Having More Than His Duty

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with J.K.R.'s characters for a little while. I'll Scourgify them and Floo them home later.

I want to say thanks to my brilliant beta, Charmed_Nay. She's always busy with work, yet she finds time to read through my chapters. Cheers, dear.

Hermione slipped into her chambers near dawn and found them empty, bed cold and unused with no fire in the grate or candles lit. Harry had not been there as far as she could tell. That meant that he was either in his quarters or the ones that Severus had prepared for Draco. After she and Severus had made love out near the pitch, they'd searched for the pair, but neither could be found. They weren't in their rooms either. She and Severus decided to make use of his quarters and let them find their own way back, not caring if Harry or Draco realized what they were up to.

After the liquor had left her mind and rest had come upon her tired body, she felt quite different... quite worried. What would Harry say about her new relationship with Severus? Would he be furious that she'd slept with Severus and not him? Would he be disappointed in her for her choice or for her dishonesty? Would he even notice now that he was interested in what Draco had to offer?

How did she feel about it really? She'd never thought of Draco as anyone's significant other before...aside from Pansy of course. Although he had tried to help Ron and had became a friend of sorts, was he good enough for Harry? Would he hurt Harry?

"Poor Harry," she said quietly while undressing and making her way to the bath. Harry had loved Ginny deeply, and she'd been killed, leaving him lost and eventually giving way to his feelings for Ron, who reminded him of Ginny. Since Ron had been in love with Hermione, she became part of the deal. To have Ron, she had to be included, or it would never have happened. She'd never regretted their decision to include Harry in their relationship. It somehow felt right anyway.

How could she have believed that she would be enough for Harry after Ron died? She was not Ginny and couldn't take her place. While she and Harry loved each other, she knew that she was not the right woman for him. She knew in her heart that Harry could probably only be happy...guilt free...in a relationship with someone of the same sex, someone like Draco.

She didn't feel quite as jealous as she likely should be feeling. She supposed that her newfound confidence and feeling of comfort that Severus gave to her helped. If someone of Snape's age, stature, and intelligence would find her appealing, then she must be. She needn't worry about being alone or never finding happiness again. Ron would want her to go on, and she would. Perhaps not right away, but eventually, she would love again. The sleepy smile and kiss Snape had given her when she'd wakened him to tell him that she was leaving came to mind. Maybe she could love him one day if he wanted it.

She remembered the way he woke her during the night.

"Hermione... wake up," Severus' silky voice whispered into her ear.

"I am," he replied arrogantly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry opened his eyes warily, remembering the last thing he'd done before falling asleep. Though his vision was blurred, the light from the dying fire enabled him to see that the hair tickling his nose was platinum blond and definitely not Hermione's. What was she thinking? Had she seen them and fled with only Snape to comfort her?

He nearly groaned. Snape. He probably knew and had perhaps witnessed the heated snogging session he and Draco had before finding a more ideal location, forgetting about everyone and everything.

Lifting a hand, he moved it slowly up Draco's bare back and grasped the hair at the nape of his neck before placing a frustrated kiss on the back of his head. In the next instant, he felt the kiss being reciprocated, though Draco's lips grazed Harry's bare chest.

"All right, Harry?" Draco asked.

Rubbing lazy circles against Draco's scalp with his fingers, he replied, "I'm all right. You?"

"Yes."

They remained silent for a long time, not moving any more than that. Finally, Harry spoke. "I'll need to explain to Hermione."

Draco sat up then and eyed Harry. "What do you think she'll say?" He got up and moved to the table in the corner to pour himself a glass of water, seemingly unshy about his lack of clothing.

"She's not thick. She probably figured it out... or saw us." He hoped not. It wasn't that he was embarrassed, but if she saw him and Draco, she'd likely been hurt. She'd been hurt enough, and he didn't want to add to it. However, she deserved the truth.

"Or," Draco began, bringing a full glass of water to Harry, "she's in Snape's bed, right where he wanted her to be anyway."

Harry took the glass, sitting up sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Er... Well, he seemed fascinated with her."

"I doubt that."

"She seemed to like it."

"Hermione's not that way!" Harry defended.

"Look, Harry, there's nothing wrong with it if they did end up shagging last night." He smirked. "We did. I have no regrets."

"Yeah, well, neither do I," Harry agreed. "Not really." He took a long drink of the water. "If you hadn't slipped me that damn Veritaserum, I might not have admitted to finding you attractive and to wanting a night with you."

"Ah, but, Potter, you want more than a night with me," Draco said confidently, pulling a dressing gown on.

Harry grinned, remembering that Draco had drank some of the Veritaserum laced liquor. "So do you."

Draco nodded. "Let me just get the paper." He slipped from the room to venture into the adjoining sitting room.

Harry got up to find his clothes. He needed to get to Hermione, needed to explain, needed to make certain that she was all right. If she wanted him to never see Draco again, he would do that for her, but he privately hoped that she wouldn't request that. He privately hoped that... "No, don't think it," he mumbled.

"Think what?" Draco asked.

Reddening, Harry said, "Just thinking."

"Er, Potter," Draco said, looking down at the morning edition of the Daily Prophet.

He didn't like the look on Draco's face.

"It says that Lupin has been injured. There was a scuffle last night at the Fortescue's place, and Death Eaters wer..."

"...the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted, with an unpleasant, hollow sensation in the pit of his stomach.

Draco nodded. "They've got the last of the Death Eaters that they were searching for, but the place is a wreck. Looks like Lupin is at St. Mungo's."

"Thanks," Harry said, finding his trainers. "I need to tell Hermione and see if Snape knows. We'll have to go to see about Lupin."

"Should I be here waiting for you to return?" Draco asked, eyes shifting away from Harry's.

Harry knew what he meant. He wanted to make certain that there was something between them. Thinking of Hermione briefly, he said, "If you'd like... here or maybe that flat you have outside of London. If the last of the Death Eaters have been taken to Azkaban, I won't have to hide out here, will I?"

Shaking his head, Draco said, "I wouldn't think so." He then smirked proudly. "My father's information brought about the arrest, you know." When Harry said nothing, he added, "I know many of you don't think he changed sides for the right reasons, but he's not above helping."

"Last night was..." Harry was uncertain how to say what he meant.

"I agree," Draco said in understanding. "And I'll owl you later to let you know where I am if I am not here."

Making his way to Hermione's quarters, the feeling of foreboding grew uneasily in his stomach. What if she was furious? What if she didn't understand? What if she wanted him to never see Draco again?

Guilt reached out and grabbed him by the balls as he found her sleeping peacefully, curled up in her bed. Had she waited up for him all night, worrying or crying over his not coming in? Knowing that he'd been with Draco? He sat down next to her, but he didn't touch her or face her. He simply leaned forward, placing his head in his hands. What could he do? What could he say?

A soft hand slid up his back and grasped his shoulder. "What's wrong, Harry?" she asked.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he choked out emotionally.

"It's all right. I've just come to bed."

He turned to look at her, hating himself. "You've... you've been up all night?"

"Most of it," she replied.

"I can explain," he blurted. "We had a lot to drink, and then there was the Veritaserum. And when..."

She placed a finger upon his lips. "We saw you, Snape and I." She sat up. "And it's all right."

He closed his eyes in embarrassment. "We were on our way to the pitch. I took a drink from his flask and realized after it was laced with the serum. He asked me questions, and we ended up..."

"Snogging and shagging," she finished for him.

"Yes," he said in a whisper. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I swear."

"Oddly enough, I'm relieved," she said honestly. "If you know what I mean. I love you, but I think that we should each go our own way in the relationship department. I can't give you what you need, and I'll never be Ginny."

He gulped, relief and sadness washing over him. "And it's not the same without Ron."

She shook her head. "It's not, but he would want us to go on, Harry."

"But about Draco... do you think badly of me? I mean, times have changed. So what if he was in Slytherin or was an arse. It's now that matters, right?" he asked, hoping she would approve.

"I agree, and I hope you can use that mindset to understand that I am attracted to Professor Snape."

He was quiet for a moment. Draco had seen their attraction, but he'd been blind to it. He thought back to the happenings over the past couple of days: Snape acting oddly around them and eyeing Hermione with... longing. How could he not have realized it sooner?

"Hermione, I don't like Snape." He saw her smile falter. "But," he added, "I think you can make your own decisions. If he is what you need, I won't try to sway you."

She nodded and hugged him. "I love you, Harry."

"I love you." He held her tightly. "I've some news about Lupin and the Death Eaters that Dumbledore was worried about."

Southern's Notes: There is only one chapter left, and it will be uploaded in two days. Thanks for reading along. This was a fun little story to write. The chapter quotes guide you in directions that surprise you! Cheers.

Quote from HP and the HBP: "– the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted, with an unpleasant, hollow sensation in the pit of his stomach.