The frantic desperation in her voice made Draco ache. He'd heard her cry out like that before. He looked at the wards around her room carefully. They were glowing. Her magic was burning through them at an alarming rate.
"We must add another layer to the wards when this fit ends." The senior healer sighed. "The absorption rate is still too low. This magic needs to be harvested for other patients."
Draco fought the urge to Avada the bastard as he watched Hermione writhe in agony. The pompous prick had irritated Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom enough to send them running to his door with a wide range of accomplices. An assortment of Weasleys, a smattering of Slytherins, and his Aunt Meda rounded out the group.
He'd managed to put down the plan to kidnap her and hide her at Bill Weasley's place in Cornwall. It had taken him most of the night to explain the necessity of going through proper channels. The Gryfs had no patience for it. His housemates didn't trust it. Luna, the sole Ravenclaw, commented on nargle infestation.
None of his arguments mattered as he watched her writhe on the floor. He should have led them here with pitchforks and flaming torches.
"Why is she alone?" He managed to moderate his tone and hide his rage.
"It's easier to collect the wild magic without interference." The man tapped his wand against the glass and her agonized screams quit bouncing around the room. "I should have cast the silencing charm earlier. I'm used to the noise level and forget how unsettling it can be to newcomers."
The silence did nothing to relieve Draco's desire to end this wizard. Granger deserved better than this. She'd fought for their society since her first year. She'd sacrificed enough. This man wasn't even trying to help her.
"She's done some amazing work. She managed to create a potion and charm combination to treat the effects of cruciatus. Frank and Alice Longbottom will be released in the next week." The man checked the gauges again. "She helped design this equipment, so her excesses could be used to treat patients with destabilized cores. I wish that Lord Potter would reconsider helping her. She could achieve so much as a healer."
"Why does she need Lord Potter?" Draco managed to keep the edge from his voice.
"They have similar magical cores. The match isn't perfect, but he stands the best chance of any alive of saving her." The man looked in at her. "He may be the world's hero, but he treats his friends poorly."
"She broke ranks with him and saved a great many of us that would have been destroyed in the aftermath. He sees her as a traitor." Draco frowned. "You said he stands the best chance of any alive."
"Severus Snape was a perfect match for her. I'm shocked they managed so many years together without realizing it." The doctor shrugged. "I suppose he might have known. He was always one step ahead of the rest of us."
Draco took a deep breath. His own magic surged with the sudden shock. Granger and Snape had sympathetic magic.
"Can she travel?" Draco looked toward the doctor.
"For brief periods, perhaps. Why?" The doctor looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"Because Severus Snape isn't dead." Draco looked in at Granger as she battled the demon of her own magic. "And he needs her far more than she needs him."
Author's Note
I never could figure out why Severus needed her more than she needed him. I also had some notion of Harry not being Harry, but it never came together. I really liked this Dravo though.
Let me know what you think,
Anna
