Holy crap, I'm moving into my dorm in a couple of days. As of next Monday, college officially starts, I'm so nervous or I would be if I could wrap my head around the fact. Maybe writing for you guys will bring back some feeling of normalcy.

Disclaimer: I'm not that great of a writer, of course I didn't write the Harry Potter series.

The second day of winter break began much more somber for four of the castle's residents. One spent the night plotting, another worrying, and the last two were trying to ignore the feeling of finality until the first occlumency lesson. Hermione went to look out her window and saw the pristine white snow severely altered by the winter activities of children. The smooth expanse of white was now reshaped by footprints and snow forts and snow men. Hermione thought that this could be symbolic of something in her life right now, maybe how her simple school life was no longer just that, but she didn't want to think about it too much. After a night of sleep, the reality of what she is going to do has started to sink in. She had volunteered to go to the darkest wizard of all time, one who hated everything about her, and lie straight to his face as she pledged her allegiance. No wonder Severus thought she was insane, it was a wonder he agreed to join.

The teenage wizard currently in Hermione's thoughts was also sitting in his room, contemplating yesterday's events as he looked out his window which had a view into the lake's waters. Yesterday was very confusing, his conversation with Hermione was not anything like he suspected. The outcome was fairly similar in that they would go to the Dark Lord but the reasons and the path to that conclusion were drastically different. A plan for survival had turned into espionage with a time traveling twist, just thinking about it gave him a headache. He had been sorted into Slytherin, hadn't he? Where were his survival instincts? He had practically accepted a suicide mission, never before would he have done something this stupid especially for some girl he barely knew. He had never cared enough about someone else before to go to such lengths to protect them, maybe Lily, maybe his mother. And yet he wasn't even bothering to try and help Lily was he? Not one word had been said to anyone about how Lily would also be summoned. She wouldn't speak to him but she would have listened to Hermione or Dumbledore, all he had to do was say the word. But no the thought had never crossed his mind, he was too preoccupied with Hermione's safety.

How much did care for this mysterious girl? He certainly spent a good amount of time with, missed her when she was angry at him for that short period of time. He was unusually protective of her, begging her to choose the safest route, and he got jealous over her. Yes he hated to admit it but he had gotten jealous when he heard that Lupin already knew her secrets because she trusted him automatically. Hermione didn't tell him out of trust, no Severus only knew because he needed to for her plan. Logic said she admitted she trusted him last night but logic's voice was being talked over at the moment.

So how much did he care for Hermione? A lot more than he should. How much did he care for Lily now? Surprisingly not that much. Severus turned to his nightstand where a letter from the red head lay. She had swallowed her pride long enough to write a letter saying she forgave but noting she did not want to go back to the way things were before until he left his Death Eater friends for good. There was also a ps warning him not to hurt Hermione. Severus thought about it but the image of being friends with Lily again didn't have the same appeal as it did before. It was odd, he thought he would always love Lily but apparently, not that he was in love with Hermione. No that would be stupid, allowing his self to make that same mistake again especially with chance that she could easily die within the foreseeable future due the damned Dark Lord. He had a feeling that the heartbreak he experience with Lily would be multiplied several times over in that scenario.

Emotions needed to be set aside for now and he needed to focus on the plan if he wanted any chance at success. Deep meditation and a blank, walled off mind was exactly what the Slytherin needed right then.

XXXXXX

Both students received notes that afternoon that requested their presence in Professor McGonagall's office. Not expected but not surprising, there was going to be a meeting eventually and neither had any doubt that was what this was.

Hermione was the first to arrive at the Transfiguration professor's office as it was relatively close to what was generally considered Gryffindor territory. Hermione knocked on the door and waited to hear her Head of House's voice welcome her in before opening the door.

"Good afternoon, Hermione," the older witch greeted as she stood up behind her desk. The younger felt a strange sense of déjà vu as she saw the Headmaster standing in front of the desk, a reversal of yesterday's meeting. The room was neat and tidy with a few little knick-knacks showcasing her Scottish heritage and furniture that looked fit for a countryside cottage. The thing that caught Hermione's attention the most, aside from the two adults in the room, was a little bible and a book of catechisms. Again she wondered at religion's place in the Wizarding world.

"Good afternoon Professor McGonagall, Headmaster. May I ask why we are meeting here instead of the Headmaster's office?"

The Headmaster answered with a twinkle in his eye as if he found her question amusing, "We do not wish to draw any attention to the two of you. We believed it would be less noticeable if you two came here. We will begin once Mr. Snape arrives which may take a few minutes, it is a trek from the dungeons. May I ask, Ms. Jean, what you have been up to today? Have you had anymore memories?" As the last questions were asked the Headmaster's twinkle dimed and the Transfiguration professor frowned, the hinting at today's topic sobering the room's atmosphere.

"No more memories sir, I've been in the library reading a little more about occlumency and legilimency," Hermione answered, leaving out her browsing of her darker books in her room that morning once she stopped staring out the window. She wanted to know what she was up against and what she might possibly be asked to do. The majority of those spells put the Killing Curse to shame and violently turned her stomach. She dearly hoped her support would be all that was ever asked of her. A cynical voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Severus snorted, 'Fat chance.'

She knew the voice was right and went back to paying attention to the Headmaster as he nodded, "Good, it is best that you two learn as much about those subjects as possible but you will also need Mr. Snape to teach you a thing or two about acting, otherwise Voldemort will not even need to look into your mind to see that you are lying. It would also be best if you practice your dueling, I believe that will be the easiest part. Do you two agree?"

The word two alerted Hermione to the presence of Severus who had snuck in after her and was now standing at her side. Severus saw the look of surprise on Hermione's face and rolled his eyes. "I only walked in a few seconds ago, walked not sneaked. You need to be more aware of your surroundings."

"Another thing that you could teach her perhaps?" the older wizard suggested.

"Of course, it should not be too difficult," the lone Slytherin drawled.

"I should ask you as well how you've spent your day."

"I meditated," Severus said curtly.

"What if they get caught?" the Transfiguration professor demand, "Their lives would be forfeit."

Dumbledore turned to face his colleague. "I understand your worry, Minerva, but it is not as if I am forcing them. This is their choice; if they choose to say no and ask for my protection then I will set up a safe house immediately." He then turned back to the students, "Do you either of you want me to do so?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, I'm sure this is the best route."

"And you Mr. Snape?"

"I agree," he said with none of the hesitance he felt entering his voice.

"Well then, you are free to change your minds at any time before you are approached at which point it will be too late. Now I suggest you practice the skills I mentioned earlier together on your own time. Periodically either I or Professor McGonagall will check your progress. There is a room where you will be guaranteed privacy as you practice. Have either of you ever heard of the Room of Requirement?"

Severus shook his head in the negative but Hermione hesitantly gave a nod. "I recognize the name, it's… it's a secret room isn't it? Fit for anyone's needs?"

Dumbledore's twinkle brightened again, "Just about, walk in front of the space of wall three times with a need and a door will appear. Behind it you will find whatever you asked for: training room, potions lab, a bathroom, etc. It will even provide any books or equipment you require, within the laws of magic of course so no food will be created or anything like that. It is in the seventh floor corridor across the hall from Barnabas the Barmy. I would suggest that you use a notice-me-not charm whenever you go and make sure to ask the room to lock its self off to any outsiders while you are inside. Now I believe there is a staff meeting today that Professor McGonagall and I must run off to, you two can use the rest of the day for work or whatever you need to do for your task. Good day." Dumbledore then strode out of the room.

"Please promise you will try to stay safe," the Transfiguration teacher pleaded. Hermione was touched but not surprised by her Head of House's request and promised she would try.

Severus on the other hand was shocked and suspicious, though it did not show, when the woman who always supported his tormentors—the werewolf incident could've been an exception had she known—waited for his answer. Since when did she care for his wellbeing? Even had she known about the nearly fatal prank she would have been more concerned for Lupin than Severus. She never trusted him, still didn't trust him to not turn to the Dark Lord, though that was probably wise. Perhaps she linked Hermione's safety to his? That was the only explanation Severus could think of. As she was still waiting for an answer Severus gave a nod and she seemed a little relieved. "Thank you now can you please exit so I may reset my wards?" she asked returning to her normal stern demeanor.

The students exited and proceeded to head to the staircases side by side as McGonagall reset her wards on her office door. No one was wondering the halls at the moment so neither student felt a notice-me-not charm was necessary but Severus discreetly placed one on their persons anyway, just in case. Hermione led the way to where Headmaster Dumbledore said the room was since Severus was obviously less familiar with the area now that they were deep into Gryffindor territory where he had only ventured a few times during his career as a Hogwarts student. Hermione saw Severus tense a little in response to being in enemy territory but said nothing, knowing he would not appreciate having it pointed out.

They finally reached the portrait of Barnabas and across from him was what appeared to be a blank wall. "So do you want to give it a try or should I?" Hermione asked her companion.

"I don't believe it matters very much," Severus answered as he walked up to the wall and began his paces. It felt a bit stupid but he tried to take it seriously as he asked the room for 'someplace private.' He looked up to see the wall still empty.

"Perhaps you should phrase the request differently," Hermione suggested.

Annoyed, Severus tried again. 'We need a room to hide our activities,' he said in his head three times. When he again saw nothing, he let out a low growl of frustration. This time he paced a little faster as he demanded, 'We need a place to train in private. We need a room to train in safety. We need to train to stay alive!' He heard Hermione gasp before he looked up to see a door appear before him.

"Finally," the Slytherin grumbled as he opened the new door. Inside he saw a dueling platform on the far end of the room with a little first aid station next to it sans the actual potions or ingredients he would have to bring himself. Bookshelves lined the right hand wall filled with books. A little sitting area was arranged around a fireplace in the closest right hand corner. On the left was another sitting area bare of anything interesting and a curtain to shut it out from the rest of the room, perfect for learning occlumency.

"This is amazing," Hermione whispered as she looked in over Severus' shoulder, a feat requiring that he stand on her tiptoes.

"It is… acceptable," Severus conceded before finally walking into the room. As the door closed behind Hermione there was an audible lock letting them know that the room was secure.

"So where should we start?" Hermione asked handing the reigns over to Severus for their little sessions as it was obvious he knew the most in these areas.

"We are both decent duelers, so that can wait and you have probably done enough reading for today," Severus said with a slightly teasing tone when commenting on Hermione and books, even if he did read as much as she did. "What can you tell me of occlumency?"

"The act of magically closing one's mind against legilimency," Hermione answered.

"A text book definition and a simple one at that," Severus scolded. "When done correctly occlumency will close off your mind but also your emotions. It will help keep your tells off of your face when you lie."

"Something I need help with?"

"Very much so, let's see how skilled you are in occlumency so far. Hopefully you are capable of putting some of those facts you know into practice." Severus suddenly turned on her and said, "Legilimens."

Hermione felt Severus enter her mind and instinctively throw up her walls like she had with Dumbledore. Severus poked and prodded for a little bit before pulling out. "A strong basic defense but you'll need something less amateur for the Dark Lord."

"Amateur?" Hermione exclaimed, offended and a little angry over his sudden attack of her mind. "I kept you out didn't I? And the Headmaster my first day here."

"Only because neither one of us forced our way in, the Dark Lord won't be so courteous. Lucius has told me that He will invade the minds of any of his followers at anytime to insure their loyalty. Gryffindor tactics won't work here. The Dark Lord will crash through your wall, perhaps without even noticing it existed, and your whole mind will be open to him. We need to create subtle walls around the important stuff, create false memories and twist a few real ones, and lead You-Know-Who to what we want him to see. This is extremely difficult and quite frankly is still beyond my reach but if we want this insane plan of yours to work this we need to make it work."

Hermione sighed, "This will be harder than I thought."

"Well then you obviously didn't think this through enough," Severus snapped. He had hoped she would be a little more skilled than this. What was she thinking going to the Dark Lord with her mind in this state? At least he could feasibly accomplish what he needed to by the deadline, Hermione may have to go to a safe house after all.

"What do I need to do first?" she demanded a little frustrated.

"First let's identify what you need to hide. Our mission obviously, your true feelings towards the cause, and the fact that you are from the future." Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought, "We can't block off your whole past as that would be obvious and your amnesia will be a sever handicap. You won't like this but I'll need to break through and… look around. Find facts that must be hidden so you can be aware of them."

Hermione backed up, "No, I don't even know what's in there, I'm not letting you in!"

"You have to! Do you want to die? Or let the Dark Lord learn secrets about the future?"

"…. No."

"Then let me do this."

Hermione sat down by the fireplace in a cushy brown chair and thought for a few moments. It was an extreme invasion of her privacy but it would be better to have Severus do it instead of the Dark Lord.

"You have to tell me everything," Hermione said, "everything you see, I want to know more about my past."

"Fair enough, perhaps I can even release your memories. No promises though, I'm sure if that would work then Dumbledore would have already done it." Severus sat in the chair across from her and reached over. He grabbed her face in his hands, ignoring the fluttery insects now restless in his stomach, and made her look into his eyes. "Keep your walls down otherwise I'll have to break them and that can be very painful."

Hermione nodded and tried to relax, not an easy task while looking into Severus' black eyes and his hands still cradling her face. After what felt like an eternity she heard him whisper 'legilimens' and felt the intrusion of her mind.

Holding down her walls was nearly impossible, in fact she left barely a crack for Severus to slip in but it was enough and Severus was soon sifting through her mind. Finally, finally he came out with a very confused expression on his face.

Hermione was breathing too heavily to notice at first and after somewhat catching her breathe she asked, "What did you see?"

"I saw what memories you told me about and your memories here."

"And what else?" she pressed.

"A big blur," Severus answered, "Your past is just one big blur."

I know that Dumbledore didn't know of the room in the books but we are gonna pretend that he just acted like that so he could drop a hint for Harry, totally possible really. I feel weird having Hermione let him in like that but it needed to happen and it would have happened eventually as he trained her. I hope to have another chapter up soon but how soon I don't know with college coming into the equation.

Please review