Chapter 21

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, NOT MINE! But oh how I wish it were. This is my twist, though, but all of the characters belong to the very rich and talented JK Rowling.

Anything that seems vaguely familiar in this chapter has been quoted, paraphrased, or just plain old summarized from The Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter 21

Hermione's first year:

Severus entered the Headmaster's office with a puzzled look. The regular staff meeting before the feast had already been held and dismissed over an hour ago. He was unsure why he had been summoned again to Dumbledore's side. He found Minerva McGonagall, Mr. Filch, Poppy Pomfrey, and Irma Pince gathered around the desk. Severus wondered at this small group of faculty members. He stood next to Filch and looked to the Headmaster.

"I've called you all here for a short meeting about one of our new students," Albus began.

"We know; Harry Potter is to be attending here," Minerva said. "I do hope he is in my house!"

Albus looked at Minerva fondly. "No, Minerva, we have already discussed Mr. Potter in our meeting earlier. This is a different student. One whom you have all heard of before."

Everyone stared at Dumbledore curiously. Severus had it figured out in an instant.

"You're talking about Hermione," he stated.

Albus nodded.

"Hermione who?" Poppy asked.

"Hermione Granger," Albus offered.

The other faculty members' eyes widened, and they began to murmur to each other.

Albus began the explanation. "Hermione Granger is to be a new first-year student here. In her future, she will travel back in time to become the teaching assistant that you all remember. When she disappeared those many years ago, she actually returned to her own time. Severus and I were the only ones who knew about her time travel, so it was voiced around that she had fled the country because of Voldemort."

Everyone except for Severus stared incredulously at the Headmaster.

"I must implore you to not show any recognition of the girl and to treat her as you would any other student here. She is not to know about her future. The girl needs to concentrate on her studies, not what she will perform in her twenties. Are we all in agreement?"

Everyone agreed, and Albus adjourned the meeting. Severus stayed behind. He went up to the desk. Albus looked at him gravely.

"There is one other who knows of Hermione's time travel," Severus said quickly.

Albus raised his eyebrows.

"Lucius Malfoy is aware of her being from the future," Severus told Albus.

"How did that come about?" Albus asked curiously.

"I told him."

"Why would you do that? You compromised her position, Severus. What if Voldemort had found out?"

"Lucius considered Hermione a good friend. He would not divulge her secret."

Albus put his head down and stroked his beard. "Well, that's good to know," he said absently. He then looked back at Severus. "Are you alright with her arrival, Severus?" he asked.

"I am," Severus stated simply.

"This can't be easy for you," Albus commiserated.

"It will be easier than not seeing her at all."

Albus nodded his head. "I see your point. Can you treat her like every other student?"

"Of course; that's what you pay me for, isn't it?"

Albus chuckled. "You are so very mercenary, my boy. You know the things that you do for me are invaluable to our cause."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You would use another if I was not under your thumb. I can keep a secret, and you know it, Albus. You have nothing to fear."

Albus smiled at Severus, his eyes twinkling. Severus rolled his eyes. "Must you twinkle at me like that, old man?"

"I'm just looking forward to the future," Albus admitted.

"You and I both!" Severus replied in exasperation.

oooOOOooo

Severus sat in the Great Hall watching the new first-years. He arched an eyebrow at the young man who looked so much like his father. Harry Potter looked at him and rubbed his head. Severus noted the lightning bolt scar as the boy rubbed it. It hadn't seemed very long ago that he had hoisted the boy up into his arms and allowed him to grab at his nose as if it were a squeak toy. He marveled at how quickly time had passed and how big Harry was now.

Although interested with the Boy Who Lived, he was more taken with the young girl who stood behind him. He studied Hermione covertly. He smiled thinly at her. Her beautiful hair was an unkempt mess. She had not quite learned how to tame the bush that sat atop her head. Her mouth showed off some prominent front teeth. He thought back to her promise to hex him if he ever said anything about her teeth. Now he understood her comment better. He would be sure to avoid that topic at all costs. He saw her chatting matter-of-factly to another child, and his heart constricted within him. He would make sure she never feared him like she had in his Hermione's past.

He watched her covertly under a sheet of his hair. Although a remembrance of things lost, Hermione's presence soothed him. It was a reminder that she would eventually return. Granted, that time would be many years into the future and much would happen between now and then. But at least she was here. That meant the time was closer than it had been. Oh, how he wished he could go to sleep tonight and wake up in the morning having all of the coming years behind him and his love in his arms.

oooOOOooo

Severus rolled his eyes as the sorting went on. Potter was put in Gryffindor, Hermione, of course, Gryffindor, Weasley, Gryffindor, no surprise there. Malfoy, Slytherin, surprise, surprise. Dursley, whom he had almost forgotten about, had been put into Hufflepuff. Severus chuckled at that, thinking it had been a good match.

He eyed his new Slytherins. Many were sons and daughters of Death Eaters. They could never know of his true allegiances. He would have to be very careful now that Potter was at the school. He couldn't be seen as favoring him in any way or things would be said, and parents would become suspicious. Even though the Dark Lord was no more, Severus needed to keep his spy work a secret. He knew he would become valuable once again when the Dark Lord returned.

oooOOOooo

"I can help you learn to stopper death," Severus said in his deep, mysterious voice.

He looked around the room and noticed that Harry Potter seemed to be doodling. He frowned and walked over to the young man's table, ready to chastise him for not paying attention. He looked down at what Potter was writing. He saw that the boy was taking notes. He arched an eyebrow at him as Harry looked up. The boy looked at him innocently, and Severus worked hard not to smile at him. He looked to Hermione, who was sitting beside Harry, and gave her his signature arched eyebrow as well.

"If you are to excel in this class, you will have to work hard," he explained as he continued his walk around the classroom. "I do not accept fooling around in this room as the slightest discrepancy from your work can have explosive results."

He turned and stared at the first-years, pulling his cloak around his folded arms, trying to convey the importance of being serious in his class. He gave them all an appraising look. He had learned that if he could instill respect in the first few weeks of the student's lives, he would have it for their entire tenure at Hogwarts.

"Any foolish behavior will be rewarded with detentions. You will come to class prepared to work, and you will work efficiently. There will be no sharing of work unless you are assigned into teams. If you are not sure of an answer in my class, it is better to keep your mouth closed, as foolish comments are not tolerated."

Severus looked around at the students. They seemed to be duly respectful of him. He decided his intimidation had worked and began the lesson in earnest. He instructed them in the tools of the Potioneer, and with a flick of his wand, a simple boil cure potion scrawled itself on the board.

"You should have everything needed for this potion in your kits. You may begin."

Severus continued to wander the classroom, watching the progress of the students. He noticed one boy looking scared and tentative as he shakily picked up several porcupine quills and held them above his cauldron. The boy's hand continued to shake as he prepared to drop them in the cauldron to complete the Potion. Severus quickly went to the boy's side.

"Mr. Longbottom," he said. The boy looked up with a frightened look on his face.

"Please read the directions on the board once again," Severus directed.

Neville stared at the board, and his eyes grew wide. He carefully took the cauldron off the fire and then dropped in the porcupine quills.

Severus nodded in approval.

"Mr. Longbottom, had you added those quills before taking the cauldron off the fire, you would have succeeded in melting your cauldron and possibly harming yourself."

Neville looked down in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sir," he said sheepishly.

"Mr. Longbottom, if you carefully follow the directions to any potion assigned to you in this class, I assure you, you will succeed. There is no need for you to doubt your abilities. Is that understood?"

Neville looked up and gave Severus a slight nod. "I'll pay closer attention next time, sir."

Severus gave Neville a slight nod. "Attention to detail, Mr. Longbottom," he said as he moved off to view another student's attempt.

"Yes, sir," Neville replied with fervor.

Severus arched his brow at him as he moved away.

Soon enough, the class was over, and the young first-years filed out. Severus watched Hermione gather her books and leave all by herself. He hoped she would find some friends soon.

He snapped out of his musings as his seventh-year class came bustling in. They all smiled at him and greeted him, asking him about his summer. He smiled faintly and told them of a trip he had made to Germany to look for rare Potions ingredients. Soon it was time to start class, and he began once again to teach.

oooOOOooo

That night Severus dreamed the dream again. He hadn't dreamed it in months, but seeing Hermione, even as a little girl, must have brought it back to him. It was a dream he longed to have every night. His Hermione was with him in the dream.

They were in their room in the Room of Requirement, cuddling on the couch. She was kissing him. It felt wonderful to have her in his arms again and to be kissing her.

She pulled away after a long while. "I will be with you soon, my love," she told him.

"Don't go, Hermione. I want you with me always," Severus pleaded with her.

"I must," she said as she stroked his cheek. "I am only here to help you through the hard times, but someday I will be with you forever."

"You have been gone for so long. You will come back and not want to be with me."

She smiled at him. "Of course I will want to be with you. I love you."

"Please, Hermione, always love me," he begged her.

She kissed him again. "I will, Severus. I will love you forever."

Severus pulled her close, but felt her evaporate in his embrace. He looked to where she was, but she was gone. His life had left once again.

Severus awoke, not feeling sad, but feeling comforted. The dream always made him feel this way, even though it ended in her disappearance. It was as if his subconscious knew when he needed to see her and obliged him with this dream.

He turned in the bed and repositioned himself into a more comfortable position. He felt contented, even though he would not see his Hermione for years to come. He knew that when he did, they would never part again, and he would be the happiest man alive.

oooOOOooo

"Mister Potter, a word please," Severus said as the class was beginning to leave.

Harry looked up with concern and packed his things away. Soon the room was empty except for him, and he was standing in front of Severus, looking nervous.

"Mister Potter, I need to speak to you about a private matter."

Harry looked interested.

Severus leaned forward. "I was good friends with your mother when I was a youth."

Harry stared at Severus and then finally said, "What was she like?"

Severus smiled as he got a faraway look. "She was feisty, very pretty, and very smart. I thought you might like to learn a little more about her." He looked at Potter expectantly.

Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir!" he said.

"Come back here at seven tonight. We'll have a... chat. If anyone asks, tell them I gave you detention."

"Thank you, Professor Snape!" Harry cried and ran from the room, waving at him. Severus couldn't help chuckle to himself at the boy's exuberance.

oooOOOooo

There was a loud knock at the Potions classroom door.

"Enter," Severus bellowed, so the visitor would hear him.

Harry Potter strode through the door, looking eager.

Severus smirked at him as he approached the desk and then motioned for him to have a seat.

"Are you adjusting to life at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter?" he asked the boy as he settled into the chair.

"I'm having a bit of a time finding my way around still, sir. Other than that, things are going alright."

Severus nodded. "Yes, between the countless classrooms and moving stairs, it takes some getting used to."

Harry nodded back.

"Do you have any specific questions about your mother?" Severus asked.

"Well, I just want to know everything. My Aunt Petunia doesn't speak of her much. She says they didn't get along as children and hardly spoke when they were adults. Do you know why that is?"

Severus looked at Harry thoughtfully. He had not expected the conversation to turn to Petunia so quickly.

"It is because your aunt was jealous of your mother and her magic for quite some time. You must not hold it against her. She has more than made up for her foolhardiness as a younger girl. I was witness to her change of attitude. I helped her accept the fact that she was a witch and trained her in her abilities."

"You must be who Aunt Petunia was talking about. She mentioned your name, but with all of the other things going on with getting ready for school, I forgot it."

"I spent quite some time at your home when you were just a baby," Severus divulged.

Harry was thoughtful for a minute. He studied Severus carefully and then his eyes grew wide.

"I remember you now! I thought you were a dream! I always dreamed of this man in black who would come to visit and play with me. For a while I thought you were my father until Aunt Petunia showed me a picture of my mum and him. You never came to visit though, so I figured it was all in my imagination. You're Sevvie!"

Severus turned red. It was one thing for a toddler to call him by that name, but another entirely for an eleven-year-old student to refer to him as 'Sevvie'.

"Yes, I am," he said distastefully. "We shall dispense with that nickname, please. I do have a reputation as a teacher to keep up."

Harry grinned and then became thoughtful again. "How come you never came back?"

"I will explain that in due time. First, let us speak about your mother."

Harry nodded. "So, what was she like? My mum, I mean."

Severus sat back and began to tell Harry about his mother. He went into detail about their friendship in school and how Lily would always fight for the underdog. He avoided the more unpleasant memories that he held, not feeling it necessary for the boy to know such dark secrets. At least not at this time.

"Lily was incredibly smart. She rivaled me at Potions making. We would often work together to create new potions."

"So, do you think she might have become a Potions mistress if she had lived?" Harry asked.

Severus thought about that. "I'm sure she could have been had she wanted to. However, she was more interested in Transfiguration. She did even better in that class. No one could best her. Not even me."

Harry smiled at the thought of one of his professors admitting that someone other than themselves was better at something.

"What is the smirk for, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked.

"Oh, nothing, sir! I was just imagining my mother Transfiguring a troll into a house or something," he explained quickly.

Severus regarded him dubiously. He didn't need to be a Legilimens to see that the boy was keeping whatever he really thought to himself. He decided to let the affair slip and continue describing Harry's mum to him.

Severus not only told him about his mother, he told him about his spy work for Dumbledore. He explained why he never returned to Privet Drive and made sure that Harry understood that even though Voldemort was not around, he could not treat him any differently in class and even at times, might be quite cruel, but he could not have anyone think that Harry and he had an alliance.

"That is, of course, if you choose to ally yourself with me," Severus went on.

Harry's eyes grew wide. "I... I would be honored, sir, if you chose to have me help you, even in a small way."

Severus nodded at him. He knew that he was affecting the timeline with his admissions, but he wanted Harry to have a better opportunity to defeat Voldemort this time around. He had grown to care for him quite well when he was visiting Petunia to teach her about her magic. Although he knew that in Hermione's time Harry had defeated the Dark Lord, he wanted to make sure that that would happen again no matter what.

Without giving too much away, he explained that the Dark Lord would not be in hiding for long, that Harry would have a great impact in his defeat as he got older, and that Severus wanted him to be as prepared as humanly possible.

"But what can I do?" Harry questioned. "I'm just an eleven-year-old boy."

"You will not always remain eleven years old, Mr. Potter. The Dark Lord will not come back for a while, but he will return. I hope that you will be ready when the time comes. In fact, I would like to help you prepare to defend yourself against Voldemort when he returns. I'm sure that you realize by that scar on your head that you will not be silent in the fight that is to come."

"Are you telling me you want to teach me Defense?"

"If you are agreeable to it, yes. As a Death Eater spy, I have learned many skills that are not taught inside of these walls normally. I will not teach you dark magic, but I can teach you defensive techniques that will help you in your fight against such magic in the future."

Harry accepted eagerly. "Sir, I would love to learn whatever you would wish to teach me."

Severus nodded. "You will meet me Saturday morning at nine a.m. up on the seventh floor. Wait in the corridor by the tapestry with the trolls trying to dance ballet. You must tell no one where you are going. Make up something that your friends will believe. We will meet there every week and train for one or two hours. I believe by the time Voldemort returns, you will be a formidable opponent."

"But how can we train in a hallway, sir?"

"There is a secret room nearby that we will use."

Harry nodded, eager for Saturday to come.

"If you have no more questions about your mother, you are free to go."

Harry stood up and smiled gratefully at Severus. "Thank you, Professor. I really enjoyed our talk."

"As did I, Mr. Potter. Have a good night."

oooOOOooo

Harry excitedly met up with Severus on the seventh floor that Saturday. He smiled as he approached his professor. Severus gave him a nod of his head in greeting and turned to the empty wall. He paced in front of it three times, and a door appeared. Harry's eyes grew wide.

"Wow!" he exclaimed.

Severus looked over at the youth. "Wow, indeed," Severus agreed. He opened the door, and the two entered the room.

Harry's eyes grew wide again. The room was large and open. The side wall was made up of mirrors, and there was a dummy sitting in the middle of the floor. It seemed to be staring Harry down, goading him to strike it with a curse. Harry wandered over to the dummy and looked up at it.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's a dueling dummy," Severus explained. "You won't begin to duel until later this year in your Defense class, but the sooner you start, the better."

Harry nodded his head and turned expectantly to Severus, awaiting instructions.

"Harry, we will be learning diverse ways to block attacks. We will also learn some defensive attack spells that you can use when in a fight. The first one I would like to work on with you is a disarmament spell."

Harry straightened and gripped his wand, ready to learn. Severus couldn't help but smile a bit at him.

"The spell is done by chanting the word Expelliarmus. You draw your wand up straight and flick it up and down like this." Severus made the motion with his wrist. "You try the motion," he directed.

Harry nodded and extended his wand. He flicked his wrist up and down quickly.

"That's about right," Severus coached. "What you want is a more determined stroke: Straight up and down, with determination." He watched Harry do the maneuver a couple of times. "That's right."

Severus walked over to the dummy. He opened a small compartment in the back of the mannequin and extracted a toy wand. He placed it in the clamp-like hand of the dummy. He backed up and extended his wand at the wand-wielding mannequin.

"Now observe what happens when I cast the spell," he told Harry.

Harry turned his attention to the dummy.

"Expelliarmus!"

The wand flew from the dummy's hand and sailed into Severus'. Harry's eyes grew wide yet again. It seemed that he would be amazed quite often in these teaching sessions.

"Wow!" he said.

Severus smirked at him.

"Alright, you try it with the dummy." Severus walked over and replaced the wand in the dummy's hand.

Harry pointed his wand at the dummy and cried "Expellyamus!"

The wand shattered in the dummy's hand. Severus chuckled as he went and retrieved a new wand from the back of the dummy.

"You mispronounced it, Harry. It's Ex-pell-y-ar-mus. Don't drop the 'r' or you'll be exploding wands every time. Of course, if this had been a real wand, it would have just vibrated and stayed in the wizard's hand. Try again."

Harry repeated the exercise. This time the wand flew into his hands. Harry looked down at where it rested and then up at Severus, a huge grin on his face. Severus couldn't help but smile too.

He performed the spell correctly on the dummy a few more times until Severus held his hand up for him to stop.

"Good, now let's see how you do with a real wizard and wand. Try to disarm me."

Severus took a stance, his wand held in his right hand, slightly pointing away from Harry. Harry chanted the spell, but nothing happened. He looked at Severus in puzzlement.

"As in most spells, Mr. Potter, intent determines the outcome. With a simple toy, the intent you had mattered little. The toy wand did your bidding. With a real wizard and wand, where there is an affinity between the two because of ownership, you need to truly intend to disarm me. Try again, this time seeing the outcome and desiring to obtain my wand."

Harry tried again. The wand fell from Severus' hand and to the floor.

"Almost," Severus encouraged. "Try a little harder."

Harry did it again, this time to perfection. Severus' wand sailed into his hand. Severus stood up straight and nodded at Harry.

"Good. Accio wand." Severus wand sailed back into his hand.

"How did you do that?" Harry asked.

"It's a simple summoning charm. Has Professor Flitwick not taught that yet?"

Harry shook his head.

"I'm sure you'll learn it within the next few weeks. It's similar to summoning your broom into your hand when preparing for flight."

Harry nodded.

"Alright, Mr. Potter. Let's have another go at it."

Severus and Harry readied themselves. Harry threw the spell, but this time, Severus chanted Protego, effectively shielded himself and blocking it. His movement was so quick, Harry almost didn't see it. He looked at Severus curiously.

"What did you do?" he asked his professor.

"That was a shielding charm. It is effective for blocking almost any spell. That is our task for our next lesson. You have done well today. When you can, find an empty room, or come up here, and practice this skill. It will be an important weapon in your arsenal. We will continue again next week."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said. The two of them left the room together.

oooOOOooo

Harry worked hard with Severus that year. Severus went slowly, cognizant to the fact of Harry's young age. He knew they had time to train properly and did not want to rush anything, but he still taught him several advanced spells and hexes. Harry learned much more than he ever thought possible, but he knew there was still more for him to master before he could even begin to think about confronting Voldemort. He was just thankful for the extra tutelage that Professor Snape had offered him. He couldn't imagine going against Voldemort without such preparation. He was grateful for the friendship of his Potions professor. They had formed a strong bond during the year. When Harry and his friends realized that someone was trying to get to the Sorcerer's Stone, it never crossed Harry's mind once that Severus might be the culprit.

oooOOOooo

Severus rushed to the girl's bathroom as best he could. That foul, three headed, aptly named, hellhound had made a huge gash in his leg. The fool dog had left the real culprit, Quirrell, alone and had chosen to attack him instead. At least he had been able to escape the foul beast with only a hurt leg. He had also distracted Quirrell from his mission. Now Severus was headed for the girl's bathroom, where the troll was rumored to be holed up. He was surprised to see Hermione, Harry, and Ron standing over the unconscious body of the troll. Minerva was giving them all a piece of her mind.

"It was my fault, Professor," Hermione cried.

She explained that she wanted to take on the creature alone and that Harry and Ron had come in to save her when they realized what she was up to. Severus eyed her curiously. He knew many of Hermione's mannerisms and was quite sure that the girl was lying. But what motive would she have to lie? Minerva chastised Hermione and dismissed all of them.

"Would you mind staying behind, Miss Granger?" Severus asked of her.

Hermione nodded her head and stared at the floor.

"Are you alright, Miss Granger?"

She nodded.

"Please be more careful in the future. Going after a troll by oneself is foolhardy for an adult, let alone for a first-year."

Hermione nodded again.

"Would you care to tell me the real reason the three of you took on that troll?"

Hermione snapped her head up, her eyes wide.

"It's just as I said, Professor."

"Miss Granger, I find it hard to believe that you would be foolhardy enough to take on a troll by yourself. Your vast knowledge of everything magical would have alerted you to the dangers of such a folly."

Hermione shifted nervously and looked away. She looked back, and her eyes were pleading with him.

"You mustn't tell. Things have just gotten better, and if they find out I told, they'll hate me again."

"Who will hate you, Miss Granger?" Severus asked curiously.

"Ron and Harry! They locked the troll in here, but they didn't realize I was in here. Then they came in and saved me."

"Why were you in here when you should have been in the Great Hall with all of the other students?"

Hermione's eyebrows knotted together. "I'd rather not say, Professor," she replied.

"Whether you'd like to say, or not, Miss Granger, you must tell me if you wish for me to keep your secret."

Hermione looked at Severus tentatively. "You won't tell if I tell you?"

Severus kept the smile that was trying to emerge from filling his face. He looked at her sternly.

"Do I look like someone who goes back on my word?" he asked tersely.

"No! No, Sir. Of course not."

"Then why were you in here?"

Hermione folded her arms and turned from Severus.

"I was upset. I came in here to be alone."

"What were you upset about?" Severus asked.

Hermione didn't respond right away.

"Miss Granger?"

"I heard Ron and Harry talking after class. Ron said I was mental." She turned and looked at Severus furiously. "I'm not mental!"

Severus raged inwardly at Weasley's insensitivity. "Of course not, Miss Granger. I would never consider you to be mental."

Hermione's anger abated a bit. "I had thought they were my friends, but Ron's remark was cruel, and I realized I had been kidding myself."

"So, you came in here to have a good cry?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She did not want to admit to her professor that she had been bawling her eyes out in the bathroom. Severus decided to let her off the hook.

"I assume your shared experience felling the troll has patched things up between the three of you?"

Hermione looked at Severus and nodded her head.

Severus stood a bit straighter. "Good, then I can assume we will have no more unwanted heroics from you and your friends?"

"Of course not, sir."

Severus gave Hermione a quick nod of his head. "You're dismissed," he said quietly.

Hermione made a beeline for the door and escaped without a look back. Severus smirked at her hasty departure. He too left the bathroom and went to take care of his wounded leg. He hoped that Weasley would not be foolish enough to badmouth Hermione again. He knew they were practically inseparable in the future, but he was unsure how long it took the three friends to become close. Severus shook his head. It was hard to believe that Hermione actually dated Weasley after their inauspicious beginnings.

---

A/N: Next up: Second year hijinks.

Are you surprised? Did you like Severus' dream? It was just a small gift to tide you all over until Hermione returns in earnest, as an adult, not a kid. You can probably figure that's not going to happen for several chapters. Thank you all for reading and for your input.