"Get in here, lazy cow! Customer! Customer!" For a moment Hermione wondered if she'd gotten the day wrong, and that Severus' father was actually in the office today. But as she turned toward the rude voice, she saw a large, brightly colored bird perched majestically on a post near the window.
"I'll be right with you," called a haggard voice from behind the partially opened door leading deeper into Quality Quills and Ink, Inc. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
A worn but functional couch sat against the wall next to the tropical bird's stoop. Hermione seated herself on it, noticing that since its outburst the bird had turned its attention to its own plumage. She surveyed the room, which bore more resemblance to her parents' waiting room than to a shop. The glass table in front of the couch held several popular wizarding magazines, which waved to her from where they lay. The only other furnishings in the room were the twin desks which ostensibly belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Snape. After a few moments, a somewhat disheveled but much younger Olivia Snape burst into the room.
"Please accept my apologies for not attending to you sooner, ma'am. You quite literally caught me with my hands full." The woman's manner was obscenely abject, much to Hermione's discomfort. She was reminded of some of the less reputable vendors that could be found in Knockturn Alley. "Now, what can I do for you, my dear?"
"Please, Mrs. Snape, there's no need to apologize." The older woman started a bit at being referred to by name. "Although I am here to see you specifically, regarding a matter of some importance."
Mrs. Snape looked perplexed. "Me? Are you sure? Perhaps you mean my husband, Mr. Snape? Although I'm afraid he is out of the office today…"
"No, ma'am, I'm quite sure that you are the person I need to speak to." Hermione spoke gently but confidentally.
"Well, then," Mrs. Snape looked about the room, frowning when her eyes fell on the obnoxious bird, which was now watching them curiously. "Perhaps you could accompany me into the back, we can talk while I finish organizing the inventory. If you don't mind, that is?"
Hermione nodded her acquiescence and followed Mrs. Snape through the interior door into what appeared to be a large storeroom, too large for the outer dimensions of the building in point of fact. Rows upon rows of boxes filled the room with only narrow walkways between them, and the nearest of these walkways was blocked by several stacks of boxes waiting to be shelved. Mrs. Snape closed the door behind them.
"I'm sorry to bring you back here among all the mess, but Horatio is rather nosy and I really do need to get these boxes shelved this morning," apologized the older woman.
"Horatio is the bird?" asked Hermione.
"My husband's bird, actually," replied Mrs. Snape. Hermione didn't think she imagined the slight shudder accompanying the word 'husband'.
Mrs. Snape leaned over the first box, then cast a levitating charm to direct the it to its proper place on the shelves. Hermione followed close behind. "So, what business brings you here, my dear?"
"Not business, per sec, Mrs. Snape. I apologize, this is going to sound very bizarre, but we need your help."
"Who is we? And help with what?" Mrs. Snape had the air of only halfway paying attention, as she concentrated on moving the crates without knocking into those already stacked.
"Well, the wizarding world as a whole actually, but more specifically myself, Albus Dumbledore, and some folks from the Ministry of Magic. We're working to fulfill a prophecy that will save the wizarding world from the forces of evil."
"The Headmaster of Hogwarts and officials from the Ministry? That sounds awfully official. Are you sure you don't have me confused with someone else, I'm sure I don't know anything about this sort of thing."
"There's no mistake, Mrs. Snape. Your son is the key figure in a prophecy about defeating a very powerful dark wizard."
"Severus?" The witch looked down at Hermione, leaving the box she guided afloat in the air. "But he's still in school! In fact you look young enough to be a student yourself. Why are you involved in all this?"
"I am a student, actually. I was sent to retrieve Severus and seek your assistance because I would not be recognized by anyone. You see, it isn't the current Professor Dumbledore orchestrating the plot, but a future Professor Dumbledore." Hermione retrieved the letter from Mrs. Snape's older self from the pocket of her robe. "Your son is the only one who can help us, and to get his help we must have your own. If you would please read this letter, I believe it will explain everything."
After setting the floating box down, Mrs. Snape accepted the letter and retrieved her reading glasses from the pocket of her robe. Hermione watched the emotions play out across the woman's face as she read. She saw shock at being addressed by her future self turn to acceptance and then a terrifying sorrow. The older witch's eyes filled with tears at some unknown grief, and she slumped down onto the large crate beside her, letting the hand holding the letter fall to her side. After a moment, she read the note again, her eyes filling with a grim determination, and she pulled out her wand.
"Incendio!" The scroll burst into flames.
Hermione was dumbfounded; Mrs. Snape was supposed to believe the letter! That was how the older Olivia had said that it happened! Had she done something wrong?
"I wouldn't want that to fall into the wrong hands," explained Mrs. Snape wearily as the last remnants of the letter turned to ash. She looked across at Hermione, her gaze filled with mingled pain and resolve. "I won't pretend to understand any of this, but I cannot doubt the truth of the matter. Obviously my future self believes in your mission, or she would not have sent me this letter. We must be careful though, my husband's loyalties are not what they should be – he must not find out what we are doing."
"I know. But Mr. Snape is away on Tuesdays and Thursdays, is he not?" The older woman nodded. "Then we must work around those days." Hermione explained the plan to infect Severus so that he would be sent home to avoid infecting others. "We'll just make sure he takes ill when his father is away. It won't likely be for another week or two; I'm still working on getting Severus to trust me enough that I can approach him about this."
Mrs. Snape nodded again. "Yes, you definitely don't want to rush him. He's a very solitary boy, doesn't make friends easily, and is slow to trust. I blame his father and myself for that. But are you certain he will help you?"
"I think so," replied Hermione. "All the memory evidence we have indicates that he does help us, he does miss the second half of his sixth year at Hogwarts. Besides, I have a letter from you for him as well."
"I see," Olivia sighed. "Well, I wish you luck with him, though I don't envy your task. Is there anything you need me to do besides wait for the owl from the school?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, the main thing we need from you is for you to be the one to receive the owl so that Severus' father doesn't find out he's left school."
"I can do that," said the older woman. She walked Hermione back to the front office. "I'm sure we'll be able to acquire just what you are looking for, Miss Houser. I'll be sending you an owl with the price once I've made the necessary inquiries."
"Thank you, Mrs. Snape, I'll be expecting it." Always quick on the uptake, Hermione realized the change of subject was for Horatio's benefit. What an awful animal! "Good day!"
***
Hermione made her way back to the school without event. After a quick stop at the Room of Requirement for refreshment, she continued her familiarization campaign for Severus' benefit. She walked past him in the hall twice, the second time giving him a cautious smile, which was surprisingly returned.
A long and tedious task, this familiaration process was, she thought to herself the next day as she returned to her hideaway for lunch. All the students and faculty were in the Great Hall for their meal, so Hermione hadn't bothered to use the Invisibility Cloak as she climbed the many staircases to the Room of Requirement. After fixing herself a sandwich, she settled down to enjoy her lunch with some light reading. Her plan called for another Severus encounter after his last class of the day, but she was free to relax until then.
At the appointed time, Hermione made her way down to the classroom outside of which she would "run into" Severus. She pressed herself against the wall on the far side of the door and waited.
The students flew out of class without noticing her, as she'd anticipated, for students were always excited to finish their last class of the day. As was his usual pattern, Severus was the last to leave, and he ambled rather than ran through the door, giving him ample time to notice the small Slytherin girl standing there.
When he saw her, he gave a self-satisfied smirk. "I thought you might turn up here."
"You did?" asked Hermione, bewildered, as he grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the classroom, charming the door locked behind them. "What are you doing?"
"Who are you?" Severus hissed, drawing his wand and pointing it at her. "And don't tell me you're in Slytherin because last time I checked, all Slytherins, even the young ones, take their meals in the Great Hall at the same time, and I haven't seen you there once."
Bloody hell, thought Hermione. Her familiarization campaign must have worked a little too well if he was actively seeking her out at meals.
"So unless you are a ghost," he continued, giving her a poke in the ribs with his wand, "which you seem rather too solid to be, I suggest you tell me right now just who you are, mystery girl, and why I shouldn't drag you to the Headmaster's office right now."
"No! You can't!" exclaimed Hermione. "I'll tell you everything, I was going to anyway, you know. I promise I'm not here to do any harm but you mustn't tell anyone that I'm here."
Severus glared down at her, "I'm waiting for your explanation."
"Well, it's rather difficult to explain and it will definitely sound a little crazy, but . . ." she paused, trying to figure out where to start.
"Now, mystery girl," he tapped his foot, "or I go to Dumbledore."
"Oh, all right. My name is Hermione Granger and I've come to bring you back to the future to help save the wizarding world from the forces of evil." The words flew out of her mouth in one rapid runon sentence, leaving Severus to gape at her, wand still drawn. He stared for a few moments before bursting into laughter. He lowered his want, dragged his heaving body to the nearest desk and buried his head in his hands, laughing so hard he almost cried.
"What's so funny," asked Hermione in annoyance. "I know it sounds a little nutters but it's completely true!"
"Sure it is, mystery girl! Everyone knows that if you need someone to save the world, Severus Snape is your man," mocked Severus. "Look, the joke's up, and I've got to hand it to you, it's definitely more original that the usual. I give you full points for creativity. But I'm sure your polyjuice potion will wear off soon, so then I'll know who to congratulate for this most clever prank. I must admit I'm quite curious – it's got too much style for Black and Potter and his cronies, but I can't imagine any Slytherin being this benignly creative. Tell me, do I have an enemy in Hufflepuff now? This seems more their style."
"No! Severus, I swear this isn't a prank." Time for the big guns. "I can prove it!"
"Really," he drawled. "And how do you propose to do that?"
"I have a letter for you that explains everything, a letter that you'll have to believe."
"Well, hand it over then." Severus held out his hand.
Hermione grimaced. "I don't have it with me, it's upstairs in the room where I've been staying."
Severus snorted. "Sure it is. You're just trying to lure me off somewhere so one of your friends can hex me. I understand now."
"No, I'm not! Look, if you don't believe me, we'll wait here an hour. If I'd taken a polyjuice potion, as you suspect, then it will wear off by then. If not, you'll come with me to get the proof."
"Not good enough," he retorted. "I still would have no proof you're not trying to trick me."
Hermione sighed in exasperation. "What if I let you take my wand? Would that convince you I'm sincere?"
"It might," he acknowledged. "But first we wait for the polyjuice potion to wear off, because right now I still don't trust you. You'd might as well sit down."
So Hermione took the seat next to him. They were silent for a few moments, then she sighed. "This will be an awfully long hour if we ignore each other."
"Fine, then," said Severus. "You can tell me more about how I'm to save the world. I can always use a good laugh."
So Hermione filled him in as best she could about the Dark Lord and the prophecy, being careful not to give away too many details (namely that Severus in her time was already dead!) Severus listened intently, still shaking his head in disbelief, but playing along and asking questions. Soon, the hour was up and Hermione of course remained unchanged in appearance.
"Shall we go," she asked, handing him her wand.
He unlocked the door. "Lead on."
"We'll have to be a little sneaky," Hermione cautioned. "We can't let anyone see where we're going, so we'll need to use this." She reached into her bag and pulled out Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
"Wow," exclaimed Severus, as if he'd never seen one before, suspicions temporarily forgotten in his awe. "Where did you get that?"
"I borrowed it from a friend," she replied. "We'll both fit underneath it if we stay close together."
"This really is the strangest prank, mystery girl," he sighed as he let Hermione pull the cloak over them. "I can't wait to see this 'proof' of yours."
They made their way down the hall and up the stairs with a bit of awkwardness. Unlike Hermione, Severus wasn't used to huddling close to another person to stay under the cloak, so their progress was slow and unsteady. The cloak slipped off him once inbetween staircases, but luckily no one was near enough to see. Eventually, they reached the Room of Requirement.
"I don't remember ever seeing a door here before," remarked Severus.
Hermione laughed softly. "That's because you never required a door here before." At his quizzical expression she added, "I'll explain later."
The room was as she'd left it. She hurried over to the chest in which she'd left the letter and extracted it for him. "You'd better sit down."
He turned the scroll over a few times as if checking it for traps, then gingerly opened it and began to read. Like his mother before him, Severus' face broadcast the effect the letter had on him. His fingers clenched around the edge of the scroll as he read. Where the mother's face had shown a dreadful sorrow, the sons displayed a simmering anger. As his expression clouded, he reminded Hermione more of her former Potions Master than his younger self had before. She found this strangely comforting.
He crumpled the paper between his fingers, his breathing becoming more labored. The boy Severus looked barely in control of his emotions as he turned his steely gaze on Hermione. She gulped and took and unconscious step backwards, but he reached out and caught her arm.
"Tell me everything. I'm in."
Author's Note: Some of you might think to yourself that my version of young Severus seems out of character. I suggest that he is not, but rather that the 6th year Severus of this story is a very different person than the one we know from canon, and that his experiences make him what he is. It is my intention that this story will explain how this vulnerable, self-deprecating young Severus becomes the embittered man we know from the books. I hope you'll bear with me!