Redemption Approved

Redemption Approved - By Yuna

"Sir Albus Dumbledore here to see you."

"Let him in."

Barty Crouch, the current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, leaned back into his chair. Dumbledore rarely visited him unless he had a good reason and Crouch had no doubt in his mind that he knew what this one would be.

Dumbledore gracefully entered his office; his long bushy beard did little to hide his smiling determination. He would get what he wanted.

"Barty," Dumbledore greeted.

"Albus," Crouch nodded back, motioning towards a seat for him to sit down.

"I have no doubt that you know why I am here today," Dumbledore began.

"I know why. It troubles me," he confessed, "you do realise that you will be completely responsible for him, and if he slips up at all, it will be you who will receive the Dementor's Kiss."

Dumbledore nodded.

Couch leaned forward, "I'll give you what you want Albus, but I must know why you are willing to risk your life for someone as notorious as Severus Snape."

Dumbledore mirrored his movements and whispered, "Because Severus Snape is the product of our idea of justice."

Crouch backed up, Dumbledore smiled.

Crouch pulled a face and narrowed his eyes, "How so?"

"Where would you like me to start? His childhood? Where his father beat his mother to death in front of him because she was a witch, and when the young child called for help he was passed along to different departments until it was too late? Or perhaps his preteen years when he ran away with his sister and hid under the protection of the McKinnons, a very fine family who worked for the ministry, only to have them take his only sister away from him and then left him alone in the streets"

Crouch shuddered.

"Perhaps I should share with you how this 'Straight A' student was denied the prestigious Wizard of the Year award because his classmate James Potter had the right connections and he didn't."

"I can't deny that that the ministry is highly political," Crouch said without any apologies.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and continued his reasons without missing a beat, "Or why he turned Death Eater when the ministry failed to properly protect his sister, letting her die in the hands of a Dementor who had mistaken her for someone else. This is just a few of the reasons, there are many more, and you know it."

Crouch examined Dumbledore's face not knowing how to respond.

"The Ministry has blood on their hands, Snape is not the only one who has been wronged by our justice system, but he is the only one I want," Dumbledore stated.

"Take him," Crouch scowled, "but just realise that it is you who will pay the consequences!" Crouch called in his secretary.

"Yes sir?"

"Get a hold of Zukav at the holding cell and inform him that he is to release prisoner 589427 to Albus Dumbledore," Crouch said angrily.

"Sir?" the secretary said uneasily.

"JUST DO IT!" Crouch yelled and his secretary scurried out of his office.

"Thank you Barty," Dumbledore gave him a curt nod then got up and left.

"Stupid old man, you don't know what your getting yourself into," Crouch said turning his attentions back to his paperwork.