"Severus Snape, stand before the Wizengamot to receive the verdict," a voice echoed from the walls, a magical recording of sorts that sounded vaguely like the voice of the Head of the Aurors.

Severus breathed deeply through his nose. He stood and paced forward until he was before the Wizengamot again, a familiar dread settling into his stomach like a rock. He tilted his chin high, proudly, and waited. He ignored how Harry bounced on his heels beside him and instead focused on Kingsley.

The Minister settled back into his chair as others from the Wizengamot also shuffled back to their seats. A hush fell over the audience when Kingsley nodded to someone to his left and stood up. "Severus Snape, you have pleaded not guilty in the case of murdering Albus Dumbledore, correct?" he asked.

Severus nodded his chin down against the front of his black robes.

"The Wizengamot declares that you, Severus Snape, are not guilty. You will be pardoned for any activities you participated in under the control of You-Know-Who, and we and the rest of the Wizarding World thank you for your work as a spy for the Order. Good job."

Disgruntled and annoyed voices trilled around the walls, but Severus ignored them, rolled his eyes into the back of his eyes and sighed. He turned to walk off to his seat and collapsed while Harry grinned down at him.

"Told you that you weren't going to Azkaban," Harry boasted.

"Yes, now do kindly shut up," he groaned. The stress of the trial was causing wrinkles on his brow and a pounding in his forehead, but even massaging his hand over his face didn't help the weariness.

"Jeez, you'd think you'd be in a better mood after such a good trial," Harry frowned and folded his arms over his chest. He glanced around at the emptying room, waved to a few people who bid him farewell, then he looked back down to Snape. "Are we going to sit here all day or go home?"

Severus peeked up at Harry, sighed, and scowled. "Potter, I am free to make my own way in the world now. That means we no longer have need to live together, insufferable Gryffindor." He pushed himself up and strode towards the door, where he saw his wand settled on the table.

"Hey," Harry called out, "wait a second!" He ran after Severus, but the older man ignored him, grabbed his wand, and seated himself in a space close to the door. "What do you mean?" Harry sat down beside him, wincing when he landed too hard on the stone seat.

Severus ran his fingertips up and down along the wood of his wand, remembering all the spells he had cast. It was still light in his hands, the handle worn ever so slightly from years of battling. "Listen, Potter, we both knew this wouldn't last. I would either wind up in Azkaban or I would be granted my freedom and we would go our separate ways. Do not act like we are friends."

"I thought maybe we were," Harry mumbled and looked at the floor, "I don't know… It-It was stupid, never mind. You're right, we're not friends… After the trials I'll go pack my things and leave the dungeons."

"Very well."

Severus stowed his wand into his cloak pocket and was careful not to look to his left. He knew Harry was upset. It was foreign and odd, but he did not understand why he was so unsettled with the image of Harry leaving the dungeons for good. He would finally have his rooms silent and to himself again, to make potions whenever he wanted and never have to deal with insufferable people unless he chose to do so.

"Okay, well, I'm going to get ready for the Malfoys' trials," Harry said, stood up and glanced down hopefully at the Potions Master, but he only received a grunt as reply. He sighed and cut around the other man's knees so he could make a quick getaway down the stone stairway.

Severus didn't speak. He sat through each Malfoy trial, watching Harry defend Draco then Narcissa, though he didn't seem to be as exuberant as before. Harry carried himself confidently still, but he was all business and no smiles or optimism. He did grin when Draco and Narcissa were both granted full pardons, and it looked as if he would be back to his usual Gryffindor self, but when Lucius's trial rolled around, that's when it all started crashing down.

At the beginning of the trial, Harry's energy was positive. He strutted around with his chin held high, like he had before Harry and Severus's last conversation, but trying to pass Lucius as not guilty was more difficult than the Gryffindor had expected.

Severus noticed the struggle of a full day of trials messing Harry's hair up worse than usual. The strain of exhaustion pulled at the Gryffindor's cheeks, and he paced more as the final trial ended for a break and they awaited the verdict.

Draco drifted over to Harry, settled a hand on his shoulder and murmured, "Are you all right, Potter?"

"I don't think I did such a great job for your dad… I'm-I'm sorry," Harry replied. He had stopped to meet Draco's gaze but again started walking small circles in front of the Wizengamot's stand.

"Just stop pacing," Draco snapped. He grabbed Harry's arms and pushed him down onto a stone bench. "Now, sit there and calm down. You did the best you could, we appreciate it. You've all ready saved my mother and I. You're probably just worn out from being in court all day. I'm tired just imagining it!"

"Yeah, maybe," Harry said, the gray stone floor hard and still beneath his feet, "I have been stuck in court up here for a while… I wish I could go home and go to bed, but I have to pack and I guess I'll go to the Burrow and see if I can stay with them for a while."

"What do you mean? Where have you been staying?"

"With Snape. In the dungeons at Hogwarts."

"I thought that was a joke," Draco exclaimed, "how did you and Snape survive living together for so long?"

"It wasn't that long," Harry defended. He hugged his arms tight around his middle and glared at Draco's feet.

"But you knew either way that you wouldn't still be living with Severus," Draco said, "did you not make plans for when that happened?"

"No, I guess I didn't expect it so soon is all. I've been so focused on making sure I was ready for the trials today."

Draco looked at the back of the courtroom. He frowned at Severus and mouthed, "What's going on?" He glared when Severus shrugged then averted his gaze to the Minister. "Well," the blond said to the Boy-Who-Lived, "it seemed like the two of you have been getting along a lot better."

"I thought so," Harry exhaled loudly and reclined back desperately, rolling his shoulders. He tapped his feet and sighed again.

"Severus is bad about pushing people away," Draco murmured and sat down beside Harry. "Give him some space and then try to talk to him again. You may still be able to keep his friendship. I don't understand quite how, but somehow the two of you have managed to befriend one another."

"Well, so have we," Harry laughed, "did you ever think you and I would be sitting here discussing something like this?"

"True," Draco smirked, "but don't just give up on Severus yet. He thinks he will be fine on his own for the rest of his life. You just have to keep in contact with him, and I think the two of you will be fine."

"Thanks, Malfoy."

"No problem," Draco climbed to his feet. He walked towards his mother but paused a few steps ahead. "Oh, and Potter? If the Weasels ever get to be too much, you're more than welcome to come stay at the Manor for a time."

"I'll keep that in mind," Harry rolled his eyes, "but quit calling the Weasleys that or I'll have to come visit you just to beat you up!"

"In your dreams, Potter!"

Harry's smile vanished when Draco returned to his mother's side and Kingsley called court back into session. He took a deep breath and held it. Lucius stood, the Malfoy arrogance curling his lip and tilting his chin up.

"Lucius Malfoy, you plead not guilty, saying you were cast with the Imperius curse and threatened into the service of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Kingsley drawled. He glanced up from the parchment in his hands and met Lucius's sneer with one of his own. "However, the Wizengamot finds you guilty for the torture and murder of countless witches, wizards, and muggles. You did no spy work for the Order and cursed several Aurors with dark magic during the final battle. Mr. Lucius Malfoy, we find you guilty. You will be sentenced to Azkaban for life."

Harry stumbled in his seat. There were exclamations, and Draco and Narcissa attempted to swoop in to defend Lucius, but Aurors all ready had him bound with spelled rope. They escorted the aristocratic man out of the crowded room, ignoring the man's family trailing behind them.

Harry sat there until most of the room had emptied. The floor was so absorbing he couldn't look away, not until someone's palm fell onto his shoulder. He flinched and peeked up behind his glasses to see Draco. "Malfoy, I…"

Draco shook his head. "It's fine, Potter," he murmured and squeezed the Gryffindor's shoulder, "you tried. I appreciate it." He was silent for a moment then he managed to meet Harry's gaze and add, "Just remember, the offer to stay with Mother and I at the Manor sometime still stands."

"I, are you sure?"

Draco nodded, a sad little smirk on his lips, and said,"Yeah, I'm sure. You can't live at the Weasel—I mean Weasley's—indefinitely. You can see how the other half lives."

"Okay, Malfoy, I'll keep it in mind… Thank you. I'm sorry."

"Just don't worry about it," Draco murmured, "See you around, Potter."

Harry didn't move from his seat until Draco escorted his Mother out of the room. He didn't find Severus, so he drug himself from the courtroom. He avoided as much of the public and reporters milling around outside as he could, but he did see Arthur on his way out of the Ministry of Magic.

"Mr. Weasley, I realize it's kind of sudden, but I was wondering," Harry sucked a deep breath into his lungs and sighed it back out, "if maybe I could come stay at the Burrow for a while? Not for long, just until I can find somewhere of my own. Snape wants me out of the dungeon now that he's off the hook."

"Well, of course, Harry, you're more than welcome! When can we expect you?"

"Is tomorrow okay?"

"Sure thing," Arthur replied and clasped Harry's shoulder, "things will be a little hectic, what with the… funeral and all, but you're more than welcome, Harry, any time."

"Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Harry gave him a grateful smile and shook his hand, "I'll see you tomorrow then. I'll help you with whatever I can." They parted ways in the Atrium, and Harry flooed to Hogwarts. He stumbled into Snape's office and searched for him. He wasn't in his office, nor was he in the classroom working on a potion.

The quarters were almost silent when Harry entered them. He heard faint noises in the lab, but that was the only clue that Severus was present. Harry considered knocking, but the distraction might annoy Severus even more, so the Gryffindor's usual bravery fled.

Instead, Harry packed his trunk slowly. He fiddled with his clothes and folded several shirts more than three times before settling them into his trunk. The quiet had never seemed to bother him as much as it did at this moment. He finished and decided he could at least make supper since it was his last night there.

The newspapers he had looked at only the day before were still laying on the kitchen table, the highlighter still perched atop the parchments. Harry grabbed one copy of The Daily Prophet, glancing over some of the ads he had highlighted, but he quickly lost interest and tossed it back down.

A few minutes later, he had managed to walk away from the stove, spaghetti warming in a pot. Harry knocked on the door to Severus's lab, waited for a response, then poked his head in when he heard something that sounded like, "Come in."

"I made some supper," Harry said, "it's ready whenever you want to eat."

"I'm not hungry, I need to finish this potion," Severus spoke with distraction, steam from the boiling water in his cauldron rising to fog against his face, "go ahead and eat."

"Well, okay," Harry answered hesitantly, "but you should take a break soon to eat…. I was hoping we could manage a peaceful meal together without a lot of arguing as celebration for your win in the court."

"I told you, Potter, I need to finish this! Now leave before you make me botch it!"

Harry ducked back out into the hallway and slammed the door closed quickly. He stared at the doorknob, his knuckles white from their tight grip, then he spun on his heel and hurried off. Supper was good, but he was sure it would have been better if Severus wasn't being so snappy.

"Okay," Harry sighed an hour later and pushed himself away from his half-empty plate of spaghetti, "I guess it's good I'm leaving tomorrow then. Don't need to bother him more than I all ready have. He got what he needed from me, so now I'm expendable, easier to push away."