AN: I am so sorry about the delay for any updates but I had a lot going on (Weddings, spring break, etc.) but I am finally getting around to writing again.
A battle of Subtlety and Manipulation
Chapter 13
-Harry-
Chop, the sounds of the knives cutting through root sounded like a guillotine to his nervous mind, snip, the scissors cutting the strands of grasses sounded like the Shears of the Fates cutting a lifeline, wham, the pounding of mallets smashing ingredients into powder sounded like a death note. Ever since he had entered the day's potions lesson he had felt a sense of wrongness, like something was going to happen that would be very bad but he couldn't place his finger on what it was. Snape had ignored him throughout the lesson, bar the usual sneers and glares, Ron and Hermione were more focused on keeping their potion from exploding, and the Slytherins had learned to ignore him.
The lesson was making antidotes and Snape had said, quite happily, that he was intending to test one of the antidotes on an unfortunate student later. Each second of the period felt like an hour, each minute felt like a day, and after an hour he was sure it had been an eternity. Shortly before the end of the two hour period there was a hesitant knock at the door making Snape's head shot around and yell "What?!" at whoever stood on the other side of the door.
Slowly the door opened to reveal a nervous Susan, "Harry is needed for the weighing of the wands ceremony immediately." She said simply but he could tell she was nervous about what the professor would do.
"He does not have permission to leave," Snape sneered at the red haired Hufflepuff "now leave before I use you as the test for one of these dunderhead's antidotes.".
"He is required and I was told to bring him to the ceremony." Susan said more firmly and he could see the spark of anger appearing in her eyes.
"Be silent you stupid girl!" Snape yelled and he was sure that he saw madness dance in the Potion Master's eyes "And do not question me!".
When Susan opened her mouth to reply Snape screamed in anger and ran forward, grabbing the shocked girl before prying her jaws open and pouring a poison down her throat. As soon as the potion touched her lips Susan dropped to the floor in convulsions with foam coming up through her mouth.
Furious he leapt up and drew one of his blades, the one without poison, and used it to remove Snape's hands leaving the deranged man screaming in pain upon the ground while he poured an antidote from his cauldron down Susan's throat until her convulsions ceased. Turning a hate filled gaze to the man on the ground he drew his wand and snarled out "Incendio!" and burned the skin around the severed limbs to cauterize the wound and make sure he didn't bleed out.
"Hogsy!" he thundered and the intimidated elf popped in, "Take that scum and lock him up in a dungeon cell" he spat while pointing to the writhing man on the ground "let nobody in to see him unless I allow it.", nodding the Elf grabbed the man and popped out.
"Narcissa," he turned to his first wife "go and contact Amelia through the emergency floo line and get her here.".
"Yes Harry." Narcissa said nodding before rushing off.
"We'll take Susan up to the Hospital Wing," Alice told him when he turned to them "You go make sure Dumbledore doesn't try to get his attack dog out of trouble.".
Nodding gratefully he watched the girls rush out before turning to the rest of the shell-shocked students, "Class dismissed." he snarled before spinning around and storming out to go find Dumbledore and make sure the old man didn't try anything.
Getting to the room that Dumbledore was in, an elf had popped to him with directions, he kicked the doors open and stormed in "Harry what is the meaning of…" Dumbledore began before being cut off by a blade pointed to his throat.
"Be silent," he growled out "you will listen or you will never make another sound again, am I clear?". When Dumbledore nodded as much as the blade would allow he continued "Your attack dog Snape is in the dungeons right now, minus his hands, and is going to stay there until he is taken away to his trial and hopefully execution.".
"Execution?!" Highmaster Karkarof exclaimed in shock, "What happened?".
"He forced poison down the throat of Susan Bones, one of my concubines." He snarled, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
Before he could continue Amelia stormed into the room with two aurors hot on her heels as she looked around before spotting him, "Where is that bastard?!" she roared with the fury of a lioness.
"I have him locked in the dungeons with the stumps of what used to be his hands cauterized so he doesn't bleed out, I figured you would want your turn with him as well." he answered coldly making Amelia grin in a manner that could be considered sadistic if one didn't remember the fact that Susan was like her daughter.
"My aurors will take him to his cell at the ministry while we arrange a trial," Amelia told him nodding to the two aurors behind her "I will be staying here to get the statements of the witnesses.".
"Is all this really…" Dumbledore began only to stop when he pressed the sword a little deeper in the old man's neck.
"If you even think," he spat "of suggesting that this isn't necessary I will cut your tongue from your mouth. Am…I…Clear?" with each word of his last question he pressed the sword deeper until a drop of blood ran down the length of the blade.
Dumbledore didn't say anything but simply looked down in defeat, nodding he removed the blade and turned to Amelia, "Susan's in the Hospital Wing right now along with the rest of the girls, they can give you several statements about what happened. The rest will likely be in the Gryffindor and Slytherin Common Rooms.".
Nodding faintly Amelia stated her thanks before she turned and all but ran from the room to get to her niece. Turning to the two aurors he called out "Hogsy!" and the small elf appeared.
"Yes Mr. Harry?" the elf asked nervously.
"First I apologize for snapping at you earlier," he said with a wince "I was quite…upset.", the little elf nodded to show understanding and seemed much more at ease "Second I wish for you to bring Snape up here to these two Aurors," he pointed to the two "they will be taking him away.".
"Yes Sir Mr. Harry!" Hogsy said happily before popping away and back again, this time carrying a still whimpering Severus Snape.
Nodding to the elf he picked the man up by the collar and threw him at the feet of the aurors while Hogsy popped away, "Here's the bastard," he said simply before giving the two a hard look "make sure he doesn't escape.".
"We won't." the younger auror, a girl with bubblegum pink hair said happily as she 'accidentally' kicked Snape as she walked over, the two aurors quickly dragged the deranged man away.
Turning to the shocked occupants of the room he nodded respectfully to Madame Maxime and Highmaster Karkarof before sneering at Dumbledore and storming out to check on Susan. When he got to the Hospital Wing he was grabbed by Madame Pomphrey and shoved onto a hospital bed, "What did you do this time?" the Matron asked exasperated, "I was hoping to have you not need to visit me this year.".
"I came here to check on Susan." He deadpanned to the now embarrassed Matron who let him up before rushing to her office.
Turning he saw Susan giggling weakly from her bed as she sat propped up surrounded by the others. "How're you feeling Su?" he asked as he rushed over and took one of her hands in his own.
"I've been better," she admitted weakly "but it could have been a lot worse. What happened to Snape?".
"Right now he is in a ministry holding cell without any hands." He told her while gesturing to his empty scabbard where his sword had been "I had to give the sword to the elves to clean though as I didn't want to hold it too much when it had Snape's, and a bit of Dumbledore's, blood on it.".
"That poor, poor sword." Alice said fake sobbing causing Susan to giggle again.
"So how long are you going to be in here?" he asked Susan as he began to gently stroke her hair.
"Just for a couple nights," Susan assured him "Madame Pomphrey wants to make sure the poison is completely out of my system and see that I get my strength back.".
He spent the rest of the day in the Hospital Wing with Susan and the others until Madame Pomphrey came over to shoo them out. Turning to Amelia he asked "Care to join us at our Quarters for a little while?".
"I'd like that." Amelia said nodding as they made their way back to the quarters, ignoring the looks they got from the few students they passed in the halls. The moment they were inside the quarters and the door closed Amelia dropped her glamour and attacked his mouth with her own, "I've missed this," she breathed as she peppered his face and neck with kisses, "I've missed you.".
Sitting down on the couch with Amelia still holding tightly on to him he asked "Have you though any more about furthering our relationship?".
"I have," she admitted "and I…I'd like to do it. Not to keep my job, not to screw over fudge, but because it's what I want to do.".
"The other two are just a bonus?" he asked teasingly.
"Exactly." Amelia said with a slight giggle.
Laughing he picked her up and carried her upstairs to bed where he spent the rest of the night getting 'reacquainted' with her. The next morning Amelia walked down with them to breakfast, he made sure to apologize to Professor Flitwick for missing his lesson the previous day, and received an owl during the meal stating that Snape's trial had been set for later in the afternoon seeing as many of the people on the Wizenagamot wanted to see the foul man convicted.
Partway through the meal Victor, Rina, and Cedric walked up to the table and asked what had happened and were quite obviously furious when they found out what Snape had done. Finally it was time to leave for the trial and the Wizenagamot meeting that would occur immediately afterwards.
"Let this, the trial of one Severus Snape, begin." Dumbledore said once everyone had been seated in the Wizenagamot chambers but he could tell that the old man was up to something. "Before we begin, as is tradition, does anyone have any reason to object to any of the proceedings today.".
"I do," he said standing and he could see surprise written on the faces of many of the members of the council as they turned to him "I object to your leading this trial. You are biased in the favor of the accused and as such I call for a temporary Chief Warlock or Chief Witch for the duration of this trial.".
"Any seconds?" Dumbledore asked, his voice clearly portraying that he didn't want anyone to support him.
"I have multiple Seats Dumbledore," he stated before anyone could say anything "I count as my own second for any suggested motions.".
A vote was quickly put forward and Dumbledore was removed from his position for the trial's duration and Cedric's father, Amos Diggory, took his place. "Bring in the accused." Amos said, punctuating his statement with the bang of a gavel.
Snape was then dragged in by the same aurors from yesterday and thrown in a chair which quickly wrapped the man in chains. "Severus Snape," Amos began "you stand accused of the attempted murder via poison of Susan Bones, Concubine to the Lord Potter and daughter of the Director of Magical Law Enforcement. How do you plea?".
"I'll get you for this Potter!" Snape screamed, spit flying form his mouth as he struggled against the chains that bound him when he heard the name Potter.
"Aurors!" Amos yelled "Restrain him!", the two aurors rushed forward and used a few spells to further restrain the deranged man, "Again, how do you plea?".
"That bitch got what she deserved!" Snape ranted, not seeming to care that the majority of the Wizenagamot was looking down on him with disgust "Now release me!".
"Severus Snape," Amos said in a voice so cold it surprised many of the room's occupants, including himself, before continuing "you have admitted to the attempted murder of a fine young woman. You also show no remorse for doing so. I move to have you locked up in Azkaban for the remainder of your days. All in favor?". Almost everyone in attendance raised their wands in agreement, the only ones who did not were Malfoy and Dumbledore who looked sickened. "It is decided. Severus Snape, you are hereby sentenced to Azkaban for the remainder of your natural life. Aurors, take him away.".
Severus Snape was then dragged, kicking and screaming from the hall by the two aurors until the doors slammed shut behind him, sealing away the sounds of his deranged screaming. Dumbledore quickly retook his seat as Chief Warlock and opened up the Wizenagamot meeting.
"Let this, the sixteenth meeting of the Wizenagamot for the year 1994 begin. Now before we begin as is tradition we must ask if there is anyone today who wishes to attempt to claim a seat on this council.". After a minute of nobody speaking up Dumbledore nodded and moved on, "Are there any announcements that need to be made to this body?".
"I have made a change in Ministerial Policy," the portly fool announced smugly "starting January First of the year 1995 any unmarried woman at the ministry will be fired and only married women will be hired.".
Shooting a glance at Amelia he saw her nod and he stood up as well, "As my engagements must be registered with this body I am announcing that I am now engaged to marry another woman who will become my fourth wife.".
An outbreak of excited chatter met his declaration as those present wondered who it would be and it took several minutes for Dumbledore to regain control and ask for silence. "Who is this woman Lord Potter?" Dumbledore asked and he could tell that the old man was silently begging for it to be someone that would be easy to manipulate.
"May I present," he said as he gestured to Amelia who stood up "the Lady Amelia Bones soon to be Gryffindor.".
At his words he saw several things that amused him, first was the look of horror on Dumbledore's face at once again losing a chance to control him, the look on Fudge's face was near apoplectic with rage and jealousy, and the rest of the Wizenagamot was a medley of confusion, surprise, approval, and annoyance.
Offering his hand he pulled Amelia into the seats and set her down onto the Gryffindor seat while reversing her glamour, he had discussed doing so with her beforehand, and this time the assembled members of the body weren't even surprised.
"Are there any more announcements to be made?" Dumbledore asked resignedly. When none were forthcoming Dumbledore continued, "Does anyone wish to put forth a motion?".
"I do." he said standing up and gained many curious, and wary, looks. "With Minister Fudge's new policy then several employees of the ministry will be lost. I wish to put forth a proposal to show Minister Fudge's determination to help our government's female workers as well as allowing one of them to keep her job.".
"What are you saying?" Fudge hissed out in a mixture of confusion, fear, and anger.
"I wish to put forth a motion to arrange the marriage of Minister Fudge with Senior Undersecretary Dolores Jane Umbridge." he announced to the shock of the body.
"All in favor?" Dumbledore called out and it was clear that the old man wasn't sure whether to support or oppose his suggestion. Almost every hand was raised for it as many of those assembled didn't like Fudge and thought this was a fitting punishment. "Motion Carried." Dumbledore called out leaving Fudge looking horrified in his seat while Umbridge looked quite pleased, a sight that sickened him to be honest.
The rest of the meeting went without problems but as he was leaving he decided to give Fudge one last parting shot, "Enjoy the Honeymoon Minister." He said smirking slightly before leaving with a laughing Amelia on his arm.