Disclaimer: I obviously don't own it. It's all for fun.

Mak is of course my beta; who is amazing.

Review please, it helps me get motivated to write…

GryffJr: I realized in your reply that I didn't tell you how I translated the quote. My beta did that for me. She also helped me out in the next couple of chapters about Russia. I hope you like them and it stays true to St. Petersburg. You will have to let me know; I'd really appreciate it. 

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Chapter Nine

The Trial of Severus Snape

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The aftermath of the war led to hectic times in the wizarding world. There were many trials of captured Death Eaters who were not able to escape, like last time. They were sentenced to life in Azkaban or given the Dementor's kiss. Severus Snape was one of the last people to get a trial date, which was slated for June 15.

Spending months in Azkaban had taken its toll on Severus. He was thinner than a man should be, his skin was paler than normal, his hair was greasy and un-kept, and he had a scraggly beard growing. Very few people visited Severus, except for Narcissa, Hermione, and Minerva. Severus didn't want to see anyone and against his will they visited anyways.

Narcissa would tell him everything going on in the wizarding world, especially the trials of their former associates. She was positive he would get out of it and she even promised him she would come to his defence. She had gotten lucky and convinced the Wizenmagot of her innocence. Draco never came under investigation which was a relief. Hermione had stood up for Narcissa as well, which had solidified her innocence.

Narcissa talked about Hermione to Severus and told him all the things Hermione had done for her. He wasn't quite sure why she was telling him all of this, but he was very surprised that she was saying such nice things about Granger. Whenever Hermione had visited him she would tell him about the defence she had come up with for him. She was going to try and convince them the same way she had the Order. There was a long list of people who were willing to stand up for him and he was always so dumbfounded whenever she told him the people who were going to speak up for him.

The biggest surprise was Harry Potter. Severus had no clue why he would do such a thing, but he was thankful, even if he would never speak the words aloud. Hermione would always try to bring him some food from Hogwarts and devour it. It was their custom that she would come in and let him eat before she would begin her long speech to him. Sometimes she would sneak in books for him to read. He would sometimes thank her, but most of the time he sat there in silence and waited for her to leave.

He wasn't sure what to do with her there. It was odd for him really. He would sit there and listen to her go on and on. Severus realized she liked to talk, but it wasn't about inane things; it was important and she had pretty good arguments. Their discussions, well her monologues really, were not always about his impending trial, but of her research. Sometimes she would talk about potions to try and get him to join in on the conversation, but he never joined in. The only time he would say anything would be when she left. He felt like he should thank her every time she visited, just so she wouldn't stop. Being in that cell alone was the worst thing possible for him and if three people were going to visit him he would thank them in hopes they wouldn't stop their visits.

Minerva would also come and visit him frequently. She would tell him about things going on at Hogwarts and anything else of importance. Minerva always talked like he would be getting out of Azkaban and talked about him teaching Defence again. He would never say much except a nod of his head. Most of the time, Minerva sat there with him just so he wouldn't be alone. It was as if she knew he just wanted someone to be there. She also knew he would talk when he was ready.

Severus was never an optimistic man, and in this case he gave himself no hope. He was certain he would end up in Azkaban for the rest of his life. It would just follow his life pattern of misery. The only joy he ever received was in those brief visits with Narcissa, Hermione, and Minerva. He would never acknowledge it of course, but he still enjoyed those rare moments where he felt human again.

The Dementors did drain him, but he didn't have as many good memories as most people. Taking a trick out of his deceased enemy's hat, he would occasionally transfigure into his animagus form. One time, Hermione walked into the cell and almost freaked out when Severus was no where to be seen. She didn't want to alarm the guards so she kept quiet and sat down heavily on his cot. There was a small lump under the blankets and she startled it. A fox ran out from under the covers and across the cell. She looked at the dark fox before it transfigured into Severus Snape. Hermione let out a little squeak and covered her mouth quickly. A light chuckle escaped his lips and shocked himself and Hermione with the sound. She rather enjoyed his laugh and she told him that.

"Yes, well, there are few reasons to chuckle here," he said seriously as he came and sat down beside her.

"I'm sorry, Professor. It's just that I never expected a fox to leap out from under the covers and transfigure into you," she said with a small smile.

Severus noticed her smile and straightened his back. He wasn't quite sure if she was joking on him or not. "Stranger things have happened, I suppose," he replied gruffly.

"Indeed." They sat there for a few moments in silence before Hermione faced Severus and started talking about the book she had lent him. He was content just to hear her talk excitedly about the information she remembered. Occasionally, she would ask him for his opinion and he would reply just long enough to get her started again. It was odd to him that she would come here just to talk to him about History, but, it comforted him as well. At first Severus didn't even want to hear a word from her mouth. She didn't heed his protests and kept talking. Eventually, he got accustomed to her chatter and found that once he listened he found she had some good arguments. It helped that she didn't sound as bossy as she had while studying at Hogwarts. She told him all about her final exams and how she would be returning to Hogwarts the following year to continue her apprenticeship with Professor Flitwick. He was happy, a foreign feeling for him, that she found something to be passionate about and was enjoying studying in detail.

They had been drawn into a pattern that they both grew familiar with. With each passing day, Severus knew his life was coming to an end. As much as he didn't want to think about it, he longed to be free to do as he pleased. He was dreading each and every day. There were conflicting feelings running through his mind all the time. He longed for freedom but always pushed those thoughts out of his mind because he thought it was too farfetched to imagine. Life in Azkaban was an equally dark idea; the thought that he would be there until his death…it was frightening.

It was difficult for him to think of anything other than his fate. Reading was a welcomed distraction, but in Azkaban it was difficult to read without interruption. The book would have to be hidden when guards or Dementors came by, there was insufficient light, and the occasional scream would jar you out of concentration. As much as Severus dreaded the trial date he would also be very thankful when the trial began. One day he sat there thinking of his life and he became determined to do everything possible to be acquitted. There was no way he could survive life in Azkaban.

Albus Dumbledore had faith that Severus would be cleared of his murder. Severus needed to have that same faith, even if it was hard to reason. How he could convince the members of the Wizenmagot of his innocence was a mystery to him, but Hermione seemed to have the faith he needed. It always came back to Hermione in his mind. The moment he realized he had started calling her Hermione, in his mind at least, was a shock. Severus didn't remember when that had started but he knew it was going to be a long time until he started to say her first name aloud. She had always called him professor and he wasn't going to correct her now. It was just another foreign feeling, well action, to him. Needless to say, Severus had a lot to think about while he was alone.

The day finally came when his trial was to begin. He hated feeling nervous and insecure, and that was exactly how he was feeling. Severus had gone up against the Wizenmagot before, but that was when he had the backing of a living Albus Dumbledore. The only people he had behind him now were Order members, and combined, he didn't think they had enough pull as Albus did. Severus was ushered into the court room by two Aurors where he was unceremoniously placed in an uncomfortable wooden chair.

He tried to remain as calm as possible and sat there with an unruffled air about him. He started to carefully and inconspicuously search out familiar faces as if to make a mental count of those who would support him. It didn't take him long to find Minerva and Hermione sitting side by side leaning close to one another, whispering back and forth. Severus was also surprised to see Harry Potter, Remus Lupin, and a host of other Order members he didn't expect to have support him. Whenever Hermione told him who would defend him he never believed her. It was just too farfetched.

The moment the trial began an intense stifling air filled the room. There were heated debates on both side of the argument and no one wanted to give an inch. Every time someone stood up to denounce him he felt like someone was stabbing him in the chest. Yes, he had made mistakes in his life, the biggest one joining the Dark Lord, but he had made up for it by assisting the Order. The people who were against him started sounding like broken records while those who supported him kept coming up with reasons why he was innocent. Things were looking up and once Hermione stood up she literally hit the ball out of the park.

She told them about the replenishing potion that aided in the Dark Lord's weakness, allowing Harry to have the upper hand. At that point, the Boy-Who-Lived stood up and showed his support for Severus by agreeing with Hermione and stating that he couldn't have done it without the help of the Potions Master. Hermione then showed the members of the court the memory in the pensieve. Those that were wavering on supporting Severus were turned when they saw the memory. However, it was still refuted by those who just wanted him in Azkaban.

Eventually, the Wizenmagot came to a vote and decided that Severus Snape was acquitted. There were cheers and boos, but Severus didn't notice any of it. He sat in his chair dumbstruck. His limbs just weren't functioning; he couldn't even blink. He was free. Free. Severus was brought out of his reverie by a light touch on his shoulder. Numbly he looked up into the brown eyes of Hermione Granger; she was standing there smiling with unshed tears in her eyes. "You're free, Professor," she said quietly enough for him to hear it.

Severus looked down at his hands before saying quietly, "Severus."

"Pardon?" she questioned.

"Call me Severus. You above anyone else deserve that." Severus was rather nervous and for a moment it was as if they were the only two people in the room. A flash of light filled his eyes to bring him out of his stupor. They both looked at the camera and Severus quickly stood up. He needed to get out of there and now. Hermione quickly grabbed his arm and led him out of the court room. They were hounded by reporters and photographers and after a few quick turns they were out of harms way. The two practically ran out of the building using a not-too-often used exit.

Hermione stopped running and looked around quickly before she looked up at Severus who was gazing down at her with a perplexed look on his face. "Where to, Severus?"

"Preferable, someplace they won't find us," he said, just as he noticed a reporter turning the corner and seeing them.

Before he could offer a solution she wrapped her arms around him and they Disapparated with a loud crack.