"She just came in there and... then left?" Sirius hissed as they were sitting with Teddy eating breakfast.
Hermione was sleeping still so they were trying to catch up on what happened. "Came in, we... then she told me she was taking Draco as her date tomorrow night. Didn't want to come between us." Remus grumbled.
Sirius was rubbing his face and shaking his head, "that doesn't make sense. I told her those things for her to know how united we are."
Sirius had a rough night after she snuck into Remus's room. He was pining for her and wishing she would do the same for him. He felt her desire and pleasure as if he was administering them himself. He had to admit, he was jealous of the werewolf. It made him feel left out. He had a feeling that was her point. She was intimate with Sirius and then snuck into Remus's room and had shagged him. She was amorous with the animagus and rough with the werewolf, opposite of their usual desires... her point was clearly made; how were they going to feel if she did that?
"We are sods, Moony," Sirius sighed and shook his head. "She did that on purpose."
"I told you she was going to study us. We just didn't pick up her cues that she was afraid. Now, we get to sit back and watch her make eyes at that blond whelp." Remus growled and Teddy glanced over at him.
"Dad?" He asked and Remus smiled at his boy.
"It is alright, Teddy, we are just talking about a silly man," Remus reassured his son who continued to eat.
Remus heard her padding down the stairs and cleared his throat. Sirius caught on and wiped his grouchy expression off of his face. Hermione appeared and was smiling brightly, "My favorite people all in the same room. How am I ever supposed to leave!" She exclaimed with a giggle and Teddy grinned.
"Where are you headed today, love?" Sirius asked sipping his cup.
Hermione sighed and smiled, "to Ginny's for a bit. She is going to come back here with me and James after we catch up." She wandered over to the boy and kissed his hair. "I am so happy to see you, Teddy Bear."
"Me too, Mione," he declared.
She kissed Sirius hair and then kissed Remus's as well. "I will see you boys in a bit. Aunt Ginny and I have tons to talk about." She grabbed a muffin off the table and flicked her wand at her clothes, changing them to a cute sporty outfit. "Goodbye," Hermione murmured and left the room swiftly.
"Did you feel that?" Remus asked Sirius when he heard the fireplace go off.
Sirius sighed and nodded, "guilt."
0o0o
"Are you insane? Did this magic with the Veil scramble your brain?" Ginny growled as she finished cooking breakfast.
"Most certainly," Hermione told her with a nod as she helped James into his chair.
"They are both crazy about you and you are going to ask out Draco Malfoy?" Ginny asked incredulously.
Hermione sipped her tea and made an agreeing sound, "Precisely."
The red head brought the plates to the table and glared at the older witch. "Why?"
"Gin, if I do anything more than shag them it will hurt them in the long run. I am not going to ruin our favorite marauders because I am selfish." Hermione declared and shrugged her shoulders.
"Explain," Ginny declared cutting up James's food.
"I can't," Hermione paused and ate a bite of her breakfast before speaking, "But they will be better off in the long run, I promise you. I would rather die again than to hurt than any further."
Ginny shook her head, "this does not settle with me well, Hermione. Adding Draco Malfoy to this mix only makes things more complex."
Hermione waved her off, "if anything it makes things easier. The likelihood of Draco Malfoy being serious about me is slim to none. So, even if he says yes, he still is going to marry Astoria Greengrass. It is practically written in history already."
"Hermione, you never do anything without thinking about it. Why him?" Ginny grumbled and Hermione exhaled.
"Because, Gin. Draco Malfoy is attractive and intelligent, but he also, isn't serious, at least that I know of. I can bring him, flirt a bit and cull some of the desires I have for my Marauders."
"You said my," Ginny said pointedly.
"They are my Marauders," Hermione confessed with a slight nod. "it will be good, Ginny. I promise."
0o0o
The witches arrived at Grimmauld Place with James just as Draco and Snape were walking into the house. Sirius was ushering them in and Ginny waved at them. "Hello Draco, Severus," her voice had a bit of tease to it and Snape glared.
Hermione moved to greet them and Draco smirked, "getting your exercise in before I came over, Granger?" He snickered and she rolled her eyes.
"As if you can inspire me to do more than leave the room, Draco," she retorted and he grinned brighter. "You both feeling frisky? We can get to work right away." She declared and Ginny dropped her jaw.
She wasn't the only one, Sirius was gaping and seething at the same time. "Frisky? Quite a word choice, Granger," Draco chuckled and Hermione waved them in.
The potion master groaned but followed the two flirtatious ex-students into the library. Ginny glared over at Sirius and he shut the door. "What the bloody hell happened to her, Sirius?"
"Do you think that little brat slipped her something?" Sirius asked and Ginny shook her head.
"No, that is one hundred percent her, but something happened." Ginny glanced at the library and heard her giggling.
"She isn't forcing her feelings either... I am at a loss." Sirius said rubbing his face. "Shall we go in the kitchen?" He asked and she nodded.
Hermione was going over the pages on the desk with scrutiny and Draco was glancing at her. He couldn't figure out what got into her today. She was being pleasant and even warm with him beyond her usual behavior.
"Granger," he muttered and she gazed over at him.
"Hm? Did I miss something?" She asked and he shook his head with a frown.
He pointed at her, "what is going on?" he asked her and she smiled at him.
"Come with me as my date tomorrow night to the Burrow? I know you are going to possibly get serious with Astoria, but it is just a dinner." She questioned and he looked taken back.
"You want me to come as your date to your ex-fiancé family's house for dinner? So soon after you broke it off?" He felt almost like she was tricking him.
She nodded with a grin, "he is bringing a date. I already told Molly about us splitting and she was fine, well at least as far as she could be. I don't want to go stag because he told Harry he was bringing a girl. I was wondering if you would like to be mine." Her cheeks were tinted and he glowered at her.
"And the two in there?" He pointed out of the room.
She snorted and waved it off, "does it matter? I am not asking them, I am asking you."
"Black told me that you all were something," Draco sneered and Hermione turned scarlet and frowned.
"He has a way of being presumptuous." She growled and Draco laughed and nodded.
"Alright, Hermione, I will go with you, but you need to do something for me." He told her and she tilted her head. "Severus, you might want to go take a walk." He told the older man who growled and left the room.
"Draco, I am not shagging you in this library," Hermione fussed and folded her arms.
He belted out a stream of laughter and shook his head, "No, not that, yet. Put your mouth to good use, Granger, and give me a taste." He grinned brightly. "I mean if you really want to prove your prowess."
She glared at him and his challenge, "aren't you tired of others doing things for you, Malfoy?" She taunted and he smirked.
He grabbed her and kissed her roughly which took the wind from her and his hands went into her hair. She was not expecting to enjoy it half as much as she was. Even with his lanky form, he was able to make her feel small and the witch let loose a small moan. He pulled away with a raised eyebrow, "not bad, Granger!" He declared with a heavy breath and she laughed.
"Who would have thought you actually knew how to use your tongue for anything except insults." She retorted and he chuckled.
They stood there awkwardly; had they both really wanted to do that before then? Hermione didn't think so. Draco, however, thought differently. He raised an eyebrow, "do you want me to go get, Severus?" He asked and she waved him off.
"He will be back when the coast is clear, I am sure." She murmured and he took a few more steps closer to her.
"Well, if it does get that way," he said with a sly smile and she blushed.
"Draco, I gave you your kiss, what more could you want from me?" She replied and he snorted.
"It wasn't clear before, Granger? I want another one," he spat and she pushed him lightly.
"Slow down there, Malfoy. We have work to do." She declared and he nodded.
"You realize I usually get what I want, Granger," he reminded her and she grinned at him.
"Usually, so do I," she replied and they started to go through the new notes.
The Marauders were sitting in the kitchen while Teddy had taken the two-year-old up to his room to show him. Ginny was sitting with them while they drank and dealt with the wave of their witch kissing that blond brat in their library. It was a timid curiosity at first and then when he kissed her she opened the dam of her enjoyment.
Sirius was almost snarling, "it is ridiculous."
Remus was rubbing his face, "what do we do about this?"
"Nothing," Ginny told them and they glared at her. "I mean it. Would you trust me as her best friend?"
"Pardon me, Gin, but how is this helping us?" Remus asked politely and she smiled.
"She admitted that he isn't serious about her, so let it be. I think she is scared how much she cares about you both." Ginny admitted and the Marauders glanced at each other.
"I would believe her about him not being so serious if I didn't warn him last night and he challenged me. That little wanker." Sirius growled and Remus shook his head.
Ginny giggled, "you didn't?" She gasped and he nodded.
"I did, what a determined little shit," Sirius grumbled.
Remus waved him off, "I am with her, leave her be. She isn't serious."
Snape entered the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea, "I promise you, this won't bode well for either of you." He said with mild enjoyment.
"Oh, does Snivellus have a secret?" Sirius goaded and the potion master grinned wickedly at him.
"It must really make you feel insufficient. Your reputation not convincing enough to keep a simple girl, you must have really disappointed her. It was only time before she found something a little less... older." Snape sneered at the animagus who stood up and Ginny cleared her throat.
"Probably won't support your cause to start a fight, Sirius. No matter if he deserves it or not." Ginny reminded him and Remus sat there seething.
Severus smirked and raised his nose, "I have work to do. The sooner I am away from Mr. Malfoy's feelings the soon I do not have to hear his pining for Miss Granger." With that, he left and made the wizards growl.
"Well, I am going to get sloshed," Sirius growled and nabbed the bottle. "I will be in my room. That witch is lucky I am too angry to get myself someone to bury my knob in." Sirius snapped and went up the stairs.
Remus shook his head, "a total wash of a day. I suppose I could see if my son wants to go out. I don't really want him around such a potent house." Ginny nodded.
"We could take the children somewhere for a bit. Might be better off." The red head agreed and they prepared to leave.
0o0o
Hermione was pacing and writing things in the air. They were so close to it she could taste it. Severus was actually watching with amusement as she was doing her calculations around her. He reading them and would point out discrepancies. "Stupid girl, that needs to be a flick." And different things of the such. He was getting more impatient with the longer they were bound together.
Draco was reading it, standing close to her tracing, "there!" He shouted and she stopped.
Hermione was completely frozen as Snape and Draco read over what she had been working on. The potion master actually raised his eyebrows in surprise. "This, Miss Granger, might work." Snape declared as he started to write it down.
Had she really solved their problem? That was exciting for her! "Very well, I am going to go over this a second and third time before we attempt anything. One mishap and we shall either be stuck like this or worse..." Snape growled with a nod.
Draco stepped toward her with a smile, "do you have to be so smart, Granger? You are making me look bad." His voice was a tease.
"Have a good evening Miss Granger. We shall see you tomorrow," Snape sneered and she waved at him.
"See you tomorrow, Severus." She told him and he left.
Draco snagged her in his arms and smirked, "feeling like flirting with danger a bit, Granger?" He whispered with a lopsided smile.
She closed the gap and kissed him. He was aggressive and yanked her hair making her groan and dig her nails into his shoulders. Draco growled into her mouth and pushed her against the desk. "you really aren't a prude," he teased when they parted and she smiled provocatively.
"I have never been, Draco," she murmured and he chuckled and pulled away from her.
"See you tomorrow, Granger," he breathed with a laugh and ran a hand through his hair.
"Draco... I have a secret," she stopped him in his tracks and he tilted his head.
"What is it, Hermione?" He asked and she bit her lip. "Don't tell me you are pregnant with their baby or something oddly wild."
The witch shook her head and went to the desk for a page. "Just do me a favor. Read it. Regardless of what it says would you do a favor for me?" She asked and he frowned.
"You are starting to scare me, what's wrong?" He asked and she chewed on her lip before waving her wand over the page.
When she handed it to him his eyes grew. "Hermione..." His eyes glinted in the light.
"I need you to still take me on that date, alright?" She asked with tears in her eyes and he smirked.
"Like you had to ask, I may even get lucky." He teased and she kissed him softly.
"Thank you, Draco. You cannot tell them alright?" She asked and he nodded.
"Is this..." He trailed off and she nodded wiping her tears.
"The very reason why," she responded and he sighed heavily and smirked.
"See you tomorrow, Granger. Dress like you're wealthy," he teased with a wink and she giggled.
She felt... guilty. She enjoyed Draco and his company, but she felt so rotten for what she was doing. Not that Draco wasn't enjoying it, but she knew her Marauders were anything but pleased. She felt worse than when she thought she would pit them against each other to find blame for not being able to save her...
"Done with the boy now, kitten?" Sirius's voice came into the room.
She gazed up at him and could see he was thoroughly pissed, "how can I be of service, Sirius Black?" She asked and he grinned.
"I am sure we both know. Someone needs to bend you over that desk." He shut the door and Hermione blushed.
"You are drunk." She told him and he chuckled.
"Very much so, but that hasn't ever stopped me before. I have made worse decisions." He snickered and she rubbed her arm. "Come on, my sweet little kitten, I know you have been dying for a continuation of the other day."
"You are sloshed and a bit combative. I don't think they mix well for you, Padfoot." She told him and he nodded.
"Oh, I know, but one of those things cannot be helped at this moment in time. Possibly both." He growled with a smirk.
"Come on, let's go get you in bed." She declared and he glared at her.
"What is it? Am I too old for you, kitten? Am I not what I used to be when you were a teenager barely able to dream of fantasies about me? Did I disappoint you somehow that you do not want more from me than this?" He growled grabbing himself.
Her emotions softened to guilt and sadness, "you are more than you think, Sirius. Come on, love. Let me get you comfortable."
She wrapped her body around him with one arm and led him up the stairs. "You still feel pretty amazing, even being pissed I know the difference," he grumbled and grabbed her bum tightly.
"Thank you," she said with a smile at him as they got to the top floor.
"Do you want to know a secret?" He asked as she opened his bedroom door.
"What is that, Padfoot?" She asked as she started to unbutton his coat.
"I always knew you were going to be this remarkable witch. Absolutely cunning, a firecracker in bed. I was jealous of my godson and his ignorance. Well. He did alright with the Weasley girl. I would have picked you, however." He said and groaned. "I shouldn't want to feel these things. I shouldn't want you so desperately..."
She peeled his shirt off of him and she ran her fingers over his bare chest, "always so handsome, Sirius," she murmured and started to unbutton his pants.
"Hermione, please, love. Don't go out with that blond twit. Please let me take you to Paris or to the Bahamas... Moony can bring his boy and we can do this all together." He rumbled as she pulled down his pants and made him sit.
Pulling off his boots he ran a hand through her hair, "Sirius, I adore you, but you are drunk and drunken confessions are never clear and logical. How would that make me look? Publicly flaunt that I am being shagged by two men, one of which has a son? I would be seen as a selfish woman who cannot decide between two best mates."
She tugged his pants off completely and he groaned, "witch, I don't give two bloody fucks what others say." He landed back on the bed and she walked between his legs.
"I adore you," she said and grabbed a potion from his nightstand, "but you need to drink this and sober some before we can actually talk about anything. You were never a logical drunk. You snogged me silly."
He sat up and grinned at her, "and you turned the color of cherries. How timid and cute you were."
She giggled and nodded, "I was, you took the breath from me for days after that."
His eyes met hers and she saw them focus. "What is it really, love? It isn't that you don't want us. Why go through all of this?"
She made a face and sighed, "Maybe someday I will be able to tell you, but tonight is not that night." She kissed him again and he pulled her on him.
"Don't leave me, love." He grumbled and she helped him up to his pillows.
"I will eventually, Sirius," she whispered as he closed his eyes... she left, tear stains on her shirt.