AN: Thanks for all the reviews, the alerts, for reading, and for favoriting this! It really means a lot to me!
Hermione sighed as she slouched on a bench in the station, waiting for Lucius and watching the Aurors rush about. Apparently there was some sort of illegal potions bust and the suspects were being brought in soon. For a moment she wondered if they'd try to tie that to Snape as well.
She briefly considered apparating back to Philadelphia and forgetting everything that had happened, but she couldn't quite bring herself to do it. As much as she would have liked, she just couldn't forget that Snape had saved her and the rest of the wizarding world multiple times, yet never received proper thanks. He had sacrificed twenty years of his life for a cause, only to be thrown in prison when he was trying to find peace.
While Hermione no longer read the papers, she did hear things from the other attorneys in her law office. The rumor had been that Rita Skeeter was writing a book on Snape entitled, Severus Snape: Saint or Scoundrel? Supposedly this was Snape's motive for murder. If Hermione was being honest with herself, it was a strong one. She knew from personal experience how Skeeter twisted things. Hermione's muscles tightened just thinking about it. Still, Rita didn't deserve to die. As much as Hermione hated to admit it, Rita was free to publish whatever she chose as long as it didn't constitute slander. There was no evidence of her book sinking to that level.
Maybe if I could find him someone else, Hermione thought. Maybe someone who could handle him possibly being guilty. Then I could still help him without compromising my integrity. Plus it would keep Lucius off of my back.
"Penny for your thoughts ma'am?"
Hermione looked up. Conway stood over her, his eyes full of genuine concern. "I was, I was just thinking about a case."
"You… aren't you Hermione Granger of the Golden Trio?" he asked.
She sighed. "Yes, I am."
"My name's Adrian Conway. I'm the District Attorney here in Terminus. It's an honor to meet you, ma'am!"
For a moment, she thought his name sounded familiar, but before she could summon the memory he extended his hand. She smiled and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too. I saw your press conference and was very impressed."
"Thanks, ma'am," he answered.
"Congratulations on the baby. Where is your wife, anyway? I saw her here earlier," she asked.
"She went home but I had some things to finish up here," he answered.
"Oh," Hermione answered. "Did it have to do with the Snape case?"
"Yes," he answered.
"If you don't mind, could I discuss it with you? I don't want to pry, but, well, it's complicated," she answered.
He gave her a suspicious look. "You aren't a reporter are you? I already gave that press conference."
"No!" she exclaimed. "I'm, well, let's just say that I'm a friend of Snape's."
"Friend," he drawled as he examined her. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, I'm an attorney," she began.
"Come in, then!" he replied, now enthused. "If I'd known that I would've let you in sooner! Follow me!"
She followed him to a hallway across the room from the one that led to the jail. They continued until he opened a door halfway down on the right. She almost gasped, then swallowed hard. She'd never seen a room this nice in Philadelphia. It was huge with pristine white walls and an immaculate dark blue Oriental rug. In the middle was a large mahogany desk with two neat stacks of files, one on each side. In the center of the desk were two pictures. One was of Conway in a suit and Calypso in a wedding dress dancing and beaming as they gazed into each other's eyes. The other was of a little boy gazing at a baby who Hermione assumed was Ishtar. "The boy's name is Nergal," Adrian began as he sat in a leather chair behind his desk. "He's my son. He's about two years old now."
"The Babylonian god of the underworld and of chaos," she muttered.
Adrian smiled. "I see you're well read, not that I'd expect anything less from you."
"Why Babylonian deities though?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Everyone else uses Greek, Roman, or English names. We wanted to be a little different."
"Well, they are beautiful," she replied as she glanced again at the photo.
"Ma'am, as much as I'd love to talk about my kids, I don't think that's why you're here," Adrian answered.
Hermione looked up at him and nodded. "Yes. You see, I was called in to act as an attorney for Mr. Snape."
"Oh. So I suppose you want the case," Adrian answered.
"No," Hermione replied. "Not necessarily. I wanted to know…" she paused as she searched for the words. When she found them, she smiled and continued, "If an attorney were to take his case, then what would you recommend he or she do?"
"You're asking the prosecutor this?" he asked, incredulous.
"I'm speaking with you as a fellow attorney, not as opposing council. Surely you can appreciate that."
"Yes I can, it's just unusual," he began and then exhaled. "If you want the truth, then I'd get him one hell of a plea bargain."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Look, you know as well as I do that from a defense perspective, some cases can go to trial, and some shouldn't. This is one that probably shouldn't," he answered.
"Mr. Snape doesn't want a plea bargain," she replied.
"Then he'd better pray that his attorney can convince a jury that he deserves a lesser sentence."
"Excuse me!" Hermione almost spat.
"Look Miss Granger," Adrian answered. "I don't know how much you know about the case, but things don't look good for him, and I'm not saying that simply because I'm the prosecutor either. The truth is that he's the only one with real motive, and all the evidence points to him."
"So, what kind of a defense can he hope for?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Adrian answered, "He's got people who want to defend him, but I s'pect they just want their fifteen minutes of fame. I s'pect most of them want their picture in the paper for defending an ex-Death Eater."
"But he's more than that!" Hermione argued. "He's more than just one of Voldemort's followers! He made a mistake and he has spent the rest of his life paying for it! He saved the world, and instead of thanking him, we're prosecuting him for the third time!"
"Miss Granger, is that an opening statement?" he asked.
"No, I mean," Hermione replied. "I have no idea."
"Look," Adrian replied. "I'm sure you're aware of Terminus' demographic. We have one of the highest numbers of half bloods and muggle borns in the wizzarding world. People here, while they may not know what exactly a Death Eater is, they have an idea of what they stood for. That kind of ideology really isn't looked at kindly here."
"Isn't that why we have unbiased juries?" Hermione snapped.
"They may not have a bias, but in my experience no juror is completely ignorant of the facts," he replied.
She sighed, conceding that he had a point. "So basically, the only people who are even considering taking this case are fame chasers?"
"Just judging from the owls that I've seen and who sent them, yes," he answered.
Hermione sighed. "Thank you Mr. Conway. You've helped me tremendously."
"Anytime. I suppose I'll see you around, then?" he asked.
"Maybe," she replied as she stood up. "I don't know yet."
"Well, I'd make up my mind before the vultures swoop in, but that's just me," he answered as he stood. He extended his hand again. "It was a pleasure to meet you though. You really are a lovely woman to talk to."
She smiled and shook his hand. "Thanks again Mr. Conway. It was pleasant talking to you."
He smiled and released her hand from his grip. "I hope to see you again soon, even if it's just to chat," he replied.
"Thank you," she replied.
Then she left his office, her mind swirling. When she reached the main foyer, she saw Lucius standing in the corner, smirking. She sighed and walked over to him. "I saw you walk out with Conway," he began.
"Yes," she replied.
"Learn anything?" he asked.
"Nothing that concerns you. If you want to help Professor Snape, please tell me where the library is, as well as a decent motel. I have a feeling I'll be spending the night here," she answered with renewed determination in her eyes.