To all those readers under house arrest because of Convid-19, sending across prayers, courage, and warm wishes to keep your spirits high.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.
Chapter 33
The Sorting Hat had declared Draco Malfoy a Slytherin in a flash, not because of his family background. His Slytherin characteristics were too well developed given his age those fifteen years ago.
To create a decisive effect, Malfoy leaned forward and addressed Griphook without giving the banker a chance to speak further, "You told that to Hermione," a series of shock and dismay ran through the room, but Draco pressed on, " when you both were held captive at the Manor, before the battle, you told that to Hermione, I know, I was there guarding the dungeon cells, I heard you speak loud and clear, ' The love of sage and lilac, lives till date. The brightest star of the sky.'"
Draco was certain the goblin had seen through his ploy. Griphook smirked at him and replied."Mr. Malfoy, through every magical battle, the goblins have stood aside, after a brief encounter. But that does not mean we did not participate, Estella Minerva's mother, had been instrumental in deterring much of the estimated harm that could have occurred, your godfather can fill you in about those accounts on a later date, and we had operated under the guise, or what the Muggles would call as "smoke screens". Lilac had just happened to be there at the right time in the right place. We had information about Horcruxes, but with the contradictory methods of Dumbledore, we were wary of sharing them. We, from our own end, had tried to locate those souls preserving artifacts. And we had needed an insider. Lilac had offered herself and in return, we had offered the baby and her shelter."
Blaise Zabini was next to join his former housemate. He exclaimed, "Love of Sage and Lilac, that's not a romance, that's totally goblin created!"
Shooting a hidden apologetic look at Snape, Griphookwas desperately trying to salvage the situation, "A romance yes, entirely goblin created,? No, not really."
Wringglinghis hands, he tried," You have to understand something, in order to save Estella Lilac and Sage, we had to bring up a prophesier disguise!"
Neville Longbottom mused aloud, "Gran had often told tales, funny listening to them from her, by the fireplace, during Christmas, ' The Lilac that blooms in the love of a Sage touched by the darkness, roams the world in search of relics that houses the soul of darkness…"
Zabini cut in, "… These are not the days of innocent love. To save the powerless she roams around, to guard her fruit, she hides in plain sight. She has her sage to save too, who is lost to call of approaching darkness. Lilac hunts like a lioness, finding blackened relics from places unknown, she hunts to bring down the forces of doom.' One from my endless list of governesses was a pathetic romantic, and unfortunately, while she was around, I had to hear about prince charming and damsels trapped in high towers. The tale of Sage and Lilac was different and I liked that over those others."
Kingsley Shacklebolt was not a man to invest his time in fairy tales but riddles he did not mind, turning his head sideways, he wanted to ask the headmaster to intervene, the other was sitting straight like a statue cut out of graphite. Before he could ask, Lupin peered at him from the other side and discouraged him with a significant shake of his head. Eyebrows furrowed the Head Auror went back to his quiet contemplative role, glancing at Severus, once now and then.
Severus Snape was rocking on the balls of his feet a handful of meters away from the precipice. He could sense several eyes hovering on him, judging his ominously quiet disposition. Holding on that old letter in his pocket, he tried to gather his senses and gave in his best to stir the conversation to safer grounds.
"Fantastic tales, they are, but Mr. Griphook, how are they related to Miss Granger's predicament? A while ago, you yourself had pointed out, the importance of time… And here, all I can see, you telling us bedtime stories." Feeling marginally confident, he has smirked at the goblin, "I would insist on the singular fact, don't mislead and do share openly, since we have agreed with our magic and blood, we are 'friends' of Hermione Granger."
The floo connection got activated right behind the Goblin and Snape would have aimed his ebony wand at it, a spell nearly forming in his mouth, if Lupin had not come up behind him, and had led a firm hand on his wand arm. When the Headmaster jerked away, he quickly whispered, "Severus get a grip on your emotions, now is not the time."
The sudden arrival of Healer Astrid Norman further disquieted the group. Griphook might have mentioned her, but his tale had wrapped their minds so much that the tiny piece of information managed to slip past in no time. Minerva literally walked up to her former senior at school, all concerned and worried, "Astrid, is Hermione okay? Is she truly keeping fine?"
Healer Norman glanced at Severus, her eyes concerned and compassionate, "Did I not say? I will always hope until the very end. And Minerva, don't you worry, she sleeps like a baby, clutching her…I mean, holding on to One Severus Snape's waistcoat, giving out a shaking laugh. The former students exchanged glances with each other and Seamus Finnigan quipped, "Sir, without his several-buttoned waistcoat…", a cold glare from the dour headmaster had made him shallow the rest of his sentence.
Healer Norman surprised everyone by addressing Mr. Griphook of all the people, "Sir, I got them with me," handing over a thick envelope into the waiting hands of the goblin.
"Thank you, Healer Norman, would you please deliver the others to the designated people in this room." Both Severus Snape and Harry Potter received a pair of phials. While Potter looked at it curiously, Snape peered at it in trepidation. They were phials filled with blood samples sealed magically to secure against spillage and accidental contamination. When he looked up doubtfully, he found, Healer Norman, talking in whispers with the Portrait of Dilys and Griphook on the other hand was busy, putting his seal and signature of the new documents. The goblin too had similar looking phials in his hand.
Harry was desperately trying to catch his eye, but Snape evaded him. He felt his throat growing tight and all of a sudden his cravat felt like the coils of a snake squeezing his neck, constricting his windpipe while hissing seductively near his buzzing ears. He was slightly hurt to learn about Healer Norman's clandestine involvement in the matter. But his rational mind reasoned out, all magical creatures would have to seek help from St. Mungos. Even the Aurors had to rely on them to process a crime scene.