A.N.: Hey guys, I am totally blown away by your support and all the kind words, you are leaving for me. Thank you so much. You're the best! Here's another chapter for you. I hope you like it.

Chapter 12: Dead-end

14th of September 1999

Living with Snape was much easier then Hermione could have ever imagined. She had been in various living arrangements now: the dorm at Hogwarts, the burrow, sharing a tent with Harry and Ron and now living with the Prewett twins in their house. None of it had been easy. Hogwarts, the burrow and the tent had always been crowded and it was easy to grate on each other's nerves. Privacy had usually been almost non-existent. Living with the Prewetts was easier, but as Hermione didn't know those men very well she had always been reluctant to engage in more but small talk with them. She mused it was the same the other way around, because they, too had kept their distance from her. Now that she lived with Snape things suddenly changed. They knew each other, and there was no need for secrets between them. Severus knew who she was, knew her past and she knew his character and some of his darkest secrets, too. So why should they pretend otherwise? And the two of them were more alike, then she had realized until now.

"Those eggs are a nightmare, witch," Severus grumbled at their second breakfast together. "Can't believe you were any good at potions..."

"Potions are different," Hermione grumbled and took some of the over-fried egg in her mouth. It wasn't burned or anything, more like dry and chewy. "There's always some kind of recipe and if you follow it to the boot everything usually works out. Cooking is more about intuition and multitasking..."

Snape hummed in acknowledgement. "Not your strong suits, then?"

"Not really. I like to plan things or working with a clear system or plan. Improvising or changing established patterns has always been hard." She sighed. "I think that's why this new life is really going to be a challenge for me. Nothing is the way it was before..."

She sighed heavily and Severus watched her with a steady gaze. "It's hard," he finally admitted. "In my old life, the one you witnessed, I was never able to do it. And I'm sure it would have been the same all over again if you hadn't shown me what it would lead to. Merlin, I was a cranky unhappy bastard, stuck between two masters that utilized me and with a job I despised."

Hermione nodded. "But that was only partially your fault. This time around you never worked for Dumbledore, did you?"

"I never spied for him, no, even though were fought for the same side in the end," her friend admitted and sipped his coffee. "But that's only half of it, as you know."

"Lilly?" Hermione asked and looked at him uncertainly. He nodded thoughtfully.

"I managed to move on from her, something I was never able to do in your timeline. Of course, it helped, that she is still alive and I wasn't eaten up by the guilt of having been the one that brought her to the attention of the dark lord."

Hermione stared at Severus with wide eyes. "Lilly's alive?"

He nodded with a small smile.

"Did you … did you ever make up? Has she forgiven you for..." Hermione trailed off and looked at him uncertainly. But he didn't seem bothered, that she was referring to his troublesome youth.

"...for calling her a mudblood you mean?" he smiled. "Eventually. It helped that I was fighting for her side against my former housemates, I guess. Shortly after the final battle, she came to see me and we had a long talk."

Hermione smiled at him happily. "That's great! I'm so happy for you." And she really was. She guessed that this was part of the reason why Snape was so different this time around. He had managed to make peace with his past and had finally found happiness for himself. Would she ever be able to achieve that herself?

"She visits occasionally and we have tea together," Snape said with a shrug. "I still like talking to her, but she is much different than in my childhood. I guess seeing that helped me to finally move on."

Hermione nodded. "I still hope to get Ron back, you know? It's absurd as he doesn't even remember me now, but maybe he could learn to love me again? We were happy together, you know?"

At that Snape looked at her with dark, pitying eyes. "Maybe he can Hermione, but I wouldn't get up my hopes too much. In my experience fate is rarely so generous."

Hermione sighed sadly. "I know."

7th of May 1981

Hermione spent most of the days planning her next steps in the twin's library, while Fabian and Gideon buried themselves in their study or went out to ward several homes against the impending death eater attacks. Even though Hermione spent most of her days inside and rarely met someone else than the twins, she heard the news and the names of people that died around her day by day. Of course, she had heard the stories before, but just now when she worked to change the cause of events she realized, how bad it had been and why Harry had been celebrated as the saviour of the wizarding world as a child. Because at the moment the future looked so dark and hopeless that it was barely imaginable, that come October 31st everything could be over from one moment to the other, when a loving mother gave her life for her only son. Not, that Hermione would let it come to that. Now that she had decided to change the past, she wouldn't just stop at helping the Weasleys. She would help Harry too if she could. But that didn't only involve taking Wormtail out of the picture but also beating the Dark Lord without Lily's sacrifice. She could only hope that Harry's sacrifice for her still protected her when it was time for that particular fight.

Suddenly a Patronus in the form of a wolf leapt through the wall in front of her and looked at Hermione with glowing eyes. "Come to my home as soon as possible," Lupin's serious voice spoke to her a moment later. "You can apparate into the garden, it's protected from muggle eyes." With that, the animal resolved in front of her and Hermione stared into the air a moment longer, before she leapt from her chair in the library. The twins were currently out but there was no reason, why she couldn't visit Remus on her own. And so she hastily packed some more food for them, before apparating to his home in the woods. If she was lucky, there would soon be one point less on her to-do-list.

It only took Lupin a moment to open the front door, after she had rung the bell and she followed him into the kitchen with a thankful smile. There she put two lunchboxes in front of them on the table and lowered herself on one of the wooden chairs. He took the seat across from her before looking at her with a solemn expression.

"I did as you asked," he finally said without touching any of her food. "I checked Peter's arms. He's not a Death Eater."

Hermione looked at her professor with unbelieving eyes and for a moment she was speechless. How was this possible? Did Pettigrew defect to the Death Eaters that shortly before the end of the war? Or did he simply never take the mark? Hermione rubbed her temples. "Are you quite sure? Did you check for glamours?"

At that Lupin's eyes turned almost golden again and Hermione couldn't help but shift uncomfortably on her chair. "I am not an amateur," he said in a clipped tone. "And I am quite certain, that he is not one of You-know-who's followers."

She sighed tiredly. That was bad, really bad. Because Hermione knew, that he still would betray his friends. But what could she do to convince them of that fact? "He'll still betray you though," she said tiredly and looked into her former professor's eyes. "Please do not trust him, not any of you."

But Lupin shook his head and looked at her with almost something like pity. "Miss Granger," he said using her last name which he must have learned through Dumbledore. "…these are dark times. If we start to doubt each other, we have already lost. Peter is my friend and I have known him for years. You seem to have an idea what the four of us went through together. The boys have been there for me through my darkest hours, Peter has. I will not betray his friendship now, just because some stranger tells me to do so."

Hermione looked at him with wide eyes. "Even if this stranger is right?" she asked and couldn't help the hard tone that crept into her voice.

Remus sighed and rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Dumbledore trusts you, Miss Granger, otherwise I would almost think you're working for the enemy and trying to drive a wedge between us. But I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt here. Whatever sources you usually have for your information, I tell you, this time they are wrong. Peter is no traitor, end of story."

Hermione shook her head tiredly. "Is this your last word?" she asked and he nodded coldly. She took a deep breath. "Very well then. I this case I wish you a good day." Without another word she rose from her chair and walked to the door. She didn't even register Lupin walking her out and closing the door behind her. Her mind was already focused on the problem at hand. Because failing to safe Harry's parents was not an option.

7th of May 1981

"What's wrong Hermione?" Gideon asked her after he had caught her viciously stabbing her potatoes during dinner. She had been in a foul mood for the rest of the day and had buried herself in the library, where she was searching for possible ways to expose Pettigrew as the traitor he was or to save Harry's parents from their fate. But no matter which books she checked, she didn't even find the smallest hint. It was beyond frustrating.

"I visited Lupin today," she finally admitted and pushed her almost full plate aside. "Pettigrew is obviously not a Death Eater."

Fabian looked at her while playing with the stubble on his chin. "Not yet."

Hermione nodded unhappily. "He will betray them," she said and looked at her new friends with sad eyes. "Because for me it has already happened. And if he does, people will die and I just don't know how to stop it." Hermione felt the tears spring into her eyes and wiped them away angrily. She didn't want that the twins saw her like that. But it was already too late.

"Hey," Gideon said with a calm voice and took her hands into his. "We're not letting this happen, Hermione," he promised and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. His brother nodded solemnly next to him.

"We'll think of something, don't worry. There's still time, right?" Fabian asked and she nodded tiredly. "Yeah, but I don't know how much. I don't know when he betrays them, I just know when Voldemort starts to act on the knowledge he gains from him."

They studied her with warm trusting eyes. "Hermione," they began together before Gideon continued for them. "I know this is a difficult situation for you. You feel like you have to carry all of this weight alone."

"But you don't," Fabian went on and put his left hand on hers and Gideon's. "Gideon and I are there for you. You can trust us, you really can. So just tell us what is going to happen and we'll find a way to prevent it, the three of us together."

Hermione looked at them with wide eyes and racing heart and they stared back at her unflinchingly. Right at this moment, they reminded her of the Weasley twins, reckless and brave Fred and George that ran an underground radio station to keep sending untampered information out into the world and that stood at their side until one of them lost his life. Hermione swallowed heavily. It was hard for her to trust them because she knew almost nothing of them. But she had trusted Dumbledore and even Snape with her secrets and maybe it was time to be brave just once more. "Alright," she finally said with a determined nod. "I'll tell you what is going to happen. And hopefully, we'll find a way to avert these things - together."

The twins looked at her proudly. "Thank you. We'll not let you down Hermione, we swear."

16th of September 1999

Hermione's memories kept coming back, even though she hid herself away at Snape's house. They mostly came at night in the form of dreams, but sometimes they would also spring at her during breakfast or while she lounged lazily on the sofa. No matter when it happened though, she always found a headache potion right next to her, when she stumbled back into reality again. It weren't always important things she kept remembering, sometimes it were trivial things like Gideon's favourite food or moments the three of them had spent together in the library looking for a way to save Harry's parents. But no matter what memories came back to her, they all involved the Prewetts and Hermione found that she started missing them. Some nights she was almost looking forward to falling asleep again, in the hope that there would be another memory coming back to her. It felt a bit like having Harry and Ron back in her life and doing research on some mysterious task that had been sprung on them again. Only that Fabian and Gideon were much more competent and patient research partners then her childhood friends had ever been, but thinking that almost felt like betraying her friendship to Harry and Ron.

Saturday rolled around the corner faster than Hermione had deemed possible and before she had mentally prepared herself, she was suddenly facing dinner with Draco Malfoy. To say Hermione felt awkward, waiting for the arrival for her childhood tormentor in the sitting room, would have been a vast understatement. Snape had graciously provided her with emerald green robes for the occasion and Hermione felt like he was secretly trying to annoy her into leaving his house. But that was probably just her imagination.

Draco arrived through the floo at point 7 p.m. and he stepped into the sitting room, with not a hair out of place. He wore his pale blond hair combed back and had donned a casual black polo-neck sweater.

"Hello Miss Granger," he greeted her politely before stepping into the room. "My godfather already informed me, that we would be meeting you here."

Hermione blinked at him confusedly. "We?"

He nodded casually. "Yeah. Severus also invited a good friend of mine. She should be here at any moment. We've been in the same Hogwarts House. Her name's Luna, Luna Lovegood. Do you know her by any chance?"

Hermione looked at him like he had just grown a second head but before she could say something in reply, the floo roared again and a totally unfazed looking blond girl hopped onto the carped and waggled her naked toes with a dreamy smile. "Luna?" Hermione asked and looked at the girl with wide eyes. Her former friend looked back at her with curiously: "Hello Hermione Granger," she said and send her a slow blink. And Hermione couldn't help but break out into a huge smile. Because the young woman in front of her looked very much like the same person, that Hermione had known before.

"Hello Luna," Hermione replied and looked from her to Draco with a happy smile. If the two of them were really friends, then this evening suddenly didn't look like a chore at all.

Indeed dinner was a pleasant affair. Severus had put his skills to good use and prepared a meal for them that would have even made Molly Weasley jealous. In combination with the wine that Malfoy brought for dinner and the funny observations Luna shared about the world around her, Hermione was thoroughly enjoying herself. Until she started do notice the odd look that Luna kept throwing at her.

"Luna? Is everything alright?" she asked and looked at her former friend with a tilted head.

Luna sent her an odd smile. "That's actually what I wanted to ask you, Hermione. You seem..." she paused for a moment and looked at Hermione with furrowed brows "not totally present if you know what I mean."

Hermione blinked confusedly. "I'm sorry? Did I seem absent to you?" She asked and looked at Severus and Malfoy questioningly. They shrugged and Severus shook his head with a roll of his eyes.

But Luna seems totally unfazed. "That's not what I actually meant. It's like you are physically not completely here, as a part of you is still somewhere else. Tell me Hermione, have you travelled recently?"

At that Malfoy choked on his drink, while Severus looked at his guest with a self-satisfied smile. And suddenly Hermione got the impression, that Luna was invited for a purpose. She carefully nipped at her drink, before giving the answer: "I guess one could say that. I... am a time traveller, Luna."

But instead of being shocked, Luna looked at her with an excited smile. "Well, that explains it then," the girl said and sipped on her own glass of wine while swinging her legs below the table. "This happens to time travellers a lot. But it resolves itself as soon as you have decided."

Hermione looked at her and the others in confusion. "Decided? I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about." Severus and his godson looked equally clueless and studied at Luna with unveiled interest. The blond woman smiled dreamily.

"I am probably not the best source of information here, as I have never travelled time myself. But you could ask Professor Dumbledore, I guess. He has travelled a lot."

Hermione frowned at her before she nodded slowly. "Ehm, alright. And what should I ask him about?"

The smile that Luna sent her at that was almost unsettling. "Ask him about the time traveller's curse."