Chapter 7
Thank you once again for reading my story. Thank you even more for reviewing it.
caius julius: Yeah, I love evil cliffhangers. What do you
mean, I caught your attention now ? Didn't I have it before? *makes wide
puppy eyes* Just kidding : )
wernervonsiemens: I posted chapter 6 twice because of my
own stupitity (see above).
MMM: Compliments, you are a real connaisseur of the HP books.
You are right about Florence and Greenhouse 3. For some reason I always
thought Snape was the boy who hexed Bertha Jorkins, even when I read that
scene for the first time. I know about Morrighan's classification of Snape
fics. BTW I really adore her style of writing. My own story I would classify
as C, as in Crucio. The subtle greenhouse reference will be probably stay
the only 'Snape can be happy' moment in this story.
vez: Snape/Harry interaction? You might want to read chapter
8. Or naybe my other story on ff.net. No, wait. Stay here and read this
chapter first.
BeckySharp: You're a good observer. Dumbledore is only too
willing to excuse Snape. Wait until you've read this chapter. I had much
fun describing Dumbledore as a human being with doubts and emotions. Makes
me happy that you feel that he is still in character.
Blackletter: Well, I wouldn't say Snape is my favorite character,
but I definitely love to write him. Still, I don't think I could write
a story from his POV. Too creepy.
We are not playing 'spot the reference', but I'm nevertheless disappointed
with you guys. Why did no one besides MMM care about Florence Sinistra??
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Disclaimer
Everything, every location, every character belongs to JK Rowling,
Bloomsbury Pub., Warner Brothers or whoever might currently hold the rights
of Harry Potter. There are exceptions- The title is taken from a John Steinbeck
novel,
the Morituri and Rantum are mine.
I swear, I don't make money out of this.
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Thanks Darkwing for beta-reading this.
We are still at the trial scene Harry sees in Dumbledore's pensieve:
"Now, please continue with your defense, Albus," said Crouch impatiently.
Chapter 7
In dubio pro reo
by Clio
Summer 2001
"After Mr. Snape graduated from school, he started working in the Department
for Experimental Draughts and Potion Science at the Ministry. He was one
of their top researchers. Voldemort soon discovered the potential of his
young follower and used it well. Snape became the youngest full member
of the Death Eaters. And he became Voldemort's expert for all potions he
needed - poisons as well as remedies for the Death Eaters who were wounded
during their attacks.
"He soon found himself among Volemort's most trusted advisors. He didn't
have to execute Voledmort's plans anymore, he now helped organizing the
raids. After the less successful attacks it was his responsibility to cure
the Death Eaters' injuries. It must have been around that time that he
started to see the pointless cruelty and the insanity of their doing. Severus
Snape came to me, his former teacher, for help, because he wanted to quit
Voldemort's group. I was able to convince him, that he was more useful
as my spy among the Death Eaters. So he continued planning raids for the
Dark Lord, but those he planned were all failing now."
Dumbledore smiled at Snape, who sat in his chair motionlessly. "The poisons he brewed from then on where not killing anymore. Similar to the famous Draught of the Living Death, they sent the victims into a deep coma, that was mistaken for death by the Death Eaters. The now surviving victims were shipped to Europe into safety." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Fudge, who sat a little apart from the jury.
"Yes," said Fudge on cue, "we have the testimonies of those wizards on tape. We didn't dare to bring them back to England yet. All these testimonies are clearing the defendant. This applies to the cases of Barbara and Phoebus Calvin, Cyril Owens, the Maynard family and Franciscus Molinard. "
"How do we know if his potions were not just failing by accident?" someone demanded.
"I assure you that Severus Snape took great efforts in helping potential victims," said Dumbleore calmly. "He kept me informed about all of Voldemort's steps at all times, and we discussed the possibilities of saving people at great length."
Rookwood rose. "And what about the murder of the Potters? How come you didn't know about it when he was telling you everything?"
He turned towards Snape: " What about the murder of James and Lily Potter?"
Snape flinched. " I didn't ..." He bit his tongue.
Rookwood stepped towards him with a malevolent smile on his face. "You didn't what? You didn't inform Albus about it? Why?"
"But I did!"
"Then why did they still have to die?"
Snape pressed his lips together. "They didn't have to die."
Roowood raised his voice triumphantly."What is that supposed to mean? Explain yourself. Are you responsible for their death in any way?"
Snape went an even whiter shade of pale "Yes," he whispered almost inaudibly.
Rookwood, sensing that he was on the right trail, pressed the matter: "Are you responsible for the death of James?"
" I didn't mean to..."
"And the death of Lily?"
" I could have helped her! Believe me, I could!"
Rookwood smiled at the jury. "You see, he knows far more than he is telling us now." He turned to Snape again. "Tell us about it! How did they die? What do you know? What's your role in it?"
"Lily," Snape winced. "If I had had Foxglove..."
"What ?"
"Foxglove. The digitalis-glycosids could have adjusted he blood pressure. Lily's spasms -too much acetylcholine firing through her body. Digitalis could have been a relief."
Rookwood frowned at him. "Stop babbling, man. I'd rather hear of the Potter's death!"
"With some atropin and pulverized bat claws she wouldn't have died. She would be alive. Albus, wouldn't she?" Snape desperately looked at Dumbledore. He started to rock back and forth in the defendants chair. "Some Nightshade's atropin, extracted by ethylene, no, toluene would be better, ... triple distilled with... "
"Stop," Crouch shouted at him. "Stop that, will you!"
But his effort resulted in only more violent rocking on Snape's part. "Symphytum excerpt... diluted with griffin blood..."
Crouch mozioned towards the guards.
"Let him be. He merely states possible remedies to some spells," said Dumbledore matter-of-factly in an attempt to calm down the situation. "He doesn't know more than you or I do about that tragic death of the Potters."
Crouch was annoyed: " Did you participate in the killing of the Potters
or do you hold any information back about it?" No response. Snape didn't
seem to hear him at all. Crouch threw his hands up in resignation. "He
is losing it."
Rookwood turned towards on of the guards and hissed: "Two spoons full of it, didn't I tell you! You morons drugged him with a dose fit for a horse. He is useless. Completely useless"
The guard whispered venomously: "Hell, that pal wasn't event able to sit bloody upright. It was hard work to get him into this presentable shape, believe me!"
Dumbledore raised his voice again: "Let him be, Crouch, you don't need to press this matter any further. I know he is not responsible for the death of the Potters. He is only confused, doesn't know anymore what he is saying. Just look at him. I say, we should show mercy on him and set him free. He has already served eight weeks in Azkaban. He is no harm, he is our ally in fact." Dumbledore was almost begging Crouch now.
"But how will we know he is trustworthy? How do we know that he was not Voldemort's double agent? How will we know he is not deceiving us? "a witch shouted.
Dumbledore's face turned red with anger. "I, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, holder of the First Class Order of Merlin, vouch for him. I have known Severus Snape since he was a student at my school, and I can assure you that I trust him. He never harmed anybody more than his role as a spy was forcing him to do. He did not kill the Potters. And he did not kill anyone else during the attacks he participated in. He is not guilty of the crimes he is charged with in this trial. I will repeat this under oath if you wish."
The courtroom fell silent.
Crouch coughed. " Ahem, after this impressive statement we should take a vote, I think." He glanced nervously at Dumbledore, then at Rookwood, and back to Dumbledore.
The Headmaster stood upright, arms crossed over his chest. His face was squared and his blue eyes were boring into Crouch's. Dumbledore's presence filled the whole room- his words still hovering over the whole scene. Rookwood, Snape, the jury, everything seemed to be insignificant all of a sudden.
Crouch squirmed. "All in favor of the continuation of this trial against Severus Snape, accused of being a Death Eater, please raise your hands." Rookwod locked his gaze with Dumbledores as if challenging him to interfere, and slowly raised his hand although he wasn't part of the jury. So did Moody.
"Who wants to follow Dumbledore's proposal and acquit the defendant from the charges against him?" The other eleven jury members, raised their hands. Obviously they were deeply impressed by Dumbledore's declaration. Moody next to Harry shrugged his shoulders.
In the center of the room Crouch was stepping in front of the defendant's seat. "Severus Snape, you are not found guilty of the charges against you. You are a free wizard, you may leave."
Snape stared unbelieving at the chains around his arms which glowed golden and vanished. "No. No, I can't be. I couldn't help her. I ..." His voice trailed off.
When the wizards filed out of the room, Moody walked over to Snape, who had remained seated and hissed at him: "Consider yourself lucky that you have such an influential friend in Albus. I know what you are, and I will be watching you, mate! "
Snape closed his eyes and gripped the armrests of his chair. Dumbledore, who had watched the exchange, turned towards Fudge: " Please, Cornelius, could you have him brought to Hogwarts? I can have an eye on him there, and as you know, we have an excellent infirmary. The man needs proper medical care. And I have use for a good Potion Master when Rantum retires next year." Dumbledore winked at Fudge.
"As you wish, Albus."
Dumbledore turned to go, but Fudge held him back. "Oh, Albus, I have his wand here. We took it from him when he was arrested. Would you take it with you? You can return it later to him, he has no use for it right now."
"Oh, I didn't know he already had a new one."
Fudge searched inside his cloak and produced a wand. " A new one? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh never mind, Cornelius." Dumbledore responded quickly and took the wand from Fudge.
" It's a rare combination for a wand. Apple-wood and Veela hair, I think. And it seems not to be of Ollivander's making."
"Veela hair?" Dumbledore examined the wand closely. "I think not, but your guess close enough." With a chuckle Dumbledore pocketed the wand and left a slightly confused Fudge standing alone in the now deserted courtroom
The solid stone walls began to quiver and to dissolve. Harry found
himself again sitting in the Headmaster's study, staring at the now grayish
contents of the pensieve.
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A/N:In dubio pro reo is Latin, and it describes one of the pillars
of justice. It means 'when in doubt decide in favor of the defendant'.
In a review of an early chapter someone asked about the place Dumbledore sent Snape to after the attack on Godric's Hollow and before his trial. Well, it's the same place he got his new wand from. Use your imagination.