Snape, the Sunshine of Hogwarts

"Do you know how I was destined to end up?"

“If I hadn’t come to take your place, you would have ended up killing Dumbledore at his request, and then being bitten to death by a snake under your master’s command.”

"Why would Dumbledore do this?" Ghost Snape still questioned.

"Probably for three reasons: to protect Lucius Malfoy's son Draco Malfoy, to use your own death to gain your master's complete trust, and to allow you to legally inherit the Elder Wand from him."

Severus's casual remark made Ghost Snape hold his breath completely!

He could tell that this didn't sound like something made up. If the Elder Wand really was in Dumbledore's hands, and if the situation really did deteriorate to that extent, Dumbledore really could do something like that!

He pressed on, his voice trembling.

"That Potter, Potter, he's the last one."

"Harry almost died, and I think luck played a big part in the final showdown that he was able to beat your master."

This time, Ghost Snape showed no obvious suspicion, but he couldn't help but lash out with angry rebukes.

"So you did all this just for yourself! For your own sake, you ruined what could have been a peaceful ending, the best possible outcome!"

“Isn’t it enough that I need to save my own life?” Severus blinked.

"Besides, who said the original ending was the best one? You don't even know how many people died. And what I'm doing now is necessarily bad? If that were the case, Dumbledore wouldn't have let me take Harry away."

After washing up, he was in a great mood. He thanked Auror for bringing him breakfast and then began to enjoy it.

Ghost Snape knew perfectly well that he couldn't win an argument with Severus, but he quickly calmed down.

Just as Severus said, since he was a prophet who knew the future, as long as his abilities were not lacking, he would not do anything worse than the originally predetermined outcome.

Judging from what Severus has done these past few days, Ghost Snape could tell that he was by no means a fool.

Rather, it's not just ordinary intelligence.

The Auror cell wasn't Azkaban after all. Although the room was a bit small and the food was so-so, Kingsley would visit him from time to time, bringing him some snacks at his request, which made Severus's time in prison relatively comfortable and pleasant.

Finally, after three days of their detention.

Under pressure from public opinion, Wizengamo was forced to begin the trial of Severus, Henney, and Wolpe ahead of schedule.

As the wizarding community in Britain had hoped, the trial was ultimately allowed to be covered by news media throughout, but the Ministry of Magic only designated one media representative.

That is the Wizard Radio, which can broadcast radio in real time.

Chapter 60 Trial

The walls of the courtroom were made of dark stone.

The torchlight was dim and eerie. As you walked in from the entrance, there were rows of empty benches on both sides that gradually rose in height.

In front of the defendants, on the highest benches, many dark figures appeared. These people had been whispering before the trial began, and all the noise stopped abruptly after the three main suspects were brought in, leaving only the sound of the heavy door closing.

Both Bloodny and Volpe were somewhat flustered.

One of them was a vampire who had never seen much of the world and made a living by petty theft. He was like a mouse seeing a cat when he saw an Auror.

One is a kind wizard who never leaves his home and spends most of his day at home diligently writing manuscripts.

Encountering such a scene at this moment, it's hard not to feel a sense of fear.

However, after that tall, slender figure walked past them as if nothing had happened, with light steps as if he wasn't there to be judged but to attend a wizard radio program.

Bloody and Volpe straightened up instinctively, their unease and tension easing slightly, and followed him into the trial chamber.

"Severus Snape, Sanjini Bruch, Elder Volpe."

"At the request of the wizarding public, this trial will be broadcast live in its entirety via wizarding radio. Do you have any objections to this?"

A cold, emotionless male voice suddenly rang out, echoing for a long time in the empty, dark room.

Severus turned to look at the wizard who was seated in a corner of the courtroom, wearing headphones and fiddling with a bunch of magical or technological devices in front of him. He was clearly a staff member of the wizard radio broadcasting system.

He shrugged.

"Do you need to prepare a megaphone for us? Or arrange a microphone?"

"Nothing is needed." The same cold, emotionless male voice spoke.

"Tsk, it's a bit rudimentary, but I have no objection."

After Severus shook his head, Bloodny and Volpe seemed to be completely infected by his relaxed demeanor, and they no longer suppressed their emotions, but responded loudly.

"no disagreement."

"No objection."

Whispers arose again from the figures on the platform until the male voice rang out once more.

"Then sit down."

In the very center of the room, there are three chairs, each with a chain on each armrest, one on the left and one on the right.

Severus sat directly in the middle chair, drawing all eyes to him, with Henney and Volpe sitting to his left and right respectively.

The chains on the handrail rattled slightly, but they weren't locked up like they would be for serious criminals.

After they sat down, they finally saw the figures on the platform.

There were about 50 wizards sitting on the platform, all wearing purple robes with an exquisite "W" embroidered on their left chest.

Most of the wizards were looking at Severus; some frowned, some were curious, and some were full of surprise.

Severus was not intimidated by those undisguised scrutinizing gazes. He met their eyes openly and politely nodded to those he recognized.

Until he saw a familiar-looking, elderly witch sitting in the very center of the first row.

That was none other than Milison Bagnore, the current Minister of Magic, who still had one year left in his term!

At the very top center of the platform sat an old man with a white beard whom Severus was quite familiar with!

As Dumbledore and Severus locked eyes, a witch beside him was telling him a joke that made him smile broadly.

"Now that everything is in place, then the trial recorder, please prepare (a wizard sitting on the edge of the front row nods, holding a quill), the trial on July 21st."

Minister of Magic Bagnore's voice echoed throughout the courtroom.

"The trial of Sanjini Bruch and Elder Wolpe for drugging and murdering Muggle Patty Somerset, and Severus Snape for abducting a Muggle and fleeing with Bruch and Wolpe, in violation of the International Secrets Act, the Law Against Wizards Harming Muggles, and the Law Against Obstructing Auror Enforcement."

Following procedure, she read out a long list of names of those in charge of the trial until the witnesses were announced to appear in court.

A female Auror pushed a girl in a wheelchair into the courtroom.

Bloody instinctively turned around and met Patty's eyes, which were clearly filled with panic at the unfamiliar surroundings.

After their eyes met, Patty calmed down, and she even gave Bloodny a smile as beautiful as a blooming flower.

Xueni smiled when he saw her.

In an instant, the dark trial room seemed to be bathed in sunlight, and all traces of its chill disappeared.

Sitting in a corner, the wizard radio host, who had been unilaterally silenced by a soundproof spell, was excitedly talking into the microphone, spitting as he spoke.

His eyes were fixed on the eye contact between Bloody and Patty, like a hungry wolf spotting its prey!

“Sangini Bruch, you displayed magic in front of Muggle Patty Somerset at 3:21 p.m. on June 5th, a healing charm, didn’t you?”

Bloodny, who has always been somewhat timid and would tremble in big situations, looked at Bagno with unwavering determination and seriousness at this moment.

"Yes."

"You admit that this behavior violated Article 13 of the International Federation of Magicians' Secrecy Law?"

“No, I don’t admit it! Patty is my wife, and according to the exemption provisions of the International Secrecy Law, wizards’ families are not included!”

A commotion broke out among the wizards on the platform.

Many witches applauded for Bloodny, as if it were an affirmation and appreciation of his statement.

"Silence! Please maintain silence during the court proceedings!"

Bagno maintained order in the courtroom with a blank expression, then turned to look at Patty.

"Patty Somerset, we have examined you beforehand to make sure you have not taken any love potions or been subjected to an Imperius Curse. Now, are you sure you have not been threatened in any way and that you are truly committed to being with Sanjini Bruch and becoming his wife?"

Patty didn't hesitate for a moment; she nodded firmly in reply.

"I'm sure! He's my husband!"

The applause from the platform grew louder, and there was even a burst of cheers.

Not only in this courtroom, but even through the heavy doors, the wizards sitting here could almost hear the loud cheers and applause from the others outside!

The wizard radio broadcast the entire courtroom conversation live, allowing all the wizards watching on their radios to hear their responses!

This made the wizards who had read the book "Blood Ties: Vampires and Muggles" especially excited and eager.

The novel has become a reality, and it's even being broadcast live. Who wouldn't be excited?

Bagno seemed to have given up on maintaining order in the courtroom. She simply continued to routinely inquire whether Patty had drunk the potion of living hell voluntarily, and after receiving a more affirmative answer...

Bloody and Volpe were completely free of any crime or suspicion!

If the story in that novel is true, then Bloodny and Volpe are absolutely innocent!

To prove the story's authenticity, Patty's testimony is clearly sufficient.

Now, in front of the entire Wizengamor jury and the entire British wizarding world broadcasting live, Patty's clear and firm admission of everything is the best proof!

For a time, both outside and inside the courtroom, there was jubilation.

Until Bagno's voice rang out again.

"Then next up is Severus Snape."

When she called out that name and it was broadcast to countless radios, the jubilant crowd fell silent in the next second!

Because at that moment, everyone thought of one thing.

If the story in the book is indeed true, then the part about Snape...

I intended to schedule it, but it was posted automatically, damn it! This chapter was originally scheduled for noon, but I guess it's fine if it's posted early.

Chapter 61 I Apologize for My Past

"Severus Snape."

Bagno's voice echoed in the courtroom.

"Based on Patty Somerset's testimony, the charges against you regarding the Prohibition of Wizards from Harming Muggles Act have been cleared, but regardless of the victim's consent, you must respond to your subjective violation of the Prohibition of Auror Enforcement Act."

"Why didn't you tell Kingsley Shackley the truth about the missing potion on the day he found you?"

Severus looked at the Minister of Magic, who resembled McGonagall in both demeanor and appearance, and replied.

"Because I wanted to catch the murderer myself. Because of the potion I lost, such a big incident happened, so my first thought was to solve the problem myself."

“And then what happened after you made that decision?” Bagno pressed. “On the very night you arrived at Badminton Manor, you used a Confusion Charm on a Muggle sheriff from the local police department, and then through him you found the key clue that you believed was the killer, right?”

"Yes," Severus admitted readily.

"The next morning, you went to Horace Slughorn's house. According to his testimony, you felt that the matter of the potion's source could no longer be kept a secret, so you met with Slughorn to tell him that if the Aurors came looking for you, you didn't need to help cover it up anymore, and you could just tell the truth, right?"

"Yes, at that time I was confident that I would catch the murderer."

"So, not long after you left the Slughorn's house, you received a ransom note from Sanjini Bruch and Elder Volpe. They kidnapped the student named Dudley Dursley who had been following you, and are using him to blackmail you into helping them concoct an antidote to awaken Patty Somerset, is that right?"

"Yes."

"You dealt with them so easily and learned the whole story from them, but in the end you didn't hand them over to the Aurors. Instead, you conspired with them to steal Patty Somerset directly from them! Is that right?"

The questioning tone gradually became more authoritative, and the atmosphere was noticeably different from the previous relaxed atmosphere.

Bloody and Volpe nervously turned to look at Severus, who remained calm in the middle, and continued to give affirmative answers.

"Yes."

"And after stealing the person, you directed Bruch and Wolpe to begin their escape, causing the Ministry of Magic to misjudge your actions and issue a maximum arrest warrant. In the process, you repeatedly resisted the Aurors' attempts to capture you, is that right?"

"That's true."

Severus fully admitted to all of Bagno's accusations against him, which put him in a completely different situation from that of Henney and Volpe. Anyone could see how unfavorable the situation was for him!

The jurors began to look at him and whisper among themselves, and Bagno's eyes sharpened.