A Cloud Before the Moon

Chapter 38 - A Change of Venue

The next few weeks were, without a doubt, the most pleasurable Severus Snape had ever experienced. It was not simply the delight of physical intimacy, it was the sense of being wanted and welcome. And it was something more. Letha knew nothing of his past; in her eyes, he was inculpable. And she, she too was blameless. Whatever her past transgressions, minor to begin with, they had been wiped away along with her memory. Snape was a wizard plagued by a tendency to moodiness and melancholy, a restless spirit in whom the flaws of others quickly brought out the worst. But for a fleeting instant, there was nothing to disturb the repose of his spirit, nothing to unleash the disquiet of his choleric nature. Perhaps, eventually, one would have irritated the other - a thoughtless word, an act of trivial cruelty, or simply the erosion of ardor, bred in bored familiarity. None of that came to pass, however, because, Letha was merely a temporary boarder in the Snape household. Their time together passed far too swiftly. Finally, the day came when it was his disagreeable task to end this idyll. Letha packed her few belongings and Snape escorted her into the carriage he'd hired for their trip.

Half an hour, and not a word had been spoken. The carriage shook uncomfortably as it rolled over unpaved roads, the low branches of trees grazing the roof. Snape was utterly engrossed in a small antique tome with a grimy brown cover, binding a collection of yellow dog-eared pages. Letha sighed. Loudly. "Doesn't it give you a headache?"

"What?" He looked vaguely annoyed at the distraction.

"Reading in a moving vehicle. I tried, but the jostling of my eyeballs made me nauseous as anything."

"Mmph", he grunted, and his eyes sought the words he had been perusing when she had interrupted him.

Apparently, that was to be the extent of the conversation. She began nervously tapping her fingers against the side of the carriage. A snatch of a song entered her head:

The moon and the stars on the water reflect

The shimmering shadow of your silhouette..

She began tapping to the beat, and after a while began singing under her breath.

Snape slammed down the book in annoyance. "Of all the things you might recall, you picked that godawful song? It's sufficiently asinine when those shrieky women sing it, but honestly, if you can't even hold a tune...."

"Well! I didn't realize you found me so annoying. I suppose you are thrilled to be foisting me on someone else."

He grimaced. "I would think you should be happy to be leaving a state of virtual imprisonment."

"I wish I could say that were true. I really do."

"Why are you making this so difficult?"

"I'm sorry to be such a vexation. I thought - I thought you'd feel something more than relief at my departure." She fought, with moderate success, to hold back her tears.

He rolled his eyes. "There's really no point in bawling over the inevitable," he said irritably. "You can't stay locked up in that house forever. You know you will be much better off among other people, and receiving proper therapy."

"I wasn't bawling, you idiot!" she muttered under her breath.

He was silent a moment, then whispered something.

"What was that?"

"I said, 'I do not shed a single tear at your departure.'"

"Then don't. That's your business."

"Do you know why?"

"You're sick of me. Tired of baby-sitting duty."

"Now who's being an idiot? As long as you were there, for that brief time, I actually looked forward to returning to that accursèd house. Are you not aware of that?"

"Then why are you so happy to see me leave?"

"I did not say that. I said 'I shall not shed a single tear.' Because, Miss Faraday," he concluded in a soft voice, "to weep is to make less the depth of grief."

"Oh." She could think of nothing more profound to say.

His voice took on a more businesslike tone. "Therefore, I am reading 'The Theoretical Basis of Organic Alchemy'. It is sufficiently complex to keep my mind off other matters."

"Really?" She was genuinely impressed.

"I've read through twenty pages in the past half hour. Of course", he added, with a hint of dismay, "it was the same page, 20 times over, and I have no idea what it said."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"I suspected you would be."

"Severus, we could just turn around and go back, couldn't we?"

"No, we cannot. We are expected, and if we do not show up right on time, Madame Patil will be utterly convinced that I had abducted you against your will and subjected you to unspeakable tortures."

She smirked at him lasciviously. "Oh would you do that? Please?"

"Now, really, behave yourself, Miss Faraday," he admonished her. "Seriously, you can't possibly want to continue in this manner. You need proper treatment, and the Patils will provide the best available."

"I suppose. But at least you must promise that you will visit me. Frequently. With annoying frequency, until I have to tell you to stay away. And then come anyway."

He couldn't help but smile at her earnestness. "I promise I will visit you."

"Yes you will!" she responded in a threatening tone of voice. "You know, I am none too pleased about going to stay with strangers. Have I mentioned that?"

"Once or twice. Of course, to you, everyone is a stranger."

"Except you."

"Exactly. And I do not need any expertise in such matters to know that is not healthy. If you were not so isolated I am certain you would not have developed this - this - fondness - for me."

"No? Why, wasn't I 'fond' of you before this all happened?"

"Not really; I don't think you much liked me at all. Hardly anyone does. And I consider that a blessing."

Letha smiled. "I believe that you would."

Severus abruptly changed the topic. "I hope you realize there is a long waiting list for the Patils' private clinic. They are highly renowned, and you are fortunate to have the benefit of their personal care."

"Apparently, you have influence."

"No, you do. I told you, Mme. Patil is your closest friend. She made sure you would go to the head of the queue. I very much doubt she would do anything on my behalf."

"Does she work with her husband?"

"Part of the time. She spends the rest of her time in a Muggle medical training program, and is also raising three young children."

"Very impressive."

"I am certainly impressed. And she - is even more so. Even as a girl, I recall that she had quite an ego. I think she was a bit put out when you were made Prefect of Ravenclaw, rather than she. Even if you were her best friend."

"I hope you told her the better woman won."

Severus shifted uncomfortably. "I did no such thing."

"No wonder I wasn't fond of you."

"Exactly." The carriage stopped. "And now you will have your opportunity to reacquaint yourself with Madame Healer, and to rid yourself of me." He called up to the driver to announce their arrival.