't be. I'm a big girl and I'm never touching that stuff again."

"Good, because you understand that I will have Mrs Weasley dropping in from time to time to check up on you and I can assure you that if you dare to relapse she will have you round her house and she will force you to go 'cold turkey'," Hermione warned, much to her mother's amusement.

"I know, dear," Suddenly her mother's face saddened. "Your father would be so proud of you. He always hated what we were doing and what I had to do to get the money for the next hit, but it's like a black hole. No matter how hard you try, you'll get sucked in."

"Mum, what did you have to do to get the money?" Hermione asked.

"Horrible, horrible things," she closed her eyes and a tear slipped from between her lids. "Selling yourself is never a good idea. I was beaten and they would use me until I couldn't stand any more. Never do that to yourself, baby, promise me."

"I promise, Mum," Hermione's eyes were awash with unshed tears as she held her mother's hand. "I promise."

"Good girl," She looked at her daughter. "You are my only hope now. Whatever you do, be happy. I don't care if you don't get paid much, I don't care if you don't live in a nice house, but please, make sure that you're happy. That's all that matters."

Hermione nodded to her mother, who shut her eyes once more and drifted off to sleep. Before she left, Hermione conjured some yellow roses, her mother's favourite flower, and placed them in a vase beside the bed. She leaned over, pressed a kiss to her mother's forehead, then left.


Okay, well :) chapter done and updated :) hope it's satisfactory...let us know :)