Sorry for the long wait. This chapter and the next which will be posted today were a bit harder to get out than I expected. Slight trigger warning ahead (better safe than sorry) and know there will be some lemons in the next chapter. Still this story is rated M for a reason and this chapter is no exception.
This explains a bit more of the surprise pairing of Draco and Kingsley. It was not something I had in mind when I started the story but the more I thought about it as I was planning the more I like it. I know it is not a normal pairing and it is not going to be a highlight of the story or even much of a subplot but they will be mentioned again and I wanted you to have a bit more background on them...That being said get ready for some lemons later today and enjoy the build!
Also thank you so much for the amazing feedback for the last chapter! It had me excited and inspired and it was hard to focus this chapter and it went through several re-writes and eventually was split into two because of how unwieldy it was getting! I hope you enjoy this and and can't wait to post the next one later today! Please keep the comments and kudos coming! I really appreciate them and they definitely help keep me motivated when a chapter is being more than a tad frustrating!
The two older men were sufficiently satisfied with Draco's promises to get started with his penance for slandering their witch and Draco was itching to get out of the study as quickly as possible. He had obviously committed a horrific faux pas by repeating what the Weasel had said. However he had also mistakenly spoken and alerted his older brother and protective godfather as to who his lover, was.
Draco used the term lover in his head because truthfully in the few rushed months he had been with Kingsley Shacklebolt it had been a whirlwind and neither of them had been particularly bothered with the idea of labels. It had been a drunken fumble that had turned into an owl or two which progressed to hurried caresses and fumbles in closets or abandoned rooms at Grimmauld before or after Order meetings.
Draco had eventually grown to count down days to when he could see the man he now called Kings next. Then he began to crave the dark man's kisses like a drug, Draco realized it might be a bit more than just a crush or a quick shag. Still he hadn't held out much hope that he would survive until the end of the War.
His brother and Severus had decades of spying on Voldemort before he was this extra insane reincarnation. He had been shoved into this and was having to juggle being a spy and changing his entire worldview. It had been no simple task and it certainly didn't help his cause that Voldemort had taken up residence in his house and was seemingly more paranoid than ever.
Draco had basically decided as much as it would kill his brother, he was most likely not going to make it through the end of the war. Thus when he had caught Kingsley's eye and there had been a few extra moments of what should have deemed illegally sinful eye contact, Draco did something that he had never done. He didn't look before he leaped and didn't care about the repercussions. For the first time in a long time he didn't think about what his brother would think and he sure as shit didn't think about what Narcissa was going to think. With both feet and more gusto than he had previously thought possible he had jumped into what was supposed to be a one-night stand.
One-night stand had turned into two and then into three and so on and so on. The electricity between the two of them became time either of them had a spare few moments at an order meeting or when both knew they wouldn't be missed and like magnets were drawn to each other.
As the war had ramped up and Kings had stepped into the leadership role of the Order, Draco had figured with no words about future or promises made that their fling would be just that, simply a fling. Draco had convinced himself that Kings would no longer have time or want anything to do with him now that he had so many more responsibilities. Their age gap certainly was something Draco was sure Kings would see as a detriment. The fact that he had that hideous mark on his left arm would certainly not be a check in the pro column if there was one for continuing messing about with Draco Malfoy. He thanked Merlin that one of his nutter parents was dead and long gone but Narcissa was crazy enough to make up for Abraxas being dead.
He doubted Kingsley would want to deal with her going Mommy Dearest on him when she discovered he was regularly defiling her precious baby boy. It wouldn't matter to that harpy that Draco had started it and that Kings hadn't been his first. The man may have been pureblooded but that was about all Narcissa would have approved of.
The surprise that must have been evident on Draco's face when Kingsley sought him out after Draco was trying so hard to hide and drink his shockingly broken heart away. Draco hadn't bothered to ask Kings if he wanted to continue. He hadn't asked Kings what his thoughts were. Draco had just assumed that it would be over and he would be tossed aside for something better and bright just as he had been for most of his life.
Kingsley apparently did not appreciate not being asked his opinions about their relationship, fling or whatever it was or had been. Kingsley had not appreciated that at all if the love bites that had scattered Draco's chest when the older man had finally gotten ahold of him after weeks of evasion by the blonde. Draco had wished with all his heart that they could be visible.
Still that had not convinced Draco that auror was serious about them or whatever it was they were doing. He didn't even know if Kingsley considered it exclusive. Not that Draco was looking anywhere else but he wouldn't have blamed Kings. The older man was an adonis. Even in the heaviest stressors and toughest battles, Kingsley always had grace and strength.
Draco was a wreck physically most of the time. Normally, thanks to frequently being Riddle's torture victim du jour thanks to suggestions by his darling Mother on how to strengthen his "weak constitution." Mentally and emotionally, he knew the baggage he carried needed a team of pack mules to carry it all. He didn't expect many people would want to tie themselves to everything that he was going to come with.
Kings had started to change that for him. He had started whispering about what they would do after the War. Draco knew that Kingsley was going to have a large role in the Ministry when the Light finally prevailed. He was the perfect choice and that wasn't just his own personal bias talking. Kingsley hadn't been in Ravenclaw for show. He was whip smart, logical, sure of himself and he had a moral compass that was straight as an arrow.
It boggled his mind how someone like Kingsley Shacklebolt stuck around with him. Draco was shocked that Kings had remained and was still here after his raw confession about how he still struggled against the way he had been raised. The beliefs that Narcissa had drilled into his head and the cruelty that she had inflicted upon him and encouraged to grow in his personality.
Still Kings had stayed. He called him his Dragon. His Drake. Draco had liked belonging to someone. He had decided not long before the final battle that it wasn't just someone he wanted to belong to. It was Kings.
He had known that there was a strong possibility that he would not make it out of the battle alive. Draco could only hope that Kingsley would. Before he and his brother had found Potter, Draco had more actively been watching his lover than protecting himself. Then he had agreed to go on what was essentially in his mind a glorified suicide mission with his brother and Granger. He had walked into the Forbidden Forest with a gathering of the majority of the most loyal of the Dark Lord and began picking them off one by one. He couldn't believe when Potter, Granger, Lucius and himself had walked out of the forest with whatever was left of the decapitated Riddle finally victorious.
Before it had truly set in, before most of those on the battlefield had known where his true loyalty lay, Draco had set off looking for his Kings. He had to see with his own eyes that his lover was still alive. When he finally saw his Kings the hounds of hell could not stop him from reaching the darker man.
Kingsley had seen him rushing across the fields and met him. Neither cared who had seen them when they collided in a frenzy to hold and touch the other to make sure they were both in one piece. Draco could still hear the echo of the words Kings had all but growled for none but him to hear, "My Dragon, our future will start now. Minister or no, you will be by my side my Drake. I can't whisk you away like I want to right now, love. I need to go debrief with Minerva as well as your brother and my auror team. I need to see who perished and who is being taken to Azkaban to await trial. It will be chaos at least for a day, maybe more but as soon as I can my Drake.I will take you home and so you what happens when we have all the time in the world finally. I can finally take my time and show you how much I truly love and worship you."
Draco remembered staring mutely up for what felt like an eternity at Kingsley before saying in an almost whisper, "I can't wait Kings. I love you too. I will until my last breath." Kingsley had kissed him soundly and Draco could still hear the chuckled, "Took you long enough to admit it my Drake. I can't wait to show you how worthy you are of our love."
Draco's jaw had been hanging open when with those words, Kingsley had smirked and gotten to work on the aftermath and wreckage that was the final battle. He still couldn't believe that the enigma that seemed to radiate power wanted him. It was something that was going to take Draco a lot of time to process.
Still the night of worship that Kingsley had bestowed upon him when they both had finally left Hogwarts was a memory that Draco would cherish forever. His lover had paid such attention to every part of his body and parts of his soul that he never even knew existed that it had touched Draco and made him feel truly loved for the first time in his young life.
He had even admitted that to Kings in what had felt like the rawest and weakest moment of his life. Draco was still in awe of the blinding smile that had met him, the kiss that took his breath away and the rumbled "I love you" that seemed to come from the soul of his lover. The smile and whisper promises that he would feel loved for the rest of his life had buoyed Draco like nothing he had ever felt before.
It was thinking on how much Kingsley meant to him that had Draco turning back to the two men who had been there his entire life in some way, shape or form and silently swore that he would do whatever he could to make sure they had that with Granger.
He squared his shoulders and with a confidence that he was shocked he could muster given the deadly tension that was slowly dissipating from the room. Draco turned towards his brother and said in a quiet but firm voice, "I am truly sorry I said what I did about your witch. I am sorry that I hurt her in past and that I caused her pain. Lucius, I know love for the first time truly and I want you to feel the completeness that Kings gives me. You and Severus deserve your witch. You both more than anyone deserve to feel complete and I know Miss Granger will give that to you. I will do everything in my power to make her first date the best in history and I will do whatever I can to help for the rest of your courtship to make sure you will win her heart and woo your witch. I owe you both my life and now the fact that I have found my love and I promise you I will do whatever I can to repay you for that and make amends for what I said about your witch."
It was Lucius' turn to be slack jawed. Draco had suddenly gone from calling the Minister Kings to admitting to being in love with the man. He had clearly missed a lot but judging by the lynx patronus that bounded into the room and carried the rich voice of the Minister, he was going to look forward to catching up at some point. He as the guardian couldn't wait to lord this over his old friend's head. He would never deny his younger brother love, especially when his childhood had been so absent of it. Lucius knew that was partially his fault and as angry as he was at Draco currently, he couldn't help but be happy for his younger brother. Draco looked at the shimmering cat and it finally spoke, "Dragon, meet me in the Minister's office as soon as you can get away."
The downright sensual lit that Shacklebolt's voice had carried left no doubt as to why Draco was being called into the Minister's office. Lucius and Severus both had fantasies of laying Hermione out across Severus' teaching desk and Lucius' desk in his study and ravishing her. They both tested out the sturdiness of their desks several times over. It was obvious Kingsley was looking to see if the Minister's desk would hold up.
Severus smirked as he saw the blush light up his godson's cheeks and saw the matching one of his lover's. He knew Lucius was thinking most likely about their witch spread across a desk writhing and moaning but all the darker man could think about was the last time his blonde lover had been spread so enticingly below him across the desk that was in this very room.
Draco downed his previously forgotten glass of firewhiskey in one go and began still blushing walking towards the floo. He was muttering his goodbyes and saying something about important Ministry business. Lucius cleared his throat as his brother grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"You will tell Minister Shacklebolt that we will expect him for dinner as soon as his schedule permits. I would like to meet the man who makes my younger brother so happy. Have fun with your, what was that Draco important Ministry Business, and please for the sake of his secretary make sure you both put up silencing wards." Lucius was chuckling at how Draco was practically neon as he called out the Minister's office floo address and disappeared into the green flames.
As soon as Draco had disappeared through the flames. Lucius heard Severus block the floo. He next saw him cast a silencing charm around the room. From the heat in the potion master's gaze, Lucius knew that hearing seduction oozing from Kingsley's voice and the rewarding but at the same time frustrating encounters with their sweet witch had left Severus wound up.
He personally thought the only thing that was better than the heat and desire that was pouring of his darker lover was if their witch could have joined them. To the best of their knowledge she was still peacefully sleeping away in her room. However Severus had been getting so lost in the undertone of sex that seemed to ooze out of Kingsley's request that he hadn't noticed the tingle of wards he had put up being taken down.
While her Wizards had been seeing Draco off, Hermione had woken up from her nap alone as she expected but she had slept that well in years. In fact Hermione struggled to remember the last time she had experienced such a restful nap. She felt so pleasantly refreshed that she couldn't even find it within herself to be annoyed at the wards she was sure Severus had put up.
After a year on the run and becoming a near expert at warding, she had always felt that besides friendship the best tool and help that she could be to Harry was to provide him any and all knowledge that he might need. On the run they had needed wards and needed to stay safe so she learned them She had been a bit shocked when she first started casting them that she could see the wards flickering and floating around her. Hermione had quickly learned that once she had learned about wards enough she could begin to sense and see them, even if they weren't her own.
Hermione was not able to talk to any other warding experts or even anyone knowledgeable about wards to see if this was normal. She didn't bother telling Harry and Ron about how she could literally see the wards. It would have been something for Ron to brood and be jealous over or to say she was lying. Harry would believe her but would worry about Ron's reaction more than if he could help Hermione understand. Harry would have been more concerned with helping Ron cope than providing comfort to Hermione. It was just another skill she had filed away.
Hermione had discovered early on in life that sometimes some skills were best filed away to only be used when needed. Being able to see and take down from the simply to most of the fairly complex wards she had encountered was one such skill. Being able to see the intent behind the ward was an ability that she was sure was odd even in the wizarding world.
She was already odd enough in that world so that ability that if she had her way would stay under her hat. Still it was very useful now as she could see the in the wards the care and love put into them by Severus. She was sure given how basic the wards Severus had placed around her that he was more concerned about her waking from a nightmare than when she woke and thus with a wave of her hand wandless removed them.
As Hermione finally managed to pull herself out of the bed that was simply heavenly her first thought was what were her wizards were getting up too. Her next thought was that she had been in this dress entirely too long and while it was lovely it was not meant to nap in and most likely was not meant for all of the slightly naughty activities she had participated in earlier. Zipping out of the beautiful dress Minervia had transfigured for her, she wondered if Spiffy could find a way to make the transfiguration stick. The dress would carry more than a few wonderful memories for her and she wanted tangible items these day to literally hold onto the good that was in her life.
As she stood with the pool of purple at her feet, she finally pulled out of her head to look around and her breath was absolutely taken away. The room Severus had brought her to could quite possibly have been the most perfect room in the world. Quite possibly in her opinion better than the Hogwarts library but that was only because this room seemed to be designed just with her in mind.
The colors that adorned the walls were among her favorites and were tasteful and soothing. The floor to ceiling bookcases which already held several beautiful antique texts were stunning and while sparingly filled, it was clear each book there had been placed with care. The plush carpet that was under her feet was the absolutely softest she had ever felt and she wondered what material it was.
There was a perfect window with a window seat that was ideal for reading on a relaxing afternoon. A stunning writing desk was in it's own corner and had a stunning view of what during the daytime was probably a stunning garden. The room was a perfect mix of vintage and modern. Hard, soft, practical and pretty just like her. It didn't take long for her to realize this room had most likely been designed with her specifically in mind. In fact the floor to ceiling bookcases should have given it away but still the obvious effort, time and above all care that had gone into this room absolutely blew Hermione away.
No one had really put that much effort into trying to impress her. Certainly no one had been this thoughtful or made such a grand gesture for her just to make her happy. Normally if there was a grand gesture, there were strings attached or it was to get someone off of Harry or Ron's case. Looking around she couldn't believe Severus and Lucius had gone through all of this trouble. She knew Severus knew her better than Lucius and knew more about her but this did not seem to a gesture that would have been the modus operandi of her potion's master. No the grace, elegance, detail and luxury that was in every square inch of the room absolutely screamed Lucius.
Her beaded bag that sat on a chaise lounge that looked like it was designed specifically to curl up in to read on to read a good book and it looked shockingly out of place in the pristine room. She walked over and began rummaging around in the bag finally seemed to find just what she was looking for.
A ratty and thin t-shirt that had belonged to her Dad. It was far too large for her petite frame, thin, holey in places but it was one of her most prized and comforting possessions. It was one of the only things she had taken when she had wiped her parents memories. It had been her Dad's favorite concert t-shirt from what he called his hazy youth. Hermione doubted Squeeze concerts while her Dad had been in University had been that hazy or crazy but she had smiled and nodded along and laughed with her mother when her Dad had worn his shirt and reminisce. She had felt slightly bad taking it from her father but she hoped with the new identities she had given her parents, that he wouldn't remember it.
Hermione doubted however that her father would be pleased with why she was about to wear the shirt and just who she was about to wear it for. However with a grin she realized with a slightly newfound confidence that it really didn't matter what anyone else thought. These were her destined bondmates. She wanted to please and attract them. She had known that this shirt held some allure. When she had worn this shirt on the run she only did it once because it had frankly become obvious to even she who was normally oblivious that the boys could not stop staring at her.
Harry had admitted after Ron had left them that they had argued over ogling her in said shirt. He had admitted to Hermione that while she would only ever be his best friend and like a sister to him, supposed savior of the wizarding world or not he reminded her he was only a teenage boy. The backhand compliment that Harry had given her at the time had made her preen for a even just a bit. Now still being able to hear his voice saying, "Blimey 'Mione. You can't blame a guy, you had to know that was putting all the goods on display. Especially with the fire close by that lighting didn't hide anything. Sister in all but blood or not 'Mione no teenage boy can resist staring at nice pair of tits hanging out like that."
She flushed red thinking of how embarrassed Harry had made her. How she had initially felt a bit proud that he had said she had a nice pair of tits. No one had thought of her remotely sexually or at least admitted it to her and that of course had been the first thing she had picked up on. That had quickly disappeared however as she thought over the rest of what Harry had said to her. She had gotten more and more embarrassed the more the words played in her head. She hadn't apologized for her outfit choice that night or any other night but she also hadn't replied to Harry after his insensitive words. When he had gone to bed and she had taken her time on watch, she had wept silently over the comments and vowed to not wear the shirt around anyone else again.
She hadn't wanted to ruin the memories she attached to the shirt with anything else like the absolutely humiliating little chat with Harry. She knew her best friend frequently put his foot in his mouth and didn't have a filter. She remembered thinking as she cried that night that most likely she should be pitying poor Ginny for the bumbling insulting mess that their courtship would be when Harry won the war for them.
However thanks to her Wizards and the newly discovered sexual confidence they had awakened in her she decided that maybe they could appreciate the current worn state of the shirt. There was also the added fact that whenever she slipped it on sans that one experience with the boys it had given her immense comfort. It was like a hug from her parents. They were rare when her parents had been alive but knowing she wouldn't receive one again made the feeling all the more important for her.
She looked in the mirror before slipping on her yoga pants and gasped at the erotic sight of her nipples being nearly visible through the close to transparent shirt. They pebbled a bit and she felt goosebumps as she felt a flash of desire pulse through the bond and suddenly Hermione was very very curious as to what her wizards were getting into.
She slipped on some comfortable but very tight yoga pants sans knickers. If she was going to suddenly be a bit daring she decided in for a penny, in for a pound. The pants hugged her legs and bum and she normally only wore them around the house or when she wasn't leaving the girls dorms. They left very little to the imagination and while she was sure her wizards were very open minded about muggle culture and muggle borns, she doubted either had kept up the fashion, especially female athletic wear. Hermione couldn't wait to introduce them to what given how lusty her wizards had proven to be so far would be their new favorite article of clothing.
Once she was comfortable and dressed she started walking to the door as if she was going to search out the wizards. It was then that she realized there was a much easier way to find the two men and something was practically pulling her to get there as soon as possible.
So Hermione called her new friend and apparent champion Spiffy. With a crack the petite elf was in front of Hermione and grinning at her like a loon. "Missie Hermione called for Spiffy. How can Spiffy help great Missie Hermione who save Master Severus. Spiffy can't wait to help Missie Hermione in anyway she can."
Hermione grinned gently at the small elf and said simply to Spiffy, "Spiffy the only assistance I require is if you knew where I might find the Master's and if you could take me to them, please?" The elf bobbed her head enthusiastically and dropped her off right outside of a dark wooden door. Clearly in another wing of the house She looked back down at Spiffy and the small elf just smiled and seemed to push her inside.
What she saw when she quietly unlatched the door and walked nearly silently into an unknown room had Hermione gasping. At the same time she had thought to herself that walking in on this scene a lot more in the future would not be terrible at all.