The next day, Hermione had decided that she and Harry had to have a serious talk. She knew that her relationship with Severus and Lucius had to remain secret from everyone for a reason, so she totally understood Harry and Draco's need for the privacy as well. What didn't sit well with her was the fact that she never once suspected that he was gay and it hurt her that through everything, he had never even mentioned it or even hinted at it for that matter.

She searched the manor for a few minutes until Draco pointed her to the direction of the gardens, where Harry had apparently gone to think.

The gardens, she imagined, were beautiful in the summer and spring, they were beautiful now even completely covered in snow. She walked the small path where Harry had already been, following the prints he had made. She rounded a large hedge and stopped almost suddenly as on the other side was a frozen fountain where Harry was sitting on the edge of it.

Harry looked up and smiled, but it wasn't a full smile, not like the smile she normally got.

"Your ass is going to freeze to that fountain you know." She stated as she walked around to his side and dusted a small spot off for herself.

Harry chuckled, "Eh, wouldn't be the first time something really stupid happened to me. It would give you a good laugh."

"I'd never let you live it down." She replied.

The pair sat in silence for a moment before Hermione cleared her throat. "I, uh, I wanted to talk to you, now that things have had time to settle and all."

Harry nodded, "Funny, I was actually thinking the same thing."

Hermione half heartily laughed, "We are a mess, you realize… completely off our broomsticks."

"Understatement of the year." Harry replied, "I mean look at us. I'm the 'chosen one', I've destroyed a dark wizard that in totally reality should have destroyed me. My life has been dictated for me for as long as I can remember and now every single paper I pick up as of late is curious to know what witch I'm dating and who the future Mrs. Potter will be. It's frustrating.

And then there's you. Society is ready for you to become the next super genius to work for the ministry and cure all sorts of things, or create something so spectacular that no one else will compare in our life time. No doubt you are expected to marry some doctor or humanitarian and have lots of little super genius babies to carry on. It maddening that people are planning our lives and what we have going on in reality is so much different than what everyone expects. Way too much pressure."

Hermione nodded silently in complete understanding, "I don't know how everything is going to work out, I really don't. What I do know is that once the shock wore off, I completely understand you and Draco. I can see that you care for each other a great deal and I am truly happy for you." She grew silent once more before sighing and continuing, "What I don't understand is why you never told me you were gay. I thought I knew more about you than anyone."

"I wasn't sure." He replied, "I guess I kinda knew, but I wasn't certain enough to tell anyone. I had to process everything and until the war ended, my sexual preference was not high on the list of things to figure out. I was just hoping I lived long enough to do so when things calmed down."

Harry turned to look towards Hermione, "What I want to know is why them? I mean, I understand it in a way, but this is going to cause you a lot of problems when it eventually comes out. It's going to cause them a lot of problems too… Is it worth it?"

Hermione smiled and nodded, "Totally worth it. Can you honestly see me with someone my own age? Or with someone that hasn't been through what we've been through? The war changed us, Harry, we were thrown into an impossible situation and expected to come out exactly how people wanted us to…and it just doesn't work that way. We are both jaded, well above our years, and we never really had a care free childhood. We were trying to survive, not have popularity contests or all night parties.

I don't really know how to explain our relationship. By all calculations it should never work or even be a thought in anyone's head, but its reality and with them I feel a connection. I feel safe. I feel like if something were to happen, I would have someone to protect me for once instead of me protecting them. It's kind of stupid but I really didn't want a relationship where I had to come to my husband's rescue every time a spider crossed the floor."

Harry let out a good laugh at the Ron reference. It was expected that she and Ron would end up together but they all knew it would never work out.

"I never saw you working out with a pansy type of guy, so I guess I can see how those two suit you, and you are right, not a man or woman alive would dare try to harm you with the two of them around. Not that you need protection or anything, you're a damn good fighter."

"But it's nice to feel like a woman if you can understand that."

Harry chuckled, "Not at all."

Later that night, Hermione found herself in a better mood as she soaked in the oversized tub off the master bedroom. She stretched back and wiggled her toes, loving the way the bath soap that poured from the taps made her feel silky and clean.

Her mind was in a better place after her talk with Harry. She felt like they had finally had a chance to reconnect without having Ginny or Ron following like lost puppy dogs. It was like a weight had been lifted.

She heard the door to the bedroom click followed by the sound of two sets of boots as they made a slight squeak against the floor.

When she had come back from her talk with Harry, both Severus and Lucius were nowhere to be found.

The bathroom door clicked open and in walked Lucius and Severus, naked as the day they were born.

"Make room, we need to defrost." Lucius said as he slipped into the water, submerging completely before coming back to the surface and pushing his hair from his face.

Severus shook his head at Lucius' dramatics and in pure Snape form, slipped into the water like a normal man without much of a word.

"Where did you two run off too?" she asked

"Let's just say you will find out in the morning." Severus replied

Severus wasted no time as he made his way to Hermione, sliding himself in front of her, trapping her against the side of the tub.

On instinct, she wrapped her legs around him

"Don't start something you don't intend to finish." He warned with a smirk.

Lucius laughed, "I don't think she plans on leaving you with blue balls, my friend."

Severus crushed his mouth to hers in a dominating kiss. There were times they were gentle but he knew she liked it when he took charge, when he was the dominant figure in their love making. And he liked it too; it showed a great deal of trust on her end to allow herself to be over powered by anyone, especially someone like him. It spoke volumes to her trust in him.

Already positioned at her entrance, he pushed inside of her with one hard stroke.

Lucius, achy from getting Hermione's last gift, decided to sit back and watch this time. Something that he had never done the entire time they had been with her.

There was something about watching a woman when she finally came undone. The buildup could be a glorious thing to watch, but the undoing of a woman, when she abandons all sense of reality and the natural reactions of her body takes over, was the real sight to behold.

Severus was a player in the event, but he wasn't watching him, not in the least. He wanted to see her face when she exploded around her lover. He intended to take the memory and store it in his mind for the rest of his life.

Severus pushed harder and faster with each stroke. Showing the trapped witch his power and control and from the look on her face, she certainly wasn't complaining. Not one little bit.