I'm sorry I'm slowing down on this story. I have much more I want to write and will try to find more time to write in the coming weeks. I also have another plot bunny trying to run rampart in my brain and it's causing some problems. For that reason I want to finish this as quick as possible.

I also want to thank all of my wonderful readers and reviewers you make it possible for me to enjoy my writing so much. Love and hugs to each and everyone of you.

The Christmas break was wonderful for Hermione and Severus; they worked on brewing and experiments late most nights and then slept in till late morning. They never made it to breakfast the entire break. Minerva didn't say much to them the few days she was in the castle she knew they were going to spend the entire holiday working on a couple of new potions.

The first three days of break they completed their testing on a new blood replenisher, that had a much longer shelf life and it took less to do more. This potion could stay on the shelf for a full year without going bad where the other only lasted about 3 weeks; it also only required 2 or 3 drops to equal a whole bottle of the older replenisher. So like in the war a person could carry 2 little bottles and save many many people where it used to be 2 little bottles would only save 2 people at most.

Hermione and Severus went to see Poppy for Hermione's monthly check up. According to Poppy everything was going perfect she even offered to tell them what their little one would be. But, they decided to not find out for the present time. Minerva was with them for the visit with Poppy; she couldn't wait to meet her new grandchild and would have loved to have known if the baby was going to be a boy or girl, but she did respect the wishes of Severus and Hermione.

Minerva left right after the prenatal visit to meet Albus at his Jamaican hideaway. She was taking the week before Christmas off and then coming back to celebrate with Hermione and Severus and then they would head to the Manor for the week after Christmas.

The break sped by, Hermione was amazed that Christmas came so quickly. She did manage to get her shopping done but it was a close call. She finished up her last gift on the Christmas Eve day. Since Hermione had always spent Christmas with the Weasley's and wasn't welcome there anymore; they decided to ask Neville, Hanna, Luna, Harry and Ginny to spend the day at Hogwarts. Hermione owled everyone and was surprised how quickly they responded.

Christmas morning Hermione and Severus enjoyed opening their presents for each other sitting in their bed. Then they got up and had breakfast in the Great hall with everyone that had remained in the castle. When they arrived at the Great Hall they were surprised to see that Luna was already there. Hermione greeted Luna with a hug; they had become really close friends after the war. Luna didn't let anyone decide who she could like and she had stayed friends with Hermione even when Ginny and Ron were against her when she first got married. The two girls chatted through breakfast; and then went after the presents that were still down in dungeon.

The girls carried the presents up to the teachers' lounge where they decided to share presents and have a small party. By the time Hermione and Luna returned Harry and Ginny had joined the teachers for their small party. The house elves had made sure there were a lot of finger food and a ton of Christmas goodies like treckle fudge. Hermione greeted Harry and Ginny then went over to share the couch with Severus and Minerva. The group spent the morning visiting with everyone. Hermione, Ginny and Luna along with Hannah ended up in a corner of the lounge laughing with each other.

Hannah looked up and started laughing, "Hermione you are terrible your husband would hex you if he knew you just said that."

Hermione laughed even harder, "Your right he would but it's the truth he's awesome in bed."

Ginny then started laughing, "Ok just how big is he this long (holding her hands about 4 inches apart), or this big (holding her hands about 6 inches apart or is he this big (holding her hands about 10 inches apart)?"

Hermione really started laughing now and said; "The last one and nice and round also."

Hannah, Ginny and Luna totally lost it at this and were actually rolling on the floor. Hermione spoke up again, "Ok you three how big are your guys?"

Ginny spoke up, "Harry would be described as a little above average, but he sure wouldn't meet up with what you described!"

Luna laughed, "Well you all know about Ron I'm sure!"

Ginny laughed, "Unfortunately growing up with a house full of boys I've seen more then I want to of all of them! I would rather not know!"

Hannah started blushing, "You guys are terrible and I'm not answering any of you! You would get me in so much trouble if Neville heard this!"

Hermione just started laughing harder, "Hannah you have to start spending more time with the three of us! You need to let your hair down!"

About that time Severus looked over at Harry and Neville, "I really wonder what our witches are talking about? They seem to be having way to much fun."

Harry looked over at the girls and realized how red Luna and Hannah were and had a good feeling he knew what it was about. "I have a feeling I know what it's about and if it is we don't want to know!"

Neville got rather red thinking about what they might be talking about, especially after remembering what the girls talked about when they were in the common room. "Oh, they wouldn't? Would they?"

Severus looked at the two younger men, "Just what are you talking about?"

Harry grinned a little, "Ummm well, ummm if I had to make a bet about us and our ummm love life."

"What!" Severus couldn't believe Hermione would ever do anything like that, "Surely not I can't imagine Hermione even thinking about talking like that."

Harry just laughed, "I could be wrong, but, the only way we will know for sure is to ask them when we get them home."

Severus was a very unhappy wizard when he looked back at the 4 witches. Thinking to himself, Hermione better not be talking about our love life. She's too private of a person to do that. I can't 

imagine her doing anything like that. If she did I'm going to wring her neck! Surely, she's smarter than that?

Mean while Hermione had seen Severus scowling and knew she wouldn't dare admit to him what they had been talking about. "I think we need to join our husbands and don't one of you admit what we talked about."

They all agreed and went back to join their husbands; who watched their witches join them. Severus moved over so that Hermione had room to sit down on the couch, and put his arm around her as she sat down.

Minerva and the visitors left shortly before lunch and Hermione and Severus went to the Great hall for lunch even though neither was hungry. With lunch over they returned to their room and settled in for the afternoon.

"Hermione what were you and your friends discussing this morning when you were laughing so hard?"

"Oh just this and that, nothing all that interesting; mostly just talking about stuff that was going on at the Weasley's."

"You seemed to be laughing awfully hard to be talking about nothing."

"Well we were laughing about Fred and George and also about some of Ron's stumble bumbling."

Hermione was so happy that Severus didn't ask any more after that. She was afraid that he would catch her in the lie about what they had talked about. She would be so embarrassed if he found out what they had been talking about.

The rest of the afternoon Hermione worked on some Arithmancy formula's for a new potion they were trying to brew. By 6:00 when it was time for dinner she had came up with a couple of different formulas that she wanted to try.

When they arrived at the Great Hall there was one small round table set for the meal. It included three professors and 4 students. The meal was rather subdued, the students were afraid of Severus and even with Hermione there they didn't feel comfortable with doing more than staring at their plates.

After dinner Hermione and Severus returned to their private lab and started doing some brewing on the new potion they were working on.

The day after Christmas, Hermione and Severus apparated to the Manor; where they would spend the rest of the holiday.

Hermione started through the house making sure the elves had done what needed done before she even took time to take her cloak off. She wanted to make sure they had food and had cleaned up the dust and aired out the house. She loved the Manor in a way she never knew you could love a house. She knew the elves would have everything perfect but she still wanted to check. When she finished she called to the elves and thanked them. "I just want to tell you both how wonderful everything looks thank you so much for taking care of our home for us."

Both elves squeaked their thanks, "Thank you so much Mrs. We so proud to serve you; we love the manor and love making you and master happy."

Hermione truly did love the Manor and the elves, she thought of them as her family; she asked after each of the elves and gave them the gifts she had bought them for Christmas. They were all free elves; they had chosen to serve Severus and in return her. So she made sure to treat them as free and respect them.

By evening Hermione and Severus had settled into the manor and felt like they had come home. They were invited to several New Years parties but had declined all of them. They were going to bring the New Year in; within the love and comforting arms of their home. Neither wanted to leave their Manor until forced by their commitments to Hogwarts; with the start of the winter term and the demands of their teaching.