Author's Note: Thanks you Liza for betaing. :)

Written for...

(Writing Club) Trope of the Month. Trope: Time travel. Prompts: inconvenient, aquamarine, a dubious piece of crystal, terrified, "Somewhere in Neverland" by All Time Low

(Writing Club) Television Show of the Month. Prompts: Hermione, sneaking around, "The hero is the one that stays and the villain is the one that splits."

Duelling Club. Prompts: Pocket, "It's gonna be different this time.", "In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart."

Roald Dahl Day Event. Task: Write about a last chance at something. Prompts: country, order, taste, tempt, scare, save

Back to School Challenge. Prompt: (character) Severus Snape

(Writing Club) Showtime. Prompt: "I'll do whatever it takes."

(Writing Club) Themed List. Prompt: Astronomy Tower

Faith

810 words

The castle is quiet as Severus tugs the girl up the narrow steps of the Astronomy Tower. He has always sought out the quiet, but it's strange to find it here. He regrets that it's taken him seven years to realize the peace of leaving the common room after hours.

"We shouldn't be up here," she mutters behind him.

He smiles and glances back at her. "You're not scared of heights, are you?"

"No…"

"Good."

He pulls her along the rest of the way, and suddenly they're in the open tower with its telescopes and star charts, and the magnificent view of the grounds.

Hermione grips Severus' hand tightly even though they're clear of the stairs. He leads her to a window from which they can see the moonlight shining on the Great Lake.

"It's beautiful," she murmurs and places a hand to the glass.

"So are you." Hermione looks away as she does every time Severus compliments her, as though she can't handle the thought.

"Why have you brought me up here?" she asks.

"I wanted to talk to you. Alone."

You can never truly be alone at Hogwarts. Severus struggles to find a moment to himself in his own dormitory, let alone the Great Hall or the grounds, where he must meet with Hermione during the day. The risk of being found here by Filch or a professor is great, but far more favorable than being overheard by his classmates.

"Run away with me."

Hermione blinks up at him in confusion and it takes her a moment to register what he's said. "Why?"

"Because it's not safe here. Every day the Prophet talks about the Dark Lord and the war. It's only a matter of time before we're dragged into the mess." He takes her hand in his. "So let's go - we'll leave the country and get away from everything."

"We can't just leave," she hisses, pulling her hand away angrily.

"Hermione, please, there's nothing left for us here. We'll be finished with Hogwarts tomorrow, and then what? Sooner or later Lucius will be expecting me to make good on my promise. Why would you stay?"

"Because the hero is the one that stays and the villain is the one that splits, and I can't let you…"

"What?"

Her face softens suddenly. She reaches out a hand to rest on his cheek, cool from the wind blowing through the tower. He can see her shivering and is tempted to wrap his arms around her, to taste her lips, but now is not the time.

"It's just an inconvenient time, Severus," she says sadly.

"There's something more."

She looks pained. Her hand has already left his cheek and slipped into her pocket. She pulls it out seconds later, presenting him with a small crystal cylinder with a crack down the center.

"What's this?" he asks. She won't meet his eyes.

"It's the reason I need to stay. I haven't been completely honest with you these last months, but if you … if you're willing to give everything up just to run away with me, then I think I owe it to you to tell the truth.

"I'm not from this time, Severus. My world is years in the future, in a time when Voldemort will have gone and returned. But, like yours, my home is ruined by war and death."

Severus shakes his head, sure that he's misunderstanding. "You're not saying-"

Hermione holds up the crystal. "I was digging through a vault and came across this – I didn't know what it was. I only touched it and it brought me back. I didn't choose to come to this time, and for all that Dumbledore and I have tried, I can't seem to go back."

Suddenly he understands what he's been trying to tell him. "You know what's going to happen in the war."

She nods solemnly and pockets the crystal again. "There was so much death and pain, and I can fix it now. It's gonna be different this time, I'll do whatever it takes to change history."

She's still not meeting his eyes and Severus knows there's more she's not saying. "Do I die?"

"Eventually," Hermione admits quietly. "Years from now. We didn't like each other then. You were just my professor."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because in spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart. I've seen the good in you since I came here. I never expected to become your friend, or to fall in love with you, but there's really no turning back now." She finally turned to him with watery eyes. "The idea that I might not be able to save you terrifies me, but I have to try."

Severus smiles reassuringly and takes her in his arms. "I have faith in you. We'll change history together."