A/N - Again, just dabbling, not owning. My fab beta, peskipiksi comes through once more!
Ten long years had passed in the windowless cell. No light, no sounds, except for the ones made by the figure wrapped in a long, thin robe. There was no magic here in the bowels of Azkaban. Special wards and wood, metal and stone created a magic free zone. With or without a wand, anyone trapped here would be cut off from their innate magic. Add to that the heavy iron collar and cuffs magically welded onto the prisoner's throat and wrists, along with the death mask welded around the prisoner's head, and a virtual hell had been created. Magic couldn't even flow through the body, leaving an empty space deep inside. Ten long years of nothing but the sound of water dripping and creatures scuttling had left a mark on the solitary figure. The only contact with the outside world were the daily drops of food through a sort of dumb waiter. Food was placed in a small box and dropped to the cell. The box was then raised again by means of a long rope. Then one day the food was not eaten. At first, it was assumed that the prisoner was rebelling again. After two weeks and the detectible smell of decay coming from the dumb waiter, the decision was made to visit the chamber and dispose of the prisoner's remains.
Aurors Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, along with the newest Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, made their way down into the bowels of Azkaban. The long, dark corridor stank of disuse and neglect. The walls and ceiling dripped with dank water and the sporadic light generated from torches sputtering in the cool air. The three men shuddered at the sounds of scurrying feet and grasping cobwebs, each one hoping that nothing would find its way onto them as they made their way through the dark. No one braved conversation, an unspoken dread of summoning something unknown into their presence weighed heavily on each heart. Silently, they made their way down the corridor to a heavy English oak door. The only way to open the iron-reinforced door was a large brass key currently in the pocket of the group's leader. A harsh, scraping sound spilled through the narrow hall as the key was inserted into the keyhole and turned. Nothing happened.
"I'll need that oil can after all." The whisper sounded like a scream in the haunting silence that had so far accompanied the trio.
The hand holding the oil can trembled in response to the unexpected comment. Several clicks later, the can was handed back to its keeper and the key inserted once again. After several moments of working the key side to side, enough of the rust coating the mechanism came loose and the lock popped free of its housing. The key was returned to the pocket it came out of and now-empty hands grasped the large iron ring embedded in the oak door. After much working, the humidity-swollen wood shuddered out of the door frame and scraped open slowly, the noise again echoing and shouting down the corridor.
"Well, let's get this over with. I'm ready to get out of here," Ron Weasley muttered to his companions.
The others nodded and then they moved forward into the final corridor.
"I can't believe this place is being used," Arthur said. "I can feel the absence of magic and I must say, it is almost painful."
Harry snorted. "No one knew about this place except a few of us Aurors. And I agreed with Mad-Eye anyway, Snape deserved worse. If they weren't going to kiss him this is the next best thing."
Arthur shook his head softly. "Harry, I know you didn't like the man, but nobody deserves this." He sighed and looked to both Aurors. "What was done here was as bad as anything the Death Eaters ever did. A complete removal of magic, complete solitude, no light or sounds. It is horrible. I'm having trouble reconciling this vindictive side yours with the side of you I know and love. What you and your group did was EXACTLY what we fought this war against."
Again Harry made a rude noise. "Snape murdered Dumbledore. He's lucky I didn't just murder him in return."
At this Ron interjected, "I agree with Harry, Snape deserved what he got and I'm glad to be a part of it. Now let's get in there and burn the body and go home. I just know there are spiders in here!"
Arthur sighed sadly, but refrained from saying anything. Everyone had been told that Severus Snape had been assassinated by a junior Death Eater after he had been tried and found guilty under duress and been set free. It happened right outside of the courtroom and no one had bothered to question that fact. Why would Kingsley Shacklebolt or Mad-Eye Moody lie after all? For that matter, why would Harry or Arthur's own son lie? Becoming the Minister of Magic on the sudden death of Kingsley had opened up some secrets that Arthur was now wishing he had no part of. Now, he had to try to keep two of his best Aurors from desecrating a dead body and to decide whether or not to let others know of this turn of events. He knew the boys ahead of him wouldn't agree with his thoughts and Arthur didn't look forward to the clash he knew was coming when they reached the end of the corridor.
The key Harry had used on the first door also fitted the iron-bound door sealing Severus Snape's cell. Another generous use of the oil can eased the opening of this door too. The fetid smell of decay hit the three men full force as they opened the door. Luckily, Arthur had known enough to bring perfumed handkerchiefs to tie over their noses to try to combat the worst of the odour. Harry stepped forward into the cell and used his torch to light the ones he knew were in the cell, but had remained untouched since they had initially forced Snape into the cell. Mad-Eye had stated quite clearly that if Snape loved the dark he would have it, and they doused the flames, leaving the man in total darkness. Ron followed Harry into the cell and the two made their way to the corner where they stared at the corpse lying on the mouldy pallet in the corner.
"The straw and cloth ought to burn well enough," said Harry as he pulled a Muggle lighter out of his pocket. "Time to finish what we should have done years ago."
A flick of his fingers and Harry lit the lighter and held it to some straw he had bundled together. Just as he started to drop the flame, Arthur yelled at him to stop.
"Harry, you're better than this. Stop now before you do something you later regret."
Harry turned a violent shade of red. "Stop?" he roared. "You want me to stop? This is the man who killed my family and Sirius and Dumbledore. He deserves to burn and anything else that I want to do. I HATE HIM!"
Even Ron stepped back from the manic light in Harry's eyes as he spat the words toward Arthur.
"As Minister of Magic I ORDER you to step back and allow us to do our proper job. If you don't, I will remove you as an Auror. You saw the memories, Harry. He gave them to you and you KNOW he was a spy. Even Hermione tried to convince you of his innocence...and that is why she left and never came back."
Arthur took a deep breath and continued. "Harry, it is way past time for you to let go of all this hatred. You have alienated friends and family because of this. You are no better than what you think of Severus Snape if you continue this path of vengeance. You Aurors and Kingsley may have kept the treatment of Severus Snape a secret, but if you this continues I WILL put an end to this secret even if it means I violate the Unbreakable Vow I took."
Harry looked as if he had been slapped when Arthur said that. He stepped back from the remains and lowered the torch he had intended to use on his most hated adversary. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak when Ron suddenly blurted, "Bloody Hell, Harry!"
Harry started and looked at Ron. "What?"
Ron just pointed at the corpse, swallowing hard. "Do you see what I see?"
Harry stared, stunned at Ron's question, only to be floored when he heard Arthur say, "Sweet Merlin, that is NOT Severus Snape!"