Chapter Seven: Visitors on the set.

The door of Snape's trailer slammed shut behind him, his robes swished and narrowly avoided being trapped in the door and he stormed along behind the young man who'd been sent to retrieve him for the upcoming scene. The young man, who clearly didn't realise how close he'd just come to being turned into a frog, had come to Snape's trailer to get him and had simpered over the work the costume and make-up people had done with him. "You look like I always thought a wizard would!" He declared, and then added that obviously Mr. Hampton's staff were nothing short of geniuses. Snape had pursed his lips and held his temper remarkably well, after all he was beginning to get used to the way muggles thought he was always in costume.

"You know today is a big day right?" Adam asked as Snape arrived on the set. The young man who'd been given the job of fetching him walked off and Adam gave Snape a jovial grin which quite frankly made Snape feel nauseous. He raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.

"We're having a very important visitor on the set." Adam continued, looking at Snape strangely. "I can't believe you've not heard the talk over the last few days."

Snape didn't tell him that he'd spent the last few days either debating to himself the complete extent of muggle stupidity and keeping an eye on Lockhart. "I must have missed it." Snape said, mentally adding 'Well enlighten me!'

"The Prince of Wales is coming to tour the set. Apparently he and his sons are huge fans of Mr. Hampton's work and when he heard we were making a movie on wizards he couldn't resist coming to have a look!" Adam said. The look on his face was still slightly incredulous that Snape had no idea what he was talking about.

Snape tried to look like he knew what Adam was talking about as he nodded politely. In reality he had no idea who the Prince was, although he was pretty sure the Prince would be nothing but another stupid muggle.

"So give a good show okay?" Adam asked as Snape and Emma went to take their places for the scene.

"Right." Snape muttered, and he turned to Emma who glared at him. She was still annoyed with him from the other day's lunch where he'd managed to insult her. He still thought it entirely likely that Emma WAS part giant and simply ashamed of it, but he wasn't about to bring it up again that was for sure. And the fact that she had thought he was gay certainly got under his skin.

"And ACTION!" was called and Snape began to act:



William: "I tell you Wendy that there's nothing to be worried about. Lord Voldemist has been dead for years."

Wendy (scared): "I don't believe that. I'm sure he's out there waiting..."

William: "I don't see what's brought this up again. Is there something you want to tell me Wendy?"

(Wendy looks uncomfortable and turns to scrub the kitchen bench and avoid William's gaze.)

William: "Wendy, sweetie, you know you can tell me anything."

Wendy: "You're not going to like it William."

William (slightly impatient): "Perhaps not, but I'd rather you tell me if things are bothering you than keep them bottled up inside."

Wendy (sighs): "Okay, well a few months ago I decided to write to my parents. I knew you'd be annoyed after all the trouble we had with them, but I've missed them the last ten years, and I wanted them to know I'm well- we're well. Anyway I've been writing to Mum since then and she sent me something the other day out of "The Wizards Paper" and it made me think, because we're not back in the village we wouldn't know these things not having read a paper, but there was someone killed. It sounded quite a violent death from what I gathered, but then I wondered whether or not it had something to do with Voldemist."



"CUT!" The director yelled as a large group of people walked onto the set. In the middle of them was a shortish, balding man who Mr. Hampton hurried over to. He bowed and shook the hand of the strange man.

"Welcome to Hampton Studios your majesty." Mr. Hampton said.

"Thank you. I must say I'm rather excited about this. It sounds like it's going to be a brilliant movie." The stranger said.

"Well we certainly hope so your majesty." Mr. Hampton said.

"What scene were you shooting when I arrived?" The stranger asked interested.

"Wendy was telling William she'd been in contact with her parents even though when they eloped they vowed never to see or speak to them. But she's worried that the evilest wizard ever may be making a return. William is going to assure her it's nothing to worry about. However in the very next scene he ends up ringing up one of his old friends who's part of the wizard police to find out. I shouldn't really give out secrets of course but the bad wizard has something of a vendetta against William which Wendy doesn't know about." Mr. Hampton explained, clearly very happy to be explaining his work to this stranger.

"It does sound very exciting. William and Harry are looking forward to the premiere I can assure you. Of course I'm looking forward to it just as much." He laughed, and most of the people on the set laughed with him. Snape didn't laugh, he didn't think the comment was at all funny. In fact, if he was going to be honest, he didn't think it was much of a comment at all!

"Well let me introduce you to my lead actors and then you could watch us shoot the next scene if you want?" Mr. Hampton offered, and the stranger nodded.

Emma came forward first and as Mr. Hampton introduced her she curtsied before the stranger and said "A pleasure your majesty."

The stranger nodded. "Are you enjoying making this movie?" He asked her.

Emma nodded. "Very much so. I'm honored to have gotten such a good part in a Hampton production, and I'm sure a movie like this is going to be very well received with the public." She told him.

Mr. Hampton gestured for Snape to come forward. "And this is Professor Severus Snape, our William." He said.

The stranger looked at Snape expectantly and he realised he must be waiting for him to say something. So he did. "Hello."

There were muffled noises from the crowd, and Mr. Hampton shot Snape a dirty look.

"Yes...well.." The stranger said. "A Professor you say? What are you a Professor of?"

Snape opened his mouth to say potions, but then thought the better of it. Muggles wouldn't of course study potions in their schools. So he said "A professor of chemicals and that sort of thing."

The stranger looked slightly confused and then shrugged. "Science then? Jolly good." He said.

Snape shrugged and Mr. Hampton pushed him aside. "We better get back to shooting then." He declared.

As the scene was set up Adam hissed at Snape "Why didn't you bow to him? I guess you're not a royalist. Mr. Hampton won't be impressed- he's the monarchies biggest fan."

So that was why Mr. Hampton had given him the dirty look Snape realised. "No, I'm not a royalist at all." He said.

Adam sighed and then shrugged. "Well by the time the Prince goes Mr. Hampton will likely have forgotten about it. You better take your place."

*****

Snape sat in his trailer later that day, his eyes glued to the muggle invention he'd become obsessed with. He'd happily watch anything from a children's program, to sport, to dramas, to soaps. A particular favorite of his was an American show called "Judge Judy" where muggles came into the room and stood before this other muggle who basically had the right to throw insults at them left right and center. It occurred to Snape that he could do that job with no problems. After the strange man had left the set that morning things seemed to feel a lot more normal. Whilst he had been there Snape felt that there was a strange, weird sort of atmosphere so he was glad to see the back of him.

There was a knock on his trailer door and Snape sighed impatiently. He was beginning to get annoyed by all the knocks on his door to come and do this, or that. Especially when they interrupted a show he was enjoying!

"What?" Snape asked irritably.

"Professor Snape?" Called a familiar voice.

"Come on in." Snape called. The door was opened and Hagrid squeezed himself into the trailer. He looked around in interest.

"So this is how the muggles live then." He said in wonder. "Ain't no wonder yer wanted ter be here."

Snape sighed. "What are you doing here Hagrid?" He asked coldly. After all he had to remember the man was nothing but a gamekeeper and therefore nowhere near equal to a Professor.

"Well Dumbledore sent me ter see yer. He thought he might make the muggles suspicious n' all." Hagrid explained. "The thing is, Professor Snape, we've got ter get Lockhart to the ministry. They're pretty worried 'bout him yer see."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly are we meant to get Lockhart to the ministry may I ask Hagrid?"

"We just got ter take him." Hagrid explained. "I thought yer could come up with a good excuse bein' a smart professor n'all."

Snape eyed him coldly. Was he making fun of him? If he was reminding him of the time only a few weeks ago where he'd had to rescue him Snape would have no hesitation in getting his wand out and teaching that oaf a lesson or two!

"'N Dumbledore said ter get yer to come up with somethin'." Hagrid added, and Snape relaxed.

"Right." Snape said. "I think I've got an idea!"