Hermione and the boys had helped with the clean-up, had given statements, had patiently endured the long wait while everything was being processed, and finally they had sat together, wondering when the three would come back from the woods.
Finally, when the sun was already well up, four figures emerged from the forest. Two dark heads and two white. The witch was the first to spot them, and jumped to her feet.
"HARRY! SEVERUS!" she rushed towards them and caught them both in a hug, nearly throttling them.
"Do you have any idea how SCARED we were?" she then proceeded to scold them, "just running off like that? You could have been hurt, you could have been…been…"
Her rant was cut short by the burst of laughter from the Weasley twins, who couldn't restrain themselves any longer at the sight of the Vanquisher of Voldemort and their fearsome Potions Master whimpering and cowering before the young woman.
"Hermione, dear, please stop…"
"They have been through enough…"
"They're back in one piece…"
"And you're just like Mum when you do that."
Hermione had the grace to look ashamed.
Severus, feeling a bit overwhelmed, stepped back, right into his father who was standing behind him.
Dumbledore affectionately wrapped his arms around his son.
"It's alright, Severus. Do you remember staying with them last summer?"
The younger man nodded slowly. "But I was six then," he whispered back.
"They won't care." Squeezing his shoulder reassuringly, Dumbledore gently pushed him towards Harry and his friends.
"It's been a real mess, the whole Ministry is in chaos," Ron said, "Dad and some other honest Ministry people have locked Fudge up in his office until Madam Bones has recovered. They're waiting for us, too. Hi, Severus," he continued, "are you alright?"
Severus startled. "I…you…yes, I am alright, thank you…" he finally managed.
"And who is…"
'The gentleman with you?" the twins asked, curious.
Dumbledore beamed. "This is professor Rhys. He was my teacher when I went to Hogwarts."
The wide eyes and open mouths told Rhys that the teens considered that very impressive indeed.
He chuckled. "Well, now that I've gotten you back here, I'll be going home, Albus. You better sort out the mess at the Ministry."
To the hidden amusement of the others, the old man pinched Dumbledore's cheek, his eyes twinkling like mad. "Be a good boy, child," he chided teasingly.
Dumbledore blushed furiously, coughed slightly and dragged his near-hysterical sons off with him.
"Will do, professor, thanks again!" he called over his shoulder.
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Amelia Bones sat, still shakily, in her office when a knock on the door heralded the arrival of a rather large crowd of people.
The three in the front, however, were all she cared to see.
"Albus," she said, trying to smile.
The old man sat on the desk next to her, and patted her hand.
"It's alright now, Amelia. Have they harmed you?"
She shook her head. "But what…where…"
"They are either dead, or in the cells, dear. They attacked Harry's hiding place tonight, and were defeated."
The witch looked up.
"Losses?"
"None," the Twins smirked.
"Cornelius is in custody," Arthur said softly, "You have been elected Minister, Amelia."
Madam Bones stood up.
"There is much to do. First, the assassins will go on trial. After that, Cornelius. And lastly," she looked at Dumbledore, "Severus Snape."
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"It's not fair!" Harry said angrily.
"Yes it is, Harry," Dumbledore said softly, "child, there still has to be a trial. There are so many people vouching for him."
"But…but…I promised I wouldn't abandon him again…" Harry shivered.
They were seated in a waiting room, across the hall from the new Minister's office. Severus had been taken for processing by Arthur. The Weasley Pater Familias entered the waiting room only half an hour later, smiling.
"It's arranged. Severus can go home with you until his trial. He is not to leave Hogwarts. He is not allowed to leave your rooms, Albus, without Harry or yourself accompanying him, but there are no other restrictions."
"Thank you, Arthur," Dumbledore smiled gratefully, "who will be the judge for his trial?"
Arthur shrugged. "Half the Wizengamot is corrupt, Albus, and has to be removed. It has been disbanded until Amelia can rebuild it again with trustworthy individuals. Meanwhile, each trial will be presided over by one judge and four advisors. Amelia is not considered impartial when it comes to the assassins; she is also a witness and victim in that case. I'm afraid it's not clear yet."
Harry snorted. "As if the Wizarding World ever needed impartial judges before."
The adults looked a bit embarrassed that they could not refute the young man's accusations.
"Yes, well," Arthur cleared his throat, "Severus will be brought up here within ten minutes, and you can take him home."
"Mr Weasley?" Harry asked, "Will I be facing charges for breaking him out?"
Shaking his head, Arthur patted Harry's shoulder. "No, don't worry about that. He shouldn't have been there in the first place."
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Cornelius Fudge stumbled in the dark. He scowled; he prided himself in his ability to land perfectly after Portkey travel.
"So this is the Potter brat's hide-out," he mused, looking at the dark contours of the house.
A while before, he had managed to talk one of the guards – one of the few people loyal to him in the Ministry – into letting him out. Fortunately he had Sly make him one of the Portkeys they had used as well. As soon as he was out of the Ministry building, he had activated it.
A soft rustling of leaves made him stop. A fence seperated the property from the surrounding land. He easily climbed it.
Pointing his wand at the house, he decided the brat was not worthy of everything that was bestowed upon him. After all, what had the boy done? It hadn't been any skill to kill the Dark Lord, just sheer dumb luck with those wands. Everyone fawned over the boy as if he had done anything extraordinary. No thoughts whatsoever on the one who had worked hard to keep their society peaceful, without those nasty war things.
"INFLAMMARE!"
The house slowly began to burn. Flames shot up. It found a way in, and began to climb until the house was a raging inferno.
The rustling behind him became stronger, and finally Fudge was woken from his reverie to see what was behind him.
Then he paled. Snakes were behind him.
A lot of snakes.
"You have hurt my friends," the snake in the front, a tiny one, hissed. Too bad Fudge didn't understand Parseltongue.
"Now you burn our house. The young Speaker is a good and kind man, as is his brother. You must pay."
"Ugh, Snakes," Fudge said finally, "No wonder they are here. Slytherin scum lived here after all."
That, apparently, was the wrong thing to say.
The body of Cornelius Fudge would be found during the day, next to the smouldering building, a Priori Incantatem showing he had indeed set fire to it.
It was hard to decide what had killed him first: the snakevenom in his body, the many deep wounds made by sharp, piercing fangs, or the bruising on his neck suggesting something had been wrapped around it – very tightly.
At any rate, it was one less trial to worry about.
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Severus shook as he entered the courtroom, accompanied by his father and brother.
Dumbledore ran a soothing hand over his back.
"We'll be right here, child," he said softly.
An official entered.
"All rise," he ordered, "to the honorable judge, Amelia Bones, and the college of advisors: Arthur Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Filius Flitwick, Minerva McGonagall."
Harry and Dumbledore smiled at each other.
"Will the defendant please take his seat?" the official was taking himself way too seriously. Fred and George made a mental note to do something about that after the trial.
Severus kept his eyes to the ground as he slowly walked up to the wooden chair. He sat down, expecting the chains to tie him, but nothing happened.
The official looked somewhat disturbed by this.
"Let us begin," the Minister said, "The accusations against this man are well known. Is there anyone who will speak for him?"
She didn't look the least bit surprised when most of the people present in the courtroom, including her own advisors, stood up.
"We will hear from Mr. Snape himself first, then," the witch said, "bring the Veritaserum."
Severus stiffened.
"No!" he protested, "I will answer all your questions, there's no need for it."
"It is standard procedure now," Bones said calmly, "so we can make sure no one is ever sent to Azkaban innocently again. Your willingness to answer will be noted, but I'm afraid you have no choice than to take the Veritaserum."
The official brought the small vial and Severus, with a defeated look that Harry and Dumbledore didn't understand, took the three drops.
"Your name?" Bones started the questioning.
"Severus Snape," was the reply.
"You have been named as a Death Eater. Many people are willing to swear that you are a spy, and haven't been a Death Eater in over two decades. Is this correct?"
Severus looked at her, slightly confused.
"Excuse me," the Minister said, "it's been a while since I did this. Were you a spy for Albus Dumbledore?"
They saw the man fight the Veritaserum, biting his lip till blood ran down his chin, but the serum was too strong.
"Yes," he gritted out.
Bones frowned. "Why are you so reluctant to admit to something that may keep you out of Azkaban?" she asked.
"I don't want to be given leniency. I have remembered now what I did. I did horrible things. I deserve to be punished."
The low buzz in the courtroom told Harry he was not the only one surprised with that answer. In fact, only Albus Dumbledore seemed to have expected it.
Amelia continued.
"Did you enjoy what you had to do?"
"No."
"Do you regret it?"
"Very much so."
"If you could do it all over again, would you still join Voldemort?"
Silence. Then Severus turned to Bones.
"I…I can't answer your question."
"Why not?"
Sighing deeply, clearly still fighting, Severus tried to hold back, but the serum forced out the answer.
"I did not join Voldemort voluntarily. If I could do my life over again, I am not sure I could avoid it. It was not my choice."
The five at the judge's table stared at the squirming man in shock.
"Then what did happen?"
"I briefly considered joining him after a few fellow students almost killed me, and were let off. I let go of the idea quickly. It was easy to see his evil. I didn't want to join. My uncle, Udiah Prince, who moved in with us when I was two, was a Death Eater. When I showed reluctance to join, he beat me severely. I was only half conscious when I got the Mark. They did not let me out of their sight for months, until they thought I had been hardened enough by having to participate in their activities not to flee."
"Yet you did," Arthur remarked, unable to restrain himself.
"Yes. I ran to Albus Dumbledore as soon as I could and offered to spy. I was already tainted; I might as well use it to make up for at least some of my evil."
The Veritaserum wore off. Severus buried his face in his hands and sobbed softly.
Amelia Bones turned to her advisors, who all nodded, clearly leaving the judgment up to her.
"Look at me," she said, adressing Severus.
Black eyes hesitatingly raised to meet hers.
"I know you want me to send you to Azkaban now," she started, "but I can't. Not after all your efforts, all your pain, and all your trouble. You deserve to be rewarded, not punished. Every single person in this room is willing to testify on your behalf. In fact, no one is accusing you of anything but yourself. And that is an issue I can not solve, but I have faith in your strength of character and strength of mind that you can overcome that."
Severus stared at her. Was he that strong? Was it possible that he had done well? Suddenly a memory drifted into his mind. He was six, and snuggled against a recovering Harry after Death Eaters had attacked them. "You are a good person, Sevvy," Harry had said. He had no adult memories at that time, but Harry had known what kind of person he had grown in to. Yet Harry had called him a good person.
Slowly, painstakingly, more pieces of the puzzle shifted into place.
"…so the terms of last time stand," he focused on Amelia bones again, "you are free to go. Albus Dumbledore will remain your guardian. That concludes this meeting."
As the room slowly emptied, Severus felt hands on his shoulders, and a handkerchief gently wiped the blood from his face. He looked up into the worried blue eyes of his father.
"I don't want to teach Potions anymore," he whispered, managing a small smile.
Dumbledore's eyes softened, but he knew he was in for a lecture once they were back home. Even so, the old man returned his smile.
A chuckle on his other side told him Harry was nearby, too.
"Does that mean I will have to do my own homework?" he teased.
Severus struggled up, and with some effort, produced a very worthy sneer.
"Mr. Potter…are you suggesting I help you CHEAT?"
Harry lightly punched his arm while Dumbledore took his elbow.
"Come on, let's go home."
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Harry stood on the balcony, his arms folded over his chest. Severus slowly walked up to him.
"Hey," Harry said softly, "I didn't expect you yet."
Severus shrugged. "Father went easy on me," he smirked, "once I promised him I'd continue my chats with Salvatore or Rhys. I didn't tell him I was planning on that anyway. It wasn't bad. He was kind." He lowered his eyes.
"I never told anyone about…about being forced to join Voldemort. I always thought no one would believe me anyway. Thank you, Harry."
Harry turned around, bewildered. "For what?" he asked.
Severus stared in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
"For caring for me. For making me…making me a better person."
"You already were a good person, Severus," Harry pointed out.
A snort next to him made him kick a shin.
"OUCH, you brat! Alright, for making me a nicer person, then."
Severus studied Harry's face.
"You've been crying," he concluded, "What's wrong, Harry?"
"The…they found…Fudge…and…and…the bungalow…burned down, Sev." Harry wiped at his eyes.
"Burned down?" Severus felt a lump in his own throat as well.
"Fudge escaped," Harry said softly, "and managed to set fire to the Bungalow. He's dead."
Severus paled. "Circe?" he whispered.
Harry pointed to a rather smug looking snake in a corner.
"Molly found her when they went to see if they could retrieve anything for us."
He shivered. "There are still Death Eaters on the loose, and so many races we have to make amends to, the werewolves and the giants and…and…"
Severus took Harry's shoulders.
"Harry, calm down. I know. You're overwhelmed now. But you did your part, you did more than your part, and it's time the rest of the Wizarding World started pulling their weight, little brother. We can finally concentrate on our own lives now."
"Yes," Harry sniffed, leaning into his brother a bit.
After a while he pulled back and grinned, having to tilt his head to look Severus in the eye.
"You called me 'little brother'," he said indignantly, "You're all grown up!"
Severus laughed, and slung his arm over Harry's shoulder.
"Yes," he agreed, "all grown up now."