Hermione found herself dusty and bruised when she opened her eyes in the same corridor of Hogwarts with one exception. There was a four year younger Neville staring at her... Oh dear! She had went back not a few weeks or months but years! And now she was at Hogwarts were at any moment she could run into a younger version of herself!

"Um hello, are you Mrs. Granger?" Neville asked politely offering his hand out to help her stand on her feet.

So Neville thought that she was her mother! Well that was just perfect, too easy actually, "Why yes I was just leaving after seeing Mr. Dumbledore, I must have slipped on something." Luckily Hermione was wearing her muggle clothes because it had been a Saturday morning otherwise she might of had a lot of explaining to do.

"Oh well are you looking for Hermione?" Neville asked still smiling as he lifted her to her feet with surprising grace and ease.

"No no dear boy, I was just leaving. I am in a rush to get back to my office, I just had a few requests for Mr Dumbledore. Well I will be seeing you, good bye." Hermione scurried off trying her best not to look to suspicious going through the halls. Rounding a corner she stopped dead in her tracks because up ahead stood Severus Snape and Professor Hucklebee (The new Charms Professor during her last year at Hogwarts) and unfortunately they were walking her way. Ducking into Moaning Myrtles bathroom Hermione shut the door quietly and apparently just in time as Snape's voice echoed off the walls.

"But Severus must you treat the smartest witch of this age with such...distaste? Really I see how upset she is when she leaves your dungeons!" Professor Hucklebee stated as she stopped right out side of Myrtles bathroom. Hermione held her breath but moved forward to hear better.

"Professor I treat the girl with as much respect and distaste as the rest of the student population. I will not treat her any different because she can ramble off facts from a book!" Snape snapped angrily. Professor Hucklebee sighed in frustration as she answered quietly.

"Enough of that talk Severus, why not join me for supper tonight? Perhaps you'd like to-" Professor Hucklebee began but was rudely cut off.

"No, for the last time. I work with you, I will not subject myself to anymore then that. Now if you'll excuse me."

Hermione could see in her mind the famous robes of Severus Snape bellowing behind him as he made a dramatic exit from the conversation. She might have laughed if she was not so shocked. Professor Hucklebee had asked Severus Snape out on a date and he had refused! Even though Professor Hucklebee had been a beautiful, young, red head with straight hair and intelligence although she never gloated about it or spouted random facts like Hermione admitted she had herself...no Professor Hucklebee was possibly as close to perfect that she had seen in human skin and that had been proven by how many male students had fallen head over heals for the young professor.

So the beauty had asked the beast out and the beast had refused?! What was wrong with Snape? It made no sense!

Then Hermione's ears picked up on some muttering from Professor Hucklebee who was left standing outside of the bathroom door all alone with no dinner date.

"Damn snarky bastard won't have dinner with me but he will gawk at Miss Granger all he likes! Shesh! Men!" Professor Hucklebee muttered loudly.

Receding footsteps told Hermione that she could easily get away now but... what she had just heard... The women couldn't be serious! Certainly not Severus, he would, could never...

"Well perhaps I should cast a glamour? Hmm yes, should of thought of that before I suppose?" Hermione muttered to herself as she waved her wand and cracking a smile as she heard her old Potions professor clearly in her mind, "No foolish wand waving."

Sneaking out of the bathroom before Myrtle could catch her wandering around she cursed herself for not having time to snatch that damned map Harry had used so often...the same map that had insulted Snape.

And then there were voices again, this time it was that of Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Great, thought Hermione, just what I need to explain... damn teachers why can't they just stay put!

Hermione twirled around searching for a place to hide but it seems this was the one damn place with no hiding spots! And they were bound to come around the corner any second now... might as well resign to my fate, thought Hermione angrily. Yet as luck would have it as soon as Albus stepped around the corner he stopped Severus and stood in front of him.

"Head Master why have we stopped?" Severus asked clearly annoyed with the antics of his second master.

"Oh Severus dear boy I forgot something in my office, we'll have to return to get it," Albus replied cheerfully.

Hermione imagined that Severus must be sneering in annoyance at having to return with Albus to get something that was probably insignificant.

"Head Master must I accompany you? I do have much work to do awaiting in my office."

Hermione held her breath awaiting the answer hoping that they would turn around.

"Yes yes my boy! We must!"

Severus turned heel and Hermione could hear the familiar sound of his worn shoes and his 'outfit' bellowing through the halls.

"If you must leave Miss Granger I suggest you hurry now," Albus's voice reached Hermione's ears as she was startled into nearly yelping. How did that man know everything?!

"Yes Sir," Hermione replied as she scuffled across the hall disappearing down the stairs before another teacher could catch her and finally out the doors on to the grounds. Here she did her best to look normal as she crossed the grounds.

-0-

Severus Snape had never been one to look through a women's underwear draw...or for that matter a women's bed chambers but here he was searching his former student's drawers and coming across the strangest things...

Coming to the last draw down he opened it to find...underwear... and not just any underwear...black thongs and... unmentionables... this was enough to make the famous Potions Master of Hogwarts, the bat of the dungeons, the beast, the formidable spy, blush. It was then he decided he couldn't do it, whether he ended up her husband or not, he would NOT look through Hermione Granger's underwear drawer, even if it contained a possible diary with possible information, with possibly embarrassing facts on the miss perfect...

Ok so it was too good to pass up! Severus dug his hands slowly into the drawer leaving his eyes open and cursing his blushing face, after all he would see much of these on Hermione if they did indeed marry...

Unable to find a diary or anything besides Hermione's underwear he closes the drawer regretfully. Turning his back Severus wondered where in the world the girl kept something she wouldn't want anyone to find...

Under her pillow?

No.

Under her bed?

No.

In any locked casing?

No.

Under a loose floor board?

No.

Back in the underwear drawer?

No...

Wait! Where was the first place people would look if they knew Hermione? Severus thought as he approached her bookshelf with a familiar smug smirk knowing he must have figured it out. Wrapping his skinny pale fingers around Hogwarts:A History he took the book into his hands. Now where was the chapter on the incident of the time turner and Godric Gryffindor...

Page 568 Severus found several sheets of parchement stuck into the book.

Dear Severus,

Dear?, thought Severus, did she really think him dear?

I have left and don't try to look for me for you won't find me. No I haven't run off to America and yes I will be back. I have left you a Certificate of Marriage already signed by me, this will be valid up to one year without a ceremony or 'consumation'.

Severus leafed through the other pieces of parchment and found the Certificate and he couldn't help but smile... so she hadn't left him to a fate worse then death.

I would never allow you to marry Sybil Trewlany and I assure you that when I return you will be set free. I have also taken the liberty of asking Harry to fill in for the Defence Against Dark Arts Professor. (I know you want it but truth be told I trust NO one else with your job)

At the last bit added in Severus couldn't help but let out an undignified snort. When he had students like Longbottom there was no way he was going to allow any one else to teach them but him. But why Potter?! Did she really want to drive him mad?

And No Severus I don't want to drive you off your rocker. Harry will keep his distance from you, besides he is more then qualified for the job.

Take Care,

Hermione

Folding up the note by Hermione, Severus placed it inside his pocket and looked at the remaining parchment, the Certificate. All that was left for him to do was sign it and he would be temporarily married to Hermione Granger. Could he leave his past behind?

How could he accept this miracle when he had killed the only women who had loved him?

-0-

Hermione hurried through Diagon Alley, doing her best to avoid anyone she knew or any places that were often visited by Hagrid. She knew that she could apparate but apparate to where? Where was she to go? Even if she did have the time turner, she would have to calculate the number of turns it would take for her to go back.

The time turner.

Where did she put it? In her pocket? Hermione hastily searched her clothes and pockets for the little hour glass that had given her so much trouble.

It was impossible! she had it when she came through, she had it in her hands and when she entered the bathroom and heard Snape and Hucklebee... wait!

The bathroom.

Damn, thought Hermione, I must have dropped the bloody thing in the bathroom! Hermione stopped and looked around whilst thinking how she was going to get back into the castle and get the time turner when a 'Help Wanted' sign caught her eye. It was a bar, one that had just opened not too long ago it seemed and did not have much business.

"Well I do need money until I can get that time turner back..." Hermione muttered as she swung the door open to reveal a dimly lit bar with wooden table's and chairs scattered over the room.

"Good evening Miss..." a women approached Hermione as she greeted her with a kind smile.

"Grandeur, Anne Grandeur," Hermione answered smiling in kind. The women was no beauty but she wasn't a Pansy Parkinson either. She had long black hair put back into a tie with shining blue eyes although her face was worn with several scars and her body built broadly not the most lady like appearence.

"Ah Well Miss are you a relative of James Bond then?" the women asked a smirking glint in her eye as Hermione realized the joke and blushed rapidly shaking her head. "Perhaps your here for the work then?"

"Yes Mame, I would like to work here for a bit if it's no bother and I only want's a room and a bit of food is all." Hermione answered doing her best to stear clear of her original grammar perfect speech just in case.

"Well Miss I think I can handle that, but I'll be paying ye as well. Now I suspect you can get started right away then?" the lady walked behind the bar on the far wall gathering up a uniform from a closet behind it. "Oh and you may call me Maddy, most people do."

"Of course Maddy, no problem." Hermione smiled as she pointed her wand to the uniform then at herself as instantly her clothes were switched and she was wearing a green blouse with a black skirt coming down to her knees.

"Well don't you look the pretty picture. Alright Hermione if you're not sure of the drinks just ask, all you've got to do is serve the costumers and we've also sell food, just fast food's though." Maddy said as she walked off to a Misoeur in the corner with a bottle of Fire Whiskey.

"Right, no problem."

Well, thought Hermione, that was easier then I thought... Strange.

Hours passed and before Hermione knew it there was only a scattered few costumers and they had just an two hours till closing.

Maddy motioned for her to come over and sit down at one of the tables.

Pulling up a chair Hermione was greeted with a shot of Fire Whiskey placed in her hands and a strange question, "Have you 'eard of that Potions Master up at Hogwarts?"

"Well no, I haven't, what about him?" Hermione asked. What could this women possibly know about Severus?

"He comes in here every once in a while, I've had the pleasure of serving him a few times," Maddy continued with a mysterious glint in her eyes. "Must be very good with those hands of his." Maddy looked at Hermione and winked at the girl as the door to the bar opened once more and, well speaking of the devil, there was Severus Snape.

Hermione nearly panicked until she realized that she'd cast a glamour on her self so she needn't worry. "Well Hermione I think you can take care of that costumer." Maddy said once again winking as she walked behind the bar and Severus followed asking her for his usual. Hermione felt rather out of place sitting there and staring and so she decided to clean up a few tables near the back to the right far away from Severus as possible.

"Well hello Severus, long time no see," Maddy greeted smiling in what she guessed was flirtatious.

"Yes well I've been busy," Hermione heard Severus snap.

Hermione hazard a glance over at Severus and found that he was staring at her, then she blushed and quickly went back to work. What is wrong with me, thought Hermione, it's just Snape, there is no need to blush... Yet she couldn't help but over hear what Maddy was saying.

"Ah I see Anne has caught your eye. You wouldn't be the first, the girl is new here. Got no home to speak of, I had to take her in. She's not like the other women though Severus, she's not taken a man to her bed so I'll warn yee away now." The bartender's tone was that of a mother wanting to protect it's little girl from getting hurt, but Hermione nearly dropped the glass she was holding. She had told the women nothing of the sort! How could she just go around saying that?

Well it is a good cover, a voice whispered in her mind.

But it's a lie!

Your just angry because she is saying it to Snape.

No I'm not! Hermione screamed angrily at the little voice just as she heard Severus voice rise over the empty room.

"I am not here for that I assure you. Just pour me another drink," Severus snapped angrily at the bartender. Hermione grimanced, how could Maddy think something like that of Severus! He was the most honourable, even if he had been a bit of a bat, Severus Snape was loyal and respectable man Hermione had met. Looking over at the corner in which he sat she made up her mind she would go talk to him, and with the glamour he surely wouldn't realize it was her.

Alright Hermione breath, she coached herself as she forced her legs to move towards the back table hidden mostly by shadow.

Upon approaching his table she opened her mouth and set a stubborn face, "Good evening Sir, is there anything I can get you?" For a few moments Snape was quiet as his eye's roamed over her facial features not once looking down as most men would. Feeling her body relax she hoped that she did not show any visable sign of emotion because at that moment she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and cry. She wanted to tell him so much, but now wasn't the time, it was time to be strong like always.

"No." Severus snapped at her clearly annoyed that she had dared to disturb his personal space.

"You don't have to snap, I am just doing my job here so I may study potions, if it weren't for my studies I wouldn't need to serve ungrateful people like yourself!" Hermione retorted angrily. Really it wasn't the truth but it wasn't a lie either, she was in fact secretly studying potions whenever she got a break from her teaching position in the Defence Against Dark Arts. She had been due for examinations when the damn marriage law had come up. "Well are you going to say something!" Hermione snapped after a few moments of silence.

"Your studying Potions?" Severus had changed his tone to a silky, soft, calm which caught Hermione off gaurd, it was nearly the same voice he had used with her when they argued. She thought that she had been the only one that he had bothered calming down... oh bother, why am I so upset Hermione questioned herself.

"I, well yes, I wish to be a Potions Mistress, why?"

"I happen to know a few things about Potions..." Severus replied.

Hermione was confused, what was he offering her and if so why was he offering it to her? Was he actually the dis honourable man that Maddy had made him out to be? No it just wasn't possible... perhaps he was being polite? No that wasn't it either, Snape was not nice, especailly not to strangers... Perhaps he noticed that she looked similar to the Hermione Granger he knew? No he wouldn't care about that would he?

"Oh you would, would you?" Hermione questioned raising an eyebrow as she tried to pour a bit of sarcasim into her voice. Snape seemed unaffected in fact Hermione imagined she saw a glint that could have been described as...flirtatous??

"Do I have to repeat myself Miss..." Snape drawled as he poured a shot of Fire Whiskey and pushed it towards her. Looking over her shoulder at Maddy, her new boss smiled and nodded.

Sitting down Hermione smirked as she took the Fire Whiskey and downed it in one go, "Please call me Anne, we are no longer strangers are we?" Hermione asked wondering if she should really be doing this. Hermione nearly burst out crying at her own words, she had told Severus something similar just two days prior when discussing their arranged marriage...

"Is something wrong...Anne?" Severus asked as he handed her another Fire Whiskey.

Damn, thought Hermione, if he keeps using that silky voice I'm going to go over the edge..."Everything is perfectly fine Severus..." Hermione sighed out and nearly gasped in turn as she realized her mistake.

"How do you know my name?" Severus snapped, clearly on guard now. Hermione had to think quick if she was to get out of this one...

"Um well Maddy told me, we were, uh talking about you before you came in..." Hermione blushed and averted her eyes to the ground as mental images of what they had been discussing popped up.

Severus had been about to hex her when he noticed the blush grace the girl's cheeks, well this was a first, he thought. First the girl dares to speak with me, snap at me, use my first name and now she is blushing on my account. Has the world really been turned upside down?

At that moment Lucius Malfoy walked in, in all his blonde glory it seemed as his eyes gazed around the room resting upon Severus and Hermione.

Severus saw the danger before Hermione had a chance of even blinking but before he could say a word to his new found companion he heard the bartender call out to her.

"Anne, come here girl I've got stuff for you to do, no need to bother the costumer!" Maddy yelled at her angrily it seemed but when Hermione stood up and turned around she saw the reason why, or rather walked into the reason.

"Sorry Sir, my apologies," Hermione said as she backed away from the blonde man not wanting to stare him in the face in case he decided it was her lucky night to die.

"Get out of my way," Lucius said as he sat down but before Hermione could run off he grabbed her arm and twisted her around to look at him. "Get me a glass of your finest wine, now leave servant!"

Hermione rose her eyes to chance a glance at Severus and she nodded her head slightly as she allowed Severus into her mind only to find it with one thought and memory of it.

It's alright Severus, I understand. I will speak with you later... take care...

Hermione turned heel at that and left Lucius only returning once to pass him a glass and bottle and after he comanded she pour some into the glass she...

"You witch!" Lucius cried out angrily as the wine spilled over his cloak and down into his lap.

Hermione smirked inwardly at her success and she glanced at Severus who seemed to be trying to keep amusement from his eyes. Severus raised his gaze to her and gave a small smile as Maddy came over apologizing over and over but it didn't matter because at that moment Hermione felt at home, safe for once in a long time.

-0-

Well that's the chapter! Tell me what you think! I am unsure of how I will have this go... So I need your thoughts and suggestions!