A Date for Snape

***
Chapter 5
Not yet... yet... not yet... yet...
***

Abi was back in forty five minutes. She had changed clothes, into a pair of jeans and an old Oxford Sweatshirt. She didn’t think until she had returned that it was an old hanger - on from her ex-husband. Her tennis shoes were well broke in. She had brought a CD player and had a variety of CD’s, which she plugged up across the room. She removed her tools, soft brushes and towels, setting them up on a long table which she placed in front of the painting, leaving room for Severus...

Severus. Severus. She couldn’t believe she was even thinking about him by his first name. On those times when she actually allowed herself to fantasize about him, she referred to him as ‘Snape’. To think of him as Severus, was simply too personal.

She made her way to the front, where their coats still hung. Yes, his was still here, he did plan on returning. She picked up the heavy coat along with hers and made her way downstairs.

She almost bumped into him.

“Damn it, woman! Watch where you are going!” The famous scowl with his trademark single crease indented in his forehead blazed her in its fury.

“Well, I am sorry. You were standing in the doorway and... are you sure you want to work in that?”

Severus had not changed clothes. He still wore his frock coat with the stiff high collar.

And buttons.

“I work in this all the time. What is so different now?”

Abi’s jaw worked in frustration. “It’s just...” she gestured, her fingers waving, “ it is bulky and ... and... well... very dusty down here.”

“So?”

“Never mind.” She watched as Severus began to pull vials from his pockets. He placed them on the table and proceeded to examine the artwork in closer detail, tapping pursed lips with his wand.

“Which do you propose to tackle first?

“The easiest.” she stated flatly and pointed “The damaged corner.”

“That is easy enough.” With his wand arm still propped by the elbow in the cup of his other hand, he flipped his wrist over backwards and pointed at the banged up corner of the fresco.

“Artimis repairo.”

As Abi expected, the damage caused by the errant janitor ironed itself out, revealing the clean line and straight edge that had been there when the piece had been loaned to the museum. However, she grabbed him in horror, when she realized he was aiming at another crack.

“Severus, no!”

He jerked around, stunned at her outburst. “Madam! Would you please explain?”

Abi immediately began to placate the irate Potions Master. “That’s the biggest drawback of doing what I do. One wants to repair it all, restore it to its former glory in all its completeness. It is so very tempting to want to fix it, but you can’t.”

“Why not?” Snape’s face was bordering on the furious.

“Because it would raise many questions. Sometimes I go overboard; repair to much. There is no way a Muggle can completely repair damage sustained for hundreds of years. For me, to suddenly be able to do so would raise many questions. Too many questions. I’m good at what I do. I am renowned for what I can do! I can’t be a miracle worker!”

It had come out in a rush, quickly, in one breath. Severus looked down, took in her flushed face, flushed with alarm, took in the faded jeans, the old sweat shirt, her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail.

She looked more appealing now than she had dressed up.

He leaned over, lips scant inches from her. She assumed his intention and lifting her lips to his, closed her eyes.

And waited.

And waited.

She opened her eyes, her gaze darting around.

He had pulled back up, looking at her rather quizzically.

“So, what now?”

“Well.. uhm...” she stood up rather abashedly, “what I do is I start with the smallest cracks and repair them and as I go, simply enhance them a few degrees.”

“So the piece is better, but not completely repaired.”

“Yes.” she breathed a sigh of relief. He understood. She pointed to a small hairline fracture. “That one.”

A zap later, it was gone.

She had pulled out her wand and they were taking turns, green and blue sparks mingling in the air. She was not aware of when his arm came around her shoulder and she became comfortably ensconed in his loose embrace. All she was aware of was that the smallest of the cracks had disappeared and one at a time, they took on the larger of the fractures, reducing them.

They both stepped back upon the completion of the project, Severus looking quite pleased with himself and Abi looking most content. While not restored to mint condition, it was visibly improved.

“Now for the hard part.” Abi chose a small stain in an upper corner. “Let’s experiment there.” she pointed. With a wave of her hand, she levitated a small stool to the space next to her and settled it. She climbed up on it and taking off her glasses, peered closely.

“Would you like to sniff it as well?” he said, disdainfully.

“Thank you! I think I will!” Abi immediately put her nose to the fresco. “Well, that’s weird. It smells like... varnish.”

“Varnish?”

“That’s what I said!” She looked down at him, matching glare for glare. “What? You think you have the market cornered on snarkiness?”

Snape pulled himself inward, still managing to look imperious. “It is not something one normally sees in a woman. I have found them to be either rather frightened of their own shadow or giggling cesspools of peroxide!”

Abigail found herself laughing heartily. “If that is all you have been going out with, no wonder you have had such wretched luck in the dating department!” She stepped down from the stool. “Let me tell you something an old gypsy told me a long time ago.” she wagged her finger in his face. “Men are like pools of glittering jewels, rough and uncut. You never know what lies beneath until you spend time polishing at it. Many are pretty on the surface, but if you look closely, the color isn’t true, they are flawed deep inside. Every now and then one has to look hard and if you are patient, you will find one that with polishing and the right cut, will be flawless, with the truest of colors.” She smiled ruefully. “I suspect that is the same with women.”

Severus was looking at her, an expression most unreadable on his face. Abi realizing what she had just said to this most austere of Wizards, had the decency to blush. She turned and jumped back up on the stool.

“Yep! Some kind of varnish.”

Severus was blinking rapidly. There was more to her than met the eye. “Varnish? Abigail, where exactly, has this fresco been before here? And step down! You are making my neck hurt looking up at you.”

Abi stepped down, a thoughtful look gracing her features. “ It came from a private collection. The file is in my office.” She rushed off to the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”

Severus watched her disappear up the stairwell, bemusement on his face. Most interesting chit. Meek in some places, absolutely exasperating in others. Difficult to get a handle on, damn near impossible to read.

And her ability to use some semblance of wandless magic. Most interesting. Very peculiar.

He climbed on the stool and took a deep sniff of the fresco. He smelled it as well. Wood varnish. An oil.

Soon he heard her coming back down; no light gazelle was she! She had a folder opened and she was flipping through papers in it. She approached the table they had their supplies on and set the file down.

“Yes. Private collection. Has been on display for the family for... oh... since an ancestor bought it in... well... It has been in the family for at least 250 years.”

“Quite remarkable.”

“Very.”

Severus snorted. He hadn’t been talking about the information. He had been talking about the small dimple in her cheek that presented itself when her mouth puckered in thought.

“According to this, the family estate has been under renovation for the past few years and they agreed to allow us to show the piece for three months, if I would do repairs on the fresco.” She flipped through the pages. “ I did not arrange for this particular piece to be shown. The owner of the museum did. Strange.”

“And why is that strange?”

“He rarely makes these types of arrangements. And if there is a repair or cleaning for me, he consults with me first. It is my reputation at stake.” She stood up, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “That is so unlike him.”

Severus was thinking over her words. “The house is undergoing repairs and renovation?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. Perhaps, there has been some repair to the structure and in turn the damage was caused by that repair.” He lifted his hand to silence her question. “If there has been structure repair, the timbers between the floors, or the walls themselves, might have been refurbished.” He stepped down from the stool. “That stain smells of wood varnish. A rather ugly oil. I suspect that during renovations, someone either dripped it or it leaked from above.” Again, he looked down his nose at her. “Would you like to experiment on that particular spot?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Abi stepped up on the stool, tucking a soft brush in her hip pocket, next to her wand and taking a soft cloth in hand. “Which potion do you want to try first?”

Severus handed her a vial, with a purplish liquid, popping the cork as he handed it up. Pouring a little on the cloth, she dabbed the canvas.

And watched.

“Well?”

She stepped down with a bemused look on her face. “ I don’t think so. It’s getting darker.” She moved quickly out of his way as he bolted up the step ladder, wand in hand.

“Reverso.”

The stain returned to its original state. Abi handed Snape a cloth. “How about this red one?” She laid the first vial to the side away from the others.

“Might as well.” Copying her movements, he sheathed his wand and also dabbed a small bit on the edge of the varnish stain. She watched as his eye widened in horror as he thrust the vial towards her and grabbed his wand again.

“Well?” she mimicked.

“It turned green.”

“Oh.” she muttered. “That isn’t much of an improvement.”

For several minutes, they took turns trying different potions. Finally...

“Abigail.” Severus motioned upwards. “Come and look at this.”

Abigail climbed up on the stool, the two of them teetering together. Severus finally grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling off. Abigail paid no attention to how close she was to the Professor. She was busy peering at the stain.

Which was fizzing and drying into a fine powder. Grinning, she reached into her hip pocket, extracting the soft brush and began to dust the dried residue from the plaster.

It was clean, unblemished underneath, the original paint untouched beneath.

“Thank you! Thank you! That’s it!” On impulse, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly on the mouth. “This is perfect!” She stepped down and grabbed another cloth. “I’ll take one side, you take the other.” She moved to the opposite side and began to dab lightly on the stained areas.

Severus watched her for a moment, finger tapping thoughtfully where she had kissed him.

She. Had kissed. Him. Without being coerced. Or forced. Or paid.

She.

Had kissed.

Him.

Certainly, it was an rash move, one of gratitude... gah... that word stuck in his craw... but she had kissed him.

It felt rather nice.

He didn’t like nice. Why did he like this?

He watched as after she tried the potion on a small spot and lifted the stain, she laid her things on the table and went to the silver box over in a corner.

“Do you mind some music?”

“Noise is noise. Feel free.”

Even thought she had her back to him, he watched her remove a silver disc from a case and insert it into the player.

“This is sort of silly.” she admitted. “But in a way, it is appropriate.”

The sound of a Muggle electric guitar came through the speakers by the time she retrieved her tools from the table.

“I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She\'s got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin\' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine”

Abi was twisting in rhythm to the music. Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head. Love Potions! Will horrors never cease. He returned his attention to the stain in front of him.

Abi was paying no attention to Severus, focusing on the task and enjoying the music. She was dusting when suddenly...

“ I took a drink!”

Her head jerked to the left, to the tall man on the stool, reaching up to brush. He had white residue on his jacket and was intent on his job. He looked down at her in consternation.

“What?”

“Were you... singing?”

“Circe’s Curlers, woman! You have your noise box too loud!”

Abi looked down, puzzled for a moment and finally shrugged. With a wave of her hand, she motioned towards the CD player and the volume lowered to what she thought was a more tolerable level.

Severus watched this in morbid fascination. He finished dusting the section he was working on and sliding the brush up his sleeve, he turned with his wand towards the cd player.

“ Silentium.” The CD player went silent.

Abigail looked up from her side of the plaster. “Severus. I’m sorry. If the music isn’t to your taste, I have others.”

“The noise is fine. It is you I am having a problem with.”

Abigail slowly lowered her arm, her eyes darting in rapid thought. What had she done all of sudden to set him off? “ Severus, I don’t understand.”

Snape stepped down from the stool, pocketing his wand. “Wandless magic, madam.” Abi caught her breath. “I have seen you utilize it several times this evening. The rising and lowering of lights. The lowering of the volume of the music. You levitated this stool. Twice, you have levitated the vial to you.” He was standing over her, glaring down as he often had as her professor. “It is a rare gift, madam. A talent not many possess.”

For a fleeting second, she thought to lie, but quickly decided against it. “Truthfully, it is a small thing. It’s unconscious and slight.” She tilted her head to the side. “Small things, like a puff of air. If I think on it, it doesn’t work.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry if it bothers you.”

“It does not bother me. I certainly hope you do not use it around Muggles.”

She laughed gently. “Oh no. I am on my guard with Muggles. Always.” They returned to their work. They worked in tandem, in silence, hands occasionally touching, pointing out missed spots to each other.

“Severus?”

“Yes?”

“It is after midnight, going on one. I think we have done enough.” She gestured to the vial. “I don’t want to keep you. I can finish this tomorrow.”

Truthfully, Severus had paid no attention to the time, enjoying the peace and quiet sounds of the two brushes on the fresco. “If you like, I can bring back another vial. To make sure you have enough.”

“Really?” she squeaked, excitedly. Quickly, realizing she was borderline fawning, she lowered her tone of voice. “I mean, you don’t have to go to the trouble. That is most generous of you.”

“Hmm.” Severus mused. “Generous. Not a word one normally associates with me.”

“I mean... I don’t mind. This wasn’t your normal date and I’m pleased you helped and are willing to continue...” her voice trailed off. She was clearly at a loss for words.

Severus began to cork vials and put things away, automatically cleaning the space. His voice was typically curt. “No, it was not a normal date, but normal is not something that usually applies to me.” He pocketed his things and put on his coat. “If you must know the truth, I enjoyed myself more than I expected and upon careful consideration, I believe I would like to continue getting to know you better.” He quirked an eyebrow at her, hoping she understood his meaning. “If you will tell me what time to be here in the morning. I have no duties at school this weekend and can arrange time.”

“Oh... well... anytime after noon, I suppose.”

“Isn’t that a bit late?” he questioned her closely. He just made himself available to her at her whim. Was she not paying attention?

“I’m a slug-a-bed, I admit it.” she smiled. “This has been a long day.” She sheathed her wand as well and made sure everything was cleaned. She put on her coat and buttoned up. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She headed up the stairs, hand reaching for the light.

“Wait.” Abi stopped at midway up the stairs and turned. “Aren’t you going to apparate?”

She graced him with a wide smile. “No. The security alarm knows I came in. I have to let it know I left. If I apparate, it will make a note I didn’t leave. I could apparate back in the morning, but then it will look like I spent the night and the owner will want to know why.”

“Ah.” Severus nodded. “Then I will accompany you home.” He started up the stairs.

“You don’t have to.”

“Yes, I do.” he insisted. “It is after midnight, in a busy, unsavory part of the world and I would be remiss to not see you to your door safely.” His tone of voice brooked no argument and she knew better anyway. She turned the light off and the two made their way to the lobby where she disarmed the security alarm long enough for them to escape through the front door.

She insisted on walking - it wasn’t far, only a few blocks. Her flat was an apartment in an older home, up two flights of stairs. He stood with her on the landing, in front of her open door.

“Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“I will see you tomorrow? You can apparate into the room.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the side of the mouth. “Good night.”

Severus caught her by the back of the head and held her to his face, his breath, tickling her nose.

“Abigail?”

“Yes?” It was whispered.

“Now.”

And with that, he crushed his mouth down on hers, taking possession. She arched under him, opening freely, her tongue casing his bottom lip. He growled low, licking, nipping. His hand slid from her head to the curve of her backside, holding her to him as he backed her into the unyielding backdrop of the wall. His free hand slid to the side of her face, stroking her jawline. He broke the kiss, needing air, needing... something. His forehead was pressed against hers, their breath, labored, loud...

“Invite me in.”

“I can’t.”

“Invite me in.”

“Severus, I can’t.”

“Why not?” He was hard as a rock, his hand still on her backside. He could smell the desire on her, knew she was as needy as he.

“I ... don’t on the first date.”

“Make an exception.” he growled.

“No.”

His shoulders slumped. Again, he dipped, kissing her, possessing the heat of her mouth. Both of her hands were clenched, clasping the front of his coat. She pulled away and looked up at him sorrowfully. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She stepped to the side and slid inside her flat, the door clicking shut.

“Damn.”

He turned to go down the stairs, to find a suitable spot to apparate when he heard her door open.

“Severus?”

He turned around. “What?” he barked.

Her hand jerked out and she grabbed him, yanking him through the door. As he crossed the threshold, she slammed the door behind him. Her cheeks were flushed and she had the most ridiculous smile.

“First date’s over!”


tbc