Low Man Is Due
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
30
Views:
21,756
Reviews:
98
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
30
Views:
21,756
Reviews:
98
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The net below has rot away
08/06/08 - My, I do seem to have got my muse back for this story, don\'t I? Shame it\'s at the cost of "Fall Out"!
Jilliane - you have read too many of my stories, honey! Stop with the plotting and trying to work out where you\'re being misdirected!
Lilith - Yeah, I imagine teh Aurors were very shaken. Poor dears.
Poohbear74 - Yup, I bet it was VERY hard to hear. Notice how I wimped out of describing it all? And thank you for saying this is teh darkest thing you\'ve read for a while. It doesn\'t get any happier!
And now, on. SP
WARNING: Yup, it\'s not nice.
Chapter Four: The net below has rot away
The day of Lucius’ turn in the witness box was hailed with banner headlines in the morning edition of The Daily Prophet. Apparently they believed he would reveal the identity of the two victims, thus far referred to as “A” and “B”. There had been enough titillation in the reading of the question and answer sessions to please the most jaded reader, but to have this news dangled in front of the average reader was too much. Sales shot up.
Lucius Malfoy took the stand wearing an impeccable black outfit. Black shirt, black cloak, black shoes, even an ebony wood cane. His blond hair seemed so much starker against such a dark background. There was no evidence that he had spent the last week and a half in a prison cell in Azkaban. He seemed utterly confident, was even smiling smugly.
“State your name for the record please.” The Minister for Magic said tonelessly.
“Lucius Aguistin Donte Caesar Malfoy.”
Questions came from the defence, aimed at showing Lucius in the best possible light. The lawyer tried to suggest that Malfoy had believed he was saving the boys by making You-Know-Who trust him so that he could get them to safety.
“After all,” Lucius said, “someone revealed the location of their hiding place to the Order.” He looked confidently at the jury, as if expecting them to immediately side with him. Some of them looked doubtful, others refused to met his eye.
It was the prosecution’s turn afterwards. It took him less than thirty minutes to knock down all of the ideas his opposition had tried to plant in the jury’s mind. It took another fifteen for the jury to want to murder Lucius.
The Minister for Magic, who was presiding over the proceedings, glanced at the jury. They had made their mind up, and nothing the defence said would change it. He wanted to do right by Lucius and was willing to offer him another chance. He looked at Lucius’ lawyer. That man shook his head.
“Mr Malfoy, I am going to ask that you leave this court whilst a deliberation is held.”
There was a murmur of surprise from the watching crowd. They understood exactly what that meant. Clearly, so did Lucius.
The blond looked stunned. “You will grant me no further time to state my case?” A note of worry had crept into his voice. His supreme confidence and self-control was beginning to break under the strain.
“Mr Fuller, your lawyer, has made it clear he has nothing more to say.”
Lucius turned on the other man. “What about all of the other ideas you had?!” He snapped, voice throbbing with anger, “I even refrained from saying what good fucks Potter and Weasley were and this is the best you can do?!” He stood still, all too aware of the effect of his words.
Gasps were heard from all corners of the room.
“CLEAR THE COURT!” The Minister’s voice rang out, but it was too late, the words had been heard.
The reporter from The Daily Prophet apparated back to his office and began writing before he’d even finished spinning.
His copy appeared in the paper that evening.
Hermione, visiting Ron the following day, looked frighteningly pale, but for two red spots in her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked once she was seated between their beds.
“Nothing,” she squeaked quickly, too quickly.
Ron glowered at Harry. He wanted time with Hermione alone, he did not want to have to share her with Harry.
“Hermione…” Harry’s voice held a note of wheedling, and a note of annoyance in it. “It’s better we find out now.” He urged.
She pursed her lips. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Harry.”
Ron tried to speak to her but Harry cut across again.
“Hermione!” His voice was definitely annoyed now.
“Fine!” she huffed, “But remember I was against it.”
She pulled a copy of The Daily Prophet from the large canvas bag at her feet and sighed. “Harry, are you sure?”
“Read it,” he said, sounding grim.
“Potter Malfoy’s Victim. That’s the headline, then it says: During the trial of Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eaters today, a shock revelation was made that Malfoy had had intercourse with both boys – previously referred to as “A” and “B”. “A”, we now learn was Harry Potter, and “B” Ronald Weasley, son of Ministry worker Arthur Weasley.”
Ron gave a strangled cry and turned his face away from Hermione.
“Details of the trial have been reported in this paper over a number of days, and we cannot stress enough our shock and dismay that the victim referred to is indeed Harry Potter. The reports of the events were harrowing, and included details of non-consensual sex, and many of the jurors asked for a recess during the first days of the trial as such knowledge disturbed them so greatly. Now, it seems, the victim was not some unknown (which would have been bad enough), but the boy on whom all our hopes are pinned.
Harry shook his head in despair at that comment. Hermione looked at him, as if hoping he would now be satisfied. He felt sick, and didn’t really any more read, but he had to know. He waved for her to continue.
“The news came as Malfoy was being asked to leave the court whilst the jury deliberated. Malfoy had shown anger towards his defence lawyer and then made the statement that Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were ‘good f***s’.
“The reaction of the judge was swift. Malfoy’s announcement was made and the court cleared, but obviously by then the details had been shared.
“This reporter has followed the case in its entirety and will continue to do so, especially when Severus Snape takes the stand.”
Harry’s face was almost purple with anger. “That bastard!” he exploded, “That absolute bastard!”
In the other bed, Ron began laughing. The sound was cold and full of hurt. “Good to know what they care about!” he snarled, “I was that bastard’s victim for longer than you, but what do they focus on? You! Who was even first in the victim’s list? You! I was only “B”. You, the great, the mighty, the fucking perfect Harry Potter, you were “A”. I only got a mention as my Dad’s son! No one gives a fuck about me, Potter.”
His eyes were full of tears.
“Ron…” Harry began, with no idea of what to say next.
“Fuck off.” Ron said. “Drop dead, Potter.”
---
Prize for whoever can tell me why the chapter is called "The net below has rot away"! SP
Jilliane - you have read too many of my stories, honey! Stop with the plotting and trying to work out where you\'re being misdirected!
Lilith - Yeah, I imagine teh Aurors were very shaken. Poor dears.
Poohbear74 - Yup, I bet it was VERY hard to hear. Notice how I wimped out of describing it all? And thank you for saying this is teh darkest thing you\'ve read for a while. It doesn\'t get any happier!
And now, on. SP
WARNING: Yup, it\'s not nice.
Chapter Four: The net below has rot away
The day of Lucius’ turn in the witness box was hailed with banner headlines in the morning edition of The Daily Prophet. Apparently they believed he would reveal the identity of the two victims, thus far referred to as “A” and “B”. There had been enough titillation in the reading of the question and answer sessions to please the most jaded reader, but to have this news dangled in front of the average reader was too much. Sales shot up.
Lucius Malfoy took the stand wearing an impeccable black outfit. Black shirt, black cloak, black shoes, even an ebony wood cane. His blond hair seemed so much starker against such a dark background. There was no evidence that he had spent the last week and a half in a prison cell in Azkaban. He seemed utterly confident, was even smiling smugly.
“State your name for the record please.” The Minister for Magic said tonelessly.
“Lucius Aguistin Donte Caesar Malfoy.”
Questions came from the defence, aimed at showing Lucius in the best possible light. The lawyer tried to suggest that Malfoy had believed he was saving the boys by making You-Know-Who trust him so that he could get them to safety.
“After all,” Lucius said, “someone revealed the location of their hiding place to the Order.” He looked confidently at the jury, as if expecting them to immediately side with him. Some of them looked doubtful, others refused to met his eye.
It was the prosecution’s turn afterwards. It took him less than thirty minutes to knock down all of the ideas his opposition had tried to plant in the jury’s mind. It took another fifteen for the jury to want to murder Lucius.
The Minister for Magic, who was presiding over the proceedings, glanced at the jury. They had made their mind up, and nothing the defence said would change it. He wanted to do right by Lucius and was willing to offer him another chance. He looked at Lucius’ lawyer. That man shook his head.
“Mr Malfoy, I am going to ask that you leave this court whilst a deliberation is held.”
There was a murmur of surprise from the watching crowd. They understood exactly what that meant. Clearly, so did Lucius.
The blond looked stunned. “You will grant me no further time to state my case?” A note of worry had crept into his voice. His supreme confidence and self-control was beginning to break under the strain.
“Mr Fuller, your lawyer, has made it clear he has nothing more to say.”
Lucius turned on the other man. “What about all of the other ideas you had?!” He snapped, voice throbbing with anger, “I even refrained from saying what good fucks Potter and Weasley were and this is the best you can do?!” He stood still, all too aware of the effect of his words.
Gasps were heard from all corners of the room.
“CLEAR THE COURT!” The Minister’s voice rang out, but it was too late, the words had been heard.
The reporter from The Daily Prophet apparated back to his office and began writing before he’d even finished spinning.
His copy appeared in the paper that evening.
Hermione, visiting Ron the following day, looked frighteningly pale, but for two red spots in her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked once she was seated between their beds.
“Nothing,” she squeaked quickly, too quickly.
Ron glowered at Harry. He wanted time with Hermione alone, he did not want to have to share her with Harry.
“Hermione…” Harry’s voice held a note of wheedling, and a note of annoyance in it. “It’s better we find out now.” He urged.
She pursed her lips. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Harry.”
Ron tried to speak to her but Harry cut across again.
“Hermione!” His voice was definitely annoyed now.
“Fine!” she huffed, “But remember I was against it.”
She pulled a copy of The Daily Prophet from the large canvas bag at her feet and sighed. “Harry, are you sure?”
“Read it,” he said, sounding grim.
“Potter Malfoy’s Victim. That’s the headline, then it says: During the trial of Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eaters today, a shock revelation was made that Malfoy had had intercourse with both boys – previously referred to as “A” and “B”. “A”, we now learn was Harry Potter, and “B” Ronald Weasley, son of Ministry worker Arthur Weasley.”
Ron gave a strangled cry and turned his face away from Hermione.
“Details of the trial have been reported in this paper over a number of days, and we cannot stress enough our shock and dismay that the victim referred to is indeed Harry Potter. The reports of the events were harrowing, and included details of non-consensual sex, and many of the jurors asked for a recess during the first days of the trial as such knowledge disturbed them so greatly. Now, it seems, the victim was not some unknown (which would have been bad enough), but the boy on whom all our hopes are pinned.
Harry shook his head in despair at that comment. Hermione looked at him, as if hoping he would now be satisfied. He felt sick, and didn’t really any more read, but he had to know. He waved for her to continue.
“The news came as Malfoy was being asked to leave the court whilst the jury deliberated. Malfoy had shown anger towards his defence lawyer and then made the statement that Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were ‘good f***s’.
“The reaction of the judge was swift. Malfoy’s announcement was made and the court cleared, but obviously by then the details had been shared.
“This reporter has followed the case in its entirety and will continue to do so, especially when Severus Snape takes the stand.”
Harry’s face was almost purple with anger. “That bastard!” he exploded, “That absolute bastard!”
In the other bed, Ron began laughing. The sound was cold and full of hurt. “Good to know what they care about!” he snarled, “I was that bastard’s victim for longer than you, but what do they focus on? You! Who was even first in the victim’s list? You! I was only “B”. You, the great, the mighty, the fucking perfect Harry Potter, you were “A”. I only got a mention as my Dad’s son! No one gives a fuck about me, Potter.”
His eyes were full of tears.
“Ron…” Harry began, with no idea of what to say next.
“Fuck off.” Ron said. “Drop dead, Potter.”
---
Prize for whoever can tell me why the chapter is called "The net below has rot away"! SP