Still don't own. This one is back in present day, or rather, at the court trial.


I was snapped back to the courtroom from our flashback as the antidote to the Magnis Veritaserum was given to me. Now, see, at this point I feel the need to let you know that J.K. Rowling, the one that Potter trusted with his stories, was requested to leave me out of the stories. Why, you ask? Because, I'm a spy, and am, and always have been, in love with a spy. Not that I'd admit that without the Magnis Veritaserum.

Professor Snape was also given the antidote, and we stared at each other before turning back to Umbitch – I mean, Umbridge.

"You two make me sick," she snarled after I coughed a few times, "That's absolutely disgusting!"

"Oh! But we're not even to the best part!" I beamed, and I noticed that my throat was sore and hoarse.

"Yes, we haven't even gotten to Potter yet," he drawled, equally as hoarse. "She had a hand in saving his life a few times herself, you know, where all credit was given to me."

"Oh? Enlighten us," she snarled, and we beamed.

"Gladly," I said, before realizing something, "If you'll give us a few minutes to use the bathroom."

"No!" she snapped.

"But, I have to go," I whined like a child, and Snape shook his head. "No seriously, I have to go."

"Oh? Go where?" Umbridge asked sickeningly sweetly. I was seriously about ready to do a fucking toilet dance in the seat.

"To the bloody bathroom!" I yelled, and she cackled. "Fine! But don't blame me when the courtroom smells like feces and urine for weeks!"

"It's true, she really would if she has to use the loo badly enough," he said smirking with a slight bob of his head.

I beamed with relief as two aurors led me to the bathroom, and I went inside. I relieved myself (oh happy day!) and was about to wash my hands when Potter's girlfriend, the youngest Weasley, walked in.

I beamed as I saw her load, and immediately went to hug them. Her eyes met mine, and I knew she was confused. After promising her that all would be explained in time after the courtroom trial was done, if Umbridge would let me finish, all would be understood. I also told her that she or Harry was to take her load out of the courtroom when I got to the part of the way that said load was acquired.

She nodded before walking into one of the stalls as I washed my hands and left the loo. I faintly wondered if I'd survive the day.

I shuddered at the thought of the ones I loved not surviving the day.

(Severus PoV)

I cowered in front of Umbridge while remaining impassive, also needing to use the bathroom, but was loathe thinking of admitting it and knew she'd never allow it. I'd probably end up holding it until I was back in my stupid bloody Azkaban cell.

Finally, Potter seemed to get the message and asked if we could take a water break. Umbridge of course denied the request, glaring at me all the while. I felt a powerful magic in the air and heard a couple different sets of people return. I saw that the Weasley girl carried a slight load, but was unsure of what it was. It looked like a child, but I couldn't be sure she was obscuring it so well. It moved, and I saw a pair of coal-black eyes hidden in black cloaks. Whatever it was, it was alive, that was for sure.

Luckily, the aurors in the room put two and two together and had a little compassion on me. Thus, it was a set of four aurors who escorted me to the restroom. I had no idea just how relieving it could be to be able to actually use a toilet again instead of a bucket like the Azkaban cells. I literally pissed with relief (thankfully into the toilet) and finally beamed at the first stroke of good luck since Umbridge had taken over my trial on the previous day when I'd been trying to testify and she kept twisting my words against me. I was dreading going back to the courtroom, and wasn't even allowed to wash my hands or face before I was dragged back. I took a fleeting look in the mirror to find a complete stranger.

My hair was a tangled and disheveled mess, now so filthy that it truly did look like it was covered in nothing but oil. I now had a full grown beard, not nearly as bad as Dumbledore's, but it was still a beard that went down a few inches. My cheeks were hollow, and what part of my face was so covered in muck that I could barely recognize myself if it weren't for my washing my face in the nasty sink water in Azkaban once a week. One day in Azkaban and I already looked like I'd been there a month. I shuddered as I passed the dementors, shaking visibly and two of the aurors bunched closer to me.

"Easy, Professor," one said calmly, and I looked at him to faintly recognize a Hufflepuff I'd taught at one point in time. "We believe you. Even if we have to cause a revolt, we'll do what we can to help you. After all, both you and Mr. Potter claimed the many times you saved his life under the effects of Veritaserum."

"Thank you," I said quietly, so as not to alert the other two, very jumpy, aurors.

I could feel the shock from my two former students, but I could also feel that they meant what the one had said about helping me. I now recognized the other as a Ravenclaw in his class, a pair I recognized to be the pair with the highest grades in their class, ones that had managed to scrape out Outstandings even though I'd graded them so harshly.

"I'm so sorry," I murmured, and they nodded.

"You did it to keep your cover," one said quietly.

"We'd have died if we were you," the other said.

"If everything fails, you'll still be a silent and underappreciated hero in our books," one of the two older aurors said. "We were in the years below yours, Snape. We know you hated Potter, so to protect his kid took a lot of selflessness."

"We know you probably did it for Lily, but you still looked past the Potter on the outside," the other said with a smirk, "We'll join the recruits in the rebellion if it comes to that."

"Something tells me Chessie's going to say something to piss Umbridge off before the day is done," I said deadpanning. "The two really did live to make each other's lives hell while that bitch was the High Inquisitor."

"Nice," one murmured before the older two shot us a look to be silent, and I forced a frown onto my face.

"Thank you," Chessie said and I nodded silent thanks to the foursome, who smirked and left to guard the entrance. I was secretly glad they'd got my message – it proved I wasn't a complete git.

"Now, why don't you start at the point where Potter comes in?" Umbridge asked, and I flinched as more Magnis Veritaserum was forced down our throats again.


Yes, back to the court trial. But, this chapter has a purpose, I promise. Keep Chessie's reaction in the bathroom in mind - it will come in handy later.