Chapter 2- Investigations

Madame Pomfrey told the others that she would keep Severus overnight for observation and asked them to go back to where they found him and look for clues. This they agreed to do as they were also very curious themselves about how their colleague had managed to reverse back to childhood.

Severus looked anxiously around him and wondered how he could manage to escape before they brought his parents in. He was sliding off the bed when Poppy caught him. She hugged him and said to him gently.

"No one is going to hurt you child. I promise.' Severus wasn't so sure about that since he had heard that story too many times in his young life, then returned to the tender mercies of Tobias and Eileen Snape.

Madame Pomfrey materialized a chair so she could sit and talk to him. She asked him if he could talk to her. He looked suspiciously at her and wondered why she wanted him to talk, after all if he said the wrong thing---

Poppy cuddled the little boy and asked him "Do you know why you are here in the hospital wing Severus?"

Severus looked around the room and then looked up at her. He shook his head no.

She said "You were an adult earlier and then turned back into a little boy Severus, do you remember anything?"

Severus stared at her in confusion and wanting the charade to end, He wasn't sure why this awful joke was being played on him, but he didn't think it was funny.

Poppy sighed as she was trying to figure out how to make him believe in what she had told him.

Meanwhile the other three were checking out the dungeon. Starting with the locker Albus and Filius found no evidence of spilled potions, as far as they could tell at a glance. there was nothing out of the ordinary for Severus to have stored. He had quite a collection of rare and valuable ingredienats and potions in stock. . Albus resealed the locker and they moved on to Severus's Study where everything was placed as befitting their collegues methodical nature. Filius looked around and couldn't find anything out of place.

Minerva had walked down into the classroom and looked around. Minerva said to herself "the classroom doesn't look much different than it ever did, but wait where is Severus's desk?" she walked over to where it should have been.. Minerva called out for the other two who came into the classroom and saw the miniaturized desk. They agreed with her that it was possible that a shrinking potion or charm could have caused the damage. Filius used some reversal charms but the desk stayed half its size. Even so, they were relieved, as they now knew that by elimination, the culprit was more than likely a shrinking potion. For which there was an antidote that could reverse the effect

They went back to the hospital wing and told Poppy that they found his desk had shrunk; Filius had tried the reversal charms so now they thought a shrinking potion had been spilled. Poppy found the antidote for the potion and told them it would take a few minutes for it to take effect. Severus looked worried as he stared at the mixture that was handed to him. Poppy told him the potion should help him get better. Severus was cautious as he took the vial from her. He held it up to the light and studied the contents of the vial and then drank the terrible tasting thick liquid then Severus sat very still with his arms wrapped around his drawn up legs and focused his eyes towards the far wall of the hospital wing. They waited patiently for the potion to take effect but after half an hour there was no signs of improvement.

"I could have sworn the culprit was a shrinking potion since we found his desk had shrunk also." exclaimed Minerva who was gazing at Severus who had not moved a muscle. She stroked his hair with her hand moving some stray strands way from his face.

"Apparently not Minerva, since the antidote didn't take effect like it should have. Albus turned to Poppy and asked "The antidote was a fresh batch wasn't it Poppy?"

"Yes Albus, it was brewed by Severus for me only two days ago."

Poppy then told them that while they were gone she talked with Severus and that he was still confused as to what had happened but she thought that he did understand that he was de-aged .

Albus thought of something he could attempt while looking at Severus and so he sat down and asked Seveus if he knew what Legilimency was. Severus nodded his head yes and looked scared. Albus assured him that he wasn't going to hurt him, and explained that if he could access Severus's memories of the past few hours he might be able to find out the truth of what had happened.

Severus didn't like this idea much but then he was just a little boy and these people did seem to want to help.He looked directly at Albus and stayed very still waiting for Albus to explore his mind and memories.

Albus said Legilimens while looking into Severus's sad eyes and saw flashes of memories piled on top of one another, whippings, beatings and other horrible images that horrified Albus. He turned away from these images and tried to find the adult memories which he hoped were accessible but found they were locked up behind some barriers that Severus had unconsciously put up but Albus now found out the biggest reason why the boy was scared. At least that was something Albus could help with.

Shaken by what he glimpsed he pulled out of Severus's mind because he sensed the little boy was getting more upset the longer his mind was being probed. Severus watched the old man carefully.

Albus paused to think and then asked, "You do understand that you had been an adult up to a few hours ago."

Severus looked up at Madame Pomfrey who smiled and nodded her head. He turned back to look at Albus. He very quietly said "yes."

It is okay Severus, there is no need to fear. I understand that you don't want to be sent home to your parents. You do not need to worry for they died years ago when you were a student here."

Poppy told him "We are not sure as to how the transformation happened, and since the antidote for shrinking potion has not worked we don"t dare try to change you back in case you get injured further. It looks like we will have to wait till it wears off on its own Hopefully you will either change back or you will just grow back up naturally."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ron Weasley was in his tiny room decorated with posters of his favourite Quidditch team Chudley Cannons. He had dumped his schoolbooks in a corner of the room and his trunk was against the wall. Ron carefully placed the last few trick balls of liquid into a box on his dresser before going back down to the kitchen where his mother was preparing dinner.

The twins had wondered if Ron had dared to use any of the shrinking potion balls that they developed.

Fred asked "You did tell him we hadn't tested the formula as safe for humans yet .."

George replied back "I thought you told him .."

Both boys looked at each other then said "HUHO you ..we better..tell him."

Ron was drinking a cold pumpkin juice when he saw his twin brothers motioning to come into the living room. Ron finished his drink and slipped out of the kitchen.

"Did you use."

"Any of the Potion balls.'

"Today before you."

"Left the school?"

Ron told them that yes he used one. He had left it in the Potions room wedged against a table leg. He thought Mrs Norris might find it while she was stalking around.

The twins looked at each other and said

"We forgot to tell you that the ."

Potion was not ready for using on humans as .."

"we're not sure as to how the revised formula will react."

Ron said back "What do you think would happen if it did explode when a human held it?"

"We hadn't got that far in our research..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night Severus lay snuggled under the blankets trying to make sense of what he had been told. He was sure he was eight. He certainly felt like he was eight but if what the big people told him was true he was actually a grownup. He dozed off as he was trying to work things out and was dimly aware of Madame Pomfrey moving about and checking up on him.

Albus, Minerva and Filius watched the stars from the tower as they discussed what was to be done for Severus if he stayed a child. After seeing the images of Severus's life before Hogwarts, Albus felt worse considering what school life ended up being like for Severus.

"We all agree it wouldn't be fair for him to stay here for the whole summer without appropriate playmates." Minerva said in her well-known firm, no nonsense voice.

I don't think he ever had any playmates the first time around." squeaked Filius.

"From what I gathered when I looked through his mind most of his memories are brutal. I saw none where he played and had fun."Albus replied sadly.

"So he has to be taught how to have fun!" Minerva exclaimed, "Who would you get to take him for a week or two so he can learn how to be a child and play?"

"You know as well as I that Arthur and Molly Weasley are the most likely family who could teach him to have fun and be part of a family." Replied Albus.

"Do you think sending Severus away would be wise?" asked Filius. "He has just been transformed into a child whose memories as you say are frightening to say the least and to send him to stay with Arthur and Molly with out explaining to him why we think it is necessary to do so might give him the impression we don't want him around. Plus the fact he probably won't remember them either in his present state and what effect his presence would have on the Weasley family is another concern."

"You are right Filius. We will talk to Severus about our plan and hopefully he will understand."