01 May 1999

Hermione choked back her giggle as Severus cast a protection charm on his privates before they walked out of the small room. The Room of Requirement had changed whilst they were showering and now resembled the Gryffindor common room. There were no secrets from Harry anymore so she pulled Severus with her and sat next to him on one of the sofas.

Her stomach was in knots about how Harry would react but she didn't think it would be as bad as Severus thought. If Harry could get past her being a Death Eater, he could get past her relationship with his once-hated professor. Plus, she was well over the age of consent, both Muggle and Magical — even without the Dark Lord having aged her even more — and nothing he said would change the love she had for the man next to her.

Ginny walked out first and her smile was blinding. Hermione wasn't sure if today had been the first time she and Harry had slept together, but she hoped it wasn't. Ginny wasn't like her and she knew her friend would have wanted her first time to be special. And a Dark Magic-fueled lust fuck was about as far away from special as you can get.

"You okay?" Hermione asked.

Ginny nodded as she sat down. "Yeah. Harry and I decided to go all the way last night…" She trailed off as she looked at Severus, blush spreading across her face.

"Would have been bloody awkward if we hadn't," Harry added, coming into the room and sitting next to Ginny. He gestured towards Hermione and Severus. "How long?"

"Since October," Hermione answered. Harry went to talk but she held up her hand, cutting him off. "I was given an assignment from the Dark Lord and Bellatrix to seduce Severus. I approached him whilst he was under the effects of Dark Magic. After what just happened, I'm assuming you can understand why he was unable to say no."

Harry looked between her and Snape and she could see the confusion on his face. "But you're not taking Voldemort's orders anymore."

"I am not. After the first time, I… teased him until he gave in again. Then it was easy to find comfort in each other." She looked at Severus and gave him a smile. "After he saved me from Bellatrix's control, I still wanted him. I love him."

"And do you love her?" Harry asked Severus.

"I do," Severus stated plainly. "I tried to stay away from her at first, but I never lasted long. After she was no longer being controlled, we talked many times about our relationship and we both desired for it to continue."

Harry looked confused and didn't say anything. She was determined to not speak until he did, wanting to give him time to think about what he had just learned. Ginny was sitting next to him, still smiling, and rubbing his back. Hermione didn't know if she had ever seen her girlfriend looking happier than she did at that moment. It filled her with a hope that even after everything was over and done with, maybe they would all be alright.

"I'm hurt that you didn't tell me before," Harry began. "I can understand why you didn't; I didn't trust Snape before and I know how I would have reacted. But after, any time since I started to trust him, I wish you could have trusted me."

Hermione began to cry and stood up, walked to Harry and pulled him off the sofa and into her arms. "You're right. I'm sorry. I should have told you."

"Yes, you should have. Finding out your best friend is shagging your professor is bad enough. Finding out whilst you're basically having an orgy is worse."

Hermione couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped at his words. He was probably right. The only way he could have found out that was worse than what just happened was if he had walked in on them. At least this way he was too lust-driven to really notice anything beyond Ginny. She stepped back from him and sat next to Severus again.

"Was that normal?" Ginny asked. "The reaction to Dark Magic? I've never felt anything like that. No offence, sir, but I was about to shag you if Harry hadn't woken up."

Severus gave a slight shiver at her words. "There was a reason I put a shield up between us. To answer your question, yes, that is normal. If you've never cast Dark Magic, the effects aren't as powerful. Hermione and I are affected more because of our Dark Marks. I didn't think you or Harry would have a problem and I apologise for that. It must have something to do with both of you being exposed to the Dark Lord's soul."

Hermione suddenly realised they hadn't checked Harry's scar. "Is it gone? The Horcrux?"

Ginny lifted her fingers and ran them over Harry's forehead before declaring she could only feel Harry's magic.

"I saw it," Harry told them. "The piece of his soul that lived inside me."

"What do you mean you saw it?" Hermione asked.

"When I died I went… I'm not sure exactly, but I went somewhere. It was a house, but one I haven't seen before and even though it looked like a comfortable cottage, everything in it was bright white. I wish I could show you."

Hermione concentrated on their need for a Pensieve and one seemed to grow from the floor in front of them. Harry looked at it then gave her a large smile. They all stood up and Severus helped Harry pull the memory from his thoughts and place it in the basin. The memory swirled around and as soon as it was settled, they all lifted their hands and touched the liquid.

They landed in the cottage Harry described and Hermione averted her eyes when she noticed Pensieve Harry was standing there naked.

"This is your parent's house in Godric's Hollow," Severus said, looking around.

"You've been here?" Harry asked.

His Pensieve self was just standing up and a pile of clothes appeared next to his naked form.

"When you were first born, you needed potions. I came here to drop them off. I also came a few times when Lily was pregnant with you."

Harry nodded then pointed to a scaly creature that was curled up in the corner. It was whimpering in pain and even though she knew there was nothing she could do, Hermione ached to help the creature. Comfort it.

"That's the Horcrux," Harry explained. His Pensieve self was now dressed and he was staring at the wall as a woman began to materialise. "That's my mum."

Lily Potter fully formed and Hermione took in the beautiful witch before them. She'd seen pictures of Harry's mom in his photo album from her wedding day and she didn't look much older than that. Her auburn hair was long and wavy and her eyes, identical to Harry's, were full of tears as she took in her son. Hermione felt Severus stiffen beside her and she reached out, taking his hand.

"Mum?" Pensieve Harry asked.

Lily gave him a huge smile and cupped his face in her hands. "Look at you, Harry. You're a man now. You have been so brave. Your father and I are so proud of who you've become."

"How are you here? Am… Am I dead? Does this mean Snape couldn't bring me back?"

Lily dropped her hands from his face and took his hand, pulling him to sit on the sofa next to her.

"I am shocked you let Severus kill you. I wish you would have trusted him sooner. He's been saving your life since before you were born. He was my best friend for a long time. But to answer your question, it's not up to Severus to bring you back. You will go back or go on with me. The choice is yours."

"You mean…? When you die you get to decide? You could have chosen to stay with me when I was young?"

Tears were rolling down Hermione's face as she watched the hurt on Pensieve Harry's face. She couldn't blame him. Knowing that your mother chose death over raising you would be the hardest thing to hear.

"Nothing could have kept me from you, Harry. Nothing." Lily gave him a hard look. "You have been given a choice because of what was inside you. I was given my choice before I died. I could live, but you, my son, would have died. Or I could die and you would live. I would make that choice a million times over."

Pensieve Harry nodded. "But if I go with you… D– Dad will be there? And Sirius?"

"Yes," Lily said, nodding. "And your grandparents. People who love you."

"But I have people who love me waiting for me to wake up."

"If you choose to go back, it will be hard. But you have family in the living world just as much as you have family waiting for you. Hermione, Severus, Ginny, Ron, the rest of the Weasleys, and Professor McGonagall."

"What should I do, mum?"

"Only you can decide, Harry."

Pensieve Harry dropped his head onto her shoulder and she reached up to run her fingers through his hair.

"I think I should go back. Voldemort is still alive. Nagini is still a Horcrux. I need to fight."

"But you don't have to fight alone," Lily told him. "Fight with your friends and family. This war isn't on your shoulders only. You've grown so much these last few years, especially this year as you and your friends have blazed a new path, but you have more to learn before the war is over."

"What do I tell them when I go back?" Pensieve Harry asked.

"You tell Severus thank you from me and your father. You tell Hermione that she is the daughter I always wanted and I am glad she is your friend. You tell that beautiful witch of yours that you love her. Tell Molly and Arthur–" Lily's voice broke and she took a deep breath. "You tell them thank you for taking you in. And next time you see my sister, hex her in the face for me. Hermione's hex was nice, but she deserves more."

Pensieve Harry laughed and they stood up from the sofa. He gave the Horcrux in the corner a look. "What about that?"

"Don't worry about that, Harry. I'll take care of it. Go and live your life, my son. Know that your father and I love you."

Lily started to fade as the brightness of the cottage began to darken. Hermione could hear Severus' voice as he was trying to revive Harry faintly and Pensive Harry started to return to his body.

"And Harry," Lily called. "Tell Remus to marry the girl already."

They were thrown from the Pensieve and landed on the floor of the Room of Requirement. Hermione stood up and pulled Harry into her embrace. She couldn't imagine how he was feeling. She knew he had always wanted to know his parents and he had finally been able to talk to and hug his mum. She could only imagine that it had filled him with joy and crushed him that their time had been so short.

"I… I think I am going to go back to my dorm," Harry said when they were done hugging. "Come with me, Gin?"

Ginny nodded and Hermione waved goodbye to them as they left the room. As soon as they were alone, the furniture changed until Hermione and Severus were standing in a copy of his bedroom. She didn't know what time it was and she didn't care. She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. It had been a long day with too many emotions.

"Stay with me?" she asked Severus.

He nodded and helped her remove her clothes before taking his own off and pulling back the covers. He crawled into bed and held his arm open to her. Settling herself against his chest, she closed her eyes. Harry was alive, the Horcrux was gone, and she had her love in her arms. Everything else in the world could wait until morning.

Severus felt Hermione fall asleep in his arms but he couldn't relax enough to let Morpheus carry him away. He hadn't seen Lily in eighteen years and to see her — just as healthy and radiant as she had been the last time they'd talked — was overwhelming. He knew they had repaired their friendship but to hear her tell Harry she trusted him, that she was grateful for all he had done had shocked him.

He knew it was his own self-doubt that made him worry that she had died hating him, but to know it wasn't true was a relief.

It was strange to see her that way. When he was younger he had fantasised over and over again what their life would be like, what she would look like when they were older, married, and living in a small place of their own. But to see her now, he realised that what he'd felt for her was nothing compared to the way he felt about Hermione.

There hadn't been any doubt in his mind that he hadn't been in love with Lily for years, but to see her again reaffirmed it. He still loved her, the way someone always loves their first friend, but she was just that. His first friend.

Hermione was his friend, his lover, his everything. Lily had asked him time and time again to give up the Dark Arts and he never had. But he knew that he would do whatever Hermione asked of him. He'd set the world on fire for her.

Looking down at her wild curls, his heart throbbed with the love he had for her. Come hell or high water, he would be at her side.

15 May 1999

The two weeks since they had killed Harry and brought him back to life seemed to fly by for Severus. Draco and Ginny had almost finished their work on the Vanishing Cabinet. According to Miss Weasley, there was just one thing left to do to make it fully functional. They had decided to leave it until they were ready to tell the Dark Lord in case he tried to test it before they were ready. At the insistence of Hermione and Harry, Phoenix Reborn had inducted new members into their ranks.

Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom were given more information than some of the others that joined, but not the entire story. Others, like the rest of the Gryffindor sixth years and other members of the now-defunct Dumbledore's Army, were only told to be ready to fight at any time. Minerva and Filius had arranged for the younger members to have duelling lessons twice a week in the Room of Requirement so they would be prepared when the time came.

Severus had met with Ron, Bill, Fleur, Remus, and Tonks just the night before to talk over battle plans. He had to admit that the youngest Weasley had a mind for strategy that he hadn't foreseen. He had come up with a brilliant plan for Tonks to fool the Dark Lord and Severus was looking forward to seeing it in action.

All of the members of the now defunct Order of the Phoenix were working with them with three exceptions. Mad-Eye Moody had refused to join them, not trusting Severus, Draco, or Hermione. They hadn't asked Mundungus to join them; he wasn't to be trusted. And Dumbledore was still refusing to listen to reason.

Severus, Harry, and Hermione were in the Headmasters office, again, to try to convince him that they had destroyed the Horcruxes and the war was escalating..

"There are still two more Horcruxes out there," Albus said, fiddling with one of the many silver trinkets in his office. "I think it might be something of Slytherin's. Severus, have you ever heard of a relic?"

Severus sighed and resisted the urge to hit Dumbledore over the head with a frying pan. "I've already told you, Albus, we destroyed Slytherin's locket in March. As well as Hufflepuff's cup, Ravenclaw's diadem, and the one in Harry. Only the snake is left."

"Good, good. Now, I think I've found where one is located. Harry will have to come with me to retrieve it."

"Is he even listening to you?" Harry muttered under his breath and Severus shook his head.

The Headmaster's mind was so far gone now. Severus wanted to vanish the man's outer robes and see just how far the curse had spread. As it was, when Dumbledore moved he could see black lines on the side of his throat. They were going to have to do something soon.

He knew what he'd agreed to with Albus. The old man didn't want to die from the curse. He wanted Severus to kill him. He wanted his death to be the catalyst that brought the war to a fever pitch so it could be over. But as soon as Dumbledore was gone, the Dark Lord would stop holding back. They were going to have to plan Albus' death so they could end the war the same day.

"Harry, I will let you know when I find it and you can come with me," Dumbledore was saying, pulling Severus from his thoughts.

Harry nodded unenthusiastically. "I would be honoured, sir."

They were dismissed and the three of them Flooed back to Severus' office. They talked about the Headmaster for a while, Potter expressing his concern on how much longer they could allow him to be in charge of the school before he left to go back to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione followed him from his office to his room, settling herself on his sofa and opening her school bag.

He noticed the small beaded bag he had given her for Christmas was inside and he pointed it out to her, happy that she found his gift useful.

She took it out and handed it to him. "I love it! I've warded against most people and I keep all my Death Eater stuff in there. My mask, robes, leather trousers, gifts from my brothers, things like that."

"What gifts would those be?" he asked, curious about what the other Death Eaters had given his witch.

"Here, let me see." She opened the bag and pulled out a few things. "This is a book on beauty charms from Narcissa. Rabastan gave me this necklace, but I don't wear it because I think it makes it so my clothes are see-through when he looks at me. This bag is full of lacy things from Lucius–"

"Let me see."

She handed him the silk bag and he opened it. It was charmed to keep the matching sets of lace bras and knickers together in wrinkle-free bundles.

He smirked at her. "I think you can leave this here. Maybe model them for me."

"Why not. Maybe you can help me figure out how those little bits of fabric are supposed to be clothing." She looked back into her beaded bag. "Vodka from Antonin. Damn, I forgot to add that to his other stuff."

"What other stuff?"

She summoned a Mokeskin pouch from the bag and opened it, dumping the contents onto his coffee table. He ignored the other bottle of vodka and flipped through the pages of curses Dolohov had created. Setting it aside, he picked up a small model of the Moscow Kremlin.

"That's a Portkey. He said it will take me past all his wards. He gave it to me for when I get lonely," she explained. "He keeps writing to me and asking me to come and visit, 'but not in that order'. I'm glad you told me to ward my rooms over Easter; he tried to come in multiple times whilst I was sleeping. He even tried something at dinner one night but after I told him no a few times he left me alone. That night at least."

"He always was a pig."

When she started looking through her beaded bag again, he put all of the items from Dolohov back in the Mokeskin pouch except the Portkey. The time had come for him and Antonin to have a little talk and for him to teach the Russian what happened to men who touched his witch without her permission.

16 May 1999

Narcissa appeared next to him with a quiet pop. They were in the wooded area in the park just down from Spinner's End. After talking with Hermione the night before, he had spoken to Draco and had his godson summon one of the Malfoy house-elves to pass a message along to Narcissa to meet him. He hadn't received an answer from her but he knew she would appear.

Hermione didn't know he had left the castle and he didn't tell her what he was doing. He would tell her after it was over. He was pretty sure that she would try to stop him if she knew and he didn't want to be stopped.

Narcissa's hand slipped into his and he pulled her towards him, pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek as they hugged. They had been friends since they were children, but they never touched when they were at the manor now that Bellatrix and the Dark Lord were living there. They both knew her sister would give her hell if she knew how close of friends they were. Instead, they let everyone believe that he was only friends with Lucius and tolerated Narcissa because she was his friend's wife.

"Thank you for meeting me," he whispered.

Her hand gripped his hip and pulled him closer. "I'm always happy to meet you, Severus. But I thought you were satisfied with Hermione. Lucius will be sad you didn't invite him."

"I have something I want to do with you that's more fun than fucking you until you can't walk, Narcissa."

"Always such a tease. What are we doing?"

It wasn't that he didn't want to fuck the gorgeous witch in front of him; they'd been together many times over the years and he'd always enjoyed himself. And maybe later they would. Merlin, he would kill to see her and Hermione together or even swap with Lucius for the night. He shook the thoughts of the two witches he cared most for from his mind. He had a job to do.

They stepped back from each other and he held out the Kremlin in his hand. "Was Dolohov at the manor when you left?"

"No. I kicked him out unless he's there on official business. I caught him breaking into one of the guest rooms where Yaxley's niece was sleeping after arriving from Spain. The Dark Lord was not happy about it either since her father is thinking of joining the cause. Why?"

"He gave Hermione this Portkey over the summer," Severus explained. "It will take us past all of his wards and, I'm assuming it drops us off in his bedroom."

"We better get going." Narcissa looked at her watch. "He is a creature of habit and will be leaving to pick up women at a Muggle pub in less than an hour. Before… With Hermione… He knew. About my sister. I found out over Easter when he was bragging about it. He knew she was being controlled and still… I'm sorry, Severus. I wish I could go back and–"

Severus growled, but not at Narcissa, at the thought of that man touching his witch and bragging about it. "Hermione has forgiven you and I have too. You did what you had to for Draco and we have no doubt that if Bella hadn't drugged you, you would have told her. But that animal is never touching another woman again."

Narcissa nodded in agreement. "Let's go."

He held her tight as he touched his wand to the Kremlin. It glowed blue for a moment and Narcissa placed her hand on it. Within seconds he felt the hook behind his navel and they began to spin.

They landed silently in Antonin's bedroom and Severus rolled his eyes at the decor. It was clear he had tried to emulate the cream and gold tones that were found throughout Malfoy Manor. Instead of looking classy and timeless, his flat looked like a goblin had vomited gold on tacky knick-knacks.

The sound of off-key singing was mingling with rushing water and the smell of cheap body wash wafted out of the bathroom. Narcissa looked at Severus and scrunched her nose in disgust. The man was clearly in the shower getting ready to go out.

The water shut off and they could hear him more clearly through the partially open door.

"Women adore you. Men want to be you. Your cock is going to fuck so many sluts tonight," he chanted and Severus glanced in the bathroom to see the man rubbing his cock as he gave himself a pep talk.

"I can't wait to kill him just to shut him up," Severus muttered quietly.

It didn't take long for the naked man to exit the bathroom. As soon as he saw them he reached for his wand, but he had left it on his bedside table and Narcissa was twirling it in her hands.

"Oh, are you looking for this?" Narcissa teased.

Before Antonin could take another step towards him, she flicked his wand and he was slammed against his wall, arms and legs spread like he was on an invisible St. Andrew's cross.

"I didn't know you wanted to play with me, gorgeous," Antonin said and Severus grimaced at the way the man's cock was beginning to harden, clearly turned on by Narcissa's rough treatment of him. "I've tried to sneak into your rooms so many times but it's always warded. You won't let me in, but you let Wormtail in. That wasn't nice of you."

"That rat could only get in because he came through the walls," she spat. "And I'm not here to play with you. I'm here to kill you. You'll never rape another woman again."

Severus laid his hand on her waist and pulled her to him so her back was pressing into his chest. Leaning down, he whispered into her ear. "No Dark spells, Cissy. I need to keep my head."

She nodded slightly, letting him know she understood. Antonin's cock was still hard but his face was turning red.

"You'll let him touch you but you won't let me?"

Narcissa ran her hand up the outside of Severus' leg. "Of course I do. He fucks like you wouldn't believe. But you… you only care about your own pleasure. And unfortunately for you, you took your pleasure from someone we care about and now you're going to pay. I would have killed you sooner, but your wards are impenetrable and I couldn't risk doing it at my home."

"But lucky for us," Severus began, "you gave someone access to your house. A place no one else has ever been able to enter."

"Hermione gave you that? That fucking whore!" he spat.

Narcissa didn't hesitate. As soon as he called Hermione a whore, she cast a slicing spell at his hip, just missing his cock. Severus knew she hadn't missed by accident. It was a warning shot. Dolohov didn't stop his tirade of insults about Hermione, the Malfoys, Severus, or anything else he could think of and Narcissa didn't stop sending hex after hex at him, cutting his body with precision.

Severus wasn't sure how much time had passed before Antonin stopped struggling against the sticking charm. He was still saying all manner of foul things towards them when Severus grew tired of their game.

"I think it's time to end him, Cissy," he spoke softly into her ear.

They were still standing with her back to his chest and she leaned further into his embrace. He didn't trust himself to not kill the man with his bare fists so he clung to her, took the support she gave him even though she was the one being held up.

Dolohov looked at them as soon as the hexes stopped. He glared at Severus. "Go fuck yourself, Snape."

"I would if I were limber enough to self-copulate, but since I'm not, I'll stick to fucking Hermione and other willing witches."

"What spell should I use?" Narcissa asked before Antonin could reply.

He thought back to the spell he had looked up in the book Dolohov had given Hermione. "Slash his wand from bottom left to top right and say Violetinėmirtis. It's the spell he used on Hermione last year."

"But that's Dark."

"I'll be able to resist."

She turned and kissed his cheek causing Antonin to begin yelling again but they ignored him. "You know I won't mind if you can't."

"I know, love. But as much as I always want you, Hermione doesn't know I'm here and I don't know how she'd feel about it."

"You're a good man, Severus."

"Shitting Salazar, I'm not going to have to watch you two fuck am I?" Dolohov cried out. "I don't want to fucking see Snape naked. Not until I have him before the Dark Lord paying for this crime. He won't be so sure of himself when my cock is shoved in his arse without any fucking lub–"

Narcissa turned back to Antonin and sneered. "You know, I really fucking hate you."

"I hate you too you fucking bit–"

"Violetinėmirtis!"

Bright purple flames left Dolohov's wand, the light bouncing off the gold in his room and making it look like they were in a disco. Severus' cock filled with the power of the Dark spell but he ignored it. Instead, he watched as the curse connected with the Russian man's chest.

The flames licked his naked skin and a deep gash appeared, pulling the fire into his body. His screams filled the room as he was slowly burned from the inside out. Severus quickly cast a Bubble-Head Charm around Narcissa and himself before the smell of cooking flesh could reach them.

Antonin went limp and Severus waited a moment longer before casting a diagnostic charm. Narcissa looked at it then turned to him.

"He is dead," she said.

Her voice was strained and he knew she was fighting the effects of the Dark spell. He took Dolohov's wand and dropped it on the ground at the dead man's feet. He moved his own wand in a large arch, removing all traces of them from the home and the wand before wrapping his arms around his friend. He wanted to fuck her, wanted to bury himself inside her, but continued to resist.

Turning on the spot, he brought them back to his childhood park. Narcissa was panting with need and Severus stepped back from her. He removed the Bubble-Head Charm and she tried to kiss him but he pushed her back. Calling one of her elves, he commanded the creature to take her to her bedroom in the manor and summon Lucius right away.

As soon as she was gone, Severus opened his fly and freed his cock. He needed release and he couldn't wait any longer. Taking his hard length in hand, he let images of his beautiful Hermione fill his mind as he stroked himself. He thought about how she tasted, how she felt wrapped around his cock. Thought about how sweet her morning kisses were.

"Fuck!" he cried out, coming hard.

As soon as his cock stopped pulsing, he tucked himself back into his trousers and vanished the mess he had made on the ground. Now that his head was clear, he needed to return to the castle. Return to the witch he had left sleeping in his bed and tell her what he'd done. He could only hope that she'd forgive him for taking her Portkey.

And if he was really lucky, after she heard about how he'd resisted Narcissa, maybe she'd take mercy on him and they could spend the rest of the night with his still hard cock buried inside her.

A/N: For all of you who have commented how much you love Narcissa: You're welcome.