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Promises of Forever	By : Ravenheart Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/James Views: 18946 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from this story and no copyright infringement is intended

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
A/N: And finally! The
beginning of the trial! Some thank you notes at the end, but for now
I'll let you all read it =)

Tittle: Promises
of forever

Chapter: 20
– Trial

Pairing: James
Potter & Severus Snape

Summary: James
survived that fated Halloween night, now with an infant by his side
he has to face adulthood and a world that demands his son. Thank
goodness he has Severus Snape on his side.

Warning:
Character Death, OOCness, cuteness, AU, Harry's three months old
instead of 15 months. Manipulative!Dumbledore, Evil!Tom Riddle

Disclaimer: This
is a work of fiction, written to win the NaNoWriMo challenge. No
money is being made from this and no copyright infringement is
intended.

Previously:
James
couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Harry and the spot where
his hair was beginning to fall. “Short, fat and bald indeed.”
he muttered, and he couldn't help but smile as
his child smiled at him, forgetting for a moment everything that had
happened, and everything that would eventually happen from here on.

Trial,
part I

That week before the
hearing seemed to crawl by, the time never passing and the days
seemed to extend forever, Christmas seemed like a lifetime ago, new
years too. James was on edge, and so was Severus. Play time with
Harry didn't help, planning for the 'hearing' didn't help and sex was
no help whatsoever besides a momentary relief for both of them. At
least Vendevie had gotten all the information he possibly could (and
some with a somewhat murky background) and they were as ready as they
could ever be for the farce of a hearing.

By the morning of
January, 20^th of 1981, even before the sun was up, James
was at the Ministry, along with Severus, carrying a sleepy Harry and
presenting their wands for inspection to the gobsmacked wizard.

“Mahogany, with
unicorn heartstrings, 11 inches.”

“Oak, with a
griffin's tail, 12 and ½ inches.”

At that James just
glared at Severus for – yet again – having something
bigger than him, before he turned his back to him and stalked through
the Ministry until they arrived at courtroom 10. Peeking inside James
couldn't help but roll his eyes. For a simple 'hearing' this was
awfully big, specially with the public part of the courtroom and the
isle for the press.

“Sit down James
people will start to arrive in a few hours.”

“Why do they
insist on this hard chairs I've no idea, we're all wizards and
witches here it's not like we can't conjure something!” he
muttered, conjuring a plush green armchair and sitting with Harry,
letting the baby go back to sleep on his chest.

“We have to win
Sev.” James murmured, cuddling the infant close. Severus
bravely ignored the pet name as he planted a kiss on the infant's
head.

“We'll win... if
they take away your son you can always persecute their own sons and
remove custody, and you'll win against them, they know that.”

“Yeah well... I
don't think they realize one of my advisers used to be a
Slytherin...”

“Then we'll show
them.” Severus smirked, glancing left and right before stealing
a kiss from James, that lasted longer than either of them was willing
to admit.

A pointed cough broke
them apart, and Severus glanced up to see the disgusted face of Remus
Lupin.

“You must be
confident in this hearing if you're doing this now.” He
muttered, his cheeks stained an ugly red colour that contrasted
against the scars on his face.

“Remus... you're
in this too I see.” James muttered turning to face his soon to
be former friend.

“Sirius asked
this of me... I couldn't help but accept, specially since I think
you're making a mistake with Snape and... and Harry.”

“It's your choice
obviously.” He said, getting up and facing the werewolf. “But
I hope you know this, my son is more important to me than you,
Sirius, Albus and even Frank and Severus could ever be. If you plan
to go along with this I will never call you my friend again. The
opposite in fact.”

He took pleasure from
the flinch he saw and he had to look away least Remus see his pleased
smirk.

“If your son
matters so much for you, why do you allow a Death Eater near him?”

“Because it seems
he's the only one I can trust nowadays, most of my friends turned out
to be betrayers, don't you agree Mr. Black?” And he glared at
the last of the Blacks before turning around as the courtroom doors
opened and a chubby wizard stepped out.

“The hearing for
the guardianship of one Harry James Potter will begin shortly, if you
all will enter the courtroom now please.”

Severus watched as
James walked in with Harry, before glaring at Black with such a look
that Sirius had to take a step back.

“I hope you think
this is worth it Black, when this is finished don't expect James to
forgive you. And don't show up anywhere near Harry, if you do I'll
have to show you what I learned during my time as a Death Eater.”
He sneered before stalking in the courtroom and sitting besides
James; Vendevie coming in some minutes later escorted by an auror and
silently sitting besides them.

Dumbledore walked in
some minutes later, sitting at the prosecution table and staring
sadly at James and Severus, he had an inkling that his spy had gotten
involved with the Potters – specially James if Sirius was to be
believed – but since there had been such animosity between
them... he hadn't dared believe it. But the hand lovingly placed on
Harry's head was not James, who had his hands full with baby and
goblin, but Severus'. No wonder he wasn't able to put Severus into
the Potions position when Horace quit.

The Wizengamot and the
Minister walked in after him and took their positions seconds before
the front door closed with a bang.

“We're here for
the Hearing of Guardianship concerning one Harry James Potter, may
the prosecution state their case.” Said the Minister, staring
at Dumbledore with distrustful eyes. She didn't like this, not at
all.

“Madam Minister,
members of the Wizengamot, I'm here today because of a boy. A boy
that has saved us all from the tyranny of Voldemort and now is in the
care of his father. It is my believe that Lily Potter sacrificed
herself so her son could live, and in doing so made sure Harry had
the utmost protection a mother could possibly give. I believe that
James Potter is undermining that protection by refusing his son a
home with his aunt and uncle who share the same blood as Harry and
would be able to give him the necessary protection against Death
Eaters. It is also my believe that James Potter is not of sound mind
and therefore unable to take care of his infant son, and as such I
formally request the change of guardianship from James Aaron Potter
to Petunia Dursley née Evans.”

Vendevie sneered at
Dumbledore as he called the first witness. One Sirius Black.

“Mr. Black,
you've been friends with James Potter since you were both eleven,
it's a given fact. After that you were his best man in the wedding
with Lily Evans, you've been a constant in James' life for over ten
years. Can you tell me how the night of October 31^st
changed him?”

“Well... to start
with he begun to pull away much, much earlier than the events of
October 31^st. He wasn't... there anymore. I realize he had
his responsibilities with Lily and Harry, but I don't believe they
took his entire time. He was the man of the house, he could have
easily handled the care of Harry to Lily. But after October 31^st
he begun to act strange.”

“Strange... how
Mr. Black?”

“Well... he
invited Sni, forgive me, Snape to the funeral. He had never been
friends with Snape. And then he took his advice on how to feed Harry.
I'm sure he had taken it from the Healers before going to... to him,
but to disregard everything the Healers say just to rely on Snape?
That's mad! And then... he started to work, and I found out he was
leaving little Harry with the Death Eater and-”

“Objection your
honour, Mr Black, despite being an auror has no authority to name who
might or might not be a Death Eater!” the goblin said, loud
enough for the whole court to pay attention.

“Sustained,
please restrain your language Mr. Black.” Sirius just nodded
before continuing with his tale.

“So, James was
leaving his son with... with Snape and that made me even more
worried. A few days after I found out, I went to get him since we had
to be somewhere and he was needed. I stopped at Frank's house.”

“That would be
Frank Longbottom, correct?” Albus asked, staring at the auror.

“Yes, I stopped
by Frank and he told me James was with Sn.... Snape. So I went to get
him there. He was there all right. When he came down... he was half
naked and reeking of sex. I refused to believe it at first, how could
James do that? He and Snape hated each other through our school years
but then Mrs. Augusta Longbottom called me at the auror department,
she was also worried about James and worried about Harry as well, she
said he heard him and Frank talking.”

“Forgive me
Sirius but... him?”

“James, James and
Frank were talking.”

“I see, please
continue.”

“Well... she told
me she heard them saying James was in a... sexual relationship with
Snape.” Sirius stopped, listening to the gasps and horrified
whispers around both the Wizengamot and the audience. He knew most
gasps were from horrified Muggleborns and some half blood with muggle
friends. In the muggle world a relationship with two males or two
females was something horrible and taboo, and that carried to some
wizards. Most Purebloods or wizard raised people didn't even know
what a relationship like that was called, they only cared if the
couple produced a child. That point was pretty much moot since James
already HAD a child.

“What happened
then?”

“I contacted you
with the information.”

“I see, Sirius
thank you and you may step down.” Dumbledore added with a kind
smile.

“No, you may not
step down Mr. Black.” Vendevie sneered, standing up and looking
at the pathetic wizard in front of him.

“Madam Minister,
I don't think-”

“You interviewed
the witness, now it's the defence turn to do so, please sit down Mr.
Dumbledore.”

“Thank you Madam.
Now Mr. Black, you said that James and Mr. Snape were enemies during
their school years, by extent can we also imply that you and Mr.
Snape never did get along as well can't we? In fact, your animosity
towards Mr. Snape was much, much worse than any of the other
Marauders, am I correct?” The goblin smiled as he heard Sirius
grinding his teeth together.

“Yes.”

“Mr. Black, tell
me, do you have a debt with Mr. Dumbledore?”

“What?!”
Sirius shrieked, paling.

“I asked, do you
have a debt with Mr. Dumbledore? Please answer the question.”

“Madam Minister,”
Albus interrupter, forcing down his own frustration at the goblin.
“The prosecution has to ask what does that line of questioning
has to do with the trial.”

“It will be
explained Madam, if you allow me to continue?”

“Be brief Mr.
Vendevie, this court does not have the whole day.”

“Yes Madam, Mr.
Black please answer my question.”

“I've... I've no
idea of what you're talking about.”

“Really... so you
do not, better yet, you did not own a debt to Mr. Dumbledore for the
werewolf you released and tried to kill Mr. Snape with? In fact it
was with that action, that Mr. James Potter acquired the life debt
from Mr. Severus Snape isn't that right? And since we have no records
of a werewolf attack anywhere near Hogsmead between the summer of
1974 and the summer of 1977, we can only speculate that Mr.
Dumbledore covered it up and in covering that up, got a debt out of
you. Am I right Mr. Black?” The goblin barked.

“Answer the
question Mr. Black before I request the use of a truth serum in this
courtroom.” The Minister said, making a note of further
interrogation when this case was over. Covering up werewolf
attacks... what was Dumbledore up to?

“Yes...”
Sirius answered through gritted teeth.

“So we can only
come to the conclusion that your testimony was tempered with by the
oath you swore to your old headmaster. Do you think we really should
just accept your words in a hearing that could possibly determine the
fate of the most important wizard of our age?”

Sirius didn't answer,
just turned his head in resignation.

“Mr. Vendevie I
must ask you for proof of your accusations.” Came the powerful
voice of Dumbledore.

“I agree, do you
have proof Mr. Vendevie?”

“I do.” The
goblin smiled, walking up to the table and picking up James and
Severus' testimony of the werewolf events, given under a Wizard's
oath and a truth serum.

The Minister read the
testimony, the double, triple questions about the same subject before
staring at the Wizengamot.

“Ladies and
gentleman, please disregard the testimony of Mr. Black. Mr. Black,
you can step down now.”

“I was only
worried about Harry.” Came the mutter from the witness stand as
Sirius got to his feet.

“I'm sure you
were.” came two different sets of voices, The Ministers, with a
tired whisper and the goblin with sarcasm. The Minister just glared
at the creature, in a clear warning to behave.

“Madam Minister,
would you allow me to view this evidence?” Albus pleaded, with
a benign smile.

“This a court
case Albus, not one of your meetings in your office, keep your smiles
to yourself and call for your next witness.”

Albus nodded, staring
at the list of people he could possibly call.

“The prosecution
calls for Mrs. Augusta Longbottom.”

That testimony, much to
the goblin's annoyance, could not be cancelled. Her descriptions were
circumstantial at best, voiced only as the opinions of a concerned
mother. Vendevie made sure to ask her some pointed questions about
James and Severus and their factual relationship instead of her
perceived one, before sending Augusta on her merry way with a sense
of accomplishment.

What he was really
looking forward to, was Remus John Lupin's testimony.

“The prosecution
calls for Mr. Severus Snape.” Dumbledore finally called, after
looking at the list for a good minute.

Severus placed a kiss
on Harry's head before walking to the witness stand, sitting and
asking for a goblet of water.

“Mr. Snape you've
always been at odds with Mr. Potter, can you tell us what changed?”

“Lily's death and
the knowledge that I still had a life debt to her husband.”

“And your
relationship?”

“Started a few
weeks ago, we had sex a few times I'll admit, but-”

A sniff and wail broke
around the court, coming from the boy-who-lived himself, along with
the acrid odour of urine and faeces.

“Mr. Potter I
take it that you might need a moment to deal with...” the
Minister said, even as she tried to hold in laughter being strongly
reminded of her own children.

“More like an
hour your honour. It's around his nap-time so it's best to just get
over it.” James shrugged, his hand messing with his hair in an
obvious nervous gesture.

“I see...”
she narrowed her eyes, eyeing the infant and the witness before
coming to a conclusion. Banging the mallet two times she ordered the
court.

“This court is in
recess for two hours, and shall adjourn at... 10am today. Mr Potter I
hope you won't mind using one of the holding rooms.”

“As long as I can
take my wand and have free usage of my magic your honour.” he
grinned at her, bravely ignoring the smell coming from his son.

“As you wish.”

As they walked to the
holding rooms – escorted by Alastor – James begun to
bounce Harry on his lap, the wailing only becoming louder as they
walked, getting the attention of quite a few people.

“What is it with
you today Harry?” he asked, conjuring a changing mattress for
the plain wooden table and getting the baby bag from his pocket.

“Sev! Release the
shrinking spell from that please.” gingerly removing the robe
he had put on his son, he removed the soiled nappy, banishing to the
laundry room as he got a new one.

“You really are
teething aren't you kitten?” he grinned, cleaning the soiled
bottom and noticing the beginning of a rash.

From above the
Wizengamot watched, some with fond smiles while others outright
scowled at the display and muttered about the lack of house elves.

“What do you
think?”

“He's a good
father all right, some children are only cared for by house elves the
first months, it's good to see a father changing a soiled nappy.”
Muttered a woman with long blond hair.

“I have to agree,
specially at the teething period.” A man said, his belly wide
and covered with his burgundy robes.

“What's so bad
about teething?” Asked a blond man, that no one would ever
mistake for anyone else other than a Malfoy.

“The cute baby
you have will turn into a little shrieking monster during teething.
The worst period ever aside from early teenagehood.” muttered
the Minister, a shout from bellow drew their attention to the scene
again, only to see an arch of yellowish urine going up and the
giggles of a baby.

“Potter! Your son
has absolutely no manners!” They saw Alastor shouting,
completely disgusted.

James just snickered as
Severus finished changing Harry, getting half an apple and starting
to feed the infant, who eagerly opened his mouth for the treat.

“My son has
manners Alastor, he just doesn't like you!” He grinned, heating
the bottle.

“Look at that,
they work as a team,” murmured someone in the back.

“Snape is still a
Death Eater.”

“Sure but it
doesn't make James a bad father I mean... Eric Nott-”

“Is not a Death
Eater.” interrupted Lucius.

“And you would
know, wouldn't you?” growled a woman in green and black robes.

“Ladies and
gentlemen please, we're here about the hearing, not about you private
discussions and likes and dislikes!” The Minister hissed,
glaring at everyone in the room.

Lucius just sneered as
he went back to watching the scene bellow them.

“Well, look at
that!”

“I am... but what
is that?”

“Something to
stop teething children from crying obviously.” muttered a man,
staring as Snape took something round from the baby bag and handed to
James, who was feeding Harry some milk this time.

“He's a cute
child.”

“They're all cute
when they're not crying.” muttered a woman.

“I wonder if
that's for sale...”

“Try and bully
Potter or Snape for it.”

“Isn't Potter
paying for Snape's mastery?”

“I guess... but
it doesn't really have anything to do with the trial.”

“Why ever not?”
the stout man cried, staring at the Minister.

“Because in the
past six months, no potion has been released under the Potter name.
Trust me, I would know.” said a woman in canary yellow robes as
she watched the baby now suck on the strange contraption.

Down in the
room, James shifted with Harry, putting his six month old son in a
better position, grinning as he put his feet on Severus' lap. It was
to that scene that Dumbledore walked in, causing both groups of
people to silence themselves as they watched the old man.

A/N 2:
This is a thank you note to all my faithful reviewers! =) To
akuma-river, deeps85, Utena-Puchiko-nyu, catintheSky,
Sev'slittesecret, Lone-Angel-1992 and athenakitty, from Fanfiction
net; to 6days, ShadowWolfie, makurayami ookami, Sabie, latoya
snape, KaosAlchemist and Alwaysand from HPFandom, and to
DonnaNoir23, Sneakyfox, DTDY, tolani and the whole lot of anons at
Adultfanfiction. I always look forward to your reviews (even
if I can't answer them on AFF) and insights and opinions!
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Promises of Forever