Summary: The quest to exonerate Snape.
A/N: Thanks for reading. We get a little POV from Severus in this chapter.
Chapter 15
Severus tossed and turned in his bed. He'd slept okay until around four in the morning. Since then, he'd been moving around trying to go back to sleep. Grumbling to himself, he frowned. She hadn't been in his dream, and he'd missed her. Her absence only proved her duplicity with him, though, so he was angry with himself for even thinking he wanted to see her again.
He flipped over and fluffed his pillow. Flopping his head back down onto it, he muttered to himself.
"Just go to sleep."
He closed his eyes and concentrated on sleeping. His mind was filled with images of Hermione. They walked hand in hand on the Hogwarts grounds; she embraced him; she kissed him. His eyes slowly opened before he shut them tightly. The woman had wormed her way into his heart.
He sat up in the bed and turned so he could stand. Winky appeared out of nowhere, startling him. Of course, he only jerked his hand in surprise, but he was annoyed anyway.
"Winky! What on earth?"
"Master Headmaster… I's heard you get up. Do you's need help, sir?"
"I'm fine, Winky," he ground out as he stood.
Everything started spinning, and he quickly sat back down on the bed.
"It's the blood loss, sir. Missy Granger gave you a Blood Replenishing Potion, but you's need another."
Winky disappeared, leaving Severus staring after her. It took several seconds before the House-Elf reappeared.
"Here, sir," she said as she extended a vial to him.
He reached out and took it. "Thank you."
He downed the potion and attempted to stand. The Elf rushed up to him and gave him a hand. He balanced on her, and she helped him get to the bathroom.
"I've got it from here, Winky," he said as he stood in the doorway.
"You're sure, Master Headmaster?"
He nodded his head and stepped into the loo. A few minutes later he emerged again. He held up his hand as the elf came closer.
"Let me try," he ordered.
"But… "
"Let me!"
She stepped back. "Yes, sir."
He felt lightheaded, but he moved toward the bed. He had to stop after a few steps and wait for the dizziness to subside, but then he was moving by himself. Soon he was sitting down on the bed again.
"The potion should help," the Elf said.
He nodded. "Thank you, Winky," he said. "You may go."
"Call if you need something. I'll bring you breakfast in a few hours."
He nodded again and the Elf disappeared. He extinguished the light and just sat there in the dark. He reviewed in his mind all that had happened since the Shack.
He'd thought he was a dead man when the snake had attacked him. He'd been astonished to wake and find that he hadn't perished. He'd been amazed to see Hermione there at his side, and even more amazed to find out she was the one to save him. Then he was filled with rage at the thought she had duped him and been in his head for months.
She'd said she hadn't spoken of their encounters with Potter and Weasley, but how could she not? How could she not laugh at his weakness as he struggled through this last terrible year? How could she not?
But wouldn't they have thought she was Imperiused? Would they have even believed her? Wouldn't she have acted differently if she'd been blabbing and laughing about him behind his back?
He sighed. He was unsure what to believe. All he knew was that he missed her. That feeling filled him with trepidation. He hadn't leaned on anyone for his entire life. How could he start now? And how could he trust a woman who had deceived him for months?
He deflated as hopelessness filled him. He was just as alone as he'd ever been. He couldn't trust her. He would never be able to trust her.
He lay down and buried his head under his pillow, hoping to be able to get some sleep. When he did finally fall asleep his dreams were filled with images of Hermione. Not her actual dream self, but memories of what they'd had together. He winced in his sleep as a single tear rolled down into his pillow.
oooOOOooo
Hermione and Harry sat in the courtroom as Kingsley Shacklebolt addressed the Wizengamot.
"I have interviewed Mister Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger. They tell a very different story of the loyalties of Severus Snape. Mr. Potter, through memories given to him by Severus Snape, can prove that Albus Dumbledore ordered Severus Snape to take his life."
He paused as the room filled with gasps.
"And Ms. Granger has mastered a method of healing and mental discipline that corroborates Snape's memories and expounds upon them. I put forth that Severus Snape is innocent of the murder of Albus Dumbledore and has been working not as a Death Eater, but as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix."
The Chief Warlock eyed Kingsley before nodding.
"Why isn't Severus Snape here to face the charges against him?" he asked Kingsley.
"He is recuperating from the deadly snake bite he received. He is currently bedridden and gathering his strength."
The Chief Warlock nodded and banged his gavel stone.
"Call your first witness."
"I call Harry James Potter."
Harry stood and moved to the center chair. He sat and stared down at the court members. He knew he'd have to be secure if he were to be believed.
"Mr. Potter, please describe the memories you received from the defendant."
"There were several of them, starting when he was a child. They established that my mother and he were good friends through school and that he turned spy for Dumbledore when her life was threatened. In the later memories, there was a conversation between Dumbledore and him where Dumbledore ordered him to kill him when the time came. He was trying to save Draco Malfoy from becoming a murderer, and the more important point was that Dumbledore had been cursed by one of Voldemort's…"
There was chatter among the members, so Harry paused.
"He had been cursed by one of Voldemort's items, and the curse was taking his life. He was dying. He'd been cursed the summer before my sixth year. He wouldn't have lasted more than a few more months. He told Snape it would be like a mercy killing."
"You realize, Mister Potter, that memories can be altered."
"Why yes, Madam Umbridge, I do. You see, I've seen altered memories and would be able to have recognized if Snape had altered them in any way. Given that the man was dying, I don't think altering his memories was foremost in his mind when he gave them to me. He was trying to show me what I had to do to beat Voldemort."
Umbridge's mouth formed a straight line and she hmphed. Another member asked a question.
"So, you believe all that you saw in Snape's memories?"
Harry sat up straighter and made eye contact with the man. "I do."
There was a clearing of a throat from the back of the courtroom. Everyone turned their attention back there to find Albus Dumbledore in the portrait hanging on the wall. As Chief Warlock, he had an honored place among the portraits that lined the back wall.
"I ask the court for the opportunity to speak," Dumbledore said in a demanding tone.
The chief Warlock sputtered and looked around at the court members. With most of them nodding at him, he looked back at Dumbledore.
"This is highly irregular, but I will allow it. Professor Dumbledore, you may speak."
"I am here to corroborate Harry Potter's testimony. I did indeed ask Severus Snape to kill me. You see, Tom Riddle had tasked the Malfoy boy with doing it. I knew he was too innocent to do so and was afraid for his soul. I had been injured by a cursed object like Harry said. It was the only way. Severus would kill me, therefore ensuring his spot as right-hand man to Tom, and I would be saved a horrible death either from the curse or from the wand of Bellatrix Lestrange."
"So, Professor Dumbledore, you hereby state that Severus Snape is not guilty of murder?"
"I so state that."
"But you are dead at his wand."
"As Mr. Potter stated, it was a mercy killing. He murdered no one."
"Thank you, Master Dumbledore," the Chief Warlock said. "Mr. Potter, unless you have anything more to add, you may be step down."
Harry got up and settled back next to Hermione.
"I call Miss Hermione Jean Granger," Kingsley called out.
Hermione moved to the center chair and sat.
"Miss Granger, you are specialized in a certain type of healing, are you not?" Kingsley asked.
"I am. It's called Empathic Magic."
Kingsley turned to the Wizengamot. "Is anyone familiar with this type of healing magic?"
A woman in the back raised her hand as well as a man on the left end of the court.
"Miss Granger, please explain to the court what this type of magic is all about. Court members Smyth and Harding, please feel free to ensure that Miss Granger's explanation is correct."
Hermione began. "It's a type of healing magic that only certain witches and wizards can perform. They have to have a deep level of empathy within themselves to use this type of healing magic, which is why it's quite rare. It uses traditional healing spells in conjunction with the ability to use empathy for the patient or the malady to increase the potency of a normal healing spell. It can also guide the healer to create new healing spells using Empathic magic. Some well-noted and documented uses of this type of magic are in counseling and determining innocence or guilt. This can be accomplished by the Healer entering the mind of the subject either while they're awake or through dreams. They are able to communicate with the subject and find hidden memories, truths about actions, and subconscious reasons for acting a certain way. Anything found out through these sessions is admissible in court."
"So, you practiced this healing magic on Severus Snape?"
"I did. At first, I wanted to find out why he killed the Headmaster, then when I found out the truth about why he killed him, I wanted to help him to survive in an environment that was very antagonistic towards him. Finally, I used my power to heal him when he was mortally wounded by Voldemort's snake."
There were murmurs among the court members once again. Kingsley turned to them.
Miss Smyth, Mr. Harding, are you in agreement with the description Miss Granger has given to us?"
"Yes, Mr. Shacklebolt, and she is correct that it is admissible evidence."
Harding had spoken for both of them. Kingsley nodded and turned back to Hermione.
"Please continue, Miss Granger."
"As I said, I learned the truth about Dumbledore ordering Severus Snape to kill him. I visited him often through his dreams, as he was too good a Legilimens and Occlumens for me to communicate with him when he was awake. I found that Mr. Snape was solidly on our side… On the Order's side. His mission was to make Voldemort think he was loyal. As Headmaster, he protected the children, keeping the real Death Eaters who were teaching at the school from punishing them. He'd assign detentions to Hagrid, knowing he would be lenient on them. He secretly sent information to the Order making them aware of attacks when he could."
Hermione cleared her throat and looked up at every member of the Wizengamot before continuing.
"He took his life in his hands every day. He is the bravest person I have ever met, and he deserves to be exonerated from these charges assigned when no one knew his true mission or loyalties."
"Miss Granger…" It was Umbridge again. "Could Severus Snape have duped a young girl like you?"
"I'm sure he could have if he wanted to, but he had no reason to be duplicitous, Madam Umbridge. We were conversing in dreams. He thought I was a figment of his imagination. He had no reason to be deceptive."
"Hmph."
"So, Miss Granger, you believe all that you have testified to be the truth. You believe that Severus Snape was on our side from the beginning and never wavered in his task to take down the Dark Lord?" the Chief Warlock asked.
"I do."
"You may step down, Miss Granger. Mr. Shacklebolt, have you any other witnesses or evidence to submit?"
No, your honor, but I want to add my voice to the reason we've heard before us today. It's obvious that Severus Snape was deeply undercover. From Dumbledore's own mouth we find that he had plotted with Snape to end his life. Severus Snape stayed true to his initial mission to bring down Voldemort and to destroy his plan to take over the world. He is a man who should be honored, not punished. He barely survived Voldemort's grisly attack from his snake. He should recuperate and be a free man. I submit to the honorable court members that the only answer for this case is that Severus Snape is innocent of all charges."
He bowed his head to the Chief Warlock and the rest of the Wizengamot. The chief Warlock looked to his court.
"All who say Severus Snape is guilty as charged, raise your hands."
Several hands shot up, the first of which was that of Dolores Umbridge.
"All who say charges should be dropped, raise your hands."
The majority raised their hands. The chief Warlock took his gavel stone and pounded it on the desk.
"I declare that Severus Snape is cleared of all charges. He may go about his business as a free man. So let it be written; so let it be done."
The gavel was banged again and the members of the Wizengamot all rose and filed out of the courtroom. Meanwhile, Harry, Hermione, and Kingsley were hugging each other in victory. Harry looked up at the portrait.
"That was brilliant, Professor," he said with a smile.
Hermione ignored the old bugger.
"Kingsley, why was Umbridge in the court?" Hermione asked.
"Everything returned back to what it was before the Ministry was overtaken, so she took her place back on the court. Don't worry, she's one of the first people I'm getting rid of, but there are a lot of other things to get done first."
They each shook each other's hands and Kingsley left. Harry turned back to Dumbledore.
"It's good to see you again, sir."
"You as well, my boy. And you too, Miss Granger."
Hermione huffed. "You're a sorry excuse for a hero, do you know that?" she said.
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"How dare you use everybody like you did. You needed Harry to die, and you didn't even have the guts to tell him so. You used your friend as a pawn to kill you! You are one of the most horrid men I have ever met!"
"I did what had to be done, Miss Granger. Had you been in my place you'd have done the same thing."
"Bollocks. Just because you couldn't see any other way to do this, doesn't mean you were right. There were several options. You just like to be in charge of everything so much, you couldn't see past your nose to see any other choices. You're a despicable human being, and if I never lay eyes on any of your portraits again, it will be too soon!"
With that, she stormed out of the courtroom. Harry looked between her and Dumbledore and rushed out after her. Neither had noticed the beetle flying around the back of the courtroom.
oooOOOooo
Harry burst into the Common Room.
"Oy, Hermione, you just left me."
Hermione sat on the sofa staring into the flames.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I was so mad I couldn't even breathe. I had to get out of there."
Harry plopped down next to her and put his arm around her.
"You were brilliant in there."
She blushed. "So were you."
"Yeah, but you just kept going. You gave Dumbledore what he deserved. I was going to be nice, but you just started in, and then I got mad too."
Ron came up at that point and sat in the reading chair next to the sofa.
"So, what happened?" he asked.
"Snape was exonerated," Harry explained.
"Great."
"Yes, it is," Hermione muttered.
"Sure, now you can have your Greasy Git all to yourself, right?"
Hermione gave him a caustic look. "Ron, I'm happy that he's not going to go to Azkaban. He doesn't deserve to be there for one minute."
"And now you can drool all over him."
Hermione turned her body fully toward him. "You know what? If you're going to be a prat, you can just go back to your room. I'll not talk to you when you're acting like this."
"I'd take her seriously, mate. She just told off Dumbledore."
Ron's eyes grew big. "Really?"
"Yeah, she was brilliant! She told his portrait what an arse he was for using Snape and me. You know our Hermione. She always fights for the little guy."
Ron stared at Hermione for a while. He slowly relaxed and understanding seemed to come over him.
"That's what this is all about, isn't it?" he asked her.
She looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"About Snape. You hate seeing anyone being mistreated. It's like you couldn't help yourself with him."
Hermione looked down. "I guess you could say that. That's how it started out."
"I think I understand now, Hermione. I'm sorry I've been such a git. I just thought… well, you know."
Hermione smiled at him and reached out and took his hand. "I know. I thought we'd be together for a long time too. It's just not right, Ron. We're not right like that."
He frowned. "Well, I don't like it."
"I know."
"But I guess I get it."
Hermione got up and leaned over, hugging him. "Thanks, Ron."
They separated, and she moved back to the sofa.
"So, I guess you'll be going back to the git now, right?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed at him.
"Think of it as a term of endearment," Ron said.
Hermione shook her head and laughed at him.
"I don't know. I think I'll wait until tomorrow. I can't…" She put her head down.
"Hermione," Ron began, "there's one thing I know about Snape, other than he's a git. He's smart. He may be mad now, but if he has any sense, he'll see that you have been on his side this whole time. You say he loves you, too?"
She nodded.
Harry piped in then. "Well, I think in time he'll be okay with you, then."
Hermione lifted her head up and looked at both Ron and Harry. "Do you really think so?"
Harry shrugged, but Ron spoke up. "Yeah. He's loyal. That is obvious from everything he's done. You helped him. He won't forget that."
Hermione sighed and looked at the fire. "I hope so."
