Harry Does Different CCCLXIV

Snape Pays

"Stay here. Touch nothing." Professor Snape ordered the son of his schoolboy nemesis.

Harry nodded mutely then mumbled "Yessir." But after a few minutes, predictably, became bored. The magical object by the far wall sparked and popped a few times drawing his attention. The teenage wizard got too close and seemed to fall in.

Memory

"Well, Sybil, I must say your presentation is compelling as is your heritage." Dumbledore was clearly interviewing Trelawney for her Divination job "What is somewhat lacking, in my opinion, is an actual record of prophecizing on your part."

The candidate stammered briefly "B-b-ut s-s-sir as long as I have been aware, I have predicted many things." She looked around the restaurant nervously and then spoke very differently "The one with the power to stop the Dark Lord approaches…"

"No!" a much younger Severus Snape cursed the misfortune he had of stubbing a toe. He had no choice but to get out of sight before the olde fool noticed him. Now he could only hear a part of the prophecy.

Abcij

Within minutes he was kneeling before a much younger Voldemort reporting "That is all there was My Master. The problem is the vagueness of who it could be referring to."

"As I understand it, only a handful of magical children were born at the end of July." The Dark Lord cogitated most carefully "But of all possibilities only two brats were born to parents with the temerity to defy me. The Longbottoms and the Potters."

Only his Occlumency shields kept fear from his face as Severus replied "Longbottom is the most likely, in my unworthy opinion."

"You did have a…shall we say…attraction to Potter's Mudblood? Did you not, Severus?" the Dark Lord hissed malevolently.

"That fact has no impact on my loyalty to you, My Lord." Severus prostrated himself "But, may I please… I beseech you… I care nothing for the boy, but spare Lily."

Voldemort sneered "I relieve you, Severus, of all responsibility in this matter. You may go."

End

"You nosy rotten no good brat!" Professor Snape was furious at the sight of Potter's spawn in HIS pensieve. Uncaring of any consequences, he physically tore the wretch out "Get Out! GET OUT! AND DON'T COME BACK!"

Harry Potter fled like a Seeker on a Snitch, intent on getting to his Common Room. He burst out of the Slytherin dungeon and turned the wrong way. Instead of the Gryffindor Tower he went straight for Hufflepuff's and didn't realize it before **CRASH**

"You bloody idiot!" both students yelled "Why don't you watch where you're going!" The impact bloodied Harry's lip and Susan Bones was sporting a rapidly developing black eye.

His anger evaporated in an instant, he staggered to his feet and offered a hand "Sorry. All my fault. Wasn't watching."

"What's all the panic?" the redhead wanted to know, she was rubbing her face.

For no reason he quite understood, Harry found himself spilling his guts. Susan might not be a Draco Malfoy, but she wasn't Ron or Hermione either. Halfway through the tale however, something clicked "Someone called AMELIA Bones was at my underage magic trial in the Wizengamot. Are you related?"

"My auntie." The Hufflepuff replied with more than a hint of pride, then she frowned "Underage magic? Really? The whole Wizengamot? Don't take this wrong, but they have more important things to do than a little underage magic."

To this he snorted "Well, our noble Minister decided he was going to use it to expel me. Though Dumbledore swept in and saved the day. Back to my question, she's boss of the magical police isn't she?"

"A fair description, if a little too Muggle." She replied "I'll save the details for another time, but why?"

He gave a sigh "How do you feel about Snape?"

"I've got hit with a few unfair detentions and point deductions over the years." Answered Susan cautiously "I suspect it has to do with the unfortunate fact of being your best friend's lab partner."

To this he gave an apologetic smile "Sorry about that. I don't know much about law and probably less about Wizarding law, but is there a limit to when a crime has to be tried?"

"Statute of limitations, it's called. Some do. Some don't. it depends." She replied.

He only said one word, but the tone was obvious "Murder?"

"None." She acknowledged, then her brain kicked into high gear "You want Snape charged in connection with your parents' deaths. Right?"

He nodded and grinned "Well, in your expert opinion, do I have a case?"

"My expert opinion. Thank you kind sir." She returned the smile "Well, I don't know ALL the ins and outs, but it all fits together pretty well. I'd say yes, but then I'm 16 and couldn't quite claim complete neutrality."

He reached out and gently touched the side of her face "That's gonna be some bruise. Must be my hard head."

"Very funny." Laughed Susan, cheeks coloring "And any blood on me is yours. How's your nose?"

He pinched it and grimaced "Not broke. I'm NOT going near the Hospital Wing. Pomfrey'll want to keep me for observation as she calls it. So? Would you contact your aunt? I'd be most grateful."

"You can treat me to lunch next Hogsmeade trip." Susan's whole body had to have blushed at her brazenness "I guess I can tell her I walked into a wall.

Abcij

That following Monday morning Harry got moving a little late. Took a longish, very hot, shower. Whole while wearing an enormous satisfied grin. Even Malfoy, had he encountered him, couldn't have affected Harry's good mood. He all but skipped into the Great Hall greeting assorted people "Hiya Katie…morning Jordan…Luna, I trust the nargles aren't too naughty… misters Weasley…Hermione!" He finished by slapping Ron on the back, kissing the top of Hermione's head, sitting at the Gryffindor table and munching on a piece of toast.

"Well what's all the gloominess about?" asked Fred with a moderately suspicious eye.

Dean Thomas was chivalrously offering Ginny a glass of pumpkin juice, earning himself the ire of assorted redheaded males, he explained "I would credit the lovely and talented Miss Bones. Saw the two of them in the Leaky. Not sure who the other witch was."

"Watch it Dean!" snapped Ginny impatiently, for no apparent reason.

Harry finished chewing a piece of bacon and answered "One point to Gryffindor! Anyway that was a MOST pleasant day indeed. And the best part is, it carries onto today. I might mention…Fred, George…you appreciate a good prank, yes? Colin? My good man? Have you a camera on you? As if I needed to ask."

"Of course Harry!" the younger boy said excitedly "I even keep it on my bed table at night!" He set about making sure it was even more ready for use.

George feigned a grimace "Too much information mate."

"What did you do Harry?" Hermione's tone was faintly disapproving. His response died on his lips as the Hall added a few visitors. In uniforms. Wands drawn. Harry merely gestured they should pay attention.

Dumbledore, followed by the others at the Head Table, stopped eating "Amelia? Rare we have visitors. I imagine Professor Vector can see her way clear to excuse Susan from class."

"Pleasant as it is to see my niece" Madam Bones didn't spare the Hufflepuff a glance, she was all business "Expelliarmus! Incarcerous!" The spells struck their target less than a second apart. A wand went flying and she had a prisoner. A prisoner that could neither move nor speak.

The headmaster made no move to physically intervene but spoke with obvious anger "Madam Bones! Professor Snape is one of my premier teachers and a Head of House. As both Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock, I order you to release him."

"Severus Snape, you are charged with capital murder and complicity in the deaths of James and Lily Potter." She looked squarely at Dumbledore, as she reached the Head Table, trusting her team to handle the prisoner "You are further charged with complicity in the attempted murder of the young Harry Potter. Next, you are charged with torture and complicity in the torture of Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom. You are advised not to speak except with the advice of counsel prior to trial. Do you understand your charges and rights? Signify by nodding."

"WHAT!" came from the Gryffindor table. Neville was out of his seat, fist was bleeding thanks to slamming it through his plate. One of the Aurors snapped her eyes that way, determined it wasn't a threat and returned attention to the prisoner.

Dumbledore quickly considered options and went for the most obvious "Amelia, as you are aware, Severus was officially exonerated in 1982; any such charges would violate the principle of double jeopardy."

"As he was never tried, I doubt that applies." She was now more willing to talk, and give a momentary nod to her niece "However, I do not make that determination. In this instance I am merely the arresting officer as I received the evidence. Arguments should be taken up with the judge."

A shocked silence seemed to follow the Aurors out of the Great Hall. A few seconds after even the slightest hint of billowing robe was gone a significant majority of the occupants exploded in cheers and tossed pointy hats. Those closest to Harry either saw or felt what he did even if the didn't know how. One second he was there, the next it was an empty space. Scarcely a second later, he reapparated, grabbed Susan Bones and kissed her with total abandon. She obviously approved of the act by what her hands were doing.

Albus Dumbledore was many things. Politically and magically vey powerful. Smart. Observant, especially with the aid of Hogwarts' wards. The focus of his gaze changed from the entryway to The-Boy-Who-Lived. Apparating against the school's wards certainly needed to be discussed, but the state of the coming war came first. The pieces of this puzzle clicked together with ease. To the whole assembly he bellowed "QUIIIIIIIIIIIIETTT!" then he spoke more conversationally "Harry Potter, I would like to see you in my office in one quarter of an hour."

Abcij

"You wanted to see me sir?" asked the student as he entered the hallowed sanctum, then nodded at the other person present "Professor McGonagall."

She deferred to her superior who spoke as an adult catching a child with his hand in the cookie jar "An impressive bit of magic this morning. Apparation is a skill for adult witches and wizards, yet you managed it through supposedly impenetrable wards."

"Why thank you sir!" he was quite pleased with himself.

Dumbledore's voice sliced through the air between them "I am NOT, Harry, a foolish old man! I am quite capable of putting 2 and 2 together. You celebrating with young Miss Bones the minute her Aunt arrests Professor Snape was most telling."

"Was that a question, sir?" replied Harry stiffly.

McGonagall jumped on that "Do not be impertinent child!"

"Child? Me?" Harry gave a disgusted snort "Did you hear the charges? And I didn't even know Snape was involved in the Longbottoms' torture."

Dumbledore automatically chastised him "That is Professor Snape. And Harry, I would hope you, of all people, would know the value of forgiveness."

"When has Snivilus asked for my forgiveness?" the teen's temper was beginning to erupt.

The Deputy recognized the word and blinked in shock "Where did you hear that?"

"I'm done listening to greasy insulting my parents." He shot back with a snarl "He's going to pay for that, for Neville's parents. For every time he called my Dad an arrogant toerag! Bet he called Mum a Mudblood like his pet Malfoy does to Hermione."

Albus stroked his beard and looked disappointed "You are affecting things, Harry, beyond your current knowledge. A trial will be bad enough. There is little else for you to do, but retract whatever evidence you have. It will be talked about for a long time, but…it will pass."

"He told us a Dementor's Kiss is almost unbearable to watch." He was recalling the incident in The Shrieking Shack "He was willing to watch it happen to Sirius, I guess I can manage." Harry didn't ask to be dismissed.

Fawkes gave a disconsolate squawk, to which Minerva sighed. After a minute she spoke in a none too sympathetic tone "You have kept me in the dark about a number of things, but I gather from this exchange Mr. Potter is acquainted with Mr. Black. On top of that, he is despite a dozen years in Azkaban, innocent. And you know it. As for Severus, I will reserve judgment until I see evidence. That said, the man has never made an effort to be likable."

"I think I shall visit the Hospital." Said Albus with a grimace "Hopefully Poppy has an analgesic potion. Goodnight Minerva."

Abcij

There was much pre-trial legal maneuvering. The prosecutor even offered a lesser sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. The offer was summarily rejected. Several notables, including the Chief Warlock, the Malfoys gave testimony in support. An interesting exchange was between Draco and the prosecutor. "You spoke most eloquently, young sir. It would be fair to say, then, you hold your Head of House in high regard?"

"Absolutely" the blonde boy was slightly disdainful, after all he was being questioned by the enemy "Professor Snape is among the top ten Potions Masters in the world. Only some biased hair-splitting, in my opinion, keeps him from being rated #1."

To this, the prosecutor smiled predatorily "And you ARE the top rated Potions student in your year, correct?"

"Indeed." Draco did a fair job of not gloating, that would be unseemly.

"I have no intent in belittling your accomplishments" said the prosecutor "I myself, barely OWLed in the subject. That said, I did a little checking and did make an interesting connection. You wouldn't happen to know what I refer to?"

Draco did not even blink, he replied curtly "No."

"Characterizing the defendant as just your Head of House at school falls a little short, doesn't it?" the words were slightly accusatory but his tone was perfectly neutral "As I said, I am not here to belittle your talents, however it is rather difficult to be totally unbiased toward a family member. Severus Snape is your Godfather, is he not?"

Draco had been sipping some water from a cup. He promptly sprayed it.

The prosecutor left it at that "I have no further questions for this witness. But to the issue of bias, I wish to note that Hogwarts records for the past decade show a definite skewing of NEWTs in Potions toward Slytherin House to the detriment of others."

"Headmaster Dumbledore it is a rare thing" Severus' advocate had called him to the stand "for you and Lucius Malfoy to be on the same side in practically any issue. Yet this is such a case today. Please. Explain."

Albus coughed elaborately then did just that "Minister. Advocates. Members of the Wizengamot. I long ago spoke in defense of Professor Snape. My remarks then, I stand by them today. For reasons I cannot go into he is to be trusted implicitly."

"We are just supposed to take your unsupported word for that, Headmaster? And more, without an iota evidence from you?" the prosecutor's tone was full of skepticism.

Looking around at the assemblage he assured them warmly and passionately "It is for the Greater Good."

"The Greater Good?" the prosecutor mocked "All of this delay and obfuscation by the defense is irrelevant. Only one witness is really of consequence in this trial. Harry Potter."

Approaching the stand, he shot a hostile look at the man he used to think of as almost a grandfather and sat. But before Harry could be sworn in the defender protested "The boy was scarcely born when the alleged crime was supposed to have taken place. As such I move he be disqualified."

"The boy, as you call him, is no less a personage than The-Boy-Who-Lived." Pointed out the prosecutor "And his evidence is not of his own volition, but a memory of the accused himself."

Again the defender cut in "Exactly! DMLE Head Bones is using evidence illegally obtained. As such the entire case is fruit of the poisoned tree."

"I suppose that is one way to express it." Amelia was rather scornful "I would, however, remind the learned advocate this only applies to evidence sought and directly obtained by Aurors. This is not the case here."

Snape's advocate merely glared "And what about a man's right to protection from self-incrimination?"

"Well that's what it all comes down to!" Harry spoke over even Speaker Augusta Longbottom who was about to rule on the matter, he added contemptuously "In't Snivilus?"

Severus was out of his chair, reaching for a wand that wasn't there "Arrogant as your father, Potter!"

"Want to kill me like your evil master keeps trying to, Snivilus?" sneered Harry.

The defendant's temper snapped and what cautions and control others had over him went with it. He surged over the table and tried to get his hands on the witness' throat. The two closest court officers got in his way and a third fired a paralyzing charm.

"Minister, Speaker" the defender appealed "it is obvious the witness cannot speak impartially. I urge his entire testimony be stricken. Failing that, I request a change of venue to the International Confederation of Wizards."

Augusta looked offended "This body is perfectly capable of dispensing justice in this nation. Your request is denied. Mr. Potter, what evidence do you have? This entire affair is largely of your making?"

"Ma'am…" he gave a nod "Snape…on orders from Professor Dumbledore…attempted to teach me Occlumency."

There were gasps of surprise, the prosecutor interjected "And, to your knowledge, is Mr. Snape qualified to teach that particular skill?"

"I was assured" he glanced at the Headmaster "he's an expert in it. Anyway, he'd fire a Legiilimens at me maybe ten times a session. This one time he got called out of the room and I got a bit too close to his pensieve. I saw the memory of him spying on Professor Trelawney's interview for the Divination job. It was about someone destined to kill Voldemort."

The wizened wizard was on his feet "Harry! You mustn't speak of- -"

"And what's going to prove his guilt?" the teen countered in annoyance "The way it reads, the prophecy could've applied equally to me or my friend Neville Longbottom. Voldemort trying to murder me back on that Halloween killed my parents and made me your Boy-Who-Lived. After he failed, his followers went after Neville's parents in revenge. I'd be glad to let everyone see my memory."

This was agreed to by an overwhelming majority of the Wizengamot, over the objections of both Dumbledore and Snape's advocate. And after viewing, a guilty verdict was inevitable. And with the mood of the crowd of nobles, never mind the mob of onlookers, the sentence was a foregone conclusion. Not even the convict's advocate remained close to his client while the Dementor was brought in for the Kiss.

"Miss Bones, Mister Potter" tone cold, the old Headmaster approached the young and still fairly new couple "well I trust you are happy with what you have wrought this day."

Amelia came to their defense "Albus! That is uncalled for. Both are still children who did not need to be exposed to this."

"Oh yes I did." Said Harry as he separated himself from his girlfriend's embrace and actually got between the adults "Can't say I enjoyed it. You want to talk about revenge, but I see it as justice."

Amelia acknowledged the young wizard's gesture with a squeeze on his shoulder, adding in support "Before chastising Harry, Albus, you might check with Augusta. I mean, at least Frank and Alice are still alive."

"I remind you both, you are still students." Dumbledore didn't respond to her jab "Class lateness will not be excused. Fortunately, while I hoped for the best, I planned for the worst. Professor Slughorn is resuming the Potions post. Do endeavor, Mister Potter, to not dispose of another of my teachers before year's end."

It was a combination of Susan and Amelia that likely prevented him from assaulting the headmaster. Susan had learned a lot in the past few days that disillusioned her image of the godlike man. She shouted after him as he walked away "Well maybe you need to stop hiring Death Eaters!"