Chapter 5
Hermione found herself standing in a meadow, scattered throughout were beautiful bright flowers of various colours. There was a stream nearby to her left, and straight ahead she saw a small gathering of houses; a village to be exact. She looked down to see the cup and candle had disappeared from her grasp. She panicked for a moment, remembering how important her ring was to getting through the mirror, and was relieved to see the ring still on her hand.
I don't believe I've been in this area of the English countryside before. She thought to herself. She glanced over to see a skinny stone path that led to the little village. The houses were gorgeous. It reminded her of a time when she travelled through the English and French countryside with her family for holiday, back when she was nine years old. She had a particular liking to Ombersley Worcestershire at the time and always told herself she would love to eventually settle into a little village like that one day.
As she grew closer to the village, she noticed a sign that finally let her know the location she was wondering about.
"Stanton, England," she read out loud to herself. "Oh, I've heard of this place before. Mum and dad came here on their honeymoon trip in the midst of travelling to several locations. . ."
She continued up the path to one of the streets, taking in all of the beautiful homes that were made of Cotswold stone. She had noticed that no one she had seen in passing acknowledged her in any way. She did at one point give a polite "Hello" to someone walking by, but they never saw nor heard her.
I must not be visible to the people here. . .
Hermione loved how quaint and homey the little village was. This was the perfect place she had been wanting and hoping to settle down in when she was first married. So much for that hope. There were a group of children in a yard nearby, laughing and giggling as they chased each other around the yard.
"I'm a vampire and I'm going to get you! I'm going to suck your blood!" A young boy called out as he chased another boy around. He held his arms out to the sides as if holding a cape, running as fast as his little legs would take him. Hermione chuckled at the adorable exchange.
"The only vampire in this town is that man that lives up the hill!" A little girl hollered at them, pointing at a house that was up on a smaller hill and not as close together like all of the other houses and cottages in the village.
"He's not a vampire!" Another little girl called out. "He comes out in the sunlight!"
"Yeah but he wears a long cape. Who else in the whole entire big, big, big world does that except vampires?!"
Hermione chuckled to herself again. I think I know where I may find him now. . .
"Yeah but his wife doesn't do anything like that or dress like that! I'm pretty sure she's not a vampire."
Wife?
Hermione was puzzled. Could they really be speaking about me?
She glanced up in the direction of the cottage the little girl had pointed towards, hesitating just a moment before making her way down the remainder of the street and up the hill. Just ahead was a beautiful cobblestone cottage. Just big enough for a couple, or even a small family. The stone was a lighter grey, while the roof was a darker charcoal color. A similar colored stone pathway led to the front door that was painted a dark green.
That's definitely a Slytherin green. Hermione chuckled to herself. The pathway was surrounded by a mixture of red and gold flowers. Red tulips, tickseeds, red roses and daisies. There were at least a dozen different kinds of flowers of those two colours.
Gryffindor colours as well. . .
Knowing it would do her no good to try and knock on the door, Hermione circled around to the back of the home, stopping when she located a big window that overlooked a beautiful yet simple back patio decorated with an iron outdoor dining set that sat on neatly placed brick.
Through the window she finally caught sight of Severus. He was seated in a black leather wingback recliner, his left foot propped up on his right knee. He had The Daily Prophet outstretched in his hands and a glass of firewhiskey on the chairside table next to him. It was so odd to her to see her former professor not just alive and well, but in such a relaxed and comfortable state. Not only that, it was the first time she had seen him without his potions jacket on, and now only wearing the white dress shirt he usually had on underneath and his black trousers. Her heart sank when she could make out the two prominent puncture wounds on his neck, just visible above his shirt.
She watched the Hermione of this dimension enter the study, carrying a tray of biscuits and tea, placing it on the table that sat in front of the loveseat. Severus lowered the paper just slightly as Hermione entered, eying her the whole time. She could see his eyes travel, clearly admiring the view before him, and Hermione could've sworn she saw the faintest smirk creep up on his face. She noted even from a distance the ring that was placed on her left hand, ring finger.
So I am his wife. . .
The Hermione in the house turned to look over her shoulder, smirking back at Severus playfully. She turned the rest of her body and stepped over to him, bending forward as he arched his neck a little to meet her, sharing a soft kiss for a brief moment. She pulled back, smiling down at him, and saying something to him, but Hermione was unable to hear or read her lips. As she spoke, she watched as she placed her hands on her stomach. Whatever that Hermione told him had taken Severus completely by surprise, and for the first time she watched his eyes go wide in surprise and shock. He sat there for a few moments, most likely processing what she had said to him, and after those few moments he was up on his feet, pulling his wife into a loving embrace. She could see the tears of joy falling down the alternate Hermione's cheeks, and it made her own heart flutter.
They share another, much lengthier kiss as the scene before Hermione who stood outside the house began to fade. She felt herself being pulled away from what she was witnessing, the image of her and Severus growing farther away and darker. Her surroundings began to spin, and then she felt her feet landing on flooring beneath her, catching her balance and finding the cup and candle back in her hands.
"Holy cricket...this, this is extraordinary!" Hermione said to herself. "I have to figure out a way that I can possibly save his life."
Hermione rushed out of the room, apparating to her office and hurrying over to her office floo to get herself home and do some research.
Hermione entered her new living room, startled to see Harry, Ginny and Senna who were all clearly distraught. The moment they saw Hermione their eyes bulged, Senna clasped a hand to her chest in relief and Ginny was the first to leap up from the sofa, bringing Hermione into a tight hug.
"Oof! Ginny! What is going on?!"
"Hermione you can't be serious?' she said through choked tears. "Where have you been?!"
Harry stood up, coming over to the two as Ginny pulled away from the hug, wiping her tears.
"What do you mean where have I been? I was only at the ministry for an hour or so tops!"
"An hour?" Harry cut in. "Have you gone barking mad? 'Mione you've been missing for three days! It's all over the Daily Prophet! The ministry has been going mad!"
"I- -what? Three days?! But I- -oh my- -"
"Where were you?" Ginny asked again, a bit more impatiently.
"I-umm-erm. . .it's kind of complicated."
"Complicated?" Senna said, joining into the conversation.
"Yes. Look, I'll go back to the Ministry right now and straighten this all up. I'll just tell them there was an emergency with some of my muggle relatives. I'll explain it was just a big misunderstanding and I had forgotten to inform you three or any others. It happened all abruptly."
"Okay," Harry replied. "But you're implying that isn't what happened, so is it something different?"
"Yes, Harry. As a matter of fact, very. I'm not sure if I'm quite ready to explain what is going on, but I will need your help at some point soon, okay Harry? Please, just don't ask any more questions yet. Let me get this whole debacle taken care of and I promise I will fill you in."
All three looked a bit hesitant to oblige, but they nodded. Knowing now that Hermione was safe, they made their way back to their own homes, and Hermione prepped herself to try and clean up the mess that had occurred while she was away.
Three days I was gone? It only felt like I was there for an hour at most. . .my goodness this is going to make the next several days interesting. . .
Hermione was going to have quite a bit on her plate tomorrow, but for the time being, she was going to attempt to get a good night's sleep for the first time in her new home. After today's events, that was showing to be rather difficult.
The following day went surprisingly smoother than what Hermione had expected. After a brief statement made for The Daily Prophet to clear the air, little to no people really questioned her explanation of the "events" that took place with her muggle relatives. Aside from Rita Skeeter being her nosy self, things went rather smoothly.
She had asked Harry to come to her flat later that evening because she told him she was going to need his help with something. She had thoughts racing through her head all night, thinking of what she could do to give Severus Snape a second chance at life.
Harry arrived just half past eight from the floo. Hermione had some tea and other little snacks available in case he was a little parched or hungry coming straight from the auror office. She greeted Harry with a hug, seating herself next to him on the sofa.
.
"Alright, 'Mione. I hope you're ready to explain to me what has really been going on."
"I am Harry just- -promise me you won't speak a word of this to anyone else until I'm able to get things put together and planned."
Harry nodded. "Yes, of course Hermione."
Hermione nodded in thanks before taking a deep breath to tell him her plans.
"Harry I'm sure you're aware that they located the Mirror of Erised, correct?"
"Yes I did. Oneus said something about it a couple days ago."
"Well, this is going to sound rather silly, but with my birthday being the other day, I was thinking back on an old story a friend told me during my 8th birthday. It was this story about this woman who had somehow disappeared into a mirror when she was holding a cup and candle. Of course back then I thought the whole thing was just silly, but after I heard about the Mirror of Erised being found I- -I found a way to actually do this. Harry, I think I've found a way to help save Severus Snape."
Harry just sat there, staring at Hermione in shock, trying to process what she had told him.
"W-What do you mean save him?"
"I tried that urban legend story with the Mirror of Erised! It took me to this alternative dimension. That's where I was when I was gone for those 3 days here! It only felt like an hour tops while I was there. I actually went through the mirror and it put me into this different timeline of t-this, this new place where I saw him alive and well. I think maybe, just maybe, I can figure out a way to bring him back."
"Hermione if what you're saying really is true this is big. . .huge. What if we can find ways to do this for others? This would be brilliant. Brilliant!" Hermione nodded her head in agreement.
"Did it show you anyone else?" Harry asked.
"No one else that I would've known. There were other people in the place that it brought me to, but Severus was the only one that I knew."
Hermione didn't feel she was ready to go into further detail about what she saw in the mirror before she travelled or the particular scenario that Severus was in with the alternative Hermione, she figured she would save that kind of shock for a later time.
"Harry I just need you to promise me that you won't speak with Ginny about this yet. The reason I wanted to go to you first is because I knew you'd fully support something like this. You've named your child after this man, and I think if I- -we can pull this off, it's going to be quite the miracle. That brings me to the other favour I am needing your help with to get this going."
"Look Hermione, I'm happy to help in any way, but I can't continue to keep a secret like this from Ginny the whole time. If I help you with this, will you allow me to inform Ginny of what's going on as soon as we have some answers?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, of course."
"Brilliant. Now tell me, what is this favour you need?"
"I need you to help me create another time turner."
