Hermione smiled softly at him, "I know." She looked back to the other two, "Shall we meet up with Minevera? I only want to tell this story once."
The four of them made their way up to the Headmasters sitting room in silence. Hermione led Harry into one of the chairs and conjured up a blanket for him before sitting in her own chair. She tilted her head towards the door just as McGonagall strode into the room.
She glanced around the room, taking in the silent group, "A serious discussion we'll be having I see." She pulled up a chair for herself, "Alright Miss Granger, tell us your story."
Hermione sighed and looked over at Harry who was looking at her intently. "Right then. There was a war, a bloody terrible war. We won, but we lost so many people. So many friends." She gazed out the window unblinking, as if relieving the past. When she spoke again it was in monotone. "In our fourth year there was a tournament, the Tri-Wizard tournament. Barty Crouch Jr. posed as Mad-Eye and entered Harry's name into it as the fourth champion. No one believed him when he said he didn't enter himself. The last task was a maze, Junior turned the Cup into a portkey then made sure Harry made it to the center first. He did, but Cedric needed help so Harry helped him. They grabbed the Cup at the same time thinking that they would just share the win for Hogwarts, neither realizing it was a portkey. Cedric was killed by Peter Pettigrew once they landed, and Harry was stunned and bound to a grave. Tom Riddle Sr. Voldemort's muggle father. He was there, Voldemort.
"There was a ritual, he needed Harry's blood, and once he had his body back he called his followers. Harry managed to escape, grabbed Cedric and the portkey and landed back here. It was chaos, the minister refused to believe that He was back. The year after that we lost Sirius in the battle in the Department of Mysteries. I almost died that night too, but Voldemort showed himself and the world knew he was back.
"The next year Dumbledore started telling Harry all he knew about Voldemort, including the horcruxes. They... they went out to retrieve one.. but while they were gone Death Eaters broke into the castle. We defended it as best we could, but when they returned... when they returned Dumbledore was killed. By Snape."
She raised her hand to stop the potential outbursts she knew would come, "Please, let me explain. It was Dumbledore's wish, he was dying, and he asked Severus to kill him when Draco failed. The two of them planned it months in advance, just after he put the ring on his finger. It was cursed... Severus tried his best to contain it... but he would've died eventually. With him killing Dumbledore it secured his loyalty with Voldemort... he was made Headmaster when Voldemort took over the school. He was able to protect most of the students from the inside that way.
"Harry, Ron, and I went on the run that summer. Tracking down the other horcruxes, evading the Snatchers..." She trailed off, and looked back to the group. "There is more, so much more, but we don't have to go into that now. After the war was over... Harry... Harry got depressed. It started with the Hallows. He was the Master of all three... but that sort of responsibility comes with a price, so he tried to get rid of them. He tried throwing them away, destroying them.. except for the cloak, but the other two... they kept coming back to him. So he gave them up to me, said he didn't trust anyone else with them.
"After that I started searching for ways to go back in time, to save everyone. The time turners were destroyed years ago, but they wouldn't be reliable enough. I would have to sneak around, the paradox of time travellers I suppose.
"Then I discovered them. The Fates, or Gods... whatever they are, and I stuck a deal with them. They would send my very soul, memories intact, back to when it all began so I could stop the war. They promised that they would make everything easy for me, no stealing, no war, no evil bastard coming back from the dead. They promised to give me time with Harry, among other things.
"Like all deals though, it came with a price. I'm only allowed to stay here until after Harry graduates. They will be sending me to other worlds, a parallel universes in fact. They said their children, for lack of a better word, have been causing too much trouble on their own worlds, destroying them. I'm to be their...weapon... or something..." She trailed off looking back out the window. "If you have any questions, I'll answer them now."
Dumbledore spoke up first, "You mentioned the Hallows.."
Hermione laughed harshly, "I mention two people who should be dead and the first thing you ask me is about the Hallows. Should have known. Yes, the Hallows are real, but you already knew that. How does your wand feel Headmaster."
Dumbledore sat back in shock before pulling out him wand and staring at it. "It feels... it feels like my old wand, but how is that possible?"
"Many things are possible Albus, but you should know that before I came back I was the Master of that wand, and I have it in my bag. It stands to reason that it should still be mine, the power that is. I'll have need for it in the future, you wont." She turned to Snape, "Severus, I know. Before you died... you gave Harry and I your memories, so we could understand why you did what you did." He sneered at her, "Don't you look at me like that, you had good reason. You are a good man, and because you are... I can remove that mark from your arm."
His eyes widened as he looked at her, "You can do that?"
She shrugged, "I can try, I'll have to study it first, but I have a feeling how he did it so I'm sure I could with time." She looked back at Dumbledore, "Now, Peter Pettigrew is still alive. He's a rat animagus, and he's been living with the Weasley's."
"Scabbers!" Harry gasped, "Ron's pet rat!"
Hermione smiled at him, "Yes, I know." She glanced at Dumbledore, "I'm sure our esteemed Headmaster could find a way to get him to Amelia Bones. She's smart, and trustworthy. Once he's in custody, and been thoroughly questioned under veritaserum, I'm sure it will come out that Sirius Black is completely innocent. I want him released from Azkaban and placed in my care. It's time for him to meet Harry." She leveled the Headmaster with a look telling him she was not going to budge on this matter. He nodded his understanding. "Barty Crouch Jr. was broken out of jail by his father and been kept under the Imperius ever since. His wife took Juniors place in Azkaban and took polyjuice until the day she died. I want this cleaned up because once he breaks free of the curse he will search for a way to bring his Master back, not that there will be a way. It's a pity he's crazy, he was one of the best Defense teachers we ever had. You know, besides the whole pretending to be Moody and trying to kill Harry... " She trailed off deep in thought for a few moments before continuing, "Dumbledore, please consider hiring Remus Lupin for Defense this year instead of Lockheart. What a ponce, he's completely useless as a teacher." She raised her eyebrow, "Trust me, I'm speaking from experience."
She looked up at the clock on the wall that read 5:46 am, "Merlin! Is that the time?! Professor McGonagall, could you please find Harry a place to sleep? Perhaps in the Gryffindor tower would be best."
Minevera rose and shook young Harry awake before leading him off to bed. The other three remained seated as they watched them go.
Hermione chanced at look at Snape before turning to the Headmaster, "Albus, if you could be so kind as to make sure that rat bastard is captured tomorrow I would be extremely grateful. We'll discuss things more after that, yeah?"
Dumbledore sat up a bit straighter, "I understand Miss Granger, it seems like we have much more to discuss, but I agree we should get some rest."
Hermione and Snape both stood at the dismissal and left the sitting room together.
They walked in silence a few moments before Hermione spoke up, "Do you mind if I walk down with you Professor? I have something else to discuss with you, and its a bit... delicate I suppose."
Snape arched his brow, "Dear me, don't tell me you've come back pregnant or some other foolish nonsense."
"Oh Heavens no! No, we'll discuss it when we get to your office... I'd much rather have you sitting down for this."
His interest, although peaked, did not stop him from sneering at her. She smiled at that and they walked halls with nary a peep between the two. Once they arrived at his office Hermione strode over to one of the chairs and flopped down with surprising familiarity. She gazed up at the ceiling while Severus took his seat, sitting down much more gracefully than his younger companion.
"So tell me, now that we are both seated, what is this delicate situation." He leaned back in his chair with his hands clasped in his lap.
For a moment he didn't think she was going to speak, but then she looked at him with sadness in her eyes.
"This is going to sound very... odd... coming from me, but I need you to get Narcissa and Draco here this afternoon. Without Lucius. It is essential that I speak with them." She tilted her chin down and stared furiously at her feet.
Both his eyebrows shot up, "Miss Granger, can I assume that this has something to do with the future?"
She glanced back at him, and he noticed her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "Yes and no I suppose. I knew them. In the future I knew them. That's the no part." She took a shuddered breath, "The yes part is I have a message for Draco, from himself."