Chapter Ten: The police.
Snape was ready to leave the set when Mr. Hampton came up to him. "Listen Professor, we need you to do us a favor- could you accompany the police to the station for some questioning?"
"Some questioning?" Snape repeated confused. "What about?"
"Well it's just that some people seem to think that when they last saw Richard he was leaving in the company of you and the big hairy man, so the police want to ask you a few questions, that's all. No big deal." Mr. Hampton explained.
Snape sighed heavily. "I don't see why we have to do this now. I've got something I had to do which was rather important."
"I'm sure it was Professor, but surely you think Richard and his safety is more important?" Mr. Hampton asked.
"Fine," Snape said. "But it better be quick!"
Mr. Hampton led Snape over to where the two policemen were waiting for him. They led him out the front to their car. Snape hesitated- he hadn't ever been in a muggle vehicle and to be honest he wasn't too sure he wanted to be in one. They didn't seem very safe, and the muggle papers he'd been reading the last few weeks on the set were often full of car crashes and people dying in them. But from the looks on the faces of the police as they waited for him to get in he had no choice but to go in the vehicle. When he got in, they then got in the front and began the drive. Snape watched as the vehicle drove in and out of other vehicles, often making him close his eyes waiting for the moment they'd crash and he'd die. But to his surprise they made it to their destination intact. Snape was then led into the police station and a small room, filled with muggle equipment. One of the policemen disappeared but the other stayed there.
"Just take a seat hey mate?" He asked Snape.
'Mate?' Snape wondered, but he did as the man said and took a seat. A moment later the other policeman was back, followed by a woman police officer.
"Before we begin do you want a drink of anything Professor?" The woman asked. "Perhaps a coffee?"
"Coffee?" Snape repeated, and then shook his head quickly. He knew what coffee was but had no idea what it actually tasted like! He decided to go the safe option since he didn't know what muggles drank. "No, but I'd love a water."
"Water it is!" She declared and when she went to get it the two policemen sat down in chairs opposite Snape's. The woman returned with the water in a plastic cup, which she handed to Snape before sitting down herself.
"Okay, before we begin I just want you to know that this is merely a questioning session since it seems perhaps you were the last person to see Richard. Therefore we're hoping you might be able to provide us with some information as to what happened to him. I'm Detective Marsh, and this is Detective Saunders. By the door is Senior-Constable Williams." The first of the police said. He was the older looking one, and clearly it appeared he was in charge.
Snape nodded to show he understood what they were saying, but in reality he was a bit confused about the whole thing. Did they know he'd taken Lockhart to the Ministry? Or at least to somewhere?
"Firstly, apparently your real name is Severus Snape. Is this correct?" Detective Marsh asked.
Snape glared at him. "Yes, that's my name." He said coldly.
Detective Marsh didn't bat an eyelid. "And they tell me you're a professor. What University do you teach at? I thought it might be here in London, but I didn't find any record of you."
"Well you see, Detective, " Snape began, mentally coming up with the reason. "I'm not really a Professor. I just thought it made my name sound more interesting. Stand out from the crowd so to speak." He gave him what he hoped was a good smile.
"Ah, that's a good idea." Detective Marsh said nodding. "And it worked didn't it? Getting you a part in the movie?"
"Mmm." Snape replied.
"Okay, and have you met Richard anywhere before?" Detective Marsh asked. "I mean before the movie began shooting did you know him?"
"No." Snape said. "I'd never seen him before in my life." Obviously he couldn't tell them where he really knew Lockhart from, and what had happened to him down in the Chamber of Secrets causing him to loose his memory of who he was, and what he did. Snape suddenly realised that the police were looking at him strangely.
"Mr. Snape," Detective Marsh said slowly. "Something tells me your not being entirely truthful with us."
"Fine," Snape sighed. "I had met him before, but I didn't think he'd want you knowing that I met him at the track once. Seems Richard had a bit of a gambling problem." If the police thought he'd had something to do with Lockhart's disappearance they'd keep an eye on him all the time, and what would happen if they worked out he wasn't your ordinary, everyday muggle? And this story seemed perfect to him since it was exactly what had happened on the movie he'd been watching in his trailer the other day! Apparently this "gambling problem" was a source of embarrassment to muggles.
Detective Marsh nodded. "I see, no wonder he didn't want anyone to know..When you met again on the set did he seem to recognise you from before?" He asked.
"No." Snape said truthfully. "He didn't have the slightest idea who I was."
"Okay, now we'll get to the day when a few people reported seeing you leaving with Richard. Did you actually leave the studio with him?" Detective Marsh asked.
"We walked out together, and we crossed the road together, but then we went in separate directions." Snape said. "We were talking about how marvelous some of his set designs and things are."
Detective Marsh made a note on his notepad. "Okay, well the visitor you had? Apparently you introduced him as the gamekeeper at your school? Now as you've admitted to us you're not really a teacher- it's a stage name, who was this man?"
Snape sighed. "As I said his name was Hagrid, and when I said he was the gamekeeper at the school I worked with that wasn't technically true. He IS a gamekeeper, however I went to school with him, but I thought it made my school sound very interesting. Added to the illusion of my stagename."
Detective Marsh nodded. "Right, and this Hagrid and Richard they didn't know each other?"
"Hagrid had actually heard of Richard, but Richard didn't know him, no." Snape replied.
"Why had he heard of him?" Detective Saunders asked interested. "Are you two both gamblers or something? And maybe this Hagrid thought he could make a bet with Richard. Or maybe-"
"Let him answer the first question you asked." Detective Marsh interrupted.
"I have no problem with answering it all Detective." Snape said. "Hagrid had heard of Richard's thoughts about the magical world and that was why we were talking about that when we left the studio. You see Hagrid isn't, as you would say "all there" and the whole thing fascinates him. As for either of us being a gambler I have to tell you that I don't really have the money for that kind of hobby, and I don't think Hagrid would on a gamekeeper's salary that's for sure! We went to the track simply because a horse of someone we knew was racing that day and we wanted to see how it went."
"I think he's answered all your questions Saunders?" Detective Marsh asked.
Detective Saunders looked sullen as he agreed that he had.
"Almost done Mr. Snape." Detective Marsh said. "Did you speak to Richard much during the shooting so far?"
"Not really no." Snape admitted. "Only on occasions, and it was generally about how he came up with the ideas he did."
"So you never noticed that he was upset or worried about anything?" Detective Marsh asked.
Snape thought about the worried look in Lockhart's eyes when they'd left him at the Ministry the day before and shook his head. "No, never."
"Okay, well I think that's it for now. We've got a car standing by out the front to take you to your hotel or wherever you're staying." Detective Marsh said. "And hopefully we'll be able to find Richard safe and sound soon."
"Hopefully." Snape echoed dutifully.
And that was it. He was allowed to go and get in the car out the front and be taken to his destination. Snape breathed a sigh of relief as he got in the car. He wanted to get an owl off to the Ministry as soon as possible so hopefully they'd be able to clear up this misunderstanding. As for the muggle police, well they were just like the ones on the television show he watched, and towards the end of the interview Snape was beginning to feel like he was in the television show!
"Take me to the Leaky Cauldron my good man." Snape said to the man driving the car.
"To the where?" The man asked confused. He turned around in his seat to look at Snape.
"The Leaky Cauldron." Snape repeated. Was the muggle deaf or something?
"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of the place. Where exactly is it? What suburb? What street?" The man asked.
Of course Snape had no idea of either. "Don't worry about it, I'll find my own way back." He said beginning to get out of the car, but the man called to him to stop.
"We're meant to be taking you everywhere." He argued.
"Fine." Snape snapped. "Take me back to the studios and I can show you from there!"
A little while later the taxi driver was dropping Snape off out the front of The Leaky Cauldron, looking a little confused. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" He asked.
"Yes, it's just up that small road you can't drive up." Snape lied. "If I'm going to get picked up and dropped off every day now with this whole kidnapping scare then it's probably best to do it here. It would take even the most skilled driver half an hour to turn round in it, and backing out of it would be a nightmare!"
"Right, well I'll let everyone know that." The driver said. "Good evening Professor Snape."
Snape waited until he'd driven off before entering the Leaky Cauldron, and then he went straight to his room to send an owl, ignoring the questions from the stupid fool Tom about how the movie was going, and whether or not he was going to be famous soon?
Snape was ready to leave the set when Mr. Hampton came up to him. "Listen Professor, we need you to do us a favor- could you accompany the police to the station for some questioning?"
"Some questioning?" Snape repeated confused. "What about?"
"Well it's just that some people seem to think that when they last saw Richard he was leaving in the company of you and the big hairy man, so the police want to ask you a few questions, that's all. No big deal." Mr. Hampton explained.
Snape sighed heavily. "I don't see why we have to do this now. I've got something I had to do which was rather important."
"I'm sure it was Professor, but surely you think Richard and his safety is more important?" Mr. Hampton asked.
"Fine," Snape said. "But it better be quick!"
Mr. Hampton led Snape over to where the two policemen were waiting for him. They led him out the front to their car. Snape hesitated- he hadn't ever been in a muggle vehicle and to be honest he wasn't too sure he wanted to be in one. They didn't seem very safe, and the muggle papers he'd been reading the last few weeks on the set were often full of car crashes and people dying in them. But from the looks on the faces of the police as they waited for him to get in he had no choice but to go in the vehicle. When he got in, they then got in the front and began the drive. Snape watched as the vehicle drove in and out of other vehicles, often making him close his eyes waiting for the moment they'd crash and he'd die. But to his surprise they made it to their destination intact. Snape was then led into the police station and a small room, filled with muggle equipment. One of the policemen disappeared but the other stayed there.
"Just take a seat hey mate?" He asked Snape.
'Mate?' Snape wondered, but he did as the man said and took a seat. A moment later the other policeman was back, followed by a woman police officer.
"Before we begin do you want a drink of anything Professor?" The woman asked. "Perhaps a coffee?"
"Coffee?" Snape repeated, and then shook his head quickly. He knew what coffee was but had no idea what it actually tasted like! He decided to go the safe option since he didn't know what muggles drank. "No, but I'd love a water."
"Water it is!" She declared and when she went to get it the two policemen sat down in chairs opposite Snape's. The woman returned with the water in a plastic cup, which she handed to Snape before sitting down herself.
"Okay, before we begin I just want you to know that this is merely a questioning session since it seems perhaps you were the last person to see Richard. Therefore we're hoping you might be able to provide us with some information as to what happened to him. I'm Detective Marsh, and this is Detective Saunders. By the door is Senior-Constable Williams." The first of the police said. He was the older looking one, and clearly it appeared he was in charge.
Snape nodded to show he understood what they were saying, but in reality he was a bit confused about the whole thing. Did they know he'd taken Lockhart to the Ministry? Or at least to somewhere?
"Firstly, apparently your real name is Severus Snape. Is this correct?" Detective Marsh asked.
Snape glared at him. "Yes, that's my name." He said coldly.
Detective Marsh didn't bat an eyelid. "And they tell me you're a professor. What University do you teach at? I thought it might be here in London, but I didn't find any record of you."
"Well you see, Detective, " Snape began, mentally coming up with the reason. "I'm not really a Professor. I just thought it made my name sound more interesting. Stand out from the crowd so to speak." He gave him what he hoped was a good smile.
"Ah, that's a good idea." Detective Marsh said nodding. "And it worked didn't it? Getting you a part in the movie?"
"Mmm." Snape replied.
"Okay, and have you met Richard anywhere before?" Detective Marsh asked. "I mean before the movie began shooting did you know him?"
"No." Snape said. "I'd never seen him before in my life." Obviously he couldn't tell them where he really knew Lockhart from, and what had happened to him down in the Chamber of Secrets causing him to loose his memory of who he was, and what he did. Snape suddenly realised that the police were looking at him strangely.
"Mr. Snape," Detective Marsh said slowly. "Something tells me your not being entirely truthful with us."
"Fine," Snape sighed. "I had met him before, but I didn't think he'd want you knowing that I met him at the track once. Seems Richard had a bit of a gambling problem." If the police thought he'd had something to do with Lockhart's disappearance they'd keep an eye on him all the time, and what would happen if they worked out he wasn't your ordinary, everyday muggle? And this story seemed perfect to him since it was exactly what had happened on the movie he'd been watching in his trailer the other day! Apparently this "gambling problem" was a source of embarrassment to muggles.
Detective Marsh nodded. "I see, no wonder he didn't want anyone to know..When you met again on the set did he seem to recognise you from before?" He asked.
"No." Snape said truthfully. "He didn't have the slightest idea who I was."
"Okay, now we'll get to the day when a few people reported seeing you leaving with Richard. Did you actually leave the studio with him?" Detective Marsh asked.
"We walked out together, and we crossed the road together, but then we went in separate directions." Snape said. "We were talking about how marvelous some of his set designs and things are."
Detective Marsh made a note on his notepad. "Okay, well the visitor you had? Apparently you introduced him as the gamekeeper at your school? Now as you've admitted to us you're not really a teacher- it's a stage name, who was this man?"
Snape sighed. "As I said his name was Hagrid, and when I said he was the gamekeeper at the school I worked with that wasn't technically true. He IS a gamekeeper, however I went to school with him, but I thought it made my school sound very interesting. Added to the illusion of my stagename."
Detective Marsh nodded. "Right, and this Hagrid and Richard they didn't know each other?"
"Hagrid had actually heard of Richard, but Richard didn't know him, no." Snape replied.
"Why had he heard of him?" Detective Saunders asked interested. "Are you two both gamblers or something? And maybe this Hagrid thought he could make a bet with Richard. Or maybe-"
"Let him answer the first question you asked." Detective Marsh interrupted.
"I have no problem with answering it all Detective." Snape said. "Hagrid had heard of Richard's thoughts about the magical world and that was why we were talking about that when we left the studio. You see Hagrid isn't, as you would say "all there" and the whole thing fascinates him. As for either of us being a gambler I have to tell you that I don't really have the money for that kind of hobby, and I don't think Hagrid would on a gamekeeper's salary that's for sure! We went to the track simply because a horse of someone we knew was racing that day and we wanted to see how it went."
"I think he's answered all your questions Saunders?" Detective Marsh asked.
Detective Saunders looked sullen as he agreed that he had.
"Almost done Mr. Snape." Detective Marsh said. "Did you speak to Richard much during the shooting so far?"
"Not really no." Snape admitted. "Only on occasions, and it was generally about how he came up with the ideas he did."
"So you never noticed that he was upset or worried about anything?" Detective Marsh asked.
Snape thought about the worried look in Lockhart's eyes when they'd left him at the Ministry the day before and shook his head. "No, never."
"Okay, well I think that's it for now. We've got a car standing by out the front to take you to your hotel or wherever you're staying." Detective Marsh said. "And hopefully we'll be able to find Richard safe and sound soon."
"Hopefully." Snape echoed dutifully.
And that was it. He was allowed to go and get in the car out the front and be taken to his destination. Snape breathed a sigh of relief as he got in the car. He wanted to get an owl off to the Ministry as soon as possible so hopefully they'd be able to clear up this misunderstanding. As for the muggle police, well they were just like the ones on the television show he watched, and towards the end of the interview Snape was beginning to feel like he was in the television show!
"Take me to the Leaky Cauldron my good man." Snape said to the man driving the car.
"To the where?" The man asked confused. He turned around in his seat to look at Snape.
"The Leaky Cauldron." Snape repeated. Was the muggle deaf or something?
"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of the place. Where exactly is it? What suburb? What street?" The man asked.
Of course Snape had no idea of either. "Don't worry about it, I'll find my own way back." He said beginning to get out of the car, but the man called to him to stop.
"We're meant to be taking you everywhere." He argued.
"Fine." Snape snapped. "Take me back to the studios and I can show you from there!"
A little while later the taxi driver was dropping Snape off out the front of The Leaky Cauldron, looking a little confused. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" He asked.
"Yes, it's just up that small road you can't drive up." Snape lied. "If I'm going to get picked up and dropped off every day now with this whole kidnapping scare then it's probably best to do it here. It would take even the most skilled driver half an hour to turn round in it, and backing out of it would be a nightmare!"
"Right, well I'll let everyone know that." The driver said. "Good evening Professor Snape."
Snape waited until he'd driven off before entering the Leaky Cauldron, and then he went straight to his room to send an owl, ignoring the questions from the stupid fool Tom about how the movie was going, and whether or not he was going to be famous soon?