Chapter Text
Shanghai Restoration Project – Babylon of the Orient
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj1q8bqlLtg
Severus had ranted at Misha the library assistant. “Misha, what a stupid name for a stupider man who clearly does not have the brains of the bear he was named for. Even Russian bears are less idiotic as that dunderhead who could only compete with the likes of Neville Longbottom for the Order of the Most Ill-Fated Son of a Spider and a Pigeon who happened to cross my path.”
So they had continued on to Ulan-Bator, had boarded a train to Beijing.
All the while, their hands remained joined.
It was in Beijing amidst glaring lights and the smell of frying grease and soy sauce that Hermione had first gathered the courage to press her lips to Severus' in a dry, close-mouthed kiss. In that moment, it had become clear to them that their travels had been more than a search for solace, for the distant dream of freedom and Thule, but also of themselves and each other.
Maybe they would not like what they found along the way, but the endless nights on the Transsiberian had taught them patience and fear had taught them caution.
“This might have been what the fur rug meant when it purred,” Hermione said thoughtfully, stirring her noodles.
Absent-mindedly, Severus nodded.
“It might have meant unrealised potential and Thule to discover within,” she murmured.
“I'm not giving up on Thule,” Severus said firmly.
“We will keep searching,” she agreed and squeezed his hand tightly.
Their travels had brought them to strange places, but this was stranger still, this quiet companionship that had grown between them on white Russian nights, vodka and storm-ridden plains.
Yet again, they boarded a train that night.
Hermione heard the clean whistle that indicated their train had arrived at Lhasa. A little worse for wear, a little weary, but she wasn't ready to give up yet. If they didn't find what they needed in Lhasa, they would simply continue on to Hanoi and Saigon, to the dark alleys of Bangkok and the mysterious waters of Singapore.
But first, Hermione thought as she descended from the train, first there was Lhasa to explore. And with that final thought, she resolutely breathed in Tibetan air and looked up at Severus.
“Let's go.”