Hi again! I was so excited about this next chapter I had to get it up as quickly as possible. Our trio is face to face finally and I am excited for you to see how Hermione is going to react and if she will take Minerva's words to heart! I was excited to show this through Hermione's eyes and I hope you enjoy! I am working on the next chapter already but can't wait to hear what all you wonderful readers think of this next chapter! Your comments and kudos as always have been lovely so far so please continue to tell me what you think!

Despite close to eight years in the Wizarding World, Hermione still had yet to master portkey travel gracefully. She stumbled upon her landing and felt the tingle of strong protective wards that seemed to be trying to decide whether to allow or deny her entry.

She was amazed as the powerful wards no more than a second later seemed to beckon her forward. It felt like the wards were welcoming her into their warm embrace as if they had finally recognize the magic they had been missing. It was unlike anything Hermione had felt before and it made her feel so welcomed.

She finally stopped focusing on the wards and their complexity, some of which she could see shimmering in the afternoon sun. She turned to look at what the wards were protecting and she couldn't contain the gasp that escaped her throat. Hermione was standing in front of what had to be the most picturesque English stone manor. In comparison to Malfoy Manor this home was practically a cottage but in Hermione's eye it was perfect.

Almost straight out of an Austen novel the home had a low stack stone wall with a quaint gate. Beautiful and yet somewhat wild front gardens filled with bright blooming flowers and just a peek of lush green grass. Beyond the dropping branches of a weeping willow that was planted to the right of the walkway beyond the gate was the olive green front door. Clearly stained wood but it blended in perfectly with the sandy and grey colors of the natural stones that made up the majority of the building. The beautiful windows that seemed to dot the two floors of the house seemed to be original and had beautiful hand done leadwork that was just unheard of these days.

The front of the house seemed to be everything she imagined of where one of her favorite heroines Elizabeth Bennet had spent some of her happy days growing up with her sisters and doting father. Pride and Prejudice had been a favorite escape for Hermione ever since she had read it the first time after her mother had gifted her copy to Hermione on her tenth birthday.

Hermione still carried her mother's copy in her beaded bag and instinctively reached in the bag to touch the familiar cover and run her fingers over the worn spine. It was as if she was touching the book at just this moment that in a way her mother would be there with her as she got ready to enter what her friends would call a snake pit.

As she ran her fingers over the ridges of the spine of her mother's gift and felt a slight breeze brush across her face. It felt like a push of confidence from her mother and with that she took one more step forward towards the gate when she heard the familiar pop of apparition on her left. Hermione looked to her left and then down and saw a familiar elf beaming beatifically up at her.

She smiled back at Spiffy and crouched to get at eye level with the elf who had been essential in helping her save Severus. Spiffy had in fact gotten Severus to safety after she had helped with the antivenom and bezoar. If it hadn't been for Spiffy, Hermione would have probably depleted her magic saving Severus and that still might not have been enough to save him. She also would have never left Severus basically leave Harry to be slaughtered by that madman. She owed this small elf so much and her Spiffy was clinging to her legs in a frantic hug thanking her as if her life depended on it.

The poor elf was sobbing and it had Hermione worried. She began to rub tiny circle on the crying creatures' back and gradually the sobs had lessened. It had felt like an awkward few hours when really it was a few minutes. Spiffy was a professional elf and had been briefly overcome with thanks but she had an order from Master Severus and she would fulfil it.

Hermione was trying to comfort the elf and thanking Spiffy for all of her help when the elf finally calmed enough to pull back and look her in the eyes. Spiffy sniffled and then with a watery smile and a slightly shaky voice said, "No thank you Missie Hermione. You saved Master Severus and helped Spiffy fix him. You helped other Master and Mister Harry Potter win war. Both Master's safe and free thanks to Missie Hermione. Please Spiffy is to bring Missie Hermione in. Missie Hermione is to make herself comfortable!"

It was with that little speech finished that Spiffy grabbed Hermione's hand before she even had time to register what was happening or respond to the elf. Spiffy began to tug almost impatiently and then as soon as Hermione had stood up straight Spiffy had been off and she had to move quickly to follow the elf past the gate and down the path.

Spiffy briskly headed into the house through the olive door which seemed even more authentic and quaint close up than it had looked far away. Hermione had to remember to shut her jaw when she took in the interior of the house she had just been lead into. If the outside had been the picture perfect home she had escaped to in her favorite novel, the interior seemed to be a slightly higher end version of the interiors of homes she would linger over when browsing her mother's design magazines.

It wasn't too open to have lost all character and charm of the original home but some walls had clearly been taken down to let more light in from the copious windows. While the house was charming it was hardly quaint and had clearly been updated. The mix of comfortable yet refined furnishings and a clearly modern and very muggle looking kitchen through the back of the house.

Hermione was in awe and nearly wandered into the slightly opened door to her immediate right. She could smell the wonderful mix of leather, parchment, ink and dust, the smell of a library and a place she could hide and find comfort.

A small throat clearing reminded her of Spiffy and reminded her of why she had asked Minerva to send her here. She looked once again at the small and overjoyed elf and politely asked, "Spiffy where was it requested I wait for your Masters? I am still recently out of the hospital and would love to sit while I waited if they might be a few moments."

Spiffy nearly tripped over herself showing Hermione into the Sitting Room that was to her left. It was a beautiful open room with a large fireplace, shelves dotted with unique books and titles and beautiful overstuffed couches. There was a lovely coffee table between the couches and it held a bouquet of some of the most stunning hydrangeas she had ever seen. The blooms were full lovely and the perfect scent to soothe her nerves somewhat.

Spiffy looked at Hermione expectantly and the young witch moved to sit down on the couch that faced the opening Severus and Lucius would most likely enter from. She hoped she would see them before they entered so she could brace herself. She remembered what Minerva had told her and she was determined to be brave and at least appear strong. She knew what she survived during the war and how lesser witches and wizards would have crumbled under the pressure and pain she had been under.

Still Severus had been one of the few people who could sometimes cut her off at the knees with a look or a few choice words. She doubted now that he didn't have to play double agent and was most likely approaching her to become part of a triad that he would do either. Still it was something to worry about and it was hard to drown out the little voices in the back of her mind that seemed to niggle and put her down. Either because of her looks, her SWOT-iness, her bossiness and anything else she had been picked on for.

Normally Hermione could ignore the voice but when she was nervous as she was while waiting for the two men she could possibly be partners with for the rest of her life they were a little harder to drown out. She nibbled on her lower lip and tried to focus on the many titles dotting the room. She could hardly believe the number of rare and unique titles that were just randomly placed on the shelves with no real purpose or order. Maybe they were books that were recently read or some of their favorites but still there were many titles that in her research she had understood had been lost to the Wizarding World forever.

The books she was looking at could be the only copies in the world. It was extraordinary to Hermione and it was taking all she had in her not to stand up and touch them. She felt her heart flutter at the thought of having regular access to these books and the fact that the men who owned them were clearly as lovers of the pursuit of knowledge just like she was. She felt buoyed by hope at what could hopefully be some common ground besides the bond that was calling out for each other.

So lost in all of the titles that were just in this room Hermione missed the two men who were approaching the room. True they were both spies and experts at moving silently but given that they were hardly a few days out of war the fact that she missed them approaching probably had Mad-Eye rolling over in his grave. Constant vigilance was apparently not her practice when surrounded by books.

So when she heard a kinder version of the voice that had haunted many a knicker wetting dream break her book induced revere she resisted the immediate urge to jump out of her skin. Just before she reacted as such she heard Minerva's voice telling her to act like their Queen.

So instead of acting like a skittish tomcat with no grace or an immature little girl with no experience with men and screeching or blanching. She turned towards the two men who had seemed to appear suddenly and smiled. It was then that she felt it. Hermione had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel true unadulterated joy and she allowed her smile to show the joy she felt blooming in her chest looking at the two scrumptious men standing in front of her.

She had to stop herself from licking her lips like a cat that had gotten into the cream and remind herself to speak. She rose as gracefully as she could, grateful that Minerva had transfigured ballet flats rather than heels. The two men in front of her made her nervous and feeling like she was moving like a gangly colt. Any attempt at a heel would have had Hermione falling flat on her arse trying to reach her two hosts.

How was she supposed to greet them with a handshake, hug? She wasn't sure and she hoped the panic didn't flicker across her face. Yes, she was a woman and yes, the way that the two of them were looking at her like starving men look at fresh meat made her feel like the most attractive woman alive. As she approached them she finally managed to open her mouth with some type of confidence it wouldn't come out as a giggle or a squeak. She finally managed in a not as shaky as she had expected voice, "Good evening Headmaster Snape, Mr. Malfoy. Thank you for allowing me into your lovely home uninvited. I thought given some information that has been brought to my attention that maybe we could set up a time to chat."

Her mind was screaming tell them you want to do it now! Tell them Hermione! Take what you want you silly girl! However the more rational part of her mind was still trying to wrap her mind around a few things. The least of which was the fact that she had managed to form those sentences in the face of such a shocking change in what she had expected them to look like.

She had known that both men were both handsome in their own ways and she had some idea that Lucius was fairly fit given how most of his robes and suits were cut. She also remembered he was the one that had caught, lifted and carried her like she weighed nothing while in the hospital wing. Still what stood before her had her wishing that she could change her knickers right this instance as the ones she had on were absolutely soaked.

In the forefront of the two seemingly walking talking specimens of Hermione's darkest fantasies was her former Potions Professor. He looked at least ten to fifteen years younger than when she had seen him last in school. His face was so much freer. He had a devastating smirk on his face and she couldn't believe how much his onyx eyes were glittering. Was that hunger she saw?

She could hardly believe this was the same Severus Snape who had been dancing with death just a few days before in the Shrieking Shack. Hermione was glad to see him looking hale and healthy. She gazed down to the surprisingly bare and comfortable feet and began to openly ogle the man who was and had been a hidden crush since he had saved them from Remus Lupin in werewolf form in her third year. If she was completely truthful with herself she would of course honestly admit that she could still remember every word, breathe and pause of his opening speech during first year potions.

Now she was openly allowed and most likely would be encourage to look at him with the hunger in her eyes that had laid dormant before the end of the war. Now Hermione and the men in front of her were free and she for one was going to relish every moment and new feeling this freedom brought. Thus her sudden bravery to let her eyes rake up and down her former professor with a smoldering heat that could only be described as barely contained lust. Her breath was picking up and her heart was hammering in her chest as she was finally able to see Severus without his imposing school robes.

Hermione was not afraid to admit, at least silently in her head that she was loving the privilege this casual Severus was granting her. However how good he seemed to look in the muggle jeans he was wearing was not healthy for her. It was making her heart race and her face flush. The jumper which was of course black and looked so soft that she wanted to rush over and cuddle in it. It also was just tight enough to not be flashy but showed that her former Potions Master clearly had not been a slouch in the gym either. She was nearly drooling.

Then Lucius stepped forward from behind Severus and took her hand. He made sure he held her eye contact while he brought her hand to his lips and lightly pressed his lips to her fingers. It felt like she had been zapped in the most pleasurable way and she wanted to pull her hand and eyes away. The other, louder and more demanding half of her brain wanted to demand he do that again and then maybe move to her lips.

Lucius the perfect gentleman however gently let go of her hand and lowly purred, "You are welcome anytime, my dear Miss Granger."

Hermione somehow was able to say, "Hermione, please will you both call me Hermione. I think given the reason we will be chatting and our history, you have both earned at least that right." She flushed and had looked away.

She felt smooth fingers under her chin and turned her pink face back towards the silver eyes of Lucius and what felt like Severus boring into her in his intense but caring way. Lucius held her gaze and said," Of course Hermione, but only if you will grant us the same honor of using our given names." In a bit of a flirtatious lit he continued, "I for one can't wait to hear my name coming from those sweet lips."

Hermione blushed even brighter and heard an odd noise and realized it was her giggling almost like that cow Lavender Brown. Was this what it felt like to have someone actually look at you like a woman? Was this feeling what she had been missing buried in her books for so long?

Hermione could see how it could clearly become addictive. With her next thought however she could see reasonably easily that most likely the only people that would have ever made her feel like this giggling mass of female hormone and wiles were the two men in front of her.

Hermione was nothing if not cognizant and rational about the fact that it was absolutely for the best that she had been able to avoid these entirely pleasant but completely distracting feelings during her school years. It was her time in the library and her know it all status that had allowed herself and at least one of the men standing in front of her to be there today.

Still it didn't mean she couldn't preen under their appraising gazes now and so she allowed her blush to continue to heat her face and in a moment of boldness she allowed her hungry lust filled gaze to tear away from the welcoming package of Severus to take in the picture of masculinity that was Lucius Malfoy.

Hermione knew that Lucius had been raised as a proper pureblood heir and even if he had been on the side of the light all along, she had doubted that Lucius owned anything remotely muggle or casual. While she was right on the one front, the fitted slacks and button down shirt, even with the sleeves rolled up did not scream casual or comfort to her. She was much more use to jeans (or even yoga pants) and a t-shirt or jumper in the evenings. However his attire was clearly casual for the blonde and this made her smile just a bit brighter and her eyes crinkle slightly in humor.

She found it adorable that Lucius was trying to make her feel comfortable and appear casual. Hermione had to admit his version of casual left her panting just as Severus' had. While Severus had looked like comfort and safety in her eyes. Looking at Lucius, Hermione saw all of the grace, refinement and courage she hoped to possess at some point in her life, the man was an epitome of class and carried himself with a detached confidence that she truly admired. More than all of that she saw his open attempt to welcome her and make her feel comfortable in their home and in their lives.

For a man that clearly was normally more comfortable in wizarding robes, Hermione appreciated the gesture of him skipping the much more formal wear but she could not help by stare lustfully at the visual image he painted.

From his refined grey suede driving loafers which he was wearing without socks as if to make an attempt to be casual to his gorgeous black slacks that were tailored to perfection and made her unconsiously lick her lips. As her eyes continued to obviously rake over the blonde man she came to the well cut icy blue shirt, it showed just how broad his shoulders really were and she nearly shivered in delight. His rolled shirtsleeves that were clearly french cuffed (which made her inwardly grin as that was her father's favorite type of dress shirt) showed his powerful forearms which hinted at the power that the man possessed. Her knees felt weak when she saw his gorgeous blonde mane hanging loose and the near predatory smile that graced his face as he watched her reactions.

Two weeks ago, even 72 hours ago, that smile gracing the face of Lucius Malfoy would have frightened and confused Hermione. Now it made her want to walk forward and show him just how much of a true Gryffindor she was.

So Hermione decided for once in her life she was going to act on pure instinct. No second guessing and no applying logic to the situation, she moved forward with all the grace of a baby gazelle walking for the first time. She looked Lucius in his now molten silver eyes and moved close enough to him where she could feel the heat that pouring off of the man. With a shaking hand she reached out placed a hand on his firm chest, rose to her tiptoes and pressed a feather light kiss to the cheek of the shocked Lucius.

When she heard the groan of approval she became a bit more daring and placed her other hand on his shoulder and placed another feather light kiss this time on Lucius' lips. She stepped back with a sly grin to rival the best of Lucius'.

Feeling pleased with herself and turning her gaze onto Severus who had an eyebrow raised in amusement and surprise. Then to his evident surprise she repeated the same actions on him first pressing her soft lips onto his cheek in the lightest of actions but when she moved to kiss his lips with the same pressure Severus dropped the premises that he was going to be merely a spectator.

As she moved towards his lips, Hermione heard an absolutely knicker drenching growl and then before she could even reach his lips he had taken control and was kissing her with what could be described as barely reigned in hunger. Her knees went weak and she felt his arms wrap around her waist. She felt completely safe and suddenly absolutely starved for more of the kisses Severus was bestowing on her.

Hermione could hear pants and moans and realized that she was creating those noises and when she felt the hard planes of Lucius press behind her she pulled back and gasped. With only a morsel of a taste, she could see how intoxicating these two wizards were going to be to her and she needed to get some answers before she completely lost herself in this indulgence.

She grinned at Severus and pecked his lips once more and untangled herself from his arms. Hermione graced Lucius who was behind her looking slightly worry with the same happy grin and another peck and then flounced back to the couch she had been seated on when they had entered. She had previously thought herself incapable of flouncing but she had already decided this was a day that was going to be full of surprises and new things that she had believed impossible.

Hermione looked at the two tall dark wizards who were smirking at her and looking at her like she was a gazelle and they were hungry lions. She swallowed the tremor in her voice and with as sultry a tone as she could she patted the seat next to her, raised her eyebrow in a way that she was sure made Severus proud and said, "Lucius, Severus, I believe you have a few questions that you can answer for me?"