I'm sorry I made you guys wait so long after a cliff hanger, I've been busy and writing a little bit at a time when I could. We actually had to put my dog, Bruiser, to sleep on the eighteenth. We've had him for nine years and I miss him. Other than that I've had class and now the Olympics-GO TEAM USA!- around which my schedule will now revolve until the 'interesting' sports are over. Sorry ribbon dancing but I'm not watching you.

Disclaimer: not mine

Severus sat there for a few moments staring at Hermione after she made her declaration. Just as she began to wonder if she had somehow shocked him into paralysis he stood up and walked over to her. He grabbed her chin none too lightly and forced her to look up at him so that he could examine her eyes. "Are you drunk?"

It took Hermione a second to register what he said. "What? Severus I'm being serious."

"So am I," Severus said. He then continued his examination of her face and spoke his thoughts out loud, "Your pupils aren't dilated and you don't smell as if you've used alcohol or drugs, so that rules out the obvious culprits."

She swatted his hand away, "Stop it Severus, is it really so hard to believe? You are aware of the existence of time turners aren't you?"

"Of course but they only go hours at a time and when people say they're 'from the future' they generally mean by a few years. There's also that crazy scheme you've come up with, I think I should take you to Madame Pomfrey."

"And after asking why I told you she would confirm my story. Madame Pomfrey already knows as does Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall," she left out Remus since she felt that bit of news wouldn't help her argument.

Severus looked at her incredulously, "And they believe you? Or are they just humoring you?"

"They came up with the theory!" Hermione said, getting angry.

"Then they are insane."

Hermione stood up from her chair, "Just come with me to the Headmaster's office, he can explain it better than I can."

Severus just shook his head in disbelief, surely this wasn't the same girl he had thought to be so intelligent. "I wonder, exactly how many years into the future do you believe you are from?"

"Our guess is about twenty years," Hermione answered.

"Twenty years is impossible."

"During this time but obviously not then."

"Let's pretend I believe you," Severus said, "tell me why you are here in the past? Is it to convince me to be a spy? Or is it just for kicks?"

Hermione turned away, "I… I don't know, I think it was an accident. I wasn't lying about the amnesia, I have no idea why I'm here or who I am in my time. I get flashes of memory, I recognize some people but that's it. Nothing truly solid except…"

"Except what?" Severus prompted her to continue.

Hermione decided that she might as well tell him everything hoping to make him believe her. It was their only chance from her point of view. "That incident with Dolohov, the reason why I attacked him so fiercely. When I saw him there ready to attack I remembered a battle of some sort. I got hit by a nasty curse that left this horrid scar on my torso," she explained gesturing at the general area of that particular scar, "I remembered the man who gave me this scar, it was an older Dolohov or it will be. Seeing him again, even a younger him, triggered that memory and the subsequent attack."

"And you expect me to believe this with no proof?"

"Of course not, I know you better than that. Come with me to the Headmaster's office and we'll explain." Hermione walked to the door before stopping and waiting for Severus to follow her.

Severus rolled his eyes, "Fine I'll play along and then we'll get back to reality."

"We never left Severus now let's go, I hope the Headmaster's in his office right now."

XXXXXXX

After a rather silent walk from the abandoned class room, the two students arrived in front of the gargoyle entrance they both knew well. However they did not know the password and as Hermione rambled off names of candies and sweets waited for entrance to be granted.

"Cockroach clusters, lemon drops, lemon squares…" Suddenly the spiral staircase began to reveal itself. "Thank Merlin he's predictable about this."

"It would be better if we could knock or something," Severus complained. Hermione agreed with his comment with a nod and began the climb up the stone steps with Severus following close behind. Finally they reached the door where they heard the Headmaster's voice calling them in. When they opened the door they found Headmaster Dumbledore sitting at his cluttered desk with Fawkes by his side and Professor McGonagall in the chair in front of him.

"Miss Jean and Mr. Snape, this is a surprise. What brings you here on your first day of break? And would either of you like a lemon drop?" the Headmaster asked though the twinkle in his blue eyes hinted that he really did not need the explanation.

Hermione stepped forward and answered, "No, thank you. Headmaster, I need you to explain and prove to Severus that I am from the future."

"What?" the Head of Gryffindor exclaimed, "Miss Jean why on Earth are you sharing this secret? And with him of all people?"

"No offense taken, Professor," Severus said sarcastically from his spot by the door earning a stern look bordering on a glare.

"Now Minerva, I'm sure Miss Jean has a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why she has chosen to confide in Mr. Snape, she did well telling Mr. Lupin didn't she?" Headmaster Dumbledore said innocently to calm his colleague but Hermione help but be irritated at the older wizard when she thought of Severus' reaction. He may admit that Remus was the least bothersome Marauder but there were still no warm feelings between the two.

"Headmaster I'll explain why later but could you please convince Severus first?" Hermione asked.

"Alright then, go ahead and take a seat both of you," Dumbledore said as he conjured two more seats on either side of Professor McGonagall. Hermione took the seat to her Professor's right while Severus took her left side, barely showing that he was at all uncomfortable. "Mr. Snape, how much has Miss Jean told you?" Dumbledore asked.

"She told me that you told her she was from twenty years into the future," Severus said with an accusatory tone then curtly added, "that's it."

"Nothing else?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

Hermione spoke up, "I did mention my faint memories and what happened with Dolohov."

"Okay then, well Mr. Snape there isn't much to explain. Miss Jean's memories are being blocked by something, some injury or spell. However some are pushing through like the memory of Mr. Dolohov. From the very beginning she recognized many members of the staff, the student body, and the castle itself despite never actually being here or meeting these people. We had no idea what to make of it except that maybe we resembled people she once knew until Professor McGonagall inspected her text books in your first Transfiguration class. I assume you remember that day?"

Severus nodded, "She came here and sparked a thousand new rumors about herself."

"Yes well, her text books during inspection appeared to have come from the year 1996. We have cast every spell to prove their authenticity and if you read the books you will find groundbreaking spells, research, and historic currently happening as we speak being spoken of as if they happened twenty years in the past."

"Headmaster is it wise to be reading them? I thought we decided to lock them up and let history go as planned?"

"True but I had to take a peak to confirm my theory about your origins."

"Anything else?" Severus asked.

"No, nothing concerning the future."

"Well I need more proof. A misprinted copyright date and your assurances are not enough to convince me."

The Headmaster leaned back into his chair and appeared to ponder for a moment before coming to a conclusion. "Miss Jean why must Mr. Snape believe us?"

Hermione looked around the three pairs of eyes now staring at her. Piercing black ones brought back quick flashes of the tall dark man fighting, sneaking about, brewing potions. He had to be Severus, the one in the future that spied for Dumbledore. Something instinctively told her that he played a major role in the war, that he saved lives. "Because I remember him now, more clearly than anyone else. In the future, my past, he plays a vital part in the war. He works here as a potions master but he's also a spy. He's part of You-Know-Who's inner circle but he works for us in reality." Everyone stared at her silently in disbelief as she continued. "We've both been asked to join You-Know-Who and we have no way out but I remember now what will happen. I don't know why he became a spy in the first place but we can start now. The Death Eaters won't kill us and we can help end the war."

"Are you a hundred percent sure about this Miss Jean? It will be very risky," the Headmaster asked.

"You can't be going along with this can you Albus?" Professor McGonagall raised in a protective tone, "They are just children and shouldn't be involved."

"They are already involved Minerva."

"Headmaster, she," Severus began, gesturing towards Hermione, "wants us to go in front of the Dark Lord with nothing but Occlumency defending us."

"And acting and skills in dueling," Hermione protested. "You are a naturally strong Occlumens, you said so yourself and you'll become one of the best, I know that. And I'm not that bad already, the Headmaster will remember as much from our first meeting. I remember very clearly that you are our best weapon. You-Know-Who has you spying on Dumbledore, Dumbledore has you spying on You-Know-Who, they both know it, both believe they know where your loyalties lie but you do side with us."

"How do you know?" Professor McGonagall asked, "how do you know he hasn't tricked you?"

"Because… because I just do. I don't know how I know but I do. If we train ourselves in occlumency and everything else we'll need, we'll be able to pull this off. Severus is one the best spies in history, and he's too clever and too skilled to be caught."

"But what about you?" Severus asked. "You weren't a spy were you? Or is that where you got your scars?"

"I wasn't a spy," Hermione answered knowing it was true. "But I have no other option. Don't worry Severus, we'll try to be as separate as possible around the Death Eaters so if I mess up you won't be dragged down with me. I'm sure if anyone questions you, you can talk your way out of it."

"And let you die?" he pointed out, incredulous.

"If necessary, though I'd prefer a way out if at all possible."

"Let's say everything goes according to plan for Mr. Snape, what are the chances that you'll be assigned to spying on me as well?" Dumbledore inquired.

"If I have a job here, like an assistant to Madame Pomfrey or something, I, like Severus, will be a shoe in."

"There won't be a need," Severus said, "They don't want her doing anything yet, just her support at the moment while I'm supposed to work on potions."

"I'll give you jobs as a potions apprentice and nursing apprentice anyway to put you into perfect positions. You'll be safer here anyway. Mr. Snape, you will also have the opportunity to earn your potions mastery through all of this."

Professor McGonagall sighed, "It sounds as if you are determined to see this through."

"We are Minerva. So Mr. Snape, are you willing to believe in Miss Jean's future?"

"I'll agree this is a good plan, as good as any, but I still think your future theory is insane."

XXXXXXX

Later that night, Hermione stood bundled up in the astronomy tower looking up at the sky with a dreamy expression. It was too cold for any couples who would be too distracted to maintain a warming charm so it was perfectly empty aside from the bushy haired Gryffindor surrounded by floating blue flames she had conjured for herself.

She was startled from her daydreaming by the sound of someone entering the tower. The next moment Severus was standing beside her, leaning on the railing. "So you actually think we'll pull this off?" his deep voice asked after a few moments of silence.

"I know we will." There was silence again for a few moments but neither one looked at each other; they kept their eyes trained on the sky.

"So why did you tell Lupin? What role does he play in the war?"

"I'm not sure, I didn't tell him for the same reasons I told you. I told him because I knew I could trust him. I know him in the future somehow, the rest of the Marauders, and Lily, and the staff too. I can tell who I trusted and who I didn't."

"Is that why you hate Pettigrew?"

Hermione frowned, "I don't know what he did to me, but I hate him more than you know."

Severus turned to look at her and changed the subject, "If I'm such a great double agent why does an eighteen year old girl know my secret loyalties?" Hermione remained silent. Severus raised his brows, "If you really 'knew' but didn't know how you'd say as much. You don't know do you? You never did?"

"With everyone else it is black and white, but from the very beginning you were gray. I don't think you were permanently on either side, I think you were on your own side whatever kept you alive. I didn't trust your future self completely but I trust you now."

Severus stepped closer and whispered, "So you're completely aware of the fact that I could turn on you?"

"Yes," Hermione swallowed, "But I don't think you will."

Question of the day: if you were an Olympic athlete which sport would you want it to be? And would any of you compete for a country you don't currently live in? I always wanted to be a gymnast when I was little, once I got into a class I realized that I did not have the drive or physical ability to make that happen.