I don't own Harry Potter

As always please read and review. Thank you all for your attention and for still following the story. You may notice that I am updating every Monday. I plan to keep it this way. (Hopefully). Special hugs and kisses to DeeD59. This person has reviewed at least twice for every chapter. I really appreciate it whoever you are

Stay home if you have to. Stay safe

Chapter 59

Hermione did not think she would like Lily that much but she found that the girl was truly kind. Lily reminded her of Harry so much, Hermione could not very well dislike her. She had loved Harry so much. They had the same mannerisms and those eyes. She understood why Severus said that it was hard to look at Harry in the eyes. Lily's green eyes were Harry's.

She found the next months were hard for her. Severus and Lily had background information on all of them. Hermione did not. She questioned him about Narcissa, after all he gave her Draco. "It was always physical. You know I would never see her like that again." Hermione was appeased by the answer.

Hermione found that she was confused by these kids. She knew the marauders as adults, well only Sirius and Remus. Hermione found that she rather liked Remus. He was quiet and funny. James and Sirius were too loud. They reminded her of Fred and George. Peter was mousy and there was something that she deeply disliked about him. She knew it had to be the fact that in the other timeline, he betrayed her best friend's parents.

Surprisingly enough, Lily did not share her animosity towards Peter, "he has not done anything. Peter is shy and he is eager to be friendly. He could be a bit pathetic but he is harmless. He was harmless before Voldemort rose." She explained one night when they were in their dorm room.

Hermione frowned but did not pursue the matter. Severus was at war with the marauders. He despised Sirius and James. There was nothing that Lily or Hermione could do to prevent their mutual dislike. Lily appeared to not want to even be in the same room when they outright fought. "I will not. I cannot." She would leave the place at any given time.

They received detention time and time again. "I will not interfere." Lily whispered one time when Sirius hexed Severus. Sev in turn hexed James and Sirius back.

Hermione tried to stop them but Lily pulled her away, "the last time I opened my big mouth I lost him. Leave it, we can be cross with him later."

They established a routine. They studied in the library together, they spent their free time near the big tree by the Great Lake or went to the room of requirement to listen to music. They also researched time travel. At least for a day and half when it was clear that there was nothing there. Hermione loved to see Severus so carefree but there were times where she felt a pang of jealousy. She knew that Severus and Lily shared a deep friendship but she grew tired of sharing him at times. Hermione was used to being to sole focus of Severus' attention for decades now.

James was jealous too. Severus gained three enemies once more. It was James, Sirius and Peter attacking him. Severus defended himself well enough. She had to be fair. Peter stopped after a while but James and Sirius were relentless. They hated seeing Hermione and Lily with Severus. James hated the familiarity Lily and Severus had with each other. Hermione was not entirely thrilled with how tactile Lily was with her Severus but tried to smile and bear it gracefully. She could not be so selfish as to deny them their friendship.

There was a nasty incident when Hermione was with Remus working on an Arithmancy assignment. Lily and Severus were in the dungeons. James taunted Severus and they both hexed each other. Hermione went back to the common room with Remus who looked tired, it was the day after a full moon.

"I don't understand why you were so close to him. He kissed your cheek. Why does he have to kiss your cheek?" James shouted.

Lily was beet red, "he did not kiss me. We are friends. You know he's my best friend. I don't have to tell you anything." She yelled and went up the staircase.

Hermione frowned at Sirius, "better be careful. The trio may become a duo soon enough. You know you are always welcome here." He said with a smirk.

"Arse." She said and went to the dorm.

Lily was crying into her pillow. Hermione looked at her.

"He's a toerag and I hate him." Lily said in a rage.

Hermione frowned, "what happened?"

Lily wiped her nose, "Sev and I were working on our potion and he kissed me goodnight. He was about to leave when James hexed him. Sev hexed him back. You know how Severus is. He did not hold back and they got detention."

Hermione was pretty sure Sev held back because James only had a nasty burn and was in one piece. "He's so immature." She cried, "I miss him. I miss my James."

Hermione hugged her, "he will grow into himself."

Lily nodded. She then looked at her with her big green eyes, "Hermione, you have to know. I don't see Sev like that. Maybe I would have years ago if I had not fallen in love with James."

Hermione frowned. "Do you like Severus now?" This was the perfect time to ask her and clear things with Lily. Hermione needed to let Lily know that she would not give Severus up. She simply could not.

Lily shook her head, "I love Severus like a brother and he loves me like a sister. Hermione, you are his life. He loves you so much and I am so happy that he had you all these years. Our Sev is such a better person with you by his side. Severus and I would never work. I do not want to diminish his feelings for me. I am sure he loved me but I don't think he was ever truly in love with me. He wanted to take care of me and he did. He tried as best as he could but he could never love me like a partner to share his life. You are his partner and I know that. He's my best friend, like my brother."

Hermione felt lighter. "He loves you very much."

Lily nodded, "and I love him dearly but I was not in love with him then and I am not in love with him now. I happen to be in love with a toerag who needs to grow into my James."

Hermione smiled and changed conversations. She could not sleep that night. She met Severus the following morning and pushed him into a cupboard.

He kissed her neck. Hermione pulled back from him. She needed to ask him. James was not completely off the mark. What if Severus wanted Lily once more? Hermione bravely asked? "Are you in love with Lily?" She was half afraid of the answer. She knew he loved her but Lily was such an integral part of him. She thought she won against that ghost years ago and suddenly Lily was here, a living girl in the flesh, no longer a memory but a person.

Severus frowned, "no. Bloody Potter. I did not kiss Lily." He sounded anxious.

Hermione frowned, "why are you so scared? Do you like Lily? Severus you have to tell me." She panicked for a second.

Severus scowled, "look at me." She did and he opened his mind to her. It was not easy to be a legilimens and she was barely capable. Hermione looked into how he looked at Lily. She could feel that protectiveness, the love for her. He wanted Lily to be safe to be happy, to be loved and live long. She then looked at herself and felt overwhelmed. She felt his love, his need to be with her, his desire for her.

"I love you. I am in love with you." He whispered and his voice got lower. Hermione kissed him and touched him through his trousers. They kissed senseless until Filch shook them apart.

Hermione was happy when the end of term arrived. They took the OWLs, for the first time Hermione did not care about her marks. She was all Outstandings but for D.A.D.A. She wanted to have Severus for herself.

Lily was to spend her summer in Ireland with her grandmother. She broke her hip so Petunia and her were to help her around. Hermione was immensely happy. Sev and her were to stay in London. Minerva and Tom made it their official home.

Tom campaigned all summer. Minerva and them were expected to go to Ministry Balls and take pictures for the press. Severus hated it and avoided leaving home with Minerva and Tom as much as possible.

Hermione and him stayed side by side in the living room or by a nearby park for hours. He took her to record stores, chip shops, the theater and the shops. The went to ice cream parlors and fooled around when Minerva and Tom were not home.

Severus and her were rediscovering each other. Hermione realized they had not been together since they became teenagers. "You look too young." He said one night when they finally left Lily behind. They were away in a classroom. Hermione laughed. "You look younger too."

They kissed and touched each other until a prefect found them. Hermione could feel him and smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow Sev." She said and flew away.

Hermione particularly liked that she made him come by merely touching him or looking at his cock.

"You have no self-control." She said one August evening, when they were touching each other before Minerva and Tom came back from some dinner. They were to be back to Hogwarts the next day. Hermione showed him her knickers and he almost came from her playing with the waist band. They had not seen each other naked, not fully naked since they regressed.

Hermione did not feel comfortable having sex with him before they were both seventeen again. Severus called her silly but he did not attempt to convince her to have sex. Hermione hoped that her parchment would say 17 on September 19th. Severus pulled her close to him and fingered her while he kissed her neck.

"Fuck Hermione." He said and came in his pants. She kissed him and ground into his fingers until she came. "I want you inside of me." She whispered and discovered that Severus had a very quick refractory period. She moaned when he grabbed her breast.

"You're hard again." She said and humped him while he squeezed a breast. "Perks of being young." He said. Hermione was close to just moving her knickers aside and just fucking him until they were both sated.

"Bloody Fucking Hell." Tom shouted and left the room.

Hermione and Severus separated. Severus frowned, "fucking cockblocker. He needs to learn how to knock on bloody doors."

Hermione was mortified. "We can never leave this room."

"Well we have to. I'm starving and he's effectively ruined the mood." Severus kissed her mouth and pulled her away from their room.

Minerva and Tom gave them a reproaching stares. Severus scowled, "we are all adults."

"Correction, Minerva and I are adults. You two are sixteen." Tom said as he motioned to have dinner.

"We would appreciate it if you refrained from those activities." Tom continued. Minerva was surprisingly quiet.

Severus laughed, "Hermione and I happen to have a very healthy sex life. We have been fucking since before your voice changed."

"Stop. That is disgusting." Tom muttered.

"We will be more careful." Hermione said while beet red. They had dinner in silence after that.

Severus and her boarded the train the following day. Lily was already on board. "How was your holiday?" She asked while they had some sweets.

"Uneventful. Tom paraded us in front of the press for votes." Severus said with a shrug.

Lily frowned every time they mentioned Tom. "How was your summer Lily?"

"Same old. Tuney brought Vernon over. They met three weeks ago. Oh he is as arse. I cannot believe she will marry him." Lily spat.

Hermione smiled, "How was Ireland?"

"Nice, nana was not as sick as we expected. I got a letter from James. His parents died." She said sadly.

They knew Tom had come home with the news in July. Minerva and him were to the services. Hermione and him stayed back.

"They died two years earlier than expected." Lily whispered.

Severus arched an eyebrow, "Hermione and I have seen things like this before. My mother died as an infant and Frank's father is Algie instead of another man who should have existed. Bellatrix Lestrange is older than she should be."

Lily was fascinated by that and asked them questions about their past. Hermione frowned, "why did James write to you?"

Hermione knew that they were not very friendly yet. Lily blushed deeply. "I may have owled him about a transfiguration assignment."

Severus smirked, "because the toerag is so smart." Hermione tried her best to not show a smile. Lily frowned, "he is smart."

Severus rolled his eyes, "of course he is."

Hermione looked away in time. "You just don't like him." Lily huffed.

"I don't and I never will." Severus stated unapologetically.

Lily scowled at him, "well too bad because I will make him my boyfriend by the end of October and the four of us will have to go on double dates."

Severus scowled back. "You can't do that. He is not to be your boyfriend until next year. 7th year."

"I will do as I please. You two have each other. Don't think I don't know that you two sneak away to do things. Well, I happen to want to do things to James." Lily replied heatedly.

Severus made a face, "Don't be disgusting. You are a child. Hermione tell her she cannot go on and snog Potter."

Hermione frowned. "Well why not? She had a kid with him." Lily nodded.

Severus frowned and stood up. "I don't want to hear anything about you and Potter having sex. You two are disgusting girls." He left the compartment.

Hermione and Lily looked at each other and giggled. She was happy. Hermione continued to feel that insecurity in the back of her head. It was hard to not think that Lily could take Severus away. She was ecstatic that the girl showed interest to actively pursue one James Potter.

"Where do you suppose he went?" Lily asked her as they compared pictures and anecdotes from summer.

"He's probably with the Blacks." Hermione said. Severus was fast friends with Regulus and Narcissa Black. Hermione was leery of them but Severus cared for them. He was also friendly with Magnolia Selwyn and Evan Rosier. "Rosier is the only smart one out of all of them. Magnolia is friendly to everyone and she likes power. She wants to gain favor."

Hermione frowned then, "just how much favor is she trying to incur?"

Severus laughed, "not like that. She will marry Torquil Greengrass. Daphne was in your year."

Hermione arched an eyebrow, "I don't remember her at all. Was she with Pansy?"

"Not really, Daphne was very annoyed by Pansy. Smart girl, very quiet." Severus replied, "like her mother, a charmer and far too smart for her own good."

Hermione accepted his friendships but did not partake in any of them. Severus did not associate with any of the Gryffindors or any other members of any house. Hermione for her part talked to Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws alike. She made friends with Marlene Mckinnon whom Sirius liked. She was friendly with Kingsley who was a 7th year now. She also talked to Hestia Jones from Hufflepuff and Robin Goldsmith.

They arrived to the castle without delays. Severus waited for them near the carriages. Regulus and Narcissa waved goodbye when they saw her and Lily.

"They are always so charming." Hermione muttered as they stepped into the carriages.

"No more than the toerag and the mutt." Severus snarked back. Lily waved at James and Remus. "Come, there's space in our carriage." She said.

Severus frowned but kept quiet. Hermione just knew that Remus and Severus could be great friends if only Severus let himself be nice.

She was surprised when James entered the carriage with Remus by his side. Severus looked away and ignored any attempt at conversation. James ignored him as well. Remus, ever the conciliator tried to elicit some response from the two of them and failed miserably.

Remus gave up and spoke to Hermione instead. Lily and James spoke in hushed tones. She did not need to be a genius to know that it was about his parents.

"How was your summer Hermione?" Remus asked politely.

"It was nice. Severus' uncle and professor McGonagall took us some days to France." She said in passing. They visited the little seaside town for a week before Mr. Snape had to come back to the Ministry.

Severus and her spent the time swimming and snogging behind doors. "Must be nice. I have never been outside of the United Kingdom." Remus replied

"I have not been outside UK either." Lily informed.

"My parents and I used to travel every summer. We went to Egypt, France, Russia, we were supposed to go to America this summer." James said and his voice contracted.

Severus looked at him and said very carefully, "I am very sorry to hear about your parents. My uncle said that they were good people."

James nodded, "thank you."

There was little conversation left after that. They arrived to the castle. Severus took her hand and placed his arm over her shoulders. They walked side by side, ahead of them. "Lupin likes you." He said simply.

Hermione laughed and pecked his lips, "you are silly."

"Black and Lupin like you. Stay away from them." He said after the peck.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "stay away from Narcissa, Lily and Magnolia"

"Don't be unreasonable." He said and kissed her forehead. Hermione tiptoed and kissed him once more. "I'll see you later." She said when Lily dragged her away from him.

They left their things on the dorm and rushed to the Great Hall. Sirius and Peter smiled at her. She sat by Remus and Lily. She had perfect view of Severus who spoke to Regulus and Rosier. They laughed at something. Magnolia arrived and sat very closely to Severus who paid her little mind.

Sirius asked her something, "bloody hell Granger, I asked you a question." He laughed and poked her. "Sorry Sirius, I got distracted."

"By ugly and lanky. Yes, we all saw. You should stop drooling over him." Sirius said with a smirk.

Hermione frowned, "he happens to be my boyfriend. You are jealous because no one wants you within a mile radius of them."

"I'll have you know that Marlene and I are an item." He said quickly.

"I always knew there was something wrong with that girl." Remus said while picking at his peas.

Hermione and Lily roared with laughter, "Oy Moony."

James laughed a bit at that. Peter shook his head and clapped Sirius' back.

Hermione found that Mary McDonald was not coming back. Minerva went into the common room and rounded them up. "Pettigrew, stop that." She said when Peter played with a snitch nearby. She was sure it was James'.

"Ms. McDonald will not return to Hogwarts. She passed away three weeks ago. Her parents have declined to comment any further." She said and left the room.

Hermione looked at Lily who looked back at her. They went up to their dorm. "She was always quiet. She was not supposed to die now. She passed away shortly after we graduated. Her parents refused to give any comments then too." Lily hugged her and cried a little. Hermione comforted her as best as she could.

The following weeks were busy for Hermione. She began to obsess about studying for the following year NEWTS. "We have a full school year before we worry about those Lily said."

Hermione finally went to sleep that night and woke up the next morning after a horrible nightmare. She looked at the calendar that she had over one of the walls and saw the date. September 19 1976."

She raced to the loo and looked in the mirror. She had bags under her eyes and her hair was frizzier than ever. She grabbed her wand and performed the spell. The parchment read clearly,

Hermione Jean Granger

September 19 1979

Age: 17

Hermione laughed to herself. She was aging for the first time in more than forty years. She showered and dressed with more care than the past few weeks. Lily smiled at her and gave her a birthday hug. She also received a nice journal from her.

She noticed that Severus waited outside of Gryffindor's entrance.

He smiled at her and kissed her deeply, "happy birthday my love. I have the day planned for us." They were in luck since it was a Saturday and they had a Hogsmeade visit.

Severus grabbed her hand and hurried her along, "don't mind breakfast. We are having something at the Three Broomsticks." He rushed and they left Lily behind.

She waved goodbye at the other girl and walked with Severus. Hermione had her beaded bag with her. "Take out the blasted cloak."

Hermione did. She knew that Sev took an immense and perverse pleasure when he used the "blasted cloak." It turned out that James never inherited the cloak. Fleamont reported it stolen years ago. She heard him speak about the cloak to Sirius and Lily. They had not told Lily that they had it.

They hid under it and walked outside of Hogsmeade. "Where are we going?"

Severus smiled and produced a small artifact. "A portkey. I know you hate them but I found something you would love."

Hermione kissed his lips. "Sev, I am 17 today. The parchment confirmed it."

He gave her a big smile. She found that Sev smiled much more now. "Come along Hermione."

She felt the pull of the portkey and they landed in London. "Why are we in London?"

Severus smiled, "I am going to take you and see something wonderful."

Hermione nodded and followed him. He took her to a lecture about women in University. It was attached to an exhibition about women who changed and opened doors for other women in male dominated fields. Hermione would have been happy to just listen to the lecture but she was humbled and pleased when one of the women happened to be her. "Mrs. Hermione Snape." She read. The lecturer, a young man described her life. There was a picture of her with long, wavier hair and a severe look. She looked very different.

Hermione smiled at Severus. "You two are quite young." The lecturer said

"Advanced students." Severus offered quickly.

The man shrugged and showed them to different figures in the exhibition.

Hermione loved reading about the women and found her little piece so inspiring. Severus kissed her. "You are so smart. Look at all that you have done."

"Hermione J. Snape. Pioneer doctor, the only woman in her class. She was one of the few female doctor to practice in South London. She survived the Blitz and helped with the war effort until the end of the war. Mrs. Snape championed women in the field and logged in double the amount of hours than her peers did. Mrs. Snape refined different practices to diagnose and treat wounds. She was known as the magician for her quick and accurate diagnoses."

She smiled at Severus and looked at different pictures. She looked older, thinner but her eyes were kind. There were hints of smiles in her pictures. She kissed Severus once more.

"How did you find this?" She asked after they walked out of the exhibition and went to have late lunch.

"I was going to take you to the theater but I read about this in the newspaper. Tom made an agreement with the school board to deliver muggle newspapers. I saw about it in the arts section and I knew that they would show you." Severus bragged.

She kissed him once again, "what if they didn't show me?"

Severus frowned, "they would be fools to not make you part of the exhibit. You were a brilliant doctor. You were the best among them. You surely are the brightest out of all of us now." He said. Hermione almost jumped into his lap then and there.

"What else has my Severus planned for today?" He smiled and they finished their lunch. Hermione and him strolled through a park and then had ice cream at a shop where they used to take Tom when he was little.

"It's time to go back." He said and caressed her face. They touched the old Pepsi can and traveled back to Hogsmeade. "I have something else." He said as they made their way to the Shrieking Shack.

Hermione smiled when he showed her a small box. "I know you don't wear much jewelry but this one is important." He showed her a very thin silver necklace with a simple emerald at the center.

"It's beautiful." She said and it was. She had all of the Prince jewels at her disposal. She left them all behind. "I don't remember this one being in the safe at Gringotts."

Severus smiled and kissed her hands, "it's because it is not a Prince jewel. This one is new. I had it made for you. I thought about what you would like and I had it made by a jeweler two months ago."

Hermione hugged him, "I love, I will never take it off."

Severus chuckled, "you are so easy to please."

"I love you." She attacked him with kisses until they were grinding against each other. Severus' hands were very daring. He touched her through her knickers.

"Can we have sex now?" He begged her when she touched him through his jeans.

Hermione shook her head but rubbed him slowly, "you're still sixteen."

Severus moaned, "I give you permission to take advantage of me."

"Not until we're both seventeen." She said lightly. "It's my birthday so you have to be nice."

Severus groaned when she showed him her knickers, "I want to be nice to you but you won't let me. Remember how nice I can play?"

Hermione nodded and loved when he bit her clavicle. "I remember."

"Well, you see, this body can recover much more quickly. I could be twice as nice." He tried to convince her. Hermione licked her lips and then kissed his.

"We'll have to wait and find out." She tugged at him once more and he came on her hands.

"Granger, I plan to go all the way with you on my birthday." He said and kissed her deeply.

"You have yourself a promise Snape." She said and bit his neck playfully.