Severus held the door open for Sabine as the woman entered the massive library, his black eyes displaying satisfaction at the look of appreciation and interest on the woman's face as she took in the expanse of books.
He'd known she would like it. Perhaps he would introduce her to his private collection... Though he did prize them rather highly... But certainly his fellow intellectual could appreciate the irreplaceable value of a very old, very good book.
There were several other small groups in the library, though it was mostly deserted -no important tests or projects approaching, so why would the students bother studying? Laziness... He detested it. There was even a group of his own Slytherins at a table, their heads bowed, muttering in furious voices. He quirked a brow in momentary curiosity and made a mental note to approach near enough to eavesdrop when he had a free moment.
Oh, and eavesdropping? It may have been poor etiquette, but he was, after all, both a spy and a Slytherin.
Although it may appear so, Sabine was not as prim as she seemed; she, too, had some very bad habits that she found often needed to be glossed over. Those were forgotten, for a moment, as Sabine allowed herself to step forward into the enormous collection of literature. She was really quite dramatic about it: hands spread slightly with palms tilted upwards as she took a few large strides and raised her chin, admiring the aesthetics and, more importantly, the selection of the library.
"Where would I ever begin?" she said quietly, her counterpart not forgotten. "I envy you, sir. This is almost twice the size of the library at my school." Regalus Academy, however, had had a less expansive range of ages; nevertheless, the demand for books there was considerably lower. It didn't matter.
Severus smiled, clearly attempting to prevent another of those uncharacteristic laughs from issuing forth. "If there is a subject in particular you wish to research, our librarian, Madam Pince, is eager to help, if as prickly as a pincushion. Not that I can boast of my own social tact," He added softly, smirking. "Often, in my school days and sometimes even now, I pluck a volume off the shelf at random. Not as intelligent a method, to be sure, but in this library it almost always yields positive results." He sighed, looking about himself. "I regret that my visits here have become increasingly infrequent. Though the use of my personal collection does come with several benefits... Namely, the definite lack of any chattering students." As if on cue, the Slytherin students' discussion grew louder and more fervent, though still unintelligible. Severus frowned and glanced at Sabine. "Excuse me, please."
At the increase in noise, Madam Pince looked up at the unusually talkative professor and glared. He raised a hand in apology as he glided silently closer to the Slytherins' table.
"But Father says that He'll be sending spies into Hogwarts any day now!" A female fifth year stated excitedly. "Perhaps they're already here!" The capitalization of the "H" in "He'll" was obvious in the tone and stress of her voice.
Severus blinked slowly, already assembling a folio in his mind of information he would gather here to be sorted and fitted into the greater puzzle at a later time. He busied himself with a random book, sitting down in an armchair and allowing his eyes to roam over the page so as to appear deeply immersed in the reading of an article on first-year-level Potions.
"He wouldn't come to Hogwarts, would he?" Another student asked. "Not with Dumbledore back?"
"I think so..." The girl replied. "As much as He hates Potter? And I heard Father mentioning to a friend of his that there was something of value left on the grounds last summer."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. But Father said they'll be sending Death Eaters in to search for it after the autumn meeting. I'll bet they know exactly what it is."
"Death Eaters?" A sixth year scoffed. "They'll never get in."
The girl - clearly in charge, despite her diminutive size and pointed, peaky face - slapped the older boy and sneered at him. "They will if they're unregistered Animagi, you git. Doubting the Dark Lord's servants, no wonder your parents took your broom away, you're too incompetent to use it."
"They did not, they..."
Severus rose and wandered away after a moment, when the serious discussion whittled away into teenage bickering and fickle gossip. He regretted that the students of his House were so allured by power and destruction... Then again, he thought bitterly, they always had been.
All that was of use to him had been heard, though he would have given his right lung to know what it was that was being hunted. He would have to ruminate on it, and it seemed that a thorough search of the Hogwarts grounds was in order. After alerting the Headmaster... But was that wise, just yet? His mind was still working as he returned to Sabine and quickly schooled his features into an expression of unconcern.
"Anything of interest?" He asked, gesturing around.
After Snape's temporary departure, Sabine allowed herself to wander into the Defence Against the Dark Arts section, running the tip of her long, poorly manicured index finger along the edge of the shelf as she skimmed the titles of the volumes at her eye level.
Finally, she closed both eyes and reached into the shelf above her, pulling forth a fairly thick and very old record of vampire cases and defeats, particularly detailing the effects of and on muggles involved. Perfect for her: Sabine had been fascinated with vampires and muggle's perpective of them since nicking Bram Stoker's Dracula from Abigail Brooke's private collection in 1977. Her preoccupation with muggle horror novels was not something she was proud of, but an indulgence that she did not deny herself all the same.
Finally, a nod when Severus returned to her side, and a word of agreement, although she didn't yet remove her eyes from the index page of the book.
Severus waited patiently till Sabine had completed the page and looked up at him, whereupon he forced a smile. It appeared forced, he knew, and thus abandoned the effort, attempting to focus on her selection when his mind was irrevocably elsewhere.
"Vampires?" He queried, a knowing smirk gracing his features. "Surely you haven't already begun listening to the students' tales about me?"
The moment of levity was not enough to erase the worry in his thoughts, and he blinked, forcing the offending emotion to the back of his mind and extending the invitation he had promised. "A cup of coffee to enjoy with your book?"
"You? Seen as a vampire? Preposterous!" exclaimed Sabine with a snicker, snapping the book shut and pressing it to her hip as she passed Severus on the way to the counter. "A cup of coffee will be very welcome. Woman can not live on creature lore alone, as they say."
Now, after waiting a moment for Severus to catch up to her, Sabine continued: "I suppose I see it. The extraordinary pallor, the thin physique, the baleful air. By that critique, I could perhaps also be a vampire. Although the reputation of your employer would be held much less in your favor than my own."
Sabine had heard the stories of Dumbledore's diverse professors, from the half-giant to the centaur to the werewolf. Had a vampire so much as scratched a quill upon a parchment destined for delivery to Regalus Academy, where the Dean was not so renowned or trusted, magical America would have been horrified.
Severus chuckled, making a mental note to start leaving vials of red liquid lying around and banning silver jewelry from his classroom...
Just to give them something to talk about.
He held open the door once again, ushering Sabine out. "Come. Coffee beckons."