"Hermione," she rasped, her pale eyes bleary with pain as she grasped at a gaping wound in her side.

"Professor!" Hermione yelped fluttering her hands uselessly over the bleeding woman.

Minerva pressed something metallic and cool into Hermione's hands urgently. "Take this, Granger," she rasped. "Twenty seven and three-quarters turn – not a centimeter more or less. You have to set it right."

Hermione looked wildly down into her palm and saw that the professor had bestowed her with a time turner. These devices had all been destroyed under the new corrupt ministry. She raised her chocolate eyes back up to her professor and nodded resolutely. Whatever Minerva had planned and wherever she was sending her in time; Hermione had no doubt that it was of the utmost importance.

"Twenty-seven and three-quarters, Professor McGonagall, I understand." Hermione assured the bleeding woman.

"Go now, Hermione," she rasped. "Prevent this all."

These were the last words Minerva McGonagall spoke.

Hermione cast her gaze over the bloodied battlefield and saw Ron and Harry locked in a fierce battle with a large death eater, she aimed a killing curse at the masked form and he fell heavily to the ground. Harry and Ron turned, saw Hermione, and launched themselves behind the rock.

"Bloody hell, no," Ron moaned, looking down and the corpse of McGonagall.

"Ron, Harry," Hermione hissed, holding up the time turner for them to see.

"Did McG," Harry stuttered.

"Yes," Hermione said urgently.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"I'm not sure, but it must be very important. She said I can prevent all of this."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione held very still. They understood that this might very well be the last time they were all together. Time turners were finicky bits of magic, and usually the longer back you went the less chance you had of ever returning.

Harry threw his arms around her neck and kissed her soundly on the lips. "I love you Hermione, please, please try to come back to us."

Hermione wiped away a tear. "If there is an 'us' to come back to," she vowed.

Again, the trio paused. It was very realistic to think that if Voldemort could be prevented in the past so, too, could their very own births.

With a gut-wrenching sob, Ron threw his arms around the two already embracing and kissed Hermione's quivering lips fleetingly. "If there is an 'us' to come back to," he echoed her oath.

With a deep breath, Hermione grasped the time turner and began to count quietly.

"One, two, three,…"

Time travel, any way you look at it, is never a pleasant experience; a bit like apparating only much worse and much longer.

When Hermione finally finished being sucked through the time-space continuum, she found herself flat on her back in a large patch of dew-covered grass.

She pulled her wand and sat up, glancing around warily. She found herself confronted with the front doors of none other than Hogwarts.

She leapt to her feet and slammed through the front doors, barely noting that the castle was empty, before sliding to a halt outside the gargoyle that concealed Dumbledore's office.

"Er," she grunted. "Acid Pops!"

The stone gargoyle didn't move.

"Chocolate frogs!" she cried.

Nothing.

"Lemon drops, sugar quills, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes, BLOODY HELL!" she roared, kicking the unmoving gargoyle for good measure.

"I assure you, my dear child, that the password has not ever been, nor will ever be, a curse word." A familiar amused voice said from behind her.

"Dumbledore!" she nearly wept, turning to face him.

He smiled back at her languidly. "Have we met?"

Hermione wrinkled her brows. "Not yet,"

"Please to make your acquaintance then,…"

"Hermione. Hermione Granger." She supplied quickly.

"Hermione Granger," he echoed slowly. "I've the oddest sense of de-ja-vu. Care for tea?" he asked, motioning toward the gargoyle. She nodded enthusiastically.

"Bot's Beans," he said evenly and the gargoyle began its smooth ascent.

"Now," he asked after they were settled across from each other at his desk with their teacups untouched. "What brings you to Hogwarts?"

"Er," she hesitated. "I'm not sure, really, um, sorry Professor, do you happen to know today's date?"

"August the thirty-first." He answered.

"Of," she prompted.

He cocked his head to the side slightly. "Nineteen-seventy-six, of course. Are you all right, dear?"

Hermione silently removed the time turner from around her neck and laid it across his desk. He regarded it for a moment before flashing a sad smile at her.

"You're not from this time," he observed. "There must be great danger ahead to risk sending someone back very far in time."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore. The world, Muggle and Wizard alike, is in grave danger in my time."

Dumbledore nodded his understanding. "Does it perhaps have to do with a wizard by the name of Lord,…"

"Voldemort." Hermione finished.

Dumbledore sighed. "I feared as much. He is very much in power now, Miss Granger."

Hermione thought a moment. "Nineteen-seventy-six," she breathed. "Wait, have you heard of James Potter or Lily Evans or Sirius Black or Remus Lupin?"

"Of course, they are returning here tomorrow for their final year of study. Do they play a future roll?"

"They're all dead," Hermione replied absently already thinking, not noticing the pallor of Dumbledore at her casual pronouncement of death.

"Dead, my dear child?" he stammered.

Hermione glanced up. "Oh, er, sorry. Um, yes, dead – in my time at least."

"How?"

"Er," Hermione said biting her lip. "Is it wise to share all this? Couldn't it alter the future with just my words?"

"It could, yes, but these details are for my own mind, I dare say – I shall never share them with another soul."

"Ok," she said uneasily. "Erm, Voldemort killed James first, then Lily as she was protecting their son, Harry. Sirius, after he breaks out from Azkaban for muggle murders, will die by Bellatrix Lestrange's hand. Remus will die in the final battle, I saw his body just before I transported back here, after Professor McGonagall gave me the time turner before she died."

"Minerva," he breathed, looking shaken.

Hermione winced.

"Their son," Dumbledore murmured, then paused. "Muggle murders?"

"Completely false," Hermione assured him. "Sirius will be set up by Peter Pettigrew."

Dumbledore sat back, his mouth working, but no sound escaping.

"Perhaps I've revealed too much."

"No," Dumbledore assured her softly. "I will file it away in the deepest recess' of my mind and think not on it. But we are in a pickle."

Hermione nodded her agreement.

"What to do? What to do?" he pondered as he sipped absently at his now cold tea.

"Well," Hermione thought slowly. "The whole war focuses around Harry…maybe, maybe," she choked on her own words here and had to wait for the ache in her heart to lessen before she went on. "Maybe if Harry never came to be,"

"Oho," Dumbledore said slowly. "One possibility, yes, but if it is possible I would like to refrain from the removal or death of any innocent person."

Hermione nodded tightly.

"Couldn't we just go an kill Voldemort now?" Hermione asked. "I don't mind doing it at all."

"Another possibility my dear, and one I largely favor. Except," he trailed off.

"Except what, Professor?"

"We've been trying that for years and I dare say Voldemort won't be so easily defeated,"

"Oi!" Hermione cried, slapping her head. "The horcruxs."

Dumbledore looked aghast. "Voldemort has made a horcrux?"

"Seven,"

The old wizard looked near faint and placed a pale hand over his heart. "Seven?"

"Although I doubt very much if he has all seven in place yet. Perhaps though," she mused.

"My dear child," Dumbledore began slowly. "You said that the war revolves around your friend, Harry. Why is that?"

"The prophecy…OI!" she cried, terribly excited now. "That's it!" Dumbledore smiled in his confusion.

"Professor, some time in the future you will have a meeting with a woman by the name of Sybil Trelawney who wishes to take employment here as a Professor of Divination. She is, by the way, utter rubbish. However, during this meeting she will actually deliver a prophecy to you about Lord Voldemort.

In it, it will predict Harry's birth and say that only one – Harry or Voldemort – can survive; but not both."

"Indeed?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

Hermione nodded. "During this meeting, Severus Snape will be listening at the door. He will take the prophesy back to Voldemort. It's the prophecy that makes Voldemort kill the Potter's. If he never knows about it, he'll never know that Harry is his equal. He'll never expect us to find his Horcruxs and then kill him in the end!"

"You are on to something, my dear, it sounds like." Dumbledore replied, happily popping a lemon drop into his mouth. "Tell me, what is in my future?"

Hermione averted her eyes.

"Death then, is it? How wonderfully adventurous! How do I meet my demise?"

"It's a,…a long story Professor. One that I'm not sure I should divulge. Besides, it's probability irrelevant now that we've figured it out."

"All the more reason to share, I do love a good story, and I'm wonderful at keeping secrets."

Hermione paused. "Snape kills you." She said bluntly.

"Severus? I'd not had seen that one coming."

"He does it at your request."

Dumbledore blinked rapidly. "Perhaps this is a story you should not share," he agreed finally and Hermione nodded.

After a few more minutes of rapid fire directions and insistence that Dumbledore take notes, Hermione had conveyed the entire plan to him along with specific, yet cryptic, messages to be relayed to James, Lilly, Sirius, and Remus.

She reached for the time turner slowly. "I hope it is enough, Professor," she said vaguely.

"I suspect it will be. I am armed with good information." He assured her. "Remember to add a turn and three-quarters on you journey back."

Hermione nodded, remembering Fairyweather's Fourth Law on Time Travel.

She began to count, "One, two, three…"

Nothing happened. The time turner was broken; Hermione gave a little moan and covered her mouth with her hand.

"No fear," Dumbledore said warmly, taking the turner from her fingers gently. "I've a good friend who is especially adept at fixing these."

Hermione looked at him, the horror in her eyes lessening slightly. "Really?"

Dumbledore nodded serenely. "A month, maybe two, at most."

Hermione looked dumbly up at him. "A month?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Good results take time. In the mean time, you may assimilate into the school."

Hermione just stared.

"We'll simply say that you were home schooled until now and that you wished to finish your last year of magical education at Hogwarts. I will insert you into Gryffindor as that is your house, yes?"

Hermione nodded numbly.

"Perhaps you can pass on your cryptic warnings now as you best see fit. Your motley crew, as you no doubt know, are all Gryffindors."

Again Hermione nodded mutely. She was sure, absolutely positive, that somewhere in the bylaws of time travel it was expressly forbidden to cavort with your best friends parents – before they even knew they were going to get married let alone have a baby.

Glancing up at Dumbledore, she couldn't help but think he looked very pleased with himself.

She sat quietly, in the empty hall, her heart beating so violently fast she seriously thought that she might die. Yes, the hall was empty but at any minute it would begin to fill with rowdy students – including her best friend's dead parents. It was creepy. Plain and simple.

Just then, she heard the front doors bang open and excited chattering flooding into the school. She nestled deeper into her Gryffindor robes and ducked her head, concentrating on the wood grain patterns of the table.

The hall began to fill quickly and without looking up, Hermione knew she was surrounded. She sensed the bodies before she saw them and she raised her brown eyes very slowly.

The first thing she saw nearly knocked the wind out of her. It was Harry – or nearly. James Potter sat across from her smiling with his arm flung around – oh my Gods – Lily Evans, Harry's mom.

"Hello," Lily said softly. "I'm Lily and this is James," her voice had a very pleasant melodic ring to it.

Hermione managed a small smile.

"That's Remus," James said pointing to the younger version of her old professor beside Lily. "And that mangy mongrel beside him is,"

"Sirius. Sirius Black. My pleasure." Sirius purred, rising halfway, capturing her hand, and pressing his lips to it reverently.

Hermione turned six shades of red. "I'm, er, Hermione Granger." She managed.

"Hermione," Lily said with a smile. "That's a pretty name."

"Befitting a beautiful woman," Sirius breathed, earning him a sharp jab in the ribs from Lupin.

"Don't mind him," Lily laughed, hooking her thumb at Sirius. "He's a bit of a,.."

"Whore," Lupin inserted cheerfully, earning him a punch to the shoulder from Sirius.

"I was going to say 'flirt', but if the shoe fits,…" Lily laughed and James smirked.

"So, are you new?" Remus asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I was home schooled before."

"Hogwarts is the place to be." James said lightly.

Hermione touched her forehead softly; this was the weirdest experience of her life.

"So," Sirius breathed, sitting forward. "Are you single?"

"Oh for the love of Merlin!" Remus cried. "Give it a rest, will you?"

Sirius narrowed his storm colored eyes at his friend. "A completely legitimate question, Moony."

"Can you give her a day or two to acclimate?" Lupin snapped.

Sirius turned his eyes to her and dragged them obviously down then up her torso. "A day," he agreed lightly.

Hermione snorted, blushed, and lowered her eyes.

"Can't you ever keep your mouth shut? You're going to make her regret being sorted into our house." Lily asked, leaning forward to meet Sirius' eyes.

"Lils," Sirius said very somberly with his hand over his heart. "Have you seen her? I can't help it; I'm in love."

Lily sighed and flashed a sympathetic glance toward Hermione, before the hall fell silent and the Sorting began.

Later that night as Hermione was settled into her bed, Lily's bed next to hers, she let her mind wander as the other girls slept.

This day had been, hands down, the most surreal experience of her life. It was so weird talking to, and interacting with, people who she knew to be dead. If she ever made it back to her time; she would have some stories for Harry.

She missed her friends painfully and she allowed a few tears to fall after casting a silencing charm around her bed.

Her head was spinning. She didn't belong here – not now. She felt as if she were drowning, sinking into the lake with no one to pull her out.

She threw back her covers and forgoing her robe, she climbed quietly down the stairs to the common room – she needed space to breathe.

Too late she noticed that someone had had similar ideas and was standing before the smoldering fire thoughtfully. He turned slightly and Hermione caught the outline of shaggy hair before the rumbling voice confirmed it.

"Hermione?" Sirius asked quietly.

She cringed slightly and folded her arms across the tank tap she wore. "Evening Sirius,"

He crooked a finger at her and against her better judgment she approached him. In one fluid movement he snatched a fur blanket from the chair beside him and draped it around her shoulders. She smiled slightly up at him. He motioned her to the couch where she folded down into a cushion, drawing the blanket around herself tightly. Sirius settled onto the floor beside her, aimed his wand at the fireplace and had the fire roaring again.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"Something like that. You?" she replied.

Sirius shrugged. "I've got a lot on my mind."

Hermione sighed softly, it would be much easier to talk about his problems than hers. "Care to share?" she asked.

Sirius smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "All unimportant."

"Hmm," Hermione mused. "Family problems, perhaps?"

Sirius looked up at her sharply. "What do you know of my family?"

Hermione shrugged. "Everyone knows who the Black's are."

Sirius' eyes narrowed dangerously and Hermione smiled softly.

"You are, then, the rumored disowned son I take it?"

"And proud of it," he snarled.

"A Gryffindor through and through." She agreed and he smiled.

Hermione turned her face toward the fire and stared at it thoughtfully for awhile.

"You know," Sirius said, breaking her train of thought and she turned slightly to gaze at him. "I'm honestly not a whore,"

Hermione laughed. "I know that, Sirius."

"You do?" he asked.

"Of course," Hermione answered.

She contemplated him for a moment, aching to throw herself into his arms and tell him everything; that they knew each other, lived together for a summer, trusted each other, that he would die. But she settled instead on a more cryptic answer.

"I know a lot about you, Sirius Black."

"You think so, Hermione Granger?" he murmured.

"I do."

"What do you know?" he asked playfully.

"Hmm," she mused. "Let's see. Sirius Black, older brother to Regulus Black who is in Slytherin house as we speak. Son of Orion and Walburga Black, disowned, and currently living with the Potters. Am I correct so far?"

Sirius, his eyebrow cocked, motioned for her to continue.

"Fiercely loyal to your friends, you are willing to lay your life down for them. A playboy and shameless flirt, you are lusted after by a good percentage of all the females in Hogwarts. You dream of joining the Order of the Phoenix upon graduation and helping to bring down the Dark Lord. You're favorite color is, indeed, black or any derivative of black, but the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor are dear to you as well. You hate waking up in the morning and, consequently, today at classes you'll be a complete arse due to your lack of sleep. You are a natural born prankster and spend hours dreaming up elaborate jokes. You run around with James Potter, Remus Lupin, and less desirable; Peter Pettigrew. Whom, by the way, I have not met yet. Oh, and you abhor Severus Snape."

Sirius looked up at her dumbfounded. "How in the bloody hell,…"

Hermione smiled. "I do my homework."

"That goes beyond homework, Hermione,"

"I've frightened you," Hermione said softly.

"I don't frighten that easily. Did you talk to Lily?" he asked.

"No. I talked to Dumbledore," she lied smoothly.

"Dumble,.." Sirius paused. "Well shit, if he's keeping the close of an eye on me I should probably stay low to the ground this year." He laughed.

"He's got one thing wrong though," Sirius went on.

"Oh?" Hermione said, sitting forward. "What's that?"

"I'm not a playboy. A flirt, I'll give him, but,…" he trailed off.

"Your bark's worse than your bite?" Hermione suggested.

He laughed. "Sometimes,"

"It's late and I have most of my classes with you," Hermione said, rising. "And you're going to be a complete git if you don't get some sleep."

Sirius chuckled and rose with her.

"Goodnight, Sirius," she said, turning away.

He caught her by the wrist and spun her back toward himself, the blanket falling to the floor in the process. One hand went to the small of her back, crushing her body against his and the other wound itself into her curls as he brought his lips crashing down on hers.

Hermione's mind screamed in protest. This was wrong, wrong, wrong! Her body, however, had other plans.

Her hands wove their way around his neck, tangling in the dark locks there. Her body pushed hungrily against his, and her throat emitted the softest sigh when he ran his tongue across her bottom lip. With a little coaxing, Hermione yielded her mouth to him and their tongues met in a fiery dance. After awhile Sirius pulled away slightly, keeping his hand still firmly placed on her back, and smiled down at her.

"Alright, love?" he purred.

Hermione was gasping for air. "You. Are. Going. To. Regret. That." She panted.

"Oh?" he chuckled.

Hermione nodded limply and pulled away from him completely. "Trust me, when you're about thirty-five, and you remember my name, you're going to regret that."

"I'll take my chances," he said solemnly, swooping in and pressing his lips to hers chastely once more. Hermione didn't see any point in resisting now, so she just sighed and shook her head.

"I'll see you at breakfast, love," he murmured breathily in her ear before nipping her earlobe and walking away.

Hermione was left standing in the middle of the common room, quivering, and pondering how her recent actions would effect the course of history.

The first few weeks of the school year, it seemed to Hermione that she was constantly rebuffing Sirius' advances. It became so natural to them that he would simply look at her, she would say 'no', and he would go back to whatever he was doing while muttering about her coming around.

Against her better judgment she had been accepted into, and become a part of, their small group. She found that she connected really well with Lily and they spent a lot of time together while the boys were off pranking the school.

She also developed a warm friendship with Lupin, which didn't startle her in the least as she had a good relationship with him in the future as well.

One cool October evening, Hermione was strolling back to the common room with Lily when they crossed paths with Severus Snape.

"Lily," he said slowly, pain clearly etched across his face.

Lily narrowed her eyes, raised her chin defiantly, and ignored him, continuing her march with a bit more oomph in her step.

"Er," Hermione said after they'd passed him. "I've forgotten my quill, I'll be right back!"

"I'll come with you," Lily offered, starting to turn.

"No! Er, I mean, that's ok. You go ahead, I'll be right there and make sure Sirius isn't planning on slipping me a love potion again or anything," Hermione laughed quickly, turning and jogging back down the corridor.

She'd decided spur of the moment, that perhaps she could save Snape from the future when she saw him.

"Severus, right?" she asked, falling in step beside him.

"Who are you?" he hissed, stopping in his tracks.

"My name is Hermione Granger. We have potions together." She said cheerfully.

He didn't look quite as sallow at this age, though still very pale with long lank hair and his trademark beaked nose. Although, Hermione thought, gazing into his face, that perhaps his nose would be broken a few times in future, because it's didn't look nearly as crooked or hooked as she remembered it.

"And," he prompted nastily.

"Oh, erm, I really admire your brewing skills."

He raised an eyebrow, a bored look crossing his face. "And?" he prompted again.

"Oh," Hermione huffed. "I was just paying you a compliment, you should learn how to be a little more gracious!" she scolded.

"If this is some sort of prank you and your dumb friends have cooked up, just know that I could hex you into oblivion." He snarled.

Hermione's hands flew to her hips and her foot began to tap of it's own accord. "First of all Severus Snape, my friends are not dumb. And secondly," she went on, her face flushed with irritation. "I was actually being kind to you. And lastly, I'm not doing it on my friend's orders; I wanted to talk to you myself because you look like you're in sore need of a friend."

"I don't need you as a friend." Snape spit out.

"Why?" Hermione snapped.

"Because you're friends with them," he growled, gesturing toward the corridor Lily had disappeared down.

"And?" she quoted him angrily.

"Do you really need another reason?" he hissed, his patience wearing out.

"No, I do not need another reason; I need a good reason."

"I don't want to be your friend." He said bluntly. "Not to mention that I'm no good for anyone. If Lily can't manage it, than how could you?"

Hermione sighed softly and dropped her hands from her hips. "I'm not Lily, Severus. I enjoy a wider range of company. Listen," she went on as she lowered her voice. "you need a friend, and I could use one that's not so damn cheerful and jovial all the time. I'll be at the top of the astronomy tower tonight around ten if you'd like someone to talk to."

"Why would I want to talk to you?" he asked, his resistance beginning to wean.

"I'm excellent at keeping secrets and I'm sure I already know half of yours – and I've not judged you yet. I'm a pretty safe bet."

"You don't know anything about me," he whispered, less sure of himself.

Hermione glanced around, making a show of checking if they were alone. "I know you're in love with Lily Evans," she whispered. "And not the kind of in-and-out 'love' that's bouncing around these halls. The true, deep in your soul, kind of love."

Severus paled noticeably but did not deny this.

Hermione smiled and touched his arm lightly. "Astronomy tower, ten 'o' clock." She reminded him, before turning and hurrying away.

Hermione sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the tower, her arms folded neatly over the railing that ran at her chest level, with her head resting against her folded arms. The view was, as always, spectacular. The lake shown silver in the moonlight, rippling as the abundant life in it swam about. The mountains in the distance stood sentinel over the scene like guards. She could see Hagrid's hut, dark but with smoke piping merrily from his chimney. The Forbidden Forest to her right swayed in the evening's chilly breeze, emitting the low sighs and eerie groans it was known for. Hermione sighed happily, Hogwarts would always be home – no matter the year.

She felt him approaching before she heard him and smiled to herself. "Hi, Severus," she called softly without turning around.

"I don't trust you," he said uneasily from the shadows.

Hermione turned slightly and gazed at the young Snape who hesitated on the stairwell. Very slowly she pulled out her wand.

"Homenum Revelio." She said quietly. There was a bright flash of light and Severus was momentarily outlined in a blue light.

"See?" she reassured him. "Just you and I."

Severus nodded slowly and edged his way into the room. He sat down on the floor about five feet away from Hermione and regarded her with an expectant gaze. Hermione smiled at him before turning her gaze back toward the grounds. After a moment she asked;

"How are you?"

He grunted a noncommittal reply and they lapsed back into silence.

"Don't you love the view?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I didn't come to talk about the scenery," he muttered.

"Oh, but you should, I mean, Merlin, just look at it. It's so beautiful." She gushed patting the empty spot beside her and casting a glance at Severus.

With a sigh of defeat Severus scooted himself over beside Hermione, taking a similar stance, and turned his black eyes out onto the grounds.

"It's nice," he admitted after a moment.

"Indeed," she sighed.

"How did you know about Lily?" he asked her quietly.

Hermione shrugged. "I'm good at reading people."

"Like a seer? I always thought seer's were a load of rubbish. No one can know the future." Snape said harshly.

"Hmm," Hermione considered. "Perhaps. I do know, though, that after graduation you plan on taking the Dark Mark."

Snape gaped at her wordlessly.

"You shouldn't," she went on softly. "Your life will be miserable. People you care about will die. The Dark Lord shows no mercy." She paused and turned her head away from him. "To anyone."

"You don't understand," he said in a strangled voice.

"I do. More than you could possibly guess. You're alone and you think that joining forces with the Dark Lord will gain you acceptance." She turned her chocolate eyes back on him.

"Oh, you crave power too, of course, but it's acceptance you want more than anything. But I assure you, Severus," she went on, taking his hand in hers. "You will not find that in His Dark Army. You are a half blood any way you look at it and the all the Death Eaters will know this. You'll gain no friends."

"I,…" Severus paused. "I just want,"

"I know," Hermione said softly, releasing his hand and reaching behind him to rub slow circles on his back. "But you won't find it in the dark."

He shook his head. "I've already proclaimed my intentions."

Hermione sighed. "Then you should leave the country when you graduate."

"And go where? And with what money? You tout all these ideals about staying within the light, but where is the practicality in that? What will it get me in the end?" Snape nearly shouted with agitation.

Hermione place her hand on his chest gently. "This," she said simply.

Snape regarded her hand with a sneer. "And what is this?"

"Your soul." She whispered.

Snape visibly deflated. "They'll find me," he whispered, fear registering in his dark eyes.

"I can help you," Hermione told him. She was overcome with the urge to pull this young Snape into her arms and comfort him, but held back knowing it would make him uncomfortable. She cupped his face gently in her hands instead. "Let me help you,"

He was shaking. "How?" he murmured, leaning his face into her warm hands.

"I will secure you the financing and identity to disappear."

"Why?" he asked slowly. "Why are you helping me?"

Hermione smiled tenderly. "I have seen the future Severus, and this small act of kindness is the least you deserve. You are a hero, but at great – and deadly – personal cost to you. I am trying to spare you that pain."

"A hero?" he breathed.

Hermione chuckled and dropped her hands. "For the side of the Light. All the details of my vision are not clear." She lied, taking on his accusation of being a seer.

"What's in this for you?" he asked slowly.

Hermione smiled. "Peace." She answered cryptically. "And," she went on. "A new friend."

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips and he turned his face back to the spectacular view with a nod.

Hermione went directly to Dumbledore when she left the astronomy tower and was greeted by a cheerful, albeit sleepy, headmaster. She explained to him about Severus and pressed upon him the importance of hiding Severus away. With the assurance that Severus would have the full protection and financial backing of the Order behind him upon graduation, Hermione returned to her room and slept exceptionally soundly.

Halloween was approaching and still her time turner was not repaired. Dumbledore assured her that his friend was diligently working on it and that patience was, indeed, a virtue. She kept herself busy with schoolwork, pointless in her opinion as they'd covered most of the topics in her sixth year. Standards had apparently advanced since the seventies.

She met with Severus several nights a week, secretly, in the astronomy tower. He was much more relaxed around her, opening up about his life, and although he would not verbally commit to the Order's offer – Hermione had no doubt that he would take it. He would be safe and this gave her a great deal of peace in her heart.

Sirius continued his relentless pursuit of her to the chagrin of most of the female population in Hogwarts. Hermione tried very hard to keep him at arm's length, but he was sneaky and had managed to corner – and kiss- her several times. She was not angry with him, simply reiterated how much he would regret it in the future each time he stole a kiss from her.

Lupin, she assumed, wanted to tell her very much about his secret but seemed to be torn. She made sure to subtly show him as often as possible how trust worthy she was because she felt it would do him a world of good to open up to someone.

Lily and Hermione were very close and she ached to tell Lily the truth. She knew that it would be very hard for her when she figured out the truth twenty or so years from now. But she was so lonely, she couldn't bring herself to pull away from the kind red head. She also took solace in Lily's eyes that reminded her everyday of her best friend.

James treated her very kindly and included her in everything their group did but they did not have an especially close relationship. He seemed to be under the impression that Lily had claimed Hermione first and therefore he shouldn't get too close to the only female Lily confided in.

Sirius had been nagging her for the last week to go to the Halloween Ball with him. She wanted to decline, honestly, but he was driving her absolutely nutters with his omnipresent requests. They came in the form of owls, of flowers, of candies, of singing telegrams - once he even sent a howler so the whole hall could hear – of house elves, of charmed suits of armor, and, of course in his constant verbal nagging.

"FINE!" she bellowed outside the transfiguration classroom on a Friday afternoon. "I'll go to bloody ball with you if you JUST SHUT IT!"

James and Lupin were hollowing with laughter; the rest of the class were guffawing or sending her dirty looks. Sirius however looked very pleased with himself. He made a motion of sealing his lips and throwing away the key.

Keeping his promise, Sirius did not utter one syllable to anyone the rest of that day – not even the teachers – earning him a sound thump to the back of his head by Professor McGonagall when he wouldn't answer her questions.

He remained mum throughout dinner and although Hermione was very much enjoying the quiet she gave him permission to speak when the pudding was served.

He gave her a smile of thanks and took up a quiet conversation with James on Quiddich. He remained unobtrusive and cordial throughout the weekend, including their trip to Hogsmeade. When Hermione commented on his new behavior to Lily, she laughed and explained that Sirius was much easier to deal with when he got what he wanted. Hermione snorted; nothing much changed with him.

Hermione chose to dress as Rapunzel, transfiguring her bushy curls into impossibly long, sleek, golden ringlets. She chose to wear a renaissance styled dress in richly embroidered powder blue and gold. When she descended into the common room, she found Sirius looking dapper in his rich, albeit generic, price charming attire. She's had to explain, several times, the muggle story of Rapunzel before Sirius had grasped why the price didn't simply hop on a broom and fly up to the princess as he did in the wizard version: Wanda Willanthorn and the Three Dragons.

"You make a lovely princess, Hermione." He said, rising to his feet and tugging his jacket straight.

"Thank you, er," Hermione muttered, tugging at her heavy braid. "you look very nice too."

Sirius chucked and pointed his wand at her hair, casting a levitation charm on it and easing the tug on Hermione's skull.

She sighed. "Thank you, don't know why I didn't think of that."

With a smile, he offered his arm, and led her down to the great hall.

"Oho!" Dumbledore laughed upon seeing them. "I've never seen a lovelier Wanda Willanthorn, Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled and shook her head, not bothering to correct the headmaster.

"A word, Miss Granger, if you please, only a moment," he added, his blue eyes twinkling.

Hermione stepped away from Sirius and away a distance before gazing up at Dumbledore.

"Your magical apparatus is ready, Hermione dear. It's in my office, do come up whenever you're ready to return home. I'll keep track of it for you until then."

Hermione smiled. "I'll come now,"

"Oh, I think Mr. Black would be crushed. No, best to go to the ball first." Dumbledore babbled.

Hermione sighed and cast a glance over at Sirius before nodding. "Alright, I'll be up after the ball."

"Oho!" Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together. "It's just like that muggle story…oh what's the name of it now…"

"Cinderella." Hermione supplied.

"Yes. At the stroke of midnight – POOF! Though I dare say, Miss Granger, you've no time limit. Enjoy the evening as you see fit, perhaps, first thing in the morning would be best,"

Hermione shrugged. "We'll see. And I'll see you later, Professor."

She joined Sirius again and promised to explain to him later, they entered the great hall.

At midnight, Hermione dragged Sirius off the dance floor and told him it was of the utmost importance that he gather Lily, James, and Remus and meet her in the room of requirement in fifteen minutes. She refused to reveal anything else and sent him on his way to fetch his friends. Quickly, Hermione descended into the dungeons and went directly to the portrait that concealed the Slytherin common room. The subject eyed her with obvious distaste.

"Password?" it demanded.

"I just need Severus Snape," she pleaded. "If you could just tell him that his friend Hermione needs him,"

"I am not an owl." The portrait snapped.

"Please, it's a matter of life and death!"

He glared at her for a moment before marching off. After a minute, Severus flung the portrait hole open and clambered out quickly.

"Hermione! Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes," she said absently as she dragged him into a dark niche.

"What's going," he began, looking utterly bewildered.

"Just listen to me," Hermione spoke rapidly. "I have to go away now, Sev. It's very possible that you may never see me again." She held her hand up when he began to protest. "I need your word that you will do as Dumbledore tells you upon your graduation, that you will adhere to the protections and enchantments that the Order gives to you, and that you will keep yourself safe and in the light."

"Hermione, I don't under,"

"Your word!" she shouted.

"My word. Of course, you have it. What's going on though?"

Hermione shook her head lightly. "I can't tell you yet. But listen to me," she went on, grasping his hands tightly. "I care about you. I believe in you. I accept you. You are my friend and I love you. Remember that and you will never, ever, be alone." She reached up and snapped the chain around her neck that a small golden 'H' dangled from and pressed it urgently into his hands, kissing his fingers as she closed them around it. She pressed a sweet kiss to each of his cheeks, then a fleeting one on his lips, before backing away – tears swimming in her vision.

"Don't you ever forget that!" she cried hoarsely, before turning and running blindly up the stairs.

She knew that he would not follow.

Hermione took her time climbing to the sixth floor. She was dreading saying goodbye to her friends, and thought more than once about forgoing the farewells and slipping away quietly. She knew that she owed them, this motley group who had accepted without question, some semblance of the truth. And so with a heavy heart and wet eyes, she entered the room of requirement to find her friends in a highly agitated state.

Lily was perched on the edge of the couch looking terrified, James at her side with whispered reassurances. Sirius paced back and forth angrily in front of the fireplace and Lupin was leaning against the mantel looking thoughtful.

"Hermione!" Sirius rushed forward and gathered her into his arms. "What's the matter? Are you ill?"

"Hermione?" Lily said quietly, half standing, reaching out a pale arm towards her.

Hermione pulled herself out of Sirius' arms and forced a smile onto her face.

"Guys," she began with a sniffle. "I have to go away for awhile."

"Oh," Lily said slowly.

"When will you be back, then?" James asked casually.

Hermione hesitated for a second. "I won't."

Lily sucked in a gasp and Sirius let out a sound that was a moan mingled with a sigh and sank down into the nearest chair.

"Where are you going?" Sirius asked tightly.

"I," Hermione bit her lip. "I haven't been completely honest with you. I'm not exactly who you think I am."

"Why don't you start at the beginning?" Lupin said, pushing away from the mantle and walking towards the group.

"I can't tell you everything and you'll have to accept that. But I want to tell you as much as I can,"

"Does this have to do with Voldemort?" Sirius asked, scrubbing his face with his hands.

"Yes," Hermione whispered, watching James wrap his arm tightly around Lily. "I used a time turner to get here. I'm not actually from this time."

Sirius gaped at her.

"I'm from the future," she added. "Gods, that sounds like a bad line from a movie." she muttered.

"How…how far in the future?" Lupin asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Two…two-thousand and three. Twenty-seven years." she stuttered.

Lily turned an alarming shade of green.

"I'm sorry." Hermione whispered. "I came to set something right, something that brought Voldemort to the pinnacle of his power. And I, I think I've fixed it. You all should be safe now."

"Safe?" James hissed. "Were we not safe in your time?"

"I,..I can't tell you that. All I can tell you is that I think I've reversed as much as I can to keep you safe. But,…" she whispered, her tears falling, she turned to Sirius.

"You need to watch your cousin Bellatrix carefully. Do not ever let yourself be alone with her, do you understand me?" she whispered fiercely.

"Bella,.." he murmured.

"Promise me, you'll stay away from her!" she demanded, falling to her knees before him and taking his face in her hands.

Sirius closed his eyes and leaned into her hand. "I promise," he breathed.

"I'm sorry I can't tell you more. But if what I've done works, you will each have a wonderful and full future."

"Tell me, Hermione," Lupin asked casually. "Do they cure lycanism in the future?"

Hermione grinned and flung herself into his arms. "You admitted it to me!" she cried.

"I was planning on telling you, you silly girl," Lupin laughed. "But I've just realized you must already know." Hermione laughed into his chest.

"Well," James cut in. "Do they?"

"No," Hermione said soberly. "But the Wolfs bane Potion will be vastly improved."

"I have a feeling we're very good friends in the future." Lupin said, squeezing her gently.

"You are correct." she laughed.

"Do I have a place in your future?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I help you escape after you break out of Azkaban." Hermione said casually.

"What?" Sirius roared.

"Oh yes," Hermione said, turning to address the room. "This I will tell you. Peter Pettigrew will join the Death Eaters and betray all of you. His betrayal may have deadly consequences."

"That little rat!" James snarled and Sirius was instantly on his feet.

"I'll kill him myself!" Sirius spat.

"No," Hermione said soothingly. "What I've done here should also correct that. But I wouldn't keep him too close if I were you. I really do have to go now."

Lily sprang to her feet and slammed into Hermione, hugging her tightly.

"I will look for you in the future."

Hermione nodded.

James gave her a light squeeze. "You fit in with us, Hermione, that was enough,"

James helped a sobbing Lily from the room.

"Until we meet again," Lupin said, bowing.

Hermione curtsied. "Until we meet again."

He kissed her cheek and left.

Hermione turned to Sirius.

"If I see you again, will you remember me?" he asked, staring into the fire.

"I honestly don't know. I want to believe I will."

He nodded and turned towards her quickly, pulling her into the fiercest kiss of their short time together. She gasped and shivered against his taunt body, allowing his hands to roam her body freely. When they broke apart they were both panting.

"You are really going to regret that," she laughed between gasps.

Sirius smiled. "You're always saying that. Are we related in the future or something?"

"Nearly," Hermione giggled.

"Oho," Sirius laughed. He turned serious. "I'll wait for you,"

"No," Hermione touched his lips tenderly. "Don't wait for me. For all we know I could have winked myself out of existence with my time here. If you find happiness, Sirius, grab it and hold on tightly."

"I don't want to go somewhere you're not." he said fiercely.

"You'll do just fine. There are a great number of people who will be depending on you."

"Hermione," he moaned.

"It's alright. It's alright." she cooed, disentangling herself from him and moving toward the fire.

I need to get to Dumbledore's office and I need Sirius not to be able to follow, she thought to the room.

A pot of floo powder appeared, and then she was gone - Sirius kneeling at the grate alone.