He had a plan. Usually, his ideas were thorough and efficiently dealt with. However, the new occurrence of her feelings had altered it a bit. So, in light of the certainty that this would expel him for her grace, he had to follow through with Plan B.

Severus shifted and swallowed as they walked through the graveyard, hand in hand. Vulnerability wasn't his strong suit. In fact, it was considered impertinence to him. That was the culmination of how he saw things, and that blasted kiss through him from his aloof and unobtainable air.

Vulnerability. She needed that and honesty. He breathed while approaching the worn stones.

"Hermione, this is my mother," he gestured to the angelic tombstone.

The witch moved closer and eyed the writing. "She was young when she passed. For a witch," Hermione murmured.

"I loved my mother," Severus sighed. "She was kind, in a different way. She taught me to be intelligent and pragmatic. It was the only way to make it in this world. She also was cold and distant; my father's abuse altered her."

Her hand disengaged his only to curl around him as she grew closer. "I'm sorry, Severus. No child should ever have to witness that or bear the effects."

His fingers went to her curls as they stared at the stone together. "Her family disowned her, and my father was her salvation and damnation. I promised myself never to be at the whims of said luck. That was how I began my need for power, acknowledgment, and regard."

Hermione pulled away from him and revealed her wand. Pressing it to the angel's open fingers, a pool of white entered the stone palms. "Regardless of life, death is about forgiveness."

Severus examined the witch as she pressed her hand over the headstone with a nod. The empathy Hermione had was beyond even that he had seen in Lily. She held little hate or grudge against the world, even for what she was subjected to.

"We have to talk. I brought you here to understand something fundamental about my life," Severus declared, drawing her attention.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"If we are to enter into this, knowingly and with clarity of each other, then you have to know this; I'm not spectacular at bearing my ineptitudes. It was ingrained in me never to reveal them."

Hermione bounced her hair with a nod. "I can understand that."

"My fears are plenty, despite my demeanor," he added.

"And you're worried you will end up like your father," she responded.

Severus thinned his lips. "Yes."

"Do you promise to always hold me as an equal?" She asked.

"Of course."

"And you won't ever lie or withhold the truth from me again?" Hermione questioned.

Severus inhaled and beckoned her to him with his hand outstretched. "Let's leave my mother be and talk."

Hermione's brow scrunched as she obeyed and swallowed. Something substantial was about to be announced. She could feel it in the air. They had wandered toward the path, and his thumb ran over the dorsal of her smaller hand.

"I wasn't positive it was important until today," Severus started.

Hermione rocked her head.

"Lupin and Black have always been steadfast on their beliefs that they weren't leaving you from the beginning. However, I always gauged your needs for my company based on your reactions. We have a different story entirely."

"Which makes sense, we have a less personal history," Hermione added.

"Precisely, but things change," Severus sighed. "If we are to continue like this, in the direction plotted, you and I will be on that road."

Hermione paused their journey and stared up at him in the dim moonlight. "Severus, what are you staggeringly saying?"

"The potion's culmination, of course, is a line built between those you've willed back, and the new life you will create. If intimacy is established, we cannot leave you. It is more binding than a marriage or coupling. A tie between you to me would be permanent. Is that something you desire?"

She knitted her brows together while cocking her head. "Is that something you don't? Of course, I don't have any future course where I don't see all of you as a part of it, but is that something you want?"

"You aren't upset?"

"You didn't answer my question," Hermione huffed. "No, I'm not upset. I know what I asked Draco to brew in a sense. I knew this was all connected in some way, but I would like you to answer me, please?"

"With all of my disproportionate traits, you still want me to be a piece of your life?" He asked while scowling.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she smiled. "Yes, with all of your broody, sometimes unpleasantly coarse nature. Severus, I wouldn't have said I couldn't choose between all of you if it weren't true. I enjoy your company. I find it welcoming that you balance me with a different aspect of a man. You are a bit stern and gruff, but wickedly intelligent and subtly kind. You balance my sometimes wreckless nature to always do for others first."

Severus smirked and reached for her cheek with his free hand. "Then, I shall entreat you to continue with my original plan for the evening."

"Which is?" Hermione inquired as she stepped closer.

"I want to take you somewhere and teach you a skill I believe you will excel at once shown."

Hermione's cheeks bloomed with color as she licked her bottom lip before gnawing it. "What type of skill?"

Severus bent, and his smile grew crooked while caressing her face. "How do you feel about begging, Hermione?"

Her eyes grew as she shifted. "Begging?"

"Do you feel compelled to enjoy authority? I have an inkling you do. If you will allow it, I would be more than willing to show you a few of my interests," his voice was but a whisper as her fingers trailed down to the lovely column below her chin.

"Please?" She breathed.

That would more than suffice as approval. Severus coiled his arm around hers, and they popped from existence, only to land in a place Hermione never thought she would have gone. The door opened, and he welcomed her inside… his world, well, she was about to see the more unconventional pieces of it.

Remus yawned as he strolled down the staircase, scratching the t-shirt over his chest. He had hoped to catch her on the way up the stairs after their dinner, but the pair never made it home. Not that he was put out, Severus was quite patient with their hours of seclusion yesterday.

Sirius was already at the table as the werewolf walked in. He seemed far worse for wear. "Good morning," Remus announced.

"Umph," Sirius grumbled.

"Don't do that," Remus tutted. "He was patient with us yesterday."

"But I wanted to take a bath with her," Sirius grunted.

Remus rolled his eyes as he sat down and poured himself tea. "You can't be selfish. Especially with him. He has more to prove than we do."

"How so?"

The werewolf sipped from the cup once it was dressed and hummed. "He doesn't speak our language, Pads. If anyone needed privacy, he did. We're lucky she even agrees to this madness in the first place."

"It was pretty fun," Sirius chuckled. "I don't think I've heard a witch so happy to have two blokes at her disposal before."

Remus exhaled with a smile. "It was fun. I'm a bit surprised she was able to keep up and then go out with Severus."

The front door sounded, and the marauders tilted their heads in unison. The small amount of chatter grew as the pair walked through the entrance hall.

"Alright, full stop," she giggled.

"Only because you request such," Severus grumbled.

Hermione walked into the doorway and beamed. "Sirius, Remus, you're both up early."

"Good morning, love. Productive evening out?" Sirius jeered while bouncing his eyebrows.

Severus appeared, and his hand skated across her hips before moving toward the bench. "Precisely, Black."

Hermione sauntered over to Remus and touched his cheek before kissing him. That caused the unaware werewolf to jerk and groan as he participated. She parted from him and pressed her forehead to his. Remus beamed as he touched her cheek exhaled. "Well, good morning," he whispered.

Hermione pulled away and repeated the same steps with Sirius, but he wouldn't have a distant greeting. He tugged her into his lap and growled as she straddled his lap. "Okay, okay," she laughed when he pulled away to nuzzle her chest.

"Can't I just eat you for breakfast?" He grumbled while nipping at her neck.

"As potent as it is right now," she paused and sighed before pulling Sirius's face into view. "Full stop today. I need a break," she confessed and squirmed.

"Really? Tired of us already?" Remus teased.

Severus had finished prepping his teacup before clearing his throat. "She's likely exhausted. We haven't slept much."

Hermione shot him a narrowed glance. "Not my fault."

"I beg to differ, but perspective is usually different depending on which position you kneel in."

Sirius gasped and grinned. "Oh, did you learn a new skill? Want to show me what you can do later?" Sirius snickered as he touched her neck where he had nipped.

Hermione groaned and climbed from the animagus. "You wizards are going to kill me at this rate. Besides, Teddy has a week left, and I'd like to take him out shopping today."

"How about you get some rest after breakfast. We'll take him out in the afternoon," Remus suggested.

Sirius shrugged and rolled his neck. "I was going to Harry's today, so you both have at it."

"I can run on a bit of no sleep," Hermione insisted.

Remus shook his head and beckoned her over. "Come have some tea. Fred is likely almost done with breakfast, and Teddy won't be up until ten."

Hermione slumped down and leaned onto Remus.

"A bit of a bath wouldn't hurt either," he grumbled.

Hermione gasped and smacked his chest. "Don't be deplorable. You're supposed to be the polite one."

Severus was smirking as he sipped from his tea. "Excellent study, if I do say."

Sirius arched an eyebrow. "Oh? I would have never pegged you as a connoisseur of the wicked ways in bed, Snape."

Hermione huffed as she waved her hand. "Now, you both are going to get along?"

They glanced at each other and smiled. It was a moment that no one could have imagined.

"Yes, I think we might be able to trade methods," Severus agreed.

Sirius rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Oh, Snivellus, you just might be fun to live with. Moony would deny it, but he gets a bit bossy too. We could join forces."

Hermione reached for her tea and sighed. "What am I going to do with you three? I am only a single witch."

Remus wrapped his arm around her and snorted. "You handle us very well, Hermione. Your proficiency was well noted yesterday."

Fred walked into the room and laughed. "Good morning, Hermione! Seems someone stayed out all night."

"Let's not go over this again. Yes, we were out all night, and yes, it was fun. Alright?" She puffed while rolling her eyes.

He set down the plates for each of them and slumped next to Severus. "Sneaky Snape, did you come to terms with being called papa?" Fred sneered.

Severus's smile dropped as he eyed the Weasley. "I prefer, Sir."

"He does," Hermione grumbled and reached for her fork. "Now, what are you up to today, Freddy?"

Fred snorted and waved his fork in the air. "Well, I was going to see if I could convince Georgie to plan a party. A belated birthday party to celebrate all the ones I missed."

Hermione gasped and nodded. "We could do it here!"

Sirius snorted and blinked. "Snape must have knocked you about, love. Did you just suggest throwing a party for the twins, here? You want to plan a party?"

"Oh, yes! It could be so much fun. It would have to be in a few weeks. We could plan it around the anniversary as a way to celebrate renewed life."

Fred bobbed his head. "I like it. A great way to head into the rest of my life. By the way, what are we doing for Teddy's birthday? I know mum threw the party, but are we celebrating?"

Hermione glanced up at Remus. "Did you want to do something small? His birthday is Thursday."

"Dinner at Andromeda's? We can invite over Harry and the kids. George as well?" Remus offered.

Hermione nodded. "That's a grand idea."

Remus scowled as he ran his fingers over her curls. "As long as you don't wear yourself thin. Taking on so much at once isn't healthy."

"You did not say that yesterday," Sirius snickered. "What was it again, 'Just a bit more, darling…'" he trailed off with a grin.

Hermione groaned and squirmed in her seat. "Alright, I understand you three are randy and willing, but this teasing will get out of hand if you don't mind your mouths around Teddy."

Remus chuckled as he forked up some food. "Don't worry; we'll be very well behaved when my son is awake."

Severus yawned and twitched his nose. "I'm quite positive having all of us occupying the same space will be useful in several months."

"Oh," Hermione hummed. "That's for certain."

"Teddy's birthday first, then the party, let's worry about the bigger shit later," Sirius remarked.

Hermione bobbed her head and breathed. "Yes, let's worry about that later. Nothing is written in ink yet."

Fred smiled and waved his fork at Hermione. "You definitely deserve it, Hermione. Don't let anyone tell you differently. I was convinced you needed more than some average bloke to be your partner, now you got three for the price of one," he declared with a wink.

"Well, that's just luck, isn't it?" She asked with a scrunched smile.

Remus kissed her temple with a smile. "And a bit of nerve."

The adults finished their meal, and Hermione shuffled off to clean up before napping. Sirius snuck into her room and cuddled the witch. It was this beautiful balance of personalities that blended well. This could really be her life? It was too early to mark that as a happy end. She still needed to finish what she started.