Time Heals All Wounds

Chapter Two: Time opens old wounds: part 2

Hermione turned around. She gasped once more in shock.

“And what would your name be Miss…”

“…” Hermione stared in fear at the pale face of Lucius Malfoy. She mouthed wordlessly as she stumbled back against the wall, sliding to the ground at Lucius’ feet.

Malfoy smirked as he watched her cower in front of him. Who ever this girl was, she sure was fun. He took a purposeful step toward her, when a dark shadow fell across Hermione’s face.

“Lucius.” He said with a slight glare. “Don’t you have somewhere to be right now? Like with Professor Slughorn? For instance?”

“Severus.” Lucius replied icily. “As should you be?”

“I am on an errand to Professor Dumbledore.” Replied Severus stonily. “By the way…the Professor said to get back to class. Or you will most defiantly get detention scrubbing cauldrons with your bare hands.”

Severus stood still as a statue, as they watched Lucius Malfoy disappear down the corridor. He then turned swiftly and held out his hand to her. “Here.” Severus said quietly. “Let me help.”

Hermione stared at his hand for a second, before grasping his hand with her own. Hermione was unprepared for the shock that ran through his hand and into hers. She let go of his hand quickly. She blushed softly, looking away from him. ‘What was that?’ she asked herself. “Thank you.” Hermione said looking up at him. “Who was that?”

“Lucius Malfoy.” Said Severus, with an unusual amount of dislike in his voice. “He’s a nasty piece of work.”

“I’ll say so. Oh! Did you say you had to visit Professor Dumbledore?” Hermione asked him.

“Yes.” Severus Snape looked her over. ‘She has really pretty eyes.” He thought to himself. “I can take you if you like...”

“Thank you. I would like that…I need to speak with the Professor anyhow.” Hermione waited for him to start walking. When he did she followed at a close pace. Who knew who else she would find here. They traveled in companionable silence for several minutes before Severus said, “I haven’t seen you here before. Are you a transfer? Why weren’t you on the train, and sorted yesterday like the others?”

“I don’t know.” Replied Hermione. “I’m sure that the Headmaster will explain it all.” She sighed deeply to herself. ‘At least…I hope so…’

As they walked, Hermione took the time to observe her future Professor. He was actually not that bad looking. His hair wasn’t really greasy…like Harry and Ron had said. It was just extremely shiny; and long. Goddess was it long. It fell to a little below his shoulders. And his nose wasn’t that big, in fact, she noted, it rather suited him. His face was pale, but that, along with the jet black hair, made his blue-black eyes stand out. ‘He has beautiful eyes’, She noted. He was skinny, and at least a half a foot taller than her. If she didn’t know any better, she would say that she found Professor Snape…dare she say it? Attractive.

Hermione was shaken from her trance by his seductive voice, gods, how she loved the sound of his voice. She used to look forward so to his lectures for that exact reason. “We have arrived.” Severus said. “We just need to figure out the password.”

“Now what kind of password would the Headmaster use…” he pondered.

“How about…Cockroach Clusters?” guessed Hermione.

“Don’t be silly.” Severus snapped. “Why would he use such a-”

Severus was cut off by the sound of moving stone. His eyes snapped up to the statue at the opening to the moving staircase, then back to Hermione. His eyes were wide. “How did you-”

“Come on.” Hermione smiled, holding out her hand to help him onto the step. He held out his and grasped hers. Hermione felt again, the shock, or was it a spark?, between their clasped hands. Severus stepped up and the gargoyle leapt back to its proper place at the opening of the passage.

“What did you say your name is again?” Severus asked, having not yet released her hand.

“I didn’t.” she smiled, noticing this. “But, my name is Hermione.”

“Her-mi-one…” Severus said, as if to test it out, before smiling at her. “It suits you.”

Hermione once again blushed at his compliment. “Thank you…” she said. “As does yours.”

When Severus looked confused, she hastily added. “That other boy, Malfro, mentioned it.”

Severus laughed at her mispronunciation of Lucius’ name. “That’s Malfoy…” he corrected. “I’m surprised that you didn’t remember it.” He said rather sulkily. “Most all the girls swoon when he walks into a room, and none forget his name.”

Hermione looked at Severus. His eyes were filled with loneliness. “Well he is attractive.” She said watching his face as it was instantly swathed in mixed feelings of hurt, jealousy and hatred. “But…” she said, “He is not my type.”

Severus couldn’t help his next question. “What is your type?” he watched her as she pondered his question. After a long silence, she finally answered him.

“I guess my type is the kind of guy who is quiet, someone I can have an intellectual conversation with. A guy who is sweet, inquisitive, oh and with a passion for nature, books and learning. Someone I can respect, and who respects me, and doesn’t think I am an insufferable-know-it-all-ugly-bucktoothed-bookworm.” She finished sadly. The hurt radiating from her voice.

Severus was shocked to say the least, there was someone in this world, that thought she was…ugly? “I don’t think you are a…insufferable-know-it-all-ugly-bucktoothed-bookworm…” he said softly to her. Neither of them had noticed that the staircase had stopped moving. And the door was now open. “No… I don’t think that at all…”

Hermione’s eyes filled with unshed tears. ‘Not now…but you will…’

Severus looked angry. “Who told you that you were a…that?”

"An old Professor of mine…”

Severus huffed angrily at the thought. “Well he must have been a horrible, lying, greasy old git!”

Hermione giggled at Severus’ description of his future self.

“Oh stop your annoying flirting, and either kiss the girl, or go about your business!!” yelled a portrait irately.

They both blushed immensely, and let go of each others hand. “The headmaster’s office is this way.” Said an extremely embarrassed Severus Snape. He strode down the hall, followed by an equally embarrassed Hermione Granger.

They stopped once again, but this time, in front of a large red oak door. There were stars and comets and glittery things floating across the wood of the door. Hermione marveled at how much, these doors would change. After Harry’s tantrum in their fifth year, he had blown up Dumbledore’s study and office when he wasn’t told the reason why Voldemort had gone after Sirius, they had been burnt to a charcoal. Actually, Dumbledore had kept them as a reminder to be straight forward toward Harry in the future. The future. Would she be able to get back? Back to her own time? Would she see her friends again? Her family?

Hermione glanced at Severus. Would she want him to forget her, and hate her again? She had just met the boy Severus, and she realized that if she returned, she would have to deal with the man Severus…no…Professor Snape. She hadn’t known this boy for more than an hour, and she felt a very strong connection with him. If she wasn’t careful, she would end up…end up what? She couldn’t think of a word for it at the moment. But she did know that if she was unable to return, she would seek a friend in Severus.

XxXxXxXXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX


Severus raised his hand, and loudly knocked on the oak door.

“Come in my boy.” Said a weary voice. “I see you are, once again, in need of my assistance. Please,” He waved his hand to the large purple armchair on the opposite side of the desk. “Have a seat.”

Snape didn’t even glance at the bright chair for a second, before shaking his head curtly. “I would rather stand, if it is all the same to you Albus.”

Dumbledore chuckled. “You always did have an aversion to the wonders of the rainbow Severus.” He laughed again at the scowl on his dear friend’s face.

Snape glowered at Dumbledore, who instantly stopped laughing and put a serious look upon his face, “I assume you want the pensive, Severus?

Snape nodded his head in silent agreement. His head had been spinning with overrun memories as of late. He watched as his employer spun in his chair, and with a wave of his wand, opened a cabinet, and levitated a large oval bowl to the desk. He set it in front of Snape. He then stood. “When you are ready Severus.”

Snape nodded. And drew his wand to his temple, and focusing on a single memory, he used his wand to draw it from his mind, and watched it float down and land in the silvery substance. The surface shimmered, as it accepted the foreign memory. It immediately focused and without a single look at Dumbledore, Snape leaned into the memory…

XxXxXxXInSnapesMemoryXxXxXxX

The door opened of its own accord. Hermione heard the familiar voice of her Headmaster. She ran into the room, only to stop, and stare in amazement. Dumbledore was there alright. But so were two other boys. They looked back at her. One had long black hair, down past his shoulder blades. He was very handsome. But the one that caught her attention was the taller boy standing next to him. He also had black hair. But his was more familiar. It was instead of long, extremely short, and very messy, as if he had just gotten off of a broom. His eyes were brown, but she would know that face anywhere. “Harry…” she murmured, before the room began to spin, and she fell towards the floor.

Hermione awoke to a light splashing of water on her face. She opened her eyes, and noted that she was lying on a taxi yellow couch. And she felt the now familiar tingle in her palm. Hermione turned her head and saw Severus’ worried face peering down at her. She shot straight up. “What happened?” she asked him.

“You were talking to yourself, said the name Harry, I believe.” Said Severus, sounding slightly jealous. “You then promptly fell to the floor.”

“Now, now, Severus my boy. If you are going to tell the story you mustn’t forget all the good parts.” Dumbledore smiled before turning to Hermione. “As you fell to the ground he leapt forward with great valor. Caught you before you were a foot from hitting the ground, he did.”

Hermione looked at Severus in amazement. “You…caught me…in midair?” she asked, astounded.

“It was wicked.” Piped the Headmaster, happy to be in the conversation once again.

Hermione sat up all the way and moved over so as to make room for Severus. He stared blankly at her.

“Have a seat my dear boy.” Said Dumbledore gesturing at the sickly yellow couch.

Severus didn’t spare the couch a second glance. He shook his head curtly. “I would rather stand, if it is all the same to you Headmaster.”

Dumbledore chuckled slightly. “You have a strange aversion to color don’t you Severus?” he asked rhetorically.

Hermione giggled, but shut up at the look on Severus’ face. Severus handed Dumbledore the message from Professor Slughorn. Which he read slowly, his half moon reading glasses perched on the tip of his long crooked nose.

When he was done with the letter. He summoned a quill and some ink, and began to write his reply, which he handed to Severus. “Take this to Professor Slughorn, and then, I think, you can break for lunch.” He said smiling.

Severus stood to leave, “I will wait for you.” He said to Hermione with a smile. He turned on his heel and left the room, his robes billowing behind him.

“I wonder how he makes them do that?” questioned Hermione with a laugh.

“I have found that our young Severus is quite full of surprises.” Answered Professor Dumbledore. “Now…about your problem…”

Hermione gasped. “How did you know?”

Dumbledore smiled, “One cannot be headmaster, if he is blind to his student’s comings and goings.” He said slyly.

Outside the door, was a very confused Severus Snape. “What does he mean by that?” he asked himself.

“Yes…well…” said Hermione uncomfortably. “I was on my way to my potions class, I was running late, for the first time I might add, and it was entirely Harry’s and Ron’s fault, I had to help them study, and finish their homework else they would have failed…”

“Yes. Yes.” Said Dumbledore, politely interrupting her rambling. “And you were late?”

“Yes.” Said Hermione, guiltily. “I was running…and I got turned around. This darned castle is so big, and always changing, you can never remember where you are at if you don’t pay very close attention. But I wound up in a corridor with no torches or candles any where.” She paused for breath, while the headmaster nodded his head. “And I used lumos and I was trying to find my way out, when I noticed a small bit of words etched in the wall, and I wasn’t thinking, and I read them aloud.” She finished ashamed. “I seem to have …uh…for lack of a better word…traveled back in time. Uh…twenty years in fact.” She watched Dumbledore with hope in her eyes.

“I need to get back Professor…the N.E.W.T.s…” she said but faltered at Dumbledore’s snort of laughter.

“My dear.” He said choking back laughter, “Do you even know what those words meant?”

Hermione was shocked. She had no idea. “Uh…no…sir. I don’t know what they mean.”

“They mean,” he started seriously, “From the present time, so shall I travel to the past, lest tragedy strikes us all.” He laughed once more.

Hermione was shocked. “Sir…if that’s what those words mean, then why are you laughing?”

“Because,” he said through laughter induced tears. “All you were worried about was your N.E.W.T.s”

XxXxXxXPresentTimeXxXxXxX
Snape had seen enough. He pulled himself from inside his own memories, and thanked the headmaster profusely. “I think I need to retire, if you don’t mind taking over my classes, Albus?”

“Of course Severus.” Said Dumbledore, happy to be of help. Just leave everything to me. Oh and I promise, I won’t blow up your classroom this time.” He smiled widely, as he bounded from the room.

Snape bowed his head in his hands. “What have I done to deserve this?” he asked himself, massaging his temples with his thumbs.

He strode to the fireplace and flooed to his private quarters. He then took a headache potion, and lay on his bed. Closing his eyes, he lay there for a few seconds, before laughing himself to sleep.

“Okay class.” Said Professor Dumbledore. “Professor Snape is feeling a bit below the weather, and so I am in charge of today’s lessons.” He beamed at the room of ecstatic first years. He let them chatter to each other for a bit, before speaking again. “Now, what are you all working on this week?” he asked.

A particularly small first year Hufflepuff raised her hand. “Yes, Miss Charleston?” he asked.

“We are working of the ‘draught of the living death.’” She supplied.

The headmaster made a face. “Well that is no fun. No fun at all.” He said sulkily, before his eyes lit up. He waved his wand at the board. And the directions on it were erased, and replaced with another set.

Dumbledore looked extreamly pleased with himself as he pulled out a bag of candy. Plucking out a lemon drop, he called on a rather large Ravenclaw student who had his hand raised. “Sir…we are going to brew…gummy worms?”