IV

Chapter IV

"Miss Granger? A word, please."

Hermione looked up from her bubbling cauldron to find Severus Snape eyeing her speculatively.

"Just a moment, sir."

He inclined his head to her and disappeared into his office. Quickly, she finished off her potion and killed the flame beneath it. A little nervously, she ran her hand over her hair and tucked a few strands into the elastic that held it in a plait. Why she was tidying herself for Severus was not something she wanted to think about just yet.

Hermione had not been in the supervisor's office since Mrs. Macready had retired, and she was unsurprised at the changes Severus had made to it. Gone were the pictures of children and grandchildren that had graced the wall and credenza. Gone was the spell that had changed the walls from dismal gray to light blue. Gone was the friendly lighting and bright, warm fire in the fireplace. Now it smoldered, hardly eking out any heat at all.

Severus sat behind an impossibly large mahogany desk, his hair pulled back with a ribbon. He actually looked rather handsome, an idea that Hermione quickly squelched. Her activities of late had caused her to look at men quite differently, but she was determined to see Severus just as she always had: a disagreeable man with a foul temper.

"Miss Granger, finally." He stood up impatiently and picked up a file. "The hospital would like your help for a few moments as soon as you can possibly spare them."

Hermione got the distinct impression that he would not allow her to refuse whether she wanted to or not. Of course she wouldn't, but that wasn't exactly the point. "Of course, sir. Anything."

He nodded and passed her the file, then walked to the door, looking back as though he wanted her to follow. She did, of course, opening the file as she went.

"There is a Muggle-born student on the fifth floor, and we are having a hard time convincing his parents to allow us to remove a rather nasty hex."

Hermione opened the file and read through it rather quickly as she followed Severus's swishing black robes through the maze of St. Mungo's.

"Why won't they let us take care of the boy?"

Severus paused beside a doorway, hand on the knob. "Because they are convinced that he should go to a Muggle hospital."

Hermione nearly dropped the file. Her parents had taken her to a Muggle hospital once. It had been disastrous. Of course, that was before they knew she was a Witch. And then there was the time that Mr. Weasley had agreed to putting stitches in his arm. Muggle methods should never be used on a Wizard or Witch. It was nearly unthinkable. Thankfully, the staff at St. Mungo's was adept at handling such emergencies, but to have one's child safely there already, and still insist upon moving him out? What could the parents be thinking?

They were frightened, no doubt. The boy had probably only just received his letter from Hogwarts, judging by his age.

"You want me to talk them into letting their child stay." Hermione said. "Why me? Why not someone from the Liaison office?"

Severus sighed. "They're all busy with helping Muggle-born's prepare for their first year, and you're the only Muggle-born Witch on duty today. The people that I answer to would like to see this resolved without involving the Ministry."

His implication hit her very hard. The Ministry might have the power to remove the child from his parent's care. "I will do what I can. Sheath your wand out of sight."

Severus shoved his ebony wand into his boot and opened the door. Inside, a young rather fashionably dressed couple was worrying over a young Wizard who looked rather like his skin was made out of tire rubber.

"Oh my," Hermione murmured, pushing the boy's blonde hair out of his face. "Were you playing with your wand?"

He nodded and the dark black color of his skin paled slightly. "I thought I was transfiguring my teapot."

Behind her, Severus chuckled. She herself was suppressing a laugh. "Nathan, didn't you read your textbook? You should really start with toothpicks and needles."

Nathan nodded, his eyes downcast.

"Miss? Are you his doctor?" the father asked impatiently.

Hermione turned to him and smiled. "I'm a potion brewer, sir, and my name is Miss Granger. I am not a Mediwitch, but I can honestly tell you that your son is not quite as bad off as he looks."

The mother turned scarlet and looked as though she was about to give Hermione an earful. Preemptively, Hermione raised her hand to stay her.

"I'm not saying that he doesn't look shocking, but a simple reversal by a trained Mediwitch or Wizard will return your boy back to you in no time, as good as new. I know that this must be very difficult for you. It was for my parents when I received my letter. I was supposed to attend one of the finest schools in London myself. I'm sure your son was down for an equally prestigious school."

The father nodded. "Eton."

Hermione smiled. "My friend Justin was down for Eton as well. He did wonderful at Hogwarts, and is even a hero in our world. Order of Merlin, First Class. I'm sure that your son will do equally as well."

"You're assuming that we're going to carry on with this!" The mother exclaimed. "Look at him! Look at my son!"

Hermione pulled up a chair and opened the file across her lap. "Mrs. Grambford, I am very sorry that your son got a little caught up with his studies and decided to try a few spells out. One of those spells backfired. It's been known to happen. But please, believe me when I tell you that this is incredibly rare! If Nathan had been in a classroom with a professor watching his movements and explaining the spell, this would not have happened. Now, I am perfectly willing to discuss your son's future with you, and I am more than happy to regale you with tales of my own experiences as a Muggle-born at Hogwarts-" cleverly omitting the parts about Voldemort, of course-"but first, can't we get a Mediwitch in here to see about Nathan? Let's set him to rights first, and then we'll all be in a much better mood to discuss this."

The Grambfords relented, and Hermione had Severus summon the Mediwitch who righted the boy with very little effort. The Grambfords were actually surprised to see how easy it was to reverse the spell, and spent the next two hours quizzing both Hermione and Severus about Hogwarts and the Magical world.

"I do believe that it is lunchtime," Severus remarked as they made their way back down to the brewing room.

"Yes. Sir? Do you mind if I use your office during my lunch hour?"

Severus turned to her with a shocked expression on his face. "I do mind, but I will allow it, if you have a good reason."

"I need to write to Harry."

"Sorry, I won't allow it."

"Snape, please! I need to discuss this matter with him!"

"Which matter?"

She found herself practically chasing after him. "This matter! The things that you and I just witnessed. Harry is drafting a bill that will help Muggle-born witches and wizards survive better in our world, and it's situations such as this that we are trying to avoid."

Severus was apparently determined to act obtuse. "Situations such as what, Miss Granger?"

Hermione sighed and grabbed his arm, thankful that he actually stopped his stalking and looked down at her. "You said yourself that the hospital was trying to avoid getting the Ministry authorities involved. They might have taken that boy away from his family, and you know it! And then what? Obliviation for all of them?"

"Perhaps it would be for the best in some cases."

Hermione frowned. "Who makes that decision? And how? What are the guidelines? Sir, you must see! There has to be some sort of accountability. Please, may I use your office to write Harry a note?" The last sentence was spoken rather shrilly and a little hysterically, but she held her ground.

Severus studied her face for long moments, his cold black eyes boring holes into her skin. She flushed under such scrutiny, but she did not look away.

"Very well," he finally conceded. "You may use my office for one hour, but you will not make a habit of drafting missives to Harry Potter in there, is this understood?"

She nodded. "I would not ask it of you were it not important."

"I know. And this is the main reason why I am allowing it." He turned and began his retreat once more, Hermione following at a much more sedate pace.

The brewing room was deserted. Her coworkers had no doubt left for the cafeteria, as the lunch hour had begun a quarter of an hour earlier. Hermione reached into her portfolio and took out a piece of parchment and her writing utensils. Severus was in his office, sitting once more behind his large desk, two plates of food sitting in front of him. She looked at him quizzically, but his nose was already buried in The Daily Prophet, and he did not look up when she sat across from him.

"You don't have to stay with me."

"I'm not comfortable with someone working in my office without me. Nothing personal, mind you."

Hermione actually understood perfectly. "No offense taken."

"Speaking of taking, here, take this plate. I ordered it for you."

She suppressed a smile. "Thank you, sir."

Uncharacteristically, Severus grunted in response and snapped his paper back open as though he were hiding from her good will.

"And thank you for trusting me with the task this morning. It really means a lot to me."

He didn't answer her, but she knew that he heard.

When the hour was up, Hermione had managed to pen her letter and eat her meal with relative composure. She had even managed to have a short debate with Severus regarding an article about Harry's charitable endeavors. It was actually very pleasant.

"Be careful," Ginny cautioned over dinner at Hermione's house.

"Oh, Ginny! Of course I will be. You don't think that I'd actually want Severus Snape in my little black book, do you?"

Ginny shrugged. "Why not? He's damned sexy. And so tall. I bet he's hung like a Hippogriff."

Hermione choked on her tea. "I don't need these images in my mind!"

Ginny waved her off and took a sip of her own tea. "When do you want to surprise Harry? And do you want to practice kissing or canoodling first? I'd really like to surprise him in bed."

Hermione jumped up and went to her desk. "I almost forgot! I ordered a book and some props from that Lord Orion Shagswell. You know? The wizard who writes the advice column for Playwitch?"

Ginny joined Hermione at the desk. "Ooh, him? He's dreamy! And what do you mean by 'props'?"

Hermione smiled and held up a box. "Come to the bedroom. We'll practice our canoodling and kissing, and we can play with my new toys."

Harry's birthday dawned bright and crisp just as it should have. Hermione smiled all through the day, remembering Ginny's heated touch along her body. It was interesting, experimenting with another girl. It was something they had never engaged in, though they had laughed about it every now and then when the other girls at Hogwarts had been caught in compromising positions, emphatically insisting that they were just practicing their techniques. Now it seemed that there was some merit in such trysts. Ginny was warm and soft all over, and her kisses were sweet and tender. No stubble marred her chin or scratched at Hermione's skin when she nuzzled, and breasts, despite what most women thought, really were a lot of fun to play with.

By the time evening fell and it was time to leave work, Hermione was desperately horny and ready for a long, slow night of passion. She had already given a request to Severus to be excused from work the following day, and he had actually approved it without question. She was positive, though, that if he knew why she wanted off, that he would have rather died a thousand deaths before allowing it. He would also have probably given her the lecture of a lifetime. It might be warranted, too. Sure, the entire Magical World was convinced that Hermione was one of Harry's lovers, but that didn't make it true. What she was going to be doing this night would make it true. Very true. The thought was not at all distasteful.

At Grimmauld Place, Hermione hastened to the master bedroom on Ginny's heels. Ginny was a woman on a mission, and just as with everything else, she meant to carry through with an intensity that would make even Severus Snape pale in comparison.

"I bought us some lingerie."

"Oh? I thought we were going to do this naked," Hermione said as she entered the room and kicked off her shoes.

"We were until I was reading that book you leant me by Lord Orion Shagswell. He mentioned lingerie quite emphatically in chapter five, and you know Playwitch has quite a few adverts for naughty costumes; I couldn't help myself."

Hermione pulled her robes up over her head and unclasped her bra. "Let's see."

Ginny went to her bureau and opened a small corner drawer. "I hid them in here so that Harry wouldn't find them. He thinks this is my junk drawer. It really just has an excellent Confundus Charm placed on it."

The filmy scraps of material that Ginny pulled forth from the drawer could hardly be called clothing, or even lingerie. The panties were crotchless, and the corsets only laced over the ribcage, leaving the breasts bare and framed by lace. The gloves and stockings were shimmery bits of silk that felt like heaven to the touch. Once they were kitted out, it looked as though their extremities were covered with the finest glitter.

"You're beautiful," Hermione couldn't help saying as Ginny flopped onto the bed, her pert breasts bouncing with her movement.

"So are you." Her look turned predatory. "Now come here, love, and let me show you just how much."

They both giggled at her joke, and Hermione wasted no time in slinking her way up to Ginny, starting at the foot of the bed and crawling on her hands and knees.

"I hope these are for me," Ginny murmured, taking Hermione's breasts into her silk-covered hands.

"You have to show me that you know what to do with them first," was the coy reply.

When Harry found them, they were furiously riding each other's thighs, wet and sticky from sweat and arousal. Hermione opened her eyes briefly to catch a glimpse of him, his face hard with lust, his hands keeping a white-knuckled grasp on the canopy bar.

"Harry," Ginny keened, "oh Harry! I think...oh, god...I think we need you!"

Hermione whimpered and pinched Ginny's nipple as she began to come.

"Fuck," Harry grunted.

Hermione didn't have the luxury of watching what happened next, as she was too busy thrusting against Ginny's thigh and shoving her tongue down Ginny's throat as she came rather forcefully. Not to be outdone, Ginny pushed Hermione onto her back and insinuated her hand between Hermione's thigh and her clitoris before she threw back her head so that her red hair flew this way and that as she succumbed to le petit mort. Harry swore again, but Hermione was too distracted by the soft curves now filling her arms to pay him much mind.

Ginny, however, was practically married to the man who was watching them, and apparently didn't have the luxury of forgetting him and his needs. Hermione watched as she took Hermione's nipple into her mouth, and then tongued it, all while looking at Harry through smoldering brown eyes.

Harry, who seemed to have finally gained his wits back, doffed his outer robes and joined Ginny in laving Hermione's nipples, stealing kisses from her whenever he could. When Ginny decided to move on to Hermione's other nipple, Harry stopped and sat back, straightening his glasses as he did so.

"What are the rules?" he asked.

"Anything goes," Ginny answered. "And as this will probably be your only chance with her, you might want to pay Hermione as much attention as possible."

Hermione laughed and escaped from their cozy little knot. "Ginny dearest, you do forget that we are here for Harry's birthday gift. He should be calling the shots."

Harry's green eyes took on a look of mischief, and he reclined against the pillows. "That's right, isn't it, my lovies? I'm in charge. Why then, as it is my birthday, and I am king for a day, not to mention your savior, I order you both to undress me. Whoever does the best job gets to ride the firebolt first."

Hermione leaned in and ran her hand down his shirt. "I'd rather ride you," she whispered in her best husky voice before she licked her way into his mouth and gave him a toe-curling kiss.

When she brought her head up to finish removing Harry's shirt, Hermione found that Ginny had been very industrious by removing his shoes and pants entirely, and was now kissing her way around his lower extremities, careful to not touch his penis, which was now large and hard, dark from arousal and pointing straight upward. Deciding that she was behind in the game, Hermione gave up any hope of teasing him more and simply ripped his shirt open, exposing his rather nicely shaped chest.

She had seen him nearly naked before, when they were hunting Horcruxes all those years ago, but she had been with Ron at that time. Not only had Harry been off-limits, he had been uninteresting as well. Now she found him to be quite the opposite.

"What do you think?" Harry asked, running his palm along his shaft, his large hands not diminishing his size at all.

"I think it a very good thing that you are not covered in chocolate, or Ginny and I would be fighting to devour you."

Ginny laughed and threw her arms around Hermione's shoulders. Harry smirked at both of them, then held out one hand towards his dresser and shouted, "Accio chocolate!"

A drawer opened, and a jar of chocolate fudge flew into his hands. Still smirking, he heated it slightly with his wand, and then drizzled the contents down his chest, over his stomach, and across his thighs and cock.

"Ginny, if you'll just come over on this side of me, the two of you can start up here and work your way down."

"You're a cheeky devil," Ginny accused as she slid herself across his body, allowing the chocolate to smear over some of her more delectable parts.

"I have plenty of sweets hidden around here," he said as he licked a drop of chocolate off of her nipple. "Just in case."

"Now I know what you do without me," Ginny murmured as she lowered her head to his chest, just a short distance from Hermione's. They worked his chest together, sucking the chocolate off of his flesh, and off of each other's faces. By the time they reached his cock, they were both sticky and aroused, and the sight of his large shaft was positively electrifying.

"You have it all the time," Hermione murmured as she delicately sucked at the base.

"And I'm not inclined to share," Ginny returned, meeting Hermione's tongue with hers.

They alternated kissing each other and suckling his cock until he couldn't take any more, and he dragged them both back up to him, and then it was his turn to torture them. He kissed them separately, and then they managed a three-way kiss. At one point, he pushed them together so that he could take a breast each into his mouth at the same time. Then he knelt between them and used his hands between their legs, watching as they began to thrust against him and arch at his ministration. When he commanded that they kiss each other, they complied, but they did not stop themselves there. With Harry gazing at them approvingly, they caressed and kissed each other's breasts and bellies, always watching him so that he would know that it was all for his benefit.

Well, theirs, too, but mostly his.

Finally, he sat back on his heels and pulled Hermione, who was very nearly at her second orgasm of the night, onto his shaft and began to thrust into her in earnest. Someone-she was never sure if it was Harry or Ginny-forced her onto her back, and then Ginny mounted her face. Understanding what was to be done, Hermione gladly pulled apart Ginny's folds and began to lap and suckle at her, using the same techniques that she usually enjoyed. The only sounds that she could hear were the moans and pants of Harry and Ginny. She was concentrating so hard on what she was doing to Ginny that her orgasm took her completely by surprise, and she had to turn her head and sink her teeth into Ginny's thigh to help counterbalance the exquisite perfection of the moment.

Ginny moaned and said something that didn't register in Hermione's brain, and then her arms were once again filled with the beautiful redhead's curves as Harry began to thrust into her while she lay cradled against Hermione's chest. Ginny whimpered and cursed as Harry grasped her hips and sped up his thrusts. She alternated kissing him and Hermione, and then she grasped a handful of Hermione's hair and arched her back as she let out a deep, keening moan of pleasure. Harry closed his eyes and threw back his head so forcefully that his glasses went flying off, and they both came together. His weight was added to Ginny's, and Hermione found herself in the not unpleasant position of playing mattress to the Magical World's most famous couple.

As their passion simmered down, they arranged themselves more comfortably against the pillows. Ginny was sandwiched between Harry and Hermione, and Harry had managed to wrap his long arms around both of them.

"You really need to grow a pair of breasts, Harry," Ginny muttered against his chest as she pulled Hermione's leg over her waist and ran her hand along it. "I love playing with them."

"I rather like yours, too," Hermione said, running her hands over them. "I couldn't imagine more perfect breasts."

"You're welcome to come over and play with them any time you like," Harry offered. "But I'm spent now, ladies. If you wish to carry on, however, I certainly won't stop you just yet."

They laughed and snuggled even closer against him.

"Tired," Ginny said.

"Me too," Hermione agreed.

"Sleep," Harry whispered, leaning over to kiss them both on the forehead.

The next morning, Hermione and Ginny woke Harry with a full English breakfast and another satisfying ride. By the time she made it back to her flat, Hermione was sore and achy in all the right places, so she treated herself to a hot chocolate as she relaxed in her pretty claw-footed tub and recapped the previous night's events in her little black book, complete with both Harry's and Ginny's proportions. An added extra that she had begun to tack on after her first few quickies, was something personal, such as a way that they liked to be touched or kissed in a certain spot.

Smiling in satisfaction, she closed the moleskine and leaned back against the lip of the tub. Life was certainly getting more interesting by the day.

TBC

AN: Sorry this is so long in coming! It was a difficult chapter to write (I started it about ten times, and then had to scrap it), but I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Thanks to everyone that's taken the time to read and review. I try to answer each one, but if I forgot you somehow, I'm sorry. I do really enjoy reading what you think about this tale, though.