A/N: I am soooo sorry it has taken so long to update. I am in the middle of divorcing my husband right now and things have been… well, touchy. I will try to update at least once a week until the story is finished, along with my others, but be patient with me.
Lucius arrived at his Manor as expected, but didn't feel the happiness he normally would have only a few short months ago. Things had changed, drastically at that, and he was caught in the middle of wanting one thing while trying to figure out what to do about the other.
It was really no contest. The more he thought about Hermione and Severus, the more he wanted to have them both permanently… but it wasn't that easy.
Narcissa was his wife, mother of his child, and stuck with him through the good and bad times. Despite his feelings towards her, he didn't feel right when it came to ending things with her for another woman.
He glanced around his Manor as he walked. The mix of feelings was enough to drive a person mad. He had been raised to believe anything less the pure blood was bad, unacceptable and, well, wrong but at some point, he knew he must have put those beliefs to rest in order to have formed a bond with a muggle born.
The Manor held many things that displayed pure blood pride. The paintings were of his family whom were just as bad, if not worse then he was. Many things he noticed were purchased because it would be a status symbol, showing that his kind was better… but looking at all of these things, thinking about all of these things, made him feel lost in a world that he had practically sold his soul in order to protect.
He continued to walk in silence until he heard the voice that he both longed for and dreaded to hear at the same time… Narcissa.
-
Hogwarts….
Severus sat across from Dumbledore feeling more like a teenager then he had ever felt before. He was never nervous, He was never afraid to say what was on him mind, but in this instance, he felt like a virgin on a first date.
The old man watched silently and with curiosity as the Potions Master seemed to be fidgeting and trying to work things out in his mind.
"Honestly, My boy, It cant be that bad." He finally stated, hoping to get Severus on the right track.
Severus cleared his throat and leaned back slightly. He knew he could be honest with the Headmaster… but it didn't make it easier.
"It's a bit complicated." Severus stated lamely, "along with confusing and slightly disturbing."
"You know you can be honest with me, Severus. I will not judge you as I never have in the past."
Severus nodded.
"Well, I have been having… dreams, If you can call them that, that is, and I'm not sure of what to make of them."
Dumbledore smiled, "You are remembering, Miss Granger. Am I correct?"
"Yes, sir. As Lucius is as well."
Dumbledore remained quiet but rose from his seat. He walked over to a large shelf that had a variety of knick-knacks that appeared to have been collected over the past years.
"I suspected the memories had been returning over the past weeks but couldn't be sure."
He picked up a small, metal ball and rolled it between his aged fingers.
"Do you and Lucius now understand what has been going on?"
Severus sighed, "We do, but that is where my… our, problems start." Severus rubbed his hands over his face, wishing the conversation would just go easy, but how do you tell the headmaster of the school you work and live at that you and another Professor want a student.
"I'm sure you are aware that Lucius and I have been lovers for years."
Dumbledore once again nodded.
"And now, it would seem that he and I would like to continue with Hermi – Ms. Granger, once she returns. There is, however, the question of ethics. How do we handle this?"
Dumbledore carefully placed the ball back on the shelf and went back to his desk. The ball was only a diversion to make Severus more comfortable but now the whole matter had been laid out and it needed to be discussed.
"As the Headmaster of this school, I can understand your concern along with your desires." He paused briefly to make sure he was in good eye contact with the Professor.
"Normally, I would never condone a relationship between pupil and professor, However, this situation is a bit different. I know the way Ms. Granger feels for you and I know how the two of you feel towards her. You three have already been intimate and truthfully, you three formed a bond together that was stronger then I ever recall seeing."
He then went silent, as in thought, and ran his hand through his beard.
"I will give the three of you permission to continue with what you had, but it must remain silent, discrete, and completely out of the sights of anyone."
Narcissa was a lot of things but dumb was not one of them. She could tell the instant her eyes landed on Lucius that something wasn't right.
She had a feeling that something was bothering him. She wasn't a doting wife by any means but had been with him long enough to know that something was up.
"You're not yourself, Lucius." She said quietly.
Lucius turned his eyes towards his wife and sighed, "It's nothing, Cissa, nothing to concern yourself with."
She frowned but didn't press the issue. She knew she would find out in due time, when he was ready to spill the beans.
Short chappy, I know, but I need to work myself back into the swing of the story. I will make the next one longer.