This one is the longest chapter till now, because I could not find a good place to cut it. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize here is not mine, only this plot.

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Chapter 4

The sight Hermione and Harry saw upon entering the cell was quite unexpected. The room was bare like their first visit. The niche in which Snape kept his possessions was empty, and the air was heavy and unpleasant. Snape was curled completely hidden under the thin prison blanket.

"Professor?" Harry called as he went near. There was no answer. He squatted down and removed the blanket from Snape's head. Hermione heard him gasp and came closer. What she saw made her cover her mouth not to cry out. Snape's face was covered in bruises, old and new; And his head had a wound with dried blood all around it. He was restless and seemed to be having a nightmare. They looked at each other with worry, and Harry touched Snape's shoulder and shook him gently. He awoke with a start and jerked away from Harry with a look akin to fear.

"It's just us. Don't worry." Harry said, while backing away looking disconcerted.

Snape looked terrible. His coloring (as much as was visible behind the bruises) was deathly pale, and his cheeks were hollow. He practically looked skeletal. Gradually his eyes cleared from sleep and focused on them. But the change in them was not what Harry and Hermione had expected. For a second something like rage flickered behind his eyes, but then they became lifeless and blank. He stared at them a little and then went to pull the blanket over his head again.

"Hey! Snape. It's us. Don't hide." Harry asked uneasily, while Hermione stared at him with fearful eyes. "Tell us what has happened here."

Snape ignored him and pulled the blanket over his head. Harry pulled it down again and said quietly "Why are you doing this? Please tell us what has happened."

Snape remained silent so long that it didn't seem they were going to get an answer, But then he replied listlessly "It's none of your business." He sounded hoarse and weak.

"Of course it is. We came here to tell you personally that we won the case we wrote about and this is what we see! Talk to us." Cried Hermione.

"What!? You have suddenly become interested again, and you think that I should be grateful?" Sneered Snape with a cough. "Well, you better think again. And in the meantime leave and never return."

"What do you mean by interested again?" Asked Harry perplexedly, looking toward Hermione.

Hermione's head was reeling. She had a very bad feeling about this. "You didn't get any of our letters, did you?" She whispered. Harry gasped unbelievably and stared at Snape.

"Oh! So you sent letters. How very thoughtful of you." Snaped rasped. "Thank god I didn't see them. I may have puked."

"Many prisoners complained about their missives being apprehended. After all we heard about those horrid monsters we should have realized that the instant you were prohibited having visitors they would turn on you." Hermione said mournfully. " We're very sorry." She whispered, But Snape didn't acknowledge her words.

"It means that you know nothing about these months' happenings." Harry exclaimed. "They didn't tell you why we couldn't visit either, did they?" Asked Hermione with a tremor in her voice. "You thought that we abandoned you, didn't you?"

Harry started to look apprehensive as the severity of the situation began to become clear for him. Snape didn't answer. He just stared blankly at them. He didn't even seem curious.

"We didn't abandon you Professor." Said Harry with haste. "You remember the appeal, don't you. It didn't end well; and as Hermione told you just now, the forbade you from having any visitors; On the grounds of us breaking peace. It was ridiculous."

"We couldn't come to you. But we sent you a letter every week." He added earnestly.

"Please Professor" Pleaded Hermione "You have to believe us. Please."

"What does it matter?" Asked a lifeless Snape, staring at the ceiling. "It was better this way. I had to wake up sometime and realize that letting you two in was a bad idea. Now I have learned my lesson. I will not make that mistake again."

"But… but it was just a misunderstanding." Beseeched Harry. "We have been fighting for you these six months. We have not abandoned you."

"Oh! So you've come to bring me the joyful news of my absolution?" Sneered Snape hoarsely, with a dark look in his eyes. Hermione looked away. She couldn't bear seeing him like this.

"No. We're just here to deliver your potion." Replied Harry embarrassed. "But we have some good news. We won a big case against Ministry regarding prisoners' rights. They cannot forbid you from having visitors any longer." He added cheerfully.

"Oh, how wonderful." Said Snape, uninterested. "Congratulations. We are back where we started. It's quite an achievement."

He was mocking them, but there was none of his usual spirit behind it. It seemed to be just out of habit. There was no feeling in his taunt, no scorn and not even any hint of rage. It was like he was not there anymore.

Harry and Hermione stared at each other. They didn't know what to do. Suddenly Snape started coughing violently and his body began to shake. Hermione remembered some of the venom's effects she had heard from the healers and suddenly felt a chill.

"You have been taking you potions, haven't you?" She cried desperately. "Please tell me you have."

Snape didn't answer. Harry stood up, went toward a wall and picked up a broken flask and then an untouched one out of the straws spread on the floor. It was obvious that they had been thrown at the wall. Hermione started crying. Harry was livid. "You promised you would take them." He screamed. "You promised."

"And I held that promise much longer than I should." He scoffed rasping. "I waited for a month hoping naively that you would return and I took my potion like a good little boy. But you can rest assured that I will not do that mistake again."

Hermione felt deflated. And could see Harry was feeling the same. "But we have made so much progress." She appealed. "We have the prisoners' rights completely rewritten. You will have a much easier time now. I promise."

"Oh, yes. I have you two to thank for my joyful treatment these past months, haven't I?"

"They treated all prisoners horribly. But these beatings I see is a little extreme, even for them. They must have started treating you worse than the other prisoners because of us." Said Harry sadly. "But it will not continue. You are safe now." He added hopefully.

"I was much safer when you two glorious heroes were not championing for me." Rasped Snaped scornfully. "And I will be thankful if you would leave me alone."

"But we can't." Cried Hermione. "We're much closer to your freedom. You just have to start taking your potion again. Please."

Snape laughed humorlessly and then started coughing nonstop. Harry cleaned the water bowl with a spell, Aguamentied some clear water in it and handed it to Snape. He drank greedily, like he hadn't had water in ages, and Hermione suspected it to be the case actually.

"There is no need to trouble yourselves anymore." Said Snap after he was finished. "I will die soon, and all your problems will be solved."

"No. Don't talk like that." Replied Hermione firmly. "you have to start drinking your potion again and we will take you out of here soon."

"Even if I was foolish enough to agree to that rubbish again, It would do no good." Replied Snape, with a pale smile. "I'm past the point of the potion's effectiveness. It cannot delay the venom any more. It will be over in a few months." Hermione looked at him helplessly. He was actually smiling. It seemed as if he was looking forward to it. She had nothing to say to him in answer.

She couldn't believe how her perfect day had been ruined so spectacularly. It seemed as if all their efforts had been in vain. Tears started falling down her cheeks. Harry was looking at Snape with a sorrowful unbelieving face. It was apparent he had nothing to say either.

She looked at Snape, trying to find something to say, some hope to inspire, but she had none to share. It was impossible to exonerate him in so little time. It would take years, and even that was unsure. She was not even sure if the rules permitted appealing again for a case without new evidence. They had been hard pressed to acquire permission even for the first time. She felt quite helpless.

She tried to pull herself together. She was not one to lose hope and do nothing. She would do all in her power. Even if they could not save him, they could make his last months more comfortable. She pulled out her wand and started cleaning the cell. Harry looked curiously at her, but upon seeing the hopeless determination in her eyes, raised his own wand and started some cleansing spells on Snape.

Snape looked up disinterestedly, but said nothing. Hermione transfigured the thin blanket into a much thicker one temporarily, till she could bring a warm quilt for him. Then she noticed his bruises again. "Are you injured elsewhere?"

Snape looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Hermione fidgeted. "Ok, ok. Stupid question. Can I see them?"

"Why?"

"To see the extent of them of course. I am going to bring some healing salve later today. Do you need anything else?"

"It is not necessary."

"Of course it is." She replied. "Don't be stubborn. We are here to help you."

"it is not stubbornness." He sneered. "it is farsightedness. I am not going to make the mistake of getting used to your gifts again. I don't have the fortitude to lose them for a second time." He added dejectedly. "You can leave."

"Why aren't you listening." Hermione exclaimed. "We changed the law. All those gifts and more are your prerogative now. They will not be taken away."

"Like the previous ones were not? They were my prerogative also." He sneered. "You are not as reassuring as you think you are."

"They cannot do whatever they want anymore. The Warden has been replaced and there will be monthly inspections to…"

Harry suddenly interrupted. "Which of the guards abused you? Do you know their names?"

"Yes, you're right." Said Hermione. "We should prosecute them if they are not sacked already."

"Thank you so much. But I don't need extra hospitality at their hands." Snape rasped. "And I believe I asked you to leave."

Hermione could see that Snape was becoming disinterested again. Also, his voice was very weak and his tiredness was quite apparent. She should make him interested to help and do it soon. "Do it for the sake of other prisoners then. They are abusing many people here, and not everyone has someone to help them." She said shrewdly. She could see that this line of reasoning had gotten through.

"Johnson, Stone and a white gorilla with missing teeth. I don't know his name." He replied reluctantly.

"Oh he's Walton. He and Stone were sacked along with many others in today's verdict. But Johnson is still here." Said Harry. "I will warn the Warden about him."

"And I will put Hernsby on his case." Added Hermione. "Now back to work."

"Why are you doing this?" Asked Snape with a trace of hopelessness in his voice. "You can change nothing. I am going to die here and none of this will change it."

"I may not be able to save you, but I will not watch your suffering." Replied Hermione determinedly. "I will do all I can for you. And nothing you say is going to change my mind. So don't bother."

Snape opened his mouth for a comeback, but upon seeing the look she was giving him, remained silent. She brought out her hidden camera and took a picture of him. "Now please remove your robe, so that we can take pictures of all your injuries. It's necessary for prosecuting Johnson." She said with a grim smile. Snape looked at her incredulously and clutched his robes tightly.

"Hermione. You're going too far." Harry scolded her. "He will not allow you to see him. Give it here."

Hermione smiled sheepishly and handed the camera over.

"Never!" Exclaimed Snape with newfound energy. "I will not allow you to.."

"Snape, I'm very sorry. But I cannot allow that guard to stay near you any longer. I will do anything necessary to make him go. Even if it is forcing your robes off you." Harry said apologetically. Snape suddenly looked very pale, and his eyes became hurt and haunted; But he started to open the buttons on his robes without another word. Hermione faced the wall to give him some privacy.

After taking the pictures, Snape clammed up and ignored them completely. They tried to talk to him, but he would not even look at them. After a quarter of an hour, they finally accepted defeat and left him with his demons.

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Harry Potter, boyfriend of Ginny Weasley, Senior Auror Trainee and Savior of the wizarding world was feeling quite hopeless.

After defeating Voldemort he had wanted to arrange a very quiet and peaceful life for himself, with all those things ordinary people had. But then he had been informed that due to taking antivenin right after being bitten, Severus Snape had remained alive and was transported to with an Auror guard. That was when he had realized that the life he desired had to wait. He had an obligation to fulfill.

But it had not remained an obligation. After spending more than a year visiting Snape, he had come to care for the man in a peculiar way. Yes, he was abrasive and didn't miss a chance to taunt or ridicule him, but Harry had started to see underneath that façade. He could see that one of the reasons Snape was that way was to be left alone, to not be disappointed again; But he had had no intention of leaving him alone. He had persisted till he had wore the man down, and now after some awkward, some amusing and some affectionate (kind of) conversations, he liked to think that Snape had became fond of him (He knew Snape would flip if he heard this). But today was like a bucket of ice water on his head. He felt that he had lost a friend he hadn't realized he had. Gone was the Snape he had grown used to, and he feared that he would be gone for good too, quite soon.

After visiting the new Warden, They left the prison. The guard who escorted them out was Johnson, who was watching them fearfully from the corner of his eyes. Harry saw Hermione's wand hand shaking, like she was controlling herself not to hex him, and took a firm hold on her hand comfortingly.

"We cannot allow this to continue." Said Hermione, when they were in the boat, sailing away from Azkaban.

"Everything will be alright Hermione." Harry soothed. "We will make it alright."

"Did you see? It was like he was not there anymore." Fresh tears started trailing down Hermione's face. "He didn't get angry even one time. He just sat there and acted as was expected of him. It was like looking at a zombie. It was horrible." Harry took her in his arms and made soothing voices. Hermione clutched to him desperately and cried.

"He thought we abandoned him Harry." She choked out. "He sat alone and sick and helpless in that damned dark cell, being abused and neglected, all the while thinking that we had left him to his fate like everyone else."

"It's going to be alright Hermione." He consoled. "He knows the truth now. He will get better."

"But I don't think he even cares anymore. I think it has broken him Harry. He seemed so diminished." She cried miserably.

"Don't think like that. We have to remain positive. We are all he has left. If we lose hope, who will help him?"

"You're right." She agreed. "I will talk to Hernsby to see what can be done about his situation. Maybe the prospect of his death will make a difference to the case."

"That's the spirit." He enthused. "We will not give up on him, as long as he lives. That's the least we can do."

"Oh god!" She sighed. "I was looking forward to some peaceful time to start mending things with Ron." She added mirthlessly. "But now.."

"I'm sure you can manage both aspects of your life competently." He replied uneasily, without much conviction.

"I don't know what to do, Harry." She said desperately. "I feel so much about all this, and I can't even talk about it with him. He clams up whenever I talk about Snape. He's never going to come around."

Harry said nothing, just hugged her tighter. There was nothing to say. When they had first started fighting for Snape, Ron had been averse to the idea, but had said nothing and accepted their efforts reluctantly. But as time had passed and the scope of their work had grown and the fight had became all Hermione's world, they had started having the worst arguments he had ever witnessed. When she had decided to go to a muggle university Ron had been astonished and when he had realized that Snape was the reason for her change of heart, Harry had been the one forced to tolerate all his ranting day after day.

Hermione had tried continuously to make him see Snape's predicament in a new light, but Harry felt that it was just making it worse. It was like Ron had put down his foot and was not going to budge an inch from his belief. He always repeated that Snape was a nasty vengeful git and deserved what he got; But Harry had a feeling that the problem was something else entirely.

"You know something Hermione?" He said hesitantly. "I think the problem is somewhere else. You know Ron. He is headstrong but always comes around eventually. But this time he's getting more obstinate by every passing day. I think…" He paused.

"Please tell me Harry. I need to know why he is acting like that. I am starting to think that our relationship cannot continue any longer and it is eating at me from the inside."

"I think… that he sees Snape as a rival." Replied Harry timidly.

"What?" Exclaimed Hermione.

"look at it from his point of view. Everything you do in your NGO is because of Snape. Your education in Philosophy is because of Snape. And you talk of nothing but Snape. These recent months had been much worse. We spent all our days talking and planning and fighting nonstop."

"He could be in it too. He didn't have to be left out. Even all of his family is behind us in this."

"I told you the reason. He thinks that you care about Snape more than you care about him." Harry replied apologetically. Hermione sputtered indignantly.

"Of course I care about Snape." She cried."I wouldn't be doing all this if I did not. But it's not like that! He is the foulest man I have ever seen. I know he has good reasons to be like that, but it doesn't give him the right to behave like that. Well, I have to confess that he was behaving much better before this last disaster. And we had the most exciting arguments you can imagine."

Harry shook his head inwardly. Only Hermione could call an argument exciting.

"it's true that one of our discussions made me decide to go to university. But it had nothing to do with me caring for Snape, or caring about what Snape thinks of me. I'm… I'm.." She spluttered some more. "Even the thought is ridiculous." She cried.

"Shhh..Shhh…" Harry tried to soothe her. He was not very comforted by Hermione's rant; But tried to shove his misgivings to the back of his mind. "Don't agitate yourself. I just told you what I think Ron feels. You don't have to explain yourself to me, or even to Ron for that matter. But I think you should be more attentive to him. Maybe he is just feeling insecure. Convince him about your feelings for him and everything will be alright."

"I don't know Harry. I will try, but I think that it is not going to work." Hermione replied, subdued. Harry agreed with her inwardly, but he was not going to say anything about it. Those two had to work things out themselves.

After that they sat in awkward silence till they reached the shore.

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Author's Note: I have said before that I am not a native English speaker, so you must have realized that I know nothing about British legal system.

I have taken a very liberal approach toward the legal issues in this story; Because in my mind Wizarding World seems very primitive in its Constitution. I always got the image from the books that the Ministry made up laws whenever the need arose and stuck to them afterward, disregarding any problem. But I needed to use Appeal in Snape's case and though I don't think the Wizarding World has any concrete definition for such an application, I used it in accordance with what little information I have about America's legal system. I hope it is plausible and convincing.