Disclaimer:- I neither own nor earn anything from this story. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and associates.

sSs

A/N:- Well here we are again, another chapter. Thank you to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter, I appreciate all of your reviews. We are slowly unravelling the tangled web, but I have no plans to finish this story any time soon, it is sometimes difficult to write, but it's a lot of fun too. This chapter I have tried to get back to my original prompt to myself. I wanted it to be essentially an erotic adventure. I hope you enjoy this instalment…

hHh

Chapter Twenty Three – Moving Forward

A carefully worded press release appeared in the Daily Prophet the day after the curse had been removed from Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. The headline announced - "Stress Forces Chief of Aurory into early Retirement," and there was an assurance that the information had come straight from the office of the minister of magic.

The article attached informed the British wizarding public that… "After many years of faithful service to the wizarding community of Great Britain, Chief Auror, Commander Harry James Potter, Order of Merlin, first class, has gone into seclusion at an unknown location. Mr. Potter is said to be suffering severe stress, and was not available for comment. The question now, is who will take the reins of the Aurory to protect us all from dark wizards. Minister Shacklebolt has declined to comment further after the release the statement.

However, never fear witches and wizards of Britain, this reporter for one will keep you informed as updates are available, and I have many questions for the minister and Mr. Potter. These questions are even more pertinent because Mr. Potter's long-time best friend Mr. Ronald Weasley has disappeared as well after being dropped from this year's Chudley Canons line up, could there be a connection?

Furthermore, the document discretely filed earlier this year by persons unknown, citing Commander Potter's marriage as unlawful, after his wife also all but vanished from society, has been proven in front of a recent full Wizengamot sitting to be genuine. Nobody has explained that either, it has been stated by neighbours of the now abandoned Potter household that Mr. Ronald Weasley had more or less lived with the couple and their children, and once Mrs Ginevra Potter had left, he remained with Mr. Potter, and all Mrs Potter's things were retrieved by her father and three of her brothers. There are also many questions begging answer as to the mystery surrounding Mr. Potter's brother-in-law's murder…"

"It's a good job they don't know the whole truth," Severus commented, as Lucius huffed, stopped reading and put the paper down on the breakfast table. Severus sneered, "Of course no matter what happens some fool will end up making Potter a bloody hero because he was under a curse."

"Mmm," the blond wizard replied thoughtfully, covering Ginny's hand and giving it a squeeze. He knew how much Severus disliked Potter, but had thought of something more immediate. He took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to say would not be well received. "I don't think going to Madam Malkin's this morning is a good idea, not in the light of this article."

Quickly seeing Lucius' point, Severus added his voice to that statement. "No, neither of you will have a moment of peace once the media recognise you," he told Hermione, stroking her hand across the table. "Especially you Ginevra," he finished looking towards the already narrowed eyes of the red-headed witch.

Ginny looked intensely annoyed; her hormones were still running wild, and the 'baby blues' were making her very emotional. "So even though it's over, I'm still a prisoner," she snapped, pouting.

Lucius was quick to encourage her around the table and onto his lap before any of them could add another word.

Hermione and Severus watched this scene, and after a moment of thinking, it was Hermione who came up with a possible solution. "Well, I still need to have my fitting. Do you think Madam Malkin could be prevailed upon to come here? All three of us could have our fitting here," she said, squeezing Severus' hand across the table.

Lucius reached a hand out and patted Hermione's arm. "Smart thinking, pet," he told her. The blond wizard then turned back to the witch on his lap. "Would that solve the problem, dearest?"

Ginny nodded, and added excitedly, and it was fairly obvious to all but her, without thinking, "You guys and Draco could organise entertainment for the children, since Astoria's away visiting her mother. That would give us girls the chance for a proper get together," she offered enthusiastically.

"Actually, that wasn't what I had in mind," Hermione told Ginny carefully, already seeing the thundercloud building over Severus' head, they had already discussed the problem of children. With Draco and Astoria's children and the Longbottoms as well, there was almost an even dozen, and while they would be wonderful company for any children they might have at a later date, all at once they were too much for Severus en masse at the moment.

The Potions master glared at the redhead. He was going hiking in the highlands; he had been looking forward to it ever since he'd made the plan when he knew Hermione would be occupied with her girl friends for most of the day, and he wasn't giving it up to mind other people's snotty nosed brats.

Getting up, Hermione came around the table to stand between Severus' legs, knowing what her soon-to-be husband might say to the over emotional Ginny. Out of the two of them Severus was the one struggling the most with their change of circumstance now that the year had finished, and Hermione was intent on giving Lucius time to make Ginny see what she'd just blurted out, before Severus' inevitable cutting comment made it all blow up.

Hermione's fingers busied themselves smoothing Severus' brow, and then her lips followed her fingers. "You've already got your day organised, and Lu will make her see reason, don't worry," she murmured close to his ear, and then she snickered. "And did you know, I have plans for you before you go."

Severus knew what she was doing, and he let her. "Oh, have you indeed, witch?" his beautiful voice turned low and seductive. Hermione shivered and kept teasing him with her lips, ignoring the other couple. She knew they were probably deep in conversation anyway.

Her teasing quickly became too much for Severus and he pulled her head down capturing her lips in a heated kiss. "You're a minx, my love," he told her when the kiss ended, "However, I am interested to know what you have in mind?"

"I was thinking…" Hermione whispered close to his ear, as she straddled his lap to continue kissing him, but just as she was about to speak again, they heard the sound of running feet, and this made Hermione groan internally.

It would be different when Severus and her had a family, but in this setting where Severus, Lucius and her had been so intimate with each other, it was hard now, especially with nannies running around after children everywhere and it was the impetus that made her say to Ginny, perhaps a little harshly, "Severus has already planned his day, because he knew I would be busy, and the nannies are employed to mind the children, Gin," she stated reluctantly removing herself from Severus' lap.

They heard Lucius whisper something else to Ginny and then a huff from the redhead. Glancing across at them as she sat back down, Hermione saw Ginny pouting and Lucius still whispering in her ear.

Neither Severus nor Hermione begrudged Ginny and Lucius the family they seemed to want, but living at the manor was difficult for them now Ginny and the kids were there, and they had told Lucius last night that they were looking for a place of their own, where they would live during school holidays from now on. He had understood, and told them that they were still welcome at the Manor anytime.

They knew circumstances changed, and they had to move on. They hadn't told anyone yet, but they were actually planning for their own family at the moment as well, their bonding ceremony on Midsummer eve would be the most potent time for them to conceive a child, and they had been preparing for it now for months.

Back in the breakfast room, Hermione was seating herself back in her chair when Ginny commented somewhat contritely, "It's okay Severus, I had forgotten that you were going Potions ingredient collecting, and that Lucius has also planned a day away; he and Draco are taking Scorpius and James to a Quidditch match in Birmingham."

Hermione was relieved that Ginny had seen sense so quickly. Her friend was sometimes a little irrational, and especially so at the moment.

It wasn't long after that when Nanny Cummings could be heard telling the boys they needed to walk into breakfast like little gentlemen and not a herd of hippogriffs. By the time the older witch arrived, ushering James and Albus before her and with Lily on her hip, the two couples were once more the picture of decorum. Good mornings were exchanged and the boys had their breakfasts placed before them.

They looked on as Nanny Cummings was trying to get a protesting Lily into her highchair. It was Lucius who solved the problem, saying, "Lily, would you like to see Xanthie today?"

The little girl stopped complaining about wanting to sit in a big chair and looked at the wizard she now considered to be her father. A smile blossomed on her face, and she nodded. "Oh yes, Papa Lu."

"Well, if you sit in your highchair and eat your breakfast all up, I'll see what I can do," he told her.

She was instantly compliant, and her nanny had no more trouble. Albus then asked, "Will I see Frank too?"

"Yes," his mother said, then looking to the Nanny."There will be three more children coming for lunch today, you know the Longbottoms?"

"Yes, ma'am it will be no…" but her answer was cut short when the magical baby monitor alerted her to the fact that Lucy was awake and would need feeding. Nanny Cummings glanced back out the door, but Ginny got up from the table. "Don't worry, I'll go," Ginny said. The nanny nodded and sat down with the three children to have breakfast.

Severus watched Ginny pull Lucius up as well, so they could tend Lucy together and he rose at this point and walked around to Hermione. "I think breakfast has just finished," he whispered to his witch. "Let's go somewhere more private."

Hermione snickered, and nodded. As soon as they were out of earshot of the breakfast room, she pushed Severus against the wall. "Our bedroom, now, I want to ride you like a prize stallion, my love," she all but moaned in his ear while stroking his already hard manhood through his trousers. "Gods you make me hot," and she whimpered, before telling him, "If I have to go all day without you, then I need you, right now."

Severus lifted Hermione's leg up and she wrapped herself around him, clinging to him while he in turn snickered in her ear and started nibbling on her neck.

Hermione was soon panting, her head thrown back as Severus sucked on her neck. She had managed to wriggle her skirt up as well, and was currently very engrossed on rubbing her crotchless pussy on his erection. "Oh," she moaned.

Severus groaned deeply and gave Hermione a playful smack on the backside in the hope that she would be still long enough for him to take them to her commanded destination, but it didn't have the desired effect of stopping her, she only moaned wanting another smack. "You little minx, will you hold still a minute," he scolded, "How am I supposed to walk when you're making my legs want to collapse under me. When she merely snickered, he decided to try walking anyway because his trousers were becoming far too uncomfortable.

Hermione continued rubbing herself on him, and they made it as far as the hallway that led to their bedroom before she wanted more. "Oh Severus, stop," she panted, "I need you in me right now."

Severus groaned, and pushed her against the wall, where he pinned her so he could get more friction on his cock. Hissing a breath he fumbled with the buttons to release himself from his trousers, and a smile started to bloom of his face when Hermione moaned and lined him up without too much trouble before happily sinking down on him with a sigh.

"Keep walking," she demanded, lifting herself on her arms as she clung around his neck so she could once more sink down on him as he kissed her, their tongues battling.

Severus hissed another breath through his teeth at the feeling of her squeezing him so perfectly, and they made it to their bed. Severus used the last of his strength to lower them to the bed, and then muttering, "Divesto, Silencio, Tutus," their clothes fell away, the door locked and a well placed silencing charm activated and Hermione sighed. They were in their own space, and blessedly alone.

She arranged her knees either side of Severus' hips and placed one hand behind her on his thigh so she could keep rising and falling on him while leaning back enough so he could see where they were connect.

Hermione knew he loved watching himself appearing and disappearing from within her, and she was so close, she was already shaking as she brought her finger down and started flicking her clitoris back and forth as it peeked out from the top of her sex. Almost as soon as she touched herself she exploded around him, groaning deeply.

Collapsing on Severus, still shaking, she murmured, "Wow."

Severus laughed and shifting his weight, easily rolled them over without losing his contact with her. "Prepare to up that wow to something more amazing," he chuckled, and drove into her once more. Within three of his strong thrusts Hermione's head was thrashing back and forth and her mouth was a perfect 'o'. She arched her body up to meet his and her groan started to rise into a low whining sound that kept rising in pitch.

Wrapping his hands around under her shoulders, Severus was able to move into her more deeply, and this time when she came it was at the crescendo of her wailing groan, and he plummeted over the edge with her. They lay there panting like two athletes for some minutes.

Finally Hermione said, "You're right, that was beautiful… magnificent, it truly surpassed wow anyway.

Severus laughed, "Just wait until I get you to our new house, when we find it. I'll have you on every surface I can find."

"I wish we had somewhere we could move right now," Hermione moaned.

"We'll start looking tomorrow," he told her.

"Mmm," she said, running her fingers through his chest hair, before kicking her leg over him and grinding down."

"Oh, ready for round three, are we?"

"Mmm-hmm," she murmured.

xox

Lucius knew he had some things to arrange very soon this morning, but Ginny was very clingy at the moment. So he waited patiently before he could go to his office to organise for Madam Malkin to bring herself and her entire entourage to the Manor ballroom for a private fitting for Hermione and her two bridesmaids. He was also planning to invite Madam Delacour, so the three witches could have some beauty pampering as well, and he hoped Hermione would remember to floo call Luna to change the venue.

Finally he watched Ginny changing Lucy after burping her, and he sighed, waiting for Ginny to return, as he reflected on how Severus was becoming used to having Ginny in their immediate circle, Lucius knew the raven-haired wizard was slowly accepting her.

His best friend was not one to trust easily, especially where his and Hermione's happiness was concerned. Lucius understood that, but he was hoping that once the circumstances were right, the four of them could engage with each other together on occasion.

Then the thought of both Ginny and Hermione naked in front of him sent a shiver through him, and he closed his eyes a moment to savour the image. He soon realised that images such as this were not a good idea, because all sources of relief were denied him at the moment.

He was now in a monogamous relationship, and this was what he wanted, but he hadn't thought about what he was going to miss while Ginny's body was healing, and until this very moment when he was sporting the most savage erection he'd had for sometime it hadn't bothered him.

Looking down at the offending appendage straining for freedom from his trousers, he wondered if wanking in the bathroom while Ginny was in the next room was an option. He was still thinking about this and about to finally rise and visited his bathroom, when the feel of gentle hands stroking his enflamed member brought a hiss of pleasure from his lips.

He looked down to see Ginny had quietly knelt between his legs and was rubbing his crotch. He opened his legs wider and smiled.

She nuzzled him, rubbing her cheek along the hardened length. "This must be very difficult for you," she murmured against him. "You've always been able to find satisfaction." She rubbed him again as she started undoing his belt. She'd only undone the top three buttons when the head of his thick, engorged prick appeared in the opening.

Ginny loved Lucius' cock. It was massive, the biggest and thickest one she'd ever seen, and even though she had not been taking notice these past couple of weeks, she now found herself literally salivating as she pulled him from his open trousers.

Wasting no time, she pounced, taking as much into her mouth as she could. "I've missed this," she told him around a mouthful of him, but all Lucius could do was moan at the feel of the vibration. She moaned in reply, "Let me assist you."

Lucius exhaled loudly in pleasure as he watch her head bob and she took almost all of him into her mouth. Her ability to do this—girth and all—still astounded him. She started a steady rhythm, her eyes never leaving his.

He had never found anyone who loved this act as much as he did, and the only thing that would make it perfect was if she was naked when she did this. However, at the moment he understood why she was not, and soon he started panting as she carefully took him all the way down her throat. It felt amazing and Lucius wanted to prolong it as long as possible, but he could already feel the tell-tale signs that he was getting close. All he could manage was a grunt in warning soon after as with a yell he erupted down her throat.

Pulling Ginny up onto his lap he kissed her deeply, tasting himself as he did so. "Thank you," he murmured.

Ginny smiled, "No reason why we both need to abstain. Besides, it won't be long," she told him thoughtful, "I'm almost back to normal."

Lucius grinned at the look she gave him, but scolded, "Oh no you don't, we're waiting the whole six weeks."

"Oh, Lucius," she started kissing his jaw. "We could play," she murmured hopefully.

"Yes, we could." he watched her yawn. "But right know you need a rest. I'll wake you before I leave," he told her.

Knowing he was right, she bowed to his judgement and wandering over to climb into bed. She had to admit she was very tired still.

xox

It turned out that Madam Malkin couldn't come until the afternoon, so Ginny hosted a ladies luncheon on the grand terrace. This was her first official function in her new home and she was very proud of herself. With the assistance of the head elf she had planned the meal they were now eating and everything else down to the table arrangement.

The three friends had just finished their starters of salt and pepper squid, and they were about to move on to the main course when out of the blue Luna asked Ginny, "So did the Aurors tell you who it was that tried to harm our girls?"

Now Hermione wasn't certain in Ginny's current frame of mind if this was a good topic, but she listened nevertheless.

"Well," Ginny said conspiratorially. "Kingsley told Lucius that the two men who got into Hogwarts were just paid grunt. Harry," and her lip curled in distaste, "knew he couldn't get in undetected, because of the campaign against 'Mione, so he sent two hired muscle men. The men admitted under Veritaserum that they mistook Xanthie for Lily the first time."

"Oh," said Luna becoming engrossed by the story.

Sitting quietly and toying with her fish, Hermione thought they were being very flippant about the whole situation, after all it was an attack on their daughters they were talking about. Surely they should be showing more concern. She must have tsked without knowing it, because suddenly she became aware that both witches were looking at her.

"What was that, 'Mione?" Ginny asked, blinking.

"Well, it's just that both of your daughters were attacked because someone wanted to get back at you," she said to Ginny. "I think it's quite shocking, even knowing what Harry has done to me over the years. That he could order someone to harm his own daughter…" Hermione shivered as her sentence stalled. "May we talk about something else, please?" she asked after a moment.

However, Hermione didn't feel settled again for the rest of the afternoon, she had her fitting, and declined the beauty treatments. Taking her now completed and paid for dress she went back to their bedroom to wait for Severus to return. Finally, after she couldn't settle, she actually went back to Hogwarts knowing he would stop by there first to store the ingredients he had collected.

She still couldn't believe that her friends could be that flippant over the safety of their children. The way Ginny was telling it, it was simply a piece of gossip she had heard, which she was passing on to Luna.

When Severus finally returned, he looked tired, but said, "Well, this is a pleasant surprise," and he kissed her. It didn't take him long to see that she was troubled. Once in a while something happened to bring out the troubled witch he had been reintroduced to at the anniversary ball. "What's wrong?" he questioned.

He stood back against his work bench arms folded listening, as Hermione proceeded to paced in front of him, ranting about what had happened that afternoon. "…It ruined the whole afternoon for me, how could they talk about something that serious as though it was nothing?" she finally questioned him.

Severus arrested her progress and brought her into his arms, and then he said, "Well, Mrs Longbottom has never been what you would call a conventional witch. She seems to allow the world to just roll over her, and well, I believe that your friend Ginevra has survived her experiences intact because she thinks about things on a lower level than you do." Severus heard her gasp, and he quickly added, "I'm not saying she's not smart, but that night when I was in her head searching for the genesis of the curse, I saw that she had seen some truly awful things thanks to her husband, but she had always seen them like a third party. I believe it was her mechanism for coping," he kissed Hermione's head, "Don't be too hard on her. Otherwise she may have been as…"

"As screwed up as I am," Hermione said, with a hollow laugh.

"Are you still that screwed up?" he questioned.

"No," she replied, looking up at him, "but sometimes… it's weird."

"I know, sometimes my past comes back and beats me up as well, but I have a special witch now, and thinking about her helps me to cope when that happens."

Hermione smiled, "I know how you feel; you do that for me too." She reached up and kissed his lips. "We make a good pair, don't we?"

"We certainly do," he kissed her back. "So come, witch, help your special wizard to store these ingredients so he can take you to bed and do sinfully wicked things to you."

Blushing, Hermione slapped his chest. "Severus!" she said, and then added unexpectedly, "Perhaps I want to do sinfully wicked things to you as well. I haven't seen you all day."

Severus chuckled, and patted her backside. "I fully expect you too, now to work, my love."

xox

After the removal of the curse, both Ron and Harry had been taking full advantage of their respective sanctuaries. Molly and Arthur Portkeyed straight to Romania to be with Ron, and the Lupins—while not condoning Harry's behaviour towards his ex-wife or Hermione—had taken him into their fold.

Nothing further had been heard of them, and all of those who knew the circumstances hoped they could all put it behind them now and move forward. Even the children did not miss their father, because they hadn't really known him that well. This was quite sad when you realise that a teenage Harry Potter's greatest wish had simply been for a family of his own.

In a way Harry Potter still was that teenager, his mind, sullied by the curse had stunted, remaining the impulsive and idealistic mentality of his youth. Nobody had ever questioned Harry Potter's brazen passion, because it fitted so well with the stereotypical Gryffindor warrior. The wizard in question had hidden his more twisted deeds from the wizarding public, and so his public reputation appeared to be intact.

His private one though, well that was another question, and alarm bells started to ring for Remus and Tonks when he incinerated the same Daily Prophet that Lucius had calmly read from that same morning.

Kingsley was duly called, and questions were asked. This also made Harry cross, Why should I answer his questions? he wondered. It hadn't dawn on him that he may have done wrong, all along he had been protecting the honest citizens from filthy Death Eaters, and no matter what anyone said, he was just never going to believe that people like Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy could be anything but blights on society .

When he stated as much to Kingsley, the minister swallowed it without saying a thing, but when he was leaving Kingsley suggested to Remus that a guard be placed on Harry. "I'll come back tomorrow with a healer and we'll see what can be done, perhaps we need to settle his mind a little, because the way he's speaking at the moment, I'd hate to think what he'll do when he finds out that Ginny and the children are happily living at Malfoy Manor."

"Yes," Remus agreed, "And Severus and Hermione's wedding is certain to be top news first thing next Sunday. He scans the Prophet like he's looking for something every morning," the sandy-haired wizard added.

"That is troubling," Kingsley replied. "Maybe we need a Legilimens to see what's going on in his head?"

"I think Severus is the only one who is skilled enough for that job, and I wouldn't like your chances of getting him to do it." Remus thought a moment, "Although he agreed to facilitate the removal of the curse, so maybe?" Remus watched Kingsley nod as he accepted the cup of tea Tonks offered.

"What about, Weasley?" Tonks asked, having listened to their conversation while she was making the tea.

"Thanks, Tonks." Kingsley exhaled and took a sip of tea. "I've been in contact with Charlie, several times actually. Ron Weasley is not doing well, he is filled with so much remorse for what he's done that he has retreated into a shell. Charlie has enlisted the assistance of a gypsy witch he knows, and of course his parents have just Portkeyed out to support him, and only time will tell there, I think."

The three of them drank their tea in silence after that.