Here's another bit of this…Again…mature audiences only please!
"He said what?"
She'd returned from work one afternoon, and cried on his chest.
"Severus will Avada the little brat."
"No…don't tell him Lucius. I don't want him fighting with Ron. He's just stupid and hot-headed. Besides, he's only repeating rumors someone else started…well mostly…."
"I'm surprised he has wit enough to repeat nursery rhymes."
She'd choked out a laugh.
"Did is never occur to young mister Weasley that if you were interested in having two men in your bed, you most certainly had the opportunity while living with Mr. Potter and himself?"
She'd blushed. "Ron…well, yes…that was one of the things he said…but he was just upset."
Lucius fought down his rage. "I don't think I'll wait for Severus. I'm going to Avada the little bastard myself. To make a totally groundless…"
"That's what I was saying Lucius…Ron knows it's not groundless."
Lucius choked. "We've never…"
She looked up at him and took a shuddering breath. "No…but the boys and I…" She looked down and continued. "It was cold. We'd been in a tent all winter, and it was freezing. We finally decided to share one bed…more blankets, body heat…at least that was my theory."
Lucius summoned two glasses of wine. He didn't know about her, but he was fairly certain he was going to need it to listen to the rest of the story.
She laughed at the wine as she took a sip.
"We'd had a good evening. We were able to go to a muggle grocery store under polyjuice. I'd splurged on a bottle of whiskey…we were all depressed, and I thought I'd astonish the boys a bit…shake them up, make them smile. It always shocked them when I broke the rules. You'd think a kneezle had suggested getting drunk."
"We managed a decent meal for once, and spent awhile drinking. I'm an affectionate drunk, and I was trying to limit my intake, but Ron suggested a drinking game…
One thing led to another…
…it didn't end with actual intercourse, but it was more than enough to make all of us squeamish. Ron left less than a week after…stormed off and left us…he came back, but he never really believed that Harry and I hadn't…it was almost as if he left just to give us the opportunity and reason to go through with it…"
She shook her head. "Harry and I slept in the same bed for the rest of the winter without a single problem…" She blushed. "Well, I mean he had the typical morning reaction, but I don't think men need to be in bed with a woman for that to happen."
Lucius wiped the tears from her face.
"So Mr. Weasley is assuming that because he got you drunk when you were seventeen and you allowed your two best friends certain liberties, that you would allow two older men to share your body. Remind me again why he was your friend at one point?"
She shook her head. "I don't think he ever was. I think he's Harry's friend, and I'm Harry's friend. That's the only thing we have in common anymore."
Lucius pulled her into a tight hug. "He was an idiot for not being a better friend to you."
Severus emerged from the floo at that moment.
"I heard what Weasley said." He took the witch and hugged her too, then squished her between himself and Lucius. The blond wizard raised a brow at this behavior since it was sure to remind her of the gossip.
"I have a list of hexes and I need your advice. Do you think that rashes are more disgusting with green spots or with blue veins?"
LMHGSS
Mr. Weasley spent a lot of time in and out of St. Mungo's for the better part of a year…Several of Hermione's other friends got in on the joke, and it was almost a game of who could come up with the next embarrassing dermatitis. Neville Longbottom came up with Lucius' personal favorite, a hex that made the victim break out with seeping green spots every time they lied. Draco included suggestions in his monthly owls. Potter was the most persistent, if nowhere near the most vicious or creative. The former title was held hands down by Ginny Potter nee Weasley (who was a very, very scary little witch). The latter title was held by Severus, to no one's surprise.
Hermione eventfully demanded that her friends and lover end their persecution of the red-headed git.
LMHGSS
Present:
Lucius was alert enough to hear voices again, much to his dismay. He seemed to recall a lot of pain…and a curse. He really would have rather passed along to whatever reward awaited former, partially rehabilitated Death Eaters.
Small, warm fingers were twined with his own.
"Severus…I think he's waking…"
A long-fingered hand brushed his forehead.
"Lucius?"
"Bloody hell Sev…how did you pull me back?"
"I can't take all the credit of course, Hermione played a small role."
Hermione rolled her eyes and stared at him. "You bloody idiot. You nearly died."
"I know. I realized after the fact that I should have simply pulled one of those dunderhead LE agents into the line of fire instead."
Her tears rolled out of her eyes and she sniffed.
He reached up (it was depressingly difficult to make even the smallest movements…lifting his arm left him weary!). He brushed the tears away.
"Severus, you aren't taking proper care of your witch. Both of you look like hell. I insist that you go curl up and sleep."
"In a little while, old friend."
They didn't ask why, just like he didn't ask them why. They knew. He knew.
Friendship.
AN: I'll try to get the next chapter up sometime New Year's Day.