I'm playing a big knife at HP

December 1993, 12, at 11:45 pm.

Severus Snape hadn't been to Covent Garden.Of course he's been to London—after all, the Ministry of Magic, King's Cross Station, and Diagon Alley are all in London—but Covent Garden is a thoroughly Muggle area, clean, neat, and refined, in other words , which is no fun.The Royal Opera House is a tall, white stone building, connected to a glass hall. At this time, the whole building is brilliantly illuminated by lights, and well-dressed people are walking inside in waves.

Among the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, Snape saw a tall and slender woman, her long dark curly hair tied back in a bun, standing alone in a corner away from the traffic.She was wearing a burgundy red knee-length dress over a creamy white fine wool coat with a ruby ​​brooch pinned to the placket, matching gemstone earrings on her earlobes, wine red gloves on her hands, and matching colored shoes on her feet. velvet buckle stilettos.Standing there, the gorgeously dressed people around her turned into a thin watercolor background, only she was painted with oil paints, the colors were bright and bright, and the strokes were delicate and smooth.As if sensing his approach, the woman suddenly turned around, and it was Marciana.She walked towards him, raised her face and said joyfully, "You're here!" Her well-shaped lips were stained with bright red, which was only slightly lighter than her skirt, and her slanted eyes were outlined with black eyeliner, and her eyelashes were jet-black. , the eyeballs are so blue that it looks more like a cat.

Marciana had thought that Snape would never appear.Although Snape's curiosity is like Achilles' heel, but at the same time, this gentleman is eccentric and unpredictable, and there are about five or five times when he comes or doesn't come.Therefore, when she saw the thin and tall black figure, she was actually very pleasantly surprised.She looked up, and saw that he was wearing a long single-breasted woolen coat today, with a thin edge of an iron-gray cashmere scarf exposed from the turned-up collar, black trousers and black derby shoes underneath, which turned out to be very decent.Seeing that he still had a cold face, she smiled sweetly: "You look really good tonight. Go in, I promise you won't regret it."

The symphony orchestra in the orchestra pit had already tuned their instruments when they entered the box.Marciana noticed that Snape was scrutinizing the surrounding environment, observing the stage and the nearby audience, and guessed that he had probably never seen an opera.She couldn't help feeling anxious: If he doesn't like it at all, he will definitely mock me viciously in the end.

She leaned over and whispered: "The interesting thing I said will not appear until the second half. But the performance itself is not bad... In short, I will remind you when the time is approaching, you must do what I said Gotta do it."

He looked at her expressionlessly, and before he could answer, a long orchestral chorus sounded, and the surrounding lights dimmed.The performance started, and the cheerful overture melody spread.When the curtain opened, a man was chasing by a giant snake while singing desperately, and a group of people held up the paper-made giant snake and chased after him.Marciana couldn't help laughing when she thought of what happened at the end of last semester. She looked at Snape quietly, and found that he also had a weird smile on his lips.As the performance continued, Marciana secretly observed Snape from time to time, and found that he was listening intently, leaning forward slightly, and when the plot was humorous, he would also show a shallow smile.She couldn't help but rejoice.

Snape turned to her at half-time: "So... is this one of the studies you do for your lessons?"

"Actually not. You might laugh at me," she said, turning her eyes to the packed auditorium. Most of the people inside were older, not many young people, and even fewer children. "I've liked this since I was a child. I come every year."

"Are you going to tell me that Alastor Moody will take you to the opera?" Snape raised his eyebrows, then said suddenly, "No... of course... I forgot, of course it was your father. Italy People and their operas, of course."

"That's right." She lowered her head and unconsciously stretched her fingers towards her collarbone.

Snape noticed that the dress under her coat was an off-the-shoulder style. The neckline stopped at two finger widths below the collarbone, revealing the straight and delicate shoulders and slender neck.

"I thought proud Italians only liked Italian operas."

Marciana laughed, "Please! My father grew up in England. Yes, he probably still likes Italian operas the most, but I like French operas."

"Obviously enough to like the Germans." He put his hand on the railing of the box, and pointed to the stage with his slender fingers.

"Mozart is always good."

"Of course, he's a wizard after all."

"Huh? You actually know!" She looked at him in surprise, and Snape snorted in satisfaction.

Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Marciana suddenly grabbed Snape's elbow and said quickly, "It's about to start! Listen, try to concentrate on feeling the magic in the theater," Snape glared. She, she went on, "just like we do in Snowdonia, just like you do when you make a potion, try your best to focus."

He did so.

He heard her excited voice say softly, "Wait...wait...it's now!"

The resonant voice of the soprano sang each staccato accurately, and her emotive voice penetrated the air and echoed in the theater, and the echoes and her voice subtly overlapped.It was as if a drop of water had dropped on a calm surface of water, and the originally unwavering magic power in the theater rippled layer by layer.As the melody rose, she sang the second coloratura, and this time the wave of magic was more pronounced, a wave that the Muggles couldn't see, couldn't hear, and couldn't detect swept across the audience in the theater, and their faces were covered with smiles. Some people showed the same sadness and indignation as the actress.

Snape gripped the armrest of the chair, looked at Marciana in disbelief, "What is that?"

She showed a sly smile, "You're not mistaken. As for the details...we can discuss it after the show. Now..." She picked a comfortable position and nestled in the chair, "I'm going to continue watching the show!"

Snape was more patient than she'd imagined.He also enjoyed the second half of the performance quietly.It wasn't until after the show, when the two walked out of the theater, that he asked, "That actress...is she a Squib?"

"No, a Muggle through and through."

"But it can't be. Very faintly, but she does stir the magic. How can a Muggle do that?"

They walked side by side on the sidewalk. London's winter is not too cold, and the night wind blowing on the face makes people feel refreshed and happy.Marciana thought about it, and said slowly, "Isn't the ritual magic in ancient times also achieved by singing? The wizards at that time could use fanatical believers to resonate with their emotions, strengthen their own power, and use A powerful spell. When Mozart wrote this piece of music, he added elements of ritual magic very skillfully... I think that as long as he can sing the melody he composed in German with emotion and accuracy, even a Muggle can do it. Can work a very weak, emotionally-affecting spell. Of course, the average audience will only find it moving, thinking it's just the charm of art."

"Magic can be used like this...a genius idea."

They've been going north.Someone is playing the violin on the sidewalk, and someone is singing loudly, and the sound of music floats in the night.The street lights were dim, and the clear night sky was an extremely beautiful dark blue.There is a light aroma of roses in the air, vaguely mixed with the sweetness of lychee and black tea.Marciana stopped suddenly in front of a small shop. Through the glass window, Snape saw a cabinet full of cakes, pastries, cookies and fruit tarts, and a huge three-tiered cabinet above the cabinet. The silver plate is full of puffs, muffins, chocolates of various colors and bread with various fillings.

"This shop has the best mixed berry cheesecake in London," she said enthusiastically, her blue eyes sparkling. "Would you like to try it? Guaranteed to be better than Hogwarts desserts."

Snape found he couldn't say no.

She opened the door and went in, happily ordered a slice of mixed berry cheesecake for herself, turned to him and asked, "What do you want? I highly recommend their cheesecake, well, the Black Forest is also very good." Snape did feel that there was something Hungry, decided to try the Black Forest Cake - he had already discovered that Marciana had a passion for food and good taste, and her recommendations were worthwhile.

Marciana also ordered a whole mixed berry cheesecake and a whole black forest cake to take away, paid the bill, and sat down in a corner with two small plates.

Snape felt uncomfortable, but Marciana looked very happy.

She pushed her plate in front of him, "I haven't touched it, you really have to try this." She said it so confidently that he did it unconsciously, cutting off a soft and white corner with a silver fork put the cake on his own plate.

"I like their cheesecake the most, because it's so refreshing, it's like mousse and yogurt..." She also forked a small piece of cake, put the fork into her mouth, and stopped talking .

She was right, and Snape found that it was indeed the best cake he had ever eaten.Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are wrapped in syrup and squeezed on the snow-white cheesecake. The sourness completely balances the richness of the cheese without being overly sweet.He picked up another piece of Black Forest cake, and thought it was even more delicious than the cheesecake just now.The slight bitterness of chocolate, the slight sourness of cherries, the light wine flavor and the richness of cream are perfectly combined, and the taste is exquisite.The two of them didn't talk any more, soft jazz music was playing in the store, and they both felt very peaceful and comfortable. Although they didn't drink alcohol, they felt slightly drunk.

"Why did you invite me tonight?" Snape finally asked after leaving the pastry shop. "You have a lot of old friends, and there is no shortage of people who are willing to accompany you to the opera. Why don't you invite them?"

"They can't feel it," she said indifferently, "most wizards can't feel it, they don't have enough sensitivity. But..." She lowered her eyes, "I am the only one who has such a wonderful thing Isn't it a pity to appreciate it." She smiled embarrassedly, "I know this kind of magic is useless, but it's still amazing, isn't it?"

Although she didn't make it very clear, Snape understood completely - in his lonely childhood, he had been so happy to be able to share the mysteries of magic with Lily.This may not even have anything to do with companionship, but just the instinct of a person when he sees something wonderful—that person will turn back to find the first one of his kind with childlike amazement, and ask him, have you seen it too?Isn't it beautiful?Snape didn't answer, just walked slowly side by side with her.Even as midnight approaches, there are still many people on the streets of London.In a world that wasn't theirs, they'd stolen a Dark Lord with no lurking, a Black with no escape, no pain, no fear, no resentment, and no night of regret.For a few short hours, there was just music, dessert, the joy of discovering new things, a Muggle London that was beautiful even without magic, and a witch in a red dress.

They came to a dark alley, and Marciana stopped in her tracks, "This is a good place for Apparition." She raised her face, "Are you happy tonight?"

He hesitated for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "I did have a good night."

"That's good, I'm so happy." She smiled with crooked eyebrows. "See you next year, then. Good night."

"……Good night."

Marciana took a few steps forward, turned around again, and said with a smile, "I'm very happy tonight. I'm really glad you can come." After she finished speaking, she spun in place, coat and dress The hem of her skirt lifted gracefully and disappeared in an instant.

The author has something to say: 1. When writing, the author thought: Dating!Dating! ! !

After writing it——

Professor: Science and Exploration.

Maye: The cake is delicious.

...I'm so stupid, really.

2. In order to barely increase the romantic atmosphere, please eat with BGM: thescientist, byColdplay

3. Digression: A few years ago, I glimpsed a man from afar, tall and thin, at least 35 years old, with dark hair (flaxen? Brown? It’s too far away to tell), wearing a long black woolen coat with a stand-up collar, holding a paper bag , a baguette in the bag, walking on the street in light rain.It still makes my heart move when I think about it: it’s hard to imagine that this stranger’s demeanor could leave such a deep impression on me in just one second.This kind of outfit is firmly on my aesthetics, and I personally think that only a thin, tall, and not very young man can wear it well, so I gave this outfit to the professor.

4. In addition to joking, this plot is actually one of the earliest scenes when I conceived the full text.A lot of the original ideas were thrown away by me, but this one stayed.Although this article looks sandy and naive, the author is not really mentally retarded (deep).The heroine appeared at a time when the professor's big mistake had already been made, and her character was basically finalized. She lost the opportunity to pick up the young and poor as soon as possible. In fact, the romance line is extremely difficult to follow.The reason why I do this is because I hope their path can answer my doubts—whether a person can reconcile himself, and how far he can go.How should a person (S) who has fallen into self-loathing save himself?How can a person (Ma) who is haunted by the pain of the past gain inner peace?

There are no easy answers to these questions, and one of the superficial and temporary solutions I think is to enjoy and appreciate the good things in the world, especially art.To be honest, I think happy people don’t need art very much, but depressed people need the comfort brought by art, so I finally wrote this chapter.

Another reason for putting the beginning of the romance line in the sub-era is that I think the tragedy of the professor shaped him.After reading the description of him in the original text many times, I think he is a person who is so strong in his heart that I am amazed-this kind of strength is the result of his falling into spiritual despair again and again and struggling to go on again and again. Yes, and this strength brought him a kind of self-confidence.True, I don't think an adult professor is a person with low self-esteem.I hate such a character, and many fans of the professor fall in love with such a character.Of course, the article on raising Snape is really cute, warm and cute, but there have been many great writers who have written about it, so I won’t make a fool of myself.