Severus watched the scene unfold in his office feeling uncharacteristically sorry for his students. The situation was beyond anything he'd envisaged. Lucius Malfoy as Minister. The thought alone was horrifying. He could well imagine what sort of laws the man ensured passed.

It was the look on Theodore Nott's face, however, that made his stomach clench. He knew the pressures old families put on their Heirs, he knew the expectations, the lack of choices, the threats but to see the result of it in front of him was jarring. The boy looked devastated, glancing between Hermione and the twins with a look of longing that touched even his hardened heart. He loved the witch, that much was clear but none of them could deny the truth of her children's words. He had ruined her life. That he had also ruined his own was still up for discussion, but hers, by virtue of her birth, was worse as she was apparently held to a vastly different standard, with her children also paying the price.

Meddling with time had drastic consequences, he mused, and they were but two people but there were also other muggleborns to consider. The laws presumably did not just affect Miss Granger, how many other muggle-borns were barely keeping their heads above water? How many had drowned? Perhaps this time the ends would justify the means if they could prevent the rise in prejudice. If they helped Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott in the process….well he'd never admit it was his driving force.

"Miss Granger, Mr Nott, remain in my office. You two, return to your rooms immediately, while I am aware there is more to discuss and it is clearly futile to keep you from your mother now we have things to discuss that do not currently involve you."

"Doesn't involve us?" The girl looked at him incredulously, "Are you actually serious, Sir?"

"I am," he replied unflinchingly. "Do I need to escort you?"

Hermione stepped in when it became clear they were going to argue. "I'll come and see you as soon as I'm able." She said soothingly, reaching for them. "Listen to the Professor just now."

She pulled a tense Ophelia into a hug murmuring, "If I disagree with his assessment I will tell you what's discussed ."

Ophelia relaxed into the hug, her mother had never yet lied to her, she had to trust her now. "Ok, Mum," she murmured back, squeezing her hard. "Will you come tonight?" She hated how young she sounded but as the reality of the situation began to sink in, all she wanted was her mother.

"If I can. If not, I promise I'll come tomorrow morning." the young version of her mother replied, looking so like the one Ophelia knew that she struggled to contain the tears.

"Oh sweetheart," Hermione murmured, pulling her back to her. "We'll fix it. I promise we'll fix it."

Ophelia shook her head as she clung to her mother, "You can't promise that."

Hermione pulled back, taking the younger girl's face in her hands, forcing her to look at her, "Ophelia, I promise." Against her better judgement, Ophelia nodded, trusting that her mother knew what she was doing. She always had before. "Good. Now go and do as the Professor said."

Severus smirked slightly as both twins reacted to the authority they were clearly accustomed to listening to, Alex swooping in for a quick hug as they trudged out the door.

Theo moved the moment the door shut, pulling Hermione to him desperately, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I love you."

She pulled away from him, mimicking the movements she'd used on their daughter moments before as she cupped his face. "We will fix this," she stated like it was a certainty. "I love you too."

Nodding, desperately wanting to believe her he leant down, kissing her slightly frantically as if worried someone was going to come and take her away.

Severus cleared his throat, making them break apart minutely, Theo still holding on to Hermione tightly, reluctant to let her go now he knew there was a future where he had been forced to.

"Shall we begin?" Severus asked, exasperated but without his usual bite. Nodding Theo guided Hermione back onto the sofa she'd occupied with the twins, melding her into his side. Severus rolled his eyes. "No one's coming to steal her quite yet, Mr Nott," he said pointedly.

Theo flushed slightly but refused to loosen his grip. "Do you have an exit plan?"

Theo shook his head. "Not really, I've been siphoning off my allowance, I've half of it changed to muggle money, in case we need to run there. It's the only place I don't think he'd know where to start."

Snape's eyebrows rose, "That is surprisingly inspired. Have you discussed where you would go?"

They both shook their heads, "I don't think I truly appreciated how precarious this is." Hermione said softly, "Theo has mentioned bits but I must admit I didn't take it particularly seriously."

"Perhaps then Miss Granger, you should now?"

Hermione nodded slowly, "Are there ways to magically mask your signature or change your name so you can't be traced?"

Snape actually smiled "Interesting questions Miss Granger. Yes, there are ways, they are, however, drastic measures. I assume you're thinking of ways not to be traced while still remaining in contact with others?"

"Yes. And you don't think it will work?" Hermione guessed.

"I think that changing your names and masking your signatures is a good idea but do you not think that Thoros Nott will be watching your friends and family to see where they go? He'll likely check to see if anyone disappeared around the same time as his son, all of them would be investigated and it wouldn't take long for him to come to a conclusion." he softened his tone, "Miss Granger, Mr Nott if you are doing this all of your ties to this world need to be cut."

Hermione drew in a sharp breath. "Are there other options?"

"Yes. You could fight it, you could claim asylum somewhere, although that would also require ties to be cut or we could always plan the assassination of Thoros…..I am joking Mr Nott!" he added exasperatedly at Theo's interested look.

"Shame, I liked that plan," Theo said lightly, wincing as Hermione hit his chest.

"So we essentially have to leave everything behind?"

"Yes, Miss Granger."

She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "I see."

"I do not need an answer now, but I need you to decide what you wish to do. I will help you formulate a plan for escape if you need me to."

"Thank you, Professor."

"You are welcome. I intend to meet with your children tomorrow, I assume you wish to be there?"

Hermione nodded, Theo silent at her side.

"Mr Nott?"

"Don't you think it will be easier if I am not?"

"Perhaps but I intend to determine a timeline, so perhaps it would be in your best interests to attend."

Theo nodded with a sigh. "Ok."