Hermione shook her head she could swear she was looking at Ginny Weasley. "Ginny?"

"Yes Hermione you are in my sitting room, how do you feel?"

Hermione shook her head again, "Ok I feel kind of light headed. How did I get here and where is here, the last thing I remember is Death Eaters in….?"

"We attacked Grimmauld Place; we have either captured or killed everyone. You are here because you have been betrothed to Severus and my lord told his people to not hurt you."

Hermione gasped, "What do you mean Ginny you can't mean this, they have you under a curse."

"No Hermione I'm totally sane and totally in control of myself. There is much you need to be told; but I'll leave that for Lord Severus to tell you. He should return soon, he was finishing up some things for my husband."

The door behind Ginny opened and Hermione pushed herself further back on the couch, standing in front of her was Voldermort. "So Miss Granger has awoken?"

Ginny went to her husband and Hermione realized that Ginny was pregnant. "Yes she's awake, Hermione please kneel to my husband. "

"I will not!" Hermione found herself on the floor lying on her stomach before she got the words out.

"Hermione you will learn to kneel to my husband or I won't be responsible for you. You are being given a special place in our life. I expect you to learn how to behave and be happy with your new place in the wizarding world."

Hermione looked up at the girl that used to be her best friend. "Miss Granger please rise and have a seat on the couch. I have much to tell you and much to explain to you."

Hermione looked at Voldermort and shuttered, but she obeyed.

"Miss Granger here are some papers I think you will find interesting," with a flick of his hand he put papers on Hermione's lap. Hermione looked at the papers and began to read; when she finished she looked up.

"Are these real? Are you telling me that I'm related to Rowena Ravenclaw?"

Ginny nodded, "Yes Hermione they are real and they are true I did the investigation on them and Severus rechecked everything for me."

"So what does this mean for me am I a prisoner?"

There was a knock at the door before she was answered. Voldermort called, "ENTER"

Severus walked in and kneeled, "My Lord."

"Come Severus come in and sit by your betrothed. We just let her read the information about her being a descendent of Rowena Ravenclaw."

Severus nodded and sat down beside Hermione, "Miss Granger I know that you are aware we are soul mates. What you don't know is that you have been betrothed to me by the Dark Lord. And also that the Ministry of Magic just recognized the Dark Lord as our new Lord and Lucius as the new Minster of Magic."

The Dark Lord smiled and Ginny reached up and kissed him. "Congratulations my Lord. I am so proud of you; we now control Europe and part of Asia and Africa."

Hermione was afraid to say anything; she didn't know what to say anyway.

Voldermort looked over at Hermione, "Miss Granger you will be my wife's lady in waiting until you get married next week. I would like to make sure that everything is in place for Severus so that your wedding can be perfect for both of you."

Severus looked over at Hermione, "Hermione I know that you didn't plan on the wizarding world to be as it is, but it will be a great world and you will be a big part of it. You will get to finish your schooling but by reading your books and then taking your NEWT's. I know that you like to do potions so if you wish I'll be happy to apprenticeship you."

Hermione looked at Severus, "I can't believe that you have all planned all of this and I am expected to go along with it. What happens if I refuse?"

Ginny looked at Hermione, "You don't want to do that; it would mean that you would be sent to Azkaban and receive the kiss."

Hermione looked over at Ginny, "May I be allowed a few days to adjust to all of this?"

Voldermort nodded, and Ginny answered, "You will be allowed a couple of days; but do not try to leave your room without someone escorting you. Lord Severus will need to return to the school in the morning and make sure that everything is back in place at it. If you don't want to do potions we are going to need a few new teachers maybe there is another subject you would be interested in."

Severus nodded, "Yes, we are going to need several new teachers, we have a new Dark Arts teacher but we still need several others."

The Dark Lord noticed that Ginny was getting tired, she was yawning and her eyes were red and tired. "Enough for tonight my wife is tired, Severus see your betrothed to your rooms. If you wish to spend the night feel free to; the school is in good hands till tomorrow. Please make sure that she is sealed in the room when you leave."

Severus rose and then kneeled in front of the Dark Lord and Ginny, Hermione realized that she better do the same and kneeled down; when Severus rose Hermione rose up and followed him out of the door. Severus offered Hermione his arm and because she was scared not to she accepted it, as they approached a busy hall Hermione spotted Lavender and gasped. "What is Lavender doing here?"

"Miss Lavender has been at the Lord's court for many years. I'm sure she is here seeing her parents; it is a great night for our cause."

"I'm not really your soul mate am I?"

"Yes, you are my soul mate; we discovered it when my Lord was once again mating his followers. The last time he tried matching me no name revealed it's self for me. This time when he did the spell your name was revealed. Miss Lavender does know how to perform the spell and is very familiar with it. Both her mother and the Dark Lord used it on her to make sure that her betrothed was the proper mate for her."

Hermione still couldn't get her head around everything. "So I have no choices; I will marry you and be your prisoner and live the way you tell me too."

"I hope Hermione that you can find it in your heart to accept me as your husband and we can live a good life together. I am second in command to the Dark Lord. I have more power than any other; you are good friends with Ginevra. You have the best of all worlds; you can continue your schooling if you wish or you can stay home and raise our children. The world is yours to do with as you prefer."

Hermione didn't know how to answer or if the Professor expected an answer. They continued through a maze of corridors till Hermione had no idea where they were. Eventually they stopped at a door at the top of a long set of stairs.

"This is our set of rooms. Unfortunately, until we are sure what your decision is you will be confined to our rooms unless you are with me or another follower. I do have to return to the school tomorrow so tonight I'll remain but I'll probably be gone before you awake in the morning. I will see that your clothes and books are sent to you once I return to the castle. Even if you decide to complete your education and sit your NEWT's you will remain here at the Manor until our wedding."

Hermione looked around the room that she had been led into. It was a huge suite of rooms and they were decorated in browns, gold and oranges. It covered the entire floor; there was a living room, dining room a small galley type kitchen, along with a library and two bedrooms.

"The bedroom on the left side of the hall is yours until we marry. Ginny made sure you had a few items that you would need until we get your school items here. If you would care for a cup of tea or some hot chocolate both are available in the kitchen. You can also call for Pippy to bring you anything you wish. She is my family's elf that is here at the Manor."

Hermione nodded, "Thank you." Hermione walked down to the hall to the room that she had been given. It was a beautiful room and Ginny had made sure that Hermione had a nice gown and everything she needed for the bath."

Hermione showered and put on the gown and robe that Ginny had provided. She knew she couldn't sleep so she walked out to the kitchen to fix a cup of hot chocolate.

She didn't see Severus sitting in front of the dying fire; she walked through the living room and fixed herself a cup of hot chocolate. After fixing her cup of hot chocolate Hermione went into the living room to sit down; she was shocked to see Professor Snape sitting there. "I'm sorry Professor I didn't see you hear."

"Hermione don't you think it's time you call me Severus?"

Hermione nodded, "Severus, I'm sorry I will return to my room."

"Please stay; I would enjoy your company. Did you find everything you need in your room?"

Hermione nodded, "yes I found the shampoo and lotions I use along with a gown and robe. May I ask you a question?"

Severus nodded, he felt pretty sure he knew what was going to be asked.

"Why did you turn from the Order?"

"Hermione I never was with the Order, I've always been loyal to the Dark Lord. I believe that he is correct we need to pull away from the muggle world. If we don't our world is going to be swallowed up by the muggles: I don't believe in the blood superiority. But, I think we need to separate from the muggles and if a muggle is born with power I think we need to remove them from their family and obliviate the family. It's just not safe for the worlds to be so intertwined.""

"So you think that I should have been removed from my parents and raised by a magical family? What would have happened if you couldn't find a magical family to take me in?"

"That won't happen, in our new world families will be given children to raise and love."

"Can you honestly say that you will be able to take in a child that you don't know and raise it? Give it the same love you would give your own child?"

"If the Lord gave us a child to give home to we would do just that."

Hermione was amazed that Severus felt that way. "I guess I have a lot to think about; I need to figure out what this life means to me. Can I ask one more question?"

Once again Severus nodded.

"Is Harry and Ron ummm gone?"

Severus didn't want to tell Hermione the truth, the Dark Lord was still with Potter and Weasley. So he went with his best thought, "I'm not sure, I left the Order house as soon as the battle was over to get you back here to safety. Then I had to return to the school and the Ministry. Needless to say I'm not sure what exactly did happen to them. Perhaps you could as our Queen tomorrow."

Hermione agreed she didn't know what else to do.

"I have great feelings for you; I've known you are my soul mate since last year. I've felt my feelings grow all through last year and the beginning of this year. I hope that you decide to accept our betrothal and that we can be married."

Hermione looked at Severus, "I have a lot of thoughts going around and around in my head. I just found that you were my soul mate a few days ago. I know that supposedly by you being my soul mate we will be perfect together. You have to realize that in one day I've went from being a fighter for the light, to a soul mate to the right hand of Volder…I mean the Dark Lord."

Severus watched the fire for a few minutes taking in what Hermione had said, "I can understand how confused you must be. I think that tomorrow you will find that many of your friends are here. Many that you didn't know were part of our family are. Lavender and her family have been members since before the first war. Most of the purebloods and many of the half bloods have been. The Weasley's were an exception to the rule."

Hermione nodded, "I will think hard on this and I promise to look at everything."

Severus nodded and got up, "I need to try to sleep, and I have a very busy day tomorrow. I am going to release the students for a week so that those that need to be close to their parents can go home. So I should be back late tomorrow night or early the following day. I would also suggest you think about if you want to do your NEWT's if you do I will help you study so that you may take your test with Ginevra at the end of January."

"Thank you Severus, I'll talk with you when you return."