A/N~ It seems I am incapable of having only one story going at a time. I find that having more than one story going keeps the writer's block at bay. So here is my next project. It is another SS/HG story where Severus gets transported into the future where he meets our beloved Muggle-born brainiac witch.

So, sit back and relax as I present to you: Into the Well






“JAMES POTTER! YOU LET HIM DOWN THIS INSTANT!”

“Come on, Lily, we’re just having a bit of a laugh. I’m not hurting him.” James looked purposely at Severus and said, “Isn’t that right, Snivelly?”

“I don’t care if it’s hurting him or not. It’s cruel and childish! Let him down!” Lily folded her arms over her chest and huffed out her breath.

“She’s right, Prongs. Enough is enough,” agreed Remus Lupin.

“Aww, come on, Moony,” James pouted. “You don’t need to spoil our fun just because some skirt says it’s childish.”

Lily’s eyes narrowed. “Potter,” she hissed. “You are a conceited, arrogant, big-headed, bully! And I. . . HATE. . . you!” she spat, and stormed up to the castle, while calling over her shoulder, “I will not stand by and let you torture him! McGonagall would LOVE to know about this.”

Sirius looked at James and said musingly, “Hmm. . . I wonder if she realizes that conceited, arrogant and big-headed are pretty much the same thing.”

The two of them laughed together for a few moments before Remus cleared his throat. “I think it really is enough. Why don’t you lift the silencing charm and let him down. . .”

“Alright, alright,” said James dejectedly, then brightening somewhat, “I’ll let him down, right over there, in that water well!” James moved his wand in the direction of the well, and as Snape moved to hover right above it he said, “Merlin knows he could use a good bath!” And with that James flicked his wand and Severus fell, head first into the well.

“When did Dumbledore put this here anyway?” asked Sirius.

James shrugged and joined Sirius and Peter Pettigrew in a hearty laugh until they realized there had been no splash.

The four Marauders gathered around the old-looking well and peered into it, seeing nothing but their own scared and confused reflections in the clear water below.



Hermione sighed as she plopped down underneath her favorite oak tree. Harry and Ron were down at the quidditch pitch during their free hour to practice and she had decided to use the time to enjoy a few moments of rare solitude.

She had just leaned back and was preparing to close her eyes when a bright flash and loud crack rent the air. Hermione jumped up quickly and looked around expecting to see a thunderstorm rolling in. Instead, she saw a crumpled boy lying unconscious on the grass at her feet.

“Are you alright?” she cried, hoping but not expecting an answer. She knelt down at his side and bent her head to listen for breathing. “Thank you, Lord,” she breathed as she heard his steady breath flowing in and out. She needed to get help but didn’t want to leave him here alone. She conjured a stretcher and lifted him onto it with her wand and whispered, “Mobilicorpus,” and led him up to the castle to find help.

She spotted Professor Snape almost immediately, almost as if he were expecting her. His eyes narrowed, but Hermione noticed that he didn’t even seem the least bit surprised.

“It was as if he just fell from the sky, Professor,” she stated nervously. “H-he’s unconscious, I was just taking him up to Madame Pomfrey.”

“Thank you, Miss Granger,” he said, kinder than usual, Hermione noted curiously, “I can take him from here.”

“Y-yes, Professor,” Hermione stammered. She turned slowly to return to her tree outside. Three steps later she looked over her shoulder to watch Snape and the stranger ascending the stairs to the hospital wing.



“Well, young Severus. We’ve been expecting you,” Dumbledore greeted kindly, then explained, “There are a few rules you need to know while you are with us. First of all, no one can know your true identity, so for now, you will be Severus’ young cousin Alastar Prince. Your mother has been home schooling you, but finally gave in to your pleading to come here. And second, you must not ask questions. You will be sorely tempted, I’m sure, but you must resist. There is no way around the fact that you now know your future career. I don’t really see any harm in it, but you cannot know anything else about your life. Asking would be fruitless anyway, for none of the staff will reveal anything to you, and none of the students really know him, or you, I should say.”

“W-what year is it, Sir?” asked the confused teenager. “And how did I get here? The last thing I remember is Potter and Black laughing at me.”

“Yes, well young Severus, the year is 1995, and the well that James dropped you into was a portal.”

“Why was there a portal there in the first place, Professor?”

“That is a rather difficult question to answer. There are stories of a well that appears for 24 hours only once every thirty years, but there are very few who have ever tasted the full magic of it, for of those twenty-four hours there are only fifteen minutes in which a person can be transported in time. For the other twenty three hours and forty-five minutes, it is but a water well. It never appears in the same place twice, although only in magical places and communities. I myself have never been lucky enough to experience it. It was only through you that I even learned of its truthfulness. Fairy tales and fables, that’s where I first heard of its existence.”

“So. . .” Alastar started, “You’re telling me that Potter and Black dropped me in a well that appears for twenty four hours every thirty years, during the fifteen minutes that it acts as a time portal?”

“Precisely,” winked Dumbledore.

Alastar eyed his older self warily, while Severus stared back.

“This is a joke, right? Potter is somehow in on this, I know it.”

“I wish that were the case, dear cousin,” said Snape.

“Oh,” interjected Dumbledore. “Before I forget, there is one more rule. When you return to your own time, you must tell none of your peers of this experience.” He stood and led Alastar to the door. “Now. . . I believe the Slytherins have double charms with the Gryffindors in twenty minutes. You will attend classes like you would in 1975. Most of your professors are the same, and in the same classrooms.”

Alastar stopped with his hand on the doorknob, then turned, “Excuse me, Professor? Exactly how long will I be here? In this time, I mean?”

“Three months and fourteen days,” he answered with a smile and handed him a book bag. “Now, Mr. Prince, here are your books. Professor Flitwick has been notified, and will be expecting you.”

Alastar’s jaw dropped as he stammered, “Three months?”

“And fourteen days,” added Dumbledore. “Which explains why you must attend classes. You will be taking your O.W.L.s with us.”

“But. . .”

“But nothing Alastar. That is the final word,” stated Severus.

And without another word he turned the handle and stepped out to make his way to charms.

As he rounded a corner a girl stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Are you alright?” she asked kindly.

He nodded curtly once and tried to step around her.

“What’s your name?”

“S. . . Alastar.”

“Salastar?” she asked curiously.

He shook his head, “No, just Alastar.”

She nodded, “Oh. Well, Alastar, I’m Hermione. It’s nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand and when he didn’t take it she withdrew it slowly, trying not to let him know that he had hurt her feelings. “Well. . . erm. . . will you be staying long? Where are you from? Can I help you with anything?”

Alastar narrowed his eyes. Girls in his time never even gave him a second glance, but here is this girl that seemed all too eager to be his friend. Was it safe to befriend her? He couldn’t very well go about as a pariah for the next three months, could he? He decided that he didn’t see any harm in making a friend or two. “I’ll be here for the rest of term. My mother, until now has home schooled me. I’m on my way to. . .” He looked at his time table to play the part of a lost new student. “Charms. . .”

Hermione brightened and said, “Me too. I’ll show you the way.” She looked at the front of his robes and noting the lack of a house symbol she asked, “Are you going to be in Gryffindor?”

He shook his head as he took in the red and gold Gryffindor crest on the front of her robes. “No, I’m in Slytherin.”

“Oh,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment, it would be much easier to convince Harry and Ron to befriend him if he were going to be in Gryffindor. “Well, we’d better get going. Professor Flitwick won’t be happy if we’re late.”



Well, there you have Chapter one. I hope you liked it. I hope you'll let me know by leaving feedback here!

“Here we are,” explained Hermione as she held the door open for her new friend.

Harry and Ron were already seated in their normal place in the middle of the room, their heads huddled together in hushed conversation.

“There’s an empty seat right next to me. Oh, and look, there are my friends.” She took his hand, to which he inwardly glowed, and pulled him along behind her. They stopped when they approached the two boys.

Hermione cleared her throat and as Ron and Harry looked up, Alastar hissed, “Potter!”

Harry and Ron looked at the newcomer curiously. “Excuse me? Do I know you?” Harry asked, eyeing him closely.

“Hello. . . you’re Harry Potter! Everyone knows you,” said Ron as he rolled his eyes.

Alastar started as he heard the name. ‘So Potter has a son,’ he thought bitterly. Then studied him more closely to see if he could recognize the poor woman Potter had bewitched into having his child. He nearly vomited when he placed Harry’s eyes. ‘Not Lily! It couldn’t be! She hated Potter!’ He couldn’t help himself. He had to be sure. Maybe it was a freak coincidence that this boy had Lily’s eyes. “Your parents. . .”

Harry stiffened. “What about them?” he asked defensively. He didn’t like this new kid. And he didn’t like the way Hermione was looking at him.

Professor Flitwick saved them from anymore awkwardness. “If everyone would sit down, we’ll get started.” There was a shuffling of chairs as students found their seats.

“Psst. . . . Granger,” whispered Draco.

Hermione tried her best to ignore him, but was finding it increasingly difficult as he kept throwing wadded parchment at her.

Alastar watched Hermione as her lips pressed tighter together with every second. He was going to curse the kid that was doing it if he threw one more thing at her. He whirled in his seat as a knut hit her in the head, but upon seeing the assailant he turned back around without another word. A Malfoy? The boy is the spitting image of Lucius Malfoy. A thought occurred to him, what would he do if he met his own son? The thought unnerved him. What kind of father was he? Not a monster like his own, he knew that. And who is the mother? He had never thought of any woman in that way, besides Lily, and apparently he lost that battle to Potter. He looked around the room to see if he could spot anyone with any of his features. He couldn’t and he relaxed slightly. Perhaps his child is older or younger than these, or in a different house. It would be just his luck if his child had been sorted into Hufflepuff. He snorted at the thought.


Hermione looked at him curiously and mouthed, “What?”

He just shook his head as another mistle hit Hermione’s cheek. She’d had enough, and with as much venom in her voice as she could muster she hissed, “What do you want, Malfoy?!”

“Who’s your boyfriend, and what did you do to him, to get him to like you? A love potion, perhaps?” sneered Draco. Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly.

Alastar would take no more. His head whipped around and he fixed Malfoy with a glare to rival a basilisk.

“Oooh, I’m scared now,” spat Draco sarcastically. “I’m shaking!”

Again, Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

“What has she ever done to you?” hissed Alastar.

“She exists. Isn’t that enough?” answered Draco haughtily.

Alastar stiffened. James had said the same thing to Lily about him. His blood boiled. For some inexplicable reason he felt emboldened in this future time. He stood and whirled to face Draco, who stood in turn and stepped to Alastar until they were toe to toe. They were the same height, and they stared at each other menacingly, Hermione tugging on Alastar’s sleeve trying to get him to sit, until Professor Flitwick called the room to order and broke the two apart.

“And that will be twenty points from Slytherin. I will not have that kind of behavior in my class,” he squeaked.

Draco fumed. “What about this git? Aren’t you going to take points from him?”

“I did,” explained Flitwick. “I took ten points from each of you. And if you don’t sit down I’ll put you in detention, Mr. Malfoy,” he finished.

Draco stared incredulously at Alastar and said maliciously, “You’re in Slytherin?”

Alastar glared at the young Malfoy and gave him a curt nod.

“How come I’ve never seen you before? And why in Merlin’s name are you getting friendly with a mudblood like Granger?”

Alastar shot out of his seat and pointed his wand at Draco, who returned the gesture.

“Protego!” bellowed Flitwick. A shield appeared between the two young rivals. “Detention! For both of you! Now sit!” He moved to the front of the classroom and said, “Well, I suppose you have all had a good look at our new student, Alastar Prince, so I see no need for introductions.”

The class passed with no more than a few sidelong glances from curious students, and as the bell rang, Flitwick called, “And Alastar, your cousin has asked me to tell you that he would like to meet with you in his office.”

“When?” he asked.

“Right now.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir,” he said politely.

Flitwick nodded and picked up his quill before setting to work on grading the assignments.

Hermione had been waiting at the door for Alastar. Harry and Ron were a few paces away, waiting for Hermione apprehensively. She asked curiously, “Who’s your cousin?”

“Severus Snape,” he stated casually. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined what that answer would provoke in the three students surrounding him.



Yes, I know it's a lot shorter than my usual chapters, but I felt, nonetheless, that it would be a good place to end the chapter. Let me know what you think by leaving feedback here.

Thanks,
~Dayna

A/N~ there is one paragraph in this chapter that would most likely be classified as PG-13. It will be preceded by * * * * * and followed by the same. It is mild, at least I think it is, but I wanted to warn you just to be safe!



Alastar stared curiously at the faces surrounding him. Potter and his red-headed mate were now glaring maliciously and Hermione looked sympathetic. He pretended he didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary as he turned to Hermione and said, “Er. . . thank you. For showing me to Charms.” He started to walk away, then realized he had no idea where his, or rather his cousin’s office was. He turned back to Hermione. “Could you tell me where his office is?”

Hermione smiled and said, “It’s in the dungeons, but this school is confusing and it’s really easy to get lost. I’ll show you.”

“But Hermione,” argued Harry. “Snape’s cousin!” he hissed.

“Yeah,” agreed Ron. “You don’t want to go around getting friendly with him.”

Alastar was indignant. ‘Like father, like son, I suppose,’ he thought bitterly.

Hermione sniffed angrily, “Look, Harry, Ron, I wouldn’t care if he was related to Lucius Malfoy! People don’t like being judged by their relatives! Look what you’ve got for relatives. . . How would you like it if I judged you by your cousin, Harry!” Without another word she turned on her heel, grabbed Alastar’s hand and started pulling him towards the dungeon.

As they descended the stairs to the dungeon she turned to Alastar. “I’m really sorry about Harry and Ron. They’re a bit prejudiced when it comes to Snape.”

Before he could stop himself, Alastar said, “Well, he’s a Potter, I’d expect nothing less from him.”

Hermione looked at him curiously. “It seems Harry isn’t the only one with a prejudice. I suppose your cousin has given you the dirty on Harry’s dad.”

Hermione looked more closely at her new friend. She could now place why he had looked so familiar when she had first seen him. They had the same eyes, and nose, and hair. . . He looked so much like Snape that he could be his son. She had the strangest notion that if she were to have known Snape at sixteen, this is exactly what he would have looked like. They even sounded alike. “You’re a lot like your cousin, especially in looks,” she observed.

Alastar flinched and looked away. What would happen if someone found out who he really was. Part of him wanted to share with this kind-hearted girl who he really was. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to. No one could know. Dumbledore had told him so.

Hermione pulled him to a stop in front of a door. He didn’t want their walk to end. He enjoyed the feeling of her arm brushing against his as they walked, and her scent was intoxicating. She smelled of lilacs on the sunny morning after a storm. He found himself comparing her to Lily. She had the same kind, accepting nature. But there was also a fire burning beneath the surface that, if stoked, would burn whoever was near. Lily had that same fire. Lily’s eyes were a startlingly green color that instantly drew a person in, whereas Hermione’s were a very warm, intelligent dark brown. The depth of them was immeasurable and he found himself drowning. All in all, Hermione was measuring up exceedingly well in the comparison. He didn’t think that that would have ever been possible for any girl to accomplish.

“Would you like me to wait for you?” asked Hermione.

“Er. . . No.” Merlin, how he wanted to say yes! “I’m not sure what he wants, and I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

Hermione tried to hide her disappointment. “Oh, well, alright. I guess I’ll see you later, then.”

She turned around to leave but was halted as Alastar took hold of her elbow. He spun her back to him and did something that he never would have thought he would have had the guts to do. He claimed her lips with his for the briefest of kisses. He gently pushed her away from him, his hands lingering on her shoulders and stared into her wide, shocked eyes. A stray lock of hair fell into those eyes and he twirled the curl in his finger before putting it back into place behind her ear.

“Thank you for being so kind to me.” And without another word he turned around and stepped through the door to the office that would one day be his.

Snape looked up from the paper he was grading and stared knowingly at his younger self. He remembered that kiss. It was his first and would be forever cherished. “Sit.” He motioned with a wave of his hand to a chair in front of his desk.

Alastar sat and a peculiar thought occurred to him. He was taking orders from himself! He chuckled under his breath. What if he didn’t do as he said? Would he put himself in detention? He felt unusually buoyant after his boldness regarding Hermione, and he laughed at the thought of making himself write lines or something. He sobered as he stared into his own black eyes. He didn’t look happy.

“Yes I would, I will put you in detention should you disobey me. I will treat you no differently than I treat the rest of my students. And as you are Alastar and not Severus, you will do as I say.” He stood and walked to a closet in the corner of the room. He pulled out a robe that had the Slytherin emblem on the front. Alastar wondered when they started placing house symbols on the robes. Severus gave Alastar the password to the common room and told him which dormitory he would be in.

Alastar groaned, “I’ll be sharing a dormitory with Lucius Malfoy’s son?”

Snape gave a perfunctory nod and said, “Yes, you will be sharing a dormitory with Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Blaise Zabini. Crabbe and Goyle are not bright enough to make the connection between us, so little caution is needed there, but caution nonetheless. On the other hand, take heed when speaking with Malfoy and Zabini, they are bright in their own right and if the wrong words are said, there could be trouble. Say nothing concerning your private life. It is of dire importance that this charade be played without flaw.”

“Hermione?”

A small smile of longing crossed his face. “Ah yes, Miss Granger. Miss Granger is an unusually bright witch. Her mind is quick to pick up similarities between us. You must be watchful around her.”

“Potter?” he asked, malice in his voice.

“Potter is too much like his father to get close enough to you to make any connection at all.”

“Is Lily. . .”

Snape’s eyes went hard. “That is all. Your classes are over for the day. It would do you well to get settled into your dormitory.”

“Yes, Sir.” It struck him oddly that he was calling himself, Sir. He shook his head at the oddity of it. He did not, however, go to the dormitory. He was not looking forward to meeting this Draco Malfoy git. He was curious to see what changes had been made to the castle and grounds, he would first take a little tour.

Nothing had changed significantly enough inside the castle to keep his interest. He decided instead to take a look at the grounds. He stepped onto the steps outside the castle and gazed at the lowering sun. In another couple of hours it would be throwing oranges and reds and purples across the sky. He walked to the lake and sat down beneath the tree that was, even 20 years ago, his favorite to lean against. He stared out across the water in a silent reverie. Hermione was strong in his thoughts. The disappointment in her countenance when he had told her not to wait, and the surprised look in her beautiful eyes and the reddening of her cheeks after he had kissed her.



He still had no idea why he had kissed her. He sighed, wishing he could do it again. To breathe in her scent and play with her hair. His mind took them further and he felt his face grow hot. He shook his head to clear it. He barely knew her! He chided himself for getting carried away in his thoughts.



He stood up and walked slowly to the water’s edge, staring at the ground. He bent to pick up a stone and flung it into the lake. It skipped five times before disappearing beneath the surface. He put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels.

He started back up to the castle hoping for a glimpse of Hermione. Curious stares and whispers followed his every step. He pretended not to notice. Until he heard his mother’s name.

“Prince!” The voice sounded cold and angry.

He whirled around to see Draco Malfoy striding briskly toward him.



I hope you all liked Chapter 3. Please let me know by leaving feedback here!

Thanks,
Dayna

On instinct, Alastar whipped out his wand and pointed it at his pursuer’s chest. Draco stopped a few paces away and mirrored Alastar’s movement.

“Tell me something, Prince. How did a blood-traitor like you get into Slytherin?” spat Draco.

He looked closer at the new student and furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. “Have we met before?”

Alastar shook his head jerkily. He didn’t lower his wand, even though Draco’s tone indicated confusion and curiosity, more than malice. Alastar had learned at James’ wand to not be lulled into a false sense of security by such things as a tone of voice.

“If you’re going to be in Slytherin, there are a few things you need to learn. First, stay away from Granger,” sneered Draco.

Without thinking, Alastar blurted maliciously, “You have claim to her, then?”

Draco raised an eyebrow in incredulity, “Me? Lay claim to a mudblood? You must be joking!” He looked at Alastar with disgust and curiosity. “No, Prince. Stay away from her, because she is something to be walked on, not with! Where have you been for the last hundred years? Under a rock?” Crabbe and Goyle, who were flanked on either side of Draco snorted a laugh. “You’re in Slytherin, so obviously you aren’t a mudblood, and you must possess some of the qualities that makes a wizard good enough to be in Slytherin.”

Draco lowered his wand and put it back into an inside pocket of his robes. Alastar hesitantly followed suit. “Follow me,” instructed Draco. “I’ll show you around.”

Alastar wanted to argue with Draco, but common sense was telling him to hold his tongue. This boy was to be his roommate for the next three months. Making an enemy of Draco Malfoy would not be a good idea. Especially if he was anything like his father. And if the first two impressions he had given Alastar were any indicator, Draco was much like Lucius.

Although Severus remembered the outcome of this little face off, he couldn’t help but stand in a shadow, well hidden from prying eyes, to watch the exchange with sadness and regret etched in his face. The coming weeks would be sure to bring Miss Granger heartbreak and confusion.



As hard as she tried, Hermione could not force thoughts of Alastar from her mind. It had been two and a half weeks since he had shocked her silly with that kiss. Since then, however, he had completely ignored her. She shook her head as she tried to focus on the book she was studying in her dormitory, but it was no use.


He had seemed genuinely interested in her that first day. But then Draco Malfoy sucked him in. She was sure that was the reason. She could tell that Malfoy and Alastar weren’t close friends, for Alastar had not joined Crabbe and Goyle in ranks behind the slime. Hermione guessed that he was too smart for that. Too independent to be under anyone’s thumb. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept the rejection.

She caught him stealing covert glances at her in the Great Hall and in the double periods they shared, many times, but he would avert his gaze every time she looked back at him.

She chided herself. She barely knew him! They had spent only one afternoon together. Not even an afternoon. Only one class and a. . . kiss. She sighed and decided that she would talk to Alastar tomorrow, even if she had to corner him in the boys lavatory.

She had noticed an odd change in Severus Snape since Alastar’s arrival. He was still awful to Harry, of course, and the rest of the Gryffindors, as well. But he was a bit softer towards her. She could only surmise that his cousin had something to do with the change. Perhaps Alastar was bringing out Snape’s fatherly instincts. But why then, would the change only affect the way he treated her?

Did Alastar tell Snape about the kiss? That didn’t make any sense. Why would that change Snape’s opinion of her? Alastar was now treating her like dirt, and Snape was being kind to her. Well, as kind as anyone could expect Snape to be. If it was the kiss, for some strange reason it had changed both of their opinions of her.

She sighed in frustration. Something just wasn’t adding up. She slammed her book shut and left her bed. She needed a distraction. She entered the common room to find Harry and Ron with their heads together, no doubt planning their next excursion.

She snuck past them without drawing attention to herself. She wasn’t in the mood to be around boys right now. In fact right now was one of the times she really wished she had a female friend in whom she could confide. She supposed there was Ginny, but she was always busy with her friends.

She had three hours until curfew and she decided that a sunset would be perfect to release her frustrations and clear her mind.

The pleasantly cool April weather embraced her when she stepped outside. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the skies and inhaled deeply. She opened her eyes and started forward. The best place to watch the sunset was on the bank of the Great Lake.

She noticed a lone figure sitting beneath a tree with his nose in a book. Perhaps she wouldn’t need to wait until tomorrow to talk to Alastar afterall.

She approached him without speaking. She knew he could hear her. He had glanced at the ground in her direction, looking only at the shoes coming towards him. Hermione wrapped an arm around the tree he was sitting under and leaned against it. She cleared her throat in an attempt to get his attention.

He didn’t look at her. In fact he looked in the opposite direction from where she stood. “What do you want?” he asked quietly.

“Well, I think you owe me an explanation.”

He looked up at her with forced scorn in his eyes. He hated himself for this! “I don’t owe you anything.” He put his nose back to his book. He wanted to kiss her again. To put his arms around her and entwine his fingers in her untamable hair.

He had been watching her from afar over the last couple of weeks and was completely enamored by her. She was kind, beautiful and intelligent. She possessed every quality he loved in Lily, plus extra traits he found intriguing. He didn’t think it possible for a single person to be everything Hermione was and not explode. He felt a strange pull towards her that he couldn’t explain.

But his role as Alastar Prince had to be played to the tee. No one could know who he was and where he came from. He had made peace with Lucius’ son, but kept his distance.
He would have to do the same with Hermione.

Hermione broke into his reverie, “Fine, no explanation.” There was no way she was going to let him push her away with nothing, so she started down another route to her goal. She softened her tone and sank to the ground beside him. “What are you reading?”

He did a double take when he saw her sitting next to him. He hastily shoved the book into his book bag, but not before Hermione saw the title. Everything You Should Know About Time-Travel.

“Er. . . If you need to know about time-travel, I know quite a bit. I was given a time-turner in my third year.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You were given a time-turner? From whom? What for?”

“Well, I applied for one to the Ministry of Magic. Professor McGonagall vouched for me. I got it so I could take double and sometimes triple lessons.”

His excitement peaked. Maybe she still had it. Maybe he wouldn’t need to be here for another three months. At once his stomach dropped. If he left now, he wouldn’t see Hermione smile again until he was too old for her. He would surely never see her look at him as she was doing now. But wouldn’t going back now be better for everyone? He wouldn’t have to pretend anymore. Making up his mind he asked, “Do you still have it?”

Hermione shook her head and focused her attention on the water that now looked as if it were on fire as the sun sank beneath the horizon. “No, I gave it back after that one year. I couldn’t have survived another year of it.”


He studied her carefully. That she couldn't survive with it for another year seemed a hard thing for her to admit. Double and triple lessons? Who could have survived it? Yet she had done it for an entire year. He was awed. Another thing to add to the list of admirable qualities possessed by Hermione.

He glanced around making sure none of his Slytherin house mates were near, and studied Hermione more closely. “What can you tell me of time-travel?” There were a few questions he hadn’t been able to find the answer to.

“Well, the most important rule is to not be seen. And don’t try to change anything.” She smiled at the last statement. She and Harry had changed much, that year. They had saved two lives that would have otherwise been lost.

He reveled in her quiet smile. It was lovely and caused her eyes to sparkle. Whatever she was remembering was happy and he felt himself wishing he would have been there to experience it with her.

But the information she had given him was not news. He already knew that. “What if the person went to the future, rather than the past? Their future self would already know they were there, because it would be a memory, right? So what then?”

Hermione chewed her bottom lip in thought. “I don’t know. I suppose you’re right, but it could still be extremely complicated. I think it may be because the future self would want to rectify some of their mistakes. Things happen for a reason. Good and bad things. And they mold us into the people we become. If the future self divulged information to their past self, it could significantly change the lives of a lot of people.”

She adjusted her position to sit directly in front of Alastar, and continued with her theory. “Say that the future self warned his past self of an incident that resulted in someone’s death, or serious injury. The past self returns to the past and avoids the incident. The person that was supposed to die or be injured is now whole and happy. Maybe that person would marry or maybe they end up causing turmoil in lives that were otherwise untouched. What would happen to the spouse of the person that had originally married and had a family with the person that married the one that should have perished? Maybe the original couple were the parents or grandparents of a great inventor, who came up with something to cure an, of yet, incurable disease. What would happen then? It would affect millions of people. Generation after generation would be changed because one person that died was now whole.”

Alastar sat, contemplating Hermione’s words, his elbows on his knees and his chin in one hand. “What if the future self didn’t divulge any information because they knew of the dangers?”

She sighed and shook her head. “I really don’t know. I’m sorry.” She looked into Alastar’s eyes and was once again overwhelmed with just how much he resembled Snape.

He wanted to ask if she had a theory of why a person’s magic would be weaker in a different time, but he didn’t dare. Snape had told him that she would be quick to pick up similarities between them. He was sure that if he asked too many questions, she would also be quick to figure out who he really was.

But he had been worried about just that for the last two weeks. His magic was somehow diminished and it was troubling him to no end.

He bent his knees and folded his arms on top of them. He laid his head on his arms and stared over the water. The sun was nearly gone.

Hermione sat in a like manner. She was still studying the boy in front of her. “Malfoy told you to stay away from me, didn’t he?” she guessed.

Alastar slowly turned his head to gaze into Hermione’s eyes. He saw the hurt and betrayal he had put there. He wanted to kick himself. “Yes.”

“You know you don’t have to take orders from him, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I didn’t want to cause trouble. He’s my roommate.” Even as he said it, he realized just how lame it sounded. It sounded like a much better justification before it had been said aloud.

“I understand. Well, I’ll go then. I don’t want to cause you any trouble.” She rose gracefully to her feet and started to walk back to the castle.

“Hermione, wait. Don’t go,” he pleaded.

She looked at him sadly and shook her head.

He scrambled quickly to his feet and fell into step beside her. “Let me come with you, then?”

She smiled demurely and blushing, said, “I’d like that.”



I hope you liked Chapter 4!

Please let me know by leaving feedback here.

~Dayna