Disclaimer:
All characters in the story are the property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling and a few supporting characters, who are my own creations. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers and no copyright infringement is intended.
By mentioning J.K. Rowling in this story I do not intend to present her as a fictional character or to imply that the Harry Potter books are not her own 100% original works.
Any opinions, political or otherwise, on world events, personages or governments expressed in these pages, are the opinions of the characters speaking them and not necessarily those of the author.
Chapter 9: E-Mail and Snail-Mail
Remus Lupin reflected on the conversation he had just had with Severus Snape. Why had Snape been so interested in the welfare of Algernon Welkin? As far as he knew, he had never met the man. It was true that Welkin had at one point been suspected of being a mole in the Ministry, or at least Snape may have thought so, but Remus thought he had made it pretty clear that Welkin had been cleared of suspicion. He wondered if Snape knew something he didn't know?
Also, Snape had seemed unusually happy to hear from him and eager to stay in touch. He could just put that down to Snape being starved for news of matters at home, but something didn't sit right with him. With a suspicious dread that was almost Slytherin in nature, Remus had to wonder if Snape were Up To Something.
No matter, he thought. Snape now had the means to contact him any time he wished. He presumed that if his old schoolyard adversary truly had an ulterior motive, he would learn more about it soon enough.
For the moment, Remus had other matters on his mind. It was nearly 3:30 in the afternoon and Vera would be coming over for cocktails at 5:00 prior to an evening out. Ever since he had met the female master forger at J. M. Walsh's on Goodge Street, mutual attraction had blossomed. In fact, on the one day he had shown up at the forgers' offices in disguise, she had seemed disappointed and had asked after that smashing bloke who was here before.
He had no idea how far this would go, but so far, it was the perfect relationship. Because of the way they had met, she already knew there was something shadowy in his background and never asked difficult questions. She intuitively knew that he wasn't using his real name — he was going by the moniker Remmy Wolfe in this dimension — but she didn't seem to mind. Even if he did one day choose to confide in her, he knew that the requirements of her job more than proved her ability to be discrete. And since dating was against company rules, she required his discretion, as well.
Plus, he liked her immensely. She was voluptuous, brilliant, talented, and had a ready wit – all in all, terrific company. It had been so long since he had had a woman in his life that it was a revelation just to be with someone so warm and lively. The time he had spent with Nora Sterling had made him long for some female companionship of his own and he had resisted a great temptation not to horn in on Snape's territory.
He could also enjoy the freedom of knowing his werewolf transformations would not take place here, so he would never put Vera in danger. That fact alone would almost be worth moving here permanently for, although he missed being able to use his magic. Luckily, as moving between the dimensions was so easy, he didn't have to make that choice.
* * *
Almost from the moment they hung up the phone, and much to Nora's annoyance, Severus developed an urgent need to become computer literate and requested her instruction.
Right now, this minute? she snapped in exasperation. We just talked to Remus. Surely you don't need to get in touch with him again today.
I just think it's high time I learned, and what else did we have planned for today? he replied testily.
Well, nothing much, I suppose But after I've enjoyed my coffee and had a shower, I was going to do a bit of work in the garden before it gets too hot. Can it wait until this afternoon at least?
Oh, very well, he pouted. Whenever you're ready, Madam.
* * *
Later that day, with much apprehension (for she had tried this with her own mother once upon a time with disastrous results) Nora showed him how to use the computer. Knowing he had never so much as touched one before and also knowing he had never tried to type anything on a keyboard, she gave him the beginner's tour and hoped she didn't sound too patronizing.
OK. This is the keyboard, and this is called a mouse. These are the two things you use to give instructions to the computer and to – um – put in information. She showed him how the mouse moved the pointer around the screen, and how clicking' on things made menu items appear and activate. Then she let him try it. It was very clumsy for him, and at first he had a hard time grasping the concepts of pointing, dragging, clicking and right clicking.
Ok, well some of the things you can do with the mouse you can also do with some of the buttons on the keyboard. And the keyboard is what you will use to type in messages and so forth.
I just want to know how to send an e-mail, he said impatiently.
Hold on, Whiz Kid, you have to learn to walk before you can fly. And since you've never had your hands on one of these puppies before, I need to show you the basics of telling it what you want it to do. Then if you're planning to write letters, there's the whole thing about typing, selecting text, cutting and pasting
There was a loud expulsion of breath and flared nostrils.
Right. Play with the mouse for a while until you get the hang of it and DON'T TOUCH THE KEYBOARD. Especially that key right there, she said, pointing to the delete' key.
Would you kindly show me how to send an e-mail and let me figure the rest out for myself? he replied in a quietly intimidating tone.
Fine, have it your way, she said, determined to baffle him with the speed of her demonstration. Watch closely now First you have to get on-line. Then you open this program here. Then you go Message – New Message and you type in the e-mail address here and your subject here and your message in this window here, and when you're done, you press this button that says queue' and then you press that button there to send any queued mail. Got that?
he replied defensively.
Nora shut down the mail reader, logged off and closed the program for connecting to the Internet. OK, Smart Guy, now you try it, she smirked, stepping back with her arms folded across her chest.
Snape was back online and had his cursor positioned and ready to type in a message within 30 seconds, leaving Nora gasping.
Now I presume that all I need to do to type a message is press these keys in the right order? he deadpanned.
yes. And you might find the backspace key handy if you make a mistake or want to change anything you've written. Try not to touch the insert' key you'll find out why, eventually The shift' key will give you capital letters and this one locks on the caps but don't type things in all capital letters because that's like shouting and it's considered rude.
Is it, indeed?
We can get into the finer points of selecting text with the mouse later, if you'd rather just get on with whatever it is you so desperately need to do.
Thank you.
Oh... and one more thing... do not touch the Recycle Bin.
I wouldn't dream of it. Whatever that is.
Nora rolled her eyes and sighed as she started to leave the room. Oh well, he probably couldn't get into too much trouble just typing an e-mail. She had to give him credit: he'd already completely surprised her with how quickly he'd picked up getting on line and opening the mail program.
Where are you going? he whined.
I just thought as long as you're busy playing, I'd sit down and answer Poppy's letter. Normally, she'd have done this on the computer, but a typed response to Poppy's hand-written missive seemed terribly inappropriate. By the way, have you seen it?
I thought I saw in the living room, he hedged. But must you do that now? What if I need your help?
I'll only be in the next room, dear, and it's not as if you've needed any help up to now, she snorted. Hmm... I was sure I left it on the coffee table. I wonder where it's gotten to? Oh well, never mind, I don't really need to read it to answer it.
Blast, Snape thought. Well, I'll just have to make sure to offer to mail it for her when she's finished.
Nora rummaged in a drawer in the sideboard in the dining room for some stationery, and sat at the kitchen table to write. It had been so long since she had written anything lengthy by hand she found her hand cramping up as she did so. On the computer, she was able to let her thoughts flow more freely because she knew she could always edit later.
- Dear Poppy:
How lovely to hear from you! I would have written back right away but little things just seemed to keep popping up. Right now Severus is trying to learn to use my computer I think he's trying to send an e-mail to Remus, even though we just talked to him this morning.
I must say Remus sounded awfully good, but of course he didn't mention anything about his lady-friend. How lovely for him, if that's true. (Perhaps that's what Severus is writing him to ask him about, ha-ha.) Remus, of course, filled us in on a few other things and I must say that's very distressing news about poor Weatherby. I hope they find out what happened to him. Of course I have no idea if you know anything about the matter, so in that case I shall just say I shouldn'ta told yeh that
I am doing well, but Severus seems terribly anxious to be back in the thick of things. Mind you, I hate to see him idle, but he's got a definite bee in his bonnet about some plan he's dreaming up and wants to get back to London as soon as he can. I'm sure he's asking Remus to help him with something or other, but I can't imagine what it's been about.- This is just between you and me, of course, but I wish he'd just let things go and let Dumbledore and the rest of his operatives handle things for a while. Even though it's good to see him busy and I actually think he might be on to something with this idea of his, I am trying to convince him to just stay here and let someone else carry it out.
I realise I'm being very cryptic and can't give you any details, but I needed to confide in you that I am very concerned about his safety and I don't want to see him leaping back into the fray. It has caused a more than a bit of friction between us in the last few days. Otherwise, things are pretty good between us.-
I had a good chuckle over your comment about Madame Hooch and Prof. Sprout. I wonder if anyone will nearly die during Quiddich finals this year? I know you'll have your work cut out for you anyhow. Almost makes me wish I had been able to stay on for the school year. And, I hope you won't have to many patients this year.
Not much more to tell, but do write as soon as you've caught your breath from the start of classes!
Love to everyone and a special little hug for Hagrid if you see him. Someone reminded me of him recently and I got to thinking about him. (Also give Mrs Norris a pat, too.)
- Nora
Snape struggled with the keyboard. Such an unintuitive and impersonal way of composing a message, he thought. He found himself typing in stilted phrases in order to decrease the amount of typing he had to do. Not that he was big on the whole concept of personal touch, but it occurred to him that this technology might just ruin the venerable tradition of letter writing. At least Nora was writing her letter by hand. All the better to read it later once I get my hands on it.
It was hunt and peck for a time but gradually he got used to the position of the keys and things speeded up. Why on earth had they jumbled up the letters so? It would have much greater sense to put them in alphabetical order, at least making them easier to find. He presumed there had to be some logic to it but it escaped him at the moment.
He finished his message and sent it according to directions. Then, he looked for a way to erase any record of it. Ah, transfer to trash. That was the ticket.
* * *
Nora had completed her task and looked in vain for some postage stamps she was out of them. Sev, if you're OK in there, I'm just going to whip over to the corner store to mail this, she called out from the kitchen.
Severus immediately appeared in the sitting-room doorway with his hand out. I've just finished. Why don't you let me mail that for you?
No that's all right, I'd like to stretch my legs anyway. And it's just up to the corner here. I have to get a stamp anyway, and I forget how much it is for airmail to the U.K.
No really, let me, he smiled innocently.
It's all right, really. But you can come for the walk if you'd like. What does he want? she wondered. He NEVER smiles like that unless he's up to something.
How did you make out with the e-mail? Nora asked, eyeing him narrowly as they left the house.
Oh, fine, fine. It's all sent. The keyboard is a bit awkward, but I suppose I shall get used to it, he replied.
Good. What were you asking Remus about that was so urgent?
My, you certainly have a lot of large trees on this street. What are they, plane trees?
Um, they call them maple here, and you're changing the subject.
Oh, just this and that. Mostly I just wanted to practice in case I wanted to ask him something later.
I certainly hope you lie better when you are spying, she thought.
Snape shot a glance in her direction as though he read her mind.
Damn. I have to get better at cloaking my mind from him.
In moments they were in the convenience store and Nora laid the envelope on the counter as she asked for a stamp. While her attention was supposedly elsewhere, Severus covertly knocked it to the floor and tried to slide it under the counter with his foot.
Saw that, Nora murmured, and making no one else saw her, caused the envelope to leap to her waiting hand from the floor. She brushed off the dirt from the floor, applied the stamp, and walked to the mailbox outside with the letter clutched firmly in her grip. She eyed him defiantly as she dropped the letter into the mailbox.
I'm not sure what you think you're up too, but don't ever try to read my personal letters again, Mister, she threatened. She intended for him to receive THAT message loud and clear.
* * *
Vera had just left. Remus had hoped she would stay the night, but she had pleaded an early meeting in the morning and rose to put her clothes on, too soon for his liking. Still, it had been an excellent evening.
Remus wasn't tired, though he should have been. Perhaps he would just fire up the computer and see if there were any messages.
The following letter arrived in his mailbox:
From: doctornora@strat.net
To:moony5478@freemail.com
Subject: document
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 15:46:15 -0400
- Remus:
After our conversation, realised had something important to ask.
Problem with passport McG created - some changes became by the time we got to airport - necessary to use in order to get through Canadian immigration.
Can you talk to men who supplied other docs? If so, need British passport ASAP. Still have photograph they could use. Appreciate if you could take care of that & send here. May need to make trip back. Will arrange for money to be wired to you to cover expenses, let me know amount.
Pls. do not mention this to anyone at H_ as have no wish to trouble McG - don't wish her to know her work was less than perfect.- - Severus Snape
Curious, he thought. First of all, why the rush to get a new passport, and why a British one, unless he wanted to come home right away and did not plan on returning to Canada to live? And since when had Snape ever been concerned about anyone else's feelings, particularly when it concerned the quality of their spells and charms?
Remus shook his head with a wry smile. No doubt about it, Snape was Up To Something.
NEXT: A Second Opinion
A/N
Sorry, sorry sorry! I'm behind in my "update schedule". Seems like one of those months when everyone wants me to do something for them.
I had hoped for a more hilarious "fish out of water" encounter for Snape with the computer. Figures he'd turn out to be a frigging genius at it.
Thanks, Shadowycat, for confirming that I succeeded in conveying Snape's duplicity with Nora. And you have reminded me of an extraneous plot point I introduced oh so long ago (meaning I wrote it oh so long ago!!) about Percy Weasley. Now I have to remember to go somewhere with that!
- Grey Lady