Kingsley Shacklebolt walked into Hogwarts at lunch time the next day and approached the group of wizards and witches while they ate in the Great Hall. Severus Snape watched him with great anxiety and he clutched at Hermione's knee under the table desperately. Defense. Defense. Had Molly known? Guessed? Assumed?
"I need to speak with you, Severus," Kingsley's deep voice shook Severus to his core. No.
Minerva rose, "What is the meaning of this, Kingsley?"
"I am here to speak with Severus, Minerva. I am interested in helping him, but I need some answers first."
Severus stood, "Agh," He hissed as his cloak pulled at his arm. He sent his robe and coat back to his room in a second, tucked his wand into his back pocket, and stepped out from behind his chair.
Kingsley watched as Hermione stood as well, followed by the four House Heads, "We will come with him," Minerva said, "He needn't be alone with you, Kingsley. You mean well, you always have, but you are Minister for Magic now."
"I am here to learn how I may advise him. It is... personal, Minerva."
Severus' dark eyes were shielded as he followed Kingsley from the hall to a nearby classroom. Once there, Kingsley warded the door. Severus stood across from him with his back to the door. His body was tense.
"It was you that night, wasn't it?" Kingsley asked, "At the Burrow?"
Severus stared into the man's chocolate brown eyes and contemplated how best to approach this situation, "Yes," He said simply. Shacklebolt is an honorable man.
Kingsley smiled slightly, "I knew it. Your voice is easily recognizable."
Snape said coolly, "A blessing and a curse." Hopefully, more the former in this instance.
"You tossed me to safety."
"Yes."
"Only to spare Hermione Granger?" Kingsley's eyes searched the thin man's face.
"No," Severus said seriously, "Hermione was already safe within the barrier. You were not the only person I spared that night."
"Who?"
"George Weasley is missing an ear because of me, but a lost ear is nothing compared to death. The majority of my curse hit one of my lovely comrades across his wand hand as he was about to kill the boy," Severus' face was impassive, but his heart was racing. He is an honorable man.
"The Aurors have requested a full deposition," Kingsley said.
"Are you or are you not in charge of the Aurors at the present time?" Snape's eyes glittered. He knew well where this was going.
"I am, but they have a right..."
"They have NO right!" Snape bellowed, "NONE! I have done enough!"
"It's their job, Severus," Kingsley said and his deep voice was filled with regret, "Even as Minister, I cannot overrule them in this. I will be present at the deposition, and will be presiding over it. I will not allow the use of Veritaserum. It is not reliable, first, and, more importantly, I have no intention of putting you in more distress than I must already," He said, "Once this is finished, it will be over."
"Depositions are public record," Severus said. Everyone will know.
"Yours will not be," Kingsley said firmly.
"How?"
"It will be sealed because of its details of the war. That is not public record. If we were to redact things, it would be blank anyway," Kingsley said, "Or at least that's what I'll say." He... what?
"I am so tired of answering people's questions already," Snape sighed and squeezed his temples with his thumb and middle finger.
"When it's over, you'll not have to do it again."
"It will never be over." Never.
"Perhaps," Kingsley took a deep breath, "But legally, it will be. We will release a full statement."
"You people and your bloody statements! I don't care about statements or questions! I've done enough!" He roared.
"I understand. We will take witnesses to verify your account, and I believe that will help you immensely."
Severus' dark eyes grew cold, "Who?"
"I have already approached most of them, people I knew had information," He reached into his dark purple robe and pulled out a list, "I have already spoken with Potter, Weasley - Ginerva, Ronald, and Molly, Longbottom, Thomas, Finnigan, Lovegood, I have yet to speak to the House Heads and to Hermione."
Snape's eyes burned. Hermione, "It will be significantly difficult to navigate half of those people."
"Why is that?"
"Magic," Severus sneered. Secret Keeper.
Kingsley narrowed his eyes, "All these people will do is verify your words, your account. They will simply attest to its truth. They will be sworn to and bound by law to keep the contents of the deposition private."
"Fine," He scowled, "When?"
"Within 48 hours. I will owl you with a more specific time. I am sorry, Severus," Kingsley said, "For this, and so much more." Oh, I'm sure.
Snape said nothing and Kingsley left him alone in the empty classroom. Severus stood very still for a moment and then roared, kicked a desk, and howled in pain.
He was crying without even realizing he was. He sat in a desk and stared across the room at the wall. His shoulder hurt and throbbed down to the tips of his fingers, and he held his wand loose in his hand. The door opened several minutes later, and Minerva walked into the room.
"Severus... Kingsley has... Informed us of the deposition." Wonderful.
Snape's lip twitched, but he remained silent. She spoke again, "We swore to you that, should this day come, you would be protected. You were our Headmaster, our friend, and our loyalty rested then, and now, and always, with you."
Severus blinked once very slowly, "Tell me: have you ever considered turning your wand on yourself?" I have. So many days and so many nights.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted and his wand flew to her hand.
He showed no reaction to her disarming of him. It didn't look as if he had even blinked, "Do you suppose it would have been better if I had died?"
"No, Severus. I do not suppose that would have been better. For you, or anyone else."
"Probably easier," He said coldly.
"Cheaper," She snapped and her lips were pinched, thin, and white, "Death would have been cheap, Severus. Stop talking such nonsense."
"I apologize. I should not have implied what I did," He said and took a breath, "I am tired of the questions. I am very tired of having to prove myself. With the people who were let in while the war was still going on, it was slow, or in small groups over time. Now, it's all at once, and I find myself unable to navigate the stress of it. I am so very tired. All the time, I am tired."
"You will find rest soon, Severus. I am sure of it. Once this deposition is over, you will have no obligation to answer any question again unless you want to," She said. She looked at the man before her closely. Having hoped he would look better after the war, she was disappointed and heartbroken to see how thin he was, how his cheekbones stuck out, how unhealthy and pale he looked, how dark the circles were under his eyes.
"Where is Hermione?" He asked. Hermione.
"I would wager that she is still tearing Kingsley a new arsehole for this whole charade," She said humorously.
"Ah. Yes."
"Severus, I hope you know that when you sit in that deposition, it will not be you that needs protection."
"How do you figure?"
"Kingsley Shacklebolt and his order of Aurors will have stepped into the lion's den. You have formidable allies, Severus. Give us credit. One Potter, eight Weasley's, one Granger, one Longbottom, one Thomas, one Finnigan. And you have me. Those are just the Gryffindors. You will have a fiercely loyal Hufflepuff in Pomona, and two Ravenclaws, Lovegood and Filius, and Ravenclaws make smart choices in friends."
"Half of those people aren't loyal to me. Finnigan? Longbottom? Thomas? They're boys. They've spent half of their lives loathing me. Most of the Weasleys?" Snape sighed heavily.
"Do not underestimate Seamus, and Neville, and Dean. They have not forgotten how you spared them punishment during your time as Headmaster, how you protected them to the best of your abilities, how you knew of their hideout and let them stay there safely, how you turned on the Carrows. Do not underestimate my lions, Severus. You'll be better for it. And the Weasleys? You've just gone and shown Molly what you did for her children, and you tell the mother, the family will know."
He sat in silence in perfect stillness before her. She turned to leave him and said, "I will fetch Hermione for you, Severus."
"My wand?" His voice was low, silky, and yet raw.
"I will give it to Miss Granger. She can decide what to do with your emotional volatility."
Snape rolled his eyes and snorted, "Isn't that what she does every day?"
"Your words. Not mine."
I am so very tired.