Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Taboo

Summary:
Hermione is snooping around and stumbles upon something taboo and highly arousing. Draco/Lucius/Hermione

Chapter 1

Hermione Granger Malfoy seethed as she paced around the room she now called home. Her husband had left her only moments ago with a brisk, “Don’t leave the room,” just as he had every night for the last week, since they had taken up residence in Malfoy Manor. The brunette witch thought of her husband, her frown becoming more pronounced as she continued to pace around the lavish and comfortable room.


Her marriage to Draco Malfoy had occurred a little less than a month before, two months following Voldemort’s final defeat and the end of the War. She’d like to say that it had been some romantic case of former enemies falling in love and realizing that they belonged together, but that was about the farthest thing from the truth. She had married Draco in exchange for vital information from him and Lucius regarding Voldemort, the very information that had given the Order the opportunity to end the War. She had traded her chance of a fairy tale happily ever after with a man who loved and cherished her for an end to Voldemort. Personally, she thought it was a fair trade. She had never put much faith in romance or happy endings and the chance to defeat Voldemort had been worth the sacrifice of her romantic options.


She was twenty-three and had never even seriously dated anyone, so caught up with the War and staying alive that she had never bothered becoming involved. When the Malfoys had approached Dumbledore with their offer, she had been shocked that she was what they wanted in exchange for their betrayal of their Dark Lord. Logically, she knew it made sense. They wanted Potter’s Mudblood, as Lucius snidely referred to her, to become a Malfoy to remove the tarnish from their family name and improve their reputation. Neither Malfoy had enough evidence to support arresting them, able to lie eloquently and with such ease that even she had doubts at times on whether or not they had willingly aided Voldemort and she knew without a doubt that they had both been Deatheaters. They had chosen her specifically for her well-known status amongst the wizarding community as a Muggleborn, and she also had a feeling that Draco took special delight in forcing her to agree to such an arrangement.


She had accepted their offer with little hesitation, knowing that she would be safe from them since their entire purpose for such a marriage was for publicity and her suddenly disappearing or dying would not attract the publicity they wished to achieve. They both frightened her, though she would never admit such a thing, but she did trust them once they gave their word that she would not be harmed. She had signed a contract, handing them her life in exchange for the information that had saved thousands of others. Hermione had never put much belief in marriages based on love anyway, having seen so many in the Muggle world that had begun with words of love and devotion end up with words of hate and loathing. She and Draco were all ready at the hate and loathing part so they’d just skipped ahead a few years.


After their wedding, a formal and lavish gathering with every possible wizard of some status attending to make a perfect Malfoy-ish impression, she and her new husband had gone away for two weeks on their honeymoon. That’s when things had suddenly become complicated. She might not care for Draco, finding him an arrogant, condescending, rude bastard most of the time, but she had discovered that her body wanted him. Merlin did she want him.


He was a little taller than her with pale blond hair that he kept short in back but long on top, the locks falling against his cheeks and sometimes his forehead to give him a deceptively innocent boyish look, gorgeous gray eyes that she had always been rather fond of even when she shouldn’t have been looking, a slender and muscular build with great shoulders and arms and a stomach that was perfectly sculpted. His features were sharp, his nose long and pointy, his lips full and pouty, his arse one of the best she’d ever seen. Their hatred had translated into wild and rough and passionate sex, the two of them spending the entire two weeks in their room, shagging everywhere and anywhere.


It surprised her that Draco was such a sexual and passionate creature. He always seemed rather cold and reserved, superior to everyone around him, that it surprised her that he was so wickedly naughty. They had done things together that she had only ever read about and never imagined doing herself. They’d done things that she had never even heard of, his eyes looking into hers and a smirk on his lips as he had shown her things that aroused her and excited her. He was adventurous and daring and loved to try new things with her, to test her boundaries, daring her to do things she’d have never dared do with anyone else.


She had never actually considered herself a wanton witch, sex never really interesting her beyond the occasional fantasy. Draco had woken up something inside her, let loose a wild woman that she didn’t even recognize when they were fucking, her inhibitions fleeing as he soon as he touched her. Outside of the bedroom, they still bickered constantly and spent most their time trying to learn who they were married to, neither being friendly before the marriage. She would never admit it, but she was beginning to like him. Beneath that snotty and rude exterior, he was rather brilliant and could be gentle at times and they had more in common than either would have guessed.


Then, just when she felt like she might be able to eventually care for her husband, they returned to Malfoy Manor and he had begun leaving her in their rooms for several hours every night with instructions not to leave. Like she was some sort of child who was not allowed to wander on her own. It infuriated her, as he well know, always smirking as he gave his order and left, never doubting that she’d disobey him. She knew he was meeting with his Father, discussing business or simply ignoring her to laugh over getting Potter’s Mudblood trapped into a loveless, though lusty, marriage.


Lucius Malfoy was an enigma, one that Hermione had not yet figured out. In some ways, he was a lot like his son, that same arrogance and superiority and attractiveness. If she were honest, she had found him sexy in a dangerous way even back in Hogwarts. There was just something about the man that appealed to her even as she told herself he was evil and sinister, wanting her dead just because of her blood despite the fact that she was a far better witch than any of those silly Pureblood girls.


He was still extremely attractive even as he neared his mid-forties, his long blond hair the same pale as her husband’s, though Lucius’ fell down his back while Draco rarely let his grow to his neck. He was nearly the same height as Draco, though slightly shorter, his build more muscular and broad than her husband. She had noticed the similarities and differences between them during this last week as they took meals together, Lucius proving to be intelligent and observant and almost polite, though she always got the feeling that he found her amusing and resented having her as his daughter-in-law despite it being his and Draco’s idea.


She knew that he missed his wife, that he had cared about Narcissa. Draco’s Mother had died during the War, hit by a curse while shopping. It was rumored to have been deliberate, a warning to Lucius and Draco from Voldemort, but it had backfired on the Dark Lord. Instead of insuring their loyalty and devotion, it had been the deciding factor in their betrayal. They had lost one wife and gained another. Her marriage to Draco was still new and uncertain but it was going to be forever so she had to adapt. She was obligated to have children, to continue the Malfoy family line, and she found recently that the idea of having Draco’s baby wasn’t nearly as unpleasant as she had expected.


However, being told what to do was not something she found agreeable. In fact, it bloody well annoyed her and caused her to be so angry when he managed to come back to their room that she had bruised him when they’d been fucking, her actions out of character but seeming to arouse her handsome husband. If they never managed to get along in most areas of their lives, they would always be able to find common ground in the bedroom.


Their unions were passionate and uncontrolled and consuming, Hermione’s body growing heated just remembering how he tasted and how he felt against her, loving the feel of his cock buried inside her and his hands on her flesh and his lips on hers. Hermione groaned at the direction of her thoughts, glaring around the room before she marched to the door and opened it. She didn’t care what he said, she was not going to remain in her room when their was a large manor to explore. She had only seen a few rooms so far and she was now a Malfoy so that meant she had the right to explore a bit.


Ten minutes later, Hermione was lost and tired of hearing the portraits ask her opinion on Pureblood versus Muggleborn. None of the ancestors had been rude, which was surprising, but they had all been nosy and opinionated and determined to make her listen to their beliefs on a variety of topics. It was enough to give her a small headache and wonder how Lucius and Draco were so quiet and reserved when their ancestors didn’t know how to bloody well shut up! She made her way downstairs, deciding to stop in the kitchen to get a snack, not wanting to bother any of the house elves. She was walking past Lucius’ study when she heard a low moan.


Her eyes narrowed as she recognized her husband’s moan, hearing the noise often enough when she was licking his cock or riding him hard. Anger and jealousy flashed in her brown eyes as she made her way to the study, fully ready to curse the cheating bastard if she found anyone with him. As she entered the room, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she stared at the sight before her. Lucius and Draco were kissing. Not a chaste kiss on a cheek like a Father might kiss his son but a full on, lips against lips, tongues involved kiss.


Hermione just stood there, her arm holding her wand falling beside her limply as she watched the two handsome men kiss. Merlin, they were gorgeous. Instead of finding them immoral and perverse and taboo, she found it one of the most erotic things she’d ever seen. Oh God, what was happening to her? They were related, a father and a son. That was just wrong on so many levels of society’s standards that she should have been horrified and run from the room. Instead, she was staring at them as her knickers grew increasingly wet and her nipples hardened.


“We have a visitor,” Lucius pointed out dryly as he released his son’s lip, two sets of matching gray eyes turning to look at her.


“I thought I told you to remain in the room, Hermione,” Draco drawled dangerously as he looked at his wife, taking notice of the desire in her eyes and the flush to her cheeks. She was aroused, just as he had hoped she would be, amazed to find that the bossy little priss that he’d disliked yet wanted through most of their years at Hogwarts was an untamed and fiery lover, having not yet refused to try anything he suggested in bed while also coming up with wicked ideas of her own.


Since they arrived at the Manor, he had been waiting for her to rebel against being told to stay in the room, knowing she would find him and his Father, wanting to see if she was as aroused as he believed she would be, now having proof that she was even more perfect for him than he had believed. Over the last three months, during their engagement and subsequent honeymoon, he had realized that he could very well care about Hermione over time, all ready half in love with the delectable vixen.


“I uh I got bored,” Hermione stammered, unable to be quite so brave and confident when faced with these two gorgeous men that she had just caught in an incestuous snog. They were now looking at her with intense expressions, the brunette witch slowly back away, not sure she liked the devilish gleam in their eyes. A part of her wanted to stay, to see just how depraved and naughty they could get, while another part of her said she should run before there was no turning back. Her eyes met Draco’s, her breathing heavy, a knowing smirk on his full lips as he stalked towards hers. She quickly turned, needing to get away before she did something even more wanton than what they had done in the past few weeks.


Before she could take two steps, the doors swung closed and locked, Lucius’ voice a husky purr as he took away her means of escape. She could hear the smirk in his voice as he said, “Little girls shouldn’t snoop and spy, my dear. Whatever are we going to do with you?”


“I know you want this, Hermione,” Draco purred as his hands moving along her back before tangling in her hair and roughly pulling her head back. “I see the desire, the need, the arousal. You can’t hide it from me, darling wife. You enjoyed watching me and Father, didn’t you? Your knickers are probably soaked from spying on us. Naughty little vixen, disobeying my request for you to remain in our room and then watching us.”


“I don’t like being told what to do,” she whimpered as he pulled her hair, her eyes looking into his as she felt pleasure spread over her.


“You like having me tell you what to do when we‘re making love,” Draco corrected, not even realizing that he had not called their unions fucking or shagging, “your nipples get hard and your juices flow down your thighs and you obey me without hesitation. You trust me then. Why can’t you always trust me?”


“I do,” she whispered so softly he barely heard it, her eyes looking away from his as she realized what she had admitted. Merlin, she hadn’t said it, couldn’t have said it, hadn’t just let him know that she was no longer simply accepting of their marriage, but that she had feelings for him and wanted it to be real. Those two simple words had told him everything, his hand releasing her hair as he stepped back, his fingers moving through his pale blond hair as he grew thoughtful.


“Hermione, do you trust me?” he asked softly, watching her nod before she leaned against the door, looking a bit defeated at her confession. His lips twisted into a gentle smile as he looked at her, glancing at his Father and seeing Lucius watch intently, curiosity and desire in the familiar gray eyes. He knew it was wrong by society‘s standards, what they did together, but he didn’t care. He loved his Father, enjoying shagging and being shagged by the handsome older wizard, and didn’t give a knut that it was taboo.


They’d not become lovers until after his graduation from Hogwarts, the two arguing one evening about the future and he’s been mouthing off and acting like the perpetual spoiled brat when his Father had suddenly forced him to his knees and thrust his cock into his mouth. Draco had been stunned but had quickly gotten over his surprise and begun to enjoy what his Father was doing to his body. His Mum had never known, the two wizards rarely going beyond the occasional wank or suck, though Draco had accepted his Father’s cock inside his arse several times, finding it discomforting but pleasurable. Since his marriage to Hermione, he had decided to include his wife in their games, knowing that she found his Father attractive and finding the idea of watching his Father fuck his wife while he watched rather erotic.


“Come here,” Draco said sharply, his voice taking on the tone reserved for their naughtier games, letting her know that they were going to play. She turned around slowly, her eyes hesitant but intrigued. He found her one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, though he knew most people simply considered her average, having heard comments wondering why he had married someone pretty but rather plain. They had never seen her like this, with her eyes glazed with lust and her cheeks flushed from arousal. He loved her hair, the unruly mess the main topic of many a teasing and insult when they’d been in school but now one of his favorite things about her. He loved to feel the soft strands on his nude body, loved to tangle his fingers in it as he fucked, love that it matched her passionate and wild nature that he was privy to seeing and experiencing.


Hermione walked towards him, loving when he got like this. Controlled and dominating and rough yet gentle at the same time.


“I was telling my Father that you were a beautiful and fiery witch,” Draco said casually, “but he didn’t believe my description of your body. Thought I was exaggerating about the fullness of your breasts and the perfect rosy hue of your nipples and the curves of your arse and hips and delicate contours of your stomach and the mess of auburn curls between your supple thighs and the lovely taste of your juices flowing from your lovely pussy. Show him that I am correct. Prove that he is wrong.”


Hermione looked at Lucius cautiously, seeing the stormy gray in his eyes as he watched them carefully, his long fingers caressing the obvious erection pressing against the material of his trousers. Merlin, he was as aroused as she was, probably proud of his son for having power of her in this way, the brunette witch wondering if he’d be so smug if he found out how much Draco loved it when she took control and fucked him hard, riding him until he was begging her to let him come. Somehow, she had a feeling that Lucius would like that, too, the older wizard having the look of someone who did what felt good without little care for what was normal or expected behavior as long as he found pleasure in the act.


“Hermione, undress now,” Draco instructed his bride as he moved to sit in the chair by his Father’s desk, his eyes on the beautiful brunette as Lucius moved away from the desk and sat on the sofa beside him, his gray eyes never leaving the his daughter-in-law. Draco smirked as he said, “Father, you can touch yourself while watching her.”


“I don’t need your permission for anything, Son,” Lucius sneered, though his eyes flashed with amusement and pride as he looked at the handsome man Draco had become.


“Isn’t she lovely?” Draco mused as he turned his attention to Hermione, hearing the sound of a zipper being lowered as his Father released his erection.


“She is quite fetching, for a Muggleborn,” Lucius reluctantly agreed, the two men watching her and discussing her as she nervously looked from one to the other.


“You do not want to force me to undress you myself, darling,” Draco warned her softly, “I’m afraid I shan’t be too gentle if you disobey me.”


Hermione dragged her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it as she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. She couldn’t even describe what it felt like to stand there having two handsome men watching her with arousal in their eyes. Draco had the control, but she had the power. A rush of confidence spread over her as she realized they thought she was sexy, that they were hard from watching her, that they wanted her. The buttons were soon finished, the brunette sliding her shirt off and carefully laying it on the edge of the sofa.


Her breasts were barely contained in a sexy bra that Lavendar had given her as a wedding gift, her nipples hard and pressing against the scarlet material. She unfastened her skirt and let it fall down her legs, deliberately bending over and giving Lucius a view of her creamy breasts as she picked up the skirt. She was barefoot, now standing before the Malfoys wearing only her sexy undergarments. Her knickers were soaking wet, the scarlet material dark from her juices, her russet curls not completely covered by the thin scrap of material.


“I want to see her breasts, Draco,” Lucius declared huskily, his elegant fingers wrapped around his thick shaft as he stroked himself, finding that his Son had been correct in his description of his wife. She was bloody gorgeous, all soft curves and long legs, her long curly hair giving her a wild look that had his cock throbbing to be inside her. “I want to watch her fondle her breasts, Son.”


“Of course, Father,” Draco looked at his wife, studying her for a moment to insure that she was still aroused and enjoying this, having no intention of pushing her away by forcing her to do something she didn’t want to do, her eyes looking into his, letting him know she was an active participant. “Hermione, show us your breasts,” he watched as she unclasped her bra and removed it. Lucius inhaled sharply beside him, his Father having a fondness for breasts that Draco had inherited. “I want you to touch them now, caress them, playing with them. Let us watch you pleasure yourself.”


Hermione’s breathing was ragged as she moved her hands up to cup her breasts. She squeezed the tender mounds of flesh, rubbing her thighs together as her eyes moved to look at the thick cock that Lucius was stroking. He was wider than Draco without a doubt, her husband above average in length but just a bit wider than average. Lucius was thick and long enough to satisfy, her pussy leaking at the idea of feeling him inside her.


She moved her fingers over her nipples, twisting them in the way she liked, moaning softly as she played with her breasts. She could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down her back and around her temples, her body incredibly aroused, her eyes gleaming with desire as she looked at Draco, silently begging him to touch her or at least allow his Father to touch her.


“She has such an adorable mouth. Her lips are full and her tongue is talented,” Draco remarked huskily, “Would you like to feel them on your cock, Father? Would you like to have my beautiful wife suck your shaft until you’re coming into her eager mouth?”


“Draco,” Lucius groaned softly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at his Son, seeing the younger wizard looking at him with an innocent smile, his pale gray eyes wicked.


“I’ll take as a yes, Father,” Draco arched a brow and smirked before looking at Hermione. He caught her eyes, “I will never allow another man to touch you, Hermione. You’re mine and I do not share. However, I will allow my Father the pleasure of bedding you because he is, as you saw, my lover on occasion. You will only be with him this way when I am present. If he ever dares try anything when I am not, you have my permission to hex him. I would suggest having his hair fall out, since it is one of his few vanities.” Draco looked at Lucius, his expression serious and not at all as playful as before, “Father, do we understand one another?”


“Yes,” Lucius agreed, not minding the arrangement at all. Hermione was a beautiful and sexy witch and he had honestly wanted to shag her for quite some time, though such thoughts had never moved beyond his dark fantasies of capturing her and having her as his plaything. Now that his son had married her, he realized she was a perfect compliment to his handsome and intelligent son. They’d have lovely children, extremely powerful, and he tried not to dwell too often on her lack of Pureblood.


“Hermione, suck him until he comes in your pretty little mouth,” Draco commanded his wife smoothly. He watched her move forward and kneel, handing her a pillow and earning a grateful smile as she settled her knees on the soft pillow instead of the hard floor. He moved to sit beside her, his hand stroking his Father, leaning over and running his tongue over the swollen shaft, licking at the ejaculate before his lips claimed Hermione’s in a deep kiss, sharing his Father’s taste with her. His hand continued to stroke his Father as he devoured her mouth, letting her know without words how much this meant to him, how much he appreciated having her as his wife, how much he was beginning to care for her. Finally, he released her mouth and guided her head towards his Father’s shaft. “He likes it when you graze his cock with your teeth, just a little pain before the pleasure.”


She smiled as she moved her head forward, her mouth going around Lucius’ cock. It took her a moment to adjust to his width, her jaws stretching as she began to suck his shaft. Remembering Draco’s words, she gently moved her teeth over his sensitive flesh, having heard that no man enjoyed that action and always being careful to avoid it when sucking Draco. Lucius arched into her mouth when she did, a low moan her reward. She looked at him as she sucked his erection, seeing the intensity in his eyes as he watched her. His fingers moved into her hair, stroking it and curling it around his fingers as he moved into her mouth.


She gasped when she felt a tongue on her back, Draco licking the her shoulders and down to the curve of her arse. Her panties were slowly pulled down to her knees, her husband licking and nibbling her cheeks before his tongue moved against the rosebud between them. He didn’t stay there long, moving his head lower, his lips brushing against her pussy as his tongue darted into her. She began to move against his face as he feasted on her, his long tongue licking her, curling and thrusting into her as his nose brushed against her clit.


She focused on Lucius, wanting him to come, loving his taste, salty and slightly different than Draco. Her hand moved up to cup his balls, squeezing the sensitive sacks before her fingers moved beneath him, brushing against his bum. She slid a finger inside and arched it, finding and caressing his prostate. He cried out as he arched into her mouth, nearly gagging her as he came, his muscles tightening around her finger. She drank every drop of his release, licking his shaft as he pulsed into her mouth, stroking him until he was finished coming. Her head released his cock as Draco suddenly thrust into her, his cock going deep, his tight stomach against her arse as he began to fuck her deeply.


Draco fucked her with slow, teasing strokes, not giving her the rough fuck she craved. He raised her from her position of leaning over his Father, his hands caressing her breasts as he moved her against his chest, his lips brushing against her neck, letting his Father watch them together. Lucius moved forward in the chair, his cock still hard, his eyes on her gorgeous breasts. His large hands covered them, moving Draco’s out of the way, the younger Malfoy gripping her hips as he arched up into her, one hand moving between her legs to tease her clit.


Lucius pushed his chair back, sliding to the floor, his lips enveloping her nipple, his tongue licking the hardened nub as he began to suck on her breasts, kneading the flesh as he lavished them with his full attention. She was moaning and gasping and begging, the sounds so intoxicating, his cock throbbing once again despite his recent orgasm. The elder Malfoy pulled the chair back, sitting on the edge, and holding her breasts around his shaft, slowly fucking the creamy globes as Draco continued to fuck her from behind. He leaned over the pretty Muggleborn witch and caught his son’s lips in a deep kiss, tongues battling as they fucked Hermione. He felt lips on his chest, her tongue moving over his nipples and biting them gently, her fingernails scraping his thigh, all ready observing that he enjoyed a little pain with his fucking. Clever witch, his daughter-in-law. Gorgeous and sexy and absolutely brilliant.


Hermione had never had anyone fuck her breasts before, surprised to find it so arousing. His cock was moving between them at a rapid rate, his hands tangling in her hair once again as he kissed her husband, his own son. Merlin, she was going to come. She released his nipple and arched her back, literally screaming as she came, her body tightening and then convulsing as she had an intense orgasm, Lucius groaning softly as her nails dug into the flesh of his thighs deep enough to draw blood, his seed spilling onto her chest as he came. The blond wizard fell back against his chair, gasping for breath as he watched them, thoroughly spent and sated, his eyes gleaming as he focused on his son and his daughter-in-law.


Draco had waited until both his Father and wife had come before he focused on his own needs. He pulled out of Hermione, pushing her against the floor, the pillow beneath her, entering her deeply as he fucked her hard, her body still quaking from her orgasm. He kissed her passionately, grinding against her clit as he penetrated her, his hands behind her back as he pulled her against him. He felt a hand on his arse suddenly, familiar fingers cupping his balls and brushing against his crack, sliding into the tight heat of his bum. He entered Hermione deeply, his arse clenching around his Father’s finger, growling as he came, his seed spilling into her as she tightened around him once again, a low whimper signaling her orgasm.


Kissing her again, Draco continued to enter her until his cock was spent, finally sinking deep inside her and simply making love to her mouth. Her hands moved along his back as she kissed him, sucking his tongue and nibbling his lips. The smell of sex and sweat surrounded them, mixing with the scent of the books and the leather of the furniture. Bloody hell, just entering this room would make him hard from now on, the blond knowing that he would forever associate the scent of books and leather with his beautiful wife and wicked Father. Reluctantly releasing her lips, his fingers moved along her cheek, their eyes meeting as he whispered, “Thank you, Hermione.”


“I should be thanking you,” she smiled a bit shyly considering what they had just done. Her eyes looked from him to Lucius, finding the elder Malfoy watching them with an affectionate smirk on his handsome face. She laughed softly when he winked at her, rolling her eyes as she muttered, “Damn arrogant Malfoys with their sexy smirks and wicked games.”


“You know you love my games,” Draco smiled smugly, though there was a touch of vulnerability in his gray eyes as he looked at her. He knew she had not been pleased with being forced to marry him, but he’d wanted her for quite a long time and she’d never paid him any attention except to argue with him, ignoring him most of the time, which only made him want her even more. When his Father had suggested a trade, not wanting to simply hand over the information like some noble Gryffindor or be considered a ‘good guy’, he had immediately suggested Hermione, knowing that she would do anything, even marry him, to help end the War and save her silly little friends.


He had presented a logical argument for the marriage, never once telling his Father that he wanted Hermione for fear the elder Malfoy would not be as susceptible to the idea, though he had a feeling that Lucius had always known, remember his warnings about staying away from that pretty little Mudblood after the Diagon Alley incident before second year. Now, though, Lucius knew it was beneficial to accept her, the publicity of their marriage taking away a bit of the shame that had beseeched their name in recent years. Once it was shown to the world that they had had grown to love one another, as he was positive would happen soon, the Malfoys would no longer be considered with such disdain.


“Yes, I do,” she admitted softly, the two silently sharing a moment that went beyond sex and games and hinted at true devotion and affection and maybe even love. Her fingers moved through his soft hair, a wicked smile crossing her lips as she ordered huskily, “Now take me upstairs to our room and ravish me all night, darling.”


*the end*