CHAPTER NINE

"I used to thank the Lord when I'd wake
For life and love and the golden sky above me
But now I pray the stars will go on shinin'
You see in my dream you love me."
- In My Dreams, REO Speedowagon

January 1977

Severus was in heaven. He was kissing the most amazing person he had ever encountered: this beautiful, brilliant, and kind witch. He was holding her in his arms, and she was clinging to him as if her life depended on it. He held her more firmly, silently letting her know that he wouldn't let her fall; that he would always hold her and catch her if he had to.

The kiss was wet at first. It started as a peck on the lips. But then, when he was about to pull back, she sighed and kissed him back. She opened her mouth, letting him in. He instantly captured her upper lip and grazed her tongue, until she mimicked his actions. They stayed like that for a few more moments before she broke the kiss but didn't pull away from him. He kissed her cheek, her nose, her forehead. "Oh, gods. I am so in love with you, Hermione."

She looked up at him with an uncertain expression and she pulled away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you when I'm still keeping something from you. You might… hate me."

He frowned but caressed her hair. "I could never hate you."

She shook her head. "I think you can decide on that after you've seen the memories of my past life." She walked to the sitting area and gestured to the Pensieve. "This is the headmaster's Pensieve. He is aware of our… feelings for each other." She couldn't meet his eyes. Severus wanted to touch her face and make her look at him, but it might make her uncomfortable, so he didn't move from where his feet were planted.

"Is he against it? Are you in trouble?" he asked softly. If her employer was the reason why they couldn't be together, he would accept it. He had two more years at Hogwarts. Two years was long, but he could wait.

She shook her head and took a seat. "No. Quite the opposite, actually," she admitted, her cheeks blushed.

He moved to kneel in front of her, so they were on eye level, and he took her hands. He couldn't get enough of this witch. He wanted to keep holding her and kiss her again, but he knew the latter would have to wait. He didn't want Hermione to think he was just after physical intimacies.

"Then, that's good."

She met his eyes and shook her head again. "He wants me to tell you everything and enlist you in our mission, but I cannot do that to you. I did not come here to put you in danger. I came here to try to make things right. I don't want to take advantage of your feelings, or your kindness. I told him we could do our mission without involving you."

"Do you think I'm incapable?" He wasn't sure if he would be happy that Hermione seemed to be protective of him or feel bad that she thought she could do her mission – whatever it is – without his help.

"No, no…" She pulled his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. "I have a feeling you would not hesitate to help me, but I don't want you to experience what I have experienced."

He looked at the Pensieve. "Show me, and then I can decide if I'll stay or run away," he said gently, even if he had no plan of doing the latter.

She nodded with a sad smile and reached out for a phial from her robes' inner pockets, then poured the contents into the marble basin. "Just, kneel in front of the Pensieve and let your face touch the surface."

He followed her instructions, and a few seconds later, he was like falling from the sky, landing at Hogwarts Great Hall.

He looked around and saw the sea of students in front of them. Professor McGonagall – who looked much older than he saw earlier – was in front of a group of first-year students. Severus frowned. This was a different time – a time when McGonagall was older.

"Granger, Hermione."

Severus was utterly shocked to see a tiny girl with bushy brown hair coming forward to sit on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat on her tiny head.

Gods… Hermione… My Hermione isn't from America?

"Gryffindor!" shouted the Hat.

Little Hermione ran to the Gryffindor table and joined the others.

"Potter, Harry."

Severus's heartbeat doubled when a doppelganger of James Potter came forward – same messy, black hair, eyeglasses, but different eyes. The boy had green eyes, like Lily.

Oh, sweet Merlin! Is my Hermione from the future? Is Lily going to end up with that dunderhead? But… is the future constant, or changeable?

Severus became even more confused when he heard little Hermione speaking to an older student with red hair and a Prefect's badge.

"That's Professor Flitwick. He's a great duellist, and he teaches Charms."

"I'm looking forward to Charms," little Hermione said in a rather bossy tone, which Severus found adorable. "What else? How about Potions?"

The older student's facial expression changed. He looked hesitant to tell Hermione something.

"Come on, Percy, tell me about Potions."

"Well, there's Professor Snape." The boy, Percy, looked at the staff table and Severus followed his trail of sight. He was horrified to see an older wizard with a black curtain of hair, a hooked nose like him, wearing dark blue teaching robes and a black cape.

"He teaches Potions, and he's the Head of the Slytherin House. He's strict and biased. He's never awarded points to other houses. He only deducts."

Before Severus could even search for the right word to describe how he felt at that moment, the scene changed.

Hermione's curls were more tamed. She was in an abandoned girls' lavatory that was known to be the residence of Moaning Myrtle, one of the Hogwarts ghosts. She was sitting on the floor with Potions ingredients and an empty cauldron in front of her, and she was clutching an 'Advanced Potion Making' textbook.

"Aren't you too ambitious to brew that?" Myrtle, the ghost said sharply.

"I'm good at following instructions," little Hermione shrugged. "And I have the best teacher."

The ghost left, probably to sulk inside the cubicle, Severus thought. Two boys came into the lavatory and looked relieved upon seeing her. They sat across from her, in front of the cauldron. One was the Potter boy, and the other was a redhead.

So, this was Harry and Ron, Severus thought. Hermione had been best friends with James Potter's brat with Lily for Merlin knows how long.

"What are you brewing, Mione? Snape does not take extra credit, Percy said," the redhead – Ron – said.

"Professor Snape, Ron," Hermione gave the redhead a stern look. "And I know that he doesn't accept extra credit, thank you very much."

Severus chortled at her bossy tone. He just wanted to go back to Hermione right now and pepper that adorable face of hers with kisses.

"You said you have a solution on how we could get to the Slytherin common room without being caught," said Potter.

"Yes," she replied and gestured at the cauldron. "This is the solution. Polyjuice Potion."

His heart swelled with pride. What a clever witch! I had never managed to brew that kind of potion in my first year or second year!

He listened as Hermione was explaining to her two best friends how the potion works and how they would get into the Slytherin common room, disguised. He listened as she mentioned how to procure the ingredients needed.

"Now, the only problem would be the Boomslang Skin," she pouted. "Only Professor Snape has this ingredient…"

"Oh, we're going to steal! Good luck with that, Mione," Ron said, his face turned red. "Please, don't get me involved because once Snape gets me, he'd tell my mother and she'd come here and bring me straight back home!"

Potter adjusted his glasses. "I can do it for you, Mione," he offered, but Severus noted the hesitation in his voice.

Hermione waved her hand. "No need for that, Harry. I'll take care of it. I'll create a diversion… Probably throw something at Crabbe and Goyle's cauldron for a bit of explosion, and I'll sneak into his storage room, pretending to have forgotten something. He wouldn't suspect me. He didn't even know that it was me who set his robes on fire last year."

Severus couldn't decide if he would applaud her or get mad at her for a bit.

The next scene was in the same lavatory, but the trio had already taken the Polyjuice Potion and Hermione entered a cubicle, saying she needed to throw up. Potter and Ron changed into different people, wearing Slytherin uniforms, but Hermione had not yet come out of the cubicle.

"Hermione, come on. We have to go!" called Potter, knocking on her door.

"You guys go without me. Don't waste time!" she called behind the door.

The next thing Severus saw was a half-human cat sitting on a hospital bed.

So, she was successful in brewing the Polyjuice Potion, but added a cat's hair? He wondered.

Madam Pomfrey was standing beside Hermione's bed, looking aghast. Then, his older version walked in. "Severus, thank Merlin you're here. I don't know what to do with Miss Granger's predicament."

Older Severus just stood there near Hermione's hospital bed and gave the little witch a piercing gaze. "I may have an idea what kind of accident Miss Granger encountered. Give me a day to prepare the potion for her," came his cold voice.

Severus saw Hermione looking down and her cat eyes looked ashamed. "Thank you, Professor Snape."

The next scene was still in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was sitting by Hermione's hospital bed, but the little witch no longer looked like a cat. She was her normal self. She was just waking up.

"Madam Pomfrey! It's a basilisk – the monster in the Chamber of Secrets that has been Petrifying Hogwarts residents!" she said to the matron urgently.

Madam Pomfrey placed a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. "We know, my dear child. The headmaster had already told us, and your friends, Mr Potter and Mr Weasley killed the basilisk. They said they could have not done it without you. Now, drink." The matron handed Hermione a vial of potion. "This is for your strength. You've been Petrified for two months. Professor Snape made sure this one doesn't taste bad…"

Hermione drank the potion. "Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey?" she asked after she emptied the vial.

"Yes, dear. He's the Potions Master. Who else could brew the Restorative Draught?" she said kindly. "That man spent 48 hours brewing!"

Hermione smiled and muttered something Severus didn't catch.

The next scene was at the Forbidden Forest. Hermione was a year older now, running with Harry Potter, and a werewolf was chasing them. It was dark, but Severus could clearly see the necklace she was wearing. It had an odd pendant – an hourglass.

"Is that…" But he trailed off. He saw Hermione and Potter pass out, and Dementors were upon them, but someone had cast a Patronus. A stag. He saw his older self once more, Conjuring stretchers for Hermione and Potter and he brought them back to the castle.

Hermione was older in the next scene. The castle was ruined, and two wizards faced each other in the courtyard. Hermione was watching with her redhead best friend who was a foot taller than her now.

The first wizard looked like James Potter. So, this was Harry, he thought. The other wizard was a snake-like man, wearing deep green robes. He didn't have a nose. Who was this monster-like man?

"Severus Snape was never your man. He was a spy for the Order, and he was loyal to Dumbledore because he loved my mother!" Potter was yelling at the snake-like man. "He fooled you. Made you believe that you were the best Legilimens in the world. But you weren't. He was, however, the best Occlumens. You never had an inkling that he was protecting me all along. Protecting the son of the only woman he had ever loved."

Severus felt like his heart was being hammered. He loved Lily all his life? He protected her and James Potter's brat? For what?

But he never figured out the answer. The next scene was at a hospital. It wasn't at Hogwarts, so he assumed it was at St. Mungo's. Hermione was in a hospital bed again. A wizard wearing robes with the Ministry seal was talking to her.

"Miss Granger, how was your relationship with Severus Snape?"

Severus's heart skipped a beat. What's this wizard talking about?

Hermione frowned. "He was my former professor, Sir."

"Were you his favourite student? Did you have a close relationship with him?"

Hermione shook her head. "Anyone who knew Professor Snape would say he had never been close to anyone. I had the impression that I annoyed him in our classes. He scolded me many times, Sir. Is this about the war? As Harry said, he was a spy and loyal to the Order."

"His role in the war wasn't why I was asking you, Miss Granger." The wizard handed Hermione an envelope. "This is the last will and testament of Severus Tobias Snape, dated September 19th, 1997."

"My birthday…" She frowned and opened the envelope. "To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave everything."

.

Hermione was anxiously sitting on her chair, clutching the front of her robes. She didn't show him the horrible events like the Battle at the Department of Mysteries, Dumbledore's death, and Professor Snape's appointment as Hogwarts headmaster. She didn't show him the memory of him dying in the Shack. She didn't have the heart to do that. But eventually, should Severus choose to stay with her, she would have to let him know everything.

What would be his reaction once he learned that I was his student? That I am from the future? That the Room of Requirement sent me here? Would he stay, or would he run away?

Half an hour later, she found out the answer. Severus emerged from the marble basin and stood up; his eyes found her. He looked emotional.

"Harry was Lily's son with Potter," he simply said.

There was no jealousy or disdain in his voice. Maybe because he and Lily were friends again and he understood her more. Furthermore, Severus was harbouring feelings for her.

"Yes."

"You were best friends…"

She nodded again.

"He died protecting Lily… Lily died with Potter very young…" He sounded broken.

"We are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening," she promised.

"Lily knew, didn't she? That's why she's learning Occlumency, and she forgave me? Because she had seen the future."

"That's not the future anymore. We are changing things here. But yes, she felt bad learning that her older self didn't forgive you."

"What happens now?" he asked quietly. "I'm familiar with how time turners work, but you were sent by Hogwarts."

"My past is no longer your future. Unless Lily still chooses James…"

"Oh, I bet she would," Severus said promptly. "She's just making him suffer a bit and realize things. They'll have a brat – a child, years from now, I can see that."

"Harry," she smiled. "He was kind like Lily. But always inquisitive. Annoying, sometimes."

"That sounds like Lily," he smirked. "He was your teacher… The older Severus."

She offered him a small smile. "The best Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."

"Did you learn from him?" he asked softly.

"From you," she corrected. "I learned from you. I know about your Potions book and those notes you wrote on the pages. I saw it in my sixth year, and after the war, when everything was left to me, I saw all your journals."

"What about your future? Will you go back in time and have a recollection of what happened here?" he asked hesitantly.

She looked at him with sad eyes. "I… I will have to go back in December of 1978 – perhaps the day I was conceived. I was born on September 19th, 1979."

"You will be gone in less than two years, and I won't meet you for 11 years," he croaked. He sounded in pain.

She nodded. "That's one of the reasons why I wanted you to be sure first… I don't want to give you fall hopes and make you wait."

He offered her a hand, and she took it, then stood up as well. She stood in front of him.

"I left everything to you…" Severus just looked at her as if she was the only person in the world, then drew her to him.

She frowned slightly. "Yes, but I don't know why he did that."

"You, clever witch. He left everything to you because you're the best. You've been taking care of me like he took care of you," he whispered fondly. "I wasn't sure if he showed you direct kindness, and how he treated you as a student, but it doesn't matter that much. You, here, right is more important. Despite the things I learned, I do not plan to run away. I am still madly in love with you, and if I have to wait eleven, fifteen, or twenty years before I can finally court you, pursue you, and kiss you again, I would do so because I know in my heart, you're the only one I want."

She felt her heart clenching, but in a good way. She smiled at him and leaned toward him. "You don't have to wait for many years to kiss me again," she breathed.

And just like that, as if it was the only spell Severus needed to hear, they kissed again.