1997...

Severus Snape was sitting in his office, Grading the latest group of 6th year essays that were completely dismal to say the least. They all lacked substance, research, and the general good old fashioned give a damn and the thought of grading them for another hour made him cringe.

He threw the quill down on the desk and rubbed his hands over his face with a groan. The last two months had been hell and he was stuck dealing with the dunderheads in the process.

Shortly after Hermione had disappeared, he started having flashes of things he didn't remember, flashes of things that would classify him a pervert if anyone had ever found out about it. He had done his best to block them out but each day they got stronger and longer, consuming his nights and disrupting his day – he didn't know what was going on and had no way to find out.

Deciding he couldn't stand to look at one more essay, he grabbed his robes and left his room for a walk around the lake, hoping to clear his mind.

The images that rushed through his mind were one's completely inappropriate for professor to have regarding a student. He had in fact been involved with Lucius through out school and sporadically through out the years following but he never remembered her being there, he never remembered being her friend and he never remembered a girl looking even remotely like her attending Hogwarts at the time he had – it was enough to drive a man insane and he was quickly approaching that edge.

He soon found himself at the tree near the lake and to his surprise, he wasn't alone. He would recognize that blond hair in a crown of over a million. The blond sat up against the tree, looking out to the black water before him.

"Couldn't sleep?" Severus asked as he approached.

Lucius turned his head towards Severus but kept his eyes down cast, " No, I couldn't." he replied honestly, "I feel like I'm missing something important but don't know what to do about it."

Severus walked forward and lowered himself down on the grass next to his still occasional lover.

"You seeing it too, aren't you?" Severus whispered.

Lucius's eyes darted up to the deep black ones staring at him, "Depends on what you are seeing." he answered evasively.

"Don't pussy foot Lucius, You know damned good and well what I am talking about."

Lucius finally let out a sigh, "She is a student, a muggle born at that – what the hell is going on here."

"I wish I knew for sure, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that she is missing." Severus answered.

"But her, Severus, of everyone?"

"I know, I know" Severus replied, "I wish that elf she had still lived here... I'd like to ask him some questions."

"What was his name again?" Lucius asked

"Tibbs, I believe"

A small pop suddenly occurred and an older looking elf stood before them.

"Did sirs call for Tibbs?" the small elf asked.

Lucius and Severus both looked at each other in shock – the damned elf was still here.

"Yes Tibbs" Severus replied, "I was wondering if you knew someone by the name of Hermione Granger."

The little elf's eyes went to the size of tennis balls and will with love.

"Miss is my master" Tibbs replied, "But Tibbs was told to stay away from her until she returns." he finished sadly.

"Why?" Lucius asked

Tibbs let out a sob, "I had to stay away, miss made me promise over twenty years ago."

"Sit down Tibbs and tell us what you know." Severus ordered.

Tibbs looked around nervously before sitting down on the grass in front of the two wizards.

"When Miss left twenty years ago, she was sad, so, so very sad. You's and my miss were mates and very close."

"The why don't we remember her?" Lucius asked

"Miss made me put twenty year memory charm on you, miss said that you couldn't remember her or many things would change."

"Time travel is never good" Tibbs added quietly.

"Do you remember when she will come back?"

Tibbs nodded his head enthusiastically, "Miss should be back in three weeks... but Miss will be sad when she returns... miss fell in love with both of you."

Both men looked like they had been hit with a train at the confession.

"Did we l-love her?" Severus asked

again Tibbs nodded his head, "When miss left you, miss was crying and you two were asking her to stay."

The three stayed quiet for a minute while the information sunk in, "Missus room is still the same as when she left... there are many memories in there." Tibbs suddenly said.

Lucius and Severus looked at each other, "Can you take us there?"

Tibbs nodded and stood and with a snap of his fingers, the three disappeared. They landed in the familiar room and their memories came back in a flash flood. The room smelled the same, looked the same and even held all of her belongings.

"Tibbs kept room the same as the day miss left – even the letter she left for you." he said as he waved his hand towards the bed.

A yellowed letter sat on the bed propped up against the pillows, address to Lucius and Severus

"Tibbs will leave now and let masters Malfoy and Snape reads the letter."

The two men nodded silently and made their way to the bed they remembered all too well at this point. Lucius grabbed the letter and sat down while Severus took his seat on the bed next to him.

Lucius opened the letter and read:

Dear Severus and Lucius,

If you are reading this letter it means the memory charm is or has worn off. Please don't hate me for doing it, but there was too much at risk if I didn't.

You should discover this twenty years from now and I hope some of your questions will be answered through this letter.

Please believe me when I say I wanted to stay with the both of you. I wanted to stay more then I wanted my next breath but knowing what I know, my staying would have changed our world some how and I don't think I want to find out.

I also want to let you know that I hold no false hopes in having what we have now when I get back to my own time. I knew from the beginning that Lucius would end up hating me for my blood and Severus will hate me for being annoying and a know it all – I've come to terms with both of those things and yet, I don't regret a minute of what we shared.

When I come back, I will not mention our past to anyone, nor will I put you in the position of feeling like you need to come to me as your lives will be completely different from what they are now.

I need to go now, I need to get back to my own time before anymore damage is caused but please know that I now and will always love the both of you, probably more then you will ever know. Take care of yourselves and live the best you can.

Forever yours

Hermione Granger – 1977

Lucius passed the letter to Severus and laid back on the bed, "What do we do now?" he asked

Severus could do nothing but shrug his shoulders... this changed a lot and they had a lot of things to figure out over the next three weeks.

A/N: I hope this didn't confuse you guys to much but if it did, just stick with me, it will all make since in the end.