Hermione Granger awoke in the hospital wing. She knew it by the ceiling, it was a ceiling she had seen many a time during her school years. But something was wrong. Her last memory made no sense. The boy was Severus Snape? Professor Severus Snape?

"Ah you are awake my dear!" Hermione sat bolt upright. Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore was at the foot of her bed.

"Oh" She murmured.

"Despite what you are thinking you are not dead." He smiled sadly. "Today is December 17th 1977 a Thursday. May I ask who you are?" His blue eyes were alight with curiosity.

"Oh" she said again. Hermione leaned against her headboard. "I'm called Hermione." She said. "1977 you say?" her eyes met the x-ray ones at the foot of her bed. He nodded.

"I take it by your sudden and inexplicable arrival at dinner you are not from around this when." He chuckled. Hermione shook her head letting out a semi hysterical laugh.

"How far have you wondered? We can host you until such time you catch up with yourself." He offered. Hermione let out a full-fledged laugh.

"You better give me a job then, I'm going to be here 22 years!" She couldn't help it she just laughed. The old man's jaw dropped.

"That kind of travel isn't possible here." He said trying to justify his stupor. The powerful witch and wizard were silent for a moment both thinking.

What broke their silent pondering was the creaking of the door. Both looked simultaneously but had two very different reactions. The girl beamed. If that really was Professor Snape and her memory was accurate he was much nicer in this time, not to mention incredibly cute.

The wizard however frowned. "Mr. Snape, I must ask you to leave, if you have need of Madam Pomfrey take a seat over there" He flicked his wand and drew the curtain. Hermione frowned. Before she could speak however the curtain was drawn back not angrily but coolly.

Snape in her time would have lost his mind at being ordered about in front of others. The boy turned his head and studied her. He gave a crooked smile.

"Hi" Hermione smiled.

"Mr. Snape explain yourself!" Theadmaster seemed shocked at the younger man's actions.

"Well you see headmaster, this girl who is obviously acquainted with me, is in the hospital and I desire to visit her." He said taking the empty chair beside her bed and smirking as if it was the most obvious thing and the other man was clearly a dunderhead for not knowing.

Hermione looked between the two wizards. In her time it was known they were the two most powerful wizards on the side of light. It was also known the wise old teacher often had power struggles with his rebellious spy. Apparently it had been a lifelong occurrence.

"You will leave now," the headmaster demanded.

"Fair enough" Severus stood. Hermione gasped softly, Snape NEVER folded so easily. "I'll simply make my way to the owlery I've got a letter to mail in to the Daily Prophet about one of the Marauders. I'm sure it'll be front page by the morning addition" The Slytherin had taken no more than two steps before the headmaster grabbed him by the collar and whirled him around.

Hermione had never seen Dumbledore mad. His blue eyes transformed from beautiful sky blue to a dark sapphire. His right hand, his wand hand twitched in anger. He towered, looming over even Severus at 6 feet. His white square teeth were bared and gritted. His old looking muscles tense as if he intended to punch the younger man. Hermione scarcely dared breathe.

"You will do no such thing!" He ground out. Severus adopted the most innocent face she had ever seen. His black eyes almost had her believing him.

"Tell them all about how Saint Potter is really a bulling toe rag" He smirked "you know those Marauders are positively animalistic"

Wow so this is Slytherin at it's finest, Hermione was actually impressed. AND his threat was just vague enough to be referring to Remus' furry little problem or the unregistered animagus living under the castle roof.

"Albus!" Madam Pomfrey emerged from her office at a brisk jog. She uncurled the old man's fingers from Severus collar. Severus retreated to the chair by the bed. "You may not manhandle the students!" She shouted, Dumbledore looked considerably calmer not staring into the eyes of the Slytherin who infuriated him.

"I shall be back Miss." Dumbledore realized she had not given him as last name. Hermione shook her head at his unspoken question. "Hermione."

With that the headmaster made a quick exit.

"Severus Tobias Snape! How do you manage to infuriate him so! I've never met anyone who could get his goat so easily!" Madam Pomfrey ranted. Severus sniggered.

"Here are your potions Miss, I've got to go down and see Horace about some dreamless sleep as I seem to be out but you are in capable hands with Mr. Snape." Hermione downed the potions and the nurse exited as well leaving the two teenagers to themselves.

"So Hermione" Severus said.

"Yes?"

"I'm a Professor wherever you come from?" He asked. Hermione should have known he was so clever. He was a genius in her time.

"Potions Master too." She nodded. He let out a huge puff of breath. Leaning back Severus propped his feet on the end of her bed.

"I had wished… but I wasn't sure. Wow" He smiled "So who are you?"

"I'm Hermione."

"So I've heard" He smirked and stretched. Hermione's eyes drew the bottom of his shirt. In his stretch his shirt had ridden up to show his pale skin and black hair that was a happy trail. Hermione flushed and turned. Severus smirked again.

"Are you my girlfriend Hermione?" His face was incredibly smug. Hermione chuckled.

"Sadly no" She grinned. He let out a short laugh.

"Would you like to be?" He grinned. Hermione giggled back.

"Not today." She laughed. He laughed too. It was an odd sound but strangely beautiful. Hermione wanted to here him laugh forever.

"How far ahead are you from?" Severus said toeing off his worn boots and tattered gray socks under the bed. Hermione's smile faded quickly. Her mouth went dry once more.

"Twenty-two years" she whispered.

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"What happened?" Severus kept his voice low. She had been out, laughing beautiful, but when he asked about her home she went away. The light had vanished and she hung her head. Curls hid her face from his gaze.

"There was war. We fought together you and I, soldiers together. You fell. Harry Fell. Ron fell. Everyone, everyone I care about was just…" She couldn't speak her voice was choked up. Severus knew she was crying or going to cry.

"Hey" He said she turned her face away from him. Severus hesitated he had no idea what was proper bedside manner for this sort of thing. Then again, he thought, I never do the proper thing. He thought, shifting from his chair to her bed he slung one arm around her and pulled her to him. She turned easily and buried her face in his.. armpit? What a strange girl.

Severus wanted to laugh that he could see nothing but curls. Brown twists and corkscrews in his face. They sat that way for who knows how long. She didn't feel like she was crying but occasionally she'd shake and Severus would pull her closer. Eventually the wild girl settled and before Severus knew it she was snoring lightly against his chest.

"And I shall hear, thou soft you tread above me, and all my grave will be warmer, sweeter be, for you will bend and tell me that you love me, and I shall sleep in peace till you come to me." As the last words left his lips his eyes closed and his head rolled forward into the bushy curls before him.

From the doors of the Hospital Wing the stern nurse listened to Severus's low voice sing to the strange girl. The nurse felt as if she had just gazed upon something never meant to be seen. The two slept in the narrow bed naturally together as if they had been together their entire lives. She didn't know who this troubled girl was but if she could make Severus sing then she was welcome to stay forever. Severus deserved a reason to sing, she thought.

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AN: Severus's Song is from Oh Danny Boy which in addition to Harry Potter I do not own. Reviews would be lovely!