50: The Trial

Chapter 50: The Trial

Hermione's impromptu press conference in the Ministry of Magic after she left Gawain Robards' office would have been a great deal more fun if it been hadn't so important to her. Still, she managed to derive a bit of amusement by the way the press lapped up her words about how Robards had agreed that Severus Snape needed a full hearing. All of his deeds during the war needed to be illuminated so all wizardkind would see that the man who killed the beloved Albus Dumbledore got what he deserved. Her main goal had been to assure that the Ministry couldn't back out of holding the trial in a timely manner, as she was sure Scrimgeour would have tried to do.

The next morning, Hermione received an owl with a letter from Gawain Robards with the date and time of Severus' trial and the list of charges against him.

1-The murder of Albus Dumbledore

2-The Imperius of Hermione Granger while he was her Professor at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry (A double offense as he was in a position of trust over her)

3-Attacking the students with his fellow Death Eaters at the Muggle school in West Surrey

4-Conspiracy to undermine the Ministry of Magic and the structure of the wizarding world.

5-Rape of a student while still her professor

She looked at the list and smiled. She had iron-clad proof that all of these charges were bogus, or at least enough to bring a bit more than a shadow of a doubt. Hermione looked at the diary sitting beside her on the nightstand and wished he had his copy to read. She had decided after returning from the Ministry the previous afternoon to write even if he didn't have his copy. Even if he didn't have the diary on him, he would know she had written him. Her goal was to give him hope, if nothing else. And Tonks was going to try and get it to him, one way or another.

Just in case the prison guards decided to taunt Severus with the news today about how she had pushed the Ministry to give him a quick trial, "So that every witch and wizard can have a full accounting of his deeds during this war," she wanted him to know her thoughts on it. And if he didn't get to read them until after the trial was over, she still wanted him to know her feelings during his incarceration. They were such a part of each other now, she had grown to where sharing everyday little thoughts and comments with him was more than second nature.

She had felt his gnawing hunger when she woke that morning, but it subsided shortly after, so she hoped that meant he had eaten and not that he had gotten beyond hunger. When she really focused on him, she felt his loneliness, knew he was cold and alone in the cell, or at least felt alone in it, even if others were present. She hoped he wasn't placed in a cell with any of the Death Eaters who would decide to take revenge on him for thwarting Voldemort. So far no one had hurt him...that was a relief in any case.

Hermione picked up the diary again and began a new entry. Dear Severus, I don't know if you will be allowed to read this before your trial, but I wanted you to know that I've seen the list of charges against you, and they've got nothing on you except Dumbledore, but I think I have a way worked around that.

We are going to get you out of there, even if I have to have all of the house-elves assist me in attacking Azkaban to break you free. But I don't think it will come to that. I miss you terribly and hope Tonks is able to get the diary to you like she promised to try and do. I'm taking care of myself and the baby so you don't have to yell at me about it when you get out. I love you more than anything. Be careful and I'll see you next week.

Deciding that was enough for the moment, Hermione began carefully organizing her plan of attack against the charges laid at her husband's feet.

*****

Severus had been in his cell for a full two days with his only word from the outside coming from what his jailers provided. The previous day they had tossed in a copy of the Daily Prophet with his picture splashed across the front page. Severus had read the story with great distain, but ripped the paper around the headline picture of them taking out the Dark Lord, and the one of himself kissing Hermione, and stashed them under his pillow. She was in them both, after all, and he needed to see her image, to be reminded of her kisses on the field before he had been hexed and carried off.

He had heard her protests. The hex the Auror had used had made him incapable of responding, but he had still heard everything. And he knew Bill Weasley had come to comfort her. It had made him angry, but not as angry as if it had been Bill's youngest brother. He had felt Hermione's despair that day and some the following day, but she had become determined as well, irritated and angry. Those last three were very encouraging.

The second morning when he had awoken, he had again been graced with a copy of the Daily Prophet, this time with a picture of his wife facing a crowd of reporters, righteous indignation shone on her face. He had been sure she was shouting his innocence to any who would listen until he read the headline: "Best Friend of Boy Who Lived Calls for Snape to Pay for Evil Deeds"

His stomach had dropped until he read the text of the story. She was quoted thoroughly throughout the story, but not once did she personally refer to his actions as criminal or wrong. In every quote she referred to his actions coming to light, people needing to know what kind of man he really was, his true motivations. The words were very carefully made to sound angry without hurting his case and made him smile.

His jailer was Matthew Smith, a Muggleborn Hufflepuff who had been dismal at Potions and graduated from Hogwarts some six years earlier. When the man had walked by and seen the smile on his face, he had shivered. That made Severus' smile turn a bit sinister. The man probably thought he was plotting against the little wench, but really, he was soaking in every word his wife said. The Ministry of Magic was going to be in for a big surprise if he knew his wife at all.

The day was starting to wane before Severus saw another human being. To his disgust, it was Nymphadora Tonks, the clumsiest Auror ever to finish training alive. "What do you want from me?" he asked as Smith brought her to his cell.

"A few minutes to interrogate you, Snape. What do you think I'm doing here, bringing loving words from your woman?" When Smith snorted, she turned and rolled her eyes. "Let me in there, then you can go away for a while. I'll be a bit."

"He's a dangerous criminal; I can't leave you alone in there, Nymphadora." They had been in school together, of course, though not the same year. Severus seriously doubted she appreciated the man's sudden protective streak any more than she liked him using her first name.

"Of course you can. I'm a tough little Auror and I've got the wand, one that won't respond to anyone but me. He's helpless." She wiggled her eyebrows and changed her hair to purple. "Besides, there are a few things I'd like to say to him that the Auror office might not be so happy about, if you know what I mean. It'd be better if I didn't have an audience."

Smith laughed one of those mean, he's-gonna-get-it-and-I-couldn't-be-happier laughs. He winked at her, then opened the door to let her in. "In that case, I'll take my time."

"I'd appreciate it." Tonks shot some ropes out at Severus, tying him to the bed and walked into the cell. When he protested, she cast a silent Silencio. "You'll talk when I say you'll talk. Thanks, Smith, I'll holler when I'm ready to come out."

Tonks circled the bed, watching Severus with a bit of evil in her eyes. When she finished the second pass, Severus heard the door clang shut behind her and she sighed and released his bonds. Whispering, she said, "I was starting to think he wasn't ever going to go away."

Reaching into her long jacket, she withdrew his diary. "I've got something for you here, and a special spell to make things a bit easier. Set your hand on it."

He blinked in surprise and yearned to snatch the book up. He knew Hermione had written in it twice and couldn't wait to read her words, but decided he best pretend it wasn't the one possession he wanted more than anything while he was in this hell hole. Besides his wife, of course. "You brought my notebook? What good is the ingredient list for the Draught of Living Death going to do me?"

"Thought it might give you time to refine your theories before you get the final pronouncement. Set your hand on it, I said." Her voice was tough, but as her back was to the door, her face was more apologetic than anything.

He was almost afraid this was a trap to get the spell taken off the book that made it readable only to himself. Then again, how could that hurt him? Besides the embarrassment of having his every thought opened to the perusal of Aurors, it would prove that he had been assisting the Order in the fight against the Dark Lord. Severus placed his hand on the book, and she muttered a charm he hadn't heard before. It grew warm under his hand, but other than that, he noticed no difference.

Tonks nodded and released the book. "I can't see it anymore, and neither will anyone else until I take the charm off of it. Only you can see it, so your jailers won't know you've even got it. Be careful that they don't see you writing in it if you don't want them thinking you've gone nutters. Hermione's worried you aren't being taken care of. Doing OK? I mean, other than needing a bath?" She wrinkled her nose a bit as she drew closer to him.

"The only thing I needed was this book. Thank you." He opened the book to the last page he had written on and found his pen still flattened in it.

"Do you need me to expand your pen?"

He shook his head, "I can do it without a wand. It's simple enough magic." He could do considerably more difficult magic than that without a wand, but there was no need to say so, not unless he wanted them to stick cuffs on him that would inhibit his using any magic at all.

"Good. Your court date is set, was announced today for next Tuesday; that's only five days. Hermione's already going great guns and is putting together a smashing defense, so don't worry too much. Even the murder charge has avenues she's been working around. It'll all be fine."

"Thank you," he said haltingly. "For coming here, for bringing me this." He hugged the book to his chest, and she blinked in confusion.

"I don't see anything, you must be going around the bend." She smiled at him, then stood from where she had been crouching in front of him. "Now I'm going to have to bind you again to make it look good, but put a pained expression on your face, will you? He has to think I've been torturing you all this time."

"With a silencing charm in place?"

Her grin was wicked. "Aren't Aurors supposed to be ruthless bastards?" She cast the rope charm on him again when he lay back into the same position, and he contorted his body a bit so the ropes were a little uncomfortable and put on a pained expression.

"Hey, Smith, I'm ready to go now," she called out loudly.

A moment later the door at the end of the hall opened, and the man stuck his head through. "Did you need something?"

"Yeah, I'm done here."

The man walked over and let her out of the cell. When the clang of metal on metal indicated the door was closed, Tonks ended her other charm with a cure-all spell and Severus began spluttering in indignation as though he had been silenced the whole time.

"I like that," Tonks said to the jailer with an evil grin. "He wouldn't speak a word to me the whole time I was in there. Had to get right nasty with him too, and it didn't do any good. Then as soon as I release his bonds, he won't shut up."

Smith laughed and slapped her on the back. "I like the way you work, Auror Tonks. Doing anything tonight?"

She cackled as they walked down the hall, and the final words Severus heard her say before the door closed on the two of them were, "I've got a date with a werewolf."

Somehow Severus doubted the man took that quite the way Tonks meant it. Still, he didn't waste any more time thinking about Tonks, but rather opened his diary again and began reading his wife's words.

*****

Hermione was sitting down to dinner when she received confirmation that Severus had written in his diary. Or at least that someone had. She snatched her copy up and flipped it open to the right page.

My dear, I'm so glad to see confirmation that your actions at the Ministry were for my benefit. I was beginning to worry that there would be no court date at all.

He continued on describing what had happened to him since the battle and suggested a couple points she might consider in her defense of him, based on the charges she had listed against him. Hermione's hand went to her throat, and her eyes filled with tears as she read how Tonks had slipped him the diary and made it invisible so no one would try and take it from him. Once the initial surprise had worn off, the members of the Order had really banded around her to help with Severus' defense. Well, other than Ron, who was still being a prat.

Hermione thought back to the risks Tonks had taken. That woman really was a bit dangerous, and not just because she knocked over everything in sight. Hermione had plans at Headquarters that night to work on Severus' defense with Harry, and she now had more to bring to the table. Hermione made a mental note to write to her parents, begging off on her expected visit for a little longer.

She had work to do.

*****

Courtroom Ten was packed with people when Hermione arrived with Harry, Tonks, Remus and most of the Weasley clan at her side on the day of the trial. Ron was still being a prat, but as she didn't have time to devote to that little problem, she decided to worry about it another week when things weren't so hectic. There were VIP seats near the door just for her group of people willing to testify in the court case. Hermione understood that many of the others the Aurors had tried to bring against her husband had been too afraid of reprisals to speak against him. That made her supremely happy.

Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic, had publicly come out and offered the members of the Order any boon within his power to grant as thanks for their work to save the wizarding world from "Lord Thingy." Hermione hoped that the Wizengamot would be reasonable enough for her not to have to pull this ace from her sleeve, but she wouldn't hesitate to ask for her husband as her boon if needed. The Ministry could well afford her terms if it became necessary.

Now, however, she would accept the more comfortable chairs she had been granted and wait for the first sight of her husband. Severus told her the previous night that he had finally been granted a bath and fresh change of clothing for the hearing. She thought it rich that they could allow their prisoners to wallow in filth for weeks, but spiff them up for public view. After all, the Minister had promised criminals waiting for trial were being given humane treatment, and it wouldn't do to let people know the truth.

Bulbs flashed, reporters asked questions, but Hermione and her friends waited silently for the trial to begin, though Mr. Weasley did try once or twice to tell the desperate reporters that they would learn everything they needed in the trial. Eventually he gave up.

Then they brought Severus into the room. He looked even more sallow than usual and despite his bath the previous night, he looked even more unkempt than his Potions' master persona had been. Though he had been fed, he had lost some weight...weight he could hardly afford to lose, in her opinion. Hermione's heart filled with joy just to see him again. She longed to reach out and touch him, but he didn't so much as meet her eye. That had been expected, as they agreed to keep the appearance that she was here to testify against him, instead of the other way around until the last moment. She watched him sit on the chair and the chains clamp around his arms and legs. Reminding herself not to react, Hermione composed her face quickly and turned to Harry. "I suppose we'll start soon, then."

"Yeah. You'll be fine. You'll be brilliant; you know you will. Tonight you'll be back at that mysterious house of yours again, snuggled up together." He pulled a face. "Sorry, still can't deal with that image. It's a good thing you love him cause I doubt anyone else ever could."

Hermione nudged him with her elbow, but refrained from verbally taking him to task, as she appreciated his help putting everything together for the defense, even if he did still dislike Severus a great deal.

Finally the Wizengamot all filed in and took their seats, followed by Rufus Scrimgeour and his aids. After a moment to settle, Minister Scrimgeour stood and took the stand. "We are here today to try Severus Sebastian Snape for his crimes which are:

"1-The murder of Albus Dumbledore.

2-The Imperius of Hermione Granger while he was her professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

3-Attacking the students with his fellow Death Eaters at the Muggle school in West Surrey.

4-Conspiracy to undermine the Ministry of Magic and the structure of the wizarding world.

5-Rape of a student while still her professor.

"These issues will be handled in the order the witness deems appropriate for his defense." With that, Scrimgeour sneered. It was obvious he thought there were no witnesses for the defense. "Mr. Snape, which item would you prefer to start on?"

Hermione sat perfectly still, her face blank, though her stomach was tied in knots and her hands were clasped together a little tighter than usual on her lap. She and the others had been over this the previous night and decided to start with the third item first.

Though his arms and legs were in chains, Severus looked supremely unconcerned. "The third one, if you will. The attack on the Muggle school. You are welcome to begin your argument first, if you like."

"Very well." Scrimgeour looked pleased by this turn of events. "Auror Tonks, if you would please address the Wizengamot on your experiences that evening."

Tonks, for once wearing her hair in a more subdued red, one that almost passed for natural, stood and smoothed her completely respectable robes. "Minister Scrimgoeur and members of the Wizengamot, on the evening of September 15, there was a full-scale Death Eater attack of a Muggle high school in West Surrey. The Aurors were warned in advance of the impending attack through Severus Snape who relayed the information to his contact, thus enabling the Aurors to intercept the Death Eaters before the planned attack could get too advanced."

Minister Scrimgeour stood and objected. "How do you know the information came from the prisoner? I thought you were here to testify against Snape."

"I am here to give testimony of the things I know first hand and have experienced in reference to Severus Snape's activities. No one specified which side I must testify for. As I was saying, I received a message warning me of the attack and was able to pass that on to my superiors."

Scrimgeour sat again, his face filled with anger at her impertinence. He mumbled something to Percy Weasley, who still sat at his side taking notes.

"We arrived on scene a few minutes after the attack had begun and immediately engaged the Death Eaters. After a few minutes, I found myself face to face with Snape who took the opportunity to remove his mask for a moment, then resume it before striking a Death Eater over my shoulder with a curse." Tonks went on to describe their faux duel and all of the opponents they had managed to take out during their fight. "Without his assistance on this event, we would have brought at least ten fewer of the Death Eaters back to be questioned. He never once threw any serious hexes directly at me during the duel." She stayed standing, then looked to the Wizengamot. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Dolores Umbridge stood and gave Tonks a fake smile, then spoke in her breathy, little-girl voice. "You stated that Snape was the one you dueled. How can you be sure it wasn't someone else?"

"Besides the fact that I have seen him duel before and recognized his movements, I mentioned that I did, in fact, see his face."

Umbridge cleared her throat and batted her eyelashes prettily. "Are you sure you might not have been, um, mistaken?"

"No, I am absolutely positive it was him. I had no reason to doubt it, as I already had reason to believe that he was still acting as a spy in the Dark Lord's camp for the Order of the Phoenix."

"Yes, you stated that you believed he sent the note. What makes you think it was he who warned you of the impending attack?"

Tonks turned to Hermione, who stood. "Severus Snape and I have been in contact since he left the school last spring, and he warned me of the attack as soon as he learned of it. I then passed the message on to Auror Tonks through my house-elf."

Harry muttered, "You have a house-elf? That's ironic."

Hermione fought to keep her face straight as Tonks sat down.

"You are sure it was he who tipped you off?" Umbridge asked, still in her sweet babygirl voice, though her eyes were about to pop from her head.

"Yes, you see we had been writing to each other in these diaries for months." Hermione produced hers for everyone to see and returned it to its normal size. "This is how I knew the note was from him, because he wrote me in his diary, and the note was replicated in mine. This is the same method attack was circumvented on the Creeveys, the Longbottoms, and many others."

There was a buzz of murmuring that swept through the room as everyone caught sight of the diary. Deciding they were finished with her on this point, Hermione sat back beside Tonks, but Umbridge seemed to decide to jump on this point.

"So how long have you been having a secret relationship with your professor? How long were you under the Imperius Curse, Miss Granger?"

"I never have been under the Imperius Curse. In actuality, it was another enchantment entirely that brought us together. Perhaps you have heard of Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes?" Hermione took perverse delight in reminding the old bint of her wilder days at Hogwarts. "They were experimenting with a new true love chocolate in March, one containing the potion known as Amoriata or the Soul Mate Potion." Again, a gasp of surprise filled the court room, but Hermione ignored it.

"We each received a dose of this chocolate through some cookies we ate, and then I passed a book to him in the library, facilitating the potion. When we realized what had happened and what had affected us, Severus went immediately to Headmaster Dumbledore..."

"The man he later killed," Umbridge added.

Hermione ignored the interruption and continued on. "...and told him of the development. Since the potion has no antidote and requires those affected to get to know one another quite well to avoid madness, he allowed us a few weeks to get to know each other better, during which time the diaries were brought into use. Eventually we were married, as the school charter required."

Minister Scrimgeour looked apoplectic, his face red and his eye bulging as he stood from his chair. "How come the Ministry of Magic has no record of this?"

Hermione gave him a pitying look. "Minister, we have already stated that Severus Snape was a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. If it had become known that we were married, with me being a Muggleborn and best friend to Harry Potter, how long do you imagine we would have been allowed to live? The Headmaster did the binding for us." She whispered the incantation over her ring and held it out as proof of the binding.

When he said nothing, she nodded. "So you see, not only was I never under the Imperius Curse, but I was also never raped by him, so both of those accusations are wholly without foundation. I am surprised that the Ministry would attach such serious offenses to a court case without any proof whatsoever of their reality. The outright speculation and fabrication of the Daily Prophet should never be admissible in a court of law. They don't seem to feel the need to be hampered by facts or proof like the law requires. And I believe we have proven without a doubt that he did not attack the Muggle school and, in fact, helped the Ministry route the Death Eaters."

The new head of the Wizangamot, Pauline Vance, turned to Severus and asked, "Have you no more to say in your defense?"

Severus shook his head. "Not unless you have specific questions. I believe my wife has given a full enough testimony on my behalf."

"Ah, but what about his other subversive tactics?" Scrimgeour asked, grasping at straws.

Blinking, Hermione tipped her head and appeared thoughtful, then returned her gaze to the Minister. "Which tactics might those be, sir?"

Scrimgeour stuttered for a moment, then caught on an idea. "The Death Eaters were involved in many attacks over the past year, but he didn't stop all of them. What about those Muggle ships that were blown up? What about them? Did he not know about them in advance, could he not have warned someone?"

This was where it got tricky. Hermione met her husband's eyes and he pointed slightly to himself. She nodded and gestured to him. "I believe the defendant would like to speak. Severus, please give a full explanation of what happened, your choices and options and the decision we came to." Hermione sat.

"You, Miss Granger, er, Mrs. Snape, are not the one to question him. That is for the Wizengamot and myself to do."

"Oh, but you are mistaken," was Severus's silky reply. "You see, she is not only my wife but my Vow holder. I am bound by an Unbreakable Vow to answer any question she puts to me about the Dark Lord and his plans, his tactics and any actions I might take in relation to them. Her putting the question to me is the only way you are certain to get a complete and honest accounting of the event, as my death will result if I do not fulfill my vow. Since I am rather attached to my wife, I find I do not wish to be separated from her."

There was another great commotion as the news flew around the courtroom until the Pauline Vance shook her gavel and turned back to Snape. "Continue with the answer, if you would."

Severus then launched into how he had learned of the attack, discussing it with Hermione, and their choice to get as many people off the ships as possible without drawing too much attention to himself. Then he told of his trip to the ship to trip the alarms and the thousands whose lives had been saved by his actions. This last was very difficult for him to tell, Hermione knew, as she felt his hesitation. But she had told him to describe his actions, so he had little choice.

When he was finished, Hermione stood and described several other occasions when his notes to her had allowed the Order or Aurors to stop trouble before it began or to minimize its effects. "So, you see," Hermione summed up, "He has been working to support the Ministry and help protect witches, wizards and Muggles from the intent of Voldemort for most of his life, not working against the Ministry."

Desperate, as the court case flew out of control and in a completely different direction than he had intended, Minister Scrimgeour stood and faced Hermione. "I would like to know what this vow entailed and if anyone else saw it."

Hermione produced one of the parchments she had passed around at the Weasleys' on the day he had taken it, with the signatures of everyone seated with her saying that it was the wording she had used in the vow. She passed the sheet over and explained what it was.

Scrimgeour read it over, then passed it to Pauline, who read it, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Now," Scrimgeour asked, as he stood again. "You have addressed the other charges laid against your lover's feet, what of the charge of murdering Albus Dumbledore. Can't get out of that one, can he?"

Irritated by the comment he had made devaluing her relationship with her husband, Hermione stood and looked at Scrimgeour as though he were a spider, or something equally disgusting. "My husband is innocent of murder in this case."

There was more than a slight mutter in the rooms at her pronouncement, and Scrimgeour actually laughed at her words. "Harry Potter, did you not say that you saw Severus Snape murder Albus Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts last spring?"

Harry stood. "I might have used those words, I don't recall. However, I was mistaken. He did kill Dumbledore, but it wasn't murder." He sat again.

Scrimgeour eyed him with distain. "Not murder? How do you explain that away, Miss Granger?"

Blank faced, so as not to give anything away, Hermione began, "I'm Mrs. Snape, remember? Over the past years I have imbibed a great number of books on Wizarding law, and I looked one of those laws up yet again to get the specific reference information during this past week. It states in Ministry Code that one is permitted to use deadly force to protect oneself if one's life is in immediate danger. Is that not true?" Hermione felt her stomach tying in knots. This was her trickiest argument of the day. If she got this one across, all was won, if she did not, all was lost. Still, she had a trick or two up her sleeve if the Wizengamot didn't see things her way.

"Yes it's true, but it's hardly the case here. His life was hardly in any danger. On the contrary, he could have sat back and watched everything happen if he liked or even protected Albus Dumbledore from the others." Scrimgeour sat again and gave her a superior look.

Hermione maintained a blank face. "Actually, the defendant was under an immediate threat of death by not one, but two Unbreakable Vows that required him to kill the Headmaster. One of these vows was to the Headmaster himself. If he stood by instead of acting, he would have dropped dead on the spot."

"And what proof do we have of these vows?" Scrimgeour asked. "Any memory he produced as proof could be subject to tampering, and therefore useless."

Harry grimaced when Hermione turned to him and gave him the floor. He stood as she sat, and she saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped the banister before him. After the media circus he had been through over the past week, the last thing he wanted to do was testify in a court room filled with reporters.

"I have in my possession right now two memories willed to me by Albus Dumbledore himself, with the express wishes that I use them to defend Snape. You must all understand that I have never liked Snape, and seriously doubt I will grow to become bosom buddies in the future. I love Hermione, however, as the sister I never had, and though I hate her husband, I don't wish her death, as the potion they both imbibed would cause if you were to convict him today." He held out two vials of undulating white memory. "We requested a Pensieve be available for the Wizengamot to use. You may view these if you like."

Scrimgeour motioned to Percy, who hastened over to take the vials. The memories were poured into a waiting Pensieve, and Scrimgeour and the three most senior members of the Wizengamot entered the bowl. Hermione shared anxious looks with her husband and conferred with those around her to see if there was anything else she had missed in her testimony.

After more than five minutes had passed, the four returned from the memories and to their seats. Scrimgeour looked disconcerted, but still pushed the issue. "So, he was asked by Dumbledore to kill him if necessary."

"No," Hermione clarified. "Dumbledore did not kindly ask or sweetly suggest that Severus might consider killing him. He ordered Severus to do it, and I believe he even used that exact word. Under this compulsion, Severus had the choice to live and kill Dumbledore that night in June, or die himself, thus bringing about my eventual death as well. He chose life for himself. As you have already stated that wizarding law allows deadly force to protect one's own life, he is innocent of murder."

When the furor died down, Hermione continued. "Further, not only is this trial a farce because each thing he has been charged with is clearly unjust, but without Severus Snape's work in the past months, we could not have defeated Voldemort." There was much cringing and gasping at her use of the dead madman's name, but Hermione pressed on. "In addition to being our spy...a difficult job that nearly cost him his life in the end...Severus Snape taught Harry, Ron, and me the dueling skills necessary to survive the final battle, and he is the sole person responsible for developing the spells that brought about Voldemort's downfall."

"Only because you brilliantly came up with the idea, my love." They were the first words Severus had spoken in a long time, and for him to use the endearment in public, with so much real feeling behind it, nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"Nonetheless," she choked over her words and managed to clear her throat. "Not only did he develop the spells, but even after being grievously wounded and taken away for medical help, he rejoined our group and aided his strength in the final spell casting." Hermione held up her copy of the Daily Prophet, which clearly showed the scene in question. "Instead of treating this man as a criminal, you all ought to be thanking him for the heroic work he did to save you all from danger when the Ministry either could or would do nothing to protect you."

"The Ministry has been working to protect its citizens all along. We had several people in custody from whom we received information about Lord Whatsits work," Scrimgeour objected.

Harry stood this time. "Like Stan Shunpike? Still holding the man in custody for over a year without the benefit of trial because you have no real evidence against him? You and I both know you will never have evidence against some of those you've held for months or longer, but you can't admit you made a mistake, so instead you've treated them like vermin and denied them their rights. Your reign as Minister of Magic may have been an improvement over Fudge's in some ways, but that still isn't saying much. We all have reason to be grateful for Severus Snape for the work he has done for us. No matter how we might loathe him as a person." Harry sat again, and everyone watched Scrimgeour's face grow beet red as he fought to find any kind of rebuttal that wouldn't make him look more foolish than he already did.

The head of the Wizengamot stood and announced a break while the members of the court discussed the matter and came to a vote.

Hermione bit her lip, wondering if they hadn't taken things a bit too far, with the part about Severus deserving praise and adulation. Not that it wasn't true, but she worried she may have overplayed her hand and offended some of them.

Harry gave her hand a squeeze, and Tonks did the same to Hermione's shoulder. Molly and Arthur whispered reassurances. Hermione just sat and stared at her husband, drinking in the sight of him now that there wasn't anything else to do. He stared back, and she felt their twin yearning to be together. She reminded herself that she had other options if things didn't go well.

Her hands shook.

Finally the members of the Wizengamot turned to face the crowd, their faces unreadable, and Pauline Vance spoke loudly, "All those who wish to pardon Severus Sebastian Snape of all charges, raise your hand."

It was like a veritable ocean wave as every hand shot into the air except for the toad Umbridge's and Rufus Scrimgeour's.

"Then by almost unanimous vote, we fully pardon Severus Snape for all crimes in which he had involvement both for those listed and any other he may be charged with taking place before this date. We grant him amnesty and wish him well in his life." The woman smiled brilliantly, then waved her wand and released the chains from Severus's hand and feet. Hermione stood and thought her heart would pound out of her throat. She jumped from the dais where her chair sat, and he stood, and with two steps, she found herself in her husband's arms.

And as their lips met, she felt the strength of their love reverberating through them. There was the wave of reporter's voices, the flash of bulbs, but for a long moment, the only thing Hermione was aware of was the feel of her husband's mouth on hers. When they pulled apart, Hermione turned and looked across the crowd to see Harry smiling at her. He scowled when his eyes switched to Severus, then he shrugged when he met her eyes again.

"Care to go home?" Severus whispered in her ear.

"Twinkie," Hermione called with a nod.

"Yes, mistress," Twinkie asked, appearing at their sides.

"Take us home, will you?"

"Of course, mistress, anything mistress wants." Then Twinkie took both their hands and Apparated them to the manor's master bedroom, and Hermione twirled into her husband's arms again.

_________

AN: Just a short epilogue still to come. I hope you've enjoyed my story as much as I've enjoyed writing it and reading your reviews.

A huge thanks to ladyinthecloak for all of her many, many corrections in this chapter. It is because of her that you got this update so quickly.