Hermione stood at the hallowed gates of Hogwarts staring up the pathway, time turner clutched tightly in her hand running her thumb over the slick surface.

The only sound breaking the silence was the harsh, bitter wind whipping around her, and she took in a deep, steadying breath. She had never seen Hogwarts so still before, almost as if every living creature was avoiding the castle and grounds, and she wondered if it was because of the heavy sadness that was hanging in the air.

Pushing the gate open, she made quick work, striding out as she power-walked to the front entrance, feeling the entire time as if someone or thing was watching her as she did so. Shivering, her skin erupted in goosebumps but not because she was cold, more because she didn't want to be here, not after what had happened. The place she once found solace and happiness in now brought dread and pain.

The castle itself had been repaired to its former glory, but the sadness and a twist of something maleficent hung in the air and that part she didn't like. It was no longer welcoming as it used to be, instead; it felt as if she was unwanted.

Taking the steps to the front door two at a time. Reaching her hands out, she pressed palms flat against the heavy wooden door and pushed. It creaked harshly as she did so. The place was deathly quiet. Not even a single ghost had hovered past, and she wondered where they all could be.

She needed to find a place close to where she was the night Severus gave her the locket with the time-turner within and lure her past self away, slotting herself seamlessly into the conversation they were having before he handed her the jewelry with the few wise words he had given her, time heals all wounds.

It petrified Hermione at the prospect of using a time turner that she knew nothing about. It was one thing to jump minutes or hours through time, but to jump months at a time was highly risky. She did not know if Severus had even tested this before he gave it to her or even where he had gained such a trinket.

Stepping into the castle she stood and waited to see if anything would happen, unsure if there were any wards up to protect the castle or if something sinister may lurk around a darkened corner, she walked past the great hall, stopping abruptly to peer in the doorway. It was empty, void of anyone human or spirit. She was not used to seeing the castle so empty.

Taking two steps at a time, she moved her way swiftly towards the third-floor headmaster's office, with the heavy feeling someone really was watching her every move. Whipping around like lightning in the hope to catch someone behind her only to find empty space and not another living person or creature made her heart sink. Perhaps she was imagining being followed, she deduced.

After finally dragging herself three floors up with the sheer will and a desperate need to get her breath back, she stood opposite the gargoyle that held all the secrets in the headmaster's office. Staring at the gargoyle critically, she looked left and right. This is where she needed to be to talk to Severus, but she needed to lure her past self away so she could do so.

Ducking off into a classroom just out of sight of the gargoyle, she sat on a desk and rummaged through her bag as she tried to remember how that night went. If she was correct, her past self went running to Severus to alert him to the fact Harry was in the castle. Then together, they walked to the great hall.

Nibbling her bottom lip, she fingered the time turner gingerly, wondering if this was, in fact, safe to be doing. She could meddle with the fabric of time and space as she knew it and change everything, or worse, destroy life as she knew it.

Was she selfish to be going back? Probably, yes. But she needed him more than the oxygen that she breathed. Without him, well, she didn't know what she was. Lost, alone, destined to walk the earth as a miserable soul.

Next came her second problem. She did not know how this worked. Was it one turn per month? Half a turn for a day? She could end up overshooting this by years and ending up in the castle before she was even born.

Taking a steadying breath, she thought to do the most logical thing, one spin per month. Opening the locket, she delicately spun the time turner three times backward. Feeling sick to the pit of her stomach, she watched as students entered and exited the room in fast motion. She noticed a head of white-blonde hair whizz past, and she knew at least if Draco was still on the scene, she couldn't have gone back too far yet.

She felt as if everything was slowing down before abruptly coming to a halt. The darkened classroom was now still and silent. Sliding off the desk, she made her way to the door and stood, trying to listen to anyone who might be outside, but it was silent. Unfortunately, she had nary an idea of what day or time it currently was and if she had landed exactly in the timeframe she needed to, or if she had failed in spectacular fashion.

Opening the door, she peered out and noted it was nighttime. Torches along the wall illuminated her view, and she saw a shadow of someone bouncing on the walls about to walk past. Shutting the door over to a small crack, she held her eye to the opening she had allowed herself and peered out.

Her heart skipped a beat. It was her, and she was wearing the same jeans she had worn the night Severus had died.

Smiling to herself victoriously, her heart then skipped a beat. She wanted to come back with enough time to stop herself, and this was cutting it fine. She was about to run to Severus and once that happened, any chance of her sliding herself into the conversation was all but gone.

Opening and slamming the door as hard as she could, Hermione ran four gigantic steps and dove behind a stack of wooden crates, wand in her hand she knew her being her, she would investigate the slamming of the door.

One, two, and three. The door creaked open as predicted. "Hello?" an all too familiar voice rang through the classroom.

"I don't sound like that, do I?" she whispered critically to herself as she watched herself walk into the room, wand held high.

"Hello?" she asked again, her voice shaking as she spoke.

"Petrificus Totalus," Hermione whispered from the spot behind the crates and watched herself fall to the floor, wincing as she did so. That had to hurt.

Stepping out from behind the boxes, she tip-toed across the floor, grabbing her bag as she did so before exiting the room and closing the door, both behind and technically in front of her. She would deal with herself later.

Shoving the time turner back in her pocket, she smoothed her hands over her shirt before walking to the gargoyle. Today was going to be a changing day in her life.

o-o-o-o-o

"Hermione. You are young and you are worthy of more than me and what I can afford you. It may just be a blessing in disguise that I may not be around much longer because you deserve everything and so more that I cannot give you."

"Never say that, Severus." She sniffled heavily as a sob tore right through her body. She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him right about now.

"I know the truth is a reality that is hard to bear but it is for the best." He sighed solemnly. Dropping her chin, he fished around in the pocket of his robes, pulling out a silver heart-shaped locket on a long matching chain. Grasping her right hand in his left, he placed the necklace in her hand tenderly and closed her fingers around it tightly.

Recoiling her hand as if he were on fire, she opened her fist to look hesitantly at the locket he had given her. Confusion etched on every line of her face as she tried to piece together the purpose of the gift.

"Time heals all-"

"Time heals all wounds. I know," she cut him off, pulling out the identical time-turner from her pocket and presented it to him.

His eyes widened and mouth agape, a small smile crept onto his face. "You did it. You worked it out. That means… That means I died."

"Yes," she choked out, trying to force a sob back. "And I've missed you so."

"H… how did I…?" He trailed off.

"Voldemort," she whispered. "Nagini, actually," she corrected herself. "Voldemort assumed you were the master of the Elder Wand."

"So he killed me."

"Correct," she confirmed. "But in the end, Harry was the master. Draco disarmed Dumbledore and Harry disarmed Draco."

"So, why did you come back? If my death was necessary, then you shouldn't have returned. If he doesn't kill me when he assumes I am the master of the wand, he may not follow through with the actions needed for his demise."

"Severus," she drew in a breath. "I'm pregnant and I can't do this without you," she pleaded, tears pricking the corner of her eyes as she watched his face fall at the news. "That is why I came back, and I'll be damned if I let Voldemort kill you a second time around."

Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her in close and held her tight. For the first time in months, she felt peace and at ease. Inhaling his scent and feeling his arms tight around her was almost intoxicating and something she never thought she could ever do again.

He pulled back enough to hold her hands at arm's length and looked down, smiling. "Are you really?" he whispered, looking left and right down either side of the corridor they were standing in. The last thing they needed were prying eyes and listening ears.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I was at today… Or rather, three months from today. My today and your three months from now?" She was confusing herself now.

"Didn't you use a contraceptive potion?" He asked darkly, looking away.

Her face fell. "Maybe I shouldn't have come back. It was a terrible idea." She hastily held her time-turner up and went to spin it. He grabbed it out of her hand and held it in a fist.

"Hermione, stop being so cynical, please." His thumb wiped a stray tear off her soft cheek as he smiled at her with a gentleness she hadn't seen in a long time. "I am happy, don't think I am not. And I am thankful you have come back to help me but-"

"But I shouldn't have, I know," she interjected.

"No. I was going to say but there is a lot here to unpack and I am quite overwhelmed but don't think for one minute I am not happy nor thankful that you came back." Gently, he pressed his palm to her stomach. "And this, this baby is a welcome surprise." He leaned down and pressed his lips to her in a sign of affection before pulling back.

"We need a plan, Severus. We can't change the timeline too much in case it ruins what has happened in the future. You need to now march down to the great hall where Harry will reveal himself and you and Minerva will have… a few differences that come to a head."

"Differences?" He quirked a brow.

"Ok… A fight. With wands. But in your defense, you only deflected her spells because you didn't want to hurt her. Spell. Deflection. Only." She spoke slowly and to the point.

He nodded once. "Deflection only," he agreed.

"And when you are done there, I will meet you back in your office."

"Right, my office."