Three

Romance is all very well and good, and as much as a girl needs a fantastic rogering every now and then, she also has to eat and shower and dress and clean litter boxes. In short, Hermione could not remain in a sex-hazed bubble for more than just a day and a few hours. By Tuesday morning, she had returned to her usual routine with not much more than a few moments of every day to reflect on Viktor and his kisses. Her co-workers were also discussing the impending retirement of Mrs. McCreedy, and it seemed that they had volunteered Hermione to bring the drinks.

"Do you know what to do?" John asked, looking not at all sarcastic, during their lunch break.

"I think I've had a drink or two in my lifetime," Hermione answered, shaking her head. "Any word on who the replacement will be?"

"I heard them talking earlier," Katherine offered. "I can't remember the person's name. It was a strange name, too. Like Snake or something."

Hermione turned pale. "Snape?"

"Not Severus Snape?" Evan said, his face even paler.

Hermione remembered The Daily Prophet from the previous week, and the article she had read about Snape returning to Britain. "It's got to be him!"

Katherine hadn't been in England at the time of Dumbledore's death-she had attended an academy for witches in America, but every witch and wizard in the world knew of Dumbledore, and they knew of his death. It took a few moments for her to remember where she had heard the name before, but when realization hit, her brown eyes grew huge, and she squeaked out, "The murderer? The traitor? He is to be our new boss?"

Hermione sighed. "He wasn't a murderer, you know, and he wasn't a true traitor..."

"He was a Slytherin, and he would have done anything to save his own skin," Evan said. "He just knew how to play the system."

"If he really wanted to play the system, then he would have done like the Malfoys after the first war, and worked hard to fool everyone. Instead he just left us all. I don't know why, but I'm not going to jump to conclusions," Hermione decided, which was really rather more than she felt. Inside, the thought of being under Snape's thumb again made her want to both cry and scream at the same time. It would be just like Hogwarts all over again.

Evan and John felt the same way, too, if their faces were anything to go by. Lucky Katherine, Hermione thought. She has no idea what to expect.

"Mister Snape" was introduced to the group on the following day, and Hermione balked at the change in his appearance. He was every bit as ugly as ever, that was a given, but he had filled out and gained some color, though not much, in his cheeks. His teeth were even more yellow than the last time she had seen him, which hardly seemed possible. He stared them all down with his usual contempt, and actually seemed angry to see her there, though it was probably just her imagination. He kept his arms folded over his chest as McCreedy introduced her crew to him while she smiled brightly and congratulated Hermione on being named a Senior Potion Maker.

"There will be one more to promote, of course, Mister Snape," she said kindly, her aging blue eyes smiling brightly at the sullen man standing next to her. "I'm just waiting for the Ministry to open the position. They're all excellent workers, as you'll discover."

"Indeed," Snape mused, his eyes boring angrily into Hermione's forehead. "And may I ask what it was that Miss Granger accomplished in order to distinguish herself above her peers?"

If McCreedy heard the malice in his voice, she chose to ignore it. "Miss Granger came to me very highly recommended, you know. Thirteen N.E.W.T.'s! And Outstandings in all of them. I assure you, the praise was not false, she has lived up to her reputation."

Under normal circumstances, Hermione would have been flattered and pleased. Under the laser-sharp gaze of Snape, however, she wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it all was.

"Yes, of course. But beyond that, what has she done? Has she improved her efficiency? Has she found a new way to bottle or brew? Does she have any true insights into potion making, or is it all merely book knowledge?"

Hermione flushed as their familiar arguments came back to her at full force. She felt that books were always the best resources, while Snape insisted she use her instincts more. She could still remember what he said to her before they went to face the Death Eaters and Voldemort. He had pulled her aside and reminded her in his most caustic way, that there would be no books or scrolls on the field of battle, and that he shuddered to think that she would be watching his back. Well, he was still alive, wasn't he? Unfortunately.

Poor McCreedy could no longer ignore his remarks, nor did she quite know what to say. At least, she did not know what to say in front of them. She whisked him off to her office, and from the Silencing Charm that was placed, Hermione guessed that she was giving him an earful, which would only make everything so much worse when she finally left them in his hands. If there was one thing that Professor Snape could not countenance, it was having his authority questioned.

"I don't think I like this," Katherine decided. "Not one bit."

Hermione could only mentally echo her friend's words, her capacity for speech seemed to have been removed. She could only silently pray for the day to be over quickly.

Harry greeted her in the foyer of St. Mungo's at quitting time, looking like a very messy-haired vigilante in a set of Gryffindor-red robes. "Hermione," he practically shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. "I just heard."

Several people in the lobby looked at the pair with speculative glances, and then at each other knowingly. Very few people actually believed that Harry and Hermione did not sleep together. It was the subject of many howlers sent to herself and Harry, and in letters to the editor in various magazines and newspapers. Now they were in public, looking very intimate as Harry stood to his full height and breadth, which was rather impressive.

"About my promotion?" she feinted. "I'm very excited."

"You know what I'm talking about," he snapped, green eyes flashing like emeralds. "That arsehole, bloody Snape!"

Naturally, Snape chose that moment to walk up behind Hermione and give Harry a mock bow.

"My, my, I am graced with the presence of famous Harry Potter on my first day at work! So kind of you to remember me, dear boy."

"Your last day, you mean," Harry seethed as he pulled Hermione closer to him, his hands digging into her arms almost painfully. "You don't think I'll actually stand for this, will you?"

"I don't see what you can do about it, really," Snape answered in a bored voice. "But as you are assaulting one of my employees at the moment, I will have to ask you to leave. Put me down as one wizard who is not afraid of famous Harry Potter and his idle threats. Is he bothering you, Miss Granger?"

Had his tone been less mocking, Hermione might have wished for the ground to swallow her whole. Instead, in a fit of anger, she forced herself from Harry's grasp and glared at both of them. "While I appreciate this humorous little scene, I'm afraid that I must bid both of you good evening. I've never been a fan of cock fights."

It was the wrong thing to say, she knew. "Cock fight" implied that two of her lovers were quarreling over her, a fact that would again bring out speculation about her personal life as well as Snape's and Harrys, but she could not feel badly for them. They deserved everything that Rita Skeeter would write about them.

As she stalked off, Harry forgot about Snape and grabbed her again by the arm, but kept up with her as she walked. "Come over tonight at least and talk to me about it."

"Harry Potter, I want your promise that you won't start meddling in this!"

Harry stopped short, an angry scowl darkening his brow, but that gave way to a look of pure confusion. "What?"

"Don't meddle! I mean it! You'll only make things worse for me if you do."

"If you think for one moment that I'm going to leave my best friend in the clutches of that..."

Hermione grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along the pavement with her, garnering even more stares from patrons and employees alike. "Never mind him! Anything you do will only make it worse. I appreciate that you hate him, but I'll thank you to not draw me into your disputes!"

Harry looked angry again, and she held up her hands to his chest in order to help dispel his temper. "Look, I understand that you hold him responsible for the deaths of your parents, and for the death of Dumbledore. No one questions that. I don't question your right to be angry with him, but Harry, you can't interfere with my career!"

Harry was obviously undergoing a great internal debate over her words, but he finally softened his features and pulled her into a nice hug. "I'm sorry, and you're right: it isn't your fight. I shouldn't bring you into it."

Hermione rested her head against his shoulder and smiled. "You owe me a drink now, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Come to the Black House with me, I'll set you up."

She let him Apparate them to his home, but not before she looked past his shoulder and saw Snape regarding them with a very odd expression on his face.

She sighed. Now he would think that she and Harry were lovers as well. There was nothing that she could do about it, though. People would think what they wanted, regardless of the truth. Snape would be just one more uninformed idiot, and the thought made her feel smug. He would be so wrong for once in his life.

Ginny was happy to see Hermione, and pressed a tumbler of Ogden's Best into her hand almost immediately. "I'm so happy to see you!" she cried. "Tell me all about Viktor."

They went into the lounge and relaxed as Harry puttered around the kitchen, helping Dobby cook dinner. Hermione was sure that Dobby could get on just fine without his master, but it was obvious that hearing sex stories involving his best friend made him more uncomfortable than his presence made his servant, so they let him go.

"Viktor sounds amazing," Ginny decided after Hermione finished her recap. "And I love your journaling idea."

"Well, you know how I am."

Ginny laughed. "Yes, I know how you are. You probably have pie charts and flow charts and all sorts of charts set up, as well. How far do you plan to take it, though? I mean, I celebrate your newfound empowerment, but what are you working for? What would fulfill you?"

Hermione shrugged and thought on Ginny's words for a moment. "I hardly know, Ginny. Ron wasn't the first person that I kissed, but...he was my first, you know? I feel like I gave him so much for so long, and I'm just in a mood to take for a while."

"I understand. If Harry had been my first, I'd probably feel the same way that you do. Just be discreet. No more fucking Oliver against a door in a public house, yeah?"

Hermione balked. "You heard about that?"

"Um...pretty much everyone who was in said public house heard about it. You weren't very quiet, you know?"

Her head fell into her hands, and she moaned. "Oh, FUCK!"

Ginny laughed. "Maybe not those exact words..."

"Ginny, this is dreadful!"

"Oh, it's not so bad, Hermione. Come on, you've been a nun for the past-I don't know? Twenty-five years? It's okay that you let your hair down for once."

"Well, Harry made a huge scene at St. Mungo's today, and it's not helping. And now that Snape is my boss...you know how he feels when Harry's name is in the paper. He'll probably be livid if I'm in there, too!"

"You're not his student any more, you know. Neither is Harry. He can feel however he likes about it all, it has nothing to do with you or me."

Hermione took another sip of her firewhiskey and savored the burn as it went down her throat. "You've forgotten what a bastard he is."

"And you've forgotten how well he fought to keep us safe. Yes, he's a bastard, but underneath, he's just a normal man. Besides, I seriously doubt that he kept you from being killed by Parkinson just so that he could make the rest of your life miserable. I say be as nice as possible to him, it'll drive him mad at the very least. But forget Snape for now, there's something else I want to talk to you about before Harry calls us into the kitchen. Have you bought him a birthday present yet?"

"No, why? Do you want to go in on something together?"

Ginny got an odd look in her eye, and Hermione began to feel just a little apprehensive. "Yes, I have an idea," she said. "You see, he and I want to be a bit more adventurous in bed, too, but we're very committed to each other. We've been talking about a ménage a trios for quite a while lately, and you're pretty much the only person we've agreed on so far."

Hermione felt a bright red flush creep up from her chest, which was actually being displayed rather nicely thanks to the three buttons she had undone due to the effects of the alcohol, to her cheeks as she considered the implications of Ginny's proposal. Sleep with them? Both of them? And actually lend some credence to the rumors?

"Think about it," Ginny said quickly, as if she could read Hermione's thoughts. "Before you say no or yes, just think about it. It could be fun. At the very least, you'll have another entry for your journal."

Hermione smiled. Well, she had decided to try as many new things as she possibly could.

"I'll think about it. I promise. I'll let you know by Friday night."

"Just don't tell Harry if you decide to. I want it to be a surprise."

It would be. A big one, too, if she could do it, and if she still thought it sounded like a good idea in the morning.

Of course, the morning also brought a hangover and the realization that she would be facing Snape again, and probably every day for the next few years until she could feasibly be promoted again. It was a very odd position for her. On the one hand, she respected Snape's expertise in potion making, and she looked forward to learning more from him. On the other hand, he was a right bastard, and no amount of expertise could detract from the fact that he was a horrible teacher.

For most people, work was work. You show up, you do your job, you get paid, you go home to your family and friends and try and forget that in ten hours, you'll be right back where you started from. For Hermione, though, it was a bit more. She enjoyed recognition and honors. She was proud of her work, and often spoke of it extensively to her friends and family who didn't really listen, and she was sick and tired of the rumors circulating around that she had only been given the job because of Harry Potter. Call it overachieving, call it insanity, but Hermione was determined that eventually, not only would everyone admit that she got her job because of her skills and not because of Harry, but also that they would all be thankful that she was working for St. Mungo's. It was a selfish, narcissistic thought, and it didn't surface very often, but when it did, she did nothing to apologize or disguise it.

In a small way, she actually understood what Snape went through while he was teaching them. Harry was listened to and accepted simply because he was Harry Potter. He didn't do anything in the first place to make himself famous; in fact, it had been his mother all along. But because it looked as though Harry had killed Voldemort, he was a valid member of society and regarded as something special. Hermione herself had fallen for it during her first year at school. It wasn't until she had gotten to know Harry that she realized that he was a human being with a terrible family life, and not quite as much care as he should have had. It was still hard to remember who he really was underneath it all, what with him being idolized by every magazine and newspaper in the country. By all rights, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and yes, even Snape as well as many others, should also be treated the same way by the media. Instead, they were all given speculation on a near weekly-basis as to whether or not their gains were due to favors, or their own merit. It was demeaning and wrong, but she could not see how to end it. No, they would always be merely afterthoughts while Harry was the star of the show.

She didn't begrudge him his fame, or his influence, particularly since he saw it as a yoke rather than wings to fly. She did wish for fairness. Both Luna and Neville struggled daily to gain respect in their fields. Granted, Luna was a little...well, mad, in her columns and the way she ran The Quibbler, and she was incredibly outspoken about things that were simply not true, but she was a hero and a veteran, and heroes and veterans were allowed to be eccentric. Neville was always taken for granted, both before and after Voldemort's defeat, and not just by the outsiders who were content to stand on the sidelines and lob complaints right and left; Neville was overlooked by almost everyone in the Order Of The Phoenix, and was only honored after Harry made a particular point about it. Much to Neville's detriment, however, he was still looked upon as the person who was given borrowed feathers by benevolent Harry Potter because of their deep friendship.

Ginny perhaps was the worst of all. She was the kept woman of Harry Potter, too weak in her own needs to even demand that he make an honest woman out of her. Forget the fact that she was only twenty-four years-old and was barely starting out in her field, and that twenty-four was not even a quarter of the life expectancy of a witch. Ginny's job, according to the public, was to produce heirs for Harry Potter. That she wanted her own career and that Harry might be supportive of it was not even considered.

Hermione sighed as she made her way to her workstation. Snape had every right to be angry at the world. She did not think that it was fair that he channeled all of his hate into Harry, as it really wasn't Harry's fault that no one would listen to the truth of the matter, but she did understand his need to be bitter.

"Miss Granger," he greeted, looking very smug indeed.

"Mister Snape," she returned, nodding her head slightly before removing the stasis charm from her cauldron. She supposed that he might have been surprised at her lack of blushing and blundering, but she was still a bit angry and him and Harry for dragging her into their ongoing dispute. Besides, acting like a cowed second-year was no way to begin a working relationship with The Bat Of Slytherin.

Her refusal to be flummoxed by him, though, seemed to invite him towards her at any moment of the day. He was constantly questioning her choices of ingredients and the ways that she prepared them as well as the way that she stirred, and with what. To make matters worse, at her lunch time when she usually caught up with The Daily Prophet and relaxed a bit, he decided to join her at her table.

"I see Potter is still under the impression that Voldemort simply did not get enough cuddles as a child," he grumbled as he poured himself some pumpkin juice and nodded towards the front page, where Harry was smiling for once as he helped open the brand new Wee Wizard Orphanage. He also, for once, outlined his expectations to the press, that the orphanage would help magical orphans such as himself find the sort of life that they needed amongst their peers. It was a daunting undertaking, but many Wizards felt it was a futile endeavor. Apparently Snape was one of those Wizards.

Hermione skimmed the article and shrugged. "At least he's using his money and power to help wizards, rather than hurt them like a few wealthy wizards have done before him. Malfoy comes to mind immediately, of course, but he's rather an easy target."

"Quite. Still, I doubt that Potter could have prevented Tom Riddle from becoming the fierce Lord Voldemort by simply having a cuddle with him."

Hermione set the paper down and straightened her posture, ready for yet another argument with "Mister" Snape. "Tom Riddle was a brilliant boy who was forced to grow up around average Muggles. Had he been governed by wizards and witches who knew his tricks, I do believe that there would have been a much different outcome for him. Even if he still ended up being a menace amongst the Purebloods who seek to protect their way of life, there is a very good chance that he would have been much less of a problem. He might have even been able to use his intelligence and talent in a productive manner for the good of all wizardkind."

Snape scoffed and stabbed at his peas and potatoes. "Nonsense. You are looking at this from a Muggle perspective, not as a Witch. When there is a will-a true will to do something magnificent and terrible-the will of the person in possession of it will always prevail. Trying to stop Tom Riddle from becoming who he was would have been an exercise in futility. His passion, his mission, his single-mindedness would have found its way out, and it would have consumed him every bit as much as it did."

"Oh, but sir, you forget that we are discussing bringing a child up from infancy and forming its mind from the beginning. His mind would never have been given a chance at such evil!"

Snape actually looked like he felt a little sorry for her as he leaned in and practically whispered, "You are the one forgetting, Miss Granger, that Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin." He paused a moment so that his words could sink in. "He had the power of the Chamber Of Secrets, he spoke Parseltongue, and he willingly accepted his legacy."

"You make it sound as though he never had a choice, though. We all have choices! Look at Harry-he was given the same powers that Riddle had, and yet he chose to be good, even despite everything else that he had going against him."

Snape shrugged. "Perhaps Potter had no choice in the matter, either. His mother protected him with very deep magic, it's quite possible that she also lent her essence to him. Despite my abiding hatred for both Lily and James, one must always remember that she was a good, decent person."

"And that's why you hated her so much," Hermione mumbled before she could stop herself. Snape looked at her sharply, and she sighed. "I didn't mean it like that."

Snape gathered up his lunch tray and inclined his head. "Think nothing of it, Miss Granger. I don't mind my employees being slightly impertinent, but please remember in the future that a little impertinence goes a long way. Good day."

As he walked away, Hermione replayed their conversation in her head, trying to reconcile his behaviour with what she knew of him. Five years ago, he would have taken her hide for some of the things she said. It was almost like he wanted to be friendly to her. Of course, she did have to ruin it by saying an ugly thing. And it might not even be true! But still, it was the only explanation that Hermione could ever find for the hatred Snape held against Lily Evans-Potter. Ginny's theory was that Snape was in love with Lily, but Hermione could not allow that the man ever held tender feelings for anyone, and she really hated being wrong.

For the rest of the day, Hermione belied McCreedy's faith in her by making merely passable potions, for her thoughts were intent on her conversation with Snape. All of his words held undertones of sarcasm, and she got the distinct impression that he was simply using her arguments to reaffirm his disapproval of her, but he had said some very thought-provoking things, particularly in regards to Tom Riddle and Harry Potter. Did neither of them really have a choice in the matter? Had fate really sealed their destinies? Could Harry have become a dark wizard, bereft of all feeling and conscious? Could poor Tom Riddle have ever been led by an understanding and strong hand? She would never know.

Harry...Ginny had made an interesting proposal the previous night. A threesome, for Harry's birthday. Hermione had been shocked. Harry didn't seem the sort who would want two women at once, but then, she probably didn't seem the sort who would want two men at once, and she had gone to bed with the Weasley twins. More than that, she had really, really enjoyed it-so much to the point that she would really enjoy doing it again at their earliest convenience. They had both been inside of her at the same time, Fred behind, George in front, and she had felt so completely full and satisfied, even though Fred had hurt her a bit. She would like to do that again as well, come to think of it.

She wondered what she and Ginny could do for Harry that would make him feel as wonderful. What did men like? Ron had been easy, just roll over and let him go, and he was a happy man. Viktor had been her most complex encounter, but she assumed it was because he probably had the most experience out of the lot. Would she be able to entertain Harry enough to have him consider it an actual birthday present? Well, win, lose or draw, she wasn't about to back down from her own resolution quite yet, and a threesome with a man and a woman would be an interesting and hopefully not completely embarrassing entry in her little journal.

TBC

AN: Wow, what a short and unsatisfying chapter. I was going to have smut, but I just want to get this out so that I can start with the next chapter, and give you peeps something to read, if I still have an audience after all this time, that is. Enjoy, and look for lots of sexxorz in the next edition! Also, much more Playwitch, and possibly fangirling of Orion Shagswell.