Severus Snape: Highly Decorated Hero

Chapter 4: Lamenting a Luncheon

Two weeks later….

So he did the only thing that made perfect sense to him….he saw her.

He thought it would help. It didn't. Because he was the most detached, awkward fool imaginable when he was around her and the engagement announcement hadn't helped his emotional equilibrium.

And the day hadn't started off well and it probably carried over into the lunch as well.

It was difficult getting to the Leakly Cauldron. First he had to make his escape from Hogwarts and the people that er, worked there. What with their carrying on so, he barely made it out of the Great hall unscathed.

The Headmaster:"Severus, I know you will go ahead….but do you think it wise?"

Hagrid:"Aw, Professor Snape, why are yer' doing this to yourself? Let's go to the pub."

Flitwick:…slapping a hand to his head and shaking it repeatedly and muttering.

McGonagall:"You are a fool…is it necessary to do this to her and stir up grief for yourself as well? Are you even thinking rationally anymore?"

And Sinistra wasn't there… she was probably en route to Wales with some of Vector's things because she had been helping her do her final packing. For some reason, even though she had left awhile ago, Septima hadn't completely taken everything out of her office and quarters. But now that her replacement was coming, she had to.

So, he ignored them for the most part. After a litany of protestations, eye rolls, Don't-do-its, and palms being slapped to foreheads, he was off to the Cauldron.

The owl he had sent yesterday had reached her and she had responded and said that The Leaky Cauldron at 12 was fine.

He entered the Cauldron amidst waves and cheers. He was one of them. The wizards that had saved their world at Hogwarts. He couldn't imagine how big Potter's head got when he was greeted in such a way. The chosen one. Though he didn't hate Potter as much as he once did, it didn't help when he visualized James Potter being over the moon at his son's accomplishment if he was still among the living.

He saw her alone at a table in the private room that was not so private because necks craned through the small windows to see who was there.

And he saw the long dark hair and purplish blue eyes and lovely face and his stomach flipped. He strode over to the table and took a seat. She had smiled when she saw him and waited for him to sit before speaking. As he sat slowly, he noticed the huge diamond ring on her left hand.

He smirked.

"Good afternoon, Vector," it wasn't quite his usual sarcastic greeting but the ring had taken him aback and he had shut down a bit.

She hoped he was feeling ok, he looked pale to her.

"Hello, Severus. Merlin, it's been months, hasn't it?"

"Yes, I believe it has. And you have been busy?" It didn't come out as he had hoped, because now that she was in front of him, and the engagement fresh in his mind, he was faltering, and his demeanor was starting to chill in defense.

"Er, why yes, I am sure you have heard." She seemed nervous.

"Yes, and my deepest congratulations." He did not make eye contact as he grabbed an old brown pub menu and studied it intently.

"Thank you and I am glad that you invited me to lunch. I may not be in around for awhile after this."

"And why is that?" he snapped and then remembered himself, trying with all his will not to appear disappointed.

"Well, the new job, spending time with my parents, the wedding plans…"

"Are you ready to order," he cut in. The pain was too much….

She was taken aback. He was never much of an eater. "Er, yes, the shepherd's pie, my favorite," she looked at him strangely.

"Very well, I will have the same," he offered coldly."

He raised a hand and motioned for the barmaid to come over. He placed their order and the smiling barmaid nodded and swept off.

"So, er, why did you invite me to lunch? A bit of a surprise…I haven't heard from you in awhile, Severus," she asked pleasantly and mildly curious.

"Well, as your former mentor I can only guess that it was the decent thing to do."

"So you really don't want to be here then," she seemed puzzled and a bit hurt.

"Do not put words in my mouth, Vector. It is the least I could do," he said with generosity and failing to look at her face again.

"Oh, really, makes me feel so welcome, really, Snape," she threw out sarcastically.

"Vector, you know what I mean. Now, why would you leave Hogwarts to work with Gringotts. I can only imagine you received the greatest offer one could acquire, to my knowledge. Work as an Arithmancy teacher, and consult Gingotts as you wished for freelancing. I don't understand why you chose to give that up."

"The war changed things for me, Severus. I am not sure I wanted to go back to Hogwarts full time. Too many memories and after what happened I wanted to be closer to my parents and not so tied down here. Everyone is in Wales, my parents, my brother, my fian…"

"Yes, I suppose one would consider this." He grimaced and didn't hide it.

"And you are probably thrilled I am not in your way anymore, not sure they will ask you to mentor anyone for awhile. An experienced, tenured staff and my replacement is older than me and has teaching experience so…"

"Yes, it does allow me more free time I must admit." He noticed that she was drinking a gillywater and that he had forgotten to order a drink himself not that his throat was getting dry. But he would not order firewhiskey. The affects in this situation, with her here, one could only imagine…

Her face fell. "But I miss everyone. Dumbleodore, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout…even you. And I see Aurora all the time so it's not like I am falling off the face of the Earth, you know." She looked at him meaningfully.

She was a fool. Didn't she realize that to me, it was the end of the earth?

And it warmed him to hear that she missed him. Because she couldn't possibly fathom how deeply he had missed her.

"I have, er, thought of you from time to time." He could hex himself for revealing this much.

"Really? Me too. Merlin, five years since I started working there…since I was your mentoring subject. The time flies and so much has happened. And I still can't grasp how we managed to survive it all. Especially you, Severus."

"Yes, it has." You are marrying somebody else, you fool, how will I survive that.

"So, how is Dr. Burton?" He would never say fiancé, it pained him too much, and he tried to reign in the dark look he was sure he shot her but couldn't quite control.

"Fine. Busy. Leaving most of the plans to me which is just fine by Aurora. She is taking her maid of honor job very enthusiastically, naturally." She thought of her best friend with a surge of affection.

"I, er, saw the article. So you will be living in Wales permanently I gather," he asked softly. He really didn't want to waste time talking about Sinistra.

"Yes, so embarrassing. I didn't write it. Mum and Aurora and my fiancé kind of took that job over. Too much detail if you ask me," she blushed.

"It would seem so." He had certainly thought so.

And then she stabbed him through the heart and his eyes had nearly flew open. "So what's it like being free of me and your mentor duties?" she teased.

He loved her, really and truly he did. But she had no tact and she could be daft from time to time.

And he thanked Merlin that the food came for once in his life and he ignored her question and the blue eyes that followed his face between forkfuls of food as if he would get back to the subject.

When it was apparent that she wasn't going to mentally let it drop, he thanked the arrival of the food again. He could stall, he could think of a response.

He could plant some seeds.

He would give her a guilt trip. Because he couldn't think of anything else to do at that very minute.

"Well, I must admit difficulty, Vector. My duties now in the face of our new world are endless…Potions Master, Head of House, Ministry consulting, Co-Deputy Headmaster, and then brewing any number of drafts for Pomfrey, to be utilized by the students should they fall ill or become injured. You couldn't have picked a worse time to defect," he replied smugly.

"Defect? Well, that is rude. Please explain Snape what you mean."

"You helped us restore our world, vanquish the Dark Lord…" He still whispered his name, the name still caused people to grimace by the mere mention of it though he was gone forever, but never entirely from the minds of those that had lived through it. "As they say it is sometimes more difficult to rebuild after a crisis than during, and here you are now running away to Wales… and I have seen him, you know, looks as vapid as Lockhart… you could do much better and I am not the only one who thinks so. I believe he has what I call "Potter Syndrome." He appears to spend too much time on his hair and perhaps his appearance, regrettably."

She threw her fork down and he glanced quickly around. It was out. Partly. And he felt better. This had been a good idea.

"How can one run away, as you so delicately put it, to where I was born and raised and where my family is?" Her cheeks were red and her eyes narrowed.

"Well, you did, didn't you," he sniped.

"And what have you against Dr. Burton? Upset that you can't ridicule me anymore and drive me to the brink of madness with your poisonous sarcasm and needling nonsense?"

"No. But I just can't understand why you would leave Hogwarts, Vector…and me." His eyes bore holes into hers, but the voice was low and barely a whisper.

She stopped and looked at him as if he were quite mad as she slowly sat down and looked down at the hands that were no longer gripping the sides of her chair, but were now folded in her lap.