School, Year: Mahoutokoro, Exchange 2

Topic: Paragraphing

Prompt: (Action) pursing of the lips

Word Count: 675

Title: Veritaserum


It was quiet in the office except for the sound of a quill scratching over the parchment. Severus was leaning against the desk and sorted through some ingredients, barely paying attention to the student at the desk who was busy writing lines. The silence was interrupted by a firm knock at the door.

Looking up, Severus said, "Yes?"

The student, too, looked at the door, but one warning glare from Snape was enough for him to get back to his work.

When the door was pushed open and the small, pink figure entered the room, Severus had to hold back a sigh. How foolish of him to think that this day couldn't get any worse.

"Headmistress," he said coldly.

She nodded at him and put on a smile. "Professor Snape, we need to talk. In private." She squinted over to the student.

Severus frowned. "Professor, this boy is here to complete a detention. Surely, you won't ask me to delay his punishment?"

But she was still smiling. "As you are well aware, Snape, student punishments are my responsibility. Professors, and that includes you, are expected to send students to my office where I will put them in detention."

Of course, he had been aware of that when he had told Vincent Cullen to come to his office tonight. Dumbledore had advised him to keep his head down, but he was still determined to keep Slytherin students as far away from that bossy pink toad as possible.

Thinking it would be better not to argue with her this night, he said, "Cullen, you can go."

The boy quickly got up and left the office, obviously glad to be excused.

Pursing his lips, Severus turned back to Umbridge. "What is it you want with me, Headmistress?"

Her eyes wandered over the potion bottles on the shelf and she didn't reply right away. When she had finished examining his stocks, she looked at Severus again. "I need some Veritaserum. A vial should be sufficient."

For a moment, he just looked at her. Dumbledore had been right. He had suspected that as soon as Umbridge had the power over the school, she was going to use it, in any way she wanted. No matter if the actions she took were illegal.

"Does the Ministry know about this?" He pursed his lips and examined his shelves. Yes, he always had some Veritaserum ready, as well as the ingredients to brew the potion. But there was no need for her to know that.

"I am the Ministry!" she snapped at him. "I need the potion to interrogate Potter! Anyway, my choices are none of your concern. All I need to know is, how quick can you provide me with the potion?"

She didn't have permission from Fudge to use the Truth Potion. You didn't have to be a Legilimens to see that. It surprised him. He had thought Umbridge and Fudge were best pals, but apparently, their friendship seemed to be more one-sided than he had guessed.

He knew that if he didn't comply, she was going to use that against him. And Dumbledore had urged him to do nothing that might get him dismissed from the school.

"As it so happens, I have the ingredients to brew the potion right here. It will be finished by tomorrow morning, Headmistress."

Her voice got more friendly at once. "Splendidly! Well, a good night to you, Snape!"

He watched her leave and thoughtfully sank down on his chair. He knew that Potter mustn't be given the potion – he knew too much about the Order. He didn't want to risk handing Umbridge just a vial filled with water – even a dunderhead like her would notice the fraud.

He sighed. Brewing a good fake potion would take him just as long, if not longer, as brewing a real one, and he had been looking forward to a quiet night. But he had no choice.

Cursing Umbridge in his mind, he got up from his chair and got to work.