All the way

Hermione took a fast, deep breath and opened the door. Whatever talking had gone on immediately stopped; every one in the room looked at Hermione and Snape.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been talking quietly with Ginny. Sprout and Flitwick had been chatting happily with Tonks and Remus, while Minerva and Filch sat on two hard looking chairs, with Mrs. Norris sitting on a lead by their feet.

Minutes passed as they stood in the door way, in an awkward silence. Hermione gave Ginny a pleading look. The young red head stepped forward.

\"Hey, Hermione,\" Ginny said as the friends hugged. She stepped away and over to Snape, holding out her hand, \"Professor,\" Snape shock her hand once and Ginny beamed, \"We were all wondering when you would arrive.\"

Seeing that everything was alright, Tonks bounded forwards and hugged Hermione then shook Snapes hand. Every one else followed suit, getting into a line. Filch, second from last, nodded slightly to Hermione, them ambled over to Snape.

Filch gave the first genuine smile she had ever seen him give. He pumped Snapes hand excitedly, \"It\'s good to see you old man. There are too many brats to punish on my own.\" He wheezed before shuffling back to his seat.

Finally the last person stepped forwards. Minerva by passed Hermione, going straight to her ex-colleague.

\"I want you to know, Severus,\" She said as her voice wavered, \"that every one here knows the truth and we are sorry that it took so long for us to realize what was under our noses. We are all so sorry.\"

Tears swelled out of her eyes and dripped down her face. She lunged at Snape, wrapping her arms around his neck. Hermione had to bite her lip to stop the laugh in her throat. The look on the mans face was priceless. His eyes were wide and he stood stiffly. Finally, he turned his head and gave Hermione a pleading look.

She took the sobbing witch under the arms and passed her over to Remus, who sat her in the chair and whispered to her, telling her Snape would understand.

Once Minerva was under control and every one had a chair, Hermione started to speak.

\"I apologize for telling you sooner, but you know my situation and since I have do not know what you\'re going to say once you are in the witness box we are putting our trust in you.\" She smiled over at Snape, \"Right, I am going to introduce you, then you say your piece and if you are a good witness, the prosecution will ask you questions, to try and discredit you. Once you are done, you can go right away or sit in the gallery to watch the others; it’s up to you although we could do with some support. The last thing I want to say is that I need two people to give an interview with Luna, for the Quibbler. I would like Minerva and Tonks. Minerva is Head Mistress of Hogwarts and close friend of Professor Dumbledore\'s, so she would be a good influence, and Tonks doesn\'t work at the Ministry any more, so she can\'t get fire. Also, lots of people like her and that’s always good. So, what do you say?\"

\"I\'m in!\" Tonks screamed. Minerva sniffled and nodded. Every one jumped when there was a knock on the door. A tall man in a suit peeked in. He sneered at Snape, smiled at every one else and then talked to Hermione.

\"I have two men here to take Mr. Snape into the court. You are all to follow me.\" He beckoned them out into the hall. Every one left, apart from Snape and Hermione, and two bulky guards walked in.

\"I can\'t stop these two,\" Hermione smiled sadly \"I\'m sorry,\" She walked over to him as he stood up, \"I\'ll meet you after, ok. Wish me luck.\"

\"Good luck.\" Snape said. Hermione stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek, then started for the door and the disgusted looking guards. She was nearly out when she heard a mutter come from the Professor, \"Not that you need it.\"

Hermione smiled.
____________________________________________________

Thinking he was alone, Severus raised his hand to the tingling spot where her lips had touched his cheek. Then he saw the guards, sneering, coming towards him and dropped his hand to his side.

\"Don\'t bother.\" One of them said as he pulled out some magical hand cuffs.

\"She only pities you,\" The other said nastily, \"She wouldn\'t look twice at you if she wasn\'t getting paid.\"

Getting paid? What did he mean? Who was paying her? They snapped the cuffs around his wrists and led him out of the room. Severus was marched down the hall, passed the court room double doors, and into a small side door.

They walked down a short, dark, narrow passage, to another door. The guards stopped.

\"Good luck!\" One of them squealed in a girly voice.

\"Yeah, we are Soooo with you!\" The other said in the same tone.

They opened the door, laughing stupidly, and pushed Severus through. He stumbled out into a small glass box, on the side of the court. Two new guards shut the door and shoved Severus into a big wooden chair.

He watched as chain clinked and bound him to the seat. When they were done the guards left the box and Severus looked around the rest of the room. On the wall to his right, was the jury that included the Minister for Magic. On the wall to his left, opposite the jury was two small tables, Hermione sat at one and a three fat men sat at the other. Finally, opposite him, was the gallery. Severus could see people glaring at him and Hermione and smiling at the three fat men and the judge. About three people were looking kindly down on Hermione and one boy was taking silent pictures, no doubt for a news paper. He looked oddly familiar.

Hermione at last looked up and winked at him. His stomach flipped and his faith in her doubled ten million times.

Suddenly, some one called for silence. Every one was focused on a man with a scroll. He began to read from it.

\"This is the appeal for Severus Snape, convicted murderer of Albus Dumbledore. Defense: Miss Hermione Jane Granger. Prosecution: Mr. Wermen Dome, Mr. Samuel Ponts and Mr. Preston Hill-Penny. Head juror: Mr. Tristal Demur, Minister for Magic. First, opening by Miss Granger.\"

The man stepped back and sat near the gallery. Severus watched proudly as Hermione stood up smiling. He couldn\'t understand why she was smiling, but it could only be good.

\"Well,\" She started, \"I think it\'s is obvious why I’m here, why we are here, so I won\'t bore you all for hours by telling you. This man,\" She kept facing the Minister, but pointed at Severus, \"has been wrongly convicted. Why, you may ask, did I leave it so long before acting? Well, to level with you, I wasn\'t sure that he was innocent, but then,\" She looked around the room, up at the gallery and turned to then, \"I did something I should have done when I first had doubts. I went to see the portrait of Professor Albus Dumbledore.\"

People started muttering but stopped quickly.

\"I talked to him and then realized how wrong we had all been. This man,\" She pointed at Severus again, \"is a war hero, not a criminal -\"

\"LIAR!!\" A woman from the gallery stood up, \"He is nothing more than a common death eater!\"

\"Please sit down -\" The man with the scroll started but she carried on shouting.

\"LIAR! LIAR!\"

\"Some one remove her from this room and calm her down!\" The Minister shouted over her cries. Two men took her by the arms and dragged her out, kicking and screaming, \"Please continue Miss Granger.\"

\"As I was saying,\" Hermione said kindly, \"I have made it my business to make sure that justice is, indeed, served and get Severus Snape out of the horrible prison. I will prove his innocence.\"

With a firm nod, the young witch sat.