The New Old Hermione

a post-war fanfic by Cerys Dewar

Chapter Two

"Severus Snape, you have been brought before the full court of the Wizengamot to answer to the following charges of murder of muggles and magical folk alike, among which is the murder of Albus Dumbledore. How do you plead?"

Hermione studied Severus' face as he stood in the center of the large courtroom. He looked exhausted but otherwise alright, since fortunately the Ministry had not trusted Azkaban to keep him as secure as they could while they summoned the entire Wizengamot. Severus' left eyebrow hooked upwards but he managed not to roll his eyes.

"Guilty."

If a defendant could prove that he was only doing his duty for the good of the wizarding world, he would not be sent to Azkaban but rather to a work camp or be banned from magic use for however many years were decreed.

All of the witnesses were brought to the stand, and the memories were brought forward, displayed, and then deliberated over. Then Snape was given a powerful dose of Veritaserum, and Hermione felt rage over their humiliating treatment of the wizard who stood before them. In that moment she forever ceased to see him as the intimidating and cruel professor whose respect she had yearned to have, and he became a human being in her eyes; a man who deserved to be treated courteously.

She glanced over at Harry and Ron, who were serving their first job as trainee Aurors. There was no such compassion in their faces. Hermione knew without having discussing it beforehand that Harry was repulsed by the thought of this man once having loved his mother, and Ron was still extremely prejudiced against his strict teaching methods. She couldn't help but feel frustrated at their narrow mindedness as well as their laziness in not even trying to understand their former professor.

They hadn't even finished their NEWTS. The Auror office had immediately snatched them up without any sort of interview or test, hoping to bank on their fame and obvious skill. Hermione had tried to appeal to their better sense, but then realized that she had always been their better sense. And this time they hadn't listened to her, but had rushed off to do a dangerous job instead of taking time to reevaluate everything they'd been through. She frowned, and then returned her attention to the trial.

"The jury has deliberated and found you guilty, Severus Snape. To atone for your crimes, you are sentenced to serve the remainder of your life as Headmaster and Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and you will serve the Auror office until every last Death Eater is found and dealt with.

Now, will Hermione Jean Granger please stand before the court? There is one question we must pose to you."

Hermione trembled as she approached the center of the room, and while they administered the Veritaserum. Severus had seated himself on one of the benches near McGonagall, and found himself concerned by this sudden interest in Hermione. He was soon enlightened as to why.

"Miss Granger, according to the evidence presented, Severus Snape was dead. How did you restore his life?"

Hermione's blood ran cold, and she gazed up at the judge, frightened. She didn't do anything wrong. Severus felt fear creeping into his heart, along with a terrible foreboding. He realized that the court was determined to have some blood today at any rate. Even if it was innocent. War often inspired the need for proof of "something being done", and they were willing to use Hermione as that proof even if they had to create a new law on the spot to convict her with.

At the same time, he couldn't help but feel interested in her response. Knowing how clever Hermione had shown herself to be, and how willing to do hard mental work to learn and solve problems, he would only be slightly surprised to learn that she'd found some way to raise the dead. Even those who'd been dead for a week. He only hoped it was something like that, rather than what he had suspected since she revived him. However, he was not going to be satisfied.

"I don't know. It was just like he'd woken up or something."

Suddenly, Snape stood up, agitated.

"I have something to confess."