Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.
Chapter 71
As soon as the two apparated near the apparition point of Hogwarts, Snape broke into a run and Malfoy hurriedly joined him. Ignoring both Harry and Hagrid who were talking right beside the giant gate of the school, the headmaster sprinted up the path that would lead him to the main castle. Draco turned his head and shouted at Harry," Seriously, Scarhead! Eager to miss all the fun?"
"Umm, Hagrid, like I was saying, we got some clues, we are still on it, Hermione will be back, before you know it, I better…"
"Off yeh go then 'arry! Snape's 'eally on Fire!" the half giant nodded urgently and he watched Harry Potter dash in order to catch up with the other men.
"Merlin! They better get what they are looking for." Hagrid dabbed his eyes on his oversized handkerchief and proceeded in closing the giants shut.
Snape's mind kept going back to those collectibles on display in the showcase inside the windowless closet room and he mentally started keeping a note," the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, an rainbow colourd pendant labelled inca cross, the bust of the Nafertiti, and several old miniature replicas of ancient weapons. Among them, a severed head of a vulture without eyes was stored inside a solution filled jar."
The items were displayed in a specific order. Ones on the top were definitely bought from souvenir shops. The weapons were magical or were once magical but now dead. Their blackened texture left no doubt those were perhaps horcruxes, or failed attempts. He was more surprised to find the Nott, Lestrange, and Black family crests propped up at the back of one shelf.
Each item was placed inside small glass balls which rested on two inches long wooden platforms. And the lowered shelf had two rather large glass balls empty with the Gryffindor house emblem etched over the resting wooden platform. One thing he was certain of, Hermione had found a way to keep those items as trophies, and had managed to wriggle out of the grasp of Griphook. He grinned malicious muttering under his breath, " Well done, kid, turned the conquer into a begging conquest."
Once inside, Snape with Harry and Draco hot on his heels, rushed down to the dungeons. Draco noticed he was not taking the usual route to the common rooms, dorms and the teacher's private quarters or even the potion lab or the classrooms. After fifteen minutes, they reached an archway. Panting and out of breath, Snape brought out his ebony wand and muttered a spell. A door appeared and he threw it open.
The three entered one after the other but before Draco or Harry could ask him the usual questions, he informed them hastily, "This was the staff's common room or playroom, something similar to muggle's club house or smoking room, whichever way you put it."
Looking around, the young men found the walls were covered with portraits of several of the former Slytherin teachers and Head of the Houses as well as Headmasters and Headmistresses. Harry noticed them to be in sports uniforms. He spoke mostly in awe," definitely, it's a hobby room or club house of sorts…but to think Hogwarts teachers having one… is surreal" Snape snorted, still purposefully striding through the expanse of the room, leading them deeper," rightly so, where do you think Slughorn got his idea of Slug Club, to begin with. By the way, Potter, as far as I can tell, only Slytherin and Ravenclaws had one. Gryffinders and Hufflecuffs always preferred actual outdoor activities and warming sunlight."
Finally he stopped in front of yet another Portrait of Black. The man in the portrait was reading a book by a bay window. It marked the page and looked up pointedly as if the three were guilty of disturbing him while he was reading. He stroked his beard and complained," Severus, are you getting slow with the years…my other portrait told me, it was unsafe to hide valuables where he resides currently. Or else I won't have accepted the offer to hide something precious to a mudblood, oh! Pardon me, now isn't she half-blood, much like you? I have always fancied her in our house though. Sharp one, your kid. Tell me, what am I reading today?"
Draco and Harry both replied, "Hogwarts: A history." The portrait laughed and swung open.
Inside the cavity of the castle wall, Snape found a small journal. When his curse detecting spells came cleaning he picked it up. While he was busy turning it around, Harry pointed out,"I have seen this before. It's Hermione's. She would write in it while we were on the run, hunting for Horcruxes."
A small frame glinted inside the cavity and Draco drew the other's attention to it," What's that?"
It was a small picture of a Medieval Queen. Snape recognized it, "We have met her ghost at Hermione's bedroom.
In Addition to it they also found a small scabbard, perhaps not longer than the size of one's index finger, made of Gryffindor red leather and a rather less old looking key. Snape pocketed all of them and sent a Patronus to Minerva, informing her," Deputy Headmistress, Malfoy, Potter and I have just come to collect something from Hogwarts. You have nothing to worry about if you have already felt the wards informing you of our presence. We will be going to the Ministry now. I am looking forward to meeting Remus and Flitwick there."
Snape along with the two men headed for his Headmaster's office. He handed each of them a vial of Healing potions and said," The ghosts and the Knights of the Undead kept warning about the little time we have at hand. We still have to visit Hermione's office and the archives, we have a lot to do, and this would help all of us build up their dwindling strength."
The sorting Hat which was kept in the office started gulping and a gurgling sound came from it. The three men were startled at the sound coming from it.
Muttering under his breath, wand in hand, the Headmaster walked up to it and got it out of its glass case. Surprising all of them, it leapt out of his hand and landed on the desk, thereby consuming the scabbard. Before Snape could grab it away, the hat fell on the floor with an unnaturally loud thud.
"Umm, Sir, can you see that thing peeping out of the hat?"
"You see something, don't you, Potter?" Snape's voice was urgent and demanding.
Draco hissed," Well, you are the only Gryffindor, of course, you will see anything sprouting out of the founder's hat!"
Indeed, Harry was the only one who could see the end of a normal sized scabbard. He looked at the two men waiting for him impatiently and pulled it out. He was still holding it in his hands when Minerva burst into the room, panting hard, but her hand flew to her mouth.
Snape greeted the old witch habitually, but she didn't respond. Her eyes were glued on Potter or rather on the old artifact he was holding in his hand.
She staggered forward and held on to Harry's shoulder. The loyal Gryffindor whispered reverently," I felt its presence in my bones, I felt it call to me. Legend has it, only the Head of the House in Office will feel it when it resurfaces. But where is the sword?!" Harry looks surprised and mumbled, peering inside the scabbard and then shaking it slightly," There is no sword."
Snape asked frantically, " What are you onto, Minnie? Gryffindor's sword never appeared after the Battle of Hogwarts!"
Minerva had tears in her eyes, when she murmured, horrified, "The first sword of Godric Gryffindor. That too was lost. But where did you find it's scabbard? A lone scabbard is considered a bad omen."