Time lost. ...EPILOGUE UP!

Hermione practically ran out of the classroom once class was over. Severus followed her path but did not follow. Severus Snape does not run. Ever. A true Slytherin will make his quarry come to him.

Opportunity struck when he saw Hermione’s Potions Book stranded on the ground in her rush. The Gryffindor was a disaster. Severus bent down and grasped the dog-eared book. He tucked the book under his arm and smoothly walked back to his room. Slytherin privileges extended to the courtesy of private rooms. Once he closed the door, he threw the book on the desk and sat down besides it. –Hermione Granger was clearly mental. However, it was intriguing to meet someone so out of control.-

He flipped open the first page and ran his calloused fingers over the text scribbled. Hermione’s handwriting was barely legible. Severus narrowed his gaze and squinted at the chicken scratch. His stomach pitched slightly at the words. It was a complete dossier on the Marauders. The writing of someone who was meticulous and detailed in such a way that she could only be spying on them. He flipped through the book, Lily Evan’s name popped out at him.

Severus felt a rage boil in him at the thought of Hermione trying to spy on Lily. Was she a Death Eater too? That would explain why she acted so mental. Bellatrix also acted loopy sometimes after taking the Dark Mark.-

Severus absently flipped through the pages looking for more notes. Voldemort’s followers were not someone to mess around with. If they were targeting Lily, then Severus would have to take care of Hermione. However, it does not pay to be rash. Eventually, Hermione would reveal everything to him. Whether she wants to or not.

Being a Death Eater would explain why she is an accomplished Occulmens. Maybe she was a part of a group from her previous school. A Mudblood Deatheater? No, that is impossible! Severus was so engrossed with his thoughts; he missed entirely the knocking on his door until after the third knock.

Severus opened the door staring down at the little conundrum that so engrossed his thoughts. Hermione had ditched her robes and was wearing a tight black sweater and jeans. Her dark hair curled voraciously about her shoulders and her lips were glistening a soft pink color that complimented her skin tone. Overall, she looked very eatable. Severus smiled and Hermione shifted nervously at his predatory smile.

“Um, Hi. Sorry to disturb you but, Professor Lectin said that he saw you pick up my Potions book?” Her eyes widened as she looked over his shoulder at her book displayed under the light of his desk. Severus narrowed his eyes and moved to block her view. “It’s dangerous for Mudbloods to walk around Slytherin halls at night by themselves. Especially Gryffindor Mudblood’s.”

Hermione gasped. “You read my book? How dare you.” She muscled past him running to the desk. Severus was so startled at her bravado of strong-arming him that he gaped at her.

“You are either completely witless or possibly the most gullible mudblood I know.” Severus whispered viciously, before slamming the door shut behind him, effectively locking her in his room.

Hermione rolled her eyes scornfully at him. “I’m not witless. I just am not afraid of you.”

Severus growled and pinned her against his desk. “Which just makes you gullible then?”

He could feel her breasts pressing against his chest and he felt himself harden against her thigh. He scooped her up by her butt and sat her on the desk, with himself inserted between her jeans. Hermione’s face echoed the shock she felt.

Severus grinned maliciously at her. “I want payment for your little spy book.”

He grabbed a length of her curly hair and encircled in around his fist pulling her face closer to him.

Hermione could feel his heart pounding in excitement like a drum against her ribcage. Lust unfurled in her belly from his close proximity. His eyes bore into hers and her breathing stopped for a moment before he smothered her mouth with his own. His lips were surprisingly warm, his tongue lashed out to touch her bottom lip, begging access to explore deeper. She shuddered with pleasure, as he pressed closer to explore her petal-soft mouth.

Severus’s long lashes dropped to his pale sculpted cheekbones as he devoured her mouth. Every thrust built excitement until she exhaled into his mouth, a bit of her soul escaping with the kiss.

Severus bit down on her lower lip softly, teasingly before his hands cupped her bottom drawing her closer to him. A few minutes of deep, drowning kisses, Hermione’s eyes glazed over with desire and Severus pulled back stared hard at her.

“Who do you work for?” His suspicious cold drawl startled her and she mumbled. “What?”

Severus saw the glazed look and a smug pleased feeling expanded in his chest at his handiwork. He had kissed the witch into a dazed lust.

“Her…mione. Who, do you work for?” He emphasized every word with a kiss or bite on her neck. Each agonizingly slow, gentle mark against her left her further in confusion. Her eyelashes fluttered and she tried to shake the feeling as if she was going to die if she did not get him inside her. She exhaled slowly and focused on the question.

“No one, I just have a habit of writing everything down.” She struggled to think, which he was making impossible since he had entangled himself with her. Her scattered mind started to reform slowly. Obviously, he had read some of the book. Her book, Oh Merlin. He knew everything… Why is he kissing her then? No, he could not have gotten far.

“Have I paid your toll?” She murmured against his neck, breathing in his scent.

Severus narrowed his eyes. She had not lied about writing everything down. He could tell she was too befuddled by her lust to be very clever and lie about that. Maybe she was just a meticulous and scary little girl. A scary girl with the softest mouth he had ever felt. Severus pushed back from her and walked to the other side of the room.

“Don’t ever come to my room again. For your own safety.” Severus added darkly.

Severus unlocked the door and opened it. Hermione picked up her book and slid off the desk slowly. She felt like she was moving underwater. She needed help and Severus was confusing her. He ran hot and cold, minute-to-minute. She definitely had his attention now. That would have to do. Lily would never be so bold as to instigate anything, least of all with a Slytherin. Right?

Severus watched the witch move out into the hallway and around the corner, still in a daze. He slammed the door shut and walked to the desk, when suddenly he felt a burning sensation in his forearm.

Severus collapsed forward onto the desk, gripping his arm as the Dark Mark boiled suddenly. He knew that they would meet in the Room of Requirement shortly.

Severus looked up as Lucius walked into the room, wincing.

“Let’s go.” Severus followed Lucius out of the room.

Hermione headed back for her common room. That was a ridiculously close call. Already she was affecting so much. Severus almost figured out everything. She could not believe she was so careless. Hermione took the stairs two at a time until she reached the safety of her room. She flung herself facedown on the bed.

Lily looked up at her. “You missed dinner.”

Hermione said nothing but rolled over, staring up at the ceiling.

Lily tried again. “You okay?”

Hermione groaned. “I am an idiot. Nothing too big.”

Lily grinned slightly at that. “It’s been a good first week, hasn’t it? You are going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?”

Hermione blinked at that. Had the Ministry forged a parental excuse? They probably used the one her parents signed in her year.

She nodded slowly. “Yeah. Is it fun?”

Lily giggled slightly. “Oh yeah, loads. Lots of stuff to do. The shrieking shack is cool. Who are you going with?”

She shifted to sit Indian-style and braided her hair.

Hermione sat up, her own frizzy locks now sticking up. “Oh, um… by myself I guess.”

Lily smiled. “You can come with Alice and me, if you like? I’m meeting up with Frank Longbottom.” She blushed slightly. “He’s very sweet.”

Hermione nodded her head. “Great. Alice and him, you and me. It’s a team.”

Lily laughed slightly. “No, me and Frank, you and Alice, thank you very much.”

Hermione’s jaw dropped slightly. WHAT is going on here? Lily is dating Neville’s dad?

Hermione made a noise of impatience. “I thought Alice liked Frank.”

Lily looked startled slightly. “Oh? She never said anything to me about it. In fact, I think she fancies Sirius Black.”

GIRLS were so fickle. Hermione has NEVER been an expert at love but matchmaking these fickle girl’s was the biggest headache ever. She opened her mouth to speak when a large black owl flew through the open window by her bed. Hermione stared dumbly at it for a moment and then took the proffered letter.

“Oh, you got a letter from your Mum and Dad?” Hermione nodded to Lily, but inwardly snorted at that unlikelihood.

~

Dearest Hermione,

We hope school is going well. Your pets are missing you.
Hapotterry is very sick and almost cannot remember his own name when we call him for dinner.
In addition, in a new development, Nevillelbe is also falling ill as well.
Clearly, these animals suffer from the SAME disease.
Maybe it is their age. They were both born in the same year, you know.
Both hold an equal importance in our hearts and we are tragic about it.
We will try to research it further,
In addition, just so you know, your potion episode from the second year was remarked upon and duplicated.
We believe that your admirers of this potion may be using it even at your school. It’s very exciting!
Perhaps, your Aunt Myrtle can help you with it?
P.s. Your great uncle S.’s tombstone will need to be replaced;
The name is fading from age; he died in 77’ you know.
He was such a hero to save a Muggleborn from death.
Please understand, He would not have wanted it to look tarnished.
We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Love,

Your family.


~

Hermione stared at the letter. The Ministry had sent someone back with a Time Turner to deliver this letter.
Someone was using Polyjuice Potion here at the school. Neville Longbottom was ceasing to exist, and she killed Severus in 1977!

She dropped her head into her hands. Someone was mucking up all the relationships at this school on purpose. This was not just teenage angst. By taking care of both boys from the Prophecy, it insured that it would not come through.

Apparently, she got Severus killed, he probably saved her. Or Lily. Or… she needed help. Hermione knew that she had to find out who was at this school, and who they were pretending to be. Hermione shivered slightly and sunk into her bedcovers, pulling them over her head.

First thing tomorrow, she would try to find out who it was.