Recess ended up taking half an hour, it seemed like the judge had some papers to go through, it also gave both defense and prosecution time to gather their cases.
Not that the prosecution had much to do and he seemed to realize that as well. What-ever he said would make him look bad in the public eye.
Then finally it was time to re-assume, people were seated down, the judge returned and Snape was brought back.
"Professor Snape." The judge finally spoke. "In our last session, we came to the conclusion your way of contacting wizards has been through a patronus, a doe." he stated. "This is key evidence, I must ask you to perform a patronus. Please!" he waved a hand.
A Auror walked forward and then offered Snape a wand, a short brown wand, clearly one for lend.
Snapes black eyes though merely looked emptily at it.
"Well?" The judge asked then Snape cleared his throat as he raised his head.
"Patronus is highly advanced as well as highly personal magic." Snape started to lecture as if he was teaching a class room, folding his long fingers together in front of him. "For a Patronus to be formed, wizard and wand need to be in perfect sync. It is not magic that would be possible to perform with a borrowed wand." he stated.
It looked like Snape was not going to disgrace himself by even trying.
The judge frowned, clearly this wasn't good. If Snape failed to showcase a patronus it would be a great strike against him.
Harry though, could only praise his lucky stars as slowly he stood up, then he found a long square box. Everyone's eyes were on him as Harry walked up to Snape until they were right in front of each other, for a moment he looked at Snapes gaunt face. Then he removed the lid revealing a slender black wand.
There was a great gasp.
"WHY WASN'T THAT WAND DESTROYED?!" The prosecutor shouted. "It is procedure!"
"The wand was given to me!" Harry stated firmly. "Which makes it my property, I have not been convicted of any crimes. So snapping my property is not legal." he stated.
Jestin smirked, as well did many others. Sure, the wand hadn't actually been given to Harry more like… entrusted. But the judge and prosecutor didn't need to know that. It was a great loophole no one seemed to have thought about.
Snape though didn't seem to have heard any of it, his black eyes were fixated on the wand, and there was a certain kind of longing in them, a longing to reach out and pick up his old friend, the wand as well seemed to be screaming. Screaming for its master to just pick it up already.
"Professor Snape." Harry then spoke calmly. "A patronus. Please." he asked.
Finally Snape reached forwards, his hands were shaking, then… he picked up the wand and a calmness seemed to wash over him. Snape closed his eyes as he held the wand, and his body finally seemed to relax, he raised up… It was like his former strength was being returned to him, his relaxed posture, there was stunned silence as Snape took a breath, then he firmly spoke. "Exspecto Patronum!" And out shot a beautiful and elegant silver doe, people gasped as the doe was galloping in the air, going above the heads of the entire audience.
"THAT'S IT!" A woman from the back shouted. "THAT'S THE DOE THAT WARNED US!" she shouted.
"The doe that patrolled the hallways." Neville gasped.
Jestin swallowed. "Yes… That's the doe that saved me and my husband." she breathed.
"Merlin it's beautiful." Hermione whispered.
"Yeah." Harry had to agree. All Patronus's were beautiful, this one though… There was something special about it, something… even more elegant and refined than a regular patronus. Draco's eyes were wide as well as he fallowed the patronus as it was riding on the air.
Then finally the Patronus returned to its master and stopped, standing right next to Snape.
It was, a little bit weird. Beforehand Harry couldn't even imagine the two standing together, but now as they were like that… They seemed to fit perfectly together. The doe indeed looked like a natural extension of Snape. In spite of them also looking like complete opposites, Snape looking so dark and broody while the patronus was pure light and airy elegance.
Snape glanced down at the patronus, it was impossible to read his eyes, then, the Patronus was canceled, turning into a silvery mist before the mist vanished into the air.
There was stunned silence then gently Snape put the wand back into the box Harry offered him, the moment after though his head raised up, his body stood strong and proud, it was clear that something had changed, there was a strength coming from Snape that hadn't been there before, his eyes that had looked dead a few moments ago now had a certain defiance in them and as he spoke, his velvet smooth strong voice seemed to be returning.
"Albus Dumbledore entrusted me with a job!" Snape spoke clearly for anyone to hear. "I was to keep the students of hogwarts safe, at any cost!" he stated. "To do that, I had to gain the dark lords trust! July 1997, Dumbledore got his hands on one of the dark lords old relics, and old ring formerly belonging to Marvolo Gaunt! For reasons I do not phantom Dumbledore elected to put on that ring, it sealed his fate!" Snape stated. "I managed to safe Dumbledores life at that time, but he was dying, how long he had left I did not know, I gave him about a year." he informed. "At the same time, Draco Malfoy was working to smuggle death eaters into Hogwarts. He was under threat, his parents were the dark lords hostages. I was there when the dark lord ordered Malfoy to kill Albus Dumbledore, he was given an ultimatum. Kill Albus Dumbledore or watch his parents die! I informed Albus Dumbledore of this, and Dumbledore specifically asked me to take Draco Malfoys place… To safe Draco Malfoys soul."
Harry couldn't believe it! Finally, after all this time! Snape was fighting back! Harry had to contain himself so he didn't start to jump up and down like Tippy always would.
Jestin gaped then she swallowed. "So what you are saying is…. Dumbledore asked you to kill him?" she asked.
"Not just asked me to." Snape stated in a dark voice. "It was an order." he stated. "I was… to cast the killing curse. Save Draco Malfoys soul, save the lives of the Malfoys. Plant myself as the dark lords most trusted servant, use my position to protect the students of Hogwarts! Deliver the sword of Godrick Gryffindor to Harry Potter and manipulate events in our favor. But under no circumstances give away my true alliance. That was the role entrusted to me. And the role that I carried out."
Harry closed his eyes, Snape actually saying it, it was like all the final puzzle pieces were falling into place, creating a clear and perfect picture, everything fit together perfectly.
All the rest honestly felt like formality, Draco was the first one brought up to testify. Then Harry himself, then McGonagall and so many others afterwards. And every single witness was only corporated Snapes story.
It was a looong day, several recess's were made, the jury was listening intensely. Finally, the last recess was made. The jury was out to discuss and so was the judge, when he came back. The final judgment.
Harry just sat there, rigid as a board. Hermione was firmly holding his hand, squishing it so hard it was downright painful.
Harry wasn't suffering alone though, she was doing it to Ron to on her other side.
Jestin as well was sitting absolutely still, McGonagalls mouth had become a thin line in her face as she sat still while Neville and Luna to was holding hands.
Then finally, the judge stepped out, with Snape in tow… Still in chains.
Everyone was quiet, no one had to be told to be quiet. Then the judge spoke. "The jury's vote has been unanimous." the judge spoke. "The vote was following… Was Severus Snape in service of he who must not be named… Or Dumbledore. The unanimous response… Severus Snape was clearly a servant of Dumbledore."
A big roar sounded from the entire auditorium.
"ORDER! ORDER!" The judge shouted, it took several minutes but finally they managed to calm down and the judge cleared his throat. "Given the evidence presented to me, I must conclude the same." he stated. "Thus, we have now proven without a doubt that from the time period July 1980 to May 1998, Severus Snape was actively working as a spy in the service of the wizarding world. The rules for spies doing war times is following…. A spy under cover can not be held accountable for any crimes committed whilst being under cover. Thus, any crimes committed in the time period stated. Absolved!" he slammed a gavel down into the table.
Harry could barely even believe his ears, was this seriously happening? Had they really done it?
"This still leaves the crimes committed between the time period of june 1978 and July 1980. To those you pleaded guilty. Does this plead still hold?" The judge asked.
Snape nodded his head. "Yes."
"Very well, for those crimes I sentence you to thirteen years in Azkaban." The judge stated. "For the heroics and lives saved in following decades, I hereby by the power granted to me retract twelve years, you are to serve one year in Azkaban. As this sentence has already been carried out, I hereby allow you probation for six months. Breaking of probation or any crimes committed in this time period will overrule the retraction of twelve years and it is back to Azkaban. Court adjourned!"
And a huge yell sounded, everyone seemed to be screaming or yelling. This time though the judge couldn't care less as he merely gathered his papers and got the hell out of there.
Snape stood rigid, ones again it was impossible to read his face. It was like he could not quite comprehend what had just happened…. Harry couldn't blame him really, he also had a hard time figuring it out.
Finally an auror came to Snapes aid with a key and put it into Snapes heavy handcuff, a second after they fell to the ground in a big clank, allowing Snape to massage his wrist as he looked down at the metal object that had beforehand held him tied.
McGonagall stood up, then walked over to Snape so she could face him, slowly Snape glanced up meeting her eyes.
"Severus." McGonagall spoke in a firm voice.
"Minerva." Severus replied in a hoarse voice, then suddenly, fast as lighting. Snape received a huge smack across his face turning his head to the left.
"YOU IDIOT!" McGonagall shouted at him, astounded Snape turned back only to realize tears were streaming down McGonagalls face.
Snape looked just as astounded as he slowly lifted a hand, feeling his right cheek where a red hand print was slowly taking form.
"How dare you…. How dare you carry all that by yourself?" McGonagall asked in a cry. "No more martyrs!" she demanded. "You hear me Severus!"
Snape looked at her with a placid face then slowly nodded.
"Ahem, sir." Harry dared to interrupt earning both of their attentions. "I believe this is yours." he offered Snape the box with the wand.
Snapes eyes were fixated on the box and finally Harry decided to just remove the lid for him, allowing for Snape to slowly reach inside and pick up the wand for a second time that day. As he finally held it, he exhaled a deep breath of relief as a calmness ones again came over his body.
"Severus.. How are you feeling?" McGonagall asked and Snape looked up.
"Exhausted." he admitted. And her seriously looked like it to, it looked like Snape was about to collapse any second.
Harry smiled lightly. "We are having a celebrations dinner at my place tonight." he informed. "You can rest in a bedroom until then sir."
Snape looked at Harry, clearly he was in no mood for celebration. Not to surprising really.
"Severus… These people did so much for you, at least you can attend." McGonagall stated. "Also, rest at a place where there are other people for now. I shall came with you."
Severus frowned, clearly very annoyed that they wouldn't just let him go.
"I'll bring him." Jestin then said as she stepped up. "We need to fill out and sign some papers before we can leave. Then I'll bring Mr Snape directly to Grimauld place." she promised. "I expect to see most of you there."
Harry nodded. "Thank you." he breathed as Hermione came touching Harry's arm.
"Come on Harry, I think most of us needs some rest." She stated and Harry nodded. True enough, he also felt like he could just sleep for a few months without any issues at all.