Chapter 16

Snape stood next to one of the tall bookcases, an ancient calf-bound volume in one hand and a parchment and quill suspended in the air taking notes. Hermione could hear the low cadence of his voice, although not the actual words. He was wearing a tailored waistcoat over a white shirt and black trousers. The waistcoat did indeed emphasise his waist, perhaps not quite as slender as it had been before Hugo had taken residence, but slim enough to cut an elegant figure. He looked up, closed the book and Summoned the jacket of his suit.

"Always in black, even when dressed as a Muggle," Hermione remarked. He shrugged.

"You object?"

"Not at all, Headmaster Snape." She went on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "You look splendid. Thank you for agreeing to come with me."

"It isn't every day that my son meets his grandparents for the first time."

She caught the proprietary note in the word 'my' and smiled to herself.

"Uppity, is Hugo ready for his outing?"

"Master Hugo is all clean and fed and ready," Uppity said, looking sulky.

"I don't think my Muggle parents are quite ready to cope with a house-elf as a nanny yet," Hermione told her. "Perhaps next time, okay?" She lifted the baby, snug in his carrycot, and Snape immediately reached to take him from her.

As they walked out of Malfoy Manor into a crisp, sunny winter's day, Hermione said casually, "I've booked us a table at Merlin's Retreat for dinner, if that's all right with you?"

"If you have money to burn, or rather, eat. What is the occasion?"

"I just wanted an evening with you."

"You could always ask Lucius to bugger off for a few hours."

"Hardly fair in his own home."

"We'll be at Hogwarts after Christmas and have plenty of time together."

"While I'm hunched over lesson plans and a heap of marking and you're up to your ears in Headmaster-type paperwork? I don't think so, somehow."

"One of things that I like about Gryffindors; I can always tell when you're plotting."

"Just adds to the excitement."

Mr and Mrs Granger were delighted to meet Hugo, who gurgled and waved his limbs around and generally acted in a manner calculated to ensure that he would be doted upon. He seemed to be a remarkably sunny child, a characteristic which, her mother assured Hermione, was inherited from her own side of the family. Hermione told her parents that she was taking up a teaching position at Hogwarts, which pleased them greatly. The visit lasted some hours, long enough for her parents to feel happy but not so long that Hugo started to fret or Severus became too bored.

They returned to Malfoy Manor, returned Hugo to Uppity's eager embrace and Apparated to the best restaurant in Wizarding London.

oooOOOooo

He was such good company, Hermione thought as they lingered over coffee. Not handsome, but very striking, highly intelligent and capable, and hiding a courageous and unprejudiced nature under his acerbic wit. It was not a question of 'she could do worse,' but rather of 'how could she possibly do better?'

"Severus, I want to ask you something."

His dark eyes gave nothing away.

"You can always ask."

"You know that I wasn't brought up in Wizarding traditions, I've flouted convention all my life, I'm not a proper little house witch, and this is a very irregular thing to ask and will probably cause a scandal when it gets out..."

The corner of his mouth curled slightly. "Just say whatever you're going to say, will you? Stop blathering!"

"Severus Snape, will you marry me?"

He was stunned into silence. After a minute, she began to wonder if she had made a terrible mistake.

"You mean it, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"For Hugo..."

"No, I'm being entirely selfish; I want to be married to you."

"And Lucius?"

"Will always be welcome in our bed and my heart. He won't leave his home, will he? And I think he would rather be a very regular and beloved guest than leave his routine and his comforts."

"Then yes," Snape said, his voice a low, warm, furry growl, "there is nothing I would like more."

When they told him, Lucius rolled his eyes and muttered, "Thank Merlin for bossy and incorrigible witches!" Only later did she wonder if his nod of approval had not been aimed at her at all, but at the house-elf who was tucking Hugo into his cot behind her.

oooOOOooo

Hermione paused on her way out of the Great Hall to watch the Headmaster of Hogwarts striding towards the main entrance of the school, his trademark black robes billowing behind him. Since his marriage, he had made an effort to keep his hair trimmed and clean, and none of his current students associated him with the Greasy Git of legend. He had even mellowed somewhat in his behaviour, although he was still prone to err on the side of Slytherin in disputes.

"Good evening, Headmaster." The newly elected chairman – or rather, the newly re-elected chairman – of the board of governors of Hogwarts fell into step beside him as they turned back into the school, his grey eyes gazing coolly around at the familiar stone walls. Students emerging from the hall gave the pair a wide berth on their way up to their common rooms. Lucius Malfoy noticed Hermione and gave her a polite nod as he passed her.

"Professor Granger? Do you have a moment?" A light, feminine voice interrupted Hermione's scrutiny of Lucius Malfoy's beautifully tailored robes.

Hermione smiled at Johanna Hales and waited for the sixth-year student to join her.

"I've an appointment in a few minutes, Jo. What is it?"

"My dad owled that book I told you about, the one on Wizarding international law."

"Excellent! May I borrow it until next Wednesday? My seventh-years are covering the differences between Muggle and Wizarding law outside Britain, and it'll be most helpful."

"Sure." Johanna pulled the book out of the pocket of her robes. "You have to treat it politely; otherwise it tries to sue you."

"I can imagine. Thanks, Jo. Have a good evening."

The girl rejoined the friends waiting for her, and Hermione trotted off up the nearest staircase in pursuit of the Headmaster. Now that she was a bona fide member of staff, the staircases worked for her, rather than against her, and she gave an apologetic smile to a group of second-year Hufflepuffs left stranded as a stairway changed direction to take her to her destination.

Lucius touched Severus' arm to attract his attention and turned back, waiting for her. "Professor Granger, will you join us for a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau?"

The Hufflepuffs watched curiously as Hermione resettled the bag of books over her shoulder.

"That's kind of you, Mr Malfoy. I think that I can spare an hour."

"Good. Do lead on, Professor Snape."

Severus flicked an eyebrow, spun on his heel and marched off towards the entrance to the Headmaster's tower.

"How is your son getting on?" Lucius enquired. "Settling in without Uppity?"

"Yes, he has a new admirer now. I don't know if you remember hearing about Winky, the elf whom Bartemius Crouch set free?"

"Vaguely," Lucius admitted. "Did the creature not turn to drink after the deaths of her family?"

"She's looking after Hugo now and hasn't touched a drop of Butterbeer since he arrived. She just wanted to feel needed."

"Don't we all," Lucius muttered before casting a very insincere smile at the austere figure awaiting them beside the gargoyle. "Good evening, Professor McGonagall."

"Mr Malfoy, Hermione." The deputy headmistress gave Hermione a slightly disapproving look before turning to Severus. "Severus, despite my every attempt to mediate, Professors Longbottom and Casadei are still unable to come to an agreement. Neville insists that the Curling Cucurbits cannot be harvested until after the next full moon, whereas Ludovica says that in Italy," she said the name as if speaking of somewhere very dubious indeed, "they are always picked in the third week of November, come what may."

"Surely as the deputy headmistress, you can sort out this squabble, Professor?" Lucius enquired. She glared at him.

"I certainly could, had I the knowledge of potions ingredients. This is Severus' area of expertise. Had he not been present, I would have owled Horace Slughorn for advice."

"Of course, Minerva. Puff adder," Severus said to the gargoyle, which moved aside. "Please tell Professor Casadei to check Starkey's The Moon and Potions: a Guide to the Effects of the Lunar Flux Upon Ingredients and inform Professor Longbottom that he is perfectly correct. I suspect Casadei has mistaken the Cucurbits for Glabrous Gherkins; the two are easily confused, but she is unlikely to have come across this particularly variety in Italy – they are devilishly tricky to grow. I congratulate Longbottom on his latest success."

"Thank you. Goodnight, Severus, Hermione, Mr Malfoy."

She hurried away, and Lucius indicated that Hermione should precede him up the stairway to the Headmaster's office.

The portraits around the walls watched curiously as Severus flicked his wand, closing the door and lighting the lamps. The office reflected his personality: rows of shelves filled with books, a collection of rare and obscure ingredients in jars, stacks of parchments coded with coloured stickers. There were no longer any quaint little machines. McGonagall's tartan, shortbread and thistles had returned to Gryffindor tower along with their owner; now the office gave the impression of an orderly and scholarly mind.

"Good evening, my boy," Dumbledore said amiably. "And Hermione, my dear, welcome. Ah, Lucius, I see you're back once again. Come to stir up more trouble, have you?"

"It is bad form to hex portraits, Lucius," Severus remarked, "even infuriatingly meddlesome ones."

Lucius twirled his cane. "Good evening, Albus. I never could pass a wasp's nest without wanting to poke a stick into it."

Phineas Nigellus sniggered and sidled into view in his portrait. "How pleasant to see Hogwarts run by Slytherins once again."

"They don't have it all their own way," Hermione assured him.

"Let us retire to my sitting room and open that bottle of Beaujolais without interference, shall we?" As Severus opened the door to his private rooms, Hermione heard Dumbledore continuing to speak behind her.

"It is good to see that for Severus' sake, Hermione and Lucius have buried the hatchet."

"And not even in each other's backs," the snide voice of Phineas Nigellus added.

Severus swept his wand across the door, closing it and setting the wards. Lucius swung his travelling cloak from his shoulders.

"I have every intention of burying my hatchet in your Muggle Studies professor," he murmured.

"Muggle-Wizarding Studies professor, Mr Malfoy," Hermione corrected him primly. She placed her books on the table and ran her hands down her demure, high-necked, full-skirted Professor's robe. "Excuse me, but I do have a reputation to uphold here. I am a highly respected school mistress."

"My mistress," Lucius said with a deep bow. "Mistress of mistresses." Hermione smiled and began to unbutton her robe.

The effect was all she had hoped. Men, even wizards, were such suckers for silk stockings, lacy black knickers, red garters and a red and black satin basque.

Severus groaned. "Merlin, if I'd known you were wearing those under your robes..."

"You'd have been hard all day and would never have concentrated through the staff meeting."

Lucius prowled around her, gazing admiringly.

"Well, now, what an enticing package."

"I think," Severus said, "that I should like to watch while my wife ravishes you. Where is that Beaujolais you mentioned?"

"I lied," Lucius told him with a smirk. "I thought that as we are to christen your rooms, we should have champagne at the very least." He extracted a box from his robe, enlarged it and revealed a wicker hamper. "Champagne, chocolates and some tasty little nibbles involving smoked salmon, truffles, pate and oysters."

"That deserves a damn good ravishing," Hermione said approvingly.

"Ah, yes, and Severus, old friend." Lucius produced a pink dildo with something of a flourish. "If you're just going to sit and watch, I insist you do it with a degree of internal stimulation. In fact, should I have brought two ...?"

"No! One is quite enough, thank you."

"Why keep the equipment if you're not going to use it?"

"You can plumb its depths later. I need to relax after a hard day at work and be entertained for a while."

Hermione had quietly drawn her wand and now she pointed it at Lucius.

"You're horribly over-dressed, Mr Malfoy. Kindly put that plug whereever you intend to put it and get your clothes off."

"Bossy," Severus murmured, then stifled a yelp as the pink dildo flew across the room and shot up his robe. "Bastard! Oow! Ah, sweet Merlin ..."

"That hit the spot, did it, Severus?"

"Settle down!" Hermione snapped. "Enough talk in class! Robe off, now!"

Lucius hurriedly put down the champagne and hamper and spelled away his boots and robe to reveal boxers of dark green silk.

"Ten points to Slytherin for style," Hermione said. "However, I understand you have been badly behaved lately. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"That I deserve detention, I suspect, Professor Granger."

"Exactly. You admit, then, to being outrageously sexy?"

"Very much so."

"Bend over."

Lucius stared at her for a moment, and Hermione wondered if she had gone too far. Then his lips curved into a wicked smile.

"Are you going to put me across your knee, Professor?"

"I certainly am."

She sat down on the sofa and he kneeled down so that his chest and hips rested across her thighs. He gave a little wriggle and she felt his erection nudging against her leg.

She could hear Severus breathing and he kept shifting slightly in his chair. Hermione suspected that Lucius enjoyed power, rather than pain, and he would not tolerate humiliation. This role-play was acceptable to him as long as it was obviously a game. There was something darker in Severus Snape, a hint that he would accept punishment because beneath everything, he still believed that he deserved to suffer. Even Lucius understood this, and if he and Severus had ever played dangerous games, they were long ago and in another world.

She slapped the silk-clad arse lightly and Lucius gave an exaggerated jerk, pressing the tip of his cock against the inside of her thigh. Then he surged up, his arms outstretched, throwing her back along the length of the sofa and covering her with his body.

"Naughty Professor," he murmured against her hair, "what would your students think if they could see you acting like a wanton little witch?"

"What would the board of governors think if they saw you shagging the Headmaster's wife?"

"Half of them would expire from apoplexy and the other half would be secretly jealous as hell."

He nuzzled the side of her neck and asked, his voice slightly muffled, "Haven't you opened the champagne yet, Severus?" He raised his head. "Severus! Now who's being naughty?"

Severus had slid one hand down into his robe.

"I need..."

"Ah-ah! Not yet, you don't. Hermione, dearest, I think we must put this on hold and do something about Severus before he does it all by himself."

Lucius lifted himself up, waved away his boxers and strode across the room with an imperious tilt to his chin, as if he always walked around in nothing but a smirk. "Too many clothes, Severus. Off with them! Now, across the desk or on the sofa, your choice."

"Desk," Severus growled, and Lucius swept aside the books and papers, cast a cushioning charm and pushed him, face down, onto the desk. Lucius tapped his wand against the end of the plug that peeped between the cheeks of his arse and Severus grunted. He attempted to press his engorged cock against the edge of the desk, but the cushioning charm prevented him from making contact. The plug seemed to blur and Hermione realised it was vibrating.

"I have an idea," Hermione said and ran to collect the champagne bottle. She tapped it with her wand to withdraw the cork, capturing the froth in a conjured glass. Filling her mouth with the chilled, fizzy wine, she knelt down beneath the desk and drew Severus' cock between her lips. He groaned and as Lucius lined up his own cock and slid home into his vagina, Severus' eyes rolled up into his head. He shuddered, and then to Hermione's glee, Lucius grabbed his wand and conjured a green leather cock-ring, constricting Severus' balls and cock just enough to stop him coming.

"Not until we tell you to, my sublime snake!"

"You," Severus panted as Lucius thrust into him, "absolute, oh God, bastard!"

Hermione had never attempted to deep throat, but suspected she had no need to, as the chill and the tickling bubbles seemed to be sending him into nirvana, or else into complete overload. Lucius frowned in concentration as he applied himself to deep, even strokes, gradually speeding up and then banishing the cock-ring and the plug just before he came. Severus almost exploded. He bellowed and jerked his cock out of Hermione's mouth, coming in long ropy streams across her face. Lucius withdrew, patted Severus' bare arse and stumbled to the sofa, where he sprawled, looking highly delighted with himself.

"Shit," Severus mumbled, twitching on the desk like a stranded beetle. "Oh shit."

"This from a wizard who swore off sex," Hermione said, getting to her feet.

"What?" Lucius looked horrified.

"He was trying to give birth to Hugo at the time."

"But still – swearing off sex? Dear, dear, Severus!"

"You try it." Severus pushed himself up and tottered to join Lucius on the sofa. "Shoving something the size of a pumpkin out of your arse."

Hermione put her hands on her hips and tried to glare.

"Look at the pair of you!"

"Give me ten minutes, and I shall be ready to drink champagne out of your shoe," Lucius said magnanimously.

"I've been wearing them in class all day, so I don't recommend it."

"Where is your romance?" He levitated the hamper until it came to rest beside him and delicately selected a morsel. "Come here and allow me to feed you nectar and ambrosia, sweet girl, or at the least, a rather good Bollinger."

"I want," Severus mumbled, "to lick champagne out of your navel."

"While I would rather suck chocolate from your nipples," Lucius purred. "Much as I love shagging Severus, I do love the texture of a woman's breasts under my tongue."

"What's wrong with my nipples?"

"Hair, Severus. Your nipples are surrounded by hair."

Hermione enlarged the sofa and Lucius reached out to pull her between them. "There, now it's our turn. It works exceptionally well, does it not? We burn off our baser urges on each other and then have time to pander to your every whim. I hope that your whims tonight include canapés as prepared by Hessy and Hobbins." Lucius ran his fingers around the top of one of her stockings. "Your thighs are like silk, my darling. And your mouth tastes like a strawberry," he whispered, leaning over to taste it languorously.

Hermione sighed and wrapped her arms around his sleek, muscular torso. Severus poured champagne into two new glasses and topped up Hermione's, waiting until Lucius broke off the kiss before handing them out.

"To us," he said, and they clinked the glasses together and sipped the crisp, fruity champagne.

"For how long do you intend to retain your female equipment, Severus?" Lucius asked, idly twirling his glass to make the bubbles spiral through the wine. "I want to make the most of it while you have it."

"Oh, I'll keep it for awhile. Double the fun."

"That isn't fair," Hermione pointed out. "You don't have ovaries so you don't get the mood swings or the periods, and you have a cock as well."

"My cock is available whenever you wish to borrow it."

Hermione rolled over onto her front, propping up her chin on her hand. Lucius trailed his hand admiringly over her arse, then slid it inside her knickers.

"What about Legilimency? You can share what it feels like to be inside me."

Lucius dripped champagne into the hollow of her back and leaned to lick it off, while slipping a finger lightly over the folds of her sex.

"You see, wasn't it a brilliant idea to marry a clever witch, Severus?"

"And sometimes, it would be good to make affectionate straightforward love," Hermione said.

"It can be arranged," Severus told her, leaning his forehead against hers. His eyes were so close to her own that they filled her vision.

"Because you love each other," she whispered, and to her surprise, Lucius gave a little chuckle and said, "Yes, I do believe that we do."

oooOOOooo

The weather was too chilly to allow them to remain outside for long, so the party moved into the Great Hall. Hugo, the two-year-old birthday boy, played happily with the box in which a giant plastic car had arrived from his grandparents, aided by Albus and Scorpius, who were fascinated by the colourful wrapping paper and the car, respectively. The older children were being organised into teams by Ron and Harry in preparation for a rowdy game involving toy brooms, a slow-moving Snitch and padded bludgers.

"Excuse me, Professor Snape?" Hermione looked around to see Victoire approaching somewhat shyly. Severus inclined his head.

"Miss Weasley."

She had her mother's exquisite features, but something of her father's colouring in her light dusting of freckles, hazel eyes and strawberry blond hair.

"I'm coming to Hogwarts next year," she said.

"So you are."

"Is your Potions mistress any good?"

Severus observed her gravely. She did not appear to think her question was at all odd or rude; she simply wanted to know.

"She is very able," he said after a pause. "Why do you ask?"

"I like Potions, a lot. My mama and dad are both good at potions and they started teaching me years ago. I had a toy potions set when I was five. Dad says you were the best but you don't teach anymore."

"Professor Casadei is an extremely capable and popular teacher," Severus said.

"Yes, but is she any good at potions?"

This surprised a snort of laughter from Severus.

"Yes, she is good at potions. However, the very best pupils in the higher years attend special classes with me, so I suggest you work diligently and well for Professor Casadei and obtain a place in my select group of students."

"Thank you!" She gave him a stunning smile and skipped back to join the junior Quidditch team.

"A rather charming child," Lucius observed. He had come silently up behind Severus and Hermione while they had been talking. "Who is she?"

"Victoire Weasley, daughter of Bill and Fleur Delacour."

"Hm. Pure blood, then."

He dodged the elbow Hermione aimed at his ribs and gave his superior little smile. "I also notice that Mrs Potter is expanding rapidly."

"She says she's expecting a girl this time. Harry wants to call her Lily Luna."

"Did you ever wish for a daughter, Lucius?" Severus enquired. Lucius looked down and brushed a speck of glitter from his robe.

"I had one, once." There was silence for a moment, as Hermione and Severus both tried to think what to say. Lucius gave a little sigh. "When Draco was two, Narcissa gave birth to a premature baby girl who died after three days. We didn't try again. She had lost babies before Draco, but after he was born safe and well, we assumed that things would work as they should from then on. Although we didn't tell anyone about the pregnancy, by the time she reached six months, we were quietly confident. Rosalinda was two months early and she was too small for her lungs to work properly. I often think of her." His grey eyes were calm as he lifted his gaze to face Hermione and Severus. "I have a fine son and a dear grandson, and a delightful godson, so I am more than content."

"I wouldn't have asked had I realised..."

"Severus, I wanted to tell you. I no longer mourn, but I remember her with love."

He nodded and turned away to lift Scorpius into the toy car. Severus watched the children playing, with a deeply contemplative look on his face.

oooOOOooo

"Happy birthday, Lucius." Hermione reached to kiss his cheek and levitated his travelling cloak to the hook on the back of the door. "I'm sorry the party has to wait till the weekend but..."

"I understand, dear girl. Riotous orgies are all very well, but not on a school night. I quite understand; besides, Draco, Scorpius and Astoria took me to lunch in Vienna, so I am perfectly content to wait. Where is our Severus?"

"I'm not sure; he muttered something about a potion. The elves have prepared a light supper, and I've got champagne on ice."

"You're so good to me. Ah, Severus, there you are."

Severus came in carrying a small box in both hands. He placed it on the desk and smiled. Hermione loved his smile, the real one, the one that only she, Hugo and the Malfoys saw. It was small and secretive, sweet and affectionate.

"Happy birthday, Lucius, my friend."

It was a measure of how relaxed they were with Hermione, that Severus and Lucius could exchange a simple hug in her presence, one that had nothing to do with sex.

"I assume that the box is for me?"

"For you and for all of us." He opened it to reveal three little bottles of potions, of different colours, and a tightly rolled parchment.

"Then you had better explain," Lucius told him, sitting down with a pleased and eager expression. "This looks interesting."

"I hope you like it." Something in Severus' tone, an edge of serious intent, made both Lucius and Hermione look more closely at him. As he removed the three bottles, each in their own turn, he explained their purposes. "This potion is for Hermione, to ensure that she ovulates. This one is for you, Lucius. For the week following ingestion, it will cause you to produce sperm that will only father a girl child. And this one's for me. It prepares the womb for the reception of a foetus. The scroll contains a spell to transfer a fertilised egg from Hermione into me; from there, it's developed by the charm Molly Weasley cast upon Hermione."

"You'd do this?" Lucius appeared stunned. "For me? You'd give me a daughter?"

"If you both agree, yes."

"She'll have three parents," Hermione said. "How fantastic!"

"Severus," Lucius whispered, drawing the name out on a long breath. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Lucius turned his gaze on the pair of them and placed one of his hands over each of theirs.

"You know," Hermione stated thoughtfully, "I believe I have the perfect name, too." She smiled knowingly at Severus first, and then cast a warm gaze at Lucius. "How do you feel about 'Rose'?"