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 34

Healer Astrid Norman was distinctly aware of Severus Snape watching her. But her stood close to Dilys Dervent portrait and spoke in hushed tones," Dilys, I hope that goblin hasn't…"

The portrait of the former headmistress and mediwitch replied in soft whispers reassuringly," No, dear, not yet, but he is too close. I am worried about Severus. These people have no idea how the Headmaster is struggling, well at least the young ones are clueless. The rest, I fear, they too feel it. Lupin is on alert, so are the Black sisters. But Astrid, I would pray, this does not hit too hard. Along with you, I have watched Snape over the years. He pretends to be unaffected, but he is quite sensitive. But, in order to help the Granger girl, we will have to tell him. Snape will only accept it if we give him the bare facts. Mr. Griphook is just doing that. Grab a seat, dear one. Snape will put you to test in no time. Be prepared, he can be ruthless and insensitive, when mad."

The Healer walked away thanking the portrait. Finding an empty stool at the corner, she sat down. It was after a long time, the witch had stepped inside the Headmaster's office. She noticed Snape had done away with some of Dumbledore's ridiculous pieces of equipment and was glad to find the room now depicted the dour man's sensibilities.

He was a loner and a practical man. The room mirrored him to the last dote. She had never attended his potions classes, but former students had enlightened her over the years. Glancing at the cupboards holding portion jars, she curled her lips thinking,' one cannot separate the potion master from the Headmaster, can they?' Finally, she dared to look at the man. He was stared at her all this while. She had to look away, she knew he was hurt and she was hoping, he would find it in him to forgive her.

Indicating to the phials he had been holding on to, Griphook had clarified for the benefit of both Snape and Potter. "These were left with me, by Miss Hermione. As to when she had the opportunity to collect them, I think that is a question, left aside for her to answer as of now."

He walked over to Filius and with a solemn nod handed it over, " Brothren, prove your allegiance, and open the documents. You must follow the instructions to the letter." Sensing the other's hesitance, he gripped his hand and holding on to it firmly, for the first time in his whole life Griphook pleaded, loud and clear. "For Miss Granger, Filius, please!"

All eyes were now, trained over to the half-goblin charms professor. Everyone sitting on the edge of their chairs, but Snape could even register his physical state. His eyes were burning and he was having trouble breathing. The room was suddenly getting smaller and smaller, itself walls were closing upon him. The friendly hand of Lupin was back again on his shoulders, and this time instead of jerking away, He had tried for the umpteenth time to control his erratic emotions.

When Filius looked up at Snape and Harry in shock and disbelief- Griphook asked him more firmly, "Cast the spells on the phials of Hermione and also on all these phials."

The goblin conjured a small table in the middle of the room, and the charms professor placed all eight phials upon it. Separating them into two equal groups. His next brought out his wand and aimed at the first group of four. Then looking up once at Severus, then at Harry and finally at Griphook, he started singing, "consanguinei revelare". Severus had began seeing stars behind his eyes, his ears were ringing, he was heaving for breath. Filius was doing it. Revealing things, he had better not…

Four phials magically stood up over the surface of the table. Their stoppers eased out a bit, to let one droplet from each one of them, escape into the air. Blue lines started forming, intersecting each other, swirling in flashes of green, blue, red and yellow. Mathematical flowcharts started appearing over the small table. Blinking on and fading off, the flowcharts began vanished soon after and in its place, letters started appearing. In front of their wide eyes, a well-acquainted genealogical tree similar to that purebloods had in their homes began materialising.

Unable to take it anymore, Severus Snape closed his eyes shut firmly.

For those who never saw one, Healer Norman was reading it out for their benefit:

The first portion of the chart meant-

Father- Severus Snape

Mother -Lily Evans

Daughter- Minerva Lilac Evans

The second portion of the chart meant-

Mother -Lily Evans Potter

Son- Harry James Potter

Half-sister- Minerva Lilac Evans

A few seconds later, everyone saw the name "Minerva Lilac Evans" had started rearranging itself. It now glowed a shade brighter, "Hermione Jean Granger".

Almost everyone was on their feet, staring at the name blinking in the air.

Snape still had his eyes shut. He was gripping the table hard, his breath shallow, and he was truly at the edge of his sanity. And his wand had slipped from his hand. It now lay into between his feet, right under the desk.

Humorlessly, Griphook muttered, his voice was a mixture of shame, apology and pride, "I wish I could say, a goblin had managed to outwit the spy who lied to the Dark Lord on endless occasions, right on his face. I wish I could boost 'It is my pleasure to shock the celebrated spy of the wizard world'. But even then, I have been outwitted by the daughter, what a fitting defeat and what a fabulous daughter. I had given her the perfect name, Estella- the brightest star in the sky."

But Snape had had enough. Swiftly rising to his feet, slamming his hands, palms down in the desk, he bellowed, "Out! Get… out, get out, OUT OUT!"

His magic had grown out of control. That alone had pushed everyone, standing in front of him out of the room. The thrust of the magical field had thrown them down the spiralling staircase and they had all ended up in a tumbling heap. The sentient castle had simultaneously locked the door to the office on its own.

The gargoyle had shifted back to its original place. Several of the horrified attendees of this unique midnight session had felt a chill run down their spines. Beside the Gargoyle, A mist of a tall man appeared right in front of their shocked eyes. They could make out the sword and the shield and the knight's helmet. Griphook was flung across the wall on the other side of the corridor. Staring at the apparition, he managed to whisper in a trembling voice, "The Knight of the Undead."