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

Chapter 40

Draco was on his feet. His eyes were buzzing, his heart beating hard against his ribcage. This was nothing like standing in front of Voldermot or watching muggle-born witches and wizards getting tortured in the dungeons, neither was it like burying the dead in discreet locations under the night sky. He couldn't even compare it to the feeling of dread he had harbored while worrying about his mother's safety during the months he had tried to fix the cabinet.

There was only one moment in his little life he had acutely felt this sinking feeling, while he had held on to Snape's bleeding body, as Granger had worked to save him, at Shrieking Shack. Snape, he realized, he could quite breathe freely each time the thought of living in a world without his godfather crossed his mind.

He 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 agreed to their suggestion readily.

The head Auror ordered Seamus right away," Finnigan go back to the hospital and make arrangements to guard the Circle."

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

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

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

Swaying on his feet, barely keeping it together, Harry spun around and yelled, "Stop, stop it, both of you!" His voice made the others apprehensive of him. After Snape, Potter was regarded as an equivalently powerful wizard

He strode to Minerva and Lupin and 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 turned to George and Bill, told them, " Go back to Burrows and keep it ready."

Tonks interrupted, "No, not the Burrows, the shell cottage is the better option."

Kingsley 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 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 carried on," and his past is laid bare for all to see, and judge him, yet again!"

Harry implored to the deputy headmistress and the DADA professor, "Please, trust me on this. Come with me." Molly too suggested, " Please, I would like to come with along as well."

Minerva assented with a brisk nod. She turned to Filius and Sprouts and simply said, "Constant vigilance, remember Moody's words. 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 were left behind. 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 simply grabbed Neville's shoulder and shortly opined. "If things act up, send a word at the library."

The Italian quickly left with the waiting Librarian Madam Pince. They both had realized the working through the numerous tomes would truly help in the long run. The librarian had agreed to bend her rules a little. "For Miss Granger", were her only explanation.

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

With Griphook safely transferred to a protected wing, Sprouts decided to send a word to the bank, but the goblin manager had fished out a letter of explanation and handed it over to the suspicious herbology professor. "I was prepared for a retaliation; thus, I came armed with a letter explaining my absence. Just in case."

While Filius stayed behind, beside his brethren's bed, undecided, Andromeda left for the Burrows. she wanted to check on Teddy and had to inform Arthur to prepare for the consequences, Bill and George would surely explain but Molly's absence might make the man worry unnecessarily.

Once they were truly alone, Filius conjured a chair and 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 peered at his half brother and felt a pang of remorse. He knew he was asking a lot from him. He felt worse for forcing Filius nto agreeing to his demands. But did he have any other option left to himself! No.

"Filius, Brethern…" he managed to speak aloud in a raspy voice. Bringing out two old letters, from the inside breast pocket of his waistcoat, he handed them over to the charms professor. Gripping the latter's hands, he leaned forward and 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."