Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.

chapter 20

Hermione Granger's transformation and her subsequent attack on Bill Weasley had unsettled the group waiting right outside the Circle, deep in the bowels of St. Mungos.

Lupin was the first to revive. The only comfort he could provide the two other young men, forced into adult shoes too early in their life, was a comforting squeeze in each of their shoulders. Unfamiliar with such subtle displays of affection, Malfoy jerked away but Harry caved in and leaned towards his former professor.

As soon as Bill hobbled out, the half-goblin professor, the DADA professor and Healer Norman tried to assess him all at once. Thankfully, the 'Rogue Magic' had only startled him. His magical resources had remained untouched. He is made to sit near the charmed glass panel so that he can see the rest of the event.

Lupin suggested, "If only we could get hold of some trace of that magical field, we could study its nature at least…"

"We had tried that; the magic seems to act like a fast-evolving parasite. It feeds on Hermione, but has a mind of its own," Norman sighed to the man who still battled with his werewolf tendencies once a month, who had to bury the love of his life without getting to love her as much as he wanted to and having to raise his son without having much help from the Ministry of Magic, for laws were yet to change in his favour, the mediwitch felt remorseful.

Professor Lupin,I do have faith in Severus, I have seen him venture into the unknown without batting his eyes. I always knew, though he was quite an actor, he was the only capable wizard to become Dumbledore's spy. I know both of you share the same love for Dark Arts. Snape favors both Flitwick and you. Be prepared." she replied encouragingly.

Nodding in agreement, both the professors signaled the other three wizards to be alert and swiftly entered the room.

"I…I had…felt so hopeless, being the eldest, I felt I was supposed to be in charge of the safe keep of my siblings. Dad's first hand. I was never so bothered with Charlie, Percy and those two pranksters, but Gin…to have an evil whispering into your little head. And 'Mione, equivalent of a sister," shaking his head in an attempt to shake away his broken resolve, Bill rose from the floor. Squaring his shoulders, he turned to Potter and Malfoy, and giving each of them a curt nod, stood tall and confident, his one hand holding out his wand once again. His other hand hovered inches away from the latch of the entrance door. Harry and Malfoy too were ready. The three of them waiting on titer hooks. The tension was similar to that before the battle of Hogwarts, those five years ago.

Healer Norman, once getting Severus's cue, signaled the junior healers to open a portion of the glass wall. As he walked in, every other wizard and witch, standing in guard, were thinking the same thing. Was it always like this? Severus Snape would take a deep breath, stand tall, and in determined steps, go and bow in the presence of that Vicious Mad wizard, without caring about the fact that it could be the last day of his life.

The first colossal difference they felt, was the display for sparks crackling like festive fireworks. The junior healers exclaimed at the changes that reflected on the calibration previously determining the presence of the "rogue magic". Healer Norman was noticeably dumbstruck, "This is the first time since we have put her in the room, that the magical fields look less ominous, I would say, this might be working, Snape might have come up with a… keep your wands ready gentlemen!"

Apprehensive, they watched Snape walk closer and then sit near the foot of the hospital bed. They couldn't hear what Granger was mumbling, all of it was sounding close to indiscreet droning noise, but surprisingly they could now hear Snape's baritone voice echo through the Circle.

Harry thought he might have heard that before, but Draco knew exactly what his godfather was narrating. "That is his very first speech, the one he gives at the start of the first day of first year's potion's class. But on earth is he narrating it now?"

Bill had tasted that magic once, had fallen prey to its seductive advances. This time he was determined not to fall for it.

"He has made his move, now any moment she will retaliate!" he warned, fingers clasping around the latch of the entrance door.

Then Hermione lunged at Snape. Wands drawn; all the wizards had advanced. Flitwick and Lupin had inched closer to the partition. Luna had once again prepared herself training her wand at the patient. The junior healers were on their feet as well. Bill too along with Malfoy and Harry were about to enter the circle.

Never in their life had they imagined to see a sight so surreal and so heart wrenching at the same time.

She was sitting across Snape's lap, burying her head at the crook of his neck. She was wailing loudly like a baby. In between her sobs, hiccups, and snorting, she was vehemently whispering the words again and again, "Oh! Merlin! Alive! You are so alive! No, there is no blood, I don't smell it, I don't see it."

Even if these were whispers, all of them could hear it loud and clear. This was for the first time they were hearing Hermione Granger's real voice after her freak accident. She was also looking more like herself, though, extremely starved and bony. And she was hugging the potion master too tight for comfort. The three men outside the Circle reacted to that quite differently.

Bill was doubtful. He had taken a few steps back and was watching the scene. His brows knitted and his face drawn in deep contemplation. Malfoy was most evidently jealous. The blonde was gritting his teeth. Harry was feeling jealous as well, because it should have been him, the filial brother- friend figure in Hermione's life.

As they watched Snape lower Hermione on the hospital bed, Malfoy seemed to have enough of it, punching a fist at the door, he stormed off, with Harry and Bill rushing after him.

He had broken into a quick run, trying his best to distance him from that room. Tears were welling up his eyes, but he was not prepared to cry. "Malfoys never cry!" his father's voice echoed in his head. But he just couldn't be fast enough. Both Harry and Bill managed to grab him from behind in no time.

He turned and lashed out at them. He spat and shouted, threw random punches at them blindly, when he failed to shrug them off.

Exasperatedly, hurt and confused, he yelled on top of his voice, "See it clear who she wants. And it is certainly not me," grabbing at his hair, pulling them, till it hurt, he concluded in a defeated tone of finality," I really don't need to be here."

Harry was still feeling put off, pangs of jealousy eating on his genial feelings. He too was hating the whole thing. He was supposed to be glad to see for once, Hermione was normal. On the other hand, he was not quite ready to digest the fact that it was Snape, and his awkward intimacy, which the witch was craving for.

So he yelled back at his childhood nemesis, " I don't like it either, but it's Hermione. And you should help because she helped you get your neck out of Azkaban."

Grabbing the opportunity, Bill stepped forward, wedging himself between the two wizards, he reasoned," you two better start acting according to your age."

Surprised and irate, they both grumbled and took a couple of steps back. Though Malfoy did mutter,", Buzz off weasel."

Harry blurted out at the same time, "You got no right to speak to us like that, what do you know about how much it hurts?

Bill grabbed Harry by the collar and brought him close enough that their noses were nearly touching. Chewing upon his next words, the eldest Weasley retorted," That one in there is someone I love like a sister. She is as much a family to me as is Gin. And what I know of love is not the question of the hour. But you both would perhaps wish to know how Hermione thinks about the both of you."

Pushing Harry back against the wall, he gave the two of them a threatening look. Both of them might have thought it was better not to mess with a curse breaker, marred by a werewolf, but that did not stop them from scoffing like reprimanded kids.

Shaking his head, at their childish behavior, Bill started searching through his pockets. He brought out two envelopes. He gave one to Potter and the other to Malfoy. When both the men grabbed on the proffered letter reluctantly, he started speaking again.

"I met her two weeks ago, after the Won Won Lav scene, and she gave these two to me, saying if anything happens to her, I should give them to both of you right away."

Both Malfoy and Harry exclaimed together, "You saw her?" "She met with you?"

Bill simply pointed at the letters and gestured them to take a look. Deep down he did think of those two letters as clues. Even Hermione did mention breadcrumbs. Not quite understanding her muggle references, he had asked around. His half-blood and muggles acquaintances had given him a lengthy discourse of Grimm Brothers and Hansel and Gretel myth.

"Those are charmed with heavy wards, I didn't dare open them. But you two can throw some light on this horrible thing that the poor lass has managed to land herself in." The eldest Weasley muttered, gravely.