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Arrested!

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This chapter was the result of an SVU marathon that morphed into a plot bunny that wouldn't leave.

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Two weeks after the battle, Severus was just starting to move about the house on his own, finally trusting his balance. After another week, he was feeling stronger and eating better.

Aurors appeared at the door a month after the battle and demanded Shari come with them. There was a demand for justice for Albus Dumbledore's death. Harry Potter had repeated to others what she had told him and Hermione about killing the former Headmaster.

As magical cuffs were placed on her, Severus promised to help her as Draco watched in shock.

She was brought to the Ministry of Magic and placed in a room furnished only with a table and two chairs. Her hands were bound to the table and she was left alone with her thoughts. She wondered if she would get the Dementor's kiss. She hoped Severus was able to do something to help her, otherwise she was sure the death penalty awaited her.

As soon as she was taken, Severus sent a patronus to Kingsley Shacklebolt. They immediately met up at Nine Vines.

"It's out of my hands, Severus. Everybody wants justice for Albus's death."

Severus looked at him through a mask of perfectly concealed emotion, the rage he felt hidden behind doors of Occlumency.

"This seems more like a political move to kickstart your career as Minister. You're sacrificing a kidnapping and rape victim to elevate yourself. You know she did not come here willingly. You also know she never went with him willingly and you knew his intentions with her from the beginning."

"Will you testify for her as to what you witnessed when you found her in his private chambers?"

"Yes, I will. I will also testify as to what we saw when we rescued her from the cottage."

The Minister finished his drink and ordered another one, dreading what he had to tell the potioneer who he knew was already seething under his mental barriers.

"I have to warn you, Severus, Albus dug up a lot of information about her before he took her and stored it in his office. Some of it is unflattering and will not help her plea of self defense."

The Slytherin let his words sink in, watching the ice melt in his drink. He knew he didn't know everything about Shari, but what damaging information could he have?

He finally glanced up from his drink. "Such as?"

"She was arrested for prostitution twice, at the ages of 14 and 15. Did you know?"

His heart sank. He thought of how she had come on to him the first day she met him. Then he remembered how he had found her after she killed Albus. She had been bruised, bleeding, her clothes were torn and her pants pulled down to her thighs.

"No, she doesn't talk about her childhood. I got the feeling it was not a good one. But I know what I saw at the cottage and especially in his chambers."

"I remember the cottage, too." He sighed, remembering the wild look in her eyes. "Her trial is the day after tomorrow. Until then, she'll be held in a cell at the Ministry. Her temper is not going to help her."

Severus took a long, deep breath and let it out, thinking about his girlfriend's temper. "Can I see her and tell her to keep it under control?"

Kingsley shook her head. "No, you can't see her, but you can write her a message that I can give to her."

He produced a quill, ink and parchment from a bottomless bag in his robe pocket, and sat quietly sipping his drink while the Potions Master wrote.

Shari, I am meeting with the Minister right now. We are both willing to testify as to what happened the day you were brought here, when you were taken from the liquor store and I will testify about finding you in the private chambers.

Before Albus snatched you from your world, he unearthed a lot of information about you, including your arrests for prostitution at ages 14 and 15. They're going to use that against you.

I'm not in any way angry that you never told me about that. I'm sure you had your reasons. If there's anything that you can use as a defense for those, such as your young age at the time and extenuating circumstances, please use it.

Please keep your temper in check. I know this is all unfair, but blowing up during your trial won't help. I've taught you some occlusion and meditation. Use it.

I'll see you at your trial and hopefully bring you home afterward.

I love you. Please stay strong. I'm doing everything I can.

Severus

He handed the parchment to the Minister and looked directly in his eyes.

"Please protect her. I do not trust some of your Aurors, especially if they know she's been a prostitute."

"I know. I will. Amelia Bones will be representing her. She's likely already talked with her."

"Good."

They both left the Muggle pub. Severus apparated home and updated a very anxious Draco.

Kingsley apparated to the Ministry and sought out Amelia. While he had been gone, she had talked to Shari and gotten her statement of what took place the day Albus died. He told her about the prostitution charges and how Delores Umbridge planned to use them to persuade the Wizengamot against her.

They both entered Shari's cell, recuffed her and brought her back to the questioning room. It was clear the redhead had been crying.

After she had been bound to the table by her cuffs again, he showed her the rap sheet Albus had kept in his office.

She stared at it in shock. "Where did you get that? And how?"

"Albus Dumbledore researched you before he took you. He kept it in his office. Would you like to explain how these prostitution charges came about? The High Inquisitor is planning to use them against you, to prove his murder was not self defense and you were consenting."

Shari shut her eyes and took a deep breath to control the rage she felt. So this wizarding world was no different than the Muggle one. Rape victims were put on trial for their mistakes.

Noticing she looked distressed, he handed her Severus's message.

"Actually, Miss Borlosi, I want you to read this message from Severus first. Take all the time you need. I was going to give this to you afterwards, but I think you need it now."

He set it next to her where she could read it. Tears filled her eyes as she read that he loved her. Even after months of being Voldemort's plaything, he hadn't given up on her. They had not made love since she was first taken by the Headmaster, unless you count her initiation night and the revels.

She bent her head towards each shoulder and wiped the tears from her face, being unable to use her hands.

"I grew up in foster care because my parents were drug addicts. When I turned 14, my foster siblings encouraged me to join a local gang, the Soldados Locos. Within two weeks of my joining, they were forcing me to work. I resisted at first, and was beaten and raped until I agreed to comply. I was given heroin and turned out onto the street. I got picked up twice by undercover cops and spent time in juvy. When I turned 16, I got pregnant. My caseworker retired and I got a new one. She pulled me out of that foster home, got me into rehab and helped me find a place to live and a job. I was the lucky one. The other girls were all dead before their 18th birthdays."

Tears streamed down her face unchecked, and she wiped them on her shirt again. She risked a glance up at the two people across the table from her. She saw sadness in their eyes.

"I went back and graduated from high school and raised my daughter. I graduated from nursing school at 25 after putting myself through. Now I'm gone from her life because of Albus Dumbledore."

"I would leave that last part out, Miss Borlosi. The High Inquisitor will say you killed him out of revenge. Now, were you marked when you killed him?"

"No. Voldemort insisted I take the mark afterward or Draco would be harmed. I didn't want it, but I had to protect him. I consider him my godson."

Shari desperately hoped nothing came up about her private summonings with the Dark Lord.

"You have a good heart. Hermione Granger told us about how you protected her and she's going to testify on your behalf as well."

"What are my chances? Do you think I'll end up convicted?"

Amelia looked straight into her eyes. "We can't predict the future, Miss Borlosi. But I'll do the best I can."

Shari was led back to her cell and the cuffs were removed. She spent two lonely nights staring out the tiny window in her cell. A toilet/sink combo was in one corner and she had a blanket and a metal bench. Her meals arrived through a slot in the door.

Unbeknownst to her, her cell had been warded against intruders, including unauthorized Aurors. Knowing some of the Magical Law Enforcement would consider themselves above the law enough to assault a Death Eater prisoner with a history of prostitution, the Minister added a strong layer of protection for her.

The day of the trial, she was given clean clothes provided by Severus and led to the Wizengamot after she changed.

The Minister had chosen to have her bound to a chair rather than caged. Her arms and legs were bound to the arm rests and chair legs with invisible binds.

Delores Umbridge addressed the room with her sickening voice and smile.

"This is Miss Shari Borlosi, descendent of the infamous dark wizard, Scorpio Borlosi. She is on trial for the murder of Albus Dumbledore in May 1997 in his private chambers. Miss Borlosi claims to have been kidnapped by Albus and brought to our world for the purpose of providing him an heir. She claims his murder was self defense. Amelia, do you have a witness who can provide a statement backing this up?"

Shari watched as her defensor stood up to address the court room.

"I call Professor Severus Snape to the witness stand."

She watched as he made his way to the front and sat, then made a wand oath to tell the truth.

"Professor Snape, could you tell us how you came to learn of the former Headmaster's plans?"

"He had called me to his office just as school was ending and the students were boarding the carriages. He told me he planned to abduct a woman from the future because she was a descendent of Yagar Borlosi. He said that Yagar had promised him a hand in marriage with one of his daughters but then fled to the US before they could marry. He felt he was still entitled to marry a Borlosi because of that unfulfilled promise and that he felt it was time he had a son. I asked him what he would do if she refused to share his bed or give him an heir and he said he would make her submit."

"Could you tell the court what happened when he did bring her?"

"Before he arrived, I notified Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, and Arthur and Molly Weasley. They all were present at 12 Grimauld Place when he arrived with her. She was unconscious and he laid her on a couch and awakened her."

"And how did she react?"

"She was confused at first and defensive. When he told her he wanted her to have his child, she became very upset. She told him in no uncertain terms that she did not want him to touch her and that she did not want to have his child. I convinced him to let me take her home with me so I could restore her magic and train her. She would not let him near her and even swiped at him with a knife from the counter when he tried."

"Was Albus ever successful in his attempts at copulation?"

"Yes, twice. The first time, she left the house to walk to a nearby shop. Mad Eye Moody had put a trace on her at Albus's insistence, so they knew when she left home. They kidnapped her from the liquor store. I was alerted to the trace going off, at Hogwarts, and Kingsley and I went to where it showed they were."

"And what did you find?"

"She was standing by a bed, with her knife in her hand, and Albus had just been thrown against the wall with a Petrificus Totalis by her, without a wand. We brought her home, and she realized she had been raped."

"I'm going to direct my questions at her for now. Miss Borlosi, please tell the court what happened that night."

"I had left the house because I had cabin fever. I walked to a nearby shop and made purchases. When I walked out of the store, Alastor Moody grabbed one of my arms and Albus Dumbledore grabbed the other. I tried to fight, but they stunned me with a spell. I woke up on a bed, with my clothes on, and Albus was raising his wand next to me to say another spell. I grabbed the knife out of my pocket and cut his arm to stop him. He dropped his wand and I grabbed a staff and screamed Petrificus Totalis at him and he flew across the room. That was when Severus Snape and Kingsley Shacklebolt entered the room. Severus brought me home and I realized my bra was undone and…" Her voice caught.

Amelia's eyes were gentle as she nodded at her. "Go on."

"My underwear was wet and I was experiencing pain."

"Pain where?"

"My vagina was very sore."

"Had you recently engaged in sexual intercourse with Professor Snape prior to that night?"

"No."

"Could you tell us what happened the second time he took you?"

"There was a Quidditch game. Draco was playing and Severus was referee. Severus or who I thought was him, came to the house and told me he could sneak me in, so I went with him."

"When did you realize it was not in fact the professor?"

"When I was brought to a very large apartment instead of to the game. The Headmaster took an antidote to reverse it, then tried to force me onto the bed twice and ripped my clothes, but I fought him off. He finally grabbed my hair and pulled me down to the floor."

She stopped to wipe a tear with her shoulder.

"He managed to grab my arms and then pinned my legs down with his own. He pulled my pants down and thrust himself into me. After a few minutes, he tried to kiss me and I headbutted him and grabbed the knife from my pants pocket. I stabbed him and he still kept trying to come for me, so I stabbed him several more times until he stopped."

"Now I will redirect my questions to the professor. What did you find in the Headmaster's chambers?"

"The Headmaster was laying on the floor in front of the door. He was bloody and clearly deceased. His robe was open and his penis was out of his underclothes. Shari had bruises on her arms and face and her clothes were torn and her pants were down around her thighs."

"I have no further questions for now."

Now it was Delores Umbridge's turn. "Professor, isn't it true that restoring lost magic involves sexual intercourse?"

"Yes, it does."

"And did you engage in sexual intercourse with the defendant when you restored her magic?"

"Yes, I did. I made sure she was completely consenting."

"How many times did you engage with the defendant before her magic was tempered?"

"Six times over a day and a night."

"How long had you known the defendant when this took place?"

"One week."

"One week. Do you expect the court to believe that a woman who would engage with you six times after knowing you for a week wouldn't be willing to engage with Albus Dumbledore when approached?"

"Yes. She had no interest in him or in having his child."

"But she was willing to engage with you?"

"Yes, she was. If nonconsensual intercourse takes place during magical restoration, the magic is dark and evil. Had Albus Dumbledore performed the ritual instead of me, her magic would have been restored very differently."

"Miss Borlosi, isn't it true you were arrested for prostitution when you were 14 and 15 years old?"

"Yes, I was, but…"

"Do you expect this court to believe that a former prostitute wouldn't be willing to have sexual intercourse with a man as powerful as Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes. I did not consent."

"But you did at one time in your life have sexual intercourse for money, did you not?"

"Yes, but…"

"No further questions. The prosecution rests."

Shari felt herself growing angry and looked up at Severus. He subtly nodded at her and she knew he was telling her to get it together.

Her defensor approached where she was confined to the chair.

"Miss Borlosi, how old were you when you began working as a prostitute?"

"I was 14."

"The age of consent where you grew up is 16. How did you come to be a prostitute?"

"My foster siblings pushed me to join a local gang. They forced me to start and when I resisted, I was beaten and raped until I complied. I was arrested twice and sent to juvenile detention."

"Did you ever receive any of the money from your customers?"

"No, it was given right to my pimps."

"How did you finally leave?"

"My caseworker got me away from there and found me a new place to live."

"Shari, did you consent to having sexual intercourse with Albus Dumbledore?"

"No, I absolutely did not."

"The defense now calls Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt to the stand."

Severus stood up from the witness stand and slowly walked out the door. His eyes held hers the entire time. He walked by her on his way through and his fingers subtly brushed her arm.

Kingsley took the stand and told the court what happened the day she was brought to their world and when she was snatched from the liquor store. Then Remus Lupin and both of the Weasleys testified about the day she was brought to Grimauld Place.

Amelia ended up not needing Hermione's testimony, as Shari's status as a Death Eater had not been brought up during the proceeding. Every reference to her marked status in court documents had been obliviated away.

She was found not guilty by reason of self defense.

Severus was brought into the courtroom and she was released. She went straight for his arms and he hugged her tightly. Behind him was Draco, so she hugged him as well.

Then she shook Amelia's hand and thanked her, as well as everyone who had testified on her behalf. Severus put an arm around her and they apparated home from the outside.

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When they arrived home, she fixed dinner for the three of them, then curled up on Severus's lap in his chair in front of the fire. He looked down at her and she saw sadness in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Love, that you were put through that as a child. That's what you were. A child." He tightened his arm around her and pulled her tightly to him.

A brief memory flashed through her mind of being on the Dark Lord's lap and being held tightly against his frigid shoulder.

She dismissed it and buried her head in his robe, savoring his warmth.

She soon felt the stress of the last two days melt into total exhaustion and fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. She woke up curled up next to him in their bedroom, fully dressed. The moonlight was shining in through the windows as she fell back to sleep listening to his heartbeat and his even breathing.

Shari was in a dark, dirty, abandoned warehouse. She was laying on the cold cement floor, naked. Gang member after gang member were getting on top of her as others held her down. She couldn't see out of one eye and there was blood in her mouth. She couldn't take deep breaths because her ribs hurt.

"Shari! Shari!"

She cried out as someone started shaking her shoulder and pushed them away, screaming. Her fist flew out and connected with something warm that felt like a face.

"Shari! Love, it's just me. It's just Severus. It's okay. You're safe."

She opened her eyes. She wasn't on a dirty cement floor, she was in a warm bedroom with candles glowing on the walls.

Severus was next to her, Draco was in the doorway with his wand out. After a nod from his godfather, he left. Severus led her to the kitchen and made them both tea.

They drank in silence for a few moments.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talking about those years brought up nightmares about them. About when it started."

She looked up at him from where she had been studying the wood grain on the table, and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Oh my god, I punched you! I am so sorry!"

"No worries. I have plenty of bruise paste." He waved his hand and a small container flew into it. He set it on the table. "I'll put it on later."

After they had finished their tea, they went back to bed. Severus gave her a few drops of Dreamless Sleep and she slept soundly until the early afternoon.