Dial-Up Dementors

DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. Looking forward to the next movie! Yeah, fanfiction is a great place to stretch your imagination and enjoy someone else's creativity! New Movie is coming in April! Hurrah!

This was a challenging chapter to write. Bad people. Bad circumstances.

Chapter 7: The Trial of Severus Snape

Harry was aware that the ministry intended to put Professor Severus Snape on trial for the destruction of the Goblet of Fire.

After the First Task was complete, Albus Dumbledore began a campaign to set Severus Snape free. He spoke endlessly with members of the Wizengamot about the injustice of the arrest and forthcoming trial. On Sunday before the trial, The Daily Prophet carried a letter from several students in Hufflepuff that documented the abuse they'd suffered in potion class at the hands of Severus Snape. The fact that one of the students was Cedric Diggory, a current champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, meant the letter got the public's attention.

On Monday, the headmaster stood at the front of the Great Hall and told everyone how disappointed he was in the students who wrote the letter. When he proceeded to speak of detention, Professor Sprout sprang into action and threatened the headmaster with the Governors, The Daily Prophet, and the power of the Hufflepuff Network if he dared to punish her badgers for expressing their opinion. She declared in front of the packed Great Hall, "Even in Magical Britain, everyone has the right to express their opinion on such a public figure as Severus Snape!"

Then just three days before the trial, The Daily Prophet printed a long letter from Headmaster Dumbledore declaring Snape had been a spy for the ministry during the War with The Dark Lord in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In part, Albus wrote, 'The youngest potion master in a century bravely went into the enemy camp and pretended to be a Death Eater to gather vital information for my use to blunt the worst of the Dark Lord's actions. He doesn't deserve to be punished! He should be lauded for his efforts and sacrifice.'

Even after reading the headmaster's letter, Harry Potter found himself unable to overcome his feelings of disgust for the terrible man who was Severus Snape. Snape's hate for the teenage wizard was evident in every interaction they had since meeting in September 1991. And Harry was conflicted with the injustice he saw before him for a wizard he hated. Snape had nothing to do with the goblet being compromised and then destroyed on Halloween.

Harry found himself talking with Hermione about his feelings, and she listened quietly.

"So you think it's wrong for Professor Snape to be arrested and tried for something he didn't have anything to do with."

"Yes."

"Then, that's what is important," she said.

"But I hate that man…he's evil and needs to be fed to some dragon – slowly," Harry argued.

She nodded and said, "If he was on trial for murdering a person or robbing Hogwarts, the Wizengamot could convict him of that crime. But they're going to try him for destroying the Goblet of Fire for spurious reasons."

Harry sighed, "Yeah. Minister Cornelius Fudge has to be seen to be doing something. Like in our second year when he arrested Hagrid again."

"If it were Hagrid – as it could have been – you'd be yelling and shouting."

Harry nodded his head, "And it could have been me. The way people hate me again this year, I am surprised they arrested Snape and not the boy-who-lived."

"I think you're right," Hermione said before Harry thanked his friend for her advice and walked out of the common room. He walked to the library to find a book about writing a formal letter. He sat at a library table and read for thirty minutes. Then he went to the Come-And-Go Room and sat before the computer composing the letter.

Unbeknown to Harry Potter, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore decided to change one of the wards surrounding Hogwarts the same day the letter from the Hufflepuffs appeared in the Daily Prophet. None of the owls leaving Hogwarts with letters to the Daily Prophet or any reporter at any magazine, newspaper, or news outlet in Britain would arrive with the letter intact. The owls were not harmed and would make the delivery, but the reporter or secretary at the destination would find a blank sheet of paper instead of a student's opinion.

Harry's letter was worded properly and stated that while he did not think Severus Snape should be allowed to teach potions, the wizard had had nothing to do with the mishandling of the Goblet of Fire. Hedwig was pleased to carry it to London and drop it off at the desk for letters to the editor. But when the parchment was opened, it proved to be a blank sheet of paper. The secretary put the blank sheet of paper into a stack for later use and wondered if the writer had simply folded and labelled the wrong sheet of paper.

On the morning of Snape's trial, Harry's letter did not appear in the Daily Prophet, and he found himself displeased that the time he'd tried to use his fame for some good, no one paid attention.

CHANGE SCENE: Plans

As Grand Warlock of the Wizengamot, a seat he'd held for almost thirty years, Albus Dumbledore managed to delay the trial of Severus Snape twice (which only helped the DMLE with the purging potions). He scheduled it to occur at the end of a long day of trials when the members would be anxious to leave their uncomfortable seats and remove the scratchy purple robes the rules mandated that voting members wear in the chamber.

In his efforts to hamper Amelia's trial preparations, he'd used a prerogative reserved for the Grand Warlock to alter department budgets in the middle of the year. The power was in place to manage funds if the treasury was running short of funds (it wasn't, but Albus had the power). He'd used a quill and struck through the line item for 'discovery and trial preparation' from the DMLE budget. Amelia could not assign Aurors to help with discovery in any case before the Wizengamot – no pretrial questioning with veritaserum with magical quills to record every word to use in the trial.

As Albus dressed in flashy purple robes with fireworks exploding every five seconds, he mused, 'If I can draw out the earlier trials, I may even be able to delay the trial another week. Then it will be Yule, and the trials will be delayed until the New Year. In those weeks, I can find a loophole and free Severus from the DMLE.'

CHANGE SCENE & Who Holds Your Loyalty?

Rufus Scrimgeour met with his boss to review her plans to prosecute the trials scheduled for the day, including the last one for Severus Snape. When they came to that case, Bones handed the wizard a sheet of muggle paper, and Scrimgeour silently read the writing. The paper was labelled 'Test questions for Severus Snape to verify the effectiveness of Veritaserum'.

The Head Auror was seated across from his boss, Madam Amelia Bones, a scrupulous, by-the-book Auror who stayed out of politics as much as humanly possible in the Ministry for Magic. Unfortunately, the last case on today's docket would be nothing but politics.

Beside each question prepared by Amelia and Cornelius Fudge were the comments of Amos Diggory in parenthesis.

1. Are you a Death Eater? (Obviously, a DE. Waste of a question. Dumbles will try to limit the number of questions you can ask.)

2. Did you become a Death Eater willingly? (Valid question)

3. Can a person under the imperious spell become a Death Eater? (See next question)

4. To the best of your knowledge, can anyone under the imperious spell be compelled to take the dark mark of Lord Voldemort? (Do we care anymore? They're all dead except for the ones in Azkaban)

5. Do you know where the Dark Lord hid gold? Tell us where the gold is hidden. (Fudge insists on this question but also ask what protections are around the gold? No sense getting anyone cursed by the Dark Lord now)

6. Tell us of your missions for Albus Dumbledore in the war against the Dark Lord? (Might make him seem innocent)

7. Tell us of your missions for Lord Voldemort in the war against the British Ministry for Magic and Albus Dumbledore? (Go this direction. Will let him convict himself)

8. What are the names of hidden Death Eaters? (Do you really want to know?)

9. What are the names of sympathisers for the Death Eaters? (Too many names. Don't ask)

After studying the list, Rufus asked, "Is Dumbledore acting as a defence attorney or Grand Warlock for this trial?"

"He refuses to reveal that information," Amelia replied. "Yesterday, he said he had taken it under advisement."

"He's waiting to see how the day goes. He would have to recuse himself from the warlock's seat, and some members will object after a full day of trials," Rufus said. He paused and then continued, "The Grand Warlock already stopped for a visit with me this morning."

"That is his prerogative, and I'm not surprised that he did," the witch said.

"He strongly suggested that you ask the following questions while Snape is under the full influence of the Veritaserum," stated Scrimgeour as he handed over a folded piece of parchment.

Opening the piece of parchment, Amelia read, 'Who are you loyal to? Who holds your loyalty? Did you love Lily Evans?'

"Those are strange questions. He must be confident that he knows the answers," Bones said. "I despise asking discovery questions in any trial."

"I know, boss. We want to know all the answers before we start the trial."

"And today, I don't know any answers–Dumbledore was able to prevent discovery sessions by withholding all the funds for those hours. None of the trials today includes discovery hearings or testimony," admitted Director Bones.

The head Auror nodded and added, "The Grand Warlock must plan to stall and misdirect every trial today. He'll want to delay a few more weeks until the paper forgets this mess and Fudge gets in trouble about something. Then he'll bargain for Snape's release for something the minister wants."

"You're correct," Amelia replied.

Rufus looked up from the list of questions that Amelia had prepared (with Cornelius Fudge and Amos Diggory) and couldn't hide his sarcasm, "Do you plan to ask any questions about the Goblet of Fire?"

The Director of the DMLE frowned and admitted, "I will ask if he damaged or destroyed the Goblet of Fire. I'm fairly confident he had nothing to do with the loss of the French artefact."

"But the answers to the test questions…the members will demand we have a Dementor kiss him this afternoon and throw the wizard's carcass through the veil."

Bones kept her face impassive as she replied, "The wizard will get a fair trial. The members can demand a second trial today."

Rufus nodded and said, "Then I'd say ask number five and then seven. If the answer to seven is innocent, then ask number six to let him reveal what good he did in the war."

"What about Dumbledore's questions?" the Head Auror asked his boss. "Dumbledore was adamant about pushing them on you."

Recognising the politics at play here, Amelia replied, "The second one – who holds your loyalty? The first is the same question, and the last one is an insult to the memory of Lily and James and their son."

MINOR CHANGE % Hogwarts Classes

Harry ignored the knowledge that Snape's trial would happen at some point today. He paid attention to his professors and enjoyed the interesting potions class with Professor Tonks. To the teenager's relief, Draco and the Slytherins cannot pull any pranks in the classroom because Professor Sinestra sat at the back of the room. She'd found the Slytherin students in every other year well behaved–they were reserved and managed their emotions well. But this group of fourth years included several mis-sorted Gryffindors for certain.

CHANGE SCENE && Day of Trials

Amelia was as prepared as she could be without enough discovery sessions. The defendants and their attorneys waited for their turns, and so her day began with the trial of a repeat offender for muggle-baiting. The witch enjoyed seducing muggle men at a pub in her hometown. She then obliviated the memory from their minds leaving them confused when their mates asked about the previous night. The Statute of Secrecy was threatened when she obliviated the same muggles too many times, and as a group, they began to question the 'witch' who was enchanting them.

Aurors had had to rescue her, and after investigating the crime, they arrested and removed her from the town. Her lawyer argued that his client had done no real, permanent harm to the muggles who were intent on burning her at the stake, bringing back the witch hunts of centuries past.

Using the lawyer's argument, Amelia went for a conviction based on the threat to the Statute of Secrecy. The Wizengamot sentenced the foolish witch to a year in Azkaban in the minimal exposure level of the prison. (She'd be exposed to a full minute of Dementors every five days).

When Dumbledore ordered the court to recess for lunch, Amelia had only been able to clear three of the five cases on the docket before Severus Snape's trial. The Grand Warlock had stopped the second trial and asked Amelia questions about her procedures which she answered quickly and thoroughly. Lord Ogden, a retired attorney who remembered more Wizengamot procedural rules than Dumbledore, grew quiet and thoughtful.

During lunch, Amelia sat alone at a table in the Ministry Cafeteria to not show any favouritism to any person involved or concerned in the cases before the Wizengamot. Still, she had to remain in the public eye to ensure no one approached her about any case. Aurors were present to prevent anyone from approaching the Director of the DMLE today.

'How will the next two cases go?' she wondered. 'Without discovery, this morning was much slower than normal. If Dumbles delays the third and fourth case, I'll never get to the fifth case before 4:00 PM, and no one will vote to extend the session if I don't have Snape in the chair well before the top of the hour.'

Pulling out her file, she reviewed the three cases left – first rape of a half-blood by another half-blood, then theft of a valuable antique clock, and finally, assault in a bar brawl that resulted in injury to four purebloods by four other purebloods. Aberforth Dumbledore's tavern in Hogsmeade was the site of the brawl.

'With nine or more clients to question without veritaserum, the case will go on for two hours with questions by Dumbledore sitting on his throne above us all,' she decided. Then her eyes narrowed, and as she raised her coffee cup to her lips, a slight sneer appeared. 'Forgiveness for the greater good…I'll throw his own words back in his face.'

The rape case was settled with the wizard sent to Azkaban for five years. The case of theft took thirty minutes because Amelia went full-bore with her glare and mentioned life in Azkaban as a possible punishment she could ask for. The thief, a pureblood, agreed to return the clock to his neighbour and pay a fine of ʛ100. He would be on probation for six months with a weekly check in to an Auror.

And just as the clock chimed 3:00 PM, the defendants for the assault in the bar brawl were led into the courtroom along with the attorney who would defend them all. With permission from a smug Albus Dumbledore, who expected the rest of the day to be consumed by this case at his brother's seedy tavern, Amelia approached the witch. The latter was a veteran of trying cases before the Wizengamot.

"Going to be hard to prove malicious intent in the assault, Bones," the witch said immediately. "I have fifty character witnesses for my clients, including employers."

"How about a deal? No arguments and no bargaining. I want this case settled now for the 'greater good' and the docket cleared for my next case."

The defence attorney stared without giving any clues that she was startled before she said, "Six months of probation."

"With restitution of twenty galleons each," Bones replied.

The witch-attorney countered, grimacing slightly at the steep fee, "Ten galleons each."

One eyebrow twitched, indicating overwhelming surprise when the Director of the DMLE instantly replied, "Done. I'll make the announcement."

Turning toward the Wizengamot, Amelia nodded to Dumbledore, who waved his hand indolently in her direction, "You may begin, Director Bones."

"Grand Wizard, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, this is a case of simple assault in a brawl in a tavern. The DMLE has considered all the known facts, and we have reached an agreement with opposing counsel that for the greater good, these defendants will be given a sentence of six months of probation and a fine of ten galleons each to settle the charges."

There was silence in the chamber before Lord Ogden chortled, pretended to cough, and then watched the Grand Warlock.

"The Wizengamot does not…" Dumbledore attempted to say.

"No!" shouted Ogden. "If you want to question the Director's decision to offer a plea, you must file a written motion with the DMLE that will come to a committee. Then that committee rules on any objection. Besides, the decision was made for the greater good, as you frequently tell everyone."

In all the time Lord Ogden spoke, Amelia Bones never blinked, despite the glare from Albus Dumbledore wishing the witch would spontaneously explode.

"The Wizengamot will be in recess…" the Grand Warlock began to say with the gavel in his hand raised to strike the top of his desk.

"Again, no!" shouted Ogden again. "Point of order Grand Warlock. The last recess was only fifteen minutes ago. If your ancient bladder is full, use a medical charm and relieve yourself. But you will not recess or dismiss this court before the next case is well underway."

"Bruce…" Dumbledore attempted to find some reason to calm the wizard.

Lord Ogden roared, "You will refer to me by my title, or I shall call for a vote of no confidence in the Grand Warlock!"

Unhappy and thinking of the line items he could delete from the DMLE budget to hamstring Bones for the rest of the year, Dumbledore growled, "Call the next case."

The defendants from the last case hurried from the chamber, and Aurors guided them out of the hall while other Aurors brought Severus Snape into the courtroom, still dressed in his orange jumpsuit. Dumbledore grimaced because he'd forgotten to send an elf with a set of dress robes for the wizard to wear to his trial.

'But if I say anything, that would prove I am too close to the case and allow that 'witch' to disqualify me as judge,' the Grand Warlock knew.

Without any emotion in her voice, Amelia declared, "Her Majesty's Ministry for Magic brings forth the case of damage and destruction of a priceless artefact known as the Goblet of Fire by the wizard named Severus Tobias Snape of Spinner's End in England, and last employed at Professor for Potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Continuing to stare darkly at Bones for a moment until Lord Ogden coughed significantly again, Dumbledore finally asked, "Is counsel for the defendant present?"

An elderly wizard, a friend of Albus Dumbledore, appeared in the courtroom and replied, "I'm here."

Dumbledore arched one eyebrow and said, "Elphias, the correct response is 'I am here, Grand Warlock'. Remember my appropriate titles."

"Of course, Grand Warlock," the attorney replied, and in the moment of silence that continued, the wizard realised Dumbledore expected him to repeat the appropriate reply.

"I am here, Grand Warlock," the wizard replied.

"And what is your name?" Dumbledore asked with a tone he generally reserved for a firstie lost in the halls of Hogwarts.

Frowning at the condescending tone, the wizard replied, "I am Elphias Doge, attorney at law."

Dumbledore smiled and discarded the usual script for court proceedings by stating, "Now, in a case where the defendant will be potioned with Veritaserum, there are questions the prosecutor will ask the defendant to prove they are under the influence of the serum."

"In this case, I will be acting as an advisor to Mr Doge to assure the court that the questions are appropriate to ask," the Grand Warlock grandly declared.

Before Albus could rise from his throne, Lord Ogden shouted, "Sit down, Grand Warlock! You've insisted on the letter of the law the whole day, but with your protégé on trial, you'll not change them now. If you want to defend him, recuse yourself from your chair of Grand Warlock for the remainder of this session."

Lord Greengrass groaned and said, "Stop! If Grand Warlock Dumbledore steps down for this trial, it invalidates every decision already made today. We'll have to retry every case heard today."

"Now, we don't have to be so scrupulous," Dumbledore offered.

The chamber erupted in loud protests that the Grand Warlock would make such a cavalier statement after following the letter of the law so closely for the entire day. Dumbledore was forced to apologise and then directed Director Bones to meet with Mr Doge to discuss the case without any interference from the Grand Warlock.

Turning toward the Doge, Amelia glanced at Dumbledore, who waved his hand indolently in her direction, "You may begin, Director Bones."

When the director of the DMLE approached the attorney, Doge apologised, "Director Bones, forgive my late appearance. I received an urgent summons from Albus at lunch to come to the ministry, and then during that last recess, he told me to represent Snape in this case."

Keeping her face impassive, Amelia Bones assured the wizard that she understood and then explained to Doge that she would ask Severus Snape questions regarding his knowledge or participation in the damage and destruction of the Goblet of Fire.

"With the number of foreign dignitaries in the courtroom today, I don't want anything to be construed as improper," she informed Doge.

"I understand, Director. And will you be questioning my client under veritaserum?"

"I will. He is not a pureblood and cannot object."

"Very well," Doge replied, uncomfortable with pureblood privilege.

"In cases such as this, Mr Doge, the DMLE prosecution and defence must agree on the test questions to ask the defendant that verify the truth serum is working properly."

"Oh…I am a contract and business attorney, so this is unfamiliar ground."

"Allow me to share my list of test questions," Amelia said as she handed over the shortlist of questions she'd decided to ask Severus Snape. While reading the questions, Doge remembered the pain he'd experienced when Death Eaters had killed his son and grandson. While Doge was a life-long friend of Albus Dumbledore and respected the man immensely, he'd never accepted the notion that Severus Snape was a victim of circumstances.

His resentments against Severus Snape's escape from any punishment (and against Albus) grew when Doge's great-grandchildren failed to be accepted into an apprenticeship as Healers or Brewers. The problem was the poor potion tuition they received at Hogwarts with Snape as the professor. After three years of expensive tutoring, his grandson was accepted as an apprentice with a potions master. His great-granddaughter, Helen, married a muggle-born wizard in the interval and immigrated across the pond.

Now Doge stared at the questions the Director of the DMLE planned to ask the Death Eater who Dumbledore had protected for thirteen years. They had nothing to do with the Goblet of Fire and would undoubtedly damn Severus Snape to the Azkaban, if not the kiss.

Test Questions to ask Severus Snape to prove the effectiveness of Veritaserum

5. Do you know where the Dark Lord hid gold? Tell us where the gold is hidden. What protections are around the gold?

7. Tell us of your missions for Lord Voldemort in the war against the British Ministry for Magic and Albus Dumbledore?

6. Tell us of your missions for Albus Dumbledore in the war against the Dark Lord?

Possible question: Who holds your loyalty for the greater good?

Doge read the questions, thought for a moment, and then asked, "I see you eliminated several questions. May I ask who originated these questions?"

Bones replied, "The only thing I can tell you is that current government officials agreed on these questions."

"Ah…Fudge, you, and Albus," Doge surmised, considering the last question.

Thinking about his son, grandson, great-grandchildren, and everything he'd lost, Elphias Doge announced to the court, "The defence has no objections to these questions to verify the effectiveness of the truth potion. The possible answers will have no impact on the verdict on my client's guilt or innocence regarding damaging or destroying the Goblet of Fire."

CHANGE SCENE: Pain and Anguish

It took two Aurors to hold Severus Snape's mouth open to allow Amelia Bones to drop three large drops of Veritaserum onto the tongue. They held his head back to prevent any attempt to spit out the drops, and his eyes did glass over appropriately.

Amelia declared, "I have a list of four questions to ask the defendant to verify that the truth serum is effective and working."

"Proceed, Amelia," Dumbledore said, but Lord Ogden objected to the casual address, and the Grand Warlock was forced to apologise for a second time on the same day. Then he said, "Please proceed, Director Bones."

Turning to the defendant, Amelia asked, "Severus Snape, if you know where the Dark Lord hid gold, list the locations, and tell us what protections are around the gold?"

Emotionlessly, Snape replied, "Lord Voldemort held all his gold reserves in Gringotts under assumed names. He used house elves to access the vaults, and there's no way to get into the vaults for the next thousand years."

Cornelius Fudge, who had hurried into the chamber when he heard the case was about to begin, was disappointed with the answer. Unless the ministry had the names of the vaults, they could make no claims, and the goblins could keep them sealed for a thousand years. The minister rose from his seat and stalked out of the trial despite the tradition of not leaving during active proceedings.

Dumbledore didn't try to hide his confusion at the question asked. Lord Ogden frowned and hoped Bones wasn't on an aimless fishing trip – that first question had Cornelius Fudge's fingers all over it. Amelia asked the second question, "Tell us of your missions for Lord Voldemort in the war against the British Ministry for Magic and Albus Dumbledore."

The defendant smirked, something unusual with persons under the influence of the truth serum unless the person was glad to answer the question.

Snape began listing his missions, "I was the wizard who took the Dark Lord news of the prophecy that a child would be born who could destroy him. To discover more about the prophecy, the Dark Lord sent me to infiltrate Dumbledore's order of the lame turkey. I fed many names and locations to the Death Eaters from those meetings because I had Dumbledore's 'complete trust'. Dumbledore never allowed anyone to question me even when people were slaughtered."

Staring directly at Amelia, Snape sneered and said, "I led the attack on Bones Manor that killed Edgar, Sophie and their children."

Leaning heavily on the desk, Amelia remained upright while Snape continued, "We looked for the three kiddies but couldn't find them at first. Then we found the two boys. The older one I gave to Greyback. I don't know if the wolf ate the boy or turned him. And the younger boy, I gave to Lucius Malfoy, who killed your sister-in-law. He and Narcissa needed a son, and Malfoy hurried away with the boy. Narcissa and Lucius performed a complete blood adoption at the next new moon – some of the darkest magic known in Britain – and they got their son, Draconis Lucius Malfoy."

Now Amelia dropped to her knees with the nightmare of losing her brother, his wife and their sons flooding back into her mind. Edgar's sons had vanished from the manor where the bodies of their parents lay in blood. A terrified house-elf had hidden Susan until Amelia arrived at the house of horrors. Rufus Scrimgeour cast a silencing spell around Amelia Bones as the witch gave voice to her anguish – one nephew given to the werewolves and the second stolen by a Death Eater to adopt and raise as his child.

In the confusion of Director Bones collapsing in anguish, Albus Dumbledore attempted to end the trial. In response, Lord Ogden thundered, "No! You cannot – you will not – end this trial!"

Albus looked around the chamber, and the members in purple robes were shouting in anger and disgust. Many of them cursed the Death Eater in the chair, but a substantial number were staring at him with cold eyes. He realised, 'There'll be no forgiveness for Severus today.'

While Aurors helped Amelia into a chair (she refused to leave the courtroom), Lord Ogden and Rufus Scrimgeour exchanged glances. Scrimgeour announced to the court, "As Head Auror, I shall assume the prosecution of Severus Snape. There is one more question to verify that the veritaserum is working properly."

Turning back to the chair where Severus was chained in place, Rufus asked, "Mr Snape, who holds your loyalty?"

The prisoner, revelling in the chaos and pain he had inflicted on the people dragging him in front of the court, replied with glee, "My only loyalty is to myself. That's why I played both sides in the fight. Whoever won, I thought I could survive. But Dumbledore stuck me in prison and made me deal with the idiotic children of Magical Britain!"

"That concludes the verification questions, and the Ministry believes the defendant is under the influence of the truth serum."

Once again addressing Severus Snape, Rufus Scrimgeour asked, "Mr Snape did you at any time damage, cast any spells toward, at or around, or cause the destruction of the Goblet of Fire at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"No, I did not."

"Who did cast spells toward, at or around the Goblet of Fire at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"Albus Dumbledore and Alastor Moody…" Snape replied, but his magic pushed him to continue with more, "Wait…he's not Alastor…I don't know who the wizard is pretending to be Alastor Moody, but he's the one who cast the incendio spell that destroyed the Goblet of Fire."

The strange feeling in his mind continued. The truth serum forced Severus Snape to tell the truth, but the stranger's identity was something unknown – but he knew it wasn't Alastor. The veritaserum punished Snape, and the wizard convulsed. Rufus Scrimgeour realised that Severus Snape might survive the reaction in his brain and magical core if he withdrew the question. But in his opinion, the wizard deserved a painful death that would not cause more pain to survivors, so he remained quiet.

Lord Ogden barely glanced for Snape as he watched Albus Dumbledore, who sat with tears running down his face to witness the defendant's agony before his struggles ceased.

END SCENE

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"