Hermione took notes as fast as she could, as her History of Magic
Professor talked about the Four Founders: Salazar Slytherin, Godric
Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. They were the four
wizards that made Hogwarts. Hermione had read about them in Hogwarts: A
History, but her teacher explained that there wasn't much information left
about them. They lived about a thousand years ago, and it was hard to keep
myths from the truth after such a long time. Even the oldest books
sometimes didn't tell the truth, because they could been made years after
the true date.
They of course had had lessons about the four wizards and witches before, but this time the students had to make a big essay.
The ghost gave them homework. They had to write about the Four Founders of Hogwarts, the making of Hogwarts. Well, shortly said, about everything that happened in Hogwarts when the Founders existed.
Hermione could manage that. But as always, Hermione Granger wanted to know more than other people and that was why she now buried herself into the Restricted Section of the library. She had permission to read all the books about that subject she wanted.
Hermione had been a Prefect for two years, and now she was a Head Girl, that meant she had the trust of all the teachers. She passed the librarian and had gone to the darkest corner of the forbidden bookcases. It looked scary here, but Hermione had been here enough times in the last few years to not be afraid anymore. She had never been in this corner, though, where the darkest books were. She had permission to read them, though. Only Head Girl or Boy and teachers were allowed at this part of the Restricted Section, because other students would probably not been able to handle what was in them.
Although Hermione had enough books collected from the rest of the library (actually, she had all the books that were in the library that told about Hogwarts or one of the founders).
It was obvious that not even the librarian had been here in years. It was dusty and the books looked like they weren't touched for ages.
Hermione start to look. There weren't any titles, so she had to open the books carefully. She saw some horrible things. Dark Art books, she didn't think would be allowed in Hogwarts.
It took more than two hours for her to find a black book, in the most unexpected place on a shelf, high above the others. There were four colours on it: Red, Green, Yellow and Blue. The four colours of the four houses.
She quickly took it to a corner of the library. It was really quiet at this time of the day. All the students waited for the last moment to do their homework, and usually there were only Ravenclaw students in here at Friday evening. On Sunday, the library was always over full.
Hermione decided to look at the other books first. So she began with reading them.
~*~
It was nearly ten o'clock when the librarian came to Hermione.
"Dear, I have to close the library now," the woman said softly. She looked really tired. She was actually very friendly, as long as you treated books with respect. Hermione always did that.
"But I have only one book to read!" Hermione complained.
"You can take that to your common room, Hermione," Madam Price said, while yawning. "It's alright. But bring it back immediately tomorrow morning."
"Of course," Hermione said smiling.
She quickly put the other books back at their place and left the library in a hurry. She couldn't wait to open this book.
Then she realised she had to do her round today. It was now ten thirty. Damn.
Hermione but the old book in her bag. She had responsibilities as a Head Girl. Every Friday an Saturday night she had to patrol for a couple of hours.
Hermione signed as she walked down the stairs quietly. She had to patrol the dungeons first. Sleepily she rubbed her eyes. She realised to late, that somebody else was rubbing in his eyes to, the same moment as she did. They bumped into each other, and fell down the stairs.
Hermione felt dizzy. She hit her head on the stone floor. She tried to stand up, but noticed that somebody was lying on her. Even though she couldn't see clear, she still recognised the greasy hair and that nose. This was a nightmare. She had bumped into Severus Snap, and he was clearly pissed.
*
She could feel Snape getting of her and pulling her up in his arms. He carried her somewhere, although she couldn't see where.
Hermione felt herself falling in sleep in those save arms.
*
"Miss Granger!" Someone growled.
Hermione opened her eyes and waited until her view became clear. She could now see the pissed of Potions Master standing before her in the potions room.
"You have been sleeping there for over five minutes!" He said irritated. "You have duties as a Head Girl, and one of them is that you have to look out of your eyes when you walk down the stairs! You stupid girl!"
Hermione was speechless. She was still a bit dizzy, but was felling more awake by every word Snape said. This wasn't good. He talked for another minute, telling her she was a bad Head Girl, while shaking his head.
"Eh, Professor Snape?" She tried carefully, when he had paused for a couple of seconds. "I have to go patrolling now, don't you think, Sir?"
He looked at her like he was going to explode. He pulled her bag, with the book in it, up and gave it to her, almost throwing it.
Hermione gave a little scream. In the bag was that old book! What if it was ripped or something? Madam Price was going to kill her! She was never going to lend her a book again in her whole live!
Hermione took it out quickly and was relieved that there was nothing wrong with it. She slowly opened the first page, looking if any page was injured. Snape was looking at her like some sort of a mad man.
August 23, 998' read the first page. It looked like a diary, Hermione noticed.
"Miss Granger, what do you think your doing?" Snape said coldly, trying to control his temper. He grabbed the book, in an attempt to close it, as he wanted to get rid of this 'stupid girl'.
But before Hermione could close the book, it felt like some sort of a wind was sucking her and Snape into the book. Everything became black.
(()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (())
"We still haven't found a Charms and Potions teacher. We only have a week before our first students will arrive," said a man's voice.
"Wait a second," said a woman's voice. "Do you hear that? I believe we have visitors."
Four heads looked behind them, as a woman and a man were lying on the floor. They both opened their eyes, to see their faces.
"Maybe they're lost wizards," said a third, female voice.
"Could be. Do you think their enemies?" Asked a forth, male voice.
"I don't thinks so, Salazar. They don't look dangerous," said the first voice.
Hermione could see clearly now, as could Snape. They knew now they were facing the Four Founders of Howarts. Their jaw dropped.
"Are you here for the place for a Charms and Potions teacher?" Asked a woman with long, dark blonde hair and friendly blue eyes, but something in her eyes showed she was a strict woman.
Snape stood up and helped Hermione up.
"We accidentally ended up here," Snape said, his voice cold as ever.
"So, you Apparated," said a man with green eyes and blond hair, that looked like silver in the light that was coming through a window. His voice sounded like Snape's. But the man that had to be Salazar Slytherin wasn't ugly, like Hermione imagined him to be, but actually quite handsome. As was the man standing next to him. He had red hair, even redder than Ron's, like that was possible, and kind brown eyes.
"Not exactly," said Snape.
"Well, you seem like wizards to me. This could be a good thing," said another woman. She had to be Helga Hufflepuff. Her voice was real friendly and she was kind of short, but glowed something warm out of her. Something motherly, like Ron's mother. She had black hair and light green eyes. "Are you maybe interested in being an Potions teacher or a Charms one?"
"Come on Helga," said Godric Gryffindor. "Let's explain them a little bit first, before hitting them with questions. "This is Hogwarts, the first real school to teach magic. I'm Godric Gryffindor, and this is Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. In about a week time students from all around will come to attend our school. There will also attend muggleborn wizards and witches." He glanced over at Slytherin, who looked grumpy. "We sent all the children around eleven years letters by owl to ask them to come here to learn magic. We visit muggleborns personally."
"How do you like it so far?" Asked Helga, smiling. "We're actually quite proud of our school. So, are you two interested? You have magical experience, or not?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "I'm actually quite good at Charms and Severus here is a real good Potions Master." She didn't know how to handle this well, but she decided to make the best of it and play it along.
"Well, that's great news!" Helga said happily.
"Are you purebloods?" Asked Salazar.
"Don't be so rude, Salazar!" Helga said sharply. "That doesn't matter one bit."
Salazar growled.
"Or had you other plans maybe? Do you have a home and children, or so?" Godric asked friendly.
"No," Snape said sharply. Hermione gave him a look.
"Now," Helga said excited, "do you accept the job?"
"Yes," Snape said. Hermione nodded.
"That's great!" Helga said. "You seem like two fine people."
"It's not possible for them to apparate here. I've build a barrier. Maybe I should make it stronger," Slytherin muttered. He walked out of the round room, which was in a tower.
"We of course have to see if you are capable of the job," said Rowena. "A test would be good."
"Yes, I believe so," said Godric excited.
"Rowena is the best Charmer of us four," Helga said, giggling.
"Thank you, Helga," Rowena said, smiling at her friend. They seemed to be close. She turned to Hermione. "Well, let's see what kind of spells you know. You must be of a wizarding family, or else you wouldn't know magic."
Hermione chose not to response. She showed the three great wizards a couple of very advanced spells she knew. They were really impressed.
"It's rare that such a young woman like you can do spells like that," said Rowena. "I've never heard of your names before."
"We're not very known in this area," Snape lied.
"Well, that explains," said Helga, smiling at them. "Well, I believe you are up to the task. How about you Mr Snape? Godric is a very good at potions, maybe you two should go to the dungeons and try something out. We'll see you at dinner in a couple of hours in the Great Hall."
The two men nodded and disappeared through the door.
Hermione was a bit confused. Had the diary brought them back in time? But how was that possible? She had read about diaries with memories in it, but it never took you 'Back in Time'. Helga smiled at Hermione.
"So, what's about you and Severus?" Helga asked.
"Well, we're not together, actually," Hermione said.
"That's a shame!" Helga said surprised. "You look like such a nice couple!"
"They don't actually," Rowena said. "Severus looks like he could use a good night of sleep. But Hermione, in the contrary, looks like she can take on the whole world. How old are you, if I might ask."
"Nineteen," Hermione said. That was actually true. She became eighteen in September, but when she used the Time Turner in her third year, she had magically made the day much longer. In three terms she had made a whole year extra.
"That's really young!" Said Helga. "So, who was your teacher? It wasn't Severus, was it?"
"Well, actually, he was. He was my potions teacher, but I also had other teachers," Hermione said.
"So you come from a wealthy family then," said Rowena. "We all do actually. We all come from a long line of wizarding families. Only Godric is a muggleborn. An old wizard had found out about his talent and taught him everything he knew, and then let all his money and books to him when he died. It made Godric a great wizard. I'm glad Salazar doesn't mind him being a muggleborn. He actually only wanted purebloods in our school, but us three decided against it."
"Come on," Helga said. "Enough of that serious stuff. Let us guide you through the castle. And than I'll show you your rooms. We have two rooms and offices next to each other, so you and Severus can be close." Helga gave Hermione a grin.
Hermione decided to tell the two women the truth. "Eh, Professor Hufflepuff?"
"You can call me Helga. Even though you work for us, you can call us by our first names."
"The truth is, that…" It was hard to explain. "That Professor Snape and I actually come from the future. It was some sort of spell on a book. It took us from 1998 to now. 998 if I'm not mistaken."
"Well, that's a long time!" Helga said surprised.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Rowena said. "We can't time travel in this time. I think you and Severus are stuck here, until you find some way to get back."
Hermione got tears in her eyes.
"Oh, don't worry, dear," Helga said, while taking her hand and squeezing in it softly. "You'll find a way soon. And until then you can stay here and teach the students. You'll have enough free time to find a way to go back. You don't need to worry. We'll help too."
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"This is actually our tenth year that our school exists," Helga said, changing the subject. "We have over two hundred students now in our school. That's quite a lot, we think. To be true, the four of us were only around twenty-five years old when we decided to start the school. Everybody said we were crazy. Four young, but still brilliant, witches and wizards, making a school in a castle. Everybody knows it's not a nice time for wizards. If you show magical ability as a muggleborn, you could be burned! It's terrible really. Especially for those muggleborns. That's why we wanted to teach the children. Purebloods are always taught by their own family, of course, but still most of them are now at Hogwarts. We teach all the subjects. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Dark Arts, although that's more like Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Salazar likes to call it Dark Arts. And then there is Care of Magical Creatures. That's really important in the magical world. And there's also…"
"Helga," Rowena interrupted, "I think Hermione has been studying on this school for years."
"Oh, I forgot about that," Helga said giggling. "Well, to change the subject again, I think you'll need a couple of other clothes. These look quite strange to me. I have some robes and shoes you can have. They are worn, but I hope you don't mind. I am a little shorter than you, but I think I can make them al little longer for you."
"That would be great!" Hermione said.
"Well, come on then. I want you to see your bedroom and office. I think a tour around the castle isn't needed."
"I have some letters I need to write," Rowena said. "I'm going to my office. It's near Ravenclaw house, so I can keep a save look on my students."
"See you at dinner, Rowena," Helga said, while she took Hermione out of the round room, that Hermione recognised as Dumbledore's office when she took a better look of it. "Come, first I'll give you my robes and then I'll show your room. I think Rowena is going to tell Godric and Salazar about that you come from the future, so you don't need to bother telling them."
Hermione walked with Helga to the entrance and then they walked down stairs, that didn't lead to a dungeon, but to a happy hall, that was a little smaller than the Great Hall. There were paintings all over the hall.
"The Hufflepuff house is there, behind that painting," she pointed at a moving painting of Helga Hufflepuff herself. Hermione had seen that painting before, because she had been in the Hufflepuff house several times before. Once, in the beginning of the year, she had to go down here because some Slytherin students had made a mess of the common room. It was still a riddle how they came in there anyway. "And behind this statue is my office. And in my office is another painting to my bedroom." She said the password (newt) and opened the door that appeared. There was a beautiful office. Most of the things in it were yellow, so that it looked like the whole office shone some kind of invisible light. "I just love yellow," Helga said smiling. "Come on, behind that painting is my bedroom."
There was a painting with a badger on it, who was looking at Hermione curiously. Hermione was to busy with looking around the office to notice the password. There appeared a yellow door, and they entered.
The bedroom wasn't all yellow, but the most of it was in the most beautiful sort of wood she had ever seen. There were many closets.
"I love clothes. I usually only wear my clothes a couple of times. I'm lucky I have a lot of money, or else I would die. So you can have many robes and shoes, if you don't mind them being worn."
"Oh, I don't mind at all," Hermione said.
"So, in what house were you anyway? You are very friendly, maybe Hufflepuff? You seem like a very smart girl. Were you in Rowena's house?"
"No, I was in Gryffindor," Hermione answered.
"That's a shame. Hufflepuff is a real good house. But Gryffindor is a real good house to be in also. I bet you're real proud."
Helga opened the doors and revealed what seemed hundreds of dresses and robes. She took out ten dresses and matching robes and shoes and cast spells on them so that Hermione would fit them.
"There. I have seen my clothes maker casting those spells so many times before, that I know them by now. You can have all those things. I never wear them anyway."
The robes seemed to be made of the best material and it had to be very expensive.
"Thank you Helga," Hermione said.
"You're welcome," Helga said smiling. "I'll let the elves take those to you room later. Now, I think it's time for dinner. Shall we go?" Hermione nodded.
Hermione always wanted to be a teacher after she finished school, but she hadn't even finished it! How was she supposed to teach the seventh years? She would worry about that later.
"What happened to the Charms and Potions teachers?" Hermione asked, while she and Helga were walking to the Great Hall to eat.
"The Potions master poisoned himself. He was quite the experimental person. It was stupid that he always tasted the potions himself. And the Charms teacher is married. With a student to be honest. She was a seventh year. She graduated last year. They got married, and they live at a little castle not far from here since this summer. They make a beautiful pair."
They entered the Great Hall, that didn't look different from a thousand years later. It already had the enchanted sealing and the four tables and the head table. Slytherin, Gryffindor and two other men sat at the table. Rowena smiled when she saw the two other women. They sat next to her. Hermione smiled when she saw Severus Snape talking to Godric Gryffindor about potions. Never in a million years had she imagined seeing this picture. Head of Slytherin and Gryffindor himself, talking to each other. If only Harry and Ron were here.
Suddenly she realised she didn't exactly knew how long it was until she was going to see her best friends again.
Hermione ate silently, while listening to Snape talking to Godric Gryffindor. They had an argument about how to make a certain potion.
"Easy men," Rowena interrupted. "You know Severus comes from thousand years in the future. The knowledge of potion making is surely improved by then. And as you told yourself Godric, you have seen Severus is a very good Potion maker, so stop it!" She looked at them both dangerously, and somehow both of them stopped talking.
Everyone ate his dinner in silence. Helga tried to cheer everybody up by talking about the students that were coming next week. Only Rowena and Hermione joined the conversation. Hermione looked over at the other two teachers. One of them, who had a long grey beard and tired eyes, was their Herbology teacher. The other one had blond hair and a pale face and eyes even darker than Snape's. She was surprised when she heard that his name was Felix Malfoy. He was the Transfiguration teacher. The teacher of Care of Magical Creatures was outside. Helga told her he was a man who didn't like spending time with people. He always ate alone and he lived in his little house on the grounds. Helga told him he was a werewolf. He could talk with animals, that's what made him a good Care of Magical Creatures teacher. He was only dangerous sometimes, when it was full moon. When he was sick, a couple of days in the month, Rowena would teach the students. Rowena also taught the students special lessons a couple of hours a week. Those subjects were Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and they were only given to fifth years and up and only once a week.
"The Dark Arts teacher will come in a couple of days. I don't really like him. He never likes a conversation. He's really strict to the students. Even stricter then Rowena. Rowena is actually a real good teacher. And really smart. Well, enough about the teachers." Helga stood up, as did all the others. They finished eating and were walking to their bedrooms. "Goodnight Godric, Salazar. See you tomorrow Felix. Bye Jason," Helga said. "Come on Severus. I'll take you and Hermione to your office and bedroom."
As they walked up the stairs Helga began explaining some things about the lessons and the students. On the second floor she stopped and pointed at a door.
"That's your office, Severus. Inside there's a painting. Tell the password 'centaur tail' and it will become a door. And there, on the other side of the hall, that's your office Hermione. The password is 'phoenix feather'. I think I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
She smiled at the two new teachers and disappeared down the stairs.
"Miss Granger," Snape said, with his usual cold voice. "Would you come into my office." It wasn't a question.
Hermione entered the office. It was a simple one that could be decorated as you wished.
"Sit down, Miss Granger," he ordered, while pointing at the chair.
Hermione obeyed and sat down. Then Snape explode.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking ever opening such a dangerous book," his voice wasn't loud, but it still scared her. "Do you realise we could be stuck in this time forever? Are you insane? Did you maybe have a death wish? What if Salazar Slytherin thought we were enemies? Then he would have turned us into toads! They would have killed us! You stupid girl! We are lucky Hufflepuff has such a filthy good heart and gave us these jobs!"
"We can always make a potion or cast a spell that will take us back to the future," Hermione whispered, scared of her angry Professor.
"Do you think that is easy?" He growled. "Even for the best potion makers it's difficult to get a couple of hours in the future. Very powerful wizards make the Time-Turners and it is going to be invented in 1800. It can only take you a couple of hours in the past."
Now it was Hermione who was angry. "Do you have to complain? You were a Death Eater in our time! Everybody hated you! You had nobody as far as I could see! You at least have a new beginning! I lost my friends, family and my studies! You, Professor, have lost nothing."
He was quiet.
"That's right Professor," Hermione whispered. "I'm going to sleep."
Hermione walked out of the office and ran to her own. When she closed the door, she began to cry. She told the password to the paining and walked through the door that appeared. She didn't even noticed how beautiful her room was. She only sank into her bed and continued to cry, until she fell into a deep sleep.
~*~*~*~
A/N: I hope you like the first chapter. I'll update soon.
And I don't actually know much about the 10th sentury, so don't flame me for that. In my head, Hogwarts still looks the same.
Please review to tell what you think.
They of course had had lessons about the four wizards and witches before, but this time the students had to make a big essay.
The ghost gave them homework. They had to write about the Four Founders of Hogwarts, the making of Hogwarts. Well, shortly said, about everything that happened in Hogwarts when the Founders existed.
Hermione could manage that. But as always, Hermione Granger wanted to know more than other people and that was why she now buried herself into the Restricted Section of the library. She had permission to read all the books about that subject she wanted.
Hermione had been a Prefect for two years, and now she was a Head Girl, that meant she had the trust of all the teachers. She passed the librarian and had gone to the darkest corner of the forbidden bookcases. It looked scary here, but Hermione had been here enough times in the last few years to not be afraid anymore. She had never been in this corner, though, where the darkest books were. She had permission to read them, though. Only Head Girl or Boy and teachers were allowed at this part of the Restricted Section, because other students would probably not been able to handle what was in them.
Although Hermione had enough books collected from the rest of the library (actually, she had all the books that were in the library that told about Hogwarts or one of the founders).
It was obvious that not even the librarian had been here in years. It was dusty and the books looked like they weren't touched for ages.
Hermione start to look. There weren't any titles, so she had to open the books carefully. She saw some horrible things. Dark Art books, she didn't think would be allowed in Hogwarts.
It took more than two hours for her to find a black book, in the most unexpected place on a shelf, high above the others. There were four colours on it: Red, Green, Yellow and Blue. The four colours of the four houses.
She quickly took it to a corner of the library. It was really quiet at this time of the day. All the students waited for the last moment to do their homework, and usually there were only Ravenclaw students in here at Friday evening. On Sunday, the library was always over full.
Hermione decided to look at the other books first. So she began with reading them.
~*~
It was nearly ten o'clock when the librarian came to Hermione.
"Dear, I have to close the library now," the woman said softly. She looked really tired. She was actually very friendly, as long as you treated books with respect. Hermione always did that.
"But I have only one book to read!" Hermione complained.
"You can take that to your common room, Hermione," Madam Price said, while yawning. "It's alright. But bring it back immediately tomorrow morning."
"Of course," Hermione said smiling.
She quickly put the other books back at their place and left the library in a hurry. She couldn't wait to open this book.
Then she realised she had to do her round today. It was now ten thirty. Damn.
Hermione but the old book in her bag. She had responsibilities as a Head Girl. Every Friday an Saturday night she had to patrol for a couple of hours.
Hermione signed as she walked down the stairs quietly. She had to patrol the dungeons first. Sleepily she rubbed her eyes. She realised to late, that somebody else was rubbing in his eyes to, the same moment as she did. They bumped into each other, and fell down the stairs.
Hermione felt dizzy. She hit her head on the stone floor. She tried to stand up, but noticed that somebody was lying on her. Even though she couldn't see clear, she still recognised the greasy hair and that nose. This was a nightmare. She had bumped into Severus Snap, and he was clearly pissed.
*
She could feel Snape getting of her and pulling her up in his arms. He carried her somewhere, although she couldn't see where.
Hermione felt herself falling in sleep in those save arms.
*
"Miss Granger!" Someone growled.
Hermione opened her eyes and waited until her view became clear. She could now see the pissed of Potions Master standing before her in the potions room.
"You have been sleeping there for over five minutes!" He said irritated. "You have duties as a Head Girl, and one of them is that you have to look out of your eyes when you walk down the stairs! You stupid girl!"
Hermione was speechless. She was still a bit dizzy, but was felling more awake by every word Snape said. This wasn't good. He talked for another minute, telling her she was a bad Head Girl, while shaking his head.
"Eh, Professor Snape?" She tried carefully, when he had paused for a couple of seconds. "I have to go patrolling now, don't you think, Sir?"
He looked at her like he was going to explode. He pulled her bag, with the book in it, up and gave it to her, almost throwing it.
Hermione gave a little scream. In the bag was that old book! What if it was ripped or something? Madam Price was going to kill her! She was never going to lend her a book again in her whole live!
Hermione took it out quickly and was relieved that there was nothing wrong with it. She slowly opened the first page, looking if any page was injured. Snape was looking at her like some sort of a mad man.
August 23, 998' read the first page. It looked like a diary, Hermione noticed.
"Miss Granger, what do you think your doing?" Snape said coldly, trying to control his temper. He grabbed the book, in an attempt to close it, as he wanted to get rid of this 'stupid girl'.
But before Hermione could close the book, it felt like some sort of a wind was sucking her and Snape into the book. Everything became black.
(()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (()) (())
"We still haven't found a Charms and Potions teacher. We only have a week before our first students will arrive," said a man's voice.
"Wait a second," said a woman's voice. "Do you hear that? I believe we have visitors."
Four heads looked behind them, as a woman and a man were lying on the floor. They both opened their eyes, to see their faces.
"Maybe they're lost wizards," said a third, female voice.
"Could be. Do you think their enemies?" Asked a forth, male voice.
"I don't thinks so, Salazar. They don't look dangerous," said the first voice.
Hermione could see clearly now, as could Snape. They knew now they were facing the Four Founders of Howarts. Their jaw dropped.
"Are you here for the place for a Charms and Potions teacher?" Asked a woman with long, dark blonde hair and friendly blue eyes, but something in her eyes showed she was a strict woman.
Snape stood up and helped Hermione up.
"We accidentally ended up here," Snape said, his voice cold as ever.
"So, you Apparated," said a man with green eyes and blond hair, that looked like silver in the light that was coming through a window. His voice sounded like Snape's. But the man that had to be Salazar Slytherin wasn't ugly, like Hermione imagined him to be, but actually quite handsome. As was the man standing next to him. He had red hair, even redder than Ron's, like that was possible, and kind brown eyes.
"Not exactly," said Snape.
"Well, you seem like wizards to me. This could be a good thing," said another woman. She had to be Helga Hufflepuff. Her voice was real friendly and she was kind of short, but glowed something warm out of her. Something motherly, like Ron's mother. She had black hair and light green eyes. "Are you maybe interested in being an Potions teacher or a Charms one?"
"Come on Helga," said Godric Gryffindor. "Let's explain them a little bit first, before hitting them with questions. "This is Hogwarts, the first real school to teach magic. I'm Godric Gryffindor, and this is Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. In about a week time students from all around will come to attend our school. There will also attend muggleborn wizards and witches." He glanced over at Slytherin, who looked grumpy. "We sent all the children around eleven years letters by owl to ask them to come here to learn magic. We visit muggleborns personally."
"How do you like it so far?" Asked Helga, smiling. "We're actually quite proud of our school. So, are you two interested? You have magical experience, or not?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "I'm actually quite good at Charms and Severus here is a real good Potions Master." She didn't know how to handle this well, but she decided to make the best of it and play it along.
"Well, that's great news!" Helga said happily.
"Are you purebloods?" Asked Salazar.
"Don't be so rude, Salazar!" Helga said sharply. "That doesn't matter one bit."
Salazar growled.
"Or had you other plans maybe? Do you have a home and children, or so?" Godric asked friendly.
"No," Snape said sharply. Hermione gave him a look.
"Now," Helga said excited, "do you accept the job?"
"Yes," Snape said. Hermione nodded.
"That's great!" Helga said. "You seem like two fine people."
"It's not possible for them to apparate here. I've build a barrier. Maybe I should make it stronger," Slytherin muttered. He walked out of the round room, which was in a tower.
"We of course have to see if you are capable of the job," said Rowena. "A test would be good."
"Yes, I believe so," said Godric excited.
"Rowena is the best Charmer of us four," Helga said, giggling.
"Thank you, Helga," Rowena said, smiling at her friend. They seemed to be close. She turned to Hermione. "Well, let's see what kind of spells you know. You must be of a wizarding family, or else you wouldn't know magic."
Hermione chose not to response. She showed the three great wizards a couple of very advanced spells she knew. They were really impressed.
"It's rare that such a young woman like you can do spells like that," said Rowena. "I've never heard of your names before."
"We're not very known in this area," Snape lied.
"Well, that explains," said Helga, smiling at them. "Well, I believe you are up to the task. How about you Mr Snape? Godric is a very good at potions, maybe you two should go to the dungeons and try something out. We'll see you at dinner in a couple of hours in the Great Hall."
The two men nodded and disappeared through the door.
Hermione was a bit confused. Had the diary brought them back in time? But how was that possible? She had read about diaries with memories in it, but it never took you 'Back in Time'. Helga smiled at Hermione.
"So, what's about you and Severus?" Helga asked.
"Well, we're not together, actually," Hermione said.
"That's a shame!" Helga said surprised. "You look like such a nice couple!"
"They don't actually," Rowena said. "Severus looks like he could use a good night of sleep. But Hermione, in the contrary, looks like she can take on the whole world. How old are you, if I might ask."
"Nineteen," Hermione said. That was actually true. She became eighteen in September, but when she used the Time Turner in her third year, she had magically made the day much longer. In three terms she had made a whole year extra.
"That's really young!" Said Helga. "So, who was your teacher? It wasn't Severus, was it?"
"Well, actually, he was. He was my potions teacher, but I also had other teachers," Hermione said.
"So you come from a wealthy family then," said Rowena. "We all do actually. We all come from a long line of wizarding families. Only Godric is a muggleborn. An old wizard had found out about his talent and taught him everything he knew, and then let all his money and books to him when he died. It made Godric a great wizard. I'm glad Salazar doesn't mind him being a muggleborn. He actually only wanted purebloods in our school, but us three decided against it."
"Come on," Helga said. "Enough of that serious stuff. Let us guide you through the castle. And than I'll show you your rooms. We have two rooms and offices next to each other, so you and Severus can be close." Helga gave Hermione a grin.
Hermione decided to tell the two women the truth. "Eh, Professor Hufflepuff?"
"You can call me Helga. Even though you work for us, you can call us by our first names."
"The truth is, that…" It was hard to explain. "That Professor Snape and I actually come from the future. It was some sort of spell on a book. It took us from 1998 to now. 998 if I'm not mistaken."
"Well, that's a long time!" Helga said surprised.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Rowena said. "We can't time travel in this time. I think you and Severus are stuck here, until you find some way to get back."
Hermione got tears in her eyes.
"Oh, don't worry, dear," Helga said, while taking her hand and squeezing in it softly. "You'll find a way soon. And until then you can stay here and teach the students. You'll have enough free time to find a way to go back. You don't need to worry. We'll help too."
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"This is actually our tenth year that our school exists," Helga said, changing the subject. "We have over two hundred students now in our school. That's quite a lot, we think. To be true, the four of us were only around twenty-five years old when we decided to start the school. Everybody said we were crazy. Four young, but still brilliant, witches and wizards, making a school in a castle. Everybody knows it's not a nice time for wizards. If you show magical ability as a muggleborn, you could be burned! It's terrible really. Especially for those muggleborns. That's why we wanted to teach the children. Purebloods are always taught by their own family, of course, but still most of them are now at Hogwarts. We teach all the subjects. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Dark Arts, although that's more like Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Salazar likes to call it Dark Arts. And then there is Care of Magical Creatures. That's really important in the magical world. And there's also…"
"Helga," Rowena interrupted, "I think Hermione has been studying on this school for years."
"Oh, I forgot about that," Helga said giggling. "Well, to change the subject again, I think you'll need a couple of other clothes. These look quite strange to me. I have some robes and shoes you can have. They are worn, but I hope you don't mind. I am a little shorter than you, but I think I can make them al little longer for you."
"That would be great!" Hermione said.
"Well, come on then. I want you to see your bedroom and office. I think a tour around the castle isn't needed."
"I have some letters I need to write," Rowena said. "I'm going to my office. It's near Ravenclaw house, so I can keep a save look on my students."
"See you at dinner, Rowena," Helga said, while she took Hermione out of the round room, that Hermione recognised as Dumbledore's office when she took a better look of it. "Come, first I'll give you my robes and then I'll show your room. I think Rowena is going to tell Godric and Salazar about that you come from the future, so you don't need to bother telling them."
Hermione walked with Helga to the entrance and then they walked down stairs, that didn't lead to a dungeon, but to a happy hall, that was a little smaller than the Great Hall. There were paintings all over the hall.
"The Hufflepuff house is there, behind that painting," she pointed at a moving painting of Helga Hufflepuff herself. Hermione had seen that painting before, because she had been in the Hufflepuff house several times before. Once, in the beginning of the year, she had to go down here because some Slytherin students had made a mess of the common room. It was still a riddle how they came in there anyway. "And behind this statue is my office. And in my office is another painting to my bedroom." She said the password (newt) and opened the door that appeared. There was a beautiful office. Most of the things in it were yellow, so that it looked like the whole office shone some kind of invisible light. "I just love yellow," Helga said smiling. "Come on, behind that painting is my bedroom."
There was a painting with a badger on it, who was looking at Hermione curiously. Hermione was to busy with looking around the office to notice the password. There appeared a yellow door, and they entered.
The bedroom wasn't all yellow, but the most of it was in the most beautiful sort of wood she had ever seen. There were many closets.
"I love clothes. I usually only wear my clothes a couple of times. I'm lucky I have a lot of money, or else I would die. So you can have many robes and shoes, if you don't mind them being worn."
"Oh, I don't mind at all," Hermione said.
"So, in what house were you anyway? You are very friendly, maybe Hufflepuff? You seem like a very smart girl. Were you in Rowena's house?"
"No, I was in Gryffindor," Hermione answered.
"That's a shame. Hufflepuff is a real good house. But Gryffindor is a real good house to be in also. I bet you're real proud."
Helga opened the doors and revealed what seemed hundreds of dresses and robes. She took out ten dresses and matching robes and shoes and cast spells on them so that Hermione would fit them.
"There. I have seen my clothes maker casting those spells so many times before, that I know them by now. You can have all those things. I never wear them anyway."
The robes seemed to be made of the best material and it had to be very expensive.
"Thank you Helga," Hermione said.
"You're welcome," Helga said smiling. "I'll let the elves take those to you room later. Now, I think it's time for dinner. Shall we go?" Hermione nodded.
Hermione always wanted to be a teacher after she finished school, but she hadn't even finished it! How was she supposed to teach the seventh years? She would worry about that later.
"What happened to the Charms and Potions teachers?" Hermione asked, while she and Helga were walking to the Great Hall to eat.
"The Potions master poisoned himself. He was quite the experimental person. It was stupid that he always tasted the potions himself. And the Charms teacher is married. With a student to be honest. She was a seventh year. She graduated last year. They got married, and they live at a little castle not far from here since this summer. They make a beautiful pair."
They entered the Great Hall, that didn't look different from a thousand years later. It already had the enchanted sealing and the four tables and the head table. Slytherin, Gryffindor and two other men sat at the table. Rowena smiled when she saw the two other women. They sat next to her. Hermione smiled when she saw Severus Snape talking to Godric Gryffindor about potions. Never in a million years had she imagined seeing this picture. Head of Slytherin and Gryffindor himself, talking to each other. If only Harry and Ron were here.
Suddenly she realised she didn't exactly knew how long it was until she was going to see her best friends again.
Hermione ate silently, while listening to Snape talking to Godric Gryffindor. They had an argument about how to make a certain potion.
"Easy men," Rowena interrupted. "You know Severus comes from thousand years in the future. The knowledge of potion making is surely improved by then. And as you told yourself Godric, you have seen Severus is a very good Potion maker, so stop it!" She looked at them both dangerously, and somehow both of them stopped talking.
Everyone ate his dinner in silence. Helga tried to cheer everybody up by talking about the students that were coming next week. Only Rowena and Hermione joined the conversation. Hermione looked over at the other two teachers. One of them, who had a long grey beard and tired eyes, was their Herbology teacher. The other one had blond hair and a pale face and eyes even darker than Snape's. She was surprised when she heard that his name was Felix Malfoy. He was the Transfiguration teacher. The teacher of Care of Magical Creatures was outside. Helga told her he was a man who didn't like spending time with people. He always ate alone and he lived in his little house on the grounds. Helga told him he was a werewolf. He could talk with animals, that's what made him a good Care of Magical Creatures teacher. He was only dangerous sometimes, when it was full moon. When he was sick, a couple of days in the month, Rowena would teach the students. Rowena also taught the students special lessons a couple of hours a week. Those subjects were Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and they were only given to fifth years and up and only once a week.
"The Dark Arts teacher will come in a couple of days. I don't really like him. He never likes a conversation. He's really strict to the students. Even stricter then Rowena. Rowena is actually a real good teacher. And really smart. Well, enough about the teachers." Helga stood up, as did all the others. They finished eating and were walking to their bedrooms. "Goodnight Godric, Salazar. See you tomorrow Felix. Bye Jason," Helga said. "Come on Severus. I'll take you and Hermione to your office and bedroom."
As they walked up the stairs Helga began explaining some things about the lessons and the students. On the second floor she stopped and pointed at a door.
"That's your office, Severus. Inside there's a painting. Tell the password 'centaur tail' and it will become a door. And there, on the other side of the hall, that's your office Hermione. The password is 'phoenix feather'. I think I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
She smiled at the two new teachers and disappeared down the stairs.
"Miss Granger," Snape said, with his usual cold voice. "Would you come into my office." It wasn't a question.
Hermione entered the office. It was a simple one that could be decorated as you wished.
"Sit down, Miss Granger," he ordered, while pointing at the chair.
Hermione obeyed and sat down. Then Snape explode.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking ever opening such a dangerous book," his voice wasn't loud, but it still scared her. "Do you realise we could be stuck in this time forever? Are you insane? Did you maybe have a death wish? What if Salazar Slytherin thought we were enemies? Then he would have turned us into toads! They would have killed us! You stupid girl! We are lucky Hufflepuff has such a filthy good heart and gave us these jobs!"
"We can always make a potion or cast a spell that will take us back to the future," Hermione whispered, scared of her angry Professor.
"Do you think that is easy?" He growled. "Even for the best potion makers it's difficult to get a couple of hours in the future. Very powerful wizards make the Time-Turners and it is going to be invented in 1800. It can only take you a couple of hours in the past."
Now it was Hermione who was angry. "Do you have to complain? You were a Death Eater in our time! Everybody hated you! You had nobody as far as I could see! You at least have a new beginning! I lost my friends, family and my studies! You, Professor, have lost nothing."
He was quiet.
"That's right Professor," Hermione whispered. "I'm going to sleep."
Hermione walked out of the office and ran to her own. When she closed the door, she began to cry. She told the password to the paining and walked through the door that appeared. She didn't even noticed how beautiful her room was. She only sank into her bed and continued to cry, until she fell into a deep sleep.
~*~*~*~
A/N: I hope you like the first chapter. I'll update soon.
And I don't actually know much about the 10th sentury, so don't flame me for that. In my head, Hogwarts still looks the same.
Please review to tell what you think.