AN: I especially want to thank the lovely 'the dragon and the rose' for her plot bunnies ;) for this chapter and 'LittlebigmouthOKC' for the idea of turning Luke into a woman. And 'Cloelius Princess' I wish you all the best.

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose and sat down on her sofa.

"Can I get you anything tea, coffee, firewhisky?" Severus asked worriedly.

"Firewhisky, please."

"Have you got any?"

"No," she grumbled.

"Let me just get some from my quarters and check on Elena I'll be back in a minute."

Hermione lay down on the sofa, closing her eyes, when scenes from the morning she spent today before the Wizengamot popped into her head. It had been ridiculous really. The outcome of Luke's trial had been satisfactory, but the rest had just been preposterous.

Kingsley, who was the chief warlock hadn't been there, because of his conflict of interest, being friends with Hermione. So instead there was his deputy, who was actually a woman, Irene Something. Hermione couldn't recall her name, which was a bit embarrassing she had to admit, but she was so taken aback by Luke's behaviour everything else just didn't seem to matter. He had been so full of himself it was unbelievable and Luke had entirely blamed her for what had happened. There was not a bit of guilt and on top of it all he mercilessly flirted with Kingsley's deputy and nearly all female members of the Wizengamot. Some of them were even falling for his show.

"Why did I admire him so much? Serious lack of judgment, Hermione, that's why," she mumbled to herself and suddenly had a flashback of Gilderoy Lockhart, which made her want to pull a blanket over her head and pretend she wasn't there, even though there wasn't anybody in the room.

The next day came and Hermione was sitting at the breakfast table nibbling at some toast, lost in her own thoughts, when the owls came in for the daily delivery of the mail. Hermione reached out for the Daily Prophet an owl had dropped next to her on the floor. When she unrolled the newspaper she gasped.

Harsh sentence for American Wizard Professor Luke Jones

by Rita Skeeter

It was typical, not even in the headline Skeeter got it right. Luke lost his licence as a teacher yesterday, so he wasn't a professor anymore. Hermione's jaw clenched dreading what she was about to read.

We all know Professor Luke Jones the handsome American who taught Transfiguration over the last couple of years at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. The 28-year-old wizard had to appear before the Wizengamot, since he was accused of sexual harassment against one of his fellow teachers at Hogwarts, who was none other than the famous Hermione Granger, some call her a war heroine. I personally wouldn't, I would call her a publicity-seeking tart, who flits from powerful wizard to powerful wizard to get the much needed attention, being a muggle-born.

It started off with Harry Potter, the-boy-who-saved-us-all, then she started dating Viktor Krum, famous Quidditch seeker, after that she was back with Harry Potter and what we only can assume at the same time dating Ronal Weasley, who currently is trained to be an Auror. Before Christmas she was dating Professor Jones, who she traded in for Death Eater Severus Snape, who she is currently with.

Jones told me in person she broke his heart and walked all over it. No wonder she accused him of sexual harassment at the New Year's ball, it was her way of getting rid of him. Poor Jones even broke off his engagement with a lovely young lady back home, only to be with Granger. But as always the Wizengamot got it all wrong, sentencing him to pay a ridiculous high compensation to Hermione Granger, furthermore he is banned from ever returning to the UK and he lost his licence as a teacher. I'm sure you will agree with me that this punishment is way too harsh, for a wizard who would never harm a fly …

By now Hermione had lost all her appetite, but somehow she wasn't able to put the newspaper away, yet had to finish reading it.

… When asked what she would be doing with the money paid as a compensation? Hermione Granger said, "I really don't want that money, so I will be giving it to Mister Neville Longbottom, who's wish is it to set up a nursing home for witches and wizards, permanently suffering from dark curses and are no longer able to live by themselves. I hope with the money he'll be able to start on this project." That's just typical for Miss Granger, being the publicity-seeking poser she is, always having to make a big deal out of everything …

Hermione could feel anger bubbling up and tears of fury and humiliation building up, when suddenly the paper caught on fire, due to her losing control over her magic. Filius who was sitting next to her, cast an Aguamenti charm and extinguished the flames.

He patted her arm and said, "Just ignore her, dear, she always has been an insufferable, interfering bitch."

Hermione gave a weak smile at the unusual harsh words of her former professor, but she couldn't help but burst into tears. Filius quickly cast a notice-me-not charm at Hermione and frantically waved Severus to the table, who had just entered the Great Hall.

"She read the article," Filius explained to Severus, who's eyes went as cold as ice.

He quickly cast another notice-me-not charm around the two of them and Elena sitting on his hip and ushered Hermione out of the Great Hall, towards her quarters. As soon as they arrived there, she went to her bedroom crawled under the covers, pulled them over her head and although Severus was worried about her and infuriated about that article he had to chuckle at the big shaking lump in the middle of the bed, that was his normally so brave girl. He conjured a blanket and put Elena down, before he sat down on the edge of the bed. He gently pulled back the covers, revealing a sobbing Hermione, with puffy eyes and a snotty nose. He handed her a handkerchief and quietly stroked her hair, waiting for her to calm down.

When she finally did and sat up, she quietly asked, "What have I done to her to deserve that?"

"Nothing. She is jealous, that's all!" He simply said.

"About what?" Hermione's eyes were wide in disbelief.

"About you. You are everything she is not and never will be. You are intelligent, loving, you have friends, you are good-looking,…"

"So is she," Hermione cut across him.

"Please," Severus snorted, "It's all about the make-up and the clothes. You don't need all of that, you could be wearing a potato sack and still would look gorgeous."

She smiled sadly, "I feel so humiliated. I'm used to her writing lies, but this hurts so much. She makes me look like a whore who uses sex as weapon. But he did take advantage of me, didn't he?"

"Look I've been there, I know what happened and I don't want to think about how it would have ended if we hadn't found you," Severus shuddered at the thought of it.

"Now I have something to do this morning will you be alright?" She nodded.

"You just have double Defence with the third years today, just let them loose in the library and tell them to work on … I don't know… what were you thinking of covering today?"

"Werewolves," she replied.

"Perfect, there are tons of books on werewolves. Set them a few tasks, they should find out and then you don't have to deal with them, which I'm sure you're not in the mood for today. And in the afternoon, you normally would be brewing, wouldn't you. I suggest you take the afternoon off and do something for yourself, go to London, go shopping, go to a museum or I don't know take a long hot bubble bath or meet with Miss Weasley, do something you enjoy. Look at me Hermione," he said to her, prompting her to look up from her hands she was staring at.

"You are a great woman, you don't have to feel humiliated, you didn't do anything wrong and the Wizengamot knows it, otherwise they wouldn't have punished him that hard."

"Do you think it was too hard," she asked quietly.

"No way, if it was me I would have turned him into a woman and have him deal with men like him or I would have hexed his bits off. Now promise me you do as I told you and I will meet you in the evening."

"Thanks Severus," she whispered.

It was about half an hour later, when Severus was storming through the Atrium of the Ministry towards the lifts, robes billowing behind him, followed by the scared stares of dozens of people.

When he arrived at the Minister's office he didn't bother knocking and just stormed into the office of his secretary barking, "I need to see the Minister!"

But Severus didn't wait for an answer and just slammed the door to Kingsley's office open and hissed, "It's preposterous how war heroines are treated in this country. I hope you have a solution for this mess, Shacklebolt!"

"Get in line with your request," Kingsley growled, pointing to one corner of the room, where a group of people, most of them redheads were staring at him with wide eyes. Harry Potter was standing there surrounded, by Ron and Ginny Weasley, but also by Molly and Arthur.

"Now calm down Severus, I know that's not an ideal situation."

"Not ideal? Not ideal! The American freak was on the verge of raping her and the Prophet makes her appear as a lying whore, who is just seeking publicity to be the centre of attention," his voice was infuriated.

"You know he is right Kingsley," Harry barked.

"Okay everybody, just calm down. Let's have a drink and try to find a solution," Kingsley said, fetching a bottle of Odgen's and conjuring a couple of tumblers.

"Please all of you sit down and I'll explain to you what I had in mind. But first of all tell me about Neville's plan on that nursing home, is that actually true?"

"It is and Hermione really wants to give him the money, since she doesn't want anything to do with that Jones anymore, that's what she told me yesterday," Severus explained as calm as he could muster.

"Right very well then, my idea was a press release on the Prophet, as an apology to Hermione and having the truth about what really happened and an article on Neville nursing facility, stating how she is going to help him with her money. I think that's what people want to read. I'm just not sure who is going to write it."

"You should do it," Ron growled, "If the Minister of Magic is behind it, people will think it has to be true. Our society is still so subservient to authority. You think they would have learnt from the Fudge disaster, but no. It is good in this case though."

Severus was amazed that this level-headed and spot-on statement actually came from the normally so hot-tempered redhead.

"I think he is right," Severus admitted, which earned him raised eyebrows from Harry and Ron.

"What about Skeeter?" Molly asked.

"Arthur what's your opinion?" Kingsley asked.

"I personally would accuse her for spreading injurious falsehood or doing reputational damage to Hermione, I would make her pay a compensation to Hermione as well. Furthermore I would suspend her writing for the prophet for a year and after that have her two years on approbation."

"I like that. She is making everybody's life miserable. Maybe that will teach her a lesson," Harry grumbled.

"How fast can she be brought before the Wizengamot," Ginny asked with a mischievous grin.

"I think, since we only need part of the Wizengamot for this minor offence, it could be done this afternoon."

"Good," Ginny snickered.

"Why?" Kingsley asked.

"Because I don't know if my bat-bogey hex will last longer then tomorrow."

"You sent her a bat-bogey hex? How on earth did you do that," Ron looked at his baby sister in admiration.

"It was easy, I charmed the parchment, as soon as she opened it, it hit her with my hex," Ginny grinned.

"Good girl," Severus mumbled.

"That will match perfectly with my sprouting-tentacles-hex," Molly whispered, while blushing fiercely.

"It's normally not what I do, but Hermione is family, isn't she?" she said apologetically.

"Make sure there will be a picture of Skeeter before the Wizengamot, with her tentacles and stuff on the Prophet, " Severus growled, turned around and with two longs strides and the slamming of the door he was gone, leaving them all behind lost for words.

After teaching in the afternoon he had dinner in the Great Hall, since Hermione hadn't been back to meet him for their weekly Thursday dinners. Once he had put Elena to bed he relaxed with some firewhisky and a book, but fell asleep soon afterwards. A knock on the door startled him out of his slumber half an hour later.

"Come in," he rasped, slowly sitting up.

"Good evening Severus!" Hermione smiled at him, closing the door behind her.

"Hello my girl. How has your day been," he asked, patting a spot next to him on the settee.

Hermione slowly came over, in her faded low-rise jeans and her short white top, which exposed a bit of bare skin with every sway of her hips. He had to bite back a groan and hastily took another sip of his Odgen's. She sat down next to him, totally oblivious to the fact of how desirable she was too him. She kissed him softly, smiled and said, "I had a lovely afternoon thank you. I went browsing through London's bookstores and did you know there was a Rodin exhibit on? Well I saw that. I do have a thing for that sculptor. Oh and I found these for your new magnet board."

She handed him a pack with magnets shaped as cauldrons, pumpkin faces and bats.

"I think they were remaining stock from Halloween," she grinned.

He pecked her cheek, "Thanks!"

"Actually I'm off to bed, I just wanted to give you the magnets. I'm tired and still not in the best mood," she said getting up.

"Hermione, it all will be better tomorrow and remember the git is gone and he won't be back for a long time, actually for the rest of his life. That's good isn't it?"

"I know. I am really glad he is gone, but Skeeter is making my life miserable," Hermione grumbled, waved him good night and left his quarters. He sighed and went back to reading his book.

The next morning Hermione was sitting at the breakfast table with slumped shoulders and sad eyes.

"Hermione please cheer up. Skeeter is a bitch, she doesn't deserve that you give her so much thought and let her spoil your mood," Severus said and pulled her closer to place a kiss on her temple. Just when he released her, hundreds of owls, came flying into the Great Hall. There seemed to be more than normally, but Hermione didn't even bother to look, but unenthusiastically poked at her cereal. Suddenly she was showered with letters.

"Oh great," she muttered, "now everybody will be giving me a piece of their mind. I'm not gonna open them." She crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly.

Severus sighed and with a flick of his wand he neatly piled them up, behind her," But maybe you want to read the newspaper?"

"No way, I'm reading this farce calling itself a newspaper," she huffed.

"Read it!" He commanded, shoving the Prophet into her hands. She grumbled something incoherently and gasped, when she read the headline.

Apologies to War Heroine Miss Hermione Granger

by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic

On behalf of the Daily Prophet I want to apologise to Miss Hermione Granger for the article printed in there yesterday, suggesting Miss Granger of being a harlot, when actually she has been the victim of a dangerous man. Mister Jones, former fellow Professor at Hogwarts, sexually harassed her and if it wouldn't be for two other Professors and the Head Boy who found her just in time, it might even have been rape or attempted rape. So the Wizengamot sentenced him in order so he wouldn't be a threat to Miss Granger and all the children attending Hogwarts.

Rita Skeeter, writer of the article printed yesterday, had to appear before the Wizengamot in the afternoon for being accused of spreading injurious falsehood about Miss Hermione Granger and will, just as Mister Jones have to pay a compensation to Miss Granger. Furthermore she will be suspended from writing for this newspaper for a year and has to face a two-year-approbation after that. The magical folk of Britain have made it quite clear, that we don't tolerate such a behaviour towards a young determined witch, who had played a part in the defeat of Tom Riddle Jr, also known as Voldemort. Miss Skeeter was on the receiving end of a couple of nasty spells and howlers sent her way. (See picture below.)

Miss Granger announced yesterday, that the whole compensation paid to her by Mister Jones, should be going to a facility that will be established by Mister Neville Longbottom, which will provide a permanent home for witches and wizards permanently damaged by dark curses or curse accidents. I'm very thankful that we have people amongst us, who are willing to provide money, time and their commitment to such a desperately needed facility. (Interview with Neville Longbottom on page 4).

Hermione gaped at the picture underneath the article she just read and couldn't believe what she saw. It was Rita Skeeter covered in red boils with bats flying out her nose, tentacles sprouting somewhere out her back and her forehead head the word "Bitch" written in tiny red pimples across it, similar to Marietta Edgcombe's forehead after betraying Dumbledore's army. Hermione clasped a hand to her mouth and couldn't help supress a chuckle, that soon turned into loud laughter, that made tears roll down her face. Severus grinned at her and was relieved she seemed back to normal.

After she calmed down, she asked Severus, "Did you have anything to do with all of this?"

Severus smirked, "I only made sure there would be a picture of her in there. The rest is all your family's doing."

Hermione swallowed, "What? My family is dead."

"I'm sorry, I meant your foster family."

"Ron and Harry are behind this," her face lit up.

"And Miss Weasley and Arthur and Molly. She actually gave her those tentacles and I guess you know from whom the bats came," Severus replied.

Hermione chuckled and turned to page four.

Neville Longbottom a man with many faces

Neville Longbottom, war hero, wants to establish a nursing facility for witches and wizards, who are permanently damaged by dark curses or curse accidents. We met him for an interview:

Daily Prophet: Mister Longbottom tell us how you came from being the celebrated tough war hero to establishing a facility looking after wizards that are permanently damaged?

Neville Longbottom: Before I became the celebrated war hero, I was never tough by the way, I was the son of two people, who got tortured into insanity by a couple of Death Eaters. They spent most of their lives in St. Mungo's while I was raised by my grandmother. Over the last couple of weeks I had the idea, that it would be much nicer for them to have an actual home, where it's more than two stark hospital beds. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for everything the healers did for them at St. Mungo's, but there is nothing they can provide for them, I couldn't do for them at a nursing home. I imagine the facility with a huge garden and rooms, which actually look like home, not like hospital and I want to give them as much freedom as possible, encouraging them to gain back some of their abilities they lost.

DP: Like what?

NL: Like making themselves a sandwich or going for a walk in the garden by themselves. Whatever they are able to do without help.

DP: That all sounds very interesting, but how are going to manage it?

NL: Well with the money Miss Granger will be providing and some money of my own we will be able to get the project started. First on the agenda will be finding a nice house, that will fit our purposes, we need to find some staff…

DP: You are always talking about 'we', is Miss Granger with you on this project?

NL: Look she is giving a lot of money to this project, so she will hopefully be involved somehow, but I don't know yet. I haven't even had the time to talk to her yet. This has been sprang on me rather quickly. A couple of days ago it was just an idea in my head and now I have been given the opportunity to make something of it. So I'll let you know as soon as I know more.

DP: You have been there the night Mister Jones harassed Miss Granger, can you tell us what really happened?

NL: I won't get into details, but just so you know if Mister Snape, Mister Bell and I wouldn't have found her on time, I'm sure he would have done much worse than harass her. And just to be clear Miss Granger has in no way intended she wanted to be romantically involved with him that night, since she ended her flirt with him the minute she found out he was engaged in the US. Which, by the way he didn't tell her, but she had to find out reading the newspaper.

DP: Our female readers are going to want to know if you are in a relationship with Miss Granger, since you're a very eligible bachelor?

NL: Miss Granger is one of my closest friends, we've known each other since we were eleven and she is a terrific woman, but I am not in a relationship with her. But I have to disappoint your readers I am already taken.

DP: Can you tell us who the lucky woman is?

NL: I'm sorry, but I would ask you to respect my privacy.

DP: Can you maybe tell us if Miss Granger is in a relationship with Severus Snape?

NL: You have to ask her yourself.

Hermione lowered the newspaper and smiled.

"Hey Neville, so you are really doing this?" she asked turning to Neville who was sipping some coffee.

"I would love to. Do you want to be involved?"

Hermione, who felt like a major weight had been lifted of her chest after reading those two articles, beamed at him saying, "I'm very interested, but I'm not sure how much time I'll be having. We should just meet and discuss all the details and maybe we require a vault at Gringotts for this project."

Neville beamed, "I'm glad to have you on board."

Once Neville had turned back to his breakfast, Severus leaned towards Hermione whispered in her ear, "I'm so proud of you." And softly placed a kiss on her ear.

"Thanks, that means a lot," she whispered back smiling radiantly.

"You might wanna open some of these letters," Severus said pointing over his shoulder to the pile of letters, "to assure yourself, that you are indeed quite the heroine and people worship the ground you walk on!"

"Later," she replied and smiled at him.

AN: Thanks for all the reviews you already have given me and the ones you hopefully are about to give me!