Title: Apprenticed to Love 38/? Author: Eriador117 Pairing: Snape/Harry Rating: Adult Summary: Six months after the end of the war Harry turns up at Snape's apothecary to beg for a job; they both get more than they bargained for. Warnings: Au, angst, hermaphroditism, mpreg, slash, abuse. Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse; I just play in from time to time.
Harry knew it had been too much to hope for that it would be a closed trial, and he'd been right not to hope. Courtroom Nine was filled to capacity. Not only was the entire Wizengamot in attendance, filling all the tiered seating, a new public balcony had been added above those seats. The public space too was filled, all seats were taken, so some people were standing along the back, or sitting on the aisle steps. There were even some wizards sitting on the balcony railing itself, their legs dangling down over the people below. But Harry didn't only glimpse strangers.
All his friends were here too. Ron and Hermione gave him a thumbs-up and a hopeful smile as he passed them. All the Weasleys were there, along with Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. Neville and the twins gave him a nod of encouragement and Harry tried to let himself take heart with all the support he had. But Lucius Malfoy was clever, he could twist things around and make out that it was Harry's own fault that these things happened to him.
Harry felt hundreds of eyes boring into his back as he and Severus made their way to the front. Their lawyer, Maxwell Burns, was already seated at the prosecution table, as was Severus' Aunt Agatha. Severus squeezed Harry's hand as they approached the table and their seats. Harry avoided looking across at Lucius Malfoy seated at the defence table. He was afraid of what he might see in his eyes.
Harry wasn't sure he was ready for this. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready for this. To tell the whole world the humiliation, the degradation he'd suffered at Malfoy's hands? A flash of lime green caught his eye and he glanced around to see Rita Skeeter, Quick-Quotes Quill in hand. She licked her lips, no doubt at the juicy story she was sure was going to be revealed shortly. It didn't matter that Harry wanted his privacy, that he didn't want everyone and their crup to know what had happened to him. But reporters wouldn't care. Anything to do with Harry Potter would sell copies, there was no doubt about that. Harry's own thoughts on it wouldn't matter.
"I don't know if I can do this," Harry whispered to Severus.
"You'll be fine, Harry," said Severus. "I know how strong you are. You can do this."
At a table in the front sat Madam Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt and Harry felt relieved. Madam Bones had a reputation of being tough but fair and Kinglsey had been a member of the Order. Although Harry didn't know him very well, surely knew he would know Harry wouldn't make any of this up. Why would he? The things that Malfoy had done to him were so awful that he wouldn't have wanted to make them up.
As the buzz of conversation around them got louder and louder, Madam Bones banged a gavel on the desk in front of her. "Quiet please, or I will have the public removed." Once silence reigned, Madam Bones turned to survey the courtroom. "Case 25B, the Magical Law Enforcement Office Versus Lucius Malfoy is now in session. Mr. Malfoy, you are charged with abduction, false imprisonment, sexual assault and grievous bodily harm. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty on all charges, your honour." Malfoy turned and smirked at Harry, so confident that he would get off. Harry wanted to slap that smirk from his face. The gall of the man! As if what he'd already put Harry through wasn't enough. No, Malfoy had to drag the whole sordid tale through the public court.
"Advocate Burns, you may call your first witness for the prosecution," said Madam Bones.
Burns stood up. "The prosecution calls Alastor Moody."
The entire courtroom erupted with noise at that, no doubt wondering what a madman had to add to the case.
Two ushers opened the courtroom doors at the back and a few moments later, Moody hobbled in. His shaggy hair, normally loose around his shoulders was tied back neatly in a ponytail. Gone was his old leather coat, instead Moody was wearing a dark blue Muggle suit, with a lighter blue shirt and a silver tie. One leg of the suit was pinned to his knee, his wooden leg visible to all assembled. Harry wondered what the rest of the court thought of the grizzled warrior. Harry felt tears prick the corner of his eyes, both at the thought that Moody had gone to such an effort for him, and for his rescue almost a year ago now. Harry had no doubt he might have died in that dungeon if it hadn't been for Alastor Moody.
Moody sat down in the witness chair and nodded briefly to Harry, Severus and their lawyer.
"Mr. Moody," began Madam Bones. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
"I swear, your honour."
"Very well, Advocate Burns, you may begin your questioning."
"Mr. Moody, it is a matter of public record that you rescued Harry Potter from Malfoy Manor last year, is that correct?" Burns paced in front of the chair, hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, sir, that's right."
"And can you tell me in what condition you found the young man?"
"He was naked, chained to a wall. I think he'd been starved too."
"Objection!" Malfoy's lawyer jumped up from his chair. "The witness can't know that for sure."
Madam Bones turned to Moody. "Mr. Moody, please restrict yourself to the facts that you could see. No conjecture."
"Well then," said Moody. "Harry was naked and he was so thin I could see his bones protruding from the skin. He was covered in filth, his hair matted with blood and dirt. There were bruises covering most of his torso, arms and legs, every hue from purple to yellow. Some were fading, some were more recent."
"And did Mr. Potter tell you that he was there by his own wish?" asked Burns.
"What sort of codswallop is that? No, he didn't want to be there and he was very thankful to be rescued."
"So Mr. Potter was a prisoner at Malfoy Manor?"
"Of course he was!"
"No further questions, your honour." Burns sat down next to Severus and Harry again.
"Advocate Sloane, you may question the witness."
Sloane stood up, navy-blue robes swishing around him like a cloak. They looked very expensive robes, but what else would you expect from Malfoy's lawyer? Harry felt his stomach turn at just the thought of being asked such personal questions from this man.
"Mr. Moody, you were once an Auror, were you not?" Sloane began.
"I was."
"And isn't it true that you were released from duty due to psychological problems? That you in fact suffered some trauma yourself while on active duty. Even after that, you were abducted and held prisoner in your own trunk for many months. I put it to you that you were projecting your own fears onto Harry Potter and that he was never a prisoner of my client."
"You can't expect people to believe that," retorted Moody. "Why else would he be chained naked to a wall? He was being held against his will!"
"I will show that Harry Potter was there by his own choice, that he and Lucius Malfoy were lovers and when Mr. Malfoy wanted to break it off, Mr. Potter came up with this fanciful tale to drag my client's name through the mud."
"That's a lie!" Harry called out, unable to keep his voice still.
The whole courtroom was in uproar, conversation buzzed like angry bees.
"Mr. Potter, you will get your chance to tell your side of the story, but that time is not now. Please refrain from interrupting the witness examinations or I will be forced to hold you in contempt of court. Advocate Sloane, do you have any more questions for the witness?"
"No, your honour."
"Very well, we will have a recess of thirty minutes. Court is dismissed." Madam Bones banged her gavel again and the courtroom started to empty around them.
"He was lying," Harry told Severus, trying to hold back tears. "I didn't want to be there, Severus. I didn't." What if Severus started believing all these lies? Where would Harry be then?
"I know, Harry, I know. Lucius Malfoy is a master manipulator, but I know you and he weren't lovers. You did nothing wrong, Harry. They are just trying to get to you. Don't let them."
"I don't know if I can do this, Severus. Take the stand, I mean. Everyone will be watching me, hearing me talk about those awful things."
Their lawyer reached over and patted Harry on the back. He tried his best not to squirm away. "You are the only one who knows what really happened, Harry. It's in your best interests to take the stand."
"But we have a few more witnesses before you need to do that. It might not even be today, perhaps in a few days time," said Severus.
Harry wasn't sure he wanted this to drag on longer than one day, but it wasn't up to him. He just had to sit there and hear Malfoy's lawyer spout lies about him, about their so-called relationship. Part of him just wanted to run out of the courtroom entirely and never come back.
* * *
"Advocate Burns, please call your next witness."
Burns stood up and nodded to Madam Bones. "The prosecution calls Narcissa Malfoy."
"Objection!" roared Sloane "A wife cannot be compelled to speak against her husband at trial."
"Indeed, you are correct, Advocate Sloane. "Mrs. Malfoy has not been compelled, she has volunteered. In which instance, her testimony will be allowed."
Harry exchanged glances with Severus, who shrugged his shoulders. So Severus hadn't known Narcissa would be called either. Sloane and Malfoy hissed lowly in urgent conversation with each other. Harry couldn't hear what they were saying. After a while, Sloane stood up and bowed to Madam Bones.
"May I approach the bench, your honour?"
"You may. Advocate Burns, you may approach as well."
The two lawyers walked over to Madam Bones and there was discussion for a few minutes.
"What's happening, Severus?" whispered Harry
"I don't know, Harry. I really don't."
The two lawyers returned to their respective tables, but Burns was smiling at Harry when he sat down. Something good must have happened, but Harry couldn't imagine what it might be.
Madam Bones banged her gavel once more so that all conversation ceased at once.
"Lucius Malfoy has changed his plea. The defendant pleads guilty to all charges. He will be held in remand until his sentencing on Monday next. Aurors, please remove Lucius Malfoy from the courtroom."