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.

A/N: I have no excuse for taking so long to post this chapter, and I apologise, my muse has been most uncooperative lately where this story is concerned. I know there are many people out there who enjoy reading it. I also realise that I do not have much of the story left to tell, there are only ends that need to be tidied up, so I'm looking at this as probably being the penultimate chapter. (I'll see)

As always, thank you all for your alerts and reviews, your support throughout this story has been amazing, and an extra thank you to the silent majority, my followers for this story surpassed one thousand between chapters this time. :D

Now, as is my usual practice, I'm warning you that there will be a scene near the beginning of the chapter between Severus and Lucius that may not be everyone's cup of tea. Of course Hermione is there as well, but our wizards take a little time to become reacquainted with one another in a more carnal sense. So if this is not for you, please read around it.

oOo

Chapter Thirty Four – Rules For A Successful Triad

Hermione found herself being placed on a huge bed, in a magnificent room. Propping herself up on her elbows she looked around and waited to see what would happen next. She would have been blind not to see the look Severus and Lucius had given one another just before the confrontation with Ginny this morning. It had been blatantly obvious to her that her two wizards were thinking about snogging one another senseless, and she wondered how she could encourage them, but before she could think of anything Lucius leant down and captured her lips.

They kissed heatedly for some moments, and as he pulled away he stroked her cheek softly. "Beautiful pet," and he gave her another softer kiss. "Darling, will you be happy to watch us a moment?"

"Yes," she replied, stroking his face, and she glanced at Severus watching the tender scene that should have happened last night, and she smiled. "I'm eager to see you both connect properly."

"Thank you, it's been a very emotional morning in more ways than one, hasn't it?" and he watched her nod and relax back against the headboard as he turned to Severus. "Sev," and the one word was infused with such emotion.

Severus looked about ready to explode, and he answered by swooping in and claiming Lucius' mouth. Their kiss was almost brutal in its intensity as their mouths started devouring each other's while Hermione watched the development avidly. They thoroughly explored one another's mouths, their tongues battling, and their hands exploring and groping at clothing.

When they parted they were both panting slightly and Lucius' fingers flew to the many buttons of Severus' robes as his mouth found more territory to explore down the column of his throat. Urgency soon overtook his efforts with the buttons and he wandlessly vanished the garments, and his mouth started to work its way further down his lean, pale body.

While she was watching this, Hermione slithered out of her own clothes and came up behind Severus caressing and massaging his back and shoulders while Lucius continued on his journey down his torso.

Momentarily working his way back up to Severus' ear, Lucius whispered, "I want you in my mouth," and he gave him a hard kiss. "Oh dear Merlin, Sev, I'd forgotten how much I enjoy having you."

Severus' only answer was a soft grunt of assent as his hands undid his trousers and wrapped around his cock, stroking it as he watched Lucius drop to his knees before him.

As soon as Lucius' mouth engulfed his aching manhood, Severus hissed a breath through his teeth and stood there with his eyes closed savouring the moment. "Oh shit, that's good," he groaned huskily, and he stumbled back allowing Hermione to guide him to sit on the bed.

Hermione's hands wandered over his torso while Lucius pleasured him, and his own hands reached for Hermione as he planted his feet on the floor and lay back. He felt Hermione shuffle backwards to give him room, and once he was lying he urged her forward.

Taking his hint she crawled forward so her now aching pussy was over his face and she lowered it to his mouth. The first swipe of his tongue made her squeal and she leaned forward to give him better access. She saw his hips start to flex and Lucius accept his control of the situation and allow him to thrust up into his mouth.

Lucius adjusted his position so he was more over Severus and Hermione saw his hands go to his trousers undoing them to release his own raging erection, and as he grunted in time to Severus' thrusts he stroked himself.

Hermione reached around with one hand and cupped Severus' balls, rolling and squeezing them to add to his pleasure, even as her own release was roaring down upon her. Her deep throated wail signalled the ball of tension breaking in her stomach and Severus' thrusts became more desperate hearing her satisfaction.

Almost as soon as her orgasm hit her she felt Severus tense and he groaned into her convulsing flesh, sending further spikes of pleasure rocketing through her, as she collapsed in a sated heap on him. Lucius rose with some urgency once Severus had come, and still swallowing he disappeared behind them while the two of them lay there in a post-orgasmic heap.

They felt the bed dip behind them and then Lucius pulling Hermione back to him, she happily allowed him to move her off Severus and waited for what she knew was coming as she felt Severus languidly latch onto one of her breasts which were now at his eye level at the same time as Lucius slid inside her.

The sensations that both of them were sending through her saw her quickly losing herself in their ministrations again, panting and moaning her pleasure, especially when Severus reached back and found her clit with his thumb as well. After only two more thrusts Hermione screamed and convulsed around Lucius, squeezing him until he came with a yell of his own.

Pulling themselves onto the bed properly and turning so they were all the same way up, they cocooned Hermione between them, and stroked her body as her eyes closed hazily, utterly content.

"I love you, both. We'll be good," Lucius told them offering a kiss to both, "the three of us together."

Severus nodded. "I also love both of you," he affirmed, doing the same, but then chuckling softly. "This has been right in front of us all these months and we've only been skirting around it."

"Perhaps it had to play out this way so we could see the truth," Hermione suggested, dreamily. "And by the way, that was amazing," and rolling one way and then the other she kissed both their cheeks. "I love you guys," she told them completing the pact between them.

They lay there holding each other for some time, but as reality filtered back in Hermione pulled back and stroking Lucius' cheek softly, she asked, "Lu, are you all right? Can we offer you comfort over this morning?"

"Yes, do you want to discuss what happened this morning?" Severus added, sliding his arms around and cupping Hermione's breasts in his hands while he kissed the juncture of her neck and shoulder, but his eyes were looking at Lucius watching him as he did so.

Severus saw Lucius licking his lips with his eyes flicking between their eyes, the rosy nub that he obviously wanted to taste, and Severus flicking his thumbs back and forth as he continued to massage and play with them.

"Talk to us, Lu," Hermione murmured, unconsciously arching her back and moving her breasts closer to his mouth as she pushed up into Severus' hands while he continued to tease her, but also resting her hand softly on his cheek.

Lucius smiled. "You are so beautiful, pet, and you don't know how much I wanted to stay with you two last night," he told them out of the blue.

Hermione smiled in return, but it was Severus who answered. "Yes, she certainly is," and he gave her another kiss on the neck, "and we understand why you didn't, Lu."

Hermione moaned at his increasing ministrations, making Severus smirk. "Mmm-hmm," she added, "but I think you're upset at your reaction to Ginny's slutty offer, aren't you?" She watched him nod. "Don't be, any one would have reacted the same."

"Yes, but I know she has an illness, I should have been more… I don't know… more compassionate maybe?" he told them, finally unable to resist and reaching forward to lick one of the nipples from in between Severus' fingers.

"Mya's right," Severus added, watching Lucius' tongue coming out to flick at the pebbled nub and by extension licking his fingers. "Illness or not, the request she made in her desperation to trap you again was revolting to anyone with any taste."

"You are right," Lucius nodded, looking up at Severus from his task. "But perhaps burning the bed was a tad over the top, I liked that bed," and he glanced up, giving them one of his patented smirks. "And that's all I have to say about it, I think it's time we concentrated on us."

"I believe you're right," Severus said, urging Hermione to roll onto her back, "You lay back while we explore you, angel," he told her, slipping his arm from underneath her.

Hermione moaned when Severus' mouth claimed her other nipple and she opened her legs wide, hooking her left leg over Severus' hip and her right over Lucius'. They took the hint, and their fingers ghosted over her stomach and started stroking up and down her soft wetness. They suckled and licked and she cradled one head in each hand running her fingers through their hair while she moaned her pleasure to them.

Someone stopped stroking her—it didn't matter who—and started flicking at her clit, while the other set of fingers were exploring inside her. In and out, in and out, and her legs started shaking; it felt like heaven.

Feeling Lucius shifting, she opened her eyes and saw that he'd joined Severus at the one breast and in between licking and sucking, their mouths were meeting and doing the same thing to each other's tongues. It was so hot, Hermione groaned deeply, watching her wizard's now completely occupied snogging each other again with her tit in between.

Listening to the delighted grunts and moans over her, and feeling their hands still teasing her, made her almost crazy with need. "Make me come…, please… someone," she groaned. "I need you both," she demanded. "I'm just so hot… p-please!" and she seemed to be becoming delirious with need, and they stopped snogging and glanced at one another.

"Angel, it's all right," Severus assured her, seeing her brow furrowed and her body quivering.

"Shhh, and you'll have us, but…" Lucius added, "but pet, I think that while you're pregnant we should not try both of us in you at once," he stated with an air of concern.

Severus nodded, "Yes, I agree," he added, but when she gave them a questioning—somewhat desperate—look, he continued, "But we could piggyback. It will just take a few seconds for us to get ready."

Hermione nodded and pulled Severus down for a kiss while Lucius first moved to his ear and then behind him.

"I believe I had the pleasure of being inside our girl last time, so it's your turn this time," Lucius told Severus, "You keep our darling happy, while I get you ready," he whispered close to his ear, running his tongue around the shell of it after he'd spoken.

"I intend to," Severus murmured back against a giggling Hermione's mouth, and turning his head away he smirked before licking his way around to her ear. "How would you like my hot cock your delicious little pussy while Lu fucks us both?" and he started licking her ear, pulling the bejewelled lobe into his mouth and tugging on it with his lips.

Feeling Hermione nod and hearing her whimpers of want, Severus licked a trail over to her her mouth again as he heard and felt Lucius mutter a cleansing spell followed by a lubrication spell to start preparing him to accommodate his shaft.

Inexplicably, as he grabbed his cock and started sliding it up and down her slit, teasing her entrance and then her clit while he continued to devour her mouth, his mind travelled back to the ball where they had first been reacquainted. He remembered having idle thoughts of the three of them together as he danced with her that night.

So much had happened in that small space of time. He had found his perfect home, and he groaned as he felt Lucius' fingers inside him rubbing and stretching. Then he felt the head of Lucius' cock nudging the same spot and he was being stretched deliciously around Lucius.

He watched Hermione writhing in pleasure under him and he started sliding into her, hearing her moaning as he did so. Then suddenly they were ready and they all held still a moment savouring the sensations coursing through them.

"Ready?" Lucius asked, and he felt Severus push back against him in answer, and he started to withdraw to push back in again.

It only took them a few strokes and they were working together, and Hermione was groaning in delight under them and gripping the bed sheets.

Both wizards were able to watch her as her face twisted in primal pleasure and she started to lose herself in it once more.

From his position Severus bent slightly and took one of her nipples into his mouth, and sucked on it to enhance her pleasure further. Even as his body shook and started to quiver with the amazing sensations pickling through him each time Lucius stroked into him and by extension stroked him into Hermione he kept concentrating on her pleasure. It didn't take long and he had the urge to come, but it was only as he felt Hermione's walls fluttering and then clamping down on him that he gave in to it and letting go of her breast he roared into his own orgasm in tandem with her.

Lucius couldn't believe how wonderful this felt, and when he heard both Hermione and Severus expressing their pleasure, he tightened his grip on Severus' hips and started pounding into him, racing towards his own release.

Bracing his arms, Severus managed to catch the sweat slick Lucius on his back and hold him there until he could disengage. When he flopped down beside them, Severus rolled off Hermione to do the same on the other side and the three of them fell into a sated doze.

xox

During the days where all their personal drama had been taking place, the story of Ronald Weasley's experiences with Harry Potter also hit the press. This was one of the reasons that Ron had sort refuge with Ginny in France; he had no stomach for further questions on the subject, and apart from the fact that his sister was living in the lap of luxury and he thought he should too, especially after he became used to it while living with Harry.

The story instantly became the hot topic that everyone was talking about, and there were many people for and against the claims, and as Ginny had found out some of them were quite passionate in their defence of their hero.

However, according to Lucius' advisors the whole exercise had done its job, and he was happy to send James off to Hogwarts with his now best friend Scorpius, besides they had placed protection charms over both boys and Severus would be there most of the time until things settled down.

At the Welcoming feast Severus and Hermione sat beside the new Arithmancy professor. Martha was taking on years two through four and Hermione was still teaching five through seven, well until the baby was born anyway. They decided that once little Snape had arrived they would see what Hermione was able to do.

Both Hermione and Severus watched happily as the boys were sorted. Scorpius into Slytherin, and James into Gryffindor, while Teddy and Rolf both became Hufflepuffs.

"I hope this will not harm their friendship," Hermione whispered to Severus.

Severus looked at the happy boy laughing and talking with his fellow Gryffindors and then turning to wave at Scorpius, and the little blond boy waving back. "I believe that they are well adjusted enough to make this work," he told her.

The following months proved that he was right and that there had been progress on house unity because Scorpius and James remained firm friends. They sat together in classes, and the other students just accepted that they were friends. Well, except where Quidditch was concerned in that sector there was a fierce rivalry.

Privately Severus suspected that the Malfoy and Potter names had something to do with the fact that no one questioned a Slytherin and Gryffindor being best friends as well. Both names were still looked up to, even if they had been pulled through the mud, and he was pleased to see that this was the case.

xox

As had been planned, Severus and Hermione remained only as day teachers, returning home each night to Lucius and the children. They all lived in the manor, but wood cottage was not neglected, it became the adult's hideaway and they all quickly became a well oiled machine.

The children had initially missed their mother not being at their beck and call, but they had endured the brunt of their separation before the agreement had been reached, and they had Violet; she was their constant carer, and nothing really changed in their routine.

The only child Lucius said anything to about what had happened between him and his mother was James, and he hoped that Ginny spoke to him as well. The day after they returned from France, Lucius had taken James for a walk and he gave him an edited version of what had happened. How his mother had gone away because she needed a break, but that she would still be coming to see them, and that she would always be their mother.

James listened attentively, but his eyes had been sad, and finally Lucius found out why.

After several more steps James stopped walking and admitted, "I've never had a proper father, and I wanted you to be my father," and he pulled his lip between his teeth when it threatened to quiver. "I know that father and Uncle Ron were awful to mother, but sometimes I hate her, she is so selfish… but this time I thought she might be going to do the right thing."

Lucius placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "James, legally I am your guardian, and I would be happy to also be your father figure, your mother has signed the guardianship of all four of you over to me. I do not know if knowing that helps in any way."

James had suddenly smiled, "Yes sir, oh yes, it does," and without warning James hurled himself into Lucius' arms.

Curling his arms around the boy's back Lucius squeezed him for a moment and then drew him back to arm's length. "Not only do you have me, James, but Violet is staying as your nanny and I would hope that you will think of Severus and Hermione as part of our family as well."

The young boy did not need to know how important Lucius' partners were to him yet, and hopefully the other children would just accept the three of them being together as time went on. Triads were rare in the wizarding world, but Lucius knew of two others just from the people he knew, so there was a distinct possibility that the children would encounter—and hopefully befriend—other children at Hogwarts who were from a similar situation.

He thought as they walked that perhaps he should instigate friendships with the other people who were part of a triad that he knew. He glanced down at James apparently processing everything as they walked and he disappeared into his own ponderings. He hoped that Hermione and Severus would want to make their relationship official some time in the future as that would make it easier for the children.

Of course there would always be the bigots who did not accept their lifestyle choice as the right one, but if there was one thing he had learned over the years it was that one type of life style did not apply to everyone.

xox

Ginny did stay away initially, but as was her job, when she did turn up one afternoon without warning, Violet politely accepted her presence. Even when after her absence Lucy did not know her, Lily hid behind Violet's skirt and Albus, bid her a polite almost frightened hello.

This did not go down well, and Ginny accused Violet of stealing her children. "What have you done to them, they're treating me like James used to treat his father?"

While she may have been polite Violet Cummings pulled no punches, she had not reached the age of seventy, and spent her life caring for children without knowing how to deal with juvenile behaviour. "Ginevra Weasley, think about what you are saying. Your circumstances are extraordinary ones, granted, but your children need stability and I am providing them with that. If they are treating you as you remember James treating his father, then you need to fathom the reason why and remedy it. It is not their fault and it is not mine, and I will not have you upsetting them. Please come back when you are in a better frame of mind."

Ginny went away livid, and owled a strongly worded letter to Lucius about Violet, saying she should be sacked for insolence towards her. His reply, via his solicitor got her nowhere.

"Dear Ms Weasley," she read, "Please refer to page twelve, paragraph twenty six in the agreement you have with Lord Malfoy entitled conduct, which states that you are to treat all members of his household with respect. Your conversation with Violet Cummings was captured by the security spells Lord Malfoy has on the nursery area. If you wish to take the matter further please feel free to contact your own solicitor. We enclose a copy of the Pensieve record of the encounter for your perusal."

She threw the letter and the memory in the fire. "The nerve of them, bastards," she ranted.

Coinciding with the arrival of the letter, Violet Cummings came to visit Ginny, and that was the start of Ginny's healing. Violet knew the circumstances surrounding her appointment to Malfoy Manor, and she also knew enough about things to question whether Ginny was acting under some sort of latent curse that had been hidden in the recesses of her mind somewhere.

However, on discussion with Severus he assured her that he had already searched her mind for such a thing, the day she had initially blown up at Hermione. "I didn't find anything."

"Mmm," said the matron. "Then I shall have to treat her as a teenager until she finishes growing up." The nanny knew that Lucius had put the matter in the hands of his solicitors and apparently she had timed it perfectly, arriving just after Ginny had blown up.

It took six months of visits from Violet, but she eventually came to see that her children were reacting to her like James had always reacted to his father because she was acting like their father had. Eventually she came to the conclusion that she would have to work to get her children back to the relationship she had before her breakdown.

xox

Of course all of the greatest plans can go wrong, and as the Easter holidays approached baby Snape put a spanner in the works. Hermione woke in the middle of the night with a pain she just knew wasn't a Braxton hick contraction. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," she cried, breathing through her mouth. "Wake up, Sev… aahhh…. Lu, wake up, the baby's coming."

The two sleepy wizards sat bolt upright, and Severus, the calmest wizard on the planet went into a full blown panicky flap. "But it's too early… you're not due for two weeks yet," he said in a voice very much unlike his own.

"Well, tell that to the baby," she shot back. "Get Poppy!"

This saw Lucius tripping over his sleep pants as he tried to get his legs into them while running for the floo. "I'm fine… I'm fine," he called from the hallway when he crashed into the side table turning the corner. However, he was certain no one heard him because at the same moment Hermione had another contraction as Severus was guiding her to the bathroom.

Six hours of pain, pushing and threats to their manhoods later, and Georgina Eileen Snape entered the world, a little under two and a half weeks early. Hermione collapsed against her wizards, exhausted, and Severus kissed her head as he reached past her to cut the umbilical cord with his wand.

Poppy handed her the crying baby and allowed them to get to know one another while she delivered the afterbirth. It was now early morning and the parlour was filled with friends and family waiting to hear the news.

The baby had her father's scowl and a shock of black hair, and they all loved her the minute they laid eyes on her.

"Thankfully, she has your nose, angel," Severus said, leaning forward mesmerized by her tiny flailing fingers.

"Let's also hope that she has pet's disposition," Lucius snorted, stroking a finger over her tiny creased forehead, "although with that scowl I don't give that idea much hope."

"But once she knows she's loved and wanted that will disappear," Severus told them absently, not even realising what he had just admitted.

That was when Poppy took over the conversation. "Here, take this please," she said, holding out a potion, and turning to Severus when his hand came out and took it to inspect it. "It's just a healing potion, to seal up the raw spot in Hermione's womb where the placenta was attached." She looked back at Hermione, "And then we can get you up and cleaned up properly." She looked to the baby, "While you wait, I'll show you how to feed her which will also help with contracting your uterus back into shape."

Both Severus and Lucius watched in delight as Hermione learned how to feed Georgina. Poppy taught her the shielding spell to stop her nipples becoming sore before she got used to the routine and both of them seemed to be quicker learners. Once she had the baby happily feeding Poppy cleaned up the room ready for visitors.

Once the baby was fed, Poppy washed and dressed her, and asked Severus and Lucius to help Hermione to shower while she did so. "You are lucky there was no actual damage to the birth canal, but you will still have some discharge from your uterus; that is normal, use either a shielding charm or a Muggle method for a week or so.

Hermione nodded and rose on very shaky legs, but her wizards were beside her and they helped her into the shower. A wave of Lucius' wand and they were all naked, and they got in together. Lucius held her against him while Severus washed her, and they both spoke softly to her telling her how proud they were of her.

When they got back to the bedroom Poppy had it cleaned up and there was no evidence that a birth had just taken place at all except for the sleeping infant in the pretty white crib. "If you need me for anything, I'm only a floo call away, dear, but I'm sure Violet will be able to answer any of your questions."

"Thank you, Poppy," Hermione said, pulling her into a hug.

"You need a rest now, dear. You've worked really hard all night, and she ran her wand over Georgina once more and then Hermione and when everything was normal she bustled out the door.

Severus and Lucius had just got Hermione back into bed when Violet knocked on the door and smiled at the scene before her. "The children want to know if they can see their sister now." She looked at the shocked looks on the three adults and added, "Their words not mine."

Lucius laughed, "I guess they know more than they've let on." He turned to Hermione, "Are you up to visitors?"

"Yes, we need to foster that family feeling," she said, brushing at a tear that had suddenly appeared at the thought that they were indeed forming a family.