Summary: Alternate Universe where Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape changed things for the better. But did they leave someone behind? They didn't think so, until someone comes back from their past and turn their new life upside down.

Disclaimer: This magical world belongs to J.K. Rowling, I don't own anything.

Hello everyone, thank you if you are reading this. I don't know yet when I will be able to update this story but I will do my best. This is my first fanfiction so I am pretty excited, I hope you'll like it. Don't hesitate to review.

Today was Sunday brunch with family and friends at Grimmauld Place, where everyone was enjoying the summer sun in the backyard. You could see kids chasing one another while laughing, the Weasley twins were showing people the new fireworks they had created for their shop, others were simply catching up. Of course, you could also see Severus Snape scowling in a corner, with James Potter teasing him and Regulus Black trying to smooth things over and getting his friend to come mingle a little. So all in all, a regular Sunday brunch.

'So Sirius, how is it going at the Ministry? Not too much work for the aurors?' asked Remus Lupin. Being the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, he didn't have much occasions to speak to his oldest friend on a regular basis.

'Yes, it's pretty calm these days. But it's good because we have more time for the trainees. Right Harry?' responded Sirius, turning to his godson with a big grin on his face.

'Right...' responded Harry, taking a swing of his butterbeer. It wasn't really that the training wasn't going great for him, because it was. It was more that training under his father and godfather made him the kind of guy that didn't earn his place. The other trainees were reminding him of that everyday, but Harry was too prideful to talk about it to his family. He knew he was good at what he was doing even without their help, so what was the point? Only two more months, he told himself.

'Oh, by the way' said Sirius to Harry and Draco. 'What was the name of that Head Girl of yours at Hogwarts?'

'Are you talking about Hermione Granger?' asked Remus, confused. Lucius Malfoy, who was seated not far from their group, frowned at Sirius' question.

'Yes! That's the one, I couldn't remember her name. I ran into her yesterday in Diagon Alley. It was really weird... How was she, back when you were in school? When I saw her at your graduation, she looked... stiff and kind of bookwormy.'

Draco snorted and Harry outright laughed.

'Now that's an understatement...' said Draco.

'Yeah... She was the worst' supplied Harry. 'Always her nose in a book, nothing else mattered.'

'Be nice' said Remus, frowning. 'She was the best student I ever taught.'

'Why do you ask?' asked Lucius to Sirius, speaking for the first time. Severus had joined him and was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a deep frown on his face, listening to the conversation.

'She seemed... different yesterday, that's all.' Answered Sirius, taking a sip from his coffee.

'Different how, Black?' asked Severus in a clipped tone, wondering why the dog was choosing now to finally stop talking.

'I don't know; she was more... dark I guess? Her hair was darker and longer and she had this look in her eyes when she saw me... Like she ran into a ghost or something. She was really fit though.' he finished, smirking.

Harry grimaced at that remark and Remus rolled his eyes.

'Oh! And she had those tattoos on her arms too! Flowers and animals I think.'

Now if there was one thing Draco prided himself with, it was that he was an observant man. Back when he was in Hogwarts, he was very popular - what with being the child of a war hero and all... One might think being rich and popular made him oblivious to those around him. But it didn't change the fact that Draco was used to consider his surroundings, sometimes to the point of obsession. He knew the name of each student of each house, he noticed when one of them was having a sick day, even those he had never spoken to and those who tried to stay under the radar. He knew who was dating who, he knew who was cheating on whom, he even knew when a teacher was having a bad day from a glance at the Head table during breakfast. Of course, that particular talent didn't include his godfather because, well, everyone knew Professor Snape was having a bad day every day.

Anyway, Draco just knew things. That's why, when he saw his father and Severus exchange a look after Sirius' words, he had a feeling something was off. Lucius was watching his eyes slightly widened and his mouth opened. That should have been a sign on its own, because Draco learned from an early age that Malfoys never gape. And then there was Severus, his jaw was so clenched it was a wonder it hadn't broken yet.

'Why do you ask anyway? Don't you hate her or something?' added Sirius.

Another understatement, thought Draco. Everyone at school knew Professor Snape never had a sunny disposition, but when it came to Hermione Granger... He shuddered just thinking about it. To put it simply, Severus made her life hell. Draco remembered a time when Granger walked into class, the professor just looked at her and gave her two weeks worth of detentions with Filch, just because he 'couldn't stand the sight of her this early in the morning'. He loved his godfather, really he did... But he never understood where this hate was coming from, considering the girl always tried to keep her head down when in proximity of the dark wizard.

Now, the dark wizard in question was staring into space with a frown even deeper than before. He mumbled 'or something...' under his breath before being yanked by Lucius and dragged to the house.

Sirius just shrugged and jumped to another subject with his friend and godson. Draco couldn't let it go this easily. He decided to follow the two men discreetly. When Harry saw his friend standing up, he frowned at him. The blond shook his head and mouthed 'later' before entering the house.

He heard them settle into the library upstairs before they threw some silencing charms. Draco sighed, before pulling an Extendable Ear from his pocket - they always come in handy - and crouching down to listen.

He only heard pacing at first, and wondered which one of them was making a hole into the floor.

It was his godfather who spoke for the first time: 'do you think it was her?'

'I don't know Severus!' exclaimed Lucius.

'But did you hear what he said? About the tattoos?'

'Of course I heard! I was there too! But how could it be real?'

'I don't know Lucius... I don't know.'

Draco's eyebrows rose a little. Never had he ever heard his godfather sound so defeated before. And neither had he ever heard his father sound so panicked, for that matter.

'Severus...' Lucius said. 'I mean, really, I could it be possible? You know as much as I do that-'

'Please don't say it...' pleaded Severus, sounding desperate now.

Lucius sighed before continuing: 'we saw her die Severus... Please... Let's just not go into that again.'

Draco, who was still eavesdropping on the other side of the door would deny it if anyone saw him, but right now, he gaped. Big time.