House of Rose and Thorns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 28 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

House of Rose and Thorns

The House of Rose and Thorns looked more like an old two story tavern than a house of ill repute: covered in white stucco with exposed wooden beams, shuttered lead glass windows, a wood-shingled roof sporting a dozen stove exhaust pipes, and six brick chimneys. On the inside there was a reception desk in the entry beside a large staircase that divided the inn from a partially hidden tavern and smoking lounge on the left, and a respectable sitting room and restaurant on the right. However, the upstairs had more than one hallway: one lined with doors that opened onto simple but comfortable rooms for guests, and another hallway with doors to rooms that met the needs and desires of the brothel's clients. The stairs to the brothel were between the smoking lounge and the tavern, magically concealed behind one of the many red plaid curtains. The brothel had two other exits, one at the back of the building and one just off the kitchen door that allowed clients and the ladies to exit, but only allowed the ladies to enter.

The plan was to have the Junior Aurors and those in Auror training, lead by Hayward Blume, a long time veteran, make an inspection raid on the rooms, allowing the over eager blighters a chance of apprehending their first bad guys. "They'll make enough noise to wake the dead and flush out the undesirables," Kingsley said. "I remember my first raid. I blasted a hole through the wall large enough for an erumpent to pass."

"Let's hope that them kids don't blow the place up," Perkinson stated. "Vivian likes to eat here. I ain't ever told her there's a brothel."

Loraine Matsuno, wearing an apron over black slacks and a white shirt, appeared from the kitchen doorway and nodded to Kingsley as she set down a bucket. "Graven, Broadmoor and Pucey left the lounge for the stairs when I arrived. Got a positive on Richman and maybe three more. Kids are coming in by Floo now," she said softly and then reentered the kitchens.

"That's seven," Severus said softly as the door slammed closed.

"Unless Broadmoor and Pucey aren't supporters," Dawlish said, scowling as if he didn't believe they were.

"Matsuno wouldn't have mentioned them if she hadn't seen a positive connection. Be ready to stun them regardless. We'll ask and apologize after, if necessary," Kingsley said with an authoritative air that ended all discussion. He divided the Aurors, Dawlish, Savage, and Maygora, to cover the door that opened to the alley, Rivas, Perkinson, and Carr to stand at the door near the street as he, Severus, and Auror Pugliese staked out the door beside the one to the kitchen.

A cluster of activity was heard from the open windows as Hayward Blume led three training Auror teams into the inn to flush out Ludwick Graven and Clint Richman and any possible Death Eaters in residence.

Severus and Kingsley waited, standing casually on either side of the wall where the secret door would open. Pugliese sat on a crate by the bins, slumped over like a drunk, a most deceptive pose as it belied his eager anticipation in his eyes.

A crup barked in the distance. Two women passed on the street, smiling in greeting to the Aurors who stood on the corner facing each other as if in deep conversation. A door slammed closed inside the building Severus faced.

Suddenly a scream rent the air, followed by another and another and another. The men in the alley tensed, wands at the ready, ears alert.

From up in the building the sounds of several bangs followed by more slamming doors, more screaming, and a few explosions set Severus' nerves on high alert. Even after three years as a young Death Eater on numerous raids and Muggle attacks, followed more recently by another three years in the same situations as Dumbledore's spy, he had never totally managed to control the instant reaction of his body. His heart raced in anticipation as adrenalin surged through him, his fight instincts highly attuned and ready, and his sense of hearing straining against the sound of his own pulse in his ears. Outwardly, he knew that he looked every bit as calm and controlled as both Kingsley and Pugliese, although Severus knew that both men felt as alive and wired as he did at the moment.

The walls shook as those inside tried to Apparate, the anti-Apparation wards the Aurors had added to the one the proprietor had in place keeping everyone inside.

The door opened and two men stumbled out, one in dark brown trousers and an open robe being dragged by the collar of a burly, dirty, sandy blond wizard in grey robes who was using him as a shield. Pugliese aimed and rolled, Kingsley turned as he snapped his wrist, emitting a bright flare from his wand as Severus brought his wand up with a flick and twisted his wrist letting off another stunner in quick succession, just as another man burst from the kitchen door. The wizard in the open robe being used as a shield tripped, and the burly blond wizard jerked him around roughly as he aimed at Pugliese. Severus' mind registered the face, Thortenson, when the wizard brandishing the human shield turned his head in his direction. Kingsley turned, robes flaring as ropes shot from his wand tip, smacking the plaster off the building by the black-haired wizard who'd exited the kitchens. Thortenson turned and fired a pale blue jet of light from his. The man in Thortenson's grip, trying to free himself, had fired a shot that cut across Severus' left arm, just as Pugliese disarmed the wizard.

Severus squatted and lunged left, aiming for Thortenson as another wizard fired a shot from the door at Pugliese. Pugliese fired at the door as Kingsley fought to restrain the dirty, sandy blond wizard. The moment the dirty, sandy blond wizard turned, Severus' attention wavered as he recognized the man. Graven. The spell he'd cast to deflect Thortenson's wavered, and Thortenson's spell grazed his knee, making Severus kneel.

"That's it, traitor, bow," Thortensen sneered before Severus, used to firing from any position from his teen years, hit him in the chest with a Full Body-Bind.

Graven sent a sickly yellow pulse at Kingsley that set his sleeve on fire as Kingsley fired more ropes from his wand. Pugliese doused the flames as Graven spun out from the reach of the ropes and fired again. Severus had anticipated the movement the moment Graven raised his arm above his head. He drew back from his lunge to his knee, aimed and sprung to his left, just in time to deflect a spell cast at Kingsley's side. But the distraction allowed Graven to Disapparate.

Pugliese turned to his right, firing a spell into the doorway as a flash of green shot out from the kitchen door while behind Severus, sounds of approaching duelists echoed closer. Suddenly, the wizard in the doorway collapsed forward, falling on his face as Pugliese collapsed on the ground from another jet of green fired from the doorway.

Severus turned and fired at the wizard in black robes rushing toward him from the end of the alley, ducking the spell that came shooting past. The black robed man, fired, sidestepped, and ducked between the bins as another spell whizzed down the alley, missing Kingsley by inches. Kingsley aimed for the doorway, making several long whip-like tendrils of light lash forward, and the man in the doorway screamed in pain, collapsing to his knees on the front step. The bands of light turned into thick ropes, binding the wizard helplessly where he knelt.

"Kingsley, fire low," Severus shouted as he aimed for under the bins. "Reducto," he shouted, making the earth erupt, sending the bin shooting upward from the blast. The wizard fell over as Kingsley's spell shot through the falling dirt, hitting the man where he fell.

Sounds of fighting ceased as the dirt and dust settled. Kingsley tightened his knots on the ropes holding the wizards bound in front of the doorway as Severus reached out his free hand to help the hapless wizard, balled up and cringing by the wall, to his feet.

The man looked up with appreciation until his eyes fell on the scar on Severus' left forearm and shrunk back again. "Y-you-you're a – one of t-them!" he stammered.

Loraine Matsuno exited the doorway as she pushed the man in ropes aside. She stepped over the man sprawled on the ground and rushed over to Pugliese. "Oh, my gods, Pugliese!"

Severus ignored her. "I'm Severus Snape, and I'm not one of them – I'm with the Aurors," he said softly, extending his hand closer to the man as Kingsley approached Pugliese. "Long story. Are you all right?"

Matsuno turned and ran for the end of the alley as Perkinson approached Kingsley from the street.

The man curled up on the ground shook his head. Severus sighed as he reached down, saying, "I won't hurt you," as he hauled the man to his feet. "Is anything broken – bleeding – are you in pain?" he asked, helping the man to lean against the building.

"No," the man said as Kingsley walked up them.

"Pugliese is dead. I sent a message to Blume to wrap up things inside and sent a message to St Mungo's. Carr is dead. We got Pucey and Jugson." He looked at the man staring fearfully at Severus. "He okay?"

"Seems to be in shock, but it might be because if me," Severus stated and indicated the man on the ground. "Who's that?"

Kingsley flicked his wand to turn the wizard over. "Broadmoor," they said in unison.

~*~

Back at the Ministry Severus sat in the chair behind a desk in the Aurors' office, facing the cubicle across the aisle where Matsuno sat giving her report of what had happened inside the House of Rose and Thorns. "... in twos and moved to the positions just as Blume had instructed them to do. My group stayed in the lobby to block that exit as Blume and Lerman led the other two groups upstairs. I returned to the kitchen after Weasley indicated to me that Graven had slipped by them from the guest rooms. We tried to stop him, but the cooks were in our way... not an excuse, but I tripped on some nosh that had spilled on the floor. Weasley engaged a wizard in the kitchen that tried to stop us by hurling the kitchen knives at us."

"The one Weasley stunned killed Pugliese," Kingsley stated solemnly, sitting on the corner of the desk in front of where Severus sat.

"The very one," Matsuno stated, her pride in her trainee apparent in her tone even though she mourned the loss of the two Aurors. "He shot the Killing Curse only a second before Weasley brought him down."

Dawlish and Savage, who both leaned against the partition beside Severus, listened on quietly. "Not the boy's fault," Severus stated. "Good man, Pugliese. Carr too."

"Weasley and Potter identified the one from the kitchen as possibly being Rowle," Matsuno said. "Weasley claims to recognize him from the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the final battle at Hogwarts, although I dunno. The man's face is scarred up fairly bad; it's hard to tell if it's the same man."

Severus smirked, knowing why she'd have doubts. "The Dark Lord had Draco use my Sectumsempra Curse to remove his ear."

Matsuno's head snapped in Severus' direction with a look of horror on her face, her hand clasped over her mouth, and he could hear Savage inhale in disgust beside him. Dawlish shifted on his feet, and Kingsley looked at him as if expecting more.

"Punishment for a mistake," Severus said calmly, his fingers laced together as he continued to look in Matsuno's direction. "Draco wasn't able to control it, and he cut off half his cheek in the process. The burns came from the raid on the Tarmar Bridge when his Fiendfyre got away from him."

Maygora whistled as he slowly turned his head. "I remember that one – what a mess cleaning up after that attack." He was straddling a chair in the aisle between the desks with his arms crossed over the back. "Took nine of us to modify the minds of the Muggles into thinking that the fire was caused by a truck collision carrying toxic stuff... Toxic spill – don't know where the Muggle Worthy Excuse office came up with that idea, but the media people bought it."

Kingsley indicated Severus. "Who else? So that gives us Rowle, Thortenson, and Delsey in holding, Jugson's in St. Mungo's for now, and we can cross off Broadmoor and Pucey."

"I want to question Rowle before you send him to Azkaban," Severus said coolly.

"As do I," Kingsley stated. "But I'll be happy to allow you to question him when I do, and not alone. I don't want you doing anything that will prevent him from serving his time – that includes a stay in St. Mungo's. I want this one behind bars."

Severus checked his immaculate nail beds. "I'll be gentle. Thorough, but gentle."

"Do they make gentle poisons?" Savage asked with a chuckle.

"Sure, and the Headmaster here would be able to brew it," Dawlish replied with a smirk. "Man's right wicked with a cauldron and a few roots."

"Oh, I have just the thing," Severus replied, looking up at Dawlish with a smirk and producing a vial from his pocket.

Dawlish held out his hand and examined the potion, swirling the vial to see the filament whirl on the bottom. "What's this one do?" he asked, holding it to the light. "What's with the filament? I thought you were good."

"It has special properties," Severus said with a devious curl to his lips, taking the vial back. "Dicentra for one – causes convulsions and other nervous symptoms, plus a bit of nightshade for its hallucinogenic benefits. The filament is the extra bit of raw nightshade for added efficacy."

"Severus," Kingsley growled out in warning. "Alive. You cannot poison him."

"Yet," he answered as he pocketed the vial.

Kingsley shook his head and said, "Ever," in a firm tone, but he was smiling somewhat, all the same.

~*~

Severus left the Ministry after another interrogation session with both Rowle and Thortenson before they were to be carted off to Azkaban. There was enough evidence to shut both up for life with or without a trial. Thortenson had been uncooperative, that or he didn't have much information to give.

Through Rowle, they'd found out that he'd stolen a wizard's magical tent and pitched it inside a small cave near Poole's Cavern outside Buxton. The tent made the accommodations comfortable enough for him and his son. Apparently, his wife had chosen to flee the country after the final battle. Rowle did confirm that Antonin Dolohov was now in charge, and that they had a new way of communicating that he wasn't able to talk about. He did, under duress of Severus' potion, confess that MacTavish, Mulciber, Torrington, and Rosier had joined Dolohov and his cousin Dragen, but he was unable to say where. Avery and Bulstrode were also with the group, but he didn't know where they were either, and Hornby was hurt badly from a curse and dying.

When Kingsley pressed him about mongoloth, troll, and dragon caves, Rowle's mouth opened and snapped closed, then he turned nearly blue in the face and passed out cold. The location was obviously under the Fidelius Charm and the means of communication had a variation of the Confidentiality Charm combined with the Asphyxiation and Dumbstruck Hex.

However, Severus had found out that Graven had been helping Rowle and his friends get food and supplies, not that that was surprising at all. Nevertheless, he'd been unable to say where Graven was holding up these days.

"So it was Hornby you sliced," Kingsley said with a grimace. "Your Sectumsempra specialty, I presume."

"Of course. There is a cure, but it leaves a nasty scar. However, he'd have to ask me for it, and that would mean turning himself in." Severus cut a chunk of Rowle's hair and pulled Kingsley aside. "Can you keep him out of sight for a few days?"

Kingsley looked at him suspiciously. "Why, what did you have in mind?"

"To trade clothes with him," Severus suggested, "or have one of your Aurors do it. I want to check his robes for hidden pockets. I'm sure that he has something on him with a Protean Charm on it or there is a communication device of some sort on his person. He'd have it on him." He leaned in close to Kingsley. "Dolohov isn't stupid, but some of the men following him are – and reckless. Act first – think second. I have Polyjuice at the house..."

"And do you know him well enough to impersonate him?" Kingsley asked, his head turned slightly to watch Rowle, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Yes," Severus stated, then shrugged. "I know most of them well enough, unless they've devised a secret handshake or code words. But it would be good to have me or your Auror impersonate him and seen in public."

"I'll consider it," Kingsley said and turned to look at Rowle. He smiled as he caught on. "And the others will think we let him go from lack of evidence or on a technicality. I can have my Auror followed with a Tracking Charm on him – and he just might lead us to the hideout."

"Or lead us to Graven. George Weasley has a novelty toy that has the Protean and Conjointment Charms on it so that they can be used for listening, sending codes, and verbal communication. You wear it in your ear. My wife came up with them. I suggest Mr. Weasley procure a pair for your Aurors," Severus suggested. "He should also have a Portkey, as well."

Kingsley's smile widened. "I'll send someone over there today. What about Hornby?"

Severus shrugged. "Write him off. If he was the wizard who went to the Knockturn Alley apothecary, he hasn't long anyway. The only other person who knows how to cure the cursed cut is Molly Weasley, and I doubt he knows that."

When he'd returned home to finish packing, three house-elves were scurrying around the room busily collecting his clothes, books, and personal items. Several times, Severus had to insist that the little female, directing the two larger males, to leave the Muggle clothes in the cardboard boxes where they were. The elves were more than efficient, finding many things in his home that he didn't want with him at the castle. He pulled the light blue, polyester trousers from his trunk, growling for the fourth time, "I don't wear these! They were my father's," as he threw the polyester work trousers back into the box. "For the last time, ONLY THE CLOTHES IN THE WARDROBE!" he growled as loud and distinctly as he could. "I am getting rid of the clothes in the boxes! The ones I wear when I venture out into Muggle society are in the wardrobe! The junk I boxed up is to go back into the box room, immediately! And stop taking all the books from the bookshelves!"

The other two stopped immediately and turned to face the female, Mippy, My-pee, Me-pee... something like that, for directions; the one male dropping the book he'd pulled down off the shelf on the floor with a thud.

"But, sir, we's your house-elves, sir. We's always serves the Headmaster, sir, whoever the Headmaster is, sir," the female elf said as she pulled the trousers out of the box.

"I understand that, but I can pack my own belongings," Severus growled angrily, snatching the offending trousers again and tossing them angrily back into the box.

The female only smiled, taking the trousers out again. "Headmaster, master, sir, doesn't have to packs his self. Mispy, is to do it for you, sir," she said, carefully folding the trousers.

"Headmaster, master, sir, which books is you wanting, sir?" the male tugging his ear by the bookshelf asked as the other elf cradled the book he'd dropped in his arms, looking up at him earnestly.

Severus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Only the ones I had stacked on the bed. The others stay here. The towels stay here. The rug stays here. That pot of dirt, Merlin only knows where you found that, stays here."

Mispy nodded and the rug was removed from his trunk, and one of the elves carried away the pot of dirt with two leaves sprouting in the center.

Severus walked over to carefully check the titles of the books now piled up in his trunk. Several of the tomes were ones that didn't like to be handled except by their rightful owner, two had to be coaxed with a charm to be touched, let alone read, and one that was so old it didn't like leaving the bookshelf, usually putting up a struggle to be brought out. How the elf managed to coax it, and the others, down was a mystery to him. He gently laid the old book back on the shelf and heard the old tome literally sigh with contentment. He scanned his shelves, selecting a few more common novels, handing them to the house-elf to pack. Finally, he turned and looked him squarely in the eye with a firm expression. "Those are all the books of my private collection I wish to take. If I need or desire any of the others, I can always come home to retrieve it. Is that understood?"

"Oh, yes, Headmaster, master, sir," the elf said with a deep bow. "Kirch sorry to touches books on shelves, master, sir. Kirch will punishes himself most properly, sir."

"You may hit yourself six times with a slipper," Severus said in exasperation. All three elves nodded and bowed, vowing earnestly to use the slipper.

Finally, his two trunks and cedar cube were closed and all of his personal belongings he would need for the next nine months vanished with the elves for Hogwarts.

~H~

Hermione calmly sat in the chair facing the Wizengamot bench. Both Dean and Luna had already testified and were waiting for her in the atrium with Neville. Hermione hoped that this wouldn't take long. Mrs. Malfoy was sitting primly in the Chair of Chains in the middle of the room, the chains clanking softly on the floor. Mrs. Malfoy had watched Hermione take her seat with thinly veiled contempt, however as Hermione continued to answer the questions put forth to her from the members of the Wizengamot, Mrs. Malfoy's expressions changed to introspective disbelief with occasional flickers of surprise.

"Except for some insults, Mrs. Malfoy has never actually done anything to me," Hermione insisted yet again, speaking as clearly as she could, and immediately a murmur rose from the bench, again.

Balfour Lufkin, a sharp-nosed wizard with an orange-stained, grey goatee, stood in front of Hermione, scowling at her from under his bushy grey eyebrows. "Are you telling me that during your abduction and detainment at Malfoy Manor during Dark War II, Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy never did anything to you?" he asked, brandishing his scrawny finger at her. "Really, Ms. Granger-Snape, surly she raised her wand at you during your entrapment? It is well documented that you suffered the Cruciatus Curse while you were her captive."

"I was. However, it was Bellatrix Lestrange that used the Cruciatus on me – not Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione stated calmly with her hands resting in her lap. "The worst I can say is that Mrs. Malfoy has on occasion insulted me, but she has never assaulted me."

"She insulted you?" Mr. Lufkin asked, trying to mask his displeasure.

She was obviously not saying what he wanted her to say. Regardless, Hermione was not going to lie. She may not like Mrs. Malfoy, but she had sworn to tell the truth. "Yes. She called me a Mudblood." There were several mumblings from the bench above her.

"A Mudblood?" Mr. Lufkin scoffed.

"Yes. That is worst I can attest to," Hermione repeated for the third time that day. "Actually, there are a few faces on the Wizengamot that I've heard use the epithet before as well." She shouldn't have said that, judging by the reaction from the bench, but the two she was looking at diverted their gaze and blushed.

Mr. Lufkin cleared his throat to regain Hermione's undivided attention. "In all the encounters you've had with Mrs. Malfoy, there has never been any aggressive action against you?"

"What encounters are you suggesting?" Hermione asked amused. "I've only seen her a few times. I saw her once in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, again in the Minister's box at the Quidditch World Cup, and once in her home. I've told you everything I can remember of those three occasions to the best of my ability."

"And when your Bonded mate, Severus Snape, took you to the manor, what then?" Mr. Lufkin asked, his eyes accusational.

"Then – nothing," Hermione said, slightly exasperated. "I didn't even see the Malfoys either time Severus took me to the Malfoys' home." She still hadn't mentioned to anyone about the time Mr. Malfoy had abducted her for lunch. But as they were discussing Mrs. Malfoy, she didn't think it pertinent to her case.

Mr. Lufkin looked down at his notes, his thin lips pursed tightly. "But you do know her to be a Death Eater?"

"Actually, no, I don't. I couldn't say if she was or not. Not under oath," Hermione stated calmly. There were fair amount of murmurs in the room at her comment. "I can't say I saw her fighting – except defensively. I did see Mrs. Malfoy standing among Voldemort's supporters before the battle." Several gasps, soft exclamations of outrage, and some swooning could be heard when Hermione said Voldemort's name, and she smiled inwardly. "Mostly, I caught glimpses of her in the castle when she was protecting Draco Malfoy and some of the other students from the Death Eaters. I did see her jinx a wizard to turn his hand limp, or possibly boneless... Oh, and she used a tapestry to help some people escape through a fire, or so Neville told me. You'll have to ask him about that."

"I did see her stun a wizard who'd taken aim at two fifth-years and made a door fly off its hinges to use as a shield to protect herself and those behind her... I do know that she cast a Shield Charm in another corridor and threw a nasty hex at a witch aiming at Draco – but that's just being a protective mother in my book. Those are the only times I saw her during the battle. Truth is, I know that she was in the forest when Harry went out to see Voldemort. She lied to Voldemort, told him that Harry was dead when he wasn't. Well, that's actually hearsay from Harry, so you'd have to ask him about that, but I believe Harry. Oh, and I saw her in the castle when Harry confronted Voldemort the second time, standing behind Professors Calhoun and Sprout. She stunned a wizard who was about to attack Harry in the back, just before Harry killed Voldemort. Truth is, I didn't actually see Mrs. Malfoy harm anyone on our side. As far as I know, she only attacked Death Eaters. Well, not seriously, nor did she kill anyone, that I know of. When the battle was over, she was sitting with her family in the Great Hall, holding hands with Mr. Malfoy, if I recall."

"She has the Dark Mark on her arm," Mr. Lufkin stated as if that was conclusive evidence enough.

"So does my Bonded mate, Severus Snape, and it was proven that he'd switched sides. I also know Draco has one, but he fought on our side in the final battle as well." Hermione kept her face as impassive as she could. "If Mrs. Malfoy does have the Dark Mark, I have never seen it," she stated honestly, looking at Mr. Lufkin calmly with a benign smile.

"Fine," Mr. Lufkin said as he tossed down the pad of parchment he'd been holding and turned to the bench. "I'm through with this witness."

Kingsley, who had been taking notes, looked up and smiled at Hermione. "Ms. Granger-Snape, you are free to go. Mr. Lufkin, you may call your next witness."

Relieved, Hermione rose. But just before she was about to turn to leave, she caught Mrs. Malfoy's eye. Mrs. Malfoy was looking at her with an expression that showed both surprise and disbelief at what Hermione had done for her. Mrs. Malfoy nodded her head slightly to Hermione in what could only be regarded as a 'thank you,' and Hermione nodded as if to say 'you're welcome' back. As she left the courtroom, Draco slipped out the door right behind her.

"Granger! Er, Hermione," he called out.

"Yes, Draco?" she replied, turning to face him.

"I – you didn't have to do that in there," he said softly.

"What? Tell the court the truth?" she replied in disbelief.

"Say those things about my mum. You could have... Thank you," he said, looking at a loss. For the first time Hermione could remember, Draco was talking to her without sneering.

"That must have really hurt," Hermione said sarcastically and then mentally berated herself. He didn't deserve her cheek with all he was going through with his family. "Draco, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

"Well, yes, it did actually," he said with a slight smirk. "Look, I know my family – I haven't been all that... nice to you, ever, but I appreciate you standing up for my mum."

"It was Auror Lufkin who subpoenaed me, but I understand," she replied, trying to soften her tone. "You're welcome."

Draco smiled, but it didn't remove the sadness in his eyes. "Thanks." Hermione turned to walk away from him but he reached out a hand as if to stop her. "Oi, Gr...Hermione, did you...?"

Hermione smiled at him. "Yes, I had been subpoenaed in regards to what I knew about your Death Eater activities. However, I told them the truth about you as well. Harry told me you were given an acquittal. I'm happy for you."

He looked suspicious as if he thought she'd retaliate against him, so she quickly told him what she'd said. "I know that you were ordered to kill Dumbledore, but I know that you couldn't do it, and the attempts you made, the ones I heard about, were half-hearted and careless. Hardly the work of a killer. I also told them that other than general animosity towards Harry, Ron, and me – and every other Gryffindor – but most particularly me, you haven't done anything all that untoward. A few hexes and pranks at school, but that was it." He smirked at her, and she added, "More or less," as an afterthought. "Besides, you did help us in the end, and you weren't fighting for Riddle in the Final Battle, at least as far as I remember."

"You're all right," he said, looking at the wall instead of at her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I hope everything works out for your mum," Hermione said, feeling sorry for him, but hoping that it didn't show.

"Thanks," he said, spinning on his heel to return to the courtroom.

Hermione felt a little better as she headed up to the atrium to see her friends. She decided that before she had to return to Hogwarts, she was going to invite Dean to the house for lunch as well as Luna and Neville, hoping that Ginny and Harry wouldn't mind.

~S~

Narcissa returned home and immediately rushed into Lucius' private study. Severus and Lucius both stood, Lucius looking torn between expecting the worst and hope flashing on his normally calm face. "Released. A full Pardon for the final battle and I – oh, Luc, it's over!" she said as she ran across the room and threw herself in his arms.

The crystal goblet he'd been holding crashed to the floor as he embraced his wife. "Cissy," was all he could say.

Severus felt like a gooseberry, watching the scene until she turned to face him. "Please, whatever it takes, please invite Mrs. Snape to dinner, Severus. I owe her... so much."

Severus' eyebrows rose the same time Lucius asked, "What?"

"All of them, your wife, Severus, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom, Mr. Potter... they came to my trial. Even that young man who we had to hold in our basement, Mr. Thomas – Mr. Lufkin subpoenaed them all." She looked up at Severus with tears swimming in her eyes. "But your wife, she and her friends – they stood up for me. After everything, they didn't lie to put me away."

Lucius led her to the sofa, keeping an arm about her waist and handed her a handkerchief. "Tell us everything."

Severus repaired the shattered crystal and refilled the glass to offer Narcissa a drink. She accepted the drink and related to her husband and friend what had happened in court. "I have to serve on some committees for community service for the mistreatment of Mr. Ollivander, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Longbottom, and that goblin, but that's not too horrible. And I will have to pay a fine," she explained, cradling the glass in her hands. "But I'm pardoned for my – involvement and for taking the Mark."

Severus stayed to listen to her account and excused himself so they could celebrate in private. As he approached Grimmauld Place, hoping that his wife was inside, he felt a great deal of admiration and pride in his Bonded mate. The house-elf led him to the library door, and he knocked softly rather than to barge in on her. "Hermione, we have to talk," he said as she opened the door to greet him.

"Okay," she said, opening the door wider to allow him in. "Did I forget...? I didn't think we had plans tonight."

"I just came from the Malfoys. Narcissa was deeply touched by what you did for her," he said smoothly and held up a hand to quiet her rebuke. "You told the truth. I never doubted that you wouldn't, but what you said, Mr. Potter and your friends as well, possibly swung the Wizengamot's decision, and she has been released. I wanted to..." He stood, looking at her proudly, still amazed that despite her feelings toward his friends, she testified on Draco's and now Narcissa's behalf. Her sense of honor and generosity astounded him.

Hermione waited patiently, looking up at him with a calm expression.

Her silence unnerved him, as if she had no idea the import of her action. He had precious few true friends due to his secretive nature; Lucius and Narcissa were his closest. "Hermione, they are my friends, even when things all turned upside down we were friends. The Dark Lord tried to play Lucius against me numerous times and Draco... Thank you."

"I only told the truth," she said, making that familiar questioning twitch of her brows before her face relaxed again.

"I'd heard about what you'd said at Draco's hearing and now Narcissa..." he said softly. "Others will try to have you subpoenaed, thinking you'll be able to do the same for them. I fear that you'll receive a lot of subpoenas in the next few months." She opened her mouth but he held up a finger to quiet her. "As Headmaster, I can insist that all subpoenas come through me. I can ask you what you know and have a formal deposition taken or have you record your statements on a letter, much like a Howler. You will not have to attend any trial of any witch or wizard you are not acquainted with."

"And if I want to testify?" she asked, apparently under the opinion it was a civic duty.

"I will accompany you," he stated. He looked down at her casual attire and caressed her hair. "May I stay with you awhile?"

"I was only reading before dinner," she replied with the slightest shrug. "Kreacher is making roast beef. It's really good."

"You're welcome to stay, if you like," Potter said from the doorway.

Severus turned to face him, debating the offer. "Thank you," he said and was surprised to see Potter smile.

He walked into the room and looked up at Severus hesitantly. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"Harry," Hermione corrected him. "He's my best mate, and if you and I are going to do this – us, you'll have to get used to calling him by his name." She'd moved around him so that she could face both guys. "And you two will have to be amiable toward each other. I won't have it any other way."

Severus turned to look at her. "And likewise, you will have to come to terms with my friends, the Malfoys. Besides, I'm to extend an invite for you and... Harry for dinner." He turned to Potter – Harry. "I believe she wanted your wife and the Longbottoms as well. Narcissa wishes to thank you all personally."

Harry's mouth opened as he gaped at him, and Hermione sucked in her breath, gasping, "Surely..."

"You should be safe enough with all of your friends present, my dear," Severus said smoothly. "And this time if you say no it would be considered most discourteous of you."

Hermione blanched. "I'll think about it."

"I'll inform Narcissa that you've accepted?" he said questioningly with a raised eyebrow.

"I can speak for Gin and me when I say yes," Harry said firmly, also raising his brow at Hermione as if to challenge her to decline.

"Fine. I'll go."

Harry looked up at Severus expectantly then looked at the floor. "Yes... Harry?" Severus asked, wondering what the boy could possibly want from him.

"Professor... er, Severus, may I call you that? I was wondering... would you please tell me about my mum?" Harry stammered out nervously. "I won't ask you about my dad. I know you weren't friends – well, I know he was a right prat towards you. But I would really like to know more about Mum."

Severus stood rigid, his expression stony as Harry rambled through his request, as he warred with his desire to tell him to mind his own business or to simply leave.

Hermione moved closer and wrapped an arm about his waist, gazing up at him expectantly. "I would love to hear it too. You don't have to give away any confidences – I won't ask you to say anything that's too personal, but you could just tell us what she was like. What subjects she liked best, some things she did or..."

The deep longing in Harry's eyes held his gaze as Hermione listed off things she'd like to know about. Most of it was reasonable, and he could avoid the more personal memories. He looked down at Hermione and saw the same longing in her eyes, only not nearly as needy as Harry's. "Fine. I will tell you what she was like."

Hermione's smile literally lit up the room as she took his hand and guided him to the sofa, sitting down next to him. Harry eagerly sat on the chair opposite.

Severus inhaled slowly, exhaling with such slowness it might have seemed as if he were a statue as he considered where to start. Thankfully, Hermione and Harry both waited patiently, although Harry fidgeted slightly, while he figured out where to start. "I met your mother when I was nine. You already know that from the memories I gave you. She and her sister used to play in a park on the other side of the bridge from where I lived. I was the first wizard she'd met. She was gifted, although you've been told that frequently enough. She had a natural talent for potions, a propensity and real intrinsic understanding for the subtle art of brewing. She loved flying..."

Harry smiled at that, but Severus only laced his fingers together and stared at them. "She was... she had a light laugh, smiled easily, innately curious, slightly bossy but usually asked for things she wanted politely. She had a fiery temper, quick mind, and sharp wit and a good sense of humor. She was popular in school, although she preferred revising with me in the library or in the arches of the cloister along the courtyard, and, weather permitting, up on the parapet." Severus smiled slightly as he remembered how brave Lily was when it came to heights. He looked up and caught Harry's gaze. "Your mother was frequently worried that she had to prove herself worthy of being a witch; I think that's why she always strove to learn everything she could and drove herself to be competent at every spell we learned. She was a capable witch, and her achievements gained animosity from many of my housemates..."

~ T B C ~>

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