Chapter Sixteen
The courtroom was crowded. Many members of the Wizarding society wanted to witness the trial of the traitor, of the man who had abused the kind and trusty nature of Britain's greatest wizard of the century. Many were interested in the reasons behind the deed, many more were out for a good show, knowing Snape's ability for dramatic scenes and his sharp and sarcastic tongue. All of them were glad that the man who had eluded capture for over two years would finally be brought to justice. The atmosphere was one of happy expectancy.
In the last row of benches Professor McGonnagal was sitting next to a woman who despite the heat in the room wore a cloak and a hood, which hid her face completely. The woman was sitting very still, rigid even, not talking to anybody, looking neither left nor right.
The babble of voices died down when the members of the wizengamot appeared and took their seats. The head of the Wizengamot, a venerable looking, grey-haired wizard, raised his hand and a door at the side of the room opened. Severus Snape was lead in, his hands still tied before him. He was holding himself very straight when they took him to the chair in the centre of the room. One of his guards pushed him into the chair and removed the handcuffs with a movement of his wand. He placed Snape's arms on the armrests of the chair and immediately the chains began to wrap themselves around his arms from wrists to shoulders. A low murmuring had started with the entrance of the prisoner, people were commenting on the ugly scar on his cheek and on the bandages which covered his eyes. The grey-haired wizard seized the large hand bell sitting on his desk and rang it vigorously. The noise died down.
"Severus Snape, you have been brought before the Wizengamot and charged with being known as a supporter of Voldemort and with the murder of Albus Dumbledore. How do you plead?"
"I can't deny that I killed him."
The voice was cool and detached, the answer caused a babble of comments from the spectators. Once more the bell conquered the noise.
"So that means "guilty", the judge said.
Severus shrugged as far as the chains permitted this movement.
"I call the first witness, Mr Harry Potter!"
The young man entered the witness box and told his version of the events on the Astronomy Tower. When he had finished, the judge thanked him for his precise recollections and dismissed him. Harry hesitated.
"Sir", he said, casting a sidelong glance at the immobilized form of his former teacher, "I also want to say that it was Professor Snape who saved me from being killed by Voldemort. He retrieved my wand after Voldemort's Expelliarmus and he took the full blow of the killing curse that left him scarred and without sight. Without him, I would be dead and Voldemort probably still in power."
It was obvious that speaking in favour of the accused had not been easy for Harry.
The members of the Wizengamot looked uncomfortable, the prisoner's face was unreadable.
"Thank you, Mr Potter, this fact will be taken into consideration."
There were boos and hisses from the crowd.
"He only wanted to protect his hide at the last moment. He's a traitor for both sides," a voice could be heard.
Once again the bell demanded silence.
The next witness was a young man called Draco Malfoy, who at the time of the murder had been an aspiring Death Eater and had enabled other followers of Voldemort to enter Hogwarts. He and his mother had returned to Britain after the war and gave themselves up to the authorities. Now, after a trial of their own, they had renounced their former beliefs and were allowed back into the Wizarding society on probation. Malfoy's story agreed with Harry's, but he added that Snape had always wanted to be the Dark Lord's favourite servant and therefore would have done anything to prevent his student from completing his mission and to fulfil the task himself instead.
"Severus Snape, do you want to add anything to these statements? Can you name any reasons for your deed?"
"I made a mistake," Snape said in his cool and detached voice. "I took an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy to protect her son and to take over his task if he should fail. It was a risk, because at that time I had no idea what the task would be, but the Vow helped to make Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange trust me. When I realized where Draco's work would lead to, I talked to Albus Dumbledore and confessed what I had done. He was very sympathetic and made me promise…" the prisoner's voice broke.
The silence in the room was absolute, everybody held their breath, waiting for Snape to regain control.
"He reminded me of my obligations to himself, of the fact that he had given me a second chance once and that the promises I had made at that time were as binding as an Unbreakable Vow. When I tried to argue he took me into his pensieve and made me relive the whole scene."
Snape paused and cleared his throat.
" I had sworn to help and protect the aims of The Order Of the Phoenix under all circumstances, regardless of personal relationships or family ties. He reminded me that this vow included killing him, if it should become necessary for the survival of the good side. That night on the tower I could only keep my cover as a spy for the Order by casting the killing curse. Dumbledore was weak after the battle at the Ministry and especially so after the destruction of the Horcrux. That night he had already drunk a great amount of poison. He knew he was dying slowly and painfully and said he would be glad about a – shortcut."
"Are you telling us that Dumbledore asked you to kill him?"
"Yes, I am."
The room erupted in a concert of shouts, boos and hisses. The judge rang the bell.
"Do you really want us to believe that story?"
"It's the only one I have to tell," Snape said wearily.
"Is there anyone to confirm it?"
"No, as Dumbledore is dead…"
"But the pensieve – where is it? It should have been found."
Snape sighed. "The situation seemed so obvious at the time. Nobody bothered to ask questions. And then there was a war…" He shrugged.
"So there is only your word against what everybody else saw and heard that night?"
The grey-haired wizard looked at Snape with a doubtful frown, but received only a shrug for an answer.
"Very well, Mr Snape, the Wizengamot will now withdraw to reach a conclusion about the verdict."
They filed out of the room. Snape had to remain in his seat, two Aurors stationed themselves on both sides of the chair, not so much guarding him, but protecting him from any abuse from the spectators.
The woman in the back row fumbled under her cloak and soon soft sucking noises could have been heard, if anyone had bothered to listen. But people were too busy discussing what they had just witnessed to mind her.
It took the Wizengamot less than half an hour to agree. When they had gone back to their seats, the leader rose.
"Severus Snape, you are found guilty of the murder of Albus Dumbledore, for this you would receive a life sentence in Azkaban. But the fact that you helped with the downfall of Voldemort made us reduce the sentence to 20 years."
Amidst the cheers and boos the verdict was greeted with, the chains that bound Snape to the chair fell away. He rose and was handcuffed again. The two Aurors took his arms and led him from the room. Suddenly a cry rose above the noise of the crowd: "Severus!" A woman's voice. The room fell silent, everyone turned to find the origin of the cry. Snape stopped and turned. He was able to lift his hands in a gesture of farewell before the Aurors pushed him through the door.
Minerva McGonnagal and Claire waited for the crowd to leave the courtroom. Then the witch turned to her companion.
"I'd like to make a suggestion," she said softly, "a suggestion concerning your future life. Will you listen?"
Slowly Claire nodded.
Thanks to J.K. Rowling for the inspiring characters.