Chapter 13

After seeing the triad out and promising to call on them soon, Hermione, Draco and Lucius returned to the parlour. Hermione felt a little out of sorts from the meeting. She felt like she knew even less than before, and that was a disconcerting sensation.

She took a seat on the armchair. She felt better sitting beside Draco or Lucius, but she needed time to think about what had passed. On one hand, the heated kisses the three had shared before their guests had arrived enflamed her; it had felt so right, not awkward or unequal. That same hand was proffering the idea of wandless magic, something very few witches or wizards could claim to be able to do.

On the other hand... Thello had seemed so desperately unhappy, and it pained her to even think that one of them would ever be so lonely. It didn't seem fair, and it was breaking her compassionate heart. Thello had said triads were about power first and love second, but Hermione didn't want that. She hadn't guarded her heart so voraciously over the years just to give up on it and settle for a relationship based on anything but love.

She needed answers. From her wizards, this time.

Lucius had freshened her tea, and she sipped it thoughtfully.

"Lucius, did you know Celeste and Thello have never been intimate?"

Draco took a moment to catch on to her meaning, but when he did, his face shone with enlightenment.

"I was aware of that particular facet of their relationship, yes."

"Would you and Draco ever be intimate?"

Draco spluttered and Hermione couldn't help but smile. He was so very easy to rile. But she really did want an answer.

Lucius sighed. "Insofar as there must be a certain level of intimacy between two men sharing one woman, I suppose so. If you're asking if we'll ever have sex..."

"Uh, no! Sorry, Father, but no. Just no." Draco looked like he wished he'd kept his mouth shut, but Lucius nodded.

"That answers that, I suppose."

Hermione chewed her lip. "And are we going to 'come out' as a triad? I hate the thought of one of you being left out like that. It would mean the one who wasn't public could never date me, or hold my hand in public... I don't like the thought of that." She shook her head to emphasize her point.

Draco leaned forward. "But what would be better? Publically dating only one, or being subjected to rumour and conjecture about our unusual relationship?"

Lucius added, "Despite the fact that Draco and I are related, it is you, Hermione, who may bear the brunt of public scrutiny. The press especially are notoriously ruthless about women who have more than one partner."

Hermione expounded, "But that's ridiculous! It's not as though we really chose it, is it? Our magic did! And triads are extremely powerful. They should be jealous, not hateful!"

"They would be hateful because they are jealous, Hermione," the younger Malfoy told her.

Lucius hesitated before deciding his words needed to be said. "And while the magic did choose the type of relationship, it bases its possibilities on the actual desires of the members. Hermione, you wanted us both and your magic recognized its mates in ours."

Hermione was confused. "But Celeste's magic would never have chosen Thello's to be paired with!"

Draco shook his head. "No, but Michael's would have. Celeste isn't the head of that triad, though she certainly acts it. Michael is."

"So, I'm the head of our triad?"

"Of course," Lucius said.

"I would rather deal with the public than have one of you have to hide your feelings for me and vice versa. It wouldn't be right. And I've dealt with the media since I was just a child. If they know what's good for them, they'll be smart about it." She menacingly punched one fist into the palm of her other hand and smirked widely.

Both Malfoys laughed. This waifish little sprite threatening to take on Wizarding Media bare-handed did not surprise them in the least.

"Malfoys are raised to deal with publicity. We can handle this without resorting to fisticuffs, I'm sure."

Draco groaned. "Okay, Father, if we're going to be spending so much time together, Hermione and I will need to teach you some modern terminology."

Hermione snorted. "But I like his old fashioned ways!" she protested.

Lucius raised an eloquent eyebrow. "Old fashioned? Indeed?"

Recognizing she was circling a possible sore spot, Hermione left her perch on the armchair and sat beside Lucius on the sofa. She gently cupped his cheek with her hand.

"Not old fashioned. Not really. Formal. Gentlemanly." She impressed her words with a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, and Lucius looked suitably placated.

Draco pouted, and she gave him a gentle kiss as well. With both Malfoys sufficiently wrapped around her pinkie, Hermione leaned back, satisfied. This might not be so hard after all.

"I have a question," Draco announced. They looked at him expectantly, and he leered.

"How does the sex work?"

It was a good question, Hermione couldn't fault that. The delivery could have used a little work. Lucius cleared his throat and asked, "In what capacity, exactly? I'm assuming you know the basics?"

Draco glared at his smirking father and continued. "I mean, when Hermione moves in, who does she sleep with? What if I want alone time with her, Father, or vice versa? What if I'd like to take her to Muggle London or a concert? Do we...are we...?" He seemed to have lost his bravado, but Hermione rubbed his knee encouragingly, and he blurted, "Will we all have sex at the same time?"

Hermione dropped her face into her hands. It really was more complicated than it seemed at face value. She had, of course, thought about making love to both of them at the same time, but she'd assumed it would be more of a 'one at a time' scenario. She wasn't sure how a threesome would work... physiologically.

Lucius thankfully took the reins. "I think that depends on all of us. Hermione will certainly have her own room. If she's not comfortable with... sharing.... we can take turns visiting her, I suppose." He paused. "This conversation is most perplexing."

Hermione piped in, sensing her men were losing their nerve. "Since this seems to be mostly about me, maybe I could decide." She thought for a moment. "What are you two comfortable with? Um, regarding threesomes?"

Draco assured her whatever she wanted was fine, and Lucius said he was certainly not averse to the idea.

He added, "I suspect that is actually the purpose of the triad. The more I think on it, the more I suspect Celeste, Michael and Thello were not the best example of a triad to learn from. Since our magic is most in control when we are all together, it naturally follows that we were meant to all be together sexually," he raised a hand to stave off Draco's objection. "Through Hermione, Draco. For Merlin's sake, please stop acting like I'll take any excuse to ravish you. You're not that pretty."

Draco crossed his arms petulantly. "That's not what I was going to say." But since he did not elaborate on what he was going to say, Hermione and Lucius could only assume it was indeed what he had been about to cut in with.

Hermione smiled. Draco pouting was half annoying and half adorable. She kissed him firmly on the lips, pulling away when he began to respond. "I think you're pretty," she whispered in his ear.

His grin was feral, and Hermione gulped. She was immediately drawn into his unyielding embrace and kissed quite thoroughly. Lucius looked on amusedly.

"I'll show you pretty, you little vixen!" Draco declared before sucking unrelentingly on her neck, marking her decidedly. Though he was teasing her, his lips thrilled her, and her head fell back in pleasure. He broke away and admired his handiwork.

"Maybe one day you can tattoo your name on her behind, Draco, you caveman." Draco looked a little too interested in the idea and Hermione's eyes widened. Lucius kissed the dazed young woman softly before rising.

"I have a meeting now, but I'll be back around dinnertime. Hermione, will you be accompanying us?"

She nodded.

"A work meeting?" Draco inquired.

Lucius sighed. "Unfortunately. You two are not the only ones who continually seek budget adjustments, and I'm the bearer of bad news yet again. It promises to be most unpleasant. Take good care of her, Draco." His son nodded his assurance, and Hermione glowered at the implication that she could not take good care of herself, before she remembered what she'd said moments ago: Gentlemanly.

Lucius then bent to kiss Hermione while Draco watched. His father definitely had good technique, and Hermione seemed very affected. The kiss lingered on, making Draco impatient. He could excuse himself, letting them have a private moment, but Draco wasn't the most sporting type, especially since, at this very moment, he was planning on how to seduce Hermione in his father's absence.

It wasn't that he was afraid Lucius would disapprove. And what he was feeling upon watching their kiss wasn't really jealousy, just impatience. Draco couldn't help but feel awkward at being with the same girl as his father. And it was Lucius' fault that Draco had never been taught to share well with others, anyway, so he had only himself to blame. Nevermind that he had no real qualms with sharing, not when he was really honest with himself, but the magic had already put his pursuit of Hermione on pause once...he didn't want to risk that happening again. He had to wonder if he was going to be cockblocked by magic every time Lucius had to catch up with him.

If that was the case, Draco meant to make the most of tonight. Because from the way this impossibly long kiss was going, Lucius wasn't pulling his punches when it came to their little bookfox (because bookwork just didn't bring the right images to mind).

Lucius finally broke the kiss, and Draco had to look away from the heat in his father's visage. He definitely wasn't comfortable will all aspects of the triad, and seeing his dad with a raging erection was one of them. But Lucius only kissed Hermione's hand and went to leave.

Lucius paused at the door. "About what we were talking about before; I think we can both have time alone with Hermione as well as time together." He nodded decisively and swept into the Floo to attend to his business.

"Hear that?" Draco murmured against Hermione's neck. "Daddy said it was okay..." He nipped her throat.

Hermione's eyes widened. Draco saying that word, even teasingly. Whoa. Dirty, dirty thoughts.

Draco's kisses left her breathless for a few moments, and when he pulled away, she needed a moment to focus before she could understand that he was talking to her.

"Hermione?" She nodded for him to go on.

"When will you be moving in?"

Another good question posed by the deliciously hopeful Young Malfoy. She did love her apartment, even though it was expensive for what it was, and it was inconvenient both in layout and in location. But it was hers.

"I don't know, Draco. This is moving faster than I expected, and I do like my privacy."

He nibbled her earlobe, words ghosting into her ear, causing her to shiver. "But you want this, right?" He pulled back to see her eyes. "And you'll be here all the time anyway. I assure you, I'm quite insatiable, and I probably come by it honestly. You'll never have a moment to yourself, if we can help it." She laughed breathlessly as his hands roamed over her thigh to her hip. She could see his eyes become serious. "If you know this is what you want, what's the point in waiting? This is forever, Hermione. A few more weeks or months won't prepare you any further. I want you here. I know my father does as well. You belong with us, love."

His words were quite convincing, almost as much as the firm pressure of his hands on her body, creating heat in heretofore un-erotic areas.

Seeing she was almost convinced, he prepared to hammer the final nail. "Here, you'll have a suite of rooms larger than your own apartment, anyway." And here it comes: "And think of the money you could donate to your charities with what you'll save on rent."

Her eyes widened with the possibilities and Draco internally cheered. He was not the only predictable one in this relationship.

Celebrating his victory, Draco kissed a trail along her collarbone. He would never tire of her sweet taste, like honey and brown sugar. It was intoxicating and addictive, and he planned on feasting upon it.

Hermione reclined on the sofa in abandon. His words had been liquid persuasion, and she'd drunk deeply. Now she could only enjoy his ministrations.

He kissed her until her lips were swollen and reddened, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dazed, half wild with lust. Just as he best liked to see her, he was beginning to realize.

Then, with perfect Malfoy timing, he told her it was time for dinner, and stood up, infuriatingly steady on his feet. He helped her up, pretending not to see the slight stumble to her steps. If he'd had more time, Draco would have properly ravished her, but given the tentativeness of their new relationship, he hardly thought his father coming back from his meeting to Hermione and Draco in flagrante delicto would be the ideal first time.