Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think!

PS I'm not JK Rowling, so I don't own anything :(

Prologue

Place - ?, Time - ?

I woke slowly for the second time in the strange room. My head was pounding worse now than it was earlier when Crabbe Sr. attacked, but my vision was nearly as blurry now as the last time I woke. The realization that I had been attacked had me scrambling for my wand, eyes darting around looking for the crazed Death Eater.

A quick survey assured me I was alone, which was a relief, because even that little movement sent nausea rolling through me and set off bright starbursts behind my eyelids when I closed my eyes on a groan.

Bits and pieces of the attack came back to me, but it was jumbled and made absolutely no sense.

"- Potter is nothing without you -"

"- suffer for killing my son!"

"- survive if you change -"

"- Rookwood's help -"

I couldn't remember more and trying just made the throbbing worse. I couldn't remember ever feeling this disoriented before in my life.

Standing up was a mistake. The nausea won as I fell to my knees, vomiting spectacularly onto the smooth marble floor. At least no one seemed to be around to witness the mess. I knelt for several minutes, continuing to dry heave before I felt well enough to try standing again and clean up my mess.

My vision had continued to clear while I waited for my stomach to settle and looking around revealed that I was in the entry to the Department of Mysteries. Twisting around I saw doors surrounding me. Why was I here? Had I ducked in to escape Crabbe Sr.? Or did he think he managed to kill me and thought hiding my body here would give him time to escape before I was discovered?

The last was the most likely. I was still surprised that Harry and the others hadn't managed to apprehend Crabbe Sr. yet. It wasn't exactly like he was the most intelligent Death Eater ever.

"Oh, Merlin! Where is the exit?" I muttered, rubbing my aching temples, eager to be gone from here. I was pleasantly surprised when a door swung open, revealing the hall I'd been in earlier before the attack.

It was deserted now. I must have been unconscious for a while, though that didn't explain why no one had found me earlier. Hopefully, I wasn't too late meeting up with Harry, Ron, and the others at the Three Broomsticks. They'd worry and that's the last thing I wanted. It also meant I'd missed my interview and I'd have to reschedule. That could wait till after I got a headache potion from Rosmerta and tried to sort this mess out with the others. Maybe they could make some sense of it.

I kept my eyes closed tight in the lift as I waited for it to take me up to the atrium where I could Disapparate to Hogsmeade. The dizziness was quite unpleasant, particularly in the brighter light filtering through the quiet Ministry. I was afraid opening my eyes again meant being sick once more.

When the doors opened I took two steps, just enough to be outside the Ministry wards, and spun on the spot.

Landing had my eyes snapping open immediately. It was freezing. It was snowing. I was standing in at least a foot of snow while wearing summer weight formal dress robes. It just wasn't right. It was May 1st. Why would it be snowing in Hogsmeade in May?

I looked down the street towards the Three Broomsticks and instantly saw the Christmas decorations. They glared at me, mocking my confusion. Spinning in a circle I saw all of the shops done up with Christmas decorations, even the Hog's Head that I was currently standing directly in front of.

No. This wasn't right. No. What had Crabbe Sr. done to me?

I was panicking. I knew it, but was helpless to prevent it. Turning, I looked for a sign of what to do, but I was drawing a blank. A chime sounded behind me and I spun towards it. A black clad man was stumbling hastily out of Aberforth's bar. He glanced back at the door like he was looking for a pursuer and slammed straight into me.

I fell backwards, landing on my butt as I stared at the man in shock, but he was already turning away.

"Snape?"

My incredulous exclamation had him spinning back towards me and locking eyes just as another followed through the door and waved his wand freezing us both in place. I wanted to blink to look away from the ebony pools, but it was already too late, far, far too late as I felt him sinking into my mind.

Author's Note 2

I don't currently have a beta. If anyone is interested, please let me know! That said, please forgive any mistakes you come across. I hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think!