Revert To Type

Disclaimer: I own little to nothing of what it is named/referred to and am making even less from it.

Chapter 25.

> Severus half expected to hear the courtroom filled with applause as Arthur brought his speech to a close. He had an immediate dislike and distaste for the theatrics that legal proceedings seemed to garner, something that Remus had pointed out was quite hypocritical given his own penchant for sweeping down corridors in billowing robes. None the less the sound of shuffling papers that filled the silence, as Percy Weasley got ready to speak grated more and more as blatantly unnecessary time elapsed. Eventually the young up-start got to his feet and moved out onto the floor of the courtroom and Severus braced himself for what he was certain was going to be an excruciating experience.

"Ladies, Gentleman," He began facing towards the panel and then with a glance towards the table where they were sitting. "and well, everybody else." His own anger rose dramatically as, out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Arthur go to stand, presumably to register his objections, but the Chair beat him to it.

"I'll warn you to mind your manner Mr Weasley." Amelia Bones said in a quietly restrained voice. She was met with a bob of his head before he continued. "There are three points which I would like to draw to your attention at this stage in proceedings; the first is to remind you that the question you are addressing in this hearing is not whether this couple offer a better prospect to individual 246.01 than the alternative available at this precise time, but whether placing her in their care would lead to the best possible outcome. After all, if you do decide to decline their application, the child will remain under the care of the Ministry but other applications will be sought, registered and brought before a panel such as this.

"The second point that I would like to raise is that individual 246.01 is not, nor will she grow up to be Minerva McGonagall. It is up to you whether you deem that two people so intimately acquainted with this woman, who propose to raise the girl in an environment surrounded by those who also knew her, could off 246.01 the best opportunity to grow into what she has the possibility of being. That they wouldn't force her to become someone she is not but someone she once was. Finally and perhaps most importantly I would ask you to consider the implications of handing guardianship of a child, we know will grow to be one of the most powerful witches in a century to a death eater and a werewolf." This time before Severus had even reigned in his own anger enough to think what it was that anyone else was doing. Remus' hand was clenched around his armrest so tightly that it was white and the Slytherin's heart bleed for him, after all, his label he had earned for himself, Moony had had his inflicted upon him as a child.

"Objection." Arthur's voice broke through the haze as he thrust his chair back viciously. "I think you'll find that my client is a former death eater who played a vital role in the winning of the war and that they have both been awarded Order of Merlins for their contributions to our society. Besides that however, I think you'll find that my honourable colleague just contradicted himself. If Anna is so categorically not Minerva McGonagall, then how can you possibly know what she will be or how powerful she'll be when she grows up?"

"Objection sustained." Amelia Bones said swiftly. "Do your best to ignore that last point that was just made by the younger Mr Weasley." She addressed this to her fellow panel members. "Have you anything else you'd like to say for now?" This was accompanied by a pointed look at the younger man.

"No, thank you Ma'am." He added this last as though an afterthought as he once more took his seat behind the desk.

> There was a short pause, in this instance while Amelia bones found the parchment she was looking for.

"Right – Can I ask Professor Snape to take the stand please?" She said looking up and strait towards him, her look one of business but not as unbending as he had suspected he might receive from her. He gave a slight nod as he stood and made his way to the somewhat redundant 'stand'. As he took his place he couldn't help but feel like a convict as he placed his hands on the wooden barrier that now separated him from the rest of the courts inhabitants. He was reminded in that instant of another court room, another panel in what felt like a different life-time, but was quick to remind himself that the two situations had very little in common. There was no feel of cold restricting steel around wrists in ankles now…

"Now Professor, if you could state your name, date of birth and occupation for the records." Amelia Bones asked, looking at him over the top of her glasses.

"Severus Snape, January 9th 1960, Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He watched as she wrote something or other on the scroll presumably some kind of legislative detail.

"Go ahead Mr Weasley." She said indicating that Arthur should take the lead. As Severus looked towards their council he couldn't help but catch Remus' eye and was surprisingly reassured at the swift smile of encouragement he received.

"How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts Professor?" Arthur asked casually as he wondered towards the box, looking up at the last minute and catching and holding Severus' gaze for a moment.

"Since 1981. I applied for the DADA, Defence Against the Dark Arts, post but was given Potions." He added trying to curb his usual tone, knowing without being told that it was unlikely to help his case. Several of the members of the panel were taking notes and he spent a moment trying to decipher from their expressions what it was they were thinking until the next, somewhat predictable question was posed.

"And before that?"

"I studied at Hogwarts until I was eighteen I then went on to do my Masters at the British Potions Institute. That took almost three years to complete, it was the summer I had left the institute that I applied for the position at Hogwarts."

"And can you tell us what your main motivations for applying for a job back at the school?" However delicately Arthur put the questions it was more than obvious what he was getting at and Severus supposed that it was better to come out with it.

"During my time studying in London, I gradually became more and more involved in a group known now as the Death Eaters. I became a full member in the summer of 1980, I went to Dumbledore because I had realised that the group was not only not what I thought it was but that it was intent on being the downfall of our world as we know it. I knew that he was head of an organization fighting the dark forces and thought that I might be able to do something to help them." Arthur said nothing, his chin at his chest and hands clasped behind his back for a moment. Time seemed to drag on for an eternity as his last words hung in the air, leaving a bad taste in his mouth even now. He had learned a long time ago that there was nothing he could do to change his past but that did knowledge did nothing to relieve the weight upon his shoulders when he thought of it.

>After what could have, realistically only been a few seconds Arthur straitened up and asked his next question in a much lighter fashion.

"Can you describe to us some of your interactions with Anna," The other man held up a hand to halt him for a moment while he elaborated, "this hearing is not interested in the intricacies of what happened in the lead up to her creation but if you could give us an impression of what happened in the lead up to your being asked to take care of her in the short term."

"Of Course," He replied gathering his thoughts as to what was relevant. "I suppose that purely practically it made sense for me to take charge of the child as it was important that any additional side effects of the accident were reported to those working to establish what had happened. She had also, for some reason I myself cannot explain, taken a liking to me."

"How did you find it having to adapt you life to accommodate her?"

"The child, Anna, is unusually bright and self reliant for a child of her age, as I'm sure anyone who has had dealings with her will tell you. The language barrier was a problem but a mixture of hand signals, and my own attempts at some basic Gallic, along with children's natural propensity for learning new languages helped."

"And how would you say that Anna has coped?"

"I… For all my experience with children, I would never claim to be an expert in their psychology and the child in question is far younger than those I teach. That said, as far as I am able to tell she has adapted as well as could be expected. There have been several setbacks though." Looking for confirmation that he should continue and receiving it he began to explain the incident with the stairs, he told them about her reaction to the crowded streets, admitting that he should perhaps, not have exposed her to them so early on. And despite how difficult he found it, he tried to explain what had happened the night that she had woken screaming for someone who couldn't help her.

"And can you tell the panel when the first time that Anna met Remus?"

"We met him by chance actually, on that trip into Diagon Alley. He suggested that we get her out of the crowds and up to our apartment for the time being, to allow her to calm down before we made any other decisions."

"And do you think that they got on well? Did Anna seem comfortable around Remus?"

"She was, and I suspect she still will be uncomfortable around strangers, but she quickly opened up to Remus. They developed a rapport and I suspect no-one is closer to her now than he is." He said with a conviction he felt to his very core.

"Thank you." Arthur said to him before turning to the panel. "No Further questions Ma'am."

>Severus wasn't sure whether this signalled that he could step down also, but had a vague recollection of Arthur informing them that they could be cross-examined by Percy Weasley so hesitated and waited for an additional cue.

"Mr Weasley – your witness." Amelia Bones announced indicating that the younger man could take the floor.

"Thank you Ma'am." He responded sounding as pious as ever. The potions master new that now was going to come the real test to his ability to bite down on his own tongue. There was a further, unnecessarily long pause before he posed his question.

"Does it not worry you that you propose to bring up this little girl in an environment, where there will be little to, no female influence in her life?" Severus had expected that this question might come up at some stage but certainly hadn't expected his prosecutor, for all intents and purposes, to use it as his opening gambit.

"I hardly think that because we are both male that there would be no female influences in her life altogether. Besides, I think you'll find that many children, both magical and muggle have been raised without one of their parents, for whatever reason, and grown up to be perfectly normal individuals. I could site Minerva McGonagall as a prime example." He paused, to see whether someone would object even to his reference to his former colleague. No one spoke up so he continued. "I think that compared to those children Anna would have the advantage of two parents who love her very much." The Slytherin was somewhat surprised to see the way his inquisitor deflated as he spoke. He may have had a way with jibes and insults but he ha found over the years that he often struggled to convey just what it was he felt articulately. This aside he was genuinely relieved when his former pupil murmured 'No further questions' at the panel's chairperson before slinking off back behind his desk.

A/N: At last! Well here it is. Just to let you all know that I've had it my head from very early on that there was going to be a sequel to this fic, or a second part in any case. However, as I write the rest of the plot gets more and more intricate and little things become much much bigger. This said, I think this is now going to be the first of three instalments A new beginning in three parts if you like…

Anyway, thanks again to all of you who review, still dying to know what you think

xLx

PS - there were paragraphs I swear...