Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. Moonvale worked her magic in this one as well.

Chapter 7

As far as Harry Potter could remember, he had led an eventful life. The first few years were complete misery but once he had miraculously landed himself in this magical world; every other day had turned into an adventure. He already had a foe in the shape of a faceless bastard who roamed the world calling himself Lord Voldemort. Amazingly along the way, he managed to make everlasting friends. Then the war happened and it killed or damaged everything he grew up loving.

Sirius died, followed by Dumbledore, the unforgivable incident at Malfoy Manor, and finally, watching Snape die. To this day, he has continued feeling rather blessed that Hermione and Malfoy had managed to save Snape. His friendship with Malfoy deepened due to these feelings of gratitude. He also noted how Malfoy had seamlessly floated into their lives once Hermione started withdrawing into herself.

Running his fingers over his scruffy face, Harry sighed and looked at the Headmaster. Marveling at the man's capacity to sit quietly and watch the rain pouring outside the window. He knew the quiet man's mind was racing at the speed of light behind those obsidian eyes. Harry had started recollecting what all had transpired at Hogwarts an hour ago. He might have lashed out at Malfoy for not telling him he was in contact with Hermione and knew that had been uncalled for.

Harry nodded in agreement, "True, Hermione had grown quiet and reserved. We were all dealing with our share of grief and loss. I thought I had enough of this place so the moment Kingsley had proposed the Auror training program, I had jumped in. Ron, being Ron, had got carried away with the sudden fame and celebrity status that we were hardly getting together. When we did, Hermione seemed to be quite distant. It was like she was with us physically but her mind was always on something else. I had a feeling but Ginny was first to point it out. Ron and Hermione were never meant to be. How those two remained together for so long is beyond me."

After drinking some proffered water, the Boy-who-lived-twice carried on.

"Then in 2000, right after Graduation, Hermione simply vanished. When I asked Ron, he just shrugged and said, 'She might have mentioned she was feeling out of sorts and has gone off to travel around the world.' Though I didn't quite like the sound of it, I didn't press on. A few weeks after that conversation, I received postcards from Geneva, Madrid and then a couple of months later from Hawaii- all written in Hermione's penmanship. My curiosity was satisfied but I was still worried about her. She was away for two whole years. During Halloween and Christmas, her presents would arrive along with a simple letter. They all mentioned the same thing- she was missing us and she was sorry she couldn't come down. Like always, she was busy and working on some projects she could not talk about. Well, that was Hermione, always working on something or the other. It was always like that with her."

Neville spoke up, "Then she returned in summer of 2002 and, instead of accepting Professor McGonagall's proposal as a Transfiguration Apprentice, she chose to work in the Department for Magical Creatures Regulation and Control."

"Yes, that she had," Harry picked back up. "and she simply kept to herself. Ginny and I tried to involve her in our lives but Hermione would politely refuse. I could hardly get ahold of her at the Ministry. She had elected to be a field worker of all things and she was always off to some obscure place or the other." throwing an accusing glare at Malfoy, "I never knew she came back in the evenings. Malfoy, did you ever think of mentioning it?"

Malfoy cut in drily, "When Blaise Zabini had mentioned, while we were dining at our usual meeting spot, that they finally had a "mother hen" to protect those neglected magical creatures because Granger was back with a bang; I was quite taken aback. It was a few weeks after when I wrote her a friendly letter. I mean, I was still trying to form the premise for my thesis. She readily replied but in a weird way. As I said before: no face to face discussion, no public acknowledging, or the like. She would write letters to me providing insights into the research. Her letters would end in the same way, 'I hope the professors are in good health and the Headmaster is not deducting too many points.'"

His eyes had shown brighter and when they had locked with those of Severus' obsidian ones, the older man felt himself under scrutiny once again.

To shake the feeling of unease, Severus had steered the conversation to a more appropriate direction, "What had happened with Miss Granger, before her hasty hospitalization?"

Malfoy and Potter both shared an uncomfortable look, then the former Slytherin continued, "This was yesterday evening and I was working in the Archives. I had gone there right after lunch since I had some spare time but I was not expecting Granger before late evening. Those were the hours she would work, right after she would finish her office work.

I must have gotten too engrossed in research because then I heard it. It started with a hissing sound. Then something or someone was speaking but the voice was not human at all. I had turned around to look about but the strange muttering had suddenly stopped. I was about to go back to my reading when it started again. This time I could also make out the sounds of someone whimpering along with those uncanny whispers. I strained my ears and, for a moment, the other whimpering voice had sounded like Granger. I knew she would work behind the restricted section of the Archives since I had seen her go behind them often. Sending my Patronus to Potter, I cautiously approached the stacks. I could only get a glimpse of Granger before I was knocked off my feet."

"Yes," Potter had cut in, "He was found about ten feet away. I was ready to leave for the day. Seamus Finnigan and I were about to enter the elevators when Draco's Patronus, a panther, had intercepted us. We immediately made our way to the bowels of the Ministry, for we knew the Archives were down there. I allowed Seamus to take a barely conscious Malfoy to St. Mungo's immediately. As soon as they left, I called for reinforcement. Accompanied by a few other Aurors and wands pointed ahead of us, I approached the restricted section. The stacks and shelves were in ruins, as if a hurricane had chanced upon them. I noticed quickly that the destruction had occurred in a circular pattern and right in the middle of that chaos was where Hermione was laying. Her hair loose, her robes in tatters and some black smoke or slimy substance oozing out of her."

Severus interrupted, "Which segment of the restricted section was it?"

Their discussion had to wait due to a loud knock at the door. As soon as Severus permitted entry, Remus Lupin and Filius Flitwick walked in.

In explanation of their sudden arrival, Lupin nodded to the group solemnly and in short mentioned, "Andromeda received an owl from Narcissa about Draco's freak accident. Since she is still under house arrest, there was no way for her to know how and where you were. Thankfully Mr. Zabini had the courtesy to inform her that you were unharmed and might have gone to meet your godfather. Truly, Mr. Malfoy, your mother was quite beyond herself. "

Potter was fast to apologize, "That would be my fault. I was late to inform Mrs. Malfoy about the whole thing, due to all that's happening with…"

Raising a hand in acceptance, Flitwick pressed on, "What is done is done, Mr. Potter." Turning to the curious Headmaster, the half-goblin bowed in greeting, "Good evening, Headmaster. I was most alarmed to have been contacted by Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Zabini about a stray accident at the Ministry of Magic last night. I was more shocked to receive Kingsley, the Head of the Auror Department, at my Bormhmin Cottage early this morning. Kingsley was not very clear; still, I accompanied him to the Ministry almost immediately."

"There, I met both of them. By the time we had stepped inside the archives, Potter and other Aurors had been able to collect Miss Granger and were off to St. Mungo's." the DADA professor supplied.

"Though it is most surprising why you were not contacted in the first place, still, I must tell you the case is unique."

Severus had turned to Remus and immediately asked the lingering question, "Which section was it? Where did all this happen exactly?"

"It was between the rows P and R."

Minerva had been following the whole conversation and could not help but ask, "But why did you mention Obscurus in your brief letter Mr. Potter?"

Both Lupin and Flitwick leapt onto their feet and shouted, "What? Obscurus?!"

Harry brought up both his arms in surrender, softly offering, "I don't understand much but that is what the healers are telling me. It has been roughly 24 hours and Hermione has already harmed two of the attendees. The healer and administrators of the Spell Damage Ward are trying their best to keep the affair away from the media but the Healers are not optimistic. That is why we all thought the Headmaster could be of some help. Even Healer Astrid Norman was open to inviting a fresh pair of eyes to assess the gravity of the situation."

The Headmaster, much to Harry and Draco's relief, stood up and declared, "I have heard quite enough to come to the decision that I must visit the Spell Damage Ward."

Neville and Flitwick readily agreed to stay behind and guard the castle while Lupin had left to ensure Teddy was doing fine with his grandmother. He promised to join them at the hospital shortly.

The door to the waiting room had opened and an elderly woman, in healer's attire and followed by Lupin, walked in.

Greeting the gathered group in general, Healer Astrid Norman stated in crisp and clear words, "Though the situation with Miss Granger has neither improved nor deteriorated," then, looking straight into Severus' eyes, she smiled, "but I am hopeful, you will find a way, Headmaster Snape."

A/N: From here on the excitement begins.