"Hermione it's well past lunch you need to eat something."One of Hermione's Veela guards said.Her voice cutting through Hermione's thoughts.She was in Prof.Snape's personal potions lab in the dungeon of Hogwarts working on the potion needed to reverse the effects of poly juice potion and had been at it for hours.As it was in a stage that it needed to be left alone for a few hours Hermione had taken to going over her notes on curing the blood malediction.She wanted to have them in some kind of order so Fleur would have a better chance to understand what she had collected so far.Although Hermione wasn't sure that Fleur would be able to follow the new organization of the notes it was better than before at least.
"Hmm?"Hermione looked up from her work to see that one of her guards by the name of Larissa was standing in front of her desk.
"Food Hermione. You haven't had anything since your early breakfast.snow it's almost time for dinner, you need to eat."Larissa told her smiling indulgently at the girl.
Hermione looked at her watch surprised with how late it was."You're right.Do any of you need to eat as well?"
"We have already been given breaks to eat."Larissa was amused that Hermione hadn't noticed.
"Well that's good then."Hermione snapped her fingers to call for an elf.
"Hello Misses Hermione what can Gerry do for you?"The elf asked as soon as he appeared in the room.
"I have just been informed that I need to eat.Would you be willing to bring me some food please?"Hermione asked.
The elf smiled brightly."Of course anything for Misses Hermione."
"Thank you Gerry."Hermione said as the elf bowed and disappeared from the room.
"What are you working on?"Larissa asked.Not only was she interested but she had been given orders from her superior to make sure that Hermione took breaks and to get Hermione to talk to them.That order came from their clan elder as the matriarch felt that Hermione spent to much time inside her own head.
"I am organizing my notes on how to cure the blood malediction curse so that I can share them with Fleur.She is going to help me with the project."Hermione told her.
Larissa held back a frown hearing that Hermione was working with one of the Delacours.All of the guards with her didn't trusted the other Veela clan and were told to keep a close eye on all interactions Hermione had with them.The fact that the second in line for clan elder was taking such in interest in Hermione had them all suspicious especially because the guards were sure that the Veela had a romantic interest in their young charge."That's an admirable cause to take up."
"I've been wanting to dedicate my time to this for a while but the hospital wouldn't sponsor it though so I pushed it aside."Hermione said.
"Well now you are a legal adult so you don't have to get permission from the hospital to run your own trials."Larissa replied.
"True now that I can legally be sued I can take on the legalities of running my own research."When she was underage Hermione needed someone else to take on the liability that came with patient trials.Now as a legal adult that could be sued she could do what she wanted.
"I doubt that you would actually do something that would get you sued."Hermione had never failed in one of her cures before so Larissa doubted just because Hermione was an adult that would start now.
"Here's Misses Hermione's food."Gerry the elf said as he appeared in front of Hermione and set a tray on the desk she was sitting at.
"I see you brought strawberries.That was very thoughtful of you to consider my guards."Hermione never asked for strawberries other than on the rare occasion so she knew they weren't for her.Veela however all loved the fruit for some reason and were known to eat pounds of them in one sitting.
"They protect Misses Hermione.They deserve a treat."Gerry said.
"Well thank you good sir."Larissa wasn't used to house elves treating someone with as much respect as they did Hermione so she knew that she had to treat them respectfully because if she upset Hermione by being rude the punishment from the clan elder herself would be severe.
"It's no problem bird lady."Gerry assured her, bowing once at Hermione and disappearing again.
Hermione handed the bowl of strawberries to Larissa."Help yourself."
"Thanks Hermione."This was Larissa's first time guarding Hermione and she found that she enjoyed the job.Not only was she proud of being chosen for such a prestigious position but Hermione was very kind to those who watched over her.She didn't fight them on how they guarded her or protest when they did things that messed up her day.In fact Larissa had never had an easier assignment and the perks were nice as well.They were not only given thrall potion but they had been given temperature enchanted robes and a pay raise with a bonus at the end of the assignment if they kept Hermione safe the whole time.
"It's no problem."Before Hermione could say more Prof.Snape entered the room."Hello Severus."
Severus looked at Hermione in disapproval."Are you just eating lunch?"
"I was focused on my project and time got away from me."Hermione told him.
"Time always gets away from you."Severus knew if other people didn't tell Hermione to eat the girl would probably starve."How is the potion coming?"
"It will be ready in an hour which will give the elves enough time to lace the food and drinks with it."Hermione said.
"Did all your guards drink some already?"Severus asked.
Hermione nodded."All of the ones that are not only guarding me now but will be in the Great Hall tonight have taken it.They have been cleared and have not been left alone since then."
"Good because they are the only ones that not only I trust but Minerva and Albus trust as well."Severus knew that the Veela guards would all give their lives for Hermione and would never even be tempted to betray her.That confidence was because the trio knew that Aart had sent the elite guard that had proven not only their worth but their loyalty many times over.
"Have you found anyone suspicious?"Hermione wondered if Severus had any suspects yet.
Severus shook his head."I haven't been around anyone for the past two days to really study them."
"That's right you went to the ministry.How is Phyllis?"Hermione asked.
"She's still Phyllis."Severus grumbled.
Hermione chuckled."She got you into trouble didn't she?"
"Actually this time I was spared.I can't say the same for Lucius Malfoy,Amycus Carrow and their bunch of goons."Severus told her.
"How was Lucius involved?I thought he was imprisoned awaiting trial after the attack on the ministry guards."Hermione couldn't image what Lucius could have done in his position.
"Oh he was but apparently he contacted Amycus and a few of his cronies and got the trail pushed through for today.I think he was trying to get it dismissed as soon as possible and thought the ministry officials would just throw out the case and free him."Severus smiled thinking about how wrong the man had been.
"I take it things didn't go his way?"If Phyllis made a personal appearance then Hermione doubted that things went in Lucius' favor.
Severus chuckled."Oh no it didn't.I have to say I was skeptical about going.As you know Phyllis being involved usually means trouble but I am happy that I canceled classes and went."
"So what happened?"Hermione asked.
"When I got there I met up with Phyllis who told me that we needed to hurry so we could get front row seats to watch the days proceedings.We quickly took our seats and watched as Andromeda and Pandora walked in both dressed in very expensive formal robes and took each of their seats.That caused the rest of the officials to start to shout and demand what they thought they were doing sitting in those two seats.It was very rewarding to watch not only Andromeda put them in their place but Pandora as well."Severus had never smiled as much as he had when watching the two women lord over the other ministry officials.
"So the old men who think they run the ministry didn't appreciate being told they no longer had all the power to run wizarding Britain?"Hermione wasn't surprised to hear that the two women were greeted like that.
"Oh no they didn't.When they called for the guards to remove them instead of forcing both of them out of the room the guards asked if Andromeda or Pandora wanted any of the men removed instead."Severus told her."You should have seen their faces.Especially when they were both officially sworn in and Andromeda used the new house's last name."
"I bet that went over well."Hermione said.
"I swear you could hear pin drop with how stunned the group was.When they finally got their bearings a few of them demanded to know who the new head of household was and tried to claim that only if they showed up in person would Andromeda and Pandora be able to actually claim seats owned by them.Andromeda told them mind their own damned business and that her head of household had more important things to do than play with a bunch of little boys pretending to be men."Severus had to hold back his laughter when Andromeda had said that.The looks on the men's faces was of priceless.Phyllis of course didn't and had drawn the attention of the entire room which was somewhat embarrassing.
"I knew she would be a good choice to take the seat."Hermione was happy that Andromeda was living up to her expectations.Now all she had to do is speak to Narcissa and hopefully get her into the Malfoy seat.
"Well once everyone finally calmed down after realizing that Andromeda and Pandora weren't going anywhere they called Wizengamot into session.The first case was Lucius' and you should seen his reaction seeing Andromeda sitting on the podium with the rest of the officials.He started screaming about her being a traitor and it being her fault that he was arrested.His lawyer couldn't control him and he didn't stop until one of guards cast a silencing spell on him."Severus told her.
"Lawyer?How can he afford a lawyer?"Hermione asked.
"I don't know but my guess is that one of his friends hired him or Lucius made promises that he could never keep."Severus had been planning on having a couple contacts get the information because he to was curious how Lucius could convince anyone to hire him a lawyer.
"Maybe we should hire security for Andromeda, Pandora and their families."Hermione mused.
"They could be in danger."Severus agreed."Those two are the only link anyone has to your new house.That could make them targets."
"I'll ask Phyllis what she thinks."Hermione trusted Phyllis when it came to threats as the woman was always in tune with any threats against Hermione so she figured that Phyllis would likely know about her house as well.
"That's a good idea."Severus may be wary about Phyllis but he trusted her when it came to serious threats.Especially ones that involved anything to do with Hermione.
"So how did Lucius' trial go?"Hermione asked.
"After the prosecutor presented not only his evidence but 5 witnesses the defense was allowed to state their case.Their whole defense was that Lucius was in fact still the Malfoy head of household and that your claim was false.They even had paperwork they said proved it.I honestly thought the court was going to side with them as many of the men in the seats were friends of Lucius or owed him favors.Of course they hadn't expected Andromeda and Pandora to be there or that Andromeda had met you and had been reinstated by the you.She also had a copy of the new family tree that the goblins provided her when she registered with was them and because of the fact that it would be magically impossible to trick the goblins into making a fake family tree that proved that Lucius was in fact not head of household anymore."Severus explained.
"So what happened with the charges for attacking the guards?"Hermione was happy that the nonsense of the new head of household was proved in front of the ministry.
"As he had no defense for attacking the guards he was found guilty of course.The court was considering a light sentence but both Andromeda and Pandora pushed for the maximum.There was a lot of arguing but it was the comment from Andromeda about her head of household being in the process of reevaluating all of the four estate's business dealings that they quickly agreed with her and Lucius was sentenced to 15 years in Azkaban."Severus told her.
"I would think that he would get more for an attack at the ministry."Hermione said.
"It was only that long because the idiot hadn't even hurt anyone in his attack.If someone had been injured or killed then his sentence would be longer."Severus had been disappointed by that but was happy no one got hurt.
"How did the rest of the day go?"Hermione asked.
"It was actually kind of fun watching Andromeda and Pandora causing so much chaos.You could tell the other officials were pissed at them but they couldn't really do anything because with you,the most politically powerful wizard in Britain backing them they had to be careful not to upset them.I am beyond excited to see what happens when you fill the other two seats."If Hermione herself took one of the seats Severus knew that a lot of things would change in the government.
"Narcissa is still the one I want for the Malfoy seat.I just need to set up a time to talk to her."Hermione tried to think about what she had going on for the week."Maybe I can do that tomorrow."
"That would work.It would also give you a break from working."Severus knew that if not forced to Hermione would simply lock herself away working on some project or another not paying attention to the outside world.
"Speaking of working."Hermione pushed the empty food tray away from her."It's time to check on the potion.I think it's about done."
"I'll start on your letter to Narcissa.Maybe you can meet her at Andromeda's house."Severus said taking the seat Hermione left open.He greatly approved of Hermione meeting with Narcissa and wished he could go with her.He couldn't cancel another day of classes though.Minerva couldn't go either but Severus wasn't worried about Hermione's safety.She would have her guards with her.The problem he could foresee was Hermione properly communicating with Narcissa.He gave a mental shake of the head.Hermione was an adult now with adult responsibilities.This situation was complicated but Severus knew that deep down Narcissa was a good person.That meant he could trust her not to manipulate Hermione.At least he knew Hermione wouldn't make any important decisions without going over them with if not him or Minerva than Aart or Phyllis.Both of whom he trusted to protect her.Even if Phyllis was a little out of control sometimes.