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Chapter 18- The Trial

The trial was put together in record time. It took the ministry two days from the time Severus had suggested it to make the necessary preparations.

It was only an hour before it was scheduled to begin and Severus sat on the bed of a nervous Harry. The boy was wired and tense but still a great deal better than he had been the day he'd turned himself in. Severus noted with satisfaction that the heavy bags under his eyes had faded to pale dark lines. The dreamless sleep potions had worked like a charm.

"You're going to be fine Harry, just answer each question as honestly as you can. I will be there the whole time as will a ministry appointed spokesperson trained to help children going through tough trials," Severus reassured Harry yet again. They had already gone over the plan (with their new found telepathy of sorts) multiple times so now it was up to the jury to make the right decision. Or what Severus hoped was the right decision, even now he had doubts that he was the right person to adopt any child, much less one that had as many deep- set problems as Harry.

Harry nodded, numbly staring at his lap as he felt anxiety and dread for the coming ordeal start to overwhelm him. Mr. Snape will be there, he reminded himself. As long as he is there I will be safe.

This sense of safety only lasted for a matter of moments before an agent entered the cell and informed Severus it was time for him to report to the courtroom. Harry felt the repressed panic flare up in him all at once and he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out when Severus stood. His dark eyes met Harry's emerald ones and tried to reassure him to no avail.

Severus had to force himself out of the room as Harry's breathing sped up at the sight of his guardian leaving. His fear was different from the dull, draining fear that had overtaken him a few days before but it was just as powerful. Harry leapt to his feet and started pacing, muttering under his breath in a desperate attempt to calm himself down as memories flashed through his mind. "Mr. Snape will be there. Mr. Snape will keep you safe. You will be fine," he repeated to himself. "Nothing will happen while Mr. Snape is there."

The court room was already full when Severus arrived. Reporters craned their necks at the sound of the doors opening and quickly started flashing pictures of him. Severus ignored the questions that were directed his way, instead letting his eyes scan the crowd. His spirits rose as he saw no wizards with any serious affiliations to the Dark Lord, it seemed that the boy wouldn't be fought over by the darkness as much as he thought. He supposed that meant Voldemort had other plans for taking Harry, but he would worry about that when the time came.

While there were no death eaters sitting in the stands, Severus did see a few people he wasn't expecting to make an attendance. The most prominent example was Jonathan Tucker, who sat stiffly in the front row looking very uncomfortable in his plain black robes that were several inches too long- Severus was guessing he had borrowed them from Albus last minute.

Tucker gave Severus a bright smile when he saw him walking up to the front of room which Severus returned with a glare. Severus focused his attention back onto the jury but he could have sworn he heard Tucker chuckle quietly behind him. Bastard never took his glares seriously.

It was with the jury that Severus found that most problems. Which lay mostly in a short, toad-faced woman in obnoxiously pink robes that humphed expectantly when Severus approached the table. He ignored her, instead addressing the head of the court, a stern looking wizard named William Smith. "My name is Auror Severus Snape; I am here to act as a primary testifier."

The wizard didn't even bother checking his papers. In a dry voice he said, "You may join the other testifiers in the box." His gaze diverted quickly to a small bench in the corner of the room which already held a few aurors and a woman dressed like a muggle who Severus didn't recognize. Severus sat down next to his coworkers, answering all questions directed his way in monosyllables until the other aurors got the point and left him to his own devices. Severus watched the rapidly filling room with a wary eye and growing apprehension.

Five minutes before the hearing was set to begin Severus was jostled out of his thoughts by the sound of commotion at the door. He looked up to see Harry being lead in surrounded by guards who blocked the view of the reporters who snapped as many photos as possible anyway. Severus's jaw tensed in anger when he saw the familiar restraints on Harry; he would have thought that the Ministry wouldn't be so foolish as to use a device considered as torture to most in the trial of the most beloved boy in their world. Then again, most people wouldn't be able to distinguish those handcuffs from any other, but he could tell from the angry whispers around him that his coworkers had noticed it.

Severus could barely see Harry through the flock of swirling black cloaks surrounding him but he didn't need to see his face to know Harry was afraid. His body language was practically emanating nervous energy and his head kept jerking back and forth to take in the sudden noise and energy of the crowd around him. He seemed overwhelmed.

It took the whole five minutes to get Harry settled in front of the jury, the aurors wisely deciding against binding him to the chair which would have surely caused a riot. The crowd quieted instantly when William lifted his hand, his powerful demeanor silencing even reporters like Reeta Skeeter. He started instantly, his baritone voice rumbling over the multitude of wizards who strained to hear every word.

"We are gathered here today to decide the guardianship of Harry James Potter, son of James Potter, deceased and Lily Potter, deceased. At the conclusion of the hearing the jurors will be charged with the duty of making the ultimate decision on the placement of Mr. Potter and have already sworn to make this decision based on the best interest for Mr. Potter and the whole of the wizarding world. The jury first calls up Auror Severus Tobias Snape as an expert witness on what Mr. Potter experienced in his previous home with his Uncle Vernon Dursley, his Aunt Petunia Dursley, and his cousin Dudley Dursley."

Severus walked smoothly up to the stand, slipping the mask into place. He faced the jury with a calm and measured look. "As this is just a hearing and no charges are being placed, I will direct the questions at Auror Snape," William said, coolly meeting Snape's sharp gaze.

"Now Mr. Snape, to the best of your ability can you recount what occurred on March 11th at the Ministry?"

"At approximately 1:00 in the afternoon the wards measuring underage magic, both accidental and purposeful, went off with a reading of strong magic performed at the home of Mr. Potter's current guardians, the Dursleys, on Number 4 Privet Drive. Auror Shacklebolt, Auror Moody, Auror Rodgers, Auror Greenfield, and I responded to the alarm arriving at the Dursley's home at 1:02. There we found the house burning down with the left roof having already caved and the rest of the house being destroyed rapidly by the flames that were magic in origin"

"We found a young boy who we identified as Harry Potter standing in the front yard staring at the house. He was unresponsive to every question asked. We heard the Muggle Authorities approaching so we aparrated Mr. Potter back to the Ministry. Meanwhile Auror Shacklebolt stayed behind under a concealing charm from the muggles and ran a few tests on where the source of the blast came from."

"At 11:13 he apparated back to the ministry and informed us that the magic had been performed by Mr. Potter but due to the rapid degradation of the crime scene it was impossible to tell whether the explosion had been accidental or not."

Severus proceeded to tell the story of what had occurred when he'd attempted to read Harry's mind. His mouth seemed to move on autopilot; Severus wasn't even sure what he was saying as he watched Harry break down out of the corner of his eyes. The witch who had been appointed to him, a young woman who had a kind smile, was desperately trying to calm him down. Most of the crowd was distracted by the display before them as the witch knelt beside Harry and talked softly and slowly to Harry who was close to hyperventilating.

Severus was snapped back to his task at hand when William asked his next question, "When was the next time you saw Mr. Potter?"

"I was called into the Ministry on April 15th at 2:04 pm; approximately an hour after Mr. Potter had turned himself in. I was asked to use my skills in Legilimency to try to determine the cause for the incidents on May 11th. At 2:17 I began my interrogation. While performing Legilimency a memory was disclosed from Mr. Potter's mind illustrating the abuse he had faced at the Dursleys home."

William cut him off there, "This memory has been given to the court as evidence. Please be aware that the memory you are about to view has been edited to remove material deemed inappropriate for the general public, but it still may be disturbing to some viewers. If any member of the jury or audience wishes to not view the video they may leave now." William paused and looked around. When no one moved he cleared his throat. "Very well. If you direct your attention to the wall behind me the memory will be presented shortly."

The lights in the room dimmed and soon the crystal clear video started projecting. Severus felt nostalgia to the days he had spent at the Muggle cinema with his mother- one of the few bright memories from his childhood because his father rarely joined them- but the feeling was quickly erased as the scene unfolded before him.

Severus had thought the images had already been seared permanently into his mind but watching them again knowing with a helpless dread what was going to happen next was infinitely worse. He turned away, feeling his stomach lurch and he caught movement out of his peripheral vision.

Harry, who had before been staring at the screen in frozen terror, had started to struggle against his restraints. "No, please no," he muttered, his glazed eyes far away. "No, no, no," his voice rose into high pitched hysteria.

The crowd broke into murmurs as they watched the Ministry official's attempts at reassurances not make it through to Harry. Severus doubted that Harry even heard them; he was trapped in memories of the past. With a frantic wave from William the projection was cut off but it was already too late.

Severus didn't have time to think as he found himself on his feet and walking, no running, to the boy. Chaos had broken through the room; everyone was standing and craning their necks to get a good look at the boy who lived. As soon as Severus reached Harry a few things happened all at once.

Severus put his hand on Harry's shoulder and the emerald eyes popped open to look up in unguarded fear and pain just as the main doors slammed open and everyone turned to look as a familiar flash of white blonde hair strode confidently into the room with his wife at his side. Cameras flashed furiously and Severus looked up to come face to face with the cold grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy.

Malfoy had his head lifted high as he deliberately paced his way up to the judge's stand, waiting for the room to fall into dead silence before he began. "I am Lucius Orion Malfoy and this is my wife Narcissa Druella Black- Malfoy. We have come on account of these." Lucius placed a small, neat bundle of parchment onto Judge William's stand.

William visibly shook himself, peering over at Harry to make sure everything was under control for the moment, then opened the scroll. Severus watched his face morph into one of surprise as his eyes sped over the lines. He looked up at Lucius and Narcissa in shock and then back at the paper, skimming over the parchment again as if he couldn't believe what he had read.

Severus could feel Harry tense under his hand. He could sense Severus's sudden change in mood and although he did not understand the reason for it he did know that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

The Judge cleared his throat once, then twice, seeming to fail to find words. "It seems that the proper guardians of Mr. Potter have been found." The room fell into silence as everyone stared at William not trusting what they had just heard. "The Great and Noble Line of Malfoys share a blood link with the Potters. Mr. Potter will be placed in the home of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy as his closest blood relatives. This hearing is adjourned."

William banged his mallet twice, officially ending the debate on Harry's placement. The bangs resonated through the room as it erupted into sound. The press frantically pushed their way towards the Malfoys shouting questions at them from across the hall that all jumbled into one as wizards talked loudly over the noise.

Severus found he couldn't move as his hand tightened to an almost painful grip on Harry's shoulder. His ears were filled with a hollow ringing but he could still make out the panicked question from the boy. "What does that mean? Mr. Snape what is going to happen to me?" The tone of voice made it clear Harry knew exactly what was happening but he couldn't bear to believe it. Neither could Severus.

It felt like a dream as Severus watched Lucius walk slowly over to him, giving him a calm nod because he didn't know. He didn't know that Severus's world was slowly falling apart. It didn't feel real, Severus felt like a spectator watching in on an alternate life, an alternate universe in which he could take no part in because he couldn't possibly be expected live through this after all he had gone through just to have his child ripped from his grasp.

Numbness washed over Severus as he stepped away, his hand pulling away from Harry's shoulder and falling limply at his side. Harry's eyes were brimming with tears but he said nothing as an auror unlocked his restraints, letting them fall to the ground.

Harry stood shakily, his magic swirling joyously around him as it was set free but Harry felt none of it as he stared at his guardian, the one who had promised to keep him safe, who was just standing there and doing nothing. A hand fell heavily onto his shoulder, a hand that felt nothing like Severus's and made Harry's stomach twist. He looked up to see the brown haired woman staring back with a smile on her face. But the smile wasn't real; Harry could see right through it and could see the hatred and disgust just behind the barrier. It was the look Aunt Petunia had often given him in public, an eerie smile that promised pain later.

Harry felt every instinct scream inside him for him to run but another hand fell onto his shoulder, holding him tightly and he couldn't escape even if he wanted to. He was frozen, stuck in a horrible nightmare as Lucius and Narcissa forced him forwards and away from the only family he had. Lights flashed in front of him and questions were thrown towards him but Harry took in none of it.

A cold resignation had filled him because he knew, knew by the way Lucius and Narcissa looked at him, that the Malfoys would be no better than the Dursleys. He knew his brief month of safety had been too good to last; freaks like him didn't deserve to be loved or cared for him. Freaks like him needed to be beaten until they were so weak that they posed no harm to the people around them. Harry didn't know how he could have forgotten this. The heavy doors closed behind him and all too soon Harry was being guided into a large fireplace. With a flash of green flames he was gone.

The sight of the doors closing definitively behind Harry woke Severus from his living nightmare. He started to sprint towards the door, pushing people roughly out of the way as his feet skidded across the tiled floor. In the back of his mind he heard someone frantically calling his name but it was drowned out by the pounding in his ears. When he was only a few feet away from the door, a few feet away from saving Harry, he felt arms closing around him and before he could react there was the familiar feeling of being pushed through a straw.

As soon as he felt his feet on solid ground Severus threw his elbow back at his capturer and shook himself free with a roar. A blast of accidental magic was rapidly blocked by his opponent as blinded by rage Severus whipped out his wand and started to rapidly fire dark curses at him.

He heard the alarmed shouts of Albus and Minerva behind him as his blurry mind started to fill in the missing pieces of his surroundings. They were standing in his living room which was being ripped apart by the vicious attacks from Severus. Tucker had every intention of sticking to defensive spells but the thought of Harry being gone for good snapped something inside him and soon he was returning the attacks with an enraged ferocity that caused the room to tremble with every spell he cast.

Minerva and Albus stood back against the wall with their wands in hands as they watched the display with sickening dread filling them. They didn't even bother to pull the two apart because they knew something had gone terribly wrong and they didn't even want to hear what it was.

Severus and Tucker were pretty evenly matched duelers- the only difference was that Severus had completely lost it while Tucker's anger drained quickly and it wasn't long before his brain caught up to what he was doing. He immediately stopped his attack, barely dodging a crucio as he got over his momentary shock at his own actions. This was Severus, his friend and the one who had saved Harry in more ways than one and Tucker would not fight him.

With his mind no longer blinded by raw overpowering emotion Tucker could think much more clearly and it wasn't long before Severus's wand flew out of his wand with a well-placed expelliarmus. Tucker was prepared for anything as the room suddenly went dead still. Severus and Tucker stood staring at each other, both panting heavily. Severus let his arm that was still raised from his last casting fall to his side and his head hung. "They're going to kill him," he whispered, the words knives driven deeply into the hearts of everyone in the room.

"Who?" Albus asked softly as Tucker slowly lowered his wand, slumping in defeat.

"The Malfoys," Severus spat. "Their bloodlines cross with the Potters, just like every other damn pure-blood family in our world. They'll have no problem handing the boy right over to Voldemort. He's as good as dead now." Severus let out a bitter, hollow laugh that was filled with pain. "And I just let him walk right out."

Albus sat heavily on the couch. "There's nothing you could have done in front of the entire ministry," he said gravely. The room fell into shocked silence.

"I could have at least tried," Severus roared suddenly, turning violently and driving his fist into the wall. His hand went right through the plaster. "I promised him- I promised him I'd keep him safe, Albus. What am I going to tell the wizarding world when the next war starts and this time Voldemort succeeds because the only wizard who had a chance of saving us is already dead? What am I going to tell them happened to their bloody chosen one?"

"Oh shut up with your self-pity." Everyone turned in shock to Minerva who hadn't even spoken since she'd heard the news. She stood up, looking pale but determined. "If you weren't so busy hexing Tucker and punching walls then you would have had time to use your Slytherin mind to actually think of a plan to save Harry. Lucky for you I managed to keep from having a temper tantrum and made a plan."

"You are going to go to Malfoy Manor and see if you can get Harry back using your connections and relationship with Lucius. If that doesn't work you are sending out your patronus and we are blasting our way in there and taking Harry back by force." The fierce look in Minerva's eyes cut off any ideas for modifying her plan. Without a word Severus grabbed his wand from Tucker, rushed to his fireplace, and disappeared in a flash of green.

Severus strode confidently into Lucius' office, his face completely composed. The man looked up calmly from his desk, "Greetings Severus." He sneered. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Severus had a fair amount of trouble restraining himself from knocking out the smug bastard and retaking the boy right there. Insctead he forced a gracious smile onto his face. "Hello Lucius."

He sat uninvited in the Severus-suspected-purposefully-uncomfortable wooden chair facing Lucius' desk. "I am here to discuss the Potter boy."

Lucius grinned darkly, "I thought my method was quite ingenious, me finding a blood relation so we could take Potter. Everyone will forget our involvement in the first war if we so selflessly take in the poor, abused orphaned boy. I'm afraid I have no choice but to provide the best for the half-blood if only to keep up appearances." Lucius looked disgusted by the thought.

Severus narrowed his eyes, "Don't play games with me Lucius, I know the Dark Lord is behind this."

With a flick of his wand Lucius slammed the office door shut. He leapt to his feet and swept around the room casting various silencing spells before returning back to his seat, his already light colored skin going even paler. "Don't speak that name in my house," he hissed angrily, his eyes flaring. "That life is behind me now, he is gone."

Severus snorted disbelievingly. "I guess you're more of a delusional fool then I thought." He pulled up his sleeve revealing the pulsating, deep black mark. "Does this look like he's gone to you?"

Malfoy went rigid in his chair, his eyes locking on the double serpents twisted around the grotesquely deformed skull. "How can this be possible?" he whispered. He leapt up again and started pacing the room, running a hand through his shoulder length hair.

"I'm surprised you didn't feel it when he returned. Perhaps it was during one of your parties where the firewhiskey was flowing all night?" Severus bit back dryly as he watched the man walk back and forth like a caged animal.

"You don't understand," Lucius cried suddenly and reached the desk in a giant step. He thrust his arm in front of Severus, violently yanking the perfectly tailored sleeve back to reveal his forearm. Severus blinked, unable to believe what his eyes were taking in. There was the mark twisting down the length of his arm but it was faded and light and more importantly there was no feeling to it. According to Lucius's mark, the Dark Lord was still gone.

Severus took a deep breath, pushing down the shocked panic growing inside of him as he stood up and retrieved a large bottle of expensive looking firewhiskey from a side table. Lucius wordlessly pulled out two large glasses. This was going to be a long night.

Once they had both drained one whole glass of the strong liquid that burned all the way down and had refilled their glasses with a generous second helpings Severus began, "Have you had contact with any of the others?"

Lucius nodded, "Their marks are like mine, there are no other signs that he has returned."

"Even the Lestranges?" Severus would have thought that out of everyone Bellatrix would have regained her mark first as one of the Dark Lord's most faithful companions.

"I have not seen my dear cousin in a while, but her and Narcissa have been corresponding and she mentioned nothing of the sort."

Severus growled- why had him, of all people, been signaled of Voldemort's return? Unless, a chilling thought hit him it was a warning of what was to come, an end to his punishment for being a traitor. I would be long dead by now if he had the ability to get to me Severus told himself but it wasn't very reassuring.

"Why would he choose me?" Severus finally asked, having exhausted all the possibilities in his head.

Lucius smiled grimly, "Guess you just got lucky."

Severus took another giant swig of his whiskey, nearly choking on the overwhelming taste and the burn. He got back to why he was there. "So you're saying you only took the boy to regain political power?"

Lucius seemed very glad for the shift in conversation. "Yes, are you jealous you didn't think of it first?" he asked, back to his usual egotistical self.

Severus pretended to think for a moment. "I can't say I'm jealous of the fact you got another snot-nosed menace to take care of. And considering his father he's sure to be an arrogant fool. Where is he anyway?"

"I slipped him a couple of sleeping potions," Lucius said, sounding very proud of his parenting skills, "He's passed out in the guest bedroom. Annoying twit kept screaming that he wanted to go home. Narcissa couldn't even get him to calm down." Severus couldn't help but noticing that the "annoying twit," was said with a hint of fondness, looked like Harry had managed to wriggle his way into yet another person's heart.

"May I see him? I have been speaking with Dumbledore and he suggested that the scar for Potter might act like the dark mark for Death Eaters."

Lucius snorted derisively, "You still trust the word of that old coot? He lost his touch long ago, now he's just a mad man grasping onto straws."

"A mad man with power," Severus added mildly.

"Not for long if Fudge has anything to say about it. I suggest you find yourself some better allies."

Severus ignored the suggestion, "Well may I see the boy?"

"Knock yourself out," Lucius stood, "The potions should be wearing off soon anyway."

They walked through the large manor until they reached the relatively small but grandly furnished guest room. Lucius pushed the door open carefully. Severus peered in from behind him to see the small form of Harry tossing and turning in the sheets despite the numerous potions.

Lucius turned on the lights with the flick of his wand and a soft white glow was cast over the room. The boy twisted violently away from the light but did not wake. In the illumination Severus could see his face screwed up in pain with sweat collecting on his brow. Whatever dream he was trapped in right now, it was not a pleasant one.

Severus let Lucius quietly pad towards the boy. He pulled out his wand but didn't say anything as Lucius reached for Harry's shoulder to wake him. As soon as his hand made contact with Harry an earsplitting scream of agony filled the room. Severus raced to the scene and it took him a moment to discover that it was not Harry making the tortured noise, but Lucius. He had fallen to his knees and had his left forearm grasped tightly in his right, his face twisted from the intense pain.

Severus didn't have time to attend to Lucius as he suddenly felt the room drop 10 degrees in temperature as the sickening feeling of Harry's magic rushed over him. This was not the nice, calm and controlled magic of Harry's good moods or even the burning, uncontrollable magic of Harry's rage. No this was the cold, controlled, hateful magic that had one purpose- to destroy.

"Harry," Severus shouted, running to Harry's side and throwing up a quick shield before placing a hand on his shoulder. The blast of magic shattered his shield in a matter of seconds and it took a quickly casted spell to destroy the rest of the attack. He didn't remove his hand from Harry's shoulder even as he felt the magic roil malevolently right beneath him. "Harry, wake up."

Harry muttered something under his breath, to Severus it sounded almost like a hiss. "Harry please," Severus begged, feeling the magic in the room build and knowing he did not have time to escape from the attack and did not have enough power to stop it. "I love you."

Time seemed to freeze as the magic in the room remained in a precariously balanced equilibrium. Severus hardly dared to move, hardly dared to breathe in case he broke the dead silence that had fallen over everything. Then with a whoosh the magic flowed rapidly away. In no more than 5 seconds the power had drained back into its slumbering owner and the temperature had returned to normal. Harry's eyes opened bleakly, looking around the room with scared confusion until his eyes focused on Severus and he relaxed back into the bed. "Dad?" he muttered in an exhausted slur.

"Go back to bed, Harry," Severus coaxed. Harry nodded, his head barely rising off the pillow as it seemed he was still half asleep.

"Love you too, Dad," Harry slurred before sleep pulled him back to unconsciousness. Severus squeezed his shoulder lightly then sighing deeply turned back to Lucius who was still kneeling on the ground, staring with a blank face at his arm.

Severus knelt beside him and pulled back the sleeve slowly, only revealing the tip of the ink that was now black as night. He pulled the sleeve back, covering all signs of the mark. "Where's Narcissa?"

Lucius eyes were empty as he continued to stare at the sleeve that was concealing his darkest secret. "Lucius, where are Narcissa and Draco?"

Lucius finally looked up at Severus. "I can't keep him, Severus. I can't keep the boy, he's going to bring us back, he's going to drag us back into that life." Lucius was trembling violently and his voice rose into hysteria. "I can't lose Draco, please Severus help us."

Severus nodded solemnly, "Go find your family Lucius. Tell them that the Death Eaters came, tell them you fought bravely but then the Dark Lord appeared and robbed the child from your hands. Tell them that Voldemort killed him; tell the world that Harry Potter is dead. I will take care of the rest."

"Thank you, Severus, thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?" Lucius cried out in relief. "You've saved all of us."

"Go find your family," Severus answered calmly. "As long as you never tell anyone what happened today then I will consider that as payment enough."

Lucius pushed himself onto his feet. "I will never forget this, I am forever indebted to you," he told him, with a crazed but sincere expression. With that, Lucius left to go reunite with his family who had flooed away as practiced as soon as they'd heard yells.

From that day on Harry Potter was erased from history. As far as the wizarding world was concerned on April 21st at 1:06 am their hero was lost to their greatest enemy who had returned from the dead.

On the same day the greatest failure occurred for the wizarding world the greatest success for Severus Snape occurred. That day, with the help of Dumbledore and a few obliviation charms, Benjamin Severus Snape entered the world.