The Trials of Shopping
He looked on in disgust at the selection on the shelves in front of him. Not good enough. Approaching the counter he asked the shop keeper if they had any 'alternatives' available.
No.
Bugger.
He returned to the selection that was available and sighed. Why she insisted on me getting her one of these for her birthday, I don't know.
He picked one up that looked vaguely promising. Not too flowery, that's ok. Not too sickening on the front..., he opened the card and blushed. Of all the things to put inside a birthday card!
Hurriedly putting it back, he left the card shop in the Muggle area of London, his hands deep in the pockets of his coat and shoulders hunched as the rain pelted down. Making his way assuredly down the high street he grimaced at all the thought of having to give her a card with some sycophantic musings of love in. Not that he didn't love Hermione it was just that he just wasn't the type to give gifts like... that. Especially if it was going to be put on display with the rest of them for anyone to see.
He'd bought her present already; it had been easy enough to sort out. A pair of tickets to the latest play showing in Paris and a weekend for the two of them in one of the city's top Wizarding hotels.
He snorted and picked up his pace looking for another card shop. As if she doesn't know what she was getting! She was the one who made it perfectly clear what she wanted. She's never been one for subtly when it comes to getting what she wants. Including me.
He rounded a corner and saw what looked like another card shop on the other side of the street. Let's hope this one has something decent, he thought grumpily.
Entering the shop he wrinkled his nose in disgust as he saw the pink teddy bears on the high shelves of the store. Merlin help me.
Looking around the store and eventually finding the cards for 'significant others' he proceeded to rule out each and every one of them. Sighing he approached the counter as he had before and asked about other selections.
"Yes, actually, we do," said the assistant behind the counter. "We do an individual card making service for customers."
A solitary eyebrow raised he folded his arms in the same manner he used to when he worked at Hogwarts. "And it costs...?"
"Oh, well for one card about four pounds usually," said the now timid assistant. "What... what kind of thing were you looking for?"
Snape considered for a moment, calculating exchange rates and such then put his request into as few words as possible, the assistant nodding and noting it down quickly.
"I'll just be a few minutes," she said, before practically running for the back room.
Snape took a leisurely walk around the store while she was absent, glaring at the more 'risqué' cards in the selection. I wonder if I ought to get a few fresh ingredients while I'm out, he debated, thoughts on his work even now. I need some more harts tongue, but Hermione said something about...
"Um, Sir?" The assistant was back and he turned to face her. She held up the card, and he took it hoping that it was good enough.
"It that... ok?" She asked.
He nodded satisfied that it was neither too emotional, nor too unfeeling. "Yes, how much?"
"Oh, four pounds, sir." She took the card and went to the counter, placing it and the envelope into a bag for him.
His card made, bagged, and paid for Severus left the store happy that he'd managed to get something for Hermione that suited her perfectly and that he'd managed without her help or so called subtle hints.
The one thing he missed was the shop assistant's relieved smile as Hermione came out from the back of the store and thanked her for all her help.