The Reveal had its consequences. Let's see, how well our Headmaster is handling it. 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. The previous generation will not get a chance to complete their education as they could under normal circumstances. Severus and many of his classmates would have to wait for two years after the school is attacked and students are killed by death eaters. They would be invited back to school, once it is made certain had Voldermort's plans of reigning over Magical Britain has been thwarted. They would attend courses that would see them through their newts and owls. And help them get jobs as soon as they step into adulthood. And many would choose to stay away from the castle and instead opt for distant tutoring, a move the Hogwarts teachers and ministry would approve because none of them, could imagine, their beloved school would be attacked in this fashion. This would also be the last time Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic would agree upon something. Have patience, allow the story to clear your doubts as it progresses at its own pace.

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 be 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 25

Griphook had been the first one to come back to his senses. When Filius, who had landed just next to him, had tried to help him up, he held on to the latter's arms, in a tight grip and urgently pleaded, "you need to keep him sane, you all need to be with him," gulping down and wetting his parched throat, he had continued, "because if he goes mad, everything is going to shatter in pieces. "

A thoroughly irate Minerva had marched up to his still prone body, her wand pointed at his face, her voice cold as the much familiar winter draft, "You will explain to me what is going on and or I will hex you to the next year, goblin or not!" Behind her, all others, apart from Bill Weasley and Aberforth Dumbledore and Healer Astrid Norman and Remus lupin, have their wands pointed at him. Harry and Draco come up and had barked at the goblin, "Is that true?"

"Speak up! "

" Tell the truth, no more games!"

Narissa had spoken up solemnly," That has to be true Draco, Mr. Potter."

Molly had seconded her opinion. Still, shuddering and she had added, "Yes, that has to be true."

Both Harry and Draco had exchanged baffled looks and had peered at the assembled elders. The handful of them knew something, something that even they could not have worked out in all these years. And now, both of them could see the dawn of realization in each other of their contemplating faces.

Meanwhile, George and Seamus had ganged up together. They were wearing their Gryffindor spirits on their sleeves. They had successfully cornered bill, and demanded, "Did you know?"

"Bill! Better not turn a Percy now! For Merlin's Sake! Where you aware, of all that nonsense, that goblin bank manager is talking about?!"

Still feeling a bit dazed, the eldest brother had gaped at the other two now towering over his body. Blinking his eyes, a couple of times, giving his head, a thorough shake, he had nodded in negative then, he had stared right at the goblin, his mind working the puzzles out," It is clear, though, Hermione was aware!"

Blaise Zabini was feeling no better. He was aware of his head of house's hidden powers, but oh!my! he would never, ever get into that man's bad books. He could perhaps kill, with a single nod. Who knew! Still stunned, and massaging his knees, he had coughed a bit. Someone had kicked at him and someone else at elbowed at his collar, missed his throat perhaps by inches. He had seen how Potter and Draco were breathing hot over the cornered goblin.

But figments of past happenings, mostly trivial, but curious nevertheless, had slowly started fitting back into the bigger puzzle that had him wrapped around Destiny's invisible finger. In a hoarse voice, he had pronounced, drawing in the other's attention, "Those small bouquets! Merlin's pants! Those tiny, girlie bouquets! Who would send them to our snarling headmaster! I could never wrap my mind around them! It is not uncommon to find a crazy witch falling for the bad guy! That so fresh out of war! Seriously! They would just appear on his bedside, while he stayed in the hospital wing! Morgana's bits! Granger was leaving them behind!"

Luna was sitting casually, rest her head on the wall. She did take a tumble like the others, but the Ravenclaw was perhaps the first one to get back her senses and had helped the other ladies get up in turn. When the more boisterous and hot-headed wizards and witches took the first opportunity to charge at the Griphook, she had kept to her side watching the scene unfold. She had mused, in her signature dreamy voice, "How thoughtful! No wonder she was so happy to see him there today at the hospital, she does feel like a lost child."

Beside her, Neville had shaken his head in disbelief, "she was too driven to safe him! too focused to make us work with him."

Rubbing his back to ease out the dull ache, the DADA professor, had lowered his wand. The war had made his nerves jittery. Any threat had him act first and ask for reasons later. These speculations can wait, we need to get to Severus, he might end up…

Eyes wide in realized horror, he had blocked Minerva from berating the goblin any further. He had urgently informed," Severus! I heard something heavy, crushing against the window, from Severus's quarter we got to see what's up, I saw him shivering like a mad man…and later he had locked him in his room, I heard through the door, we need to help…"

Minerva had gulped at the new revelation and had pushed the werewolf aside. With panic flashing across her face, she had marched up the now bare open staircase, the Gargoyle patiently waiting for further orders. The other had not wasted a second and had rushed to join her.

Together they had entered the office. Shocked at its disheveled state, wands draw to subdue any residual magic, they had walked their way through the debris. Going up the stairs, one at a time, they had tried the lock to his quarters again. When a frustrated Seamus Finnigan had flicked his wand at the jinxed doorknob and had aimed an "Alohomora" spell at it, he had yelped and had nearly toppled down the stairs, if Neville had not grabbed at his sleeve at the very last moment. Because once again, the same apparition had appeared and they were forced to back off.

In the meantime, Hagrid had arrived. He was surely not expecting Griphook to be already present in the castle. Since Snape had specifically asked him to escort the "unknown guest" to his office from the giant gates. Staring at the goblin who was still nursing his head, had shouted unbelievingly, his eyes had now started searching for the Deputy Headmistress, "The window to the headmaster room, crashed and I saw a thick cloud flow off at of it, most unnatural!"

Harry and Minerva, both breathless, had surmised, "the gift of flight from Voldemort! Where do you think he went?"

Draco was on his feet. He had turned to his mother. His voice tense, agitation rippling through his features, turning his head from Narcissa, and then the others, "I will go to Spinner's end and wait there. Just in case he turns up." Narcissa had added with equal urgency, "If it is okay with you, Auror Shacklebolt, I will go there too."

Kingsley had turned and had ordered Seamus to go back to the hospital and make arrangements to guard the Circle. Healer Norman had finally gathered her courage and had approached the Auror. "I would wholeheartedly appreciate the gesture." She had begun walking towards Finnigan when the elderly man had called her back. Kingsley had not spared a single moment to get his message loud and clear to the Healer. In crisp words he had warned her, 'I still believe you are at our side!" affronted, she had nodded back tersely, "I will always support Severus Snape."

All this while, Harry was lost in thought, when Molly had approached him, "Harry, I know it is too much, but I always knew how deep in love those two were…"

Andromeda too had come up to him and had said, "I had my doubts when I first saw Hermione…"

Harry had spun around and had yelled, "Stop, stop it, both of you!" His voice had made the others apprehensive.

He had gone up to Minerva and Lupin and had hurriedly shared what his instincts were screaming at him all this while, "Just trust me on this, come with me, please, we got to get to him first."

Molly had turned to George and Bill and had told them to go back to Burrows and keep it ready. Tonks had interrupted, "No, not the Burrows, the shell cottage is the better option." Kingsley had agreed, "Yes, if they are able to get to Severus in time, he will need to be secluded for a while away from the eyes of the press."

Poppy was worried about Snape. She had watched him heal under her supervision. And the journey had been a tough one. He still had trouble rearranging his mental shields, at times, his magic too wavered a bit. She had cautioned them, "We need to be careful with him, the whole thing has truly jolted him badly. His mental health will be affected…be careful with him, Severus is still a private man," then casting a disapproving look at Griphook, she had carried on," and his past is laid bare for all to see, and judge him, yet again!"

Harry had implored to the deputy headmistress and the DADA professor, "Please, trust me on this. Come with me." Molly too had suggested, she would like to come with them.

Minerva had ascended with a brisk nod. She had turned to Filius and Sprouts and had simply said, "Constant vigilance. And late Mr. Griphook enjoy Hogwarts hospitality a bit more!"

Potter's intensity moved them. In a short while, the Deputy Headmistress, the DADA professor and the Weasley matriarch had started following harry down the moving stairs.

Neville and Luna are left behind. And they had decided to help the other professors help in relocating the guest into visitor's quarters, similar to the ones that were arranged for the other former students. Blaise had simply grabbed Neville's shoulder and had spoken a short sentence. "If things act up, send a word at the library." He had walked back towards a waiting Librarian Madam Pince. They both had realized the working through the numerous tomes would truly help in the long return. The librarian had agreed to bend her rules a little. "For Miss Granger", were her only explanation.

Aberforth has collected his sister's portrait and had thanked professor Lupin from rescuing it, previously. He was just thankful that his sister's image has survived the wreckage. And the whole thing was no short of a miracle. Filius had called out to him, "You can stay back, time is of great essence, Abe, and Hermione does show signs of Obcsurial," His eyes had hovered over the wrapped-up portrait, that the innkeeper had securely held onto. The latter had grunted in reply. And had joined the part that had Griphook now resting over a stretcher, hovering in the air before Madam Pomphrey.

Once, the visitor had been put to rest, the others had left. Sprouts had decided to send a word to the bank, But Griphook had fished out a letter of explanation and had handed it over to the suspicious herbology professor. "I was prepared for a retaliation; thus, I had come with a letter explaining my absence. Just in case."

While Filius had stayed behind, beside his brethren's bed, undecided, Tonks had left for the Burrows. she wanted to check on Teddy and had to inform the Weasleys to prepare for the consequences.

Once they were truly alone, Filius had conjured a chair and had sat by the bed, lost in thought. Never in his dreams did he ever imagine he would get to see such a day. But then, the past couple of days were anything but unnatural.

Griphook had peered at his half brother and had felt a pang of remorse. He had to ask a lot from him. And he had forced his hands into agreeing to his demands. But did he have any other option left to himself! No.

"Filius, Brethern…" he had managed to speak aloud in a raspy voice. Bringing out two old letters, from the inside breast pocket of his waistcoat, he had handed them over to the charms professor. Gripping the latter's hands, he had leaned forward and had made him swear, "Promise me, promise me Brethern! you will give these to Severus and Potter."

"Brethern…"

"No!Hush! Listen to me!"

"I…I will, definitely…"

"And, once he has accepted the truth, we need to really really talk, and we need to do this before the Ministry calls a joint meeting. There are many more things Severus Snape needs to know. And he must be prepared for it."


A/N: I had to rearrange my thoughts to write this one. Thanks a ton, for the follows and the favorites. You guys, rock! Thank you thank you! Any ideas you wish to share, as to what do you think is happening with Hermione?