-THE LOVE LETTER

CHAPTER 9 : A trip into the muggle world

Snape found himself compelled to learn more about the author of Lavinia's favorite poem. Lavinia had only mentioned his last name, but thanks to Granger, he now knew it was Edgar Allan Poe.

It was only after lunch on that saturday, that he decided to pay a visit to a muggle bookshop to search for the book. He had decided to apparate to London, when a thought came to him. His friend Alan had mentioned the house was for sale and he hadn't found the time to go see it. Now it would be the perfect time.

He didn't quite know what he was looking for, but he knew he wanted to see the house from the inside, it was probably as close he could get to her.

Walking to a good distance of Hogwarts' gates, he apparated to America.

There he was in front of the ranch house, now sporting a "for sale" sign in the front lawn. He made his way to the door, climbed the steps and knocked. There was a long pause, and he was about to knock again, when he heard movement and soon the door was being unlocked.

A short plump woman with thick blonde hair tied in a loose pony tale, opened the door and faced him inquisitively. He quickly said, "I saw your sign at the front, I was wondering if I could take a look at the house..."

She eyed him suspiciously, checking his clothes and then his face, as if deciding wether or not it was safe to let someone that strange into her home.

Snape tried to put his most sociable face and smiled lightly.

Finally the woman let him in. She started to lead him throughout the entire house, explaining and commenting on everything, but Snape wasn't listening. His mind kept wondering if any of it resembled the house before the fire. After a tour through the bedrooms and kitchen, she led him to the living room where he immediately spotted the big stone fireplace. He moved slowly towards it. His hand touched the stone, his long fingers trailing over its irregular surface.

" I see you like the fireplace, it's very beautiful, isn't it? It's practically the only thing that was still standing after the fire. They rebuilt the house around it. It would be a shame to tear it down," said the woman eagerly.

"So there is absolutely nothing left from the old house, except this fireplace?"

"Yes, we saw the pictures actually, when we bought the house, it was completely destroyed, but we were thrilled to know that they kept the fireplace intact, it adds history to the place, don't you think?"

Snape nodded. "Indeed."

He crouched down and tried to look inside the hearth, with an unbearable urge to reach his hand to search for the box, but the woman was staring and he felt it wouldn't be appropriate. Thankfully she gave him the perfect opportunity. "Well if you're interested in the house, you can call the real estate agency. Let me get the phone number for you..."

She walked out of the room, disappearing into the kitchen. Snape immediately reached his hand up, but found nothing. He sighed in disappointment, not really sure of what he would have accomplished if he had found the box. That's when it happened...

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Lavinia was impatient, she had checked the fireplace twice in the morning, and he hadn't replied. She knew he would, but it always made her anxious to wait, she was never good at waiting. So she tried to get busy, finishing some house chores. After lunch she found herself sitting on the couch, staring at the fireplace.

Shrugging she said, "Ok so, it's been a while, it won't hurt to check it again..."

She dropped to her knees and started to reach her hand inside when... she felt a shiver run through her body, like a wave, starting from her hand and going up her arm. There was something familiar, she could feel the vibration, the warmth...

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Snape was kneeling there, completely unaware of the whole world around him. The only thing he could feel was the warm presence in front of him, the feeling he had somehow brushed his hand into a wave of energy. An energy so familiar, so pure.

He reached his hand forward, to the invisible, as if knowing that he would eventually touch it... touch her.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

The air had suddenly become thick and Lavinia reached her hand in front of her, certain that as she did, she would meet the soft touch of the presence in front of her.

Her fingertips felt a tingling sensation, and she felt it... felt him.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Snape's heart was beating fast as his hand stretched forward, his palm opened touching... the feeling was incredible.

The woman entered the room excusing herself for taking so long to get the little card in her hand, to find Snape kneeling in front of the fireplace, touching what looked like air. She regarded him as if he had lost his mind, and cleared her throat.

Snape jumped immediately to his feet, shooting looks to the place he was before, as if hoping to see something there. Not only he couldn't see a thing, but the feeling was gone. She was gone.

The woman gave him the card and headed for the door to see him out. She seemed anxious to get the man out of her house.

He glanced once more at the spot he knew she had been just seconds before, and left.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Just as soon as the sensation appeared, it was gone. Lavinia hugged herself and closed her eyes, the sense that he had been there was so strong.. she had touched his hand, for seconds, she actually had touched his hand. She had no idea how, but she was sure it was him.

The phone rang startling her. She quickly got to her feet and went to answer it in the kitchen. The nasal voice of her husband sounded on the receiver. She pulled a chair and sat, "Is something wrong, you never call from work?"

"Actually it's because of work that I am calling. Listen, I won't be able to go back home tonight. There's a leak in the kitchen, I have to take care of after the diner is closed. It'll probably take all night."

"So, you're not sleeping here tonight?" she asked shaking her head, knowing there was no leak. She could bet her life that if she decided to show up at the diner after hours, no one would be there.

"No, but I'll see you tomorrow night, bye," he said dryly.

"Bye." She put down the receiver and sighed. "Well, at least I won't have to put up with him tonight."

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"May I help you with anything?" The young man asked.

Snape looked at the young man wearing the bookshop's uniform and an expression that said, 'I know nothing of books, but I need the money.'

" I hope. I'm looking for books by Edgar Allan Poe."

"Right... uh... let me check here in the computer, Sir." The boy seemed lost, but thankfully, to him, the computer screen came up with the answer and he walked towards one of the isles. Snape followed and soon enough he was in front of a whole shelf containing Poe's books. He spent a good part of the afternoon going not only through those books, but a lot of other muggle literature and he left the bookshop with about five books in hand.

His mind kept pulling him back to the events in Lavinia's house. He was still shaken by the very idea of touching her hand. How was that possible?

The crease between his eyebrows got deeper. " If only I could find out what happened to her..."

Before going back to Hogwarts, Snape decided to take a muggle photograph. It was only fair that he sent a photo of him, after she had sent a photo of herself. He was just afraid that she wouldn't have the same reaction as he did when he saw her. She was lovely, he had no doubt about that... but him. What would she think of him?

After going back, he chose to reply her letter immediately. He added his photo and placed the box back inside the hearth.

A burning sensation hit his arm while he was standing up. He lifted his sleeve and the mark was darker. The pain increased and he knew he had to leave, grabbing his cloak, he ran out of the room.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

It was around midnight when Lavinia heard the "thump" in her fireplace. She was glad her husband wasn't home after all. She ran and got the box out with excitement.

She felt the letter in her hands and immediately knew there was a photo inside. With trembling fingers, she opened it and out came a colored shot of a dark haired man with deep piercing eyes. She trailed the tip of her finger over his face. He was so pale and his nose was long and crooked, somehow giving him an aristocratic look. His expression was imposing, intimidating, but the eyes... the eyes were so dark, as dark as his long fine hair.

She smiled to herself, mixed feelings building up. It was a mix of desperation and happiness. The more she knew of him, the more he got ingrained into her soul and then to actually see him, it was the final blow. He was perfect! There were no other words to describe him.

That only made it worse.

She loved a man she couldn't have, and would never have, because he did not exist. Not here in her time, in her world. And that hurt.

Yes, he said he would find a way, but what way? She couldn't see it. Tears came to her eyes. She wiped her face standing up to read the letter, determined to ignore the emotional outburst.

""" Dear Liv,

I received your beautiful picture and it only increased my feelings for you. I couldn't stop looking at your face all day and I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

I've been to your house today. I heard it was going to be put up for sale and I couldn't resist to see it inside... call me crazy but... I think I touched your hand today, just there, in front of your fireplace. It was as if you were there just for seconds, but it felt so real.

Thank you for the lovely poem, it made me curious about literature. The books I read have always been about my work and this was a good change. You make me want to do things I barely let myself do in so long. To enjoy little things I used to consider frivolous. Perhaps I wasn't allowing myself to enjoy life... you make me want to live more than I ever considered I would.

Believe me when I say that I won't rest until I find a way. Don't worry, I will.

Write soon,

Severus.

PS: Enclosed is my photo, I hope I won't scare you away. """

She laid down in the couch curling herself into a ball, looking at him until she fell asleep.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""