Authors Note: Sorry for the late update! School has started and I have so many projects assigned all ready! I will update as soon as I can! And I'll try to update Pantomime as well! Happy reading! Hope you guys like it! Read/Review!

And you thought the lions were bad
Well they tried to kill my brothers
And for every king that died
Oh they would crown another
And it's harder than you think
Telling dreams from one another
And you thought the lions were bad
Well they tried to kill my brothers

And felled in the night
By the ones you think you love
They will come for you

Bastille - Daniel in the Den

Chapter 9:

The next morning was a new thing for them. They had never been in the same bed with somebody of the opposite sex. Hermione stilled when she felt the strong arms of a male, well, they didn't feel like the arms of a woman. She was just about to yell for help when she smelled the familiar musk that she smelled when she was near Harry.

She relaxed at once and turned softly to him, she watches him and lifts a hand to caress his face. She traces a finger down the bridge of his nose, over his eyelids, his lips. Then suddenly Harry lowers his face to hers to place an eager kiss on her lips. She giggles against his mouth, "Harry," she says, her voice muffled by his face.

Harry pulls back and smiles broadly, "Well, this is a good morning! Imagine, once we're married, we get to do this every morning for the rest of our lives!"

"Every morning? Really? Tell me more!" Hermione says cheekily.

Harry pulls her closer, nuzzles his chin that has stubble against her cheek, and Hermione shrieks playfully, "Harry!"

They laugh merrily and then fall silent. Harry looks out at the nearest window from the bed, then he shoots off the bed, "Oh no!" he mutters and then starts pulling on his breeches and riding boots.

Hermione looks on worriedly, "Harry? What's wrong?"

He finally looks at her and pauses pulling on his right boot, "Its just, I remembered we're supposed to have breakfast with my parents, and I forget to ask my mother about the strange man last night! I have to go change clothes quickly and then go to her!"

Hermione nods, "Wait!" She yells when she notices Harry standing by the door of her chambers, "Where are we supposed to meet? For breakfast?"

Understanding dawns on his face, "Oh, I'll have somebody come up to escort you, plus you'll have more guards to protect you, I'll inform them of where we're supposed to meet! I'll see you later! Love you!" he yells without thinking and runs out of the room.

Hermione stares at the door unbelievingly, "Did he just tell me he loves me?" she whispers to herself. She smiles softly to herself and then giggles girlishly, "He love me!"

Harry is halfway down the hall, when he realizes what he just proclaimed, he stops smack dab in the middle and goofily smiles to himself. He told her he loves her! He couldn't believe he unknowingly told her he loves her! Wow, he felt so liberated!

He revels in happiness before realizing that he needs to hurry, breakfast will be happening soon, and he wants to talk to his mother before it was time to meet with Hermione.

When he arrives to his mothers chambers, his mother is sitting by the window looking out at the grounds, "Mother?" he asks tentatively.

She spins around at the sound of his voice, "Harry, what are you doing here so early?" her face narrowed with confusion and surprise.

"Well, you see, yesterday, two of Hermione's ladies-in-waiting claimed to have seen the man that looked suspicious at the poisoning of her taste tester. They said he looked almost angry that it wasn't Hermione who had ingested the food..." Harry says softly, looking around the room to see if there were any handmaidens around.

His mother looks at him in inquiringly, "And did they describe this man? What he looked like?"

"They said he had black greasy hair that hung down to his shoulders, he also wore all black..." he says quietly, looking down at his feet, then his face snaps up, "OH, and he had a hooked nose, and black beady eyes! That's who they described." He finishes.

"Severus," Lily whispers to herself, but nevertheless Harry heard the name.

"Whose Severus?" He asks, his voice filled with apprehension.

Lily's head snaps in the direction of her son, "Severus, he was a man who hated your father, well he might still hate your father. I don't know. I was promised unknowingly to him, when I found out, I refused. And then James, he pled for my hand, he was to be king, how could my father refuse the future king? He couldn't, so the better hand I went to. I had never met Severus until the night before my wedding. He showed up to the celebratory feast and asked to duel James for my hand. Obviously your father won, otherwise you wouldn't be here. But we have never seen Severus after his failed attempt to win me over..." They stay quiet for a few minutes, "Are they sure? Are they absolutely positive that the man was Severus?" she asks quietly, her voice fearful.

Harry nods, "Yes, I'm positive of what they've seen. Maybe we should hold a meeting with them and Hermione. After all, she knows them best."

"Of course, that's what we shall do..." She looks pensive for a few moments. Then a false smile appears on her face, "Do you think they'll be ready for breakfast? I'm sure they're all ready. Let's go!"

Harry looks at her contemplatively, then follows her slowly, she huffs and turns around to pull him with her. She interlaces her arm with his, "You would think a son wouldn't want to be seen with his mother the way you're acting!" she says cheekily.

Harry grins sheepishly, "I've just a lot on my mind!" he replies.

"That's understandable," she replies simply.

They arrive to a small rounded chamber surrounded by light from various windows. "Are we in one of the towers?" Harry asks his mother.

She nods her head, "Yes, this was usually were the delegates from Ravenclaw would stay when they visited. But once they disbanded the delegates the rooms went to disuse so I had them changed into various little rooms. This one is at the topmost part of the tower and I like it to break fast on special occasions, either by myself or with your father. Sometimes i'll even break fast with my handmaidens. It is most enjoyable!" she replies with a serene smile.

Sitting at the lone table is an engrossed Hermione who is reading a piece of parchment intently. Harry smiles absently and leaves his mothers side to greet her. He softly touches her shoulder and she looks up at him with wide eyes then smiles brightly at him. "How are you this bright morning?" she asks kindly.

He has one of her small hands in his and kisses the back of it gently, "I am well, and you?" he asks. He sits next to her, forgetting about his mother. His mother sighs good-naturedly, and sits in front of her son.

"Well enough after what happened last night..." she says quietly, mindful that the queen was in the vicinity.

"Yes, well, that is all to be resolved today hopefully," he told her, he held her hand gently in his underneath the cover of her skirts.

"Oh, good morning Lily!" Hermione says, realizing that she had been ignoring the queen.

Lily laughs softly, "Good morning Hermione, how was your sleep? Restful?" she asks.

Hermione and Harry share a look of amusement, "Yes, most restful indeed!" she says, a twinkle in her eye.

Lily looks at them with a small smile, "Well, I hope that there will be no surprises coming in a few months time?" she asks, her voice full of amusement.

Hermione's cheeks redden, "Of course not," she replies quickly.

Harry guffaws at being found out so quickly, "How did you know?" he asks his mother.

"I'm a mother and I know you, Harry. You are everything a Gryffindor is, loyal and brave. If you thought Hermione was scared you would go to her in the cover of darkness. You wouldn't of left her by herself after an attempt on her life..." she replies simply.

Just as he's about to reply, the doors to the entrance bang open, and his father strides in. His father takes a seat on his mothers right. He kisses her cheek quickly and piles food on his plate without greeting anybody else. Harry stares at his father confusedly, "Father?"

"Oh Harry, your here, I forgot this was a meeting!" he says with a mirthless laugh.

Lily narrows her eyes and purses her lips, "Have you been drinking?" she hisses in his ear.

Hermione turns away her head to not watch the spectacle in front of her. She politely drinks her juice and looks out the windows. Harry tightens his grip on her hand, "Maybe we should break fast another day, mother?" he asks.

"No! You will sit there and wait for your father to leave. It is obvious that he is not in the position to make decisions right now. Guards!" she yells. The guards come running into the room at her yell, "I need you to take my husband to his chambers and let him rest. Now!"

They look bewildered at her command, "But your highness, you cannot command us, only your husband!" says one of the knights in the back.

The knight in the front slaps the back of his head, "We follow the commands of the queen, you fool!" he hisses. "We'll take him right away!" he gestures for two knights to grab the arms of the king and pull him out of the room. He watches as they take James and then bows, "I'm sorry for the way the knight spoke out of hand, it won't happen again." He bows one more time and leaves the room.

Harry stared wide eyed at the anger simmering in his mother's eyes at the behavior of his father, "Mother, why would he show up to something important drunk?"

"I don't know, but now is not the time to discuss such matters. You shouldn't worry about your father, leave that to me. We have other matters to discuss," she says with finality.

Hermione nods and starts piling some pastries on her plate. "What is it we should discuss?" she asks inquiringly, nibbling on a piece of bread.

Lily chews on her lip, "See, with the attempt on your life last night, I think its imperative that we move the wedding up. Its for your safety and for the safety of your country. Do you agree?" Lily asks Hermione, looking at both Hermione and Harry.

Hermione stares mutely at Lily, "And how soon would the wedding be?" she asks, a strange look passing her face, Harry tries to decipher it but doesn't know what the look means.

Lily notes the concern in Harry's eyes, "It would be soon, maybe a month, maybe less. It has to happen now. We don't know when they will strike again. How are you feeling?" she asks the young queen.

Hermione looks up surprised at the question, "I don't know why I'm so surprised, I knew that was the reason for my coming here..." she adds with a soft laugh. "Have you made any new plans?" she asks hesitantly.

Lily nods fervently, "Yes, but nothing you need to be made aware of as of yet...I need you to trust that I will do everything justice. I know that you and my son have a fledgling romance, but I know that you have a deep bond that has been forged in times of need past. And that the bond you have with each other, it will grow stronger, so strong that it will be everything to you, that you will depend on this bond. You will trust each other, in that I'm sure. I need you two to only keep on trusting each other. Your trust in each other will get you through the tough times ahead." Lily says passionately, determination and love in her eyes.

Hermione nods and looks to Harry with love in her eyes. And holding his gaze she intones, "I do."

Harry nods in tandem and keeping her gaze, repeats what she says, "I do."

Lily looks on with approval and love. They will grow to be great rulers. Rulers that the kingdoms need. Rulers that will be fair and just. They will have enemies and they will have traitors amongst their midst, but they will prevail. She will make sure of it.