Embracing His True Self

Chapter 71

Harry stiffened at the words that came out of Bones mouth. He loathed being the centre of attention. Voldemort knew this and had tried to deal with it in the way he knew, forcing his attendance at big gatherings in order to get him used to it. Sighing resignedly, well, it appeared as though Barty was quite correct…but what could you expect when nearly everyone else on the list was dead?

Barty patted him on the back, squeezing his shoulder, well aware of his reluctance to be in large crowds or gatherings. He was infinitely more relaxed at any gathering the Dark Lord held.

Harry stood, and Barty followed, although Barty only followed him half way, finding the perfect spot to observe everything and protect Harry. Able to see the crowd, Wizengamot and the Ministry workers. Keeping a close eye as Harry was sworn in, he would not fail in his endeavour to keep Harry safe.

Albus' eyes widened upon seeing the boy for the first time in years. His jaw dropped a little, shocked to the core. He'd suspected of course…but the confirmation was a kick in the teeth. Harry Potter was a witness against him? After everything he'd done for the brat?

The crowd was still whispering quite urgently, but quietly. All of them, at the changes Harry had undergone in the years since they last set eyes on him.

"He looks like Malfoy," Ron said, eyeing his best friend with that green tinge of envy. The robes he was wearing…was more than his families income for the entire year. What the hell had happened to his best friend.

"Yes, he's the Lord of the Potter and Black estates, Ron," Bill commented, rolling his eyes, "He has an example to set. He cannot be seen in public wearing Muggle clothes." He'd finally come into his own.

"Can we see him before we leave?" Ginny asked, starstruck and lovingly watching Harry just imagining their future. Lady Ginevra Black-Potter, dressed resplendently in refinery that she only ever got to see in her magazines. With all the gold and silver she could buy, everyone would be jealous of her and the Weasley family would live in comfort. Her daddy would be able to retire from the Ministry…live in a manor and not have any worries. Her mummy wouldn't though, she was gone, and she didn't understand how or why.

"If he wishes to," Bill stated firmly, judging by the way Harry had ignored Ginny…he somehow doubted it was something Harry wanted. Then again…Harry barely knew Ginny, other than the fact she was Ron's little sister. So, he probably barely remembered her voice.

"Of course he does," Ginny said breathlessly, just imagining their married life. She'd give him two children, but no more than that, she would put her foot down. She didn't want to end up frumpy, she wanted to retain her figure, but first, she had to have a career, with Harry's connections she'd get to do whatever she wanted. Like playing Quidditch, along with her husband on the same team. With more fame and happiness than she'd ever be able to think of.

"Mr. Potter you left Hogwarts when you were fourteen-years-old is that correct?" Bones questioned.

"Withdrew, would be a better term," Harry stated firmly, "I took my OWL's early and have plans to complete my NEWTS in the coming months."

"Was there a particular reason for pulling yourself out of Hogwarts?" Bones asked.

Everyone held their breath, absolutely everyone, except Barty of course. All of them just waiting to hear why Harry had left Hogwarts. They all knew, and also knew the fact Dumbledore had been searching for him since then.

"One particular reason? No, a culmination of reasons, yes," Harry replied.

Barty watched Harry play the crowd, looking relaxed and confident. He was just wetting their appetites, getting them to ask more questions which would just cause a whole can of worms to be unravelled. He refrained from smirking, finding himself once again, awed by the boy.

"For the purpose of the court, please explain," Bones stated.

Barty almost snorted, almost, she was acting like she knew when he'd bet she damn well didn't. He stiffened imperceptibly at the feel of his Lord's magic, as he entered the courtroom and claimed a seat. His intense eyes watching everything closely.

"I'd be here all night explaining everything, even the shortened version," Harry replied, and it was true enough, to give them everything so they'd understand it would take forever.

"We have the time," Bones said patiently, "Answer the question please,"

Harry leaned back, giving the appearance of contemplating where to start. As if he hadn't had every intention of laying it all bare for them all to hear and see.

"I…entered Hogwarts when I was eleven, entirely unaware of the magical world or the expectations that were heaped upon me. I knew nothing about my estate, family or magic in general. I was in essence a Muggle-born." Harry explained frankly, "More importantly, I knew nothing about Albus Dumbledore other than what was on a chocolate frog card…or that he was my magical guardian."

Everyone was leaning forward to listen to Harry's tale.

"The Headmaster did seem to take a personal interest in me, I found that…daunting to say the least. Since he didn't seem to treat everyone else the same way. The papers were quite correct about my upbringing…and thus I did begin to look up to Dumbledore as a grandfather figure, to my shame." Harry sighed, shaking his head, green eyes gleaming with tears making everyone's heartstrings tug with pain for the boy who had already suffered so much.

Voldemort's lips twitched into a smug smirk, just observing the teen at work. Oh, he already had them all eating out of the palm of his hand. He was so very good, playing the part of a victim he'd never seen himself as.

"It took an entire year before I began to see what Dumbledore was doing. How I was being manipulated on all sides. You see, Dumbledore had Hagrid remove the Philosopher stone from Gringotts while I was with him getting my school supplies. I wasn't even given the courtesy of a school representative…I didn't even know how to get onto the platform." Harry sighed, ignoring the whispering that ensued, "It was at the end of the year that I learned that I had been manipulated into confronting my parents killer. I faced Voldemort when I was eleven-years-old because Dumbledore was curious to see what the outcome would be. I was…forced to kill someone, however, unwittingly, Quirrell was…reduced to dust when he touched me…my mum's protection protected me." A warble in his voice.

Bones stared stunned, this they had been unaware of…"Professor Quirrell did not quit and leave Hogwarts?" which had been the story.

"Oh, no, he died," Harry revealed, "It was then I begun to exhibit PTSD, not that I realised at the time. Night terrors, fear, hyperawareness, suspicion of everything and everyone. I begged Dumbledore to let me remain at Hogwarts at the end of the year, despite knowing what I knew…I did not wish to return to the Dursley's…I truly feared now that I knew about magic that they would kill me rather than allow me to return to the school. I told him this…and he said basically that I was exaggerating and that the blood wards surrounding my home were more important than my happiness. My fears actually turned out to be quite correct, and I do have witnesses to the effect, Ronald, Fred and George Weasley broke me out of my new bedroom…succeeding in yanking the bars off and getting me out of there."

"Your new bedroom?" Bones questioned shakily, shock and anger more prevalent than she wished it was.

"Oh, yes, I grew up in the cupboard under the stairs, they even installed a light." Harry said absently, as if he was trying to throw the Dursley's in a better light. Harry had to stop himself laughing at the amusement that burst through the bond that he and Voldemort shared.

"You emphatically told Dumbledore you were being abused and he sent you back to be abused further?" Bones asked.

"Yes, I went into more detail than I probably should have but I was desperate." Harry confessed, staring at the floor, swallowing thickly, "It was then that I…lost all hope. It hurt so much having someone I had trusted so much turn out to be…a snake in the grass." Ignoring Dumbledore's eyes boring into the back of his head.

"The Dursley's tried to prevent you from returning to Hogwarts? Did you make any attempts to write to anyone?" Bones questioned.

"My beautiful owl, Hedwig was locked in her cage…we barely survived, I mean we didn't get much in the way of food…and I had to make sure she ate." Harry said eyes gleaming wetly. The reality was he'd had things packed away for her so she had something to eat…but they didn't need to know that. "They put dozens of locks on my door and bars on my window. I was only allowed out to do the house work or if Vernon was feeling particular vindictive and used me as a punching bag."

Voldemort looked around, finding tears in the eyes of many of those in court today. Oh, his wonderful little manipulative minx, he was good. Barty was watching with starry eyes, for Merlin's sake, although he did notice someone else…a Weasley by the look of her. Plans already went through his mind to kill her for even looking at his partner.

"Do you know if your friends informed any adults of the predicament they found you in?" Bones asked, shaken to the core.

"The bars were still attached to the car they flew to come get me, they're probably still in the Weasley garage. Unfortunately, no such conversation happened within my hearing. Ron was just turning twelve, he saw the entire thing as an adventure…I'm not sure he thought much of it…Fred and George were a little older but they had loving parents who shielded them from all things. I'm not sure they even understood the ramifications of what they'd seen…despite actually seeing the inside of my cupboard. Where my school things were put so I couldn't complete my homework or study."

"Dare I ask about a next incident?" Bones asked, genuinely wary about it, she feared that Dumbledore would be lynched when this got out.

Harry huffed out a tiny laugh, "Second year…oh, what a year…" shaking his head looking exhausted by just discussing what happened in his first year.

"Please explain," Bones continued, watching Diggle slouch further and further into his seat.

"I returned to the school, after being accosted by the Defence teacher who was entirely…too obsessed with me for comfort." Harry said shifting in his seat, "It wasn't long before another incident happened, I began to hear voices…or so I thought. It was only later that I realized what I was hearing was actually a Basilisk…"

The outcry that elicited had him unable to continue until the Minister called for silence.

"I learned I was able to talk to snakes, and the entire student body began to avoid me. As though I had suddenly sprouted poisonous fangs, call me dark and evil simply because of a gift I received from my ancestors. One person doesn't make up a wonderful gift. Nobody saw it that way, but I'm getting off topic, I apologise…I've just…never spoken about it all before." Harry said apologetically, "I've never had anyone to talk to before about this or wanting to hear it."

"During my first year…I was led to believe I had to do things myself, and that's what I continued to do. I'm not sure what people knew about the petrification of the students or if they understood it was a Basilisk, but that is what it was. Dumbledore knew this, I heard it from his own lips, attacks that happened sixty years prior which Hagrid was blamed for…which resulted in the snapping of his wand. He couldn't have been responsible for it. You needed to be able to talk to snakes to get into the chamber of secrets and to the basilisk. Hagrid could have been proven innocent…but Dumbledore just allowed the death of Myrtle Warren go unavenged. She lives in the girls bathroom you know, it would have been so easy to talk to her. It's how we figured out where the entrance was."

Voldemort was still utterly annoyed that Harry had found the entrance so easily. Knowing he had the help of him, however indirectly…well, helped that annoyance significantly.

"Even knowing after all that happened in my second year…he still made no move to publicise what happened and get Hagrid found innocent and reclaim his wand and magic." Harry continued, "Dumbledore sent his phoenix after me, he knew where the chamber was, knew I was down there facing a sixty foot Basilisk…he could have come with Fawkes himself and helped me but he didn't…he wanted to see what would happen again," barely heard over yet another outcry.

"I nearly died…" the outcry made Harry impatiently wait until they stopped before be begun again. "I managed to kill the basilisk using Godric Gryffindors sword…but not without injury one of the fangs penetrated by arm. I was dying, but thankfully Fawkes saved me. Despite all the rules I broke…the lives I put in danger…do you know what happened? I received an award…no detention…no nothing. I was praised for what I did." Harry pressed out. "Praised for breaking rules, risking my life, he was pleased with the way I was turning out. He wanted a hero, and he was determined to have one regardless of the detrimental effect it was having on my mind and future. To this day I still don't understand why, why he wanted me to be a hero…I was eleven and twelve years old! A child! And nobody batted an eyelash." This would be the only way he could make a dig at them for their inaction.

"Dumbledore must have known Lockhart was a fraud, even we as children knew it was impossible to have pulled off the feats he said he did in his books. In other words…Dumbledore didn't do his background checks or knew Lockhart was a fraud and did nothing…he's in St. Mungo's now because of a backfiring Obliviate that he tried to perform on me and Ronald Weasley!"

Basilisks, dead professors, criminal professors…what on earth had been happening at Hogwarts? "Dare I ask about your third year?" she asked, she'd need to sit him down and explain everything that happened. This needed thoroughly investigated. She didn't understand how the professors could keep silent on this matter. All of it, not just Dumbledore's parts in it which were important here and now.

"His actions and inactions just continued to get worse the older I got," Harry explained bluntly, "Nothing he did could surprise me anymore. During our third year, he encouraged two third years, myself and Hermione Granger…to use a time-turner to go back in time to save a hippogriff, Buckbeak, from execution…and heavily implied that we should also save Sirius Black who was innocent while we were at it." thankfully he managed to get that out before they started up.

"SILENCE! If I have to give warning one more time, I shall have you all escorted from the courtroom!" the Minister barked out in warning, getting irritated at having to silence the room.

"He encouraged us to break the law, which resulted in the very near death of myself via having my soul sucked out by Dementors along with Sirius Black. Let's not forget the innate danger of running into ourselves…impulsive children…I could have succeeded in grabbing Peter Pettigrew and proving my godfather innocent…I wanted to, I was stopped in the nick of time. I may well have ended up insane…all because Dumbledore didn't want to get his own hands dirty by opening a door and letting Sirius out himself. The dementors force me to hear what happened to my parents…that's if they aren't causing me to pass out, the memories are that debilitating…the effects are that horrifying…they caused me to pass out mid-flight during a Quidditch match for Merlin's sake. Everyone knew how they affected me…and Dumbledore was bound to know that if I went with Sirius…I too would be targeted…he once again played fate just to see what would happen…to make me stronger…I don't know…I honestly don't know what he was thinking."

Everyone was muffling their shouts and protests, refusing to be escorted out of the room. They wanted to hear all this, so they remained silent with great effort.

Barty was almost jumping on the spot with the glares that Dumbledore was eliciting from the crowd. The old fool had the audacity to look as though he was physically pained by what Harry was saying. They were going to try to say Harry was lying…naturally, oh, if the lawyer Diggle thought he was going to have an easy time of it he was in for a shock.

"I wish I could say it got better…" Harry told them sadly, pausing for dramatic effect, "But it got worse." sounding morose.

"Yes, we're well aware of the…happenings during your fourth year," Bones agreed, it was well publicized after all.

"Actually other than the tasks and points none of it actually true," Harry confessed, rubbing his hands together, before stopping and keeping himself still, "Of course, he could have sued for the wrongful defamation of character but he didn't. Let's not forget the fact he could have removed me from the tournament as my magical guardian."

"Wait is that true?" came the voice of many people, all of them wanting to know, horrified at the prospect of Harry being able to have been taken from the dangerous tournament.

"Tournament rules, article twenty-eight, point seventeen," Harry stated, "I only found out after the fact…I was still then unaware of the fact he was my magical guardian."

"Accio," Bones called, summoning the book, everyone waited with bated breathe for the answer. As soon as the book landed, she herself, began to flip through the book until she got to the aforementioned page and found herself nodding, "You are quite correct."

"It was Dumbledore's urging that allowed the Tournament to return, again, he was testing me to see what would happen. If he had taken me out…well, a lot of things that happened wouldn't have."

"Yet you chose to return to Hogwarts?" Bones asked, wondering at his strong constitution.

"It was better than being at the Dursley's, at least at Hogwarts I got food…" Harry trailed off looking heartbroken.

"What happened that that made that resolve break?" Bones then asked.

"During the summer holidays I visited Gringotts, found out about my estate, and Dumbledore's status. I was…grieving for the longest time, drove myself into learning everything I could just so I didn't think about everything he did to me. Umbridge was the straw that broke the Hippogriffs back." Harry confessed.

"Objection! Umbridge's actions weren't my clients!" Diggle protested. Finally, finally able to say something at least.

"They were when he ignored what people were telling him! I told him and McGonagall that she was using a blood quill on everyone! Eleven-year-olds! Little children!" Harry protested vehemently. "When it became clear he was just going to continue ignoring it instead of going to the Ministry I decided enough was enough! Everyone was accepting what was happening because Dumbledore was doing nothing making her look more powerful than she actually was! IF someone had just written home then she wouldn't have been able to do it!"

"I'll allow it," the Minister said, "Please don't speak when you aren't spoken to, Mr. Potter." He added absently.

"I apologise," Harry murmured, looking suitably chastised.

"Continue," the Minister called out, giving permission for the trial to continue.

"Was it during this time that you found out that Dumbledore was taking money from your account?" Bones asked, not stealing, he had the right unfortunately.

"Two accounts set up after my parents deaths for withdrawals, one was transferred to the Muggle branch for the Dursleys who raised me believing they'd taken me in out of the goodness of my heart…never buying me a single thing, I got my cousins cast offs…one that went to Arabella Figg, a squib that lives a street from me. There were indeed significant withdrawals during that time by Dumbledore. Regretfully there's nothing to be done about that since he was my magical guardian. Although, I can fervently inform you that I did not receive a penny of the sum amassed during that decade. "The only money I withdrew was enough to gather my school supplies under the impression my trust vault was all I had."

"I have no further questions," Bones stated, reclaiming her seat, hating that they couldn't do a damn thing, unless…scribbling the information down, vowing to look at both the Black and Potter rights. To find out if she could add theft to the list of crimes Dumbledore was responsible for. If this had happened to Susan she would have hoped someone in her position would do the same thing.

"Tell me, Mr. Potter, is it within the realm of possibility that an eleven-year-old would wish to remain at a castle and lie about their family situation?" Diggle posed the question to call Harry's claims into question.

"I doubt it," Harry said sardonically, "I didn't hear my friends at the time claim they were abused to remain at Hogwarts. I have no doubt Hermione would have wished to stay there for the library alone."

"What proof do you have of the alleged abuse?" Diggle questioned. "After all…the Dursley's are dead and they cannot refute your claims now can they?"

"Alleged? Lovely word," Harry said dryly, "Do you know that Privet Drive belongs to me? The house is exactly as it was years ago. I'm sure you'll find my old bed, drawings and the toy soldiers I took out of the bin. I have not been there since and have no intention of going back."

Diggle was clearly taken back by the statement.

"The smallest bedroom they offered me will also be the same, an old rickety bed and furniture…I'm pretty sure you'll find the blood pools if you look hard enough as well." Harry stated.

Diggle blanched, clearly unprepared for Harry's sound defence.

"Again, nobody can refute your claims…" Diggle pointed out.

"Well, if you wish, I can allow the viewing of memories, but as far as I am aware…I'm not the one on trial here." Harry stated, giving Diggle a look of utter scorn, he was not about to let anyone stand there and call him a liar for things that were actually the truth.

"What's to say your memories haven't been tampered with or Merlin forbid…you've been confounded to believe the lies you're spouting?" Diggle was shaken by the look on Harry's face but continued doggedly.

"Let me give you a show and tell…recognize this?" Harry raised his hand, showing off his pinkie finger in particular. "This is the Lordship ring, which prevents many spells, more specifically…any mind altering spells, or tampering of any kind that would imped their ability to be Lord of the estate. It also…correct me if I'm wrong, weakens and breaks any that were imbued before you gained your lordship, as we learned from Leander Lycaran of the now unfortunately ended Lycaran house. In other words I have never been, nor will be obliviated or confounded successfully."

"Is it true you blame Dumbledore for your placement?" Diggle continued.

"Considering that he ensured my parents will wasn't read and had me personally transferred to the Dursley's care leaving me on the doorstep at midnight like pint of milk, I wasn't found until the next morning…yes, I do. I was never meant to be placed with the Dursley's but like all things, Dumbledore manipulated to get the outcome he wanted…including ensuring that Sirius Black was put in prison without trial so that he couldn't gain custody of me. I do not know why he was so determined to ruin my life…but I refused to let it continue."

"You don't believe Dumbledore was doing the right thing by allowing you to hear the will reading when you were older?" Diggle dug in.

"Will readings are ALWAYS meant to be heard a week after the deceased passed. Ironically enough, Alice and Frank Longbottom were supposed to be one of the many my parents appointed as potential guardians…funny how they ended up targeted." Harry said bluntly, alluding to something being funny about that, whether there was or not.

"No more questions," Diggle called out shrilly, giving it in like a bad job as it was.

Harry remained seated until he was free to go, standing up, he walked with his head held high. Meeting Barty, both of them made their way to Voldemort, and sat down on either side of him.

"I call my next witness, Severus Snape," Bones called out.

Harry craned around, looking for the wizard, he hadn't noticed him at all.

"At the door," Voldemort said smoothly, gesturing towards the double doors.

"Objection, I call this characters question into doubt!" Diggle called out seriously. "He was fired from Hogwarts and has it in for Dumbledore, his word cannot be trusted."

"You'll find I tended my resignation," Severus' deceptively soft voice echoed through the silent courtroom. "Which thankfully held through, due to the fact my contract was up at the end of the school year. Otherwise I fear I would have been…coerced into remaining again." staring blankly at Diggle, with that very familiar look, as if Severus thought he was looking at someone particularly stupid. Like a bug under their shoe.

Diggle refrained from shuddering, his fear of Snape had remained despite the fact he was no longer at Hogwarts. He was definitely one of the most terrifying teachers Hogwarts had ever seen.

"I'll allow his testimony," the Ministry declared, curious to hear more.

Severus swiftly made his way up to the chair, gliding like a dementor with his customary black robes, that Harry hadn't seen in a while. He was sworn in quickly.

Diggle remained seated, looking beaten and defeated. After Harry's testimony…he knew there was no hope of getting Dumbledore freed of the charges he was arrested on. If anything…he was going to find more charges added to the list. As disliked as Snape was…he feared he would just add insult to injury.

"When did you begin working for Albus Dumbledore?" Bones begun.

"October 20th 1981," Severus replied in monotone. "I took over from Slughorn who was coerced into retiring a month into the new year in order to make room for me."

"You were coerced into remaining at Hogwarts?" Bones questioned, if that was the case…it explained his attitude.

Severus glanced at Harry, who nodded.

"When I heard the Dark Lord Voldemort was targeting the Potters I went to him to beg him to help them. To hide them. Her. Lily and I had been childhood friends."

"And what happened?" Bones asked genuinely curious.

"He promised to do so if I became a professor and vowed to protect Harry Potter." Severus replied. "It was either that…or he threatened to see me in Azkaban by the end of the evening. I became a teacher and made a Vow to protect the boy against my reservations. The alternative…wasn't to be borne."

"And how would he have had you sentenced to Azkaban?" Bones probed.

"I had in my youth been approached by the Dark Lord Voldemort, it was join or die, and I chose to join him. I was primarily his potions brewer, I did not participate in any of his raids. I did not believe in his goals, my own best friend growing up was powerful and extremely smart, and Muggle-born." Lying a little, but there was nothing to be done about that. He had to make them look at him in a favourable light. "Dumbledore also demanded that I spy for him, not that I spied long…Dumbledore did not keep his promise, I lost her before a month passed."

"Yet you remained at Hogwarts?" Bones questioned.

"I was…emotionally manipulated into signing each contract every three years. I was also stuck due to the vow I swore in order to protect Harry Potter…I did need to be nearby. He ensured that it was broken regardless, by allowing him to be abused." Severus snapped, eyes gleaming darkly as if all he wished was to approach Dumbledore and kill him.

"You made your position very clear, that you did not wish to teach?" Bones continued.

"Very," Severus retorted dryly, "Despite the complaints from the parents and the students…and probably the board of Governors…my position was retained."

"Yet you succeeded in leaving Hogwarts?" cajoled Bones, trying to get a better understanding of this elusive man.

"Yes, I had spent the better part of three years searching for Mr. Potter." Severus inclined, "I succeeded in getting in touch with him, he made it more than clear that he wasn't going to return to Hogwarts…and he had no need for a bodyguard, during our talks…we came to an understanding." Severus hesitated, "We've come far from the rocky start we had…and after I found out about the abuse I immediately packed up, tended my resignation before anything could be done and left."

"Was he different with the rest of the faculty?" Bones asked.

"I doubt they saw the other side of him like I did," Severus conceded, "Naturally I doubt he cared very much as long as he got what he wanted. Everyone else looked up to him and would have dismissed my words as a joke or just bitterness so I doubt he was worried." Speaking more than he normally did, unfortunately, he had been ordered to make himself seem more sympathetic. Which he found entirely distasteful, but if this helped stop the war in it's tracks…then he would do it. They couldn't expect miracles from him for Merlin's sake he refused to show emotion.

"Did you see him manipulating anyone else?" Bones queried.

"There were students in each year he took a 'shine' to, James Potter, Sirius Black, Lily Evans, Alice and Frank Longbottom, Molly Weasley, the Prewitt twins, Tara Williams, Ashely Abbot, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley to name a few. I would be here all night if I were to name more." Severus asserted. It wasn't a coincidence that they were all dead. "In my view he manipulated their view of him to ensure their compliance. Endearing himself to them. Letting them off with murder." Which in a few cases was actually literal.

"No further questions," Bones called out, making a mental note to get a copy of the transcripts for the names so they could be questioned. He had a feeling that he wouldn't like what he would find.

"Albus Dumbledore gave you a second chance did he not?" Diggle stood, ready to begin his own questioning.

"Do not mistake him not having me thrown in prison as a kindness or second chance…it was a gilded cage. A prison, a fancy one to be sure but no less a prison." Severus retorted, nostrils flaring. That was not going to fly with him, second chance his ass. "Albus Dumbledore does not do anything without an ulterior motive."

"A prison? How so?" Diggle remarked unimpressed.

"He kept a very close eye on me, the only time that was my own was the summer holidays, and even then I was constantly called back to the school for one reason or another. I even had to inform him when I am out gathering potion ingredients that require fresh items. I am the youngest potions master in the world, and I've not been able to focus on my craft which has been my life's ambition…" trailing off, truly regretting that most of all.

"You were a Death Eater, of course, he would keep a close watch on you," Diggle stated, "Your character is repugnant."

"Indeed, and his decision to allow a Death Eater to be around children cannot be called into question can it?" Severus bit out sarcastically. "Then again compared to me, Voldemort on the back of Quirrell is unimportant, more unimportant than a fraud with a penchant for using memory charms, or allowing werewolves who forget to take their potions into the school." He hissed vindictively. Even the dunderheads did not deserve what Dumbledore had thrown at them.

"No more questions," Diggle concluded, well, that definitely hadn't gone even remotely the way he had hoped. Hopefully those who hated Snape would take his word with a grain of salt, although Harry Potters' had definitely been very damaging.

Severus had barely stood to move when the Minister spoke, after glancing at his watch.

"That concludes the proceedings of Ministry Vs Dumbledore for today, we shall reconvene part two tomorrow morning at nine am."

There we go! What did you think? Who else will be questioned? Sirius and Remus before Dumbledore himself is questioned? Can you think of anyone else that's important enough? I can't believe I got 6k written! :) It's the most I've written in a while but I did leave off on a perfect point to get a lot of writing done ;) will I update this again or shall we have someone else updated for a change? R&R please