{6-The Library, Of Course}

Hermione enjoyed the rest of the day with the Marauders and company, noticing very easily how they'd called it quits early in the day. She could have went on the whole evening in their presence, but the far-off look in Lupin's eyes only grew as the day dragged on. Hermione thought it noble of his friends to put up the night, which James easily could have roped Lily into their date that evening, and give it to Remus freely. She wished she could go and watch, to spectate just how they handled the event. It was spectacular to think they, as young animagi, could quell the harshness of a werewolf.

She also knew how dangerous it was.

Regardless, Hermione kept to herself that Sunday morning, thinking of the wonderful day she'd had previously. All her work had been completed Friday evening for the upcoming week, and she planned on spending the day in the library searching through more books in her hopes to find something. Anything would have been better than the standard normal stuff, and the other things which were just plain useless.

Not deterred in the full, Hermione found a cozy spot in the corner of the library and set to work, a few small books in front of her to pass the time.

Lunch rolled around soon enough, and with the growl of her stomach she assumed that this was her sign to take a break.

The Great Hall was a bit scarce, but Hermione was no less amused to see her friends at the table, all bar Remus, chuckling and enjoying what was probably their breakfast.

She didn't sit with them, however, choosing to give a wave which seemed to do more than enough to quell their vibrant demeanor. Hermione was glad she didn't, either because she sorely would have doubted that Severus would have came and sat across from her if she'd chosen to join the marauders.

"How was Hogsmeade?" He asked, obviously ignoring the indifferent remarks of curiosity at the other end of the grand bench.

"Wonderful," she replied, though her incredulous look must have been grand due to Severus' halting in grabbing his lunch.

"I don't like being alone as much as you might think, and since I have found your presence tolerable, I apologize... I suppose, for the way we interacted a few days ago."

Hermione was speechless, seeming to have not deterred Severus in the way she wanted. Well, this was a predicament, for she knew that there was nothing she could convince Severus Snape out of, but this was... well, this could be harmful to time. Though, she'd been battling her insides to wonder if any action she could take would change the future, for she'd already lived it. She could kiss Sirius Black and it probably wouldn't make a difference. Then again, her other option was that time was counting on her reservation and for her to make herself back to her time in a timely fashion.

So, if she couldn't shake Severus Snape, and she went with the theory that nothing she did mattered, then maybe his friendship wasn't unwanted.

If Mary was to be believed, then of course it wasn't unwanted.

"Apology accepted... I suppose," Hermione said with a grin, Snape only looking mildly satisfied at the events. "Did you finish your potions essay?"

"Yes," she responded immediately, no thought necessary, "And you?"

"Of course, I still have some Ancient Ruins to do, however. And seeing as it is due tomorrow I suppose I should get to it."

He looked not the least bit excited to do the work before him.

"I have that done, too. I've just been lounging in the library this morning."

He looked at her oddly, "You spend your free time cooped up in that old place?"

"Says he who likes to keep his nose shoved in a cauldron!"

"Touche," he said, keeping the conversation going as he grabbed more things off the various platters, "Are you reading anything good? Or are you scouring textbooks in your free time?"

She wasn't entirely sure how to answer Severus because telling him would make him suspicious of her research, but lying to him would do no good if he decided to join her the rest of the day in the library, which sounded very much like an option he would choose. Hermione could deny him the right, but that was even more suspicious after just accepting his apology.

Her decision was made no easier when Dumbledore seemed to float into the Great Hall, his cloaks a surprising blue that day. She was distracted by him and his glare, but not for long when Snape seemed to want her attention back.

"Uh, right," Hermione cleared her voice and could only imagine what the sound was like coming from Florizel's throat. She often wondered exactly what she looked like, as descriptions only did so much. Hermione could have someone take her picture, but that would be an odd request, even for the closest of friends. Not Mary though, she reminded herself and shoved the task to the back of her to-do list.

Still, she didn't know how to answer him.

"Do you read anything at all, or is there a girl who's caught your eye that happens to be there a lot?" He wondered, and Hermione wasn't sure why his voice sounded different, but it was off for a moment, until he cleared his too, and it was back.

Winter was approaching, the dreaded cold season, and she hated to see it, really.

"No, no girl. Not for me, anyways. I just want to get the year done with," Hermione said expertly, knowing that even if she found a way home today, she'd finish out the school year. Challenging the tests in the future sounded like a fun way to make McGonagall even more impressed with her, and fast-track her own career just like her boys.

Oh how she missed Harry and Ron!

"Well, I guess I understand, I only ever tried once, but trying is even a bit of an exaggeration," Severus said lowly, his body leaned in quickly before coming back to his regular position, taking a bit of cheese.

"What happened?" Hermione found herself asking. If she hadn't, it would have been a weird way to end the conversation... it wasn't like she didn't know. At this point it was just her testing her friendship with the man in front of her.

He glared, but did not ignore her inquiry, "Not much. We'd been friends for a while, then I royally mucked it up, and we don't even talk anymore. I regret that day more than any other, but... it's mostly friendship I mourn now."

Hermione had listened attentively until the end of his little half-lie(which was purely considered a lie only because of omission). Snape had said that friendship was all he had mourned now? Why would he say such a thing when she knew that he loved Lily Potter. It didn't make any sense because he was supposed to be head over heels for her until she died, and long after. Reconciliation over it was not in the cards.

Whiteness took her face at the thought that she'd actually altered time in some way... but no, that couldn't be, could it? Clearly she was overthinking it, for Severus was probably just lying more to keep up a brave face at the fact he was heartbroken.

This answer soothed her conscience, and she was able to continue with the conversation.

"That's unfortunate," she mended, knowing he probably thought her, well Florizel, completely insane.

"It is what it is, I suppose."

"You suppose a lot," Hermione jabbed.

"Mhm, and you read a lot, but who am I to say?" Severus replied back snidely, giving her the classic man she knew, though many years younger.

"I feel like we had this exact conversation already," she told him, finishing up her lunch, "I'm heading back to the library."

"May I join?" He asked, not letting Hermione slip away like she was hoping he would let her do.

The worst part about it was that she couldn't even say no.

"Sure, you best be quiet as a mouse, though, I don't like to be bothered while I'm reading."

Hermione stood as Severus shoved his last bite in, having had little time to eat, but not seeming to care as he caught up to her progress.

Before Hermione was completely removed from the table, however, someone shouted at her from the other end.

"See you around, Florizel!"

Hermione smiled, waving back at Sirius with a grin.

This did not please Severus, as he was dutifully ignored, but no less, he did not speak against her friends as they traveled to the library.

They sat and got comfortable, Hermione pulling out her scant notes on time-travel, hoping Severus wouldn't get too curious when she left to go find a few more books. He nosed his way right into the Ancient Runes work, and did not bother her, though, so she took that as a sign of respect and vacated the table.

It took her no time at all to find a few books she hadn't touched yet, and Hermione was thankful their covers were all inconspicuous. She settled across from her reinstated friend and began to read through the texts.

The first book had the standard time-turner spiel and nothing else, so it was discarded, but the second piqued her interest almost immediately.

It spoke of curses that had yet to be allowed, or even tested, which made perfect sense. Some of them allowing the person to take the form of their own body in the past, but they were all very dangerous since no one knew if they actually worked! As she read further, Hermione found one that sounded suspiciously like what she'd undergone. It was a curse that sent the person back a very long ways in time, and it would keep them preserved as their current self until time went back to normal. It also stated that the point of the curse was to let the extreme passage of time without any interference drive them slowly to insanity!

Hermione shut the book dramatically, and barely noticed Severus furrow his brows her way. She hadn't deserved this, and she certainly wasn't going to go insane! Who on Earth would do this to her? She couldn't even think of one enemy that did not involve a Death Eater title immediately attached to the end of it. And why this of all things, when they knew she'd be tempted to change fate... which was the purpose of the damn spell!

Hermione suddenly realized that she had indeed been suffering under the course of this curse! If she lived through all the years in between now and the future, then she would have to watch all the friends she just made die all over again! It was a torturous idea, and it was certainly in her power to save Harry so much pain. He could keep his parents, never know his aunt and uncle existed, or their stupid cubpoard under the stairs. Maybe, Harry would even know siblings! What a joyous idea that seemed to be, and suddenly Hermione realized how long she would have to wait knowing all this. Twenty years was no small thing.

Still, she wouldn't change time... she couldn't.

As awful as all the things in her life were, there was nothing worse than being the first witch who ever royally messed up time. Hermione was not going to make herself a name that way, she just couldn't.

She had been stewing in her own thoughts so long that Severus staring at her was a huge fright when her eyes finally took notice. In turn, this startled him, but not as much as she might have thought it would. Instead, he looked at her with scrunched eyes and a worried visage.

What had she done besides violently close the book? Maybe she'd contemplated too much for him to handle. Hermione wished she knew.

But when her answer came, she wanted to retract the whole wondering all together, wishing she had never slammed the damned book closed.

"Why are you reading a book on time-travel?" Came the question, and with it a very worried Severus Snape.

A/N

Nothing more fun for a writer than a cliff-hanger. Don't worry, I'm going back to my regularly-scheduled updates on Wednesday. I was on holiday with my boyfriend though, so I'm sorry I forgot to update! Hope you're enjoying! Lots to come!