Integrity is the key to understanding legal practice.
[Was supposed to go up earlier. *sheepish grin*]
Severus hadn't needed a barrister since he'd been exonerated years prior. He'd stayed out of legal matters as much as possible, having never respected solicitors, knowing the dirty deeds most of them were capable of.
Miles Bletchley, however, was a previous student, and an unobtrusive one at that. He'd been properly respectful during school, a member of Slytherin, and had shown a keen knack for essays. He had obviously molded that into a successful career, and as the best and only choice, Severus had set up a meeting through his secretary.
The doors leading to Bletchley's office were impressive, heavy wooden doors. Pushing through them, Severus took in the decor before his eyes landed on a small woman seated before another set of double doors. Approaching the desk, Severus managed not to frown at her cheery smile. "Severus Snape."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Bletchley is expecting you," Fiona assured him, beginning to rise from her desk. "I'll let him know you've arrived."
Miles stepped out from his office just then, spying his former Head of House and nodding in greeting. "That won't be necessary, Miss Honeychurch," he announced, crossing to Snape and offering his hand. "Good afternoon, Professor. Can I offer you a brandy before we get down to business?"
"I have not been your professor for several years, Mr. Bletchley, and am no one's professor now. Snape will be fine," Severus said, pausing before he shook Miles' hand quickly. "The brandy won't be necessary. Alcohol shouldn't be needed for our meeting, unless you know something that I'm unaware of."
Suppressing a chuckle - Snape hadn't changed a bit in the years since Miles had left school - Miles nodded in acquiescence and gestured toward his inner sanctum. "No sir. I hadn't meant to imply you'd need a drink, only that you were welcome to enjoy one if you cared to. Shall we step inside my office and you can tell me what I can do for you?"
Nodding, not particularly enjoying the idea of putting someone at his back, Severus made his way past his former student and into the interior of Miles' office. He didn't sit, but stood next to the desk, hands hidden in the sleeves of his robes. "It's about a contract a possible," he swallowed hard, not liking the next word that came out of his mouth, "employer drew up for our possible business together."
"I see," Miles said, moving to the opposite side of his desk but remaining on his feet. As Snape had pointed out, he was no longer a student and there was no need to peer up at his new client from a lower position. "What sort of employment? I take it this is not a teaching position?" Lucky for the small children of the world.
"No," Severus said immediately, dark eyes unwavering in their certainty. "It's a potions master position for an undetermined time, specifically brewing a potion for possible mass distribution in the future. The employer drew up a contract, and I wanted to make sure it was sound."
He withdrew the papers from the inside of his robes, enlarging them before setting them on the edge of the polished desk. "I am unwilling to sign something before I have made sure there is no small print or clauses."
Miles picked up the document, spying the name 'Weasley' and making a mental note to check in with Mr. Videnov sometime soon. "You're to be brewing at a new branch of the Healing Hands clinic in a subcontractor capacity," he commented as he perused the contract. "The purchase of equipment and stock will be at your discretion. Was the compensation satisfactory?"
"Yes. It was made clear to Ms. Weasley that she would be responsible for the costs of all ingredients and needed materials, all sundries that I would find myself in need of the development of the described potion. I did not want to find myself responsible for the cost of anything because the potion does not work as it is intended."
"Certainly not," Miles agreed. The contract seemed to be fairly standard boilerplate. There were a few specific passages related to property access and insurance against damage in the case of an explosion, but on the whole it was a straightforward agreement. Very Gryffindor. "There doesn't appear at first glance to be anything out of the ordinary here. If you'd care to leave it with me, I'll be happy to go through line by line."
Dark eyes peered at Miles, narrowing almost imperceptibly. "I would not be interested in your services if I did not expect complete and thorough scrutiny."
Nodding, Miles met Snape's gaze. "I wasn't sure you had the time available to leave the contract with me, but of course, I'll take a careful look and get back to you by close of business tomorrow."
"I shall look for your owl," Severus said, nodding his head slightly in Miles' direction. Business concluded, he turned towards the door.
Summary: Severus visits Miles for a legal assistance.
Severus hadn't needed a barrister since he'd been exonerated years prior. He'd stayed out of legal matters as much as possible, having never respected solicitors, knowing the dirty deeds most of them were capable of.
Miles Bletchley, however, was a previous student, and an unobtrusive one at that. He'd been properly respectful during school, a member of Slytherin, and had shown a keen knack for essays. He had obviously molded that into a successful career, and as the best and only choice, Severus had set up a meeting through his secretary.
The doors leading to Bletchley's office were impressive, heavy wooden doors. Pushing through them, Severus took in the decor before his eyes landed on a small woman seated before another set of double doors. Approaching the desk, Severus managed not to frown at her cheery smile. "Severus Snape."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Bletchley is expecting you," Fiona assured him, beginning to rise from her desk. "I'll let him know you've arrived."
Miles stepped out from his office just then, spying his former Head of House and nodding in greeting. "That won't be necessary, Miss Honeychurch," he announced, crossing to Snape and offering his hand. "Good afternoon, Professor. Can I offer you a brandy before we get down to business?"
"I have not been your professor for several years, Mr. Bletchley, and am no one's professor now. Snape will be fine," Severus said, pausing before he shook Miles' hand quickly. "The brandy won't be necessary. Alcohol shouldn't be needed for our meeting, unless you know something that I'm unaware of."
Suppressing a chuckle - Snape hadn't changed a bit in the years since Miles had left school - Miles nodded in acquiescence and gestured toward his inner sanctum. "No sir. I hadn't meant to imply you'd need a drink, only that you were welcome to enjoy one if you cared to. Shall we step inside my office and you can tell me what I can do for you?"
Nodding, not particularly enjoying the idea of putting someone at his back, Severus made his way past his former student and into the interior of Miles' office. He didn't sit, but stood next to the desk, hands hidden in the sleeves of his robes. "It's about a contract a possible," he swallowed hard, not liking the next word that came out of his mouth, "employer drew up for our possible business together."
"I see," Miles said, moving to the opposite side of his desk but remaining on his feet. As Snape had pointed out, he was no longer a student and there was no need to peer up at his new client from a lower position. "What sort of employment? I take it this is not a teaching position?" Lucky for the small children of the world.
"No," Severus said immediately, dark eyes unwavering in their certainty. "It's a potions master position for an undetermined time, specifically brewing a potion for possible mass distribution in the future. The employer drew up a contract, and I wanted to make sure it was sound."
He withdrew the papers from the inside of his robes, enlarging them before setting them on the edge of the polished desk. "I am unwilling to sign something before I have made sure there is no small print or clauses."
Miles picked up the document, spying the name 'Weasley' and making a mental note to check in with Mr. Videnov sometime soon. "You're to be brewing at a new branch of the Healing Hands clinic in a subcontractor capacity," he commented as he perused the contract. "The purchase of equipment and stock will be at your discretion. Was the compensation satisfactory?"
"Yes. It was made clear to Ms. Weasley that she would be responsible for the costs of all ingredients and needed materials, all sundries that I would find myself in need of the development of the described potion. I did not want to find myself responsible for the cost of anything because the potion does not work as it is intended."
"Certainly not," Miles agreed. The contract seemed to be fairly standard boilerplate. There were a few specific passages related to property access and insurance against damage in the case of an explosion, but on the whole it was a straightforward agreement. Very Gryffindor. "There doesn't appear at first glance to be anything out of the ordinary here. If you'd care to leave it with me, I'll be happy to go through line by line."
Dark eyes peered at Miles, narrowing almost imperceptibly. "I would not be interested in your services if I did not expect complete and thorough scrutiny."
Nodding, Miles met Snape's gaze. "I wasn't sure you had the time available to leave the contract with me, but of course, I'll take a careful look and get back to you by close of business tomorrow."
"I shall look for your owl," Severus said, nodding his head slightly in Miles' direction. Business concluded, he turned towards the door.
Summary: Severus visits Miles for a legal assistance.