The Evening Conversation

disclaimer- found in entry one

The wait had been more than excruciating. Severus' hands were a nearly bloodless white from having his fists clenched for so long. Ordinarily he would have used the leisure time for more practical means. There was some terrible scandal going on in Italy involving a supposed "panacea", rumored to cure, completely, an extensive amount of lethal ailments that existed in the wizarding world. The news had arrived to him from a colleague living in North Africa merely a few months ago. Apparently, if the rumors were true, the elixir would mark a staggering blow to not only modern potion research, but also, the wizarding world as a whole. Unforgivable crimes were being committed in eastern Europe and Western Russia, new advances in the dark arts threatened the rest of the world. There were so many different problems for the Order to keep track of, that Severus could scarcely cease to worry about it.

Severus, clad in his usual dark attire, became very aware of his classroom and the state of things within his personal quarters. Standing and straightening his collar, he walked through the back door of his dingy classroom, and after a short walk through a narrow corridor, came to his own private study. The room was impressive. Candlesticks glowed upon the bedecked hearth of his large fireplace. Simple wood flooring was made warm by a large Persian rug with rich, twisting colors intertwined with lotus flowers.

The large collection of books displayed in cases covered the walls, all were well dusted and it was blatantly clear that Severus took exceptionally good care of his personal library. His two large, leather arm chairs were placed before the roaring fire, and a small writing desk was off to the right side of the room. Severus closed the door behind him and went to the most right armchair before the hearth. He sank into it and sighed inwardly. "This is daft," he folded his arms across his chest. His voice was low enough for himself to hear but he looked to the door out of habit. "All this inane anxiousness over a bloody woman. very fine indeed."

A quarter-hour, perhaps, passed before he, at last, heard the footsteps coming down the corridor. He could sense her, and stood before the fire place and clasped his hands behind the small of his back. He forced his anxiety to leave from his mind and his mouth relaxed into a thin line. A knock sounded upon the door to the study and Severus straightened and without hesitation, clearly spoke.

"Come in," he said, still facing the fire. The sound of the doorknob turning, the creak of the door as it opened. A few footsteps upon the wooden floor.

"Good evening," Severus began in a low, rich tone. "Come in. Please-" Severus began to slowly turn around and saw before his eyes the mysterious woman from the lake. She was lovely and unique-looking, and adorned in long, lily-white, silk robes. The candlelight glimmered off of the small, polished beads and shimmering tracery upon the fabric. She was slender, a bit small, but still radiant. Severus noted that she looked differently from the photograph that he had taken from her room. Her hair was now longer and cascaded to her small waist and shone in the light. Her skin was olive-toned and round her delicate neck was a thin, silver chain and at the end of it, a small glowing blue pendant. She smiled weakly at the professor.

"Please, close the door behind you." She did as instructed and then stood, simply staring at him. She moved forward and came close to Severus and bowed her head slightly at him.

"Bonjour, Professeur..." she paused a moment and squinted as though trying to recall his name, "Snape?" Snape looked at her dumbly, as though staring directly at a phantom from a dream. Her voice was rich and warm and, although the room was dim, it seemed to lighten it. "Je m'appelle Avacia Elysiana Partana. Parle-vous francais, Professeur?" She paused for a moment. "Or," She spoke in very clear, perfect English, "Perhaps I was misinformed?" She stepped closer to Severus and her face was clear in the glow of the candle light. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled in the lambency of the flames and he was rather taken aback as she stared intently into his own. He gazed at her face and his eyes lingered on her perfectly shaped lips. "She appears so young..." he thought and, before she questioned him, he caught himself and at last, responded.

"Oui, je parle francais. C'est un langue beau, ou, je pence bon que...n'est pas? Qui'est-ce que tu, encore?"

"My name is Avacia Elysiana Partana...or, Ava, if you'd like...my given name is a bit...longwinded, I'm afraid.."

"I understood that before..Where are you from?"

"I've come here just recently from France, but originally, I was born in Italy. Scotland is beautiful, though. This is my first time to this country, but I've enjoyed it so far."

"Very interesting. Your English is perfect and I am assuming that you speak Italian as well?" Severus asked, intrigued.

"Yes, I do." She nodded and then gazed about the room a bit. "Your collection is quite large, if I may say. I love to read about all different kinds of things, even some Muggle literature; but I must say, that the Hogwart's library is impressive, I have heard much of the vast amount of rare tombs that the school has to offer, and I have to admit, that was part of the allure of coming here." She continued to look around at Severus' books until he spoke once more.

"Hogwart's has a lot to offer as far as literature, is concerned. We have the most concise collection of ancient spell books in this part of Europe. I'm sure that you've already been informed that as a visitor, you're entirely welcome to peruse through any of the books at your leisure. Ah," Severus said and motioned for the girl to sit down. After she had sat down, he continued. "That brings up one point that I had been musing over. I wasn't aware there was to be a guest on the premises before courses resumed, are you a friend of one of the staff members, perhaps?" His voice was low and steady, but his last, "perhaps?" sounded a bit softer than he had intended.

Avacia smiled slightly, and glanced at the professor as though he was joking, "Why, no...actually, I'm to attend classes here, once the semester begins, that is. I'm a student, of course." Her smile held true for only a moment, for the grimace on Severus' face had a way of souring any grin...a swallow resonated from deep within his throat and he sat back into his chair, folding arms across his chest.

"Yes, this will be my seventh year, actually."

Severus replied with a gasp of mock-surprise. "Seventh year..hm. Well, I suppose that very well explains your behavior at the lake, doesn't it, Miss Partana?"

"I am not quite sure what to say, Professor Snape..I believe that I have already apologized for that. I've told you that I wasn't certain who you were at the time. Who did you think that I was?" The girl's voice was slightly strained. She was quite frankly, completely taken aback by Severus' sudden change in demeanor.

"Very well, it is of little importance any way. May I inquire which house you've been sorted into, Miss Partana?" His change of tone indicated that he was already bored with their conversation and without saying the words, he implied that he wanted her to leave immediately.

"Slytherin, sir..I think that, if you don't mind, I'll be off to bed now." Ava's eyes looked away from Snape and towards the door. Her defeated tone insinuated that she was hurt by his sudden disinterest but she had completely given up. Snape said nothing and she proceded to the door.

"Wait one moment. Come here." Severus commanded. As though she was compelled to do as he asked, she was suddenly merely inches away from his face. His black eyes bore deeply into her own and she could feel a strange force over her. The bizarre feeling lingered for what felt like an eternity until, unanticipatedly, it was gone and Snape looked at her as though she was delaying her leave. "Well?" Severus said as he turned away from her and looked into the hearth of the fireplace, "What are you waiting for?"

"I..I.." Unsure of what she was still doing within his chambers, Avacia slowly backed towards the door and turned away. "Bon soir, Professeur.."

He watched the swish of her white robes as she closed the door behind her and listened as her footsteps echoed down the hall. His gaze then returned to the fireplace and he immersed himself deep in thought, pondering the events that would come to be.