Sirius saw the shimmering shield that wrapped around both him and Severus, but all he could think was Thank Merlin I was able to keep that away from my dad. The family needs him. Who knows what Mother would get up to without his calming influence. When the shimmer started to solidify, causing a horrible buzzing in his ears, he reached his hand out to Severus, who clutched at it wildly. The noise got louder and louder, until it was too much and Sirius passed out.
He woke up slowly, to the sound of voices. One in particular caught his attention: pleasant, female and just a bit bossy.
"Get back, all of you! Let them have some room. And someone call a professor, please!"
Sirius opened his eyes to a riot of curls, attached to a lovely, doe-eyed girl who was examining him as though he were a bug, even while she had her wand in her hand, ready for an attack.
"Show me your left arm, please," she said.
Sirius was astounded by the grim tone in the girl's voice.
"Certainly, doll." He rolled up his sleeve to show his bare arm.
"Can you vouch for your friend? I don't want to violate his privacy, since he isn't awake yet, but we can't move you out of this space until we know you aren't Death Eaters, you understand?" she questioned.
"He's not a Death Eater. I, Sirius Black, heir to the House of Black declare that Severus Snape is of noble intentions, and I vouchsafe his passage," Sirius declared while holding his wand aloft.
The girl nodded a pleased look on her face. "I, Hermione Granger, first of the House of Granger accept your oath."
"First?"
"I'm a first-generation witch. Historically we were called Muggle-born, but we've decided we like first-generation better. Death Eaters and their ilk still call us Mudbloods, though," she responded. "Wait, did you say Sirius Black? Really?"
Sirius nodded tentatively. He didn't know the girl, Lily certainly never called herself a first-generation witch, and Hogwarts uniforms hadn't changed in 200 years, so there was no clue there... Years? Oh, bugger! "Hermione? Could you tell me when I am?"
She smiled at the odd phrasing. "It is 1996, if that is what you are asking. I'm the sixth year Gryffindor prefect. I hope Luna went to get someone who can verify that you are who you say you are."
Just then a willowy blonde with large blue eyes returned with Professor Flitwick in tow. "Here, Professor. They appeared in a shimmer of light. Dean said it looked like a transporter beam, but I don't think the Muggle telly would send anyone to Hogwarts," she said. She then turned to examine Severus who was starting to wake up. "Hermione, look, he has really lovely hands!"
Hermione giggled, a sound that reminded Sirius of a bell pealing. She turned to Sirius and whispered conspiratorially, "Luna has a unique way of looking at the world. She is sensitive to magic, so if she says anything that sounds strange, like Nargles or Wrackspurts, please let me or one of the professors know, it could be important."
Professor Flitwick had finished his diagnostic of Severus, and turned to Hermione and Sirius, "Did the young man tell you who he was, my dear?"
"He says he is Sirius Black and the young man on the floor is Severus Snape. Sirius is not marked, and he made a wand-oath vouching for Severus," she recited.
"The diagnostic did not show any dark magic on the boy, and they most certainly look like our missing lambs. We should get the Headmaster, though," replied the diminutive professor. "Better to be safe than sorry."
The two girls nodded and made themselves comfortable on the floor, Hermione next to Sirius, and Luna, oddly, put Severus's head in her lap and began to stroke his hair. He began to stir, then opened his eyes to the lovely blonde who was gently running her hands through his hair.
He looked over at Sirius, who appeared to be chatting up a girl with wild curls in a hallway that looked suspiciously like Hogwarts. "Did we die, then, Sirius? Why does the afterlife look like Hogwarts?" he asked.
Sirius chuckled, a deep, resonating sound that make Hermione's insides turn to jelly. "No, Sev, we time-traveled. According to Hermione, here, it is 1996!" he exclaimed, while gesturing to the girl beside him.
Severus began to sit up, and was assisted by the little blonde. She smiled sweetly at him and said, "Hello, my name is Luna. I'm the sixth year Ravenclaw prefect. Are you really Severus Snape?"
Severus was taken aback by the genuine interest and the lovely smile. He shook his head. "Yes, yes, I'm Severus Snape. Nice to meet you, Luna." He looked over at Hermione and said, "Nice to meet you too, Hermione, even if Sirius didn't introduce you properly."
Sirius looked properly abashed at his lack of manners being pointed out. "Thanks for throwing me in front of a Bludger, Sev."
Severus looked up sharply, but realized there was a grin on Sirius's face. "Happy to oblige, Sirius." I guess he meant it when he said he wanted to be friends. At least I have one friend here.
The girls grinned at the good-natured teasing between the boys. Professor Lupin loved to tell of his two heroic friends who had saved quite a few people from the deranged Peter Pettigrew during their sixth year. They were quite pleased at having been the first to interact with them.
The four students heard footsteps and stood up to greet the newcomers.
"Father!" Sirius exclaimed and reached his hand out to his father. Orion waved his wand in a familiar pattern. Sirius glowed briefly when he finished. As soon as the young man began to glow, the Headmaster brought down the ward on the hallway with a sharp motion of his wand and pulled his son into his arms.
"The tapestry showed you in gold, although there was a wavering line over your name, so I knew you weren't dead, my son, but it is so wonderful to see you," he said into the hair of the boy sobbing into his shoulder. Orion turned and held he arm that wasn't full of Sirius out to Severus. "You look as though you could use a hug as well, Severus."
That caring gesture was enough for Severus to practically bolt the few steps to the Headmaster, who pulled him in close as well. After a few moments, he gently pushed the boys back and began to guide them to his office.
"Where are we going, sir?" asked Severus.
"To my office, young man. We need to get you both sorted, it is the same day you disappeared, only twenty years later. Hogwarts has changed quite a bit, and I will try to bring you up to date. If you don't mind the young ladies joining us, they can tell you a bit about what life at school is like now," Orion replied.
Severus and Sirius both nodded their assent. The girls fell in step with the group heading to the headmaster's office.
Orion got all four youngsters settled in his office and called for his house-elf, Kreacher, to bring him tea.
He took a long sip of his tea then took a deep breath and spoke. "I am certain you have a lot of questions, but please give me a chance to tell you the bare bones of what happened after the two of you disappeared."
The boys nodded.
"After you two jumped in front of me and Miss Evans and subsequently disappeared, Minerva McGonagall cast a spell to keep Mr. Pettigrew from returning to his Animagus form. Charlus Potter then used his power as an adjunct to the Auror office to make the boy raise his left sleeve. There, plain as day, was a Dark Mark. Albus Dumbledore had tweaked the wards to allow those with that foul mark to enter the school grounds; keeping any of the parents from realizing they were perversions of a Protean charm, partly including a drain on the magic of the bearer and hiding a slave bond. No pureblood would allow their heirs to be branded as slaves if they were aware. There was quite a backlash against allowing any more of the children to join him. If any wanted to, they had to wait until they were full wizards," he said.
"But sir, Hermione had me vouch for Severus, to say he wasn't a Death Eater... Why, if that madman was stopped?" Sirius asked, figuring no one would join someone willingly if they knew he was enslaving them.
"The Minister wouldn't allow the information to be disseminated, so only a few choice families were told of the problem. Your mother was so distraught, she took to bed for weeks, before finally fading away, realizing Bella was lost forever. You know how she adored her, even though she was only her niece. Luckily, Regulus had not been marked yet, he was scheduled to the weekend after you disappeared, but he can tell you more of that. Very few people in our circles took me seriously, figuring I was raving at the loss of my heir," responded Orion.
"If Voldemort hears that I have returned, I will be a target again, sir. Since you are leading us to your office, I guess we will be allowed to finish our studies. May I ask for sanctuary during the summer? I have no place to go other than Hogwarts," intoned a somber Severus.
"Of course, son."
There was a knock at the door, Orion looked up at a parchment over the entrance to his office and saw that it was Filius and the the rest of the professors.
"Ah, here are the professors. The rest of the story can wait, we will sort you now," said Orion.