Ficlet Challenge #138: Staging
Title: Staging
Summary: Severus Snape’s perspective during an exchange with Dolores Umbridge and Harry Potter.
Characters/Pairings: Severus Snape, Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter, with Neville and Crabbe in the background
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: G
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 420
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
Umbridge was heaving with frustrated fury, turning a peculiar shade of puce that clashed appallingly with the rest of her pink ensemble.
Potter meanwhile was terrified that I somehow wouldn’t be able to read the thoughts he was broadcasting like a bloody beacon. Oh, ye of perennially little faith.
Well. A man in my position has to take his pleasures where he can.
I blinked slowly at Umbridge. “I have already told you I have no further stocks of Veritaserum.” I turned to regard Potter for a thoughtful moment. “Unless you wish to poison Potter - and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did - I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling...”
Umbridge was now a brilliant shade of purple, and I wondered if I was finally going to succeed at inducing a stroke. Ah, a man could dream.
Meanwhile, Potter’s thoughts about that hot-headed imbecile Sirius were, if possible, even more blinding. The boy had the subtlety of a brick. It was a mercy Umbridge didn’t have an iota of talent when it came to legilimency.
Enough. I needed to inform the Order so that we could stop the impending catastrophe at the Department of Mysteries. I gave Umbridge a perfunctory bow and turned to go, ignoring whatever nonsense she had just shrieked at me.
“He’s got Padfoot!” Potter shouted. “He’s got Padfoot at the place where it’s hidden!”
Oh, for pity’s sake, boy. Make that the subtlety of an anvil landing on your head.
And then those green eyes looked at me in abject need and all I could see was Lily.
“-hat does he mean, Snape?” yapped Umbridge.
Forgive me, Lily, for what I must do to your child. Again.
I sneered down at Lily’s boy. “I have no idea. Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me, I shall give you a Babbling Beverage.” Or pop by Umbridge’s. I spared a glance for the hapless Longbottom, who was strangling in Crabbe’s grip. Well, here was something I could do at least. “Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates, it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I’m afraid I shall have to mention it in your reference if ever you apply for a job.”
I snapped the door closed behind me as I left, and Lily’s eyes flashed in front of me wherever I looked. Forgive me, Lily, please forgive me.
19 pts
Summary: Severus Snape’s perspective during an exchange with Dolores Umbridge and Harry Potter.
Characters/Pairings: Severus Snape, Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter, with Neville and Crabbe in the background
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: G
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 420
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
Umbridge was heaving with frustrated fury, turning a peculiar shade of puce that clashed appallingly with the rest of her pink ensemble.
Potter meanwhile was terrified that I somehow wouldn’t be able to read the thoughts he was broadcasting like a bloody beacon. Oh, ye of perennially little faith.
Well. A man in my position has to take his pleasures where he can.
I blinked slowly at Umbridge. “I have already told you I have no further stocks of Veritaserum.” I turned to regard Potter for a thoughtful moment. “Unless you wish to poison Potter - and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did - I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling...”
Umbridge was now a brilliant shade of purple, and I wondered if I was finally going to succeed at inducing a stroke. Ah, a man could dream.
Meanwhile, Potter’s thoughts about that hot-headed imbecile Sirius were, if possible, even more blinding. The boy had the subtlety of a brick. It was a mercy Umbridge didn’t have an iota of talent when it came to legilimency.
Enough. I needed to inform the Order so that we could stop the impending catastrophe at the Department of Mysteries. I gave Umbridge a perfunctory bow and turned to go, ignoring whatever nonsense she had just shrieked at me.
“He’s got Padfoot!” Potter shouted. “He’s got Padfoot at the place where it’s hidden!”
Oh, for pity’s sake, boy. Make that the subtlety of an anvil landing on your head.
And then those green eyes looked at me in abject need and all I could see was Lily.
“-hat does he mean, Snape?” yapped Umbridge.
Forgive me, Lily, for what I must do to your child. Again.
I sneered down at Lily’s boy. “I have no idea. Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me, I shall give you a Babbling Beverage.” Or pop by Umbridge’s. I spared a glance for the hapless Longbottom, who was strangling in Crabbe’s grip. Well, here was something I could do at least. “Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates, it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I’m afraid I shall have to mention it in your reference if ever you apply for a job.”
I snapped the door closed behind me as I left, and Lily’s eyes flashed in front of me wherever I looked. Forgive me, Lily, please forgive me.
19 pts