Disclaimer:
All things not Allosia or Gabriel belong to JKR.
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"I wish," Snape said pausing for dramatic effect and leaning towards his wife, "they wouldn't do that."
Allosia snorted, but she saw his point. The number of people who tried not to surreptitiously watch on those rare occasions when her husband got anything from owl post was absurd.
Picking up the letter with something approaching nervousness, Snape excused himself from the head table, ruffled his boy's hair and made his way down towards his dungeon offices. There was, after all, no point in allowing what was probably going to be disappointment to be on display at breakfast.
Perching on the edge of his desk, he opened the letter, taking in the gist of its contents before bringing himself to actually read it. He started. Good news, unexpectedly great news. He shook his head, as if to clear the fantasy from it and set out at trying to force himself to actually read the letter, slowly, word by word, as it was meant.
And he found that his initial impression had in fact been true. He was being asked to give a major address at Wizarding International Scientific Programs' annual conference. Snape had been applying for speaker opportunities at their events for years, but had always struck out with them, he presumed, either because they were complete dunderheads, were more concerned about sucking up to their corporate clients or just didn't want to deal with the demands of his intellect and temperament. But, at long last, they had finally relented and he was going to Florence for a week to discuss his technique of layering effects that he had been quietly researching and occasionally publishing on for the last four years.
He went around then to sit behind his desk as he hastily wrote a note of acceptance to the committee. They would then send him all the additional documents to arrange everything, from his presentation to his biography in the program book and publicity materials. He couldn't wait to tell Allosia, although, frowning, it occurred to him she might be less than amused by his going to Florence without her.
He mused on this, chewing on the tip of his quill, a horrible habit he hadn't managed to break in over twenty-five years of trying. Snape sighed, and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, forcing himself to just take a moment and enjoy this, because he knew, the second he told anyone, it was going to become all about them.
As if in answer to that thought, he heard his office door creek open. Presuming it to be a student, he opened an eye, menacingly, but then sat up the second he realized it was Dumbledore.
The headmaster chuckled. "It's alright, Severus, I suspected you would be down here taking a moment to enjoy the news."
Snape looked at him curiously. "Headmaster?"
Dumbeldore patted the man's hand and took a seat in one of the chairs that faced his desk. "As I will also be attending this year's WISP event, and as I have a friend or two on the committee, they took the liberty of informing me of this particular honor to both you and Hogwarts."
"I see," he said tightly and suspiciously.
"No Severus, I did nothing to influence the committee."
Snape snorted then. Albus Dumbledore knew him far too well.
"Have you told Allosia yet?"
"No, I just opened the letter. I thought I'd take a moment before letting that particular brand of chaos break out."
It was Dumbledore's turn to look inquisitive.
"I can't imagine she's going to be overwhelmed with joy about my going to Italy without her."
Dumbeldore chuckled. "You could always bring her with you."
"It's risky."
"Certainly no riskier, at least to you," he said with a wry grin, "than leaving her and Gabriel to themselves here for a week."
Snape pondered this for a moment.
"If anything happens, she will not be on her own," Dumbledore said then.
"Thank you," Snape said tightly, embarrassed, but then warming and repeating the thanks.
Dumbledore tapped his hand on the desktop as he rose. "These WISP things get rather chaotic, if you need any assistance navigating through the nonsense, don't hesitate to let me know."
"I will, Albus, I will."
As Dumbeldore exited his office, closing the door behind him, Snape reached for another piece of parchment.
All things not Allosia or Gabriel belong to JKR.
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"I wish," Snape said pausing for dramatic effect and leaning towards his wife, "they wouldn't do that."
Allosia snorted, but she saw his point. The number of people who tried not to surreptitiously watch on those rare occasions when her husband got anything from owl post was absurd.
Picking up the letter with something approaching nervousness, Snape excused himself from the head table, ruffled his boy's hair and made his way down towards his dungeon offices. There was, after all, no point in allowing what was probably going to be disappointment to be on display at breakfast.
Perching on the edge of his desk, he opened the letter, taking in the gist of its contents before bringing himself to actually read it. He started. Good news, unexpectedly great news. He shook his head, as if to clear the fantasy from it and set out at trying to force himself to actually read the letter, slowly, word by word, as it was meant.
And he found that his initial impression had in fact been true. He was being asked to give a major address at Wizarding International Scientific Programs' annual conference. Snape had been applying for speaker opportunities at their events for years, but had always struck out with them, he presumed, either because they were complete dunderheads, were more concerned about sucking up to their corporate clients or just didn't want to deal with the demands of his intellect and temperament. But, at long last, they had finally relented and he was going to Florence for a week to discuss his technique of layering effects that he had been quietly researching and occasionally publishing on for the last four years.
He went around then to sit behind his desk as he hastily wrote a note of acceptance to the committee. They would then send him all the additional documents to arrange everything, from his presentation to his biography in the program book and publicity materials. He couldn't wait to tell Allosia, although, frowning, it occurred to him she might be less than amused by his going to Florence without her.
He mused on this, chewing on the tip of his quill, a horrible habit he hadn't managed to break in over twenty-five years of trying. Snape sighed, and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, forcing himself to just take a moment and enjoy this, because he knew, the second he told anyone, it was going to become all about them.
As if in answer to that thought, he heard his office door creek open. Presuming it to be a student, he opened an eye, menacingly, but then sat up the second he realized it was Dumbledore.
The headmaster chuckled. "It's alright, Severus, I suspected you would be down here taking a moment to enjoy the news."
Snape looked at him curiously. "Headmaster?"
Dumbeldore patted the man's hand and took a seat in one of the chairs that faced his desk. "As I will also be attending this year's WISP event, and as I have a friend or two on the committee, they took the liberty of informing me of this particular honor to both you and Hogwarts."
"I see," he said tightly and suspiciously.
"No Severus, I did nothing to influence the committee."
Snape snorted then. Albus Dumbledore knew him far too well.
"Have you told Allosia yet?"
"No, I just opened the letter. I thought I'd take a moment before letting that particular brand of chaos break out."
It was Dumbledore's turn to look inquisitive.
"I can't imagine she's going to be overwhelmed with joy about my going to Italy without her."
Dumbeldore chuckled. "You could always bring her with you."
"It's risky."
"Certainly no riskier, at least to you," he said with a wry grin, "than leaving her and Gabriel to themselves here for a week."
Snape pondered this for a moment.
"If anything happens, she will not be on her own," Dumbledore said then.
"Thank you," Snape said tightly, embarrassed, but then warming and repeating the thanks.
Dumbledore tapped his hand on the desktop as he rose. "These WISP things get rather chaotic, if you need any assistance navigating through the nonsense, don't hesitate to let me know."
"I will, Albus, I will."
As Dumbeldore exited his office, closing the door behind him, Snape reached for another piece of parchment.