A/N:- I seem to have caused a bit of a dilemma with the last chapter, perhaps I should have warned readers that Ginny was about to start making waves, because looking at my reviews it seems to have shocked few people. The signs were there, and really, it had to happen sooner or later. She was forced against her will—straight out of school—into a life of almost complete celibacy. I'm sure she had very different plans for herself and it is inevitable that once she was free of the marriage Harry ensnared her into she would perhaps go a little haywire, all it took was the right catalyst to set her off. I was not going to explain the whole plot-line in one chapter, (so I'm sorry to the guest reviewer who thought that the last chapter was hasty and under-explained), so here goes with the start of the explanation.

Thank you as usual to all who have alerted and reviewed, I appreciate you all (even the guests who choose to criticise, you are all entitled to your opinion, and I will never be able to please everyone all the time.) :D

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From last time :- As he was talking, Severus rose from his seat still holding Hermione, and apparated them both away.

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Chapter Thirty one – Fractured

Ginny huffed; she had forgotten how short tempered Severus was, and also how protective he was of Hermione. Hermione and all her problems, we mustn't upset delicate Hermione, she mimicked in her head, and then her mouth tightened. Well screw him, if he wants to play the greasy git. I was the one attacked here, I don't need them. Hermione's just a precious princess anyway, she thought, still in a raging temper.

It didn't dawn on her that she had been thoughtless and cruel, especially after Hermione's care of her this morning. Ginny was simply too angry, she was starting to feel trapped again. What her mother had said to her this morning made perfect sense, and it also confirmed a casual comment she had overheard Luna say to Neville the day before when they had all been picnicking in the garden.

How dare they think that Severus and Lucius looked natural and comfortable talking with Hermione. This coupled with her mother's observations, well, the more she thought about it, the more she came to realise that not only was Hermione attached to Lucius… her Lucius, but Lucius was also very attached to Hermione.

They never talked like that when she was with them, and this made her as jealous as hell. He had been smiling and laughing with Hermione and Severus while they were talking, and they were so bloody focused on each other. She forgot about all the other things that they had done together, all the lovely times they had spent just the four of them, and what they were meant to mean to one another as the little green-eyed monster burst from within her and demanded her attention.

She glanced at Lucius and saw him scowling, so she glared right back. This is all their fault, how dare they be upset with me.

Lucius had sat there listening to what Ginny had said, and he was livid. He watched her with a scowl on her face, and he wanted to know what was happening, because he did not blame Severus one bit for the words he had said. In fact he totally agreed with him. Severus does not tolerate childish behaviour period, especially in adults. He had never seen eye to eye with she-who-must-not-be-named, aka Narcissa Black because of the witch's petulant nature. Lucius sighed. When Ginny and I got together, I already knew how to handle a bad tempered witch because I had been married to Narcissa for so many years.

The thing is though, at first Ginny had been very amenable. How could she do this, Hermione is the sweetest creature, fair and rule abiding to a fault. She has been dealt an awful hand by life, and she's fragile now. She doesn't need to be set upon by anyone, but especially by someone she considers a friend. Why has Ginny done this? I've heard her make a few off-handed comments lately, but she's never been outright hostile, and his temper suddenly got the better of him and he turned on Ginny.

"What the hell made you say such things?" he asked her, desperately trying to stop himself from full on yelling at her. Even if she has been the one who had been hurt, she has no reason to take it out on pet. She was only been hurt this morning through her own pig-headedness. I told her to wait until I got back and we'd go together, or to get the nanny to pick the book up. He looked at her glaring at him. And I came running when I received Severus' Patronus. Left the new supplier hanging, I'll have to close that deal next week now, then she behaves like this.

He was pulled from his thoughts hearing, "I'm sorry, Lucius."

Still watching, he could see tears arriving in her eyes, but he was too angry, and they were not tears of remorse. He had been married to Narcissa for too long to fall for this. "What the deuce good is that now. It is not me that you have offended," but his tone of voice left her in no doubt that he was seriously displeased regardless.

"What do we do now?" she whispered.

Getting up Lucius straightened his robes. "The same thing we were discussing before your acid tongue got us into trouble."

"M-my acid tongue, I didn't mean anything by it."

"You accused pet of being a freak, and after everything she has been through… and done for you." He drew what he hoped would be a calming breath, but it seemed to make little difference, especially when Ginny flew at him.

"What about the things I've been through, the things I've suffered. All you care about is Hermione 'I'm so perfect' Granger," she ranted.

Lucius' brow furrowed in true puzzlement. "Ginny, what has brought on this tirade against Hermione?"

She only huffed, seeming to become more enraged. "It's me you are supposed to be caring for, not Hermione. How was I supposed to know that she was upset?"

"It shouldn't have made any difference whether pet was upset or not, you shouldn't have said it, and I do care for you."

"Yet you were all worried about Hermione," Ginny scoffed.

"Ginny, what has gotten into you, I could plainly see by the way that… Hermione," and he emphasised her name, "was curled up in Severus' lap when we arrived that he had been comforting her. Your experience this morning was bound to bring her demons back as well, and you go and say something like that to her."

Ginny's eyes flashing with anger. "Why do you always call her, pet?" she snapped. Anger was the way Weasley's handled things they didn't understand. "You do think more of her than me," she asserted, in challenge.

"Don't be bloody ridiculous, I have always called Hermione, pet. Even during the trials long before I got to know you, it's just my nick-name for her." He was now officially livid; Ginny was being short-sighted and childish. He saw her sneer at him and he snapped. He lifted a pale eyebrow and there was ice in his tone. "I am going and inform your brother of what we require of him—for James' sake—and I will set up the meetings. Then I am going to make certain pe… Hermione is all right."

"There you go," and she threw her hand around in an all encompassing gesture. "It's always, bloody, Hermione," she seethed. "What about my hurt, what I've endured?"

"Ginny, I love you. We are going to be married, I do not understand why this is a problem all of a sudden. Perhaps you should start to act your age and realise that we all care about you and want the best for you," and he sighed deeply. "You hurt someone very dear to us just now without cause."

"Well, she's very dear to you, anyway, she's always hanging around with you," she accused.

"I don't understand what's going on here. You knew that Severus, Hermione and I were very close before we started our romance. Since we have been together, I have never excluded you, and you were more than happy even sharing kisses with Hermione the other night in your sitting room."

"Well, things change, and how about that first day we spent under the willows?" she snapped, crossing her arms under her breasts.

"You were exhausted, we had both been up all night with Lucy, I let you sleep." he roared.

"You should have woken me," she yelled.

"I don't understand; where you're coming from. What changes from being so intimate with both Sev and pet that you enjoyed being screwed, against a wall in front of them?" he heard her scoff, and his anger revved up a notch. "And don't tell me you didn't enjoy it, because I was there, I heard what you were screaming in ecstasy."

"Well, I've just come to realise things," she spat at him.

"What bloody things, nothing has changed. You had better work on your apologies and your grovelling skills because I know Severus better than anyone, and he will not let you near Hermione now until he is assured that you will not upset her again."

Her eyes flashed with anger. "Well, screw him," she yelled. "In fact, fuck the lot of you. You always take their side, and I'm sick of it."

"They are my closest friends, Ginny, and I also thought that Hermione at least was yours, now I'm not so certain."

"Well, things change. I don't need you. I'm sick of you all, I want freedom. I'm going home… t-to mum, she understands me," and she threw his ring at him."

He wasn't justifying her behaviour by trying to talk her out of it. "As you please, Ginny," he stated calmly, and bowing his head to her as he caught the ring and apparated away, leaving her standing there seething.

xox

Severus had apparated Hermione and himself into their cottage where he warded it before walking through the floo to their rooms at Hogwarts. He knew that Lucius would most likely turn up here later looking for them, but he was damned if he was going to allow that dunderheaded idiot of a redhead near Hermione again.

He walked them straight into their bedroom and placed Hermione down, she seemed to be in shock, she hadn't become distraught, but her silence was worrying, and she was just clinging to him. "What can I get you, angel?" he asked, starting to remove her dress and shoes to make her more comfortable. He kissed each piece of flesh as it was exposed to his eyes, and she moaned slightly and clung tighter, but otherwise remained unresponsive.

"Just you," she said, finally, winding her hands up into his hair and starting to kiss him. "Lay with me, Sev, I want you with me," she whispered.

"Very well, love," and he shed his own shoes and tee-shirt, undid his jeans, and placed her under the sheet while he climbed on their bed on top and allowed her to snuggle in.

About an hour passed with Hermione curled up against him, stroking the hair on his chest. Finally she went to sleep, being pregnant was very tiring on her, and it didn't take much for her to go to sleep at the moment. He was just dozing himself when the floo flared. Disentangling himself gently so as not to disturb her, Severus quietly padded out into the sitting room.

A very worried and slightly flustered Lucius stood there. "Is pet, all right?" was his first question.

"What do you think," Severus replied, coolly.

Lucius pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead. "I do love Ginny, but she can be very thoughtless and shallow on occasion. You know she has insecurities too, don't you?"

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself of that?" Severus smoothed, his raven eyebrow rising. "She's going to turn into a harridan, just like mummy," he sneered.

Lucius sighed. "She threw her ring at me, and told me I think more of Hermione than I do her."

His sneer increased. "An idea placed in her head by the very same mother."

"How do you know that, Sev?"

"How do you think, man? I was curious as to why she was acting as she was. This is not the first time lately."

"What else did you see?"

"That's not important at the moment, Lu. The important thing is that you need to work out what you really do feel, and then perhaps we can talk about it."

"She's gone back to her mother."

Severus actually cackled. "And imagine how pleased mummy's going to be that she's just thrown away her chance to be Mrs Lucius Malfoy."

"Yes," Lucius actually managed a smile. "That will be an interesting conversation, won't it?" Then he sobered, "This morning really has stressed her out," he added.

"Yes, I know that, but that's no excuse for her treatment of Mya, she called my wife a freak. We have spent months building Hermione's confidence and she was starting to feel more secure, and that stupid bitch tears all that work down with one sentence." Severus was officially ranting now. He was pacing and throwing his arms around to illustrate his points.

"She was hurting as well, and that mother of hers took advantage of that. I listened to some of the dribble sprouting from her mouth this morning." Pausing, he sighed, "I also saw how upset pet was when we returned this afternoon. I should have anticipated what might happen, but I didn't know what they had been discussing before I arrived. I thought the conversation abruptly changed when I sat down."

"And now Mya has to live with the results." Severus drew a deep breath, and thought about how uncertain his best friend's life had just become. "I'm not blaming you, Lu," and he dragged his hand up through his hair.

"I know," Lucius agreed. "I'm sure this is all a storm in a teacup, but she's done some serious damage. She's going to have to get over what ever has done this to her, and apologise."

"Did she take the children with her?" Severus asked, pouring them both whisky, and seeing a look of panic cross his friend's face, he added, "Perhaps you should see about the state of affairs, and work out how best to go forward," Severus suggested.

Lucius grimaced, "Mmm," and he sighed again.

Severus walked forward and laid a hand on Lucius' arm. "See how it stands, we're here for you when you need us, and you're ready to talk."

"Yes," was all Lucius offered, and took a sip of whisky.

Their conversation was cut short by the appearance of a face in the mirror above the fireplace. "You better get back to my little dove, Severus, she's having one of her nightmares," Mirror Severus told them.

Severus strode back into the bedroom and saw Hermione tossing and turning in her sleep and muttering under her breath. "No… Sev… no… Don't go. NO!"

"It's the one where everyone leaves her," the mirror supplied.

Lucius, who was standing in the doorway, looked to the mirror. "How many different ones does she have?"

"They are all variations of the same thing, but some are more distressing than the others. This is the first nightmare she's had since Severus and little dove started sharing a bed," the mirror told him, and they watched on as Severus tried to wake her without frightening her more.

As Lucius quietly backed away from the door and went to the floo, the blond wizard was shocked that what Ginny had said could bring forth such a reaction from his petite friend, but then he knew well that your own personal demons were peculiar things, and the strangest things set them off.

Lucius floo'd away knowing that no matter what happened next a trust had broken today, and it was something that he was very concerned about, because their merry little band had been very fractured by it. He hoped as the sound of Hermione's cries and Severus' comforting still echoed in his ears as the floo took him that it was something that they could recover from.

xox

When Lucius returned to the Manor that afternoon, he discovered that Ginny was gone, but James and Albus were playing with Scorpius and Adela under Draco's watchful eye and Lily and Lucy were in the nursery with their nanny.

The elder blond wizard was greeted by his son with a hissed statement under his breath. "What the f-u-c-k is going on. The redhead stormed in here like a thunder cloud a bit over an hour ago and snapped at me to mind the kids for a minute when her boys ran to greet her, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of her since. The boys were already playing with Scorp and Del, but it's the principal."

Lucius' face pinched. "If you need to go, I'm here now," he told him.

Draco's eyes narrowed."What's going on?"

Sighing Lucius said, "To tell you the truth, I don't know. Ginny went to Diagon Alley by herself this morning and was set upon by deluded Potter supporters. Severus just happened to be passing and apparated her back to their place. He called me, and we left her with Hermione while we went and put certain precautions into motion. When we got back Molly was there and Hermione was outside in the garden by herself. She had been upset by the whole incident as well, but neither of them noticed that. Well the long and short of it is that Molly told Ginny that Hermione was too attached to me, and that she shouldn't stand for it."

"So she's upset Hermione, hasn't she?" Draco huffed. "Oh Father, how could you let that happen, Hermione has been so happy lately."

"I know… I know," he sighed, "and Severus is livid. He blasted Ginny with both barrels, as the Muggles say."

"So, is the wedding still on?" Draco inquired.

Lucius heard something in his son's voice that made him pause. "Would it be a bad thing if it was?" he asked.

Draco sighed. "Father, my mother hurt you badly. Ginny is like her in many ways, yet different." He huffed a breath and seemed to think about what he was about to say for a moment while watching the two older boys helping the younger children with their toy brooms. "Don't get me wrong, I like her, and it's your life to do with as you please." He thought a little longer. "I'll always try to be there for you, but..."

"Exactly what are you trying to say?" Lucius cut in, and his expression closed off a little. "You know she has been hurt as well."

Draco looked back at the children. "I know that Ginny was abused and almost died. It took a long time for her to recover, but she never seems to want the children around unless it's for 'show'." He used air quotes. "It could be because of her dysfunctional marriage, where they were put on 'show' so to speak, but even though they do not appear to want for anything, she almost treats them like they are a chore. Well, before you hired the nanny anyway."

"Yet, she told me just last night that she would like another child with me," Lucius stated, becoming a little irate with his son.

"Father, that could also be a manipulation, if she is truly jealous of Hermione it could be her way of trying to make you want her more." Then seeing his father's expression darken further, Draco held his hands up in submission. "I do not want to see you hurt again."

Lucius sighed, "I know, son, and you're right, but this is all hard to take in so suddenly."

Draco's brow furrowed, and he wondered if he was doing the right thing, but he kept talking. "Actually, if you think about it, I believe it could have even been anticipated. See, I have an advantage over you, I remember her from school. She worked her way through most of the blokes in the senior years, even a couple of Slytherins as well as some of the girls, during the year the Potter was absent. She was not a slut, so to speak, more a true hedonist, and then when Potter returned he basically locked her up and threw away the key. Now, she's free from that, and she's recovering from the hurt. I think she's torn, she is angry that she is tied down by the children now," he held his hands up again. "In loving moments she is telling you one thing… Mother used to do it, remember. Let you hear what you want, but at the same time she's using your attachment to Hermione to express her anger at her situation. I have no doubt that she loves you, but she is also torn between what she has and what she missed out on having."

Lucius smirked. "That's quite an insight, Draco."

"Well, it's easy for me. I'm looking at this from the outside in. You did not see it coming regardless of how in-tune to people you are normally."

Clearing his throat, Lucius murmured, "Mmm," and then sighed. "I have some important decisions to make, excuse me, son. Deliver the boys back to Violet when you need to leave."

"Yes, Father." Draco watched his father wandering off to his rooms. He knew that Severus and Hermione would always be there for him, and he hoped that he wouldn't turn his back on them, in some misguided attempt to placate the Weasley woman. He needed to pull her into line or set her free, and neither of those options were going to be easy.

xox

Lucius sat in his study thinking. Ginny did not return, and he only left his study at the children's bedtime to wish them all a goodnight. At which time he also told them that their mother was having a small break. He consulted with Violet Cummings as well, and he found that she had fed Lucy with a milk substitute, something Muggle that Hermione had told her about, and that she now kept in the nursery for emergencies.

Walking to his chambers he pondered, How could I not have seen this coming? How could she not come back? The change in his witch had almost given him whiplash, it had been so sudden. Certainly there had been a few problems with the children lately. James and his nightmares, Lucy and her colic, but he had watched her feeding Lucy, and talking about giving him another baby at their wedding, just like Sev and pet, and she had looked so contented.

She even told me that her and pet had talked about it all. Yet, she goes and does something like this that ruins everything. Draco was partially right when he said the children are a chore to her. She is quick to anger over the smallest things, but he had no doubt that she loved them.

Lucius knew that both Severus and Hermione would stick with him without question, but how could he make this work and keep Severus and Hermione in the relationship that they had, which in itself had taken a beating since he had been with Ginny. He knew that they were more than friends, and he had hoped that being such a pleasure seeker, Ginny would fit right into their trio. He was certain that it had been working out that way.

xox

Tonight was his third day without Ginny, and he knew she had left the Burrow, very soon after she had arrived, and this made him think that Molly had not been as supportive as Ginny had thought she would be, but she had not returned to the Manor. Today had been Ronald's big interview with both the Prophet and the Quibbler, but she still had not bothered to show up for that either.

She appeared to have abandoned them all, but Lucius was non-comittal when Ron enquired after her. He was certain that if he said that she hadn't come home, then his mother would no doubt insist that the children go to that awful house they called home.

Lucius knew exactly where his wayward witch was. He was the keeper of many wards, and he knew that she was in France, at their villa. Unbeknown to her, he had the head house elf at the villa reporting to him every evening, as well as his finance goblin from Gringotts. He was willing to give her space, but he was annoyed that she hadn't contacted the children; they did not know where their mother had gone apart from what he had told them.

He had decided on going to confront her, when his floo flared and Severus walked through and looked around.

"She's not here," Lucius sighed, standing up.

His friend looked back at the still open connection and said, "Come through, Mya."

Hermione still looked tentative as she came through, but she walked straight to Lucius and wound her arms around his waist. "Are you all right, Lu?" she asked, quietly.

"I'm fine, pet," he kissed her head. "How are you?"

She tried to smile, but only half pulled it off. "I'm okay," she replied airily. "I'm going to retire," she told him.

"Going to be a lady of leisure, ay?"

Severus snorted, "You must be joking, she already has three research projects earmarked," he laughed, coming up behind Hermione and winding his arms around her from behind.

Lucius pulled back a bit and looked down at her. "Ah, so you'll be needing my library again."

Her lip was instantly captured by her teeth. "Am I still welcome there?" It was a quiet question, and a very stoically asked one.

"Of course you are still welcome there, darling girl." He took her face between his hands, "You are always welcome, I hope both you and Sev think of here," and he gestured around him, "as a second home."

"But Lucius, we were getting on so well, what happened?"

He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. "Do not worry about it, pet. Your major project at the moment is producing my godchild."

"Don't patronise me, Lucius Malfoy," and her brow furrowed, even as she chuckled at him.

Severus dropped a kiss onto the junction of her shoulder and neck. "That's my girl," he murmured, "you tell him."

"I'm not trying to patronise you, pet." Lucius sighed and inhaled an uneven breath. "I'm just trying to protect you."

"I know, thank you," Hermione said quietly, and rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes and snuggled into him feeling Severus instinctively pulling tighter against her on the other side. Oh god, I didn't realise how much I missed just having them both to myself. Being sandwiched between them like this, Hermione thought, wiggling just a little bit. It's simply perfect.

Lucius had never begrudged Severus having Hermione. The aristocrat could see that they were meant for one another. He had always been happy with the occasional encounter with them, but he realised that regardless of everything he missed what they had had between the three of them.

His mind raced as they stood together so intimately. I've been fair to Ginny, has she appreciated this?... I doubt it... Do I miss her?... I know I will miss the children terribly if things go wrong. Is Ginny just as damaged by her experiences as the witch currently in my arms? No. Ginny and Hermione are totally different people, and while Ginny has been very badly treated in her marriage, she has the confidence to overcome it. He sighed, And apparently the nastiness to make other people suffer for what has happened to her, as much as I hate to admit it, Draco's correct there. What's happened to Hermione has simply broken her.

Now the big question is, what do Hermione and Severus think about all this, and really, should I be concerned about what they thought. Shouldn't I love Ginny unconditionally, and be happy just to be with her if she doesn't understand my friendship with Severus and Hermione?

The thing that annoys me more than anything about this whole situation was that I had been certain that she did understand the dynamics of the four of us, and had not only accepted them, but was happy with the situation. This meant that she'd had one brain snap and thrown everything away so easily. This one fact upset Lucius more than he wanted to admit.

I opened my heart, home and bank account, accepted her at probably the lowest point in her life, yet she threw this all back in my face, without a second thought. 'Fuck you all,' she had screamed, over-reacting to the nth degree. There had been no need to say those things, no need to be so easily swayed by her mother's talk, and definitely no need to be so immature. It begs the question, did she want to be swayed by her mother's talk? Surely not. She does have a mind of her own, she has demonstrated that numerous times. Certainly she has a tendency to pout if she didn't get her own way, but she had never been this petulant.

However, those thoughts made him pause, as he felt so safe with the two people he trusted implicitly, and after thinking about what Draco had said as well, he needed to start talking. "You said we could talk," his eyes met Severus' dark gaze.

The Potions master tilted the corner of his lip up, and nodded, "Perhaps a walk to Wood Cottage, where we will not be disturbed," he suggested.

oOo

A note to those waiting on the next chapter of Healing Hermione. I've been concentrating on this story just lately, and I'm still working on chapter sixteen of HH. Many apologies, it will be posted soon.