Hermione woke up very early, the sky was still dark. Pulling back slightly from Severus she realized that she had a headache and that her stomach felt like it was totally empty. For that matter it was so empty she was nauseated.

Severus felt Hermione shift and woke up; "Are you ok Hermione?"

"I've a headache and my stomach is very sick, I think that's because it's so empty. I didn't eat much yesterday. Thank you for taking care of me last night. "

"There is no need for thanks I can't even begin to understand how lost you must feel. Lay here for a few minutes and I'll call for Pippy and get you a headache potion."

Severus got up and went to the loo and then called for Pippy.

"Bring your mistress some tea and toast. We will be in the bedroom."

Pippy popped back out and Severus moved to the potions cabinet. He took down both a headache potion and a nausea potion; and then went back into the bedroom. Pulling his wand from under the pillow he stoked the fire and then moved back to the bed with Hermione. "Pippy is bringing you toast and tea. I have a nausea and headache potion for you but don't want you to take them till you have something in your stomach."

Hermione nodded and sat up in bed, "Severus, I need to let the Dark Lord know what we found."

"I took the liberty last night, Pippy sat with you while I notified him. I hope that is ok, I just felt it would be easier on you if I let him know."

Pippy popped in with a try that had toast and tea for Hermione and scones and coffee for Severus; she levitated the try to Hermione's lap and then popped back out.

"Thank you, once again, I think it would have been hard to admit how foolish I had been. I still can't believe how evil he was. He lied to all of us; I don't understand why he thought it was for the greater good. So far life under Lord Voldermort has been very good."

Severus nodded, "It has been good, and as the Dark Lord said he learned from his mistakes and didn't repeat them this time. He truly does care for the betterment of the wizarding world. I will admit that his first try at controlling the wizarding world wasn't as good and he was out of control. But, he did learn which Dumbledore did not."

Hermione took a taste of her toast, she was a little afraid to put anything on it since her stomach just rolling. Hermione thought on what Severus had said, and continued to nibble.

Severus recognized the look Hermione had on her face; she was very deep in thought. It was the same look she got when she came up with the ideas for the wolfebane that he still hadn't had time to play with.

Eventually, Hermione turned to Severus, "Did you tell the Dark Lord I wanted the wizarding world to know about Dumbledore?"

"Yes I did and he agreed it needs to come out, if you want it to. It's totally your decision; he will not get involved either way except to help you with your choice."

"I feel like I'm constantly saying thank you lately, the Dark Lord is so different then Harry and Dumbledore made him out to be. I just can't get over it."

"I think Ginevra makes the difference; she truly does soften him; he also talks to her about most of his decisions."

Hermione nodded, "I do want the wizarding world to know about this, but I don't want Rita Skeeter to have the by line. Is there anyone that is a follower that reports for any of the wizarding newspapers or magazines?"

"There are several do you prefer it in the newspapers or in a magazine?"

"The newspaper would get it seen by more; I would think. I want the whole world to know this."

"Then we will go with the newspaper and also make sure the wizarding wireless picks it up."

Hermione looked up at Severus, he had dropped glamour and his teeth were white and straight. His nose was still long and hooked but with the clean shiny hair and the straight white teeth he was a handsome man.

Hermione smiled up at Severus, "Have I told you that I love you?"

Severus leaned over and kissed Hermione, "Yes, and I love when you say it. I love you too."

Hermione gasped, and took a long look at Severus, "I really never expected to hear that. I knew you did just by your actions and the way you protect me but to hear you say the words. You can't imagine how that makes me feel. I Love you so much!"

Severus leaned over and kissed Hermione again, "I took me a while to realize it. I will be honest I knew I wanted you, I wanted to protect you, I also wanted to make love to you; but, it took a lot for me to look into myself and realize that it all added up to Love! I love you with my whole heart."

Hermione set the tray off the bed and crawled over unto Severus lap; she lowered her lips to his and gave him a kiss between each word. I (kiss) Love (kiss) you (kiss) and (kiss) Love (kiss) hearing (kiss) you (kiss) telling (kiss) me (kiss) that (kiss) you (kiss) Love (kiss) me (kiss).

Severus deepened the last kiss and pulled Hermione further up on his lap, soon the kissing turned into some serious petting and before Hermione realized it her gown was on the floor and Severus was slipping is cock into her wetness. Hermione sighed and wrapped her legs around his waist. She could never get enough of this wonderful feeling.

Turning her attention to Severus's neck she kissed up his neck and to the base of his ear and then worked herself back to his mouth. She could feel the pleasure building and thought she just might explode, Severus reached between their bodies and played with her clit and before she could take a deep breath the pleasure rolled over her in wave after wave. As she started to come down she felt Severus give one more strong thrust and he groaned. Hermione could feel him pulsing and filling her with his life giving cum.

The two of them laid there for several minutes until they caught their breath. Severus eventually rolled off and pulled Hermione into his arms as she rested her head on his chest. "You are one amazing man. You always manage to make sure I'm totally satisfied before you see to yourself."

Severus smirked, "You didn't know you were going to get a great lover and a good husband did you?"

Hermione let lose a deep belly laugh, "Well we know who has all the conceit in our family."

Hermione reached over and took the headache potion Severus had left on his stand and then curled up closer to Severus. "I really need a shower but it feels so wonderful laying here with you."

Severus nodded, "I agree I could spend the entire day here."

Hermione closed her eyes thinking she would rest just a few minutes and the next time she opened them the sun was shining and she could hear Severus in the shower. Sitting up and looking at the clock she realized it was eight already. Hermione crawled out of bed and slipped into the loo. Seeing that Severus was just starting his shower she slipped in with him.

Severus groaned when Hermione's small hands slipped around his waist. He was in a constant state of readiness since he had married her. Turning around he dipped his head down and kissed her. "I have to be in the courtroom at nine at the latest so behave yourself."

Hermione smiled and stuck her head under the shower to wet her hair. Picking up the shampoo bottle she started washing her hair. Soon Severus had his hands in her hair rubbing her scalp and causing wonderful tingles to go up and down her spine. Once her hair was rinsed Hermione picked up the soap and began to bathe every inch of Severus's body. Every place her hands touched Severus swore there was a scorch mark. His whole body was inflamed by the time she turned him towards the shower so he could rinse off. Hermione was smirking by this time so Severus turned to her and paid her back. By the time he had finished with her breast neither one of them could take it any longer. Severus picked her up and placed Hermione's legs around his waist as he shoved back into her warmth.

Ten minutes later they were both re-bathing themselves and had very satisfied smirks on their faces. When they finally turned the water off and stepped out of the shower, Hermione handed Severus a towel and then wrapped on around herself before she walked out of the bathroom with her tight little butt twitching from side to side.

Severus shook his head; she was going to be the death of him. He survived two wars but one little petite five foot tall witch was going to kill him.

Hermione was having very similar thoughts of her own, I don't know how he does it I can be determined not to make love to him and all he has to do is touch me and I'm hot. He is going to be the death of me one of these days. I swear I will strip and mount him in front of the whole court someday.

Looking in her wardrobe Hermione pulled out an Emerald gown and robe, thinking how nice it would be to put on a pair of jeans and a jumper. Unfortunately, with the new way of life she wasn't allowed to dress in muggle clothes. Pulling on clean under clothes Hermione looked up and met Severus's eyes; they were black pools of desire and it was all she could do to not walk straight into his arms.

Severus quickly pulled his eyes back down to his dressing. All he could think of was how much he wanted to pull that delicious body of hers right back into the bed. In all that was Holy how was he supposed to watch her pull on those little tiny pieces of lace that covered nothing but left a ton to the imagination and not get a hard on. Glancing back up he realized that she had turned her back to him; shit that little triangle turned into a single tiny strip that was sitting right in the crack of her ass. Severus debated about forgetting about everything and just going and swallowing her whole but finally got control.

Turning his back he pulled his pants up over his very large erection and pulled on his shirt. Buttoning everything he pulled on his robes and then sat down and put on his socks and dragon hide boots. Turning around Severus was finally able to take a breath Hermione had put on a beautiful Emerald colored gown. The only problem was it showed just enough cleavage that he wanted to lick at it.

Once again reining in his mind and body Severus offered Hermione his arm; "We should get down stairs for breakfast."

Hermione took Severus's arm and walking out of the room started laughing. Lying in the middle of the rug in front of the fire place was Crookshanks and the little black and white kitten. The kitten had its head lying right in the middle of Crooks belly. "I guess that Crooks is accepting."

Severus nodded, "I was afraid he would try to kill the little fellow but I guess your talk with him did the job."

Hermione walked over and scratched Crooks on the head. "Be good Crooks, Pippy will have you fed in a few minutes and I'll tell her to give you some kippers."

Before they left the room Hermione called for Pippy. "Pippy will you see that Crookshanks gets some kipper with his kibble this morning?"

"Course Mistress, Crookshank very good kneazle."

Hermione followed Severus out of the door and they moved to the courtroom. Entering the room Hermione noticed that they were so late that the Dark Lord and Ginny were already present. Walking to the front of the room Hermione and Severus knelt.

The Dark Lord motioned them up, "Are you feeling better this morning Hermione?"

"Yes my Lord much better, Severus told me that he talked with you. I do want the world to know what that evil man did. So if you can recommend someone that would tell the story truthfully without embellishment I would like to talk with them."

"We will make arrangements today for you to talk with someone. It should be in tomorrow's Daily Prophet."

Hermione nodded and turned to Ginny, "You look much more rested, are you feeling better?"

"Yes, the healer said that the baby is doing wonderful and I should not have any more trouble. She estimates I'll have the baby the end of January can you believe so soon."

"I'm so excited for you I can't wait to hold your little one. But, don't get any ideas for me I want to wait till I finish my apprenticeship."

Ginny just laughed, "You will hold our little boy and be begging for a baby within a week."

"I wouldn't count on it remember I'm going to be living in a castle full of children."

The Dark Lord laughed, "Don't tell me that you subscribe to Severus's thoughts of they are all dunderheads?"

"Well they all aren't but more of them are than aren't. You forget that I was the one that drug Harry and Ron through school by the skin of their teeth. And speaking of Ron when is he going to be back; isn't tomorrow his wedding?"

Ginny spoke up, "Yep, he will be an old married man by this time tomorrow. He should be here by lunch time; most of the wedding parties are moving in today. Now we just have to figure out whom Draco's soul mate is and get Harry's betrothed old enough to marry him."

The group continued to talk; Hermione was actually feeling better then she had in a long time. She now had someone to blame for her parent's death. She felt better about turning to the so called Dark. From what she could see the Dark should have been called the light and the light should have been called the Dark.

Lost in her thoughts Hermione didn't hear the Dark Lord speaking to her. Severus touched her shoulder and she jumped. "I'm sorry I was off in my own world in thought."

Severus nodded, "The Dark Lord was speaking to you."

"I'm so sorry my Lord."

"That is no problem, I said that the owl I just received was a fellow member telling me he would be here at ten to make a copy of the journal and do a report on what you found last night. It will be front page news on the Prophet tomorrow and he's giving it to his brother to be talked about on the Wizarding Wireless as soon as the paper released."

"Thank you so much my Lord, I appreciate all the trouble you have went to on my behalf."

When breakfast was over Hermione went back to her quarters while Severus, Draco and Percy, who appeared just as breakfast was finishing, went into the inner chambers. Hermione had just fed the Pigmy puff and started wrapping presents when Pippy popped in.

"Mistress there man here said Dark Lord wanted you talk."

Hermione took a minute to understand Pippy and then nodded, "I'm sure it's the reporter. Can you see if Lavender, Pansy or any of the girls are available and then show all of them in?"

Pippy bowed and snapped her fingers; Hermione finished up the book she was wrapping and had just started the next when there was a knock at the door.

Flicking her wand to open the door as she walked towards it Hermione saw Pansy and Millicent along with a gentleman she didn't know. Hermione smiled at Pansy and Millicent; thank you for acting as chaperon's ladies.

Holding her hand out Hermione shook hands with the gentleman, "I'm Lady Hermione Prince, thank you for helping me with this matter."

"Good day Lady Prince, my name is Joshua Goings; I'm more than happy to help you and our Lord."

Hermione offered everyone a seat and called for tea; the group chatted until the tea was served and then Hermione got down to business. "Yesterday I found some very distressing information; after talking with my husband and the Dark Lord I decided that I wanted the world to see that all was not what it seemed during the war.

This is Albus Dumbledore's journals from last year, if you read this page you will see that he had decided to order my parents killed to control me."

Hermione handed over the book to Mr. Goings and looked at Pansy and Millicent they had both gasped when she had said that Albus had killed her parents.

Mr. Goings handed the book back, "Lady Prince, I would like to make a copy of that book and also report this. On top of that just to make sure that everything is proven I would like to have someone from the Ministry to examine the book to prove that it was Dumbledore's. I do not doubt you but I want everything documented so that there is no question."

"I understand Mr. Goings so do you want to do the examination first or would you rather finish all we can and then get someone here?"

"I would like to get your reaction to this and get the story ready to go; then I'll contact the Ministry to get a specialist in hand writing and verification of authenticity."

Hermione nodded; "What would you like to ask me?"

The two of them talked for about an hour, and then the reporter duplicated the page about Hermione's parents and also made a copy of title page and the cover of the journal. "Lady Prince I will be back in touch with you as soon as I hear from the Ministry. I will be going there from here. Thank you for sharing with me."

"Thank you Mr. Goings, do you need someone to show you out?"

"No I've lived in the manor a few times I'm comfortable making my way out."

Hermione led him to the door and then turned back to the girls. "Thank you both so much for coming. Your support meant a lot to me; I know you both have a lot to do with your weddings. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Both girls smiled and Pansy got up and hugged Hermione, "No we are fine, but how are you doing dealing with all of this. It seems like you have dealt with one thing after another since the end of the war. First all of us, then your marriage and now this crap; and if I do say so myself you were a lady all the way just now."

Hermione hugged Pansy back, "Thank you, now Millicent please tell me Ron is treating you good. If he is not I will hex him into submission. I know he was not being very nice on my wedding day."

Millicent smiled, it was a little watery but it was a smile, "My dad and mom had a talk with him and so did Ginny. Then the two of us sat down and talked; we are getting along much better. We have found out we have a lot in common. We both love Quidditch, he likes to play and I love to watch; we both want a big family with me staying home with the children. I think we will make this work; we will have to work at it but we both feel much better about it."

Hermione smiled, "I am so happy for you, I wanted you and Ron to both have what Severus and I have. For that matter I want both of you to have what we have. It's amazing being married to your soul mate; it truly is."

Pansy laughed, "Hermione you have changed, you always did act older than the rest of us but now you seem so much more mature. You do seem like Lady Prince not Hermione."

"Now that's enough, I'm still just Hermione, let's go down to court and see who's around we can all kidnap Ginny for a little bit."

The girls agreed and trooped down the stairs, Ron and Adrian were standing at the bottom of the stairs talking when the girls got there both boys knelt for Hermione and then stood up. Adrian spoke first, "Good Afternoon Lady Prince, I hope that you are doing well."

"Please may I call you Adrian? If so you must call me Hermione when we are with friends like this. I'm doing wonderful thanks to your wonderful fiancée; I hope you know how lucky you are to be with Pansy. She truly is a beautiful person in all ways."

Adrian and Pansy both turned very red, "Thank you my lady."

Hermione turned to Ron and gave him a hug, "Hey Ron, how are you doing? All ready to be married to this sweetheart." Hermione turned and pulled Millicent into a hug.

Ron got red and then laughed, "Yeah we have had a chance to talk and Milli is a great gal. We have a lot more to work out but I think we will be fine together."

"Just remember that if I find out you aren't taking good care of her and being sweet to her I'll hex you into next month."

Ron gulped, "I promise 'Mione."

Adrian laughed at Ron until Hermione turned her glare on him, "The same goes for you so don't laugh to hard. I take care of my friends and both of these gals are my friends."

Both girls laughed at the guys, and then hugged their fiancées, Pansy looked at Adrian, "Don't worry we will protect your big boys from big bad Hermione."

The front door opened and Harry walked in with a group of people; Hermione figured it must be his betrothed and her family. Walking on down the stairs Hermione stopped and spoke to Harry; "Harry I'm so glad your home, I've missed you."

Turning to the family, "Good day, I'm Lady Hermione Prince."

The father stepped forward, "Good Day Lady Prince I'm James Crassweld, this is my wife Syliva, my daughter Jane and my son James Jr."

Hermione turned to Sylvia, Mrs. Crassweld it's wonderful to meet you, is this your first trip to the Manor?"

"Yes it is I didn't know there was a castle as big as then in Ireland."

"It is a beautiful place you will have to take a walk in the rose garden it's just beautiful. Jane, I may call you Jane can't I? I've been Harry's friend since we were eleven so I hope that the two of us can be friends."

Jane nodded, she had been told to curtsy to anyone with the title of Lady or Lord but Harry didn't kneel to this gal. "Thank you, I hope we can, I'm just getting to know Harry, he seems like he's really nice."

"Well we have a lot in common; my husband is much older than I am even a bigger difference then you and Harry. I'm married to your headmaster; so I'll be at school in January when the new term starts. If you need anything at all please come to me I'll be happy to help. Now why don't we move to the court room it's almost lunch."

Hermione lead the way with the large group following behind, just before they got to the door Hermione turned to Mr. Crassweld. "I'm not sure where the Dark Lord planned for you to sit, but if you are comfortable with it why don't you sit with Harry and that way Jane can meet some of his friends. I'll let the Dark Lord know you are here."

Mr. Crassweld bowed to Hermione, "That is very acceptable Lady Prince; we appreciate you taking the time to deal with us."

"Oh it's no problem, I hope we get to be friends, like I said Harry and I've been very close friends for years, he's a brother to me."

Hermione opened the door with a flick of her wand when she entered everyone looked up and then knelt or bowed as she made her way to the front table.

Not wanting to sit at the table by herself Hermione decided to be brave and went and knocked on the inner chamber door. She soon heard Enter and stepped through the door and curtsied.

"My Lord I'm sorry to interrupt but I thought that I would let you know I've talked with the reporter and that he is arranging someone from the ministry to verify the journals."

The Dark Lord smiled, "Hermione you are always welcome in here just at Ginevra is. You are part of the inner court. Do not ever hesitate to knock and enter."

"Thank you my Lord."

"Is the Courtroom filling up?"

"Yes, my Lord, I just escorted Mr. and Mrs. Cresswald into the room, I didn't know where you wanted them so they are seated with Harry."

"That's fine I'll talk with them after lunch. So how did the interview go with Mr. Goings?"

"Very well, Millicent and Pansy acted as chaperons; Mr. Goings asked a lot of questions and then said that he wanted everything verified so that there were no questions of wrong doing."

The Dark Lord nodded, "That's very smart on his part; did he say when it might be published?"

"No sir it all depends on how quickly everything can be authenticated."

Severus moved from the fireplace where he was standing and sat down beside Hermione, "You look tired my dear. Would you like to rest after lunch?"

"I think I'm fine I did get a few of the Christmas gifts wrapped, I need to finish that so the children don't see them. Are we going after them this afternoon?"

"Yes, that was one of the things we discussed this morning, you and I will go after the children about four so that they can join the court for tea. The Dark Lord is extending our table for tea time after that he will introduce the children to the families that are thinking about adopting them."

Hermione smiled at the Dark Lord, "I hope they are good matches, I've got a very soft spot for little Mikaela. And I think whoever adopts the twins are going to find that they are just full of mischief."

Ginny laughed, "I hope they aren't as bad as Fred and George were."

The group continued to laugh as they rose to enter the court room.