A/N: Whoa, sorry it's been so long. I had forgotten about this, but I just ran into it again and I'm starting it back up. Updates probably once a week, or sooner. Thanks.

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Hermione bit her lip as she saw the teenage Snape, wondering idly if the real Snape would return to his office to check on her. He had seemed rather preoccupied, she decided, as did the one before her. Hermione couldn't help admiring his exam paper; Snape had much more parchment than his neighbors, and had crammed his writing together so he could fit in as much information as possible. So I'm a know-it-all, then? she thought with a huff.

Then Hermione caught a glimpse of a peaky brown-haired boy at another table. She gasped. Professor Lupin! She wished she could talk to him, but knew from the previous scenes that he wouldn't hear her. Hermione scrutinized the rest of the room. She couldn't help the violent feeling that rose in her chest when her gaze fell upon a mousy, watery-eyed boy that was scribbling frantically and sneaking glances at other's papers. She frowned at him in disapproval. Cheating on an O.W.L., of all things! Honestly!

Suddenly, the papers flew to the front of the Hall, knocking poor Professor Flitwick over. Chairs were pushed back and the test takers got up and left the Great Hall. Snape finished, and left his table with jerky, odd movements. Hermione tried to find Professor Lupin again, but he had disappeared. She followed Snape out of the Great Hall and into the sunshine.

Hermione frowned again as she saw clumps of students congregating at sporadic distances on the lawn, only some with books. Snape did not seem to belong to a clump, but made his lonely way to a bush near the lake. He sat down in the shade, seeming to try to retreat into it. He still had the questions in his hand, and his eyes darted back and forth as he checked his answers. His mouth formed silent words as he read. Hermione smiled, thinking of Harry and Ron's reactions when she had insisted going over their exam answers after they had finished.

Looking around, she was pleasantly surprised to see Lupin sitting below a tree, reading a book that appeared to be Transfiguration. There was Wormtail, cheering and applauding a--

Her mouth fell open. It couldn't possibly be Harry, she thought, as she ran across the lawn. She stopped several feet from the tree. He looked exactly like Harry, she thought with a chill. James Potter… Harry's father. The boy was playing with a Golden Snitch, something Hermione was quite certain he was not allowed to do. On further examination, she noted that this boy's nose was different… and he had brown eyes instead of Harry's haunting green ones…

"Put that away before Peter wets himself from excitement." A bored yet irritated voice came from behind the tree. Hermione shifted to get a look at him-- and gasped. A handsome face, framed by elegant, jet-black hair peered back at her. His eyes were sparkling and full of life, much unlike the hollow, dead eyes she had remembered. Yet there was no mistaking Sirius Black. Her throat tightened as she thought of what Harry would give to see this man again-- and before Azkaban had brought sorrow to his features.

Hermione suddenly felt uncomfortable, and made her way back to where Snape was sitting. Still immersed in his paper. She thought suddenly that she really should be getting back. She'd had her fun, but if the real Snape caught her…

The teenage Snape got up, silencing her thoughts, and started to make his way across the lawn. As they neared the tree where Harry's father sat, however, she heard a delighted snicker.

"Snivellus!"

Snape whirled around and whipped out his wand with incredible speed, but it was too late.

"Expelliarmus!"

His wand landed a good twelve feet behind him. Hermione crossed her arms and frowned. This could not be good. To her surprise, it was James who held a wand out threateningly in Snape's direction.

"Impedimenta!"

Hermione felt numb as Snape let out a stream of curses, his eyes focused with intense loathing on Harry's father.

"Wash out your mouth, Snivellus!" James taunted. Soap bubbles foamed from Snape's mouth, choking him.

"Leave him ALONE!"

A girl with blazing red hair marched across the lawn, furious. Hermione felt a jolt as she recognized her haunting green eyes…

"All right, Evans?" James was suddenly pleasant and charismatic, but the girl that could only be Harry's mother looked ready to shove James into the lake. Hermione began to feel sick. She shouldn't be seeing this. These were Harry's parents… She backed away from the scene, slowly at first, then tripped and fell on her bum in the grass.

"Bring me home!" Hermione whispered to no one in particular, and with a sinking feeling realized she had no idea how to return to Snape's office. She watched in horror as the stringy teenage Snape suddenly hung upside down in the tree, his robes falling off, over his head.

"Oh Merlin," she whispered. There was a crowd now. James and Sirius were laughing, along with many others. "Stop… Please, stop…"

She buried her head in her hands. She couldn't bear to watch any more. "Oh Harry…"

"Well, well…" a nasty, all-too-familiar voice sounded behind her. Hermione jumped, and gave a squeak of fear. Behind her was Professor Snape, white and shaking as much as she was.

"Thought it would be fun to snoop around, did you?" He grabbed Hermione roughly, and soon they were spinning, spinning, and landed back in Snape's office, the bowl glowing innocently inside the drawer once again. Hermione couldn't help but feel frightened of Snape, who looked furious enough to use a curse whose use would send him to Azkaban.

"Sir, I--"

"But of course!" he said, panting, his face much too close to hers now, "Let's see what greasy old Snape has in his head. We can all laugh about it… us brainless, egotistical, moronic Gryffindors. We all hate him anyways, it's enough that he exists."

The room fell completely silent as Snape's bitter words hit. Hermione ignored the tears coursing down her cheeks. There was only one thing she could think of to do.

Hermione sniffled, and threw her arms around him.