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

Chapter 24

As the tall and thin Headmaster of Hogwarts inched closer to the thestral enclosure, his keen senses picked up someone talking in whispers from within. Drawing his wand out, Severus Snape crept close to the threshold. A very familiar scene greeted him from the shadows. Almost all of the adult thestrals were gathered at the other end of the enclosure. One Neville Longbottom was propped up against a barrier post near to the exit with the baby thestral snuggled close to him. Longbottom had his wand tip light with a dim glow, and he was reading a journal of herbology as far as Severus could make out from the half audible words. Fang, Hagrid's boarhound dog, was sleeping close to the wizard and the foal.

Simultaneously he was aware of other noises coming from behind. Heavy footsteps could be heard over the dried twigs and fallen leaves. Slowly, he turned and could now make out the heavy frame of Hagrid closing towards the magical creatures' enclosures. Deciding not to disturb the others inside, he headed towards the lumbering half-giant.

Hagrid had noticed the Headmaster standing at the threshold of the thestral enclosure. The fact that he had finally returned, meant he would have some good news about the formidable Hermione Granger.

"'H'llo, Headmaster."

"Hagrid".

"Er, sorry Sir, I got late, could not find a free owl, from the nearest owlery to carry my message…can't believe sir…Headmaster, I was meanin to ask, how 's H'mione?"

"We have Miss Lovegood, Mr Longbottom and our newest addition to the thestral herd to thank, Hagrid. It is indeed commendable news; she is not all lost to the dark forces. There is hope."

"Can't believe Laufey couldn't make it…she was so quiet after giving birth to the babe…but thank you sir…you took good care…though Longbottom, says the babe had stopped feeding…cried and cried…till..."

Sniffing into his big table cloth handkerchief, the gameskeeper, sobbed.

Amused at the Norse names, Severus thought for a moment till he recalled how one wayward half-blood Slytherin had shown a rather promising affinity for the study of Magical creatures, potions, and herbology. A rather rare combination, but he could still remember a few scholars in the previous centuries who displayed such varied interest.

"Fitting names indeed," he quipped knowingly.

Severus paused for a moment, then sighing deeply he continued. "Please be aware, we would have esteemed guests arriving in the dead of the night. And please send Mr. Longbottom back to the castle. His presence would also be required."

"Guests, you say, sir?"

"Gringotts Goblins."

"Aw! Goblins! At Hogwarts!"

"Hagrid, I would like to trust you on this just like Albus did."

"Don't worry sir, will see them up to the castle."

"Headmaster, Ye, I trust you would heal up Hermione, you surely can. Got my faith in you."

Nodding once, Snape finally made his way back to the castle. He would need a pepper up potion, for the nagging headache, he had so long been ignoring. Goblins, indeed, the shrewdest magical beings to deal with. Of course, he needed to be alert. He had a feeling of Deja vu as if once again, his espionage skills were going to be tested.

Ginny Potter had done quite a lot of crying, weeping, wailing and thrashing around the Borrow. And through each episode of emotional outburst, Molly Weasley had baked her daughter's favorite lemon tarts, lemon crème sandwich cookies, lemon crumb cupcakes, and lemon herb pie…Well! Anything that had lemon in it, could subdue the pregnant woman.

Finally the thoroughly, exhausted Mrs. Potter was now propped up on her parent's bed. Large cartoons of tissue papers were kept stock one above the other on one side. Red in the face, red eyes, red nose, and puffy cheeks. Her father had dared to console her but soon backed away, when the witch had spelled several pillows to chase her father around the house knocking at his head.

Molly tutted and George and Percy thought it wise to stay away from Ginny for the rest to the day. The surviving twin though had sent a few boxes of tissues for his sister. Each of them was spelled to read, "Potter Stinks".

The buzzing sound was still there, and Ginny was once again filling like trashing everything around. Taking a deep breath, she yelled for her mother.

"Mum, shut it, will you!"

The Weasley matriarch entered the room, with a tray of freshly baked lemon cupcakes.

"Oh! Gin, shut what?"

That buzzing noise, from under the bed."

"Under the what…"

Quickly placing the tray on the bed, the old woman dropped on her fours, shifting the ends of the bedsheets, she gasped.

"Mum, what are you doing, what is it?"

Pulling out an old case, Molly gingerly held it in her hands. Ginny, curious, had made space on the bed. The lemon cupcakes and her endless mood swings forgotten for the time being. The case was glowing with blue light. The mother looked up at her daughter. Within a moment, she scrambled away from the bed, stepping back further till her back rested against the wall, she eyed the case then her pregnant daughter, making sure she was at some safe distance from her.

Suspicious at her mother's strange behavior, the young woman tentatively urged, "Mum, what is it?"

"Ginevra Potter, you will not leave this bed, you will not leave this room, and sssh, no argument."

Molly walked out of the room, apprehensive of her new burden, and locked the door with some of the strongest locking spells she had ever learnt. Ignoring her daughter, screaming again on top of her voice from the other side of the door, she went back to the kitchen. Placing the case on top of the dinner table, she indecisively rubbed her plump hands together. It was close to dinner and her boys would soon be back. Arthur had finally got rid of those headbanging pillows and was busy in the garage, with his muggle appliances.

The buzzing sound was nagging at her magical essence, and without wasting another moment, she removed the latch and opened the lid wide. Inside was a journal, old leather-bound. It was Lily's, Harry's mother's.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews and the visits. It is heartwarming to see Baby's Breath having so much appreciation and acknowledgment. Yes, I know, all of you are waiting for the Big Reveal. Yup, that is on its way. Just a few chapters (1-2) then MuHAHAHA, we will see the dam break! Yup, Dam, because making the big and might Snape crumble down is no easy task. I would need some prayers coming from you all, this man is truly giving me quite a lot of trouble. Well! that goes for all men, now, isn't it? ;)