Chapter 16

The pale but beautiful woman stood up and walked over to the centre of the room. She glared at Harry, who glared right back. Rudst who had been on his feet most of the time anyway, offered her his chair, which she sank gracefully into.

"Mrs Malfoy, you wanted to tell the court something?" She nodded,

"Snape lied." Everyone, including Harry, twisted suddenly to look at her, "He was not alone in the dungeon all that night. I was with him." Harry screwed his face up in disgust. She was obviously lying, "We were together all that night. We have been having an affair. My husband found out and that is one of the reasons why we have separated." She gave a theatrical sniff. Harry rolled his eyes incredulously. "So you see," she said, shooting Harry a triumphant look, "I, in a way, am also an eye witness."

"There you have it ladies and gentlemen," Rudst stated to the court, "Two accounts telling the whereabouts of Severus Snape on that night. The first, from a deranged boy, with an appetite for the spotlight, who is emotionally unstable after somebody murdered his mentor, the second from an upstanding and law abiding citizen of the community, who left her husband because of his slightly jaded past times, choosing morals and values over love." Rudst said delicately. Harry, however, was hardly listening. He was shaking with fury. How could Narcissa Malfoy possibly get away with making up something so ridiculous? It was a complete shambles. Scrimgeour needed to do something, and quickly. Harry shoved his hands deep into his shabby jeans pockets, so that they wouldn't give away his anger and nerves. His fingers, however, pushed past his wand and touched a piece of paper. He frowned, momentarily forgetting what was going on around him, as he pulled the paper from his pocket and read it. Suddenly he smiled to himself. He knew exactly what would turn this trial around. Harry stood up,

"Mr Rudst," he said. The ferret-faced lawyer looked slightly startled to see Harry stand up and address him, "One of either Snape or myself has to be lying, and seeing as I have never been under suspicion then I think it should be my word the wizengamot trusts," he stated, deliberately playing at being a little simple minded,

"You doubt the belief of your most trusted mentor that Snape is not trustworthy? Also, just because you, Mr Potter, were never privy to the information that proved my clients innocence, does not mean it never existed. And thirdly, the account of Mrs Malfoy stating that she was with Snape that entire evening pretty much solidifies his alibi, wouldn't you say?" Harry pretended to look awkward, "So, yes Mr Potter, I think that it is clear that either Mr Snape and Mrs Malfoy are lying, or it is you who is lying, and I'm inclined to believe the latter, unless of course you have any evidence, proving that both Mrs Malfoy and Severus Snape are lying, which I would be most interested to see." He snorted. Ha HA! Harry thought triumphantly. Slowly he let a wicked grin spread across his face, the whole courtroom was silent, as Harry spoke,

"Funny you should say that, Mr Rudst…" Harry grinned, as he lifted up the piece of paper he had removed from his pocket and waved it at the Malfoy lawyer,

"Severus," Harry began in a loud and carrying voice, "I write to you in times of need, concerning that which we have discussed in private many times, occasionally in the company of my dearest sister Bella." Harry looked up to savour the faces of the people assembled. Ron, Hermione and Lupin were all grinning. Snape and Narcissa were exceptionally pale and were glancing at each other concernedly, fidgeting in their seats. Harry continued, relishing every moment as his plan came to fruition, "You know of what I speak, it would be unwise to specify in a letter, considering where you are at the moment. The wheels are in motion, it will be tonight. Please help him; you know he cannot do this, and that it is only for want of punishing Lucius that our Lord asked him to do this. You know what I have asked, please, Severus, please fulfil the bond, and help him. Yours sincerely and forever, Narcissa Malfoy" Harry finished reading and looked up, Rudst was staring at Snape angrily, who was glaring back.

"Let me see that, Potter." Scrimgeour asked, moving forward and taking the paper. He quickly scanned the letter, and smiled briefly. "It is authentic…the date's right…" he informed the wizengamot, "I think we have sufficient evidence to bring out the veritiserum." He said triumphantly.

From then on Snape's defence went down hill very rapidly. Under a very strong truth serum he admitted to the murder of Dumbledore and also the use of the cruciatus curse on Harry, less than a week previous. It was only a few minutes later that Scrimgeour called for the vote.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the wizengamot, I call upon you now to make an educated decision and vote as to the defendant's guilt. Firstly, on account of the murder of Albus Dumbledore, using the cruciatus curse, verdict of guilty?" Harry didn't know whether he wanted to look or not, he was so nervous, he prayed, with a vindictive zeal that Snape would get exactly what he deserved. Slowly hands were raised. Harry choked back a gasp. He couldn't believe it. It was well over half! In fact he wasn't sure that there were any hands down! He refrained from letting out a whoop, which was a lot more than most of his friends who all cheered at the verdict. Harry suddenly felt so much better than he had done in months. Dumbledore had finally been avenged. Snape had finally been punished and Harry liked to think that he'd had a major part in bringing the traitorous bastard down. He didn't even hear Scrimgeour ask the court about a conviction for the cruciatus that Snape had performed on Harry, but he was brought back to life as the wizengamot voted in favour of guilty again. It wasn't as many hands as before, but it was definitely a guilty verdict. There was a crack like a hammer and Scrimgeour shouted, "Guilty on account of the murder of Albus Dumbledore, and the use of the Avada Kedavra curse and the Cruciatus curse! I, as the Minister for Magic, hereby sentence the defendant to seventy years imprisonment in the fortress of Azkaban!" At that moment, almost the entire courtroom exploded into cheers and whoops. Harry jumped up and ran over to Ron, Hermione and Lupin.

"Harry, you did it! You were amazing!" Hermione squealed jumping from foot to foot excitedly,

"Bloody awesome, mate! Seriously bloody awesome!" Ron cried, slapping Harry hard on the back. Everyone began congratulating Harry, saying the way he had played Rudst at the end had been masterful, and how he had done so well to control his temper at the start.

"Yeah well, I had to do something didn't I?"

"And it's a good job you did, Harry, or he might never have got what he deserves!" Lupin said. He only had a small smile on his face though. He was obviously never going to be happy about the way things turned out, "There will have to be a trial now concerning Narcissa Malfoy's involvement, you understand?" Harry looked at Remus sharply while Charlie, Bill and Mr Weasley shook his hand, and Mrs Weasley hugged him,

"What?" he asked, panic freezing him momentarily. Lupin smiled,

"Don't worry, Harry, you won't need to be involved in that, you have no reason to be, they may ask you for that letter though, it pretty much undeniably proved her guilt." Harry nodded, he was aware of that. He didn't really need to carry it around with him any more, he had done what he wanted, Snape was going to be punished for his crimes. Harry turned to look at the ex-potions master. He felt a vindictive pleasure as he watched Moody remove him from the room, to take him back to Azkaban, where he'd be for a long time to come.

"I'm glad it's all-" Harry didn't get to finish as an almighty bang echoed round the room, with the force of a rampaging hippogriff, Harry was thrown against the wall of the courtroom, and slid down to the floor. He could here panicked voices and suddenly the courtroom door slammed open and several people sprinted out of it. Harry shook his head dazedly; he didn't think too much damage had been done.

"Harry! Are you alright!" Lupin cried, running over and helping Harry to his feet. Harry grimaced as he touched the back of his head gingerly,

"Yeah, I'm fine, Remus. Just a knock on the head. What the hell was that?"

"Rudst." Ron grunted, a disgusted look on his face.

"He attacked you, Harry! Ooh, I expect he's very angry. Voldemort won't be pleased that he didn't get Snape off at all!" Hermione gasped.

"Harry dear, are you alright?" Cried Mrs Weasley, rushing over, "Oh you poor boy, you always manage to get into scrapes!" She pulled a glass bottle from her handbag and began liberally applying the contents to the back of Harry's head, where a bump was quickly forming. Harry tried to duck away, but she gripped his shoulders very tightly. Ron sniggered,

"Honestly Mrs Weasley, I'm fine!" He tried to tell her,

"Will you hold still? We can't take any chances!" She snapped. Harry sighed and waited for her to be satisfied. Mr Weasley, Charlie and Bill walked in through the court room door, and headed for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Mrs Weasley (everyone else except McGonagall had left. She was talking with Scrimgeour.) They were breathing very heavily,

"We chased…Rudst as far as…the atrium…but he apparated…and we have no idea…where he went." Mr Weasley gasped out, clutching at a stitch in his side. Bill and Charlie were in a slighter fitter condition so Bill carried on,

"We can't really track him…it's too hard. It doesn't matter now anyway…he's officially wanted for death eater activities." Charlie clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder and they turned and left. Harry glanced over at McGonagall, she was still talking with Scrimgeour and Harry was slightly shocked to see that they were both smiling slightly. They both seemed to have finished what they were saying because she turned and walked back over to their diminished group,

"Potter, is it absolutely necessary to get yourself into trouble wherever you go?" she asked him exasperatedly. Harry frowned and opened his mouth to protest, but Mrs Weasley and Lupin got their first,

"Oh Minerva! You know Harry can't help what happens!"

"Come now, Harry's got too much Gryffindor spirit for him to not get involved when things like this happen!" McGonagall merely rolled her eyes, and signalled for their group to follow. Tonks and Kingsley had already left so it was just Lupin, Ron, Harry, Hermione and McGonagall who would be apparating back to Hogwarts. (The return journey was considered to be much safer than the outgoing journey so not as many people were needed for protection.) They made their way slowly back up to the atrium and apparated to Hogwarts.