ooc: I just did the whole Wizengamot questioning through the eyes of Snape.

I beat my longest ever RP post (807 words in TD) with 1,190 words! *wipes sweat off brow*

Fudge grinned; the fool thought he had won with that simple admission of guilt. Of course, Snape knew that Fudge would get his way in the end but, that didn’t stop him believing the man foolish to think that he had won the case, simply because Snape had admitted himself to be guilty. “So you admit, then, that you used the Cruciatus curse on a Hogwarts student,” he said.

“No, I did not use the Cruciatus curse on a Hogwarts student. I used the Unforgivable curse on a man who was threatening the life of a Hogwarts student,” Snape replied, crossing his arms and sneering at Fudge; it was just like a politician to mince words.

Fudge seemed a bit flustered but, quickly continued. “Well, you have admitted to having used an Unforgivable curse. Regardless of the circumstances or upon whom the curse was cast, it is an automatic life sentence. You were only sentenced to ten years, why should we consider letting you off altogether with barely half a year served when you should be locked...”

Dumbledore cleared his throat and Fudge was cut off. “Would you mind, please stick to asking questions, Mr. Fudge and resist the temptation to commentate?” Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling.

Fudge ruffled himself up before he continued. “So, why should you be released?”

“I do not think I should be released,” Snape said, casting a quick glance up to see the horrified expression on Marcella’s face.

“No further questions,” Fudge smirked and regained his seat.

“Thank you, Minister,” Dumbledore said magnanimously, raising an eyebrow at Snape. “Remus Lupin, representative for the defence, if you’d like to question the accused?”

“Thank you, Dumbledore,” Lupin said, getting up from his seat and moving to stand near Snape.

There was a lot of grumbling and whispering amongst the members of the Wizengamot as the werewolf stepped up to begin his questioning. Snape was grateful that Dumbledore had at least managed to arrange the hearing for the day furthest from the full moon. Lupin looked almost normal, not that it mattered; everyone knew what he was.

“Professor Snape,” Lupin began, deliberately using his title. “Could you please, for the record, state why you are pleading guilty and why you don’t think you should be release?”

Snape wished Lupin had sent Marcella into Azkaban to prepare him for the questions he was going to be asking. “I used an Unforgivable curse on another human being therefore, I deserve to be imprisoned,” he said, simply. But, this wasn’t the answer Lupin was looking for, as the man raised an eyebrow and looked him in the eye. I need you to give me more than that, Severus, he thought.

Merlin’s beard! The werewolf was going to speak to him though his mind. Snape tried to send a thought Lupin’s way but, apparently the man was not gifted in legillimens and must have been counting on Snape’s abilities when he directed his thoughts. “Despite the extenuating circumstances which led to the act in question, an Unforgivable curse, is just that, unforgivable. I have been cleared by this council before. However, even at that time, I believed my actions were such that I could be justifiably imprisoned for life. My mind has not changed on that matter.”

Lupin nodded and gave a small grunt at this answer and Snape wondered where the werewolf was going with all of this. “Now, about these extenuating circumstances… Can you describe, in detail, the events leading up to when you cursed Darrin Fletcher?”

“I escorted Miss Marcella Riddle, a student in my house at Hogwarts, to the Hospital Wing after she collapsed and became deathly ill. After I had placed her on a bed and the nurse had seen to her, a man came in and threatened her life. I had reason to suspect that he meant her harm and I’m afraid I acted rather rashly and performed the Cruciatus curse on him,” Snape said, calmly.

“Yes, I think we can all see that you are guilty of using the curse, Professor, thank you. But, the circumstances under which you performed the curse are still a little unclear. Why did you react with such an extreme measure when Mr. Fletcher threatened Miss Riddle? Certainly you aren’t as defensive with all your students?” Lupin enquired.

“Miss Riddle is more than a mere student. As part of my mission for the war, I was tasked with protecting Miss Riddle from being captured by her father and harm from other sources, as well. I collected her from Durmstrang and she stayed with me during the summer months until such a time as she could be brought to Hogwarts. It is safe to say that I developed a particular sense of duty to the girl during our time together.”

“Thank you for your candid answer. Now, I would like put forth a few more questions, if I may, concerning your occupation outside of your role as potions master for Hogwarts. Would you please state for the record what your role is in the war against You-Know-Who?” Lupin asked.

Snape saw the eyes narrow of some of the members of the council. They had heard this all before, from Dumbledore, about fifteen years ago. Of course, fifteen years ago, Snape hadn’t been sitting on trial in front of the entire council. Dumbledore had had enough influence at that time to persuade them into acquitting him without trial. “I bear the mark of the Dark Lord and am a member of his inner-circle. I am an accomplished occlumens and can therefore be in a position to gather information for use by the Ministry.”

“Yes, I see. And in your opinion, is there anyone else who could obtain such a position or is there an alternative way to get the kind of information you gather regularly from your associations with You-Know-Who and his followers?” Lupin followed up.

“No, there is no one who could obtain the position swiftly enough to be of any use to the opposition in the near future. Dumbledore and I have discussed on numerous occasions, possible alternatives to using me as a spy in order to obtain information from the Dark Lord. However, we have yet to come up with even one that is feasible.”

‘Thank you, Professor Snape,” Lupin said and returned to his seat.

Snape looked to Dumbledore to see what would happen next. He didn’t have a good feeling about this appeal at all. He didn’t understand where all this was going and how it would get him out of this predicament. They had already put forth these arguments for him and they hadn’t done him any good before so, why did they think they would fair better now? Snape was shaken out of his thoughts when Dumbledore stood to address the Wizengamot once more. “Now that we’ve heard from the accused, it is time for us to hear the testimony of witnesses. Our first witness is Miss Marcella Riddle,” Dumbledore said, motioning for Marcella to come down and take the chair which sat near the defendant’s chair.