Warning: It may be triggering because it mentions the word assault. It's a misunderstanding though. Also it's a former? Student/Teacher. Depends on how you see it.

Dedicated to Sarah and Tee

Durmstrang

Year 1

Round 6

Theme: Discovering the truth

Write about an event or incident with two versions of the truth.

Buzzwords: The benefit of the doubt

Unreliable narrator

A court case

Main prompt: 6.[First/last line] It was 11 o'clock when time stopped.

Additional prompt:

15. [Word] Hopeless

Word count: 3098

Betaed by: Eben, Amanda, Alex, Mia, Mandi and Georgie. Thank you all so so much! Especially since I know half of you don't like the pair...

Author's note: This is an AU where Severus Snape lived

In my timeline: Hermione is:

12 in first year (19 September)

13 in second

14 in third; she gains a year and five months due to overuse of the time Turner so she goes beyond 15

16 and 5 months in fourth year

17 and five months in fifth

18 and five months in sixth (19 September)

When Dumbledore gives her the time-turner in June of that year she's 18 and three months. She gains around 9 to 10 months with the time turner all throughout the year.

She should be around 21 years old by September of 1998. She goes back to Hogwarts for her seventh year, where Severus is also forced to teach. Soon, he might be free...

It was 11 o'clock when time stopped. Everything happened so fast Hermione barely had time to blink. A blast. Then Severus was thrown off her and without his weight she almost crumpled herself, but Ron caught her.

"Get off, you slimy old bat!" His voice rang in her ears. It felt like she was drowning. Someone had found them. It shouldn't have been possible…

"Miss Granger? Are you alright?" Professor McGonagall's voice echoed in her head.

"Of course she isn't! The miserable bastard was all over her!" Ron shouted as she tried to speak but couldn't for the emotions choking her. It was hopeless, they wouldn't listen to her anyway.

"Shh, child. The Aurors will be here soon. I cannot believe he's done this."

Hermione wanted to protest but found herself falling under a sleeping charm. The only thing she could think was 'How had it come to this?'

More tears fell as her body lost its battle with reality and sleep embraced her. She could only hope that when she'd awaken, things would be better. The last thing she saw was a shaking Severus, trying to stand up.

Several hours later

It was interesting to say the least, how the Wizarding World came together so quickly to put on a farce of a trial in such a short amount of time. By the time Hermione had woken up from the sleep spell Headmistress McGonagall had put her in, there was nothing she could do to stop it. So she did the only thing that could be done: she attended it.

It looked like a clash of Muggle trials and Wizarding World trials, a rushed job if she were to be honest, but Hermione hadn't attended anything of the kind. The trial Harry had attended at the start of their fifth year had been completely different in all aspects. The one thing that was the same was the Wizengamot. All of them were comfortably seated while Severus was chained to a chair, in a corner of the room.

Minster Shacklebolt opened the proceedings. He seemed to be the main interrogator.

"Criminal trial of Severus Snape, current Potions Master at Hogwarts and former Death Eater. To recapitulate: the defendant stood trial after the last war for several allegations, including the murder of Albus Dumbledore. He was acquitted of all charges because Mr Harry Potter testified in his defence. He was set free with the understanding that any future crimes would be punished to the full extent of the law. Today, he is charged with assault on a student of Hogwarts."

"Ronald Weasley to the stand, please!" Kingsley commanded.

She focused on Ron as he vowed to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

"What happened yesterday, Mr Weasley?"

Her heart skipped a beat. They'd all find out now. There was no going back. She hadn't been strong enough to fight the sleeping spell, and now it was too late to stop this madness from unfolding. But then, they were never supposed to get caught.

Her friend took a deep breath, and then began speaking.

"I went to Hogwarts yesterday to surprise Hermione. I couldn't find her, so I just wandered around the castle, waiting for her to return. I had a thought to go and check on Snape in the dungeons, see if he was complying with the rules and all that and very good thing I did."

"Why?" Kingsley intervened. It gave Hermione hope that the trial might be the tiniest bit fair. "What reason is there? You're not an Auror or in any way responsible for Severus Snape's stipulations after his trial. You had no reason to look. So why did you go and decide that?"

"Because I never trusted the bastard. It was when I heard Hermione screaming and crying that I sent a Patronus to Professor McGonagall immediately, alerting her of the situation. She Apparated to me several seconds later and together we found Snape all over Hermione, pressed ahead on the wall. I blasted him off her; she was shaking and almost fell before I caught her. We put Hermione under a sleeping spell to avoid potential trauma."

Hermione felt like she could break something. So that was why they'd done it. 'Ignorant fools.'

"Is that all, Mr Weasley?" Kingsley asked.

Ron nodded. "I am sure Professor McGonagall will say the exact same thing."

Hermione sighed, hoping Minerva would clarify things. She looked at the clock. It was almost 11 am. Barely 12 hours ago, this nightmare started.

Kingsley called Minerva to the stand, and to Hermione's horror, she corroborated Ron's version of events.

"Thank you, Headmistress. Now, has Miss Granger arrived yet? We need her testimony."

"Why?" Ron asked and Hermione wanted to bash his head. He could be so thick sometimes. "Why do you need Hermione? Snape clearly broke the rules of his release. He should serve life in Azkaban."

It was 11 o'clock when time stopped for Hermione again. She couldn't believe her ears. She knew that Wizards were hopeless idiots, but she hadn't expected one of her own friends to suggest something so unlawful.

"I'm afraid, Mr Weasley, it doesn't work that way. We need to hear from the victim before we reach a decision. It was my understanding Miss Granger would be sent here as soon she woke up from the sleeping spell. I do have to admit, the odds are not in Mr Snape's favour."

"I don't think anyone told Hermione," Ron said. "I didn't think it was necessary."

Of course, he didn't. But then no one else had either. Madam Pomfrey had been the one to tell her about the trial.

"What did you just say?" She thundered, pushing through the people until she was in front of the stand. Hermione could see from the corner of her eye a mournful-looking Severus, in cuffs and dressed in the clothes from the night before. Her heart broke. 'Stupid sleeping spell. Stupid hopeless idiot best friend.'

"Mr Weasley!" Kingsley looked disturbed by Ron's words too. Then he turned to her. "Miss Granger, it's good that you're here, but please don't speak before reaching the stand."

"Shouldn't I?" her voice was ice cold, and she could see everyone in the room quieting down to listen. "Considering Ronald here suggested you condemn a man for something awful, that he most certainly is not guilty of, without listening to the supposed victim, I do believe I should interrupt."

"He's enchanted her," was murmured around the courtroom.

"Silence!" She shouted, turning around to look at them. "It's my turn to speak. However, I want to have a truth spell performed on me. This way you will see I am not enchanted by anyone. I'll even make a vow on my magic to speak the truth, since no one is listening to the facts. Have I made myself clear?"

Hermione could see that Ron was too stunned to speak, but Kingsley nodded and did the truth spell on her. When an aura around Hermione turned blue, a sign she was not under any spell, she turned to face the crowd, glaring daggers around her. It was hopeless. Their misguided beliefs were too ingrained for a little truth spell to change it.

"I solemnly swear that what I am about to say is the truth and nothing but the truth, I swear it on my magic and on my life. So I said, so mote it be!" She let out sparks from her wand in order to seal the vow.

"Very well, Miss Granger, what is it that happened and Mr Weasley got wrong?" Kingsley asked calmly.

"Severus Snape," Hermione paused and looked at him from the corner of her eyes, "tried to prove a point to me last night. He did not assault me in any way."

"What was the point?"

"That I wouldn't be happy as his girlfriend. When Ron heard me scream, I was arguing my case to Severus. He came closer to me, whispering to me what everyone else would think, and I screamed that I didn't care. I was taken by surprise when Ron and Headmistress McGonagall broke into the room. I blame myself for forgetting to use a Silencing Charm."

She could see that everyone in the room was shocked.

"Miss Granger, what do you mean, by being his girlfriend?"

"Exactly what I said, Minister. I've been in love with Severus for over a year now and been his friend for almost two. We've never pushed the limits, just danced around each other, both too focused on our missions."

"Dating a student—" Kingsley started.

"Is completely legal if they are of the age of consent," Hermione cut in, stopping Kingsley from continuing. "Although clearly, you haven't been listening. We weren't dating. And before Ron barged in, I was trying to convince him that it was alright."

"Miss Granger, if you haven't been enchanted, how are you on friendly terms with a person who was thought to be a murderer and a Death Eater until recently?"

Hermione took a deep breath and turned fully to face Severus.

"Because I already knew all about Dumbledore's plans."

There was an audible gasp of shock running through the courthouse.

"You knew?" Kingsley spoke, confusion lacing his voice. "Why didn't you speak at the trial before?"

Hermione smiled bitterly. "Seeing how you are looking at me now, you wouldn't have believed me. Harry Potter's words had more power than that of an enamoured girl. Also, I didn't want him to find out about my feelings in a courtroom. But this is a different situation. Without me, he wouldn't be here. Of course, I have to speak up."

Kingsley sighed. "Could you run us through a short history, to better understand the events of the last night?"

"Why? You know I am telling the truth since I haven't fallen over dead, as my vow said."

"Miss Granger, even if you're telling the truth, I am afraid we need more context to the case. That's the way things work."

Hermione looked around the courthouse. Despite the vow, they needed a full-blown history to declare innocence when they already knew the truth. That alone showed how broken the system was.

"Very well, but do not interrupt me."

"Dumbledore approached me in the summer before our sixth year. Before he brought me to the Weasleys, he told me what had happened to him. I asked him why wasn't he telling Harry, and he said he needed my researching skills. He told me he wanted Severus to kill him. I disagreed and was angry, but I also understood why it was necessary. The memory Harry saw was true. However, two days after that, Severus decided that, despite his busy schedule, he wanted another choice. First, he'd try his best to research a way to save Professor Dumbledore and if he couldn't, then proceed with the murder plan. Dumbledore agreed and brought me in to help. I think he knew that we wouldn't find a cure.

"Dumbledore had one time-turner left. One of his own creations. He gave it to me. I was of age. My time-turner from third-year took care of that. I'd overused it to the extreme. There is a reason I was continuously exhausted that year. The Headmaster made sure that I didn't get onto the Ministry's radar for it. He taught me how to Apparate. I picked it up incredibly fast; I'd studied the theory before. Apparating is not hard if you're a focused person and know spatial orientation. I'd lock myself in the bathroom, use the time-turner and Apparate away to Hogsmeade and walk to Hogwarts. I'd go back a day in time. I'd spend the time with Severus, trying desperately to find a cure. We didn't.

"The night Dumbledore died, I knew what he had to do when he left his office, and my heart went out for him. We'd spent almost a year in Severus' lab, trying to save Albus Dumbledore. He didn't want to kill him. By then, I knew Severus considered me a friend and I was in love. Dumbledore had confronted me about it, but he'd agreed to my wishes and kept silent.

"The year on the run was a nightmare for both of us. We couldn't see each other and he was alone. The time-turner had lost his powers when Dumbledore died. That's how he made it. In a way, I am glad it did. I don't know if I could have stopped myself from using it. Seeing Severus dying in the Shrieking-Shack, almost broke me. I was able to save him by doing low-key spells, and when Ron wasn't looking, I went back to try and heal him. Then I left, hoping for the best."

Hermione sighed when she looked around the room and saw that she wasn't being believed. "Look. I could sit here and tell you lots of things, but it wouldn't matter to you. I can see by your faces, you don't believe me even under an oath that would kill me if I lied. Last night, I was screaming at him, telling him that I could handle what people said. I could stand by his side. And that I love him. I was crying because he didn't believe me. He was finally believing me when two people barged in, assuming the wrong conclusion.

"You got it all so wrong. And I, the supposed victim, wasn't even consulted before the trial started. So what about the sleeping spell? You could have waited. I demand justice. I want Severus freed and all conditions from the previous trial to be dropped. He deserves it. "

Hermione finally stopped speaking. All the time, she'd observed the emotions on Severus's face, he'd gone from angry, to sad and resigned, to hopeful.

"Indeed, Miss Granger," Kingsley spoke. "Although I do have one more question before I free you from your vow. Why didn't Snape say anything when we talked with him? He kept silent ever since."

She smiled bitterly, turning her head to him. "Because, Minister, he knew it would have been hopeless. And I believe, the moment he learned I was under a sleeping spell, he lost all hope as well. You have a broken system, Minister. I hope you can fix it."

By the look in his eyes, Hermione could see that Kingsley hoped it too.

"Very well, you're free from your vow," Kingsley said, waving his wand removing the blue aura around Hermione. "And Severus Snape, you are free to go with our deepest apology. Court dismissed."

She could see that everyone didn't actually leave, but was rather waiting for the two of them to do something, but Hermione knew Severus better than that. They locked eyes for a moment before both of them left the courtroom, all the while not talking with each other.

Hermione glared daggers at the press as she exited and could see Rita Skeeter stopping her quill upon seeing her look. Hermione could hear Ron trying to reach her from behind and with a sigh, she stopped. It was better to talk with him now and get it out of the way, rather than him possibly crashing another talk with Severus.

It was almost 11 pm when she got back to the castle. Trying to explain to everyone she knew that indeed, they'd heard right, she was in love with Severus Snape was just as exhausting as she'd anticipated. And yet, eventually, they'd relented. Besides, Ron was fortunate she didn't sue him and Minerva for attacking them.

Knocking on his door, seemed to be more terrifying now than the night before, considering what had happened since.

"Enter." His voice was barely audible, but nevertheless, her heart skipped a beat upon hearing it.

She opened the door to find him sitting at his desk, a pensive look on his face.

"Miss Granger."

"Hermione," she corrected.

"Hermione," he echoed, standing up to meet her. "I see you came back after all."

"Don't be silly, of course, I did. You knew I would."

"I hoped," he murmured, coming closer.

"Harry and Ron and everyone else had been a bit hard to shake. But I made it finally."

When he didn't speak, Hermione lunged forward and grabbed his hands in hers.

"Severus, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. If you don't feel the same…."

He stopped her, squeezing her hands, pulling her closer towards him. They were now an inch apart. She could feel herself running out of breath by his closeness. It was intoxicating.

"I also reacted in a way I shouldn't have. Of course, someone else would see it as me attacking you."

"You weren't," she whispered. "I'm more at fault for screaming at you. Way to show you that I am no longer a child, or even a teenager anymore."

"I believe I needed to hear what you had to say. Even if you screamed the words at me. If today taught me anything, it's that you are right. You were right in your assumption. I thought it was hopeless for me to try and defend myself. And if I'm being honest, I didn't expect you to come. But you did, and for that, I am very grateful."

Hearing that, Hermione stepped back.

"I hope you don't mean to accept me out of gratefulness."

He chuckled, making her even more on edge.

"No." Severus smirked. "I would never do that. I am a Slytherin, and if it was useful to me, I'd say thank you and move on. I wouldn't base my relationship with you on that. I choose to because you've been the reason I had hope for the past two years. You tried your best in searching for a cure even with the odds against us. You never told Potter or Weasley anything. You accept all my moods. And you did something I thought would never happen; you made me smile. That's why I want to try this."

In a way, Hermione knew what he meant, but this was a side of him she rarely saw, and she needed confirmation.

"Try what?" she asked and watched with trepidation as he once again closed the gap between them, framed her face with his hands, and gently kissed her.

It was 11 o'clock when time stopped, and it was 11 o'clock when it started again. There was hope after all.

OoO

Tonight we rewrite the stars

Prove that we're not hopeless after all

Just you and me

Outside these walls

We're meant to me

You and me