Halloween, in this day and age, has to be the most worthless holiday celebrated by humanity.
At least, that's what Severus Snape told himself as he trudged along the path, taking the long walk to Hogsmeade. True, he could have easily floo'd himself to The Three Broomsticks, instead of walking alone in the cold night. However, there was a valuable solace to be found in this route.
Sometimes, he hated being alone all the time. Other times, he relished it.
He rolled his eyes at the sight of the jack-o'-lantern carved and sitting outside the door as he walked into the pub, taking a small table in a dark corner. The bar was surprisingly quiet, with only a handful of tables taken. When the jade robes of Madam Rosmerta came into view, he quietly ordered a whiskey, downing the drink promptly when it arrived and ordering another.
When she delivered the fourth, she also set in front of him a bowl of soup.
"I didn't order dinner," he growled at her inordinately cheerful face.
Madam Rosmerta shrugged. "I know you didn't, Professor, and I told her that. However, she told me she knew for a fact you hadn't eaten a decent meal this evening, and if you planned to drink yourself into a stupor, the least you could do was have a bite to eat to go with it to lessen the inevitable hangover. And if I'd known you hadn't had a solid meal in you before you began pounding them back, I would have brought it without her prompting."
Severus stared at her, thunderstruck. "She who?"
Her curls flew in a general direction, and he peered around the barkeeper to see a mass of black hair, piled in a twisted fashion, sitting at a table, a slender hand holding a head upright, papers skewed everywhere, a glass of wine and a half-eaten salad on the edge of the table.
"I wasn't aware you served anything more than general pub food, Rosmerta. Or the wine, for that matter."
She smirked at the amused annoyance in the dark-haired man's voice. The years she'd been serving drinks to Severus Snape had given her an appreciation for his dry humor, and this evening was no exception. "Usually not. However, I like Professor Sinistra, so if she wants a salad and steak, I send a boy out for it. And the wine's only for the special patrons, of course. Ones with sophisticated palates."
An eyebrow raised into his black hairline. "And why are you so fond of her?"
Rosmerta winked. "She tips well. Very well."
He might have known.
With a sigh, he picked up his glass and the bowl of chowder, and walked over to where his dark-haired colleague sat, grading what appeared, when he glanced over the one closest to him, to be essays on the discovery of Pluto. "I wasn't aware you kept tabs on my dining habits, Professor."
She jerked her head up, a small smudge of ink on her cheekbone.
For a moment, he had a fleeting urge to wipe it off for her.
"Well, no one got a chance to eat in the Hall after that food fight broke out, and after watching you down three whiskeys in a row, I thought you might need something besides two bites of potato to soak it up." Selene actually shuffled papers, moving them, making room for him at her table, silently inviting him to join her.
Severus sat down, warily. "Three."
"Hmm?" She set her quill down, stacking the parchments into two piles, graded and not, before pulling her salad back before her, stabbing some onto her fork.
He almost smiled at her absent-mindedness, the numerous additions to the assignment on top of the pile raising her higher in his estimation. "I managed three bites before the fight broke out." He pushed the whiskey to the side, the smell of the chowder actually appealing, making him hungry for the first time in hours.
"I must have missed one, then." She took a bite of her salad, the leaves crisp and crunching in her mouth, blessing Rosmerta once again for fetching her dinner.
His eyes flickered over the remnants of her meal, the steak bone almost clean, a small pile of the salad remaining. "So I take it you didn't get a chance to finish your meal either?"
The simple question took her by surprise. "I woke up late today, so I wasn't really ready for a large meal when dinner was served anyway. By the time I had been here for an hour, I finally felt a little peckish, so Rosmerta was a dear and fetched something from the Shooting Star down the road."
"And do you always do your grading in a bar?"
Her shrug was the essence of nonchalant. "Isn't the first time. Besides, I wanted away from the school and all the unholy terrors, searching for even more ways to torment each other in hallways or dormitories. And then there's the other teachers. When I left, I swear that Flitwick was already three hoops to the pitch. I just wanted peace and quiet, and I still had work to do, so I brought it with me."
"I wasn't aware the students bothered you outside of classes much."
"One of the downfalls of having apartments near Ravenclaw Tower – when those studious minds finally snap, they do so rather loudly." Selene quirked her eyebrow at the man downing corn chowder like it was his first meal all day. "Well, we know why I'm here. What brings you from the castle to drown your sorrows quietly in a corner?"
The sigh that preceded the words spoke volumes. "I just needed a drink or two."
Selene nodded, a small part of her wondering why she felt a slight twinge of hurt at his deliberate secrecy and discretion. "My apologies. That was an overly personal question."
Girl, you have a gift for understatement, you realize that? If you were getting drunk alone in a dark corner, would -you- want someone asking about it? Bloody brilliant, Selene. How about you ask him why he doesn't go out more often while you're at it?
Severus watched her grow a slight more guarded. "It's quite alright. I would probably be curious if our roles were reversed. And you did answer my question, which was equally personal." He sighed, pushing the empty bowl to the edge of the table, reaching for the small glass holding the whiskey that he'd ordered almost half an hour ago. "I received a letter from home today. Usually, those require a few drinks to help me recover from whatever nonsense my father has poured into them. We haven't exactly been on the best of terms for quite a few years, but the occassional communication does occur. Sometimes, family is complicated at best."
Instead of looking at him with confusion or disinterest, she surprised him by nodding, giving a soft sigh in conspiratorial understanding. "I know the feeling. Usually when owls from home arrive, I have to summon up the courage to see which brother wrote this week. I haven't lived at home since I was eleven, and yet they still insist on protecting and patronizing their baby sister." Reaching for her wine glass, she lifted it in a mock salute. "My condolences."
Severus set the whiskey aside with the empty bowl, the promise it had given of relief and comfort seemingly barren now. Desiring a less personal line of discussion, he changed topics completely. "I assume by now you've been asked to chaperone the ball next week."
Selene's black eyes rolled, the heavy sigh that slipped from her lips accompanying a clear sag of her shoulders. "You would have to remind me of that, wouldn't you? And how did you know I was asked in the first place?"
He smirked sardonically. "Simple. I recommended you."
She glared. "I take it you're one of the heads of house I'll be covering for that evening."
"Actually, no. You're covering for McGonagall herself. I merely wanted someone both competent to ensure nothing destructive occurred and capable of intelligent conversation during the annoying little fete. And, of course, someone who didn't teach Divination."
Selene raised an eyebrow and swirled the dark red liquid inside her glass before sipping. "I'm sure there was a compliment in there somewhere."
"There was, I promise you. The implied insult to Trelawney was merely a joke."
She relaxed somewhat at that comment. A joke? Did the sun set in the east and no one tell me? By the Lady of the Lake, I wasn't aware he let his guard down long enough TO joke! "You really don't like her, do you?"
His smirk was both aloof and amused, a combination Selene rarely saw, but half-consciously noted suited him perfectly. "She lacks any amount of logic, intellect, or discipline in her classroom, half of the time her students outstrip her in knowledge, and her theatrics would better serve a traveling faire. I don't loathe her, but as an educator, I feel we could be better served with another individual."
"You're quite attached to logic and discipline, aren't you?"
Severus searched quickly for an implied insult, some sort of eye-rolling annoyance or amusement that usually came attached with an observation along those lines. Once again, he found nothing but simple curiosity surrounding the question.
Either Sinistra's vastly more capable of hiding her opinions under her skin than most people I've met in life, or she's the single most honest person to grace Hogwarts' halls.
"I need to be. Potions is exacting; it requires concentration, diligence, preciseness, and accuracy. Most of the other disciplines are as well. However, since Divination is nothing but instinct and half-flung guesses at best, I find little use for it in the world. Ironically, it's my field that gets little appreciation. Somehow smoke and incantations win out over effective and useful..."
He found himself shocked at her laugh. "I fail to see the humor in…"
Selene held her hand up to silence her table companion. "Try being an Astronomer. All I ever hear is either 'what's so important about looking at the stars?' or 'so, what does this mean for Astrologists and Diviners?'. No one appreciates the effect that the stars, moons, planets and so forth can have on our lives, outside of Astrology." She leaned over the table to emphasize her commentary, half out of need from the rising volume in the bar. "One observation session, I actually had a student run from my tower because they noticed Jupiter was reddish, and remembered some piece of drivel from Divination about a portent of evil." Selene's eyes rolled yet again, and she sighed, instinctively rubbing her temples. "At least no one flees your classroom because of another professor's lectures."
"No. They flee my classroom to escape my wrath. Or Longbottom's cauldron. Sometimes, I hardly know the difference."
"If he handles a cauldron with the same skill as my telescopes, it's probably a fair bet that it's not always your professorial philosophy."
The small bark of laughter he felt shocked him. He couldn't tell anymore if the whiskey had finally hit, or if he genuinely was becoming comfortable in his colleague's presence.
Better hope it's the former. At least you can blame Rosmerta later.
The mere thought of the woman brought her sidling up to the table. "Anything else I can get you for the evening, Professors?" Her smile was almost too warm.
Circe's song, don't tell me she thinks this is nothing more than what it is…
His momentary reverie was broken by Sinistra's words. "Nothing, thank you, Rosmerta. Just put everything on my tab." Her quick hand wave took in Severus' soup and last whiskey as well as her own meal.
The gesture didn't go unnoticed. Severus glared at her. "I can pay for my drinks myself."
Selene glared right back. "I'm well aware you can. In fact, as head of a house, I'm willing to wager your stipend's higher than mine. However, I can be kind and pay for them myself, and save poor Rosmerta another few minutes work."
"I don't appreciate charity…"
"Then you can pay next time. Besides, I ordered your food, not you. It's only right I pay for it."
"Next time?"
"Next time."
"Whatever gave you the impression there will be a next time?"
Selene gathered her papers, sliding them into a small leather bag. "Because I've seen you in this very pub at least once a month for over ten years now, so I know you'll return. Because I doubt you and I only come here on the same nights, so it's logical that you're here even more frequently than that. And, because you enjoy my company. You said so yourself. Now, before that storm comes any closer, I think I should walk back to the school." With that, she slipped from the table and, with a nod at Rosmerta, walked out the door of the small pub.
Without her cloak.
Grumbling about the insanity of women, Severus pulled on his own and snatched hers up, storming after her, seeing the swish of her grey robes as she began walking back towards the school.
How in Hades is she not cold? I've spent half my life in the dungeons of that school, and I'm freezing!
His touch on her arm surprised Selene, almost startling her out of her thoughts. It wasn't until she saw the bundled blue cloak that she even realized she was cold.
Foolish girl. Just because you don't mind a chill in your tower for a few minutes doesn't mean you'd be comfortable on a long walk home.
Selene extended her hand to take the cloak from him. "I'm sorry to make you come out here to return this. Most sane people don't walk back and forth to Hogsmeade from the school – they usually floo from their offices or apartments." With a guilty look in her eyes, she pulled the cloak around her, the warming charm on it instantly banishing the chill she'd felt.
Surprisingly, he fell in step with her. "I must not be sane, then. I usually make the walk myself. Portkeys give me headaches, and I've never cared for floos." Severus' eyes scanned the dark sky, clouds rolling heavy over the moon and stars dotting overhead. "You're right. There is a storm. I didn't know one was expected."
"I found out earlier this evening, when I was contemplating observations for tonight." Selene found herself automatically responding, her feet blindly finding their own way home, unused to company of any sort on this walk back to the school. "There's next to no point for me to set up calibrations on my equipment if I'll only use it for an hour."
The wind picked up, swirling leaves across the landscape, as Severus' footsteps quickened to match her pace. Rarely did someone actually outpace him, but Selene's stride came close. "One benefit to my field of study. Weather has little effect on my ability to brew a potion."
Selene smirked, a slight sarcastic turn to her lips. "Must be nice. Of course, I get to have windows in my workroom and I never deal with burning myself."
"Touché, Professor." Despite the banter, Severus found himself actually wanting to continue their casual conversation. "You never have told me what drew you into studying astronomy."
Selene stopped for a step, looking up at him with wide eyes, before swallowing and regaining her path.
The momentary pause didn't go unnoticed, but it did go without comment.
Her voice faltered with the first words, automatically answering, the words filling the time the return journey took. "It wasn't anything special. I did a lot of looking at stars when I was young. In school, it was my best subject, and the only one to hold my interest past that needed for my requirements. Transfiguration and I are not the best of friends, academically-speaking, and my brothers all inherited every drop of Herbological talent. Charms are too basic and commonplace, you already know I loathe Divination, and Arithmancy and Ancient Runes never sparked interest in me."
Severus took the opening. "And potions?"
"Let's just say you would have despaired if you were my professor."
He smiled politely. "I doubt that. You seem very meticulous and detail-oriented. Those same traits are the core of successful potions-making."
Selene chuckled lightly, pulling her cloak around her tighter as the wind picked up, sending a chill over her. "You'd think that. However, I never managed to accomplish more than the basest of potions. Perhaps," she trailed off, her eyes almost teasing the man walking with her, "there is more to it than an intuitive mind. After all, you have the core skills for Astronomy, but you've never asked me permission to use my tower."
Severus' retort was automatic. "That's because Hogwarts never had a competent Astronomy professor when I was a student."
The castle loomed into view, finally, as the first of the heavy snowflakes began to fall from the sky, threatening to coat them both in a heavy layer before reaching the doors. In silent agreement, the conversation lulled until they stepped through the doors, heat immediately replacing the early-winter chill. It wasn't until they reached the hallway that they stopped, Selene instinctively turning towards the tower staircase, Severus stepping in the opposite path, towards the dungeons. The pair paused, each turning, looking at the other, not entirely sure how to handle the moment.
Fate intervened.
A whirlwind of tartan spun around the corner as Professor McGonagall descended upon them both. "There you are, Severus."
Her tone caused both professors' eyebrows to shoot up, his in distaste, hers in amusement.
McGonagall didn't end there. "Nice to see you finally return after leaving us to deal with the students this evening. A few members of your house happen to be cooling their heels in my office right now. Seems they thought to try out a few hexes that are, shall we say, out of their league." She gave him a stern glare, the look implying far more than the words intimated. "Regardless, they're waiting for you to escort them to their dormitories." Her set jaw brooked no argument on the matter.
Severus felt his teeth grind at her tone, bordering on accusatory. Since when was he not allowed to leave grounds for a couple of hours? Why did she still feel the need to pass judgment on him in such a manner? "Fine. I'll go handle the situation. I assume the Headmaster's left their punishments to me?"
McGonagall nodded. "As is only right and proper, given you're their Head of House." As she turned to stroll back towards her office, McGonagall nodded briskly to Selene herself. "And while I actually have the chance, allow me to thank you, Professor Sinistra, for offering to chaperone the ball for me. I do appreciate the gesture. I know you rarely like to leave your tower."
Her eyes flickered over her, and Selene had the impression that the deputy Headmistress was making a subtle comment about her own lack of socializing with the staff. It took every ounce of will for her jaw to not hang wide open. Instead, she smiled politely, her eyes dark and glaring as McGonagall turned her back. "Well, I'll leave you to handle your students. Good evening, professors." With a curt nod of her own, Selene swept up the staircase and out of view.
Severus spent several seconds trying to sort through the moment, and the odd, confusing sense of annoyance and frustration, before taking his ire out on whichever students had been foolhardy enough to get caught doing whatever it was they had done.