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After the party… right before bed… he thought of Hermione.
He was ashamed.
It was like a hat he thought he'd try on, but it didn't fit. Not that it didn't fit, but she was dating Ron. Now he needed a Scouring Charm to scrub off this particular betrayal. If he were honest, he doubted she would have minded. It was unspoken. We could have, but we didn't. And we wouldn't. This unuttered acceptance was decided… some year… maybe… fourth? Fifth? Yes, maybe then. They never talked about it and they never would. Maybe they could joke about it but never in front of Ron, or Ginny for that matter. It was too uncomfortable to think of Hermione that way, imagining her saying strange lustful things she would never say, or in poses he only saw on Sirius' posters or in Fred and George's wizarding magazines they refused to share with Ron.
He was sure Hermione could be all those things, but not for him as she never showed him that side. It was difficult to imagine the book-worm extraordinaire acting that way in his mind. Maybe she'd be less Hermione-the-kitten and more 'Hermione's lessons in foreplay.' Yes, maybe even assigning homework from an actual book. Now that sounded more like Hermione. 10 points from Gryffindor, get your mind out of Knockturn Alley. He pushed his plate aside half eaten.
The closer he got to Snape's trial, the more unsure he was of how to approach it. First thing in the morning Hermione presented him with an entire library-scouring schedule, prepared to go full-Buckbeak in creating the perfect defense for Snape with trial precedents. Harry vehemently refused. Something told him this wasn't going to come down to precedent. It was going to come down to…
What could he possibly say without embarrassing him? He had a sneaking suspicion Snape wouldn't want him to mention his mum. What did the Ministry know and what didn't they know regarding Snape's innocence? Would McGonagall bring up his mum if he didn't? What if they asked Harry about every horrible thing that Snape did in the last seven years? Would that unbiased truth hurt or help? Like Draco, Harry had nothing to gain in this situation except keeping a pivotal player out of Azkaban. He felt more like an enemy than a teacher, even now.
But he loved your mum. But… why did that matter so much? An uncomfortable spot inside him said it mattered quite a lot. Like a mean uncle who created a secret Gringotts vault that he only received on his 17th birthday, saving him from a life of poverty. And despite Snape's antagonistic ways, based on the increased eye contact and lack of detentions, the truth may matter to him too. Did he… want to be defended? Did he want to talk about her eventually? An acknowledgement of effort? A truce? Harry finished his orange juice with the thought of them shaking hands and going their separate ways.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it, Harry?"
"No, just thinking…" he said, getting up from the table, wanting to escape to a classroom and study alone before starting the day. "Going to finish up some stuff, I'll meet you later."
One day they were going to have some semblance of a conversation. If anything, Harry wanted to acknowledge that Snape tried to keep him safe for the last seven years, no matter what it cost him or how he personally felt about it. That was worth something.
He blinked and the day of the trial arrived.
Just the facts, he decided as he singed off his excess hair, making sure his scar was very visible. He was Harry Potter, and Severus Snape was NOT going to Azkaban today. He demanded it. He killed Voldemort and the Wizengamot will do what he says.
He started sleeping in the dormitory again. He felt better but still wondered how this affected Dean and Neville. Everyone was still asleep while he got ready, putting on socks with holes in them. For outer clothes, he chose black on top of black on top of black. Yes, that seemed appropriate. He gauged his appearance. Still not sleeping as well as he needed, his war-torn and sullen look may remind them of a battle he was still fighting. Through this grave appearance he was rather impressed with himself: the serious Harry Potter, back from the war, conqueror, vanquisher, and today's star witness.
They couldn't convict him.
Skipping breakfast, he headed straight to the headmaster's office. But when he arrived, four unknown wizards were there too, rigid, hands behind their backs, standing to attention and waiting for some unknown order.
"Morning, Potter." McGonagall barked, severe, sporting perhaps her tightest bun to date. Not a single hair on her head was out of place and her forehead looked stretched with the pressure.
"What…the…" He looked around at the wizards waiting.
"Never you mind. You're here. We're leaving early, now in fact. Are you ready?"
"Are… are we going with…?"
"No. He is already at the Ministry."
Without waiting for an answer, the fire glowed, inviting them to leave.
Flooing into the Ministry, even at this hour, brought them into a crowded atrium. McGonagall's stride was dead-set and dangerous, her boots clacking on the stone with purpose, clearing the early morning crowd with her presence. People stared at her and then at Harry as they passed, the gloomy early morning commuter's eyes following them. After checking in and submitting their wands, they headed to the courtroom and waited outside.
"Potter. Excellent attire. And the hair, the forehead- nice touch, I think."
"Thank you, Professor. And you look… uh, very threatening."
"Indeed, Potter. …Do you have any questions for me?"
"Uhh, no Professor. I think… I think I know what I'm going to say. The truth. It doesn't have to be anything but the truth."
"That's correct. They know the truth, and we will repeat it," and although her voice cut clear and sounded decisive, her eyes were far away and thinking. She was worried. And this made him worry too.
The Wizengamot filed in first, most of them attending- the full court. He prepared himself. Most did not look at him while they entered, but a couple did and smiled. McGonagall rose and Harry followed her into the courtroom.
The Wizengamot sat in a semi-circle facing an empty chair up front. McGonagall and Harry passed Kingsley who looked at them, not betraying any emotion. They sat in seats reserved for them at the very front.
They started promptly at eight.
Kingsley himself escorted Snape in, who looked placid and blank- just another day with a mask. But today's mask was different. As he sat down Harry noted a resigned look, not acknowledging anybody, possibly in preparation for the worst. His hair looked extra slick, perhaps he didn't shower, and his robes were ruffled like he slept in them. And they took his wand. His knees were too close together, his hands in his lap, fingers on one hand holding a finger on the other, nursing the absence of a wand. No, that didn't look good at all.
The courtroom quieted. A round man under an expensive set of robes with red trimmings stood up.
"Severus Snape, you are accused of being a Death Eater under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, accused of allowing the use of the Dark Arts, including the Unforgivables, to be taught at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lead Questioners: myself, Daniel D. Winston and Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic. Witnesses for the Defense: Minerva McGonagall and Harry James Potter. Submitted already are the affidavits from injured students and their parents' formal complaints, and the records of the two students still in St. Mungo's. Severus Snape, how do you plead?"
Snape's eyes were completely glazed over, looking ahead. But the snark wasn't could have sworn his mouth moved, itching to say "Guilty" with a spit and an eyeroll.
"The Ministry had fallen. You are prosecuting me under a government that did not exist."
"Words of a DEATH EATER!" the prosecutor yelled. "FIRST WITNESS!"
The doors flew open and a man was dragged in. Great dislike and hot white anger filled Harry as none other than Macnair, beard as long as Dumbledore's, entered the courtroom with wrists in chains. The wizard looked around wildly like this was his only chance to escape.
"NAME!"
"WALDEN MACNAIR!" he cried.
"Occupation?"
"Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures!"
"You are a convicted Death Eater, correct?"
"I am convicted, yes!" His eyes still circled the room, looking at people like he hadn't seen them in months.
"Do you know Severus Snape?"
"Yes! Everyone knows Snape!"
"Was he a Death Eater?"
"DEATH EATER?" Macnair cried in a merciless laugh. "HE WAS THE DARK LORD'S FAVORITE! His RIGHT HAND man!"
"Indeed!" cried Winston.
"-He KILLED Dumbledore!"
"DID HE NOW?" cried Winston again, waving toward the court for them to see.
"YES! He was one of the most DEVOTED Death Eaters, privy to information none of us had, always by his side. He alone had the Dark Lord's ear!"
"And he was present during the Battle of Hogwarts?"
"Yes!" Macnair cried.
"Did he ever join the other side during the battle, in protection of the staff and students?!"
"NO! He was seen running around, and then he disappeared when the Dark Lord summoned him."
"SO, he did not denounce He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named until the battle was OVER, and IN ST. MUNGO'S?"
"YES!" Macnair confirmed.
"NO FURTHER QUESTIONS!" Winston roared in triumph. Kingsley stayed silent.
No, this was wrong, this was all wrong. Wasn't Kingsley going to say anything? But even as he was thinking this, begging Kingsley to stand up and start asking questions, McGonagall got up slowly and walked towards Macnair, stern and terrifying, her boots counting down the seconds until her witness' demise.
"How many people did -YOU- see Snape kill or torture after Voldemort's resurrection?" she bore into him. Macnair blinked, not prepared for specifics. He wracked his brain, his mouth opening and closing. But it was too late- he was too late! The answer did not come quick enough.
"Many people!" he said, stalling.
"WHO?" McGonagall yelled.
Nothing. He screwed up his face to think.
"WHO!?" she yelled again, louder, radiating fury, throwing it at him, and he cowered.
"…Loads of people!" Macnair cried again, spluttering, and instinctively put his hands up to shield himself from her.
"Not. A. Single. One. Did he? FINAL Question: HOW many years did they promise off your sentence for testifying today?"
"… Three!" and he looked terrified of her. Terrified of Azkaban. Of everything.
"No further questions..." she told the courtroom calmly, never taking her eyes off him.
Winston fumed at McGonagall's competence but did not let himself be perturbed for long. "NEXT WITNESS THEN!"
"NO!" Macnair cried as he was taken away. "I have more, I have MORE!" And the door slammed.
"LUCIUS MALFOY," Winston Announced. The door shot open again and this time Snape was interested, pulling out of his resigned trance to look. The pale tall figure walked in, a dignified but chained skeleton, any remaining color in his hair draining out. He sat down.
"You are Lucius Malfoy?"
"Yes."
He looked terrible. Harry wondered what types of things he heard and experienced trapped in his cell at Azkaban, surrounded by Dementors.
"How long have you known Severus Snape?"
"Since his sorting. Teenagers."
"And are you friends?" Lucius opened his mouth and breathed, an answer caught in his throat. Winston waited but quickly tried another tactic. "When did Severus start showing interest in the Dark Arts?"
"Immediately."
"His first year!?" the prosecutor cried performatively.
"Yes."
"And what type of Dark Magic did you see him perform at Hogwarts?"
"Spells… I didn't even know. By the time I graduated, he seemed to academically possess more Dark Arts knowledge than the whole house of Slytherin."
Harry did not like this. The whole Wizengamot seemed intrigued by this history.
"When did he join the Dark Lord?"
"Immediately," he blinked, emotionless and drained. "After Hogwarts."
"Was he Lord Voldemort's favorite?" the prosecutor urged.
Lucius opened his mouth and paused. "Yes. Towards the end, I think."
"Did he kill Albus Dumbledore?"
Another pause. He did it so your son wouldn't have to, Harry snarled in his seat. But Lucius at least furrowed his brows and closed his eyes, hesitating before he answered. "Yes."
"Did he really denounce the Dark Lord after his first fall 17 years ago?"
"No."
"And you, as his friend, trusted him completely- even asking him to mentor your son at Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"And when did he return to the Dark Lord after his resurrection?"
"Immediately- the same night."
"And DID he participate in every meeting?"
"No."
"No…?" the prosecutor raised his voice, not foreseeing this answer.
"No," Lucius confirmed. "He was tasked with playing Dumbledore's pet. If he joined the Death Eater gatherings his absence at Hogwarts would be noticed. He was almost never there in the beginning, came afterwards or in the middle of the night to speak with the Dark Lord, alone."
Snape watched Lucius testify against him like it was a mildly interesting muggle television program. Entertaining, but something not happening to him personally.
"Was he at Hogwarts under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's orders?"
"Yes."
"Was Snape named headmaster, under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's orders?"
"Yes."
"And were the Dark Arts taught last year while Severus Snape was headmaster, ON HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED'S-ORDERS?"
"Yes."
"AND on the night of the Battle of Hogwarts, where was Severus Snape?"
"Looking for Harry Potter."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Lucius admitted. "Everyone was fighting- chaos… I was looking for my son, and he was looking for Harry Potter. Severus looked calm… but I knew him. He looked calm, but he was frantic. We both were. Agitated and afraid. I could feel it. I… I knew him."
"You knew him..." said the prosecutor quietly, nodding kindly as any bedside healer.
"Yes, I knew him."
"SO! You knew he was a Dark Arts fanatic, joined the Death Eaters immediately, never renounced and rejoined He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named immediately after his return, AND you can confirm he killed Albus Dumbledore! Is this correct?" Winston smiled, his big win all over his face.
"Yes," Lucius said, giving a small nod. And when it was all stacked like that Harry didn't know how they were going to get out of this. It was too much- it all sounded too bad. And Lucius was an excellent witness.
"So, you KNOW HIM! RESPONSIBLE for the Dark Arts taught under his rule at Hogwarts- A TRUE DEATH EATER!"
"No," Lucius said, and the Wizengamot cocked their heads at this sudden refusal. Winston paused, confused.
"…No…?" he asked.
"I knew him," Lucius said in the past tense. "I thought I knew him. He was lying to my family the entire time. I don't know who he is anymore..." For the first time, resentment and pain shook in his voice. This turn in testimony weighed heavily in the courtroom, no one speaking. With that, Lucius turned off, eyes going dark. Defeated. ...And he was ready to be taken away.
"Well!" Winston bustled, trying to save the testimony. "There you HAVE IT! Fooled EVERYBODY! A Death Eater, OBSESSED WITH THE DARK ARTS and-"
But Harry's heart quickened… Lucius managed to confirm everything the prosecutor said while leaving gaping doubt of Snape's intentions!
"HOLD ON!" McGonagall stood up. "Cross examination- MR. MALFOY, how many months or years off your sentence did you ask for in exchange for this testimony?"
Lucius turned looking broken, knowing he would be returned to Azkaban within the hour. "None."
Her nostrils flared. "No FURTHER QUESTIONS!" she roared. And her presence was worth 1000 wizards. The current headmaster of Hogwarts: behold her and her fury.
"NEXT WITNESS!" Winston cried, Lucius being led away. Harry didn't know how he could feel this bad for someone he never liked. But soon he received another shock as the door banged open and Mundungus Fletcher walked into the room looking nervous, eyes darting around the room. Harry's mouth twisted as this new witness for the prosecution sat down, unsure and uncomfortable to be in court.
"Name!"
"Mundungus Fletcher."
"Occupation!" and although it was a routine question, Winston realized his mistake immediately: a thief… a swindler. He didn't wait for an answer and moved on at once. "How do you know Severus Snape?"
"Well, we were spies for 'ol Dumbley-dore, weren't we?"
"Were you now? And was Severus Snape... a good spy?"
"Oh yeah, 'e had everyone fooled. Master of it, wasn't 'e?No one seemed to like 'im though in the Order. A bit shifty."
And the gull of Mundungus calling anyone shifty was enough to make Harry's blood boil.
"SHIFTY! And… why WAS that?"
"Well, e's a bit unlikeable, isn't 'e? Knows all sorts of Dark Magic. A bit mean."
"So, even when he was working for Dumbledore he still showed… a lack of… moral fiber?"
"I think there's more fiber in 'is Potions!" Mundungus said, still looking around the room. "Not to mention 'e cursed Fred Weasley's ear off. AN' e killed Mad Eye Moody."
"WHAT!?" McGonagall jumped to her feet and Harry yelled too. Mundungus, who had been avoiding their gaze until now, looked at them, worried.
"ORDER!" cried Winston. Members of the Wizengamot looked at them too disapprovingly for interrupting. "If you CANNOT contain yourself, you are not entitled to be in this court room. Mr. Fletcher, please go on."
"I was there!" Mundungus said, looking straight into Winston. "'E cursed off a boy's ear! And 'e killed Mad-eye Moody!"
McGonagall opened her mouth, screaming in silent fury, clutching her wand for dear life. Harry screwed up his face with a rage he forgot he could even experience.
Mundungus looked at the pair of them and realized what a mistake it was to be here. He would not make it five feet out of the Ministry alive if he continued his testimony against Snape. "Yes… he killed… killed… uh…"
"Tell me Mr. Fletcher… where were you on the night Alastor Moody disappeared?"
"I was on 'is broomstick, protectin' 'im!" He shot a nervous look at the pair of them and looked more scared still. Even Snape smiled at his testimony, amused against his will.
"You were there when Snape shot a killing curse at Mad Eye Moody?" Winston gasped, enraptured.
"Yes!" Mundungus exclaimed confidently. But with another glance at McGonagall, who's ears were red and steaming… "Uhhh, no, actually, there were several Death Eaters chasin' us, not sure 'ose spell 'it 'im. Kinda dark, you know…"
"You just testified that Severus Snape killed Alastor Moody," Winston reminded him hotly.
"I… I know… 'e just... 'e looked the angriest."
Winston screwed up his face, regretting his choice of a witness. "And this… Fred! Fred Weasley, he got his ear cursed off?"
"NO! NO, it was GEORGE! YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE!" Harry bellowed from his seat.
"MR. POTTER!" Winston abhorred. "ONE MORE OUTBURST and I'll have you REMOVED from this COURTROOM!" McGonagall grabbed to steady him but her nails cut deep into his arm.
"George!" Mundungus corrected himself. "'S'right. It was George, wasnnit? Funny bloke. You know. Can't tell em apart."
"SO, Snape cursed George's ear off, his twin, using Dark Magic? Wound never healed?"
"'S'right. Snape did. Honest truth, mind. Everyone knows 'bout it. Surprised e's not 'ere to testify."
"SO, Snape, a known spy, cannot even contain his hatred for the people around him, present during the murder of Mad Eye Moody, used DARK MAGIC to curse a boy's ear off? Do I have that RIGHT?"
"Yeah, f' the mos' part."
"Is there anything ELSE you'd like to add? Any OTHER concerning information you'd like to give?"
He caught McGonagall's and Harry's terrible gazes again. They would let him kill Mundungus, Harry considered. He was the Boy Who Lived- they would give him this. McGonagall radiated 'they will never find your body either.' And more concerning yet, Snape smiled such a sweet smile, it could only mean the worst and most creative revenge of them all.
"Dumbledore liked 'em… weird bloke. But Snape's a weird bloke too, ain't he? A'right though. Never seen 'em 'urt anyone besides the twin. 'Urt's people's feelins with 'is mouth mostly. Nasty, but a'right. Dumbledore trusted 'im."
And then Winston looked like he wanted to murder Mundungus as much as they did.
"MY TURN, I think!" McGonagall raised and Mundungus cowered in his seat as if she was ready to end him then and there right in front of the Wizengamot. He wasn't entirely wrong.
She got close, real close, and took a harrowing breath.
"DID Snape KILL… Mad-Eye Moody!?"
"I… No!"
"Did Snape CURSE 'FRED'S' ear off!?"
"Uhhh- NO!"
"Did SNAPE have the SKILL to -OUTSMART- AND! -KILL- Dumbledore!? When OTHERS have so gloriously FAILED!?"
"I…! I don' think so!"
"DID DUMBLEDORE TRUST SNAPE, IMPLICITLY!?"
"I… YES!" He was so low in his seat now, the members of the court could barely see his panicked eyes. "Snape's a'right! Workin' for Dumbledore, wass'n 'e? Snape's smart, ain't he? Put 'im in charge, didn't 'e? What would happen to the students if 'e wass'n there? Student killins, an' the like!"
The entire room went silent. And Harry could feel it. Everyone in the court was thinking what would have happened at Hogwarts if Snape wasn't there to manipulate both sides all year.
"NO. FURTHER. QUESTIONS!" she declared, screaming these words directly in Mundungus' face.
And when Mundungus left the courtroom, he ran.
"Severus Snape-" Winston directed at him, going in for the kill. "Were you headmaster of Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry last year?"
"Yes…" Snape smiled in the face of his accuser.
"Did Voldemort believe you were his loyal Death Eater?"
"Thankfully he did…" and the nuance was not missed.
"And did you employ Alectro Carrow and Amycus Carrow, fellow Death Eaters?"
"Not by choice..." he whispered but everyone still managed to hear.
"They were appointed by 'Your Master?'"
Snape sneered at the title. "Yesssss…"
"Under your rule, did the Carrows teach the Dark Arts, INCLUDING the Unforgivables?"
"Yeessss…" and it was a barely audible hiss now.
"And did they perform Unforgivables ON STUDENTS!?"
"Yeessssss…"and his eyes were slits, mere lines, begging him to ask the next question.
"And what did you DO when these atrocious crimes were happening at Hogwarts?"
"I pulled them into my office… and told them to STOP. I didn't want any more Howlers."
Mouths collectively dropped. Harry groaned. McGonagall stiffened.
"And when they CONTINUED …did you fire them?"
"I could not fire them, as you very well know. I did not have the power… nor the… authority. Though I did ask the Dark Lord to provide me with Death Eaters that had a little more brains than cruelty."
Through Snape's sarcasm there were nods and murmurs. The Carrows' trials did not paint them with much humanity or cunning.
Winston lost his stride. McGonagall seized her moment.
"SEVERUS-!"
He looked at her but did not answer.
"Why… why did Dumbledore leave you in charge of Hogwarts, opposed to me?"
"…He knew Voldemort would overtake the Ministry. It had to be me."
"HEARSAY! We don't know that! How do we know that Dumbledore intended him to be in charge? There's no record of that!"
"AS YOU WELL KNOW, MR. WINSTON, I have FOUR professional portrait makers IN MY OFFICE, ready to dismantle Dumbledore's Portrait and BRING HIM HERE! Despite he gave his own memories clearing Snape 17 years ago, PROVING his innocence beyond a SHADOW OF A DOUBT- WE ARE HERE!"
"WE DO NOT INTERROGATE PORTRAITS, HEADMISTRESS!" Winston screamed back at her.
"THEN WHERE ARE THE MEMORIES!? IF you are not PLAYING BY THE RULES, HIDING evidence, I DEMAND to dismantle Dumbledore's portrait and bring it here! It can happen IMMEDIATLEY!"
"Oh, Dumbledore! Here? I'd LOVE to see him again!" an old wizard said excitedly behind Harry.
"The answer is NO, McGonagall, this is a courtroom, not a CIRCUS! portraits of dead wizards will be questioned!"
"FINE," she yelled. "But if you change your mind or ANY member of the court would like to come to Hogwarts to talk to Dumbledore, the DOOR is OPEN." Several members of the court brightened and looked rather pleased with the thought of visiting and talking to Dumbledore.
"NO one!" and her voice cracked. "NO one could know of Snape's true intentions. The Ministry was going to FALL," she tried to make them understand. "Voldemort had to trust him… had to… I was so scared… if I only knew… I thought…" and she lost what she was saying like water through fingers. "Severus..." and for once there was a plea in her voice. "Is there... is there… anything... you would like to say in your defense?
And they waited while he considered carefully.
The court watched Snape reach into his robes and pull out three tattered pamphlets, unfolding them, smoothing them over with his fingers. Winston's eyes bulged. "These are Ministry Educational Decrees 33-35, 37, and 39 signed by our former Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse, also signed by Josephine Glassheart, who still works at the Ministry. Both signatures approving, no, forgive me… REQUIRING... a Dark Arts curriculum, including the Unforgivables, to be taught at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"YOU! HOW DID YOU… you can't BRING your own evidence into the courtroom! It must be SUBMITTED!" and he snatched the signed Ministry decrees out of his hand.
"WE DIDN'T WANT those COPIES to go missing, as the Ministry HAS BURNT the others!" McGonagall yelled. "I ALREADY submitted copies! SO WHERE ARE THEY?"
"… If the Ministry was under The Dark Lord's control, how was anything 'I overlooked' at Hogwarts illegal?" Snape continued. "If Voldemort was akin to Minister of Magic, I was following Ministry orders and their signed decrees. If I am tried and found guilty, so should… Every. Ministry. Official… whose signatures are on the paperwork, Death Eater or no. And oh there are so many other decrees signed that year. I shall only be the first to be tried."
A very uncomfortable silence spread over the room. The entire Ministry was full of innocent witches and wizards that worked through Voldemort's entire reign.
"Are we done yet, Winston?" McGonagall bit.
"Yes, I think we are," he agreed surprisingly, standing up to his full height and directed the court. "In light of recent evidence, as well as admissions, I am changing the proposed sentence from 25 years to THREE in Azkaban." Members of the Wizengamot started talking and nodding. Only a few were still thinking or looked undecided. "All in FAVOR-"
"WAIT!" Harry cried, standing. They all stared at him. "I… I wasn't called as a witness."
Winston stared. McGonagall stared. Snape's eyes glazed over and turned to stone, knowing what was about to happen.
"We are about to RULE Mr. Potter!" Winston declared authoritatively.
"And I wasn't QUESTIONED! I didn't give evidence… or anything!"
He looked at McGonagall, resigned to this last measure. She gave the smallest of nods.
Harry stood up, unsure if he should face Winston or the court. "He… he protected me," he said. "He … I didn't like him, I hated Snape, but he protected me."
No one questioned him. Not Winston, not McGonagall, both knowing why but had their own reasons for keeping this information private. Harry looked at Snape, waiting for permission to talk about it, but Snape could have been a statue. Nothing.
"I… he loved my mum," Harry said, not ready to say it. "Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew- Lily Evans, some of you must have known her… must have met her!" he pleaded. "They were friends, childhood friends, you could have asked anyone at Hogwarts during that time. They were inseparable the first few years. He loved her! And Voldemort killed her. That's why… that's why…" and his chest felt like it was going to restrict and never release. "That's why he… Dumbledore…" he fumbled. "And... Voldemort… had to die… "
The courtroom was silent. Winston said nothing at first… then said two little words:
"Prove it."
"You have Dumbledore's MEMORIES!" McGonagall yelled indignantly, some of her hair finally escaping her bun with this last push for reason. Snape was still stone, unwilling to admit to anything.
"His Patronus!" Harry tried again, pointing. "It's a doe! My mother's! It was a doe! Some of you… some of you must have known her!" and in the courtroom, there were a couple wide eyes of recognition. "Her's is a doe! And his is too! It is!"
"A COINCIDENCE!" Winston yelled impatiently.
"I THINK NOT!" McGonagall yelled back. "SEVERUS!"
But he did not move from his chair.
"Severus!" she implored him. They all waited.
And waited.
And in that moment, he chose Azkaban.
"Professor…!" Harry cried. "You have to! I'm sorry!"
"Severus…" and McGonagall's voice broke again. Snape's eyes were sealed shut, determined not to look at them. "Please… you must…" and the pain in her voice was too much. "For Hogwarts… please…"
Without saying a word, Snape rose and held out his hand expectantly, making grasping motions with his fingers. Several people looked at each other wondering if this was a good idea, but Kingsley motioned for them to do it. They brought him his wand.
And in a few moments the room darkened with her arrival.
She was beautiful. Just as beautiful as Harry remembered her walking in the snow. A white elegant ghost of light walking around the courtroom… politely… innocently… graciously. And this had come from Severus Snape. This pure white enigma. The god-like embodiment of love and happiness.
She illuminated only herself- the courtroom did not exist except for her. Harry couldn't see the Wizengamot anymore, but he could hear their gasps of longing in her presence.
Snape was almost to the Floo, wand back in hand, billowing past everyone in a quick escape.
"STOP! Wait!" Harry chased him out of the courtroom and the entire length of the atrium. Snape resolutely ignored him until he was right behind him, close enough to grab. "Wait! Please…"
"POTTER! What IS IT? Isn't this ENOUGH?" He turned, robes flying around him.
"I'm.. I… I'm sorry!" he stuttered, looking at Snape's horrible contorted face, so different than the placid one in the courtroom. "I didn't want to… I wasn't going to… but…"
"Of course Potter, you'd have to come in and REPLACE Dumbledore as my keeper and personal savior."
"No, sir, I didn't mean…"
"You did exactly as expected. Excellent show of: 'Truth,' 'Fairness' and… 'Gallantry,'" he spat. "You play your part well."
"I'm not playing a part!" Harry begged him.
"Oh, I know, Potter," Snape smiled horribly, his whitened teeth flashing malevolently. "It is astounding. I assume you'll get your own house soon," he cocked his head. "Full of foolhardiness… truth at all costs, a mixture of sub-standard students that are Hufflepuff with their words, Gryffindor with their actions, Slytherin with the rules, and no ounce of Ravenclaw at all."
Harry stared at him, taken aback by the insult. He didn't expect Snape to be thankful, but- "Well, as long as I get my own Quidditch team."
"No, I think not, Potter," Snape whispered, twisting his mouth and turning to the Floo. "Your inner demons ate the Snitch." He disappeared into the fire leaving Harry stunned by the rather personal attack.
Back in the headmaster's office Harry waited for McGonagall but she never arrived. The four professional portrait makers admired many of the beautiful portraits on the walls before taking their leave.
Harry was alone.
"My, my, Severus left in quite the hurry. He looked furious," Dumbledore chuckled on the wall. "Good job, Harry."
"Oh, uh, thank you, sir," Harry blinked. The other portraits looked around, alert, waiting for more official news. After 30 minutes of waiting and McGonagall did not reappear, Harry left, nodding to the portraits as he did so.
Rumor had it, she caught up with Mundungus.