AN: So it's September 2nd today, unfortunately I didn't get as far with my story as I wanted to, but I thought I owe you to at least to post the next chapter now, since you are always so supportive. I started working again, so I won't be able to post as frequently as I used to. Thank you for not abandoning me and my story.

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

"I would ask the defendants to please stand up, for the proclamation of sentence! The Wizengamot has conferred and also consulted Headmistress Professor McGonagall to come to a conclusion. Mister Thorben Rowle the fact that you showed regret about your act and that you turned yourself in, will act extenuating to your punishment. Mister Thorben Rowle the Wizengamot sentences you to work for nine months at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will board and lodge at the school and Professor Severus Snape will act as your parole officer. Be warned, at the slightest misconduct you will go to Azkaban and serve a four months sentence there. Is there anything you want to add to that Mister Rowle?" The deputy chief warlock asked.

"I want to say once again to Professor Granger and Mister Bell, how sorry I am about what happened and I hope they can forgive me one day," Thorben Rowle said with slumped shoulders, looking at Hermione, who gave him a small encouraging smile, while Marius Mulciber hissed in disgust.

"Mister Marius Mulciber the Wizengamot gives you the chance to decide on your punishment, because we want to give you the chance to take a step in the right direction…"

"Never!" came Mulciber's hateful voice.

"Listen to me Mister Mulciber you have the choice to do a twelve-months community service, similar to Mister Rowle, just not at Hogwarts, or you will go to Azkaban for seven months."

"I'll go to Azkaban with my head held high. It will make all the Death-Eaters imprisoned there proud. PUREBLOODS FOREVER!" he yelled.

"Hold your tongue Mister Mulciber," the deputy chief warlock said.

"I knew it," Severus said quietly to Hermione, "there is no way he would have chosen community service. He is such an idiot. I can't believe it."

Hermione took his hand in both of hers and held onto him tightly.

"So Mister Marius Mulciber will go to Azkaban for seven months. As to you Mister Fabius Jugson and Mister Wotan Travers you haven't been directly involved in the incident, but nevertheless were threatening Mister Bell and Professor Granger. It came to our knowledge that both of you have failed your N.E.W.T.s. So both of you will get the chance to go back to Hogwarts and repeat your last year and take your N.E.W.T.s. You won't be going back to Slytherin House though, you will be sorted in other houses and you will be under direct supervision of Headmistress Minerva McGonagall…"

"What if we are not going back to Hogwarts," Wotan Travers rebelliously cut across her.

Severus rolled his eyes about the stupidity of his student.

"Mister Travers that is not an option. You'll be going back to Hogwarts. At the slightest misconduct you will be doing six months of community service. I hope you can see it at as chance to sort out your life. I would ask you Headmistress McGonagall to take Mister Travers and Mister Jugson back to Hogwarts and you Professor Snape to take care of Mister Rowle. Mister Mulciber you will be brought straight to Azkaban. This case is closed and I hope I won't see you again before the Wizengamot."

"I doubt it," Severus mumbled. There was commotion in the courtroom, since people were leaving.

Thorben Rowle came up to Severus and quietly asked, "What's happening now Sir?"

"Now we are going back to Hogwarts Mister Rowle."

Mulciber who was led off by Aurors stopped in front of Rowle, spat in his face and hissed, "Traitor! That will have severe consequences, mark my words."

One of the Aurors grabbed his arm and yanked him away.

Hermione handed a handkerchief to Thorben and sighed, "I'm afraid he will carry out his threat. Let's go home."

Thorben wiped his face, handed back the handkerchief saying, "Thank you!"

Once the three of them arrived back at Hogwarts, Hermione was off to meet with Neville, who had found a building, meeting all the needs for a nursing home, while Severus led Thorben to his office to talk to him.

"Mister Rowle this year is not going to be a walk in the park. You are going to work hard and you are not going to get into trouble. And I want you to show me, that you really want to change your life."

"Yes Sir," Thorben said.

"And I promise you, to look after you and teach you the things that are necessary for life. Tell me Mister Rowle, what about your mother? I know your father is serving his sentence in Azkaban, but what about your mother?"

"She is in St. Mungo's," Thorben mumbled.

"What happened?"

"I don't want to say," the young wizard whispered.

Severus sighed, "Listen to me, I've been a Death Eater I've seen it all. You don't have to be ashamed of what others have done to your mother. I recall your mother as being a good-looking, intelligent and buoyant woman. What happened to Lalita? Please tell me?"

Thorben hid his face in his hands.

"It must have been the last couple of days before the final battle. But I don't know exactly, because I was at Hogwarts. So I can only guess what happen, from the rumours I've heard and how I found her. So I'm assuming my father invited some of his death eater friends and let them have their way with her. They raped and tortured her repeatedly…" He broke off.

"How did you find her?" Severus asked softly.

"I found her a broken woman, physically and mentally. Let's just leave it at that. I brought her to St. Mungo's and stayed with her the first couple of weeks until it became clear she wouldn't be the same again and it didn't make much of a difference if I stayed or not. But I try to visit her regularly."

"Mister Rowle look at me, I won't be able to help your mum, but I promise you to get you out of this mess, so your future will be brighter. If you want it?"

"I really do Sir. I'm just not sure if I'll manage?"

"I've been where you are now and I found a way you are determined and stay away from the wrong kind of people, you'll manage just fine. So and now we go and find a room for you. You will stay in one of Hogwarts guest rooms."

They walked in silence through the deserted halls of Hogwarts.

"Here we are," Severus announced, opening the door to a room close to the Headmistress' quarters.

"It is one of the bigger guest rooms, since you will be staying for nine months. It has a joint bathroom. Apparently there is not much furniture in here. I'll talk to the Headmistress and you should be able to get something out of the storage rooms."

"Don't worry, Sir. I haven't got much stuff. Just the things I brought with me the beginning of the school year following the end of the war."

"How come?"

"Well the ministry took away our house in my father's trial. That was shortly after I arrived at Hogwarts that autumn."

"I think I recall reading something on the prophet."

"Well, then I'll come with you to get your things from the dungeons and I would ask you to avoid the Slytherin common room for your time staying."

When they came back to Thorben's new room after twenty minutes, he just dumped his things on the bed.

"So Mister Rowle, I've got one task for you today. I'll be going on holiday in two days, during this time Professor Longbottom will be in charge of you. No funny business. Do you understand me?" Severus inquired harshly.

Thorben nodded.

"So your task for today is to think of an useful assignment while I'm gone, let me know when we will have dinner together at the Great Hall tonight. I do have a few things in mind, but I want you to come up with something first," Severus turned around to leave the room, when he all of sudden turned back again his features slightly softened.

"Before I forget Mister Rowle, if you need somebody to talk to, don't hesitate to come to me."

"Thank you Professor Snape, I appreciate the offer."

AN: Sorry I'm not very good with the language used in court, I wouldn't even be very good with that in my own language. I hope you can overlook that.