Hermione's chest was burning, a dull slow fire that slowly began to
dissipate as she woke from her unconscious state. She remembered turning
the Time-Turner, and arriving in a room filled with such stale air, she had
fainted. She could hear a soft mumbling.
Opening her eyes, she saw that she was in the Hospital Wing. She shifted slightly, her chest tightening with the exertion. The tapping of footsteps announced the arrival of Madame Pomfrey. The medi-witch looked older, as if all the cares of the world had been placed on her shoulders, and a grim smile curved her lips.
'Well, madam, now you're awake, perhaps you would like to explain why you were in a room that has been shut up for ten years? You nearly asphyxiated through the dust.'
Hermione pulled herself agonisingly upright.
'Madame Pomfrey?'
The old medi-witch's eyes narrowed.
'Yes. How did you know my name?'
'I . . .' Hermione hesitated. 'Someone in my family used to come here. She told me all about you.'
'Who?'
'Hermione Granger.'
Madame Pomfrey's features softened suddenly, a genuine smile breaking on her face.
'So you're Hermione's cousin? She's been talking about you coming to visit for weeks! What's your name?'
Hermione felt a stab of panic; what would her older self have named her? In desperation, she blurted out the only name she could think of, her middle name.
'Louise,' she said, swallowing the lump of fear that had risen in her throat. 'I'm Louise.'
Madame Pomfrey nodded.
'Yes, of course. Hermione's teaching at the moment, but I'm sure she'll come and collect you soon. You must be really looking forward to seeing her.'
As she chatted, the medi-witch checked 'Louise's' vital signs, pronouncing her fit and healthy. A set of fresh robes were laid on the bed, and she was helped into them, enjoying the inane chatter that flowed from Madame Pomfrey's mouth.
She moved over to the window, gazing out over the never-changing grounds of Hogwarts. A quiet gasp drew her attention back to her companion.
'What is it?'
'You look just like Hermione did when she was your age,' Madame Pomfrey said. 'That's why you looked so familiar. Anyway, I must be getting on, so make yourself comfortable until your cousin arrives.'
Hermione watched the old witch hurry out, a smile playing about her lips. What had happened to make the stern medi-witch so chatty? Her eyes returned to the central courtyard, her thoughts to her older self. What would she be like? Madame Pomfrey had said she was teaching; teaching what?
A hundred questions soared through her mind, all unanswered. Hermione didn't understand why she felt so calm. She was in an unfamiliar version of her world, where she didn't know who had won the war, or what was going to happen to herself.
There was a knock on the door.
'Louise? It's Hermione.'
Hermione swallowed, staring as her older self stepped into the room with Madame Pomfrey. There was an immediate shock in store for her as she saw the older Hermione's belly was swollen in the final stages of pregnancy. There was also a wedding ring on her finger.
The older Hermione smiled welcomingly, wrapping her arms about the startled girl.
'I know this is a bit of a shock,' she whispered, 'but I will explain everything when we are alone.'
She pulled back.
'Louise, it's so good to see you! Why didn't you tell us you were coming today?'
Thrown off-balance, Hermione managed a shy smile, wiping the shocked expression off her face.
'I wanted it to be a surprise. I didn't realise I was going to end up in hospital.'
Madame Pomfrey laughed, gazing at the two of them fondly.
'Well, I'm sure you have an explanation for why you were in Hermione's old rooms,' she said, gliding past and re-making the bed. 'Go on, both of you. Hagrid's bringing the children up after dinner, Hermione. They're having too much fun with him to come home now.'
The older Hermione laughed indulgently, and pulled her younger self out through the door. She turned to the younger girl.
'Follow me, and act like you've never been here before. I've been waiting for Dumbledore to send you for ages. What took him so long?'
Hermione felt more than a little lost at sea as she followed herself through the familiar hallways. As they turned down the steps to the dungeons, she stepped closer to the pregnant woman and hissed,
'Where are we going?'
'To my quarters, of course,' she answered, looking confused. Then enlightenment dawned. 'Oh, of course, you don't know about our husband, do you? Boy, is this going to be a shock.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well -'
A small first year scurried past, nodding to the older Hermione with a grin.
'Afternoon, Professor Snape!'
The younger Hermione stopped dead, her face white with shock.
'Snape? I'm going to marry Snape? That greasy, arrogant git?'
'Shhh, you. He's not an arrogant git anymore, I've mellowed him. And you're going to fall in love with him, Hermione, so calm down and keep walking.'
She was ushered into a suite of rooms beyond the Potion's classroom, half expecting to see the greasy git himself packing up after the school day. The older woman caught her looking curiously into the classroom.
'He's not there,' she said, making her younger self jump. 'He doesn't teach Potions anymore.'
'Oh.'
Hermione's gaze was drawn to the room they were in. In contrast to her expectations of Snape's inner sanctuary, it was light and airy, light shining in from a window placed high up in the wall. Two desks stood against the opposite wall, one covered in a chaotic mess of papers, the other neatly kept. A sofa and two chairs stood around the fireplace, over which hung a portrait of a wedding day. Her wedding day.
Hermione found herself drawn to it. There she was, looking not much older than she was now, dressed in a flowing white dress reminiscent of the medieval period she was so fond of. With her stood Snape, his arms about her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He was smiling, a genuinely cheerful smile. They looked so happy together. The two figures waved to her, curtseying and bowing before returning to their pose.
'Hard to believe, isn't it?'
She turned, seeing her older self smiling sympathetically at her. She nodded, moving to stand away from the painting. The older Hermione motioned her to take a seat. As she did so, another, smaller photograph caught her eye. Glancing at her companion for permission, she lifted it, watching the figures within playing happily. There were three children, two girls and a boy. The three all shared raven-black hair and cinnamon eyes, marking them as Snape and the older Hermione's children. Her children. They grinned up at her, continuing their game with gusto.
'What are their names?' she asked softly, feeling lost.
The mother of the three came over and pointed to each of them, her arm around the younger girl's shoulders.
'That's Morgan, she's eight, and Anna, who was three last week. And the boy is Albus. He'll be six in two months.'
Despite herself, Hermione smiled at the choice of names. Morgan Le Fay, her mother's name, and the Headmaster's name. It fitted somehow. She returned the photograph to the mantelpiece, and sat down beside herself.
'What's going on?' she asked, wanting to know how everything had happened, how she had ended up married to Snape.
Her older self gave her a rueful smile.
'Are you sure you want to know? Not just so you can re-arrange this future?'
Hermione nodded.
'I won't intentionally change anything. You seem happy enough.'
'All right, then. Basically, it goes like this . . .'
Hermione listened, entranced, as she was told her future by the woman she would become.
*~*~*
The door burst open, making Hermione jump. As she turned, her eyes wide with astonishment, Snape strode in, his face like thunder. He stopped abruptly, staring between the two women.
'Bloody hell,' he muttered.
The older Hermione stood with a smile.
'And good evening to you, too, Severus.'
A fond smile creased the Potions Master's face as he took his young wife in his arms, kissing her forehead softly. His hand ran gently over her bump. Embarrassed, Hermione looked away, unable to believe that her forbidding professor was capable of such unashamed love.
'This is Louise, Severus. She's finally come to visit.'
Hermione turned back, to be faced with an openly smiling Snape. He put out his hand.
'Welcome to Hogwarts, Louise.'
He shook her hand. Hermione forced herself to react, smiling and nodding politely. Remember, Granger, you've never met him before. Louise doesn't know he's an unfeeling bastard.
'Thank you, Professor Snape.'
He waved a hand noncommitantly.
'Don't call me that, you sound like one of my students.'
Hermione blinked in surprise, exchanging a glance with her older self. Snape saw the look and smiled.
'I do apologise for my outburst as I entered. You look so much like Hermione did when she was your age, I was taken aback.'
He sighed wearily, glancing about the room.
'Where are the spawn of Satan?'
The older Hermione laughed, and gave a gasp of mock indignation.
'Anyone would think you didn't like your children, Severus!'
He shrugged, wrapping his arms about her. She kissed him softly.
'They're staying with Hagrid until after the meal,' she told him.
The younger Hermione was beginning to feel as if she was in the way. Snape looked up, remembering she was there.
'Have you found a room for your cousin, love?'
At his wife's answering nod, he turned back to 'Louise'.
'She hasn't shown you where it is yet, has she?'
Hermione felt a small smile tug at her lips at his resigned tone. He seemed so pleasant now, not at all like his younger self from her time. She shook her head, and was soon exploring a single room, one of many along the Snape's corridor. Each child had a separate bedroom, as well as there being two workrooms, a bathroom and a dining room. The dungeons extended a lot further than she would have thought.
The older woman knocked quietly, slipping into the room with a mischievous smile. She produced her wand and translocated a travelling trunk full of clothes to the foot of Hermione's bed.
'To avoid awkward questions,' she explained.
Hermione gave her a grateful smile.
'Thank you.'
'Don't thank me until you've met the children,' the older Hermione said, with a wry grin. 'Hurry and change. Dinner is in the Great Hall tonight.'
She slipped out, leaving Hermione to change. As she sorted through the collection of robes and other garments, it occurred to her that her future self had done a lot to prepare the future for her arrival. Perhaps Dumbledore's plan would work, and she would find herself telling her friends about her cousin Louise in a few years' time. A smile curved her lips. That wasn't such a bad prospect.
*~*~*
Hermione spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the Great Hall, sitting between her older self and Professor Sprout, who kept her engaged in conversation the entire time. She was aware of Dumbledore watching her, his blue eyes twinkling, and she had realised with a start that he was the only other person who knew of her real identity. That had reassured her, knowing that there was someone besides herself she could talk to freely.
She had been greatly saddened to hear of the deaths of many among whom she had counted her friends, including Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Ron. In this reality, they had all been killed in the Dark Lord's attack on Hogwarts as he searched for his elusive daughter.
As they approached the door to the Snape's apartment, it flew open, and three small figures threw themselves at their parents. Hermione watched, with an odd longing in her heart, as the little family laughed and joked, expressing affection through the simplest word or gesture.
She felt a gentle tug on her hand. Looking down, she found the youngest girl, Anna, holding her hand, gazing up at her with eyes that were so like her own.
'Who're you?' the little girl asked innocently.
Hermione caught herself just in time.
'I'm Her - her cousin, Louise.'
Morgan leapt out of her father's arms and into Hermione's, swinging her around.
'We've been waiting so long!'
Anna prodded her knee.
'Up,' she commanded, and Hermione lifted her up into her arms.
Her older self looked on with pride, as her son wandered over to join his sisters in their appraisal of the new addition to their family. She knew they would accept her, she just hoped it wouldn't be as painful for the younger girl as it had been for her. It was a futile hope, she knew. Her husband slipped an arm about her shoulders, calling to the children.
'Come now, children, let go of your cousin and let her inside before the interrogation begins.'
The mother grinned as she watched herself dragged bodily into their quarters by three excited children. Severus knew their children almost better than they knew themselves.
As soon as they had her settled on the sofa, the children began to fire questions at Hermione, demanding to know all about her. She answered them as best she could, finding answers for questions she felt certain she would slip up on. When she hesitated, her older self would chime in, providing an answer for her. By the time the three went to bed, Hermione was exhausted. She excused herself a few hours later, leaving the Snapes to retire alone.
'Do you really think Hermione will settle in, love?'
'Yes, I d - what do you mean, Hermione?'
Snape grinned at his wife's outraged expression.
'I'm not stupid, you know. There are just too many similarities between you for it to be coincidence. That young woman is you, love, don't try to deny it.'
She made a face.
'Charming,' he said, climbing into bed beside her and feeling her nestle against him. 'How long will she stay?'
His wife sighed.
'As long as it takes.'
'For what?'
'For me to remember what it was I did that defeated Voldemort.'
Opening her eyes, she saw that she was in the Hospital Wing. She shifted slightly, her chest tightening with the exertion. The tapping of footsteps announced the arrival of Madame Pomfrey. The medi-witch looked older, as if all the cares of the world had been placed on her shoulders, and a grim smile curved her lips.
'Well, madam, now you're awake, perhaps you would like to explain why you were in a room that has been shut up for ten years? You nearly asphyxiated through the dust.'
Hermione pulled herself agonisingly upright.
'Madame Pomfrey?'
The old medi-witch's eyes narrowed.
'Yes. How did you know my name?'
'I . . .' Hermione hesitated. 'Someone in my family used to come here. She told me all about you.'
'Who?'
'Hermione Granger.'
Madame Pomfrey's features softened suddenly, a genuine smile breaking on her face.
'So you're Hermione's cousin? She's been talking about you coming to visit for weeks! What's your name?'
Hermione felt a stab of panic; what would her older self have named her? In desperation, she blurted out the only name she could think of, her middle name.
'Louise,' she said, swallowing the lump of fear that had risen in her throat. 'I'm Louise.'
Madame Pomfrey nodded.
'Yes, of course. Hermione's teaching at the moment, but I'm sure she'll come and collect you soon. You must be really looking forward to seeing her.'
As she chatted, the medi-witch checked 'Louise's' vital signs, pronouncing her fit and healthy. A set of fresh robes were laid on the bed, and she was helped into them, enjoying the inane chatter that flowed from Madame Pomfrey's mouth.
She moved over to the window, gazing out over the never-changing grounds of Hogwarts. A quiet gasp drew her attention back to her companion.
'What is it?'
'You look just like Hermione did when she was your age,' Madame Pomfrey said. 'That's why you looked so familiar. Anyway, I must be getting on, so make yourself comfortable until your cousin arrives.'
Hermione watched the old witch hurry out, a smile playing about her lips. What had happened to make the stern medi-witch so chatty? Her eyes returned to the central courtyard, her thoughts to her older self. What would she be like? Madame Pomfrey had said she was teaching; teaching what?
A hundred questions soared through her mind, all unanswered. Hermione didn't understand why she felt so calm. She was in an unfamiliar version of her world, where she didn't know who had won the war, or what was going to happen to herself.
There was a knock on the door.
'Louise? It's Hermione.'
Hermione swallowed, staring as her older self stepped into the room with Madame Pomfrey. There was an immediate shock in store for her as she saw the older Hermione's belly was swollen in the final stages of pregnancy. There was also a wedding ring on her finger.
The older Hermione smiled welcomingly, wrapping her arms about the startled girl.
'I know this is a bit of a shock,' she whispered, 'but I will explain everything when we are alone.'
She pulled back.
'Louise, it's so good to see you! Why didn't you tell us you were coming today?'
Thrown off-balance, Hermione managed a shy smile, wiping the shocked expression off her face.
'I wanted it to be a surprise. I didn't realise I was going to end up in hospital.'
Madame Pomfrey laughed, gazing at the two of them fondly.
'Well, I'm sure you have an explanation for why you were in Hermione's old rooms,' she said, gliding past and re-making the bed. 'Go on, both of you. Hagrid's bringing the children up after dinner, Hermione. They're having too much fun with him to come home now.'
The older Hermione laughed indulgently, and pulled her younger self out through the door. She turned to the younger girl.
'Follow me, and act like you've never been here before. I've been waiting for Dumbledore to send you for ages. What took him so long?'
Hermione felt more than a little lost at sea as she followed herself through the familiar hallways. As they turned down the steps to the dungeons, she stepped closer to the pregnant woman and hissed,
'Where are we going?'
'To my quarters, of course,' she answered, looking confused. Then enlightenment dawned. 'Oh, of course, you don't know about our husband, do you? Boy, is this going to be a shock.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well -'
A small first year scurried past, nodding to the older Hermione with a grin.
'Afternoon, Professor Snape!'
The younger Hermione stopped dead, her face white with shock.
'Snape? I'm going to marry Snape? That greasy, arrogant git?'
'Shhh, you. He's not an arrogant git anymore, I've mellowed him. And you're going to fall in love with him, Hermione, so calm down and keep walking.'
She was ushered into a suite of rooms beyond the Potion's classroom, half expecting to see the greasy git himself packing up after the school day. The older woman caught her looking curiously into the classroom.
'He's not there,' she said, making her younger self jump. 'He doesn't teach Potions anymore.'
'Oh.'
Hermione's gaze was drawn to the room they were in. In contrast to her expectations of Snape's inner sanctuary, it was light and airy, light shining in from a window placed high up in the wall. Two desks stood against the opposite wall, one covered in a chaotic mess of papers, the other neatly kept. A sofa and two chairs stood around the fireplace, over which hung a portrait of a wedding day. Her wedding day.
Hermione found herself drawn to it. There she was, looking not much older than she was now, dressed in a flowing white dress reminiscent of the medieval period she was so fond of. With her stood Snape, his arms about her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He was smiling, a genuinely cheerful smile. They looked so happy together. The two figures waved to her, curtseying and bowing before returning to their pose.
'Hard to believe, isn't it?'
She turned, seeing her older self smiling sympathetically at her. She nodded, moving to stand away from the painting. The older Hermione motioned her to take a seat. As she did so, another, smaller photograph caught her eye. Glancing at her companion for permission, she lifted it, watching the figures within playing happily. There were three children, two girls and a boy. The three all shared raven-black hair and cinnamon eyes, marking them as Snape and the older Hermione's children. Her children. They grinned up at her, continuing their game with gusto.
'What are their names?' she asked softly, feeling lost.
The mother of the three came over and pointed to each of them, her arm around the younger girl's shoulders.
'That's Morgan, she's eight, and Anna, who was three last week. And the boy is Albus. He'll be six in two months.'
Despite herself, Hermione smiled at the choice of names. Morgan Le Fay, her mother's name, and the Headmaster's name. It fitted somehow. She returned the photograph to the mantelpiece, and sat down beside herself.
'What's going on?' she asked, wanting to know how everything had happened, how she had ended up married to Snape.
Her older self gave her a rueful smile.
'Are you sure you want to know? Not just so you can re-arrange this future?'
Hermione nodded.
'I won't intentionally change anything. You seem happy enough.'
'All right, then. Basically, it goes like this . . .'
Hermione listened, entranced, as she was told her future by the woman she would become.
*~*~*
The door burst open, making Hermione jump. As she turned, her eyes wide with astonishment, Snape strode in, his face like thunder. He stopped abruptly, staring between the two women.
'Bloody hell,' he muttered.
The older Hermione stood with a smile.
'And good evening to you, too, Severus.'
A fond smile creased the Potions Master's face as he took his young wife in his arms, kissing her forehead softly. His hand ran gently over her bump. Embarrassed, Hermione looked away, unable to believe that her forbidding professor was capable of such unashamed love.
'This is Louise, Severus. She's finally come to visit.'
Hermione turned back, to be faced with an openly smiling Snape. He put out his hand.
'Welcome to Hogwarts, Louise.'
He shook her hand. Hermione forced herself to react, smiling and nodding politely. Remember, Granger, you've never met him before. Louise doesn't know he's an unfeeling bastard.
'Thank you, Professor Snape.'
He waved a hand noncommitantly.
'Don't call me that, you sound like one of my students.'
Hermione blinked in surprise, exchanging a glance with her older self. Snape saw the look and smiled.
'I do apologise for my outburst as I entered. You look so much like Hermione did when she was your age, I was taken aback.'
He sighed wearily, glancing about the room.
'Where are the spawn of Satan?'
The older Hermione laughed, and gave a gasp of mock indignation.
'Anyone would think you didn't like your children, Severus!'
He shrugged, wrapping his arms about her. She kissed him softly.
'They're staying with Hagrid until after the meal,' she told him.
The younger Hermione was beginning to feel as if she was in the way. Snape looked up, remembering she was there.
'Have you found a room for your cousin, love?'
At his wife's answering nod, he turned back to 'Louise'.
'She hasn't shown you where it is yet, has she?'
Hermione felt a small smile tug at her lips at his resigned tone. He seemed so pleasant now, not at all like his younger self from her time. She shook her head, and was soon exploring a single room, one of many along the Snape's corridor. Each child had a separate bedroom, as well as there being two workrooms, a bathroom and a dining room. The dungeons extended a lot further than she would have thought.
The older woman knocked quietly, slipping into the room with a mischievous smile. She produced her wand and translocated a travelling trunk full of clothes to the foot of Hermione's bed.
'To avoid awkward questions,' she explained.
Hermione gave her a grateful smile.
'Thank you.'
'Don't thank me until you've met the children,' the older Hermione said, with a wry grin. 'Hurry and change. Dinner is in the Great Hall tonight.'
She slipped out, leaving Hermione to change. As she sorted through the collection of robes and other garments, it occurred to her that her future self had done a lot to prepare the future for her arrival. Perhaps Dumbledore's plan would work, and she would find herself telling her friends about her cousin Louise in a few years' time. A smile curved her lips. That wasn't such a bad prospect.
*~*~*
Hermione spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the Great Hall, sitting between her older self and Professor Sprout, who kept her engaged in conversation the entire time. She was aware of Dumbledore watching her, his blue eyes twinkling, and she had realised with a start that he was the only other person who knew of her real identity. That had reassured her, knowing that there was someone besides herself she could talk to freely.
She had been greatly saddened to hear of the deaths of many among whom she had counted her friends, including Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Ron. In this reality, they had all been killed in the Dark Lord's attack on Hogwarts as he searched for his elusive daughter.
As they approached the door to the Snape's apartment, it flew open, and three small figures threw themselves at their parents. Hermione watched, with an odd longing in her heart, as the little family laughed and joked, expressing affection through the simplest word or gesture.
She felt a gentle tug on her hand. Looking down, she found the youngest girl, Anna, holding her hand, gazing up at her with eyes that were so like her own.
'Who're you?' the little girl asked innocently.
Hermione caught herself just in time.
'I'm Her - her cousin, Louise.'
Morgan leapt out of her father's arms and into Hermione's, swinging her around.
'We've been waiting so long!'
Anna prodded her knee.
'Up,' she commanded, and Hermione lifted her up into her arms.
Her older self looked on with pride, as her son wandered over to join his sisters in their appraisal of the new addition to their family. She knew they would accept her, she just hoped it wouldn't be as painful for the younger girl as it had been for her. It was a futile hope, she knew. Her husband slipped an arm about her shoulders, calling to the children.
'Come now, children, let go of your cousin and let her inside before the interrogation begins.'
The mother grinned as she watched herself dragged bodily into their quarters by three excited children. Severus knew their children almost better than they knew themselves.
As soon as they had her settled on the sofa, the children began to fire questions at Hermione, demanding to know all about her. She answered them as best she could, finding answers for questions she felt certain she would slip up on. When she hesitated, her older self would chime in, providing an answer for her. By the time the three went to bed, Hermione was exhausted. She excused herself a few hours later, leaving the Snapes to retire alone.
'Do you really think Hermione will settle in, love?'
'Yes, I d - what do you mean, Hermione?'
Snape grinned at his wife's outraged expression.
'I'm not stupid, you know. There are just too many similarities between you for it to be coincidence. That young woman is you, love, don't try to deny it.'
She made a face.
'Charming,' he said, climbing into bed beside her and feeling her nestle against him. 'How long will she stay?'
His wife sighed.
'As long as it takes.'
'For what?'
'For me to remember what it was I did that defeated Voldemort.'
