"Does he know?"
"I have not informed him of the situation yet. I'll leave that to you, Mr. Potter."
"Yes, Professor," Harry replied as he strode after his former transfiguration professor (now Headmistress of Hogwarts), a sullen Ron not far behind them.
The familiar sight of the corridors of Hogwarts swept a wall of emotions over Harry as the three made their way toward the Headmaster's Tower. Harry couldn't help casting long glances around the castle as they walked, occasionally smiling at passing students who were adorned in their school uniforms, many of them rushing to classes or attempting to balance books and pieces of parchments in their arms. Ron, however, kept his head low and his eyes focused on the floor before him as he walked. It had only been an hour since Ron and Harry had talked with Kinglsey, and though they had followed Ron's advice to take a trip to visit with Dumbledore's portrait, the ginger's mood had hardly improved.
"I understand this is an urgent matter," McGonagall continued, casting a look at Ron as they ascended a staircase. "You have my assistance wherever it may be needed."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry answered for Ron.
They were on the third floor now. A group of passing Gryffindors noticed Harry and quickly began whispering among themselves, their eyes wide. Harry just barely caught sections of the conversation as they moved along, with pieces such as "that's Harry Potter!" and "what's he doing here?" reaching his ears.
It wasn't long before the group approached the statue of a gargoyle, which Harry knew concealed the circular moving stone staircase that would take them right to the door of the Headmaster's office. McGonagall stepped in front of the gargoyle and cleared her throat gently. As she did so, for a brief moment, Harry recalled the many times he had stood in this exact spot. Here, he was reminded of the many conversations he had had with Dumbledore during his school years, some frustrating and some insightful, and he suddenly felt a swelling of grief in his chest at the thought of the now deceased Headmaster.
"Cauldron Cakes," McGonagall stated firmly, making the gargoyle immediately jump to the side in response to the password.
Harry quickly shook himself from his thoughts and stepped onto the staircase behind McGonagall.
The Headmaster's office was just how Harry remembered it – a large and beautiful circular room that was lined with full bookcases, as well as portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses who were snoozing gently in their frames. Harry noticed that McGonagall had left many of the curious silver instruments that Dumbledore had kept on spindle-legged tables untouched, each of them still whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. Harry and Ron stepped toward the center of the office as McGonagall moved behind an enormous, claw-footed desk. Sitting on the shelf just behind the Headmistress was a familiar shabby, tainted wizard's hat.
"Looking rougher than usual nowadays, aren't we, Weasley?" a voice drawled from above.
"Professor Snape, always good to see you," Harry stated sarcastically as he looked upon the portrait of the man.
"If only the feeling was mutual, Potter," the painting sneered.
"Yeah, if only," Ron grumbled as he plopped down in a chair in front of the Headmistress's desk.
"Oh, Severus, behave," McGonagall chastised, pretending to not hear Ron. "These boys are here on an urgent matter. They need to speak to Albus."
As McGonagall gestured to another portrait just to the right of Snape's portrait, Harry's eyes came to rest on the sight of a familiar wizard who was tall, thin, and very old. The subject of the portrait peered down at Harry over half-moon spectacles that sat on his crooked nose, his brilliant blue eyes twinkling with kindness and mischief, as was to be expected.
"Professor Dumbledore," Harry grinned.
"Harry, my dear boy! You have grown," Dumbledore smiled. "And I see you have brought Mr. Weasley! To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We were hoping you could help us, Professor," Harry said as he gestured toward Ron. "It's Hermione."
Harry then took a few moments to explain the predicament the trio was in, with Hermione stuck in the past and the Ministry unsure of what to do next. He also explained Ron's theory that perhaps Hermione had travelled to a time when the three had still been in school, and that there could possibly be evidence of her presence in the memories of those who she may have interacted with. Ron listened quietly as he stayed seated, his arms folded over his chest.
"So, you see, sir," Harry concluded. "We've come to ask if you remember anything in your past that may have actually been a future-version of Hermione – our Hermione."
"My sincerest apologies to you both on the loss of your friend," Dumbledore stated solemnly. "But I am afraid I will be of no help. I have no recollection of a Miss Granger from a future time."
At this, Harry looked at Ron dejectedly, but Ron did not return the look. Instead, he stood up and addressed Dumbledore's portrait.
"You're sure she didn't come to you for help, Professor?" Ron continued, not wanting to accept the truth. "We figure she would have gone to someone she trusted – someone she knew–"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "If she was present in the time you have described, she did not come to me for assistance."
"That is because she came to me," the portrait next to Dumbledore suddenly stated.
Harry, Ron, McGonagall, and Dumbledore all looked over at Snape in surprise, who looked unphased by the entire ordeal.
"Beg pardon?" McGonagall asked the portrait, astonished.
"Miss Granger has travelled to the year 1997."
"To Hogwarts?"
"Obviously, Potter."
"You said Hermione came to you?" Ron asked with doubt in his voice, his body visibly tense.
"Considering she stayed in my private quarters while she was stuck in the past," Snape said with a smirk. "I think you have your answer, Mr. Weasley."
"She stayed in your private quar–"
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Harry asked over Ron, who was red in the face.
"She told me much on the day she arrived," Snape continued. "Her age, her profession, how she arrived in the past–"
"Those are all things you could have already known!" Ron shouted. "Everyone knows Hermione is one of the youngest Heads in the Ministry, and we just told you how she wound up in the past!"
"Miss Granger also told me that you two have discussed having children," Snape stated coolly. "But that she worries whether or not she would make an adequate mother."
"How did you–she wouldn't have told you–oh, Merlin," Ron breathed as he stumbled back into the chair that he had previously occupied.
Harry looked at Ron, who now had his head in his hands, and then looked back up at Snape, who looked satisfied that he had convinced Ron that Hermione was stuck in 1997. Harry had no idea that Ron and Hermione had discussed having children, or that Hermione had concerns over whether she would be a good mother or not. Yes, it was a private matter, but it was one that Harry and Ron had even discussed at times when the two were alone. Harry and Ginny knew they wanted kids in the future, though they hadn't discussed it in much depth, but he and Ron would occasionally talk about wanting kids. Ron, who was clear on his decision that he wanted kids, had never mentioned Hermione's worries in their discussions.
"When does she come back?" Harry continued questioning Snape, pressing onward. "How does she come back?"
"It's not in anyone's best interest if I reveal the future, Potter," Snape stated. "All will work out."
"'All will work out?'" Ron spat angrily, rising from his chair once again. "What is that even supposed to mean?"
"It means," Snape hissed. "For once in your pathetic life, you should have some faith in Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, despite your many insecurities."
"You greasy git–"
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed at his friend's outburst.
"He's just messing with us like he did when we were in school, Harry!" Ron shouted back. "He has no idea where Hermione is! This has been a complete waste of time."
With one last murderous glare in Snape's direction, Ron stormed from the office, slamming the door behind him as he did so. Harry could only sigh as he looked to where his friend had just departed.
"Oh, dear," McGonagall stated in a hushed voice.
"Two months, Mr. Potter," Snape said calmly, bringing Harry's attention back to the man. "Just inside the Forbidden Forest. She will be weak from the ordeal and will need medical attention immediately."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry responded.
"We will supply the necessary provisions, Mr. Potter," McGonagall interjected. "We will be ready when she arrives."
"Thank you," Harry said, moving to go after Ron.
"Potter," Snape drawled, bringing Harry to a halt. "Trust her."
"I do, Professor," Harry nodded.
With that, Harry hastily departed the office and made his way down the spiral stone staircase, past the statue of the gargoyle, and out into the corridor. From there, Harry briskly walked down to the Great Hall, where he found Ron angrily pacing in front of the Hall's massive doors.
"Took you long enough," Ron grumbled at the sight of Harry before he turned and began walking toward the castle's main entrance.
"You didn't have to snap at Snape like that," Harry stated sternly as he followed Ron. "He was only trying to help."
"Trying to help?" Ron let out a hollow laugh. "The overgrown bat has hated us since we were first years, Harry, and now you defend him?"
"I'm not defending him," Harry argued as they made their way across the school grounds. "Snape has always been nasty to us, but he's also helped us! If he says we should trust Hermione, then we should!"
"I trust Hermione!" Ron stated with an exasperated shake of his head. "We wouldn't survive a day without her! That's why–I just–"
"I know," Harry stated softly as they stopped just before the castle's main entrance, where they would Apparate from momentarily. "I miss her too."
"I trust Hermione, not Snape," Ron said bitterly. "Merlin knows what those two are doing together."