I do not own Harry Potter it all belongs to J.K

New World Old Values

Chapter 5

The fitting for the dress went according to plan. They had to add a back piece to it to cover up the bruises but other than that the dress was just the right size. The seamstress said that it was unfashionable to have the neckline of the dress so high but she didn't care it covered the horrible bruises that hid beneath it. The sleeves of the dress went all the way down her arm and ended at a point on her hand. The dress was far from modern but she loved it anyway. Every time she took a step the dress made a swooshing sound and when she turned in circles it would billow out. Hermione had never felt so beautiful in her life. She looked into the mirror and saw Mary behind her.

"It looks beautiful My Lady. Lord Black will be very grateful that he chose this dress for you."

"Thank you Mary. I hope he will like it." the seamstress looked at her and cleared her throat.

"Ill be needing that dress back to make the changes."

"Mary could you have the seamstress leave the room for just a moment then come back and help me get out of the dress?"

"Yes My Lady." Mary lead the seamstress out of the main room then came back and helped Hermione out of the dress. Mary then showed the seamstress back in so that she could get her things then leave after she left Hermione collapsed on the small couch and closed her eyes. She was so tired and never knew how much fitting a dress could take out of someone.

"My lady…"

"Please call me Hermione."

"Hermione Lord Black would like to begin you lessons on potions you know to make lotions and such for when you are hurt or in pain."

"When? When will I be given these lessons?"

"Well today in a couple of hours if you would like to take a nap I can wake you for your lessons."

"Thank you I would really like that Mary." Hermione walked to her bedroom and gently slid into the bed and slowly fell asleep.

Two hours later Sirius was waiting for Hermione in his lab in the basement of the mansion. She was no where to be found. He walked back and forth waiting for her and kept on looking at the clock as he passed. When she was more than fifteen minuets late he called for Niles, actually he bellowed for him. Immediately he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Yes My Lord?"

"Where is My Lady?"

"I do not know My Lord would you like me to find her sir?"

"Yes I want her down here in five minuets we do not have time to waste this is an important subject for her to learn. She needs to know where she comes form. Quickly Niles remember we don't have a whole lot of time to waste." Niles quickly left the basement and went to find Hermione. It only took him a few minuets to figure out where she was, quickly wake her and rush her to the basement. When she entered the door Sirius immediately stopped his pacing and looked at her. Immediately she became as small as she could his gaze seaming to see right through her.

"You are late."

"I am sorry My Lord…"

"I do not have anymore time to be wasted listening to excuses I need to show you how to make potions so that in case of an emergency you will need to be able to make them on your own. Now how much do you know about magic?"

"Magic My Lord? Its something that I have only been told stories about my mother…I've only heard stories about magic it does not exist." Sirius waved his hand and a book immediately came to his hand.

"Do you believe now My Lady?" he raised an eyebrow and immediately she took a step back away from him. "I'm not going to hurt you." He said softly angry that she would cower to him like that. He still had to keep in mind who her uncle really was. Hermione softly smiled at him and looked at her feet.

"Do you think that I will be able to do that too?" he laughed.

"Considering who your mother was I would not doubt it in the least My Lady."

"I didn't know my mother very well My Lord. She died when I was just a small child. Cousin Harry did not have the time to tell me about magic for he left just after I came to the house."

"I am sorry My Lady now lets begin your lessons. We will start slow and tomorrow we will go and get you a wand." Sirius watched her eyes light up then turned towards the table in the center of the room and began to talk about how to create a pain reliever potion. Hermione smiled softly behind his back realizing that maybe he wasn't such a hard man after all then began to focus on learning how to make a potion.

After the long potions lesson Hermione decided to walk around the grounds and get more acquainted with her new home. She would after all become the lady of the house in two days time. She walked out to the bench underneath the willow tree she smiled at the thought of being a lady of a house. She would finally officially be free from her uncle and able to take care of her family. Most of her bruises had faded so maybe he wouldn't run from their marriage bed screaming. Only two more days and she would be married she still didn't really know who Sirius was but maybe eventually she would get to know him and who he really is. Maybe she could even learn to love him but that could be stretching it she heard a slight noise behind her and turned around to see Niles.

"Lord Black wanted me to come and tell you that dinner is ready." Hermione stood and smiled at Niles.

"Thank you Niles." She walked with him slowly up to the house. "What is Lord Black really like Niles?" she asked softly.

"That is something My Lady that you will have to find out for yourself." Hermione laughed and shook her head she should have known that that would have been his answer.

From the open window in his study Sirius could hear Hermione's laughter and immediately it sent chills down his spine. Hopefully she would learn to trust him and he would be able to get her to laugh like that.