Chapter 15

I stared at the door in front of me in utter concentration. It was the only room with light coming from underneath the door, and I could hear Nott, Draco, and Parkinson inside.

I didn't want to interrupt, but a small part of me did. A couple of minutes passed before the door opened. Parkinson stepped out alone. She gazed at me silently as she shut the door behind her.

"Granger."

"Parkinson."

We both stared at each other, sizing one up, but I wasn't there to talk to her.

She looked away from first and cleared her throat. "I'm not sorry."

I raised an eyebrow at that. Now that was something I hadn't been expecting to hear from Parkinson.

"What aren't you sorry about?"

Parkinson defiantly raised her chin, "When HE asked for Potter back in the Great Hall."

Oh, yes. Parkinson's very loud opinion on giving 'up' Harry to Riddle. I gathered up my hair and tied it into a messy bun as I took my time replying to her. She kept her chin up as she stared me down.

"Hm, I know why you did. Self-preservation or whatnot." I said after a while.

Her eyes widened. A split second later, Parkinson controlled her expression and visibly calmed. She nodded as she stepped away from the door and to the side. "I think you're here to speak with them, not me?"

I nodded as I resisted the urge to show my displeasure when she even so much as mentioned them.

I opened the door, trying to get away from these urges that seemed so foreign to me. I felt like a damn animal trying to mark its territory. Bill's warnings came to mind, and I knew I shouldn't take them lightly.

Every second I was awake, I realized more and more changes would happen.

I paused after stepping inside, waiting to hear the last of Parkinson's footsteps. Once she was gone, I closed the door. I looked up once the door clicked shut.

Draco was standing by the large bed to the side with only his trousers on. His body was pale but not in the way one would expect from somebody who spent too much time inside. It was pale with a healthy dose of gold under the skin. His stomach showed a good amount of muscle.

Draco was lean but not gaunt like in the years before.

He was reaching for a jumper on the bed when he froze and whipped around to look at me. His eyes widened, and he turned sharply away from me.

I looked away only to meet Nott's knowing gaze.

I blinked, and he smiled. He glanced at Draco and me with apparent glee, which threw me off for a split second.

I wasn't sure why I was able to read his emotions better. But I could see the tense muscles under his shirt. He nervously swallowed as he waited for me to speak.

The more I stared, the more I saw.

It was like I'd been blind before. Now I could take note of things, like their combined scents and the lingering scent of Parkinson.

Shoving that irritating last bit to the side, I calmly took a deep breath.

"I think we need to talk," I declared as I turned back to Draco, who gave me a sharp nod as he adjusted his jumper around himself.

His face was a bit pale, but his neck was flushed a deep red. That hint of colour was too inviting and made me want to bite.

THAT was not happening.

I walked over to the chairs near the small table on the far side of the room. Draco sat down across from me while Nott remained standing near the wall. I wanted to ask why Parkinson had been in the room but decided that this was more important. Both men stared at me, waiting for me to start this conversation.

"I'm sorry for pushing you about, well, you know," I said awkwardly. Nott raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

I cleared my voice, firming my tone. "But now is the right time, and I want to know why Malfoy? Why do you care?"

The use of his last name was deliberate and didn't go unnoticed.

He glanced away as he ran a hand through his hair. He bit his lip, and it caught my attention. His bottom lip was a tad fuller than the top one. He cleared his throat twice before looking up at me, eyebrows knitted in a frown.

"I cared because I came to like you years ago. I've hated the thought of you but, at the same time, wanted to get your attention. It was a vague feeling before our third year. Yet, when you hit me, it changed things for me. Nobody had ever laid a hand on me before then, and it was a shock to me. And it wasn't because you were a girl or who your parents were."

He sighed and leaned back against the armchair, "I don't know exactly when my feelings became more than a passing fancy. I just knew that by the time I knew what these feelings I felt were, we were both on separate sides of the war. You fought for what you believed was right. I was fighting for my family in the war. I believed what they wanted me to believe. And yet you always proved them wrong, every single time. I once said that to my mother, and she told me to stay quiet and never speak of it with my father. I learned early on that father would never change."

He growled as he sat straight to look at me, "I feel guilty for not doing more. I regret not doing the right thing. I was weak and a coward, but that doesn't excuse anything I said or did."

Draco's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I would've gotten my mother killed if I had done anything useful."

I bowed my head, taking every single word to heart. I understood what went unsaid. Even if he'd done the right thing, there was no guarantee that he would have survived.

The war had started the second Riddle had moved against Harry. The battle began when people started dying again. Each death had a killer. Each life taken had pushed the war farther.

In war, the ones that survived were the ones to bear the scars of war.

Regardless of what side we'd been in, we were all guilty of taking a life.

Nobody came out a saint.

Draco had done his part. By lying and handing Harry his wand, he'd done his part.

However small the deed, it had won us the war.

Narcissa's word had given us a chance.

I looked up at Nott, who had moved up behind Malfoy and leaned his hip against the armchair. Malfoy's eyes looked distant and glazed as he stared past me. Probably lost in his hellish memories. I got up, and it seemed to snap him out of his daze. Moving towards him, I sat on the table in front of him.

I hesitantly reached for his arm that bore the Dark Mark.

He held himself stiffly and watched with cautious eyes.

"The same could be said about us. We never once thought about the other side. We only knew about Snape because Harry and I saw the memories aside from Dumbledore and Kingsley. We didn't even think about the fact that you were all children as well and did what you all could do to stay alive." I raised the sleeve of the jumper and brushed the mark lightly. He didn't flinch at the sight of the scar.

But his hands did curl into a fist, knuckles white against his already fair skin.

I pulled the armchair next to Draco's closer and waited for Nott to take the hint.

He moved to the armchair next to the table and watched me with silent but clear eyes. Nott wasn't hiding his emotions much anymore. Not that he could, now that I could read him better.

His scent was calm, his body lax, and his attention solely on me.

Draco was tense but hadn't been before the current subject had come up. A flash of his blush crossed my mind, reminding me of the urge to bite his rose-coloured skin.

I shook that thought away and focused on the two men before me.

I grabbed Nott's arm so that I was touching both men. He bore the mark too. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, his mark dark against his skin.

He wasn't as light as Draco. Nott was a warmer shade of white gold.

I touched it lightly, taking note of the muscles in his arms. This time, the tension wasn't from a heavy matter. It was something that scented of-

"I never thought I would willingly sit in a room with both of you without some hostage situation happening. I had a crush on you," I stated as I looked up at Nott. He raised an eyebrow in question but remained silent, "I did. You never hung out with the others and were always alone. It reminded me of myself." I gave them a small smile before letting them go.

I turned back to Malfoy, who had slumped back onto the armchair, head tipped back, eyes closed.

"Being bitten by Greyback in partial human form has made changes in me that I'm trying to work through. It amplifies my emotions by ten. That's why I was pushing you so hard to answer me. It's not an actual wolf inside of me, but I have some very wolf-like tendencies. Like right now. I can hear each of your hearts thumping. I can smell everything more clearly as well. Like right now. Parkinson's perfume is on both of you." I said as I gave them a hard stare.

Knowing that I was overreacting did not change the feeling of betrayal that was coursing through me. We hadn't had an agreement or anything of that sort.

And yet that didn't erase the bitter feeling of knowing she'd touched both men while I still wasn't sure what was happening with them.

Malfoy's body froze, and he gave me a searching look, "She came in to talk to us. I have always been close to her. Even before Hogwarts."

I forced myself not to glare and instead stared down at my nails. The nails looked harder and sharper. The urge to sink them into their skin flared inside of me.

"I never dated her. Or shagged her. I kissed her, yes, but it didn't mean anything. It was all for show, for our parents and anybody paying attention to us. She likes somebody else, but she never told us who."

"I wasn't close to her, so I never really had anything to do with her," Nott said as he raised the hand I wasn't holding to tug at a loose curl.

I had a hand on both men, yet I desired more. I needed them to reach out to me, on their own, without having to ask.

Draco's expression twisted with raw emotion, "I don't know if this will work. It's not the best timing, we don't know how it would work between all three of us, but I want to try. I don't deserve you, and I know that. Many people will condemn you even though you are a war hero. One is bad enough, but two," he shook his head and leaned back, "I don't think you know me very well, regardless of what you have seen or heard. I was a prat when I was younger, but it all started to change in my fourth year. Things changed for the worst. Father had returned to serving HIM. Mother and I had no choice but to follow him."

I let go of his hand and leaned forward to touch his face. His cheek- I was surprised to find, soft to the touch.

"None of us had a choice. Harry was raised like a pig for slaughter as he was growing up. Ron's family had already fought in the first war. Now we're trying to make sure nobody else gets hurt. I was the one who was always making sure they didn't die," I pulled away from both of them and stared at the door, "I sent my parents away for their safety while I became a fugitive of the law with two of my best friends. Ron lost almost half of his family, and Harry- believe me when I say they wouldn't care who I end up with."

I kept staring at the door, knowing that I didn't silence the room since two others would come up here to ask me what I was doing with two Slytherins. "They want me happy and safe. I can't say that you four will ever be the best mates. You have to understand that they will always be around me. We hold each other together even if it's painful."

I glanced at Nott, who had also been staring at the door. "I understand. You have no reason to trust us. But I'll admit that I do feel something for you. I don't know how to put it into words." Nott said as he got up and walked towards the door. He opened it to reveal Harry and Ron. Ron looked past him and towards me while Harry stared Nott down.

I wanted to sigh, but I knew this behaviour would continue until Harry and Ron realized that I wasn't going to back down from whatever was happening with Draco and Nott.

"Are you sure about this?" Ron asked as he pushed Harry aside and walked around Nott to stand by my armchair. He wasn't glaring but was close to doing.

I stood up, making sure to stand between Ron and Draco. I reached for Ron's fisted hands, carefully pulling his fist apart before speaking.

"I want to do this. I think the bite just made gave me a little push. At first, I was only going to ignore this and planned to blame it on the fact that I was living with them. But that would have been a lie. I want this. I want them."

Ron searched my face, looking for lies, but there were none. He closed his eyes, locking our fingers together.

My fingernails scratched the back of his hands, drawing his attention. He pulled up our hands, staring closely at my nails. He didn't comment on them, knowing I wasn't one to grow them out in the first place.

I knew that he accepted my words when his grip relaxed. But the look in his eyes became hard.

Ron's eyes wandered behind him, staring at the blond. He pulled me close, letting go of my hands to close his arms around my waist.

I let him only because I knew he needed to gain some sort of control over his emotions, and he needed the hug.

"Don't you ever hurt her, okay? I understand couples fight, but if she ever so much as looks like she's cried, you will be sorry. I'm not the weak weasel you thought me once to be. I WILL hurt you."

The only reason I knew Draco had stood up was due to his scent becoming stronger. And Ron's body tensed.

I could feel Draco's breath over the top of my head as he replied, "I don't plan to hurt her." he said firmly.

Nott lazily walked up to us, face carefully blank once again. Harry came up beside Ron as he glanced at the others.

I felt trapped but not scared, far from it. I felt safe but wary since I knew these men didn't like each other.

I pulled away from Ron's grasp, making sure to stand in between both sets of men.

Harry met my gaze, and I flashed him a smile.

I nodded towards Ron, meaning I wanted him out before he said something else. Harry gave me a small smile as he grabbed Ron by the shoulder. They both left the room but not before Harry shot me a look over his shoulder. He would talk to me later.

He wasn't one to put me on the spot like Ron.

Once we were alone in the room, I turned back to them. "I'll say this outright. I don't know if the bite will change me more than it already has. I was never much of a jealous type. When I used to have romantic feelings for Ron, they were gentle and angry. Mostly due to Ron being oblivious to them. He dated Brown during our fifth year, and I was hurt. But not once did I ever think of hurting Brown. That isn't the case now."

I took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "I wanted to hurt Parkinson earlier. Really hurt her. When I walked into the room earlier, Parkinson's scent was on both of you. I realized then and there that I needed to get a handle on whatever Greyback's bite has done to me and my emotions."

Nott startled me when he smiled down at me, "I saw that." His smile transformed his whole face and made me take notice of his full lips. He had never really smiled like that before, and the sight took my breath away.

Draco gave a small gruff laugh as he shifted closer towards me. "I noticed it the first time you saw Pansy. I don't mind your emotions, but there is nothing to be jealous of with her. Pansy felt your killing intent from talking to you the first time."

I grunted my dislike of the subject of discussion and pushed him away. It didn't move him one bit. He looked down at me with a raised eyebrow, "Was that supposed to move me?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and would have left the room when Nott gently grabbed my arm. I glanced up at him. I wasn't sure how I felt about his easy acceptance of us or how he casually touched me.

Everything felt too new, too fast. But that was all in my head because my body and heart didn't seem to mind. Far from it actually.

"So, does this make me your girlfriend?" I questioned.

Nott raised an eyebrow and pulled me closer. Near enough to almost touch chest to chest. Malfoy set his hand on my hip and gave it a slight squeeze.

As I stood there, their scents teased me. They both smelled so good. I fought back the urge to mark them in some way.

I should've been unnerved by the way they could readily touch me at the same time.

"I have never been the jealous type either. I haven't dated, but I have kissed. But none ever made me feel anything. Though I'll admit that over the years, I have paid you a bit of attention from far away, that was something I thought would stay that way. Just looking but never touch."

He moved closer so I could feel his chest press up into my back. I wanted them to touch me more.

Nott stared down at me, jaw clenching for a hot second, "We need to figure out how we're doing this. I never actually thought about a trio relationship. It's something to think about since we are quite new to relationships."

I nodded, "I know. Years ago, I thought I would marry Ron, have a few ginger kids, and retire early in life. I never once thought I would be doing this in a million years."

It wasn't going to be easy. There would be many who would have a lot to say about this. But for now, this was just between them.

I knew it was sudden, but for once, I wasn't nervous. Or afraid.

I had them.

Thus far, I've added about 2k of new material to the story. (Nov2022) I plan to add more as I roughly edit this story. I'm updating it faster on Ao3 but not by much. I expect to add more to (Shadows of Time) as well but that's after I'm done with this story.

Thanks for reading.

Vanee/GremlinV