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

-oOo-

A/N:- *Plea to readers.*

I am torn with this story; I would like to keep developing it. There are many more branches that could be explored from our quartet's perspective as they make their delicious journey through life, but I would like reader's thoughts on what they would like. I'm not a huge fan of asking for reviews, but this story has been popular and I would like to thank you all by giving you more of what you want, by taking it in directions that are pleasing to my readers.

So, people, tell me! If I do not explore any new territory, I can see the story winding up in only about three more chapters, but I'm happy to keep writing it, if you guys are happy to keep reading it.

Thank you, as always for your wonderful reviews and alerts, and please - Tell me what you want

Chapter Twenty Eight – Past and Present

Lucius had been waiting for Severus and Hermione to come home as he wished to host a ball before the school term commenced to celebrate his engagement to Ginny, and finally, they were arriving tomorrow.

Privately he was hoping to celebrate another event as well, he had missed his best friends more than he wished to admit, and so had Ginny. The morning of Severus and Hermione's wedding he had watched his fiancé's roaming eyes, and the sight of her almost licking her lips while watching a naked Severus and Hermione had been delicious. The fact that Hermione had not been bothered by the redhead's blatant perusal of her body had just added fuel to his fire.

His witch was as fiery and passionate as her hair. Her sexual appetite was extensive and he adored the times they spent together. He had never met anyone before who fulfilled him quite like she did, and a stab of anger went through him once more at what she had suffered in her previous marriage. I will never forgive those two cretins for robbing her of those ten years.

This made his thoughts turn to Hermione, or what they did to, my pet sweetheart, which in some ways was worse. They broke her; Ginny not broken, just angry, but I think my pet will always be very fragile now. A genuine smile curled his lips. We will care for her and meet her needs, and Severus adores her, but we will have to be careful with her. He took a sip of his drink, still smiling. I'm happy that she thrives in our protected environment though, but I'm also glad that this year will be her last at Hogwarts. Severus promise Minerva a year, and they will both spent this next six months training their replacements, and she will be out of there just before the baby is born. She needs a complete change to help her recovery.

His current reflections also made Lucius remember Severus mentioning to him ages ago one of Hermione's fantasies, and his scheming brain was already working out the logistics of an encounter between the four of them to make certain Hermione got her wish. We are so lucky to have this arrangement between us, nothing hidden and everything enjoyed, we're as close as friends can be. Then there's Ginny, my sex goddess and naughty little minx. His free hands slid over the prominent bulgein his trousers and stroked it as he thought about his witch and what she might have installed for him.

It was a warm evening and he had previously undone and untucked his shirt to take advantage of the cool breeze. He was standing on their balcony overlooking the greenhouses and rose gardens. They had already said goodnight to the children, and Lucius was now waiting for Ginny to arrive with a surprise for him.

Lucius frowned and his hand stilled remembering Ginny laughing as she told him about her shopping trip today, which had been punctuated with another round of Daily Prophet interference.

Ever since they saw us together at Sev and Pet's wedding, the cretins have been hounding Gin. She doesn't seem to care though. I guess she's used to it, having been married to Potter. They would never dare approach me, and there's been all kinds of rot printed about us. Maybe I should warn them off Gin as well. He snickered into his drink, although she does seem to enjoy teasing them. Fuck them, they can bloody-well wait for their story, and he went back to considering his little redheaded spitfire.

The promise in his witch's voice as she had disappeared into the bathroom and the current directions of his thoughts saw him leaning against the pillar of the balcony throwing back the last of his Firewhisky and pushing his swollen crotch up against the cool of the stone balustrade in a slow rocking movement. I wonder what she's bought this time? He cocked a pale eyebrow in thought.

Hearing a soft noise behind him he turned to find Ginny standing in the doorway. She was wearing a sheer, white, georgette baby doll with pale blue ruffles around the edges, and her killer legs ended in matching white stilettos.

"Hello," her throaty voice said, "I see you're amusing yourself." Her eyes were sparkling watching the discrete rocking of his hips and the action of his hand.

Lucius' eyes took in her body encase in the lacy material and he all but growled. "You look amazing."

She snickered, "I'm glad you like it. I talked Luna into one as well," and her face took on a thoughtful expression. "I wonder how she's getting on with Neville?"

The blond wizard smirked. "I do not care about Neville Longbottom's sex life," he stated, in a husky voice. Taking a step towards Ginny, he allowed his hand to ghost over the smooth material as he watched its progress. "Not when my angel is standing before me looking so edible."

His witch had been working hard to regain her body's shape after Lucy, but Lucius actually liked her voluptuous curves, but he respected her right to have her body how she liked it. He praised those glorious curves every chance he got and right now as they were displayed so perfectly. "Beautiful, simply lovely," he murmured and his mouth started on her jaw near her ear and kissed its way along her neck, over her collarbone and down her sternum. Lucius chuckled onto her skin and his teeth took the end of the bow holding the material together and pulled.

Ginny just watched his progress with heated eyes as the material parted and he licked a line back up to her lips. He tasted like his Firewhisky and she deepened the kiss further to enjoy a taste forbidden to her while she was breastfeeding. Her hands parted the cloth of his shirt and pushed it from his shoulders before skimming down to rub the evidence of his desire.

They had both been so deprived lately, what with poor James and his nightmares and Lucy with her colic; they hadn't had any time to themselves for weeks.

"Bed, now," Lucius groaned into her mouth, as still kissing her he started dancing her backwards towards their bed.

As they walked Ginny undid his trousers and slipped her hand inside, feeling his hands teasing her as well. Sensing the bed behind her knees she allowed herself to fall backwards, pulling Lucius down with her. "In," she encouraged, bucking her hips. "I need you in me, now," and she moaned as he slid the scrap of soaked lace from her body.

"Don't I get to enjoy you first?" he asked, watching her as his fingers ghosted up and down her slit.

His voice slid over her like silk, and that with the feel of his fingers had her panting, but she wanted him inside her. "Later, Lu… please, before we're interrupted. I couldn't stand it."

He placed a kiss on her stomach and quickly standing he rid himself of his trousers. His heated grey eyes watched her lying on the bed, her legs wide for his view and her fingers running up and down her body in place of his. "Hurry," she panted, arching her back.

He had to admit she had a point; he was ready to burst as well, and he knew he wouldn't last long, but he wanted their encounter to last as long as possible. "Shhh, love, in good time, the waiting will make it even better." Getting back onto the bed, he knelt between her legs, and even as he burned to be inside her, he drew the torture out. Kissing down her stomach, he licked and kissed a trail down though her wild auburn curls, already soaked with her juices and he buried his tongue deep inside her. "Merlin you're amazing," he murmured against her, loving her shriek of pleasure at his actions. He could already feel her tightening around him and only one pass over her rock hard clit with his tongue and she howled, bathing his waiting mouth with her sweet liquid.

Drinking her down Lucius grinned against her. He knew what her orgasm would do to her, and he was not disappointed as he kissed back up her stomach when he saw the sticky white milk leaking from her lovely breasts. He started licking at it as she writhed and groaned beneath him. This witch was sex on legs, from the top of her redhead to the tip of her painted toenail.

He knew there wouldn't be much milk left, she had yet to produce more after feeding Lucy, and he would never dream of doing this if Lucy needed the milk but he loved the taste of it. It was another sweet liquid that she produced, and it was only temporary, so he was going to enjoy it while he could.

Using one hand to line himself up at her entrance he supported himself on the other as he simultaneously entered her and closed his mouth around one of her nipples, and if it was possible, he hardened even more with her moan for pleasure.

It seemed an impossibly short amount of time before he felt Ginny start to tighten around him again. She was panting and meeting his every thrust, and the look on her face as he swapped breasts was beautiful. Her mouth was a perfect 'o' and a deep groan signalled her next release. Her sheath tightened in ripples around him, pulling and squeezing, almost sucking at him, and he couldn't hold back his pleasure anymore. With a groaning shout he buried himself as deeply as he could and allowed bliss to take him.

"I love you," Ginny whispered, as she snuggled tiredly into his side, her breathing still elevated. "Thank you, you were right, it was better not to rush."

Lucius took a deep breath, "And I, you," he whispered, "Now, we best get some sleep in case we are disturbed before the end on the night. His glanced once through the open door where little Lucy slept and he smiled quietly in contentment.

xox

The newlyweds had only just arrived on the doorstep when they were engulfed by people. All the children were talking together, telling about their adventures in France, and the two couples hugged and kissed each other enthusiastically.

"I have missed you so much," Ginny told Hermione as she pulled her friend into the family room. "How was it?"

Hermione giggled, "Perfect," she sighed, her eyes instantly going to Severus'.

"You're not telling secrets are you, love?" her husband scoffed.

"Never," Hermione grinned happily leaning back against him as he walked forward.

"And how's little Snape," Ginny asked, patting Hermione's still flat belly.

"Doing just fine as far as we know," Hermione responded.

"Mmm, doing just fine if you like throwing up every morning," Severus replied, caressing his wife's stomach as he kissed her neck, making her giggle.

"Well yes, that's not much chop, but it means everything is right, doesn't it?" Hermione relaxed as she watched Ginny nod.

"They say that the more awful your morning sickness is, the healthier the baby will be," she told her friend, pulling both her and Severus into a hug. "I really have missed both of you guys."

They all sat down and Hermione enlarged a big bag she'd had in her pocket. "Presents," she announced, and she instantly had two children sitting in front of her and James standing behind them looking so grown up. The boys said thank you, and took off with what they received, but Lily climbed up on Severus' lap with hers and he helped her open it. Then when she looked at the lovely kaleidoscope puzzled, he instructed her in its use and told her she would have to be very careful of it.

The little girl nodded happily and went back to turning it as he had shown her to view the pretty colours as she sat back against Severus' chest. Then without pausing in her perusal of the patterns she said, "I love my present Auntie 'Mione, thank you Unca Sev."

Severus had sat beside Hermione and watched animatedly as the children's eyes lit up with their presents, but his heart melted as the two year old made herself comfortable on his knee. It was a wonderful feeling having a child trust you and Severus found that he couldn't wait until he had one of his own to dote over. He looked at Lucius happily cradling Lucy in one arm and he suddenly appreciated his friend's happiness. He carefully leant over and whispered to Hermione, "Do you know exactly how happy you've made me?" and he kissed her. "May I tell Lucius what we got him?"

"Of course, love?"

Severus grinned at Lucius, knowing he would love what they got him. "We just happened to pass through your favourite cognac region in our travels, and there will be a delivery of a case for your cellar in the very near future."

This brought an extra dimension to the smile to the lord's face. "Ah, thank you my dear friends."

Hermione turned to Ginny, "And for you, love, we bought this," and she handed her friend the carefully wrapped bottle.

"Ohhh, it smells exquisite," Ginny gushed, after opening it, and she jumped up and hugged them both.

xox

The very next morning a letter arrived at Wood Cottage from Molly Weasley. The letter was addressed to Hermione, which considering its contents was a fairly sneaky thing for a Gryffindor to do. Purely by chance Hermione asked Severus to open it for her, as she was currently positioned in front of the toilet bringing up the cup of ginger tea and the dry toast Severus had made for her.

"What is it?" she asked, glancing at his stony expression as she finally managed to rise and head for the basin to clean her teeth.

"Bloody Molly Weasley," Severus seethed. "After all we've done for her. How could she be so insensitive?"

"She's an atypical Gryffindor," Hermione told him. "They don't think sometimes, why, what does she want?"

"In essence, she thinks you should just let bygones be bygones and forgive her prat of a son for any damage he has inflicted on you." Severus was pacing now, up and down the length between the bath and the doorway of their bathroom. "Just like that," he threw his hand into the air in a 'hey presto' movement to illustrate his feelings.

"Oh," Hermione huffed, but her arms instantly wound around her small frame, and her eyes becoming hollow as this request made her withdraw into unwelcome memories.

This made Severus even more livid, but he fought it and overcame his anger. Sighing heavily he gently pulled her against him. "Don't worry, little one. I will not allow him anywhere near you. He was warned the night of the ball exactly what would happen to him if he ever approached you again, and now he's in his right mind, he should understand the meaning of my warning only too clearly."

They stood together for some time with Severus quietly reassuring Hermione. Finally she spoke, "Do you think that I should…"

"You should do nothing you do not want to do." Severus kissed her head and rested his chin on it. After a break of silence he pondered aloud, "I wonder if Ginny received a similar letter. We're due up there now," and he carefully pushed her to arm's length for a moment so he could gauge her frame of mind. "But only if you're feeling well enough, love," he added.

"I'll be fine, Sev," she assured him, trying to smile.

He stroked her cheek and kissed her. "Well, we can formulate a response between the four of us, and Lucius and I will deal with it."

"I love you," Hermione told him, and pulled his head down for another kiss.

"I love you too, now you have your shower and I'll make you some more tea and toast so you have the strength to walk up to the house."

Up at The Manor, Ginny had not received a letter, but an early morning floo call from her mother.

"I thought it might be nice to have a whole family dinner tonight. Allow Ron to catch up with everyone. He hasn't even seen his new niece yet, and I've sent an owl inviting Hermione and Severus they don't appear to have the floo connected…"

She didn't get anymore out because Ginny erupted. "You what? Mother, how could you?"

"How could I what, dear?"

"Do you have any conception of what happened to Hermione or me? He was one of the perpetrators. No, I'm not playing happy families for anyone," and she cut the connection. Ginny's eyes narrowed as she looked to Lucius who had been listening, away from the floo. "I'll be having words with my mother if she's upset 'Mione."

"You and me both," he stated. "You've both suffered enough, any ideas she has of us just accepting that little cretin back into our circle ends here and now, today," Lucius told her. They were lucky it was early and none of the children were awake to hear them.

Severus and Hermione heard them long before they arrived on the terrace. The French doors were open and as they came through the doors, Severus said, "It looks like Ginny received an invitation as well, love."

Lucius spun around on hearing his friend's voice. "How dare she ask this of our girls," he hissed, but as soon as he looked at Hermione's still apprehensive eyes his face softened. "Come, sit down, my pet, you shouldn't be upsetting yourself in your condition. We must look after my new godson or daughter."

However, it was as he was walking toward Hermione that Lucius saw Ginny run past him and envelope her in a hug. The two wizards watched their witches giving one another comfort, and despite the situation their hearts clenched seeing the women they loved caring for one another over their mutual hurt. They both started speaking in teary, muffled voices.

"You should be more upset than I am," Hermione managed, "you had to live with them. I only had to endure their occasional attention."

"Shh, love. What they did to you was far more public and far-reaching. They ruined your career, your friendships… prospects of love." Ginny was listing off what they'd done when she heard Hermione sniff.

Hermione wiped her eyes and pulled out of the hug. Taking the step to where Severus and Lucius were standing with Ginny by the hand, Hermione slid one arm around Severus and their joined hands around Lucius. Ginny caught on, and entwined her arms around Lucius and Hermione as Hermione continued, "I let the wizard I wanted go," and her teary eyes looked at Severus. "But I got him and his best friend back, and now look, we have you and the children as well," and she hugged them all.

This had the effect of calming them all, and the men kissed both witches on the forehead. "We'll work it out together," Hermione finished, looking at all of them.

Lucius was happy that Hermione was thinking so positively, and he worked with that and did what he does best, he organised them. He indicated that Severus should sit at the table, and he took Hermione's face in his hands and kissed her. "My brave little petal, well said. We are all here with you to help you deal with this," and he sat her on Severus' lap and watched his friend pull her protectively to him.

The two wizards were watching one another, their eyes locked. "You and I should go to, The Burrow today and tell the boy how it will be, we need the upper hand," Severus stated, caressing Hermione while he spoke.

"I agree," Lucius said, "but we also need to make certain that he has some binding that keeps him in his place, because we will encounter him periodically, and he is never to come within speaking distance of our petal here," Lucius caressed Hermione's head as it lay on Severus' chest.

This statement set Ginny off again. "Oh no! If he wants to stay here in England, we'll continue to see him at family events. Merlin forbid, we'll have to invite him to our engagement party and our wedding," she stated snarkily.

Lucius pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly to make her stop. "Sweetheart, we knew this would come up eventually, we just need to manage the conditions of his stay."

"I've already warned him that we could very easily put our old robes on once more, just for him. He took my meaning clearly, and I saw the terror in his mind as I planted a little something extra there."

"When did you tell him that, Sev?" Lucius cackled.

"At the ball in May, and he almost wet himself. Notice he didn't do anything to Hermione after that night, I used his reaction to me," Severus smirked sarcastically. "Every time he thought about Hermione in an unkind manner, he wet himself."

"Was that also the night that you started to suspect they were cursed?" Hermione asked quietly, they had never discussed that night past working out who had cursed them.

"Yes, I sensed something in his head, but it took me a while to work out what it was."

"I'm going too," Ginny suddenly told them unequivocally, and then looked to Hermione, concerned that her friend was still so quiet.

Hermione's brow furrowed, realising that Ginny was watching her. "I don't… I don't ever want to be near him again," she whispered, and Severus pulled her closer.

"You don't have to, Pet, we'll sort it out," Lucius said, reaching for her hand and squeezing it, as he noticed that Ginny did the same thing.

It was then they her heard the thunder of feet coming towards the breakfast room. "Now, this discussion is at an end until the children have eaten and left," Lucius warned.

Everyone nodded and readied themselves for the onslaught. Hermione slid into the chair beside Severus, but he kept her hand in his, and Lucius and Ginny took their places as well.

xox

After breakfast Lucius floo called The Burrow and said they wished to step through. Molly acquiesced and soon they were standing in her kitchen. Severus and Lucius went first, and stood like two sentinels while Ginny arrived behind them. Lucius knew it was Ginny's right to be here, so he had not argued with her, although he was concerned about what they needed to discuss, it could very easily destroy her relationship with Molly.

Hermione was spending the morning with Nanny Cummings and the children. They were going berry picking, and Hermione had promised Severus a blackberry pie for dessert tonight. He was happy that she seemed to be bouncing back; she was not up to this.

"You didn't bring the children," Molly said.

"Mum, the children do not need to know what a deviant their father was. It would only upset James and frighten Albus and Lily, hearing some of the things I suspect we need to discuss," Ginny stated coldly.

"What do you mean?" Molly asked, and then looked at everyone still standing. "Please, sit everyone, I'll put the kettle on."

"No, I think we would prefer to stand, this is not really a social visit," Severus stated soberly.

"Well, if you're going to start with that attitude, poor Ron does not stand a chance," the elder redhead told them. Ginny snorted and Molly's eyes narrowed further. "Your brother didn't really do anything to you. It was Harry who upset you."

"Will you listen to what you have just said," Lucius said. "Her ex-husband tried to kill her, he didn't just hurt her."

"Do you actually know what has happened to Hermione and Ginny?" Severus inquired, as he quietly looked into Molly's surface thoughts as she glared at him. They told him what he already suspected with her reaction to Potter's death; she was truly ignorant of the facts, so he informed her. "I seriously doubt that Hermione will ever recover from the abuse she received at the hands her former friends. Regardless of the fact that they were under a curse, they mentally, emotionally and physically abused my wife for ten years while most others stood back and allowed it to happen. If you are truly interested in finding out the truth I'm certain that Minerva will enlighten you, but Hermione is off limits." Severus' eyes suddenly narrowed, and he looked towards the lounge room door. "Weasley, I know you're around the corner listening," he called sternly. "Your thoughts are so loud I can hear them."

Ginny's head whipped around at Severus' words, and she stalked into the lounge room and they heard a body smack against the wall. "Not so tough now I'm not spelled and Potioned up, are we Ronikins," they heard Ginny's angry voice. "Have the guts to at least face us, you say you've changed and you want answers, but you're still sneaking around," and her wand fired off a compulsion spell making him marched into the kitchen. "What's it like having it done to you?" she asked, referring to the spell they had forced on her often enough.

She pushed him into a chair. "Mum, I didn't want to have to do this, but you need to know how I was treated in my marriage to my brother's lover."

Molly gasped, and a sad Ron sighed. "Harry."

"What do you mean… l-lover? He gave you four children."

Ginny span on her mother. "Just because he was gay does not mean he was impotent. During the ten years of my marriage, I had sex with my husband exactly nine times in order to conceive my four children, and each time I didn't fall pregnant the first time he beat me for failing to do so. There was nothing remotely pleasant about the act itself, it was merely rutting. They kept my wand from me and I was drugged and bound by coercion spells, but the worst part… the absolute worst part was that he and Harry were a couple. I was merely their front, the perfect trophy wife." She slammed her hand down on the kitchen table, "They would tie me up so I couldn't touch myself while I watched Harry bugger Ron every bloody night," she threw her hand in Ron's direction. "The bastard told me that was my punishment, for what I still do not know. I suffered to be Mrs Perfect Potter, mum," she used air quotes, "and you never even noticed. I think dad did, but he's never here is he. Well there you have it the overview of my marriage from hell, and now you want me to just play nice like it never happened," her voice cracked, and she felt Lucius and Severus step up closer behind her.

Molly was just gaping at her daughter, she slowly turned to Ron. "Is this true, son?"

Ron had tears running down his face, and he only nodded. "I'm sorry, Gin, I was hoping you could see past it," he whispered.

Ginny looked at both her mother and Ron, "You were what!?" She closed her eyes to calm herself. "Time… time is going to be the only cure for this. Stay here if you like Ron, but do not expect us to treat you like nothing happened, because lots happened, and none of it was nice." Ginny walked over to her mother, who looked gutted yet again and she pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Mum, but you had to know. I never wanted to tell you, but I just can't do this right now, it's too fresh, and I don't think 'Mione ever will be able to do it, Severus is right, they've broken her. Just leave it ay, and we'll do the best we can." She turned away and offered Severus floo powder. "Of course, you're still welcome anytime you want, Mum. See you soon," and they were all gone.

Lucius, Ginny and Severus arrived back at Malfoy Manor, and Severus left them to themselves, wandering off to find the berry pickers.

Lucius knew that Ginny would dissolve any minute, and he took them straight into their bedroom. "Tell me what you need."

"You, just you, Lu. Stay with me, let's spend the rest of the day in bed."

Lucius smiled, "I was hoping you would say that. Do you wish to have a bath first?"

She smiled at him, "No, I just need to curl up with you."