This chapter continues to build the much-needed premise of the whole story. The next untie (truly) many of the knots. (no more dilly dally from my part). An avid reader of this fic had wished the goblins to play a bigger role. And they are all in. From now onwards. These are shrewd and calculating magical folks. But against a common foe, all must unite. Things will get AU. Consider yourself pre-warned. And to all those readers under house arrest because of Convid-19, sending across prayers, courage and warm wishes to keep your spirits high. 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.


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 21

Never in his eventful life had Severus Snape watched Goblins interact among themselves outside the walls of Gringotts Bank. It was safe to say, he might have been a widely-read person, yet goblins and their customs were not written about or talked about widely. Filius and Griphook had bowed low to each other and then had stepped forward. Instead of shaking hands, they had caught hold of each other's wrists and shook them firmly.

It was fascinating to see the Gringott Head to actually call Filius, "brothen" in a loving and tender voice. A very teary charms professor would later confess, "Brothen" meant brother, and among the goblins, all members of the community were either referred to as "brothen" or "sisanion" unless of course they were intended or actually married. The significance was not lost to Severus. He was glad on behalf of the diminutive professor, who had finally been welcomed back into his community.

The goblins were peculiar creatures, like centaurs they loved talking in riddles and tales, but unlike them, they were manipulative and cunning enough to mislead the unsuspecting mass. After running his eyes over the gathered witches and wizards, Griphook had walked up to the mute portrait of Albus Dumbledore, the previous occupant of this very office. Then turning to Aberforth, he had chuckled. "Brilliant spell work."

"Oh yah! That would teach him the art of listening and actually looking past his agendas."

Minerva had turned to the surviving Dumbledore brother and had exclaimed, "You have done this?!"

"Madam Deputy Headmistress, we have pressing matters at hand, far more intense than a mute portrait of a dead man." The goblin's voice had cut through the tension that had been building up in the room.

"Headmaster Snape, I owe you, for agreeing to meet me at this odd hour, "then turning to each one of them, he had bowed low, in the same fashion, like he had done when greeting professor Flitwick, "Thank you, each one of you to have spared your precious time and come to aid, one of our common troubled friend."

Severus had noticed the disagreeing and disapproving looks the portraits of other long-dead headmasters and headmistresses were bestowing on the goblin. After the goblin rebellion, the relationship between the two prominent magical beings had soured.

"Headmaster Snape, before I explain my presence here, tonight, I would like to draw up some conditions. This is for the benefit of Hermione Granger and for the magical society at large."

"Mr. Griphook," offering his an empty seat by the fireplace, Severus had carried on, "I am of the believe, that the fact that you are here, and that you have asked for specific people to be present here…means the matter is of great importance, something that the ministry cannot be involved with on official terms."

"Rightly pointed out, the ministry cannot deliver things we are going to venture about, because its hands are tied by the very laws it had made, "pausing for a moment, he had looked at Snape, his eyes burning with intensity, "Before we get any deeper into this matter, I would like a request for clarity on certain conjunctures."

When he had received a nod of assent, he had continued, drawing out a long parchment from the inside of his coat," Firstly, I would request you to ask the portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses to leave the room, the matter at hand demands their absence." Severus had squinted at the goblin and had studied his features thoroughly. When satisfied with his scrutiny, he had simply turned to the portraits on the wall and had politely asked them to leave the room, and only return when called for.

Griphook had added at the very last minute, "But for Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black and Headmistress Dilys Derwent." He had next handed over the list to Minerva, after giving her a cordial bow. "Madam McGonagall, would you please ensure that only these people be present in today's gathering."

Thinking better on behalf of the witches and the wizards in the room, she had read the list aloud, "The Goblin Delegate would like to ascertain the following members of the magical society as Miss Hermione Granger's true and loyal friends, and only they are to be entrusted with the task of resolving the crisis at hand. Their names are as follows:

Minerva McGonagall
Molly Weasley
Draco Malfoy
Aberforth Dumbledore
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Poppy Pomphrey
Pomona Sprouts
Bill Weasley
George Weasley
Neville Longbottom
Luna Lovegood
Seamus Finnigan
Blaise Zabini

Narcissa Malfoy

Andromeda Tonks
and the portraits

Dilys Derwent
Phineas Nigellus Black and
Ariana Dumbledore…!

At the mention of his dead sister's name, Aberforth had opened the wraps from her portrait and after transforming a stool into a sturdy chair, he had gruffly placed the frame on it.

As Minerva had read through the list, Griphook had been watching Snape intensely. And the other had held on to his gaze, never backing off even for a fraction of a second. The list was not too surprising. But for the fact that the goblin was too specific about his demands. It made Snape come to a chilling realization. These goblins know more about us than they let on. Grphook had graced him with a fitting smirk, and had whispered loud enough, "Though above all stands the ties of blood- so Mr Harry Potter and the headmaster are most desired. Their presence is mandatory. Oh! Yes, I also took the liberty of asking Healer Astrid Norman to join us, I was informed she has been overseeing the treatment facilities provided to Miss Granger. And our meeting can carry on, after all, there are things she already knows and there are things that are not meant for her ears."

Heaving a deep sigh, and standing on his two feet, the goblin had peered at the one-time consummated spy and had asked a direct permission," Would you find it uncomfortable if I harbor the desire to preside over this meeting?"

From the corner of his eyes, Severus had noticed many of his former students had started showing signs of disagreement. But he had to see for himself why the Goblin had been so insistent about everything.

"By all means, please abreast us with the details you have been holding on to."

"How intuitive, even given your shady background, we goblins value that mind of yours. How apt! Dumbledore had chosen well, Or, let us say, he had been lucky you got him…" amused at his own jest, he had laughed. His misshaped set of teeth glinted. Tapping onto his nose, and resuming his slow pacing over the little space the many chairs had provided around by the fireplace, he had stated," An official bond now, must be drawn, a contract of secrecy of sorts, each one of us will have to sign it."

In the meantime, Minerva had sent for Madam Sprout and the resident Mediwitch Madam Pomphrey. The two were at the hospital wing, keeping the potion Master Horace Slughorn company. Snape had quietly ushered the two witches in.

As if never being interrupted, the goblin had carried on with his speech, "The primary contract must be drawn – between Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter from the side of the wizards and the witches and me myself, from goblin community. I would like to put my Brothen - Filius Flitwick as the officiator of the bond and would want Minerva McGonagall to be the witness, "Turning to the rest of the group he had said, "the secondary contracts would be signed and sealed by the rest of us since each one of us have vouched to help the girl in peril." Bringing out special small versions of quills, he had handed them out to Filius. The charms professor had risen his two brows in rapt wonder, "They need to sign with the Goblin's oath weaver." The other had just nodded.

"When you sign with these quills, you feel a speck of your blood being drawn out of your index finger and a bit of your magic drawn out as well. This seals the contract. We have not used it often…"

Harry and Draco had both spoken aloud, "Then why now?"

Irritated at being interrupted, the goblin had sneered then had gone ahead, lightly rebuking the perpetrators. "Because Miss Granger had done the same. And Time here is of great essence."

No one had questioned the strange demands of Griphook after that. With the contracts done, He had swiftly sealed and stamped on them and had handed a counter copy to Minerva. As for his copy, he had given that to Bill Weasley for safekeeping.

All through this process, Severus had watched the person. So had Blaise, Draco, Harry, Lupin, Narcissa and Luna. And all of them individually had come to one singular conclusion. The goblin was worse to wear. He had walked back to his seat.

Heaving a sigh of resignation Griphook had spoken out loud," Our world has lived through two wars, and yet we have learnt so little from them. The fact that we stay divided, we readily give the Dark forces the weapon to annihilate us…there are a couple of reasons as to why I wanted to meet you all today. And I wanted to seek your help…"

Curious now, Snape had sat up, "Help?"

"Yes, help."

His eyes still trained at the flicking flames of the fireplace, Griphook had said, "Today the wards of Gringotts had been breached. And while investigating the issue, the goblins had come across a strange magical force hovering over the vault of Hermione Granger. They had tried to fend it. But no magic or goblin's sword could get rid of it, it was like a mist hovering, it had a face. And when attacked it would bring up its sword and a shield as well. And as we speak, it is still there. They are known as the 'Knights of the Undead' and I have heard those words not once but twice in the last couple of months."

Baise Zabini had leaned forward, his features alert and inquisitive, "' Knight of the undead', those can't be killed, those are usually summoned by a wizard or a witch sharing the mark of wizard commander to who this knights were answerable, and once summoned they would attach themselves to the summoner. Like guardians. And will ascertain that the magical being is safe and under their protection."

"And only a blood kin of the witch or the wizard can help them go back to the realms of the undead, from where they had been released."

Seamus had spoken out for the first time, "So these undead folks are bothering Hermione?"

"Mr. Finnigan, no, things are not that simple, these undead folks as you call them, are actually protecting her…"

Molly, Draco, Harry, Neville, Minerva, Lupin had all spoken together at the same time, "From?"

"The one she had been hunted for and destroying as these while."

Severus could barely keep his mind still anymore, "The new sets of Horcrux, she was after them, you had put her into that godforsaken task!"

The visitor had simply snapped back, "Calm down, Spymaster, she had not been the only one, there was another before her, both equally brilliant, both equally marvelous…"

"The muggles, during the time of the First wizard's war, had often come across a red lady in a caravan of books and her caretaker, one motley dwarf."

Severus had literally been out of his chair, his pale face looked paler, and his eyes sparkled with trepidation, "Red Lilac…!" And in his very heart, he did not wish to know anymore. If he allowed this crude enactment of blasphemy to continue, he had to strengthen the hold on his mental barriers. And behind those iron doors, his emotions were now lashing against his very nerves. Yes, in those days from the Dark Lord had been gathering his ranks, an appearance of a vigilante had deterred the process. He had been one of the lower ranks, and all he knew was that several newly recruited death eaters had been slain by the "Red Lilac".

Narcissa had been watching her long-time friend all this while, and her hands had sort for those of her son's and her sister's. Sparing both of them a glance, she found they too had picked up the roaring magical energy getting unknowingly generated at Severus's expense. Lupin, who for some time, been leaning against the banister, whose stairs lead to the headmaster's personal chambers, too had picked it up. And had silently inched towards the young headmaster.

Snape had always been particular about his wards. And even if for a long time that was only encompassing over his snakes, that feeling in the years after the war had engulfed the whole school and all its former students, irrespective of their houses. He considered it within his own right to berate anyone of them, but if others would say a single word about them in disrespect, he would be this close to tiring them apart limb by limb.

The goblin who had been barely looking at the esteemed and most revered youngest headmaster of Hogwarts, had fully turned towards the tall, pale and wrapped in volumes of black cloak person, and had stared poignantly into the wizard's obsidian eyes, which now, were rippling with hint of primal emotions of both fight and fright.

"We saw to the circulation of a wonderfully fantastic tale, The Red Lady, who roamed in a caravan of aging books, with only a circus trickster, dwarf master called Motley as her company…some said she was a sorceress, some said a hippie palm reader…though all muggles around kept some distance, unless they needed their future read, and she would so smilingly offer to be the listening ear…A couple, a pair of muggle healers came, childless, and the woman's plea touched Red Lilac's heart…for she was carrying a secret of her own. You see, Headmaster, the woman who had rocked your Dark Lord's High castle back in those murky days just a handful of years before the first war, was a mother to be…," a hint of fondness crept into his beady ears, his lips stretched a bit with a touch of a genuine smile, "the goblins knew Red Lilac, the sorceress they had planted among the muggles carried the seed of love and war within her."


A/N: I had said, it was AUish. I have nudged the cat out of the bag and Professor Snape can now see its whiskers at least...! But for a man, who has very poor examples of emotional expressions, how will he manage to tackle the storm knocking at his door! You see that is where I am struggling! Also, I both like and don't like Dumbledore bashing. I like him as a grandfatherly headmaster and I don't like him playing chess with live human beings (figuratively). So, for the sake of the plot, he is trapped in his own portrait.