17 January 1977

The week after Severus' birthday, Hermione alternated between craving nothing more than Severus' touch, or being wound as tightly as a coiled spring, since the month in which they had been stewing their potion was nearly up. Each time she thought of her antivenin, she would become sick with nerves. She just had to get it right. Hermione Granger was a perfectionist by nature, but never before had something she worked on been quite as important to her. More than ever before, failure was not an option.

After dinner on Monday, Hermione and Severus were in the Potions classroom preparing to add the Jobberknoll Parts to their potion. After which, it would be one more week until the Phoenix Tears would go into the antivenin. Understandably, Hermione was anxious. So much weighed on getting the potion just right.

"Hey," Severus said softly, stopping Hermione's quivering hand from nicking her finger with the edge of her knife. "What's wrong?"

Hermione forced a smile as she watched lines of concern etch across Severus' forehead.

"Nothing," she lied, then sighed heavily when his eyes narrowed. "Alright, that was a lie," she admitted. "I need this to be perfect, Severus."

"It will be," he said, with confidence.

Hermione only wished she possessed it as well.

"Besides, if it isn't, we can always start again."

Hermione's eyes went wide.

"No we can't!" she shouted, before she could stop herself. "Slughorn needs it completed by the end of term," she said, quickly covering up her outburst.

Her heart was racing, just thinking about the possibility of the antivenin not working. She was sure that Dumbledore was not going to allow her to stay in the past into the Summer Holidays, regardless of how many times he had told her he'd never force her back to her original timeline. Lately he had been very persistent in asking when she planned to return home. She understood. The longer she was there, the more dangerous it could potentially become. Already she must have changed more things than she probably should have, who knew what damage she could have done if she stayed much longer.

"But why?" asked Severus, breaking her from her budding anxiety attack. "You still have another year to go before we leave Hogwarts. Why does it have to be finished by the end of our sixth year?"

Dammit. She hadn't thought of that. What would have been a valid reason for her to have needed it finished so quickly? Maybe playing stupid would work better than trying to think of yet another lie.

Hermione shrugged. "Dunno, actually. I didn't think to ask."

She tried to ignore the look on Severus' face, since it was clear he hadn't believed her. Hermione was not the type to not think to ask, as she had said. All of the lies and stress were causing her to slip up. She had to remember to be more careful.

Before he could question her further, Hermione quickly changed the subject to something she was positive would have distracted him.

"I was thinking," she began with a slight curve of her lips. "We haven't been to the island in quite some time, and it's so private…" she trailed off, biting her lower lip.

She was glad she was biting down on her lip, because it kept her from laughing at the blush spreading across Severus' cheeks, and the way his knife slipped ever so slightly as he was chopping up the remaining Jobberknoll Parts.

"Erm… yes. It is rather private," he agreed in a rough whisper.

"We should probably finish up soon then," Hermione teased with a wink.

She didn't stop the giggle that escaped her when Severus chopped with more speed than he had been previously.

After the Jobberknoll Parts were added, and the potion was safely stored back into the storage cupboard, Hermione and Severus did something they had never done before. They left the castle at nightfall, and headed down towards the boathouse.

It was foolish of her to have been so reckless, she knew that. The First Wizarding War was in its beginning stages, and she wasn't exactly sure if the wards protecting Hogwarts extended as far as the island where they had shared many private moments. And even the reassuring squeeze from Severus' hand, before he walked away from her, couldn't stifle her sudden doubts.

"This is stupid of us," she whispered as he untied a boat.

Severus glanced back at her over his shoulder and smiled.

"Probably."

"Do you think we should…?"

Hermione fidgeted, wringing her hands together.

A low chuckle came from Severus, as he climbed into the boat.

"Probably not, but…" He shrugged. "Fuck it."

Hermione snorted. It wasn't often Severus used that language in front of her, and it always sounded strange to her when he did. But, perhaps he was right.

"Fuck it, indeed," she responded with a laugh, then climbed in next to him.

The view of Hogwarts was always spectacular, but there was something about seeing it lit up, with the backdrop of a purple twilight sky behind it that made it ethereal, as it twinkled along with the emerging stars. She sat on the ground with her head resting against Severus' shoulder, listening to the waves lap lightly against the boat they used to cross the Black Lake. The wind blew softly, with a hint of mist dampening her hair. She was grateful her hair was not in its normal state, and that she had the Glamor placed upon it. Otherwise, her natural brown and unruly hair would have been wild from the moisture.

Between them sat a jar, which Hermione conjured from a button in her pocket, where her signature blue flame was ignited keeping them both warm. A coating of snow blanketed the floor around them, save for the circle they spelled dry to sit upon.

"That's impressive," said Severus, gesturing to the flames.

She fought a smile thinking of the time she had used those flames to ignite his robes, and wondered if he would find them as impressive then.

"It's a simple spell, really. I've been making these since First — since I first received my wand."

Since First Year, she nearly said. Sometimes, when she sat so comfortably with Severus, it was only too easy to be herself. Her true self.

"You'll have to teach me," he whispered into her hair, causing Hermione to shiver.

"Of course."

Severus' lips travelled slowly down, his teeth grazed the shell of her ear.

"You're an exceptionally gifted witch, Hermione," he purred, as he moved her hair from her shoulder, exposing the side of her neck.

Hermione turned to meet his lips with her own, feeling a slow heat spread throughout her body. She wondered, as they tangled themselves together, if she could have ever truly had enough of this. Enough of him.

All thoughts of the past, the future, the antivenin, either Wizarding War, were cast away from her mind as she and Severus lost themselves in one another, beneath the increasingly darkening sky.

18 January 1977

Morning arrived much sooner than Hermione would have liked, considering how late she and Severus sneaked back into the school. It was a miracle they haven't been caught. Well, she thought, there was a chance Severus might have been. She wouldn't know for sure until she saw him.

"Late night?" Amelia asked from across the room, with a smirk.

Hermione sat up in her bed, and reached for her wand on her nightstand. She silently summoned a headache potion, due to the pounding in her temples from the limited amount of sleep.

"Maybe," Hermione responded with a sheepish grin, after downing the potion and placing the empty vial next to her bed.

Amelia sat down at the end of Hermione's bed wearing a look of concern.

"You are being careful, right?" she asked, taking Hermione off guard.

Well of course she and Severus were being careful. She could hardly have afforded to end up carrying his child when she came from so far in the future. Who knew what consequences that could bring?

"We've been using the charm, yes, Amelia. We're being careful," she told her.

"I'm sorry, that was incredibly rude of me," said Amelia softly. "I just worry."

Hermione smiled. "It's okay, Amelia," she assured her. "I know you mean well."

She knew that Amelia wasn't a gossip, like Rita and her other roommates, or even her Gryffindor roommates Lavender and Parvati for that matter. If that question had come from any of them Hermione would have seethed. But, it was different with Amelia, who was truly her friend.

"Anyway," Amelia began, thankfully changing the subject. "How is your project for Professor Slughorn shaping up?"

Hermione got that heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach, as she normally did when thinking about, or speaking about the antivenin. It seemed as if everything had been coming along well thus far, but there was still adding the Phoenix Tears and testing to be done.

"Alright, I suppose. I won't know for sure until I test it."

Amelia smiled kindly before standing from Hermione's bed.

"I wouldn't worry, Hermione," she said as she put on her school robes. "You're brilliant. If anyone can create a successful potion, it's you."

Hermione tried to smile back, desperately hoping Amelia was correct.

"Thank you, Amelia. I hope so."

24 January 1977

It might have been the longest week of her life, but finally the time had come.

"So," said Amelia as the girls sat eating lunch in The Great Hall. "Today's the big day, isn't it?"

Hermione's stomach was in knots. She and Severus were to meet later that evening to add the final ingredient to her antivenin.

"It is," Hermione said, then sighed. "It just has to be right, Amelia. I can't fail."

Amelia smiled. "I don't think failing is in your DNA, Hermione. Besides," she added before taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. "You still have an entire year to get it right if by chance it doesn't work."

Hermione shook her head.

"No I—" she stopped.

What was the point? She was already lying about everything else, what was one more lie?

"Yeah," she said with a forced smile. "I suppose you're right."

"Look, I know that it's sort of become quality time between you and Severus, working on the potion, but if you ever need more help…" Amelia trailed off.

Truly, Hermione was going to miss Amelia. As much as she loved her friends from her original timeline, they never really took an actual interest in Hermione's academic work. Not for the first time, she wished that Amelia had been a student with her, during her real time at Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Amelia. I truly appreciate that." Hermione smiled.

The rest of the day dragged more slowly than any she could remember. It seemed like every time she checked her watch, certain that at least an hour had passed, it had only been around ten minutes. But finally the time had come, and Hermione and Severus were standing at their shared Potions table with the cauldron between them. In her hands was the tiny vial of Phoenix Tears Professor Dumbledore had left her for Christmas.

"Seven drops," she said quietly to herself before unstoppering it.

"This is going to work," Severus said, with his eyes focused on the potion between them.

Hermione took a deep breath and tipped the vial.

One… Two… Three…

She counted each drop in her head, while also sending a silent prayer to whomever would hear it, to please make this work.

Six… Seven.

She watched intently as a swirl of iridescent smoke rose from the cauldron. The potion bubbled, making a noise reminiscent of the fizzy drinks her parents rarely permitted her to have, saying that they would rot her teeth.

For a moment she worried it had all gone horribly wrong.

"Severus…?" she said under her breath.

The smoke disappeared and the only sound in the room was their breathing. Both of them locked eyes before looking at their finished work. Neither of them spoke for several moments, until Severus broke the silence.

"It's clear," he announced softly.

Hermione beamed at him. Her heart was filled with hope.

"It worked! We have to test it!"

She began rummaging through her bag.

"Dammit, I'm not prepared! I was so focused on adding — and so worried it wouldn't have — I've completely forgotten — but that's alright, I can just run back to my dormitory and — no, it shouldn't take that long, of course I'll be back before curfew, although —" she began arguing with herself.

"Hermione…" said Severus.

"...only about ten minutes…"

"Hermione," he repeated.

"And if it's Remus, maybe he'll—"

"Hermione!"

She felt her face grow hot. Her stupid habit of rambling when excited would never disappear, she was afraid.

"Sorry, Severus," she said with an embarrassed smile.

He rolled his eyes, but she saw the subtle upturn of his lips.

"Tomorrow, alright? It's already late, and I honestly don't fancy earning myself another detention this term," he told her, with a tone of voice that ought not to be argued with.

Hermione huffed, but she knew he was right.

"Fine," she conceded. "Tomorrow."

Carefully she carried the cauldron back to the storage cupboard they had been keeping it in, and placed a stasis charm on it, before closing the door and warding it.

Severus walked her back to her dormitory, and took her face in his hands when they arrived outside the door.

"It'll be perfect, you know," he said, his eyes wide with sincerity.

She bit her lip and looked down. "Hopefully."

He leaned in towards her, and pressed his lips gently to hers.

"It will," he whispered against them, before giving her a kiss.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed him tightly. He was right. It would be perfect, because Hermione refused to lose this. She refused to lose him.

"I love you, Severus."

He kissed the top of her head. "And I you, Hermione," he whispered into her hair.