Hermione Granger fell violently to the ground. Her head was pounding and the last thing she needed was for the cut on her knee to get infected. Slowly, Hermione looked around. She was still as Hogwarts. What the hell did that potion do to me anyway? She wondered. That meant . . . Panicking, she began searching for Malfoy and Professor Snape. They were nowhere to be found. She relaxed for a moment before realizing they might return. She attempted to stand. Snape tried to protect me, she thought. Why would he do that? Maybe he's finally gone loopy. Lord knows the fumes should've gotten to him by now. She smiled in spite of herself. It was an amusing thought at least.
As soon as she was up, Hermione staggered back against the school's outer wall and slid back down. It didn't matter if she could stand anyway because she couldn't see to save herself. Everything was a swirl of darkness and Hermione could feel herself slowly slipping from consciousness. But before all around her fell to black abyss, Hermione recognized the face of Remus Lupin.
"Professor." She said. Then everything around her swirled black and she fell to the slumber that had been calling her.
Two days later, the same bushy haired girl awoke inside the infirmary. She sat up and nearly cursed at the sight of sunlight dripping past the curtains. Pulling one open, she was alarmed to see the sun nearly at the top of the trees. By the look of it, she's already missed Potions and half of History of Magic. Thankfully she knew the infirmary like the back of her hand. She could thank Ron and Harry's for their regular mishaps. She sighed. Boys. Speaking of which, she thought, shouldn't they be here? I was here every time they were cooped up with Pomfrey. But I also wouldn't miss class for them, she noted, pulling on her skirt. It had been freshly pressed and washed.
When she had fully changed Hermione was more than dismayed to find she was out of breath. Pathetic, she grumbled, and to think I used to be an athlete. It was true, Hermione Granger often ran the perimeter of Hogwarts when she acquired writer's block or was simply annoyed by people in general. She ran the most on the weeks that involved tests because the library, her sanctuary, was full of reckless, disrespectful idiots attempting to slip by with a passing grade by cramming last minute.
Hermione had nearly made it out of the wing when a boisterous witch came billowing towards her. With great alarm she recognized the woman as a younger Madam Pomfrey. The potion must have sent me back in time! Hermione groaned. But how far back was she?
"Oh good, you're awake. You've been out for two days, you have. I nearly fainted when that wonderful Lupin boy brought you in here. You looked like you'd been beaten close to death!" Gee thanks, Hermione thought with dripping sarcasm. "So how do you feel?"
"I feel . . . as if I'm going to faint." Hermione replied, suddenly aware of how lightheaded she was.
"That's expected. A nasty side effect of a replenishing potion. You'll be better in no time, no worries." Pomfrey assured her.
"Oh good. Well then excuse me." Hermione said in a final, yet respectful tone. She began in the direction of the large double doors.
"Just where do you think you're going? You lost a lot of blood, dearie, and replenishing spells require time to take effect. Besides, Headmaster wanted a word with you as soon as you were awake. Get back in bed and I'll go fetch him." Naively trusting the girl would follow her orders, the short nurse bounded toward Dumbledore's office. Someone must not have been intelligent enough to link the floos yet, Hermione noticed. As soon as the woman was out of sight, Hermione began to plot. Suddenly aware that if she didn't disappear she would soon meet a younger Headmaster, she ran for the door.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. The woman's persistent. If you don't stay now, she'll only find you later. Trust me, I've tried it." Hermione turned with a jolt to find a boy lying in the bed closest to the door. He was tall and lengthy with olive looking skin. By the look of it, he appeared quite gangly and uncoordinated. He had black hair that was pulled neatly into a green ribbon at the nape of his neck and hung to the bottom of his shoulder blades.
"Oh really?" Hermione replied with a raised eyebrow. "I think I can take her. The woman's not even five foot." The boy laughed with a sound that resonated through the rafters. Slowly, he stood and stretched himself out similar to the way of a cat. Then, he held out the hand he didn't have tucked in a sling. Hermione took it. Without a second thought, she began to introduce herself.
"Hermione . . ." She hesitated. What was she supposed to do? "Hermione Flamel." Instantly Hermione winced at the name. Idiot! She scolded. Why the hell did I say Flamel? The boy smiled and Hermione felt optimistic for one fleeting moment. Or at least until he spoke again.
"If you're not afraid to be seen with me, you can call me Severus. Severus Snape." At a lost of words, she was lucky when a knock came to the door. Then, just as expected, a much younger Albus Dumbledore strode inside.
"Ah, I see you've met young Mister Snape." Dumbledore said with a grin. Hermione's stomach dropped when she saw his eyes begin to twinkle.