Not much to say,

So here's the next installment.

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The next few weeks went by quickly and without incident. Sirius had forgiven Hermione and they were on great terms. Severus had put aside each Thursday night to go over potions and any other work with Hermione in the library. Sometimes Regulus joined as well. The night of the Halloween feast just happened to fall on a Thursday.

"This is ridiculous, Sev," Hermione sighed, pushing her book away from her. "Why are we learning potions that will never hold relevance in our lives?"

He smiles at her. "Every potion holds some relevance, 'Mione."

"Easy for you to say Mr. Potions master."

"Hey, you're doing fine in the subject, I don't see why you're so worried."

"I need an outstanding on my O.W.L.s in potions," Hermione says with a sigh.

"Why outstanding?" Severus asks. "I mean, is there a particular reason that you're aiming that high?"

"Well yeah, I'd like to continue in the subject next year."

"Slughorn doesn't require and outstanding for N.E.W.T.s," Severus states in confusion.

"Oh," Hermione replies. "Well I'm not positive that I will still be here next year, and I know a particular professor who requires an outstanding."

Severus frowns. "Why wouldn't you be here next year?"

Hermione doesn't reply, trying to come up with an adequate answer.

"You don't belong here, do you?" he asks her quietly.

She turns quickly to him. "What do you mean?"

Severus nods towards the library shelves behind them. "I saw you checking out some books on time traveling last week. You also have a good handling on the school when it takes first years more than half the year to get accustomed to it."

"I won't tell anyone, Hermione," he finally states.

She nods her head. "I trust you, Severus."

"It's true then?" he asks.

"Yeah," Hermione says. "It's true."

"How?"

Hermione shrugs. "I made a stupid mistake with a time turner that I didn't know was tampered with."

Severus stares at her. "Where are you from, then?"

She sighs, "About twenty and a half years from now."

"Wow," he replies, shaking his head. "So you must know some people here in the future."

"A few," Hermione admits.

"Is that why you were surprised at my name?"

Hermione laughs. "You're too smart for your own good, Sev."

"I'm assuming that you're not supposed to divulge any details then?"

"Right," Hermione replies. "Dumbledore is looking into spells that might be useful but he's informed me that he's not gotten very far. He's thinking that a potion might do better."

"Any potion of that greatness will take months to brew." Severus replies with a frown. "Do you know what he's looking into?"

"Not the slightest," Hermione replies. "But it is Dumbledore, so I'm not too worried. Could you possibly tell Regulus for me? I'm not sure how to bring it up."

"Sure," Severus says with a smile. "Who else here knows where you're really from?"

Hermione sighs. "Student wise just Remus, James and Sirius. Dumbledore informed at least McGonagall, I'm not too sure if he told any other teachers. Lilly is starting to ask me questions though, it might be wise for me to tell her before she finds out by herself."

Severus nods. "She discovered Remus' little secret all by herself."

Hermione is speechless. "You- you know?"

"Bloody right I know," Severus responds with a frown. "Black thought he'd play a little joke on me. Almost got me killed."

"Oh," Hermione states, comprehension dawning on her. "I remember now."

Severus stares at her. "What are you talking about?"

"That's why you hate James, right? Because you owe you life to him?"

"And many other reasons."

Hermione smiles but stops when she sees Severus staring at her. "What's wrong?" she asks him.

"You know me in the future, don't you? More than just my name?"

"Yeah," Hermione replies. "I know you pretty well."

"Can you tell me anything about myself?"

"Well," Hermione starts with a smirk. "You're taller."

Severus glares at her but stops when she starts to laugh.

Hermione sighs. "I don't know Sev. In my time, I've known you for five years, but you cloud your emotions so much that I hardly know you as a human."

"Can I ask you one question, Hermione?" He states, biting his lip.

"What?"

He breathes in deeply. "What side am I on?"

Hermione doesn't respond, but frowns. "I'm not sure how to answer that. I'm not really supposed to talk about anything important that could change any events."

"I'm important?" Severus asks, confused, looking at his hands on the table.

Hermione takes his hands in hers. "You're very important Severus, very."

He looks up at her and smiles. "Thank you 'Mione, but you're in the minority with people who believe that."

"Here, maybe," she pauses. "But I assure you that people grow to see your true self. And as long as you remember that, Sev, you'll be alright."

Severus nods at her and stands up. "The feast calls."

"Right you are," Hermione says with a smile, standing up and placing her books and parchment in her bag. "Malfoy going to care if we're seen walking in together?"

"No," Severus responds. "I might have told him that I'm tutoring you in potions under instruction from Dumbledore. He won't question it. Although he's a seventh year, he knows that I'm better at potions than most other students in this building."

Hermione nods at him as they exit the library. "Well that's not too much of a fallacy; you are tutoring me in potions."

"To an extent," he replies. "I'm merely prodding you. You know all this stuff, but now I'm inclined to believe that the book you had been using is an up to date book, making our book a major step backwards?"

"Yeah," Hermione replies. "I don't think I'd be having such an issue if it was the other way around, it's just difficult working backwards."

"I've had to work with some outdated books before, I don't envy you in the least."

Making it to the hall Severus says goodbye.

"See you in class, Sev," Hermione replies, taking her usual seat at the Gryffindor table next to Remus and across from James, Sirius and Peter.

"So how's Snivelus?" Sirius asks from across the table.

Hermione frowns at him and takes a sip of cider from her goblet. "Just because you don't like him doesn't mean that I can't, Sirius."

"Yeah, well I've found that the least amount of Slytherins in my life, the better and you seem to be fraternizing with two."

Hermione shrugs. "One of which has the same blood as you do, Sirius."

He looks towards the Slytherin table. "Yeah, that's what worries me."

"Listen Sirius, I told you that Dumbledore is working on figuring out how to get me back home so I'm only going to be here a short period of time. I just want to make the best of it."

"You can make the best of it with Gryffindors," he mumbles.

Hermione can't help but smile at him. "So Sirius, James, Peter- it's Halloween, you can't tell me that you don't have a prank planned."

James grins. "You'll see about mid feast."

She shakes her head at them as Dumbledore stands up. "Welcome to yet another Hallow's Eve feast. I wish you all merriment-" he waves his wand and food appears on the table. "and wider middles. Miss Granger, if you'd join me in my office after the feast?"

Hermione nods at him and begins to eat.

"What do you think he wants?" Sirius asks.

"He's probably found a suitable potion." she replies, making eye contact with Severus.

Fifteen minutes into the feast, a scream breaks out, gaining all attention. Hermione gasps when she looks at the Slytherin table, where its entire occupants now have jack-o-lanterns for heads.

"Oh my," Remus says with amusement in his voice.

Hermione turns to him. "And how, did they manage that one?"

He smiles at her. "Making friends with the House Elves seems to have come incredibly handy."

She starts to laugh just as McGonagall comes bounding down the isle to the table. "Black, Potter, Pettigrew- my office, now!"

They both make small bows before leaving, apparently taking too long for McGonagall who grabs Sirius by his earlobe.

"Well that was mildly entertaining," Hermione states as Dumbledore rights the Slytherin table with a simple wave of his wand, all sending death glares to James' and Sirius' now empty seats.

People start to clear out of the Hall and Remus stands. "Walk you to the Headmaster's office?"

Hermione stands as well. "Might as well. It seems that your comrades have abandoned you, you weren't in on their little plan?"

"I might have helped," Remus states as they make their way to the corridor.

"So why aren't you in trouble?"

Remus point to his Prefect's badge, "It seems McGonagall has some faith in me."

Hermione laughs as they make it to the stone gargoyle blocking Dumbledore's office. "Okay Mr. Prefect, you know the password?"

"Not a clue. She doesn't have that much faith in me."

"Cockroach Cluster," McGonagall's voice sounds from behind us. We turn towards it and Remus turns bright read. "You're right Mr. Lupin, and with good reason apparently."

"I'll see you in the common room then, Remy," Hermione states and he hurriedly makes his way down the hall.

"Miss Granger," McGonagall states. "I believe that the headmaster is waiting for you."

"Yes professor," she replies and climbs the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office.

Hermione knocks softly at the door at the top of the stairs and Dumbledore's voice tells her to enter.

"Please sit down," he states, motioning to a chair.

"As you might have guessed, I have come up with a solution for your predicament here." Hermione nods. "Well Miss Granger it's rather simple actually. I'll be taking the Year potion, which will move you forward a year in time, and strengthen it by twenty. The tricky part will be making the properties permanent. As you might know, the Year potion lasts only a year."

"Yes sir," Hermione replies.

Dumbledore smiles. "You will be back in your time by Christmas break."

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Please tell me what you though