We'll Be The Only Dream You Seek

by Ceilidhchaos

In the summer before 8th year, Head Boy Theo Nott and Head Girl Hermione Granger are dealing with alot of trauma at child soldier therapy camp. Pansy and Draco are waiting for their trials. The four of them end up growing closer over fire whiskey, cigarettes, group therapy and illicit touches. A polyamorous, kinky AU.

8. I Don't Wanna Be Myself

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Chapter 8

Musical interludes for this chapter:

Soda - Nothing But Thieves

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End Notes: thank you to the alphabet team (SarahFraser, Amebb42, MegsIvy) and also 5moreminutes! For coming up with the book titles that Cordelia gives Hermione.

As always, my Leo Moon thrives on comments and thoughts. There is a scene that was included in this chapter due to a comment in a previous chapter and it's just amazing.

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Pulling the door closed behind him and following Theo and Pansy down the narrow spiral staircase, Draco stared at his black painted nails and fought the urge to pick at the polish. He kept repeatedly looking back in the direction of the Heads Dorm because he was horribly nervous about leaving Granger alone.

The door had barely disappeared behind them before he turned towards his two friends and let out a sigh, "I'm not sure it's a good idea to leave her alone, right now. She seemed really upset. Burning her letters like that. Maybe we should have stayed with her and had the elves bring up food for the four of us or something."

"Caught that did you? You definitely didn't help matters by occluding in front of her," Pansy stated, narrowing her eyes at him. "Are you trying to run hot and cold on her, Draco? What's she supposed to be other than confused when you do something like that? You are the prince of mixed messages when it comes to that witch." The dark haired witch snapped at him. "And then to top it off Theo kisses her in Hogsmeade today, likely without explaining any of the who's and what's of the three of us!" She continued, turning and jabbing a finger in Theo's side, making him jump a little, and nearly stumble down the stairs. "Although, I am so jealous, pet. You will be lucky if you don't get a spanking later."

"Threaten me with a good time too, although I'm not sure how much pleasure my body can handle in one day." Theo quipped, sending a wink in Pansy's direction and making Draco roll his eyes. "And I did tell her that you wouldn't be mad about me giving her kisses, but she didn't seem to believe me." Theo shook his head as if he were utterly confused, "why would I lie to the witch?"

Pansy laughed aloud at the absurdity that was Theodore Nott, "Because it's what wizards do to get in a witch's knickers, Theo. At least she's not a complete ingenue, that makes her much more alluring to be honest," Pansy said, a far off look in her eye. "Deflowering a virgin holds very little appeal, no offence Draco."

"None taken, Pans," Draco sighed knowing quite well that Pansy had zero interest in taking his virginity, but that Theo was actively campaigning to be his first.

Attempting to distract himself from the thought of fucking Theo's arse for the first time, Draco cleared his throat, rubbing his face and asked, "How did she taste?" He smoothed his hands down his front, trying not to continue to look backwards. He was going to fall down the bloody stairs if he kept it up, and he didn't need to embarrass himself in front of Granger if she did emerge from the dorm.

"Like her sugar quills," Theo sighed happily over the memory. "The little crystals were all over her lips. She was so sweet, Drake. Salazar, I could have come in my pants like a third year, and I wouldn't have been surprised at all."

"How did she feel?" Draco asked, his mind drawn to envisioning the entire scenario. If only it could have been him kissing, licking, and sucking sugar off her lips. Salazar, he'd give every galleon of his fortune for that chance. But he couldn't sacrifice her life for it, she was too special, too important for him to endanger her with his reckless desire.

"So bloody responsive, she just…" Theo let out another sigh.

"Did she like it rough?" Pansy interjected, "Were you forceful with her?" The two young men turned and looked at Pansy who had wide and hungry eyes. Seeing the boys looking at her, Pansy only lifted one of her shoulders in a shrug, "What can I say? I know what I like and who I'd like to do it to."

"Pans," Theo said, pausing as they came into the corridor and the main staircases. ''You are terrifying sometimes, sexy but terrifying." Shaking his head, "But the answer is yes. I held her wrists over her head against the wall, and I am pretty sure I left fingerprints on her hips towards the end. She responded well to the control - very compliant, but it seemed like she didn't have a lot of experience with it. Absolutely has a praise kink." Pansy sucked in a breath and slowly relished this information. "She watched my hands closely while I smoked, like she couldn't take her eyes off me at that moment. I'm not sure if hands or smoking gets her hot, but it's at least one, if not both."

Draco moaned, rubbing his face again. He couldn't help but feel jealous of Theo and at the same time wanted to bum a cigarette just to smoke in front of Granger himself to make her look at him that way. Pansy looked intrigued at the information. Sliding her arm through Theo's, she whispered into his ear, "I want you to tell me everything that happened. Leave nothing out." Theo smirked, and promptly started in on her request.

Draco attempted to adjust himself subtly so the other two wouldn't see him as they came into the main entry hall. Now he just needed to make it through their conversation about Granger at dinner without having to go wank in Myrtle's Bathroom. It was going to be a long bloody meal.

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As the three of them were coming up the stairwell to the Heads Dorm, Theo could start to make out the sounds of girdled screaming, the shattering of glass, and furniture breaking. Pulling out his wand, he started running, Draco hot on his heels at the sound of Hermione's distress. Draco's eyes were frantic as he raced up behind Theo, "I know those screams, Theo."

Theo didn't respond because he was slamming the door open with his shoulder while simultaneously screaming the password. Draco rushed past him and beheld the Golden Girl in flames. Her hair crackled with wild magic, blue flames running over her skin as she threw one of the tables next to the couch. The wood shattered as it hit the Hufflepuff tapestry, which it tore down revealing another bay of windows that had previously been hidden behind the four tapestries.

"Granger stop!" Draco rushed in, grabbing her from behind just as she lunged and was about to put her fist through the newly exposed window. The blue flames that had been running over her body, ran over his skin, and Draco nearly let go afraid of being burned, but instead gripped her tighter.

The flames didn't hurt...exactly...but every nerve and cell in his body seemed to clench in awareness at the fury of the witch in his arms. The blue flames set goosebumps into his flesh as they rolled over his skin. In her distressed state, Hermione kicked and squirmed in his grasp. "Let go of me, Draco Malfoy!" She screamed, swinging her legs wildly while Draco held her in the air.

"Not until you calm down. I am not going to let you hurt yourself," Draco snarled, his mouth at her ear. He pulled back quickly as she tried to break his nose with the back of her head,"Stop it witch! I am trying to help you, for Salazar's sake. I'm not going to hurt you!"

"Why do you care what happens to me?" She rasped, her voice hoarse. She was kicking her legs out, desperately trying to get away from him, scratching his arm and drawing blood with her nails. "Let me fucking go, now!" She was like a feral animal in his arms.

"Hermione," Theo had stepped forward, putting his hands on her cheeks in an attempt to ground her. "We need you to take a breath and calm down. Please stop fighting Draco, he will let you go, but you need to relax first."

Draco looked up to see Pansy walk in the room, a picture of casual grace, and close the door that he and Theo had left wide open. She muttered something that sounded like "amateurs" before casting a silencing charm over the suite. Pansy looked annoyed at the two boys, "No witch worth her salt ever calmed down because a wizard told her to."

Pansy's words proved to be right, because Hermione's hands were clenched into the skin of Draco's forearms, and her body was still trembling with rage. A burst of accident magic radiated off Hermione's body, causing the fireplace to burst into raging flames.

Bloody crescents appeared in the stark white fabric of Draco's shirt and Hermione's head whipped back and forth sending her curls stinging against his cheeks. The only thing keeping him from being hard against her arse, as she twisted and girated against the front of his trousers, was the litany in his mind of: She doesn't want you. She could never want you. She will never want you.

But even as his mind thought about how he wasn't good enough for her, some baser part of him swore that if she didn't calm down soon and stop acting like a wildcat, he was going to throw her on her bed and fuck the wildness out of her. He might be a virgin, but she was setting his blood on fire with visions of her nails leaving bloody tracts like the ones on his arms down his back instead, and bite marks on his shoulder.

Theo's hands on her cheeks weren't calming Hermione as she continued to thrash and tried to scream. Her voice was raw at this point that it only came out in a raw squeak.

Pansy was walking around the room surveying Granger's destruction and emitting one of her low whistles. Coming to the other side of the couch, she tilted her head as she spotted something that Draco couldn't see. Pansy walked over to Theo holding up the Daily Prophet, opened to a picture of Ronald Weasley and Astoria Greengrass in Paris; Draco internally scolded himself for even thinking about the witch sexually when clearly she was still hung up on Weaselbee. Theo's eyebrows raised as he skimmed the article.

"Hermione," Theo asked, making eye contact with Hermione. "Is that Prophet article why you are upset? You know, you're much too good for the Weasel."

At Theo's words, the fight went out of her. His body sagged and the blue flames stopped scouring Dracos skin. He exhaled in relief as the tingling sensation left his body at last.

Draco could hear the tremble of her lips in her voice, "It's not that. We broke up before I came back to Hogwarts, but h-he... he made it sound like I was cheating on him to everyone in the whole bleeding Wizarding World." She said, her voice cracking from all the screaming she'd just done. "Why would he do that to me?" She let out a ragged sob and Theo nodded at Draco. "He knew I was writing to my parents, he knew…Why would he say that about me?" She trailed off, her body still limp in Draco's arms.

Draco reluctantly released his grasp on her and she swayed forwards into Theo's hold; Theo wrapping his arms around her gently.

Stepping back now that it didn't look like she was going to hurt herself, Draco felt his heart aching watching Theo running his fingers over her hair. Theo got to provide the delicate touches and support, Draco could never be that person for her. He was all rough firmness, holding her tight against her will. Hermione leaned into Theo's neck and let out a choked sob.

Turning away from the pair, Draco took out his wand and started casting repair charms on the mess around the common room. Shards of teacups vanished along with the shattered glass littered everywhere, before he moved onto the destroyed furniture. He needed to keep his hands busy. Bloody Weaselbee had done this to her. Had shamed her, publicly. Draco's hands shook. He wanted to fucking kill him. That fucking tosser had never been good enough for her. Never.

Pansy sighed and stepped forwards, taking Hermione's hand and rubbing her thumb over it, "So he did. Come on Granger, come sit with me. Theo will make tea, while Draco cleans up."

"Maybe something stronger in the tea?" Theo murmured, kissing Pansy on the cheek as he transferred possession of Granger to her. Pansy only nodded, before taking Hermione by the arm and sitting her on the couch.

Draco turned and watched as Granger started to shake, dropping her face in her hands. "I'm sorry." She cried, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to destroy the room." Draco's fists clenched with his desire to go to her.

He was desperate to embrace her, hold her, tell her no one would ever hurt her again, that he would make him pay for ever speaking a word against her.

Fuck.

Occlude. Occlude. Occlude.

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"Nothing to be sorry for, Granger," Pansy whispered against Hermione's hair as she held the trembling witch to her body. "Even princesses lose their shit sometimes. You should have seen me last time I lost my temper when my ex…well nevermind that ...suffice it to say reparo couldn't even fix my mother's crystal." Pansy laughed at the memory.

Theo was walking back towards the girls, a floating tea tray following him. "Oh, I almost forgot." He said, stopping in front of Pansy and Hermione. "Accio Firewhisky," He murmured, sticking his hand out. A bottle flew through the air from his room, the neck landing in his palm with a smack.

"Nott," said Hermione on a ragged exhale. "Are you doing multiple simultaneous spells wandless right now?"

"Back to surnames are we, Hermione?" Theo asked with a raised brow, pouring firewhisky into each of the four tea cups. "But the answer is yes. I taught myself wandless magic in sixth year; I thought it might come in handy."

"Impressive. I can only do a few spells wandless myself," Hermione murmured, looking down at her hands and flexing her fingers.

"I would be happy to teach you another time," Theo said, handing a teacup to the shaking Gryffindor. "But, right now I do believe we need to talk about this. Healer Cordelia would not approve of us ignoring what just happened." Theo said, levitating a teacup towards Pansy before leaning back in his seat taking a sip from his own. "Talk, Hermione. Whatever is said in this common room will stay between the four of us. Well, unless one of our lives is at risk and we can't handle it ourselves. Otherwise," Theo lifted a hand and mimicked using a key to lock his lips and tossing the imaginary key over his shoulder.

Hermione drank down the contents of her mug in one go. Between the hot tea, the generous helping of honey and the Firewhisky, there was a nice warmth, soothing her raw throat. Holding out her cup, Theo waved his hand, wandlessly refilling her tea exactly how she liked it and added another generous shot of whisky.

Lifting the cup to her lips, Hermione took in a deep breath. Draco had finished all the repairs at this point and took a seat next to Theo, silently reaching out for his own tea. Hermione was about halfway through her second drink, the Slytherin trio waiting, sipping their own drinks, when Hermione finally took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"Do you all remember the troll that got into the castle our first year?" Hermione asked, looking around the trio.

Running her fingers in Hermione's hair, Pansy pursed her lips. "Of course we remember a bloody troll being let into the castle. We were told the thing was in the dungeon and then told to go to our common room that also happened to be in the dungeon. Why?"

Taking another drink from her cup, Hermione cleared her still raspy throat before continuing. "Well, that has always been when I considered the beginning of my friendship with Harry and Ron. I had locked myself in the bathroom after charms, because I overheard Ron saying some really horrible things about me. I was in there crying, because of him like always really, but then they came to save me - Harry and Ron." The Slytherins all looked at her in a bit of shock, as the teachers had kept it under wraps about how everything with the troll had ended up.

"Anyway, I lied for them. I took the blame, saying I thought that at twelve I believed I could take on a fully grown mountain troll. I lied and covered for Ron to keep him out of trouble because he just saved my life, even if the reason I was there in the first place was his fault."

Hermione finished off her second cup, and without even asking, Theo had her refilled. "And it's funny that's how our friendship started, because we never really grew past it. Ron does something, hurts me, Harry sides with him, I have to forgive Ron for whatever he did. The cycle repeats continuously. And as poorly as he has treated me as a friend all these years, I still fell for the git or thought I had...thought he really cared."

The three Slytherins looked between each other while Hermione continued to sip on her own drink. Her distant gaze looked as if she weren't sitting in their common room with them anymore. "I kissed him during the battle. He made a comment about saving the house elves and I just thought, finally he is actually hearing me. He's actually listening to what's important to me, cares about what I care about." She let out a harsh laugh, shaking her head. "In the end, he just wanted to get laid. But the joke was on him, wasn't it? Because I didn't miss him, not really, not when he left us when we were hunting horcruxes and not later either when he disappeared from The Burrow to go be with his groupies. I was just relieved he was gone."

"We stayed at his house this summer, and I've been trying to get ahold of my parents. That's who I was writing, that he talks about in the article. Ron knew, because he always read the letters over my shoulder. Godric forbid I ever have any privacy. Anyway, everyone there, and rightfully so, were destroyed over the loss of Fred. Harry and Ginny took off at one point to be alone, and I didn't blame them for it. Ron, the git, kept pressuring me to have sex with him with literally his entire family in and out trying to help his parents, ehis mother. There was no privacy, not with all his siblings there and his mother crying all over the place. Molly was honestly walking into everyone's bedroom at all hours unannounced just to check in and make sure her children were still alive and well in bed. So how he thought we could get away with having sex and not getting caught was beyond me. And it just seemed so wrong you know? Like Fred's ghost would see." Hermione's face grew tight with sorrow when she mentioned Fred Weasley and Theo remembered that the jokester twins had been rather hot; both of them were daddies in the making. Although one of them would probably be coming into that phase despite his twin's death, it's just too bad that red-headed twin daddies were very unlikely to be something in Theo's personal future. He would have enjoyed being taken care of by a matched set. He had to stifle a bit of inappropriate laughter. A bit dirty and dark there, Theo, he thought to himself, as he returned his focus to Hermione's litany of the Weasel's selfishness.

"I refused to shag a few too many times, and so we ended things between us. The friendship that had brought us together was too strained. I was expected to just continue holding it all together and just be there to support everyone, as always, and I just couldn't do it anymore. Even with Harry and Ginny, they were wrapped up in each other for the most part, but if they needed me I was there for them. Ron has always been so overly emotional and jealous, it's actually been a lot better for me not worrying if drinking with his brother was going to set him off - or Godric if he knew I was drinking with you lot - he'd lose it."

Hermione threw back the remainder of her tea and when Theo went to refill her cup for a fourth time she shook her head. Holding her hand out instead, pointing at the bottle of firewhisky. Taking the bottle, Hermione took a pull straight from it and hissed at the burn against her still raw throat. "Harry and Ginny wrote to me, and all they did was complain about the three of you and Blaise if you can believe it. They didn't even ask after me, wanting to know how I'm getting along and such. Didn't ask for any updates on my parents, yet when I wrote to them I was checking in on them and told them about what's happening here. They couldn't be bothered to come and try to heal themselves, and yet have the nerve to be suspicious about who actually came to do that work." Hermione finished her rant by putting the bottle to her lips again and taking another long drink. "Golden Trio my arse."

Everyone sat in silence, not sure what to say to Hermione after she'd finished telling her side of things. Pansy reached over, taking the firewhisky from Hermione and putting her lips in the same place the muggle born had just had hers. "This is strange, Parkinson." Hermione commented, taking the bottle back from Pansy and taking another drink.

"What's that?" Pansy asked, watching Theo accept the offered bottle from Hermione.

"Are we like friends now? I haven't talked to anyone about this, ever, and here I am telling you everything." Hermione said, her eyes following Theo and Draco's large elegant hands touching as they passed the bottle of firewhisky between them. Hermione couldn't resist wetting her lips at the sight.

"Granger, we are young women who were in a war. On different sides, but still. If we aren't friends yet, we are compatriots of a kind. And I think we could be friends." Pansy said, watching Hermione and silently taking in the sight of the witch. Her hair, completely unruly since her magical outburst, face still flushed from her anger and now the drink.

"Do you want to be friends?" Hermione asked, finally turning away from the boys and looking at Pansy.

"Something like that." Pansy said, shifting slightly closer towards the other witch as Theo and Draco watched from where they were sitting, their attention on Hermione's every movement.

"In that case you should call me Hermione, you did last night." As she said it, her face got even redder when Pansy lifted a hand to tuck a stray curl behind her ear.

"We were all a little drunk, Hermione, but fair enough. Please call me Pansy." The raven haired witch said with a seductive smile on her lips. "Well, now that we're friends, I think some girl time is in order. Your hair really is a disaster Gran- er, Hermione."

"Oh, I love girl time!" Theo exclaimed, starting to stand, only stopping when Pansy held up her hand.

"You've had enough girl time with Hermione today, Theodore. We just decided that we're friends, and now we get to be alone. You stay put and enjoy Draco, pet. I'm sure the two of you can come up with something to do in our absence." Pansy replied, standing and taking Hermione's hand before dragging the other witch towards her room.

Pansy could hear Theo's muffled complaints, but ignored whatever he was saying as the two girls left the common room. Sitting on Hermione's bed, Pansy made them each more tea with whiskey.

Using charms that she'd found worked nicely on Theo's curls, Pansy started running her wand over Hermione's head. "You know, you don't owe the Weasleys anything. Even if they let you stay at their home, they knew you just spent a year on the run with Potter and Weaselbee." Pansy said, still waving her wand over the matted curls, loosening them until they hung freely around Hermione's shoulders.

"Ron left us," Hermione muttered after a few minutes. Comb in hand, Pansy stills, waiting for Hermione to continue. "While we were on the run, I mean. We, uh, we never told anyone. Grand scheme of things, it didn't seem important. He got upset that Harry didn't have a plan, even though Harry had told us everything Dumbledore had told him. The Horcrux, one of them was Slytherin's necklace and we took turns wearing it, really messed with Ron the most. Harry and I decided it was pointless in bringing up and tarnishing his reputation for something so small."

Not knowing what to say since Hermione had already shared some of this information while they were playing 20 questions the night before albeit with less detail. The Gryffindor must have been more pissed than Pansy realized at the time. Pansy worked her fingers into Hermione's hair and began braiding it. Once a beautiful fish braid was finished, the two stumbled off the bed and over towards Hermione's wardrobe. After, she turned over to Hermione and tugged the other witch's clothes off her body, tossing them to the floor where they disappeared for the house elves to wash. Putting a horrific oversized ratty shirt onto Hermione.

"He's not worth it you know, not your loyalty nor your silence, none of it," Pansy murmured over Hermione's shoulder. "Nor is anyone who believes that trashy slag's nonsense."

Pulling Hermione away from the mirror by her hand, Pansy led the other witch towards Hermione's bed. She pulled out the blankets and helped Hermione under the covers. Sitting behind her, Pansy rubbed small circles onto her back, in an effort to help soothe Hermione into a peaceful sleep.

"He's always had the emotional depth of a teaspoon and he's an awful kisser. 'M glad I never shagged him." Hermione murmured into her pillow. Pansy nodded and made a noise of agreement, continuing her massage.

When Hermione's breathing had evened out, Pansy went to move from the bed, as she believed Hermione to be asleep. Before she could get far, however, the other witch reached out and grabbed Pansy's wrist, stilling her.

"Pansy can you...would Theo be mad if you stayed with me? I don't want to be alone...please."

"Let's get one thing straight Granger," Pansy scuffed, "Theo does not, nor has he ever, told me what to do. That's not our dynamic at all." Pansy looked down at the pretty brunette and softened her tone as she looked into those doe eyes. "But, yes, yes I will sleep in here with you, but fair warning I like to cuddle. You need to consent to that, because I won't be able to stop myself in my sleep."

"Sounds grand, Pans," Hermione slurred sleepily, scooting her body closer to where Pansy was. She stopped then began to chuckle. "Grand and Pans almost rhyme...it could be the start of a poem…I do like cuddles, no one's held me in so long. You can wear some of my things," Hermione offered, summoning an oversized muggle shirt reading "Posh Spice" that normally Pansy wouldn't be caught dead in. However, it smelled so much like the other witch, that Pansy accepted and slipped it over her head. Hermione yawned again and was suddenly deeply asleep.

Pansy slid under the covers next to the Head Girl. She summoned her patronus and when the ethereal cobra appeared she said, "Hermione requested my presence here, don't wait up I'm not coming to bed." And as the cobra slithered off, Pansy set her wand on the side table.

Then she rolled over and put her hand on Hermione's hip, leaning in to smell her hair and neck. Simply delightful.

Pansy restrained herself from kissing and nibbling at Hermione's neck, but only barely. She snapped her teeth in her direction twice, wishing desperately that she had the consent to nibble just a bit and caress the witch in bed with her as she would like to do.

Tonight was going to be torture, delicious delicious torture was Pansy's last thought before she too fell into oblivion.

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Theo woke up with his head pounding, but for once, it was not from too much drink. His lack of sleep from the night before had him feeling a tightness behind his eyes and a headache blossoming.

Rolling over he looked into the handsome face of Draco, whose hair had managed to get into his eyes, making him look youthful and innocent. His shirtless torso showed the sectumsempra scars, that resembled claw marks of a demonic tiger, were etched into his lover's flesh as permanent reminders of the even deeper scars they both carried in their souls. Theo couldn't help himself but to brush his fingertips along one of the marks, reaching low towards the V of Draco's hips.

Should he really be thinking of Draco as his lover? They'd done everything besides penetration. Theo didn't feel like Draco was ready to go to that next level yet though, and so he didn't try to push him into something that the Malfoy heir wasn't ready for.

Theo would happily take a good hard shagging from Draco, if the blonde wasn't ready to bottom. It had been far too long since he had been properly shagged and had the pleasure of cumming with a man inside of his arse.

Theo had a suspicion who Draco really wanted to lose his virginity to. As much as he'd like to be the one who Draco took that step with, Theo was more than happy to let that torch be passed to a certain Golden Girl. Knowing how shy and reserved Draco had been towards her, even after she'd been kissing on his neck, Theo had realized that he would more than likely have to intervene in the matter . He drummed his fingers over his lips brainstorming ways that he could make it happen. He could probably even get Pansy involved in this little plot of his.

Although, he wondered if Pansy had managed to get into the delicious little swot's knickers last night. He doubted it. Pansy wasn't one to shag a witch who was sad, let alone one who was devastated like Granger had been last night. Theo kissed Draco lightly on the temple and was pleased to see the tall blonde smile in his sleep.

What a bloody tosser Weasley was! How could he do that to her? Drag her name through the mud like that, and for what? What was he going to get out of belittling her that way? Getting into Astoria's knickers? He knew Vince, Salazar rest his soul, had gotten her virginity in a broom closet of all places. And she had been planned to be Draco's wife. Theo shuddered at the thought of Draco strapped to such a milk and water miss. Both of the Greengrass sisters were boring as they could be. How Pansy ever dated Daphne he'd never understand, Perfect Pureblood heiresses.

Theo was thrilled they had relocated to France. Really the only thing in their favor was that they weren't bigots, but it was a bit awkward that both girls were pursuing Pureblood husbands. It just went to show that anti-Muggleborn ideology was more ingrained than people wanted to admit. For fuck's sake, Dumbledore had been said to be a Muggleborn supporter and even he had never hired a Muggleborn to teach at Hogwarts in the fifty years that he had been running the place. Bleeding hypocrites the lot of Order preferred to keep Muggleborns as isolated as the Ministry did. Look at how Granger – Hermione was being treated now. If she retired to the Muggle World, people on both sides of the war would breathe a sigh of relief. Well over my dead body was Hermione going anywhere other than into my bed – our bed, Theo thought.

Theo stretched his arms above his head and slid out of bed, careful not to wake Draco. He smiled one last time looking down at the boy in his bed. The pre-dawn light that looked pink and dusky as it filtered through his curtains bathed Draco, making him look like he was glowing, an angel on Earth.

Fiddling with the coffee maker, Theo got the settings just how Hermione liked it. He'd grown to really enjoy this muggle contraption, and the sweet caffeinated nectarine that it produced. He made up a pot of tea as well, and placed a stasis charm on everything so that once everyone emerged for the day, it would still be warm.

Curiosity took hold, Theo used gentle steps as he wandered over to Hermione's bedroom door. Slowly cracking it open, a soft smile spread across his lips as he peeked in at Pansy and Hermione cuddling in their sleep. He chuckled to himself at the sight of Pansy and Hermione wearing semi matching oversized shirts as the sheets pooled around their legs.

They look so natural together, as if sleeping in each other's arms is where they've always meant to be. Maybe, if she'll have them, Hermione could join their little whatever you want to call it…a girl for Pansy; someone to take his cock inside her, her quivering around him as she came; and Draco was madly in love with her. The way she had kissed him, the way she'd sucked Draco's neck, and now her arms wrapped around Pansy's narrow waist…all signs were pointing towards Hermione having similar feelings.

Theo was definitely infatuated and had spent the last few years imagining fucking her in all kinds of inappropriate ways, anytime she'd walk past him, swaying her hips. No, he wasn't in love with her...yet, but he could assuredly envision himself falling head over heels for her.

She was so clever and bonny, and Salazar help him, the sounds she made when he'd snogged her. He imagined he'd really be done for when she came around his cock.

"Mmmmm," he hummed to himself, in pleasure as he fantasized about making her ejaculate with his hands and mouth. And then when she claimed she couldn't possibly go over the edge again, he'd shag her hard and watch her explode again until she was dripping onto the floor, leaving a horrible mess.

What a splendid vision. But she was really so bloody alone. Even Luna didn't seem to see how desperate the situation with Hermione was.

She had been out of control last night, with her wild hair and the flames kissing her skin. It was lucky that some tea laced with whisky and calming draught had done the trick in getting her to open up to us instead of burying her hurt even deeper. Potter and the Weasleys seem to have really done a number on her self-esteem and self-worth.

He surveyed the common room. Draco had repaired most of her destruction from the evening before, but the Hufflepuff tapestry still hung torn from its rod, and the windows it had revealed from the night before now appeared to be part of a door.

Theo cast a wandless scourgify on the visible glass panes, clear thick medieval glass squares and rich blue ones intermingled, and was able to see that outside was a balcony. He removed the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tapestries from their rods, allowing even more of the early morning light to filter in. With an alohomora, the glass door slid open and a beautiful stone balcony was revealed. How had it survived the battle? The view was amazing, Theo thought as he Accio'd a pack of cigarettes.

He cast a wandless diagnostic spell of his own design, the runes and colored dials floating in the air before him: no curses on the balcony, no jinxes or hexes, structurally sound, a three hundred year old notice me not charm on the railing that looked like it had been cast by a ritual circle of at least three bonded witches and a wizard. The last one was highly intriguing. It looked like the group who had done it had to have been either married, blood bound or soul bound. Impressive bit of magic.

Giving silent thanks for that eighteenth century triad and whatever use they had put the lovely balcony to. Noone would ever look up and see what was happening there, Theo already had some delicious ideas in mind for the newly discovered space.

Lighting one of his clove cigarettes, he took a deep inhale and let the smoke swirl in the air in front of him. There was nothing Theo enjoyed quite like a smoke in the brisk Scottish morning, and the view looking over the black lake was stunning with the early morning light reflecting on the dark water. What an amazing way to start the morning. He looked forward to learning what the balcony would look like in starlight. The Perseid meteor shower was only about a week away, that would make for a romantic date night, but which of the three of them should he woo?

Closing up the new found balcony, Theo puttered over to the kitchenette and poured himself a cup of coffee. Taking a sip and humming in appreciation, Theo turned his head at the sound of Draco and then the girls started to rouse in the bedrooms. Draco emerged already dressed in his black suit with black shirt. He had learned his lesson yesterday with the white shirt, Theo thought, the elves were bound to have a difficult time getting his blood out of the sleeves.

The blonde came behind Theo and nuzzled into his neck, taking a deep breath and leaving a light kiss in his wake. "You left me in bed to smoke?" Draco groused as he poured himself a cup of tea and added his honey and milk.

"I did, but I also have a splendid surprise for you later," Theo turned as the two witches joined them in the kitchenette. Leaning back on his elbows against the counter, he gave them both a sultry once over in their oversized muggle shirts. Their legs were bare, causing his breath to catch as he imagined those long silky legs twined together. "Good morning ladies, how was your girl time?"

"Pet, don't talk to me before I have had some coffee. Make it for me now," Pansy ordered, snapping her fingers in Theo's direction.

"Of course my queen." Theo replied, turning and quickly getting to work with absolute seriousness. Hermione's eyebrows were nearly at her hair line when he turned around and handed Pansy her prepared cup.

"Good boy," Pansy said, patting his cheek and humming happily as she sipped her drink.

"Theo, do you always do everything Pansy says?" Hermione asked, eyebrow raised, as she fixed her own coffee.

"I could have made that for you," Theo pouted, "But yes, always and without question. Pansy is my queen." He smiled widely, thrilled to share a little bit with Hermione about their dynamic. He looked at her for any sign of shock or disgust and just saw simple curiosity there instead, until Hermione shrugged and began to drink her coffee. The sensual curve of her lips on the cup was enough to kill him, and the noises she made as she enjoyed the taste were so similar to the noises she had made for him in the alley.

"And don't you forget it pet," Pansy winked at him, as Draco rolled his eyes at the two of them. "I have to get dressed. Wait for me to go down to breakfast."

"Don't take an age, Pans," Draco called after her. Pansy gave him the two fingered salute and disappeared into Theo's room. With coffee in hand, Hermione turned and retreated into her room to get dressed as well.

Once everyone was well caffeinated and the girls were dressed, the group left the head's dorm and walked together to the Great Hall for breakfast. Pansy and Theo walked ahead of Draco and Hermione hand in hand the entire way, and for the first time, Hermione followed the Slytherin trio to their normal table. The number of circle tables had been reduced again, but there was still plenty of space for people to spread out.

Pansy was rattling on about a new fashion line that had been announced when Neville and Luna came walking up to their table and settled in. Luna sat next to the open seat beside Pansy, while Neville sat between Hermione and Luna. It really wasn't surprising how easily the conversation flowed with the odd group. Working together in therapy had helped bridge gaps and bring about a mutual respect and understanding in them all.

Of course, their little bubble couldn't last forever…"Hey, 'Mione," Finnigan said, walking over with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Good morning, Seamus," Hermione answered, turning in her seat so she was facing towards the Irishman.

"So, I hate to ask," the man said, a bit of a flush rising on his neck.

"So maybe you don't." Pansy snipped, lifting a cup of tea to her pursed lips and taking a sip, smiling venomously at the Gryffindor.

Finnigan shot Pansy a look, but otherwise ignored her. "So, that article in the Prophet…what Ron was saying, it's not true is it?" He asked, turning all his attention back on Hermione.

"What does it matter?" Hermione sighed, staring dejectedly into her coffee mug in her hands.

"Hermione, it matters," Seamus insisted, "Think I've learned m' lesson about believing the Prophet over my friends. Tell me truly."

"Ron and I broke up before I came back, but not because of my letters. They were to my parents in Australia."

"What a bleeding wanker," Seamus said. "Why would he say such a fucking thing to Rita Skeeter of all people? She's had it out for you for years."

"I don't know, Seamus," Hermione said, swirling her coffee again. Seamus squeezed her shoulder. He left without saying another word, heading over to sit with Dean, who was in an animated discussion with McLaggen at one of the other Gryffindor-dominant circle tables.

"You do know," Luna said in her offbeat manner. "You know why he lied, don't you Hermione?"

"I do, but Nev, cover your virgin ears." Neville did so immediately humming to himself so he couldn't hear what was discussed. Theo looked expectantly at Draco, who just gave him the two finger salute. "I wouldn't shag him at the Burrow when we were there together after the battle. He took that as I didn't want to be in a relationship with him. Which, after that blowout, I honestly didn't. So he fucked right off and I haven't seen him since. And I was at the Burrow until I came here, so he certainly hasn't been grieving in the bosom of his family, he's been off shagging wenches, who– as I was told– would be proud to have a war hero between their legs."

"But Hermione," Luna said, "you are a war hero too."

"Isn't that the bloody truth?" Hermione exclaimed. "Theo, do you have a flask with you? After that disclosure I need something to settle my nerves. I hope that wasn't TMI for the rest if you. Luna, do let Neville know he can take his hands off his ears." Hermione finished, reaching under the table towards Theo so no one would see a flask at their breakfast table.

"Oh no, that was certainly not too much information," Theo said grinning, handing over his pocket flask. "I thrive on secrets like that."

Joining them at the table, Blaise pulled a chair between Neville and Luna so he could sit next to the witch. Tossing her a smile, he looked around while pulling a platter of eggs and bacon towards himself. "What secrets have I missed this morning?"

"No huge secret," Luna replied, turning her blinking owl eyes on the Italian. "Ronald Weasley is a tosser and never deserved Hermione." Theo bit his lip to keep from laughing, and cast an appreciative glance at his favorite little lunatic.

"Luna!" Neville said, while Hermione and Pansy choked on their coffees.

"What?" Luna said, "It's true. He's always been a git. I had a crush on him in third year and he was horribly mean to me about it."

"Luna," Hermione said, reaching out and gripping her hand, "I had no idea. I'm so sorry he was mean to you."

Luna shrugged, "He's mean to everyone, besides there's no way he'd ever have been able to shag me rough the way that I like." She sipped her tea and ignored the absolute chaos she had caused at the table. Neville's ears turned pink as he shrieked her name. The Slytherins broke out into laughter. Hermione's hand went to her mouth in surprise. "See you in Group therapy," Luna said, standing up before skipping away.

Theo was laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks, "She's one in a million that girl."

"Isn't she just," Blaise replied, his eyes hungrily following the blonde Ravenclaw as she disappeared from the Great Hall.

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"Good morning everyone," Cordelia said cheerfully, as Pansy slipped into a seat between Theo and Blaise. "I hope you all had a wonderful free day yesterday. And I am so happy we are all here together to dig back into the work of healing ourselves."

"Today we are working on a piece of our Narrative Exposure Therapy," Cordelia stated, smiling as she went around the circle giving each person a hand pat or a squeeze on the shoulder.

"Let's begin by talking about the first few years of Hogwarts. The important things that happened, such as how you perceive your sorting as a positive event or a negative event." The healer said, making Pansy and Theo exchange a look. Real positive begging a moldy old hat to go into a house purely so your parents wouldn't do something untoward to you when you went home at Christmas. "I want you to each concentrate on that for a moment. Write something in your journals as well if you like."

Cordelia opened a bag and their lifeline scrolls shot out, floating in the air in front of each of them. The life line scrolls lit up as the stone or the flower appeared on the line.

Pansy let out a huff as she pulled out her journal and quill and began writing about her sorting ceremony.

Long before I even got my Hogwarts letter that the only house that would be acceptable was Slytherin. The entire Parkinson line had always been sorted into Slytherin, and that was just expected of both herself and her brother when they were small, well before he was sent to Durmstrang. There wasn't a wrong house to be sorted into in a school that specializes in the Dark Arts. I often wonder why I wasn't sent there as well. Perhaps it was too far for mum. Or perhaps they needed to keep a better eye on me, I was always the rebellious one. The 'problem child'.

I wasn't a hat stall, even before I could ask for the placement, the hat had called out 'SLYTHERIN', sealing my fate. All the teachers besides Snape were always cautious with me, just because of my green and silver tie.

The stone that appeared on the scroll after what she'd written in her journal was no surprise.

Hands down, negative experience, even if she'd gotten to be with her best friends. She'd known Draco and Theo from infancy however, so starting Hogwarts hadn't been their first meeting.

To Pansy's surprise, when she thought about meeting Theo and Draco and their childhood friendship, a purple orchid blossom appeared on her floating life line scroll between her earliest memory and the sorting ceremony.

Healer Cordelia walked around watching everyone finish writing in their journals, waiting until everyone had finished before she spoke again. "Let's talk about the Triwizard Tournament." Pansy had to hide her smirk as she looked over towards Draco, what a year that had been. "How did you feel about it? Do you consider it a positive or negative event in your life? I want you to visualize how it feels to you, so it will appear on your scroll and then take 10 minutes and tell me why in your journal."

Pansy wasn't a huge fan of fourth year in retrospect. She'd spent so much time tied up with Win and sneaking around with her, that everything else had kind of gone by the wayside. Except…oh shite, she sold a story to Rita Skeeter about Hermione's love triangle with Viktor Krum and Harry Potter …oh she was a bloody arse. Nevermind that she'd used the money to buy the majority of the toys in her now confiscated kink bag. So, that was a positive point, she'd finally had a decent selection of implements for her preferred type of pleasure seeking.

Pansy scribed down a few more notes, but ultimately another stone appeared.

She really ought to apologize to Granger now that they were becoming friends or hopefully something more than that, if Pansy was reading the signs of arousal on the other girl's body right. Those dilated pupils when she had undressed and dressed her not to mention Hermione's physical reaction when she'd sung in French. There was a real possibility there. And she seemed not indifferent to Theo which was a huge plus. Theo desperately needed to shag or be shagged. Hermione seemed like she'd be amenable. And the sexual tension between the Gryffindor Princess and the Slytherin Prince could be cut with a knife. Last night when she'd been feral in his arms, the two of them looked like they could start violently fucking at any moment. They would tear each other apart when the tension finally broke. Pansy couldn't wait to see it. Hermione could be their missing puzzle piece, if she was willing to take a dive into the snake pit that was.

Crossing her legs, Pansy stared up at the Healer with a flat look on her face.

Was this woman going to even try to find some sort of memory that could be positive?

"Okay," Cordelia said, clapping her hands together after the alloted ten minutes was up. "After the events of the Triwizard Tournament, how was your family dynamic? Was this the point when you each started to feel an awareness of what side of the war you would ultimately be on? Did the notion that you might even have to fight cross your minds yet? Instead of writing this down, does anyone want to share out loud?"

Being the Gryffindor swot that she was, Hermione cleared her throat and raised her hand, waiting to be called on. When Cordelia nodded at her, Hermione cleared her throat again and put her hands in her lap. "I knew at the Quidditch World Cup that a fight was coming. Helping Harry, it's what I knew deep down that's what I would be doing. No matter what that looked like." Hermione took a deep breath, and looked down at her hands.

"My parents didn't know about anything that was happening. If they had, they would have pulled me from the wizarding world. I was petrified second year, how would I ever explain Death Eaters and Voldemort to my muggle parents? So, I knew, deep down, I knew being Harry's best friend that I would be fighting." Hermione finished speaking, keeping her eyes down, unable to look up.

Taking a breath, Pansy spoke next. If Hermione can do it, I suppose I can try. "My father sent my brother to Durmstrang and he graduated that year. Even though my father was a Death Eater, he didn't want that for his son. Instead, he set Ranunclus up with a ministry job in Bulgaria through his connections rather than planning to have him take the Mark. I had hoped he would value me as much as he did my brother, but no such luck. Heirs are valuable, daughters not so much."

Draco's voice surprised Pansy when he willingly spoke out next. "It has never been a secret on which side my family has always been, both paternally and maternally. I knew what would ultimately be expected of me. So yeah, seeing the Death Eaters at the World Cup, I already knew. I managed to warn someone, but otherwise it was just a first taste of the terrors to come." When he finished speaking, Draco sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyelids fluttered and she could tell by the tightness in his jaw that he was fighting the urge to use his occlumency. Pansy wanted to reach for him, but resisted the feeling.

Group therapy went against every bit of Slytherin inclination.

"My father didn't ever make a secret of his Dark Mark or what it meant." Theo said, looking around, "I was well aware of what was going to happen at the Quidditch World Cup beforehand. I didn't need to wait for the Triwizard Tournament to know the bastard would try to force me to take the Mark."

An eerie silence fell over the group and those who had yet to share looked as if they were struggling to decide who wanted to go next. Hannah Abbott shook her head in the negative when Cordelia looked at her before moving onto Thomas, who only muttered "I think I'll pass for now."

No one was surprised when Neville spoke up. "After what happened with mum and dad, Gran wanted nothing to do with the Ministry or The Order. I heard her arguing with Professor Dumbledore about what the attacks at the World Cup meant for the world. Gran said something like, you sacrificed my son for your greater good. Don't you expect anything else from me."

"So, really even after the Tournament, I wasn't totally sure if Gran would take me and run or if we'd stay and fight. I didn't want to sit back and do nothing, and I didn't want what happened to my family to happen to anyone else. I know that I'm the last of my Ancient and Noble House and that means something, but I didn't want to be someone who let everyone else do the fighting for him."

Sweet Circe he was so altruistic, he had been born in the wrong era. Neville Longbottom should have been a knight. When she recalled how he had decapitated the Dark Lord's snake with that sword though, perhaps he already was one. And based on this morning, he was still an innocent virgin, Salazar, that Longbottom boy belonged in a novel.

Pansy couldn't stop her eyes rolling when she heard Susan's nasally voice break through. "I trusted the Ministry and the Order were going to do their part and keep us safe. My Aunt was a part of both, and I put my full confidence in them and didn't think I'd have to fight in anything until Harry showed up in the Great Hall…" Pansy coughed to hide a snort as Susan trailed off. What a wonderful sheltered life the Hufflepuff must have lived to think the adults would fight their own battles. Healer Cordelia shot her a look, making Pansy blush and look down at her hands.

"I did what was best for my friends and family." The airy voice of Luna cut through the awkward tension. When she didn't elaborate, Healer Cordelia turned to Blaise who was the only person who hadn't spoken.

"What she said," was Blaise's curt answer, nodding his head towards Luna.

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After the draining morning in their group, Draco was absorbed in the minutiae of helping in the library. Madam Pince would bring him a stack of books, where he would then sort them. Ones that were in need of repair, ones beyond repair, and those very few that needed no attention at all. After he'd finished caring for the books best he could, he'd use his wand to return them to their proper shelves, and then begin the process all over again. The orderliness of it all soothed his soul: books in, books out.

He knew what to expect each afternoon when volunteering for Madam Pince, who was probably the most agreeable he had ever seen her despite the tragic state of the library. Apparently, she was so grateful for the help that she hadn't snapped once at him.

And as he thought it through, he realized he had never seen anyone help her in all his years at Hogwarts. Nearly every other professor had one or two 7th years who wanted to go into that mastery as teaching assistants. However, in all his years at Hogwarts, Draco had never seen Madam Pince have an apprentice. Where did new librarians come from?

The current librarian was ageless, how long had she been at Hogwarts? She'd have to retire at some point wouldn't she? Maybe he would ask her about her career path later. He had no idea what he wanted to do with himself, but this seemed as delightful a choice as any. He certainly had no desire to take over Malfoy Enterprises. It ran perfectly well without his involvement.

Today started off as it normally did whenever he was in the library. He was repairing the burns on the edge of an ancient scroll on Roman jewelry charms–which did look interesting, I wonder if Theo's read this– his orderliness was upended by a smell that he recognized. The scent of Granger's shampoo wafted to his nose, part of his own personal amortentia and never ending torment. Draco's head snapped up, looking around to make sure he wasn't in a daydream, but of course he wasn't…

"Madam Pince, do you think I might also be of assistance?" There she was. Her voice, thankfully, seemingly unharmed by all the screaming she had done last night. Her voice stirred his whole being. What she whispered into his skin the other night still rang in his ears and he ran his hands over his forearms and felt the slight sting of the scratches she had gouged into his flesh. If he ran hot and cold on her like Pansy accused, Granger ran the same gamut: kisses to blood drawing in a single twenty-four hours.

"Of course dear, if you could follow me," the matron said, and Draco heard the click of their shoes against the floor as they walked towards him. "Mr. Malfoy, will you please teach Ms. Granger the diagnostic spell for books and the fire and smoke damage repair charms? She should be able to learn those in an afternoon. If you continue to volunteer, Ms Granger, then Mr. Malfoy can show you some of the more complicated book repair charms." Madam Pince had already taught him the book repair charms for several different types of damage as well as curse and jinx removal charms.

"Of course," Draco said, smiling obediently at the librarian. He saw Granger's eyes roam over him at his tone. He caught her amber eyes for a second. Salazar, he could drown in those pools of honey.

Occlude. Occlude. Occlude.

After Pince had excused herself, going back to her desk, the pair sat in an awkward silence for a time. Draco gripped his wand and was about to show her the wand movement, when she blurted out, "Did you mean it when you said I was brilliant and I was going to change the world?" One of her curls fell into her eyes, as she watched him closely.

Could he tuck it behind her ear? Was that more forward than tucking her into bed? Neither of them were drunk now, he'd have no excuse if it was too far.

"Obviously," Draco deadpanned. Did you mean it when you said I smelled nice?

He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the blush he could feel warming his cheeks and quickly rushed out the instructions on how to perform the charm. He was lucky she was such a swot, because any lesser witch or wizard wouldn't have been able to follow his hasty instructions.

He made the mistake of looking up and found her golden eyes were so open and kind when they met his own. By all of the four founders, she was divine. How he wanted to…

Occlude. Occlude. Occlude.

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Nervously, Draco knocked on the door to the therapy office. Patting his palms against his thighs, he considered what might happen if he just didn't participate in the individual therapy when he heard a 'come in' from inside. Hesitantly, he opened the door as he tried to simultaneously not occlude and also not shake like a leaf in the breeze. Salazar this was embarrassing. These two things were more challenging than he might have thought, and he exhaled.

"Draco," Cordelia said smiling from her seat, "I am so happy to see you. I wondered when you might visit me for an individual session. Please, take a seat. Can I get you some water or tea to drink?"

"Tea would be good, thanks." Draco answered, and Cordelia waved her wand and conjured a tea tray with all the fixings.

"Here we are." Cordelia says, setting the tray in front of Draco so he can fix his drink to his liking. "So tell me, what are you thinking of the program thus far? I know you're here and participating because you have to, but I am curious about your thoughts." Cordelia says, pulling out a quick quotes quill and setting it up with a roll of parchment.

"Would you mind not using a Quick Quotes…" Draco said, eyeing the long feather hovering in the air above the parchment. "I'd rather not bet my future on what will be submitted for my trial from one of those things." After a raise of her eyebrows, Cordelia nods.

"Of course, of course. I'll warn you though, I'm not a fan of quills, inkwells, and parchment. The only other thing I have are just some muggle pens and legal pads." Draco watched as the healer stood from her chair next to the couch he was seated on and walked to a desk in the corner of the room. Throwing her braids over her shoulder, he watched as she rummaged through a drawer before pulling it out and showing him. "You don't mind, do you?" She asked, walking back to her seat.

"Why would I?" Draco asked, scowling a bit at the ridiculousness of the question. While looking out the window he missed the smirk that crossed Cordelia's face as she began writing.

"So, I know you're here because you have to do these sessions to avoid Azkaban. That must have been difficult to find out."

Draco shrugged his shoulders, in a show of indifference. "I don't care if they chuck me in there and throw away the keys. I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing it for my mum."

The scratching of the pen was the only sound, Draco's tea cup sat on its saucer, still untouched. Cordelia made a sound that pulled Draco's attention away from the window. "What?" He asked, seeing a smirk playing on the healer's lips.

"For someone who says he isn't concerned about himself, I see you doing a lot of work for yourself. I've noticed how you're actively working on not depending on occlumency as much anymore, and I don't even have to push you too much to participate in the group."

"I don't care what happens to me," Draco insisted, his tone clipped and short. "I just know what my father being in Azkaban has done to my mother and I don't want to add more stress to her life."

"Is there anyone else you might be thinking about wanting to stay out of Azkaban for?" The healer asked the question so innocently that at the same time he felt she knew more than she was letting on. Cordelia certainly hadn't been a Slytherin.

"I don't know," Draco said, rubbing his hands over his face. "Maybe? I guess?" Real eloquent and intelligent answers there. "Theo and Pansy care about me, I know. And Blaise of course…I find myself worrying about the Golden Girl - I mean Granger - quite a bit, she seems really fragile and I want to help her. It just seems impossible, me helping her…utter madness, yeah."

He sat staring at his hands for a long time; the black nail polish and all the rings were helping a great deal. His hands didn't look so much like his father's anymore. Was that something he should share with Cordelia?

When he looked back up, Cordelia was just smiling warmly at him with her pen still poised in her hand.

"Maybe here is a good stopping place for today," she said, capping the pen and standing up. Draco followed her lead and stood up as well. "Same time, maybe in a few days? We do have to have six of these appointments logged before your trial." She asked, pulling out her appointment book, and Draco noted that it seemed similar to the same planner that Granger always carried around with her throughout their years at school.

"Yeah, sounds good." He answered, shoving his hands in his pockets and quickly striding towards the door and pulling it open.

"Wednesday afternoon, Draco," Cordelia's voice followed him into the hall. "I will see you back here Wednesday."

He stepped into the corridor without another word to the healer and walked away. It was only after he'd reached a tapestry-covered alcove did he finally stop and lean against the wall, hidden from the rest of the school.

Only three more weeks. I can do this. I can show the Wizengamot that I don't deserve to be banished to Azkaban in a cell next to Father.

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Blaise was making his way into the courtyard, and anyone who looked his way, he'd shoot one of his brightest smiles. As he passed a group of giggling Hufflepuffs, Blaise stumbled forwards when someone literally ran into him.

Annoyed that anyone would miss him standing right there, Blaise turned around with a snide comment right on the tip of his tongue, only to stop at the last moment. "Luna? What are you doing?" He asked the little witch who was bent over, still walking, holding something in her hand that she was looking in.

"Why hello, Blaise Zabini. Would you join me for a walk around the lake? I'm planning to skip dinner. There is a species of fairy I'm looking for and that only appears when the moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase and that time is upon us tonight. I'm curious if being near a magical body of water might attract them." Blaise had no clue what she was on about, but that wasn't going to distract him from her voice and the mischievous smile on her face.

"I would love to join you and skip dinner, in equal measures. A man can eat only so much English cuisine." He said, letting a hand rest on her lower back as they made their way towards the lake. Luna still kept her contraption raised and looking through it, but at least she was no longer bent in half looking at the ground.

"Do you not care for it?" She asked, stopping to peer into a patch of grass before dismissing it and moving on.

"Not at all." He answered as he replaced his hand on her back. Watching her from the corner of his eye, he was struck by how much her pale blonde hair looked like moonlight.

As she continued floating around, because Luna doesn't just walk she levitates, Blaise couldn't take his eyes off the witch.

Her eyes and her hair reminded him so much of Draco, how did he never notice that before? Is that why he feels so comfortable around her?

Luna glanced at him, smiling. "Has anyone ever told you that your energy is like Apollo? You shine like you are the sun, and everyone is so drawn to you that they orbit you."

Blaise let out a laugh as they reached the shore's edge and Luna began searching the water for these moon fairies. "Does that make you Selene then?" Blaise queried, "Your hair is so pale and beautiful that you shine, just like the moon. Your pale blue eyes, sparkling like the stars in the sky."

"I suppose, though, the moon only reflects the sun's light. So perhaps I'll shine brighter if I have my own sun." Blaise couldn't help but gulp as he watched her look over her shoulder from where she was bent over and send him a coy smile.

Before Blaise could make a retort to her last comment, Luna abruptly changed subjects. "I like the camp well enough. Cordelia is amazing. How's everything going for you? You seem distracted and not fully present."

Accepting the change of subject, Blaise kicked a rock off the path in front of him before taking a breath and answering. "I mean, the camp itself is going alright. I'm a little worried about my mother, however. She usually contacts me every few days, so it isn't like her. She and my stepfather may have gone on holiday or something, but she never mentioned anything about it in her last letter and that's not something she'd forget to tell me."

"She sounds like a good mother." Luna says, taking the device she'd been carrying, sticking it in her back pocket, and giving Blaise her undivided attention.

"She's an amazing mother. She'd do anything for me," Blaise said as Luna took hold of his hand with her much smaller one. "What about your mum? I've never heard you talk about her."

"My mother is dead. I wish I could see her again. She was really the most brilliant witch." Blaise was a bit taken back, not expecting that answer from her, nor her bluntness about her mother's death. He never wanted anything to happen to his mother, he wasn't sure how he'd function without her.

"I'm so sorry. I did not know." He said, feeling adrift as to what to say in such tragic circumstances.

"It's alright, it's hardly common knowledge outside of my friends. She did a lot of experimental magic and one of her spells backfired. Back when you all were in 3rd year, I heard Theo ask about the thestrals and no one else could see them. I could, of course, so I told him that he wasn't going crazy."

"Now basically everyone can." Blaise said, sensing that she didn't want to linger on the topic of her mother's death.

"Well everyone that's here for the summer program anyway. It's likely that many of the students who come in September will not be able to see them. It was mostly the older students that fought, and pretty much all of us came for the camp."

"Do you think the thestrals feel like their privacy is being invaded now that so many people can see them?"

"I suppose that they might," She answered. "Perhaps they prefer to wear invisibility, they're gentle creatures, but people fear them. I think if people feared me just because they didn't understand me, I'd prefer to be unseen as well."

Blaise didn't know what else to say after that deeply insightful interpretation of Thestrals. Instead, he just enjoyed the feel of her hand in his as they continued walking and just existing with each other.

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Hermione stood outside the door and raised and lowered her hand three times. The shiny new sign that read 'Healer Cordelia, Mind Health Specialist' was looking down at her. Hermione was frantically attempting to decide if this was really something she wanted to get into today. What could she possibly talk about to this woman that she hadn't already addressed in the group?

A lot, her inner voice told her.

With this thought, Hermione raised her hand once more, summoning all the Gryffindor courage that she could muster and tapped it against the wood. The door swung open instantly and looking down at her was the smiling and inviting face of Healer Cordelia. "Hermione!" The elder woman exclaimed, angling her body so that Hermione could enter, "Come in, come in. I'm so glad you're here. I've been expecting you."

"You have?" Hermione asked in disbelief. In the room she noticed a plush couch pushed against a wall with a box of tissues sitting on it. "Of course, Hermione. You've just been through a war and you were on the front lines. Water, tea?" The healer asked to which Hermione answered tea. With a bit of impressive magic, Cordelia conjured in the air an entire tea tray with all the fixings and a plate of biscuits. "Help yourself my dear, it will just take a moment for me to get set up for an individual session with you."

Hermione looked down at the tea tray and the biscuits, picking one up and taking a bite. A small moan dripped from her lips as the warm soft treat rolled around in her mouth. "So, Hermione, was there anything in particular you'd like to discuss, such as, what brought you to my door at this moment?" The healer asked, as she settled into her own chair positioned close to the couch. In her lap, Hermione noticed that she had a legal pad of paper and pen in her hands.

"I just don't know what to say," Hermione started off, stalling as she made up her cup of tea and carefully selected a second biscuit. "I guess I am just struggling, but I don't know what to tell you about it…" Hermione said, trailing off as she lifted her tea cup to her lips.

"You can say anything Hermione, talk to me about your nightmares or how you feel about the war. Why don't we start off with something easy? Or talk to me about your new friendship with Theo Nott, or how being back at Hogwarts is making you feel. This is really all about you and what you need so just share your thoughts with me. The war was something you were fighting years longer than the rest of your friends here." Cordelia said, giving Hermione a warm smile, picking up her own biscuit and taking a bite.

"I am angry. That's how I feel." Cordelia doesn't say anything, but nods her head and writes down a note. "It's completely unfair, so many people died from the first Wizarding War and the two adults just left it for a bunch of children to fight for them. Both sides of this war, we were fed the load of bull of either 'the greater good' or whatever fucking bullshit Voldemort was spouting to his followers. These adults, who should have been taking care of us, put us all in positions where fucking kids would have to come in and clean up their mess. Just like they did the first time around, same story, different characters." Hermione furiously wiped at her face, feeling the hot tears that had begun falling during her rant.

"Have you ever heard the term, child soldier, or know what that is?" Healer Cordelia asks, after handing Hermione the box of tissues.

"A child soldier is the term used for children who have been recruited for participation in military operations and campaigns." Hermione answered, after she'd heard the term, she'd gone and looked it up. Healer Cordelia smiled and nodded at Hermione as she used the tissue to dry more tears from her eyes before they could fall.

"I'm sorry this happened to you and your friends, it's not fair. The adults in charge should never have asked you to carry their burdens and fought for their causes. You were failed by those who should have nurtured and raised you."

The tears that she'd been holding back freely fell now. There was nothing to be done for it, because that is what happened. They'd failed, over and over again. Starting in first year when Dumbledore had brought the bloody philosopher's stone into Hogwarts instead of just destroying it when he knew Voldemort was after it.

"Do you want to talk more about this?" Healer Cordelia asked, letting a hand rest on Hermione's forearm. Hemione shook her head, because this was just too much to process right now. She'd known this was the truth, but it was going to take some time to accept it.

"That's fair, why don't we switch gears then. How about your friendship with Theo Nott? The two of you seem to have gotten really close, that must make being Heads together this year promising since you get along so well."

At the mention of her fellow Head, Hermione felt a flush creeping up her neck and covering her face. Oh, good Godric.

"I am so confused in everything and anything involving Theodore Nott!" And as if a dam had been broken, Hermione began to vomit words in a flow of consciousness about what all she had seen taking place between the three Slytherins.

"Maybe," Hermione says, hiding her hands in her face. "I'm afraid there might be an explosion between the boys when one figures out the other is with Pansy too? What if they physically fight over her, Merlin, or it comes to a duel! I don't want that in the Head dorms." Hermione leaned her head back against the couch looking up at the ceiling before another thought crossed her mind. "Theo kissed me when we went to Hogsmeade together, after Draco tucked me into bed the night before! Merlin this is getting so complicated because I want them both, but they're with Pansy. Do they even know they are both with Pansy? I've seen them both with their arms around her!" Cordelia just sat silently while Hermione looked up at her, making the one last confession that had been weighing on her chest since it'd happened. "The other night, we were all hanging out and Pansy sang this beautiful song in French and it made me feel a bit hot and bothered if I am being honest. I'm just so confused and I don't know what's happening to me." Hermione whined, letting her head drop into her hands as she let out the rest of her troubles. "A person is only supposed to be interested in one person at a time, what is wrong with me?"

"But relationships between multiple Purebloods are actually pretty common, Hermione." This information made Hermione's head jerk up out of her hands and she was looking at the mind healer with narrowed eyes.

Laughing kindly at Hermione's expression, Cordelia continued, "Triads are definitely more common than quads. But polycule quads aren't unheard of. Here I have a book or two somewhere on the topic that I think you would benefit from reading." With this, Cordelia stood up and walked over to her bookshelf. Running her finger over multiple titles before stopping on two together.

"Here they are," she said, walking back over to where Hermione was still seated and placed two books in her waiting hands. "Blending Your Potion: Finding Harmony in a Multi-Partner Home and "Choose More Than One Wand: A New Look at Magical Attraction." Hermione was looking at the cover of the books when Cordelia tapped one of them with a long and perfectly manicured finger, Hermione looked up. "I think you might be able to find a few answers that you seek and that the solution to this 'problem' is a lot easier than you thought."

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Hermione was absolutely exhausted. It had been the longest day since she had been at the summer program and she just wanted to sleep. She quietly let herself into the Head dorm and planned to just make herself something in the kitchenette and then head to bed. She sighed as she entered and shut the door behind her. It seemed as though no one was there and then she heard voices and her body stilled.

"Oh Dragon, that feels so good." She could hear Theo moaning. Hermione heard the wet sound of someone sucking and gagging...on a cock! Intrigued, she couldn't help herself but try to discover what was going on. Theo's door was wide open, and the erotic sounds were ricocheting off the walls in their dorm. Hermione slowly crept towards a place where she could see into the Head Boy's room, but he wouldn't be able to easily see her.

Theo's thrusts slowed, running his fingers through Draco's hair, Hermione bit her lip to stop a groan. "Just relax your throat and I'll do all the work." She heard the brunette instruct as his hips began to pick up the pace a bit.

Draco's gagging stopped Theo and had him pulling out his cock out of Draco's mouth. Hermione's jaw dropped open at seeing the size of his prick. Merlin, did she want to feel that going down her own throat. "Do you want to stop?" Theo could be heard asking.

"No, keep going," Draco panted. She assumed he had opened his mouth again, as she heard the sound of spit while Theo was looking down at his partner.

"Okay, if you need me to stop, tap my thigh." Theo instructed, and his hips began moving again.

She bit her lip at the sight before her. Draco Malfoy on his knees in front of Theo Nott. Theo's cock was deep in Malfoy's mouth and Theo had him gripped by the hair and was slowly, almost lovingly, fucking his face. Theo's eyes were closed and whispered encouragement, passing his lips to the man on his knees.

Was Malfoy humming on Theo's cock? Sweet Merlin, he was whimpering with his lips wrapped around that perfect prick.

Hermione clenched her thighs together, trying to get some friction to relieve the pressure at the image and the wet sound of Malfoy being fucked in the mouth. Morgana help her, it was so horribly erotic, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from what should have been a private moment between the two boys. Not able to help herself anymore, she let one of her own petite hands slip into her cotton knickers. The relief at her own touch was almost instant.

She felt the heat pooled at her core. Hermione would be mortified if they knew how wet they'd made her just from her watching them. She was panting watching them. She bit her thumb to prevent herself from making a sound, knowing that if they caught her it would all stop. She let her fingers slip through her soaked folds as Draco's Adam's apple bobbed. Sliding two fingers inside herself, she desperately reached for the spot inside her begging to be touched. A moan of pleasure rips through the air, but can't tell what boy it's coming from.

Draco's hand traveled down his chest and, good Godric, he began stroking himself, the other hand gripping Theo's muscular arse. Hermione's body shuddered as her own fingers ached to be the one gripping him while Theo thrusts into his mouth. Her eyes were glued on them.

Theo snapped his hips. Draco had spit slipping down his chin as he gagged again, but didn't tap Theo's thigh. Theo kept going, letting out a gasp.

"Draco love, you are doing so well taking this cock like this for the first time," Theo murmured, running his fingers through the silky white hair. "Definitely an O in cocksucking for you," he purred, making Hermione's fingers pump inside herself at a faster pace.

Hermione imagined that it was her on her knees there in front of the two of them, while they towered over her with their sheer size. She'd lick her lips, taking one long cock and then the other into her mouth, encouraging them with her muffled groans to push harder and faster into her mouth.

The sweet burn in the back of her throat after they're done. The only thing that would soothe her is their cum that she would swallow up greedily. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, the pace of the fingers she was sliding into herself accelerating as she desperately swept for the spot again.

She wanted them to use their strong hands to grip her hair and hold her face in place going as deep as they can. She would do anything to feel the cool metal of their rings against her scalp, or Malfoy's hand on her cheek. Using her other hand, Hermione rubbed circles against her clit, bringing her even closer to that edge.

Theo grunted, signaling his finish in Draco's mouth with "mmmmm Good boy. Swallow it all." and opened his eyes, looking right into Hermione's through the crack in the door as her own release roared through her, her juices spilled out of her lips. His eyes traveled down to where both her hands were inside her knickers. He smiled and as his brilliant sapphire eyes met hers again, he winked. Her shocked exhale at being caught caused Malfoy to spin around and spot her too. Spit and cum dripped out the corner of his mouth, and it made for the most debauched picture. The blonde wiped the mess on his face away with the back of his hand, eyes widening once he registered that Hermione was really there, and had clearly had been watching them.

Realizing her fingers were still in her knickers, she pulled them out, and turned, running away from the two boys before they could say anything about what a pervert she was. Hermione fled into the safety of her room and shut the door with a snap as Theo's laughter followed her all the way. Pulling the duvet over her head and casting a silencing charm, Hermione cursed herself for allowing her hormones to run so out of control. If she were lucky, maybe she would die of embarrassment in her sleep, because there was no way she'd be able to face either of those Slytherins ever again.

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