Chapter 3

No matter how angry she was, Hermione just couldn't bring herself to slam open the door to the library, even though she really wanted to. She stalked up to Irma Pince's desk, hair crackling, hands fisted and a grimace on her face instead of a smile. "Good morning, Irma. Do you have a book on the true story of Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere? I've been directed to it by Professor Malfoy."

Hermione was taken aback when Irma smiled. "I was wondering when you were going to ask about that."

"Really, why?"

"I'm observant, my dear. I've seen the way the Headmaster has been nosing around you, and seeing how the former Mrs. Malfoy was ranting at her relatives' portraits, Headmaster Black has informed us all that Mr. Malfoy is single again. I can put two and one together quite well, you know."

"I do know, Irma. But after all of this settles, I'm going to demand that a class on wizarding culture get added to the curriculum. I truly hate all this societal knowledge floating around me. It is very off-putting."

"I know, dear. But you often charge in to situations without researching. There are quite a few things that general good manners do not cover. There aren't very many etiquette books out there because the families were expected to teach their children, but we have a lot of stories and legends that provide the basis for a lot of the mores, especially the very ingrained ones that make wizarding culture so very different from Muggle. Good manners appear to be universal, but beliefs and traditions often have a basis in what you would term mythology."

"My apologies, Irma."

"For what, my dear?"

"I often forget just how learned you must be. Thank you. I appreciate how kindly you just pointed that out instead of making me feel inferior. You have given me a concrete research subject. Could you please add some books you believe would help me in this endeavor?"

"Most certainly, Hermione. Hold on one second." Irma raised her wand and waved it in an intricate pattern. Hermione watched in awe as a few books flew from the shelves and arranged themselves neatly on the desk in front of her. The sheer breadth of knowledge Madam Pince had of what was in the library was astounding.

"Thank you, Irma," Hermione said as she picked up the stack of books. She turned and walked back out of the library, only to bump into Harry, who figured he would find her in her favorite place.

"Sorry, 'Mione!" Harry apologized as he carefully caught the two books that fell off the top of her pile.

"It's OK, Harry. I'm glad to see you! Let's take these books to my quarters, and I can explain a bit more about the situation, all right?"

"Sure." Harry was studying the books he caught. "Why are you reading about Camelot, Druid rituals and the mythology of multiple-marriages?"

"I'll explain that too. I could probably use another opinion. Just promise me you won't start ranting, OK?"

"I have a few things to tell you, as well. I think we can say we should mutually not rant. How's that sound?"

"It sounds interesting. I agree."

They laughed and walked down the corridor, toward the staircase that would lead to her rooms.

Draco grabbed his broom and almost ran out to the Quidditch pitch. He wanted to kick himself. I always forget that she doesn't know things the way I expect her to. She understands so much, but she never learned the histories and mythology that we all take for granted. "Well, she's a smart girl. She'll figure it out."

"Who will figure what out?"

Draco almost jumped out of his skin. "Oh, it's you, Red. Good to see you again. I take it you are responding to an owl? In answer to your question: Hermione. She will figure out that it is just fine for two wizards to pursue her together."

"That is excellent! Ron is going to just about burst out of his skin. And trust me, he deserves it... Do tell, which two wizards?"

"Ginevra Weasley, you don't expect me to gossip, now, do you?" Draco had drawn himself up, looked down his nose, and drawled in his best aristocratic tones.

Ginny looked at him, ready to rip into him, and then realized the corner of his upper lip was twitching. She threw her head back and laughed.

"When did you get so funny, Draco?"

"I've always been funny. You just didn't realize it."

She thought about it for a bit, then shrugged her shoulders in a noncommittal assent. "Were you out here to fly?" Ginny nodded her head at his broom.

"Yes, I need the wind to clear my head."

"Would you mind some company? I had come out to fly as well. Harry went to find Hermione, and I'm sure that they will take a while catching up, considering what's been going on with him."

"Do tell, Ginevra." Draco smiled as he parroted her earlier comment.

"Not on your life, Draco. Let's fly!"

He nodded, and mounting his broom, he shot into the sky with Ginny following close behind. Had anyone looked out of the castle, they would have witnessed some amazing aerial acrobatics.

Severus and Lucius returned to the Headmaster's Office rather stunned by the turn of events.

They had just walked in the door when Severus picked up a paperweight made of glass and flung it at Dumbledore's portrait. "You have caused no end of trouble by not allowing the Muggle-borns to be taught wizarding culture, old man. If she is not appeased by her research, I am going to burn your portrait... with you in it!"

"Now, now, Severus. Miss Granger is a very bright little witch. She will realize your intentions are honorable soon enough. Although I would prefer if you do not bind me to this portrait if you plan to entertain her here."

"You did say I could choose your penance for forcing me to kill you, Albus. It isn't my fault you were impotent when that portrait was painted."

"I had to shove the shepherdesses right out of their painting to use the cooling river near their pasture after last night, Severus. They didn't want to leave!"

Albus looked quite put out when Lucius started laughing and left his portrait in a huff when Severus joined him.

"Oh, Merlin, Severus. That was an absolutely brilliant punishment. However did you figure out he was impotent when the portrait was painted?"

"Potter."

"Excuse me? The same Potter you once claimed was born just to make you miserable?"

Severus glared at Lucius in an attempt to quell his amusement, but realized his long-time love was having far too much fun for that, so he began to explain. "Albus kept calling for Potter, in the hopes of making us friends, but I would leave when they would start talking. Partway through this exercise in futility, Potter gave me a coin that Hermione had charmed; it had been the youngest Weasley's, and he would call me if there was anything interesting going on in the conversation. I would listen outside the door. I learned that boy was misused and mistreated far more than I had considered, but I also learned some of the old coot's secrets. When he discovered what Potter was doing, they had an argument. Potter hasn't been to the office since."

"I had wondered when you began to tolerate him and why. That does explain a lot. I was a bit bothered by you keeping secrets."

"Lucius, I never thought there would be a reason for you to interact with Potter, or I would have told you. You didn't react well when Draco pursued a friendship with him. I did not need that from you regarding our new and rather fragile truce." Lucius nodded. It was something they were going to have to learn to change, this desire to keep aspects of their lives separate from each other.

Severus saw that Lucius accepted his explanation, so he continued to speak. "He also learned a charm that would make Albus's lemon drops taste like frog slime for twenty-four hours. I sent him a long letter of memories of his mother for that one."

Lucius contemplated that for a little while. "That is almost Slytherin. So was the way he freed that horrid little Dobby. Is there anything else I should know?"

The blond was shocked when the Sorting Hat answered. "You need to befriend him or at least gain his trust if you wish this courtship to proceed. He will come up here after he learns of Professor Granger's misgivings. You must not play your usual games with him. One of his problems with the Slytherin way of doing things is that it reminds him of the worst of his uncle and cousin. Through his friendship with your son, he is learning that isn't true, but he still will want some sort of reassurance he can count on."

Severus broke in. "Thank you, Alain. I appreciate your candor."

"I live to serve, Headmaster. And you don't mind my conversation." The hat appeared to go back into its resting state while Lucius and Severus sat together on the couch in front of the fire, hands entwined, deep in thought.

"So, what's been going on, Harry?"

"You first, 'Mione... I need to get my courage up before I tell you."

"Harry, you know nothing you can tell me will make me stop being your friend."

"True, you are a much better friend than Ron. But you first, please, OK?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine. I find myself attracted to both Severus and Lucius, and I think they are interested back, but I saw them touching, no, nothing salacious, but it is obvious that they are 'together,' and now I don't know. Draco says I should read about Camelot, the 'true' story, and then Irma gave me these other books to read. I really would like someone I don't scare to love me, you understand, don't you?"

"Wow, Hermione. I think you said that all in one breath!"

Hermione whacked him across the back of the head.

Harry smiled sheepishly. "Oi!" Hermione glared at him. "Sorry, 'Mione. I just thought that was funny. So, let me get this straight: you have fallen for the banes of our childhood, and you aren't sure they are interested back because they are in a sexual relationship?"

Hermione nodded.

"Makes what I have to tell you a bit less of a shock, then."

Hermione growled at him.

Harry laughed, then ducked as her hand came toward him again. "What do I think of two of the most powerful wizards I've ever met pursuing my best friend, the closest thing I have to family on this earth? I think you need to read the true story of Camelot. And then believe me when I say I don't think they are toying with you."

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "OK, I need to read that book. And probably these others. But you are certain, Harry?"

"Yes, I am. I don't think that Severus knows how to play with a witch using himself as bait anyway." He and Hermione shared a smile. "By the way, I'm so sorry you felt you had to choose sides after my trip to Romania."

"Ron was an idiot. You should have heard him after I told him you weren't the only one who had slept with Charlie."

Hermione giggled as Harry goggled at her.

"You too?"

Hermione just giggled again.

Harry grinned. "I bet he never thought we would say anything to each other. We should write him a letter."

"Yes, especially if you liked that thing he does with that pierced tongue of his as much as I did. But you've gotten off the subject."

Harry tapped his foot nervously before he began to speak. "Remember when I told you I was going to Turkey? Well, you'll never guess who I ran into there – Luna. Well, one thing sort of led to another, and we ended up spending the night together. I sort of just put it to the back of my mind as, you know, 'Wow, that was great but obviously she doesn't want to go anywhere with this...,' and yes, I still like witches too."

Hermione looked like she was about to speak, so Harry gently touched her leg to stop her.

"I need to get this out all at once." Hermione nodded. "Anyway, when I got to Sophia, I ran into her again. The attraction was still there, on both sides." Harry laughed to himself a bit. "Remember how blunt she can be? We were having drinks when she just blurts out that she thinks I should come with her and see if I'm compatible with her other lover, Viktor."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Viktor Krum? He mentioned something about a relationship he wanted to tell me about the last time he wrote!"

Harry grinned. "Well, that would be me and Luna then. I decided to take a chance and trust Luna's instincts – she's a bit odd but she's got great instincts. Anyway, the three of us have been together for a couple months now."

"And you couldn't tell me this earlier?" Hermione looked hurt. "I thought you trusted me!"

"Hermione, I do. But you grew up in the Muggle world like me. I figured I should tell you to your face... so I could see your face and make sure you understood. Ron had been so horrid about the whole thing... first Charlie, and then he almost put Ginny in the hospital when she mentioned she had seen me with Viktor and Luna. I couldn't bear to lose you both so that is why my last letter just said I had some news I had to tell you face to face. As it was, Luna had a bit of a time convincing me that triads were normal in wizarding society – I'm just now getting Uncle Vernon's voice, telling me I'm a freak, out of my head."

Hermione stood up, walked over to Harry and gave him a big hug. "You are not a freak, Harry James Potter. You're wonderful. You're my best friend and don't you forget it," she stated emphatically. Then she grinned. "So, when's the wedding?"

"Probably around Yule. Ron is going to be in Australia with the Cannons then. Luna will be very glad to be able to ask you to stand for one of us. It has been one of her dearest wishes."

Hermione looked pensive for a moment. "Ron's ruined so very much, hasn't he? He's going to die when he finds out I'm seeing two of the people he hates most in this world."

"You've decided to give them a chance then?"

"I'm considering it, Harry. You're living a similar situation, and well, if this is acceptable, then it may be a relationship I wish to try."

"What made Lucius Malfoy become available all of a sudden?"

"You know, I thought you would have asked me why."

"'Mione, you've always been interested in both of them, ever since your hormones kicked in. You blush and fidget around them."

"You and Draco! Don't I have any secrets?"

"Not from me; I've always watched you, 'Mione. You mean the world to me, you know? So, what happened to make Lucius Malfoy available?"

"Turns out he has an eleven-year-old daughter. There was an 'out' clause in their marriage contract: if either one had an out-of-wedlock child, the other could ask for and get an instant divorce. Narcissa left as soon as she found out the child was Lucius's and not Draco's. She's currently in Paris, nursing her wounds and plotting Lucius's downfall, I'm sure."

"So, you want me to help with the daughter?"

"Yes."

"Why did you call Ginny?"

"Because her mother died and she had to go live with relatives. I believe she may have some sort of psychological trauma to deal with."

"Her work with the hospital? Makes sense. And you figure I can relate to a child forced to live with relatives who may not have been pleased at the fact?"

"Exactly."

"There is something else, isn't there? Why is the fact that she is a girl twinging my spidey-sense?"

"Idiot. You don't have spidey-senses. Malfoys only have girls if they are in love with the mother of the child."

"Oooh. I guess that is how he's going to play the press."

"Yes. I told him to tease them with the idea that a Malfoy girl is something special, but not say anything outright."

"Good advice. I'm guessing you would like Luna involved?"

"Please. And you and she and Viktor all have to come over for dinner. I want to celebrate your new relationship with you."

"Definitely."

Harry waved good-bye as he walked out of Hermione's rooms and back up to the Headmaster's office.