Questioning
6th August 1998
In a large circular room, deep within the bowels of the Ministry, Severus Snape was sat in a chair, alone, facing an entire gathering of witches and wizards. There were the Heads of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Aurors, and members of the Wizengamot.
At the head of the room sat Kingsley Shacklebolt, now elected Minister for Magic with a remorseful expression as he stared down at the headmaster of Hogwarts. In truth, he hadn't wanted to do this, the man was still weak and it would be a miracle if his healing throat allowed him to talk for hours on end, but ultimately, it was necessary.
"Let me make one thing absolutely clear," Shacklebolt began, authority practically dripping from his voice. "Our purpose today is not to try Severus Snape for any act that will be discussed. He has been granted a full and unquestioned pardon for his actions during the war as a spy. We are to establish the facts, for the record," he finished.
In the seats around the room, along with the Ministry officials, sat Harry beside his friends, Ron and Hermione, Arthur Weasley and Remus Lupin. Despite Severus' protests, they had chosen to accompany him today.
"Did they really have to have to set this up as a formal hearing?" Hermione asked Arthur Weasley.
"Kingsley didn't want it to end up like this," he told her. "It was Severus' idea. If he reports to all the departments at once, then he won't have to do it again. And if it's done in an official way, no one can complain," he said.
"And the Veritaserum?" Harry asked, "They're treating him like a criminal."
"I know," the man sighed. "But Severus insisted. Most people in the Ministry don't believe him. I don't think he particularly cared about that but you vouched for him, Harry. There was a lot of talk that he'd hoodwinked you into saying..."
"What?!" Harry exclaimed rather loudly and all eyes turned to him, including the disapproving glare of the headmaster. "Erm...sorry," he muttered.
"Now," began a member of the Magical Law Enforcement. He was stood where Kingsley had just been sat, at the head of the room as he address the people present. "To begin, you will confirm that you are indeed Severus Tobias Snape, born 9th January, 1960 to the witch Eileen Snape, formerly Eileen Prince, and the muggle, Tobias Snape in Cokeworth, the Midlands."
"I am," Snape gave an almost imperceptibly nod. He abhorred the odious formality that the 'gathering' had started with and it did not bode well for the rest of it.
"And you have consented to be present before this assembly today as well as the administration of Veritaserum, to answer any and all questions put to you. Is that correct?"
"It is," he answered.
"And to clarify," the man continued. "This is not the first time you have been brought before this assembly. You were tried and convicted as a Death Eater in the autumn of 1981..."
"Objection!" someone from the stands shouted out, "Those charges are no longer relevant!"
"We are permitted to ask any question..." another yelled back while others loudly began to talk amongst themselves.
"Order!" Kingsley shouted, and the debating witches and wizards fell silent. Because he'd made it clear that his trust was with Severus, there was only so much he could do today and not appear biased, and though he knew that the other man was aware of that, it didn't make it any easier. "The objection is noted," he said, gravely, his eyes practically begging for Severus to forgive him, "But overruled. Continue."
His associate seemed rather smug when he heard this and he puffed out his chest like an egotistical and proud bird of prey. "To repeat the question," he said. "You were tried and convicted as a Death Eater in 1981 at the end of the first war? Is this correct?"
"It is," Snape said, biting back a rather sarcastic and snappy remark. It would do him no good here.
"And you admit that all charges made in that hearing were precise and accurate?"
"I do."
"Who's he?" Harry whispered to Mr. Weasley.
"Ministry appointed Inquisitor," the man answered, "They're supposed to ask questions proposed anonymously by the people present to hear the answers. The idea is that they're impartial in their questioning, but..."
"There hasn't been an impartial Inquisitor since before the first war," Remus finished for him.
"And...Snape knew that?"
"I don't doubt it," the werewolf said.
"Based on the testimony given by Albus Dumbledore, former headmaster of Hogwarts, you were released after turning informer, in which capacity you remained until the end of the second war. The Ministry was never told what exactly prompted your defection, however, your reasons are known now. Will you kindly inform those present of just what those reasons were?"
"If they are known, why do I need to repeat them?" Severus asked, rightly. He was biting his lip and his hands were griping the arm rests of the chair tightly. The Veritaserum would make sure that he answered, but he was very reluctant to do so, especially with Harry listening.
"Agreed!" people nodded from their seats.
"You will repeat them, because it is the will of this court to hear it," the Inquisitor said, condescendingly. "Now answer the question."
"I was not aware," Severus remarked, gritting his teeth, "That this was a 'court' hearing."
"I was elected to ask you these questions and you are here, by your own consent to answer them. I ask you again, your reasons for your defection from the Death Eaters, what were they?"
"The Dark Lord..." Severus answered, breathing heavily, still clearly trying to resist the effects of the Veritaserum. "Planned to murder...someone," he said.
"And who was this 'someone'?"
"You know who she was!" Snape hissed, leaning forwards.
"What was her name?" the man asked again.
Snape lowered his head, his black hair obscuring his face as he growled under his breath as he heard others from the Ministry begin to protest at the questions being asked.
"Is it all going to be like this?" Harry asked Remus.
"Looks like it," he said. "I hoped that Kingsley would have been able to appoint a less...biased...Inquisitor but that's not something the Minister has a say in. Provided that he doesn't abuse his power," he added.
"This isn't fair," the younger wizard said. "It's not right," he added, watching the wizard struggle against the potion that no one could win against.
"The name," the Inquisitor pressed and Snape could resist no longer.
"...Lilly Potter..." he hissed at him, glaring at him with eyes that had frightened grown men into fleeing. The Inquisitor seemed momentarily startled certainly, but not enough to make him run in fear. More to the pity.
"And, had he not planned to murder this woman, you would not have defected?" the Inquisitor asked after a moment, much to his own embarrassment, his voice sounded shaky, almost afraid, despite the fact that he had stood his ground under that withering glare.
"I...cannot say."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know," he snarled, quietly.
"I see. So, you defected in order to protect someone but once your former master returned, you rejoined them, to spy on them of course, with ease?"
"Hardly," Snape scoffed. "I'd been living as a traitor and working for the Dark Lord's enemy for a decade. The Dark Lord liked to make it quite clear that he did not tolerate traitors."
"What did he do to traitors?"
"...It depended on the offence...and his mood."
"And your offence?"
"I was one of the many that did not attempt to find him after the end of the first war. I believed that he was dead, as we all did, until Dumbledore told me otherwise. My offences were, that as the Dark Lord's servant, I did not spend my every waking moment in an attempt to either find or revive him. I worked for the man he hated and feared above all others. And I did not keep the old ways alive," Snape answered.
"Those ways being the activities of the Death Eaters?"
"Correct."
"And your punishment?"
"Among other things, prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus curse which he believed would weaken my Occlumency shields and allow him access to 'enemy' secrets."
"And did it?"
"He saw nothing which I did not allow him to see."
"We can assume that what he saw convinced him of your loyalty to him otherwise, presumably, you would not be here. So, is it fair to say that he trusted you?"
"The Dark Lord trusted no one," Severus remarked.
"Throughout the trials of other Death Eaters, many believed that they had his trust and that you were a particular favourite of his," the Inquisitor said. "Is this true?" he asked.
The pale headmaster let out a derisive snort and gave a sardonic smile as he spoke. "He cut my throat and had his poisonous 'pet' bite me over twenty times," he said, "Is that favouritism?"
Remus noticed Harry smirking beside him. "He's scared of Snape," Harry muttered to him.
"Who isn't?" Ron grumbled back.
The Inquisitor let out a nervous sounding cough as he shuffled his papers, looking at them for a minute before turning his attention back to Snape.
"You became headmaster after killing Albus Dumbledore, which has been established as part of the deceased's plan. Tell us about this plan."
"I was ordered by Albus," Snape sighed, "To kill him. In doing so, I would become invaluable to the Dark Lord and I would gain control of the school.
He once more, lowered his head, ashamed of what he'd done. He did not want to be here. He didn't want to talk about this. He felt guilty enough as it was. But he didn't have a choice. Despite the fact that the Ministry, and the Wizarding public saw, as they always had, that Harry was a 'hero', because he'd vouched so publicly for Snape, even gone so far as to get him an Order of Merlin. He'd even heard rumours that he'd been controlling the 'boy who lived.'
Severus was used to being mistrusted and he knew that Harry was used to being talked about, as well. But this was different. Things could escalate further than simple rumours if he didn't act. By cooperating in this 'questioning', no matter what he was asked, it would go a long way in disapproving some of the rumours.
"He had been cursed," Severus continued. "He had little more than a year to live. It does not excuse what I did. I didn't want to do it...but I did."
"You willingly and freely admit to the murder of Albus Dumbledore?" the Inquisitor asked, and once again, the room erupted in protests.
"...I do," Snape spoke over them and they quietened on his mournful admission.
"Objection!" someone called out, standing up. "It's already been proven that the deceased ordered to be killed. No charges were brought against Severus Snape, nor will they be at any point."
"But Dumbledore was the greatest wizard of the age!" another said, "And he was murdered by the very spy he'd defended!"
"Say nothing," Harry," Remus warned the young wizard. He could see that Harry was becoming increasing, and rightly, agitated. "If you defend Severus now, then it will all have been for nothing," he said.
"But..."
"He won't thank you for interrupting."
"But I can't just..."
"I killed him," Snape said, slowly. "So that someone else wouldn't have to. It was Albus' wish and his order. My soul," he sneered, "Was already marred. He wanted to save one that was not."
"Regardless of your own guilt?"
"...Yes."
"And who was this person that you were to protect?"
"I...will not...answer," Snape hissed at him, gripping the arm rests of the chair again.
He'd heard nothing to indicate that the Ministry knew of Draco Malfoy's part in the plan and though the boy had been forced into it, to save his family, he didn't want to risk it. But then, Snape had been somewhat out of touch with the the world lately. All he knew was that Lucius and Narcissa were under constant guard and wandless. Because of Narcissa's well timed lie to Voldemort, she'd managed to save her family from Azkaban but their reputations would likely never recover. He'd heard nothing to suggest that it had been Voldemort's plan to turn Draco into a murderer.
"You have no choice," he replied, raising an eyebrow at the Potion Master's resistance to the Veritaserum.
"This 'court'," Snape repeated the man's earlier description, "Does not...need...to know."
"I think it does."
"I say it doesn't!" Snape yelled at him.
Most people in the room, despite the fact that many were a good deal older than Snape, sat stock still in their seats. Though the man sitting in the middle of the room had fought for the side of the light, it was clear that he was a dark wizard. Of course, just because one was a dark wizard, it didn't make a person a bad one. Everyone knew that. The problem was, that the ones that did go bad gave the ones that didn't, a bad name. And it wasn't often that Snape raised his voice.
"The Ministry is fully aware of the identity of this person," a woman stood up. She was middle aged, thin and wearing the red robes of the Auror Division. "He has been offered immunity in exchange for abiding completely by a set of provided regulations. He is under guard and without his wand. He poses no threat. This line of questioning is redundant," she addressed the Inquisitor.
"Agreed," Shacklebolt said.
"You knew?!" Snape exclaimed, "For how long?!" he demanded, standing up.
"We are asking the questions," the Inquisitor remarked, rather put out.
"How long?" Snape asked again, his voice low and menacing.
"Since the beginning of the Death Eater trials. More than one of them told us about what was planned. The child's father pleaded guilty to all charges on the stipulation that his son not be charged," the woman, still standing, told him. "We imposed sanctions on the boy but we do not hold him responsible. We have kept this from everyone for the child's own protection."
This answer slowly seemed to pacify Snape and he gave her a nod of acknowledgment. "Continue," he commanded the Inquisitor, and the woman sat down. Snape didn't.
"At Hogwarts then," the Inquisitor said, finally, "The Carrows were appointed by You-Know-Who to utilise the school as a training ground?"
"Yes. I did not want them there," Severus answered, "But I could not refuse the Dark Lord's order."
"During their year at the school they were increasingly brutal to the students, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would."
"And how exactly would they punish the students?"
"The Cruciatus curse was widely used," Severus ground out, "But they were by no means limited to it. On several occasions, I was told that students were chained to the walls, deprived of food or forced to administer the curse themselves to other students."
"Was their 'attention' focused on any students in particular or did all at Hogwarts receive the same 'treatment'?"
"At first I believe they detested all students equally," Snape sneered. "However, those that opposed them were singled out and were to be eliminated as enemies of the Dark Lord."
"Who, in particular?" the Inquisitor asked.
"Neville Longbottom, Ginevra Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Michael Corner, Seamus Finnigan...in short," Snape listed slowly, "All those who had been members of a...group...known as the D.A. They made it their mission to oppose me and the Carrows."
"And what did you do to this...group?"
"I had to appear to despise them, it was essential. Their hatred of me cemented my loyalty to the Dark Lord but it put them in mortal danger. While I approved of their...activities...there was only so much I could do to prevent the Carrows from killing them."
"Would they have killed them?"
"Of course. They are Death Eaters. They will not show mercy to children."
"Was any student murdered by the Carrows at Hogwarts?"
"No."
"Was there ever an occasion on which they came close?"
"...Yes."
"During the last year you, presumably, attended many of the Death Eater 'meetings'. What happened during these meetings?"
"On occasion...we were introduced to witches or wizards that the Dark Lord had 'persuaded' to join our cause. If they had any useful information, we would gather to hear it. If they didn't...or if they refused...then, more often than not, we were summoned to watch their deaths," he looked away from every set of eyes in the room and stared at a spot on the floor.
"People like Charity Burbage?" the Inquisitor asked after a minute.
"...Yes," Snape nodded, once again, letting his hair hide his eyes.
"You were present when she died?"
"I was."
"You were...friends?" he asked.
"...No," Snape answered, now standing behind the chair, leaning both hands against the back of it.
"Why 'no'?"
"I lived my life at Hogwarts for a decade with the knowledge that the Dark Lord would return. I could not risk another persons' life by being 'friends' with anyone. Once he did return and saw them in my mind, they would have been in danger. Particularly one that believed so ardently that muggles and wizards should coexist. So no, I was not, could not, be her friend. I was her colleague."
"She died in Malfoy Manor?"
"...Yes," Snape said, hanging his head.
"How?"
"I do not think..."
"Answer the question, headmaster, if you will."
"The killing curse," Snape said, quietly.
"Who cast that curse?"
"...The Dark Lord."
"You saw it?"
"Yes. We all did. He made an example of her."
"An example?"
"Of what happens to people who do not believe as he does. She was not the first. It was often his 'pleasure' to provide such a display every other week."
"Who else was present?"
"Malfoy, Dolhov, Yaxley, the Carrows, the Lestranges, Avery..." he listed.
"Did Miss. Burbage happen to see you at this meeting?" he asked and Snape gave a single, silent nod. "She spoke to you?" he asked.
"I would assume...since you're asking about it...that you already know...what she said," Snape sighed.
"Answer the question, Mr. Snape."
"She...begged me to help her. She begged me to save her. But I couldn't."
"Why not?"
Snape let out a snort of disbelief and stared up at the Inquisitor. "There was over fifteen Death Eaters present, not to mention the Dark Lord himself and Nagini. What would you have had me do? I would have been dead before I drew my wand and two decades of my life would have been for nothing."
"She was an innocent witch," someone said, standing up. It was an old man in black robes of the Magical Law Division. "And you just sat there and watched her die," he said, inciting loud protests and jeers of agreement from the others.
"Yes, I did. On that same night, I listened as Bellatrix Lestrange planned to murder her niece simply for marrying a werewolf. I actively participated in the discussion to capture Potter and then I sat and listened as the Death Eaters laughed at Charity Burbage as she was levitated over the dining table. I watched as she died...and then I sat and watched as the Dark Lord fed her to Nagini. Then I returned to Hogwarts where the students were living under the threat of torture. That was what I had to do," Snape hissed at him.
He'd begun to pace in the small space available to him, like a caged animal, his robes billowing around him, like a shadow. "If they'd seen even the slightest hesitation in me...do you have any idea what would have happened? I would have been killed instantly and Hogwarts would have been overrun with the Dark Lord's followers. Her death..." he stopped and stood still, "Was...regrettable. But then, all are...I did nothing as she died...but I assure you...nothing you say...and no punishment you can administer...will be worse than living with what I saw," he told the Inquisitor.
"Rest assured," the Inquisitor said after a moment, "There is to be no sentencing. Now...three Death Eaters managed to escape from the Aurors after the battle at Hogwarts. I assume, by now, that you are aware of this?" he asked and Snape nodded. "Rodolphus Lestrange, Walden Macnair and Samien Travers. *1 I'm told that the Aurors lost their trail two weeks ago and nothing has been found since to indicate where they are now. Any information you are willing to provide about either of these wizards will, I'm sure, prove to be most useful."
"Macnair..." Snape began, taking a deep breath. This topic was much more easy to discuss than the last, so he was grateful for the change. "Is perhaps the weakest of the three. But Travers...and Lestrange particularly, are both far more volatile. They were amongst the most loyal and fanatical of the Dark Lord's supporters. Both willingly searched for him after the first war," he said.
As he spoke, he stalked about the room again, talking as though he were giving a lesson and the people around him were listening as intently as first year students. Though, of course, for different reasons. "Travers and Lestrange were high in the Dark Lord's ranks because of their loyalty and to get there you must be ruthless. We were encouraged to compete with one another. No Death Eater was ever loyal to another," he said. "I would almost guarantee it that before the month is out, one of them, probably McNair, will be found...dead," he added.
"And why is that?" the Auror asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"Because he is a liability. If he is not dead already, I would be very surprised. Since they are running, they won't have time to dispose of the body so it shouldn't be too difficult to find. As for the other two...I would suggest...that until they are found, that precautions be taken to protect those who fought against the Death Eaters. In the meantime, it would be wise to have someone keep watch over the muggle news."
"Why?" the Inquisitor asked.
"They may not chance a...mass killing, yet...but a death here or there wouldn't raise too much suspicion in our world. A mysterious death in a small village with no signs of violence on the body is likely to get the muggles' attention, though."
"So...you would have us wait until they murder a muggle?" the Auror asked.
"Well, madam," he replied with a sneer, "Their trail has been lost. There aren't enough Auror's to search the entire country. But they have a few rather obvious targets likely to draw them out...Mr. Potter, of course, the Minister, and myself. I don't believe that they could breech the wards at Hogwarts now but considering the fact that both myself and Mr. Potter have been resident there for some time, it's still surprising that they haven't tried."
"To breech the wards? But you said that they couldn't," the Inquisitor said.
"No, and I don't think they could. It took an army of Death Eaters to break through them the first time and there is only three of them. But they must know by now that I betrayed them. I was always regarded with suspicion and the though of killing a traitor and the one who rid them of their master, would be too much of an opportunity to pass up."
"They wouldn't risk going near Hogwarts, surely," someone remarked, "No one with half a brain..."
"I never said that any of them was particularly clever," Snape interrupted.
"Based on what you've said," an Auror spoke, "Our best bet would be to use either you or Mr. Potter to catch these men."
"Mr. Potter has surely done enough," another Auror said.
"Agreed," Kingsley spoke, "It's the Auror office's job to catch these men. The headmaster and Mr. Potter are not to be involved."
Three hours later, the room emptied and Severus had fallen into the chair around which he'd interchanged between pacing, sitting and leaning against, all day. He was exhausted.
"I'm sorry, Severus," Kingsley said as he approached the tired man, "You know I didn't want to do this."
"You've said," Snape muttered.
"It could have waited," the Minister told him.
"No, it couldn't," he replied, pushing himself up. His hands were shaking and he did his best to conceal the fact but he wasn't sure if it was because he was cold or just overly tired.
"Well...either way, it's done," Kingsley sighed, "I'm not sure how much it'll change but it was good of you to agree to it."
Snape scoffed quietly and turned away without another word. It was his intention to Floo back to his office at Hogwarts and then to most likely collapse on his bed and sleep for a week.
"Professor," Harry called after him.
"...What, Potter?" Snape stopped his slow walk but didn't turn around. He could hardly face them after they'd heard his entire confession.
"Where...erm...are you going back to Hogwarts?" the young wizard asked.
"Where else would I go?"
"Severus, come back to the Burrow with us," Arthur suggested, kindly, "A warm fire and something to eat'll do you the world of good."
"I..." Severus shook his head with his eyes closed. "No, Arthur," he muttered.
"Molly'll be happy to see you," the red head added but Snape shook his head again. "Well...if you're sure," he pursed his lip.
"You shouldn't have come," the headmaster told them and walked away, not giving any of them a chance to speak again.
"Didn't really expect a 'thank you' did you?" Ron asked Harry with a sigh.
"No," his friend answered.
*1 I don't think Travers' first name is ever mentioned, he's always just called 'Travers' so I made one up. If it is actually mentioned and I've missed it, let me know.