Chapter 12 - A Spilt Secret

Hermione looked at her former Professor. She sat quietly smiling. Her dress hung on her loosely and her waist looked tiny with the red sash tied around her black dress. The bangs in her face were longer and brushed to the side. The waitress came by and handed Hermione her usual white wine and left Alexandria a red vampire wine.

"So Hermione, how are you? What was it that you and Neville wanted to tell me?"

"I should probably wait till Neville gets here."

"Oh, alright. So how are things going Hermione?"

"They're fine. I've been helping out at the school. I may be the next student to be Professor."

"Wow that's amazing! Congratulations!"

"Thank you. So how are things going with Charlie?"

"Charlie? Oh…" a blush came to her face. "We're fine. To be honest Hermione… From woman to woman… He's a nice man but I really just am not that interested. I love the outdoors and he's such a doll but I like the nice things in life too. I don't want to live outdoors for the rest of my life. Do you understand?"

Hermione nodded, "Alexandria, is this about Snape?"

The woman gulped down half of the wine. "Why do you even ask that? I haven't heard about him in two years. I don't care much what happened to him… It doesn't effect my life now in any way."

For some reason she didn't really believe that, and it sort of sounded as if Moonberry was trying to convince herself. Neville walked in and hugged the woman who had taken him in when his grams had passed. "Hi Alexa." he said kissing her cheek.

"Hi darling, how are you? I've missed you so much. How is the job?"

"Its good and I'm fine. Luna and I are doing well also."

"Oh yes… She is such a dear. So now that you are both here, what's the news you guys seemed so rushed to get me here for?"

Hermione looked at Neville. They were silent for a moment. Alexandria took Neville's hand, "Sweetie, what is it? You know you can tell me anything."

"Normally we would…" Hermione stated taking another sip of her wine. "Its just that…"

Neville took her hand, "I need you to promise to be understanding and know that what we did was out of love."

Alexandria looked at him and then Hermione, "Is someone pregnant Neville?" she said standing up quickly. "Is it you?" she asked Hermione. "Neville, does Luna know?"

"No…"

"NO?!"

"No, Hermione's not pregnant and neither is Luna," he said sitting her down again. His face had grown red and he knew it.

"Alexa," Hermione said taking her other hand. "We've been keeping something from you."

The woman seemed uneasy looking back and forth between the two. "Well?! What is it?"

Neville looked at his friend and felt as though he was going to vomit. "Its more like who…"

Alexandria's face dropped and she pulled her hand away, "What… what does that mean?"

"Uh… um… Mione…"

Hermione sighed, "Its about Snape."

"He's in Azkaban!" Neville shouted and then heaved in some air.

"WHAT?!" Alexandria yelled.

"Shhh…" the young girl before her put her finger to her lips and looked around. Only few people had turned. "He's been in there for a year. They captured him after the final battle."

"He helped Harry beat Voldemort. He got there jus' in time too. Now…"

"Harry wont except the fact that he helped him in the end and is going to send him before the Ministry as a murderer."

Neville watched as she sat in shock and would not look at either of them, "Alexa, he wants to see you."

Alexandria shot him a look of horror and shook her head, "No, I don't believe you! You wouldn't have hid this for me for so long… don't waste my time…" She downed the rest of her wine and left a galleon in its place. "I have to go."

"Where? Where will you go? It's the truth… he's sick and probably headed for death. Won't you go see him?"

She just glared at the two and ran out of the building. No… they're lying to me. Severus is a coward and a fugitive. He's a murderer and… All this time… She pounded on the door of Remus's house. Tonks opened it.

"Oh Merlin… Are you alright Alexa?"

Alexandria grabbed the girls shirt firmly, "Did you know?"

Remus walked down the stairs, "Alexandria, darling, what a pleasant surprise!" he smiled warmly.

"No, Remus… she knows, I think."

Quickly she glanced at her good friend, "You knew too! The both of you? And no one told me?!" Tears began to stream down her face. "Why did no one tell me?"

"Darling Alexandria, you had suffered so much on his behalf that we did not want to see you even worst off. Plus, you have been so happy with Charlie and the dragons. You were a mother to Neville that last year of Hogwarts and you seemed to be going on so well when you started eating again. He will most likely receive death you know and then what will happen. You can't take back the fact that he did use an unforgivable. He will stay in Azkaban for the rest of his life."

"You all lied to me!" She backed away from him. "Stay away from me!" They tried to run after her but knew she would want to be alone.

Neville and Hermione arrived sooner than they had expected, "Where is she?" Neville asked.

Tonks looked at the two young kids, "We don't know. She just ran out of here hysterical."

Hermione sighed, "Where now?"

Neville closed his eyes and grabbed her. In a snap of his fingers they were by the lake back at Alexandria's English palace. They looked around and saw her laying by the lake. Even at their distance they could hear her crying out loud. They approached her slowly and took a seat on each side. "Go away…" she cried.

"No. We feel really sorry but it was necessary. We don't know if what he's saying is true anyway. Its his word against Harry's." Hermione said brushing the long smooth black hair that Alexandria had. It was longer than before, just a bit below her waist.

Neville lifted her thin body and cradled her in his arms. "Mum, don't cry."

"I told you not to call me that."

"I can't help it. Its nice having two," he smiled rocking her back and forth. "He really cares about you still. He thinks that you are the only person who can prove him innocent. Will you at least go and listen to him?"

"I cant Neville. What about Charlie?"

"Have you made some sort of promise to Charlie that involves you not talking to other men."

She hesitated and for some reason he felt his own heart sink for the man stuck in a cell hoping to see her. "No not yet. He asked though. And I'm supposed to think about it. I don't know how I would say no, but I don't want to be his wife."

"You don't have to be."

"He's a fine man Neville. I just…"

"Love Snape."

Alexandria shot him a look of worry, "No… and yes… I'm scared to see him."

"It took him a lot to convince me to tell you and I'm telling you now he looks awful. His memories are tormenting him. At least go and listen or take him a pensieve… no one deserves any kind of torture…" he said looking away from her.

Alexandria looked up at the young boy and smiled. He had indeed become a man. "I will go then but give me time."

Neville nodded.

It was four more days until his trial. Severus sat trying not to move in anyway that would cause him to cough. He knew Alexandria had been in town for a week. Surely, they must have told her by now and she had decided not to come. He couldn't wait for the trial. He was now hoping they would find him guilty and end his suffering. Harry had been coming in and out more often, interrogating him about why had killed Dumbledore and foolishly decided to do it with witnesses. Some of the death eaters present that night had spilled everything under the veritaserum potion. Of course Severus knew that they had spilt only what they knew, which was not much. It was only because of Narcissa that he had been aware of it. He knew Harry hoped to instill fear in him but it was the farthest thing from his mind.

The cell was dark. He was given a candle but because of the dampness of the cell it did not even stay lit for more than three minutes. The door creaked open. He could not believe that someone was even moping about the prison like this. Only the night guards were up and about. Severus did not move. "Snape…" Neville's voice came through as he shone a little light with his wand.

"What is it Longbottom?"

"You have a few minutes."

He turned his head to face the door slowly; even the slightest movements had become painful. "Severus?"

He shut his eyes at the brightness of the light shinning in. "What?"

It was in that moment that his whole body felt warmth. "Turn the light off Neville," she ordered.

"Alexandria?" Severus said reaching up but did not make it as his cough took him. "Alexandria… cough is that cough you?" he groaned.

"Yes. I'm here. What can I do for you?" she asked looking around her and keeping her hands on his chest. He knew she could not see a thing in the cell. His eyes had adapted about half a year ago to the pitch black. He watched her. Slowly he moved her hand up to his face. He heard her gasp at the very coldness of it.

"I want you to know the truth before Potter makes a spectacle of me." he whispered gasping for air in between.

"What's wrong with him Neville? Is he ill? Don't you take care of people here?"

"Well… they are criminals Alexa."

"He hasn't been convicted of anything yet! He needs a doctor!"

"Alexandria… I don't have long… listen… see for yourself."

She closed her eyes. The next moments would be the worst of her life. Draco stood before her with Dumbledore and Severus. "We can put your family into hiding right now and no one would know where they were." The bearded man said putting his hand on Draco's shoulder.

"No! He will know. He always knows!" Draco shouted in tears. "My mother will die and it will be because of me."

"Mr. Malfoy, we can guarantee your safety. We have done it plenty of times." Severus said crossing his arms. Draco ran out of the room and Severus stepped forward but Dumbledore held him back.

"Let him think Severus."

Alexandria pushed further in and saw the whole scene with Narcissa and Bellatrix and how he had agreed to save her life not knowing what it would cost him. Pain started to fill her as she dug further in. Dumbledore sat before him. "Severus, you will need to make sure that Harry defeats the dark lord. You are the only one who can help him. I will not be there."

"Professor… Why must I be present?"

"The story will play itself as it does and in the end… I have faith that your debt to James will be repaid." The old man smiled.

The scene changed. Alexandria felt tears roll down her cheek as she experienced Dumbledore's murder and the final battle with Harry. "NO!" she screamed throwing herself back. "You… you're a liar!"

Neville turned the light on and for the first time Severus saw what he had been talking about. Her arms were thin and her skin pale. Her waist was tiny and her eyes dead. "No, I'm not. Even if you don't want to believe, take these memories from me please. I cannot take more." Coughing took him.

Alexandria looked at Neville. "Bring me a pensieve! Now!"

He disappeared and then reappeared in the cell pushing the stone well in. She pulled out her wand and put it against Severus's head one by one she began pulling them out. His pensieve had been taken into the Ministry in hopes that something might be found that May be helpful in the case. When all was done, Severus smiled even though he knew she could not see him. His mind had reached ease. His eyes closed unintentionally and did not wake any time soon.

Alexandria looked through the paperwork that Neville had copied at the Ministry. For the past two days she and Hermione had been researching and finding everything they could that might save Snape. Hermione sipped more coffee than she ever had. Neville ran in. "Remus is here! He wants to help!" he gasped.

Alexandria sat back and watched as her former pupil and her dear werewolf began to attack the files.

"I want to see him again Neville," she whispered.

"No… not today. I will take you to the ministry during the trial, but not before then."

"He needs me…" Neville wrapped his arms around her.

"He'll survive one more day without you.'

The door blew wide open. "You're all bloody mad!" Ron screamed pointing at all of them. "You think people wouldn't find out about this?"

"What are you talking about Ronald?" Hermione said grabbing his sleeve.

"A file is missing from the ministry and its on Severus's case. Percy is throwing a fit and Harry has gone frantic."

"Which one?" Neville asked lifting up each individual folder.

"That one!" Ron said grabbing it out of Remus's hands.

"It's a copy!" Neville shouted. "I didn't take any originals."

Alexandria looked as the red headed boy went through the paper. Neville was right. They were copies.

"This can't be right." Everyone looked at Ron, "If you guys don't have it then who does?"

Everyone looked at each other. "I put it back. Someone else must have taken it!"

"We don't have it Ronald. We have work to do. I suggest you keep your mouth shut and look elsewhere." Hermione said grabbing the file back and handing it to Remus.

Ron frowned and nodded, "Oh and by the way, he was taken to the doctor again. Don't know what he's trying to prove but they said he's actually been unconscious for the past two days. Don't know how it happened."

Alexandria looked at Neville. She felt him squeeze her hand. "Ron just make sure he can stand in one day so that the trial will go on."

Ron nodded, "Alexa, Charlie owled and asked what was keeping you for so long. I haven't answered yet. What do you want me to tell him?"

All eyes turned to her and she smiled slightly, "Ron may I talk to you in outside?" Together they strolled out and she made sure to close the door behind her. "I'm going to tell him what I'm doing but I need to talk to him in person."

"Should I tell him to come out here since you seem to be staying for a while?"

"NO!" It slipped out before she could contain herself. "No. Ron, I'll be back soon. Tell him I'll see him next week."

"I know you guys are trying to get Snape out of Azkaban… Charlie's my brother, it's the first time he's liked something besides his outdoors and animals. Why don't you just leave Snape where he is?"

"He's a good man Ron… He deserves to live like a free man."

"You don't still love him then?"

Alexandria fidgeted and crossed her arms, "Ron, I'll always love him. He was the first man I ever loved. I don't expect you to understand. I just have to help him. Just tell Charlie I'll be there in a week or sooner."

Ron looked down at her, "Fine. I just hope you know what you've gotten yourself into."

"Ron trust me."

He gave her a very small half smile and walked away. She knew what he was thinking. Everyone must have been thinking it. Her heart filled with emotion just thinking of Severus. They were right. She knew what it would cost her to refuse Charlie, including the friendships she would lose. Still, she was not so sure she would run back to Severus. The way he had left her so many years back. What would he do after prison? Surely he would not be given his job back at Hogwarts. There was hardly a wizard who had not heard of Severus Snape. Living in the wizarding world would be tough. Alexandria shook her head, her thoughts were running away from her.

The court looked at him, eyeing every inch as he could barely hold himself up in his cage. The members were still arriving and his cage had been covered in a green glow to keep him from doing wandless magic. Harry had no doubt informed them of the power he possessed. Harry sat right beside the Minister of Magic as the trial began. He knew Potter was under great distress at not being able to find a crucial folder. He closed his eyes and refused to hear anything or answer anything. Severus felt his legs start to give out. His wrists had been tied up above his head. He could feel his weight pulling on them; the rope was ripping at his skin.

"Severus Snape, do you understand that if you do not fight then you will be sentenced to either death or torture for performing an unforgivable curse on one of the worlds most notorious wizards?"

His brow showed pain and he shook his head at the blurry figures before him. They seemed to be moving. He knew the moment he opened his mouth his cough would start. He saw everyone turn and look at the door that had just opened.

"Stop, I will testify for this man!" Severus tried to smile at hearing the most beautiful sound to him.

Harry jumped to his feet. Alexandria walked in accompanied by Neville. Remus walked in after her, "I too will testify for this man."

"And I!" Hermione followed.

Severus closed his eyes again and listened as the whole room went into uproar. "Silence!" the minister shouted raising his voice.

"Mione!" Harry yelled, "No… you're my friend. You know how much this means."

Hermione nodded, "Yes Harry, but I think you've gone too far. This man has redeemed himself!" she shouted pointing at Severus.

Again there was a huge commotion. "He killed Albus Dumbledore!"

Remus stood, "He also saved your life, renounced his stance in front of the dark lord and put himself in a very bad position so that you could defeat Voldemort."

Harry shook his head, "That doesn't excuse any of it!"

For hours the fighting went on. At some point he saw a blur fly across the room and Miss Granger was escorted out of the room, but let back in after she had calmed herself. Severus wished he could have seen Potter fighting with his friends. At some point though more of the ministry members had turned to Alexandria's side. Half way through the argument he found himself incapable of anymore and woke up only to hear the minister of magic say: "Severus Snape you have been found guilty of crimes of which are punishable by death. You have also been found to have redeemed yourself through acts of great personal risk to you. You are therefore acquitted of all your crimes and are from this day forward a free man."

The cage opened and his ties were cut. He had no memory of hitting the floor but instead he was carried off. A fire inside him burned for what seemed to be weeks.

Remus laid Severus on the couch and looked at Alexandria who stood in the doorway staring at the disheveled man. Tonks walked in and put down the box she was carrying. It had his old clothes and his wand. "What do we do now? He's not even close to being well enough to take care of himself."

Alexandria nodded, "Can you keep him here?"

Remus looked at her and then at his girlfriend. "Here?"

"I guess I could always ask…" she stopped. There was no one she could ask. Hermione would be compromising her future career. Neville would never be home to make sure he's ok. Tonks and Remus obviously did not want him. "I'll have to take him."

Remus wrapped his arm around Tonks and they looked at each other bit before agreeing to take him in. "We don't mind, its just on my changing days that…"

"Remus, please. I'll have Tula take care of him at the palace. No one is ever there anyway. I cant thank you enough as it is for saving his life." Alexandria sat beside him and took his hand. With a snap of her fingers, she was gone.

Remus looked at Tonks, "Charlie is not going to be happy."

Nymphadora laughed at him, "at least he wont be as bad as Harry is right now."

"That is very true."

Alexandria watched as her small house elf prepared a potion to help cure Severus's cough. He had not opened his eyes since she had laid him in a bed of one of the guest rooms. Still, his cough would take him at unexpected moments.

"Is it almost done?"

"Takes time mistress. Tula will be done tomorrow. Tula also make new clothes for master Snape. Tula left them by master's bed so he dress when he wake."

"Thank you Tula." Alexandria said making her way up the stairs and over to Severus's guest room.

He lay quietly still dirty and in his prison clothes. It was the first time she had noticed the length of his hair and the beard on his face. Alexandria took out her wand and lifted him taking him to one of the grander lavatories. She put his body in the warm water even with his clothes. Setting her wand aside as well as her robe and got to work. Gently, she removed his clothes. He was shivering in the warm water because of his fever. Slowly she scrubbed him tenderly, especially his face. His skin was sort of covered in a natural blush because of his temperature. After washing his hair thoroughly she lifted him with her magic and wrapped a bathrobe around him. He shivered on the bed as Alexandria lit the fireplace. Instant heat filled the room and the shivers began to fade. The clothes were mostly black and would be much to his liking. The tailoring was exquisite and the fabric expensive. Piece by piece she dressed him in the basics leaving aside the jacket. Severus curled himself up and began coughing hysterically again. It hurt her to hear the violent noise that seemed to be coming from his lungs. Socks! How did I forget the socks? She slid them on his feet and kissed his head good night before walking out.

"You still love him then?" a deep but calm voice came from behind her.

"Charlie! You startled me! What are you doing here? I was going to head out tomorrow after giving him the potion."

"Ron told me what you did. That you got him out of prison."

Alexandria crossed her arms. If I ever get my hands on that stupid Weasley boy I will strangle him. He'll never be able to speak again! Grrr… Bloody kid. "Yes I did, there is no reason he should have died because Harry wont admit that he did what he had to, to be there in the end with him."

"He's not a good man Alexandria… What are you going to do with him, as he gets better? No one will hire him in the wizarding world. They know he's a bad man too."

"Listen, I don't know what you mean by bad man but the Severus I know is a good man."

Charlie shook his head, "No, he's not! He left you crying for months! You told me so… You want that? You want that to happen again?"

"No, I never said I was going back with him Charlie. I'll always care for him but a relationship is uncertain."

"I don't believe you. I think you care about him a lot more than you are letting people know. Your son isn't too thrilled, I'm sure, at your keeping him here."

Alexandria glared at him; never had she felt such loathing toward Charlie before. "Neville cares about me and therefore cares about what I care about. Plus, he has his own place. He told me a while ago that things were so good with Luna that they move in together, so why would he give a damn about what I do with myself, on my time?"

He sighed and looked at the woman he had come to care for so dearly, "Alexa, please?"

"Please what?" she roared rather irritated with his mere presence.

"Marry me. Marry me and I wont care so much. I don't care if you do care for him and want to take care of him, but be mine while you do it."

"I told you I'd think about it…"

"You actually think about it when you see him?" he burrowed his brow.

No… now I'm just lying to him. "Yes."

"Really? Well then how soon should I expect an answer?"

"I'm not sure, I have a lot to think about before making such a decision. Marriage is not something that I take lightly. I can't think of it right now. It's late and Severus is very ill. Getting him to a stable condition is my main priority right now."

"He's unstable?" Charlie asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, he has a very high fever and a cough that's going to kill him if Tula doesn't make the medicine quick. I want to know how you would feel had you sat in a musty damp dark cell for a year with uneatable food. I'm almost sure Harry did it on purpose too."

"Alexandria, cant you just leave him with Tula and come back home?"

"Thats rubbish. This is my home. I only stay in Romania for fun. You think I need to train dragons?"

Charlie grabbed her arm, "This is what I'm talking about! You would have never said something to me like that. Its something you obviously enjoy doing, so why not make it your home?"

"I don't like living outdoors Charlie! I like…"

"What? You like all your fancy things and your money too much? You think Severus will give you those things?"

"Stop it Charlie! Don't make me kick you out of this house… Just go home. I'll think about your offer and I'll see you in a day or two."

He took her hand and kissed it softly. "I'm sorry. I can't help but be jealous… You're just so beautiful…"

"Bye Charlie."

"Bye."

He walked away and down the stairs. The following morning Tula had finished the potion. Alexandria rushed up the stairs to check on Severus. His cheeks were still red from his fever. Her hand gently lifted his head and poured the potion in his mouth. He choked on the first bit of it and began coughing. After he had finished he moaned in pain. "Severus? Can you hear me?" Another moan came out of him. "I need you to try and drink this potion. It'll do you good."

Again, the potion bottle met his lips but this time he swallowed almost all of it before coughing. Instantly his breathing changed and his fever dropped. It was still there but his body was not nearly as hot. The door creaked open and Neville walked in. "You owled for me… You brought him here?!"

"Shhh… yes, I couldn't burden anyone else. Plus he needed help badly and Tula made him the perfect potion."

Neville walked over to her and helped her set him back down before leaving the room. "What did you need?" he asked closing the door.

"I'm going back to Romania for a little while and I need you to watch over him. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah sure. Have you got an answer for Charlie?"

"He's been so good to me Neville. I fear the only thing I can do is say… yes."

Neville turned to her in shock, "What?"

"I'm going to say yes."

"Why?

"Because he's right. I cannot be with Severus again."