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

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A/N:- Thank you to everyone who alerted and reviewed, but especially to those who had their say about the direction I've taken this story, most of you are thinking in the same way that I am, and this pleases me because I know that I am going to be satisfying the majority of you.

I have worked diligently all week on this chapter, as I did not want to keep people waiting too long after my last cliff-hanger. This is not a complete resolution, but it's the start, and I hope you will enjoy our threesome beginning to become reacquainted, only beginning mind. Anyway, onward…

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From last time:- 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.

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Chapter Thirty Two – Anger Is Followed By Action

The long summer evenings allowed daylight to linger for longer at the moment, and dusk was only just starting to settle as the trio meandered down the path in the cool, teasing breeze.

As they walked, Lucius found himself relaxing more with every step they took away from the Manor and his problems. Before Severus had arrived in his study tonight, the blond wizard had received some more intelligence from his staff in France, and up until that point he had been planning a meeting with Arthur and Molly Weasley to see what could be done to best assist Ginny.

However, he had just reviewed this plan in light of the information he had received and was now in desperate need of the counsel—or at least the listening ability—of his best friends, as he was determined that there would be no misunderstanding of his intentions.

Lucius Malfoy was a consummate Slytherin and as such he was used to ignoring his contempt and distain for the more overt members of Gryffindor house, but Ginny was now just confusing him with her antics.

Lucius glanced at the witch walking beside him. My sweet pet, she's different to them all, her intelligence sees her through, even if those bastards destroyed her normal Gryffindor brashness. She was only just learning to trust people outside our trio and her small group of friends again when this happened.

A spike of anger shot through him once more at what he hadn't seen coming, and he felt Hermione tightening her arm in his slightly in response to his glance at her, and after reciprocating the gesture with a kiss to the top of her head he sighed softly and took in the last of the honey bees collecting their bounty from the sweet smelling flowers in his beautiful garden as he tried to calm his mind once more.

As they ambled down the path through the manicured lawns and flower beds, Hermione realised that for the first time in a while, she felt completely at ease between her two wizards. As much as Ginny and I were friends… correction, I thought that we were friends, and her anger stabbed at her once again, Bitch!

Hermione had become very annoyed with Ginny after her initial shock about the incident had worn off and especially after she had that nightmare; she hated those dreams. I opened my heart to that witch, and it's frightening to think that before Molly turned up I had been heading for quite an intimate bathing experience with her. There's no use pretending that I hadn't been about to allow her to do what it was obvious that she had wanted for some time now, because I had been, and it would have cemented her place in our lives further.

She glanced at Severus who also appeared to be deep in thought. Knowing that my darling had not been completely at ease with Ginny's inclusion in our games, but was allowing me to explore a new side of my sexuality, one that has fascinated me for a long time, well, that makes me think that not even he anticipated what happened three days ago.

The whole situation now made her feel very uncertain, and all Hermione could think about was how pleased she was that Molly had interrupted them. She tensed in anger again thinking about how much more hurt she would be feeling right now had she been intimate with Ginny, and then had the redhead say those things.

Hermione had discussed it with Severus in great depth, and he had told her what he had seen in Ginny's mind when he had used Legilimency skills, and while she had been intending to share the bathing experience with Hermione, it would have only been a superficial pleasure for her, and he believed it would not have stopped her saying the things she did. I needed to hear that to make me start to look at this differently, and that's when we started to see things that had been there before, but we hadn't put together.

It left both of them in no doubt that what had happened would have been inevitable at some point, even if it hadn't been three days ago. Severus shrugged it all off, having never really been attached to Ginny, but it made Hermione feel very used, and they both knew that Lucius was hurting badly.

Another thing she had realised when they dissected it all was that she had never felt at liberty to show affection to Lucius with Ginny around. Considering how close we were before Ginny moved to the Manor, once she was there both Sev and I backed off completely. It was after this point that Severus realised that it was not just the constant presence of the children that had been getting up his nose; he had never really been comfortable with Ginny just being included in our once intimate circle. Severus felt that her presence had broken apart what we had formally had; and he was right too.

Hermione sighed, thinking about it all, and walking now with an arm linked through each of her wizards, she found herself very happy that she didn't have to worry about what she said or did at the moment. She pulled them both closer glancing sideways at Lucius, and then she cuddled up to his arm. "I've missed this freedom," she told them, and in response, they each slung an arm around her shoulders. She laughed, "It also seems like we haven't lost our co-ordination either."

Both men chuckled at her comment, and gifted her with a kiss on the side of her head as they entered the wood that surrounded the Cottage. The cottage was only a short walk from there, and they were soon approaching it. "It's a lovely evening shall we recline under the willows?" Severus asked, as they walked through the front gate and into their well kept garden.

"Yes, let's," Hermione replied, and happily pulled them both towards the small lake. "I'm going swimming to cool down," and she shrugged off their arms and turning to face them started unbuttoning her dress, almost dancing backwards as they continued forward. It didn't take long for Lucius to find out what Severus would have already known and that he suspected from when she had hugged him in his study; their little nymph was not wearing anything under her dress.

Seeing them watching her, she smiled impishly, "I'll leave you guys to talk," she told them, tossing the garment on a chair as she passed it, before turning away from them and bending down to remove her sandals, and in the process giving them a very enticing view peeking out from in between her slightly bent legs.

Severus erected privacy and insect repelling wards, as both men watched Hermione wiggle her bum at them and walk towards the water, leaving them standing there uncomfortably hard and longing to go after her.

The Potions master was pleased that Hermione was so animated, But damn her teasing, he thought as he adjusted the crotch of his jeans. He was still livid that the two closest people in his life were being put through this turmoil, and he did feel slightly vindicated that he had never given in to the redhead's come-ons. She had taken to giving him kisses whenever the four of them were together, but he only accepted them so as not to make a scene. He knew that Hermione had long wanted to explore her sexual boundaries with a female encounter, so he kept the peace for her sake, especially after Lucius told him that Ginny was eager to allow her to. Then he heard his friend's voice, and he focused on what he was saying.

"Is that safe?" Lucius asked, his voice slightly husky while his eyes were still fixed on Hermione's peach-shaped backside. He flexed the fingers of his right hand as it itched to stroke the evidence of his arousal from the scene just witnessed. "It is not uncommon for Grindylows to inhabit such bodies of water."

"It's safe, I've warded every inch of it," Severus responded, his gaze still fixed on the same sight. When she had disappeared into the water, he seemed to shake himself. "Come, Mya is wise giving us time alone. She is still very angry over what has happened," and Severus indicated the small lounge as he was speaking.

As Lucius sat, it struck him just how much he had missed the intimacy of their trio, especially Hermione's impulsiveness in front of them. Striping off and teasing them before sashaying into the water like it was the most natural thing in the world to do, but only for them. He knew that she wouldn't have done it in front of anyone else; that whenever Ginny had been present Hermione had held back her natural urges where he was concerned, and had still been fairly coy in front of Ginny.

It was realising just how all of this had impacted on Hermione that had made him seethe, and then to be given the intelligence he had received earlier that evening from his head house elf in France, well that had finished it, there was no going back now.

Severus' voice cut across Lucius' thoughts and prompted him to speak. "So?" the raven-haired wizard inquired.

Lucius' brow furrowed, and he sighed. "These last few days have had me re-evaluating things I thought were set in stone," he told him quietly. "I would have been content with Ginny. While I had discovered that it was not perfect, I was willing to remain faithful to her, and she came with a family, something I had always wanted." He paused for a moment, but continued easily. "The sex was amazing, and she was a passionate little fireball but…" and he shrugged, "but, I missed what the three of us had, and now I realise that when we were together the sex was better, and even though I am still being faithful to her, my informants tell me that it is not the case from her side." He drew a long breath, "She has celebrated her new freedom full at every opportunity."

"Mmm," Severus commented, and his mouth tightened slightly as he watched Hermione's form floating on the lake for a moment, before he nodded, "Go on."

The blond wizard smiled as his eyes lingered on the same thing. "In hindsight I can see that Ginny was not as happy and well adjusted she appeared. I think it may have started out that way, but as things settled into normality she yearned for the things she had before her marriage, and especially when she inherited the entire Potter-Black estates."

Severus chuckled, "Yes, it gave me no small amount of joy that her useless brother of hers got zip. It was good of Potter not to consider leaving a will. It would have played out very differently if he had," and he grinned broadly, before clearing his throat. "But I digress; you mean you were her knight in shining armour?"

"And the lustre started to wear off." Lucius cut in, grinning at the former and nodding in agreement at the latter comments. "Perhaps something like that anyway, I do not believe that she is expecting me to want her back, after all she did—is still doing—a very thorough job of displeasing me, and I do not even consider that it was purely Molly's words that influenced her."

"I know you're right, I also saw in her mind that while Molly put the words into her head, it was she who grabbed them with both hands. It appears that the witch had been thinking about freedom for some time, and even as she told Mya the night we were at that board meeting in Paris that she would give you as many children as you wanted, she seemed to be only doing so because she thought you were more attached to Mya than you should have been." Severus thought about what he was saying a moment, but then shook his head. "I'm sorry; I can't explain that any clearer. The working of some female minds eludes me completely."

Lucius nodded, "Yes, I know what you mean, I can see now that she did seem to be leaning towards pet because she thought that by being friends with her that she could somehow become closer to me."

"Yes, I believe so," Severus replied. "It doesn't make much sense though."

"Ginny told me that she wanted us to have a baby together the night before this whole blow up, but I took it with a grain of salt because when she was pregnant with Lucy she hated how her body looked, and even though she told me how she loathed how her ex-husband made her have permanent body sculpting glamours after each child, she was contemplating the same thing again after Lucy."

It was then that he thought back to before the first time they were intimate, and how he had promised her that their courtship would end with the wedding of her dreams. "I did honestly intend to marry her, but it appears that she is a creature of the moment, and that her desires change like the wind."

Severus chuckled softly and looked at Hermione still gracefully floating around in the lake. "Some Gryffindor witches do seem to live in the moment, don't they? Mya's more loyal than that though," and he smiled.

"Mmm," Lucius replied. "I was only just thinking that on the way here. She is the most exquisite creature," he took a deep breath and focused his mind again. "But because of the children, I need to make some concession." He saw Severus' features harden a little, so he added, "I am not planning to ask her to reconsider our relationship; she has rejected what we had… me," he corrected himself, "too thoroughly for that. I do have feelings for Ginny, I had planned to marry her after all, but I have realised that I may have been a little hasty in that plan, besides there are other developments that have me so livid I can barely speak of them."

Severus inclined his head in recognition and raised a raven eyebrow in interest, but remained silent, simply allowing his friend to speak.

"Imagine if the charade had continued until we were married." He drew breath. "She threw everything I had given her back at me too quickly for her to have had the deeper feelings that sustain a marriage. I cannot understand why I didn't see it for what it was?"

"Mmm," Severus agreed, "She certain has me rethinking my ideas about the potential deceptiveness of Gryffindors; perhaps she was more Slytherin than we thought."

"Perhaps, but now, I need to find a way forward that does the best for us." His steely grey eyes rose to Severus' dark ones. "You and I, my dear friend, need to form a plan that has our best interests at heart; especially pet's, and one that provides in the most stable way for the needs of the four children I appear to have just gained."

"I believe that you have always put the children's needs first," Severus offered, and watched Lucius nod. "What do you propose?"

Getting up from the lounge Lucius started pacing, and finally he started speaking again. "The children will not be made pawns between the pair of us, as far as I'm concerned by leaving them with me she has abandoned them," he stated vehemently, and looked back to his friend. Taking a deep breath Lucius added, "She has taken herself to my villa in France." Then his expression closed off, but after seeming to suppress his anger again, he spoke once more. "And apparently since his exposé in the British press, her useless brother has joined her there," and his voice turned into a growl. "I had been at least sympathetic to her, but I will not allow her to stay on my property after this."

"Quite right," Severus added.

He watched as Hermione dove under the water again. "Fancy inviting that cretin, one of the ones who hurt her," he reined in his anger, "back into her life," he saw Severus about to open his mouth, "And yes I have had her checked covertly for coercion spells, and there are none," he spat and nodded towards the lake. "Her jealousy of pet is my main concern now," but then his eyes turned to Severus and they had softened. "Although, perhaps she should be jealous of both of you, my dearest, beautiful friends." He came back to sit down and his hand came over to clasp Severus' hand, and squeeze it momentarily.

Severus smiled, but the flicker soon turned serious, even as the unspoken understanding registered with both of them. "Lu, know that no matter what happens Mya and I are here for you, you are our main concern, and if Ms. Weasley, or her idiot of a brother ever approach Mya," and his dark eyes shifted to his wife floating languidly in the water again. "I will tear them apart without a second thought," he snarled, fighting with his anger as he took a cleansing breath.

Lucius had expected this, and he said, "I understand, Sev."

Severus inhaled slowly. "No matter which way this goes, it will be difficult for you though, my friend." Severus said, and his brow furrowed.

"I will rely on Violet Cummings to handle everything, that witch has already proved herself to be an amazing asset. I have already moved back to the master's chambers now that Draco and Astoria have decided to reside permanently in London."

Nodding Severus was silent a moment, but then asked, "So, access will be arranged through Nanny Cummings as well?"

"Yes," he replied.

Lucius sat up straighter. "I am certain there will be some awkward moments, but I will make certain that I am from home when her or her mother come to visit." He suddenly looked almost lost, and sighed deeply as he glanced towards the lake. "Severus, I… you and pet mean the world to me, would you…"

Knowing where this was heading, Severus interrupted him. "Let us deal with this first," he said squeezing Lucius' knee lightly, "before we discuss any perceived futures, shall we, if only for our witch's sake. I will not have her unnecessarily stressed."

The blond wizard nodded, and he sighed, his gaze coming to rest on the witch in question as she walked back towards them, with tiny rivulets of water still cascading over her creamy skin. Reading between the lines of Severus' statement told Lucius everything he needed to know, and that satisfied him at present. He couldn't help thinking that Hermione did indeed look radiant; he knew that pregnant witches did seem to look this way. However, she also looked utterly exhausted as well. These last three days had been harder on her than anyone.

Severus welcomed the wet witch into the circle of his arms as she straddled his lap, and lay against him. "You're all wet, love," he grumbled, but he didn't push her away, and actually laughed when she shimmied against him wetting him further. "Minx," he murmured, slapping her bare bottom lightly.

"Mmm," she murmured, but her attention was on Lucius. She reached out to cup his cheek with one hand. "Have you two formed one of your brilliant Slytherin plans?"

They both laughed and filled her in on the pertinent facts watching her nodding as they did. Then sitting up straight, her eyes met Severus'. "We are going with him, aren't we." There was no question, and they could both see the steely resolve on her face.

"I'm not expecting it to be an easy meeting, pet," Lucius informed her copying her earlier move of cupping his cheek.

She took a deep breath, making her breasts rise enticingly, and seeing both her companion's eyes lower to them, she pushed them further forward. "I am determined that we will go for your support, Lu," she said, smiling at their attention, but then adding seriously, "What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?"

"Mya has a good point there," Severus said, cocking an eyebrow. "But I do not want you over stressing yourself, love," he continued turning his head back to her.

Stifling a yawn, she said, "I won't be, I know you will both look after me. We are still on holidays, and it might be nice to have a day in France again." She turned to Lucius, "If you wish to confront Ginny alone I'm certain there are many places we could wait while you do."

"That is true," Severus agreed, "I'm assuming that when the witch arrived without you that your wards did what they used to do to Narcissa," he continued, as he watched Hermione shifting so that she was straddling his right leg and Lucius' left.

The blond wizard shuffled closer to his companion to make it easier for her, and smiled as he replied, "Yes, there are too many treasures in that house for it to be subject to a cranky witch's whims." He watched as Hermione placed her head on both of their shoulders and his arm came around to cradle her there just as Severus' did the same thing.

Both men knew what she was up to being as brazen as she was, and they both ached to touch her, but there were a number of things that stopped them. Lucius wanted to be able to go to see Ginny tomorrow standing unblemished on the higher moral ground. Severus didn't want to tease his friend by taking advantage of Hermione's impertinent position, and both noted that she was actually dozing while they were observing her.

Finally, Severus said, "I think it might be bedtime for you, angel. You're having trouble keeping your eyes open."

Hermione forced herself to sit up straighter, and was about to disabuse them both of that notion when her traitorous body chose that moment to declare her tiredness in a jaw breaking yawn, and any defence she may have come up with crumbled in the face of evidence to the contrary. "Mmm," she murmured, and just snuggled back into their necks. "I want to have a bath with you two, like we did that night at Hogwarts?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at Lucius, but saw Lucius shook his head. He conveyed his understanding and pushed Hermione forward a little so they could stand.

Lucius turned Hermione—a very luscious and naked Hermione—to face him, and with much regret he told her, "Tonight, my sweet pet, I have to say no. I wish to be able to face Ginny with a clean conscience tomorrow. You go off for your bath with Sev." He watched Severus placing her dress back on her for warmth.

However, as soon as she had her arms through the arm holes, Hermione wound them around Lucius' waist.

Severus watched as she just hugged him for several moments, but then she looked up and slid one hand up into his hair, inviting his lips to hers.

"We've missed you so much, Lu," she whispered against them as she started kissing him.

The Potions master had also worked out that his feelings for Lucius were deeper than he had told Hermione in their conversation before they were married, and they had discussed this along with everything else.

The trouble was that he had known that once they admitted to each other that they actually want to be in a proper, full time relationship with Lucius that Hermione wouldn't be able to stop herself saying something to him if the chance arose. At least she hadn't blurted out everything, and he was actually pleased to see some of her confidence returning. Sighing he closed the distance behind her, and whispered in her ear as she kissed Lucius. "Regardless of that fact, you are incorrigible, my little angel."

With some effort, Lucius pulled back from her. "Yes, Sev is correct, and I love that you are as you are, pet, but just this once I cannot stay." He held Hermione in one arm and leant forward to grip Severus' shoulder, before smiling wistfully and rubbing Hermione's bottom while still looking at Severus. "I'll leave you with your little minx, Sev. Will you both come up for breakfast tomorrow?"

Nodding, Severus replied, "We will see you in the morning, Lu," and gathered Hermione into his arms as they watched Lucius incline his head and apparate away.