Disclaimer: ::Checks legal documents. I still don't own them. Rats.
Brown Paper Packages
Severus awoke early the next morning. Albus always wanted to hold one last staff meeting before the leaving feast and ceremonies. He shrugged off his night clothes and pulled a nicer-than-usual set of black robes out of the wardrobe. However, as he passed through his office going towards the hallway, something stopped him. As always at the end of term, the obligatory gifts had been left by the Death Eater's children. But amidst their fancy cloth parcels, there stood two large packages, plainly wrapped in brown paper with string holding them together.
Long habits of punctuality tugged at him, but he decided to ignore them and inspect the packages. A few cursory spells ensures that they were un-jinxed. He performed a Severing Charm and ripped through the paper. The larger contained a set of four shining copper cauldrons, in standard sizes. The smaller was a book of healing and restorative potions. He flipped it open, and a note fell out.
Professor Snape,
I know I was never your favorite student to
teach. I certainly didn't make things easy for
you, especially this last year of N.E.W.T. Potions.
But the training you have given me will prove
invaluable in this coming conflict. I found this
book in a mail order. They suggested using the
copper cauldrons strengthens the potions, and I
thought perhaps you could use a set, as I'd never
seen you work with any but pewter. Think of it
as compensation for tolerating me these last seven
years.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
Even after their conversation the night before, this was the last thing he had been expecting to see. With raised eyebrows, he slipped the note into his pocket, and left for the meeting.
Author's Note: Okay, so we also had "bright copper kettles" in there. But I could only have one for a chapter title. Tell me what you think, or guess what's coming next.