Three for All

by Warviben

Harry and Hermione grow closer after Ron leaves them during the hunt for horcruxes. Their lives become even more interesting when Severus Snape joins them after the final battle. Strong warnings for sexual content (see inside for details).

3. Chapter 3

THREE FOR ALL

by Warviben

Summary: Harry and Hermione grow closer after Ron leaves them during the hunt for horcruxes. Their lives become even more interesting when Severus Snape joins them after the final battle. Strong warnings for sexual content.

Warning: This fic is for grown-ups. It contains detailed descriptions of sexual activities between two characters (a male and a female) and three characters (a female and two males). If you are not old enough, or if this type of thing is not for you, please stop reading now.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the basic premise for their existence. I guess I do own some of the characters that come later – you'll know who they are.

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From Chapter 2:

Snape snorted loudly in derision. "You? Do you forget that I've witnessed your proficiency with mixing ingredients together with an intended goal in mind? Do you actually think I'd subject myself to your pathetic attempt to put a meal on the table?"

"That's not funny," Harry muttered.

"Oh, I assure you, I was not trying to be 'funny'."

Harry looked up at him, his eyes swimming in a sea of hurt, which caught Snape by surprise. "Fine," he said, and he let Snape's cloak slip through his fingers to the floor before turning and leaving the older man standing in the hallway watching him go.

##########

Snape entered the dining room as Hermione placed the last dish on the table. She smiled thinly at him, then sat and waited for him to join her. The empty seat between them spoke loudly to both of them.

"Is Potter not joining us?" Snape asked.

"No. He's . . . he's not hungry," Hermione said, her eyes on her plate.

Snape sensed something amiss. "Is he ill?"

"No. Not ill exactly, he's just . . ."

"Just what?" Snape pressed.

Hermione sighed. "He gets into these . . . moods sometimes. If I had to guess, I'd say he's clinically depressed. Most of the time, he's fine, but every now and then, something will set him off, and he gets withdrawn. He won't eat, he's lethargic, cares very little about what's going on around him. These little fits used to last days, but now that I know how to handle them, I can usually bring him out of them in a few hours."

Helping himself to the food on the table without really paying attention to what it was, Snape asked, "And what sorts of things set him off?"

"It can be anything – a nightmare about the war, seeing someone that triggers a memory, a sound, a smell." Hermione looked directly into Snape's eyes. "An unpleasant reminder about the way things used to be."

Snape brought himself upright in defensive consternation. "You're saying I did this by teasing Potter earlier?"

"Teasing?" Hermione challenged. "From what he told me, you were downright cruel to him."

"But Potter and I have always had a barely civil, very adversarial relationship. I've said many much worse things to him, things that I actually meant, and they rolled off his back like so much water off a duck."

Hermione sighed. "Things were different then, weren't they?"

"Different?" Snape asked, feeling stupid, as though the answer was right before him and he just couldn't, or wouldn't, see it.

"Of course they're different, Severus. Don't be obtuse on purpose. You and Harry and I . . . we no longer have a student-teacher dynamic. We've gone beyond friends, even. When you have sex with someone, things change, especially if it's not a one-off. Whether or not you want to, you begin to expect certain things from the other person, things like basic decency. You begin to trust that they won't deliberately hurt you or be cruel. Harry's one of the toughest people I know, but he's vulnerable in ways that I'm still learning. His childhood did that – the lack of touch and affection. He's so desperate for it now that when he gets it, he idolizes the person giving it to him, whether or not that person deserves it. I'm trying to deserve it, because I know that it would be so easy to hurt him, destroy him even, with what I know about him. But loving someone means not wanting to do anything that causes pain, especially intentionally. You've always known his soft spots, Severus, and your opinion means so much to him, especially now. You also have the power to destroy him."

Snape sat back, amazed at her words. "So when I teased Potter earlier, he took that as a rejection?"

"Do you see what's on the table, Severus?" Hermione asked.

He hadn't, but he took the time to do so now. All of his favorite foods lay before him, and he looked up at Hermione, shocked.

"Do you remember that conversation we had, the first night we were here? When we were all so hungry? We talked about our favorite foods that the house elves served. Harry remembered. And he made them all for you, out of the goodness of his heart, because he wants so desperately to please you, somewhere other than in bed."

Snape stared down at his plate. He felt about three inches tall. "And I repaid him by belittling his potions skills. Potions and cooking are so much alike, and I thought . . ."

"You thought because he was rubbish at one that he'd be no good at the other?" When Severus nodded, Hermione continued, "What you don't know is that from a very young age, Harry was made to cook for his family. What you also don't know is that Harry would likely be excellent at potion-making, for that very reason, but for the belligerent bastard that served as the potions master at the school we attended, who belittled his every effort and seemed to begrudge the very fact that he drew breath. Not an atmosphere conducive for anyone to reach their potential, now is it?"

"But there were reasons . . . you must understand now that . . ."

Hermione interrupted him because she really didn't want to hear his excuses. "We're not there now, Severus. Harry has put his animosity for you behind him, because he knows you're not that person. You don't even know what kind of person Harry truly is, because you've never attempted to get to know this Harry. He's not the same person as back then either." Hermione reached over and took his hand. "Severus, both Harry and I are pleased with the way things have turned out here." She squeezed his hand comfortingly. "We both want you in our lives, and we think this has the potential to turn into something long-term, if that's what you want. But I won't let you hurt him, deliberately, over and over again. Just as I wouldn't let him do that to you."

Severus looked away. "I don't know as I'm capable of becoming an entirely different person, much as I might want to to avoid losing what you have offered to me."

"No one wants you to change drastically, Severus. We like you just as you are, for the most part. But the deliberate cruelty, the cutting insults – you can curb them. You've had practice holding your tongue. Do that now, until it becomes habit. I think you'll find the response you receive from Harry will be worth it. Now I suggest we eat so that we can go take care of Harry."

"'We'?" Severus questioned, not sure why she'd want to include him in the cure since he was responsible for the problem.

"Yes, Severus, 'we'," she said with a kind smile.

"Let's go now, then. Fix him up so he can eat."

"It won't work quite that quickly. He'll need to sleep on it before he can get completely back to himself. But we should eat. We'll not want to be distracted. Go ahead. I think you'll find it quite good."

And he did. Severus was surprised and impressed with Harry's efforts and the results, and he ate with more interest than he had in some time, although nostalgia for Hogwarts was niggling at him now that today's reminders were before him. Still, he had something worth fighting for here, now, and he put thoughts of the past away from him when he lay down his fork.

"What now?" he asked.

##########

Hermione entered the darkened bedroom, followed closely by Severus. Harry sat in the window seat, eyes to the window but seeing nothing, his shoulders hunched in defeat, his arms wrapped around his knees.

"Harry," Hermione said softly, "I'm going to run the bath water now. I'll just be a moment."

Harry gave no acknowledgment that he'd heard her, and Hermione crossed to the bathroom door and disappeared inside. Severus stood in the door, unsure of his welcome or of the benefit to his being here. He'd driven Harry into this incommunicative state, he thought, as he watched the despondent young man from across the room, and he was surprised to feel his heart ache at that thought. He'd do anything to correct what he'd done, but he wasn't sure how. Hermione had wanted him present, but she'd told him to remain in the background, out of the way, while she dealt with Harry.

To the background of the water running into the tub, Hermione emerged and began to ready things in the bedroom: she withdrew Harry's pajamas from the drawer and placed them on the bed, then put a clean pair of underpants on top of them. She picked his house robe up from the floor and shook it out, then hung it on the hook over the door. She retrieved his slippers from under the bed and lined them up neatly below the pajamas before drawing back the duvet and sheet on the bed and piling the pillows up against the headboard. She returned to the bathroom, and Severus heard the tap turned off.

Hermione returned and approached Harry carefully. "Harry," she said gently, "the bath is ready. Come, love." She picked up his hand and tugged on it. Like a small child, Harry rose and allowed himself to be led into the bathroom. Severus moved to the bed and sat so that he could see and hear what was going on in the other room.

Carefully, Hermione undressed an unresponsive Harry, speaking quietly to him all the while, until he stood, nude and uncaring, on the bath rug. "In we go," Hermione encouraged, once again taking Harry's hand and leading him into the tub. Harry went where he was bidden, unprotesting but not actively participating, and sat in the water, staring down at his own feet.

As Hermione soaped a flannel and began to wash Harry's back, stroking his hair and offering words of comfort, the scent of lavender wafted out to Severus' spot on the bed. Lavender, Snape knew, was used frequently as a sleep aid, so the apparent purpose of this bath was to relax Harry enough to sleep. Made sense, Severus supposed, since Hermione had said that Harry would need to sleep this off.

The bath took no longer than ten minutes, then Hermione left Harry to soak for a bit while she left the room, instructing Severus to keep an eye on Harry but not to speak to him. Harry didn't move, not a single muscle as far as Snape could discern, in the few minutes that Hermione was gone. When she returned, she bore a tray containing a pot of chamomile tea and a plate of the biscuits that Harry seemed inordinately fond of. She set this tray on the bedside table, motioned Severus to the arm chair before the fire, and went to retrieve Harry from the bath.

Dried and shivering and wrapped in a towel, Harry was led into the bedroom and made to sit on the edge of the bed. Hermione removed the towel and threaded his arms through his pajama top, buttoned him up, then helped him to sit back against the pillows piled by the headboard and covered his legs with the duvet. She levitated the tea tray to hover beside them, poured Harry a cup of tea, and pressed it into his hand. She made his hand approach his mouth, but once it got there, Harry willingly sipped at the tea. After he'd taken a couple of sips, Hermione placed a biscuit into his mouth. Harry's lips closed around her fingers as he drew the treat into his mouth, making Hermione smile. When she withdrew her fingers, she used them to stroke his cheek lovingly. Across the room, Snape was instantly hard and rather ashamed of himself for it.

After Harry had eaten three biscuits, he shook his head no when Hermione tried to press a fourth upon him. She floated the tray with the remaining tea things to the floor, used her wand to eliminate any crumbs that may have been left behind in the bed, and eased Harry into a prone position on the bed, his head supported by a single pillow. Once Harry was stretched out on the bed, Severus could see that the young man was as hard as he was, causing Severus' breath to quicken. He thought he might lose control altogether when Hermione began to disrobe.

Once she was completely unclothed, Hermione slid onto the bed and took Harry's erection into her mouth. Harry's eyes closed, his expression blissful, as his young lover slurped lovingly on his dick. Severus eyed Hermione's lithe form, curled on the bed beside Harry, her head going up and down on his cock, the one cheek he could see concave with the effort of her suction. Unable to help himself, Severus placed his hand over his own erection, stroking the head through the cloth with his thumb, driving his own arousal higher.

For the longest time, Harry lay somehow still beneath Hermione's talented mouth. When he finally began to move, making small upthrusts with his hips, Hermione released him from her mouth and sat back on her heels, still holding onto the base of his cock so that it pointed straight up at the ceiling. Severus couldn't help but stare at that impressive pole, slick with Hermione's saliva, and had to bite on his unoccupied hand to keep himself from groaning.

Hermione now swung a leg over Harry's thighs so that she was straddling him. Still with a hold on his cock and holding herself above it, Hermione rubbed at her vagina with the reddened head until she judged herself ready, then she inserted Harry's throbbing manhood and slowly lowered herself onto it. Severus wished he could see her face as she did so, but realized this view was quite nice as well when she, fully seated, leaned forward to press her breasts to Harry's chest. Running a hand soothingly through his hair and murmuring something Severus couldn't hear, Hermione began moving up and down on Harry's stiff cock, riding him slowly and rhythmically. Severus couldn't see her face, he couldn't see Harry's face, but what he did see was driving him mad with lust. Hermione's arse cheeks, nicely rounded and perfectly proportioned, lifting and dropping with the precision of a metronome, that beautiful cock between her legs, disappearing and reappearing, wetter each time with the product of Hermione's natural lubrication. When Harry began to twitch up to meet her downward thrusts, Hermione sat up and slammed down hard on him, stilling his hips with her weight. Once Harry got the message and stopped moving, Hermione began bouncing up and down, small thrusts punctuated every so often a grinding down of her pelvis on Harry's. Hermione whimpered, but Harry remained silent, until at last his orgasm rushed out of him with a breath. "Oh, Her–" he managed to squeak out before he could speak no more. Only then did Hermione let Harry have control, raising herself slightly off his hips so that he could finish his orgasm by thrusting up into her as deeply as he needed. Seven, eight thrusts later (Severus counted), then Harry pushed up once more, fully ensheathing himself in Hermione's now-drenched pussy, before finishing with countless short jabs, each one accompanied by a breathed "oh". When he finally stilled, Hermione leant forward and kissed him tenderly. She leant forward to press their chests together again, straightening her legs out somewhat stiffly as she did so, then rolled them both so they were lying on their sides, facing each other.

"Open your eyes, Harry," Hermione instructed quietly.

Harry did, his green eyes large with wonder and satiation. Hermione kissed the tip of his nose. "Thank you," she said.

Harry shook his head. "No. Thank you." He pressed forward to kiss Hermione's lips, a kiss that lasted nearly a minute. When they pulled apart, Hermione said, "I love you. You sleep now."

Harry closed his eyes immediately, leaving Severus to wonder if she'd magicked him to sleep, and murmured, "Love you, too". She stayed with Harry for a moment longer, stroking his hair. She looked over at Severus now, who was sure he'd been forgotten, and raised a finger to her lips, asking for his silence. He nodded his understanding, his hand still moving over his covered erection, aching now for release. Hermione gave him a stern look and shook her head, and Severus understood this to mean that he should desist at his self-pleasuring activities. So he was to be punished then, he guessed, for upsetting Harry. He probably deserved it, so he obeyed with a small inward sigh.

When Hermione was assured, by Harry's breathing evening out into the familiar pattern of sleep, she whispered to Severus, "Undo your trousers."

Surprised, Severus' startled eyes went to Hermione's, and he was instantly aware by the interest he saw there that he was not to be punished after all. He hastily complied, opening the placket of his trousers and pulling his turgid member somewhat painfully through it. He looked up at Hermione for her approval and got it when she licked her lips slowly.

Brushing a kiss across Harry's forehead, Hermione quietly disentangled herself from her sleeping lover and the bed sheet, magicked the rest of Harry's clothes onto him, and crossed to Severus, who avidly watched her approach, her naked sinewy form enticing him in ways that someone this much younger than himself shouldn't. Without speaking, Hermione climbed into his lap, now straddling him, and the memory of her doing the same to Potter only moments before had him arching up into her, desperate for contact. Stilling him with a hand to his chest, Hermione reached down between her own legs and drew a finger through her dripping folds. This finger she inserted into her own mouth, causing Severus to groan loudly. She sucked noisily on the finger for a moment before withdrawing it and spearing herself again. This time, she offered the finger to Severus, who accepted it greedily, tasting Potter and feminine lust and delicious, incredible sin. He sucked on her finger with abandon, almost not noticing when Hermione took hold of his yearning cock and suddenly and without warning lowered herself down onto it.

But he did notice the sudden tightness surrounding him, and his mouth dropped open in intense pleasure, causing the finger to fall out of his mouth. He cried out at its loss, then at the amazing feeling of Hermione's semen-drenched vagina milking his prick steadily. He knew he wouldn't last long. Watching the two youngsters together had been more arousing than anything he'd ever seen, and now he had this siren-like creature tormenting him, driving his pleasure level into the stratosphere, and he knew he had no choice. He was going to explode. The only question was whether it would be his cock or his heart which would give out first.

Luckily for him, his cock led the charge, and with a low, lusty cry, he drove himself up into her one final time and stopped for a millisecond before pulse upon pulse of ejaculate shot their way up to join that already deposited there by another man. Hermione ground herself down against him, her clit rubbing into his coarse pubic hairs, but it wasn't enough, and she reached down with a finger to stimulate herself further before she, too, came explosively. The orgasmic massaging of her inner walls on his cock served to stretch Severus' climax out to almost painful proportions, and he was panting when he finally, finally stopped shooting his seed into her and stopped moving, his cock slow to soften in the afterglow.

Hermione collapsed onto him, resting her cheek on his bony clavicle, breathing hard herself. Severus' arms went around her and cradled her protectively. After a few moments of silence punctuated only by heavy breathing, his penis softened and slid out of her with a rather disgusting squelch of fluid. Apparently not disgusted by this, Hermione reached down and gathered some on her fingers. Offering one to Severus, who accepted it without a second thought, she sucked on another herself. Now the finger tasted of all three of them, and Severus thought that nothing could be more perfect than that. When he looked down and saw Hermione, totally nude, laying against his completely clothed body, the only skin of his visible that of his come-covered and shriveled penis, a thrill of naughtiness shuddered through him. That thrill, combined with the taste of their completion in his mouth, actually made his poor spent cock twitch with interest, and he nearly laughed aloud at the sheer astonishing turn his life had taken. He was too exhausted to laugh, or do anything else, though, and he mentally told his cock to give it a rest. It gave one last, heartfelt jerk and then lay still.

Severus felt Hermione's eyes on his face, and he turned to look at her. He'd never considered her beautiful before, but now, looking at her like this, glowing and replete with satisfaction given and taken, twice, he thought he'd never seen a more beautiful sight. She smiled up at him around the finger still in her mouth, a naughty, mischievous smile. He bent his head forward to press his lips chastely to hers.

Harry rolled on the bed, and they stilled, not wanting to wake him. His attention drawn to the boy, he looked down at Hermione again and said sincerely, "I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me," she said. "Tell him."

And Severus intended to, just as soon as he could.

##########

Harry sat in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, feeling much back to his usual self. Hermione had learned what he needed and had become expert at giving it to him, those times when everything seemed to overwhelm him and drive him to a place of despair, where it seemed that nothing was worth the effort. When Severus entered the kitchen, the hurt of what he'd said yesterday reared up again, not as overpowering as before but still definitely there, and Harry felt an irresistible urge to get away. His shoulders tensed, he waited for an opportunity to run that wouldn't look too much like he was, in fact, running.

When Severus moved to the stove and took the teapot to the sink to fill it with water, his back to Harry, Harry saw his chance, and he stood, quickly and silently, prepared to flee. Before he took two steps, he heard, "Potter." Harry hesitated, but only for a moment. He just couldn't face Snape this morning. Right now, he thought of the man as "Snape", rather than the "Severus" he'd made love with a few days ago. In his mind, they were two distinctly separate people. Prepared to pretend he hadn't heard the other man speaking to him, he continued toward the door.

"Harry, please. Stay."

The use of his first name and the magic word stopped Harry in his tracks, but he didn't turn around. He couldn't. If Snape saw everything there was to see on Harry's face and in his eyes, he'd use it to mercilessly ridicule Harry every opportunity he got. He felt rather than heard Snape come up behind him, and his shoulders tensed again, ready for he knew not quite what.

"Turn around?" Snape invited.

Pressing his lips together, Harry fiercely shook his head no. Not now. Not yet.

"All right," Snape said quietly, and he stepped around Harry until he was standing in front of him, facing him. Harry resolutely refused to look up into his face.

"I am not a nice man," Snape began, and Harry nearly snorted. If he'd been speaking to Snape, he would no doubt have had some sarcastic rejoinder to make to that remark. Something intelligent, like "No duh."

"You know this about me, I think," Snape continued, oblivious to the snappy banter bouncing around in Harry's head. "Like your foolish Gryffindor courage, it is part of who I am, and I don't think that I could change it if I wanted to. As I suspect you will forever and always rush into danger before thinking through the potential consequences."

Harry sighed. Great. Snape was going to stand here and list all of their faults. This could take a while. Maybe he should sit down.

"However, I find that my abrasive personality has endangered something that I have, in a very amazingly short space of time, come to cherish." Here Snape reached out with a finger and tipped Harry's head up so that he could see the boy's face. The hurt and torment there reinforced for him the need for this apology he was trying to make. "I was cruel to you yesterday. My comments were made only half in jest, but they hurt you badly. That is not acceptable behavior on my part any longer. Not that it ever was, but now . . . now when I have this . . . I don't know how to describe what we have here, Harry, but I do not want to lose it. I am sincerely sorry for hurting you yesterday, and I hope that you can forgive me."

Harry's eyes had begun to water, his hope that Severus could apologize and actually mean it so profound that he couldn't stop himself. "You mean it? You're sorry?"

"Sincerely. Don't forget the sincerely," Severus confirmed. "And I will try to do better."

Harry's wide smile was a sight to behold. Severus thought perhaps he'd have to revise his opinion of the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, because happy and relieved Harry was rivaling post-sex Hermione for the title. Severus' hands came up to cup Harry's cheeks, and he leaned down to kiss those smiling lips. He stopped before he got there, though, confusing Harry.

"Why'd you stop?" the boy complained.

"I didn't want you to think I was only kissing you so that you'd forgive me."

Harry laughed in his face at this, and Severus sucked the sound into his own lungs. "I forgive you, you berk. And I don't care why you kiss me so long as you do so." And he closed the distance between them himself and kissed Severus' thin lips.

Severus had meant for the kiss to be sweet and gentle, and it started out that way. It got out of hand quickly, however, when Harry pressed his body flush up against the taller man, planting his thigh between Severus' legs. Without conscious thought, Severus began to rub his rapidly-filling cock against that thigh.

"Bedroom?" Harry suggested into the kiss.

"Not sure I remember the way," Severus admitted, not taking his mouth from Harry's.

Harry laughed against his mouth, and Severus again ate it down. Harry's laughter was like a life-sustaining force, and Severus hungered for it. "I'll draw you a map," Harry whispered a promise and slid a hand up under Severus' shirt. One finger traced a circle around his left nipple, then made a straight line over to the right, circling that one as well. Severus' nipples hardened immediately to little pebbles, and he shivered at the touch.

"I think I remember now," he gasped into Harry's mouth.

Harry took this opportunity to stick his tongue down Severus' throat, thereby short-circuiting his brain again. Thankfully, Harry had the presence of mind to drag Severus toward the bedroom, never letting the man out of his embrace until he had him next to the bed, where he pushed him playfully down before leaping on top of him like an over-eager puppy.

Harry was licking up Severus' neck, from his shoulder to just under his ear, and Severus was wriggling with the feeling, close to a tickle, and trying to get his hands in Harry's trousers.

"Off, Harry," he growled.

Harry suddenly leapt off him. "Yes, sir!" he said with a smart salute, and with one smooth movement, he'd opened his trousers and let them fall to the floor, revealing that he wore nothing beneath but a jauntily waving erection. "Look, he's saluting, too!" Harry crowed with a boyish grin.

"Get over here, you cretin!" Severus commanded. He reached over with both hands and grabbed Harry's hips, bringing that tantalizing prick closer. Before closing his lips around it, Severus looked up at Harry and said, "And I call you 'cretin' in the most affectionate of ways, you realize."

Harry's laugh was cut short by Severus fellating him thoroughly. "God, Severus. That's . . ."

Severus removed his mouth when Harry didn't continue. "That's what?" he prompted.

"Perfectly adequate?" Harry teased with a mischievous grin.

"Perfectly ad– why you . . ." Severus grabbed Harry around the waist and dragged him down onto the bed beside him. Harry wriggled until he was on top of Severus, and he put both hands on Severus' shoulders, pressing him down into the bed. "Now I'm on top and you have to do what I say."

"Is that right?" Severus asked. "I shudder to think what you might ask of me."

Harry leaned down and kissed him, tiny little pecking kisses all over his mouth and cheeks and nose and eyes, until Severus himself laughed out loud at his playfulness. "My goodness," Harry said approvingly. "Who knew Severus Snape could laugh like that?"

"I'm likely to cry if you don't kiss me properly," Snape rejoined.

"Well, we don't want that, do we?" Harry said with feigned sympathy. "Guess I'll just have force myself to mphft," Harry's teasing was ended by Severus pulling his head down roughly and latching onto Harry's mouth with his own. Lost in the sensation, Harry fell forward until he was lying on top of Severus and just concentrated on the kissing. He could do this forever (as long as he kept his cock from rubbing up against anything), and they indulged in many, many minutes worth of mouth exploring mouth exploring tongue and teeth and lips.

Busy as they were, neither of them heard Hermione enter the room. Harry only became aware of her presence when he finally pulled himself off of Severus' addicting mouth and looked away to catch his breath. "Holy Jesus!" he gasped.

Severus looked over at what had caught Harry's attention and his breath caught in his throat. Hermione sat watching them, one leg thrown over the chair's arm, naked but for her bra. As she watched them through hooded eyes, she fucked herself with a large black dildo, the large plastic dong charmed to move in and out of her with a maddeningly slow rhythm. When she had the attention of both men on the bed, she tapped the dildo with her wand, causing it to purr to life. The vibration sent her immediately over the edge, and she squeezed her thighs around the protrusion as she rode it to ecstacy. When she was done, she pulled the dildo from her dripping hole and inserted it into her mouth, sucking it while watching Severus and Harry nearly come unglued.

"Jesus, Hermione," Harry muttered, "You're killing me here."

"Join us?" Severus invited.

"Mmmm. Not yet," Hermione said languidly. "I want to watch you two together for a while. Harry, would you like Severus to fuck you?"

Harry looked at Severus, whose dark eyes were looking back at him with a hunger that nearly made him afraid. "I'd like that very much," he said, ducking his head to kiss the older man again. "But you're wearing too many clothes."

With a muttered spell, Severus took care of that minor problem. Harry reached up to remove his shirt, but Severus stopped him. "Unbutton it, but leave it on."

With an amused glint in his eyes, Harry acquiesced, then lay back on the bed, arms and legs spread in an open invitation for Severus to have his way with him. Severus fell to with alacrity. Minutes later, with the assistance of another muttered spell, Harry was stretched and lubed and moaning with readiness. He was dimly aware of Hermione hovering near the bed as Severus slid his incredible thick cock home.

"Oh God," he moaned. "You are . . . so big . . . you fill me . . . so perfectly."

Severus settled his full weight on Harry and just lay there, enjoying the tight heat enveloping him.

"Severus?" Harry asked.

"Mmmmm?" Severus queried with a dreamy smile.

"If you don't move, I'm going to hex you into next week."

Severus chuckled, then heaved a dramatic sigh. "The demands I have to put up with." He hoisted himself back up off his comfy body pillow and thrust experimentally into Harry's arse. "Like that?"

"Yes! Precisely like that, except if you could just aim . . ." Severus shifted while Harry was making his request and thrust in again. "Oh yes! Right there! Again!"

Severus pulled out slowly, then just as slowly slid back in, grazing Harry's prostate on both journeys. "Jesus!" Harry groaned, trying to buck his hips up and take in more of Severus' generous offering.

They'd just established a pleasing rhythm, one certain to lead to an expected and satisfying conclusion, when Severus gasped and stilled deep inside Harry.

"What?" Harry asked. "Why'd you stop? I was so close!"

Severus tried to explain, but his mouth didn't seem to be working, and Harry was suddenly worried that the older man was suffering a stroke, or maybe a heart attack. "Severus! Are you all right?"

Severus' eyes, which were looking down at Harry, suddenly rolled back up in his head, and Harry yelped, "Severus! What's wrong?"

Hermione's smiling face appeared over Severus' shoulder, spooking Harry. "Nothing's wrong with him, Harry. He just got Black Beauty shoved up his arse is all."

Harry fell back against the pillow in relief. Now that he knew, he could hear the dildo's low humming, and if he concentrated on his lower body, he thought he could feel the vibration shooting through Severus' arse, into the older man's cock, and then into Harry's arsehole.

"Oh God!" Harry moaned. He was still a little worried about Severus though, as the man's eyes hadn't returned to their rightful place and he still hadn't said anything. "Severus?" he asked gently. "Are you okay?"

Severus' black irises snapped back into place, and he looked down at Harry as though just realizing he was there. "Holy shite," he said.

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, Hermione has that effect on me, too."

"All right, Severus?" Hermione asked solicitously.

"Better than all right," he assured her.

"I'm just going to spell it to move. Tell me when I've got the right spot." Hermione disappeared again, and Harry waited beneath Severus until the other man gasped, "There!"

"Beautiful," Hermione whispered.

"I wanna see!" Harry said petulantly.

"Harry, meet magic. Magic, Harry," Hermione said, playfully sarcastic, as she cast a mirror charm at the ceiling over the bed. Harry nearly came at the sight of the black dildo darting in and out of Severus' arse. "Oh Severus," he moaned. "That's incredible."

"Can we get back to what we were doing now?" Severus asked, his pleasurable torment now doubled.

"Half a mo," Hermione requested. "I want to try something."

Both men groaned. Hermione was already tormenting them, and now she wanted to try something else?

"No, I think you'll like it. Well, I know I will. Hopefully you will, too."

With much positioning and repositioning of limbs and bodies, Hermione arranged them the way she wanted them: herself flat on her back, feet pointed at the headboard; Harry on his hands and knees, his head between her legs and his groin positioned over her face; and Severus on his knees, draped over Harry's back, the black dildo still pistoning in and out of his arse, his cock buried inside Harry. Severus fucked down onto Harry, pushing Harry's cock into Hermione's mouth and Harry's mouth onto Hermione's pussy. Periodically, Hermione would release Harry's cock and stretch up to lick at Severus' dick where it joined with Harry. Harry came first, deep in Hermione's throat, followed closely by Severus, who pulled out and came all over Harry's back. Finally, once Harry had come down enough to attack her clit furiously with his tongue, Hermione entered the realm of the satisfied, coming all over Harry's face and nearly squeezing him to death between her legs.

They all collapsed to the bed, exhausted. Severus' strangled, "Would you get this thing out of me?" had Hermione moving long enough to end the spell on the dildo and pull it out carefully. Cleaning spells and more repositioning later, they lay together, catching their breath, nearly dozing, arms and legs wrapped around each other in odd combinations.

"I have only one question," Severus said some time later.

"Yes?" Hermione asked, barely opening her eyes.

"How did you get your tongue between us like that?"

"Oh, you mean when I was licking your cock while you were pounding it into Harry's arse?"

Both men blushed, which was the look Hermione was going for.

"Yes," Severus admitted.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"When you put it that way, no, I'm not sure. But I guess you'd better tell me now, or I'll never be able to sleep for curiosity."

Hermione stuck her tongue out like a frog after a fly. All eight inches of it. "Thpell," she explained. "Maketh my tongue longer."

"I see," Severus said, torn between being appalled and aroused at the memory of what she'd done with that tongue.

Hermione sucked her tongue back into her mouth as though it were a cooked noodle, causing a wave of revulsion to wash over Harry. "That's gross!" he complained sleepily.

"I have one that works on my clitoris, too. I'll show you that one later," she promised.

##########

Harry forcefully sighed and threw the letter he'd received onto the table.

"Something wrong, Potter?" Snape asked.

"Time to pay the piper."

With a questioning look at Harry, Hermione picked up the parchment. "Oh," she said after she looked at it.

"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "Sort of surprised I haven't heard from him before now, actually. He's been decent about our deal."

Snape blew across his hot tea cup. "Am I allowed in on this, or is it a secret?"

"We've been invited to a Ministry function," Harry explained.

"What sort of a 'Ministry function'?"

Hermione looked down at the parchment still in her hand. "'A celebration of the heroes from the Battle of Hogwarts," she read. "It's an awards ceremony. There's a list here of everyone receiving an award."

"May I see?" Snape asked casually.

Hermione flicked her eyes to Harry, then to Snape, and she handed the list over.

Snape's eyes trailed down the list quickly. There were several names. At the top of the list was "Order of Merlin, First Class – Harry Potter." Below that: "Order of Merlin, Second Class, and then a list of names: Albus Dumbledore (posthumous), Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall. And finally: "Order of Merlin, Third Class", followed by a list of twenty of so names, including Neville Longbottom, Aberforth Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, and many others, several of them with the indication that they were being awarded posthumously, all of the names familiar to Snape.

"Your name should be on that list," Harry growled. "Right next to mine."

"I am not in Azkaban, Potter," Snape said. "I do not need approval or recognition from the Ministry for my actions." He looked at both of them for a long moment. "The people who are important to me understand. That is what matters."

"Don't call me Potter," Harry growled, and he stood up and left the kitchen quickly.

Snape looked after him, concerned. "Will he become depressed again over this?"

"I don't think so. He's angry. Anger keeps the depression away."

"He should not be angry. It is not important enough to get angry about."

Harry strode back into the room with a quill and a bottle of ink. He flung himself down into his chair and began to scratch purposefully.

Hermione and Snape exchanged a worried look.

"What are you doing?" Snape asked.

"Responding to Shacklebolt's invitation," Harry said tersely.

Another look passed between Hermione and Snape as Harry continued to scratch away.

"And what are you saying to him?" Hermione asked.

"I'm telling him exactly what I think of him and his stupid awards ceremony."

Hermione reached over and stilled Harry's hand with one of her own. She plucked the quill out of his hand and set it beside the parchment. "It's not worth the risk," she said, and her eyes flicked toward Snape.

Harry sighed in defeat and sat back. "You're right. I'll just let him know we're coming."

"'We'?" Hermione and Snape asked at the same time.

"Yes, 'we'," Harry confirmed. "If I have to go, you two are sure as hell going, too."

No one looked happy about the prospect. But then Hermione spoke and made them all forget. "I was going to show you two a spell, remember? Now might be a good time for that."

The race to the bedroom was won by Harry, who was smaller than Snape and more devious than Hermione. He hit the bed with a flying leap and waited for his lovers, who walked more sedately into the room, as though they weren't every bit as eager as he was.

After undressing and stretching out on the bed, they engaged in some preliminary activities before getting down to business.

Hermione sat cross-legged on the bed, facing both of them, her wand in one hand. "Watch." She touched her wand to her clitoris and said, "Engorgio." Before their excited and interested eyes, her clit grew . . . and grew . . . and grew . . . until it was the same length as her hand. Both men stared, somewhat appalled and a lot aroused, at the long pink protuberance. Hermione, ready with the lube, squirted a trail down the length of her unnatural new member and began to rub it in.

The sensation was exquisite, so intensely pleasurable that there was a tiny edge of pain to it. She stroked herself slowly, gently, knowing that it would take only seconds before she came. She held herself through the shuddering orgasm, then let go and toppled over onto the bed, panting.

"Jesus, Hermione," Harry said, coming closer to examine her. "Can I touch it?"

"Not yet," Hermione requested. "Let me calm down for a minute or two."

They lay there on the bed quietly, Harry examining her with his eyes only, eager to touch and explore. Snape picked up the lubricant and used it to stroke his own erection while he watched them both.

Finally, Hermione could stand to be touched, and she gave Harry the okay. "You'll need the lube," she told him. Having her clitoris inside her vagina kept it well-lubricated, but this magic-made extension had no such natural defense.

Harry grabbed up the lube and squirted a generous portion directly onto her clitoris. "It jumped," Harry said, looking up at her with the pleasure of discovery on his face, "just like my cock does!"

Hermione smiled at him and stroked his hair.

"Can I suck it?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "You can. Just realize that it won't take long for me to come. It feels like there's a million nerve endings in there, so I'm extremely sensitive. Just go slow."

Harry did. He banished the lubricant he'd just applied, then pulled her gently into his mouth, making sure he kept plenty of spit in there to help her slide. Her clitoris felt funny in his mouth – not hard and not bumpy or covered with ridges, like Severus' cock. It was more like sucking on a really long, really smooth, narrow limp penis. Harry had no trouble getting it into his throat, and Hermione gasped.

"Oh, that's good!" she whispered. "I've only ever touched it myself. I've never been able to put it into anything."

Harry's tongue danced around her stretched clitoris, and Hermione came again, bucking violently against his face. She whimpered when it was over, and Harry opened his mouth so she could extract herself.

"Wow, that's something," Harry said. "Come see, Severus," he said, wanting to share.

When Severus came closer, Harry kissed him and took over stroking his hard cock for a moment. While still doing that, Harry turned to Hermione. "Do you think you could make it hard? So you could fuck Severus with it?"

Severus groaned and drove his hardness into Harry's hand.

Hermione looked pensive. "I don't know. I've never tried it. It would be a simple enough spell, I think, but I wonder if I would still retain feeling in it."

"Only one way to find out, right?" Harry asked, looking at Severus, who was older and wiser and knew everything. "Any reason why we shouldn't?"

"Is the counter a simple finite incantatum?" he asked Hermione. When she nodded, he said, "Then it should be safe."

Hermione cast erectus on herself, and her soft clitoris went rigid instantly. She stroked it a couple of times. "Oh yeah," she said, closing her eyes and tipping her head back. "Still sensitive."

"Girls are so lucky," Harry griped. "You've come twice already, in like thirty seconds, and you're ready to go again!"

"Do you really want to compare female reproductive organs with male reproductive organs, Harry?" Hermione posed. "Is it you who has to suffer through four days a month when you can't have sex? Is it you that has to grow a baby inside you and have it come out a tiny orifice? Hmmm?"

"You win," Harry conceded. "C'mere, Severus. I'll prepare you."

"Shouldn't take much," Severus noted. "It's diameter is quite small."

Harry hoisted Severus up on his hands and knees, spread his buttocks, and attacked him with his tongue. He had Severus squirming beneath him in record time, and Hermione knelt up behind the older man, her clitoris dangling between her legs.

Harry took one look at that and keeled over onto the bed, laughing hysterically. Hermione and Severus gave him identical disdainful looks and carried on with their business. Hermione lubed herself up gently, not wanting to get too close to the edge yet, then positioned herself at Severus' entrance. She slid into him as easily as a hot knife cuts through butter. Severus squeezed his anal muscles. She was so small back there he could hardly feel her. The pressure he created was enough though, and she thrust into him four times before coming again.

That was hardly satisfying for Severus, and he growled at Harry, "Potter! Get over here and finish what she started."

Harry gladly complied, taking Hermione's place. He'd thought Severus might need some additional stretching, but when he tried, Severus growled at him again. "Just do it!"

So Harry did. Slowly and firmly, he pushed himself into his lover's tight heat and took a moment to just enjoy. Hermione was hotter and wetter, but Severus was definitely tighter, and he loved being inside both of them equally. Unable to wait any longer, he started moving his hips, pulling back, then snapping them forward. He reached around to grab Severus' cock, and he rode his older lover until they both came explosively.

As they lay there panting, Hermione looked a bit disappointed. "What's wrong, love?" Harry asked.

"I was looking forward to the pounding part. I wanted to pound into you, Severus, the way you two do into each other. But I couldn't last. I was still too sensitive."

"You have a dildo, do you not? You can strap that on, so to speak, and pound into Potter with that. You won't have the same sensation, but if it's pounding you're looking for, you can pound away to your heart's content."

Harry looked a bit frightened by that. "Why me?" he squeaked.

"My arse has had its fill, for a while anyway," Severus said.

Hermione looked so hopeful that Harry couldn't deny her. Severus helped her to attach the dildo to herself, then they both prepared Harry for entry. When Hermione slid the synthetic penis into Harry's arse, she complained, "I wish I could feel it, like you do." She moved the dildo experimentally, back and forth, causing Harry to groan pleasurably.

"Good shot, Hermione. You got it on the first try."

And Hermione set out to satisfy her urge to pound into something. Harry wasn't sure if he was a benefactor or a victim, and when he finally came and she pulled out, he couldn't argue that he'd been thoroughly fucked. In fact, though he didn't say anything to either of his lovers, he thought he just might need a pain potion later.

They lay quietly together on the bed, and after Hermione dropped off into sleep, Severus whispered to Harry, "I have a potion in my lab. Do you want it now?"

Harry had expected Severus would sneer at him for needing it, which is why he hadn't said anything, but there was nothing in the older man's tone but concern and a wish to help. He smiled warmly at Severus. "Not now," he said, too warm and comfortable where he was to even think about moving. "But later would be great. Thank you."

And suddenly the fact that he was required to make an appearance at that stupid Ministry function didn't seem quite so bad. He'd saved Severus, and that was a small price to pay. He intertwined his fingers through Severus' and pulled his hand close to his heart, feeling warm on the inside as well out.

##########

Harry fidgeted uncomfortably with the cuffs of his shirt. They stood in the shadows at the edge of the ballroom, surveying the large crowd which was oblivious still to the fact that their hero had arrived. "I'd rather be back home, eviscerating flobberworms in your lab, than here right now."

"Relax, Potter," Snape said, then, at a glare from Harry, amended himself. "Harry. It's three hours out of your life. You will survive."

"Just stay close," Harry instructed, both because he did not want to be here and needed the moral support and because a large part of him was concerned that Snape was in danger from his many detractors. Taking Hermione by one arm and Snape by another, Harry took a deep, fortifying breath and towed his companions out onto the floor and into the limelight.

As soon as they emerged from the shadows, people turned toward them, and a ripple ran through the crowd announcing their arrival. And it wasn't long after that before Minister Shacklebolt was standing squarely in their path. "Harry," he said warmly, as though they were still friends. "How good to see you. Hermione," he said, with a nod of acknowledgment to her. And then, "Severus."

Snape nodded in greeting.

"Kingsley," Harry said, his voice cold and uninviting. "Perhaps you could point out where we'll be seated this evening."

"Of course. You're at the head table, of course. Our First Class Order of Merlin recipient can't be tucked away at the back of the room now, can he?"

Harry bit his tongue to keep to himself the thoughts he wanted to share with Shacklebolt. It helped when he felt Snape's hand give his arm an encouraging squeeze.

"Well, if you'll excuse us then, we'll go off to our seats. Don't worry, Minister, I'll be sure to keep myself front and center, where everyone can see me on display. And so we're clear, I won't be giving any acceptance speech. I think you'd not like what I have to say."

"That's fine, Harry," Shacklebolt said, keeping a large smile on his face for the benefit of those who were watching their interaction with attention. "Not a problem at all."

"Great. We'll see ourselves to our seats."

"We'll talk later."

Taking up his escorts again, Harry led them through the crowd toward the front of the room. Sure enough, at a table set facing the rest of the room, they found place cards bearing their names in the middle of the table set for a dozen dignitaries. No one was yet sitting there.

Harry studied the seating order, which had him sitting in the middle of the table between the Minister and Hermione. "Fuck that," Harry muttered, and with a twitch of his wand, all of the place cards containing the names of non-Ministry officials redistributed themselves. "Let's sit before the others get here," he urged.

They made their way to the other end of the table, where Harry's name tag now sat at the very end, with Hermione sitting next to him, then Severus. Snape swapped his and Harry's, so that he wouldn't have to suffer the company of any Ministry fool sitting to his left. With a quick glance at Hermione, Harry swapped her card with his, putting him between the two of them and Hermione at the mercy of whoever was next in line.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys," she muttered, pulling out her chair to sit down. She glanced at the card beside her and was thrilled to see she'd be spending the evening next to Minerva McGonagall. All that fuss to avoid sitting next to a stranger, and it was Minerva! Hermione quickly checked to see who Minerva had decided to bring as a guest and was surprised to see Filius Flitwick ~ Guest of Minerva McGonagall~ printed on the card.

Gallant now after that childish display, Severus put his hand on Hermione's chair and assisted her in with it. Both men settled in, and the three of them sat and watched the gathered guests, many of whom had their eyes on the people seated at the head table.

"I suppose Ron will be here," Harry mentioned.

"He is now seated by Mrs. Shacklebolt," Severus offered. He'd glanced down the row of cards while seating Hermione and now knew where everyone was fated to endure this spectacle.

"Good place for him. Is he bringing a date?"

"You will not believe me when I tell you," Severus said, sipping water from a glass which had appeared in front of him the moment he sat down.

Harry craned his neck to look down the row, trying to read the card for himself, but the angle was wrong. "Who?" he demanded.

Severus took another sip, prolonging the suspense. "Pansy Parkinson."

"No way!" Harry blurted. Ron and a Slytherin? Ron dating a Slytherin? The world really had gone mad. "Wonder how that happened?"

"You two gossip worse than two old women," Hermione told them.

"We're not gossiping," Harry defended.

"We are merely . . . talking about the intimate relationships of mutual acquaintances," Severus supplied haughtily.

"Gossiping, like I said," Hermione said dismissively. "Oh look – there they are."

Sure enough, Ron Weasley moved through a throng of people and into their line of sight, Pansy Parkinson, looking stunning in a blue sparkling evening gown cut in the front almost down to her navel, clinging to his arm.

"Well, I certainly see what he sees in her," Harry offered, staring at the cleavage on display.

"Her assets are rather well-defined this evening, are they not?" Severus noted.

"I haven't seen her backside yet, so I can't give you an opinion regarding her assets," Harry snickered.

Severus smiled into his glass, and Hermione rolled her eyes again. "Honestly, you two. I can dress you up, but I can't take you anywhere."

"Hermione, did I tell you how stunning you look this evening?" Harry asked, shining with sincerity.

"Shut up, you git," she said, though she smiled.

Harry turned back to Severus. "I hope she's got some kind of sticking charm on that dress. Otherwise, if she dances later, she's going to be flashing her tits for all of us to see."

Severus stared at the young woman in question. "One can only hope."

Harry, who had just begun to take a drink from his own glass, suddenly sprayed what he'd taken into his mouth over the table in front of him.

"You two behave!" Hermione scolded, wiping briefly at the mess with her napkin.

"Will you punish us later when we get home, Mummy?" Harry asked, waggling his eyebrows comically.

"I'll take you over my knee right now if you keep this up," Hermione threatened.

"Promise?" Harry asked.

"Minerva!" Hermione said brightly, glad of the interruption. "And Professor Flitwick. How very nice to see you."

"You must call me Filius, my dear. You are no longer my student."

The new arrivals exchanged greetings with Harry and Severus and chatted with Hermione as they settled themselves in. Harry leaned against Severus and said quietly, "You're dancing with me later."

"I hardly think that is wise."

"When have you ever known me to act in a wise way?"

"Point. I, however, know better than to cause such a scene."

"What difference would it make? I don't care who knows I'm with you. Are you ashamed of me?"

"You know better. I would be a fool not to be proud of both of you and disgustingly full of myself to have you both on my arms." Severus' arm went around Harry's back and rested lightly on his shoulder, pulling the boy in for a brief side hug. Harry rested his head on Severus' shoulder and sighed. "I wish we could leave now."

"I share that sentiment."

"You're still dancing with me. No arguing."

Severus dropped a brief kiss on the crown of Harry's head. "Who am I to argue with the Chosen One?" And he looked up just in time to lock eyes with Ronald Weasley.

##########

The speeches were interminable, and Harry tuned them out. He fiddled with his fork. He scratched at his knee, which caused Hermione to take his left hand into hers and hold it gently but firmly. He tried to inch his wand out of his robe, but Severus captured his right hand and held it as well. He began to bounce both heels soundlessly against the floor, first the left, then the right. Simultaneously, Hermione and Severus placed their joined hands on his knees, stilling him. Hermione added a sideways glare and a, "Be still!" for good measure.

Harry sighed quietly, pulled his hands free a bit petulantly, and sat back in his chair.

Finally, finally, Shacklebolt stopped talking, there was a thunder of applause which startled Harry out of his self-imposed coma, and everyone was looking at him. Severus nudged him in the side, indicating that Harry should get up. Cluelessly, Harry stood up and looked down at Severus, who gestured with his chin toward Shacklebolt.

Oh. Must be time for him to get his blasted award. Harry made the short trip to where Shacklebolt waited for him. The Minister extended his hand to Harry, who looked at it a moment before taking it in his own and shaking the Minister's hand heartily. Kingsley used this grip to pull Harry closer so that he could speak directly into the boy's ear.

"Harry, do you still want to be an auror?"

Harry pulled away enough to look up into the taller man's face, surprised. "No," he said firmly.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I want you to know that I'm releasing you from your obligation to me. I wanted you here, for this, and I didn't know any other way to get you here. But this is it. You're free."

"And Severus?"

"I stand by my word, Harry."

Harry looked up at him again. "Thank you, Kingsley."

"Live your life, Harry. Don't let anyone tell you how to do so."

Harry nodded. Kingsley placed an ornate velvet ribbon around Harry's neck. Harry looked down at the large gold medallion resting against his chest, and picked it up so he could read, "Recipient ~ Order of Merlin ~ First Class."

Kingsley shook his hand again, and applause accompanied Harry back to his seat.

When he arrived there, he stood at his place and said, "Stand up, Severus."

"Potter, what are you – " Severus asked, aware that everyone was staring at them.

"Stand up."

Reluctantly, to get this over with, Severus did so. Harry removed the award from around his neck and placed it around Severus'. He kissed Severus' right cheek, then his left, and then he sat down. He noted the applause had stopped and everyone was staring at him again, but he couldn't have cared less.

Self-consciously, Severus sat, and Kingsley continued with the ceremony, presenting the second-class recipients with their awards. Aberforth accepted the award for his brother and gave a heartfelt speech of gratitude to everyone present. Hermione and Minerva both chose not to speak, but Ronald Weasley spoke for several minutes, thanking his family and friends and pointedly not mentioning Harry or Hermione.

The presentation of the third class awards went fairly quickly as recipients were brought forward in groups, and none of them was given an opportunity to speak. When finally all of the awards had been handed out, Kingsley once again spoke. "And that concludes the award presentation of this evening. In just a moment, the music will begin. Enjoy your evening."

Severus had been staring down at the medal on his chest, but now he looked up at his young lovers. "Shall we go?" he asked as people began to mill about and tables began to move out of the way in preparation for the dancing to come later.

"Not until I get my dance," Harry said firmly. He had a point to make to everyone assembled here. He'd made half of it, giving his medal to Severus in front of them all. But he wasn't done yet.

##########

Snape was able to put off the inevitable by beginning a conversation with Minerva which he assured Harry he needed to finish. So Harry pulled Hermione out to the floor and danced with her.

"I love you," he whispered into her ear as he held her close and swayed to the music.

"I love you, too," she assured him, snuggling into his neck. "Ron's watching us."

Harry sighed. "I'm gonna try to talk to him tonight. I don't like this tension. I know it'll never be like it was before, but I don't like the feeling that we can't be in the same room with each other without it being awkward."

"You want me to go with you?"

"Nah. It'll be better if it's just me and him. Mano y mano, you know?"

Hermione smiled affectionately at him and settled herself back on Harry's shoulder.

##########

Harry stood at the bar, waiting for his turn, when he turned to find Ron beside him.

"Ron," he said politely.

Ron nodded in return. "Harry."

Harry stared down at the bar. "How've you been?"

"Great. Great."

Ron's eyes scanned the room, looking anywhere but at his former friend.

"How's auror training?"

"It's good. Hard, but good." He paused for a moment before asking, "You joining?"

"No," Harry said. "I've had enough of that sort of thing."

The silence stretched on long enough that Harry began to wish the bartender would hurry up.

"How's Hermione?" Ron asked.

"She's really good. You should say hello." Harry wondered if he should say something about Pansy Parkinson, but he didn't know how serious the two of them were and didn't want to offend Ron in any way. "How's the family?" he asked instead.

"Good. Same old, same old, you know?"

"Great." This was going down as one of the most awkward conversations in the history of history.

Finally, the bartender turned to Harry. "What can I get you, sir?"

"Two firewhiskeys and a butterbeer, please."

"So . . ." Ron said, stretching the word out. "Snape's taken my place, has he?" Up until now, Ron's voice and demeanor had been – not exactly friendly, but not cold either. Now he sounded angry.

"I wouldn't say that," Harry said. "Severus is like me. He likes both men and women. It's different with him."

"So he lets you fuck him, then?" Ron asked, the anger tinged with disgust now.

"Yes. And I let him fuck me. And we both fuck Hermione," Harry said, keeping a tight reign on his own anger and keeping his voice low, considering the topic of their discussion. "Sometimes at the same time. And sometimes, when things get really crazy, she even fucks us."

If Harry had been looking at Ron, he would have seen his friend's face blazing red. He hadn't expected his offhand comment to be responded to so honestly.

Harry's anger left him as suddenly as it had come. "I'm sorry that things worked out as they did, Ron. You were my first friend, and I miss you. I'd give almost anything to have that back. The only things I wouldn't give are Hermione and Severus. And I suspect that they're the only things you'd need me to give up to get our friendship back." Harry's drinks finally arrived, and he tucked the butterbeer under his arm and picked up the two glasses. He turned to face Ron and looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time. "I wish you only the best. Say hello to your family for me."

And he turned and walked away, perilously close to tears. He returned to the table under the watchful eye of Severus Snape, who'd witnessed his interaction with Ron Weasley from his seat at the table. When Harry set his drink before him, Severus took one sip, then stood up.

"Come, Potter. It's time for that dance. After that, I am going home. You may accompany me, or you may stay – that is entirely up to you." And he extended a hand to his young lover.

Harry put his hand in Severus' and let himself be led to the middle of the dance floor. If Potter wanted to make a point, they might as well make it in the middle of everything. He pulled the boy into his arms and held the messy head against his chest with a large hand. "Are you all right? I saw you speaking with Mr. Weasley."

"I'm okay," Harry said, but he didn't sound okay. "He was all right, really. He just never understood how Hermione could want both of us. Or how I could want both of them. Ron doesn't have a lot of layers. What you see is pretty much what you get."

"But you miss him," Severus noted. His eyes scanned their fellow dancers, most of whom were unabashedly watching them right back.

Harry sighed. "I do. He was my best friend, and I loved him. I wish that . . . well, it doesn't matter. I wouldn't give up what I have now for anything. I told him that. I hope he's happy, because I know I am."

"Have we made enough of a spectacle of ourselves?" Severus asked, leading Harry expertly around the dance floor and back toward where Hermione was standing and talking to Seamus Finnigan and Hannah Abbott.

"Huh?" Harry opened his eyes. He'd closed them when Severus pulled him into his embrace, trying to keep the tears at bay, but he opened them now and peered around at the others. They certainly were the center of attention. He pulled away enough to look up at Severus. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use you. I just wanted everyone to know that I'm with you and that I'm not ashamed for everyone to know it. I love you, Severus."

Harry hadn't said that to Severus before. He told Hermione frequently, and he'd known for a while that he loved Severus as well, but he hadn't had enough courage to say so.

Severus' shock showed in his eyes, and he could do nothing but stare down at Harry for the longest time. Finally, he leaned down and kissed Harry tenderly on the lips, which caused a ripple in the watching crowd. "Let's go home."

##########

Another month passed before boredom began to set in, and the trio began to talk about getting on with their lives now that the war was over and they had choices. Snape was the first to return to some type of gainful employment. With a simple advertisement in the Daily Prophet and a makeshift laboratory in the basement of Minerva's cottage, Severus established a potions business that took off immediately based on his reputation. He spent his days happily in his basement haven brewing quietly, and his nights in the communal bed having glorious, sweaty sex with his two young lovers. His life had never been more peaceful or fulfilling on so many levels.

Hermione followed his example several weeks later by accepting an offer which had been transmitted to her through Minerva from a research institute. The Brookings Institute was a wizarding think tank which collected the best minds in several areas of life and applied that intelligence and intellect toward solving societal problems. Hermione's first assignment was werewolf rights, and she dove into the research with typical Hermioniacal zeal.

Only Harry seemed content to spend his days hanging about the cottage. He cleaned the cottage, he swam in the pool, he made their meals, he read, he visited Severus in the downstairs lab and helped when the still stern taskmaster allowed him to. Harry had no idea what he wanted to do with his life now that the mission he'd been pursuing since he was in nappies had been completed. He'd thought at one point he wanted to be an auror, but even the thought of spending the rest of his life the way he'd spent the first seventeen years made him ill. So he lounged about and he waited for the right thing to come along, confident that it would. He didn't need to work – his vault at Gringotts would support the three of them comfortably well beyond the foreseeable future.

Harry's life was brightened considerably when he received an owl from Andromeda Tonks. She'd reconsidered her position on keeping the Lupins' child away from Harry. The positive publicity that Snape had received following the revelation of all of the facts had gone a long way toward softening her position. Signs that little Teddy might some day share at least a portion of his father's affliction had made her realize that Severus Snape and his wolfsbane potion might be a lifesaver for her grandson. And even if it wasn't, she arrived at the realization that she needed all the help she could get. So she'd owled Harry Potter and invited him to have a place in the boy's life. Thrilled, Harry had agreed immediately and had visited with him three times. He'd made an immediate connection with the boy and discovered that he really liked children. He'd never had the opportunity to spend any time with babies and had operated under the assumption that they were mostly uninteresting. But at five months, little Teddy was fascinating to Harry, and he loved spending time with the boy.

But even that came with a price.

"Are you feeling all right?" Hermione asked when she entered the kitchen after a day of work. "You look wiped out."

"I'm good," Harry assured her as he stirred the stew he had put together for dinner. "A little tired." He kissed her cheek. "How was your day?"

"It was good. More of the same. Is Severus coming up for dinner?"

"Yes. I was just down there. He said he'd be another five minutes."

Hermione sat at the table and Harry poured a glass of wine and placed it before her. She smiled tiredly. "Thank you. How was your visit with Teddy today?"

Harry smiled. "It was great. He's so great, Hermione. I wish you could see him. I never realized just how much little babies can do. I always thought they just sort of lay there until they got big enough to walk around, but he smiles and he laughs when you play peek-a-boo with him. He changes his hair color based on the mood he's in. It's pink when he's happy and green when he's angry and blue when he's tired. It's fascinating."

Severus entered the kitchen from his basement den. He and Hermione exchanged kisses and "how was your days." Severus joined Harry at the cooker and looked down at tonight's dinner. "Smells good." He looked over at the boy. "Are you feeling all right? You look pale."

"I'm fine," Harry repeated. Giving the stew a final stir, he lifted the pot and brought it to the table. They had no sooner sat down when a tawny owl fluttered through the window and dropped a rolled parchment in Harry's bowl. Thankfully, it was empty.

Harry picked it up and began to unroll it while Hermione fed the owl a large chuck of bread before shooing it off the table and out the window.

"It's from Andromeda," Harry announced. "Oh no. Teddy has wizard's pox. Is that dangerous?" he asked, turning to Severus.

"No, it's very common. Almost all young wizards suffer through it. There's a potion which will assist him with the symptoms. You should take some to her tonight. It can be quite uncomfortable."

"Poor little bloke," Harry said sympathetically. "I'm sure Andromeda would appreciate that."

"Did you have the wizard's pox, Severus?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. I was somewhat older than young Teddy. I remember being ill with it. I must have been five or so." A sudden thought struck him. "Potter, have you ever been exposed to wizard's pox?"

Harry thought about it for a moment. "I don't think so. Unless there was an outbreak at Hogwarts, I wouldn't have come in contact with anyone who had it."

"Most wizards contract the disease well before they are of age to attend Hogwarts." Severus got this feet. "You are at risk. You saw the boy today. He would have been contagious in the hours before the rash appeared." He put a hand to Harry's forehead. "You feel warm."

Harry batted his hand away, annoyed. "I'm fine," he repeated firmly. Then he coughed.

"Potter, you are to go to bed immediately. You have been exposed to a highly contagious disease that you have no ability to resist. You will become sick. Likely, very sick, as the older one is when the disease is contracted, the more serious the symptoms."

Harry looked worriedly at Hermione. "What about Hermione? She's got Muggle parents. She's never been exposed either. I kissed her earlier."

"It is called wizard's pox for a reason, Harry," Severus explained. "Witches are immune."

"Well, can't you give me something to make it go away?" Harry asked.

"No. There is no cure. The disease must run it's course."

Harry sighed. "I feel fine, though. Well, I have a bit of a headache, but that's it." And he coughed again.

"That is one of the symptoms," Severus informed him, "as is the cough. Bed, young man."

"Can't I finish my dinner?" Harry groused.

##########

Harry was tucked into bed by an insistent Severus directly after finishing one bowl of stew. Harry was feeling a little tired, but he really didn't feel sick. Severus was not swayed by this argument.

"I think by tomorrow you will be," he said.

And Severus was, as usual, right.

Harry awoke the next morning feeling hot and sweaty and completely out of sorts. Hermione lay a cool cloth across his forehead. "You're sick, love," she said quietly.

"Don't feel good," Harry agreed. "Itchy." And he was – little spots of burning, itching irritation had sprung up all over his body, and he couldn't help but scratch at them.

"Stop," Hermione instructed, stilling his hands by placing her own over his. "Severus has gone to get you something for the itching. Just hold on."

Harry tried to lie still, but the itching was driving him to distraction. Hermione held both his hands, so Harry wriggled against the sheet, using the friction to rub against his back, providing some relief from the itching there.

Severus arrived and replaced Hermione on the bed beside him. With a flick of his wand, Harry was naked.

"Hey!" Harry protested at the sudden chill. "Unless you plan to ravish me, could you put those back on?"

"The ravishing will have to wait for another day." And he began to spread cool, relieving salve over Harry's chest.

"Oh, that feels good!" Harry moaned in appreciation. He lay quietly for a time while Severus worked over his hot skin. "Did you get some of this stuff to Andromeda? Teddy's probably being tortured."

"Hermione owled it to her last night."

"He'll be okay, right?"

"He'll be fine," Severus assured him, now working on Harry's arms. "He will likely recover much sooner than you will."

"'Cause I'm old," Harry guessed.

"Yes, you are so very old. Lie still," he chided when Harry began to squirm when Severus began to work on his legs. "And stop getting aroused. It will do you no good."

"I thought it would be easier to spread that stuff on my cock if it was hard," Harry reasoned.

"Hmmm. Perhaps that is sound logic after all." And he wrapped his fist around Harry's erection, which was, indeed, sporting several red bumps. Harry grunted his approval, and Severus sped up his stroking. If the boy felt well enough for this, there was no reason not to. It would likely be at least a couple of days before he felt up to it again. Severus handed the jar of salve to Hermione and indicated that she should finish with Harry's legs while Severus finished him off. When the boy arched his back up off the bed and came, shooting semen up into the air, Severus held on until Harry was finished, cleaned the come from his hand and Harry's chest and the bedding and grasped Harry's hip to turn him onto his stomach.

"Hmmmmm," Harry hummed happily. He still didn't feel good, but at least now he felt sated while he didn't feel good.

When Severus finished with Harry's back, he rolled back over. "Thanks," he said, tired now and willing to sleep.

Severus leaned closer to kiss Harry's forehead. It felt warm beneath his lips. "Sleep now, Harry. I will be back to check on you in a bit."

##########

When Severus returned to Harry two hours later, the boy was burning up. Severus expected this, and he fetched the fever reducing potion he had brewed last night.

##########

Hermione returned from work in the early afternoon. She found Severus in the armchair in the bedroom.

"How is he?"

"The same. The fever seems to be climbing. The fever reducer works for only a short time."

"Do you think we need to call in a healer?"

"Let's give it one more day. If he's still the same tomorrow, I'll get a message to Minerva and ask her to send Poppy."

Hermione noticed the stack of journals on the floor beside the chair. "Have you been in here all day?"

"I was catching up on some reading. I could do that here just as well as anywhere else."

Hermione smiled fondly at him. "I brought dinner home with me. Shall we eat in here?"

"That would be fine."

Hermione crossed to the bed and leaned over to kiss Harry on the forehead. "Oh, he is warm."

"Hermione?" Harry croaked from the bed. "'Zat you?"

"Yes, love, it's me. How are you feeling?"

Harry made to sit up, but couldn't quite manage it. "Gotta get up. Charms. Got to go to Charms."

"No, Harry," Hermione soothed, pushing him back down to the bed. "Charms was canceled today."

"Oh, good," Harry said, collapsing. "'Cause I didn't do my homework."

"Imagine my surprise," Severus commented drily from the chair.

"Wanna go to the lake then?" Harry asked.

Hermione turned to Severus. "Is this normal?"

"It's the fever."

Hermione turned back to Harry, who seemed now to have fallen back into an agitated sleep. She smoothed his hair back from his sweaty forehead. His forehead burned under her palm. "I don't think we should wait until tomorrow for Madam Pomfrey."

Severus arose quickly and joined her by the bed, casting a temperature spell as he moved. "It's getting worse," he said, obviously worried. "I will send the message now."

##########

Poppy arrived an hour later and examined Harry in a matter of moments. "Well, it's certainly wizard's pox, as you know. It's so much easier when they get it as children! I assume you've been giving him fever reducer?"

"Of course," Severus noted. "The strongest I can brew. It seems not to be working. In fact, his fever has risen over the course of the day."

"I think he's topped out," Poppy assured him. "The fever will last another day or so. It's dangerously high, so he needs to be monitored constantly. I shall put a charm on him to alert you if it rises any more. In that event, you should contact me directly. I don't think it will, but it's best to be sure. He will likely feel quite unwell for two days after the fever breaks. The spots will begin to disappear a day or so after that. You'll need to keep him from scratching at them, of course, until they do. There's really nothing more I can do for him now."

"Thank you for coming, Poppy," Severus said. "I'll see you out."

While Severus escorted Poppy out through the floor and re-warded it closed to visitors, Hermione brought their simple supper into the bedroom and arranged it on the table.

Hermione was unable to keep her worried gaze from the lump that was Harry on the bed.

"He'll be fine, Hermione," Severus tried to assure her.

She smiled thinly in response. "Are there any long-term effects of this illness? I know that some believe that Muggle chicken pox in adult males can lead to infertility. Is that true with wizard's pox?"

"A high fever for any reason can lead to a temporary decrease in sperm production. That almost always resolves itself within a short period of time," Severus explained. He stared at her for a moment. "Is that something that concerns you?"

"That Harry wouldn't be able to father children?" She was quiet for a moment, wondering if now was the best time to be discussing this. It was just an abstract discussion though, right? "I've always wanted children, some day."

"And do you still? You would want to bring children into this . . . lifestyle?"

"Lifestyle? What, you mean because there are two of you and one of me?" Severus nodded. Hermione shrugged. "I've never been bothered by alternate lifestyles. My parents know gay couples who have children. It's certainly not the norm, but I think that as long as children have parents that want them and love them, it really doesn't matter what makes up the familial unit. Do you think it matters?"

"I know how cruel children can be to each other. My fear would be that other children would use an abnormal home situation as fodder for ridicule."

Hermione looked at Severus now. "Do you want children, Severus?"

Severus had to look away from her for a moment, but his dark eyes returned to hers momentarily. "I have never thought that I would be in a position to consider such a thing. I'm not overly fond of teenaged children, but I suppose one has time to grow to like the little monsters when they are young."

"That doesn't really answer the question," she pressed.

Severus took a moment to think about his answer. "I find that I rather like the thought of having a child," he confessed, terribly surprised by that.

"Even if you couldn't know for sure if the child were yours or Harry's?"

"You are aware that there are spells to determine paternity?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "But I guess I would expect you to feel the same way about the child no matter who was technically, biologically the father. Could you do that?"

Severus stared into her eyes, then shifted his gaze to the bed. "I have surprised myself with the ability to open my heart and let people inside. I did not know I was capable of that prior to the two of you coming into my life like you did. So, yes, I think I could love a child that was not biologically mine and think of him or her as my own."

Hermione smiled warmly at him. Uncomfortable with all of the sharing of feelings going on in this room, Severus refocused his attention on his curry. "I suppose Potter would support the idea of having children."

"You know Harry. He loves little Teddy. I think he'd love the idea of having his own children to love. You'll have noticed how he latches onto anything resembling family. His own childhood was so messed up, he craves that feeling now."

Severus was quiet again for a time. "Do you think that having a childhood that was less than ideal is a hindrance to being an effective parent?"

Hermione knew what he was asking. He hadn't spoken a lot about his childhood, but she knew his father had been abusive and full of hate towards Severus' mother and Severus and the magic they shared. For that reason, she chose her words carefully. "There is plenty of evidence to suggest that childhood abuse is cyclical, that children who were abused grow up to be abusive parents themselves. But I think all it takes to break that cycle is someone who recognizes it for what it is and makes a determined decision that it will not continue. You know from practical experience and because you are incredibly intelligent what abusing children leads to. And I know you have an iron will, and if you decided that you were not going to treat your children the way you were treated, then I have faith that you would not. Throw in genuine love for your own offspring and a sincere desire to give them the best you can, and you have a recipe for a strong, healthy parent-child bond."

"You believe that?" Severus asked, hoping she was right.

"I do. So . . . should we talk with Harry about this as soon as he's well?"

Severus knew what she was asking him. Did he want to take this theoretical discussion about the three of them having children into the realm of reality? Was he ready for that now? Would he ever really be ready for that? Despite her reassuring words, he did still have concerns about his ability to be a father. He was not a nice man. His first instinct was never toward sympathy or empathy or kindness. He could love, he knew that now, but would his harsh, stern demeanor scare away small children? Could he change? Did he want to change?

He didn't know the answer to any of these questions, but he found he really, really wanted to find out. He nodded. "I think perhaps we should."

##########

Severus slept in the armchair that night. He'd tried sleeping in the bed, but Harry's sleep was fitful and agitated in his feverish state. Somehow, Hermione managed to sleep through the night.

When Harry woke, Severus fed him another dose of fever reducer, relieved that the fever hadn't climbed any higher, performed a freshening spell on him after a sweaty night, and dressed him in clean pajamas. Harry fell asleep after taking the potion and didn't awake again.

Hermione arose to shower and fix breakfast, and when she brought it into the bedroom, Severus was in the shower and Harry was awake.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed. "How are you feeling this morning?"

Harry coughed violently for a moment before being able to answer. "Blah," he said, sticking his tongue out.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

Drink sounded wonderful to Harry. His throat was dry, his teeth felt like they were all wearing Mrs. Weasley-knitted jumpers, and his tongue felt like it was twice its normal size. "Mmm, please," he murmured.

Hermione poured a cup of tea from the pot she'd brought in and sat on the bed beside Harry, helping him to rise enough to drink without spilling the tea all over himself. Harry tried to take the cup, but his hands were shaking, and his arms didn't seem to want to do what he told them to do.

"It's all right, love," Hermione said. "Let me."

She held the cup up to his mouth and tipped it in gently. Harry let the soothing liquid roll across his tongue and down his throat. His swallow was very audible. "Throat hurts a little," he said weakly, and then he coughed again, causing Hermione to jiggle the tea cup and slosh it's contents over the sides of the cup and down onto the bed.

"Sorry," Harry muttered while trying to catch his breath from the coughing jag.

"Don't be," Hermione said kindly, taking care of the mess with one flick of her wand. "Would you like some more?"

"Mmm, a little," he said. "It feels good." Hermione helped him to take another sip.

"Mr. Potter," Severus said, coming into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. "You're awake."

"Hmm," Harry agreed, losing strength quickly. "Dizzy. Need to lie down."

Hermione quickly placed the cup on the bedside table and helped Harry to lie down again. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you." Harry closed his eyes and appeared to fall asleep instantly. A second or two later, though, he said, "Sev'rus?"

"Yes, Harry, I'm right here," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and placing a hand on Harry's knee under the covers.

"Will you read to me again later?"

Severus looked up quickly at Hermione, slightly embarrassed. He'd read aloud to the young man yesterday, certain Harry had been too out of it to even realize. When Hermione smiled fondly back at him, he said, "Of course I will, Harry. You sleep now." He squeezed Harry's knee encouragingly, then stood.

They watched him for a moment until it appeared that Harry was, actually, asleep this time. His breathing was still quite rapid, and Severus picked up his hand to feel for his pulse. His heart rate was quite accelerated. This was all very normal, but still concerning. Hopefully all of these symptoms would run their course over the next few hours and Harry would begin to feel better soon.

"Do you want me to stay with him today?" Hermione asked after tucking Harry's arm back under the blankets and smoothing them over his chest. She reached up to stroke his hair, and his breathing began to slow, so she continued her ministrations until he reached his usual sleep rhythm.

Severus looked down at the sleeping boy. "No," he said. "I don't mind. My work can wait another day." That was true, and he was worried enough about Harry to want to monitor him personally. Besides, the boy wanted Severus to read to him.

"Would you like me to stay home with you?"

"There is no need," he assured her. "Harry and I will be just fine."

Hermione smiled warmly at him. There was no one she would feel more comfortable leaving Harry with. "I know. Shall we eat?"

##########

By the end of that day, Harry's fever had broken, and he was able to sit up that evening and eat a little broth. He was still incredibly tired and itchy, though the salve Severus continued to provide helped, but he was definitely on the mend.

The following day, a Saturday, he spent sleeping off and on, with both Hermione and Severus wandering in and out of the bedroom from time to time to check on him and keep him company when he was awake. On Sunday, he insisted he was well enough to get out of bed and joined them at the breakfast table. After eating, he adjourned to the sofa in front of the fire for a brief nap, then was able to sit up and read until lunch time. After a longer nap in the afternoon, with the itching finally diminishing, Harry felt well enough to sit in the sitting room for a time after dinner had finished. Hermione and Severus sat with him, all of them sipping tea.

"So, Harry, while you were ill, Hermione and I had a discussion," Severus informed him.

That sounded ominous. "About what?"

Hermione and Severus exchanged a look. "Children," Hermione said.

"What children?"

"Our children," said Hermione.

Harry's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my God! Are you . . ."

"No, Harry," Hermione said quickly. "I'm not pregnant. We just talked about the possibility of having children."

"What on earth led you to talk about that?"

Before Hermione could speak about what had gotten them started down that road, Severus said, "It just came up. Hermione thought you'd favor the idea."

Just how much he favored that idea shown from Harry's eyes. "Very much so!" he said. "I've always wanted children. Heaps of them, actually."

"Well, I don't know about heaps," Hermione said quickly. She'd be the one bearing these children after all. "How about we start with one and see how it goes?"

Harry looked at both of them excitedly. "You really mean it? You really want to have kids?" He was looking at Severus now. The fact that Severus actually wanted children was more than a little surprising.

Severus nodded, and Hermione smiled at both of them.

"When?" Harry demanded.

"Well, it takes a bit of time for them to gestate, you understand. We cannot present you with a fully-formed infant tomorrow."

"I know that, you prat," Harry said good-naturedly. "But when do you want to start working on one?"

Severus and Hermione exchanged another look. They'd never actually discussed that part, but it was obvious from Harry's enthusiasm that he wasn't going to want to wait now that they'd broached the subject.

Severus shrugged. "I don't see any reason to wait, now that we've made the decision. Although I would suggest that that decision rests entirely with Hermione. She is one whose body will be called upon to host this child. She is one who will have to suffer through the effects of pregnancy, the one who will have to give birth, the one whose work will be disrupted."

Ideally, Hermione would have liked to wait at least another two years. When she'd planned her life out, starting from around age twelve, she'd always envisioned finishing school, going to university, settling into a career, finding a suitable mate, and then having children. Funny how life worked itself out while you were busy planning it.

But Harry was positively glowing with the thought of having a child. She was quite sure that if it were possible, Harry would offer to carry the child. But even with wizards that wasn't possible, and she knew the physical burden could fall only on her shoulders. Did she want this now? Were there reasons to do it now, as opposed to waiting? Were there reasons not to do it now?

In the end, it was Harry's face, bright and hopeful and still showing signs of his illness, that decided her. "As soon as you're feeling up to it," she said.

"Oh, I could do it now," he assured her, but his mind was mostly on other things. The idea of a baby in the house had made something click into place. He had been at loose ends about what to do with his life now that he had no dark lords to chase. No idea that occurred to him seemed right, like the right fit for him and what he wanted now. But this – this seemed more than right. It seemed . . . ordained. As though whatever supreme ruler of the universe was out there had picked this especially for Harry Potter. But how would Hermione and Severus feel about it? Would they approve? Would they feel he was wasting his life? Would they think it was a terrible idea, that he was unqualified for such an important task?

Severus and Hermione watched Harry as the wheels spun in his mind. Still sluggish from his recent period of inactivity, they seemed to be turning a little slower than normal, and it took a while for all of this to work itself out. But once it did, he knew that this was the right thing to do.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Severus finally asked.

"I was just thinking . . . I want to stay home with the baby. Hermione, you just started this new job, and I know how much you like it, and you'll be making this huge sacrifice just carrying the baby and giving birth to it. I don't know a lot about babies, but I can spend more time with Teddy and learn. I don't want our child to grow up in child care because all of his parents work. I want to be there for him. What do you think?" He looked back and forth between them, desperately wanting their approval.

"This is how you wish to spend your life?" Severus asked, his doubt showing. "You are an extremely talented wizard, Harry. There are so many career paths open to you."

"I don't want any of that stuff," Harry said. "I've thought and thought about what I want to do, but nothing seems right. This seems right. Hermione?"

"Severus is right, Harry. You could do and be anything you wanted. Is this what you really want, in your heart?"

Harry nodded. "What could be more important than raising children?" He was going to be so good at this. He would give their child everything he didn't have after his parents were killed – love, attention, time, consistent discipline.

Severus voiced the largest concern he had about all of this. "Would it bother you, Harry, that you might not be the child's biological father?"

"You mean that he might be yours instead?" Severus nodded, and Harry said, "Why would that matter?" truly perplexed as to why he would ask that. "I love Teddy, and he's not mine. If this child was yours, I'd love him even more, because I love you." To Harry, it was that simple, and Severus envied him that purity of heart.

Should they tell him it was possible that he might never father children? Severus looked quickly at Hermione, asking her with his eyes. She knew what he was thinking, and she shook her head once. Not that Harry saw this exchange. He'd closed his eyes and lay his head back against the sofa, lost in a fantasy of them with a baby. A baby!

Suddenly Harry's eyes popped open and he sat up. "I think we should start tonight."

"You're still recovering . . ." Hermione started to protest.

"I'm fine," Harry insisted, and he got to his feet. "I'm going to bed. I'll be waiting for you."

After he'd left them, Severus looked at Hermione. "Should we tell him?"

Hermione shook her head. "It's only a tiny chance, right?" When Severus nodded, she continued. "It doesn't matter to him. I really believe that. With other men, I'm not sure I could say that, but with Harry . . ."

Severus knew she was right, and he stood up. "We'd better get in there, before he falls asleep."

But it was too late. But the time they'd finished their bedtime preparations, Harry was snoring lightly in the middle of the bed. "We shouldn't wake him," Hermione said quietly.

"No," Severus agreed. He pulled her into his arms, his cock beginning to fill and swell after a two-day abstinence while Harry was so ill. "But we could get started without him."

Hermione lifted on her toes to kiss him in agreement. Severus lay her on the bed beside the sleeping Harry, and with a flick of his wand they were both naked. Hermione shivered in anticipation. "No contraceptive spell tonight," he reminded her before lowering his body to cover hers. They'd both been without for longer than they were accustomed to, and Severus slid directly into her waiting wet heat. Hermione reached out and took Harry's hand into her own and pulled it close. Severus wrapped his hand around both of theirs and began to move, slowly at first, but quickening the rhythm soon after. Still asleep, Harry rolled toward them and curled up by their side, one arm stealing around Severus' lower back, his hand clinging to Severus' hip while the man pounded into Hermione. When he finally reached his peak, he gasped out her name and spilled himself deep inside her. Hermione, close but not there yet, growled in frustration. Severus kept thrusting, though he was exquisitely sensitive to every movement, until Hermione came, thrashing below him and groaning out her release.

Severus kissed Hermione tenderly before rolling off of her and settling her at his side. Harry snuggled in closer to her other side, and Severus reached over to kiss him on the cheek. He looked down at Hermione. "I love you," he declared without thought. "Both of you."

Hermione smiled up at him and was just about to respond when a more than half-asleep Harry said, "Love you, too. Sick bloke, trying to sleep here. Can you two keep it down?"

Severus smiled and settled in next to Hermione, content and looking forward to whatever the future might bring.

##########

Two months later, Hermione presented them with the news that she thought she was pregnant.

"What, already?" Severus asked, with a stunned expression.

Hermione blushed slightly. "Maybe I'm a descendant of the Weasleys somehow."

"Don't even think such a horrifying thought," Severus said with a shudder. "A child of mine, with Weasley blood!"

"Be good, Severus," Hermione chided. "The Weasleys are perfectly nice people." At a look of disbelief from Severus, she amended, "Most of them."

Harry still hadn't spoken, processing this news.

"Harry? Are you all right?" Hermione asked, noticing his gobsmacked expression.

Without speaking, Harry rose from his chair, dropped to his knees beside Hermione's chair and lay his head in her lap. "Thank you, Hermione," he said fervently. "Thank you." Near tears that they were going to have a baby, Harry simply stayed there, breathing deeply, trying to calm his rampaging emotions. Hermione reached down and stroked his hair, tears forming in her eyes at his obvious happiness over this wondrous news.

To be continued . . .