Gone and Back Again

"Now, dear child, the type of magic we're employing will only be temporary, but you control when to come back." Professor Dumbledore smiled sweetly, while Hermione thumbed her necklace "Minerva has placed the words inside the locket you wear. When you return, this place may not be how you remember, depending on how the timeline is altered."

"I understand, Professor. What of the letters? How do I find-" She was thrown from her train of thought by a slamming book, and billowing robes sweeping up beside her.

Professor Snape towered over her, but his gaze fixed on Dumbledore. "This is a ridiculous task. You don't even know this plan will work, and you're willing to put this girl in danger?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, before crossing one sculpted leg over the other, a movement not lost on Snape. "I believe I hardly qualify as a girl anymore, professor, but thank you for your concern." She cocked an amber eyebrow and smiled sweetly.

Cheeky little witch. She looked so small compared to the large arm chair she occupied, aside from the way her hair was surrounding her young face. He could sweep the chit up and run to safety if he so wished. The thought caused his spine to stiffen before he turned his frustrations to Dumbledore.

"Severus, Mrs. Granger is more than qualified for the task I've given her, and I believe will be better suited than Potter."

The look on Dumbledores face made Snape more than uncomfortable. The old man was hiding something, but even he knew better than to press on what. He glanced at Hermione for a second before, straightening his shoulders and storming out of the Headmasters office all too quick. He needed to breathe. Yes, fresh air, and then he would come back to send the girl off.

Hermione blinked before turning back to the elderly wizard. She thought she saw a look of concern flash across the potion masters face before he fled. Maybe she was over analyzing. She would have to ask him when she had a second.

"Mrs. Granger, there is one more thing."

She noticed the twinkling in the Headmasters eye.

"I know of your affection towards a certain bat-like member of our school, and I'd like you to do him, well, all of us a favor."

She could feel her face and chest flush red as he winked before popping a few candies into his mouth and sat back in his chair "Sir? I don't quite understand."

"Win Severus' affection, Ms. Granger. Become his friend, or his love if the chance permits. Keep him from the damnation he's long since faced over the years. Do what you must. " he waved his hand through the air, before sealing the letters for her.

Hermione's mouth went dry. Dumbledore must be out of his mind. Snape only has affection for Lily Evans, who is a ghost, and the mother of her best friend.

"Now, Ms. Granger, you must be off. The horcruxes must be found as soon as possible before your friend is born. Come back as soon as you're finished, as we don't know what kind of stress your body will go through being displaced."

She placed the wax sealed letters in her purse, trying to fix them into a spot she knew they'd be easy to find. She heard something crash from inside the bag. "Damn. I'll fix it when I get there" She grumbled.

Dressed in muggle jeans, and a charcoal jumper, her charmed purse transfigured to  a small leather satchel. Hermione shook her riot of curls loose from the hair tie. Dumbledore gave her an approving nod.

"We are not entirely sure where on the grounds this spell will deposit you, but you know them well enough to return here, and speak with my former self. Severus, dear boy!"

After a moment, Snape stalked back into the Headmasters office, looking more resolved than the anger he had before. "Yes?" Had he been just outside the door this whole time?

"It's time. If you will-" Dumbledore made a gesture towards Hermione, before Snape stepped to her.

He was close enough to her that she could breathe in the scent of parchment, and the herbs from the potions classroom. He was almost a foot taller than she was, which made her eye level with the buttons that lined down his chest. Without thinking, she reached up and fingered the button she believed to be over his heart. A sharp intake of breath escaped the potions master before he gripped her jaw with a large hand, and tipping her head back, poured a sickly flavored potion past her lips.

Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as he stared at her. She choked down the potion, and he released her before she began sputtering. She wiped her mouth, and looked back up at Snape. The impassive look on his face was betrayed by the concern in his eyes. His hands fisted into her hair, and his lips pressed to her forehead so quickly, Hermione didn't register what he was whispering. 

All at once, he released her and took several large steps back to Dumbledore. She felt as if her body were being sucked into a vacuum, being pulled too hard, too fast, room spinning. "Good luck Ms. Granger" was all she heard before the loud roar in her head took over her senses. Next she knew, she landed flat on her back on damp ground, wind knocked from her lungs before fainting.