SEVERUS SNAPE AND AN ACTUAL LATE-NIGHT DISCUSSION
One lovely morning in Shibuya, Tokyo. Three in the morning, to be exact. A drunken journey back from a karaoke bar for Sarah Noble and friend.
"Christy, what do you think of Snape?" I say as we get ready for some shut-eye.
"I think...I think there's gotta be something that brings joy to that man's life," says Christy, as she tries to put her clothes on a chair and somehow misses.
"I think I know what it is..." I say slowly.
SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND
A brown parcel arrives by delivery owl to the table on the dias of the main hall.
"Thank you, that will be all," Snape says curtly as he pays the owl and secretes the package under his chair. The whole affair seems too simple, too perfunctory. The other teachers are curious.
'What's in the box, Severus?" Professor Flitwick asks cheerily, attempting to lean over and get a better look at it.
"Your mom, now get lost," Severus snaps and quickly heaves the box out of sight, under the table. After breakfast, he snatches up the parcel and strides out of the room, the box hidden deftly under one wide sleeve. He hurries past students and staff alike on his way to the dungeons. Slamming the door of his office behind him, he locks it.
Placing the box on his desk reverently, Snape glances around in an obvious apprehension of being observed. He checks under his desk. Behind shelves. In the tea kettle. No one is present save himself...and the box.
The paper has been torn off eagerly. The box is open. The protective padding from inside has been removed and thrown on the floor. He reaches into the box and carefully draws out...