Written for the Trope Treason 2023 challenge as a gift for SallySlytherin

Chapter 1

Hermione Granger watched as the last few students left her Potions classroom. She sighed in relief, glad for the end of classes so she could rest up before the next onslaught in the morning. She locked up the classroom and went to her quarters, which were hidden from view right next door. With a wave of her wand, the door appeared, and she entered, heading straight for the desk that took up much of her sitting area. She'd preferred to work in her quarters unless meeting with a student, so her desk was where it was. There was also room in the sitting area for a couch and reading chair. It was perfect, honestly.

Sitting down, she pulled a stack of papers out of her drawer.

"How were the little miscreants today?" a voice inquired.

She looked up at the portrait of Severus Snape that hung over the fireplace.

"You spend more time in this portrait frame than you do in the Headmaster's office."

He shrugged. "Minerva is hardly there. But if I'm bothering you, I will leave, possibly never to return."

"Oh, now don't be like that! You know I enjoy your company. I was just making an observation."

"Yes, well, I see you do not have a desire to chat."

"Well, that's actually not true. I'd do just about anything to put off marking these essays. I'm not sure how you survived teaching Potions for so long."

"It was a necessity."

She gave him a sad look, but quickly shifted her face into nonchalance. Severus Snape was not one to allow pity when directed at him.

Hermione had been the Potions mistress for the last five years. Once she'd sat her N.E.W.T.s, no coercion from Ron or Harry could convince her to work for the Ministry. She'd had enough of fighting crime, and until changes were made, she had no love for the bureaucracy of the government. She'd thought about changing things herself, but had come upon some negative reactions about her being Muggleborn–carefully hidden among other reasons for her not to pursue a career at the Ministry. It had been enough to turn her sour on reform or anything to do with the government. With Kingsley as Minister, she had hoped for the best at the time, but she had no desire to be a part of the actual reform.

"It's hard to believe I've been here for five years already," she mused.

"Yes, I remember that first day you walked in here. Had I not been made of painted brushstrokes, I would have had a heart attack."

She laughed. "Yes, those first few months were rough, weren't they?"

"That is a massive understatement. We hated each other and weren't afraid to show it."

"I will admit you spent less time in that portrait back then."

"Who wants to be accosted by a harridan every day?" Severus ground out.

Laughing again, she shook her head at him. "You seem to forget that you were a right bastard."

"Well, you know I can give as well as I can receive."

"Definitely true. What was it that turned your cold heart warm when it came to me?"

His visage softened as he looked at her.

"It was that day you came in here with a student to have a private conversation. It was Mr. Parry, if I remember correctly. You were giving him advice on being brave. I guess he'd had some run-ins with bullies from other houses. You spoke of me in a very positive light. When you did, I saw something in you I hadn't even thought might be. You are a caring witch, Professor Granger. And you recognize the good in people. That is meritable."

"And thus started this lovely friendship that has bloomed over the years," Hermione mused.

Severus gave a crisp nod.

"I have to admit, I have enjoyed getting to know you, Severus. It's been nice learning about the real you, and not the one who had to be the consummate spy full of secrets and reactions that were downright nasty."

"I had to survive, so I had to play my part."

"Of course," she acknowledged.

They were silent for a few minutes.

"You know, I was sorry when you died, but I am even more so now. I wish we could have been friends in real life. It would have been nice to get to know you and have a real relationship with you."

"You would want that? Are you… What are you saying?"

She looked at him for a while before speaking again. "You are an amazing man. I admire you, I find you brilliant and funny. I just wonder how our relationship would have moved along had you been alive."

He arched a brow. "I too, have wondered much the same."

They were silent for a while. Hermione picked up her quill and began to mark one of the mountain of essays that awaited her attention.

"Hermione?"

She looked up at him.

"If there was a way to… ahem… save me, would you be willing to do it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I always thought if someone had gotten to me before I joined the Death Eaters, my life would have been very different."

She gave him a wide-eyed stare. "Are you talking about changing the past?"

He nodded.

"But… how could I…?"

There was a loud creaking noise as her desk began to shake. She pulled back, staring incredulously as the desk reformed itself, creating a small drawer next to the one on her left. After a minute or two, the trembling stopped and the desk returned to its normal stillness.

She looked from the drawer to Severus, back to the drawer, and to Severus again.

"Open it," he offered.

"What's in it?"

"You will have to see for yourself. I cannot say."

Gingerly nearing the drawer with her hand, she gave Severus another curious look. He only nodded.

Grasping the handle, she slid the drawer open, finding a necklace within. It was a blue phoenix on a silver chain. The bird was facing outward, its wings were extended and its tail feathers streamed out underneath it. It was stunning.

Hermione felt the urge to pick it up. Not giving it a second thought, she grasped the necklace and lifted it from the drawer. Immediately, she felt a pull at her navel and the room began to spin. She felt like her insides were being torn apart. The room spun faster and faster until she could stand it no more. Her head felt like it was about to explode, and then everything went black.