Hey everyone. Sorry, I didn't expect it to take this long to post another chapter. My teacher just suddenly decided to give us this huge project to do in only a week and a half.
Well, school is finally coming to a close once again and I will have a little more time to write. This summer I'll be pretty busy though but this story is, I'm hoping, coming to an end before the sixth book but it keeps piling up.
Once again, thanks to all my wonderful reviewers and to my beta readers, Badbugz.
SneakyMerlin- I have a million on my favorites list if you haven't read them all.
Chapter thirty two- The Trial
A dull roar of noise met Damien as he trudged into the overcrowded courtroom. Most of the audience went quiet while others expressed their opinions of him rather loudly and colorfully. He didn't look at the of faces filled with both disgust and concern as he sat down in the chair the ministry wizard led him to. With a lurch in his stomach, he noticed that there were chains on each arm though they, luckily, remained motionless.
"The court will now come to order!" Madame Bones, who was judging Damien's trial, called, causing everyone to fall silent. "Case 387651, defendant Harold James Potter a.k.a. Damien Severus Snape and the prosecution, the Ministry of Magic on this day of February 15th, 1997." She threw a slightly apologetic glance in Dumbledore's direction, who was sitting in the front beside Severus.
"Mr. Potter is accused of following You-Know-Who and practicing heinous acts by means of being a Death Eater as well as possible use of the Unforgivables on another living being." Damien recognized the words as almost the exact same ones that the ministry wizard had told him of when he had been in the cell. He glanced around to see the crowd's reactions.
A wave of noise followed the ending of Madame Bones's statement as several people (which Damien vaguely recognized as Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Fred, and George) stood up to protest loudly. Damien held back a smirk.
"Silence!" Madame Bones commanded. "This is a courtroom, not a jungle and I expect it to be treated as such. Each of you, cease behaving like animals and sit down!"
On Dumbledore's left shoulder perched Fawkes and Damien noticed, with a small twinge of amusement, that he ruffled his feathers indignantly at her statement.
"Interrogators: Dolores Jane Umbridge, pending Mistress of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Jackson Eric Andrews, Head Auror; Allison Claris Barene, Head of the Department of Underage Wizardry," as she said the names, each person nodded slightly from where they were seated behind her.
"Witnesses: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Severus Nobilius Snape, Minerva Erica McGonagall, Ginevra Molly Weasley, Ronald Arthur Weasley, Hermione Anne Granger, Pansy Caroline Parkinson, Neville Frank Longbottom, Fredrick William Weasley, George William Weasley, Seamus Ares Finnagan, Dean Matthew Thomas, and Luna Lisa Lovegood," she took a breath after finishing the names, and cleared her throat before taking a seat in the front of the Wizengomat.
Damien frowned. This trial was a heck of a lot different from the one he had had at the beginning of his fifth year. Of course, the charges hadn't been near as severe as these. What surprised him most was the witnesses; how could there be so many? Did they plan to keep him here all day and into the night. Damien sighed and stared straight ahead from where his chair was stationed facing the entire crowd, right beneath Madame Bones's chair.
"Now," she went on, turning to nod toward a man with a slick cap of brown hair that looked as if it had been gelled down similar to the way Draco had worn his hair in their first year. "The Chair recognizes Mr. Jackson Andrews, will you began?"
The man nodded and shuffled his papers importantly. Damien shifted in his seat, feeling heat rise to his cheeks at all the eyes that were on him.
"I call upon Severus Snape and request permission for the use of veritaserum," Andrews croaked, his voice sounded raspy.
"Permission granted," Madame Bones nodded. "Mr. Snape."
Damien watched as his father slowly stood up and made his way to the chair a couple feet away from his own. The man glanced at him briefly before downing the veritaserum reluctantly. Instantly, his dark eyes glazed, giving Damien the distinct impression of someone put under the Imperius. He shivered.
"What is your full name?" Andrews questioned clearly.
"Severus Nobilius Snape," Damien's father responded monotonously.
Damien winced, wanting nothing more then to become deaf of the indifferent voice.
"What is your age?"
"Thirty eight years and eleven months," Severus responded automatically.
Damien wondered why the question was relevant before figuring that they always started out with simple questions. So Severus's birthday was March 15th? He didn't ponder on that long as Andrews asked another question.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
Severus blinked but didn't respond.
"More specifically if you please, Mr. Andrews," Madame Bones told him.
The man scowled and said in a bored voice, "Are you a loyal Death Eater, Mr. Snape?"
"No."
"When did you start working for Albus Dumbledore?"
"Almost three months after my initiation."
Andrews nodded and hesitated.
"Is Harry Potter your son?"
"No."
A wave of noise swept through the courtroom, which was immediately silenced by the judge.
Dumbledore stood up. "If you would please re-phrase that question, Mr. Andrews? I believe that veritaserum tells only what the drinker believes to be the truth and in all honestly, Harry Potter and Damien Snape, while both the same boy, are certainly not the same people."
Madame Bones nodded. "Well stated. Mr. Andrews?"
"Is Damien Snape your son?"
"Yes."
"Do you believe that Damien Snape is Harry Potter?"
Severus didn't answer for a moment. "To a certain extent."
"Please move on with your questioning, Mr. Andrews," Madame Bones interrupted. "We do have many people to go through."
"Of course, Madame," Andrews gave a little bow.
"Is your son a loyal Death Eater, Mr. Snape?"
"No."
"Was he ever a loyal Death Eater?"
"No," Severus replied a little more forcefully then he was supposed to.
"Has your son ever harmed anyone under You-Know-Who's orders?"
"No," Severus said again, in a slightly bored voice.
"Veritaserum is starting to wear off, Madame," Andrews said. "I request permission to re-administer a stronger dosage."
Madame Bones sighed. "Denied. Continue with your questioning, Mr. Andrews. I'm sure you can do without veritaserum." Andrews scowled but continued. "Has your son ever participated in any Death Eater raids, Mr. Snape?"
"No," Severus said immediately, glaring at the man. "If he hasn't harmed anyone then he hasn't participated in any raids, Mr. Andrews, you should know that."
Andrews gave him an oily smile. "Yes, well, association is just as bad, Mr. Snape."
"If there are no further questions?" Madame Bones said to Andrews, who nodded reluctantly, obviously looking put out at Severus' resistance to veritaserum.
"You may step down, Mr. Snape," Madame Bones nodded.
Next was Allison Barene. She was a rather plump witch with a slick cap of light brown hair and blue eyes. Her matching blue robes were slightly ragged and not nearly as fancy as the other members of the Wizengomat (some of which were frowning at her disapprovingly). She reminded Damien vaguely of Mrs. Weasley.
"I call Mr. Ronald Weasley to the stand please."
There was a ripple in the crowd as nearly every head turned to look at Ron, who was sitting between Hermione and Ginny, blood red. The male redhead shakily stood up and made his way to the chair Severus had sat in only moments beforehand. Damien noticed that Ron was trying rather unsuccessfully to hide the tattered cuffs of the sleeves of his robes.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," Barene greeted pleasantly as soon as Ron had settled himself into the chair, obviously trying to make the nervous young man a little more comfortable.
Ron merely nodded in response as his eyes flickered over to meet Damien's for an instant.
"Alright, now I'm going to ask you a few questions so please be as honest as you can and I won't request the use of veritaserum," Barene told Ron as if he were a child. Ron flushed in embarrassment, hating it almost as much as Damien did to be treated like a child.
"Now," Barene began. "How long have you known Harry Potter?"
"Almost six years," Ron muttered as if it were obvious. "Since the beginning of our first year."
"Is it true that he is a parseltongue?"
"Yeah," Ron grumbled, sounding very disgruntled. "It's true."
"Has Mr. Potter ever seemed even remotely dark to you, Mr. Weasley?"
Ron looked alarmed. "No," he said and Damien was surprised at the calm level of voice. He had expected Ron to shout, which surely wouldn't have been good for the case.
"He's never threatened to kill another person or practiced dark arts?"
"No," Ron said immediately. "Harry…er..Damien"-he blushed again- "has always been against the dark side."
"How do you know that for sure, Mr. Weasley?"
Ron flushed, this time in anger. "I have known him ever since he found out about magic and there's the fact that You-Know-Who's always been trying to kill him."
"And you believe he's never thought of going over to the dark side because of that, Mr. Weasley?"
"Well, yeah! I mean, who would be an ally to a person that wants to kill you? Damien's always hated You-Know-Who. I'd think that would be pretty obvious since he has fought him almost every year."
"Were you aware that Mr. Potter was actually Damien Snape?"
A murmur went through the crowd and Ron hesitated, obviously unsure if he should tell the truth. Dumbledore gave him a small nod and he relaxed.
"Yeah," he admitted. "I did."
Barene arched an eyebrow. "You did, did you? Why would he tell you that?"
"Because I'm his best friend," Ron said slowly, looking confused at the woman's apparent disbelief.
Barene frowned and shuffled her papers for a moment. "Did Mr. Potter change over the course of this year, Mr. Weasley? Did you notice any major differences in his personality?"
Ron seemed to be trying to figure out if this was a trick question or not.
"Um…no, not really. I mean, everyone changes and he wasn't really different."
"So he did change?"
Ron blinked. "Well he was happier this year because of obvious reasons and he was…..well….a lot more confident too."
Damien blushed and he heard a few people snicker in the crowd.
"Describe 'obvious reasons.'"
Ron rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Obvious reasons! Like the fact that he had a father that was alive."
"If I may say so myself, I was under the impression that Mr. Potter and Professor Snape were not overly fond of each other."
"People change," Ron stated confidently, glancing cautiously at Damien, who smiled at him.
Barene sighed, looking rather displeased. "Were you aware of Damien Snape's marking?"
"Yes."
"And how did you react to it?"
Ron frowned. "Well," he said slowly, giving the question some thought. "At first I was worried…."
"Because you were afraid that he was going dark?"
"No!" Ron exclaimed. "I was worried because I knew Damien was probably going to spy with Professor Snape and I know what happens to spies in You-Know-Who's ranks if they're found out."
Barene looked severely discontented, still not bringing herself to believe the redhead. Nevertheless, she dismissed him and called the next person to the stand, hoping that she'd be able to get the least bit of truth before the day was over.
Hermione was next. In contrast to Ron, she calmly approached the chair and sat down, showing her nervousness from the way her eyes darted over to Damien once every few moments.
"How long have you known Harry Potter?"
"Since first year," Hermione answered politely. "The same time Ron met him."
"Ah, you befriended him along with Mr. Weasley?"
"Well," Hermione blushed. "At first, we weren't friends but on Halloween, we started to become good friends."
"Yes, the Golden Trio as I've heard?" Barene smiled at Hermione. She didn't return it.
"Tell me, Miss Granger, why did you suddenly befriend Mr. Potter then?"
"He and Ron saved my life," Hermione answered breezily.
"From what?"
"A mountain troll."
Barene nodded and scanned her notes. "Yes," she said absently. "I do recall hearing about that."
"Has Mr. Potter ever seemed dangerous to you? Perhaps a bit, how do I put it, not right in the head?"
Damien scowled, feeling his cheeks heat up.
"No, of course not!" Hermione sounded scandalized. "Damien has always been one of my best friends, he'd never hurt me or anyone else."
"Has he ever called you a mudblood?"
"No," Hermione said again, calmer this time. "He has defended me multiple times from those who do and he still does despite the fact that the people he defends me from are his housemates."
"I take it you were aware of his marking?"
"Yes."
"How did you feel about it?"
"Like Ron said, I was worried that he'd get hurt…or worse."
"So you did not and do not believe that Mr. Potter will ever turn towards the dark?"
"No, I know he won't, he's not an idiot," Hermione said coolly.
"Very well, Miss Granger, you may step down."
Hermione looked thoroughly relieved that her turn was over and was shaking slightly as she hurried up to her seat, obviously not wanting to be apart of the spotlight any longer then possible.
He snorted as Mrs. Barene took her seat again and Umbridge stood up.
The woman had practically killed her case. Damien took a moment to shoot a grateful look at his two friends before standing up as Umbridge called him to the stand.
"I request use of veritaserum," she gave Damien a poisonous smile, her acid green robes adding more to the toad imagery Damien had created for her so long ago.
"That is up to the guardian," Madame Bones said, glancing at Severus.
"Denied," the man replied instantly, his black eyes glittering as they glared at her. He gave her a mocking smirk, which made her face harden monemtarily before turning back to Damien.
"Well, it is quite obvious that we will get no where without veritaserum," she informed Damien. "If you have nothing to hide, Mr. Potter, then why do you not let me use veritaserum?"
"It's Mr. Snape," Damien said through gritted teeth.
"Now, now, no need for confrontation," she said with a girlish laugh. "This boy has always had quite a problem with lying." She turned back to him, having just addressed Madame Bones. "Don't you remember, Mr. Snape? All of the detentions you were forced to spend with me because of all those silly lies you kept putting into your classmates' heads?"
"I'd think that after last year's article that you'd at least know that I wasn't lying," Damien growled, his eyes flashing. He tried to calm himself down, knowing that any anger he showed would most likely be used against him. But he couldn't help thinking about her sickly sweet know-it-all voice as she shot down anything he said on that first day of DADA in fifth year. He clenched his fists to suppress a well of anger.
"Tell me, Snape," Umbridge went on. "Have you ever wished anyone dead?"
Damien nearly snorted at the pure stupidity of the question. Memories of when he had thought that Sirius had betrayed his parents flashed through his mind. He had wanted to kill Sirius at that point. Then there was Bellatrix Lestrange, who killed Sirius right in front of him. He could still hear her taunting voice ringing in his ear, "Aw did you love him, baby Potter?" And she had killed Remus. Remus. Damien took a deep breath to control his magic that was threatening to burst. Then there was, of course, Voldemort who had caused every ounce of pain in his life. He was the reason James and his mother were dead, he was the reason Damien had been stuck with the Dursleys' all these years, he had killed Cedric, placed him and his friends in danger repeatedly. Damien was supposed to kill Voldemort. What was he supposed to say to that? But no, he wouldn't say a word of how he felt. Even if every person had thought about killing at least one other in this damn war, he'd, of course, be executed for admitting it when he was supposed to kill someone in the end.
"Well, Mr. Snape? We're waiting," Umbridge said impatiently.
"No," Damien replied, scowling. "Have you, Miss Umbridge? This is a war, after all."
She turned the color of sour milk. "I am the one asking the questions here, Mr. Snape and you will do well to keep your mouth shut. This is not just school anymore, Snape and I knew you'd end up here eventually."
"Is that so?" Damien asked in monotone voice, almost wanting to tone her out.
Her face reddened slightly and she whirled around to face Dumbledore and Snape. "If I may, Professors, but if you say this boy here is innocent then why the denial for usage of veritaserum? Surely if he's innocent then he's not hiding anything, or is he?"
"Miss Umbridge," Madame Bones barked. "You are supposed to be questioning the witness, if you want to question Professor Dumbledore or Snape then you will have to call them to the stand," she said in slower voice then usual.
Damien nearly snickered as he remembered how incredibly annoyed he had been when Umbridge had spoke to him like he was five.
Unfortunately, however, the damage was already done as the Wizengamot began murmuring in agreement at Umbridge's question to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore frowned and whispered something to Severus, who glared and spat something back. Damien watched them closely, completely ignoring Umbridge's next question.
"Mr. Snape!" Umbridge snapped and Damien jumped. "Answer the question."
"I would if you'd repeat it." He saw Fred and George grin at him out of the corner of his eye.
Umbridge gave an annoyed sigh. "Have you or have you not harmed a human under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's orders?"
"I think my father answered the question for you, considering he was under veritaserum at the time," Damien said snidely.
"Yes, well there are many things that teenagers don't tell their parents. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Snape?" Umbridge said coldly.
Damien snorted. "No, I haven't harmed anyone under Voldemort's" –a shudder rose up in the room- "orders, nor have I ever followed Voldemort's orders."
"Then will you please inform us why, exactly, you chose to be marked."
Damien scowled. He glanced over at Dumbledore, who gave him a small nod and took a breath. "Death Eaters pledge their future heir's loyalty to Voldemort when they are marked. When I arrived at Hogwarts this year, Voldemort wanted my father to bring me to be marked."
"So you did?" Umbridge asked in a bored voice. "Just like that?"
"Well, he probably would have been killed had I not so, yeah, just like that," Damien snapped, feeling anger rise up in him again.
"And why didn't Mr. Snape just quit You-Know-Who's ranks?" Umbridge said mockingly. "Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater, is it?"
"No," Damien growled. "My father has been one of the top spies for the Order for years. No one wanted to loose their spy for the Order."
"So Dumbledore risked the prophecy-child's life?" Umbridge asked snidely. Damien froze, feeling his insides turn to ice. How had she known that?
There was a quiet murmuring of the crowd, informing him that they were wondering just that as well.
He quickly regained his composure at the look of triumph on the toad's face.
"No, I did. Neither Dumbledore nor my father wanted me to join but I did anyway."
"To save your father's life? How sweet," she taunted softly.
Damien's eyes flashed. "Yes," he said boldly. "To save his life and to, possibly, give the Order another good spy."
"But something went wrong, didn't it? You suddenly decided that being a spy was too much work did you?" Umbridge sneered in a scary resemblance to Damien's father when the man had hated him.
"No-"
"Then what, Mr. Snape? Is it that you suddenly realized that the Ministry was gaining power and you knew you'd get caught?"
"No…"
"That's is isn't it? You went to Azkaban for a little while and you decide that it's too scary for you, don't you?" Umbridge goaded.
"Have you ever been to Azkaban, Umbridge?" Damien snapped. "I told you I am not loyal, nor was I ever."
Umbridge pasted a fake smile on her face as she walked closer to his chair.
The courtroom was completely silent besides the soft clunking of her heels against the floor. She gave him a crooked smile and leaned over to say quietly, "It's my, the Mistress of Magic's, word against yours, a sad little deranged boy that is the topic of entertainment in the Daily Prophet every other day. Who do you think they'll believe?"
Damien whispered back, "You're not the Mistress yet." His ears were pounding as he sat back and concentrated on staring straight ahead at the many people who were trying to lean forward to hear what they were saying.
"Just admit it, Mr. Snape, and I'll make sure your death is very painless," Umbridge said softly before straightening back up and giving him another poisoned honey smile.
"If I am still denied the usage of veritaserum," she turned to glare at Dumbledore and Severus, "then I am finished questioning."
Obviously, she had achieved what she wanted and Damien noticed very few of the Wizengomat looked as if they believed him.
Madame Bones nodded. "Mr. Snape, you may step-"
"I will grant Miss Delores Umbridge permission to use veritaserum on my son," Severus spoke up, standing as he did so.
Damien, who had also been in the process of standing up, froze and stared at Severus with wide eyes. What? He mouthed silently to his father.
Umbridge gave him a superior smile. "Thank you, Professor Snape," she said curtly.
Severus sat back down, looking almost pained and very regretful. Beside him, Dumbledore placed a wrinkled hand on his shoulder, which Severus shrugged away immediately.
Damien felt torn, almost betrayed, though he knew it would be better for their case if he did accept the veritaserum to prove that he wasn't hiding anything. He hesitantly took a couple drops of the potion and suddenly, a pleasant haze settled over his mind. He felt so comfortable, so very comfortable that he could almost fall asleep. His brain recognized it as effects similar to the Imperious and immediately tried to reject it, but the serum was far too strong and couldn't be fought by will power, at least not completely.
"Damien Severus Snape," he answered grimly to Umbridge's question.
"How old are you?"
Who cares? "Sixteen years, sixth months, and fifteen days."
"When did you join You-Know-Who's services?"
"December 8th, 1996."
"Have you ever been a loyal Death Eater?"
"No," Damien responded.
Umbridge seemed to deflate. The Wizengomat broke out into whispers.
"Obviously," Umbridge regained her leverage. "This boy has been given an immunity potion to veritaserum." She turned to the Wizengomat. "The boy's father is, after all, a Potion's Master…"
"Objection!" Severus yelled, standing up. "You know as well as everyone else in this room that there is no potion that causes immunity for veritaserum. The only way to get rid of it is from the antidote or when it wears off!" He sneered at her. "You are grasping for straws, woman!" he spat before sitting back down.
"And yet you seem to have been a teensy bit immune to the veritaserum, Professor Snape?"
The other wizards were muttering quietly to each other. The crowd was growing restless.
"Order!" Madame Bones snapped.
"I have a slight resistance to it because it was passed on to me from my father," Severus said quietly. "It is a hereditary trait."
"So you admit it?" Umbridge said triumphantly. "You admit that this boy also has a…ahem…slight resistance to veritaserum."
"You would know if he was immune," Severus retorted. "He is still showing symptoms that he is under the potion. There is no possible way that anyone can fake being under veritaserum."
"So says you," Umbridge breathed icily.
"Miss Umbridge!" Madame Bones demanded. "You will address your questions to only the witness. If I have to remind you again then you are out of this courtroom."
"Of course, Madame," Umbridge nodded, looking cheery about something.
The Wizengomat was silent, all of them staring at her.
Damien felt the pleasant haze in his mind part slightly and for a moment, he recognized his father's worried dark eyes boring into his before the haze settled again. Damien tried to push it aside again, wanting more then anything to be able to think for himself again. It was to his horror that Umbridge asked clearly, "Have you ever used an Unforgiveable on another human, Mr. Snape?"
Damien's mind flashed instantly to that night in the Department of Mysteries and he opened his mouth. "Ye-no," he stuttered and the entire courtroom burst into surprised whispers.
"Order!" Madame Bones roared. "I said Order! Now hush all of you or so help me, you will not set another foot in this courtroom until the case is over!"
They quieted almost immediately.
Umbridge was smiling broadly as she turned to address Madame Bones. "He changed his answer, Madame. The veritaserum is starting to wear off on him too." She addressed the court. "Everyone here heard what exactly Mr. Snape's answer was going to be until the veritaserum began to wear off." She turned back to the judge.
"I ask permission to administer veritaserum once again for the true answer to this question."
"Denied," Severus said immediately, glaring at her.
"I'm afraid, Professor, that you have no say in this one," Umbridge smirked triumphantly.
"She's right, Professor," Madame Bones said with a sigh. "Mr. Snape was in the middle of answering a question when the veritaserum wore off. He needs to answer truthfully, especially due to the fact that he stuttered on it."
Dumbledore stood up. "If I may, Madame? Perhaps Damien's mind was confused on if an Unforgiveable had been cast upon himself rather then he being the castor. Veritaserum does do that often which I'm sure you all know."
Madame Bones nodded. "Yes, Headmaster, I am aware of that but, nevertheless, Mr. Snape must be re-administered with veritaserum in order for us to get the truthful answer." Dumbledore nodded also, smiling as he sat down. Damien felt his insides turn to ice. Dumbledore didn't know that he had tried to cast the Cruciatus on Lestrange. No one except his father knew. He swallowed the rising lump in his throat as his now cleared mind worked frantically for something, anything to delay her.
"You, Dolores Umbridge, have no right to be questioning me anymore then you have to be the Mistress of Magic," Damien said finally, surprising the courtroom. "Forgive me if I am mistaken, but is it not true with the Ministry of Magic that one cannot be a part of the Wizengamont if he or she has a criminal record?"
"That is true, Mr. Snape, but Umbridge does not have a criminal record," Madame Bones said impatiently. "It is irrelevant…"
Damien yanked up his right sleeve, revealing the pale white scar 'I will not tell lies' on the back of his hand.
"Umbridge used an illegal blood quill on students last year during their detentions, namely me," he announced with such authority that he surprised himself. Umbridge froze in her tracks and the courtroom exploded as people didn't even bother to keep their voices down.
"I was unaware that it was illegal last year," Damien went on, revealing the back of his hand to the restless crowd.
"Do you have any proof that it was Dolores Umbridge who did this, Mr. Snape?" Madame Bones asked quietly, eyeing the words with a disgusted look.
Damien felt his heart skip a beat for a moment as he racked his brain.
"Other then my memories," he said slowly. "I also have another student who experienced this." Madame Bones looked surprised. "Who, Mr. Snape?"
"Lee Jordan," Damien said, feeling confidence.
"And is he present at this time?"
She looked out into the crowd though when no one spoke up, she turned back to Damien. "These claims will be investigated, Mr. Snape, but are not as vital as your case here. We will continue-"
"She also was going to use the Cruciatus on me at the end of last year," Damien blurted out quickly. "But my friend, Hermione Granger stopped her before she could get out the last syllable and there are many people here today that can testify for that, Madame Bones."
There was an uproar of shock from the crowd. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and even Luna were all expressing their agreement, all who had been there to witness it. Severus and Dumbledore were both abandoning their seats to confront a frozen Umbridge and Damien a tingle of fear travel through him at the pure anger in Dumbledore's light blue eyes. His father wasn't any better. The man's usual pale skin was flushed, his onyx eyes seemed to darken until they resembled two endless tunnels. He forced himself to look away from the furious wizards.
"And," Damien shouted above the crowd at Umbridge, who was steadily growing paler. "You were the one who ordered the dementors after me the summer before my fifth year! You admitted that, Umbridge! You admitted that to Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and I right before you tried to cast the Cruciatus on me!" He had to yell to be heard. He noticed that some wizards from the Wizengamot were shaking their heads disbelievingly while others, like Jackson Andrews, who was shouting
"Preposterous!"
Madame Bones had to cause a series of loud firework-like cracks with her wand to get the courtroom under order.
"Order!" she roared again for the fifth time as they quieted down.
She turned to look at Damien, staring at for a moment as if assessing if she should truly believe him. After a moment, she gave a nod.
"These accusations are very severe, Mr. Snape," she looked at him sternly. "You do realize that it will only weaken your defense for your case if you are proven wrong."
"I do," Damien said quietly. "But it's the truth. I have many witnesses for it who would be more then willing to undergo the Legilimens spell to prove it." He was thinking about Ron, Hermione, and Ginny mainly and perhaps Neville. He was sure that Lee would also be willing, since Umbridge did use the blood quill on him as well.
Madame Bones reached a hand up to rub the spot between her eyes tiredly.
"This trial shall resume at a later date, when these accusations are resolved." She didn't sound very professional and obviously didn't care.
"Until then, Mr. Snape will be held in a containment cell while he will await the beginning of Dolores Umbrige's trial," she paused and flicked her wand, magically placing the information on Damien's papers.
"Dismissed."
There was a surge of shuffling and murmurs as everyone started talking again while others were quickly hurrying to the door.
The ministry wizard that had brought Damien down grabbed the boy's shoulder and yanked him up. Damien winced, knowing it would leave a bruise, but allowed himself to be escorted to the door.
"Damien!" He froze at the sound of his father's voice and turned. His father along with Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were hurrying over to them.
"You weren't making that up, were you?" his father whispered, shaking his head slowly. "She really did try to cast the Cruciatus on you?"
Damien nodded. "Yes, and she sent the dementors after me too."
Severus clenched his right fist but remained silent.
"Why did you wait to tell everyone this, Damien?" Dumbledore asked softly. Damien winced and bowed his head.
Severus frowned and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "That is his business, Albus," he said almost tiredly.
"Come on, boy," the ministry wizard was growing impatient as he gave squeezed Damien's arm painfully, causing him to hiss.
"If you are going to handle him like that then you will take your hands off him," Severus growled, throwing the infamous Snape glare at the young man.
"It's okay, Dad," Damien muttered, allowing the wizard to pull him toward the door that would lead to another cell.
Severus hesitated before giving him a quick hug. "It will be okay," he told him softly, his eyes sincere.
Damien could only nod as his eyes burned, feeling a lump rise up in his throat as he stared at them, all of them who loved him. Ginny and Hermione were crying, Ron was looking as if he was going to faint, Dumbledore's eyes were devoid of any twinkle, and Severus looked forlorn as Damien was shoved through the door and he lost sight of his family.