Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.
Chapter 55
Severus Snape finally made his way through the long corridors of St. Mungo's, his mind both numb and fired with determination. As he stopped in front of the Head Healer Astrid Norman's chamber, he took the time to turn and mumble under his breath to the concerned portrait of Dilys Dervent, "She is fine and so am I." Taking a deep breath, he firmly knocked at the door. It was Harry Potter who opened it.
Both Norman and Minerva McGonagall looked quite exhausted. The heavy spell work involved in the reconstruction of the protection charms around the Circle had literally drained them out. The ladies were reclining on two armchairs looking quite pale. But the moment, Snape walked in, they struggled to sit up straight. He huffed at that.
"Please lay back, you don't have to jump each time I walk in. And...thank…"
McGonagall rebuffed his offer of gratitude, "Shut it, Severus, before you found out she is your daughter, she happened to be one of my cubs, and she will forever remain one. Keep those gratitudes to yourself, for Merlin's beard! Now, tell us what was all that about!"
Astrid joined from the other armchair, "Trust me, that was a bloody battle happening within a small space, though I never expected Miss Granger to suddenly react like that, for a moment I thought she was going to harm you. But this turns into something more complicated."
Snape looked interested as Harry asked, sounding worried," How? What has complicated things? Is Hermione okay?"
Heaving a long sigh, closing her eyes to gather her wits Norman explained,"Now we have two rogue magic. Actually, what we previously thought as one rogue magic...It turns out to consist of two parts. Like our two hands, working in coordination with each other. One got divided into two smaller forces of energy. Thus their intensity has gone down, after the whole thing of you stepping in, Miss Granger displays a rare bout of magical capacity given her ailing condition, and those ghostly faces... Though, you will be able to throw more light on it."
"Honestly, I would not be able to say much. I will have to analyze things first. At least be assured all of you, that Knights of the Undead will remain inside the circle. One thing I have been able to perceive... Those spirits have tagged along with Hermione and had been within or with her for sometime. They know me quite well and they know her as much as Harry would know her, or maybe more. None of us know whether she had means to communicate with them in her 8th year. Though, I wouldn't think that could be the case, because the castle and its wards are both tuned to my magic and also to the deputy mistress's magical signature."
Snape tapped his finger on his pursed lips while Minerva furrowed her brows and confirmed," Miss Granger didn't speak to anyone back then. Neither did she show any unlikely interest in artifacts around the castle. Yes, she did spend quite a lot of unhealthy hours at the library, but that's nothing unusual, for the girl."
Snape nodded and continued," Then perhaps later on, she learned the way to call upon them from where they initially came. At least we can say the Knights at Hogwarts are all accounted for. It is their spirits which are hovering and appearing each time either one of us is in a vulnerable state."
"What made them appear in the first place?" Astrid asked, truly intrigued.
"Mr. Zabini and Griphook have mentioned that the Knights of the Undead' can't be killed. Those are usually summoned by a wizard or a witch sharing the mark of wizard commander to whom these knights were answerable in their lifetime, and once summoned they would attach themselves to the summoner. Like guardians. And will ascertain that the magical being is safe and under their protection. And only a blood kin of the witch or the wizard can help them go back to the realms of the undead, from where they have been released," Snape recited from memory.
Turning to the two witches and then at Potter, the Headmaster reasoned," Well, this time, neither Minerva nor I had summoned them. Griphook said, one at Gringotts had appeared on its own."
"Sir, nothing happens without any reason?" Harry countered.
"What do you mean?" Snape countered back.
"Um, I really don't know, but could this be possible that someone had tried to break into her vault. We don't know if any of the goblins are behind it, we are just relying on Griphook's version of now." Harry explained.
"I am certain Gringotts has already asked for the Ministry intervention if the ghost continues to guard her vault." Snape concluded.
Potter moved on, a little excited about the possibilities," And another one kept appearing first blocking the Gargoyle staircase, then it stood blocking your private quarters. Later on, there were several watching over you at the graveyard. Then they turned up at the Shell Cottage, but this time it was like a small army."
Astrid squinted her eyes and opined," It is almost like someone is ordering them. A summoner perhaps, just like you explained."
"Yes, and I can alone speak to them as of now. But I am wondering what triggered this whole thing? What made them appear in the first place? I can't just accept Griphook's revelation or me accepting Hermione as my daughter worked as a trigger," Snape replied slightly agitated.
"No, sir, that truly can't be the case. We didn't know about Hermione's vault nor did we know about her office. I mean those ghosts are there right now," Potter supplied.
Turning back at Norman, Snape theorised," If you say that the Rogue Magic comprises two entities, then I can safely say, those two will remain within the check. Because on the other hand, Hermione and the Undead knights are giving a good fight. But they won't be able to hold the ground for much longer."
"Why do you say that Severus?" Minerva paled slightly as she asked urgently.
"Minnie, for one I have felt both of them. One of them had tried to attack me, but Granger somehow saved me from it. The other I guess is still in its nascent form, and I strongly believe, it is the Obscurial we are all worried about."
Harry whispered loud enough," Aberforth Dumbledore. That is why Ab brought the portrait of Adriane Dumbledore, I mean, he has never removed that one from his inn, ever, until now. Hermione had told all of us about Adriana. Ab also believed Hermione is undergoing the first stages of Obscurial transformation..."
Astrid muttered," Not something Albus ever chose to mention. But yes, I confess, he did anonymously support some research on the same field."
"There are other cases of Obscurial?" Snape asked.
"No, not just that parse. But mostly he was interested in studying repression of the spontaneous flow of magic. There are victims in this ward who are known to suffer from that after traumatic experiences. We have also found children who aren't able to call forth their magic so easily. In the past, these kids would die and incidentally kill people around them, before setting their foot inside Hogwarts. But now, we are trying to organize corrective workshops for them. We try several ways to help them do magic. For some, we need to show them ways to control it. It all varies from case to case. In some cases, we have to cuttle the amount of excessive magical energy by redirecting their focus and interest in other things. We do this all, keeping in mind that we are preparing these kids for a normal life. One such student is currently attending Hogwarts." Norman mulled over her words as she looked at the two professors, "I am breaching healer patient confidentiality here…"
"Astrid, we need to know, not just because we need to save Hermione. Maybe we can take measures to protect the student in the future as well?" Minerva urged.
"Okay, She is half blood, sorted in Slytherin…"
"Astrid the name please," Snape hissed.
"Gunhild Heskin, one of your first years, Snape I would like to know what are you going to do with this piece of information?" The Healer hissed back.
Harry James Potter had sprang to his former teacher's defence," Madam Healer, you might have known him for a long time, but you never had the honour to be his student. Professor Snape will never abandon his students, he can be the strictest of teachers we have ever had, but he makes sure even the weakest of us shine in life. If you still have doubts, you can take a closer look at Neville Longbottom."
Patting Harry discreetly, Snape promised," Gunhild Heskin is my ward, and I will see to it that she flourishes in life, Norman. Once all this is over, I would like to meet her parents along with you."
Overwhelmed, Astrid glanced at Minerva and found the witch beaming at her. She turned at Potter and smirked," Mr. Potter, I say, I am indeed a little envious. Even Dumbledore was not so protective of us."