Chapter Thirteen

Harry felt suffocated by so many arms around him. For some weird reason, all the younger Weasleys and Hermione were already at the Burrow waiting for him, and seemed more concerned about making sure he was okay than telling him what was so urgent he had to come back in such short notice. Mrs. Weasley decided he was too thin, and dragged him to the kitchen, putting a large plate of food in front of him. The smell made his already unstable stomach do cartwheels, and only with a lot of effort he put one fork down to calm the older woman. They were all talking at the same time, some complaining he didn't send any news, others telling him all that'd happened while he was away, and he couldn't really understand anything.

"Stop!" He said out loud, standing up and surprising everybody with his rudeness. "You can tell me all about that later. Right now, I just want to know what's so important about Snape I had to come back for." He looked around as everybody avoided his gaze, looking embarrassed. "So?"

"Come on, kids, we better let them talk." Molly pushed Ginny and the twins out of the room, and for once they complied without complaining.

Both Ron and Hermione sat on the table across from him, and waited for him to do the same. "Harry... Snape isn't dead." The girl said quietly, watching her friend jump up from his chair again.

"What? Where is he? When can I see him? Why didn't you tell me before? And-"

"Harry, listen to me!" She said louder than him, making the boy sit back down. "He's alive. They only found that out hours after you left Hogwarts. And we didn't say anything because we didn't even know where you were to send you an owl."

"Well, you could've found me if you wanted to." He mumbled angrily.

"We couldn't, mate. Not even you knew where you were going, so how could we?"

"Fine. What matters is that he's alive. When can I see him?"

"It's complicated. He's in St. Mungo's. He's in a coma, Harry."

"What's happened to him?"

"Nobody really knows. Only he'll be able to tell us how he survived Voldemort's attack, but the fact is, he managed to reach Remus's body and perform spells on him to keep him alive until help came. He'd seen Remus be attacked, and knew he was still alive. We'd all thought he died as well, and he would've, if not for Snape."

"He gave the rest of his energy and magic to save Remus, mate." Ron said quietly. As much as he hated his former professor, the gesture had impressed him and he had to respect the man for it. "He sent a message to McGonagall. He knew nobody else would believe him. When we got to the body, Fawkes was there guarding him. He wouldn't let anybody near. I've never seen a bird so scary before."

"It was only McGonagall who managed to get close to Snape's body. And it was her who got him to be admitted to St. Mungo's instead of being sent straight to Azkaban. Can you believe it, Harry? They found him alive and wanted to kill him right away."

"St. Mungo's, you said?" Harry stood up, heading for the living room.

"Harry, wait!" The girl asked, following him.

"I can't wait, Hermione. Whatever it is, it can wait. I have to see Snape."

"Why do you care so much about him anyway, mate?" Ron frowned at him.

"Shut up, Ron! Don't you see it?"

"See what?"

"Ah, never mind. You are really thick." She turned to Harry. "We'll go with you. We'll probably get in faster that way."

"Why do I have to go?" Ron whined.

"Oh, fine, stay then, Ronald. Let's go, Harry." She grabbed the boy by the hand and, throwing some Floo powder on the fireplace, took them both to the hospital.

They arrived at the hospital's main entrance, and it only took seconds for everybody in the lounge to recognize him and practically jump on him. Fortunately, security worked for once, and almost as fast as people gathered around him, they were removed, and Harry and Hermione were taken to a private room. The hospital workers were surprised to see him, but after a severe look form the girl, they promptly took them to Snape's room and called the doctor responsible for him.

Inside the room, a monitoring spell propelled a quill to write incessantly; the Potions Master - the only patient in the room - was on a bed with impeccably white sheets, contrasting with the black hair and making his skin even paler. Draco was sitting by the bed, and looked up when they arrived. Harry noticed immediately his friend looked exhausted, and wondered for how long he'd been there. The boys only had time to exchange a smile before the doctor arrived to talk to him.

"Mr. Potter, it's an honor to have-"

"How is he?" He hated to be treated like that, especially when there were so many more important things craving attention.

"Ah, yes. Well, there hasn't been much change in his condition so far. We've managed to stabilize him, but he's been unconscious since he's been found. Initially we thought he had just exhausted his energy and magic resources, but both those indicators have returned to normal levels and he still didn't wake up. There's nothing physically wrong with Mr. Snape, but from we've been informed, he's been subject to a very extensive and intense amount of Dark Magic, and it necessarily leaves marks. I am not sure if you're aware of it, Mr. Potter, but very few injuries caused by Dark Magic can be helped at all."

"So you're saying there's nothing you can do for him?"

Feeling a very strong note of anger on the boy's voice, the doctor took a step back. "We've called specialists from all over the world, Mr. Potter, but nobody's been able to help. Perhaps if he wakes up, but-"

"Fine. Thank you, doctor. I want to see him now." Harry turned his back and walked into the room, watching Draco stand up. His expression softened as their eyes met. "Draco. How is he?"

"Same as always, I'm afraid."

Harry stood on the other side of the bed, and tenderly pushed away a lock of hair that'd fallen over Snape's eye. His hair was longer than he remembered. Draco looked away, slightly embarrassed with such an intimate scene.

"And you, Draco? How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"You look tired."

"No wonder." Hermione called from the door. She was leaning against the threshold, her arms crossed over her chest and her lips curled up in a smile. "He's been alternating being here and caring for Remus. I wonder how long it's been since he had a decent night of sleep."

"I'll have time to sleep when I'm dead, Granger." He smiled at her.

"Well, you do look like you could use some beauty sleep, Draco. You used to look much better- Ouch!" The blond boy had walked to Harry's side and punched him on the arm.

"I have to check on Remus. Take care of Snape, Potter." Draco said as he was leaving.

"And I better get back to Ron. I bet he's pissed in some corner. Will you be alright, Harry?"

"Yeah. Don't worry." After his friends left, he summoned and armchair and just looked at the man on the bed for several minutes. His features seemed softer now he wasn't frowning at anybody. Harry ran a finger on his cheek, feeling his skin as soft as he remembered it. "Hello, Professor. Headmaster." He tried to smile, but his eyes filled up with tears instead. "You did it. Together you and I saved the world. We defeated Voldemort. For good." He dried a tear running down his cheek and reached for Snape's hand. "You'd laugh of me, wouldn't you? You'd say I'm being pathetic, wouldn't you? Not being able to control my emotions. Well, you're the one who's being pathetic, you know. Refusing to wake up like this. Just because you didn't expect to live. But I did! I made plans for us. I'd make you like me as much as I like you. So I need you to wake up, okay? You need to wake up so we can be together."

Harry looked up, his eyes blurry with tears, to find Snape exactly like before. He hit the man's chest in anger, and quickly began apologizing. There was so much going on in his head he didn't know what else to do. He just sat there crying until he fell asleep. When he woke up, Hermione was shaking his shoulder, Ron stood beside her and night had fallen.

"Go home, Harry. Get some rest, you can come back tomorrow. "

"I'm not going anywhere."

"He'll be fine, and they'll let us know if anything changes."

"No. I'm staying here."

"Mate, he's been like that for two months."

"Two months I should've been here."

"What if he never wakes up?"

"Well, then, Ron, I'll be here forever."

"Think about it, Harry. That's not what Snape would want-"

"Don't talk about what he would want!" His voice came out louder than he would've liked, and he took a deep breath before continuing. "You don't know anything about him, so don't tell me what he would want."

"And you think anything's going to change if you stay here, mate?"

"I..." He hadn't really thought of that. What did he expect? He'd show up and talk to Snape a little and just like magic the man would wake up? Was he really that childish? "I'm staying."

"Well, suit yourself. Hermione and I are going home."

"You got together? At last?" He attempted a smile.

"Last month." The girl blushed a little. "Things were really rough after you left. And then... things just worked out."

"I'm glad for you. It was about time." They both smiled to Harry a little embarrassed. "Where are you living?"

"The Burrow for now. But we've got jobs, and we're already looking to buy someplace of our own."

"That's great, mate."

"Yeah."

"We can talk about it later, right, boys? It's getting late." Hermione checked her watch. "We'll be back tomorrow, Harry. We still have a lot to talk about."

"I'll be here."

"I just don't understand why." Ron whispered to Hermione as they left the room, and the last thing he saw was the girl hitting the back of his head. Harry smiled weakly, and looked back to the man in front of him. After a few minutes, he transfigured the armchair he was sitting in into a bed and fell into an agitated sleep.

"Hi Harry. How was your night?" Hermione asked as she and Ron entered the room. He'd been up for a few hours, and had turned the bed back into a chair. They both dragged seats close to him.

"Not too good. Nightmares."

"About Voldemort?"

"I guess you can say that. I don't remember it, but I keep seeing Snape saving me in front of Voldemort and being thrown away. I've had that nightmare since I left Hogwarts."

"I'm sorry, Harry. But I'm sure he'll wake up and then it'll be fine." She leaned forward and squeezed his hand.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"She told me you like him, Harry." Ron's face was as red as his hair. "Is it true?"

"Yes, Ron."

"Why him? Of all people?"

"He's an incredible person, if you give him the chance." Harry smiled at the redhead, who still refused to look at him.

"If you say so."

"Well, boys, you can talk about that later. Now, Harry, there's something very important we need to talk to you about. The reason I needed you back so quickly."

"It wasn't just because he was alive?"

"Well, if we don't solve this, he won't be alive for much longer."

"What do you mean?"

"Since the war ended, the Ministry has been pushing for fast processing of the Death Eaters, starting with the most well-known. Many died, so Snape was pretty high on their list."

"They can't prosecute him! He was working for us! And he's not even able to defend himself!" Harry felt agitated and stood up.

"We know that, Harry! Please calm down."

He looked from the girl to Snape in the bed before sitting back down. "Everybody knows he was our spy! He saved my life! He almost died because of it!" His tone was still higher than normal.

"The thing is, Harry, without either of you, we can't prove any of that. Whatever you two had set up that required him to give you that potion, you didn't even tell us. They're arguing that Snape knew you were alive and was trying to poison you, but Voldemort wanted to kill you himself and cursed him."

"That's not true!"

"I know, Harry!" She insisted, sounding tired. "But nobody will believe us just for the sake of it. And since you weren't here, and he is in a coma, there wasn't anybody to prove otherwise. I'm really glad you wrote us when you did, because his sentencing is scheduled for next week."

"What?" He was appalled. How did that happen? Snape should be getting a medal at least, not being sued like a disgusting Death Eater. He was a war hero as much as Harry himself. "What can I do to help?"

"The main charge, killing Dumbledore, was already dismissed thanks to some evidence McGonagall took to the court. So they're trying to get him for spying and indirectly causing all the deaths resultant from the Death Eaters' attacks."

"They can't do that!"

"They're trying to reestablish the Ministry, Harry. They have to show they're doing something, and Snape is an easy target."

"Well, I'm going there right now. I'll have this cleared up."

Ron smiled at his girlfriend. "I told you he'd do that."

She ignored him. "Harry, you can't just barge into the Ministry like that! There are procedurals-"

"Hermione, I'm fucking Harry Potter. And that has to be worth something." He said decisively. "I'm going now. You two keep an eye on Snape, and if he even as much as breath differently, I want you to tell me immediately, okay?"

"You're obsessed, mate." Ron smiled, and Harry returned.

"That's because it isn't Hermione on that bed, or you wouldn't say that. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, mate."

"Good luck, Harry."

He apparated right from the hospital to the Ministry lobby, and demanded to talk to the person in charge of Snape's trial. The woman on the front desk tried to stop him, but he was too determinate to be held back by paperwork. Ignoring the woman's warnings, he hopped into an elevator and asked the person next to him which floor was the Minister's office. After recovering from the shock of seeing the boy in the same cubicle as himself, the man pointed him in the right way and jumped off the elevator the next time it stopped.

Harry rolled his eyes, and started getting impatient with the increasing number of stops that particular lift was taking. Luckily for him, he met Arthur Weasley on his way, and the older man accompanied him to the Minister's office. Lucky because otherwise Harry would've been sent to Azkaban for killing the most important political figure in the wizarding world.

"I am truly sorry, Mr. Potter, but there are no exceptions. No new evidence may be introduced on the case against Death Eater Snape."

"He's not a Death Eater! He was on our side!"

"I'm afraid the evidence point otherwise, Mr. Potter."

"You don't understand! You can't do this to him!"

"I can and I am, Mr. Potter. Or are you questioning the authority of the Ministry?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What I'm questioning is your authority. I know-"

"What he means, Lawrence, is that exceptional circumstances allow exceptional measures to be taken." He stopped Harry before the boy could get himself into more trouble. Even considering the circumstances, the boy couldn't help being surprised to see Mr. Weasley referring to the Minister by his first name. How much had changes since he'd left?

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Arthur. Even him being who he is, I can't give him privileges. Imagine how it would make the Minstry look to the public."

"He was unreachable at the time evidence was being presented, Lawrence. And I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that there is a sub article in our constitution that goes something like this: if crucial evidence, regardless of being in favor or against the defendant, emerges at any point during the trial and it is proven that it could not have been presented at any moment before then, the new evidence is admissible." He leaned over to Harry and whispered in his ear, "I've been studying law. Dumbledore thought it would be useful." And winked at him.

"I am afraid you are correct, Arthur. But, as I'm sure you are aware, it would require you to prove the boy wasn't accessible at any moment before now."

"I can prove it!" Harry almost screamed. "How far back do you need to go?"

"The time limit for evidence presentation expired twenty days ago, Mr. Potter."

"Well, I was in Canada then. I'm sure the people who took me in would have no problem confirming that. And that I've just returned to the country yesterday, and heard about this outrageous situation this morning." He smiled triumphantly.

"Is it so, Mr. Potter? Well, then we'll need the names of those people, and I'll have my employees confirm your statement."

"I don't think that's a good enough arrangement, Lawrence. I know by experience that those processes can take weeks, and Professor Snape is due to be sentenced next Tuesday."

"Well, isn't that unfortunate, Arthur?" He smiled, but it quickly faded.

"Well, you're the Minister, aren't you, Lawrence? I'm sure Harry has the address of those friends. We'll contact them immediately through the Floo Network, and have that problem solved. Are you comfortable with that, Harry?"

"Yes, of course, Mr. Weasley."

"I-I think we could do that." The Minister reluctantly agreed. "The address, please, Harry."

The boy handed over a piece of paper to the man and, within minutes, they had proved Harry was telling the truth. Arthur and the boy left the office smiling and with a hearing set for the next afternoon.