Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.
Chapter 30
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 frequently. Filius and Griphook bowed low to each other and then had stepped forward. Instead of shaking hands, they 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 was finally getting 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 walked up to the mute portrait of Albus Dumbledore, the previous occupant of this very office. Then turning to Aberforth, he chuckled. "Brilliant spell work."
"Oh yah! That would teach him the art of listening and actually looking past his agendas."
Minerva turned to the surviving Dumbledore brother and 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 cut through the tension that was steadily 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 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 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 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 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 received a nod of assent, he 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 squinted at the goblin and studied his features thoroughly. When satisfied with his scrutiny, he simply turned to the portraits on the wall and politely asked them to leave the room, and only return when called for.
Griphook added at the very last minute, "But for Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black and Headmistress Dilys Derwent." He next handed over the list to Minerva, after giving her a cordial bow. "Madam McGonagall, as the Head of the Order of Phoenix, 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 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 Sprout
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 opened the wraps from her portrait and after transforming a stool into a sturdy chair, he gruffly placed the frame on it.
As Minerva read through the list, Griphook was watching Snape intensely. The other man 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.'
As if reading his mind, Griphook graced him with a fitting smirk, and whispered loud enough, "Though above all stands the ties of blood- so Mr. Harry Potter and the Headmaster Severus Snape 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 peered at the one-time consummated spy and 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 noticed many of his former students had started showing signs of disagreement. But he had to see for himself why the Goblin was 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 had you delivered yourself to him readily…" amused at his own jest, he laughed. His misshaped set of teeth glinted. Tapping onto his nose, and resuming his slow pacing over the little space the many chairs provided around by the fireplace, he 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 quietly ushered the two witches in.
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.