Severus, Redux: Chapter Twenty-Nine
(In which Hermione and Severus are uninvited from the Burrow and go to the British Museum instead)
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 20 December 1996, 10:15 AM
Breakfast of the first official day of Christmas hols was going rather miserably. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had awoken to find a serious deficit in their hourglasses compared to the previous night, and they were not happy. It had only taken minutes for word to spread-courtesy of Potter and Weasley, no doubt-that Hermione had been the reason for Gryffindor's loss. It was a very small leap in logic for Severus' own house members to arrive at the correct conclusion regarding their own point loss.
Severus was ostracised by his peers in short order. Not that his housemates had ever paid him much mind, save for when they needed help with Defence or Potions homework. This morning they were particularly pointed in their disdain and snide comments. He was rather used to this sort of treatment, however. He had put up with it for years as a low-ranking member in Slytherin, after all. But judging by the dirty looks his girlfriend was getting and the way she morosely picked at her breakfast, he had a feeling Hermione's morning was a whole lot worse than his own.
He ate quickly, pocketing an orange for later and approaching her as soon as breakfast started to wind down. He grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. "Let's go."
"Wait" Potter stood up. Severus turned, settling his face into a bored expression, hoping Hermione would take his cue. He honestly didn't give a damn if Potter liked him, but he knew she could be deeply hurt by his antics. After ignoring her all morning, he doubted Potter was here to make amends. Weasley and Potter stood shoulder to shoulder behind him, reminiscent of a different Potter and a different time.
"Professor Dumbledore has spoken to me, and I won't tell anyone." Potter crossed his arms. "Except Ron, of course."
"Of course." Severus rolled his eyes.
"He's my friend. Friends don't keep secrets from each other." Potter gave Hermione a pointed look, and she visibly shrank a little. Severus shot the other boy a scathing look and reached to clasp Hermione's hand in his own. She straightened again, and that tiny bit of proof that she found his support so important warmed him. Potter met his gaze. "Maybe the whole concept of friendship is new to you, but that's how it works."
Next to him, Hermione gave a soft gasp and said sternly, "Harry!"
"Look, like Harry said, we won't tell anyone." Weasley looked uncomfortable and his shoulder moved in an awkward half-shrug. "I...I don't think it's a good idea for you two to come to the Burrow for Christmas, though."
"Uninviting us, are you? Fine." There was frosty steel in Hermione's voice, and her gaze shifted to Potter. "I think you'll regret not giving him a real chance, though. He was friends with your mother once, you know."
"Hermione…" Severus sighed.
"Yes. I'm aware. It ended when he called her a Mudblood." Harry shot back. "She then married the guy who started it. Now he's shagging another Muggleborn, and she happens to be friends with me, another Potter. Is revenge best served hot and heavy after all?"
Severus bared his teeth. "Fuck off, Potter. What's between us has nothing to do with you."
To his credit, Potter looked slightly embarrassed, but his mulish expression held firm. "Maybe not, but no matter how much you pretend, you're still a Slytherin and you're still Snape. I don't trust you."
Potter's words were both blunt and harsh: exactly what Severus would expect from a Gryffindor and nothing he hadn't heard before from a more painful source. "Well, that is that, I suppose." Severus sighed, shrugging a little. Potter and Weasley's reaction of surprised confusion was difficult not to laugh at. Clearly they had expected him to have a public fit or to slink off, not to nonchalantly shrug them off. Enjoying himself just a bit, he turned to his girlfriend. "What should we do? I've never stayed behind for winter hols, have you?"
Hermione, looking a little bewildered, nodded. "My second, third and fourth years. To help him." Her head jerked in Potter's direction. "I went home to see my parents last year. I'm glad now. I wish I had more often."
"Come on, then. We've a holiday to plan. I do believe you mentioned wanting to go to the British Museum. I'm sure Professor Flitwick, my head of house, you know, the smart house, would be pleased to indulge us." He led her away, enjoying the look of adoration she shot him.
When they were a several steps away she laughed softly. "That was brilliant! They are still standing there!"
Severus let his lips tip into a small smile. "He needed a set down. They shouldn't treat you as if they own you, and have the right to choose your friends. He shouldn't treat me as if he knows me." He let his smile drop. "I'm sorry, though, that you aren't going to see your parents. Why...why didn't you tell me about that?"
She shrugged awkwardly, looking uncomfortable. "Well, at the time, Professor Snape told me to keep it a secret so that no one could find them, and I didn't know you very well yet. It happened right before I came to Number Twelve. After that I just didn't like to talk about it."
Severus put an arm around her, tugging her in close to his side. "I suppose I can understand that. I'm sorry Potter and Weasley are being such arseholes. I don't mind not going, but I know you do."
His girlfriend gave her head a little toss. "At least we have the castle almost all to ourselves. Only fifteen students stayed behind." Her head tilted and she thought for a moment. "Our punishments don't apply to holidays, either. We can go to Hogsmeade at least the next two weeks, and I bet you're right and Professor Flitwick would still let us go to the British Museum."
Severus nodded. "I've never been, and it would be interesting to go, even if we don't run into Damian Vector."
"Well, then. Let's go ask him, shall we?"
The Great Court of The British Museum, 23 December 1996, 4:30 PM
As they spilled into the Great Court of the British Museum from one of the side doors, Severus couldn't help but grin. "That was incredible! What was your favourite part?"
"Oh, all the Egyptian grave goods and art. Especially the wizarding sections; they really were incredibly advanced! Especially their rites concerning death and souls, and their wards. I also liked the huge marble horse from the Mausoleum of Hali...Hali..." Hermione frowned, looked down at a pamphlet in her hands and sounded out slowly, "Hali-kar-nas-sos." She nodded, pleased with herself for getting the word out. "What about you?"
"It was all extremely interesting, of course… I think the exhibit with the ancient coral wands of the Pacific was cool. I hadn't realised that decent wands and staves had been made from anything but wood, or that Malaysian and Polynesian magic users had done anything of note. And the astrolabe. It was very intricate."
"I still cannot believe this is your first visit."
Severus shrugged. "My dad never cared much for museums of any kind, and he was particularly unhappy to learn that there were wizarding rooms and exhibits hidden amongst the Muggle ones that he would be barred from. My mum didn't like to upset him, so we just never went."
She glanced at him from under her curls and then gave the entrance of the Reading Room a longing look. "I've always wished to see the Library here. I have to admit, now that I know that there is a wizarding branch under it, I wish to go even more. They give passes to Seventh Years, sometimes," she added.
"No doubt you are already planning a special project that will require access specifically for that purpose?"
Hermione blushed. "I have a few projects in mind. One or two may require outside sources."
Severus shook his head and laughed.
"Are you hungry?" asked Hermione. "There's a restaurant on the upper level we could go to."
Severus shook his head, grimacing. "Actually, no. My stomach has been bothering me; it's been steadily getting worse all day. I must have eaten something at breakfast that disagrees. We can still go and you can have something if you want." He glanced up the stairs and blinked in surprise as a familiar profile caught his attention. Damian Vector looked infinitely less mysterious and more human out of his Unspeakable robes, though still absurdly handsome. "Hermione...I think that's him. I'm not-I'm not positive, because of the Muggle clothes, but I think it is. There, coming down the stairs?"
She turned to look, and blushed. "Oh, that's him, alright."
He glanced at her sideways, but she was still staring at the Unspeakable. Severus turned back and watched as the man descended, trying to pretend he didn't feel a pinprick of jealousy. Just because the man was prettier than most girls, intelligent enough to be an Unspeakable and happened to look especially dapper in Muggle trousers and waistcoat, didn't mean he was a rival. He merely did not feel well, that was all.
When Damian finally noticed them, he quirked dark eyebrow quirked and smiled. "Mr. Prince, Miss Granger. Enjoying the museum exhibits, I presume?"
"Yes. What are you doing here?" Severus asked brusquely. "I wouldn't have expected to see you," he lied.
Damian smiled mockingly. "I work here, of course. The British Museum comes into contact with a lot of dangerous artifacts. The Ministry decided it would be prudent to have a licenced Medi-Wizard and Obliviator here full time for preventative measures."
Hermione crossed her arms, unconsciously mimicking Severus' pose. Damian's eyes followed her movement, frowning at her hands as if there were something wrong. Hermione didn't appear to notice the direction of his gaze, and instead asked imperiously, "What are you really here for? Are you even actually licensed for either of those things?"
Damian glanced up again, appearing offended. "Of course I am. They're hanging in my office. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would possibly think I was here for anything else but my Ministry-sanctioned career. Unless, of course, it's unfathomable that a person might actually enjoy the museum, or be studying a subject requiring one of the foremost research libraries in the world."
"You have a reading pass?" There was clear envy in Hermione's tone.
Damian rolled his eyes. "Please try to remember who my primary employer is. Come, having this conversation right in the middle of the Great Court isn't the best idea." He turned and headed off through the crowd toward one of the Museum entrances. Severus glanced at Hermione, silently asking if she trusted him.
She shrugged. "It's one of the reasons why we came, after all."
He nodded and took her hand, following after the man impatiently waiting by the entrance. Damian led them through the exhibit to a cleverly hidden side door, which led to a short hall and a flight of stairs. He spoke over his shoulder as he walked. "This whole level is staff only, unless special permission is granted for behind-the-scenes sort of things. Restoration, authentication and curating offices, the vaults with all the really good stuff not on display."
He led them through a side door. A shiver passed over Severus' skin, and he had to struggle a moment to focus on where he was going. There were Notice Me Not charms on the door, then, and probably anti-Muggle spells he couldn't detect. Wherever Damian was leading them, it was clearly restricted to wizarding employees of the museum. They took a few more twists and turns before they were finally ushered into a small room.
"My office. In you go. Please don't touch anything. I borrow from the vaults to study different artifacts sometimes, and most of them are ... shall we say, not benign."
Severus glanced about. The office was cluttered with unusual objects, reminding him of Professor Dumbledore's. Various crystals, little mechanical devices and boxes littered the desk and shelves, and a deep, midnight blue cloak was tossed carelessly over the office's single chair. The lighting caught the sparkle of almost invisible silver threading in it, and the effect tugged at his memory strangely. The journal he had been writing in during the summer at Number Twelve was on the desk, as was a book entitled Modern Magics of Blood and Soul.
"Why study them here? Isn't that what the Department of Mysteries is for?" Hermione asked, spreading her hands.
"The British Museum doesn't like it when we Unspeakables take their artifacts into the Department of Mysteries-they don't always get them back. They stopped letting the DoM conduct their research outside the Museum offices and labs some time back. It works both ways, though. There are a few things I keep here from the department that are now more mine than theirs." He winked.
"Like the Time-Turners and the...what were they called...the Huh Boxes." Hermione said, glancing about as if looking for those very items. Damian inclined his head, flopped down into his chair on top of his robes and started twirling a muggle pen about his fingers idly.
"What are Huh boxes?" asked Severus. "I'd never heard of them before the meeting you let us listen in on."
In response the man pointed to a small golden box on his desk, no larger than a quill case, and then to a large crate sitting behind his desk. "They're called Huah Boxes, though Huh Box is technically correct, too. They're stasis boxes of ancient Egyptian design; both Huh and Huah are names of the Egyptian god of time. There is an unbreakable stasis charm worked into them. Only a magical being can open them once they're closed. They also effectively block magical residue and scrying, so once something goes in, it more or less is impossible to detect or destroy.
"They're considered a Time device that should belong to my Department because time does not pass for the object within. The Egyptian royals and wizards used them for all sorts of things. The one on my desk had sensitive potions in it. A Huah Box like this larger one was probably used for smuggling."
"Probably?" Hermione asked.
Damian shrugged. "It was empty the first time I came across it."
Severus turned in a slow circle, studying all the random objects in the office. "How did you come to join the Department of Mysteries? Is there an application or…?"
The Unspeakable's smile was sharp and for the first time that Severus had seen him, uncharming. "You needn't worry, Mr. Prince. Should you wish to join the Department of Mysteries, the Unspeakables will find you if you want them to. They like to keep track and be in control of anyone who stumbles across any of their little projects accidentally. In your case, time travel. A candidate must be a certain age, score a certain level of magical strength on the Prospero test, take certain oaths and sign certain waivers to be allowed anywhere near time turners, Huah Boxes, or even the research. If you want to join, just let it be known how you came to be here, and an Unspeakable will show up to collect you as soon as you turn seventeen. Doubtless it's why Dumbledore is keeping a lid on it."
"No, surely not." Hermione frowned, shaking her head. "I didn't."
The man's gaze shot to hers. "You didn't what, precisely?"
"When they let me have a Time-Turner for classes in my third year. They didn't make me take any special tests, or sign any waivers or oaths or anything. Professor McGonagall told me that it was important that I not let anyone see me, or tell anyone, but I don't recall doing anything like you describe."
Damian's eyes had gone wide. "Bloody, buggering fuck! You've used a Time-Turner already? Professor McGonagall gave you a Time-Turner without any of the restrictions? She at least tested you first, as a precaution, I hope? No?" He looked gleeful and his short laugh was almost manic. "If there were ever any doubt that she was a Gryffindor...hah! She must have been very sure of how powerful you are. That's one of the requirements, you know. If someone without the sheer magical strength to handle the process of ripping time apart around them were to use a Time-Turner they could end up ripping themselves apart instead."
Suspicious understanding and fear were dawning on Hermione's face. Her voice small, she asked, "What are you talking about?"
Severus explained, watching Damian's reaction to see if he was correct. "He means that it sounds like you weren't supposed to have it… that perhaps she took the tests, signed the necessary paperwork and took the oaths for you. And that it would have killed you if she had gauged your magical strength incorrectly."
The Unspeakable nodded. "Just so. To be fair, you don't have to score that highly on the Prospero in order to qualify. Just above average magical strength would do it, but they have been denied for that reason before."
"And...and if I had, perhaps, shared my Time-Turner without knowing any of this?"
Damian's smiled again, looking little bit mad, in Severus' opinion. "Then I suppose you were lucky the person in question was also of at least average magical strength." He snorted. "Three of you. Three underaged people running about with time-travelling history and no restrictions. The department heads would collectively shit themselves and cry." He chortled under his breath. "I don't think I am going to tell anyone. It will be interesting to see how this changes things or doesn't."
"About that." Severus said. "How do you know what's ahead? Do you travel forward somehow and then back, or are you from the future and have just travelled back, or…? We tried looking you up, but the last Damian Vector on record died a hundred and seventy years ago."
Damian held up his hands. "And Q and A time is over, kids. I've indulged your curiosity because I think it will be fun to let you loose with new information, and I've told you more than enough to cause some trouble if you've mind to. If you want to muck about in more time travel theory and how I may or may not be accurately predicting the future, pester someone else. In fact, I fully hope you do." He winked again. "Come, I'll lead you back up."
He did so, shrugging off Hermione's questions as she tried to dig for more information. He finally ushered them both back onto the ground floor. He glanced at Hermione's hands again, and said offhandedly, "It can get cold in here, Miss Granger. Next time you visit you should wear gloves." With that he spun and quickly strode away, disappearing into the Reading Room, where they couldn't hope to follow.
Nonplussed, Hermione looked at him. "I'm not cold, and you're not wearing gloves, either."
"I'm… I think he might be a little bit mad, Hermione. He thought it was funny that Professor McGonagall risked your life, and possibly others, and did you see the book on his desk? It was about really dark stuff. Blood magic and souls. One doesn't just start studying human sacrifice out of curiosity."
Hermione nodded. "Professor Snape said that he likes making people uncomfortable for his amusement, and he as good as told us to cause trouble with the information he gave us. He also promised not to tell the other Unspeakables that we'd both time-travelled. That's odd, don't you think? Shouldn't he think it important the department records are accurate, as one of them?"
Severus shook his head slightly, and frowned as the room tilted a bit. "I rather got the feeling that he didn't especially like the Department of Mysteries or whomever his boss is for some reason," he muttered faintly. "I think I'd like to go back. I'm actually really starting to not feel well."
Hermione chewed on her lip, concern bright in her eyes. "Of course. Let's go."
A/N: Thank you for reading, especially to those taking the time to review. Seeing how much my work is being enjoyed and growing from the constructive feedback that you give me is why I continue to write. Thank you! Special thanks also to Vezza, who has been helping me Brit Pick. :-)
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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 20 December 1996, 10:15 AM
Breakfast of the first official day of Christmas hols was going rather miserably. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had awoken to find a serious deficit in their hourglasses compared to the previous night, and they were not happy. It had only taken minutes for word to spread-courtesy of Potter and Weasley, no doubt-that Hermione had been the reason for Gryffindor's loss. It was a very small leap in logic for Severus' own house members to arrive at the correct conclusion regarding their own point loss.
Severus was ostracised by his peers in short order. Not that his housemates had ever paid him much mind, save for when they needed help with Defence or Potions homework. This morning they were particularly pointed in their disdain and snide comments. He was rather used to this sort of treatment, however. He had put up with it for years as a low-ranking member in Slytherin, after all. But judging by the dirty looks his girlfriend was getting and the way she morosely picked at her breakfast, he had a feeling Hermione's morning was a whole lot worse than his own.
He ate quickly, pocketing an orange for later and approaching her as soon as breakfast started to wind down. He grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. "Let's go."
"Wait" Potter stood up. Severus turned, settling his face into a bored expression, hoping Hermione would take his cue. He honestly didn't give a damn if Potter liked him, but he knew she could be deeply hurt by his antics. After ignoring her all morning, he doubted Potter was here to make amends. Weasley and Potter stood shoulder to shoulder behind him, reminiscent of a different Potter and a different time.
"Professor Dumbledore has spoken to me, and I won't tell anyone." Potter crossed his arms. "Except Ron, of course."
"Of course." Severus rolled his eyes.
"He's my friend. Friends don't keep secrets from each other." Potter gave Hermione a pointed look, and she visibly shrank a little. Severus shot the other boy a scathing look and reached to clasp Hermione's hand in his own. She straightened again, and that tiny bit of proof that she found his support so important warmed him. Potter met his gaze. "Maybe the whole concept of friendship is new to you, but that's how it works."
Next to him, Hermione gave a soft gasp and said sternly, "Harry!"
"Look, like Harry said, we won't tell anyone." Weasley looked uncomfortable and his shoulder moved in an awkward half-shrug. "I...I don't think it's a good idea for you two to come to the Burrow for Christmas, though."
"Uninviting us, are you? Fine." There was frosty steel in Hermione's voice, and her gaze shifted to Potter. "I think you'll regret not giving him a real chance, though. He was friends with your mother once, you know."
"Hermione…" Severus sighed.
"Yes. I'm aware. It ended when he called her a Mudblood." Harry shot back. "She then married the guy who started it. Now he's shagging another Muggleborn, and she happens to be friends with me, another Potter. Is revenge best served hot and heavy after all?"
Severus bared his teeth. "Fuck off, Potter. What's between us has nothing to do with you."
To his credit, Potter looked slightly embarrassed, but his mulish expression held firm. "Maybe not, but no matter how much you pretend, you're still a Slytherin and you're still Snape. I don't trust you."
Potter's words were both blunt and harsh: exactly what Severus would expect from a Gryffindor and nothing he hadn't heard before from a more painful source. "Well, that is that, I suppose." Severus sighed, shrugging a little. Potter and Weasley's reaction of surprised confusion was difficult not to laugh at. Clearly they had expected him to have a public fit or to slink off, not to nonchalantly shrug them off. Enjoying himself just a bit, he turned to his girlfriend. "What should we do? I've never stayed behind for winter hols, have you?"
Hermione, looking a little bewildered, nodded. "My second, third and fourth years. To help him." Her head jerked in Potter's direction. "I went home to see my parents last year. I'm glad now. I wish I had more often."
"Come on, then. We've a holiday to plan. I do believe you mentioned wanting to go to the British Museum. I'm sure Professor Flitwick, my head of house, you know, the smart house, would be pleased to indulge us." He led her away, enjoying the look of adoration she shot him.
When they were a several steps away she laughed softly. "That was brilliant! They are still standing there!"
Severus let his lips tip into a small smile. "He needed a set down. They shouldn't treat you as if they own you, and have the right to choose your friends. He shouldn't treat me as if he knows me." He let his smile drop. "I'm sorry, though, that you aren't going to see your parents. Why...why didn't you tell me about that?"
She shrugged awkwardly, looking uncomfortable. "Well, at the time, Professor Snape told me to keep it a secret so that no one could find them, and I didn't know you very well yet. It happened right before I came to Number Twelve. After that I just didn't like to talk about it."
Severus put an arm around her, tugging her in close to his side. "I suppose I can understand that. I'm sorry Potter and Weasley are being such arseholes. I don't mind not going, but I know you do."
His girlfriend gave her head a little toss. "At least we have the castle almost all to ourselves. Only fifteen students stayed behind." Her head tilted and she thought for a moment. "Our punishments don't apply to holidays, either. We can go to Hogsmeade at least the next two weeks, and I bet you're right and Professor Flitwick would still let us go to the British Museum."
Severus nodded. "I've never been, and it would be interesting to go, even if we don't run into Damian Vector."
"Well, then. Let's go ask him, shall we?"
The Great Court of The British Museum, 23 December 1996, 4:30 PM
As they spilled into the Great Court of the British Museum from one of the side doors, Severus couldn't help but grin. "That was incredible! What was your favourite part?"
"Oh, all the Egyptian grave goods and art. Especially the wizarding sections; they really were incredibly advanced! Especially their rites concerning death and souls, and their wards. I also liked the huge marble horse from the Mausoleum of Hali...Hali..." Hermione frowned, looked down at a pamphlet in her hands and sounded out slowly, "Hali-kar-nas-sos." She nodded, pleased with herself for getting the word out. "What about you?"
"It was all extremely interesting, of course… I think the exhibit with the ancient coral wands of the Pacific was cool. I hadn't realised that decent wands and staves had been made from anything but wood, or that Malaysian and Polynesian magic users had done anything of note. And the astrolabe. It was very intricate."
"I still cannot believe this is your first visit."
Severus shrugged. "My dad never cared much for museums of any kind, and he was particularly unhappy to learn that there were wizarding rooms and exhibits hidden amongst the Muggle ones that he would be barred from. My mum didn't like to upset him, so we just never went."
She glanced at him from under her curls and then gave the entrance of the Reading Room a longing look. "I've always wished to see the Library here. I have to admit, now that I know that there is a wizarding branch under it, I wish to go even more. They give passes to Seventh Years, sometimes," she added.
"No doubt you are already planning a special project that will require access specifically for that purpose?"
Hermione blushed. "I have a few projects in mind. One or two may require outside sources."
Severus shook his head and laughed.
"Are you hungry?" asked Hermione. "There's a restaurant on the upper level we could go to."
Severus shook his head, grimacing. "Actually, no. My stomach has been bothering me; it's been steadily getting worse all day. I must have eaten something at breakfast that disagrees. We can still go and you can have something if you want." He glanced up the stairs and blinked in surprise as a familiar profile caught his attention. Damian Vector looked infinitely less mysterious and more human out of his Unspeakable robes, though still absurdly handsome. "Hermione...I think that's him. I'm not-I'm not positive, because of the Muggle clothes, but I think it is. There, coming down the stairs?"
She turned to look, and blushed. "Oh, that's him, alright."
He glanced at her sideways, but she was still staring at the Unspeakable. Severus turned back and watched as the man descended, trying to pretend he didn't feel a pinprick of jealousy. Just because the man was prettier than most girls, intelligent enough to be an Unspeakable and happened to look especially dapper in Muggle trousers and waistcoat, didn't mean he was a rival. He merely did not feel well, that was all.
When Damian finally noticed them, he quirked dark eyebrow quirked and smiled. "Mr. Prince, Miss Granger. Enjoying the museum exhibits, I presume?"
"Yes. What are you doing here?" Severus asked brusquely. "I wouldn't have expected to see you," he lied.
Damian smiled mockingly. "I work here, of course. The British Museum comes into contact with a lot of dangerous artifacts. The Ministry decided it would be prudent to have a licenced Medi-Wizard and Obliviator here full time for preventative measures."
Hermione crossed her arms, unconsciously mimicking Severus' pose. Damian's eyes followed her movement, frowning at her hands as if there were something wrong. Hermione didn't appear to notice the direction of his gaze, and instead asked imperiously, "What are you really here for? Are you even actually licensed for either of those things?"
Damian glanced up again, appearing offended. "Of course I am. They're hanging in my office. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would possibly think I was here for anything else but my Ministry-sanctioned career. Unless, of course, it's unfathomable that a person might actually enjoy the museum, or be studying a subject requiring one of the foremost research libraries in the world."
"You have a reading pass?" There was clear envy in Hermione's tone.
Damian rolled his eyes. "Please try to remember who my primary employer is. Come, having this conversation right in the middle of the Great Court isn't the best idea." He turned and headed off through the crowd toward one of the Museum entrances. Severus glanced at Hermione, silently asking if she trusted him.
She shrugged. "It's one of the reasons why we came, after all."
He nodded and took her hand, following after the man impatiently waiting by the entrance. Damian led them through the exhibit to a cleverly hidden side door, which led to a short hall and a flight of stairs. He spoke over his shoulder as he walked. "This whole level is staff only, unless special permission is granted for behind-the-scenes sort of things. Restoration, authentication and curating offices, the vaults with all the really good stuff not on display."
He led them through a side door. A shiver passed over Severus' skin, and he had to struggle a moment to focus on where he was going. There were Notice Me Not charms on the door, then, and probably anti-Muggle spells he couldn't detect. Wherever Damian was leading them, it was clearly restricted to wizarding employees of the museum. They took a few more twists and turns before they were finally ushered into a small room.
"My office. In you go. Please don't touch anything. I borrow from the vaults to study different artifacts sometimes, and most of them are ... shall we say, not benign."
Severus glanced about. The office was cluttered with unusual objects, reminding him of Professor Dumbledore's. Various crystals, little mechanical devices and boxes littered the desk and shelves, and a deep, midnight blue cloak was tossed carelessly over the office's single chair. The lighting caught the sparkle of almost invisible silver threading in it, and the effect tugged at his memory strangely. The journal he had been writing in during the summer at Number Twelve was on the desk, as was a book entitled Modern Magics of Blood and Soul.
"Why study them here? Isn't that what the Department of Mysteries is for?" Hermione asked, spreading her hands.
"The British Museum doesn't like it when we Unspeakables take their artifacts into the Department of Mysteries-they don't always get them back. They stopped letting the DoM conduct their research outside the Museum offices and labs some time back. It works both ways, though. There are a few things I keep here from the department that are now more mine than theirs." He winked.
"Like the Time-Turners and the...what were they called...the Huh Boxes." Hermione said, glancing about as if looking for those very items. Damian inclined his head, flopped down into his chair on top of his robes and started twirling a muggle pen about his fingers idly.
"What are Huh boxes?" asked Severus. "I'd never heard of them before the meeting you let us listen in on."
In response the man pointed to a small golden box on his desk, no larger than a quill case, and then to a large crate sitting behind his desk. "They're called Huah Boxes, though Huh Box is technically correct, too. They're stasis boxes of ancient Egyptian design; both Huh and Huah are names of the Egyptian god of time. There is an unbreakable stasis charm worked into them. Only a magical being can open them once they're closed. They also effectively block magical residue and scrying, so once something goes in, it more or less is impossible to detect or destroy.
"They're considered a Time device that should belong to my Department because time does not pass for the object within. The Egyptian royals and wizards used them for all sorts of things. The one on my desk had sensitive potions in it. A Huah Box like this larger one was probably used for smuggling."
"Probably?" Hermione asked.
Damian shrugged. "It was empty the first time I came across it."
Severus turned in a slow circle, studying all the random objects in the office. "How did you come to join the Department of Mysteries? Is there an application or…?"
The Unspeakable's smile was sharp and for the first time that Severus had seen him, uncharming. "You needn't worry, Mr. Prince. Should you wish to join the Department of Mysteries, the Unspeakables will find you if you want them to. They like to keep track and be in control of anyone who stumbles across any of their little projects accidentally. In your case, time travel. A candidate must be a certain age, score a certain level of magical strength on the Prospero test, take certain oaths and sign certain waivers to be allowed anywhere near time turners, Huah Boxes, or even the research. If you want to join, just let it be known how you came to be here, and an Unspeakable will show up to collect you as soon as you turn seventeen. Doubtless it's why Dumbledore is keeping a lid on it."
"No, surely not." Hermione frowned, shaking her head. "I didn't."
The man's gaze shot to hers. "You didn't what, precisely?"
"When they let me have a Time-Turner for classes in my third year. They didn't make me take any special tests, or sign any waivers or oaths or anything. Professor McGonagall told me that it was important that I not let anyone see me, or tell anyone, but I don't recall doing anything like you describe."
Damian's eyes had gone wide. "Bloody, buggering fuck! You've used a Time-Turner already? Professor McGonagall gave you a Time-Turner without any of the restrictions? She at least tested you first, as a precaution, I hope? No?" He looked gleeful and his short laugh was almost manic. "If there were ever any doubt that she was a Gryffindor...hah! She must have been very sure of how powerful you are. That's one of the requirements, you know. If someone without the sheer magical strength to handle the process of ripping time apart around them were to use a Time-Turner they could end up ripping themselves apart instead."
Suspicious understanding and fear were dawning on Hermione's face. Her voice small, she asked, "What are you talking about?"
Severus explained, watching Damian's reaction to see if he was correct. "He means that it sounds like you weren't supposed to have it… that perhaps she took the tests, signed the necessary paperwork and took the oaths for you. And that it would have killed you if she had gauged your magical strength incorrectly."
The Unspeakable nodded. "Just so. To be fair, you don't have to score that highly on the Prospero in order to qualify. Just above average magical strength would do it, but they have been denied for that reason before."
"And...and if I had, perhaps, shared my Time-Turner without knowing any of this?"
Damian's smiled again, looking little bit mad, in Severus' opinion. "Then I suppose you were lucky the person in question was also of at least average magical strength." He snorted. "Three of you. Three underaged people running about with time-travelling history and no restrictions. The department heads would collectively shit themselves and cry." He chortled under his breath. "I don't think I am going to tell anyone. It will be interesting to see how this changes things or doesn't."
"About that." Severus said. "How do you know what's ahead? Do you travel forward somehow and then back, or are you from the future and have just travelled back, or…? We tried looking you up, but the last Damian Vector on record died a hundred and seventy years ago."
Damian held up his hands. "And Q and A time is over, kids. I've indulged your curiosity because I think it will be fun to let you loose with new information, and I've told you more than enough to cause some trouble if you've mind to. If you want to muck about in more time travel theory and how I may or may not be accurately predicting the future, pester someone else. In fact, I fully hope you do." He winked again. "Come, I'll lead you back up."
He did so, shrugging off Hermione's questions as she tried to dig for more information. He finally ushered them both back onto the ground floor. He glanced at Hermione's hands again, and said offhandedly, "It can get cold in here, Miss Granger. Next time you visit you should wear gloves." With that he spun and quickly strode away, disappearing into the Reading Room, where they couldn't hope to follow.
Nonplussed, Hermione looked at him. "I'm not cold, and you're not wearing gloves, either."
"I'm… I think he might be a little bit mad, Hermione. He thought it was funny that Professor McGonagall risked your life, and possibly others, and did you see the book on his desk? It was about really dark stuff. Blood magic and souls. One doesn't just start studying human sacrifice out of curiosity."
Hermione nodded. "Professor Snape said that he likes making people uncomfortable for his amusement, and he as good as told us to cause trouble with the information he gave us. He also promised not to tell the other Unspeakables that we'd both time-travelled. That's odd, don't you think? Shouldn't he think it important the department records are accurate, as one of them?"
Severus shook his head slightly, and frowned as the room tilted a bit. "I rather got the feeling that he didn't especially like the Department of Mysteries or whomever his boss is for some reason," he muttered faintly. "I think I'd like to go back. I'm actually really starting to not feel well."
Hermione chewed on her lip, concern bright in her eyes. "Of course. Let's go."
A/N: Thank you for reading, especially to those taking the time to review. Seeing how much my work is being enjoyed and growing from the constructive feedback that you give me is why I continue to write. Thank you! Special thanks also to Vezza, who has been helping me Brit Pick. :-)
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