Fallout

The second he heard the soft footsteps ascending towards the Headmaster's office, Snape arose gracefully from the chair he had been sitting in. He glanced briefly towards Dumbledore's portrait, but glanced away when he saw the sadness in the man's blue eyes. Dumbledore should have known this would happen. Snape had for years.

Gently, Snape placed his ebony wand on the massive desk next to the letters he had written for Aurora, Minerva, and Harry. He then calmly stepped towards the middle of the office and placed his hands behind his back. He wouldn't fight them when they came to collect him.

"Severus," Albus quietly said from his portrait.

"No, Albus. You cannot talk me out of it this time," he quickly replied. "For once, I am choosing how to live my own life without having anyone deciding it for me."

"You are innocent in this case, Severus." The younger wizard scoffed before glancing at him.

"I'd like to see you say that with a straight face to the numerous families that have had loved ones that I seriously injured or killed over the years, Albus."

"My boy, why do you wish to punish yourself even more?"

"Because I'm a masochist, Albus," Snape drawled sarcastically. "Now, for once in your life, old man, remain silent and allow me this one last request without your incessant manipulation."

"As you wish, Severus," the former headmaster replied, bowing his head. "However, I wonder how Aurora will take this news, though, considering your past with her."

"She will no doubt be glad to be finally rid of me."

"That is one theory," the Gryffindor quietly said rather thoughtfully. "However, I shall respect your wishes and remain silent."

"Thank Merlin for small favors," Snape drawled. He then watched the door to the office quietly open, revealing the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and two very familiar people. "It's been decided then, Minister?" Snape was very cordial as he spoke.

"I apologize, Severus," Shacklebolt replied with a soft sigh.

"There is no need, Minister. Let us just get this all over with, though, before the students arrive for breakfast. They do not need any more darkness in their lives." Snape then softly snorted. "At least I do not have to deal with the Dementors."

"Yes, there is that, Severus," Shacklebolt said with a soft laugh.

The lightness of the mood then rapidly disappeared. None of them could delay it anymore. They had to do it. Except for Minister Shacklebolt, the Wizengamot had unanimously voted to arrest Snape for being a known member of Voldemort's Inner Circle. No matter what Minister Shacklebolt or even what Harry Potter had claimed could overturn that ruling. It was just how it was to be.

"Alastor, Tonks, please take Headmaster Snape into custody," Shacklebolt ordered.

Snape remained perfectly still as Moody and Tonks made their way towards him. He scoffed at the fact that neither one had their wands drawn. Even though all three of them knew he wouldn't resist, he had at least hoped they'd treat him in the way he deserved. Tonks gently grabbed his arm, but she was barely touching him. Moody, however, gripped his arm tightly for a few short moments before loosening his grip slowly.

"I believe one of you must read me the charges brought against me."

"Not now, Snape," Moody gruffly said on his left, prodding him to move.

Snape remained firmly rooted to the ground, though. He was not going to leave his personal prison for another one without hearing his indictments. It was the one thing he had counted on from them, and he was not going to allow any of them to ruin it for him.

"Yes now, Moody," Snape growled. "I wish to hear the charges."

"Fine," he snapped. "You are hereby charged for the murder of Albus Dumbledore."

"That's it?" Snape exclaimed before shaking his head violently. "No." He then glanced towards Shacklebolt. "They couldn't be charging me for just that one murder." His anger quickly took over when he noticed that Shacklebolt wasn't taking him seriously. "I've committed 234 crimes as a Death Eater! Take your pick, Shacklebolt! You have a wide variety of different crimes to choice from, torture to conspiracy to murder. Hell, I'll write you a list detailing every single crime I've ever committed."

"Be as it may, Snape, the Ministry is only pursuing Dumbledore's murder," Shacklebolt calmly replied with a soft sigh. He could see the anger in the pale wizard's face at his explanation, but he wasn't going to torture the poor man any longer.

"Fine, then I'll give the Ministry a charge they can't ignore," Snape growled before punching Shacklebolt in the face. He immediately heard the loud crack as his fist connected with the man's nose, shattering it. He then felt the rough hands seizing his arms. This is more like it, Snape thought, feeling satisfied for the first time. He watched Shacklebolt immediately place a handkerchief over his nose before tilting his head back. The man didn't even look upset that Snape had punched him.

"Why are you doing this, Snape?" Shacklebolt asked with a sigh. "You should be glad that they're only pursuing Dumbledore's murder." Snape scoffed derisively in response. "Do you really want your name dragged through the mud for a mistake you made when you were sixteen? You should be celebrated as a hero, not as a murderer."

"That is what I am, though, Minister," Snape replied emotionlessly. "I am a murderer. You name it, and I've done it for the Dark Lord. In fact, I've been doing this, as you so kindly mentioned, for twenty-one years. That darkness was deep within me, though, before I ever took the Dark Mark. So if anyone deserves incarceration, it is I, Minister. I've never been a hero or a good guy, and I never will be. If you must, though, then use Harry for your propaganda. That young man has truly earned every letter of that word, not I. Now, perhaps, Minister, you would be so kind to inform Minerva that she is the new headmistress as Moody and Miss Tonks—ah, yes, forgive me for I meant Mrs. Lupin—escort me to Azkaban." He noticed the split second of shock in the man's face before Shacklebolt silently bowed his head in acceptance. There was no need for him not to be cordial again. He knew once it leaked out that he, a known Death Eater, had assaulted the Minister of Magic that every charge of the 234 souls he had hurt would see the light of day. "I believe my stay is long overdue here." With Tonks and Moody on either side of Snape, they made their way out of the Headmaster's office, leaving Shacklebolt behind.

"I'll have them watch over him, Albus," Shacklebolt spoke, glancing up at the portrait of the late headmaster. "And I'll try to see if I can perhaps find an excellent attorney willing to represent him."

"He will not be easy, Kingsley."

"I clearly understood that when he punched me." The two wizards then glanced at each other before Shacklebolt inclined his head in acceptance to Dumbledore's unspoken words. "I'll keep him safe, Albus." The new Minister of Magic then drew himself up to his full height before briskly walking out of the office towards the Great Hall.

The room still buzzed with life. Shacklebolt glanced at the four tables and noticed that there were numerous Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs sitting at the Gryffindor table. The Slytherins unsurprisingly sat at their usual table. However, he noticed a few of them had longing in their faces as if they wanted to be at another table. He shook his head, though, and calmly continued towards the High Table.

"Minister Shacklebolt, what a pleasure," Minerva McGonagall pleasantly said. "To what do we owe this pleasure, Kingsley?"

"Unfortunately, Minerva, I'm to inform you that Snape resigned as headmaster and requested that you take his place." He noticed the pained look in her eyes. "It seems not even Harry or me are powerful enough to stop the Wizengamot. They voted unanimously early this morning."

"I see," McGonagall replied, shaking her head slowly. "You did inform them that Albus was the one who came up with the harebrained idea, not Severus?" He nodded before sighing. "Are they at least going to give him a trial or is it going to be business as usual?"

"I've managed to get most of them to agree to a trial. However, I'm afraid Severus isn't helping his cause any." At the sight of her eyes narrowing, he further explained. "He's doing everything in his power to see that the Wizengamot charges him for every deed he did. In fact, he was quite upset to learn that they were only charging him on the one count of murder, so he threw a punch at me."

"I take it by the slight swelling I see that he was successful in that attempt?"

"Unfortunately," Shacklebolt replied with a wry smile. "However, I am not going to assist him in his attempt to punish himself even further, though. He is still very much a hero in my eyes."

"You'll keep us updated, Kingsley?" He bowed his head before leaving. "Oh, Severus, what are we going to do with you?"