He didn't have long to wait. As he finished his shepard's pie the blond man, Nicholas, rose and took his leave.

"It's been an enjoyable evening Severus, but I must get home. I promised Rachel I'd be home early. Shall I stop by your office tomorrow?"

"Certainly," Severus replied. "I'll have those papers you wanted. Give Rachel my regards."

When Nicholas left Severus pulled a book from his coat pocket and looked to be settling in for some quiet reading. Harry didn't want to wait too long, interrupting the man while he was doing anything wasn't a good idea.

Gathering his courage, which seemed to have dissipated during his meal, Harry approached the man who looked so like his former professor.

//

Severus had kept an eye on Potter since the boy had come in. He had caught the brief looks that had been sent his way. He was fairly certain the young man had recognized him. When his former student rose and approached his table, he was positive of it.

This ought to be interesting, he mused. The pup is sure to be full of questions and accusations. He always has been. Hmm, it's been awhile since I've been the 'greasy bastard', I wonder if I've still got it in me. Smirking to himself, he was sure Potter would manage to bring it out.

Harry wasn't sure why he was nervous. It may not even be his former professor. Except for the name and profile the two men were different. His potions professor had shoulder length, coarse, greasy looking hair, unhealthily pale skin and a seemingly permanent condescending sneer. This man had a short business man's hair style; however the hair did look coarse and thick. His skin had a healthy bronze cast to in and neither condensation nor a sneer had crossed his features as long as Harry'd been watching.

Face it mate, he chastised himself, you think this bloke's good looking. You don't really want it to be Snape. You're looking for that muggle to have that passionate affair with. Come on back to the real world with the rest of us.

"Professor Snape?" he asked diffidently. "Professor Severus Snape?"

Ah, now for some fun, Severus grinned to himself. "Yes," he answered, raising his eyes from his book. "Can I help you with something?"

"Ah, yes," damnit Harry, you're a grown man, don't let him intimidate you. "Did you used to teach at Hogwarts?"

Severus had to give the younger man some credit, he'd apparently gown up. This didn't seem to be the rash, impulsive youth of 14 years ago. This was a seemingly grown man, confident looking and polite. Besides, he was a decade and a half from being the reviled potions master of Hogwarst. Time, distance and no longer needing it had mellowed that aspect of his personality. He found he had no desire to bait the younger man.

"Sit down, Mr. Potter," he sighed. "You may be the last person I want to see, but I do remember the niceties my mother tried to instill in me."

Harry didn't want to blow this opportunity to satisfy his curiosity. If the professor says he'll be polite, it's the least I can do to reciprocate. Time to let my inner Slytherin out; it'll be the best way to get any information. He sat in the chair Nicholas had vacated moments before.

"Thank you Professor. I was surprised to see you here. No one has had any contact with you in so long." As an opening it was admittedly weak, but subtle never had been his strong suit, inner Slytherin or not.

"The feeling is quite mutual I assure you," Severus replied dryly, neatly avoiding the mention of his disappearance from the wizarding world. "What brings you to Glasgow?" Not that he particularly cared, but he'd said he'd be polite, so small talk it was. Besides, he found himself unaccountably interested to hear news of the world he'd left behind.

Harry settled more comfortably in his char, regardless of the professor's words he hadn't expected the man to actually be polite. "I'm here on holiday actually."

Severus raised an eyebrow at that, "I was unaware there was anything in Glasgow that would interest a person such as yourself." Let him take that however he wants the older man smirked to himself.

The younger man grinned. Ah, he thought, there's the snark I was expecting. "That's why I decided to holiday here. I don't know anyone and it's not a place anyone would expect me to be. That is the whole point of a holiday isn't it, getting away from it all?"

"Of course, being the The Boy Who Lived, grown not withstanding, you would want to avoid your hordes of fans." The grimace of distaste that crossed the other's face at the title amused Severus. Perhaps baiting the boy will be fun.

"You don't know the half if it," Harry groused. "Bloody papers are still printing articles and photos." Damn, the man still gets a rise out of me. Act your age mate, you're not his student, you're 30 years old. Act it damn it. "But yes, my notoriety does prevent having a restful holiday. It seems they can forget Voldemort but not me."

"It's the human condition, Mr. Potter, to forget that which is distasteful and revere their heroes and revile their villains to an idiotic degree." Bitterness 15 years old colored his voice.

Harry didn't miss it. "Is that why you're here Professor, the idiocies of the human condition?"

The former potions master pinned the younger man with a hard stare. "And what, may I ask, gives you that impression?"

He answered with a hard gaze of his own. "To the best of my knowledge, I'm the first wizard or witch to see you in 14 years. I know that after the war, even when your role as a spy became public knowledge, the public called for you to be sent to prison. And when that didn't work, they demanded your job. When they couldn't take that from you, they made your life miserable. That is what gives me 'that impression'.

Harry's gaze softened and an apologetic note entered his voice, "I didn't find any of this out until recently. If I'd known at the time, I'd like to think, I could have done something about it. I was their bloody damned savior after all. But I was a dumb kid, high on the accolades. I'm sorry."

"Bloody noble Gryffindor," Severus snorted. "The sentiment is lovely, Mr. Potter, but I don't believe it would have done any good. Even Albus could never convince anyone to see past the mark on my arm."

"That doesn't change how I feel Professor. You were on our side and we all should have defended you."

"The past is past and can not be changed. Things happen for a reason, and I for one am happy with how it has turned out." The older man grimaced, "I always knew Gryffindors were detrimental to the intellect. I've descended to clichés."

The brunette laughed lightly, "To true, Professor. Clichés do seem to be the realm of Gryffindor. So, why are you in Glasgow?"

The apology and laughter eased some of the tension between the two men. Now they were two former acquaintances becoming reacquainted and sharing news.

"I'm a Professor of Philosophy at Caledonian University here in Glasgow. I have been for several years now. And what is it you are on holiday from? You're a bit too old for professional quidditch."

"I never did play professionally, not for lack of offers though, for lack of desire. After Draco died I couldn't see myself doing it. He'd always wanted to play on a professional team."

Both men were quiet a moment, remembering the vivacious blond.

"Sorry," Harry shook his head a bit, "I still miss him. Anyway, I'm a curse breaker for Glennings and Sons. Have been for ten years. That's actually how I found out you had disappeared. I needed your expertise for a variant of a disclosing potion."

"Glennings, that's a very prestigious firm, congratulations," the tone was sincere. "Did you manage to find anyone who was able to brew what you needed?"

Their conversation turned to 'shop talk' from both their professions and eventually to who was doing what now in the wizarding world. Harry's position at Glennings afforded him the opportunity to hear all the latest gossip.

Severus was pleasantly surprised the conversation brought up no painful memories or feelings of loss. He was happy with his life for the first time in perhaps ever. It reinforced his idea that he'd made the right decision in leaving the wizarding world behind.

As Harry relaxed in his hotel room later that night, Professor Snape had recommended the hotel to him, he thought back over his evening. It had turned out to be very pleasant. The Professor's wit and sarcasm were as sharp as he remembered and of course his voice was still magnificent. It was nice to talk with someone who was unimpressed by who he was. Ron and Hermione didn't count, they were family.

Drifting off to sleep he realized he'd never found out why his former professor had no magical signature.

//

"So, Severus," Nicholas Ramsey perched himself on the edge of the desk, "who was that man who cracked your composure at the pub last night?"

"A former student," was the brusque answer. "Must you sit on my desk? There are perfectly serviceable chairs."

"You know I only do it so you'll chastise me," the blond man teased.

A small, but genuine, smile graced Severus' face. Nicholas may be a man of few words, but he had a wide streak of deviltry in him. Only those he considered his closest friends were ever witness to it and to his oft times shameless flirting. "Nicholas, how many times have I told you, you're not my type," he chastised gently.

"You know," Nicholas settled into one of the armchairs across from the desk, "you never have told me why I'm not your type. Is it because I'm blond or a man?"

The smile turned to a smirk, "Yes."

The blond laughed, "You, my friend, are impossible. So, what kind of former student can rattle your nerves like that?"

"He was one of my students at the boarding school I taught at before coming here. It was quite a shock to see him."

"Ah," Nicholas smirked, "your mysterious past. You do realize that I've now horrible ideas about what occurred to make it mysterious," he leered.

"Nicholas, you are delusional."

"It makes life more fun. You said you'd have those papers for me?"

The former wizard had come across some old manuscripts regarding Egyptian society while going through the last of the boxes that had come out of his quarters at Hogwarts. He'd been amazed at the sheer amount of possessions he'd accumulated. In an attempt to leave behind his former life he'd stored everything that wasn't necessary. In the last few years he'd finally begun to sort through it all. He hadn't realized what a pack rat he was. It seemed he'd kept every bit of information that had caught his fancy. Well, knowledge was power. "Here they are, you reprobate. I should hold them hostage to your good behavior."

"But, Severus, you'd never have any fun if you did that." He paged through the stack with apparent glee. "Where do you find these things? They're magnificent."

"Actually, I'm not sure where they came from," the brunette's voice was rueful. "I seem to save everything I come across."

"It's certainly a boon for me." Nicholas stood to make his leave, "You will be coming to the house this Saturday to watch the game won't you? I won't be accepting any excuses. You do need to socialize occasionally."

"Of course, how could I refuse your lovely invitation."

Nicholas snorted at the sarcasm, "Good, 5 o'clock, don't be late." With that the Egyptology professor swept out the door.

Severus shook his head in bemusement. Nicholas certainly was one if a kind, and a good friend. In fact, the other man had been the first to try to befriend him when he'd begun teaching at the University.

It had been an interesting transition, to say the least. He'd thought he'd been prepared to live without magic. It'd come as a shock to realized how much he'd relied on 'foolish wand waving' in his daily life. From checking the time, to fetching his tea, to a light in the dark. It had been disconcerting. Becoming familiar and used to 'muggle' technology had only been part of it. The wizard worlds society rules were still decidedly Elizabethan, modern mores had been a bit of a shock. Add to that the fact he'd almost never left Hogwarts during his tenure, and he as woefully unprepared to interact with his new peers.

His natural inclination toward privacy had not helped; his fellow professors had respected his desires. Nicholas had as well; however, he did repeatedly engage Severus in conversation, always on their respective subjects, never anything personal. Slowly, Severus realized, they'd become friends and their conversations began to include more personal revelations. The friendship had helped Severus settle into his new life and finally shed the irritable façade he'd lived behind for the pervious 20 years.

The appearance of Harry Potter the previous night had been a shock in more ways than one. Intellectually he'd known that eventually some one from his previous life would see him. However, he hadn't really expected to be recognized. His appearance had changed in the intervening years, and people did only see what they expected to see. For Potter to recognize him had been a surprise.

The bigger surprise however, was when he realized he couldn't remember the last time he'd thought of his former life. It had been interesting to hear of people and places he once knew, but it had only provoked a vague nostalgia. He'd been prepared for stronger feelings, but they'd never materialized.

He'd actually enjoyed talking with Potter. The boy he remembered had grown into an intelligent and thoughtful man. He'd fully expected the boy to be a wastrel, living off his fame. It was pleasant to be proven wrong. Perhaps they would run across each other again while the younger man was in the city.