Chapter 2: Code Name: 1979
September 1981
Severus was in his office a day later. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a silver coin. It looked like a Muggle commemorative coin, but it wasn't. It was goblin-made and very old. Severus's secret friend of more than a decade had given it to him after Hogwarts. It was laced with the Protean Charm. He used it three days ago to ask his friend if his witch was all right, and his friend said that she was unharmed.
He started writing a message.
Severus: Kings, what are the schedules of the Potioneers at St. Mungo?
The response came an hour later after Severus's third-year Gryffindor class.
Kingsley: First shift: 5:00 – 14:00. Second shift: 14:00-23:00.
Kingsley: Is everything all right?
Severus: Yes.
Kingsley: Good. See you on Sunday? Same time and place.
Severus: See you.
It was Friday, and Severus had a vacant period from 1-2 pm on a Wednesday, so he left the castle with the headmaster's permission (for personal reasons he did not wish to disclose), and Apparated near the staff gates of St. Mungo, behind Purge and Dowse, Ltd. He didn't wait long. He saw her entering the hospital premises thirty minutes before 2:00 pm. Then, he left, feeling satisfied. He promised to return at 11 in the evening and wait for her.
Tonight, he was going to talk to her again, and maybe, schedule a date.
.
Hermione was not prepared for the sight of Severus Snape, leaning on the wall across the street. He was wearing a white button-down shirt with long sleeves, a pair of wool, dark trousers, and dragon-hide boots. His shoulder-length hair was tied behind his neck, and his arms were crossed above his chest. His eyes were on the gates.
Damn. Why does he have to look so appealing? Hermione thought. She continued exiting the hospital, aware that he was crossing the street to approach her, but she pretended she didn't see him. He was fast, though. He caught up and, in just a few seconds, he was right in front of her.
"Hello, Miss Puckle." A mischievous smile formed on Professor Snape's lips.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. This person was so different from her professor. But then, Hermione remembered that the wizard in front of her was just 21. The teacher she had was in his thirties. A lot could happen in 10 years.
"What do you want, Professor?" she asked, not smiling. She also avoided his eyes. Instead, she looked at his chest – or rather, the buttons of his Oxford shirt.
"To get to know you," he said casually. "Why wouldn't you look at me?" He whispered the last part.
She looked up and gazed at his forehead instead, noting the absence of wrinkles. "Just because I didn't go to Hogwarts doesn't mean I know nothing about Slytherins. Most of you are either Occlumens or Legilimens."
She saw the tick on his jaw. He tensed and was quiet for a moment. "I am not trying to get into your mind, Miss Puckle."
"And I should be thankful," she deadpanned.
He smiled again despite her tone.
Hermione sighed. "Professor, please. What is this about?"
"I have already answered that. I want to get to know you."
"Am I your next task from one of your masters? I hope not," she said with sarcasm.
"No, Miss Puckle. They are not even aware of you, I promise you. This is me, and me alone, wanting to get to know you."
For once, she met his eyes. "I'm sorry, Professor Snape. I'm not interested."
With that, she Disapparated, leaving him alone in the dark.
.
December 1981
Two months. She did not hear from Professor Snape from October to November because Hermione requested the Department of Mysteries to be pulled out of St. Mungo. She could not bear to hear about the death of Harry's parents, the arrest of Sirius, and what happened to little Harry Potter. She couldn't.
She knew that everything happened for a reason. Harry would manage to defeat Voldemort years from now. But still, she could not do it. She could not witness it.
So, she requested to be sent away.
After learning that there was no way she could come back to 1999 and that the only solution was for her to wait until her younger self traveled back in time, Hermione insisted to go on a vacation.
She was sent to the Muggle world and worked as a library assistant at a university in Essex.
There were many nights she could not sleep, wondering what was happening in the wizarding world; what was happening to Professor Snape, and how he was coping that his first and only love died at the hands of his other master.
She thought of Sirius. He was framed. He was arrested without a trial.
She thought of Remus. He slept one night, thinking he had three best friends. He would be waking up one day, learning that all of them were gone.
She wanted to help them and make a change, but she knew better than to mess with time.
Now, she was back at St. Mungo. The trials were finished, and the Death Eaters were locked up in Azkaban. Professor Snape's name had been cleared, thanks to Dumbledore.
However, he was locked in Azkaban for a week while his trial was ongoing. When he was released, he was brought to the hospital because he was too weak, and he was battered before his arrest.
According to the news, Death Eaters – those who bore the Mark – were not given medical attention before being brought to Azkaban. It was a special order for the Dark Lord's followers. Dumbledore worked hard to prove that he was a spy for the light side.
.
November 1981
When Hermione learned that Professor Snape was admitted to St. Mungo's Hospital, she did not hesitate to visit him. She found him unconscious in a private room. Her professor was tall and lean with pale skin, but this man was even thinner and paler. There were injuries on his face, sternum, and even on his feet. Hermione felt a pang of pain for the man. She looked around the room. It was obvious that no visitors had been there. No well-wishers and her heart ached for the man that would be the key to defeating Voldemort in 1998; the man who protected her, Harry, and Ron through the years, until the end.
Hermione went to the gift shop of the hospital to buy him some flowers. She chose a bouquet of lilies and white roses. She didn't know what made her decide to write a card, but she felt like he deserved to know that someone wished him well; that someone cared for him.
Professor Snape,
Your efforts are very much appreciated.
Get well soon.
Sincerely yours,
"1979"
She could not think of another alias. Her birth year popped into her mind. He would not probably get it. No one would ever think that a witch or wizard born in 1979 visited him. She returned to his room and placed the flowers on the bedside table. She sat on the chair by the bed, just watching him, thinking about his future.
Hermione stayed there for half an hour until Professor Snape stirred but did not wake up. He looked like he was dreaming. A bad dream. So, Hermione went to his side and held his hand firmly. Her other hand went to touch his hair gently. "Shh… You're fine. You're safe," she assured him. Then, Professor Snape gripped her hand. She used her wand to pull the chair closer. She sat there for a few minutes, holding his hand. She only left when a healer came in and announced that they had to administer another medication to the patient.
.
December 1981
"Welcome back, Hermione!" Alona greeted her when they saw each other.
"Thank you," she replied with a smile.
Alona Goldstein was one of the witches Hermione had not heard of before her time travel, but there was something about her that seemed familiar. She could not place when or where she saw an older version of this witch.
Maybe at King's Cross during my Hogwarts years? Maybe she would have a child born in 1983, and she sent them off, so she looked familiar to me, she thought.
"How was your trip with Master Hector?" another colleague, Martha, asked.
She told them two months ago that Master Hector Dagworth-Granger requested her company to travel around Europe for his potions research. Her superior, Madam Avery, accepted her request without questions. When she returned, she was welcomed by everyone warmly. She wondered for a moment if the Unspeakables had something to do with it.
"It was… satisfactory," she replied timidly. "I was asked not to disclose anything about it," she half-lied. It was not true, but what could she tell them? That she served as a library assistant at a Muggle university because she was avoiding hearing the news about the events in the wizarding world for the past two months? No. She could not tell them.
"Hey, Hermione, do you know anyone who's looking for a flat? Or maybe, a roommate?" Alona quipped as they stood side by side at the laboratory table, preparing the ingredients for the Healing Potion they were going to brew that day.
"I don't know anyone looking for a roommate. Why?"
"My father finally allowed me to leave our family home and be on my own, with the condition that I would have a female roommate and that I wouldn't allow Kings to sleep over," the other witch told her.
"Congratulations!" she beamed. "But, sorry, is Kings your boyfriend?"
"Yeah," Alona smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "Kingsley Shacklebolt. I'm not sure if you've heard of him. He's an Auror."
Hermione tried to remember if Kingsley was married in her time. But before she could even think deeply, Alona's dreamy voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"He's my wizard."
She turned to Alona with a sincere smile. "He must be a good man."
"Oh!" Alona laughed. "He's such a Hufflepuff! He's very loyal and down-to-earth."
Hermione was shocked for a moment. She had no idea that Kingsley Shacklebolt was a Hufflepuff. Yes, they were not that close, but he was often at Grimmauld Place before Hermione's 5th year, and they often ate dinner together. No one mentioned his Hogwarts years.
"And which was your House?" she asked.
"Ravenclaw," Alona replied.
"No wonder, you're very brilliant," she said with pure sincerity.
"Oh, Hermione! I'm sure, if you went to Hogwarts, you would have been a Ravenclaw, too."
She chuckled. "Thanks. So, are you looking for a flat or a roommate? Because if you're looking for a flat, I can be your roommate. My one-room flat is so cheap, but I want more space for my books, you know."
Alona grinned. "Let's go find a flat together!"
"Will you be all right with an introverted roommate who can't cook well and spends a lot of time reading?" she asked with a smile.
Alona rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Why would I complain when I am the same?" They laughed together and worked on their potion.
.
December 1981
After a month, Severus could find some time to leave the castle again. Since his return to Hogwarts from… Azkaban – he still dreaded the memory – he had been preoccupied with his lessons and marking essays. Today, the students left for the holidays, and he would have three weeks of alone time – just reading, marking essays, brewing… or simply thinking of a compassionate and beautiful Assistant Potioneer at St. Mungo.
When he woke up a month ago at the hospital, the first thing he noticed was the bouquet of flowers from "Code name: 1979." Before he could even have the time to guess who it was from, his old friend came into the room with a Cheshire cat grin and asked him if he would like to see the memory of his beautiful visitor's visit. By the smile on Kingsley's lips, Severus knew that the visitor was her.
He agreed, of course. He did not want to miss the chance of seeing Hermione Puckle visiting him. He borrowed the headmaster's Pensieve, and the old wizard gave it to him without questions.
When he poured Kingsleys' memories, Severus saw his friend standing in a hospital corridor, just a few feet outside his room. Kingsley was stationed there to make sure no uncaptured Death Eaters would go after Dumbledore's spy. The Auror was using a Notice-Me-Not-Charm, Severus guessed.
In the memory, Severus saw the ever-beautiful Hermione Puckle walking to his room. Her bouncy curls were in a different kind of style that he remembered Lily calling the 'waterfall braid'. She was wearing a white and black polka dot dress that reached her knees and the quarter sleeves were fitted. She was holding her coat on her left arm. She looked hesitant and shy before entering his room. Severus followed her inside the room, and he swore, he could see pain on her face. She was feeling hurt for him. Hermione looked around the room and left. But she returned with a bouquet of lilies and white roses.
In the memory, Severus saw himself having a nightmare, and Hermione comforted him. She touched his hair gently and held his hand. She whispered comforting words.
Visiting Severus was touched, and he knew that he was not just intrigued by the witch. He was fond of her. She made him feel alive… and hopeful.
He learned from his other friend and through Kingsley that Hermione Puckle was taking the morning shift these days. It meant that her shift would end at two in the afternoon. He smiled as he re-read the card from her, signed "Sincerely yours, 1979."
He could not wait to receive another letter from her, or to just simply see her angelic face and hear her lovely voice. He decided to leave the castle and buy a bouquet of flowers for the witch he was carrying a torch for.