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Redemption	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 10133 -:- 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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Redemption : Chapter 6

�Ready?� Severus asked.

�Ready as I�m ever going to be,� Hermione answered, the nervousness evident in her voice.

Severus brushed her veiled forehead with a kiss, her hand tightly entwined with his. �No matter what happens, Hermione, you are an incredibly brave, courageous, and intelligent witch. And I will be right here with you.�

When Draco was led into the Wizengamot court in shackles he did not look at the crowd gathered. His eyes were trained straight ahead, his face an expressionless mask. He was seated in front of the three judges.

�Please state your name for the record.�

�Draco Lucius Malfoy.�

�Mr. Malfoy, you are hereby charged with the murder of your father, Lucius Malfoy. Do you dispute these charges?�

�No, I do not.�

�Do you have anything to say in your defense, Mr. Malfoy?�

�No, I do not.�

�Do you have any remorse for your actions, Mr. Malfoy?�

�No, I do not.�

Severus watched the interaction intently. Draco Malfoy�s voice was cold and heartless. He shook his head at the young life wasted in front of him. Perhaps he could have done something for the boy when he was still in Slytherin house. Now, it was too late. Now, he�d hurt the only woman he�d ever loved. Loved?!? He swallowed hard. When had that happened?

The head judge cleared his throat. �If there is any witch or wizard who wishes to speak to this matter, please rise.�

Silence fell across the courtroom. Hermione swallowed against the fear rising within her. Steeling her nerves, she told herself she could do this. She was a Gryffindor after all, and she had faced worse, hadn�t she? She squeezed Severus�s hand one last time before shakily getting to her feet. All eyes in the room turned to the veiled woman seated in a row with Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey. All eyes, except those of Draco Malfoy.

�You may take the dais.�

Hermione held her head up and walked to the designated seat. The chair faced both the judges and Draco. She grasped the arms as she sat, willing her voice not to fail her as nervous energy coursed through her body.

�Please state your name for the record.�

She took a deep breath, willing her strength and courage to return. Slowly she slipped the veil from her face.

�Hermione Jane Granger.�

As a collective gasp filled the court room, Severus kept his eyes trained on Draco. Draco had not bothered to look at her when she had taken the dais. He had not bothered to look at her until he heard her voice. Then, his head had snapped in her direction, his expressionless mask shattering into a thousand pieces as pain clearly dominated his features.

Whispered murmurs charged the air. Finally, one of the judges spoke. �Miss Hermione Granger was pronounced dead on December 23rd of last year.�

�Indeed she was.� Hermione said. �But I assure you, I am her, and my presence here today is quite relevant to both Mr. Malfoy and my own presumed death. Would you like me to explain?�

�Please,� drawled the judge.

Hermione looked to Severus for reassurance, receiving it as he nodded at her. She closed her eyes momentarily and swallowed. �On December 23rd of last year, Lucius Malfoy broke through the wards I�d placed on my parents home and used the Killing Curse on both my mother and father. He then proceeded to use the Polyjuice potion to transform an unfortunate Muggle girl into me, and again used the Killing Curse. In so doing, the Muggle girl permanently maintained my appearance. Lucius Malfoy then abducted me and enslaved me in the Malfoy manor until I escaped six months later.� She paused before adding, �Lucius Malfoy left certain��marks��on my parents� bodies. Those marks were not reported by the media, and only an eye witness could attest to them. They can be used to validate the authenticity of my identity.�

�Would you be willing to take Veritaserum to testify to this?�

�Yes, I would,� she said without hesitation. None was offered to her, but she thought she�d gained the judges trust by simply agreeing to the truth serum.

�Very well, Miss� Granger. Please speak your mind with regards to Mr. Malfoy.�

Hermione looked to Severus one last time to steel her nerves. By tomorrow, the whole world would know not only that she was alive, but what had happened to her as well.

�After Lucius abducted me, he told me that I was to be his gift to his son, Draco Malfoy. Draco was supposed to practice on me, to learn the ways of women. We were forced to sleep in the same bed together every night. But Draco Malfoy never touched me.�

Severus gaze shifted between Hermione and Draco. The previously steel-faced young man who had admitted to murdering his father without remorse was now weeping freely, his head on the table.

�After the first week, it became clear to Lucius Malfoy that Draco had learned nothing in my presence. So, Lucius made Draco watch as Lucius raped me. When I screamed out in pain, Lucius beat me until I was unconscious. When I awoke sometime in the middle of the night, Draco was sitting in a chair next to the bed watching me. He reached over and took my hand to comfort me. He apologized for his father�s actions.�

�The next morning we decided that we would say that Draco and I had been having sex nightly. We discussed things we heard other people doing��different sex acts and such, so that his father wouldn�t feel the need to demonstrate anymore. After another week went by, though, Lucius started coming to me on his own. Those nights when Draco came to bed, I would be crying. Draco would close his eyes and hold my hand and tell me how sorry he was.�

�Over the next several months, Lucius made Draco watch as he raped me repeatedly, sometimes with himself, sometimes with objects, sometimes both. While Lucius was raping me, he would beat me and torture me. I could see the pain in Draco�s eyes as he was forced to watch.�

�When I became pregnant, Lucius seemed quite happy with himself. It was then that I realized that Lucius wanted a child to rape and abuse, like he had raped and abused his own son, Draco Malfoy, throughout Draco�s childhood.�

Hermione paused, catching her breath, knowing that she had just revealed the one secret that could ruin Draco�s life. She spared him a glance, but his head was still on the table as he wept.

�I miscarried the baby at around eight weeks gestation. I was able to escape from the mansion at that point and I managed to Apparate to Hogwarts. I had suffered severe injuries at the hands of Lucius Malfoy and was nearly starved. I required immediate medical attention.�

�Do you have any witnesses to your condition upon your arrival at Hogwarts?� one of the judges interjected.

�Yes. Professor Snape was the one who found me and Madam Pomfrey treated my injuries. Headmaster Dumbledore can also attest to my injuries.�

�Very well, Miss Granger. Please continue.�

�I received a letter from Draco Malfoy a few days before Lucius Malfoy�s death. In his letter, Draco warned me that he thought that Lucius had most likely discovered my whereabouts and he begged me to keep myself safe.�

�Do you have a copy of that letter with you, Miss Granger?�

�Yes, I do,� she said, pulling three copies out of her robes and handing them to the judges to read.

Silence hung over the courtroom as the judges read the letter. �You may continue,� the head judge said after he�d finished reading, the other two judges nodding in agreement.

�Draco Malfoy killed his father in order to protect me. Draco knew that his father would stop at nothing to destroy me. Draco also knew that his father was coming after me, and that if he was not stopped, I would surely suffer and die at his father�s hands. I was not the first victim of Lucius Malfoy, nor would I be the last.�

When she finished speaking, one of the judges asked again, �Miss Granger, would you be wiling to take Veritaserum and repeat this testimony?�

�Yes, I would. I have nothing to hide.�

Seemingly satisfied, the judge relented.

Another judge who had been rereading Draco�s letter asked at last, �Miss Granger, did Draco Malfoy ever rape you?�

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she looked straight at the judge who�d asked her the question.

�Yes, but he did so unwillingy.�

�Was he under the Imperius curse?�

�No.�

�Then how was it unwilling?�

�Lucius Malfoy demanded that his son Draco have sex with me while he, Lucius, watched. The first time it happened, Lucius had warned Draco of the upcoming event and Draco and I discussed it. We decided it would be in both of our best interests to follow Lucius�s orders.� Hermione sighed. �Draco did not want to rape me any more than I wanted to be raped.�

�What would have happened if Mr. Malfoy refused to follow his father�s orders?�

Hermione cringed at the memory. �The one and only time Draco refused to obey Lucius�s orders, Lucius used a knife to cut my body before raping me and beating me into oblivion while Draco was forced to watch. I was unconscious for five days after that attack.�

Severus cringed. Hermione had left out the details of what her tormentors had done to her and they were not easy to hear. He felt the bile rising in his throat. Quickly he looked to Draco who, if possible, looked even more miserable than before at hearing Hermione�s words.

�Why do you think Mr. Malfoy did not report your abduction and abuse to the Ministry, Miss Granger?�

�No one would have believed him. Lucius raped and tortured Draco his whole life, telling him constantly that no one would believe a snot-nosed little boy over a rich, powerful wizard. Draco knew that if he told and no one believed him, both him and I would suffer the consequences.�

�Do you know for a fact that Lucius tortured Draco?�

�Yes. He has the same scars on his back, stomach, and thighs as I have from Lucius.�

The head judge spoke now. �Why did you not go to the Ministry when you escaped, Miss Granger?�

�Aside from my physical injuries and state of near starvation, my mental state was a mess. I had been raped and beaten and tortured for six months. I was also absolutely terrified of him.� She paused before continuing, �I was hardly a match for a powerful wizard like Lucius Malfoy. He would have made mincemeat of my testimony and then he would have made me pay for soiling his name. I knew the courts would side with him, not me.�

�I highly doubt that, Miss Granger,� the head judge replied.

Hermione laughed. The worst was out now and her anger was getting the better of her. �Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eather. TWICE. And still he walked away with the Ministry�s blessing. He killed and tortured countless Muggles and wizards and witches alike, and you expect me to believe that because Hermione Granger happened to be his latest victim things would be different?�

�Miss Granger, Lucius Malfoy switched sides early in the battle. He had been under the Imperious curse.�

At this, Hermione�s blood boiled. In a low, cold voice, she hissed, �Forgive me, sirs, but I was at that final battle. I fought until the bloody end. Lucius Malfoy was not nor had he ever been under the Imperius curse. He did not change sides until the very last moment when it became obvious that the war would not go in Voldemort�s favor. It was at that moment that he turned his wand on six Death Eaters and cast the Killing Curse. He only did so to save his own name and reputation. Another wizard with less money and influence over the Ministry would surely have ended up in Azkaban.�

All three judges shifted uncomfortably in their chairs under Hermione�s intense gaze.

Severus leaned back in his chair and smirked. While it was probably not wise for Hermione to be bating Ministry officials, it was amusing nonetheless. He was also glad to see some of the old fire back in the woman that had been so lost since he�d found her.

After a long pause, the head judge cleared his throat. �Draco Malfoy, please rise.�

Draco stood then, wiping the tears from his face. He stared straight ahead, not meeting anyone�s eyes.

�Is what Miss Granger claims true?�

�Yes, sir.�

�Is there anything you�d like to add to her statements?�

�No, sir.�

�You may be seated then, Mr. Malfoy.�

The head judge turned his gaze back to Hermione. �Is there anything else you�d like to say, Miss Granger?�

�No, thank you, sir.� Hermione�s voice was calm and even.

�Very well, Miss Granger, you have been heard. You may step down. Severus Snape, please take the dais.�

Severus rose, watching as Hermione stepped down from the dais. He nodded to her as she walked back to her seat in the galley, her head held high as she ignored the blatant stares of the crowd around her.

�Please state your name for the record.�

�Severus Snape.�

�Mr. Snape, did you know Lucius Malfoy?�

�Yes.�

�And do you believe he is capable of doing the things that Miss Granger has accused him of?�

�Yes. Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. He had a reputation for raping and torturing Muggles, witches, and wizards alike.�

�Mr. Snape, how did you find Miss Granger?�

�I was asleep in my chambers when I was alerted that the wards to my private potions stock had been breeched. I found Miss Granger rummaging through my potions for something to ease her hunger and pain.�

�And how did Miss Granger react when you found her?�

�Initially, she was startled by my presence. However, she soon became hysterical, confusing me with Lucius Malfoy. She alternated between fighting to get away from me and pleading for her life. I thought she was delirious from lack of sleep and gave her a sleeping potion. It was not until I returned with her to my chambers that I realized the extent of her injuries.�

Severus�s eyes were trained on Hermione as he answered the judges� questions. He was relieved when they called the next witness, Madam Pomfrey.

When he returned to his seat, he put his arm around her as she slumped against him.

�You did wonderful, Hermione. I�m very proud of you,� Severus whispered in her ear.

�I�m just glad it�s over.�

Severus pulled Hermione closer as Madam Pomfrey detailed the extent of Hermione�s injuries when she arrived at Hogwarts. He knew that Hermione had no idea how badly she�d been injured when he�d found her.

Suddenly Hermione stiffened against him. Surveying the room quickly, Severus could find nothing out of place. Draco had resumed weeping with his head on the table at the description of Hermione�s injuries. Searching for the cause of her distress, Severus replayed Madam Pomfrey�s last words, �Due to the severity of her internal injuries, it is unclear whether or not Miss Granger will be able to have children in the future.� He gritted his teeth. Hadn�t she suffered enough?

When no one had anything further to add, the head judge announced, �The court has heard the defendant and those wishing to speak to the crime that has been committed. This court will adjourn until 9 am tomorrow morning at which time the final decision will be handed down. Miss Granger, this panel requests your presence in chambers at this time to verify your identity. Dismissed.�

Severus watched as Draco was led from the courtroom in shackles, his face tear-stained and distraught.

Severus gave Hermione a reassuring glance as she got up to walk to where the judges sat.

He waited anxiously for her return. He still did not trust a soul around her and would kill any person that tried to hurt her. When she emerged from the back room, seemingly unscathed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

�Ready?� he asked.

She nodded.

Just then a harried Albus and Minerva stepped back into the courtroom and spoke in rapid succession. Severus knew what awaited them outside the doors. Looking down at Hermione for permission, he opened his robes and pulled her against his side, sliding his arm around her securely before covering her with the billowing, black material. Together they walked in step through the courtroom doors, Hermione obscured from prying cameras and reporters as they made their way through the crowds.
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Redemption