A Date for Snape

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Chapter 4
Where you work
***

They entered the museum, footfalls the only sound. Abi went to the alarm and turned it off. After removing their coats, they spent the better part of an hour touring the museum’s collection, her showing off the items she was most proud of: paintings, statues, porcelain pieces. He watched quietly as she manipulated lighting with the wave of her hand - no wand. Her taste, her eye, was superb and time was slipping through his fingers without his even caring. As they completed their circle, he casually grasped her elbow.

“Where is this fresco that has been damaged?”

Abi looked confused. “Severus. I will deal with it in the morning. You don’t need to-”

“Madam. You said yourself it had been damaged, you did not know how badly it was damaged and that there were stains on it that you could not get out.” He turned her loose and shoved both hands in his pockets. “If a Ravenclaw cannot figure it out, perhaps a Slytherin can!”

Abi looked at him in mock astonishment. “Severus, really, you don’t need to bother with this.”

“Humor me.” It was a command and Abi obeyed it with very little question.

They made their way to the basement, to a large room. Abi turned on the muted, overhead lights, installed especially for aging artwork. It was bright enough to work by, yet not blinding or harsh.

“There.”

She pointed to the corner where a large piece of artwork sat on the floor, leaning against a wall. It sat in a large, grooved holder in the floor, aiding and supporting it along with the wall. That it was old, was obvious; centuries to be sure. It showed an outdoor scene, a medieval lady and a knight. It was cracked and worn and the colors were faded, stains in several places marred its beauty, the corners jagged.

One corner in particular.

The edge was pushed up, and the plaster was buckling. Severus looked closely, taking in the stains, the aging damage, the new damage.

“It is a romantic scene.”

Abi smiled. She had always been fond of tales of ladies and their gallant knights as a child. “Yes, isn’t it beau-”

“What utter nonsense.” Severus curled up his nose in distaste. “Pure, unadulterated rot.”

A spark of ire nailed Abi between the eyes. “No wonder you have been alone all these years.” she said quietly. “You shoot down everyone and everything like you do your students, it’s a wonder any of us manage to procreate.” She curled both hands in fists. “Tell me, Professor. Why on earth did you ever post an ad on a Muggle Internet dating service to begin with? If you wanted female company, you could easily pay for it!”

Severus slowly turned to her, his facial expression devoid of emotion. He pondered her words for a moment before answering. “For your information, I have on occasion, hired companionship for the evening, for a few hours. I find the entire ritual to be empty and completely lacking of any reasonable compensation of hormonal release.”

“What did you just say?” Abi’s voice was incredulous. She couldn’t believe her date was standing next to her talking about visiting a courtesan, even though she had brought the subject up.

“I said,” Snape spat tersely, “that after an evening of paid companionship, the sexual gratification is fleeting and I wind up feeling just as empty as before. To me it is not worth the money!” He turned his attention back to the fresco. “It is useless and an utter waste of time.”

“Well, have you ever thought of maybe establishing a real relationship?”

“Ah.” Snape sighed sarcastically. “ A true credit to your house. Why do you think I placed a... whatever it is... on that... computer... Muggle contraption?” His lips were skewered up under his nose.

Abi was not born yesterday. She had dealt with the pain of her husband’s inability to stay faithful and the empty feelings she had been left with. To see this wizard that she had actually looked up to and respected openly admitting that he was clueless when it came to relationships... “How did you come to placing an ad on the Internet?”

“Placing an ad.” He turned on her, full force, the sheer magnitude of his personality pointed in her direction. “I feel like I am selling myself.” His bark of laughter was short and harsh. “What an interesting change of perspective. I am now the whore and you are the buyer. What a lovely bargain you got with me!”

Touching him would be a mistake. She knew it and he knew she knew it. Her thumb flicked nervously over the pads of her fingers and he watched this movement with gross fascination. “As for your question,” he continued, “ Headmaster Dumbledore overheard a conversation between a Muggle born student and a few of her cronies. Seems this... Internet dating is quite the rage and anybody can use it to find a date.” Severus reached across and clasped her hand. “Stop that. It is annoying.” He did not turn loose of her hand. “He decided that now that the threat of Voldemort was over, I could take time to find a suitable...” and now he REALLY grimaced, “...companion.”

“Albus Dumbledore insisted you find a companion? Well, that’s gall.”

“Yes!” Severus snapped. “It is gall. It is audacious. It is thoroughly ridiculous, but he hounded me until I gave in to simply shut him up.”

Abi’s heart fell. “I’m sorry this evening was under such difficult circumstances for you, sir. I wish it could have gone better.” Her eyes were downcast, tears threatening, but she forced them back. The warm, calloused hand that had been holding hers now chucked her under the chin and she was forced to look up into glittering orbs.

“You think this evening a disaster? No, you silly chit. You giggle, you drink your wine too fast and you are much too moody, prone to rants of temper, but this evening has been more successful than I ever dreamt. You have a brain and you use it to your own amusement and pleasure. Why would you think the evening was such a disaster?” He turned her loose and turned back to the painting. “Now, how to fix this. What charms have you used?”

Abi was at a total loss for words. Her jaw worked mindless for a moment...

“Are you trying to catch flies, girl? I asked a simple question! What cleansing charms have you used?”

Haltingly, Abi recited the list of charms she had used, ranging from general cleansing charms, to several complex charms specified for dirts and oils. Severus was tapping his finger on his lips, his other hand supporting his elbow.

“Flitwick would know those better than I. What charm did you use here?” He pointed to a patch where the colors seemed brighter.

Abi looked closely at the section. “I used a color enhancer and restoration charm. It worked beautifully in some spots and didn’t work at all in others.”

“Show me.”

Abi pointed to several spots. “As you can see, it’s the areas that are stained. Age and water is suspected, but I think it is something different. It’s as if something is coating it and the charms can’t get through to the color.”

Severus was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. “It is obvious. The stain is protecting the surface. You will need to remove the stain in order to enhance and restore the color.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“Why?” Snape was nonplused. “All it would take is...”

“A potion.” Abi rolled her eyes and wagged her head at him. “It would take a potion. I am most reluctant to put a liquid on this fresco.” She rubbed her hands nervously across her face. “ I am afraid it would ruin the paints.”

“And what if I guaranteed that I could restore it to its damaged state if it did not work?”

Abi’s hands froze on her cheeks. “You would do that. Reverse it back to this state if the potion dickered with the lines?”

Severus actually was put out; pissed off. “Madam, would you suggest that I would maliciously damage this valuable piece of artwork and leave you dangling by the fingertips for the blame? I might be Slytherin, but there is some honor in me!”

“No!” Abi snapped. “I do not think you would damage the artwork and leave me holding the bag, so to speak. I am surprised that you would take the time to do it. Usually, when one goes on a date, they don’t spend time in a musty basement, playing with another’s work!”

Severus stood straight up, his hands behind his back and looked down his rather hooked nose. “As I recall, a date, especially a FIRST date, is designed for two people to get to know each other better.” He nodded towards the fresco. “In this case, we are doing something to get to know the other better. It is refreshing to know we have something in common. You enjoy art and I enjoy art. You enjoy it to the point you have made it your life’s work. If I am going to get to know you better, how else but in your most comfortable habit?” Not to mention, he thought to himself, rather perniciously, how better to find your weak spots?

Abi could tell he was up to something. Just knew it in her bones. That she was biting off more than she could chew, was probably possible; she was aware he would be a handful to manage.

He was.

Truth of the matter was, she figured she would just have the one evening. She thought if he found out she was a former student, he would have ended the evening immediately.

But he didn’t.

She was afraid he would make sport of her choosing to live in the Muggle World as a Muggle.

He hadn’t.

She had been convinced that once he found she had been married - and married to a Muggle - he would have wiped his hands of her immediately.

But he hadn’t.

What was he up to?

She looked up, to see him looking at her rather expectantly.

“Well, Abigail?”

Abi turned and focused on the fresco. “You said a potion. Do you have anything in mind?”

“I have several in mind.”

“I suspect it will be messy work.”

“More than likely. One in particular, I will have to brew.”

“How long?”

“Not long. About half an hour. The other two, I have in stock in my classroom. You would not believe the messes and stains students create when they are not paying attention.”

Abi looked up to him, a smirk on her face. Let’s see how interested he really is. “If you wish, we can apparate from here. You may go to your classroom and lab and get what you need. Change clothes even. I can zip home and change into something more...” she gestured down to her heels and dress, “more appropriate.” She forced a smile on her face. “Meet back here in an hour?”

“That sounds reasonable.”

One minute he was standing apart from her, looking closely at the artwork, the next, he was standing next to her, towering over her, completely overshadowing her.

“Abigail.”

Abi looked up, wide eyed. “Yes?”

Not so gentle fingers slid under her chin, tilting her head back. “Do not think for a moment I will not be back. Do not dream for a second to leave me standing here in the dust. You said an hour. Be here in an hour. Do not make me come and hunt for you. This date is not over.” And as if to seal her agreement, he leaned over, brushing his lips across hers.

Abigail inhaled sharply, taking in the light residue of the taste of a fine wine. She leaned into him, his kiss, only to almost fall, as he pulled back.

“Not yet.”

Severus pulled his wand from his side and with a flick of his wrist, disappeared into the air.

Abi stood there, her finger touching where the trace of his kiss still lingered.

“Oh shit. I am in so much trouble.”

tbc