My, my my.......Snape's trial was definitely in the running for "fastest opening of a trial in history". Really, Snape should have known better than to take pot shots at Augusta and Amelia. Of course, death by reducto is better than the Kiss. One can't be surprised by his preference. On the other hand, I'm sure that the people who threw the curses his way felt much better after he'd been put down. Any chance that some were previous students and/or parents of same? With a "teacher" like that revenge would be dreamt of, prayed for, if necessary begged for! I can see people who'd suffered his attentions "teaching" or otherwise going bankrupt making offerings to every deity in the pantheons if the bastard was dead. Was Dawlish just making sure that Snape didn't out him or truly trying to help him escape? It's a good thing Amelia's having him watched, even though she isn't aware of his treachery. I also liked Rita's little discussion with Harry. Between Harry and Amelia Rita's stuck on the straight and narrow! I wonder if having to stick to the truth will give her hives? The talk with Minerva and the Founders was interesting, and seeing Voldy cast from Slytherin's line was great! I look forward to seeing Voldy's last trip via spaceship. He always claimed that he was the first at doing something, now he can be the first disembodied sociopath to take a dive into the sun. Many thanks for another excellent chapter! :)
Author's response
Heya Teresa!
Pot shots: He wasn’t really. He knew that the wizarding people are basically sheep. If he managed to kill Augusta, and kill or grievously wound Amelia, the population would be in an uproar. The government would be in disarray and like Dawlish, he knew that the blood heads would grab for power as quickly as they could. It’s also quite likely that Dumbledore would help them by speechifyin’ his patented line of peace and forgiveness.
Death by Reducto: Suicide by cop, and you’re right. Quite honestly if I were in his position, I’d do the same.
The Aurors acted on training, and each only fired a single reductor at someone who’d just cast a killing curse and was aiming at their boss. That there were more than dozen Aurors in the courtroom was just his tough luck. On the other hand they knew what he was capable of, and were probably hoisting one at the nearest cop bar to celebrate his ‘unfortunate demise’. It’s the same in the mundane world.
Relatives/Parents: It’s possible, although not likely, as most of the Aurors at this point int time would have Snape’s contemopraries. (remember, here, Snape has only been screwing with people’s futures for five years.
On an aside; given the lack of proper Potions training, and that a N.E.W.T. in Potions is required to be an Auror, makes me wonder how Tonks managed to get one in canon. If Snape is as bad as he’d been portrayed, there should have eben no way for her to attain a NEWT at all. Remember, she’s a halfblood; her mother is a blood traitor and her father is a mudblood.
Begging, bargaining or making sacrifices to kill him: That would have been unprofessional, and my version of Madam Bones is a stickler for professional behavior. (I personally despise rapists, but when I was a police officer, unless he pulled a weapon, I’d do my very best to take him in unharmed. If he did…well I made a promise to myself that I was going home alive every night.)
Dawlish: Not really. Dawlish is an undercover type. (What Snape should have been had he been written correctly) Snape knew he was going to be kissed. Amelia had already said that and the evidence against him was unsurmountable, especially given that he’d already testified that Dumbledore’s delusions were just that. A spy, spies. He remains unobtrusive, collects information and sends it on. (James Bond is not a spy, he is an assassin, and not a particularly effective one.)
As for Dawlish, Amelia will be learning of his affiliation when she returns to Earth.
~I also liked Rita's little discussion with Harry. Between Harry and Amelia Rita's stuck on the straight and narrow! I wonder if having to stick to the truth will give her hives? ~
I’m glad you liked that. It’s about time somebody put up some flypaper. I’m sure with sufficient thought, she could find a way around his restrictions, but for the time being, she as you indicated between a wall and a flyswatter.
Hives…no. But possibly a nervous twitch whenever an Auror comes near.
The talk and the casting out: I actually wrote that for another fic, but it worked here too. Casting Riddle from the line ensured that in the unlikely event he survived his punishment and returned to Earth, he’d have no magical connection to Slytherin house.
Voldy’s last trip: Somehow, I don’t think he’s gonna appreciate the honor. After all, he’s gonna be riding in the boot.
Disembodied sociopath (et al). I wonder if that can be hyphenated. Much cooler than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Until next time.
Alorkin