Barbarism to Decadence.

((Yet another Oscar Wilde quote.))

Vance was relaxing on his couch with a battered copy of Animal Farm when the knock came on his door, and he sighed, picking up his glass of wine to carry with him as he moved over to open the door. He wasn't terribly surprised to find Severus Snape standing on the other side, looking as dark and gloomy as a winter rainstorm. He stepped aside and sipped his drink as he watched the man sweep into his warm sitting room, chuckling to himself as he glanced back into the hall.

"What are you looking for and why are you laughing?" Snape snapped at him, standing erect and looking ever so formidable as he folded his arms over his chest and glowered.

"Oh, I was simply wondering if you had the Headless Horseman on your trail this time. You look very grumpy." Vance grinned and closed the door, amused at the flicker of confusion that flashed across the dour man's face. He motioned to a chair and flopped back on the couch, leaning to stretch out and rest his head on the arm, waiting patiently and enjoying the chance to look Snape over.

"Headless Horseman? And I wish you would stop staring, it's rude." Severus glided over to perch on his deliciously over-stuffed armchair, somehow managing to keep from sinking into it.

"It's from a Muggle story. It's about a man named Icabod Crane who moves to a village called Sleepy Hollow. If you'd like to read it sometime, I have a copy." Vance let his smile widen and he winked before downing his wine and closing his eyes, the warmth from his fire negating the icy chill rising from the man sitting nearby.

"I assume that this story is the reason you seemed so amused when you saw me this morning? I must remind you of this...Icabod Crane, then?" Snape's voice seemed to grow even more clipped, though Vance couldn't help delighting in the silky, sensual quality that no amount of anger would ever be able to destroy.

"Mmm...Indeed. Of course, the writer did not envision his Icabod nearly as handsome as you are, but you do share some of the same qualities. Though, he is a rather shy, meek, frightened, little man and you...are none of those things." He opened one eye to savor the flush that his words brought to the Potion Master's cheeks, barely able to restrain the purr that wanted to escape.

"I didn't come here to discuss my attributes, Mr. Price. I wanted to speak with you about the potion you had the sixth year students brewing this morning." Snape rose back to his feet as he spoke, scowling down at Vance as if he thought the position would make him seem to be scolding a child.

"Hmm...What about it, Severus?" He allowed his lips to mold around the man's name, tongue curling as he spoke to give it a hint of a purr, and stretching languidly under the stern gaze. Snape shouldn't make this so enjoyable if he truly disliked it.

------

Severus gritted his teeth at the foolish man behaving rather like a spoiled house cat, ignoring the faint twitch that had jerked through him when he'd heard his name spoken thusly. The man was clearly toying with him, or trying to, anyway, and he wasn't about to play his silly games.

"You claim to have created a potion that reveals the drinker's soul, is this correct?" He made sure to add an extra layer of frost to his words, to prove that this childish man couldn't effect him as if he were some flustered teenage girl.

"Oh, yes. I call it Soul's Face, for the drinker's countenance literally alters to mimic the state of their soul. Would you like a demonstration?" Price peered up at him with that irritatingly self-confident, lazy grin on his face, looking for all the world as if Severus' tone didn't bother him one whit.

"Yes, and I'd like a list of the ingredients. I want to be sure you aren't teaching the children to brew something potentially harmful." He sneered, sure that his suggestion would set the man off and finally reveal that his seeming confidence and serenity were merely a mask.

Instead, the infernal man laughed and rose to his feet with an unfair amount of elegance to stride over to an apothecary chest in one corner of the room. He murmured something softly, too softly for Snape to hear, and then opened one of the small drawers to remove a bottle of purple potion.

"Would you like for me to drink it, or will you do me the honor of letting me see your soul's face, Severus?" Severus suddenly found himself mere inches from the other man, their eyes meeting as the vial was lifted in offering. How on earth had he gotten so close so swiftly?

"I think, as I have no idea if it is poisonous or not, that you should drink it. After all, you don't seem to mind showing off your soul to anyone who'd care to see." He snorted and resisted the urge to step back, refusing to let the damned American know how irritating his closeness was.

"As you wish, Severus." Price pulled the stopper free and tilted the contents of the vial into his mouth, tongue flicking out to lick at his lips, though the potion hadn't so much as touched them. Snape fought against the disconcerting desire to touch those moist, slightly pouty lips to see if they were as soft as they looked.

He watched with a frown as the man's face seemed to light from within, gaining the flush of exertion and laughter, his smile widening in a pleasing manner and his eyes glinting and sparkling like polished coins in a fountain. The effect nearly stole Severus' breath and he stared at the man in a rather undignified gape, unable to help the flutter that rose in his breast. My god, but the man's soul was breathtaking, filled with sunlight, smiles and joy.

"Well? I've another vial, and you can see it's not poisonous. Come, Severus, I've shown you mine...won't you show me yours?" The low, suggestive tone to Price's voice snapped him back from his awed absorption in the man's beauty and he scowled heavily.

"I think not, Mr. Price. I am not the exhibitionist that you seem to be, and I am certainly not prepared to reveal something so private to someone I barely met and whom I already dislike." He lied deftly, honestly feeling that his soul's face would be a scarred and horrid thing that would make the man turn from him in disgust. How could he show something like that to one who seemed to be woven of the very best things in life?

"Ah, well. Perhaps when we know one another better you will indulge me? And, I wish you would call me Vance, Severus. I want us to be friends." Vance flashed a grin that teased Severus with the thought that he wanted far more than simple friendship, but then he forced the thought away. No man or woman that looked as lovely as this man, and harbored such a sweet, thrilling soul, would ever desire him. He'd learned that long ago.

"We are colleagues, Mr. Price. Nothing more and nothing less." He snapped before holding out a hand, brows knitting as he frowned intently. "Now, will you give me the ingredient list?"

Price sighed softly and turned away, seeming to have lost a bit of the spark he'd had from the moment Snape had met him. He sat at a small roll-top desk and swiftly jotted down the list of ingredients and instructions for brewing on a sheet of parchment, then carried it over to place in Severus' outstretched palm.

"There you are. Feel free to come back anytime, for any reason." The spark returned and he flashed Snape a wide smile, fingertips reaching to caress against his as he handed over the parchment. Snape jerked back, feeling his heartbeat quicken and a jolt of electricity tingle up his arm from the point of contact. He turned without a word and fled from the man's quarters, wanting to be get away before he did something utterly foolish.

------

"Hello, Professor..."

Hermione blinked as Snape rushed past her without a second glance, brows furrowing as she peered after him. Surely she must be mistaken, the new DADA professor most definitely did not blush. The very idea gave her the willies and she pushed it aside as she continued to Professor Price's quarters, stomach jumping as she stopped outside. She forced herself to take a few calming breaths before knocking on his door softly, wondering if she'd ever felt so nervous in her life.

"Changed your mind, Severus?" Vance grinned as he opened the door, then blinked at his visitor, certainly not the one he was hoping for. He tilted his head and then stood back, smile rising to his lips. "Good evening, Miss Granger. To what do I owe the pleasure of such an unexpected visit?"

Hermione felt heat flooding her cheeks and rushed into the warm, cozy sitting room, staring down at her feet and feeling completely thrown off her game. Not that she ever had much of a game to begin with. Was she insane, or had there been a sort of purr in the professor's voice when he answered the door? And since when did Snape visit handsome teachers in their rooms?

"Cat got your tongue, Miss Granger?" Vance chuckled gently as he leaned against the door and watched her, wondering what would prompt a student to his room so late at night.

"N-No. I'm sorry to disturb you, Professor Price, but...I was wondering if you had any extra Soul's Face that I...could try?" Her head jerked up and she stiffened her spine, hands rising to try and smooth the curly riot of her hair.

"I always keep a few vials on hand, but may I ask why you want it?" Vance studied the girl, wondering at the blush and the nervous manner in which she was fidgeting. That didn't fit with the girl he'd been told about.

"I want to see what my soul looks like, Professor Price. I'm...curious." She glanced up and flashed a bit of a sheepish grin, shrugging one shoulder and trying not to faint from the way those fascinating golden eyes peered into her.

"Well, if it is merely for the edification of a brilliant, young witch, then I would be happy to oblige." Vance chuckled and turned to move to the apothecary chest, murmuring and then opening the same drawer he'd opened previously. He removed an identical vial of Soul's Face and moved back over to offer it to the young woman. "You may go into my loo to use it, if you want some privacy."

Hermione let out a soft, giddy giggle at the way the professor pronounced loo, and took the vial, staring at it in slight trepidation. "I...wonder if I could take it here? I am nervous and...would like someone to be with me." She glanced up, flushing harder and trying to calm the quivering of her hands.

"Of course, Miss Granger...Come in here, there's a mirror." He reached out to take her hand and guide her into his bedroom, their movement bringing the torches to life on the walls.

Her eyes roamed over the simple, handmade furnishings and the soft, luxurious fabrics in rather appealing masculine shades of blue and green. Her gaze lingered on the large bed, feeling a funny flutter in her chest as she imagined how it's owner must look sprawled over it in sleep. She could feel her hand sweating in his, and she was torn between wanting to pull away out of embarrassment and cling for the contact.

"Here you are." Vance pulled her to stand before his full-length mirror, releasing her hand to stand behind her with his fingers lightly resting on her shoulders. He flashed a reassuring smile and murmured. "Don't be afraid, Hermione. You are young, yet, and if you don't like the face of your soul, you have plenty of time to change it."

His touch and words soothed some of her fears and she nodded, taking a deep breath before pulling the stopper from the vial and downing the potion. The taste made her shiver and she closed her eyes, trembling more as the strange, bubbly feeling flowed out through her body. "Is...is it bad?"

She refused to open her eyes, wanting to hear what the professor thought before she looked for herself. He was quiet for a few seconds, almost long enough to frighten her, then he whispered. "Open your eyes and see for yourself, Miss Granger."

She didn't hear disgust in his voice, so she peeked through her lashes at herself, then gasped, eyes opening wide to stare at her reflection in wonder. She was stunning, the potion made her look fifteen years older, sophisticated and intelligent. There was a kindness and wisdom to her face, and her eyes glittered with steel and mischief. "Wow."

"Your soul is very beautiful, Miss Granger." Vance murmured quietly, smiling over her head and tilting his chin. "You will grow to be a very lovely woman, and clearly you have a well of kindness in you that will never be drained dry. You should be proud of yourself."

Hermione stared and reached toward the mirror to make sure it wasn't a trick, that she really did have a soul that pretty. Her lips dropped as the light, fizzy feeling inside drained away and her face returned to normal, but she held the image in her heart. "Thank you, Professor Price."

"You're quite welcome, Miss Granger. Thank you for allowing me to share the experience with you. Now, you should be getting to bed before Filch catches you in the halls." He murmured with a teasing grin, then chuckled as she nodded and rushed from the room. She cast a wave over her shoulder and darted out of the door, leaving him looking bemused as he stood in his bedroom doorway.