Chapter 11:
Fall into Darkness:
"You're late," Dolores Umbridge's voice rang out through the courtroom as Minerva, Harry, Severus, Remus and the Weasleys entered.
Harry scowled, but said nothing as he steered Severus up to the Judgement chair.
"I do apologise, Dolores, members of the Wizengamot," Minerva said, nodding to them, acknowledging their presence. "We were delayed by stopping to make a citizens' arrest," she said smoothly.
"Citizen's arrest?" Dolores asked, looking around as the others sat down in the seats reserved for the press. "I don't see anyone."
"Oh, they're waiting outside," Minerva answered nonchalantly, waving her hand dismissively. "I thought you might want to review Severus' case first," she continued. "Harry?"
Harry shuffled over, seemingly to force the man forward.
"Ah, Mister Potter," Dolores said in her disgusting girlish voice. "Howgood it is to see you again."
Harry glared at her, but resisted the urge to retort.
"Ibelieve," Minerva interjected. "That we are here for a trial, not a social gathering."
Harry noticed the woman scowl.
"Let's just get this over with," he murmured.
"I agree," intoned Severus, barely moving his lips. It had the effect he was after though, and he felt, rather than saw, Harry smile as the young man squeezed his arm gently.
"Very well," Dolores' voice rang out. "The prisoner will take a seat." Harry knew that was his cue, and mock forced the man into the chair. Harry heard a gasp, and a murmur course through the Wizengamot, and smiled when the chains on the Judgement chair didn't even rattle.
Dolores eyed Severus in the Judgement chair for a moment and then turned her attention back to the papers before her. "Severus Snape," she said airily. "You stand accused of betrayal, the desertion of your post at Hogwarts School of -" She broke off, movement out of the corner of her eye having distracted her. "Minerva?"
"Yes?" Minerva asked, as she laid out the materials for Severus' defence.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm preparing Severus' defence," she answered coolly and set a portrait frame down on one of the chairs, propping it upright.
"I'm sorry," Dolores said in her girlish voice. "But we don't take testimony from portraits."
Minerva turned, smiling at her sweetly. "Oh. Well, there's a first time for everything, because you will today. Especially since it is a portrait of Professor Dumbledore, and he was the person that you were about to declare that Severus murdered."
A murmur coursed through the Wizengamot and Harry gaped at Minerva.
"Very well," Dolores said stiffly, no longer speaking in her girlish tone, for which Harry was grateful.
"Please, continue," said Minerva, waving her hand dismissively as Albus slipped into the frame of his portrait.
Dolores glared at her before clearing her throat and continuing.
"The desertion of your post at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, as well as the cold blooded murder of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts before the time of his death," Dolores finished with a smile, peering over the parchment at the man now sitting before them.
Her smile faded and another murmur coursed through the Wizengamot when none of these accusations brought a change in the decision of the Judgement chair. Harry smiled triumphantly behind Severus. He had just figured out how the chair truly worked.
"Severus Snape," Dolores said, breaking the silence that had settled over the room. "Please bare your arm for the court."
Severus shifted, but made no move to do as she had instructed.
Harry stepped up behind him. Placing his right hand on the man's shoulder, approaching his left side, he leaned down and whispered, "Sev, please don't provoke her. I know what she's like, it won't be good."
"Ah, Mister Potter," Dolores' voice rang out before the man in the Judgement chair could respond. "It's good to know that you still remember my lessons."
Lessons? Severus wondered and felt Harry's grip tighten on his shoulder at her words. Looking down, he saw faint marks against his skin in the flicker of torchlight and as he studied them, realized they were words. Could this wench be the reason they were there? Why hadn't he seen them before?
"Hmm," Dolores said after a moment, once more slipping into her disgusting girlish voice. "It seems there may be a problem with the Judgement chair. Minerva, you said that you stopped to make a citizen's arrest."
"That's correct," Minerva acknowledged.
"Then, please bring the others in."
"Very well," Minerva agreed. "Remus?"
"Yes?" Remus asked, rising from his seat.
"Please go assist Tonks and the others," Minerva said. "It seems that they need to test the accuracy of the Judgement chair."
Remus quickly left the room and soon returned with Tonks, Moody and Shacklebolt. Tonks herded Malfoy forward with her wand while Minerva conjured more chairs, eight more appearing beside Severus' own.
Minerva walked over as Remus, Moody and Shacklebolt passed her, herding Scrimgeour, Dawlish and the other Aurors to stand in front of the newly conjured chairs.
"Minister Scrimgeour!" Dolores cried before turning on Minerva. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh," Minerva answered. "It's all quite simple, really. For one thing, we're going to test the Judgement chairs for you. You see," she said as she walked over and put a hand on Malfoy's shoulder, forcing him down in the chair. "We caught Mister Malfoy here, bribing the Minister and attempting to kidnap Harry's daughter."
There was a gasp from the Wizengamot, and the chains on the blond's chair moved, binding him tightly.
"But that's not all," Minerva continued on to Scrimgeour. "You see, the Minister willingly took the bribe and not only tried to arrest Severus, but Harry too, also restraining and frightening Abbey as well," she finished, forcing the man down in the second chair.
Another murmur coursed through the Wizengamot as the manacles moved again, binding Scrimgeour to his chair.
"You cannot be serious!" Dolores screamed when she saw the Minister bound to the Judgement chair.
"Oh, I'm very serious!" Minerva retorted while Moody, Tonks, Remus and Shacklebolt forced Dawlish and the other Aurors into the remaining Judgement chairs, each one binding them in place.
Suddenly, Severus remembered seeing both Harry and Lee Jordan walking around school with bandaged hands the year the wench was there and weaselled her way into the Headmaster position, over throwing Albus for the year.
"Nowonder he hates the Ministry!" Severus yelled, rising to his feet, shocking everyone to silence.
"No, Severus. Please!" Harry cried out in protest, but the man ignored him, stretching the younger man's hand over his head, holding it firmly.
"Youmarked him, you stupid bitch!" Severus yelled, pointing at Dolores with his free hand. "Yes, I know Harry hates the Ministry!" Severus thundered. "I know Scrimgeour came to him over the Christmas holidays of his sixth year! I know, because I was hiding there to protect him though he didn't know that it was really me, he thought I was O'Malley! I overheard his plans. He wanted Harry to help the Ministry save face with the public by being their mascot!"
A startled murmur coursed through the Wizengamot at this news.
"Harry," Minerva said, pulling him free from Severus' grasp. "Is it true? Did Dolores mark you?"
Harry lowered his head. "Yes," he murmured.
"I was only punishing him for lying," Dolores reasoned, clearly distressed. "The boy was spreading lies and I wanted to teach him a lesson."
Harry's anger bubbled to the surface after hearing this accusation and his head shot up, and his eyes glittered dangerously.
"But I wasn't lying, was I? Voldemort was back, wasn't he? Even Fudge saw him!"
"Harry," Minerva said, trying to calm him. "What did she do? What did she use?"
The Wizengamot was in an uproar. This woman admitted to marking their Saviour.
"I don't know," Harry said over the noise filling the room now. "It was some kind of quill. I'd never seen one like it before. It was black and didn't require any ink, but what does it matter? It's over."
"Harry," Minerva said, closing her eyes briefly. "Did anyone know about this?"
"Yes," Harry answered, still not sure what it had to do with now. "Ron and Hermione knew. They wanted me to go to Professor Dumbledore."
"Well," Minerva asked. "Why didn't you?"
"I – I didn't want to go to him with all my problems," Harry sulked, lowering his head. "Why does it matter?"
Harry didn't know it, but Albus was listening intently to their conversation, growing angrier by the second.
"Harry," Minerva said. "She was using the Dark Arts."
"The Dark Arts?" Harry murmured in confusion. Of course, he thought. That made sense.
"The Dark Arts!" Albus roared from his portrait, bringing silence to the room once more. "You brought the Dark Arts to my school! I think, Dolores," he shouted angrily. "That we need to see your arm, not Severus'!"
Harry didn't hear any more that followed, for when everyone's attention turned to the woman, he swayed on his feet and collapsed on the floor as he blacked out.
"Harry!" Ginny cried, hearing the wizard hit the floor.
Severus turned quickly and rushed to the young man's side, cradling him in his arms. "Mister Snape!" Dolores yelled. "You will kindly take your seat!"
Severus ignored her, looking worriedly at his lover.
Harry couldn't see or hear anything. He began to panic, looking around wildly, when slowly the room he was in began to lighten. Everything was blurry and muffled, but both were clearing.
He blinked and found that nothing had changed. He was still in courtroom ten. Looking around, he saw the Weasleys, and Remus sitting behind him in the press area. Severus was in front of him, seated next to the Minister, Dawlish and his fellow five Aurors, as well as Malfoy. He turned and noticed Tonks, Moody and Shacklebolt standing beside Minerva and Dumbledore's portrait.
Harry jumped and looked back toward the jury area where Dolores Umbridge sat with the members of the Wizengamot when he heard her speak.
"We find Severus Snape… guilty as charged!" Her voice echoed through the courtroom, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.
"No!" Harry cried. "He didn't do it!"
At his words, Dolores and the members of the Wizengamot laughed, their laughter echoing through the courtroom like her verdict.
"No!" Harry cried again and looked around to the others. "Dosomething!" Nevertheless, even as he yelled, they either sat, or stood there unmoving and silent. "Please!" Harry cried again. "Help me!"
Harry saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned, seeking help, only to find the Dementors gliding into the room.
"No!" Harry screamed again and rushed to Severus, wrapping his arms around him protectively. "He's innocent! He didn't do it!"
"Guilty!" Dolores sneered, rising out of her seat to lean over and glare at them.
"No!" Harry cried out defiantly, tears rolling down his cheeks as the Dementors closed in on where he stood, holding Severus to him. "Iwon't let you take him!"
Suddenly, there was a flash of blinding white light. Looking around once the light faded, Harry was horror struck to find them all dead. "No," he whispered feebly, taking in the bodies of the Minister, and the Aurors, including Moody, Tonks and Shacklebolt, as well as Minerva, who was standing beside a broken picture frame that held the remnants of a ruined portrait. Turning around, he gazed sadly upon the bodies of Remus and the Weasleys. Turning back to face the jury, tears rolling down his cheeks, he saw the lifeless bodies of Dolores Umbridge and the Wizengamot.
Harry jumped, feeling movement in his arms and turned to look up at Severus, who was turning slowly, taking everything in as well. "Harry," Severus asked quietly. "What have you done?"