Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter.
Note: We made it to 200 reviews. Yah, I am so happy. Thanks to everybody who reviewed. Now, the long awaited chapter of the trial. There might be some mistakes because I have never been to a court so I am just going to try to keep everybody in character and to try to model it to the fifth year trial we saw. Let's begin. I am not going to pass over everything in the trial because the memories will come directly from the books and some of the testimonies won't need to be said because I already feel I covered them.
Harry woke abruptly at seven that morning. He sat up, wincing at the ache in his neck and he rubbed at it. The blanket slipped away from him and Harry wrinkled his nose at the stench from his clothing. He had slept in the same clothes he had worn yesterday.
He glanced around the room. The sun was already up and the air in the small living room smelled clean, not dusty like it normally did. He hurried up to the bedroom but the bed looked like nobody had slept in it and Harry frowned. He quickly dressed himself in clean clothes, taking care with his appearance and he washed himself carefully.
He even combed his hair, pressing it flat against his head with a wet comb even as he tried not to shiver at the rivers of cold water that ran down his neck and the side of his face. He pocketed his wand, it was strange that he was used so quickly to not using any magic.
He tried to smile confidently at his reflection but all that stared back at him was a young man with anxious green eyes too wide behind his glasses and pale cheeks. He did look rested through, which was a huge relief.
Satisfied with himself, his hair wouldn't stay any flatter anyway, he walked back downstairs. The sitting room was still empty so Harry walked into the kitchen, the only place left really but there was nobody there.
He frowned and he noticed the door to the small enclosed garden was open and sunlight poured in. Harry took a deep breath as he walked to the door to see the silent shadow, eyes closed in a rare enjoyment of the sun's rays on his eyes.
Harry couldn't help but smile at the strange picture of Snape who was enjoying the sun. It looked to him like a man who was enjoying the last sun he would ever see. Harry swallowed thickly; it might actually be the case today.
He proceeded outside as he asked, "Why didn't you consummate the bond?"
The older wizard startled as his eyes flew open before Snape noticed it was Harry and he relaxed as Harry joined him in his silent vigil of watching the sun climb steadily in the sky in the small enclosed garden.
"You deserve more," the wounded wizard only said, fingers curling around his wand.
"You mean that you didn't want to take me when I was drugged?" Harry was a bit confused. Did Snape mean to give him the sleeping potion yesterday or had it simply been a mistake? But what he had known of Snape, well the older wizard never made any mistakes or hardly any for that matter.
Snape barked a humourous laugh as he said, "No, boy, I meant that you deserve more than a quick shag to save my soul."
"But we still have time. I promise I won't mind…"
"Oh, you will. You might not mind now but in the long run you will grow to resent it. You will feel that it could have been more and that it should have been more…"
"But it won't matter to me and there is always a next time…"
Snape spun around, eyes narrowed as he hissed, "You don't understand a thing, do you, Potter? Stop harassing me with your obvious innocence. For your information, boy, there are no second first times. There is only one first time and it matters to me, because in the long run, I will be the one who has to pick up the pieces and who has to live with your resentment. I will be the one who has to suffer (deleted word) your hatred at me for taking your innocence in a flash. If that can be avoided by taking the time now, then so be it."
"But surely that would be better than Azkaban? Even without the Dementors I have heard that it is still a horrible place." Harry was warmed that Snape was thinking of him in the long run. He couldn't even think past today. But perhaps the older wizard was merely trying to make a comfortable life for himself or was he trying to tell Harry that he didn't want to touch him.
Snape had turned back to watch the sun and the older wizard blinked in the strong light. For a moment the mask slipped and Harry was sure that he saw fear but he wasn't completely sure and even before he could say something the mask slipped back into place and the thin lips twisted in a mocking smile as Snape said.
"If Minerva does a decent job I won't have to go to Azkaban. Of course we have to rely on the less foolish of wizards who are in the Wizengamot to be blinded by your fame and weakness…" The lips snarled out the last word and then Snape turned back at the sun as he said the last words almost in a whisper. "Poppy has also ensured me that due to the nature of my wounds it would be extremely dangerous to send me to Azkaban. I hope to play on the Wizengamot's heart not to send me to Azkaban out of fear of death for not taking my potions."
Harry barely covered a snort and Snape glared at him. "Oh come on, you don't really expect that, do you?"
"Potter!" Snape growled.
"No, I mean, remember the summer before my fifth year when I had to appear for a hearing in front of the full Wizengamot for performing underage magic in front of a Muggle. They didn't want to believe me either then and it was only because of Dumbledore that I was released and the fact that they had no proof."
"They were led by Fudge, he was an idiot though I wonder if Kingsley is any better, though I will get a fair trial."
"Kingsley is on our side,"
"I was never one to place my bets on one side. I had assumed by now that you knew that."
Harry sighed and then said, "But still it is a huge gamble to take to think that the Wizengamot isn't going to send you to Azkaban simply because you are wounded." He was careful to keep his voice light.
"I have been beating the odds all my life, Potter. Besides we are counting upon our marriage to do that." Snape glanced at him and Harry snorted again.
"Yeah, a valid marriage. I have looked it up; our marriage isn't valid until consummated."
"You mean that Granger looked it up." Snape snarled before his hand suddenly descended upon Harry's shoulder and the older man bent over, hissing at him. "And we will have to rely on the fact that everybody will think that the marriage is valid. A little bit of research will immediately blow that claim to pieces but since it matters to Minerva, we will have to play along."
"Yet you don't believe in it…"
"I haven't believed in things for a long time now, Potter." Snape turned from him, holding his wand. "But it doesn't matter if I believe or not. What matters is that we can convince the Wizengamot that I am innocent. Not to mention the public."
Harry glanced up at him. Snape was stroking his wand and for a moment Harry wondered how it felt to be stroked by the older wizard. He irritably shook his head; this certainly wasn't the time to think these things. "I wanted to thank you for last night."
Snape turned back to look at him, dark eyes narrowed, daring him to mock him. "I didn't do anything last night." Snape hissed through clenched teeth, eyes blazing.
"No need to state the obvious, I know. I was referring to the sleeping draught. I slept very soundly." Harry kept his eyes upon his bond mate's face and he watched as Snape struggled with the words.
A silence fell between them and Harry turned to go back inside to get something to eat, though he wasn't sure if he could swallow anything. He needed something to keep his mind busy and his hands and at least it would keep Madam Pomfrey off his case about him not keeping his strength up.
He was almost inside when Snape called out. "Oh, Potter, another thing."
Harry turned back to look at the other wizard who turned back to look at him. Snape's eyes were kind and his expression soft though still as closed as ever before.
"Don't be alarmed when I am bound and my wand taken, they will use something to suppress my magic. They think I am at full power…You should feel those affects as well but I will try to block it as much as I can from passing to you…but there will be no promises. I can give you a potion so that the pain or the strain won't show in your face for it will grow worse as the day progresses. It could be our downfall if you showed too much in your usual fashion."
"Why don't you give me the potion and I will keep it on me? I believe that it is common knowledge that I suffer from magical shock and depletion, they hardly need to know that by the time I have recovered a little, one of us decides to blow something up so we are depleted again." Harry shifted from one foot to the other.
There was so much that he needed to think about doing and remembering. He couldn't speak without permission; he had to keep his face blank when his bond mate was on trial. It was going to be a hard day, Harry knew that and everybody around him, except for him and Snape, was optimistic that Snape was going to stay out of Azkaban at least for the duration of the trial but that was perhaps because they didn't know that the wedding hadn't been consummated.
He splashed some water on his face. He made himself some toast, wondering if Snape had eaten yet. Just to be sure, he wasn't in the mood to set the table, he prepared some coffee with the coffee beans the Headmistress had given him some days ago when she had come to visit.
She had remarked to him how much Snape enjoyed coffee in the morning and while Harry had saved them, he decided that perhaps for now it was a threat. The dark colour of the liquid as he poured the hot water into it reminded him of Snape's eyes. He enjoyed the smell of it and wondered how it tasted on Snape's lips after he had drunk it.
With a blush he forced himself back to the present. He had only tasted the man's lips once and that had been in a forced kiss, he had been too preoccupied to truly focus upon it.
He took the coffee mug, enjoying the warmth against his hand, not quite unlike Snape's warmth. He walked outside and around Snape, enjoying the widening of the dark eyes as Snape said. "I have no taste for tea this morning."
"This isn't tea." Harry watched as Snape perked up when his nose caught the scent of coffee.
"Oh, is there any left?" The older wizard had wanted to say something else but he stopped and turned back to the kitchen, an almost eager expression on his face.
"No, there isn't." Harry could see the broad shoulders of his bond mate tense and then Snape turned, seeming almost disappointed as he bit back anger and spit out, the black eyes narrowing.
"It would be too much to ask, right Potter, to save some coffee for me?" Snape hissed at him.
"Why would I save some coffee for you when this very cup is for you?" Harry asked. He found that he enjoyed the look of surprise on Snape's face before the Potions Master schooled his features back into the blank mask.
"There was coffee?" Snape asked, carefully, extending his hand for the mug. Harry carefully placed the hot mug with the steaming liquid in the bandaged palm.
"Yeah, Professor McGonagall gave it to me. She said that you enjoyed coffee but I had forgotten we had it and since there isn't so much. I just wanted to save it. I don't know when we get to go to a store again and I am sure that everybody is far too busy to worry about bringing us such a trifling thing as coffee." Harry watched with an almost eager expression on his face how Snape sipped the coffee.
The thin lips parted in a soundless sigh of pleasure and Snape closed his eyes in enjoyment. Harry found his heart beating a little bit faster suddenly. If only Snape would look at him that way.
He shook his head, earning himself an amusing glance from his bond mate. Snape held out the mug for Harry as he purred. "Do you have a taste for coffee, Harry?"
The dark eyes were wide and something indefinable was playing in the dark orbs, something Harry couldn't identify. He extended his hand for the steaming mug and took it, just as…
Pop
Pop
Pop
The mug fell to the ground as two crimson robed aurors seized Snape's arms. Harry was pushed back by the other auror, Dawlish, he recognized the man from his time up in Dumbledore's office when he had tried to take Dumbledore in.
Pop
A slightly out of breath Professor McGonagall apparated into the garden, fuming she drew her robes around her, pushing her hair away from her face. "Release him this instant," she snapped.
Dawlish turned to her with a grin, shuddering as he gestured to the other aurors to bind Snape, Harry wordlessly watching. "He is being brought in for trial. You of all people should know what will happen when somebody tries to escape the law, Headmistress McGonagall. Just because the current Minister seems to favour fair trials doesn't mean that any and let me repeat that, any of the accused will get some leeway, no matter under whose protection they are under…."
The auror's snarl was directed at Harry and he gestured for the aurors to step back. Snape's hands were tied behind his back and Harry could feel the strain on his magic immediately. He schooled his face quickly, seeing the stern lines around the harsh face tighten in pain.
"Wait, he has to take his potions before you take him away." The Headmistress was bristling but she approached Snape. The older wizard's eyes were trained on Harry's face but Harry couldn't move.
He couldn't move if his life had depended on it. He wanted to rush forward to demand that they released Snape but it was hard enough that he struggled with trying to keep his face from showing how weak it made him or how much it was affecting him that they were taking Snape in this fashion.
It didn't take long until Dawlish mentioned for them to move Snape away. One last glance and then they apparated away, leaving Harry, Professor McGonagall and Dawlish alone. The auror extended his hand, his face once more twisted into a sneer but without the confidence he had shown in Dumbledore's office all those years ago.
"His wand." He extended his hand.
"I don't have it. He had it on him." Harry was glad that his voice sounded confident.
"Then I am sure it has already been sent to Minister Shacklebolt. We will see you in the courtroom." With a mocking bow he apparated away.
Harry approached the broken coffee mug to give himself some time. He was trembling with the shock he had just experienced in seeing his bond mate being dragged off. He brushed his sleeve across his head to wipe the sweat away.
He knew that if Snape hadn't told him what would happen, he would have freaked out even more.
"Harry, are you alright?" His former head of house's voice was soft and Harry turned, holding the broken pieces of the mug in his hand. He took care not to cut his hand.
"I have to be, right. When will the trial take place?" He preceded her inside, dumping the useless mug in the bin. He could repair it but he feared it would be too much now with his magic already weak and suppressed.
"Within the hour. We should proceed to the ministry if you are done here."
Harry could only give a nod as he glanced around the house. He wondered when he would return tonight and in what kind of a state but especially if he was going to bring back Snape with him, he certainly hoped so because Spinner's End would be a lonely place without Snape, that was for sure.
Hp
Courtroom 10 hadn't changed much since the last time Harry had been in there. It was a large circular room with many seating areas, dimly lit and one chair sitting in the middle, facing the largest of the benches where the fifty members of the Wizengamot would be seated.
Harry sat down on a bench, feeling the charm on his ring as he slid his finger over it. The charm had been applied by Professor McGonagall and it would soon be broken the moment their marriage was spoken about. He briefly wondered if Snape's ring had been charmed as well.
He felt Ron's fingers in the small of his back as his best friend sat on the row behind him. Professor McGonagall, Arthur Weasley and Bill Weasley were sitting next to him on the front row, having gathered most of the evidence.
Ron, Hermione, Mrs Weasley were seated the row behind him. Opposite him Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing, his purpled robes falling gracefully about his body, making him appear even larger than normal.
The other members of the Wizengamot were all speaking to themselves, murmuring softly as some of them glanced at Harry and back at the empty chair. "We are gathered here today for the trial of the accused Severus Snape. Bring him in, please."
The red robed aurors that stood at the doors, moved, they opened the doors and Snape walked in, or limped in, bound by magic as Harry could tell by the simmering of the air and accompanied by no less than 6 aurors. Harry snorted, what did they expect? That he would hex them and then run away.
Snape sat down heavily, his head bowed as if it took the greatest strength to keep it up. The dark eyes were slightly narrowed but otherwise nothing could penetrate Snape's mask.
"Severus Snape, you appear before this council to give testimony to the claim of murdering Albus Dumbledore. What do you plead?"
There was a rustling of fabric as Professor McGonagall got to her feet and said, "We plead not guilty. We have evidence that Albus Dumbledore's death was arranged between them."
"The evidence will be shown in due time. The nature of this trial is delicate. Late Headmaster Dumbledore was a beloved figure and to put it simply and bluntly, there are many people who wish to see Severus Snape's head on a silver platter." Kingsley paused and Harry felt his insides turn to ice.
The minister took a deep breath and then continued, "The punishment if you are found guilty will be serving a life imprisonment in Azkaban and your wand will be snapped in half…."
"You will allow the traitor to walk freely? He is a Death Eater; he should be kissed for what he has done!" The girlish voice made Harry freeze and he glanced up to where Dolores Umbridge, a squat little witch with the face of a toad sat; she still had the same silly pink bow in her hair.
"The punishment for murder is a life sentence in Azkaban, Dolores. There are many trials that need to take place and there you will find your thirst for revenge more than suitably satisfied. Now do I need to remind you of your place? You are here as a note taker and you will not voice your opinion. Do so again and I will be forced to remove you from this courtroom."
Harry bit back a grin. It might not be much but it was enough.
"The defence would like to make a request. Due to the nature of Professor Snape's wounds we would like to ask for him to remain out of Azkaban as long as the trial is in session. We would consider house arrest at his home in Spinner's End to be a suitable place in the time when the trial is not taking place…"
Shacklebolt frowned and then answered, "It is normally not the procedure to do such a thing, Professor McGonagall. Only in the direst of circumstances would we allow such liberties such as house arrest. You do understand, because of the nature of your evidence it will take time to form a judgement and due to lack of time the trial will take place one day a week, like the Malfoy trial."
Professor McGonagall shuffled her papers and then said her voice hesitant as she glanced at Harry. "There is another reason why Professor Snape cannot be send to Azkaban while he is awaiting trial."
"Which would be? There will be no such liberties allowed unless it is a manner of life or death and truthfully, Professor Snape does not look on the verge of dead. We have heard of his amazing recovery after the snake attack." The minister's dark narrowed eyes glanced from the Headmistress to Madam Pomfrey who was sitting in the back row; Harry hadn't noticed her until now.
She gave him the tiniest of winks and Harry steeled himself, this was going to be it. Professor McGonagall huffed, reminding Harry when she was angry with him and her lips had already thinned even more. "The miracle recovery of Professor Snape and his survival was due to the fact that Harry Potter linked his magic to Severus Snape when he tried to save Professor Snape from the snake bite."
Loud murmurs had suddenly broken out and Harry glanced around as Shacklebolt struggled for words and silence as he finally boomed. "Silence!"
The court fell silent and Harry was aware that many people were looking at him in disgust. He kept his head high and met their gaze without flinching.
"You know the Ministry's laws on linking magic. Why hasn't this been brought to my attention?"
"Because Harry Potter loves being an exception and loves breaking the rules," Dolores Umbridge hissed.
"Dolores that is enough, silence!" Shacklebolt turned his temper on her and Harry noticed how stressed the former auror was as he snapped out. Normally Kingsley was nice and hadn't had much of a temper. Whatever had caused him to snap now meant he was under stress and no doubt surprised.
"We have filed in the correct applications and the marriage has already been consummated between them. But due to the nature of Professor Snape's wounds and their shared magic, it might not only be dangerous to him but also to Harry Potter. Because of their shared magic they are weak and unable to perform magic though Madam Pomfrey has ensured me that soon they will recover and their magic will be back to normal."
"Will Madam Pomfrey be willing to state that on the witness stand?"
"Yes, I will, sir." Madam Pomfrey rose and Kingsley nodded, his eyes passing over Snape who shifted in his seat, rattling the chains a little.
Shacklebolt turned to the person sitting next to him and said. "Go to the archives. There should be a record kept of all the linked people in Britain. I want you to find out if this marriage is valid."
He straightened and then said to the rest of the room. "If this marriage is valid then Professor Snape will be confined to house arrest during the breaks in the trial. Otherwise he will be send to Azkaban."
Harry's eyes met Snape's eyes across the room and very subtly the older wizard shook his head, Harry nodded as Madam Pomfrey took the witness stand for the first testimony.
Hp
"We have examined the testimonies of Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey. The next witness we call is Harry Potter. Mr Potter, if you would be so kind?"
Harry rose and he felt Ron's hand on his shoulder for a moment, strengthening him. Snape's head was turned to him, the black eyes focussed upon him alone and he sat down on the hard wooden chair a little bit hesitantly and nervous.
This was it. He needed to keep his wits about him right now and then Shacklebolt said, "Mr Potter, the night Professor Dumbledore died were you there?"
"Yes, I was."
Harry could hear the murmurs loud and clear though they didn't speak to overly loud. Shacklebolt ignored them and then said. "Could you tell us about that night, Mr Potter?"
"Yeah. I was with Professor Dumbledore, we had gone away from school for an evening. Professor Dumbledore was wounded, he had drunk a potion that turned out to be a poison and it had weakened him. We apparated back into Hogsmeade and then we saw the Dark Mark over the school. We flew to the school on brooms and Professor Dumbledore changed the wards so we could fly in. We landed on the Astronomy Tower."
Harry was amazed at how easy it was to talk about it. He spoke about it without feeling, those he kept bottled up inside and he didn't care of the murmurs.
"We heard footsteps and then Draco Malfoy barged in. He disarmed Professor Dumbledore. Instead of deflecting the spell, Professor Dumbledore immobilized me. I was under the Invisibility Cloak. More death eaters came in; Malfoy had let them into the school. They spoke but I can't remember the words. Then Professor Snape came in and Professor Dumbledore he, he begged Snape. He said Severus, he was pleading and then Snape stepped forward and pushed Malfoy aside and he drew his wand and performed the Killing Curse."
His last words were met with total silence and Harry wasn't sure what else to say until Shacklebolt asked. "What happened after that, Harry?"
"Professor Dumbledore was blasted from the tower and he fell." Harry was sure that he could never forget that sight ever again and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he continued. "…the spell on me was broken and I could move again. Professor Snape shouted at the Death Eaters to go, that it was over and then they fled. I rushed after them, trying to stop Snape from leaving. I did eventually gain on him but he deflected my spells easily. He forced me to the ground and then uhm, one of Hagrid's hippogriffs flew at him and Snape was forced back. I am sure he apparated away a moment later."
"Alright, thank you for this testimony, Harry…" Harry got up to slip back to his seat when Shacklebolt said, "But I have some more questions, Harry." Harry sat back down.
"You were there when Professor Snape was attacked by the Dark Lord's snake, correct?"
Harry nodded.
"And Professor Snape gave you his memories, correct and you viewed them as well?"
Harry nodded again.
"I understand that we have a copy of the actual memories here and they will be viewed in due time. What did you discover from the memories, Harry?"
Harry cleared his throat; this was going to be quite hard. "That Professor Dumbledore had been cursed about a year previous to his death and that nothing could be done about it. Professor Snape had captured the curse into his right hand, that was why it looked dead, but Dumbledore would have died. Dumbledore knew of Voldemort's plan to use Draco to murder him so instead he asked Professor Snape to do it. I also learned that Professor Dumbledore knew that I had to die in order to defeat Voldemort. Unintentionally Voldemort had planted a part of himself in my scar when the curse went wrong when he tried to kill me as a child and that had to be destroyed first."
Outrageous cries broke out and Harry startled badly, Snape too by the looks of it. Sweat was soaking the dark hair and Harry could feel the strain on his magic too.
"You died, Harry? Dumbledore wanted to sacrifice you in order to defeat Voldemort?" Shacklebolt appeared shaken but he managed to collect himself, his voice shaking a bit.
"Yeah, he had to. I had to walk in freely and without defending myself to break the connection that was between us. It worked in the end because Voldemort couldn't harm anybody anymore. If I hadn't linked my magic to Professor Snape's I would not have been able to survive."
"Poppy has said that you are suffering from magic shock and depletion is this true?"
"Yes, it is because of the bond. Because of the magic needed to sustain Severus because of his wounds and while I am recovering, well it is just a bit slowly." Harry hoped he was lying convincingly.
Dolores Umbridge's hand shot in the air and Harry got a strange feeling in his stomach. This wouldn't be good at all. "Minister, can I ask Mr Potter a question?"
Shacklebolt nodded, a weary expression on his face. She rose to her feet, smiling viciously and Harry felt hatred bubble up within him.
"Could you perform a spell now for us, Harry, to show us just how well your magic has recovered?"
She didn't believe him, Harry could tell. His eyes flew down to meet those of his bond mate but Snape didn't give him any indication of how to do this. Harry's mind was working quickly and he finally said.
"I am afraid I can't. The magic used to suppress Professor Snape's magic is affecting me as well. I don't know yet how to separate my magic from Severus'."
"Ah, I see. I have no further questions." Her smile was sweet and completely false. Harry could feel sweat erupting all over his body. It was going all wrong.
He didn't dare to glance towards Ron or Hermione, afraid he would give himself away. So instead he just sat there, hoping for the best.
Hp
Harry rubbed at his old scar to try and elevate the headache pounding behind his eyes. Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared tired and faintly ill as he submerged from the pensive. He took the pensive in his large hands and charmed it, making it glow for a moment.
"The memories will be taken away and examined at length by Ministry's Unspeakables. We will know if they have been tampered with. The memories will be copied and taken apart, examined by various independent parties and members of the Wizengamot. I believe that much of this case will weight on these memories. Memories speak truth unless tampered with. Please take them away, Mr Gildprune."
One of the many wizards rose and took the pensive almost reverently. Harry wondered how long it would take. It had seemed like hours that the Wizengamot took the time to view the memories of not only Snape but Dumbledore as well and they had been forced to wait.
They had called a quick recess and Harry had drunk something. Snape had been given his potions and Madam Pomfrey had insisted that Harry ate something but he couldn't get anything down his throat. He was tired and achy of sitting in the same place for so long and he longed for a long nap.
His body wasn't responding well at all to the suppressed magic. But Snape looked even worse than Harry felt. The older wizard's face was twisted in a painful grimace and his voice had been reduced to a small croak. The dark eyes had glazed over with exhaustion and the pale skin was greyish with sweat, dirt and exhaustion.
"What is taking that bloke so long to find out if the marriage is valid? I mean it is supposed to be right there on the papers." Hermione was moaning behind him and Harry bit the inside of his cheek hard, if only they knew.
"The Ministry is a right mess, dear. I am sure it has taken him some time to locate the document." Mrs Weasley leaned over to Hermione as she smiled tensely at Harry. She petted him upon the shoulder. "It will be fine, Harry, you will see. Everything will turn out for the best."
Harry didn't have the heart to look her in the eye. He was going to lose it then. He would say things that needed to remain hidden so he focussed his eyes upon the chair with his bond mate bound into it.
He grinned when he heard Hermione say behind him, "When I am going to be employed at the Ministry, that will just be another thing to improve."
He held his breath when Shacklebolt glanced at his watch and called for attention. "I would like to make time for the final testimony of today. That testimony will be given to us by Draco Malfoy."
Harry felt his heart slow to a near stop and even Snape's eyes lifted when the doors open and a pale, young man with messy blond hair and cool although exhausted grey eyes was escorted in. He was bound too but they were removed when Draco sat down in the witness chair.
The young Malfoy brushed his hair away from his face and rubbed at his red wrists, eyes darting over to Professor's Snape's hunched form and then up to Harry. The grey eyes of his former school rival narrowed but Harry could see how Draco struggled with trying to gather his mask.
He looked calm but not collected. He looked exhausted and while Harry knew he looked nothing better, he flinched when he noticed that Draco rubbed at his left forearm. He wondered what had happened to the younger male but he hadn't heard any word or even whispers about the Malfoys.
It might have been in the Daily Prophet but he hadn't read it since he had begun to live at Spinner's End. He suspected that Snape knew but hadn't been very inclined to share and truly Harry hadn't been very interested.
"Draco Malfoy, please tell us about the duty you received at the hands of He Who Must Not Be Named to murder Albus Dumbledore." Shacklebolt's voice was steady again and it held no warmth and Harry flinched.
Draco cleared his throat, his eyes swivelling to Harry and Snape again before he said, "In the summer before my sixth year I was summoned to the Dark Lord's side. My father was in Azkaban and the Dark Lord had a duty for me, a very special duty. I was to be given the Dark Mark if I succeeded and if I failed, well I would have died or been arrested. I couldn't refuse out of fear for my mother. The Dark Lord said it would show good will to his cause for me to simply accept the duty without questioning anything. I knew it was a job that I couldn't succeed in because Professor Dumbledore was a powerful wizard and well protected."
"Do you have any idea why the Dark Lord chose you for this task when there had been more qualified wizards who could deal with this job?" Harry could hear the contempt in Shacklebolt's voice and it seemed Draco did as well because he seemed a bit smaller as he stared at the floor and said.
"It was a punishment to my father because he failed at getting the prophecy for the Dark Lord. It would mean torture for my parents to watch their only child fail. Only a select few of the Dark Lord's Inner Circle knew about the task and Professor Snape was one of them. He was one of the most trusted spies of the Dark Lord and my mother approached him one day out of fear of losing me."
"Do you know what your mother demanded of Professor Snape, Draco?"
"Yes, she was accompanied by my aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange and she asked that he took an Unbreakable Vow to aid me in completing my task and if I didn't succeed then he would be the one to do it…"
The whole room fell silent before breaking out in loud chatter. Many members of the Wizengamot looked at Snape but the older wizard didn't raise his head. Harry was baffled; Snape hadn't shared this with him. He couldn't believe it. If Snape had failed in his task he would have died.
Snape didn't have a choice. He was caught between two sides. His promise to Dumbledore and his vow to Narcissa Malfoy. If he had failed in his attempt to kill Dumbledore he would have died because of the vow but if Draco had succeeded then the vow would have been broken and the end would have been unforeseen.
Harry focussed his attention back to Draco as Shacklebolt asked. "You did succeed in disarming Professor Dumbledore, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did. He was speaking to me and I knew I couldn't do it. I wanted to release him but then the other Death Eaters came in and I knew I had lost my chance to do it. I would have to kill him but then Professor Snape arrived at the scene and he did it."
The members of the Wizengamot were still speaking loudly and Shacklebolt asked. "During the year you made several attempts on Professor Dumbledore's life, using unreliable methods to try and reach the Headmaster. Professor Snape did attempt several times to aid you or to contact you and even to help you but why didn't you allow him to help you?"
A cold smile flashed over Draco's face, full of his former arrogance before once more assuming the blank mask and he said, "It was my task. No matter how strange it may sound, I was proud that the task was given to me. I believed that the Dark Lord had given it to me because he believed I could do it. Of course I knew that it was as a punishment for the failure of my father, and that I was bound to fail but I didn't want anybody else to flaunt the honour. I was foolish that time, I didn't know better. I didn't know what I know now. I didn't know how powerful it feels and how terrifying to know that you have the power to kill somebody."
"That doesn't answer the question, Draco. I will ask you one last time, why didn't you accept Professor Snape's aid when he offered it to you?"
"Because I didn't trust him. Father had always spoken very highly of him and had always said that I could trust him. But when father was sent to Azkaban, I didn't know anymore. Professor Snape was very close to Dumbledore and I knew he was a very good Occlumens so I didn't know on whose side he really was on. I was right though…"
Shacklebolt frowned and asked. "Right about what, Draco?"
"Not to trust him. He was a spy for the Light Side. Potter said that at the Final Battle."
"Alright. Now what happened when you left the scene after Professor Dumbledore had been murdered?"
Draco's eyes glazed over as he remembered and the way he had lived up a moment ago was gone again as he whispered, his voice unnatural quiet and soft, "We ran into members of the Order of the Phoenix. I was at Professor Snape's side and nobody attacked him because they didn't know yet. We escaped into the grounds and we were on the way to the gates to Apparate but Potter came up behind us and tried to hex Professor Snape. The hex missed but Professor Snape told me to go to the gates and wait for him there so he could apparate away with me."
Draco fell silent and then he continued. "It seemed to take forever but then finally Professor Snape arrived. There were huge gashes on his arms and one on his face but he merely grabbed me and we apparated to Malfoy Manner. We went in and before I even knew it, I was before the Dark Lord, getting hit with the Cruciatus Curse for failing in my duty, if it hadn't been for Professor Snape I would have been dead because he interfered and said that I hadn't been ready yet..."
For a moment the cool gray eyes passed over Snape's form, the dark bowed head and then Draco said. "Throughout the year he tried to aid me by teaching me spells and by asking me questions on what I was doing and what I was planning. If only I had listened, things could have been so different."
Silence fell over the courtroom and Harry glanced at Shacklebolt. The dark wizard was pale but then he asked, "You were punished for failing in your orders?"
"Yeah, I was, though in the eyes of all other Death Eaters I was rewarded with the highest honour, to receive the Dark Mark. Professor Snape was my sponsor and in his eyes I could see the regret. He couldn't save me from taking the Dark Mark like he had wanted to and then I realized the truth. I had made a terrible mistake in not trusting him. If I had trusted him, we could have found a different way but it was too late. He would have blown his cover if I accused him now of my suspicions of being a spy."
Draco took a deep breath; he looked defeated and was seemingly tensing himself for another question. Harry felt pity go out to him. The youngest Malfoy was as much of a victim of the war as he had been. They had just been playing different sides. He wondered what fate had in store for Malfoy because he knew one thing for sure; Malfoy didn't deserve all of it.
"Alright, thank you, Draco. You will be taken back to Malfoy Manor by the aurors assigned to that guard duty. I will call this day in court to an end."
Everybody shifted as Draco was being taken away. Harry was aware of Draco's eyes upon him but he didn't glance up. His heart had suddenly started beating a little bit faster in awaiting the anticipated words.
"I will sentence Professor Snape to house arrest. Wards will be placed around the house and the garden and you are not to leave those."
Suddenly the doors were thrown open and the ministry clerk rushed in, waving a scroll and shouting, "I got it, sir! I finally found it. The Marriage Document and the Linked Magic document!"
Murmurs went up around the courtroom and Harry felt his heart slow to a near stop. He felt Ron's fingers dig painfully in his shoulders but he couldn't tell his best friend to release him. His eyes travelled the path the clerk had taken as he handed Shacklebolt the parchment and the minister read it with rapt attention.
"Professor McGonagall?" Shacklebolt's voice was soft and Harry couldn't even begin to fathom what the minister was thinking.
Professor McGonagall got to her feet and said. "Yes, minister?"
"What was the main reason for giving Professor Snape the liberty of house arrest?"
"His wounds and his marriage to Harry Potter." She trailed off, uncertain.
"Yet we heard from Madam Pomfrey that if they hadn't consummated their magic, the bond between them is not complete and will most likely lay dormant until they consummate it. They have recovered to a point where separation is possible, correct? And Professor Snape can mend very well if he keeps getting his potions on time."
Professor McGonagall nodded, a bit confused, "But it has been seen that the bond between them is not dormant and their marriage is valid. They have consummated the marriage and can therefore not be separated at the moment; it isn't a wise idea."
"And yet they have lied to us. This document states that they didn't consummate the marriage and therefore I am sending Professor Snape to Azkaban until further notice, and until the bond between them has been examined, for as of the moment I simply do not find a strong enough reason to put Professor Snape under house arrest. Mr Potter has hardly been affected by the suppressed magic and since Madam Pomfrey has said that without any taxing of their shared magic, there is no reason to believe that Potter will not have recovered his full magic potential within a few days, thus not only capable of keeping himself alive but also Professor Snape in Azkaban!"
Harry felt his heart slow as Shacklebolt said, "This court is adjourned. Take him away!"
"No, you can't do that!" Harry screamed, standing up. Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and Arthur Weasley were also shouting at Kingsley Shacklebolt and Harry could see Snape sway where he rose to await the aurors.
He suddenly couldn't take it anymore and he leaped over the banister, rushing to the older wizard. Snape turned to him, startled and shocked but Harry wrapped his arms around the older, bound wizard and whispered.
"No, you can't take him from me. No, I won't let you. Please don't, please."
"Eyes up, Potter." The velvet voice came suddenly but Harry shook his head mutely.
"Potter, damn it, obey me for once!" Harry could hear the heavy boots of the aurors on the stairs, ready to snatch Snape away from him.
He looked up, just in time to feel demanding lips descend upon him. His gasp of surprise was unheard as for one blissful moment Snape's tongue entered and Harry felt whole before Snape was dragged away, Harry feeling the loss keenly.
"Have hope, brat, have hope." Snape's eyes were filled with something Harry couldn't identify until with the loudest pop he apparated together with the four aurors who took him away to Azkaban and as the courtroom erupted into chaos, Harry fell to his knees where his bond mate had been standing a moment ago and he silently cried out for Snape as he knew he would be forced to return to an empty house, but his heart felt even more empty than that.
Now don't shoot me please. So tell me what you think of course. I do hope it made sense. If not, let me know and I will try to fix it. Review of course.
On the lack of Severus' point of view: I promise you next chapter you will but I wanted to show you this from Harry's point of view
Next chapter: As Professor McGonagall, Arthur Weasley, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger all search feverently for a way to get Snape out of Azkaban, Harry struggles with the loss of his bond mate who has been taken away to Azkaban. Will they succeed in getting the wounded spy for the Light side out of that depressing place before Snape subscrumb to the darkness? What will Harry find when he is allowed to visit Snape in private for his birthday? How does Severus regard his decision now? That and more in: Azkaban.