All disclaimers and warnings in Part One
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Fugue State 3
*******
Hermione joined the Weasleys and Harry for dinner in the dinning room. Which like the rest of the house had been enlarged to better accommodate the elevated status of the Weasleys. Sitting around the table with the large and boisterous bunch, her mind returned to the news that Snape resided in Azkaban. Unfortunately the chance to ask Percy about the matter did not arise during dinner. Instead the conversation centered around Ron's trip, Harry's Quidditch stories and Fred and George's growing business. After years of conflict and fear of Voldemort, it seemed every corner of the Wizarding world was in need of comic relief. Their crackers and dancing Christmas decorations had been best sellers this past season and with Arthur's new position, for the first time in years the Weasleys were financially comfortable.
The next day also provided little opportunity for any sort of exploration into the fate of Severus Snape. Snowball fights, impromptu quidditch games and the opening of presents were the order of the day. Snape's fate was hardly in the forefront of her mind. If one were to be completely truthful, she hadn't really spared him a thought since dinner. The festivities in the house hardly leant themselves to talk about the war, especially the one teacher who had made her life miserable for seven years. Talk about the War had become tiresome. No one really wanted to hear about it anymore. The remaining trials of the Death Eaters hardly made the papers anymore. Usually the fate of the Death Eater was consigned to page six, behind the quidditch news but before the classifieds. In a little box that most readers of the Daily Prophet were able to skip. Everyone was tired of the news, and the fate of a few stray Death Eaters hardly raised any interest. It wasn't until the third day of Hermione's visit that Percy was asked any questions about Snape's fate and even then, it was Ginny who broached the subject. Her homework was due at the resumption of the school term in five days time.
"Percy, could you tell me why Snape's in Azkaban?" Asked Ginny on the afternoon of the third day. Percy was returning to the Ministry the next morning and Ginny needed the information from him. Hermione only heard the conversation because she was reading quietly in the corner. Ron and Harry had gone down to the local pub and she had declined to go. Ron and harry had made a halfhearted attempt to convince her, but they all realized that the days when they kept together all the time was over. Rationalizing that she would only hinder them in their quest to charm the local witches, she had stayed behind and was only listening with half an ear when Ginny had asked Percy for some information.
"Ginny, I really can't go into official Ministry business." Replied Percy.
"I just need something." Ginny replied exasperated. If she couldn't get some information on Snape, the report would be incomplete and that wouldn't do. "The report has to talk about the staff of Hogwarts and Snape was the Potions Teacher. He's part of it. If I don't get some information on him, I'll fail."
Talk of scholastic failure was something that spurred Percy into giving his sister some of the basics. Next to him, Ginny was the only Weasley that had followed him in academic success. She was a prefect, top in her class in three subjects and after eight Owls, was expected to do very well in her Newts. So, in the interest of academic glory for another Weasley, especially his baby sister on whom he doted, Percy answered what he could.
"Snape's on trial for the usual. Being a Death Eater. The mark is on him. It is quite easy to make the case that someone is a Death Eater if they have the Dark Mark emblazoned on their arm. Snape does. He's a Death Eater. And there are other factors. He was garbed as a Death Eater in the Final Battle. It's a very easy to see that Snape must be punished."
"But I thought he worked for Professor Dumbledore?" Interjected Hermione. "Harry said something before that Snape was providing information to the Order. Wasn't he working for us?"
"Ahh," Percy took in Hermione in the corner of the room, curled in an armchair, "He did provide some information, but there are some discrepancies in both his reports and actions. In addition, there are his actions prior to his joining the Order. He was exonerated once, but some new information has come to light."
"Like what?" asked Ginny, quill in hand. poised over her parchment.
"I can't tell you that, it's official Ministry business and is top secret," said Percy with more than a touch of pride. Since Barty Crouch's unfortunate fate, Percy had been in charge of Azkaban and the related trials. In the aftermath of the Battle, this had the added effect of giving Percy a name within the Wizarding world that was completely separate from the Weasleys. He was the man who put the Death Eaters away. He purged the world of the filth, he cleansed their world. Because of this, Percy was a much valued guest at the homes of the prominent people, the movers and the shakers. His power and respect in his circles rivaled his fathers. He was the keeper of the peace. It was a very serious task. One that Percy knew he was perfectly suited for. He loved the power that went with it.
"Well, why is his trial going on now?" Ginny tried a different track. She needed something for her report other than Snape was a Death Eater.
"Snape's been in the hospital ward until now. He was injured in the Battle and has been unresponsive until now. He began to respond to stimuli this past week, and the doctors have pronounced him fit for trial. Snape has to be able to understand the charges against him. If we weren't sure he could understand the charges against him, we couldn't hold a trial. That would be illegal. We had to wait until he woke up. Once we realized he was conscious and aware of his surroundings, the arrangements were made for his trial. It takes place in two days."
"Can I go?" Asked Ginny eagerly. If she was able to go to an actual Death Eater trial, Binns was sure to give her a pass with distinction. She was willing to bet that all the other students wouldn't get to go to something like that.
"Ginny, the court is closed to the general public. In addition, I'm sure that Father and Mother wouldn't let you go to something like that alone. The information that would come out in trial is bound to be fairly graphic. You're my little sister, I couldn't expose you to that."
"What if I went with her Percy? I'd love to see how the Wizard judicial process differs from the Muggle one. My Mother was once a juror on a civil case and I got to watch a bit of the trial. I'd love to see how a Wizard trial works." Hermione interjected.
Percy looked at the two eager faces in front of him and capitulated. He could never refuse Ginny anything. "I'll check with Father, if he agrees, you might be able to come." Ginny gave an excited squeal and jumped up to hug Percy. "Now don't get too excited. You might not be able to be in there for the whole thing, some of the information is still top secret and is likely to remain so for years, but I'll see if you can at least see some of the trial. But I can't give you an answer yet. Father has to approve it."
"Oh you know he will Percy, I'll go and ask him myself." Said Ginny on the way out of the room. "Say Percy, do you think Snape will get the Dementor's Kiss?" She asked a bit eagerly. Of the Death Eaters who had been sentenced to the Kiss, no information had been made public, only that their crimes were of such a heinous nature that there was no other option but to sentence them to death. Not that she wanted to witness the Dementors doing their work, but it would be really exciting to see someone sentenced to the Kiss. No one in her class could claim that, and she was sure it would bring her some notoriety.
"No, the Kiss isn't on the table for Snape, most likely he'll get a life sentence in Azkaban. He did do some good for the Order, as such we'll spare his life."
"And put him in misery for the rest of his life?" Hermione questioned. She still had a few nightmares about Sirius when she first saw him. Harry had made some offhand remarks that Sirius still suffered from nightmares as a result of his imprisonment. Sometimes Hermione felt that the Kiss was actually a more humane action. Rather like putting an animal down.
"Hermione," Percy explained, "the Kiss is too good for some people. Snape's actions were such that he deserves to spend the rest of his life thinking about his actions. Besides, the git probably never had a happy thought in his life, so he will suffer less than the other prisoners."
"I'll go and ask Dad!" Ginny happily stated and left to find her father. Percy soon followed, probably to assure Arthur that Ginny would not be traumatized by the trial. Hermione was left alone in the study wondering what Snape had done that would warrant a life sentence in Azkaban.
***
TBC...
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Fugue State 3
*******
Hermione joined the Weasleys and Harry for dinner in the dinning room. Which like the rest of the house had been enlarged to better accommodate the elevated status of the Weasleys. Sitting around the table with the large and boisterous bunch, her mind returned to the news that Snape resided in Azkaban. Unfortunately the chance to ask Percy about the matter did not arise during dinner. Instead the conversation centered around Ron's trip, Harry's Quidditch stories and Fred and George's growing business. After years of conflict and fear of Voldemort, it seemed every corner of the Wizarding world was in need of comic relief. Their crackers and dancing Christmas decorations had been best sellers this past season and with Arthur's new position, for the first time in years the Weasleys were financially comfortable.
The next day also provided little opportunity for any sort of exploration into the fate of Severus Snape. Snowball fights, impromptu quidditch games and the opening of presents were the order of the day. Snape's fate was hardly in the forefront of her mind. If one were to be completely truthful, she hadn't really spared him a thought since dinner. The festivities in the house hardly leant themselves to talk about the war, especially the one teacher who had made her life miserable for seven years. Talk about the War had become tiresome. No one really wanted to hear about it anymore. The remaining trials of the Death Eaters hardly made the papers anymore. Usually the fate of the Death Eater was consigned to page six, behind the quidditch news but before the classifieds. In a little box that most readers of the Daily Prophet were able to skip. Everyone was tired of the news, and the fate of a few stray Death Eaters hardly raised any interest. It wasn't until the third day of Hermione's visit that Percy was asked any questions about Snape's fate and even then, it was Ginny who broached the subject. Her homework was due at the resumption of the school term in five days time.
"Percy, could you tell me why Snape's in Azkaban?" Asked Ginny on the afternoon of the third day. Percy was returning to the Ministry the next morning and Ginny needed the information from him. Hermione only heard the conversation because she was reading quietly in the corner. Ron and Harry had gone down to the local pub and she had declined to go. Ron and harry had made a halfhearted attempt to convince her, but they all realized that the days when they kept together all the time was over. Rationalizing that she would only hinder them in their quest to charm the local witches, she had stayed behind and was only listening with half an ear when Ginny had asked Percy for some information.
"Ginny, I really can't go into official Ministry business." Replied Percy.
"I just need something." Ginny replied exasperated. If she couldn't get some information on Snape, the report would be incomplete and that wouldn't do. "The report has to talk about the staff of Hogwarts and Snape was the Potions Teacher. He's part of it. If I don't get some information on him, I'll fail."
Talk of scholastic failure was something that spurred Percy into giving his sister some of the basics. Next to him, Ginny was the only Weasley that had followed him in academic success. She was a prefect, top in her class in three subjects and after eight Owls, was expected to do very well in her Newts. So, in the interest of academic glory for another Weasley, especially his baby sister on whom he doted, Percy answered what he could.
"Snape's on trial for the usual. Being a Death Eater. The mark is on him. It is quite easy to make the case that someone is a Death Eater if they have the Dark Mark emblazoned on their arm. Snape does. He's a Death Eater. And there are other factors. He was garbed as a Death Eater in the Final Battle. It's a very easy to see that Snape must be punished."
"But I thought he worked for Professor Dumbledore?" Interjected Hermione. "Harry said something before that Snape was providing information to the Order. Wasn't he working for us?"
"Ahh," Percy took in Hermione in the corner of the room, curled in an armchair, "He did provide some information, but there are some discrepancies in both his reports and actions. In addition, there are his actions prior to his joining the Order. He was exonerated once, but some new information has come to light."
"Like what?" asked Ginny, quill in hand. poised over her parchment.
"I can't tell you that, it's official Ministry business and is top secret," said Percy with more than a touch of pride. Since Barty Crouch's unfortunate fate, Percy had been in charge of Azkaban and the related trials. In the aftermath of the Battle, this had the added effect of giving Percy a name within the Wizarding world that was completely separate from the Weasleys. He was the man who put the Death Eaters away. He purged the world of the filth, he cleansed their world. Because of this, Percy was a much valued guest at the homes of the prominent people, the movers and the shakers. His power and respect in his circles rivaled his fathers. He was the keeper of the peace. It was a very serious task. One that Percy knew he was perfectly suited for. He loved the power that went with it.
"Well, why is his trial going on now?" Ginny tried a different track. She needed something for her report other than Snape was a Death Eater.
"Snape's been in the hospital ward until now. He was injured in the Battle and has been unresponsive until now. He began to respond to stimuli this past week, and the doctors have pronounced him fit for trial. Snape has to be able to understand the charges against him. If we weren't sure he could understand the charges against him, we couldn't hold a trial. That would be illegal. We had to wait until he woke up. Once we realized he was conscious and aware of his surroundings, the arrangements were made for his trial. It takes place in two days."
"Can I go?" Asked Ginny eagerly. If she was able to go to an actual Death Eater trial, Binns was sure to give her a pass with distinction. She was willing to bet that all the other students wouldn't get to go to something like that.
"Ginny, the court is closed to the general public. In addition, I'm sure that Father and Mother wouldn't let you go to something like that alone. The information that would come out in trial is bound to be fairly graphic. You're my little sister, I couldn't expose you to that."
"What if I went with her Percy? I'd love to see how the Wizard judicial process differs from the Muggle one. My Mother was once a juror on a civil case and I got to watch a bit of the trial. I'd love to see how a Wizard trial works." Hermione interjected.
Percy looked at the two eager faces in front of him and capitulated. He could never refuse Ginny anything. "I'll check with Father, if he agrees, you might be able to come." Ginny gave an excited squeal and jumped up to hug Percy. "Now don't get too excited. You might not be able to be in there for the whole thing, some of the information is still top secret and is likely to remain so for years, but I'll see if you can at least see some of the trial. But I can't give you an answer yet. Father has to approve it."
"Oh you know he will Percy, I'll go and ask him myself." Said Ginny on the way out of the room. "Say Percy, do you think Snape will get the Dementor's Kiss?" She asked a bit eagerly. Of the Death Eaters who had been sentenced to the Kiss, no information had been made public, only that their crimes were of such a heinous nature that there was no other option but to sentence them to death. Not that she wanted to witness the Dementors doing their work, but it would be really exciting to see someone sentenced to the Kiss. No one in her class could claim that, and she was sure it would bring her some notoriety.
"No, the Kiss isn't on the table for Snape, most likely he'll get a life sentence in Azkaban. He did do some good for the Order, as such we'll spare his life."
"And put him in misery for the rest of his life?" Hermione questioned. She still had a few nightmares about Sirius when she first saw him. Harry had made some offhand remarks that Sirius still suffered from nightmares as a result of his imprisonment. Sometimes Hermione felt that the Kiss was actually a more humane action. Rather like putting an animal down.
"Hermione," Percy explained, "the Kiss is too good for some people. Snape's actions were such that he deserves to spend the rest of his life thinking about his actions. Besides, the git probably never had a happy thought in his life, so he will suffer less than the other prisoners."
"I'll go and ask Dad!" Ginny happily stated and left to find her father. Percy soon followed, probably to assure Arthur that Ginny would not be traumatized by the trial. Hermione was left alone in the study wondering what Snape had done that would warrant a life sentence in Azkaban.
***
TBC...