I passed my classes and ready for summer. Enjoy!
The morning passed slowly as only a few of the girls in the rooms would talk to Hermione, when their queen came down followed by Draco the whole room started to buzz. Her blond hair laid down her back with a white robe on, she had on white heels and her silver crown. Draco was dressed as he was last night, in a well-tailored black suite. Lilith motioned for Hermione to sit next to her as the room started having breakfast. Breakfast was a quiet, nobody spoke. Hermione didn't know if it was because she was there or if they were always silent while the queen ate. The door opened with an older women entering, she was dressed like Poppy. She had on a black dress, with a white apron and a white hat. She was holding a blond baby that had to be close to a year old and the women was followed by a black hair boy who couldn't be more than eight.
"Your majesty." The women curtsied as she handed the baby to the queen. The boy went and stood by Lilith, he spoke to no one in the room as he waited for her to see him.
"Come here." Lilith took the baby out of the women's hand. Draco was near the child making cooing noises. "Here Draco hold him." She handed the baby to him as she opened her hands to the book. "Salazar, come meet you Aunt Hermione." The boy's face changed into a smile and ran into her arms. He turned to Hermione and bowed. "Have you ate yet my love?"
"Yes momma." The boy kissed her cheek.
"Have you been taking care of Orion for me?" She looked at him out the corner of his eye as she started to eat again.
"He is my half-brother why should I?" The boy glared at the baby.
"Because he is your brother, you will have the crown and he will have the Malfoy name and title. Never cross a Malfoy be wise to remember this." She put her fork down and looked at him.
"I will be the king, shouldn't he not cross me?" The boy sat between her and Draco.
"Yes but a king without loyal followers isn't much of a king. Remember even though your father's family deserve the throne they have not always had it. What if he has more followers than you have? He will be king and you my love will be dead."
"You will not let that happen." The boy shouted at her.
"I would do everything in power to stop it but my power can only do so much. Do you understand now?" She whipped her mouth as Draco handed her back the baby.
"I must go love and get ready for the picnic, the Minister will be there." He kissed her cheek. "Your highness." Draco bowed to the boy.
"Momma may I hold my brother?"
"Do not kill him." She handed the baby to the boy who smiled down to his brother.
"You will bow to me one day won't you? I will be kind to you to keep you on my side." The baby cooed at him. "May I attended the picnic? I am seven now."
"You may but you must change and be on your best behavior the Ministry will be there."
"Why do we need the Ministry? Doesn't father rule them all?"
"He does but the Ministry likes to think they make our laws and the people like the Ministry. You need the people as much as you need your brother."
"I will make a good king. I will make new laws on muggle-borns and half-bloods." He was holding his brother tighter.
"I know you will but till then hand Orion to nanny." The older witch stepped forward and took the baby. "Give momma a kiss and go and change into green." The boy bowed and left the room.
"He has grown." Hermione smiled.
Lilith nodded at her. "You may go and change, I will see you an hour." Lilith rose from the table and headed up the stairs. Hermione custied and was turning around when she heard Lilith ask Frau Brewer for Lord Malfoy at once. Hermione hurried to her rooms to fine Severus, something was wrong.
Hermione couldn't find Severus in the rooms and she had no time to find him before the picnic. The castle on her way down had turned into a mad house preparing for the Ministry's arrival. She transformed one of the nicer black dresses into a soft green, she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Lilith would have to be happier she was wearing another color than black. The dress was almost the same as the one she was wearing but the neck didn't go all the way to her face. She searched the room and found a box full of jewelry, Hermione had never seen so many gems in one spot. She pulled out a dark green set of earrings and put them on. The last thing she did was change the color of her shoes to a cream color and pull her hair up. She hurried out of the dungeon to find Severus.
Hermione made her way to the Great Hall when Ginny ran into her. "There you are, come in the queen is asking for you." Ginny was dragging her outside. Ginny wore a pale yellow dress with gold embroidery of snakes on the bodice. Hermione noticed Severus standing on the side next to Arthur and Ron, he looked pinned in by both men but she couldn't help him Ginny had a death grip on Hermione's hand. Ginny bowed low as Hermione was watching Severus, she felt the pull on her hand as she looked over. She bowed low she was standing in front of both Voldemort and Lilith. Lilith was stunning in her light blue dress with white flowers embroidered into the bodice and threw the skirt. Her dress pooled out around her feet, her wedding ring sparkled in the light. Her crown of a snake wrapped around her head and a snake around her waist.
"How are settling in again?" He touched her hand and moved her closer to him.
"Your majesty, I am settling in fine." She could see the look of outrage on Lilith's face but the worst part was the look of murder on Bellatrix's that was standing behind them.
"I see you still value the jewels I bought you." She could see the anger in Lilith's face. "My child I have been worried about both you and Severus this last year. My dear where did you go?"
Hermione was looking for an answer, he didn't know? He didn't send them on the mission? Lilith cleared her throat and smiled at Hermione. "My Lord, I sent them to find some potion ingredients for a rare potion Severus had talked about. Remember I had asked you first." She held his arm closer to hers.
"Oh yes, ah the Minister. Come Bella, Lilith take the boy outside for some air." He grabbed Bella arm as the moved towards Fudge. Hermione had to laugh seeing Fudge still as the minister
Lilith bowed as he moved away from her. "Come let us head outside." She called to her court as she placed her hand on Salazar arm. "Hermione come." Hermione moved closer to her.
"My queen?"
"Your husband is talking to Weasley family I see, I must ask myself why?"
"I have no clue my queen but I will find out."
"Good Hermione, I fear both Sir Arthur and Sir Ronald are members of the Order. If I can find proof of this arrangement I can have them tried on those charges. Oh I long for my younger days when I could kill because they displeased me."
"Mother why can't you do that?" Salazar looked up to his mother.
"Because my love, the people were upset that the queen would have that much power."
"Can't you make up a reason?"
The queen leaned her head back laughing. "Oh my love." She patted his hand. "Give me time my love, give me time." She looked over her shoulder at Arthur and Ron.
Hermione was sitting near some of the other ladies when Severus made his way near her. "Lady Snape, your husband comes." Ginny grabbed a grape and stuck it in her mouth.
Hermione stood and moved slowly to her husband. "Hermione where are you going?" She turned to see Lilith calling she had Draco laying on her lap. Salazar and Harry were sitting next to each other laughing about something. For a quick moment Hermione thought she saw something between Salazar and Harry.
"My queen I was going to speak to my husband."
"Your husband can wait." Draco called out still laying his head on her lap. "Come play with us." Hermione felt Severus arm around her waist as he motioned for her to sit on a blanket near them.
"Yes you both must Lord Harry is going to find a dragon and slay it for me." Lilith started laughing again. Harry jumped up and knelt in front of her.
"For you I would fight the largest beast, I would climb the highest mountain." He leaned closer to her face. "I would even face the horrors of the black lake." His mouth was inches from hers.
"My Lord." Her voice became soft. "The black lake you say?"
"Yes." He leaned in and kissed her. He jumped back and started laughing as Lilith had Draco help her up and started chasing Harry around trying to smack him. The whole court had erupted in laughter watching her try to smack him, even Draco stood by as if this was a normal sight.
"Draco, he stole a kiss from your queen." Lilith stopped running grabbing her chest trying to breath. "Behead him."
"I remember a time the queen could run faster than that and longer." Harry was standing a few feet away from her.
"Aye, that was before corsets to keep me thin." Lilith sat down near Draco.
"Thin? You my love are too thin." Draco looked at her.
"Orion almost ruined my figure." She was still gasping for air.
Draco kissed her cheek as Harry knelt in front of her again. "Forgive me my Lilith but I must agree with Draco. May I kiss my queen?" Lilith smiled as she nodded to him. Harry leaned forward and kissed her cheek. The whole court when silent for the moment as his mouth stayed on her cheek longer than it should have.
"Now I heard something about a dragon?" Lilith looked up from Harry to see Blaise walking towards her.
"Blaise!" Lilith picked up her dress as she started running to him leaving Harry still kneeling where she was. "I thought Lucius has sent you on a mission last night?" She stood in front of him with her hand out.
"I have done what was asked of me." He bent down and kissed her hand.
"We will talk later." She turned back to the picnic. "Severus come tell us a story, you always had such exciting stories of your time as a spy for our Lord."
"My queen I feel as if you have heard them all before." Severus bowed his head some to her.
"Nonsense, my lord, were you not the reason our king kept the crown when Dumbledore was bent on destroying him?" She sat down next to Draco who laid his head back on her lap as Salazar curled next to her. Her arm wrapped him as she kissed her sons head.
"Those times have been so long ago." Severus grabbed Hermione hand, he had no idea what to tell the queen if she kept pushing.
"Maybe my queen Severus is still tired from his trip." Severus sighed as he heard Lucius voice behind him.
"Lord Malfoy, what do we owe the pleasure of your company? I thought his majesty was keeping you busy with the Ministry?"
Lucius bowed to her. "His majesty has requested your presence with negotiations."
"Very well, come Salazar and learn how to handle the Ministry." Draco stood helping her stand as she shook her clothes, Lucius came forward offering his hand has he lead her back to the castle followed by Salazar.
"Hermione, come with me to view the lab construction." Severus stood up grabbing her hand, almost pulling her off the ground.
"Oh course." Hermione turned as she heard Harry start laughing.
"Is there a problem?" Severus sneered at him.
"You must have done a number on her while you were away, Hermione agreeing to do anything with you is new." Blaise gave Hermione an uneasy look as he moved closer. "I guess you didn't know that did you?" Blaise whispered into her ear. Hermione turned to Severus as he started moving them away from the picnic, they could hear a few talking as they left.
"I need to talk to Nott. Weasley suggested Nott might know more of what is happening."
"Severus, be careful. The queen wants that family dead and she wasn't happy you were talking to them." Hermione looked into Severus eyes, she could see fear behind them.
"We will tell her I'm gathering information if she finds out. Head straight back to our rooms and let no one in." Severus leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Be safe."
"He knows, Blaise knows."
"I think they all do." Severus turned and headed down a corridor leaving Hermione to make her way back to their rooms. A black box with a dark purple ribbon was placed outside their doors, she pulled out her wand as she slowly moved closer to the box. After a few spells reveling nothing she brought the box in the room with her. A note was on top of the box, Hermione read the note as she shook her head. What does it mean "Returning what belongs to you?" She laid the note down as she started opening the box.
Severus had spoken some to Nott, the information he had gathered from him was interesting but still something seamed off with the whole picture. Too many secrets were being kept and he had a feeling the other Severus and Hermione knew most of them. As he was nearing the rooms when he heard Hermione scream, his robes billowing as he ran towards the room. He told her to let no one in daft girl.