Disclaimer is the same as Chapter one
Thank you for the review Magical Mischief Maker. Perhaps part of the reason for the lack of reviews is that the story was posted rather early [about 4 am est.], but then not everyone is spending their holiday avoiding sleep.
And before everyone gets mad at me for some comments made later, I don't hate Harry, but his lack of common sense bothers me [and friends] a LOT.
And yes, I know this is out of character, but who really knows how he acts when he's not around the students during term?
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After awhile Maddy gave up reading. Dinner would be served soon. The stranger next to her seemed oblivious to the rest of world, deeply absorbed in a book of his own. Sighing, she closed the book and looked out the window into complete and utter blackness. Closing the window and glancing at her watch, she realised it was much later than she had thought.
She was just about to turn off the light and try for a short nap, when suddenly a low, smooth voice full of disdain asked, "Harry Potter fan?"
Why she felt the need to defend her reading of a popular book, she would probably never know, but she tried to justify herself.
"Of the books yes, of the character himself, no. There are times where I feel that he's a complete idiot…" She trailed off at that point. She knew that she was about to launch into one of her arguments about the idiocy of Gryffindors that is oft mistaken for courage to a complete stranger.
The stranger looked amused.
"Really? Your friends probably disagree with you about that. Well if you're not a fan of Harry, then which character do you like?"
Maddy paused. She would rather listen to him talk, with his slight accent, than talk herself. The moment of courage to justify herself had gone, and now she was feeling foolish, but answered anyways.
"Actually sir, most of my friends agree with me, and we are slowly succeeding in convincing others of the same. As for characters, I like Hermione, but, like Harry, she seems to lack common sense at times, my favourite character…" Again, she paused. She knew what she wanted to say, but if this man was somewhat knowledgeable of the books, he probably wouldn't have a positive reaction. Instead of prompting her, he just sat there watching her, waiting for her to finish. "…would be the potions master, Professor Snape."
He looked surprised at that comment, but chose not to comment on that. Maddy was wondering what he was thinking, and what his name was. After that little confession, she was afraid that he would think that she thought he could be the potions master. He might have noticed her discomfort and moved the conversation away from characters to subjects.
"Well that would make you a potions fan then. What else other courses would you choose to take?"
"Well I'm not a chemist, and don't really see myself becoming one, so potions may not be my first choice." She relaxed a bit. Here was something her friends did, comparing their life, and chosen paths to equivalents in that fantasy world. "I suppose with the work I do, Charms and Transfiguration would be first choices. Numbers and animals have always fascinated me, though I don't think I could really concentrate on them, but Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy do seem fun."
"What sort of work do you do that would relate to Charms and Transfiguration?" He seemed interested, rather than just trying to be polite.
"I work in the field of technical theatre. A lot of things I do appear to be magic to those who don't know better." Maddy was much more confident now. Few people outside the theatre field knew much about her area of expertise, and she enjoyed enlightening people. The conversation continued along the same lines through dinner.
A few hours later, Maddy was starting to get nervous again. She was arriving a few days early, and had failed to book a place to stay and wasn't entirely sure what to do about it. Her friends had suggested a few places, but she had no idea where they were located. She also had no idea as to what the name of the man next her was. She had enjoyed her conversation with him, and hoped to get in contact with him again.
Once again, her nerves overcame her and she didn't ask. Upon arrival they went their different ways. He was, after all, a native, and she had to deal with getting her passport stamped and such. They met again on the Heathrow Express. They talked a bit about why Maddy was there, though she never found out exactly what he did.
Upon arrival at Paddington Station they would have to part again.
"It was nice meeting you Madeleine, perhaps we'll run into each other again."
*How did he know my name? Maybe I mentioned it at one point* They were headed towards the Underground entrance, and Maddy noted an information area that advertised hotel bookings. She would need to stop there.
"Please, call me Maddy. I enjoyed our conversations, but I never caught your name…" He was heading towards the Tube and glanced back.
"I'm sorry, my name is Severus…" And before either person could react, a large group came between the two.
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Okay, so it's a bit short, but Sinfonicron starts soon, and I'm hosting people, which mean my flat needs to be cleaned.
I know I tend to use the British spellings. A habit enforced by friends.
And I was going to have him give her a middle name, perhaps base siblings' names on other Roman Emperors, but the only Severus that really fit was Septimus Severus…Lucius Septimus Severus, and to say he had a brother named Lucius just wasn't working for me.
And here is where I really on muses and such for the rest of the story.
