"Order, order in the court." Came from the new Chief Warlock Tiberius Ogden. "Bring in the next prisoner please."
Struggling against his guards as he was dragged in was none other than Severus Snape. Somehow the greaseball had slimed his way through the war alive even though everyone believed him dead. It was pure coincidence he was found as he was walking through Knockturn Alley. While trying to steal his money pouch the thief accidentally pulled his robes enough to stop the hood from covering his face. Local Auror patrol, recognizing him as Dumbledore's killer, stunned him.
He almost got away with claims of imperius since as he was believed to be a pure-blood, seriously, who'd believe the head of Slytherin and a top Death Eater was anything else, the use of veritaserum was not allowed. However, man of the hour and newly minted Auror Harry Potter informed everyone about his true status as a half blood.
Even then it was hard going as they believed he had ingested a potion to help fight the effects. So they had to administer flushing potions and wait for a month as that's how long the average long-term potion can stay in the system.
Now though, they had the needed confession that he indeed hit Dumbledore with the Avada Kedavra.
Sitting him in the chair, the chains snapped up and wrapped around him tightly. His trademark sneer in place he glared at the various members of the wizengamot. Everyone could tell he expected to get off without any repercussions.
"The charges against Severus Snape are murder of Albus Dumbledore, and casting an unforgivable. Under veritaserum question the prisoner has admitted he used the Avada Kedavra to kill Albus Dumbledore. With respect to his assistance given to Harry Potter during the Battle of Hogwarts and work as a spy we will not be charging him with his activities since that death. Does the prisoner have anything to say in his defense?"
"Yes I do" Snape said in his oily tone with his sneer still in place. "Something that didn't come out during my questioning, I may have killed Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders, but they were also Albus' orders. He was dying and wanted me to maintain my cover as a spy." He didn't mention protecting Draco as he, accurately, didn't think people would equate Draco's life with Dumbledore's. "So you see, I'm innocent." After another round of questioning with veritaserum to prove his statement, Snape sat back with a shit eating grin now, knowing he would soon be free.
Alas, in a comic twist of fate, the family that has been thwarting him his whole life, at least in his mind, stepped in and blocked his freedom.
"Excuse me, may I say something." The-Man-Who-Conquered made his presence known. Chief Warlock Ogden looked at him for a moment before replying, "It's rather unusual, but I'll allow it."
"We have discovered that Mr. Snape killed Professor Dumbledore not only because Voldemort wanted him to, but because Dumbledore himself wanted it as well. And honestly that's not the whole story. He also did it to save a young Draco Malfoy, who he made an unbreakable vow to protect after he was given the task to kill the Professor himself."
There were several gasps at this, and a very bewildered look from Snape at what was happening. It sounded like Potter was actually trying to make him look good. Harry burst that bubble with the rest of his statement.
"What seems to be ignored though is the method. He cast an unforgivable. THE killing curse." looking around, Harry made sure to make eye contact with everyone willing to look him in the eyes. "If I've learned anything from the Death Eaters, it's that you have to mean it." Snapes face crumbled and started to pale as he realized where this was headed. "Barty Crouch Jr. in fourth year showed us all 3. And later Bellatrix LeStrange herself made sure I knew I'd be unable to successfully cast them since I was unable to dredge up the required emotion for them to be effective."
By this point everyone was hanging on his words. Wizengamot members were rethinking everything they knew of Death Eater cases, some dark families started looking worried, and even some reporters were so entranced that they stopped writing.
"They are classified as Unforgivables because you have to mean it. Not because they're unblockable, only the Imperius can't be blocked, but it can be fought against. With that being said, regardless of his orders, he truly had to want to kill Dumbledore for his AK to work. And even if we ignore that, and accept that he was only doing it because he was told, he has admitted to casting an Unforgivable on another wizard. Last I knew, that's life in Azkaban no matter the reason. But just for shits and giggles, let's ask him for his motivations and what he truly contributed to the war as a spy."
This round of questioning went vastly different. The world was introduced to a truly sick individual. He admitted he wanted Dumbledore dead so he could stop listening to his redemption speeches. His only spy information was what Voldemort wanted passed on. And worst of all, he was using his position os professor, and later headmaster, to recruit new Death Eaters and scout potential victims.
Life in Azkaban was deemed too easy for him, especially with the Dementors gone, so he was dragged kicking and screamin to the veil. Foaming at the mouth like a rabid animal, his last words were used to curse the name of Potter.
