"Why did you become a Professor?" Hermione surprised both herself, and Professor Snape, whose eyes shot up to catch her gaze when she spoke. She knew it was an odd question to ask the brooding, dark wizard but- it had been weighing on her mind for some time.

At least since she was old enough to understand he really was not very fond of his students. Any of them.

"Interesting question Ms. Lupin, why, pray tell do you ask?" He cocked a black eyebrow and she flushed bright red, her eyes flitting around the room for a moment before settling back on his unwavering gaze.

"It's just, you don't seem to like your students very much, or your position for that matter, I was just curious." She looked down at her hands and she could faintly hear him moving to stand, coming to stand over her.

Her eyes flicked up to his face and she was caught, that smirk that lingered on his lips enough to steal her breath.

She was immediately reminded of her dreams, passionate embraces and soft caresses, warm black eyes burning into hers as he moved atop her.

She flushed bright red and turned her face away.

"Why do you assume I do not like my students?" His voice was quiet, his eyes burning into the side of her face. She fidgeted and forced herself to look back up at him, shoving the images of her dreams as deep down as possible.

"You aren't very nice to them, sir." She blinked and he gave a little nod, black hair bobbed around his face and she imagined it dancing across her skin. She felt hot, incredibly so.

She needed to leave before she did something completely moronic! Of course he could never see her in such a way!

"I expect the best, and no less. In response to your question," he didn't move away from her, the scents of herbs and parchment overwhelming her sense of smell, she closed her eyes and tried to breathe, "someone incredibly dear to me said I would do well at it. Do you think she was wrong?"

Hermione felt her heart twinge with jealousy inside her chest and she took a deep breath, overwhelming herself with his masculine scent again.

"But if you don't like it, does it matter that you are good at it?" She glanced up at him, black eyes immediate bore into hers and she exhaled.

"A valid point. I have many reasons for remaining at Hogwarts for so many years." He gave her a long look before turning and striding back to his desk, his eyes on papers once more.
"I believe that will be all for today, Ms. Lupin." He dismissed and she began to clean up her mess, the herbs she'd been grinding deposited neatly in their crystal containers.

"I'm sorry, if I brought up painful memories." She managed as she exited the room, leaving Severus staring at the door long after she was gone.

Such a brilliant little witch, of course she could read him like a book without even knowing she had the skill.

He huffed a breath and returned to his grading, no sense dwelling on those sweet little blushes when he stood near her.

SSHG

"Wait, so you're saying that these 'Death Eaters' are on the rise again, they want to wipe out all of muggleborn kind as we know it and you have known about this for seventeen years, at least?" Hermione cocked an eyebrow at her father before her gaze drifted to Lily and James.

"You make it sound like we should have dealt with it sooner." Remus frowned and Hermione continued to watch them with a level gaze.

"You should have." She blinked a few times and shook her head, her throat clearing.
"Why aren't you telling Harry? Ron? Ginny?" She watched them with curious eyes.

Remus was reminded briefly how intelligent she really was. She was working things out faster than he could imagine working them out himself.

"You're the only one who is of age." Remus explained and then looked to James and Lily.
"Can you give us a moment?"

"You're going to tell her?" James caught Remus in a sharp look and he gave a brief nod.

"Be careful." Lily sighed and stood, dragging her husband out behind her. Hermione cocked an eyebrow at their backs as they left before she turned back to Remus.

"What's going on dad?" He took a deep breath.

It had always made his heart stutter when she called him dad. Every single time.

She rarely used the term, an endearment saved for moments of high emotional stress or joy.

"Listen, there are some things I need to tell you, and- they're going to sound strange." She blinked up at him as he stood and moved to sit beside her on her sofa, he grasped one of her hands between his and gave a comforting smile and squeeze.

"Does it have to do with the dreams?" So clever, he nearly groaned.

"Yes, everything to do with the dreams." She nodded, a motion he should content, clever amber eyes held his gaze as he began to speak.
"When we were in school, Lily, James, Sirius, and I, we met you, or at least, a version of you." She bit her lower lip, what?
"You said you were from the future, a future where the greatest evil you'd ever known, a man with snake like features and red eyes was doing battle against those on your side. He wanted to eradicate muggleborns and spoke out only for blood purity. He despised muggles. When you were a child, in this future timeline he killed Lily and James, tried to kill Harry, and successfully stopped Rose and Fern from ever even being born."

Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line.

"He killed Ginny, and Luna, and you…" She trailed, her eyes closing to the onslaught of imagery. She could remember it, so clearly. So painfully clear it made her chest hurt and she pulled her hand away from Remus' to clutch her chest.

"It's okay, it's okay." He cooed, pulled her into his side and stroked her arm. His lips pecked the side of her head as he held her.
"You changed that future, you came back in time and changed it all. You were our friend, our dearest friend. Unfortunately, when you were born, well, two could not exist on the same plane. You were so happy, so happy that we'd changed the future you said goodbye and- well, we thought we wouldn't see you again until you were eleven."

"But they didn't like the changes I made, they killed my parents, tried to kill me." She exhaled, her eyes wide as he cradled her beneath his chin. She blinked rapidly and wet her lips, her stomach summersaulting. At least her chest didn't hurt anymore.

"You were my best friend."

"And now I am your father, it is strange but, I liked to think you knew." She pulled back and smiled up at him, kissing him briefly on the cheek.

"I knew Remus, thank you so much for taking care of me, you and Sirius." He smiled at her and wrapped her in a bone crushing hug.

"Do you remember everything?"

"I don't really remember, it's more like a dream, I can see little flashes." She took a deep breath. "But gods it feels good to know I'm not losing my mind. That the dreams are real." She blinked for a moment.

She wouldn't- couldn't entertain the thought of her dreams of Professor Snape also being real memories. It was impossible to think she was the one who had helped shape him into the man he was today.

No, that had to have been someone else. She shook her head and hugged Remus back just as tightly