Chapter 65: Too Much Magic

When Severus walked into the infirmary, he was not prepared for what he would see. Sage was passed out cold, or sleeping, with his upper body leaning onto the bedside table. His head was hanging as he had nothing to rest it on.

However, that was not what was surprising.

Sage's arm was draped onto the bed, twitching, while his fingertips barely touched Potter's shoulder. What was more, Miss Granger's upper body was huddled on Sage's lap, her head resting against his stomach.

Severus wasn't entirely certain what to make of it, and he was in no frame of mind to think about it clearly. The only thing he was aware of was that he needed to get Sage out of the infirmary and away from Potter.

By the way his nephew was looking, he was in no place to help any, even though he was trying to. On a normal day the professor would have wondered why Sage even bothered. The two of them, Sage and Potter, didn't get on and they probably never would. But that wasn't concerning at the moment. What was concerning was the lack of color in his nephew's face and the perspiration as well.

Sage was so iridescently pale, that Severus could see his bluish veins in his neck and slightly up his cheeks.

The touch he held with Potter was obviously draining him. Severus could feel the magic around them, and he could feel it pulsating towards Sage. It was almost as if Sage were doing reverse transference, a potent magic that was, depending upon what is was used for, seen as Dark Arts. This was because it involved taking something from someone else – most often magical powers.

However, it did not seem as if Sage was doing this, because he seemed to be the worse off of the two. Potter was the one that seemed to be doing better from when he had last seen him. Prince Potter's face had regained much color and his facial muscles were relaxed. He was sleeping peaceful.

Sage, on the other hand, had a pained look upon his face that spoke of troubled dreams and physical ailment.

Scowling slightly at the situation, but knowing that it was his own frustration with the day's events unrelated to Sage, he walked slowly up to his nephew. With a surprisingly easy hand, he shook Miss Granger's shoulder.

"Miss Granger, wake up," he said insistently, in his eerie whisper.

Groggily her body stirred and she made an indiscernible noise.

"Miss Granger," he exclaimed, leaning closer to her.

She lifted her head up slowly, blinking her eyes furiously. She stared at his face for a few moments, before it showed in her eyes that she had figured out who was talking to her.

"Pro-professor?"

"You need to get up and get off Sage, Miss Granger."

"Wha?"

"Get up!"

Hermione groggily moved off Sage, albeit slowly, and looked bleary eyed at the professor.

The Professor ignored her and moved in between her and Sage. He pursed his lips and shook Sage's shoulder lightly. When Sage didn't move, he grabbed Sage's wrist and pulled the hand away from Potter.

"Sage, wake up," he said, slapping Sage's face lightly with the back of his hand.

A low groan came out of Sage's mouth.

"Wake up," he repeated, patting Sage's face again.

"Urhhh, stop," Sage answered.

Severus put a hand under Sage's arm and started to pull him up, "Come, Sage, we're leaving."

Sage's eyes flickered open and they were still had an abnormal tinge to them.

"Uncle, it hurts. Can't move," he answered, although his voice staggered.

"Professor," Hermione said disapprovingly.

The man turned his head harshly and glared at her for seconds that seemed much longer before he said, "Hold your tongue Miss Granger."

He pulled Sage out of his chair and hoisted on of Sage's arms around his shoulders.

"I think you have had more than enough magic in one day for a sixteen year old wizard, Magi or not."

Sage murmured an unintelligible answer that was a little less than half of a groan. He was clearly suffering from the after-effects of too much magic – too much magic that was too strong for his physical and mental abilities.

As the Professor moved Sage out from around the bed, Hermione plopped back down on her chair dejectedly.

Severus let out a throaty growl, before looking back at her. Sage's weight was like lead on his side, and his nephew's head was bouncing around by his shoulder.

"Miss Granger, if you would care to help and do not make a nuisance of yourself, you may come. But I warn you, I am in no mood."

Her eyes popped open incredibly wide. Had Professor Snape just invited her to help him take care of Sage? Had she head correctly?

She got up slowly, as if she were expecting the professor to revoke the offer or that she had simply imagined the offer to begin with. However, when she stood there looking at him, he didn't snarl at her. He only looked at her expectantly.

"Are you going to stare all day or are you going to help me with him?"

Without another word, she took hold of Sage's other arm and helped the professor guide him out of the infirmary.

If Sage would have had the energy to curse, he would have cursed and loudly too. His entire body felt like a mangled and rotting bruise and they were doing him no service by hauling him around the entire castle to the dungeons. When they finally stopped, he was grateful to be laid on his back in peace, or as close as he could get to it in the pain.