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Hufflepuff Auction Prompt: Day 27, Auction 4: Bulge
Word Count: 324
Try It On For Size
It was strange, walking through Azkaban and seeing so many faces he knew. It was… he couldn't say good, because it wasn't good, but he was satisfied, he supposed, to know that they were in a place where they couldn't hurt others anymore.
Although, seeing Lucius Malfoy looking so unhealthy was… unsettling. His hair was lank and falling out, his eyes seemed to bulge from his face, he was so gaunt and thin, and Harry shuddered slightly as he passed the cell.
He dreaded to think of the state he'd find Severus, but he knew he had to try. It had taken longer than he'd wanted to clear Severus of all charges, and the man had been stuck in Azkaban for close to a year now.
Harry had been hoping for a couple of months at most, but then, the Wizarding World had never been for moving quickly. Not even now, under Kingsley's competent rule, did the Ministry do anything at a speed quicker than that expected of a snail.
Finally, the guard leading Harry stopped in front of a cell, and Harry waited with baited breath for him to open it. There was a clang of the key hitting the lock, and then the door was swinging open and Harry stepped forward.
Surprisingly, Snape looked… mostly okay. He was thinner than Harry had ever seen him, and there was an even sallower look to his skin than usual, but his hair appeared to be thick and there was an intelligent shine to his eyes.
"Potter?"
"Hello, Sir."
"What are you doing here?"
"I've come to retrieve you, Sir," Harry replied softly. "You were wrongfully imprisoned, and—"
"I murdered him, Potter."
"Under his orders," Harry said firmly. "To help win the war. I have your pardon with me, Sir, it's done. You're free."
"I haven't been free for over twenty years, Potter."
Harry shrugged. "Maybe you should try it on for size then, hmm?"
