Chapter Five – Jailbreak

Harry had known that this was going to be a tough sell. He couldn't imagine that they were about to just let him walk about with the man that was possibly one of the most dangerous Death Eaters still alive today. But he had imagined, on his walk through the Ministry of Magic, that he would be able to come up with some kind of plausible explanation as to why they should let him. He had spent all night going through case after case and putting together what he saw as an honestly credible argument. True, that had meant sacrificing badly-needed sleep, and so he looked a little ragged around the edges, but it was all a sacrifice in the name of the greater good, right? Or something like that, at least.

No sooner had he opened his mouth, though, and said, "I think that it would be in the best interests of the wizarding world for Severus Snape to be released from Azkaban…" before he was shouted down by all present. The fact that he was not about to suggest that they just let him loose on the streets appeared to be completely beside the point. He waited for everyone to settle down before continuing. "I am proposing that he be released into my custody. I am more than capable of handling him, and I think that in an atmosphere away from Azkaban, I am more likely to be able to get a confession out of him."

Leroy MacDougall, the Minister of Magic, said, "Severus Snape is a highly dangerous criminal. For him to be allowed back into the world could cause all kinds of mayhem! It is something we can ill afford in these times." MacDougall was a young politician who was only a few years older than Harry. Harry had already discovered that he was a thoroughly incompetent man who relied on the advice of his advisors to make any decision and was utterly incapable of making one on his own. If Voldemort was coming back, MacDougall was certainly not the man that they would want at the helm.

"I was the one that defeated Voldemort," said Harry. This wasn't a card that he wanted to play, but it seemed the best one in the situation. "I think that I can handle someone like Snape. I don't think that he's even a danger to anyone any more. I think he's more insane than anything else."

"Just what we need, an insane Death Eater on the loose!" said Florence Honeysuckle. She had a taste for alarmism, and on more than one occasion had tried to raise the entire Ministry into a panic over something that hadn't ever been an issue. Harry hardly valued her opinion and didn't think that she would be the one that would ultimately decide whether or not he would be allowed to bring Snape home with him.

"I am curious, Harry," said Felix, "how you believe that you can hold your present job while maintaining what would have to be a very vigilant watch on Snape." He leaned forward and smiled. "Unless you believe that a leave of absence will be granted to you while you attempt to coerce Snape."

There was something ugly in Felix's voice that Harry was a bit afraid to contemplate. He had always felt that his job as an Auror was fairly secure. Though he did not always agree with Felix, he had always been of the opinion that they were friends. Something in Felix's tone suggested that they were not, and more, that they had never been. It stirred something in Harry's gut and sent a chill down his spine. "I don't think that it will take me very long to do it. A week at most. I have enough holiday time saved up to take three weeks off, and I cannot possibly see it, under any circumstances, taking more than that." He sat back and crossed his arms across his chest. He still had his notes, all of the legal precedents that he had so painstakingly looked up, but it seemed that that would all come to nothing. It was going to be a battle of wills, not a battle of minds. Fortunately, those were the ones that Harry was best at.

"Are you sure you can do it, Harry? I mean, considering your condition…can you really be sure that you can always subdue Snape…if the worst were to happen? I'm only thinking of your safety, as well as the safety of the country in general." Neville Longbottom seemed to try to avoid giving offense while belittling everything Harry had stood for.

Harry didn't blame him. Considering his behavior and actions over the past few years, it was not wrong for Neville to doubt him. "I understand your concerns, Neville. I really do. I know that none of you really should trust me with anything, let alone the safety and continued imprisonment of Severus Snape. However, I believe that he is at least partly insane and remaining in Azkaban is going to make that worse, not better. Wards can be placed around my home to ensure that he cannot leave. Yes, he could break those wards, but it would take time and I would surely notice him doing it."

"Are you suggesting that both of you be placed under, effectively, house arrest?" That was MacDougall.

That actually wasn't what Harry had meant, but he didn't see much point in arguing. "If that is acceptable to everyone here, then yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting. I don't mind being stuck with him for a while, if it means getting the confession out of him."

"And what makes you think you're going to manage it?" asked Florence. "How do we know he won't just overpower you and escape?"

Harry smiled. It was the one that exuded charm, the one that no woman could quite fight. "I'm Harry Potter. Have some faith in me. Let me do what I do best."

"What's that?" MacDougall again.

"Deal with Death Eaters."