Tempus Magia
Chapter 27: Saving Draco
Hermione Granger made a grave error during the final battle that resulted in Remus's death. Working as an unspeakable she spends two years working on a spell using powder from time turners to go back to Remus's greatest hour of need. What if Remus's greatest time of need wasn't in *this* war?
The next morning, Hermione woke in Remus's arms on the rug in her room. "Oi, Remus. You're crushing me."
Remus woke and scrambled off of her, only to pick her up and cuddle her on the bed. "You're the best cuddler, Hermione."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I have to go to the loo."
"Nope. I don't let. Stay and cuddle me."
"Remus," she whinged. When he still wouldn't let go, she tickled his side. He laughed and fell off the other side of the bed. Hermione made her quick the escape laughing all the way to the bathroom.
Remus had been persistent the night before. It was the first time together, though not their first times individually. Hermione was wondering if she needed to cast a morning after charm in the shower when Remus came in and began massaging her shoulders.
She reached a hand around his balls and began to rub them playfully. "You up for a morning shag?"
"Technically our last shag was three hours ago," he said as he lifted her against the wall of the shower.
"Semantics," she said tangling her hands in his hair. "Now stick it to me, you overgrown teddy bear."
Breakfast was a slightly awkward affair of pancakes, fruit, and oatmeal. The food wasn't what made it uncomfortable it was that Sirius kept having bouts of coughing fits where he was actually just saying, "Silencing charms." Remus ignored him but after the fourth time, he got annoyed.
"Sirius, if you're that jealous of Hermione and I, go find one of your slags and get yourself your own pounding." Hermione was just trying to remember if they had done anything kinky that morning.
"It's rude, not share mate." Sirius pouted. Hermione finally had enough and sent Ginny's bat-bogey hex at him and Sirius didn't bring up the subject again.
After breakfast, Hermione copied the information she needed from the book and they returned it to the library cafe. Hermione had a lovely conversation with Remus's godfather and complimented him on his wonderful establishment. They Flooed in through the private staff Floo and then left immediately afterward. Remus was still weary and he didn't want Hermione out any longer than she needed to be.
They returned home and Hermione helped him write a polite and thankful letter to Reynir for his assistance. They debated about sending it from the house but Sirius offered to mail it from Diagon. He was going to key Harry to his Gringotts accounts anyway that day, so he'd be passing an owlery. With that matter done, Hermione spent some time baking with Lily while Remus and James burned off steam playing Quidditch in the backyard.
After their snickerdoodles were cooled, they made soup and sandwiches for lunch. Hermione was getting better at cooking and she enjoyed every minute that she got to spend with Lily. Every memory she had with Harry's parents were carefully preserved in her mind or in her bag so that she could share them with him when she got back to her timeline.
The boys returned from their game sweaty and upbeat. Remus dropped a kiss on Hermione and threw her over his shoulder and dragged to their room for a shower. After they were showered and then some, they sauntered back down for lunch being joined shortly after by a wet and redfaced Lily and James. During their rather rambunctious lunch, Hermione received two owls. One from Severus and one from Saul, though Saul's was more of a package. The contents of the package were a letter and a box of store-bought muffins that were devoured by Remus and James. Saul had sealed his letter with a bloodletting curse, so she had to give blood to open it. Remus had been upset, but after she assured him that the sensitivity was worth her fatigue he allowed her to open it without a fuss.
Hermione,
Though I confess I was a bit surprised at your request, I have in fact found that we do not have a law that prohibits that particular curse. Many laws from the Wizard's Council were not translated over, for which I am thankful. I warn caution with this particular spell, however knowing you as I do, you exercise more caution than Mad-Eye. I bumped into Sirius at Gringotts this morning and I am overjoyed to hear that you are feeling better.
-Saul
PS. I made the egg pie, last night. It was delicious. I doubt Lily remembered but I left you a slice in the fridge. My partner ate two whole slices!
Hermione chuckled as they had, in fact, discovered the frittata in the fridge earlier that morning. In Hermione's response to Saul, she gently reminded him that eggshells were not supposed to be inside the 'egg pie.'
Sirius who had been the unlucky person who tasted it was still coughing up egg shells an hour later. He wouldn't touch any food for the remainder of the day, not that Hermione blamed him.
The letter from Severus actually contained two letters, one to Lily and one to Hermione. James was unhappy that his wife would not share the letter or its contents with him but Lily mostly ignored him.
Snape's letter to her was short and to the point.
H,
I had a breakthrough. If you wish, you can join me at my home this evening. The flower knows the address.
-S
Hermione showed the letter to Lily, who agreed to go with her much to the fury of the males in the house. Remus wanted Hermione resting but given that Narcissa had come back in to the WSAA unconscious the night before, Hermione wasn't wasting any more time and neither was Severus.
Lily and Hermione left via Floo and when they walked into the small sitting room, Severus thrust notes at Hermione and ordered her to 'sit and read.' Lily and Severus went into the kitchen. Hermione ignored their shouting and concentrated on the information in front of her.
The yelling segued into talking and then eventually chuckles and laughter. They returned with tea and small sandwiches, as if they hadn't just spent twenty minutes yelling at each other.
"Glad to see you are better, Hermione."
"Concerned were you?"
"If only that Narcissa's spell needed your help."
Hermione laughed. "Thank you, Severus, your friendship is valued." He scoffed but Hermione ignored him.
"Okay," she said. "So we need three separate spells. Two for Lucius and one for Narcissa and they each need their own caster."
Lily nodded and poked Snape's shoulder playfully, "Sev explained the situation. I can do the secondary spell on Lucius."
"Absolutely not," Hermione said without looking up from her tea. "You have a child in your womb. Sev and I will go after the wizard who is beating his unborn child out of his wife and you will stay with Narcissa."
"I agree, Lily. Please do not put yourself or your son in any unnecessary risk."
She read the outline plan.
"Is it possible to move the plan up by several hours?"
"You have a date, Hermione?"
"No, but if Remus, James, or Sirius catch wind of this they'll lock us in the house and Narcissa will lose Draco," she said pointedly.
Severus walked to the Floo and called, "Cissa's Sitting Room, Malfoy Manor!"
Moments later Narcissa Malfoy walked in. "Hermione?" her gaze shifted to Lily and her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"
"We need three casters, Narcissa," Snape said patiently. "Lily was present during your original visit and has already taken a vow of secrecy as she is in training to become a Healer. We need to move up the timeline."
Narcissa visibly quivered and Lily put a comforting hand on her shoulder as Hermione went over her spell one last time. "When Severus?"
"Now. I have summoned Lucius and let him know that you were splinched. He is on his way. Hermione and Lily will be hidden in the corner of the room. You lay down on the bed and just look… ill."
Narcissa nodded and Lily helped her lay down on the couch. Lily joined Hermione in the corner and winking, pulled the invisibility cloak from her pocket. "Look familiar?"
Hermione scoffed at it levitated in front of them obscuring them from view. "I've used it more than you."
"You're both invisible not sound proof."
Lucius entered the room several minutes later. Hermione had never seen the wizard look more frightening. His eyes were red-rimmed and circles with bags so dark Hermione wondered when the last time he got to sleep was. He has smudges of dirt along his face and his robes were crumpled and at least several days old.
With an astonishing gasp, she realized he looked like her the morning Saul walked into her office and asked her to go to Teddy's party.
"Where is Narcissa?"
"Resting on the couch," Severus drawled. He followed Lucius as he stormed into the sitting and dropped by Narcissa's side.
"What happened?" he snapped.
"I got s-s-splinched," she stuttered.
"What bloody adult gets splinched? Are you stupid-" Lucius raised his fist at the same time the other three occupants of the room cast a stupefy. They worked quickly, Lily moving to hold Narcissa's hand.
Severus started his wand aimed at Lucius' mind. After his fourth repetition of the mind charm, Severus motioned for them to join in. Lily and Hermione pointed their wands at their appointed people their wands aimed for their hearts.
The spell took a little under a half an hour to complete and Hermione was sweaty and tired at the end of it. They all retook their spaces, Lily and Hermione both helping Narcissa who was tired from the spell-casting.
"Rennervate," Severus said from behind Lucius.
"As I was saying, she was splinched on her way to pick up the potions for the pregnancy. I daresay, this may be Narcissa's last pregnancy. Pureblooded pregnancies can be extremely delicate."
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"What- Where am I?"
"My house, Lucius. You wife was splinched and… are you drinking this early in the day Lucius? Really, your son is barely living each day out in Narcissa's belly. Why areyou drinking?"
"Merlin, I'm sorry. I've been exhausted. I need some dreamless sleep." Severus summoned several phials. "Is it safe to take her home?"
"Use the Floo. Let me know if there is anything else you need."
Lucius lifted Narcissa tenderly, whispering assurances to her the entire way to the Floo. He helped her through the Floo and called directly to their bedroom. Hermione watched them leave, smiling. It had worked and Draco was safe. She put an arm around a tear stricken Lily and pulled her close. "Everything is okay, Lily."
She didn't promise that it would be because it wouldn't be. In two years, Lily would be dead and Severus would be mourning for his mistake that cost his childhood love and best friend her life. She could, however, make sure that her professor had one good memory of his friend to hold onto.
Lily hugged Severus and thanked him for helping Narcissa. "She's a friend," he said simply. "I would always help a friend."
Lily nodded and went through the Floo. Before she could talk herself out of it, Hermione gave him a tight hug. "Sir, thank you for everything. I mean it. I learned so much from you and I would not have survived that abduction without what I learned from you." You were one of the greatest teachers in that bloody building.
Severus rolled his eyes and patted her head. "I didn't really teach you anything. Bloody witches are all dramatic. I'll be glad to be rid of you."
Hermione smiled as she stepped into the Floo, "Well, I'll be back soon and Severus?"
He was already seated reading an article in Potion's Weekly Digest. "We'll never be sad to be rid of you. I promise."
Snape rolled his eyes and waved her dismissal. She took one last look at him before disappearing back to Godric's Hollow.
James and Sirius were predictably furious. Especially when Hermione and Lily wouldn't tell them why they were at Severus Snape's home for that long. Hermione ignored the yelling and snuggled in next to Remus.
"Are you okay, not knowing?"
"Do you have a good reason for keeping it a secret?"
"Yes."
"Okay," he kissed her forehead and pulled her in close. They watched as their friends finally calmed down and began to make dinner preparations.
"So, I spoke with Cordelia Vance today and she says that even with the potion it will take two weeks until they are ready for Hermione," James said as he passed the salad to Hermione. "On another note, has anyone spoken to Peter? I'm starting to get worried."
"Yeah, I saw him in the Leaky when I went to post the letters today." Sirius in between bites of kidney pie. "He was fine. Said that he needs some time to unwind from the stress of almost losing his mum."
Lily looked at Sirius skeptically, "If he was that stressed about losing his mum. Why is he not with his mum? I Flooed her today and she's terribly lonely. I'm going to try and visit her after I brew with Pandora. Also, James, I'm resetting the wards again."
"You reset them yesterday, Lily."
"I found another monitoring charm in the kitchen." The table went silent. They were finding monitoring charms inside their house?!
"Another?" Remus asked.
Sirius looked furious, "Why didn't either of you say anything?"
James shrugged. "I only found out last night and I owled Albus. He's coming over after dinner."
Hermione nodded. "Constant vigilance."
Sirius cursed. "That fucking coot, isn't dead in your time?"
Hermione laughed, "He's a teacher."
Sirius choking on a cucumber and falling off his chair, was well worth the scolding she got from Lily and James.