CHAPTER42
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 42 ~ Hermione Puts Her Foot in It
Severus was in his office marking a few papers before supper when there was a knock on his door. Irritated, he looked up.
“Who is it?” he called, frowning.
Sometimes the wizard swore people hid in niches and watched for him to enter his office for a quiet moment, then knocked on his door just to disturb him.
“It’s Draco, Godfather. Open up!” Draco called from the other side of the door.
Severus sighed. Now what was Draco doing slithering about the castle? Trying to get information about Hermione most likely. Severus pulled out his wand and unwarded his door.
“Come in if you must,” the wizard snarked.
Draco opened the door and entered, giving Severus a bright smile.
“Oh, I must, Godfather, I must,” the blonde wizard said, pulling out his wand and transforming the rickety chair into a comfy armchair, then sitting down and eyeing Severus.
Severus scowled at the transformation. That chair was uncomfortable for a reason…so the asses that sat in it would beat a hasty retreat. His eyes glittered.
“Two years have not yet passed, Draco. What are you doing here?” Severus asked.
Draco’s own eyes glittered.
“Curiosity, as you well know Godfather. Hermione hasn’t contacted me in months and I wondered how your little talk went,” the wizard replied. “I did set it up after all and no one seems to know where she is. I need to know if you’ve killed her and buried her body someplace on the Hogwarts grounds,” Draco said with a smirk.
The young wizard believed no such thing of course, but couldn’t pass on the opportunity to tease the dour wizard.
Severus scowled.
“Miss Granger is currently alive and well, Draco,” he said with a scowl.
“I see,” Draco replied…and waited for more as Severus started marking parchments again. After several minutes, Draco said, “Oh come now, Godfather…you know I am waiting for you to tell me where she is. Are you her patron?”
Severus put down his quill, his eyes narrowed.
“Yes. Miss Granger and I came to an agreement,” he answered.
Draco looked a bit shocked.
“Full patronage…with full rights?” he asked the snarky wizard.
“It is a standard patronage arrangement,” Severus replied.
“Oh my gods, are you fucking her?” Draco asked, delighted.
Severus folded his arms and his black eyes glittered.
“That is none of your concern, Draco,” Severus said evenly.
“You ARE fucking her! Damn Godfather. I would have thought your tool would have rusted off from non-use by now. So tell me…is she good? I’ve been after that witch for years but she won’t have anything to do with me. It figures it would be books that got her to cock her legs. Knowledge is probably her aphrodisiac. I was never the literary type.”
He looked at Severus expectantly.
“I never said I have touched the witch, Draco,” the Professor said.
Draco’s eyebrows rose.
“But she is at your home utilizing your labs and your books I imagine,” Draco pressed.
“Yes,” Severus said stiffly.
“Well then…if you aren’t exercising your patronly rights with the witch, then you shouldn’t have a problem with me dropping by and seeing if I can get my wand wet. After being locked up for all these months, she’s bound to be randy,” Draco said to the wizard, his blue eyes hot.
“Get out,” Severus said in a low voice.
Draco looked surprised.
“What Godfather?” Draco responded.
Severus rose to his full height behind his desk.
“I said get out you randy pup. You fuck witches whenever you wish, and still you want to target a woman who has no interest in you and is under my protection. I will not have you disturbing her from her work with your advances, Draco. You show up at my door and you will leave in a smoking matchbox. Do I make myself clear?” Severus said, a deadly gleam in his eyes.
“Calm down, Godfather. Hermione’s your charge, not your daughter…though the gods know you’re old enough to be her father. I just thought she’d like a bit of respite. You aren’t the best company,” Draco said, rising from the armchair.
Severus pointed his wand at the chair and transformed it back to its original state of discomfort, then pointed at the door.
“Out now, Draco. I won’t tell you again,” the wizard said blackly.
“Fine, fine Godfather,” Draco said, backing up to the office door and feeling for the handle with his hand. He found it and pulled it open, slipping through. Before he exited he said, “Always a pleasure, Godfather,” then ducked out as Severus slammed the door with magic, trying to catch Draco’s head before he withdrew it. He didn’t.
“He’s fucking her,” Draco said to himself as he walked up the corridor, “I bet every time he climbs on top of her, Hermione wishes she’d taken me up on my offer instead.”
The wizard shook his head and shuddered at bit at the thought of the Potions Master fucking the witch. It must be quite a chore for her. Severus was so blasted ugly. She probably kept her eyes closed and pretended pleasure made her do it.
Draco scowled as he realized Severus had run him out so quickly he didn’t have a chance to inquire about Harry’s rumored return to the living. He hoped it were true. Then that twinge of guilt he’d carried all these years could finally be put to rest. Draco felt that if he had been faster casting the spell to destroy the Dementor that attacked the-boy-who-lived, then Harry would have been left intact. The truth was he couldn’t have been any faster. It happened so quickly.
Well, at least he knew where Hermione was. If he wanted to be a bastard to his godfather, he could let the Prophet know and let him have to deal with the hordes of reporters and curiosity seekers who would turn up outside his house seeking out the witch.
Draco smiled wickedly.
One thousand galleons was mere pocket change to the wizard…but then again…galleons were galleons.
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Hermione spent the week brewing some of the potions Severus had given her, since the Sequentius spell was taking care of the Dementor elixir. She continued to read Damius’ journal, but was more laid back. She had a bit of time now and was showering and eating properly. Subconsciously, she wanted to be in good shape when the Potions Master returned this weekend so she’d be desirable to him. She was feeling quite randy. It had been over a month since they had engaged in sex.
She even went to visit Harry on Wednesday evening. This time the wizard was alone, and they sat and chatted. Hermione couldn’t resist delving into his private life.
“So, have you seen Ginny lately?” Hermione asked him.
Immediately a rather goofy smile appeared on Harry’s face, and his eyes glazed a bit behind his glasses. Hermione fought back a scowl at his expression…it was easy to see he was head-over-heels for Ginny.
“Oh yes. I’ve seen her,” he replied.
“How are things with you two?” Hermione pressed him, wanting to know how he saw his relationship with the promiscuous witch.
“Things are fine. More than fine. Ginny is something else Hermione. A real free spirit. She knows how to open up, and open me up to new experiences. She’s shown me a whole new world,” Harry said earnestly.
Hermione wanted to snort. She knew what kind of “new experiences” Harry was talking about.
“Do you love her, Harry?” Hermione asked him, hoping to gods he said no.
“With all my heart, Hermione,” the wizard replied, his green eyes shining with happiness.
Hermione looked at Harry. She just had to ask.
“Are you exclusive?”
Harry looked at her.
“Sort of,” he replied obliquely.
Hermione frowned.
“How can you be “sort of” exclusive? Either you are or you aren’t,” Hermione said, her nose wrinkling.
Harry looked at Hermione. He knew she wouldn’t approve of the kind of love life he and Ginny had. She was always a little prude. Well, this was his life…and if she didn’t like it, that was just too damn bad.
“Well, Ginny has this friend…more than a friend really. Her name is Gail. She met her about a year after the Dementor had kissed me. Up to that point, Ginny was grieving for Ron and for me and had closed up. She wasn’t seeing anyone, not even living her life. She only went to work and came to see me,” Harry said. “Once in a while she would have lunch at the Three Broomsticks.”
Hermione remembered when Ginny was like this. Hermione thought it was fitting for her to be that way, not running about when Harry was in such a condition.
“Gail had seen Ginny eating alone at the Three Broomsticks for months, and one day she joined her, and the two of them talked and became close friends. She tried to draw Ginny out but it was so difficult to do. She cared about her very much,” the wizard said, “She set Ginny up on a couple of dates to try and get her to live again, and Ginny tried it…even was intimate with a couple of blokes, but eventually…she closed up again. She wanted me. She still loved me,” Harry explained.
“Some way to show she loved you, sleeping with other wizards,” Hermione said, her eyes narrowed. “She should have been faithful.”
Harry gave the witch a black look.
“Hermione, Ginny had no way of knowing I would ever come back. I would have hated to learn that she stopped living because of me. She did in a way, but Gail helped her through it…and I’m grateful for that,” the black-haired wizard said firmly.
Hermione fell silent.
Harry took a deep breath in preparation for what he had to reveal next.
“Ginny cried a lot, a whole lot…and Gail would comfort her…then one night the comforting became…became something more than comfort. Ginny was looking for someone to ease her pain and Gail was there, willing to do it. They became lovers as well as friends, Hermione. Ginny is bi-sexual. She’s been with Gail for six years,” the wizard said. “How could I come between a six-year relationship?”
Hermione frowned.
“You could have left her alone, Harry,” the witch said.
Harry frowned at her.
“Hermione, I made love to Ginny for the first time the night before the Final Battle. When you brought me back, it was as if only a day had passed. I still loved her, Hermione, we shared something beautiful and special…and I love her now. I can’t help it and I don’t want to,” the wizard said.
Hermione felt her heart clutch a bit. Ginny was very lucky to have someone love her and who was not ashamed to say he did. Not afraid to say the words. No wizard had ever told Hermione he loved her. Deep in her heart, Hermione envied Ginny Weasley terribly.
“Harry, how can you love her when she’s been with other wizards…and witches?” Hermione said, unable to let it go.
“Hermione that doesn’t matter. Not when she’s with me. When she’s with me I am the only wizard in the world for her. She’s not seeing any other men now that I am back,” the wizard said.
“Not wizards maybe…but what about Gail?” Hermione asked him.
“Gail is kind of our third wheel,” the wizard admitted. “She’s a very sweet and kind witch, Hermione, and cares about Ginny very much. I couldn’t demand Ginny throw her out of her life when for a while Gail was all that held it together for her. Gail and I both love Ginny, and we’ve both made love to Ginny at the same time…and it was amazing. Sometimes I have sex with Gail too, but we are more like shag-buddies. It’s about physical pleasure. If Ginny and I feel like a bit of fun, we contact Gail and all have a shag together. And it’s good, Hermione. It works for us. And it doesn’t change how I feel about Ginny one bit.”
Hermione hadn’t known Harry was so open about sex, or so accepting. But then again, he was fucking two beautiful women, one who loved him and one who liked him and who both got along, very, very well. For a wizard, it couldn’t get much better than that.
“In fact, I’m thinking about asking Ginny to move in with me,” the wizard said, “Sort of a test run…for marriage.”
Hermione’s eyes widened.
“Marriage, Harry? To Ginny? But…but…” Hermione spluttered.
All right. Romping around the house with Ginny and Gail was one thing…but marrying Ginny? It didn’t seem like a very good idea…love or no love.
“Harry, she’s not suitable for a wife…surely you can see that…” Hermione said. “You need a decent witch to marry…not one who has a witch for a lover and who has been bed hopping throughout the wizarding world doing gods know what for the past six years…”
Harry stiffened, looking over Hermione’s shoulder. His face went white.
Hermione looked over her shoulder to see Ginny standing in the kitchen doorway, her brown eyes looking at her, glistening with unshed tears. She didn’t say anything at all to the witch. Her eyes shifted toward Harry, then she turned around and exited the house.
Harry frowned at Hermione as he quickly stood up.
“Thanks a lot, Hermione. Now go home,” he hissed at her, then ran out of the kitchen behind Ginny. Hermione heard the screen door slam.
Oh shit. Ginny had heard her. Fuckfuckfuck.
Hermione slowly rose, walked out of the kitchen, through the living room and on to the porch. She could see Harry and Ginny facing each other on the beach, Harry talking to Ginny and Ginny shaking her head. Suddenly Harry launched himself at the witch and embraced her in a bear hug. The couple sank down to the ground and rocked together, Harry holding the sobbing witch close protectively, rubbing her back and pressing her head to his shoulder.
Hermione walked down the steps and disapparated.
Neither Harry nor Ginny looked up at the sound of her departure.
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A/N: Wow oh wow. Hermione…that was just…just wrong, girl. Get over yourself and let those two have some happiness after all their pain. If Harry is willing to accept Ginny as she is, why can’t you? Then again, she envies Ginny because Harry loves her. Sigh. I guess no one is perfect. Anyway, that’s angst enough for me right now. Yeesh. Please review.