Chapter 1: The Trial of Severus Snape

{"My Tea's Gone Cold...I Wondering Why...I Got Out Of Bed At All...The Morning Rain Clouds Up My Window...And I Can't See At All...And Even If I Could It Would All Be Gray...Put Your Picture On My Wall...It Reminds Me That...It's Not So Bad...It's Not So Bad..."}Thank You, Dido

Thunder rumbled with a particular vicious intent. The early morning sky had still been as black as night and there had been no sign of the sun nor the moon and stars. The roads would no doubt be slick with all the wetness and the cool air that had come in as a result of all the rain had made it equally unbearable. The sound of an alarm clock went off in the quiet little flat on 4th street. A place that had been home to none other than Hermione Jean Granger. The young witch, and daughter of dentists had seemed to have done pretty well for herself in the wake of Voldemort's fall at the heads of the Order of Phoenix and Harry Potter. The battle of Hogwarts had been all that was talked about for months since it's hard fought conclusion. The wizarding world was doing it's best to recover and put things back to normal. All the remaining followers of Voldemort were rounded up and sentenced to Azkaban.

The reason for Hermione Granger's early rising had been that a trial was to take place for one such death eater, her former Professor Severus S. Snape was being tried for his crimes as a follower of Voldemort and the biggest charge was for the murder of the infamous Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Snape had taken over as Headmaster in the wake of Dumbledore's death and ran the school with the Carrow twins, Alecto and Amycus, following the orders of Voldemort himself. Or at least that is what the official report said about him.

Hermione Granger's Flat, Wizarding World...

5:00AM

The amber eyes of Hermione Granger sprang open as the morning rain beat against the outside of her bedroom window. She willed herself out of bed and made her way toward the loo. This was to be a very important morning for her as Severus Snape was finally being tried for the murder of Albus Dumbledore. Since the fall of Voldemort and his death eaters at the hands of Harry, Ron, and herself of course, people have been more inclined to listen to them on matters such as this.

Harry had been adamantly pushing for Snape's execution for the murder of Dumbledore. Ron had not been sure about murdering a man that had once saved his life despite the crime, he was more comfortable with Snape getting life in Azkaban. If he was guilt then he'd be off the streets and he'd serve his time without them having to have his death on their conscience. Hermione had believed that Snape was innocent of the charges and that he was always truly Dumbledore's man.

The difference in opinion was not a very popular one with Harry Potter having the ear of the wizarding world. He had killed Voldemort and the last time they had not heeded his warnings Voldemort returned and nearly destroyed them all so they were more than happy to side with The-Boy-Who-Lived on this. Hermione fought tirelessly to get Snape's execution appealed. She had been a war hero as well and a highly respected member of the wizarding community as much as Harry had been.

The bushy haired witch formerly of Gryffindor house made her way back into her bedroom. Dozens of copies of The Daily Prophet had littered her tables and chairs keeping up with the trial, it had been the biggest news in the wizarding world since Voldemort's fall. It didn't surprise Hermione that Professor Snape wasn't particularly well liked by the wizarding community. He had not really been all that friendly with anyone outside of Hogwarts staff and The Malfoy family.

She did think it was rather sad that Snape had no one really in his corner despite the lack of social skills he had exhibited over the years. Snape was a good teacher despite complaints about his attitude and he looked after his students. It had been even more sad that not even Slytherin house graduates wanted to be associated with him after the news broke. The Malfoy's were simply trying to recover from the war and Lucius' stint in Azkaban.

With a sigh, Hermione put down the newspaper she had been reading and proceeded to make herself some tea to get her day started. It was going to be a rather long one if the wizarding world had anything to say about it.

Azkaban, Wizarding World...

The obsidian eyes of Severus Snape opened and the gray hued cell he found himself thrown into had been the first thing he took in. The second thing he registered was the pain from having his face pressed against the cold gray stone floor. He had only been in this place for a week and already he had, had enough. Snape took a breath and the scent of wet earth mixed with rotted flesh filled his nostrils. A wave of nausea over took him and he found himself retching into a broken barrel that was apparently to be used for a loo.

The Potions Master fell back onto the floor staring up at the ceiling in nothing but his worn black trousers. His robes and frock coat had been removed when he was taken to the interrogation room. His wrists had been scared from the irons that had held him in place as he received "the royal treatment" for famous prisoners such as himself. His back bore the slashes of a magical whip and still bled some as he layed there numb to much of the pain. The rain continued to pour down outside, the only other sound to drown out the screams of agony from the other prisoners.

Snape took a breath as the images of a young witch with amber eyes filled with compassion and sorrow met his. Hermione Granger had been his only friend through out all of this. She couldn't seem to register that it didn't matter if he had been innocent of the charges. It was Harry Potter's hatred of him that had landed him in this place and nothing she did would ever change that. The brat would get his way, he had saved the wizarding world from the dark lord did he not?

The beaten Potions Master closed his eyes listening to the sound of the water beating against the prison as the cool breeze blew in. His cell was becoming damp but this was as close to a shower as he had gotten since his arrival. The pressing matter of his trial had been looming for a few days now. He knew that Harry Potter wanted his execution and that Hermione Granger wanted him to have a fair trial. Even Ron Weasley wasn't opposed to giving him Life in Azkaban, he had saved their lives after all.

The Golden trio had appeared to be at odds. Something he never would have expected, least of all to have the insufferable know-it-all Hermione Granger be his champion.

Ministry of Magic, Wizarding World...

Hermione arrived at the Ministry of Magic building a bit late due to the rain. She had lost her umbrella halfway through travel, missed the bus she was scheduled to be on chasing it, ran three blocks to get to an apparation point, and finally got her with a minor splinch in her shoulder which she had to fix immediately before the trial. She had been soaked to the bone as she entered the building and cast a drying spell on herself so that she didn't catch a cold. She took a breath and entered the courtroom hearing the officials speak as the proceeding had already gotten underway.

"The fact remains that Severus Snape had been a death eater once before and only just wormed his way into Dumbledore's good graces so that he could do the bidding of the dark lord." said the prosecutor ."Once he got close enough to the old Headmaster he killed him as pro the instruction of Voldemort himself."

Snape sat quietly as the people discussed his past misdeeds and why he is such an unlikable person.

"He's the dark lords right hand!" shouted someone from the public seats.

"KILL HIM!" shouted another.

"We don't need scum like him!" shouted yet another random person.

Hermione felt more sadness as the Potions Master sat quietly while everyone around him spit their venom. The bushy haired witch took her seat. It had been directly in front of Snape, who held his gaze on her as wizards and witches alike continued to speak out against him. Snape had been beaten a great deal during his stay and the bruises and broken bones went unnoticed by the very people that argued over his fate. The sight of him in such a state brought Hermione Granger to tears despite her brave face.

{Do not cry over me.} said a voice in her mind.

Hermione looked around confused until she noticed that Snape had not shifted his gaze from her.

{"Professor Snape?"} she asked in her mind.

{Do not cry over me.} he repeated. {Do not give these fools the satisfaction of reducing you to tears.}

{"Professor...why is this happening?"} asked Hermione. {"Why do so many people hate you?"}

{That Little Gryffindor, is like asking the sun why it gives light or the stream why it is always wet.} he replied. {I was never particularly liked by anyone...not even my own parents.}

{"But all the good that you've done for people..."} she started.

{"Means nothing."} replied Snape. {Especially with your precious Potter running the show.}

{"What...Harry what's he got to do with this?"} asked Hermione.

{It is very simple Little Gryffindor, he is the one pushing for my execution.} said Snape. {They will comply with the so-called savior of the wizarding world...if only to shut him up.}

{"But Professor this isn't right."} said Hermione.

{You would be surprised Little Gryffindor what little right and wrong have to do with our actions.} replied Snape.

{"Professor Are you really innocent?"} asked Hermione.

{Why does it matter?} he asked. {They're going to send me to Azkaban anyway.}

{"H-How do you know that?"} she asked.

{It is considered the less messy route to take.} replied Snape. {Why have Dumbledore's killer get a quick death when they can satisfy their people's blood-lust with a long slow death by way of torment?}

Hermione's amber eyes widened.

A court official read off the verdict.

"Severus Sebastian Snape rise." said the prime minister.

Snape got to his feet albeit painstakingly. Not one person showed an ounce of sympathy outside of Hermione Granger.

"Severus Sebastian Snape, for the murder of Albus Percival Wulfic Brian Dumbledore, I hereby sentence you to life in Azkaban." said the prime minister.

Snape looked at Hermione who was about to get to her feet.

{NO!} shouted Snape in her mind. {Go home little Gryffindor, your sense of justice has no place here..A tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.}

{"Professor, are you innocent?"} she asked him.

Snape gave her a small smile.

{For your piece of mind Little Gryffindor you are entitled to the truth.} he said. {Yes, I am innocent...Albus Dumbledore is still very much alive.}

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing.

{Go home little Gryffindor.} was the last thing Snape said to her.

Harry Potter had been fuming when the verdict came back that Snape would get to live after everything he had done. The green eyed wizard jumped over the railing glaring into the obsidian eyes of his former professor. The beaten and bound wizard had still towered above him height wise.

"The dementors will be pleased to see you Snape." taunted Harry. "Now you will know the fear that Sirius had to live with."

Snape's face had been an emotionless mask.

"I'd rather face the dementors than see your face again Potter." he replied. "Mark my words son of the pompous prat James, you WILL regret this."

"Is that a threat Snape?" asked Harry enraged.

Snape simply smirked.

"No Potter, it is a prediction." he replied. "And unlike that hack Trelawney's past work, this one is indeed true...Albus Dumbledore will return and the wrong that you all have committed here will follow you for the rest of your lives."

Harry launched himself at Snape and the two of them went down to the floor. Snape glared at the ungrateful brat that he had saved all these years. The green eyed wizard struck the bound Potions Professor in his already bruised face repeatedly before Ron pulled him off at the behest of Hermione.

"YOU SHOULD BE DEAD SNAPE!" shouted an irate Harry. "I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU MYSELF!"

Ron pulled Harry to the side in a bid to calm him.

Hermione kneeled beside the downed Snape who's jaw had been bleeding. She attempted to clean him but was unsuccessful with Snape being dragged by the guards and punished for upsetting the great Harry Potter.

"Stop this!" said Hermione unable to take what was happening. "He's already going to prison...stop hitting him!"

{Stay out of this!} warned Snape. {There is nothing more that you can do for me now.}

The guards pulled Snape away still beating him with magical clubs as they did. Hermione wiped the tears from her cheeks. This was wrong. Snape was an innocent man and now he was being tortured for a crime he didn't commit all because Harry did not seem to like the man and would not listen to reason.

{"You're wrong."} she said in her mind unsure if he could hear her. {"There is something I can do...You don't deserve this, Professor."}