Chapter 3
"I trust you are familiar with this object miss Granger?" Minerva asked, with hints of uncertainty lingering in her voice.
"Why yes professor, it's a time turner. Infact, it's the same one that I used in my third year."
Albus pushed his half moon glasses up his nose to stare deeply into the young woman's eyes. "Ah yes, very observant, as always. However since then, before I resided in this picture frame, I made a few adjustments and modifications to this very turner. To reduce time loops in effect, I have now made it possible to go forward in time, so the user wouldn't be stuck behind time, so to speak." He finished with a chuckle.
Both women sat open mouthed, staring at the bumbling man in the picture frame.
He took a a quiet breath before continuing.
"Have you, Miss Granger, heard of the term 'our memories are our greatest weapon'?"
Hermione looked at Dumbledore with a face filled with puzzlement. "Erm, sorry no professor, I have not. Who said it?"
The eyes lit up once more, "Me!" He responded in a warm chuckle, which made his gold, ornate picture frame shake with vibrations.
"Just now dear girl..."
The mood slid to a more darker tone.
"And that is what you need to do."
Hermione sat in silence, staring at the eager faces, of the two most respected professors in Hogwarts. Could she say no?
Of course she COULD say no.
But would she?
Not when Hermione could potentially save lives that were unessisarilly taken by the cause of the war?
Lupin?
Tonks?
Fred?
Moody?
...Snape?
Could she save all of them with the knowledge that she knew?
But then it hit her, "I could save my parents!" Hermione exclaimed with glee as she leapt off her chair, however her moment of pure joy was quickly washed away by the clearing of the throat of one Albus Dumbledore. "Unfortunately my dear girl, that would be impossible without creating paradoxes. Because in your past, you knew that you were going to take away your parents memories and you can't go back and change that. If you see yourself... Well, the consequences could be dire." Dumbledore looked over his half moon specticals. "However that doesn't mean that you can't save other lives..."
The young girl looked up, tears glistening in her eyes.
"You? Prof professor?"
Minerva inhaled sharply, she hadn't considered that.
"No dear girl, some deaths, like my own were meant to be... However, some were gone way before their time. Without a chance to truely be free, and to love again..." he was cut off. "Albus!" Minerva choked out.
Hermione sank back into her chair once again, taking in all the information.
After a moments silence she leant forward and addressed both teachers.
"I assume that we are going to need a plan?"
"Yes... However before we start planning, Hermione. Isn't there someone she should meet before she makes any decisions?"
"Oh... yes, good idea Minerva. Lead the way."
McGonagall rose from her seat and headed towards the back of the office, where the Headmasters library resided. Before Hermione could get distracted by the magnitude of books that stood before her, a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder. "We are not here to read miss Granger, although I do appreciate any student who loves book as much as myself... This is not the time."
Minerva lead Hermione to the far back of the room, where in the middle of all the books a portrait stood.
A blank portrait.
"He's probably behind the bookcases again, big nose in a book." She mermerd, as she tapped her wand on the side of the portrait.
"There's someone here to see you."
"I never have guest's. Nor do I want them. Nor do I need them!" A deep rumble of a voice resonated from the bookcases.
Minerva huffed. "Please Severus, just this once."
Silence.
There was a sound of ripping paper as the sullen face of one Professor Snape positioned himself in his painting.
His familiar strong face looked down on the very pale face of Hermione Granger. His black eyes stared deeply into her own, when an eyebrow raised and a smirk formed on his thin lips.
"Miss Granger, you look like you have seen a ghost?"
She swallowed.
"Well... S, S, Sir. The last time we met you were dyi..."
"Yes! I am aware!" He snapped. "So what are you doing here, I never have guests! What's so important, that I had to put a very interesting book down, to talk to the resident know-it-all?"
She lowered her head in embarrassment, and she softly replied. "I've been chosen to go back in time sir." Her voice lowered even more, "And I think the reason why I'm here, talking to you now sir, is to somehow convince me that you should be someone I should save."
Snapes cold face changed, Hermione wasn't sure how, prehaps softened a little. "Miss Granger, as noble as that sounds... There would be nothing but a prison cell waiting for me, if I lived." He spoke in an unusual way, a way Hermione was not familiar with, it seemed softer, slightly sadder, and even slightly friendlier.
Hermione stepped forward, with her Gryffindor courage she brought her hand up to gently touch Snapes canvassy strong face.
"Sir, it's not true. You won't be. And if I succeed you will always have me as a friend. Although you were never nice to me, I have always respected you sir. And once I knew the truth I knew what a brave selfless man you were. You didn't deserve to die that night sir. I know you don't like to hear it, but you are a hero."
Hermione looked at the man, who was once considered the most feared teacher at Hogwarts, looking sadly into her eyes. One singular tear fell from his eye and trickled down his canvas face, before slowly turning his head away.
Hermione knew that their conversation was over. She silently walked away towards the front of the office before she heard the soft rich bassy voice say one more thing. "Good luck Hermione..."
She remained with her back to him, although she did hear his words, so to spare him from embarrassment she didn't look back and continued her path back to the desk where Minerva was sat, once again.
She looked at Minerva, and then at Dumbledore before speaking once more.
"Yes. I'll go back."
Minerva said nothing but smiled warmly at her favoured student.
Dumbledore studied Hermione's face.
"Good. He needed someone, when he was in desperate need, but no one was there. He needed a friend Hermione. Although he seemed like the strongest man, his pain, guilt and suffering ate him on the inside. Believe me Miss Granger when I say. Severus Snape was a good man."
"Yes sir I believe that... What's the plan?"
Please review!!A/N: I am so sorry for the late posting, I am about to start my new job and have been busy learning the script and reading. I have had a bit of writers block lately but here is the next chapter, I hope you liked it, its all leading up to the time travel!I will admit there probably wont be another chapter for a while and I do appologise for that! Its a mixture of christmas and my new job and that doesnt mix well with my ADHD so my brain will be so busy. But I WILL TRY! but it will probably be after christmas until you get the next one... Be warned! But we don't know, I could surprise you! And myself for that matter hahaha!so yes! please Keep reviewing! I Love reading them! It keeps me inspired!