Drabble: Problems with Probes
Feb. 15th, 2014 12:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: Problems with Probes
Author:alisanne
Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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snape100/![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-community.gif)
snape100's prompt #521: Probity Probe.
Word Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Betas:sevfan and emynn
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Problems with Probes
~
Severus surveyed his laboratory with satisfaction. That he’d been allowed to keep any teaching position after the war was a miracle, and while Deputy Headmaster was a demotion, incarceration in Azkaban would’ve been significantly worse. Thank you, Potter.
Humming, Severus started for Minerva’s office for their meeting. Their relationship, while still strained, was evolving.
On her desk, Minerva had tea and-- Severus frowned. “Probity Probes?” He raised an eyebrow.
Minerva hummed. “You instituted them during your tenure.”
“Indeed, but--”
“The Ministry thinks it smart, and since you’re the expert, I’m placing you in charge of the program.” She smiled. “Enjoy.”
~
As ideas went, it wasn’t a bad one. Several disasters would have been prevented by using Probity Probes to screen students and their familiars in previous years. That didn’t mean anyone was pleased about it, however.
“Absolutely not!” Filius snapped. “It’s an invasion of privacy.”
Severus sighed. “It’s not my rule, Filius--”
“You’re the one who instituted it last year!”
“I had no choice!” Severus snapped back.
Filius huffed. “Where will it stop? Are you going to probe us after weekends away? Perhaps every time we take a bathroom break?”
After several more staff refused, Severus began reconsidering the program.
~
“Perhaps just the students, then?” Minerva suggested when Severus explained the difficulty he was having with the staff accepting Probity Probes. “They should be more agreeable.”
But the ‘eighth years’, which consisted of Potter, Granger, Weasley, and Longbottom, all refused.
“Sorry,” said Potter, looking anything but. “I had a bad experience with those my last visit to Gringotts.”
Since Severus had heard all about Potter’s last Gringotts visit, he didn’t argue.
Of course, since all the other students followed Potter’s lead, Severus was faced with a staff and a student body who all refused probing. Something had to be done.
~
“Thanks for the dinner invitation, Professor.” Potter looked relaxed as he sipped his wine. It made Severus nervous.
“Indeed. Well, I need to discuss something with you.”
“Is it about the Probity Probes?”
So much for subtlety. Severus sighed. “Yes. As you know, the Ministry believes--”
Potter held up a hand. “I know what they believe, Professor. What’s your opinion? Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“It would’ve revealed Peter Pettigrew,” Severus said. “And exposed the impostor Mad-Eye.”
“But at what cost?” Potter smiled. “At some point the Ministry’s just going to have to trust people.”
Severus sighed.
~
“I’m thinking about teaching once I’m done with school.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. In his continuing attempts to persuade Potter to accept Probity Probing, he’d continued inviting him to dinner. Potter proved a charming dinner companion. “I thought you were joining the Aurors.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” Potter smiled. “I enjoy teaching, I’ve always loved it here and, well, it’s home.”
Severus inclined his head. “It has always felt that way to me, too.”
“So are you still getting pressure from the Ministry?”
Severus sighed. “They believe I’ve given up.”
Leaning forward, Potter grinned. “Have you considered a new approach?”
~
“That’s unfair!”
Severus hummed. “It’s eminently fair. I’m not forcing you to undergo a Probity Probe. The program’s completely voluntary.”
“But it’s required to receive our teaching bonuses.” Filius scowled.
“That’s the incentive, yes.” Severus smirked. “Let me know what you decide.”
Filius huffed. “I’ll do it, naturally. Although the Ministry will be hearing from me!”
“I’m sure,” murmured Severus. “Shall I put you down for tomorrow? Today’s rather booked.”
The students fell into line, too, once they heard House points were on offer. Some held out, the ones with Death Eater parents. Severus met with them separately for counselling.
~
“The Probity Probe program worked.” Potter smiled at Severus.
Severus hummed. “Offering incentives was inspired.”
Potter grinned. “A compliment? Careful or I’ll think we’re friends.”
Aren’t we? Severus hummed. “Stranger things have happened.”
Potter chuckled. “So when’s my...probing?”
Severus coughed. “The year’s over, you’re no longer a student. It isn’t required in your case.”
“But I’ll be staff once summer’s over.” Potter’s eyes glittered. “Won’t there be...probing then?”
Severus coughed. “Your teaching bonus will depend on it, yes.”
“I’ve another bonus in mind.” Potter leaned close. “Shall we start our own probing program?”
Summer proved quite exciting indeed.
~
Author:
alisannePairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for
snape100/snape100/snape100's prompt #521: Probity Probe.Word Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Betas:
sevfan and emynnDisclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Problems with Probes
~
Severus surveyed his laboratory with satisfaction. That he’d been allowed to keep any teaching position after the war was a miracle, and while Deputy Headmaster was a demotion, incarceration in Azkaban would’ve been significantly worse. Thank you, Potter.
Humming, Severus started for Minerva’s office for their meeting. Their relationship, while still strained, was evolving.
On her desk, Minerva had tea and-- Severus frowned. “Probity Probes?” He raised an eyebrow.
Minerva hummed. “You instituted them during your tenure.”
“Indeed, but--”
“The Ministry thinks it smart, and since you’re the expert, I’m placing you in charge of the program.” She smiled. “Enjoy.”
~
As ideas went, it wasn’t a bad one. Several disasters would have been prevented by using Probity Probes to screen students and their familiars in previous years. That didn’t mean anyone was pleased about it, however.
“Absolutely not!” Filius snapped. “It’s an invasion of privacy.”
Severus sighed. “It’s not my rule, Filius--”
“You’re the one who instituted it last year!”
“I had no choice!” Severus snapped back.
Filius huffed. “Where will it stop? Are you going to probe us after weekends away? Perhaps every time we take a bathroom break?”
After several more staff refused, Severus began reconsidering the program.
~
“Perhaps just the students, then?” Minerva suggested when Severus explained the difficulty he was having with the staff accepting Probity Probes. “They should be more agreeable.”
But the ‘eighth years’, which consisted of Potter, Granger, Weasley, and Longbottom, all refused.
“Sorry,” said Potter, looking anything but. “I had a bad experience with those my last visit to Gringotts.”
Since Severus had heard all about Potter’s last Gringotts visit, he didn’t argue.
Of course, since all the other students followed Potter’s lead, Severus was faced with a staff and a student body who all refused probing. Something had to be done.
~
“Thanks for the dinner invitation, Professor.” Potter looked relaxed as he sipped his wine. It made Severus nervous.
“Indeed. Well, I need to discuss something with you.”
“Is it about the Probity Probes?”
So much for subtlety. Severus sighed. “Yes. As you know, the Ministry believes--”
Potter held up a hand. “I know what they believe, Professor. What’s your opinion? Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“It would’ve revealed Peter Pettigrew,” Severus said. “And exposed the impostor Mad-Eye.”
“But at what cost?” Potter smiled. “At some point the Ministry’s just going to have to trust people.”
Severus sighed.
~
“I’m thinking about teaching once I’m done with school.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. In his continuing attempts to persuade Potter to accept Probity Probing, he’d continued inviting him to dinner. Potter proved a charming dinner companion. “I thought you were joining the Aurors.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” Potter smiled. “I enjoy teaching, I’ve always loved it here and, well, it’s home.”
Severus inclined his head. “It has always felt that way to me, too.”
“So are you still getting pressure from the Ministry?”
Severus sighed. “They believe I’ve given up.”
Leaning forward, Potter grinned. “Have you considered a new approach?”
~
“That’s unfair!”
Severus hummed. “It’s eminently fair. I’m not forcing you to undergo a Probity Probe. The program’s completely voluntary.”
“But it’s required to receive our teaching bonuses.” Filius scowled.
“That’s the incentive, yes.” Severus smirked. “Let me know what you decide.”
Filius huffed. “I’ll do it, naturally. Although the Ministry will be hearing from me!”
“I’m sure,” murmured Severus. “Shall I put you down for tomorrow? Today’s rather booked.”
The students fell into line, too, once they heard House points were on offer. Some held out, the ones with Death Eater parents. Severus met with them separately for counselling.
~
“The Probity Probe program worked.” Potter smiled at Severus.
Severus hummed. “Offering incentives was inspired.”
Potter grinned. “A compliment? Careful or I’ll think we’re friends.”
Aren’t we? Severus hummed. “Stranger things have happened.”
Potter chuckled. “So when’s my...probing?”
Severus coughed. “The year’s over, you’re no longer a student. It isn’t required in your case.”
“But I’ll be staff once summer’s over.” Potter’s eyes glittered. “Won’t there be...probing then?”
Severus coughed. “Your teaching bonus will depend on it, yes.”
“I’ve another bonus in mind.” Potter leaned close. “Shall we start our own probing program?”
Summer proved quite exciting indeed.
~
no subject
Date: 2014-02-16 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-20 02:40 am (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2014-02-22 08:35 pm (UTC)Also, I think I prefer Harry's idea of probing better than the The Ministry's. (Not that I don't think Severus prefers it too. He is clearly unhappy with the idea of using Probity Probes on his charges.)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-24 02:08 am (UTC)And yes, I don't blame you for preferring Harry's idea of probing. *g* I daresay Severus totally agrees with you. *g*
no subject
Date: 2014-03-10 07:42 pm (UTC)No one likes having their privacy invaded, but incentives make it less brutal.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-15 03:01 am (UTC)And yes, Harry did manage to make Severus' job a lot easier. *g*
Thank you!