I know that some of these moments happened in the books. I kind of re-wrote them to suit the vibe I was going for. 

Snape's change in patronus, what do we think?

Again, this is purely fanfiction. I don't own anything. H.x 

Kinglsey addressed the room once more. His deep voice was calm, but the kind to hold the attention of his audience without any real effort. 

"Our first testimony will come posthumously from Mr Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts for almost 40 years, teacher, mentor and colleague to Mr Snape. Mr Dumbledore held various accolades prior to his untimely death. Most notably receiving an Order of Merlin First Class for his efforts during the first war, and holding the position of Head of the Wizengamot for a number of years." 

Hermione blew her nose, still not quite over having just watched a replay of her husband's childhood trauma. There had been a brief pause, during which the Wizengamot had taken time to examine evidence before The Minister had called for order again. 

The same uniformed official from earlier had appeared with a second vial, holding it up in the air flamboyantly for the whole room to see. Hermione heard Draco sigh tiredly. 

Severus himself looked unaffected by events of the morning. His face was emotionless. He was sat with perfect posture and had answered candidly to the Wizengamot. He and Hermione had agreed that, if this were to work, he was not to deny any accusations (unless they were outright lies) and he would not get enraged by the endless questions. So far, so good. 

The memories of Albus Dumbledore began to project for the whole courtroom to see. 

They were in Dumbledore's office, the only indicator of the time frame was the man himself. His beard was slightly shorter and his face slightly less weathered. Portraits of ex-headmasters and headmistresses lined the walls, and funny looking objects were displayed on every surface. Behind Dumbledore's desk was a large bookshelf, with tomes that appeared to be older than the man himself. 

 Dumbledore had been perusing some papers when there was a knock at the door. Rather than waiting for an answer, Severus Snape burst into the room, stopping just short of the headmaster's desk. 

There was panic in his eyes. Sweat on his brow. Snape's chest heaved as though he had been running.

"I've done something incredibly stupid and she's going to die because of me. You have to do something, Albus!" Snape urged. "The Dark Lord is going to kill the Potter's

Dumbledore remained expressionless. "Tell me everything, my boy. Spare no detail." 

"When you interviewed Sybil Trelawney at the Hogshead, she made a prophecy didn't she?" Snape accused. "She told you that a boy, born at the end of the summer would be The Dark Lord's undoing." 

Dumbledore looked horrified. "How did you know?"

"I happen to frequent the Hogshead. I heard her." Severus snapped, "It's not important! In a fit of blind loyalty and total error, I relayed the news directly to The Dark Lord. I didn't consider the consequences. I only thought that he would praise me, and I  would be able to rise up in his ranks."

Dumbledore gave a grim smile. "You didn't know that Lily Potter had been pregnant. You didn't know that she had birthed a son, in July.  Now the Dark Lord is going to kill James and Lily, and their son." 

"We may be too late." Severus urged. "You're the only one who can save her." 

Albus snorted. "Why the change of heart Severus? How do you expect me to believe you?" 

Severus stopped and stared at the Headmaster. It was a calculating, dangerous gaze that would make many shrink. He drew his wand, taking a step towards Dumbledore. Despite the threatening stance that Snape had now taken, Albus did not move nor draw his wand. 

"Expecto patronum" Snape whispered, and a luminous white doe erupted from the tip of his wand, danced happily around the room before dissolving into the darkness. 

"Lily?" Dumbledore looked on agape. "Really? After all this time?" 

"Always." Snape confirmed. 

There was a brief moment of silence in which the two men stared at each other. Dumbledore looked pensively at Severus, as though he couldn't quite work out what to say. It was an odd moment, to see one of the greatest Wizards of all time lost for words. 

"If  I am to help you, Severus, you must swear your loyalty to me."  He warned. 

Severus Snape got down on his knees, in a mortifying moment of vulnerability he begged Albus Dumbledore. "Any respect, any loyalty I once had for The Dark Lord has vanished. I assure you. I can prove it with veritaserum." 

"That won't be necessary." Albus reassured. 

"My deepest regret is ever having joined The Dark Lord. From this moment, I am only loyal to his demise. I am loyal to you, Albus, and I hope that you'll forgive me for ever doubting you." Snape was still on his knees. 

Albus smiled. "Very well. I cannot deny that you are a weapon, Severus. If The Dark Lord believes you are truly devoted to him then let it continue. Your role in his expiry will be invaluable."

"Are you asking me to be your spy?" Severus rose to his feet. He straightened his cloak nervously. "Is it not enough that I am under the control of one Master? Now I must be at the mercy of two?"

"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you took your Dark Mark." Dumbledore challenged. "The longer we wait, the less chance we have of finding Lily alive. What is your answer Severus?"

The realization dawned on Severus's face. He was being manipulated. It appeared that he was caught between a very jagged rock, and an incredibly hard place. "Yes, i'll be your spy." 

*

Severus was stood in Dumbledore's office yet again. He was seething. A clock chimed eight.

"I don't trust Quirrell. He's up to something. Its either related to The Stone or The Boy. Or both." Severus accused. 

Dumbledore chuckled. "You don't trust anyone Severus. Professor Quirrell is perfectly appropriate for his job. As for Harry, it is perfectly normal for students to get up to mischief."

"He's rude. He's arrogant. Hes just like his father." Severus moaned. 

Dumbledore shot his colleague a fierce look. "I will not have you talk that way about a student. You are misplacing your anger for James and taking it out on Harry." 

"I am not! He's up to something." Severus raged. 

Albus smiled. "Just how much trouble do you expect an eleven year old to get into?"

* 

The scene flashed and Severus was stood waiting outside the hospital wing, his arms folded, wearing a scowl on his face. Dumbledore emerged from visiting Potter, who had managed to prevent The Dark Lord from stealing the Philosopher's stone from the bowels of the castle. 

Dumbledore frowned at the sight of the man, which caused Severus to smirk. "I told you so." 

Severus spun on his heel and stormed off, feeling more joy than he had felt all year. 

*

The memory shifted and this time they were in Snape's office. There were ugly specimens in pickling jars displayed across the room. His desk, was the only furniture, save for two very hard looking chairs. A singular window let in a greenish glow, clearly they were under The Black Lake. Dumbledore, wearing scarlet robes, looked incredibly out of place.

"I need an update on Karkaroff." Albus pushed. 

Severus, who had been marking rolls of parchment with red ink, huffed and put his quill down. "I don't know why you let that monster into the school, if not to create more work for me."

"I asked you to watch him, I didn't ask for you to form an opinion on him." Albus said, choosing to stand rather than to sit. 

Severus rubbed his forehead. "As it happens, Karkaroff approached me. He entertained the idea that that The Dark Lord is going to return. He said that the events at the Quidditch World Cup were just a decoy, and that The Dark Lord is going to use the Triwzard Tournament as a distraction. Igor suggested that while the public are following the goings-on of the competition, no one will notice if The Dark Lord resurrects himself." 

Dumbledore hummed. "What do you think?" 

"Karkaroff is scared. He asked me whether I would go into hiding if the Dark Lord returned. Of course, I didn't sell The Dark Lord's secrets to The Ministry, so I really have no reason to hide. I thought it pertinent not to tell Karkaroff that, though." Severus said with sass. 

Albus did not look amused. "And your arm?" 

Severus shrugged. "My scar hasn't darkened since the first time I alerted you. I would seem that Karkaroff's mark has darkened too. He wanted to compare." 

Albus turned to leave. "Igor is harmless. He is well connected and clever. I think we should heed his warning about the tournament." 

"You should pull Potter out!" Severus shouted, as Dumbledore exited the room.

*
 
"He isn't listening to me Albus!" Severus moaned. Again, they were sat facing one another in the headmaster's office. The greasy haired potions Professor looked extremely tired. 

"You have to make him understand how important these lessons are. You have to help him learn." Albus was beginning to sound like a broken record. 

Severus groaned. "What, precisely, do you think I've been  doing?! This isn't about grades anymore. The boy knows the risk should he fail to shut off his mind. He flat out refuses to try!"

"You have to work harder, Severus." The headmaster said. "If you fail, things could get far worse than we imagined."

"Why must it all come down to me? What exactly are you doing for the boy?" Severus accused. 

Albus just smiled. "All will become clear." 

*

In the next scene, Severus was holding Albus's blacked hand with uncharacteristic delicacy. Albus was slumped into his chair behind the headmaster's desk, looking more fatigued and older than ever. 

Severus pressed a goblet to the old man's lips. "Drink. It will slow down the curse."

After slowly sipping the potion, Dumbledore seemed to become re-energized. It was as though someone had breathed life back into him. He stared at Severus with his soft blue eyes. "It will slow down the curse, but not end it?" 

Severus swallowed stiffly. "No. Eventually it will take over your body." 

Avoiding Dumbledore's gaze, Severus turned an adjusted his robes. Albus chuckled. "I suppose it is fitting, giving the current situation." 

The comment was enough to grab Severus's attention. "The current situation?" 

"The Dark Lord has ordered Draco Malfoy to kill me. Did you think I wouldn't notice his futile attempts with the necklace and the poisoned mead?" Dumbledore seemed oddly pleased to have caught his colleague off guard. "He is your Godson, is he not?"

"Yes." Severus had a sinister expression. "I'm dealing with it. You need not worry."

Albus stood from his chair, and wobbled feebly. He reached out a hand to steady himself against his desk. "I need not worry, because you will be the one to kill me, Severus."

Snape's mouth hung open. It seemed to take a few seconds for the proverbial penny to drop. "I have done everything you have asked of me, Albus. Everything. But I will not be the one to kill you."

"You must. It will be the final act that solidifies your loyalty to The Dark Lord. Similarly,  it will be your ultimate test of loyalty to me." Dumbeldore said in a way that did not invite Severus to argue back. 

"Severus, please." He pleaded.  But Snape had already stormed dramatically out of the room. 

* 

The memories faded, and the courtroom was brought back into Hermione's awareness. Draco, who was sat so close to her that their shoulder's were touching, had his head bowed in shame. 

Hermione squeezed his hand. "It's not your fault." She whispered. "You did what you had to, they were going to punish your mother."

Draco cleared his throat. "Yeah? Well I didn't even kill the man and my family still got ruined. Besides, that's not the point."

Before Hermione could ask, Draco filled her in. "Uncle Severus didn't tell me that Dumbledore had asked him to kill him. Nor did he tell me he had made an unbreakable vow with my mother. I actually blamed myself for not being able to kill a man, like having humanity was something to be ashamed about." 

"When he told me the truth, after the Battle of Hogwarts, I was so angry I could've killed Uncle Severus." Draco whispered. 

Hermione stared over a Severus, who remained expressionless.  "Perhaps you ought to talk to him about it. He probably has no idea." 

Kingsley's voice interrupted all of hushed voices, speaking in whispers across the crowd. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed, as there were no windows or clocks around the room. Hermione already felt exhausted, but she knew that there was still a long way to go. 

"Mr Snape, perhaps you could elaborate for the Wizengamot, what exactly it was that made you change your allegiance to The Dark Lord? The first memory we viewed seemed to be the defining moment for you, was it not?" 

Severus tensed. Hermione knew first hand how difficult it was for him to talk about his emotions. "As I mentioned earlier, as The Dark Lord became more unhinged, my loyalties began to waver. However, you would be correct to assume that the death of Lily Evans was the moment my doubts climaxed. I loved her. That was the moment I understood that The Dark Lord would destroy anyone who got in his way."

Kingsley seemed sated by the response. He nodded at Severus discreetly. A small gesture of respect that did not go unmissed by Hermione. A member of the Wizengamot stood. She was a small lady with a thin face. Her bobbed haircut made her appear more severe than perhaps she intended. 

"Mr Snape, in the memory you used your patronus to signify your affections for Mrs Potter?" She asked. 

"I prefer to think of her as Miss Evans, but yes." Severus answered. 

The witch ignored him. "I would like you to cast a patronus charm. Could Mr Snape have his wand, please?" 

There was a commotion as several Ministry employees dashed around to retrieve Severus's wand. It had been removed from him before the trial as a security measure. One man unlocked Severus's handcuffs, sweating nervously as another presented him his wand. 

He would be stupid to try anything. And Severus Snape was certainly not stupid. Instead, he pointed his wand towards the ceiling and muttered the incantation. Immediately, a luminous silver form burst from the tip of his wand, brightening up the room significantly. 

The animal was much smaller than a doe. As it leapt around the room on its four feet, Hermione stared at the small, slim creature and wondered what it could be. It was not dissimilar to an otter; it had short legs, an arched back and a stubby tail. It dawned on Hermione, 

Snape's patronus was a honey-badger. A fierce-tempered relative of the weasel family, honey-badgers were relatively reclusive, although were known to come together to mate, and very occasionally lived in pairs. 

The audience sat open-mouthed as the honey-badger faded. The Wizengamot witch crossed her arms with a smug expression on her face. "Your patronus isn't a doe, Mr Snape."

Severus shot her an intimidating glare. "I'm aware." He paused for dramatic effect. "One's patronus can change its corporeal form during the course of ones life, as a result of an array influences. As it happened, I fell in love again." 

Severus nodded his head towards Hermione, who blushed as she felt all eyes on the room focused on her. "Perhaps Mrs Snape's name might be an indication of the truth, otherwise I'm sure one of your colleagues would be kind enough to pull up our marriage certificates." 

"That's enough. Miss Robbins please take a seat." Kingley interrupted the witch from any further argument. She sat down in a huff.

"Perhaps we ought to have a short break before resuming the trial." Kingsley announced, noticing the general restlessness that seemed to have spread throughout the room. "We will return in 15 minutes."

The moment the Minister's gavel banged against the desk,  the room exploded into noise. People were obviously eager to gossip about the evidence presented in the trial so far. There were flashed of light, as cameras tried to capture Severus Snape, as he was lead to an adjoining room for the duration of the break. 

Hermione stood and stretched, despite the limited space between the crowded benches. Her bum was numb from the harsh wooden bench, and she wanted desperately to stretch her legs. She looked over to Draco. 

"I'm just going to nip to the loo." She informed him, before inching her way out of the pew, to the steps that lead to the door. 

She didn't really need to go. But she had no inclination to sit and listen as everyone discussed the fate of her Husband.