Threshold - Severus Snape

Chapter 13 - The Physical Realm

Severus and I had sat and talked for hours. When he finally bid me farewell for the evening, I could see some regret in his eyes for parting company, but they also held a hope of things to come, as did mine.

I walked through the halls of Hogwarts thinking about my conversation with Severus. More than anything, it reminded me that this was indeed a real place, that the people here were real, and that this Severus was not a character in a movie. There was more dimension to Severus than I expected for sure, which reminded me that this world is not scripted, and that I don't really know someone just because I am familiar with their movie character. I wanted to get to know him though, and it was exciting to take the first step in that direction.

I headed to Reu's, since he said he wanted to hear the scoop, and also because I thought talking to him might help me feel more grounded in this reality. He somehow made me feel more like a real person, just as he said I did for him. I knocked on his door and he answered, looking a little disheveled, and I was a little worried that I may have interrupted something.

"Avia! Come in," he said jovially, buttoning up his shirt and running his hands through his hair. "Sorry, I was taking a nap. I don't usually, but today is one of the few that I don't have rehearsals after classes," he explained, offering me a seat.

"Oh, yeah," I said, finding the memory that Reu was a Theatrics Professor. I guess I never thought about it before now, although it seemed fitting for him, especially since he was such an outgoing person. He poured us both a glass of wine and joined me in the seating area of his room. I noticed that, while Severus's chambers consisted of several rooms, mine and Reu's were just one multipurpose room.

"So, tell me everything," he said after we were both settled.

"You know, Reu, I wonder if there is some form of Magic where I could miniaturize you and just slip you in my pocket so you wouldn't miss anything. Do you know of any spell like that?" I asked, gingerly sipping my wine, since I wasn't sure what this wine would do on top of the Elf-made wine I had with Severus, but also because I wanted to tease him as he had me.

"I know what you're doing, and before you do it, remember that I hold the key to your continued stay here," he threatened playfully, obviously on to my plan of stalling in retaliation.

"Fine!" I laughed, having been found out before even getting going. "First, he got me liqoured up on some Elf-made wine, and then we bared our  souls to each other. Oh, and then he kissed me. Not that I usually kiss and tell, but I will make this one exception," I said, leaving out the important details of the conversation that I considered more private.

"Hm. And is he a better kisser than me?" Reu asked, and I wasn't really sure if he was joking.

"It was different. Way different. Not in a way that I would care to explain. And no, he is not a better kisser than you.  But not worse either. Just different," I said, and I think that was just the strangest conversation I'd had in my life. Except for maybe the conversation with Jo in the Pub.

"I will accept that answer," he said, eyeballing me as if to read my honesty. He must have felt satisfied and pressed on, "And what did you think of the Elf-made wine? Are you ready to go to bed with me, or do I need to woo you some more?" he said, smiling suggestively.

"Reu! You are incorrigible!  What does one have to do with the other?" I asked,  suspecting I already knew the answer.

"Elf-made wine is not officially classified as an aphrodisiac, however, the fortunate few who have imbibed know the effects to be quite tantalizing. If you and Professor Snape only kissed, I would hate to see the rare opportunity of its glorious effects go to waste," he said, and I couldn't help but wonder how serious he was. I had felt the effects, though, so I knew he was not making that part up.