After the war was over

PART SEVEN – MENDING WHAT WAS BROKEN


Court Number One of the Wizengamot was fuller than Severus had ever seen it; even more packed with people than it had been for his last trial all those years ago.

He had been arrested for conspiracy and insurrection, he and Draco both.

He felt hugely guilty for Draco’s arrest; it was completely his fault after all. Severus had been charged with working on banned potions for the Lenoir Foundation and he had had to work hard to persuade Draco to help him with those. He had thought that it would help Draco to get back to working on potions and had planned to get him to apprentice to himself.

All that they had been doing for the Foundation was testing how various ingredients interacted with each other; they had not been involved in any conspiracy or plots. But Severus knew that no-one with any power was about to believe that, this was about the fact that he had been a Death Eater and that Draco was the only living Malfoy and neither Scrimgeour nor Umbridge was ever going to let them go now that they finally had them.

But at least Severus had committed some crimes. He had never been an optimistic man, therefore he had spent the last few years waiting for the “other shoe to drop” and to find himself where he was today.

But why Draco?

He had already suffered so much in his life and Severus knew this trial was finally going to break him.

He was also worried about Iona; she had been with him when the aurors came. She had been roughly pushed to the side and had crashed into a wall, the men had refused to check on her and Severus had been unable to see anyone to find out how she was.

He shifted in the uncomfortable seat in which they had chained him and tried to catch Hermione’s eye. But she was sobbing in Ron’s arms; the sight of Bill, her kind loving brother-in-law sitting with his head bowed, hiding the scars that he had received during his defense of Hogwarts, chained and caged at the front of the courtroom along with the other “dark creatures” had finished Hermione and she was not coping at all well. All the Weasleys were there looking understandably distressed. All of them that was, with the exception of Molly and Fleur. Molly was looking after the children and Fleur, who was pregnant with their third child, was under sedation at the Weasley house.

Bill was totally blameless, and had surely not expected to be arrested. But whereas he and Draco faced extended terms in Azkaban, Bill and the other five people sharing the cage, well they faced death.

Scrimgeour was obviously also out to get the Lenoir Foundation. Severus had been shocked when he had found out just how many things the Foundation had been involved in over the years. From orphanages to hospitals to businesses and magical primary schools, all of the interests seemed benign though. In truth the main thing that seemed to be upsetting the Minister and his cronies was the involvement of the foundation in potions research; that and the fact that the seemed to be guilty of owning more than half the wizarding world.

But Lenoir was French and not here and so Scrimgeour seemed intent on prosecuting them instead.

Severus was hugely frustrated; he had only managed to speak to Kingsley Shacklebolt, Head of the Auror Service briefly when he had been brought in today.

It seemed that one of the reasons that Hermione was so distraught was that Harry was missing too. Apparently Fi had told Hermione that there was something that Harry had to do and he’d said he would be here. But the trial had been droning on for about two hours now and there was still no sign of Potter.

Not only that, but one of the charges against himself was that he had hated Harry when the boy had been in school and that he and Draco had participated in his torture. What worried Severus was that even if Harry was called to testify there was no way that he could honestly say that they hadn’t. As Severus had seen, most of Harry’s memories were damaged beyond repair and he could not truthfully say that something like that had not happened.

He was also desperately worried about Draco. The blonde man had totally given up it seemed. He sat slumped in the chair that they had given him, the very picture of despair. He had not lifted his head since he had been brought in and had even had to be roughly dragged to his feet when the “charges” against him were read out. Right now he was rocking gently backwards and forwards and humming very quietly to himself.

Severus was appalled by the aurors treatment of them, they had been rough and uncaring, with him, Severus. But the way that they had treated this poor broken creature was inexcusable, why they felt the need to drape him in chains and take away his somewhat shabby robes to replace them with prison clothing Severus could not possibly imagine.

Dolores Umbridge was standing at the front of the courtroom, ranting about the danger to innocent children from dark creatures. She had been droning on for ages and Severus had decided that she really didn’t want to hear any more of her sanctimonious claptrap, when all at once the large doors to the court burst open and two people strode into the body of the court.

The man who had come in was tall and handsome. He was immaculately dressed in black, beautifully cut robes. He stood tall and proud, with his head held high which was why it took Severus a moment or two to recognise Remus Lupin before he began to address the court.

“Madam Adjudicator,” he said, to Emily Whittering-Smythe who was the current head of the Wizengamot, “if you would be so kind as to allow me to address the court,” and when she nodded her assent. “I am Remus Lupin and I am here as a director to represent the Lenoir Foundation.”

The court erupted in noise and confusion.

Then Rufus Scrimgeour, jumped to his feet,

“Arrest that man!” He shouted, “he is a registered dark creature and I want him in chains.” Two aurors moved towards him ready to take his arms

“Stop!” Someone else was walking into the court and as he came the very air around him crackled with the power of his magic. It seemed to be radiating from him in powerful waves. The man’s hair and robes moved gently in the magical airs that surrounded him and his green eyes danced with life and mischief.

Severus was startled from his observation of all this sudden action, from a whispered voice beside him

“Harry?” Said Draco in a tiny voice, looking up from his contemplation of the floor, eyes alive once more and face shining with hope, “Harry?”

“Don’t you dare, lay a finger on that man!” Harry said in a voice that was as strong and as powerful as his entire demeanour. “If you touch him you will trigger an international incident and be in direct contravention of all Anglo/French magical diplomatic agreements. Remus Lupin is a French Citizen and he is also my friend and colleague.”

This time it took a good twenty minutes before order was restored


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


“Potter?” Spat Scrimgeour viciously, when things had calmed down somewhat. “How dare you come in here like this, disrupting a court of law and interrupting proceedings? I have a good mind to have you arrested for contempt of court.”

“No Minister you will not, I have every right to be here today as I am answering the summons that I was sent, my lawyer has a copy.” At that statement he reached behind him to take a scroll of parchment from one immaculately suited pink-haired Tonks

“But….bbbut, you are Harry Potter.”

“I am that, Scrimgeour,” said Harry and then eliciting an eruption of laughter from the enthralled audience. “It’s good to know that our elected officials are so observant. I am and have always been Harry Potter but, Je suis connu aussi comme Henri Lenoir”

(I am also known as Harry Black)

He idly waved one hand in the general direction of the prisoners and all at once the chains and the cage dissolved. The heavy iron shackles vanished and Draco seemed startled to see that his had not disappeared but had transformed into delicate jewel laden cuffs with one single long chain connecting them. However he barely had time to examine them before Harry was speaking again.

“Can I ask you why our war heroes are being treated so shamefully Minister?
Without these men and, none of us would still be alive,” he said gesturing the same hand towards Severus, Draco and Bill causing several aurors to leap back out of the way, just in case Harry was about to perform more magic.

“Could I also ask is this some vendetta against me? After all I have just come from my sister-in-law’s bed-side. She was injured when your men arrested Professor Snape. She will be okay but she is very shaken up.” Harry looked directly at Severus as he said this, as if trying to offer him comfort. “Bill Weasley, is no dark creature, but he is the brother of my best friend. Professor Snape is in fact my only living uncle and Draco Malfoy is the man I love. Call me paranoid if you like but that seems awfully suspicious to me.”

With that he strode across the room towards them he winked at Severus

“Are you all right Uncle Sev, I am sure this is just a misunderstanding, we’ll have you both out of here in no time!”

Then he turned to Draco and took him tenderly in his arms. Staring into Draco’s shocked grey eyes he said, gently pulling on the chain that Draco wore as he spoke, “that’s not coming off until we have talked, you are not running away on me again my love.” He smiled at the fragile man that he was holding and then he leaned down and claimed Draco’s mouth in a deep and passionate kiss.”

The majority of the crowd were now on their feet, cheering and clapping loudly

And Severus Snape for only the second, and one would hope the last time in his wizarding career fainted clean away.



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



Emily Whittering-Smythe, was pounding her gavel on the dais in front of her when Severus returned to consciousness. The court was in complete and utter chaos.

“Order, order, order” She was shouting, “Mr Potter, could you please put Mr Malfoy down so that proceedings can continue? Mr Potter, MR POTTER!!!”

“I’m sorry Your Honour but Harry cannot hear you, he was tortured into deafness by Voldemort, you’ll just have to ask someone to tap him on the shoulder or something,” Hermione said, looking up from hugging Ginny Zabini. Her eyes were sparkling with delight at the sheer surprise and joy of it all. Those eyes still seemed a bit red and sore from the crying she had been doing. But her face was shining with hope now too, for she obviously was of the belief that Harry was about to make things alright again, far more alright than they had been in a very long time.

Severus noticed that she, Ginny and Harry were not the only ones out of their seats half the court seemed to be shouting, trying to make sense of what was happening. Remus and Tonks were in the centre of a gaggle of people; all asking questions at once and the Weasleys were across the room from where they had been sitting hugging and patting Bill in one big scrum of redheaded maleness.

None of them knew how Harry planned to save their brother from imminent death but they were all obviously of the opinion that he would do just that.

The Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe looked enquiringly over at the gathered aurors who were watching proceedings from the sidelines

“Would someone like to oblige?” she asked gesturing at Harry and Draco who were still locked in a loving embrace and didn’t seem to be planning to break apart any time soon. But nobody moved, it seemed that the cream of Scrimgeour’s aurors did not fancy trying to separate the Harry Potter who had just demonstrated such enormous magical power with such careless dismissal from the lover that they had only hours ago treated with harshness and contempt.

Until finally,

“Oh for Merlin’s sake!” Severus leaned over and gently squeezed Harry’s arm

“HHnnn?” Said Harry, looking in bewilderment at his uncle and then at at gesture from Severus he looked directly at the judge. “Oh sorry Your Honour, it’s just that I have not seen Draco in such a long time.” He cupped Draco’s cheek gently in one hand, he used the index finger of the other to wipe away a single tear from Draco’s cheek. “I will never let anyone hurt you again Libellule.,” he said, before he tenderly lowered a stunned Draco, still wearing his pretty chains, back to the chair that he had been sitting on. But not without quickly changing it a very sleek black leather bucket chair first.

His eye’s met Severus’ and he waggled his eyebrows, just once before letting his face break into an enormous smile and Severus, careful to ensure that no one else could see mouthed at him

“You are enjoying this aren’t you Potter? And if you ever call me Uncle Sev again I will strip out your guts and use them as a tie!”

“Of course I am enjoying it Professor” whispered Harry with a chuckle. “I have waited a long time to kick Scrimgeour and Umbridge’s arses and I have a number of scores to settle today! Why don’t you sit back and enjoy the proceedings?” And then with his grin growing if possible even wider. “Of course you know better than anyone how much I enjoy my fame,” then without more ado, he transformed the hard wooden chair that Severus had been chained to for the last two hours into just the sort of comfortable high-backed wing chair that Severus loved.

, “Ooops sorry Uncle Sev nearly forgot about you and it would not do to have my favourite uncle uncomfortable would it? That would make me very cross!” He said loudly as he turned away from the two men in order to move to the witness stand.

He eyed the aurors as he said this. “Would someone care to get my uncle a glass of water? He has obviously had a very trying few days.” As he spoke, a couple of them clutched at each other in fright, whimpering slightly. One turned and left the room with alacrity and another took a leaf out of Severus’s book and fainted clean away. Severus growled menacingly at his nephew, but Harry of course did not hear a thing and anyway Severus thought ruefully, he wouldn’t have cared even if he had heard him.

Even after Harry had returned to the centre of the court and transfigured himself a chair identical to Draco’s it still took some considerable time to get the court settled enough for the proceedings to continue. People had moved round to sit closer to friends so they could comment on the proceedings to each other. The Weasleys took ages to settle themselves and Tonks and Remus took out their wands and created a large mahogany desk on which they proceeded to pile papers.

Harry took a glass of water from a trembling auror, who had also just given drinks to Draco and Severus,

“Thanks!” He said, “ Don’t forget Mr Weasley and his companions will you?”

Bill smiled over at Harry in gratitude. He and the other people who had been imprisoned in the cage like the wild animals Scrimgeour insisted them to be, were also now seated on comfortable, transfigured furniture. The floor of the Wizengamot currently resembled a rather smart coffee bar and the aurors delivering refreshments to the accused only added to the atmosphere.

Once everything had grown quiet Harry looked up at Emily Whittering-Smythe and smiled charmingly. “I am ready Your Honour, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting for so lon. Do you think someone could tell me why myself, my family and friends and my charitable foundation seem to be on trial?”

“I certainly think somebody should start explaining Mr Potter,” said the judge, “I must admit I am rather intrigued as to why these proceedings have been called today myself.”

“Thank you Your Honour, but please call me Harry.”

Scrimgeour rose to his feet then. He was visibly seething with anger and frustration, it was very obvious that the trial was not proceeding in the way that he had expected it to.

“The Lenoir Foundation is charged with conspiracy against the elected magical government of this country. He began. “These men.” He sneered, pointing at Draco and Severus as he spoke. “Are charged with taking part in the conspiracy and with being Death Eaters and those creatures,” this last said with yet another sneer and a curled lip in the direction of Bill “are dark and dangerous and need to be destroyed.”

The crowd of course had already heard all of this, stated dryly earlier. But after the considerable lightening of the atmosphere that Harry’s arrival and produced, they ooohed and aaahed and booed Scrimgeour’s words causing him to turn to them and produce a scowl of such magnitude that it would surely have been able to turn milk!

“I see,” said Harry, “and exactly which part of funding hospitals, schools and orphanages would form the main part of the conspiracy? Or perhaps the fact that the foundation also helps small businesses in their time of need, that might be the conspiracy? Or maybe,” and here Harry stopped and smiled over at a furiously scribbling press phalanx “the conspiracy is the fact that only this morning the Lenoir Foundation bought the Daily Prophet newspaper and floated the shares about.” At this point he looked at his watch. “Ten minutes ago on the Gringotts Stock Exchange, which means the wizarding world now has a free press and the sort of articles which suggested that I was so ill that the only hope for me was an extended stay in St Mungo’s might not be printed in future.” The crowd was on its feet again and the press corp. were also up, they had risen as a single unit when Harry had disclosed this last bit of information and were dancing round cheering and hugging each other

Harry was shouting now. “I had doubted for some time that we had a free press when The Prophet started printing articles that suggested that,” it was Harry’s turn to sneer and he managed magnificently. “Dolores Umbridge was my favourite teacher at school when everyone knew that not only did she give me endless detention but she used a blood quill to make me write time after time that I was telling lies when I tried to assert that Voldemort had returned!”

The crowd were shouting now “Shame!” and “How could she, and to Harry Potter too?”

The Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe had to use a sonorous charm this time to try to bring the crowd back in order.

“THAT IS ENOUGH!!” She bellowed “I WILL HAVE SILENCE OR I WILL CLEAR THIS COURT!!” That had an immediate affect on every one; nobody wanted to miss what was happening in Court Number One, as it was the most interesting thing that many of them had seen for years.

Even the press settled happily eyeing Scrimgeour and Umbridge, hungrily, obviously planning what they were going to write first now that the Ministry no longer had any control over them.

“Or is it the fact,” said Harry his voice so low that everyone had to lean in to listen, “that the Lenoir foundation has found the cure for Lycanthropy and apart from these five people there are no werewolves left in Europe as far as we know, and that we have also developed a lotion which will cure the sort of scars that Bill Weasley has had to deal with even if they were more than twenty years old?”

This time the court was so out of control with rejoicing that Emily Whittering-Smythe lowered her head to her hands and just let them get on with it for a while.

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


The chaos went on, but Draco did not hear it. The noise seemed to him to come from far away, from a whole other world. He did not really see it either. He sort of noticed that the Weasley twins were alternating dancing the waltz with each other and snogging complete strangers, both male and female. That big, tough Charlie Weasley was hugging his brother as if he’d never let him go again and crying like a five-year-old. That Ron and Hermione were comforting a delighted but shocked Arthur Weasley and that a whole host of past school acquaintances were leaping around and laughing and congratulating each other as if it had been they who had seriously embarrassed the minister of Magic and his odious apprentice.

Scrimgeour and Umbridge whose imminent downfall had triggered such celebrations were bellowing at each other and at some poor clerk who was trying to sort out paperwork. Emily Whittering-Smythe on the other hand seemed to be having a nice cup of tea.

But Draco was disconnected from this mayhem. He only had eyes for Harry and anything else was merely mist before the wind. Harry sat serene in the centre of all the noise and confusion, smiling up at Remus Lupin his green eyes dancing and his dear mouth curved into a smile. He was Draco’s focus. His past, present and future, as finally after many years of loneliness and loss, Draco had come home.

He looked down at the cuffs he was wearing and smiled shyly to himself, as he reached out a tentative finger and caressed them. Harry had made them for him, and Merlin they were exquisite, the silver cuffs were delicately engraved with complex Celtic knotwork and the creatures that were woven within the intricate carving were unsurprisingly, dragonflies. Shining and iridescent, made of chips of diamond and emerald and cobalt enamel all painted with gold.

How did Harry do that? Seemingly without a thought he had created a thing that was truly lovely and given it to Draco. But that was Harry wasn’t it? He always made beauty from ugliness and turned nightmares into wonderful dreams of hope.

Draco knew that Harry had come just in time to save him once again, one moment later and it would have been too late. Draco had been standing on the edge of a bottomless canyon looking into the abyss, but Harry had held him and Harry had kissed him and Draco had seen in his eyes and felt on his lips that Harry loved him. Truly loved him and that as long as he had Harry he would never be alone again.

He put his hand to his mouth to trace where the kiss had been and smiled again and then he looked up and his grey eyes shining with the unshed tears of true happiness met those of Harry and Harry smiled back at him with such love that Draco was almost undone.

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

Severus finished the cup of tea that a quaking auror had brought him. He had watched Draco begin to relax. He saw the young man had his entire attention fixed on Harry. Draco would have no idea about what was going on, and what was more, he didn’t seem to care. The court had quieted because the crowd had realised that whilst is was quite nice to discuss things that had happened it was even better to find out what was going to happen next, so they rearranged themselves in their various seats and proceedings started again.

“Thank you Harry, for your testimony.” Began The Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe. She was smiling at Harry her eyes twinkling over her half moon spectacles in a way that was strongly reminiscent of Albus Dumbledore “I think that you have conclusively proved to this court’s satisfaction that the Lenoir Foundation did not take part in any conspiracy and that these people, as they can be cured so easily can no longer be classed as dark creatures.”

“But Emily,” said Scrimgeour, leaping to his feet in indignation. “Potter has not proved anything of the sort, and those dark creatures cannot be allowed to leave the court they are a danger to society! Our children are not safe. How can we be sure that Potter is not lying? Or bewitched by those….those Death Eaters.” With that he jabbed a pointing finger viciously in the direction of Severus and Draco

“Rufus,” said Whittering-Smythe, sharply “This is still my court, not yours! I think he has more than proved that neither he nor his foundation has been guilty of any wrong doing, and here after all, it is still my opinion that counts! And the name is The Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe to you!”

“This has got to stop!” Shouted Scrimgeour, with the edge of hysteria tingeing his voice “ This…this…boy!!” this last word spat out so fiercely that several members of the front row leapt back in their seats in alarm. “Is making a mockery of British magical justice, He comes swanking in here as if he owns the court, as if he can do whatever he pleases, who the fuck does he think he is, he is nothing anymore! Do you hear me? Nothing!”

“He is a hero,” this last comment was said in a quiet voice that was nonetheless compelling and caused several of the crowd to look around to see who was speaking.

Severus’ jaw dropped. For moving towards Scrimgeour, trembling violently but obviously very determined was a wraith-like Draco Malfoy. Draco surely didn’t realise what a frail picture he presented. His hair shone like spun silver in the flickering torchlight of the Wizengamot and he was drowned in the robes, which appeared to be several sizes too big for him. He was thin right now as well, too thin and his cheeks seemed drawn in with worry and pain, his grey eyes were huge in his pale white face and he resembled nothing so much as a rabbit standing up to a ravenous wolf.

The court was for the first time that day completely silent. No one said a word; many seemed scared to draw breath.

Draco felt weak at the knees when he realised that so many people were looking at him, he hid away these days whenever he could, from crowds, from new people. The Draco Malfoy of his childhood would have revelled in the attention that his words had provoked but this Draco swayed slightly on his feet and nearly died inside, from embarrassment. But he was determined to defend Harry from this brutal man who obviously hated him, Draco was furious in his own quiet way, how dared he treat Harry like this?

“Harry Potter is worth ten of you,” Draco continued, his voice, unlike any other part of him right now was strong and unwavering though pitched low so many had to strain to hear. “He is a hero, our hero, my hero, he saved the wizarding world, and killed the most evil wizard who ever lived but he saved me too.”

He had moved forwards toward Scrimgeour limping a little with his damaged leg, and it was Scrimgeour who moved back away from this fragile nemesis as the burning intensity of Draco’s gaze bore into his very soul.

“If it had not been for Harry I would have gone mad in there.” He said, his head tilted to one side and his eyes staring back to a time when the only world that he had known had been destroyed piece by piece and when he had been destroyed too. “For a long time in fact I was truly insane.”

“They first raped me the night they killed my mother, they tortured her to death you know. They took it in turns to fuck me as I listened to her screams. I do not remember how many it was, I lost count after about twenty. They took me in my mouth and in my arse and it was violent and bloody and I was lost and broken. But Harry put me back together again. I was the pet of Death Eaters, not their equal. They kept me naked and in a collar and fucked me when they felt like it.”

Scrimgeour had backed as far away from Draco as he could. He was whimpering now but Draco kept on relentlessly nevertheless telling his story of unimaginable pain and anguish.

“And Severus too, he helped us in there. He was a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, and sometimes when he did not know that I was there I watched him crying for what he had to see and do.”

Severus’s hung his head as Draco continued, several members of the audience were sobbing softly. But Draco was unaware of them as he carried on his terrible tale, giving Scrimgeour no retreat and no sanctuary from his words.

“It tore him apart, because we were just children, me and Harry and he was the adult and he wanted to rescue us. But he couldn’t you see until all the dark things that Voldemort had made to make him immortal were destroyed.

“And he helped,” Draco turned and gestured at Bill Weasley. “He broke the curses at great risk to his safety, when he was often in pain from his wounds. I know because his brother told me.

“But what did you do Mr Scrimgeour to defeat Voldemort? Because I don’t remember you until afterwards, when you tried to have Severus and I found guilty of being Death Eaters, even though you knew that Harry had left magical testimony to prove that this what not the case.”

There were a number of gasps as he said this as neither Scrimgeour nor Umbridge had ever made the fact of Harry’s testimony public. His words would have gone a long way to redeeming Severus in the eyes of the magical community and may well have prevented Draco turning away from the wizarding world where he had been so hated and reviled. No one had ever really heard Draco’s side of the story, not even Severus or Ron and no one outside a select few had ever heard what had happened to Harry.

“You had the parchments that told of our innocence, written in Harry’s blood. It’s the physics of magic liquid to liquid, solid to solid and Harry had nothing to transform down there. I know because I shared his prison. But you weren’t there Mr Scrimgeour, you did nothing to help us.” Draco was right up against him now, he was smaller than the ex auror by some considerable amount but none of the spectators who sat spell bound in that courtroom were in any doubt of who was the stronger man that day

Scrimgeour was begging now, “Nononono, please let me be.” He fell to his knees almost but not quite knocking Draco over. Goliath, slain by David. With just a few words, sharp and true.

“All you have done as far as I can see is lie and manipulate and steal the praise that should belong to others. Mr Scrimgeour I accuse you of conspiracy, malevolence and extreme prejudice. What did you ever do to help save the world?”

“NO! STOP IT GET OFF HIM YOU EVIL GOBLIN!!!”

Dolores Umbridge rushed forward to help Scrimgeour, finally having enough of what was happening, she was surprisingly fast for her bulk and shape.

She roughly shoved Draco aside sending him flying across the room and then she turned her wand upon him ready to deliver a hex.

“Don’t you dare!” Harry shouted.

“Draco!”

Even after all these years he still had the skills of a seeker and he caught his precious burden before he hit the ground removing Umbridge’s wand as he did so with a wordless spell.

Now Whittering-Smythe was on her feet. “That will do!” she shouted, “How dare you disrupt my court in this fashion,”

Umbridge turned her mocking expression in Harry’s direction

“Finally.” She sneered, “you are going to get what is coming to you!”

“Don’t be ridiculous you stupid woman! I wasn’t talking to Harry!” Emily Whittering-Smythe, snarled contemptuously.

“Aurors arrest this person, she is threatening innocent people and disrupting my court.”



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




Severus was stunned; he had watched the proceedings with astonishment. Harry’s revelations left him reeling! Harry was Lenoir!! He had wondered whether the Foundation were working on an improved form of Wolfsbane, because the ingredients that he had been testing were so familiar to him. But he had never dreamt that they would pull off a coup d'état like this, he wondered who their potions expert was, because whoever had created this brew was surely a genius.

He would never have imagined either that Harry was the one who had ordered such a thing, who was responsible for the philanthropy for which Lenoir had become famous. For building up support over the years from ordinary wizards and for, in effect, staging a bloodless revolution and taking over the wizarding world. Something like that was ambitious, it was cunning it was politically skilful, it was something, well, very Slytherin to have done

Furthermore he was stunned by Harry’s display today, he was so incredibly powerful. Severus had never seen anything like the power that Harry seemed to have at his command. Harry had kept a low profile on the whole magic thing in the almost seven days that he had been at Hogwarts.

In fact he had kept a low profile on everything hadn’t he? None of them, not himself, nor Ron, nor Hermione had had any idea about the Lenoir Foundation, or the Lycanthropy Potion, or The Prophet buy out, or even Lupin and Tonks. Severus had wondered a couple of times about them and almost asked Harry, but the Marauders had always been a such a touchy subject between them and their new found friendship was so fragile….that….well, he hadn’t liked to ask.

Severus had been in Harry’s mind a lot over the last few days and he had seen nothing of this, he was sure that Harry’s earlier happy memories had been destroyed. Those strange distorted phantasmal images in his mind could not be faked, because Severus could feel that they were real.

But the Foundation memories, Harry must have occluded those, and when had Harry remembered Draco? Because Severus had seen no memories in Harry’s mind that would explain his behaviour towards Draco now. His gut feeling was that those memories must have been what was hidden behind the strange barrier in Harry’s psyche but Severus did not know how such a barrier could have come about, or how it could have ended. He had never believed such a thing to be possible, but then Harry seemed to specialise in impossible things didn’t he?

Severus had suspected that his godson had truly gone mad again when he had told him about Harry. He had even gone so far as to discuss the situation with Iona, wondering if Draco had been losing all grasp of reality. He did not doubt that the boys had grown close in that prison. After all they must have come to rely on each other totally, but love? Surely not, after such enmity that had existed between them? But Draco had been right, what Severus was witnessing between them now, what half the worthies of the wizarding world were witnessing was indeed nothing less than the deepest, most compelling love.

Harry was currently comforting Draco tenderly, lovingly with all of his attention, as if nothing else mattered, and Severus could see that for that moment in time, for Harry, nothing else did. His godson had been fine when he had been defending his Harry but then once that cow Umbridge had sent him flying he had noticed all the faces watching him and he had once again crumbled. Severus wondered how close Draco was to being totally lost to insanity. He had been behaving quite erratically since Harry’s return and these last two days had put so much strain on an almost broken mind.

Severus wished he could get closer but there was so much activity going on because of the incident that had just occurred with Umbridge. Aurors were everywhere and Severus did not plan on getting too close to them again any time soon. But even from where he was across the room he could see Draco had buried his head on Harry’s shoulder and that he was trembling uncontrollably. Severus should not have doubted his nephew though for momentarily the thin baggy prison robes were gone and in their place Draco now wore a thick dark-green robe with a deep hood which Harry gently tugged up to cover Draco’s head and give the shy, intensely private man some sanctuary against the stares.

Just then Severus’ musings were interrupted because Emily Whittering-Smythe once again called the court to order again and began to speak.

“Well Mr Potter,” she said, “I am not sure quite how we proceed from here are you?”

Harry smiled at her. “Perhaps we could summon the parchments I wrote in defence of Draco and my Uncle Severus?” He suggested, “I do not know where they have been all this time, they should have been printed in the Prophet after Voldemort was defeated, that is what I wanted Scrimgeour to do, that is what I asked him to do. But they cannot be destroyed and wherever they are they will come to me if I call them.”

“Please then, Harry, go ahead.”

Seconds later two crumpled pieces of parchment sat in front of Whittering-Smythe and the court was once again completely silent as the judge bent her head to read. As she read she became increasingly pale and when she finished she had tears in her eyes.

Harry watched her steadily for a moment or two and then he pulled Draco towards him and they both sat down on the black leather sofa that the bucket chair had become.

“Aurors,” she said in a voice that cracked from holding back tears. “Please arrest Rufus Scrimgeour.”

The Minister for Magic had been sitting up against the wooden barrier to the seating with his head buried in his knees, he did not seem even slightly surprised when the judge ordered his arrest. He simply stood and allowed himself to be led over to join his deputy at the other side of the court.

“Ms Tonks,” Whittering-Smythe continued. “I wonder if you could come and read these aloud to the court for me, as Mr Potter’s Barrister, I think it ought to be you.”

So the now purple haired metamorphmagus moved from Remus’ side at their mahogany desk and went to stand before the judge’s dais. She took the first piece of parchment and began in a clear calm voice to read the document to the court. She read about the events of the night of Dumbledore’s death. About the fake artefact that Harry and Albus had pursued and of the poison that would have killed the Headmaster in the most agonising way, had not Severus killed him as he had been begged to do. She read of Snape’s loyalty to the side of Light and the fact that Severus had saved Harry time after time despite the enmity that had between them at the time and finally, she read Harry’s impassioned plea that Severus Snape be exonerated for what he had had to do.

When she finished there was not a sound in the courtroom it was almost as if the spectators were collectively holding their breath. Then Tonks replaced the first piece of parchment, took up the second and began to read again.

Dear Minister Scrimgeour

I am sending you this letter because
I am not very sure that I will come out
of here alive. I am growing weaker and
weaker every day. There is one thing and
one thing only that has kept me living so
far and that is Draco Malfoy. When I have
been sick he has held me. When I cried he
kissed away my tears. When I was frightened
he told me stories and when I despaired
he held my hand.

I know Sir, that in the next few days I will
face Voldemort, I dream of it every night
and I promise you that I will not fail to kill
him. But I am frightened that I shall not leave
the battle alive.

I am not scared to die Sir, because this has
Been my purpose since I was eleven years old
But if I know Draco is safe I can die in peace.

Please Sir; I commend him to your care
look after him for me and protect him and tell the
wizarding world that without him I would have
died long since.

He and Professor Snape have been true
heroes of this war without their support and care
there would be no Chosen One right now and
Voldemort would already rule us all. I have enclosed
evidence of Professor Snape’s innocence which
will absolve him

Please send these documents to the Daily Prophet so
That every one in the magical community
will know the truth. That it was my last wish,
my only wish. That Severus Snape and my lover Draco Malfoy
be cared for and looked after,
I shall ask for nothing else.

Yours sincerely

Harry James Potter

Tonks was crying openly when she finished reading the letter. Indeed more than half the court, including The Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe were sobbing.

In the centre of the room sat Harry and Draco. Harry cuddling the blonde man, as if he were the most precious thing in the world. He was stroking his hair gently and whispering softly and Draco was curled like a cat in Harry’s arms.

For both of them it seemed the court, the proceedings had ceased to exisit.

Severus knew that he and Draco were about to be acquitted. He had heard of the parchment that Harry had written about him before when Hermione and had Ron had discovered its existence. They had managed to procure it so that she could examine it closely, as seemingly, because Scrimgeour had continued trying to suppress it had unrelentingly kept popping back up like the proverbial bad penny. It had eventually turned up on Arthur Weasley’s desk in the middle of a report about enchanted cricket bats.
However it seemed that just freeing Draco and acknowledging the existence of the parchment had been enough to suppress the passionate plea for Draco’s freedom that Harry had written from his cell.

Severus was appalled.

He knew why it happened of course! If the magical world had known about Harry’s letter they would have embraced Draco, as a hero and Scrimgeour had long been an adversary of Lucius’ Malfoy. Had the magical world seen Harry’s letter in its entirety Severus very much doubted that the Malfoy fortune would have been confiscated, and the boy would surely never have become the hated symbol of evil that he had become? But Harry had done his best, how was a then sixteen year-old-boy to know that his possibly dying wish would be so ignored? So perverted by others?

He could hear the angry murmurings amongst the crowd; he didn’t blame them as he felt like muttering angrily himself! What had been done to him was bad enough, but Draco? What he had to suffer in addition to the appalling things that had happened to him during his captivity should never had happened. Harry had tried his best to ensure that Draco would be looked after, only to have those wishes subverted in such a cruel, evil way.

The next words that Emily Whittering-Smythe uttered would not only free them both but they would exonerate them too and Severus knew that people would no-longer treat him as a pariah, distain his company or whisper behind his back. Instead the whole community, rather than just a few stubborn supporters such as Minerva and the Weasleys would embrace him. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that, he just hoped that this had not all come too late for Draco’s sanity. Then Severus realised that he had not been listening and turned his attention to the judge.

“…..Cannot believe that these two men, these two heroes have been so shabbily treated by our elected government. Rufus Scrimgeour has stood here in my court and slandered them and Mr Potter. He and his deputy have also repeatedly attacked Mr Potter in the press. Dolores Umbridge especially I think has tried to blacken his name! At this the Press themselves were all nodding enthusiastically that yes indeed she had.

Furthermore Rufus Scrimgeour and Dolores Umbridge have continually persecuted, so called “Dark Creatures,” when I cannot believe that they did not know that a cure for Lycanthropy was available, at this she looked towards Remus who just nodded once firmly.

I am appalled that this should happen in our society and I declare this case against the six ladies and gentlemen who are listed as Dark Creatures the Lenoir Foundation, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy to be dismissed.

I furthermore suggest that these two individuals be prosecuted at the earliest convenience, for corruption, slander and extreme malice.” She finished, her impassioned summing up, this time gesturing towards Scrimgeour and Umbridge.

At this point a very elderly man stood up and cleared his throat. Barnaby Bartholomew was one of the oldest members of the Wizengamot and he inclined his head respectfully towards Whittering-Smythe.

“Your Honour,” he began, “I wonder if I could just make a comment at this point?

“Certainly you may Barnaby, do go ahead.”


“I would just like to say that I believe that we should not wait to prosecute these two people. I find myself completely disgusted by their behaviour. I too believed Severus Snape to have managed to cleverly evade justice somehow. Even I, one of the senior members of the Wizengamot had only heard of the parchment absolving him, I had never seen it in its entirety.” He turned to Severus and this time bowed to him. “I apologise Sir, for doubting you.

“I too believed, after recent press articles that Harry Potter had been so injured by what had happened to him when he was held by Voldemort that he had become damaged beyond our help, and yet I can see that he is in fact a most admirable individual who deserves nothing less than the complete admiration that he has previously always commanded.” He bowed toward Harry in acknowledgement. Harry was paying attention again. Tonks had tapped him on his arm and fired off a quick comment in sign language. Harry didn’t seem to be planning on letting go of Draco though, possibly ever again.

“Finally I am appalled by what has happened to Mr Malfoy.” Barnaby Bartholomew continued. “The story that I have heard today has chilled me to the very bone; I think that Scrimgeour and Umbridge have had more of a hearing than they gave to any of these men. Who are indeed, as you say, heroes. I do not think a subsequent trial would be fair on those who have spoken today and that I at least have heard enough evidence to make my decision.”

“Hear, hear!” Echoed a number of other members of the Wizengamot

“If you think this to be the case, Barnaby, and if no one has any objection to us proceeding in such a manner,” said Whittering-Smythe, “then please do give us your decision.”

“Thank you Emily.” Said Bartholomew and looked around to see if anyone would make a comment against his suggestion, but nobody did, and so he continued again. “On the charges of corruption, slander and extreme malice I believe Rufus Scrimgeour and Dolores Umbridge, to be guilty as charged.

Then against the background of cheering crowds each and every member of the Wizengamot, all seventy-three of them stood up, one by one and echoed the conclusion.

Guilty, guilty, guilty. guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty

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


When Draco had been thrown backwards he had for the first time seen some of the faces in the crowd, and all at once he had realised. He knew these people. They would not help him, they never had.

People in amongst those spectators had called him names, had spat on him, had encouraged him to leave his heritage behind and seek solace with Muggles. Day after day of hatred, when he had been grieving for Harry, grieving for the loss of hope, and then it came to Draco that the last time he had been surrounded by a hostile crowd like this had been the time that he had been raped.

Suddenly he was having a flashback. He was there again, in that huge gracious room. He could smell it, feel it, taste it. Draco panicked. He had to get away. They were going to hurt him again! He could not bear it again. He began to shudder violently.

But all at once he felt strong arms around him, holding him, petting him and he knew instinctively that he was safe. The smell of Harry, the feel of him was enough to ground Draco to stop the rising terror. He was in the courtroom wasn’t he? With Harry. No Death Eaters here. But he could not turn around, he could not look at the faces the hatred in their eyes again, and so he hid. He hid his face in Harry’s robes and held him as tight as he could as if he would never let him go, and Harry, why Harry, held Draco close in return. All at once Draco felt very cold and started to shiver, then he was wrapped in a Slytherin Green robe which covered him from head to toe. Harry was safe now, no one would hurt him here, the judge had seen to that and Draco could retreat, so he did.

Inside the heavy hood Draco wished the courtroom away and listened to Harry’s voice and tuned out everyone else, sometimes if things got noisy again he hummed to himself and then Harry would stroke his hair or make those idle circles on his back like he had first done all that time ago and Draco fell into a kind of stupor whilst all around him history was being made.

He was startled out of his daydreams by a touch that was not Harry’s and he started violently.

“Its okay Libellule, It is the Right Honourable Emily Whittering-Smythe she will not hurt you. She wants to speak to you.”

“Please Harry,” said a kind, friendly voice, “for you and Draco my name is Emily.” Whoever she was this woman, she seemed kind enough so Draco decided that she was probably safe and he peeped out at her enquiringly

“Mr Malfoy, do you know, do you realise that you are free? Your case has been dismissed.”

“Am I,” does that mean I can go with Harry and not go back to prison?

“It certainly does Mr Malfoy.”

“Oh!” Said Draco, “good.”

“Won’t you come out now? There are a lot of people who want to talk to you you know?”

“Oh!” Said Draco in a tiny voice, “I can’t, I can’t come out,” and then he whispered they hate me you know?”

Draco did not know that there was a charm on the floor of the court and everything that was said in the vicinity of the judge, unless she cancelled it was heard around the court and several members of the audience gasped at Draco’s words

“They do not, Mr Malfoy, I guarantee it, not any more!”

“But some of them do, they spat at me and called me a Death Eater and said that I should be dead. I’m sorry, you must think I’m such a coward but …” in a tiny whisper “I can’t take much more you see, the last couple of days, if Harry weren’t here I….I don’t know that I would…….” Draco could not continue, “You must think I am dreadfully weak?

“Believe me Draco, if anyone tried to do anything like that to you in my court they would find themselves in Azkaban so quickly that their feet would not touch the ground! And on the contrary, I think you are one of the bravest individuals that I have ever met and it is a pleasure to meet you!” She held out her hand to shake with Draco.

Draco looked at it for a mere second before he sat up straight – though still keeping Harry close and held out his own hand in return. After all he decided, he might be as “mad as a box of monkeys”, - and Draco was under no illusion that he did often hover on the edge on insanity at the very least, -but he was a Malfoy and he did have impeccable manners.

As he sat up one of the spectators spoke to him

“Mr Malfoy, do you think I could have a word with you?”

Draco was scared, he was terrified if he were honest. Looking up at the numerous people watching him so intently made him want to bury his head in Harry’s robes and never emerge again. But – as he had just reminded himself - he was a Malfoy. Harry was with him too and this nice judge Emily had just said that she would not let him be harmed, so screwing all his courage up Draco stood. His knees quivered a bit when he realised that the speaker was Tom, the barman at the Leaky Cauldron. Tom who had thrown him out when he had gone in search of food and some of the customers had complained about him. Nevertheless he squared his shoulders, stuck his chin up, as he always did when he was nervous and stood tall.

“Yes Sir,” he said, in as steady a voice as he could manage. “Wwwwhat would you like to ask to ask me?”

“I don’t need to ask you anything Mr Malfoy, I just wanted to say how sorry I am if I treated you with anything less than respect. I didn’t know, you see, none of us knew what you had been through, not that that is an excuse. But I am sorry, about the way I treated you. It would be the greatest honour I could have if you, would come to my establishment some time.”

Draco was not sure what to say so he just said, “thank you,” very quietly

Then Ron Weasley stood up. “Hey Drax!” he shouted, across the courtroom, from where he sat with Hermione and all of his brothers and their families. “It is us that should be thanking you for saving Harry?”

Draco’s eyes went wide

Then Ron started to clap and within several seconds the close to six hundred wizards that were crammed into Court Number One were also standing up and clapping and cheering Draco Malfoy for all they were worth. And the small blonde figure that stood in their midst trembling very slightly was amazed that they didn’t hate him anymore and when Harry put his arms around him and disapparated them away Draco was astonished to find that tears were rolling down his cheeks.