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Marriage Vows	By : selened Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 23720 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Marriage Vows

Chapter Thirty The
Trial

Disclaimer: This
story was inspired by the Marriage Law Challenge on WIKTT. All Harry Potter characters belong to JK
Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.

A/N

Those of a sensitive disposition may wish to skip the
paragraph about the Pensieve.

Severus and Hermione rose early on the morning of the
trial. Severus set up his classroom for
the students who would be missing a session with him that day while Hermione
took her shower. When he walked back
into the sitting room he found his wife wrestling with her unruly hair.

�Allow me,� he said quietly.

It took him a few minutes to charm out the tangles before he
dried it. He didn�t stop thert bet began
to style her hair and charm it up.

�I don�t wear my hair like this,� she protested.

�You should today,� he stated. �You are an adult witch allied to an old family and this is a
formal occasion. Your hair should be up
and you need to wear a hat. I took the
liberty of ordering a suitable outfit for you.
Madam Malkin was pleased to help.
I will be dressing properly too.�

�What�s wrong with my other clothes?�

�Nothing on an ordinary day. I would not expect you to go to these lengths in school or with
those we regard as family. It would be
inappropriate but this is the first time I have been out with you since my own
trial and you will look like the wife of an aristocrat.�

�Show me the clothes.�

He led her through into the dressing room and produced a
black velvet outfit. It consisted of a
tight fitting top fastened with hooks down the back, floor length full skirt
and long cloak with an ornate clasp at the breast.

�I didn�t buy undergarments to go with it. I know you always wear Muggle ones. Is it acceptable?�

�It�s very grand. Do
I wear jewellery?�

�Wear your Order of Merlin, perhaps a couple of rings. If we dress quickly we can eat in the Great
Hall and you can collect Draco and Maria while I go to get Mr and Mrs
Abbott. I�ve charmed your bag to act as
a portkey between here and the Ministry.
You can activate it with the name of your dratted cat. Oh and I almost forgot, the hat is on the
shelf. I�ll get it.�

He had to help her fasten the top.

�I don�t see how I could do this on a regular basis,� she
said. �It�s far too much fuss.�

�A well-trained house elf would be more proficient at this
than I am and if I expected you to fulfil the traditional role you would have a
great deal of leisure time to do it in.
On a normal day you may dress as you please as long as you are not
immodest. I detest this Muggle habit of
exposing legs and midriffs. Those areas
are strictly for the appreciation of husbands.�

�I have to say I would be uncomfortable in some of the
clothes I see in Muggle London. I went
to the Theatre with my parents in the holidays and when we were coming home the
streets were full of drunken girls wearing outfits I wouldn�t even wear to
bed.�

�You don�t wear anything to bed.�

�I do have night clothes.
I just rarely get the opportunity to put them on and when I do you
always dispose of them.�

�You don�t wear anything to bed,� he reiterated smugly.

Hermione couldn�t help but smile at him.

�Is that a house rule I wasn�t aware of?� she asked with a
glint in her eye.

�Modesty is out of place in the Marriage Bed. Apart from in January and February when no
plumbing, fire or charm will keep the dungeons warm overnight and I may have to
compromise.�

�Will I pass muster?�

�You are beautiful as always. Just give me a moment and I�ll be ready to go with you.�

�I�ll dig out my medal.
I think it�s still in my trunk.�

By the time Hermione had located her medal and some suitable
jewellery Severus was ready. Hermione
was impressed. Instead of a suit he had
opted for a simple black robe in finest wool with a well cut matching over robe
lined in a heavy green silk. Slashes in
the sleeve revealed the lining above the tight cuffs. Like her he had his medal hung around his neck.

They attracted some confused glances from the children who
had made it down to breakfast early particularly when Professor Martin was
moved to kiss the back of Hermione�s hand in a courtly gesture. Severus gave him an ugly glare that only he
failed to notice.

When breakfast was over Severus went off on his own to
collect the Abbotts. Hermione made her
way down to the Slytherin table where Draco and Maria were sitting side by
side.

�You look the part this morning Madam Snape,� said Draco
graciously.

Can I touch your robe?� asked Maria.

Hermione smiled at both of them and allowed Maria to smooth
the velvet of her sleeve.

�How are you bearing up Draco?� she asked.

�I know what�s going to happen, thanks to you and
Severus. I think I can stand it. I haven�t told Mother so I need to hold up
for her.�

�Severus and I are here for you, you know. He regards you as family.�

�We are family too,� said Maria. �We might be friends when I�m grown up enough.�

�We might,� he acknowledged.

�We ought to leave now,� said Hermione. �We need to step outside to use the
portkey.�

�I hate those things,� grumbled Draco.

�Well we need it to get in the building. If you want to come back on your own later
you can Apparate out to Hogsmeade but this is the easiest way to take Maria
unless we want to sit in Court covered in grime.�

�Okay. I suppose it
wouldn�t do to spoil your best clothes.
You look like a pure blood.�

�I think that�s the idea.�

�I like your necklace,� said Maria.

�It�s a medal,� said Hermione. �It�s called the Order of Merlin. Severus and I got them for helping to defeat Lord Voldemort last
Spring. We only wear them when we go
somewhere important. Are you both
ready?�

�Let�s go,� said Draco.

The Court was meeting in the same room where Severus had
been questioned before. Their party had
been allocated seats in the main body of the Court above the seats reserved for
members of the Wizengamot. They had not
been seated for more than a few moments when Severus entered bringing Mr and
Mrs Abbott with him. They looked
completely overwhelmed at their surroundings.
Maria hugged both of them affectionately before they sat down.

�I saw Arthur on the way in,� said Severus. �Molly�s gone off to attend to Fleur. Her labour began at around 5am. You may be called as a witness to the
Hogsmeade incident. Is there any sign
of Draco�s mother?�

�We haven�t seen her yet,� said Hermione. �Perhaps she�s been allowed to pay Lucius a
visit.�

�Uncle Severus,� hissed Draco. �Will I be able to speak to myher her today?�

�I don�t know Draco.
I�ll see if it can be arranged.
You might have to wait until he�s been transferred to Azkaban. I have to go now. We�ve only got a few minutes before we start.�

He hurried off and exited the chamber.

�Mum, Dad,� said Maria.
�This is Draco. He�s a relation
of mine. It�s his father on trial.�

�So your father killed our child,� said Mr Abbott coldly.

�So I�ve been told.
Apparently he murdered most of our family as well. He tried to force me to marry Hermione in
the hopes I would allow hi kil kill her too.�

�Mr Abbott,� said Hermione.
�Draco played no part in his father�s actions. He is appalled at what he has discovered this week and his
father�s crimes are going to severely affect his standing in our society.�

�I suppose I�m sorry.
You see I�ve only just found out my baby was murdered. I�m sure you can understand I�m upset.�

�I know. We have all
suffered at Lucius Malfoy�s hands. That
is why we are here.�

Everyone in the Court sat up straight and looked to the
doors as they sprang open. Lucius
Malfoy walked in, affecting his usual casual elegance. He made his way to the large chair and sat
down, brushing an imaginary speck of lint from his robe as he did so. He was accompanied by a single Auror and the
chair made no attempt to bind him.

�That�s him,� breathed Mrs Abbott. �He hasn�t changed.�

The members of the Wizengamot filed in and took their seats
in front of where Hermione and the others were seated. Malfoy�s demeanour became more subdued and
Hermione�s suspicions were instantly aroused.

The first interrogator began.

�Lucius Malfoy, you were taken into custody on the 4^th
September after a number of witnesses alleged you attempted to cast the Killing
Curse at Professor Severus Snape of Hogwarts Academy. What is your response to this allegation?�

�I would like to make a confession,� stated Lucius
solemnly. �I confess that I lost my
temper with Severus, my brother-in-law.
I did indeed attempt to cast the curse in a state of extreme
distress. My beloved wife�s health was
preying on my mind and I was in Hogsmeade to take advice from the Apothecary
there. I happened to run into Severus
and discovered that he was forcing my son�s fianc�e to marry him instead. Some of you will recall that my own little
sister was once Severus� child bride.
He took her to Italy and she met a violent death in suspicious
circumstances. When I thought of the
danger Miss Granger was facing I could not help myself. The very idea that this brilliant woman whom
my son adores, who fought so bravely in the struggle agt tht the Dark Lord,
should meet that fate overcame my good sense.
I am willing to trust the wisdom of the Court in this matter but I would
beg leniency in view of the fact that news has just reached me of my wife�s
death. The separation and worry she has
suffered since my offence has obviously proved too much for her and I will have
to live with this consequence of my actions for the rest of my life.�

Hermione was listening so intently to this manipulation of
the truth that it took Draco�s strangled gasp to alert her to the fact that he
had just learned of his mother�s death.
She turned to look at him. His
face had gone a very unhealthy looking grey and Maria had grasped hold of his
hand. He was struggling for
breath. Hermione eased her arm around
him so she was in a position to grasp both his elbows.

�Keep breathing Draco.
Don�t break down here. Wait
until we can get you home.�

He turned his face towards her tears beginning to course
their way down his cheeks.

�Mother,� he whispered.

For an instant Hermione was taken back to when Draco was
still a child seeing his baby faced looks under those of the handsome young man
he had become. She allowed him to bury
his face in her shoulder to dry his tears and muffle the sound of his sobs.

Mr and Mrs Abbott looked on with faces of concern.

The interrogator continued,

�During your confinement it has come to the attention of the
Wizengamot that there is a substantial amount of evidence against you regarding
other unsolved crimes. It is the wish
of this team to question you under Veritaserum.�

�No,� cried Lucius.
�Severus Snape brews the Veritaserum used in this Court. I cannot trust any potion he has
brewed. Besides which it is custom to
force testimony only in cases where evidence is overwhelming.�

The second interrogator stood. �I call upon Severus Snape to present evidence against you
regarding crimes against your own family members.�

Severus stood. He
made a very impressive figure and all eyes were on him.

�I present to the Court this folder of notes. These are research notes made by my late
wife Olivia Snape nee Malfoy. It is a
matter of record that they were taken from our home in Italy on the day she was
murdered. The folder was recovered by
Aurors in a search on Malfoy Manor. The
marks which are visible are Lucius Malfoy�s fingerprints stained with my wife�s
blood. This is evidence that my late
wife, my pregnant wife, met her death at the hands of her brother.

The second piece of evidence I submit is a restored
Obliviated memory contained in this Pensieve.
This memory was recovered from the mind of Helena Abbott, a Muggle. It shows Lucius Malfoy killing his
stepmother, Selene Malfoy nee Martin, eleven years ago in a Muggle hospital
ward. He also kills Maria Abbott,
Muggle daughter of Helena, under the mistaken impression that she is Claudia
Malfoy his newborn sister. Claudia
Malfoy�s continued existence was discovered when she was sorted at Hogwarts
last month and she is present here today.
The Pensieve also shows Lucius taunting his stepmother with the fact
that he killed his own father, Claudius Malfoy. I crave the Court�s indulgence to project this memory for public
viewing as evidence that Lucius Malfoy killed his father, his stepmother and
newborn infant Maria Abbott and intended to murder the newborn Claudia Malfoy.�

Severus paused in his address and looked to the
interrogators for further instructions.
There was an excited buzz running around the room and Draco was still
clinging onto Hermione. Lucius was
looking trapped and terrified. The
chief interrogator announced,

�You may show the Pensieve.�

Mrs Abbott pulled Maria closer to her and whispered, �Don�t
look.� Maria closed her eyes and balled
her fists against them.

Severus drew his wand and poked it into the Pensieve. He stirred it gently and began to tease the
mist out of the bowl. When it hung
suspended he flourished his wand at the mass and shouted, �Amplificare.� The mist swelled and Severus stepped back as
it expanded and the memory played out for everyone to see.

It was dramatic. The
images were three dimensional and the sounds as clear as the day they had been
uttered. No one could fail to be
devastated by the desperate French woman half-mad with fright facing a coldly
exhilarated Lucius Malfoy.

�Did you really think I�d kill my father and let you and
your spawn survive?�

The whole crowd looked on in horrified shock as he
administered the Killing Curse to the mother and leant over to give it to the
tiny wailing infant in the crib whose cry stopped abruptly at the moment of
death. The image faded as he cast the
Obliviate on Mrs Abbott and the silver mist poured itself back into the bowl.

For a moment no one spoke or moved. Draco had composed himself enough to watch
and now stared at his father in horror.
Many were in tears at what they had witnessed.

The mood was broken when Lucius lunged for Severus�
wand. He captured it and fended Severus
off with his free arm as he cast the Killing Curse in the direction of Maria
Abbott. Draco saw it coming and bowled
the child out of its path shielding her with his own body. Hermione too was quick off the mark and cast
a disarming curse. The energies of the
sibling wands connected and the Priori Incantatem effect was established.

Fortunately
Hermione�s power levels were much higher than those of her opponent. She found the holding of the wand and the
forcing back of his energies much easier than Harry ever had when faced with
Voldemort.

Lucius recognised the effect but had never experienced it
before and added to that was the fact that the wand he was using was not his
own. The battle lasted for around
fifteen seconds until the energy was forced back across the room into the tip
of Severus� wand.

However instead of shadows of past castings appearing the
Avada Kedavra was pushed through the wand in the wrong direction and Lucius
dropped it, swearing loudly. Severus
retrieved it immediately and pulled it out of reach before examining it
closely. Lucius meanwhile croucrouching
on the floor nursing his hand.

In an instant Aurors had bundled Lucius back into the chair
which this time bound him tightly. He
was yelling,

�My hand! My
hand! You Mudblood bitch! What have you done to my hand?�

A member of the Wizengamot stepped forward. Hermione remembered him as a Senior Healer
from St Mungo�s. He approached Lucius
and knelt to examine his hand.

�Stone dead,� he announced.
�Extraordinary thing! It�ll have
to come off quickly in case it spreads.
I�ve never seen the Killing Curse work like that before.�

He returned to his seat having satisfied his professional
curiosity.yes"> Then the questioning began.

�Lucius Malfoy, did you murder your half-sister Olivia
Snape?�

�Yes.�

�Why did you commit this murder?�

�She was wor aga against Lord Voldemort and she was
pregnant. My father was considering
settling money on the child and I did not want to divide the inheritance.�

�Did you murder your father Claudius Malfoy?�

�Yes.�

�Why did you murder him?�

�He had remarried and his new wife was pregnant. I did not want to give up any of my
property.�

�Did you murder your stepmother Selene Malfoy?�

�Yes. She escaped at
first but I found her.�

�Did you kill the Muggle newborn Maria Abbott?�

�Yes. I got the
wrong one. I should have made sure.�

�Was it your intention to kill Claudia Malfoy today?�

�Yes. Why should she
inherit what belongs to us?�

�Did you attempt to kill Severus Snape?�

�Yes. I should have
done it years ago. Traitor.�

�Why did you seek to kill him on this occasion?�

�He ruined my plans for thatblooblood bitch. There was a Prophecy. She was meant to be mine. You�ve seen the power she has. I knew how to get it out of her and he
stepped in to take it for himself.�

�Lucius Malfoy. The
Court is obliged to accept evidence given under Veritaserum as truth. Therefore we have no alt��

�Wait,� yelled Draco.

There was some fussing as members of the Wizengamot turned
to work out who was speaking. Draco
stood, still clutching his young aunt tightly.

�How did you kill my Mother when you were in custody?�

Hermione gazed at Draco in horror.

�When I owled her I recommended that she adjust her
medication. This resulted in a timely
overdose which I hoped to use to gain sympathy from the Court.�

Draco went for his wand but between them Maria and Hermione
were able to restrain him. Hermione
took the wand and Draco slumped in his seat weeping bitterly. It was Mrs Abbott who comforted him this
time.

Albus stood.

�As leader of this judicial body I hereby declare that
Lucius Malfoy has confessed to five murders.
Each of these earns a life sentence in Azkaban. Patricide also demands that he forfeit his
link to his bloodline and thereby his right to its property. You are to be removed from here to take up
residence in Azkaban. There are many
outstanding matters regarding lesser charges and you will give evidence under
Veritaserum at the Court�s convenience.
Please take him away.�

Albus sat as Lucius was manhandled out of the room. The Wizengamot filed out chattering amongst
themselves. After a few moments
Severus, Albus and Arthur returned to collect Hermione and the rest of the
group.

Draco was still a wreck, being held by Mrs Abbott. Severus embraced his wife and kissed her
gently.

�I think we need to get Draco back to Hogwarts,� said
Albus. �Severus has given me to
understand that you two will be coming to stay with us at Hogwarts for a
while.�

�Yes,� said Mr Abbott.
�We think it�s important to spend some time with our little girl.�

�I agree,� said Albus.
�Maria is going to need quite a lot of help to adjust to her new
identity. She will also need a guardian
from our community to deal with the legalities of her inheritance.�

�Inheritance?�

�Claudius was a very wealthy man. Lucius inherited everything but now that we know he killed his
father he has cut himself and young Draco here off the family tree. Young Mr Malfoy now has no home.�

�I�m not a Malfoy,� said Draco fiercely.

�Don�t worrout out that now Draco,� said Severus
soothingly. �I�m sure you and��

�I�m not using the name.
The law doesn�t hto bto bother disinheriting me because I disown him.�

�If you wish Draco,� said Severus slowly, �You may adopt our
surname. Hermione and I are willing to
acknowledge you as kin.�

�Thank-you Uncle, but no.
You are having your own children now.
I�ve seen the way you two are together.
There�s no way this baby will be an only child. I accept your offer of kinship though. I�m taking Mother�s name. I�m going to be a Black.�

�That seems very suitable,� said Albus kindly. �The Blacks wereold old family and you do
have every right to adopt the name.
It�s a wise decision. I will be
honoured to assist you in the legalities.�

�Thank-you Headmaster.
What�s going to happen with Mother� the funeral��

�I will help you to organise everything,� said Severus. �I�m sure I can persuade Hermione to cover
some classes for me while we sort things out.�

�Of course I will.
That�s easily done.�

�Let�s go home now,� said Albus. �Draco needs some privacy for his mourning and I think Hermione
ought not over exert herself. Arthur I
trust you�ll be in touch when you get news.�

�I will. I�m going
to wait with Bill now but we might be waiting a good while yet. The first one seems to take for ever.�

�Is it Fleur?�

�Yes young lady.
It�s a new cousin for you. I�m
sure we�ll be able to arrange a visit soon.�

�I would like that.
I like babies.�

�There�s going to be a lot of them around soon,� said
Severus dryly.

�Oh yes,� said Arthur.
�Lots of new lives beginning.
It�s an exciting time.�

�Yes we�ve had enough excitement for one day. Hermione we�ll use your portkey but we�ll
have to get up to the foyer to use it.
Draco, are you going to be able to manage?�

Draco nodded firmly and grasped the hand Maria had given him
and the party moved towards the doors.
They were stopped in their tracks when Percy hurried in.

�Dad,� he said, �Professor Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy is
dying. The curse went right up his arm
during questioning and it�s going into his neck. He wants to speak to Draco.�

Draco stood tall.
�Tell him, as far as I�m concerned, I never had a father.�

Percy stood dumbfounded.

�What are you waiting for Weasley,� snapped Severus. �Give him the message while you still
can. I�m taking my nephew home.�

They moved out of the Court leaving Percy staring after
them.

A/N

I hope that chapter didn�t disappoint. There is just a short epilogue to come now.

Thanks to all my reviewers, spaz141, Kat1441, megcoulson,
ancientgirl, kjsparkles and azulkan2.

Blue-eyes- I have a couple of ideas I�m playing with for
companion pieces to this. I think I
will stick to the idea of finishing the work and publishing it over a short
period of time as I did this time, so you can expect a short wait.

Kelly- I too am a fan of the Lord and Lady Snape archive and
I am flattered that you think I might pass their selection criteria. The thing that has so far stopped me
submitting there is a technical issue.
To post here I save my Word documents as html and upload the chapter as
a file, on LnLS I don�t think that�s allowed and I am confused as to what to do
instead. If anyone would like to email
me selenedaws@hotmail.com to give
me advice I would be grateful.
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Marriage Vows