Mist and Vapors

Déjà Vu

As the door opened, Severus experienced a bad case of déjà vu that left an icy feeling in his gut, but no one watching would have known. With crisp strides he made his way to the by-now quite familiar chair facing the high bench in the very center of the room. Without being told to do so, he lowered himself into it. Defiantly, he looked up into the faces of those who would sit over him as judge and jury.

For a moment the chains on the chair glowed golden before they snaked over his arms and drew them tightly to the armrests of the chair. His eyes closed briefly at the familiar pressure.

Dumbledore stood up, addressing the court. "It will not be necessary to restrain him. I can personally vouch that the court will have Professor Snape's full cooperation."

Harvey Graham's eyebrows drew together questioningly. "What do you think, Frank?" he asked in an uncertain voice.

Frank Hannigan walked over to the prisoner. Pointing at him, he said in an unctuous voice loud enough for the entire assemblage to hear, "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, we have overwhelming evidence that this wizard is guilty of cold-blooded murder. It would be irresponsible to allow him even a small chance of hurting yet another innocent being. He should remain bound." There was a low murmur of voices, supporting his statement.

"Quite right, quite right." Graham nodded with relief.

"If that is all, then?" Hannigan faced the court with lifted eyebrows. "I am ready to begin proceedings."

Holding up his hands in resignation, Dumbledore sat back down. Frank Hannigan nodded to the court scribe and began.

"If the Accused has an advocate, that person may now take his seat." He indicated a narrow desk to the front of the audience section.

"He darn well knows that he has an advocate, that double tongued - oh, what's the use," Flitwick murmured as he scrambled off his too-tall seat to make his way to the front. He looked up into Hannah's worried face as he sidled by her. "It will be fine, dear."

She just nodded distractedly. Her throat ached every time she looked at Severus, chained to the chair, front and center of the Wizengamot. Isolated, separated by a swath of empty space from the sea of faces looking at him, he just looked so terribly alone. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be subject to all those stares, all those people looking him over with expressions ranging from disgust to morbid curiosity. He should be in bed somewhere, resting, recovering from the horrors of last night. This was all so unbearably wrong.

"We are here today to bring to trial Severus Snape, accused of the murder of his father, Augustus Snape. The prosecution calls as its witness Saeran Snape, mother of the Accused."

Flitwick stood up and addressed the court. "Will I be allowed to ask questions while the prosecution interrogates her?"

With a flustered look, the Minister of Magic looked at Hannigan again. "Well, Frank?"

"I do not wish to have my witness continually interrupted. He will be allowed to cross examine after I'm finished - if that is satisfactory to you?" He looked questioningly at the Minister of Magic, who just waved him on.

"Whatever you think, Frank, whatever you think is best."

At a satisfied nod from Hannigan, a smaller door on the side opened, and Saeran Snape entered, leaning on the arm of an Auror, looking smaller and greyer than ever. She was seated in a chair placed at an angle, facing both the jury and the judges' balcony, with her back to her son.

"State your name please?"

"Saeran Snape." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"First of all, let me express my condolences on behalf of the court and all present on the tragic death of your husband. You are the wife of the deceased, and the mother of the Accused, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"How would you describe the relationship between your son and your husband?"

Saeran looked down at her hands, picking nervously at the fabric of her robe.

"It...wasn't good, sir. They never got along very well."

"Mrs. Snape, you told me earlier that your son and your husband had an altercation the last time that he came to your house?"

"Yes, they were shouting at each other. When I came into the parlor, they were standing with wands drawn, threatening each other."

"Do you know what the quarrel was about?"

"I do." She swallowed hard, and looked over at the witches and wizards in the jury box. There was a look of defiant pride on her face now. "My husband knew about atrocities that my son had committed as a follower of You-Know-Who, terrible things he had done. He was threatening to reveal them to the Ministry. It never sat right with my husband that Severus would escape without punishment after so many years of bringing death and pain to the Wizarding community."

Hannigan smirked. "I take it your son did not take kindly to that?"

"No, he got quite angry. He - " She sniffled a bit, and lowered her eyes before continuing to speak. "He told Augustus that his or my life wouldn't be worth a Knut if he so much as breathed a word to the Ministry."

"So he was threatening you."

Saeran nodded.

"You need to speak up, please."

With a sigh, she sat up in the chair. "Yes."

"So you think that he returned to remove that threat?"

"I know he did." Her voice was indignant now. "They arrived late last night, outside the house. You can't travel directly, you see. No access to the Floo network, and Anti-Apparition spells on the house. My husband was worried, you see. Obviously with good reason." There was a bitter edge to her voice. "I opened the door, and Severus shoved me aside. There was a young woman with him I had never seen before. She turned her wand on me, and told me they would kill me if I tried to resist. I walked up with them to my husband's bedroom. I had no choice." Her voice was cracking.

"Augustus was sitting at his desk - dealing with bills, I believe. When Severus walked in, he stood up. They got into a terrific fight. There were words, terrible words... it was frightening." She stopped to wipe a hand across her forehead. "I tried to interfere, to stop them, but the young woman cast a body bind on me. She told me to stay out of it."

The Minister of Magic rose and addressed Frank Hannigan. "Have you been able to establish the identity of the young woman?"

"I'm afraid not," he said apologetically. "The description was very general. It could have fit literally hundreds of witches. We are investigating some interesting leads though."

The Minister sat back down and waved him on. "Continue, then, please."

"My son and my husband started to duel. For a while, they seemed evenly matched. Severus and Augustus both took some hard hits." She turned to look at her son with quivering lips. "I'm surprised he's showing hardly any signs of injury. The Ministry must have taken good care of him..." She looked gratefully over to Hannigan. "Anyways, the duel seemed to take forever, but finally, my husband managed to disarm Severus. His wand flew out of his hand, under some furniture, if I recall correctly." Taking a shaky breath, she continued. "Then my husband turned to me, to help me. He walked towards the young woman, threatening her with his wand." Tears were running down her face now.

Hannigan walked over to her and placed a solicitous hand on her shoulder. "Take your time, Mrs. Snape; I think we all know how hard this must be for you." His voice oozed compassion. Saeran Snape looked up at him thankfully.

"The young woman pulled me in front of her, to use as a shield. She cast an Impedimenta, and as Augustus stumbled and fell, Severus quickly overpowered him and took his wand away. He immediately cast a Cruciatus." She broke down in loud sobs. A murmur broke out across the crowd. The members of the jury exchanged glances with each other. Albus Dumbledore leaned back in his seat, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.

Hannigan walked over in front of the jury and, carefully unwrapping a long, thin object, placed it on the table in front of them. "I present to you as evidence the victim's wand. We performed Priori Incantatem on it, and in support of Mrs. Snape's testimony, the last spell cast was indeed a Cruciatus." The crowd murmured its disapproval as the looks directed at Severus grew darker and darker.

The interval had given Saeran enough time to compose herself to some degree. She continued with a shaky voice. "My husband was screaming in agony on the floor, and there was nothing I could do but watch. - It was then that Severus walked over to the desk. He knew that my husband kept a small dagger, a souvenir from our honeymoon trip, in a drawer of the desk." She was crying helplessly again. "He said..." A loud sob. "He said..."

Hannigan interrupted her. "Do you need a break? I can only imagine how terrible this must be for you. You have all our sympathy. Whatever we can do to make this easier for you...?" He handed her a handkerchief.

She wiped her eyes and shook her head. "No. I just want to get this over with." The expression on her face was heart-wrenching. She looked down at the knotted-up handkerchief and continued, obviously struggling for composure.

"He took the dagger, walked over to where his father was still struggling on the floor and bent over him. He said..." She swallowed hard and closed her eyes. "He said 'You lived like a worm, now die like a Muggle.' And then he stabbed him in the back. He killed him right in front of me." For a couple of minutes there was nothing but the sound of her distraught weeping as Hannigan allowed her testimony to permeate the room for maximum effect.

Then, slowly and solemnly, Hannigan walked back over toward the jury and placed another item on the table. "Our next exhibit is the murder weapon. Investigative spells have revealed that only Augustus, Severus, and Saeran Snape touched the weapon, in that order. Again, in a moment you will see that it fits perfectly with the testimony of our witness." He nodded towards Saeran. "If you feel ready to continue?"

She wiped her face again and squared her shoulders. "As soon as they released me from the curse, I ran over to my husband and pulled out the dagger. I know I shouldn't have, but I wasn't thinking clearly, you must understand - it was just so horrible, seeing him lying there, with that thing stuck in him. I was cradling his head in my lap, crying, when Severus came over to me. - I suppose there is just a small remnant of decency left in my son that prompted him to let me live. He ordered me to make up a story of Dark Wizards getting revenge; that if I ever told the truth, they would do the same to me that they had done to him. Then, he summoned his wand, and threw Augustus' on top of his body. I suppose they cursed me again before they left, because I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the early morning hours, next to my dead husband's body." She sounded broken, her voice cracking. "You must understand how hard this is for me. He is my only son, after all. Part of me still loves him, in spite of what he has become. But I am not going to let him get away with murder yet again. I figure if he kills me, he kills me. Life is worth nothing without my beloved husband anyways. We would have been married forty-five years this year. I am going to miss him so..."

There was barely a dry eye in the audience as she finished up. Half the jury was sobbing along with her.

Hannigan again addressed the jury. "I have rarely heard of such a heinous act of violence. To kill his own father in the presence of his mother - the depravity of the Accused surpasses normal understanding. As you have seen, the evidence supports the story Mrs. Snape has been telling us. Furthermore, I can confirm that the Accused was arrested in the Hogwarts hospital wing, where he was being treated for spell damage, undoubtedly sustained in the duel with his father. And that the Accused's wand seems to have mysteriously gone missing, in what is obviously a blatant attempt to suppress evidence..."

Hannah had had enough. She could not even imagine what Severus must have felt listening to his mother's words, accusing him, besmirching his reputation in front of all these people, even knowing that the witch was not in a clear mind. While her father droned on, she stood up and made her way up to the front until she stood next to Flitwick's desk. This had to end. Now.

Hannah crouched down next to Flitwick.

"This has to stop," she said. "Do something. You know this is a pack of lies. We have what we need."

A hum arose as many of the witches and wizards in the audience and on the bench noticed her. Out from under her hood, she could see several of the Wizengamot members putting their heads together and whispering, looking in her direction.

Filius looked at her with a grim smile. "I know. We couldn't have asked for anything better. And I'll try," he said. "But between that fool Graham and your father, I don't know how far I will get."

He slid off his chair, approached the bench, and bowed, cutting off Hannigan, who was just building up steam talking about his previous encounters with Snape, in mid-sentence.

"If I may be so bold as to interrupt, but there is some important information that the court should have at this point."

Hannigan had stopped talking and stared at the little wizard with barely controlled annoyance.

"Honestly, Flitwick, can't you wait your turn? I am not finished yet."

Flitwick tipped back his head to look up at the much taller man. "I really am sorry to interrupt, but before you go any further, I think there is something you should know..."

"Will you sit down now, or do I have to have someone escort you back to your seat? I said I am not finished," Hannigan hissed coldly.

"But, you see, I can prove that your witness is lying. She doesn't know that she is lying, poor dear, but she is lying none-the-less." Flitwick smiled sadly at him.

Hannigan slowly turned a nasty shade of red, and the buzz of voices in the audience increased measurably.

Before the Auror could say anything else, Dumbledore leaned forward. "Lying, you say?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you can prove that accusation?"

"It will only take a minute."

Dumbledore turned to the Minister next to him. "That does sound rather important, if it is true. I feel quite strongly that to expedite the proceedings we should hear him out. Shall we let him have his minute?"

Harvey Graham looked back and forth in confusion between Dumbledore and Hannigan.

"Um...I don't know...Frank?"

"I strongly advise against it. Let him wait his turn."

"Now, now," Dumbledore addressed him mildly, "I should think that you would be the first to want to make sure that your witness is reliable, Mr. Hannigan?"

"I assure you that we have interviewed her again and again, and her testimony has been steadfast and consistent. I have no doubt whatsoever as to the veracity of her story."

"Most excellent. Then you have no objections to Flitwick presenting his evidence. Minister, with your permission?"

Graham, shrinking in his seat, seemed to want to hide beneath his wizard's hat. "I...suppose?"

Hannigan shot him a contemptuous look as he bowed mockingly to Flitwick. "Your witness, then. One minute."

Lips pressed together tightly and nostrils pinched, Saeran Snape had listened to the conversation with obvious displeasure. "Really, sir, I don't know who you think you are..." she bristled as Flitwick approached.

"Now, I want you to know that I don't blame you at all," Flitwick said gently. "But I need you to just tell me again about the young woman that was with your son. You said she cursed you?"

"I already stated that, yes," she answered sharply.

"A body-bind and an Impedimenta, I believe you said?"

"Quite right." She sat back in her chair with a look of righteous indignation.

Filius looked over towards Hannah, who had sat down in his empty seat, and motioned her to come forward. Slowly, she stood up and stepped up right next to the chair where Severus sat chained, facing the high bench. He turned his head sharply, but the look on his face didn't change, showing the same stoic expression he had worn throughout the entire proceedings. She knew he couldn't see her face in the shadow of the hood, but she could see his - the pallor of his skin, the gray-tinged lips, the thin white scar across his cheekbone, every hard-edged line of pain and shadow of exhaustion. Tears pricked behind her eyelids. Her heart was beating so hard she could feel it in her fingertips. It'll be worth it to make this end for you, she thought.

"Mrs. Snape, if you would just turn around?" Flitwick's voice had become even softer.

She shifted in her seat until she had Hannah in full view.

At a nod from Flitwick, Hannah slid back her hood.

The photographer's flashbulb went off as a whisper rippled through the audience. Hannigan audibly gasped, and with a start, hands clenched at his side, strode over to where she was standing.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered harshly. "Sit back down now."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Father," Hannah said levelly, only the slightest tremor to her voice.

Saeran had started too, a fearful look in her eye.

"Do you recognize this woman?" Flitwick asked her.

"Yes," the older witch whispered hoarsely. "This is the woman who was with Severus."

"You are sure about that?"

"Yes. Quite sure."

Frank Hannigan's florid face abruptly changed color to a chalky white as the implications hit him. "You say this was the woman? Come now, you must be mistaken."

"I am absolutely certain," Saeran said, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Hannah. "It was her."

At her words, a couple of Aurors drew their wands and menacingly moved closer to Hannah.

"Mrs. Snape," Hannah said as she walked over towards Severus' mother with her palms held out in front of her beseechingly, "I know that you truly believe I did those things. I'm so sorry about what has been happening to you. But you need to know that I couldn't have done what you accuse me of."

Frank Hannigan, face blotchy, eyes bulging, came after her. "Shut up now," he bit out through clenched teeth. "I order you to leave the courtroom. I will deal with you later."

Dumbledore spoke up, his voice grave. "According to Mrs. Snape's words, she is an accessory to murder. I am sure everyone here will agree that she will not be allowed to leave until this matter is cleared up."

Hannah turned to face the high bench again, ignoring the look her father gave her. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Hannah Hannigan, and I am Frank Hannigan's daughter," she began. Her words were drowned out by the rumble of voices that arose in the court room. Hannigan's daughter? Involved in the murder? A witness for the defense? The audience's interest in the case had just gone up substantially.

She watched as Dumbledore pointed his wand at his throat. A moment later, his amplified voice echoed through the chamber. "If everyone would settle down, please...I am sure we are all anxious to get this over with, so I must please ask for quiet in the courtroom..."

As order was restored, he nodded to Hannah. "Continue, please."

Her face hardened as she turned towards her father. "Maybe you would like to explain to all these good people why I could not possibly have done this?"

He walked up to within inches of her, looming over her with contorted features. "You wouldn't dare," he said hoarsely.

Ignoring him, she turned back to the Wizengamot. "Saeran Snape is not in her own clear mind. She was placed under an Imperius curse by Peter Pettigrew, an escaped Death Eater. The name should be familiar to you. This person is also responsible for the death of her husband. She's a victim in this as much as her son and her husband. She cannot be held responsible for the lies that were fed to her."

Saeran's voice was filled with hate. "I know what I saw. I know what happened."

"But I'm afraid you are quite wrong," Hannah said softly. "It could not have happened like that." She took a deep breath and pulled herself up straight before continuing. "I am a Squib, you see."