Chapter Six: Making a Choice

Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just taking them for a wee walk on the naughty side.

Chapter Six: Making a Choice

Hermione turned the heat down under the bacon and checked the Warming Charm on the scrambled eggs as she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. Without a word, she passed one of the vials of Hangover Potion to Harry as he staggered through the door, face pale and eyes bloodshot.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver," he grunted as he downed the potion in one swig. Sitting at the table, Harry rested his head on his hands for a few moments until, with a sigh of relief, he looked up. "That's better. Holy Merlin, did we really drink that much?" He eyed the collection of empty bottles on the bench with disbelief.

"We certainly did. Do you remember anything about last night?" Hermione asked with a grin.

"Not a thing. Well, I remember... oh, bloody hell, did I really show Severus your...?" Harry groaned and hid his face.

"You did. Although he appeared to be enjoying the view, so I suppose I should thank you." Hermione swallowed a smile as she asked, "So, do you remember when you danced naked on the coffee table and propositioned Severus?"

Harry's face lost any colour it had gained from the Hangover Potion. "I did what?" he squeaked.

"Oh, it was a fine show, first the striptease and then the dance. You really had him interested."

"Leave the poor boy alone and hand me some of that potion, Granger." Severus entered the kitchen, swallowed the potion, and patted Harry on the shoulder. "I believe something as memorable as the Boy Wonder here performing a striptease would not have escaped my memory. She's just playing with you, Potter. The only striptease you did was when we put you to bed."

Smirking at the red cheeks of the younger wizard, Severus accepted a plate of food from a giggling Hermione and started to eat.

"Herm, please tell me he didn't put me to bed. I promise I'll cook all next week," Harry pleaded.

"Don't worry, Harry. He didn't see anything. If I remember correctly, he was having enough trouble getting himself into his bedroom to bother with what was in your trousers. And, just between you and me, he couldn't even manage the pyjamas."

Severus's hand stilled as he reached for more bacon. Memories of the night before flooded his mind as his body responded to internal images of Hermione's barely covered breasts and sweet, soft lips. "It appears I owe you an apology, Hermione. My behaviour last night was reprehensible."

The rigidity of his posture and sudden change of demeanour reinforced Hermione's decision not to stay the night before. Tone light and teasing, she soothed, "Don't be sorry, Severus. I'm not. You did nothing wrong. Now, eat your breakfast before it gets cold. You too, Harry."

Subdued, the three finished the meal in silence. As Severus prepared to leave, Hermione nudged Harry.

"Severus?"

"Yes, Harry?" Severus turned to face the younger wizard.

"We had a good time last night. You will come again?"

Severus glanced at Hermione, who nodded reassurance.

"What Harry is trying to say, Severus, is that we enjoyed your company and would love to have you again some time... er... have you back, I mean." She blushed at the slight smirk her words engendered.

"I'll look forward to coming." The smirk grew wider as the blush grew deeper. Stepping forward to place a chaste kiss on her cheek, Severus opened the door and left his hosts to contemplate exactly what he had meant.

One month, five decent meals, twenty-three bottles of fine wine, twelve Hangover Potions, two really bad movies, one hundred and sixty-seven innuendos, and three almost-shagged-but-chickened-out moments later, Severus, Hermione, and Harry were draped in relatively mild degrees of inebriation over the furniture in the sitting room at Grimmauld Place.

"You know, we really ought to stop doing this," mumbled Harry.

"What, slouching?" Severus sat up straighter for a moment, then slumped back into his previous relaxed position.

"No, you pillock. Drinking so much. I'm sure it's not healthy."

"Who cares? Well, they might care about you two, but I'm sure no-one gives two Knuts if the nasty ex-Death Eater drinks himself to oblivion." Snape looked at his almost-empty wine glass and scowled. "Where'd you put that bottle? I'd better get on with it."

"Oh, stop being such a defeatist, Severus. You have two obnoxious Gryffindors who care about you. What more can a wizard need?" Hermione scolded.

Severus studied his glass once more. "Power, wealth, respect, love... oh, and plenty of sex."

Hermione suddenly jumped up from her armchair and wedged herself beside him on the couch. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face in his chest. "Mmmphmmppbbrrrmpph, idiot!"

Harry snorted into his wine. "I don't know about you, Sev, but I've never learned East African Wafflesnuff. What do you think she just said?"

The dark wizard looked down at the mane of hair now resting on his stomach. "I don't know, but if she slips any lower, I'm sure I would find enlightenment."

Harry sighed. "Lucky you. Although, I think you have an unfair advantage."

"How so?"

"Well, she's already seen me naked. Nothing left to discover. You're the mystery man under all those layers." He deliberately raked his gaze over the older man's body.

"You've...?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. Don't you realise she's trying to decide between us? Problem is she can't make up her mind. And she won't do anything until she does."

Hermione smiled to herself as she worked her way down into Severus's lap where a promising bulge nudged her cheek. Turning her head and placing a firm kiss on the area of interest, she sat up, taking care to leave her hand where her face been. A harsh gasp rewarded her efforts as she rejoined the conversation. "I'm still here, you know."

"So I've noticed." Severus groaned as the hand in his lap squeezed and kneaded.

"Me, too." Harry's eyes glazed over as he watched the rhythmic movement of his friend's hand. "Gods, Hermione, I'm not sure whether I want to be in Sev's place... or yours." Closing his eyes and tipping his head back onto the back of the chair, Harry cheeks turned scarlet. "Fuck, did I just say that out loud?"

"Interesting comment, Harry. Would you care to enlighten us further?" Severus's deep voice caressed the air between them as the younger man opened his eyes to find himself face to face with naked desire.

"I... I..." As he struggled to find the right words, Harry found himself drawn to the other couch where Hermione took his hand and laid it in Severus's lap. Green eyes met black once again, and a question was exchanged. A tiny nod gave permission, and Harry's hand explored, for the first time, another man's arousal. It was a heady experience.

"Do you think I really need to choose?" a low voice murmured in his ear as his own erection was stroked through too many layers of fabric. Harry had no idea whose hand was on his groin, but his own moved faster in response.

"Choose? Why choose?" Severus answered the question for both men.

"I was hoping you'd say that," Hermione replied as the two wizards' lips finally met in a heated kiss. Licking her own lips, Hermione felt her own arousal crescendo as tongues explored, mouths suckled, and hands swiftly released buttons to allow direct contact of skin on skin. "Merlin, I knew that would be hot," she whispered.

Dragging his mouth away from Harry's demanding lips, Severus reached for the witch beside him. "Well, woman, are you going to join us some time this evening?"

Hermione smiled, decision finally made, and took each man by the hand. Gently pulling them to their feet, she led them upstairs to her bedroom to continue their activities in a more comfortable environment.

Naked, of course.

It had taken more than a few moments of embarrassment and several handy reference books, complete with diagrams, before the new threesome had figured out exactly what went where in any given configuration. Neither Severus nor Harry had previously had any experience with other men, but having a naked, sexy witch issuing instructions as she watched their explorations definitely added to the experience.

"Boys?"

"Mmm, yes, dear?" Harry lifted his head and tried to concentrate.

Severus cracked open one eye and scowled. "Do you have to do that, Potter?"

"What?"

"Allow her to interrupt a perfectly pleasant post-coital snooze with conversation."

"Oh, that. Yes, I do actually. Trust me, it's the only way."

"Oh, very well. Yes, Hermione beloved, what is it you wish to discuss?" A slap on his exposed arse was her only reply.

"Now look what you've done. I should slap you myself," Harry muttered.

"Promises, promises." Severus smirked.

"You two are hopeless," the witch between them complained. "I only wanted to suggest it was time we went public."

"Hermione! We are not having sex in public!" Harry scolded, face pink.

"Perhaps she's offering to hide under the table at the next Ministry Ball and pleasure us during the speeches. That would certainly make that ridiculous affair worth attending."

Harry grinned. "Or we could..."

Hermione rewarded them both with an elbow to the ribs. "Idiots! I meant it was time we announced our relationship. I'm sick of making excuses to avoid Draco's pitiful matchmaking attempts. Why he is so interested in my love life is beyond me. We all know we love each other; it's time everyone else knew."

"What about your job? My reputation will surely cast aspersions on your integrity," Severus cautioned.

"Fuck the job. I'm handing in my resignation, anyway. I've had a brilliant idea."

"Brace yourself, Sev. She's been plotting again. Not on that! Mmm, on second thoughts, brace away."

"Pay attention, Harry. This involves you."

"That's what I was afraid of." He consoled himself with reciprocating the pleasure being given by the lean hand on his groin.

"Severus, you hate your job, right?"

"With every fibre of my being. Why?"

"I feel the same way."

"I don't hate mine," Harry interrupted.

"That's okay, Harry. We only need your money."

"Oh. That's all right then, I think."

"Where was I? That's right. Now, Severus and I hate our jobs. He's one of the best Potions masters in Britain. With me so far, boys?"

"Ye-esss." Severus replied.

"I did pretty well in Potions at Hogwarts." Severus received another elbowing before he had a chance to open his mouth. "And, more importantly, people don't have any stupid, blind prejudice against my name."

"True. So, what are you suggesting?" Severus's interest was piqued, despite himself.

"I propose we set up a Potions laboratory here. Severus will brew, I'll do the selling and assist Severus, and Harry, darling, your name will be the draw card to bring the customers in."

"Won't going public with our relationship make it a little obvious that Sev is the expertise behind the business?"

"Exactly, but who's going to dare denigrate the lover of Harry Potter, Slayer of Voldemort, Boy Who Lived, Auror, and..."

"Enough, woman! His head will never fit out the door. I can see your logic, and quite frankly, if using Harry's name enables me to brew something more challenging than Burn Paste and Haemorrhoid Lotion and work in a decently equipped laboratory, I'm your man."

"Oh, you're definitely our man, darling," Hermione purred as she reached for the busy hands of her lovers and replaced them with her own.

DAILY PROPHET: May 25th 2003

The relationship between Hermione Granger, Severus Snape, and Harry Potter was also one of the topics Ms Granger was unwilling to discuss. After the debacle caused by our previous reporter, Rita Skeeter, upon their triadic relationship coming to public attention two years ago, the three have been very reluctant to discuss any details with the wizarding press. From all accounts, they remain happily together living at the Potter residence.

Severus threw the Prophet down onto the table. "I suppose they had to mention our private relationship. I thought the novelty of Snape the Death Eater joining forces with two-thirds of the Golden Trio would have worn off by now."

Harry snorted. "Joining forces? I think it was the thought of us all having hot monkey sex together that fascinated the wizarding public."

"I don't know about them, but the thought of us all having hot monkey sex has me rather interested." Severus grabbed his green-eyed lover and pulled him close for a heated kiss. After several minutes of lips clashing, tongues tangling, and hips grinding, he pulled away and rested his head on Harry's forehead. Breathing heavily, he gasped out, "Do you think Hermione would mind if we started without her?"

"Started what without me?" the witch in question asked as she brushed Floo powder off her robes.

"Hot monkey sex." Harry reclaimed Severus's lips while his hands began unfastening buttons.

Hermione's lascivious expression had both wizards shifting uncomfortably as their trousers became tight. "You do realise, boys, it has long been a fantasy of mine to come home and find you both hot, naked, and ready for action." Her eyes raked over both men's bodies, returning to the area of most interest, passion flaring as she noted their response.

"Oh, Merlin, I think I'll come in my boxers if she keeps that up," groaned Harry.

"Not before I'm finished with you," growled Severus, dragging Harry's shirt out of his waistband and releasing him from his trousers.

The sight of Severus on his knees before Harry, sucking and licking him to ecstasy had Hermione reaching for her wand. First, she blocked the Floo from any unexpected visitors, and then with a flick, several layers of annoying clothes disappeared as she rendered both wizards and herself naked.

"Ahh. Thanks, love," Harry managed between moans.

"Mmm. Improves the view no end," she replied, running her fingers down Severus's now exposed back and over his firm backside. Reaching lower, she found the object of her desire: hot, naked, and ready for action, as requested. He bucked under her hand, generating an oath from the wizard before him. "I think it's time to take this upstairs, don't you?"

"Yes, dear," the two men replied as one.

The End

A/N: This was written as a gift for southern_witch_69 in the SSHG Exchange 2010 on LiveJournal.

Many thanks to my beta, karelia.