Mixed Signals

30 June 1993 - Day 1 of the European Potioneers' Assembly, Vienna

The assemblies of the European Potioneers' Club were traditionally held in central locations of European cities, and this year was no exception. The 1993 European Potioneers' Assembly took place at Vienna's Physiological-Chemical Institute, where some members had rented a couple of classrooms equipped with laboratories for the four-day event. To avoid drawing the attention of Muggle academics, the rooms were enchanted to give the appearance of a contagious project in progress, effectively deterring unwanted curiosity.

The club was not particularly large, with only nineteen members in total, eleven of whom had attended this year’s assembly. They were spread across two classrooms and a laboratory, working in small groups. The purpose of the assembly was to exchange knowledge about potions, share updates, recommend books, or draft reports detailing the latest progress in their research. Furthermore, an active, honorary part of the club involved creating potions to donate to academic institutions or magical health centres in need. Participants received a certificate for their contributions to any of these activities.

Katya preferred the practical aspect of the event, so she was focused on potion-making, meticulously weighing ingredients to create an antiseptic potion for wound healing. Her plan was to prepare a batch of one hundred potions to send to the Federal Magical Health Centre in Moscow. Earlier that day, they had listened to a presentation by her former professor from Koldovstoretz, Arkady Dolgorukov, whom Katya deeply admired. He had introduced a possible update for the Wolfsbane Potion and was the one who had invited her to join the club right after she finished school.

Also present was Sigurður Björnsson, an Icelandic Potions Master teaching at Durmstrang, known for his stern expression and habit of observing others with an air of disapproval. He had presented an antidote of his own invention to treat poisoning caused by Glumbumble treacle.

According to the itinerary, the following day Jakob and Andrea Wagner, Austrian twins attending for the first time and seemingly more interested in socialising than participating actively, were scheduled to present their report on facial beautification potions, a subject Katya deemed irrelevant. On the other hand, Catalina Sevilla, a young Spanish witch Katya’s age who had been attending the assemblies for two years, would present an update on the Bone-Regrowing Potion alongside a Potions professor in her forties from Beauxbatons Academy. Their work promised to significantly accelerate the potion’s effects.

On the third day of the assembly, Finn Genod, a Swedish Potions Master renowned for his meticulous note-taking during every gathering, would present his new book on potions. Katya had noticed him arrive on the first day carrying several copies. Also scheduled was Anya Müller, a German witch close to Professor Dolgorukov, who would discuss her work dedicated to antidotes for magical creature poisons—a topic that greatly interested Katya.

The fourth and final day would feature Giovanni Santos, an Italian professor from Beauxbatons, who would give a presentation on potions to accelerate the growth of plants, particularly the healing herb dittany. Additionally, recommendations for Professor Dolgorukov’s Wolfsbane Potion report would be discussed, along with reviews of the other presentations. To close the event, certificates would be awarded, a task assigned to Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts professor and the club’s coordinator. Finally, Katya and Severus Snape, the current Potions Master at Hogwarts, would present their progress on the potions they had been working on. Severus, in particular, had been preparing large-scale batches of blood-replenishing potions to donate to the school’s infirmary.

Katya was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t notice the other attendees beginning to pack up their belongings, signalling the end of the day. She glanced at her slow progress with frustration, then checked her watch: the day had flown by. From the corner of her eye, she noticed her friend, who also seemed engrossed in his task. Severus worked with meticulous precision, almost automatically, as he prepared his potions. He was dressed in a grey long-sleeved shirt and black trousers, an unusual choice for someone who normally opted for his characteristic black robes.

Katya took a moment to observe him more closely: his broad shoulders, his dark hair tied back in a ponytail, and his expert hands. She sighed inwardly, allowing herself a few seconds of admiration. Remaining just friends with Severus was proving to be more challenging than she had anticipated.

Their friendship had spanned nearly four years, beginning with a series of letters exchanged after meeting at the 1989 assembly. From the start, Katya had been drawn to him, and when the event concluded, she had persistently asked Professor Dolgorukov to provide Severus's contact information. Through this, she had sent him a letter, initiating a correspondence that began formally, with the two recommending books on Potions, Charms, and even the Dark Arts. Over time, their exchanges evolved. By 1991, when Dolgorukov and other members had brought records to listen to during work sessions, they had begun recommending music—both magical and Muggle—along with novels and films. It was Severus who had introduced Katya to Star Wars.

The letters became less formal, and they began discussing everyday topics. Katya confided in him about the stress of working at Borislov Enterprise, while he shared his frustrations with the tediousness of teaching at Hogwarts. By 1992, after assembly hours, they had even gone sightseeing together on multiple occasions. However, since Katya had invited him to her apartment in Moscow via Floo Network, their relationship had taken an unexpected turn.

Katya admired Severus deeply and had never hidden her interest in him, an interest that went beyond mere friendship. Yet this interest seemed to make Severus uneasy and apprehensive. Since that meeting in Moscow, where an unexpected kiss had been shared, both had decided to maintain appearances and prioritise their friendship, pretending the moment had never happened. Still, Katya found it increasingly difficult to suppress her feelings, especially when she observed him so closely.

As the minutes passed, she heard some colleagues murmuring about heading to a Muggle pub with karaoke. The idea didn’t sound bad to her. Smiling, she approached Severus, who was still focused on his work.

“Are you going?” she asked, standing beside him.

Severus looked up, startled by the interruption. He had only just begun to notice the others discussing the outing to the karaoke pub. He frowned slightly and, after a brief pause, replied,

“Karaoke?” he said with evident distaste. “Wouldn’t you prefer a walk along the canal?”

His suggestion took Katya by surprise, and she couldn’t help but smile; he always found a way to avoid situations that took him out of his comfort zone. It wasn’t the first time he had rejected social events in favour of something quieter and more private. While karaoke sounded fun, the prospect of a quiet walk alone with him was far more tempting.

“The canal sounds nice,” she replied, a slight smile gracing her lips.

Severus packed his belongings, and the two of them left the building, walking slowly. A comfortable silence settled between them as they covered the first few metres. Eventually, Severus broke the silence.

“How was your week?” he asked, without stopping.

Katya frowned, recalling how dreadful it had been. Work had been a nightmare, with the constant presence of Jan and Alexey in the office turning each day into sheer hell. The only thing calming her nerves at home had been a draught of Calming Potion.

“Intense,” she replied curtly, unwilling to delve into the topic. She wasn’t ready to tell Severus that her own brothers were harassing her at work. She knew she would have to discuss it with him eventually, but she didn’t want to ruin the tranquillity of the evening. “My colleagues are still bothering me.”

“We could always kill them,” Severus joked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Katya returned the smile, and for a brief moment, she genuinely wished she could.

“And how do you suggest we do that?” she asked, moving closer and linking her arm with his. “Torture? Drowning?”

Severus let out a small laugh, and for the next few minutes, they crafted an elaborate, fictitious plan to kill her co-workers—who were, in reality, her brothers. Katya relished the sense of camaraderie between them, and the joke helped them both unwind.

“…and once there’s no trace of them, no one will suspect us,” Severus muttered seriously, while Katya laughed softly beside him.

They walked together, so close that under other circumstances, Severus would have preferred to keep some distance. But with Katya, it was different; he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her small gestures of closeness. He loved hearing her laugh. It was soft and contagious, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she would moan in the same way.

Merlin, calm down, he told himself, shaking the thought from his mind.

They reached the canal and walked in silence for a while. Katya mentioned that she had often come there as a child, her mother taking her on long strolls. Severus asked if she had a good relationship with her mother, and Katya smiled, recalling her fond memories of her.

After an hour and in the midst of one of their shared comfortable silences, Severus's stomach growled, breaking the moment. Katya, with a playful smile, insisted they have dinner at one of the restaurants by the waterfront.

They sat outside, enjoying the cool night breeze. Severus was momentarily captivated as Katya removed her light cream jumper, pulling it over her head. As she did, her shirt lifted slightly, offering a brief glimpse of her skin, just as it had in her Moscow apartment. He quickly shifted his gaze to the menu, trying to focus on something—anything—else.

“Ready to order?” asked the waiter in clumsy English.

“Yes, I’ll have the burger,” Katya replied with a smile. “And a martini.”

“The same, but with a stout,” added Severus.

The waiter nodded and left. Katya, gazing at the canal illuminated by the city lights, murmured,

“It’s a beautiful night.”

Severus nodded, his eyes fixed on her. Katya noticed his gaze out of the corner of her eye and felt her cheeks flush.

The next two hours passed in conversation, critiquing mutual acquaintances and sharing sarcastic humour. Severus greatly appreciated how Katya shared his dry sense of humour, laughing at his remarks instead of being offended. As the conversation flowed, Katya, now slightly tipsy, began wondering if Severus would make a move or if he would continue “respecting” their unspoken agreement to keep things as they were.

Severus was explaining some reactions he had observed while working with basilisk venom when the waiter approached to inform them the restaurant was about to close.

With a swift motion, Severus paid the bill. Checking his watch, he realised they had been talking for over four hours. Surprised by how quickly time had flown, he insisted on walking Katya back to her hotel, which was only a few blocks away.

“Would you like to come up?” Katya asked casually when they arrived.

Her hotel exuded luxury—a five-star establishment—and before they had even reached the steps, a bellboy was already approaching the door to greet them. Severus stopped, debating with himself what to do. Katya's proposal had caught him off guard.

“Kat…” he murmured. “Please…”

Katya looked at him, irritated, and Severus knew he had said the wrong thing.

“I was only inviting you inside, Severus,” she replied, with a touch of irony. “I wasn’t about to throw myself at you,” she muttered with resignation.

Severus let out a sigh, and before she could step into the hotel, he spoke impulsively:

“Maybe I want you to.”

Katya froze, turned around, her face flushed, but her brow furrowed.

“Sev…” she said firmly. That single word was enough to disarm Severus completely. “Make up your mind.”

She approached him, placed a gentle kiss on his lips, and with a smile, added:

“See you tomorrow.”

Severus nodded as he watched her walk into the hotel, remaining motionless for a few moments as though he needed to process what had just happened.