Drabble: The Reveal
Nov. 22nd, 2017 08:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: The Reveal
Author:alisanne
Pairing/Characters: Severus Snape/Harry Potter, Hermione Granger.
Word Count: 100 x 9
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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snarry100's prompt# 603: Real.
Summary: The mystery deepens.
Part Thirty-Eight of the Wisdom Series (LJ/IJ/DW).
Beta(s):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.
~
The Reveal
~
“No, whispered Harry. “This isn’t real.”
“We must accept the evidence of our own eyes,” said Severus, coming up to Harry and embracing him. “As difficult to believe we’re again dealing with…this person.”
Azizi arched her back, hissing. Harry picked her up, holding her firmly against his chest.
“Well,” said Hermione, walking around to look the imposter square in their face. “It’s been a long time. How did you do this?”
“She’s Stunned,” Harry reminded Hermione. “And Disarm her first.”
“Right.” Hermione drew her wand “Expelliarmus! Finite!”
“Hem, hem.” Umbridge smirked at them. “Hello, children. Did you miss me?”
~
“Where’s Percy?” snapped Harry. “If you’ve hurt him—”
“What do you care?” Umbridge’s eyes glittered with malevolence. “The only one you care about’s your precious Snape!”
“I care about lots of people.” Leaning forward, Harry stared her in the eyes. “Now, where is he?”
“You believe you’re all grown up, but you’re still just children,” Umbridge spat. “A boy and girl in over your heads. That’s why you’ve no real power. Either of you.”
“Yet, these two, with their meagre power, have captured you.” Severus smirked.
Umbridge’s smirk widened. “That’s what you think. I’ve been preparing for a long time.”
~
Harry frowned. “Preparing? How?”
Umbridge tittered. “Yes, I’ll tell you my master plan so you can thwart it.” She snorted. “Do I look like an idiot?”
“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” drawled Harry. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re out of options.”
“As I said, I’ve been preparing for a long time.” Umbridge’s eyes narrowed and she stared at Severus. “And to think, I once admired you, thought you were a real man. But you’re just a filthy pillow-biter.”
Harry lunged for her, but Severus restrained him.
Hermione huffed. “Enough. She’s not going to tell us anything without Veritaserum.”
~
The uproar when Dean and several other Aurors arrived surpassed even Harry’s expectations.
“How’s this possible?” Robards snapped as Umbridge was carted away cackling. “She’s imprisoned in a cell in Azkaban! I checked, and the guards say she’s still there. So which is the real Umbridge?”
“We have no idea, Head-Auror.” Hermione’s smile was sharp. “But given the…irregularities that have occurred, and the fact my client has clearly been accused under false pretences—”
“Yes, yes,” muttered Robards. “I’ll have a word with the Head Mugwump. Once I explain what happened, Snape should be free to go.”
Hermione nodded. “Lovely.”
~
“You’re quiet,” murmured Severus as he and Harry collected their things from the holding area. “Is something wrong?”
Harry sighed. “Something just doesn’t feel right.” He turned to face Severus. “It doesn’t seem real, you know? The whole thing was resolved too easily.”
“I was held in a cell for two days,” Severus said. “Trust me, there was nothing easy about that.”
Harry grinned. “Not even last night?”
Severus inclined his head. “Admittedly, that was…enjoyable, but I would still have preferred it in our own bed.”
“I’m still here,” sang Hermione.
“Sorry, Hermione!” Harry grinned. “We’ll be home soon.”
~
“We still need to find Percy,” Hermione reminded Harry once they’d finished packing. “And I’m with you, Harry. That all went a bit too smoothly for my comfort.” She raised an eyebrow. “And I thought Slytherins were innately suspicious?”
“Indeed.” Slowly, Severus nodded. “As much as it pains me to admit it, I agree.”
Harry chuckled, clasping Severus’ hand. “There’s the paranoid Slytherin I love.” Inside his robes, Azizi purred. “And I think even Azizi concurs.”
“Lovely, it’s unanimous,” Severus drawled. “What shall we do now? And how do we locate the real Percy Weasley?”
Harry blinked. “I’ve an idea.”
~
“They’ll never allow it,” said Hermione once Harry outlined his plan.
“Why not? It could get us real answers.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow. “You want me to tell the Aurors we want to use a Kneazle to read Umbridge’s mind to find Percy?”
Harry coughed. “When you put it like that—”
“Say I wish to Legilimise her,” said Severus. “They shouldn’t argue that since she brought false charges against me.”
“That…could work.” Hermione sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Once she’d left, Severus took Azizi. “Now to explain what we need her to do.”
Harry smiled. “Good luck.”
~
Severus had finished communing with Azizi by the time Hermione returned. “They’ve agreed to let Snape have a crack at Umbridge,” she said. “But we’ll have to do it right now. Everyone’s eager to return her to Azkaban.”
“I can understand that,” muttered Harry. “Can I go in there with him?”
Hermione shook her head. “No, but we can watch from outside.” She looked at Severus. “You’ll have to be subtle about this. The whole encounter is going to be observed.”
Severus smirked. “I can be subtle.”
“That I believe.” Hermione snorted. “This case is a real corker. Follow me.”
~
Umbridge was being held in a cell, chained to a chair. While Harry and Hermione remained outside, Severus, with Azizi hidden under his robes, was escorted to her.
When he sat, Severus’ back was to the observers.
“Madam,” Severus greeted her. “I’ve some questions.”
“I’m sure. Hem, hem.”
“Where’s Percy Weasley?”
“I’m sure I don’t—” Umbridge paused, staring at Severus’ chest. “What a beauty! She’d be lovely for my collection.”
Robards leaned forwards. “What’s she on about?”
Harry coughed. “Severus’ technique is um…real smooth. Let him work.”
“Fine.” Robards scowled.
Suddenly, Severus stiffened. Harry clutched Hermione’s arm. “Something’s wrong!”
~
Continued in Intelligence Will Out (LJ/IJ/DW).
Author:
alisannePairing/Characters: Severus Snape/Harry Potter, Hermione Granger.
Word Count: 100 x 9
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for
snarry100/snarry100/snarry100's prompt# 603: Real. Summary: The mystery deepens.
Part Thirty-Eight of the Wisdom Series (LJ/IJ/DW).
Beta(s):
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.
~
The Reveal
~
“No, whispered Harry. “This isn’t real.”
“We must accept the evidence of our own eyes,” said Severus, coming up to Harry and embracing him. “As difficult to believe we’re again dealing with…this person.”
Azizi arched her back, hissing. Harry picked her up, holding her firmly against his chest.
“Well,” said Hermione, walking around to look the imposter square in their face. “It’s been a long time. How did you do this?”
“She’s Stunned,” Harry reminded Hermione. “And Disarm her first.”
“Right.” Hermione drew her wand “Expelliarmus! Finite!”
“Hem, hem.” Umbridge smirked at them. “Hello, children. Did you miss me?”
~
“Where’s Percy?” snapped Harry. “If you’ve hurt him—”
“What do you care?” Umbridge’s eyes glittered with malevolence. “The only one you care about’s your precious Snape!”
“I care about lots of people.” Leaning forward, Harry stared her in the eyes. “Now, where is he?”
“You believe you’re all grown up, but you’re still just children,” Umbridge spat. “A boy and girl in over your heads. That’s why you’ve no real power. Either of you.”
“Yet, these two, with their meagre power, have captured you.” Severus smirked.
Umbridge’s smirk widened. “That’s what you think. I’ve been preparing for a long time.”
~
Harry frowned. “Preparing? How?”
Umbridge tittered. “Yes, I’ll tell you my master plan so you can thwart it.” She snorted. “Do I look like an idiot?”
“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” drawled Harry. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re out of options.”
“As I said, I’ve been preparing for a long time.” Umbridge’s eyes narrowed and she stared at Severus. “And to think, I once admired you, thought you were a real man. But you’re just a filthy pillow-biter.”
Harry lunged for her, but Severus restrained him.
Hermione huffed. “Enough. She’s not going to tell us anything without Veritaserum.”
~
The uproar when Dean and several other Aurors arrived surpassed even Harry’s expectations.
“How’s this possible?” Robards snapped as Umbridge was carted away cackling. “She’s imprisoned in a cell in Azkaban! I checked, and the guards say she’s still there. So which is the real Umbridge?”
“We have no idea, Head-Auror.” Hermione’s smile was sharp. “But given the…irregularities that have occurred, and the fact my client has clearly been accused under false pretences—”
“Yes, yes,” muttered Robards. “I’ll have a word with the Head Mugwump. Once I explain what happened, Snape should be free to go.”
Hermione nodded. “Lovely.”
~
“You’re quiet,” murmured Severus as he and Harry collected their things from the holding area. “Is something wrong?”
Harry sighed. “Something just doesn’t feel right.” He turned to face Severus. “It doesn’t seem real, you know? The whole thing was resolved too easily.”
“I was held in a cell for two days,” Severus said. “Trust me, there was nothing easy about that.”
Harry grinned. “Not even last night?”
Severus inclined his head. “Admittedly, that was…enjoyable, but I would still have preferred it in our own bed.”
“I’m still here,” sang Hermione.
“Sorry, Hermione!” Harry grinned. “We’ll be home soon.”
~
“We still need to find Percy,” Hermione reminded Harry once they’d finished packing. “And I’m with you, Harry. That all went a bit too smoothly for my comfort.” She raised an eyebrow. “And I thought Slytherins were innately suspicious?”
“Indeed.” Slowly, Severus nodded. “As much as it pains me to admit it, I agree.”
Harry chuckled, clasping Severus’ hand. “There’s the paranoid Slytherin I love.” Inside his robes, Azizi purred. “And I think even Azizi concurs.”
“Lovely, it’s unanimous,” Severus drawled. “What shall we do now? And how do we locate the real Percy Weasley?”
Harry blinked. “I’ve an idea.”
~
“They’ll never allow it,” said Hermione once Harry outlined his plan.
“Why not? It could get us real answers.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow. “You want me to tell the Aurors we want to use a Kneazle to read Umbridge’s mind to find Percy?”
Harry coughed. “When you put it like that—”
“Say I wish to Legilimise her,” said Severus. “They shouldn’t argue that since she brought false charges against me.”
“That…could work.” Hermione sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Once she’d left, Severus took Azizi. “Now to explain what we need her to do.”
Harry smiled. “Good luck.”
~
Severus had finished communing with Azizi by the time Hermione returned. “They’ve agreed to let Snape have a crack at Umbridge,” she said. “But we’ll have to do it right now. Everyone’s eager to return her to Azkaban.”
“I can understand that,” muttered Harry. “Can I go in there with him?”
Hermione shook her head. “No, but we can watch from outside.” She looked at Severus. “You’ll have to be subtle about this. The whole encounter is going to be observed.”
Severus smirked. “I can be subtle.”
“That I believe.” Hermione snorted. “This case is a real corker. Follow me.”
~
Umbridge was being held in a cell, chained to a chair. While Harry and Hermione remained outside, Severus, with Azizi hidden under his robes, was escorted to her.
When he sat, Severus’ back was to the observers.
“Madam,” Severus greeted her. “I’ve some questions.”
“I’m sure. Hem, hem.”
“Where’s Percy Weasley?”
“I’m sure I don’t—” Umbridge paused, staring at Severus’ chest. “What a beauty! She’d be lovely for my collection.”
Robards leaned forwards. “What’s she on about?”
Harry coughed. “Severus’ technique is um…real smooth. Let him work.”
“Fine.” Robards scowled.
Suddenly, Severus stiffened. Harry clutched Hermione’s arm. “Something’s wrong!”
~
Continued in Intelligence Will Out (LJ/IJ/DW).
no subject
Date: 2017-11-22 06:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-23 03:06 am (UTC)Those are all good questions. *g* More answers to come!
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2017-11-23 07:42 am (UTC)(Happy Thanksgiving, bb!)
no subject
Date: 2017-11-24 02:45 am (UTC)Azizi may have to take some steps, yes. *g*
Thanks, bb!
And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! <3
no subject
Date: 2017-11-25 09:28 pm (UTC)what could be really going on???
no subject
Date: 2017-11-26 05:03 am (UTC)Thanks, hon!
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 10:07 pm (UTC)Okay I kind of didn't. She was my guess, but not my first or second. ^^ ANd who's in her place? Oh god, I'm afraid all over again!
no subject
Date: 2017-12-01 07:49 pm (UTC)I wondered what you'd think.
In an earlier chapter one of my betas asked me if it was her, so I took out a huge clue and left in a subtle one, and then no one got it. *g*
Thanks, hon!
no subject
Date: 2018-04-06 06:59 pm (UTC)I can't wait to see how the story will continue :)
no subject
Date: 2018-04-07 01:32 am (UTC)And Percy was just in the wrong place at the wrong, poor lad.
Thanks!