Doncaster Racecourse, Saturday November 12th 2003

Hermione was dressing with care, trying to look like a library assistant on her first date. Just a tad too much rouge, shoes that might be all right on a racecourse, but only if it did not rain. She knew that she could not be there as early as she wished because a single young woman might stand out too much. Five minutes to half past ten she made her way to the doubledecker where tea and coffee was served. Snape, no Stephen Tolliver, was sitting at a table a little back, scanning the racing program. He stood when he saw her arriving, presenting her with an old-fashioned posy for her blazer.

"Miss Janice, I am so glad you came!"

"Mr Tolliver, I am happy to be here, everything is so exciting!"

"Please call me Stephen, or Steve."

"Jane." They shook hands and both were overcome with the familiarity of sensing magic in another person. Out of the corner of his mouth Sev muttered, "We'll talk during the races."

"What would you like?"

"A cup of tea would be nice."

"I'll get it. Do you mind if I make a bet on the first race? Do you want to make one, too?"

She glanced at the program, "Number 4, please."

"Number 4 has odds of 20 to 1, are you sure?"

"Yes, I like his name."

"Well, it's your money. I'll be back shortly."

It was a decidedly odd sight to see Snape out of his teaching garb. He wore dark grey wool trousers that might be part of his conductor's uniform, a grey turtle neck sweater, black leather shoes and a worn tweed jacket with patches, fitting right into the racing crowd. Watching the other women Hermione decided that she had done a good job as well. The funny thing for her was that Snape actually looked a lot younger than in her sixth year at Hogwarts. As a contemporary of Harry's parents he must be a little over 40 but appeared as a young man around thirty. They did not look out of place as a couple, with Hermione's 24.

Until the start of the first race of the day they did what young couples did on their first dates, busying themselves with their teas, telling each other of their work. When the noise rose Snape – no, Steve – took her hand and leaned closer, angling his head so that no one could read his lips. In an urgent whisper he spoke to her, "Never use any words connected to our world. There are widespread taboos on a lot of words now. Also do not use any tricks without sticks. They have not perfected it but soon detecting this kind of trickery will work like a trace. The only forms safe as far as I can tell are reading of minds and mathematics. Which is why I go to the races whenever possible, to get some cash."

Hermione smiled at him in a besotted manner, "I was in Australia after everything and tried to reach former classmates or their families via telephone or postal service. I found no one. Since then I tried to connect to anyone m-" – before she could break the taboo Steve had pressed his lips on her. She gasped and opened her lips. For a second they could imagine it to be a real kiss.

"You are very forward, Steve, I am not sure I like that!" A blushing Jane fanned her cheeks before looking at the scoreboard. "Ha! Number 4 won!" Hugging him she whispered, "Sorry, sorry, I forgot!"

"That particular word would likely not have triggered anything as others use it quite often. Let's walk to the trainer's enclosure, I want to have a look at some horses."

Behind the weighing room Hermione initiated another snogging session. As glad as she was for some human contact she burned to know more. Yet what Snape whispered to her between some truly marvellous kisses was dire.

"It is quite hopeless. You are the first one I truly met, everyone else seems to have fled or is dead."

"How about a blond classmate of mine and his family?"

"Long gone to the USA, after France proved to be too dangerous. They would take us in but the problem is getting out."

He then proceeded to tell her that he had cultivated his persona of a trainspotting nerd and railway enthusiast who was planning to attend a meeting of similar minded men in Norway in a few weeks time.

"Is it safe there? It is but an A-, sorry, a hop away!"

"They are fiercely neutral. It has worked very well for them in all worlds."

"And then? You can't go through Europe, and Russia neither, can you?"

"Russia might be a possibility, they do not like to bow down to anyone, but I have a different plan. I can't tell you yet, it is simply too dangerous."

Sn – no, Steve won quite some money at the races, a substantial sum but not enough to raise anyone's eyebrows. They took the bus back to the city centre and had dinner in a small Italian eatery. Hermione's emotions were all over the place, too long had it been since she had been in the company of someone she knew and could trust. She was so weary of fighting, so Steve's plans of leaving Britain conincidented with her own. If a man who had sacrificed his whole adult life for the cause saw said cause as lost then she was allowed to give up as well.

And yet, Janice fell asleep that evening with a smile on her face and woke up the next day looking forward to their next meeting on Thursday.