Chapter 12:
Surprising News:
"I am not the one on trial here, Dumbledore. My arm has nothing to do with it!" Dolores said coldly. "His does!" She pointed a short, fat, ringed finger at Severus, who still knelt on the floor holding Harry in his arms, his back to them.
"On the contrary," Tiberius Ogden said loudly, making Dolores turn in surprise. Her eyes widened when she found that the members of the Wizengamot held her at wand-point. "I think it has everything to do with it."
"Tell me, Dolores," Albus spoke from his portrait. "How is it that you managed to retain your position here at the Ministry when you were found guilty in 1997, by your own admission, of sending the Dementors to Little Whinging, the previous fall in order to silence Harry by expulsion; sullying his name using the Decree for Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery?"
Dolores glared at the portrait of Albus. "Show us your arm," Tiberius said icily. Slowly, Dolores pushed the sleeve up on her left arm, revealing the scar of the Mors mordre. "Seize her!" Tiberius cried and Shacklebolt lumbered over, grabbing the woman roughly by the arm while Moody confiscated her wand, not that it was much use to her anyway.
"Well," Dumbledore spoke from his portrait once the woman was taken in to custody and removed from the room. "Although we don't know for certain how she managed to regain her magic as well as keeping her position here at the Ministry, it's possible that she had several people under the Imperius Curse."
"Don't worry, Albus," Tiberius said. "We'll find out. If it weren't for Mister Snape and Mister Potter, we would never have known."
"Yes," Albus said thoughtfully as he returned his attention briefly to the crowd around the wizards in question. "Tiberius, would you mind…"
"Well, there is still his trial, but I suppose not," Tiberius said. "It is obvious that he cares for Mister Potter. He doesn't need to be here… That is, if you are presenting his defence."
"Yes," Albus confirmed. "I am here as witness and he has also submitted his memories in the Pensieve as evidence to his innocence."
"Very well," Tiberius said. "He may escort Mister Potter. I do hope the young man is all right."
"Thank you, Tiberius."
The man nodded before resuming his seat.
"Minerva?" Albus called and the witch came over looking worried. "I realize that Severus is unable to Apparate." Minerva nodded, wringing her hands nervously. "Please have someone escort him and Harry back to Hogwarts. What ever has befallen the boy doesn't need to be made public."
Minerva nodded once more before returning to the crowd and calling for silence. Severus was still on the floor holding the young wizard gently, not paying attention. "Remus," Minerva said. "Please escort Harry and Severus to Hogwarts. Madame Pomfrey is perfectly capable of dealing with this. Albus has agreed that the public shouldn't be told."
"All right," Remus said, pulling Severus to his feet. The man was still in a daze, but allowed the other man to lead him away as he held Harry to his chest, worrying over his urgent cries.
Daily Prophet – Special Edition
Alleged Death Eater Pardoned; Minister of Magic Arrested
The Wizengamot gathered today after hours in a last minute trial, when alleged Death Eater and murderer, Severus Snape was captured. Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry requested the trial after his capture earlier this afternoon.
After appearing late, McGonagall shocked the jury by presenting more than the expected accused at the trial. Explaining that she and her party had been held up by making a citizens' arrest, McGonagall and party brought forth Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, Mister Draco Malfoy, husband to Harry Potter, as well as Auror Dawlish, and five other Ministry Aurors.
Surprisingly, Severus Snape has received a full pardon, found innocent on charges of the murder of Albus Dumbledore, previous Headmaster of Hogwarts, being a known Death Eater, and desertion of his post at the magic school. He has received a full pardon.
Not with standing, Mister Draco Malfoy is in custody, found guilty of bribery and the attempted kidnapping of Harry Potter's daughter.
Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour is also in custody, found guilty of accepting bribes and assisting in the attempted kidnapping, as well as the attempted false arrest of Harry Potter.
Dawlish and his fellow Aurors, after years of faithful service, are in custody as well, found guilty of the attempted false arrest and attempted kidnapping.
In another surprising turn, Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who served under Minister Scrimgeour, as well as former Minister, Cornelius Fudge, and was presiding over the trial, was discovered as a spy and is now a known Death Eater.
Unknowingly, Minister Fudge sent her to Hogwarts in 1996, where she took up the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and eventually gained the position of Headmistress.
Her trial is set for later next month. All accused who were involved in the kidnapping attempt or who are awaiting trial are to be held in Azkaban. Dates on the trials of Mister Malfoy, Minister Scrimgeour, Dawlish, and the other accused Aurors are still unknown.
"Poppy!" Severus yelled when he and Remus rushed into the infirmary a short time later.
"Yes, what is it? Oh, good heavens!" Poppy cried when she saw the pale young man in Severus' arms. "Bring him over here," she said as she headed over to a private room.
Severus laid Harry gently down on the bed in the private room, while Remus hovered behind him. The young wizard was flushed, a light sheen on his face and he continued to cry out in protest, to what, Severus could only guess.
"What happened?" Poppy asked as she ran a series of scans with her wand.
"I don't know," Severus admitted. "Minerva called for a trial; we hadn't even gotten to my defence yet. Umbridge was there and I found out she did this," he said, holding up Harry's right hand for the woman to see, and she gasped. "Minerva was talking to him while the Wizengamot and I were arguing with that wench, and when Minerva turned her attention back to what was going on, he collapsed and started repeating what he's mumbling now."
"So Fudge really had a Death Eater here, teaching at Hogwarts?" Poppy asked, continuing her scans, recognising the use of the Dark Arts at once.
"Yes," Severus answered dangerously. "I saw the scar myself. Now please, can you tell me what is wrong with him?"
Poppy finished running her scans, but could find nothing at all wrong with the young wizard. Shaking her head, she went back to her supply room and returned with a vial of Dreamless Sleep. She administered the potion and the young wizard soon fell quiet, sleeping peacefully.
"What did you find?" Remus asked from the corner.
Madame Pomfrey looked up sadly. "Nothing," she answered quietly. "It's too soon to tell."
Remus sighed and turned on his heel. There was nothing to do now, but wait.
Severus pulled a chair over and sat beside Harry's bed, taking the pale, lax hand in his. Leaning forward, he caressed the young man's face. Kissing his hand softly, he laid it on the bed with great gentleness. "Please be all right, Harry," he whispered, running his finger through the young wizard's soft, dark locks. "Please, wake up soon."
"Mister Snape!" Poppy cried in frustration. "If you don't quit hounding me, I'm going to kick you out of here!"
"Fine!" Severus growled and sat back to let the woman continue running her tests in silence. Three days had passed since Harry fainted on the floor of courtroom ten at the Ministry of Magic. Severus was able to walk around now; he was a free man once again, yet his heart held him prisoner to the infirmary where he waited by his lover's bedside for him to awaken once more.
"Oh, good heavens," Poppy murmured, double-checking her scans.
"What is it?" Severus asked in a worried tone, paling slightly.
Poppy waved at him to be quiet as she continued to check the magical readings. Severus took the young man's hand and kissed it gently. "Severus," Poppy said after a moment, drawing his attention. "May I see you outside, please?"
Severus nodded and took a deep breath before rising and following the mediwitch out into the main part of the infirmary. "Papa!" Abbey cried, entering the room with Remus. She ran over and he scooped her up in his arms, not noticing the dark look the werewolf gave him.
"Hello, precious," Severus greeted the child, kissing her on her temple before turning back to the mediwitch.
"Papa," Abbey asked, drawing his attention once more. "Can I see Daddy now? Is he awake?"
"No, Abbey," Severus said, looking at her sadly. "He hasn't woken up yet, but I'm sure Lupin won't mind taking you to see him." He glanced up and the man nodded curtly. Severus set the girl back on her feet and watched as she toddled off to the private ward, Remus right behind her, before looking back to Poppy.
"Well, Severus," Poppy said after a moment. "I've discovered the reason Harry fainted."
"You have?" Severus asked nervously.
Poppy nodded. "His body shutdown to save the energy that he was exerting through stress."
"What are you talking about?" Severus asked. "This hasn't happened to him before, has it?"
"No, he's never fainted before – well, not because of this, but thishas happened before," Poppy answered. "Mister Potter's pregnant," she clarified when Severus looked at her in confusion.
Severus' jaw dropped in shock, but then his face contorted in rage. "Helied to me!" Severus seethed. "He was with that stupid prat!" He turned on his heel and headed toward the infirmary doors, leading out into the main castle.
"SeverusSnape!" Poppy yelled after him. "You stop right there!" Severus stopped, turning sharply, robes billowing, to glare at the woman, who was glaring right back. "Harry has done nothing of the sort, not unless the 'stupid prat' to whom you're referring is yourself."
Severus was stunned to silence. He opened his mouth to say something, only to close it again. "That – that's impossible," he murmured. "I – I'm a Squib. There's no way he could be pregnant again; not by me."
"It's true," Poppy confirmed quietly. "I ran the scans twice. You are the father of Harry's child. With all the shock he received, added to the stress of the trial and his fear of losing you again, his body just shut down. He was expending too much energy, energy he needed to prepare his body to carry the baby."
"But," Severus said, still trying to wrap his mind around the news. "But how is this even possible?"
Poppy shook her head. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that the desire from both of you was great enough that Harry's magic took over, boosting your own signature, even though your magic has been nearly depleted. He is quite a powerful wizard, after all."
Severus swallowed hard, his throat going dry at her reminder of where he was now lacking, while Harry's powers had grown. "Yes," he said quietly after a few moments. "He is." Poppy looked on sadly as he headed back to Harry's room.