FIC: Turnabout Prince, PG13 Title: Turnabout Prince Author: Rosy Rating: PG13 Pairing(s)/character(s): Snupin, with a hint of Phoenix/Miles if you squint a little Summary: It's been years since they've moved to Los Angeles, and now Severus has been accused of murder. Remus goes to the only man he thinks has a chance in hell of proving his lover innocent. But even Phoenix Wright himself may have a hard time with this turnabout. Disclaimer: *ahem* Severus Snape, Remus Lupin, and any mentions of Potterdom canonical characters are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. Phoenix Wright and the cast of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney are property of Capcom and Nintendo. I make no claims of ownership and am not making any profit by their use. Warnings: AU, crossover with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney aka Big Gay Lawyers. Notes: As with Cowboy!Snupin this is entirely Dizilla's fault. She always gives me the best crack. Set Post War (obviously AU, since they are both alive and well in the City of Angels), and after "Turnabout Goodbyes", the technical last chapter of the first game. I am fiddling with PW canon a smidge... but you'll only notice it if you've played both Ace Attorney and Justice for All. This is a WIP.OMG IT'S DONE!!!
Day 2 Investigation January 15, Detention Center</b>
Phoenix paced outside the visitor's room of the detention center. This? This was a disaster. More than that, this was bordering on cataclysmically bad for his client. Severus Snape had killed someone. Maybe not the victim of this case, but he had killed someone. And he had lied about it, as had Remus. This... Phoenix shook his head, turning to walk back the other way. The half hour was almost up, and Phoenix didn't know what he was going to do. Maya stood beside the door, fidgeting with her necklace. "Do... do you really think he killed someone?" she murmured.
Phoenix sighed. "He says he did." He ran a hand through his hair, giving it a little tug. "Dammit... he should have told me about this earlier. We could have prepared a counter argument. We could have had the information ready to present to the Judge and this whole damned thing would be over..."
"Nick, he said there was a reason he couldn't tell you," Maya pointed out. "Maybe he was sworn to secrecy or something. Like, it was a life or death kind of thing. I don't think he's a bad person..."
Phoenix closed his eyes, sighing. No, he didn't get that feeling either. Snarky, stubborn, sarcastic and a general pain in the ass... but not bad. Not the kind of man who would just murder someone for petty jealousy. But then... why had he hidden this? Why hadn't they told him? He glanced up, hearing the door to the visitor's room open. Remus stood in the doorway, looking very pale and very weary. He managed a weak smile at Phoenix. "Come in," he said. "I think we've made our decision."
Please dear God let them be ready to tell us the truth, Phoenix thought. Even though he had this knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He didn't think that was going to happen. He suspected it, and dreaded it. When he walked into the room, he looked at his client and felt the knot harden. Severus Snape looked grimly determined... but he also looked speculative and shifty. Crafty as any old snake, as his mom would say. He sighed and settled down in the chair across from Snape. "Well?" he asked.
Severus regarded Phoenix for a long moment, then sighed, letting his shoulders drop the tiniest fraction. "What I can afford to tell you," he said quietly, "isn't much, I'm afraid." He held up a hand, stopping Phoenix before he could push. "It isn't about me, Mr. Wright. It's about a great many people. A great many people that we are obligated to protect. We have suffered for them, bled for them... and in the end we still had to leave them. Yet we are held by this filial obligation of secrecy. I can tell you that Remus and I helped a group to take down a very evil man. I can tell you that I was a spy, a double agen. I penetrated the man's support system and brought information back to our group as often as I could. I can tell you that we triumphed in the end." He paused, then closed his eyes. "And I can tell you that the man I killed was the leader of the group who I worked with... and that he asked me to kill him."
Phoenix blinked. "...are you shitting me?" he demanded, suddenly growing angry. Severus blinked, apparently a little surprised at his vehemence. "Are you seriously trying to spoon feed me that bunch of... cladestine, vague, for-the-greater-good bullshit?" He stood up, glaring at Severus. "Let me lay this out for you, Mr. Snape. Your life is on the line here. The court wants answers. The Prosecution is going to find those answers and if I don't have that same information I can't defend you!"
"They won't," Remus said quietly.
"...what?" Maya blinked, looking at Remus. Phoenix turned, a little surprised himself.
"The Prosecution won't find any more information that Sev and I are giving you now," Remus said simply. He shrugged. "They'll find mention of a death, perhaps. They may even be provided with a name, but they won't find anything in great detail. Only that Severus killed a man and was acquited of murder due to extenuating circumstances."
"...extenuating circumstances," Phoenix repeated, feeling his fists clench. "...Goddammit. God dammit!" He turned and glared at Severus. "I can't help you. I told you, if you couldn't come clean with me I can't help you. And this crap? This isn't coming clean."
"...My. Americans certainly do have a flair for the dramatic."
Pheonix blinked, hearing the new voice. He saw Severus go white, his black eyes widening in disbelief. Phoenix turned and saw Remus take on the same pallor as he stared at Maya... who had suddenly grown a beard and whose eyes were... twinkling? Her face had changed slightly, wrinkling and becoming older. She didn't stoop though and strangely... her purple robe didn't look a bit out of place. "...Maya?" he asked. That... wasn't Mia. Definitely not Mia that Maya was channeling. So who..."
Whoever he was, he smiled patiently. "Miss Fey was gracious enough to lend me the use of her body," he said. "You see, I'd like to explain a few things which might be able to help you."
"Albus..." Severus said, his voice strangled. "You can't...."
"Whyever not?" Albus said, twinkling at Severus. "I'm dead. What would they do to me? And I highly doubt that either Mr Wright or Miss Fey would indiscriminately spread what I'm about to tell them." He looked at the other man patiently. "He needs to understand, Severus. If only so he can properly manipulate the information."
Severus suddenly flushed with anger. "Damned interfereing old man," he muttered, getting up and pacing his side of the room.
"...while watching Mr Snape turn various colors is rather amusing," Phoenix said, feeling a little giddy at the moment, "I'd like an explanation please." He knew Maya was a Spirit Medium. Hell, he'd seen her do this quite a few times. Although, usually it was her sister Mia that Maya was able to channel. The Kurain Channeling Technique allowed the Medium to take on the appearance of the spirit they were channeling. When Maya channeld her sister, she looked a great deal like Mia. Including Mia's rather... impressive attributes. That ability apparantly also extended to facial hair... which was a little distrubing in this case.
Albus seemed to smile. "Of course. Please, sit down Mr Wright." He continued to smile, even though both Severus and Remus seemed a little... unsettled. "It's only polite that I shoudl introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore. And I am the man that Severus killed."
Phoenix blinked. "...and you're here... to help him?"
Albus nodded. "Oh yes. Quite. It's the least I can do." He smiled again when Severus muttered something under his breath. "Now, you must understand, Mr Wright. What I am going to tell you cannot be shared with anyone." He peered at Phoenix.. who suddenly felt like a guilty sixth grader caught filching toys by the teacher. "It is both very secret and very dangerous, especially for you." Phoenix nodded, wondering what the hell he had just stumbled into. "Excellent. Let us beign with the simplest part. Magic is real."
"...I... beg your pardon?" Oh yeah... welcome to Weirdville, population him and a couple of old guys. One of whom was dead. Really, this shouldn't be surprising.
"Magic is real," Albus said again. "A great many things that ordinary humans have written off as fairytales or superstition are, in fact, real. They've simply gone into hiding in order to protect themsevles. There are a great many more of you than there are of us, afterall." He grinned slightly. "Severus, Remus and I are wizards. ...although I ought to say I was a wizard, when I was alive. I was the Headmaster of a school in England that specialized in teaching young wizards and witches how to use their power and to be productive in our society. Severus was one of the teachers, as was Remus for a time." He paused, looking at Phoenix. "..am I going too fast?"
Phoenix stared at him. "...um... no?"
"Good." Albus nodded and continued. "Now then. About... oh it must be twenty some years ago, a very powerful Dark wizard decided that he ought to rule our world. He called himself Lord Voldemort, and he set about trying to gain enough of a power base to take control of wizarding Britain. This was the being whom Severus, Remus, and myself were fighting, along with many others. There is far too much history to go into and too little time to relate it, I'm afraid. The most important part of what I must tell you is this: Severus Snape killed me, but he was not guilty of murder. It was a kindness, and a necessity. If he had not killed me, a young boy would have been lost to Voldemort's evil. Doing so allowed him to get even further into the inner circle of the Dark Lord and ultimately allowed him to help us all win the war."
Phoenix stared at Albus for a long moment. "...so by killing you, he was able to help the others by being a super secret spy in Big Baddy's party?"
Albus nodded, smiling. "Exactly. Now, unfortunately, you cannot tell anyone. Likewise, the Prosecutors won't be able to find much information. I'm not entirely sure how the Ministry of Magic will handle things in Britain... but most assuredly they will not provide a muggle court the specific details of any of the events I've described, however briefly. You are gaining far more information than they ever will."
Phoenix blinked. He was blinking a lot. Must be due to shock. "...ok. So..." He paused, then frowned. "So... I'm pretty much back to where I started?!"
Albus twinkled at him. "Ahhh, but now that I have told you all of this, Severus and Remus can elucidate on specific points. And perhaps you can figure out who is manipulating these events." He shrugged. "I've untied their hands, as it were. They aren't allowed to break the Secrecy Act. But that specific law does not apply to me. As I am dead."
Severus muttered something again, though Remus seemed faintly amused. Phoenix nodded. "Um... allright I guess..."
"Wonderful. I believe Severus and Remus can handle things from here..." And with that, he was gone and Maya looked like Maya again. ...it always disturbed Phoenix a little. Maya blinked. Then grinned. "Did it help?"
"Marginally," Severus drawled, scowling. "Interfering old bastard..."
"Now Sev," Remus said, trying to sooth the other man. "He was only trying to help."
Severus snorted. "His help usually gets us into more trouble than it's worth. He makes me so furious sometimes that I..." Severus blinked, his face going very still. Phoenix raised an eyebrow. Surely the old ghost hadn't made the man stroke out in the middle of a rant.
"...Sev?" Remus asked, looking concerned.
"...furious. Merlin's scrote, I am a bleeding idiot!" Severus began pacing. "The word furious comes from the Furies, the Greek demi-gods of retribution. They were also called the Erinyes."
"...as in Meg Erinyes? The gallery owner?" Phoenix said, picking up on the leap in logic. "It's a psuedonym?"
Remus nodded in excitement. "There were three according to Virgil: Megaera, Tisiphone, and..." his eyes widened. "Alecto..."
"Alecto Carrow," Severus said. "She was on the tower that night. She saw everything... but how the hell is she maintaining her disguise? She couldn't have been taking Polyjuice Potion, not in court..."
"HOLD IT." Phoenix managed to get their attention, thank God. His head was still in a tizzy from all the wizards and witches and magic being real. He hadn't really come to grips with that. Not entirely. Yeah, Maya did her whole Spirit Medium thing... but that was totally different and... and he was digressing. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "You two have gone on the Mystery Machine and forgotten to take me with you. Now. The clandestine work you did, that you originally told me about? That dealt with this Moldywart guy?"
Severus' lips quirked slightly. "Yes. It did. He had recruited followers, collectively known as Death Eaters. All of the Death Eaters bore the snake and skull brand on their left arm. It was used as a method of control and communication. I bore the same mark while I was a spy. It dissipated when the Dark Lord was destroyed."
Phoenix nodded, cataloguing that information and putting puzzle pieces together. "And Alecto Carrow was a Death Eater... and you believe she is the person we know as Meg Erinyes?"
"Yes," Severus said, nodding. "I don't know how she retained her Dark Mark, nor do I know how she's disguising herself. She can't be using the polyjuice potion..."
"It may not be that complicated," Remus said quietly. "To put it very bluntly, Alecto Carrow was rather pudgey. Meg Erinyes is practically skin and bones. Add the different hair and those thick glasses to hide her eyes..."
Severus considered, then nodded thoughtfully. "But why this? Why a Muggle trial? It isn't Death Eater style to do something like this."
"...you aren't popular in Britain, right?" Phoenix asked carefully. Severus raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "That's why you came here. To escape all of that. She's taking your refuge away. If you're convicted, you would go to jail. You might be able to escape, what with your... your powers, but you'd become a wanted man. You'd have to go on the run again. Everything you've built here would be completely destroyed."
Severus stared at Phoenix... then nodded. "Yes... yes she'd like that." He frowned. "If I remember correctly... her brother fell in the last battle. She was put in Azkaban... though how she escaped..." He shook his head. "We shouldn't focus on the how she got here. Not for the moment. How we prove she's lying... that'll be difficult."
"... you said that the Ministry wouldn't let the Prosecution get this information. I'm guessing that's due to this... Secrecy Act. Is there anyone there who might be able to help you? Who would be willing to provide information on Alecto Carrow? Even just show up? Give her a bit of a scare?"
Remus grinned slightly. "I think I know just who to call..."
~*~*~
Day 3: Trial January 16: District Court, Courtroom Number 2
Severus felt tense. It radiated in his very bones. This was not going to be an easy day. He hadn't been able to talk to Remus, to see if his contact had come through. He hadn't been able to do much of anything more than go over a few more fact with Wright before court came in session. He sat at the Defendant's table ramrod straight, glaring at everyone and everything. He glanced over at the Prosecutor, who seemed a little tired and irritated. Apparently, his investigation hadn't gone well. Good. That might help them. "Are you certain about this Wright?"
The attorney nodded, practically vibrating with suppressed energy. "Trust me. This'll work." He gave Severus a quick grin, then settled once the Judge entered.
"Today we are resuming the trial of Mr Severus Snape." The Judge looked over at Edgeworth. "Has the Prosecution been able to verify the facts presented to this court yesterday?"
Edgeworth stood, straightening his shoulders. "Unfortunately, your Honor, we have not. We were given very rudimentary information from Scotland Yard. However, we are expecting a representative of that organization presently. He has promised to explain everything to our satisfaction."
The Judge frowned again. "Mr Edgeworth, this court does not appreciate these delays-"
"Your Honor." Wright stood up, looking calm and composed. "Given the time difference and the fact that whomever Scotland Yard is sending will have to fly a considerable amount to reach here, the Defense proposes that we not wast time simply waiting. The Defense requests the right to re-examine the witness, Miss Meg Erinyes, in light of newly acquired information."
There was a murmur in the courtroom. Obviously, this was a rather unexpected move on Wright's part. Severus glanced at Edgeworth, who seemed... somewhat relieved at the suggestion. "The Prosecution has no objections to the Defense cross examining Miss Erinyes for a second time." The Judge considered for a moment, then nodded and had the bailiff bring Meg Erinyes back to the stand. One hurdle overcome... but this might play out sketchy. And Severus didn't like sketchy at all.
"Miss Erinyes," Wright began, stepping around the table. "You told this court yesterday that Mr Snape had killed before. Is that correct?"
Erinyes smirked slightly. "Yes, it's correct. He killed a man in England and now he's done it again."
Wright nodded thoughtfully. "See... here's the problem I'm having. No one else knows about this murder." He gestured to Edgeworth. "Even Prosecutor Edgeworth, a man known for ferreting out even the smallest detail to use in a trial has found no evidence of this murder. Not a news clipping, not an article. Nothing. And truth be told... neither did I. So, I've got to ask... how did you know about it?"
Erinyes seemed to pause. Severus would bet money that she was blinking behind those thick glasses. "I... well I was there, obviously."
"You were there?" Wright pressed, raising an eyebrow. "At this other murder?"
"NO!" she squawked indignantly, her fingers digging into the material of her trousers. "No, of course not! I was in England at the time this happened. So I simply remember it happening."
Wright frowned again. "But how would you know?" he asked. "Even if you were in England at the time... there are no newspaper clippings. No records of a murder where Severus Snape is listed as the accused. I'm sorry," he said, smiling pleasantly. "I'm just a little confused as to how you can know something that no one else does?"
"I..." She bit her lower lip a moment. "Well... I knew the victim!"
"You knew the victim?" Wright pressed again. "And yet you didn't report your suspicions to the police?"
"I... what?" Severus smiled. Oh yes... he rather liked this.
"Miss Erinyes," Wright said firmly. "If you knew the victim and if you had suspected that Severus Snape had murdered him, why didn't you inform the police of this fact? If you had," he said, gesturing a little, "there would be a paper trail to follow. There would be, at the very least, a report of your statement in Scotland Yard's files."
"Prosecutor Edgeworth just said," Erinyes said, pointing at the prosecutor, "he just said that they haven't been able to send any information. That someone is on their way with that very information now!"
"But such a report could have easily been faxed to us!" Wright exclaimed. "Such a report, a page or two at most, could have been faxed over a secure line last night and been presented in this court this morning. However, no such report was sent. Because it doesn't exist!" The court burst into astonished whispering and muttering, and the Judge had to bang his gavel in order to reclaim order. Severus glanced at Edgeworth. This would be the time where the prosecution objected in order to salvage the witness' credibility... but Edgeworth remained quiet. Simply regarding Erinyess thoughtfully. ...odd. That wasn't what the Demon Prosecutor was known for...
"So," Wright said, once quiet was restored. "I ask you again, Miss Erinyes. How do you know that Severus Snape has killed before? How can you have known when there is no record of such an event? When there is no record of a Meg Erinyes making such a claim?"
There was a tense moment of silence as everyone waited for the answer. Severus didn't think he could hear anyone breathing at that point, besides Meg Erinyes. She was breathing heavily, as if under a great deal of strain. "I... the report... wouldn't be under that name..."
"You went by another name in England?" Wright prompted. His eyes were shining, and he was in his element. Under his careful prodding, she was falling apart. Severus didn't think she would have lasted this long, really. Mostly because she was a spineless woman at best. The only reason she could control the students at Hogwarts was because she was physically bigger than they were, and she knew more. That was all. Alecto Carrow was a coward at the core... and rather stupid to boot.
"Yes..." Her hands trembled, and she squeezed them together in her lap. "Yes! There is a report made to the authorities! Under another name..." She was fumbling, trying ot think. "Under the name..."
"ALECTO CARROW!" The door of the courtroom burst open, and three people walked in. The courtroom murmured in astonishment at them, but Severus just smiled. Kingsley always did know how to make an entrance. "You are under arrest for crimes against the British people!"
"NO!" Alecto screeched, standing and pointing at one of Kingsley's companions. "NONONONONO!! YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!"
Potter grinned, the scar running down his face making him look quite a bit older than he was. "Yeah? Well neither are you."
Alecto screamed, throwing her glasses aside to stare balefully at Severus. "TRAITOR!!!" She flung herself at him, and probably would have clawed out his eyes if Potter and Kingsley hadn't moved so quickly, assisted by the larger bailiff. "DAMNED FILTHY TRAITOR!!! I should gut you where you stand! You don't deserve to live with what you've done! You killed them all you slimy TRAITOR!!!"
Severus watched in satisfaction as Kingsley and Potter dragged Alecto away. The third auror, sauntered forward, grinning. "Sorry 'bout the mess, luvs," Tonks said, hopping up to sit on the Prosecutor's table and grin wickedly at Edgeworth. "You know how it is, what with planes being the way they are. Good thing you called us. We've been looking for her a while."
Edgeworth flushed a little. "Ah... and she is?"
"Alecto Carrow," Tonks supplied easily, pulling a file from pocket in her leather duster. It went smashingly with the electric blue hair, Severus thought. "Wanted for treason, terrorism, and being a batshit insane wanker. Part of a nasty cult back home. We took our their main sect about five years ago, but she slipped her leash."
The Judge blinked. "...why was she here, then?"
"Why to set up Severus Snape, of course!" Tonks winked at the old geezer, grining madly. "He was our man on the inside. Helped us to take them all down. We're betting she was the one who killed your victim." She grinned over at the former spy. "Wotcher, Snape?"
"Tonks," Severus drawled, apparantly amused at the brilliant shade of pink Miles Edgeworth was turning. It almost matched his suit. "You haven't lost your timing, it seems."
She laughed at that, then smiled at Edgeworth. "All the information you need is right there. I bet if you search her place, you'll find the murder weapon, as well as the means she used to impersonate Mr. Snape."
"TONKS!" Potter's yell was very clear. "Little help please?! She's spitting!"
Tonks sighed long sufferingly. "Gal's work is never done." She hopped off the table and winked at Miles. "Too bad. I was enjoying the scenery." With that, she trotted back out to help the others get Alecto Carrow back in prison where she belongs.
The courtroom was decidedly quiet after that. Wright smiled at the Judge. "Your Honor, in light of the circumstances, I move with dismiss all charges against my client."
"Ah... er..." The Judge blinked, apparantly at a loss. He looked at the Prosecutor, his shoulders inching up in a sort of bewildered shrug.
"The... uh... the Prosecution," Edgeworth managed after clearing his throat. "The Prosecution has no objection at this time."
"...well then. Ahem. Case dismissed."
~*~*~
Epilogue
Remus smiled, snuggling up to Severus in their own bed. The furor from Sev's trial was eclipsed a few weeks later by Miles Edgeworth's mysterious disappearance. The only clue was a note which read "Prosecutor Miles Edgeowth chooses Death." No one could tell if it was a suicide note or some obscure message. As for Severus and Remus, there had been a minor boom of publicity and populariy, but it had died down. Thankfully. Now they didn't have to worry about the studio being mobbed by reporters. Since the poor things couldn't seem to find the Snape-Lupin home to save their lives. "So," he murmured, kissing along Sev's collarbone. "Harry called?"
"Mmmm..." Sev answered lazily, threading his fingers in Remus' hair and purring in satisfaction. "Carrow lost her magic during the stress of the last battle and her brother's death. It put her even further over the edge. She blamed me, and came after me. It looks like Wright's assumption of motive was correct."
Remus purred a little, working his way down Sev's body. "Too bad about Edgeworth disappearing... he was a good man, I think."
"And I'm sure Wright will miss him ever so much," Sev drawled. Remus slapped his thigh lightly, grinning. "So now things are back to normal..."
"Mmmhmmm," Remus said, grinning. "Let's give you a proper welcome home, shall we?"