Fractured Glass

[StarGazr]

Hi everyone... this is my first attempt at a Severus/Hermione piece.. ow! Colli don't hit me... and it took a lot of convincing to post it here... yes yes I know Colli! Thank you... Well, I want to clarify that this is NOT a student/teacher piece, Hermione is older, so that's why I was finally talked into posting.. COLLI!! (she's drooling on the papers again!)... The first part is the prologue... I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: HP and everything revolving around it belong to JK Rowling; I am making no money off of this story.

Fractured Glass
By, StarGazr

This is my first attempt at a Severus/Hermione piece. I know all who are reading this are thinking 'another time-turner piece?!' but believe me when I tell you that this is different... heard that one before... OK, I would offer money, but I work for a daycare and we don't get paid a lot... please try it :) Let me know what you think
I was very skeptical about posting this... I wanted to write the whole thing then post it... I get so influenced by the wonderful comments I get, that sometimes I get sidetracked. But, thanks to the influence of Colli, you're going to get a look at the prologue today! Yay for you! But since Colli has a general idea... nix that, she knows Snape's gonna be in it and that's why she's beta-ing for me... luv ya hon... so I WILL stay on track!
Thanks so much to Lithorose for previewing this... she's a skeptic in the genre but stuck by me anyways! And to Colli... my Alan swooning partner... stop drooling on the papers or I won't let you edit anymore!

Fractured Glass

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Prologue

"After the fall of Rome, Muggles began to scatter. They were divided and leaderless, and..." a bell rang cutting her off. "All right class, finish reading this section for Thursday. I'll see you then."

A dozen young witches and wizards made their way out of the bright classroom. One student stayed behind and approached his professor. "Professor Granger?"

Hermione Granger turned to face the young boy. "Yes, Mr. Weasley?" She couldn't help but smile at the boy who she was sure looked more like his father Bill than his mother Angela.

"Uncle Harry gave this to me last night and wanted me to give it to you," he said, handing her a rolled up piece of parchment. "Uncle Harry says Hedwig is getting old, and I'm not," he grinned.

"Thank you, Arthur. Ready for your match against Hufflepuff?" she asked, breaking the wax seal on the parchment.

"You bet, Professor! If we beat them by at least ninety points, Gryffindor will take the lead for the Quidditch Cup!" Arthur beamed.

"Well good luck to you, and tell the team I said the same. Go on now, you don't want to miss practice," she said. Arthur yelled his good-bye and dashed out of the classroom. Like his father and uncles before him, Arthur was one of the team's beaters.

Hermione rested her hip on the side of the desk and unrolled the parchment. Harry's distinct scrawl made her smile. 'Hermione, Hedwig has just finished a long trip to see Sirius and I didn't want her making the trip to Hogwarts so soon afterwards. It's hard to believe, but my girl is getting old. I'm coming to Hogwarts Tuesday evening. By the time you read this, you should know why. Ginny sends her love, and she misses you. I love you, and I'll see you soon. Harry.'

"What on Earth?" she wondered aloud. She glanced at the clock and noticed that it was almost evening already.

Harry Potter hadn't returned to Hogwarts since he had graduated more than half a decade before. After Voldemort's demise in their seventh year, Harry had played professional Quidditch for two years before he and Ginny Weasley had gotten engaged and eventually married. Not long after that, he decided that his Quidditch days were over and began a year-long training program to become an Auror. These days, he and Ron Weasley were a pair not to be reckoned with. Hermione had learned from the letters she received from them that they had been assigned to the task of taking down the last of the Death Eaters. They showed littler mercy to the souls that had terrorized their classmates and hundreds of innocent people.

After graduating, Hermione had gone off to America where she studied Transfigurations for two years before realizing that her passions lay in history. Upon returning to England, Hermione held a dual degree in the History of Magic and Muggle Studies, and Albus Dumbledore had offered her an apprenticeship with Hogwarts' Muggle Studies instructor, Professor Kendall. Professor Kendall announced his intentions to retire, and Hermione was asked to step up as Professor of Muggle Studies.

Sighing deeply, Hermione rolled up the parchment and stood. She was headed for the door when there was a knock. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall stepped into the room. "Good evening, Professors," Hermione said. "I was just coming to see you, Albus." His name still didn't sound right to her as it rolled off her tongue. She had been trying to use it, as he had requested, for the past year.

"I see you received Mr. Potter's letter, Hermione," Albus said.

"That's why I was coming to see you. What is he talking about? Why is he coming to Hogwarts?"

Albus held up his hand to stop her questions. "Relax Hermione, that's why I am here," he said. Hermione nodded and took a deep breath. "Harry is coming here as a personal favor to me."

"Are you all right, Professor?" Hermione asked. She scrunched her nose as she called him 'Professor.' Nothing that came out of her mouth sounded right.

"Yes, yes, I am perfectly fine." The smile he gave assured Hermione that the one-hundred-plus-year old Headmaster was indeed still in good health.

"Harry is going to be escorting you to the Ministry of Magic on Hogwarts business," Minerva informed her.

Hermione turned to her former Transfigurations professor. "Why am I going to the Ministry?" she inquired.

"Hogwarts has come into possession of a rare artifact," Hermione stood up straighter as she listened to what Albus had to say. "During a routine search of the grounds and, we stumbled upon an unregistered time turner."

Hermione braced her arms on the desk, cocking her head in interest. "Why are you getting rid of it? Why not just have it registered?"

"You see, Hermione," Albus explained, "this is a rare time turner that we have found."

"We believe that it has the capability of transporting its user further back in time than mere hours," Minerva supplied. "From the markings on it, we believe that if used, it could send a person back several years in time."

"I never knew such a thing existed," Hermione confessed.

"It's not a known artifact in the magical world. I'm sure you can imagine how dangerous an object like this would be," Albus said. Hermione nodded in agreement. "Because you are a registered time turner user, I am requesting that you make sure that it safely arrives at theMinistry."

Absorbing the information, Hermione absently nodded. "Yes, I'll take it. But that still doesn't answer why Harry is coming with me."

"We couldn't afford to let anything happen to Hogwarts' favorite Muggles Studies professor."

Hermione whipped around at the sound of the new voice. "Harry!" she exclaimed, crossing the room into his open arms. Her heart soared as his arms came around her waist. It had been a long time since she'd held him.

"We will leave you two to chat. I will be in my office when you are ready to leave," Albus said, leading Minerva from the room.

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Hang on... gotta go to another post!!

[StarGazr]

Prologue, part 2

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Harry pulled back and looked at her. He kissed her gently on the cheek and smiled down at her. "Teaching has treated you well, Mia," he said, using the nickname that he had given her in their seventh year. "Ginny sends her love."

"How are she and my goddaughter?" Hermione inquired.

"Lily has learned how to talk," Harry said, taking up Hermione's place on the edge of her desk. Hermione stood in front of him, her arms crossed casually across her chest. "I think Ginny taught her just so I can have another woman yapping in my ear," he said, with a proud grin on his face all the same. Lily Virginia Potter, born almost two years prior, was Ron and Hermione's godchild. Hermione felt her heart clench as she realized how fast the girl was growing up and how little she'd visited.

Harry leaned forward as if to tell Hermione a secret. "We're hoping for a boy this time around," he smiled.

Hermione's eyes grew and a smile spread across her face. "Oh, Harry, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend. She closed her eyes and remembered a time when holding Harry was more than a friendly gesture. The simple use of the nickname he had given her was enough to send her senses back in time to their final year at Hogwarts.

A small smile spread on Hermione's as she recalled the five weeks of sneaking around behind their friends' backs and stealing kisses in the halls, followed by almost a year of sheer bliss together. It was around nine months into their relationship that Hermione had begun to get the feeling that she was missing out on something. To this day, she couldn't put her finger on the feeling she had had, but she knew that her future did not lie with the young man she was with. Within a week, the golden couple of Hogwarts was no more. They walked away from the relationship with no hard feelings, but slipped back into the role of being friends.

"How far along is she?" Hermione inquired.

"Five months, she's just starting to not fit into her clothes. Bloody moody as hell," he said, smiling.

"I'm sorry I haven't stopped by," she said quietly.

"The door swings both ways," Harry admitted. "None of us have been very good friends over the years. The only reasons Ron and I see each other are the facts that I'm married to his sister and that we work together."

"But you still see each other, all the time!" Hermione exclaimed. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Mia," Harry said, looking her over for the first time. "Where is all your hair?" he said, gaping at her.

"Oh," Hermione said, gingerly touching her shortened hair. After she had accepted the position at Hogwarts, Hermione decided she needed a more professional look for herself. One afternoon, while in Diagon Alley, she consulted Madame Malkin on this very topic. The witch who had helped Hermione with her robes over the years had been more than happy to help her now. Hermione had gone with a shoulder length style and the untamed curls of her youth were transformed into sleek layers that framed her face.

The little make-up she wore was charmed onto her face in the morning. Even after living with Lavender and Parvati for seven years, she never learned the fine art, and patience, of applying make-up. Madame Malkin had taught her several basic charms to avoid the application process.

Laughing as Harry still stared at her, Hermione twirled once. Her deep red satin robes swished around her feet. "I needed a more professional look," she explained.

"You look beautiful," he said. "Teaching really has treated you well."

"I would say the same about you being an Auror, but you look like you could use a week's worth of sleep," Hermione said, as she saw the shadows under her friend's eyes.

"As soon as I see you safely to the Ministry, I'm taking some overdue vacation time. You should come home with me. You've got Easter break coming up, and Ginny would love to see you," he said.

"I would love to, Harry," she said after a moment's thought. "I could use some time away from here. I don't think I'll be needed, seeing as not many students stay over the holiday. I can come back here tomorrow, then I can leave."

"Great," Harry smiled. "So, do you want to get going? I want to stop in to see Lupin before I leave, though."

"I'll head up to see Albus, and I'll meet you in the entrance hall in thirty minutes?" Hermione gathered up her cloak as Harry headed out of her classroom.

Hermione headed for the Headmaster's office. She called out the password and ascended the moving staircase. "Ahh, Hermione. I'm glad you decided to accept this task," Albus said, reaching into his desk and removing a deep purple cloth made of velvet. "Please make sure this makes it to the Ministry of Magic safely. I trust that you can keep its existence a secret as well, Hermione."

"Of course, Albus. Does Harry know what it is?"

"No, all he knows that you are carrying something of great importance to the Ministry, and that you and it are to be delivered safely," Albus said.

" But surely you realize that I can get it to the Ministry."

"Someone hid that time turner, and if it were discovered by someone who planned to use it for ill purposes... well I'm sure you can just imagine, Hermione. I would feel much better if I knew that you were protected by one of the best Aurors the Ministry had to offer," he explained to her.

Hermione tucked the folded cloth into her robes without even examining it. "I will contact you once I have turned it over to the Ministry officials."

"I will see you tomorrow then, Hermione," he said, smiling. "Do be careful, my dear. That is no ordinary time turner that you are carrying." Hermione nodded and turned, going back out of the office, and down the moving staircase.

Walking quickly down several sets of stairs and greeting the students she passed, Hermione threw her cloak over her shoulders and worked on fastening it. Once she was on the main floor she still was struggling with the cloak. Muttering to herself in frustration, she looked down and finally achieved fastening the silver clasp. She suddenly felt herself crash into something quite solid. Hermione felt herself falling backwards towards the floor, and would have landed, had the object she had crashed into not caught her and hauled her back to her feet.

"Hermione, please pay attention," a deep voice demanded.

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Argh... one more!!

[StarGazr]

Prologue, part 3

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"I'm so sorry, Severus," she said breathlessly. "I was trying to fasten the clasp on my cloak and couldn't do it without looking down," she tried to explain.

Severus Snape let out an exasperated sigh, "Hermione, please stop talking," he insisted. Over the past three years, Hermione and Snape had established an understanding of one another. After her return to Hogwarts, their conversations had been few and far between but, none of the other professors spent as much time in the library as they did. Their paths were always crossing. Small talk turned into short conversations which turned into almost daily talks about their jobs and mutual interests in literature, potions, and history. Hermione had been skeptical at first at the change in his character, but gradually came to enjoy his company.

Hermione had always respected the Potions Master as she had respected all of her professors. She had gradually come to valued his opinion as well. During her two years as an assistant to Professor Kendall, Hermione knew that Snape still saw her as a student. Over the past year she had come to consider him a friend and a confidante. There weren't many people in her life who appreciated learning quite like she did, but in her eyes, Severus seemed to thrive on it in the same way she did. His eyes seemed alive when they discussed topics of literature, religion, alchemy, or history. In unspoken agreement, they never discussed their personal lives. Hermione knew that he regretted a lot of things about his past, and felt that if she tried to bring it up, he might turn away from her.

After much badgering from Hermione, he had reluctantly been convinced to drop the formality of calling her Miss Granger and had been swayed into letting her call him Severus. "Next time," he said, "wait until you stop walking before you stop paying attention to where you are going."

She studied him for a moment. "That made little to no sense," she said. "Where are you off to?" she asked, adjusting her robes and cloak, and continuing her walk toward the entrance hall.

"I was looking for you, actually," he told her, walking beside her. "I know where you are going," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hermione stopped in her tracks, and turned to him. "Don't worry about me, Severus," she said with a soft smile. "Harry is coming with me, and I'm just making the delivery. I should be back before dawn."

"Granger," he growled, pulling her aside and into the shadows. "I'm giving you a warning." Hermione was used to his acting overbearing sometimes, but rarely did he ever touch her. He gripped her upper arms and forced her to look up at him. "You are transporting a very dangerous artifact," he hissed, his sharp featured darkened by the shadows. "You need to listen to me very
carefully."

"Severus, you're hurting my arms," she whimpered. His long fingers were digging into the soft flesh of her upper arms, even through the fabric of her robes and cloak. "You're scaring me."

"If you change the past, you affect the future," he said cryptically.

"What are you talking about," she demanded, as she felt his grip loosen, then disappear. He stepped away from her.

"Whatever happens to you, remember that every action has a consequence. Don't let your emotions get in the way of what has to transpire. No matter what," he said, quietly and turning away from her.

"In case you've forgotten, I am a registered time-turner user. I know the consequences," she said, but saw the dark look in his eyes. "What's going to happen to me and this artifact?"

He turned back to her with a haunted look in his eyes. He stepped closer and reached out to her to her; his hand gently caressed her cheek. "Mia," he whispered. Her eyes widened at his calling her that name. No one but Harry had ever called her that.

Before either of them knew what was transpiring, Severus had his arms around Hermione's waist and had drawn her to him. He bent his head down to her and kissed her firmly on the lips. Her hands gripped his upper arms, her neck tilted up fusing her lips to his. Hermione moaned softly, she moved her hands up and circled her arms around his neck, drawing him even closer to her body.

Long moments passed before Severus quickly pulled away and stepped back, leaving Hermione gasping for breath. "Just remember what I said," he breathed. "You can't change the past, or everything you know about the future will never happen." With that, he turned and swept down the stairs, headed for the dungeons.

Time passed. Hermione stood with her fingers pressed to her lips, staring after the man that had just left her side. Her lips were on fire and she could feel a ghost-like pressure on her waist where his strong hands had been. 'He kissed me,' she though to herself, 'and did he ever kiss me."

"Ready to go?" Harry asked, bounding into the entrance hall. Hermione spun around and took in her surroundings. She didn't remember coming into the main hall, but she was standing in the shadows, so she hadn't moved since she'd been held by him. "You OK?" he asked, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, just thinking about all the wonderful time I'm going to have off," she said, forcing a smile.

"Ginny is going to be so happy to see you. Not to mention Lily," he said, offering her his arm as they walked out of the castle. The sun was shining, nd Hermione turned her face upward to feel the warm rays on her cheeks. The light wind swirled around the hem on her robes and her cloak flapped behind her. Harry's always unruly hair whipped silently as he turned to her. "I have an idea," he grinned.

"Oh, no Harry," she moaned, walking arm and arm with him down the path to the main gates, "every time you get an idea, we end up in trouble!"

"This is a good idea!" he laughed. "Instead of Apparating or Flooing, let's fly." Hermione's eyes widened in horror and fear. She pulled her arm away from his, but he laughed and grabbed her before she could run. "Oh, come on! We'll go high enough so no one can see us, and I'll even put an invisibility charm on us."

"We'll go high enough so no one can see us," she mimicked in fear, "I don't like flying, and you know it, Harry Potter," she moaned, twisting her wrist, struggling to get free.

"Hermione, you're an adult now. You're a Hogwarts professor, and a damned bloody good one at that. This is just another hurdle to jump!" he insisted.

Hermione felt every muscle tense. She looked around the grounds. There were several students lying out on the grass or chasing one another across the grounds. The leaves were blowing in the soft breeze; the snow had finally melted revealing the vibrant greens that had laid dormant during the winter months. The trees were budding and flowers were starting to push their way up from the soils of Hogwarts' many gardens. In the distance, Hermione could see Hagrid's cabin with the curl of smoke coming from the chimney.

The panic began to subside as Hermione took all of this in. The rational side of her brain told her that the trip to the Ministry of Magic was a short trip, even by broomstick. It was a hurdle even she could overcome. Turning back to Harry, she saw that he had summoned a broomstick that Hermione did not recognize, but judging from its sleekness, it must have been a new model. He had a wide grin on his face as he mounted the broomstick. He held his hand out to her. "You're going to pay for this, Potter," she grinned as she stepped up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. The ground gave out from under her as he kicked up off the ground. Her grip tightened, causing him to laugh.

"You're in for the ride of your life, Mia," he said as they began to climb. Hermione felt a jolt run through her body when he used the nickname, but she wasn't thinking about him. She was thinking about another man who had used the name in a dark hallway not so long ago. She couldn't understand why he called her that, or why he had held her, or why he had kissed her. He had kissed her with confidence and passion, like he had done it before, and had known just how to kiss her.

"See! It's not so bad," Harry yelled over his shoulder. Hermione looked around and realized that she had been lost in her thoughts. The clouds were now below her feet instead of above her head. "Are you OK?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she mumbled. She thought about the artifact she was carrying, and idly reached in her robes to make sure it was still there. "How long before we get there?" she asked, carefully leaning forward to talk to him.

"Probably thirty minutes," he told her. Hermione rested her head against his back and tried to relax. The sun was shining on her back and the wind was whipping through her hair.

'I should calm down,' she thought. 'But how can I calm down when all I'm really thinking about is that brooding man?' The tingle in her lips was still present. ‘What had he been trying to tell me?' she wondered.

A gray cloud loomed ahead of them. "Mia, I'm going to have to drop below this storm," Harry warned. Hermione's arms tightened around his waist again, as he started into a steep dive. Her breath caught in her chest as the air moved around her. The broom cut through the clouds and Hermione felt the rain whipping her in the face. Her breathing quickened and she closed her eyes.

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[StarGazr]

Prologue, part 4

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The next thing she knew, it was over. She looked down and saw the earth speeding by beneath her. They had passed through the storm, and it was now behind them. "Next time, we're Apparating," she said. Harry nodded in agreement as he flew on toward the Ministry.

Remembering the time turner once again, Hermione loosened her grip on Harry and reached into her robes. Wrapping her fingers around it, she sighed. Harry jerked the broom suddenly, but before she could compensate for the movement, Hermione lost her grip on Harry. "Hermione!" he screamed.

Her fingers remained curled around the artifact as she felt the air rushing around her. A scream escaped her throat as she turned over and over, spinning out of control, falling toward the Earth. It was the same feeling she'd had only an hour ago when she had crashed into Severus and fell towards the floor. Over and over she spun and flipped through the air. She could almost hear Harry screaming for her. While she thought about the incident in the hall, Hermione realized that this time, there wouldn't be anyone to catch her.

Hermione didn't realize that the spinning and flipping had stopped. She didn't realize that the speed of her fall had slowed. She never saw the person whose wand guided her slowly to safety. Before all of this had happened, fear had consumed her and Hermione had passed out midair.

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I didn't realize that the prologue was that long! Oh my goodness! Colli, why didn't you tell me!?

Chapter one previews: So, what happened to Hermione? Who's the mystery wand-handed person? Why was Severus acting like the dark brooding man we all know him to be? Plus: fanfic outtakes!

[Colli]

Yay for StarGazr! (How many times were you going to say my name in that first post? ;))

Now everyone tell her how wonderful it is so she'll post the even better chapters one and two! :D

:notworthy

*sigh* I guess I'm easy to please. It's Snape :swoon: in his best form.. well, you'll see. :)

[LuthienElentari]

Your description was fantastic! The characters were great. I really liked your story except the kissing scene. I mean Snape is like 60 and Hermiones only in her thirties.

[LuthienElentari]

Oh yeah and the story is beutifully written there is only a few bits you need to edit but otherwise I 'm hanging by a thread. I think your plot is fascinating!

Luthien

[StarGazr]

Ugh... now I really am reluctant to post anymore... it's a Snape/Hermione fic... and he's not that old! She's supposed to be in her early twenties, and he's supposed to be in his late-thirties maybe early-forties... Colli help me here, I stink with this timeline...

[LuthienElentari]

sorry!

Now that works out I just needed to get the age established.

[Colli]

:D The plot gets better.


Um Snape's about 35 in PoA/GoF time... 39/40 when Hermione graduated... and Hermione comes back to Hogwarts two years after graduating and this is 3 years after that, I'd say mid-forties. :)

Hermione would then be 22ish.

Not that it matters for long. ;)

[StarGazr]

OK, disclaimer stands the same... not mine, not making any money!
This is part one of chapter one... Colli is my editor and she's Grammer-Girl! Enjoy!

Chapter 1 (part one)
Strange, Yet Familiar Faces
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Her first thought as the clouds in her mind began to break apart was that every muscle and bone in her body ached. Her second thought was a feeling of falling. Her body felt weightless despite the aches and she felt like she was spinning. As Hermione pushed further and further through the clouds, she could make out the familiar smells of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. Moaning softly, Hermione rolled her head to the side and opened her eyes. She could see that there was a curtain pulled around her bed to give her privacy. ‘Harry must have turned back,' Hermione thought, trying to sit up. Her arms protested as she tried to lift herself up and she fell back onto the bed with a moan.

Madame Pomfrey bustled into the room, tutting at Hermione. "You shouldn't be moving. You've been through a lot this morning," she said, covering Hermione back up with a sheet.

"Harry was flying pretty high when I fell," she sighed. "Is he around?" She half expected Harry to be sitting next to her bed and was a little surprised to find no one there.

"I'm sorry, there's no one named Harry here," Pomfrey said, pulling the curtain open. "No one's been by since your accident."

"Poppy?" Hermione questioned. The medi-witch nodded and continued with waving her wand over Hermione, checking her vitals. "Where is Harry?"

Poppy eyed her curiously and waved her wand over her head. "I don't know Harry."

Hermione took a deep breath, "Where is Harry Potter?"

Poppy smiled and gave Hermione a small laugh. "Harry is actually on his way here with his father. Are you a friend of the Potters?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. Something was wrong. Madame Pomfrey was finally losing her mind. Hermione swung her legs over the side of the bed and hopped down. She padded across the cool tile, with Madame Pomfrey at her heels. "Where are you going, Miss?"

Hermione whirled on her, "Miss? Poppy, have you been raiding Albus' private cabinets again?" she asked.

"I'll not have that kind of talk from you. And you will address the Headmaster with some respect!" Poppy was clearly upset.

"It's me! Hermione Granger! How can you not recognize me? I was here yesterday! We had a discussion about the flu outbreak among the third years!" Hermione was screaming at this point. Her head was pounding, and the woman before her, who was her friend, was beginning to scare her.

"My dear, young woman. I believe you have hit your head harder than I had originally thought. I would really like to run a full examination on you," Poppy tried to take Hermione's arm, but she was struggling.

Hermione broke free of the grip and dashed out of the hospital ward, but was stopped when she crashed into something solid. That something caught her, and righted her. "Do watch where you are going, Miss," a silky, deep voice rang.

"Severus," Hermione sighed, "thank the gods. Is Poppy all right? She's acting so strange; like she doesn't know who I am."

"Who are you?" he asked. It was the straw that broke the camel's back. She stumbled backwards into the doorframe of the hospital ward, and sank to the floor. She laid her head in her hands and screamed. Severus stepped away from her and called for the medi-witch.

"Oh dear," she mumbled. "Severus, do pick her up and bring her over here."

"No!" Hermione screamed, scrambling to her feet. "Don't touch me," she warned. She searched her robes for her wand, but came up empty handed. Frantic, she also searched for the artifact that Albus had entrusted to her.

"Your wand and hourglass are on the table over here," Poppy offered, gently.

Hermione made a move to grab them, but Severus grabbed her arm, restraining her. Hermione turned back to him, and got her first good look at the man. His hair was longer than she remembered and it was pulled back from his face in a band at the nape of his neck. His eyes were void of the tired lines she knew she was partly responsible for as a student. Something about his eyes set her off again and she struggled to break free. "We cannot have out of control witches running around the castle," he growled, bodily picking her up and gracelessly dropping her on the bed. "Stay there!" he ordered.

"What is wrong with you?" she shouted.

"What's all the commotion?" Another man came into the room with a small child on his hip. Hermione came to the conclusion that she was indeed dreaming. She could handle Poppy losing her mind, and she could handle Severus to a point, but this was something completely different.

"Ahh, James," Poppy smiled. "Here for Harry's appointment?" James held Harry up and the small child squealed in delight.

James Potter was standing in the Hospital Ward of Hogwarts with his son, Harry, in his arms. Hermione let out a strangled moan before a wave of understanding began to consume her. "I see your patient has finally come to," James laughed.

"James and Severus here were the ones who guided you safely to Earth," Poppy told her.

"I see you're still here," James said icily to Severus.

"I have business with Albus, and I'm sure you know why, Potter," he said just as coldly. He looked down at the small child and shook his head silently. The child did not appear to regard him kindly either.

Hermione stared quietly at the scene that was unfolding before her. Reaching toward the table beside her, Hermione grabbed the hourglass-like artifact and stared at it. Severus and James continued to speak but Hermione had tuned them out. She looked up and locked eyes with the small child before her. His eyes seemed to light up as she looked at him. "What year is it?" she whispered.

"What was that, dear?" Poppy asked.

"The year? What year is it?" she choked out, her's and Harry's eyes still locked together.

"It's 1981," Severus supplied. "You landed on your back you know, not your head," he said with an icy bite.

"1981," she whispered as tears sprung to her eyes. "It works," she said softly to herself, gazing at the time-turner in her hands. The sand was scattered throughout the two chambers, refusing to settle into just the bottom one, like a normal hourglass.

"Are you all right?" James asked. "You know, we don't even know your name."

"Herm..." she stopped herself, looking at Harry. If he was alive, that meant she was as well. Even though her parents were muggles, she was a witch. Surely someone at the Ministry knew she was, even though she was only months old. "Mia," she said. What was her mother's maiden name, she asked herself. "I'm Mia Lindon."

"James Potter," he said, holding out his hand. "This is my son, Harry," he said, and Harry squealed and pushed himself out of his father's arms, scrambling across the bed to Hermione. Harry sat quietly in front of Hermione, staring at her in awe. "He likes you," James laughed. "Come on, little man. Let Madame Pomfrey check you out!" Harry screamed in protest and reached for Hermione as the medi-witch led father and son off to another bed.

Hermione settled back in the bed, fingering the small artifact in her hands. "Who are you?" came the deep, familiar voice again.

Hermione looked up to see Severus standing at the foot of her bed, staring at her. "My name is Mia Lindon," she repeated.

"I know who you said you were, but I want to know who you really are," his eyes had a cold stare to them, one Hermione was accustomed to in her childhood, but had forgotten about in recent years. "How did you know my name?" he asked, bringing her back to the present. "I've never seen you or heard of you before in my life," Severus was closing in on her.

Hermione knew she was caught in lie. "I fell off my broomstick somewhere over England. I assume you and Mr. Potter brought me here," she said, avoiding his question.

"Where is your broomstick? It never crashed back to Earth, Miss Lindon," he said, staring at her. "I think you've got yourself caught in a lie."

[StarGazr]

Chapter 1 (part 2)

Just as Hermione was about to confess all, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore strode into the hospital wing. "Well, well. Our visitor has awoken. Good afternoon," he said with a smile.

Hermione smiled inwardly. ‘Some things never change,' she thought. "Good afternoon," she replied.

"James tells me that you took quite a fall this morning, Miss..." Albus said.

"Lindon," Hermione supplied. "I'm Mia Lindon," she lied.

Albus nodded once. "Very good, Miss Lindon," he said. Hermione stared at him as he gave her an almost knowing smile. "When Poppy releases you, I would like to have chat with you in my office. Severus," he said, turning to the man still standing at the foot of the bed, "would you bring Miss Lindon to my office? I would like a word with you as well."

"Yes, of course, Headmaster," Severus said, nodding once, and giving Hermione an icy glare.

"Take care," Albus said, patting Hermione's hand. He wandered over to the other side of the room and began talking to James and Poppy. Harry was delighted to see the Headmaster and immediately began reaching for the older man. Albus talked to the small child and sat down on a chair to be eye level with him.

Hermione watched from afar as the baby who would one day be her best friend interacted with one of the men she respected and admired most in the world. Her breath caught in her throat as Harry was scooped up into his father's arms and hugged tightly. She could feel the tears pricking her eyes and threatening to fall.

She took a deep but shaky breath and mentally shook her head. She couldn't think of such things. She knew that she needed to focus on getting back to her time. She needed to get back to her Harry before she had a chance to mess something up. Suddenly, she could hear a familiar voice in her head. ‘Whatever happens to you, remember that every action has a consequence. Don't let your emotions get in the way of what has to transpire,' Severus had told her.

She looked up and saw that the younger version of another man she respected and admired was still standing at the foot of her bed, silently contemplating her. The air felt thick and Hermione felt like the walls were closing in. One wrong move, and she could alter the future. ‘But, he knew!' she screamed at herself. ‘Severus knew I this was going to happen.'

Suddenly, he appeared beside her, holding out a thin vial. "Drink this. It should clear your head, then we can go see the Headmaster." He handed her the vial that was filled with a clear blue liquid.

Hermione took out the stopper and kept her eyes locked on Severus' as she tipped the vial back and swallowed the cool liquid. Her eyes closed when she felt her body tingle, then calm. Her headache was gone, and she could breath normally. "What was that?" she asked, handing him back the vial.

"It helps with anxiety. Come, Miss Lindon, the Headmaster is waiting," he turned and stalked out of the room.

Hermione slid out of the bed and grabbed her wand and the time-turner. She noticed that the sand still had yet to fall into one chamber as she tucked it into a pocket in her robes. Looking down, she also noticed that she was a wrinkled mess, and quickly cast a spell to fix herself up. With a satisfied nod, she turned to leave.

Before she left the Hospital Wing, James stopped her. Harry was bouncing on his hip chewing on some kind of candy. "They're letting you out then?" he teased.

"Yes, the Headmaster wants to see me," she said, smiling over at Harry. Harry grinned and the pinkish candy dribbled down his chin. "You have an adorable son," she said, trying to keep a smile on her face.

"Thank you. My wife and I like him," James grinned, tickling Harry. Harry squealed and held his arms out to Hermione again. "Oh, this young lady has to go see Albus, Harry. Maybe she can come over and play some other time." Harry nodded as if he understood.

"How old is he?" she asked, trying to get a feel as to what time of the year it was.

"He turned a year old almost two months ago," James said. "He's growing up too fast! Pretty soon he'll be going to school here!"

Hermione sadly smiled. ‘If Harry is a year old, then that means that it's sometime in September. That also means that...' Hermione's thought trailed off as she realized that James and Lily Potter would be found by Voldemort in less than two months. "I must go," she said apologetically. She could see Severus pacing in the hall outside.

James leaned closed to Hermione and quietly said, "Don't let him bother you. He mostly just wanders around for show to scare the kids." James laughed when he saw Severus turn and frown at them, his dark robes billowing behind him. "Come on Harry." James lifted him up onto his shoulders.

"It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Potter. You too, Harry," she grinned, reaching out to rub his arm. She had to bite her lip as she came in contact with the baby.

"Good day, Miss Lindon," James smiled. He carried Harry out into the hall. James said a few words to Severus. Then they stiffly shook hands before James strolled away with Harry bouncing on his shoulders.

Hermione stepped into the hallway just as Severus whipped around to face her. His expression was hard and his voice bit at her. "You're looking much better than when I found you," he said.

Hermione shook her head and gave him a small smile. She started walking down the hall and Severus fell into stride beside her. "What do you do here?" She asked, curious about the past he refused to talk about.

"I am an apprentice to the Potions Master," he informed her. Hermione nodded, heading up the staircase and down another hallway. "I'm sure Mr. Potter told you my extra-curricular activities include terrorizing the students," he drolled.

‘You have no idea,' she thought to herself. "Something like that," she said aloud.

"I'll bet," he said with a sneer. They came to the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"I don't know the pass..." Hermione didn't finish her sentence. Her back and head suddenly came in contact with the wall and she groaned in pain. When she opened her eyes, she saw Severus' face in front of her, and his hands had her arms pinned to the wall.

"You're a spy!" he spat. Hermione winced as she felt him gripping her arms. "Did you really believe that no one would notice you strolling right into the office?"

His strength was overpowering her, and she fought not to scream. "I'm not a spy," she insisted.

"How did you know where the Headmaster's office was?" he growled.

Hermione's eyes widened. She had walked right to Albus' office without Severus' aid. She was going to blow her cover and mess up her whole life, literally. Before she could come up with an explanation, Albus once again came to her rescue. The moving stair case appeared and Severus all but dragged her up the stairs by the elbow.

Severus let her go and she fell into a chair before the Headmaster. "She's a spy for Voldemort!" he hissed.

"I can assure you, Severus, that she is no spy." Albus gave her a reassuring smile. Hermione unconsciously rubbed at her sore arms. "Severus, please excuse us for a moment."

Severus swept past her and bent down next to Albus. "Why are you so trusting? Especially now!"

"I need you to trust me, my boy," Albus insisted. "I can promise you that this young woman poses no more of a threat to me than you do."

Severus straightened and started at Hermione. Their eyes locked and Hermione desperately wanted to tell him the truth. The relationship that they had in the future was strongly rooted in truth. Hermione never felt that she needed to lie to him, and though Severus never spoke of his life from before she knew him, she knew that he never lied to her. It was hurting her to lie to him, even in the past. Severus said nothing to her as she made his way to a room outside the office.

"Well," Albus began, regaining Hermione's attention, "now that we are alone, may I call you Miss Granger, or do you prefer Hermione?"

"Sir, is there anything you don't know?" Hermione asked, her mind working on overload with dozens of questions. "How did you know?"

Albus stood and crossed the office, picking up a large, gray colored clay bowl. "I talk to my Pensieves," he informed her.

"Of course you do," Hermione said, no longer surprised by anything he did. "What did you tell yourself?"

"I told myself to watch out for you. My future self obviously knew what time you were going to be dropped off in. You were wise to use a false name, Hermione."

"James Potter told me the year. I know that I am alive, and I know the dangers that come with time travel."

"May I see the time-turner?" Albus asked. Hermione reached into her red satin robes and handed the artifact to him. "Oh my," he sighed, gently handling it.

"I can't get back, can I?" she fearfully whispered.

"I believe you can get back," he assured her. "This time-turner had been badly shaken due to your fall. Once the sand settles into one chamber, you should be returned to your time," Albus explained.

"How long will that take?" Hermione asked, taking the time-turner back. The small hourglass sparkled with the tiny specks of sand.

"It could be days, or it could be months," he said. "I did not ask myself how long you would be gracing us with your presence."

Hermione leaned back in the chair and thought about what James had said about Harry's age. She wanted to be gone before the tragedy took place. Hermione sighed, "What should I do until that time?"

"You are more than welcome to stay here in the castle. The students are too busy with their studies to notice another adult wandering around. But, as I'm sure you know, this is a large castle, and you are unlikely to run into anyone who would question your presence or identity."

[StarGazr]

Chapter 1 (part 3)

"Except for Severus," Hermione pointed out.

"I will deal with Severus," he said as the door to his office opened. "Ah, Minerva, you received my call."

"Yes, you beckoned and I complied. Your mind tricks are astounding," Minerva McGonagall sighed.

"This is Mia Lindon. She's the daughter of an old family friend and she's visiting for some time. I would very much like her to have a wonderful view of the grounds. Could you show her to the East Tower, Minerva?"

"Of course, Albus," she said, and brightly smiled at Hermione, leading her from the room. At the door, Minerva turned back, "Did you know that Severus is stalking around your sitting room?" she asked.

"Oh, Severus," Albus grumbled to himself, as he stood and made his way across the office. "I hope you settle in quickly Mia. Perhaps you could join me for tea tomorrow afternoon."

Hermione nodded and followed Minerva out of the office. "Albus has so many old friends from the war, I get them mixed up. It is nice to meet you, my dear," Minerva said, holding out her hand once they were in the hall. "I'm Minerva McGonagall, Transfigurations professor and Deputy Headmistress."

Hermione shook her hand and immediately slipped into the role she had created for herself. "Mia Lindon. I'm a researcher in America," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at her bizarre lie. "I'm visiting my family and was on my way to visit Albus when I had a flying accident."

"Yes, Poppy tells me that you had a run in with James and Harry Potter, not to mention our very own brooding Severus this afternoon," she winked. Hermione followed Minerva up several staircases and warned herself not to take the lead like she had done with Severus. Minerva led her to the East Tower which overlooked the castle and the grounds. Looking out the windows, Hermione could see the Gryffindor tower, where she had lived for seven years and she could see the tower she occupied as a professor. "I can leave some old robes for you to transfigure," Minerva offered.

"Thank you very much, Professor," she said.

"Please, call me Minerva," she smiled. "Let me know if you need anything. I'm in the North Tower with our Gryffindors, and unless you perform mind tricks like Albus," she mumbled, "that's where you can find me."

Hermione laughed, "OK, thank you again." Minerva left Hermione alone in the suite of rooms.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Meanwhile, back in Dumbledore's sitting room, Severus paced and growled to himself. "Come now, Severus. What makes you distrust this young woman so much?" Albus asked, entering the room.

"She knew the way to your office. After she got out of the Hospital, Miss Lindon needed no assistance to arrive at your office."

Albus smiled to himself. "Mia is the daughter of an old friend of mine, Severus. She has been here before."

Severus stopped his prowling and turned to face Dumbledore. "I am going to trust that you are not hiding anything from me, Albus. There is talk of war and..."

"I'm very well aware of what is being said," Dumbledore interrupted. "It will be like she's not even here."

"Very well," Severus said, backing off. "You wanted to see me," he pointed out.

Dumbledore sat in an overstuffed armchair and ran a hand through his long beard and let out a sigh. "There's more than just talk of war, Severus. This war is starting."

Severus sank into a chair across from Albus and let his head fall into his hands. "I haven't been summoned."

"No, and I didn't expect you to be. Voldemort is making this move on his own," Albus explained. "I don't even think Malfoy is involved."

"He doesn't even trust his own Death Eaters," Severus mumbled as he idly scratched at his faux Dark Mark, and remembered how he had come to wear the charmed tattoo.

Severus had been approached by Lucius Malfoy, two years Severus' senior, in his seventh year at Hogwarts. Severus was offered the chance to join the Death Eaters and fight along side them in the coming war to restore power to the pure-blooded wizards of their world. Severus had nodded and asked for the evening to ponder the idea.

Without a second thought, Severus raced to the Headmaster to tell him what was going on. Albus took Severus into his confidence and the two men, along with several other witches and wizards who had pledged their loyalty to Dumbledore, set out to gather more information about the group that was trying to wipe out muggles and muggle-born witches and wizards. In the following weeks, Severus had attended meetings with Lucius Malfoy and came face to face with Lord Voldemort. The dark Lord was extremely interested in Severus' abilities in potion making and wanted Severus in his inner circle of Death Eaters.

That night, Albus and Severus devised a plan to make Voldemort believe Severus was taking the Dark Mark. It involved a cleverly cast protection spell and a charmed tattoo. While Voldemort believed that Severus had taken the mark, in truth the tattoo that Dumbledore had created appeared on Severus' arm. For the past three years, the tattoo had acted not only as Voldemort's summoning charm, but it acted as an indicator on Severus' whereabouts when he attended Voldemort's meetings.

"What do Potter and Company think?" Severus asked dryly, coming back from his thoughts.

"James is concerned about his son and wife as are the others about their families. Sirius believes there is a spy in out midst," Dumbledore informed him.

"Black has always thought I was a traitor to the cause," Severus spat. "He's never trusted me." In truth, Severus didn't trust many people besides Dumbledore. James he trusted because he had saved Severus from a ill-fated joke Sirius tried to pull in their days at Hogwarts. Remus Lupin he tolerated because James trusted him. Severus didn't know their friend Peter Pettigrew outside of their work with Dumbledore, so Severus didn't trust him either. As for Sirius Black, Severus thought the would be better off without the man, and he had said so on many occasions.

"No, he trusts you. Keep your eyes open, Severus. I'm going to retire for the evening."

"I'll be traveling back to Hogsmeade in the morning," Severus informed him, standing and crossing the room. "Did Miss Lindon ever find her broom?"

Dumbledore gave him a stern look, "Let it go, Severus."

"There's something you're not telling me," Severus insisted. ‘And I mean to find out,' he thought to himself, as he left the office, and wandered down to the dungeons.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
End Chapter 1

[StarGazr]

OK... here are some "deleted scenes" from chapter one

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Deleted scenes:

(Author Voiceover): My muse (thank you Colli) and I thought this was a very amusing scene. However, our test audience obviously didn't feel the same way because initial reactions were nothing but groans. It was taken out of the final version.
As her mind began to clear, Hermione felt weightless and dizzy. She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. As she tried to sit up, her arms gave way and she fell back on the bed with a moan. She heard the swishing of robes then a shadow was cast over the bed.
Severus: "Did it hurt?"
Hermione: "What?" she asked opening her eyes.
Severus: "When you fell from heaven."

(Author Voiceover): I wanted to write Harry as a very loveable child, but I did have this scene in mind. In the end, I realized that it was just silly because Severus would have hexed the kid into the next century.
Harry stared at Hermione for a few moments then crawled across the bed and sat in front of Severus.
James: "Why don't you pick him up?"
Severus: "I don't like children," he replied. Harry cocked his head and scowled.
James: "I don't think he likes you either."
Severus and Harry continued to stare at one another. Harry then leaned forward and spit up all over the front of Severus' robes and shoes.

(Author Voiceover): I think Albus Dumbledore is a very eccentric character, but not this eccentric.
Severus: "You wanted to see me?"
Albus nodded then started rooting through the pockets of his robes. He pulled out what appeared to be a gold coin that was covered in a pink goo. "Harry must have had his hand in my pocket!" He continued to search and pulled out a pocket watch, two books, a roll of muggle quarters, a fist full of neon green tickets, a mini slinky, and a box a candy. "Ahh, here they are. Would you like a Joo Joo Bee?"
Severus: "Where have you been?" he asked, examining the slinky.
Albus: "Skee Balling in New Jersey."
Severus: "You have got to find a more mature hobby, old man!"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the amusement at the end. Next Chapter: How is Hermione going to occupy herself? Who comes into the castle every morning? What is that THING flying outside Hermione's window? Can Severus and Hermione survive making a potion together. Please review!!

[LuthienElentari]

This is the best fan fic I have ever read!!!!!! I really am hooked to your story! :notworthy this is an incredible story wow!!

[lithorose]

Stargazr, this is getting very cool!:cool:

The whole back in time thing adds a lot to the scene in the prologue. It explains how Severus could like Hermione, which isn't explained in the prologue.

I have a couple 'But-wait!-'s with the time travel; it's so tricky to do; but I think it's nearly flawless. Good job!

I think you should put the part where Harry spits on Severus back in; it adds humor and makes understand why he would resent HP besides simply hating his father. I don't think he'd have hexed him. He understands that babies do stuff like that; that's probably part of why he hates them!

Totally continue the story!!:D

[StarGazr]

*whispers very quietly* they're not really deleted scenes... it's just stuff I made up... just a lil light and funny stuff ;) something no one's done before

[Colli]

Colli is my editor and she's Grammer-Girl!

That's one thing I owe entirely to Miss Weisenberger. :D

Star you're gonna have to hurry up with the chapters or your posting at the MI will be caught up with what I have to beta. ;) And no narcotic medicine excuses.. you know you like it :p

:notworthy