Ashes of Victory
Ch 12
Disclaimer: Not mine. J.K. Rowling's.
Author's Notes: Well, here it is. The last chapter. Thank you so much for all the reviews. I hope ya'll enjoy this last one. I am thinking of rewriting this into a hard R, or possible NC-17 version, describing all the things I just hinted at and going into a lot more detail. What do ya'll think?
"My father," Severus began, "was always fascinated with dark magic. When the Dark Lord began to gather followers to him, Father was one of the first. However, he didn't have a lot he could offer the Dark Lord besides his loyalty. So, to move himself into the Inner Circle, he offered me.
"I had spent the last two years in Germany with a Potion Master there. I had shown an early aptitude for brewing potions, so my father found me an apprenticeship after my mother died. I would have stayed there, but for Father's ambitions. He brought me back to England. I was made to brew a couple of potions and then given the Dark Mark. I was never given a choice in it.
Fudge scribbled on a piece of paper and pushed it over to Dumbledore. Dumbledore picked it up, read it and frowned. Slowly, he read the paper aloud.
"Why would You-Know-Who have a nine-year-old brew potions? Where there other factors involved with you being accepted as a Deatheater?"
"I was not sure why he wanted me then. Later, I realized that I was young enough to be molded into what he wanted. I was not the only child he gave the Dark Mark to at that time period." Severus was sweating at this point. His eyes had a far-away look. Albus knew he was remembering that time in his life.
"There were other factors involved." Severus' voice was a hoarse whisper. Albus knew he was fighting the potion now. "The Dark Lord has certain...preferences. I filled some of his needs."
Moody grabbed a quill and scribbled a question. He shoved it at Albus.
"Explain in more detail," Albus read. He glanced at Severus, then over at Minerva. Her face was a picture of concern. Albus knew the same look of concern was on his face.
"Severus," Dumbledore began, "I'm afraid they need more detail on Voldemort's interests in you, beyond potion brewing."
"He liked boys," Severus grounded out. His eyes were clinched closed. Albus was sure that the sweat running down his face was mixed with tears. "Specifically, at that time, me." He opened his eyes and glanced at Moody and Fudge before locking eyes with Dumbledore. "Sexually," he said, defeat in his voice.
Before Moody or Fudge could scribble anything down on a piece of paper, Albus began asking questions, quickly.
"Have you ever killed someone using your wand or any sort of physical violence?"
"No."
"Have you ever tortured anyone with your wand or physical violence?"
"No." Severus was beginning to calm down.
"Have you ever administered a lethal potion?" Dumbledore asked, sticking to yes or no questions for now.
"No."
"Are you, in truth, a spy for the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Seven and a half years." Severus wasn't sweating as much now.
"When did you become a spy?"
"The day I returned from Christmas vacation in my First year. I waited until after dinner, and then went to your office. I told you everything."
"Have you ever deliberately withheld information in a report about a Deatheater's meeting that caused a person harm?" Albus asked one last question.
"No."
Albus turned to the witnesses. "Do you have any other questions which need to be asked?"
The three witnesses shook their heads 'no.' Kingsley stated "No" for the record.
"Moody? Fudge?"
Moody said no as well. Mad-Eye opened his mouth, closed it again with a look from Albus and shook his head no.
Fudge stood up. "Based on the questions asked and answers given, I exonerate you, Severus Snape, of all accused wrong doing. You are free to go."
The chains binding Severus to the chair dropped to the floor. He didn't move.
Cornelius, Mad-Eye and the witnesses filled out. Minerva paused briefly to look a question at Albus. He shook his head no and Minerva left as well.
Albus approached Severus. "Let's go," he said. The younger wizard stood. Albus wrapped an arm around him and led him out of the courtroom. As a free man.
Disclaimer: Not mine. J.K. Rowling's.
Author's Notes: Well, here it is. The last chapter. Thank you so much for all the reviews. I hope ya'll enjoy this last one. I am thinking of rewriting this into a hard R, or possible NC-17 version, describing all the things I just hinted at and going into a lot more detail. What do ya'll think?
"My father," Severus began, "was always fascinated with dark magic. When the Dark Lord began to gather followers to him, Father was one of the first. However, he didn't have a lot he could offer the Dark Lord besides his loyalty. So, to move himself into the Inner Circle, he offered me.
"I had spent the last two years in Germany with a Potion Master there. I had shown an early aptitude for brewing potions, so my father found me an apprenticeship after my mother died. I would have stayed there, but for Father's ambitions. He brought me back to England. I was made to brew a couple of potions and then given the Dark Mark. I was never given a choice in it.
Fudge scribbled on a piece of paper and pushed it over to Dumbledore. Dumbledore picked it up, read it and frowned. Slowly, he read the paper aloud.
"Why would You-Know-Who have a nine-year-old brew potions? Where there other factors involved with you being accepted as a Deatheater?"
"I was not sure why he wanted me then. Later, I realized that I was young enough to be molded into what he wanted. I was not the only child he gave the Dark Mark to at that time period." Severus was sweating at this point. His eyes had a far-away look. Albus knew he was remembering that time in his life.
"There were other factors involved." Severus' voice was a hoarse whisper. Albus knew he was fighting the potion now. "The Dark Lord has certain...preferences. I filled some of his needs."
Moody grabbed a quill and scribbled a question. He shoved it at Albus.
"Explain in more detail," Albus read. He glanced at Severus, then over at Minerva. Her face was a picture of concern. Albus knew the same look of concern was on his face.
"Severus," Dumbledore began, "I'm afraid they need more detail on Voldemort's interests in you, beyond potion brewing."
"He liked boys," Severus grounded out. His eyes were clinched closed. Albus was sure that the sweat running down his face was mixed with tears. "Specifically, at that time, me." He opened his eyes and glanced at Moody and Fudge before locking eyes with Dumbledore. "Sexually," he said, defeat in his voice.
Before Moody or Fudge could scribble anything down on a piece of paper, Albus began asking questions, quickly.
"Have you ever killed someone using your wand or any sort of physical violence?"
"No."
"Have you ever tortured anyone with your wand or physical violence?"
"No." Severus was beginning to calm down.
"Have you ever administered a lethal potion?" Dumbledore asked, sticking to yes or no questions for now.
"No."
"Are you, in truth, a spy for the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Seven and a half years." Severus wasn't sweating as much now.
"When did you become a spy?"
"The day I returned from Christmas vacation in my First year. I waited until after dinner, and then went to your office. I told you everything."
"Have you ever deliberately withheld information in a report about a Deatheater's meeting that caused a person harm?" Albus asked one last question.
"No."
Albus turned to the witnesses. "Do you have any other questions which need to be asked?"
The three witnesses shook their heads 'no.' Kingsley stated "No" for the record.
"Moody? Fudge?"
Moody said no as well. Mad-Eye opened his mouth, closed it again with a look from Albus and shook his head no.
Fudge stood up. "Based on the questions asked and answers given, I exonerate you, Severus Snape, of all accused wrong doing. You are free to go."
The chains binding Severus to the chair dropped to the floor. He didn't move.
Cornelius, Mad-Eye and the witnesses filled out. Minerva paused briefly to look a question at Albus. He shook his head no and Minerva left as well.
Albus approached Severus. "Let's go," he said. The younger wizard stood. Albus wrapped an arm around him and led him out of the courtroom. As a free man.
