After the war

It was late evening by the time they heard anything more. Rita Skeeter firecalled them, her eyes sparkling.

"You might be interested to know, the ministery is in turmoil. Fudge and Percy Weasley have fled to escape the people camped outside, the Wizengamot have ordered them brought back to face questioning and charges. The Auror Corps are undergoing questioning under Veritasserum to establish their loyalties, as are the Miniserial staff. There's no confirmation yet, but the rumor at the moment is that they already found a couple of the Aurors under Imperius. It looks very much like those he couldn't persuade to support him willingly, he forced."

"That wouldn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that the Weasley boy has fled with Fudge, considering that the man's actions have wiped out his entire family." Severus drawled.

"He was already estranged from them, he had thrown in with Fudge long before the final battle. He was more interested in prestige, position and power than any family ties." Harry said sadly.

"So what has been told to the press about what's going on?" Severus asked, wrapping a comforting arm absently around Harry.

"There is a special appeal going out in all the press this evening, asking that if anyone sights the two fugatives, they contact the Wizengamot, but should make no attempt to confront them, or try to capture them themselves. They are to be considered extreamly dangerous. There is a special edition of the Prophet going out in about ten minutes." Rita said. She looked back over her shoulder for a moment, apparently checking she was alone before she continued.

"There is a chance they could be heading there to try to get to Harry. You two need to be careful." She warned.

"We will, thank you. You be careful too, he has very little more to lose now, by attempting to get revenge on anyone involved in his downfall." Severus warned.

"I know. We're all trying to stay together within the Prophet offices, just in case. I have to go, this fire is the only one that has been secured, and other people need to call their families to warn them."

"Thank you for taking the time to contact us."

"No problem." She said, pulling away from the fire and breaking the connection. Severus reached out to turn the stone, closing their own floo, and pulled Harry to him, resting his chin on top of the smaller man's head.

"He's coming here, isn't he?" Harry asked.

"I would say so. He must know that we, or rather, you, are behind the evidence he was seeking when he came here making it into the hands of the press. He may plan on trying to force you to recant, or to convince everyone that grief has made you insane enough to plant all the evidence against you, or he may just be planning murder. Whatever his plan is, he will fail. I have no intention of losing you now." Severus growled.

"Nor I you." Harry replied, wrapping his arms tightly around the older man.

The snake in the mirror hissed softly, and Harry rested his head on Severus's shoulder for a moment.

"It says the Fat Lady has reported Fudge trying to make her let him and Percy into the tower. They must think I'm dumb enough to hole up in there."

"Are they still there?" Severus asked.

Harry hissed the question at the snake, and Severus saw it shake it's head from side to side in the glass before it answered.

"He says not. They left there when she refused to allow them access without the password. They're roaming the halls somewhere. We should go find them before the Merlion gets to them. That would be far to easy on them." Harry said.

He and Severus got up, and cautiously headed out into the corridors, listening hard for any sign of their intruder. One of the portraits coughed lightly beside them and they looked up to see it fighting to control a huge grin.

"Master Snape, Mr. Potter. It would seem your new pet has cornered the Minister and one of his flunky's in the great hall. It seems to be a little reluctant to eat them, something about their scent putting it off I think. Perhaps you should go and rescue the poor creature." It suggested, finally losing the battle to stop himself snickering.

"Perhaps we will. It doesn't deserve to have to put up with them." Harry grinned.

"I couldn't agree more. I think we should both go this time Harry. They are cornered with nothing to lose. That will make them more dangerous than ever."

"OK." Harry agreed.

They went to the great hall, opening the door and stepping inside. Fudge and Percy were backed into a corner on the Slytherin side of the room. Fudge caught sight of Harry first, and he blustered.

"Mr. Potter, please get this thing under control. We came here to have a serious conversation with you, and we were attacked by this monstrosity."

"You're lying. I can smell the fear, and deceit rolling off both of you in waves. You came here to kill Harry, or to discredit him." Severus hissed, his fangs extended, glistening in the light of the hall as he leaned into the Merlion's side, looking at them over it's head.

"You're supposed to be dead." Percy squeaked, whimpering as Severus turned his full attention on him, the inky darkness of his eyes boring into Percy.

"So are you. You should be lying with your parents, brothers, and your little sister. But you were too cowardly and power hungry. You are not worthy of the name you bear. Never mind, both of you will have your just rewards soon enough."

"As will you, Vampire." Fudge sneered.

"You are supposed to be registered to do any job that brings you into contact with the public, and as for teaching in a school, pfht. You turn us into the search parties, then you will go down with us, Snape."

"Fool, I am registered, with the Wizengamot no less, as the last son of the oldest Vampire house. They knew who I was and where I was, they saw no need to share that with anyone else. And, what precisely gives you the impression you will be alive when you are returned to the ministery?" Severus asked icily.

"I think they may be a little suspicious if our bodies turn up with Vampire bites." Fudge sneered.

"I have no intention of biting you. As if I would taint myself with the poison flowing through your veins. Oh no, something entirely different will be biting you." Severus smirked, his fangs retracting. While he had been keeping their attention firmly on him, Harry had slipped out of the hall, and to the front doors of the school. Now he came back in, and slithering in front of him, what looked to be two dozen snakes. The Merlion backed away nervously as they came closer, and Fudge looked terrified, he hated snakes.

"Wwwwhaat are you doing?" He stammered.

"What does it look like? Since you were so pally with Voldemort, we thought you might like to go at the... hands.... so to speak, of his favorite creatures." Harry said with a cold smile.

He hissed a sibilant command to the snakes, and they slithered over to the two cowering men, coiling around them, slithering around them so there could be no escape. The screaming started as Severus and Harry walked out of the room, leading the still jittery Merlion between them.

"The snakes will leave when the pair of them are dead, then, we just need to get rid of the bodies. Do you have any suggestions?" Harry asked.

"Yes, go to the forest and talk to Firenze. There are carrion eating plants out there, and if they don't want the bodies, well, there are many places in there where a live person could vanish, never mind a dead one. They won't be found."

"Good." Harry said. He knew he shouldn't feel the sense of satisfaction that having the snakes kill Fudge and Percy gave him, but they didn't deserve any sort of a chance to wriggle their way out of what they deserved.

"So, now what remains. The memorial for the fallen, find out what Albus had planned for the school, and then..." Severus stopped walking and studied Harry through unfathomable eyes.

"And then?" Harry prompted.

"And then, us." Severus said, reaching out and brushing his thumb lightly over Harry's cheek, before pulling him into a light, gentle, and almost chaste kiss.

"Then us." Harry agreed quietly.

********************

My deepest apologies for not having updated in so very long, but I have been writing Torchwood and Dr. Who fic on my livejournal, and I got kind of caught up there. I will try not to leave it so long again.