Chapter 12

(Four days later)

I felt way too warm, even feeling a bit squished as well. Something kept tickling my nose too.

I blinked lazily, trying to focus my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a ball of orange fluff. It was Crookshanks. He lay across my pillow.

Crookshanks scrunched up his face looking down at me. He flicked his tail against my nose again, almost making me sneeze. Once he realized I was awake, he bounded off the bed.

I tried to roll over to the edge of the bed but froze when I realized I couldn't move or why I felt a little too warm. Who was in bed wasn't even a concern.

I already knew who it was. I was more worried about why I was feeling like a pile of dung.

It took me another minute to remember why.

Iskra, Greyback, and the bite. I winced when I bumped my bandaged shoulder and neck. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would have. I looked down to see Ron's head nestled on my stomach, leaving Harry spooning me.

I didn't want to wake them, but I needed to relieve myself. Shifting one foot away from the tangle of legs, I was almost sitting up when Harry jerked awake and smacked me on the head. I yelped and jostled Ron, who had raised his head and bumped my breasts.

He immediately turned red, Gryffindor red. I raised an eyebrow, watching the blush spread down his neck to disappear into his shirt.

It had been a long time since I'd seen this particular shade of red. The last time I'd seen it was when Ron had walked into the washroom while bathing.

The door to my room opened quietly.

My mother walked in, closely followed by many others.

Merlin's balls.

My mother's face pinked, eyes darting back and forth between us and the others. Harry must have been awake because I could feel the building tension in his arms. Ron still had his face pressed against my breast.

I was only wearing a tank top, probably due to the bandaging. I glanced down, noting the edge of the blanket had slid down. Thankfully I was wearing some loose joggers.

Harry pulled away first, prompting Ron to do the same. Ron's face matched his hair as he sat up and turned to face their audience. Harry scratched his chin awkwardly.

I pulled the blanket up, covering my chest, before looking past my mother.

Draco and Nott were right behind her.

They both were staring hard at me. Draco met my eyes for a second longer before turning his head to the side. Nott glanced at Harry and Ron, eyes lingering over our covered laps.

It felt wrong somehow. To be seen in this manner in front of Draco and Nott. I wasn't sure why I felt this way, but I knew I didn't want it to last longer than necessary.

"Well, Hemi, that's one way to have two blocks at a time." Iskra's sarcastic comment came from behind Snape.

Iskra wasn't as tall as Snape, yet I could see her staring from over his shoulder. I mock glared at her as I sat further up in bed, drawing my legs away from the tangle of limbs.

Harry noticed but didn't comment on it. Ron was still looking red and didn't notice.

"Give us a moment," I said as I got up with Harry's help.

My mother nodded and turned to follow the others out. Iskra's voice called out, "Let me join or let me watch!"

I grinned. I loved Iskra. Only she could make jokes at a time like this. But her comment hadn't been a sly jab at me. It was to distract my mother, who'd been staring at my shoulder with fear in her eyes.

Not of the bite. But what it meant for me.

Ron was still red in the face, but the current situation with said bite forced it to fade. Harry turned to face me, eyes full of worry and anger.

I knew what was coming, but I didn't want to deal with it. Although now that I thought about it, Greyback had been in his human form, so I at least didn't get infected like Remus. I would have to speak with Bill about the whole wolf tendencies since I didn't know much about it.

Pushing the covers away, I rolled to the side, over the pillows and behind Ron to get off the bed. Both boys did the same, keeping the silence.

I grabbed an old button-up shirt that used to be my father's. I turned around after buttoning up and saw Ron standing by the bed with his arms crossed while Harry walked over to me with a scowl on his face.

"Will saying sorry make it better?" I asked as I raised one hand to his stubbled jaw. Harry grumbled as he grabbed my arm. Even while being rough, he was mindful of my wounded shoulder.

"Why? Why did you do that?" he asked in a small voice.

I felt a jolt run through me at his tone. I had scared him. I felt his hands tremble as he turned my face up to his. He rubbed his cheek against mine as he whispered threats we both knew he wouldn't follow through. Ron wasn't as forgiving. He had never been.

Ron pushed Harry to the side as he faced me. His face wasn't as red anymore. His eyes were another matter. Ron had never been able to control the emotion in his eyes.

They lit up with anger and worry.

He had changed so much since the battle. He wasn't my loud and over-the-top Ron, who had always made his opinions known. Who had always reacted first and asked questions later? That wasn't who stood in front of me anymore.

Ron had yet to work through his anger and grief. I'd decided not to involve myself. He would become dependent on me to solve his problems.

That wouldn't be healthy for either one of us.

All I could do for him was be there when he needed it.

That wasn't the case right now.

Ron took a deep breath, looking away as he released his breath. His shoulders drooped. He quietly left the room. Holding back whatever he was feeling. Even the door was closed gently.

Harry was staring at the door again with a pained look. He was the one directly dealing with him since they lived together. But even Harry seemed to struggle with Ron's bottled emotions. The day Ron loses grip over them would be bloody vicious.

"When it happens, it will be awful," Harry declared as he tugged me to the bed. He grabbed my shoulders and tucked my head into his chest.

"I know. I wish we could help. But Ron only pushes us away, and Molly isn't helping."

Harry shrugged, "We can't help those that don't want it. We can't force him. All we can do is be here when that moment comes." Such grown-up words, and yet they weren't.

His hand brushed my shoulder on accident as he shifted back, and I winced.

"Sorry, we would have sent for Poppy, but we thought that you would want to do it, and we didn't want anybody to touch you while you were out."

"How long was I out for?"

"About four days. Greyback almost ripped your throat out, Hermione, he had his mouth clamped down, and Malfoy sent sectumsempra at his face while Ron and I flung him away from you when he released you," he said as he grabbed my hand in a tight grip, "Nott grabbed you first before anybody else. We thought you were dead. Your mom screamed and ran towards you but stopped when she realized Iskra was going to kill Greyback. Iskra was about to kill him with an unforgivable."

I grimaced at hearing about my mother screaming. She probably thought she'd lost me. Iskra would have killed him. She had no problem using that spell.

I remembered Nott holding me in his arms and having the feeling of being safe. Me. Safe in Nott's arms. I felt a bit unsettled thinking of that. But I pushed it back like every other thing about Nott and Draco.

Harry got up and moved towards my small table by the window where I had tea with Malfoy. There sat a wooden box which he opened and pulled out a small glass jar with a wire snap lid.

He held it up so I could see the silvery paste inside.

"Snape made this the day it happened and said to give it to you when you woke up. It has powdered silver and dittany. Snape said it'll heal and seal the wound. He also said it will leave a scar."

I shrugged, "I have a lot of scars. One more isn't going to change that." I took off the button-up shirt, and Harry helped me pull off the bandages.

I wasn't self-conscious in front of him in only a tank top since he had gotten an eyeful back when we had been on the run.

The first time Harry had seen me naked still made me grin. He'd yelped like a dog and scrambled out of the tent like his arse had been on fire.

I'd blushed red as a tomato, trying to cover myself up.

Now, I was unfazed as I stood in front of Harry.

He didn't react either as he pulled off the last bandage. I walked over to my vanity mirror so that I could apply the paste. The bite was large and jagged. His clawed hands had wrapped around my arm, and you could see the harsh gashes wrapped around my upper arm. I applied it to both areas and watched as they slowly sealed. I waited a bit longer before wiping the paste away with the bandage.

The scar was silvery with a hint of red since it was still tender. I met Harry's eyes in the mirror, "Not bad." Harry rolled his eyes, but I could see the strain in them. I looked away and picked up a jersey that had been Harry's Quidditch shirt. It had the name POTTER with the number seven.

He didn't comment on the shirt. He grabbed his jumper and walked towards the door. "I have to go see Ginny since I haven't been home since you've been asleep. She stayed the first night, but I sent her home."

"She won't wait forever, Harry," I said softly.

He stiffened as he opened the door. "Sometimes, I think that wouldn't be a bad thing. Ginny shouldn't feel like she should wait." Not for me was left unsaid.

He left, and I stared at the door for quite a while, trying not to cry at his words. I didn't want to believe that he would throw it all away. But it was Harry. He was irrational, but now he was even more so. Working every day and staying out of the house would make any women waver.

I felt like he was doing it on purpose. Trying to see how far he could push Ginny. But I knew Ginny.

Ginny would hold on to the bitter end.

I used the bathroom and headed downstairs, where I could hear Iskra's voice. "So, you were the spy."

I rolled my eyes at that.

She had always had a thing for Severus. She had met him at a potions meeting in the ministry since Viktor had sent her to find out more about certain curses.

Snape had only been allowed in since Harry had repeatedly vouched for him. Snape wasn't well-liked, but his knowledge of the Dark Arts was exceptional. Many wanted to learn from him. His dark past kept them away. But there were the oddballs here and there that were fascinated by said dark past.

Iskra had always asked about him, but I hadn't been close to him. Ever.

I walked into the living room, where everybody was. My mother came to me with wide, scared eyes. "Hermione," she whispered as she grabbed me in a gentle hug. I hugged her back a bit tighter. I knew she had been afraid for me. I didn't want her scared.

"I'm fine now, mom." She nodded as she drew away.

Snape moved away from Iskra, who had been staring at his backside and stepped around mother. "Did you apply the paste?"

I nodded as I pulled the jersey to the side to show him. He glanced at it before nodding, "Good, do it again later tonight."

He gave one last look at Iskra before using the floo. Iskra stared after him with a wide grin on her face.

Narcissa stood up, as did Malfoy and Nott. "How are you, Miss Granger?" asked Narcissa. I moved my shoulder around, "I'm fine. He bit me in human form, so I won't have to worry about turning."

Mother glanced at my shoulder with a frown.

Iskra walked up to me and slapped my good shoulder. She almost knocked me forward.

"You scared me! I told you not to stray from me!" she shouted as she smacked me again. I had scared her too, but with her, it was different. She hit people to show her concern.

I'd never scared her like this before.

"Iskra, I didn't move away from you by choice. You know this." I said as I kneeled to grab Crookshanks. He nuzzled me for a bit before getting up onto my uninjured shoulder.

Iskra glared at me for a bit before a dazzling smile spread across her face. Shite, that wasn't good. "You will have to deal with Vik. He knows, and let's say he's a tad mad at you." I closed my eyes tightly.

I could deal with Ron's silent anger and Harry's fear but not a pissed-off Bulgarian who had told me not to get hurt and look at how that had ended.

Viktor could be so cold in a hot boiling way when he was angered. Throw in worried, and it was a cocktail of explosive proportions.

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her, all while being very conscious of two distinctive gazes. Mother went into the kitchen, and Narcissa followed her while Iskra smirked at me. I glanced back at the two men standing by the window.

Malfoy was staring hard at me while Nott flatly looked at me too. Iskra slyly smiled as she walked out of the living room. But not without bumping my uninjured shoulder.

Neither male looked at Iskra as she walked past, eyes focused on me. I pulled at my jersey, aware of whose name was on it.

I wasn't sure why I felt as if I was in the wrong. All I knew was that I wasn't ready to face whatever was causing me to feel that way. Neither were they.

Since they didn't move or talk at first, I took the first step.

I stopped about a foot away from them and looked up at Nott. "Thank you."

Nott's eyes flashed with something too fast for me to read before nodding silently. Malfoy was staring me down, and before I could say anything, he asked, "Are you dating the both of them?"

I stared at him incredulously.

I quickly glanced at Nott before answering hesitantly.

"What?"

Malfoy frowned as he shifted forward a step. "Are you dating both of them? Potter and Weasley?"

I grimaced, "No, but even if I was, it's none of your business."

Malfoy ran his hands through his hair before straightening up, "You're right. It isn't any of my business. I'm glad you're okay." With that said, he walked to the front door and stepped outside.

I was still staring after him when Nott spoke up. "He has always liked you."

I looked up at him a shock. What? What did he say? I felt like fish, mouth dropping open in renewed shock.

Nott noticed my disbelief and shock.

"He has liked you since our second year. I don't know much else aside from what Blaise knows. I wasn't close with them. But one has ways of hearing stuff when in close proximity. I knew he liked you. He just knew it wasn't possible." he looked down at me for a second before turning towards the stairs. "You'd be surprised at how many Slytherins liked you. We could never show it. We weren't allowed to."

I tried to wrap my head around his words, yet I couldn't. That was the longest time he had ever spoken to me. I turned to the window to see Malfoy near the water. He looked so out of place. I turned away and leaned back against the window. The coolness of it soothed me and helped me think a bit better. I could always ask him directly. But what would I say? Hey, Draco, I heard about your years-long fancy from Nott. Is it true?

Shaking my head, I brought my legs up onto the ledge. I clasped my hands in front of them and put my head down.

The first time I had met him, I had thought he'd been good-looking, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his foul words ruined it.

His calling me names hadn't helped. But he had never once looked at me in anything more than disgust. Either he had been a great actor, or it was all a rubbish lie.

I didn't want to think of what other Slytherin had fancied me.

Nott's last parting shot also let me know what he thought of me. Not knowing how long that'd been going was just as jarring.

Closing my eyes, I thought of them both.

I couldn't say that I had ever felt anything for them. I had always had eyes for Ron and his other brother Charlie. But thinking of Malfoy and Nott recently had changed that. I noticed them right away when I walked into a room. I could feel them looking at me with burning gazes. Malfoy was not like he once was. Not once has he made a snide remark towards my mother or me? Nott, I didn't know as well but could only assume that he was even more silent than before.

I had read some books about wizard marriages with more than two people. I hadn't met anybody that was polyamorous before.

I could see the appeal of having two people for oneself. Not that it would ever happen to me.

Especially not now.

Right now, we had more pressing matters to focus on.

Getting up and rotating my arm a couple of times, I walked into the kitchen to see mother, Iskra, and Narcissa at the table talking amongst themselves.

I stared out the window. I had to write to Bill soon since the full moon was a couple of days away, and I needed to know everything.

I would have to deal with the repercussions of being bitten by Greyback. The one other person I knew to hold such knowledge was Bill.

The day passed slowly, and it was almost time for dinner when Bill replied to me.

The letter was short and straight to the point. Bill listed what exactly to expect.

I would have heightened senses and crave raw meat. That last bit I didn't like. I had never been a meat lover, so I didn't know how that would end up.

We had a quiet dinner, and Iskra left saying that Vik had sent a note saying he wouldn't be able to come but that he would have a few words with me soon. He wanted Iskra to check something out for him. Iskra had told me that she would come back after the full moon, and we would head to another location on the list next time.

I didn't know if she had told Harry about it or if she just wanted us to go by ourselves. I didn't ask what had happened to Greyback, but I could guess where he was at the moment.

Heading upstairs to my room, I went through the list and checked off the one we had visited. I knew Harry was going with some Auror, but I was pretty sure they wouldn't find anything. The dragon had probably scorched it all.

I heard a light knock and turned around to see Malfoy standing by the door with Nott. He walked in slowly when I motioned to the chairs we had sat at the last time. Nott followed him as he took a look around.

Not that there was much to see. My room was a fun mixture of modern muggle stuff and wizardly items.

Sitting on my desk chair, I stared at the list one more time, before turning my attention to them. Malfoy was looking at me. Nott had zeroed in on the book Malfoy had seen the last time.

"Are you going again?" Malfoy asked as he looked over at the picture on the wall. It was of father and me. I stared at him for a bit. Should I lie?

Nott spoke before I could, "Don't lie. I came into your room when you left that night. I saw the location and called Potter." I glared at him before grinning. It threw him off, and I burst out laughing.

Draco smiled gently at me, "She lost it."

I waved him away. "No, I'm fine. I just never had anybody call me out on that. Harry and Ron would never do that."

Once I said their names, Draco's small smile vanished.

I sighed a bit and leaned back. "I am going again. I'm like, bait, I guess? I haven't figured out exactly what I'm going to do, so I'm planning until Iskra can come back. Not too many of us can go, or we'll draw too much attention."

Nott was still staring at the book when he spoke up, "We don't have much to do right now. One of us can go with you both."

I raised an eyebrow at that but didn't comment. It felt weird having both here in my room and having a conversation without insults. At least with Malfoy, that is. Nott had never said anything to me directly.

I was about to say something else when loud thunderclap sounds came from outside. I got up and rushed towards the window to see three figures in hoods.

They were standing right outside the wards.

Shite, they had found us.

I added 300 words to this chapter. Oct 222

I'm slowly editing it and uploading it to AO3.

Thank you for reading.

Vanee