The Perfume Snake
It was the night before Christmas, and Severus Snape, who had recently rejoined society, after the Great Battle, had no gifts to give. Nothing and it was too late to make a hit on Gringotts to go shopping. Let's see… Who did he need to give to? Minerva, Poppy, and Hermione were women who he remotely would appreciate perfume. Well, it was a start. For the others he had his usual stock of fine whiskey.
He used the potions classroom lab. There was more room for the whole process. First, make the container. He had an idea to use his elementary lab techniques, and create a thin hollow wall tube with a slight up raised closed tail, and a fine green stripe running the length. Then he pushed several small dents into the molted glass to form his slithering snake. A simple gold stopper and that was complete.
It was simple enough to combine essential oils with some specially denatured alcohol # 9. Lavender for Poppy. He added just a touch of vanilla to smooth it out. He decided to give Minerva some of that marvelous plumeria essence he had once gotten on one of his trips to the Caribbean. Severus couldn't say why he thought that orchid would be most appreciated by Hermione. He just thought that should be her scent.
Two hours into the operation, and Severus had the vials filled, plus he had made a little extra which he stored in regular lab vials. All the perfume he had ever seen was elaborately boxed, and his would be no exception. With his wand, he converted some small boxes into embossed gold leaf boxes. He conjured white leather cushions out of some small bags he found in the supply locker. Then after making gold ribbons out of binding twine, he fastened the distinctive snake vials to the cushions. Oh! Gripes! What was he going to call it all? Snape's Finest Essences, plus the floral name? Not quite. Just "The Perfume Snake". Simple, elegant. It says," I put this together months ago". He wand wrapped the boxes and shut the lab up. Severus sniffed the air, and used his wand to clear the scents off his clothes and skin.
Late that night no one was in the staff room when he brought in all his gifts. He had his perfumes and also the boxes of whiskey. Severus was feeling smug and a little happy to be finally doing the traditional things of the holidays. The ladies would not even suspect what was in their piles of presents tomorrow.
Usually Severus would not appear in the staff room or great hall until just before the holiday feast in the late afternoon. This year was really different. He did want to see the reaction to his perfume snakes. Well, he threw caution to the winds, and went down for breakfast. He was hungry anyway. When he got to the great hall, it smelled like a tropical delight. Even the delicious food smells were diminished by the floral notes of the ladies. All the ladies got up and crowded around Severus. They were totally astonished that he had created such beautiful gifts. Many thanks were said and, they all sat down for breakfast. Severus had just the smallest smile on his face. After all, the greatest potion master should be able to come up with a little fragrance sometime!
The holidays were finished. Students were filing into the potions classroom lab. Something was off! They sniffed the air. Did Snape create a tropical paradise in here? Suddenly in a low mellow wave they heard" Take out your books and turn to page 74" Tropical varieties of parasitic plants.