CHAPTER 7-A Random Walk Down Charing Cross Road
When his eyes began to blur, Severus Snape logged off and lay down for a nap. His mind filled with flickering screens and street scenes as his brain reviewed all the novel information he had gathered in less than a day. With the end of the Dark Lord's reign of terror, Snape had permitted his unconscious mind to dream again.
But his rest was repeatedly interrupted by street noise. Traffic and raucous pedestrians periodically broke into his awareness. It was twilight when Snape gave up trying to rest and decided to take the air. He studied the people on the street, how they were dressed, decided he could pass for Muggle in a tweed suit, took up the flat key, and went on a walkabout.
The first Muggle he encountered was a shabby man begging for money outside his building. Using his best student-quelling glare, Snape swept past him, clutching his wand in his pocket. Undeterred, the beggar followed Snape, taunting him in an accent so foul that Snape had no notion of the insult being rendered, though he thought it was English of some sort.
Marking his path on the map he downloaded from Streetmap.co.uk, Severus reconnoitered his local neighborhood. With the approaching darkness, the whole character of the shops and the crowds had changed from shoppers and tourists to something a little more edgy and sinister. There were now numerous brightly lit establishments advertising sex in one form or another. Snape regretted not reading those pamphlets Albus had given him and resolved to study them carefully when he returned. Not that he had any intention of shopping, but he did wish to further his understanding of the local Muggles. He didn't venture down Knockturne Alley unprepared, and this part of town was beginning to resemble that one. Perhaps Hermione was not overreacting.
Across the street was a decent looking place, a bistro where he could try his restaurant knowledge. As he entered, the maitre d approached. "One for dinner, Monsieur?" Pausing only a heartbeat, Severus responded, "Oui." He was escorted to a small table in a darker corner, which suited him quite well. Severus thanked the waiter far too warmly for such an inferior table, and then sat with his back to the wall and his face in shadow. Old habits are hard to change, he mused, as he perused the menu. Ordering sole a la meuniere and a salad, and a bottle of pinot grigio to drink, Severus found that serving the Ministry could be quite rewarding, indeed. When the waiter presented his bill, though, Severus realized that he had neglected to bring his wallet. He escaped to the men's lavatory, Apparated to the flat, returned with his Visa card, paid the bill, and left, feeling smugly successful at covering his error.
Feeling replete and quite mellow, Severus continued his meandering path, and eventually found himself outside the Rex Cinema. The place seemed quietly stylish, and the throngs on the street were beginning to irritate him, so Severus stepped inside. The membership fee seemed a bit steep, but once inside, he felt the money well spent. Aside from the abundance of red in the décor, Severus felt quite comfortable.
But then the film started. Severus had wandered into a performance of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Alternating between fury, hysterical laughter, and fear for the poor Muggles around him, Severus sat on the edge of his seat, appalled and fascinated by this vision of horror. Stunned and shaken, Severus left the cinema, after a couple of swift drinks at the Art Deco bar. Perhaps Hermione could explain this. No, better not to mention it to a young woman just out of school, no matter how mature she acts. I know no one who could understand what I have seen, Severus realized.
When his eyes began to blur, Severus Snape logged off and lay down for a nap. His mind filled with flickering screens and street scenes as his brain reviewed all the novel information he had gathered in less than a day. With the end of the Dark Lord's reign of terror, Snape had permitted his unconscious mind to dream again.
But his rest was repeatedly interrupted by street noise. Traffic and raucous pedestrians periodically broke into his awareness. It was twilight when Snape gave up trying to rest and decided to take the air. He studied the people on the street, how they were dressed, decided he could pass for Muggle in a tweed suit, took up the flat key, and went on a walkabout.
The first Muggle he encountered was a shabby man begging for money outside his building. Using his best student-quelling glare, Snape swept past him, clutching his wand in his pocket. Undeterred, the beggar followed Snape, taunting him in an accent so foul that Snape had no notion of the insult being rendered, though he thought it was English of some sort.
Marking his path on the map he downloaded from Streetmap.co.uk, Severus reconnoitered his local neighborhood. With the approaching darkness, the whole character of the shops and the crowds had changed from shoppers and tourists to something a little more edgy and sinister. There were now numerous brightly lit establishments advertising sex in one form or another. Snape regretted not reading those pamphlets Albus had given him and resolved to study them carefully when he returned. Not that he had any intention of shopping, but he did wish to further his understanding of the local Muggles. He didn't venture down Knockturne Alley unprepared, and this part of town was beginning to resemble that one. Perhaps Hermione was not overreacting.
Across the street was a decent looking place, a bistro where he could try his restaurant knowledge. As he entered, the maitre d approached. "One for dinner, Monsieur?" Pausing only a heartbeat, Severus responded, "Oui." He was escorted to a small table in a darker corner, which suited him quite well. Severus thanked the waiter far too warmly for such an inferior table, and then sat with his back to the wall and his face in shadow. Old habits are hard to change, he mused, as he perused the menu. Ordering sole a la meuniere and a salad, and a bottle of pinot grigio to drink, Severus found that serving the Ministry could be quite rewarding, indeed. When the waiter presented his bill, though, Severus realized that he had neglected to bring his wallet. He escaped to the men's lavatory, Apparated to the flat, returned with his Visa card, paid the bill, and left, feeling smugly successful at covering his error.
Feeling replete and quite mellow, Severus continued his meandering path, and eventually found himself outside the Rex Cinema. The place seemed quietly stylish, and the throngs on the street were beginning to irritate him, so Severus stepped inside. The membership fee seemed a bit steep, but once inside, he felt the money well spent. Aside from the abundance of red in the décor, Severus felt quite comfortable.
But then the film started. Severus had wandered into a performance of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Alternating between fury, hysterical laughter, and fear for the poor Muggles around him, Severus sat on the edge of his seat, appalled and fascinated by this vision of horror. Stunned and shaken, Severus left the cinema, after a couple of swift drinks at the Art Deco bar. Perhaps Hermione could explain this. No, better not to mention it to a young woman just out of school, no matter how mature she acts. I know no one who could understand what I have seen, Severus realized.