The World Keeps Its Own Secrets - Chapter 10
Title: The World Keeps Its Own Secrets
Author: neddiheht
Rating: A possibly racey R in places
Pairing: Snarry (Severus Snape/Harry Potter)
Word count: 1428
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Severus Snape and all other characters, places, etc. from the Harry Potter universe are the property of J.K. Rowling. No claim of ownership is intended by this piece of fan fiction.
Summary: When Harry is sent back in time to avoid the killing curse, he finds himself in a mask of his own creation, faceless, voiceless, friendless, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts for his sole confidante, Albus Dumbledore. But one of the professors is suspicious, and won't let the secrecy of the new Defense professor go.
---
The cramped Ministry room was crowded. Here, today, Molly Weasley was to be charged and sentenced to Azkaban for her role in the loss of Harry Potter. No amount of pleading on the part of wizards from the Order of the Phoenix had calmed the incensed Wizengamot. Even the Minister was unable to prevent the heroine from being called before the court.
Tension crackled across the room like a living thing. The Weasleys had been Harry Potter's staunchest allies, and not one of them could reconcile the curse cast by the matriarch of the clan with the certain knowledge they all shared that Harry was their family. Molly stood calmly in the center.
"Molly Weasley. You know the charges. Are you prepared for sentencing."
"I must protest, Minister," said Arthur, acting as her advocate. "You've given no opportunity for evidence to be presented. For Molly to even provide an explanation for her actions."
"Her explanations do not matter, Arthur," said Dolores Umbridge, from amongst the assembled council, with perhaps too eager of a smile, "she broke the rules, and those who are naughty ought to be properly punished."
"Naughty!" thundered Arthur, desperately trying to summon the calm that had kept him alive and employed at the Ministry during the war.
Molly set a hand on Arthur's arm. "I am ready," she said. She'd known, as Harry she was sure had not, that the Wizengamot would hold her responsible.
"You, Molly Weasley, shall be sentenced to Azkaban..." there was a sound of a scuffle in the hall and a great boom as the ancient doors to the room were obliterated. Clouds of dust filled the room as a man in torn and battered robes that sent a pervasive chill into the room before him strode casually into the room, disarming Aurors as they dared to point their wands at him. The Minister had his wand drawn and ready, but simply waited.
The faceless hood stared at the Wizengamot and the chill from the man's Dementor's robes had many of the wizards and witches assembled shaking. The crowd watched as the Aurors collected themselves behind one of the few who had not been disarmed. The hood looked in her direction for a moment.
"There is evil in this world yet, Professor," she said quietly.
"Indeed," said a hissing sibilant echo that had a number of people in the room gasping in recognition. "And were you prepared for it, Miss Shaddersford?"
"Thanks to you," she said quietly, lowering her wand. "Why have you come?"
"Stop talking to this interloper at once!" said Umbridge, leaping to her feat. "We must have order and propriety. Escort this man out!"
"I am here to speak on behalf of the accused," echoed the sibilant tones.
"She has already been deemed guilty of casting dark curses on the Savior of the Wizarding World," said Umbridge coldly. "We needed only sentence her. And you have no standing here."
"Dolores," said Kingsley, his voice strong and certain, "as Minister, I should like to hear what Mister Evans has to say. Surely you are aware he was considered the most accomplished Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts that Hogwarts has ever known."
Umbridge turned back to the robed man. "So you're the mysterious Jamie Evans," she glanced over him. "That's hardly proper attire for a courtroom. Your skills, however renowned they might be," she leveled a withering sneer at the Minister, "buy you no acclaim here."
"Perhaps this will do, then," said the man, tossing the robes aside. Beneath he wore simple Muggle clothing. His hair was still shaggy and messy, prone to going every which way, with bangs that drooped over an old and faded scar. Bold rimmed glasses had been replaced with owlish round ones, though of rather better frames than he'd had in school, and his green eyes stared at her balefully through them.
His action set off a number of gasps through the crowd as he was recognized. Murmurs started. Dolores was calm and glared.
"Off with the glamour then," she said.
Harry raised his hand. "It says 'I must not tell lies' - who else would even know the scars were there, Dolores. Look," he said raising his hand and stepping forward so that she could see, "see the proof that you engaged in torture while you masqueraded as a Professor at Hogwarts."
"You needed to be taught a lesson," she shrieked.
"Not to tell lies? Everyone knows now that I was, in fact, telling the truth. I have no doubt, Dolores," he said calmly, "that you even knew that when you endeavored to break my spirit."
Umbridge had her wand drawn now, ready to point at Harry. "You cannot be allowed to interfere in Ministry business!"
"Ministry business?" snapped Harry. "Trying and sentencing a woman I love more than life itself, a woman I consider family, for cursing me. Sending her wrongfully to Azkaban as you did my godfather. Doing it in my name! That Ministry business?"
"But she cursed you!"
"Yes, she did," said Harry calmly. He turned to Molly and embraced her warmly. "Thank you, Molly. I know it was a lot to ask of you."
"Did you find him?" she asked.
Harry smiled as he looked towards the door where the tall vaguely bat-like figure of Severus Snape emerged through the remains of the door. Snape glanced at Kingsley and nodded briefly in acknowledgement.
"We still need to sentence..."
"Oh, Dolores, do sit down and stop embarrassing yourself," said Kingsley. "By order of the Minister of Magic, Molly Weasley, you are cleared of all charges."
"But..."
"I said sit down, Dolores."
Dolores Umbridge fumed as she glared at Harry and the Minister.
Arthur seized Molly in a hug. From the gallery Hermione and Ronald Weasley leapt over the rail and rushed over to Harry, virtually tackling him in a hug of their own. He greeted them warmly, but said very little, merely shaking his head and promising to explain later.
Molly looked at him with a question in her eye and he smiled, just a hint. "Molly, Arthur, I believe you both know my bonded," he said with a smirk, holding his hand out to Severus.
Molly's hand went to her mouth. "It was. You bonded to Severus, dear?"
Harry nodded, clasping Severus' hand and pulling the tall man to him.
"Severus... you were..." Arthur looked at Harry. "How is this?"
"Don't try to figure it out, Mr. Weasley," said Harry. "Time travel messes with the brain."
"You're with Snape?" hissed out Ronald.
"I'm far more interested," said Hermione, "in how Professor Snape is even alive. We saw the attack. We watched him die."
"My rather reluctant student," said Severus, "managed to brew the water of life."
Hermione stared at Harry. "Three tears from a thousand year old crocodile? Milk curdled by the passing of Baba Yaga? The sorrow of a lonely god? Brewed in the fire of the earth? Harry!"
"Well, erm. Yeah, there's rather more to it than that, Hermione."
"I know!" she shouted. "You could have been killed! What were you doing brewing such a thing!"
"Saving Severus," said Harry plainly. He leaned close to his love. "I had to do it."
"You bonded to him so that you'd be able to..."
"No," said Harry flatly. "Severus and I bonded because we love each other. That's the only reason. I..." Harry gulped and leaned his head into Severus' chest. "I didn't know it would allow me to save him. Not then."
"Blimey, Harry," said Ron. "You mean to say you bonded with Snape expecting that he'd die?"
Harry nodded miserably and Severus clutched him closer, amazing all on-lookers by kissing Harry softly on top of his head. "I'd hoped... I never expected to find a way..."
"Clearly," said Hermione, "if you were willing to try something so desperate as the water of life."
"I'm a potions master now," said Harry softly, "there were other brews I could have..."
"Shh, Harry," said Severus. "You never would have brewed those. Not even for me. Even Aqua Vitae was far too risky. You should not have done it."
"I had to," breathed Harry. "Don't you understand, Severus, I had to."
Severus didn't respond, he just nodded to the Weasleys, leaving unspoken that they'd have to catch up with Harry later as he wrapped his arm gently around Harry's waist and led him from the room.
They watched him go, the stares of the wizards who had assembled to watch the trial still on Harry as he left the room.
Prev Chapter Master Post Next Chapter
Author: neddiheht
Rating: A possibly racey R in places
Pairing: Snarry (Severus Snape/Harry Potter)
Word count: 1428
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Severus Snape and all other characters, places, etc. from the Harry Potter universe are the property of J.K. Rowling. No claim of ownership is intended by this piece of fan fiction.
Summary: When Harry is sent back in time to avoid the killing curse, he finds himself in a mask of his own creation, faceless, voiceless, friendless, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts for his sole confidante, Albus Dumbledore. But one of the professors is suspicious, and won't let the secrecy of the new Defense professor go.
---
The cramped Ministry room was crowded. Here, today, Molly Weasley was to be charged and sentenced to Azkaban for her role in the loss of Harry Potter. No amount of pleading on the part of wizards from the Order of the Phoenix had calmed the incensed Wizengamot. Even the Minister was unable to prevent the heroine from being called before the court.
Tension crackled across the room like a living thing. The Weasleys had been Harry Potter's staunchest allies, and not one of them could reconcile the curse cast by the matriarch of the clan with the certain knowledge they all shared that Harry was their family. Molly stood calmly in the center.
"Molly Weasley. You know the charges. Are you prepared for sentencing."
"I must protest, Minister," said Arthur, acting as her advocate. "You've given no opportunity for evidence to be presented. For Molly to even provide an explanation for her actions."
"Her explanations do not matter, Arthur," said Dolores Umbridge, from amongst the assembled council, with perhaps too eager of a smile, "she broke the rules, and those who are naughty ought to be properly punished."
"Naughty!" thundered Arthur, desperately trying to summon the calm that had kept him alive and employed at the Ministry during the war.
Molly set a hand on Arthur's arm. "I am ready," she said. She'd known, as Harry she was sure had not, that the Wizengamot would hold her responsible.
"You, Molly Weasley, shall be sentenced to Azkaban..." there was a sound of a scuffle in the hall and a great boom as the ancient doors to the room were obliterated. Clouds of dust filled the room as a man in torn and battered robes that sent a pervasive chill into the room before him strode casually into the room, disarming Aurors as they dared to point their wands at him. The Minister had his wand drawn and ready, but simply waited.
The faceless hood stared at the Wizengamot and the chill from the man's Dementor's robes had many of the wizards and witches assembled shaking. The crowd watched as the Aurors collected themselves behind one of the few who had not been disarmed. The hood looked in her direction for a moment.
"There is evil in this world yet, Professor," she said quietly.
"Indeed," said a hissing sibilant echo that had a number of people in the room gasping in recognition. "And were you prepared for it, Miss Shaddersford?"
"Thanks to you," she said quietly, lowering her wand. "Why have you come?"
"Stop talking to this interloper at once!" said Umbridge, leaping to her feat. "We must have order and propriety. Escort this man out!"
"I am here to speak on behalf of the accused," echoed the sibilant tones.
"She has already been deemed guilty of casting dark curses on the Savior of the Wizarding World," said Umbridge coldly. "We needed only sentence her. And you have no standing here."
"Dolores," said Kingsley, his voice strong and certain, "as Minister, I should like to hear what Mister Evans has to say. Surely you are aware he was considered the most accomplished Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts that Hogwarts has ever known."
Umbridge turned back to the robed man. "So you're the mysterious Jamie Evans," she glanced over him. "That's hardly proper attire for a courtroom. Your skills, however renowned they might be," she leveled a withering sneer at the Minister, "buy you no acclaim here."
"Perhaps this will do, then," said the man, tossing the robes aside. Beneath he wore simple Muggle clothing. His hair was still shaggy and messy, prone to going every which way, with bangs that drooped over an old and faded scar. Bold rimmed glasses had been replaced with owlish round ones, though of rather better frames than he'd had in school, and his green eyes stared at her balefully through them.
His action set off a number of gasps through the crowd as he was recognized. Murmurs started. Dolores was calm and glared.
"Off with the glamour then," she said.
Harry raised his hand. "It says 'I must not tell lies' - who else would even know the scars were there, Dolores. Look," he said raising his hand and stepping forward so that she could see, "see the proof that you engaged in torture while you masqueraded as a Professor at Hogwarts."
"You needed to be taught a lesson," she shrieked.
"Not to tell lies? Everyone knows now that I was, in fact, telling the truth. I have no doubt, Dolores," he said calmly, "that you even knew that when you endeavored to break my spirit."
Umbridge had her wand drawn now, ready to point at Harry. "You cannot be allowed to interfere in Ministry business!"
"Ministry business?" snapped Harry. "Trying and sentencing a woman I love more than life itself, a woman I consider family, for cursing me. Sending her wrongfully to Azkaban as you did my godfather. Doing it in my name! That Ministry business?"
"But she cursed you!"
"Yes, she did," said Harry calmly. He turned to Molly and embraced her warmly. "Thank you, Molly. I know it was a lot to ask of you."
"Did you find him?" she asked.
Harry smiled as he looked towards the door where the tall vaguely bat-like figure of Severus Snape emerged through the remains of the door. Snape glanced at Kingsley and nodded briefly in acknowledgement.
"We still need to sentence..."
"Oh, Dolores, do sit down and stop embarrassing yourself," said Kingsley. "By order of the Minister of Magic, Molly Weasley, you are cleared of all charges."
"But..."
"I said sit down, Dolores."
Dolores Umbridge fumed as she glared at Harry and the Minister.
Arthur seized Molly in a hug. From the gallery Hermione and Ronald Weasley leapt over the rail and rushed over to Harry, virtually tackling him in a hug of their own. He greeted them warmly, but said very little, merely shaking his head and promising to explain later.
Molly looked at him with a question in her eye and he smiled, just a hint. "Molly, Arthur, I believe you both know my bonded," he said with a smirk, holding his hand out to Severus.
Molly's hand went to her mouth. "It was. You bonded to Severus, dear?"
Harry nodded, clasping Severus' hand and pulling the tall man to him.
"Severus... you were..." Arthur looked at Harry. "How is this?"
"Don't try to figure it out, Mr. Weasley," said Harry. "Time travel messes with the brain."
"You're with Snape?" hissed out Ronald.
"I'm far more interested," said Hermione, "in how Professor Snape is even alive. We saw the attack. We watched him die."
"My rather reluctant student," said Severus, "managed to brew the water of life."
Hermione stared at Harry. "Three tears from a thousand year old crocodile? Milk curdled by the passing of Baba Yaga? The sorrow of a lonely god? Brewed in the fire of the earth? Harry!"
"Well, erm. Yeah, there's rather more to it than that, Hermione."
"I know!" she shouted. "You could have been killed! What were you doing brewing such a thing!"
"Saving Severus," said Harry plainly. He leaned close to his love. "I had to do it."
"You bonded to him so that you'd be able to..."
"No," said Harry flatly. "Severus and I bonded because we love each other. That's the only reason. I..." Harry gulped and leaned his head into Severus' chest. "I didn't know it would allow me to save him. Not then."
"Blimey, Harry," said Ron. "You mean to say you bonded with Snape expecting that he'd die?"
Harry nodded miserably and Severus clutched him closer, amazing all on-lookers by kissing Harry softly on top of his head. "I'd hoped... I never expected to find a way..."
"Clearly," said Hermione, "if you were willing to try something so desperate as the water of life."
"I'm a potions master now," said Harry softly, "there were other brews I could have..."
"Shh, Harry," said Severus. "You never would have brewed those. Not even for me. Even Aqua Vitae was far too risky. You should not have done it."
"I had to," breathed Harry. "Don't you understand, Severus, I had to."
Severus didn't respond, he just nodded to the Weasleys, leaving unspoken that they'd have to catch up with Harry later as he wrapped his arm gently around Harry's waist and led him from the room.
They watched him go, the stares of the wizards who had assembled to watch the trial still on Harry as he left the room.
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