Disclaimers: Please see Chapters 1 and 2 for all disclaimers

As always, tremendous appreciation for the reviews…

Pasha ToH… So glad you liked it.

Evenstar Elanor… You felt badly for Lucius? I must be doing something right, my friend.

Wyall Jared… Brilliant? Egad, you're going to give me a big ego with praise like that. Glad, tho, that it got the blood flowing for you.

Mercury Gray… You find Lucius attractive? Me too, I must admit.

Angoliel… Welcome! I'm so glad you had the chance to read this. Did you do all 15 chapters in one sitting? "Bloody hard core." You have no idea how delighted I was to read that comment. (and glad you like the bad boys – I'm growing fonder of them by the day). Hope to get more reviews from you…

Chapter 16: Accused

On their official one-week anniversary as a married couple, Serena and Severus were armed for war. Each sporting the proper colors for Gryffindor and Slytherin, they arrived at the final Quidditch game of the fall season. Serena had wisely declined to make any wagers on the game with her husband. They sat in a general section of stands for this game. For the spring season, they had agreed to sit in the pavilion of whichever team had won the previous match. But since that didn't start until spring, this game was neutral territory.

The game had been a close one with the lead between Gryffindor and Slytherin exchanging several times before Harry Potter, in a positively brilliant turn-dive-and-roll maneuver, managed to catch the Golden Snitch. In the stands, Serena leaped to her feet, shrieking victoriously, and Severus looked up at his new wife with an indulgent smile quirking his face. He knew he'd hear about this game at least until the spring Quidditch season began because this win put Gryffindor firmly in the lead for the House Cup.

In a different place in the stands, Lucius Malfoy scowled as he watched Draco lose the Golden Snitch to Harry Potter's outstretched hand. He glanced up at the sky at the gathering clouds and then down at the crowd as they began to exit the arena. Then, just as he spotted Minister Fudge and Madame Umbridge, he felt the familiar distant chill that surrounded the Dementors.

Well, thought Lucius coldly, at least the afternoon won't be a complete waste. This should prove to be most entertaining.

The crowd was thinning and the two teams were congregating on the field with their housemates. Serena and Severus worked their way through the crowd; Serena had her arm through Severus'. With her free hand, she waved as she saw Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"It was a marvelous game, wasn't it?" she enthused.

"You're gloating," groused Severus.

"It was," agreed the Headmaster.

"That was quite a marvelous catch that Harry made," said McGonagall with quite a bit of pride in her voice. Severus scowled at her a little but said nothing as a cold chill crept over him. He looked from side to side, trying to find the source. Serena and the others noticed it too and then someone pointed to the sky. Above them, Dementors slithered through the sky, sinister and forbidding.

"What are they doing here?" Serena was worried. Dementors could only mean trouble.

Dumbledore looked just as concerned. Peering up through his glasses, the Headmaster said, "I'm not sure…"

They were so absorbed with the Dementors that no one saw the small group of people pushing their way resolutely through the crowd. At the front of the group was Minister Fudge and next to him was his new favorite bureaucrat – Umbridge – a woman who distinctly looked like a toad. In the wake of the entourage was Lucius Malfoy, close enough to see what happened, but far enough away to distance himself from the Minister and his cronies.

"Severus Snape," shrilled Umbridge.

Everyone flinched and turned.

After a dramatic pause and glare at the Potions Master, she said, "You are under arrest for being a Dark Wizard, corrupting honest witches and wizards, and using your power to establish yourself as You Know Who's heir apparent."

Severus looked surprised for only a moment before he mastered his feelings; he would not allow her the satisfaction of letting them see him upset. Umbridge gestured at two Aurors who were with them and both stepped forward. Severus backed up a step and when one grabbed his arm Serena slapped it away.

"Take your hands off him!"

"Stay out of this, Miss…" Umbridge peered over her glasses.

"Missus," said Serena nastily. "Mrs. Snape, thank you very much."

Umbridge blinked her beady eyes slowly and she looked Serena up and down. The Dark Arts professor was poised with her center of gravity a little low and her fists clenched. She was obviously ready for a fight to erupt. The Aurors looked at each other, concerned. They all knew Tonks and knew of Serena's reputation as a fearsome and talented witch.

"Serena," said Severus. "There's no need to be upset. This must be some mistake."

"Mistake? It's a bloody huge mistake!" Distant in the back of her mind was her dream and the image of Severus being swept away from her in a swirling cold wind. Severus glanced up at the sky at the shadowy figures of the Dementors as they cruised in the grey sky like sharks circling their prey. She followed his eyes and realized why he was being so calm; he didn't want to bring the Dementors into this. It would make everything much more difficult and risk the chance of one of them getting out of hand.

One of the Aurors, a man Serena didn't recognize, took a hold her arm and tried to make her step away from Severus. Although his hand was gentle, she turned her head very slowly and stared coldly at him. The Auror swallowed hard.

"Take your hand off me or I will break it off…" she growled.

Lucius couldn't resist. He slipped through the crowd until he was at the front. "Well, well, Severus. Seems you've been up to some dark tricks to bring this escort out," he said with his trademark thin, sardonic smile.

Severus' expression darkened even further. Watching silently from the edge of the crowd, Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at each other. It never failed to amaze them, but every time they though that Snape couldn't get a darker, more frightening look on his face, he proved them wrong.

"You'll go without any fuss and bother," said Fudge as if it were an order.

Severus offered a thin smile. "Of course, Minister. I want to clear this error up as soon as possible."

As a convenience for game days, Dumbledore allowed one portkey to be activated. It was more convenient for the parents. The teachers put up several wards to ensure the portkey wasn't misused and McGonagall herself always made sure it was deactivated as soon as the game was finished. The Aurors, followed by a smug-looking Umbridge and the Minister, escorted Severus to the portkey. Several cracks and a pop made the remaining crowd flinch as they all disappeared. Just before he vanished, Severus looked back over his shoulder at his wife and the desperate look in his eyes nearly made her double over. After they disappeared, Serena simply stared at the empty spot in front of her blankly.

"Where are they taking him?" asked Serena.

As he was turning to leave, Lucius looked over his shoulder. "Why, he's been accused of being a Dark Wizard; they'll take him to Azkaban of course. Come along Draco." He put his hand on his son's shoulder and walked away.

Azkaban. Serena's stomach turned over as she imagined Severus in that horrible, horrible place.

"Serena?" The voice was McGonagall's. "I'm sure this is a mistake…"

Abruptly, Serena seemed to come back to herself and she turned to Minerva with a glare. "Mistake? Of course this is a mistake. Hell, this is no more than codswollop and gobshite!" she nearly shouted. "I'm not going to put up with this nonsense." She turned and stormed off towards home.

Minerva and some of the other teachers watched her go and all turned towards Dumbledore. The concerned wrinkle in his brow didn't make them feel any better.

Please read/review… I'm very interested to hear what you think.