Chapter One
From the Beginning

The day was a particularly lonely one for Hermione, as Harry and Ron had left the day before. Their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been a tough one for the trio. There was the war pressing in on them more than ever, all of the late meetings with Dumbledore about You-Know-Who for Harry, and then there was the ever present and irritating bimbo Lavender Brown. This would be Hermione's first Christmas holiday alone, with Harry and Ron off at the Burrow, and Ron still not speaking to her. To make it easier for them all, she had signed up with Professor McGonagall to stay at the school.

Of course, she could have gone home to be with her parents, but she couldn't help fearing for their safety if she were there. Being one of Harry Potter's best friends had many hazards with the Dark Lord out in the world. That coupled with the fact that Hermione was a muggle-born particularly put her family and herself in danger. No, it was wiser for her to stay at Hogwarts for the Holidays.

She did wish she had Ron and Harry with her at the castle though.

It was Christmas Eve now, and Hermione was just heading back inside the castle after having a cup of tea with Hagrid. Not knowing whether she was happier after her visit or upset even more Hermione decided that she best just avoid all topics concerning Ron over the break in front of Hagrid.

Hagrid it seemed was on a mission to cheer Hermione up whenever possible about Ron. He doubted Ron and Lavender Brown's fling would last very long and that once it ended he'd go right back to being his old brash self. Hagrid didn't notice however that he was doing quite the opposite of cheering Hermione up and such conversations only served to reduce her to tears on her way back to the castle.

It was in this same state that Hermione found herself in when she began to head up to her dormitory to change for dinner with the professors. As she reached the grand spiral stair case however she stopped mid climb when a strange noise caught her ear.

"Who in the world would be down here crying?" Hermione thought out loud, turning round to investigate. Being a Prefect she had a responsibility to make sure no one was hurt or lost in the school. It was probably some first year who was upset over being alone over the holidays. What she found however was not a first year crying all over themselves on the cold stone floor.

"There, there Sybil. Whatever happened to put you in such a state?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood just outside the staff room door. He had both of his hands on each of Professor Trelawney's shoulders, a look of concern furrowing his brow and clouding the normally present twinkle in his blue eyes. Trelawney hiccupped before squeaking out a single name.

"S-Ss-Severus," She rasped, Dumbledore reached inside his robes and extracted an overly floral handkerchief which he offered to the crying woman before him. She took it and buried her face in it, blowing her nose loudly.

"Say no more my dear, say no more," the headmaster comforted, pocketing the handkerchief again when Trelawney returned it to him. "I shall speak to Severus this evening after dinner, I can't have the boy running around putting my best Divinations teacher into tears whenever he feels it his place. Now let us both go fill our stomachs before we wither away!" He smiled down at the woman.

Before Dumbledore had the chance to steer Professor Trelawney off to the Great Hall, however, she started to wheeze. "My dear Sybil, are you quite al-" Dumbledore was cut off by a rasping, wheezy pronouncement.

"Time, as we now know it, is about to change." She began, her voice a hoarse croak, "One shall exist where they should not. While another. Whose time should end will be altered and be allowed to continue among the living."

There was a long quiet pause after this in which Dumbledore stood silent. Blinking Trelawney looked around for a moment then up at Dumbledore, confused.

"Did I doze off? I best be getting back to my tower now. I feel that my interactions with the staff are having a negative effect on my inner eye," she babbled, as she continued to dab the tears away, not noticing the now pensive look on the headmasters face.

He spotted Hermione as the batty Divination professor tottered off toward the stairs, "Good evening Miss Granger, be careful heading back to Gryffindor tower tonight, the cards indicated a most hazardous fall for a heroic young woman," Trelawney warned, passing Hermione at the foot of the stairs. Hermione flushed scarlet at having been caught listening in to a teacher's conversation.

"I-I-I am so sorry Professor. I really didn't mean to listen. I-I heard someone crying and thought I ought to take a look, in case it was one of the first years." Hermione's words faded to a stop as she scrambled for an excuse. Dumbledore just nodded reassuringly.

"Not to fear Miss Granger. No in fact I believe you were meant to hear Sybil's prophecy," He concluded a thoughtful look crossing his face once again. "Would you care to follow me to my office Miss Granger?" Although he asked Hermione if she would follow the command was explicit in his tone. Dumbledore did not wait for Hermione to reply, simply turning and heading up the stairs. Hermione, uncertain and confused, followed hastily after Dumbledore.

"Ice mice." Dumbledore told the gargoyle when they reached his office on the seventh floor, which promptly jumped out of the way.

"P-Professor," Hermione began as she took a place in a comfortable wingbacked chair opposite his desk, "You really believe that what happened down stairs was a prophecy?" She asked. She respected the old man a great deal but to believe Sybil Trelawney capable giving a real prophecy was ridiculous.

"I do. Sybil Trelawney has only given four true predictions in her life and you have just witnessed the last two. I myself have been present at all. Now Miss Granger, what do you make of what you heard?" He asked, leaning over his desk as he rested his chin atop his laced fingers, his gaze never once leaving Hermione.

"I- Well what I mean to say is- I don't know, Sir. The last part is obvious. Someone who should be dead will be alive, but the first, I don't know. It could be anything," She rushed. Why was he asking her what she thought the prophecy meant. Dumbledore only smiled.

"You are correct Hermione, about the last. The first part though actually pertains to something much more specific, what though I am not entirely sure." he said cryptically.

"Sir? You said Trelawney has made four predictions, and that I've witnessed the last two, but she's only made one that I've heard," Hermione questioned uncertain. She'd not been present at the prophecy about Voldemort and Harry; she'd only learned that from Harry.

Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

"You are mistaken my dear. You just heard both of the predictions I mentioned. The second was her warning to you," he clarified. There was a smile creeping upon Dumbledore's face and when he spoke next, there were no riddles.

"It is my belief, Miss Granger, that due to the context of these prophecies, they are pertaining to you. And if I am not greatly mistaken, our very own Professor Snape." The smile most certainly evident on Dumbledore's aging face now. Hermione only sat, thunderstruck, in the over plush chair. How in the world could a prophecy have anything to do with her AND Snape together? Hermione's mind raced a million miles a minute trying to piece it all together.

"It is also my belief that 'the one who shall exist where they should not' means that you shall be traveling through time. To do what or for how long, I do not know yet. Whatever it is you are to do though, judging by Sybil's prophecy, will give Severus an opportunity at life. Perhaps a happier one than he leads now," finished Dumbledore, his smile having faded as he mentioned Snape, being replaced with a serious expression.

"It will take time for me to sort out the details of course, but before I do. Hermione I must know. Will you embark on the task?" he asked, calling her by her given name only serving to magnify the importance of what he asked.

Hermione sat, contemplating what he asked of her. She didn't have a clue as to what she had to do or where she'd be traveling let alone for how long. All she knew was she was apparently the person who was to alter Snape's life.

She did know two things however.

First being that no matter how much he tormented her, and how much of a greasy bastard she thought of him, Severus Snape deserved, perhaps more than anyone she knew, a chance at a happier life than what was dealt to him.

Second; once she figured out what she had to do and did it, she would always be able to return to the exact time that she left and continue on with her life.

Having made up her mind she looked resolutely back up at the Headmaster answering seriously, "I will do whatever it takes."

---

But Dumbledore never called for Hermione. Towards the end of the term, the very man whom they would have been working together to save became his murderer. Words could not express the immense hatred and grief Hermione felt over Dumbledore's death.

Soon the grief lessened.

The years passed.

The war was fought and won, at a price. Many had died but Voldemort had finally been defeated. Many great people died the night Harry saved them all; among them was a man named Severus Snape. He was buried as a traitor in the eyes of the public, the secret of his loyalty known only to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, until Harry sought to give the dead man's name a place of honor beside those who died fighting with the Order. But thoughts of Snape soon faded in the wake of the reconstruction. And as time dragged on the memory of the prophecy given by Professor Trelawney had faded to the background, much like many other memories of Hermione's school days.