~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
With a scream a black cloaked figure in a porcelain pale mask hit the ground with a sickening thud.
" Master!" it screamed. As a larger wiry figure with and inhuman step came closer.
" I ask you one simple thing.." The tall figure whispered in a low deep serpentine voice. " To bring me the girl.."
" Master I.."
"CRUCIO!" The figure roared with a boom louder then the loudest thunder. A gray light shot from a concealed wand in its right hand.
The smaller figure screamed and convulsed. Twisting like a worm on the ground being pecked at by a hungry raven.
" ALL YOU BRING ME IS EXCUSES!" It roared at the now crumpled figure on the ground.
" Master. please.. I will." the smaller figure gasped.
The taller figure relented, removing the spell.
" You have one more chance.. I want her NOW!" the figure spat.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"For some one Miss Granger who is not supposed to be here you seemed to be making your self quite at home." Laughed Dumbledore to a very shocked and deserted Hermione Granger.
Glancing over his half moon spectacles and across his dark oak desk, he surveyed the brave Slytherin/Gryffendor. She had changed so much in the last few months being here in the past. He wondered if she had even noticed that she was now a full-fledged woman. Then again, she had never had the time.
" You did a very stupid thing Miss Granger, as time would have it both Miss Ascisk and Mr. Malfoy were to end up sharing a very unpleasant life. Now as it would seem though your intervention, and actions on my own part this will never come to pass." He raised his aged and graying eyebrows to her in question.
" Yes sir" Hermione whispered.
"Why did you do it Miss Granger?" He continued.
" I couldn't. I couldn't.. I couldn't let it happen to the both of them, there just so wrong for each other. That couldn't be the way it was supposed to be!" her voice at the start was shaky but grew in power as she carried on.
Dumbledore looked as though he was going to speak. The glow to his eyes was starting to return.
"Headmaster, I do not mean to sound disrespectful, but I have met the future Narccissa and Lucius, there nothing like the good people who I know. Lucius in my time is a cold-blooded murderer. Narccissa is a beaten and broken housewife. I couldn't let that happen. I WONT LET THAT HAPPEN!" she began to raise her voice.
" You do relies Miss Granger, that by taking the course of actions you have taken you may have very well erased your own existence in your own time?" His face held a seriousness of worry, although his eyes held much more then mischief.
The thought hit her like a tone of bricks. No this has anything to do with her.
" I. um." she was stark white with confusion.
Dumbledore held up his hand. " You don't need to answer that Miss Granger.. What's done is done. and I must say thank you for it."
Hermione just nodded in absolute awe, he wasn't angry.
"Headmaster I don't understand.. Your not angry with me?"
"No Hermione I am not, but I warn you now, think a head when you act, things are fragile. You have a power Hermione. One that I'm sure Voldmort never thought of. One I'm sure he would not want you to relies that you have."
Hermione just starred at him, knowing what he was going to say.
" Hermione, you have the gift of time. For how long we don't know. You have a chance although you didn't hear it from me. To change the course of the future. Such a power has never been given to any mar mortal. Let alone a seventeen year old girl." He chuckled at the last part.
"Nineteen." Hermione whispered.
" What was that?" Dumbledore raised his head to look her straight in the eyes.
" I'm nineteen, I will be twenty in March." She mumbled.
" I see. I should have known. A time turner from the future if I'm not mistaken."
Hermione gapped openly at him. How in the world did he know that?
Dumbledore just chuckled. " I believe you should go and join your friends Hermione. It is after all a Saturday, there is only so little times that you are young and can play in the winter snow. Even for one who has time, there still is no time."
"Thank you headmaster." Hermione nodded getting up out of her soft chair and wrapping her silver fur trimmed cloak around her.
" One more thing Hermione. If your arm begins to hurt again come and see me."
Hermione nodded relies for the first time through every thing that had been going on for the last few weeks that.
Her arm hadn't bothered her.
She left the headmasters office, and headed straight for the library. She had to prepare. She was due in the arena against Peter Pettigrue on December 21st. Which happened to be in six days.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"Dumbledore? Do you think it wise to let that girl roam free playing with our very lives?" Minerva McGonagall came out of the shadows after Hermione left, and steeped beside the silver haired headmaster.
" My dear Professor McGonagall, honestly is it not Professors Laccous job to creep in the shadows, not your own." Smiled Dumbledore.
" I creep when I must, why is it that you do not see the danger this girl posses to us?"
" The only human being she posses a threat to is not even aware of it my dear Minerva. Miss Granger is a sound mind and I believe she is just realizing the power she holds."
" That is precisely my point Albus! She had no notion of the chaos she will bring to us all if she is allowed to continue on."
"Minerva, you have no great like of the girl do you?" it was more then an accusation then a question.
" I will admit that I do not my dear Albus, sure as rain she is a bright one but honestly you are entrusting the fate of us all to a mear child!" Shrieked Minerva.
" Minvera a few months ago I shared your fears and concerns but that girl who just walked out my office doors is no more a child then you are yourself." Albus smiled up at Minvera from his chair, and placed a withered hand of comfort onto her own.
" Albus I simply do not trust the girl! You and I are the only ones who know who she really is! She is going to ruin us all.. Some things are not meant to be meddled with." Her voice was shaken.
With that she removed her hand from Dumbledore comfort grasp and walked out of the room.
"Minerva in a few years time you will be begging to shake the girls hand." Whipsered Dumbledore.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione looked out from the frost-covered window of the Library out on to the Hogwarts grounds. IT was almost Christmas; she could feel it in her bones, and in her heart.
She had been in the Library for the last six hours immersed in an old text about dueling. IT was approximately eleven o'clock Monday night, but to her time just didn't matter any longer.
To be honest with her self she hadn't been able to concentrate on the words of the heavy leather book laid in front of her. Images of things kept playing over and over in her mind. One in particular.
Severus Snape.
The two of them hadn't spoken to one another since the incident with Remus only two weeks ago. So much had changed since then. No longer did she feel comforted when she walked along the corridors to the potions class room, she used to find this an enjoyable experience, it meant that she was going to see him. For some reason she felt warm beside him when they were in class. IT was an amazing feeling to have some one as intelligent as your self and who didn't resent you for the fact that you in fact held more intellectual power then fifty percent of the Hogwarts population put together.
Now, the two of them couldn't even stand beside each other for any more then a minute with out fighting. She knew that she had no reason to be mad with him. As Lucius had put forth Snape was doing what was required.
What was required.?
That was what scared her. She had seen a glimpse of what many people had seen before his future self has killed them.
She shouldn't know what she knew, but ever since she had found that Severus Snape potion master at Hogwarts was an ex death eater. She began to learn about him. What he had done as a death eater. I made her sick just to look at his future self-some days.
He had killed. He had rapped. He had destroyed hundreds of lives. After all he was third in command second only to Lucius who made him look like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn.
It was all so confusing.
Yet through knowing about his past/future she still couldn't shake a feeling of a great loss by his companionship.
"ARGG! What the hell is wrong with me!" she roared to the empty Library, slamming her book on the table.
" Well Granger do you really want me to point it out?" came a cool voice from behind her.
Hermione jumped straight into the air, and landed off center on her chair toppling over onto the hard polished wooden floor of the Library.
"DAMMIT!" she screeched as she hit the floor, only to rub her behind in pain. She reared on the voice that was laughing in hysterics.
She knew that laugh, and hated it and loved it all the same. Learning against a dark stone wall was Severus Snape, clad in his house robes as usual, his raven black hair caught the moonlight like a piece of glass.
"Bloody Hell Snape you ass hole! What 's your problem!" She roared in a venomous voice.
"My problem, Granger is that you need to keep that busy head of yours out of other peoples business!" he growled.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she questioned in exasperation.
"It means that you should have minded your own business with Lucius and Narccissa! You have no idea what you have done!" He spat.
"You know what Snape I've had it with you! You're the one who has no idea what going on! If you had you would have realized that both Narccissa and Lucius would have ended up killing each other!"
" Well you can't make an omelet with out breaking a few eggs!"
" THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS YOU ASS HOLE HOW DARE YOU THINK!!!." She stopped her sentence as he just smirked at her and picked up the book she had been trying to read, turning on his graceful heels he started towards the front desk.
Hermione's tempered flared. She hoisted herself up on her feet in a flash and ran at him in full force, pushing him into an isle.
Snape grunted as he contacted the wall, the book went sprawling on to the ground.
" That's mine jerk!" she growled bending down to pick up the book.
"Accucio!" Snape grunted, in a smooth voice. The thick leather bound book flew to his hand. " Well its mine now, I've been waiting for this very text for the last two hours."
"Well you can just wait longer!" Growled Hermione forgoing her wand she ripped the book from Snapes long fingered grasp, hugging the leather bound book to her chest she pushed past his tall figure. She couldn't help however noticing the sharp shock that pinned into her arm where her brand was situated.
"Shit!" she gasped in pain. Dropping the book she gripped her arm in a death bind. Something had triggered it; it was now burning with inconceivable pain. It felt worse then it had the night it was branded into her. Gasping she dubbed over still gripping her arm. She felt to the floor in a withering mass.
" Granger!" Screamed Snape, rushing to her side, desperately trying to find out what was cosigning her so much pain. Kneeling down on the ground beside her he pulled her close to him. She began to seizure from pain.
"HELP!" He roared into the empty library. He pulled her shaking body onto his lap; her face was the color of dry ash. Her eyes wide with terror and yet blinds to every thing.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" His voice had lost all smoothness but was now a ragged bark. He looked down on Hermione who was now crushed to his chest. Her eyes were beginning to close.
"Somebody help" he whispered.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
" Hermione wake up" came a familiar voice in her ear.
Hermione shifted in her bedcovers, why couldn't they just let her sleep. Wait! I don't remember going to sleep. Where am I? With a frantic gasp she shot up in her bed, eyes wide open. Gasping for air.
A blinding white light greeted her eyes. Soon her eyes focused and her vision cleared. She was in the infirmary. Seated on one of the many white cots
"Hermione?" the familiar sweet rustic sounding voice quivered in her ear. She turned to find its source.
"REMUS!" she squealed and tore her friend to her, giving him the mother of all bears hugs.
Remus pulled back giving her his classic smile. He no longer had charred black skin in fact it was clear and clean. Not a mark or freckle on him. His hair had been magically re grown; he looked just like he had before the duel.
" How are you old girl?" He inquired.
"Who are you calling old girl you great flea bag!" she chimed, only after did she realize what she had said she slapped her hand over her mouth.
Remus only laughed " well if any one was going to figure it out I'm glad it was you!"
She smiled up at him. " I was really worried about you."
"Ya I know, but people like me don't die that easily." He laughed but didn't seem so sure of himself.
" Does every one know your OK?"
" Ya, James, Sirius, and Lily came by to check on me." He smiled at her look of distaste at the mention of Sirius and Lily's names.
" You know there not as bad as you think there are, they were the first to figure out who and what I was, they never abandoned me you know." He seemed to be thinking far away.
" I know, believe me I know!" she moaned, remembering how nice Sirius had been to her before she had met him in his younger stage.
She sat there a moment in silence with Remus, neither of them knowing what to say.
A thought struck Hermione.
"Remus how did I get here? How long have I been here for?"
Remus looked at her for a moment and then laughed. " Just since last night.It seems you and I have something in common. Snape put us both in the hospital."
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or to look horrified.
" Mind you, he was far more worried about you then he was when he put me here." Smiled Remus.
"SNAPE!" she scoffed. " Worried about me? That a laugh!"
Remus suddenly stopped smiling and looked at her gravely. " Hermione for someone who is so good at seeing the really face of people you sure are blind to Snape. why?"
Hermione's face went blank as she stared infront of her, not moving.
" You would never believe me Remus, I can't explain it to you.." Her voice held a sadness that Remus hadn't heard from her in months. A burning question was circling in her mind. why even after there fight and obvious hatred for each other had Snape helped her.
" You kept my secret, let me keep yours?" He whispered Remus smashing her train of thought.
"Remus." she pleaded, her eyes began to moisten with remembrance of her past, and she didn't want to face it again.
"Gods Hermione don't cry. Gods what did that ass hole do to you?" whispered Remus, mistaking Hermione's watering eyes of remembrance for tears of a wrong committed by Snape.
"Remus, Snape didn't do anything to me, its just. you wouldn't understand." Hermione mumbled to him.
Remus just sighed and watched his distressed friend, he patter her gently on the back.
"Hermione, I know there is something more to this then just Severus Snape. I need to know how you seem to know so much about every one. Hermione please tell me?" His voice was gentle much like the kind sickly man that she had known in the future.
She didn't want him to know what lay ahead for him.
" Remus have you spoken to Narccissa since you awoke?" She changed the subject and he knew it.
With a sigh of defeat Remus nodded. " She was pretty shook up, a lot can change in a few days."
"Did she tell you about her and Lucius?"
A blush creeped up on his face and he tried to hide a smile. " Yes she did, I've never been happier for her."
Hermione just smiled and couldn't help but stiff a giggle. " Why do I get the feeling your not telling me everything?"Now it was Remus under the spotlight.
Remus remained silent, but a heavier blush came over his light features.
"Remus?" She chided giving him a stern look.
"What?" he squealed in mock honesty?
" What did I miss!"
" Nothing! I swear!" He squealed again.
"Remus stop squealing like a pig and tell me! Otherwise I'm gonna find out, you know Narccissa is my best friend!" Hermione fumed.
"All right!" he concedes. " It wasn't must but we umm." He just went scarlet.
"You what?"
"He made official his feelings for the Ravenclaw." Came a rough voice from the doorway. Both Hermione and Remus's heads swiveled to the tall figure.
"What do you want Black!" spat Hermione as the tall figure of Sirius Black came through the door way and towards her bed.
"There was a rumor around the school that you were dead, I came to check.damn no such luck" he sneered.
"You know Black you might wanna watch what you say considering that I could kick your very unattractive ass from here to Hogsmead!" Growled Hermione.
The insult stung, from past experience Hermione knew that Sirius had always been very vain in his looks, which were in fact anything but unattractive.
"Watch it you skanky little Slytherin!" Fumed Black.
"SIRUIS SHUT IT!" came the wolf like voice from Remus. " WILL YOU JUST LET IT GO! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS YOU DAMN PRICK!"
Black was taken aback as was Hermione, and in there surprise they exchanged glances of amazement at Remus's forwardness. The boy had always been so shy; it was something neither of them had ever expected.
"Whoa Remus I didn't know you felt so strongly for her. Gods she's a Slytherin for hell's sake!" he pleaded in amazement.
Hermione shot him a look.
"That SLYTHERIN Sirius is one of my friends and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't even be around Narccissa!" Roared Remus.
"Narccissa? What the hell does that mean?" Questioned Black, Hermione realized just then that no one save Remus, Narccissa, Lucius and Severus knew of her involvement in the liberation of the two betrothed.
"Sirius, you and I need to talk." Remus shook his head, and with that he got up off of the bed and lead Sirius out of the room rather forcefully.
She didn't see either of them again for the rest of the day.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Later that Day Dumbledore came to see her; his eyes were once again very closed and unreadable. What scared her was that there was no twinkle in his eye. He told her that she would be able to leave today, but that to be on her guard the mark doesn't act up with such a force unless something was on the horizon.
She went back to her dorm with out seeing any one. She didn't want to either, there was a nagging feeling of dread in her heart. Something was going to happen and soon.
She had to prapare for what ever it was, and for her match against Peter Pettigrue, which out of all days happened to be tomorrow.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"Snape your full of bull shit you know that!" laughed Lucius.
" I know what I saw Lucius. She collapsed gripping her arm and when I lifted up her self there was the dark mark." Seethed Snape.
"I don't believe you. She's muggle born! Tom would never take her in to the order!" Lucius roared in frustration.
" Well believe it! The mark was different, maybe Tom does take muggle born's but just brands them differently?" said Snape thoughtfully.
"I just can't believe it. Why did the mark act up so violently?" Lucius whispered.
" Don't know." Something in the back of Snapes mind was begining to bug him, something about Hermione's mark was wrong.very very wrong.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Once again the whole school was gathered in the great hall, the blinding skylights of the magical sealing beamed down on the whole of Hogwarts.
Hermione stood in a corner on the dueling stage waiting for the match to get underway. She once again surveyed the crowed. There was Remus and James giving both her and Peter Pettigrue, who was standing on the opposite end of the stage looking rather, looks of approval. Lily was shooting daggers at her with her eyes but that didn't bother her. It never did.
She spied Sirius Black standing beside Narccissa giving her a look of confusion and for once respect. He tilted his head to her and then to Narccissa and gave her was appeared to be a small smile.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Both Snape and Lucius were making there way through the very thick crowed towards her.
"What do you want?" she inquired more forcefully to Snape then to Lucius.
Snape motioned her to bend down so that he could speak to her with out shouting.
" I want to know what going on Granger and I want to know now!" He snarled.
"This is called a duel Snape!" she said sarcastically.
" That's not what I meant." He spat and then with a quick movement smacked her arm where her mark was situated. She winced, as it was still tender. " That's what I meant!
She went wide-eyed. He knew? "How did? What. How the hell?"
Snape just gave her a look. " You screamed and grabbed it in the Library. Granger. what is going on?"
The jig was up, she had to tell. Thankfully however Dumbledore decided that it was time to start the match.
"Snape." she choked, she didn't want him to know, that would mean telling him her past and his future. " I will tell you every thing. I promise. I don't know why I should after the way you treated me but I will." There was a chide from Peter in the background. " After I finish this I promise I will."
With that she left both Lucius and Snape who had begun to feel strange. He took one look at Peter and then back at Hermione. Then at Peter again. It was at his second glance that he noticed that Peter was holding a piece of old parchment in his hand. It was giving off a radiating light glow that could only be seen with total concentration.
Peter also kept checking his watch.
"Now!" boomed Dumbledore to the hall standing in the middle of the stage as he motioned both Peter and Hermione to his sides. " Give a round of applause for our two competitors." The hall flooded with cheers.
Snape saw Peter check his watch again.
"Competitors shake hands!" boomed Dumbledore again.
Peter checked his watch.
Then it hit Snape like a tone of bricks. the parchement that was still in Petters hands. The watch. Hermione?
"LUCIUS!" He screamed through the cheers of excitement. " SOMETHINGS WRONG! PETTIGRUE HAS A PORTEKEY!"
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione watched the crowed and Pettigrue at the same time. He extended his hand to her. He was very pail, worried and anxious looking.
"Competitors shake hands."
She reached with her hand.
"HERMIONE DON'T" Came a voice in the crowed. Snape? She motioned with her other hand that she couldn't hear him. Her other hand was still extended to Pettigrue's.
Snape began to run towards her and was frantically pointing at Pettigrue.
She turned to Pettigrue who looked relieved and grabbed her hand with his forcefully and quickly.
Then she felt it. The piece of paper. A familiar tug behind her navel. She tried to scream but was gone.
Gone.
With a scream a black cloaked figure in a porcelain pale mask hit the ground with a sickening thud.
" Master!" it screamed. As a larger wiry figure with and inhuman step came closer.
" I ask you one simple thing.." The tall figure whispered in a low deep serpentine voice. " To bring me the girl.."
" Master I.."
"CRUCIO!" The figure roared with a boom louder then the loudest thunder. A gray light shot from a concealed wand in its right hand.
The smaller figure screamed and convulsed. Twisting like a worm on the ground being pecked at by a hungry raven.
" ALL YOU BRING ME IS EXCUSES!" It roared at the now crumpled figure on the ground.
" Master. please.. I will." the smaller figure gasped.
The taller figure relented, removing the spell.
" You have one more chance.. I want her NOW!" the figure spat.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"For some one Miss Granger who is not supposed to be here you seemed to be making your self quite at home." Laughed Dumbledore to a very shocked and deserted Hermione Granger.
Glancing over his half moon spectacles and across his dark oak desk, he surveyed the brave Slytherin/Gryffendor. She had changed so much in the last few months being here in the past. He wondered if she had even noticed that she was now a full-fledged woman. Then again, she had never had the time.
" You did a very stupid thing Miss Granger, as time would have it both Miss Ascisk and Mr. Malfoy were to end up sharing a very unpleasant life. Now as it would seem though your intervention, and actions on my own part this will never come to pass." He raised his aged and graying eyebrows to her in question.
" Yes sir" Hermione whispered.
"Why did you do it Miss Granger?" He continued.
" I couldn't. I couldn't.. I couldn't let it happen to the both of them, there just so wrong for each other. That couldn't be the way it was supposed to be!" her voice at the start was shaky but grew in power as she carried on.
Dumbledore looked as though he was going to speak. The glow to his eyes was starting to return.
"Headmaster, I do not mean to sound disrespectful, but I have met the future Narccissa and Lucius, there nothing like the good people who I know. Lucius in my time is a cold-blooded murderer. Narccissa is a beaten and broken housewife. I couldn't let that happen. I WONT LET THAT HAPPEN!" she began to raise her voice.
" You do relies Miss Granger, that by taking the course of actions you have taken you may have very well erased your own existence in your own time?" His face held a seriousness of worry, although his eyes held much more then mischief.
The thought hit her like a tone of bricks. No this has anything to do with her.
" I. um." she was stark white with confusion.
Dumbledore held up his hand. " You don't need to answer that Miss Granger.. What's done is done. and I must say thank you for it."
Hermione just nodded in absolute awe, he wasn't angry.
"Headmaster I don't understand.. Your not angry with me?"
"No Hermione I am not, but I warn you now, think a head when you act, things are fragile. You have a power Hermione. One that I'm sure Voldmort never thought of. One I'm sure he would not want you to relies that you have."
Hermione just starred at him, knowing what he was going to say.
" Hermione, you have the gift of time. For how long we don't know. You have a chance although you didn't hear it from me. To change the course of the future. Such a power has never been given to any mar mortal. Let alone a seventeen year old girl." He chuckled at the last part.
"Nineteen." Hermione whispered.
" What was that?" Dumbledore raised his head to look her straight in the eyes.
" I'm nineteen, I will be twenty in March." She mumbled.
" I see. I should have known. A time turner from the future if I'm not mistaken."
Hermione gapped openly at him. How in the world did he know that?
Dumbledore just chuckled. " I believe you should go and join your friends Hermione. It is after all a Saturday, there is only so little times that you are young and can play in the winter snow. Even for one who has time, there still is no time."
"Thank you headmaster." Hermione nodded getting up out of her soft chair and wrapping her silver fur trimmed cloak around her.
" One more thing Hermione. If your arm begins to hurt again come and see me."
Hermione nodded relies for the first time through every thing that had been going on for the last few weeks that.
Her arm hadn't bothered her.
She left the headmasters office, and headed straight for the library. She had to prepare. She was due in the arena against Peter Pettigrue on December 21st. Which happened to be in six days.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"Dumbledore? Do you think it wise to let that girl roam free playing with our very lives?" Minerva McGonagall came out of the shadows after Hermione left, and steeped beside the silver haired headmaster.
" My dear Professor McGonagall, honestly is it not Professors Laccous job to creep in the shadows, not your own." Smiled Dumbledore.
" I creep when I must, why is it that you do not see the danger this girl posses to us?"
" The only human being she posses a threat to is not even aware of it my dear Minerva. Miss Granger is a sound mind and I believe she is just realizing the power she holds."
" That is precisely my point Albus! She had no notion of the chaos she will bring to us all if she is allowed to continue on."
"Minerva, you have no great like of the girl do you?" it was more then an accusation then a question.
" I will admit that I do not my dear Albus, sure as rain she is a bright one but honestly you are entrusting the fate of us all to a mear child!" Shrieked Minerva.
" Minvera a few months ago I shared your fears and concerns but that girl who just walked out my office doors is no more a child then you are yourself." Albus smiled up at Minvera from his chair, and placed a withered hand of comfort onto her own.
" Albus I simply do not trust the girl! You and I are the only ones who know who she really is! She is going to ruin us all.. Some things are not meant to be meddled with." Her voice was shaken.
With that she removed her hand from Dumbledore comfort grasp and walked out of the room.
"Minerva in a few years time you will be begging to shake the girls hand." Whipsered Dumbledore.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione looked out from the frost-covered window of the Library out on to the Hogwarts grounds. IT was almost Christmas; she could feel it in her bones, and in her heart.
She had been in the Library for the last six hours immersed in an old text about dueling. IT was approximately eleven o'clock Monday night, but to her time just didn't matter any longer.
To be honest with her self she hadn't been able to concentrate on the words of the heavy leather book laid in front of her. Images of things kept playing over and over in her mind. One in particular.
Severus Snape.
The two of them hadn't spoken to one another since the incident with Remus only two weeks ago. So much had changed since then. No longer did she feel comforted when she walked along the corridors to the potions class room, she used to find this an enjoyable experience, it meant that she was going to see him. For some reason she felt warm beside him when they were in class. IT was an amazing feeling to have some one as intelligent as your self and who didn't resent you for the fact that you in fact held more intellectual power then fifty percent of the Hogwarts population put together.
Now, the two of them couldn't even stand beside each other for any more then a minute with out fighting. She knew that she had no reason to be mad with him. As Lucius had put forth Snape was doing what was required.
What was required.?
That was what scared her. She had seen a glimpse of what many people had seen before his future self has killed them.
She shouldn't know what she knew, but ever since she had found that Severus Snape potion master at Hogwarts was an ex death eater. She began to learn about him. What he had done as a death eater. I made her sick just to look at his future self-some days.
He had killed. He had rapped. He had destroyed hundreds of lives. After all he was third in command second only to Lucius who made him look like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn.
It was all so confusing.
Yet through knowing about his past/future she still couldn't shake a feeling of a great loss by his companionship.
"ARGG! What the hell is wrong with me!" she roared to the empty Library, slamming her book on the table.
" Well Granger do you really want me to point it out?" came a cool voice from behind her.
Hermione jumped straight into the air, and landed off center on her chair toppling over onto the hard polished wooden floor of the Library.
"DAMMIT!" she screeched as she hit the floor, only to rub her behind in pain. She reared on the voice that was laughing in hysterics.
She knew that laugh, and hated it and loved it all the same. Learning against a dark stone wall was Severus Snape, clad in his house robes as usual, his raven black hair caught the moonlight like a piece of glass.
"Bloody Hell Snape you ass hole! What 's your problem!" She roared in a venomous voice.
"My problem, Granger is that you need to keep that busy head of yours out of other peoples business!" he growled.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she questioned in exasperation.
"It means that you should have minded your own business with Lucius and Narccissa! You have no idea what you have done!" He spat.
"You know what Snape I've had it with you! You're the one who has no idea what going on! If you had you would have realized that both Narccissa and Lucius would have ended up killing each other!"
" Well you can't make an omelet with out breaking a few eggs!"
" THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS YOU ASS HOLE HOW DARE YOU THINK!!!." She stopped her sentence as he just smirked at her and picked up the book she had been trying to read, turning on his graceful heels he started towards the front desk.
Hermione's tempered flared. She hoisted herself up on her feet in a flash and ran at him in full force, pushing him into an isle.
Snape grunted as he contacted the wall, the book went sprawling on to the ground.
" That's mine jerk!" she growled bending down to pick up the book.
"Accucio!" Snape grunted, in a smooth voice. The thick leather bound book flew to his hand. " Well its mine now, I've been waiting for this very text for the last two hours."
"Well you can just wait longer!" Growled Hermione forgoing her wand she ripped the book from Snapes long fingered grasp, hugging the leather bound book to her chest she pushed past his tall figure. She couldn't help however noticing the sharp shock that pinned into her arm where her brand was situated.
"Shit!" she gasped in pain. Dropping the book she gripped her arm in a death bind. Something had triggered it; it was now burning with inconceivable pain. It felt worse then it had the night it was branded into her. Gasping she dubbed over still gripping her arm. She felt to the floor in a withering mass.
" Granger!" Screamed Snape, rushing to her side, desperately trying to find out what was cosigning her so much pain. Kneeling down on the ground beside her he pulled her close to him. She began to seizure from pain.
"HELP!" He roared into the empty library. He pulled her shaking body onto his lap; her face was the color of dry ash. Her eyes wide with terror and yet blinds to every thing.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" His voice had lost all smoothness but was now a ragged bark. He looked down on Hermione who was now crushed to his chest. Her eyes were beginning to close.
"Somebody help" he whispered.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
" Hermione wake up" came a familiar voice in her ear.
Hermione shifted in her bedcovers, why couldn't they just let her sleep. Wait! I don't remember going to sleep. Where am I? With a frantic gasp she shot up in her bed, eyes wide open. Gasping for air.
A blinding white light greeted her eyes. Soon her eyes focused and her vision cleared. She was in the infirmary. Seated on one of the many white cots
"Hermione?" the familiar sweet rustic sounding voice quivered in her ear. She turned to find its source.
"REMUS!" she squealed and tore her friend to her, giving him the mother of all bears hugs.
Remus pulled back giving her his classic smile. He no longer had charred black skin in fact it was clear and clean. Not a mark or freckle on him. His hair had been magically re grown; he looked just like he had before the duel.
" How are you old girl?" He inquired.
"Who are you calling old girl you great flea bag!" she chimed, only after did she realize what she had said she slapped her hand over her mouth.
Remus only laughed " well if any one was going to figure it out I'm glad it was you!"
She smiled up at him. " I was really worried about you."
"Ya I know, but people like me don't die that easily." He laughed but didn't seem so sure of himself.
" Does every one know your OK?"
" Ya, James, Sirius, and Lily came by to check on me." He smiled at her look of distaste at the mention of Sirius and Lily's names.
" You know there not as bad as you think there are, they were the first to figure out who and what I was, they never abandoned me you know." He seemed to be thinking far away.
" I know, believe me I know!" she moaned, remembering how nice Sirius had been to her before she had met him in his younger stage.
She sat there a moment in silence with Remus, neither of them knowing what to say.
A thought struck Hermione.
"Remus how did I get here? How long have I been here for?"
Remus looked at her for a moment and then laughed. " Just since last night.It seems you and I have something in common. Snape put us both in the hospital."
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or to look horrified.
" Mind you, he was far more worried about you then he was when he put me here." Smiled Remus.
"SNAPE!" she scoffed. " Worried about me? That a laugh!"
Remus suddenly stopped smiling and looked at her gravely. " Hermione for someone who is so good at seeing the really face of people you sure are blind to Snape. why?"
Hermione's face went blank as she stared infront of her, not moving.
" You would never believe me Remus, I can't explain it to you.." Her voice held a sadness that Remus hadn't heard from her in months. A burning question was circling in her mind. why even after there fight and obvious hatred for each other had Snape helped her.
" You kept my secret, let me keep yours?" He whispered Remus smashing her train of thought.
"Remus." she pleaded, her eyes began to moisten with remembrance of her past, and she didn't want to face it again.
"Gods Hermione don't cry. Gods what did that ass hole do to you?" whispered Remus, mistaking Hermione's watering eyes of remembrance for tears of a wrong committed by Snape.
"Remus, Snape didn't do anything to me, its just. you wouldn't understand." Hermione mumbled to him.
Remus just sighed and watched his distressed friend, he patter her gently on the back.
"Hermione, I know there is something more to this then just Severus Snape. I need to know how you seem to know so much about every one. Hermione please tell me?" His voice was gentle much like the kind sickly man that she had known in the future.
She didn't want him to know what lay ahead for him.
" Remus have you spoken to Narccissa since you awoke?" She changed the subject and he knew it.
With a sigh of defeat Remus nodded. " She was pretty shook up, a lot can change in a few days."
"Did she tell you about her and Lucius?"
A blush creeped up on his face and he tried to hide a smile. " Yes she did, I've never been happier for her."
Hermione just smiled and couldn't help but stiff a giggle. " Why do I get the feeling your not telling me everything?"Now it was Remus under the spotlight.
Remus remained silent, but a heavier blush came over his light features.
"Remus?" She chided giving him a stern look.
"What?" he squealed in mock honesty?
" What did I miss!"
" Nothing! I swear!" He squealed again.
"Remus stop squealing like a pig and tell me! Otherwise I'm gonna find out, you know Narccissa is my best friend!" Hermione fumed.
"All right!" he concedes. " It wasn't must but we umm." He just went scarlet.
"You what?"
"He made official his feelings for the Ravenclaw." Came a rough voice from the doorway. Both Hermione and Remus's heads swiveled to the tall figure.
"What do you want Black!" spat Hermione as the tall figure of Sirius Black came through the door way and towards her bed.
"There was a rumor around the school that you were dead, I came to check.damn no such luck" he sneered.
"You know Black you might wanna watch what you say considering that I could kick your very unattractive ass from here to Hogsmead!" Growled Hermione.
The insult stung, from past experience Hermione knew that Sirius had always been very vain in his looks, which were in fact anything but unattractive.
"Watch it you skanky little Slytherin!" Fumed Black.
"SIRUIS SHUT IT!" came the wolf like voice from Remus. " WILL YOU JUST LET IT GO! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS YOU DAMN PRICK!"
Black was taken aback as was Hermione, and in there surprise they exchanged glances of amazement at Remus's forwardness. The boy had always been so shy; it was something neither of them had ever expected.
"Whoa Remus I didn't know you felt so strongly for her. Gods she's a Slytherin for hell's sake!" he pleaded in amazement.
Hermione shot him a look.
"That SLYTHERIN Sirius is one of my friends and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't even be around Narccissa!" Roared Remus.
"Narccissa? What the hell does that mean?" Questioned Black, Hermione realized just then that no one save Remus, Narccissa, Lucius and Severus knew of her involvement in the liberation of the two betrothed.
"Sirius, you and I need to talk." Remus shook his head, and with that he got up off of the bed and lead Sirius out of the room rather forcefully.
She didn't see either of them again for the rest of the day.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Later that Day Dumbledore came to see her; his eyes were once again very closed and unreadable. What scared her was that there was no twinkle in his eye. He told her that she would be able to leave today, but that to be on her guard the mark doesn't act up with such a force unless something was on the horizon.
She went back to her dorm with out seeing any one. She didn't want to either, there was a nagging feeling of dread in her heart. Something was going to happen and soon.
She had to prapare for what ever it was, and for her match against Peter Pettigrue, which out of all days happened to be tomorrow.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
"Snape your full of bull shit you know that!" laughed Lucius.
" I know what I saw Lucius. She collapsed gripping her arm and when I lifted up her self there was the dark mark." Seethed Snape.
"I don't believe you. She's muggle born! Tom would never take her in to the order!" Lucius roared in frustration.
" Well believe it! The mark was different, maybe Tom does take muggle born's but just brands them differently?" said Snape thoughtfully.
"I just can't believe it. Why did the mark act up so violently?" Lucius whispered.
" Don't know." Something in the back of Snapes mind was begining to bug him, something about Hermione's mark was wrong.very very wrong.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Once again the whole school was gathered in the great hall, the blinding skylights of the magical sealing beamed down on the whole of Hogwarts.
Hermione stood in a corner on the dueling stage waiting for the match to get underway. She once again surveyed the crowed. There was Remus and James giving both her and Peter Pettigrue, who was standing on the opposite end of the stage looking rather, looks of approval. Lily was shooting daggers at her with her eyes but that didn't bother her. It never did.
She spied Sirius Black standing beside Narccissa giving her a look of confusion and for once respect. He tilted his head to her and then to Narccissa and gave her was appeared to be a small smile.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Both Snape and Lucius were making there way through the very thick crowed towards her.
"What do you want?" she inquired more forcefully to Snape then to Lucius.
Snape motioned her to bend down so that he could speak to her with out shouting.
" I want to know what going on Granger and I want to know now!" He snarled.
"This is called a duel Snape!" she said sarcastically.
" That's not what I meant." He spat and then with a quick movement smacked her arm where her mark was situated. She winced, as it was still tender. " That's what I meant!
She went wide-eyed. He knew? "How did? What. How the hell?"
Snape just gave her a look. " You screamed and grabbed it in the Library. Granger. what is going on?"
The jig was up, she had to tell. Thankfully however Dumbledore decided that it was time to start the match.
"Snape." she choked, she didn't want him to know, that would mean telling him her past and his future. " I will tell you every thing. I promise. I don't know why I should after the way you treated me but I will." There was a chide from Peter in the background. " After I finish this I promise I will."
With that she left both Lucius and Snape who had begun to feel strange. He took one look at Peter and then back at Hermione. Then at Peter again. It was at his second glance that he noticed that Peter was holding a piece of old parchment in his hand. It was giving off a radiating light glow that could only be seen with total concentration.
Peter also kept checking his watch.
"Now!" boomed Dumbledore to the hall standing in the middle of the stage as he motioned both Peter and Hermione to his sides. " Give a round of applause for our two competitors." The hall flooded with cheers.
Snape saw Peter check his watch again.
"Competitors shake hands!" boomed Dumbledore again.
Peter checked his watch.
Then it hit Snape like a tone of bricks. the parchement that was still in Petters hands. The watch. Hermione?
"LUCIUS!" He screamed through the cheers of excitement. " SOMETHINGS WRONG! PETTIGRUE HAS A PORTEKEY!"
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione watched the crowed and Pettigrue at the same time. He extended his hand to her. He was very pail, worried and anxious looking.
"Competitors shake hands."
She reached with her hand.
"HERMIONE DON'T" Came a voice in the crowed. Snape? She motioned with her other hand that she couldn't hear him. Her other hand was still extended to Pettigrue's.
Snape began to run towards her and was frantically pointing at Pettigrue.
She turned to Pettigrue who looked relieved and grabbed her hand with his forcefully and quickly.
Then she felt it. The piece of paper. A familiar tug behind her navel. She tried to scream but was gone.
Gone.