Harry Potter the Power Unknown By Priya Ashok

Chapter 3

It was a beautiful day, that day, the twenty eighth day of the month of April, more than eight years after the fall of Voldemort. Hogwarts was coming out of the rather severe winter they had that year. It was spring time now and the flowers were slowly beginning to come to life and prepare to dance away for the summer breeze.

It was breakfast time and the students and the Professors alike were in the Great Hall eating breakfast prepared deliciously by the house elves and sipping hot steaming cups of tea.

Severus Snape was scowling unaware of the delight of the bright day or the fact that the flowers were beginning to smile. He always had a scowl as a part of him, now for so many years that he wouldn't know what to do or how he would look, without it.

Albus was also sipping a cup of tea ruminating about how beautiful life was these days. No silly donkeys wanting to aspire for world domination. No standoffs in the Ministry, Arthur and Peter safe. Harry Potter miserable. Sirius black in prison for a life time. Remus Lupin, Merlin knows where and who cared any way.

He had the firm loyalty of his staff, his Order and his Ministry. He had to wait for, how many years was it now? He counted lazily and found he had less than half the time from when he had taken care of that illustrious family, for the Potter Vaults to become his.

He drew a deep breath of anticipation as he wondered, sipping his tea, as to what he should do with that type of wealth, that could not be measured or valued. Priceless was the word, he determined.

He smiled in genuine amusement a he thought of the naiveté people exhibited. For Merlin's sake, how could a one year old boy defeat a man who was an impressively strong and powerful wizard? But people hailed a fifteen month baby as the next world wonder. No doubt, then that these simple folks could be molded to believe in anything, if only one could play on their credulous emotions.

A flock of birds swooped down, bringing mail from loving mothers and strict fathers.

He also received some correspondence from Gringotts and the Ministry and so missed the startled look and a small gasp from his potions professor as he had two letters. Both from Gringotts. Sent in a secure pouch. That was what had startled Snape for a second. He always received his mail from them in a secure pouch, mainly to make sure, no one would poke into his business correspondence, but to receive two!

Both were addressed to him, he was scowling at them, thinking furiously under the scowl as to why they had sent two pouches, when the Headmaster turned to him and noticed the letters in his hand.

"Letters from Gringotts, Severus?" and waited laughing inside at the ignominy of this pathetic creature that would scowl at him and mutter something rude and scowl. It was an exercise he always indulged in and it never failed to amuse him.

Snape muttered something that no one could understand and making his excuses, left the table leaving a smiling Albus.

Snape was busy for the rest of the day that happened to be a Friday. He opened one pouch to find it was his routine statements and answers to his queries from the Wizarding bank.

His curiosity now kindled, he took out the other letter and slowly opened it. There was a slip of paper inside.

Mr. Snape,

We, at Gringotts wish to speak to you, a matter of the most delicate nature. We have sent this letter on a Friday so it would be convenient for you to come to our bank tomorrow. It is in regard with a letter you sent to a lady nine years ago, signed in your blood. This letter will inflame itself on your reading the last word as the charm is placed on it. It is for your eyes only. Please do not show this to any one else lest it may hex them with an engorgio spell in the wrong place, that cannot be taken off. Do not bring anything except the contents of the other pouch as that will enable you to make your excuses to get away.