"No." Severus offered Remus the book in his hands. Remus studied the title.
"Dark Chicago: A History of True Crime in the Windy City," he read aloud. "So?"
"Well, you know how people are always going on about unsolved mysteries." Snape gestured airily at the book.
"You're going to Chicago."
"Yes."
"To solve some unsolved mysteries."
"To investigate," Snape corrected.
"Why...Severus, why Chicago? London wasn't good enough for you? Jack the Ripper?"
"I want a change of scenery," Snape insisted, as Remus hid his smile behind one hand.
"Well, Chicago will certainly be that."
"You've really no idea, it's very interesting," Snape said.
"I'm certain."
"There was a butcher who turned his wife into sausages."
"Sounds like they solved that one."
"And there's the Grimes sisters, they were murdered in nineteen-fifty-six."
"Gruesome."
"Quite."
Remus handed the book back to him. "I suppose it makes sense, really. Wizards have all kinds of tools that Muggles haven't got for solving this kind of case. Talking to ghosts, for one thing."
"Precisely."
"And it's quite appropriate that you would wish to set things right."
Snape looked up sharply at him. "What?"
Remus tilted his head. "Well, that's why you're going there, isn't it? to set things right?"
"I -- " Snape paused. "Why would you think that?"
"Severus." Remus sat on the bed, far enough away that Severus would not withdraw in distaste. "You must admit you've made a few cock-ups. And, all right, there have been a few made at your expense. Solving the unsolved, setting the world back in order...makes perfect sense to me, anyway. Your life's a little tip-tilted. All that guilt..."
They were silent for a while. Finally, Remus grinned, then laughed to himself.
"What is so amusing?"
"I was just picturing you riding the subway, wrapped up in one of those huge mufflers and a balaclava to keep your enormous nose warm..."
"Amerindian dance rituals, then."
"No." Severus offered Remus the book in his hands. Remus studied the title.
"Dark Chicago: A History of True Crime in the Windy City," he read aloud. "So?"
"Well, you know how people are always going on about unsolved mysteries." Snape gestured airily at the book.
"You're going to Chicago."
"Yes."
"To solve some unsolved mysteries."
"To investigate," Snape corrected.
"Why...Severus, why Chicago? London wasn't good enough for you? Jack the Ripper?"
"I want a change of scenery," Snape insisted, as Remus hid his smile behind one hand.
"Well, Chicago will certainly be that."
"You've really no idea, it's very interesting," Snape said.
"I'm certain."
"There was a butcher who turned his wife into sausages."
"Sounds like they solved that one."
"And there's the Grimes sisters, they were murdered in nineteen-fifty-six."
"Gruesome."
"Quite."
Remus handed the book back to him. "I suppose it makes sense, really. Wizards have all kinds of tools that Muggles haven't got for solving this kind of case. Talking to ghosts, for one thing."
"Precisely."
"And it's quite appropriate that you would wish to set things right."
Snape looked up sharply at him. "What?"
Remus tilted his head. "Well, that's why you're going there, isn't it? to set things right?"
"I -- " Snape paused. "Why would you think that?"
"Severus." Remus sat on the bed, far enough away that Severus would not withdraw in distaste. "You must admit you've made a few cock-ups. And, all right, there have been a few made at your expense. Solving the unsolved, setting the world back in order...makes perfect sense to me, anyway. Your life's a little tip-tilted. All that guilt..."
They were silent for a while. Finally, Remus grinned, then laughed to himself.
"What is so amusing?"
"I was just picturing you riding the subway, wrapped up in one of those huge mufflers and a balaclava to keep your enormous nose warm..."
END
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