It started years ago.
18th of December 1987, Snape sat at his desk marking papers with barely enough light coming from the 3 pitiful, yet strategically placed candles. His cloak barely enough to keep out the chill of his dungeon office. This was his hiding place really, perfect for the Slytherin head of house, cold, dry air, with colder, wet slimy stone walls, bare smooth stone floors, dark wood furniture.
He could sit there in his own miserable contentedness, with bout's of delicious self pity every now and then. Marking appalling 2nd year assignments, too easy to spot more than enough mistakes to satisfy him. Perfect.
And then there was a little knock at his door.
Who ever it may be, staff or student, he will act like his perfect evening was ruined by their visit, whatever the reason, when in fact he'd learned that most any visit would only bring him twisted happiness. Sadistic bliss. Either a teacher with bad news that didn't affect him, or a student sent down to his office for punishment. Excellent. "Come in." He really was treating himself tonight. If this goes very well he might just reminisce about bitter sweet memories of Lily till he angrily sobs himself to sleep.
When the thick wood creaked open only ajar and, he managed to catch a peripheral glimpse of the student slither past the narrow gap, he put his beak nose back into his papers. This was his tactic with students, appear rude and aloof, keep them scared of you.
He only just registered that the small girl was a Slytherin, and most likely first year, oh and completely alone. Strange. No one dragging her down for punishment, maybe she was trusted to come here alone? That seemed to make sense, being so timid looking as she approached his desk, the punishment must only be made worse by having to face him alone, maybe Filch had had an intelligent thought for once then. Or maybe he thought, as she got closer to the high up, almost black, mass of desk swallowing her image, she had come to see him regarding a house issue. Naive definitely. Stupidly brave. Or even a cruel joke or dare she had lost. And yet she was certainly wearing the Slytherin tie. That crooked old hat needs replacing he thought with salty disgust. This evening could very well be ruined!
Snape was very good at thinking through things quickly, logically, and analytically, all at once, and this little mental exercise was routine, though the circumstance anything but.
Only one candle managed to throw illumination on her, as silently she stood at his desk, that had managed to swallow the girl up to her chest. Her pale face seemed to barely peek out of the darkness, with only blank eyes and pressed lips. But no fear. He was concussed. This certainly was naivety or blindly stupid bravery. There could be no enigma here, only logic.
A skinny white hand confidently placed a parcel on the edge of his desk without a word. Not only did he have to look at this now, but also but the parchment down. At his recognition of her act a little coy smile emerged from her pressed lips. As the moment passed it even seemed to him a little cocky. "What is this." he said and dryly as he possibly could, keeping his face as motionless as he could while still speaking, his mouth just small cardboard cut out.
The parcel was innocuous enough, on it's own just a delivery from another member of staff. But the girl.
"I got you a Christmas present sir," her voice came out unexpectedly bright and clear, confident and decided. Definitely shocking but mostly it was the cheeriness that got to him. He'd had students, especially the younger years, attempt defiance, back talk even. But he'd never heard cheeriness directed at him. From day once he installed fear and inspired hate. After a thoughtful pause she carried on, gesturing towards the parcel with her eyes "My mother agreed that they're a good choice, she loves them." And her grin spread, eyes gazing at him expecting and optimistic. She looked rather giddy actually.
Well his evening was definitely ruined now.
It was just too much for the poor hunched man. A Christmas present being delivered to him, by a student, a very much unfearful student, a happy student, who's mile was starting to shrink and she stood there waiting for any sign of a response from him. Waiting and waiting. His quick thinking had stopped. It had him broken. He stared at the space between her and the brown paper parcel with his mouth open in an airless slit. She had come in and broken him and his evening. How could he even making to make sense of this? Even a first year by now, especially a Slytherin should know about him and his odorous, vile personality, his accurate reputation, his temper and punishments! Not once in his painfully long 5 years here had anyone other than kind natured Dumbledore offered him a present.
After the long moment of unbroken silent stillness he looked up at her, and directly into her eyes, searching for anything to help him. Pleading for anything to help him. But nothing. Small, full fringe, black hair in two plaits, plain face, unrecognisable, unremembered first year Slytherin girl.
Her eyes now looked pleadingly into his for a response, any response. He snapped back into himself, his collected, undisturbed mold in order to deliver one now he was one the spot.
She put him on the spot. He wouldn't admit that. Ever. maybe.
"And why have you given me this?" half sneering at the parcel.
"To thank you for teaching me this term, I just wanted to show you how grateful I am." she perked up
"Trying to gain favour?" dripping with delight, this was a lesson that could be taught by punishment.
"Oh I was just hoping to be polite sir." Fear and regret cracked through her confidence.
"For your situation, I strongly advise that honesty is the best policy. Now what is your name and again why have you brought this?" He snapped. She should be thankful she's a Slytherin or he would have mauled her by now.
"Leanna Kaper sir, and I'm being honest, I decided to buy each teacher a present this year. I hope it doesn't offend you sir. I'm being sincere." Her voice was careful and decided, very calm and cool, diplomatic even. This only insulted him more. But at least something clicked.
"Ah." he exclaimed, confident and in control now. "You bought the presents? Or did your parents, along with this suggested scheme, to gain favour from all the staff?" She slipped into a look of almost guilt.
"Well I used the rest of my pocket money from my parents, but it was my idea, they just agreed with it."
"Are you trying to be clever miss Kaper?" Evidently angry now. Almost Humiliated.
"No sir." She looked to the floor. But before she did she shot him a look. A strange look. Hurt? Defiance? Maybe not it seemed to him. It was because of that look that he didn't continue beyond,
"GET OUT!"
His evening was ruined before, but now she had just destroyed it. Humiliated, Vexed, confused, Furious, and consumed even.
He got back to marking papers without even acknowledging the present the rest of the evening. The rest of the second years failed the assignment. In fact he even went back over the one's he'd just marked and failed them too.