How can something as simple as a picture show us for who we really are? How can it not only show what we look like to the world but our inner essence as well? Even having a smile on the outside doesn't hide the turmoil in our hearts. It won't hide the pain you feel from the loss of a loved one. It can't hide your shame when you fail another test, or at life in general. It can't even hide the murderous feelings you have towards the person standing right next to you, pretending just like you, with a smile on their face. Then why take pictures? If they are nothing more then a cover up gone wrong, why stand with a smile plastered on your face like any common fool? Why take a picture, when in 5 years when you pull it out of that old, smelly shoebox, you won't even remember posing for it?

"You have no idea of what you are talking about!" he growled at her. Anger was written onto his face and etched deep into his eyes. Where there used to be that glint of superiority was now a look of hatred, greed and malice. Everything she had know, loved and hated was gone. And in its place was him. A shell of a man she had once known and now barely recognized.

"I've never known you to be a liar," she gritted out through clenched teeth. Her brow was creased and her hands clenched with controlled anger. She would not lose her temper. Not for him. "She's the only one who has ever had the guts to stand up to and you're going to let her leave. You're going to lose your only chance with her."

"I don't need her! I don't need anyone." Slowly he strutted over to the corner table next to his bed. Opening the drawer he pulled out a glass and a bottle of brandy. Opening it and pouring himself a glass he murmured, "She doesn't want me, just like I don't want her."

"If you are going to let yourself believe that, then you are a fool. You're the bloody git the students always spoke about!" Quickly she stormed over to him and with a flash of lightning she knocked the glass from his hand.

"Get out!" He stood tall and straight, towering over the woman. "Just get out!" he bellowed again, raining his hands to push her away.

"That's how you lost her the first time… violence Severus? Is that what you are going to do to me? Hit me? Try to break me, like you've done to all your students and family for years? If you let her leave then you're always going to be alone. Because the rest of us are giving up. We aren't going to coddle you anymore. If you won't take it upon yourself to grow up we aren't going to help you either. You are not the same person you were 20 years ago. But if you continue like this you'll be worse…"

His body shook. Anger was blurring his vision. His body hurt worse then it ever did when the Dark Mark summoned him to Voldemort. "Get out Minerva. I don't want to see you every again!"

His eyes followed her as she walked to the door. Sighing he sat back down when the door finally creaked shut. Why was he letting her talk to him like that? She had no right to talk to him like that! Anger swelled in him again and in a flash of fury, he threw the brandy bottle to the wall.

"Minerva has no idea of what she's talking about…"

AN: I hope no one is too confused. This is the prologue. Severus has lost Hermione. From here on it are going to be events on how he lost her and how he rectifies what happened! I hope that clarifies something.

Challenge:

Write a story based loosely on the movie, Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, it is about a boy who goes back into his past after reading his journal. He goes to critical points in his past and changes what he did at the time, and when he wakes up in a different life. Everything has changed.
Challenge Requirements:
-Either Severus or Hermione are the ones going back and changing their lives

-There must be at least 2 different "realities" to show an effect. Preferably shows
differences in Hermione and Severus's interaction with each other and others.

-In one reality Harry Potter is either
dead
not the boy who lived i.e. Voldemort never came by and gave him his lovely little mark.
never born
-The item(s) that trigger the person going back either as to be:
A diary
A book (Hogwart's A History)
A Potrait
A potion
NOT A TIME TURNER
-It can end any way you want. Sad, happy, thought provoking.
-It can be One part or multipart
-Rating is up to you
-Post offline on sites such as , , (If rated R or NC-17, and etc....)
-Challenge Ends November 30, 2004