Hey everyone, here is chapter one!! Woo hoo!! Go Colli! Thanks so much for editing and checking this over for me! You are Grammer-Girl! Don't forget to stay tuned after the chapter for hilarious (well funny to me at least!) scenes that didn't quite make it into the final cut!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and anything affiliated with HP belong to JK Rowling, I am making no money off of this story.
Now, on with the story!!

Chapter 1
Strange, Yet Familiar Faces
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Her first thought as the clouds in her mind began to break apart was that every muscle and bone in her body ached. Her second thought was a feeling of falling. Her body felt weightless despite the aches and she felt like she was spinning. As Hermione pushed further and further through the clouds, she could make out the familiar smells of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. Moaning softly, Hermione rolled her head to the side and opened her eyes. She could see that there was a curtain pulled around her bed to give her privacy. 'Harry must have turned back,' Hermione thought, trying to sit up. Her arms protested as she tried to lift herself up and she fell back onto the bed with a moan.

Madame Pomfrey bustled into the room, tutting at Hermione. "You shouldn't be moving. You've been through a lot this morning," she said, covering Hermione back up with a sheet.

"Harry was flying pretty high when I fell," she sighed. "Is he around?" She half expected Harry to be sitting next to her bed and was a little surprised to find no one there.

"I'm sorry, there's no one named Harry here," Pomfrey said, pulling the curtain open. "No one's been by since your accident."

"Poppy?" Hermione questioned. The medi-witch nodded and continued with waving her wand over Hermione, checking her vitals. "Where is Harry?"

Poppy eyed her curiously and waved her wand over her head. "I don't know Harry."

Hermione took a deep breath, "Where is Harry Potter?"

Poppy smiled and gave Hermione a small laugh. "Harry is actually on his way here with his father. Are you a friend of the Potters?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. Something was wrong. Madame Pomfrey was finally losing her mind. Hermione swung her legs over the side of the bed and hopped down. She padded across the cool tile, with Madame Pomfrey at her heels. "Where are you going, Miss?"

Hermione whirled on her, "Miss? Poppy, have you been raiding Albus' private cabinets again?" she asked.

"I'll not have that kind of talk from you. And you will address the Headmaster with some respect!" Poppy was clearly upset.

"It's me! Hermione Granger! How can you not recognize me? I was here yesterday! We had a discussion about the flu outbreak among the third years!" Hermione was screaming at this point. Her head was pounding, and the woman before her, who was her friend, was beginning to scare her.

"My dear, young woman. I believe you have hit your head harder than I had originally thought. I would really like to run a full examination on you," Poppy tried to take Hermione's arm, but she was struggling.

Hermione broke free of the grip and dashed out of the hospital ward, but was stopped when she crashed into something solid. That something caught her, and righted her. "Do watch where you are going, Miss," a silky, deep voice rang.

"Severus," Hermione sighed, "thank the gods. Is Poppy all right? She's acting so strange; like she doesn't know who I am."

"Who are you?" he asked. It was the straw that broke the camel's back. She stumbled backwards into the doorframe of the hospital ward, and sank to the floor. She laid her head in her hands and screamed. Severus stepped away from her and called for the medi-witch.

"Oh dear," she mumbled. "Severus, do pick her up and bring her over here."

"No!" Hermione screamed, scrambling to her feet. "Don't touch me," she warned. She searched her robes for her wand, but came up empty handed. Frantic, she also searched for the artifact that Albus had entrusted to her.

"Your wand and hourglass are on the table over here," Poppy offered, gently.

Hermione made a move to grab them, but Severus grabbed her arm, restraining her. Hermione turned back to him, and got her first good look at the man. His hair was longer than she remembered and it was pulled back from his face in a band at the nape of his neck. His eyes were void of the tired lines she knew she was partly responsible for as a student. Something about his eyes set her off again and she struggled to break free. "We cannot have out of control witches running around the castle," he growled, bodily picking her up and gracelessly dropping her on the bed. "Stay there!" he ordered.

"What is wrong with you?" she shouted.

"What's all the commotion?" Another man came into the room with a small child on his hip. Hermione came to the conclusion that she was indeed dreaming. She could handle Poppy losing her mind, and she could handle Severus to a point, but this was something completely different.

"Ahh, James," Poppy smiled. "Here for Harry's appointment?" James held Harry up and the small child squealed in delight.

James Potter was standing in the Hospital Ward of Hogwarts with his son, Harry, in his arms. Hermione let out a strangled moan before a wave of understanding began to consume her. "I see your patient has finally come to," James laughed.

"James and Severus here were the ones who guided you safely to Earth," Poppy told her.

"I see you're still here," James said icily to Severus.

"I have business with Albus, and I'm sure you know why, Potter," he said just as coldly. He looked down at the small child and shook his head silently. The child did not appear to regard him kindly either.

Hermione stared quietly at the scene that was unfolding before her. Reaching toward the table beside her, Hermione grabbed the hourglass-like artifact and stared at it. Severus and James continued to speak but Hermione had tuned them out. She looked up and locked eyes with the small child before her. His eyes seemed to light up as she looked at him. "What year is it?" she whispered.

"What was that, dear?" Poppy asked.

"The year? What year is it?" she choked out, her's and Harry's eyes still locked together.

"It's 1981," Severus supplied. "You landed on your back you know, not your head," he said with an icy bite.

"1981," she whispered as tears sprung to her eyes. "It works," she said softly to herself, gazing at the time-turner in her hands. The sand was scattered throughout the two chambers, refusing to settle into just the bottom one, like a normal hourglass.

"Are you all right?" James asked. "You know, we don't even know your name."

"Herm..." she stopped herself, looking at Harry. If he was alive, that meant she was as well. Even though her parents were muggles, she was a witch. Surely someone at the Ministry knew she was, even though she was only months old. "Mia," she said. What was her mother's maiden name, she asked herself. "I'm Mia Lindon."

"James Potter," he said, holding out his hand. "This is my son, Harry," he said, and Harry squealed and pushed himself out of his father's arms, scrambling across the bed to Hermione. Harry sat quietly in front of Hermione, staring at her in awe. "He likes you," James laughed. "Come on, little man. Let Madame Pomfrey check you out!" Harry screamed in protest and reached for Hermione as the medi-witch led father and son off to another bed.

Hermione settled back in the bed, fingering the small artifact in her hands. "Who are you?" came the deep, familiar voice again.

Hermione looked up to see Severus standing at the foot of her bed, staring at her. "My name is Mia Lindon," she repeated.

"I know who you said you were, but I want to know who you really are," his eyes had a cold stare to them, one Hermione was accustomed to in her childhood, but had forgotten about in recent years. "How did you know my name?" he asked, bringing her back to the present. "I've never seen you or heard of you before in my life," Severus was closing in on her.

Hermione knew she was caught in lie. "I fell off my broomstick somewhere over England. I assume you and Mr. Potter brought me here," she said, avoiding his question.

"Where is your broomstick? It never crashed back to Earth, Miss Lindon," he said, staring at her. "I think you've got yourself caught in a lie."

Just as Hermione was about to confess all, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore strode into the hospital wing. "Well, well. Our visitor has awoken. Good afternoon," he said with a smile.

Hermione smiled inwardly. 'Some things never change,' she thought. "Good afternoon," she replied.

"James tells me that you took quite a fall this morning, Miss..." Albus said.

"Lindon," Hermione supplied. "I'm Mia Lindon," she lied.

Albus nodded once. "Very good, Miss Lindon," he said. Hermione stared at him as he gave her an almost knowing smile. "When Poppy releases you, I would like to have chat with you in my office. Severus," he said, turning to the man still standing at the foot of the bed, "would you bring Miss Lindon to my office? I would like a word with you as well."

"Yes, of course, Headmaster," Severus said, nodding once, and giving Hermione an icy glare.

"Take care," Albus said, patting Hermione's hand. He wandered over to the other side of the room and began talking to James and Poppy. Harry was delighted to see the Headmaster and immediately began reaching for the older man. Albus talked to the small child and sat down on a chair to be eye level with him.

Hermione watched from afar as the baby who would one day be her best friend interacted with one of the men she respected and admired most in the world. Her breath caught in her throat as Harry was scooped up into his father's arms and hugged tightly. She could feel the tears pricking her eyes and threatening to fall.

She took a deep but shaky breath and mentally shook her head. She couldn't think of such things. She knew that she needed to focus on getting back to her time. She needed to get back to her Harry before she had a chance to mess something up. Suddenly, she could hear a familiar voice in her head. 'Whatever happens to you, remember that every action has a consequence. Don't let your emotions get in the way of what has to transpire,' Severus had told her.

She looked up and saw that the younger version of another man she respected and admired was still standing at the foot of her bed, silently contemplating her. The air felt thick and Hermione felt like the walls were closing in. One wrong move, and she could alter the future. 'But, he knew!' she screamed at herself. 'Severus knew I this was going to happen.'

Suddenly, he appeared beside her, holding out a thin vial. "Drink this. It should clear your head, then we can go see the Headmaster." He handed her the vial that was filled with a clear blue liquid.

Hermione took out the stopper and kept her eyes locked on Severus' as she tipped the vial back and swallowed the cool liquid. Her eyes closed when she felt her body tingle, then calm. Her headache was gone, and she could breath normally. "What was that?" she asked, handing him back the vial.

"It helps with anxiety. Come, Miss Lindon, the Headmaster is waiting," he turned and stalked out of the room.

Hermione slid out of the bed and grabbed her wand and the time-turner. She noticed that the sand still had yet to fall into one chamber as she tucked it into a pocket in her robes. Looking down, she also noticed that she was a wrinkled mess, and quickly cast a spell to fix herself up. With a satisfied nod, she turned to leave.

Before she left the Hospital Wing, James stopped her. Harry was bouncing on his hip chewing on some kind of candy. "They're letting you out then?" he teased.

"Yes, the Headmaster wants to see me," she said, smiling over at Harry. Harry grinned and the pinkish candy dribbled down his chin. "You have an adorable son," she said, trying to keep a smile on her face.

"Thank you. My wife and I like him," James grinned, tickling Harry. Harry squealed and held his arms out to Hermione again. "Oh, this young lady has to go see Albus, Harry. Maybe she can come over and play some other time." Harry nodded as if he understood.

"How old is he?" she asked, trying to get a feel as to what time of the year it was.

"He turned a year old almost two months ago," James said. "He's growing up too fast! Pretty soon he'll be going to school here!"

Hermione sadly smiled. 'If Harry is a year old, then that means that it's sometime in September. That also means that...' Hermione's thought trailed off as she realized that James and Lily Potter would be found by Voldemort in less than two months. "I must go," she said apologetically. She could see Severus pacing in the hall outside.

James leaned closed to Hermione and quietly said, "Don't let him bother you. He mostly just wanders around for show to scare the kids." James laughed when he saw Severus turn and frown at them, his dark robes billowing behind him. "Come on Harry." James lifted him up onto his shoulders.

"It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Potter. You too, Harry," she grinned, reaching out to rub his arm. She had to bite her lip as she came in contact with the baby.

"Good day, Miss Lindon," James smiled. He carried Harry out into the hall. James said a few words to Severus. Then they stiffly shook hands before James strolled away with Harry bouncing on his shoulders.

Hermione stepped into the hallway just as Severus whipped around to face her. His expression was hard and his voice bit at her. "You're looking much better than when I found you," he said.

Hermione shook her head and gave him a small smile. She started walking down the hall and Severus fell into stride beside her. "What do you do here?" She asked, curious about the past he refused to talk about.

"I am an apprentice to the Potions Master," he informed her. Hermione nodded, heading up the staircase and down another hallway. "I'm sure Mr. Potter told you my extra-curricular activities include terrorizing the students," he drolled.

'You have no idea,' she thought to herself. "Something like that," she said aloud.

"I'll bet," he said with a sneer. They came to the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"I don't know the pass..." Hermione didn't finish her sentence. Her back and head suddenly came in contact with the wall and she groaned in pain. When she opened her eyes, she saw Severus' face in front of her, and his hands had her arms pinned to the wall.

"You're a spy!" he spat. Hermione winced as she felt him gripping her arms. "Did you really believe that no one would notice you strolling right into the office?"

His strength was overpowering her, and she fought not to scream. "I'm not a spy," she insisted.

"How did you know where the Headmaster's office was?" he growled.

Hermione's eyes widened. She had walked right to Albus' office without Severus' aid. She was going to blow her cover and mess up her whole life, literally. Before she could come up with an explanation, Albus once again came to her rescue. The moving stair case appeared and Severus all but dragged her up the stairs by the elbow.

Severus let her go and she fell into a chair before the Headmaster. "She's a spy for Voldemort!" he hissed.

"I can assure you, Severus, that she is no spy." Albus gave her a reassuring smile. Hermione unconsciously rubbed at her sore arms. "Severus, please excuse us for a moment."

Severus swept past her and bent down next to Albus. "Why are you so trusting? Especially now!"

"I need you to trust me, my boy," Albus insisted. "I can promise you that this young woman poses no more of a threat to me than you do."

Severus straightened and started at Hermione. Their eyes locked and Hermione desperately wanted to tell him the truth. The relationship that they had in the future was strongly rooted in truth. Hermione never felt that she needed to lie to him, and though Severus never spoke of his life from before she knew him, she knew that he never lied to her. It was hurting her to lie to him, even in the past. Severus said nothing to her as she made his way to a room outside the office.

"Well," Albus began, regaining Hermione's attention, "now that we are alone, may I call you Miss Granger, or do you prefer Hermione?"

"Sir, is there anything you don't know?" Hermione asked, her mind working on overload with dozens of questions. "How did you know?"

Albus stood and crossed the office, picking up a large, gray colored clay bowl. "I talk to my Pensieves," he informed her.

"Of course you do," Hermione said, no longer surprised by anything he did. "What did you tell yourself?"

"I told myself to watch out for you. My future self obviously knew what time you were going to be dropped off in. You were wise to use a false name, Hermione."

"James Potter told me the year. I know that I am alive, and I know the dangers that come with time travel."

"May I see the time-turner?" Albus asked. Hermione reached into her red satin robes and handed the artifact to him. "Oh my," he sighed, gently handling it.

"I can't get back, can I?" she fearfully whispered.

"I believe you can get back," he assured her. "This time-turner had been badly shaken due to your fall. Once the sand settles into one chamber, you should be returned to your time," Albus explained.

"How long will that take?" Hermione asked, taking the time-turner back. The small hourglass sparkled with the tiny specks of sand.

"It could be days, or it could be months," he said. "I did not ask myself how long you would be gracing us with your presence."

Hermione leaned back in the chair and thought about what James had said about Harry's age. She wanted to be gone before the tragedy took place. Hermione sighed, "What should I do until that time?"

"You are more than welcome to stay here in the castle. The students are too busy with their studies to notice another adult wandering around. But, as I'm sure you know, this is a large castle, and you are unlikely to run into anyone who would question your presence or identity."

"Except for Severus," Hermione pointed out.

"I will deal with Severus," he said as the door to his office opened. "Ah, Minerva, you received my call."

"Yes, you beckoned and I complied. Your mind tricks are astounding," Minerva McGonagall sighed.

"This is Mia Lindon. She's the daughter of an old family friend and she's visiting for some time. I would very much like her to have a wonderful view of the grounds. Could you show her to the East Tower, Minerva?"

"Of course, Albus," she said, and brightly smiled at Hermione, leading her from the room. At the door, Minerva turned back, "Did you know that Severus is stalking around your sitting room?" she asked.

"Oh, Severus," Albus grumbled to himself, as he stood and made his way across the office. "I hope you settle in quickly Mia. Perhaps you could join me for tea tomorrow afternoon."

Hermione nodded and followed Minerva out of the office. "Albus has so many old friends from the war, I get them mixed up. It is nice to meet you, my dear," Minerva said, holding out her hand once they were in the hall. "I'm Minerva McGonagall, Transfigurations professor and Deputy Headmistress."

Hermione shook her hand and immediately slipped into the role she had created for herself. "Mia Lindon. I'm a researcher in America," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at her bizarre lie. "I'm visiting my family and was on my way to visit Albus when I had a flying accident."

"Yes, Poppy tells me that you had a run in with James and Harry Potter, not to mention our very own brooding Severus this afternoon," she winked. Hermione followed Minerva up several staircases and warned herself not to take the lead like she had done with Severus. Minerva led her to the East Tower which overlooked the castle and the grounds. Looking out the windows, Hermione could see the Gryffindor tower, where she had lived for seven years and she could see the tower she occupied as a professor. "I can leave some old robes for you to transfigure," Minerva offered.

"Thank you very much, Professor," she said.

"Please, call me Minerva," she smiled. "Let me know if you need anything. I'm in the North Tower with our Gryffindors, and unless you perform mind tricks like Albus," she mumbled, "that's where you can find me."

Hermione laughed, "OK, thank you again." Minerva left Hermione alone in the suite of rooms.

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Meanwhile, back in Dumbledore's sitting room, Severus paced and growled to himself. "Come now, Severus. What makes you distrust this young woman so much?" Albus asked, entering the room.

"She knew the way to your office. After she got out of the Hospital, Miss Lindon needed no assistance to arrive at your office."

Albus smiled to himself. "Mia is the daughter of an old friend of mine, Severus. She has been here before."

Severus stopped his prowling and turned to face Dumbledore. "I am going to trust that you are not hiding anything from me, Albus. There is talk of war and..."

"I'm very well aware of what is being said," Dumbledore interrupted. "It will be like she's not even here."

"Very well," Severus said, backing off. "You wanted to see me," he pointed out.

Dumbledore sat in an overstuffed armchair and ran a hand through his long beard and let out a sigh. "There's more than just talk of war, Severus. This war is starting."

Severus sank into a chair across from Albus and let his head fall into his hands. "I haven't been summoned."

"No, and I didn't expect you to be. Voldemort is making this move on his own," Albus explained. "I don't even think Malfoy is involved."

"He doesn't even trust his own Death Eaters," Severus mumbled as he idly scratched at his faux Dark Mark, and remembered how he had come to wear the charmed tattoo.

Severus had been approached by Lucius Malfoy, two years Severus' senior, in his seventh year at Hogwarts. Severus was offered the chance to join the Death Eaters and fight along side them in the coming war to restore power to the pure-blooded wizards of their world. Severus had nodded and asked for the evening to ponder the idea.

Without a second thought, Severus raced to the Headmaster to tell him what was going on. Albus took Severus into his confidence and the two men, along with several other witches and wizards who had pledged their loyalty to Dumbledore, set out to gather more information about the group that was trying to wipe out muggles and muggle-born witches and wizards. In the following weeks, Severus had attended meetings with Lucius Malfoy and came face to face with Lord Voldemort. The dark Lord was extremely interested in Severus' abilities in potion making and wanted Severus in his inner circle of Death Eaters.

That night, Albus and Severus devised a plan to make Voldemort believe Severus was taking the Dark Mark. It involved a cleverly cast protection spell and a charmed tattoo. While Voldemort believed that Severus had taken the mark, in truth the tattoo that Dumbledore had created appeared on Severus' arm. For the past three years, the tattoo had acted not only as Voldemort's summoning charm, but it acted as an indicator on Severus' whereabouts when he attended Voldemort's meetings.

"What do Potter and Company think?" Severus asked dryly, coming back from his thoughts.

"James is concerned about his son and wife as are the others about their families. Sirius believes there is a spy in out midst," Dumbledore informed him.

"Black has always thought I was a traitor to the cause," Severus spat. "He's never trusted me." In truth, Severus didn't trust many people besides Dumbledore. James he trusted because he had saved Severus from a ill-fated joke Sirius tried to pull in their days at Hogwarts. Remus Lupin he tolerated because James trusted him. Severus didn't know their friend Peter Pettigrew outside of their work with Dumbledore, so Severus didn't trust him either. As for Sirius Black, Severus thought the would be better off without the man, and he had said so on many occasions.

"No, he trusts you. Keep your eyes open, Severus. I'm going to retire for the evening."

"I'll be traveling back to Hogsmeade in the morning," Severus informed him, standing and crossing the room. "Did Miss Lindon ever find her broom?"

Dumbledore gave him a stern look, "Let it go, Severus."

"There's something you're not telling me," Severus insisted. 'And I mean to find out,' he thought to himself, as he left the office, and wandered down to the dungeons.

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End Chapter 1
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Deleted scenes:

(Author Voiceover): My muse (thank you Colli) and I thought this was a very amusing scene. However, our test audience obviously didn't feel the same way because initial reactions were nothing but groans. It was taken out of the final version.
As her mind began to clear, Hermione felt weightless and dizzy. She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. As she tried to sit up, her arms gave way and she fell back on the bed with a moan. She heard the swishing of robes then a shadow was cast over the bed.
Severus: "Did it hurt?"
Hermione: "What?" she asked opening her eyes.
Severus: "When you fell from heaven."

(Author Voiceover): I wanted to write Harry as a very loveable child, but I did have this scene in mind. In the end, I realized that it was just silly because Severus would have hexed the kid into the next century.
Harry stared at Hermione for a few moments then crawled across the bed and sat in front of Severus.
James: "Why don't you pick him up?"
Severus: "I don't like children," he replied. Harry cocked his head and scowled.
James: "I don't think he likes you either."
Severus and Harry continued to stare at one another. Harry then leaned forward and spit up all over the front of Severus' robes and shoes.

(Author Voiceover): I think Albus Dumbledore is a very eccentric character, but not this eccentric.
Severus: "You wanted to see me?"
Albus nodded then started rooting through the pockets of his robes. He pulled out what appeared to be a gold coin that was covered in a pink goo. "Harry must have had his hand in my pocket!" He continued to search and pulled out a pocket watch, two books, a roll of muggle quarters, a fist full of neon green tickets, a mini slinky, and a box a candy. "Ahh, here they are. Would you like a Joo Joo Bee?"
Severus: "Where have you been?" he asked, examining the slinky.
Albus: "Skee Balling in New Jersey."
Severus: "You have got to find a more mature hobby, old man!"

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the amusement at the end. Next Chapter: How is Hermione going to occupy herself? Who comes into the castle every morning? What is that THING flying outside Hermione's window? Can Severus and Hermione survive making a potion together. Plus: More deleted scenes!
Please review!!