Chapter 35

Severus found himself in the Wizengamot courtroom once again, this time with Serina by his side. They were attending the trial of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. The Ministry had chosen to try the couple together even though they had different responsibilities among the Death Eaters.

Lucius and Narcissa were brought in and seated in the prisoner's chairs. Chains magically appeared and bound their hands to the chairs. Lucius stared ahead with no emotion on his face. In fact, he seemed to not care about anything. Not once had he glanced around during the whole trial. He didn't know that Serina and Severus had been there every single day, because he had never strayed from looking straight ahead, his face expressionless.

When he had been asked questions and needed to testify for himself he had answered with a dead voice. The usual sarcasm or haughtiness that he held in his voice was absent. Serina didn't even hear the voice she was used to hearing from him. It had always been filled with caring and love. All of that was absent too. He just spoke in a monotone, bereft of feeling.

Narcissa was a different story. She had flashed her eyes around the courtroom many times. They had settled on Serina occasionally and had narrowed at her. When asked questions, her responses were clipped and defensive. At times she even shouted her innocence for all in the courtroom to hear. But her animosity was not frightening because her time at Azkaban had broken her. She was gaunt and her hair was matted and knotted. She appeared to be on the brink of insanity, especially when her eyes flashed around the courtroom, settling on someone, a sneer on her face.

She was even struggling to get her hands freed now. Serina wasn't sure that Narcissa even understood what was going on anymore. She was unsure that Narcissa comprehended that her fate would be decided today.

The gavel drummed on the desk and Kingsley Shackelbolt brought the court to order. He looked down at the couple accused of being Death Eaters and murderers and began to speak.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, you have been charged with murder and association with Voldemort as Death Eaters. The Wizengamot has heard the charges and your defense. Jurors, have you reached a verdict?"

One of the members sitting near the end of the group spoke. "We have your honor," replied the man.

Shackelbolt continued. "Wizengamot, how find you?"

The same man stood and unrolled a parchment. "In the first count, we the Wizengamot find the defendants innocent of murder for lack of evidence."

Serina sighed loudly and the spectators all gasped in unison.

"On the second count, we find the defendants to be the followers of Voldemort, known as Death Eaters, guilty of all of the crimes associated with being said persons, including torture and use of unforgivable curses."

Cheers rang out from some of the spectators. Shackelbolt pounded the gavel and cried for order.

"Members of the Wizengamot," Shakelbolt asked, "are you in agreement with these findings?"

The entire group said "Aye," in unison.

Shakelbolt continued, "Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, I pronounce you guilty of being Death Eaters and of committing crimes associated with such. Taking into account the testimony of one, Serina Snape, I can see that you were not as devoted to him as some of his followers; nonetheless, you are guilty of these heinous crimes. I hereby sentence you both to three years in Azkaban for your past crimes. Bear in mind that had your cousin not vouched for you Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, the punishment would have been much greater. Court is adjourned. The prisoners are to be returned to Azkaban."

With that the courtroom exploded in noise. The many reporters swooped out of the room again. Others spoke among themselves at how the Malfoys had gotten off easily, blaming it on their wealth. But one person made not a sound. Serina sat stone still in her seat, staring hopelessly at Lucius, tears coursing down her face.

For the first time during the trial, Lucius seemed to become himself. As the prison guard released him from the chair and moved him to a standing position he looked over at Serina. She could see clarity in his eyes once again and he flashed a grin at her, silently telling her that he would survive this and see her again. The tears came harder as she saw him led away, the door closing behind him. She could see Narcissa, who was just beyond Lucius, writhing and screaming and struggling to be set free.

Serina felt nothing but intense grief. She had plead for their lives, told the Wizengamot what she had seen in Lucius' mind. She had even subjected the memories to scrutinizing in a pensieve, but it had been for nothing. They were still putting her beloved cousin away. What would three years in Azkaban do to him? She remembered how he had emerged from his last sojourn in the horrid jail. He had seemed to be lost for months. He had come out of the jail razor thin and gaunt, a faraway look in his eyes that didn't truly go away for weeks. That had only been a few months in the prison, now he would be locked up for three years. Would he ever be the same again? Would the Malfoy name ever be the same again?

She felt an arm around her shoulder but did not move to look at Severus. She felt a hand take hers and looked down through her tears to see Draco's hand grasping hers. She noticed one of her teardrops fall onto his hand. She wiped it away with her other hand, the act breaking her from the trance she was in. She looked over at Draco. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes were filled with pain. Yes, he was an adult now, but he would severely miss his parents these next few years, and they would probably miss much in his life.

"Seri, don't cry," Draco told her, using the nickname he had called her ever since he first began to talk.

Serina tried to be brave for him, flashing a wan smile at him.

"It will be okay, Draco," she comforted him. "The time will be passed before we know it, and they will be alright."

"My mom, Seri, she won't live through this," Draco said bitterly. He looked down at their hands clasped together.

Serina took her hand from his and wiped away her tears. She then softly drew his chin toward her so he could look at her.

"She is stronger than she seems now, she will recover."

Serina saw the doubt in Draco's eyes. She did what she had to. She grasped his hand in hers and sent a spell of comfort to him. She may have to deal with her grief, but she would not watch Draco slowly become withdrawn with his, too morose to go on with life.

The spell wouldn't take all of the pain away, but it would help him to deal with his sorrow and not sink into depression.

"Seri, what did you just do?" Draco asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"It's just a comforting spell, Draco. It will help you deal with your parent's absence these next three years."

He smiled at her then and gave her a hug.

"You could tell I was about to fall apart, huh?" Draco asked her.

She rubbed his back as she answered him. "I know this won't be easy, Draco. I just wanted to help you along a little. Please, don't forget that we're here for you. We would do anything for you Draco, don't be a stranger."

Draco pulled away from her. "I won't."

He got up and nodded to Severus, then turned and made his way out of the courtroom. Serina could just watch him. She knew he would be alright now. He would be able to cope with the grief of his parent's incarceration.

"That was very kind of you, my love," Severus said and kissed her forehead when she had turned back to him.

"I had to. I could feel him falling apart silently."

"And what about you? You're falling apart silently too. What can I do for you to forget all of this ever happened?"

Severus looked at her with great concern and worry. She let out a huge sob as her carefully constructed front for Draco fell apart. Serina grasped Severus' cloak and pulled herself to him, crying loudly in the now empty courtroom. She felt so helpless. She had done all she could, but it hadn't been enough. Now Lucius would be put away for three years.

The special bond that she and Severus held showed him her thoughts. He embraced her and held her tight.

"Don't blame yourself, Serina, you saved them. None of the other Death Eaters have gotten less than ten years in prison. Some of them have been put away for life. Shakelbolt was very lenient with them and he said it was because of your testimony."

"I know, and deep down I know that Lucius did some horrible things, and has to pay for that. I am grateful that his sentence is so short, but just the thought of him being imprisoned even for that long…" She couldn't go on with her thought, it was too painful.

Severus rubbed her back and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Lucius will survive. Despite his pretty boy looks, he is very strong. He will not let this break him."

"What about Narcissa? She is on the brink of insanity. Draco was right, she won't survive this."

"I thought you had no feelings for the woman, Serina."

"I don't particularly care for her, that's true. But Lucius loves her deeply. And she's Draco's mother. It will destroy them both to see her so broken. She might not even live through this ordeal. What will Lucius do without her after wasting away in jail for three years?"

Severus raised Serina's head so she looked into his eyes. "We shall deal with that if it is a true concern. We can't worry ourselves over what might be."

"I should have done something more," Serina said miserably.

"Such as what?"

"Severus, I was so tempted to just use my mind powers and make the Wizengamot set them free. What's the use of having such abilities when I can't even use them to help those I love?"

"You didn't do anything because you knew it was wrong to interfere. Starlight gave you these powers because he knew that you would never abuse them. Don't berate yourself for doing the right thing, Serina. I can't tell you how wrong that is."

"But I didn't realize how hard it would be to not do anything. I just sat by and watched while my cousin was given what is to him a fate worse than death."

"He knew the possible consequences of his actions. He was not innocent in this. For many years he was an avid follower of Voldemort, you know that." Severus was beginning to get a bit testy, annoyed that she was blaming herself for her cousin's misguided acts.

Serina nodded her head. "I know. I know he's not innocent and even when he began to have second thoughts; he did nothing to help the Order. I know that. I just wish there was more that I could do."

Severus softened somewhat and cupped her cheek in his hand. "You did all that you could. Anything more and you would not be able to sleep at night." He thought for a moment and then added, "Perhaps you can help Narcissa not lose her mind. You would only need to see her once to give her some sort of charm or healing to keep her sane. Both Lucius and Draco would be relieved to know that she will not go insane. That would be a great gift for both of them."

Serina pondered that for a moment. She looked at Severus and nodded.

"That's a wonderful idea, Severus. I'll make arrangements for a visit to her. She need not know why I'm there. I'm sure I'll be able to stabilize her mind enough to keep her sane throughout these next three years."

He gave her a quick grin. "Come on, let's get out of here. We can visit Lucius too, whenever you want to. We can even bring Draco. You'll see; they'll all be alright."

Serina gave Severus a wan smile and nodded her head. He stood and grasped her hand to help her out of her seat. They walked hand in hand out of the courtroom, up out of the Ministry, and onto the street. Immediately they were surrounded by photographers and reporters shouting questions.

"How do you feel about the verdict, Mrs. Snape?"

"Did the Malfoy's get off too easily, Mr. Snape?"

"If Potter was at their defense, do you think they would have gone free?"

"Mr. Snape, did you think that because you were let off the hook, that the Malfoy's would be too?"

"Will you visit the prisoners?"

"How do you think the Malfoy's will endure their sentences?"

"Did Lucius Malfoy ever kill anyone?"

"Did you make up those memories about your cousin to help him be set free, Mrs. Snape?"

Severus and Serina had been ignoring all of the questions and reporters until that last one had been thrown out at Serina. When Severus heard that one, he got a snarl on his face and turned on the reporter who asked the question. The man, who sat at least a head shorter than Severus, backed up a few steps when he saw the angry look on Severus' face.

Severus took a step closer to the reporter and towered over him as he spat out, "My wife does not make up stories, sir. I suggest you take your quill and shove it where the sun doesn't shine."

With that he turned back to Serina and glared at all of the other reporters, daring them to ask another question. He didn't even need to pull out his wand, just his overbearing scowl made the other reporters stop questioning them. They all started to mumble under their breath and quietly stalked away, leaving the couple standing in the middle of the sidewalk outside of the Ministry.

Serina turned to Severus and put her arms around his neck. "You're my hero, Severus Snape."

Severus grinned at her and gave her a light kiss on her cheek. "Come on; let's get out of here, before they bring reinforcements."

Serina giggled and they apparated back to the cabin.

A/N: Next up: A desire to brew

It seems like I had you all wondering as to why Severus was in court again. I hope you enjoyed the answer. Thanks to everyone for reading. There's the blue button down on the left. It just takes a little click and some typing to let me know how you liked it.