Making sure he is the Boy Who Lived

by hold.enwrites

Harry wants to meet his parents, Draco wants to avenge his father and Hermione just wants to keep the future from changing! When this unexpected trio is shot back through time they are unaware of just how much their actions are reshaping the world they left behind. And due to jealousy, lust and betrayal the boy who lived may not even exist in the future.

1. Part 1

Chapter 1

Harry Potter looked out from behind his round glasses to his small apartment in central London and offered a small, wistful sigh to no one in particular. To any outsider they'd believe the now eighteen-year-old boy looked mildly depressed, strange considering it was the boys' birthday.

But today also marked the start of something else, the first year starting where he wouldn't be in constant fear of Voldemort. A life lay ahead of him pregnant with possibility, open to him and his war hero status.

In a few short weeks he would begin his Auror training with Ron and the chance to change and evolve the Ministry into something good. Something that brought everyone together instead of creating division.

He should be excited, shouldn't he? So then why wasn't he? It was this thought that finally dragged his lean body out of bed as he yawned, stretching a bit until a satisfying popping sound emitted from his back.

He looked out the window of his room, seeing an own gently tapping at the window. He went to it, opening it with a sudden glow about his face. His friends never forgot about him, no matter what. The owl looked exhausted fluttered over to Harry's bed dropping several large parcels.

"You've been busy," Harry said to the barn owl, nuzzling its feathers a moment before placing giving her some feed. He made a soft sound in response, watching Harry a moment before falling into a light sleep. Harry smiled and went back to the parcels, opening the first card.

Hullo Harry, Romania's so fun, you wouldn't believe it! Mum's keeping an extra close eye on Dad during these trips, she's sure he's going to get stitches again! I wanted to telly-phone you this week, but Dad says I'll be back soon enough and I'm also rubbish at using it. I can't wait to start training next month, it's going to be mental! I hope you like your presents, they're from all of us!
Ron

Harry tore open the present to reveal a large box, inside it, which were a mountain of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes . Harry laughed at the miscellaneous items, picking them up and looking at the random gags. There were sneezing saucers, Blotto blips and so much more, it was almost overwhelming. He felt a small pang at his side as he looked at them, his mind drawing back to Fred for a moment. He wondered how George was doing managing the shop without him.

No. Don't fixate on that.

He glanced at a few of the other parcels. Hermione had also sent him a book on famous Quidditch captains, which he eagerly set aside to read later on and a snatched up the long piece of parchment with his friends familiar looping scrawl.

Dear Harry,

I hope your summer has been well! So strange to think that I'll be returning to Hogwarts without you this term. I know you think it's silly wanting to finish my N.E.W.T.'s and all, but I really have my sights set on a very specific Ministry position. They only accept you if you have the right grades (Even if you were part of the team that took down Voldemort). Besides, you know me, I can't NOT finish something. But it won't be the same and I admit to feeling a bit of trepidation going back alone without my best friends.

I hope you're having such a wonderful birthday. I know you said you're busy these days, but I hope you come to visit me at least once before you go off and start your training! I miss you terribly and I know that its my fault for going to Australia right after, but you know why I had to. Mum and Dad are doing so much better and we've just finally moved back home! It's so nice to be at home amongst all my books and neighbors and everything just feels so safe. I can't remember the last time I actually felt safe in the past few years, can you?

I hope Ron is having a wonderful time in Romania! I miss him terribly as well. Maybe you can convince him to join you when you visit? I'm afraid I've been a pretty terrible girlfriend so far! So far we've murdered a monster together but not actually gone on a proper date! I know, I know this is likely very boring so I'll ask you about a topic you are sure to enjoy: how is your beloved Ginny? I suppose she's rather downhearted to be in Romania, so far away from her Romeo! (I couldn't resist)

I hope you enjoy your book, I know that reading on your time off isn't your favorite pastime but I do think you'll enjoy this one!

Much Love,

Hermione

Harry smiled at his friend's tone, knowing that Ginny was indeed missing him terribly as Hermione had alluded to. The many letters they'd sent back and forth had been a very large indication of that.

All of a sudden there was a small peck from outside his window and another owl with a squished face was pressing itself up against Harry's windowpane. Harry smile, recognizing Ginny's script on the package from where he stood.

"Goodness I am popular today," he said to himself opening the window.

Moments later he opened the package and smiled fondly. Inside was a small yellow cake with red icing. Gryffindor colors from his favorite girl.

To the boy who lived. Happy 18th Birthday. May all your wishes come true!

Harry nodded to the cake as if conversing with it. It was true he had some freedom. He was even freer that he'd been a few months before hand and this should have cheered him up but it didn't. Instead his mind drew back to those final moments, watching as Voldemort's red eyes took in his frame.

There are no more Horcruxes. It's just you and me now, Riddle. Neither can live while the other survives, and one of us is about to leave for good. "

"You have survived this long crouching behind greater men and women ," Voldemort sneered with a coughing laugh. "You are alive because they died!"

Harry closed his eyes against the onslaught of tears that were beginning. It was true; even with the victory over Voldemort they had lost so many. Sirius, Dumbledore, Moody, Fred, Lupin, Moody, Tonks, even Snape.

Harry's eyes closed as he recalled the man's last moments. Insisting that Harry take his memories. Harry shuddered as he recalled watching the light of the man's dark eyes going out. It was so strange seeing him young, seeing him with his parents and knowing of Snape's enduring love for his mother. Harry felt a choking sob go through him.

He wanted things to go back to as they were. He didn't mind going back to a school where Malfoy teased him or Snape hated him. He would welcome the man's blind hatred with open arms. He would be fine with a school where he was in danger at every moment if it meant the people who mattered so much were alive.

He absently smoothed the dark hair atop his head although a bit stuck out at the back, just as his father's before him had, letting it rest in a small curtain before his eyes, thankfully covering the tell-tale scar. He knew that going back to Hogwarts would prove too much; that's why his Auror training would be starting so soon. He couldn't face a year of classrooms and head masters that were no longer there. It was a cruelty he couldn't fathom.

Was that the cause of this suffocating darkness? Is this what caused the empty gap within him those nights? No. It had all started when he'd gone to the Weasley's for a few weeks after the war. He would have stayed longer if it weren't for their family venture to Romania, and even though they'd offered Harry to come he'd declined politely, knowing full well he wasn't a Weasley.

That was it, wasn't it? He had no family. They were all gone. Forever.

Family. He walked casually over to the album Hagrid had given him his first year, the one collection of his parent's that he had. He opened its first page, glancing at the waving figures of his parents as they held an infant and smiling Harry. Harry felt the tears well up in the back of his eyes but quickly dismissed them with a flick of the page.

There was another of his parents, looking at each other with looks of admiration whilst in a soft embrace. Harry often looked to this one over the years, knowing full well that the image before him was one of total undeniable love. He supposed that's why Cho had never really done it for him, he could never imagine loving her as much as his father had loved his mother. But Ginny. Ginny had been different. Harry smiled at the thought of his sweet girlfriend and her kind eyes, her soft mouth. Their weeks at the burrow had been spectacularly intimate; stolen kisses, broom rides, the feel of Ginny's body against his.

He drew his attention back to the book and what seemed like minutes went by when in truth they were hours, Harry went through each and every image before him, smiling and laughing when he came across those including a mischievous looking James and Sirius. They must have been worse than Fred and George, (No wait, was that possible?) and Harry found himself longing to be included in their mischief.

There was one he didn't care to look at all that often, and strangely enough it was one quite comical. It was one of James, Sirius and Lupin all making odd faces into the camera, surely it had been their seventh year. It wasn't Sirius' death that made him skip over the picture though, nor was it his father's. Harry almost felt like he was looking at his own doppelganger when he gazed in that picture, but that's not what deterred him.

What did turn Harry off from the picture was faintly in the bright background stood a lone figure stood with arms crossed sneering at the trio with disdain. It didn't take him long to note that it was a teenage Severus glaring at his father with such hate and whenever Harry came across that certain picture, he was sure to pass over it quite quickly.

Despite what he knew about Snape he couldn't help but be uncomfortable at the sight of such open disdain for his father. He closed the book quickly, his emotions still unsettled around his former Potions Professor. Yes, the man had done a lot of good. But at the same time he'd also done a lot of bad.

"Well then," he said to himself, breaking from those thoughts. "What to do first?"

Cleaning, making dinner or organizing things for his Auror classes next month. All of these options seemed a little dull to him at this current moment and he went for another swipe at his cake's delicious icing, looking with longing to the slightly sloppy message one last time.

May all your wishes come true

Harry scoffed openly at this, shaking his dark head in response. I only have one wish Ginny...I want my parent's back. I want the people who sacrificed themselves for me to be alive again.

The icing hadn't even made its way to his lips when he stopped. It was then like a shock from a thunderbolt like the one he wore on his head as it came to him. He knew what he wanted to do, he knew what had been ailing him, he knew how to set things right.

He would fix everything.

Chapter 2

She hadn't even been in the Hogwarts Express compartment five minutes when the door to it was thrust open and a very excited looking Harry and Ron piled into the small room with looks of anticipation clearly written upon their ruddy faces.

"Hey Hermione!" They crowed in some bizarre chorus as they clamored over to her, pulling her into tight embraces. She looked to Ron with a shy smile before placing a gentle kiss on his welcoming lips. She didn't want it to go on too long after all, with Harry standing there at their elbow.

"I thought you were in Auror training," she said with a large grin, still gripping onto the very happy Ron.

"We wanted to surprise you," Ron explained, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"We have the week off for research for a presentation on poisons and antitdotes," Harry explained as Ron nodded. "We said we wanted to do some of the research at Hogwarts and they agreed. It has the best library in the UK as you know, Head Girl."

Hermione looked slightly taken aback as they all took their seats. Her eyebrows did a dramatic dip as she spoke. "How did you two know?"

Ron and Harry exchanged looks of good humor at their friend's bewildered stance. A confused Hermione Granger of all things! Something told them to take advantage but they refrained, she was after all a good friend.

"Who else would have gotten it Hermione?" Ron asked settling himself across from her in the seat with a wry grin. Hermione blushed slightly as she gave a good-natured smile in the direction of her boyfriend and settled back in her seat. With Ron's presence she was suddenly all shook up. She had her entire first week back planned, but with him sitting there mooning away across from her how could she possible hope to get any work done?

She sighed gently, wondering if it would be possible for her and Ron to sneak away after the feast tonight to catch up. She hadn't seen him since she bolted off to Australia to recover her obliviated parents. Now that life was back in order, she found she was happy to resume their romance and in Hogwarts of all places! How perfect!

"When did you get the letter?" Harry asked with interest as Hermione gave a modest shrug in response. She was trying not to act too smug about the whole thing"In the summer sometime, I don't really recall."

"Hermione," Ron gave a knowing look accompanied with a dramatic eyebrow raise that could only be described as Snape-like. Hermione gave a resigned shrug before mumbling her answer.

"August 2nd, 11:32 a.m. I was eating a late breakfast when the post arrived."

Harry and Ron burst out into laughter as Hermione ignored them, a bemused look on her face as she feigned reading the book on her lap, tapping her fingers absently upon the pages.

"What kind of girlfriend doesn't tell her boyfriend something like that right away?" Ron teased, digging through his pockets for some spare knuts as the woman with the chocolate trolley came around to their compartment.

Before he could even begin frowning at his absence in change, Harry had already sprung up from his seat, thrust several galleons into her hands and taken the cart for all of them to share. Ron turned a little pink around the ears, never really comfortable with Harry's constant treating.

"You don't have to," he started mumbling as everyone else reached for some of the candy on the trolley, he trailed off looking rather pink.

"The way I figure it Ron," Harry had said across from him, nibbling at a chocolate frog that didn't have the chance jump away from him, "I don't have any brothers or sisters to spend my money on. You and Hermione are the closet things I have to siblings. So what if I want to treat you now and again?"

Ron looking better soothed and nodded a bit, reluctantly grabbing some of Botts beans and carefully inspecting one as Harry continued with a bright smile upon his face.

"Plus, you're not getting anything for Christmas this year."

With that out of the way Ron offered an easy laugh and soon the three of them were eating candy and talking about their summer adventures. Well, Hermione and Ron were - Harry seemed rather preoccupied with hearing of their ventures instead of relaying his own. He was a little embarrassed to admit he'd spent the summer reading (Hermione would be proud but Ron surely wouldn't.)

"Charlie even let me help him some of the time." Ron said excitedly, "I nearly got my eyebrows singed off, but it was worth it."

"Makes you wish you'd paid more attention in Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures, doesn't it?" Hermione said haughtily, giving a smug look at her old friends. Before Ron could protest about Hermione's know-it-all attitude she sobered. "it feels a bit strange going back, doesn't it?"

At this Ron and Harry acquired pained looks a moment before they all lapsed into thoughtful silence. Hermione had made a good point; while this time on the train felt comfortable and familiar, the truth is that when they got to Hogwarts it would be different. Strange and empty feeling even.

In the moments of lapsed silence she looked across from her to see that Ron had nodded off, bits of chocolate sprinkled on the front of his jumper. She smiled softly to herself before looking down to the Transfiguration book on her lap.

Hermione herself was a bit anxious about their return, and she went over these thoughts as she pretended to read her book. She had so many ideas about what she wanted to do with her life that it was overwhelming. Should she go to work in St. Mungo's? With her revolutionary ideas she'd surely be an asset. The ministry wasn't her ideal choice, but she assumed a position there might hold her interest. Once she'd gone through from Muggle Sciences to Herbology for career choices she stopped, knowing full well the only thing left. The one thing she would never major in if her life depended upon it. Potions.

She wouldn't say that she was horrible in it, but it was the one class that she had to try extra hard in. Whilst reading and writing was part in most of her studies, her essays for Snape had to be exemplary. Too often she found herself working her fingers to the bone after re-writing a Potion's essay in hopes for an Outstanding. Sadly all hopes and dreams dashed upon the proverbial rocks as he continually handed her back Exceeds Expectations and on the odd occasion an Acceptable. She knew it was because she was Harry's friend, but she also knew if she ever called Snape on it she'd live to regret it.

Snape. Hermione felt a lump come to her throat then, her dark eyes filling with tears that she blinked back. Snape had been one of those individuals that she had devoutly believed was on their side in their later years. To see the memory he bestowed upon Harry however made her realize she had truly underestimated his sacrifices. He was a true hero, even if he had been a rather large git as a teacher.

She glanced up at Harry's glazed expression, wondering if he ever thought about the man that loved his mother so dearly. A man that he had maligned for so many years. Harry must have sensed her staring because he glanced over at her with a questioning look on his narrow face. His hair had parted a bit and the scar shot out from behind a few stray locks. She was sure not to look at it for too long, she knew how that bothered him.

"You look cheery," she observed as she stifled a yawn. She'd been reading her new class books into the wee hours of the morning and just now in the cozy confines of the train's compartment she felt the drowsiness beginning to catch up with her.

Harry nodded to her emphatically, giving her an uncharacteristically large smile, one usually reserved for won Quidditch matches. There was a sparkle to his eyes she couldn't place, and somehow she knew something big was going to unfurl.

"Going to tell me why?" she said with a small smirk as Harry continued to smile. Going a bit pink on his cheeks he took a in a shallow breath, looking as if he couldn't contain his good news.

"This year is going to be the best," he said absently tapping his feet against the floor of the moving train. His light eyes acquired a rather moony look to them and his voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I just know it."

Hermione looked to her friend, seeing a strange look pass over his normally placid features. "What makes you say that?"

"I-I," Harry shot a nervous look at the still dozing Ron and gave Hermione an imploring look. "It actually involves you."

"Me?" Hermione felt her curiosity growing, a sudden look of inquiry upon her face as she looked over to him, lowering her book and giving her undivided attention to Harry. "How?"

Harry was about to speak more when he noticed Ron's snoring had lessened slightly. As surreptitiously as he could muster, he looked to Hermione with a severe look as he mouthed, I'll tell you later.

Hermione nodded with a feeling of curiosity tugging at her. She looked back to her book of Seventh Year Transfiguration and became engrossed. Harry rolled his eyes at his bookworm friend, some things never changed.

"You know," Harry said absently, "My Mum and Dad were Head Girl and Head boy in their seventh year," he trailed off suddenly getting a funny look on his face. Hermione merely nodded, knowing not to say anything.

It was the last thing spoken between the two before Harry drifted off to sleep himself and it wasn't soon after that Hermione joined both he and Ron.

She awoke a few hours later to the sound of paper being shuffled through near her. If it weren't for Harry and Ron in the compartment she would have sworn someone was rifling through her papers, but she knew better. She raised her head though, feeling a bit disoriented in the process and her sight was blurry a moment as she blinked back the fuzziness. She had a horrible cotton taste in her mouth as she sat up and immediately regretted it as a harsh sting went across her back.

That's the last time I fall asleep in that position. she internally sulked, rubbing her sore neck. Her book had fallen to the floor during her siesta and bending over to get it she saw a flash of something near her bag out of the corner of her eyes.

Sitting straight up she looked over and saw it had only been Harry absently grasping her bag in a haze of drowsy distortion. She smiled good-naturedly at the dark haired boy as he blinked a few times, pulling on his discarded glasses before looking over to Hermione.

"You'd better wake Ron up," she said standing slowly and opening a small suitcase she had with her on the seat next to her. Harry, still a little disoriented squinted at Hermione and gave off a small yawn.

"Huh?"

"Harry," she said in that usual no-nonsense tone. "We're almost at Hogwarts."

Stretching soundly with an incoherent mutter he walked over to Ron and nudging him in the back. Ron absently swiped at Harry's hand with a backward's slap.

"Just gimme five more minutes Mum," he sighed in a dreamy haze as Harry and Hermione shot each other a smirk. Harry cleared his throat a moment and then looked down at Ron's sleeping form.

"RONALD WEASLEY!" he screeched in his best Molly Weasley impression, (one that sounded remarkably like one of Ron's array of Howler's) "YOU GET UP THIS INSTANT!"

Ron, in a turn of utter shock and dazed confusion rolled over in his seat and promptly fell to the ground with a loud thump as Hermione and Harry burst out in childish giggles. Groaning, Ron pulled himself into a sitting position so that he was able to give the laughing Hermione and Harry the glare they deserved.

"Impressive Harry," Hermione said through her giggles, "his face was priceless!"

She and Harry collapsed into more laughter as Ron stood on shaky legs and went to his own carry on bag grumbling about their immaturity.

"I hope McGonogall doesn't drag on the sorting speech too long," Ron said to no one in particular, obviously having come out of his sulk at the idea of food. "I can't stand the wait."

"Neither can I," Hermione said with a light flick of her wand as she pointed it at her carry on suitcase. Within a matter of seconds it had shrunk and she placed it delicately into her pocket. "It's going to be strange having her as Headmistress. What do you think, Harry?"

Harry looked momentarily stupefied, then realizing what they had been talking about moments before hand he offered a brisk, "I think she's a good fit."

Hermione looked to Harry curiously, the wheels in her constantly dissecting brain were in full motion as she looked to the distracted Harry. She assumed it had to do with whatever he'd wanted to share before.

But for once, Hermione Granger, know-it-all ,had no idea what it could be.

* * *

When the three of them arrived in the foyer of Hogwarts instead of doing their trademark dash up the stairs to the common room, most of the seventh years were walking slower than most, basking in the fact that they were top of the heap this year.

The three of them turned to see Hagrid waving in a bunch of first years from outside, looking as large and friendly as he always had. The first years were all bunched together looking nervous and excited as they waited to be sorted.

I wonder if we looked like that, Hermione wondered bemused as she viewed one of the girl's pointing to Harry shyly and starting to giggle with her friend. Honestly.

"Hey Hagrid!" The all chimed in, giving the giant a large hug before Hagrid's stance became more professional as the children behind him watched in curiosity.

'I'll see yous lay'er,' he said quietly with a wink to them before bellowing over his shoulder; "Come on now first years, to the Great Hall!"

The three friends watched Hagrid's large figure make its way down the hall with the new students, and something in the familiar tradition struck a solemn chord with each of them. There was a sudden sort of feeling that passed through the three of them, realizing full well that this was in fact the end. As soon as they were done researching this week, their time together would be over.

No, Hermione thought with a frown. Perhaps it was a beginning.

She looked to the hazy looks on the boy's faces and registered they felt the same way as she did. This was the last time they would ever see their beloved Hogwarts.

"Oh my Gods," Ron suddenly broke into their thoughts from behind. "No one said Malfoy'd be here!"

Hermione and Harry glanced to their left to see Draco walking down the corridor quietly, his eyes on the floor, his stance impossibly feeble.

The three weren't sure what to say or what to do. Should they ignore their former enemy? Embrace him into the fold? His allegiance had been more in question than others and so they remained quiet. He didn't even glance up at them as he walked towards the Great Hall.

Harry let his gaze drift on Draco a moment before looking around the vast foyer once more, trying to remember every detail as time spent in this castle had proven to be the best of his life.

They walked into the Great Hall to see McGonagall stand up at the front of the hall, the same place Dumbledore always had.

"Students..." McGonagalls clipped voice emitted, as she smiled to the students, new and old. "Welcome to Hogwarts..."

* * *

"Here it is." Hermione said throwing open her door and looking at the Head Girl bathroom s with a look of utter rapture and admiration. The two boys glanced at once another and then back into the bathroom. It was rather unremarkable, containing a vanity, a toilet, a claw foot tub, a sink and a large mirror. Fairly standard.

"Erm, it's nice Hermione," Ron said, unsure of why having ones own private loo was such a large deal. Still he was proud of her accomplishments, giving her a small smile.

"It's nice," Harry added, looking around the room before placing a purring Crookshanks down on the floor. She giggled excitedly, placing all her toiletries down and looking at her surroundings.

"This would have been so useful in second year," Hermione mused. "Maybe I wouldn't have turned myself into a cat."

The three of them smirked at this.

"I'm going to check in with McGonagall about Harry and I getting a room," Ron suddenly remembered, looking to them in passing. "I'll be right back."

With that he was off, leaving the two friend's alone. Hermione smiled, having had been most enchanted when McGonagall called she and the other head boy, Anthony Goldstein, to her office after his speech during the feast, after a small speech on the rules and regulations of Head Girl and Head Boy they were given special keys and pins and trust from the Headmistress. The latter to Hermione was the most important of all, and she'd be sure not to misuse it.

"Yeah well," Harry said absently, looking a bit nervous as he spoke, pacing around her rather bare room loudly, blinking rapidly behind his glasses, and resembling a rather twitchy owl. "I hope McGonagall doesn't have us bunking with first years."

"Are you alright Harry? You look a little peaky. This may be serious. Do-"

Harry suddenly whirled around, coming to Hermione in a sudden rush of non-contained anticipation. "Hermione, before Ron comes up here I have to ask a favor. It's been weighing on my mind the whole summer."

"Oh sure Harry," Hermione said sitting on her chair placidly, this is what Harry must have been so eager about on the train. Was he planning a surprise for Ron? He looked beside himself and so putting on her most professional look she nodded at him to start.

"Hermione, you know I've been pretty depressed lately," Harry said in a somber voice, "Right?"

"Well," Hermione said mulling the situation over a moment before answering. She was surprised at the topic and liked to give clear, well-thought answers to her friends instead of being rash. "You seemed better now. When you got on the train you seemed different. Happier."

She saw as Harry nodded with a grin, his eyes acquiring a twinkling look that would have rivaled Dumbledore's own. "That's because I have a plan."

Hermione's eyes widened in fear at those words. Those were the words of expulsion if she ever heard it. She quickly covered her ears, shaking her head emphatically as Harry looked to her in shock.

"I REFUSE!" She shouted as she squeezed her eyes shut, "I will NOT risk my life for some little escapade you have planned for us Harry, I simply won't! You may be one of my best friend's but I've worked too hard for my Head Girl title an-"

She felt Harry's hand on her elbow and saw the tears that had begun welling up in his eyes. Slowly her hands were lowered and placed on her lap and her attention was on the sober boy in front of her.

"Hermione," Harry said slowly, his eyes falling to the ground in shame at his emotion. "I want to meet my parents."

Hermione was silent a moment, only the distant sounds from the Great Hall entering into the room and his echoing words in her head. She frowned deeply, feeling her heart thumping painfully against her ribs. What was he saying?

This wasn't natural. He wasn't making any sense. What had Harry gotten up to during the summer? Why was he acting so mad?

"Harry, I don't-"

"Hermione please, I want to meet my parents," Harry repeated as he interrupted in a sudden gust of enthusiasm. Hermione held back another protest and raised an eyebrow in confusion as Harry continued.

"And you're going to help me."

Chapter 3

"I didn't think it could work out at first," Harry said excitedly as he continued talking to a remarkably shocked Hermione. "Just think, I'll be able to meet my parents, we'll be able to save Sirius and Snape and even Dumbledore!" His voice grew dim, "Will you help me?"

It took poor Hermione a full moment to process what Harry had just said and another moment for her to speak in her usual rational tone although her stomach was doing flips. When her answer did come it was short, sweet and very to the point.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

Harry sat on the edge of her bed looking unnaturally solemn. If she hadn't been so logical about everything in life Hermione would have gladly given into her inner desire to make Harry happy, but this idiotic rambling was too much. She refused to indulge his delusions with false promises.

"But Hermione," Harry finally said in a most unbecoming tone. "I need to save them and I need to say goodbye to my parents," Harry insisted gently. "I need to do this to move on. Once I do this, I'll be able to move forward."

Hermione sat with arms crossed over her chest, her mouth slightly parted in shock as she stared in mute horror at Harry. Had he gone mad? Was the murder of Voldemort still affecting him?

Under normal circumstances she would have kicked him out of her new room and said in rather placating tones, "Perhaps you should have a lie-in Harry." and shooed him up to bed. But now looking at the deranged and desperate look on his face she couldn't help but question his thinking.

"Just how do you plan on doing that?" she asked in dull wonder.

"Your time turner."

That was the last straw. Hermione stood with wide eyes as she stared down at the still seated Harry, her head shaking sporadically as she conveyed just what she thought of that plan.

"Harry I know you've been under a lot of stress, especially with the end of the wizarding war, but what you're suggesting is completely insane," Hermione said carefully, trying not to upset Harry. She loved him dearly and she could see he was in a great deal of pain. "But this is a horrid plan."

"It's not," Harry insisted like a petulant infant.

"It is," Hermione said firmly. "Not only do you want to do something really dangerous and illegal, but you're also suggesting we change the future. Harry, you're smarter than this. You know it's not possible. One difference and Voldemort could win the war. You may not even be born!"

Harry's eyes were filling with furious tears that he brushed away with the back of his palm.

"Fine," Harry said solemnly. "I won't change the past then. I just want to see my parents. Just for an hour, then we can come back."

"You don't understand what you're asking of me, it's unfair," Hermione said exasperatedly. She knew that Harry was struggling but really now, he was verging on mental. "Aside from the future ramifications, I don't even have the time turner anymore. I gave it back to McGonagall. She won't let me have it back, I guarantee you."

Harry gave Hermione an even look as he stood as well, his eyes flashing at the girl before him who looked completely beside herself. He understood her panic and felt sympathy at the fact that he had caused it, but surely she'd understand in the end. With that he gave a jaunty smirk on his face and answered coyly.

"You have it."

"Excuse me?" her voice had gone dangerously low.

"You heard me," Harry toyed playfully. "You have the time turner. You're taking all those classes again this year."

Hermione was in a state of shock at this exaltation, having decided to keep her classes a secret. In becoming Head Girl she had delegated that she should take as many classes as she could for the sake of a breadth of knowledge to assist her in the Wizarding world.

McGonagall had been reluctant at first to say the least, but after deliberation and many begs and pleads later the Headmistress had finally broken down and allowed Hermione access to the coveted time turner for her final year at Hogwarts.

How did Harry know?

"What are you getting at?" she said dangerously, not appreciating the way Harry was grinning at her with that smug look on her face.

"I read it."

"You read what, exactly?"

"Your timetable. When you were asleep on the train."

"That was you?" Hermione hissed furiously, recalling the flash of movement by her baggage aboard the train.

"And so here we are," Harry said in a somber tone. "And we both know that you have the time turner. The only question is are you going to help me?"

"Haven't I helped you enough?" Hermione shouted, not caring if anyone heard. "I've helped you survive attacks, I went on the run to hunt Horocrux's with you, I have this awful scar because of you!"

At this she raised her arm and showed him the 'mudblood' scar in plain sight on her inner arm just below her wrist. She knew that she was being unfair – it was Bellatrix after all who had given her the scar, not Harry. But Harry winced at this, clenching his jaw resolutely before glancing back at her.

"When will it be enough?" Hermione spat almost disgusted. "Do I have to almost die to show you that I care? That I'm on your side?"

"Hermione. Please listen," Harry said gently, feeling awful. He tried to grip her arm and bring her frantic squeals to a close. She pulled from his grasp on her forearm and sat hastily in her chair.

"I refuse Harry. You ask too much," she was muttering to herself, much like the time they had all spelled Snape in the Shrieking Shack. "I'll be expelled. I'll never get a good job-"

Harry shook his head, getting a bit testy over her selfishness in accordance to the whole situation. "Please just listen Hermione."

Hermione's dark eyes finally made their way up to Harry's face, and with a heavy sigh she sat straighter up in the chair, her lips in a thin line of displeasure as she prompted him to go on with a flippant wave of her hand.

Harry nodded thankfully and stood, pacing a bit before he started his story. It was a hard one, and something he didn't wish to share with many. Deciding that Hermione was the most mature of them all, he was sure she'd be willing to be diplomatic about the whole thing and not pity him in the end.

"I never knew my parent's Hermione. Ever. You're lucky; you've got two that love you so much they send you here whilst they live like Muggles. I've had to live with the Dursley's for a good part of my life, never feeling like I had a family, never understanding them. The only things I've ever heard concerning my parents came from sources like the Dursley's or Dumbledore or Snape."

He winced at the latter, a flashback of the Pensieve coming back to him. He could still hear the smashed container of cockroaches smashing by his head. Snape had been mad then, a crazed look in his tunnel like eyes. He quickly moved past this image, to the one of his parent's embracing and felt a slight tilt to his heart, a warm feeling washing over him as he thought of them. Thought of meeting them.

"What I'm saying is, I want to know what my parents were really like. I want to see my parents when they were happiest, at Hogwarts. Before the war, before they had me," his voice was getting shaky then and it was taking all his willpower not to break down. He knew that deep down he would always blame himself for his parent's demise.

"I want to know my parents Hermione, if only for one day."

It was then that he saw the lone tear slip from the rigid Hermione's eyes, viewed the quivering lip that threatened to spew out tears of anguish at the sight of her friend's pain. It was at that precise moment that Harry knew he had won.

"I'll think about it."

Harry smiled gratefully, knowing that he needed to give Hermione some time to think. He slowly nodded his head before heading out the door and running directly into Draco.

"Ooof," Draco grunted, falling to the ground harshly as if the wind had been knocked from his sails. He looked up to Harry with a very strange look on his face. It wasn't quite anger or disdain, but more complicated than that. Hermione couldn't quite place it, but she knew she didn't like the sight of it.

The two looked at one another, their eyes fixed upon each other's face. How strange after all they went through to look at one another like strangers. Finally Harry remembered himself and he extended his hand downwards.

"Sorry about that," Harry offered kindly. "Wasn't looking where I was going."

He may not fully trust Draco, but with the war over he just wanted bygones to be bygones. Harry gave him a strange smile. Draco ignored the handshake, pulling himself to a stand and fixing Harry with a severe look.

"Its fine," Draco said quietly, reminding Harry of the shadow of whom he once was. He surveyed the boy in front of him with his cold grey eyes, about to say something to Harry when he snapped his mouth shut. "G'night."

With that Draco had rushed off, leaving Harry looking after him curiously in his wake.

McGonagall stood sternly at the front of the class, her eyes warily glancing from student to student. She had decided to teach Transfiguration along with her Headmistress duties. Something Hermione had been very thankful for; she wanted to learn from the best and Minerva McGonagall was the best.

But even that scholastic coup couldn't be enjoyed as Hermione sat down on her seat with a sigh, her heart rather heavy today. In even agreeing to think about Harry's moronic whim last night she'd gone against everything she stood for. Reason. Responsibility. Trust. She looked up to McGonagall's gently smiling face and felt her stomach twist. She didn't deserve to wear this Head Girl badge.

Hermione frowned with a small inward sigh. Harry and Ron were waiting for her in the library, finishing their research. She knew Harry would be waiting for an answer to his question. They had decided not to bring Ron into it – that would only complicate things.

But shouldn't you tell your boyfriend these sorts of things?

Hermione frowned deeply, thinking that perhaps her first instinct should have been to make Ron privy to the stresses she was under. That's what couples did, right? She idly wondered if she was tired of always having to worry about Ron's feelings. From the time they were young she had tiptoed around her feelings for him, around his affections and now she was doing it still!

Before her mind could conclude anything else McGonagall had cleared her throat and the room had gone silent. Whilst everyone had feared Professor Snape for his intimidation and crass, the fear chart in McGonagall's class wasn't far behind. Her difference was in her teaching, she wanted the student's to succeed and in there lay her talent. She could command the attention of students without scaring the daylights out of them, and for that they respected her. And feared her a little.

"Class," The woman said in a rapt tone as she stood, surveying the students that milled about and suddenly sat in their seats. Her face looked the same as any other year, her hair pulled back in a tight bun on her head and her gnarled hand grasping her trademark wand.

"Welcome to another year of Transfiguration. I have accepted those of you whom display true talent in the field and have received marks I deem adequate."

Hermione smiled to herself at this, she remembered McGonagall's praise at her O.W.L.S. from her makeup exams at the end of last year, she had worked hard and it had paid off. She put her mind to rest at this as McGongall continued talking, walking up and down the aisles and looking to the various students. Malfoy sat at the back, murmuring to a Slytherin Hermione didn't recognize, only stopping as the Professor drew nearer. Hermione busied herself with setting up her page of parchment for the day. Name, date, subject, time. She'd be busy tomorrow. She had five classes whereas most of her peers had three.

"As seventh years I expect a lot from you. You are examples for this school. You are what we hope the children of the lesser years grow to be," with this she gave Hermione a small surreptitious smile and headed back to her desk. "With that in mind, I hope that you will all make an effort to try your best and reach your potential."

With every word Hermione felt her confident air and inward beaming wilting. Here McGonagall was going on, praising them whilst she and Harry concocted some plan to go against everything that was right. Hermione glanced down at her Head Girl pin again, remembering the trust placed in her by the Headmistress.

I need to tell him tonight. No point postponing the inevitable. He'll be upset with me, but that's just too bad.

Tonight she would have a talk with Harry. Her mind was made up.

* * *

She berated herself later in the Room of Requirement, knowing full well that Harry would be here momentarily to ask her what her decision was. And she knew he was going to hate it and the very thought of disappointing him was more than she could take at present. She hated disappointing her friends, especially about something that obviously meant so much to him.

The door to the room opened quickly and Ron and Harry walked in with small smiles on their faces.

"Did anyone see you?" Hermione asked, suddenly paranoid.

"Uh, no," Ron said with a laugh and a shrug. "I think we passed Malfoy coming up the stairs but I think we're safe from. . . Blimey Hermione, what are you so paranoid for?"

Hermione's eyes went to Harry's and then back to Ron's.

"Nothing," she said with a weak smile, pointing to the chairs in front of the fireplace that the room had believed them to require.

"I thought we could play a game," Hermione said cheerfully. "Or you two could play wizard's chess while I read. Like the old times."

Ron and Harry exchanged a strange look. What was going on with their friend? She looked completely manic then, strolling around the chairs with a perturbed look on her face. While Harry could take a stab at what was upsetting her, Ron looked bewildered.

"I'm actually still hungry from lunch," Ron muttered, breaking Hermione from her reverie of the afternoon's 'delights'.

"Oh," Hermione said shaking her head. "Ron I'm so sorry, I didn't think of food."

"S'no big deal," Ron said with a shrug. "I'm gonna go bribe the house elves with some socks or something. Be back in a flash."

Before Hermione could utter a well placed word about S.P.E.W. Ron was already out the door and on his way to the kitchens via some secret passage way. It was she and Harry alone now.

There appeared to be a storm brewing outside, the flickering fireplace suddenly gave Harry and almost unearthly glow about in his glasses. His shadowed face looking more than menacing.

"Well?" he faced her instantly, snapping up the opportunity to talk with her about the developments. She saw the hope that lit in his eyes and witnessed as it faded as he viewed her look of displeasure.

She pulled the time turner out from under her blouse, looking to it and thinking harshly. Was she doing the right thing? Harry was watching her face intently, seeing the inner battle his friend was fighting. Moments later she dropped the pendant slowly and let the heavy piece fall against her chest on its long chain.

"I thought about it and, no, Harry. I can't do it."

Harry grew tense, nodding at her whilst looking to his bunched up hands. The hair on the back of his neck stood up with anger and his knuckles were slowly turning white.

"Why?"

Hermione held in a sigh. "You remember Dumbledore's speech on time travel. You could be responsible for something that would seriously affect the future. You could be killed; you could get stuck in the past."

"Then come with me."

"McGonagall would kill me!" Hermione exploded, then sensing she needed a different approach stopped. "We aren't the same people at seventeen and when we grow up Harry. You may not even like your father as a teenager. If anything it may ruin the image you have of him now. Do you want to take that chance?"

Harry looked up suddenly, his lips thinned and responded tersely and Hermione knew she had asked the wrong question. "Yes. I do."

Hermione shook her head, trying to stop the shaking of her hands and stomach. She felt utterly horrible about what she was about to do, and she shook her head. The time turner jangled around her neck as she did.

"I'm sorry Harry. I can't. It's not right."

Harry nodded and stood, looking around her neck when something shiny caught his attention and his lips curved into a small smile.

"Can I just see it?" Harry asked gently. "The Time Turner?"

Hermione noticed his stillness and felt her breath leave her as he quickly plucked the turner from where it lay dangling just above her belly button. Suddenly his hands started to twist the knobs and Hermione tried to pull back.

"Put it down Harry." she protested, her throat closing in panic. "It's not to be messed about it."

"I will," he said defensively, still gazing hungrily at the time turner in his hands as Hermione tried to pull it from his grip. "I just want to see what it looks like."

"You've seen what it looks like."

"Not up close."

"Put it down Harry," she warned dangerously, "If you don't I'll get McGonagall or . . . I'll get Filch!"

She didn't know why she believed Filch would be a threat to Harry of all people, but for a moment he seemed to relent and she felt her heartbeat slowing to a normal tempo.

"Alright alright," he said holding it out to her. She was reaching out her hand, her heartbeat slowing. That had been a close one.

Suddenly Harry snatched it back to his chest with a stormy look in his eyes and a strange giggle that actually frightened Hermione.

"Give it back. I've made up my mind Harry," Hermione said sympathetically but with a severe detection of stern command as she started to walk over to Harry. "It's much too dangerous to go rooting about in the pas-"

She was about to continue with, the right thing when she viewed Harry's fingers moving about on the dial and her heart leapt into her throat. How did he know how to turn it? How did he know he'd go to the right time period?

Suddenly Draco appeared in the room, his robes swirling regally behind him as he watched the excited Harry and the horrified Hermione. He had been debating coming in for the last five minutes, but hearing Hermione's shouts he had decided that the decision had been made. He had heard them talking last night. The time turner was still in her possession! It was then at the moment he walked in that he viewed the small time turner in Potter's hand and his eyes grew wide with possibilities.

Lucius.

Father.

Revenge.

"HARRY STOP!" Hermione shouted, her stomach sinking as the time turner began to whirl. Her eyes widened as she tried to pull Harry from the time turner and smack it out of his hands.

Draco came running from the other side, much to Hermione and Harry's shock. They hadn't even heard him come in. He was trying to grasp the time turner from Harry with a wild look in his light eyes, as all hell broke loose.

"I'm sorry Hermione," Harry breathed earnestly as a small tear trickled down his cheek, the long chain from the time turner linking around their wrists as they all protested, trying to grasp the turner for themselves.

It was at the precise moment that Hermione's hand tried to strike the time turner from Harry's hand and Draco grasped it, that all went white, a spinning feel took them all over and with a brilliant pop they were out of sight.

No one saw their departure in the isolated quarters, and the only almost witness arrived moments later with a armload of pastries in his arms and a smile on his face that quickly disappeared as he viewed the sparse room.

Ron's eyebrows furrowed in sudden confusion and he said the only thing he found appropriate at the current point in time.

"Hey, where'd everybody go?"

Chapter 4

"Headmistress?"

The knock and question came upon McGonagall's door's rather late that night. Her tired eyes were bleary and her eyelids were feeling rather swollen. She'd fallen asleep at his desk again. Obviously teaching and being headmistress was catching up with her.

She tried to distinguish whose muffled voice that was behind the door in front of him, but still in a sleep-grogged haze mere called out for the individual to enter.

A very tall, very anxious looking Ron Weasley walked in, looking rather shaken and clutching a small piece of parchment in his white knuckled hands. His years of Quidditch had made him lean and muscular, he didn't even resemble the wiry, permanently bewildered boy Minerva had met in his first year. Ron shut the door behind him and marched up to her desk, his eyes wide with fright.

"I knew you'd be able to help," Ron said shakily, "I'm afraid something terrible has happened."

Oh Merlin's Beard. Voldemort's dead and still something terrible is happening?

Minerva's sleep fogged head instantly cleared, her heart doing a decided flop in her ribcage. The fact that Ron was so solemn was great cause for alarm. She motioned for Ron to sit in the chair adjacent the desk that he sat behind, looking decidedly wary. Ron slid into the chair, his right leg bouncing up and down absently as he glanced around the office with a pensive look on his face.

"Mister Weasley, what are you talking about?"

Ron suddenly thrust the parchment he'd been holding under the older woman's nose. Minerva realigned her reading glasses and then taking the parchment from the redhead squinted down at it.

"Ah, the Maurader's Map," Minerva said with a small chuckle, "I remember this. What's the trouble about? Has it been insulting you? I'm afraid they do that from time to time Ron, Profes-"

"No," Ron interuppted, "here."

He was pointing to the map. Several dots were scurrying about on the floor and Minerva could only look to Ron and offer a slight shrug.

"I see nothing Mister Weasley."

"That's just it! Nothing!"

Minerva gave Ron a confused look and frowned deeply, several new creases now starkly evident on the pale forehead of the woman. Ron was positively shaking now, looking a mixture between confused and angry.

"Mister We-"

"Hermione and Harry!" Ron shouted frantically, "They're nowhere! The map, it says they're nowhere. They're not on the map! And when I went to the Room of Requirement they were gone!"

Minerva gave Ron a severe glance, wondering if the boy wasn't up to some Fred and George persuasion. She really hadn't time for jokes this late at night. Hermione and Harry? What would they be doing off Hogwarts grounds? Surely Miss Granger had enough sense not to do something that stupid and Potter, well, the boy was reckless at times he supposed, but only when he needed to be.

"Are you sure you didn't miss their leave Mister Weasley?"

"That's just it," Ron said with a exasperated throwing up of his hands, "I left for the kitchens to get a snack and when I got-"

"You snuck into the kitchen?"

Ron stopped his speech mid-sentence, looking to Minerva in dull shock. Was she really interrupting his tale to berate him about taking food from the kitchen after hours? He wasn't even a student anymore!

"Yes, I snuck into the kitchen!" Ron said, rushing on with his story. "I got back and they were gone."

"Are you sure they weren't just playing a prank?"

"They'd be on the map."

"Or sneaking off school grounds?"

"I'd expect that from Harry, but Hermione going against the rules?" Ron said in gruff disappointment at the mere suggestion. "After she just got Head Girl? I think not. If anything she'd talk Harry out of doing something so stupid."

Minerva grew grim, realizing that what Ron was saying was very true. "I see."

"I haven't any clue about where they are," Ron said lamely, collapsing into the chair as the light went on in Minerva's eyes.

"I can't find Hermione, Harry or..." Ron suddenly grasped the parchment back into his grip, scanning it lightly and added the last name with a grimace,

"Or Draco Malfoy."

* * *

The three of them fell to the ground with a mighty thud, the time turner that Hermione had slapped in her current time now smashed to the ground into several pieces as they three of them fell atop each other, Harry was at the bottom. His glasses were pushing painfully into his cheeks and he rushed to push the other two off of him.

"GET OFF!"

Hermione was sandwiched in the middle and trying to push the still dazed Draco off of her. It took him a full minute to understand where they were and when he did he was horrified.

Draco yelped as he jumped off the pile of writhing Gryffindor's, looking at them in shock. Hermione and Harry staggered to a standing position. Her stomach was still churning from their journey and she glared openly at both of the boys she was with.

They stood shakily, looking to the room they were in, knowing full well they'd actually traveled to the past. Hermione felt her stomach drop as she viewed the broken time turner once more and shook her head darkly, placing the broken pieces into the pocket of her skirt.

"That's just splendid," she said roughly, "now we have to find Dumbledore and get a new time turner. That is if he doesn't turn us immediately over to the authorities."

Draco suddenly wrinkled his pale nose, looking around at the darkened they were encased in. Were they really in the past? Harry glanced over to the side table next to the bed, seeing the animated photos that waved to him. He held in an excited gasp, about to say something when Draco interrupted.

"Where are we?"

"I know where we are," Harry said softly, gazing around at the room. "We're in the past Head Girl room."

The three of them fell silent, looking to the unfamiliar room. Hermione saw the different layout, the bed that was decorated with red and yellow stripes. The private bathroom that was off to the right. How had Harry known?

"They used to give the Head Boy and Head Girl their own chambers," Hermione acknowledged with a nod, remembering that she'd read it somewhere. "Up until a few years before we arrived at Hogwarts. Apparently too much illicit activity went on so they had to stop that part of the programme."

Malfoy wrinkled his nose in distaste for the array of collectibles. How anyone could live in a room filled with such things was unthinkable. He may have fallen from society's grace, but he still knew tacky when he saw it.

Hermione couldn't help but survey their surrounding and noted with great pleasure the extensive amount of books on the shelves and felt herself going closer in curiosity, seeing the impressive titles and realizing that she had several of the same volumes. She viewed the shining prefect badge, gingerly placed in a small stand up box for viewing and decoration. Obviously this Head Girl had been a Prefect last year.

"This is my mother's room," Harry finally offered with a large smile. Hermione looked to him in surprise before going back to her investigating of the bookshelves. Perhaps something in them could give them a clue as to how to return home. Besides, she wanted Harry to have a moment to collect himself.

Parchment littered her desk, as did books and Harry found himself thoughtfully looking to her writing, noticing the way she wrote was almost identical to his own. He felt a sense of kinship then, felt that this really was where he belonged and that this trip had been worth it, if even only a few moments.

The large closet at the end of the room stood half open, skirts, cloaks and ties were hung up neatly and orderly, much like Hermione's own wardrobe. Draco went around the room sneering and prodding at things on occasion, his eyes fell on the closet and then he took a sweeping look at the room.

"I can't believe we're here," Harry said gently, drawing the attention of Draco from across the room. He saw the wistful look on the boy's face and held in a grimace.

The two others look at him but said nothing. Harry ignored them, so satisfied with walking around the room and taking it all in. His fingertips trailed along the cottony feel of the bed's blanket, the smooth desktop. He smiled softly, holding in the tears that threatened to fall. He refused to let Draco see him cry.

He saw a small picture of his mother Lily with some other girl, smiling and waving at the camera. He felt his heart skip a beat, it was as if she were waving right at him. He smiled widely, pulling the photo into his hands and Draco glanced over at this.

"She was pretty," Draco murmured absently, looking at the picture in mild interest. "Whoever she was."

Harry made a horrified face, looking to Draco in mute horror."That's my mother!"

Draco's face dropped as he shook his head. "I wasn't serious." he sputtered, moving away from Harry and slightly shuddering.

Harry shook his head and placed the picture back on the dresser top. He looked around the whole room, the soft smell of perfume playing about around them. This was where his mother slept, this is where his mother studied, this is whe-

"I can't believe you did this Harry," Hermione said furious to Harry as Draco held in a smirk from a few yards away. Harry sighed and tried to ignore her nattering. He wanted to remember all of this without her annoying screech in the background.

"We have to go find a new time turner! You know what's going to happen when we get back? I'm going to be expelled! McGonagall is-"

"Just shut up Hermione, will you?!" Harry seethed angrily, "I've only a little time here, at least let me enjoy it while I can!"

Hermione's mouth snapped shut in humiliation, if Draco hadn't been watching the whole thing she wouldn't have cared, but he was. And even though his gaze was impassive, all the memories of him picking on her surfaced and she felt her fury building.

"Easy for you to say! You're off to Auror classes. I'm the only one who has anything at stake!"

Hermione suddenly whirled around and fixed Draco with an angry look. "And you! What is wrong with you? Why would you come along anyway?"

"I have my reasons," said Draco gently.

Hermione was about to continue on her lecture of both of their idiocy when there were sudden voices outside the door. She felt her blood run cold as the two voices grew louder.

"I don't see why you're being so difficult about all of this."

"Oh just sod off, Potter!"

The three of them shot looks of equal horror and under Hermione's hissed command followed her into the nearby closet. The three of them fell silent, looking through the small crack in the closet door and holding their breath as they scrunched near the back, hoping that Lily didn't notice that her closet door was now almost firmly shut.

"That James Potter," Lily said angrily as Harry's breath caught in his throat. His Mum was talking about his Dad! He was seeing her in the flesh! This was a strange feeling to encounter as he looked at the contorted anger on his mother's face. Her cheeks were crimson and she looked near tears. His father had done that?

She tossed her books onto her bed and smashed her fists against the desktop as the door behind her slammed shut. Hermione nearly jumped at the sound as they watched the irate young woman in fascination.

Lily was a very pretty girl, evidently in her seventh year judging by her room and headgirl badge. She had rosy cheeks, long dark reddish hair that hung at her slim waist and large green eyes that sparkled. Harry's eyes. She doffed her cloak while still seething and looked past furious, Harry was captivated.

"If I have to put up with him one more time. Ugh. Just because he's Head Boy? Why did he get it anyway? I worked so hard for my position. He just sashays around here all the time, bloody Quiddditch and his stupid hair. It's so unfair!" she continued along her room, muttering to herself in fury.

Harry absently smoothed down his own hair, feeling a small flush starting at his cheeks and neck. His mother didn't even like his dad? He recalled bits and pieces of what Snape had said to him, but he didn't recall his mother actually hating his father.

Hermione meanwhile was pensively thinking of a way to get them out of danger. Perhaps they could find the past Dumbledore? Would he be of any assistance? Would he turn them over to the authorities? Hermione was mostly worried about being seen by people, she hated to go rooting about in the past, they were sure to screw up history in some way.

Now with Draco in tow this whole situation had escalated to a full out emergency, whilst she had some reason over Harry, she didn't know how much Draco would care or follow instruction. Not only was he a stubborn boy, he'd evidently come along for alternative reason's the other two knew nothing about. This was worrisome. Surely he'd come to see his father as well, but, Hermione could barely hold in a shudder at that thought. Two Malfoy's.

She viewed absently as Lily fell into the chair at her desk, pulling out some parchment and scribbling something hurriedly. The frustrated tears slipped down her cheeks and she hurriedly brushed them off of her burning cheeks. One tear fell onto the bright white parchment she wrote upon and she wrinkled her nose in distaste as she saw the ink around it smudge. Hermione noted that from where she was viewing, it appeared as if she and Harry had almost the same writing; scratchy and almost illegible.

Frowning Lily finished off the note with six eyes watching her and blowing on it to aid the ink drying faster, she folded it neatly, pressed her seal in it and whistled for her owl. It arrived quickly, hooting cheerfully and landing on her shoulder. She laughed gently and digging around in her desk found a package of Botts Beans.

"Here you are," she said as the owl plucked a purplish one from her hand. It chewed thoughtfully as she placed the letter in one waiting claw. It grasped the parchment and took flight around her room, gently floating near her head as it waited for her command.

"Severus Snape," she whispered gently to the owl, giving a sad look out the window as she watched the bird zoom out. Her light eyes followed the bird's venture until it had flown around the other side to the Slytherin Boy's Dormitory and then she whirled around.

Why's she writing to Snape? Harry wondered to himself, I thought she hated him. He called her a Mudblood.

Before Harry could deliberate on this any longer, Lily had stood and was now removing her robe and moving to the closet. Harry's eyes widened and even Hermione was at a loss. Lily was suddenly in front of the wardrobe, folding her robe absently and reaching for the doorknob.

Fuck.

Lily's hand was on the doorknob of the wardrobe.

Hermione's heart was pounding furiously fast and she didn't know what else to do. They would be caught. They would be expelled. This was the end of her wizarding career as she knew it. The doorknob was turning. Hermione closed her eyes, praying for a miracle as Harry and Draco in an odd form of combined panic exchanged worried looks. Just as the door was about to be pulled open, there was a knock at the door.

The trio breathed collective sighs of relief, their heartbeats slowing down as they saw Lily back away from the wardrobe and head over to the door. She pulled it open to reveal a rather handsome looking man with lighter hair and a day's worth of stubble on his chiseled face.

"Hello Remus," Lily said somberly as the three in the closet looked on in wonder. This was their Professor Lupin? He seemed so painfully shy. He was a peaky looking young man and although tall and lean didn't seem to fit into his own body and under his eyes were dark circles. Lily looked to the teenage boy in front of her patiently.

"What can I help you with?"

"Hello Lily," he said in a soft voice, ever the gentleman. He was a friend of James and therefore expected nothing but hostility. As usual Lily had seen past that and was being as polite as she could muster. "I wanted to apologize for James' behavior today-"

"Couldn't apologize himself could he?"

Remus went ashen as he tried to search for the right words. "He didn't think you'd see him. Lily he's truly sorr-"

"No need," Lily interrupted with a wave of her hand. A small scowl entered on her pretty features as she spoke next. "That's just how Potter is, isn't it?"

Harry's stomach did a flip as he watched and heard his mother speak so furiously about his father. Had he been that horrible? What could he have possibly done?

"He feels really bad though Lily," Remus said anxiously, "I swear. He's-"

"I don't want to talk about it Remus," she interrupted again stubbornly, folding her arms over her chest and looking to the floor. She was furiously shaking her head slightly and her voice was laced with pity. "He was really horrible to Severus today. So horrible."

Hermione felt a pang of sympathy then for her Potion's professor, Harry had told her of their shared and how he suffered. She understood his hatred for Sirius and his love for Lily and she knew that he had done his fair share of being a prick. But sitting there in the closet and listening to Lily talk, Hermione couldn't help but start to despise James a little, knowing what Snape had done for them all.

"But it wasn't just James. Sirius and I-"

"James Potter can think for himself can't he?" Lily demanded furiously, moving towards Lupin as he backed away slowly. "He thinks he can swagger about talking about Quidditch and acting like a snob to everyone else. You and Sirius and that little prat that follows you around are no better."

"But Lily, you're not even listening!" Remus said adamantly, he tried to speak rationally, appealing to Lily with logic. He knew how much James' actions had hurt her and he desperately wanted to make peace. "If you'd just lis-"

"I'm sick of listening," Lily said pushing Remus out of her room and looking at him with fury. The words she spoke next hurt Harry more than he could ever explain, and hearing them from his mother's lips were more crushing a blow than ever thought imagined.

"I hate James Potter."

With that she slammed her door in Remus' face and whirled around furiously, her heart pounding from the confrontation and a grimace on her face.

The three in the closet hadn't even had a chance to panic when Lily suddenly rushed over to the closet and threw the doors open to reveal one scared Malfoy and Granger and one remarkably crushed Harry Potter.

Chapter 5

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOT DOING IN MY CLOSET!"

Lily's face was a mixture of fright as well as anger at being invaded. She looked to see that her clothes hadn't been trampled upon and then looked back to the almost shaking trio.

"Uh," Hermione started as the two boys looked to her, hoping for her to say something brilliant. Sadly Hermione often depended on books for such occasions, and thinking on her feet today just didn't seem to be working. She finally choked out another "Uh" before Lily got exasperated and looked to the faces of the two boys.

"Well?" She asked furiously, wondering if they'd heard or said anything. Merlin knew how long they'd been hiding in her bloody closet! Her eyes caught those of the dark haired boy, his eyes reflecting her own. She felt her breath catch in her throat; there was something about this boy that was so familiar yet foreign. He smiled softly at her, not breaking the eye contact and she was about to say something to him when the blonde boy spoke.

"Well that's the last time I leave you with directions," Malfoy said loudly, brushing his arms off as if they were dusty from travel, looking to the two of them to do the same. They began frantically brushing their arms in mute horror, watching for his lead.

Draco Malfoy wasn't in Slytherin for nothing. Lily watched him in subtle, wary interest. She couldn't help but notice he reminded her a hell of a lot of one of Snape's rude friends, and instantly she didn't trust him.

Malfoy stepped out of the closet, smiling gentlemanly at Lily and nodding in respect before he straightened, a particular glow about him then.

"My name is Draco," he said regally bowing to her, then seeing her eyebrow raised he went on. "Draco M-Draco Parkinson. And you are?"

Harry and Hermione stifled laughter as he spoke, and couldn't help but be impressed with him. Malfoy Parkinson indeed. Although they had to wonder, where was this all going? How was he planning on getting them out of this one?

"Lily Evans," Lily said before turning her attention to Harry and Hermione. "And you two are?"

"We're on leave from our own Wizarding School," Draco interrupted dramatically, looking around Lily's room as if for the first time. "Your Headmaster Dumbledore. . .You mean he didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Well, you're Head Girl, are you not?"

"I am indeed," Lily said, trying to look more authoritative than she felt. This Parkinson boy was a sneering intimidation machine. She felt he was trying to fool her, and this set her on defense.

"Well then," Malfoy said, "He should have told you that we were to arrive. Exchange students from another Wizarding school."

"That still doesn't explain why you were in my closet."

"Ah," Draco said off handedly, "That was a minor miscalculation. You see my assistant Miss Lockheart miscalculated where we were supposed to end up. We were supposed to Apparate into the main foyer, but as it turns out you can't Apparate on Hogwart's grounds."

Assistant? Lockheart?! Hermione felt a flash of angry crimson shoot up her neck and had to wrestle internally within herself to stop from throttling the little prick. Lily though, seemed none too impressed with the haughty blonde.

"I'm aware you can't."

"Well then," Draco said snippety at her rude tone. "Then you see that we had no other choice but to travel by floo and I'm afraid we miscalculated. You see we were supposed to go to the Head Faculty room. But we ended up here."

Lily looked to her fireplace in mild interest and then back to the three teenagers standing in front of her, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. That explained a bit but, not much.

"And you all hid in my closet, why?"

"Yes well," Draco stammered a moment, "Pot- Harry here is half Muggle."

At this Lily shot Harry and intrigued look before Draco went on emphatically. "And as such, he suffers from the Muggle malady agoraphobia."

"Fear of open places?"

Draco looked mildly perturbed that she knew what he was talking about, but nodded nonetheless as Harry stood by in idle frustration.

Brilliant, Harry thought dimly. So far he looked like a royal bloody moron. A scared one at that.

"So we rushed him into your closet so he could regain his composure when you burst in and scared us half to death."

Lily glanced over at Harry. "He seems fine now."

"It comes and goes."

Lily seemed more at ease as Hermione and Harry nodded, trying to look authentic. She glanced at their robes, which seemed a bit different from her own, but not much. They wore the same trousers and in the girl's case, skirt and blouse. She gave them a scrupulous look, circling them halfway and the stopping as she spoke.

"Let's see your wands then."

Draco, Harry and Hermione all dug around in their robes, grasping the handles of their wands and dragging them out for Lily's inspection. She glanced from Hermione's to Draco's, and her eyes stopped on Harry's.

"Is that an Ollivander wand?"

Harry felt his heart thump happily as he nodded, the adrenaline of actually having a conversation with his mother threatening to take him over. Harry was furious for not thinking of something before Draco, but now as he finally looked to his Mother, the one who had loved him so much all he could utte feeble: "Yeah."

Lily smiled grandly, looking more like Harry than she realized and then brought out her own wand as she compared the too. "Mine is too. You must go to a school nearby if you pick up your supplies at Diagon Alley."

"Oh."

"Do you play Quidditch?" Lily asked with a gentle smile. This Harry boy seemed gentle and in a strange way, familiar when she looked at him.

"I do," Harry nodded with a broad smile. "I'm a seeker."

"Oh," Lily nodded enthusiastically. "I really enjoy watching the games."

"As fascinating as all this is," came Hermione's polite tone, interrupting the two, "I think we need to speak to the Headmaster. It's quite urgent."

Lily looked perturbed at being interrupted in the middle of a conversation she found quite intriguing and scowled at the big haired brunette girl a few yards away. Then realizing her position of Head Girl suddenly got a very impressive air and began speaking rather authoritative to the three.

"Which school did you say you were from?"

The three of them exchanged surreptitious looks of worry; their minds whirring as they tried to think of one Lily wouldn't know anything about. But judging by her Head Girl status, and the array on books on her shelves, it didn't seem that was probable.

"Surely not Beauxbatons?" she said with a laugh, "You don't seem the types," she glanced Draco up and down a moment, "except maybe you."

Draco smirked. "Actually we're from, Longbottom Academy, and we need to speak with the Headmaster right away."

Lily glared at Draco a moment and was about to speak furiously at the rude young man when Harry interjected politely.

"You see," he added gently, "We're very tired from the trip, and we'd really just like to talk to Dumbledore."

Lily regarded Harry a moment before she motioned for the three of them to follow her out the door, swinging it open.

Peter Pettigrew stood there, his hands up and fat head at a slight angle, as evidence that he'd been spying upon them a good few minutes. Lily growled lowly, looking at him with sudden disdain as Harry and Hermione had to bite back the growls that were building in their own throats.

"What are you doing here?" she spat, eyeing his pathetic frame with anger. The mass of jelly was sweating profusely, his beady eyes wandering over the four of them.

"Oh...L-lily," the sputtering simp went on, "I was just passing er...here and I happened to hear shouts. I-I came to see that you were alright."

"In other words, James Potter sent one of his followers to spy on me," Lily said shoving the pudgy teen out of her way. "Well you can tell him I said for all of you to sod right off."

Peter scowled at her, offering a muttered hiss as he backed away, still straining to hear their conversation. Lily turned to look at the three future Hogwarts students and tilted her head to the left.

"This way."

Peter sputtered a few more minutes, eyeing the three of them as they came glowering at him out of Lily's chambers. How Harry wanted to kill him then, smash his ugly face into the stone walls. How dare the loathsome rat even come NEAR his mother? But remembering Dumbledore's advice about altering the future he kept to himself and simply glared at the pudgy teen spotted with acne.

When they were all out of earshot from the quivering mass of the spy Peter Pettigrew, Lily turned to them speaking hurriedly.

"I may not like James Potter and his lot -you'll find out who they are soon enough- but, I don't trust that one especially," she motioned over her head where Peter had been. "I know for a fact he's mixed up with You-know-who."

"The Dark lord?" Draco said, trying to be nonchalant as Harry and Hermione shot him looks of angered perturbed worry behind Lily's currently turned back.

"Of course the Dark lord," Lily said as if it were obvious. "Anyway, just stay away from him and that ilk. That includes a certain tosser by the name of Lucius Malfoy."

"Who's he?" Draco said through clenched teeth, trying to be inquisitive without being obvious. Lily didn't seem to care as she took them through the familiar corridors of Hogwarts.

"He's a rich snob who graduated from here years ago. He and a few others here at Hogwarts are into the Dark Arts," Lily said as she opened one of the doors, as Hermione stopped Draco from lunging at her. "He comes by every so often to visit with his friends. I wish the Headmaster would do something to stop it."

"Why doesn't he?" asked Harry.

"Hogwarts is a very safe school and the Headmaster is a busy man," Lily said with a shrug as she looked to Harry briefly, "And he trusts his students to make good choices. Anyway, here's his office. I'll just wait outside in case you need a guide."

"No I-" Draco started before Hermione elbowed him in the ribs roughly as she turned on a wide smile for Lily.

"That'd be lovely. Thanks."

* * *

Back in the future, Minerva and Ron were still huddled around the Marauder's Map, looking at the dots and frantically scanning it for Draco, Hermione and Harry.

"Well this is just nonsense," Minvera babbled as she stood behind her desk pacing frantically then, looking to Albus' sleeping portrait before glancing back at Ron.

Ron watched in anxiety as his former professor frantically paced around the room as she'd been doing for a good fifteen minutes. Ron was decidedly peeved at his friends, thinking that this may be a prank on him, and then he could almost hear Hermione's berating tone of voice in his head.

Oh yes Ron, that's why we brought along Malfoy.

True. They may have a strange alliance with the boy, but they sure wouldn't be bringing him along for fun and pranks. No, something sinister was going on here.

Ron looked back over to Minerva who seemed strained, her normally conservative stance leaving her. Ron supposed that's what happened when the Head Girl and Boy who lived disappeared.

He wished he could help, but he himself had no bloody idea as to where his friends had gone. And why would they go with Malfoy anywhere? Or why would Malfoy- -

Suddenly fear clutched him.

"You don't think this may have been a trick by Malfoy do you?" Ron asked shakily, "I mean, isn't it a little too convenient that he and Hermione and Harry -who he has always hated- all go missing at the same time? I mean it makes sense. We don't actually know where Malfoy's allegiance was at the end of the war! Maybe this was all just a revenge tactic, involving Hermione and Harry."

Albus couldn't help but pity the young Malfoy, after all he'd been through and all. The death of his father, his Mother being sent to St. Mungo's (luckily not many knew about that) and still he'd returned to Hogwarts to complete his final year. But still, the situation did seem highly suspicious.

"It's something to consider, Mister Weasley."

Ron nodded graciously, "what should we do then?"

Minerva frowned, more creases starting in her forehead, and then offered a solemn and authoritative nod of her head.

"For tonight I think it would be best that we don't speak of this to anyone. For all we know it could just be a small prank, or something else as equally trivial. There's no point in scaring the students into thinking its Voldemort's return something equally foolish. The war is over but the tension is still here. If anything happens, or I change anything I'll let you know."

Ron nodded as he made his way to the door. He'd just opened it and was about to step outside when Minerva's voice reached him and he stopped.

"And please Mister Weasley, don't do anything stupid."

* * *

Hermione followed the boys into the unwarded office of Albus Dumbledore, thanks to Lily the Head Girl. Obviously times had changed. Students back in Lily's day were more trustworthy.

Harry had busied himself with looking around the office, not wanting to touch anything. He saw Fawkes sleeping in the corner. He smiled at this, a little melancholy that their adventure was almost over. His heart beating quite quickly at the thought of seeing him once more, alive and in the flesh. They were all quiet, anticipating the arrival.

"He's not here."

Hermione looked up from her gaze around the office and let it fall on a sneering Draco. Suddenly what Draco had said made a resounding clunk in Hermione's mind and she whirled around the office and then faced him once more.

"What do you mean he's not here?" Hermione said frantically, her dark eyes widened in fright while she paced around the Headmaster's office. "He has to be here."

"Well unless he gets kicks off of wearing Invisibility Cloaks around the office," Draco observed as he kicked the nearby footstool, "he's not bloody well here."

Hermione sighed deeply, angry tears starting at the corner of her eyes. "Well this is just fantastic. Thanks a lot Harry." with this disparaging and regrettable comment she let her face fall into her hands as she tried to calm down.

"Oh just stop it." Harry said frustrated yet secretly delighted at this turn in actions. Perhaps he'd see his dad after all. Honestly, Hermione was overreacting as usual. They were here – what would an hour or two extra really cost them?

Hermione stood, shaking from fury as well as pure panic. "I will not just stop it! This is a serious situation Harry and you're both not seeming to understand that, otherwise you wouldn't have stupidly shot yourself back through time!"

Harry scowled deeply as Draco watched in mild interest a few feet away. So things were a bit tense in the Granger - Potter circle of friendship. He could barely contain a smile.

"It's not as bad as all that! Don't things usually turn out well in the end?" Harry said desperately, trying to get that scowl from her face. Hermione's voice grew low and dark as she spoke next.

"Tell that to Cedric Diggory."

Hermione's stony face was emotionless and Draco from the corner offered a low whistle of surprise. "Low blow on that one Granger."

"Oh just sod off!" The two exclaimed simultaneously, then slinging their arms over their chests the two walked away from each other. Harry to the window, and Hermione to the door. She pulled it open with a thundering swoosh to reveal a confused looking Lily.

"Well?"

"He's not here," Hermione said angrily through clenched teeth, trying to be calm. Lily looked confused a moment, her nose wrinkling up in surprise before realization flashed in her eyes.

Lily suddenly went a slight shade of pink as she looked to Harry and Draco who had come out of the office as well. Seemed there were three enemies now.

"Oh, I completely forgot," Lily began blushing madly, "it's dinner! C'mon, you can find Dumbledore there."

The three exchanged looks of equal disdain and followed the now exuberant Lily down the hall, tired, worried and now above all hungry.

"How do you know Dumbledore won't throw us out? Or hex us?" Draco asked Hermione in a forceful whisper, suddenly very concerned.

"Well if Dumbledore now is anything like he is in the future," Hermione whispered back fiercely, "I'd say we're in good hands."

The three didn't speak for the rest of the way to the Great Hall, the rumbling of their stomachs from the smells emitting from the hall were embarrassing. Suddenly without warning the door slammed open from one side, as a tall and handsome man entered out of it.

He was lean and tall, he had glasses over light eyes, his dark hair fell into his eyes and a small cowlick at the back of his head was the instant affirmation of who Harry believed it to be.

Its my dad" Harry observed in dull shock as he watched the tall teen. Hermione saw Harry start and her eyes drew over to the figure. Normally she would have engaged in his surprised fancy, and even joined in on the joy that this experience must be bringing him. But she was still furious with him and refused to bow down, especially after he'd been so cruel to her despite what she'd done for him.

She looked to James in interest though, after all she'd heard from Harry, he was just as she imagined him to be. Egocentric perhaps, his hair was purposely messy. Strong jaw, handsome features and she assumed a well-toned body under the robe he wore. Even the way he wore his robe gave an aura of cool superiority to his peers. A self-assured smile here, a wink there and he'd have any fan girl running.

But not Lily.

James' gaze fell on Lily's as her back straightened in growing apprehension. All body language pointed to stiff anger and resentment, even Harry could see that. Lily looked to her troupes behind her and prepared to move past the desperate looking James Potter as he waltzed over to them.

"Lily," he said softly coming up to her, his eyes searching her blushing face. "I trie-"

"This is the Great Hall," Lily said turning around and talking to the three of them, promptly ignoring the crestfallen James. Harry could only gape at his father, the man that he had always wanted to be. James bloody Potter, alive and here.

"Lily," James said cooly, making it quite evident that he was above begging for forgiveness. Harry wondered what his dad had done that was so wrong this time. Couldn't be worse than the Snape underpants debacle could it?

"I don't have time for games Potter," Lily said in a warning tone, motioning to the three behind her, looking sheepish and inquisitive. James let his eyes fall on the three of them a moment before capturing Lily's face with them.

"You have no rig-" James tried to say roughly, hoping to convey emotion whilst still looking respectable in front of his peers. Lily didn't seem to want to hear any excuses though, she looked impossibly furious and leaned forward to show her malice.

"You were impossibly cruel," Lily said scathingly, poking James' muscled chest with one finger forcefully. "How could I ever fancy a man who humiliates his peers for no reason?"

"No reason?" James almost bellowed, drawing stares from students heading into the Hall. "Didn't you see what happened? He was ready to bloody well hex me for-"

"Perhaps you deserved it," interrupted the laconic reply from behind Hermione and the rest of the group.

Hermione felt an instant jolt of shock course through her as she realized only one man, even as a teenaher could sound so silkily contemptuous with such deliberate pauses in speech. She didn't dare look around; for fear that she may jump or scream in fright. She instead looked to the faces of Harry and Draco, both of which looked surprised as well as a bit frightened. She remained still, not able to see and not wanting to for the moment.

James looked over the heads of the group and sighed angrily. This little twerp was the cause for this anxiety. This hook nosed, sallow faced, brainiac who knew more dark curses than James knew in Quidditch plays. He said the only thing his weary and overworked brain could muster.

"What do you want Snivellus?"

"Brilliant nickname Potter," came the quiet reply. Hermione had far before learned that the softer and quieter Snape spoke, the more dangerous he was. And at this moment, his silken voice was like a light breeze. "Not out with your dog? Shame. They say dog's are a man's best friend-" he was about to go on when James interrupted haughtily.

"Hmmm friends. Something you'd know nothing about then eh Snapey?"

"Oh enough," Lily said, breaking the tension. Hermione felt the breathing of Snape quicken in regulation, he couldn't have been more than five steps away from Hermione. He was obviously growing angry at James comment. Lily must have seen this as a look of quiet desperation crossed her features.

"James, Severus," she said cordially, motioning to the three future students. "These are transfer students from Longbottom Academy. This is Harry, Draco an-"

"You play Quidditch Harry?" James interrupted interestedly, shooting a snotty glance at Snape before resuming his interested look at Harry who was elated.

"Erm, a bit," Harry said nervously, barely being able to find his voice. It had become cracked and hoarse, and he felt himself growing embarrassed at his lack of cool in front of his dad. "I was a seeker."

"Brilliant," James said interestedly, "You should come out to the matches sometime. Maybe I can find you a place on the team." he leaned forward gently, trying to look as if he was letting Harry in on a big secret. "It'd do some good to get some new blood on the team."

"Yes well," Hermione said in her usual tone, reddening as everyone looked to her. "We actually probably won't be staying that long."

"And you are?"

The voice behind her was flat, emotionless and she couldn't tell if he really even cared. But given the fact that he had indeed asked, Hermione bottled her courage and gently turned to face him.

Severus Snape.

He was as tall as he was in the future which meant he still towered slightly over her, adding to his intimidation. His dark hair ended just below his ears and his nose still ran rampant over his other features. Even as a young man he had been striking looking and sullen.

Strangely enough Hermione felt a desire to hug him as she looked to that young face, knowing what he'd be going through in the future. Of the pain and the agony and the broken heart he would be living with until he died at the fangs of Nagini. A death that he didn't deserve.

Of course she refrained, instead taking the time to take in the rest of him. He was pale, his long fingers as tapered as in older years, but fresher looking, not so worn. He was in his trademark stance, arms crossed and a look of narrowed superiority about him. His eyes darted around her face, looking at her as if sizing her up.

She instantly crossed her own arms in defense from his penetrating gaze, part of her hoping he wasn't trying to get into her mind. She watched his lithe frame remain completely still as he watched over her, as an animal would prey.

Hermione would later recall that she found the younger Snape slightly friendly at first, even pleasant. But that could be the future clouding her judgement. Then of course younger Snape did what older Snape was infamous for in managing to ruin a perfectly good moment.

He spoke.

"Oh, don't tell me. Let me guess. One of Potter's fans?"

He quietly said the words laced with formidable repugnance, and Hermione felt her cheeks flaming. How dare he? Snape paused a moment, savoring the insult he'd just bestowed on her. Draco chortled a few feet away, perhaps on instinct and Snape gave him a hidden approving look.

His lips barely moved as he spoke, and as Hermione stewed about in inner anger, the lips of her former professor curved up into an oily smirk. Harry watched the interaction in a detached fashion, not quite believing what he was seeing. He too had the strange desire to rush forward and thank Snape for all he had done for them, for the order. But he held back, his eyes watching the tall figure sizing Hermione up and suggesting she was a fan of his father.

"Only fools make judgements without facts," Hermione finally offered flatly casting a dark look in his direction.

Lily, trying to rectify the moment stepped forward and glancing between the turned Hermione and the now glaring Snape, interjected.

"This is Hermione, Severus," Lily said softly. "Hermione Lockheart."

Snape didn't reply, instead glancing Hermione over one more time before glaring at the little group culminated in the hallway and whipping around on one heel, he entered the Great Hall.

Hermione was offended as she watched him, thinking it strange that Professor Snape had managed to insult her in the past and the future. Seems some things never changed she supposed. He'd truly always been a git. All her admiration she had felt for the double agent were suddenly melting away and she was left wondering; could she idolize a man who had done such good when he was also so cruel?

He swept from the room, the cloaks only adding to the mysterious drama of it all. There was something delicate about him when he walked, along with its unseen power. He strode swiftly wherever he went, and Hermione found herself thinking he must have been the perfect spy for Voldemort.

"That," Lily said with a saddened voice, "is Severus Snape."

The three didn't answer, only moved to follow Lily and the now furious James into the Great Hall. He didn't bother to say anything to Lily, and instead pulled Harry aside and offered him a seat next to him at the table where they could talk about Quidditch more at leisure. Harry had nearly wet himself in excitement.

The rest of them headed to the other end of the Gryffindor table as Hermione noted Dumbledore talking animatedly with another Professor. Now was a bad time; they needed to approach him when he was more isolated. In the meantime, dinner was served and it smelled delicious. They all clunked into their seats at the Gryffindor table and Lily began talking with her other friends.

"I'm not feeling so well," Draco said lazily, his hands in his pockets as he surveyed the busy and jubilant hall. His eyes had wandered over to the Slytherin table and saw the isolated form of Snape, his eyes stuck in a book.

"I'm going to just take a walk outside."

Hermione looked to him warily and just as he was about to exit she grasped his wrist, which he immediately pulled away from as a certain Slytherin watched on in interest at the interaction from his seat.

"What are you doing?" Draco hissed, clutching his wrist as if he'd been burned. The rest of the table was immersed in talks of exams and luckily didn't hear. Hermione ignored Draco's sneer and whispered fiercely.

"Don't be long. We have to meet up with Dumbledore soon."

Draco made a face and was about to go outside for some air, walking by the Slytherin table when suddenly he caught Severus' frame near the end of the Slytherin table.

Draco's eyes darted back to the Gryffindor table and then back to Severus who sat at the end of the table alone, reading while he ate.

"Mind if I sit down?" Draco said, motioning to the array of empty chairs around Snape. The young man glanced up and gave Draco a sneering look before glancing back at his book.

"If you must," he said out the corner of his mouth.

Draco slipped into the chair, happily picking up a spoon as he prepared to eat the newly delivered soup. Snape was interested in a book in his hands, his hair over his face as he read rapidly, licking his fingertips and turning pages at a remarkable speed. Draco was searching his mind for something to say, to see if he could turn the conversation towards his father.

"So you're an exchange student, Dragon?" Severus said smirking lightly as he finally glanced up from his book.

"Draco. And yes," Draco said tearing a piece of bread and buttering it lightly, trying to seem aloof and cool. Obviously it was working because Severus was intently looking to him. He took in the porcelain complexion of his former Professor, almost in awe of the youthful assurance and power he exuded.

"Are you from pureblood family?" Snape asked bluntly, taking a small sip of his drink.

"I am," he puffed out his chest proudly.

"I see," Snape nodded, taking in the blonde form across from him. He reminded him quite a bit of Lucius. Perhaps another welcome addition to the Dark lord's army, Snape mused. The Dark Lord was always pleased when he brought a new brother or sister into the fold. They ate in stony silence before Snape spoke up, lowly and thoughtful.

"You go to school with that rude girl?"

Draco looked up in surprise, his face alight with interest and humor. "Yeah."

Snape nodded, taking a sip of juice. "Is she always like that?"

"Like what?"

"Acting like she knows everything?"

Draco smirked and nodded, "she's usually worse."

Snape nodded once more, looking over top the tip of his book from behind his curtain of hair, to the down turned face of the rude girl, Hermione. Her cheeks were rosy from the steam emitting from the soup, her reddened mouth downturn in displeasure. She bothered him, greatly. How dare she insult him? Of all bloody people? Evidently she didn't know who he was, but he'd show her.

Hermione looked to her soup in disconcerted anxiety. This stupid trip was turning out to be much more time consuming and emotionally taxing than she'd ever thought. Would Dumbledore be able to help them? She didn't know why, but she felt the compulsion to look over to the Slytherin table but refused. She instead let her eyes look around the Hall as if observing.

"Why's your friend er, Dragon sitting at the Slytherin table?" Lily suddenly piped up.

"Draco's always been sort of… Social like that," Hermione offered lamely as she looked up and let her eyes fall on enigmatic Snape talking with Draco. My how youth changed a person.

"He really shouldn't mess about with Snape ," Lily said in a low voice. "Snape's another one into the Dark Arts. Knew more dark curses in first year than Seventh years."

"Oh," Hermione said, acting as if she didn't know all of this. Her eyes drew back to the pale figure. Suddenly Snape's eyes darted over to her as if expected, and he raised a quizzical eyebrow in her direction. She immediately averted her eyes, staring pointedly at her soup as she tried to hold down a humiliated blush.

"Don't worry," Lily said, seeing the interaction. "He's rude to everyone, you mustn't mind him."

"I don't," Hermione lied, looking to her nearly empty soup bowl. She looked up to where the teacher's usually ate, and saw to her shock that Dumbledore was suddenly gone.

Bollocks.

"We better go see Dumbledore." Hermione said standing quickly, Lily prepared to do so as well. "Oh no, don't worry about it. I think we know our way around, but thanks for your help."

"No problem," Lily said genuinely, "I hope we can become friends while you're here."

Hermione nodded back, smiling at the kinship she felt with Lily. "I'd like that. I suppose I'll see you around then."

She walked up the table, waving to Lily and tapping an excitedly conversing Harry on the shoulder. He looked up to her with anguish pooling in his eyes. Seeing her there meant that their time was almost over. Suddenly as a distraction to himself he spoke loudly.

"Guys, this is Hermione. She's a transfer student from my school. Hermione, these are the guys."

Hermione looked around the table as the young men introduced themselves. Hermione already knew Peter who sat in the corner of the table, picking away at his meal and occasionally glancing up at Hermione to give a wan smile.

"I'm Remus," Lupin said with a warm handshake as he smiled up at her from his seat.

"Pleasure," Hermione said as she looked to the scruffy young man, remembering him from earlier on. Hermione knew for a fact that he was as sweet as he looked.

A handsome young man from across the table leaned over, capturing Hermione's hand in his own and pressing his lips to her knuckles. Hermione blushed and giggled, knowing full well whom this was.

"Sirius," Black said with a boyish grin, "And believe me, the pleasure is all mine."

Hermione felt the blush rising more readily as she glanced at Sirius' handsome face and hair sloppily seductive. Add in a remarkable firm jaw and kissable looking lips, and you had a heartthrob any young witch wanted to get into the sack.

"It was nice to meet all of you," Hermione said when the introductions were complete, "But we have a meeting to go to. Harry, shall we?"

"Just five more minutes?"

"No Harry," Hermione said sternly, trying to be patient. "Now would be best."

Harry made a face at her, and then promising James and the rest of them that he'd see them the next day at Quidditch practice stood, and slowly walked with Hermione over to the Slytherin table.

"Why'd you say you'd meet them tomorrow?" Hermione whispered angrily, "You know we're leaving in a matter of minutes. As soon as we see Dumbledore."

Harry shrugged, absently ruffling his hair a moment in wistful hope. "I wanted it to be true."

Hermione wanted to say more but stopped herself; this was hard enough as it is. She noticed that the Slytherin house members were all sneering and making rude faces at them, and she tried to ignore them as she and Harry advanced on Draco.

"Then it's decided," Snape was saying as Hermione walked up behind Draco with her arm extended. Snape's eyes snapped up to her hand and he made a face at Draco. "Watch out Parkinson. You're nursemaid is here."

Draco whirled around, glaring at Hermione openly. "If you don't mind, we're trying to have a conversation."

Hermione noted the approving way that he and Severus exchanging smirks of delight. Hermione in a daring move glanced at Snape, seeing that now he was staring at her as well.

"Draco," Hermione said with a warning tone. Draco rolled his eyes dramatically in response.

"Time for me to leave," Draco said standing and breaking the gaze Hermione had been holding with Snape. Draco leaned forward to Snape and the two of them exchanged a murmured conversation. Hermione didn't want to eavesdrop but she distinctly heard the term mudblood and felt herself tense as Snape's eyes snapped over to her openly. He obviously didn't care if she'd heard.

Hermione felt the tears starting at the corner of her eyes; evidently Draco had mentioned her heritage. She reeled in humiliation as Draco made his way back over to her.

"What are you staring at?" Snape said irritably, the smile dropping from his face as he realized Hermione was staring at him furiously.

"Not much," she replied angrily before heading out the door as the two boys headed for the door with her in close pursuit.

* * *

"Come in," Came the almost melodic voice of their former Headmaster. Hermione gave a hopeful glance at the two who looked utterly disenchanted with the whole idea as she swung the door open. Dumbledore sat at his hearth, looking into the crackling flames and now at the three that had entered his chambers. It smelled of lemon, and several cloaks were strewn about on the backs of chairs.

Dishes of candy were littered about on tables and a few chairs were huddled around the fireplace. Dumbledore looked a bit younger, but not by much. Him looking the same actually brought Hermione a bit of relief as the reluctant boys followed her in. Harry held back the urge to throw himself into the man's arms and break down.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I let you die.

"Why hello," Dumbledore said standing and coming over to them, "I don't believe I know you three."

"We're students of Hogwarts from the future," Hermione said boldly, knowing that it wasn't a time to mince words. They needed his help and fast. Dumbledore looked at the three young people in front of him, squinting slightly at the girl's words.

"The future?"

Harry nodded lightly, feeling the fatigue of the moment settling over him. He'd been keyed up all day, and after actually meeting his parents and the rest of the Marauders he was feeling exhausted.

Albus believing this to be a hallucination offered the only thing he knew how.

"Tea?"

The three shook their heads and took the seats soon offered by the Headmaster. "So," he said stirring his own cup, "I'm afraid I can't see how I may be of service, but I'll still ask; what can I do for you three?"

"Well, my name's Hermione," Hermione said in a hurried tone, "And I promise what I have to say won't take up much of your time..."

With this Hermione launched into her story, her hands moving as fast as her mouth as Dumbledore sat patiently in his chair nodding and listening. She told him of the time turner and how integral it was that nothing be changed. She didn't mention the end of the war or, more importantly, Dumbledore's death. When she'd finished her story, and he his tea, he placed the empty cup on the table and folded his hands.

"I'm your Headmaster in the future?"

"Erm...yes sir."

"And you've traveled back in time to see James and Lily?"

Yes."

"And now you can't get back."

"Yes sir."

"Hmmm...I suppose it all makes sense."

"Anyway sir," Hermione said in worried anticipation that he'd call the Ministry on them. "You've always helped us in the future, and I was wondering if you could help us now."

"Why of course," Dumbledore said nodding, looking to the three of them with the utmost of sincerity. "I shall do my best."

"Alright then," Hermione said joyfully, knowing that all along Dumbledore was their best source of help. "All we need now is a new time turner."

"A new time turner?" Dumbledore said with a laugh, his blue eyes twinkling. "Why, those haven't even been approved by the Ministry yet."

At his laugh and those words, Hermione's stomach sank in fear. "What are you trying to say?" she choked out in a high pitch.

Dumbledore looked to her in intensity, wondering if the girl was serious about the time turner. Seeing her grave look he himself sobered and spoke hesitantly.

"My dear, Time turners are illegal."

Chapter 6

Chapter Text

Dumbledore looked past worried when he'd realized Hermione was serious about the time turner. He'd gone slightly pale in the face, and thoughtful as he spoke next, his voice hitching a bit.

"I will try my best to find a way for your return home, all that's within my power. Meanwhile as you've already been seen, I shall find you accommodations here and you shall attend classes and such. We mustn't rouse suspicion and whatever you do, do not temper with the past. Go to classes, eat your meals, keep your heads down, do you understand me?"

The three of them had nodded, listening politely. Dumbledore noticed only the Hermione girl looked actually upset. The boys looked rather chuffed, their eyes sparkling as they realized their time would be extended.

"Now I'll assign you all to the Gryffindor House," he had started, looking to them for reassurance. "Lily will be sure to take good care of you."

"Sounds good," Harry said with a broad smile. Already his mind was far and away with thoughts of Quidditch, hanging out with the Marauders and his Mum and-

"In the future I'm actually a Slytherin," Draco interrupted the group smoothly. "My entire family line lineage is Slytherin. And I'm sure you understand with house pride and all that it would feel like a dishonor to be placed elsewhere. "

Dumbledore nodded, understanding but still hesitant. There was something about Draco that reminded him of something or someone darker. Hermione looked over to Draco and then back to Harry. She had a choice to make. She could either stay with Harry in Gryffindor and make sure that the boy didn't do something irrational like confess to his parents about their foray back in time. Or, she could stay with Draco in Slytherin and keep an eye on him, because his motivations still weren't quite clear to her. She'd still see Harry, but she'd be able to keep a close watch on the pale blonde beside her.

"I'll go to Slytherin."

Both Harry and Draco whipped their heads around to look at her. She avoided their gazes, thinking of how she was going to accomplish this feat of not ripping the space-time continuum with the two most fool-hearty boys she knew. One too brave and stubborn, the other weak and crafty; it was going to be very stressful.

"Hermione," Harry faltered. "Are you sure?"

"Yes Granger," Draco added with a dramatic nod. "Why on earth would you want to be sorted into Slytherin?"

"I have my reasons," Hermione sniffed, raising her eyebrow superciliously. Harry looked over to his friend and felt the first pang of regret go through him. Hermione looked so impossibly stressed and he knew it was directly a result of him. Why did he always ask so much of the people he loved? He knew it was a selfish decision, yet seeing his parents in the flesh earlier today? It had all been worth it.

"I'm sorry Hermione," Harry said quietly, though not looking that sorry at all.

"I don't want to hear it Harry," Hermione said, her teeth clenched and her dark eyes narrowed in the distance. She was more furious with him than she'd ever been, and that was saying something. "I just don't."

"Right then," Albus said looking to them seriously. "You three are transfers from Longbottom Academy, was it? You're here a short while because your parents are here on business with the Ministry and they insist on you continuing your education while they do so."

"Brilliant," Harry said as they rounded the Gryffindor common room. "Thanks so much, Headmaster."

"It's the least I can do Mr...well, what was your last name again?"

Harry responded with a shrug. "I thought Finnegan might be appropriate."

"Very good," Albus said with a wry grin before glancing at Hermione and Draco.

"Lockheart," Hermione winced, shooting a dark look at Draco.

"Parkinson," Draco mumbled.

"Just fine," Albus said pushing back his chair and indicating that the three should follow him out of the office. They walked up the stairs as he called over his shoulder. "We'll stop at the Gryffindor common room first."

With that he whispered the password and urged Harry through along with him. Hermione and Draco stood in the hall, waiting silently for the Headmaster's return. Harry took a glance back at a pale looking Hermione and Draco before nodding and walking through into the familiar yet very strange Gryffindor common room, looking to the students around the hearth, or playing Wizards chess, or just talking about Quidditch.

Harry stood awkwardly by the entrance with Dumbledore as if he were six year olds on their first day of primary school. With a sudden exhale Harry caught sight of James who gave him a quick smile and indicated he should come over.

"Students," Albus said quiet yet commanding way, causing the heads of the students to turn in attention. "We have a new Gryffindor among us. This is Harry Finnegan and he will be visiting a short while here while his parents do some work for the Ministry. I expect you to show him your respect, warmth and extend the hand of friendship that I know you will."

With that Albus gave a small nod, looking over to see Harry blushing as the group gave a smattering of applause. Harry walked over to where James and Sirius sat playing wizard's chess, their eyes following the trail of Harry's steps.

"I knew you'd be a Gryffindor," James said enthusiastically. "I could just tell."

"I thought your pretty friend might be as well," Sirius said with a small wink. "Where is the darling Miss Lockheart?"

Harry blushed at the open way Sirius was hitting on Hermione. Gods if he only knew.

"She's been sorted into Slytherin actually," Harry acknowledged. The two boys furrowed their brows in surprise. Sirius looked ready to fall of his chair.

"Really?"

"She didn't seem the type!"

"Yes well," Harry shrugged uncomfortable with the way they were scrutinizing him. "I think your knight can take that rook."

The boys attention was back to the game and within minutes Harry was sinking into the warm and comfortable room, listening to the idle sounds of carefree chatter and observed the feeling of feeling at home for the first time in his entire life.

Returning outside Dumbledore led them down the winding steps and Hermione could feel the temperature drop with every step. When they finally came to the concealed passageway Hermione felt her eyes widen. She had never actually been down to this common room before and she felt a little thrill go through her. She always loved cultivating knowledge of all sorts and she peered curiously around them.

"The password is Bloody Baron," Albus told them gently before ushering them through the common room door. Hermione bit the inside of her lower lip, trying not to gasp as more cold air assaulted her. Draco however strode in confidently, knowing the place by heart.

In contrast with the warmth of the Gryffindor common room, the Slytherin common room was very cold. Stark black wood and sumptuous green wallpaper dotted every available wall. The heart was large and picturesque with a large emblem of a serpent adorned overtop. The lamps were covered in thick green shades, giving the entire place a bit of a green tinge. If anything it reminded Hermione of an old shipwreck with the sound of the Great Lake out their windows. She couldn't help but be a bit impressed with the location.

Hermione glanced over the exquisitely carved chairs, her eyes drawing over the large green button-tuffed leather sofa's that were fairly draping with Slytherins of all ages and backgrounds. The noise was demure, hushed. Hermione observed it was late and perhaps only the seventh years were up in the common room at this hour. The two of them walked into the room more fully after Albus, shooting nervous looks at the new faces who turned to see them.

"Students," Albus said as the crowd of young folks grew quiet. "We have two new Slytherin's among us. This is Draco Parkinson and this is Hermione Lockheart. They will be visiting a short while here while their parents do some work for the Ministry. I expect you to welcome them, protect them and guide them as long as they are our guests."

Unlike the gryffindors, at the end of Albus' speech they did not bother with a clap. Instead giving them the once over and going back to their conversations. Albus glanced over at Hermione and a more confident looking Draco.

"With that I take my leave," Albus mumbled, regarding Hermione primarily. "Should you need me, you know where to find me."

"Yes, thank you Headmaster," Hermione said warmly, watching in silent defeat as the tall wizard left the common room, closing the door behind him with a resound thud. Draco moved over towards the nearest sofa, about to take a seat when a short boy drew over to him.

"Hullo there," he said, eyeing Draco critically. "Name's Avery, that over there is Mulciber."

He jerked his head in the direction of a stocky looking wizard with auburn hair and pimples dotting his cheeks. He smiled venomously, exposing several rows of sharp looking teeth and Draco held in a wince.

"I'm Draco Parkinson," Draco replied smoothly, knowing exactly who these two would grow up to be. Mulciber was very good at the Imperius curse if he recalled his father correctly. And Avery was a short figure with the beginning of a moustache and a deep set pair of brown eyes.

"We heard about you from Snape," Avery continued. "He said he had a feeling you were Slytherin material."

"That I am," Draco said proudly, knowing that he simply exuded Slytherin spirit.

"Probably a wise idea to stick with us," Avery said meaningfully looking over Draco's shoulder at Hermione. He lowered his voice. "He also said that we should look out for you when he's not around. You don't want to be caught up with the wrong sort of people after all. We heard all about your. . . friend's background."

Draco felt himself blushing in embarrassment. "She's just a schoolmate."

"Good," Avery said leaning back and speaking at a normal volume. "Come over then, I want you to meet Mulciber."

Without even a glance over his shoulder at the nervous looking Granger, Draco walked over to the hearth, leaving Hermione standing awkwardly at the entrance, feeling utterly wretched. In that moment she was keenly aware that Malfoy didn't feel responsible for her in the way that she did for him. If anything he saw her as a bothersome annoyance. She was as much on her own as if she'd been tossed into a deserted island in the middle of the sea. She had no one to turn to and trust.

As he left her to join the other boys in the room, Hermione shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. She surveyed the room and felt her breath release when she realized that Snape was nowhere to be seen. Thank goodness for small favors. There were several very pretty girls all crowded by the fire, glancing over at her and giggling to themselves. She immediately felt embarassed and even more out of place. She didn't even have the comfort of Ron or Harry here to make her feel more brave in such awful social situations. With the comforting presence of Albus gone, Hermione suddenly felt more than alone than ever and quietly wished she had just taken his advice and stayed at Gryffindor.

What a remarkably huge mistake.

"Hullo," a voice from her left remarked and Hermione turned to see a very tall girl with large grey eyes and raven black hair in a shorn style. "My name's Hestia Taylor. It's nice to have some new blood here in Slytherin. Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too," Hermione offered graciously gripping the proffered hand of Hestia. The girls thin smile didn't quite touch her large eyes. She was glancing over Hermione in thought, her eyes dating over at the popular girls snickering and then back to Hermione.

"So since you've never been here would you like a tour? It's a short one."

Hermione hesitated, looking to the friendly face with questioning. She glanced over at the pretty girls sitting by the fireplace, looking to Hestia and Hermione with disdain. Hermione didn't trust any of them, even this earnest looking girl in front of her. She winced, unsure of how to operate here. She knew she had to fit in, but everything in her body was telling her to run back to Gryffindor tower and away from these people who seemed so unlike her.

"You're a fellow Slytherin," Hestia whispered conspiratorially, noting Hermione reluctance. "We don't harm out own. You're safe here."

Hermione felt her shoulders relax at this and she nodded, following the tall girl down the corridors. She couldn't help but observe that Hestia was remarkably tall and exceptionally fast at walking. Hermione had to virtually jog to keep up with her as she wandered down the spindling corridors, commenting on the portraits that hung on the walls.

"This is the lavatory," Hestia said pointing to several doors to their left. "The boy's dormitory is down and around that corner there, obviously we're not allowed in there. This is the girl's dormitory. "

She pushed open a large oak door to reveal a large room that was almost identical to the Gryffindor one, save for the colors and general bleak color scheme of the walls. Hermione walked into the chilled space, looking to the knick knacks and clothing strewn about the room and realized that the Slytherin girls were just as messy as the Gryffindor ones.

"You can bunk beside me if you want," Hestia offered shyly, pointing to the empty bed next to hers at the far side of the room by the windows. Hermione looked over to the space, noting that Hestia's bed was perfectly made, no knick knacks to be seen. A large array of books were placed on her nightstand and Hermione felt something of a kinship. She glanced up to the windows and realized something interesting.

"What a view," Hermione observed gently, looking to the wavering dark blue outside her window. It was dark and only a bit of the lake could be seen in all its shimmering glory. "It's gorgeous."

"Yup," Hestia said proudly, looking out the window. "It's what sets Slytherin apart from all the other houses. Not only that, but did you know that Merlin himself was a Slytherin? All the other houses like to gloss over that particular piece of Hogwarts History."

As Hermione listened to the very sweet Hestia she had had the distinct feeling that the girl wasn't very popular with the rest of the Slytherin and perhaps even a bit desperate for friendship of any kind. Hermione smiled gently, about to move to the bed when she realized she had nothing with her. Hestia cast her a curious glance when she realized this.

"Where's your trunk?"

"Oh," Hermione paused, trying to think of something logical. "My parents will be dropping it off in the morning."

"No matter," Hestia shrugged, looking to her side and producing a house elf. "Bring Miss Lockheart some toiletries and appropriate clothing."

The house elf reappeared a few moments later, handing Hermione the necessary items.

"Thank you," Hermione said graciously, taking the items into her arms with a thankful smile before erupting into a long yawn that cracked her jaw.

"I know you're probably tired," Hestia observed Hermione's yawn with a small smirk. "Settle in and if you need anything just ask. Otherwise I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."

With that she had sauntered out of the empty bedroom, her skirt swishing around her lanky legs as she left. Hermione was so thankful she wasn't going to have to make some small talk when all she wanted to do was pass right out.

Hermione crawled into her new bed covered in emerald sheets and looking to the ceiling. She could hear the sound of water sloshing nearby and counting down the minutes until everyone awoke. This was a horrid night, and one she wanted over with. She snuggled under the thick, down comforters, noting that they warmed her quite quickly. She supposed they had to when they were down in the dungeons.

What am I doing here? This is a nightmare. Imagine all the things I'm going to be behind on when I get back to the future. I wonder if the Library will even have a decent reference section now. That is if I even still EXIST in the future.

She was worried about many things. About work, about family, about school -did they even know they were gone yet?- and about Ron, sweet Ron, dear Ron. He'd probably blown a gasket when he'd returned to see thin air in the Room of Requirement! She hoped against hope that he had found it suspicious and gone to see McGonagall.

And Draco, imagine the nerve of him as if she were below him. She grinded her teeth, remembering all too well his inflicted rudeness. It turns out that things didn't change, despite how much she may want them to. She rolled over onto her side, tensing as she heard a snore come from above her on the bunk.

Most pointedly she couldn't forget the look that Snape had shot her at dinner tonight. A look of infinite loathing, contempt and something else. Him and Draco; two peas in a pod those two. How odd. She frowned, tossing on her bed again, trying to calm down. She knew that he turned out to be a war hero, but actually meeting him tonight had been awful. And she wasn't sure but she had a feeling he'd been the one to call her a mudblood. She ground her teeth, thinking it remarkably unfair that she was caught up in this situation in the first place and truly wanting to punch the young Snape right in his oversized nose. She suddenly had a resolute notion that this was going to be a very painful experience. She was going to see firsthand just how cruel Severus Snape could be, now that he wasn't her Professor.

This thought only gave her chills.

***

"Hermione!" came a voice from her side as Hermione cracked open a tired eye. Brilliant grey eyes awaited her and she yawned lightly, looking to Hestia as she struggled to sit up. "Sorry for waking you up."

"Oh, I was awake," Hermione said in a sleep-filled voice, her throat sore and her voice cracked from lack of use. She blinked a few moments, looking to the short-haired girl in front of her and then around at the empty dormitory. "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be at breakfast?"

"I was waiting for you," Hestia said with a smile, "But you're awfully slow. I'll meet you there!"

Hermione nodded and watched as Hestia rushed out the door like a newborn colt, all legs.

Standing shakily and walking over to her dresser she took a fresh set of clothes and headed to the bathroom, not wanting to hurt the kind Hestia she showered quickly. As she came out of the shower, uttering a drying spell on her hair running a hand through it she paused thoughtfully.

Was all this innocuous fraternizing with these people going to upset the future? Was her mere conversation somehow going to alter those in the future? Was Snape going to be more vicious? Was Albus going to be more trusting than usual? This worried her, quite a bit. But it didn't seem there was anything she could do.

* * *

"Thanks for lending me the clothes," Draco said with an air of thanks, but superiority. "I suppose mine got lost in the transition."

"No trouble at all Draco," Avery said coolly, smiling at the blonde young man before him. "If you're going to be around us for your stay, you might as well look it."

Draco nodded, sipping his pumpkin juice and noticing the short boy's eyes going to the door of the Great Hall. He saw Mulciber's eyes narrowed in seething anger and he clenched a pale fist at the sight before him.

"Potter."

Draco looked around, worriedly expecting Harry to be behind him. Then realizing that Harry was under some new name now -Finnegan if he'd heard correctly- relaxed and saw he was referring to James. James. Remus, Sirius, Peter and now Harry beside James sauntered into the Great Hall, almost every one of them wearing the same looks of confident indifference. Peter lagged behind, looking jealously to Harry and quickening his stride to match the rest of them.

"Hmmm," Mulcifer crooned, "Pettigrew looks absolutely furious. I wonder..."

He trailed off, looking with interest at the rough faced young boy, his ruddy face glistening with sweat as beady eyes shot back and forth from face to face. Peter Pettigrew was such a bizarre sore thumb in this group of confident young men that he seemed comically mismatched. They took their places at the Gryffindor table, shouting jokes to one another loudly. The rest of their house laughed or smiled at their approach, feeling the good cheer radiating from the group.

And then like a grey rain cloud, Severus suddenly marched into the hall, his hair falling on either side of his face as he approached the Slytherin table. His dark eyes slipped over Avery, Mulciber and Draco a moment. For a moment he felt a pang at the realization that Draco looked as natural a leader as any with this group making Severus wonder if he'd made a mistake by willingly bringing the boy into his fold.

"Morning," Draco said placidly to Snape before turning back to his breakfast. Snape was about to say something when noticed then that several girls at the end of the Slytherin table were looking over at him, giggling and muttering to themselves.

Probably saying how ugly I look, Snape thought miserably, taking his seat across from Draco and giving them all a rough scowl before going back to his newly presented breakfast. He subconsciously scanning the room as he took a large sip of black coffee. He viewed Potter and his group and held in a snarl. That new Harry boy was sitting and joking around with them as if they'd been friends forever. James erupted suddenly, clapping Harry on the back and exclaiming, "That's exactly what I said!"

"Lord," Mulciber said boredly as he looked to the group. "They're so boorish it's disgusting. They'll be eating with their hands next."

"Time to break up the Dream Team, if you ask me," Snape sneered over his plate, looking to the group and not hiding his obvious loathing. Draco nodded and was about to answer when another familiar face entered into the Great Hall. He viewed as the rest of his group seemed to still, their eyes going into defensive slits as they took in the figure.

"There's that little Mudblood now," Avery growled, looking to Hermione as she came into the Great Hall, looking anxiously for Lily before smiling and waving. "Imagine her being sorted into Slytherin. Can you imagine?"

Severus watched her, his dark eyes glancing at her from under thick eyelashes. He noted she was fairly plain, her dark hair reaching to the small of her back in odd waves. She looked like the mousy type that loved to read, a girl that was quite naive to the ways of the world. A very strange sort of girl to be sorted into Slytherin, though not completely out of place.

"What does she think she's doing?" Mulciber said, a note of irritation in his voice as Hermione strolled over to Harry. "Doesn't she know anything about house pride?"

Draco winced a bit, feeling a bit disingenuous. Yes, he couldn't stand Granger, that was a fact. But he couldn't deny that she had balls. He remembered the mudblood scar she wore proudly after the battle. The way she'd fought and the way she'd been keen to forgive him for his sordid past. But still, she was a friend of Potter and. . . He shook his head of the thought.

"She's friends with everyone," Draco hurriedly explained, not knowing why but feeling that he had to explain her bizarre behavior away. "Just ignore her, I always do."

Snape listened to what Draco was saying but his eyes were slowly working their way over to the girl's pinched face as she spoke to the new boy. They spoke a few moments before she nodded and walked over to the Slytherin table, seating herself right across from Hestia and giving the girl an open smile. If he was careful, he could still see her out of his peripheral vision. He noted that she suddenly looked over to his table and Severus dropped his eyes, sullenly looking to his plate.

"Ohhhhh," Avery breathed, nudging Snape absently with his elbow. "Looks like the new girl likes our Severus here."

"What?" Draco said, almost spitting out his pumpkin juice. He whirled around, giving Hermione a bewildered look as she looked away, feeling her cheeks burn. She'd merely looked over to see if Draco was at the table for breakfast when she'd caught Snape peering at her through his curtain of hair. Now they were all staring and gossiping as if she was staring at him.

What immature little boys.

"How do you stand her?" Avery asked Draco, looking to the young man in keen interest. Severus looked up, looking to Draco as he awaited the young man's nonchalant response.

"I barely do," Draco said with a sneer, eating his eggs at a rapid rate. "She's always being such a know-it-all, always telling everyone what to do. That's all she's got is her ruddy books."

"Really?" Mulciber said with a look that was positively cat-like, his eyes gleamed dangerously as he leaned forward, rousing Snape's interest.

"Tell us more."

Chapter 7

"Alright class we have three new students with us today," said Professor McGonagall with a smile on her less-lined face as she looked to Hermione, Draco and Harry. "Be sure to greet them as we would any guest of Hogwarts."

She and the class offered a brief applause for the new students as they nodded red-faced, looking embarrassed and quickly taking their seats and pulling out the supplies they'd been given.

To make things simple, Dumbledore had given them all the same time table -"I informed your Professor's you were quite advanced"- Unfortunately for Harry that meant Hermione would know when they had homework. And he had no interest in homework – nope, he only cared about two things: getting to know his parents better and having fun.

After years of torture and torment at the knowledge that he'd caused their death, at being chased by Voldemort, Harry was elated to finally kick back and be a simple seventeen-year-old boy again. Breakfast had gone swimmingly – he had immediately been welcomed into the Marauder's fold and he couldn't contain his delight.

Today it was Transfiguration, Herbology and History of Magic. Tomorrow it was Potions, Muggle History and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sitting there in Transfiguration felt very similar to being in the present day Hogwarts, with a younger but still severe Minerva looking to her students and speaking with authority.

Harry sat with James and Sirius on one side of the room, doodling in their notebooks when they should be writing. Draco sat with Snape near the front. Hermione sat between Hestia and Lily who kept ignoring the obvious looks of adoration shot from James a few feet away.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" Hermione suggested, looking imploringly to Lily as James shot her another look, whispering her name to get her attention. "He really seems to fancy you."

"You don't understand." Lily answered darkly, writing something on her paper as the class settled down, waiting for the Professor at the front of the class to go on. "He's insufferable. Just when I think he can't get more egotistical or rude, he does."

"It's true," Hestia said shyly from Hermione's other shoulder. Lily gave the girl a small smile, nodding for her to continue. "James is always terribly rude and he's always picking on Snape."

"More like they're always picking on each other," Lily finished, causing Hestia to flinch.

"I suppose you're right," Hestia offered, turning a bit pink. Lily was a very popular girl and to have such a girl against you was not wise, especially when you were perceived as a nothing like Hestia. Lily glanced over to see she'd embarrassed the girl.

"I know he's in your house," Lily said gently. "I know you're just sticking up for him. I've just known him a long time is all."

Hestia nodded, feeling a bit less like a third wheel. Hermione felt her eyes absently drawing to the back of Snape's dark head as Lily spoke. He was slouched over his paper, writing something hurriedly on it even though Minerva had barely said anything. Actually, she noted, he was scribbling into a small textbook, his spidery scrawl all over it.

Interesting.

"God this is a waste of time," Draco said leaning back in his chair at the front of the class as he sighed heavily. Why the hell did Snape want to sit this close anyway? He glanced over to see Snape ignoring him and writing hurriedly into the margins of some old potions book.

Gods, even young Snape was boring.

Severus didn't answer, and was starting to regret having Draco at his side at all. Sure the boy had given off an odd tidbit to them about his classmates, but other than that he was proving to be a haughty, annoying little ferret. Draco mumbled something to himself about a 'waste of time' and started doodling skulls into his parchment.

He leaned back a bit, looking to the board in boredom. Today was very much a note-taking class, something that Severus found remarkably dull. His peers could barely keep up with his reading and often he was chapters ahead. Suddenly hearing the sound of light giggles he craned his neck absently -as if he was trying to rub a muscle out- and looked to Hestia, Hermione and Lily who all sat side by side, giggling over something in the book and looking at James Potter.

Of course.

"He's looking at you again Lily," Hestia said giggling as Lily blushed into her notebook. The girls had an easy banter now and Hermione was pleased to see that neither was preoccupied with house nonsense. Hermione however, was determined to keep her mouth shut. She had no interest in altering the future and if she hadn't been here there was every chance that this conversation would have gone on anyway.

"I don't care."

Hestia was about to go on when she caught Snape surreptitious glances at Hermione. He looked completely interested in her and at the same time as if he couldn't stand her. Barely moving her lips she looked to Hermione.

"Looks like someone may fancy you, Lockheart," Lily muttered lowly. It took Hermione a full moment to remember that she was indeed Lockheart. She was suddenly worried –she didn't want anyone fancying her! That's how timelines got disrupted!

"Who?"

"Severus!" Lily muttered urgently behind the book as Hermione looked t the front where Snape sat, still half turned and looking at her. When she finally looked to his youthful face he sneered at her and went back to facing the front.

"I doubt it," Hermione said with a strangled voice. The mere thought that Snape could every fancy anyone, let alone her, seemed beyond absurd. He was Professor Snape. In her mind he had no sex drive. None of the professors did. He was just. . . There. He was a overbearing bully who wore a lot of black and slept in a coffin. Well, all right Hermione knew better but still. The thought of Snape ever truly caring for someone seemed foreign, even if she did know of Snape's love for Lily, thanks to Harry.

"I don't think he's the type to open his heart to many," she finally offered weakly, causing Lily to look at her strangely. Lily was about to speak when McGonagall rapped her wand at the desk at the front, causing everyone to start.

"Now, I assume all of you have read Chapter twelve?" McGonagall said looking to the class and finding it surprising to see the new girl, Hermione, nodding her head along with the rest of the class.

"Let's start with the basics, since we have some new students with us," she said trilling, looking from one face to the other. It was still early in the year, and there were several who wore looks of malcontent.

"Who can tell me the proper spell for transforming a pig into a Muggle bicycle? Hmmm?"

Oh, I know this one. Hermione thought excitedly, her hand whipping into the air as the words were spoken, her pulse quickening in anticipation at getting the answer right. There was something so self-satisfying about getting a right answer and feeling the approval from one's teachers.

"After uttering 'Sonorous' its one brisk swish up and down with the wand, one uttering of 'Porcus' and then one stroke down before lowering the wand."

Hermione lowered her hand dejectedly at the words, looking to Snape who had rudely burst out with the answer that she herself knew beforehand. She was a bit miffed at the rudeness, especially when Professor McGonagall nodded emphatically going, "exactly right Mister Snape."

Mister Snape? Gods that sounds bizarre.

She couldn't see his face, but judging by his arms and casual way of seating she could only assume that he was smirking superciliously at those who looked to him in hidden awe. Draco looked out the corner of his eyes at him and held in a suppressed groan. He was sitting next to a teacher's pet. Brilliant.

"And how does one do the counter curse for such an act? Hmmm?"

"Two swishes left, utter 'bimestris' and then lower the wand."

"Very good Mister Snape. Very good indeed."

Hermione lowered her hand for the third time in a row before she looked around the room, everyone either seemed to be in awe of Snape or just making it through the class without sleeping. How could one learn with Snape taking up all this education?

"Oh Lord," Hermione muttered under her breath, barely containing the glee in her voice. "He's a know-it-all!"

Snape went on answering questions left and right as if the Professor were asking him to recite his alphabet. McGonagall wasn't the grim figure Hermione remembered, if anything she looked a bit green as she taught them. Snape was sitting rim rod straight, though his shoulders were tensed and almost rounded. He hadn't quite acquired that confidence that he would in later years. Still, Hermione couldn't help but find him smug and irritable.

"Does he always blurt out answers like that?" Hermione asked quietly, looking to Hestia in curiosity. Hestia nodded gently, a small grimace crossing her features.

"He's very bright."

"So?" Hermione said whispering fiercely. "Doesn't he ever give anyone else a chance?"

"Not really," Hestia said darkly, "he's always the first to answer whatever the Professor has to ask. His Transfiguration is brilliant too."

"Really?"

"Really," Lily answered with a nod from the other side. "But if you ask me, Potions is where he really excels."

Hestia nodded as Hermione bit back a laugh, the distant voices of the Professor calling out questions and Snape answering them growing dim. Suddenly Professor McGonagall took a look to the right side of the room where James and Harry talked animatedly.

"Mister Potter," she called out, looking miffed. "Can you tell me how to Transform a common pencil into a garden snake? Hmmm?"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see Harry and James looking sheepishly down at their hands. Hermione could see they'd not been paying attention at all. Almost in sync both the boys pushed their glasses up the bridges of their noses nervously.

"Erm," James went pink; he and Harry looked embarrassed. "Sorry, I don't think I could."

"Did you even read the chapter? Hmmm?"

"Well. . . " James trailed off, the answer all too apparent in his eyes. Harry was trying to conceal nervous snickering upon feeling the teacher's angry gaze upon them. Sirius looked as if he were going to bust out in inappropriate laughter at any moment.

"Tell me Potter," Severus said softly without turning. "Can you read?"

"That'll be quite enough Mister Snape," Professor McGonagall said angrily at him for undermining her authority as the class erupted into bored laughter. "Ten points from Slytherin."

The irony is so thick I could choke, Hermione thought as she noticed the smug look James was giving Severus and sighed in response to their immaturity along with Lily.

"And ten points from Gryffindor, Mister Potter," the Professor added, "for coming to my class so woefully underprepared."

James ducked his head, looking angrily to the parchment in front of him. Harry glanced over at his father, feeling a strange sense of detached amusement. They were so alike it was staggering. He hoped James wouldn't be too sore and cancel their Quidditch practice.

"The proper way to perform such a task is to have two swishes right and one uttering of Penicillus Anguineus," Snape said haughtily, making sure that James knew just how stupid he was. "Then it's simply a matter of three swishes left and a lowering of the wand."

He glanced over his shoulder and gave James an oily smirk. James and Harry glared back, openly despising the snob. Harry couldn't believe at how much he found this Snape irritating. He knew he should be more patient but Merlin's Beard he was a prat! Even more so as a teenager! James was about to go off with another insult when a loud, bossy voice rang out at the back.

"Actually, it's four swishes to the left."

Snape closed his open mouth, turning slightly although he already knew who had been stupid enough to have said it. That annoying little blabbermouth Lockheart. James and Harry shot her looks of equal admiration and surprise, Hestia looked so blanched she may fall over and even Lily had to suppress the smile that was threatening to break out all over her face.

Severus Snape had been challenged.

"Correct Miss Lockheart," Professor McGonagall said impressed as Lily shot Hermione an impressed look then. "Pleased to see you noticed."

Murmuring began in the class, the students looking to Hermione -the new girl- in moderate awe. No one wanted to outmatch Severus, even if they knew the answer. Harry flashed her a small grin that she responded back with happily. That'd serve Snape right.

He was sitting almost at a loss, looking to Hermione with infinite loathing in his eyes intermingled with something else. Was it intrigue? Perhaps. Right then, Snape wondered if he'd met his intellectual match for the time being. A nice change of pace from the dunderheads he was normally surrounded with. He turned back to face the front of the class.

"Now," Professor McGonagall went on, trying to break the awkward moment within the class as she smiled. "Could I have a volunteer to come and assist me in a little experiment? Hmmm?"

"I will!" Hermione and Snape exclaimed simultaneously, standing at the same moment, both glaring at each other as they faced one another and the class went silent. Professor McGonagall looked confused to each of them, seeing the fire in their eyes and then shrugging, smiling weakly.

"Erm, both of you come down. Two would be better I suppose."

Hermione rushed down from her seat, looking eagerly to the covered table that Professor McGonagall had rolled out into the center of the classroom. Snape stood regarding it, and then Hermione a moment. He made sure they didn't stand too close to one another. It didn't matter she was in his house, she was still no chum of his.

"Now, I know you're all quite good at transforming normal household items. But here I have a small challenge, one that I can tell you're both up for."

She whipped off the tablecloth, and underneath in a large terrarium sat a full-grown animal, coarse hairs upon it with a squished up face. It was grunting slightly but remained very still. Hermione bent down a bit, looking at the animal through the glass and exhaling softly.

"Mmmm," Hermione said interestedly, brushing past Snape to get closer to the table. He frowned at the contact and regrettably followed over to the table as the class watched on in interest. It wasn't every day that Severus Snape had competition and it was fun for them to see.

"A full grown blast ended skrewt," Hermione said proudly as the Professor nodded. "My, it's a big one."

"Not that big," Snape said breezily. "I've seen many quite larger."

Hermione didn't answer him, openly refusing to cater to his obvious lack in confidence if he had to lie about seeing bigger skrewts. What a bloody phony. She stood up straight, awaiting further instruction.

"What I'd like you to do," Professor McGonagall said with a clap of her hands that roused the skrewt and the class' attention, "Is to put the animal out safely for the class, and then proceed to turn it into a Muggle umbrella."

"Shouldn't be too hard," Severus murmured with ease by Hermione's ear, noticing the way she flinched from him. He had to contain a smirk, for he knew at least one of her weaknesses. Draco on the other hand was trying to stifle the yawn that was threatening to burst from his pointed face.

Although Hermione could see no use to such an idea as pulling out the skrewt from the terrarium she nodded to the professor, and before Snape could even move had already started. He scowled at the back of her head and watched quietly.

"Concubius-" Hermione started as the animal shut its eyes, firmly falling into a dead sleep. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her wand was still faulty here in the past. It was a miracle that the thing had even fallen asleep. Severus watched from behind her with a stony expression that Lily couldn't help but smirk at.

Harry watched all of this in careful silence, still kind of out of sorts with the fact that he was seeing Snape alive and young. The mouth that wasn't yet bracketed by lines, the eyes that were still quite clear, the skin not quite as sallow. He still seemed so calculating, so cold and Harry found he couldn't look away from the scene playing out in front of him.

"Your friend's very good," James murmured to Harry. "Very smart and quite brave. It isn't anyone who'd stand up to Snape like that."

"She's always been like that," Harry boasted proudly, looking to Hermione with admiration.

"She's very pretty as well."

Harry made a face. "I suppose."

He looked to his father and held in a small shiver of revulsion that ran through him. James was staring at Hermione, his light eyes almost entranced by her as she circled the beast, ignoring a suddenly slighted Lily who glanced over to see him looking at the new girl in interest.

Hermione stood unaware of all of this at the front, circling the beast and feeling Snape's eyes on her every movement. It made her feel clumsy and foolish and she wanted to elbow him out of the way as he always appeared so close.

"Careful," Severus said softly, his voice a husky whisper almost felt against the back of her ear. She shivered as his breath whirled past her earlobe, emitting an oily smirk from the tall boy who stood behind, watching her increasingly flustered actions.

Let's get on with this Hermione. Just do it and sit down and shut up for the rest of the term. You don't need any more close encounters with Severus Snape; the teenage years.

When she was certain the skrewt was soundly asleep, Hermione opened the lid to the terrarium. Severus watched this with a shrew look as Hermione reached her hand into the terrarium as the animal should be sufficiently knocked out now. She was about to dip her hand in to grasp it by its tail to drag it out when two simultaneous voices called out.

"You stupid girl!" Snape said jerkily, grasping her hand out of the tank as Professor McGonagall interjected with a loud 'Stop!'.

Severus pulled her away from the tank by her wrist, looking to her as if she were daft. "Are you mad?"

"I know what I'm doing," Hermione said in frustration. "The female's have suction like things on their stomachs, their tails are harmless-" she was about to go on when Snape grasped her wrist.

"It's a male," he said, looking to the Professor and then back to Hermione as she blushed furiously and looked back into the tank. To her dismay she was now seeing the large red mark at the side - that she hadn't noticed before thanks to Severus' heavy breathing behind her- She was humiliated for the entire world to see and Severus didn't hold back the smirk on his face.

"Thank you Mister Snape," Professor McGonagall said worriedly as she came over to the pair. "Miss Lockheart, this skrewt is indeed a male and as such their stingers are quite painful. I was under the impression that you were familiar."

"I am," Hermione said defiantly. Snape just makes me nervous. She dragged her wrist away from his grasp and he eventually dropped it as if it were a hot potato. Though not before running his fingers lightly over her knuckles. Hermione pulled away, looking to him defiantly and then back to the Professor. "I suppose I was just out of practice."

"Let me show you the real way to perform such a task," came the waspish reply from Severus as he elbowed her out of his way. She watched as he muttered his spell, carefully avoiding eye contact with everyone. When he levitated the skrewt out of the terrarium there were a few gasps, but as it firmly sunk onto the table it lay in an almost catatonic state.

"I thought you didn't care for foolish wand waving," Hermione muttered to angrily herself, not seeing the look of surprise that crossed Snape's features before they were schooled once more in concentration.

"Disserenat - aetherius!" Snape spoke quietly, the words still reverberating around the room as the students watched on impressed as he flicked his wand resolutely. With a bubbling look that took over its skin soon the skrewt let out a small cry and lengthened before it turned into a large parasol. A strangely colored one, but an parasol nonetheless.

Snape raised it over his head, letting the class see it and then handed it back to Professor McGonagall. There were some claps from the Slytherins, and the rest of the class couldn't help but looked impressed...save for Harry, Draco and James.

"Well done Mister Snape!" Professor McGonagall said with a clap of her hands, "Ten points to Slytherin."

Hermione looked angrily to Snape, knowing that those points were rightfully hers. He'd stolen them. It didn't matter that they were in the same house, she was furious. The bell suddenly tolled, signaling the end of class and the students quickly stood, gathering their things and heading out the door.

"Until next class!" Professor McGonagall claimed excitedly, "And Miss Lockheart, Mister Snape, well done today."

Hermione didn't answer and neither did Snape. Instead she opted to grab her book bag and get out of class as soon as she could. Lily and Hestia were nowhere to be seen and she held in a small groan. She hoped they weren't too embarrassed with her showboating. At least class was over, now she could go back to keeping her head down and keeping to herself. She needed to keep to herself and she needed to make sure that Harry and Draco were doing the same.

With that thought in mind Hermione stepped down the aisle to the door, not seeing as Snape glided over to her, pretending to be heading towards the same door and effectively blocking her way. Hermione winced as he blocked her way to the door

"Excuse me," she muttered angrily, indicating that he should move. Snape looked down on her, that familiar smugness taking him over as he took in her uncomfortable frame.

"For what?" Snape asked in a low, sneering voice. "Your laughable oversight earlier?"

Hermione looked to him slowly, seeing the callous smirk that seemed to perpetually rest on his face when she was around. She wanted nothing more than to throttle the little prat, but she kept her hands at her sides. It would only cause future trouble if she were to pummel him right now. Besides, he was a great deal taller than her and could likely take her on.

Before she could speak and tell him to move out of her way, James, Sirius and Harry had come rushing over. All three had large grins on their faces, dragging her away from the furious Severus and causing her to drop her book bag in the process as they congratulated her.

"Well done Hermione! Putting ol' Snapey in his place," James said broadly, coming over and giving her a large smile. She smiled back at him, timidly and looked to Harry with exasperation. She was suddenly beginning to see why Harry hated Snape so often and why Lily got so tired of James. They were both quite trying in very different ways.

"He's a very talented wizard," Hermione had to admit softly to the both of them as she picked up her bag once more. James and Harry exchanged looks of surprise as they followed her out the door. Severus watched the interplay from a few feet away as he gathered his books, looking to the new girl with interest. She certainly wasn't what he'd expected. She was almost toler-

"But he's also a terrible git!" Hermione added loudly, allowing for the hallway and Snape to hear her remark. The tips of Snape's ears went red -not that anyone could tell- as he hurriedly packed his things up, clenching his teeth and brushing past them as he made his way out the door to the classroom.

Harry and James laughed loudly, clapping her on the back as she tried to smile back. But seeing Snape's fuming, lanky frame heading down the hallway, she couldn't help but feel she'd made an enemy, and a dangerous one at that.

* * *

"Have you heard anything?" Ron asked breathlessly as he ran into the Headmistress's office, seeing the aged witch at her desk. It'd been a few hours since the occurrence, and keeping it under wraps was not an easy thing to do when all he wanted to do was scream.

"I'm afraid not Mister Weasley," she said with a light frown. "There are no time turners left available to me. The soonest the Ministry is allowing is a month from now after the proper paperwork has been put in place."

"Six months?" Ron shouted, his voice echoing in the small office chamber. "Are you mental?"

"Watch your tone young man," Minerva shot back in irritation. "I've taken it upon myself to find the assistance of someone I think can help us."

"Who?" Ron asked with a ragged breath.

"Slughorn," McGonagall responded resolutely. "He's very wise in the ways of potions and I'm hoping he can come up with something for us should we need it."

"Slughorn?" Ron moaned, "that posturing blowhard?"

"Precisely," came the pinched voice from behind him. Ron blanched and turned, seeing the bald Professor looking over at him in disdain. Ron felt a flush of embarrassment cover his cheeks, creeping up his neck as he slowly backed towards the door to the office.

"Er...I have to be going." Ron gulped as he headed out the door.

When the office door was closed Slughorn walked up and stood in front of the desk.

"You owled for me, Headmistress?"

"Indeed I did Horace," Minerva said with a nod, "It seems that Harry, Hermione and Draco have been missing for quite a while."

"Missing?" Horace said dangerously quiet, his eyes narrowing in the process. "How so?"

Minerva sighed, informing Slughorn of the night's events. The missing students, the map, everything as the man nodded, taking in every detail and memorizing it for faults. What had they done? Was he never to be rid of this horrible Potter boy and his mischief? Merlin's Beard! Would he never be able to formally retire?!

"Do you have any idea where they might be?" Minerva said with a worried look in her eyes, "I'm at my wits end. We've sent out the officers to search the forest and nothing has come back. I have this horrible feeling that it's something much more sinister."

"But what can I possible do?" Horace asked genuinely, surprised that she had owled him of all people. She fixed with an unsteady gaze and he swallowed thickly.

"I thought you may be able to make a tracing potion," Minerva offered feebly. "We can use it in the Room of requirement and see if it leads us anywhere. You're were the best at Potions, Horace. Aside from. . . "

She paused, not wanting to continue. Horace felt a bit of a sting at that. He'd surely undertake this endeavor, but he wouldn't be happy about it. If this didn't give him an Order of Merlin first class he would be very irritable.

"I'll see what I can do," Horace said with a bit of gloomy tone. "But I don't promise anything."

* * *

Hermione avoided Severus at all costs in and outside of classes for the rest of the day, sticking mainly to Hestia during classes or in the Library when she had some free time. She didn't want to go to the common roon. She'd made sure not to make any more friends. The more friends she had the more dangerous it was muddying the future. When she rushed through the common room and into the dormitory she was thankful she could go to sleep without having to see him again.

It went like this for the next several days. In this time Hermione kept her eye on Draco and Harry. Both of the boys seemed distracted in their own way –Draco with Severus talking secretly, often flanked by Avery and Mulciber. She couldn't ever get close enough to hear what they were talking about since whenever she was near they would sneer and move away.

Harry was permanently dirtied or eating at a mad pace whenever she spoke with him. Quidditch practice was obviously just as enjoyable in the 70's as it was in present day. Thankfully it seemed the boys were only moving in these small circles and Hermione could only do so much in terms of babysitting. When she wasn't supervising them, she was in the Library trying to find all the books she could on time travel, coming back with not much. It seemed all the books she'd need were in the restricted section and the librarian was not keen on allowing her in.

It seemed the only thing worthwhile about the whole thing was seeing how much people changed when young. Hermione could barely believe that Sirius for example had been such a heartbreaker! She always found herself gaping when he chatted up a young woman who blushed and refused to meet his eyes. She could feel a pang of sadness when she realized what fate awaited such a charming boy.

Lupin she hadn't seen much of, he was even more shy and soft spoken than she could ever remember. When he was around he was withdrawn and peaky looking, eating little and drinking even less. She wondered how he survived on such little sustenance.

Snape however was the most intriguing and infuriating. Why, on her way to the Library just this afternoon she'd viewed as he roughly bumped into a shy looking young Gryffindor. Avery and Mulciber laughed crudely as the girl stumbled, sending her books and parchment spilling everywhere. She winced as if this were an everyday occurrence and bent down to pick up her items. Hermione stood at her position just inside the library doors, hidden and watching this happen.

"That's where you belong, MacDonald," Avery said cruelly, "kneeling before us."

"While you're down there you should make yourself useful," Mulciber added with a sickening smile.

Snape said nothing, but Hermione could see the delight in his eyes as the girl squirmed under their words. She didn't respond, choosing instead to pick up her items quickly. Hermione knew she should stay away but she couldn't help but insinuate herself. They were being so cruel to the girl! Hermione rushed over, helping the watery-eyed girl to pack up her things before the two of them stood.

"You awful bullies," Hermione snarled at the three of them, noting Draco's lack of presence. Perhaps he'd gotten the good sense to stay away from them. "What they hell is your problem anyway?"

Her eyes were firmly on Snape, knowing that he of all people should know the pain of being teased. He narrowed his eyes at her, looking none too impressed with having been disturbed. She helped the girl up and she scurried away, casting a thankful look to Hermione before rounding the corner.

Hermione realized with a sickening wince that she and the three boys were now alone in the hallway to the library, and on a sunny day like this the odds of more students coming their way was slim. Hermione raised her head defiantly, preparing to head off back towards the library.

"How dare you speak to us like that," Mulciber rasped, looking down at her with hatred. Draco stood nearby along with several other Slytherin boys who glared openly at Hermione.

"Leave me alone," Hermione said flatly, trying to move past them. Avery held up an arm to stop her as Hermione backed up into the frame of Severus. She whipped around to face him, her dark eyes flashing as she glanced at the tall boy.

"You're the one who interrupted us," Severus offered silkily. "You could have minded your own business. But you seem intent on putting your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Oh yes," Hermione countered. "You were remarkably busy harassing a girl. Three on one, sounds terribly fair. You're cowards, the lot of you. You should all be ashamed."

Severus blinked rapidly, not quite used to a girl talking to him like that. Had she just called him a coward? He stepped forward menacingly, noting with pleasure that a look of fear was bleeding into her dark eyes.

"What did you just call us?"

Hermione swallowed thickly. "You can't hurt me," she whispered. "I'm a Slytherin like you."

The boys laughed darkly before Avery spoke.

"You may have wormed your way into Slytherin, mudblood, but you're nothing like us."

Draco walked slowly onto the scene then, watching as the three of them surrounded her. He couldn't help but feel a pull of two emotions; concern that the girl was being harassed and would likely report his malfeasance to McGonagall in the future. The second was dark delight at the fact that the girl was finally getting a come-uppance.

"I'm not afraid of any of you," Hermione said roughly, although the light in her eyes showed otherwise. Mulciber grasped her wrist, drawing him near as he looked to her, his acidic breath falling over her face in sour waves.

"It's not us you should fear, you filthy mudblood. It's The Dark Lord."

Hermione had wrung her wrist away, glaring openly at the group and resisting an urge to slap them all. Before she could stop herself she'd started to speak, and couldn't seem to stop.

"Why don't you just shut up you pathetic ferrets?" She demanded angrily. "I don't fear Voldemort and I most certainly don't fear you! Now why don't you just fuck off! I've done nothing to offend you yet you seem to enjoy being cruel to me."

"You were born," Draco rasped from beyond the group as the boys looked over to him impressed, he believed as a father would a son. "That's offense enough to us."

"Draco," Hermione started, her brows knitted in surprise and disappointment.

"Save it," he said with a flippant wave of his hand. "Stay out of our way and if you're lucky we won't have to bring you down."

Hermione stared at Draco in complete shock as the rest of the boys stood behind him like some hideous crew of creeps. Severus was casting her an unreadable look and she found her blood boiling. She had tried to forgive the future Draco, believing that his beliefs were simply because of his horrible father. But no, the Draco that stood there before her was his own man. His own horrible, twisted man.

"You pathetic, loathsome little-" Hermione had raised her hand and had been about to slap the smirk right off of Draco's pale face when something stopped her.

"Miss Lockheart," a soft voice said behind her as she stopped and lowered her hand, her blood running cold at the authoritative sound. Dumbledore stood behind her, looking down to her severely as he looked to her unimpressed. "A word, if you don't mind."

Hermione had looked to Dumbledore defeated and nodded; looking to him sorrowfully as Severus and his gang snickered in her wake. Severus watched her from behind his curtain of inky black hair as he watched her leave before he looked to the group seething before him.

"Can you believe her?" Mulciber said with a humorless chuckle as he shook his head lightly. "Trying to touch one of us? The nerve!"

"I know," Avery added with a crossing of his arms. "It's unthinkable."

Mulciber ignored him and instead glanced to Severus with a look of dark questioning all too apparent in his light eyes. Draco watched all of this from outside the circle, feeling more left out than ever despite his obvious allegiance.

"I heard she humiliated you in front of the class a few days ago," Mulciber said pointedly to Snape as the pale boy glowered and glared angrily at Draco who looked all too nonchalant.

"Is this true?"

"She merely answered a question before me on one occasion," Snape said with folded arms as he leaned against the wall of the school, looking to the schoolyard of those who feared him. "But I showed her right again."

"Good," Mulciber said with a smirk, looking to the group. After a moment of silence, and Mulciber tapping his lip listlessly he spoke. "But she does present a problem."

"How so?" asked Avery.

"Isn't it obvious?" Mulciber said heatedly beginning to pace in the empty hallway. "She's not properly intimidated by us. This could be quite detrimental to the network we've set up here. Imagine, being brought down by a Mudblood. Why it's absurd."

"Well then," Avery said with a smirk crossing his face, one that his friends had seen all too many times before.

"It would appear we have to do something about that. And I know just the wizard to help us."

Chapter 8

Because of her meeting with Dumbledore, Hermione was late for Potions that day. He'd given her a firm yet understanding lecture on getting into fights -verbal or not- with the likes of his fellow students. Hermione had sat there, feeling the weight of this world bearing down on her.

"You're supposed to be keeping your head down," Albus had reminded her gently. "I don't think engaging in fights with fellow students is really doing that effectively. I thought you understood the dangers of interfering in the past?"

"I'm sorry, Headmaster. "

"You'd better tell that Draco friend of yours to smarten up as well," Dumbledore had added before she was ushered off to class. She'd nodded emphatically as she moved to the door. She looked to his face once more, taking in the sweet sparkle to his eyes and the kindness of his smile before shutting the door firmly behind her.

She'd headed to Potions and had been halfway there when a voice called out her name. She looked over and held in an exasperated sigh as James came jogging up to her.

"Hey there Hermione," James said lightly, running a hand through his hair as he gazed at her. Hermione merely smiled politely, making it sure that she looked as if she was in a hurry.

"Hello James," she viewed as he blushed slightly, looking around awkwardly as Hermione sighed rather heavily through her nose, making her agitation very evident. She looked to him exasperated, wondering why he wasn't off playing Quidditch or trying to flirt with Lily. It was a wonder those two every got on.

"Late for class?" he suddenly inquired as she tried to brush by him politely. He was lacking in his usual troupe of friends and Hermione took note of this before answering.

"Yes actually-"

"You know there's an outing to Hogsmeade coming up," James blurted, looking less than confident. Before he could continue that train of thought Hermione was already halfway down the hall, looking over her shoulder and waving as she ran.

"Sorry," she shouted, "I don't want to be too late! I'll see you and Harry at dinner."

He nodded with a wan smile at her before she rushed down the stairs and into the Potions lab; her heart in her throat the prospect of a detention. In turn she didn't see James lower his eyes in embarrassment at the rejection, his fists angrily tapping at his sides as he watched her frame dart around the corner and out of his sight.

One pudgy teen remained unnoticed, hidden in the shadows, his beady eyes taking in the scene as the discouraged James Potter made his way to the common room. The spy let out a small snicker of triumph.

* * *

"Headmistress!" Ron shouted that afternoon as he burst into the office, his face flushed and clutching something glossy in his hands. He was about to speak when Minerva had interrupted.

"Mister Weasley," Minerva said tiredly, pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation. "I told you I would inform you the moment I-"

"I know, I know," Ron said wheezing, "but I had to show you these."

He thrust the objects into McGonagall's hands as. The Headmistress flipped through them worriedly, her light eyes widening in horror as she flipped faster and faster before ceasing completely, her hands trembling.

"Where did you get these Mister Weasley?"

"The boys dormitory, there's a bunch there."

"Has anyone else seen them?"

"I don't think so," Ron said pacing the room, "I only noticed them this morning."

"Good. Go and retrieve all of them, as many as you can and bring them to me."

"Yes ma'am," Ron said and without another word was out of the room rushing down the halls at a breakneck speed. He was beside himself with these latest developments and he wondered if Slughorn was making any progress.

"Oh my," Minerva said with a grimace, lowering the objects onto her desk with a heavy sigh. She'd have to speak with Horace the moment she could.

"This is a serious problem."

She suddenly glanced up to the sleeping portrait of Albus Dumbledore, wishing now more than ever he was there to give counsel.

* * *

Thanks to her run-in with James, Hermione was even more late for Potions and trying in vain to make her way into the class without causing a disturbance. No such luck. As soon as the door was opened Professor Slughorn gave her an irritated look as she ducked her head and made her way inside as the class tittered with giggles from immature students.

She saw with displeasure that both Harry and Draco weren't in class today, and Hestia and Lily were sitting with another girl at a table near the front leaving her completely alone. They cast her a regretful look and therefore Hermione had to depend on herself to survive the class alone. There was one supreme irritation though, one by the name of Severus Snape. She felt his eyes on her the moment she rushed in.

She gave him a look of total indifference as she passed his row before seating herself directly in front of him and beside two Gryffindors she didn't recognize. It was the last seat available and she winced darkly as his voice found her ear

"Late for class," Snape whispered behind her with a smirk as she slid into her seat. "I suppose your meeting with Dumbledore went longer than expected."

Hermione ignored him, choosing to pull out her parchment and laying her quill beside it without a fuss. She turned her full attention to the front of the class, listening to professor Slughorn drown on and on about some draught they were going to make. She started taking notes from the board, observing that they looked familiar.

A young and not-quite-bald-yet Horace Slughorn proceeded to drone on about properties of lacewings as Hermione sat idly taking her notes and wondering if she could convince Albus to let her have access to the restricted section of the Library after dinner tonight.

Hermione was busy writing, all the while feeling the eyes of someone on her back. She wasn't stupid, for it had to be Snape glaring at her for humiliating him that day. Curiosity finally took over and she glanced over her right shoulder, confirming that Snape was indeed looking at her. Avery and Mulciber were casting her equally obnoxious looks and she grimaced.

She gave all three boys an irritable look before going back to her notebook. She was hurriedly writing down what she'd missed when a giant glob of something sticky and hot hit the back of her head.

"Ouch!" she yelped, gripping the back of her head in pain as the stinging sensation subsided. Raking her hands through her tangled hair she found a large, fiery enchanted spitball in her hair. She sucked in her breath and pushed it to the floor and out of her hair. It turned black as a crisp and evaporated as soon as it hit the ground.

"What's the problem...Miss..." Slughorn bubbled loudly, searching for her name. All he could remember from his few classes with her was that she was bright, but what was her name? Grant?

"Lockheart," Hermione said defiantly, showing that she wasn't about to fall for the pranks of Severus and Draco behind her. "And I apologize for my outburst sir, it was nothing."

Slughorn gave a curt nod, going back to the chalkboard and writing a few more sample instructions up on the board. The noises of the classroom were quickly becoming dim in Hermione's mind. She felt the mournful gaze of Lily and Hestia on her, but she refused to look up. If she did, they would see the glassy sheen to her eyes.

I just want to go home. Hermione internally wailed, her eyes growing glassy as she wrote her notes and ignored the snickers behind her. Home. Friends. Family. Professor's she could trust not to spit at her when her back was turned.

She wasn't sure she'd ever look at Professor Snape the same way. True he'd done alot for Harry and them, but knowing what he was like as a teenager was seriously being called into play considering his character.

"Alright," Professor Slughorn finally said, his hazel eyes scanning the room of students. "Bring out your cauldrons class, today we're creating a blinding potion. This potion will allow you to blind your opponent for up to and including six hours. This process-"

He offered a few more words of instruction before everyone had brought out their cauldrons and begun. Hermione's fingers worked hurriedly, following the instructions to the letter as per usual. She could hear Slughorn up at the front as he stopped in front of Lily's cauldron.

"Perfect as usual Miss Evans," he exclaimed with glee, drawing a strangely proud look from Severus (not that anyone else could see).

They'd all been working a few minutes when Mulciber swished by her table with Avery. He looked to Hermione a moment, smirking in delight as he looked to her flustered frame.

"Nice hair Lockheart" he said with a gleeful grin.

"Looks a bit singed if you ask me," Avery added as they moved to the front of the classroom to gather supplies.

Hermione worked on ignoring them, mixing in two droplets of asphodel as she spotted the two Slytherin's making conversation as they walked into the ingredients cupboard. That meant Snape was on his own. She turned back a moment, wanting to say something cutting to Severus without his cronies around when'd she stopped.

She'd never really gotten the opportunity to see Professor Snape make a real potion himself, and so the sight before her was quite amazing. Severus didn't even seem to acknowledge her presence; instead he was looking intently to his cauldron. On the odd occasion he'd write something hurriedly in what Hermione observed was his potions text book. Lily had been right, Potions was when Severus was truly in his element.

His long fingers moved delicately, as if in some strange graceful dance, which surprised her on some levels and then again not. Surely when describing Professor Snape, the term 'graceful' wasn't the first term in anyone's mind. But remembering the long strides he took as he walked, the fluid gliding motion in his speech, it would seem that graceful was a perfect word to describe Severus Snape at times.

Severus himself at that moment looked like one filled with Zen like concentration, his dark eyes fixated on the cauldron and his hands moving rapidly as if detached from his lank body. He was utterly enraptured with the cauldron while at the same time looking utterly bored with it. Then again, that was always Snape's style. Looking at something with utter indifference whilst still paying close attention. Quite a talent one would need in the spy world.

Suddenly -as if he felt his privacy being invaded- Snape's charcoal eyes darted up to Hermione's surprised face. His lip curled in hidden disdain as she gaped at him, and before another word was spoken she'd whirled around and gone back to her cauldron. She felt his eyes on her back a moment, but then became engrossed in the task before her. Her own dark eyes measured everything with precision, her hands sweeping along the desk and dropping in the various ingredients. When the potion before her had become a lovely, violent color she allowed it to simmer before measuring it into her sample tube and placed the stopper in it.

Perfect.

She tidied up her workspace quickly, thankful that for the rest of the class the Death Eater trio had left her alone. She looked over to Hestia and saw as she scooped out the mirky purple substance littered with flecks of debris. She gave an indifferent shrug to herself and dripped it into his sample tube, marking her name on it and placing the stopper in it.

"All right, cauldrons off everyone!" came the booming voice of Slughorn. "The class is over. Samples to the front on my desk and then you can all leave."

There was the sound of stools scraping as everyone scurried about with their samples to hand in and leave. Avery and Mulciber were first in line fairly bursting to go out of class. If she were lucky, she wouldn't have to see them again until her next class.

She herself decided to wait for the herd of students to thin out before going up herself to hand in her sample potion. She didn't want to risk another rude comment from the boys.

Lily and Hestia told her they'd meet her outside and she nodded gently scooping up her vial and making her way up to the front of the class. In time she noticed as Snape made his way up to the front of the room in a twitchy manner, as if he were ready for an attack on all sides. Hermione had seen enough of his past to completely understand the stance, but still was rapidly starting to lose empathy.

When she believed he would be rounding back to his desk -on that well placed heel of his- to grab his belongings, she bent down to retrieve her bag, turning her back on him as he passed. She was about to turn back to take her sample to the front when there was a small sound of glass shattering.

She stood rigidly in the near empty classroom, her heart beating painfully fast. She'd already cleaned out her cauldron; it was the end of the class. That couldn't be her sample that had smashed on the floor.

Snape stood with arms crossed and sneering smile on his pale face as he waited for her to turn around and see her sample in shambles on the floor.

"Stupid of you to place your sample so near the edge," he smirked widely for Snape knew from several talks with Draco that knowledge and education was something Hermione Lockheart favored above all things. And in this fashion, something like a poor grade would distract and upset her.

Hermione turned slowly, her eyes on the ground as she viewed her perfectly brewed potion in a mess on the floor. Her lip trembled in fury as she looked to the black boots in front of her, slowly leading up to the tall boy in front of her.

"Whoops," Snape whispered, looking to Hermione with infinite glee in his normally hateful eyes as her newly made potion sample lay in ruins on the floor. "I suppose that'll be a zero for you then."

Hermione looked down in shock at the remains of her sample potion, her body quivering in indignation. He'd done it on purpose. But why? Why was he continually picking on her? She wasn't the one who hung him upside down with his underpants for all to see! She wasn't the one to lead him to a werewolf's den to be killed! So then why did he hated her so much all of a sudden? One sudden look at the smirking young man before her led her to that ultimate conclusion.

"You smashed my tube!"

Snape gave her an incredulous look, a look of a young man that's about to put on a horribly dramatic act. First he blinked his eyelids in surprised shock -the sweeping up and down dance was horrifying- then his eyebrows rose in mock concern as Hermione gaped at him in mild horror. Then -and this irked Hermione the worst- he had the gall to shake his dark head at her and frown as if it pained him.

"I can't believe you'd blame your own clumsiness on me," he whispered with false indignation, a glimmer in his dark eyes the only thing giving him away. "How childish."

"You liar!" Hermione sputtered outraged, her hands curled into angry fists at her side, so tightly that her nails dug into her palm.

"Say say, what's the problem here?" said Professor Slughorn coming over and looking mightily concerned to see two very gifted pupils in the throes of an argument.

"He smashed my test tube!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing a shaking finger to the calm Severus in anger. "He knocked it over when I was retrieving my bag to leave."

Snape tsked maliciously, looking to Hermione as if he pitied her.

"What lies Miss Lockheart," His face was inscrutable then as he looked then to the Professor. "I did no such thing Professor Slughorn. When she turned with her bag she knocked it off herself. I was merely pass-"

"You're a liar!"

"Now now, I won't have name calling in my class. Severus is most advanced in this class," Slughorn said with a grim look on his face, "I see no reason as to why he'd do such a thing as sabotaging your potion sample."

"It wouldn't be to any advantage," Severus added diplomatically, looking to his Professor earnestly. They both looked back to her, one set of eyes imploring and the other maliciously filled with glee.

"He did it because he hates me," Hermione said through clenched teeth.

"Come now, Miss Lockheart," Slughorn said with a trilling laugh. "Let's not say such things."

"It's true," Hermione said, glancing at Severus for confirmation. His flinty eyes gave nothing away and she grimaced before looking back to Slughorn.

"I'm afraid that I'm just going to have to give you a failing grade for the day," the professor said with a stiff nod as he prepared to walk off.

"Use Veritaserum!" Hermione exclaimed, noting the sudden worried look on Snape's eyes. Although it was only that flicker in his eyes that gave himself away, the rest of him became stoic. "That'll get the truth out of him!"

"We don't use such supplies on trivial matters like this," Professor Slughorn said, looking more and more irritated with Hermione. "Now I'm sorry about your loss in sampling Miss Lockheart, but enough is enough. Clean up this mess before I remove house points."

Hermione felt the angry tears slipping down her cheeks as the Professor stalked off to his office, leaving she and Severus alone in the classroom. She viewed as he pointed his wand to the door, closing and locking it.

"I thought we might have a chat," Severus said plainly, pointing his wand to Slughorn's now closed door and muttering something under his breath, Hermione noticed it was a rather ancient silencing spell.

"We've nothing to talk about," she answered haughtily, giving him one last hateful look before preparing to brush past him to grab a sponge. Her want would be of no use to her, it seemed every day she was here it was becoming less and less useful.

She was beyond terrified at being along with Severus, but she refused to show it. She knew boys like Severus; they liked power any way they could get it. And if she showed fear, she was playing right into his hands.

She gripped the sponge and made her way over to the spill. To her chagrin Snape was still standing there, observing her like some greasy snake. She bent down, quickly cleaning the spill and praying he'd be gone before she was finished. When she'd righted herself she was disappointed to see him still standing there looking at her with an inscrutable look on his pale face.

"What do you want?" Hermione snapped. She felt his pincer like grip on her wrist before she'd even finished the question. He pulled her back viciously to him; his dark eyes regarding her flustered worry every moment. She was like a bird, fluttering against him, desperately trying to be freed from her confining cage.

He lowered his face until they were inches apart, his eyes hypnotizing her along with his voice. He was agonizingly slow in his speech, knowing it was the anticipation and not the words that frustrated and frightened people. His grip grew tighter as he finally decided to grace her with the words she already knew.

"We warned you."

She tried desperately to pull away, her eyes overflowing with furious tears. She raised her left hand and prepared to scratch at his hand for her release when he grasped it with his own hand, bringing her daringly close.

He backed her into the desk where her potion had once sat, his hips pushing hers so tightly against the table that it was impossible to escape. She wanted to cry out but wouldn't. She refused to let him win. She saw his hooded eyes rest on her face and she felt the blunt end of his wand under her chin.

"You need to stop insinuating yourself with us," Snape hissed, his eyes darkening. "You need to stay as far away from us as possible. Do you understand? If you don't, the next conversation we have won't be as pleasant."

He tapped his wand roughly against her chin, causing her to whimper. She found she was too afraid to actually speak. Too confused and rooted in spot by the younger version of her former professor being cruel to her. She'd never been this up close to him in the future and she found she was having a very hard time breathing as his hips pressed against her own.

Suddenly all her preconceived plans of heroism and defiance were gone as his pale pink tongue licked his lips eagerly, his eyes slowly descending to her trembling lips. She wondered in slow horror if he was going to kiss her.

"No- don't- please," she pleaded desperately, trying to wrench from his grasp as his lip curled in triumph. That was all he needed to hear to keep him completely in power. With the word 'please' had come her submission, and in that, his victory.

Before she could call out for Slughorn who was engrossed in paperwork in his office, Severus had darted -in an awe inspiring imitation of a snake attacking prey- and kissed her soundly on the lips. Hard. Only this wasn't a kiss of tender feeling, this was a rough, demanding kiss of anger and frustration. His lips were full and passionate and demanding her supplication.

She tried to fight against him, pushing against his chest. But his hands easily encased hers, gripping and pulling her mouth more deeply into his own.

Before she could fully understand what was happening Snape had drawn blood from her lower lip, causing her to cry out. He felt her trying to pull away from his lips and his body, the coppery taste of her blood mixing about in their mouths as he kissed her roughly, their teeth grinding against one another as he pushed her farther into the desk. He felt her squirming, but he was too powerful for her. Finally he pulled away and she was breathless, her eyes filling with furious tears. She noticed his teeth were covered in blood as he smiled at her darkly, reminding her of a vampire.

"Don't cross us again," he whispered hoarsely, his eyes still on her reddened mouth. Hermione flinched as she heard him use the term and she sneered at him. He felt his anger boil as she looked to him defiantly and answered.

"You don't scare me."

He was about to say something more when the door to the classroom opened again and Horace Slughorn walked in, surprised to see his students still there. Snape moved away from Hermione instantly, his head held high as Slughorn walked over to them oblivious.

"Oh, hello you two," he said cheerfully. "Finished cleaning up that mess, Miss Lockheart? Oh no, my dear. Have you cut your lip?"

"I'm fine professor," Hermione replied shakily, wiping her mouth for any grabbing her bag and rushing out the door. Snape watched her leave, dark amusement clear in his eyes.

She ran the entire way down to the dungeons, not even stopping as Lily and Hestia tried to catch her attention. She rushed through the common room and into the women's dormitory before falling onto her bed and burying her head in her pillow to sob.

She had a stitch in her side from all the running and her breath was coming out in small huffs. But none of that compared to the pain she was suffering now that she truly knew the cruel heart of Severus Snape.

Chapter 9

Hermione awoke the next day to see Hestia looking at her worriedly from the edge of her bed.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly as not to rouse the other sleeping girls. "You didn't come to supper last night."

"No," Hermione acknowledged with a shake of her head, her eyes shut tightly. "I'm afraid I wasn't feeling very well."

In truth Hermione had come to bed last night sobbing after her horrible altercation with Snape in the potions classroom. She hadn't the stomach to see him again at supper so she'd hidden in the room and fallen into a restless sleep.

Hestia nodded, looking to her new friend uncertainly. "Today is the trip to Hogsmeade. Would you like to come? Did your parents sign the form?"

Hermione was about to slump back into her warm bed and mutter something about being too ill when she suddenly recalled Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. It was a charming little shop that Hermione had been to before, and she had of course noted that it had a section in the back dedicated to books of all topics.

It wasn't as extensive as Flourish and Blotts, but it would have to do in a pinch. Perhaps something there could help them in their way getting back home.

"I think so," Hermione said thoughtfully, noting that she would have to speak with Albus before leaving the grounds. She'd also have to speak with Harry and Draco to see if they were leaving as well. "I'll have to check with the Headmaster."

"I've really enjoyed getting to know Lily better," Hestia said brightly. "I suggested the three of us get some tea at Madame Puddifoots this afternoon and she seemed very keen."

"Sounds brilliant," Hermione said, jumping out of her bed and into the bathroom. She only hoped that Dumbledore would understand why she needed to go.

Harry bounded out of bed that morning, eager to see Hogsmeade and its delights. Would it be so much more different back in this time? Would they have the same shops? He brushed his teeth quickly, excitedly replaying the conversation the group of them had had last night.

"We need to get a butterbeer tomorrow," James said over dinner, his eyes glancing over at the Slytherin table before back to the group.

"I'd much prefer a firewhiskey," Sirius said, causing the group to chuckle.

"I think I'd actually love to take a look in Zonko's," Lupin offered gently. "I hear they've got some cracking new stink pellets."

"Or Honeydukes," Peter offered with a small smile. "They have the most delicious fudge and-"

"Maybe we should get Snapey an early Christmas gift," Sirius said, ignoring Peter entirely. "Merlin knows he can't afford one himself. I say we all pitch in to get him an entire set of nose-biting teacups!"

The group gave a great laugh at that, all trying to imagine a teacup dangling off the end of Snape's large nose. Harry laughed as well, but there wasn't much glee behind it. If anything he felt rather disingenuous. Plus, he hadn't really enjoyed Sirius comment on Snape's lack of finances. He felt himself bristle a moment as Sirius clapped his shoulder in amusement.

"Besides we need to show our new mate Harry here, Madame Rosmerta!" Sirius added with a thundering whoop.

The boys chuckled and "ooh-ed" at that, and Harry felt the tips of his ears turn red. Madame Rosmerta? She was there back then?! He smiled gently into his pumpkin juice before he heard James ask quietly:

"Do you think your friend Lockheart will be coming?"

Harry faltered a moment as he looked at his reflection in the mirror, thinking about his father's seeming infatuation with Hermione. He wondered if he should intervene – would his father ignore Lily altogether if he pursued Hermione? Or was this a normal natural crush that he would grow out of? He paused, thinking a moment before deciding that today he would talk James out of ever liking Hermione.

At this he thought of Hermione and how angry she'd been at him. These past two weeks she'd done nothing but ignore him in the halls, speaking quietly to him about obeying the laws of time travel and otherwise not giving him the time of day. He missed her and her annoying know-it-all attitude. He missed that sweet, mothering way she had about her with he and Ron.

He missed Ginny in that moment as well, wondering what she must be thinking right now. Surely she'd been notifie that he'd suddenly disappeared. What if he was never able to get back to see her? The thought was crushing.

There's nothing you can do about it right now. Enjoy what you have.

With that resolution in mind he rushed over to where James lay snoring in the dormitory; his hair mussed and his one leg hanging off the bed. Harry smiled as he looked down at this, observing that both he and his father held their arms out the same way when sleeping.

Best stop staring like a creep before someone sees me!

"Wake up!" Harry crowed, pushing the sleeping frame of James awake. "Let's go to Hogsmeade!"

Draco paced in the Slytherin common room early that morning. He'd been awake for hours waiting for the rest of the group to wake up. He glanced at the doorway to see Snape walking over with a scowl.

"Good sleep?" Draco asked, trying to look impassive as the boy came over, pulling a light jacket on and flipping his slytherin scarf around his neck. It looked old and beat up and Draco could see small holes near the end.

"Are you coming with us to Hogsmeade today?"

"I thought I might," Draco said, trying not to let his excitement show. "I believe you said you wanted to introduce me to someone while we were there? A Malfoy someone?"

Draco tried to school his features as Severus looked to him suspiciously. "Indeed."

"Are the rest of them coming?" Draco indicated his head towards the boy's dormitory.

"No, they rarely leave the schoolgrounds," Snape was about to go on when two Slytherin girls walked by and he suddenly stopped talking. Draco glanced over to see the two girls dressed warmly and chatting quietly between them. It was Hermione and that tall girl if he were correct. He gave her a small nod which she returned.

She saw Snape glancing over at her and she paled before they rushed up the stairs, taking two at a time. As if feeling physically compelled to pursue her, Snape headed in the same direction, his long legs carrying him quickly. He moved like a great spider, all legs and twitching.

"Are you coming or not?" he called over his shoulder to Draco as he made his way up the stairs. Draco needed no further prompting and he joined Severus as they drew into the Great Hall.

Dumbledore stood at the front, surveying the students and telling Filch (goodness Filch was here back then!) which names should be on the list. Filch looked much the same, just younger. Hermione was displeased to see him all the same.

Hestia went to grab a pumpkin juice, leaving Hermione alone at the Slytherin table. She looked up to see Harry leaving his group of Marauders and strolling over to her.

Look at him so content. He won't be so happy when I tell him there's a good chance we'll never make it back home!

Harry strode over to Hermione, gathering her into a hug that she hadn't been expecting. His grip was tight and intense and she returned it awkwardly, feeling the many eyes on them in that moment. Harry pulled back, his eyes searching her face.

"Do you forgive me yet?"

"Not completely."

"That's fair," Harry agreed, pushing a hand through his hair. Hermione couldn't help but grin at the familiar motion.

"Are you enjoying yourself Harry?"she asked in genuine interest. "I know how much you've been wanting this. Even if it didn't come about in the most honorable way, I hope you're making the most of it."

Harry felt his cheeks redden at his friend's earnest response. Even though he'd done something so awful she was here and she cared that he was enjoying himself. What had he ever done to deserve a friend like Hermione Granger?

"I know you think I'm a selfish prat, Hermione. But I hope you also realize that I just needed to see them once. To actually talk to them. To spend time with them."

"I do think you're selfish," Hermione agreed quickly noting her friend's frown. "But I also understand the need for ones parents. Having to obliviate my parents was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do."

Harry nodded, regarding Hermione a moment.

"So are we friends again?" he asked shyly, looking to her with those bright green eyes of his.

"We were always friends you git," Hermione said, throwing her arms around her friend and smiling as he held her tightly. They broke apart quietly, glancing over to see their prospective friends looking to them queerly.

"Do you think we'll be able to go to Hogsmeade?" Harry suddenly pondered. "I just assumed we would, but what if Dumbledore says no?"

"I'll take care of it," Hermione promised, giving Harry's hand a small squeeze before breaking from him and moving towards the front of the room. Harry jumped back to join his group of Marauders, minus one annoying Peter Pettigrew. This was thankful, as Harry had to try especially hard not to strangle him.

"Are you and that Harry boy dating?" Hestia asked, catching up with Hermione as she strode towards Albus. "I just saw you hugging."

"Me and Harry?" Hermione let out a sharp laugh that made nearby students wince. "No Hestia. He's more like the brother I never had. Excuse me one second."

Albus was quietly talking to a first year Hufflepuff, but quickly ushered the child along when he viewed Hermione approaching.

"Hello Headmaster," Hermione said as she drew to the tall figure. "I assume our parents have signed our forms to allow us a trip to Hogsmeade?"

Oh please don't tell me no. You don't understand how important it is we go.

Albus surveyed Hermione's raised eyebrows a moment, the intent behind her tone before turning to Filch.

"Ah yes, I forgot there will be three more names added, Argus. A Hermione Lockheart, Draco Parkinson and Harry Finnegan."

Filch gave Hermione a glare before quickly writing down the names. She knew he hated letting the students out and keeping track of them.

"Thank you sir," Hermione said warmly. She turned back to see Hestia and now Lily looking to her with large, expectant smiles. It was time to go to Hogsmeade.

"Why hello Pettigrew," Lucius said lazily as Peter rushed over to him in the Shrieking Shack, his bug eyes nearly bulging in nerves. The handsome blonde sitting motioned to a chair across from him.

Lucius had chosen the rather desolate section of Hogsmeade for their meeting. No one ever came to Hogsmeade this early and none of the students ever actually dared to come in.

"Pull up a seat."

Peter nodded grunting, pulling out the chair and seating himself rather squeakily on the chair. Looking to him Lucius could almost see the young man as a giant rat. They sat staring at one another a moment, sizing each other up as the gentle hum of laughter outside permeated through the walls. Lucius sat comfortably back, crossing his arms lazily.

Peter had on a ripped cloak -probably all that he could afford- and was practically raining sweat onto the shack's creaking wood floor. He was nervous to be meeting with the powerful Lucius Malfoy alone.

"We-well, hello Malfoy," Peter said nervously, his voice hitching on the words and his hands rubbing back and forth at a frantic pace. His nose sniffed the air on occasion absently; Lucius watched it go back and forth until it became quite trying. "I'm here like you said."

It had been most deceptively easy. All Lucius had to do was have Avery walk by him in the hall and slip a small note in his pocket. He knew all too well that the ugly teen hated his position in his clique and would do anything for a new role. Even as a follower of Voldemort.

"Indeed you are," Lucius said with a fake smile, "And, alone I presume?"

Peter looked perplexed a moment nodding, "Yeah. The rest of them are out shopping. I didn't even tell them I was leaving."

"They often leave you out in that regard, don't they?" Lucius said smoothly, making himself seem more approachable. "How cruel."

"Oh well, I don't care much for shopping," Peter said with a shaky laugh, "So I'm not really left out."

"Yes," Lucius said a bit perturbed. "But, Peter, from what my friends tell me, they notice that when you are all together, you seem to be the odd man out."

"Oh I wouldn't say that."

"But I would," Lucius added silkily, thankful that no one could see him skulking about with this ridiculous looking teen. The craters in his face were unmistakable, his beady eyes disturbing. "Even that Finnegan get's along better with them and he hasn't even been here a month."

"Oh, Harry." Peter said with a shrug, "He'll be leaving soon. It'll be like the old times then."

"Do you really believe that?" Lucius asked thoughtfully, looking to Peter as if he felt for him. "Peter, don't you ever grow weary of being the fourth wheel to those ridiculous fools? Don't you long for the days when you won't have to hang at the back of the group, for a day when people look to you in admiration? Don't you yearn for the days when you're not the follower and sidekick of those morons?"

Peter was silent, and Lucius took this as a good sign. He hadn't bolted from the seat to leave or tell his friends. He hadn't really tried to defend them or their 'honor'. He was a puppet waiting to be manipulated, a wanderer wanting to find his niche. Lucius was merely acting as an aid to do so.

"Peter, what I'm offering is a position into power. I'm offering you a position, in You-know-who's army."

Peter's beady eyes grew wider as he looked to the pale young man in front of him, the silvery eyes waiting for a response to his imploring look. The eager smirk already playing about on Lucius' lips as Peter held in a gasp.

"He who must not be named?"

Voldemort? His Army? That meant evil. But evil meant Power. Respect. Peter's mind wandered with thoughts of him marching down the halls of Hogwarts with people respecting him, not asking where James was. James would be his sidekick-

"But...but," Peter breathed heavily, his eyes bulging even more out of his ruddy skull. He wanted to say 'Voldemort is evil' but knew that offending Lucius Malfoy -whilst alone in the Shrieking Shack- was a truly stupid move. Instead he trailed off, refusing to meet the smirking boy's face.

"The Dark Lord is taking over everywhere Peter," Lucius said with hands clasped on the table. Obviously it was going to take a bit of negotiating on his part to sway the ugly boy. "His has weapons you can't possible imagine. He is powerful Peter, powerful and he rewards his loyal followers. What gain would there be in refusing him?"

"None I suppose...but-" Peter said lowly as Lucius' smirk faltered. He'd been sure the boy would bend easily. "Why are you offering me this? Of all the people here?" He made motion to himself that only proved his lack of confidence. "Why, I'm not even in Slytherin. I'm horrible at dueling-"

"That may be true Peter." Lucius interrupted with silken ease, as Peter looked to him in minor admiration. Lucius exuded power, evil, dark power. "But in my mind I know you deserve it. I've seen the power you could have. You have ambition, you have links to influences."

"Oh, Potter and them," Peter said sullenly, "I see, you just want me so you can take them down in this ruddy school. You don't want me-"

"Calm down boy," Lucius hissed, darting his eyes around to ensure that they were still alone. "I meant nothing of the sort. I only wish to inform you of the leverage you already contain." He saw Peter was interested again and continued speaking.

"All I mean is if we had those pathetic egocentrics out of the picture, why we of the dark arts and of Voldemort's following could run all of Hogwarts...and after that, perhaps more. Just imagine it," Lucius said smirking as Peter's eyes fell shut at the thought. "No more laughter Peter. No more jeering. You'll be more influential and well known that James in this school. People will be begging to sit with you at meals. You'll be untouchable."

Peter was silent a moment, his eyelids fluttering open as he looked to Lucius' wolfish grin. His round stomach was paining him, and he licked his dry lips slowly.

"I guess I just don't see how I fit into all of it." Peter said glumly, "I'm nothing like you Avery and Mulciber and Snape-"

"There's always room for more," Lucius said with a shrug, "As for Severus however, I'm afraid he might be out of the picture soon enough. I believe he might be growing soft on me."

"How so?" Peter asked interested, as if he could already visualize filling Severus' boots. These were men with power in the school. Instead of being friends with those influential and well liked and failing, it seemed only natural that he should be friends with those that were powerful and cast off like himself.

"I've noted with displeasure how often he speaks of Lockheart," Lucius said with a look of distaste as Peter looked to him in surprise. "There's something there that he won't admit. He's never looked at any girl around here like that. I'm beginning to question where his loyalties lie. But you Peter-" Lucius added with great praising tones, "you would be a most esteemed partner in all of this. Why, if you proved yourself enough to Voldemort- this school would obey you."

"Me?" Peter squeaked, his chubby face lighting up at the mere thought. People obeying him? All these indoctrinated thoughts of fame and respect were slowly overtaking him, James and the rest of that snobbish group becoming a memory. He remembered how he'd felt a few nights ago, seeing James being turned down by that Lockheart girl. He'd looked so defeated, and Peter had felt vindicated. He wanted that feeling again.

"Yes," Lucius said with a grin. "Do we have a deal?"

Peter seemed to consider this, his beady eyes gleaming with thought as he looked to his new comrade. No more Peter the rat, no more Potter's sidekick. If he was lucky, perhaps he'd be one of Voldemort's powerful army men. A captain perhaps. There was pride in that. With a defiant nod of his chubby head Peter stuck out his shaking hand to seal his fate.

"We have a deal."
***

The students piled out of the train and into the town loudly, some kicking up the fallen leaves, shrieking in excitement as they approached the shops. Goblins, witches, wizards and more of all ages were already shopping and eyed the students with disdain.

"I need to get some new robes for ol Sluggy's party," Lily said as they walked along. "Do you mind if we stop at Gladrags before tea?"

"What party?" Hestia said sounding put out.

"Oh it's this silly thing Professor Slughorn throws every year," Lily said with a shrug of her shoulders. "It's for the students he picks to be in his Slug Club. Most of the time we just sit around talking and eating dessert. He's really quite sweet, but goodness his parties are dull. Once a year either around Halloween or Christmas, Slughorn holds a party. Old Slug Club members come out and we're expected to enjoy ourselves but we rarely do. Usually we just eat the food, drink and chat. Don't feel left out, Hestia. You're really not missing anything."

Hermione could see the girl contemplating this and despite Lily's assurances, Hermione could see that Hestia would give her right leg to be part of such an exclusive club. Hermione wanted to add that she too had been to a Slug Party and it truly was a grim as Lily was saying. But of course she couldn't, and simply glanced over to her new friend.

"If you two don't mind I'd actually love to get to Scrivenshafts shop before tea. I wanted to get a new quill. How about you go look at dresses and I'll meet you at Puddifoots after?"

"Oh we can come with you," Lily offered.

"It's really quite boring," Hermione deflected. "Honestly I wouldn't want you to fall asleep. I'll meet you for tea though! Save me a brandy snap if they have them!"

The two girls nodded, suddenly engrossed with talk of dresses and dancing as Hermione slipped away, her eyes intently in front of her as she rounded some of the thatched roofed stores before coming upon the small shop on the High street.

The door opened with a twinkle that sounded like the coo of a dove and a small, older female witch looked to Hermione warmly.

"What can I find you dear? A silver goose feather quill? Some strawberry scented parchment? Anything we don't have can be brought in! I think a black-and-gold pheasant-feather quill would suit you just fine!"

"Actually I wondered if I might have a look at your books," Hermione said, quickly adding, "and then of course your quills."

The old woman nodded, motioning for Hermione to follow her to the back. "Now, what can I help you find? I'm afraid we don't have any of those romance potion books if that's what you're after. Strictly forbidden here."

"Certainly not," Hermione said offended at the suggestion. "I'm looking for some books on time travel or time turners if you have them."

The woman gave Hermione a curious look before nodding and drawing her to the back of the shop. She drew over to a tall beech display cabinet. Inside were about thirty books. The woman pulled a muggle key from her robes and began the task of unlocking it.

"Not many come in here for books," the woman explained as she worked. "Those that do are usually looking for more unique subjects than can be found at Flourish and Blotts."

Hermione nodded, watching as the woman opened the display case gingerly, not wanting to upset the tomes that sat there waiting to be read. Hermione's eyes ran hungrily along the spines as the woman spoke slowly.

"Now we don't carry anything on time turners per say as they're illegal," the woman said pulling on a large pair of spectacles from her robes. "But I believe I saw something on time travel just the other day when I was tidying. Been here for ages so it may not be of much use to you."

She was about to say something more when the cooing tinkle of the store bell rang and her head darted in that direction.

"Oop, new customers," the woman said apologetically, dashing off to help whomever had come in. Hermione didn't mind, she rather enjoyed that the woman was gone and not prattling on in her ear while she tried to concentrate. Her eyes ran along the spines of the books, hoping to find something that would suit her needs. She read the titles aloud, mumbling to herself.

"Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes."

Nope. No good.

"Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

Useless.

"Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches."

For goodness sake.

"Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."

Hmmmm, maybe.

"Time travel and the wizards who've gone before us."

Perfect!

Hermione took the large black book off the shelf, her eyes greedily taking in all she could from the index. Her eyes came upon one phrase that made her start: Potions and wormholes. Well, it was a start!

"Time travel?" said a voice from over her shoulder. She whipped around, clutching the book to her chest and fixing the boy with a nasty glare.

Of course it's him.

"Not that it's any of your business, but it's for a project," Hermione said darkly, pulling the book even closer to her chest. "A personal one."

"Why would a seventh year witch who can barely get through potions be doing with a book on time travel?" Snape said wickedly. "Trying to go back in time to before you made the mistake of interfering with us?"

Hermione shook her head at the boy looking at her with such disdain. Without another word he'd slunk off towards the register, trying to hold in the grin that threatened to spread further across his features.

He had to admit that he liked riling up the Lockheart, girl. It was quite funny to see her gape at him or get angry and get red in the face. His mind went back to the potions lab where he had cornered her and kissed her roughly. The way she whimpered against his mouth, her body so warm against his. His lips fairly tingled at the memory and he felt his stomach twisting pleasurably.

I want to do it again.

He blanched as this though flitted across his conscious mind, almost flinching as he walked. Severus had to admit that female attention was not something he had ever become accustomed to. The only girl he'd ever wanted had soundly rejected him. And although he would surely love Lily for the rest of his life, he knew that this was a one-sided affection. He knew that deep down women in general couldn't stand him. And why should they? He was ugly and arrogant and kept to himself and most thought him dangerous. If he was honest, that's how he liked it and until this Lockheart girl, he'd never felt the need to rectify it.

But now, recalling the girl's soft mouth he found himself rather disconcerted. Was it the power over her he'd craved? Was it the joy of humiliating her? Or was it that she was a delightful challenge? A mind as keen as his and a face that wasn't completely appalling? He glanced over to see the girl pursuing the parchment, likely waiting for him to leave the shop he mused.

"I'm here to pick up a parcel for Lucius Malfoy," Snape said quietly to the shop owner, his eyes darting back to see Hermione still shopping. The old witch nodded, heading to the back before coming back and producing a small package wrapped in twine.

"Two galleons, four sickles and five knuts please."

Severus passed her the money Lucius had given him, waiting patiently for his change. He could see Hermione out the corner of his eyes preparing to make her way to the register. The old woman handed his change back to him and he shoved it into his robes before he drew over to the side of the register, pretending to look at quills.

Hermione dawdled a few moments before assuming that Snape had left by then. She brought the book up with her to the front of the shop and held in a groan. Snape who stood glancing at the quills in front of him by the register. He'd obviously finished shopping as evidenced by the parcel under his arm. She assumed he was there to spy on whatever she was purchasing or just to cause her distress in general.

She ignored him resolutely placing the book on the counter and shielding it with her body the best she could. The sound of the cooing tinkle went off and she breathed a sigh of relief, assuming Severus had gone.

"I'll take this one please."

"Oh so you did find something useful," the woman said cheerfully ringing up her purchase as she glanced at the title. "That'll be fourteen sickles and twelve knuts, my dear."

Hermione nodded, about to reach into her robes to grab her change purse when she stilled.

I'm so bloody stupid.

She didn't have her purse. She didn't have anything because all of that was waiting for her back home in the 90's, along with Ron and her sanity! She immediately felt he cold creep of trepidation cross over her as she glanced up bashfully to the old witch. Hermione leaned forward conspiratorially, hoping that no one could hear her.

"Oh," Hermione whispered, turning a bit pink. "I'm afraid I don't have any money with me."

She heard a small scoff from beside her and refused to look. Obviously Snape hadn't left and was in fact enjoying her humiliation.

"Is it possible to pay you the next time I'm in?" Hermione continued, feeling her face go bright red. "Or send you the money by owl? I promise I'm good for it."

"This isn't a charity my dear," the woman behind the desk said gently. "If you don't have the money, we don't give you the item."

"But you see I really need this," Hermione insisted tapping the book and feeling Snape's eyes on her and wanting to be swallowed up. She must look utterly pathetic. "It's imperative I have this book."

The witch gave Hermione a small shrug as if to say "oh well" and went to take the book back. Hermione felt her hands shaking as she saw her one chance at escaping the past being slowly pulled away from her across the desk. Snape slowly lowered his hands into his robes pocket.

"Let me buy that for you," came a voice from behind her. Hermione slowly turned at the honeyed voice to see Sirius standing at her elbow, giving her a warm smile. Hermione could have thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him for that. As it was she gave him a grateful smile instead.

"Oh thank you," she breathed, trying not to sound too pathetic. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this. I will pay you back of course."

She of course wouldn't be, but if she recalled Sirius Black was not hurting for money in any way. Snape watched in disdain as the Lockheart girl fairly fawned over Black and his chivalry. He removed his hands from his robes, clenching his teeth and watching them through his curtain of hair.

"Nonsense," Sirius replied, throwing several sickles onto the desktop and glancing back over at Hermione with a large grin. Snape rolled his eyes at the display, trying not to wretch at the pathetic display. The woman behind the counter gave them a knowing smile before taking the book.

"I'll just wrap this up nicely for you so it doesn't get damaged on your way back," she said with a wizened smile. "I'll be back in a jiff."

"Thank you so much for this," Hermione gushed, knowing that Sirius didn't truly grasp how much he was actually helping her. He gave a shy shrug before placing a palm on the register casually looking to her from under impossibly long eyelashes.

"Listen Lockheart, you can consider us square if you'll consider being James's date for the Slug Club Party."

Hermione immediately grew cold, pulling away from the boy in displeasure. Was there no decent boys in all of this decade? What kind of person did they take her for? Some bimbo to hang off of James Potter's arm?

"I'm not going to any party with anyone," Hermione insisted, flashing a dark look in Sirius' direction. "Like I said, I'm very thankful for your help and I'll pay you back for the book and we'll be square. But I have no interest in being anyone's date for any party."

"James is keen on you," Sirius insisted, giving Hermione an imploring look. He had come into the shop after he'd spied Hermione specifically so he could give his mate a chance! He knew how much James wanted to ask Hermione to the dance, but knowing James and having been rebuffed by Lily so many times he was trigger shy.

"He's keen on Lily," Hermione countered.

"Lily never gives him the time of day," Sirius said with a shrug, not noticing as Snape's lips curled into a grin. "I'm sure he'd love to attend the party with you."

"Well I'm afraid I don't fancy him," Hermione insisted gently, trying not to be cruel. "Not just him, I have no interest in anyone. It's nothing personal, I'm just very focused on my studies. Please let him know that I'm very flattered, but I can't."

Sirius seemed to mull on this a moment before nodding. He couldn't force the girl could he? Perhaps James should give Lily another try?

"Well you won't go to the party with James then will you consider putting in a good word for me with Hestia? Those legs of hers go on for days."

Hermione surprised herself with a short snorting laugh, Sirius's response truly upending her. She couldn't help but think that Hestia and Sirius would make a disastrous couple, and she knew she couldn't mess about with their timelines even if she wanted to.

"I'll think about it," she said giving him a playful shove that surprised even her. She didn't know why but Sirius seemed like the flirty friend one had that felt almost brotherly. It was if he were a bit like Harry in that regard.

"I'll see you outside," Sirius said with a playful grin before departing. Hermione watched him leave, purposefully bumping into an eavesdropping Snape's shoulder. His parcel fell to the floor and he scrambled to pick it up, muttering about dogs under his breath.

Serves him right.

The old witch came back with the book wrapped in brown paper and tied with a piece of twine. "Here you are dear," she said handing the book to Hermione.

"Brilliant, thank you," Hermione said effusively, gripping the book close to her chest and preparing to walk out the door. She groaned as Snape's tall frame loomed into view. Her hand was on the doorknob to the shop when Snape intercepted her.

"So you're on the Sirius Black bankroll now are you?" He sneered. "How convenient it must be to buy ones friends."

Hermione saw a dark flash go through his eyes and she stepped towards him in defiance.

"I thought I was supposed to be staying away from you?" Hermione demanded, not caring that the shopkeeper could hear them. "It's pretty hard to do that when you won't stop following me around! So get lost and leave me alone!"

With that she angrily pushed by Snape and rushed from the shop, feeling his malevolent glare on her as she went.

"I think I'd like to play a prank on ol' Snapey," James said gleefully as they walked along the high street. "It's been a while since we really got the git."

They had previously been talking about the best way to spend their afternoon when Sirius had taken off, claiming he needed some supplies for school. While Lupin, James and Harry waited outside the shop for him, James had made this bold proclamation.

"We shouldn't," Harry offered gently, feeling traitorous as his father glanced over in surprise.

"Why would you stick up for Snivellus?" James asked harshly. "He's impossibly rude to your friend Lockheart!"

"Yes, well, we wouldn't want to get in trouble," Harry offered feebly. "Not in our short time here. Besides, I'm sure he's harmless. Just a lot of hot air."

The other boys exchanged a look that didn't set well with Harry at all. Did they know Snape was a Death Eater? Harry tried his best to school his features impassively.

"Do you know what he and his lot did to Mary MacDonald last year?" Lupin said quietly. The rest of the boys looked away, obviously knowing something that Harry didn't.

"What?"

Lupin debated whether or not to share, but then deciding that Harry was like one of them, he went on in his usual quiet way.

"Mulciber used the Imperious curse on her. He made her take off her knickers and give them to him in the middle of the corridor one day."

Harry felt his stomach recoil at that. Thinking of Snape being a part of that gang made him wince. He was having a harder and harder time imagining Snape as this war-hero of the future.

"Then before he could do anything worse, the Headmaster came to see what the issue was. But by then they'd all taken off and no one wanted to tell her the truth. Poor Mary didn't even remember what happened. They still tease her now about it."

"Were you there?"

"Of course not," James said with a snort. "If we'd been there he never would have stood a chance."

Judging by the looks on the boy's faces, Harry knew that what James was saying was the truth. They never would have stood for that sort of thing, especially when it targeted one of their own.

"Why don't you tease Mulciber then?" Harry asked curiously. "Or Avery for that matter?"

"I dunno," James said with a shrug. "Snape is just so much more fun to tease, I suppose. He always gives such a good reaction. Yelling and shouting and threatening. Plus, he gives as good as he gets. It's rather more like a competition than anything. He's the one who started it all those years ago."

"Really?"

"Yep," James agreed. "Our first year. It was the Valentine's party, Lily and Severus were friends back then. Well anyway, I'd gotten Lily this large box of chocolates."

"He was quite sweet on her back then," Lupin interjected. "Still is, actually."

"As I was saying," James continued with a patch of pink starting on both his cheeks. "I'd gotten her this large box of chocolates. I gave it to her during the party and when she bit into one a large cockroach came crawling out. The entire box was full of them! She was so furious she threw the entire box at me and didn't speak to me again until our third year. And there was Snape, standing beside her and giving me the smuggest look I've ever seen. I knew in an instant he'd been behind it. He even admitted it last year when we had his head in the toilets. But by then he and Lily weren't speaking so it didn't matter much. And I suppose ever since then we've engaged in pranking one another."

"Why did Lily stop talking to him?" Harry asked, even though he already knew. He was curious to her father's take on all of it. Sirius suddenly rushed out of the shop, listening in politely as James continued.

"I don't really recall," James said with a shrug. "He got mad at her one day. Called her a mudblood. She never really forgave him."

"Can't blame her," Harry said. "Hermione's got muggle parents and if I ever hear someone use that word I just lose it."

"Yeah well, after that Snape got worse. He started hanging around more and more with that lot Mulciber and Avery," James suddenly looked solemn. "I hear they're tied up with you-know-who. They're completely obsessed with Dark Magic. It's why I'm so concerned for your friend, Lockheart. She shouldn't get caught up with them."

"She won't," Harry insisted.

At that very moment the door to Scrivenshaft's jangled open and Hermione walked through the door angrily. Hot on her heels was Severus Snape fixing the back of her head with an unreadable look. She took off down towards Madam Puddifoots and Snape towards the Hog's Head. No one could deny that the two of them had exchanged words before their dramatic exit.

The three boys looked over to Harry with uncomfortable glances before James spoke softly.

"From what I can see Harry, she already has."

Draco walked towards the Hog's Head tavern, his mouth dry and his breathing accelerated. Severus had told him to meet Lucius there at 11 o'clock and that he would arrive shortly after. He himself had something he needed to pick up first. Draco had tried not to jump at the opportunity too quickly, casually saying he'd meet him there.

But now it was 10:55 and Draco glanced up at the worn wooden sign over the door that displayed the severed head of a Boar. Draco had never actually been in this pub, often favoring the Three Broomsticks. The Hog's Head had always been known as a bit dodgy, a bit dirty. As Draco walked in the front door he was chagrined to find that the rumors were true.

A tall, grumpy looking wizard with blue eyes peered back at Draco from over the bar before going into the back. Sawdust was strewn about the floors, and Draco was dismayed to find it even smaller than it had appeared on the outside. Grime of centuries clung to every window and he grimaced as he realized that even the rags behind the bar seemed filthy. Just being in this room was making his skin crawl.

Yet he knew why his father had suggested such a place. It was off the main street, no students ever came here. Not even the teachers of Hogwarts. Even now while the rest of the shops were bustling, the Hog's Head was veritably empty, save for the silver-haired man with his back to the door in a booth in the shadows.

Father.

Draco felt his throat tighten as he saw the familiar back of his father's head. He longed to rush over, to hug him tightly even though his father had never been one for emotional demonstration. But of course he stilled, trying to take on an air of casual indifference. He walked haughtily over to the table. He saw the man tilt his head in interest as he approached.

"Are you Lucius?" Draco asked, feeling idiotic because he knew it was.

At this Lucius glanced over fully, taking in the pale boy in front of him. It surprised him, for the boy could be a relative of his own! He stood, giving Draco a formal once over and finding favor he nodded to himself.

"You must be Dragon," Lucius said extending his hand to the blonde boy in front of him. "I've heard much about you from Severus. Please, take a seat."

"It's Draco," the boy corrected, shaking the wizard's hand and openly gaping.

While many could agree that Lucius Malfoy outwardly grew up to be a very handsome wizard, as a young man he was fairly beautiful. His was so silver it glistened and his cold grey glittered under thick blonde eyelashes. His pale, pointed face held an air of sophistication and Draco tried to look away for fear of staring.

It was strange seeing him here now, only a few years older than Draco yet so much more confident, self assured. He looked down his pointed nose at the boy, giving Draco a cold smile.

"So you've come to learn more about the Dark Lord,"

"Yes," Draco nodded, his throat constricting slightly. With that Lucius brought out his wand, casting a silencing charm over the both of them so they could talk in privacy.

"The Dark Lord is the only true power left in this world," Lucius said finally, taking a large sip from the tumbler in front of him. "He intends to bring pure-blood wizards the power and status that is rightfully ours. He no longer believes we need a world of muggles and mudbloods sullying our lines. What do you say to that, Draco?"

Draco nodded gently, trying to digest the information. While his father had told him many things about Voldemort in the future, actually sitting here with him talking so openly made his skin crawl. Right now, in this time, Voldemort was on the precipice of taking over.

"I say that it's about time," Draco offered shakily. "I'm sick to death of having to work alongside those who are unworthy."

He was about to say something else when Severus strode into the abandoned tavern, his countenance grim as he strode over the pair. He slipped in beside Draco, pushing the package towards Lucius, along with a few sickles and knuts

"Oh please keep the change Severus," Lucius said with a sickening smile. "Treat yourself to something from Honeydukes for your trouble."

Severus blushed furiously before shoving the money back into his robes and crossing his arms in front of him. Everyone knew he was skint, even the jacket he wore looked threadbare. Lucius looked to the package before them and gave a small smile.

"Gents, this is exactly what we need to bring that mudblood down."

Chapter 10

"We have to make our own wormhole," Hermione explained to Harry as they sat in the Library two afternoons later. She pointed to a small bit of text in the book she'd bought. She'd spent the entire last two nights reading until her eyes were crossed and she'd fallen into a deep sleep. From what she gathered it was rather complicated mix of magic.

"See right here. It gives the potion and spell that could make it happen."

"So if it's so simple why doesn't everyone do it?" Harry asked, shocked that Hermione had figured this out. He never failed to be impressed with Hermione when she set her mind to something. She was animated as she spoke, pointing to the book and the piece of parchment she'd scribbled on.

"Well firstly it's not that simple," Hermione said, pointing to the list of supplies they would need. "Look at all this; it'll take weeks to find it all. Then when we actually have everything we need that's still not enough. We need those in the future to open one on the other side."

"Hermione that's impossible."

"Don't say that," Hermione said, biting back anxious tears. "I know we can do it. We just need some time and we need some supplies. I think I can get the first three, but I need you to grab the last three. Do you think you can manage?"

"I'll try my hardest," Harry said, meaning it. He knew Hermione had given up so much for him. They'd been stuck in this past almost three weeks. Three weeks away from the comforts of home, away from family and loved ones.

"And while you're at it, think about how we can contact those in the future without irreparably ruining the timeline," Hermione added. "That's where I'm getting rather stuck."

"Consider it done."

Hermione continued to read on in silence with Harry glancing over his shoulder every few moments as he mulled over how to reach the future. Hermione noticed this and looked up from her book.

"Waiting for someone?"

"Erm, the guys," Harry said sheepishly. "We're going to do a bit of dueling for fun."

"Don't you think you should be focusing on how to get these items?" Hermione asked strictly, holding up the parchment in front of Harry's nose. "Or how to contact the future?"

"Yes," Harry agreed, taking the parchment and shoving it into his robes pocket. "It's just, well, can't I do both?"

Before Hermione could reprimand him, the door to the library creaked open and Sirius' dark head had peeked around the corner. His eyes settled on Hermione and Harry and he gave a small wave in their direction.

"C'mon Wings," Sirius whispered loudly, earning him a loud "shhhhh" from the irritated Madame Pince. Hermione glanced over at Harry with a raised eyebrow.

"Wings?"

"Because I'm so good on a broom," Harry said with a self conscious laugh. Hermione rolled her eyes good naturedly as her friend took off, leaving her alone and considering the book. The eggs of a lolligo. She didn't even know what a lolligo was! She'd have to continue researching that one.

She frowned deeply, thinking about how she would acquire this before glancing at the second item. A phoenix feather – that shouldn't be too hard. She hoped Albus would be on board with it. She couldn't see why not. But if he wasn't, she could always try Ollivanders. Her eyes drew down to the third item, her head pounding as she re-read what she'd need to procure: Unicorn blood. Bloody Unicorn blood! Why she might as well just get a lock of Tom Riddle's pubic hair at that rate!

She glanced up to see she'd been in the library almost two hours. She needed to take a walk and stretch her legs. Most importantly she needed to see Albus about the phoenix feather. She pulled the book into her book bag and slung it over her shoulder before heading to the Headmaster's office.

She made her way down the corridor, thankful not to run into anyone she knew. She rushed up the winding steps to the office. She knocked gently, waiting for him to welcome her in and opened the door. Albus sat in his office looking happily to Hermione.

"Welcome Miss Lockheart," he said softly. "Please shut the door behind you."

Hermione did as she was asked before taking a seat across from Albus. "Can I offer you anything? Tea or pastries? A chocolate frog perhaps?"

"No sir," Hermione insisted, placing the book on Albus's desk and opening it to the pertinent page. "I'm here because I actually think I might know a way of getting us home. But I need your help."

Albus leaned forward in interest, his eyes wide. He had been so consumed with Tom Riddle and Order business that he'd not had as much time to devote himself to their cause as he would have liked. He was delighted that she seemed to have made some progress. He glanced over the page in the book, reading quickly and nodding.

"I see," he said nodding. "You'll be needing Fawkes then."

"Yes sir," Hermione said solemnly. She watched as Dumbledore stepped over to the cage, petting the bird gently before grabbing one of its fallen wings on the bottom of the cage. And handing it out to her.

"Will this do?"

"Brilliantly," Hermione said with a large grin. She pulled the feather from Albus' grip and shoved it into the envelope she'd grabbed off his desk. "Only a few more items needed and then there's the matter of future contact."

"Future contact?" Albus said with a raised eyebrow.

"We need to contact our future selves," Hermione said with a shrug. "They need to open their own wormhole in the future to allow us to travel through. But I've no idea how to actually do that without upsetting the timeline."

Albus pursed his lips at this, considering Hermione for a moment before a light came on in his twinkling blue eyes. He leaned across the desk excitedly. "Do the portraits still hang in the headmaster's office in your time?"

"Yes," Hermione said, looking to Dumbledore in interest. "Why?"

"Let me handle that," Albus said with a smile. "It's about time I was able to give you some sort of reprieve in this predicament. Continue about your day, Miss Granger. I assure you that all will be taken care of."

Firmly in the future McGonagall looked at the photo's Ron had brought her hours earlier and shook her head sorrowfully, refusing to wallow in despair but finding it all too difficult. She had been pacing back and forth for the last little bit, trying to clear her head before glancing back at the items on her desk.

"Oh Harry m'boy," she said lowly, "what have you done?"

The various photos lay about on the large mahogany desk, and in each of them were Ron, Hermione and a shadowy looking Harry. It wasn't that he was dark and smoky, it was as if in all the photo's that Harry had been in, he was near transparency, quite opaque. His smile the same, his waving was still emphatic. But he was ceasing to exist in the photos as if he were being erased.

But why? And why just Harry?

Her eyes drew to the door of the office opening with a creak. Horace walked into the office tiredly, his eyes bleary. He held out a small sloshing vial and handed it to McGonagall with an air of deference.

"It's the best I can do in such a short timeframe."

McGonagall nodded, grasping the vial and rushing off to the Room of Requirement. Minutes later she and Ron stood there, looking at what Ron assured her was the room when they'd left. She unscrewed the potion, slowly tossing it into the air and waiting.

A small pink cloud of smoke began from the floor slowly curling up into billowing curls. It travelled the length of the Room of Requirement as Ron and Minerva glanced over at it. It seemed to before coming to settle over the turning into a bright purple. It stayed like this a good five minutes before disappearing completely.

Having no experience with this type of potion, Ron glanced over at Minerva. "What's that mean?"

Minerva glanced over at Ron with a dark look on her face, her lips thinning into urgent lines of displeasure.

"It means they never left this room, Mister Weasley."

"Hermione!"

Harry rushed over to Hermione who was on her way up from the Slytherin common room on her way to the library. The common room had been mercifully empty since everyone else was out at a Quidditch match. Slytherin versus Gryffindor if she was correct; always a heated match. Hestia had promised to tell her all about it when she got back, not noticing that Hermione could care less.

"I'm surprised you're not at the match!" Hermione said in surprise. "Weren't you going to be an alternate?"

"I told them I was ill," Harry said breathing heavily, obviously having run all over to find her. "It gave me a bit of time to sneak off and get this."

He passed something to Hermione in a small unmarked vial with a thick cork. "It's the Lobalug venom. I used James invisibility cloak to get it from Slughorn's stores. I'm working on getting some of that moonseed powder listed, but Slughorn didn't have any that I could see. I'll check in with the Herbology teacher and if nothing turns up I'll-"

Hermione threw her arms around Harry's neck before he could finish, nearly choking him. He had come through for them! She wasn't completely on her own here! She could have cried for the relief that this simple act brought her.

"Oh Harry, you're an absolute star!" Harry pulled back from the embrace with a shy smile on his face.

"And I've spoken to Dumbledore," Hermione added excitedly. "He's got an idea of how to contact the future. Oh Harry, it's going to happen, I can feel it! We're going to go home!"

She was about to say something more when Lily rounded the corner, viewing the two and giving a wave. Harry watched as she approached, never quite believing that this slip of a girl would one day in the not too distant future give her life for him. He sometimes found himself staring at her, wondering if she had any inkling of what lay ahead.

When he saw her youthfulness, her vitality he felt a pang of sadness go through him. And she was so nice to everyone! Even the students no one would give a second glance to! She would speak to them, patiently listen to them, give them helpful advice. It was no wonder that from Severus to James men were captivated with her, that they were drawn to her sweetness.

"Hello you two," Lily said as she approached, giving them both a beaming smile that raised a lump in Harry's throat. "Did you see the match? Very gripping!"

"Actually I was just heading back to bed," Harry said, trying to cough into his hands. "Not feeling so well. See you later."

With that he'd taken off down the hall, feeling the tears that were starting to build every time he saw his mom. Hermione watched him go; knowing what must be going through his mind. She looked back to Lily who was shooting Hermione a large smile.

"What have you been up to the last few nights?" Lily asked with a grin. "Hestia was hoping you'd show up to her Gobstones match."

"I know," Hermione said with a pang of regret as she recalled Hestia's disappointed face. "I've just got this project I'm working on – for my other school. I just really need to focus the next little bit."

Lily nodded, about to add something when Hermione viewed Horace Slughorn approaching them with a tottering nod. Hermione lowered her gaze, assuming he'd want to speak to Lily about some Potions project. She was surprised however to see his gaze firmly directed at her.

"Miss Lockheart I wanted to speak to you a moment if you please," Slughorn said gently. Hermione felt her stomach drop. What now? She wasn't even in Potions again until next week! Lily nodded towards Hermione before walking over to the side of the corridor, waiting patiently. Hermione looked up to her professor expectantly.

"Yes sir?"

"I've noticed these past few weeks that aside from that one unfortunate accident, you are a mighty talented witch. I've heard from the other Professors that you're just as formidable in your other subjects," he said with a jubilant tone.

Hermione couldn't help but preen at the compliment. Even in moments such as these she enjoyed being appreciated for her mind.

"Thank you sir."

"And on that note I'd like to extend you entry into my Slug Club. It's a bit of a social club where students come together to discuss the events of the day. We even have a party coming up in time for Halloween. It will be a wonderful chance to rub elbows with individuals of high society; all former Slug Club members of course."

Hermione faltered a moment, recalling this exact moment almost twenty years from now. She knew what awaited her at the Slug Club – a lot of boring talks, sickly sweet deserts and parties that she found interminable. She tried to extricate herself politely.

"Oh I don't know, Professor. I'm very honored, please make no mistake. But I'm afraid I don't know how long I'll be here. My parents and working with the ministry at the moment and we could be whisked away at a moment's notice," Hermione could see he wasn't budging. "I would hate to take the place of a much more permanent student of Hogwarts. Someone who is more deserving of such an exclusive invite."

"You are most thoughtful," Horace said with a large smile, feeling pleased that this Lockheart knew the importance of his little Club. "And quite charming at that! But I assure you, Miss Lockheart, there is room for all in the Slug Club that hold promise. Now, our next club meeting will be two weeks from Tuesday. To be held in my office at eight o'clock promptly. Be sure to bring your appetite!"

With that he strolled off down the hall, whistling in delight at his newest procurement. Hermione groaned inwardly, looking over to see a very overjoyed looking Lily Evans.

Draco drew into the common room, seeing Severus and the rest of the gang over by the far window engaged in solemn talks. No one bothered them; they seemed to hold an air of quiet power around them when together that the rest of the students tended to shy from.

"Ah," Avery said when he viewed Draco. "Our newest member."

Draco gave a grim smile before walking over to them, coming to stand beside Severus. The rest of them resumed their conversation in earnest, casting a silencing charm over them to ensure privacy.

"Severus was just informing us that Lucius is in the process of creating the perfect hex from that book of dark spells," Mulciber said with a shark-like grin. "That mudblood won't be bothering us for much longer."

"What sort of hex?" Draco asked, trying to remain casual. Inside his mind was whirring, his face trying to remain impassive. A hex against Granger? But she was their best shot at actually returning to the future! But how to protect her without seeming like it? He couldn't think of any way to do it that wouldn't rouse suspicion in his direction. And he needed the trust of these fools if he was to complete what he'd started.

"Its one of his own invention," Severus replied flatly. "Lucius has always been quite good with a wand. We'll know soon enough."

"But what will it do?" Draco urged, knowing that he was starting to appear quite desperate. "I've always had such an interest in curses and hexes."

"It'll get her out of our hair for a while," Avery said with a dark chuckle. Mulciber joined in, leaving Severus and Draco standing with their mouths in firm lines. They boys seemed to notice this and immediately looked to their newest member in suspicion.

"You won't be running off to tell her, will you Parkinson?" Mulciber threatened darkly. "I'm afraid the Dark Lord doesn't take kindly to mudblood sympathizers. And neither do we for that matter."

"No, of course not," Draco replied indignantly, knowing that he had no chance of saving Granger now. All eyes would be on him, and he still had his original plan to work on.

"Good," Mulciber said without conviction before turning to them. "Now, I think the Quidditch match is about to start. I've got twenty sickles on Slytherin trouncing Gryffindor. Who's in?"

The rest of the group gave a solemn nod before following the lanky boy up the stairs. Draco glanced over to Severus to see that the boy had a rather curious look on his face. Did Severus really believe that a hex was a good idea or was he simply going along with it? Could he trust Severus to confide in if he thought this was an unwise idea. In the end Draco decided that he wasn't really sure what side Severus would choose.

But then again that was Snape all over; you never knew if you could trust him or not.

Hermione walked out into the courtyard of Hogwarts, needing some fresh air and a chance to collect her thoughts. How on earth was she going to get out of this party?

"Hermione!" Hestia and Lily called out to her at once, giggling at their sing-song voices in unison. Hermione gave a small smile and headed in their direction before plonking herself down on the bench next to the girls.

"Have you heard?" Hestia said with a broad smile.

"Heard what?"

"Sirius asked Hestia to the Slug party," Lily said with a grin. Hestia continued to smile like an idiot, looking moonily off into the distance. Suddenly she sobered, looking to Hermione with a sad face.

"What's the matter?"

"I just realized you both still don't have dates," she said with a frown. Hermione tried to contain a smirk that was pulling at the corner of her mouth. If only Hestia knew how content she was with that outcome!

"There's still plenty of time," Lily assured Hestia with a small smile.

"I'm quite fine with not having a date," Hermione said with a dramatic sigh of joy. "I don't even think we'll be here that long."

"You've been saying that for weeks!" Lily countered, clearly unimpressed with this excuse. Hermione was about to counter with Hestia suddenly jerked off the bench with a small screech.

"I forgot! Today is the semi-finals of the Gobstones tournament!" she shouted, suddenly scrambling away from them. "If I don't play today I'll lose my spot!"

Her long legs carried her quickly away and Hermione and Lily smiled after their rather endearing friend. The two remaining girls sat on the bench, soaking up the silence until something niggled at Lily.

"Hermione, I know you like to keep a low profile. And I understand that may be your personality. But just in case you do decide you want a date for party, who do you think you'll go with?"

"Probably Harry," Hermione said idly, her eyes closed as she faced the warm sun. Harry was as safe a bet as any. Lily made a face, knowing she had to tell Hermione but wondering if it wasn't an intrusion. Deciding Hermione needed to know either way she finally decided to speak.

"Erm, I believe he's going with Miranda Jones from Hufflepuff" Lily said tersely as Hermione's dark eyes darted up to meet her own. "She asked him last week and he agreed. That was why I was certain you were staying for the party."

"Oh."

"So, if you're not going with Harry, you'll need a different date."

"I don't think so," Hermione said stretching her back on the bench as she recalled her fourth year with a bit of a puzzled look on her face. "To be perfectly honest, I've never been that fond of parties."

"But everyone who's invited goes." Lily looked completely gobsmacked that Hermione might not attend. "Ol' Sluggy will be quite slighted if you don't."

I don't really care what ol' Sluggy thinks, Hermione thought meanly. "I'll think about it," Hermione finally said, though her tone was flat. Lily turned on her, giving her the most dramatic pouty face she'd ever witnessed. It was so overdone that Hermione laughed out loud at the sight of it.

"You need to go! I want you to go," Lily continued pouting dramatically. "You're a good friend and I want you to enjoy yourself. You're always pouring over books, scurrying from class to class as if you're trying to hide from something."

Or someone.

"Oh fine," Hermione said evenly, "I suppose I'll go, for a few hours at least."

"Oh brilliant!" Lily said with a grin that slowly died as Hermione looked to her in question. "But, who are you going with?"

"I'll just go alone."

"But at the Slug Club dates to events are rather. . . expected." Lily said with a worried look on her face. Hermione merely shrugged her shoulder. Lily was quiet a few moments and then got an interested look on her face.

"What about Draco? I don't think he has a date."

"Not even if you paid me a thousand galleons."

Lily looked rather surprised at that. "Remus?"

"I'm afraid he's a bit too shy for me," Hermione lied, not wanting to tell her new friend that the ball -if her calculations were correct- fell on a full moon. Lily nodded, looking around the room as if for inspiration.

"Peter?"

Hermione didn't dignify that with an answer.

"Right. Sorry," Lily said with a laugh, "Stupid suggestion."

They lapsed into silence a moment as Hermione idly wondered how she'd get out of this obligation. If she flat out refused Lily would be disappointed and if she agreed she'd have to take a ruddy date.

"Oh I know!" Lily said with a smile, "Severus!"

Hermione actually cringed at the name, her mouth downturned into an angry glare at her paper. Severus Snape. Severus-nearly-shag-you-in-the-Potions-room-against-your-will-and-then-turn-out-to-be-a-monstrous-prat-Snape. How appealing.

"I hate him," Hermione muttered furiously as she wrote her essay whilst Lily looked on in question. She knew that they hadn't gotten on right away, but she hated him? She'd actually mentioned the name as a joke, but seeing Hermione's face and expressions she stopped.

"Oh he's not so bad," Lily said with a wayward smile, hoping that Hermione was just exaggerating. "He's just a bit irritable at times."

"How can you stand him?" Hermione said exasperatedly throwing her arms up in the air.

"Oh well," Lily looked to the sky as if her reason lay there. "I've known him since before our first year. He was a bit different then. He was quite wonderful actually."

"You've known James a long time and you loathe him," Hermione said sympathetically, looking to the blushing redhead in triumph.

"I suppose in the matter of James, it's not that he's mean to me, but he preys on those he deems to be unpopular and in turn, less able to fight back. The weak."

"Severus surely isn't weak," Hermione said with a snort as she thought back to the Potions class. "He could kill me if he wanted to." the word were spoken lightly, but in light of recent events Hermione assumed the latter was true.

"He wouldn't," Lily said knowingly as Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow. "Severus could do a number of things and he doesn't. It's just that he's caught up with those Mulciber and Avery prats. They're one of the main reason I don't speak to him anymore. He changed once he got involved with them."

Hermione wanted to pat Lily on the hand then, and tell her everything. That Severus was indeed as vicious as he appeared, and that yes he was a follower of Voldemort. She'd then want to tell her that he'd become a spy in his later years and that he'd turned out half decent. Suddenly the thought of the real Professor Snape and home seemed so far off that she felt suddenly sick and she dropped her eyes to the grass below. The Snape of now and the Snape of the future felt like such different people sometimes.

"I suppose you're right," Hermione said with a weak nod. "But aside from Mulciber and Avery, don't you find that he has a very close and vested interest in you know who?"

"I think it's all a ruse," Lily said excitedly, her green eyes sparkling as she held in a smile. "I think that Severus is just spying on you know who, you know, using all of those awful Slytherin lot as a type of pawn. He's terribly clever that way."

Clever enough to get you murdered.

"Right," Hermione finally said with a nod. "As you keep telling me."

"It won't matter if you go with him or not," Lily finally observed with a shrug. "He's one of Slughorn's hand-picked originals. He's been a member of the Slug Club since his third year."

"Oh great," Hermione grumbled.

They lapsed into thoughtful silence a moment as Hermione recalled the looks James had been giving her this the past few days. Wasn't he supposed to be acting like this towards Lily? She looked to the redhead with a look of interest then.

"Lily, do you often talk to Severus?"

"Oh no," Lily said with a shake of her head. "Not for a long time."

"Then, if you don't mind me asking, why were you writing him a letter that day we were in your closet?" Hermione held her breath, hoping this conversation wouldn't blow up in her face.

Lily looked to Hermione in surprise. "You saw that?"

"Erm, yes," Hermione said remembering the first day. "We weren't sure when to exit the closet, so we saw a bit. Nothing to be worried about-" she added as Lily's face blanched. "I just saw that you were, writing a letter- to Severus. And it seemed, well, odd, considering. . ." she trailed off.

Lily looked to her hands, a small blush rising on her cheeks as she did so.

"You want to know the truth?" Lily said with a small giggle as Hermione nodded excitedly. Lily opened her mouth to say something, a glimmer in her eyes when suddenly she turned red and shook her head. "Oh I couldn't."

"Yes, yes you can!" Hermione said with a small laugh. She nudged Lily playfully on the arm as she spoke. "Of course you can."

"Oh I can't," Lily said resolutely, looking back to her book and shaking her head until her light hair almost covered her face. "You'd call me a terrible hypocrite and everything else."

"Oh come then, I won't!" Hermione said sternly, trying to look authoritative. "Tell me now Miss Evans, I demand to hear it."

"Oh fine," Lily said with a giggle before glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "The truth is, I was writing to Severus to well, tell him to stop bothering James."

"WHAT!?" Hermione exclaimed in shock. "After all that talk about James being so cruel!"

"Well he can be!" Lily said defensively as Hermione gaped at her. "But that day, Severus was asking for it."

Hermione finally laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all, her eyes almost overflowing with amusement at the situation. It was the traditional love-hate relationship, and with Lily and James it was just too much. Sometimes it was like night and day with those two. Lily was an compassionate young woman who had no time for proud boasting. James on the other hand was a show off plain and simple.

"So," Hermione asked when she'd finally composed herself. "Are you going with him to the party?"

Lily blushed slightly, "he asked me a few weeks ago, but I turned him down."

Hermione shook her head, bemused with the situation. How James and Lily had become married was beyond her. "If I know James he'll probably be banging on your door to ask you within the week, trust me."

Lily nodded, "I was sort of hoping he would. I want to give him a second chance. He seems to have changed these past few weeks, for the better I hope. Why, he and Severus haven't had one bad word between them."

That's because Snape's been too busy bullying me. Hermione thought for a fleeting moment, then forced a smile on her face.

"Hermione, don't be too hard on Severus," Lily suddenly said, much to Hermione's surprise. "I mean, he's come from a horrible family. His parents were always fighting and-"

"How do you know?"

"We used to be friends," Lily admitted reluctantly, "Until we got older. Snape got meaner. I suppose it all ended when James had him upside down with his underpants on full display. I tried to reason with James but Severus took one hateful look at me and said, 'I don't need help from you Mudblood.'"

"What did you say?" Hermione said with a lump in her throat. She too understood the pain of being called such a cruel name. She could almost feel the tears at the back of her eyes.

"I told him to wash his underpants."

The two of them broke out into laughter then, as horrible as the situation was, but picturing Severus upside down with his underpants on full display was too funny a mental image to be stifled. And for the first time since she'd arrived in the past, Hermione felt herself let go and truly laugh.