Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters. I have already prepared the background story for Prince Manor in my other fanfiction "The Birth of the Dark Horse". I will henceforth be referring to that part each time I talk of Snape's ancestral home.

Chapter 59

Bank Manager Griphook had been most cooperative after his brush with Hermione's magical extent. He had himself cordially invited in Minerva McGonagall into his office and together with Bill Weasley and Draco Malfoy both the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts had apparated out of the bank premises from emergency apparition point situated right under the dome of the bank.

Harry Potter elected to go back to the Ministry of Magic. Not only did he have to report back to Kingsley and Minister Bones, but he also had to get hold of Hermione's current home address, which he was sure he would find somewhere in the department of Muggle relations. They had to wait for Minerva and Bill Weasley a little longer than expected. They were busy overseeing the arrangement made by the ministry officials to activate the floo connections of the manor and get it connected with Hogwarts, Grimmauld Place and Malfoy Manor for the time being. Weasley was also making preparations with the logistic team responsible for shipping all contents of Hermione's vault to the unplottable property. Snape had busied himself in reading through the descriptive details of his newly acquired property. To say that he was overwhelmed would be an understatement. It was a good thing Draco Malfoy kept shadowing him or else he would surely have lost his sanity.

In a crisp matter of fact language, the goblins had documented the fascinating details of the manor which they looked after for such a long time. The last surviving descendant the Prince line was Marcus Prince who died all alone without a will. The detail narration went like this:

"Prince Manor stood ominous hidden in a wild forest of ancient oak trees. Muggle eyes of the Wigmore area of course saw a forest they should rather not venture in. To magical folks, it gave out an equally unwelcome aura. The whole property spanning for acres together screamed at anyone and everyone "KEEP OUT".

At one edge of the property stood a very ancient cemetery that housed the dead and the forgotten ancestors of the Prince bloodline, their familiars, and elves. The cemetery was bordered with tall birch and oak trees. As per Rogey, the master- elf's words who was happy to continue serving at the manor with his retinue of some 50 elves, enthusiastically narrated the following," On top of these ravens had made their nests. The young and witty Prince siblings would often refer to them as the true guardians of the dead. The mausoleum, a dark granite structure resembling a pentagon stood in the center. All other graves were laid in an intricate spiral formation around it, with the oldest near the mausoleum and newest on the other outer edge. The sarcophagus of Hake Prince, the first Prince to live in Wigmore, was laid inside the mausoleum. His belongings as per his final wishes were stored all around the star-shaped room."

"The Manor was well designed and has about a score of master bedrooms, two large libraries, a ballroom, two large sunrooms, a garden, a huge cellar, elf quarters and likewise. The property wards are still in place and the elves helped us to strengthen them once again. These are tuned to recognize the next in line of the Prince bloodline for an indefinite span of time."

It became quite clear to him that the goblins were interested in reinstating him to his ancestral properties because they were most concerned about Hermione. Severus felt self-conscious, but it was Draco who pointed out with a genuine smile," Seems like your stars are shining, at last, Hermione keeps bringing you luck." The man's face constricted once again with self-mortification. They both were saved from the awkward situation with the arrival of the deputy headmistress.

The small party of magical people apparated right in front of the front gates of Prince cemetery. Snape swayed but both Minerva and Draco had come to his aid.

Bill observed, "That was due to the ancient protective wards in place, they have registered and recognized you as the new master of the manor. We can pass, if you want to invite us in, that is how the magic is keyed to this property, the master or blood related or a Prince elf recognized person has to invite in the guest, or else we will all be covered in blisters and boils the moment the wards brush against our magical entities."

Walking a step ahead, the man turned back and with one upturned hand he solemnly spoke, "Welcome to Prince Manor'.

Several popping sounds had shocked all of them, but before they could bring out their wands, they noticed a crowd of elves standing ahead, right in front of the gigantic gates.

The oldest of them bowed low and taking after him, every other elf stooped down to pay their respect to the new master. Waving its hand at the bars, the elf threw open the gate, then turned to Snape with a delightful smile, that stretched all over his face," Indeed Headmaster Snape, welcome to your very own Prince Manor, my master. The house and its house-elves have been eagerly waiting for this moment to come."

Finding Snape rooted at one place, Minerva gave him a subtle push, Draco chuckled when even the master house-elf, Rogey, took the dour man's hand and pulled at it with effect.

As promised, the goblins did shift everything to the old manor, which was truly well maintained by goblin appointed houseelves who were too happy to have a master now. Together with Draco they thoroughly investigated the large property, in case there are any dark magic or rogue inhabitants. Finding none, they considered it fit enough to bring Hermione there.

Minerva was quite taken in by a rather witty Homeh, the fox. The ghostly apparition it so seemed had attached himself with the contents of Hermione's vault. Under the circumstances, he took it upon himself to continue guarding them and hovered at the door of the room where her belongings were stored.

The ghost dramatically heaved a long sigh after introducing himself to the deputy headmistress," Finally a feisty Gryffindor. That Potter boy used to keep us amused with his antics I tell you, Ma'am. And then, Granger came to us. But with her out of the picture for time being, I was truly getting bored," nudging his head towards the both irate Snape and Draco the ghost went on, "those two are too secretive for my taste, the brooding types, I miss yelling vibrant mass of the Gryffindor kids. Ma'am, thank goodness, you summoned us at the final battle, so else we would have burst from our catacombs itself with vibrating energies. Felt nice to wield my sword and cut through the enemy line. Ah! To taste battle after what seemed like an eternity."

Minerva blushed and stammered in utter embarrassment," Oh! well thank you Sir Homeh, the Fox, I am glad, I could be of some help."

The house-elves soon brought in a large spread of brunch and Draco quipped sitting beside a flabbergasted Snape," Enjoy the pleasure of being a new master!" Snape couldn't even bring himself the snarl at the smaller house-elves trying to appease him.

Instead, he thought he would have to work out a detailed list of "dos and don'ts" and hand them over to Rogey. Having lived all by himself for a long time, getting attention in such overwhelming magnitude gritted at his nerve ends. For once in his lifetime, he truly looked forward to Harry James Potter's scheduled arrival.