Decoding the Past

by Rowans Muse

A/n Sorry to anyone who started reading this fic when it was first published; I had no Idea where I wanted this story to go at all and I was trying some artsy way of writing that I found annoying after a bit of revision. Some of this first bit is rewritten and I will attempt at updating soon with some new material. Thanks.

disclaimer as usual: I dont not own HP

Severus was always afraid when he had to meet with other Slytherin Society members. Most of the older boys were just bullies but their parents had a lot of connection to high powered jobs in the ministry. That was only reason he joined their secret brotherhood in the first place. There were always older men who came in to teach and speak at the monthly club meetings, mostly powerful past Slytherin alumni. The Society was open to any Slytherin but you had to pass all sorts of test, both physical, emtional and intellectual so that only the keenest students could be in it. Even as scrawny as Severus's measly 140 pound frame was he passed every test thrown at him. After tonight, he would belong.

Just like she had a dozen times before, Hermione went back in time. Only an hour here or there, of course; just so she could take extra classes. She didn't even know why advanced runes interested her so much. It was at least enough of an interest that she begged Professor Babbling who spoke with Professor McGonagall who then inquired of the headmaster who in turn suggested the time turner. Ever since the first time she saw a magical artifact with runes she had been obsessed with deciphering and decoding. This story has very little to do with magic runes.

Hermione always ducked into the same empty classroom to do her traveling. It was indicated by Dumbledore that there were never any lessons taught in this room. It had been a potions classroom long ago, before the dungeons had been made suitable for human occupation so no matter if she was going forward or backwards she would never encounter anyone. She had been careful to see no one followed her, which was always a task having her two best friends constantly at her side but even today she seemed to manage. As she walked into the shadows she quietly closed the door behind her. She observed her surroundings on the off chance other students had maybe noticed the empty room and decided to take advantage of an out of the way place to snog. Desks had been placed on top of one another in one corner and dusty shelving occupied another. Aside from that the room was empty and she was safe. She put her hand to the small device she wore on a chain around her neck and felt the cold metal's smooth surface. She breathed in a short breath as she began the spell to activate it. As everything whirled around her, Hermione was deathly quiet. She was a smart girl and knew the dangers of time manipulation, even if it was only a few hours. When the spell was broken she raised her wand and cast tempus to make sure she was in time for her class. The time turner had never made her late before but being the perfectionist she was, she had to check. It was a few minutes before three and she would be right on time if she hurried.

She was not as careful leaving the room as she had been going in since there wasn't much need. Who cared if someone saw her leaving an abandoned classroom? Hermione rushed down the hall and bumped past students, not even noticing who they were. She made it to the staircases and dashed up each step with a hurried breath. As the stairways creaked with their movement she bounced up and down with anticipation when she was at the top waiting for a connection to be made. Finally she was tearing down the hall and jumped through the door, stumbling and dropping a few blank rolls or parchment to the ground. She blushed horribly as she bent over to retrieve her things. As she scooped them up into her arms she opened her mouth and looked up. "I'm sorry I'm late, the stairs took forev-" She stopped speaking for a moment because instead of being in Bathsheda Babbling's class she just had run into the wrong one entirely. She looked about as the students giggled at her frenzy. She heard one of them snicker as ran out of the room, "Silly first years. Always getting lost."

That statement puzzled her for a moment. She definitely wasn't a first year. No, in fact she had been attending Hogwarts for five other years besides this one. She was not as short as the 11 year olds assuredly. Had not one person in that room recognized her? She looked at the classroom number to see where she had gone wrong; whether she needed to move one class up or down. But she was surprised to find she had been in the correct classroom. She had already checked the time so she knew she was in the right place. With a puzzled look she walked down the corridor. This makes no sense, she thought to herself. She glanced at the doors of each class as she walked towards the Gryffindor Tower. I must be over doing myself with this; I should probably lie down before I move back to normal time because this way I can get extra sleep.

She got to the portrait and she said the password but the picture did not swing forward to give her entrance. She asked the Fat Lady if the password had expired. The Lady replied that even if it had, 'Babbity Rabbity' was not the one it was changed from. Hermione slumped at the shoulders and sighed. What a day she was having. She turned on her heels to go back to the classroom to head back to the time where she knew her own Tower's password when she bumped right into another girl trying to enter. All Hermione saw was a flash of red hair when she fell to the ground. Ginny, I forgot the password she mumbled as she got up and dusted her self off.

"Oi you must be knew. The password is baubles. Its Lily, by the way, not Ginny. Lily Evans. I don't think we have met."

Hermione looked up at the girl in a bit of shock. Was she really was standing in front of Harry's mum? I must have gotten the incantation wrong. Sent back instead of 1995 but to 1975. How foolish of me to be in such a rush that I didn't even pay attention to the words coming out of my mouth. I can't tell her who I am. I suppose its no consequence to her since my parents are muggles but just on the safe side… "My name is Jane."

"Hello Jane. Where in the tower are you staying?"

"I actually don't know. Sounds foolish, doesn't it? I just arrived and I'm not sure where I am to go."

"You have no parcels for you to just be arriving."

Hermione thought quickly and answered, they were sent along ahead of me. "Maybe I should go to see the headmaster."

"Quite right. He is wonderful, Jane. You will like him a lot. Ill see you later at dinner, yeah?"

"Yes, yes. Of course. I'm sure I will notice your pretty hair."

Lily's cream skin blushed lightly. "Thanks. It does get me some attention, unwanted sometimes. There is this boy, James Potter. He is the most popular boy in Gryffindor but mostly I think he is an immature git. He keeps asking me to go to Hogsmede with him on weekends. "

"Well I'm sure he will be a good man when he grows up. You should give him a chance. I will see you later, ok?" Hermione said as she began to walk away.

"Ok, Lily said as she waived her new acquaintance goodbye."

As thought raced through her mind Hermione was at the Headmaster's Tower almost immediately. She knocked lightly next to the gargoyle hoping someone was inside. The magical guardian yawned and opened its beak to speak to her. I can see in your heart you do not know this password, nor have you ever known it. But your Gryffindor courage speaks leaps and bounds which for that is why I am letting you in. The door swung open and Hermione stepped inside. This was the first time she had ever been in Dumblefore's office but Harry had described it to her plenty of times. Being there in reality was much for awesome. The books everywhere was enough for the girl to cry right there. The shear amount of knowledge contained in those shelves could keep her busy past her lifetime. "Hullo?" she called. Dumbledore stepped out of a side door and into the area where Hermione was.

"Yes my child. What can I do for you?"

Hermione took the time turner off from around her neck and held it in her hands. "Professor, she began. I don't know why I am here. You set me up with this device so I could attend two classes n the same moment in time. I did it like any other day but I must have screwed up the incantation because this is not where I am supposed to be."

Dumbledore looked down at the girl and said, "when are you supposed to be?"

"1995."

He shook his head a bit and put out his hand for the object. Hermione handed it over embarrassingly. The man picked up his wand and pointed it at the time turner. It began to move as it would when it was active but suddenly stopped. "It seems to have gotten wet, Miss."

"Oh, no", she cried. "I did dribble water on myself earlier from the fountain. I didn't even think about me wearing the time turner. Do you know where I can get another so I can get home?"

"Well I am not sure where I acquired this one. But I will have to try for you, wont I? Don't worry; you can attend classes here and such until I get this sorted out. What house were you in dear? Ravenclaw I suppose since you were doing this for extra class work."

"Gryffindor actually sir."

"I will have to get your head of house to set you up in room."

"Sir. If its not too much trouble… she fumbled. Is there room with Lily Potter sir? She is my best friend's mum and I met here before I came here. I would feel most comfortable staying with someone I know."

"I'll see if it can be arranged."

Hogwarts really hasn't changed that much in these few years, Hermione thought to herself. Even though, I don't think Hogwarts: A history really does this place justice. Hermione was carrying an empty suitcase Dumbledore had given her up to Gryffindor Tower. The teachers were able to magic out the room a bit to add a bed and Hermione would be able to share with Lily after all. She was this time equipped with the correct password and entered the dormitories. The common room was pretty much the same; maybe the furniture was in different places but the warm feeling of home couldn't be replaced for Hermione. She had a small slip of paper in her hand with the room number on it and she began to scan the hallway for the right room. When she found it she turned the knob and held her breath. She put one put in as she swung the door and looked around. She hoped no one had been there but Lily was alone and sitting on the bed. She was reading in a book but looked up when she heard the door.

"Jane! You are who the extra bed appeared for. That's wonderful."

"Yes, I'm glad I got a room with you."

"I'm about to go down for dinner; are you hungry?"

"Starved actually," Hermione answered and she was.

"Well good. I've some people to introduce you too."

Lily was the bubbliest person Hermione had ever met. She always bounced around here and there and had the most obnoxious laugh. But she was as friend and while in this situation Hermione wasn't going to turn one of those away. The two girls walked side by side as Lily showed Hermione where dinner was and Hermione was pretending she didn't already know. When they finally arrived Lily drug Hermione over to the end of the Gryffindor table. Both girls sat down and Lily began to point through the crowds and named many of the people they saw.

"That there is James Potter, the guy I was telling you about that is hounding me for a date. Next to him is his best friend, Sirius Black. They are both in our house"- she said but abruptly stopped speaking when another student came up her and cleared his throat. Severus she said.

"Who's this?" the boy asked with a almost a snarl.

"This is Jane. She just started here. She is in our year."

Hermione was at a loss of what to do. She looked down in her lap and finally uttered a hello.

"You would probably get on with her Sev, she is shy just like you."

"Bah, go on. I'll see you later." And with that Hermione's professor was gone.

"I promise you will like him, Jane. He is my best friend. Never mind he is a Slytherin; he has been good to me even before I came here. He is the smartest boy I have ever met. How are you in subjects?"

"I'm fair I suppose. I spend a lot of time studying to get good grades. There isn't much I'm a natural at but..."

"Oh Severus is a natural at potions. If you ever need help just ask him. He is always helping me with my remedial work for Slughorn."

While Lily went off on a tangent about how horrible she was at potions, Hermione searched the crowd for Severus. There was just something about him in this time that interested her. He wasn't as sour in his youth than when he was her professor. She could see he was still very proud and very bright. Much like herself. He wasn't even so bad looking when he wasn't so much older than her. She could see the way he made eyes at Lily. That was a secret she sure he would never share with Harry in the future. Finally she found not only him but his eyes staring back at her. He found it fit to watch her as well which made her a bit uncomfortable. She blinked a few times purposely but he still did not change his gaze.

"Jane?" Lily asked waving her hand in front of Hermione's face. "Are you okay? What are you staring at?" She began to crane her neck around to see what was holding her new friend's attention. Wow he seems serious. I wonder what has gotten into him.

Severus was puzzled by the new girl. It was a very rare occurrence for a student to start in the middle of the year. Most students only arrived as children after receiving a Hogwarts letter. So right there is something a bit odd. She was acting very shy but he knew that no Gryffindor was shy. That meant to Severus there were extreme circumstances under which she had come; he worried for Lily who had seemed to get so close to her in such a short period of time. Whatever darkness was surrounding this Jane hopefully would not swallow Lily whole. He would have to get to the bottom of that situation soon.

"Its ok he is watching you, Jane. He is very protective of me, that's all."

"I find myself watching him too, embarrassingly enough. He looks like someone I knew back home."

"Jane? Do you have a crush on my best friend?"

"I would not call it a crush; Just an interest. He seems like someone I would like to get to know."

"You will see him. Most of the Gryffindor classes are held with Slytherin. It's how we get around the whole housing clique in our friendship."

Lily stood up from the table after seeing Hermione was through eating. "I have some homework to get to. Want to come to the library with me?"

"Yeah I'd love to. Books really are my passion."

"Great. Come on," Lily said as she bounced off down the hall with Hermione's hand in hers.

Damn her. Bad enough I am fawning over one Gryffindor but two? There is no way she would be interested in anyone like me, Severus thought as he brushed his hair out of his face. He had been sitting in the library staring at Hermione reading for the past hour or so while Lily tried to get through her Arithmancy lessons. She flipped the pages almost frantic. She has to be intelligent by the way she is into that book. I saw her take it off of the shelf. That is advanced stuff.

Hermione knew his eyes were on her, she wasn't a dope. She tried to keep her nose in her book where it belonged, not being looked over while its owner stared at Severus Snape. Why am I so interested in him now? she thought as she carelessly turned pages. She had long since stopped paying attention to the words on the pages as she honed in on her feelings. What do I know of Snape anyway? Outspoken. Controlling. A bit on the unhygienic side. She snuck a peek at him. His good qualities? Intelligent for sure. Lily said he was good to her which I guess means he does have a caring bone somewhere in his body. I should be spending less time focused on boys and more on my getting out of here. She flipped back odd pages in her text trying to resume the reading on time spells.

"Gosh this is heavy reading, " Hermione finally said as she put down the book and pushed her chair away from the table.

"Well I'm about finished myself," Lily replied. She closed her text and folded her parchment to put it away.

"You go on ahead. I have to put this back and I'm going to look up one more thing before I head back to the tower. Is that alright?"

"Sure," Lily said getting up from the table. "See you when you get in. Don't forget the password this time, ok?"

Hermione made a face and both of the girls giggled. I am so lucky to have found a friend so fast here. Harry is so like her in a million ways which I guess makes him lucky too. Hermione looked around and spotted Severus sitting alone pretending to be doing his own work. In between page flips he glanced at her narrowly even though Lily was gone. It seems he has an interest in me too, she thought. She picked up the book from the table and slowly walked over to where her future professor sat. He looked up almost startled to see her coming his directions. Furiously he looked down at his parchment and began to press so hard with his quill the ink was blotting with each stroke.

"Hello again," Hermione said when she reached the edge the table he was working at.

"Is there something you wanted? Maybe with that book you have in your arms? It must be way passed your level."

"Actually," Hermione began. She cleared her throat and looked right into his eyes. "Actually I came to ask why you kept staring at us. Particularly me."

There was her Gryffindor bravery, thought Severus. But how should he answer this girl? He didn't want to say anything too outlandish because she would tell Lily he had been mean to her. But he also wanted to scare her enough to leave his friend alone. Just don't tell her you love Lily. And don't tell her you think shes pretty. Infernal Gryffindors!

"To tell you the truth I wanted to know why you are here. No one just transfers in like a muggle school. Where were you when you were supposed to get you Hogwarts letter?"

"At home with my parents. They are muggles," she answered confidently. Its not totally a lie,she thought. I was at home and they are muggles. I just cant say I did begin attending Hogwarts at age 11 but it was just 20 tiny years in the future.

"Both of your parents are muggles. You have no wizarding blood at all?"

"None that we know of."

"Lily's parents are both muggles too. I'm half."

"Of what?" Hermione asked. She still was looking deep into his eyes as she hung on every low word coming out of his mouth. He sounded so astute, and a adorable.

"Wizard. It doesn't matter though. I will still be a great potion's master someday."

"I don't think it matters either. By the way this book isn't too far beyond my comprehension. Its just a lot to soak in. There are a lot of spells I think could be important to someone, someday."

By this time Severus wasn't even thinking about chasing this girl away from Lily. He was so entranced with the way she wrinkled her nose as she spoke and how the last bit of light from the nearest window played off of her hair. He only wanted to tell her she was beautiful. He couldn't be falling for her too. Its impossible. What is wrong with him? He shook his head and broke her gaze.

"Just don't hurt Lily," he said after a moment of quiet. "She's my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her."

"Does the big, bad Slytherin have feelings?" she teased.

"It's nothing you would know anything about." And with that he muttered a silent spell that packed his school bag immediately and it followed him as he stalked out of the library.

In the hallway he was stopped by Lucius Malfoy. "Why is it whenever I am sent to find you, you are always in the presence of a pesky Gryffindor female? We allowed you to have contact with Lily because you have always known her but I'm not sure if the Society will allow another contact to those idiots."

"If it's a problem you can just tell the Society I want nothing to do with that one. What does anyone need me for anyway? No one has papers due right now."

"All in good time, initiate Snape," Lucius replied as he put his arm behind Severus's back to guide him down the hall.