Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix- Chapter 28
Harry lay awake in bed that night. He mentally went through the day. Just three hours before, Hermione had careened into the Common room and had breathlessly told them about her grades. Ron had just scowled at her and hid behind his book. Ron hadn't got such good grades on his exams and was jealous that good marks seemed to come so easily to Hermione. Harry's marks hadn't been that bad, but Hermione was on top of all her classes.
Harry sighed and rolled over. His gaze slid past Ron's bed to the window. His thoughts turned to Ron's birthday present, hiding under his bed. He was thinking about the cool new Quidditch book that he had got Ron. It was all about the Quidditch World Cup from the very first to last summer's World Cups. There were pictures from each game ever played making the book very thick and very heavy! He pictured the photos of players in brightly coloured robes as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
* * *
"Not again." Moaned Arabella. There had been another Death Eater attack on another magical school called Witberg School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Severus was sitting on a chair to the side with his head in his hands. Minerva paced the length of the room nervously. There was going to be another Order of the Phoenix meeting in five minutes. She knew the Minister was coming. He was going to question Severus again with the Veritaserum potion. Dumbledore stood to the side. The burden of leading the Order this past year had taken its toll on Albus. The twinkle in his blue eyes had almost vanished and only made its appearance when Albus was gazing down at or talking to his students. His face was lined with age and weariness. He, however, still retained his poise and powerful aura. Minerva felt herself gazing at the Headmaster and leader of the Order with awe and pride. Her attention was drawn away from the Headmaster as the first few members entered the room. She took up her place beside Severus. He was pale and trembling slightly. His eyes were wild looking and he looked distraught. Remus entered the room and quietly slid up to join his fellow staff in supporting Severus. Even the black dog, Snuffles, she remembered, who followed Remus around everywhere, joined them at Severus' side.
The Minister of Magic appeared soon after the whole company had gathered. He was clutching the pale liquid.
"I do apologise, Severus. But the law does say that every suspect needs to be questioned." Minister Rockman looked down at Severus sympathetically and turned the bottle over to Severus to drink. Minerva watched as Severus downed the potion quickly, as though he just wanted to get it done and over with.
In a matter of minutes Severus was ready for questioning. The Minister paced the room slightly. Not one sound was made by the Order.
"Let's start with an easy one. What is your name?"
"Severus Lucifer Snape." The Minister nodded at this and strode to the window.
"And where were you on February 26th?" There was no answer to his question. Severus had an odd look on his face.
"Severus! Where were you on February 26th?" The Minister repeated. Slowly Severus answered.
"I was at Hogwarts." The Minister nodded again.
"And what happened on February 26th?" Silence followed the question again.
"Severus, answer the question."
"A school was attacked."
"Did you have anything to do with it."
"Yes." Minerva started in shock. Arabella cried out and the room broke into exclamations of "I knew it!" and "the traitor!" Rockman took a few minutes to compose himself from the shock before shakily continuing the inquiry.
"What-What part did you play in the attack?" He cleared his throat twice.
"I told them. I told them everything. I told them that the school was defenceless and that the majority of the Order were away and wouldn't be able to stop them." The room lapsed into shocked silence again. Arabella had sat down, burying her face in her hands. Remus had turned towards the wall, his face hidden. Minerva had sat down beside Severus muttering, "It can't be true". Rockman turned to Dumbledore, who stood expressionless and shook his head. He addressed Severus again.
"What about the other times? Have you betrayed us before the first attack on the school? Was it you who was responsible for the attack on Witberg?" Rockman's voice had lowered to a dangerous note, his eyes were hard and angry.
"Yes, yes and yes." Was Severus' repetitive answer. Rockman turned sharply back to Dumbledore.
"I must take him. He will stand for a trial, but frankly, I don't see any chance of Severus being announced innocent." Rockman summoned the Ministry officials who had been in the Great Hall and the Order watched as Severus was apprehended. As Severus was being arrested he came out from the spell of the Veritaserum. He was pale and looked around wildly.
"What? What happened? I didn't say those things! It wasn't me! Honestly!" He glanced around the room. Half of the Order was either sneering at Severus or glaring furiously at him. The other half couldn't bear to look at him or were muttering angrily. Severus looked past them and his eyes fell on his comrades.
"Minerva. Please! Believe me!" He said hoarsely. Minerva just cried and didn't acknowledge him. He then turned to Arabella.
"Please, Arabella! You know me! Albus! I would never-"
"Come on. Come quietly." Rockman stood twisting his hat in his hands. His face was set rigidly and his eyes were cold and hard. The Ministry officials pulled Severus out of the room as he yelled to his friends.
"I didn't do it! I would never do it! I would rather die!" His voice trailed off as he was pulled down the hall.
"I'm sorry it came to this." Rockman said softly to the Order.
"Yeah, well I'm just glad that that betrayer will be locked up. He deserves the Kiss. T's too bad the Dementor's joined the Dark Side." A man with brown eyes set deep in his head spoke for the Order angrily.
"Grant, please. Would you all please leave? It's late and we have all suffered a terrible shock." Dumbledore didn't look at anyone and spoke quietly to the table in front of him.
"Not for some of us." Muttered Grant, but he picked up his hat and left, followed slowly by the other members.
Only Arabella, Minerva, Remus and Snuffles remained. Minerva's sobs echoed in the empty room. Arabella hadn't moved from her position and Remus was still studying the stone wall. Snuffles sat silently on the floor. Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"I still back Severus." Minerva stopped crying and both Remus and Arabella looked up. Snuffles raised his head and cocked his head inquisitively.
"Albus, have you not just heard his confession? He betrayed us! He betrayed us, and you still support him! God, I knew this was going to happen! Didn't I?" Remus rounded on Arabella who looked up at him with full eyes.
"God! I knew we never should have trusted him. And now, because of that- that-that SNAKE innocent people have lost their lives! Like Lily and James!" Remus was pacing the room furiously. At his last sentence his hands dropped to his side and an irrepressible look of sadness filled his eyes. Snuffles slowly stood up and walked over to Remus' side where he sat down and looked up. Throughout this whole display of emotion, Dumbledore hadn't moved. Then he spoke, his voice thick and quiet.
"You may have lost your trust and confidence in people that day fifteen years ago, but I haven't. You may be so sure that all spies are two faced, but I don't. You may hate Severus and believe him guilty, but I don't!" As he spoke, Dumbledore's voice became louder, angrier and more forceful. He turned to face Remus who stood straighter and looked him in the eye. When Dumbledore spoke again, his voice had lowered again.
"I will not question your opinion in this matter, Remus, each to their own. I know why you mistrust spies and I respect that, I also know why you dislike Severus and after this I understand why you mistrust him. But, Remus, I will still back him up." Dumbledore sat wearily at his desk, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"So will I." Whispered Arabella.
"And I." Agreed Minerva, wiping her eyes. Remus remained in silence for a moment.
"If you, sir, believe that Severus is innocent than I will back you up. Therefore, I back Severus up. I do not know how much help I will be. My whole heart does not believe that Severus is innocent, but I will try to believe it." Dumbledore nodded at him and Snuffles barked as though he was agreeing with Remus.
Harry lay awake in bed that night. He mentally went through the day. Just three hours before, Hermione had careened into the Common room and had breathlessly told them about her grades. Ron had just scowled at her and hid behind his book. Ron hadn't got such good grades on his exams and was jealous that good marks seemed to come so easily to Hermione. Harry's marks hadn't been that bad, but Hermione was on top of all her classes.
Harry sighed and rolled over. His gaze slid past Ron's bed to the window. His thoughts turned to Ron's birthday present, hiding under his bed. He was thinking about the cool new Quidditch book that he had got Ron. It was all about the Quidditch World Cup from the very first to last summer's World Cups. There were pictures from each game ever played making the book very thick and very heavy! He pictured the photos of players in brightly coloured robes as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
* * *
"Not again." Moaned Arabella. There had been another Death Eater attack on another magical school called Witberg School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Severus was sitting on a chair to the side with his head in his hands. Minerva paced the length of the room nervously. There was going to be another Order of the Phoenix meeting in five minutes. She knew the Minister was coming. He was going to question Severus again with the Veritaserum potion. Dumbledore stood to the side. The burden of leading the Order this past year had taken its toll on Albus. The twinkle in his blue eyes had almost vanished and only made its appearance when Albus was gazing down at or talking to his students. His face was lined with age and weariness. He, however, still retained his poise and powerful aura. Minerva felt herself gazing at the Headmaster and leader of the Order with awe and pride. Her attention was drawn away from the Headmaster as the first few members entered the room. She took up her place beside Severus. He was pale and trembling slightly. His eyes were wild looking and he looked distraught. Remus entered the room and quietly slid up to join his fellow staff in supporting Severus. Even the black dog, Snuffles, she remembered, who followed Remus around everywhere, joined them at Severus' side.
The Minister of Magic appeared soon after the whole company had gathered. He was clutching the pale liquid.
"I do apologise, Severus. But the law does say that every suspect needs to be questioned." Minister Rockman looked down at Severus sympathetically and turned the bottle over to Severus to drink. Minerva watched as Severus downed the potion quickly, as though he just wanted to get it done and over with.
In a matter of minutes Severus was ready for questioning. The Minister paced the room slightly. Not one sound was made by the Order.
"Let's start with an easy one. What is your name?"
"Severus Lucifer Snape." The Minister nodded at this and strode to the window.
"And where were you on February 26th?" There was no answer to his question. Severus had an odd look on his face.
"Severus! Where were you on February 26th?" The Minister repeated. Slowly Severus answered.
"I was at Hogwarts." The Minister nodded again.
"And what happened on February 26th?" Silence followed the question again.
"Severus, answer the question."
"A school was attacked."
"Did you have anything to do with it."
"Yes." Minerva started in shock. Arabella cried out and the room broke into exclamations of "I knew it!" and "the traitor!" Rockman took a few minutes to compose himself from the shock before shakily continuing the inquiry.
"What-What part did you play in the attack?" He cleared his throat twice.
"I told them. I told them everything. I told them that the school was defenceless and that the majority of the Order were away and wouldn't be able to stop them." The room lapsed into shocked silence again. Arabella had sat down, burying her face in her hands. Remus had turned towards the wall, his face hidden. Minerva had sat down beside Severus muttering, "It can't be true". Rockman turned to Dumbledore, who stood expressionless and shook his head. He addressed Severus again.
"What about the other times? Have you betrayed us before the first attack on the school? Was it you who was responsible for the attack on Witberg?" Rockman's voice had lowered to a dangerous note, his eyes were hard and angry.
"Yes, yes and yes." Was Severus' repetitive answer. Rockman turned sharply back to Dumbledore.
"I must take him. He will stand for a trial, but frankly, I don't see any chance of Severus being announced innocent." Rockman summoned the Ministry officials who had been in the Great Hall and the Order watched as Severus was apprehended. As Severus was being arrested he came out from the spell of the Veritaserum. He was pale and looked around wildly.
"What? What happened? I didn't say those things! It wasn't me! Honestly!" He glanced around the room. Half of the Order was either sneering at Severus or glaring furiously at him. The other half couldn't bear to look at him or were muttering angrily. Severus looked past them and his eyes fell on his comrades.
"Minerva. Please! Believe me!" He said hoarsely. Minerva just cried and didn't acknowledge him. He then turned to Arabella.
"Please, Arabella! You know me! Albus! I would never-"
"Come on. Come quietly." Rockman stood twisting his hat in his hands. His face was set rigidly and his eyes were cold and hard. The Ministry officials pulled Severus out of the room as he yelled to his friends.
"I didn't do it! I would never do it! I would rather die!" His voice trailed off as he was pulled down the hall.
"I'm sorry it came to this." Rockman said softly to the Order.
"Yeah, well I'm just glad that that betrayer will be locked up. He deserves the Kiss. T's too bad the Dementor's joined the Dark Side." A man with brown eyes set deep in his head spoke for the Order angrily.
"Grant, please. Would you all please leave? It's late and we have all suffered a terrible shock." Dumbledore didn't look at anyone and spoke quietly to the table in front of him.
"Not for some of us." Muttered Grant, but he picked up his hat and left, followed slowly by the other members.
Only Arabella, Minerva, Remus and Snuffles remained. Minerva's sobs echoed in the empty room. Arabella hadn't moved from her position and Remus was still studying the stone wall. Snuffles sat silently on the floor. Finally Dumbledore spoke.
"I still back Severus." Minerva stopped crying and both Remus and Arabella looked up. Snuffles raised his head and cocked his head inquisitively.
"Albus, have you not just heard his confession? He betrayed us! He betrayed us, and you still support him! God, I knew this was going to happen! Didn't I?" Remus rounded on Arabella who looked up at him with full eyes.
"God! I knew we never should have trusted him. And now, because of that- that-that SNAKE innocent people have lost their lives! Like Lily and James!" Remus was pacing the room furiously. At his last sentence his hands dropped to his side and an irrepressible look of sadness filled his eyes. Snuffles slowly stood up and walked over to Remus' side where he sat down and looked up. Throughout this whole display of emotion, Dumbledore hadn't moved. Then he spoke, his voice thick and quiet.
"You may have lost your trust and confidence in people that day fifteen years ago, but I haven't. You may be so sure that all spies are two faced, but I don't. You may hate Severus and believe him guilty, but I don't!" As he spoke, Dumbledore's voice became louder, angrier and more forceful. He turned to face Remus who stood straighter and looked him in the eye. When Dumbledore spoke again, his voice had lowered again.
"I will not question your opinion in this matter, Remus, each to their own. I know why you mistrust spies and I respect that, I also know why you dislike Severus and after this I understand why you mistrust him. But, Remus, I will still back him up." Dumbledore sat wearily at his desk, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"So will I." Whispered Arabella.
"And I." Agreed Minerva, wiping her eyes. Remus remained in silence for a moment.
"If you, sir, believe that Severus is innocent than I will back you up. Therefore, I back Severus up. I do not know how much help I will be. My whole heart does not believe that Severus is innocent, but I will try to believe it." Dumbledore nodded at him and Snuffles barked as though he was agreeing with Remus.