Severus Snape thinks you're an idiot. Yes, you. (rusedeguerre) wrote in unforgivenrpg, @ 2010-09-15 09:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, 2000-09, c: severus snape, type: narrative |
Who: Severus Snape, NPC!Portraitist
When: 14 September 2000, afternoon
Where: The portraitist's studio
Rating: PG
Warnings: Severus being Severus? Does that need a warning?
Summary: Severus commissions a portrait. His reasons are his own.
Severus stood calmly with an unreadable expression on his face as the enthusiastic little portraitist rambled on about canvas types, frames and the spells needed to animate and infuse the portrait with the personality of the subject.
“But you can do this?” he said harshly, cutting through the little man’s arm-waving and prattle.
The little man looked lost for a moment, as though having his train of though derailed had left him adrift. “Oh yes!” he said once he’d gathered himself. “I painted Albus Dumbledore twice before his death so there will be little difficulty doing so now.”
The little man’s voice wavered for a moment as he seemed to realise that he was standing next to the man who had brought about that death and then an expression of apprehension and curiosity washed across his face.
“May I ask why you wish such a portrait?” the little man ventured hesitantly.
“No, you may not,” Severus said in his most forbidding manner, letting a malicious glint enter his eyes as he glared down at the little portraitist. He would let the man draw his own conclusions. They would likely be utterly wrong but that was precisely what he wanted.
The little man flinched under that glare and hurriedly looked way. “Of course, sir,” he said in a frightened voice as he finally remember not only that the man standing in his studio had struck down the greatest wizard alive as though it had been nothing (according to the many tales that constantly circulated about that night) but that he was also rumoured to be a close confidant and advisor to Lord Voldemort himself.
Severus watched those realisations race across the little man’s face with an inward smirk. “How long?”
The portraitist jumped and gave a tiny squeak. “Erm, as... as I’ve already painted him in the past... and... and I have a canvas all prepared already... I... I could have it done in two weeks... ifthatwouldbesatisfactory.”
The last bit came out in a rush, all smashed together into one but Severus understood it anyway and did not let his amusement show. It was perhaps petty of him to bully the little portraitist into putting his commission in front of anything else the man might be doing but Severus had never claimed to be that ‘better man’.
“That will be satisfactory,” he said calmly. “I understand the cost of such a portrait is 200 galleons.”
The little man squawked, first in momentary outrage then in sudden fright. Severus was once again forced to hide his amusement. He had quoted a price a full 150 galleons below the accepted minimum price for the size portrait he had requested and now he was interested to see what the little man would do and whether he had the backbone to stand up for his craft. For a moment he thought the man would actually demand full payment but the minute the little man’s shoulder’s slumped, he knew that if the man had ever possessed any backbone, it was well and truly gone by now.
“Yes, sir,” the little man said meekly. “Yes, it is.”
“Good,” Severus said briskly, a sneer of disgust appearing briefly before disappearing again. “I shall return in two weeks.”
He turned in a swirl of black robes and stalked out of the studio, leaving the little man standing rather forlornly in the middle of the room behind him.