Chapter Two: A Lack of Color
Disclaimer can be found in first entry.
-Jack it up Judy
The next morning revealed itself to be yet another glorious, beautiful day. The clouds drifted lazily overhead, the sun shone brightly, but, all of this was of no consequence to Severus Snape. He scarcely regarded the weather at all as he paced about his bedroom. His mood had darkened substantially since waking. When he had first opened his eyes, his mind was clear and although not in good spirits, he had remained calm and prepared to go on with the morning as usual. This state of things, however, had not endured for long. After the potions professor had finished bathing and dressing, he was startled by a knock at his chamber door.
"Come in," Severus said quietly, his voice slightly irritated. The door opened and a small creature that presented itself to be a house elf scuttered in with a small letter in hand.
" Good morning, Professor." The house elf bowed subserviently, looking frightened. He handed Severus the letter and abruptly turned on his heels and left the room. Severus closed the doors softly and stood looking at the envelope. His eyes narrowed as he turned it over and found no marking upon it to reveal from whom the letter was. Stiffly, he walked to his wide, ebony-laden desk and sat down with a frown upon his face. The curving, precise penmanship was distinctly feminine, and there was a lack of unnecessary flourishing.
Professor Snape,
I must humbly apologize for the incident that occurred only yesterday. I am sorry if I had startled you, and I am also apologetic for my actions that followed your attempted confrontation. I did not recognize you, and I was apprehensive of your pursuit. Please forgive my naivete and I hope this did not bring about an extraneous amount of confusion.
-regards,
A. E. Partana
Severus looked upon the letter and read it twice more, before letting out a sigh of frustration. His lips pursed slightly, making his mouth look like a thin, straight line. "Could this woman be any more ambiguous?" He muttered, and tossed the letter aside and stared at it for a moment. With more than a little vexation, he stood and stormed out of the room. His anger was controlled, and yet his irritation was increased substantially by such a nebulous letter. Snape made his way fiercely down the corridors towards the kitchen. Who, he asked himself, is this woman? Now that he was aware that she was not an illusion of some kind, his curiosity had grown even more so than it had been the day previous. His large, rushed strides were slowed to a quick walk as the portrait of the pear came into view. For a moment, he stood before the pear and gathered his composure, he did not want to frighten elf so much that he would not receive a clear answer. After a slow, steady breath, Severus forced a look of indifference upon his face and tickled the pear.
The kitchen was bustling with preparations for the students' return, but Severus paced slowly through the room and sought out the elf that had delivered the letter. A few random house elves rushed past him, and in their hurry, unintentionally bumped into the professor. Each of them apologized profusely, but were quickly dismissed by Snape. Searching through the steam that surrounded each of the stoves, at last, the short, jangly-legged elf he was searching for revealed himself. Sitting near the hearth of the fireplace, a scrawny elf with a mottled gray nose was peeling potatoes. As Severus approached, the fear in the elf's eyes was clear. Dropping the bowl, the frightened elf jumped to its feet and stood before Snape with the peeled potatoes rolling about its feet.
"Professor! ! D-d-do you need something? Is there anything I could get for you?" The elf said in a panicked and thin voice. "I could make you anything you'd like!" Snape loomed over the elf and furrowed his brows.
"Tell me who gave you this letter, now, or you shall be very sorry," said the professor venomously. The little elf's knees buckled and his voice became very meek as he strained keep his voice steady.
"W-w-w-welll...you see, P-p-professor, I can't say...the pretty lady told Sleach that he c-couldn't say." At this, Snape crouched down and picked the small creature up by the shoulders and shook him furiously.
"IF YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT I ASK-"
"Sleach is very sorry, sir! Please do not hurt him! The lady is staying in a room near the Ravenclaw dormitory! Sleach will take you there right now!" The fright in the eyes of the elf seemed to plead with the Professor.
"Very well, then," Snape said calmly and gently lowered Sleach to the floor.
"Thank you sir, for being so forgiving!" Sleach proceeded to kneel and hug the professors ankles. Snape shook him off and gave him an icy look. Sleach stopped immediately and stood.
"Lead the way, if you please.," said Snape. The elf obeyed and Severus followed him through the kitchen, down the many corridors, and up the many flights of stairs towards the Ravenclaw dormitories. Sleach stopped before an elaborate painting of a
nighttime seascape. The waves in the painting tousled softly and one could almost smell the brine in the air.
"This is her door sir. Sleach does not know the password, but Sleach is sure that Professor could easily open it." The elf nodded enthusiastically, but Severus remained stoical.
"I do not think that would be necessary, at the moment," Severus said thoughtfully. "You will come to my chambers in precisely one hour and you will deliver a letter to this woman. Is that understood?" Sleach nodded in agreement.
"Sleach understands!"
"Good, then leave now, and come for the letter in an hour."
"Yes, professor!" The elf scampered off down the darkened corridor and left Severus standing alone before the painting. He frowned as he watched the waves in the painting, rolling so carelessly beneath the pallid moonlight. A soft look of reminiscence appeared upon his face, his thoughts weaving in and out of various memories, but the look vanished nearly as quickly as it had appeared. Cautiously, Snape looked about him, checking for witnesses, and when he was sure that he was alone, he gave a quick wave of his wand, and the painting swung open, effortlessly. The potions professor looked about him once more, and then disappeared into the quiet darkness of the room.
