Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful betas, Ayerf and JunoMagic.

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Chapter 3

Severus enjoyed a nice afternoon soak in the bath. Actually, he preferred showers, but the ancient bathrooms at Grimmauld Place would have protested against the inclusion of such modern Muggle contraptions too much. Or so he suspected, as he hadn't yet remembered to inquire about it.

And in any case, while he was getting stronger by the day, thanks to the nourishing meals – a far cry from the disgustingly thin porridge he'd been served three times a day at St Mungo's – and the care of his hosts, a bath was less taxing. Perhaps also less invigorating, but that didn't exactly matter.

He got out of the bath and dried himself off as well as he could with a towel. He didn't bother with his wand; his magical energy still wasn't up to what it used to be. And drying charms, while handy, did nothing for his hair – lost cause or not, a few extra hours of clean hair felt rather pleasant. So he pulled on a bathrobe and headed for his room.

He expected to find his bed cleaned and made up by Kreacher, and was rather looking forward to getting dressed and spending a few hours in the drawing room, perhaps even in the company of Hermione. Severus dearly hoped he hadn't scared her away the day before, but he hadn't been able to resist ... It was clear that she had an interest in him, and his cunning mind simply couldn't let a chance like this pass. It would be up to her now to decide whether she wanted to play or not.

What he had not expected to find was his two hosts seated on the edge of his bed, looking rather pale but determined as only Gryffindors could.

From the way Harry's jaw was set, his first thought was that something terrible had happened and the youngsters had taken it upon themselves to inform him. Hermione's slight blush spoke of something else, though.

"We were thinking," Harry started, fidgeting with his wand.

Severus's eyebrow went up but he resisted making a comment.

"We were thinking," Hermione picked up where Harry left off, "that we've realised that we both..."

"That we, uh, find you attractive." Harry cleared his throat, keeping his eyes at the threadbare carpet covering the floor.

Severus's other eyebrow went up as well.

Well, well. This was a somewhat unexpected development. Clearly, he didn't know these two as well as he should have.

"And we were thinking..." Hermione's cheeks turned beet red. Severus wondered if he'd ever seen her blush as much as during his stay here in the whole six years he'd spent as her teacher. "That is, I was thinking, that perhaps, if you were interested, you might be, um, interested in both of us? Together?"

From the way she was gripping her wand, Severus suspected that if he gave the wrong answer, she wouldn't hesitate to leave him with no recollection of this conversation.

Wait. Had she just...?

His mind, obviously not as lightning fast as it used to be, needed a few moments to process what he'd just heard.

Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall's pride and joy, and Harry Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World, had just propositioned him. Offering him a chance for a threesome.

Him. Severus Snape.

If this hadn't sounded so impossible, he'd have laughed.

Even knowing that each, separately, had seemed interested ... but there was surely a world of difference between a young woman or a young man having an interest in a quick, never-again-spoken-of affair, and this sort of deliberate, open offer? Even the Death Eaters, who never shied away from anything amoral, didn't go for this sort of thing (unless they did and simply never invited him, a small voice whispered).

He needed to sit down. Fortunately there was a chair only three steps away, where he slumped down ungraciously.

This was ludicrous.

And yet ... they seemed serious, very serious about this. No wonder Potter – Harry – looked like he was preparing to face the Dark Lord again.

Hermione looked as if she was about to lose her nerve, getting twitchy twiddling her wand between her fingers.

Why not? his inner voice suggested. What have you got to lose? You were quite happy about that kiss from Harry the other day, and you've been eyeing Hermione for weeks now ... and here they are, offering themselves to you. No need for guilt, no need to worry about tempting either of them to betray the other ... This way, it would all be honest, and no one would feel cheated on. And it's something you've never had a chance to try before.

He looked at Harry, then at Hermione.

"You are actually serious about this ... proposition, I take it?" he asked slowly.

"Yes," Hermione confirmed, not meeting his eyes.

"And if I said I was interested ... just how do you suggest we go about it?"

Hermione bit her lip, looking a little uncomfortable. "We haven't actually thought about that yet."

Harry kept quiet, squirming a little on the bed. Severus wondered if he was simply embarrassed or if the mere idea – and talking about it – was turning the boy on.

He'd certainly noticed his own cock, which had been feeling lazy and relaxed most of the time since he had regained consciousness, was showing signs of interest. He adjusted the bathrobe subtly and cleared his throat.

"Well, since we're all here now ... I don't have any plans for this evening, and as it's Saturday, I assume that neither of you has any work-related obligations."

Hermione shook her head. Harry followed her example, wide-eyed and speechless.

Severus was feeling ridiculously awkward.

What was the etiquette in cases like this? Was there an etiquette for cases like this? Who was supposed to make the first move? Was anything even supposed to happen right away, or were they to agree that now they all knew of the others being interested, they should have further meetings to discuss this?

He assumed the wise thing would be to take it slow, to get to know one another a bit better ... but on the other hand, the more time passed with his brain trying in vain to process this situation, the more insistent his cock was getting, and really, the best way to go about things would be to jump right in. Not the most Slytherin thing to do, perhaps, but he was thoroughly tired of being cautious and having to plan each step three months ahead.

He got up from his chair and went to the bed, squeezing his lean frame between the two. At least neither of them recoiled from his touch – this was certainly a positive sign.

"Oh, this is stupid!" Hermione exclaimed, to Severus's relief. "Let's just get started. We're three intelligent people here – yes, Harry, you too – and I'm sure we'll figure things out soon enough."

She turned a bit, grabbed her wand and wordlessly enlarged the bed. Once she was done, she gave Severus a light push, indicating that he should lie down. Severus complied happily, not minding a bit. Being ordered around by a woman was most certainly a new experience.

As was being kissed by one.

He'd dreamed of doing it with Lily but never actually had the chance.

This ... Perhaps it was for the best that he had never kissed Lily. Because he very definitely didn't want to compare Hermione to Lily, and if this kiss was anything to go by, Lily might have come out the loser in any case.

His mind was busy cataloguing the various facets of this new experience – the softness of her lips and skin, the lack of stubble, the odd-but-thrilling feeling of breasts squished against his chest – but his mouth and hands didn't need his brain to issue instructions, so he was free to respond to her enthusiasm.

It was only when they stopped, out of breath and flushed, that he realised Hermione's roving hands seemed to have pushed his bathrobe aside at some point.

Turning his attention to their left, he saw that Harry was still sitting where they'd left him, his eyes glued to Severus's erection and his trousers tented.

"Need a hand with that?" Severus smirked. From the way the boy looked, he very much suspected that he needed to exercise some patience with this one – no need to scare him off right away.

~*~*~

Hermione looked at them, grinning, her heart beating wildly. She was nearly dizzy with relief. Approaching Severus had been terrifying, but this was going better than she could have wished.

She reached out her hand and let it run slowly up his thigh, past his penis and across his stomach, enjoying the way his skin, sparsely covered with black hair, felt under her fingers – coarser than any of the boys she'd been with. She hungered to touch his erection, to find out if it was as silky smooth as it looked, to feel the contrast between the hot velvety softness of the skin there and the rough texture of the rest of him, but resisted, waiting for him to decide what to do next.

She didn't have to wait long.

Harry considered Severus's question for a moment, following the movement of her hand with his eyes.

"Yes. Please."

Severus sat up, pulling Hermione up with him. He let his nose trail against her neck and said in a wonderfully soft, low voice, "I hope you don't mind if I turn my attention to our friend over there for a bit."

Hermione could only shake her head.

Severus turned towards Harry.

"It would appear you are a bit, shall we say, overdressed for the occasion."

Harry blushed and pulled off his T-shirt. When he started unbuttoning his jeans, Severus stilled his hand. "Let me."

Hermione's breath hitched as she watched Severus's skilled fingers make quick work of Harry's buttons. When Harry's penis sprung free – he had obviously foregone underwear today – and Severus's hand closed around it, a wave of heat flowed over Hermione, accompanied by a definite sense of wetness that made her squirm a little. She wondered how long she could bear just to watch, as sweet as the feeling of torture was.

Severus was kissing Harry, one hand still around Harry's erection, the other roaming around his body, teasing, caressing, exploring. Harry moaned audibly into Severus's mouth when Severus moved his hand behind him and let it slide lower.

Hermione wasn't even aware of what she was doing when Severus lowered his head and started trailing kisses and light nips along Harry's body. It was only when Severus's mouth covered Harry's glans that she realised she'd half unbuttoned her own jeans, her hand sneaking inside. More than a little mortified, she started pulling it out when it occurred to her that they were, truly, beyond embarrassment.

She was very near her own peak when Severus finally released Harry with a small smile on his face.

"Wow."

Harry took a deep breath.

"Wow."

Severus smirked, looking rather pleased with himself.

He turned to look at Hermione, his smirk widening when he saw what she was doing.

"Patience, Miss Granger, is a virtue," he admonished her, giving Harry one more long, appraising look before turning back towards her. "Now ... I must admit that my knowledge of the female body is somewhat theoretical, but I can assure you that I am a quick learner. So if you would allow me to..."

Theoretical?

It took Hermione a moment to regain her senses and consider his words.

Oh. Should have guessed. Still, he seems eager ...

"With pleasure," she purred, hoping that what she thought of as her seductive voice didn't sound too ridiculous.

He shrugged out of his bathrobe. Hermione followed suit, tugging off her T-shirt and quickly unfastening her bra – no point in letting him deal with that, inexperienced as he was. Jeans next, followed by knickers.

"Socks?"

How could someone look so authoritative even when entirely naked?

Oh. Socks.

Hermione scrambled to take off the socks, too. Damn this weather.

"Better?" she asked with a mere hint of irritation. She'd been so, so very close before, and the lack of release was starting to vex her.

"Much better," he whispered, taking in the sight before him. Hermione's annoyance melted as quickly as it had arisen. Glancing quickly over at Harry to make sure he wasn't having second thoughts – not that he should have, considering what had just happened, but Harry could be unpredictable – she found him quite relaxed on the bed with a wide grin still on his face.

Severus kissed her hard. She could still taste Harry in his mouth, a taste she didn't usually care for, but this time, it didn't bother her. Especially not when he was such a terrific kisser.

He pushed her gently back on the bed. She wriggled a bit to adjust her position, enjoying the feeling of him against her body. His hand slid down her side, thumb flicking over a nipple and sending a shot of heat straight between her legs.

"You don't need to be quite this careful," she murmured. "Gentle is good, but girls don't break any more easily than boys."

"Mmm," he agreed.

Hermione let him explore for a bit but soon grew impatient. Exploring could wait for another time. She gave him a small but firm shove, communicating her intent quite clearly. Severus seemed to have no issues with her being on top. Good – she certainly preferred to be in charge this time.

His sharp intake of breath as she lowered herself onto him made her smile, as did finally feeling him inside her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sense of being filled. It felt so right. He felt so right.

Finding the right angle and establishing a good rhythm took a few moments. Harry had come out of his daze at last and snuck up behind her, turning her head to kiss her, his hands caressing her breasts, while Severus was holding on to her hips.

She quickened her pace when Severus's movements started becoming more forceful and erratic, orgasming just before he did. She'd have collapsed on him if Harry hadn't been holding her; so she just lay back against him, savouring the familiar sense of safety, drained by the feeling of complete and utter bliss.

At least all that build-up, torturous as it had been at times, was good for something, Hermione thought once she was capable of thinking again.

Noticing that she was still on top of Severus, she scrambled off as quickly as she could; with Harry still behind her, this took a bit of effort. She snuggled up against Severus, bringing Harry down on the bed with her.

"This was ... perfect," Severus murmured, tilting his head to look at them.

Hermione turned to Harry, searching for assurance in his eyes, too.

Harry grinned. "Yeah. Can we do this again?"

At this, Hermione felt the last bit of tension leave her.

Severus let out a weary chuckle. "I fear I need to rest and recover for a bit now. As enjoyable as this was, don't forget that I'm still a convalescent. But yes, if Hermione is willing, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to a repeat performance. Perhaps even with a bit of something new thrown in." He raised an eyebrow at Harry, who blushed.

~*~*~

They fell into a comfortable arrangement over the next weeks, spending more time together than apart whenever Harry and Hermione were home.

Even so, the realisation that she was starting to fall in love with both men took Hermione by surprise. She'd never expected to feel more than friendship for Harry, but the way her heart fluttered when she looked at him, happier and more fulfilled than she'd ever seen him before, told her things might be changing. And Severus ... what had started out as respect mixed with curiosity and a purely sexual attraction was well on its way to growing to something else, too.

It was different from what she'd felt for Ron, so very different. The way she missed both of her men when at work, the way she looked forward to evenings and weekends spent at home ... It worried her.

~*~*~

Severus's first venture outside was not wholly successful.

He insisted on going alone. He did not want to feel any more dependant on Harry and Hermione than he already was. And finally he felt strong enough, physically at least, to know that he shouldn't have trouble managing a few hours at Diagon Alley.

What he hadn't expected was how agitated all that the attention made him. The way people stared. The way they whispered. The way children pointed at him. The way no one would address him directly, apart from the shopkeepers.

It hadn't even been two hours yet, and he wanted to go home.

Home.

Home to Grimmauld Place, he realised.

Home to Harry and Hermione.

~*~*~

"I saw Kingsley today," Harry said later that day. He looked glum.

Hermione didn't like the way he sounded. Hard. Edgy.

Severus put his book down.

"He said the Ministry has at last found a suitable place for you." Harry looked at Severus. "And that as he understands you're not in need of constant care any more, you are welcome to move in right away."

So, that was it then.

Hermione bit her lip to avoid bursting out with anything ridiculously foolish and embarrassing.

From the way he was staring at the floor, Harry evidently had the same problem.

She'd been hoping ... Well, she'd been naïve to hope anything. Severus had enjoyed the sex and perhaps even the company, but he'd never ... Not that either she or Harry had ever talked about their feelings, either. Or about the future. Not that she knew for certain what Harry's feelings were, but she was reasonably sure that they were similar to her own, at least regarding Severus.

Severus cleared his throat, looking rather uncomfortable.

"I ... Well. That is good news. You two have been kind enough to put up with me for this long. I'm sure you'll be welcoming the return to normal life."

A corner of his mouth twitched. "As for our arrangement ... perhaps you can come for a visit, sometimes. If you want to."

Harry's head jerked up at that. Hermione was taken aback by the sudden flash of anger in his eyes.

"Is that all this was for you then?" he yelled, getting up. "Just sex? A quick shag now and then? We 'put up with you', as you put it, because we wanted to, not because we had to! I CARE for you! As much as I care for Hermione! I don't..."

He swiped at the tears falling down his cheeks.

"Oh, fuck this. I'll get Kingsley to Floo you with the address and whatever. You can start packing for all I care."

He would have stormed out of the room if Severus hadn't got up and blocked the door.

"Potter, you're an idiot!" He grabbed Harry by his shoulders and shook him. "I don't want to leave. I never wanted to leave! I never asked you to get Kingsley to arrange a new home for me! I never expected anything – I didn't expect anyone to put up with me, or this to happen, or starting to care for you!"

Severus turned and looked at Hermione who'd jumped up as well. "Nor for you. I don't ... I have no right to expect anything else of you, either of you, but if you feel the same way as Harry does ..."

"Yes."

Severus wouldn't leave. Harry wouldn't break.

Indescribable relief flooded her.

She walked up to them, slowly, and pulled Severus's head down for a kiss, hoping it would express everything that she couldn't, yet, put into words. Releasing him, she and turned to Harry, kissing his tear-streaked face as well.

~*~*~

"I know it's not conventional," she said later, wedged between her two dark-haired, temperamental men, "but I think this will work. I don't want to be without either of you."

Harry planted a kiss on her hair before caressing Severus's cheek.

"Who will break the news to Kingsley?"

"Can't we just tell him that I do still need care?" Severus asked, turning towards Hermione. "A lot of tender, loving care."

"What, and avoid shocking the whole wizarding world?" Hermione smirked, letting her hand slide over the insistently hopeful hardness poking at her hip. "Just think of Rita Skeeter fainting when she finds out about this."

Harry grimaced. "I was just getting ready for another round and you had to mention Skeeter! Now look at what you did! It's gone all limp and curled up and trying to hide away."

Severus quirked an eyebrow, bending over to squint at Harry's little problem.

"Oh dear. Well, there's plenty of time for more."

"Quite," Hermione agreed and leaned over for another kiss.

The End.