NIGHT MUST FALL

Summary and Author's Notes: Post-HBP Regulus-Hermione Something of Severus-Hermione I wrote this as I was rather sad to see no Regulus Black ffs at all. So basically, Hermione's back in time and there's Regulus, Severus, Draco, Sirius and a couple of others. There are twists – and they aren't all romantic.

Regulus is no hero or anti-hero, he's just Regulus – meaning that he won't be a Sirius replica although he is his brother. Also, I am not trusting Sirius' judgement of him as dear Padfoot has been proved to mistake in his assessment of people. Hell, it is almost like writing an OC – but an OC which you know isn't going to be a Gary-Stu.

Yaoi warning Not saying much about who it is going to be right here – however, if you have objections to male slash pairings then please don't go further – I do not like being flamed just because the reviewer was too stupid to comprehend what was written in the Author's Notes.

Disclaimer: Whichever characters you recognize as well as all the magical world belongs to J. K. Rowling – no infringement intended.

About Archiving the Story: The story is "patented/copyrighted" to me and before archiving it elsewhere, please send me a mail at felneziasnape yahoo . com or felneziablack yahoo. co. uk or felneziazabini yahoo. co. in (spaces removed). While I understand that plagiarism is the best form of appreciation, it is still offensive.

Contains Halfblood Prince Spoilers as it is post-HBP

Chapter One

Time-Turner Woes

She had told Percy time and again that they ought not to hand over the Time-Turner to an Auror. Hell! She had even gone as far as barging in Rufus Scrimgeour's office and explaining her reasons to him. But the bird-brains they were, they had ignored all her warnings.

And now, the Time-Turner was lost.

"I swear it was around my neck just a second ago," said Anthony Goldstein. "It must have been one of the Death-Eaters. What I don't get is how did they know that it was around my neck, not Harry's?"

"Whatever it is, it is lost," said Hermione harshly, casting a dirty look at Percy.

"We will find it, of course," replied the red-head, returning her glare, "has Harry named the Death-Eaters?"

"He wasn't too fatally hurt, fortunately. Yes, he named them before he drank the Dreamless Sleep – Dolohov, Lestrange, Snape and Malfoy – Draco Malfoy."

"Weren't they hooded?" asked Padma. She had been assigned to the task of finding the missing Time-Turner along with Hermione. Obviously, this annoyed Hermione to no end – especially considering the fact that they both were novices in the Department. Albeit reluctantly, Hermione knew that they needed some experienced hands to get back the Time-Turner before the Death-Eaters used it for whatever they meant to. Even after the demise of Voldemort, Death-Eaters were a menace.

"Yes. But they were talking. One would think that they wore the hood for a purpose – I recognized Malfoy and Snape, of course. Harry seemed pretty sure of the other two."

"He's confronted them a bit too many times," said Hermione dryly.

"I've stationed two Aurors outside Harry's room at St. Mungo's and there's a squad trying to detect the whereabouts of the Death-Eaters – trying to trace their apparition auras…"

"Listen, Percy," interrupted Hermione, "you know as well as I do that apparition auras are pretty unreliable. We need something better – and fast. We've got to ACT."

"You're talking like Ron – or worse, Fred and George," said Percy with a disgusted expression. "You should know better than to suggest something like thoughtless action."

"I am not saying thoughtless action, Perce," said Hermione irritably. "All I am saying is that Death-Eaters will not dilly-dally with their plans. They will be moving fast – so we've got to do things super-fast and not just keep talking things over – or tracing unreliable evidences."

"In case you are unaware of the fact, Time-Turner activities are heavily monitored. No matter where they are, if a Time-Turner is activated, it will be known."

"And it will take them a maximum of thirty-six hours to deactivate all detection charms."

Percy and Hermione were glaring at each other.

Anthony cleared his throat loudly.

"I think we should go and talk to Harry over this – he wanted to tell something more but since he was so weak, the Healer gave him the Potion."

"Are you sure, Harry? I mean Malfoy Manor is a tad bit too obvious."

"That's what you think – that's what everyone would think. And that is exactly the reason why they will use Malfoy Manor. Remember what Dobby had said when he had been called to give evidence at the Malfoy Trial? There are still many more Dark Objects hidden in the Manor. Maybe there is something there which might help them."

"But guards there…"

"Are humans and can be bribed, killed, impersonated…" Harry took a deep breath. "I am not sure about this but I think I heard Malfoy whisper 'Malfoy Manor' to Snape. That's why I am insisting that that is the place they have apparated to."

"All right, I will check it out," said Hermione.

"Not alone," said Harry and Percy at the same time, then scowled at each other.

"Well, with someone then, but we'd be checking it out tonight – in two hours?" She looked enquiringly at Percy who nodded his assent.

"I shall inform Shacklebolt," said Anthony and went out.

"Are you sure…?"

"Yes, Percy. Time-Turners can be extremely dangerous – the last thing the world needs is a revival of Voldemort."

"I can't see how they can do that, but it's dangerous, yes. I hope you get them there. There will be a back-up squad ready if you're in any trouble. Just a flick of wrist…"

"I know, Harry. Wish me luck now. I must get going."

Hermione glanced at Shacklebolt who nodded once. Harry had been right. The Death-Eaters had come to Malfoy Manor with the Time-Turner. It was pretty easy to get past the guards – they lay dead just behind the bushes near the huge iron gate.

The fact that the guards hadn't been impersonated indicated that the Death-Eaters weren't here to stay.

"It was somewhere here, I am sure."

Draco Malfoy.

"You are sure. That is not the problem. The problem is that the tome isn't here."

Severus Snape.

"It has to be."

Draco Malfoy.

"Just hurry up."

Antonin Dolohov. Hermione could never forget the voice of the man who had gotten awfully near to killing her two years ago. If whoever had intervened hadn't done so at the right time, she would have been dead for sure. Hermione still wondered as to who it could have been. She'd give a lot to find out who the person was.

"I am hurrying up – I don't get it. It was supposed to be here."

Was it her imagination or did Draco's voice really seemed louder – closer to where they stood hidden?

It all happened very fast. Just at the moment Hermione turned, there was a loud 'pop'. Unfortunately, she had turned to the wrong side and before she could rectify her mistake, the hooded Death-Eater shot a Stunning Spell at her.

Shacklebolt deflected it and much to her annoyance, pushed her behind him.

Soon, three other Death-Eaters had joined the one and spells flew back and forth between them.

Hermione was fighting Snape – she had come to know of his combat-style after duelling him in the 'Final Battle'. He was proving to be a very tough opponent right now, though. She was spending all her energy focussing on saving herself so that there wasn't even a moment to signal for help.

She didn't notice Draco Malfoy creep up from behind.

Just as she deflected the "Crucio" from Snape, she was thrown off guard to find that he lowered his wand and advanced towards her. Before she could wonder more on the subject, she felt cold fingers wrap around her neck and wrist. Her wand clattered to the floor as she gasped for air.

"Mudblood."

That was the last thing she heard before Malfoy pushed towards her and the pair lost their footing and collided with Snape and the three fell down to the floor in a heap. Cold glass pressed into the nape of her neck and she knew no more.

There wasn't anything wrong with her except the sting at the back of her neck. As her brain began functioning again, panic seized her and she opened her eyes.

To inky black darkness.

"It broke, yeah, but why are we in this year?"

"Possibly because that was the potential of the Time-Turner."

"This is the potential of the Time-Turner? It has to be a fake!"

"Are you sure Dolohov or Lestrange didn't slip in a fraud some time?"

"No, they didn't. What are we supposed to do with her anyway?"

"Wait for her to wake up – then explain the situation to her, of course."

There was silence for a while.

"Explain only how we got so far back in time, right?"

Cold shivers of mingled shock and fear ran down Hermione's spine. They were… they were back in time! Oh Merlin!

"I see no reason why we should add… other details. I perceive she will be sensible to understand the gravity of our position and not try to arrest us or something."

They shared a derisive laugh. Hermione was incensed.

"And then?"

"We shall get out of this infernal building."

"Hey! This is my home."

"I don't particularly care. It is a madhouse right now."

"How are we going back?"

"If you ask any more questions, I shall be tempted to think Granger has died and her ghost has entered your body. Can you not let me think for even a second?"

Hermione decided to make her presence known now. It seemed as if the two weren't going to converse for quite some time now.

"Professor Snape?"

She was disconcerted to receive no reply. She hadn't been imagining that conversation, was she?

"I am no longer your 'Professor', Miss Granger."

"Are we really back in time?"

"How long have you been awake?"

"What year is it? How did you know? Has anyone seen us? How did this HAPPEN? WAS IT THE TIME-TURNER? BUT HOW? WHY…?"

"Stop," hissed Snape angrily. "If you get any louder, we'll be heard for sure."

Hermione was getting panicky. She was trapped in time! No way… this wasn't happening to her…

"Miss Granger, do try to behave like an adult. More Aurors had broken into the Malfoy Manor when Mr. Malfoy accosted you. It seems that one of them threw a spell at him – he stumbled forward and fell to the ground along with both of us – the Time-Turner broke and the magic and sand inside it trickled over us. We are in Malfoy Manor. This year I graduate from Hogwarts."

Hermione stood up shakily.

"I don't believe this… you are trying some really cruel torture… you are just scaring me… I am not stuck here with Death-Eaters… I am not…"

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione let out a strangled cry as Snape caught her arm in a vice-like grip.

"LET GO OF ME! NO!"

"Stupid Mudblood! Shall I hex…?"

"No! Miss Granger, calm down!" Snape backed her against a wall and tried to subdue the girl thrashing and struggling against him.

He clapped a hand over her mouth as he heard sounds of drunken giggling and somewhat incoherent sweet nothings outside. Draco had walked over to them, too.

The door was thrown open and a fondling couple staggered inside.

"It was getting so boring… ummm…. Kiss me… yeah… right there… oh, Reg… oh God… fuck… your mo… yes, yes…"

Don't let them switch on the lights. Don't let them switch on the lights.

The room was filled with a loud string of profanities as they bumped into a piece of furniture.

"Bloody hell… Lights…"

No.

But just then, a whispered "Lumos" later, the candles came to life.

The blonde with her body flush against the youngest Black screamed.

Draco and Snape shared a helpless look.

Regulus whirled around and the frightened Hermione Granger's chocolate eyes were the first thing he saw.

Well, that's the first chapter. Please review if you are interested and would like to read more. I really need some encouragement in order to proceed.

Felnezia.