Chapter Text
"Oh no, oh my goodness I am so very sorry! I was hurrying to get out of the rain and I’ve run right into you straight away!,” she exclaimed to the brick wall of a man she looked up at. The rain was now steadily pouring and the man dressed in black looked down at Elle with no response. In frantic apology Elle reiterated her apologies again, startled at his lack of acknowledgement. "If you'd like to step around me I'll be just a few moments gathering these,” she said.
"You seem vastly in more of a hurry than I am, would you like some assistance?” His deep, booming voice caught her off guard. She looked at him for a moment, a towering, brooding stranger. He was almost a foot taller than her with pale skin and dark shoulder length hair. His eyes matched the black of his clothing but seemed to pierce whatever he looked at, as if they stared deep into your soul. He stood there silently waiting for her response, his face expressionless.
"Yes I would greatly appreciate it, my flat isn't too far from here. I was in a rush to try to get home before my bags got soaked and gave way yet here I am,” she sighed. She turned away from him to start gathering the items from behind her not noticing his quick flip of a wrist and slight mumble he made that gathered all the items in one swoop. Elle turned around to face him after she gathered her spilled produce. ”Oh wow you move so quickly! Well let's get a move on. I do so appreciate your help." The man said nothing in response and began to follow Elle silently as they began to walk the direction of her flat. After several yards she broke the silence.
"What's your name? So I can properly thank the man braving the weather which is only suitable for ducks and fish."
"Severus," he replied.
"That's a unique name, mine is so plain and boring. I bet everyone who meets you remembers your name. Mine is Elizabeth but most people just call me ‘Ellie' or ‘Elle’.” She seemed to talk a mile a minute. Severus wondering if she was nervous, flustered from her crash into him, dropping her groceries, or if she was naturally this energetic.
"Well thank you Severus, I would've had to have left my things in the street if I didn't crash into you. How lucky I am indeed, but you for having to stop for me not so much. Oh goodness now we're both soaked. Here we are thankfully."
Severus looked at the entrance to her flat. It had a black iron gated fence that rose to her hip height and was surrounded by white and pale pink rose bushes. Elle popped the gate open and pushed it with her hip. She hurried over the stone pathway and hopped up the steps to her enclosed porch, unlocking the door and pushing it open with her hip.
As she began shedding her wet coat and setting her packages down Elle rambled, ”Severus, if you'd like, I'd like to properly thank you for helping me. The porch area here is enclosed as you can obviously see. I usually take my tea in here. I would love to make you a cup. You can dry off in here and get comfortable while waiting for the rain to pass.”
Severus looked at her, water dripping from his hair, down his face, and off his largish nose. Why he decided to come to London today he didn't know but this was most certainly not it. The Muggles didn't typically engage with him given he looked so vastly different. In fact they usually moved out of the way or acted as if he were invisible. He looked at her again, "Where would you like these?,” not answering her question.
"I am so sorry I'm sitting here babbling like an idiot and totally forgot about the groceries. Here I'll take them from you, one second." She unlocked the door from the front porch to the flat and stepped inside to set her arm full down. She reappeared quickly asking, “Please Severus, would you like some tea? It's the very least that I can do for you helping me. And we can sit out here and have our tea and warm up while you dry off. And you can wait the storm out."
Severus sighed internally. Staying for tea was not in his plan and he was already significantly behind schedule. This Muggle was a bit too cheery for Severus's liking. He looked down at her and saw her big brown eyes looking up at him. "I can stay for a bit but if the storm doesn't let up shortly I do need to be going." Elle lit up, "Wonderful, give me just a few to start the tea, I'll be right back!” As she turned she heard his voice, ”And you have no qualms about letting a stranger into your home?, " Severus asked. Elle looked at him, "I'm an excellent judge of character. I've no concerns thus far." She turned to go back into her flat to prepare the tea.
Severus turned to survey his environment. "Merlin the Muggle world is different," he thought. “Far different than Hogwarts and anything in Hogsmeade. I remember why I try to avoid it,” he continued his internal monologue. Elizabeth’s covered porch was warm. That was about all he liked of it. The white fence was surrounded by white and pale pink rose bushes. The porch boasted a cream loveseat and two chairs covered in pillows with various shades if green. A nearby dark green blanket was thrown over the back of a chair. "She's too happy to be a Slytherin," Severus thought to himself mildly amused. Dozens of plants filled the room. A small collection of pictures were on the coffee table. He looked down at them. All were in black and white. One of whom he presumed to be Elizabeth as a child with a large black dog. One of someone who appeared to be an older version of Elizabeth, surrounded by four older children. The last was of the same big black dog. “Her siblings perhaps,” he thought. Severus turned as he heard the door open.
Elizabeth came in with a small tray with two cups of steaming hot tea, a bowl of sugar, and a small container of milk. She had a large towel tucked under her arm. ”I wasn't sure how you took your tea but I've just poured the water over the bags. It should be ready in a few minutes." She sat the tray down on the coffee table and sat down on the loveseat. “I brought you a towel to help dry off with,” she said as she handed it to him. She had changed out of her wet shirt and bottoms into a black sweater and denim bottoms. Severus forgot what pants on women looked like as all his female students and colleagues wore skirts. Except for Madam Hooch, “and I hardly consider her feminine,” he huffed to himself. Severus made a small motion of dabbing his face and hair then set the towel on the back of the chair to prevent it from catching all his water. Elle had set down and curled her legs up under her on the couch. Severus sat opposite in his towel draped chair.
"I hate this part, waiting for the tea to brew," she laughed slightly. Severus didn't respond. Elle shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with the silence.
”Well what were you doing put and about in London when this downpour started?,” she asked the man who spoke so few words.
"Nothing of vast importance, there is a shop a few streets over I visit a few times a year. I don't come to London often," Severus responded. "
"What shop?," Elle asked.
"Hansel's Herbs," Severus replied. He took his cup, which warmed his large hands. Elle finished fixing her tea.
"Where do you live?," she asked.
”How do I answer this?, ” Severus thought. “I can't tell her about Hogwarts." "I'm originally from Spinners End," he said.
"Is that far from here? I've never heard of it."
"Yes, it is few hours journey by train."
"I've lived in London for about two years now. I moved from Wilshire for a boy but it didn't work out. I got a job working in a local healthcare center and I teach part time. I guess I just never left London."
Severus didn't reply. He was unsure how to act accordingly in the moment. "Thank you for the tea," he uttered.
”Well thank you for helping me carry my groceries Severus, that was very kind of you. Fixing you a spot of tea is the very least I can do."
Severus again didn't reply. He was never one for small talk and his discomfort only lended to the lengthy pauses in conversation, which had been mostly one sided as Elle tried her best to engage him. Elle studied Severus as he looked around the room. His choice of clothing was a bit...odd...she would have called it adult goth. He wore all black with a high buttoned collar, almost like a priests. She could see the white of his shirt neck and cuffs peaking out from the black overcoat he wore. His shoulder length, black hair was now dry and hidden below the lines in his forehead were two of the blackest eyes she had ever seen. Severus turned and saw Elle looking at him.
"I'm sorry I'm not much for an engaging conversation," Severus apologized.
"Strong silent type I see," Elle replied. "I do think you are one for an engaging conversation, just not for small talk. Am I right?"
Severus looked at her. Elle had her feet curled up under her, her small hands wrapped around her cup, and the dark green blanket over her legs.
"Incredibly perceptive of you," Severus replied. Elle looked at him and exhaled deeply, her speech now slowed and relieved.
"Actually neither am I. I absolutely abhor small talk. I do it out of nervous habit and pleasantries I suppose. It's just so draining and fruitless. I'd be just as happy having silent company and watching the rain, " she said softly, appearing relieved.
"Which looks to have now stopped," Severus replied.
"Indeed it has," Elle responded.
Severus rose, placing his cup on the tray. Elle stood and looked up at him, "How long will you be in London, Severus?”
Severus liked the way she used said his name.
"Just until this evening."
"This may be too forward and please feel free to decline, but if you would like to come back for dinner after you finish your business, I would love to have your company," Elle said, looking him in his carbon eyes.
Severus contemplated her invitation. "Are you sure Elizabeth? You hardly know me." "What you say is true Severus, but as I told you, I'm an excellent judge of character. Please don't feel pressed. The invitation stands if you'd like to come back by. It should be ready
around 6pm. It's nothing fancy, just a stew and fresh bread. It was so chilly today I wanted something comforting."
Severus looked at Elle and simply said, ”Thank you for the tea, I will see my way out."
Elle watched as the tall man dressed in dark clothes walked through the yard and let himself out the gate. She let out a small sigh. Something was different about the man, she couldn't put a finger on what but something was definitely different. He was handsome in his own right, not the typical clean cut looking boy. All though he looked to be several years older than her, Severus looked to be a man who knew what he wanted. And what he didn't want.
Elle sighed again "Oh well, by unhappy coincidence I met a nice man and I've now scared him off. Typical.” Elle prodded back to her kitchen, threw her now dry hair into a bun on her head, and began to prepare her meal for the evening.