CH-4- Paranoid Minister

Hermiones POV...

The next few days passed eventless. I got some food at the homeless shelter and recieved some money from people walking by giving me sympathetic looks. It was certainly an odd experience. My family had been fairly well-off and I had never known poverty. It was like a smack to my head, realising how fortunate I was and I was more grateful than ever. I decided to go back to Spinners end on the third day. I had some food stocked up by then to last me a few days. So I took off with a small tattered bag I had found on the street. I almost ran into a moving car as I was so consumed by my thoughts. What were Harry and Ron doing? What if they had travelled back with me? It would certainly have been better.. but I didnt like that train of thought. So I thought of the two girls. They were stuck in my head to be honest. There was something about them that seemed so familiar yet I couldnt put my finger on it.

"Hermione, where you going?". I was startled before I realised it was Emma. She was the kindest human I ever met. She was about 15 years old and we met at the shelter, we had been helping each other survive.. she was an orphan and had absolutely no one. I hated to have to leave without telling her but I had no choice, I couldnt possibly explain why I wanted to go to Spinners end of all places.

"Em, I.. I think I am gonna visit the countryside for a few days, I have enough food and.. I told you I really dont like the city as much. After I woke up from the coma I have been living there and I kinda like it"

Yeah I did go overboard on the whole background story. I told her I was kidnapped when I was very little. My parents were poor and they never came looking for me. I was made to work in farms and then one day an accident occured.. involving a tracktor.. and I ended up in the hospital. I woke up after 3 years. I know its a bit of a stretch but I panicked and I had to make up something on the spot! Anyway, I am glad she bought it.

It took me hours to get back to the sign that said spinners end. I didnt know what I would do next, I clearly hadnt thought this through. I decided to just walk around, to look for any signs of Snape or anyone else who might have come back for me. If only I could contact them somehow. There he was.. Severus Snape.. I gaped with my mouth open in awe. 9 or 10 year old Severus was running away from what looked like a run-down house. There was no doubt about it, the same greasy hair and sunken eyes. There was fear in his eyes, the kind of fear I had never seen in Professor Snapes eyes. I didnt know whether to approach him. He knew about my time travel in the future, so it might not cause any problems if he knew about me now. But then again, if he had known about it he could have prevented the whole thing and I wouldnt be here now.. oh well, time works in weird ways. But then again, what would a 9 year old be able to do for her?

Snapes eyes met mine. "Come back you bastard!", someone shouted from the house. Snape jerked in fear and kept running. I dont know why but I ran after him. We ran until we were a safe distance from the house. I was breathing hard, but he seemed to be just fine.. it seemed like he had had some practice. There was an awkward pause before he said in a harsh voice, "Who are you?"

"I.. am from the future. Time turner mishap. Future you knows about it. So.. yeah". Snape stood there for a second, blank expression on his face, not registering what I had just said. I couldnt blame him, he was already in a distressing situation, running away from his home.

"I dont believe you"

"Okay. What were you running away from", the words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. My heart was racing, dreading the response.

"None of your business". I sighed, should have known.. snapes the most reserved person I have ever known.

"If you answer me, I will give you proof that I am from the future", I had no bloody idea how I was going to give that proof but I just went with it.

"I dont care where you are from", with that he made to turn around and walk away.

"Hey wait. I wont ask you questions. Just, can you stay?", in no universe had I imagined I would be saying that to Snape, but here we were.

Severus turned around and looked at me right in the eye. It felt like he was reading my mind, I reminded myself 9 year olds cant do legillemancy. "What do you want?"

"I am just alone here, so it would be good if I had someone to talk to and befriend", what had happened to me? Had I swallowed a hippogriff? Deep down I knew it wasnt I who wanted to talk.. I wanted him to talk, what I just witnessed was very disturbing..

General POV... (in the present)

"Headmaster, we must not tell the boys.. they are bound to open their mouths and it will cause a havoc"

"Severus, I must say you have a good point. But I also must say I trust the boys with the secrecy and...", Dumbledore held up a hand as snape was about to interrupt, "if the worst comes to worst, we can always obliviate them". Snape must have been satisfied with this answer as he didnt speak further.

Fudges eyes went wide as a sudden thought hit him, "You! You did this on purpose. You sent the girl back in time to overthrow me as minister as you regret not taking the post yourself now"

Snapes eyebrows raised in amusement. Dumbledore gave a sly smile, "If I were to do so minister, why would I send a small girl?"

"Because she had the time turner! Its the perfect plan. Make it look like its broken.. oh my god, the broken one is fake isnt it? You hid the real time turner with which she went back in time, and you planted this fake one"

"Dont be ridiculous Cornelius", Mcgonagall strode into the room, her emerald cloak billowing behind her. "Now.. what has the department of mysteries found about the broken time turner?"

Cornelius waved his arms dramatically, "Ofcourse we wont find anything, its fake! We are going to bring that girl back Dumbledore"

"That serves our purpose"

"Oh no, I know you are going to sabotage our plan, you want to keep her there until your work is done"

"Whatever you wish to believe. I wish you the very best of luck in bringing Miss Granger back"

The minister strode out of the office angrily, muttering to himself.

"Now that that is taken care of, Professor Mcgonagall would you be so kind as to inform Mr. Potter and Weasley about the situation?"

Mcgonagall, composed in most situations, looked a bit tearful, "Of course headmaster."

Harry and Ron returned to the common room. They had just receieved the news. "I still cant believe Hermione kept this from us", Ron said moodily.

"Well she was sworn to secrecy", Harry said a little sadly.

"What are we going to do? Poor Hermione must be so scared all by herself"

Harry slowly contemplating replied, "Well.. what would Hermione do if she was us?"

"Go to the library"

"We need the restricted section for this"

"Harry I think its time to take out your fathers cloak"

Ginnys POV...

Dear Tom, how have you been? I just found out something crazy and awful. Do you wanna know?

Ofcourse Ginny, you know I always want to know everything about you.

Well this is not about me but anyways, do you remember Hermione? Harrys friend? Well she travelled back in time! Apparently she had a time turner somehow and it broke. Can you believe that?

That is interesting.. very interesting. Say did anyone else go with Hermione?

Ginny was a little surprised at the lack of schock in Toms words. Wasnt he interested in how it happened?

I dont know. But probably not.

Can you find out more about this... um maybe I can help this girl.

I will try. Tom do you know about any instances of time travel from back in your day?

All the time turners had been destroyed after Voldemort went out of power, quite a shame..

Ginny was always impressed at Toms ability to say Voldemorts name. Right now though, she was rather confused..

But isnt that a good thing? You-know-who could have returned to power using a time turner! And the death eaters could have escaped from azkaban

Indeed.. indeed. I need some time to think Ginny, I will talk with you later. And try to find anything you can about this situation. Dont tell anyone about this. Its a very fragile matter and you would be doing more harm than good by blabbering about it like you always do.

It was these moments Ginny was talking about, Tom could be mean.. and it was rather confusing why it would cause more harm, but she kept her mouth shut.

So what did you think about this chapter? Reviewww and tell me. I am on holidays currently so I will be posting more frequently if possible. See you next time. Take care everyone 3