Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hermione Granger, Unspeakable second class, moved through the Ministry to the elevators. She descended to Level 9. Waving her wand in the Atrium, she was permitted access to one of the doors. Looking around at all the clocks on every surface in the room, she smiled. The sparkling light in this room always made her happy and excited.

She passed by the Time Turners. Since they had all been destroyed in her fifth year, Unspeakables had been hard at work to develop more. There was now a decently sized, windowed shelving unit that held the ones that had been created. It wasn’t anywhere near as extensive as before, but they were being replenished.

Coming up to the large bell jar at the back of the room, she put her hand on it. The light sparked from it, and she watched the evolution of the hummingbird from egg to adult and back again. She didn’t usually take the time to watch this, but she loved hummingbirds, and she was a bit early, so she felt it was okay for her to take the time to do so. She smiled as she put her hand down and walked through the door against the wall on the left.

“Good morning, Mr. McCalister,” Hermione greeted.

“Hermione, please call me Warren. I’ve asked you to do so umpteen times.”

“Sorry, sir. I’ve always had a healthy respect for authority. You being my boss… Well, it’s just challenging.”

“Would it help if that was an order?”

She grinned at him. “You know it will.”

“Great! Glad we got that straightened out. Now, today we are going to examine time’s relationship to aging.”

Hermione nodded.

“What would happen if time was suspended, but existence continued? Would aging occur?” Warren postulated.

“Fascinating question,” Hermione said. “How could anything continue if time stopped?”

“It may not, but then again… it may! Let’s head into room 2 and explore this.”

They moved into the room and Warren closed the door behind them, sealing it magically so nothing would escape it. Turning to Hermione, he motioned to the table in the middle of the room. There was a tray with a glass cloche over it.

“We will create a timeless environment within the cloche and seal it so nothing can enter or leave. We’ll place a mouse within and observe if it ages or not.”

“How long will we observe it? I mean, if it’s timeless, I would imagine we could watch it forever with no results.”

“We will use diagnostics to monitor the mouse constantly. We’ll know pretty quickly if the mouse is aging or not.”

Hermione nodded.

“What monitoring spell should we use, Hermione?”

“I would try the Metimur spell… Warren.” She grinned at him.

“I agree. It should give the best results.”

He went over to the closet and extricated a cage with a mouse in it. He pulled it out and lifted the cloche. Placing the mouse on the base, he also added a small dish of food and water before putting the cloche back down. With a wave of his wand, an unbreakable seal secured the lid to the base.

“Okay, Hermione, cast the diagnostic spell on the mouse, then I’ll cast the time spell.”

Hermione flourished her wand and spoke the spell. “ Metimur.” A golden light shot from the wand into the mouse. It kept exploring its small habitat, seemingly unharmed.

Warren said the time spell, “Tempus Prohibe.”

Nothing seemed to change within the cloche. The mouse still sniffed around.

“How do we know that time has actually stopped within the cloche?” Hermione asked.

Warren flicked his wand and a yellow glow surrounded the experiment. 

“Time has stopped,” he informed her.

“I don’t understand how the mouse can move still. Wouldn't it be frozen?”

“You would think so, but all other variables have remained constant. I wonder if that’s how the mouse can be mobile.”

“Good question,” Hermione mused. “I think when we're done with this study, we should look into just why this mouse is still moving.”

“I think that would be a fascinating study,” Warren agreed.

“I would imagine that no aging would happen, right? I mean… time has stopped.”

Warren nodded. “That is what would be expected, but we’ve never studied this before. Maybe it will be a surprise.”

“How long do we wait?” she asked as she arched a brow at him.

“Let’s give it half an hour and come back. We should be able to tell if anything is happening then.”

Hermione nodded, and they left to write up their hypothesis while they waited. After half an hour, they returned to the room and Warren cast a diagnostic over the mouse to read the spell. He looked at Hermione, who raised her eyebrows.

“No aging,” she said.

“None.”

“Should we give it more time?”

“I think we definitely need to do so. Maybe leave it over the weekend?” Warren offered.

“I agree.”

Warren nodded. “All right. We have plenty of other things to do for the rest of the day. We’ll check on this first thing on Monday morning.”

ooo

Hermione knocked on the front door of Grimmauld Place. It magically opened, and she entered, her ponytail waving behind her as she looked around for Harry. She found him in the study with Ron.

“Hey, you two!” she greeted.

“Hermione!” Harry said as he bounded up to hug her.

Ron got up from the sofa, too. “Hermione.”

She hugged both of them. “It’s good to see you!”

“Yeah,” Harry said as he led her to the sofa and deposited her there. The two men sat down as well. “Tell us what’s going on with you?”

She shrugged. “Not much. Lots of work, really. Sorry, I haven’t been able to come by for a while.”

“Yeah, you’ve been avoiding me,” Ron said sullenly.

“Oh, I have not.”

“Sure you have. You broke it off with me, and you’ve been scared to come by.”

Hermione glared at Ron. “You know what, the world doesn’t revolve around you, Ronald Weasley. I've been busy at work, and when I get home I’m too bloody exhausted to do anything, so I haven’t been by. This is the first weekend I’ve had time to stop by.”

Ron looked at her seriously. “Are you sure? Because it’s been odd that you haven’t come by.”

She shrugged. “I’ll admit I’ve felt a little awkward, but it hasn’t kept me from coming around, I swear.”

He nodded. “Good. You know, I thought about what you said, Hermione. You’re right. We fight something awful. I understand why you wanted to end it.” His cheeks flushed. “And actually, I’ve gotten together again with Lav.”

Hermione’s mouth dropped open. “It’s been what… Two weeks?”

“Four.” 

Hermione laughed. “Oh, all right then.”

“Are you jealous?” he asked with a grin.

“Oh, of course not. But it seems that you got over me quite easily.”

“I thought a lot about what you said. About us not really fitting, you know? The war has been over for a bit, and that cemented us. Now…” he shrugged. “Our interests don’t mesh.”

Hermione sighed. “I’m glad you understand what I was saying.”

He grinned at her. “As usual, you were right.”

She cocked her head at him. “I’m glad you can admit that.”

He chuckled. “I just don’t want you to hex me.”

“Don’t worry, my wand is in its holster, and it’s not moving.” She smiled at him. “Believe it or not, I’m glad you’re back with Lavender. I hope she makes you happy.”

“Thanks, Hermione.”

“So, how is Auror work?” she asked the both of them.

“Great! Both Ron and I have gotten noticed for our ability to track people down.”

“I think they’ll promote us in a little while. Our Supervisor always says how great we’re doing,” Ron continued.

“That’s brilliant,” Hermione gushed. “I knew you would do well. You’ve both got a knack for this kind of thing.”

“Thanks, Hermione!” Ron said.

“Ginny is coming by in a bit for lunch. You can stay, yeah?” Harry asked.

“I have all day,” Hermione said with a smile.

ooo

Monday came by quickly, and Hermione and Warren headed into the lab to see how their mouse experiment was going. There still was no aging on the mouse. 

“All right,” Warren said. “Let’s take the Time spell off and see what happens.”

Hermione nodded and Warren cast the spell. They watched in horror as the mouse shriveled up and died as time was restored. 

“What happened?” Hermione asked.

Warren studied the cloche. They both cast several spells. “From what I can determine, the addition of Time sped up the mouse’s aging exponentially.”

“I agree. Can we find a way for that not to happen for future tests?” Hermione said.

“Let’s head to the library and study this out,” Warren advised. 

ooo

They’d come up with a spell that would keep the mouse from dying when Time was restored. They eyed the cloche. The new mouse had been in it for 24 hours without time, not aging at all. 

“I’ll take off the Time spell while you constantly cast the Transition spell,” Warren advised.

Hermione nodded and got ready. She cast first, purple light streaming from her wand and surrounding the mouse. Warren cast his spell and began again within the cloche. The mouse shivered but didn’t die. Hermione slowly lessened the spell until it dissipated. The mouse was unharmed and from Warren’s diagnostics, aging once again.

“Fascinating,” Hermione said.

“Indeed. Let’s write this up so we can compare these two experiments.”

They retired to the other room where they wrote up the results of the latest experiment for comparison with the other test.

ooo

The next day, Warren and Hermione were comparing the first and second tests, discussing what they’d found that was different. They were engrossed in their observations when a fox Patronus ran in.

“Death Eaters attacking. They’re after the Time door! Two defeated, three on their way!”

Hermione and Warren looked at each other with trepidation. They were the only ones in the Time Room. They would have to defend the door with their lives.

The Time Door was just what it sounded like–a doorway through time. It could transport anyone anywhere in time. One only had to imagine where they wanted to go.

“They’ll want to save Voldemort,” Hermione hissed.

“You’re right. Let’s go. We must not let them succeed!”

The two headed for the room that held the Door. An arch that was similar to the Veil in the Death Chamber sat in the middle of the room. Inside the arch was a dusky mist so thick it was impossible to see through. 

Other than that, the room was nondescript. They took their stances in front of the Time Door with their wands extended, awaiting the onslaught from the Death Eaters. They didn’t have to wait long. The three interlopers entered the room, curses flying. Both Warren and Hermione shielded themselves. Hermione sent a stunner at the closest one to her. Warren quickly sent an Incarcerus at him, and he was bound, struggling on the floor. But the other two sent curses at Hermione and Warren. They barely were able to shield themselves, Hermione having to duck and roll to avoid being hit. 

The four of them sent hexes and curses at each other, no one able to get the upper hand. Hermione got lucky and was able to petrify the second Death Eater, but with her curse, she left herself open. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the new curse coming and shielded herself but part of the spell caught her, throwing her into the air. She saw Warren send a Killing curse at the Death Eater, felling him as she realized she was going through the Time Door. She could do nothing to stop herself. Suddenly, her surroundings swirled around her like a kaleidoscope and she disappeared.

Chapter Text

Hermione appeared in a graveyard, surprisingly on her feet. She stumbled to the side, her head spinning. She felt strong hands steady her and looked up to see a tall man with shoulder-length black hair and black eyes looking at her with concern. She gasped.

“Severus Snape?” she whispered.

“I believe I’m at a disadvantage, Miss. How do you know who I am? And where did you come from? Are you all right?”

His arms dropped back to his side after he ensured she was steadily on her feet.

She just gaped at him, unable to say a word.

He looked grumpily at her. “Are you going to say anything?”

She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I was just caught off-guard. I’m fine. Thank you for steadying me.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “Did Dumbledore send you after me?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, Merlin, no.”

Arching a brow, his head tilted as he gazed at her.

“So, why are you here, and where did you come from.”

Hermione’s hand came up, and she rubbed her forehead, trying to decide how to proceed with her explanation. She decided she might as well be straightforward. That would be the only way Snape would continue speaking with her.

“My name is Hermione Granger. I know this sounds odd, but I came from the future. I’m a Ministry employee and an Unspeakable. There was an attack at the Ministry. A hex struck me and there was a bright light, and I found myself here.” She rubbed her forehead again. “My head is killing me.”

Suddenly, she found his wand pointing in her face.

“Very humorous. Did Yaxley send you?” he snapped.

“Yaxley? Wait, the Death Eaters who aren’t in Azkaban are after you?”

“Some, yes, now answer my question!” he demanded.

Scowling, she answered him. “No! No one sent me. I told you, I’m from the future!” 

“Highly unlikely.”

Her eyes moved up and down his frame, settling on the wand pointed in her face.

“How can I convince you? Anything I tell you that hasn’t happened yet can’t be proven. Anything I know of the past doesn’t prove anything about me being from the future.”

Hermione felt his mental attack and pushed him out of her head quickly. For the first time, her wand crossed his, pointing in his face.

“Do not invade my mind, Severus Snape! Don’t you know how to ask for something?”

He looked quite shocked. “Most people do not know when I enter their mind.”

“Well, I am not most people! And even if that was so, how dare you invade others' privacy!”

He cleared his throat. “It is necessary in some cases.”

She lowered her wand. “I can see how that might be, but this is not one of those cases.” She glared at him, daring him to try it again.

“I apologize. It seemed like the only way to tell if you are being truthful or not.”

“Well, how about just taking my word for it?” she glowered.

“I have not found that to be reliable in the past,” he answered in annoyance.

She huffed and folded her arms in front of her. “Is there no other way I can convince you?”

He shrugged. “Not that would convince me completely.”

Frowning, she agreed. “All right, but I will put a couple of innocuous memories forward in my mind for you to view. Do not go digging. You cannot learn about the future.”

He regarded her cooly before nodding. “All right.”

She pulled a couple of memories to the forefront of her mind and felt Severus enter it. An old Dumbledore stood in front of the students in the Great Hall as he welcomed them to another year at Hogwarts. An older Severus sat next to Minerva McGonagall at the high table. Hermione was a first-year, waving her arm crazily in his class as he looked at Harry. She felt him quickly withdraw.

“Was that Potter's son in that last memory?”

She nodded.

“You know him?”

“He’s my best friend.”

Severus sneered. Hermione’s eyes drifted behind him, noting the gravesite where they stood. It was Harry’s parents.

“Oh, you’re visiting her grave.”

His wand pointed in her face again. “What do you know of it?” he snarled.

Hermione’s lips thinned. “I am not sure I can say. I don’t want to mess with the future.”

“Don’t you think you standing here hasn’t already messed with it?” he asked testily.

“I don’t doubt that it has, but I can be careful not to change it anymore,” she answered carefully.

He lowered his wand and huffed. “Fine! Now, I’m busy, so if you’ll be on your way.” He turned and knelt in front of the headstone. His head turned back to her. “Leave,” he ordered sharply.

Hermione backed off, giving him some privacy. She watched him trace Lily’s name with his finger. His head bowed. She was close enough to see that he’d closed his eyes. His face was filled with pain, and she was filled with empathy for him. She wondered how long it had been since the Potters’ murders.

She rubbed her forehead, which still ached from her voyage into the past. Turning her head and looking at one of the nearby headstones, she let him grieve in private. He was there for a long while. When she saw him stand out of the corner of her eye, she turned back to him and stepped back toward him.

“I thought I told you to leave,” he ground out.

“I have nowhere to go. This isn’t my time. I have no money. I was wondering if you could help me out in some way?”

“Perhaps you should seek out Dumbledore. He loves charity cases.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “I won’t involve Dumbledore in this. That would not be prudent. Honestly, I can’t involve anyone because of the timeline. You already know I’m from the future. Please. I just need to figure out what’s going on and get back to my time.”

“What if you can’t do that?”

Hermione sighed. “Then I don’t know what I’ll do. Hide in some obscure part of Britain and try to stay out of time’s way?”

Severus looked at her carefully. His eyes roamed her figure and settled on her face. He frowned. “All right. You may accompany me back to my home until you can figure out what’s going on.”

“Thank you, Severus! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. Oh… we’re not going to Hogwarts, are we?”

“Well, that is my home.”

“I don’t want to be discovered by any of the faculty.”

He looked at her grumpily. “You may stay at my home in Cokeworth.”

She relaxed and nodded. “That would be better. Thank you.”

He put his arm out, and she grasped it to Side-Along Apparate with him. They popped out of existence and appeared in his study. Hermione looked around. There were books everywhere. An old reading chair with some patches on it was centered next to a fireplace that had stonework crumbling from it. The entire room looked a bit depressed.

“I don’t spend much time here except for during the summers. There’s not much food.” He handed her some muggle money. “Get some groceries.”

“I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it. I need to get back to the school. Dumbledore insists we are present for meals in the Great Hall.”

She nodded. “Oh, Severus?” she blurted out hastily before he disappeared. “What’s the date?”

“It’s October 31st, 1982.”

She gasped. “Oh, it’s only been a year since their deaths!” 

She rushed up to Severus and grasped his arm. He looked down at her hand like it was a viper.

“I’m so sorry, Severus. I hope you’ve found some comfort this past year.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “What do you know?”

Her lips thinned. “I know you were close to her. She was your friend.”

“No one knows that except for Dumbledore and a couple of my old classmates.”

Hermione shrugged. “I know it.”

He pulled his arm away from her. “Don’t assume you know me just because you know about some of my past,” he ground out.

“I would never assume to know you, Severus Snape.”

He turned and threw some Floo powder into the fireplace. “I’ll check on you sometime tomorrow after classes.”

And then he was gone in a flash of green. Hermione’s shoulders sagged as she stared at the now-empty fireplace. She threw herself into the reading chair and chewed on her bottom lip, trying to figure out what had happened. Well, she knew what had happened, but how could she get back to her present? Maybe she needed to go to the Ministry and consult those in the Time room. But how could she do that without letting them know that she was from the future?

Of course, they were sworn to secrecy. Perhaps that would be the way to do it. Casting a Tempus charm, she noted it was only four p.m. There would be plenty of people in the department who she could consult with. Rising from the chair, she moved over to the fireplace and threw some Floo powder in. Calling out for the Ministry, she disappeared.

ooo

She descended in the elevator to the Atrium on level eight. The wizard at the security desk had looked at her oddly but hadn’t asked her anything specific. He just handed her wand back and let her go through. She was relieved she hadn’t needed to explain herself.

Exiting the elevator she made her way down the hall to the Entrance Chamber. She thought of where she wanted to go and waved her wand. The door that led to her department spun to a stop in front of her. She was relieved it would recognize her. Opening the door, she walked through the entry area and came into the reception room. She found a plump witch sitting behind a desk. The woman looked up at her and smiled.

“How may I help you, dear?”

“I need to speak with someone in the Time Room. I’ve had an accident with time.”

The witch’s eyebrows rose high on her forehead. “Oh my! Let me find someone for you.” She sent her iguana Patronus to summon somebody. 

It didn’t take long for a middle-aged witch to come through the door and move up to Hermione. She extended her hand.

“Lilah Devane,” she introduced herself.

Hermione took the woman’s hand and shook it. Lilah Devane was Head of the Department of Mysteries and overseer of the Time Room, Death Chamber, and Space Room in her time. She’d done a lot for the Department of Mysteries, revamping the Unspeakable program completely and making it what it was in Hermione’s day.

“A pleasure, Ms. Devane.” Her eyes strayed to the receptionist. “I’d prefer to introduce myself in private; if that’s okay?”

Devane nodded. “From Celia’s Patronus, I expected no less. Follow me, please.” 

Hermione was led through a door and down some hallways to Devane’s office. The older woman motioned for her to take a seat.

“I’m Hermione Granger. I’m from the future…  2001 to be exact. I’m employed in this department as an Unspeakable second class. I’ve been in the department for two years. I was involved in a time accident that brought me here.”

“Has anyone spoken with you in this time?”

“Only one person. He is someone I know in the future, and he’s helping me out with a place to stay while I sort all of this out.”

“Is he trustworthy?”

“I’d stake my life on him.”

Devane nodded.

“Ms. Devane. How do I get back to my future?”

“You may call me Lilah. What was the accident you had?”

Hermione frowned. “How much detail should I go into, Lilah?”

“You know the rules here. Everything is kept secret. There is no chance that the future will be harmed by you being fully transparent about what happened.”

Hermione nodded. She told her about the attack and how all of the Death Eaters had been defeated.

“A partial hex caught me in the side, and I was thrown through the Time Door.”

Lilah gaped at her. “You weren’t hurt?”

“Thankfully, I’d blocked most of the curse sent at me. I think it was meant to slam me against the wall, but it pushed me through the door instead. I wasn’t hurt except for a splitting headache, which I’m not sure is associated with the hex or the time travel.”

Lilah looked down at her desk. Opening a drawer, she pulled out a headache remedy and passed Hermione the vial. She eagerly took it and downed the potion.

“Thank you. That helped a lot,” Hermione said.

Lilah nodded, then looked at her solemnly.

“I’m sorry, Hermione. There’s no way to send you back.”

“Can’t I just go through the door again?”

Lilah shook her head. “As an Unspeakable Second Class, you wouldn’t have been fully trained about the Time Door. We’ve found that one can only travel once. We’ve never had anyone return from a trip through it, and those who have come through from a different time have been unable to return to their present. When someone tries, they simply walk through the arch and come out the other end. We don’t understand how it works fully, but the magic is only good for one trip.”

Hermione’s shoulders sagged. “But…”

“We don’t have the ability aside from the door to travel into the future.”

“What about the Time Machine?”

Lilah raised a brow. “We have been working on developing something like a time machine, but it is only in the early stages. You’re saying you have it in the future?”

Hermione nodded. “I forgot that it’s only been around for a few years.”

Lilah smiled. “Well, I’m happy that we’re on the right track.” She became serious again. “I’m afraid you cannot return.”

“Lilah, what do I do? My friends, my career, my everything is in the future.”

Lilah leaned forward and extended her hand. Hermione leaned forward too and grasped it, letting Lilah squeeze hers.

“We’ll figure it out, Hermione. I’m sorry you’ve lost everything, but there are wonderful things going on here in this time.”

“How can I live in this time knowing what I do of the future?”

Lilah straightened and leaned back in her chair. “As an Unspeakable, you are used to not saying anything about your work. You’ll just need to do that with what you know of the future as well.”

Hermione frowned. “I…”

“Hermione… You must.”

Hermione was silent for a while, thinking it through. Finally, she straightened. “All right. I will. What do we do now?”

“We’ll need to get you a new identity. Perhaps a glamour?”

“How about I just dye my hair or something?”

“Dye your hair?”

“Sorry, it’s a Muggle thing. It’s a way that Muggles use to change their hair color. I might be able to get something to change my eye color as well. Will that be enough?”

“It might be. We are looking at a twenty-year difference in your age. By the time the young-you is the age you are now, you’ll be forty-something.”

“That’s true. If my hair was black, and my eyes were, say–blue I bet even I wouldn’t recognize myself.”

“May I try something?” Lilah asked.

“Of course.”

“This is a spell to cast a picture of you with a changed appearance. Let’s try what you’re suggesting.”

She waved her wand and cast the spell. A picture of Hermione appeared in front of them. Her hair was black and her eyes bright blue. She was her current age.

“So, this is what you will look like with the changes now, and this–” she waved her wand again, “is how you’ll look at forty.”

“That’s a marvelous spell. Honestly, I barely recognize myself looking at my older self.”

Lilah switched the picture back to her current age with the changes.

“I can tell it’s me, but I doubt anyone else would,” Hermione noted.

“I agree. I can’t tell this is you,” Lilah offered.

“Then I think this appearance will work.”

“Good. Accio hair book.” 

Lilah waved her wand at the bookshelf and a text flew into her hand. She handed it to Hermione. “Your Muggle dye comment made me remember this. There are a few spells in there to permanently change your hair color. That should be easier than dying it all the time.” 

Hermione nodded. “Thank you. Do you have anything that will change my eye color?”

Lilah frowned. “Not that I know of. I’d check the Ministry library. They’ve got just about every book ever written in there.”

“I will, thanks.”

“So, what name do you want to go by?”

“Harmony?” she asked, but her voice betrayed her reticence to be called that.

Lilah shook her head. “Too close to Hermione. We wouldn’t want to point to you being Hermione Granger.”

Hermione nodded. “What about Maia?” she asked. “It’s far enough away from Hermione that I don’t think it would trigger any curiosity, but I think it’s similar enough that I could learn to respond to it quickly.” 

Lilah nodded. “I think that would do. All right, what about a last name?”

“My mum’s maiden name is Moreau.”

“Maia Moreau…” Lilah mused. “It’s a lovely name. I like the alliteration of it. Are you sure, though? Once we create it, there will be no going back.”

Hermione smiled and nodded. “I like it.”

“Okay. Now… you can be our new employee. We’ll keep you as an Unspeakable second class.” She tapped her lips with her finger as she thought. “Give me a week to get your documents created and put into the Ministry archives. I think having you be a Hogwarts graduate may not be the best choice. People your age would not know you and wonder about that.”

“How about Beauxbatons?” Hermione suggested.

“How about Durmstrang? Graduates from there are much less well-known here in the UK. They tend to stay in the north of Europe. If you were to mention it, people wouldn’t think it odd that no one has recollections of you from school.”

“But I’m Muggle-born. How would I have attended Durmstrang?”

“Hmm.” She made a small note on her parchment. “We’ll have to make you a Half-blood.”

“Will that be suspected by anyone?”

“There are a lot of Half-blooded witches and wizards. And if you’re from Durmstrang, we’ll set your history from Norway or Sweden.”

“Sounds prudent.”

They discussed a few other items and set a time to meet the following week.

ooo 

Hermione walked numbly back through the Ministry and took the Floo back to Spinner’s End. She was surprised to find Severus there. He was laying a plate on the kitchen table.

“I brought you a meal,” he told her.

She smiled wanly at him. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m starving and just realized it when I smelled the food.”

“You look… Is something wrong?”

She motioned for him to sit at the table as she sat down herself and took a bite of mash. She sighed and looked at him.

“I went to the Ministry and spoke with the Head of the Department of Mysteries. There’s no way for me to return to my time.”

Severus looked at her gravely. “I’m sorry to hear that.  What are you going to do?”

She explained what Lilah had arranged. “So, if I could appeal to your kindness for a bit more… maybe a month? Give me enough time to get some money so I can get a flat of my own.”

“I have contemplated if that would be the outcome of your traveling. Yes, you may stay here. I can check in on you in the evenings.”

“I should be working sometime next week. I will work as hard as I can to get out of your hair.”

“It’s fine,” he said tartly. “Eat your dinner.”

She took that as a cue to shut it, so concentrated on her dinner until she was done. Once Severus had ensured she’d eaten, he stood and bowed his head slightly to her. 

“As I said earlier, I’ll check in on you tomorrow in the evening sometime.”

Hermione stood as well and smiled at him. 

“Thank you, Severus. You really don’t need to…”

“Nevertheless, I will.”

With that, he moved to the Floo and left her to herself.

Hermione sighed and settled onto the sofa and stared into the fireplace. The silence around her was deafening. Her mind couldn’t stop thinking of everything that had happened to her in the last twelve hours. She’d lost everything, and the reality of that hit her like a brick wall. Her friends… they were all toddlers. Her parents didn’t know she existed as an adult. She would have to live through the war again. She’d need to live here in the past and acclimate to this time. 

She’d have to start all over again. No one knew her work ethic or anything about her. Tears formed in her eyes and finally streamed down her cheeks as she covered her face with her hands and mourned all that she’d lost. She was so engrossed in sobbing that she didn’t hear the Floo activate.

She felt a hand awkwardly patting her on the back. Her head shot up, and she looked to the left and found Severus sitting next to her looking incredibly awkward.

“Oh, Severus, I’m sorry!”

“You’ve been through a lot. It’s only normal to have a good cry.”

She didn’t think–just reacted, falling into Severus and crying on his shoulder. She felt his arm tentatively go around her and awkwardly pat her again. The irony of it all helped her to control her tears. She sniffled and got her crying under control, finally stopping. After a few minutes, she was chuckling slightly.

“Why are you laughing?” Severus’ dark voice inquired.

She pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes, giving Severus a wan smile. “I was just thinking how odd it was for you to be comforting me.”

He sniffed. “Yes, well, I am not incapable.”

“Oh, I know. It’s just that you never really… liked me in my timeline.”

“Is that so?”

“You thought I was a…” she cleared her throat and deepened her voice. “Know-it-all.”

He arched a brow. “Were you?”

She huffed. “Yes, if I were to be totally honest. You see, I’m Muggle-born, and especially in my first years, I felt the need to prove myself. Most of the other professors liked me, but you never did.”

“I will admit, I don’t like show-offs.”

She nodded. “I can see how you would have thought that’s what I was doing.” Her eyes met his. “The thing is, I understood from nearly the first moment I found out I was a witch that I would have an uphill battle to be accepted.”

Severus was quiet for a bit. “Did you find the acceptance you were looking for?”

“Yes, but it came at a price. I probably shouldn’t say anything more about that. I will say that even though I found acceptance, it wasn’t always so, even as an adult.”

“There is a lot of prejudice in our world,” Severus agreed.

She nodded. “That’s for sure.”

They were quiet for a bit before Severus said anything more.

“Will you be all right?” he asked.

“Yes, I mean, I’m not sure if I’m done crying, but you don’t need to stay with me.”

“Crying can be… cathartic.”

Hermione studied him. She figured he had probably shed many a tear when Harry’s mum had been killed. She nodded finally. “Thank you for understanding.”

He stood then. “I came back through because I had placed my Potion’s journal on the table and forgot it.”

“Oh, can I read that when you’re done with it?”

“Of course. I’ll drop it back when I’m through.”

“Thanks, Severus.” She gave him a small smile.

Once he’d left, she went upstairs, transfigured her robes into some sleepwear, and curled up in a ball in bed. It was a long while and many more tears before she actually fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Hermione awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and a bit more positive about her predicament. She knew she’d need to adjust and accept what had happened, but she also knew that grieving would help her to move forward. 

She missed her parents already. Maybe she should search them out here? She immediately pushed that thought from her mind. It was certainly not good for the timeline, nor would it be good for her psyche. It would probably make her feel even worse.

Hermione took a deep breath. She should go out and get some groceries with the money Severus had loaned her. It might take her mind off of what was going on in her life. She rose, showered, and got ready for the day. She found a coat in the closet that would work for her and put it on. Leaving the house, she cast a Point Me spell to guide her to the nearest shop. It was only a couple blocks away, and she enjoyed the walk. It was lovely outside. A little brisk, but the sun was shining and it shone down on her, lifting her spirits as she made her way to the grocer.

As she entered the shop, she wondered if Severus would ever stay for a meal. She decided to get enough supplies so she could feed him if necessary. Of course, Hogwarts fed him three full meals, but maybe there would be a time when he’d skipped dinner or was just peckish.

Some time later, she was done and laden with bags. She probably shouldn’t have bought so much, but it was nice to just concentrate on filling the pantry for a bit. Putting her bags down for a second, she looked around. No one was about, so she used wandless magic and set a weightless spell on the bags. Lifting them again, she was relieved at how much easier it was.

She got back to Spinner’s End and unloaded all of her purchases. Opening a can of soup, she had some lunch. Looking around, she noted again how everything was a bit run down and decided to do something for Severus. The house needed some TLC, and she had plenty of time on her hands. Setting her bowl to wash in the sink, she got working at cleaning and fixing up the house. She spent a good part of the day freshening up everything and felt good about what she’d done.

She was sitting on the sofa with a book when Severus came through the Floo that evening. She looked up and smiled, but her smile evaporated when she saw the anger on his face. He looked around.

“What the hell did you do?”

“I… I cleaned.”

“Who told you to do any of this?” he ground out.

“I just wanted to do something for you. You’ve opened your house to me, and I wanted to say thank you.”

“Did it cross your mind that maybe I wanted it the way it was?”

“Falling apart?”

He looked furious. “Perhaps I like it falling apart. Take my chair for instance. Sure it looked terrible, but it was comfortable! ”

Hermione stood and waved her wand over the chair, removing a glamour and showing that the chair remained as it had been.

“When I sat in it, I felt how comfortable it was. I thought perhaps a glamour to make it look better would be nice.”

Severus’ shoulders relaxed a little. “Oh.”

“Oh?”

“Did you glamour anything else?”

“No. I fixed the stairs and the molding in the kitchen. I brightened up the paint in there. I left everything in the cabinets as they were, just straightened them out. I repaired the plaster around the fireplace and repaired the third stair.”

Severus looked around again. “I apologize. The first thing I saw was my reading chair, and I was upset.” He looked down at the floor. “Thank you for straightening up the place. It actually looks nice.”

Hermione regarded Severus cooly for a bit before nodding. “Apology accepted.” She meandered to the kitchen. “Have you eaten? I made a roast and there’s plenty left over.”

“It does smell nice. I have already eaten though.”

“Tea, then?”

“Sure.”

He sat down at the table, and she brought over a cup for him. He added cream and sugar and took a sip. 

“So, what is the future like?”

Hermione chewed her food a little longer than necessary. “Well, I really can’t go into it.”

“Come now, there must be something you can say. Are you happy? Or shall I say were you?”

“I was. Things were going well for me finally.”

“They weren’t always… blissful?”

She chuckled. “No, not at all, but going into that will reveal too much, I’m afraid.”

“Did I survive the war?”

She stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. “I didn’t say anything about a war.”

He shrugged. “Just a guess.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “You didn’t enter my mind?”

“You can feel when I do, and you were very adamant about me not doing so the last time I tried.”

She nodded and took a sip of her tea to try and gather herself.

“I will say the last time I was in your mind, despite you hiding many things, I could feel from your emotions that there was something more going on. Did the Dark Lord return?”

“Severus. I can’t. I can’t tell you anything. Everything has to move along as it did in my past.”

“It’s just a question.”

“A question I can’t answer.”

“So, yes, then.”

She grit her teeth together. “I refuse to confirm or deny that remark.”

“No need. You are a terrible liar. I can see right through you.”

“Well, shite. That’s going to be a problem, isn’t it? How am I supposed to keep the future a secret when it’s written all over my face?”

“Hermione, I am a gifted Legilimens and Occlumens. I can read people probably better than anyone save Dumbledore and the Dark Lord when he was alive. I think you’ll be fine with lay people.”

“You’re sure? I can’t… I mean, I might as well go off and hide myself somewhere if I’m going to give away everything. What if the wrong people find out what I know?”

Severus arched a brow and contemplated what she’d said. “Have you studied Occlumency? You pushed me out of your mind the other day very easily.”

“I’m somewhat self-taught. I can push someone out, but I have a hard time showing them what I want them to see.”

“I can teach you to do that. If the Dark Lord is to return, and he finds out you are from the future,” he paused. ”He’d stop at nothing to… acquire… your knowledge.”

Hermione blanched. “Merlin… I hadn’t thought about that.”

“I will teach you. We will work nightly on it. I assume we have plenty of time before he returns.”

Hermione chewed on her lip before giving an almost imperceptible nod. Severus nodded once to acknowledge her.

Their tea finished, he sat back. “No time like the present.”

“Severus, you will see things… things you shouldn’t.”

Folding his arms in front of him, he made an offer to her. “I can take a vow not to reveal anything, or to change anything.”

Her lips thinned. “No. I won’t have you hurt. What if you accidentally change something you know about.” She shook her head. “I won’t see you hurt.”

He arched a brow at her. “Most people don’t give a rat’s arse if I am hurt.”

She straightened. “Well, I’m not most people.”

“That’s not the first time you’ve said that.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know you well now, but the man I knew in my time was honorable.”

“I am a Death Eater.”

“And a spy. I know that is no secret among the Order now. I can let you know that your spying continues.”

“So, I’m not dead?”

Hermione looked away.

“I see.”

“I didn’t say one way or another, Severus. Stop assuming!”

“Shifty eyes usually mean that a person is trying to avoid speaking of something bad or unsavory.”

“Perhaps we should work on my reactions along with Occlumency.”

“I was intending to help you with that, too.” He regarded her carefully. “How?”

“How what?”

He huffed. “How did I die?”

She looked down at the table, her eyes getting misty. “I can’t, Severus. I can’t say.”

“Are you crying?” He looked at her as if she were mad.

Her eyes met his, and she looked incensed. “Yes! Of all those we lost, you were the hardest for me to take!”

“Why the hell would you care if your old Potions Master was killed off? I know the way the students think of me now. I’m sure there was much rejoicing in my death. I take it my spying was found out.”

Hermione leveled a nonchalant gaze at him. “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

His eyebrow involuntarily arched. “Not bad. You’ll be fooling them all in no time. Now really. How did I die.”

“Severus.” She gave him a sharp glance. “I won’t tell you.”

He looked at her grumpily. “Fine.” Getting up, he went over to his library and perused the titles, finally pulling something from the shelves. Walking back to Hermione, he handed her the book he’d chosen.

“The Subtle Art of Occlumency,” she read.

“Read this. Some of it will be familiar–most of it will not. When you’ve finished we’ll begin training. Perhaps you can head my Legilimency off some by studying this.”

She looked up at him. “Thanks. I’ll get it done tonight.”

“Don’t rush. Absorb what you read. If it takes you a few days, that’s fine.”

“Okay.”

“I should be going. Have a good night.”

Hermione walked him to the fireplace, then sat in his reading chair and devoured the Occlumency tome for the rest of the night.

ooo

It took her three days to finish the Occlumency book. Severus would quiz her each night and give some pointers, but now he sat in his reading chair, and she on the sofa.

“All right. Your task is obvious.”

“To keep you from finding anything out about the future.”

“Yes. Do you think you can do it?”

She gave him a worried look. “I do, but I’m not sure how it will go.”

Severus stood. “Let’s find out.”

Hermione stood as well. Severus pointed his wand at her. “Legilimens.”

Hermione attempted to throw Severus out of her mind, but he didn’t go easy on her, and it was much more difficult than she had anticipated. He’d already seen several things in her mind, including him lying in a pool of blood on the Shrieking Shack floor, before she was able to cast him out.

“Not bad,” he said. “I expected to be able to stay in your mind for at least twice as long before you cast me out.”

“You purposely searched out that memory!” she accused.

“Of course I did. Now will you explain why I was lying in a pool of blood?”

“Severus!” she ground out. “You’re not supposed to know any of this!”

He shrugged. “Well, it’s too late to take it back. I’ve seen it. You might as well tell me what it is that I saw.”

She folded her arms in front of her and glared at him. He looked duly chastised.

“I shouldn’t have done that; I will admit that I shouldn’t. But it has been bothering me since we discussed it the other day.”

Hermione searched his face. She noted his sincerity and her shoulders relaxed some.

“I can’t blame you, really. I would want to know if it were me.”

“What I saw, though, didn’t tell me much of anything.”

“That’s because there’s a lot of backstory that I’m not willing to tell you about.”

He pointed his wand at her. “Should I just search your mind?”

“I won’t let you see that again.”

“Legilimens!”

He was in her head. She showed him memories of her childhood. Riding a bicycle. Going to primary school. Children making fun of her because she was bookish. By the time he’d gotten to that memory, she’d thrown him out of her mind.

He arched a brow at her. “You’re several steps ahead of our training. You did a good job showing me what you wanted me to see. That’s the goal of what we’re doing. Good job.”

She smiled at him. He took that chance to crash into her mind again. He was merciless, and she struggled to keep him in the memories she’d selected for him to see. He kept pushing and pushing, and she found her head beginning to ache from her efforts to divert him. A sharp pain coursed through her, and she doubled over, holding her head. She cried out as she fell to her knees. Severus pulled out of her mind and rushed over to her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I feel like my head is splitting in two.”

Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a potion. “Take this.”

She reached out without looking up and grabbed the potion, unstoppering it, and downing it in one move. She kept her eyes closed as the potion took effect. Severus reached out and grasped her shoulder.

“How is it now?”

“Better,” she muttered.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have pushed you so far. You were doing so well; I didn’t think of the repercussions.”

“It’s… it’s okay. I assume if someone was out to see my memories, they wouldn’t tiptoe through my head.”

“That is definitely true.” He stood and helped her up. “Come sit on the sofa. We are done for the evening.”

She nodded and let him lead her to the chair. She settled in and rested her head against the back of the sofa with her eyes closed. 

“I’ll get you some tea,” he offered, moving to the kitchen. He emerged quickly with a cup prepared just as she liked it. He touched her carefully to garner her attention. She opened her eyes and straightened her head, taking the cup.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” He said as he settled next to her. “Do you need another dose of the potion?”

Hermione gauged the pain in her head. “Yes, I think that would be helpful.”

He handed her another, and she took it, chasing it down with some tea. Closing her eyes, she let it take effect. 

“That’s better. I feel myself again.”

Severus was frowning as he looked at her. She met his gaze, and it was like she could tell he was chastising himself for hurting her.

“It’s okay, Severus. I want to learn how to do this.”

He stood abruptly. “I must be going.” He rushed to the fireplace and fled his home. 

Hermione sighed as she looked after him, wishing he hadn’t run away.

Chapter Text

Severus didn’t return for three days. On the morning of the fourth day after his hasty exit, Hermione received an Owl from Lilah asking her to meet with her around lunch time. She got ready and took the Floo to the Ministry. Descending to the Department of Mysteries and through the Time door, she made her way to Lilah’s office and knocked on her door.

“Come in!”

Opening the door, she smiled at Lilah as she made her way to the seat in front of her desk. Settling in, she greeted her new boss.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Devane. How are you?”

Lilah gave her a measured look. “I asked you to call me Lilah. We don’t stand on formalities in this department. I hope you didn’t in the future either.”

Hermione shook her head. “No. We didn’t. I just… I’ve always tried to be respectful of people I don’t know well.”

“Well, you’ll know me well soon enough. Drop the formalities.”

“Yes, ma’am… Lilah.”

Lilah smiled at her. “Perfect, thank you. Now.” She put some papers on her desk and pushed them toward Hermione.

“Here are your N.E.W.T. scores from Durmstrang, and your birth certificate.”

Hermione looked down after grasping the papers. She frowned at her scores and looked up at Lilah. “An ‘E’ in Divination? I didn’t even take Divination at Hogwarts.”

“Don’t worry about it. No one will ask you about Divination.”

“I can’t believe I got an ‘E’ anyway. I had all ‘O’s when I sat for my N.E.W.T.s after…” She cleared her throat. “When I took them.”

Lilah nodded at her tact. “You’ll live. You said you didn’t take the subject anyway.”

“Yes, but…”

“Maia.”

Hermione gave her a curious look.

“Your name is now Maia.” She motioned to the other paper. 

Hermione noted her name. Maia Moreau–what they’d settled on. She looked back up at Lilah. 

“I guess I’ll have to get used to that.”

“Yes, and quickly. Your parents are Matilda and Jerome Moreau. Jerome is the Muggle. You start here on Monday. As for your grades, how many times were you asked about them in your future?”

“Never, once I got this job.” She paused. “And I suppose that occurrence was more me spouting off how well I’d done.”

“So now you know how important getting all ‘O’s is.”

Hermione blushed. “I see what you mean.” She thought about starting work on Monday. Her eyes got big. “I guess I’ll need to color my hair, too.”

“Did you find a spell you liked?”

Hermione nodded. “I’ll set it when I get home. I also found one to permanently change my eye color, so I won’t need to wear Muggle contacts.”

“Perfect. Speaking of home, you’ve been able to keep the future from your friend?”

“For the most part.”

“Maia, you understand the reason to keep secretive.”

“Yes, ma’am. I understand perfectly.”

“Good. I trust you to keep your secrets.”

“I intend to, Lilah.”

ooo 

When Severus came through the Floo that night, he took a double take at Hermione. Her hair was as black as his, and her eyes were a deep blue.

“What on earth?”

She rose, her hand extended. “Maia Moreau,” she introduced. “Pleased to meet you.”

Understanding filled his eyes. He shook her hand as he looked her over. “This is your alias.”

She nodded.

“It’s good. I barely recognized you. I wouldn’t have had I not been expecting to see you sitting in my reading chair.”

She nodded. “Where have you been?” she asked in a somewhat small voice.

He looked away.

“Hey,” she called to him. He didn’t look at her. “I’m not upset at you for hurting me. Like I said the other day, I need to learn how to do this, and anyone really wanting to read my mind is not going to be gentle.”

“That doesn’t mean I had to be vicious.”

She came up and squeezed his arm. “I’m not upset with you. You shouldn’t be either.”

“Well, I am. My colleagues always took pleasure in causing pain. I never want to be like them.”

“You’re not, Severus, and you never will be. Now, please stop worrying about it.”

He sighed. “Okay. But I will be more careful.”

“For right now, that would be best, but once I have perfected Occlumency, I want you to be brutal with me. I doubt You-Know-Who would be soft if he wanted to find something out.”

“All right.” He looked her up and down. “So, tell me about yourself, Maia Moreau.”

She grinned at him. “My parents are Matilda and Jerome Moreau–he’s a Muggle. They live in Sweden, and I went to Durmstrang.”

Severus arched a brow at that. “So, you are talented in the Dark Arts, I assume?”

She frowned. “I am proficient. I think it would be sufficient enough to be accepted by anyone.”

Severus nodded.

“I start work on Monday. I moved here from Sweden. I love to travel and wanted to have experience here in the UK.”

“Shouldn’t you have an accent of some kind?”

“Probably, but I don’t want to sound odd. Let’s say that my youth was spent here in the UK and the family moved to Sweden when I was ten.”

“That is believable.”

“All right. I guess I’ve got my past taken care of.”

“It will suffice. I’d develop some memories of school. Actually, you should develop a lot of memories of your childhood and youth. They will help with Occlumency too.”

“I suppose I can use my childhood memories that I already have, just alter my parents’ appearances slightly.”

“For Durmstrang, you can use some of your experiences at Hogwarts in the same way. Just alter them. Do you know anything about Durmstrang?”

She grinned. “I dated one of their students for a little while. He showed me a lot of pictures of the school.”

“Good. You can start with those. Perhaps read something about the school as well.”

She blushed. “Well, I’ve done that too.”

He arched a brow. “Maybe read something current, so you can set your memories in the right time frame.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll go find something tomorrow at the Ministry.”  

“Are you ready to practice?”

“Absolutely.”

They worked for over an hour. Hermione got stronger and stronger with her ability to block him out. He did see several things, though. He lowered his wand.

“We are done for tonight.”

“Thank you, Severus.”

“You are doing well. I think that in a week or so, you’ll be able to block everything I throw at you.”

She grinned. “That’s good.”

“I need to ask you about the things I saw today, and especially the other day.”

She frowned. “Severus…”

He put his hand up. “Whatever you tell me–I will speak of it to no one and not do anything about it.”

She moved over to the sofa and sat. “Go ahead with your questions,” she sighed.

He took his place in his reading chair.

“The snake.”

Hermione’s eyes closed. “What about it?”

“It was what attacked me, wasn’t it?”

“Severus, I can’t.”

“Please, Hermione–Maia. Don’t I have a right to know how I was killed?”

“You do have a right, but I’ve promised not to speak of the future.”

“Maia… please?”

“Don’t do that! I want to tell you, I do. I just… can’t. And you begging me just makes me feel worse about it.”

“Why would a snake attack me like that? Was it the Dark Lord’s? Did he find out about my spying? Why didn’t he just use an Avada?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Memories of his broken body on the floor of the Shrieking Shack flooded her mind.

“Because he’s evil! And he manipulates everything so he can survive!” She clapped her hand over her mouth as tears formed in her eyes.

“Maia…”

“There was so much blood!” Her hand moved away. “And you were on the ground, barely able to talk. And then you were gone.”

He moved over to the sofa and grasped her hand. “It hasn’t happened, Maia. I’m not dead yet.”

“But you will be!” she sobbed. 

He pulled her into him and let her cry. “Does my death affect the outcome of the war?”

“It has to happen.”

“But do I have to die?”

She pulled back and wiped her eyes. “What are you asking?”

“You can survive from snake bites. If my death isn’t important to the war, perhaps… perhaps we can prevent it?”

“Severus, you can’t!”

“Why the hell not?”

“The timeline…”

“To hell with the timeline. What would have happened if I lived?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Well, take a guess.”

“It’s complicated.” 

He scowled at her, which caused her to bite her lip some more. 

“Ultimately, I think that you would have been… free.”

“Free?” 

She nodded but was quiet. 

“Maia? Tell me what you’re talking about. Was I in Azkaban at some point?”

“I can’t say.”

“What did I do?”

“Nothing. Just drop it. What I meant was that you’d be free to live your life as you wanted to.”

He arched a brow. “And that would be bad for the timeline?”

Her eyes searched his. “I… I don’t know. It’s a hypothetical. In my future, you didn’t survive. I don’t know how the future would be changed if you did.”

“It sounds like it would change for the better for me,” Severus ground out.

“Yes, it would.”

“Will you help me?”

“What do you mean?” 

“Help me to survive?”

She stared at him and stared at him. What she was about to do went against everything she had learned in the Time Room, and could alter the future in unknown ways. But… To help him survive… To give him the chance to be free from both Dumbledore and Voldemort. 

She didn’t even really need to contemplate it. 

“Yes.”

“Even though it will change the timeline?”

“To hell with the timeline. As long as you’re bitten, the timeline stays intact.”

“What if I decide to turn into the next Dark Lord if I survive.”

She chuckled. “You’re not like that.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe that’s what I want. To have power.”

Huffing, she gave him a cross look. “That’s not who you are, Severus Snape.”

He stared at her for a bit before waving his hand haphazardly in front of her. “I suppose I appreciate your faith in me.”

“You’re welcome, I guess,” she said with equal reticence. 

“Why did the Dark Lord choose a snake over the Killing curse?”

Sighing, she answered him. “All I’ll say is that it fit into his plan better.”

“I suppose I’ll leave it at that–for now.”

“That would be for the best.”

He stood then. “I’ll leave you to your evening. I’ll stop by after work to see how your research on Durmstrang went.”

She nodded. “Good night, Severus.”

Watching him disappear in the Floo, she bit her lip. She had no idea why she’d agreed to help him survive. Well, aside from the fact she’d been gutted by his death, especially when she’d found out his real motives for everything.

Would it hurt the timeline if he survived? Perhaps she could study the results. Maybe she could study every major event to see if it had to happen. Sure, the timeline had to be preserved, but did everything that happened have to happen the way it did to result in the light prevailing over Voldemort? She was determined to find out.

ooo

Hermione knocked on Lilah’s door.

“Maia! Come in.”

“Good morning, Lilah.”

“Have a seat,” Lilah directed with a wave of her hand. “I want you to team up with another Unspeakable second class. You both can run your own experiments and report on them.”

Hermione nodded. “Sounds similar to what I was doing before.”

“Good. Your adjustment shouldn't be too difficult then.”

“I wanted to ask you something.”

“Go on.”

Hermione hesitated before speaking. “I obviously have a good deal of insight into the future. I was wondering if we could possibly use that to our advantage?”

Lilah frowned.“Maia, you know we can’t change the timeline.”

“I understand that, but wouldn’t it be interesting to investigate changes in the future without them really happening?”

“What do you have in mind?”

She explained her idea to experiment with things from her future to see what differences would occur if they were changed.

“Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what changes would do hypothetically? I mean, I have knowledge that no one else does. Think of the advances we could make with these experiments.”

“That does sound intriguing. How would it work?”

“If I could have access to one of the rooms, I’d like to transform it to work like a Pensieve. I could run my memories of the future, then alter them and view the results. It would give an interesting view of the future and how it would have changed if something happened differently.”

“What would you do with this information?”

“Well, I can write up reports on my experimentation, discussing the actual timeline and the changes and how it’s affected.”

“That would be fascinating, wouldn't it?”

Hermione nodded.

Lilah thought about the idea for a bit before nodding. “Let’s move ahead with it.” She pointed at Hermione. “But don’t get any ideas!”

Hermione grinned at her. “I won’t,” she lied.

Chapter Text

Late November

Three weeks had passed, and Hermione–Maia–was feeling confident in her job. She’d been surprised to find that Warren was her coworker–an Unspeakable second class just like she was.  He was about five years older than she was now, and she found their great working relationship from before was repeated in this time. They were maybe even a little closer because of their similar status and ages.

True to her word, Lilah had designated a room in the Time department for her to have all to herself for her studies. It had taken a little time to set up, but she was now in the room, getting ready for her first experiment–to see what Severus Snape surviving would do to the future.

The room was a spectacular work of magic. Lilah and she had spent days working out the spells to create the room. It was like dipping into a Pensieve, producing an image of Hermione’s memories that she could view and interact with. Her thoughts would drive what happened in the vision. She would record what happened and submit a report to Lilah each week during her study. Lilah had given her whatever time she felt she would need.

Honestly, this study could go on for years; there were so many variables.

Using her wand to set the spell for the vision, she thought of what she wanted to view and cast. Immediately, Severus Snape lay on the floor of the Shrieking Shack in a pool of blood. She was so shocked that she just let the memory play without doing anything mentally. Wiping tears from her eyes, she fought to control herself. She’d get nothing done if she kept falling apart like this.

Taking a few deep breaths and gathering herself, she ran the memory again, this time thinking of what could have saved Severus. Her first experiment of Severus taking Antivenin still resulted in him dying. For all she knew, he had done that in her reality. She tried several other options, rerunning the vision over and over again to see what might save his life. The successful one combined the antivenin with Maia coming in after the trio had left and using Dittany and Blood replenisher and then Apparating him to a safe house immediately.

She curiously watched time move along at an accelerated rate. Severus was cleared of killing Dumbledore with the help of Harry and Dumbledore’s portrait. He was finally free to live his life as he saw fit. She carefully reviewed the next three years, checking the Prophet to make sure nothing out of the ordinary from her memories happened. Severus lived a quiet life, selling potions to make a living. Everything major she remembered happened as expected. She was mildly surprised about that. Evidently, freedom agreed with Severus, and he kept a relatively low profile.

Severus had been right. His survival would not affect the future. At all. At least nothing life-shattering in the future she was aware of. She was sure there would be some changes, but they weren’t extreme enough to set her timeline on its side. She rejoiced internally at that. They could do one thing to change the future and not impact major events in the timeline. It was perfect.

ooo

That night, Hermione waited anxiously for Severus. She paced back and forth, waiting for him to come through the Floo. He was right on time, and she threw her arms around him. He stiffened but didn’t pull back right away. When he did, he gave her a quizzical look.

“I figured out how to save you, and it won’t affect the timeline.”

“How?”

“I can’t say. But I will make sure it happens.”

He shook his head at her. “You are a tease, Maia Moreau.”

She smirked at him. “Would you like some tea?” she asked.

“Please.”

They both headed to the kitchen, and Severus settled in while she prepared tea for both of them. Soon she placed a cup in front of him and settled across the table with her own.

“I have some other good news. I have saved enough to find a flat of my own. You won’t need to babysit me anymore.”

He sipped his tea and put it back down. “I actually have been thinking about that.”

She arched a brow at him and nodded for him to continue.

“This place is empty for three-quarters of the year. Why don’t you just rent it from me and stay here?”

“What about summer?”

He shrugged. “We’ll work it out. I can stay at Hogwarts in the summer too so you can have your privacy.”

Her mouth fell open. “I thought I was a pain in your arse.”

“Well, of course you are, but I could use some extra money, and really, you’re not that bad.”

“You’d be okay with me living here long-term?”

“Yes.”

She grinned widely. “Then I’ll do that! Thank you so much, Severus!”

“I’m benefiting from it, you understand.”

“Yes, of course, but so am I! I wasn’t looking forward to searching for a flat and then moving and having to furnish it.”

“Then we are helping each other.”

“Really, Severus, thank you. I know you value your privacy, and letting me stay here is an imposition.”

He held his hand up. “It is not an imposition. As I said, we are helping each other out.” He paused for a moment. “If it’s alright with you, may I still come to visit?”

She grinned enthusiastically. “I would enjoy that.”

ooo

December 5

Severus stormed through the Floo, stomping over to his reading chair and throwing himself into it.

“What’s wrong?” Hermione asked.

“It’s nothing, Maia.”

She huffed. “Well, it’s obviously something, but if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. I’ll get us some tea. Are you hungry?”

He gave her a side-eye. “I skipped dinner.”

“Well, you’re in luck. I made some extra soup. Come on into the kitchen.”

She didn’t look behind her as she moved into the kitchen herself. She was worried about Severus, but she knew she couldn’t push him into telling her anything. Pulling out the leftover soup, she ladled some into a bowl, waved her wand to warm it, and set it before Severus, who had seated himself at the table. She moved back to make some tea for both of them.

“This is very good,” Severus remarked.

“Thank you.”

He ate silently as she brought the teacups and set them at their places. Sitting down, she looked over at Severus. He seemed to be slightly less angry. She sipped her tea as he finished his soup. Putting his spoon down, he looked over at her.

“Thank you for not pressing me.”

“You have enough people forcing you to do things. I’m not going to be one of them.”

His eyes widened at her statement. “That’s… actually what I am upset about.”

Hermione groaned. “Oh, no. What did he do?”

Severus arched a brow at her. “Who?”

She threw her hands up. “Dumbledore, of course!”

“I get the feeling you’re not enamored with him. Why?”

She pursed her lips. “I can’t go into great detail, but he’s manipulative, and puts those he proclaims to care about in danger even when there are other alternatives.”

Severus stared at her for a while before saying anything again. “Of course, you are right.”

“I want you to know that I’m on your side. Whatever he did, he’s an arse.”

“You don’t even know what happened.”

“You’re right, I don’t, but I know what he’s done in my time.”

Severus’ lips thinned as he looked down at the table. His eyes moved back up to hers. “Do you know what he did? What he always does? He throws Lily in my face to coerce me to keep spying, keep teaching, keep whatevering so his plan will move along the way he’s envisioned it.”

He stood and stalked back to the sitting room and threw himself into his chair. Hermione got up and joined him. She didn’t say anything. Just looked at him expectantly.

He huffed. His voice grew sing-songy. “Severus, you have to keep teaching here. There’s no other way. It’s for the Greater Good. You promised to watch over Lily’s son. He won’t come to Hogwarts for years. You have to stay here. Lily is counting on you.” His face twisted in pain and he threw his head into his hands.

Hermione’s heart went out to him, and she got up and knelt in front of him. “He is foul, using Lily’s death like that.”

“He enjoys it, I swear he does,” he said through his hands. “He knows it’s my fault that she’s dead, and he takes every bloody opportunity to remind me of it.”

“I’m sorry she was killed, but it’s not your fault.”

He drew his head up and glared at her. “Yes, it is! I… I told the Dark Lord about the prophecy. I was the one who heard it. I was the one who killed her!” he cried.

“I know what you did, Severus. Sure, you blabbered about what you heard, but…”

“I never even thought that prophecy could be about a child. I mean, how would a child be a danger to the Dark Lord?!” he cried as he waved his hand about. “And that it was Lily’s son… ” He cringed. “I knew. I knew he would seek out and kill whomever that prophecy spoke about. I didn’t care. I just wanted him to favor me.”

Hermione’s lips thinned. “What you did was terrible and selfish, Severus. Leaking that information when you knew it would result in a death… It’s a horrible thing to do. I can’t say that you were innocent in that. But what Voldemort–”

“Don’t say his name!”

“Sorry… What You-Know-Who did with that information isn’t your fault. Whether you felt he would kill someone or not, that death is on him, and no one else.”

“But if I hadn’t said anything…!”

“I know. It’s got to be a terrible burden to bear. I’m sorry that you have to live with that.”

“I deserve the worst possible punishment. When she… died… I wanted to kill myself.” 

Hermione reached out and squeezed his forearm. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Why?” he choked out. “I have killed my friend and now my life is worthless.”

Her other hand came out and grasped his other arm. “Severus, look at me.”

His eyes lifted to her.

“Without you…” She stopped for a second but decided to soldier on. “We won’t be able to defeat You-Know-Who. What you will do during the war… It's vital to defeating him. You’re a hero, Severus Snape. Please know that.”

“How–” His face was filled with misery. “How can that be?”

She shook her head. “I can’t go into that, Severus. Just know that you are a hero. You use this time in your life to become the person we need to win this war.”

“What could I do? How…?”

“Do you trust me, Severus? We’ve known each other for a little while now. Can you trust me?”

His eyes searched hers for a while before he gave a crisp nod. She smiled at him.

“Thank you. Then trust me in knowing that your role in the war is one of the most important.”

“Potter needs to defeat the Dark Lord.”

“Yes, he does, but without you, he’d have been killed several times over. I owe you my life, too. Please don’t feel that you’re worthless or that you deserve to be punished. Yes, you erred, but you killed no one. The, ahem, Dark Lord, is psychotic and a vicious murderer. You’re not to blame.”

Severus looked down at the floor. Hermione was quiet so he could work everything out. At long last, a giant sob broke from him.

“Dumbledore… he makes me feel like he’s just enduring his association with me. A means to an end. I…”

She squeezed his arms. “You are not just a means to an end! Like I said, Severus, you are essential. And I want you to stop feeling worthless. You are anything but that.”

He stood then. “I need to go.”

He made his way to the fireplace. Hermione followed him.

“Think about what I said. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

He didn’t turn toward her but nodded before he threw Floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared.

Hermione sighed at his exit. She really didn’t know how to help Severus other than to keep telling him that he had worth. He seemed upset when he left, though. Perhaps she’d pushed too hard.

She turned and sat in his reading chair. He was a private man, and she had delved into his private life–perhaps too much. She’d apologize tomorrow when he came back.

ooo

The next day after work, Hermione Floo’d into Spinner’s End and was surprised to see Severus sitting there in his reading chair. He was reading The Prophet, which he folded and placed on the side table when she appeared.

“Oh! I wasn’t expecting you so early!” Hermione called out to him.

“I wanted to apologize for my actions yesterday. Running out and all that.”

She chuckled. “That’s funny, I was going to apologize to you.”

“Whatever for, Maia?”

“I’m sorry for yesterday. I pushed you too hard and delved into things you probably didn’t want to talk about.”

“I wouldn’t have spoken of them had I not wanted to. I just… got to a point where it was too much. I should have explained myself better instead of leaving so abruptly.”

“Apology accepted. I understand you know. I don’t ever want to push you too far.”

“Thank you for that.” He cleared his throat. “I asked the House Elves to prepare a takeaway for us.”

“Oh, that’s lovely, Severus! I’m so knackered. I wasn’t looking forward to making dinner tonight.”

“Everything is set up in the kitchen under a stasis charm.”

“Well, come on then!” Hermione said with enthusiasm. 

Severus rose and led the way into the kitchen.

“Roast chicken. One of my favorites.”

“I don’t think we’ve ever discussed our favorite foods. What else do you like to eat?” Severus asked.

“No, we haven’t discussed foods,” she agreed. “I love Italian.” She suddenly got serious.

Severus looked at her curiously. “What’s wrong?”

“I just thought of a family trip we took to Rome.” She frowned. “I’ve been missing my parents recently.”

“Would talking about them help or make it worse?”

She looked up at the ceiling and thought about it. “I think it would help.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “They are dentists. Do you know what they do? I find Wizards give me a vacant look when I mention dentistry.”

He smirked. “You forget I grew up in a Muggle home. I know about dentists.”

She smiled at him. “My mum is named Jean. Her maiden name is Moreau, which is where I got my current last name. My dad is Jonathan Granger. They were always super supportive of me. Very forward-thinking. They always taught me I could do anything I wanted to. They didn’t understand all the politics about Muggle-borns in our world. They just thought that I should fight the good fight and I’d succeed.”

“They’re right, though. It is possible to succeed.”

“Yes, but it’s a lot harder. Even as a war hero, people didn’t expect me to be able to catch on to my job as quickly as I did. I sometimes got some pushback from people who didn’t work with me directly.”

Severus’ lips thinned. “We have a long way to go to be accepting of Muggle-borns.”

“I’d imagine it’s even worse now. I’m glad I’m considered a Half-blood. Nobody gives my abilities a second thought.”

Severus folded his arms in front of him. “When I was young… before Hogwarts, I didn’t think there was anything different about Muggle-borns. I even told that to Lily many times before we got to school.”

Hermione nodded.

“But being in Slytherin… it was hard to keep that mentality. As you can imagine, my Death Eater colleagues have a very negative view of Muggle-born witches and wizards. I am embarrassed to say I let it influence me for quite a while and felt much the same for a long time.”

“But you don’t anymore?”

He sighed. “No. Hearing that prophecy and changing sides… it helped me to open my eyes and see how foolish I was.” He was quiet for a bit. “I think I always knew, but I was trying to fit in with everyone.”

“I can’t imagine how that was, Severus. Having to act a certain way to be accepted.”

He shrugged. “We were talking about your family before I commandeered the conversation.”

“We just strayed from the topic. It’s okay. They loved to travel. We went to France, Italy, and Germany on trips. It was a lot of fun. I always felt supported by them.” She sighed. “I wish I could see them.”

He arched a brow. “Well, you could, you know.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it. “Erm… Well, I guess I could. Do you think that would help?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps. It might give you some closure. You were abruptly thrown into the past. You weren’t able to say goodbye to anyone.”

“Maybe I should.” She thought it over for a bit. “I had put that idea out of my head to preserve the timeline, but maybe I could do it where it wouldn’t affect anything. What would I say to them?”

“Whatever you want.”

She frowned. “Well, I certainly can't go up to them and say ‘I’m your daughter.’ They’d think I was nutters.”

“Most definitely.”

She huffed at him. “You’re not being very helpful.”

He smirked. “Let me ask you this. How would you approach them? And would you be recognized? You’re what… three years old now?” 

She nodded.

“Well, the holidays are almost here. Maybe you can do something related to Christmas?”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea. Maybe… oh I know. I can give them some kind of gift as an award for having the best dental office in the area.” Her eyes shot up to Severus’. “Will you come with me?”

Severus spluttered. “I… I… you want me to come with you?”

“Yes! You’ll have to dress like a Muggle of course, but it will look more official if the two of us show up.”

He thought for a moment. “I will accompany you when you are ready. I just will need a day or so advanced notice so I can arrange for my classes to be covered. I assume this will have to happen on a weekday.”

She nodded. “Yes, and probably in the morning. They have odd afternoon hours. I’ll reach out to them and set up an appointment and get back with you.”

“All right. Maia…?”

“Yes?”

A pained look came over his face. “I thought about what you said last night, and I can’t foresee anything that would make me a hero. I know you’re serious about protecting the timeline, but we’ve already discussed my death. Would you please tell me how on earth I could have been a hero?”

Her lips thinned, and she gave him a commiserating look. “If I did it would reveal too much of the future. What if what I tell you causes you to do something different?”

“Please, Maia? I just… I don’t know how to feel about what you said.”

“Do you not believe me?”

“Of course, I believe you.”

“Then please, Severus, leave this alone.”

He looked sullen and studied the floor for a while. Hermione felt awful. She debated telling him, but she couldn’t know if that would change anything. Just a slight deviation from what he did could cause the war to go on, or Merlin forbid, for them to lose it. But maybe she could tell him something!

She got up and knelt beside his chair. “Severus?”

The man wouldn’t look at her.

“You’re angry with me.”

“I’m not, I just… I can’t even explain how I’m feeling.”

She rubbed his knee. “Well, let me try to explain what you did without actually telling you what you did. Will that help?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I’m going to make some tea for us and figure out how to word everything so I don’t reveal anything important, okay?”

“Thank you.”

“Why don’t you go into the sitting room? I’ll bring the tea out to you.”

She rose and moved to the stove, and he left the room. As she made the tea, she thought about how she could phrase everything. Once the tea was ready she prepared their cups and floated them over into the sitting room. She sat down and took her tea, sipping a little before she began.

“You’re a spy, Severus. How would that make you a hero?”

He shrugged. “I just am a go-between for Dumbledore.”

“But You-Know-Who will return someday. What will be your job then?”

“To protect Potter,” he sighed. 

She nodded. “You’re no admirer of him, but you do what’s expected of you. I already said yesterday that you saved his life and my own several times. You pass information that is vital to our moving forward. Even when things seem impossible, you carry on, despite what anyone thinks, and you stay true to Dumbledore and the cause. You pass on information to people who need it to survive with no thought of your own life. You take that life into your own hands every time you meet with You-Know-Who. He could find out the truth at any time, but you are stalwart and your Occlumency serves you well.” She looked at him then. “That’s all I’m willing to say. I hope it’s enough.”

He was silent for a while, digesting everything she’d said. “Thank you,” he murmured after a long while. “I have wondered what the future would bring and how I would handle it. I respect you not wanting to go into detail, but what you have been able to say gives me some comfort.”

She smiled at him. “I hope so. I hope you can see your worth, Severus. Sure, you made mistakes before now, but you never repeat them, and you’re true for your entire life.”

He looked away, and she could swear his cheeks had tinged pink. 

It was kind of nice knowing this Severus. He was a bit more open than the Snape she knew. She didn’t think he’d be this open with anyone in her timeline. Not after everything he had gone through.

He composed himself and looked back at her.

“Shall we practice some Occlumency?” he asked finally.

“Sure,” she said with a grin.

Chapter Text

A week before Xmas Eve

Hermione fidgeted in the Time Room. She was having a hard time concentrating. She would visit her parents in the morning and was so nervous. Having an experiment to run, she shook her head to clear it so she could concentrate and not make any mistakes. Granted, when working with hypotheticals in the Time Room, she could repeat the experiment as much as she liked, but she didn’t want to waste her time.

She waved her wand, and the scene appeared. Her first year. What would happen if they hadn’t gone through the third-floor trap door at the end of her first year?

She watched as Harry, Ron, and she did homework in the Common Room instead of having the adventure that led to You-Know-Who being extricated from Professor Quirrel in the most deadly way.

She sped the vision along to the next morning. Professor Quirrel wasn’t at breakfast. Hermione wondered at that. Severus was glaring at Harry. His dislike was palpable, even from across the room. Dumbledore was digging into his plate of scrambled eggs. The doors to the Great Hall flew open, and Hermione expected to see the owls flying through, but they didn’t. Voldemort entered, his wand extended, searching for something.

Before anyone could even register what was happening, Voldemort cast an Avada Kedavra at Harry. He toppled off the bench and onto the floor, his lifeless eyes staring upward at the ceiling. 

Hermione screamed as everyone in the Great Hall, including her younger self, reacted to what they’d just seen. All the teachers stood in mass and cast killing curses at Voldemort. His body was flung against the wall--lifeless.

Hermione watched the chaos that ensued. She ended the vision. Voldemort had been vanquished, it was true, but there were still Horcruxes that no one knew about. She knew how this future would play out. He’d come back and take over with no Harry to defeat him.

She left the room and recorded her findings. Her mind kept going to her parents, and she had to Evanesco her paperwork several times before she was able to finish the report. She met weekly with Lilah to go over anything she’d experimented on the week before and examined the outcomes with her. 

She spent some more time developing a scenario for her next experiment. She had to recite the ingredients for burn paste to keep her mind concentrated on her work. Finishing up her outline, she decided to leave. She was worthless today, and she still had to pick up the plaque she had ordered for her parents. Heading out of the Time Room, she went to the Floos and appeared in the Leaky Cauldron. Leaving the pub, she exited to Muggle London. There was a trophy shop close to Diagon Alley where she had ordered the plaque. She entered the store and went to the attendant.

“Ah, Miss Moreau, I have your item right here!” the man said.

She quickly moved up to the back counter and looked at the plaque. It had her parents’ names inscribed on it. On the top, it said Excellence in Dentistry Award. Underneath their names, the year 1982 was inscribed.

“Thank you, Horace. It’s exactly what I envisioned,” she said as she looked back up at the man and grinned. 

She paid for the item, and Horace packaged it up for her. She headed back to Diagon Alley and Apparated to Spinner’s End. Taking the plaque out of the bag, she placed it next to two small wrapped packages with purple bows atop them. Admiring the plaque made of crystal and etched with her parents' names on it, she felt satisfied that she'd gotten everything set so quickly. Tomorrow morning, she’d give these items to her parents and say goodbye to them forever.

Her feelings were incredibly mixed about that.

Severuss came through the Floo a couple of hours later.

“Maia,” he greeted.

“Oh, hi, Severus.” She motioned to the small boxes on the table. “I wrapped up the brooch and the watch.”

He meandered over to them. “They look nice. I’m sure your parents will like them.”

She looked at him and bit her lip. “Do you really think so?”

“Of course. They’re very nice gifts.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything.

“What’s wrong?” Severus asked her.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”

Severus shrugged. “I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. And seeing your parents would be helpful to you, would it not?”

“I really want to see them, but then I wonder how I’ll feel afterward, you know?”

“I understand. But would you want to skip all of this to avoid any repercussions?”

“Well, I’ve already arranged everything…”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Think about it.”

Hermione pursed her lips and thought about it. “I think it will be worth it.”

Severus nodded. “Good. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

Hermione nodded and gave him a half smile.

ooo

Severus came through the Floo the next morning. He was wearing a grey suit and dark grey tie. Hermione was already chewing on her lip and pacing, but she arched a brow at his appearance. He smirked at her.

“Good morning, Maia.”

She frowned at him. “Is it?”

He shook his head at her. “Of course it is. You get to see your parents, even if it’s only for a little while.”

Hermione thought about that for a bit before nodding. She stood and smiled at Severus.

“Thank you for meeting me,” she said.

“I will let you Side-Along Apparate us, as you know the area better than I,” he offered.

She had him hold the wrapped gifts, and she held the plaque. They spun together and landed in an alleyway. Hermione took a deep breath. 

“Okay. All right. Off we go!” she said in a high-pitched tone.

“It will be all right,” Severus murmured as they made their way out of the alley and down the street.

“It’s that white building,” she said with a motion of her head.

There was a sign on the front that read Granger Dentistry. They walked in silence to the door. Hermione rested her hand on the doorknob before turning it and opening it.

She smiled at the receptionist. “Hi, Joanne!” She realized her error. “I mean… You must be Joanne. We spoke on the phone last week. I’m Maia Moreau. I’m with my colleague, Severus Snape, to see both Doctors’ Granger.”

“Ah, yes! You’re here to give them some sort of award, right?”

“Yes. Best of London in the dentistry division.”

She’d actually done some magical manipulation, and this was a real award she was giving them. That way, if they ever looked deeper into it, they’d find they were recipients of something real. 

“Wait here for a minute. Let me tell them you’re here.”

Hermione nodded. She looked around. “You know, it hasn’t changed too much from what I remember,” she whispered to Severus.

He nodded. 

Joanne came out quickly. “They’ll see you in the back.”

Hermione headed through the door to the back as if she knew the place. Well, she did, but Joanne looked a little surprised that she knew where she was going and leading the way. Hermione stopped suddenly and looked at Joanne. “Sorry! I got a little excited and just started in.”

“This way,” Joanne said with a smile.

They were brought into a back room that was set up with a table and a few chairs. Joanne motioned for them both to take seats.

“They’ll be right in,” she advised and disappeared back to the front of the office.

In no time, Hermione’s parents were coming into the room. Hermione stood up and moved to hug them but pulled herself back. Extending her hand, she shook hands with them instead.

“Dr. Granger, Dr. Granger. A pleasure. I’m Maia Moreau, and this is my companion, Severus Snape.”

He moved forward and also shook hands with them.

“Nice to meet you,” Hermione’s father said.

“My maiden name is Moreau,” Jean said. “I wonder if we have a relation somewhere?”

Hermione’s eyes grew wide, kicking herself for not using a different last name. “I don’t know. I’m originally from Sweden. Do you have any ties there?”

Jean shook her head. “Not that I know of.”

Hermione shrugged. “It’s an interesting coincidence, though, isn’t it?”

Her mother smiled and nodded. Looking at both Hermione and Severus, she changed the subject. “We were so surprised to hear that we’d won something!” she gushed.

“It’s true! We’ve never won anything in our lives!” her father said. “Please, call me Jonathan, and my wife is Jean.”

“Jonathan, Jean,” Hermione started in, “we’re here because you’ve shown excellence with your patient contacts. We received many positive reviews for your practice. I would like to present this plaque to commemorate your winning Best of London in the Dentistry Division.”

“Well, would you look at that,” Jonathan murmured as he took the plaque from Hermione.

“It’s lovely!” Jean exclaimed.

Hermione smiled at the two. They looked so young, but they were her parents, and she was so happy to see them again.

Severus handed her the two packages. She handed one to Jonathan and one to Jean. “These are gifts for winning the award.”

Jonathan opened his to find a lovely gold watch with a black face. “Oh, this is lovely!” he cried.

Jean had opened her gift. It was a brooch in the shape of a butterfly. The wings were made of a deep blue gem.

“Is this tanzanite?” Jean asked after gasping when she saw the brooch.

“Yes.”

“Oh, it’s like you know me! That’s my favorite gemstone!”

Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes, so she fought hard not to let them fall, blinking profusely. She was unable to say anything, so Severus spoke up.

“How interesting that your brooch is made of something you like so much.”

Jean held the box with the brooch to her chest. “I love it. I’ll wear it always.”

Hermione had calmed down enough to speak finally. “I’m glad you both like your gifts,” she offered.

“We have some time before our next patients. Would you like some tea?” Jean asked.

Hermione smiled and nodded. They took their seats as Jonathan went into the other room to get tea for everyone. Jean sat with them.

“I can’t tell you how overwhelming this is! We had no idea there was even an award like this.”

“This is the first year we’ve added Dentistry to the awards,” Hermione explained.

Just then, Jonathan came in with a platter with a tea service on it. Jean stood and poured for everyone. Hermione put some sugar in hers, and Severus added milk to his.

“Maia, that’s a beautiful name,” Jonathan mused. “But it's pretty unique. I bet you never had another Maia in classes with you in school.”

Hermione chuckled. “No, I can’t say that I did.”

“Our girl has a unique name, too. Her name is Hermione,” Jean offered.

“That’s Shakespearean, isn’t it?” Severus asked.

Jean glowed with pride. “It is! Most people don’t know that. It’s nice to find someone who’s read ‘A Winter’s Tale.’”

“I love Shakespeare,” Hermione added. “I’ve read that many times. It’s one of my favorites.”

“How old is your daughter?” Severus asked Jean.

“She’s three. She’s a bit of a handful, but she’s very bright. Between running after her and answering all her questions, we’re very busy.”

Hermione put her head down to mask her guffaw.

“Do you have children, Maia?” Jean asked.

Hermione looked up. “Oh, no. Not yet. I’d need to find a beau first.”

“Oh, I thought you two were a couple,” Jonathan commented.

Hermione’s face flushed. “We’re just colleagues… and friends,” she said with a small smile at Severus.

“Yes. Friends…” he agreed.

They visited for a little longer, then said their goodbyes. Severus shook both of their hands, and Hermione got a hug out of both of them.

“Well… Congratulations,” she said as they headed for the front of the office.

“Thank you both for stopping by and giving us these awards,” Jonathan called out.

Hermione turned back and waved, and then they were out of the office. Severus and she walked down the walkway and turned to head back to the alley. Hermione rushed ahead of Severus. By the time he caught up to her, tears were streaming down her face. He grasped her arm and spun her away. They appeared in his sitting room, and Severus pulled her to him, holding her close.

“Let it out,” he advised.

She descended into bitter sobs. Severus held her as she mourned her parents. After a while, her sobs turned to sniffles. Severus released her. She looked up at him gratefully. 

“Thank you for being there for me,” she told him as she sniffed and wiped her eyes.

“That’s what friends are for, I understand.”

She shook her head at him. “You are an excellent friend.”

He blushed slightly. “I have tried. Now, are you all right?”

“I will be… in time. I really did enjoy being with my parents. It was like old times sitting around the dinner table. But leaving… I didn’t think it would tear me apart like that.”

“I would imagine it will come and go as the days go on. It did for me.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you get through Lily’s death. At least I know my parents are alive. You lost your best friend.”

“Yes, but this isn’t about me. There’s something for you in the freezer.”

Hermione arched a brow and went to the kitchen, opening the freezer. She pulled out a carton of ice cream.

“You got me chocolate fudge? My favorite. Thank you so much!”

“I figured burying yourself in some chocolate ice cream wouldn’t be remiss.”

“And sharing with a friend makes it even sweeter.”

She got two bowls out and scooped some of the ice cream into them as Severus made his way to the table. He settled in as she placed a bowl in front of him. Sitting down, she took a spoonful and looked at Severus as he did the same. As she watched him, she was insanely thankful for him. Just his presence here had eased her grief. She still felt awful, but she knew she’d be okay again… someday. She sighed as she put her spoon down into her bowl.

Her eyes misted over, and she blinked furiously to avoid her tears from falling down her face.

“Maia, it’s okay to be sad.”

She frowned but nodded. “I know.” Her voice broke as she said it.

“Do you want me to leave you alone? I’ll stay if you want, but sometimes it’s just better to grieve alone.”

“I’d prefer you stay unless you have to get back to Hogwarts.”

“I took the whole day off just in case you needed some company.”

She gave him a watery smile. “You really are an amazing friend.”

He blushed and concentrated on scooping a spoonful of ice cream out of his bowl. 

Hermione covertly wiped the tears from her eyes as Severus ate. She thought she’d been secretive enough for him not to have noticed her, but she realized by his sage look that he knew exactly what she’d done. She reddened and locked her eyes on her bowl.

“If you want to let it out, you should.”

She fidgeted before looking up at him. “It’s the thought that I’ll never see them again.” She debated talking about her parents from her past. It wouldn’t hurt to tell him what she’d done. He had nothing to do with it, nor would he in the future.

“I Obliviated them the summer before my seventh year. I wanted them safe from the war. I put a desire for them to move to Australia and changed their names.  I wasn’t able to fix their memories until after the war, so I lost them for a while in my own time… and now… I’ve lost them completely.”

She threw her head into her hands and sobbed. Severus stood and came around the table, kneeling at her side. He awkwardly put his hand on her back and rubbed it. Hermione leaned into him and sobbed harder. His other arm came around her, and he held her to him.

“I’m sorry, Maia. I wish there was something I could do.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything. She fought to control herself and finally was able to pull back from Severus.

“I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”

“Don’t be. You’ve just lost your parents.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek lightly. “Thank you for being here for me.”

He gave her a shy smile as he quickly stood up. “I’m your friend. That’s what friends do.”

She stood too. “I appreciate that.”

ooo

“How are you today?”

He’d asked her that all weekend. It had made her feel cared for.

“I’m good,” she said with a smile. “It’s time to get in the Christmas spirit. Do you want to go shopping?”

“Shopping?”

“Yes, it’s five days until Christmas, and I need to get some presents. Are you all set for gifts?”

He guffawed. “Hardly.”

“Well, let’s go then. Do you want to go to Diagon Alley or downtown London first?”

“I didn’t know we had to do both.”

“Oh… well, I guess we don’t. I usually need to get some Muggle gifts, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t this year.”

“We can go wherever you want. Just know, it’s going to be a madhouse wherever we go.”

“That’s true, but everyone’s happy this time of year.”

“You have obviously not shopped this close to Christmas before. We will be taking our lives into our hands.”

“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic!” Hermione huffed.

“We shall see,” he said ominously.

They Apparated to Diagon Alley and were almost crushed as they appeared on the street. Witches and wizards rushed here and there, pushing their way through to get to something. It seemed like everyone was ready for a fight.

“You were right,” Hermione said to Severus as they made their way to Madam Malkin's.

He nodded minutely. “Why are we headed to Madam Malkin’s?” Severus asked.

“I want some new robes for Christmas.”

“I see.”

They entered the shop, and Hermione went over to the festive robes. She pushed a couple to the side as she went through the rack. 

“Oh, what do you think of this one?” she asked Severus.

“Does it come in green?” he asked with a smirk.

She huffed at him and shook her head as she smiled. “Not everything has to be Slytherin green, you know.”

He motioned to his own robes. “I understand that. I just think this one would look nicer in green.”

“Hermione looked at the red dress that had black accents of holly embroidered on it. She made a face at it. “I don’t think I like it after all, even if it were green.” Continuing to browse the rack, she came upon a sparkly silver robe that had sequins at the top moving down to the waist, becoming fewer and fewer until the skirt was simply a dark blue flowing creation.

“That’s nice,” Severus said.

“I like it, too,” Hermione mused. She looked from the dress to Severus. “I’m going to try it on.”

Severus nodded. She made her way to the fitting room and was soon wearing the dress. It looked even better on her than it did on the rack. She smiled at herself as she turned slightly to see the back of the dress. She loved it. It was perfect for Christmas Eve. She took it off and got dressed again. Leaving the dressing room, she saw Severus looking at some dress robes. She moved up next to him.

“You took it off without showing me?” he asked with an arched brow. 

“Oh, you’ll see it on Christmas Eve,” she teased.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Those robes are very nice. Are you going to buy them?”

His response was thoughtful. “I may. I think I’ll try them on.”

They were black, of course, but the material was elegant and of the finest silk. The suit coat had satin lapels. All in all, a lovely set of robes.

Severus disappeared for a time to try the suit on. After a few minutes, he emerged from the dressing room with the suit hung back up. Hermione raised a brow, questioning whether he was going to make the purchase.

“They look… nice. I will get them.”

Hermione smiled widely at him. He gave her a curious look.

“You seem awfully pleased at my decision, Maia.”

She nodded. “I can’t wait to see you in those robes. I’m sure you’ll look quite handsome.”

He huffed. “I will look sufficient.”

“Sufficient? What does that mean?”

“I will look as good as I can look.”

“So, handsome, right?”

“Hardly.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “What do you mean, hardly?”

“Maia, I understand that I am not… pleasing to look at.”

“Who told you that?”

“Everyone.”

She scoffed. “Well, they’re wrong. Have you looked in the mirror lately?”

“I just looked in the mirror five minutes ago, and I have to agree with the consensus.”

“But… you couldn’t be more wrong. You’re very good-looking. I’ll admit, as a youth, I found you quite scary, but you do like to roam the castle, glaring at people with your robes billowing behind you. It’s very intimidating, and I think you like it that way.”

He smirked. “I do have a persona that I’m establishing. I suppose it’s important to keep it up.”

“You did a brilliant job with your persona, I’ll give you that. But ugly? I never thought you were ugly. And now that I’m an adult…” she shrugged.

He arched a brow. “Go on.”

“I… I just find you to be… very appealing.”

“Truly? Appealing?”

“Yes!”

He looked her up and down. “I suppose there’s a first time for everything.”

“Oh, come on! You mean no one has ever told you you’re nice to look at?”

“I can’t say that anyone has. Usually, it’s the opposite.”

Hermione’s face was filled with fury. “Who would say such a thing?”

He shrugged. “My father was quick to tell me I’d never get a woman because I was straight up ugly. My mum told me I’d have to have money for anyone to notice me.”

Hermione frowned. “That’s foul! If I ever meet your parents, I’ll give them a piece of my mind.”

“That would be a feat because they are both dead.”

“Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Of course you didn’t. I try not to speak of them. My life with them was… unpleasant.”

She stepped up to him and gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m more than happy to listen if you want to get anything off your chest.”

“Not now.”

“I know, I mean, ever.”

He nodded briefly. “Anyway… no one will be saying I’m handsome, I can assure you.”

“I will be.”

He silently regarded her before turning and moving to the counter to purchase his new robes. She shook her head at him and followed him over. Purchasing their choices, they left the shop and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for presents. Hermione got several gifts for her coworkers, and Severus picked up some things for his as well. Neither of them bought anything for the other. Hermione had already purchased a gift for Severus after work the previous week. She was excited to see if he would like it.

Chapter Text

Hermione pulled the small turkey out of the oven and placed it on the stove to rest. She examined the feast before her. Everything had a stasis charm on it except for the turkey. She had also prepared mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, roasted carrots and parsnips, and green beans. A sticky toffee pudding was for dessert and was under a heating charm to keep it warm. The vanilla ice cream waited in the freezer.

She smiled. Everything was ready. She turned and moved up to her bedroom so she could put her Christmas dress on. She put on her makeup, taking care that it looked perfect. Slipping the dress on, she looked in the mirror. She loved how this dress looked on her, with its sparkly top and dark blue flowing skirt. She turned back and forth to watch it flow around her, smiling all the while.

Moving to her hair, she sighed. It was always a torturous affair, fixing it to look good. Frowning, she pulled her hair up, then let it fall back down around her shoulders. She examined the black tresses before forming it into a bun and turned left and right. She let that fall down, too. Pulling part of it back into a ponytail, she let it merge with the rest of her hair in the back and turned to look at that. Yes, that was what she wanted. Waving her wand around her head, a flat blue ribbon twirled around the start of her ponytail, fixing it in place. It formed into a bow at the back of her head. She smiled at the addition of the bow. It matched the skirt of her dress perfectly.

She was coming down the stairs when she heard the Floo activate. She descended the stairs fully and drew in a breath. The robes Severus had bought were absolutely gorgeous on him. The crisp white shirt underneath brought out the dark satin that trimmed the suit coat. The robes fit him well, giving Hermione a tease as to what was underneath. Hermione found him to be incredibly attractive.

Severus looked around, and when he spied her, he stilled. “You look lovely,” he whispered.

“Thank you, and I was right. You look incredibly handsome in those new robes.”

Severus didn’t protest. He simply nodded at her.

“Thank you. I feel they look nice as well.”

“Happy Christmas Eve,” Hermione said.

“Happy Christmas Eve, Maia. Thank you for preparing everything.”

She grinned broadly at him. “It was a pleasure. I haven’t made a big meal like this in a long time.” She pushed away the feelings of despair at the thought of previous Christmas eves with her family and smiled brittley at Severus.

“Maia… I’m sorry your family isn’t here.”

She nodded as she moved up next to him. “Well, neither of our families are here. I won’t say I don’t miss them, but I’m happy to be celebrating with you.”

She saw him blush and marveled that she had been able to make the unflappable Severus Snape turn red. It warmed her heart.

“Come on, everything is waiting for us. Will you carve the turkey?” she asked him.

“Of course.”

They made their way into the kitchen. Hermione had set everything but the turkey on the table. She now brought it and placed it nearest Severus. He moved to the counter and pulled out the carving knife and fork. In a matter of minutes, the turkey was carved, and they had plates full of Christmas feast. They ate quietly for a minute or two.

“Maia, you’ve even outdone the House Elves,” Severus offered.

It was her turn to blush. “Thank you, Severus. My Mum taught me how to prepare the turkey.”

“It’s delicious.”

They finished dinner and cleared the table. Hermione pulled out dessert. Severus moved up behind her. 

“Is that… sticky toffee pudding?” he asked.

She nodded and grinned as she began scooping the pudding into bowls.

“Would you get the ice cream from the deep freeze?” she asked.

He moved there. It was such a domestic thing to be doing that Hermione wished that he was her partner. She’d felt closer to him as time went on, and he just looked so lovely tonight… 

She sighed. This was a silly train of thought. Despite really liking Severus, he was getting over Lily. Well, she knew he would never get over Lily, but it had only been a year. It had to still be raw. 

Finishing scooping up the dessert, she watched as Severus put a scoop of ice cream on each bowl. He smirked at her as he quickly put the carton back in the freezer. She smirked back and handed him his bowl.

“Shall we enjoy this by the tree?” he asked.

“Yes, let's.”

They made their way to the sitting room, and Hermione sat on the sofa, with Severus settling in his reading chair. A fire glowed brightly in the fireplace.

“Oh, Severus, the flames are giving the tree such a pretty light.”

“Mmm, yes, it is nice. All those green ornaments are really picking up the light.”

“Funny thing, that. Every time I put something red on the tree, it immediately turned green.”

“Odd,” Severus remarked. He turned his head, but she could see his smirk.

“Charming the tree to not accept red is sneaky, Severus.”

He gave her an innocent look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t.”

He looked satisfied–smug even–as he took a bite of his dessert. She chuckled at him and ate her dessert as well.

“Do you want to open presents tonight or tomorrow?” he asked.

“Did you have any traditions with that?” Hermione asked.

“Hardly. What about you?”

“We usually opened one gift each on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas.”

“Merlin, how many gifts would you get?”

She shrugged. “Several. My aunts and uncles would send things too.”

“I was lucky to get one present–even as a child. We weren’t well off, and it was always a struggle to get anything but bare necessities.”

“That must have been hard,” Hermione commiserated.

He shrugged. “It’s just the way it was. My father drank any extra money we had.”

“Was he an abusive drunk?”

“Very much so, but this is a day to celebrate. I do not want to dwell on my childhood. It was a long time ago, and I’ve put it behind me.”

“Okay. I’m sure you have, but I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about it.”

His eyes met hers. “I appreciate that you are. You have become a good friend over the last couple of months. I want to thank you for that.”

“You’ve been a good friend to me, too, and I really appreciate that.”

He shrugged. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

“That’s for sure. Who else would have been in that old cemetery? I’d have been wandering around for days.”

He chuckled. “You give yourself too little credit.”

“Possibly, but it was nice to see a familiar face.”

She saw gratitude in his gaze and nodded her head. “Really, I got incredibly lucky to find you right off.”

He looked away, his cheeks tinged pink. Hermione used his discomfort to grab a present from under the tree. She placed it in his lap. He looked back at her.

“Maia, I only got you one gift.”

“That’s okay, Severus. Open this one anyway. I’ll enjoy seeing you unwrap it.”

“You’re sure? We can wait until tomorrow.”

“No, this is my tradition, and I want to keep it.”

“All right.” He tore into the green and silver paper, crumpling it as he ripped the package open. Lifting the lid of the box, his eyebrows furrowed. He lifted up a set of black satin pajamas with green holly all over them. He looked at Hermione curiously.

“This is somewhat of an intimate gift, isn’t it?”

“I forgot to mention that our Christmas Eve gifts were always new Christmas pajamas.” She laughed nervously and looked away.

“You got me pajamas as part of your traditions? Maia… I’m honored. I’m not too sure about this holly, though.”

“Sorry, they were the only black PJs I could find.”

“I do wear colors other than black, you know.”

“Oh, you do not!” she retorted.

“Most of my nightwear is gray.”

“I remember.”

He gave her a horrified look. “You have seen me in my sleepwear?”

“No, no, but Harry saw you one night.”

“He was out of bed after curfew?”

She grinned knowingly. “You’re quick, Severus. Yes, he was.” She left it at that. “Do you like them? Most importantly, will you wear them? I could take them back and get you some grey satin ones if you prefer.”

He smirked. “No, I appreciate the thought, and yes, I will wear them.” 

“Good.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you. Actually… we’re dressed up. Would you like to dance?”

She stammered. “D… dance? With me?”

“Yes, would you accept that as a gift?”

Nodding, she blushed and grinned at him. “That would be lovely.”

He stood and waved his wand. An instrumental version of The Christmas Song began to play. With another wave, the room extended itself, and a small dance floor appeared. He reached his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his and swore that electricity shot through her at his touch. She stood and found herself wrapped in his arms, swaying to the music. She lifted her arms, and her hands surrounded his neck. She looked into his eyes, and that shot of electricity went through her again. Merlin, it just came over her suddenly, but she had it bad.

They swayed to the music, not breaking eye contact. She swore he was leaning down and getting closer to her. Did he feel it, too? 

Time seemed to move in slow motion. He neared her, and then the music ended. His eyes cleared, and he pulled back slightly. Clearing his throat, he released her.

“Merry Christmas, Maia.”

“Merry Christmas, Severus.” She was disappointed that nothing happened, but maybe she’d imagined him getting closer. She didn’t know.

“I should be going,” he advised.

“You could stay here tonight, you know. Then we’d just get up in the morning for breakfast and open presents. You wouldn’t need to Floo back and forth.”

His lips thinned as he thought about it.

“And then I could see you in your Christmas pajamas,” she urged.

He blushed. “I… I suppose I was going to wear them tonight.”

“Oh, you hate them! You were going to stuff them in your drawer and forget about them, weren’t you?”

“No, I like them. I just hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“Okay.” She eyed him, her eyes narrowed as she sized him up. “You’re forgiven,” she said with a chuckle. “Now, stay the night.”

He frowned.

“I mean… you don’t have to if you don’t want to…”

“No… I’ll stay.”

“Great! I was going to read The Night Before Christmas. Would you like to join me?”

“Yes, that would be nice,” he admitted. 

They settled on the sofa, and she opened the book. She waved her wand, and some soft Christmas music played. They each took turns reading a page until they’d finished the story.

“Is this a family tradition?” Severus asked.

“No, it’s not, actually. I just thought it would be nice. Maybe it will become a new tradition.”

He smiled at her. “Perhaps.” Casting a tempus charm, he checked the time and stood. “I should retire; it is later than I thought.”

“All right. I’m going to stay up a little longer and read. Merry Christmas Eve.”

He bowed his head slightly in recognition. Turning, he made his way up the stairs. Hermione let out a long breath. Ever since their dance, she’d been hyper-aware of him. His closeness on the couch had been… unsettling in the most delicious way.

She reflected upon the last couple of weeks. They had grown closer, and she’d grown to be attracted to him without even noticing it. She shook her head. She’d need to tamp it down and tamp it down good. She didn’t want Severus to feel uncomfortable. He’d disappear, and she’d never see him again if he felt awkward. 

She picked up her book but couldn’t concentrate. She chose to retire as well. Heading upstairs, she got ready for bed. She lay awake staring at the ceiling for quite a while, making up reasons in her head why being with Severus wouldn’t work at all. No matter how she tried, though, she kept thinking of the reasons they would make a good couple. If only he could feel the same way. 

ooo

Hermione woke to the smell of bacon. Her eyes blinked lazily as she tried to wake fully. Despite not getting to sleep at a decent time, she felt rested and a bit excited. Springing out of bed, she looked in the mirror. As usual, her hair was a riot atop her head. She waved her wand over it, and it tamed some. She left it down and made sure her pajamas looked okay. They were red with green Christmas trees all over them. She’d found them at Harrods, and they were similar to her favorite pair that her parents had given her. Smiling at her reflection, she headed downstairs. She spied Severus in the kitchen making a fry up.

“Oh, those are cute!” she said as she beheld him in his Christmas PJs. He turned and glared at her.

“Cute?” he ground out.

“Yes, cute. Now don’t growl at me. It’s Christmas.”

He narrowed his eyes at her but dropped the subject. “Happy Christmas,” he offered.

“Happy Christmas! Thank you so much for making breakfast!”

“You are welcome. If you would grab the toast, the rest of this is ready.”

“Sure!” She picked up the plate of toast and put the last two pieces onto it, buttering them quickly. She placed it on the table and settled in. “Everything looks lovely, Severus.”

“Thank you,” he offered as he passed her the plate of eggs. 

She scooped some onto her plate and reached for the bacon and sausage. Severus helped himself to some fried tomatoes and baked beans and passed them to Hermione. They were quiet for a while as they ate, both concentrating on their breakfast. Hermione sat back finally and sighed. 

“That was delicious, Severus. I ate way more than I should have.”

“I did, too,” Severus agreed. “But it’s Christmas. We can indulge a little bit.”

Hermione laughed. “Yes, but I’m afraid I’m going to be uncomfortable for an hour or so.”

Severus stood. “Come on. Let’s open presents.”

She grinned and followed him into the sitting room. They sat down on the floor by the tree. Hermione pulled the two presents out from the tree and handed one to Severus. She grinned at him. 

“You first.”

He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I opened a present last night already. It’s your turn.”

She smirked. “All right, if you insist.”

“I do.”

“This paper is so nice, and it’s not black or green!” she remarked.

“Enough teasing,” he ground out. 

She grinned at him as she ripped into the gold paper with a silver bow on it. She opened the small, elongated box to reveal a silver bracelet.

“Oh, Severus, this is beautiful! Thank you!”

She lifted it out and examined it. It was a silver chain that had four lion charms attached across it. She looked over at Severus.

“Would you help me put it on?”

“Of course,” he said as he moved closer and helped her fasten the bracelet on her wrist. She turned her wrist back and forth as she admired it. Her eyes met Severus’.

“It’s lovely. Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said with a shy grin.

She smiled back at him and motioned to his gift. “Open yours now.”

“Okay.” He ripped the bright red paper off and opened the box. He stared down at the black angora scarf with a grin on his face. Running his fingers along it, he felt the softness of the wool.

“It’s marvelous, Hermione, thank you.”

He lifted it out of the box. “Oh, there are gloves too.”

She smiled and nodded. He slipped them on and flexed his fingers. “So soft. Thank you so much.”

He removed the gloves and placed them on the scarf. 

“We were talking about traditions yesterday. I never counted this as a tradition, but in thinking about it, I suppose it was. My mum would always play gobstones with me every Christmas.”

“Really? Do you have a set? We should play.”

“I’m pretty sure I know where Mum’s is,” Severus said as he stood and headed upstairs. “I’ll be right back.”

A few minutes later, he returned with a bag of stones. Smirking, he sat back down on the floor.

“You’re sure you want to play? My mother was the best at Hogwarts in her time, and she taught me everything she knew.”

Hermione nodded with a grin. “Yes, I want to play. I haven’t played since … well, since I was a second year.”

Severus dumped the bag of stones on the ground between them, and they each chose fifteen. They played several rounds–Severus winning them all. Hermione gave up after her seventh loss. She did win one play and was able to gloat for a millisecond before she was sprayed with goo again.

“Okay, I think I’m done. I’m going to need to shower after that.”

“I am not unscathed. You got a couple of good shots in.”

She shrugged. “I did, but you are definitely the king of Gobstones.”

He smirked at her. She got up off the ground and headed upstairs. “I’ll be back in a bit after I get this foul-smelling goo off me.”

ooo

The day had been lovely. They’d listened to Christmas music… even sung a little. Hermione had admired Severus’ deep baritone. They’d taken a walk and had leftovers for an early dinner. Hermione had noticed Severus staring at her now and then. She wasn’t sure what to make of it except for the butterflies that took over her stomach whenever she realized it. They were now reading by the fire. Hermione glanced at Severus. The domesticity of the whole thing made her heart ache for something real like that–with him.

He looked up and raised a brow at her. She immediately buried her nose back in her book. Severus closed his book and placed it on the side table.

“I should go,” he said.

“You don’t have to rush… I’m not anxious for you to leave.”

“I know, but I need to get back to Hogwarts.” He hesitated for a bit. “Maia, I won’t be able to come by for several weeks.”

Her heart froze in her chest. “Oh?” she said nonchalantly. 

“Albus wants me to run a bunch of experiments, and the brewing and creating will take all of my non-class time.” He stood to get ready to go.

“I see.” She was quiet for a bit. “Do you know how long?”

“I don’t, but I feel it will take a month or so to get everything done.”

“Okay.” She stood up. “It’s okay if you just drop by now and then, you know. You don’t have to stay long.”

He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. “I will see how all of this goes.” He hesitated. “Maia, I would have brought it up sooner, but I wanted us to enjoy the holiday.”

She smiled at him. “And we did! I’m so glad you shared Christmas with me.”

“It was nice,” he offered.

She knew she should be more proper, but she couldn’t help herself. She moved up to him and hugged him tightly.

“Happy Christmas, Severus.”

He returned her hug with similar enthusiasm. “Happy Christmas, Maia.”

And before she knew it, he was gone. She stared after him, finally turning toward the fireplace and becoming mesmerized by the fire. She made her way to his reading chair, settling into it and turned back to the fireplace, continuing to stare into the fire. It had been a lovely day, but she couldn’t help but feel down that she wouldn’t see Severus for at least a month. 

He didn’t seem to be too upset about it. Her attraction was obviously one-sided. Not that she was surprised about that. She knew he’d love Lily Potter for the rest of his life. 

Severus and she were friends… 

Friends…

Just Friends.

There. Now, she’d have a month to convince herself that was the case.

Chapter Text

Hermione was in the time room. It had been a week and a half since Christmas. Her Ministry Department had a very nice New Year’s party, so she’d been occupied, and quite drunk, by the stroke of midnight. She’d had a few days off afterward but had been working on ‘What ifs’ since. Her postulations had centered around Severus mostly because she missed him.

Today, she was investigating what would happen if Severus didn’t continue working at Hogwarts. She knew that he didn’t enjoy teaching much, but it was where he needed to be–according to Dumbledore. She wondered if the old coot had been right.

The vision began at the end of the current school year. Severus packed his bags and left the school for good. He kept in touch with Dumbledore, but never taught again. He created a successful Potions business instead. In Hermione’s first year, Harry hated the new Potions Master. Some things never change.

Harry was able to defeat Quirrell.

Second year went much the same.

Third year, Hermione got bitten by Lupin in his werewolf form and had to deal with lycanthropy for the rest of her life.

Fourth year, when Voldemort returned, he was furious with Severus for not spying on Dumbledore and for being the cause of his dying. He killed him at their first meeting.

Hermione stopped that vision. That had all gone pear-shaped. She’d done several visions where Severus didn’t survive to the end of the war, and in most of them, Voldemort won. She’d long suspected that he had been the lynchpin in the plan, but her research had proven that without him, they’d be doomed to live under Voldemort’s rule, and that meant that Harry would die as well. She ran several other scenarios where Severus left teaching at one point or another. All resulted in Voldemort killing him at that first meeting when he returned. Given those results, she’d now confirmed that he needed to continue to teach at Hogwarts to survive.

ooo

The next week, she sent Severus a note through the Floo wishing him a happy birthday. He’d sent a letter back thanking her and saying he was still busy and would see her in a few more weeks… hopefully. And that depressed her. She’d hoped he would be done sooner rather than later.

She missed him horridly. To go from visiting every day to several weeks without seeing him… well, it was doing nothing for her attraction because she found that absence definitely made the heart grow fonder.

Running what-ifs had been helpful, but she didn’t interact with Seversus at all in these visions. So she changed that. And that was one thing she shouldn’t have done. She set up a vision where Severus and she were a couple. It wasn’t long, just a night out. Dinner, a walk in the park, and declarations of love.

She stopped the vision soon after that. Tears streamed down her face. She buried her head in her hands and sobbed for what she knew would never be. She mourned for a bit but knew she was being ridiculous. Quickly composing herself, she lifted her head and wiped her tears.

“Ugh, why did I do that? Now I’m going to be fixated on that scene forever!”

She decided she needed a break and left the Time Room. She bumped into Lilah as she walked through the area.

“Hello, Maia! How are you?”

“Oh, fine, Lilah. Good to see you.”

“Is everything all right? You look upset.”

“Me? On, no. I’m having an allergic reaction to something. I’m fine.”

“Good. How is your project with Warren going?”

“It’s going well. We’ve been able to postulate a point in the past that we want to test.”

“Excellent! I’ve been enjoying your vision reports of the future.”

Hermione gave a quick nod. “It’s been interesting examining what changes do to the timeline.”

“I must admit, having knowledge of what the future will bring has always given me goosebumps. You have been a godsend to us. We’ve been able to extrapolate the future before, but with your knowledge and tests with changes in the timeline... It’s been very valuable. Of course, it’s very tempting to try and fix something, but we must keep our oath to not interfere.”

Hermione nodded. “It is hard, but you’re right.” And thankfully, that oath wasn’t an Unbreakable Vow.

“I’ve been surprised, though, that much of what I’ve investigated has worked out worse if the circumstances are changed. I would think that we’d have a mix of results.”

“Well, you’ve just begun.”

“Yes. I’ve got some ideas for next week's research.”

“Lovely. I look forward to reading about it.”

She said goodbye to Lilah. Feeling renewed, she headed back to her testing room. She had some ideas she wanted to try out.

ooo

Mid February

Severus hadn't come around for six weeks. He’d only sent the one reply to her owl, and aside from that, she’d not heard a peep from him. She knew he was busy, but seriously, he’d just cut her off, and she was a bit miffed about that. Imagine her surprise when she got home from work one day to find him settled in his reading chair, browsing a Potions journal.

“Severus!” she cried, truly happy to see him, despite being annoyed at his lack of interactions.

“Maia, how are you?”

She threw herself on the sofa across from him. “Merlin, I’m exhausted.”

“Is this a bad time? I can come back tomorrow.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t even, Severus Snape. You disappear for six weeks with nary an owl and just want to run out of here?”

“I apologize.”

She folded her arms in front of her. “I’m actually used to it. Harry and Ron would never write to me in the summers. It was infuriating.”

“You’re upset with me.”

“You’re damn right I am. You said you’d be gone for a month, which wound up being six weeks, but you didn’t say you wouldn’t speak to me at all during that time. I thought we were friends.”

He looked to the floor, duly chastised. “We are friends. I’m sorry I didn’t even send a letter. I had a lot on my mind.”

“Is everything okay? Is it something about You-Know-Who?”

He shook his head. “No. Not at all. I was not in any danger or anything like that.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” She regarded him thoughtfully. “Are you hungry? Did you eat at Hogwarts?”

“I did not.”

She stood. “Come on.”

He followed suit. “Where are we going?”

“Curry in a Hurry on Main Street.”

“There’s an Indian place in town? I didn’t think anything decent to eat was offered here. Just a lot of bars.”

“Oh, it’s next to a bar, and there’s a bar in it, but they’ve got decent curry, and I don’t feel like cooking.”

They left Spinners End and walked over to the restaurant.

“I’m still angry at you, by the way. I just need some food.”

He chuckled, causing her to glare at him.

“Sorry. You really are hacked off, aren’t you?”

She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “You’re damn straight I am. I bet you didn’t even think about me during that whole time.”

“You are very wrong. I thought about you every day, Maia.”

She frowned at him. “Don’t lie, Severus.”

He threw his arms up. “I’m not lying. I bloody thought about you every minute of the day.” He snapped his mouth shut and glared at her as if it was her fault he’d divulged such a secret.

She arched a brow at him. He pursed his lips at her. They stared at each other for a while before she let her arms fall to her sides.

“I’m sure we can glare at each other all night, but I want some food,” she said as she stalked past him.

“I have a good reason for not speaking with you.”

She stopped again and turned back toward him. “Oh? What would that be? You had enough of me chattering your ear off?”

“No!”

“Come on,” she said as she started walking again. “Talk and walk so we can get there before midnight.”

“Maia…”

She just kept walking. He hurried to catch up with her.

“I was inconsiderate. I was just thinking about myself. I’m sorry.”

She gave him a side eye as she continued walking. She was quiet for a few moments as they walked in silence.

“You’re forgiven,” she said. 

He sighed. “Thank you. I should have written. I just didn’t know what to say.”

“Am I that intimidating?”

He chuckled. “In some ways, yes.”

She screwed up her face. “You really think so?”

“No, I don’t really. I mean, you can be intimidating when you’re irate, but it wasn't that. I am not a writer. I prefer to communicate in person. It was more that I didn’t want to sound stupid, not that I thought you were intimidating.”

They’d gotten to the Indian restaurant, and Severus opened the door for Maia. They found seats at a nearby booth and ordered a couple of different curries.

“Do you mind sharing? I like both of these options,” Hermione asked.

“Of course. I would like to try some of your pork curry anyway.”

Hermione grinned at him. “So… how was your birthday? Did you do anything fun?”

“No, I didn’t do anything. How did you know it was my birthday? No one knows that.”

“No one knew it was your birthday? That’s terrible!”

“No one alive, at least.”

“Why haven’t you told anyone?”

He shrugged. “It’s never come up.”

“Not even Dumbledore?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “I imagine since he pays my salary, he’s seen my birthdate at some point, but he’s never said anything about it. He only uses me for his own devices, so I haven’t mentioned the day of my birth to him.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you’ll be closer in the future. At least I think you’re close.”

He arched a brow. “I can’t ever see myself trusting him completely.”

“I think that feeling stuck.”

“So, how do you know my birthday?”

She thought about it for a minute, then frowned. “I’m sorry. I think I saw it on your tombstone.” She grimaced. “God, that’s awful.”

“So, it was a secret until my death?”

Her eyebrows knit together. “I… I don’t know. I doubt it. I mean, I was your student. There was no reason for me to know when your birthday was, and if you didn’t want to make a big deal about it, no one but your friends would know. Maybe Dumbledore, Minerva… you seemed to get along with most of the faculty. They may have known.” She chuckled. “Maybe they had a roaring party for you in the teachers' lounge every year.”

He chuckled along with her. “Someho,w I doubt it, but it’s possible I get a ‘Happy Birthday’ here and there in the future.”

“I certainly hope so.”

Their curries came, and Severus tried his Tikka Masala.

“Surprisingly delicious for a dive in Cokeworth,” he remarked.

“The pork curry is spicy. Can you handle it?”

He arched his brow. “I live for spice.”

He put some over the rice on his plate and took a large forkful, immediately covering his mouth and coughing. “Merlin… not what I was expecting.”

“I told you!”

“Yes, but I figured you were a novice at this sort of thing.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been a curry connoisseur since I was ten. I didn’t mean to burn your tongue off.”

He cleared his throat. “You didn’t. I like it; I was just surprised. Most people, when they say spicy, are sadly mistaken. Of course, I keep learning over and over again not to underestimate you.”

She grinned at him as she took a bite of the Tikka Masala. “Mmm, I don’t think I’ve tried this here yet. It’s very good.”

They ate in silence and then conversed for a while before heading back to Spinner’s End. After their walk, they both sat on the sofa at either end, facing one another. Hermione put her feet up and Severus turned toward her so his leg was bent in front of him. 

“Maia, I need to talk to you about something.”

She arched a brow at him. “Go on.”

“I am sorry I haven’t been around for the last six weeks.”

“Severus, we’ve already spoken about that.”

“I know, but there is more to it than I’ve let on.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “What are you talking about?”

“I…” He looked down to the floor. “You know I have very few friends. I consider you my closest friend.”

She smiled reassuringly at him. “I feel the same about you, Severus.”

“I don’t want anything to come between this friendship,” he continued.

“So, you decided to not come around for a few weeks? That makes no sense.”

He held up his hand. “I know. It’s just that…” He looked away.

Hermione studied him. He was upset about something, that much was clear, but she didn’t have a clue as to what it could be. It was obviously paining him, and that made her hurt for him. 

“Severus, just tell me what’s going on. I’m your friend. I’m here to support you through whatever.”

His eyes drew back to hers. “I debated about not speaking of this to you, but in the end, I think being fully forthcoming is the best thing to do.”

She nodded. She wanted to scream out for him to just tell her, but she’d learned that he would tell her in his own time and way. She needed to be patient, but it was driving her insane!

He sighed. “I’m sorry. My feelings for you are more than just as a friend. I know you’re not interested in me that way, but I wanted you to know because there may be times when I avoid you because it's just too hard to be with you and not be able to actually be with you.”

Her mouth dropped open. Severus rushed on.

“I don’t want our friendship to be over because of this. I swear, Maia, I can control myself. I just want you to know what’s going on in my head. I don’t want to lose this ease that we have together.”

“You…” Her voice was soft and small. “You fancy me?”

He frowned even more and nodded.

“But what about Lily? You’re in love with her.”

He looked at her with shock. “I didn’t realize you knew about that aspect of my relationship with Lily.”

“I do.”

“Well… It’s wrong. Yes, I did love her a long time ago. But when she started going with Potter, I realized she didn’t care for me the way I cared for her. I mean, she chose my enemy, you know?” He shrugged lightly. “But I’ve always loved her as a person… as a friend.”

“That can’t be. All you ever did in my timeline was for her… because you loved her.”

His lips thinned. “I don’t know about my feelings for her when you knew me then, but I can assure you, I do not love her now. My feelings for her did come back with her death, but over the last few months, I’ve sorted them. Yes, I am working against the Dark Lord because of her, and part of my motives will always be for her, but that is because we were best mates, and I want to make sure her death wasn’t in vain.”

Merlin, she’d changed the future more than she’d known. She hoped that in the long run, that would be a positive change. She’d need to examine it in the Time room, but right now… she was filled with excitement and wanted to jump up and down. He fancied her! She tamped down her desire to be ecstatic and calmed herself.

“I can’t believe this,” she said.

“I’m sorry. I promise you I won’t mention it again. I just wanted you to be aware.”

She put her legs down and moved over close to him. He frowned and tried to move away, but she grasped his hand to still him. His eyes met hers, and he looked at her curiously.

“You see, Severus, I fancy you, too.” Her fingers entwined with his, and she squeezed his hand. 

His head dropped down to look at their clasped hands before he looked back at her in wonder. “You do?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “I didn’t think you’d be interested because of Lily. It hasn’t been very long since her death.”

He grinned at her. “You couldn’t be more wrong.” 

Leaning in, he captured her lips, giving a sexy little moan as he kissed her. Electricity shot through her as his lips pressed against hers. She moaned into him too, before opening her mouth to give him entrance.

“Maia,” he murmured before entering and plundering her tongue. Separating from her lips, he pulled her close and squeezed her tightly. “I didn’t think this could ever be.”

She huffed. “Neither did I!”

He pulled back and gave her a loving look. “Seems like we both were wrong.”

“And I’m ever so happy that we were.”

She turned and leaned into him. His arm came around her shoulder, and he pulled her close as he leaned back on the sofa.

“I should have just said something right off instead of hiding from you.”

“That would have been a lot easier for both of us, but we don’t always do everything we should.”

“You’ll forgive me?”

“Oh, Severus, we already talked this out. I’m not going to get upset again.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad. I feel foolish enough as it is.”

“Well, to be fair, you didn’t think anything was going to come of this, but please, in the future, talk to me.”

“I will. I promise.”

He could say no more because Hermione had leaned up and was kissing him enthusiastically.

Chapter Text

During the next week:

Hermione had experimented in the Time Room to determine what would happen if Severus didn’t love Lily. She’d run the vision test twice with the same result. Severus not loving Lily had actually given him some backbone with Dumbledore. He still followed the plan set out, but he was more demanding to know what was going on, to the point that Dumbledore told him about the Horcruxes.

When she added herself into the equation there were mixed results. She postulated that they would be together throughout the war. When the Dark Lord returned, he used an ancient spell to check the lineage of anyone whom he didn’t know that was involved with his Death Eaters. He found out she was a ‘Mudblood.’ He was furious that she had lied and had deceived one of his devoted servants. He told Severus to denounce her in the vilest of ways, demanding that he drag her in front of the Death Eaters, tell her he knew of her deception, and slay her after all of the Death Eaters tortured her. Severus refused, which enraged Voldemort. He almost killed Severus, but then realized he cared for the ‘Mudblood’ too much to do what he’d demanded. He had the Death Eaters torture her anyway, and Lucius Malfoy killed her while Severus was held at bay and forced to watch. It destroyed him. His inability to concentrate on the war caused Voldemort to be able to kill Harry and win. Severus became his right-hand man and because he’d lost Hermione, had a devil-may-care attitude and became a true Death Eater when he saw the cause was lost.

Fear gripped her. She couldn’t stay with Severus if it meant losing the war. She may have to break it off with him–maybe go into hiding or leave the country.

She tried to view a couple of scenarios where Voldemort didn’t use the spell, but he’d created it as a youth, and it would be impossible to stop him from using it.

She tapped her finger on her mouth as she thought about if they could possibly stay together.

What if she kept her relationship with Severus a secret? Right now, no one knew that she knew Severus. What if she kept it that way, secretly dating Severus and keeping a low profile at the Ministry so as not to call attention to herself?

She ran the vision again. This time all the benefits of Severus not loving Lily were present, and he was stronger than ever. Their secret relationship didn’t affect the timeline negatively and probably helped with his strength. She bit her lip as she emerged from the vision. She ran it a couple of times with small variations just to be sure. It seemed to work. She’d need to talk to Severus about this. It was vital that their relationship be a secret and that no one knew that they were acquainted at all. 

ooo

Severus came through the Floo. Hermione got up and moved to his side, hugging him in greeting. He gave her a passionate look and kissed her.

“Hi,” he said once he’d finished.

“Hi.”

He smirked at her. “I’ve thought about you all day.”

“Funny, I thought about you all day, too!” Hermione admitted. “How were the dunderheads today?”

He chuckled. “No worse than usual. It’s taken a bit for the older ones to respect me as a teacher, but this year they have been better.”

“I’m glad. You were a formidable teacher in my day. Everyone feared you.”

“Feared?”

She nodded. “You had to keep up a persona so no one suspected you were a spy.”

Severus’ eyebrows knit together. “I hadn’t realized I’d need to do anything like that.”

“As time goes on, the return of You-Know-Who makes it necessary for you to have been seen as… well… a bastard, especially to the Gryffindors, and to Harry and me even more.”

“That will be difficult knowing you and having to be cruel.”

“You have to do it, Severus. Voldemort must think you’ve always been watchful and on his side, even now, when he’s not around.”

“I apologize, then, for anything I did that was… cruel.”

She smiled at him. “Apology accepted.” She became serious. “We need to talk.”

He gave her a worried glance. “It’s only been a few days and you’re breaking it off with me already?”

Hermione chuckled. “No, silly, but there is something serious we need to discuss. Come sit down.”

They settled on the sofa next to one another. Hermione turned toward Severus, grasped his hand, and squeezed it.

“I need to tell you a little bit about what I do at the Ministry so this makes sense.”

“I thought…”

She held up her hand to stop him. “You’re right, I can’t really talk about it, but I can explain it generally.”

He nodded for her to go on. 

“I work in the Time room. Because I’m from the future, I can review things others can’t. My boss has tasked me with examining the future to see how changes affect the timeline. I’m trying to make sure any changes won’t hurt the future.”

“And you found something that will hurt it.”

She winced. “I have.” Looking up at him, she bit her lip. “I ran a simulation where we were open with our relationship… you know, like a normal couple. Everyone knew we were together. It didn’t go well. Both of our lives will be in danger if people, especially You-Know-Who, know about us. Even though I’m considered a Half-Blood, he will be able to find out I’m truly Muggleborn, and… well… you can imagine how that goes.”

“So, we change it so he doesn’t find out.”

“We can’t. He uses old magic to check my lineage. He does it to anyone he doesn’t know who is dating one of his Death Eaters. It’s foolproof, and he finds out I’m a… Mudblood.”

“Don’t ever call yourself that.”

She shrugged. “Anyway…”

“I’m serious, Maia.”

She gave him a winsome smile. “Thank you, love. I won't do it again.”

“So, we do need to break up, then,” he muttered quietly.

She squeezed his hand and shook her head. “No, not unless we decide to in the future. You see, I found a way to avoid all of that and to have the same or better outcome than my timeline had.”

“How?”

“We need to keep our relationship a secret. No one can know, not even our closest friends. To everyone, we are not acquainted at all. That’s the only way the Timeline will be preserved positively.”

“So, no one can know that we are together, no matter what?”

She nodded.

“What do you think about this?” he asked.

“I think it’s rubbish, but we have to do it.” She squeezed his hand again. “I'm so happy to be with you that I want to yell it off the rooftops that we’re together.”

“You are?”

She nodded. “I want everyone to see us together and happy, but it’s not going to be possible. Ever. At least until the war is over if we stay together that long.” She lifted her head up and looked at him. “Are you all right with this?”

“Obviously, I would like it to be different, but… Maia, as long as we know how we feel about each other, I am okay with keeping this a secret. I’m just not sure how to do so.”

“I’m sorry. It will mean you'll have to be even more diligent with your Occlumency.”

He frowned. “Will that be enough, Maia? What if my shields fail?” He stood and walked over to the window. “Maybe we should just end this right now. I don’t ever want my spying to hurt you.”

Hermione rose and came up behind him. Her hand rested on his shoulder, and she squeezed it. “I’m part of this war no matter what. I don’t want to lose you because we’re afraid of what the future holds. In my research, our relationship wasn’t found out. As long as you keep your shields strong, we should be fine.”

“What if you’re wrong?” he said as he turned to her.

“We can’t fear the future, Severus. We have to live our lives the way we want to. The benefits far outweigh the possible negatives.”

His arms went around her, and he held her close.

“I couldn’t survive if you were hurt, Maia.”

“I understand, I couldn’t take it if you were hurt either.”

He pulled back a bit and kissed her lovingly. “All right,” he said finally. “We won’t tell anyone that we are involved. Hopefully, your vision of the future will happen as you saw it.”

“I hope so, too.”

ooo 

Hermione was running some experiments on the Horcruxes. She wanted to experiment on which Horcruxes could be destroyed ahead of time. Some were obviously not able to be changed, like Harry, and Nagini hadn’t even been made yet. 

The ring was possibly one that could be destroyed early. Voldemort never returned to view it in her time, so maybe it would work out. Her future vision panned out the same, with Voldemort leaving the ring buried in his father’s house.

When the diary was destroyed, the sword of Gryffindor was never imbued with Basilisk venom, and they were unable to destroy the locket. So that was a big no.

She tried the locket itself next. They’d have to time it right and possibly save Regulus Black along the way. She reviewed the new timeline and was disappointed to find that in the long run, it made camping easy, but without the trial of the Horcrux around their necks, they weren’t hardened. Ron didn’t leave in a huff and come back to warn them about the Snatchers. Harry blurted out Voldemort’s name much earlier and the Snatchers grabbed them before Hermione could alter Harry’s face. The Malfoys summoned the Dark Lord, and the three of them were killed that very night. Not the best outcome.

The cup actually worked out. They needed to involve Dumbledore, but he was able to Polyjuice himself effectively as Bellatrix Lestrange and replaced the cup with an enspelled look-alike. No one was the wiser, and everything progressed normally in the timeline. 

The Diadem was the easiest. It was simple to find and destroy, and it saved the Room of Requirement from being incinerated. It had taken several years for the room to work normally in her time.

In the timelines where one of the Horcruxes was destroyed ahead of time, Voldemort didn’t find out. Albus knew there were multiple items, but curiously, he didn’t find any of the others before it was time and nothing more about them was changed. 

It galled her that Dumbledore was right about so many things. But in the end, he definitely could have done some things differently. She’d need to make sure those things happened in her future. She’d need to examine whether Dumbledore needed to die by Severus’ hand next.

ooo

Hermione settled into her chair in the Time room. She’d been running scenarios to investigate if Dumbledore could survive and not have it affect the timeline negatively. Sighing heavily her eyes were drawn to the ceiling. She was not pleased with what she’d seen at all. 

She’d been gutted to see that Dumbledore needed to die and that Severus needed to do it, which meant the ring Horcrux couldn’t be destroyed early. The old coot had been right. She’d run every possible combination over the last two days and found that if Dumbledore died by the curse, or if Draco or one of the Death Eaters did it, they lost the war. 

She’d thought that the ring being destroyed early would have been a positive. However, it changed the need for Dumbledore to die. He never put on the ring, therefore, he never cursed himself, so there would be no reason to kill him. 

Hermione had run the vision with Dumbledore not being cursed and living a normal life. Dumbledore confronted Draco after Ron was poisoned and kept him from being able to attack him that year. Voldemort was enraged but decided against killing any of the Malfoys and told Draco he’d better succeed the next year.

His threat didn’t need to be given as Dumbledore decided to take on Voldemort the summer after Hermione’s sixth year. He brazenly appeared at Malfoy Manor, calling out to the Dark Lord.

“Tom! Tom Riddle! Come out and face me like a wizard,” he taunted.

An enraged Voldemort emerged from the Manor, followed by the Malfoy’s. All had their wands drawn.

“Come now, you’re too chicken to face me alone?” Dumbledore chided.

Voldemort grinned evilly. “They are just here to see your end, Dumbledore. It’s time for you to die!”

He shot an Avada Kedavra directly at Dumbledore, who calmly stepped aside and watched the curse go past him. He grinned at Voldemort.

“Not so fast, Tom. You can’t just cut me down with a simple killing curse.” 

He cast a spell and shot knives at Voldemort. The Dark Lord flicked his wand, and they turned to sawdust. He cast another curse, pulling a tree down and almost crushing Dumbledore. The older wizard shielded himself and threw the tree to the side of him with some effort. Just in time he shielded the curse sent by Voldemort and sent one right back. He followed that up with two more curses, one sent fire barreling toward Voldemort, the other closely followed with more daggers.

Voldemort shielded and cast water on the fire. The shield deflected most of the knives, but one sliced his arm. He sneered at Dumbledore. Flying serpents emerged from his wand. Albus turned them into butterflies. Voldemort threw several spells in tandem. Dumbledore was caught unable to shield and change all of them. He deflected the lightning spell and dodged the Avada Kedavra. However, he stepped right into the javelin that was speeding toward him. It pierced his chest right over his heart.

The spear jutted grotesquely from his chest. He stumbled back, dropped his wand, and staggered as his hands surrounded the wood of the javelin. He looked down incredulously and fell to his knees.

As his heart stuttered to a stop, he fell forward and died, propped up by the long handle of the spear that had ended him. He slowly fell sideways to the ground, moving no more.

Voldemort grinned evilly, totally full of himself. “Now that’s how you get rid of an enemy.”

Hermione gaped as she watched the rest of the vision pan out. She sped time along and watched as the Order fell apart with grief. They stopped being vigilant, and Voldemort swept in with his Death Eaters and killed all of them as well. 

She frowned as she realized that Dumbledore had to die. She ran some experiments where he just succumbed to the curse either right away or naturally. In those timelines, Severus didn’t have the trust of Voldemort so he wasn’t able to protect the children as Headmaster or affect the war as he had in her past. He wasn’t able to give his memories to Harry, who never realized he was a Horcrux. He killed Voldemort, but the Dark Lord’s spirit immediately took over Harry’s body. Renewed and with a young and virile body, Voldemort reigned for a lifetime, destroying all the Muggle-born witches and wizards, taking over Muggle society, and becoming the most feared wizard in all the world.

Much the same happened when Severus didn’t cut down Dumbledore but let the Death Eaters kill him–meaning Bellatrix. In all those scenarios, Voldemort killed Draco as well for not being able to do the deed. He came into power earlier and his reign was long and deadly.

Hermione chewed on her lip as she came to an awful conclusion. The only version of the future that was positive was when Severus killed Dumbledore, ensuring his place with Voldemort.

It was devastating. She’d so hoped that she’d be able to spare Severus this one thing. One thing that would destroy him in many ways once it was done. She was crushed that there was no alternative. Damn Dumbledore and damn time for not being able to be mutated in the way she wanted. She sighed finally. Some things just had to be, she concluded.

End of April

Hermione tapped the back of her quill on her parchment. She was writing up her last few vision experiments. At this point, she felt she’d examined most of the things that had driven the war. She would re-examine things if the timeline she knew changed in the future, but she’d challenged everything that was vital in her timeline, and much of it needed to stay the same.

She restated in her review what she’d learned about the Horcruxes, and which ones could be destroyed right away. 

She outlined each year she was at Hogwarts. Each one had to move along as it did in her timeline or something awful would happen. Even Sirius Black's survival messed with the timeline enough that they suffered even more casualties in order to win the war. Severus, of course, had to be bitten by the snake, but his survival didn’t hurt the timeline. Neither did Fred Weasley’s survival. He went on to fell three Death Eaters and saved Tonks and Lupin if he survived. If those things happened, there would be changes to the future after the war, of course, but she’d researched all those changes extensively, and they didn’t result in anything bad. No new Dark Lord had emerged because Teddy Lupin had been brought up by his parents.

She’d decided to leave out certain things in her report that would change: not including Fred’s death at all, and leaving out that Tonks and Lupin were both killed. She just briefly included Severus being killed by the snake.  She’d not reported on her first experiments with his death when she’d done them, not wanting to call attention to his death or survival when she’d decided to save his life. She decided to leave them out fully here as well. There wouldn’t need to be any extrapolation in her report about if he survived. She didn’t want the hint of that having been examined. If anyone knew she was going to change the future, they would try and stop her. That couldn’t happen.

She finished up her report and stood. She wanted to deliver this one in person and ask a favor. She went to Lilah’s office and knocked, entering when summoned.

“Ah, Maia, good to see you,” Lilah greeted.

“Hi Lilah. I have that last report,” Hermione said as she put the parchment on Lilah’s desk. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Have a seat.”

“This is in my report, but I wanted to bring it up with you. The Horcruxes that Voldemort has made so far–we can destroy two of them without changing the timeline in any way.”

Lilah pulled the report to her and opened it so she could read Hermione’s findings on the Horcruxes. She scanned it for a few minutes, her eyes drawing up to Hermione’s once she’d finished.

“You want to destroy these and change the timeline?”

Hermione nodded.

“It says here you ran each of these changes ten times with the same outcome?”

“Yes. It helps with the end game, and You-Know-Who never checks up on them, so he never knows they are destroyed.”

Lilah’s lips thinned. She tapped her fingers on the desk before addressing Hermione again.

“How would this be done?”

Hermione relaxed slightly, glad that Lilah was at least considering her idea.

“I think we should bring Dumbledore into this. He is the most powerful wizard alive, and he has the ability to find and destroy these Horcruxes… probably with Fiendfyre.”

“And him knowing about the Horcruxes this early in the game?”

“It gives him an edge, but overall, makes no difference except for the destruction of the two Horcruxes early.”

Lilah sat back and thought about what Hermione was suggesting. She quickly read through the rest of Hermione’s report. They sat in silence for several minutes while she deliberated.

“All right. I’m promoting you to Unspeakable First Class. You will arrange a meeting with Dumbledore and explain these Horcruxes to him and give him detailed instructions on how to destroy them.”

“Wait, you want me to talk to Dumbledore?”

“This is your idea. You’re free to see it through.”

Hermione straightened. “I’ll owl the Headmaster and set up an appointment.”

“Good luck! Now he can be a stubborn old man, so…”

“Oh, I know. I may have to show him some memories to convince him of what I’m saying.”

“No, don’t do that. He may take advantage and see too much.” Lilah opened her desk drawer and took out a parchment with Ministry letterhead on it. She wrote something on it and handed it to Hermione.

“This should help, Maia, so you won’t have to open your mind to him. Take it with you and give it to him when you meet. I’ll speak to him personally also.”

Hermione looked at the note. 

Headmaster Dumbledore,

Please give your support to Maia Moreau, Unspeakable First Class at the Ministry of Magic. She has important information that will affect the outcome of the future war.

Thank you,

Lilah Devane

Head of Time Studies

Department of Mysteries

Ministry of Magic

Hermione nodded at the letter. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

“Good, now that that’s taken care of, let’s go to lunch,” Lilah offered.

Hermione grinned as she stood. “Brilliant, I’m famished.”

Chapter Text

Hermione and Severus sat at the table enjoying the roast chicken dinner he had brought from Hogwarts.

“This was lovely of you to bring Hogwarts food over. I’ve always loved everything they serve.”

Severus arched his brow. “Well then, I’ll be sure to do this more often.”

“That would be perfect.”

“How was your mysterious day?”

She grinned. “Very mysterious. I can tell you, though, I’ve been given permission to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore about something.”

“What?”

“I can’t tell you. At least not now. Once it’s done, then I should be able to.”

“Have I told you how much I hate your job?”

“Severus!”

“Well, you always have to keep secrets from me. That combined with you being from the future and being unable to tell me a lot about that… Well… I feel like I don’t know you at all.”

She looked stricken. “Are you… are you serious?”

His eyebrows knit together. “In a way, yes. I mean,” he huffed. “I don’t know what I mean.”

Hermione stretched her hand across the table and motioned for him to take it. She squeezed his hand in hers.

“You know me, Severus. Yes, there are some aspects of me that I cannot share with you… yet. We’ll get there. But trust me. You know everything that’s important about me. I’m what you see before you. I wish I could tell you everything, but… I can’t. Not just because I’ve made a vow not to, but also because it could change the war's outcome.”

He was silent for a bit, just staring at her hand. His eyes drew up to hers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, love. It’s valid. Too valid.” Her lips thinned. “Let me study it out, yeah? Let me see how much I can tell you above what I’ve already said.”

“I appreciate that, Maia. I don’t want you to get in trouble, though.”

She huffed. “I’m not going to get in trouble. It’s my decision to make. Lilah promoted me today.”

Severus smiled. “That’s wonderful, but you’ve taken a vow. I know you just can’t tell me everything.”

She nodded. “I have taken a secrecy vow, but like I said, if it’s not going to change the timeline, then I can probably talk to you about it.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

ooo

She’d run many vision experiments and found one thing to be true. If Severus Snape promised he wouldn’t mess with the timeline, he didn’t. No matter what she told him, if it needed to happen, it did, even if Severus disagreed with it--like killing Dumbledore.

When he arrived at Spinner’s End that night, she threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

“That was a nice greeting.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“I can’t say that I did. Go on.”

She smirked at him. “So, I did some vision experiments, and you are truly a principled and faithful man. It seems that no matter what I tell you, you won’t break the timeline.”

“Told you.”

She bat at him. “Don’t be smug.”

“My apologies. Now spill the beans.”

She grasped his hand and led him to the sofa. They settled in, and she leaned into him. “I missed you today.” She hugged him.

“Stop stalling, I’ve been waiting for months to find out all of this.”

She kissed his cheek before moving a little bit away from him so she could look at him. “Are you sure knowing all of this won’t be too much for your Occlumency?”

“Maia, hiding anything with Occlumency is risky. It doesn’t matter the size of the secret; if you are skilled at Occlumency, which I am, you can hide anything.”

She studied him and nodded finally. “Just be careful, okay?”

He leaned in and kissed her gently. “Thank you for worrying about me. Everything will be fine.”

She nodded in agreement. “You know, I’ve already told you a lot. The most important thing, that you are killed by the snake. Yes, it’s You-know-Who’s. It isn’t the first time he uses it to attempt murder. We can work to be able to save you after the snake attacks you.”

“Why did he sic a snake on me instead of just using the Killing curse?”

“Well, that’s a long story.”

“We have all night.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “I’ll start from the beginning.”

She explained about Voldemort’s desires. “You-Know-Who wants to live forever,” she explained.

Severus snorted. “Who doesn’t?”

“Well, he’s taken the steps to assure that it happens.”

“What on earth do you mean?” Severus said with dread.

“You’ve heard of Horcruxes?”

His eyes grew wide. “I have. Terribly dark magic… He’s made one?”

“Seven, actually.”

Severus gaped at her. “Why?”

“I guess you can never have too many.” She quipped. Pausing for a moment, she continued. “I think he wants to ensure that no matter what happens, he has a way to return to life. He is also infatuated with the number seven. He feels the magical properties of that number give him an edge. So basically, the desire to live forever and to be all powerful consumed him.” 

She then explained about the Deathly Hallows and the Elder Wand and that Voldemort thought that Severus was the master of it.

“Why would he think that?”

She grimaced. “That’s a story for another day. Suffice it to say, he had the Elder wand but thought that you were master of it. He had his snake attack you instead of using a spell because you supposedly had the allegiance of the wand, so it wouldn’t harm you.”

“Merlin, that’s psychotic.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

He pulled her close. “So, how do I survive this?” 

“We work together. You need to develop an antivenin for Nagini.  I was thinking of privately studying to be a Mediwitch so I will be ready to help. I will come in and administer Dittany and Blood replenisher and get you to a safehouse as soon as possible.”

“Seems simple enough.”

Hermione blinked back tears.

“Hey, hey,” Severus soothed. “You said I would survive, yeah?”

She nodded solemnly. 

“Then there’s no need to cry, love.”

“There was just so much blood, and it’s going to need to be timed carefully.”

“But you saw that it worked, Maia. It will be okay. I trust you to be able to save me.”

She sniffed as Severus wiped her tears. He grasped her face and kissed her lovingly. “We will beat that foul git,” he told her.

She closed her eyes and nodded. “I know we will,” she whispered.

His lips captured hers, and he begged entrance. She opened to him, and they were lost in one another for a long time. When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead on hers.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“For?” she said as she pulled back and gave him a curious look.

“For caring. For wanting me to survive and finding a way to help me to do so.”

She drew him into a hug then. “I don’t know what I’d do if you died again. I won’t let you go. I want to be with you always.” 

“Do you truly?”

“Of course, Severus. I… I love you.”

He pulled back and stared at her, his eyes moving over her face.

“That’s brilliant because I am madly in love with you.”

Her eyes grew wide before she grinned happily and pulled him to her, kissing him passionately. His hand drew up her back, and he pulled her close.

“Make love to me, Severus. Show me that you’re mine.”

He pulled back, his face filled with wonder. “Only if you’ll be mine as well.”

“Of course.”

His lips crashed down on hers, and they were once again involved fully with one another. They kissed each other over and over again. Separating from her only long enough to stand, he extended his hand, which she grasped, and he pulled her up off the sofa. Capturing her lips again, he slowly led her to the stairwell. Once again, they separated as he urged her up the stairs and to the bedroom. Once there, he led her to his bed and gently eased her down upon it. His eyes roved over her before he pulled her jumper up over her head. Unhooking her bra, he beheld her sitting there shyly in front of him.

“You are so very lovely, Maia.”

She stood then and untied his cravat, unbuttoning his vest and shirt and slipping them off his shoulders. Running her hands over his chest, she leaned in and kissed him all over. He groaned at her as she showered him with affection. Pulling her close, he held her there. Hermione enjoyed feeling their skin touching one another. It felt so… intimate.

His head moved down, and he kissed her neck, slowly moving down to her nipple, suckling it reverently. His eyes strayed up to her. She was gasping at his affections. Locking her gaze with his, she reached out and grasped his hair in her fingers, slightly pushing him farther into her breast. Moaning, he increased his suckling and lathing of her nipple.

He paused for a moment. “Do you like that?”

“Yes!” she gasped.

“Do you want more?”

“Oh, Severus, yes!”

“You want me?”

“I want you, Severus.You!”

“Then you shall have me.” 

With a silent spell, the rest of their clothes disappeared, and he gently moved her back onto the bed. Moving over her, he looked down at her with desire.

“I am yours,” he said as his lips covered hers. 

She gasped into him, crushing her lips to his. “And I am yours,” she murmured in between his kisses.

He moaned into her. “I can’t tell you how much I want you, Maia.”

They both kissed and fondled one another, treating the other like they were precious. Severus’ hand grasped her breast and squeezed it lightly. She moaned into his mouth as he kissed her provocatively. 

Grasping at him, she moved to turn him onto his back. She kissed him and then moved down his body, covering it with kisses. He moaned beneath her.

“You are incredibly sexy,” she murmured as she moved down further.

“You think so?”

“Oh, yes. You’re sexy here,” she kissed his chest. “And here,” she moved down to his stomach and kissed him there, tonguing his belly button sultrily.. “And especially here,” she scooted down and kissed his penis, which moved in accord with her affection. 

He moaned, causing her to smile. She licked his length, making him tense up. Her mouth enclosed his member within her, and she sucked him up and down. He arched into her as she continued her onslaught. Opening his eyes, he craned his neck so he could look at her. Her eyes met his as she bobbed up and down on him. He was panting hard now. Finally, he managed speech.

“Stop!”

She popped off him and gave him a curious look. 

“This isn’t just about me. It’s about you. Us!” he said as he sat up and maneuvered her beneath him. Kissing her passionately, he descended on her sex. He began licking her, making her grasp onto the sheets in ecstasy. He intensified his efforts, making Hermione moan. His eyes drifted up to her. He felt she was close. 

Releasing her clit from his suckling, he moved up and kissed her. His eyes looked into hers as he positioned himself at her entrance. “Ready?”

“More than ready. Fill me, Severus.”

He plunged into her, and she cried out. He held himself there for a bit before beginning to move slowly within her.

“Oh, Severus, faster, harder!”

He obliged, increasing his thrusts into her. He began to breathe heavily and moan as he pushed in and out within her. They moved together, finding a rhythm. 

“So good!” Hermione cried as she moved up and suckled his neck.

Severus pulled back and gave her a lustful look. Bending low, he kissed her long and slow as they continued to move.

“You are exquisite,” he murmured as he intensified his thrusts. 

They moved together faster and faster. He grunted as he thrust into her hard. They were both overcome with passion. Hermione came first, yelling his name. He emptied into her, moaning hers.

His eyes finally opened and met hers before he crashed down on the bed next to her. He pulled her to him and embraced her, kissing the top of her head.

“That was amazing,” he gasped.

She kissed him lovingly. “It was beautiful.”

He smiled at her. “I’m glad I didn’t disappoint.”

“You were perfect.”

“Perfect enough to go again?” he asked slyly.

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter Text

Mid May

Hermione meandered up to the Hogwarts gates. She tapped her wand on them and awaited someone to grant her entry. Regarding the castle as she waited, she felt a strong sense of home. Even though she hadn’t attended school in this time, she still had fond memories of her time here–when things weren’t going all pear-shaped.

She smiled as she noted Severus heading down to let her in.

“I was hoping I would see you on this trip,” she remarked as he neared the gate and unlocked it with a flick of his wand.

“As was I. Luckily, I was near enough to hear your call.”

He leaned low to kiss her, but she moved back. Extending her hand, she shook his. 

“We don’t know who might be watching, Professor Snape. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Severus hesitated, then grasped her hand and shook it. 

“The pleasure is mine,” he greeted with a bow of his head. Releasing her hand, he motioned for her to follow him.

“I will take you to the Headmaster’s office.”

“Thank you.”

“You are well?”

She grinned. “I am, and I’m looking forward to speaking with Headmaster Dumbledore.”

“Mmmm. Don’t let him intimidate you.”

She glanced over at him. “If anything, he should watch out for me.”

Severus arched a brow at her, but she didn’t explain her cryptic comment. They had reached the doors, and he opened the one for her to enter. They headed up the stairs and were soon in front of the Gargoyle.

“Fizzing Whizbee,” Severus muttered with a frown.

“Always with the sweets,” Hermione said with a shake of her head.

He smirked at her. “I shall leave you here. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Professor. I appreciate your time.”

She moved to the stairway and rode it up to the entrance to the Headmaster’s office. It was open, but she knocked to announce her presence.

“Ah, Miss Moreau, come in, come in!”

Hermione entered through the doorway, smiling at Dumbledore.

“Headmaster, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Dumbledore stood, and they shook hands before he motioned for her to take the seat in front of his desk.

“Miss Moreau, when Lilah Devane contacted me, I was intrigued by her description of you.”

“I’m sure you were, sir.” She handed him the letter that Lilah had given her.

He took it and read it through. He nodded and placed it down on his desk.

“Is it true you traveled here from the future?”

“Yes, it is, sir.”

“So, you have knowledge of the upcoming war with Voldemort?”

“I do, but as I’m sure Ms. Devane told you, I am under a vow not to divulge many things.”

Dumbledore’s eyebrows knit together. “She did, but surely, having lived through the war, you can give me some help in knowing how to fight Tom Riddle?”

Hermione’s lips thinned. Of course, he’d urge her to break her vow with no concern for what it may do to her. Typical Dumbledore. He was lucky that she was there to help him with fighting Voldemort or he’d be hexed already. She cleared her throat.

“There are some things I can share, but what I tell you is all I’m willing to discuss about this matter. The war must follow the timeline, or there could be grave repercussions to our future.”

“Miss Moreau… I’m sure…”

She held up her hand. “I could just leave without telling you anything, Mr. Dumbledore. I’m here to help, but my help is limited. Take it or leave it.”

Dumbeldore tutted. He was not used to being challenged. “I will take what you can give me, then, Miss Moreau. Something is obviously better than nothing.”

She nodded. “I thought you’d see reason. Before I say anything, though, I would ask you for an Unbreakable Vow.”

“But Miss Moreau, I may need to speak of these issues with others to win the war.”

“Oh, I’m not asking you to take a vow of secrecy about the things I tell you. What I’d like you to take a vow of would be to never speak of my being from the future to anyone.”

Dumbledore tutted. “Do you not trust me to be discreet?”

“Whether I do or not is of no consequence. I can’t have anyone know I’m from the future. You can imagine the repercussions if the enemy found out.”

“I assure you, Miss Moreau…”

She raised her hand to halt his diatribe. “I know you are discreet, sir, but I want to avoid any accidental disclosures. I will not tell you anything about the future unless you agree to this vow.”

Dumbledore’s eyebrows drew together, and he looked at her grumpily as he mulled over what she asked.

“Fine,” he sighed. He stood, and she followed suit. They made the vow, with Hermione listening carefully so that Dumbledore didn’t word the vow to be able to get out of it somehow. He was direct, and the vow was sealed and official. They both took their seats again.

“Now, what I can tell you is that Voldemort has created several Horcruxes so that he may live forever. He will use them to return to life in the future.”

“When?”

“I’m sorry, I cannot say.”

Dumbledore gave her a cross look.

“What I can say is that I know the location of two of the Horcruxes that Voldemort created, and I can share that with you.”

“Two? A Horcrux is a horrible form of magic. Very difficult to create.”

“Yes, by killing someone.”

Dumbeldore regarded her silently for a bit. “I see you understand what we are dealing with.”

“All too well, Professor.”

“How many did he make?”

“I’m sorry. I cannot say.”

“Miss Moreau! This is outrageous. How do you expect me to fight this war if you don’t give me this information?”

“I expect you to fight it the way you did in my timeline. These two Horcruxes do not change the course of time by their destruction, so I have okayed it with Ms. Devane to be able to share them with you. Any others that exist must be discovered by you.”

“And what’s to say that I won’t figure out all of them tomorrow and change the timeline?”

She shrugged. “You may, but my research shows that anything that you discover yourself does not affect the timeline either, so you are free to investigate however you see fit.”

“Oh, I assure you, I will!”

Hermione knew that he would. She’d run the experiments. Despite his knowledge that there were more Horcruxes, he didn’t find out how many until he got Slughorn’s memories, even though he would search extensively. She nodded at him finally.

“Now then, the two Horcruxes I can tell you about are Helga Hufflepuff’s cup and Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem.”

“That diadem has been lost for centuries.”

“Voldemort found it in Albania and hid it in a place he thought no one would think to look.”

“And that is?”

“In the Room of Hidden things… the Room of Requirement.”

“You seem oddly familiar with this school and that location.”

“I am, sir.” She left it at that. Explaining where to find the hidden diadem, she told him how to destroy it. “You should use controlled Fiendfyre to destroy both of these Horcruxes.”

Dumbledore nodded. “And the second Horcrux?”

“Hufflepuff’s cup is locked away in the LeStrange vault. Bellatrix LeStrange placed it there herself.”

“Well, how am I supposed to get in there?”

“Polyjuice Potion. Become one of the LeStranges and get the cup. It’s high up on a shelf at the back of the vault. Be careful, there are Flagrante and Gemino curses on everything in the vault. Touching anything will burn you and cause the item to duplicate.”

“I have a better idea. As Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot, I will get access to the vault.”

She shook her head. “No one must know that the vault was accessed by anyone other than a LeStrange. Voldemort will find out when he returns if you do this any other way, and he will know one of his Horcruxes was destroyed. That will destroy the timeline. You will need to make a duplicate and embody it with an essence of evil so no one will realize it has been taken.”

“All right. I can do it your way. It will just be a bit more difficult.”

“I’m sure it will, but you are one of the most powerful wizards in the world. A little subterfuge shouldn’t be beyond your capabilities.”

“I appreciate your confidence in me, Miss Moreau, but I assure you, this will be a difficult task.”

“You have time to figure it out and execute it correctly.” Hermione stood, signaling that she was done with her interview with the Headmaster.

“Miss Moreau, you’re not going to just drop that information in my lap and leave, are you?”

“I most certainly am. I know you are a renowned Legilimens, and I’m not going to give you the opportunity to search my mind for more information.”

She felt him then and threw him out of her head. Dumbledore spluttered.

“Oh, I forgot to mention I’m an accomplished Occlumens, so if we ever meet again, don’t think about probing my mind. You won’t get far.”

Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed at her. “Miss Moreau, I insist you tell me more about the war!”

She leaned down and patted him on the hand condescendingly. “You’ll figure it out, sir. We will prevail in the end. Thank you for your time.”

With that, she grinned at him and turned away, leaving the room. Smirking as she left the Headmaster’s office, she congratulated herself on handling the old coot well and not letting him find out anything she didn’t want him to know. She would need to be alert if she ever ran into him again. She expected the man to try and penetrate her mind to find out what he wanted to. She hoped that he had some modicum of decorum and wouldn’t rip through her mind, but, honestly, she couldn’t be sure because he’d do anything for the greater good, no matter who it hurt.

ooo

Severus rushed into Spinner’s End and hugged Hermione.

“You have to tell me how it went!” he demanded.

“It went well. I told Dumbledore what he needed to know and nothing else.”

Severus pulled back. “Did he use Legilimency on you?”

“You bet he did. I pushed him out as soon as I felt him.”

Severus put his fingers under her chin and slightly directed her head up towards him. “That’s my girl,” he said before kissing her.

She drew back after enjoying him fully. “You taught me well.”

“You were already experienced. You’re a natural.”

Smiling at him, she leaned up and kissed him some more.

“You were going to tell me what you discussed with Dumbledore,” Severus said between her kisses.

She froze but then relaxed into him. “Do you really want to know?”

“I do. I doubt he will tell me. At least not now.”

“Possibly not ever.”

“Glad to know he trusts me.”

“I don’t think he fully trusts anyone,” Hermione grumbled as she grasped his hand and led him to the sofa. They settled in, and she looked at him. “I told Dumbledore about two of the Horcruxes in the hopes he’ll be able to destroy them now instead of when they were destroyed in the future.”

“Why not destroy all of them?”

“One of them hasn’t been made yet, and the others need to be discovered and destroyed in their right time so as not to cause chaos in the timeline.”

“But the two you told Albus about?”

“Their being destroyed early doesn’t affect the timeline at all.”

“Why wouldn’t they?”

“Because You-Know-Who feels they are hidden well enough that he doesn’t have to worry about them or even check on them. He’s hidden them where he thinks no one can access them.”

“But Dumbledore can.”

Hermione nodded. “Right.”

“Can I help?”

She shook her head. “You mustn’t let on that you know about Horcruxes until Dumbledore tells you. He will succeed in finding and destroying them.”

“All right. I just wish there was more that I could do. I want to make amends for Lily’s death.”

Hermione reached out and squeezed his arm. “You will, love. You just need to bide your time and keep your place at Hogwarts.”

“Stuck there, I see.”

Nodding, she gave him a rueful smile. “You don’t really care for teaching, do you?”

He huffed. “I don’t mind teaching the older students. They at least know something about Potions. But the younger group. It’s like I take my life into my hands every day we have class. If they’re not exploding their cauldrons, they’re inadvertently creating some deadly poison.”

“I’m sorry, Severus. You’ll need to stay at Hogwarts until the end of the war.”

“I sort of figured that.”

“But, it’s the means for you to help defeat You-Know-Who.”

“You know, you can drop that mouthful and just refer to him as the Dark Lord.”

She frowned. “I’m not one of his followers.”

“But I am. And you and I are always alone when we discuss him.”

Hermione mulled it over. “All right.”

Severus’ arm came around her, and he pulled her close. Placing a kiss on the top of her head, he held her to him. They stayed like that for a long time.

Hermione chose not to tell Severus anything else about the future. If he asked about something, she would be forthcoming, but the less he knew, the better it would be for him. He had so much he would need to hide from the Dark Lord as it was. There was no sense in burdening him more.

ooo

Late May

The Ministry was throwing a party. A ‘Spring Celebration’ as they’d labeled it. From the New Year’s party, she knew it would be an elaborate affair in the main atrium, and everyone would be dressed elegantly. She quickly slipped into her shimmery golden gown. She turned back and forth, making sure the dress fell the way it should. It hugged her curves and fell to the floor. Her black hair was accentuated with the golden hue of the dress. She felt quite beautiful. Happy with her appearance, she sat down in front of the mirror and began to wrangle her hair.

She tried everything, but it was just being unruly, and she was having the hardest time getting it into a messy bun or even a ponytail. She grit her teeth in frustration as she looked at her hair, which looked a total mess.

Severus came in then wearing his best black robes. He was glamoured so no one would know he was accompanying her. She glanced at him in the mirror and smiled. He had transfigured his hair into brown short locks, made his nose a bit smaller, added a mustache and goatee, and changed his eye color to blue.

“You look nice,” she said.

“Hmm, thank you. I can wear this glamour all the time, if you’d like.”

“Nonsense. You look so very plain, which is what we’re going for. I much prefer your dark looks to this, but it will do for the night.”

He tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Thank you… for accepting me as I am.”

“I love you as you are.”

He smiled and put his hands on her shoulders. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her neck. 

“You look lovely, my dear.”

She huffed, staring at her black hair that was sticking out in every direction. “My hair won’t do anything I want it to.”

“Leave it down,” he remarked.

“But it’s unruly like that!” she moaned.

“That’s exactly the way I love it,” he said as he nuzzled his nose in her black curls. 

Reaching up, she undid the bun and let her hair cascade down around her.

“Much better,” Severus murmured as he looked at her in the mirror.

Her blue eyes sparkled at him. “Thank you, love. You always make me feel good about myself.”

“You should always feel that way. You are always lovely.”

She stood and came around the chair, pulling him into a hug. Her lips met his, and she kissed him lovingly. 

“Come on, we should go,” she said once she’d pulled back from him.

He took her hand and kissed it. “I am ready.”

She smiled at him. “All right, Stephen Smythe, off we go to test out your glamour.”

“No one will know who I am. My glamour is impeccable.”

“It is. I’m honored to be your date for tonight.”

Severus took her in his arms and Apparated them to the Ministry Atrium. They moved quickly from the Apparition point, as it looked like a lot of people were arriving just then. Moving into the hall, they admired the decorations. Large flowering cherry trees were everywhere. It looked like they were in an orchard.

“Oh, Sev… Stephen, this is so pretty.”

“It is, but you outshine it by miles, love.”

She leaned into him slightly to acknowledge his compliment. “Thank you, Stephen.”

“You are most welcome, Maia.”

Lilah spied Hermione from across the room. She came over to greet her.

“Maia! So good to see you here. And who is your friend?”

“Hi Lilah, this is Stephen Smythe.”

Lilah reached out and grasped Severus’ hand, shaking it vigorously. “Nice to meet you, Stephen. What do you do for a living?”

Severus bowed his head in greeting. “A pleasure. I am an investor in medical supplies. I help stock items in Apothecaries and St Mungos.”

“Oh, that sounds fascinating.”

They spoke a little more before Lilah excused herself.

“You two must sit with my husband and me. We’re over there.” She pointed to a table along the side. 

Hermione nodded. “Of course. We’ll search you out once dinner begins,” she said.

They meandered around the hall, greeting some people as they went. They walked past Kingsley Shacklebolt and stopped to say hello. As they were conversing Alastor Moody wandered over.

“Miss Moreau,” he said. “We chatted briefly at the New Year’s Party.”

“Ah, Mr. Moody. It’s a pleasure to see you again. This is my companion, Stephen Smythe,” she introduced.

Moody looked Severus up and down, his eye going crazy, spinning around curiously. He grunted before extending his hand. “Nice to meet you,” he grumbled. He looked over at Kingsley. “I see you’ve met our newest protege.”

“Kingsley?” Hermione said. “Yes, we were just getting acquainted.”

“Just started as an Auror and is knocking everyone’s socks off.”

Kingsley looked down at the floor. “I’m just doing my job, Auror Moody.”

“Now, now. We’re partying. You can call me Alastor, but come Monday, it’s back to formalities.”

Kingsley grinned at him. “Yes, sir.”

“He’s my partner… for now,” Moody advised. “So… Stephen. How did you meet Maia?”

Severus looked at Hermione. “We bumped into one another, almost literally, in Godric’s Hollow. We struck up a conversation and found we enjoyed each other’s company.”

“You’re not from around here…”

Severus looked directly at Moody. “I am not.”

Moody’s eyebrows rose. “Well, where are you from?”

“If you’re asking where I was educated, I went to Durmstrang.”

“Oh, lots of Dark wizards there…” Moody trailed off.

Hermione gave him an annoyed look. “I went to Durmstrang, Mr. Moody. Are you insinuating that we are Dark Wizards?”

Moody spluttered. “No… No, Miss Moreau. I didn’t mean anything by that. I was involved in the war, and I sometimes see mysteries when there are none.” He glared at Stephen and excused himself. 

Severus watched him move away before turning to Shacklebolt. “If you would excuse us,” he said.

“Sure, talk to you later, maybe,” Kingsley said as he shook both of their hands.

Severus turned to Hermione. “Do you think Moody could see through my glamour? He was incredibly antagonistic.”

“It’s possible. I think if he fully could he would have exposed you.”

“We should watch our backs.”

Hopefully, we won’t speak with him again,” Hermione said with a huff.

“Come, let’s find your boss and settle into our table.”

ooo

Dinner passed with polite conversation. Lilah’s husband, who Hermione had met at the last get-together, was funny and garrulous. She laughed a lot during that dinner, and Severus smirked quite a bit as well, seeming to enjoy the conversation. Once the dinner hour was over and the band began to play, Severus stood and extended his hand to Hermione.

“Would you like to dance?”

She smiled brightly and grasped his hand. “I would love to.”

Standing, she followed him to the dance floor, where they danced together for several dances. They were dancing a slow dance when Moody came up and cut in, taking Hermione in his arms and swaying with her.

“Miss Moreau,” he said. “Why are you here with Severus Snape? He’s a Death Eater, you know?”

Hermione froze internally. She didn’t react to what he was saying outwardly but simply made eye contact with him. 

“Mr. Moody, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“He didn’t tell you, eh? I’d watch my back around him if I were you. Not sure why he’d want to glamour himself… Didn’t want to be glared at by half the Aurors, right?”

Hermione stopped dancing. “Mr. Moody, honestly, it’s none of your business. Severus Snape was cleared of any Death Eater charges because he was spying for Dumbledore.”

“So, he did tell you. I don’t know what Dumbledore is up to, covering for him, but I think he’s shifty.”

Hermione dropped her hands and stepped back. “Thank you for the dance, Mr. Moody.”

“You can call me Alastor,” Moody said with a nauseating grin.

“Just stay away from me,” Hermione said and stormed off the dance floor in search of Severus. She found him standing in the corner, watching the floor.

“Moody knows it’s you.”

“I figured. What did he say?”

“He asked why you were glamoured, then came up with the conclusion that you didn’t want the Aurors to know it was you. He warned me that you’re dangerous.”

Severus moved up closer to her. “I am dangerous.”

She bat his arm and gave him an annoyed look. “Not now, Severus.”

Severus straightened. “Sorry. Was just trying to lighten the mood.”

Hermione relaxed. “No, I’m sorry. Moody flustered me. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

He bent down and kissed her cheek. “Do you want to leave?”

She looked at him. “No. He’s not going to do anything more than threaten. I guess you won’t be able to accompany me to these functions anymore.” 

“We could try Polyjuice next time,” Severus suggested.

She frowned at him. “He might be able to see through that too, who knows. I don’t want to risk it. If he sees me with you again, he’ll know we’re serious about each other, and no one can know that.”

Severus nodded in agreement. Hermione sighed. “I want to enjoy the rest of our evening.” 

“In that case,” he extended his hand again. “Would you dance with me again?”

Smiling, she grasped his hand.

“Come along, my beautiful companion,” he said as he led her to the dance floor. They were soon swaying together. Hermione’s gaze traveled over to Moody, who was glaring at her.

“Ah, ah, ah. Look at me.”

Her eyes snapped back to Severus.

“Keep looking at me. It’s just the two of us. No one else on this dance floor or in this hall matters. It’s just you and me, enjoying being together and dancing together.”

Their eyes were fixed upon each other. Hermione felt a chill run through her. It was so intimate just looking at each other like that while they danced. He slowly came closer and captured her lips. He gave her a reverent kiss and pulled back so as not to make a scene, but he smirked at her as her pupils dilated, and she smiled at him.

“That’s my girl.”

She leaned up and whispered in his ear. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She placed her head on his shoulder, and they continued to sway to the music, fully enjoying their closeness.

Chapter Text

Hermione noticed Moody following her semi-discreetly almost every day for a week. Knowing Moody, she thought he wanted her to know he was skulking around, or he’d have never been noticed. 

Entering the Time room, she huffed as she headed to her Vision room. She ran several test visions to see if Moody would become a problem. She found if he continued to think Severus and she were seeing each other, he would continue to monitor her–more secretly as time went on. He would eventually confront Severus when the Dark Lord returned and expose them. Their secret out, Voldemort would use his spell on Hermione, and the future vision she saw before about him finding out about her lineage came to pass.

She sighed. This wasn’t good. He could ruin everything.

She ran another vision, this time with Moody thinking they’d broken up. The timeline righted itself, and the war was won with Voldemort not finding out about Hermione or Severus’ relationship with her.

“Ugh!” she cried. “How am I going to do this?” She’d need to consult with Severus. This needed to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Later that evening, Hermione explained what she’d found out about the ‘Moody problem.’ He contemplated everything and looked at Hermione.

“How are your acting skills?”

She arched a brow at him.

ooo

At lunchtime the next day, Hermione burst into the Atrium with tears running down her face. She looked down at a missive in her hand and sobbed. She noticed Moody off to the side of the Atrium, just standing around as he usually did before he began to follow her. He knew her routine and had evidently been waiting for her. She quickly moved to a corner of the Atrium, where she continued to look at the letter and cry quietly. 

Normally, Moody kept his distance, trying to be inconspicuous, yet conspicuous at the same time, to try and psych her out. Today, though, he approached her as she stood in a corner, her head in her hands.

“Miss Moreau, is everything all right?”

Hermione lifted her head, looking startled.

“Oh… Mr. Moody. Forgive me. I was headed to the loo…”

“Why are you crying?”

She looked away. “It’s nothing, Mr. Moody.”

Please, it’s Alastor.”

Looking back at him. “Alastor… really, everything is fine.”

“Usually, people don't sob in the middle of the Atrium if everything is fine.”

Her shoulders sagged, and she looked down at the letter crumpled in her hand. “Like I said, I was trying to go somewhere private, but I was overcome.”

Alastor put his hand on her shoulder. “Can I help in some way?”

Hermione tried not to shrink away from his touch. She frowned and handed the letter to Moody. He read it aloud quickly.

“Maia, I’m sorry, but we cannot see one another anymore. I have too much going on to indulge in an affair. Do not try to reach out to me, I will not respond to you. ~Severus.”

He looked back at Hermione as she forced more tears down her face.

“I’m sorry, Maia, but this is probably for the best. You don’t know him like I do. He’s a scoundrel. You’re better off not associating with such evil.”

“But…”

“Trust me on this, Maia. He’s no good.”

She sniffed. “Perhaps you’re right. I just… He was…”

Moody reached out and squeezed her shoulder again. “It will be alright.”

Hermione shook her head. “I thought he cared about me, but this letter was so cold. It’s like it was just a lark for him.”

Moody grunted. “I don’t doubt it was. Men like him have no love in their hearts. They’re just out to better their situation in any way they can. He probably decided you could do nothing to help him advance his desires.”

“How could he think that?” she exclaimed as her eyebrows drew together in concern. “I guess I meant nothing to him.” She closed her eyes and willed more tears to fall. “I thought we had something special…” she whispered.

“You’ll find someone better, just you wait.” His hand still caressed her shoulder. 

Moving out of his grasp slightly, she wiped her eyes and nodded. “I hope so. Thank you, Alastor,” she said as she met his eyes. “I appreciate your trying to comfort me. I’m going to head to the loo now and fix up my face.”

He moved closer to her and patted her on the shoulder yet again. “Feel free to seek me out anytime if you want to talk. I have stories that would curl your toes about Snape!”

She nodded and moved off, heading to the loo and washing off her face. She looked at herself in the mirror. That encounter had made her skin crawl, but she hoped it had done the trick in convincing Moody that there was nothing between Severus and her anymore.

Later that evening, she sat within Severus’ embrace and told him about the encounter.

“He was so damned cocky I wanted to hex him, but I just nodded politely and used my disgust to make it look like I was upset at how callous you were about breaking up with me.”

Severus kissed the top of her head. “I would never act so horridly. I’m glad he bought it, though.”

“Me too. Now to see if it really worked and if he gives up following me around.”

“I doubt he’ll have a reason to do so from now on.”

“Hopefully…”

In the coming days, Hermione noted that Moody no longer followed her. She was careful to make sure he wasn’t doing a better job of hiding himself, but he simply wasn’t around when she was moving about the Ministry. Thank Merlin it had worked.

ooo

The last day of school was finally upon them. Severus was able to leave Hogwarts early, so when Hermione came through the Floo, he was there to greet her.

“Happy to be done, love?” she said as she hugged him. 

His lips met hers, and he kissed her. “Yes, finally we have some time to ourselves.”

She nodded and smiled at him.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“What is it?” she asked, her eyes looking worried.

“Nothing bad. I spoke with Dumbledore–explained to him that I was going crazy in the castle, and asked him if I could move to Hogsmeade next term.”

Hermione’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Can you?”

He smirked. “I can. He did ask me to stay the night at Hogwarts on the days I had rounds. He wants me to come up with a spell so if a student needs me, I will be alerted at home so I can attend to them.”

“That’s prudent.”

“So, what do you think? Will you move to Hogsmeade with me? We can go house hunting next week and get everything ready. I can sell this nasty place, and we can build a home together.”

“Is that what you want, Severus?”

He nodded. “More than anything.”

Her smile lit up the room. Moving in with Severus filled her with excitement. She wanted to be as close to him as possible.

“So, you’ll spend the nights with me except for those days when you have rounds?”

He nodded. She threw her arms around him and hugged him like a lifeline.

“That sounds perfect.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she agreed as she pulled back. “Let me do some time tests, but I think everything should be fine. You’ll still be teaching at Hogwarts and accessible.” She looked into his eyes and smiled. “I can’t wait to find a home for us, Severus.”

ooo

Late July

Her time experiments proved that his moving out of Hogwarts was not an issue with the timeline. Voldemort even thought it was good that he could usually meet with him without Dumbledore knowing, so he would actually be pleased once he returned from the dead. 

They’d found the perfect house–a small cottage on the outskirts of town–and moved in quickly. After spending all day unpacking, the house was finally liveable. They both crashed on the sofa.

“Merlin, I’m knackered,” Hermione said.

“Exhausted,” Severus agreed.

They looked around the room and into the kitchen area. “It’s perfect, Severus.”

“I’m glad you’re here with me, Maia. This would just be a house without you. You make it a home.”

She kissed him then. “I’m so excited to live here with you.”

He smiled at her. “Really?”

“Yes, of course. I love you, remember?”

“I do. I just keep having to pinch myself to make sure this is real and not some blissful dream.”

She stroked his cheek. “I feel the same way sometimes, but I’m happy to tell you this is real.”

“Thank Merlin.”

She laughed. 

He gave her a serious look. “I think we should set the Fidelius charm on the house so no one can find us.”

She studied his face. “That’s a good idea. You don’t want Dumbledore stumbling in when we're here together.”

“Which will be always.”

She smiled at him. 

“Be my Secret Keeper?” he asked her.

“If that’s what you want, yes, of course.”

“I do. That way only we will know about this place, and only we will be able to enter it. It will be a safehouse for us, and no one will be able to find us if we need to hide here.”

She arched a brow at him. “That will probably come in handy in the future.”

“I agree. Let’s do the spells first thing tomorrow. Right now, I can’t concentrate enough to cast them.”

She cupped his cheek and smiled at him. “Shall we head upstairs and go to bed?”

“Well, I’m not sleepy.”

“Good, because neither am I.”

He smirked at her as he stood. She followed suit, and his arms wrapped around her, kissing her passionately. She reveled in him. He was everything to her. If she hadn’t traveled back, she would have never known just how amazing this man was.

ooo 

Severus and Hermione wandered through a field searching for Potions ingredients. They moved across the field until Severus stooped down and plucked some Foxglove. He placed it in the bag he carried. The bag had divisions that would expand or contract to fit whatever Severus put in there. 

Hermione wandered up and looked at what he was doing. “Oh, Foxglove. You said you were out of that.”

Severus nodded. He motioned to the forest edge. “Let’s head in there. I am hoping to find some moondew.”

They headed over and started searching. After about fifteen minutes, Hermione called out to Severus.

“I found some!”

He wandered over to her and nodded at the small white flowers. “Perfect, Maia. Thank you.”

He harvested a large handful. Hermione had moved off already, and he hurried to catch up to her. They meandered farther into the forest and soon came upon an area where the trees opened up. Nestled within the trees, they found a small lake.

“Oh, this is so pretty,” Hermione said.

“Yes, it is.”

Hermione turned to Severus. “How about a swim?”

Severus arched a brow. Pulling out his wand, he cast a spell over the lake. 

“No leeches or other dangerous things. Yes, we should take advantage of this find.”

They quickly stripped down to their underwear–Transfiguring them into swimming suits. Hermoine was the first one in, quickly followed by Severus. They buried themselves in the water and stood back up. Hermione pushed her hair out of her face.

“The water is perfect,” she remarked.

Severus moved up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her with abandon. She opened to him, and nothing else mattered for a great while. They finally pulled apart and Severus pulled her close, resting his chin on her head.

“It’s so peaceful here,” he murmured.

“Yes, I’m glad we stumbled upon it.”

They swam for a while, crossing the lake several times. Finally, Severus climbed out and cast a drying charm upon himself. Hermione floated on her back for a bit before joining him.

“You looked incredibly serene out there,” Severus remarked.

“I was. I almost didn’t want to come out.”

He smirked at her. Looking around, he stooped to pick up his clothes. “We should dress and go. It’s going to get dark soon.”

“Unfortunate.”

“We can always come back another day.”

Hermione moved close to Severus.

“This could be our secret place!”

He looked up at her and arched a brow. “Hmm, yes, I like that idea.” Severus stood and pulled his trousers up. 

“Me too,” she agreed.

Hermione got dressed quickly, and they Apparated home.

ooo

Lilah smiled as Hermione came into her office.

“Maia, thanks for coming so quickly.”

“Of course. What’s up?”

“We need to wait for Warren; then I’ll go into it.”

They chatted for a moment before Warren rushed in.

“Sorry, I’m late,” he said. “My time experiment went longer than expected.”

Hermione grinned. “That’s not a good use of time,” she joked.

Warren rolled his eyes at her. They had running time jokes between the two of them and always tried to one-up the other.

“Thank you for coming, Warren. You’re really not that late.”

“What did you need us for, Lilah?” he asked.

“I have an assignment in the field for you.”

“I didn’t know there were field assignments in the Department of Mysteries,” Hermione mused.

Lilah nodded her head. “There are. We always hope not to have any in a given year, but they evidently come up.”

“Sounds like these aren’t to be looked forward to?” Warren remarked.

“No, not at all. A field assignment means that someone has messed with magic so much it affects one of the aspects of the Department of Mysteries. Ultimately, anything changed along those lines would change the timeline, so our department is left to straighten out the issue.”

“Even things like something that affects the Love department?” Warren asked.

“Think of it like this… Someone affects the way people fall in love… I’m not talking about love potions or anything. It would be something that affects a lot of people. Persons who would normally fall in love don’t, or the wrong people fall in love. What does that do to the timeline? It would affect every aspect of it because people who were meant to be born wouldn’t be.”

“So we’re the Unspeakable Aurors?” Hermione joked.

“In a way,” Lilah said with a grin. “And I would like you two to be our next Unspeakable Aurors.”

Hermione chuckled. “I thought I was avoiding being an Auror by working here!” she said with a laugh.

“Well, this is a bit different.”

“So, who are we after?” Warren asked.

Lilah passed a folder across the desk to Hermione and Warren. Hermione took it and opened it so that both Warren and she could see the entire report. Seeing a photo of a man with silver hair that came down to his shoulders and a long grey beard, Hermione read the name at the top of the paper.

“Soran Willingsby,” she read.

“He’s trying to go back in time and stop Grindelwald from being caught and imprisoned.”

Hermione’s eyes snapped up to Lilah. “You can’t be serious.”

“There’s always someone, isn’t there? He’s developing a Time-Turner and has almost completed it. Your job is to destroy the Time-Turner and apprehend Willingsby and bring him to Azkaban.”

“I don’t get how people can be so evil,” Warren said with a shake of his head.

“Nonetheless, there are many of them. Do either of you have any questions?”

“Are we restricted from any spells?” Hermione asked.

“No. If you need to use the Killing Curse, do so.”

“I hope we won’t have to,” Hermione mused. Standing, she nodded at Lilah. Warren also stood.

“We’ll take care of this right now.”

“Thank you both. Be careful.”

“We will be,” Hermione said.

They retreated from Lilah’s office and went into a side room to pour over the data in the folder. Soran Willingsby was an older wizard who had agreed with Grindelwald back in his heyday. He’d been under surveillance since Grindelwald was imprisoned. The Department of Mysteries knew he’d been creating a Time-Turner, but it didn’t become an issue until he actually was coming close to succeeding in what he was trying to do.

He lived in Ottery St. Catchpole in a house at the end of a side street–far away from people so as not to be noticed. He was a recluse, only leaving his home when necessary, so many in the area were unaware of him. 

Hermione looked up at Warren. “Well, what do you think?”

“Hmm. I think if we Apparate into the main area of town and Disillusion ourselves, we can come upon his home without being noticed.”

“Good idea. We can also cast some spells as we near it to determine the strength of the wards around his home.”

“That’s going to be the hardest part. Getting through the wards quickly enough so he doesn’t hide the Time-Tuner.”

“He probably will have some creative wards. According to this, he was a supporter of Voldemort, but didn’t participate with any of the Death Eater activities, probably so he could still work on his Time-Turner without casting a spotlight on himself,” Hermione mused.

“I have worked with the Auror Department on Ward breaking. They need to be quick, and they’ve taught me some good spells to get wards down within a few seconds, no matter how strong they are,” Warren explained.

“Good. I think without that edge, he’d disappear with his Time Turner and we’d be unable to find him.”

They spent a few minutes working out a plan for when they entered the home.

Warren stood. “All right, shall we?”

Hermione nodded and rose too. “Let’s go.”

They made their way to the Atrium and Apparated to Ottery St. Catchpole. It was a busy time in the small town, and a couple of other people were Apparating in and out of the area. They walked over to the street where Willingsby lived. Disillusioning themselves, they placed a tracker on each other so they’d know where they were.

When they were near the house, they scanned it for wards. They were formidable.

“Will your techniques take these wards down quickly?” Hermione asked quietly.

Warren sent a couple more spells at the house to verify the strength of the wards. 

“They definitely are intense, but I can take them down before he notices.”

“Good, let’s go, then.”

They came to the edge of the wards, and Warren began an intricate spell. He cast, and the wards disappeared.

“Great work,” Hermione offered as they rushed in and burst through the door. 

They caught Willingsby by surprise, but he was quick in his old age and stood, casting a spell that dropped their Disillusionment. He began sending curses at them. They shielded themselves, and the conflict began. Hermione threw a stunner spell, which Willingsby shielded and sent a blasting curse at her. She was able to dash away from it in time and sent another stunner. 

Meanwhile, Warren was doing similar moves and spells. He dodged Willingsby’s curse and rolled to his right. Hermione marveled at the skill of the man, being able to take on two people and still be standing. She dodged another curse, but she heard Willingsby cry multiple Confringo hexes in rapid succession at her. She was unable to dodge all of them, and her shield failed her as the strength of several blasting curses being thrown rapidly at her. She was hit with a burst of fire, and all turned black.

Taking advantage of Willingsby’s concentration on Hermione, Warren sent a Petrificus Totalis at him, and the man’s limbs snapped together, and he fell to the floor. Warren rushed over to Hermione, who was still unconscious. With a wave of his wand, he sent his Patronus–a bear–to summon Aurors. He waved his wand over Hermione as he waited for their arrival, but he was unable to do anything for her. She’d need to be taken to St. Mungos.

ooo

Hermione’s eyes opened, and she noted she was lying down. A white ceiling met her gaze. She turned her head suddenly and saw Warren sitting in a chair in what looked and felt like a hospital room. She groaned and lifted her hand, rubbing her head.

“Ugh, what happened?”

Warren turned quickly over to her and sighed in relief.

“Merlin, you’ve been unconscious for almost twenty-four hours. You were hit with a Confringo curse. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Twenty-four hours? How can that be?”

“You were in surgery for eight hours, and they settled you in here after that. The Healer explained that it would take this long for you to regain consciousness. How do you feel?”

“Like I was run over by the Knight Bus…” She closed her eyes tightly as she took stock of her body. It hurt everywhere.

“I’ll see if the Mediwizard has some pain potions for you,” Warren said as he cast his Patronus to alert the staff that Hermione was awake.

“What happened with Willingsby?”

“We got him. He was so concentrated on you that I was able to defeat him. Sadly, it was a few seconds too late to save you from being struck.”

“The Time-Turner?”

“Destroyed. And Willingsby has been shuttled to Azkaban awaiting trial. I doubt he’ll see the light of day again.”

Hermione sighed. “Well, I’m glad we got him, but…”

At that point, the Mediwizard came in. “Good afternoon, Miss Moreau. I’m Karl Barrister. I’ll be taking care of you while you’re here. Can you sit up?  I have a pain potion for you.”

“I think I need a little help,” Hermione told him.

Karl helped her into a sitting position, then handed her the potion. She drank it and immediately felt better.

“Thank you.”

“Has that alleviated all your pain?”

“No, but it’s much better.”

Karl fished in his pocket and pulled out another. “Take another. You should be pain-free after that.”

Hermione nodded and drank the second potion. “That worked, thank you. When can I leave?”

“We expect you to be here for two more days. The spell not only damaged your body but weakened your magic.”

“Are there any long-lasting effects?”

“Thankfully, no. We were able to repair the damage that the spell caused. You’ll have to take a healing potion twice a day for the next ten days, and that will fully heal your body. Your magic should be fully renewed by the time we release you.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Of course. Can I get you anything?”

“I’m a bit hungry.”

“I will bring you a meal.”

Karl turned and left. 

“You haven’t been here the whole time, have you?” Hermione asked Warren.

“No, I was here when you were brought in. They told me your surgery was going to be a while, so I had them send an Owl when you were done. I visited then for a little bit, then came back a while ago and have been here with you since.”

“Thanks for sitting with me, Warren. I appreciate it.”

He nodded. “Lilah and I were worried about you.”

“She knows I’m okay?”

“Well, she knows you’re here and that the surgery went well. I’ll let her know you’re awake when I leave.”

Warren sat with her for an hour as she ate and rested.

“I need to go,” he said finally. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you for being here.”

Warren rose from his seat and gave Hermione a slight hug. He left her to herself then. Hermione reached over to the table next to her bed and picked up her wand. She cast her Patronus and her otter danced around her before stopping in front of her, wagging its tail enthusiastically.

“Go to Severus Snape and give him this message: I was injured and am in St. Mungos. I’m sorry if you were worried. I’ve been unconscious until now.”

The Patronus spun around in a circle and bounded out of the room. She smiled after it. It was less than five minutes before Severus was striding through the doors. He rushed up to Hermione and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Maia…” he said in a choked voice. “May I hug you? Will you be hurt?”

She shook her head and found herself engulfed in dark wizard. “I was terrified when I couldn’t find you. I called the hospital, but they wouldn’t say if you were here or not. What happened?”

He held her just like that as she explained how she was hurt. Finally, pulling back, his eyes met hers.

“You could have been killed.”

“I know. It was close from what the Mediwizard said.”

Severus blinked profusely to try and hold back tears that were forming in his eyes. “Merlin, what would I do without you?”

His arms were around her again. He held her close, not saying a word. Hermione felt him shudder as he held her. Her arms were around him in an instant.

“I’m all right.”

He squeezed her harder. He held her like that for a long time before finally pulling away.

“I am glad you are still with me.”

“So am I,” she said with a smile. It dissolved quickly. “You probably shouldn’t be here. What if someone finds out?”

“I don’t give a damn where I should and shouldn’t be. I’m staying here with you. I can say you’re a family friend or something. I don’t care if anyone knows that we were in the same room together, Maia. I won’t leave you here by yourself.”

“Thank you, love. But really, you can only stay for a bit. They’re strict about visiting hours, from what Warren said.”

His eyebrows knit together. “All right. How long are you stuck in this God Awful place?”

“Another two days.”

“I will come every day after classes.”

She grasped his hand and squeezed it. “All right, but maybe use some Polyjuice or something. Severus Snape visiting a young woman multiple times is bound to bring up curiosity.”

Severus thought about that, nodding eventually in agreement with her. “I will do as you ask, but I won’t like it.”

She laughed lightly. “That’s okay. I don’t want you to be in any danger.”

“You will tell your boss you won’t be doing any more of these assignments,” Severus ordered.

Hermione frowned at him. “Now just a minute. I understand you’re upset and worried, but you just can’t tell me what to do like that. I’m not your minion.”

“You will not put your life in danger like this.”

“So, in that case, you can just stop being a spy too, so your life isn’t in danger?”

He looked away. “That’s different.”

“No, it’s not. We both will be involved in the war in the future, and my job will sometimes require me to do missions like this. I’m not going to tell them no!”

“Maia, I just want you safe!”

She squeezed his hand. “I will be, but Severus, you can’t Lord over me like this.”

He frowned at her, glaring at her for a moment. Finally, his gaze softened.

“I apologize. I was worried all night when you didn’t come home, and I couldn’t find you anywhere. Then, when I got your Patronus, so many scenarios went through my head as I rushed over here. I overreacted and demanded something of you that was unfair. I do want you to be careful, though, love.”

“I know, and I will be. You’re forgiven.”

He leaned in and kissed her then. Pulling back, his eyes lit up. “You know what? Maybe we can have some kind of talisman that would alert one of us when the other is hurt or in danger.”

“Like a necklace of some kind?”

“Or a ring.”

“That’s an excellent idea, Severus. Let’s work on that when I’m released. Maybe we can use the bracelet you gave me for Christmas?”

“We’d probably want something a little more subtle.”

She chuckled. “All right. We can figure it out.”

“I will research when I’m back home.”

ooo

Severus treated Hermione with kid gloves once she was released. He Side-Along-Apparated her back to their home and settled her onto the sofa, waiting on her hand and foot. Finally, Hermione had to say something.

“Love, I’m not going to break. Please just let me be me, okay? I don’t need you to be at my side every second.”

He sat beside her and grasped her hand. “You’re sure?”

She smiled and nodded. “I feel mostly myself. I am perfectly able to move around and do things.”

“Okay…” he hesitated. “But you’re sure?” he repeated.

“Severus! Yes! For Merlin’s sake!”

He grinned at her. “Just kidding.”

“You’re a cad, you know that?”

“I do, and always wonder why you put up with me.”

“Because you do things like wait on me hand and foot when I’m ill. You love me without reservation, and you’re sexy as all get out.”

He blushed at that. “Thank you, Maia. You’re everything to me.”

She smiled at him. Reaching up, she held him lovingly and kissed him over and over again.

ooo

The next day, Severus showed her what he’d researched. They decided necklaces would be the best idea. The spell Severus had found didn’t need to be activated by the wearer. It would just involuntarily note when the wearer was hurt or incapacitated, causing the partner’s necklace to heat. It would then turn into a Portkey so the partner could Apparate to the location of the other.

“This will probably be helpful when you’re attacked by Voldemort and the snake,” Hermione mused as she examined the spell.

“I imagine it will be useful for many things.”

Hermione looked up at him. “So, we just need to pick some jewelry we are willing to wear forever?”

He grinned at her. “Yes, then we can cast the spell on them.”

“Let’s go shopping and find some that match.”

“That would be acceptable. Gladrags has a decent jewelry section.”

“Put on your Glamour, and we’ll head out!” Hermione told him.

In less than half an hour, they were in the Hogsmeade shop looking at their selection. They immediately liked two different sets. One was two carved dragons that formed a heart shape when put together. The other was a black stone heart that was magnetic and cut in two. Each piece had a black rope necklace to hold it.

“I think I like this one best,” Severus said as he pointed to the black heart. “I like that on their own, they look just like a gemstone and not part of something else, but then when you put them together, they are obviously a heart.”

“I like that too. I think for our purposes, it would be best for the stones to stand alone and not obviously be half a heart.”

Severus nodded. They bought the black stone set and headed back home. The necklaces were enspelled, and they each helped the other fasten their necklaces on.

“We wear these always,” Severus mused. “I’ve spelled them to not choke us while we’re sleeping.”

“So we’ll never take them off?”

“Not until the war is over, and maybe not even then.” He smirked at her.

“All right. Actually, I feel safer already knowing you won’t be far if I’m ever hurt and vice versa.”

“Me too.” He fingered her necklace and looked into her eyes. “And this is a symbol of my love for you, which makes it even better.”

Hermione smiled lovingly at Severus as she ran her finger along his necklace. “I agree. Too bad this will be buried under your cravat and all those buttons.”

“You love those buttons. You said so yourself.”

“I do,” she smirked as she kissed him soundly.

Chapter Text

Summer ended, and school began again. Severus was sitting on the sofa, his head in his hands. 

“I hate this job,” he grumbled.

Hermione rubbed his back. “If it means anything, I found you to be a good professor, even if you were a total jerk.”

He lifted his head and looked at her. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended by that remark.”

She grinned at him. “You know I love you, but you have to admit, you are feared by students everywhere.”

“And it is well deserved. Albus has made it clear in our meetings this summer that I cannot be likable. I must have an aloof appearance and hate all things Gryffindor.”

She gave him a curious look. “You mean you don’t hate everything Gryffindor?”

“I love you, don’t I?”

She smirked.

“I will admit that I do not like Gryffindor House in general, and there are several students that I cannot stomach, but I honestly don’t have any more gripe with that house than any other.”

“I would have never guessed. You are a good actor, which of course I knew, but your hatred of Gryffindor was pretty well established in my day.”

“Dumbledore says he suspects that Potter will be sorted into Gryffindor, so if there’s already animosity between that House and me, it will look more natural when I cannot like anything about Potter.”

“Well, he’s right about Harry’s House…” She turned toward him. “I’m sorry you have to do this.”

He frowned but didn’t look at her. “I know we’ve talked about me keeping up appearances before, but it’s part of the reason I hate teaching. I can’t be myself. I have to have this persona. No one can like me. It’s… defeating.”

Hermione reached out and drew his face to look at her. “Well, I love you, and I know the truth. I’ll be here to support you no matter what. And I know you can be an effective teacher even given what Dumbledore has asked of you.”

“I have been hated all my life. The thought that will never end is depressing.” 

“Oh, Severus, I’m so sorry. I wish it could be different. I love you and always will. We’ll make sure you survive the war so you can live without all of this negativity surrounding you in the future.”

He pulled her to him, holding her close. “I don’t know how I survived as I did without you, Maia.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not going anywhere.”

As Hermione hugged Severus, her heart went out to him. She’d known before that most of what he’d done had probably been part of an act, but it seems like there was so much more subterfuge than even she had realized. She vowed he wouldn’t be so alone this go-round. She would be there to support him no matter what. She squeezed him tightly, rubbing his back as he nestled into her.

“I love you,” she whispered. 

ooo

Halloween 1983

September had passed into October, and the month had gone by quickly. Hermione had been busy with work, and Severus had found a way to endure teaching with Hermione’s help.

“Let’s go out tonight,” Severus said as he readied himself to go to Hogwarts.

“It’s Halloween.”

Severus nodded. “I know.”

“Don’t you want to… visit Lily’s grave?”

“I will stop by in between classes to pay my respects. It is the anniversary of our meeting and I want to celebrate.”

Hermione’s heart skipped a beat within her. She was thrilled he’d rather spend time with her than with a dead woman.

“That sounds lovely. Should I dress up?”

“Wear something nice. I’ll be home around five and we’ll head out after that.”

“Okay.” She beamed at him, and he gave her a smirk. The man was so sexy, it made her toes curl. Closing the distance, she kissed him lustily. “I’ll miss you until then.”

“As will I.”

ooo

Hermione primped in front of the mirror, making sure the dark orange dress she was wearing looked good. It had an overlay of sheer black lace that was covered in small, embroidered bats. It was the perfect dress robe for a Halloween excursion. Pulling her hair up into a messy bun, she let some tendrils frame her face. Nodding, she acknowledged she looked good. Turning from the mirror, she went downstairs to await Severus’ return.

He didn’t keep her waiting long, appearing through the Floo in a matter of minutes. When he saw her, he stopped dead as he gazed upon her. Her heart fluttered at the appreciative look he was giving her. She stood to greet him.

“You look stunning,” he murmured as he crossed the room and embraced her, kissing her passionately. “I almost want to forgo dinner and just ravish you here and now.”

She chuckled. “I spent way too much time getting ready for you to simply divest me in a matter of minutes, no matter how enjoyable the result will be.”

He smirked at her, then kissed her again. “Give me a few minutes. I want to change out of these robes,” he advised as he moved away from her. Bounding up the stairs, he was gone in a matter of seconds.

Hermione waited quietly for him, sitting in his reading chair–the only thing salvaged from his home save his extensive book collection. True to his word, he reappeared in about five minutes. Hermione stood and turned to him, giving a slight gasp.

“Oh! You are gorgeous in those robes, Severus.” She reached out and felt them. “Mmm, satin and silk. These are exquisite!”

He smiled at her, bowing his head slightly. “Thank you. I wanted to look good next to your beauty.”

She blushed and looked down. His hand urged her chin back up toward him.

“You know you’re beautiful, right?”

“Thank you, Severus, yes. I appreciate you saying that.”

He sweetly kissed her and then pulled away, extending his arm.

“Shall we?”

She nodded, unable to say anything because she was so touched by the gentleness of his words and kiss. They spun around and disappeared.

ooo

Hermione had her arm weaved with Severus’ as they walked along the river. Dinner had been lovely, and the conversation was fulfilling. Hermione was completely and utterly happy with how the night was going. Severus guided them to the rail, and they leaned on it, looking at the river and watching several boats and a small cruise ship move along the waters.

“It’s so peaceful here,” Hermione said. “Even though there are other people about.”

“Thankfully, we’ve found a somewhat isolated area. I prefer to spend my time with you and you alone.”

She smiled at him. “This has been a lovely date, Severus.”

“I have enjoyed it as well. My mind keeps returning to that day a year ago when you appeared in my life and changed it for the better.”

“I’m glad that if I had to get thrown into the past, it was here to you.”

Severus turned to her and leaned in for a kiss. Her arms went around him, and his hand snaked into her hair, cradling her head as he showered her with kisses.

“Happy Anniversary.”

She grinned. “Happy Anniversary.”

Releasing her, he sank to one knee. “Maia…” He swallowed hard, nerves taking over. “I could not imagine my life without you in it. That day–that wonderful, terrible, confusing day–I thank Merlin for it. I love you, Maia. Will you marry me?”

Hermione was frozen in shock. She suspected what he was going to say when he knelt before her, but it was all too much. She stared at this man she had fallen so madly in love with. He loved her too, and wanted to make it official. Her heart leapt within her, and she broke out of her state, finally saying something to the man who was giving her a concerned look.

“Yes! Oh, Severus, yes!”

She kneeled with him and threw her arms around him, kissing him soundly. She felt magic on her ring finger and looked back to see a diamond engagement ring. The round diamond sparkled brightly as she looked at it. Her eyes turned up to Severus’.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it. I wasn’t sure what to choose for you.”

“It’s perfect.” She looked down at it with a smile, but then reality hit her and her smile dissolved. “Severus, how can we do this?”

“I believe people do it every day.”

“We can’t let anyone know we’re married, love. How do we wed?”

Severus stood, offering his hand to Hermione. She stood with him. He leaned on the rail once again, staring out into the river, watching the waves and boats go by. Hermione leaned up into him as he mulled. She thought about it, too.

“We can perform a marriage bond,” Severus said.

“Those bonds are automatically registered in the Ministry, just like when a magical child is born. Someone would be able to see it, or find it if we do that.”

“Hmmm.”

“We could just continue living together.”

Severus snapped his head to look at her. “No.”

She arched a brow in question.

“I want our relationship to be official. I want to be with you forever. I want us to be married!”

Hermione reached out and grasped his arm. “I do too, but if we have to just live like we’re married and skip the ceremony, I would be okay with that.”

Severus’ shoulders sagged. “I would, too, if we needed to, but there has to be another way.” He looked out at the river once again and was quiet for a long time. “Maybe we can get married in another country,” Severus offered.

“Hmm. That may work.”

Hermione looked down at her hand and admired her ring. Frowning, she turned to Severus. “I can’t have anyone see this either.”

Severus frowned down at the ring before looking back at Hermione. “I want everyone to know that we are engaged, just like I wanted everyone to know we were dating. But this can’t be known.”

He pulled out his wand and waved it over the ring. It glowed for a moment before going back to what it had originally looked like.

“Only you and I can see this now. We’ll do the same for our wedding rings once we are wed. The spell makes it impossible for anyone to detect the ring in any way.”

“Even if examined by a Healer?” Hermione asked.

Severus nodded. “No one can see it but us.”

Hermione smiled up at him. “Perfect.”

He pulled her to him again, placing his arm around her. “I have a friend in the Lithuanian Ministry. I can reach out to him and see if he can help us.”

“Maybe we can have the names on the marriage certificate altered so our names are changed until the war ends?”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll send an owl to Andrius and see how we can do this.” He turned and pulled Hermione into his embrace. “We’ll figure this out, love. I promise.”

Chapter Text

The week before Christmas

They waited until the school Holiday break in December to have enough time to travel to Lithuania and get married. Severus’ friend Andrius had everything set up. They Portkeyed to the capital city, Vilnius, and headed to the Ministry building. It was situated in the center of the Wizarding part of the city. The entire Wizarding community was protected by concealment charms and naturally occurring buildings and walls. 

They stopped in front of the Ministry, a very tall and imposing structure that reminded Hermione of Gringotts, only much taller. She squeezed Severus’ hand. 

“Ready?”

“For weeks now,” he confessed.

“Come on, let’s get married,” she said as she swung his hand in hers and pulled him as she started up the stairs. 

Severus followed her up, and they were soon in the entry of the Lithuanian Ministry. He spotted his friend and raised his hand to wave at him. The wizard was around Severus’ age. He had a beard, mustache, and straight brown hair that came past his shoulders. His robes were a deep green with a red band going around the edges and cuffs. Hermione thought he looked like he was ready for Christmas.

“Severo! How are you?”

Severus grinned. “Andrius. I am well. It’s good to see you.” He turned to Hermione. “Let me introduce you to my fiancée. This is Maia Moreau.”

Hermione shook Andrius’ hand. “Pleasure.”

“Maia, so good to meet you. You have made my friend smile, and that is a feat!”

Hermione laughed. “You know Severus well. How do you both know each other?”

“Severo? He and I studied under the same Potioneer in London.”

“You’re a Potioneer?”

Andrius nodded. “I research and develop new potions of all kinds here at the Ministry.”

Hermione grinned. “That’s wonderful.”

“I sometimes seek out advice from Severo when I’m having a hard time with something. His knowledge is unparalleled.”

Hermione linked her arm with Severus and gave him a quick squeeze.

“Adrius exaggerates,” he said simply.

“How do you say it? Bull shite,” Andrius said.

Hermione burst out laughing, but Severus only frowned. Andrius slapped him on the back.

“I’m surprised he lets you call him Severo. He’s quite particular about his name,” Hermione mused.

Andrius laughed. “The first time I called him that, it was a mistake. I’d misheard him. He glared at me and corrected me. I used his correct name after that, but then, as I got to know Severo, I enjoyed getting him riled, so I started calling him that again. The–what do you call it in English–nickname–stuck.”

Severus grunted. “The man is a giant tease,” he muttered.

“Well, I like it. Maybe I should start calling you Severo,” Hermione said with a grin.

“Don’t even start,” Severus warned.

Andrius clapped Severus on the back and grinned. “Come, my friend. We have a wedding to perform.”

They followed Andrius to the lifts and headed to the fifth floor. He brought them to his office, which was combined with a large lab built in the back of the room. Severus meandered around.

“I’m envious of this lab, Andrius.”

“Ah, you should be, Severo. No expense was spared to create it.”

“Perhaps someday I will be able to have a workspace like this.”

“I hope so. Now… The clerk will be here momentarily.” He waved his wand and a paper appeared on his desk. “Here is the license. You will sign it when Darius gets here. He will sign and date it once you have done so. He is willing to take a vow of silence before performing the ceremony.”

“Would he be willing to make the Unbreakable Vow?” Severus asked.

Andrius hesitated. “You will have to question him about that. That is a lot to ask.”

“Andrius, if he cannot or will not, we will have to Obliviate him after the ceremony. We can’t have anyone but us three know about this marriage without taking that vow.”

Andrius nodded. “I understand. You explained the importance that no one knows you are wed, but you are here in Lithuania. What are the chances…?”

“They are slim, but it is possible that someone might find out,” Hermione explained. “That could cost both of us our lives. The fewer who know, the better.”

Andrius nodded in agreement. At that point, the door to his office opened, and a wizard in a long black robe entered. He shook hands with both of them.

“I am Darius Kaslauskas,” he greeted simply.

Severus pulled him aside and whispered to him about the vow. Darius’ lips thinned as he thought about it.

“I did not agree to this so that my life would be in danger.”

“I know,” Severus offered. “But we can’t have anyone poking around inadvertently find out about our marriage.”

“How about you Obliviate me? Are either of you good at memory charms?”

“My fiancée is.”

“I will agree to that. No vow!”

“All right. Thank you for considering it.”

Hermione gave Severus a slight nod, signaling she agreed to do the Obliviation. Darius moved over to the desk and picked up the quill, dipping it in the inkwell. He handed it to Hermione.

“Please sign and date,” he explained.

Hermione signed her name and handed the quill to Severus, who did the same. Handing the quill back to Darius, they watched him sign his name in flowing script. He dated it, pulled out his wand, and tapped the document.

Hermione and Severus’ names were enspelled to read John Doane and Anna Quinn. Darius made a copy and handed it to Severus.

“As you can see, when one of you touches this, your names are visible… only to you. The enchantment can only be removed by one of you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Kaslauskas,” Severus told him.

“Call me Darius!”

“Darius, then.”

“All right, if you both are ready,” Darius said as he looked between the two of them.

“Just one second.” 

Hermione waved her wand around herself, transfiguring her simple robes into bridal robes. They were white and flowed down to the ground. There were dark pink roses embroidered on the lace that covered the skirt of the robes. Severus followed suit, transfiguring his robes into black dress tuxedo robes. Turning to Hermione, he grasped her hand and brought it to his lips.

“Shall we?” he murmured.

She smiled and nodded. They turned toward Darius.

“I’m going to use a translator spell. My English is not that good when it comes to ceremonial speaking.”

He cast a spell so Hermione and Severus could hear his Lithuanian in perfect English. They stood facing each other as Darius spoke.

“Severus and Maia, matrimony in our world is something that is not taken lightly. When we devote ourselves to another, it is meant to be forever. You both should support one another through everything that you both come across.”

Hermione grasped Severus’ hand and squeezed it as they both continued to look at each other while Darius spoke.

Be kind and understanding to one another. Love one another with all your heart, and when you do disagree, work hard to overcome those differences.” He looked from Severus to Hermione. “You both have prepared vows for one another. Maia, you may go first.”

Hermione took a deep breath and looked into Severus’ eyes. “Severus, you have been the greatest joy that I have found in my life. I’m thankful every day for the circumstances that led me to you.” She blinked profusely to keep the tears that were forming in her eyes from escaping. “I love you with all my heart, and will be your partner and stand beside you through everything that is to come. I pledge myself to you forever.”

He smiled shyly at her and cleared his throat before speaking.

“Maia, you have been a bright light in what has been a lifetime of disappointments. I didn’t truly know what love was until you appeared in front of me. You have helped me to see myself more positively and are an anchor when my day has been difficult. I love you, Maia, and always will. I will support you in all of your endeavors, and together, we will face the world and overcome it. I pledge myself to you forever.”

Darius then spoke. “Severus Snape and Maia Moreau–by the power vested in me by the Lithuanian Ministry, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you always be happy and in love with one another. Severus, you may kiss your bride.”

Severus flashed her another shy smile before closing the distance and kissing her. Despite it being a more formal kiss, she felt electricity shoot through her down to her toes. Magic filled both of them, and they glowed for a bit before the light was absorbed into them.

Darius smiled at them both as they separated and gave each other quizzical looks.

“The magical bond has tied the two of you together. I must say that was a particularly strong one. You both must be devoted to one another.”

Hermione smiled back at Darius before looking up at Severus. “We are.”

“Yes,” Severus agreed. “We certainly are devoted to each other.”

“It shows in the magic,” Darius explained. 

“I’ve never heard of this type of magic,” Hermione confessed.

“I know little about it either. It is not something that I think is part of a marriage ceremony in the U.K.”

“Surely, there is magic in your bonds?” Darius asked.

“There is, but it doesn’t manifest itself in this way, Darius,” Severus explained. “The couple can feel the magic of the bond, but there is no outward expression of it.”

“Ah, I see. Well, here there is a special magic that goes into the sealing of a couple. The pronouncement of being husband and wife is not merely a saying. The words themselves are a spell. The kiss between the newlyweds seals the spell and lets it bind the two of you together. Sometimes there is no light produced in such a bonding, but usually there is some degree of light that is created from the kiss and the bond. For the two of you, the magic created almost a blinding light. One of the strongest reactions I’ve ever seen.”

“So, what exactly does that mean?” Hermione asked.

“Well, that you are both deeply in love with the other. It could mean that you’re both incredibly loyal, and this bond will never be broken. It can also signify a soul communication and connection that is unusual.”

“It’s a special symbol for the two of you,” Andrius added.

Hermione smiled up at Severus and squeezed his hand. “It was a lovely symbol of our love,” she remarked.

“Well, now that you two are married, I am ready to depart,” Darius said. “Mrs. Snape, would you do the honors, please?”

Hermione nodded. “This is so weird. I’m sorry to have to do this to you.”

Darius waved his hand in dismissal. “It’s okay. I understand the importance of this being kept quiet.”

Hermione smiled at him. “Thank you for being understanding.” She pointed her wand at Darius and twisted it. “Obliviate.”

The man blinked a bit. “I think I wandered into the wrong room. Sorry, Andrius,” he said. In a second, he’d turned and left the room. 

Severus turned to Andrius. “Thank you, my friend. This has been the perfect day.”

“I am happy to have been able to help, Severo. And being here to watch you be wed… Perfection.” He threw his arms around Severus and hugged him boisterously. He then did the same to Hermione.

“Both of you be happy, and safe travels back home.”

They thanked him and were soon on their way. They’d transfigured their clothes back to what they’d arrived in at the Ministry so as not to garner attention before Severus swept Hermione away from the Ministry and to their hotel. He’d arranged for them to have a honeymoon suite reserved. Taking the lift up to the top floor, Severus kissed his wife as they ascended. The lift doors opened on their floor, and they broke their embrace. Severus smirked at her and took her hand, leading her out of the lift and down the hall to their room. He tapped the doorknob, and the door swung open. Lifting her in his arms and causing her to yelp, he carried her over the threshold and set her down and captured her lips again. His hand caressed her cheek, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, opening up to him and letting him plunder her mouth. They pulled away from each other after a bit.

“I love you, my wife.”

She smiled brilliantly at him. “And I love you, my husband.”

He pulled her into an embrace. “I can’t tell you how happy I am,” he murmured into her ear. 

“Me too. That ceremony was so beautiful. The light… Definitely not what I was expecting.”

Severus pulled back from her. “Me neither, but it makes sense. Ever since you appeared before me, I’ve felt… something… between us. Sure, I fought the feeling, and I admit I was… distant in the beginning.”

“And snarky,” Hermione added.

He grinned. “And snarky. It’s just my nature. But deep down, I felt an affinity to you from the start. That’s why it was so easy to tell you to stay at Spinner’s End when you wanted to move out.”

Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. “I felt it too, but I thought it was just because I knew you before.”

Squeezing her, he sighed. “I have searched my entire life for someone who would understand me. No one truly has but you. And that feeling, that knowledge, has filled me with a desire to never be parted from you.”

“I feel much the same way. My friends in my previous life knew me and cared for me, but they didn’t really understand me. Not like you do. I feel like we are on the same page on so many things.”

“Soulmates…”

She pulled back and searched his face, looking deeply into his eyes. “You really think so? Do you even believe there is such a thing?”

“I don’t know, but I feel like we would fit into that description if there were.”

“I never considered them to be real,” Hermione mused. “But I’ve discounted things before because they seemed to be too impossible to be real, but they were. I kind of like the idea, though.”

Severus smirked at her. “So do I.” 

Hermione blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. Severus reached out and cupped her cheek. “Why the tears?” he asked.

“I…” Her tears flowed freely. “If I hadn’t been thrown back in time, we’d have never found each other. You’d be dead, and I would never know that I had a soulmate.”

He kissed her forehead before pulling back and giving her a grateful look. “I thank Merlin every day that you came to me. Our future is bright, and we will meet it together. Perhaps it was fate that you went to work at the Ministry and were working that day when you were thrown back to me.”

Her arms went around him, and she rested her head on his chest. “You’re right. I’m upset about something that already happened. Fate or whatever it was, I’m so thankful it happened.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “You are everything to me, Severus.”

“As you are to me.” He kissed her passionately. Pulling back, he grinned at her. “Better?”

She nodded and smiled at him. “We are married and I couldn’t be happier, really. I’m sorry I lost it for a moment.”

“Don’t be. It’s natural to think of what might have been. It would have been terrible had you not been sent back to me.”

Her eyes sparkled at him, and she grinned broadly. He grasped her hand and tugged her along to the bedroom. “Shall we get acquainted with the bed?” he asked.

She chuckled. “Yes, let's. I want you to make love to me in a different country as my husband.”

“Could you…” He looked away.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“No, tell me. What would you like?”

“Can you transfigure your outfit again to your wedding dress? I would like to… undress you while you are in it.”

She grinned. “Of course. Would you get back into your robes, too? There’s something about undoing the buttons of your vest and shirt that just makes me shiver.”

“Does it now?”

She nodded as she took her wand and waved it over her head. Her wedding dress appeared on her just as Severus’ clothes transfigured into his black tuxedo robes. Hermione stepped up to him, her arms going around his waist.

“I didn’t tell you before how sexy you look in these.”

Severus arched a brow at her. “And you are ravishing in this dress. Turn around, I want to unbutton all of those buttons going up your back.”

She complied, and he began at the top, unbuttoning button by button. He kissed every bit of flesh that was exposed, working his way down her back with kisses, veritably worshiping her body. When he was done, the dress slipped down to the floor. She stepped out of it and turned to him. She’d chosen a white lace bra and knickers for this occasion with white garters holding up her hose. She unhooked and slid the garter and stockings down her hips and let it fall to the floor. She stepped out of them, too.

Reaching out, she slipped Severus’ tuxedo coat off him and began to unbutton his vest. She made quick work of it and undid his bow tie. She then slowly unbuttoned every button of his white shirt, kissing him the same way he had done to her. She lathed his nipples as she slid the shirt off him, causing him to moan and let his head fall back.

She drew her hand up and caressed his chest, running her fingers through the hair dotting it.

“You are perfect, husband.”

He lifted his head back up. “Let me see you, wife.”

She drew back a little from him and watched his eyes light up as he beheld her.

“Talk about perfect,” he said as he closed the distance and unhooked her bra. She let it drop down and exposed her breasts to him. He lifted her up and took her to the bed where he gently laid her down and laid beside her. She turned to him and kissed him sultrily.

“We need to get those trousers off, Severus,” she murmured.

“And you need your knickers off as well.”

“I have a great idea.” 

She reached out for her wand and waved it over them. What was left of their clothing disappeared. She placed her wand back on the bedside table and turned back to her husband. 

Husband!  

Moving herself so she was directly over his cock, she took him into her mouth, looking up at him as she began to suck him.

“Maia,” he breathed in as she enjoyed herself with him. “Gods, that’s good.”

She took him fully into her mouth and began to bob up and down on him. Her eyes strayed up to him again, and he groaned as her eyes met his.

She continued until his hand on the top of her head stopped her motion.

“I want to cum in you, but not in your mouth,” he gasped.

She pulled off his cock with a pop and grinned at him. Sliding up, she covered him in kisses until her mouth met his. Hermione took control then, passionately kissing him and forcing herself into his mouth. Her core rubbed his cock and finally slid onto it. He gasped into her as his cock filled her.

“So tight,” he muttered before beginning to move in and out of her. She helped him along by pushing down on him as he thrust into her.

“Ahh,” she cried as he filled her fully. “So good!”

They fell into a rhythm, and both were moaning and crying out as their thrusting intensified. Severus could hold himself no longer.

“Come for me, wife!” he called to her.

“Oh Goooooddddd,” she cried as she tightened around him and writhed in ecstasy. He erupted into her, thrusting in and holding there as he emptied himself and moaned.

She became boneless as she fell forward on top of him, her head landing on his chest.

“Love you,” she murmured.

“Vixen,” he replied as he ran his fingers through her hair. ”You are everything.”

She smiled into his chest as they lay there together, basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking.

Chapter Text

They spent three days in Lithuania, but felt that staying away any longer might cause suspicion. They were now back in Hogsmeade, and Hermione was back at work. Hermione walked through the Ministry feeling out of sorts. She was friends with both Warren and Lilah, but she couldn’t tell either one of them how her time off had really been. They could never know that she’d married while away. The whole situation was just… odd.

“Hi Warren,” she said as she entered their office.

“Maia. How was your break?”

“Relaxing. I just read a lot and spent time in my flat.”

“Sounds wonderful. I could use that myself.”

“Well, Christmas is almost here.”

“Yes, but there’s always a flurry of excitement during the holidays. Maybe I can have some peace and quiet on Boxing Day.”

“I hope so,” Hermione commiserated.

Lilah wandered in then.

“Oh good, you’re both here. How was your break, Maia?”

“It was lovely,” Hermione offered.

“Good, I’m glad you had some time away.” She handed Hermione a parchment. “This came for you while you were away. It’s from Dumbledore.”

Hermione took it gingerly. “I’ll read it later.”

Lilah nodded. “I need you two to do a study on the upcoming holidays and see if anything needs to be dealt with.”

“What do you mean?” Warren asked.

“Check and make sure nothing is going to affect the timeline. People get a little crazy around this time of year.”

“We’ll get right at it,” Hermione assured. 

The two of them stood and headed to one of the experiment rooms to run their tests. They worked until lunch, not finding anything amiss with Christmas, but they still had Boxing Day and New Year's to review. 

Hermione went down to the cafeteria and grabbed a sandwich. She settled down at a table and opened the message from Dumbledore.

Miss Moreau,

I would like to meet with you about the two items we discussed. Please come to Hogwarts at your earliest convenience. I will advise the faculty to expect your visit.

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts

She frowned at the note. Obviously, Dumbledore wanted to pry about the future, or he’d have just said he’d taken care of the Horcruxes. Maybe he was just having trouble getting to one of them. She would be done at work in a couple of hours and would head out then. She scribbled a note to him and had the interoffice memo system take it to a Floo to send to Hogwarts.

ooo

Hermione reached the Hogwarts gates and tapped her wand on them. That would alert the nearest faculty member that someone wanted entrance to the school. After a few minutes, she saw Hagrid heading toward her from the direction of his hut. She smiled as she watched him. It had been several years in her past since she’d visited the current gamekeeper, and she was happy to see him.

The Half-Giant approached the gates.

“How may I help you?” he asked.

“Good afternoon. I’m Maia Moreau. Dumbledore asked me to stop by to see him at my earliest convenience.”

“Ah, he did say something about expecting a Maia Moreau.” Hagrid fiddled with the gate and opened it for her. “I’m Hagrid. Follow me. I’ll take you up to his office.”

Hermione stepped through the gates and smiled at Hagrid. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Hagrid. What do you do here at Hogwarts?”

“I’m the gamekeeper. I take care of the magical creatures on the grounds and make sure the grounds are kept beautiful.”

Hermione looked around. “Well, it’s quite beautiful here, Hagrid. You’ve done a fine job.”

Hagrid beamed as he led her up to the doors and opened them for her. 

“It's a big job,” he advised as they made their way to the stairs. 

He talked a little about taking care of the Whomping Willow and needing to take down the Christmas decorations after New Year's. Before she knew it, she was on the moving staircase heading up to Dumbledore’s office. She knocked on the door and was bid to enter.

“Professor Dumbledore,” Hermione greeted as she moved into the room.

“Ah, Miss Moreau! I’ve been expecting you for a couple of days now.”

“I was on holiday,” she said simply as she took the seat in front of his desk.

“I hope you enjoyed yourself.”

“I did,” she told him, but offered no more information.

“I wanted to touch base with you to let you know that I have destroyed the two Horcruxes you told me about and am ready for the next one.”

Hermione laughed. “I told you, Professor Dumbledore, I am not going to say anything more about the future. I’m glad you were able to destroy the two I told you about.”

“Miss Moreau…”

“Mr. Dumbledore…”

He tutted. “This is outrageous. How are we supposed to win the war like this? You must tell me more about the war and how we can defeat Voldemort.”

“I’m sorry, sir; I cannot.”

She felt him enter her mind and threw him out of it. She stood and glowered at him, her wand pointed at his face.

“We are on the same side, Headmaster. How dare you try to invade my mind for your own gain!”

Dumbledore stood then and glowered at her. “I wouldn’t need to do so if you’d just tell me what I need to know.”

“I am an Unspeakable and have taken a vow not to divulge the future, and you have the nerve to try to make me tell you of things I have promised not to speak of. It shows how little you care about anyone but yourself!”

She waved her wand slightly, eliciting an eyebrow raise from Dumbledore. “Certainly you don’t think you can best me with a wand, Miss Moreau.”

“I know that I cannot, but I can leave a mark. Now, you will stop this digging for clues, or I will hex you.”

He laughed at her. “You are no match for me.”

The curse left her wand. He shielded himself, and his wand was pointing in her face in a millisecond.

“I suggest you sit down now, Miss Moreau.”

She sheathed her wand and glowered at him. “We’re done here,” she ground out. “Hex me if you like, but you will find nothing more about the future from me.”

She turned and stalked out, fully expecting the old coot to cast a Petrificus Totalus or something to stop her in her tracks, but nothing happened. She stormed out of his office and made her way down to the Entrance Hall. She glanced at the stairway down to the dungeons and was sorely tempted to head down there and speak to Severus, but she stopped herself. Even if one student found her outside of his office, it could put them in danger. Instead, she cast her Patronus before leaving the school.

“Tell Severus Snape privately to come home as soon as he can,” she whispered to the otter before leaving the school. 

She walked out to the gates and Apparated home immediately after leaving the grounds. She was surprised to see Severus already waiting for her when she appeared in the sitting room. His arms were around her in seconds.

“I was puzzled when I came through the Floo and you weren’t here.”

“I just came from Hogwarts.”

“You were looking for me there?” Severus asked.

She shook her head. “I was summoned by Dumbledore. It was a difficult conversation, and I just wanted you here for me.”

He pulled her close. “Oh, Maia. What happened?”

Her head rested on his chest. “He was Dumbledore, of course. He found the two Horcruxes and destroyed them, which is good, but he wanted me to tell him more about the future. He pressed and pressed until he tried to read my mind. I just lost it and pointed my wand at him.” She stopped for a second, and he squeezed her to go on.

“I’d lost the element of surprise, so when I warned him to stop, and he didn't, my hex was shielded, and he had me at wandpoint in a matter of seconds.”

“Did he hex you?”

She shook her head into his chest. “No, but he demanded answers, so I just turned and left. I expected him to hit me in the back with a stunner and take what he wanted from my mind, but he didn’t.”

”He only intimidates up to a certain point. Usually, the person he’s intimidating gives in by then.” He held her to him and rubbed her back. “Are you all right? Did he frighten you?”

“A little, but I’m more angry at him. He has a lot of nerve.”

“That’s Dumbledore.” Severus pulled back and looked into Hermione’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Maia. What can I do for you?”

She leaned up and kissed him softly. “Just be here with me while I rant.”

He smirked at her and led her to the sofa. “That's my husbandly duty, love.” They settled in, and he wrapped his arm around her. “Talk to me.”

“I told him I’d taken a vow not to speak of the future except for what I’d told him, but he didn’t care. He’s completely infuriating.”

“Yes, he is. But it sounds like you handled yourself brilliantly.”

“I went in knowing what to expect. It’s just the fact that he had the gall to keep pushing me. Bastard.”

“I bet he didn’t expect you to fight him like you did. You are a formidable witch, Maia.” He was quiet for a bit before speaking again. “I wish I knew how to help you feel better.”

Her arms wrapped tighter around him. “Thanks, love. It helps just to have you listen. I’m already feeling less angry and frustrated.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Good.”

She lifted her head and smiled at him. “Let’s forget about that old coot. How about we just kiss each other for a while?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

His lips met hers, and he groaned softly as they opened to one another and showered each other with affection.

“What do you want for Christmas?” he asked as he pulled away from her.

“I already have everything I want. You’re my husband.”

He smirked at her. “Yes, being married to you is the best gift I could ask for, but there must be something you would like.”

She smiled and tapped his nose with her finger. “Surprise me.”

He rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the help.”

“You’re welcome. Honestly, I never know what to ask for as gifts. I’ll be happy with anything you get me, love.”

“Hmm, I will see what I can find.”

He pulled her close again and began to kiss her passionately.

ooo

Christmas 1983

Christmas came, and Severus was ready. On Christmas Eve, he presented Hermione with a pair of green satin Christmas pajamas. They went nicely with his new black pair with green Christmas lights on them. They awoke on Christmas morning, a satiny sight.

“Happy Christmas,” Hermione said before kissing her husband.

“Happy Christmas,” he agreed. “This is our first Christmas as a married couple.”

She smiled brightly at him. “The first of many.” She sat up eagerly. “Let’s open our presents!”

“Someone is eager!” Severus said as he sat up as well.

“It’s Christmas! Aren’t you excited?”

“I’m excited to be with you.”

She reached out and squeezed his hand. “It’s the best Christmas because we’re together.” Tugging at him, she got up.

“Come on, let’s go!”

She had disappeared out of the room before he could even reply. He smiled as he rose and followed her downstairs. She was adorable when she was excited like this. She was already sitting on the floor. He meandered over and sat down next to her. She leaned in and kissed him.

“I love you.”

His eyes roved over her face. “I love you, too.” His voice was thick with emotion.

She reached up and caressed his cheek. “I am so thankful I was thrown into this time to find you. You have been the greatest gift I could ever imagine.”

His arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her close, burying his face in her neck. He held her there for a bit before looking at her again. “God, I can’t even convey how much you mean to me, Maia. I thank Merlin every day that we met when we did. You’re everything to me.”

Her fingers wound through his hair, and she pulled him back down to her. They held each other in a loving embrace, each one enjoying the other’s nearness. Severus kissed her neck as he drew back.

“Happy Christmas, love.”

She smiled at him, her adoration evident. “Happy Christmas.”

“Let’s open presents,” Severus said as he smiled at her.

She nodded, and they turned toward the tree. Hermione reached under the tree and pulled out an oblong box wrapped in Gryffindor colors. She handed it to Severus.

“Are you trying to mock me?”

She smirked at him. “You can handle some Gryffindor Christmas colors. Now open your gift.”

“All right,” he said as he looked up and smirked at her. His hands ripped off the paper. “Good riddance to such an eyesore.”

“Severus!”

Opening the box, he saw a copper stirring rod with the Slytherin crest carved into the top of it. His eyes moved up to hers. 

“Maia, I’ve always wanted a copper stirring rod. It will make my potions so much stronger. Thank you!”

She smiled at him lovingly. “I’m glad you like it.”

Leaning in, he kissed her sultrily. When he pulled away, he waggled his eyebrows at her and fished her gift from under the tree. 

“How cheerful!” Hermione said as she regarded the black wrapping paper. 

“It’s been under the tree since yesterday. You didn’t say anything.”

“Who am I to knock what you like?”

He smirked at her. “Open it.”

She did and gasped at the set of hair combs he’d found for her. They were silver with a crest design emblazoned with rhinestones. The colors were different variations of blue.

“Severus, these are beautiful!” She immediately got off the floor and headed upstairs.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to put them on!” she cried down the stairs. 

Severus smirked after her and waited for her to come back down. She didn’t take too long. He was examining his stirring rod when she bounded up to him again. He looked up and gave her an appreciative look.

“Even more beautiful than I thought they would be.”

She sat down next to him again and kissed him lovingly. “Thank you, my love. They’re wonderful.” She leaned into him. “I have one more gift for you,” Hermione told Severus softly.

“Oh?”

“It’s under my pajamas.”

He pulled back. “Oh?”

She nodded.

“So… I get to unwrap you?”

She nodded again.

“Merlin…” 

His eyes roved over her body, and Hermione held her breath as he reached out and began to unbutton her satiny pajamas. He met her gaze as all the buttons were unbuttoned. He could see a silver negligee underneath. His eyebrow arched, and she grinned at him. His fingers hooked into her pajama. trousers, and she moved so he could slip them off her body as she lost her pajama top. He took in a quick breath at the sight of her silver negligee draped over her and exposing her chest enticingly.

“You wore this all last night?”

She shook her head. “I magicked it on when I came downstairs.”

“Minx…”

He kissed her sultrily then. “You are so beautiful, Maia. This just enhances your beauty. And those hair combs look even better with you so scantily clad.”

She chuckled at him. “Little did you know it would be one of the few things I’d be wearing today.”

“Well, I hoped…”

Hermione laughed and pulled him to her and kissed him lovingly. He reached up and fondled her breast. Letting his hand stray up, he slowly slid the strap down her shoulder. He did the same with her other shoulder strap. He pulled back as he looked at her, her nipples barely covered now by the top of the negligee.

“You are so beautiful. I am truly the luckiest man alive.”

She smiled at him sultrily, then rimmed her lips with her tongue. He groaned and captured her lips with his. He caressed them with his, tangling his tongue with hers. 

Gods, she was perfection.

“You still need to finish unwrapping me,” she murmured between his kisses.

“I’m taking my time, so I can enjoy all of you.” 

He stood and reached out to help her off the floor. His eyes took her in before he slipped her arms out of the nightie; he slowly peeled the silver slip off her, letting it pool at her feet. “Mmm, it looks even better down on the floor.”

She stepped out of the negligee and surrounded him in an embrace. Her finger moved down his nose and around his lips. Leaning in, she kissed him sultrily.

“You’re entirely overdressed,” she told him with a smile.

He smirked at her. “I’m sure you can remedy that.”

“May I?”

“Yes,” he replied breathily. 

He almost cried out watching his very naked wife reach out and start unbuttoning his pajamas. She slicked his p.j. shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Taking her hands, she massaged his chest, finally leaning in and suckling on his nipple. He let his head fall back as he moaned at her ministrations. His hands came up and squeezed her breasts before he scooped her up and headed to the bedroom.

He placed her on the bed carefully and beheld her as he slipped out of his pajama bottoms. Once done, he moved over her and captured her lips again. Her hand moved up and caressed his hair. He drew his hand down and squeezed her hip, then moved down to her clit. He rubbed it, making her gasp. Soon his finger entered her, and he curled it within her. She pushed into his finger and up toward him. He inserted another finger and used his thumb to massage her clit.

“Oh, God,” she groaned. Pulling him to her, she attacked his mouth, assaulting him with her tongue, causing him to moan. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

“Now, Severus. Fill me up now.”

He smirked at her. “What exactly do you want of me?”

She tried to control herself enough to speak again as he’d increased his fingering of her core. Panting she cried out, “I want you to stick your big, hard, cock into me and make me cum.”

He grinned at her as he placed his cock at her entrance. “Here?”

“Oh, God, Severus, now!”

Laughing, he plunged into her and became serious as he began to move within her. She moved toward him, and they quickly found a good rhythm. He bent low and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking furiously as he pounded into her.

“I’m close… I’m close,” she cried.

“Come for me, Maia!”

“Auuggh!” she cried as she came, sending him over the edge as well. 

He pushed into her and held himself as he emptied within her. He held there for a bit before, as he was filled with ecstasy. Finally collapsing on top of her, he gave her a final kiss before moving off her and pulling her into an embrace. She leaned in and kissed his chin before collapsing next to him.

“Happy Christmas,” she mumbled as she closed her eyes.

“Happy Christmas, love.”

Chapter Text

November 1984  

“Maia?”

She looked over at Severus and smiled. “Yes, love?”

It’s hard to believe we’ve been married almost a year.”

“It’s flown by. Being with you has been so wonderful.”

He kissed her soundly. “I…” He looked away.

“What is it?” She gave him a concerned look.

His eyes strayed back to hers. “It would be nice to have…”

Her look urged him to continue. She grasped his arm and squeezed it.

“Go on.”

“I know we’ve discussed the timeline and not having children, but…” He frowned. “It would be nice to have a child.”

“You want a baby?”

He nodded. “I know it will change time. I know everything you’re going to say, but I just can’t help but think it would be wonderful to have a son or daughter.”

“But we can’t, Severus.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could, though?”

She bit her lower lip as she gazed at him. “I suppose.”

“I thought you wanted children,” he said.

“Not for a while! We haven’t even been married for a year!”

“That’s true. And I’m not saying we should try right away, but I would like to try sometime in the future. If we wait until the war is over, we’ll be so much older. I would rather raise children now than after that.”

“Severus… I…”

“You hate this idea.”

“No. No. I just don’t know what it will do to the timeline.”

He looked at her grumpily. “So, that means we can never have children because it will invariably change the timeline.”

He got up from the sofa and started to pace back and forth. Hermione watched him stalk about. She sighed. Technically, he was right. They should never have children. But that would be unfair to them, wouldn’t it?

He stopped suddenly and turned toward her. “Maybe I don’t care about the fucking timeline. Maybe I want us to have a child together, and to hell with what the future will bring. Any child of ours wouldn’t grow up to be evil. They can only do good in the future!”

“You don’t know that, Severus!”

He threw his hands up in the air. “It’s impossible to have a conversation with you about this because you know what you know about the future, and you’re always right.”

Turning again, he made his way to the stairs and took them two at a time, slamming the bedroom door behind him. Hermione looked down at her lap. She did always want to be right. She’d struggled with that since being a child, and it had affected her throughout her life. She’d worked hard not to be that person, but evidently she wasn’t doing as well as she’d thought.

But the timeline! Her whole job was to protect it. How could she just throw that devotion to her work away because Severus wanted a baby? She rose and went up to their bedroom, knocking on the door.

“Go away.”

“Severus, let’s talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. You’ve made up your mind already.”

She opened the door and gave him a sheepish look.

“I want kids too, you know,” she said tartly. “But what will that do to the future?”

He snarled at her. “You care more about the damn timeline than you do about us! Just… leave me alone, Maia!”

“You really think that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He rose from the bed and started to pace again. “It’s always been about the bloody timeline. You had to run your tests to make sure I was trustworthy so you could tell me about my own damned future. Now, we can never have children because of what it will do to the future.” He turned, his hands balled into fists. “It’s wrong, Maia. Simply wrong.”

She looked down, contemplating what he’d said. Her eyes filled with tears, and she sniffed. “I’m sorry, Severus. I never meant to make you feel insignificant.”

“Well, that’s how I feel sometimes.”

She looked at him as she tried to blink away the tears. “You’re the most important thing to me. You have to know that.”

His shoulders sagged. “I usually do.” He was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry I accused you of not caring, but can you see what I’m saying?”

She drew up to him and nodded. “Yes, and I never meant to make you feel that way. My work makes me hyper-vigilant about the timeline, and then having traveled through time, it’s almost doubly so. It’s a big part of my train of thought, but I would never put it before you.”

He reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“But isn’t that what you’re doing right now?” he asked softly.

“Severus, I don’t know what else to do. If we have children, the timeline will be altered even more than it has been with my moving backward in time and marrying you.”

“Is it so terrible that some things would change?”

“I don’t know!” she cried. “What if something terrible happens because one of our children does something that affects time negatively?”

His arms came around her, and he held her close. “But couldn’t anyone affect time like that?”

“I guess, but we would be doing it deliberately.”

“So?”

Her mouth opened, and then she shut it. “I don’t know.”

“Do you really want children?” he asked.

“Yes! I have just pushed it out of my mind because it’s impossible.”

“What if it’s not. What if we could just live our lives like normal people?”

“But we’re not normal! We can’t even tell anyone we’re married. How do we have children if they can’t even be claimed by you as their father?”

“And you would have to be a single mother,” Severus continued. “I don’t know if I’d like that.”

“But that’s exactly how it would have to be. I’d need to explain away any pregnancy as a dalliance. They couldn’t be seen as yours until we could announce our marriage.”

“And you would be looked upon negatively as an unwed mother.”

“If we did decide to go ahead and have a child, I would deal with others’ judgments.”

“But you shouldn’t have to!”

“I thought you wanted to have kids.”

“I do! It’s just not fair, Maia. I know life isn't fair. It never is… but you shouldn’t have to hide that we are in a relationship. You shouldn't have to lie about the parentage of our child.”

“It will save our lives to do so, and people can talk all they want.”

He turned from her and moved to the window. Hermione looked at him, studying him as he stood with his back to her. She finally moved up to him and wrapped her arms around him.

“You are the most important thing to me, Severus. Forever. If you want to have a baby, let’s have a baby.”

“I don’t want to have a baby if you do not,” he said bitterly.

She was quiet for a long time, delving into her psyche, trying to figure out what she really wanted. Deep down, she’d always wanted a child. She’d just hidden that desire, so she’d be all right with them never having kids.

“I want a child. I want your child. I want to feel that baby growing within me.”

He turned then and enveloped her in his arms. His eyes met hers. “Then we shall have a baby.”

Her voice was small when she replied. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

She sniffed and nodded at him.

“You’re sure?” he arched a brow at her.

Her lips formed a line. “I want children, Severus. I want us to be parents. We’ll figure out how to do this so you’re not found out to be the father. I'll run some tests in the time room to figure out the best way to do this so we aren’t found out and so our child can live as normal a life as possible.”

“That would probably be prudent. Is there anything in the interim that I can do to support you?”

She smiled at him and kissed his nose. “No. Just be patient with me. This may take a little bit to fully examine.”

ooo

Two weeks later, Hermione was waiting for Severus to come home. She’d finally amassed all her research.

Severus came through the Floo and smiled at her.

“Hello, love.” He moved to sit next to her, kissing her thoroughly.

“Mmmm, I missed you,” Hermione said.

“I couldn’t wait to get home to see you,” Severus agreed.

“I have news…”

He arched a brow. “What have you found out?”

“We can have a baby anytime after two years. There were obvious changes to the timeline, but nothing horrible. I didn’t look past my time in the future, as I wouldn’t know what would be changed after that. The child will still be at Hogwarts at that time, so I really couldn’t tell what they’ll do in their adulthood.

Severus grinned at her. “That’s perfect. That’s around the time we were thinking of having her.”

“Her? You know it’s a girl already?”

He shrugged. “Of course not, but it would be nice if it were a girl.”

“Well, what if it's a boy?”

He kissed her and grinned again. “That would be nice too. Did you see what it was in your testing?”

I did a few tests with both sexes, so nothing definitive.”

“Too bad.” He smirked at her.

She smiled back. “Are you hungry?”

“Only for you… I mean, I know we won’t be working on a baby, but I would certainly like to celebrate the future growth of our family.”

She chuckled at him. “Come on, then. We can get some takeout later, but right now, I want to explore every part of you.”

“Sounds lovely,” he said as he grasped her hand and led her up to the bedroom.

Chapter Text

May 1987

Hermione bit her lip as she contemplated casting the spell. Over three years had passed, and they’d been trying to have a child for a year now without success. Every month, she got more and more depressed about it. Severus was sad as well, but she knew he was more upset that he couldn’t make this better for them. They’d both thrown themselves into their work to forget about their sadness. Perhaps that’s why she hadn’t realized she hadn’t had her period in a while. She hoped beyond hope that they’d finally conceived.

Severus came home right at that moment.

“Ugh, I’ve had two exploded cauldrons today. Three Slytherins got in trouble for fighting with some Gryffindors so I had to give them detention and ban them from playing in the Quidditch game this weekend.”

“Oh, no! And you were hoping to win this weekend.”

He shrugged. “I still have a little hope. Our subs are very good, but not like these three.”

“I’m sorry, love. Come here.”

He settled down on the sofa with her, and she hugged him. She kissed his neck as she did so. “I missed you terribly.”

“I think of you all day. I’m always eager to get home to you.”

She pulled back and looked at him seriously. “I’m late.”

“Late for what?”

“My cycle. My period. I’m late.”

He took in a quick breath. “Do you think?”

“I don’t know. Should we find out?”

He nodded. 

Pulling out her wand, she waved it around her abdomen, saying the spell aloud. Severus reached out and grasped her hand as they waited for the spell to show a color. After a few seconds, it glowed blue. Hermione’s face shot up to Severus’.

“Oh my God.”

“You’re…. You’re pregnant… It’s a boy!”

“I can’t believe it! Severus, we’re going to have a baby!”

Severus gingerly placed his hand on her abdomen. “There’s a baby in there. Our baby.”

“You’re going to be a father.”

“And you’re going to be a mother,” he countered. He looked down at her abdomen and rubbed it some more. “Hello, baby. We’re excited to meet you.” He looked up at Hermione. “Do you know how far along you are?”

She ran a different spell and looked at him. “Almost two months.”

“So, you’ll have the baby next… February?”

She nodded and smiled at him. “This is so exciting, Severus.”

He pulled her into a hug. “I don’t think I’ve been this happy since we wed.”

She sniffed. “Me too.”

He pulled back and looked at her. “Then why are you crying? I thought you wanted this, Maia.”

She sniffed again. “More than anything. I can’t help it. I just can’t stop crying.”

He looked at her curiously, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“It must be the hormones. I hear they can make a woman have terrible mood swings,” she hiccuped.

He kissed her reverently. “I’m sorry. What can I do to help you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just be supportive like this through the next months.”

“That I can do.” He breathed in deeply. “We have much to plan.”

She nodded. “But not tonight. Tonight, we celebrate.”

“I’ll go get us some takeout.”

“No. Let’s go out. We can head to Muggle London.”

He grinned at her. “Okay. Our usual?”

“I’m craving seafood, actually.”

He grinned. “Sweetings, then. We haven’t been there in a bit.” He took his cloak off so as not to draw too much attention to himself.

“That will be perfect!” She smiled back at him and wrapped her arm around his. With a quick spin, they Apparated away to enjoy their night out.

ooo

She’d started bleeding the very next week. They went to St. Mungos–Severus Polyjuiced as a blonde-haired man with a mustache. The healer waved her wand over Hermione’s abdomen and gave her a sorrowful look.

“I’m sorry, Miss Moreau, but you’ve lost the baby.”

“What happened?” Hermione asked through her tears.

“The baby is too small to know for sure. These things usually happen when the baby isn’t developing correctly. I’m so very sorry. I’ve cast a spell to take care of everything. You won’t need to worry about anything more. You should stop bleeding by this evening.”

Hermione nodded but couldn’t say anything. The Healer left them to themselves. Severus sat on the bed and enveloped her in his arms. She cried into him bitterly, and he tried to blink away the tears that were forming in his eyes.

“Take me home, Severus. Just take me home.”

“Of course.” He gingerly helped her out of the bed, and they took the Floo home and spent the rest of the night mourning the loss of their baby.

ooo

Jan 1988

Eight months later, Hermione was pregnant again and scared to death. She was almost three months along and was hoping to get past that milestone, as miscarrying was less likely after the first trimester. She was counting down the days until she could relax a little.

Currently, she was working with Warren. They were investigating some strange time warps that had been coming from a home in Puddlemere. The waves had happened three times now. Nothing seemed to have been affected time-wise, but they needed to figure out what was going on.

They were holed up in one of the time rooms, examining the past evidence, running simulations to try and see what was going on before they headed over to the home to investigate fully.

They were playing the second event, watching from the outside of the house. They stood in front of it, and suddenly a wave hit them. It was momentary and it coursed out from the house. They ran the scene again, this time standing in the back of the house. The wave seemed to leave the home in a circular pattern. Warren looked over at Hermione.

“Shall we go into the house?”

Hermione’s lips thinned. “Every time we try, we can’t get in the door.”

“Maybe we should try the window, or go down the chimney.”

Hermione rolled her eyes at Warren. “I’m game for the window. I suppose we could break one.”

They went over to the side of the house, where a large bay window stood. Hermione was about to cast a spell to vanish the window when her abdomen suddenly cramped. A very sharp pain shot through her, and she doubled over. Warren looked at her with concern.

“Maia, are you all right?”

She gasped for air as the pains increased. Warren steadied her as she fell to her knees. He sent his Patronus to Lilah. All Hermione could think about was the baby. She’d never felt such terrible pain before. She was huddled in a ball on the floor, crying in pain, when suddenly, everything went black.

ooo

Severus was near the end of his third class when he felt it. The necklace hidden under his clothes suddenly got very warm. He knew he needed to find out what was going on with Maia.

“Class, you are dismissed early. Finish up your essays for homework and turn them in at the start of class tomorrow.”

Everyone looked at him as if he had three heads. Severus never let them out early, but they weren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. They cleared out in a matter of minutes. Severus wrote a quick note and attached it to the door and shut up the classroom. He hurried up the stairs, sending his Patronus to Albus, telling him he had an emergency and had canceled his classes for the rest of the day. He ran through the courtyard and to the gates. Reaching underneath his cravat, he pulled out the necklace and touched the stone, immediately Apparating to wherever Hermione was.

He found himself at St. Mungo's. Looking around,d he didn’t see Hermione anywhere. He went up to a Mediwitch sitting at a desk.

“I’m looking for Maia Moreau. I heard she’d been brought in.”

“Are you next of kin?”

“I am a… friend.”

“Well,” the Mediwitch said as she looked Severus up and down. “I really can’t help you unless you’re family.”

“Then she is here?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

Severus grumbled as he turned and left the area. He quickly headed into a bathroom and glamoured himself into someone who might pass for Maia’s brother. Waiting a few minutes, he finally hurried back to the Mediwitch.

“I just got word that my sister was admitted here?”

“What’s her name?” the witch asked.

“Maia Moreau.”

“Hmm. Popular, that one is. She’s being worked on right now, so you can’t see her yet. Please have a seat in the waiting area there. When the Healer is done, he’ll come out and speak with you.”

“Thank you. Can you tell me what happened?”

She rifled through some papers. “Looks like she had an ectopic pregnancy. Her fallopian tube burst. They’re working to repair it and the internal damage.”

Severus turned pale. “Do you know if she’ll be all right?”

“I’m not sure, Mr. Moreau. They took her into emergency surgery.”

Severus gave her a clipped nod. “Thank you.” 

He settled himself across the hall in the waiting area. He was sorely tempted to pace, but there were other people waiting also, and he didn’t think that pacing around would be helpful to anyone else so he sat still and fidgeted while all sorts of horrible things went through his head. Merlin, it was going to be a long wait.

ooo

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and blinked a little. She was staring at a white ceiling.

“Oh, thank Merlin,” came a voice next to her.

She looked to her left and saw a man with short black hair and blue eyes. He was sitting in the chair next to the bed, smashed up against it and holding her hand. It made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She began to pull away from him when he spoke again.

“Maia, it’s me!” Severus’ voice came from the stranger beside her. “Your brother… Steven.”

She blinked at him as everything became clear. “Oh, Steven, I’m glad you’re here. What happened?” she asked him.

His voice broke as he explained to her. “You had an ectopic pregnancy. Maia, it almost killed you. The Healers had to fight to save you with spells and potions. They said you almost died from internal bleeding.”

Tears filled her eyes. “So, the baby…?”

“We lost her.”

A great sob escaped Hermione, and her tears seemed to be endless. Severus waved his wand at the door, warding it so no one could enter. He got into the bed with her and held her to him.

“I’m sorry, Maia. So, so sorry.”

She cried for a bit as Severus rubbed her back and mumbled sweet nothings to try and comfort her.

“I love you.”

She sniffed and pulled back, wiping her eyes.

“Thank you for being here with me.”

“Your necklace alerted me. I’m glad we made them, I would feel horrible if I couldn’t be here.”

Hermione glanced at the door. “You’d better unward that or someone is going to get suspicious of what’s going on in here.”

He smirked. Getting out of the bed, he flicked his wand at the door and said, “Finite.” Settling into the chair that was smashed against the bed, he took her hand again. “I think this is probably a brotherly action.”

Hermione smiled at him. “It’s a very brotherly thing to do.”

At that moment, the Healer came in. 

“Ah, Miss Moreau, you are awake. I’m Healer Jacobs. I’m one of the Healers that saved your life,” she said. “How are you feeling? Do you need a pain potion?”

“That would be welcome. I’m feeling some pain in my abdomen.”

Healer Jacobs helped her sit up and propped her up with some pillows. She then handed her a vial, and Hermione downed it. 

“You’re lucky to be here at all, Miss Moreau. When your tube burst, it was very difficult to stop the bleeding, and your blood pressure plummeted. Thankfully, we were able to finally stop the bleeding and repair the internal injuries.”

Severus quietly squeezed her hand.

“Will I be able to have another baby in the future?” she asked the Healer.

“Yes. Your left fallopian tube is unfortunately gone, but your other tube should be fine. You’ll need to wait a few months before trying, of course, to make sure you have healed fully.”

“Of course.” She noticed that Severus was grasping her hand in a vice-like grip.

“I’ll let the Mediwitch know that you can have another pain potion in two hours if needed.” With that, she left the room. 

Hermione looked over at Severus. “Why are you squeezing the life out of my hand?”

“Maia…” Severus’ lips thinned. “I think…” He hesitated.

“Whatever it is, Severus, just say it,” she said as she squeezed his hand back.

“I think we should give up on having a baby.”

“But… we both wanted this…”

“Not at the risk of your life, love. If you got pregnant again, and another incident like this occurred and I lost you… I don’t think I could go on. I’d much rather be childless and have you than lose you so we can have a baby.” A tear fell down his face, and he quickly wiped it away.

“There’s no guarantee that this will happen again.”

His voice broke. “But what if it does? I… I don’t want a child, Maia. I just want you.”

She was silent for a bit as she looked into Severus’ eyes. Losing two children had been so hard on her. She knew the next month or so would have her severely depressed. Would the chance of having another baby be helpful, or would knowing that they were done help her more? 

“I don’t know what to say, Severus. I don’t know what the right choice is.”

“We don’t have to decide right now, but I want you to know what my opinion is.”

“But we can’t have a baby if you don’t want one.”

“I know. If you really want to try again, I will support you, but Maia… I’m… scared. Scared I’ll lose you.”

“I’m scared, too, Severus. If we do try again, there’s a definite possibility that it could be another ectopic pregnancy. Maybe I won’t be able to survive it.” She bit her lower lip and finally nodded. “You’re right. We should give up on this.”

Severus sat on the bed next to her and caressed her cheek. “You’re sure? I don’t want to force you into something you’ll regret.”

“No, you’re right. It’s too dangerous. And with the war escalating soon… We should at least put a baby on the back burner until after the war is over.”

Severus pulled her to him and enveloped her in a hug. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“You must be disappointed too.”

“I am. Crushed, really. But I think this decision is the best for us. Especially right now.”

Hermione couldn’t help the tears from falling again. “I so wanted our little family…”

“I love you, my Maia. We can be a family of two, and that will be enough.”

She pulled back and looked at him through her tears. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, love. We will be enough, I promise you.” He pulled her to him again. “I promise you.”

ooo

Severus settled Hermione on the couch.

“I need to go to Hogwarts. I know Dumbledore is going to drill me about my absence yesterday, but I don’t care. You’re more important than him.”

She squeezed his hand. “What are you going to say to him?”

He shrugged. “That it’s none of his business. I had an emergency.”

“We don’t want him curious about what’s going on, Severus. He can’t know we’re involved in any way.”

He nodded. “I know. I just hate that he is such a bloody gossip, and that I have to make something up. I should be able to tell him my wife miscarried.”

She reached out and squeezed his arm.  “I know. It sucks, but we need to do this.”

He kissed her cheek. “I will be back after classes. I’ll skip the dinner hour.”

She smiled at him, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Okay.”

He disappeared through the Floo, and her smile disappeared with him. She turned her head and looked out the window. Tears filled her eyes. She’d been so excited to have a baby, and now they wouldn’t ever have one. Her eyes closed, and she just let the tears fall down her cheeks without wiping them away. A great sob drew from within her, and she buried her face in her hands and just cried and cried. She mourned the loss of her baby, the loss of the ability to have another, and the loss of her dream. 

After crying for a long time, she worked to compose herself. Wiping her tears away, she looked back out the window. The sun was streaming in, making rays of sunshine stream through the air. Hope… those rays of sunshine gave her hope. At least she could have that.

Standing, she made her way upstairs and went to their bedroom. She lay down and drew the covers over her. Curling into a ball, she let her mind mourn the loss of her child. She fell into a fitful slumber for a while. When she awoke again, she didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, nor did she care. She just stayed in her ball on the bed, not wanting to think about anything.

ooo

Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, Severus had emerged into his lab. Dumbledore had grilled him and had the audacity to try using Legilimency to corroborate his story. Bloody wizard almost got hexed. Damn old coot.

Thankfully, Severus had a free period before he needed to teach anything. He pulled out a cauldron. He wanted to keep busy, and a mindless Cure for Boils would keep him busy enough not to have to think about anything but chopping and stirring.

Severus put the snake fangs into his mortar and set to pulverize them with his pestle. He began to crush them. He smashed the fangs, pushing harder and harder with the pestle. His pounding became faster and more intense. With one final blow, the mortar cracked. He froze as he looked at the ruined stone bowl. The pestle dropped out of his hand and clanked against the cracked mortar.

Slamming his hands down on the table, he took some deep breaths. All the emotions he’d shuttered behind his walls came crashing through, and he gasped. He grit his teeth together. He felt so helpless. He could do nothing for his wife, and their tiny baby was no more.

Merlin, Maia had almost died. He had no idea how he would go on if something had happened to her. His eyes closed tightly. He fought with himself not to fall apart. The students would be coming in for the next class soon, and he needed to be in control. Breathing heavily, he concentrated on the in and out of his breathing, trying to clear his head. Seeing Maia lying in that bed kept running through his mind. She had looked so vulnerable, and he’d felt so incredibly helpless.

He continued to breathe. In and out. In and out. In and out.

After a long while, he had controlled himself. He vanished the broken Mortar, Pestle, and the ruined potion. Heading up to his desk, he sat down to await the class. He would struggle through it, but he would do it so that no one knew anything was wrong with their Potions Professor.

ooo

It was much later when Severus came home and found Hermione still curled up on the bed. 

“Maia?”

“Hi,” she said forlornly.

He removed his cloak and threw it on the chair, lying down in bed next to her.

“Straighten up, yeah? I can’t hug you while you’re all closed in on yourself like that.”

She straightened and moved into Severus’ arms. He kissed the top of her head.

“Talk to me,” he murmured.

“There’s nothing to say,” she said in a small voice.

He squeezed her harder to him. They lay there for a while in silence. Finally, Severus spoke.

“Okay, well, I’ll say it then.”

She pulled back and looked into his eyes, searching for a clue as to what he was about to say.

“This is total shite.”

She snorted. “That’s one way to put it.”

“How would you put it, love?”

Tears formed in her eyes. “I don’t know how to feel better, Severus.”

“It’s only been a day. You need time. And it’s okay to be miserable. I’m miserable.”

She lay her head back on his chest. “Talk to me.”

He was quiet for a bit before saying anything. “I just wish… I wish I could make it better, Maia. I wish I could wave my wand and take it all away. Make you pregnant again. Make us… parents.”

“I wish you could, too.”

Tears formed in his eyes. “I so wanted to be a father.”

“You would have been spectacular.” Pulling back, she looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Severus! I’m so sorry I couldn’t hold the baby to term. I’ve ruined the chance for us to have a family.”

“Maia, please, don’t say that. It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it is. My body can’t keep a baby in it. I’m keeping you from being a father!”

“Shhhh, that’s so wrong, Maia. It’s not your fault, and I don’t blame you. I’m just happy you’re alive.”

She sniffed. “But now, we’ll never have a…”

He put his finger over her lips. “Shhh. Stop this now. You are the love of my life. I don’t care if we don’t have children. I told you that. I just want you. You make me feel wanted, and desired, and needed.”

“But…”

“No buts, my love. I’m crushed that you lost the baby, but if I had lost you…” His eyes spilled over with tears. He pulled her up closer so he could hide his face in the crook of her neck. Hermione buried her head on his shoulder as they both let their sobs overtake them. They mourned together for a very long time. Their tears subsided after a while, but they continued to hold one another in the quiet, each mourning their loss in their own way. Hermione squeezed Severus.

“Thank you for helping me to feel better.”

“We’ll get through this together, love.”

She kissed him, then. A long, languid kiss. “I love you.”

“Mmm, you too.”

They continued to hold each other, not saying anything for a while.

“So, what happened with Dumbledore?” Hermione asked.

Severus groaned. “I told him a family member fell ill. He insisted on knowing exactly who. I had to use the name of a distant cousin of my father’s. He’s unlikely to find her because she's a Muggle. I told him she’d miscarried, and the father had abandoned her a month ago–that she had no one to turn to.”

“That was clever, Severus.”

“And keeping some of the truth helped when he probed my mind.”

“He didn’t!”

“Yes, yes, he did.”

“I hate that man,” Hermione said.

“Sometimes I do, too. Other times, I just tolerate him. Sadly, part of me feels he’s a friend.”

Hermione squeezed Severus’ arm. “That’s not a bad thing. I know you two were close in my timeline before…”

“Before what?”

She kissed his nose. “We can talk about that another day. I’m knackered from all that crying.”

He eyed her suspiciously.

“Seriously, Severus. I don’t want to talk about it today, but if you insist, we can speak about it in a day or so.”

“All right.”

ooo

A week passed. Hermione had taken off from work to recuperate. She had made an excuse that her appendix had burst, which had been the cause of her collapse. Since she had been rushed to  St. Mungos and because neither Lilah nor Warren were family, they hadn’t been able to get any information about what had happened until Hermione had sent an Owl to tell them. 

After her break from work, she found she was better physically and somewhat better mentally, not crying at the drop of a hat, which was a plus. She obviously was depressed about losing the baby, but it was getting a little easier. She was glad Severus had been there for her daily. They both needed the time to work through their grief.

Severus came home that afternoon and sat Hermione down on the sofa. 

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I’m sad, but I’m doing a little better.”

“Good. I raided the Hogwarts kitchens. Dinner’s on the table.”

Kissing him, she pulled back and grinned. “You are amazing.”

“I try.”

They rose together and sat down, and enjoyed their meal of steak and kidney pie and a delicious chocolate pudding.

After dinner, they were back on the couch. 

“So.”

Hermione looked at him. “So?”

“You were going to tell me something about Dumbledore.”

She frowned. “I did say I was going to do that, didn’t I?”

“You did.” 

She sighed. “What I’m going to tell you is going to be hard to hear.”

“Brilliant,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

She took his hand and squeezed it. “You… no, I should go back farther… Dumbledore hunts down one of the Horcruxes. It’s a ring that holds the Resurrection Stone.”

“From the Beetle the Bard story?”

Hermione nodded. “Yes, the Tale of the Three Brothers… one of the Deathly Hallows. Remember I told you about them a while ago? Dumbledore knows the story, and finding the ring, he wants to use it to see his deceased sister.”

“I didn’t know he had a sister.”

“He does, and her death is somewhat his fault. I think he wanted to apologize to her. So, not thinking that the ring is a Horcrux, he places it on his finger and is cursed. He comes back to Hogwarts, and you are able to halt the curse somewhat, but he only has a year to live.” She stopped speaking then.

“He dies?”

Her eyes moved to his. “It’s worse than that, Severus. He…” Her eyes closed.

“Just say it, Maia,” he huffed.

Opening her eyes again, she met his gaze. “He tells you to kill him. Lucius Malfoy’s son, Draco, is ordered to kill him by the Dark Lord. He doesn’t want to damage his soul, so he tells you to do it.”

“So, my soul means nothing?”

She frowned. “He didn’t think it would be affected because for you it would be a mercy killing. It will happen when Draco lets some Death Eaters into Hogwarts. You will be forced to kill him to avoid having one of your Death Eater counterparts do it.” Her eyebrows knit together, and she looked annoyed. “He’s a right git, Severus, and I always thought that there must have been another way, but I ran so many vision tests, and the only way we win and everything goes as planned is if you kill him.”

He stood and began to pace. “So, let me get this straight, not only have I divulged data that got my best friend killed, I’m going to actually kill my boss and friend too?”

“Yes.”

He turned and scowled. “How can you even associate with me?”

She got up and came up to him. “Severus, it was one of the bravest acts you ever did. Everyone hates you after that, of course. It’s exactly what Dumbledore wanted. It secured your position with the Dark Lord and gave you an inside view and the ability to protect the school, even though it seemed like you weren’t.”

“How?”

“You become Headmaster.”

Severus’ hands formed into fists. “So, I assume the position of the man I murder?!”

“It’s not murder. He told you to do it. You were keeping him from suffering from either the Death Eaters or the results of the curse.”

“How can I do it, Maia? Now that I know, how can I possibly…?”

She reached up and caressed his cheek. “You knew for almost a year when you did it before. I don’t know what you told yourself to be okay with it, but whatever it was, you were able to do it. And if you don’t, the war will be lost.” She pulled him into her embrace. “I know this is horrible, but you can do it. I love and respect you. It will never change my view about you. Never.”

His arms came around her. “I don't think I can do this, Maia. I have gone out of my way to not be involved in killing, and now I have to kill someone that I care about?”

“I know, love. I’m so sorry. Let it sit. It won’t happen for years. Enough so that you can come to grips with it.”

“I will never come to grips with it, despite him being a manipulative bastard.”

She squeezed him. “I understand, but with time, you’ll be able to do it.”

He buried his head in the crook of her neck. “I will turn into a murderer.”

She squeezed him for support. “It’s a mercy killing, love, not murder.”

He didn’t say anything, just pulled her tighter into his embrace. He kept his head hidden as he came to grips with everything. After a long while, he pulled back.

“I hate this.”

“Me too,” she commiserated. 

“You’re sure there’s no other way?”

Hermione shook her head and gave him a bitter frown. “I’m sorry, love, there’s not.”

“You’ll still be there… afterward?” His eyes searched her plaintively.

She leaned in and kissed him. “Yes, Severus. I will always be there. I will never, ever leave you. I will be there to support you. I’m sure it will be a difficult time to deal with.”

He pulled her to him and crushed her with his embrace. “Thank you, love. Anyone else would run the other way.”

“Well, I knew all about this from the get-go, you know. I have always wanted to be close to you, no matter what.”

His kiss was passionate and desperate, all in one. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

Chapter Text

August 1991

Severus and Hermione worked hard to get past the loss of two children. There were good days and bad days for a while, but slowly, it hurt less. Time moved along, and they continued in their jobs and slowly healed. Before they knew it, the year that Harry Potter would arrive at Hogwarts was upon them.

ooo

The summer had rushed by. Severus and Hermione were enjoying the last week or so of the break and had gone to a Muggle park to have a picnic. They settled down on the picnic blanket and ate their lunch.

“I’m sorry to see the summer winding down,” Hermione mused.

“Only a week and a half until school starts again.”

“Don’t judge me too harshly when you meet me,” Hermione mused.

He arched a brow. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I was… an eager student. You hated that I constantly waved my hand in the air to answer… well, everything.”

“Why did you do that?”

Hermione sighed. “I was a Muggleborn witch who had just recently found out about the magical world. I felt that I needed to prove myself, and I quickly learned that being Muggleborn was a negative. I had to work doubly hard so people would know that I belonged there.”

“I’ll remember that.” He put a grape in his mouth and chewed as he nodded at her.

“You can’t treat me nicely, Severus. I’ll be Harry Potter’s best friend. You need to treat me poorly.”

He gave her a grumpy look. “I know that. I just… Nevermind. I guess I can’t treat you nicely in any way, can I?”

She shook her head. 

“Maia, this is detestable. Up until now, I’ve had to be grumpy in general. Now I’ll need to be loathsome to some of you just to keep up my persona.”

“It’s foul, I know. But you can do it.”

“I will have to, won’t I?” he ground out.

“And you will be successful.”

“I don’t think I like the sound of that,” Severus said with a frown.

ooo

Later that night, Severus held Hermione as they lay in bed.

“I’m nervous.”

“You are? About what?” Hermione asked with some surprise.

“About Potter.”

Hermione reached out and caressed his cheek. “What about him, love?”

His eyes closed. “I do not want to teach the son of my enemy, but I have no choice. I don’t want to deal with another arrogant bastard.”

Hermione gathered him to her in a hug. “He’s not like his father, Severus.”

His arms wrapped around her, and he squeezed her to him. “Even if you’re right, this means that the Dark Lord is coming.”

“It does, but he won’t appear for a few years.”

“When?”

“The end of my fourth year.”

“Is there any way to stop him?”

“We can’t. Everything that could be done already has been.”

“I feel like my life is slowly seeping away from me.”

Hermione pulled back enough so she could kiss him. “Remember, I am always here for you, no matter what happens.”

“I don’t know how I would handle all of this without you.”

ooo

Severus stepped through the Floo with a frown on his face. He sat next to Hermione and kissed her. They enjoyed one another for a bit before separating.

“I missed you,” she said with a sigh.

“I missed you horribly.”

“You looked upset when you came through the Floo.” Her eyes searched his as she waited for him to tell her of his day.

“I was.” He paused. “Potter…”

She squeezed his hand. “Tell me.”

Severus stood and began to pace. “He thinks because he’s the Chosen One, he doesn’t have to listen to anything. He was doodling while I was trying to give my opening lecture!”

Hermione arched her brow at him. 

“He didn’t even have the temerity to look embarrassed for not listening. He’s bloody cocky, just like his father.”

Hermione just looked at him.

“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” Severus asked caustically.

“He was taking notes,” she told him simply.

“What?”

“He was taking notes on your lecture. ‘Bottle fame, brew glory…’ he was writing all of that down.”

“How would you know? You were too busy waving your hand in the air to pay attention to what anyone else was doing.”

Hermione bristled. “Look, I told you I was here for you, but if you get something wrong, I’m going to tell you about it. If you don’t like that, it’s too bad, but don’t you dare belittle me for actions I already told you I was embarrassed about.” Glaring at him, she stood and left the room. She stormed up the stairs and went to their bedroom. Folding her arms, she settled in front of the window and gazed out absently. All she could do was stare and fume about Severus acting like an arse.

She wasn’t sure how long she had been there–some time had passed–before Severus came into the room. She was sitting on the bed when he came up to her and knelt before her, placing his hands on her legs, then taking her hands in his.

“I’m sorry. What I said was uncalled for. I shouldn’t have said any of it.”

She didn’t meet his eyes, nor did she say anything.

“Maia? Really, I didn’t mean it.”

“Of course you did. You thought I was an insufferable know-it-all, right?”

“Well, I didn’t say that.”

“You did in my third year, and I’m sure you thought it multiple times before that.” She pulled her hands from his. “Just… Please leave me alone right now, Severus. I’m too angry to discuss this civilly.”

He stared at her for a bit before standing. “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to hurt you like that.”

He turned and left her to herself. She stayed alone in the room for quite a while, but it was getting late. She got up and moved out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

“I’ll set dinner out,” Hermione said as she made her way past Severus and into the kitchen. She pulled the roast chicken and veg out of the oven and got it onto a serving plate. Setting out the plates, she called out to Severus.

He came into the kitchen and sat down. Taking his plate, he filled it. Looking up at Hermione, he opened his mouth to speak. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he decided against it, casting his eyes back to his meal. They ate silently, finishing up quickly. Severus went into the sitting room and pulled out some essays, and started grading them. Hermione set the dishes to washing and put the leftover chicken in the fridge. She came out and sat next to Severus. He quickly put his papers away and turned to her. He had a pained look on his face.

“Can we talk about this?” he asked.

She turned her head away from him, but nodded in agreement.

“Maia, I acted awfully. I’m sorry.”

“Now that you know what I was like as a child, are you going to throw it in my face every time we have a disagreement?”

“I will never bring it up again.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “Maia, please look at me.”

She turned her head and looked into his eyes.

“I don’t know what it is about Potter, but just looking at him sets me on edge. I know you say he’s not his father, but all I can see is James when I look at him. Maybe he was taking notes today, and I thought he was up to something, but even if he was being studious, I can’t get past him looking like James. He brings so many negative memories.”

Hermione was silent for a bit, just looking at him. “I’m sorry he instills those emotions in you. It’s not fair that you have to teach him and have him constantly remind you of his foul father.”

Squeezing her hand, he continued. “I’m so sorry I said what I did. I never meant to hurt you.”

She searched his face before sighing. “I think it was more than that. Almost every time you insulted me as a student, it was about me being a know-it-all. You hurt my feelings many times. This time was just like we had that student-teacher dynamic, and you were making fun of me all over again.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was an arse to you while you were in school. I’m sorry that some of what I said, I probably meant. I’m sorry that all of that came flooding back to you when I acted so foul. Please, Maia, I love you. I would never want to hurt you like that. Please forgive me.”

She wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes. She nodded and found herself surrounded by Severus’ arms. She buried herself in his chest and let him comfort her. He rubbed her back as he whispered in her ear.

“I’m a fool, Maia. You are the most wonderful woman in the world, and all I could do today was say caustic things to you.”

“I forgive you, Severus. Let’s put it behind us and not dwell on it. I understand you were upset about Harry.”

He sighed as he continued to rub her back. “I need to keep Potter out of our personal lives.”

She chuckled. “That’s going to be impossible. We’ll just deal with it, Severus. I told you I’m here for you.”

His lips met hers, and he kissed her reverently. “I love you.”

She smiled at him finally. “I love you, too.” Looking into his eyes, she smirked. “You know what’s great about fighting with one another?” Hermione asked with a brow wiggle.

“What?”

“Makeup sex.”

He smirked at her. “Lead the way.”

ooo

Severus came through the Floo and glared at Hermione. 

“You set fire to my robes?”

“Oh, was that today?” she asked innocently, her eyebrows lifting in surprise.

“Woman, you are a menace! First you try to fell a troll, now this!”

“I can explain. And before I do, I’m sorry I did that. I’ve always regretted it.”

He folded his arms and awaited her explanation. She blushed three shades of red before beginning.

“You see, you were the enemy. Or should I say you are the enemy? Harry thinks you’re up to something, and he’s got all of us thinking he’s right. When the shenanigans happened with his broom, I saw you muttering a spell and jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

“So, you set my robes on fire…”

“Merlin, Severus, I was twelve. I had no idea what to do, and it was the first thing that popped into my mind to try and stop you from killing Harry.”

He stared at her with a steely look.

“I swear, Severus, I’m so sorry. I would have set Quirrel’s robes ablaze if I’d known he was the one attacking Harry. Please forgive me.”

He continued to glare at her until there was a small tick in his cheek. He smirked finally. “You are so bloody lucky that I adore you. When I figured out it was you, I was tempted to give you detention for the entire year–but I reconsidered. Bloody troublemaker.”

“I was. I fully admit it. And I’m sorry.”

“You already apologized. Now, come here and make it up to me.”

She rose and came up to him slowly, putting her arms around his neck. “I do need to make amends, don’t I?”

“Absolutely.”

She gave him a wide-eyed, innocent look. “Perhaps we can play student and teacher?”

He arched his brow. “Sounds… intriguing.”

“Please, Professor, how can I make amends for setting your robes on fire?”

He stared at her for a full minute before responding. “Well, Miss Granger, I think perhaps bending you over my knee would do.”

“Can I be naked?”

He groaned and pulled her close, kissing her passionately. Finally, pulling back, he assumed his Professor persona.

“Take off your clothes, Miss Granger.”

“Yes sir!”

She pulled her jumper over her head, revealing her black bra. Shimmying out of her trousers, she revealed a black thong.

“Wait!” Severus demanded with a raise of his hand. “Turn around… slowly.”

“Yes, sir.”

She turned very slowly until she was facing him again.

“Come with me,” he ordered.

She followed him as he went up the stairs and into their bedroom. She made sure she was looking at him innocently as he turned and sat on the bed.

“Over my knee.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And take your knickers off.”

She complied slowly moving them down to the floor and then gently laid down over his legs, her arse sticking up at him. She wiggled herself slightly.

“Miss Granger, this is not the time for you to be enjoying yourself. You are here to be punished for what you did to me.”

She stilled. “Yes, sir.”

“Now, I would like you to count as you receive your punishment. You can count, can’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

He smacked her arse, and she yelped.

“Count, Miss Granger.”

“One!”

Slap

“Two!”

Slap

She gasped.

“I didn’t hear you, Granger.”

“Three!”

Slap

“Four!” she cried with a whimper.

Slap

“Five!” she gasped again. “Please, sir! No more. It hurts, and I’ve learned my lesson.”

“You will count until I am done.”

Slap. His smack was slightly more gentle.

“Six!”

“How are you feeling, Miss Granger?”

“Sorry, sir. Very sorry.”

“How does it feel to be over your teacher’s knee receiving your punishment?”

“It’s… I’m… I’m afraid to say, sir.”

“You will answer me when I ask you a question.” 

Smack.

“Seven!”

“How does it feel, Miss Granger?”

“It’s embarrassing… and hot.”

He stilled. “Hot? You find me spanking you hot? Could it be that you are hot for teacher?”

“Sir, I’ve had the hots for you since I first saw you.”

He took his hand and massaged her red arse. She yelped again, but then groaned. His massaging made her feel incredibly aroused.

Severus bent low and whispered in her ear. “Now that you’ve been punished, what will you do to please me?”

“Anything,” she ground out as she felt more and more excited as he massaged her aching rear end. “Anything you want, sir. I’m yours.”

“Mine? Are you sure you want to commit to that, Miss Granger?” he asked. Bending low again, he plunged two fingers into her quim and wiggled them as he whispered once more. “I swear if you give yourself to me, I will never let you go.”

She came right there. “Oh God, Severus!” she cried out as she squirmed on his fingers. After a bit, he pulled them out of her and sucked her juices off them.

“Delicious,” he murmured. “But I didn’t give you permission to call me Severus.”

She was still gasping. “I’m sorry… sir.”

“You are forgiven this time. Do not let it happen again.”

“I won’t, Professor.”

“Now.” He paused. “Get on your knees in front of me.”

She complied readily, looking up at him wantonly as he stood and unbuttoned his trousers. “Do you know what you’re going to do?”

“I hope so, sir.”

He slid his trousers and pants down, leaving himself bare before her.

“Show me how much you want me.”

She eagerly captured him with her mouth. She drew her tongue over his tip as she closed her lips around him.

‘Oh, God,” he moaned as he threw his head back. 

She smiled, then enclosed him with her mouth, slowly sucking him up and down.

“Faster,” he groaned as his hand guided her head. “Faster, my sweet Gryffindor.”

She increased her intensity, and he was soon crying out. “No! Not yet. I have a better place to come. Get on your hands and knees up on the bed.”

Hermione hurried to comply. He moved up behind her and placed the tip of his cock at her entrance.

“Once I do this, Granger, you will be mine forever.”

“Yes! Yes, Professor. Make me yours!”

“As you wish.”

He plunged into her, causing her to cry out. Holding himself within her, he reached forward and massaged her breasts.

“Severus, gol, just move, please!”

“It’s sir, or professor.”

“Sir! Start moving, now!”

He chuckled. “And what if I don’t?”

She struggled to move away from him, but he held her still. “Now, now. I’m in charge, remember? I’m your professor. You come for me! ”

“Professor, please… make me come!”

“That’s better.” 

He began to move slowly in and out of her. Straightening up, he curled his hand under his cock and massaged her clit. She began keening. He moved in and out of her faster, becoming erratic as he came near to exploding within her.

“Come for me, Granger!”

“Ahhh!” she cried as she convulsed and clamped down on his cock. He could hold himself no longer as he slammed into her and came, filling her up. He folded over down onto her back, giving her small kisses wherever he could reach. She collapsed under him finally, drawing him out of her. He pulled her to him.

“That was intense,” Hermione murmured.

“Indeed. Unfortunately, I will now be unable to look Miss Granger in the eye for at least a month.”

Hermione laughed. “It was so worth it, though.”

“Mmm, yes.” He was quiet for a bit, just holding her to him. He kissed the top of her head. “Would you want to do that again sometime?”

She nodded into him.

He chuckled. “Well, not anytime soon. Like I said, I still need to teach you as a twelve year old. But we will do this again.”

Hermione pulled back and looked at him with a beautiful smile. “I love you… so much.”

He kissed her then. Lovingly, passionately, as if she were the only person on earth. “I love you too.”

ooo

Severus came up behind Hermione, who was stirring a pot of stew on the stove. His arms wrapped around her. “Can I ask you something?”

She turned around into him and smiled at him. “Of course!”

“Are you this much of a troublemaker for the rest of your school years?”

She frowned. “If I said yes, would that make you upset?”

“Maia, you could have been hurt.”

“But I wasn’t, and Harry defeated the Dark Lord.”

“All year, the three of you have been nothing but trouble. From the time you were attacked by the troll to you three going to the forbidden corridor and almost getting eaten by Fluffy…”

“I solved your logic puzzle.”

He stiffened. “I know you did, and I’m not surprised, but Maia, you’ve put yourself in danger multiple times this year. I want you to survive your school years so you can come to me.”

“Well, I already did, didn’t I?”

“That’s not the point!”

“Yes it is!”

“Maia!”

She shrugged. “I can’t do anything about what happens, Severus. It just does. I don’t seek out danger, it follows Harry, and he’s my friend, so of course I’m in the thick of things.”

“I just… When I found out what happened… I mean, I knew you were all right, but…” He pulled her closer to him. “I felt helpless. There was nothing I could have done to help you.”

She looked up at him and cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that a lot of what is to come… Well, you can’t do anything to save or help me. And that’s how it needs to be, which is why I really haven’t mentioned much of what happens. I think it’s easier to have you just naturally react.”

“You’ll tell me if there’s something I can do to help you?”

She kissed him. He softened and enjoyed her passionate onslaught.

“I will. I’ll let you know you can brush up on your Mandrake potion for next year.”

He groaned. “Maia.”

She laughed and pulled him in for another kiss.

Chapter Text

Second year Aug 1992

“School begins tomorrow.” 

Severus stroked Hermione’s cheek as they lay in bed, cuddling.

“It does,” she replied.

“What do I need to know?”

“Have you heard of the Chamber of Secrets?”

Severus’ eyebrows furrowed. “I have, but the death that resulted when the chamber was opened happened a long time ago.”

“Well, it will play a big part in the year. Students will be petrified.”

“What is doing it?”

Hermione’s lips thinned. “Do you want to know? Won’t it be hard not to tell Dumbledore? They almost closed the school because it got so bad.”

“I can control myself around Albus. What’s causing it?”

She explained about the Basilisk and how someone had gotten into the Chamber of Secrets.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Just be ready to brew Mandrake Restorative Draught.”

“Should I start now?”

Hermione shook her head. “No. That would be helpful to those who get petrified, but the timeline needs to stay as it was.”

Pulling her to him, he kissed her lovingly. “I wish we could just fast forward to the end of the war. I feel like things are just getting worse as we go.”

“You’re right.” She captured his lips and kissed him some more.

“Are you sure you have to go to work today? Can’t you owl in? This will be the last time we have some free time together.”

Hermione regarded him carefully. “I suppose I could Floo Lilah and tell her I’m under the weather.”

Severus’ face brightened. “Would you?”

She tapped his nose, causing him to blush.

“I’ll do it now.” Getting up, she disappeared, heading to the fireplace. 

Severus sat up in bed awaiting her return. She wasn’t gone long. Hopping back in bed, she entered his open arms, and they cuddled together a while longer.

“What shall we do with all our newfound time together?” Severus asked finally.

“Oh, let’s go to the museum. I haven’t had a chance to go in ages.”

“All right. And we can get a meal out while we’re in London,” Severus offered.

“Brilliant.”

“The real brilliant thing is that we will be together all day.”

Hermione’s kiss was all he needed to sustain him for the rest of the day.

ooo

Severus waited in the wings as the great buffoon introduced his bloody Dueling club. He wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to help Lockhart. Ultimately, he hoped that someone might learn something, and that would be impossible if it were just Lockhart pontificating.

He huffed as he heard his name being called out. Mounting the stairs of the podium that had been set up, he neared Lockhart. He quickly plotted to put Gilderoy in his place. 

Severus’ eyes strayed to Granger. He arched a brow at her obvious pining for the cretin who stood before him. No matter. She’d be thinking twice about him in a few seconds.

Raising his wand, he bowed courteously to Lockhart to begin the duel. Turning and pacing back a bit, he turned, raising his wand above his head, ready to strike. 

“Expelliarmus!” he cried as he cast, sending Gilderoy Lockhart flying. He smirked as the other wizard blustered and tried to explain away why he’d just been defeated so brilliantly. Severus suggested some students try their hand at dueling, and was soon watching Draco try to best Potter. He hoped the young man would teach Potter a lesson just like he had done to Lockhart, but before he knew it, Draco had sent a snake to attack the boy.

Severus watched in horror as Potter spoke to the snake. Who the hell knew what was being said, but Mr. Finch-Fletchly certainly thought that Potter was telling the snake to attack him. Severus lifted his wand and disintegrated the reptile, giving Potter a wary look.

The club ended for the day right then. Severus watched Potter talk animatedly to Weasley, then stalk away. Severus followed him.

“Potter?”

The boy froze, then turned slowly. “Yes, Professor?”

“You can speak to snakes. That’s a rare gift,” Severus mused. “How long have you been able to do it?”

“I’m not sure, sir. I didn’t realize I was actually speaking a different language. It just comes to me.”

Severus arched a brow. “Well… be careful. Knowing how to speak to snakes isn’t a positive trait.”

Harry huffed. “I just figured that one out.”

Severus gave him a quick nod of his head in dismissal. He stared after him as the boy made his way down the hall and disappeared.

ooo

Severus gave Hermione an annoyed look. “You fancy that blowhard.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Lockhart. I saw the way you were looking at him during the Dueling Club.”

“Oh, him. Yes, my younger self was quite taken by him at the time.” She shrugged. “I mean, he’s handsome and seems to have had so many adventures.”

Severus huffed.

“I was thirteen, Severus. I had no idea what I was doing.”

“Should I make sure you’re never around him?”

Hermione frowned. “I’ve found someone so much better than that fraud. Severus, I would have never thought you would be jealous of that git.”

Severus pulled her into an embrace. “I’m sorry. I’m not really jealous, but I just don’t understand why all the girls are ga-ga over him, and you being one of them just rubs the wrong way, you know? He’s a bloody imbecile.”

“I’m sorry, too, then.” She rested her head on his chest. “I agree with you about him being an imbecile. He’s ridiculous. Actually, he taught me a valuable lesson… not to judge people without really knowing them. We all look for the pretty face. We think they must be the best person or a good person. Lockhart is the antithesis of that. I kicked myself when I realized how horrible he is.”

Severus smirked. “Do you remember how I made him fly?”

Hermione laughed. “That’s a funny way to put it. I was so horrified, but you were brilliant.”

“I wanted the students to know you don’t always have to cast a hex or curse in order to be effective.”

“Well, that’s Harry’s favorite spell, so I think your lesson did what you intended.”

“You’re kidding me!”

She shook her head. “No, he uses it over anything else. He still does as an Auror. He said that most people aren’t expecting a disarming spell. It takes them by surprise.”

“It seems the boy is teachable…”

Hermione bat at his chest. “Leave him alone. He’s not a bad student.”

“Except for being full of himself. I assume he’ll have a hard go of it after today.”

“The Parseltongue?”

Severus nodded.

“You’re right. Justin thought he was sicking the snake on him, and everyone thinks he’s the heir of Slytherin now.”

“Is he?” Severus asked sagely.

Hermione scoffed. “Of course not!”

Severus sighed and looked away. “I wish we could just break the timeline. I don’t want any other petrifications.”

Hermione squeezed him. “I know, but we can’t. And I promise, everyone will be fine in the end. Thanks to you, really. Without that potion, everyone would be petrified forever.”

ooo

Christmas Day

Severus and Hermione had a lovely Christmas morning, opening presents and enjoying a leisurely breakfast. They’d spent the afternoon cuddled in front of the fire, but Severus had to go to Hogwarts for Christmas dinner.

“I wish you could come with me,” he told Hermione as he kissed her goodbye.

“So do I. I hate being parted from you at Christmas.”

“I’m sorry. Someday this war will be over, and we won’t have to hide ourselves from the world.”

She smiled at him. “It can’t come soon enough.”

He kissed her once more and disappeared through the Floo. She gazed after him, missing him already. There was nothing for it, however. He needed to keep up appearances. Hermione picked up the book Severus had given her– Arithmancy and Its Various Uses– and began to read as she waited for her husband’s return.

ooo

It was quite a bit later when Severus came in through the Floo. He was carrying a box.

“After my evening, I thought I would bring you one more Christmas gift,” he explained as he handed the box to her.

“Oh, that’s so thoughtful!” She pulled the lid off the box and found a stuffed cat toy within it. “Oh!” she said with surprise. “This is cute, Severus. What made you think to get me this?” She pulled the stuffed animal out of the box and looked at the cute grey kitty.

“It’s to celebrate you stealing from my stores, brewing Polyjuice, and turning yourself into a cat-woman.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my God. I forgot that was tonight.” She winced at him. “You’re upset with me, aren’t you?”

He sat down next to her and pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. “No. Well, yes. I’m upset with the thirteen-year-old you that snuck around and stole from me. I’m impressed that a second-year could create Polyjuice, and…” he began to chuckle. “I find it incredibly amusing that you made such a blunder as to turn yourself into a cat.”

“Ugh, this year was the worst! I swear, I felt like I had a tail for two months after the month I spent in the Infirmary recuperating.”

Severus sighed. “I wish there was something I could do for your younger self,” Severus murmured. “Madam Pomfrey told me about your condition. She thought that she would need a potion to reverse the effects, but I explained to her that using the animal hair…”

“Extends the duration of the potion,” they said in unison.

“It will, unfortunately, need to just wear off.” Severus squeezed Hermione.

“And I will spend a month waiting for it to do so. Merlin, I hated that year.”

Severus kissed her temple. “Given the fact that you will be in cat form for a month, I decided to forgo any detentions. The Infirmary is worse than scrubbing cauldrons anyway.”

“That’s for sure.” 

They smirked at each other. Hermione looked down at the cat toy. “I think I’ll call her Polly.”

Severus guffawed. “Of course you will.” 

She looked over at him. “I’m sorry I stole from your stores. It was for a good cause.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“You don’t know?”

“I’m not omniscient, and I didn’t use Legilimency to figure out what you’d been playing at.”

“Hmmm.”

He rolled his eyes. “Just tell me.”

She looked at him and thinned her lips. “We thought that Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin and had opened the Chamber of Secrets.”

Severus laughed. “Draco? You’ve got to be kidding me. Hahaha, that would be impossible!”

“Yes, well, you’re right, of course, but at the time… Harry gets an idea in his head, and it’s almost impossible to get it out.”

“Much like his father.”

“Yes, probably. I’d imagine it’s like his mother, too. You said that she was stubborn at times.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Anyway, we had the bright idea to infiltrate the Slytherin Dormitory as Draco’s friends. I was to be Milicent Bulstrode. Little did I know she had a cat, and the hair I nicked belonged to her familiar.”

Severus smirked. “Serves you right, you troublemaker.”

Hermione eyed Severus. “I’ve no doubt you thought that originally in my timeline, too.”

He kissed her forehead. “At least you weren't hurt, just… oddly catlike.”

She shook her head at him. “I suppose I deserved that remark.”

ooo

She heard Severus calling to her before she realized he was home.

“Maia! Maia, are you here?”

“I’m upstairs, Severus.”

He had soon climbed the stairs and had entered the study where Hermione was working at the desk.

“We need to talk.”

She got up and embraced him. “I’m glad you’re home. What’s wrong?”

“I thought you trusted me.”

Hermione pulled back and saw Severus’ frown. “Of course I trust you!”

“Then why, for the love of Merlin, did you not tell me that you were one of the students petrified?”

“Oh.”

“Maia, we’re working together, right? Hiding things from me…”

“I wasn’t hiding–”

“Yes, you were. By not telling me that you were petrified, you were hiding information from me. Do you think I would change time?”

“No!” She bit her lip. “I just… Severus, there’s so much that goes on. I was just sparing you the burden of knowing about it.”

“I don’t need to be coddled! We are married. We are supposed to share everything! You’ve…”

His lips thinned. He turned and left the room, heading down the stairs and out the door. Hermione gaped after him. She snapped her mouth shut and frowned. 

Sighing, she headed out of the study and downstairs, throwing herself into her reading chair. She felt terrible. She’d messed up in trying to spare Severus. Instead of protecting him, she’d just made him think that she didn’t trust him. That was something Severus Snape didn’t need in his life anymore. She bit her bottom lip as she hoped he’d come back soon so they could get past her blunder.

ooo

She’d given up waiting for him to come home and was now in bed, staring at the ceiling. She was relieved when she heard the door open and close. She waited for Severus to come upstairs, but after a long while, she realized he wasn’t coming. She sat up, furrowing her brow. Should she go downstairs, or would he not want to talk to her still?

He’d come home, so some part of him must want to hash this out.

She got up and went downstairs. Severus was lying on the sofa with a blanket over him. Tears threatened to fall as Hermione realized he was planning on sleeping on the couch. She came up to him and sat on the floor by him.

“Can we talk?” 

He said nothing.

“I’ve been a fool, Severus, and I’m so sorry. I thought I was protecting you. I thought that the less you knew, the better you’d be able to react when something came along. I didn’t want you worrying about me either.”

His eyes wandered over to her. “I get what you’re trying to say, but don’t you understand how this makes me feel?”

She reached out and placed her hand on his. “Tell me.”

“We are one, are we not?”

Hermione nodded.

“Well, when you don’t share what you know, then that puts a divider between the two of us. It makes me feel…” he looked away.

Hermione sat quietly awaiting him to continue.

“I feel like you don’t trust me. Like you’re expecting me to just blow the timeline, despite me giving you my word, I would not.” His eyes closed. “You make me feel the way Dumbledore makes me feel.”

“Oh God!” The tears that had been forming in her eyes streamed down her cheeks, and she sobbed. “Severus, I never… I would never want… I’m so stupid!” She pulled away from him and put her head in her hands, and sobbed.  “I didn’t even think that you would feel that way, but of course, I should have. Gods, I’ve ruined everything.”

“Maia.”

She continued to weep bitterly. “I did the one thing I promised myself I’d never do to you.”

“What is that?”

“Make you feel unwanted, unloved, untrusted. I’m sorry, Severus. I’m so sorry.”

He got off the couch and sat down beside her. Pulling her to him, he surrounded her in an embrace. “Don’t fret, love.”

“I’m sorry.” She leaned into him and sobbed on his shoulder.

“Shhh. Please stop crying. I understand why you did it. Do you understand why I was upset?”

She nodded into his chest.

“Can we work together from now on?”

She nodded again.

“Would you, in the future, give me a synopsis of important events before the school year begins?”

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t before. I won’t keep things from you again.”

“Good.” His eyes searched hers. Reaching out, he wiped her tears. “You don’t need to cry anymore, Maia.”

She nodded and leaned in, kissing his cheek.

“Now, now. We’ve just had a row. I expect a better kiss than that.”

She gave him a watery grin and moved back in, capturing his lips. He entered her mouth and tangled with her tongue.

“That’s better.”

“I’m sorry,” she offered.

“It’s done. We’ve talked it out. We can forget about it.”

“Well, that’s not easy.”

He kissed her forehead. “We all make mistakes, Maia. This isn’t the first disagreement we’ve had.”

She sighed. “You’re right, I just feel so awful that I made you feel the way I did.”

“How about we change the subject so you can move on?”

She nodded and gave him a rueful smile.

“So, what do I need to know about this year?”

“Well, let me see what you know already…. You make the potion once the Mandrakes are mature. Lockhart turns out to be a charlatan.”

Severus snorted.

“Well, as a second-year, you can imagine I was surprised.”

“He’s a pompous ass.”

“Did you know he’s very good at Obliviation?”

“I had no idea.”

Hermione told him how the rest of the year turned out. They discussed the end of the year in depth.

“Is there something I can do to help?”

“No, you weren’t involved in the Chamber. Just do what comes naturally.”

“All right.”

“You should probably know something about next year sooner rather than later, too.”

“What’s that?”

“Dumbledore gets Remus Lupin to teach Defense next year.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s a good teacher.”

“Yes, but he’s a bloody werewolf. He’s going to eat the children!”

She smirked at him. “Thankfully, he doesn’t, but I thought you should be prepared to have to deal with him.”

“Lovely.”

“I really don’t know much about your interactions with him.”

“I can only imagine what they will be like.”

“I’m sorry you have to deal with him.”

“Dumbledore doesn’t care how I feel. If he did, he wouldn’t bring the wolf back.”

“I agree with you. He can only see his outcome and desires. He never thinks about how his actions and decisions affect others.”

“He’s a bastard sometimes.”

Hermione nodded. “At least it’s only for a year.”

“Thanks to the curse on the position.” He sighed. “Well, at least I have some time to get accustomed to it before I have to deal with him.”

“Like I said, he was a good teacher, at least.”

“We’ll see.”

ooo

Mid May 

“I need to go back to Hogwarts tonight.”

Hermione looked up from her book at Severus. “Oh, why?”

“The Mandrake draught is at a volatile time in its brewing. I need to tend to it.”

“May I come with you?”

He arched a brow.

“We’ve both been away all day. I miss spending time with you.”

He gave her a gentle smile. “Yes, we can just Floo to my lab.”

They went through the Floo, and Severus moved ahead of Hermione to his cauldron. She moved up to him as he lifted the stasis charm and began stirring it.

“It looks good,” he murmured. “If it wasn’t stirred now, though, there is a high chance it would explode.”

“I love watching you work. I wish you brewed at home more often.”

He glanced up at her. “I suppose I could. It’s just easier here, as I’m here for most of the day.”

“I know. There’s just something about your concentration when you’re creating a potion.” She leaned up and whispered in his ear. “It’s intoxicating.”

He turned to her and arched a brow. “Is it, now?”

She nodded coyly, making him smirk. “You are a vixen.”

Leaning in, he kissed her sultrily. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Severus snapped his head toward it. 

“Disillusion yourself,” he said as he made his way to open the door. 

With a wave of her wand, Hermione was invisible. Just to be sure, she ran over to the desk and hid underneath it. If it was Dumbledore, she wasn’t sure if he could see through Disillusionment charms.

Severus opened the door, and sure enough, it was Dumbledore.

“Ah, Severus, I was wondering how the Mandrake Draught is coming.”

Severus stepped back and let the Headmaster pass through. Hermione swore she saw Dumbledore’s eyes move to the desk where she was hiding, but he did not linger on it. The old man turned away. Hermione didn’t know if she was visible or not, but she breathed very slowly to not attract any attention to herself.

Dumbledore meandered over to the cauldron.

“Ah, it looks marvelous.”

“It will be ready in a couple of days.”

“Thank heavens. Those poor petrified students… and the cat, of course.”

“Perhaps you should be concentrating on who is behind all of this.”

Dumbledore looked at him gravely. “I am working on it.”

“Hopefully, there won’t be any more incidents while you figure it out.”

Severus picked up the stirrer and gave the draught five more stirs before placing the stirrer back down and waving his wand over the cauldron, replacing the stasis charm.

“That’ll do for now.” He looked at Dumbledore. “The students should be back to normal in a few days.”

Dumbledore grasped Severus’ arm. “Thank you, Severus. I always know I can count on you when things like this are needed.”

Severus’ eyes grew wide. “Thank you, Albus.”

“I’ll leave you to your evening.” 

Dumbledore turned and left. Severus waved his wand and closed the door behind the Headmaster. Hermione stood and Disillusioned herself.

“I swear, I think he could see me,” she remarked as she came up to Severus.

“I don’t think he did. He would have said something.”

“I was hiding behind the desk.”

“Were you?”

Hermione nodded.

“Clever girl.”

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. “Are you done, love?”

He nodded.

“Well, how about we continue with all that flirting we were doing before Dumbledore rudely interrupted us.”

Severus grinned. “Sounds perfect.” Drawing her along with him, they moved to the fireplace and headed home to enjoy their evening together.

Chapter Text

1993 summer before 3rd year

“Hey, Maia, guess what?”

Warren had come up to her with a huge smile on his face. She turned to him and smiled back.

“What’s up, Warren?”

“I just met with Lilah. She’s given me a promotion to Supervisor over the department!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Hermione cried. “You’ll do a fabulous job as a leader. I guess I should call you boss now, huh?”

“You’d better not. I’m Warren, and always will be.”

“Well, congratulations. She wanted to meet with me now. I wonder what she is going to say?”

“Well, I know, but I can’t tell you.” He grinned at her mischievously. 

She shook her head at him. “Fine. I’ll go see what this is all about then.” 

He waved at her as she turned to meet Lilah.

Heading to her boss’s office, she knocked on the open door before entering the room. “Good morning,” she greeted.

“Good morning!” Lilah replied. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

She sat down and looked at Lilah, not sure what to expect.

“Maia, you’ve been doing wonderful work here. Your trials with Warren about aging and time have been landmark studies. I wanted to reward you for your hard work.”

“Oh?” 

“Yes. As you know, there were so many instances of time issues needing to be investigated that we created the Outside Investigations Department. I want to promote you to a field agent. Your specialty will be time investigations, of course, but when you’re not working on those, you’ll help with other aspects of the department that need outside investigation.”

“Wow, that was unexpected,” Hermione said absently. “Are you sure…?”

“That you can handle the job? Absolutely. You’re the best suited for this position. You’ll be paired with another Unspeakable. She works in the Love Room.”

Hermione arched a brow, already excited to discuss the love room and what happened in there with her new partner. Granted, she knew they could only talk about their relative positions sparingly, but anything learned about the other rooms would be fascinating. She came out of her musing when she heard the name of her new partner.

“You’ll be working with Andromeda Tonks.”

Hermione’s head snapped up. “Wait, Andromeda Tonks is an Unspeakable?”

“You know her?”

“Well, not personally, no, but I’ve heard of her. I just thought she was a housewitch.”

“Yes, well, as you know, we often have to hide our real positions as Unspeakables,” Lilah advised.

“That’s true… I’m just surprised. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.”

“Excellent!” Lilah pulled a portfolio out of her desk drawer. “You’ll still report to me, but your desk will be with Andromeda’s. You’ll ask for the Field Officer’s room when you get into the Entrance Chamber. That’s where all the field agents have their workspaces.”

“Wait, I won’t be here with you?”

“Sorry, dear. You’ll be out in the field mostly, but when you’re here at the Ministry, your new workplace is in the Field Officer’s room.”

“So, I should head there now?”

Lilah nodded. “We’ll meet every other week to go over anything that is Time Room related.” She eyed Hermione curiously. “You’re happy about this, right?”

Hermione shook herself out of her stupor of shock. “I am. It’s just a lot, you know?”

Lilah gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll be wonderful.”

Hermione stood. “Thank you, Lilah… for the promotion and for trusting me to be able to do this.”

Lilah waved as she exited the office. Hermione found Warren waiting for her outside.

“Congratulations!” he said as he hugged her.

“Thank you! To tell you the truth, I’m overwhelmed.”

“You’ll be fantastic, Maia. I’m so elated for both of us.”

Hermione smiled. “Me too.” Pulling away from Warren, she excused herself. “I guess I should be getting to my new work area.”

“Let me know if you need anything, Maia. I’m here to support you.”

“Thanks, Warren.”

Hermione made her way out of the Time room and into the Entrance Chamber and called out, “Field Officer’s room.”

The walls moved around until she was standing in front of a black door identical to all the others. She pushed it open and entered. The room was large and filled with desks. There were several people at different desks, studying manuscripts or writing things down. She spied Andromeda right away. She was at the far end of the room. Hermione noted she looked even more like Bellatrix than she did when Hermione had known her in the future.

She’d somewhat fibbed to Lilah. She did know Andromeda, but obviously in the future. She hadn’t spent a lot of time with her, but anytime Teddy was present at Harry’s, so was Andromeda. They’d chatted about arbitrary things over the years after the war. She liked the older witch and was looking forward to working with her.

She moved back to where Andromeda was seated and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, are you Andromeda Tonks?”

The curly-haired woman looked up. “Oh! You must be Maia Moreau!” She stood. “Pleasure to meet you!” Extending her hand, she grasped Hermione’s and shook it heartily.

“You too. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Your desk is there.” Andromeda pointed to the one that was smashed up against the front of hers. “Go ahead and get settled in, and then I’ll brief you.”

“Thanks.” Hermione moved to the desk and placed her folder on it. She sat down and then looked at Andromeda. “I guess I left all my things at my other desk. I’ll have to go and collect them at some point.”

Andromeda waved her hand. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll have some time to do that later.”

“How long have you been an Unspeakable?”

Andromeda smiled. “I was recruited soon after I left Hogwarts. I’ve been here almost twenty years.”

“Have you worked in the Love room this whole time?”

“Oh, no! I started out in the Space Chamber. I’ve been doing the Love stuff for about six years now.”

“Why did you decide to leave space?”

“All that weightlessness. It grates on you after a while.”

Hermione laughed. “But investigating the universe… That sounds so exciting.”

“Maybe after you’ve had your fill of the Time Room, you can petition to work in the Space Chamber.”

Hermione smiled. “Maybe.”

“So, Maia, tell me about yourself.”

She shrugged. “Well, I’m single. I work here. I live in downtown London.” 

She maintained a small apartment in the city to divert attention from the fact that she lived in Hogsmeade with Severus. “I went to Durmstrang.”

“Do you have any family in the area?”

“No. I was an only child. My parents live in Norway, where I grew up.”

“Oh, you must miss them so much!”

“I do.” She didn’t need to fake anything with that comment. She missed her parents every day. “What about you?”

“Well, I’m married… to a Muggle-born. You’ll hear that if you haven’t already.”

Hermione shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything about you.”

“Good. I have a daughter named Nymphadora. She’s studying to be an Auror with Alastor Moody.”

“You must be very proud of her.”

“I am, but I worry that she’ll be in danger. Being an Auror is harrowing at times.”

Hermione nodded. “That’s true.”

They chatted for a few more minutes before Andromeda motioned to the file on Hermione’s desk. “Have you had a chance to review that?”

Hermione shook her head.

“Go ahead and do that now. We’ve got work to do, and you need to be up to date.”

Hermione pulled the folder to her and opened it. The picture of a witch glared at her, then turned around. She was thin with long blonde hair. In the picture, she had a witch’s hat on. From what Hermione saw before the witch turned, was that her eyes were a deep blue. She moved the picture and read through the dossier.

The woman’s desires were good, but… she wanted to unleash an airborne potion that would make all Purebloods accept Muggle-borns and Half-bloods as equals. Basically love them like their own. Hermione’s eyes met Andromeda’s.

“It’s too bad Purebloods can’t do this on their own.”

“That’s for sure. But we can’t let this be unleashed.”

“Not only will it change everyone, but it will change time.”

“Many things we as Uspeakables work on are tied into time. Anything that is changed in any of the other divisions affects the timeline.”

Hermione nodded. “So we need to stop this woman.”

“You noticed she’s a Muggle-born?” Andromeda asked with a nod of her head.

Hermione’s eyebrows drew together. “I did. And it looks like her history trying to get a job in our world has been severely hampered by prejudice against her.”

“Common amongst Muggle-borns. My family is Pureblood–the Blacks. They are experts at prejudice.”

Hermione closed the folder and tossed it back on her desk. “You don’t seem to be like that.”

Andromeda laughed. “Oh, I’m not. I married a Muggle-born. Got myself tossed from my family for it, but I could never understand their feelings that Muggle-borns were inferior. I know plenty of them, and they’re just as talented as we are.”

Hermione nodded. She smiled at Andromeda. “I feel the same way. I don’t think it’s fair that they have to fight for every advantage.”

“Well, hopefully our world will get its head out of its arse and accept them eventually.”

Hermione chuckled. “That would be a great day whenever that happens.” She looked up at Andromeda. “We’d better get going.”

Andromeda stood. “Yep. Let’s go.”

They headed up to the Atrium and Apparated near to the witch’s house. They looked at the small house at the outskirts of Godric’s Hollow. 

“I think we can each take one of the doors,” Hermione said as she pointed her wand at the home. “We’ll need to act quickly once inside to make sure she doesn’t Apparate.”

Andromeda waved her wand over the home. “No wards. Obviously not Secret Kept. Seems easy. Let’s not get cocky, though. Anything can happen.”

“I totally agree. I’ll take the back door. You send up a flare, then count to three. We’ll break through the doors at that time.”

Andromeda nodded, and they both set out. Hermione watched for Andromeda’s signal. Seeing it, she counted to three and shot a blasting curse at the door. It shattered, and she ran into the kitchen and through it, searching for the witch. Andromeda raced through the front room and up the stairs. Hermione rounded them and was right behind her. They found the witch upstairs in her bed. Storming in, they both pointed their wands at the woman, but there was no need. She was dead.

Hermione lowered her wand first, looking up at Andromeda.

“What happened here?”

Andromeda bent down and, with a flick of her wand, a vial that lay on the floor floated in front of her. She sniffed at it before looking back up at Hermione.

“Essence of Belladonna. She killed herself.”

Hermione frowned. She looked around the room, noticing a note on the bedside table. Moving to the table, she read it aloud.

“ To whomever finds me, know that I leave this world of my own free will. I’d wanted to fix everything, but my potion would just be a panacea, not a solution. My greatest hope is that someday Purebloods will look at my kind as equals, but forcing them to do so is just a ruse. I cannot live in this world anymore. It’s just too hard. 

Don’t be sad for me. I look forward to being in the beyond, where all are treated equally.

–Tatiana Franks”

Hermione looked up at Andromeda with tears in her eyes. She saw that Andromeda, too, was crying. The other witch looked down at the dead woman.

“She chose not to use the potion,” she murmured.

“But couldn’t live in such a prejudiced world,” Hermione finished.

They stood there quietly for a bit, paying tribute to a woman who had spent her life struggling against prejudice.

“All right,” Andromeda said finally. “Let’s call in the Aurors. They can find any potions she’s created and destroy them. We’ll need to head back to the Ministry and complete our report.”

Hermione nodded. She sent her Patronus out to alert the Aurors. After a few minutes, two men entered the room. Hermione showed them the suicide note and explained why they were in the house. The Aurors set off to find any potions she’d created. Andromeda and Hermione Apparated back to the Ministry and spent the afternoon filing their report. 

ooo

Hermione was happy to see Severus when she came home that night. She wrapped her arms around him as he did the same.

“Welcome home,” he rumbled.

She looked up at him and enjoyed his welcoming kiss. He pulled back and smiled at her. She gave him a wan smile back.

“I’ve had the most horrid day.”

Severus led her to the sofa, where they settled in. “Tell me what you can.”

She leaned into him and snuggled. She explained about Tatiana Franks without discussing the reason they had investigated her home.

“I’m sorry, love.”

“Things are just going to get worse once the Dark Lord comes back.” Hermione buried her face in Severus' chest. “I just… I’m lucky I was on the run and not caught.”

He squeezed her tightly to him. “Thank Merlin for that. I wish there were more we could do to make Purebloods more forward-thinking. How was it after the war?”

“Better, but not ideal. I think change is slow to come, but it was being worked on…. I just can’t believe that woman saw no future for herself and took her life.”

“We are working to make the world better, Maia. It may not happen overnight, but from what you say, change does occur, and it’s partly because of everything you did for the war effort.”

She looked up at him. “Thank you for that.”

“I know you’re not in a celebratory mood, but congratulations on your new position.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“I know. Let me make you something nice for dinner?”

She arched a brow at him. “You cooking? I’m not going to pass on that.”

“Hey, I cook!”

“Yes, but you’re usually too busy to do so.” 

He stood. “Just sit down and relax.” He picked up the book from the side table. “Here’s your book. I’ll just be a little bit with dinner.”

Hermione smiled up at him. “I love you, you know that?”

He leaned down and kissed her. “I thank Merlin every day that you do.”

Chapter Text

Third year

Severus closed his eyes and sighed. “I don’t want to go back.”

“I know, love. You're so brave, going in every day and pretending to be something you’re not.”

He opened his eyes and stared at his wife. 

“The teachers’ initiation meeting… He tried to talk to me. I was polite, but ignored him as best I could. Maia, every time I look at him, I remember those days when the bloody Marauders were after me.”

“I can only imagine. And the fact that Sirius Black will be trying to get in can’t be helping.”

“At least I don’t have to talk to him… yet.”

“Remember, you need to accuse Remus of helping him get into the castle.”

“I know. I will do so. I just… I can’t imagine how I’m going to make it through this year.”

Hermione kissed his forehead. “I don’t know either. That’s something I don’t know about this year. But I’m here for you, and I promise, even without me, you did make it through.”

“I can’t believe that Dumbledore is putting the students in danger like this. I mean, you said he will forget to take his potion. He could kill someone.”

“You’re absolutely right, but thankfully, he won’t.”

“Dumbledore is being reckless.”

Hermione nodded. “I agree, but he’s always about his own agenda.”

Severus closed his eyes again. “I just wish this year was over already.”

“Love, the Dark Lord comes back next year…”

“Forget I said anything.”

ooo

Severus looked out at the students. It was dinner and they were all chattering with each other and… looking at him. Severus looked over at Albus.

“Why is everyone staring at me?” he asked.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Albus asked, his eyebrows raised in question.

“Obviously not.”

“Well, you see, Remus was doing the Boggart lesson with the third-years. It was Neville Longbottom’s turn, and guess who his Boggart was?”

Severus looked out at the students, watching as some of them pointed and laughed at him. Thankfully, the Slytherins were only looking at him. 

And whispering. 

He groaned.

“It was me, wasn’t it?”

“Of course it was! But that’s not the part that has everyone talking. It’s what Remus suggested that he turn you into.”

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked over at Lupin, who was avoiding eye contact as much as possible.

“What?” he ground out.

“He transformed you into wearing Longbottom’s gran’s clothes. You were in a stately green dress with a tall green feathered hat and a lovely red handbag.”

“What?” Severus had said that so loudly that a hush came over the Great Hall. Everyone was looking at him, except for Lupin. 

Severus stood in fury and glared at the students. He turned and stalked off, stopping only to mutter at Lupin. “You  haven’t changed a bit since we were children.” Straightening, he stormed out of the Great Hall and out of the school. He cleared the gate in no time and spun around, Apparating into his house.

Hermione was startled at the crack of his arrival. She was mashing some potatoes, and some of them flicked onto the wall as she jumped.

“Oh, Severus! I wasn’t expecting you for a bit!”

He didn’t even say hello. “Do you know what that arse did? Of course you know what that arse did. Why didn’t you tell me he was going to do that?”

Hermione put the masher down and turned toward him. “Severus, I’ve no idea who or what you’re on about.”

“Lupin! Evidently, I’m Longbottom’s Boggart, thank you very much. That bloody arse told Longbottom to turn me into his fucking grandmother.”

Hermione’s hand came up and covered her mouth. “Oh my God, I totally forgot that happened! Oh, Severus! I’m so sorry!”

“Everyone… Everyone was laughing at me at dinner. Some of those brats even pointed as they laughed. Lupin wouldn’t even look at me, the cowardly shite.”

Hermione came up to him and stilled him, hugging him to her. “I remember that dinner. You were furious and stormed out of the Hall. We were so mean to you. I’m so sorry.”

“Yes, well, history repeated itself, which is why I’m here now.”

Hermione pulled back and looked up at him. She frowned as she took in his visage. She hadn’t seen him this angry and upset in a very long time. Her hand came up, and she cupped his cheek. “What can I do to help, love?”

“Perhaps you could throw Lupin into the Space Chamber and let him float around until he suffocates.”

“I wish I could. I’m so sorry, Severus. I remember at the time thinking everyone was being so disrespectful, but it didn’t really dawn on me that Lupin probably did that on purpose to humiliate you.”

“You’re damned right he wanted to humiliate me. We’ve been barely civil to one another these few weeks of school. I don’t know why he thinks I should embrace him as a friend after everything that happened in our youth! And because I’m not willing to do that, he has the audacity to humiliate me like this.”

“Well, now I’m angry at him as well.”

Severus pulled her to him and held her closely, just breathing as he held her. Very slowly, his breathing steadied. She just held him and rubbed his back as he settled himself. They simply stood there for a very long time.

“Thank you,” he said finally.

She pulled back, leaned up, and kissed him. “I didn’t do anything, love.”

“Yes, you did. You have a calming effect on me, and just being in your arms helps me to feel… well… accepted.”

“I always want you to feel that way. Just ignore the students. They’re idiots anyway.”

He smirked. “They are nothing but a bunch of dunderheads, aren’t they?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Why don’t you come and eat?”

“I’m not particularly hungry.”

“If I recall, you didn’t eat anything at dinner.”

He sighed. “I know, but I’m not…”

“Come on. Just have a little. It’ll help you feel better. I made roast chicken.”

“Well, I’ve never been able to say no to that.”

She turned and moved toward the kitchen. He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her back to him. His lips descended onto hers, and he kissed her lovingly.

“I don’t know how I survived without you.”

“I’m glad you don’t have to in this reality.”

ooo

“How can you be friends with Potter?”

Hermione looked up at Severus. They were walking along the streets of London, taking a break from the Wizarding World. It was Saturday, and they both had no commitments and were having a relaxing day.

“Well, we enjoy each other’s company.” She shrugged. “He’s like a brother to me.”

“You would want a pompous, arrogant toerag for a friend?”

She chuckled. “I don’t see him that way.”

“Perhaps we know different Potters.”

She reached out and squeezed his arm. “You both have a great dislike for each other. It makes anything that either of you do ten times worse than it really is.”

“Maia, he sat and lied to me about being in Hogsmeade. Lied! Said that Draco was hallucinating seeing his head in Hogsmeade. Draco wasn’t hallucinating, but Potter looked me in the eye and told me he wasn’t there. He speaks to me disrespectfully. I’m not overinflating that.”

Hermione studied him as they continued walking. She thought about what he said and reviewed how she recalled Harry during this year, especially. After a while, she frowned. 

“You’re right, of course. He especially tried to anger you. He does get a little better as he grows older, you know.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Severus ground out.

“I never really looked at Harry from your point of view, I don’t think. He’s been my friend for so long. I mean, as a kid, I’d tell him to calm down, and to not create stories in his head about you, but I never really looked at it from your perspective.”

Severus stopped and turned toward Hermione. “Do you understand why I’m upset?”

“I do. And I think Harry realized he was wrong, too. I think had you survived, he’d have apologized. He grew a lot during the war… and since.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for trying to see this from my side.”

“We’re partners, Severus. I’m always going to try and see things from your side.”

He kissed her then. She was overwhelmed with his affection. Their tongues tangled with one another as they showed their devotion. At long last, they pulled apart, a bit out of breath. Hermione smiled at him.

“Come on. Right now, all I want to do is rip your clothes off and make love to you over and over again.” He spun around, and they appeared in another part of London in front of the Fitzroy Hotel.

“You want to get a room?”

“Well, it’s not just any room. This isn’t one of those places where you just go for a shag. I’d like to treat you to something nice while we ravish each other.”

She smiled at him curiously. “All right. This is awfully spontaneous.”

He shrugged. “I know it is, but I just want to show you how much I treasure you.”

She smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”

“Yes, but you missed.” He pointed at his lips. 

“Oh, I’ll get to those once we have a room.”

He smirked at her. “Come on, then. Let’s go.” 

Pulling her along, they entered the hotel and made their way to the reception desk. Hermione looked around as they walked to the desk. Great grey stone columns and brown marble walls surrounded them. Arches separated the areas of the lobby, each with different reliefs carved into them. They made their way through one of the arches to the reception area. It was distinctively adorned with dark wood paneling.. 

“Merlin, it’s beautiful in here. So olde-world!”

Severus looked around, too. “It truly is marvelous.”

They spoke to the attendant and soon had the key to the room. They entered the lift and rode it up to their floor. In a matter of minutes, Severus had unlocked the door, and they entered the room. Hermione went directly to the large bay window.  

“Oh, this is lovely,” she said as she took in the view.

Severus came up to her from behind, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling her neck. “It is quite nice, but not as lovely as when you’re just in your knickers.”

She giggled as she turned in his arms. Leaning up,  she kissed him passionately. “Shall we tear each other's clothes off?”

“Rmmrao. In a violent mood, are we?”

“You bet I am.” She pulled his jumper right off in front of the window.

“Maia!” He flicked his wand, and the curtains closed quickly.

“See, I knew you’d have a solution. Although I think everyone would benefit from seeing this sexy chest.” She ran her fingers over his bare chest and kissed him all over.

“My turn.” He pulled her shirt over her head and beheld her black lace bra. “It’s as if you knew what we’d end up doing today.”

“Can't blame a girl for hoping.”

Severus nuzzled her breasts with his nose, unhooking her bra from behind as he did. His mouth surrounded one of her exposed nipples, causing Hermione to gasp. She threw her head back and pushed her chest toward Severus.

He intensified his suckling. She ran her fingers through his hair as he lathed both of her nipples one at a time. His hand strayed down to her sex, and he fingered her nub. Lifting his head, he captured her lips. She moaned into his mouth.

“You like that?” he asked innocently.

“Gods, you know I do.”

He plunged into her, quickly adding a second digit. She leaned up into his hand.

“Faster,” she begged.

He grinned at her as he obliged. His fingers pumped in and out as she panted and threw her head back. After a few minutes, he felt her tightening around his fingers. He pulled them out, causing her to look up and glare at him. He smirked.

“I’ve got something better for you,” he told her.

He scooped her up and brought her over to the bed, lying her down upon it. Moving over her, he centered himself at her entrance.

“Now, Severus!” she demanded.

He plunged into her and started pumping furiously. She slammed back into him, and they caught a rhythm and moved in unison. He groaned as he felt himself getting close. She began to keen and mewl as they thrashed together. 

Shouting together as they both came, he held himself in her for a bit as she came down from her high. Leaning in, he gave her a sloppy kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair as she kept him there and kissed him longer. 

Relaxing on top of her, he enjoyed Hermione’s attentions. They embraced each other as Severus moved off her and to the side. 

“That was bloody brilliant,” he murmured.

“Mmm hmm.”

Hermione snuggled into him. They were quiet for a bit, just basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Finally, she sighed.

“I suppose we should go.”

Severus looked down at her. “Why? We’ve got the room until tomorrow morning.”

“You mean you want to stay the night?”

“Of course!” he said. “Why shouldn’t we have some time away from it all?”

“Well, that does sound lovely.”

He nodded in agreement, looking pleased with himself.

“We don’t have a change of clothes, though. How are we going to do this?” Hermione asked.

He gave her a casual glance. “Are you a witch or not? That’s what cleaning charms and Transfiguration are for.”

Hermione grinned at him. “All right, sounds perfect!”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

ooo

Severus kissed his wife before heading off to Hogwarts. She awoke sleepily and kissed him back. He grinned at her, but soon his smile disappeared.

“Alas, I will not be able to see you for a day or two.”

She reached up and cupped his cheek. “That time of the month again?”

He snorted a laugh. “Yes.” He shook his head at her. “I’ll need to brew Lupin’s potion for him.”

She kissed him. “You’re an honorable man, Severus Snape. Most men wouldn’t do anything like that for their enemy.”

He shrugged. “Of the four, he was the least objectionable. Objectionable still, but not as bad as the other three.”

“Yes, but he openly mocked you at the beginning of the year, yet you still help him.”

“I am not a monster.”

“You are a brave and principled man, Severus. I love you, and I will miss you until you get back.”

“I will do my best to hurry home tomorrow after classes.”

She smiled at him. “I’ll be waiting. Have a lovely day.”

He grunted. “I’m sure I will.”

ooo

Severus brought the smoking chalice to Lupin. He knocked on his office door before entering.

“Ah, Severus, come in!” Remus called to him.

Severus moved toward his desk and set the chalice onto it as its blue smoke poured over the edges.

“Here is your potion, Lupin.”

“Thank you, Severus. You can call me Remus, you know.”

“I’d prefer not to.”

He turned and was making his way out of the classroom when he heard Lupin calling to him.

“Severus?”

He stopped, but didn’t turn.

“I want to apologize for my actions earlier this year. I thought I was being clever by turning your Boggart into Longbottom’s grandmum.”

Severus huffed. “I’m used to it. No need to apologize.”

“Severus, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Severus turned and glared at Lupin. His gaze softened as he saw true regret on the man’s face.

“Apology accepted,” he ground out before turning and leaving the room.

As he made his way down the hall, he mulled over the encounter. He was surprised that Lupin had taken the time to apologize to him.

“About damn time,” he muttered to himself as he made his way to his room and bed. Brewing that potion always left him knackered. 

ooo 

Several weeks later

Severus came home and sought out his wife. She was upstairs in her office. He came into the room in a rush.

“Oh, Severus! How did it go?” She rose, and he hugged her furiously.

“I reacted like you said to. I flew off the handle that Black escaped. Merlin, it was harder than I thought it would be, knowing the truth of what really happened.”

“You’re amazing.”

His arms pulled her closer, and he buried his head in her neck.

“Talk to me,” she urged.

He stayed there for a minute or two before pulling back. “Let’s go downstairs.”

She nodded as he took her hand and led her down to the sitting room, settling into the sofa. He grasped her and pulled her to him once again. She could feel him shaking in her arms.

“Severus, what can I do?”

“Just hold me.”

“Ok. Let it out, love.”

He pulled back and searched her face. “I knew it was coming… confronting Lupin as a werewolf. You warned me, and I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t. I mean, in front of the students, I held my composure. I held it through finding Black and Potter unconscious and everything that followed.” He gasped. “But now that I’m done with all of those–required–reactions… I am not okay.”

Hermione cupped his cheek. “You’re safe, Severus. He didn’t attack you, and you kept him from getting to us. You’re a hero.”

He nodded hesitantly. “It all came back, you know? Being in fifth year and Black telling me how to get past the Whomping Willow.” Severus looked away, his eyebrows knitting together. “When I saw Lupin that year… I had my suspicions, but actually seeing him at the end of the hall. Merlin, he was so huge!”

“I’m sorry, Severus.”

She embraced him again and just held him for a while. He buried his head as he grasped her furiously.

“It’s okay,” Hermione murmured.

After a while, he pulled back and nodded at her. 

“The fact that I almost died–or worse–did not escape me. I was so terrified; I don’t think I would have moved had Potter not pulled me away.” He swallowed hard. “I had nightmares for the rest of the year until Lily and I broke our friendship. Then I had nightmares about that.” 

Hermione rubbed his arm, causing him to look back at her. “It must have been terrifying,” she murmured.

“Today it was like I was sixteen again, about to be attacked by that hideous creature. I was surprised I had the forethought to shield all of you.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for doing that. That was one of the many times you saved us.”

He hugged her to him. “I will admit I used some of that crazed feeling to act appalled that Black escaped.” Closing his eyes, he frowned. “If any of you had been hurt.”

“I know, love, but we were fine–thanks to you.” She kissed him. “I love you, and I love that you put yourself in danger to protect students you hated.”

He pulled back. “Well, I don’t hate you.”

“I think you did the first time through, though.”

“Nonsense. Perhaps I didn’t like you much, but I never hated you. I just know that to be true, even in the other timeline.”

“You think so?”

He nodded. “I know myself. I don’t even hate Potter. I think he’s arrogant and pompous, and I definitely don’t like him, but hate? –No.”

Her hands slipped up and into his hair. She scrunched it as she looked at him. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Am I?”

She nodded. “Are you feeling any better?”

“Some, yes. Thank you for distracting me and giving me comfort.”

She hugged him to her. “I just want to help you through this, Severus. I worry about you.”

He pulled back and studied her. “I don’t know if anyone ever has truly worried about me. Sure, they worry about whatever thing I’m doing, but… No one has cared about me. Not like this.” Leaning in, he kissed her for quite a long while. “Thank you.”

She smiled brightly at him. “You do the same for me, love. We support each other through everything.”

“I’m so lucky to have found you. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a companion and wife.”

“Severus, I don’t think I could have ever found anyone who supports me and loves me like you do.”

He smirked before capturing her lips once again.

Chapter Text

Fourth year

Severus kissed his wife. He could feel her tense up with want for him. He smiled into her lips.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “I know we were in the middle of an important conversation about the coming year, but, Maia, you are so beautiful to me.”

She grinned at him. “You’re incredibly sexy to me, too, love. But. We should finish this before we rip each other’s clothes off and make mad, passionate love to one another.”

“Why can’t we do that first, and finish the debrief later?”

“Well… I mean, we could, but I’m afraid I might forget something.”

“Yes, because you don’t have notes to go off of.”

She frowned at him. “It’s just an outline.”

He pulled the paper from her hand. “Which can wait until later. It’s all there. You’re not going to forget anything.”

“Can’t you hold on for ten more minutes?”

Tossing her note on the floor, he moved right up to her, his nose nuzzling her ear. “Not when you’re here in front of me looking so stunning.”

She licked her lips in anticipation. Pulling her head away from him, she eyed her husband sultrily. “It would be nice to just rip your clothes off and have my way with you.”

He grinned. “I knew I could convince you.”

He stood and extended his hand. “Come with me.”

She placed her hand in his and squeezed it as she stood. Before he could move, she pulled him to her and kissed him, plundering him with her tongue. He moaned into her as he pushed her gently toward the stairs. They separated at the base of the stairway, and she tugged him up to their bedroom.

Moving into the room, Hermione spared no time in ripping his shirt from him. She undid his trousers and pushed down his pants with them. 

“On the bed,” she demanded.

His eyes never left hers as he made his way to the bed and lay down before her. She came up to him and kneeled next to him, bending low and kissing him. She ran her fingers over his chest.

“So very sexy.”

Her hands moved lower until they came up to his cock. She grasped it and squeezed, feeling him within her grasp. He gasped as she squeezed him. She smirked.

“Now, I want you to lie still.”

 “Okay.” 

She bent low, taking him into her mouth. He gasped again.

“You need to hold out for me. Can you do that?”

He nodded, so she resumed her ministrations. Running her tongue up one side of his cock and down the other, she looked up and grinned evilly at him as he gasped again and his cock twitched under her. She moved back to sucking on him, her head moving up and down. He moaned. She felt him harden even more as she bobbed on him. 

“Maia!” he gasped

“Don’t you come yet!” she said before continuing.

“I can’t… I can’t…”

She released him and looked down at him. 

“Take my clothes off,” she ordered.

“Oh God,” he moaned as he reached up and pulled off her jumper. 

He sat up and kissed her as he unsnapped her bra. She attacked his mouth, forcing her tongue to tangle with his. Her hand moved up into his hair, tugging him back.

“I’m not naked yet, Severus,” she chided.

“Yes, ma’am.”

His hands were trembling; he was so aroused. He fumbled around with the zip on her skirt until he finally was able to pull it down. She stood, and her skirt fell to the ground, revealing a virginal white thong. 

“God’s Maia.”

“Still not naked.”

Getting off the bed, he kissed her lips, then drew down to her neck. He kissed her longingly, sucking her neck as he slid her knickers down. She let them drop to the ground and stepped out of them.

“Lick me, Severus. Make me come on your face.”

He didn’t need to be asked twice. Moaning, he flung her down on the bed and centered himself between her legs. He licked her nub for a bit before plunging his tongue into her center. He didn’t stay there long, returning to her clit, licking and massaging her with his tongue.

“Oh, God. That’s amazing. I’m so close!”

He nipped lightly at her clit with his teeth before sucking on it vigorously.

She screamed–and came all over his face.

Her legs wrapped around his head, surrounding him and filling him with ecstasy, yet he was unable to breathe for a minute as she writhed in her orgasm. Finally, her legs relaxed, and he pulled up, gasping a bit. Scurrying up, he kissed her, plundering her with his tongue.

It took her a while to be able to speak, but finally she panted out, “On your back.”

He eagerly obliged, his cock standing at attention for her.