A/N: Thanks so much to fleria who pointed out a pretty big consistency flaw in the last chapter. I have changed it so that Hermione doesn't go to DADA for the first time until the end of the week. So that's fixed. As for the Snapes being cousins, that will be explained in Chapter 5.
Part 2: Chapter 4 Secrets (I'm not having very good luck with the naming of chapters, can you tell?)
"Miss Granger, what on Earth are you doing here?"
I had to blink back sudden tears. It had been so long since someone called me 'Granger', and I was surprised at how homesick it made me feel. Even if it was him.
"You sent me here, sir." I answered, looking at the floor.
He was quiet for a few minutes, and then started pacing the room.
"If you're here, that means I must have failed. But Potter was who we'd agreed upon..." He muttered to himself.
"Harry d-died." I blurted out.
He stopped moving and stared at me, face unreadable.
"Everyone died, except for us."
He reached into an inside pocket of his robes and pulled out a handkerchief. He held it out to me, and that's when I realized that I had tears streaming down my face.
I wiped my face as he walked back to his desk and sat down.
He picked up a quill and started writing on a piece of parchment.
"Report to my office tomorrow night after dinner. That should give you sufficient time to get yourself under control. We have a very important job to do, Miss Granger, I expect you to at least attempt to act like an adult and not a whimpering child!" He snapped without looking up.
I could hear the blood pounding in my ears.
"Well, you'll have to excuse me, professor, I was never taught the way I am supposed to behave after watching my friends and Professors murdered right in front of me. And then getting swept off into the past, becoming someone different, not being able to share this huge burden with anyone! Not knowing what will become of me, if I'll be lost in this time forever, away from my family and everyone who knows me! I might not be acting the way you think I should, but I am far from being some whimpering child!" I spun on my heel and headed for the door, fuming.
"Miss Granger..."
I stopped, and looked back at him.
"I am sorry that you've had to go through this. It was never my intent that you should suffer."
I nodded, feeling the anger drain from me.
"For what it's worth, you aren't alone in this anymore."
"I'll be here tomorrow evening, Professor."
I walked into the dorm room and collapsed on my bed, emotionally
exhausted.
But I felt a resurgence of hope.
"I'm not alone anymore." I said aloud and giggled.
I pulled Professor Snape's handkerchief out from my pocket and cradled it against my cheek. It smelled like him, and I drifted off to sleep with a smile.
I awoke at sunset to a small whimpering coming from one of the other beds.
Hesitantly, I tied back one of the drapes around Margo's bed. The young girl had her face buried in a pillow to muffle her sobs.
I sat down and started rubbing her back, making soothing noises like my mother used to do when I was little.
She immediately sat up and launched herself into my arms, weeping.
It was several minutes before she finally quieted, but before I could ask her what was wrong she had fallen asleep. I gently laid her back onto the bed, half hoping that she'd awaken and explain herself, but knowing that she needed to rest.
She fidgeted a little, but didn't wake up.
Megan came into the dorm, and after putting her books away, walked over to us with a worried frown.
"What happened?" I asked, softly.
Megan sat down on the other side of her twin, and began running her fingers through Margo's long golden hair.
"I'm not exactly sure. We were in the Great Hall with James, Sirius, Lily, Peter, and Remus. Sirius and James were having a sort of mock duel. They kept turning each other's hair different colors, it was pretty funny. Remus and Margo were ignoring us, they were playing chess and talking, like they normally do. Suddenly, Margo stood up and dumped the chessboard in his lap and ran out of the hall in tears. I tried to get Remus to tell me what he'd said to her, but he said he had to leave because his Grandmother was ill. Then Sirius and James started acting really strange, like they were trying to get me and Lily to leave. I came up here to ask her about it, but I doubt we'll get anything out of her tonight."
I nodded, having a good idea what probably upset her.
"Sirius says she's probably just tired because we've all been staying up so late this week. We decided tonight would be a good night to get some homework done and go to bed early."
"He's probably right." I told her.
She grinned.
"Yeah, he's almost always right about everything! I could just listen to him talk for days."
She frowned.
"Mya? Sirius really doesn't trust Severus Snape. He told me to tell you that you should just stay away from him. Sirus thinks he's evil."
"Oh Megan! He's not evil, Sirius just doesn't know him. He's actually not so bad." I informed her.
She gave me a skeptical look.
I got up and walked out onto the balcony, tired of listening to Megan ramble on about Sirius.
The full moon was rising, casting an ethereal glow on the school grounds. I shivered in the cool September night air, and felt a pang in my heart as I heard the lonely call of a werewolf off in the distance.
I realized that I wasn't the only one forced to bear the burden of a terrible secret.
My thoughts turned to Severus (the student). I would have to face him in Potions class tomorrow morning, and I had no idea how to act.
Tomorrow evening, I'd have to meet with Professor Snape. Maybe I'd finally get some answers. Maybe, together, we could resolve this and get back home. I was so sick of being here.
TBC
A/N: A few things:
-I know there wasn't much happening in this chapter, but it's important to the story. I promise much more Hermione/Snape(s) interaction in the next chapter, plus some more explanations on the whole time travel mission.
-I want to thank all my wonderful reviewers for not giving up on me. Keep the reviews coming, and please point out anything that's not making sense.
-What does everyone think of Megan and Margo? They're based on my 13 year old twin cousins who love Harry Potter, and were absolutely horrified to learn that I was writing a story about them falling in love with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Hehe. They want Draco Malfoy instead. Children!
-Also, I want to take the opportunity to remind everyone that this is an R- rated story, and in about 2 chapters from now, it will earn that rating. With all of the days Hermione has relived, she is well over eighteen.