Harry and Hermione returned to the Burrow with the Weasleys, joining them in mourning Fred while seeking solace in each other's company and support.
Hermione left as soon as was polite and recalled her parents from Australia. The effort of undoing the Forgetting Charms was great and difficult to observe, but once complete, they were confused by her immense joy at seeing them again. "My dear, is something wrong at school? I can't recall your ever being so glad to be home for the summer before," they exclaimed worriedly. But she reassured them that all was well, and that she would probably go see friends again later in the summer.
Hermione looked up from the breakfast table hearing the familiar tap of the post owl delivering her Daily Prophet. Even at home with her parents, she appreciated keeping up with the news of the Wizard and Witchcraft world. And there was a lot of it in the wake of the war. The reestablishment of order at the Ministry, the new Quidditch schedules, reports of repairs and recovery. And the trials. Endless trials. Most people claimed, as in times past, that they were under the Imperious Curse and were either pardoned or given relatively light sentences, many of which involved long periods of probation and hefty fines. With Voldemort truly defeated, his followers abandoned the cause wholesale. Hermione suspected many would continue to use the Dark Arts when possible, taking unlawful advantage as they could. But it seemed unlikely that Death Eaters would come to power or even be a significant organized threat any time soon.
Today's paper was smaller compared the more recent thick ones. Although there were fewer trials now, they tended to be of the more significant figures. Alecto and Amycus Carrow were sent to Azkaban again, never denouncing Voldemort. What was to be gained by supporting a clearly hopeless cause, Hermione wondered? Lucius Malfoy was released, but on lifetime probation and fines. Dolohov claimed Imperious, as did Mulciber and the Goyles. The front page today made Hermione stop eating, dreading to read the article.
Hogwarts' Headmaster Severus Snape Found Guilty at Trial, Riots at Sentencing
At the Wizengamot today, former Death Eater, Potions Master, and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Severus Snape stood trial for his various crimes during the war and before. The list is too long to print in these pages, but highlights include the use of Unforgivable Curses, Treason, Treachery, Murder, Encouragement of Dark Magic, and Use of Dark Magic, among many others.
Professor Snape chose to represent himself, having declined even the support of his longtime advocate, Arboreus Hobble. Hobble was quoted as saying "Even though he's innocent, he's lost his mind completely if he chooses to go forward without professional representation." Most witnesses to the trial would agree.
The Ministry's prosecutor brought forth dozens of witnesses, among them a large number of Voldemort's former supporters, who testified to Professor Snape's presence at key meetings, as well as his individual private consultations with the Dark Lord. Inconveniently lacking, however, was any direct evidence that he had murdered anyone by his own spellwork, curses, or poisons. Among the Wizengamot, there was considerable debate as to the trustworthiness of the witnesses as a whole, given that most of them hoped to trade their testimony for reduced sentences. Kingsley Shacklebolt, considered by many to be on the short list to be the next Minister of Magic following Rufus Scrimgeour, noted Snape's contributions to the Order of the Phoenix, a group of opponents of the Dark Lord and Death Eaters that included Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Emmeline Vance, Arabella Figg, Molly Weasley, and Arthur Weasley among others in their number. As to the other charges, it seemed there was ample evidence to convict.
The defendant, in contrast, declined to call any witnesses, nor to speak on his own behalf. His silence brought forth accusations of contempt of court and calls for his forced testimony under Veratiserum. A visibly agitated Lead Inquisitor Cornelius Fudge (former Minister of Magic) denied the motion, though it is not clear if this was because it was felt to be poor form or due to a lack of supply.
Despite not being invited by either the prosecution or the defense, one Harry Potter chose to insert himself into the proceedings, arriving noisily in the afternoon. During the considerable scuffle that followed, the accused refused to call him for his defense, so the prosecution, in an unusual move, allowed Mr. Potter to speak on their behalf. During nearly two hours of testimony, during which Professor Snape remained mute, Mr. Potter rejected claims that the professor worked in allegiance with Voldemort and instead brought forth testimony of numerous instances when the professor was seen to protect students, himself in particular, defeat the Dark Lord's plans, and instead pass on inaccurate information. Mr. Potter cast Professor Snape in the role of double agent, whose allegiances, as shown by actions, were with Dumbledore and against the Dark Lord and his followers. When offered the opportunity to cross-examine the witness, Professor Snape declined.
After several hours of conference, a courtesy rarely extended by the Wizengamot, the verdict was not guilty of the more serious charges, but guilty of Encouragement of the Dark Arts, by way of his allowing this under Alecto and Amycus Carrow during his time as Headmaster of Hogwarts. However, the sentencing was the subject of a great deal of controversy. Despite the guilty verdict on a relatively minor charge, Professor Snape was given 50 years of probation and the immediate confiscation of his fortune. Professor Snape will also retain his position as Hogwarts' Headmaster, with Ministry oversight of an as yet undisclosed nature.
Needless to say, this controversial outcome resulted in riots among the observers to the trial, from wizards and witches on both sides of the war. The curses, hexes, and jinxes lodged at the members of the Wizengamot were readily deflected, and their sources not identifiable. The Wizengamot has not commented on what drove this highly unusual outcome, but speculation abounds. Some have suggested the Professor has a great deal of information on the members of the Wizengamot itself that would be uncomfortable or embarrassing if known. Others who did not wish to be quoted on the record noted that the former Potions Master will now be in a far less advantageous position as Hogwarts' Headmaster than Minerva McGonagall, allowing them influence over the development of wizards and witches in the future, in contrast to the rather lax oversight from the Ministry during the Dumbledore years. Still others were overheard to wonder if the confiscation of Professor Snape's fortune, rumored to be substantial, following as it does in the wake of many such exchanges of money for lighter sentences, allows the Ministry to rebuilt its coffers, which were raided and emptied during the takeover of the Ministry by Dark Wizards and Witches before and during the war. The ongoing accusations of the personal enrichment of higher Ministry officials from the treasury will remain the subject of a future report.
It remains to be seen what the sentence will mean to the Magical community, Hogwarts, and to Professor Snape himself. Given his silence, the truth may never come to light. In the meantime, it has been conjectured that Hogwarts may resume operations on the usual schedule, despite the scale of rebuilding necessary.
Hermione shook her head at this confusing article, wishing she had known about the trial in advance, wishing she could have testified on Snape's behalf. But what would she say that had not already been said? She continued to thumb through the paper, noting the ads in the margins from Hogwarts, asking both for funds from alumni, as well as participation in rebuilding efforts ("all magical assistance welcomed") signed by Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall.
Harry and Ron were relaxing at the Burrow, reading the latest edition of Quidditch Weekly hungrily, now that professional Quidditch had resumed. The teams were somewhat reorganized, given the emigration of a number of players and the wholesale destruction of at least one stadium, but a full season of play had been announced, with rosters being newly updated every week. Ron nearly ripped the magazine from Mrs. Weasley's hands with each new edition, so she'd given the task of delivery to Ginny, who was more likely to read it herself before passing it along, most often to scowls for the delay.
Ginny appeared in the doorway to the attic room that Ron and Harry shared. "Yo, gents, mail call. There's a note for Harry, looks official, and here's the latest Quidditch weekly." They each took the offered items, Ron snapping that the weekly should have been there two days ago.
"It was, Ron, but I was reading it," said Ginny, to Ron's renewed protests. "What's yours, Harry?"
Harry noted the seal of Hogwarts and wondered what the item could be. He'd missed all of the previous year, but hadn't really known what to think of for the coming one. With Dumbledore gone and Snape as the Headmaster, it wasn't the same school at all, according to what he'd heard. But there were reasons for that, reasons that were clear now when they hadn't been at the time.
"Dunno," said Harry. "It's from Hogwarts."
He opened it and read the flowery script aloud to Ginny and Ron.
"On behalf of the staff and faculty of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I extend an invitation to those students who were in their seventh year previously to return to the school for the coming year, in order to properly complete their education, N.E.W.T.s, and therefore qualify for the appropriate diplomas and certifications. In addition to the traditional course of study, the eighth educational year will also include a series of apprenticeship opportunities." The letter went on to describe the deeply discounted tuition, room, and board, as well as to include a response card, none of which Harry bothered to read aloud.
"Blimey," said Ron, pulling at his hair. "Another year of school?! They should give us college degrees at this point. I mean, if we haven't proven ourselves yet, what could some stupid N.E.W.T.s or a diploma do for us?"
Ginny sat down on Ron's bed opposite Harry. "Well, for one thing, most colleges, jobs, and apprenticeships require an actual diploma to qualify, so that's a start. And what were you planning to do this coming year, anyhow, Ron? Lie around, let mum feed you and watch Quidditch matches?"
"Seems like I've earned that, I think," he shot back.
"Well, then, we all have. But let's get back to some reality. There will be a lot of students competing for the same job you want, and mom will kick you out after a while, or at least make you start doing your own laundry." Ron's snort was ill-timed, as Mrs. Weasley had appeared in the hall not long before, and was not looking too pleased at the moment.
"Well, I think that's a capital idea, Ginny, what with Ron having so much time on his hands lately. You can start with your socks, which are starting to walk off on their own." At this, several of Ron's socks which had been wandering off immediately dropped to the floor, playing dead in a futile attempt to avoid the washer. Mrs. Weasley waved a letter in her hand that looked remarkably similar to the one Harry had just read. "By the way, I've just gotten this note from Hogwarts. I think it's an excellent offer and I'll be sending the card back with the first owl I can find. I expect that you will finish your education properly and not go running off to George's shop."
"He already asked and George wouldn't have him," Ginny piped up, Ron throwing her daggers. "Strangely, he expected him to actually do work, so you'll have his help with laundry for at least the rest of the summer."
Ron aimed a pillow at Ginny's head, which she easily dodged, as Mrs. Weasley retreated down the stairs.
Later, after he could hear Ron's snoring begin, Harry took his letter out to re-read. At the bottom, in an old-fashioned formal script obviously not in the same hand as the main body of the letter, was a personal note. "Mr. Potter - It would certainly be in your best interests to complete your education. I hope you will consider it. S.S." This was probably the warmest thing Harry had ever heard or read from Severus Snape.
Harry lay back in his comfortable bed at the Burrow. What were his interests, apart from Ginny and Quidditch? He had considered being an Auror previously, but wasn't sure really how that career path worked. It would do to find out. Mr. Weasley probably knew some things about that. Or could set him up with someone who did. Lupin would have been good to ask, as well.
He hadn't mentioned to Ron or Hermione or anyone else how he was feeling lately. It seemed inappropriate to mention the emptiness in him, given that he was at least living. As Ron, Ginny, and their family attempted to find some kind of new normal, he felt adrift and alone, despite the Weasley's being as warm and welcoming as anyone he could imagine. Certainly more so than any family he'd had since he was a baby.
He was deeply missing Sirius just now, as that was the person who he'd want to talk with the most. Thinking of Sirius only expanded the emptiness. If he did go back and finish officially at Hogwarts, what would he study? Defense Against the Dark Arts, certainly, though it was anyone's guess who might teach now. Otherwise, what? He surely didn't qualify for Advanced Potions, he thought with a laugh. He'd opted out of Arithmancy several years ago. Transfiguration would be on the schedule, as well as Charms. History of Magic would probably need to be updated, and he'd lived most of it, so that didn't seem necessary. Astronomy might be interesting. Maybe Advanced Care of Magical Creatures, but only if Hagrid were teaching. Herbology? Divination (nope)? Runes? He couldn't even muster a reasonably full schedule, given his utter lack of interest. And what were the "apprenticeship opportunities?" Surely he'd had enough experience lately, though what kind of job these kinds of experiences led to was anyone's guess.
Legilimency and Occlumency, now those would be excellent classes, he thought. He had never mastered Occlumency, despite Snape's attempts, mostly due to his own opposition to his teacher. If he went back, would Snape teach him this most advanced skill? He had never even considered Legilimency, though he managed some insights briefly into Snape's mind. How it happened, he wasn't sure. He didn't really have control over it. And his being able to see Voldemort's mind was only dim, usually visual, and never what he was planning, only what he was seeing and feeling. He realized yet again, as he had some many times over the past weeks, how truly skilled Severus Snape was. And the degree to which he had squandered opportunities to learn from him. At least he'd had the opportunity to testify on his behalf at his trial, though Snape departed quickly afterward, and as silently as he had been during the proceedings.
But where was it all going, he wondered? Now that Voldemort was defeated and most of his followers having given up the cause (the rest being in Azkaban), what would he do as an Auror? Root out Underage Magic? Go after skips on the Knight Bus? Staring down the future, none of which seemed interesting from his current vantage point, Harry made up his mind to head back to Hogwarts in the fall. He fell asleep thinking of that it would at least be nice to spend another year with Ginny, hopefully having a normal, uneventful year and that he would make up his mind about the rest of his life later.