[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]
Third Person POV
Ministry of Magic.
...
...
At the entrance of the Ministry, without exchanging a single word, the aurors simply stepped out of the way as Severus entered through the Ministry's door with Rosária behind him.
Quickly, the reporters went into an uproar over what had happened, and the aurors began to hear shouts that Severus had used some kind of spell on them, so terrifying it seemed to have thrown them into another dimension for a few seconds, which was completely insane given that they hadn't seen Severus do anything other than ask them to stop.
"That was dark magic!"
"I saw myself in an abyss... there were terrifying eyes staring at us!"
"I don't want to go near that monster anymore!"
"I'll write an exclusive story about this. The wizarding world must know the danger that Severus Prince is!"
The voices of complaints quickly grew bolder once Severus was no longer in sight, while they spoke among themselves.
Already inside the entrance hall of the Ministry, the commotion had been noticed from outside, as they saw Severus Snape entering. Quickly, all those who had been waiting by the fireplace for him to arrive through it turned to him with cautious and surprised looks, since they hadn't imagined he would use the main entrance that day.
"Severus Prince!" a clerk quickly approached, holding his wand firmly and hesitating only when he saw Severus there, calmly standing before him.
"I am here to see the court and my trial," he said to the auror.
"Of course, Mr. Prince. Please, follow me," said the clerk, while Severus felt everyone's gaze fixed on him. "Inform them that he has arrived." The man told another person, who left to prepare the court for the trial.
"Before we proceed to the main chamber, you must leave your wand here at the entrance. We usually register it, but since you will be under trial, you cannot keep it." — the man explained, unable to hide a certain fear that Severus might disagree or become irritated by it, while he studied Severus, along with several others around them.
Severus only nodded silently, making the man release a sigh of relief. They proceeded to the reception desk, where the woman behind it stared at him with fear. He practically frightened everyone there.
Severus simply removed the wand from the system and handed it over, surprising some who noticed and were stunned to see the weapon appear in his hand, as if it had come out of nowhere.
"Here." — he said, and then turned once more to the entrance hall, analyzing the place that had once been the battlefield between him and Voldemort, at the beginning of the fight at the Ministry.
People whispered throughout the place as they looked at him, many prepared to use their wands at the slightest hostile reaction from him. It was almost funny how everyone was terrified at such a high level, even more so when he seemed so calm about it all.
Even with wands already aimed and ready to be cast against him, Severus was serene, as if none of it mattered, to the point of handing over his own wand without question.
There was no nervousness, fear, or caution in his eyes. It was obvious he was a powerful wizard. But would he really need a wand when he could move faster than any werewolf or vampire? Many theorized that he was some kind of evolved being, one who maintained a human form without the disadvantages of those creatures.
In any case, Severus turned when the entrance door opened to the deeper chambers of the Ministry, revealing a group of people approaching. At the front of them, none other than Dumbledore.
"Oh, Severus." — he said in a friendly tone. Certainly, at that moment of the trial, he would not be at Hogwarts, but rather here, since he was one of the leading heads of the High Court of Wizards. "There was a commotion coming from the entrance, I imagined it was you. It's good that I wasn't wrong." — he said, stepping closer as he extended his hand to Severus.
Severus did the same, but his gaze was a bit strange. The relationship between the two had shifted somewhat since they had tried to attack each other. Albus Dumbledore had attempted to manipulate him in various ways, and he had felt a certain disgust for that man at the time. Now, Severus didn't care much about him; having grown powerful enough, he didn't even think of Dumbledore as a threat anymore. As long as the old man didn't cross the line, it would be fine.
"Dumbledore." — he said. There was no joy in his voice, but it was very calm, different from how he would speak to an enemy.
Severus Prince's gaze moved to the people right behind him, some of whom he knew well, both from the Ministry and from the IWC team — the gnome, the vampire woman who didn't fail to give Rosaria a look of recognition, and the two pointy-eared children, who, as soon as they caught Severus's gaze, hid in fear.
Like everyone else, they observed him cautiously, waiting for some hostile movement.
"Well, you must already know many here. In any case, let us accompany you to the chamber where the trial will be held, to clarify the procedures." — Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Rosária is with me. I expect no harm will be done to her." — Severus said, without changing his expression.
"Of course, we won't make the same mistake of trying to harm Dracula's daughter twice." — Dumbledore replied, while some people around pressed their lips together, remembering the chaos caused by the minister when dealing with the vampires.
"In any case, let's go." — Dumbledore said, taking the lead to guide him. Thus, they entered the Ministry, walking down a large corridor, from where voices could be heard in the distance — inaudible even to a half-vampire like Rosaria.
"I have to go now, something is happening there and my people need me." — said a female voice, which Severus recognized the moment he heard it. It was none other than the mysterious princess he had asked about on the night of the ambush at Voldemort's old hideout. She seemed to have some great problem in her kingdom, and Severus had no idea what it was, since she had given no further information.
"I understand, very well. I would even do more, but we have an important trial today. I cannot release the entire IWC team. But you, your counselor, and royal guard may go." — said another female voice, with authority.
"Thank you, Lady Santos." — was all the princess replied, as footsteps approached the corridor.
Soon, Severus and the others saw her pass by them, accompanied by that old man with the staff and the armed man. Everyone looked at Severus for a moment, the princess studying him carefully, while he walked calmly with his hands in his pockets. The man with the staff had a gleam of recognition before nodding to Dumbledore as his equal, while the other man had a look full of questions as he kept his sword ready.
Then, they turned forward again and continued at a hurried pace.
No one said anything, they just watched the three leave and continued on. Severus reached the end, turned the corridor, and found the woman who had spoken with the princess before. It was none other than Vicência Santos, the supreme chief of the IWC. The woman was already elderly, but she maintained a calm gaze, assessing him from the strands of his hair to the tips of his feet ever since Severus had entered the corridor.
"Ah, Severus, let me introduce you. This is Vicência Santos, the president of the IWC." — introduced Dumbledore, while the woman continued evaluating him. There was no fear in her eyes, only caution, as if she were judging whether or not he was a threat.
"Severus Prince. I've heard much about you, Mr. Prince." — she said in a surprisingly diplomatic tone.
"Vicência Santos, I've heard much about you as well, respected supreme chief. It is a pleasure to meet you." — Severus replied, offering a small smile.
He stepped forward, took her hand, and kissed it like a knight. "I've heard you are a tough woman, but I see a lady who has endured with time, even with your position and the stress it carries, you remain delightful, milady." — he said in a seductive tone, which made Rosaria frown.
Vicência looked at him, restraining the urge to make a face. She had already dealt with many men trying to seduce or charm her in some way, even at her current age in search of privileges, and she knew how to handle them. However, she did not know exactly how to feel about this man who clearly "danced to the tune." It was strange for him to act this way when he did not seem to want to seek any escape from his trial; he was there doing everything except trying to get away.
Perhaps, if she had been forty years younger, she would have loved to be courted by a man like that. But that was not the case. Her eyes hardened.
"I see you are quite spirited, Lord Prince, given everything you've been through." — she said in an almost accusatory tone, while Severus maintained a calm gaze and a slightly amused smile.
"I am here to clarify many questions about myself and my fight with Voldemort. I am sure that, after hearing better what I have to say, Lady Santos will have a somewhat different opinion of me." — he said, in the same serene tone.
"We'll see that when we begin to evaluate what you have to say, Lord Prince. In any case, let's go. Let's not waste more time." — Vicência replied firmly.
Severus did not disagree and merely nodded, while everyone advanced quickly through the corridors. Some clerks ran up to them, and Vicência or Dumbledore answered their quick questions about the state of the court.
After all, everyone was rushing to take their seats. Severus had not specified a time he would appear at the Ministry, only that he would come in the first part of the morning. And, the moment he arrived, everything shifted: everyone ran to the chamber.
Vicência finally stopped at the doorway when they reached the place, while she looked at Dumbledore for a moment.
"I'll check how things are inside and speak with the minister. When everyone is in their seats, we will begin immediately. Until then, stay here waiting." — she said, and no one complained.
Rosaria had remained at Severus's side the entire time and didn't fail to poke him. "Hey, what was that earlier?" — she said, pouting as she kept a cloth over her nose because of the crowd, clearly not liking seeing Severus courting another woman, especially someone so old. Severus looked at her almost wanting to laugh at her — wasn't Rosaria herself a 200-year-old woman?
"I was just being cordial." — Severus said in a calm tone. In truth, he had merely tested the waters and used it as a form of courting.
"Will he destroy the place?"
"Should we leave... what if he wants to kill everyone?"
"I don't want to die."
The two children whispered behind everyone, staring at Severus with some fear. He could hear their words, while pretending not to hear the despair of that pointy-eared pair of siblings. They behaved like house-elves, making Severus imagine they were a race connected to them, but at the same time, they were not house-elves, at least not completely, given that their magic was also used in a similar way, even if they wielded small staves.
They stood there for about ten minutes until men from the IWC came to summon him.
"You are authorized to enter. Everyone must take their places. And, Miss Valenstein, there will be a specific place for you. All twenty-eight families are also present, at least those who survived..." — said one of the officials, speaking the last part with a knowing look at Severus.
Thus, everyone felt the tension of the place rise quickly as he took his steps, approaching the door, which opened for him.
The trial was about to begin.
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