I'm A Slave For You-Chp61

I'M A SLAVE FOR YOU

Severus entered the Wizengamot courtroom nervously, though his face tried to remain as calm as possible. A heavy silence ensued as he went to the center of the room, making his presence known. He had heard tales about this place but never once had he truly set foot into this, not even when he was a teacher trainee under tutelage of the Ministry office. It was dark with a hint of brownish-black in between due to the colour and nature of the stone walls, and it was dimly lit with torches, adding to the eeriness of the atmosphere, and the benches in levels surrounding him filled with probably the entire population of the Ministry, including the highest of all that seated the higher officials of the court, made the Potions lab in the dungeons of Hogwarts looked much cheerier.

"Take your seat, Mr. Snape," Cornelius, who was in charge of the courtroom, gestured to him. "The trial will begin soon."

Severus stared at the seat before, swallowing in trepidation. This was the seat that had held down many convicts in place, including the mass murderer Tom Marvolo Riddle, as they were tried and prosecuted as the Ministry saw fit. As soon as he sat on it, the chains immediately came to life and bound him from the chest down, holding him in place like he was the mass murderer himself. He could really understand how it felt like to be in the mercy of a boa constrictor for it sure felt like one right now.

"Comfortable, Mr. Snape?" Cornelius asked in an almost jeering tone before adjusting his glasses to read the customary preliminary notes for his assistant Percy Ignatius Weasley (who, Severus remembered, was officially disowned by the Weasley family after a very loud disagreement about his loyalties towards the Ministry rather than the family) to take, "Criminal trial of the 28th of February into offences committed under the Decree of Child Morality Rights by Severus Snape, resident at Snape Manor, Spinner's End…"

As Cornelius carried on announcing the interrogators in charge of this case, Severus' eyes darted around quietly to look at his surroundings. The atmosphere itself was tense and grim without needing the extra help of the setting of the courtroom and all the higher officials of the court were wearing the familiar plum-coloured robes he saw once in the Daily Prophet in a picture of them existing the courtroom after interrogating a wizard of breaking the rules regarding the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. They were all looking down at him in disapproval and some in contempt, and from the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Lucius Malfoy was among the crowd sitting at the lower benches, though he could not turn to make sure because of his bound state. And amongst the people, there sat the dreaded Rita Skeeter nibbling at her quill as she wrote down whatever was going on at the moment. Severus groaned inwardly. If she were to work in the Muggle world, she would probably be the most successful tabloid reporter in all of London.

"Bring forth the victim and his guardian."

Severus looked like a deflated tire when he heard those words coming out of Cornelius' mouth. A hush streamed through the courtroom as his little beloved Harry and the boy's adopted grandfather Albus Dumbledore came in. Dressed in a new set of Kym Boarding School uniform (because Severus had burnt off the other one he wore yesterday), the boy looked around timidly like a sheep in wolves' lair, while Albus sported a calm face, mirroring the serene misty blue robes he was wearing. Two chairs materialized at either side of Severus and Albus led Harry to one of them before sitting down on the other.

"Well then, we shall read out the charges for Severus Snape," Cornelius said as he produced another parchment from his pile and adjusted his glasses again, reading it out loud for everyone to hear, "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he had committed pedophile against Harry James Percival Jr. Potter-Dumbledore, adopted grandson of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Minister of the Ministry of Magic, in a knowing, deliberate manner and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, which constitutes an offence under the Decree of Child Morality Rights, in addition to the offense of using impregnation potion to induce pregnancy on an underage wizard, constituting the offence under the minority section of Improper Use of Magic relating to administering potions to minors. What do you plead, Mr. Snape?"

"Not guilty," Severus replied indignantly, almost immediately bringing a rush of murmured words, mostly in a disgusted tone.

"And you bear witness to this plea, Dumbledore?" Cornelius turned to Albus with an accusing glare.
"Yes, of course," Albus replied. "In fact, I speak as the witness for the defense."

Again, a rush of murmurs echoed throughout the rooms, looking at Albus in the same disapproval as they had on Severus. Some of them were laughing a little in amusement at the incredulity of Albus' actions, while others frowned and shook their heads, sure to themselves that Albus had just dug his own grave. A few were frightened, either for him or of him, and a minor few were clasping their hands and smiling encouragingly at Albus, trusting his instincts. Apparently, Albus' reputation as a wise member of the Ministry of Magic and the wizarding world did not go to waste more or less.
"Very well," Cornelius huffed, then turned to Severus with a grave look on his face, showing that he was in interrogation mode. "You are Severus Snape of the Snape Manor, Spinner's End?"

"Yes," Severus replied.

"And you are aware that you have just committed sexual act on an underage wizard?"

"Yes, I am."

"Knowing that your actions as considered pedophile?"

"Yes, but…"

"And you are aware that you have administered impregnation potion to said wizard?"

"Yes, but I was…"

"Knowing that this is considered a serious offence in intentional negligence of administering potions to minors?"

"I wasn't aware that…"

"And knowing that impregnating an underage wizard is also considered an offence under the Decree of Child Morality Rights?"

"Will you please let me speak?!" Severus burst out impatiently, getting really annoyed at being interrupted at every trivial question of the terminology of his offence that he had known by heart.

"Ahem."

Severus scowled. He recognized that fake high-pitched clearing of the throat anywhere.

"The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister," Cornelius announced.

"You will speak only when you are allowed to, Mr. Snape. Do remember that you are being interrogated here."

"Doesn't give you the right to bludgeon me with questions without a chance to defend myself," Severus grumbled.

"Hush, Severus," Albus whispered to him to calm him down before standing up. "If I may be so bold to ask, Cornelius, what is the source of your intelligence in finding out about this offence?"

"We received it from a reliable source," Cornelius replied hastily. "That is all you need to know."

"But I am sure under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, the accused has the right to know by whom he is accused from."

"And by the Wizengamot Charter of Rights," the Minister challenged, "the source is given rights to remain anonymous for privacy and safety reasons, so please do not try to think that we do not know the rules of our own house."

"Of course not, Cornelius," Albus smiled politely, sitting back down on his seat.

"The Chair now recognizes Amelia Susan Bones for the questioning of the victim."

"So, young man," the woman interrogator named Amelia leaned a little forward to face Harry, "you are Harry James Percival Jr. Potter-Dumbledore?"

"Y…Yes," Harry replied timidly. "Har or Percy to my close friends."

"Will you please tell us how old are you and what year are you studying in?"

"I'm…I'm 13 ½ years old and…and studying first year in Kym."

"First year for a 13-year-old?" Dolores raised a brow, speaking in a voice that was obviously an exaggeration of surprise. "How is that possible?"

"You may very well know by now that my grandson was once a sex slave who had never received a decent education throughout his earlier years in life," Albus voiced out. "He was home-schooled during the transfer of ownership from Severus to me by some of the best students in Hogwarts I could find, and as soon as he was free from slavery, he was assigned by the best private tutor I could get him. The tutor Mr. Figgs claims that he has a bright mind and can complete his studies within 5 years without having to go to school, but I wanted to give him a chance to be in a real school environment, thus…"

"Yes, yes, we get the point, Albus," Cornelius cut him off impatiently. "Basically he is behind his studies and is given special privileges to have a normal school life. Like as if we do not know about how you always manage to play favourites and pull your strings with everybody you meet."

"Why are you studying in Kyteler-Magee and not in Hogwarts to be with your grandfather?" Amelia continued to ask Harry.

"Because of Riddle," Harry replied, drawing attention to the crowd, especially Rita Skeeter. "He may be after me, so Grandpa Albus and Severus asked me to go to school there."

"So you are the mysterious little boy whom Albus is desperate to protect," Kingsley, acting as one of the interrogators, exclaimed in awe.

"At the cost of many lives of people who related to you one way or another in blood, unfortunately," Dolores commented icily, making Severus glare at her.

"You are pregnant, are you not?" Amelia continued her questioning.

"Yes…" Harry blushed, looking at his shoes. "My school medi-wizard said I'm about two months along."

"And how is this conception possible?"

Harry tried to explain as accurate as possible what Ard-Rí Constantine had told him about the impregnation potion that was made to look like lust potion.

"Ah, yes, one of the very few strongest impregnation potions around," Cornelius nodded in understanding. "Something a very advanced potion maker the likes of a Potion Master would create, and yet a potion maker of your standards could not even detect the difference. It does raise more suspicion of your actions, does it not, Mr. Snape?"

"Am I being implied to have deliberately created this potion?" Severus growled.

"It is not implied, Mr. Snape, it is suspected and possibly confirmed to be so."

"Look, I admit that I was negligent on that part, but I did not create that potion. I would not be so irresponsible to impregnate a child and be so foolish to let myself be caught doing it. Besides, that potion was given to me by Harry's friend who claims to have bought it as a Christmas gift for him from an apothecary. If you could just…"

"A likely story, Mr. Snape, considering that both the victim and the so-called friend are minors. I'm sure we have heard this well-rehearsed story time and time again, using minors as a convenient crutch to run away from your responsibilities."

"I am not running away from my responsibilities! And I do not make up tales! It is the truth! Harry, tell him!"

"Do not incite the victim to speak on your behalf, Mr. Snape. You are being on trial here."

Severus felt like a kicked dog right now as he looked helplessly at Harry for a split second before regaining composure.

"Now then, child, tell us," Kingsley took over the questioning. "Is it true what Mr. Snape said, that you have received the potion as a gift from your friend?"

"Y…Yes," Harry replied hesitantly.

"Can you tell us who?"

"I…" Harry stopped a little, stole a look at Severus before looking away. "I…I cannot say."

"Why not, child?"

"Because…Because she…she might be upset with me…and that she will be worse a friend than she already is…She's in the same house as I am, that's all I can say…"

Severus felt like a child who was told that Santa Claus was not real and that Christmas was not going to arrive this year. Even being faced by the most powerful figures of the wizarding world, he still held steadfast to his secrets. Does he not know that it would further incriminate him? Does he not know that the girl who had given him the impregnation potion was the key to prove his innocence even just a little bit?

"You do understand that by carrying this man's child, you will be expelled from school."

"Yes."

"And you still wish to keep the child?"

"Yes."

"Why burden yourself with this?"

"Because…Because it's Severus' child. It's his flesh and blood, our flesh and blood. And because…I love him."

Severus' heart would've melted there and then if it weren't been killed off by Dolores' haughty laugh.

"Hah! What does a 13-year-old child know about love? This is just further proof that he has been thoroughly corrupted by Mr. Snape's unholy thoughts!"

"You're just a toad too blinded by power to see that love knows no age or boundaries, Umbridge!" Severus sneered at her name, making the woman lose her control as she slammed both her palms on the bench.

"ENOUGH!!!" Dolores squealed in that high-pitched voice of hers, followed by loud murmuring of others who were equally outraged at Severus' outburst. "I will not stand for this! This is clearly contempt towards court. I say we make a vote to declare him guilty of all charges and be done with it!"

"If I may intervene," Albus raised a hand to calm the courtroom down. "I was under the impression that we are here to examine Severus' offence, not of my grandson's?"

"Yes, you are right on that," Cornelius massaged his temples, clearly disturbed by the scene before him. "Whether or not the nature of obtaining the potion as you claimed is true will be further investigated, but the offence still stand: that you had sexual intercourse with an underage wizard and impregnated him with your child, which clearly shows that you have broken more rules than one."

"Yes, but I never meant any malice in all this," Severus replied. "I did it out of the purest intention. I did it for love. I am in the process of courting him under full consent, and I admit that it gotten a little out of hand, but it was for the sake of courtship nonetheless. We never planned for any of this to happen, much less to let him have a child so soon."

"Is it true, Albus? That you have consented to him courting your grandson?"

"Yes, I do not deny it," Albus replied. "Severus had always been like a son to me before Har came in. I would trust my grandson to no one but him."

"Regardless of your feelings for the child, Mr. Snape," Amelia chided, "rules are rules, and you have broken them, courtship or not."

"If I am here to hear about my offences only to know that I am going to be prosecuted, go ahead and say it now and do not waste my time."

"Let's not be hasty, Severus," Albus noted quietly, then addressed the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is true that I have consented into allowing Severus to court my grandson. Severus should not be punished for committing something from the affairs of the heart, which, I assure you as he did, was of the purest intention. Harry should not be punished either because he is still a child who has a life ahead of him to lead. He and Severus had been together through thick and thin ever since Severus bought him off from the business. If anyone were to be blamed for this misfortune, I should be for not being the careful grandfather I should have."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Cornelius said in a jeering tone. "Being the all-out hero and cover for these two cretins? May I remind you, Albus, that the truly accused here is Mr. Snape, not you? The one who committed this offence is Mr. Snape, not you. You trying to take all the blame and cover the punishment for him doesn't change the fact in the eyes of wizarding law that it was he who did all this. If young Harry here was still a slave, we would not be having this trial right now and you can do whatever you want with him, but now that he is a free man, he will be protected under the decree. As you have said before, we are all under the impression that we are here to examine Severus' offence and no other."

"Of course we are, but we both know that there is no smoke without fire, and there are certain parties here being at fault here, especially me as Harry's grandfather who is supposed to have Harry under my responsibility."

"We are not here to make a martyr out of you!" Dolores said impatiently. "We are here to decide on Severus' standing in this trial. Now, all in favour with Severus being guilty…"

"Have you not considered if you have placed the verdict on Severus, what it might cause on my grandson's safety if he were to be expelled?"

"Well, if it makes you feel any better about our upcoming verdict," Cornelius exchanged knowing glances with the Wizegamot members before announcing, "The court calls for Auror Tonks to approach the courtroom."

Percy quickly got up to fetch Tonks over into the courtroom. As she was led inside, she was genuinely surprised to see Severus sitting on the chair being bound like a criminal, and was also equally surprised to see Albus and Harry as well, but seeing that she was in a courtroom and that the atmosphere was not permitting enough for small talk, she put on her professional face and stood before the Wizengamot.

"Full name and occupation?" Cornelius asked in standard procedure.

"Nymphadora Tonks, Metamorphmagus and Auror," Tonks announced, her face grimaced for a split second at her disgust over her own name.

"You, along with the rest of the Auror team under the supervision of Albus, are in charge of tracking and relocating every member of the Potter bloodline to designated safe-houses and safe-guard them from the advances of Tom Marvolo Riddle?"

"Yes, I am, along with Moody, Kingsley and Rufus, among others."

"Tell the courtroom, Ms. Tonks, about the progress of the mission."

Tonks used the Potter lineage family tree as an example, using her magic to make a projected image for the courtroom to see, dictating that they have managed to relocate whatever few that was left of the Potter family to safe-houses designated by the Ministry within their jurisdiction, the last on the list being Harry, while the rest of the tree branches were almost all crossed out save a few that Tonks had just mentioned being relocated. She also described the constant patrols over both the wizarding world and the Muggle world for traces, clues or tracks of the mass murderer's whereabouts, and were confident that they were on the right track and getting close, although Severus could tell from the little quirks she made on her face and her eyes that it was far from the truth.

"Thank you very much, Ms. Tonks," Cornelius nodded, seemingly proud of himself. "You may leave."

"May I ask what is the purpose of this elaborate presentation?" Albus asked.

"It is to show you that we have everything under control, and that we have already thought way ahead of you on what to do once we announce the verdict."

"Those in favour of declaring Severus Snape innocent of all charges?" Amelia asked.

Severus looked up, hoping that there were at least a few people who would support him, but to his dismay, besides Harry who had timidly held up his hand even though it was not his decision to make, not one single hand was raised among the members of the courtroom. The fact that this courtroom was totally biased and leaning towards his demise came in full circle on him.

"Those in favour of declaring Severus Snape guilty of all charges?"

Severus didn't need to look up to see that the entire courtroom raised their hands up, fully incriminating him.

"This is a one-sided trial," Albus protested. "You bombard Severus with his sins and did not bother to look at the big picture or the other side of things. I implore you, please reconsider…"

"Luck is not on your side, old man," Cornelius smirked smugly as he looked at Albus as if he was some insignificant dirt on someone's ground to be stepped on. "The verdict is already set. Severus Snape, you are guilty of all charges. You are to be stripped of your employment from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and stripped of your title as Potions Master from the Ministry office starting this very minute."

"No! No, no, no! Please!" Harry started bursting into tears. "You can't do this! Sev is not at fault here…"

"Shush, young man, or I will hold you in contempt of the court. Of course, not all is loss."

The trio at the center of the courtroom looked up at him in a mixed expression of hope and dread.

"The Ministry of Magic had not lost its compassion entirely. We do recognize that if this verdict were to pass, there will be significant dangers towards the young man who had survived Tom Marvolo Riddle's murder and became one of the very few slaves from the business who is freed from that life thanks to the heroic efforts of his Master. Therefore, the Ministry has also decided due to Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Minister of the Ministry of Magic, not fulfilling his responsibilities of a grandfather to the young man and allowing this to happen, he is deemed an unfit parent to raise the boy. Therefore, his status as grandfather and his rights of an adoptive parent to be null and void and Harry James Potter shall be put under the custody of the state."

"WHAT?!" both Albus and Severus exclaimed, while Harry was literally shocked speechless.

"You wanted to bear responsibility over this mishap, didn't you, Albus? This is the perfect way to do it. Harry James Potter will no longer bear the name Dumbledore in his birthright and he will be under the full responsibility of the Ministry. Being that he is part of the Potter bloodline and the main target for the mass murderer Riddle, he will be under protective custody of the Ministry of Magic along with the other Potter families we have managed to rescue until Riddle is apprehended. His school will be notified of his upcoming absence and carry on with his studies here within this building under the supervision of personally selected tutors from his school.

"As for his condition, on the account that he is carrying a child, which is unacceptable given the circumstances of its conception under the Decree of Child Morality Rights, he will be sent to the Ministry Medical Wing first thing tomorrow morning to have his unborn fetus removed by the best medi-wizard and/or medi-witch, and under the supervision of the council of the Ministry. After the abortion, he will be taken care of until he is fully recovered before being relocated into protective custody."

"No! NO!!" Severus shouted as he struggled in his binds. "You can't do that!! It's my CHILD!!"

"A child conceived out of wedlock and breaking the rules of the decree is no child of yours, Mr. Snape."

"This is unacceptable!" Albus scolded. "This is my grandson we're talking here! He is too young to have an abortion! Are you trying to kill him?"

"As I recall, Albus," Cornelius said with an almost pure satisfaction in his tone at Albus' helplessness, "you have been stripped of your title as his grandfather. He is no longer of your concern. He is in our custody now and is to be dealt with as the Ministry see as his best of interest…"

"Fuck you, Cornelius!!" Severus screamed. "Fuck you and your interests!! You're just doing this to spite us all!! This is an outrage!!"

"The verdict has been made. The court is now adjourned."

So saying, a couple of witches came over to take Harry away. Harry immediately went into a fit and clung onto Severus.

"No, no, no!! Don't take me away!! Help me!! Severus, help me!!"

"You keep your hands away from my pet!" Severus struggled again in his binds as he tried to bite the women's hands away from Harry. "Don't touch him!! Harry!!"

"Severus, no!! Help me!! Grandpa Albus, don't let them take me, please~!!"

Albus didn't need to be told twice. Using the Disarming charm, he pushed the witches away and tried to take Harry in his arms, but somehow, as if expecting this to happen, more of the chains that bound Severus materialized and duplicated themselves before wrapping around Albus' limbs, holding him in place. One of the chains was wrapped so tightly around Albus' hand that held the wand that he was forced to let go, dropping it onto the floor. The witches regained composure and returned to take Harry, who continued to cling himself tightly around Severus' neck, not wanting to let go.

"Don't let them take me away, please! Please, Sev, save me~!!" Harry begged and struggled when the witches laid their hands on him. "No, no, no, let go off me~!! Don't let them take me, Severus, don't let them take our baby away~!! Please~!!"

"Let go of him!! Don't touch him!!" Severus struggled, only to make the chains tighten in response, bruising him. "Pet, pet, look at me—get your hands off him, you bitch!—Look at me! You're going to be alright! I will get you out of this, I promise! I will get you out—don't touch him!—and we will be together again, please, believe me! I will save you, I swear!"

"No, no, no…I don't wanna go…I don't—SEVERUS~!!!"

"Harry! HARRY!!"

Apparently Kingsley, who saw that the two grown witches couldn't even pull away a small boy, got a little impatient and went over instead to take over, using his huge physique and strength to tear him away from Severus and hoist him over his shoulders. Harry tried to wriggle out of him and stretched his arms out desperately to get to Severus, but he was placed strongly on the crook of the Auror's neck, leaving no room to escape.

The entire courtroom soon echoed with agonized screams of a man bound in the Wizengamot chair and a boy taken away kicking and screaming in an Auror's arms as the trial came to an end.