Hermione crashed into a solid body, sending her sprawling along the corridor.
"Mum! Are you alright?"
Her eyes widened as she took in the two children standing in front of her, taking the hand of the boy offering to help her up.
"Mum?" she queried softly.
"Oh. Oh fuck. Aunt Min and the Headmaster are going to murder us!" the boy moaned, the girl stood stunned for a moment before she launched herself at Hermione sobbing.
"Mum, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Hermione looked momentarily panicked before she wrapped her arms around the sobbing girl, murmuring soothing nonsense as she desperately tried to process what was happening. The boy looked lost as he watched her comfort his sister, a look of longing on his face that she couldn't understand.
"Do you want to tell me your names?" she asked softly, stroking down the girl's hair, registering somewhere that it was familiar.
"Ophelia," the boy choked out, "Ophelia and Alexander."
"Shakespeare," Hermione murmured, continuing to attempt to soothe the sobbing girl.
"That's why you chose them." The boy, Alexander, replied, sounding close to tears.
"Me?" Hermione asked sharply.
"Yes, Mum you. We weren't meant to tell you. Bad things happen to wizards who meddle with time but," he trailed off uncertainly. "I'm so scared, Mum and usually you have the answers or if not the answers something that makes us feel better but you're not here, not our you and….I'm so scared," he whispered looking so lost, Hermione's heart broke for him. Refusing to second guess herself, she shifted his sister slightly and held out an arm. The boy looked at her for a moment, several emotions flitting across his face before he too launched himself at her, clinging to her tightly.
She heard footsteps coming towards them as she attempted to process the last few moments, standing in front of her was Theo, an unreadable expression on his face as he watched her with the twins. Professor Snape stood next to him looking utterly exasperated.
"For the love of Merlin." she heard him mutter as he stalked towards them. "Miss Granger, Mr Granger you were not supposed to interact with anyone!" he hissed.
Ophelia raised her head, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "I know you want me to apologise, Sir. I just…." she made a helpless little noise in the back of her throat, "I just wanted my mum. I want to go home. I want her to tell me it's going to be alright. I want to open my eyes and for all this to have been a nightmare." She straightened her spine, looking the Professor straight in the eye, reminding everyone there forcibly of Hermione. "I very much doubt we'll still exist by the end of this. I won't apologise for wanting a hug from my mum."
Hermione felt her arms tighten involuntarily around the children. Her children apparently.
"What do you mean you won't exist?" she asked sharply.
The girl bit her lip, "Professor, please, can we explain?"
"Miss Granger you know the rules!"
"Professor," she replied softly, "I won't do it to her. Either you help us now or we'll find a way. We grew up with Fred and George Weasely as babysitters, please don't underestimate us."
Snape made an impatient noise as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Fine. For the record, I think this is a terrible idea."
"Noted Professor."
"My office. Now. Mr Nott. Return to your common room, we shall speak tomorrow."
"No. I want to hear this."
"Mr Nott!" Severus bit out. "It is not optional!"
"They're my children too!" Theo hissed, noticing that both children stiffened at that. Hermione looked at them warily, clearly having noticed.
"For fucks sake!" Severus muttered. "Are you trying to get us all killed by buggering the timeline!"
They all blinked at the man, his loss of control highlighting the precariousness of their situation.
"I'll take my chances. From what little I've gathered, my timeline isn't looking that great." Theo decided eventually. Hermione said nothing, her mind whirling as she attempted to piece together what little information she'd been given.
In a whirl of robes, Severus stalked away from them, moving towards his office, wondering whether he'd lost his mind in allowing this.