Chapter Four: Hampton Studios.
It was the last day of the school year and Snape couldn't be happier. He'd had it up to his neck with the fact that students and staff alike were all subtly teasing him about his adventures in London. He'd had it up to his neck with the fact that he had to be there correcting exams when he'd rather be somewhere else. In fact, he admitted to himself, he was just sick of some things.
"So what mark did Miss Granger end up getting in your class?" asked diminutive Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher.
"One hundred and two percent." Snape said miserably. Writing down the score for had been absolute torture for him. He'd wanted to give her a lower score, but he knew perfectly well that Dumbledore would be surprised and perhaps even question his marking.
"I gave her one hundred and fifteen percent." Professor Flitwick said with a smile. "I've never met such a smart student- and she's muggle born too!"
"Mmm." Snape said. As far as he was concerned Granger's marks were completely inconsequential. He was too busy thinking about the fact that tomorrow he was going to become a movie star!
"See you next year Sir." Malfoy said as he walked past. "Enjoy your summer."
Snape turned sharply to look at him. He seemed innocent enough, and besides how could he even know about the movie? The only person to know thus far was Dumbledore as Snape had been forced to inform him that he would be a few weeks late for the start of the next year. When Snape had told him Dumbledore had looked thoughtful. "Do the ministry know yet Severus?" Snape had frowned. What the heck did the ministry have to do with it? Shouldn't they be too busy with the whole Voldemort crisis to worry about his activities over the summer? After all everyone knew Voldemort was back and biding his time. Snape himself knew it only too well. The dark mark often burnt. "It's just that they might not be impressed with a wizard playing a wizard in a muggle movie that's all Severus." The headmaster had explained quietly. "Screw the ministry." Snape had replied.
"Sir?" Malfoy was looking at him strangely and Snape realised he hadn't replied.
"Yes, yes, see you then Malfoy." Snape replied hurrying away to do his packing. The studios had offered to arrange for him to stay in a hotel whilst filming, but Snape had declined. Staying in a muggle hotel would have been way too much for him, and therefore he was staying at The Leaky Cauldron.
As he was leaving McGonagall walked past. "I hope you're not going to become some star who thinks they are too good for us with this movie deal Severus." She said with a smile.
Snape looked at her coldly. How the heck did she know? Dumbledore must have told her. Honestly couldn't anyone keep a secret around here? "I shall see you next year Minerva." He replied, his tone as cold as his look. Especially seeing as how McGonagall couldn't keep the smirk off her face. 'Thinks this is all a big joke doesn't she?' Snape thought angrily. 'Well I'll show her. I'll wipe that smile off her gob if it's the last thing I do!'
*****
"Ah the movie star." Tom greeted him when he walked into the Leaky Cauldron later that afternoon.
"Keep it down!" Snape snapped. "I told you I didn't want every man and his dragon knowing didn't I?"
Tom had to laugh at the expression on Snape's face. It was a mixture of anger and embarrassment, the combination of which was really quite funny. "Right, right. My mouth's sealed." He assured Snape.
"Somehow I doubt that, but let me inform you that I will be more than willing to seal it for you permanently." Snape said, an evil look crossing his face.
"Tell me professor," Tom leant over in a conspirital manner. "Are we all really in a lot of danger from you-know-who? The ministry's been rather quiet on the issue despite the fact we all know he came back to life. What happened at Hogwarts last year to make him return?"
Snape frowned. "What makes you think anything happened at Hogwarts?" He asked casually.
"Rumors." Tom replied.
"Rumors." Snape snorted disdainfully. "Rumors probably started by some stupid witch or warlock who has nothing better to do with their time!"
"But Professor," Tom argued. "We all know he's back. The ministry's all but confirmed it."
"As much as I'd love to stay here and chat," Snape said, in a tone which implied he'd rather do anything but. "I'd like to go up to my room and freshen up. I've got an early morning tomorrow."
"Right, fine. Room 26." Tom muttered sulkily. Once again the professor had put him in his place, showing him he had no time for someone of Tom's status in life. 'Just because he was lucky enough to get into Hogwarts and smart enough to become a professor doesn't mean he's a better person!' Tom thought with a frown. 'Not everyone's lucky enough to go to Hogwarts are they? And it doesn't make them any lesser person!'
Snape made his way up to his room with a grateful sigh. If there was anything he wanted at the moment, after the last few weeks being so hectic, it was the solitary comfort of being on his own! He sat down in the chair in his room and again went through his script. Over the last two weeks he'd done his best to learn his lines, sometimes even muttering them to himself as he walked around the school. Once he'd been muttering lines about "that stupid fool wizard next door" when he'd walked past one of the Weasley twins. The twin had given him a strange look as though perhaps he thought Snape's brain had finally deserted him. Indeed in the days after that he received a few strange looks from other Gryffindoor students, and in his class people like Granger had been less likely to speak up, as though they were treating him delicately or something! The thought made Snape frown in anger. Him delicate? Huh!
*****
The next morning Snape got up early and dressed in his best black robe, made sure his black hair was shinier than ever, tucked his wand into his robes and departed for the studios. Tom, who was doing some early morning cleaning, called to him to ask whether or not he wanted some breakfast but Snape shook his head firmly. Although there was no way he was going to tell the stupid innkeeper this, but he was simply too nervous to get anything to eat. How on earth was he to cope with muggles for the next few weeks? They could be so stupid that he knew he was going to have to keep his temper. But on the other hand, he also thought this was an experience that he, as an academic wizard, couldn't turn down. He'd never indulged in "muggle studies" back when he was a student, but, he reflected, it was never too late to learn what drove them. How they worked was bound to be fascinating.
Snape was greeted upon his arrival at the studios by the young man, Adam Minton, who grasped his hand firmly and shook it. "A pleasure Professor Snape." He said. "I've been worried you wouldn't be coming."
Snape looked confused. "But I sent an owl back to Tom to let you know I'd be coming."
"Sorry, you sent an owl?" Minton looked as confused as Snape. "Is that another word for letter then?"
"Oh. Yes." Snape said quickly, wondering why he'd been stupid enough to let that slip out. "Another word."
"Right, well we got the letter from Tom, but we were still worried you might change your mind." Minton explained. "I see you're wearing your costume, good stuff. Now we'll just get you into make-up. Come along."
Snape, not too impressed at hearing that his clothes were considered a "costume" by the muggles, followed along. "Make-up?" He repeated, wondering where he'd heard the word before.
"Sure, everyone on a film wears it, even the males. I know it might sound silly to you, but rest assured it's very important. We have to make sure you look like a wizard." Minton explained further.
'Look like a wizard?' Snape thought with an inward sigh. 'Was Minton insinuating he looked like a muggle for merlin's sake?'
"Right, here's make-up. This is Amelia, and she'll look after you. When she's done you're to be on the set for your call at nine prompt." Minton said. "I'll see you then."
And he hurried off, leaving Snape in the hands of the make-up woman who was regarding him thoughtfully. "Let's see, you've got very pale skin. I always imagined a wizard would have darker skin..I'm not sure why. Maybe from riding around on their broomsticks or something?" She laughed. "Imagine riding a broomstick for heaven's sake. I'd much prefer my car."
Snape controlled himself very well at the woman's comments. He longed to tell her that advances in wizard technology meant that the very latest broomsticks were amazingly fast and convenient. And, he thought, much easier to just get off a broom and go straight into the place you wanted than to deal with those "automobiles" muggles used. With a frown he remembered how Weasley and Potter had flown a converted one into the Whomping Willow on their arrival at school one year a few years back. He recalled only too well how furious he'd been at their obvious attempt for attention. 'Typical of them really,' he thought. 'Especially Potter. It's not enough to be the boy-who-lived, and who on a few occasions has defeated the greatest, darkest wizard ever born. He needs more bloody attention! If he were in my house he'd of been expelled on many, many occasions!'
"Mr. Snape?" The woman asked with a frown. "I said can you sit down please?"
"Sorry." Snape said gruffly, sitting in the chair facing her. 'Not that I'm advocating the return of Voldemort after all I did the last summer to prevent him getting to Hogwarts and all..But sometimes I wish that Potter boy wasn't here!' He thought to himself.
"Right," The make-up woman said chirply, too chirpily for this time in the morning in Snape's view. "Time to make you look like a wizard."
'Ah,' thought Snape with a sigh. 'This was going to be a long few weeks, maybe he shouldn't be here after all!' But he'd promised himself he'd at least give it a go, and that he would. After all, nobody could say that Professor Severus Snape was a quitter, that was for sure!
It was the last day of the school year and Snape couldn't be happier. He'd had it up to his neck with the fact that students and staff alike were all subtly teasing him about his adventures in London. He'd had it up to his neck with the fact that he had to be there correcting exams when he'd rather be somewhere else. In fact, he admitted to himself, he was just sick of some things.
"So what mark did Miss Granger end up getting in your class?" asked diminutive Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher.
"One hundred and two percent." Snape said miserably. Writing down the score for had been absolute torture for him. He'd wanted to give her a lower score, but he knew perfectly well that Dumbledore would be surprised and perhaps even question his marking.
"I gave her one hundred and fifteen percent." Professor Flitwick said with a smile. "I've never met such a smart student- and she's muggle born too!"
"Mmm." Snape said. As far as he was concerned Granger's marks were completely inconsequential. He was too busy thinking about the fact that tomorrow he was going to become a movie star!
"See you next year Sir." Malfoy said as he walked past. "Enjoy your summer."
Snape turned sharply to look at him. He seemed innocent enough, and besides how could he even know about the movie? The only person to know thus far was Dumbledore as Snape had been forced to inform him that he would be a few weeks late for the start of the next year. When Snape had told him Dumbledore had looked thoughtful. "Do the ministry know yet Severus?" Snape had frowned. What the heck did the ministry have to do with it? Shouldn't they be too busy with the whole Voldemort crisis to worry about his activities over the summer? After all everyone knew Voldemort was back and biding his time. Snape himself knew it only too well. The dark mark often burnt. "It's just that they might not be impressed with a wizard playing a wizard in a muggle movie that's all Severus." The headmaster had explained quietly. "Screw the ministry." Snape had replied.
"Sir?" Malfoy was looking at him strangely and Snape realised he hadn't replied.
"Yes, yes, see you then Malfoy." Snape replied hurrying away to do his packing. The studios had offered to arrange for him to stay in a hotel whilst filming, but Snape had declined. Staying in a muggle hotel would have been way too much for him, and therefore he was staying at The Leaky Cauldron.
As he was leaving McGonagall walked past. "I hope you're not going to become some star who thinks they are too good for us with this movie deal Severus." She said with a smile.
Snape looked at her coldly. How the heck did she know? Dumbledore must have told her. Honestly couldn't anyone keep a secret around here? "I shall see you next year Minerva." He replied, his tone as cold as his look. Especially seeing as how McGonagall couldn't keep the smirk off her face. 'Thinks this is all a big joke doesn't she?' Snape thought angrily. 'Well I'll show her. I'll wipe that smile off her gob if it's the last thing I do!'
*****
"Ah the movie star." Tom greeted him when he walked into the Leaky Cauldron later that afternoon.
"Keep it down!" Snape snapped. "I told you I didn't want every man and his dragon knowing didn't I?"
Tom had to laugh at the expression on Snape's face. It was a mixture of anger and embarrassment, the combination of which was really quite funny. "Right, right. My mouth's sealed." He assured Snape.
"Somehow I doubt that, but let me inform you that I will be more than willing to seal it for you permanently." Snape said, an evil look crossing his face.
"Tell me professor," Tom leant over in a conspirital manner. "Are we all really in a lot of danger from you-know-who? The ministry's been rather quiet on the issue despite the fact we all know he came back to life. What happened at Hogwarts last year to make him return?"
Snape frowned. "What makes you think anything happened at Hogwarts?" He asked casually.
"Rumors." Tom replied.
"Rumors." Snape snorted disdainfully. "Rumors probably started by some stupid witch or warlock who has nothing better to do with their time!"
"But Professor," Tom argued. "We all know he's back. The ministry's all but confirmed it."
"As much as I'd love to stay here and chat," Snape said, in a tone which implied he'd rather do anything but. "I'd like to go up to my room and freshen up. I've got an early morning tomorrow."
"Right, fine. Room 26." Tom muttered sulkily. Once again the professor had put him in his place, showing him he had no time for someone of Tom's status in life. 'Just because he was lucky enough to get into Hogwarts and smart enough to become a professor doesn't mean he's a better person!' Tom thought with a frown. 'Not everyone's lucky enough to go to Hogwarts are they? And it doesn't make them any lesser person!'
Snape made his way up to his room with a grateful sigh. If there was anything he wanted at the moment, after the last few weeks being so hectic, it was the solitary comfort of being on his own! He sat down in the chair in his room and again went through his script. Over the last two weeks he'd done his best to learn his lines, sometimes even muttering them to himself as he walked around the school. Once he'd been muttering lines about "that stupid fool wizard next door" when he'd walked past one of the Weasley twins. The twin had given him a strange look as though perhaps he thought Snape's brain had finally deserted him. Indeed in the days after that he received a few strange looks from other Gryffindoor students, and in his class people like Granger had been less likely to speak up, as though they were treating him delicately or something! The thought made Snape frown in anger. Him delicate? Huh!
*****
The next morning Snape got up early and dressed in his best black robe, made sure his black hair was shinier than ever, tucked his wand into his robes and departed for the studios. Tom, who was doing some early morning cleaning, called to him to ask whether or not he wanted some breakfast but Snape shook his head firmly. Although there was no way he was going to tell the stupid innkeeper this, but he was simply too nervous to get anything to eat. How on earth was he to cope with muggles for the next few weeks? They could be so stupid that he knew he was going to have to keep his temper. But on the other hand, he also thought this was an experience that he, as an academic wizard, couldn't turn down. He'd never indulged in "muggle studies" back when he was a student, but, he reflected, it was never too late to learn what drove them. How they worked was bound to be fascinating.
Snape was greeted upon his arrival at the studios by the young man, Adam Minton, who grasped his hand firmly and shook it. "A pleasure Professor Snape." He said. "I've been worried you wouldn't be coming."
Snape looked confused. "But I sent an owl back to Tom to let you know I'd be coming."
"Sorry, you sent an owl?" Minton looked as confused as Snape. "Is that another word for letter then?"
"Oh. Yes." Snape said quickly, wondering why he'd been stupid enough to let that slip out. "Another word."
"Right, well we got the letter from Tom, but we were still worried you might change your mind." Minton explained. "I see you're wearing your costume, good stuff. Now we'll just get you into make-up. Come along."
Snape, not too impressed at hearing that his clothes were considered a "costume" by the muggles, followed along. "Make-up?" He repeated, wondering where he'd heard the word before.
"Sure, everyone on a film wears it, even the males. I know it might sound silly to you, but rest assured it's very important. We have to make sure you look like a wizard." Minton explained further.
'Look like a wizard?' Snape thought with an inward sigh. 'Was Minton insinuating he looked like a muggle for merlin's sake?'
"Right, here's make-up. This is Amelia, and she'll look after you. When she's done you're to be on the set for your call at nine prompt." Minton said. "I'll see you then."
And he hurried off, leaving Snape in the hands of the make-up woman who was regarding him thoughtfully. "Let's see, you've got very pale skin. I always imagined a wizard would have darker skin..I'm not sure why. Maybe from riding around on their broomsticks or something?" She laughed. "Imagine riding a broomstick for heaven's sake. I'd much prefer my car."
Snape controlled himself very well at the woman's comments. He longed to tell her that advances in wizard technology meant that the very latest broomsticks were amazingly fast and convenient. And, he thought, much easier to just get off a broom and go straight into the place you wanted than to deal with those "automobiles" muggles used. With a frown he remembered how Weasley and Potter had flown a converted one into the Whomping Willow on their arrival at school one year a few years back. He recalled only too well how furious he'd been at their obvious attempt for attention. 'Typical of them really,' he thought. 'Especially Potter. It's not enough to be the boy-who-lived, and who on a few occasions has defeated the greatest, darkest wizard ever born. He needs more bloody attention! If he were in my house he'd of been expelled on many, many occasions!'
"Mr. Snape?" The woman asked with a frown. "I said can you sit down please?"
"Sorry." Snape said gruffly, sitting in the chair facing her. 'Not that I'm advocating the return of Voldemort after all I did the last summer to prevent him getting to Hogwarts and all..But sometimes I wish that Potter boy wasn't here!' He thought to himself.
"Right," The make-up woman said chirply, too chirpily for this time in the morning in Snape's view. "Time to make you look like a wizard."
'Ah,' thought Snape with a sigh. 'This was going to be a long few weeks, maybe he shouldn't be here after all!' But he'd promised himself he'd at least give it a go, and that he would. After all, nobody could say that Professor Severus Snape was a quitter, that was for sure!