<<<<<<<<<
Harry gently placed the sucker of the small milk bottle in Teddy's mouth. He was really grateful for house-elves. They knew how to take care of children and Harry didn't have to worry about his son's safety. They would see to the child's needs when he wasn't around, but that didn't mean that he didn't want to help too.
Teddy started crying when he realised it wasn't his mother's milk that he was being fed. Harry sighed sadly as he gently rocked the baby.
"Shh, please don't cry, Teddy," he whispered soothingly, rubbing the boy's back while he bounced him on his knee. "It's going to be okay. Daddy is here for you now."
Getting an idea, Harry flicked his wand and whispered, "Expecto Patronum!"
The Horntail burst from the tip of the Elder Wand. The snout of the silver dragon approached them and Teddy hiccupped as the positive emotions from the Patronus helped soothe him. Taking it as a good sign, Harry again placed the sucker of the bottle at his son's mouth. Now calmer, Teddy drank his milk. His hair turned bright blue as he looked at Harry with big green eyes, identical to his own.
"Winky!"
The elf in question appeared before him, bowing to her master.
"Winky, I'll have to head to the Ministry soon. Please ensure that Teddy is fed and taken care of when I'm gone. Also, can you find a pair of my father's old robes? Maybe they're still in good condition."
"Yes, Master Harry," said Winky happily.
Harry got up from the sofa and walked around the enormous bedroom with Teddy in his arms, rubbing the infant's back soothingly as he put the baby to sleep. He had to admit, he had no experience dealing with children, but he was sure that he would do a much better job than his Aunt Petunia.
Ten minutes later, he placed Teddy on the large bed. He still had no time to go shopping, unfortunately, and so there was no crib he could use. After a refreshing shower, he donned a respectable pair of robes that had once belonged to James Potter, surprisingly in good condition. Once he was ready, he walked downstairs and Disapparated to the Ministry of Magic. He would ensure that every one of those arrested was given a trial. Innocent people would not be sent to prison and the guilty would not get off scot-free this time.
<<<<<<<<<
Severus Snape couldn't believe his fate. How had he landed himself in a D.M.L.E. holding cell? Once moment the Dark Lord was the ruler of Britain and the next, he was dead? How had Potter done it?
However, despite the circumstances, Snape remained calm. Albus had assured him that once Harry knew the whole truth, he would realise what a great asset Snape had been for the Order and the country as a whole. He was quite pleased with the arrangement; a consummate Slytherin indeed! When the Dark Lord was in power, he had been one of his most faithful Death Eaters, gifted the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts School. And now, with the Order of the Phoenix having won the war, he would reveal the truth to them and would be hailed as a hero.
Snape really hated the fact that he would have to spill his secrets to Potter in order to be acquitted. He had hoped that the brat would die, but he hadn't. Had the Dark Lord killed the boy, he would have celebrated with a bottle of the most expensive Firewhisky he could get his hands on for the extinction of the wretched Potter line. Instead, he was now confined in a D.M.L.E. holding cell.
The door suddenly clicked opened and someone stepped inside.
"Well, well, well," said a familiar voice. "How the mighty Severus Snape has fallen."
"Potter," Snape sneered. "I'm glad that you're here. I wanted to speak to you. I was not loyal to the Dark Lord. I have been working for Dumbledore all this time. Take my memories and it will show you –"
"– that you believe you are in love with my mother, that Dumbledore raised me like a pig for slaughter, the old man's death was planned between the two of you, and that I have a piece of Voldemort's soul in my scar?" finished Harry, eyebrows raised, stopping Snape's explanation.
Snape's black eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How did you know all this?" he hissed.
"I know a lot of things, Snape, but suffice it to say, I got rid of that stupid soul piece before I came to Hogwarts for the final battle. Tell me, did you think I would kill myself just because that manipulative bastard said so? Were you labouring under the delusion that I would forgive you for all that you've done to me over the years, just because you claim to be in love with my mother? Did you think I've forgotten our Occlumency lessons, Snivellus? Did you honestly think I would make you a hero?"
"You're a fool if you think I would save you," he spat angrily, as Snape's face contorted with rage. "I know that it was you who spilled the information about the prophecy to Voldemort. I've known about it since before Dumbledore's death. Who cares if Dumbledore made you kill him, Snape? As far as the world is concerned, you murdered Albus Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders; end of story."
Snape began calculating on how to deal with this new situation. He planned to tell the Wizengamot the truth about the soul piece in Potter's scar. With any luck, they would kill him too. As long as Potter died, Snape would be content.
Unfortunately, Harry wasn't willing to take any chances with his life.
"This situation is so ironic isn't it?" Harry smirked, positioning the Elder Wand at Snape's forehead.
"Legilimens! Obliviate!"
<<<<<<<<<
Harry entered the Wizengamot chamber wearing the traditional deep plum coloured robes that were designed for the members of the legislative and highest judicial body of Magical Britain. He ascended to one of the empty seats and sat down, silently observing everyone present. He had already spoken to Kingsley, so at least the interim Minister of Magic knew about his status as Lord Potter-Black. He would have to be formally introduced during this session. There was no Chief Warlock elected as yet, as Yaxley was arrested during the Battle of Hogwarts.
People started whispering about him when they saw the duel Potter and Black crests on his robes. When some exclaimed in surprise, they saw the signet rings clearly visible on his fingers. Finally, Interim Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt ascended to his seat and banged his gavel.
"Wizengamot in session on the twenty-sixth of December, 1997," said Kingsley. "We are here today to stand in judgement of several witches and wizards who have betrayed this country and government by consorting with the Dark Lord Voldemort, whose true name was Tom Marvolo Riddle. But before we do, we have a new member amongst us: Lord Harry James Potter-Black of the Most Ancient and Noble Clan of Potter-Black."
Harry got up amidst thunderous applause, ignoring the whispers that the introduction of the Potter-Black Clan had produced. He could see that many were curious about how he was Lord Black. Once he bowed to them, he reclaimed his seat. Hushed silence soon descended upon the chamber as the proceedings began.
"Bring in the accused," Kingsley ordered.
The Boy-Who-Lived mentally smirked when he saw Severus Snape being brought in. The power of the Elder Wand had proved to be useful in erasing the memories in Snape's mind of Harry being a Horcrux.
"Severus Tobias Snape, you have been brought before the Wizengamot for the murder of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts and former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. You are further accused of aiding the Dark Lord Voldemort during his reign by killing numerous innocents and torturing others. You have also been accused of leaking information about the prophecy which foretold the defeat of the Dark Lord at the hands of a boy that was to be born in July 1980. Your actions led to the deaths of James and Lily Potter and also the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom. You are –"
Pandemonium gripped the Wizengamot. The journalists were writing down the charges in excitement even though their dicta-quills were working. The Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot were in uproar, chief among them was Lady Augusta Longbottom. She couldn't believe that Snape, who Dumbledore had personally vouched for, was responsible for what had happened to her son and daughter-in-law. Harry calmly leaned back, crossed his legs and watched the spectacle with amusement shining in his green eyes.
Once the chamber was under control, Kingsley continued. "You are also accused of torturing and mind-raping your student, Harry Potter-Black, under the guise of Occlumency lessons two years ago. You are further accused of voluntarily giving Veritaserum to Dolores Umbridge when she wanted to illegally question students. How do you plead to all these charges?"
"Not guilty," said Snape monotonously, but one could observe that the man was deathly pale.
"So noted," said Kingsley. "Give him the serum."
Snape's eyes widened in panic; it had been twenty-four hours since he had taken the Veritaserum antidote. Without it, he would be forced to answer the Wizengamot's questions. Kingsley had ordered six drops, which would manage to severely wreck his Occlumency shields. He had not anticipated such a brutal tactic. The reason the serum wasn't used regularly was due to it being unsafe for the brain. He struggled, but it was futile and he quickly succumbed to its effects.
The interrogation was perfect. Snape admitted that he was a Death Eater and a supporter of Voldemort and had killed Dumbledore on the Dark Lord's orders. This was the problem with Veritaserum; they needed to ask precise questions, but since Snape did indeed kill Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders, he couldn't tell them that Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him. He also admitted to delivering the information about the prophecy to Voldemort and went to Hogwarts to spy on his master's orders. Finally, he revealed all the terrible deeds that he had committed during his role as Death Eater, including mind-raping Harry Potter-Black under the pretence of Occlumency lessons, also under the orders of Lord Voldemort.
"All those in favour of execution?" said Kingsley.
Harry raised his lit wand and the vote passed by a majority. Snape would be pushed through the Veil of Death that very evening. It wasn't the kiss, but then again, even a Dementor wouldn't want to kiss Snape, would it? Those foul beasts would all be destroyed soon using Fiendfyre; they were just too dangerous to be left free. Azkaban would no longer play host to the soul-sucking demons.
So much for Dumbledore's grand plan for the greater good where Snape was a hero.
Things were going well. If only a certain ginger would stop annoying him; the female one.