Chapter 22

Severus closed his eyes and looked away from the window. From where he stood he had a perfect view of the courtyard below, where Harry kissed Draco.

He hadn't meant to spy, really. Now he wished he'd not looked at all. He knew letting Harry go live his life meant Harry would have other partners- but he didn't wish to see it, especially not so soon, and especially not with his godson.

Still, despite the lump in his throat, he couldn't help but to see that Draco and Harry looked right together. No age discrepancy, both handsome, neither turned cold against the world, despite what they'd been through.

Draco and Harry made sense.

In a way that he and Harry never would.

Severus swallowed hard and continued his nightly check for students out after curfew. Although tonight, he wouldn't dole out punishments, rather he would only make sure every student was accounted for, and being safe.

His own little snakes were either fast asleep, or, in the case of the seventh years, tucked away in a corner drinking and talking about their future. He knew Draco had crept away to Gryffindor. He also knew Draco had stormed out.

He was ready for the castle to empty out for the summer. He was tired, in every conceivable way.

In the blink of an eye, Severus stood at the doors to the Great Hall with the other professors, as the students filed out after breakfast, making their ways to the Hogwarts Express.

Many of the seventh years of each house tearfully bid each Professor goodbye. His change in behaviour earned him several goodbyes as well, whereas most years the students simply ignored him.

Severus was fine with that. It felt odd to shake hands of the students who now respected him.

Hermione, tearfully, offered him her hand, which he took.

"I'd say goodbye," she said. "But I fully intend to see you again."

In the past, Severus would have sneered and responded with a hateful quip.

Instead he told her, "See to it. I'd be grateful to know what the great Hermione Granger does with her life." Hermione dropped his hand quickly and stood on her tip-toes to wrap her arms around his neck in a warm embrace.

Severus returned the hug, to see the other professors behind her looking at him bemusedly.

As Hermione released him, he caught Harry's eye, who did nothing more but offer a weak smile, and walked from the Great Hall.

Severus sent a small vibration through the bracelets, hoping that Harry still wore his, hoping that it could convey everything he was feeling in this moment.

Harry didn't turn around.

Goodbye, Harry he thought bitterly.

"Give it time," Albus told him, as he clapped his shoulder.

"No," Severus said firmly and he returned to his rooms. With any luck, he'd find peace at last.

He needed to return his life to how it had once been.

Content with the solitude.

Focused on work, and not an impossible love.

Returning to solitude felt like too heavy a burden. He was insane to think life would ever be the same after Harry. But he knew he was doing the right thing by letting him go. Severus wasn't always concerned with doing the "right thing." But it was time to start.

But if Severus read over Harry's letter a few times and allowed himself to bask in the pain, who else would it hurt?

The first couple of weeks passed quickly. Lesson plans for the coming year, whiskey, visits with Albus or Minerva. Sometimes reading Harry's letter, sometimes holding it over a flame wanting to burn it- but he could never bring himself to do it.

He hoped Harry was happy.

He hoped Harry was finding himself in a post-Voldemort world.

On the third Monday, Severus woke to find the Daily Prophet on his kitchen table, and a letter from the Ministry of Magic.

The newspaper declared that the trials would be beginning soon. Harry's face was above the article. Severus ran his fingers over that face, traced his cheeks and lips.

He opened the letter to find it was what he suspected: a summons to testify against the loyal death eaters.

He was not worried. He faced no charges, it had been made clear that Severus was a spy and nothing more. But he hated that Harry would have to spend any amount of time in the court room, reliving some of the hardest moments of his life.

On Thursday, Severus woke early, pulled his nicest robes from the armoire, and sipped at his coffee. It was his day in court.

He met Albus in the Headmaster's office and the two of them floo'd to the Ministry.

The wide corridors were always bustling with people conducting business and ministry officials but today it was absolutely filled with journalists and spectators.

Albus smoothed his hands over Severus's shoulders in a paternal fashion.

"Just stand up and tell the truth."

Severus sighed. "I am not on trial, Albus."

"I know. I know."

Several Death Eaters, some Severus recognized, some he did not, stood at the center of the room. Some proclaimed their innocence, but were presented with evidence to the contrary and were sentenced to Azkaban. Others immediately pledged their undying loyalty to the pure blood cause, and happily accepted their sentencing.

Harry sat opposite him at the far side of the room. Severus could barely see him, but he knew he was there. The group of vibrant red hair surrounding him made him rather conspicuous. Among them, a head of platinum blond hair. Of course.

Shortly after the break for lunch, Lucius stood at the center of the room.

"I was a loyal death eater, once," he admitted. "I will face punishment for what I did. However, I committed no murder. And, my heart was easily swayed to the side of the light... a bit too late, perhaps."

Minister Fudge peered down at him over his glasses.

"Draco Malfoy, I call upon you to offer testimony."

Draco came into clearer view as he walked down into the pulpit and then up onto the stand. He swallowed the veritaserum and winced.

"Is what your father says correct?"

"Yes."

"Is he a reformed man?"

"I believe so."

"Is he any danger to the members of our society or to muggle society?"

"I do not think so."

"That'll be all. Thank you Mr Malfoy."

Draco bowed his head and returned to the stand.

Minister Fudge leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath.

"I have a few other witnesses on the list here for Lucius Malfoy. But I have it on good faith from the head Aurors that Mr Malfoy here followed only menial orders, harmed no one, left the death eater ranks, and fought on the side of the light during the Battle of Hogwarts."

Fudge steepled his fingers under his chin and watched Lucius closely.

"Mr Malfoy, I will leave you with your freedom, but you will have aurors watching your every move for the foreseeable future. You are not to enter muggle society during this time."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!"

Lucius folded his hands behind his back and was released from the defendants cage.

It should have been the end of the court proceedings. The lesser death eaters had been dealt with already in the early weeks of summer.

However, Minister Fudge shuffled about some papers and looked out over the crowd.

"I'd like to see Severus Snape. Snape, come down."

Albus stood angrily. "He is not on trial! I will not have it!"

Fudge smirked. "If there is nothing he has done wrong, he shouldn't fear facing the court. Look, Headmaster, I'm only trying to do what's right by the people."

"It's okay, Albus," Severus said quietly as he stood.

Severus walked into the cage and allowed the door to swing shut behind him, which was absurd as he'd been a free man only moments before.

"Speak," Fudge ordered.

Severus told the truth: he'd joined Voldemort's ranks as a teenager. Lily Evans was his best friend and her death at Voldemort's hands caused him to quickly realize his mistake.

He'd been spying for the side of the light ever since.

The damn Veritaserum made him come clean about the prophecy as well, and the bracelet he made Harry, and that he cared very much for him.

There were occasional gasps, or thoughtful hums from the crowd.

Fudge nodded. "You will not object to my verifying your claims with witnesses?"

"Not at all."

He called Albus to the stand, who echoed everything he'd already told the court.

Seeming frustrated, he then called Harry. There were several loud gasps, followed by whispers.

It'd be the first time Harry spoke publicly, and it would be in Severus's defense.

"Are you absolutely sure Severus Snape fought on your side?"

"There is no doubt in my mind."

Harry looked at Fudge as he spoke. He acted as if Severus was not in the room.

"What exactly did he do for the Order?"

"What did he not do? He was a spy and an informant. He risked his life every single day for our cause. He fought by my side. He saved me. Several times, he saved me. And he saved me again during the final battle. There is no part of that man that harbours any loyalty to Voldemort or his death eaters. He is a good man. He should be free to live out his life as he so wishes with no repercussions whatsoever. He did far more for our cause than I did, than you did, or any of you," he said, looking out into the crowd. "He is a good man," Harry repeated.

Once the crowds filed from the room, Severus looked for Harry, to thank him, just to see him, but he was nowhere to be found.

Severus sent a message through the bracelet, a hum and warmth he hoped would convey gratitude, he knew Harry no longer wore the bracelet and it was futile.

Lucius cornered him just short of the exit.

"How about a celebration? I'll host at the manor."

"Will many be in attendance?" Severus asked, unsure of how to ask if Harry and Draco would be there.

"Just a few close friends. Of course I'd love for my son to be with us, but he and Mr Potter are setting off for Tasmania this evening."

"Tasmania." Severus blinked slowly.

Lucius nodded. "Seeing a bit of the world before they settle down, is my guess."

Before they settle down.

Severus sighed. "I shall be there. Should I bring wine?"

"The evening calls for spirits, I'd say." Lucius winked.