This is the New Year (Larry Mpreg)

Seventeen

The next week, it's Harry's very last week as an intern, and all he wants in his life is a job offer. From any law firm. Literally ever. Dobrev has been letting him work with him on cases instead of getting everyone coffee for the past 2 weeks or so, and Harry's been doing fantastically if he says so himself. He's overheard Dobrev giving him great recommendations and talking very highly of him to potential employers. Today is the first day of his last week, though, so if anyone wants him, he should be getting calls asking him for an interview any day, and hour, any minute now.

He's quite on edge at the moment.

Right now, him and Dobrev are with a client who is about to begin an oral deposition about possible wrongful termination in their workplace. Today, Dobrev's letting Harry lead.

"Could you please state your full name for the record?" Harry begins, his voice only faltering slightly.

"Kendra Louise Barnes."

"And you are aware that you're being deposed in the case of Barnes vs. Benson?"

"Yes," the plaintiff replies.

"Have you ever deposed before?" Harry asks, his voice becoming more confident when he notices the smirk on Dobrev's face.

"No," she replies.

"In your deposition I am going to be asking you questions and you are going to be answering them under oath. Do you understand this?" He tries to keep his voice calm and gentle so that the client doesn't feel uncomfortable.

"Yes."

"Great. Now, there are a few differences between a deposition and a typical conversation that I want to make you aware of. First, the court reporter is attempting to transcribe everything we say," Harry says, motioning to the man at the end of the table who's typing everything they say. "In a normal conversation, people sometimes interrupt or talk over each other, but here it's important that we wait for each other to finish asking or answering a question before the other begins talking. Do you understand this?"

"Yes," she nods.

"Perfect. Since this is an oral transcription, the court reporter cannot indicate head nods or other gestures or 'uh-huhs' and 'nuh-uhs.' Thus, every answer needs to be verbal. Do you understand this?"

"Yes."

"Finally, unlike a typical conversation, your answers today are under oath, and this subjects you to potential criminal charges of perjury for 'willfully giving false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath.' Do you understand this?" He keeps his face serious, but sweet.

"Yes."

"Now, is there any reason, such as being under unusual stress, a physical or mental condition, or being under the influence of any substances, that would prevent or limit you today from giving truthful answers to my questions?"

She shakes her head.

"Could you say your answer out loud, please?" Harry asks.

"Oh, sorry. No," she answers.

"Thank you," Harry smiles. "There is nothing wrong with asking me to repeat a question or explain a term if you don't understand my question. However if you answer my question, I am going to assume that you understood it. Do you understand this?"

"Yes."

"However, if you need clarification of my question you need to look to me for clarification and not to anyone else. Do you understand this?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes, when I ask a question, you will have partial knowledge but not absolutely certain or complete knowledge. For example, if I asked you the temperature right now you couldn't necessarily tell me the exact degree but you could give me an approximate answer, and even if you couldn't, you probably know whether its really hot or really cold or somewhere in between. In that circumstance an answer of 'I don't know' is not appropriate, but an answer giving a range or estimate based on your knowledge with an explanation that it's a range or estimate is appropriate. Do you understand this?" Harry asks, and he sees Dobrev beaming and nodding his head in approval with just how well Harry's doing.