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Much Ado About Nothing	By : goblet Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2534 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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 the writing of this story.

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
by The Goblet

Chapter 34

Sirius and Remus strolled around the lake. Sirius had purposefully steered Remus away from the Astronomy tower, and the two men set off to walk around the edge of the lake, heading in the general direction of Hogsmeade.

When they were about halfway to the main gates of Hogwarts, the two Gryffindors caught sight of the Citizens' Watch marching their criminals to Hogwarts.

"Come you, sir: if justice cannot tame you, she shall never weigh more reasons in her balance: no, and you be a cursing hypocrite once, you must be looked to," Aberforth was telling the prisoners.

The Watch had stopped for lunch, a large lager and an afternoon nap, before Aberforth had deemed it time to transport the prisoners. He had wanted to give Scrivenshaft enough time to explain everything to his brother after all!

Before setting off for Hogwarts, Aberforth had ordered the two men to be dosed up with Zonko's truth serum yet again, but between himself and Zonko the brothers had been given both a Truth Serum and a Babbling Brew. Not a particularly pleasant combination of potions for two people with something to hide.

"Hey," Sirius exclaimed. "It's the LeStranges," he told Remus as the party drew closer.

"It seems that they are in shackles," Remus replied. He did not particularly wish to come face to face with one of Severus' lovers, and as such, he turned to walk back to the castle.

"Hold on a moment," Sirius said, grabbing a hold of Remus' arm, and dragging him closer to the approaching group. "I want to know what's happened, it looks as though the LeStrange brothers are under arrest."

Sirius waited until the party was closer before speaking. "Aberforth, what have these men done?" he asked the Headmasters' brother.

Aberforth bowed before Sirius. "My Lord: they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a gentleman; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves," he explained.

Sirius found Aberforth's answer both amusing and useless, and decided to ask his next question in a similar manner. "Firstly, what have they done? Thirdly, what is their offence? Sixth and lastly, why they are committed? And, to conclude, what charges are they facing?"

Sirius turned to the two bound men. "I am afraid that Aberforth is too cunning to be understood: what is your offence?"

"Black, allow me to answer; after I finish speaking, you are free to kill me," Rodolphus said, stepping forward while mentally cursing the potions he had been forced to consume. His brother was silent as he still wore the gag across his mouth.

"I have deceived you and your friend. You could not see the absurdity of the situation as your judgement was clouded by anger; anger I generated. But these shallow fools have managed to uncover the truth.

"During the night they overheard me confessing to my brother how your brother Regulus and I had conspired to slander Severus Snape; how you were brought into the alleyway behind the Hog's Head and saw me court my lover who had, not knowing of my intention to fool you, used Polyjuice to appear to be Severus; and how you disgraced him, when you should have married him.

"They have a complete record of my plot, which I would rather seal closed with my death than have my shame repeated to the world at large. Severus is dead upon my and Regulus' false accusations.

"I am a scoundrel, and I deserve to be punished as one."

"I think my blood just turned to ice," Sirius whispered as he turned to Remus.

His friend was as white as a ghost. He looked as though he had stopped breathing. "Severus," he whispered.

Sirius moved to support Remus, with one arm around his waist. "And my brother conspired with you to do this?" Sirius asked quietly, his voice strained.

"Yes," answered Rodolphus, "And he promised me one of your grandfather's books for my trouble."

"My own brother," Sirius whispered. "My own brother… and now he has fled."

"Severus, I killed Severus," Remus mumbled, choking on his words. "He's dead, Sirius, he's dead. And he was innocent."

Sirius wrapped his arms around his friend, holding him close and allowing him to sob into his shoulder. They had killed an innocent man, a man whom Remus had loved with all his heart, a man who loved Remus with all his heart, and now was dead, because Remus had repudiated him.

Aberforth was at a loss as to how to help Remus. He looked back at the Watch before speaking. "Come, bring away the plaintiffs: by this time Scrivenshaft would have reformed my brother of the matter: and, men, do not forget to specify, when time and place shall serve, that I am an ass."

"No need, here come Ebenezer and Albus now" said Honeyduke, who had been watching the castle.

The men watched as the Headmaster and the Record Keeper approached the group. The anger on Albus' face was evident even from several hundred meters away.

Albus strode up to the group. "Who is the man who defiled Severus' reputation? I want to see his eyes, so that if I meet another man like him, I will know to avoid him."

"That is I," Rodolphus admitted.

"You are the person who is responsible for Severus' death?" Albus asked coldly, there was no kindness left in his tone.

"Yes, I alone."

"No, I don't think so. You are not solely responsible for Severus' death. Also to blame are these two men," Albus gestured at Sirius and Remus. "The third that had a hand in it has fled. Like a coward. "

Albus turned to the two Gryffindors; it was time to make them suffer. "I thank you, gentlemen, for Severus' death. I hope that you will count it as one of your high and worthy deeds."

"Albus… I'm sorry," Remus said quietly. He lifted his head from Sirius' shoulder, but tears continued to stream down his face. "I know that's not good enough, not after what I did, but I'm sorry, I love Severus. I take full responsibility for his death, and for not knowing him and not trusting him enough not to believe what I saw last night. I am ready to accept any punishment that you feel is fitting."

"As do I," added Sirius, tightening his grip on his best friend.

Albus looked at his two Gryffindors, both the victims of a stupid, stupid prank. His heart did go out to them, though: both of them. "I cannot ask you to resurrect Severus: that is impossible. But I ask you both, tell the people in Hogsmeade, and the guests at the wedding how innocent he died."

He turned to Rodolphus. "And what of your lover?" Albus asked. "Where is he? I assume it is a he? He is also answerable to these crimes."

Rodolphus shook his head. "No, sir, my lover is innocent. He did not know what was happening last night. He thought I was fulfilling a sick fantasy. He had nothing to do with this."

Albus was quiet for a few moments, as he considered Rodolphus' words. He took the testimony from Ebenezer and re-read it.

After a few minutes, it dawned on Aberforth that it was the perfect time to tell his brother that Rabastan had called him an ass. "Moreover, brother, which indeed is not under white and black, this plaintiff here, the offender, did call me ass: I beseech you, let it be remembered in his punishment."

Albus turned to his brother. "I thank you for your help in this matter," he told him, mentally kicking himself for the hundredth time that evening for not listening to Aberforth when he asked for help earlier in the day.

Aberforth bowed. "You speak like a most thankful and reverend youth; and I praise God for you."

"Go," Albus commanded. He grew serious and dismissed his brother formally. "I discharge you of your prisoner, and I thank you."

The Innkeeper bowed once more, and continued doing so, the rest of the Watch joining in as they backed away, bowing and walking backwards towards the gates.

"I leave an arrant knave with your worship; which I beseech your worship to correct yourself, for the example of others. God keep your worship! I wish your worship well; God restore you to health! I humbly give you leave to depart; and if a merry meeting may be wished, God prohibit it!" Aberforth said as he walked away.

"Remember: I am an ass!"

tbc...

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Much Ado About Nothing