A/N: I think I forgot to mention, my birthday was last week. So this is kind of a birthday present to myself. I'm having a lot of fun writing this story. It doesn't feel like a chore, which, let's be honest, even the stories you love sometimes start to feel like a chore. So far, this one hasn't, I got it outlined and two chapters written in a matter of days. So, yeah. I'm having fun! Hopefully, you are too! And if you are, let me know about it! Also, find me on Tumblr at crochetawayhpff!


When Hermione woke up, both Severus and Lucius were asleep in bed on either side of her. She sat up slowly, disentangling herself from Lucius' arms and leaned against the headboard. Severus was huddled on the edge of the bed with a pillow gripped tightly in his arms. Even in sleep, he didn't look like he relaxed. Lucius had been half-sprawled on top of her and looked as relaxed as Severus looked tense.

She almost couldn't believe what had happened yesterday and buried her face in her hands. Excitement, nervousness, dread, arousal, they were all sweeping through her and Hermione felt overwhelmed. What would happen when they woke up? What if it was a one-off? Hermione definitely didn't want it to be a one-off, but she felt sure that she wasn't brave enough to stay here and wait for either of them to wake up.

Decided, she crawled to the end of the bed, careful not to wake either man. She dug through the piles of clothes on the floor to find her wand and silently summoned her clothes to her. Dressing quickly, she found her piles of bags near the door she came in and levitated them to follow her. With one last look at the two men sleeping in bed, light and dark, she sneaked out of the door and down the hallway. As soon as she left the bedroom, she knew she was in Malfoy Manor, the hallway seemed to go on forever and Hermione had no idea where she was going. Should she try calling for a house elf? Or wander around until she found a fireplace and a Floo pot?

She tried Apparating, but wasn't able to, which was unsurprising. Most residences had anti-Apparition wards on them. Pursing her lips, she shifted her weight from foot to foot as she thought about what made the most sense. She decided at least to move away from Lucius' room, although her getaway wasn't going to be very secret if she had to go wake Lucius up in order to find her way out. She did know the front of the house at least from the time she had been captured by Snatchers. Shuddering at the thought of stumbling across that awful drawing room, Hermione hurried down the hallway. Master bedrooms tended to be on the first or second floor of large manor houses, so Hermione was looking for a set of stairs.

Passing a number of doors, Hermione finally found a sweeping staircase that seemed to lead to what she thought looked like the front foyer and quickly descended them. There wasn't a fireplace in the foyer. She knew that the drawing room was off to the right side of the foyer and she did know there was a fireplace in there. Whether there would also be a Floo pot or not, was yet to be seen. Steeling herself, she knew that the fireplace was on the same wall as the door. All she had to do was look around the room, walk to the fireplace and see if there was a Floo pot. If not, then she could try the front doors and Apparate from outside.

Her heart raced as she eased open the door to the drawing room. A quick glance inside told her the room was empty and she hurried to the fireplace. A deep sense of relief thrummed through her when she spotted the ornate Floo pot, with Floo powder still inside.

"Granger?"

Hermione froze, she hadn't seen or spoken to Draco Malfoy since the final battle when she, Harry, and Ron had saved him and Goyle from the Fiendfyre that ravaged the Room of Requirement. Should she just leave? Act like she didn't hear him? What in the world was she going to tell him? That she'd slept with his father? And their former professor? Oh, Merlin, this was way worse than having had to wake up Lucius. Why hadn't she considered this possibility?

Slowly, she turned around to see Draco standing in the doorway of the drawing room. Hermione's bags and packages were all still levitated behind her and had moved with her, bobbing between her and the fireplace at her back. Draco looked to still be in his pajamas, and his hair was ruffled from sleep.

"Er, hi Draco," Hermione nodded nervously. Hi, that was the best she could come up with? She felt her face redden and wished the floor would just swallow her up. This was by far the most mortified she'd felt in a long time.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked, stepping further into the room, a frown on his face as he took in her appearance and the packages behind her. "What are those?"

"Ummm, I went shopping yesterday," Hermione said, indicating the packages. Draco stopped right in front of her and Hermione saw how grey his eyes were, compared to Lucius' ice blue, she almost couldn't believe she'd ever thought they were the same color.

"Why are you in my house?" Draco asked once more. His tone was edging toward frustration. Hermione was at a loss for what to say.

"I ran into your father at Diagon Alley…" Hermione trailed off. Her face felt bright red and she looked down at her feet. Maybe he'd figure it out? It was early in the morning, she had the packages from her shopping trip with her.

It seems he did.

"Oh, disgusting," Draco muttered and backed up from her. Hermione cringed at his tone but didn't meet his gaze.

"Right, I'll be going," Hermione murmured and turned back to the fireplace. She lifted her wand to corral her packages and tossed some Floo powder into the fireplace, shouting out for the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky's Floo was considered a public Floo and was open around the clock. She stumbled through it as her packages and bags hit the floor. Hermione sighed.

"Alright, there?" Tom the barkeep asked. Hermione nodded, and waved her hand at him. Dropping a couple of sickles in the jar on the mantle for the use of his fireplace. Hermione picked up her packages by hand and exited the Leaky Cauldron on the Diagon Alley side so she could Apparate back to her parent's house. It still didn't feel like her house, even after living there by herself for months. And she hadn't had it connected to the Floo. She probably should at some point, but it was rather nice to not be bothered with it. A Floo connection just made it easier for someone to find her when she didn't necessarily want to be found. Especially by the press.


"Seriously, Father?" Lucius woke with a start at hearing his son address him. He was nude, in bed and turned to find out that only Severus was there. Hermione had gone. Looking up, he found Draco standing in the doorway of his bedroom, still in his own pajamas.

"Draco?" Lucius asked.

"Did you really fuck Granger last night? Both of you?" The disgust in Draco's voice was thick and Lucius narrowed his eyes at his son.

"Language," Severus snapped. He was still lying in bed, not having moved an inch and Lucius had assumed he was still sleeping.

"Oh, please. You two fucked a girl young enough to be your kid last night," Draco scoffed.

"Is that going to be a problem, Draco?" Lucius asked. He had sat up and wanted to stand, but the idea of Draco seeing him naked made him uncomfortable.

Draco rolled his eyes, and Lucius thought again that he was entirely too dramatic for his own good. A bit like his mother that way.

"Will there be repeats?" Draco asked.

"Merlin willing," Severus muttered.

Lucius' lips twitched, but he held back his smirk. He definitely wanted a repeat of last night as well. Hermione was delectable and incredibly responsive. He truly hadn't been able to get her out of his mind since that night at Grimmauld Place. He and Severus had discussed her at length in the intervening year since that night. He glanced at his longtime friend and sometime bed partner. He looked tense even in repose and Lucius sighed.

"Was there anything else, Draco? I'd like a shower," Lucius hinted, turning back to his son.

Draco muttered under his breath and left the room. Lucius sighed once more. If this thing with Hermione did go further, he would have to find a way to deal with Draco's feelings on it. Lucius knew that Draco was still mourning the loss of his mother, and while Lucius missed Narcissa as well, their marriage had been arranged. He wouldn't forget what she had done for him, his son or the wizarding world at large, but Lucius had never felt as enticed by Narcissa as he did by Hermione.

"He's going to be a problem," Severus commented, rolling over onto his back and looking at Lucius.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Lucius said as he stood from the bed and headed to the attached bathroom.


Ron and Harry showed up at her house not long after Hermione had arrived. She'd just stepped out of the shower when she heard the banging on her front door. Deciding to ignore it, Hermione continued dressing for the day, but when she went down stairs, whoever had knocked was still knocking and a quick peek told her it was Harry and Ron. She opened the door for them and was surprised at Ron's anger. What in the world had happened to induce that?

"Have you seen the Daily Prophet today, Hermione?" Harry asked gently, steering Hermione into a seat at her own kitchen table. She heard Ron banging cabinets and assumed he was making tea. Despite having secluded herself, Harry and Ron had been by enough time so know their way around her kitchen.

"How does this stupid thing work?" Ron grumbled and Hermione turned to see him fiddling with the electric kettle.

Harry stood from the table before Hermione could get up, "I'll help him." He laid the paper in front of Hermione and Hermione was sick at the headlines. Two of them. Both about her. Neither of them flattering. No wonder Ron was so upset.

'GOLDEN GIRL GETS TOSSED AT GRINGOTTS' read one. 'GRANGER AND MALFOY SR, LEAVING DIAGON ALLEY TOGETHER' the other.

She hadn't been paying attention when Lucius and she had strode through Diagon Alley to the apparition point, but there they were, in black and white. Lucius pulling her along by her hand, her packages bobbing along behind them. She couldn't see either her or Lucius' face and when he pulled her close to Apparate the photo's loop started over again.

The worst picture was of her being tossed out of Gringotts doors by the guard goblin. Her face was clearly visible and she looked upset as she tried to argue with him. Just as she turned to face the camera, a tear clearly running down her cheek the loop started over.

"Care to explain?" Ron asked coldly, sitting across from her.

Hermione sighed and thanked Harry who sat a fresh mug of tea before her. She missed the look Harry shot Ron at his tone.

"I-I…" Hermione trailed off. What could she say? About any of it. Gringotts at least she could try to explain. "The goblins won't allow me to enter Gringotts because I'm a thief," Hermione admitted at last.

"We'll talk to the goblins," Harry said. "Make them understand."

"Are you able to get to your vault?" Hermione asked Harry.

Harry looked unsure for a moment, and Hermione knew. It was just her that wasn't able to access her vault. Because she was the one who had masqueraded around as Bellatrix. She was the thief, Harry and Ron were accomplices, but she was the thief. She dropped her head onto the table before her. Why was this happening?

"What about the other?" Ron asked angrily, shoving the newspaper.

Hermione met his eyes, he looked equal parts angry and embarrassed.

"I ran into Lucius at Flourish and Blotts—"

"Lucius?!" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione continued as if she hadn't heard him, "We got to talking and he invited me... elsewhere." Hermione shrugged, unwilling to say more.

"Elsewhere?" Harry prompted.

Hermione's lips tightened but didn't respond. Surely they weren't that thick? Draco had figured it out quickly enough after all. And she knew Ron was thinking it.

"You... you fucked him?" Ron asked his face a mask of disgust and horror.

Hermione just looked at him, chewing the inside of her cheek.

"Really?" Harry asked. He sounded more surprised than angry.

"It's a long story," Hermione shrugged.

"You are fucking vile, Hermione," Ron hissed at her as he stood from the table with such violence that his chair toppled over behind him. He stormed from the house, slamming the front door on his way.

"He'll come around," Harry said. "He always does."

"I'm not sure I want him to," Hermione admitted. "I… I liked sleeping with Lucius." No sense in mentioning Severus too. "I'm not going to stop because Ron doesn't like it."

"Nor should you have to," Harry placated and Hermione darted her eyes to him. He was taking this so well. Too well. What was going on with him?

"Harry?" Hermione asked. She wasn't quite sure what the question was, but Harry shook his head.

"Don't worry about it," he grinned at her and gave her a hug. "Let's get dinner soon, alright?"

Hermione returned the hug and nodded against her shoulder. Harry was always there for her when Ron wasn't. She would have to think about what it meant that Harry hadn't been upset to learn she had slept with Lucius.


"You are a difficult witch to find," Lucius announced to Hermione when she'd opened her door to the sound of someone knocking for the second time that day.

"Lucius! What are you doing here?" Hermione asked as she stepped back, allowing him inside. It was strange to see proper Lucius Malfoy in her parent's rather modern home. He glanced around the living area and Hermione fully expected him to sneer at what he saw, but he didn't. His face stayed blank and unreadable.

"I'm here for you, Hermione," Lucius said when he turned back to face her.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his eyes. She felt drawn to this man in ways she didn't understand and while she desperately wanted to fall into his embrace once more, she felt she owed it to herself to get some answers from him. She didn't need to know everything, but a general idea about his intentions would help relieve some of her anxieties. Or at least inform her of how misplaced her heart was.

"Why?" Hermione whispered. She suddenly couldn't face him and turned to head toward the kitchen, gesturing that he should follow her. She needed tea for this conversation.

Lucius didn't speak again until they were seated at her kitchen table, each with a cuppa in front of them. Hermione was fascinated to learn he took his tea with four sugars. Four! It was an obscene amount of sugar.

"I enjoy your company," Lucius commented finally answering her question.

Hermione pursed her lips. He enjoyed her company? He hadn't spent any time in her company that didn't involve getting naked. Is that all he wanted? Unwillingly, her heart thumped strangely. She already knew she was going to be heartbroken if that's all he wanted.

When she didn't say anything, he went on, "I would like to continue enjoying your company. To see if we are compatible in other ways."

That strange thump was back in her chest and she felt something akin to hope. It wasn't quite hope yet, Lucius Malfoy was not a man who would declare his feelings. And yet, for some reason, she felt like she could believe him.

"I'm sorry about the Daily Prophet article," he told her and sipped his tea.

Hermione's eyebrows shot up, "It's alright," she shrugged, "Rita Skeeter has a personal vendetta against me. I'm used to it."

Lucius nodded but didn't say anything more for a moment.

Hermione concentrated on her tea. She wished she knew what was going through his mind.

"Do you have any plans for the week?" Lucius asked suddenly. Hermione shook her head. She didn't have a job, and couldn't even apply anywhere until her NEWT scores were back.

"Let me take you to Paris," Lucius said. "I have an apartment there, we can spend some time getting to know one another."

"I—"

"Please?" Lucius asked. He looked heartfelt, his face no longer the mask she couldn't read, but full of hope and maybe longing? How could she refuse that?

"Alright," Hermione nodded.

Lucius grinned at her and stood suddenly from his side of the table. He quickly crossed the room and knelt in front of her, grasping her hands. "Let's go then."

"Now?!" Hermione asked. It was almost nine in the evening. She had assumed she'd get a chance to pack and sleep on it and he wanted to go now?

"Yes," Lucius stood, pulling her to standing and wrapped his arms around her. Hermione felt herself melt a little into his embrace, he was so firm and warm against her and she truly felt as if he could take all her worries away. She could send Harry an owl from Paris, there was nothing else keeping her here beyond that, so she nodded against Lucius' chest. He tightened his grip on her and tipped her chin up with one hand. Hermione found herself lost once more in his piercing, ice blue gaze. She didn't think she would ever tire of looking into his eyes when suddenly his mouth was covering hers and her own eyes slipped closed. His kisses were drugging and Hermione found herself quickly swept away.

It wasn't long before Lucius had her seated on the table, and had stepped between her legs. Hermione was flicking his buttons on his shirt open as quickly as she could, having already divested him of his outer robes and vest. She couldn't wait to feel him inside her, she needed it, craved it.

"Come on," she muttered when she pushed the shirt down from his shoulders and began attacking the placket of his trousers.

"Someone is in a hurry," Lucius commented. He had successfully removed both her t-shirt and her bra and was tweaking her nipples while planting soft, wet kisses down her neck.

Hermione finally got his trousers open and was pleased when Lucius grunted as she grasped his cock in her hand. She gave it several pumps as Lucius breathed heavily, enjoying the feel of her hands on him. The look on his face was angelic and Hermione couldn't believe she was the one who was making him look like that. The previous two times they'd done this, he had been in total control, and now she felt like it was her turn for some control. She reached one hand down and began cupping his balls and was rewarded with a low moan. And then he was on her, quickly unfastening her jeans and working to slide them down past her hips and off. Hermione shifted her weight to help him and without warning, he picked her up and turned to pusher her back against the wall. She couldn't stand, he was holding her up too high, so she wrapped her legs around his waist, trapping his hard length between them.

"You are going to be the death of me," Lucius groaned into her neck as he slid his cock along her wet folds.

"Please," Hermione begged, she ached to be filled.

"Oh, but what a death it will be," Lucius grunted and in one swift move, he impaled her on his throbbing cock. Hermione tossed her head back, hitting the wall behind her, but uncaring because of the brutal pace Lucius was setting. She gripped his shoulders tightly as he pounded into her, his face still buried in her neck where he was licking and nipping every bit of skin he could reach.

"Fucking hell," Lucius muttered, and Hermione felt him reach between them to fiddle with her clit. She was already so close that a few swipes and she was screaming through her release. Lucius gripped her hips tightly in both hands as he hammered into her, searching for his own release. He bit down on her shoulder when he found it and Hermione cried out again from the dual feeling of his bite and his seed spilling into her.

Lucius stood there, panting into her neck as Hermione clung to him and they both allowed their breathing to slow.

"That was…" Hermione trailed off when Lucius lifted his head and met her gaze.

His eyes wavered between hers and her lips before he pressed a soft kiss to her lips and whispered, "Bloody brilliant," against them, kissing her once more.

Hermione could only agree with him and kiss him back. Even after a performance such as that, she could feel her body thrumming, ready for more.

Slowly, Lucius, let her down to stand on her own two feet.

"How long do you need to pack?" he asked, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

"Not long," Hermione whispered, her hands resting on his shoulders, she wasn't ready to let him go yet.

"Hurry, then," Lucius murmured, placing one more kiss on her lips before releasing her entirely. Hermione nodded and raced up the stairs to her old bedroom trying to decide what she should pack for her impromptu trip to Paris.