Hello neighbor
Despite the fact that he normally enjoyed his solace it had been several months since he had a real conversation with someone other than a shoppe clerk. He had discovered that choosing to be alone in a castle full of people was quite different than actually being by oneself. Even the summer months involved some contact from Dumbledore or the last few years The Order or Death Eaters.
It was difficult admitting to himself that he was lonely, depressed and was quite possibility going to go mad if he spends any more time alone. He hadn't been to Diagon Alley or any other wizarding establishment for some time and only would only leave the village if it were absolutely necessary. His recovery has been a humbling experience fracturing his self-image leaving him too ashamed to venture beyond the borders of his village. Without the ability to do anything other than elementary magic he had no real reason to leave anyway. McGonagall regularly sent owls keeping him apprised of the goings on at Hogwarts and he was certain he saw her hanging around his garden once or twice in her animal form. They have never spoken of Dumbledore's death or his departure as headmaster as it remained unspoken that both were necessary for different reasons. When he first saw her in the hospital she asked him if he felt well enough to teach next term indicating as he suspected she had seen his memories as well.
A few days after their breakfast out of boredom he decided to stop by Jennifer's flat again on his way to the Muggle grocer. Reflecting on his life it was ironic that he now sought the safely of a Muggle village he spent his childhood trying to escape from. Some time ago he'd added to the small cache of English Pounds he regularly kept and exchanged a larger portion of galleons for the muggle money. He found a quiet simplicity just sitting and observing the Muggles comings and goings as if he were a visitor in a zoo. He didn't for a moment believe Jennifer Nelson was his equal but she seemed open to receiving his company so he had no qualms about using her for some basic human contact even if she was just a Muggle. She was the perfect choice since he didn't have to censure his conversation about magic but she didn't have access to anyone he knew.
Jennifer answered the door after a few seconds ''morning professor.''
''Severus'' he said unenthusiastically, ''only my those of my world need to refer to me as professor.''
''Good morning Severus.'' She was sure he meant this informality to be kind, but she couldn't help think he considered her unworthy of using his title.
His previous departure was so abrupt so she hadn't expected to see him again except maybe in passing.
Always straight to the point, "have you eaten?'' he asked.
''Actually, I have a call that I have to take in a few minutes but it shouldn't last that long. Do you want to come in and wait?''
''Hasn't anyone every told you not to invite strangers into your home?''
''You had your chance to murder me when we first met, I think I'm safe.''
''Your brother has enchanted the flat, I can't enter. Another time then,'' he started to leave.
''Hold on, don't run off so fast it'll only be a 45-minute call so please wait.''
''I'll be back in an hour.''
''Good, I'll be here.''
Taking this time to replenish his ingredients, he Apparates to an out-of-the-way Apothecary shoppe. He'd ruined so many potions trying to regain his lost magic that he'd gone through a year's worth of ingredients over the course of a few months. He spent hours hunched over his cauldrons meticulously adding what was needed only to be rewarded with failure. Even the skill he valued least transfiguring, wouldn't work for him. His home was filled with useless half transformed items. It was truly a disgrace. He was recognized at the shoppe by the surly owner even though he'd gone out of his way to avoid a crowd of people. The ignorant proprietor hassled him and quoted that book basically calling him a murderer. He was so angry by the time he left the shoppe he headed straight home deciding to skip his meal with Miss Nelson.
When he returned home he then remembered why he originally left in the first place. His cupboards were bare save a few potatoes, stale bread and some dodgy smelling curry takeaway. His mind was so unfocused these days he'd nearly taken to writing down his daily task. Thoughts he used to easily keep organized were now a jumble of unconnected ideas that seemed to just float in his head. Several living and deceased healers had performed various examinations proclaiming him technically stable but all advised the same thing. He needed to relax so he could fully recuperate and only then would his magic be restored. The very idea of him just doing nothing seemed like a waste of time. After heading out once more to buy what he needed at the grocers he changed his mind again and decided to meet Jennifer hoping it would take his mind of his earlier troubles.
Listening to her colleagues discussing weekly reports was as boring as usual. Finally, Jennifer got off the call and changed into something more suitable than her jeans. Taking longer than his initial estimation he arrived back on her doorstep two and a half hours later, she was waiting for him by the steps with her computer on her lap.
''Finally, you came back.''
''Did I give you any indication otherwise,'' he said impatiently.
''No, but you are late.''
He didn't give her any reason for his late return or offer any sort of apology.
''Is that a book?''
''What?''
''That thing on your lap, I've seen other people with those. Is it a book?''
''No, it's a computer, it's a...well I'll explain it later.''
Seated inside the restaurant, he was more relaxed this time ''Are you just passing through our country or permanently here to stay.''
''I'm just visiting for a year.''
Only halfway listening to her, he'd lost interest in trying to converse ''is that so.''
''I'm lucky I can work from home, I work for a marketing company as a data analyst.''
''Which means?"
''It's hard to explain, I interpret reports.''
''How very fortunate for you, clearly you have an exciting career.''
''And yours is? You're a wizard and you're sitting in a restaurant with me during the middle of the day. I needed a change, so I came here for an extended visit.''
''One generally only makes dramatic changes after a major even'' Severus said, curious about why she would leave her home and come to the other side of the world just for a visit.
''My friend and I parted ways and I wanted to put some distance between us. Since I worked from home anyway I figured I'd just make the trip here and stay for a while.''
"Fascinating" he was clearly unwilling to hide how unimpressed he was.
Not missing his condescending tone, ''well we can't all spend our days sitting around thinking of snide comments to make now can we Severus.''
Snapping back and for the first time clearly looking her in the eyes. ''Indeed thou I daresay you've underestimated your own skills.''
Aside from their first meeting he could see she wasn't the least bit intimidate by him. There were grown men that were afraid of him but since she didn't know any better all she saw before her was a rather rude but harmless man.
''I thought British men were supposed to be polite?''
He relaxed even more knowing she wasn't so easy to scare off, ''have you seen much of the town?''
''Yeah, pretty much it's not very big.''
Their conversation continued much the same way for the next hour mostly discussing her time in England so far.
A couple of weeks later Severus set about his normal daily routine and became agitated deciding it was hopeless to continue this particular potion. It was already a complete failure. Jennifer was finishing up in some work glanced out the window and he was suddenly standing across the street.
Walking outside, ''good morning if I didn't know better I'd say you were stalking me.'' She had seen him a few times over the past few weeks each time he seemed to just appear out of nowhere.
Truthfully, he was deciding whether to approach her flat or not when she came outside. Other than loneliness, he couldn't fully explain to himself why he kept returning to this woman. Surely it was because she knew nothing about him.
''Don't be absurd you have nothing I want, '' he said miffed by correct assessment of the situation.
''Just as friendly as ever Severus... what are you doing out here if you weren't waiting for me.''
''If you have a previous engagement I won't keep you.''
''No, just some work but it can wait. You know you don't have to just show up. You could call me.''
Raising an eyebrow ''you want me to do what now?"
"Call me ...you know telephone,'' making the universal sign with her hand. ''You don't know what that is do you?"
''I know what a telephone is Miss Nelson I'm not that ignorant of Muggle inventions, we have other means of communicating.''
''Like what?" She was toying with him, she knew how letters were received.
''By owl "
''You're joking?''
Seeing the serious look on his face. ''But we're the ones that are backwards, I don't even want to know what using an owl entails.'' She had seen some owls outside the flat but never made the connection between the letters her brother received and didn't care enough to ask. Since she knew for a fact that the wizards in the U.S used something else to communicate, the owls surprised her.
This amused him and couldn't help but smiling a tiny fraction. '' It's a rather sophisticated process, the point is I won't be ringing you.''
''Is it some type of talking owl? I wouldn't mind seeing that,'' she joked.
''Do not mock our ways we were using owls when you Muggles thought performing human sacrifices would bring you good fortune.''
''Thanks for enlightening me. I'm glad you caught me on a day I'm walking upright and not on all fours, always a pleasure Severus.''
Clasping his hands together ''are you finished?''
''Yes'' she said feeling she like she had gone overboard. Insulting someone's custom in their own country was beyond rude. ''They don't use owls in the US, they use these special boxes that make a noise when you have a letter, even worse for howlers.''
''You know what a howler is?''
''Screaming letters. Charles used to get those a lot from his ex-girlfriends. I knew a couple of guys I wish I could have sent those to.''
He nodded, unimpressed with this little sliver of information. ''Since you haven't seen much of the city I may be able to assist you if you want an escort.''
''I think I've seen it all but I'd love another tour. I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you have better things to do than be my tour guide.''
''I assure you, if it were an inconvenience I wouldn't have asked but I was referring to the surrounding countryside.''
''If it's really not a bother I would love a tour I've only been there once."
They spent the day touring visiting the various areas. Although he said he was her guide it seemed as if he wasn't familiar with this place at all. He grumbled about the people, made snide comments about the everything she thought looked interesting and was generally surly the entire time. The one time she complained about not liking warm ale during their meal he used that opportunity to criticize the U.S. but otherwise it was a mildly pleasant day for him.
Relaxing while on the train back, ''how long have you lived here? " she asked.
''All my life''
''And you've never seen this area before?''
''Once or twice, not everyone is interested in travel Miss Nelson.''
''It's an hour away it's not really traveling Severus.''
''Perhaps you would like to continue this little trip home by yourself I don't have to be on this train.''
''I was just curious.''
Since the ministry hadn't immediately contacted him about her he decided telling her this next bit of information was harmless. ''Until recently most of my time was spent at Hogwarts."
''What's that?''
''The school where I teach. A boarding school, I've been there since I was 11.''
"That's a long time, my brother couldn't wait to leave school and wouldn't teach a class if you paid him a king's ransom. You started teaching right after you graduated?"
''I was a private tutor for a while and started teaching when I was 22.'' No need to tell her about his tutelage with the dark lord.
Trying to figure out just how old he was since she knew someone capable of magic might disguise their age ''so... how old are you?''
''I'm 40'' he said all this with a blank expression and appeared to be looking straight through her in deep though as if he was actually speaking to himself.
He'd been thinking about how much of his life he'd wasted. Most wizards his age were already married and here he was riding a train playing tour guide for a Muggle.
He'd lived here all these years but was almost completely unfamiliar with this area.
''Severus'' Jennifer was calling him waving her hands in front of his face then finally shaking him back to reality.
''Severus this is our stop.''
Stepping off the train glancing at him, ''you were pretty much gone there for a minute."
''I was thinking of something else.''
''That's okay I had a great time. Thank you again.''
Nodding his response, she is momentary distracted by her telephone ringing.
''Excuse me'' she says and steps a few feet away. Taking this time to study her more closely, she was a very beautiful woman. It's odd that this remained unnoticed until now.
Unable to prevent himself from overhearing her side of the conversation, ''Frank be reasonable... half of that was mine...'' She walks back over to him.
''Unpleasant news?''
''My ex is using my absence to get rid of all of our stuff. I left it in storage and he claims it was all his.''
''You were once married?"
''No, but we were very close.''
''I see, will you be returning to settle your affairs?''
''No, he can have that stuff.''
Relieved that has new companion wasn't about to abandon him just yet he managed to be more personable on the walk home.
Exhausted by the time she made it home all she wanted to do was climb into bed remembering the day's events. Charles came home about an hour after she returned but she left out how she had spent her day. Severus was a strange man but that voice, that the silky voice left her hinged on every word he said. Of course, he wasn't much to look at with his teeth being off-color and his greasy hair. Looking at him one would have assumed he smelled but he didn't. He didn't have any detectable scent of any kind. He was the first person she'd met but she got the impression he wasn't interested in her that way. Outside of his sexy voice there wasn't anything remarkable about him.
They began to spend more time together most of it either at lunch or breakfast.
