Author Notes: Due to the nature of the world right now, I feel it's only appropriate to give you guys more to read. I'm going to work on fic as well as my other much needed WIP's to give everyone things to read. If you haven't read any of my other ones, you better get started. Let me know which ones you want me to work on!
Hermione was absolutely breath-taking in a dress Severus didn't recognize. It held intricate details on the black fabric that hung with a flowy nature. It was conservative with less revealing skin and ending near her knees. He decided on his more usual wear- a set of black robes.
While they strolled up toward the manor, Severus cleared his throat. "What brought this adventure up?"
"Well," Hermione paused and stopped their pace. "We don't have the same branch of understanding as I do with them. It's far more difficult."
Severus nodded as his fingers touched her cheek. "That still didn't answer my question to the fullest."
"Aptly pointed out as usual," Hermione laughed. "If we are going to do this together, Severus, then I want you to know your family is mine as well."
He blinked and tilted his head. "My family?"
"I know that you care for Draco. Narcissa has always been akin to you. My family is very much intertwined with Sirius and Remus's. I want to open the door to have your family be involved as well," Hermione explained with a smile.
Severus bent closer to her face with knitted brows. "And that is something you want?"
She leaned to nearly touching his lips. "Yes," Hermione whispered.
Severus smirked and waited a moment to analyze her expression. The lovely tinted cheeks and scarlet lips that announced her honesty. He couldn't help the fascination with her confession displayed on her face. "You are a witch to covet, Hermione," he breathed.
"Would you kiss me please, Severus?" Hermione inquired with a shuddered breath.
Severus complied and ran his fingertips to her curls, grasping them with possession. This witch knew just how to jut his desires in ways he wasn't even positive about. Hermione whimpered and ran her fingers over his chest as he pulled her closer. The witch managed to pull away and pant with a grin.
"We best get inside before we don't go in," Hermione snickered.
His face ran alongside her cheek as his mouth reached her ear. "We won't have to if you tell me to take you home. I'm positive they wouldn't mind. If you can manage to scream all night," Severus tempted her with a playful tone.
"Now, just," Hermione moaned as she wriggled in his grip. "Behave."
The Potion Master chuckled as he created a bit more personal space. "I will respect your wishes, if," he stopped.
"If?" Hermione questioned as she stared up at him.
"If you tell me the truth. You truly want to be welcomed into a Slytherin's family?"
"Yes, I just told you," Hermione puffed.
Severus ran his fingers down to her warm neck. "Then you best learn to imitate a Slytherin, Hermione," He smirked.
"How?" She asked.
"By giving in to a bit of darkness," Snape declared as his hand on her back slipped to her behind.
Her chest moved in a rhythmic pace as she squirmed in his grip. "We made it all the way here," Hermione reminded him.
"Then let's go, but I'll allow you to make the call when you're ready to go home," He said while squeezing her pert bum.
Hermione groaned as she pulled from him. "All three of you are going to kill me."
"That wouldn't be what I'm pushing for. If you're interested, I wouldn't mind a bit of tasteful torture," Snape mumbled as he adjusted his robes.
"Well, marks met," Hermione retorted as she straightened her dress.
"Are you two going to shag in my garden or come inside?" Draco's voice bounced in the yard.
Hermione glanced up to see the man poking his torso out his second-story window wearing a grin. "We're coming," she responded and paced toward the front door.
Draco laughed before disappearing. Severus, however, rolled his neck and inhaled. Regardless of the evening, she was trying his patience.
Dinner was fantastic, and Draco was warm even more so than Hermione estimated. It had this feeling of familiarity that she wasn't expecting. They were now in the drawing-room and enjoying a bit of light conversation. Astoria was in decent spirits as she offered Hermione a cup of tea. The curly hair witch was sitting on the floor next to Scorpius, who was coloring.
"Hermione, how are things with Edward?" Astoria questioned.
Hermione took the cup with a curl to her lips. "Oh, he's doing very well. Thank you for asking. He has a strong aptitude for Potions and Care of Magical Creatures."
Astoria nodded as she stroked Scorpius's hair. "That's lovely. I'm sure he's quite thrilled about Remus being back. I enjoyed his teaching immensely."
Severus sipped his glass and arched an eyebrow at Draco. "How is your father taking his isolation?"
"Worse now than before. At least before, my mother didn't feel like she could go off and enjoy British muggle fashion."
Hermione glanced over at Draco. "Nothing wrong with a bit of freedom, Draco. Your mother is strong and capable."
Severus snorted as he set his drink down. "You don't understand the concept of pureblood marriage."
Astoria sat up straighter and hemmed. "Well, I have the freedom to do as I please, Severus."
Draco nearly choked on his drink and nodded. "Yes," he coughed. "Of course, darling."
Hermione patted Scorpius's shoulder as she bent toward him. "How are you doing, Scorp? I haven't seen you in a few months."
The boy pursed his lips as he glanced up at her. "I miss my Grandmother."
"I promise, I'm working hard on that, alright?" Hermione sighed as she bobbed her head.
"So, did you actually drop Lupin and Black for more entertainment?" Draco asked.
Hermione jerked as she pinched her brows together. "No, that's rude to ask."
"It's an extended complication that would be far too difficult to answer over a single drink," Severus huffed.
"Who's going to be the father?" Draco continued.
Astoria cleared her throat. "Hermione, want to come with me while I take Scorpius up to bed?"
Hermione drank from her teacup and agreed. "We best, this isn't going to be an easy conversation."
"Wait. Why?" Draco huffed.
Severus lifted his glass and pointed his index finger at Astoria. "She's intelligent. Your father was smart to make a contract with her father."
Astoria stood up and shuddered a moment. "Yes."
Hermione jumped to her feet and assisted the frail witch. "Let's go put Scorpius to bed."
"Can we read a story?" Scorpius asked as he stood up.
"Of course," Hermione voiced as Astoria wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
Draco thinned his lips and bowed his head while meeting Hermione's gaze. "Thank you, Hermione."
"Of course, Draco. We're all here to help each other, right?" Hermione said as she beamed at Astoria.
The witches and boy left the room before the wizards addressed each other. Draco flicked his wand and poured them each a new glass of spirits. Severus twitched his nose before shaking his hair from his face.
"What?" Snape asked.
Draco shrugged as he took a sip. "Well, my wife was quite perceptive. This must be a big deal."
"It is," Severus sighed.
Draco frowned as he hummed. "How bad is it? Did she decide to choose Lupin or Black?"
"No, she didn't choose anyone. She's decided to proceed with everything I was trying to avoid," Severus responded.
"So, she isn't going to pick? Did you tell her she won't be able to live without any of you if she doesn't? If she shags all of you, then what's done is done. Not to mention the baby. Did any of you decide who's going to deal with that?" Draco mused.
Severus downed his drink and waved his free hand. "Well, what did you want me to do about it? I wasn't going to ruin her happiness despite it. The child is going to be unknown as far as I know. She spent her day with them," He finished with a sneer.
Draco bent toward him and smirked. "You do like her."
The Potion Master stiffened as he narrowed his gaze. "What?"
"You would have told her everything. Then she would have taken you out of the running because they would insist on falling on the sword. Then, of course, they would have had to find out your little situation of her needing you for the rest of her brilliant life. You would have manipulated her Gryffindor nature if you really didn't want to be a piece of that mess. Are you positive you want in on that?"
"What do you want from me, Draco? Why would I do that?" Severus huffed.
Draco rested against his chair and ran his hand over his facial hair. "Because you don't mind sharing her? You find her attractive for what only Salazar knows why. She's infuriating and absolutely a pest, but extremely intelligent. You wouldn't be here sitting with me if she wasn't."
"She has heart," Severus murmured.
"Yes, and she truly likes you," Draco agreed.
Severus grimaced. "Doubtful. I haven't been very forthright."
"Well, she wants to shag you so," Draco snorted with a shrug. "It's a start."
The Potion Master gruffed and folded his arms over his chest. "But if the circumstance were known, she wouldn't. She would much prefer to have her Gryffindors," Severus grumbled.
"You won't know unless you tell her. You probably should have told them before they shagged her," Draco snorted.
"Severus, could you come help me a moment?" Hermione asked as she walked into the room.
The Potion Master jumped and stood up. "Is something problematic?"
Hermione just waved, and Snape marched after her. It took him several strides to catch up just as they turned down the hallway toward Lucius's old study. The witch snagged his hand and pulled him into a room. Severus was a bit disoriented as she shut the door and flicked on the light.
It took him a moment to realize what she was doing. Hermione had slid on the counter and was fumbling with his trousers. Snape grunted as he interrupted her assault. "Hermione, what are you doing?" He spat.
"You told me to tell you when I wanted you to fuck me. Severus, I want you to fuck me now," Hermione replied while struggling against his protests.
"Wait," Severus ordered as he recovered.
Hermione frowned as she sat on the counter. "But," she stopped when he scowled.
"We'll continue this momentarily. Why the urgency?" He asked while caressing her tinted cheek.
She dropped her eye contact and inhaled. "I've been quite selfish."
"No, you haven't. I have a feeling this has to do with Astoria talking to you about children? Are you nervous?" Severus questioned.
Ding. Her eyes grew as she stared at him. "What?"
Severus closed the space between them and softened his expression. "You are an amazing witch. You're a stellar woman, and you will be the perfect mother. Do you trust my observations?"
Hermione nodded as her lip quivered. "Of course."
"Then there's no urgency. Take a breath. If you feel the same once we get back to our chaos, I would be happy to oblige."
She searched his features. "Is there something wrong?"
Severus twitched his nose and backed away from her. "Nothing we cannot solve with your brain and courage, Hermione."
"Alright, let's finish the evening and go home," she smiled and tugged on his robes.
They were closer, and Severus smirked. "How do you feel about skip on going back yet? I have someplace I want to show you."
She nodded and coiled her arms around his shoulders. "If you'll take me with you, I'd go anywhere."
"Really?" Severus whispered.
Hermione grinned while nodding before kissing him. It wasn't heated as it had been before. This languished kiss was soft and melded into an emphatic statement. Severus was caught off guard. He realized how deep they were in this together. This wouldn't bode well if he waited to tell her...
