Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor am I J.K Rowling. I think they
belong to Warner Bros. or something, but if not, don't sue me! I also don't
own the London Underground, or anything like that. All "landmark-ish"
places I used from the Order of the Pheonix.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! spazattack- This is the best Snape fic you've ever read?! Aww... I feel special. Linninfields- Thank you so much, I love getting reviews! Iris Devine- Heylo! Heh heh, you reviewed twice. ;-) CrazedAnimeFanGirl- When are you gonna learn, all my stories are dark! Lol. Love ya.
Now, here's the chapter, finally.
As Severus was eating breakfast and playing with Orion, Opecid rapped on the window. Severus cracked the window open just enough to let the owl slip through. He dropped the letter on the table before flutting upstairs to his cage. When Severus opened the letter, his heart nearly skipped a beat.
The Ministry had responded to his job inquiry. They liked what they saw, all they needed now was an interview. He was to meet with Remus Lupin today and noon. That last bit sank his mood faster than a brick in the ocean. Remus Lupin. Why on god's green earth did he get Remus Lupin? Sure, the man hadn't ever done anything to offend him personally. In fact, he was very cordial to Severus in school. But he was part of that fucking Potter's crowd. Perfect Potter. Severus couldn't believe that after all these years, Potter, even in death, was still finding ways to torment him.
There wasn't very much that he could do about that. Severus finally put an end to it by saying that it was only one interview, and if in the off chance he did get the job, he would make every possible attempt to avoid Lupin. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as he set down the letter. Maybe things were about to get better.
Severus glanced at the clock and realized that since he slept in late, it was already 10:30. "Shit!" he gasped, "I'm gonna be late!" He quickly force- fed Orion the last of his bottle and hauled him upstairs. He got Orion ready and then set him in his little playpen. Severus then rushed down the hall to get himself ready. He looked in the mirror and decided that he was not grungy enough to warrant taking a shower. Instead, he blasted some cold water in his face and then threw on the only decent looking thing that he had to wear. Riona was the one with all of the clothes, Severus never really cared. He was used to having little.
After stumbling around the room, trying to put on his shoes, he grabbed Orion and ran back downstairs. He snatched some floo powder from the pouch by the fireplace and shouted, "The Underground!" A few minutes and a traumatizing amount of green fire later, Severus and baby Orion were standing right in the middle of the manager's office. Fortunately, the manager was out on break.
They quietly made their exit and went up to the ticket counter. "I need a ticket to London," he snapped to a stoned looking guard. "Whoa.. okay, man, that'll be like.. uh, let's see here.." Severus stuck his free hand in his coat pocket and realized that he had no muggle money. "Curses! Eh, one moment please," he told the guard. He ran up to the nearest woman and asked her for a few pounds. She simply sniffed and walked away, nose upturned. "Hey, man!" the guard shouted. Severus approached the ticket counter again. The guard whispered, "I'm not supposed to do this, but I, like, forgot how much money you're supposed to pay, so here's a ticket. It's on me." He stuck out a fat hand with a crumpled ticket. "Just don't tell Bernie, the manager, okay?"
"Yeah, sure kid," Severus replied. "Thank you." He looked at the time on the ticket and saw that the train left in two minutes. He ran all the way to the other end of the terminal just in time to be the last person to board. He stopped a moment to catch his breath and hand his ticket to the usher before taking a seat in the back. Orion was almost asleep; his eyelids looked droopy. Severus fell asleep himself until an abrupt halt sent his face smashing against the seat ahead of him.
Severus stepped off the train and found himself in the middle of a crowded, dirty street. "Where's the phone booth?" Severus asked himself. He spotted it when he looked past a fat couple carrying trunks. He stepped into the booth and picked up the phone. There was no sound at all coming from the receiver, but that didn't scare Severus. He'd used the visitors entrance many times. He spun the dial around very quickly..6,2,4,4,2.
When the voice on the other end answered, he shouted at her to hurry up. This apparently infuriated the machine, as the visitor badge came shooting out of the machine and slammed Severus hard in the stomach. He quickly pinned it to his robes. The now annoyed voice told him to give his wand to the people near the atrium, and have a nice day, etc. The phone booth started lowering itself, just like an elevator/lift.
When the booth stopped, Severus ran past the atrium to the wand security area and went thought the whole search. Before the guard really had a chance to verify his wand, Severus dashed back to the Auror Headquarters. The clock on the wall opposite the cubicle read 11:54 AM. "G'day, mate. Remus'll be wit' ya' in sec," stated a deep Scottish voice. Severus took a seat in one of the tatty small chairs in front of a desk that bore the nametag, Remus Lupin- Auror, Ministry of Magic.
At 12:01, Remus came in with a cheery smile on his face. "Why, Severus, hello! How have you been?"
"Fine," was his reply. "You're late."
"Ah, yes, well, there was a matter involving a homicidal suitcase that needed my immediate attention. The thing of it was--"
"Just get on with it!" Severus barked.
Lupin had to stop a minute and regain his composure before stuttering, "E- Eh, ah, why yes, we ought to."
"Yes."
"Let's see," Remus muttered, rummaging through some paperwork. "Ah! Here it is, your résumé. Well, Severus, you are very qualified and have undergone all of the Ministry required training, so I see no reason not to hire you." He stopped to clear his throat, "However, I have to ask you some routine questions. For instance, why do you want to take this job?"
"Because I need one."
"Alright, suits me. You do realize that you may be called at all hours of the morning/noon/night and need to be prepared for action wherever you go?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well then, I eh.... don't have much else to say. Congratulations, Severus, you're our man."
Severus couldn't stop himself from beaming and shaking Lupin's hand. As soon as Remus patted him on the back, however, he snapped out of it and went back to his normal self.
"When do I start?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Next week."
"Thank you."
"Good day, Severus, best of luck to you."
With that, Severus clicked his tongue, turned on his heel, and left the headquarters.
* * *
"Wha- what the hell happened to you?" Lucius asked in shock.
"Christ, Lucius, it was nothing. I just-I need to go now."
"Riona, don't act like this, for god's sake. You're a fucking mess! Go to the mansion and tell Narcissa I'll be late here. You can stay there for a few days. Go."
"Thank you, Lucius," Riona leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. Lucius stroked her cheek and gave her a more passionate kiss. When they drew away, Riona winked and left the Department of Myths.
* * *
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! spazattack- This is the best Snape fic you've ever read?! Aww... I feel special. Linninfields- Thank you so much, I love getting reviews! Iris Devine- Heylo! Heh heh, you reviewed twice. ;-) CrazedAnimeFanGirl- When are you gonna learn, all my stories are dark! Lol. Love ya.
Now, here's the chapter, finally.
As Severus was eating breakfast and playing with Orion, Opecid rapped on the window. Severus cracked the window open just enough to let the owl slip through. He dropped the letter on the table before flutting upstairs to his cage. When Severus opened the letter, his heart nearly skipped a beat.
The Ministry had responded to his job inquiry. They liked what they saw, all they needed now was an interview. He was to meet with Remus Lupin today and noon. That last bit sank his mood faster than a brick in the ocean. Remus Lupin. Why on god's green earth did he get Remus Lupin? Sure, the man hadn't ever done anything to offend him personally. In fact, he was very cordial to Severus in school. But he was part of that fucking Potter's crowd. Perfect Potter. Severus couldn't believe that after all these years, Potter, even in death, was still finding ways to torment him.
There wasn't very much that he could do about that. Severus finally put an end to it by saying that it was only one interview, and if in the off chance he did get the job, he would make every possible attempt to avoid Lupin. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as he set down the letter. Maybe things were about to get better.
Severus glanced at the clock and realized that since he slept in late, it was already 10:30. "Shit!" he gasped, "I'm gonna be late!" He quickly force- fed Orion the last of his bottle and hauled him upstairs. He got Orion ready and then set him in his little playpen. Severus then rushed down the hall to get himself ready. He looked in the mirror and decided that he was not grungy enough to warrant taking a shower. Instead, he blasted some cold water in his face and then threw on the only decent looking thing that he had to wear. Riona was the one with all of the clothes, Severus never really cared. He was used to having little.
After stumbling around the room, trying to put on his shoes, he grabbed Orion and ran back downstairs. He snatched some floo powder from the pouch by the fireplace and shouted, "The Underground!" A few minutes and a traumatizing amount of green fire later, Severus and baby Orion were standing right in the middle of the manager's office. Fortunately, the manager was out on break.
They quietly made their exit and went up to the ticket counter. "I need a ticket to London," he snapped to a stoned looking guard. "Whoa.. okay, man, that'll be like.. uh, let's see here.." Severus stuck his free hand in his coat pocket and realized that he had no muggle money. "Curses! Eh, one moment please," he told the guard. He ran up to the nearest woman and asked her for a few pounds. She simply sniffed and walked away, nose upturned. "Hey, man!" the guard shouted. Severus approached the ticket counter again. The guard whispered, "I'm not supposed to do this, but I, like, forgot how much money you're supposed to pay, so here's a ticket. It's on me." He stuck out a fat hand with a crumpled ticket. "Just don't tell Bernie, the manager, okay?"
"Yeah, sure kid," Severus replied. "Thank you." He looked at the time on the ticket and saw that the train left in two minutes. He ran all the way to the other end of the terminal just in time to be the last person to board. He stopped a moment to catch his breath and hand his ticket to the usher before taking a seat in the back. Orion was almost asleep; his eyelids looked droopy. Severus fell asleep himself until an abrupt halt sent his face smashing against the seat ahead of him.
Severus stepped off the train and found himself in the middle of a crowded, dirty street. "Where's the phone booth?" Severus asked himself. He spotted it when he looked past a fat couple carrying trunks. He stepped into the booth and picked up the phone. There was no sound at all coming from the receiver, but that didn't scare Severus. He'd used the visitors entrance many times. He spun the dial around very quickly..6,2,4,4,2.
When the voice on the other end answered, he shouted at her to hurry up. This apparently infuriated the machine, as the visitor badge came shooting out of the machine and slammed Severus hard in the stomach. He quickly pinned it to his robes. The now annoyed voice told him to give his wand to the people near the atrium, and have a nice day, etc. The phone booth started lowering itself, just like an elevator/lift.
When the booth stopped, Severus ran past the atrium to the wand security area and went thought the whole search. Before the guard really had a chance to verify his wand, Severus dashed back to the Auror Headquarters. The clock on the wall opposite the cubicle read 11:54 AM. "G'day, mate. Remus'll be wit' ya' in sec," stated a deep Scottish voice. Severus took a seat in one of the tatty small chairs in front of a desk that bore the nametag, Remus Lupin- Auror, Ministry of Magic.
At 12:01, Remus came in with a cheery smile on his face. "Why, Severus, hello! How have you been?"
"Fine," was his reply. "You're late."
"Ah, yes, well, there was a matter involving a homicidal suitcase that needed my immediate attention. The thing of it was--"
"Just get on with it!" Severus barked.
Lupin had to stop a minute and regain his composure before stuttering, "E- Eh, ah, why yes, we ought to."
"Yes."
"Let's see," Remus muttered, rummaging through some paperwork. "Ah! Here it is, your résumé. Well, Severus, you are very qualified and have undergone all of the Ministry required training, so I see no reason not to hire you." He stopped to clear his throat, "However, I have to ask you some routine questions. For instance, why do you want to take this job?"
"Because I need one."
"Alright, suits me. You do realize that you may be called at all hours of the morning/noon/night and need to be prepared for action wherever you go?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well then, I eh.... don't have much else to say. Congratulations, Severus, you're our man."
Severus couldn't stop himself from beaming and shaking Lupin's hand. As soon as Remus patted him on the back, however, he snapped out of it and went back to his normal self.
"When do I start?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Next week."
"Thank you."
"Good day, Severus, best of luck to you."
With that, Severus clicked his tongue, turned on his heel, and left the headquarters.
* * *
"Wha- what the hell happened to you?" Lucius asked in shock.
"Christ, Lucius, it was nothing. I just-I need to go now."
"Riona, don't act like this, for god's sake. You're a fucking mess! Go to the mansion and tell Narcissa I'll be late here. You can stay there for a few days. Go."
"Thank you, Lucius," Riona leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. Lucius stroked her cheek and gave her a more passionate kiss. When they drew away, Riona winked and left the Department of Myths.
* * *