*1*
Severus Snape hurried down the dungeons, an inconspicious brown paper bag under his arm, towards his private chambers. He cursed under his breath when he turned the last corner and caught sight of his mentor and superior waiting in front of the portrait of Curt the Cauldron Carrier. It was too late to escape. Dumbledore had spotted him.
"Severus!" the old wizard cried merrily. "How are you, my boy?"
"Well, thank you, Albus," Snape hurried to whisper the password – lily of the valley – and practically drag the man into his living room. Having the old coot call him "my boy" in the dungeon area where all the Slytherins could hear him would not do much for Severus's reputation, neither with the children nor with the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore sat on Snape's best armchair, oblivious of the ruin of reputation he had nearly caused. "I came to discuss our next Hogsmeade weekend. We have to give the students an opportunity to do their Christmas shopping."
Snape snorted. Christmas shopping was not his cup of tea; Christmas shopping was for sentimental fools.
The headmaster seemed to read his mind – Snape checked his occlumency shields at once – because he smiled benignly. "Now, now, Severus, you are one to make faces when you are just returning from a shopping trip." He looked at the brown paper bag pointedly. "What did you buy?"
A less accomplished spy than Snape would have made a face, but the potions master did not move a single facial muscle. "Nothing."
"Certainly you are not carring an empty paper bag! Especially since it's a rather ugly paper bag, not at all fit to be a stylish accessory."
Snape gave up with a sigh. "I bought some muggle stationary."
"Muggle? Intriguing! What exactly?" Dumbledore asked excitedly.
"A paper advent calendar. Uhm, I somehow got used to opening a window every day and since there is no chance that Santa will give me a third one, I bought a muggle one. It won't be exactly the same, but better than nothing."
"A muggle advent calendar?" Dumbledore clapped his hands. "May I see it?"
The potions master opened his bag and brought out a piece of colourful paperboard. The gaudy picture of a winter landscape with deer under a Christmas tree caused Dumbledore to squeal with delight. "But Severus," said the old wizard when he had calmed down, "this is entirely flat! Where are the presents?"
"There are no presents," explained Snape. "Only pictures to discover when you open the windows." He shrugged. "Better than nothing."
Dumbledore grinned triumphantly. Before Snape could move to stop him, he had drawn his wand and cast a spell on the calendar.
"What have you done?" cried the potions master.
"Spiced things up a bit." Dumbledore rubbed his hands. "Open the first window!"
Feeling a bit anxious, Snape did as he was told. There was a picture of a gingerbread man in the window. The younger wizard looked at Dumbledore questioningly. The old man beamed when a soft tingle filled the room and a plate of gingerbread men appeared on the table between them.
"See?" the headmaster asked with an air of satisfaction. "It's harmless enough." That said he got up. "Enjoy your treat. We can talk about Hogsmeade later."
Severus Snape spent the next hour sipping tea, courtesy of the Hogwarts house elves, and nibbling gingerbread men. They were delicious. Snape wondered why he still had a feeling of doom in the pit of his stomach.