Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

By the time Severus reached the Ministry, he was furious...not only at the fact that he had to deal with this ridiculous hearing, but at himself. His instinct had been to give in and let Jessica go with him to the hearing, and it was so difficult for him to stick to his word. He wouldn't allow himself to be the type of parent that would change his mind just because his children didn't like the rules set before them. Jessica deserved better than that, not to mention the fact that it was completely against his personality to give in. He was stubborn, and he wasn't so arrogant as to deny it.

He checked in with the security wizard at the front desk, then made his way to the elevator that would take him to the courtrooms. The stone walls surrounding him after he left the elevator looked as though they had been there for thousands of years. Reaching the courtroom where the hearing was to be held, Severus opened the door and entered. There were two aging wizards, a young wizard he didn't recognize, and Minister Weasley. Blaise Zabini hadn't arrived, but Arthur walked over to him and held out his hand.

"I'm terribly sorry about this, Severus. I'm doing all I can on my end. He contested Molly's and my adoption of Maria as well. Did you know?

Severus shook the Minister's hand.. "I did not, though it makes sense. Will Molly be here?"

"Oh, no, no. Maria, bless her, has a bit of a cold. Molly's coddling her as she does."

The woman can't live without coddling, Severus thought, though he resisted the urge to say as much. Severus felt a sense of security knowing that the Minister's adoption was being contested as well. Surely Blaise would not be able to get away with this going against the Minister.

"Will we be standing this hearing together, then?" Severus asked.

"Yes, we will. And, ah, I notice you didn't bring Jessica along." Arthur raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I hardly think a Ministry courtroom is the place for a little girl," Severus bit back defensively.

Raising a hand in surrender, Arthur said, "I absolutely agree."

"It's not as though the notice said to bring her along anyhow."

Hearing the door open, Severus turned to see Blaise Zabini walk in. Though he did not throw angry words around in attack, Blaise didn't even look at the two men already present. He walked straight to the desk provided for any paperwork he had brought along. Following suit, Severus and Arthur made their way to the other desk. After a couple minutes, one of the wizards noticed that all parties were present and clapped his hands together once.

"Shall we begin?" His voice rang out clearly and firmly in a way that defied his apparent age. "We are here today on the 18th day of September in the year 2000 to rule on the matter of Zabini, Blaise versus Snape, Severus and Weasley, Arthur. Mr. Zabini, you have sent a letter of contest on the adoptions of Augustus, Jessica and Augustus, Maria. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir." Blaise spoke in clear, clipped tones, never looking away from the wizards sitting elevated from them.

"Professor Snape, Minister Weasley, do you have your copies of the final adoption forms?" The second wizard addressed them. Severus and Arthur both located their respective adoption papers and handed them to the younger wizard who then took them to the wizards who were to determine the fate of the two young sisters. He looked at the papers, handed them to the other, and then addressed the men before him.

"They seem to be in order. Mr. Zabini, you letter of contest stated that these adoptions are illegal and therefore void because the children in question still have living relatives. Please present your case now."

Blaise removed an old-looking parchment from his folder and handed it to the young wizard. "This is a copy of my family tree. On it you will see the name Jason Zabini highlighted as well as his wife, Sarah Zabini, nee Murphy. Jason Zabini was my cousin; therefore his children, Jessica and Maria, are my relations and belong in my care."

The first wizard cleared his throat. "Mr. Zabini, we are here in question of the Augustus family," he pointed out.

"When You-Know-Who was gaining power the second time around, Jason had already married Sarah, a Muggle, and had already had Jessica. Out of fear for his wife and child, Jason changed their surname and went into hiding."

"Have you any proof that Jason Augustus is the same as Jason Zabini?"

Severus noticed Blaise's clenched jaw as a sign of his frustration. Relief was slowly spreading through Severus, as it seemed that the representatives from the Wizengamot were inclined to side with him and Arthur already.

"With all do respect," Blaise said through clenched teeth, "when people went into hiding from You-Know-Who, they made sure they left no proof behind."

"That is understandable, but regrettable. Do you have any other evidence to present, Mr. Zabini?"

"I would think that my family tree is proof enough," he spat out.

"I'm afraid, Mr. Zabini, that it is not. Even if you and the children were second cousins, that would not be enough to remove them from the homes they have been adopted into. However, as there is no proof of relation between you and the Misses Augustus, we will have to rule in favor of Professor Snape and Minister Weasley." He looked to the other for confirmation. He nodded. "This case is dismissed, and the adoptions of Jessica and Maria Augustus will remain as they are. Good day."

The wizards signed on their ruling, handing the document to the younger wizard to be placed in records, and then they left. Raising an eyebrow, Severus wondered at how one could win a case without speaking a word of defense. Marveling at his luck, Severus had an undeniable urge to hurry home and tell Jessica the good news. Stifling the urge, he turned to Arthur as Blaise stormed out of the courtroom.

"That went well," he said with a smirk.

"Definitely." Arthur clapped him on the shoulder, and Severus fought not to cringe at the touch. "Sorry to cut this short, but I've got piles of paperwork to sort through up in my office. It was good seeing you again. Do try to bring Jessie by sometime...you know how Molly gets."

Nodding, the men walked out of the courtroom together. Severus was feeling happy in a way he hadn't felt since his childhood friendship with a young redhead. Arthur left Severus, feeling relieved that his wife's meddling would not be interfered with by this inconvenience.

* * *

Severus walked down the dungeon corridors wondering how Jessica would react when she heard that she was going to be able to stay with him. He knew that she wanted to, but there was a nagging voice in the back of his head telling him that she would grow to resent him, that she would be better off without him. Pushing the thought out of his head, he almost didn't notice Hermione Granger heading his way.

"What brings you to the dungeons, Miss Granger?" he asked as she smiled up at him.

"Professor." She nodded her head in greeting. "I was simply walking Jessie back to your rooms. I hope that's all right?"

She bit her lower lip, and his eyes flickered at the movement. "She was to return after I left. What detained her?" He couldn't keep the worry and slight irritation that she had not followed his directions out of his voice.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Professor. It was me. I was walking into the Entrance Hall just as you were leaving and happened upon Jessie. We were talking when she asked if we could go to the kitchens for a treat. Afterward, I brought her straight back home," she assured him. He did not look very assured, so she went on. "I offered to take her to the Ministry..."

His eyes flashed. "You had..."

"No right, I know. She told me no. She said that she wasn't to go, and that she'd promised not to. Professor, she refused to break her promise to you."

Though he was still angry at Miss Granger's intrusion, Severus couldn't help the burst of pride in Jessica. "If that's all..." Severus began walking past her.

"Wait!" She made to reach out to him, but pulled her hand back before it found him. "I...I was wondering how it went."

Frowning, Severus looked into her eyes. "It went well." After a moment, he added, "Thank you for asking."

Severus frowned even more as the smile spread across her lips. "Oh, that's wonderful! Jessie will be delighted to hear it!"

Raising his eyebrows, Severus nodded in agreement. "Oh, right, I'll see you later, then," she said as a light blush graced her cheeks.

Leaving her, Severus continued down the corridor until he reached the entrance to his rooms. Muttering the password, he went inside to find Jessie sitting at the coffee table, writing on a small piece of parchment. She looked up as he pulled his traveling cloak off and put it onto the rack inside the door. Her eyes lit up in a combination of excitement and fear. Quickly folding the parchment she had been writing on, Jessie jumped up, stuffing it into her pocket.

"What happened?" she asked quickly, seeming to resist the urge to rush to him.

Giving her a rare smile, Severus told her, "We won. You get to stay with me."

Jessica let a squeak of joy out as she ran to him and jumped up into his arms. "Yes! Oh yes, thank you!" Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and his arms instinctively held her tight. Her lips pressed against his cheek, and he noticed that they felt wet, as though she was crying. Closing his eyes, Severus let all the doubts and worries flood out of him. Slowly, he lowered Jessie to the ground, though she didn't let go of him, her face still pressed against his stomach. Sliding a hand over her hair, Severus noticed that it was braided again.

Frowning slightly, he asked, "Did Miss Granger braid your hair again?"

Jessie pulled back from him, confused. "Um, yes. That's all right, isn't it?"

Shaking his head, Severus said, "Yes, it's all right."

"Hermione could teach you, you know. She's really good at it. Please," she added.

"As I told Hermi...Miss Granger, I will think about it." Did he really want to spend time with Miss Granger? He didn't really have an answer to that, but a small part of him decided that if it meant making Jessie happy, then he would definitely consider spending any necessary time with her.

* * *

Jessica was thrilled with the way things were turning out in her life. Everything had been so confusing, and she hadn't been sure how she'd get through not having her parents with her anymore, then being separated from Maria. Then Severus had adopted her; she understood what that meant. Severus was her dad now...or, at least, he would be once he realized that he already was. She loved being around Hermione, and she was sure that Severus would too. All she had to do was make the two of them realize that they were perfect for each other. Molly was going to be so excited when she read the letter Jessica was writing her.

Pulling the letter out of her pocket, Jessica read it over.

Dear Molly,

I miss you so much! Tell Maria that I love her and I miss her. I'm gunna ask Severus if I can visit soon. I don't wanna wait to visit her until Christmas. I really like Hermione a lot. She's so fun! Today, we went to the kitchens together and had ice cream sundaes.

She sat down, picked up a quill, and hurried to finish writing the letter.

Severus won the hearing! I get to stay with him! I was really scared I wouldn't be able to stay with him. Hermione is gunna teach him how to braid my hair. He hasn't said he will yet, but I can tell he's going to. I don't know how much Severus is working on the potion for Mark, but I think he is working on it. I really am working on getting them to talk more. I have to go now, though.

Jessie

Jessica sat inside her bedroom door that night, waiting for Severus to go to his room. She knew that once he went into his room, he would be asleep within minutes. She had to get up to the owlry to send the letter to Molly. She knew Severus would be really upset if he knew that she was planning to go up there by herself, but she didn't want him to know about this particular letter. It would not be good for her plan for him to find out that she and Molly were working together to get him to find friendship and love in the hopes that it would bring him to adopting Maria. He was a stubborn man, but she was determined to be twice as stubborn.

* * *

A/N: Reviews keep a lonely writer warm at night *wink*

Chapter polished up on January 29, 2010. (Though, again, there wasn't much to polish!)