Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.
Chapter 16
When the headmaster of Hogwarts and Luna Lovegood had appeared at the back alley of the Magical hospital, they were greeted by a baffled Assistant Healer Fed Mason and William 'Bill' Weasley.
Nodding to the later, the Headmaster immediately approached the healer. "We need to see your patient, right now."
And everyone knew, the potion master's "Now" would not wait for a second. Mason had taken them to the spell damage ward through a different set of elevators, one that was only used by healers.
After getting off, right next to Head Healer's chamber, Snape turned and asked Mason to get the others once they arrived through the same route. The evening visiting hours would soon get over and if people were to see the prominent figures of the wizarding world barreling into the hospital, the press would be having a field day.
He then turned to Luna and instructed her, "Miss Lovegood, watch, hear and remember everything. I am now counting on your Ravenclaw intelligence. Once you enter the Healer's office and even get to see Hermione, keep still and do not utter a word. I think Hermione is finally breaking down."
Nodding in affirmative, Luna replied, "Yes, Sir, it seems to be the case."
Bill Weasley was watching the exchange curiously, when Snape turned and acknowledged him, he respectfully greeted his former professor. "Headmaster, I heard from Ginny and since Mum was tied up, I volunteered to come, I was just leaving but if you want me to stay, I can…"
"Mr. Weasley, are you still working as a curse breaker?"
"Yes, Headmaster!"
"Then, please, by all means, come along, we would need you."
Healer Norman had just opened the door to her chamber when Severus was about to knock on it. She exclaimed, "Severus…?" She also noticed Luna and Bill standing behind him and narrowed her eyes.
"Is it possible to see your patient now?"
The urgency in his voice was not lost to the elderly woman, who on various occasions had dealt with his brisk and no-nonsense attitude. Even his eccentricities were not new to her.
"Follow me."
They all jogged up to the Circle, a sense of apprehension and excitement vibrating within the group.
Severus turned and addressed the group, stopping right in front of the entrance door.
"I would like to try something in there," turning to elderly healer he urged, "Has Miss Granger's status remained the same as you had mentioned during the afternoon meeting?"
"Yes, she seems calmer, the "rogue Magic" is still arrested and nothing has spiked further than it had previously."
Nodding his head up and down, vigorously, he addressed both Bill and the healer, "I would like to see two things. If you permit, I would like Mr. Weasley to approach Hermione first?"
Norman was alarmed and was about to refute him, when he raised his hand to stop her, "Hear me out. Mr. Weasley is a curse breaker and works with the Gringotts Bank, and he has vast experience dealing with magical energies other than that of just wizards and witches."
The irate witch huffed," I am aware of Mr. Weasley occupation. I also have had the honour to treat his brothers the infamous Weasley Twins on various occasions."
Snape cut in, slightly annoyed,"He will know how to erect a powerful shielding charm before trying to communicate with Miss Granger, am I right, Mr. Weasley?"
The tall red-haired former Gryffindor nodded back confidently, "You can count on me, Sir, Ma'am. I will have my precautionary spells active all through and Hermione knows me well."
Giving him a cursory look, Severus graced him with a smile, "I am counting on that too. And I would like to have some access to your mind, I don't wish to let Granger get a hint of what we are about to do. Therefore, any heat of the moment change in this plan will have to happen through mental connection."
"You have my consent, Sir."
He spared a second look at Luna, who smiled and nodded in understanding. She was indeed noting the whole proceedings down in her mind.
"What is the second thing you wish to experiment with?" Healer Norman pressed on.
"I will approach her next, physically. I want to enter the other half of the enclosure. I assure you, she will not harm me. I have my reasons to believe that. You will in the meantime brief Flitwick and Lupin about the whole plan. They must be ready as a backup. Harry and Draco are also arriving shortly, they should be the second line of defense if the rogue magic acts up. I will deal with the rest. Astrid, you have relied on me, on several of those weird cases before, I want you to trust me on this as well."
"Though I am not liking this, Severus, I will allow this, for Miss Granger."
"Yes for, Miss Granger."
They were all ushered into a circular space once again. Luna and Bill being there for the first time. Norman watched them staring at the huge glass wall, now hazy. Weasley curiously checked out those several monitoring screens, blinking and graphs and charts being constantly updating themselves, on their side of the room.
Severus stood rooted near the entrance, Miss Lovegood stayed beside him. Norman, in the meantime, had informed the junior Healers observing the monitors about their plan. Three young women had looked at the Headmaster, blanched at his cold glare, readily agreeing to help along.
Bill was standing before the hazy glass, with a nod of approval from Norman he fished out his wand and erected a protective shield around him. Seconds later, Healer Norman had removed the haze with a non verbal spell.
Severus saw the same white enclosure, with bare walls and no window. The bed was exactly in the same place. It still looked slept in, and like before, it was empty. The space was once again, not traditionally lit up. But some magical spell was allowing them to see the room clearly. Bill had already spotted Hermione.
Not risking exposing his presence, Severus slipped into Bill's mind and started answering the man's dawning questions.
She sits like that most of the time now. She never turns away from the wall. She hates any kind of light. She hardly opens her eyes. She whimpers and then shrieks if any of us even try to communicate with her. She is banging her head on the wall, but that is cushioned, she is not physically harming herself. She is mumbling to herself. Do the following; call her name, and make her actually see you, don't panic, I have your back. Be prepared for anything and everything.
Bill turned sideways and gave the headmaster a swift nod, then he walked closer to the glass and said Hermione's name loud and clear.
"Hermione? Hermione. Can you hear me?"
By this time, Lupin, Flitwick, Harry, and Draco had arrived near the main entrance of the circle. Whispering to Severus, "Don't you dare die on me, Sev!"Healer Norman left as planned to brief the group about the headmaster's unconventional plan.
Phew! Just like the last chapter, this was intense. Are you all prepared for another newer kind of blast?