Part 67/?

Harry looked out the window towards the quidditch pitch. It seemed as if everything had changed in an instant.

Connor had reappeared, not saying much about where he had been, just a red-faced admission that he was more human than he had thought. Privately, the students believed that meant he had gone to find Merlin under a compulsion from Dumbledore. At least he had returned with some good news. Morann, who had been Judge at the Court of Conacht, had been agreed upon as the Judge by both the Sidhe and Dumbledore. Lucius also agreed he had no problem with the man, who, it was said, could not give a wrong judgment.

King Nuada had agreed to send Dumbledore to the Overworld with a squad of his warriors as guards. It would take more than even the ex-Headmaster had in order to get away from them. Especially considering how long it took them to capture him in the first place. They considered that a stain upon their honor, and were determined nothing untoward would happen again.

Of course, then another problem came to light. Where was the trial going to be held? As much as Lucius might wish to keep this a closed courtroom, it was not going to happen. Too many people believed they had a stake in it. Too many people wouldn't believe whatever was reported without seeing it themselves. It was going to have to be a public trial Yet, it had to be protected, especially if Harry was going to be there, which as the accuser, he truly had to be. Then of course, there was the fact that several portraits felt the need to be there, so they needed a place with walls. Not that they particularly wanted a place without walls, but if they could have been able to hold court outside, it would have taken care of the space problem.

They had considered holding the trial in the Great Hall. Harry was sure he could expand the room even more, as he had done to put in the fifth table. It was safe, thanks to it being a Sanctuary, and they wouldn't have to worry about moving the Founders' portraits. There was even a kind of ironic justice in bringing the old man to trial in the place he'd ruled for so long. However, to do so would raise other problems. One, most especially- the fact that there was the possibility Dumbledore still had tricks or traps set up around the school, ones they didn't know about. It was not a chance they could take. As much as Lucius and Severus didn't want Harry away from the safety of the school, another location would have to be chosen.

Finally, the goblins came through... for a fee, of course. They also had the ability to expand the rooms in Gringott's and make the inside larger than the outside. At least it would be a neutral place; the goblins didn't care one way or another about politics in the wizarding world as long as business continued. They also said that the portraits could move there for the duration of the trial, as long as they understood that there were charms in the walls that would not allow them to move outside their own frames.

Finding a prosecutor and defender had not been difficult. Lucius had decided to handle the prosecution himself; he would not allow anyone else to have that pleasure. However, in order not to show too much favoritism, he had allowed Dumbledore to have the defender he chose, Mad-Eye Moody. Thyme had checked him out, over his strenuous objections, but had found no evidence of compulsions within him.

McGonagall was not happy. She had been trying her best to keep the school going as close to normal operation as possible, regardless of changes in administration, a missing Defense Professor, a pregnant, married student who tended to disappear without a moment's notice, and compulsions found on every teacher and a great number of the students. Now there was the trial. A trial that most of the older students, and some of the younger, wished to attend. A trial that some of the students *had* to attend, at least part of the time. Once again, the daily life and schedule of the school was going to be disrupted in a major way. How were the students supposed to study if their minds were taken up with things like this?

Severus was busy making the most potent Veritaserum he could. He was not taking any chances on the wily old mage being able to work his way around it, even though that *should* be impossible. He was also working on a truth potion that would work adequately, but not be dangerous to his unborn grandchild. He knew the judge would require Harry to be under a truth serum when he testified.

As he worked, Severus grimaced slightly as he remembered the threat Harry had used on him before, when he was in such a bad mood. The Weasley twins? Really! What was that boy thinking? He did have to admit he deserved admonishment after the way he had acted, but there were some fates he should never be made to contemplate. He still hadn't explained why he'd been in such a bad mood. He didn't know how to explain it to the boy... or himself. In truth, he wasn't entirely sure what all was bothering him, yet he couldn't help but think Dumbledore had something to do with it. Perhaps whatever compulsion that had been taken off of him had caused it? Unfortunately, he couldn't figure out what exactly it could be. Luckily, no one had pushed him about it, all around him seeming to simply be happy he was in a better mood.

Harry suddenly smiled where he was sitting. He watched as a brilliant splash of color darted across the sky in front of him. It resolved itself into two snakes, so close that from a distance they seemed one, only separated enough to give their wings room to flap.

/Hello Flick, Spitfire,/ Harry murmured happily.

*/Good morning/* Flick and Spitfire said together. Harry held up his hands and let Flick settle down between them. He very gently pulled her close enough that she could settle against his chest. She was showing too, just a little fatter in her midsection than she had been before. Harry gently petted her. She had not been happy with the way he'd been leaving him behind lately, and he was doing his best to make it up to her.

/Do you want to stay with me today?/ he asked softly.

*/Of course I do/* Flick responded acerbically.

/Yes, I know, it was a stupid question,// Harry sighed. He carefully stood up, making sure not to shift his passenger more than necessary. It seemed that minidrags didn't start getting testy until they started to show. Flick would never hurt him, but he still didn't want to make her mad. /How are you doing, Spitfire?/

*/I'm doing well/* Spitfire answered. He settled onto Harry's shoulder opposite his mate. He knew Flick's bonded would take him to the midnight dark one that he usually accompanied.

/Do you know what was wrong with Severus?// Harry asked. He wasn't going to ask Severus, not yet anyway, but he wasn't above getting his answers from others, if they were available.

*/I do not/* Spitfire admitted. */The midnight dark one had a blackness in his mind. He broadcasted pain, but I could feel little else./*

/Is it gone? The blackness?/ Harry asked worriedly.

*/It is./* Spitfire confirmed.

Harry took Spitfire into Severus' rooms and left his father to his potion making without disturbing him. He wandered off to find someone to talk to. He found Draco and settled down across from him.

Draco continued reading for several moments. He spoke without looking up. "Is there something you wanted?"

"Just bored," Harry admitted.

Draco immediately put down his book. "Why do I think that's one of the most dangerous possibilities in the entire wizarding world?" he asked with a minor grin.

Harry laughed. "It's not that bad," he disagreed. "I won't do anything too dangerous right now, you know."

"That's true," Draco agreed, relaxing slightly.

Harry pulled something out of his robe and looked at it.

Draco's eyes narrowed. He recognized that envelope. "You got another one? Did you tell Father?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope. Haven't told Sev yet, either." He glared mildly at the envelope, not seeming too disturbed by it.

"Is it the same as the others?" Draco asked.

Harry nodded. "Yep, he doesn't have much imagination," he said in a strange tone of voice. "It is better than what he did last time he thought I was in danger," he admitted.

Draco blinked at that seeming non sequitur. "You know who it is," he suddenly realized.

"Yeah," Harry answered.

"Well?" Draco said impatiently. "Who was it?"

"He didn't mean anything bad by it," Harry said absently. "He'd just been convinced that I was in danger, and was trying to let me know. I don't think he came up with the idea on his own, though. I haven't actually talked to him about it. Cattie told me who it was. Well, she didn't actually tell me he was sending me death threats, because I don't think she realized what they were. And they're not actually death threats, if he never really wanted to threaten me, now are they?"

"Will you stop beating around the bush and tell me what the heck you're talking about?" Draco finally shouted in annoyance.

Flick suddenly hissed in his ear. */Your mate comes./*

Harry put the envelope away even as he stood up. "Lucius," he said in welcome as the older man walked through the door.

"Hello, Harry, Draco," Lucius greeted.

"What's the matter?" the two boys said at the same time.

"Everything is as ready as it can be," Lucius explained. "O'Feahr has left to get Dumbledore and the others coming through from Underhill."

Harry drew in a deep breath and straightened up. "I'm ready," he said, his eyes intent and his face hard. "Where are they coming in?"

"Everyone is going straight to the courtroom," he answered.

Harry nodded. "I need to get changed, then." He was not going to confront Dumbledore looking anything less than his best. He was a Snape, and a Malfoy by marriage. He was a hero of the wizarding world. He was a political figure. He was going to be a mother. He was not a child, not anymore. If nothing else, Dumbledore would know *that* before too much longer.

Draco went to get changed himself, while Lucius went to tell Severus, and had him inform the rest of those who were going to the courtroom.

Fifteen minutes later, dozens of students were standing in the Great Hall, waiting for the main players in the upcoming drama. Harry strode out, dressed in a formal black robe, his hair pulled into a ponytail at the back of his neck and held by a gryphon clasp. The only color on him was the blazing green of his eyes and the multicolored minidrag obvious upon his shoulder. Many looked at the snake in surprise, having forgotten she was around, since she was very good at being unseen.

"Is everyone here?" Harry asked, as Severus and Draco strode gracefully into the room. Nods gave confirmation, "Then, let's go."

It was time to confront Albus Dumbledore once and for all.

Part 68/?

Word had obviously gotten out. As Harry and his friends and family entered the courtroom, they found it completely packed. It was only because of who they were, and their obvious willingness to curse others if it became necessary, that they were able to avoid those who sought to gain their attention and push their way to the front.

Morann was the first of the newcomers to enter the room. His very presence brought silence to all facing him, as he thoughtfully looked over the courtroom. Slowly, under nothing more than his gaze, the spectators settled into their seats and quieted. He nodded once, sharply, as he saw them all behaving in a responsible manner. He sat in his high seat, and began to speak.

"Before this trial proceeds any farther, there are certain precautions that must be taken. Miss Scarborough and Miach of the Tuatha de Danaan will examine you. If they give you a potion, you are expected to drink it. If you refuse either the examination or the potion, you will be escorted out of this courtroom and not allowed back in." He continued only once he was sure everyone understood his meaning.

"There will be a privacy curtain erected in the front of this room. You will be able to hear everything that is spoken, but those in front of the curtain will not be able to hear you." He continued as the spectators, especially the reporters, started to mutter complaints. "The main reason for this is that everyone involved will be under truth potion. Not only could too many people speaking at once confuse those under such a potion, but you might also get the urge to ask questions that are not under the providence of this court. Anyone trying to break through the curtain will find themselves escorted out immediately."

Hermione raised her hand, as she would in class when she had a question.

"Yes, child?" Morann asked.

"What if we think of something that needs to be asked, but it doesn't seem as if Minister Malfoy is thinking the same way?" she asked.

"If he wishes it, you may write your questions and pass them to him," the Judge offered.

"Thank you," Hermione smiled brightly at him, and the Judge unbent enough to smile slightly back.

Thyme and Miach, who had entered behind Morann, got to work checking through the spectators. Time after time, they had to call for the potion, making Severus wonder if he had made enough. He had, but only barely. Twice, someone refused to be checked. As warned, they were quickly but firmly escorted out of the room and banned from returning.

Once everyone had been checked and all had taken their seats, the door opened and Dumbledore was brought in.

He looked as he always did, as he had appeared from the first time Harry saw him, little different from the first time Severus or Lucius had seen him. His hair and beard were still long and white, his clothing taste still outrageous, and his blue eyes still twinkled. He was wearing power dampening bracelets once more, in the hope that this time they would work. He was also surrounded by a bevy of guards.

He took his place beside Moody. Harry was sitting next to his husband, on the opposite side of the room. His new father sat on the other side beside him, and his friends filled the seats in the row behind. He looked at Dumbledore and honestly didn't know what to feel. He could still remember the way he'd felt the first time he'd met the older man, that made the betrayal he felt later, so much worse. He wanted to see Dumbledore get what he deserved, but mostly, he just wanted to know, *why*. Of all the questions still unanswered, that one was the most important.

Everyone was seated. It was time to begin.

"Who accuses this man?" Morann began the proceedings.

Lord Lucius Malfoy stood up, every inch the Minister of Magic. "On behalf of the wizarding world, I accuse Albus Dumbledore. These charges include, but are not limited to, child neglect and endangerment, accessory to child abuse, attempted murder, using compulsion on a mediwitch in an attempt to force her to commit murder, using compulsions upon children under his guardianship, using compulsions upon Aurors and members of the Ministry, and escape from custody through the use of compulsions."

He said no more, confident that his point had been made quite clearly.

"And how does the defendant plead?" Morann asked.

Mad-Eye Moody stood up, his fake eye giving the watchers the willies as it seemed to bore into each and every one. "Albus Dumbledore has done what is best for the wizarding world at all times. Occasionally, in war, sacrifices must be made. The people understand this. He has kept them alive and safe for the past fifty years. Who are you to judge him?"

Harry rose to his feet but looked quickly at the judge for permission. The last thing he wished was to be thrown out for contempt of court, and he well knew that the Sidhe judge might well do so if he overstepped the bounds too much. Morann nodded slightly, and Harry turned to the form of his fourth year DADA professor. "I am, as far as I know at the moment, the one harmed most by Dumbledore's actions. Me. Not Voldemort, nor any of his Death Eaters. Not any of the enemies he fought, but me. And while I might not be a child anymore, I was one for most of the time during which he committed the acts for which he stands accused. There is no way to rationalize what he has done, allowed to be done, and actively encouraged to be done to myself. There is no acceptable explanation. The wizarding world would not have been worse off if I'd been raised by people who cared about me. They would not have been in more danger if I'd had a normal childhood."

"As for who has the right to judge? By his actions against me, I do. As the impartial representative agreed upon by the parties involved, because he has no stake in the power games Dumbledore plays, Judge Morann does. And due to the decisions he has made in their name, the wizarding world does. Does that answer your question?" His voice had been calm and emotionless for most of his speech, but his last question contained an edge of anger he was not able to keep out.

Harry felt glad that he couldn't hear what was going on behind the privacy curtain. He was sure everyone in court was exclaiming over the things that he'd said, and he didn't want to hear it. He kept his eyes on the one he'd technically been addressing, surprised by the glimpse of respect he was sure he'd seen in Judge Morann's face. He sat back down, leaning slightly into the hand his father had placed on his back. Harry darted a quick look in his direction, and his heart warmed at the pride he could see glowing behind those coal black eyes.

"If there are no more remarks, Prosecutor, call your witness," Morann commanded.

"Wait!" Moody called out.

"You have something you wish to add?" Morann asked.

"Snape created the potions you are planning to use, didn't he?" Moody asked.

"They were," Morann agreed.

"How do we know they're safe and will work as they should?" Moody asked, obviously paranoid, although that was a fact which surprised nobody that knew him .

Severus surged to his feet, black eyes snapping in anger. "You think I do not know how to brew a simple truth serum?" he asked in a silky smooth voice that would have had most of his students running for the nearest doorway.

"It's not your brewing I have trouble with, it's your ethics," was Moody's response. "Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. And now you've teamed up with Malfoy; you're even more suspect."

"Do you have a suggestion?" Morann asked, before the confrontation could escalate.

"I've brought my own Veritaserum. I want Snape to take it and answer questions about the potions he made."

Morann contemplated the suggestion. "I have no problems with that accommodation." He turned to Severus. "Do you agree?"

"As long as the Veritaserum passes my inspection," Severus ground out. "and someone capable of monitoring is available."

He turned his glance to the spectators, to one in particular that he had only met earlier that day. The man nodded his head to Severus and approached the bench. Once he passed the privacy barrier, he spoke. "I can monitor him."

"Thank you, Miach, your assistance is appreciated," Morann said solemnly.

Severus accepted the potion that Moody gave him, and carefully tested it. Only once he was assured, to the best of his ability, that the potion was exactly what it was supposed to be and nothing else, did he sit in the Witness chair and allow three drops to be placed on his tongue. Miach monitored him as Severus' eyes went blank and he went fully under the influence of the drug.

"Only about the potions," Morann warned Moody as he readied himself to speak.

The old Auror accepted the qualification. "What potions have you made for this trial?" Moody asked.

"Veritaserum and its antidote, normal strength for most witnesses, double strength for Dumbledore," Snape replied in a dull voice. "Tryan's Truth for Harry. The Sidhe's anti-compulsion potion for everyone under Dumbledore's influence."

"Did you make all of those potions to the best of your ability?" Moody asked.

"I did," Severus responded

"Did you put anything into the potions that was not a part of the recipe?" was Moody's next question.

"I did not."

"Did you make anything to be used today that would harm another?"

Morann nodded his pleasure at that question. It had been a question that could be too easily expanded beyond the parameters of the court, but the way Moody had worded it had kept it an acceptable question.

"I did." Severus replied. Thanks to the potion he was under, he didn't notice the gasps of disbelief and cries of shock that response brought about.

Part 69/?

"You did?" Moody immediately jumped on the admission.

"Yes," Severus stated.

"Which potion?" Moody asked intently.

"The Veritaserum and Anti-Compulsion potions," Severus answered with a blank expression on his face.

"Did you add something to them?" Moody asked.

"No," Severs responded.

"Did you brew them wrong?" Moody wondered.

"No," Severus asked.

Miach held up a hand. "Your Honor?" he interrupted.

"The Court recognizes Miach, Celtic God of Natural Healing," Morann said.

"May I ask the witness a question? I believe I understand where the misunderstanding is coming from," Miach offered.

"Does the Defense or Prosecution have any problem with this?" the Judge asked.

Both agreed to allow the Healer to ask the question. Miach turned back to Severus, his hand resting on the Potion Master's wrist, where his pulse was going too fast. "Severus Snape, did you prepare any potion for today that would harm the ones to whom it was intended to be given?" the Tuatha de Danaan asked carefully after thinking about it for a moment.

"No," Severus admitted. The Healer could feel Severus' pulse slowing as he calmed after the clarification that had been needed to dispel the false impression brought on by his original answer. The answer that had been compelled by the potion, but would have mislead, due to the limitations of the original question's specificity. Being a truth potion, giving an honest answer that would in itself have misled, put Severus' mind into conflict. Without Miach's intervention, Severus' mind could have been in jeopardy, due to the cognitive dissonance created by the question. Situations like that was why it was so important to have someone competent administering and overseeing the use of such a powerful, mind-affecting potion

Miach explained his reasoning. "The Anti-compulsion potion is dangerous if given to someone not under a compulsion. And Veritaserum is dangerous to Harry Snape and his child."

Moody's eyes narrowed as he looked at the dark-haired man in the witness chair. "Was that what you meant?" he asked.

"Yes," Severus agreed blankly.

"Any thing else?"

Severus just blinked his eyes, confused under the potion as to what exactly the Defender wanted.

Moody frowned but restated his question. "Were there any other dangers to anyone with the potions that you brewed?"

"No." Severus admitted.

That was the end of the questions, and Severus gratefully took the antidote as it was handed to him.

"Prosecutor? Are you ready to begin?" Judge Morann asked.

"I am, your honor," Lucius replied. He thought it was completely absurd that he had to make his case against Dumbledore before he'd be able to get the old man up on the stand, but if that was what he had to do, than that was what he would do.

Lucius turned back to where his husband was sitting and let his eyes pass him. Severus sighed, stood back up from where he'd just sat down and headed back to the chair. Lucius waited until he'd taken the Veritaserum once more before he began to speak. He didn't limit himself to Severus and Harry; instead he started much, much earlier. He carefully brought Severus along from practically the first moment he entered Hogwarts.

"I object!" Moody called out. "This has nothing to do with Potter!"

Lucius looked at him. "In the end, this trial has little to do with Harry *Snape*," he stressed the last name, "although he was the catalyst. This has to do with Dumbledore, and a systematic manipulation that has lasted decades."

The Judge overruled the objection, and allowed Lucius to continue. "Go on." Lucius did. He brought up Severus' relations with Dumbledore throughout his school years, including the *prank* Sirius Black had played against him, and Dumbledore's reaction. Those behind the privacy curtain could hear the reactions many were having to the Headmaster simply ignoring what anyone could tell was an attempt at murder.

Lucius then started digging into Severus' becoming a Death Eater, and what had happened when he'd gone to Dumbledore for help. Help that would only be given if he agreed to spy. As he brought out more and more of the Potion Master's memories, it became increasingly obvious how the mage had manipulated him, not truly allowing any free choice. He also spoke about the death of the Potters, and McGonagall and Hagrid's complaints about the family to whom Harry had been given. Then came Snape's capture... by Moody, and what Dumbledore had done, and hadn't bothered to do, to get him out of Azkaban.

The next ten years were mostly skipped over, nothing much having happened that was germane to the topic at hand, but then Harry Potter entered Hogwarts. Severus spoke of the time when Dumbledore called him up to talk before Harry actually entered the school.

"He reminded me that being nice to Harry would be a bad idea, since there were still Death Eaters who had children in the school, and that Draco Malfoy would be entering at the same time as Potter. He said that he would make sure the Hat put him in Gryffindor, thus giving me an excuse to be as nasty as I felt necessary. He also spent some time reminding me who his father was, and how much we did not get along." His eyes seemed to get even blanker as he spoke.

Lucius looked at him carefully. "What else?" he asked strongly. "What else did he tell you?"

Severus blinked. "He mentioned that if James hadn't stolen Lily away from me, Harry might have been mine. But Harry wasn't mine, he was James'. I needed to remember that he was James', James who had taken Lily away, James who saved my life. I had to watch over him, but I should think of him as James... he was just like James..."

If Lucius did not have such strong self-control, he would never have been able to hide the shock he felt as he understood what Severus was saying. From the sudden gasp behind him, he realized that Harry understood as well.

"And did you think of him as James?" Lucius asked.

Severus nodded absently. "He was James, but I had to call him Harry. He was just like James, always getting into trouble, always breaking rules."

"When did you realize he wasn't James?" Lucius asked.

"Fifth Year. The first Potion class."

"What happened?"

"He and Draco were doused with a potion. They had to take off their robes and I saw his body. James would never have scars like that, he would never be that skinny, he would never be that hurt."

"How hurt was he?" Lucius wasn't sure he really wanted to ask. It was something he had never even asked Harry.

Severus' voice was emotionless as he reported the injuries. "Three broken ribs, a sprained ankle, scabs, welts and bruises over ninety percent of his body, major malnutrition. He had had kidney damage, but it had mostly healed by the time I found out what was wrong."

"Anything else?" Lucius forced himself to ask.

"He was covered with scars. They covered most of his body," Severus answered.

"Who did he say did it?"

"His 'relatives'," even under the influence of that strong a potion, his disgust with those people showed through.

Lucius led his friend through the rest of the year. The way Dumbledore kept interfering in the relationship the two were building. The fight against Voldemort and the Headmaster's reaction once they returned. The fight with Sirius Black that had obviously been set up by the old mage. The lengths Dumbledore had gone to, to make sure Harry went back to the Dursleys for the summer.

Finally, they had come to this year and quickly went through it, especially when they had come to the realization that Dumbledore was behind much that had happened over the past several years. Then, it was over. At least, Lucius' part of it was done.

Now it was Moody's turn to cross-examine. Unsurprisingly, he arrowed in on Snape's years as a Death Eater, the things he had done.

Lucius objected immediately, saying that Severus' actions as a Death Eater had nothing to do with Dumbledore, or the case at hand.

Luckily, Judge Morann agreed and the objection was sustained.

Part 70/?

The rest of the questioning did not bring up anything new. The most Moody was able to get was the fact that some of what Severus said were things he had only heard about second-hand. However, since those things were not the most important ones, and would be collaborated by others later on in the trial, most of the witnesses had to concede that things were not looking well for the ex-Headmaster.

Minerva McGonagall spoke of the way the Dursleys had acted when she'd watched them before Harry arrived, "the worst sort of muggles", as well as of her words with Dumbledore, telling him she did not think Harry should be sent there. Still, she had to admit, under Moody's questioning, that she hadn't seen anything particularly wrong with the family, and that their own child seemed to be well taken care of. Lucius also asked about school life during the Marauder's time, finding out that she had known about Sirius' *prank* after the fact, and had been persuaded not to do anything to the boy, beyond detention. Lucius made sure to bring up the many DADA Professors that had been hired over the past six years, comparing them against the ones from the years before. Everyone had to admit that it was very interesting that it was only during the years of Harry's schooling that the professors had been so bad. You would have thought that some of the best would be coming forward, hoping to teach the Boy-Who-Lived. The new Headmistress was not able to say if Dumbledore had received other resumes, but admitted that he had made the decision for that position by himself. Although, truth be told, there wasn't much turnover in the other positions; yet any other slot that had opened had been hired by committee.

Hagrid was sworn in to give details about finding Harry, and the conditions in which he had found the boy when he was eleven. After receiving a parchment from Harry, Lucius asked about Hagrid's comments about Slytherin, comments which the Creature teacher admitted Dumbledore had *suggested* he say, helping to push Harry away from that House. What had happened during second year was also brought up. By the time Moody finished cross-examining the half-giant, it was time to break for the day.

Harry sighed deeply. The next day would be his turn. Hopefully, there would not be much more before Dumbledore reached the stand.

Upon return to Hogwarts, everyone gathered together to speak about what had been discovered, especially the information that Dumbledore had more than likely compelled Severus to think of Harry as James, thus leading to a large part of their disagreements and dislike over the years.

"He really was determined to keep us apart, wasn't he?" Harry said thoughtfully. "I wonder why?"

"Well, considering the way he acted when he thought that I was the father of your child, perhaps he was simply trying to keep us from becoming a couple," Severus suggested. "Especially if he knew I was a mage, which is seeming very likely."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Still, if that were the case, I would think it would make more sense to push you towards looking at me as a son. After all, they say that hate and love are two sides of the same coin; so pushing us to hate each other might have backfired. More than it did, at any rate. So why try to separate us when it became obvious how we were acting?"

"It's yet another thing to ask the man when we finally get him under Veritaserum," Lucius suggested.

Dinner that night could not be considered even close to a silent affair, as all those who had not been able to go to the trial, badgered those who did. Harry found himself strangely without an appetite as he worried about his own testimony the next day.

Harry woke in the middle of the night. He hadn't been sleeping too well as it was, and now he was also hungry. He thought about waking up his snoring husband and making him go get him something to eat. However, what he really wanted was a bacon sandwich on fried bread, and he knew how strict the man was about his diet. For some strange reason, that was not on his 'approved' list. He carefully pulled himself away and headed for the bathroom. He knew that Lucius wouldn't really wake up as long as he didn't make any unexpected noise.

When they first started sleeping together, any movement in the middle of the night would wake them both up. However, once Harry started having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, every single night, and sometimes more than once, they'd finally gotten out of that habit. Anyone else coming into the room, or any noise that wasn't obviously that of each other would still wake them up immediately, but Harry getting up to head to the bathroom usually would not.

Harry used that knowledge to get out of the room without waking his husband. He made sure he gave off calm thoughts, not wanting to wake up Flick. She needed her rest. He snuck out of the apartment, hoping not to wake Cattie up either. She was just as bad about his diet as Lucius... or Severus, or Draco, or Hermione, or Thyme... or just about anyone else he knew. As far as he was concerned, they all paid way too much attention to what he ate. He'd already had several people complaining about how little an appetite he'd had during dinner today.

He reached the painting hiding the entrance to the kitchen and tickled the pear to open the doorway. He wasn't there for more than a moment or two before another presence appeared.

"Harry Potter!"

"Hi, Dobby," Harry smiled over at him.

"Dobby is so happy to see Harry Potter! How can Dobby help his friend Harry Potter?" Dobby babbled happily.

"I could really use a bacon sandwich... on fried bread... maybe with some pickles? And a slice of tomato, and some really spicy mustard," Harry's eyes gleamed at the thought.

"Right away, Harry Potter!" Dobby rushed to get everything his friend wanted, having it in front of him in thirty seconds or less. Harry dug in happily, groaning at the taste.

"That's so good," Harry moaned, almost in ecstasy. When Dobby saw how fast he was eating it, he quickly made another.

After three sandwiches and a bowl of ice cream, Harry had finally had enough. He leaned back, rubbing his stomach happily. "Thank you, Dobby," he said appreciatively.

"Harry Potter is more than welcome," Dobby answered.

"Dobby?" Harry said after a moment. "Could you tell me something?"

"Of course, Harry Potter. Dobby will tell Harry Potter anything Harry Potter wants to know!"

Harry looked at him intently. "Why did you send me death threats?"

Dobby blinked his big eyes and grabbed hold of his ears, tugging at them restlessly. "Dobby would never threaten Harry Potter! Dobby was just warning Harry Potter!"

"Warning me about what?" Harry asked. "And why did you choose that way to do it?"

"Dobby thought Harry Potter might take it more seriously if Harry Potter did not know who sent it," the house elf said, shamefacedly.

"Dobby, you know I've never discounted anything you said," Harry reminded him.

"Harry Potter is right! Dobby should have trusted Harry Potter! Dobby is sorry!" the house elf wailed as he ran out of the room.

"Dobby!" Harry yelled after him. He rolled his eyes when he didn't get a response. He *still* didn't know why the house elf had felt the need to do it in the first place!

He waited around for another ten minutes, but Dobby never returned. Finally, Harry got up and headed back towards his room.

He wasn't even halfway back to the Chamber before he realized that he probably shouldn't have eaten as much as he did, of what he did. Unfortunately, he was paying more attention to his almost rebelling stomach than the corridor around him. Therefore, the spell hitting him in the back was a complete surprise. His defenses were down to such a degree that he wasn't able to absorb any of the power from the spell. The last thing he saw was the stone floor of the hallway rushing up towards him. He barely had time to raise his arms enough so that he didn't land on his stomach.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he woke up. In some ways this reminded him of the time O'Feahr had kidnapped him. However, the difference between now and then was extreme. While waking up in an unknown place was the same, instead of being on a comfortable bed in a beautiful room, this time he was on a dusty cot, in a rundown room. He looked around and his eyes fell on a person in the doorway.

"Let me guess; you're one of those Dumbledore spoke to last Hogsmeade weekend, aren't you?" he asked, many things falling into place.