((This chapter was written entirely by Lindsay. Behold it.))
Severus pushed open the door to a cheerily lit, tidy little shop in Diagon Alley. He ducked slightly as the bell above his head tinkled merrily, declaring its joy in receiving another customer. The Master scowled.
He tried to keep his expression bland, but it was admittedly difficult as the voice in his head kept informing him, This is ridiculous. Funny how much that voice sounded like Sabine...
Severus Snape, infamous Potions Master, resident overgrown bat of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was in a jeweler's shop.
And if that singular fact was not grounds for shock and awe, his intended purchase certainly was.
He wandered over to a display of simple rings, bands in various designs and metals. Incidentally, jewelry shopping in the wizarding world is a great deal easier than in the Muggle world. Pieces that rely on a perfect fit will emphasize themselves, by a simple spell, to fit the owner's needs. Which was helpful, because he knew nothing about Sabine's fingers except that they were slim, long, precise and well-kempt. Like his own.
A short, plump little shopkeeper bustled over with the air of a mother hen, but her cheerful "Can I help you?" died on her lips as Severus fixed her with a poisonous glare. His raised brow and eyes narrowed in threat sent her scuttling off again.
Sighing softly, he returned his attention, once again, to the rings. One of the matching pairs was forged from reddish rose gold, the woman's bearing a ruby cut into the shape of a heart. Through his own distaste for the design, his thin mouth twitched into a smile as he envisioned Sabine's reaction to such a ring.
As it was, the rings were purely objects of necessity. It would be easier to present himself and Sabine as a pair if the two had tangible proof of such a claim. Yet he was prepare to expend a large sum of his considerable funds to acquire such items as he and his companion would not be ashamed to wear.
He selected two simple but elegant, antiqued silver bands. After a moment's deliberation he added another ring of the same material that was set with bright lapis lazuli, a blue stone like those he had seen Sabine wear.
Applying an expression that dared the shopkeeper to comment, Severus paid for his purchases, then tucked them carefully out of sight inside his cloak. He examined the street outside before leaving, ensuring he would not be spotted, then Apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
In the Potions Master's wake, the shopkeeper blustered about for a moment, debating whether or not to owl her friends and crow about what she had seen. In the end she decided against it, discarding the idea as ludicrous.
Though her gruff customer had looked awfully like him, Severus Snape wouldn't be caught dead buying a set of wedding rings!
Later that day…
Severus prowled the quarters of Diagon Alley's expansive shopping district that were less packed with humanity. He finally located the place he sought and ducked his tall frame into its shadowed recesses.
The rich, earthy aroma lifted his mood the moment he inhaled, a blend of similar yet distinctly different scents, cultivated and imported from around the globe. He breathed in deep, the variety of odors tantalizing his sensitive nose.
Coffee. The little haven, wedged in between a used bookstore and a novelties shop, did not seem to receive much business, but a stop here was prerequisite every time Severus paid a visit to Diagon Alley. He was certain that regular, generous expenditures from his inherited purse helped to keep the shop's doors open.
It may be suggested that coffee has little place in a district of magician's shops, but the Potions Master had perhaps been exaggerating somewhat when he declared himself the only Englishman in Britain that enjoyed coffee. And while the dark substance has little value as a magical ingredient, Severus had used the ground powder as a balance for some of his most volatile brews.
Inclining his head and offering a slight smile in polite greeting to the shopkeeper (whom he suspected was growing rather fond of him, by her sudden flush and pleased giggle), Severus looked around at the familiar crates, barrels and sacks containing his aromatic drug of choice. A new, brightly painted crate attracted his attention and he approached it, bending over and allowing the slick, roasted brown beans to slide out of the measuring scoop that was provided. The rattling cascade sent up a pleasing aroma that could almost be described as musky in its rich complexity.
"This is new." Severus commented unnecessarily. "What is it?"
"Arabic, straight from the southern groves of Palestine." The shopkeeper returned, looking pleased. "It's brewed strong and seasoned with cardamom."
Attracted by the alluring odor and the newness of the beans, Severus purchased a full bag and a jar of the required spice, laying a generous handful of silver Sickles on the counter without really looking at the cost. The shopkeeper was accustomed to this practice and did not comment as she gathered the coins into her strongbox. After a moment's consideration, Severus set down a Galleon and asked if he could have a bag of his usual French and Colombian blend, please. His stores had run out, being shared with another enthusiastic coffee drinker, but he did not mind in the slightest. In fact, he seemed to be minding very little these days, though his students still gave him migraines… He suspected the intelligent conversation and the ability to speak openly about his work for the Order were easing away some of his usual tension.
Thanking the shopkeeper, he gathered his purchases and returned to Hogwarts.