-1A note from Serade Black: I've had this story laid out I my mind and on paper for quite a few months, now. I knew how it was going to end, I knew how it was going to get there and I, of course, knew I was going to get "upsetting" reviews from readers. Thank you. Thank you for all of those that took the time to invest a little bit of their moments with me to give me a chance to tell a story. Though there is one more chapter after this, essentially, this is the final chapter.

Some may not enjoy where I conclude by the end of this, some may skip to the end, some may never read my stuff again - for all of that, I thank you. To offer me a debate, theories, ideas, and hopes means a lot to me as a dabbling writer and believe me when I say this, those were the greatest types of reviews I could get, because that said to me that you were really into it. So, again, all of you that stuck by my finishing it - I thank you. SB

P.S. Yes, I know I refer to Snape as Severus or Snape different times. It was for transition.

Ch. 36 - The Time Turner

Time-Turner
The Time-Turner is a small silver hourglass worn on a chain around the neck. It's a very powerful and dangerous magical item which literally turns back time for the user, one hour per inversion of the glass.

Time. A fragile, yet, dangerous thing. For years people believed that what happens in the past, stays in the past. At least, in muggles' eyes that is.

Severus Snape knew time was against him. Like influenza beginning to creep into your bones, making every small piece of you begin to ache, never finding a relief point. It was in the back of his mind, on the tip of his tongue, to the points of his fingers, to his roughly thumping heart. Like a shadow hovering over you, beating down the mental door that caged you in, anxiety set in.

When he got up that afternoon to prepare for the evening, he never believed that he'd actually use his Time-Turner, but ever since he'd been around hairy situations with Hermione, he put it on for only her protection. It was far too late to go back for Lily, but he figured that if it only happened briefly, he'd somehow be able to scrape by a solution to rescue Hermione. But now as he ran through the deserted hallway of the warehouse searching for a completely vacant area he knew wouldn't have been occupied two hours prior, he couldn't believe he was considering a risk to his life to go and save her little pup.

It was the pain and anguish in her face over the death of Sirius that haunted him to do it. He watched his own loved one dying a little inside, sobbing hurtful tears of loss for someone she had invested dreams into. In his own opinion, the arrogant shaggy haired wizard that lay in her arms like a fallen soldier did not deserve her love, but he was merely being selfish.

Severus had taken their romance for granted. He never believed that his Hermione, his gentle intelligent girl, would ever give that gigolo a piece of her heart. But sadly, he had been misled. By her own words, her own heartfelt confessions, Sirius had been the man in her dreams since Hogwarts and even he knew that was fate stepping in and directing her course. He thought he understood what she was going through, believing her to only be half-seeing the dreams she told him about, but she knew the entire time. She'd mentioned one time to him that Sirius was in the dreams, but he showed no interest in discussing it further and for that, Severus let the topic lay until it was something more worthy than speaking of the dead.

Clearing his mind of his blinding thoughts, Severus managed to find a bathroom that appeared to be untouched since before the battle. Taking careful precautions as he stepped into the facilities, making a note that they could double as a vagrant's palace, he quickly thought out the baby steps to his plan. He held the Time Turner over his hand, letting the chain dangle long before him. He frowned for a moment as he stared into the face of the small pocket watch, trying not to notice how it practically offered itself to save a life. Knowing the history of the type of magical piece he held in his hand, Sirius Black should begin paying royalties to the wizard who developed it. It was during intimate moments with Hermione in his own bed did he discover the deep secret the night Sirius Black "broke out" of the tallest tower. It made sense back then, he thought. HHowever, how anyone believed that Hagrid's new pet hippogriff, Witherwings, wasn't the same animal from before was beyond him.

The potions master took a deep breath and turned the piece once, wincing the entire time. His heart began to race like a cheetah as he readied himself for the laws he was about to break. Turning it an extra half, giving himself more time, he mumbled loud and clear, "I hate you, Black."

The piece began to spin wildly, resetting everything around him back to the way it was nearly two hours ago. He was in the bathroom, so nothing more than a rat came by in the time duration. Once everything settled, he tucked the Time-Turner under his robes and carefully went to the door to survey if the coast was clear. Cracking the door just inches, he heard voices and peered carefully to see who the sounds belonged to.

As fate would have it, slapping him in the face like a thoughtless blind child, he saw the first unit compiled of Sirius, Ginny and Fred slinking down the narrow corridor moving carefully for any sound they heard.

"Ginny, what are doing when this is over?" Fred whispered quietly. All their nerves were on edge and he believed he needed to say something distracting to pump up his sister.

Ginny was between the two men as they walked in a line and rested a hand against Sirius's back the closer she got to him, letting him know it was she and not anyone else. "I'm going to every Cannon's game for the rest of the season. Maybe I'll try out to be a cheerleader,' she said.

"Now that is definitely something I have to see," Sirius quietly snarked. He wasn't alluding to anything rude or dirty, but more along the lines of the independent non-blonde stereotype like Ginny Weasley.

"What? You don't think I could do it?" she asked in a strained stage whisper, teetering on the verge of insult.

"It's not that you couldn't do it love, it's a matter of how long it'd be before you hexed the other witches on the squad for being too, I dunno…bubbly?" he convinced.

"Oh," she thought out. "Good point."

Two Death Eaters flew down the hallway at the threesome at a furious speed, taking Fred to the ground. Sirius stepped in before his fallen brethren and punched one enemy in the face rendering them nearly unconscious, while transfiguring the second Death Eater into a small barn mouse. For a fleeting moment, the evil side of Ginny came out flirting to step in and squash it.

"Wait!" Sirius called out. He grabbed hold of Ginny's hand to pull her back from committing homicide. "Let it live like that. He can't change back if no one knows he's really a wizard. Let him live his days like the vermin he is."

Ginny smiled brightly at the brilliant idea biting her lip when she saw the hint of Sirius's dimples. "And that," Sirius pointed at her. "That is why you couldn't be a cheerleader."

Fred snickered under his breath as the truth was so well written as the little barn mouse scurried away in fear, hoping to find someone else that would understand him. By the looks of his size, he wasn't going to last one day in that form before he was swooped up in the clutches of a hungry hunting owl. Fred magically bound the Death Eaters like two kidnapped victims, back to back and gagged, and then put them behind a magical shield that prevented them from getting away. A signal was then shot out the window to alert Ministry officials that they had wizards to be incarcerated.

"What are you doing when we get out of this, Sirius?" Ginny asked. The trio resumed to slinking down the hallway in stealth, using library whispers.

Sirius's throat began to burn, his hair started to stand on end and his ears were finely tuned to anything that was foreign to them. "I'm going to marry, Hermione!"

In a split second, Sirius had his wand arm out, cast and petrified a dark wizard trying to blend in with the plumbing. The man fell like a heavy stack of bricks onto the concrete floor below him, eyes looking about wildly, completely dazed.

"You truly are fearless, mate," Fred added. Casually and confidently, he strolled up next to the fallen enemy, looking down on him like Sirius had just swatted a fly. Then, his attention was back into the conversation with Sirius over his lack of fear. "To want to live out your days with Granger, that is quite commendable."

Sirius looked out, quite proud of himself for both the discovery and the realization of what he wanted to do. A glowing Ginny squeaked behind him and he turned around to give her a famous wink. "What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment."

Severus heard Sirius's answer and slammed the door with all his might. As the pipes the Death Eater fell from began to crumble from the sudden blow, the sound of the angry door was concealed by ricocheting hollow pipes. As if the challenge couldn't get any worse, Severus felt like an arrow was just shot through his heart, leaving the air in the room to become thick and difficult. HHis temper started to raise, his pulse rate quickened and momentary nausea visited him as he envisioned his witch with that dog. He clenched his hands tightly, leaving the skin on his palms with half moon impressions from his fingernails. His wand arm twitched with the temptation that he could step out right that moment and gives Sirius Black a few good lashings when no one was around, but he figured he'd save that for another turn in time. It gave him something to look forward to.

Once the hallway was vacant, Severus slipped out of the bathroom and quickly crept down the corridor in the opposite direction. He kept glancing back to make sure he wasn't seen or being followed and once he came around to the next opening into the warehouse center, he slipped in like midnight wind using the shadows along the walls and stacks of boxes to conceal him. In the center, he saw Kingsley jumping out into the center, throwing Remus out of the way beaten and bloody. Severus was careful not to be seen, pulling his hood over his head so that his skin wouldn't show to anyone catching him in their eye. From behind him, he heard the sound of rushing fabric fly behind him. He glanced back from the slight breeze and saw that he had just missed himself taking wide strides, meeting up with Narcissa who had just come in through the same doorway he did. A near miss of meeting himself.

Time-Turner Severus watched himself coming about behind Narcissa, waiting for the back up Death Eaters to come barreling in. He saw Hermione ducking behind a short stack of boxes next to Tonks and when the army of Death Eaters arrived, they looked like a bunch of buffoons with the way they fell atop of each other from a simple rope charm. Hermione had used a simple little enchantment to pull the rope taut across the pathway and they fell like dominos almost like they'd choreographed it. Both Snapes just shook their head in embarrassment.

He heard the arrogant Dog Star coming in through the opposite side of the warehouse and into the direct action of the battle. He showed no fear on his face as he flipped his hair back and strutted right into the wand of an unknown Death Eater that had only moments to react as Black took him out with a swish and flick first years couldn't master. Ropes appeared out of thin air and they bound the Death Eater together to all his limbs like a pig to be roasted.

Narcissa strode in, telling Snape to stay behind and watch for any stragglers that might need to be taken care of. She had only just passed Hermione's hiding spot when he noticed her hair catch on fire. Surely, a sneaky charm his young witch had cast since she was in the safest position to take her out, but probably willed to have a bit of vanity game with her first.

Sirius was the center of the scene, several Death Eaters were after him, but he did not waver. Not even when he was struck in the arm and his shirt was torn open did he react. Instead, he punched one Death Eater, using physical old fashioned magic, astounding another before being thrown back by a spell of Ginny's, breaking both of the Death Eater's legs. Such an innocent cruel streak in the young Weasley, Time-Turner Severus thought.

Narcissa was being held back by Remus and Tonks, and Time-Turner Severus was nearing his moment to defend. He knew that she would soon break free from her battle of two and have her final say with Sirius Black who strutted around the warehouse as if he were out for a stroll in the park. Hermione was close beside him, but the two focused on fighting others off before considering that they were out there together. He watched a near miss shot on Hermione that Sirius practically pushed himself in front of, in order to get her out of the line of fire. He managed to shove her brutally aside, taking her to the ground, but the shot from the wand was only inches from his head. Hermione looked back at Sirius, but the concentrated wizard pretended he did not see her, for it nearly jeopardized his own mental fight strategy. Though it may have appeared that he was out to hurt Hermione, Severus saw the look of utter fear on Sirius's face the moment his eye caught that green stream of light heading for her. A valiant move, nonetheless, it was an obvious gamble with his own life in order to save hers.

With no announcement, Narcissa was freed from her restraints by the lone Death Eater that was smart enough to stay alive this long and Time-Turner Severus got in position. He only had one shot to get this right, otherwise all of his painful efforts were meant for nothing. He extended his wand arm; he aimed his tip at the arrogant bastard Black. His arm twitched nervously, both because he was concerned about the timing as well as painfully regretting his decision to save this ungrateful wizards life. He didn't deserve it, he didn't deserve her, he would hurt her…but he was the one in her dreams. She was happy with him and though he'd seen a bit of her tears for his possible death, they were of no comparison to the broken heart Sirius Black had caused her by departing this earth once again.

Narcissa's voice rang loud and clear, jolting Time-Turner Severus back to his mission, "This is from my sister, you bastard!"

"Fallo Cadaverieus!" Time-Turner Severus yelled. A blue streak left his wand, hitting Sirius only half a second before Narcissa's stream.

Just like before, Sirius's lifeless body fell to the ground with a ceremonial thump. A smirk passed over Time-Turner Severus's lips when he saw that he bumped his head pretty hard, but quickly composed himself and looked about the warehouse. Glancing at over at Hermione, she appeared to have looked directly at him the second after he was hit. Severus immediately ducked back further into the shadows, his hood still up and hiding behind a thick pillar. He watched the scene unfold before him, watching himself running out after Hermione the second Narcissa was gone to try and restrain her from throwing herself into the line of fire of a few stray streams from the other Death Eater who just disappeared down the hallway with three Aurors hot on their trail. Time-Turner Severus dropped his head away, he did not wish to watch the way she would fall down beside Black nor did he wish to hear her confessions all over again. Her dreams should have remained private, but it was she who told him about them first. Perhaps, she was unsure about them and why she was having them with Sirius Black, but she never let on any stranger of concern.

Time-Turner Severus knew his time was limited and began his concealed retreat in the direction of the bathroom where he had started in, to return to the present time, unnoticed.

Hermione had discussed Divination with Severus quite a few times, but she was always very vague about certain details. Since she held some secrets within them, he made a vow to her that he'd never pry into her mind to try and find out what those secrets were. However, curiosity had tempted him, as recent as the other night, when she'd come to find him in his broken home. He'd seen only glimpses into her mind, knowing that he was treading on dangerous waters to break such a sacred vow. Like showing the child where the cookies were kept, he wanted to sneak a peek, but managed to take a wrong turn and venture too deep into her mind, stumbling upon her most intimate moments with Black. Like tasting mud, Severus was repulsed when he came across the first time they shared a kiss, or the first time they made love and then tragically, Severus saw the smiles on her parents' faces when they first met him. Those were all places reserved for him, but as fate would have it, he was wrong.

Snape heard the bathroom door ahead of him close and by checking his time piece; he knew it was himself going in. Feeling like he'd made all the difference in the world, and for no one to find out how, Snape returned to the scene before him that was becoming more and more somber as each Auror was leaving them to their good-byes. Snape remained in the shadows, staying out of sight, waiting for his "Fallo Cadaverieus", or "fake death" spell, to lift after approximately ten minutes. Had the charge been held on Sirius for more than a second, he would have been out longer, thus exposing his time travel and wrongful assumption.

The battle was coming to an end, after sweeping the warehouse for straggling Death Eaters and taking their own wounded to safety. Remus stayed behind with Hermione as she cradled Sirius's upper body close to her like a fallen child. She felt the weight of his body setting in, his limbs stiffening and his face showing no signs of life left in him; she was nowhere near ready to let him go.

"Hermione, I'll take care of him," Remus whispered with a strained breath. He leaned over and placed a friendly hand on her shoulder, fighting back his own tainted emotion over his departed best friend.

Her crying had subsided, but she shook her head defiantly. She wasn't ready to go. The love of her life lay listless in her arms, but she believed he was going to come back any moment. She had dreams with him showing their children how to blow things up and how to accidentally set the cat's hair on fire. These were things she felt in her heart were still going to happen, at least she so desperately wanted them to. What was Snape's role in her dreams? He was never their father, he was just merely there. He was there for her, because no matter how terrible things got, Severus still meant something to her. He was her friend, a wise friend at that, and she would always want him to be around her children to show them whatever Sirius couldn't. It was what she would want…if she could have it.

Sirius's hand twitched at his side and Hermione jolted when she saw it in the corner of her eye. Remus saw it too, but he was quick to tell her it was just his muscles contracting, a stage of death. Hermione had no choice but to accept it, but still held him close to her heart, even after the idea of his body beginning to stiffen in her hold. Unconsciously, she placed a hand gently over his cheek, looking down at him fondly and wishing for him to stay with her one more time. Upon placing her hand softly to him, she expected him to be colder now, but it felt like the opposite. Hermione shook her head, believing that she was now allowing herself to see and feel things that were all just his body reacting. Death's final cruel joke.

At least, that's what she started to believe before she felt him squeeze the hand she was holding and his chest rose and fell consistently three times in a row.

Her breath left her, for there was no mistaking that he was breathing there in her arms. Remus had leaned in closer to witness the miracle as well, having just wiped his wet eyes dry of tears from losing his best friend for the third time to a fate he did not deserve. Hermione moved her hand from his cheek to his chest. His heart was beating slow, gradually picking up speed as seconds passed. She screamed, she cried with joy, she looked up at Severus who was slowly walking towards them, feigning interest.

"He's alive! He's breathing! Sirius? Sirius, baby, please open your eyes!" she sobbed. Her hands shook out of shock and she clutched his body as if she was witnessing a miracle. She would shake him awake if he didn't respond in ten seconds.

Hermione glanced up at Snape who looked down at them like he was waiting for them to just clear a path so he could walk, when she caught a glimpse of his Time-Turner peeking out from under his robes. Her lips parted for a second, mentally questioning herself if he maybe had something to do with any of this, but quickly her interest was back on the breathing, living man in her arms.

"Sirius, please, wake up! We'll go on holiday, we'll move, we'll kick Kreacher into the Thames, just wake up!" she begged. Her fingers clutched to the fabric of his shirt so tightly her knuckles went white. Anxious for him to be revived, she held him close, afraid to let go that he might slip away, again.

Remus dropped to his knees next to Hermione and rested a hand on her shoulder for support. He watched Sirius carefully with timid breath, witnessing his chest slowly rising and falling as if he were gaining speed and strength by the second. He laid a hand on Sirius's arm and felt life beginning to pump through his blood again. As relief swept through Remus, the color was starting to return to Sirius's dirty cheeks.

"Sirius, do us all a favor mate and open your bloody eyes, because if you don't I'll sell your motorbike to the lowest bidder!" Remus threatened with a slight smile behind tear soaked cheeks.

Sirius slowly came to, coughing two three times to clear his lungs before adding, "Do that mate, and we are no longer friends."

Hermione screamed and threw her arms around him, wanting desperately for him to embrace her. Instead, she knocked him back off her lap where he lay flat on the concrete, lifting a weak hand behind her head. Muffled sobs and wet tears soaked his shirt against his chest, as he slowly stroked her hair.

"Merlin's Beard, Sirius I thought you were dead," Hermione managed to sob out. Like a dam breaking, her strength had weakened and when she lifted her head up to see his face, now staring back up at her, she smiled as if she were discovering him all over again.

"I think, for a bit there, I was. I can't explain it," he said with a hoarse voice. He blinked his eyes a few times to allow moisture back around them and he finally opened them wide enough to take in the surroundings, remembering that he was in the warehouse. His blurry vision settled on his ethereal love, "Just like before, I'm waking up to an angel."

Hermione smiled as tears of joy trickled from her eyes and over her cheeks. Sirius lifted a hand to her, gently resting it on the side of her face, letting a thumb trace over her lips. She sniffled, holding his arm lovingly and watched him carefully. She leaned over and pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes and listening to the sound of his breath catching. Letting his hand get lost in her tendrils again, he used her to warm up his body and kept her close, cherishing her touch on his over-sensitive skin.

Back from the dead, she felt like she would forever need to keep him on a short leash. The loss she felt, even for minutes, was enough for her to reconsider taking her old desk job back at the Ministry. Of course, she'd have to talk Sirius into doing the same, because he'd never be satisfied with staying in one place.

"I'd rather enjoy my own bile than stand here and listen to you two," Snape began as if announcing his departure.

Severus Snape turned to leave the trio to their reunion. Too much mushy emotions for his taste as it were enough to make him purge. Quiet and unnoticed, he got to the doorway and stopped. Out of habit, he glanced back at the enchanting brunette that had bewitched him over time. During his reminiscence, Hermione had also taken the time to look back at him. They shared a quiet exchange together and Snape continued out of the doorway, apparating as he walked.