Tale of a Smart Witch: Rebrewed
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes. Warnings: completely AU. Time travel.
To the friends' relief, the Gryffindor head agreed immediately. "I was going to suggest that you get some more fresh air now that your potion is finished anyway," she told Hermione, who cast Remus a broad smile and nodded, when they were told to be back an hour before dinner.
In contrary to the time of their last Hogsmeade visit, the main street was very quiet. The shops were open; however, Hermione had the impression as if many shopkeepers were using the student-free time for maintenance. When they passed in front of the joke shop, which was situated exactly where the future Zonko's was, a small note caught Hermione's eye.
'Due to old age, we are looking for an adequate person / persons to become our successor(s) in the near future, in two years at the latest. Please contact Mr. Arko if you are interested.'
"Remus," Hermione blurted out against better knowledge about changing the future, "wouldn't that be interesting for you and Sirius?"
Remus looked at the note with interest. "Yes indeed. The problem is that I don't have any money to buy the shop from Mr. Arko. Maybe James."
After exchanging a glance, they stepped inside. "Mr. Arko," Remus hesitantly addressed the shop owner. "My friends and I are interested in taking over your shop in two years' time."
"We'd like to enquire about the conditions," Hermione added.
"Very well, please follow me into the back room, which will allow us some privacy," Mr. Arko replied, causing Remus to hesitate.
"Excuse me, sir, may I perhaps summon my friends through the Floo?" he asked in apparent excitement.
"Of course," the shop owner replied, seemingly amused, as he pointed to a small ceramic turtle. "Floo powder is inside the turtle."
Two minutes later, James and Sirius were sitting in the small back chamber together with Hermione, Remus and Mr. Arko, and the three boys began to eagerly discuss Mr. Arko's conditions.
"I wish to retire as soon as possible, however, in two years' time at the latest."
"That would be a good timing, as we're going to take our NEWTs in two years' time," James replied, pensively.
Hermione only half-heartedly listened, as the three Marauders discussed their possible future plans with Mr. Arko. In the end, they agreed to involve James' father for signing the contract as well as for lending them the necessary starting capital. The three friends also promised to join Mr. Arko in his shop whenever there was a Hogsmeade day allowing them to leave for the village.
"Do you think your father will agree?" Remus asked, doubtfully, when they finally left the shop.
"I'm sure he will," James said, confidently. "It seems like a lot of money, but it's nothing compared to the Potter vaults. Moreover, he only needs to sign the contract for us for a year. As soon as we'll be of age, we can make a new contract to replace this one."
"That's great," Remus replied. "I'll see all of you here on Saturday then."
"Wait," James said, as Hermione and Remus were about to turn away. "Why are the two of you here together by the way?"
Hearing that Remus was going to stay at Hogwarts until after the full moon in order to try a potion, his two Marauder friends immediately decided to spend the night of the full moon at Hogwarts in their Animagus forms, causing Remus to smile.
"You're the best," Remus replied, happily.
HP
During the two days before the full moon, Hermione and Remus spent much time talking about the Marauders' new shop and making plans for the development of items for use in said shop.
Hermione was glad to have something to think about, as the thought of what Severus would decide in hindsight of the Dark Lord was pressing itself to the forefront of her mind every now and then. Only when she was lying in bed just by herself, she pondered if Severus was going to become a Death Eater or would accept her idea of working as a spy like he did in her former timeline.
By the time Pomfrey took Remus to the Shrieking Shack for the night of the full moon, however, her thoughts revolved about the question if their cure was going to be successful or if Remus would transform in spite of her and Severus' efforts.
'The question is how to make the potion permanent,' she thought, 'provided that it's not already permanent. Too bad that we're only going to know in a month's time.'
Sleep was hard to come by that night, however, when she finally managed to fall asleep, her dreams were disturbed by werewolves baring the Dark Mark on their forearms whenever they changed back into their human forms.
'Oh Merlin, what a stupid dream,' she scolded herself and at the first ray of sunshine walked to the hospital wing to join Madam Pomfrey when she went to retrieve Remus.
Hermione was absolutely delighted upon hearing that her friend had not transformed at all during the night.
"Congratulations Remus," she said, smiling.
"Thank you so much," Remus replied, tears leaking from his eyes. "You can't believe how happy and grateful I am," he sobbed. "Ever since I was small, I had hoped…"
"Shh, it's all right, Remus," Hermione replied, gently putting her arm around her friend's back, when they trailed back to the castle following the healer. "I'm very happy for you."
"Me too. I still can't believe it," Remus replied, happily.
"Did James and Sirius not come?" she remembered to ask, when they reached the entrance doors.
"They came, Peter too, but they left around four in the morning so as not to meet Pomfrey," Remus whispered. "They told me now I'd have to practise to become an Animagus."
Hermione chuckled. "We could try to become Animagi together," she then suggested. "I'd love to become an Animagus. We could ask Professor McGonagall if she'd be willing to teach us."
"No," Remus replied, grinning. "James, Siri and Peter just taught themselves, and I think we'd be able to do the same. It's probably much more fun than being taught by a professor."
"That's true," Hermione had to agree. "Maybe Severus and Regulus will want to practise together with us. I don't know if they were Animagi in the future."
Remus grinned. "Ask them. The more the merrier."
During the two days while Remus remained in the castle, the two friends searched the library for information about the Animagus transformation.
HP
However, when Remus returned home for three weeks, Hermione once again began to worry about Severus. Sitting in her own room in McGonagall's quarters, she tried to read everything about how to become an Animagus; however, she could barely concentrate.
'At least today's Saturday, thank Merlin,' she thought, when she readied herself for bed that evening. 'Severus should come back here tomorrow.'
HP
At the same time, Severus followed Lucius Malfoy into the hall, where Lord Voldemort was holding court.
"Are you ready?" Lucius asked, grinning.
"Yes," Severus confirmed in a firm voice. He had spent the last few days carefully pondering the words which he was going to use in front of the Dark Lord, and he felt contented with himself. On the other hand, he could not help feeling scared, as he did not know how the Dark Lord would react to his proposal.
'I just hope he won't kill me,' he thought, thinking of how Hermione would encourage him if she was with him. 'Tomorrow, I'll tell her about it,' he resolved, before he became distracted, when he found himself vis-à-vis with the Dark Lord.
"My Lord, this is Severus Snape," Lucius Malfoy introduced him to the Dark Lord, while Severus bowed deeply, thinking, 'Almost as if I were a house-elf.'
"My Lord," Severus said, slowly moving his head upwards to view the Dark Lord, whilst being careful to not meet the Dark Lord's eyes.
"Are you ready to take my mark and become my follower?" the Dark Lord asked in a neutral voice.
"My Lord," Severus carefully began to reply, "I came to offer you something."
"And what might that be?" the Dark Lord enquired, raising his voice.
"Since I'm still at Hogwarts and hope to remain at the school even after my NEWTs to teach Potions, I'm in a brilliant position to spy for you. I'd like to become your spy."
The Dark Lord looked at him in apparent surprise. "And on whom are you going to spy?"
"On Dumbledore and his associates," Severus replied, calmly.
"This might be useful," the Dark Lord said, pondering the offer.
"In that case, however, I believe that it would be better to not take the Dark Mark," Severus added, carefully. "In order to efficiently spy on the light side, I'd need their trust, which I'd be more likely to receive if I wasn't bearing your mark."
The instant he finished his sentence, he knew that he was going to die. 'Oh Merlin, Hermione, I should have talked everything out with you before coming here,' he thought, before the Dark Lord hit him with the dark curse.
tbc...