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A Great Distance

Chapter 5

The Time Turner was easy to fix after that, and by the time the sun was starting to set, Salazar held the newly working Time Turner in his palm. "I can't believe this little device is so powerful," he said.

"Thank you for helping me," Hermione said formally, "I don't think I could have done it without your help."

He glanced at her and smiled, "It was my pleasure," he said inclining his head.

Hermione smiled again, a blush tinging her cheeks. "Well, I must be getting back!" She started to get to her feet but Salazar reached out and grabbed her hand. She froze, looking up at him in shock.

"You can stay if you want." He said with a smile.

Hermione took a deep breath, her heart pounded in her chest. "I have people back home who would be worried about me," she whispered sadly. "Harry and Ron must think the worst."

Salazar frowned. "Is one your lover?" he asked.

Hermione looked at him in shock. "Oh, no! Just friends, ones I consider family. I've known them both since we were ten years old," she jerked her chin up to indicate the castle looming in front of them, "since our first day of school actually."

"Oh, sorry," he muttered quickly. There was a pause, "Do you have a lover?" he asked, trying to appear casual.

"No," she said quietly, looking away to hide her grin.

He smiled and didn't say any more as they got to their feet and started walking up to the castle. Hermione didn't know what to think. He was gorgeous no doubt about that, funny, and smart but 1000 years separated them, and there wasn't anything she could do about that.

The entrance hall was cool compared to the dwindling sunshine outside, and she shivered, wrapping her arms around her chest. The dress was beautiful, but didn't do much against the early evening chill.

They ascended the stairs, heading up to the tower that in her time here had housed Dumbledore's office. Now it was a place the Founders could relax and talk without distractions. The stone Gargoyle at the base of the tower stared at them impassively until Salazar spoke the password and the stone beast hopped to the side, letting them pass. She let Salazar walk in front of her, and followed him up the tight spiral staircase.

As they reached the top Salazar glanced at her with an expression she couldn't read. "What?" she asked quietly.

He didn't get a chance to answer as the door opened, revealing a smiling Helga and the other two Founders sitting down in the middle of the room. Slytherin just shook his head and slipped into the room, Hermione following with a frown. Helga looked between the two of them, a knowing smile on her face. Hermione turned her head away, trying not to blush and give her feeling away.

"How did it go?" Ravenclaw asked curiously. She was sitting in a comfy armchair by the fire reading a book as Godric sat at the desk, pouring over a stack of parchments. As Hermione got a closer look she realised they were the schools acceptance letters, and felt a rush of memories at receiving her own all those years ago.

"It's fixed," Salazar said, "Hermione can go home whenever she wants."

She felt a sudden rush of sadness at his words and realised that she would miss being here.

"Excellent news!" Hufflepuff said brightly, before she realised how that sounded, "Not that it wasn't a pleasure to meet you, my dear," she said with a smile.

Feeling better, Hermione laughed, and even Ravenclaw pulled a smile. Godric laughed heartily. "I agree, it had been an honour to have met you lass," he said, tilting his quill in her direction.

Hermione looked down, blushing to the roots of her hair, trying to hide the smile that had appeared on her face. It only caused Gryffindor to laugh harder.

Rowena set her book down in her lap and took a drink from her goblet of wine, eyeing Salazar through her lashes. "So," she said quietly, putting the goblet down on the table. "Are you going with her?"

Hermione looked up in shock as Salazar glared at the smarter woman. "Mind your own business Rowena," he said darkly.

"You're my friend Salazar, your business is my business."

Salazar muttered something under his breath, turning away.

Hermione's heart was thundering in her chest. "What is she talking about Salazar?" she said quietly.

He sighed, "There is nothing left for me here." He said quietly

"We're here for you," Helga said, equally as soft, walking forward and putting her arm around his waist.

"It's not that I don't appreciate the friendship, I do, you have all been amazing to work with, and I am proud of what this school has achieved in such a short time. But it isn't enough, I need more. My son is almost a man, ready to learn magic on his own. He does not need me anymore, and…"

"There are too many memories." Rowena whispered.

"Yes," he agreed, "I see her at every turn."

"You have to let her go Salazar," Helga said earnestly.

He looked at Hermione, quickly before turning back to his friends. "I know that, I'm working on it."

Hermione's eyes widened, she couldn't do more than stare at him as he turned back to Rowena and continued to talk. She wasn't interpreting things wrong, he liked her. She could tell. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. But she was willing to give it a go.

She took a deep breath. "I can't stay here, but you are more than willing to come with me. But I don't know if I can bring you back," she said, "Time, it's not something we can use lightly."

"I know," he said again. "I'm counting on it."

"You'll leave everyone you love behind," she whispered.

"My son is the only family I care about, and I have not seen him in a year, not since his mother died."

Hermione looked at the others. They didn't seem nearly as surprised as she did. She bit her lip. Making a split second decision. "If this is your decision then I'm happy to support It."

"It is," he said.

She nodded. She turned to the others. "Thank you, for welcoming me into your home. You wouldn't believe how grateful I was for that."

"Oh dear," Helga said, walking forward to giving her a hug, "Take care of yourself, will you?"

Hermione smiled and nodded. She said goodbye to Rowena and Godric, both of whom offered to shake her hand.

She took a step back into the canter of the room and pulled the Time Turner out of her pocket. She waited as Salazar said goodbye to his friends, he hugged Rowena and Helga, and gave Godric a firm handshake. "Please, take care of my animals," he said to Godric as she moved into the center of the room.

"You mean that terror of a dragon, she will be released as soon as she is big enough. As for that serpent…"

"Keep him, give him to my son when he returns for the school year," Salazar requested.

Godric frowned, but Helga nodded. "Of course," she agreed.

Hermione took a deep breath and moved closer to Salazar, standing next to him. She slipped the long chain over his neck, and then put it over her head. She looked over at the others and smiled. "Thank you," she said again before she spun the Time Turner around in her hand, once, twice she turned it over and over. All around them the room started to spin, faster and faster, the room became a blur as Time slipped quickly past.

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