Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Lucius marked his place and shut the book with a snap. Ever since Severus had disturbed him, Lucius had been unable to focus. He wasn't even entirely certain that he'd found where he had been reading when Severus had so rudely interrupted him.

He hadn't been this distracted from the usually consuming grasp of his reading since Narcissa...

Lucius grimaced. Thoughts of his deceased wife were all the more painful since he'd allowed himself to look at Hermione in ... that way. It felt like a betrayal. Ridiculous, really, as he had done far more than just look when Narcissa was still alive. What was the difference? It wasn't as if he loved Hermione. He was attracted to her, yes. She was pretty and intelligent. Two things that drew him to women like a Seeker to a Snitch.

But love was for Narcissa alone. His flirtatious efforts towards Hermione were not to replace Narcissa in his heart. Of that he was sure. So why did he feel guilt?

It was his right to exert his claim, regardless of whatever he had promised before becoming a part of this polyandrous union. Annoying Severus in the process was a bonus. No, neither of those were anything that he felt guilty about.

His research with Hermione made it clear that the marriage law and the addendum would not be easily revoked. Unless the Wizengamot miraculously changed their collective mind, he would be married to Hermione for quite some time. So why not enjoy it? Why not reap what benefits he could?

Really, his intentions were quite honourable. Instead of replacing Severus in Hermione's bed, all he aimed to do was to join them. He'd always wanted to partake in a ménage à trois. The night of his consummation with Hermione hardly counted, although it had whetted his appetite.

Of course, it would be a satisfying outcome if he did manage to charm his way into bed with Hermione alone. Severus did have to learn to share his possessions; their mutual wife in particular.

And with this addendum, outrageously intrusive as it was ... well, it would not be so bad if they failed in their efforts to overturn it. It did, after all, give him a way to bed Hermione again. Repeatedly, at that.

Even as Lucius smiled at the thought, his stomach twisted. No. That was not right. He wanted Hermione to be willing, not a repeat of their disastrous first time. Once Severus had joined them, it had been physically enjoyable, but ... not something he cared to repeat. Hermione deserved better than that.

'Where is she, damn it?'

Lucius dropped his maltreated book onto the coffee table beside his chair. Narcissa would be horrified. Her husband, purest of the pure, worried over a mere Mud...

No. Hermione was different. Far too intelligent to be classed that way. Unless everything he had been bred to believe was a lie, she must have magical blood somewhere in her ancestry.

Lucius checked his pocket watch again. It had only been a few minutes since Severus had left for the Ministry. Despite his words to Severus that there was nothing to worry about, it was not like Hermione to be late. Perhaps it would be worth going to St Mungo's and asking after her? It would have the added bonus of a public appearance showing concern for his wife. The Prophet would love it ...

Before he could see about boosting his reputation with such a public relations stunt, Lucius felt the wards alert him to someone Apparating inside the manor. Either Severus had returned, or ... A little concentration should give a few answers. He closed his eyes and kneaded at the bridge of his nose as he 'spoke' to his abode.

A witch. Outside – no, inside, now – Severus's potions laboratory.

There was only one witch with Apparition clearance within Malfoy Manor.

Before Lucius could Apparate to greet her, Hermione moved. He frowned. That was not normal. Once inside, Hermione walked from room to room. Good manners, perhaps, but more likely a sign of her Muggle upbringing. But just now ... she'd Apparated again. Where?

Severus's bedro...Apparition. Library.

"Where's Severus?" Hermione's voice rang in his ears before Lucius could even open his eyes. He winced; it was both louder and shriller than usual.

Lucius opened his mouth to welcome her back. It wouldn't hurt for her to know that he'd been concerned, too. His words died in his throat. Hermione did not look her usual self any more than she sounded it. Pale-faced, her eyes burned with a fire that put him in mind of an enraged Hippogriff. What was the phrase? Wild-eyed, that was it.

"Hermione? What's wr..."

"Where. Is. Severus?"

"At the Ministry. He won't be long. Why don't you sit down?" He Transfigured his chair into a sofa and patted the seat next to him.

She shook her head, her already dishevelled hair frizzing up even more. It wasn't just the movement causing that: Lucius could feel the magic as it welled – no, boiled – up out of her. At least he didn't have to worry too much about another explosion of uncontrolled magic from her, as he'd taken the precaution of shielding his books.

Lucius stood up and cautiously approached Hermione, as if she was a nervous resident of his aviary. "Are you all right?"

Her eyes briefly met his before she looked away. "Fine."

Lucius raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Why so pale? That's Severus's speciality."

"I...I just had a bit of a shock."

His other eyebrow joined the first. A shock, hmm? What could possibly be a shock at a fertility check up? And something that she wanted to tell Severus about... Could it possibly be that she was already pregnant despite that contraceptive Severus had brewed? Maybe she had missed a dose. The newlyweds had certainly been consumed by each other enough to forget.

"I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Another shake of her head. Definitely something she wanted Severus to hear first.

"It's all right, you know." Lucius took her hand and patted it. "I don't mind if you don't want to tell me. I can guess; Narcissa didn't want to tell anyone else before she told me."

Hermione's eyes darted back to his, her gaze caught this time like a Jobberknoll's by a Kneazle. Oh yes, he'd definitely struck on the truth.

Lucius smiled down at her. Now to try to put a healthy flush back on her cheeks with a bit of reassurance. "You needn't worry about Severus's reaction. After all, no child of yours would be a dunderhead."

"What?" The word escaped her as a soft gasp.

"I'm not surprised, you know. That you're pregnant."

Her eyes narrowed. She did not appear pleased that he'd guessed her secret before Severus could be told. Oops. Quick, a compliment to get him out of hot water, it had always worked with Narcissa ...

"A body like yours is made for breeding."

Finally, that healthy flush on her cheeks! Success...

Lucius saw stars. In the few seconds it took for his vision to clear, he registered a couple more blows, this time against his chest. What had happened? He shook his befuddled head to clear it.

Hermione had slapped him, if his stinging cheek was anything to go by. And she was now pounding her fists against his chest.

Perhaps he should have paid that earlier enraged Hippogriff analogy closer attention ...

Even as he lifted his arms to capture her wrists, Hermione's blows weakened as her body shook with sobs. Instead of restraining her, Lucius wrapped his arms around her.

"There, there," he murmured. She clearly needed comfort, and Severus wasn't there.

* * *

'Where are you, Hermione?'

After dropping off the potion and antidote at the Ministry, Severus had called at St Mungo's. The Welcome Wizard (the witch had been a plague victim) had been able to tell him when Hermione had left, but not why her appointment had been longer than usual. It seemed that being her husband was not enough for St Mungo's staff to break their confidentiality code. Only the Wizen-fucking-gamot could do that.

Hermione's appointment might have been twice as long as the average fertility check up, but it had still not taken an hour. After she'd left St Mungo's, the trail ran cold. Wherever she was, she'd been there over half an hour.

Severus would have tried Summoning his Patronus if not for the difficulty of thinking of a happy memory that wasn't tied to Hermione. Those that were had the decided drawback of feeding his worry much like happiness fed a Dementor. Besides, what was the point of Conjuring Bambi if Hermione most likely didn't know how to make a Patronus talk in order to send a message in return?

If Hermione wasn't at Malfoy Manor when he returned, he'd visit Fawkes and get him to fetch her.

Severus Apparated just outside the library door. It wouldn't do to startle Lucius into hexing him. Hopefully his slippery friend had some information on Hermione's whereabouts by now.

He opened the door and swept inside. Severus staggered to a halt at the sight that awaited him. Hermione. In Lucius's arms.

Most of Lucius's face was hidden in those riotous brown curls, but those grey eyes glinted maliciously at him.

Severus inhaled sharply, the air hissing through clenched teeth. It burned, an ache to complement the ice cold fist closing around his heart.

'How could she?'

He couldn't find his voice. No matter, he didn't need to be able to speak in order to hex the living daylights out of Lucius.

His hand closed around his wand when Hermione pushed away from Lucius's embrace, and spun to face him in the same motion. Severus only had time to register her bloodshot eyes and tearstained cheeks before she threw herself into his arms.

'Huh?'

Hermione buried her face against his shoulder, moving her mop of hair in the process so that he could look at Lucius unobstructed.

Lucius's cheek bore a red handprint, something Severus would be sure to ask about. Later. When Hermione wasn't falling apart in his arms.

At his questioning stare, Lucius just shrugged. Apparently he had no idea what had Hermione in this state, and of course he wouldn't admit that she clearly wanted Severus, not him. But that didn't thaw the fist gripping Severus's heart by much. Hermione was hurting.

He bent his head to whisper in her ear, "What's wrong?"

Hermione shook her head, the movement barely distinguishable from a nod as close as she was pressed to him.

Severus glanced over at Lucius. Whatever it was, Lucius did not know. Was there a reason for that? Lucius rolled his eyes and started to saunter over to the door. How ... charitable of him to decide to make himself scarce, but it wasn't right. Malfoy Manor was his home, after all. Severus Disapparated for his bedroom, taking Hermione with him.

The squeeze of Apparition startled Hermione out of his arms. Her eyes darted around the room before they returned to him. Severus was prepared for her to step back into his arms, but not for her to launch herself at him with enough force to knock them both onto his bed.

"Oof!" And enough force to knock the breath out of him. He soon forgot the discomfort of being winded when Hermione's lips found his in a desperate, consuming kiss. Her tears were cold against him, her taste salty from them. But still unmistakeably Hermione, if bittersweet.

Hermione broke away from the bruising kiss in order to straddle him, seated on his thighs. Her fingers found his robe buttons and made short work of them. Her intentions were clear as her next target was the fastenings of his trousers.

Flattering as it was for her to want sex more than once in the same day, Severus did not appreciate Hermione's apparent use of his libido to attempt to distract him from finding out what had upset her. How to stop her without rejecting her, though?

"I can't lose you," she choked, her shaky fingers fumbling with his trouser fly.

Severus caught hold of her wrists, bucked his hips to unseat her and rolled them both over so that their positions were reversed.

"Why would you lose me?" he demanded, and released her to hold her face between his hands in effort to get her to meet his eyes. "Look at me, Hermione. Tell me what's wrong."

She shut her eyes, her face twisted into a pained grimace. He gently stroked her cheek with a thumb. Her eyes opened, swimming with fresh tears. She bit her lip before releasing it with a ragged sob. Finally, she met his gaze.

"I'm infertile."

Those two whispered words made his heart ache at the underlying pain in her voice. Severus swallowed hard at the matching pure agony in her eyes. For a while he could only breathe raggedly until the ringing in his ears faded.

'Oh, Hermione.'

"If – when – you desire a child, I can brew a fertility potion powerful enough to make a man conceive if he could."

Hermione shook her head as much as she could with her head cradled between his hands. "It's not just difficulty conceiving. The spell the Healer used... it showed a typical pregnancy. Ended in miscarriage."

"I see." He bent his head to kiss her. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If it is the case, it won't affect how I feel about you."

"When we come to it? Severus, the Wizengamot will dissolve our marriage long before then. I am going to lose you."

Of course. The addendum's accused stipulations on what happened to the infertile. "Not if I have anything to do with it. Come with me."

* * *

It was a bit of a distraction having Hermione with him in the potions lab, but he was not about to leave her on her own. Nor could he entrust Lucius with her, not with his current seduction scheme.

At least it was a straightforward potion to brew, something he had stumbled across in the process of inventing the gender selection potion. It had occurred to him that wizards married to post-menopausal witches might need some secret assistance to escape the demands of the Wizengamot. But he hadn't expected to need it himself ...

The last ingredient added (a broken Ashwinder egg), and the potion only needed to come to the boil – and then cool – before it was ready.

"Severus, what..."

Severus laid a finger across Hermione's lips to quiet her. He kept his eyes on the cauldron, ready to put out the flames below as soon as it bubbled. Overcooking the potion would render it useless.

There. A jab of his wand to extinguish the fire and he could explain his actions to his baffled wife.

"Is that for me?" she asked as soon as he lifted his finger from her mouth.

Severus winced at the hope brightening her voice. Of course she would jump to the wrong conclusion. He had invented a potion that would select the gender of a child, why not one that would guarantee survival to birth?

He pulled her into his arms. "It's for me," he murmured. "I am the best living potions Master, but ... I can't work miracles, my love."

She hid it well, but Severus could feel the crushed hope in the slight slump of her shoulders.

"It's a sterility potion of my own devising. The powers that be won't be able to detect it or reverse it; only I can do that."

"They'll suspect foul play," she said in a flat, deadened tone.

He tightened his arms around her. "Yes. But they will have no way to prove it. Thank Merlin you kept your own name, or we might have been summoned for fertility check ups on the same day."

It was also just as well that he hadn't shared the results of his own tests of the gender selection potion with the Ministry. While it was not a fertility potion as such, it proved that he did have an adequate sperm count. The sterility potion would change that.

"What about Lucius?"

Severus drew away from Hermione to frown down at her. "What about him?"

The knut dropped. "Ah. I see. Unless the whole business with the Dark Lord taking and breaking his wand had repercussions on his virility, the Wizengamot will dissolve your union with him."

So this cloud did have a silver lining after all. The thought of dispensing with Lucius's flirtatious ways would have been pleasant if it didn't come at the cost of Hermione's pain.

Besides, even if Lucius was taken out of the equation, the Wizengamot had another aim for the polyandrous unions apart from procreation: marrying off the population. There were at least two wizards for every witch. If Lucius was sent on his wicked way, a stranger would replace him. A stranger who might force Hermione to share her bed, rather than just attempt to charm her into it.

He stepped toward the cauldron and filled two vials with the now cool enough potion.

"Better the devil we know."

AN: Many thanks to JunoMagic and Septentrion for betaing and to Kribu for alpha reading.