"If you're not scared," he said, lowering a hand to her cheek, running the back of his hand alongside it, "then why are you shaking?" he asked, looking genuinely confused as he slipped a straying piece of hair behind her ear.

"But what about when I'm not," spoke the muffled voice. "What's it been like for you, I just cant imagine. Do you need to talk about it?" she asked, raising her head so that she were looking into his eyes.

Kristi silently cursed herself and tried again to calm down but couldn't supress the shudder that went through her when he touched her face. "I don't know," she said, as she really couldn't figure out why she couldn't get her fear under control.


"I don't want to talk about it," Snape said, lowering his chin to his chest and closing his eyes. "It's enough that we've had this time together, now."

"Of course you know." he spoke calmly, almost too calmly. With the back of his hand, he struck her, breathing rapidly, his chest heaving madly. "That's what you were scared of. That's what you wanted, that's what you expected. Well there, now you have it, I hit you Kristi. The big bad Darrin hit you, so," he snarled, taking her wrists in his hands, "what are you going to do now?"

"I want to know. I want to know about every breathing moment you've had without me. I want to be put through everything you've suffered so that I can understand and put my own problems into perspective. I dont care if it hurts me, talk to me Severus." she said, laying a hand on his sallow cheek.

"Prove it to me.." he whispered, an unsettling calm overcoming him, his face nearer hers than he thought she would've allowed, his lips laid on the side of her of protruding cheekbone.

"I always knew what you might've done, it just never occured to me that it might matter." she said, realising her words were far foolish than he had thought her to be. "You dont propose to suggest to me that you would hurt me? Do you?" she asked, taking his hands in hers, kneeling up untill she met his eyes, "Because I dont believe that for one second. And, I dont think you believe that either."

"No, I wouldn't hurt you. But, I've done terrible things... I am capable of doing terrible things... Are you sure you could be with a nasty old man?" he asked as his thoughts started to become clouded once more by the dementors. They must be moving nearer to his cell.


Kristi froze, like a deer trapped in headlights, as Darrin drew closer to her. Finally, as she felt his lips upon her cheek, she lost it and pulled away. "Look, I'm sorry for saying some hurtful things to you but, you're really creeping me out," she shuddered.

"I think I'd be a lot more comfortable if you'd just let me have my wand back," she added, nervous of what his reaction would be.

Taking her wand from his pocket, but keeping it firmly in the grasp of his palm, he sat up on the bed and asked, "You said you're scared of me, Kristi, so then why are you trying to anger me?"

Feeling his muscles tense, a chill sprinting in through the gaps in the doors hinges, she sat nervously on his lap and let go of his hands. Pulling her own into her lap, she squinted up into the darkness, where she thought his eyes might be and asked quietly, "Does that nasty old man love me?"

"I'm not trying to anger you," Kristi responded with a sigh. With questions like that she found herself becoming less scared and more frustrated. "I'm not that stupid to try and anger you. What purpose would that serve? You've already said you won't kill me and I can think of worse things you could do to me if I really angered you. True, you said you wouldn't really hurt Marcella or myself but, what exactly does that mean? No, I'd rather you remained unangered. My point being, if you really intended me no harm then, why would you take my wand away from me?"

It was stupid. She knew he would be angry with her response but, now she was just a little ticked off herself for him thinking that she was deliberately trying to anger him. How stupid did he think she was? And what was he up to anyway? She still couldn't quite figure out what it was he was after.


"Yes," Snape said and wrapped his arms about Marcella.

The screaming was slowly screeping back into his head and he buried his face in Marcella's hair as if to hide from it. Not realizing what he was doing, Snape gripped her tighter as the cell door opened and two dementors swept in.

"Have your bloody wand back then," he said, holding it out to her. As he watched her fingers almost clasp around the wood, he pointed his own wand toward the fire grate, lit a fire and thrust the wand into the flames. "If you want it so badly, go get it.." he said, turning from her and laying on the bed, a look of the deepest satisfaction on his face.

"Then we have nothing to worry about." she concluded, holding him tighter back as the memories of her father's words became branded on the inside of her eyelids. Feeling the prescence of the dementors, she defiantly stayed where she were.

Snape loosened his grip on Marcella and looked down at her. "The appeal is today?" he asked in a distant voice. He continued before she could answer. "They must be here to take me to it."


Kristi reached out to grab her wand back from Darrin, pleasantly surprised at how willing he was to give it back to her, when he threw it into the flames. She immediately ran to the fire and went to grab the wand but, it was too late. Kristi stared as her wand disintegrated in the fire before her eyes. Anger was building inside her with every flicker of flame until she could hold it in no longer.

She got up and stalked over to where Darrin lay on her bed with a smug look on his face. Kristi wanted nothing more than to wipe that look right off his face. Before she knew what she was doing her hand balled up into a fist and she swung at him.

"I'm going with you." she said, more as a statement than a question, she however didn't look toward the Dementors. Clasping her hand onto his, she gulped and started definately toward where their eyes should be, if they had any.

At first, Darrin was rather amused at the angered look on her face. There was something about her and Marce that made them look rather cute when they were angry.

He smiled as she charged toward him, fully expecting her to shout, scream, yell at him and then leave frustratedly. Instead, he gaped as he felt the sting of her fist against his skin.

Angered, his jaw tensed as his eyes filled with rage. Snatching the fist that hung in the air from the aftermath of the punch, he pulled her, not quite sure of what he were going to do and thrust her onto the bed next to him. Seizing a tight hand around her throat, he seethed through his teeth, his eyes becoming fiery red with temper.

ooc: ooo... I loved it! I was so surprised when I read he was giving it back and then... I had to read it over and over again it was so good!!!


Snape held onto her hand and used the other to turn her head away from the dementors and back to him. He laid a gentle kiss on her lips. "Thank you," he said, running his free hand through her hair before the human guards walked into the cell.


Kristi wasn't surprised when Darrin retalliated but, she was surprised at the fury in his eyes. She was the one whose wand was now nothing more than ash and all she had done was give him a little punch. He had no right.... Her hands grabbed at the hand that Darrin had clasped around her throat, digging her fingernails into his flesh as she kicked at him. Her vision was starting to get blurry and she knew she was going to pass out if he didn't let go of her soon.

She took an unsteady step backward as the men walked into the room. The last thing they wanted was for them to see the true meaning in their relationship, if anything that would make them less likely to set him free. Her left hand lossely still clinging to his, she turned to one of the ministry officials and spoke, "I'm coming too. Albus Dumbledore wishes it."

Darrin's hand flinched from her neck sharply as he felt her nails penetrating the skin and revealing bloodshot flesh. Cursing her, he clung to his hand and, after breathing a few heavy gasps to try and control the stinging pain, he witnessed the cuts heal themselves and, with a slightly bruised hand, he used the back of it to strike her back. Holding the hand she had punched him with, he held her down and reduced his voice to a whisper, "Dont Kristi, just dont. I dont want to hurt you badly." His voice seemed to change slightly as his eyes glowed red, but Darrin's thoughts were fully behind the words, "I dont want to hurt you." he said, trying to resist the murderous force inside of him, that was Voldemort.

Snape saw the men nod and he stepped forward. He knew it was in his best interest to be compliant so, he said nothing as they took "necessary precautions" by binding his hands for the journey to the Ministry. It seemed ridiculous really, if they truly thought he was no threat and would release him, surely they wouldn't see a need to have him accompanied by two dementors. But, there was solace in the fact that they had not argued with Marcella about her coming to the appeal. Snape wondered if Kristi would be there, too...


Kristi remained very still after Darrin had struck her. She looked up into his eyes which were glowing red and gently put her free hand to his face. "I know," she said.

Kristi was surprised she had been able to supress her fury enough to think straight. She hoped her soothing gesture and and words would be enough to calm Darrin and remove that frighteningly murderous look from his face.

Flinching at the sight of the bound hands, she stepped into pace with him and tried to keep her sanity as she attempted to forge a connection between them. Struggling to keep her thoughts positive, in the happy-draining atmosphere of the dementors, she told him, mentally, "Kristi wont be. Albus said as few students as possible should attend. He doesn't want them getting the impression that you mean more to us than a just a teacher."

He found the tone and pitch of her voice, the touch of their skin together, calmed him. He felt the burning in his eyes trickle away, as a tightness that he had previously been unaware of, lifted from his chest. Lying back down on the bed next to her, his eyes slowly taken from her, he breathed uneasily, droplets of sweat dripping from his pasty face.

Snape nodded in his mind to Marcella. "That's probably for the best. Do you have any idea of my chances?" he asked as they walked down the corridor and into a well-lit room containing several aurors. Snape recognized Shacklebolt but, didn't let his gaze linger on him long enough to judge what the man was thinking.


Kristi carefully got up from the bed, unsure of whether this was a good idea or not. Darrin had seemed to have relaxed but, he was pale and sweating, as if he was sick. Now wandless, she walked over to the small sink and wet a piece of cloth, taking it over to Darrin and placing it on his forehead. Kristi sat beside him on the bed and contemplated the events since his arrival in her room as she watched his labored breathing.

"I know your release really depends on one witness turning up. I'm going to give evidence too..." she told him, not sure what he would say or think to that, but knowing he wouldn't sway her. "They may not think much of what I say, but I dont want to think there could've been more that I could've done to help you."

"Kristi.." he said, raising a hand to her chin, holding it lightly between his thumb and index finger. "I'm sorry..." he choked, as though it were a fight to even remove the words from his mouth. Coughing, he wavered a hand fro her to come closer and then whispered, "Kiss me. Dont ask, just do it." he spoke kindly, convincingly, sounding as though it were something he needed rather than something he just wanted.

"What witness?" he asked as they were seated. Apparently they weren't quite ready to move him, yet. Which got him to wondering how they would be transporting him.


Kristi wasn't sure what to do but, she moved closer to Darrin when he gestured for her. Afraid he might explode if she said or did anything other that what he asked, Kristi closed the gap between them and placed her lips upon his.

"Archie Terabel." she whispered, as the aurors moved to the other side of the room, one of them lighting a cigarette. "It's a long shot as to whether he shows up, after, you know, everything he's been through. But I hope he puts it past him and learns to forgive. Maybe yourself and and Remus should try the same." she added, sounding a little bitter.

He knew it seemed desparate, but the moment her soft lips touched his, he immediately felt a part of Voldemort leaving him. Knowing he didn't udnerstand the concept of love, even a bewildering love like this, Darrin pulled her closer and opened her mouth beneath his, knowing that this were possibly one of the only ways to force Voldemort out of his mind.

ooc: ooo... nice touch, Emma. I liked that part about love and Voldemort. And you put it so eloquently.

Snape sighed. She wasn't ever going to let that bit go about Remus. But, he hoped she was right about Archie putting aside their differences to come to his defence. He snorted at the thought of the werewolf and the other man who loved Marcella coming to his defence. More likely they were going to push for the life sentence in order to keep him locked up where he belonged.


As Kristi's lips touched Darrin's she was pulled closer. She closed her eyes and relaxed against him as she felt her mouth yielding to him. He seemed more like the man she had opened her heart to the other day outside and Kristi forgot about her wand that he had turned to ash.

Hearing his thoughts as clear as day, she took hold of his hand, completely disregarding the prescence of the ministry officials. "You dont belong here." she said, squeezing his hand, trying to convince him. "And Remus and Archie are helping because they know that despite whatever they feel personally toward you, you're a good man who's done nothing but good in the past few years. If they can let go of what happened, why cant you?"

He distinctly heard an indignant scoff from an unseeable man and suddenly, the weight of his mind lessened dramatically. Feeling himself once more, the first time he had in ages, he suddenly realised what they were doing. Breaking away gently, he held her at eyes length, studying her face. Before he knew what exactly he were thinking, her eyes had taken him in and he kissed her once more, this time with less desparation and more compassion.

ooc- thanks Kris :)

Before Snape could asnwer, Shacklebolt came over and instructed him that they would take a portkey directly to the appeal, together. Marcella would be taking a separate key which would lead her to the visitor's entrance of the ministry. She would continue on down to the courtroom after passing through security. And with that, Snape and Shaklebolt took hold of the portkey and dissappeared.


Kristi looked into Darrin's eyes as he held her back. He seemed to be himself again, she thought before he kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around him and hoped she could refrain from angering him ever again; he was so sweet when he wasn't angry.

Feeling the way he were torn from her was rather cruel, she sat for a while upon the chair with a look on her face, much like a toddler who'd had their toy snatched from them. Taking the portkey from the other ministry official offering it, she ignored his smile at her and threw him a frown in return as she disappeared.

As much as he enjoyed kissing her, two things were wrong. He had a strong feeling of guilt waying down his stomach. Kristi was attractive, fiery, feisty, everything he liked in a girl, alot like Marce and that was probably why he was kissing her. But it wasn't her he loved. He also knew that the moment he left this room, or let go of her, He would be back to torment him and aggravate his bitter angry resentment at who Marce had chosen.

Moving away from her, kissing her forehead, he breathed slowly and then said, "I cant stay."

Kristi nodded at Darrin's statement. "What do you have to do?" she asked, curiously, and casually pulling her hair back behind her ears.


Snape stumbled a bit as he arrived in the alcove just outside the courtroom. He watched as an official jumped up and ran into the room, supposedly he had been waiting for them. As they were alone, Snape took this opportunity to look over at Shacklebolt. He had never had much occassion to talk to the man outside of Order meetings but, he seemed a fair man. So, it didn't surprise Snape when he placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Good luck," before ushering him into the courtroom.

"Put it this way, the longer I stay, the further I procrastinate from the inevitable." Knowing this would have confused her, he pulled her to him by the neck and kissed her head gently, "Dont worry yourself. It's my problem, I'll deal." Feeling slightly awkward, he looked away from her and then looked back. Deciding on something simple, he said, "Thank You, for not asking questions. You're a true friend."

Feeling a tug behind her navel, she retched as though she were about to throw up as she arrived in the alcove outside of the courtroom. If it weren't for the fact that she were somewhat composed and reminded herself of how important this was, she would've sought to find him. If all this went wrong, those moments could've been the last she would ever spend with him. She suddenly felt awful for forgetting to tell him, that she loved him and for instead, having a go at him.

Leaning against the wall, she tried to steady her heart as she waited to see if Archie would arrive.

"Archie..?" she asked, having seen a blur rush in suddenly through a door to her left. Squinting, she saw it were him and she walked toward him, almost breaking into a run as she got closer. Flinging her arms around his neck, she allowed herself to collapse on him, all her pent up tension beginning to rise up her throat, threatening to suffocate her.

"I haven't hurt you, have I?" he asked, the thought suddenly dawning on him that he might have done more damage through kissing her than beating her.

"No, I mean, yeah," she said, bringing a hand up to her cheek which had begun to swell. "I know what you meant. I'll heal and you haven't scarred me emotionally or anything either. It's kinda hard to mess with a Snape's emotions; sometimes I don't think we really have any anyway."


The bonds on Snape's hands fell to the floor as he was directed into the chair set in front of the council. Surprisingly enough, the chainsremained still and did not move to bind him to the chair. Snape looked amongst the crowd while he waited for the appeal to begin and saw Dumbledore, Lupin, and many of the other memebers of the Order.

"But you do, I can see that." he said, slipping his hand around hers. "In all this mess, you seem to be the forgotten one. No-one seems to have considered you in all this."

"Not good, not good at all," she said, shaking her head, pulling away from Archie and standing nervously in front of him. She felt sick, a burning heat were rising in the back of her throat and she bit on her thumbnail, her eyes diverting to the entrance to the courtroom every couple of seconds, her nerves inexplicably ecstatic.

"Same day I found out then.." he mused, taking his hand back, feeling it were unnecessary to hold her any longer. Nudging her with his shoulder, he feigned an offended look and said, "Hey! If you'd stayed invisible, you never would've become friends with me. So what do you mean by that?"

"Dont be so negative!" she shrieked, knowing she were being too loud. Lowering her voice, she hissed, "This couldn't be more negative Arch. I mean, what if he gets denied the appeal, they'll slam him up for life." She knew she were getting hysterical, so much so that she threw herself on him to stop herself from talking anymore.

Darrin seemed to be trying really hard to make her stop thinking. He said he wanted to leave and now he was alll over her. And not that she didn't like it but, she was still confused by what he was saying. "I protect you? From him?" she asked.


As Snape's eyes fell upon Dumbledore once more, he saw the Headmaster stand to address the court. "Good afternoon. I am sure you all know why you are here. You are here to judge whether or not Severus Snape should be released from his current sentence in Azkaban. He was sentenced to 20 years after using the Cruciatus Curse under extreme duress and heavy provocation," Dumbledore said, yielding the floor to...

Snape cringed inside of himself as Fudge stood, but, caught Marcella’s thought. Before Fudge started speaking he sent out the thought, "I love you, too.”

“On the charge of using an Unforgivable Curse, how do you plead?” Fudge asked, his voice filled with malice.

"Guilty," Snape said, without hesitation.

"Yes!" he said, exasperated. Moving from her, he still stood directly in front of her, a hand loosely hanging on her shoulder, the other tracing a finger over her cheekbone. "If you really want me to leave you all alone, to just wait untill they come back, I will. But I didn't think you'd want that."

It didn't surprise her that he pleaded guilty, if anything she'd been waiting for that response. Something inside her wished he hadn't, she knew he'd get more hassle for it.

Restraning herself from cursing Fudge instantly for his malice, she chose to look at Dumbledore instead, as if to warn him to not let Fudge get out of hand, or else she wouldn't be held responsibile for her actions.

She thought he understood and she went back to looking down upon Snape, aware of Archie sat next to her and holding onto his hand tightly, desparately in unbearable anticipation.

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.

ooc- that was brilliant!

As Archie watched his eyes travelled around the courtroom. First at Marcella watching tentavely, then to the wizengamot half of whom had their eyebrows raised and occasionally whispering to each other, then to Snape's mournful face. As Dumbledore asked for Marcella Archie swiftly turned his head to face her.

ooc- Bloody heck, that was amazing and I agree, I dont think Snape would think he deserved to be released.

I am so nervous now after that last post!!


Up untill when he was asked why he should be released, Marce had been relatively alright. So her face was pale, her hands were clammy and her breath uneven. But still, she were conscious and concentrating.

When she heard him declare he shouldn't be released, she smacked her head into her hands, between her knees. Horrified, she raised her head and felt suddenly deeply betrayed. Wanting to shoot daggers into the back of his head, but reluctantly refraining from doing so, she hissed toward Archie,

"What in the name of Merlin does he think he's doing? We work our backsides off to get him this hearing and he's gone and cocked it up in the first five minutes."

Frustrated, angered, agitated, she growled quietly in her palms and fixed her eyes upon the back of his head, all other words said floating in and out of her ears. She heard them, but they barely recollected in her mind as they didn't seem to bear any heavy weight.

However, when Lupin began to question him on her, she crossed her fingers stiffy. Fudge might be dim-witted, lacking in common sense, but he knew how to twist words from people's mouths and give them an entirely different meaning. Breathing a sigh of relief as he concluded his questions concerning her, she fiztedly stared at the back of his head still.

It was only when she heard her name called, that she jolted with shock and looked around a little distractedly, before half smiling at Archie and rising from her seat. Her stomach felt as though the bottom of it had fallen out and butterflies had invaded her insides. Clutching to her fingers nervously, she knew alot of this appeal counted on what she said and how she said it. Deciding she wasn't going to let him mince her words, she sat definatly in the witness stand, determination clear in her eyes.

ooc: Thanks guys. I was worried it didn't come out right. I've got to start taking my own advice and stop worrying so much.

Dumbledore sat back down as Marcella took the stand. Lupin approached her and began the questioning. "Miss Riddle, we have just heard the testimony of Professor Snape concerning the events leading up to the cursing of Mr. Fletcher. Now, I'd like you tell the council what you remember from that day."

Taking Kristi in his arms gratefully, he slipped his around her back and leant her head on him. Comforting her, he moved her with him as he re-shut the door and sat the pair of them back upon the bed. Leaning his head on hers, he sat in silence with her.

I just realised, we were neglecting Kristi and Darrin and we really shouldn't :lol: It keeps the dramatic tension going and will prove dead annoying for people when they try and read this as a fic and want to find out quickly if Snape gets out or not. :lol: But we wont give it to them that easily my precioussssss *cackles*

ooc: we're evil :shifty:

It felt so good to be held. Kristi closed her eyes and was unaware that she had been walked over to the bed and sat down as she clung to Darrin. After merely sitting in silence for a while, Kristi lifted her head up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered.

Archie sat forward on to the edge of the seat and watched Marcella intently as soon as this question was asked.

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked, patiently.

"I dont see how that bears relevance to the release of Professor Snape." spoke Marce defiantly. She didn't like this man one bit and she wasn't about to not let him know that. There was a reason for it being personal.

"Would you?" she asked, hoping that he would.

"It is not for the witnesses to decide what does and does not bear relevance, Miss Riddle. The state of mind of all parties involved bears significant relevance as to the outcome of the altercation. So, if you please, why would Mr. Fletcher bear a grudge against you?"

"Because, we had previously been an item. When I moved from Durmstrang, I broke our relationship off. Whilst away from his, I became attached to someone else, but he didn't like that. He became controlled by his jealousy."



Lifting a blanket over her, he sat at the other end of the bed and laid his head on the awkwardly shaped bed post, wrapping his arm around it, his eyes not straying from her.

Kristi grabbed the edge of the blanket with one hand and closed her eyes. She tried to fall asleep but, her mind was still wide awake. All she could think about was whether the trial was going well or not... If her father was going to be coming home... Or if he'd be doomed to that dark, dank, and miserable cell...


"So, Mr. Fletcher was jealous. That certainly doesn't seem reason enough to threaten your life, my dear. But, very well, very well," he said, waving off the protest Marcella had begun to make. "Now, about this bond you formed with Severus, what type of bond would you say that was to move an emotionally immovable man such as Mr. Snape to use an Unforgivable curse in your defence?" Fudge asked with an expression that clearly stated that he thought he already knew the answer to that question.

"I'm sorry if you feel that way, but that's opinion and not fact. You seem to have dismissed the fact that my father wants me dead. He wants me dead and Darrin Fletcher says or does something to provoke Severus Snape into defending me? And you see no link?" she asked, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Emotionally immoveable? I fail to see how you can say that when those words seem to apply to you. You have not known him the way I've known him. You have not seen him when people's lives are at stake, you were not there when he saved my life several times. As you know yourself, saving someone's life forges a bond between those two people, whether they want it or not."

Seeing Kristi were still preoccupied with the trial, he scooted up next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "If I was any good at potions, I'd offer you something to help you sleep."

Fudge became flustered with her response. He could see memebers of the council nodding their heads and murmuring amongst themselves. This line of questioning was not getting him the response he was looking for. "But, you don't deny that he used an Unforgivable curse when he could have chosen any number of other spells to prevent Mr. Fletcher from causing you harm?"


Kristi opened her eyes and smiled at Darrin. "How did you know I couldn't fall asleep?" she asked, snuggling up against him. "It's alright, I'd make one for myself if I wasn't so lazy. I have a knack for potions."

"I can neither confirm or deny that, I was unconscious at the time. But, if harming people was in his nature, surely he would've been reluctant to help me. Surely, if that was the way his character were formed, he would've left me to drown or bleed to death, or just allow my father to posess me and make me commit suicide.

If he was a man who enjoyed hurting people, he would've had perfect oppurtunity to do that to me, but he didn't. Because he's not like that!" she said, a little too defensively.

"You always did seem intelligent," he commented and then shrugged, "I guess I have a knack for guessing what's wrong with people."

Completely losing his train of thought, Fudge began to walk back to his seat. He was seated before he realized he hadn't dismissed her. "Thank you Miss Riddle," he said, sounding quite annoyed.

Dumbledore stood once again to address the council. "Very well, Miss Riddle, you may return to your seat as we call on the next witness, Mr. Archie Terabel."


"Hmmm," she sighed, closing her eyes once more. "I hope he's okay," she mumbled.

Reluctant to move, she stubbornly did, throwing Fudge the most sour look she could muster. Walking past the dock in which Snape stood, she winked toward him and nodded her head, a smile clearly playing on her lips.

"Dont worry yourself." he told her, her head back down upon the pillow. "The best thing you can do for you, is rest that sweet head of yours. Goodness knows, you worry too much over that man, he's old and stupid enough to sort things out for himself."

Acknowledging Archie's smile, a thought struck her as he passed. realising it were too late to try and communicate with him, she steadied herself back into the stands, biting upon her nails, hoping Archie wouldn't slip something out in the interrogation.


"Exactly." he said, kissing her forehead and flicking his wand so that the few candles burnt down to small stubs, blew out and left them in semi-darkness.

ooc: oooo... :shifty:


Kristi put her arms around Darrin and kissed him back. "Thank you."


"What was your impression of Mr. Fletcher?" Lupin asked.

Vaguely waving his wand to the curtains, they closed slowly and he allowed his wand to fall to the stoney floor, as he wrapped his arms around her and lost himself in her lips.

ick, I hate soppy stuff!!

ooc- yes well. It fits doesn't it. He did save her life and then appeared to want to kill her? Something tells me this is going to be a long case...