A/N: I know it's strange to see this before anything even happens, but I just wanted to say hi, and let you know that this story has about twenty chapters already written and I will be updating 1-2 times each week. I know I hate reading the first few chapters of something that never gets updated again, so I thought you might appreciate a reassurance. Piton

Disclaimer: JKR owns the world of Harry Potter. The idea for this story was inspired by many fanfics I have read on a similar theme, particularly Crimson and Gold by Witch Lisa and Lost by VenusDeMilo. If I knew how to contact these two talented writers, I would do so, but since I have had problems getting their email addresses, know that much of the plot of this story was theirs first! To review--not mine, don't sue!

Chapter One - Damn Time

Hermione gave an inaudible sigh as she stepped into the Potions classroom. Getting through this class had always been like stepping through a minefield, but in the last year Snape had reached new levels of vitriol. He had never been fond of the Gryffindor Trio, but now the mere sight of them seemed to push him beyond the bounds of reason. As Hermione nervously plopped into the seat next to Harry, she muttered, "Sometimes I think Ron is the smart one, getting out of this class as soon as he had the choice."

Brushing his dark hair out of his eyes, Harry grinned broadly at her. "He'll be glad to hear that." He shook his head, commenting, "You know you could get rid of this class at any time. Just get rid of that Time-Turner and rejoin us slackers in the world of the sane." Hermione rolled her eyes, giving him a good-natured scowl. While she still had not forgotten the events of her third year, even the thought of another year spent in frantic over-scheduling was not enough to keep her from using the Time-Turner again. Upon her appointment as Head Girl, Dumbledore had given her the choice of dropping a class or accepting a Time-Turner to help her fit her new duties into her already full workload.

Harry's bright emerald eyes sparkled, knowing exactly what was going through her head, and he gave her an impish wink. Grinning, he was about to add something else when the harsh slam of doors crashing into the stone walls of the dungeon sounded ominously behind them, alerting the class to Snape's arrival. Out of a desire for survival, the students scrambled to their places, utterly silent.

No one moved, barely breathing, as Snape stormed up to the front of the room. With a flick of his wand, words began to appear on the board, and students began rummaging for the correct supplies as he snapped, "Keep your books in your bags. This potion should be simple enough for even the thickest of you to brew, but do not feel overconfident, as I have ample faith in your collective abilities to fall well beneath even my pitiful expectations." He sneered, giving Harry a pointed look as he finished his tirade. "After you are finished, bottle a sample, label it with your pathetic guess as to its name a function, and leave it with me."

That said, he walked behind his desk and calmly began to grade papers, giving every impression of tuning them out completely, but the students knew better than to trust appearances. Sure enough, not ten minutes later his low voice rang through the class. "Potter! I understand that reading is an advanced skill, but if following directions is too much for your limited capabilities, at least try to scrounge up enough common sense to keep yourself from blowing us all to pieces." Snape's lips curled sardonically. "After all, it wouldn't do for the famous Harry Potter to meet so ignominious an end."

Hermione felt Harry tense next to her. He had long since given in to her and Ron's questions and told them the contents of the prophecy. Obviously Snape knew as well, although to joke about something like that was excessively cruel, even for him. She nudged his shoulder gently and gave him a commiserating look, whispering softly, "You just forgot the butterfly wings, ignore him."

Unfortunately, the gesture did not go unnoticed by Snape. "Miss Granger! Do you have something you would like to share with us lesser mortals?" His black eyes glittering dangerously, he folded his arms across his chest and strode slowly to their table, looming over her.

She shifted her weight, her face bent studiously over her cauldron. She shook her head minutely, and there was a slight pause as he waited for a more complete answer. Sighing, she set down her spoon and lifted her head. "No, sir," she answered calmly, her large tea-colored eyes meeting his.

He studied her for a moment, his face even more inscrutable than usual. "Detention, Miss Granger," he said finally. "See me after class to schedule a time." Not trusting herself to speak, Hermione simply nodded. The remainder of the class passed normally, with Snape stalking between the rows, awarding points to even the most undeserving Slytherin and gleefully deducting from the Gryffindors. Finally, the period almost over, Hermione bottled her potion, a simple sleeping draught, and with a sigh of relief brought it and the parchment of its properties to Snape's desk. Setting her assignment down carefully, she waited for the rest of the students to leave. Harry was one of the last, throwing her a look that was equal parts frustration with Snape and empathy for her.

As soon as the classroom population had dwindled to two, she turned to Snape and stated with careful respect, "I believe we have a detention to schedule."

He looked up from his work. "Yes, be here tonight at seven, you will--" The words died in his mouth as his sallow skin turned an alarming shade of green.

Eyes wide in bewilderment, Hermione followed his eyes to the opening at the top of her robes where her Time-Turner had slipped out, the glistening gold a bright contrast to her dark red turtleneck. He stared at it like one entranced, an expression of fascination and dread stamped on his bony features. After a long moment, she cleared her throat uneasily. "Professor?" she asked.

He started, and shook his head slightly as if to clear it. "Yes, yes," he said distractedly, turning away from her. "You'll be reorganizing the storage cabinet." He paused, as if about to add something else. After a moment, though, his face closed off and he snapped, "What are you waiting for, Armageddon? You are dismissed!" Needing no further encouragement, Hermione scuttled off, leaving Snape to lean back in his chair, a hand over his eyes. "Damn time," he said hollowly.

----------

Dinner over, Hermione reluctantly made her way down to the dungeons, thinking of all the horrible accidents that could befall Snape. She had just stepped off the final step into the dim stone corridor when her arm was seized and she gave a stifled cry as she felt herself hauled into a nearby classroom. As soon as she regained her balance she jerked away from her unknown abductor, automatically drawing her wand. She whispered "Lumos," and the tip lit to expose the sneering face of Draco Malfoy.

He leered at her, and she backed away slightly, training her wand on his face. She felt a thrill of fear as she realized he was standing firmly between her and the door, now shut and locked. She swallowed nervously, eyes darting around the empty room, bouncing off the thick stone that she knew would muffle any sound. With a slight shake of her head, she pushed the morbid thoughts to the back of her mind. "What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked steadily.

His smirk widened. "I told you what happens to impertinent little Mudbloods, didn't I?" Before she could frame a response, he had grabbed her arms, forcing them above her head. Her wand clattered to the floor as it fell from her rapidly numbing fingers. Pinning her wrists in place with a surprisingly strong hand, he slammed her against the wall. "I think it's time you were taught a lesson, Granger," he whispered in her ear.

She shuddered in disgust as she twisted, trying to get away, loathing the feeling of helplessness and cursing herself for letting her guard down. As his free hand slid lecherously over her breast, she felt panic rising within her. Using all her strength, she pushed herself off the wall, forcing him back a step. She quickly fell back against the rough stones and used the new space between them to aim a knee at his groin. As he groaned and fell to his knees, he grabbed her neck, pulling her down with him, her head hitting the rough stone hard enough to see stars. His fist crashed into her eye, sending her head snapping backwards, and with an animal growl he began to rip her clothes off her. Realizing that she was not going to be able to free her wand hand, she knew she had only one chance to save herself, and she had to take it before he caught her other arm again. She began to speak, distracting Malfoy as she pulled the Time-Turner out of her robes. "There's one thing you are forgetting, ferret," she hissed, as she tugged frantically on the metal chain. 'What a time to get stuck on the fabric of my shirt,' she groaned inwardly.

Draco paused in the action of undoing his trousers. "And what would that be, know-it-all?" he asked condescendingly.

With one strong jerk she ripped the Time-Turner out. "After dealing with Voldemort, your father, and his little friends, you are nothing," she said triumphantly. She dimly heard Draco shout and lunge for the device as she heedlessly set it twirling, not noticing the number or direction of the spins, not caring about anything other than getting away from this nightmare.

The world became a slow whirl of colors, the sensation seeming to go on forever, and Hermione felt a chill of fear as she realized that ordinarily she would have been whenever she was aiming for by now. Several minutes passed by, and she tried not to cry as she remembered the warnings she'd received from Professor McGonagall when she'd been given the turner. "This is a much stronger instrument than the one you used in your third year," the woman had said seriously. "It can travel not just hours or even years, but decades in time. You must be extremely careful, not only about the number of turns but the method in which you turn it unless you wish to find yourself considerably beyond our ability to help you."

The world continued to spin around her as Hermione felt a large pain flash through her arm. 'Oh no,' she thought, 'I've traveled far enough that furniture has been moved. If this doesn't stop soon, the best I can hope for is a few broken bones. I could end up in pieces.' In a haze of pain and fear, she was hardly aware when the motion stopped and she collapsed, senseless, onto the floor. Barely conscious, she saw a flicker of black before strong arms gently lifted her, carrying her out the door and heading for the hospital wing. Her blurry eyes slowly focused on her rescuer's face, and she cringed when she recognized the angular profile and knew just who was carrying her so carefully.

Relieved that she wasn't so far away that he wasn't there anymore, she croaked, "Professor, I'm so sorry... He attacked me... I had to get away." She heard a sharp intake of breath as the man increased his speed, giving no other sign that he'd heard her. Unable to speak any more, she relaxed in his arms and slipped into the welcoming darkness.

----------

Hermione's first thought upon waking was 'Gods, I feel like I've been trampled by a hippogriff.' Opening her eyes cautiously, she became aware of a familiar set of brilliant blue eyes fastened on her. When their gazes met, he smiled gently. "I'm afraid you must be very uncomfortable, my dear," he said gently. "Madam Bency did all she could by Muggle means, but we did not want to attempt any magic healing until we knew where exactly you came from."

Hermione's eyes slid shut as she sighed despondently. In the brief time she'd been conscious, there had been time to notice the remnants of her Time-Turner on the table beside him, the gold a garish note against the pristine white of the infirmary. While she definitely preferred for it to have finished the trip in pieces rather than her, the sight was not a good omen, especially since she had evidently traveled far enough back in time that Dumbledore's beard still held the slightest trace of auburn. She must have dreamt that she had been rescued by Professor Snape. Not anticipating a positive answer, she whispered, "Professor Snape... Where did he go?

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, and she got the impression that she'd somehow managed to amuse him greatly. "Severus returned to the dungeons once he had been assured you would recover."

Hermione felt a rush of relief. So he was still a teacher! She must have only traveled a decade into the past. Taking a deep breath, she painfully whispered, "What year is it, Headmaster?"

The blue eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of his title. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, young lady," he said softly, cautiously. He studied her for a moment, comprehension dawning on his face as he said softly, "It is September 12, 1975." He smiled reassuringly. "Am I correct in assuming you come to us from a future time?"

She nodded weakly, the movement enough to send flashes of pain down her spine. She had opened her mouth to explain when she felt a large, warm hand on her forehead. "Rest, child," came the comforting whisper. "There will be time for explanations later."

----------

Professor Severus Snape stood in the Headmaster's office, glaring at Albus Dumbledore. Unperturbed, Albus popped a lemon drop into his mouth, waiting patiently for the explosion. He wasn't disappointed.

"Well, she never came for her detention tonight," Snape growled, starting to pace nervously about the floor. There was no need to specify which her. "When she was about ten minutes late, I went to check my old lab, and found a very bewildered Draco Malfoy, somewhat worse for the wear." A small smirk made its way onto his face, to be rapidly replaced by a scowl as his pacing increased in speed, reaching a frantic level.

Albus watched him compassionately. "Do desist with the pacing, Severus, you're wearing a hole in my rug," he commented mildly.

He was rewarded with a death glare as Snape abruptly threw himself into a chair. He ran a hand through his greasy black locks, a strangely lost expression on his paler than usual face. Devoid of his customary mask, he looked surprisingly young. Staring at the floor, he asked in a small voice, "What do we do now?"

Albus rose from his place behind the desk and took the seat next to the troubled man. Reaching out cautiously, he placed a hand on his arm. "Now we wait, I'm afraid," he said quietly.

Severus sighed. "What if she doesn't come back?" His traitorous voice inserted a hopeful note into the question, he noticed guiltily.

Albus gave him a stern glance. "Would you really prefer her to be lost forever?" he asked gently, knowing the answer.

Severus shook his head, scowling. "No," he mumbled sulkily. "But we're going to have to be prepared for when she returns," he added, leaping up to resume pacing. "The shock is likely to kill her!"

Albus chuckled, stroking his beard playfully. "You're not that frightening," he commented dryly. "And she went into the past with a full knowledge of what the future would bring." He popped another lemon drop, sucking thoughtfully. "Well, perhaps not full knowledge," he amended. He held out the confectionary bag. "Lemon drop?"

Caught in his own thoughts, Snape did not spare a glance for the candies as he whirled around the room. He came to a sudden halt. "Someone should let Lupin know," he said very reluctantly, sounding as if the words were being wrung from somewhere deep within.

Albus gave him a look of surprised approval. "Yes, someone should," he agreed, thinking about the current Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. "I'll let him know you're on your way."

Not particularly surprised, Snape nodded distractedly, resuming his nervous movement. Breaking the pattern of his pacing, he let his feet slowly carry him to Albus's chair. He stared down at the placidly seated man with a look approaching desperation. "Albus," he whispered hoarsely, "What will happen?"

Albus stood, placing a hand on the Potion professor's arm. "Only time will tell," he murmured softly.

Disentangling himself gracefully, Severus nodded coldly, returning to his facade, before exiting the room in search of Remus Lupin.

Dumbledore walked slowly back to his customary chair, staring at the desktop. Sensing his master's mood, Fawkes flew to his shoulder, cooing softly in reassurance. Albus stroked the bright red feathers pensively. "Fawkes," he whispered, "Is there no limit to life's complications?"

----------

Severus Snape stood in Albus Dumbledore's office, glaring at his former Transfiguration professor turned Headmaster. Had Hermione been there, she would have been struck by timelessness of Dumbledore's office, an oasis of familiarity in a strange time. "Sir, I'm not stupid," Severus pointed out flatly. "She appeared out of nowhere, wearing school robes with a Gryffindor crest and a Head Girl badge. Unless she's some sort of bizarre thief that made a mistake with a Portkey after raiding Lily Evan's closet, the most likely conclusion is that she was the Head Girlin her time." His youth could not dim the intensity of his gaze. "I saw the Time-Turner, Professor. When is she from?" he whispered.

Dumbledore sighed, unsure for once of the correct action to take. Mr. Snape could be a formidable ally for young Miss Granger, he knew, but he just could not be sure as to where Severus's loyalties lay. His eyes narrowed as he studied the inscrutable young man standing before him with clenched fists. "Severus, do you know you are the only child to ever come through my classroom with mental shields strong enough to block me completely from their mind?" he asked.

Severus frowned in confusion. "Sir?" he asked suspiciously.

Albus's blue eyes were tired, but his hand was steady as he raised his wand and leveled it at the boy. "Obliviate," he said reluctantly, watching those intense eyes temporarily lose their intelligence, staring at him blankly.

"Once again, Severus, thank you for your willingness to take an extra prefect patrol this week. Ten points to Slytherin..."

A/N: There are some things (e.g. the exact year the Marauders and co. graduated, the year Dumbledore became Headmaster) that I have changed from the norm for the purposes of this fic. I don't believe any of this is specifically stated in canon, although I know what I have chosen is not what is usually done in Time-Turner fics. Have patience, there's a reason, and feel free to review (flames will be used to warm my dragon egg)!