Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. Moonvale worked her magic and made this chapter presentable. :) thank you.

Chapter 9

Healer Norman and Severus Snape had worked together since after the first Wizarding War. She had literally watched the young man grow into this formidable wizard, who was now standing beside her like a stoic pillar cloaked in black. There were times when he had surprised her with his intuitiveness and his zeal to find an answer. She was thankful for the period of lull which stretched for eleven years. During that time, Snape's anonymous research and his acute observations had produced miracles in this secluded ward of St. Mungo's.

When the very young potion master had approached her, the witch had pointed her wand at him hissing menacingly, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hand you over to the Aurors immediately?"

"Because Dumbledore trusts me," Snape replied, swallowing hard.

"Incorrect," the elderly witch had all but smacked his head and glowered, "I intend to hold onto that thought because you are looking for a chance to atone for your sins. I can give you that chance and I will, being a fellow Slytherin. However, my house affiliation ends at the entrance door of my Specialty ward. Beyond that, you will find yourself being watched like a hawk and you will have to prove your worth to me."

"I understand the reason behind your caution Healer Norman, but I truly wish to help," the young potion master's subdued reply had managed to melt her icy heart further.

"May I know who it is you are planning to help?" Norman asked tersely.

Snape stared back at her and replied sincerely, "The Longbottom couple, Madam."

Looking at him closely, Norman understood she was no longer alone in this race to save Hermione Granger. Severus Snape, along with the retinue of Hogwarts, was here to aid her with all possible resources. Biting the inside of her cheek, the old witch squared her shoulders and waited eagerly for the questions to start coming her way.

Watching the girl closely, Snape asked the first vital question, "Is she banging her head against the wall?"

"Yes, she is, but those walls are secured with a powerful cushioning spell so she will not cause herself any bodily harm."

"Are you considering the possibility of her having a constant debate in her mind of sorts? I mean, Miss Granger is famous for hoarding knowledge." He tried to make it sound trivial, but Norman caught the hint right away.

"I like to believe she is trying to find a way to save herself before she becomes like those who go completely insane."

"No, Healer Norman, Granger will not allow herself to go mad. If I know her, she will fight to stay sane for as long as possible. She values her mind more than her person." Snape stated decisively.

Lupin asked in a pained voice, "When was the last time anyone had approached her?"

"Not since we moved her into this confinement, before that, we took the risk of stupefying her once. When that worked for about twenty minutes, we got her cleaned, administered some basic medicines, and gave her some fluids which I did myself. It did not take long to realize that doing things the muggle way, I could confuse the 'rogue magic '."

"And you were lucky, but not successful." The headmaster snapped, his eyes still studying the witch on the other side of the enclosure.

Healer Norman chuckled, "You see Minerva, this is why I am fond of Severus. He has a way with the words. Yes, young man, I admit I was lucky!"

Draco was feeling quite beside himself. The entire situation was giving him a sense of déjà vu. He did not wish to revisit any memories or nightmares regarding Granger right now. He blurted out, "What do we do now?"

"Can we try talking to her? She might not recognize any of you, Astrid, but she knows each one of us quite well."

"Minerva can give it a try, but I will ask you to choose your words carefully."

The Scottish woman cleared her throat and tried the most cordial way of approaching a disgruntled child. Severus pursed his lips wondering, 'Mollycoddling indeed, but maybe, maybe that will work…" and crossed his fingers discreetly.

The former Gryffindor Head of House gently spoke to the witch on the other side, "Miss Granger, Miss Granger, can you hear me child?"

Within seconds the room was filled with blaring noise. The graphs and charts were spiking dangerously and everyone had to duck and cover their ears. Severus knelt down as well, but not once did he take his eyes from the young woman. The occupant on the other side was banging her head violently. A few tendrils of black smoke rose above her body, then she shrieked. The vibrations were so fierce that it would have sent Minerva flying if Severus had not the presence of mind to grab ahold of her at the very last moment. He too had felt the initial thrust of magical power, which had retreated as soon as it came into contact with his magical signature.

Hurt and shocked by the sudden and violent rebuff, Minerva leaned into him for support. She turned her head up and pleaded with him as tears rolled from her eyes, "Please, she is my cub." He assured her by squeezing her aged and wrinkled hand. Turning to a confused Potter, he briskly instructed the Auror to take Minerva back to the waiting area.

Lupin was the first to overcome his shock and dismay. He noticed, while the others had felt the rejection of unknown magical presence and had literally succumbed to its offensive strike, the Headmaster hardly reacted, apart from kneeling down for a couple of moments. Approaching the quiet man, the werewolf stated, eyes still trained on the woman on the other side of the wall.

"That felt like dark magic at work. I think I now understand why healers are thinking along the line of Obscurus. Those tendrils of smoke do give such an impression but you will know better. You have dealt with Dark Arts far more extensively than I have."

Healer Norman turned and said, "That is why I was thinking of you specifically Severus."

Draco had his eyes glued on the woman he had come to respect, honor, and perhaps like and care about deeply. He couldn't shake the rising feeling of hopelessness. This was so similar to what he had felt those many years ago in his living room with Granger bleeding, screaming and shaking in agony with his lunatic aunt giggling over her prone body sadistically.

Overwhelmed with a sense of utter despair, he said the first thing that came to mind, "Is she going insane? Is this how we will lose her?"

Snape turned to his godson abruptly. Hauling him up while holding his shoulders in an iron grip, the man glared at him. Norman watched the Malfoy heir cower as his godfather shook him and said in a decisive voice, "Not if we all vow to stay strong and work together to save her from this."

The severity and its underlying promise were not lost to any of the wizards and witches on this side of the room.

A/N: The chapters are getting revamped.