A Fortuitous Arrangement Chapter 15.

Content Warnings: Threesome, M/F/F, Spanking, Teasing, Cum Play, Aftercare.

“No, Mione,” Susan said flatly. “You are not turning our apartment into a classroom.”

“But-”

“No. This is our haven. This is where we come to hide from the outside world.” Susan draped an arm over Harry protectively. “You are not bringing the outside world and all its troubles here.”

“Daphne.” Hermione turned to the blonde Slytherin and looked at her imploringly. “This is the best place to host the classes.”

“I agree with Susan,” Daphne shrugged and placed her glass of firewhiskey on the coffee table. “This is her home. Neither of us is in a position to tell her what to do with it. I’d be mad if you marched into Greengrass manor and told me how to use it.”

“It’s Harry’s home too,” Hermione grumbled.

Harry frowned. There had been increased tension between his partners over the past week and he had not been blind to it. He wasn’t the most observant person in the world but even he had noticed them avoiding each other. When they did talk, the conversation was terse and confrontational. He’d spoken to them about it separately only for them to reveal the issue was something quite different. It was clear neither was willing to resolve it. He’d have to do something himself.

It was time for drastic action. 

“Our house isn’t that big,” Harry protested. He felt Susan’s arm tighten around him. He looked up at his wife and grinned. “Look, you’ve convinced me this class is a good idea but I’m not getting in the middle of this. I love you both and I will not be picking a side.”

“Whipped,” Daphne coughed.

“Why don’t we just practise in an empty classroom?” Harry suggested. “There’s half a dozen of them on the sixth floor. Nobody uses them.”

“Bad idea.” Daphne picked up her glass and sipped, grimacing as the firewhiskey made its way down her throat. “People are shit at keeping secrets. Someone will talk. Someone always talks. You’ll have Umbridge waiting for you at our second meeting and she’ll give us all detention for a million years.”

“No classrooms,” Susan declared with a worried glance at Harry’s arm. “Nothing that puts Harry in danger.”

“Bones, he’s a walking hazard. He’s in danger just by existing.”

“I will not have my husband risk torture just because the two of you want better grades in your OWLs, Greengrass,” Susan said coldly. 

“Alright!” Harry struggled to get free of Susan’s arm. Once free, he jumped to his feet and physically placed himself between the girls, his arms stretched. “This is going nowhere. No more fighting. Hermione, Daphne and I will find a place.”

“Why us?”

“Because I don’t trust you to talk to people,” Harry said calmly. “That’ll be Susan’s job. She will reach out to people she thinks we can trust. She will try to get them to join us.”

“What about me?”

“You will organise the structure of whatever it is we’re doing, Mione,” Harry said. “If we’re doing this, it has to be more than extra classes for OWLs. I want people to learn how to defend themselves. I want them to make friends who will help them out when the time comes. Figure out a way we can achieve that.”

Harry’s spiel was greeted with silence. He turned to each girl in turn, looking at them with raised eyebrows.

“What?” Harry asked defensively.

“I think your partners are contemplating the best way they can drag you to the bedroom so they can tear your clothes off and jump your bones. You’re hot when you take charge, Potter. You should do it more often,” Daphne smirked.

“What about you?” Harry asked. He had no idea what possessed him to utter those words but they had been said and there was no going back. Suddenly he wished he’d kept the time turner so he could go back in time and punch his past self. What was it about Daphne Greengrass’ smirk that made men throw all caution to the wind and risk getting their bits frozen?

“Bold of you to assume I’d have the patience to wait until all your clothes are off,” Daphne said cheerfully. She placed the empty glass on the table and stood. “Well, I’m off. Tracey and Flora want a girl's night. I’ll see you and Hermione at Potions tomorrow.”

It took Harry a few seconds following Daphne’s departure to recover. 

“She was messing with me, right?”

“It’s Daphne,” Susan replied. “There’s always a chance she was serious.”

“Oh.” Harry clicked his tongue. He pushed the Slytherin out of his mind and turned to more pressing matters at hand.

“Susie, you need to apologize to Mione.”

“She doesn’t-”

“Yes, she does,” Harry said calmly. He sat down next to Susan and gently pulled her in his lap. The redhead flushed and instinctively hugged him, finding comfort against his chest. “I love that you want to protect me, Susie but accusing Mione of being selfish was unfair. If she wants better grades she can just study by herself and get them. This is about preparing ourselves for what’s coming.”

“I know,” Susan mumbled, her face red. “I’m sorry, Mione.”

“I’m not upset, I promise,” Hermione said. “I know I can be single-minded sometimes. I get very selfish when that happens. Thank you for reminding me to think of others, Susie.”

“Good girls,” Harry murmured. He brushed a fiery curl behind Susan’s ear. “But an apology isn’t enough.”

“Harry, you’re blowing this out of proportion. We didn’t even have a proper fight!”

“I make the rules here, Mione,” Harry said, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. “Lady Bones has to repent. Twenty spanks. You will deliver them.”

“Me?!” Hermione squeaked. 

Susan whined and buried herself deeper into Harry’s chest. 

“Sir…” she whined. Her hand clutched Harry’s shirt and tugged on it in an attempt to capture his attention. 

“You talked about resuming our regular discipline sessions last night, princess,” Harry reminded Susan. He bent and kissed her head. “Did you change your mind?”

“No, it’s just…” Susan spluttered. “You…”

“Unfortunately my hands will be busy.” Harry’s arm looped around her body and pressed her against him. He leaned forward to pick up his glass of firewhiskey. “Look. I still have half a glass left. It’s rude to waste good firewhiskey.”

“Harry I couldn’t possibly-”

“Yes, you can,” Harry cut her off in a stern voice. He patted the empty space on the couch next to him. “Come on.”

Hermione had turned as red as a beetroot. She glanced at Susan but the redhead was busy trailing kisses along Harry’s jaw. She slowly got up and walked over to the couch, sitting down on it before turning awkwardly to the couple next to her.

“What do I do?”

“What’d you say, poppet?” Harry whispered as he gently caressed Susan’s pink cheek. “Should I teach Hermione to spank you?”

Susan whined and buried her face in Harry’s neck. Her arms wrapped around her husband, pulling herself as close to him as was humanly possible. She let out a tiny huff.

“Poppet?”

“Y-yes,” Susan squeaked.

“You see, Mione, ever since that little stunt of yours last week-”

“What stunt?” Hermione narrowed her eyes. “Harry, is this some elaborate scheme to punish me for something I did?”

“Not at all. The only person getting disciplined tonight is Susie.” Harry kissed his wife’s head. “She gets antsy when it’s not happened in a while. I’m talking about when you tied Susan up and left her as a gift for me.” Harry chuckled at Susan’s quiet whine. “I promise we’ll all be better off if I tell her, love.”

“Tell me what?” 

“That experience awoke certain desires Susan didn’t know existed.”

“…okay.”

“You’re a smart girl, Mione,” Harry murmured. He reached out with the hand not wrapped around Susan and stroked Hermione’s cheek. “You can figure it out.”

“She wants me to do it again?” Hermione grinned. “Why all this pretence? Just tell me. I’m happy to join Daphne for girl's night and give you two some time alone.”

“Not exactly.” Susan whined in his arms and Harry gently shushed her. “Susan wants us both. In the same way she has me. She didn’t tell you because she didn’t want to make things awkward. She’s worried you won’t feel the same way.”

“Oh.” 

It took a second but Harry could see realisation dawning in Hermione’s eyes.

“Oh!” Hermione gasped. “She wants us to be partners as well? Are you okay with that?”

“Not just partners,” Harry responded calmly. “I’m more than fine with it. The way I see it, the more people who love taking care of my princess, the better. Susan would love to have the same sort of relationship with you that she does with me. She’d be my princess… and yours.”

“Oh.” Hermione slumped back onto the sofa. An uncomfortable silence descended onto the room as she chewed her lower lip, deep in thought.

“I told you she wouldn’t like it,” Susan mumbled. “It’s weird. I’m weird.”

“No. No!” Hermione exclaimed. “I love it. Rules. Discipline. I mean I love it with Harry but a part of me has always wondered… you know… if I was the one…”

“Dishing it out?” Harry suggested shrewdly. “Why are you hesitating, Mione?”

“It’s just.” Hermione massaged her temple with her hands. “Well.” She chewed her lip and tapped her feet against the wooden floor. “I don’t know how! It’s not like I can go to the library and grab a book that teaches me how to pleasure my boyfriend’s wife!”

“That’s your only problem?”

“It’s a significant one, Harry! I have no experience. My list of sexual partners can be counted on one finger. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but Susan’s husband is already pretty damn good at taking care of her!”

“That he is,” Harry replied smugly. He chuckled at Susan’s light smack to her chest. “So you’re meaning to tell me you two have been hostile to each other all week because both of you like each other but have had weird hang-ups about acting on those feelings?”

“We didn’t-” Susan piped up.

“I’m not-” Hermione stammered.

“What if I teach you?” Harry asked calmly, cutting them both off. “Will you and Susan stop this weird fight and fuck already?”

“Harry!” Hermione hissed.

“Language!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, wife.” Harry rolled his eyes and playfully poked Susan’s side. The poke elicited a giggle and he smiled. “If I teach Hermione, will the two of you stop all hostile actions in favour of carnal relations?”

“Better,” Susan murmured.

“Well?”

“Yes,” the girls mumbled in unison.

“Good. Hermione, wrap an arm around Susan’s waist and drag her onto your lap.”

Susan squeaked as Hermione obediently followed Harry’s instructions. The redhead was dragged off Harry’s lap and ended up lying across both their legs, her face planted in Harry’s crotch and hips helplessly squirming against Hermione’s grip. Susan’s legs dangled in the air. She gently kicked them, attempting to break free without really trying.

“Susan makes a good point,” Harry chuckled. He gently freed her red curls from the loose ponytail she had secured her hair in. He buried his hand in her hair and gave it a gentle tug, relishing the quiet moan it elicited. “Our princess is a feisty one. One leg over hers to make sure she doesn’t go anywhere.”

“O-Okay.” 

It took some trying but Hermione managed to get one leg over Susan’s knees, firmly trapping her in place. Her hand instinctively moved to Susan’s ass and she began to massage the firm cheeks.

“Flip her skirt over, tuck it into the waistband, and pull her underwear down her legs.” 

“Sir-”

“Would you like us to stop, Susie?”

Susan quickly shook her head. She buried her face in Harry’s lap, her cheeks reddening as her ass was bared and her arousal became apparent to her lovers. The momentary refuge was swiftly denied to her, however, as the growing bulge in Harry’s sweatpants pushed her away from his lap. 

“Can I?” Susan rasped.

Harry braced his hands against the couch and lifted his knees, allowing Susan to pull his pants down to his knees. It took some struggling but his boxers soon followed suit. His half-erect cock sprang free, gently smacking Susan’s pink cheek. 

“Do you remember your non-verbal safe sign?” Harry asked.

“Yes, sir.” Susan allowed Harry to pull her arms into the position he desired. They were pulled over her head, dangling off his lap and of no use to her. An arm rested on them, pinning them in place. Her hands were clearly visible and that was all that mattered. Susan rested her cheek on Harry’s tanned thighs and placed a teasing kiss on his balls. “May I pleasure you, sir?”

“Not yet.” Harry gently tugged on her hair and pulled her away from his twitching cock. He ignored her groan and turned to Hermione, eyebrows raised. “Go on. She’s waiting. If you massage her ass any longer, she’ll drench your lap.”

The scent of Susan’s arousal filled the air around them. Harry suppressed an irrational pang of jealousy. He wanted to switch positions. Having Susan’s lips around him was heavenly but having his wife over his knee scratched an itch nothing else could. 

Hermione pulled her hand away from Susan’s ass, raised it in the air, and brought it down with just enough force to make her bum jiggle. 

Susan moaned. 

“Harder, love. She can take it.”

Smack.

“Harder.”

SMACK.

Susan moaned and bucked her hips, causing Hermione to pause and shoot a worried glance at Harry.

“If I spanked you like that, what would you say?” Harry asked. He gently tugged on Susan’s hair, guiding her lips to his glistening tip. He leaned back into the couch with a happy sigh as she swallowed inch after inch of his throbbing cock, her tongue instinctively tracing a vein as it pushed deeper into her mouth.

“Please sir, may I have some more?” 

“Mhore!” Susan mumbled. “Puhleash!”

“You have your answer,” Harry grinned. He reached over and pushed Susan’s legs apart, delivering a spank straight to her glistening lips.

Susan shrieked around his shaft and he felt the vibrations in his soul. His cock twitched and a spurt of precum shot out, coating the back of Susan’s throat. She gagged and allowed him to pull her free, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath.

“Tell Mione what you want, Susie.”

“More, please,” Susan mumbled shyly.

“And?”

“Harder, please.”

Harry pushed her down on his cock once more, muffling her needy whimpers. He watched as Hermione pulled her hand into the air, looking at him for confirmation. He nodded.

SMACK!

“AH!”

“Other cheek, now. Don’t neglect it or her thighs,” Harry advised.

SMACK!

“Mhmmm!” Susan drooled around his veiny shaft, her happy sucking only interrupted by the wanton moans that escaped her lips with every spank. 

Hermione continued to spank her new partner with increasing strength and confidence, her own breathing growing heavier with every passing minute. Every so often a soft whimper escaped her lips, intermingling with Susan’s moans.

“That’s enough,” Harry murmured, stopping Hermione once Susan’s ass and thighs were uniformly bright red. “Any more and she’ll cum. To be quite honest, I’m close too,” he muttered through gritted teeth. Only supreme self-control and Susan’s distracted state had let him stave off his own release. 

“Phlease!” Susan whined. She lavished attention on Harry’s shaft with her tongue. “Harry, please! I’ve been good, sir. Please let me cum!” she pleaded as Harry pulled her away from his manhood. Her release was far from certain and desperation sunk in as Hermione pulled her leg away from her knees, releasing her hold on the redhead. “Please?” Susan pleaded.

“No.”

Two pairs of eyes turned to look at Hermione once Harry had pushed his hands underneath Susan’s arms and pulled her into his lap. 

“Not yet,” Hermione corrected herself hastily. “I want to watch Harry take you.”

“Do you want her to cum while that happens?”

Susan pleaded silently with big green eyes.

“Yes,” Hermione nodded. 

“Take off your clothes.”

“Hmm?” Hermione hummed distractedly.

“Susie’s right. She’s been exceptionally good all week. She deserves a little treat,” Harry grinned. “Don’t worry. Susie and I will join you.”

Harry gently pushed Susan off his lap. She stumbled as she was forced to stand on wobbly feet but before she could fall Harry’s arms wound around her waist, steadying her. 

“Sit,” Harry commanded, looking at Hermione. “I’m going to undress Susan and every time I take something off, you undress as well. A shirt for a shirt,” Harry instructed.

Hermione nodded. Her pink tongue darted out to run over her dry lips. Her brown eyes held Susan’s nervous gaze, the two girls unable to look away from each other as Harry initiated a slow and sensual striptease by lazily unbuttoning Susan’s blouse. It was the first item of clothing to go, followed by her skirt, her bra, and finally her underwear, leaving both girls naked except for their socks. 

“What about our socks?” Hermione asked.

“They can stay on,” Harry murmured. He pulled his gray t-shirt over his head, dropping it on top of the pile of Susan’s clothes on the floor. A hand moved to his tanned chest and he gently ran it over his scars. He liked the way Hermione looked at him. The hunger in his girlfriend’s eyes never failed to make him feel powerful. “You like what you see, Granger?”

“Very much, sir.” 

Harry smirked. He placed a hand on Susan’s shoulder and gently made her bend at the waist, contorting her body into an ‘L’ shape so she was practically pinned between her two lovers. Hermione’s hands reached out to cup her pink cheeks and pull her closer. 

Susan’s breath hitched as their lips brushed against each other. Her arms instinctively reached out and grabbed the couch on either side of Hermione’s shoulders to steady herself. A tiny squeak escaped her lips as Harry grabbed her waist and began to tease her slick entrance with the tip of his cock.

“Harry tells me you’ve been a good girl,” Hermione murmured. She gently caressed Susan’s cheek with her thumb, maintaining a grip on her chin and forcing the girl to look at her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Polite. I like that.”

“T-thank you!” Susan moaned. Harry slid into her with one firm stroke. Even after months together, he managed to stretch her walls. It took a second but they adapted to his presence, clamping around the shaft. Her walls fluttered, hungrily trying to extract the gift that was promised to her.

“Impatient, though,” Harry teased. He began to rock his hips, every thrust pushing Susan into Hermione before he pulled her away and began all over again.

“Are you impatient, Susie?” 

Susan nodded. Harry’s hand shifted from her shoulder to her hair, holding her up as he increased the speed and force of his thrusts. His other hand wound around her hips and found purchase between her thighs. His thumb located her clit and gently massaged it. He knew exactly what made his princess tick.

“Such a good girl,” Hermione whispered. Her hands grabbed Susan’s shoulders and guided her lips down to her breasts. She sighed happily as the girl immediately began to pay attention to her hardening nipple, tracing it and her areola with her tongue.

After a few minutes of rutting, both Harry and Susan were on the edge. Harry renewed his focus on her clit, determined to pull his wife over the edge with him. He made the mistake of looking at Hermione. The mere sight of Susan worshipping Hermione’s breasts with her lips was enough to demolish his self-control. He came with a desperate groan, pushing deep into Susan as he spilled his seed.

“Fuck,” Harry grunted. He didn’t pull out of her and kept playing with Susan’s clit. He was transfixed as Susan gently took a stiff nipple into her mouth and began to suck. 

“Should I ask Harry to let you cum?”

“Mhm!”

“Harry, you’re right. She’s been such a good girl. Why don’t we let her cum?” Hermione groaned.

As if on cue, Susan moaned around her breast. Her entire body shuddered and went limp as pleasure rocked through her. A gush of arousal leaked out of her, coating Harry’s softening shaft and running down her thighs. Her eyelids drooped and she freed Hermione’s nipple, needily nuzzling into her chest.

“Permission is her catnip,” Harry smiled. He gently pulled out of Susan, shushing her quiet whines with a gentle pat on her sore bum. “She can never resist it.” 

Harry hoisted Susan in his arms, carrying the sleepy redhead to their bedroom. Hermione followed the couple, swinging the door shut behind her. 

“Want to stay the night?” Harry asked.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mione. We’re sure.” Harry nodded to the closet in the room. “Grab the unicorn jammies in there. I’ll teach you some basic aftercare.”

Harry gently set Susan down on their bed, kissing her forehead to quieten her soft whines. He knelt by the bed and kissed her cheek. 

“Mione needs to learn the nightly routine, sweetpea,” Harry whispered, stepping aside when the brunette arrived with the clothes she had been asked to retrieve.

“There you go,” Hermione said, holding out the clothes for Susan.

“No.” Harry gently grabbed Susan’s shoulder and pushed her down on the bed, interrupting her efforts to sit up. “We dress her, Mione. You never pull her out of subspace without her consent. She’s a princess and we act accordingly.” 

“Am fine,” Susan mumbled. She pushed against Harry’s hand helplessly. “Don’t want to be a bother,” she mumbled tearfully.

Harry glared at Hermione. He knew it wasn’t her fault but subdrop was nasty and he usually tried his best to shield Susan from its effects. 

“I’m sorry,” Hermione whispered, her voice filled with panic.

“You’re fine.” Harry kept his voice so low it was barely audible. “I’m mad at myself for not explaining what subspace is. It’s not your fault.”

“Daddy?”

“Just grabbing your jammies, hun.” Harry gently pulled the clothes free from Hermione’s grasp. “Watch.”

Hermione nodded. She quietly perched herself on the ottoman in front of the vanity and watched the couple keenly.

“Is Mione angry?” Susan asked. A lone tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. “I’m too needy. Didn’t even make her cum.”

“Mione thinks you’re perfect.”

“I do!”

“And you gotta leave something for me to do, hmm?” Harry kissed the tear. “Because I’m starting to get the feeling both of you are only keeping me around to make babies.”

“Our son’s name will be James,” Susan murmured. She yawned softly and happily wriggled her hips at Harry’s prompting, allowing him to secure the pink and purple pajamas around her waist. “He will be gorgeous. A charmer like his Papa.”

“What if we have a daughter?”

“She’ll still be James,” Susan giggled. She gasped when Harry’s strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off the bed. Harry kept her propped up with one arm and used the other to help her get her arms in the shirt. She was dropped back onto the bed, her heavy breasts bouncing until Harry reached out with his hands and grabbed them. Susan sighed at the familiar pressure of calloused fingers digging into the soft flesh. “She’ll be beautiful and smart and she’ll love her Mamas and Papa.”

“Not with that name, she won’t!” Harry teased. He gently squeezed her breasts before withdrawing. His nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons, and before long Susan was ready for bed. 

“Then I guess it’s a good thing that we’re having a son,” Susan declared. She yawned again, her eyelids drooping. A quiet giggle escaped her lips when Harry picked her up and gently set her down at the top of the bed, resting her head on a pillow. “Thank you, sir.”

“You never have to thank me for taking care of you. It is always a pleasure,” Harry whispered. He kissed her forehead and withdrew.

“Is she pregnant?” Hermione whispered.

Harry shook his head. 

“It’s her happy place. We all need one, I suppose.”

“What’s yours?”

“I’m in it right now,” Harry smiled.

“Can Mione stay for the night?” A sleepy voice interrupted them. “Please?”

“Absolutely. I’d love to.” 

Harry and Hermione glanced at each others’ naked bodies, then shrugged and climbed into bed. Harry took the right side and Hermione the left, Susan happily squished between them. 

“How’d you know she wanted this?” 

“I talked to her, Mione.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Just like I talked to you. Which is what the two of you should have done in the first place.”

“Sorry, sir,” Susan mumbled. She wriggled her body until she found a happy compromise between cuddling Harry and spooning Hermione. 

“It’s okay, Susie. Remember what I told you about communication?”

“I’ll do better next time.” Susan yawned. “You’ll just have to remind me… or spank me… big bad wolf…”

“Big bad wolf?” Hermione raised an eyebrow. “That’s a muggle fairy tale.”

“And I was raised in a muggle house. Susan likes me to read to her.”

“And why is she calling you a big bad wolf?” Hermione smirked.

“Mine,” Susan mumbled in her sleep.

“All yours, honey,” Hermione whispered. She leaned in and kissed Susan’s cheek. “I’ll just borrow him from time to time. Is that okay?”

“Okay.”

“Susie and I like to get creative in the evenings. You’d know if you moved in.”

“Are you serious?” Hermione gasped.

“Mione, I’m in love with you. Hell, I’ve been in love with you since our second year. I just didn’t know how to process my emotions. I want you to move in with us. I’d ask you to marry me if I had a ring, could get down on one knee, or had clothes on my body.”

“I think a proposal can wait until you get a ring and arrange a proper proposal. I’d also hold off until a time when both of us are wearing some clothes.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Wasn’t a yes, either,” Hermione smirked. “I guess you’ll just have to ask and find out.”

“What about moving in?”

“I’d love to,” Hermione said softly. “But only after you ask Susan first. This is not just your home. It’s hers too.”

“Wasn’t that little fact what started everything tonight in the first place?” 

“Look, I can be narrow-sighted. Five years of living with you has helped me accept that.” Hermione smiled apologetically. “But I’m not too arrogant to learn from my mistakes.”

“I’ll ask Susie tomorrow.”

“Good.”

The couple settled into a comfortable silence, gently stroking Susan's body with their fingers as she slipped deeper into the sea of dreams. Susan was fast asleep when Hermione spoke again, her voice quiet and apologetic.

“Thank you for stepping in earlier. Susan looked like she was about to break down.”

“Our dynamic with her is a responsibility as much as it is a pleasure, Mione,” Harry whispered. He tightened his hold around Susan. The girl mumbled in her sleep and tried to burrow deeper into his side. “Your job doesn’t end once she cums. The most important part comes after it.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

Hermione propped herself up on her arm. Harry’s gaze followed the curve of her bicep, suppressing a sudden desire to kiss it. It was just out of reach. He’d never appreciated how athletic Hermione was. He wondered if she’d take up flying if he was the one teaching her.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her-”

“You didn’t. I stepped in at the right time to make sure that didn’t happen. It's why I wanted to be around for your first time,” Harry said with a reassuring smile. “It’s hard to explain. But Susan goes into a different headspace when she’s with us. She’s very vulnerable and you have to be extra careful with her, okay?”

“Okay.” Hermione leaned over Susan’s relaxed body. She gently brushed a strand of hair out of the way and kissed her cheek, and was rewarded with cute nonsensical babbling. “Thank you. For including me. I know you didn’t have to.”

“I love you,” Harry whispered. “I love you both. It was easy, I wasn’t giving up anything. Just promise to take care of Susie no matter what. Even if I’m not around, you love and protect our princess, yeah?”

“I promise.” Hermione’s brow furrowed. “Wait. What do you mean by that? Is something wrong?”

Susan stirred in his arms and Harry paused. But the redhead didn’t wake up. She simply sighed and tangled their legs together. 

“Come closer,” Harry murmured. “She sleeps better when she’s cocooned.”

Harry kept looking at Hermione as she scooted closer, only nodding when she was close enough to squish Susan between their naked bodies. She draped her arm across Susan and Harry and pressed her lithe body into the redhead’s back. Hermione’s nose brushed against his and he leaned in to steal a quick kiss.

“You remember those dreams I was having all summer?”

“Yeah. You told me they went away after your wedding. Are they back?” Hermione asked.

“Yes,” Harry whispered. “It’s the same hallway. Dark, lined by green tiles, and with a single doorway at the end. Except it’s different this time. I can… smell someone. Someone is there and it seems like I’m stalking them. Someone is in danger, I can feel it.” 

“Do you think Voldemort is following someone?”

“I don’t know.” Harry shook his head. “It feels like I’m crawling on the floor. Why would he do that?”

“Maybe he transfigured himself into a creature to escape detection.”

“You think he’s an animagus? What if he’s controlling me? What if those dreams are actually my memories?”

“I think Susan or I would have noticed if you disappeared every night to do a dark lord’s bidding, love,” Hermione murmured. She tried to sound reassuring but her brow was furrowed and she was chewing her lip, clear signs that she was worried.

“Maybe,” Harry sighed. “But I can’t shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.”

Notes:

I did it. I turned in the papers, I served out the time and now I am free to write, write, and write some more! So excited! Just as excited as I was writing this chapter. Honestly, I am really happy with how it came out as it really gave me a chance to stretch my creative muscles. Hermione in this story is probably the most difficult character I've ever tried to write, just cause striking that balance between being a flawed but ultimately good person and bashing is hard to maintain. But I am very happy with her characterization.