Chapter 7
THE WIZENGAMOT TRIALS were held in the tenth level of the Ministry of Magic, somewhere deep in the dungeons.
Severus was led into the smart-looking room and was immediately led to a chair in the centre of the room where he had been magically bound.
Albus Dumbledore had given him a small, encouraging smile before he took his place at the Chief Warlock chair. According to his knowledge, the Chief Warlock presided over the Court and delivered the final judgement based on the Wizengamot's decisions.
Slowly, the room started filling up.
Important-looking witches and wizards dressed in plum-coloured robes that had been embroidered with a silver letter W entered the room stiffly and took their seats towards the right of the prosector.
Severus counted forty nine seats (seven multiplied by seven was a very magically strong number). That was forty nine people who held his life in their hands. In case of a dead-lock (met when some members abstained from voting), the Chief Warlock had the casting vote which would settle the matters.
Witches and wizards continued entering the room. Some smirked at him as they entered, others gave him looks of pity and some down-right looked bluntly curious at him.
He could recognise some of the people that were to be his jurors.
The platinum-blonde hair and handsome face who was looking at him like he was dirt was without a single doubt Lucius Malfoy's father, Lord Abraxas Hyperion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy.
He could recognise a man that looked strikingly similar to Thomas Nott as his father, Lord Nott.
A curious-looking man who looked to be the carbon copy of James Potter (or rather the vice versa) was Lord Charlus Potter.
He realised that about a third of the jurors had children who currently studied at Hogwarts, and who had no-doubt already informed them of the gossip.
The next pair to enter the Wizengamot was somebody he had hoped he could avoid. A greying, tall man with classically handsome features walked inside the room. Each step he took was pronounced and his presence practically demanded respect. A beautiful young girl hung off his arm, smiling calmly. The duo's startling grey eyes made them recognisable- Lord Arcturus Black and his granddaughter, Lyra.
The two gave him identical smirks with ever amused eyes before Lord Black took his seat with the jurors and Heiress Black took a seat that Dumbledore had told him was for the British youth-representative.
Severus mentally counted the amount of families the Black's had married into (within the past few generations) that currently held a seat in the Wizengamot- the Prewetts, the Crouch's, the Macmillians, the Potter's, the Flints, the Rosier's, the Longbottom's, the Yaxley's and the Bulstroad's. That would be nine seats that were with them even without any convincing.
Severus was snapped out of his mental calculations when he could see Lucius Malfoy enter the room. He was a witness, of course. Other Hogwart's students entered the room behind him, such as a still somewhat red-eyed James Potter, a smirking Patrick Parkinson, Thomas Nott, Zack Dolan, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Medows and basically most of the first-year Gryffindors and Slytherins who had been present during the time he had pulled a wand on Sirius Black. Severus froze in shock when he saw Lily Evans enter as well, her eyes firmly fixed to the carpet and purposely avoiding his eyes.
A court-scribe also took his seat, in order to record the proceedings while the Wizengamot was in session.
Severus almost fell over (for the first time, he was actually happy about having to sit on the magically binding chair) when the Minister of Magic, Lord Bertimous Crouch Snr- the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and another person whose he assumed to be the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister also entered and sat in their designated seats.
It seemed that the little curse he fired against Black was more significant than he initially assumed it to be. Either that or the Black's were hyping things up like they always did.
Albus Dumbledore looked grave as he tapped the gravel. "Order." He said, making every noise heard halt. "Today, we are present for the Criminal Hearing against Severus Tobias Snape, residence Spinner's End, Cokeworth. As the location of the incident was inside the premises of Hogwarts, I will be handing over the position of Chief Warlock to Lord Bertimous Crouch, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement till the verdict is passed in this session. Similarly, as the victim of the accuser is a member of House Black, Lord Black will be obliged to abstain from voting due to his judgement being compromised. The Wizengamot calls for a five-minute break during which time the changes can be implemented." Dumbledore said, the twinkle in his eyes practically non-existent.
The Wizengamot was officially in session.
The five minutes was over too soon.
During this time, Albus Dumbledore stood up from the chair that designated him as Chief Warlock and proceeded to walk over to where the Hogwarts students were gloomily seated, and sit beside an expressionless James Potter who did not even spare him a glance, his concentration solely on Severus Snape.
The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had also proceeded to take Albus Dumbledore's seat, signifying him as Chief Warlock during this trail. Severus was aware of the fact that Lord Crouch was ruthless to anybody who used dark magic.
"The Wizengamot is in session." Lord Crouch said in his grave tone as he banged the hammer on the gravel. "Criminal Hearing on the twenty-forth of November on the offences committed by Severus Tobias Snape, residence Spinner's End, Cokeworth. Main Interrogators- Batimous Kendrick Crouch Snr, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Gerald Augustus Avery, lead prosecutor and Genevieve Millicent Bulstroad, prosecutor. Court scribe- Mason Charles Blake and British Youth Representative, Lyra Cassiopeia Black. Witness for the victim and defendant shall be identified as the Court proceeds." He said.
The court scribe- Blake- was writing profusely and the members of the Wizengamot were looking at him in varying expressions of curiosity, boredom, pity and disgust. Severus felt sick just looking at them, so he proceeded to concentrate his whole attention on Lord Crouch's serious-looking face.
Severus swallowed. "What are my charges?" He asked, his voice came out quieter than he intended it to.
Lord Crouch glanced at the piece of paper in front of him. "The charges against the accused are as follows: the use of dark magic, the use of a dark spell on a minor, the attempted murder of a minor, the attempted murder of the Heir to a Most Ancient and Noble House, slander of the victim, slander of a Most Ancient and Noble House, defamation of victim and defamation of a Most Ancient and Noble House."
The Blacks had literally put every charge against him.
Lord Crouch looked at him through beneath his nose. "How do you plead, Mr Snape?"
"Not guilty." Severus said as calmly as he could.
There were many raised eyebrows and faces of disbelief at his statement, and many members of the Wizengamot had started talking amongst themselves.
"Order in the Court!" Lord Crouch said firmly, making silence descend once again. The Head of the DMLE gave Severus a look of consideration before speaking. "Scribe, note that the accuser pleads not guilty. Mr Avery, if you would?"
"Of course, Chief Warlock." said Mr Gerald Avery with a smirk as he walked to the centre of the Court, standing beside him. He spared a glance to Severus, and instead choose to make eye-contact at all the wizards and witches in plum-coloured robes.
"Honourable wizards and witches of the Wizengamot, we have gathered here today to witness the rise of justice." said Mr Avery.
Everybody's eyes were on him.
"On the twentieth of November, a great crime -a grave insult, if you would- occurred in a corridor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where a young boy of age eleven was subjected to horrific dark magic. Even at this very moment, the young boy is still fighting for his life in the Hopital de la Charité in France." Avery paused, letting the information sink in. "And the reason, you may wonder, for why else would such a terrible crime be committed? Well, ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot, the reason is apology. Yes, you heard that correctly. The victim had played a harmless prank on the accused a few days before the incident, and had gone to apologise to the accused for playing that practical joke. However, the accused did not even give the victim an opportunity to do so, as he shot an entrail-expelling curse -wrongly that is- at the victim." he continued, stopping at the correct moments and speaking slowly so that everybody could understand the gravity of the situation.
Avery now turned to Severus and gave him a sympathetic smile that did not reach his eyes. He turned back his focus on the Court. "The entrail-expelling curse is classified as 'dark magic' according to the Dark Art's Act of 1789. As everybody knows, a spell spoken wrongly is much more dangerous than the spell itself. Heir Sirius Black had to learn this the hard way as rather than the spell causing him to vomit out his intestines, the spell damaged and destroyed most of his vital organs and he is in the painful procedure of having to regrow them from the very beginning." he finished sombrely, causing many gasps of shock to be released across the room. he turned to Severus again, this time smirking. "Do you deny this account?"
"I didn't know he was going to apologise!" Severus shouted. "I didn't know that this would happen by using that curse!"
"Really?" Avery drawled. "Do you deny using the entrail-expelling curse?"
"No, bu-"
"Do you deny having prior knowledge about the consequences of the entrail-expelling curse?"
"-No-"
"Do you deny knowing that the entrail-expelling curse is dark magic?"
"I didn't mean to-"
"Yes or no, Mr Snape? Do you deny knowing that the entrail-expelling curse is dark magic?"
"No, but I-"
"When you went to curse Heir Black, did you do so with the intent of hurting him?"
"-No, and-"
Avery tsked, making a noise. "It is better if you tell the truth, Mr Snape."
"I didn't lie!" Severus shouted.
Avery raised an eyebrow at that challenge. He turned to face Mr Crouch. "I would like to call upon my first witness, Heir Lucius Abraxas Malfoy."
Severus was made to sit in one of the chairs, far away from the other students. Lucius Malfoy was now seated where he had been before.
Avery smiled warmly at Lucius Malfoy who returned the gesture. "Heir Malfoy, would you mind giving the Court your account of this incident?"
Lucius Malfoy nodded. "It happened at a little after eleven thirty in the morning. I along with Heir Patrick Parkinson had a free period during that time, so we had decided to ask our Potions Professor, Master Horance Slughorn, for some doubts we had in the subject. While we were walking along the hallway, we heard a lot of noises from one of the abandoned corridors and decided to put-forward out responsibilities as prefects and check it out. When we reached, we found a crowd of first year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Referring to the infamous house rivalry at Hogwarts, we assumed it to be another fight that we should break up. We were partially correct."
"Partially, heir Malfoy?" Avery prompted.
"The word 'fight' suggests that both the parties are participating in the affair. The sight I was greeted to was a fellow Slytherin, Mr Severus Snape-"
"-and that is Mr Severus Snape the accused?" Avery interrupted. "Would you mind pointing him out for us, heir Malfoy?"
"Certainly." Lucius Malfoy said and pointed a finger at Severus, clarifying who he was identifying.
"Continue, Heir Malfoy." Lord Crouch ordered.
"Yes, Lord Crouch. Anyway, Mr Snape was holding his wand and had aimed it at somebody. Following his line of vision, I found heir Sirius Black laying on the ground with blood leaking out of his body. heir James Potter was holding a Gryffindor scarf and was pressing it tightly to one of the many blood wounds, and some other first-years were muttering the basic healing charms they knew. I admit to have been frozen in shock upon seeing this sight. But I soon asked Mr Thomas Nott to bring heir Sirius Black's cousins and older sister -Heiress Lyra Black, Miss Bellatrix Black, Miss Andromeda Black and Miss Narcissa Black- to the infirmary, dragging them out of class if he has to. I also asked all the students to disperse with the threat of taking away house points, and told Mr Patrick Parkinson to accompany Mr Snape to the Slytherin Common Room.
"I knew a few charms on how to patch up skin, so I started doing that immediately, but it didn't do anything. So, I used locomotoris spell to transfer heir Sirius Black to the infirmary. I stayed there until the other members of House Black had come and personally informed the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore of this incident. The Hogwarts medi-witch, Madame Poppy Pomfrey, informed Heir Apparent Orion Black -heir Sirius Black's father- that they needed to transfer him to an actual hospital. The Headmaster advised me to go back to the Common Room, so I complied. The last thing I heard was that they were going to transfer heir Sirius Black to a hospital somewhere in France." Lucius Malfoy finished gloomily.
Avery smiled at him. "I applaud your bravery as well as your quick-thinking, Heir Malfoy. Now if you don't mind, might I ask some questions?"
"Certainly." Lucius Malfoy replied.
Avery beamed. "Now heir Malfoy, is it true that you were aware of heir Black's intention's to apologise?"
Lucius Malfoy nodded. "Yes. A few days before the incident, Heir Black and Heir Potter had done a simple, completely harmless prank which turned Mr Snape's hair a bright pink colour." Here a few chuckles were heard. "However, Heiress Lyra Black, a fellow prefect and I could sense that Mr Snape did not like being pranked on, so we asked Heirs Black and Potter to apologise to him and the two of them assured us that they were going to do so."
"I see..." Avery said. "On another note, do you have any evidence that suggests that Mr Snape was happy about Heir Black's current state? Or that he may have been inclined to curse him?"
"I do." Lucius Malfoy answered, causing mummers to break out once again.
"Order!" Lord Crouch called out. It took a few more seconds for the noise to disappear.
Avery waited until there was silence again before questioning Lucius Malfoy. "Could you explain your evidence, Heir Malfoy?"
Lucius Malfoy nodded. "As you all know, the Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry is quite infamous. I was worried that Mr Snape using dark magic on Heir Black could cause some of the older year Gryffindor's to curse the Slytherins in anger. So, I explained to him the true weight of his actions and asked Mr Snape whether cursing Heir Black was worth it." Here he dramatically paused. "He said it was."
Cries of outrage broke the Court as Lord Crouch tried once again to control the chaos.
"I didn't mean it!" Severus shouted from his seat. All eyes turned to him. "I- I didn't mean it." He repeated. "It was just a spur-of-moment sort of thing and-"
"-But you do not deny having said it, correct Mr Snape?" Avery asked pointedly.
"I-I, yes." Severus admitted in a whisper.
Gasps broke out, the loudest of them being let out by Avery. "This is outrageous!" Avery exclaimed in false disbelief. "To where have our standards fallen that an eleven year old is cursed with dark magic simply for apologising for turning the accused hair pink!"
Mummers of agreements and disbelief's were heard.
Avery made a show of shaking his head sadly.
"We don't know if Black was really coming to apologise!" Severus shouted. "Just because they said it, doesn't make it their real intention?"
"And if you had let them speak before drawing your wand, we would have been able to confirm that statement, isn't that right Mr Snape?" Avery mocked.
Tears brimmed Severus's eyes.
"Thank you for answering, Heir Malfoy. Now, I would like to call upon Heir James Potter, please." Avery announced.
James Potter sat in the chair now.
"Heir Potter," Avery started. "What is your relationship with the victim?"
James burst into tears at that, drawing many coo's from the ladies along with sympathetic looks.
"He's my brother." James replied in between sniffs, receiving more pitiful glances. "I-it was all my fault!" He wailed. "I-I'm the one who convinced Remus, Peter and S-Sirus," His voice broke while uttering his best friend's name. "to play the prank on Snape. If I-I hadn't done that, then Siri would still be here!" He broke into tears once again.
Avery patted his shoulders. "It's not your fault, Heir Potter. You couldn't have known it would escalade this much, nor could you have known that some people practised dark magic." He gave a pointed glare to Severus at this.
Severus had to give Potter full marks for his acting.
"Heir Potter," Avery said softly. "is it true that you were going to apologise to Mr Snape before this incident occurred?"
Potter sniffed once again. "Yes. Lyra and Malfoy told us to apologise, saying that not everybody liked to be pranked. So, that's what we were doing, honest."
Avery nodded. "Thank you, Heir Potter. That will be all. Next, I would like to call upon somebody who was present directly when this incident occurred, a Gryffindor first year, Miss Marlene McKinnon."
When Marlene McKinnon was just about to be seated, Severus asked a question.
"Potter was also present!" Severus said. "Why don't you ask him?"
"Heir Potter's" Avery emphasised, "is not in a state to testify right now. But do not worry, Mr Snape, I will surely allow him to give his account once he has had the time to put himself together." He smirked and gestured for Marlene McKinnon to seat herself.
Severus realised that he had just dug himself into a deeper hole.
"Miss McKinnon," Avery started. "Could you please explain what according to you happened?"
"Well, it was after Charms -Slytherin and Gryffindor have it together- and the Slytherins were about to head to their next class when James and Sirius started to follow them. Lily thought that they were going to prank the Slytherins, so she followed them and we -I, Dorcas, Alice and a few others- followed her. Lily had caught up to the boys by them and was asking them what they were about to do, and Sirius had replied that his older sister was making them apologise. Lily said that she would like to see that and actually, so did we, so we continued to follow them.
"When we were close enough that the Slytherins could hear us, James shouted Snape's name to gain his attention. The other snakes had stopped now, I assume they were curious about what was going to happen. Snape had looked at all of us and within a second, he had pulled his wand out and fired a spell at Sirius." Here a sob escaped her mouth. "I-I didn't do anything. There was blood everywhere and James was putting his scarf on Sirius's body and so was Alice and Remus. A-And Sirius-" Her voice broke. "Sirius was not moving. He-He didn't look like he was breathing and-" She broke down into tears.
"Thank you, Miss McKinnon." Avery said in a soft voice. "You may head back to your place."
Avery called on each and every one of the witnesses, and all of them re-accounted a tale so very similar to Marlene McKinnon's, leaving the jurors no doubt of what had happened. The fact that many of them were their own children, grand-children and nieces and nephews only further solidified the facts.
Even Lily, sweet Lily, told a story very similar to everybody else's, just adding a few of her own thoughts along and telling them that it might have been accidental and Severus did not mean it. It was just like her to come to his defence when nobody else would. When she was dismissed, she did not look Severus in the eye at all.
Somewhere along the way, Severus realised that Avery could have stopped this trial a long time ago. With just Potter's account and that of Malfoy's, he could have won this case. He was prolonging this hearing on purpose. Severus could already guess what wonderful headlines the Daily Prophet would have printed on this case the next day.
That was when Severus understood that this was not just a way to get 'justice' for Black, but also a chance to discredit Dumbledore. After all, a life-threatening attack happened in his school right under his nose, not only that, the students knew dark magic!
"Thank you, Mr Nott." Avery said dismissively. He turned back to Lord Crouch. "And inspite all of these horrifying events happening, I would like the Court to note that not once has Mr Snape apologised to the Black's for this incident."
More gasps and mummers of disbelief flew across the Court Room.
Severus opened his mouth to defend himself but Avery did not give him the chance to do so.
"In fact, he has been discrediting and downplaying Heir Black's critical injuries and making false claims about Heir Black's current residence and the injuries he has sustained." Avery flashed a feral grin to Severus. "Isn't that right, Mr Snape?"
"No-"
"My witnesses say otherwise." Avery cut in. "Ladies and gentlemen of this esteemed and most honourable body, you can see that in the accounts of Mr Thomas Nott, Mr Zack Dolan, Mr Patrick Parkinson, Miss Dorcas Medow's and Miss Alice Fortensque that the accused did indeed spread revolting tales about Heir Black's current location and downplayed his severe injuries in a very insulting manner." Avery made a visible disgusted look appear on his face. "I conclude my case, esteemed body, and I only ask that you give an innocent eleven-year old boy the justice he deserves. Thank you." Avery sat in his seat.
"Thank you, Mr Avery." Lord Crouch said. "What does the Prosecution recommend the sentence to be?"
Genevive Bulstroad stood up next. "The Prosecution acknowledges all the charges. Tackling the consequences of each charge separately, is the following. The use of dark magic accounts to the accused spending one day in Azkaban, the use of a dark spell on a minor leads to seven days -that is, one week- in Azkaban, the attempted murder of a minor is twelve days in Azkaban, the attempted murder of the Heir to a Most Ancient and Noble House is twenty five years in Azkaban, slander of the victim is a fine of fifty gallons, slander of a Most Ancient and Noble House is fined by one thousand galloons, defamation of victim is fined by one hundred gallons and defamation of a Most Ancient and Noble House is fined by one thousand five hundred gallons." Bulstroad recited.
Severus felt faint upon just hearing the charges.
"Combined, it is twenty five years and twenty days in Azkaban along with a simultaneous fine of two thousand six hundred and fifty gallons." Bulstroad announced.
What the- this was ridiculous. Twenty five years in Azkaban! That would make him thirty six years old when he got out! Half his life would be over. Not to even mention the money. Merlin! That would make it thirteen thousand and sixty five pounds (rounded off) in the muggle currency! Where was he supposed to get money like that!
Lord Crouch nodded. "The Court acknowledges the sentence. All those who agree to the conviction of the charges, light a red tip on your wand. Those who agree with the charges but want a change in sentence, tip blue; those who disagree with the sentence and the charges and want the accused to be cleared of all charges, tip green; and those who wish to abstain from voting, tip yellow."
Wands went up in the air, all of them having a different coloured tip. There were a scant number of green's, those who had put it up , Severus recognised them as Dumbledore's friends and a few other witches who thought the sentence was too harsh on a little boy. A few blues and yellow's were seen, but it was clear to everybody with an eye that the red's dominated.
Since Lord Crouch was acting as Chief Warlock, he could not vote unless it was a dead-lock, but Severus could see him nodding firmly at the decision.
Albus Dumbledore stood up. "Surely it hasn't come to this, has it?" Dumbledore asked. "Esteemed body, while I do not question your decision, has our world really come to such a state where eleven-year old's are being sent to Azkaban?"
"I don't know Headmaster." Lyra Black said sharply, but this didn't dim the amusement seen in her eyes. "Has it really come to this that eleven-year old boys are trying to murder each other in cold blood?" She retorted. "Besides," She continued. "It makes you wonder, doesn't it, where one could learn such dark spells..." She said with a tsk.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer, but Lord Crouch cut him off. "Heiress Black is correct, Albus Dumbledore. Hogwarts is an institution of learning. I truly hope that his is the last time we will hear about how a student tries to murder another student with the use of dark magic." Lord Crouch said stiffly. "I hope you shall have more control over your students in the future, Mr Dumbledore. I assume the Board will want to also have a meeting about this?" Lord Crouch re-directed the question to Lord Harfang Longbottom, one of the members of the Hogwarts Board of Directors.
"Of course, Chief Warlock." Lord Longbottom replied.
"Mr Snape has already been expelled." Lord Malfoy added in a lazy drawl. "So although we cannot take actions regarding him, we will see to it that Hogwarts is made safe once again."
Lord Crouch nodded, satisfied. "Excellent. Now moving on, the Court has made it's decision. Mr Severus Tobias Snape, you shall serve twenty five years and twenty days in Azkaban for all the charges you have committed. You shall also be required to pay a fine of two thousand six hundred and fifty gallons to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black in compensation as well." Lord Crouch was just about to bang the hammer on the gravel to finalise the sentence, Avery stood up again. "If I may, Chief Warlock," he started.
Lord Crouch nodded his consent.
"I truly apologise, but we have decided a last minute change of plans." He told them, smiling as if he had made a casual mistake. Severus narrowed his eyes at him.
"Well, go on then." Lord Crouch prompted.
"The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black would also like to activate the Meghalugues' Act" Avery announced.
Mummers broke out again.
Albus Dumbledore stood up. "Isn't that a little too harsh-"
"-you can't do this!" A juror shouted.
Similarly, many voices started to overlap.
Lord Crouch spent three minutes trying to regain control.
Avery simply smirked. "Actually, we can." He turned back to Lord Crouch now. "The Meghalugues' Act is more of a right of a pureblood family than a law, so it cannot be left up to the decision of the Wizengamot, and according to the Act, it is the right of a family to keep the accuser and deem fit the punishment themselves. The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black is just informing as a curtesy, because there is nothing that prohibits them from activating and using their right."
The shouts started again.
Severus eyes connected with Lyra Black's beautiful smirking face and for the first time, he found it unwavering. It was simply wrong that somebody so... cruel should resemble an angel. Severus had always found her beauty heavenly, but now it scared him. It made her look too out-worldly. It made her look too-inhuman.
He couldn't spot any of the physical human flaws on her face, and that scared him as well. He was reminded of what his muggle grandmother had told him back when she was alive. She had told him about the Devil- Lucifer. She had warned him that appearances can be deceiving and that not all devils look ugly, red with an arrow tail. The Devil had once been an angel and Lucifer had not only been beautiful to look at, he had also been God's favourite.
Lyra Black was the mortal Lucifer.
She continued smirking at him and looking at him with her constant, ever-amused beautiful grey eyes. Severus felt a tear drop from his eye.
Lord Crouch looked surprised at Avery's declaration, but nodded never-the-less. Lord Crouch -along with most of the Court members- was a traditionalist who respected the old Acts and laws. "You are right, Mr Avery. According to the Meghalugues' Act, the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black may continue with the decision." He cleared his throat, ready to give the absolute, final verdict. "The Wizengamot subjects Mr Severus Tobias Snape to twenty five years and twenty days in Azkaban. It also fines Mr Snape with two thousand six hundred and fifty gallons to be paid to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Lastly, after serving the Azkaban sentence, Snape will be the property of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, as said by the Meghalugues' Act Court adjourned." Lord Crouch banged the hammer on the gravel.
The verdict was done.
Dumbledore immediately came to his side and hugged him comfortingly. Severus cried in Dumbledore's shoulders, not caring who was watching.
His life was -quite literally- ruined and the ruthlessness of the Black's was once again re-established.