Once again- MournfulSeverity stands as the source of inspiration. In her very first review of the first chapter of "Love Empowered Empathy- Prologue," she had mentioned the word "Obscurial". That got me researching like a mad hare. Thoughts of "venom" and some sequel of "Spiderman" flooded my mind. And with the emotionally loaded "Mute" and the huge fantastic tale weaving in the backdrop of "Love Empowered Empathy"- Baby's Breath was quietly born in one of my sleepless nights. I hope against hope I shall not disappoint my readers.

I have another special series in progress: Scars Series, do check it out.


Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. This mind lives in the Harry Potter fanfiction world though this body is still thankfully anchored in the monotonous reality of existence. The stories I write can indirectly influenced by many of the brilliant fanfiction writers on this site. And I humbly bow to such creative genius who give me much needed literary pleasures to see through the toils of mundane life. Lastly, I don't have a beta, so please be merciful. Reviews would encourage this introvert writer to peep out of her literary closet. My very first attempt at writing a Snape and Hermione and Dramione fanfiction ever.


chapter 16

Draco Malfoy had left as soon as the staff of Hogwarts had decided to head back to the school. He too would go back, but only after having dinner with his worried mother. Sparing his godfather, a single nod, he had left the building. He could have run out of it. But two lines had anchored him into reality.

How do I love thee… (1)
If thou must love me (2)

E.B.B

He had tucked her letter in his breast pocket. As he swiftly made his way through the empty corridors of St. Mungo's, his mind was rocking in the tumult of the sea, was it her farewell, the final declaration, that she too had harboured a feeling akin to love for him? was it meant for that three-letter initial- E.B.B.? Was it her twisted joke? To ignite his passion from afar, and then to leave him to burn in his own creation of fiendfyre. What were those (1) and (2) indicating? His head was hurting now. He had successfully apparated right outside the wards to the Malfoy Manor. Thanks to Merlin! He had not splinched.

The gates had opened registering the Manor's master's return. And a single house-elf had popped beside him, informing that Narcissa Malfoy was indeed waiting for him, at the dining room. He had stopped at the giant entrance. He needed to gather his wits; his mother was too intuitive for comfort. She would know the moment she would look at her only son. She would know, that Draco Malfoy was stuck in hell and his heart was bleeding. The image of Hermione hugging Severus, with all her might, had burnt a hole in his mind. And he would have to try to get it out of his mind. If he was to triumph as a lover in the eyes of the Brightest Witch of the age. Giving himself a thorough shake, he had let the elf push open the door and had entered his ancestral home, after long hours spent in anxiety.

When all the visitors from Hogwarts had finally returned to the apparition point near the school, the moon had climbed halfway into the night sky. Harry had decided to tag along with them. Flitwick and Lupin had been talking among themselves in hushed undertones. And Potter had been walking a foot or two behind them. He shoulders drooping his head bowed, an image of a tired man, in need of a meal and a bed to sleep. Severus was right behind the Wonder Boy. Still shocked and amused, speechless and confused. He liked puzzles. But this one had an omen attached to it and he could feel it in his bones.

Lupin had come to a screeching halt. And a yelp and yowl later- the group had found a very angry tabby cat had planted itself right in front of the gates. Barring their entrance. Both Flitwick had twiddled his fingers, expecting a verbal thrusting, Lupin had seriously been almost scared. And to see the werewolf shocked out of his skin, potter had peered at the cat in confusion.

Severus for his part had had a tough time maintaining a straight face. He would credit humour and its distant sister comic relief a perfect 50 points on such rare occasions when his heart was feeling as if it was trapped inside a box.

Severus had always found it assuming to see a tabby cat with an air of superiority stomping about on the grounds of Hogwarts at night, during his early days as a potion master. She did not have any interest in the scurrying away rats. She was not amused by the catcalls of the squirrels from above the trees. Honestly, when that had happened, he had uncharacteristically barked out laughing. He had laughed so much that his insides were throbbing. And the shock to see, Professor McGonagall transfigure and walk up into his personal space from nowhere and striking at his long nose with her index finger, whispering a heavy warning, "Don't you dare, Severus Snape"! That had hurt, and yes, he would never dare to poke fun at her, no never again.

And this was the same tabby cat, that had transformed into the formidable Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. Taking turns to scold each one of them-

"You didn't even think! No, not a word Remus! Filius, you too could have... Potter, I don't expect it from you... But you, you, Severus, you knew, I would worry…"

"Minerva, Please Calm down…she is fine…"

"Fine…oh! Merlin's beard!" resting her palm on her chest, she had heaved a sigh of relief, and then the fire was back in her eyes," Gentlemen! couldn't you have sent a single Patronus and just said, 'she is fine'…men, absolutely utterly, pathetic."

She had promptly turned on her heels and muttering under her breath, she had stomped up towards the castle.

Filius had turned to Severus for help, but the DADA professor had noticed how jittery the headmaster was feeling at the moment. They had quietly entered the premises and the headmaster had renewed the protective wards once again.

Before Remus could cook up an excuse on his behalf, Severus had simply requested the three men, "Why don't you go ahead and calm her down? I would like to take a stroll…there is the thestral baby to check on and I see candles burning in Hagrid's hut. I would like to have a talk with him as well. We will be expecting some visitors around midnight, we better inform the others, the former students planning to stay…"

Filius had reached for his hand and giving it a pat, he had said," You managed the situation well, I am certain, so is Healer Norman, we will find a way to save her."

Remus had grasped Potter's shoulder and with the final nod from the Headmaster, he too had started walking towards the castle with the others.

Severus had stood and watched the three figures growing smaller and smaller. He could make out their pale robes and coats, but he was sure, his signature black robes would hide him well.

Turning towards the gameskeeper's cottage, He briskly walks away. Once out of sight, just in case the three thought of looking out for him, he had walked along the first row of those ancient trees that marked the border of the forbidden forest. Hiding in the shadows of one familiar tree bark, he had closed his eyes and had let his occlumency shields fall. Like that of the curtains of a stage prior to the beginning of a play. Slowly he had stretched his neck backward and had rested his throbbing head on the surface of the tree trunk. From here, if he opened his tired eyes, he could see the castle and even the edge of the barriers of the magical creatures.

He had let his thoughts wander. His primary concerns were about the strange occurrences of these past few hours. Letting his eyes settle on the lazily swaying smoke tendrils over single chimney up Hagrid's hut, he had thought back, of those smokey tendrils coming out of Hermione's body. It seems a slimy coat of tar gathered over her skin, flowing out through osmosis from her veins and arteries. And these when in contact with opposing fields of magic would turn into malicious vapours ready to strike at the enemy nearby. But he would confess to himself. He had heard its beaconing call. He had felt its temptations at the tip of his tongue, on the edge of his nerves and its seductive caress over his own magical field.

But there was another magical energy. Naïve yet pure. Innocent yet smothering, and this has recking havoc with his conscience. He could catalog this under magical affinity. A rarity in the magical society at present times. Two have magical affinity vibrating and transpiring between to magical being was the conclusion to several factors fitting exactly and seamlessly together.

Wandless magic was just a tiny hole into this cosmic magical power. An extremely well harnessed magical core could approach its brethren magic resource. And if Hermione was trying to reach for him, it meant one thing. She was primally related to him. Not soul bound, but there must be a kinship recognized. And he was afraid to acknowledge it. He could not fathom how he would explain it to the others. What was he supposed to say to Draco? He was never a competition. His interests in one Miss Hermione Granger…How was he going to explain it?

Banking his head against the solid surface of the ancient tree, he had looked skywards, the thick foliage above had concealed the portion of the star-studded night sky. The wind was still wet with the flavor of fresh rain. His magical field was still tingling with the residual traces of hers. And he had after many long years cherished this semblance.

To his very heart, Severus Snape had never lied. And he was not going to commit that sin for the rest of his life. He was earnestly proud of her. She had rocked his confidence, lashed at his arrogance, and smashed his brutal rebukes with her resilient performances. He had watched her from the shadows of the bookshelves in the library. Always bend over some tome, scribbling her quill like a mad hare. Careless about her attire, fire burning in her eyes, a fire, that fed on knowledge.

Hermione mirrored his own zealous hunt for answer, something even his godson had lacked. An owl had hooted in the night air, and a couple of them had flown over to the Owlery. Returning from their nighttime hunt, perhaps!

Severus had felt overwhelmed. Simple things had jolted him. it was just one tight hug. But it had burnt him, had washed him, had drenched him, and blown him across the surface of the oceans, had twirled him, and tossed him in air. A single hug had broken his self-imposed shackles. And in their place, why on earth was he thinking of getting his hands tied with twines of Baby's Breath?

For the first time after a long time, it felt nice to give comfort to someone. It felt at home to be wanted. It felt nice that someone was concerned about him. Badly wanted him to live. Now he realized that this single girl, among the seas of faces he had taught for the last decade and a half, truly, selflessly cared so much for him and him alone that she went at length to provide him the best of the world.

Snape wondered against his best judgments, did Lily ever cared so much about him.

He had drawn out his wand and had cast his Patronus. Like always the doe had appeared sprinting through the bluish mist issued from the tip of his wand. He had kept watching it. It had kept standing patiently before him, playfully nudging at his hand, peering up at his smokey eyes. A painful whisper of "Finite Incantatem" had finally canceled the spell. Casting him a longing glance the doe had vanished in thin air. But those small arrangements of Bay's Breath still made him conscious, gush at times with boyish desires and pleased him, to be worthy of someone's notice.

And the strange words on those letters both Potter and Draco received. He was confused and puzzled and he had once again felt his heart tightening. Taking many long and deep breathes. Counting and back counting numbers had, at last, pacified his racing heart. Slowly straightening himself, he had picked up the way to the thestral enclosures. He had a baby thestral to thank for today's miracle. And an oafish Longbottom to appreciate for his silly determination. Melting his endless supplies of Cauldrons, mothering a foal, singing to plants. Chuckling to himself Severus had increased his pace. He would discreetly ask Pomona about the young man's specific interests, and perhaps, perhaps, he could truly surprise his industrious and optimist Apprentice the coming Christmas. He would also have to talk with Hagrid and then prepare himself for the elusive Goblins, who were setting foot near the Hogwarts grounds from the first time after the Goblin Rebellion.


A/N: I am posting it out of excitement. I will fix the typos, once my nerves settle down. Please share your view, what are the things you are liking about this fic and what are things you wish to see in the coming chapters.

Spontaneous sage, Mrs Haloona, tlc125 thank you, hope you would like this chapter too.