Severus left Hogwarts without a sound.
No letters. No robes. No wand.
He just walked, like he was leaving behind the last part of himself that could bleed.
He didn't know where he was going.Only that it had to be away.
Lillian found the note an hour too late.
It wasn't even a proper note—just the corner of an old Potions wrapper.
"Not yours to fix. Not anymore."—S.
Lillian stood in the boys' dormitory, hand shaking, staring down at the scrap.
"I'm going after him," he whispered.
"No," said a voice.
Dumbledore.
They met at the Astronomy Tower.
The same place Lillian once learned how stars die slowly.
"How long did you know?" Lillian asked. "That he'd leave."
"I didn't," Dumbledore said. "I only knew he'd be given a choice."
"Azkaban is not a choice," Lillian snapped.
"Oh, but it is," Dumbledore replied softly. "When guilt becomes heavier than the chains."
Lillian turned, furious. "You knew they'd put him on trial again."
"They had to," Dumbledore said. "This time, the Wizengamot saw what Lucius did to him. What he let happen."
"Severus didn't betray anyone."
"But he didn't protect himself either."
The hearing was brutal.
Held in a closed chamber beneath the Ministry.
Wards thick. Air heavy. No press. No mercy.
Snape stood in enchanted chains.
His hair was wet. His robes stained. He hadn't slept.
Across from him—Lucius Malfoy.
Free. Perfect. Cold.
The first time Lucius met Snape's eyes, he flinched.
The second time, he smiled.
Lillian wasn't allowed in the chamber.But he was in the rafters, hidden by Polyjuice and pain.
He watched Severus stand there—alone—as wizard after wizard argued over his fate.
"Traitor."
"Victim."
"Tool."
"Player."
Each title hit harder than the last.
Until—
"Bonded."
The room fell silent.
A woman in emerald green stood slowly.
"Madam Bones," someone murmured.
She adjusted her glasses.
"Is it true," she asked, "that Severus Snape is magically bonded to Lillian Evans?"
Everyone froze.
Severus didn't speak.
"Because if so," she continued, "his choices are no longer his own. And that would make every action he's taken under influence... not a crime, but a consequence."
Lillian's heart stopped.
Below, Severus spoke.
His voice was raw.
"No," he said. "I made those choices. Not him. Not anyone."
"You're saying you acted independently."
"Yes."
"You accept punishment."
"I accept judgment."
Lillian almost screamed.
Outside the chamber, Dumbledore stood waiting.
Lillian emerged from the shadows, cloak fluttering like storm wings.
"Let me speak," he begged.
"They will not allow it."
"Then let me testify," Lillian snapped.
"They won't listen."
"They'll listen to you!"
Dumbledore turned, ancient and tired and terrifying.
"You gave him the bond, Lillian," he said. "You bound him to protect him. Now let him be the one to unbind it."
Lillian's breath caught.
"What?"
"He's trying to give you freedom."
"I never asked for that!"
"No," said Dumbledore. "But he believes you deserve it."
Back in the chamber—
The vote was cast.
The room was split.
Exactly split.
Until the last vote.
Lucius stepped forward.
Everyone stared.
He raised his wand to the magical quorum—
And whispered: "Innocent."
The chamber exploded in noise.
Severus didn't move.
He only stared at Lucius.
And Lucius—his eyes didn't gleam.
They didn't sneer.
They just looked empty.
That night, Lillian found Severus in the greenhouse.
Silent.
Still wearing the chains.
"They didn't even take them off," Lillian said, horrified.
"I asked them not to."
"Why?"
"So I'd remember."
Lillian knelt.
Took Severus's hands.
"You're not mine," he whispered.
"No," Lillian said. "I'm yours."
He reached forward, forehead against Severus's, magic crackling like a heartbeat.
And in the dark—the chains fell off.