I do not own Harry Potter and co. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing for my own amusement.

Prologue: Where's Severus?

Hermione Granger sat behind the Headmaster's desk, rightfully her place now. But she took no pleasure or joy in it. She had served as Acting Headmistress before, when the permanent Headmaster had to be away. This time was different. This time it appeared to be permanent.

Headmaster Snape had vanished. Hermione Granger-Snape had lost her mate. Hermione wanted to go look for her soul mate, but couldn't leave the school undefended. She wanted to put her head down on the desk and cry.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter", Hermione said lifelessly.

The door opened quietly, and an old man with a long silver beard, and long silver hair stood in the doorway. His eyes were filled with compassion.

Hermione stood up immediately.

"Albus! What am I going to do? All I want to do is go find him, but the school needs to be kept safe. I don't know which way to turn!" As Hermione spoke, she made her way quickly over to the man who was her friend, and the closest thing to a grandfather Hermione had.

Albus took Hermione in his arms and held her close. Since retiring, Albus had kept himself busy traveling and visiting friends and family. However, Hogwarts was still his home, and he had a suite of rooms in the castle. Now stooped and using a cane to help him walk, he still radiated power and serenity. As soon as he heard, he had returned to Hogwarts, knowing Hermione would need his support and advice.

Hermione looked Albus in the face. As Albus had aged and became somewhat stooped, Hermione was closer to his height. She noticed that Albus' eyes, dimmed with age, had lost some of their sparkle.

"We didn't think that anything could happen. I guess the last 20 years have led us into complacency. Even Severus had begun to let down his guard after having peace for so long."

"Hermione, I'm sure whatever happened is not that bad. The Death Eaters have been gone for 15 years now, and the five before that they were merely a nuisance, not an active threat. In all my traveling, I have not heard of any new threat to our world." Albus set himself down carefully in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

Hermione returned to her position behind the desk. "I know. I have not heard of anything seriously wrong either." Harry Potter's position as Head of the Department of Aurors, as well as his ties to Severus and Hermione, ensured that they were aware of the littlest issue that arose. It was better to know what might happen, than be surprised.

"Was this sudden, or did Severus tell you he was leaving?"

"It was sudden, but in looking back on our conversation the night before he disappeared, it seems as if he knew something was going to happen. He told me how much he loved me, which he still does very seldom, and promised me he would always be there for me. How? He's gone!" Hermione slumped back in the chair.

Albus looked at the younger woman contemplatively for a few minutes. "Hermione, did Severus ever tell you why I retired when I did?"

"Not specifically. I assumed after we defeated Voldemort, you felt it was time for a rest. With Minerva being hurt so badly, I knew you wanted to be able to take care of her, and I'm sure you were tired. We all were exhausted by the time he was sent back to the hell that spawned him."

"Yes, that was part of it, certainly. I was grateful to Severus for being willing to take the responsibility from me without complaint. I know he never thought he would be Headmaster. My time with Minerva was greatly appreciated." Minerva had died the previous year from the long-term effects of the injuries she had received in the final battle.

"But that wasn't the only reason. I am a Seer, although my visions are only sporadic. Two years before you graduated, I Saw that you and Severus were meant to be together. I saw both of you sitting in the Headmaster's chair. However, I also Saw that help would be needed. Someone had to get the two of you to think, and look beyond your prejudices. Do you remember a man named Dorian Grey, who taught Defense Arts for your sixth year?"

"Yes. He was good. Awfully mysterious, though. I actually had several long conversations with him. He was almost as knowledgeable as Severus, and a lot easier to get along with at that time. We all felt he was somewhat familiar."

"Exactly. Think of Severus with short brown hair, and a short beard. Change his eyes to grey."

"What! Severus was Professor Grey?"

"Yes. Severus has known since then that he would be going back in time to your sixth year. He confronted his past self, and forced him to admit his true feelings for you to himself. It wasn't time for the two of you to be together, but the situation had to change between you. It also needed to change between Severus and Harry."

"It was the end of my sixth year that Severus began to really change toward me, but before that his hostility seemed to be lessening. Professor Grey also talked to me about my attitude toward everything. I guess knowing me the way he does now gave him the insight he needed to help me."

"Yes. Severus has gone back to make things right for you two so that you could be together now."

"But, how did Severus know he had to go back from now to then?"

"Dorian told him right before he came back."

"Severus told himself to go back in time 25 years?"

"Now you have a good grasp of the complexities involved in time travel. This is a little more complicated than using a Time Turner."

"How long will he be away?"

"Time is not linear when you are doing things like this. Dorian was there for about a year. I don't know what that will be equivalent to for us."

"So I just have to sit here and wait for Severus to return to our time, not knowing how long that will be?"

"Not exactly. Just turn around, and you will know how long it was." The new voice came from the door to the Headmaster's private rooms. The silky voice was as familiar to Hermione as her own.

"Severus!" Without another word, Hermione embraced her husband, holding on for all she was worth. Severus held Hermione just as tightly. For him, it had been a year. He bent his head over Hermione's, and put his cheek on top of her head. The two just held each other without saying anything aloud. Their bond allowed them to speak mind-to-mind, and all that was necessary was being said in that manner.

Albus sat and gazed at the two in love. His grandchildren were together again and whole. He was sure Severus and Hermione were having their own conversation, as he could catch wisps of thoughts coming from the two. He could wait to hear Severus' story. He knew most of it, but Severus' perspective would be interesting, to say the least.