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Only a House	By : Jilliane Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 3658 -:- 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.

Chapter List
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Thank you to all my reviewers, especially Briarrows69 for the lovely words of encouragement! I appreciate very much all who take the time to review. This chapter is a tiny bit short and concise, but as I said before, it's intentional. Harry will make more of an appearance in the next chapter where, Barbara and SickPuppy, your questions will be answered. For now, chapter 4.

By The Will Thou Art Lost

In his court ordered isolation, Severus was not allowed visitors, nor contact with the outside world, but he was allowed a newspaper to save him from complete boredom. It came with his breakfast trays, which appeared in his room every morning at 8 a.m. precisely. The papers had been full with details of his previous trial and speculation about his trial to come, and he chose for the most part to give them only the briefest of scans. The paper that arrived with his breakfast on this morning caught his eye, however, and he unfolded it to read while sipping at the horrible brew they referred to as coffee.

The headline screamed about scandal in the Ministry of Magic, nothing new there, but it wasn't that which caught Severus' eye. It was a photograph, and the icy countenence of Lucius Malfoy glared up at him from the front page. It seemed that Lucius had been finally caught not playing nicely. Not nicely at all. Right along with the current Minister of Magic himself, who had been caught accepting bribes, and had sang out Lucius' name like the proverbial bird. The Ministry was in disgrace once again, and both the Minister of Magic and Lucius Malfoy were currently being hosted by Azkaban Prison. Kingsley Shacklebolt had been named acting Minister of Magic, until the Wizengamot stopped reeling from the shock of yet another Minister gone bad, while still directing the Auror Office.

Personally, Severus couldn't understand the Wizengamot's shock; the Ministry was rife with corruption and always had been, usually at the instigation of Lucius Malfoy and his millions. It really wasn't a huge secret, just most of the other Ministers had either been clever enough not to get caught taking Lucius' freely handed out money, or clever enough not to be pulled into the trap in the first place.

Well, Severus thought, that explained why Kingsley hadn't been to see him lately, bent on saving Severus' very soul. Scowling into his coffee cup, Severus regarded the smaller photo of the Shacklebolt reflectively. If the Wizengamot had an ounce of intelligence in their collective heads, they'd appoint Kingsley permanent Minister of Magic immediately.

He set aside the paper and stared at the wall, sipping his coffee and thinking. His trial was nearing; did that mean that Kingsley would be presiding? If so, then perhaps it truly would be a formality. Cut and dried. Kingsley would see to it that he was set free, and then he'd have to go and find a life for himself somewhere. He sighed heavily and wondered what was wrong with himself that the prospect of finally being free to live his life on his own terms held so little appeal. Perhaps he should ask Healer Smethwyk, who was keeping the side up by paying him a daily courtesy call to ostensibly look at his injury, to see a psychiatric healer. Perhaps one could tell Severus just exactly how one went about living when one had nothing to live for.
It was true, he reflected. He'd spent so long trying to stay alive only to serve somebody else's purpose, he had no idea how to live to serve himself. Dumbledore and Voldemort were both dead, they no longer controlled his actions, and the boy...well the boy certainly didn't need him any longer. Not that the boy had realised then that he ever had in the first place. He had no job, and he found the prospect of going to Minerva McGonagall and asking for one distasteful. Hogwarts had more or less been his home since he was 11 years old, and he did miss it, but he did at least have a place to go to, although the thought of that was also distasteful. He did, however, have some money. Whilst at Hogwarts, his needs had been simple, his room and board there provided. Dumbledore had been nothing if not generous with his salary, trying in some way to compensate for all he'd asked of him, and he'd saved most of it. His bank account at Gringott's didn't contain a fortune, but it was enough after all these years to keep him for awhile.

Severus spent a lot of time in the days leading up to his trial thinking about his future and what he would do. He told himself that it was not wise to assume the outcome of the trial, but the Wizengamot had already seen the evidence. His memory of Dumbledore forcing the promise to kill him out of Severus, in order to save Draco Malfoy from becoming a murderer. In order to save his soul. Severus remembered himself asking Dumbledore what of his own, Severus', soul? He asked himself the same question now. If by some chance he was sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss, would they be able to find a soul to suck out of him? He himself wasn't sure.

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Two Aurors he didn't know or recognise arrived to escort him to the Ministry of Magic on the day of his trial. They were both tall, burly men who fended off the reporters waiting at the floo they arrived at with ease, and waited with Severus in the anteroom for the trial to begin.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was indeed presiding, but other than that fact, the trial proceeded in almost the exact same way his previous trial had. Potter and Granger again testified that they'd witnessed Nagini's attack on him, that they'd assumed he was dying, that he'd given over the memories of his own free will. Potter again confirmed they were the same memories, and again didn't give Severus so much as a glance. Severus told himself it didn't matter, let the boy hate him forever, he was no longer his concern, and forced himself to focus on the proceedings. Again the Ministry official performed the spell that allowed the entire court to view his memories of Dumbledore extracting his promise, and then the Wizengamot began to deliberate.

After several moments, it became clear there was quite a heated discussion going on behind the High Chair, and after several more, Kingsley turned, banged his gavel and intstructed the Aurors to escort Severus back to the anteroom to await the verdict. After an hour Severus began to wonder what was taking so long, but he was then instructed to return to the courtroom. Inside, Kingsley again banged his gavel and declared the court in recess until such a time that the Wizengamot had reached a a verdict. Severus was escorted back to his room at St. Mungo's where he sat down to wait. He forced himself to clear his mind, refusing to think about the trial at all. To help in that endeavor, he asked to see Healer Smethwyk for a draught of Dreamless Sleep Potion, Smethwyk agreeing to administer the counter potion should word arrive that the Wizengamot had reached a verdict. With that, Severus lay down to await his fate.

Three days passed, days which Severus chose to mostly sleep away, before the Wizengamot finally reached a verdict. Severus happened to be awake when word came, and the Aurors arrived to escort him back to the Ministry a few hours later. As he waited in the anteroom, Severus felt surprisingly calm, having decided after the first day to accept quietly whatever lay in store for him. After all, despite the circumstances, he had indeed committed murder. What good was it that Voldemort was gone if murderers were allowed to walk free?

Severus could feel every eye in the packed courtroom on him as he was led before the High Chair and the Wizengamot, but he was determined to remain stoic. The Aurors stepped aside and Kingsley Shacklebolt gavelled the court to order, cleared his throat, and read out the verdict.

"Severus Snape, you stand before the Wizengamot charged with the murder of Albus Dumbledore. The Wizengamot has reviewed the evidence submitted on your behalf, and taken into consideration the extenuating circumstances concerning your actions. It is therefore the unanimous decision of this court that you be exonerated of the charge of murder."

The courtroom burst into a loud babble of voices all around him and Kingsley furiously gavelled for silence. When it had been restored, he continued.

"However," he began, glaring at the onlookers as if daring anyone to speak, "the fact remains that you did indeed kill Albus Dumbledore, a fact you have not refuted, and one to which this court has been presented with evidence of. As such, you are hereby charged with euthanatising Albus Dumbledore, and to this charge you have been determined to be guilty."

Once again he glared at the onlookers before continuing, "You are therefore sentenced to one year of house arrest, under guard, at a Ministry approved location. While under house arrest you will not be allowed a wand, you will not be allowed outside contact of any kind, you are forbidden to use magic of any kind, including the brewing of any potion. Sentence to house arrest to begin immediately."

********************************

Afterwards, in the anteroom, before the Aurors escorted him to wherever they would be taking him, Kingsley Shacklebolt suddenly strode through the door. He told the Aurors to wait outside, and then turned to Severus.

"I'm sorry, Severus," he said, his face grim, "but there was nothing more I could do. My hands were tied. It was a unanimous decision to clear you of the murder charges, but...you must understand, the Wizengamot and the Minister of Magic cannot be seen to condone euthanasia. If we were to do that....well, you can imagine how many grannies or cantankerous old uncles would suddenly shuffle off this mortal coil. As it is..."

"As it is," Severus spoke, stopping the man from further entreaty for his understanding, "you have done more for me than I deserve. I am guilty, of that there is no question, and have escaped with a much lighter treatment than I have any right to expect. For this, I thank you, Kingsley. You have been a far better friend to me than I have ever been to you, and for that I am grateful."

"Severus..." the big man began, but again Severus cut him off.

"Thank you, Kingsley," Severus said and offered his hand, "for once the Wizengamot has made the correct choice for Minister of Magic. I sincerely hope they will consider the wisdom of that choice and make the position permanent. My best wishes to you."

Kingsley took his hand and shook it firmly, then turned towards the door saying, "I am not alone in thinking Harry Potter isn't the only hero amongst us, Severus."

He then stepped out into the waiting throng of reporters before Severus could reply.

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Only a House