Chapter 3
Acquaintances
After he unpacked the few items Severus had brought with him, he headed downstairs to the kitchen.
"Ah Severus," Kata smiled. "Please sit down, help yourself to coffee while I finish the eggs."
He watched her as she worked at the stovetop beating eggs in a bowl and added a mixture of spices. How relieved he was that muggles could not read minds as he contemplated the curve of her hips.
"So what brings you to Fagaras of all places?"
"Castles," Severus said managing to tear his eyes away from her before Kata caught him. "I have an interest in castles."
"Well you are in luck then because we happen to have a most splendid one just outside the village."
"Indeed?"
"Fagaras Fortress," Kata said placing a plate of toast and scrambled eggs in front of him. "It is a lovely old castle."
She sat down opposite him, her own plate in front of her, and began eating.
"Perhaps you would like to show it to me."
Kata slowly shook her head. "I think not," she said wide-eyed. "That place it… it scares me."
"Really," Severus said grinning at her. "You seem to me a very sensible woman, why would a castle scare you?"
Kata laughed nervously, the sound sending goose bumps up Severus' arms.
"Do not tease me, Severus," she smiled back at him. "As far as I am concerned the place is haunted, all the more reason to stay away. But if you are keen then please see it for yourself."
He asked her why she thought the fortress was haunted but Kata dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
"So tell me Severus, what is your story?"
"My story?"
"Yes," she smiled. "What does my mysterious guest do for a living? You wouldn't be a banker would you?"
"I am a chemist by trade."
"I was close," Kata teased. "You do look the type."
Severus looked down at his attire; he always felt most comfortable in his black trousers and frock coat buttoned up tight to the bottom of his chin.
Kata saw him frowning and laughed.
"I was teasing," she said. "There is certainly nothing to indicate you have a profession that sees you locked away for hours at a time mixing various concoctions."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"How very astute," he grinned. "Tell me, do you also make predictions on the weather?"
Kata reached out and laid a hand gently on Severus' forearm,
"I can predict that if you play your cards right, you might find more in Fagaras than you came seeking."
Severus looked back at her with a startled expression, before quickly hiding it behind his usual stone mask.
They finished eating and Severus helped Kata clear the table and wash the dishes. Sometimes living like a muggle rather amused him; he often wondered how they would manage without electricity or running water.
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" Kata asked him as they finished up.
"I believe I will take a walk," he answered. "I am rather keen to have a look around the village. Perhaps you would like to occupancy me?"
Kata shook her head. "Thank you but no. You go out and explore, I can have lunch ready for when you get back. Or dinner even if you get too caught up in the village."
"You are too kind to look after me this way Kata," Severus said bowing.
"Nonsense, you are my guest and as such I will do anything to keep you happy."
Severus had to turn away for fear she would see him blush.
"I will see you when I return," he said leaving the kitchen.
Once outside the house Severus ducked behind a tree to shield himself as he apparated into the village of Fagaras. He stepped out from behind a building and looked up and down the street. The narrow cobbled street was lined with small shopfronts. A number of locals and tourists were casually walking up and down the street, no one looking as if they were in much of a hurry to be going anywhere. Severus nodded his head politely as people he passed looked up at him curiously. The smell from a nearby bakery drew his attention and he stepped inside.
Inside he was met with baskets full of bread of all sorts and shapes. He marvelled at just how muggles could manage to find so many ways to present the exact same thing.
"Bine ai venit." an elderly woman behind the counter asked him.
She read his confused expression well and repeated herself again in English. "Welcome," she said. "Can I help you?"
Severus studied her; she had cataracts glazing over both her eyes and deep wrinkles scarring her face, and yet she still seemed friendly.
"I smelt your bread from out in the street," Severus said. "And I was lured in here."
"Ah sweet man, tell me, are you holidaying in Fagaras?"
The old woman smiled up at him, her wrinkled face features many missing teeth.
"I have arrived only this morning. I am staying at the house by the river on the other side of the mountains."
"With Kata?"
"Yes."
"Ah, I am pleased for both of you. Kata has been quite lonely in that house by herself ever since her husband died."
"Her-her husband?"
"Yes," the old woman shook her head sadly. "It would have been a year ago now. He went out fishing one morning on the lake and never returned."
"Was it suspicious?"
"Oh no, not at all. Young Pieter just choose a bad day to go fishing, it seems a storm hit when he was out. Poor Kata was devastated of course, pretty much turned her into a recluse."
Severus thought about the beautiful woman he had shared breakfast with, she certainly seemed happy enough to have been in his company.
"It is strange that you ask if Pieter's disappearance was suspicious," the old woman said contemplating him.
"Really? And why is that?"
"His loss was a tragic accident but there have been others," she leaned in close to him. "Others that I am not so sure about."
"Like what?" Severus asked.
"Well, for as long as I remember people have been disappearing from the village. "
"Disappearing?" Severus asked raising his eyebrows.
"Yes, I remember it happening ever since I was a young girl. Not too many, but at least half a dozen people a year. My parents never let me wander around on my own, they said there were demons in Fagaras, demons that would take anyone found outside at night on their own."
"Surely you don't still believe in demons?"
The old woman shook her head. "Not demons but… something. There is something evil going on in this village but I am not sure what. There is a gang that hides out at Fagaras Fortress. I am sure they are up to no good but I just mind my own business and that seems to keep me out of trouble."
"This gang," Severus started. "What do you know about them?"
"Nothing really, but to tell the truth when you first came through the doors I thought you could be one of them."
"Really?"
"Please do not take offence but your skin is rather pale and your dress is awfully… formal."
Severus decided it was in his best interest to hide his offence to being so obviously compared to the members of the gang that he assumed were the vampires he was seeking.
"How long has this gang been around?"
"Now let me think… quite a while I think. I have actually wondered if they weren't so much a gang but a family."
She took a loaf of bread from a basket beside her and wrapped it in thin paper, handing it to Severus.
"Here," she said. "Take this back to Kata and give her my love."
Severus reached into his pocket to hand her some money before he realised he only had a pocket full of knuts. The woman waved him off.
"Do not worry about it," she said warmly. "Consider the loaf your welcome to Fagaras."
"Thank you," Severus said. "Your welcome is appreciated."
She smiled a wide grin that exposed all of her missing teeth. "Go on with you then, get out and enjoy the mountain air."
Back at the house Kata was folding sheets in the yard when Severus returned.
"You were not gone long," she smiled.
"I must compliment the friendliness of the people in this town," Severus said as he held up the bread. "The woman in the bakery sends this and her love."
"How sweet."
"Indeed, considering I had no money to pay for it."
"You have no money?" Kata grinned. "I hope you have some to at least pay for your room or else I will have to find another way for you to earn your stay."
Severus' face started to flush.
"I-I am sure…"
"It is okay," Kata said placing a hand on his arm. "I was only kidding with you."
Severus let out a deep breath and swallowed hard. Kata laughed at him.
"Don't be embarrassed, I forgot you English were so reserved."
She took the bread from him and went inside. When she returned, Kata slid her hand into Severus'.
"Come," she said pulling him gently. "I will show you the lake."
They walked together across the soft grass towards the lake. Severus took in the crisp air and admired how smooth the black lake seemed. He looked down at Kata's hand, still holding firmly onto his, and swallowed again. She pulled out of his grip.
"I am sorry; I do not want to make you feel uncomfortable."
"It is fine," he said attempting a smile. "I am not uncomfortable."
Kata looked up at him and grinned. "Good."
"It is very deep?" he asked pointing his chin towards the lake.
Kata shook her head. "Not really. You can find a lot of fish in there but nothing terrible exciting."
A light breeze drifted past them, blowing Severus' hair into his eyes. Kata sat down on the soft grass at the edge of the lake.
"My family built this house many years ago, and before this house there was another, a small cottage built where this one now stands. It fills me with great comfort to know that my Grandparents and Great-Grandparents sat in this very place admiring the beauty of the mountains that surround us." She looked up at Severus, taking hold of his hand again and pulling him to sit beside her.
"What about your family Severus? Are they all chemists like you?"
He stared out at the lake for a few moments before answering.
"My mother was a great athlete in her youth but after she married she remained at home. My father worked at a newspaper."
"He was a reporter?"
"No, he worked the printing presses."
"How about your Grandparents? Is there anything exciting in your family history?"
"I am afraid not," he sighed. "Although I do believe somewhere down my mother's line is a man who created a potion that…"
"A potion?"
"Medicine, I meant to say he created a medicine," he said shifting uncomfortably. "A rather remarkable one in fact."
Kata looked at him curiously, her eyes soon softening under his gaze. She reached up and placed her fingertips to his chin.
"You are a mysterious man Severus," she smiled.
She climbed up onto her knees and leaned in, her lips tantalisingly close. Kata looked into his black eyes before pressing her lips softly against his. She left them there for only a moment before pulling away.
"I hope I have made my intentions clear Severus," she said sitting back down beside him.
Severus sat silent and stunned for several minutes before he cleared his throat and risked a sideways glance at her. Kata was smiling.
"I… your husband… Pieter," he stuttered.
"You have been talking to old Melana at the bakery haven't you? So what has she told you about Pieter?"
Severus felt suddenly ashamed, why couldn't he have just accepted Kata's affection?
"She mentioned that he disappeared out there," he said gesturing to the lake. "I am sorry for your loss."
Kata looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that why you are here? Did you fancy your chances with a widow?"
"That is unfair," Severus said standing up straightening out his clothes. "I did not know about your husband until this morning. And need I remind you that it was you who kissed me?"
Kata slowly smiled and patted the grass beside her. "I am sorry, please sit with me."
Severus sat back down and stared out at the lake.
"I kissed you because I wanted to," Kata said touching her finger to his lips. "Not because I have been alone for more than a year. You interest me Severus."
The corner of his lip curled.
"Indeed?"
"You remind me a lot of my husband, of Pieter. He was a tall man, thin like you but very strong. And so intelligent also, there wasn't a topic he didn't have an opinion on. He would share anything with anyone except for his feelings; is this what you are like Severus?"
He held her gaze in his own. "That is not something I have ever believed to be a fault," he grinned.
Kata smiled back and rested her head against his arm.
"After Pieter went missing I did not know what to do with myself, I was so completely lost. After all, how can you be expected to just continue on with life when your whole world has been sucked out from under you?"
Severus lowered his head, nodding.
"You have lost a love?" Kata asked.
He nodded.
"Then you understand," she said.
Severus was relieved that she didn't try to push him for details. In truth his lost love was not dead like Kata's husband, but very much alive in the arms of Severus' own rival. If Kata had asked him Severus would not have told her how his own pride and anger had driven his only love and best friend Lily away from him forever. He would never have told Kata how he could feel Lily's loss as severely as if she had been dead.
"After I lost Pieter I decided to open up the house to tourists," she said. "At least that way I did not have to always be lonely."
Kata smiled up at Severus, a sad smile that would have melted even the iciest of hearts. He slowly lifted his arm and placed it around her back.
They sat that way for a long time, watching as the sun slowly made its way across the lake as a light rain began to fall.
