Chapter 36

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That Friday after dinner, a fuming Snape slammed the door closed as he entered his office. His hair was striped pink and purple and stuck out at odd angles. He shook his robes out in a vain attempt to rid them of the glitter that had been dumped on him.

"Stupid. Bloody. Poltergeist!" He growled in frustration when the glitter wouldn't come off. He whipped his wand out and a glass filled with amber liquid appeared in his hand. "All damn week that arse has stalked me and bombarded me with his foolishness." He made his way to the desk and drained the glass. The charmed item refilled itself as he continued his rant. "Well no more. To hell with Minerva and the others! I'm going to exercise that menace, if its the last thing I do!" He scowled into his glass. "I'll need a young priest and an old priest." He sat in his chair and let out a cry as it began to spin around uncontrollably. "Son of a-" He reached out and grabbed onto his desk as green flames roared to life in the fireplace. Oh Merlin! Not now.

The person who stepped out was the last person he wanted to see right now. "My, my, Severus. Such a… unique look you have about you." Lucius Malfoy smirked at the glaring man as he sat in the chair in front of the desk.

Snape's lip curled. "What are you-" The chair jerked, and he tightened his grip. "What are you doing here? Narcissa said you were in the rehabilitation ward in St. Mungo's and wouldn't be out for months." He struggled to keep the chair still as he pulled out his wand and cast the counter charm on the thing. He sat back with an inward sigh.

Lucius hummed, lounging in the chair. "Yes, well, it seems they have deemed me fit for society once again and have released me under the orders that I continue my weekly therapy." His last word dripped with sarcasm.

Severus scoffed. "I wouldn't put it past you to have somehow cast a charm on them to accomplish such a feat." He drained his refillable glass again.

Lucius stared blankly at him. "Do you really think so little of me?" He rested his ankle on the other knee and his chin in his hand. "I have no need for such tasteless antics anymore." Severus' expression showed he didn't believe him, but he ignored him and continued. "Why, when I heard from Draco what Miss Granger had been up to, it gave me all the reason I needed to become one with the light." A sigh escaped his lips and he stared off at nothing. "I would be a happy wizard to have such a brilliant and beautiful witch at my beck and call." Narcissa having divorced him only weeks after the war, he felt like a free man.

Snape chuckled darkly. "You've gone mental." He spoke over the rim of the glass.

"How so?"

"Do you honestly believe Hermione would ever be with the man who had called her a Mudblood and treated her like scum for years? Not to mention being a horrible father to one of her lovers." He glowered at the other man.

Lucius smirked and Severus felt a sense of dread. "What you speak is true, but also in the past. I have plans to prove so to the lovely little witch." He rose from he seat and approached the fireplace, throwing powder into it. "By the way, I intend to play for keeps." He stepped into green flames, leaving Severus alone again.

"Shit!" Snape bolted out of his chair, dropping the glass and heading for the door. I have to warn Draco and Potter.

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"So let me get this straight. You're telling me that not only has Lucius been released onto the world, but he's also planning to bed Hermione?" Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and a hand on his hip.

"Yes, and not just bed her, Potter." Severus crossed his arms.

"Have the healers at St. Mungo's gone mad?!" Draco yelled at his godfather.

"Come on, Draco. He had to go through constant and heavy therapy for three months. Surely, it can't be that bad if they released him." Harry mirrored Snape as he watched Draco pace back and forth across the astronomy tower.

Draco stopped abruptly and turned to Harry. "Not that bad? Not that bad?!" He was panicking now. "Do you have any idea who we're talking about, Potty?! This is Lucius! He's not that easy to crack! And what's worse? He's ruthless when it comes to getting a woman he's laid eyes on." Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I don't trust him. Not with changing for the better and certainly not with Hermione."

Harry grabbed Draco's shoulder. "Don't worry Ferret. We'll think of something."

"Don't call me that." Draco growled.

"Don't call me Potty." Harry shot back.

"Calm down you two." Severus dropped his arms and approached the teens. "He wasn't lying when I spoke with him. He seemed genuinely changed and determined to prove himself." He sighed. "There's nothing we can do. We may have to deal with a little competition when it comes to Hermione, but I don't believe it'll be for very long. Besides," He smirked. "We've been with her longer and I'm sure with a little persuasion, we won't have much to worry about."

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"Are you sure it's alright for us to be here? It's not even a Hogsmeade weekend." Hermione asked for the tenth time that morning.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Do you really think McGonagall-"

"Headmistress McGonagall."

"Yeah, yeah." He waved away her correction. "Look, love, for the last time, yes it's fine. We got permission this morning. Now let's not keep stopping. Harry and Severus will hex me into next week if we're late." He pulled her closer to his side as they walked down the cobbled street and into The Three Broomsticks.

"Good morning, sweetheart." Harry greeted her with a kiss on the cheek when they reached their table. He slid into the booth next to her, trapping her between him and Snape. Draco sat on the other side of Severus.

"What's all this?" Hermione questioned and accepted the warm glass of butterbeer Madam Rosemertta brought them.

Severus chuckled and wiped the foam off her nose. "We just thought it would be nice to have a breakfast date and maybe a bit relaxing with the love of our lives." He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.

She felt suspicious of their behavior but shrugged it off, not wanting to pass up a wonderful opportunity. "What kind of relaxing?"

"A browse through the book store." Harry began.

"Getting a full-body massage." Draco added.

"Add finish it all off, feeding you berries as we ravish you in a hot, steamy bath." Snape's low voice sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.

Hermione blushed as Snape nibbled at her ear. "I can't wait." She closed her eyes and bit back a moan as his teeth grazed her neck and his hand slipped up her skirt, teasing her.