Severus entered Courtroom 10 not alone and treated as if already found guilty, but surrounded by those who believed his innocence.

That Lucius Malfoy strode in beside him wasn't a surprise to anyone. That Arthur Weasley, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin along with Harika Potter and her husband, Lord Slytherin accompanied the dour man shocked many.

All but Hari stopped at the edge of the center pit as Severus covered the remaining distance to the judgment chair.

"Madam Bones, I present myself to you as I swore to do."

"Please be seated Mr. Snape. Lady Slytherin is there a reason for your presence within the pit?"

"Yes, Madam Bones. As it appears Professor Snape is to be chained," she gave the manacled chair a look of absolute detestation, "and therefore unable to protect himself, I declare myself his Champion during this trial. Any who lose their temper and attempt to harm him illegally shall have to contend with me first. My husband shall vote my seats as my proxy in this case."

Snape barely managed to conceal his shock. He daren't turn to look at the Dark Lord. He knew though that his lord no matter how relaxed he appeared was drawn tight, hyperaware while his young wife and unborn child was exposed to even the small amount of danger present here.

Others didn't have his control and a wave of murmurings swept the room. The Savior was championing a known Death Eater? Dumbledore had vouched for his change of heart but most didn't truly believe it and it was known that Snape had been cruel to Potter over the years.

Madam Bones stared down at the young witch. "At another time I may have been offended at the idea of the old custom being activated, but knowing what I do I understand why you have done so."

"Old custom…I am not aware of any such custom." Minister Fudge blustered. "Unless she is counsel she should take a seat."

"If I may," Lord Slytherin spoke up from where he had taken a stance at the edge of the pit instead of moving to take a seat in the Slytherin box. "In olden days it was not uncommon for those proven innocent or about to reveal information others did not want revealed to be struck down while defenseless. Oft times in a crowd such as this the assailant was never seen. The idea of a Champion was enacted in 1273 to provide a measure of safety to the accused."

"Ah, yes, thank you Lord Slytherin. We shall proceed then." Fudge did not want to cross the enigmatic young lord that radiated power. "Be seated Mr. Snape."

Snape sat in the chair with a grimace. The chains rattled then rose to wrap around his wrists and ankles.

Hari flicked her wand and a shield flared up around him immediately.

"Lady Slytherin, a shield is a draining thing to maintain."

"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I'll be fine."

Murmurs of arrogance and seeing her humbled intermingled with questions about her power levels whirled about the room.

"Severus Snape you are accused of attacking Albus Dumbledore, Alastair Moody and John Dawlish resulting in the death of Moody and Dawlish. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

Fudge stared at him. "You deny killing Dawlish and Moody."

"I deny killing Alastair Moody. John Dawlish I killed in self-defense."

"Self-defense?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Snape are you a Death Eater?"

Severus sighed and ducked his head a moment then raised it to look the Wizengamot members in the eyes. "As a youth I was misled and took the Mark, I admit to that. Before I turned eighteen I realized the mistake I made and turned to Albus Dumbledore for sanctuary and a way to make amends. I have spied on the Dark Lord for him ever since."

A wand lit. A witch asked, "And you would swear that you have not seen Lady Potter in the company of You Know Who as Albus Dumbledore keeps claiming?"

"I have only been called to his side twice since July 17th, Madam. At those two times, I have not seen Potter in the company of Voldemort. I swear it." Magic swirled around him.

There were flinches and cries of fear all over the chamber.

Hari exhaled softly. They were playing a dangerous game of semantics right now.

"And as far as you know the Goblins did not help You Know Who create a false identity?" Another Wizengamot member questioned.

"Have Goblins ever helped wizards?" Snape drawled.

There was a muted chuckle at that.

Hari noted he did not swear on this statement and spoke up. "I do not believe these questions relate to the charges, Minister Fudge."

"Quite right, Lady Slytherin." Fudge agreed. "Mr. Snape, Dumbledore says that you attacked him, Moody and Dawlish without provocation. How did you know where they were?"

Snape stared at him like he did his first year students. "I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix. We were called to a meeting by Dumbledore."

"And what do you do in these meetings?"

"Disseminate any new information on the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters. Discuss what to do about Hari Potter."

"Have you ever murdered anyone?"

"That is not what he is on trial for today." Lady Slytherin snapped. "Enough of these fishing expeditions. Contain your questions to the specific charges."

"You are a Champion, young lady not counsel."

"I am Lady Slytherin and a member of the Wizengamot. You will not address me so disrespectfully." Hari snapped her magic flaring out in outrage. It filled the room with a hint of immense power. Hari carefully kept the true levels hidden so Dumbledore would not know how powerful she was now.

"Minister, instead of wasting your precious time and the Wizengamot's time perhaps I should present the evidence of the case and then any unclear points could be cleared up."

"Hmmm, excellent idea, Madam Bones. My schedule is quite full."

Amelia hid her sneer as she called for the court pensieve e as she stepped from her seat and made her way to the pedestal the pensieve sat on. "Severus Snape met with myself and two aurors and told his version of events of July 29th. He willingly gave a memory of the meeting and what occurred afterwards."

Dumbledore leaped to his feet. "Showing that memory will endanger several people who are fighting against Voldemort."

There were flinches and cries of fear all over the chamber. Hari rolled her eyes at their histrionics. She smirked at the dark amusement her husband sent her way. It amused them both that the Dark Lord the masses all feared was standing nonchalantly in their midst unbeknownst to them all.

"So you would let another innocent man go to Azkaban to keep your secrets?" Hari snarled at him, eyes flashing dangerously.

Dumbledore glared back nearly vibrating with animosity.

"The memory shows a few members of Albus Dumbledore's vigilante group, The Order of the Phoenix. Having seen the memory I believe it is his actions he does not want everyone to see." Madam Bones stated.

Fudge looked at Dumbledore and saw the worry and anger he was trying to hide. Recent articles in the Daily Prophet and that rag, The Quibbler, had caused doubt to spread about Dumbledore's sparkling reputation. Here was the opportunity to besmirch Dumbledore's reputation even further. "Justice must be served. Proceed, Madam Bones."

Dumbledore's wand jerked upward; a spell flew at the pensieve as the silvery thread fell into the bowl. Several shields flared up around it and Madam Bones.

"You are out of line, Dumbledore!"

"I am the Chief Warlock and I order you not to show that memory."

"You are not presiding over this trial, Chief Warlock since you are involved in it. Sit down!"

Dumbledore glared at them all and sat down.

She tapped the side.

The memory played out. The meeting unfolded. Dumbledore's caginess displayed before everyone. Tom glared at Dumbledore for calling him an unfortunate by-blow.

Then Dumbledore dismissed everyone except Dawlish, Moody and Snape. The congenial grandfatherly persona slid away like oil from a slick surface. People shivered at the dangerous tone none present had ever heard from Dumbledore.

The Dumbledore on display in the pensieve was the Dumbledore that had dueled and defeated Grindelwald. It was a Dumbledore that was willing to do anything no matter how Dark or illegal to attain his goals as long as he wasn't caught doing them.

They saw Moody attack first and without provocation. The battle happened fast and furious leaving nearly everyone in the room stunned at the speed of Dumbledore, Moody and Snape's spell casting. Snape moved almost inhumanly fast to dodge the multiple spells coming at him. The spells themselves left most ill and shivering for they weren't Light spells being cast.

Hari gave Snape a fast speculative look. Most witches and wizards were too lazy to even wonder about his speed but she could see the vampire inheritance at work now that she knew it was there. She also noted that the some of the spells didn't seem to hurt him as badly as they should have.

A full third of the people vomited when the torture began. To the Dark Lord's amusement, some even weakly cheered when Voldemort appeared to save his follower.

Snape was trembling in his chains as the torture played out. His screams of agony echoing around the chamber as skin and muscle was excised and peeled from his bones. He moaned and dropped his head forward when the reductos hit his hands.

A hand touched his arm reminding him he was not alone and he glanced sideways to see Hari, white as snow and visibly shaking as tears trailed down her face. Her aura wrapped around him powerful and supportive.

The memory ended.

Madam Bones looked around the assembled Wizengamot members. "Those that find Severus Snape innocent of the crime he is accused of today…the crime of attacking and killing John Dawlish and attacking Alastair Moody without cause raise your hand."

A sea of hands rose into the air. Hari clutched Snape's shoulder in subdued joy.

"Those who find him guilty."

Only three hands rose. Hari noted them.

Fudge banged his gavel. "The court finds Severus Snape innocent."

The chains fell away and Snape stood shaking in relief. He suddenly found himself with an arm full of witch as Hari flung herself at him wrapping him in a bone breaking hug. He twitched in surprise then gently returned the hug. "Thank you, my lady." He whispered in her ear as the magic wrapped around him filled with warmth and affection.

She stepped back grinning at him. "You are most welcome, Professor."

Fudge banged the gavel several times until quiet fell. "You are free to go Mr. Snape. This trial is over. However, the Wizengamot members will remain to discuss the actions of the Chief Warlock."

Rabastan stood by the fireplace listening to plot after plot, plan after plan being made and discarded. He had yet to come up with a believable reason to leave the manor. Bella was demanding he be in attendance as well as Rodolphus and help her plan. Every time he came up with an errand she overruled him saying it wasn't more important than freeing their Lord from Potter's control.

If he didn't come up with a reason soon, he would just have to make a run for it and hope he made it to the Dark Lord before Bella caught up with him.