Chapter 2: The Prince Club
Severus found that, while he didn't mind taking the train to the University, thestral was really the best way to get anywhere. Of all creatures magical or mundane, thestrals were the fastest, both on land and in the air... and also, in this case, in the afterlife. It seemed that having some innate affinity with Death caused them to transform once they passed on; while their living forms were skeletal and sickly, giving them an aura of dread to those who encountered them for the first time, their after-living forms were fleshed out and powerful, as though dying allowed this metamorphosis.
Severus was brought out of his train of thought as he noticed the atmosphere around him shift, as though he was traveling through a sea of both light and dark, the currents swirling around him while he was in flight. There was a building in the distance, something that almost resembled the Railview Hotel back in Cokeworth, only larger and more ornate in appearance. It reminded Severus of the sort of hotel one would see in a glamourized depiction of the Roaring Twenties, although even that seemed to do it a disservice. All he could say was it was well-kept, and whomever was responsible for caring for it had done a good job.
The thestral brought Severus down onto a large runway, where it began galloping toward the main entrance, eventually slowing to a canter, and eventually a trot, before finally stopping precisely where it needed to. Severus dismounted and patted the thestral on the neck, saying, "Thank you."
"Welcome!" Severus froze at the sound of the voice, and he turned his head. It was Lily, but of course not his own Lily. This Lily seemed to be wearing some sort of hotel uniform, as well as a nametag bearing her name. "You must be... well, obviously, you're Severus."
"... hello." Severus was completely unsure what to say.
"You must be adjusting to the concept of parallel universes," 'Lily' said with a smile. "Do you know a Lily where you're from?"
"She's my wife," Severus answered. "We've been married since we graduated from Hogwarts."
"I see... wait, could you wear this for me?" 'Lily' took out a blank nametag for Severus to put on, and he obliged.
As Severus was about to stick the nametag to his clothes, he realized that, in his hurry, he had forgotten to change into his day clothes. "One moment," he said apologetically. "Snarky?"
Pop. "Yes, sir?" the house-elf asked.
"Could you retrieve my wand for me?"
"Which one, sir?"
"Either is fine; perhaps the hawthorn one."
Pop. Pop. "Here you are, sir."
"Thank you." Severus waved his wand, and he found himself wearing his day clothes soon enough.
"Anything else, sir?"
"That will be all."
Pop.
"You have a house-elf?" 'Lily' asked. "And his name is Snarky... it really is you, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Severus asked as he put the nametag on. A single black word formed on the previously naked surface.
GESTALT
"It is you!" 'Lily' said with astonishment. "You're Gestalt!"
"Is that supposed to be my name?"
"I'm about to help host an entire gathering of Sevs," 'Lily' said with a smirk. "I have to have a name for each of you, don't I?"
"I suppose," Severus agreed. "We've been discussing me, but what about your own Severus? What is he like?"
"Well," 'Lily' said carefully, "I think we should go inside so I can introduce the two of you."
"Of course."
As Severus and 'Lily' walked through the threshold, the latter said, "Before we meet him, can you promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"My Sev is a bit... well, he's... let's just say he's rather hard on himself."
"That very well might be a common trait among all Snapes," Severus mused.
"What I mean is... don't use too much magic around him."
Severus furrowed his brow. "Why not?"
"That's for him to say," 'Lily' said. "The lounge is this way."
'Lily' led Severus into a well-lit, deceptively large open room with a variety of standing tables, and lounging areas off along the perimeter. Near the entrance was a long bar, with countless bottles of liquor and spirits lining the wall, as well as a line of kegs for beers and ales. And standing at the counter, wearing the clothes of a barman, was one Severus Snape.
