Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch18: The Moon

Moody grabbed Severus roughly, and the next thing Severus knew, he was feeling the disorienting shift of side-along Apparition. Nobody bothered to speak to him or explain what was happening to him. They didn't have to. Severus would know the feeling of dementors anywhere. He felt even more hopeless than usual. He was in Azkaban.

"I have a new prisoner for you...a Death Eater. Severus Snape is the name. I'm keeping his wand for evidence," Moody's gruff voice informed the guards in the booking room.

Other than terse instructions to strip down for the standard wand scan done on prisoners, and then being watched closely as he was forced to change into a striped prison issue jumpsuit, it was silent. His hands and legs were manacled and then he was given a placard to hold, which contained his new prison number. A flash went off when they took his picture and then he was shoved into a cell and forgotten about. The presence of dementors made only a few hours seem to last an eternity. It was hell and they weren't even in direct contact with him. He hadn't actually seen any dementors yet. However, he felt cold- so very cold.

Severus was not actually certain as to how much time had passed, but when he heard the guards talking, he was assured that it hadn't been more than day.

"Read the Daily Prophet yet, Larry? Both of the Black brothers and Malfoy got off."

"No!"

"Says so, right here. All of 'em acquitted. Malfoy even had a QC to represent him."

"What the hell's a QC?"

"Muggle thing. Some expensive Squib barrister, they say. It's practically unheard of to use one in a Wizengamot trial."

When they arrived at his cell, Severus knew his trial was eminent.

"Careful...this one's high security. Moody said he was dangerous," the more talkative guard said to his colleague. "Oi, scum! Get up, it's time for your trial."

One cleaning spell and a Portkey later, and Severus found himself in front of a door. His insides went cold and then Severus came face to face with two dementors. It was the closest he had ever been to such abominations- and then the door opened. The dementors -- tall, hooded creatures whose faces were concealed -- were gliding slowly toward a chair in the center of the room, each grasping one of Severus' arms with their dead and rotten-looking hands. Severus felt as though he were about to faint. They placed him in the chair and left the way they had come and Severus was only too glad to see them go. Severus couldn't help shaking and hated himself for showing such a weakness. His only consolation was in seeing everyone in the courtroom flinch. He felt the chains that were attached to the chair secure his wrists. He was effectively bound to a seat in the middle of Courtroom Ten at the Ministry of Magic.

In the subdued dungeon lighting, Severus could tell that the full Wizengamot was in attendance, as well as select members of the general public. Reporters were everywhere. He could see Dumbledore looking at him speculatively. As Chief Warlock, Minister Bagnold was seated dead center within Severus' line of sight. The whole place was a veritable sea of plum-colored robes.

He was surrounded and he hated the feeling. He was determined not to show fear though. Severus clenched his fists and felt the manacles tighten around his wrists. He let his hair fall into his eyes and he glared malevolently up at the Minister of Magic. He didn't blink and it made the Minister visibly nervous, but she quickly recovered and glared at Severus in dislike.

At Severus' actions, a hush fell over the already relatively quiet chamber. He looked feral, dark, and frightening, and what is more, he knew it. Even still, some feared the Evil Eye, rumored to be an old and dark magic. Some put way too much stock in Wizarding fairy-tales in Severus' opinion, but he was more than willing to play on their fears.

Minister Bagnold cleared her throat and hit her gavel on the podium.

"You have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law," she said clearly, "so that we may pass judgment on you, for heinous crimes--to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters.

"Interrogators: Millicent Bagnold, Minister of Magic; Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Tiberius Ogden, Wizengamot Elder; Court Scribe, Rufus Fudge; and Witness for the Defense- is there a Witness for the Defense?"

Severus curled his lip into a sneer and drawled condescendingly, "I shall defend myself."

"Very well. The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, take the Dark Mark and is- in fact- a Death Eater, used dark magic- including Unforgivable Curses, attacked Aurors and civilians, attempted to take a hostage, and resisted arrest.

"You are Severus Snape, are you not?"

"Yes," Severus said.

"We have evidence, Snape, that you did indeed commit the stated crimes. As a matter of fact, we have the testimonies of three others, who gave evidence that you coerced them into being Death Eaters, and in a particular case, even placed one of them under the Imperious Curse. What do you have to say to these charges?"

Severus shrugged. Immediately, muttering broke out in the chamber. One person, he was sure it was Mad-Eye, yelled out, "Filth!"

"The charges sound rather trumped up to me, Minister."

The appalled exclamations of everyone caused Severus to smirk. Bagnold looked livid.

"These are serious charges, Snape. We have eyewitnesses- Aurors- who witnessed you performing illegal curses. They are also many witnesses who saw that you attempted to take a civilian hostage- a Lily Evans. You were caught at Hogwarts and you had been using an invisibility cloak before donning your Death Eater robes."

"So, one could say that they didn't actually see me do these things at all. It sounds quite circumstantial."

"We know you bear the Dark Mark."

Severus knew there was nothing he could do to exonerate himself. The truth wouldn't protect people in this case. There was absolutely nothing to do but to play the loyal Death Eater.

"Indeed."

Gasps were heard.

"So you do not deny it then," Bagnold stated.

"No."

"When did you receive the Dark Mark?"

"Four days ago, on Walpurgis Night."

"May we ask what motivated your decision to join He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Because I obviously agreed with the Dark Lord."

"What were you doing at Hogwarts?"

Severus smirked wickedly.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Bagnold would not be daunted.

"It is the one thing this court hasn't been able to figure out- why you were at Hogwarts. Were you there on the orders of He-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Severus saw no reason to lie in this case.

"No."

"He's lying!"

It was Moody again. Mad-Eye had never liked him. Of course, Severus didn't blame him in this case.

"Think what you like."

"So, why were you there?"

"I don't feel particularly inclined to answer that question."

"Would you consent to using Veritaserum, Snape?"

"No."

"Would you be willing to give us the names of any other Death Eaters, Snape?"

"The Dark Lord alone knows the names of all of his followers."

"So, you're not going to give us any names?" Bagnold asked.

"Oh, I didn't say that."

"Get on with it then," sneered Moody.

"All right. Lucius Malfoy."

"Lucius Malfoy was acquitted just yesterday. He had been placed under the Imperius Curse. He said that you were responsible."

Severus snorted.

"Indeed, I was. Well then, there is also Regulus Black."

"This court also knows about Regulus Black," Bagnold said in an annoyed tone.

Severus smirked and let his amusement show.

"My apologies, Minister. Sirius Black."

"Whom we know you coerced into being a Death Eater in exchange for his life."

"Was Black particularly upset about it?" Severus asked eagerly.

Bagnold looked at him in disgust.

"I think we've had enough of your games, Snape."

Severus ignored her.

"Igor Karkaroff."

That stopped Bagnold cold.

"I'm sorry, who did you say?"

"Igor Karkaroff."

"He is a Death Eater?"

"As you say."

"Where is he now?"

"I've no idea. The Dark Lord was especially displeased with him."

Severus was rather surprised that Black hadn't mentioned anything. It was likely that his family had something to do with his silence. Well, if Black hadn't mentioned Karkaroff being dead, then Severus had no intention of enlightening the Wizengamot either. He could at least hope for a reduced sentence without murder being added to his list of transgressions.

"Any other names?"

"None that I'm willing to share."

Despite himself, Severus was nervous. He couldn't help his eyes drifting briefly toward the door he came in. He knew the dementors were still there. Bagnold noticed and smiled coldly.

"This court will take a brief recess before hearing the witness testimonies and reaching a verdict- though it seems rather unnecessary at this point."

There were a few titters at Bagnold's last statement.

Severus became even more nervous when he heard the door click open. He had a bad feeling about things as he watched the dementors glide back into the room. Severus was feeling rather desperate as they came closer to him. He was desperate enough to make foolish threats to delay going with the dementors.

"The Dark Lord will come for me," he said in a low voice. "I am one of his most faithful supporters."

"Oh, indeed I have come for you, Severus," a shrill voice hissed from behind the dementors. "However, as to how faithful you are, that's another matter altogether."

The Dark Lord himself had come to the Ministry and the chamber quickly filled with Death Eaters. The Dark Lord did not look happy.

"It was incredibly rude of you all, you know, trying one of my Death Eaters and not inviting me. I expected more," Voldemort said to the Wizengamot.

The Dark Lord fingered his wand and Severus' blood ran cold. Voldemort gave Severus a cold smile that promised retribution, before he turned his back and sought out a face in the crowd.

"Ah, Headmaster Dumbledore. A pleasure, as always." Then he turned to Bagnold. "Minister, I do hate to interrupt your trial here, but I would like to conduct a trial of my own. I hope you don't mind. Ordinarily, I wouldn't dream of interfering in Ministry business, however, you've unknowingly intruded upon an internal matter within my organization. I must insist that Severus Snape be tried by me first. He has a lot to answer for."

People screamed and chaos ensued. Perhaps they were too shocked before then or Severus hadn't noticed. He closed his eyes. He could only hope that Lily and Regulus had been able to destroy the Horcruxes. Whatever the case, Severus knew he was fucked.