Many thanks to crazedreader, Brandance, HappeeGoLuckee,rowenarave565,Darkness-Lightness,OdangoAtama17,notwritten, ProperT, Angelic Bladez and harmswife for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I'm running out of things to say so for now I shall stick with: it all belongs to the amazing brilliant goddess know as JK Rowling!

Count down number: 5

Chapter 16: Tears, a Secret and Spelled Potion

The last week in the past for Hermione pasted dangerously slow. So slow in fact, that she had begun to question if all the clocks were set to go extra slow. While it annoyed her greatly, she was also thanking what ever gods that were giving her more time with her friends. Hermione acted as cheerful as normal which her friends saw through almost immediately, but they all passed off as still being in shock at what had (supposedly) happened to her house.

Hermione was very relieved that they all believed what she had said; it made how she was acting all the more acceptable, that was until Lily cornered her on the second night. one night. While Lily had believed her at first, she had begun to notice things that the boys would overlook. Things like sighing too often around them or staring at them for more then what was necessary and even the sad smiles after she laughed were give aways to the observant Gryffindor.

"Ok Mione, you've hidden it long enough now please, tell me what's going on?"

Hermione looked up from where she laid on her bed, meeting the emerald eyes of her best friend. On the inside she was worried and wondered if Lily had figured it out but, on the outside, she presented a confused look to the red head.

"What are you talking about, Lily?"

"Hanging around with Severus and Lucius so often like you do has helped your ability to hide things, but not well enough. I know that you're hiding something, even if they can't see it. Please tell me what it is, I swear I won't tell the others," Lily said sincerely.

In all honesty, this is what Hermione had been waiting for; someone to figure something, anything, out, and Lily had. She didn't think that she could leave with out telling somebody that she was leaving, even though she knew that she couldn't tell her of the location, Hermione could still let her know.

"Thank you, Lily. I'm glad you figured out that I'm not that overly happy. I, well I'm… I have to leave sometime this week."

Lily stared at her, a blank look on her face.

"Very funny, Mione. Now, what is it really?"

As tears began to fall down Hermione's face Lily knew that this was the problem. And a very big problem at that.

"But you can't! What are we supposed to do if you're not here? Why?"

Hermione tried to control her crying as she spoke.

"My house really was robbed as I said but, but my mothers will was found and… she wanted me to go to my family in Australia. And the Ministry is making me go."

'I can't tell her the real truth but, as a cover up, that will work just as well. I hope.'

Lily quickly sat next to her friend and pulled her into a tight hug. She began to lightly rub her back as Hermione continued to cry, until she thought of something that made Hermione's problem even bigger.

"Hermione, what about Severus and Lucius? Are you going to tell them?"

Hermione shook her head.

"You know how upset they'll both be. Severus especially. Why can't you tell them?"

"I can't because they won't be able to contact me. None of you will be. My family there is, how would you say it, over suspicious of people that they don't know," Hermione said carefully, thinking of how this would work.

"You know, if you don't tell him, he won't stop trying?"

"It would be worse if he knew where I was while knowing there was no way of contacting me."

"And nothing I say will change your mind?" Lily asked softly.

Once again, Hermione shook her head sadly.

"Then I won't force you to. Nor will I tell them what's going on, but I will say that I think you should tell them, though I respect your reasons if you don't," Lily said kindly, looking at her friend.

They stayed next to each other for a few minutes more, until Lily said that it was about time that they both went to sleep. Hermione got to sleep far easier then she had in the past, and she added that up to not having a large weight on her shoulders any more. It had been a good idea to confined in Lily, she had decided at didn't think on it anymore as she fell into a deep sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione continued to spend equal amounts of time with her friends, not wanting to miss out time with any of them. It had been four more days making it day six and she was still yet to hear from the head master. Not that it bothered her; the more time she had the better. She had just left the common room after talking to Remus as she had to be in the Room of Requirement to meet with Severus and Lucius.

She was also running late.

Panting, she managed to reach the Room and slowly pulled the door open and, after running, was only seven minutes late. Ignoring the raised eyebrows from Severus and the smirk from Lucius, she fell down onto the couch, her head resting in Severus' lap.

"Lucy, Sevvie, stop smirking at me. It's not my fault I was late," she said, smiling as the boys frowned at their nicknames.

"Would you stop calling us that, Mione?"

"No Lucy, I will not. Not unless you two give up smirking every time that I'm late."

"I guess we should get used to it then, Lucius. Smirking is a Slytherin's trademark, we can't give that up."

"It appears that you are correct Severus. We must persevere through this annoyance and rise above it," Lucius said dramatically.

Hermione was always surprised that the two boys could keep a straight face when they were 'acting'. If it were her, she would be gasping from laughter by now.

After they calmed down a little bit the two boys started a conversation which Hermione occasionally joined. Though she remained mostly quiet, just laying and enjoying something that she knew she would miss when she left. Almost two hours later Lucius stood, turning to face the two teens that were on the couch.

"Well as enjoyable as this has been I, unlike you, have papers to mark."

"Well maybe if you set less homework…." Hermione trailed off hopefully.

Lucius smirked.

"Now, Miss Storm. How will you learn if I don't set homework?"

"I read, Lucy."

"As do I, just not as much as you."

He left leaving Hermione and Severus alone. Severus slowly pulled Hermione up until she was sitting in his lap and she wrapped her arms around him. They stayed in each others arms silently until Hermione tilted her head up so that her lips met his. He pulled away not long after, only to kiss her lightly on her lips again, continuing this action three more times before finally placing a kiss on top of her head.

Just then the door opened, revealing Albus Dumbledore who looked on at the two with a small smile on his face. Hermione and Severus quickly moved away from the other and looked at the head master in confusion. Well Severus did, Hermione was looking at him in shock. She was leaving now? Of all times?

"Mr Snape, Miss Storm, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt you. Please, Miss Storm, if you could please follow me."

Hermione turned to look at Severus and hugged him.

"Go back to your dorm Sev. I don't know how long I may be."

He nodded slowly as he gave her a quick squeeze and kiss on the cheek. He left, nodding to Dumbledore, and continued on out of sight.

Hermione followed Dumbledore up to his office, feeling excited, nervous, happy and sad. This would be her last few minutes here, and it was gone all too soon. When they entered into the head office she saw a miniature version of her trunk, which she gathered was shrunk, and a purple potion sitting next to it. Hermione pocketed her trunk and stood where Dumbledore directed her to.

"Now Miss Granger, the spell I am going to use is called asporto postremo. It should send you directly to the future, perhaps to a month after you left. As soon as I finish the spell on the word 'postremo', you must drink the entire potion. When this is done you should be pushed forth in time to this office, twenty years into the future. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"Sir? Thank you for finding a way back for me. And also for keeping my secret," Hermione said, her voice full of gratitude for the wizard standing in front of her.

He smiled his understanding and handed her the potion. When he had done this, he began to move his wand in a complicated action, all the while chanting the spell.

"Asporto atque digredior praeteritus preteritus, recedo postremo!"

Hermione quickly drank every last drop of the potion and closed her eyes; the blurring becoming too much for her. When the whirlwind of time had finished, she slowly opened her eyes. In front of her stood Albus Dumbledore and, for a moment, she feared that it failed, until she realised that this Dumbledore looked much older then the one she had just left. She was back in her time, and she was there to stay.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well after much quitting, curse words and bashing of my computer, I have finished! Finding the Latin for the spell that Dumbledore used took the most time but oh well, it worked in the end! For those who want to know, the immediate translation to that spell is: carry offand depart the past, go back to future. Just so you know my Latin is very questionable and that may not be completely correct. Please tell me what you think by reviewing! You will make me very happy if you do ;)

Lady of Elysion