A/N: This is my first attempt at writing, after being inspired by all the wonderful stories out there. Please view it with a kind eye, as it may start off rather poorly written. Reviews are always welcomed, whether complimentary or critical - they are what will make my story that much better. A warning: this story will eventually involve a HG/SS romance, which yes, deviates from the normal path. If that repulses you, then let this serve as a warning before you continue reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters; they are all the property of Scholastic and JK Rowling.

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The Muse of Fates: An Altered Past

Chapter One

".for we will always honor his memory, and stay true to his vision for Hogwarts." Minerva McGonagall, newly appointed Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, concluded her memorial in front of all assembled students, professors, parents, and friends on a blustery March morning. Albus Dumbledore, longtime pillar of the magical community and the most powerful wizard in a century, had let loose his last breath on the wind the previous evening. The esteemed Headmaster had died peacefully in his sleep, but had left a mass of turmoil behind him. First and foremost was the gargantuan question: What to do about Voldemort?

Despite the façade of peace and safety emanating from Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry of Magic, the witches and wizards assembled on the front lawns of Hogwarts knew otherwise. He-who-must-not-be-named had been steadily rising to power during the last four years. Death Eater attacks, dismissed by the Ministry as committed by rogue maniacs, had been growing in number and violence. News of Dark activity plastered the second page of the Daily Prophet (seeing as the Ministry severely censored the front page). Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix had been spearheading of the relatively small group of people that was working towards the end of the Dark Lord. Now, with Dumbledore gone, all the adults and many of the students assembled wondered what was going to happen next. These were dark times, indeed

Unnoticed by the crowd, Hermione Granger disengaged herself from her two shell-shocked best friends and meandered towards the lake, Head Girl badge glinting in the meager sunlight. Hermione was incredibly changed from the chirrupy, naïve eleven-year-old who had first crossed the barrier at a muggle train station in London, entering a whole new world with innocent eyes wide open. The bushy hair had calmed into a controlled mass of silky brown curls, paralleling the change as Hermione's outspoken nature had subtly changed to something more serious and reserved. The eighteen-year- old was definitely not that same little girl anymore, much as she longed for the carefree days of old, and sometimes Hermione, with an ache in her heart, silently wondered at the world which had molded her prematurely into a world-weary near-adult with large burdens on her shoulders. Despite the clear, graceful physical features that marked the Head Girl as a fully- grown, attractive woman, there was a sad, insecure girl inside desperately in need of a reprieve.

The girl, now almost a woman, now made her way towards a sheltered ring of birch trees bordering the lakeshore. Perching herself on a large flat outcropping in the glade, Hermione finally let her emotions loose as silent sobs wracked her delicate frame. A familiar emptiness began to well up inside of her, as she thought of the man who had been a surrogate grandfather to her, with whom she shared wonderful memories of her seventh year..

~Flashback~

It had all begun one day, a month into Hermione's final year at Hogwarts. On the surface, Hermione was laughing and chatting about Ron's mischance with Tickling Charms in Flitwick's class. While listening to Harry give an animated account of the event, Hermione began to get an odd tingling sensation near the surface of her skin. The feeling grew until Hermione could hear a distant buzzing in her ears, as if a swarm of bees was hovering outside the Great Hall. All of the sudden, Harry stopped talking, and the Hall became ominously still. Everyone in the hall froze, eyes riveted as an unknown force kept them in their seats, watching the Gryffindor table as a ghostly white Lavender Brown began convulsing. Unexpectedly, Lavender went stock-still as her eyes rolled.

In a monotone Lavender began reciting, "Hogwarts is fallen, the light snuffed out, a world awash in black." Suddenly snapping out of her still state, Lavender opened her eyes, desperately gasping, "The phoenix must be reborn by the bringer of the light, or all is lost. The light must be revealed." Lavender slowly recovered from her fit, only to be unsettled by every pair of eyes in the Great Hall staring at her.

"What, have I suddenly become bald? Why is everyone so fascinated by the sight of me all of the sudden? Mind your own business!" Lavender snapped at her fellow students.

Assuming that the event was a staged joke of some sort, most of the students went back to eating and talking, as did the majority of the professors, after exchanging worried glances. After all, this was Hogwarts, unusual things happened every day. However, three pairs of eyes remained looking in Lavender's direction. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape exchanged a dark look as their eyes went back in Lavender's direction, taking in the sight of Hermione Granger, sheen over her eyes, gaze still fixed on Lavender, who was now chatting with a wide-eyed Parvati Patil.

"So this is how it all began." thought Dumbledore and Snape simultaneously. Although no one else but the two professors seemed to have realized it, a landmark had just been reached in Hogwarts history; indeed, a doorway would soon be opened upon which the future of the entire wizarding world was hinged.

After the last class of the day, Hermione was walking to the Gryffindor Tower when she felt a gentle presence behind her. Turning, Hermione found herself face to face with the Headmaster.

"Ah, Miss Granger. I'm glad I ran into you, there's something that I wanted to discuss. I hope you don't mind if you walk with me back to my office." Dumbledore twinkled down at the surprised Head Girl.

"Of course not, Professor. I would be delighted." Hermione, assuming Dumbledore wanted to discuss arrangements and her duties concerning the upcoming Halloween Ball, fell in step with the aging Headmaster. However, when they were both seated in his office, Fawkes dozing in his corner and all the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses looking sternly down upon them, Dumbledore said something completely unexpected.

"Miss Granger, would you care for a game of chess?"

Hermione, staring in shock for the second time that day, managed to stammer out, "O-of c-course, Headmaster, I would love to." In fact, Hermione happened to be an excellent chess player, better than anyone she had ever played with, even Ron. She always let Ron win because she felt that he deserved to feel like he was the best in something, no just standing in someone else's shadow all the time.

The Headmaster conjured up a chessboard on his desk, admonishing Hermione's pieces to listen to what she told them to do. He needn't have worried; the chess set knew when it was in adept hands, and promptly followed all of Hermione's directions. For the first time in her life since her father had taught her the game, Hermione lost. Instead of the bold, aggressive style that she was used to playing against, the Headmaster moved his pieces in seemingly innocent positions, and Hermione was becoming bewildered up until he laid the last piece of his plan in position. By then, it was too late. Most incredibly, the Headmaster had only lost three pieces, two pawns, and a bishop on his last move.

Hermione stared at the chessboard after the game had ended, utterly amazed. "I-I can't believe it. I feel so.diminished."

The Headmaster chuckled. "Don't worry Hermione, you're in good company. The last time I played was against Severus, the most excellent chess player I have ever seen, and even he lost. You held out for a surprisingly long time. With more honing, you will have skills to be proud of." By the way he carefully pronounced the last sentence, Hermione felt that Dumbledore was not only referring to her chess-playing.

"Thank you Professor."

"You're very welcome, Miss Granger. Now, the subject that I wanted to discuss with you was a letter a dear friend of mine has owled me. You see, he is a Muggle professor, and in his correspondence, he makes numerous references to common Muggle terms, most of which I am sadly unfamiliar with. Since your parents are both Muggles, perhaps you could help me in explaining some parts of the letter?"

Surprised once again, Hermione responded, "Yes, of course." She promptly scanned the parts mentioned by the Headmaster and began explaining. Soon, the conversation turned to the differences in wizard and muggle living styles, religious theology, and finally on any topic that came up. Hermione was in her element. Finally, as twilight began to turn into late evening, a knock sounded on the Headmaster's door.

"Well, Hermione, I thank you for a most invigorating experience. Do come back sometime, and we shall finish our conversation. My door is always open to you." The Headmaster smiled kindly at the girl, whose usually pallid expression had turned into one of pink-cheeked, sparkle-eyed pleasure. Hermione gave the Headmaster a dazzling smile and turned towards the door, which burst open suddenly as a hurried Severus Snape walked quickly into a surprised Hermione. Giving Hermione a cursory, glance, Sanpe did the slightest of double takes at the girl's altered appearance before switching back in to 'nasty git' mode.

"Next time, Miss Granger, please be so kind as to watch where your feet are leading you."

Hermione, taken aback, softly uttered a "Sorry, Professor Snape" before making a quick exit.

Chuckling anew, the Headmaster said, "Your demeanor never changes, does it, Severus. Now what was so important that you lost you usual unruffled demeanor and rushed in here, barreling straight into Miss Granger?"

Glaring at the Headmaster's mirth, the irate Professer hissed, "You know exactly what I'm here for, to discuss the rather important incident that happened today at lunch, not to play a pleasant, though rather unimportant game of chess with a student!"

Stifling another bout of chuckling, the Headmaster instead gave a wide smile. "I would agree with you, Severus, had I been playing chess with any other student. Hermione, however, is a different matter, as you know. She needs to be prepared for what she as of yet does not know what she must accomplish."

Grumbling, Severus conceded to the Headmaster's point. "All right, Albus, let's drop that particular matter, and begin planning. I assume that you have already notified Minerva?"

"Yes, she was most upset that she did not immediately connect today's incident with the import that it has. However, I have made up with her lack of insight, and she will be arriving shortly."

"Good. Once she arrives, we need to start preparations without delay."

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A/N: Well, what did you think?? Should I continue writing this? I am in need of reviews just push that little button and type your comments, and I will be eternally grateful, enough so to post the next chapter more quickly.