Title: Moments in Time
Rating: R
Pairing: SS/HG
A/N: I had originally titled this story "It's Just One of Those Days". However, after much re-writing, and re-thinking, I realized it didn't fit. This is only the second HP fic I've written, and my first ever first-person pov story. It's all told from Hermione's pov.
*Warning*: This story, like the last one I wrote, starts out grim. However, it will eventually become pretty light-hearted. So, Romance/Action/Adventure/Humor/Angst all rolled into one!
Disclaimer: JK owns all; I own nothing but a muse who likes to wake me up at 4 am with ideas.
Inspirations: I've read so many SS/HG fics, if you see something familiar it probably is. Let me know, and I'll either give you credit for it, or change it. As for the actual idea of this story, I got inspiration from, 'Ground Hog's Day', 'Back to the Future', several others's I'll continue list as time goes on.
Prologue Part 1: The End, or The Beginning?
October 31, 1998 (Harry's 7th year), Staff Room at Hogwarts:
"Ron, please wake-up!" I begged while cradling his head in my lap.
I could hear shouts behind me as Harry dueled with a face-less Death Eater. I was too busy watching Ron to care.
Explosions sounded from within and outside of the huge castle, followed by the smells of sulfur, blood, and death….
Questions swarmed through my weary brain, … How? …When?..... Why?.....
Would I ever learn the answers?
Where was Dumbledore?
Where was the man who could save us all?
"Mya…"
The weak gasp from Ron pulled me back out of my head.
"Ron! You're gonna be okay."
We both knew I was lying. Nothing would ever be okay again.
Ron noticed Harry fighting with two Death Eaters now, and turned panicked eyes to me.
"Mya, get out of here! Hide! Get to safety!" He commanded.
"No, I won't leave you two..."
"If you don't, we all die."
Even as we face certain death, Ron and I argue….
"As it should be." I said, brushing the hair out of his eyes.
"No! You have to live, Hermione. You're the only one who can..."
He broke into horrible coughs that shook his body. Dark blood trickled from his mouth and saturated my robes.
"Shh! It's over, Ron. Voldemorte has won."
"No! Not as long as you're alive! Promise me, Mya! Promise me you won't give up!" He begged me, struggling as death was taking him over.
I could not deny my best friend his last request.
"I promise." I whispered.
He smiled, and was gone.
On auto-pilot I kissed his forehead, got up, and walked out the door. I turned back just in time to see my other best friend fall to Avada Kedavra, just as his parents had sixteen years ago this very night.
I was about to scream when a hand clamped over my mouth and strong arms dragged me toward Dumbledore's office. I was forced to step over the bodies of my fallen peers, and some teachers.
"Oh, No."
A harsh whisper came from the man holding me captive as he threw open the door to the Headmaster's office.
Albus Dumbledore was lying behind his desk in a pool of blood.
My world shattered around me, and I think I did scream as I was hauled toward the fire place. I heard the words, "The Dungeons." As powder was sprinkled on my head, and then everything went black.
********
I woke up in a large bed, wrapped in warm blankets. The dark hangings were pulled back and I was shocked to see my Potions Professor poking at a dying fire in the hearth.
It was eerily quiet.
"Is it over?" I was surprised at how steady my voice was.
"On the contrary, Miss Granger, I believe it is just beginning." He said, before turning around and coming to sit in a chair next to the bed.
He just stared at me for a few minutes, as if waiting for me to say something.
I suddenly realized how horrible he looked. Last year, he had looked all of thirty-six years. Today, he looked older than Dumbledore.
"Professor, you're so old."
Any other time I would have held my tongue, but with my world lying in tatters around me, I didn't care.
I watched in fascination as Professor Snape did something I had never seen him do in the six years of knowing him. He laughed.
It was a harsh, cold, and yet comforting laugh accompanied by a small smile that briefly crossed his worn face.
Then came the tears.
I'm not sure who started crying first, but I suddenly found myself in his arms being rocked like a child as his body shook with silent sobs.
We sat for what seemed like years, before he pulled away and got to his feet.
"Miss Granger, we haven't the luxury to mourn now. There is work to be done."
I looked up at him, dumbfounded. What could the two of us possibly accomplish now?
End part1
A/N: That's just the first part of the Prologue. I plan to post the other half either tonight or tomorrow morning.