Snape's Little Pet Snake (on hold)

Chapter 14

A week had passed since Halloween and Harry was feeling much better, Madame Pomfrey had done a good job healing him. The weather had turned bitterly cold and once again, Harry was grateful for the warm clothes Snape had bought him. He smiled to himself as he smoothed down his jumper, relishing in the soft feel of the fabric. He then donned his warm furry coat and headed off happily to Hagrid's hut intent on finishing his gift for his guardian.

Harry had gotten the idea after spending the evening preparing ingredients for Snape. The Professor had been brewing a potion and had cursed loudly when the wooden stirrer he was using had disintegrated in the cauldron. Harry had asked him why he didn't just use a glass stirrer and Snape had told him that some of the rarer potions he brewed needed to be stirred using a wooden one, and he would have to wait two weeks until the Apothecary would have a new shipment of wooden stirrers. After garnering all the details about the stirrer – size, special grooves, depth etc. he had rushed down to Hagrid's to ask for help in locating the correct type of wood. Birch-wood was actually quite a soft wood and easy to carve with so Harry had had little trouble getting the shape right. All he needed to do now was to carve the small grooves on the handle and sand it down, he could be finished in a couple of hours and present it to Snape a week before the man had to go to the Apothecary.

Straight after lunch Harry rushed to his Professor's office with his completed stirrer safely tucked inside his coat. He knocked on the door and waited until he was bid entrance before rushing excitedly up to Snape's desk where the man sat grading papers. He had been really proud of himself and had thought this was the perfect gift for his guardian, but as he stood there waiting for the man to finish what he was doing self-doubt began to creep in and he began to worry that maybe it wasn't good enough, maybe the grooves were too shallow, maybe...

"What is it Harry?" Snape asked, tearing Harry away from his thoughts.

Harry hesitated, unsure of himself now.

"Well?"

"Um, I... I... I made this for you Sir," Harry began, pulling the stirrer from his coat. "I'm not sure it's right and you can just throw it away if it's no good Sir..."

Snape gave him a quizzical look as he took the proffered object then inspected it closely as he turned it slowly in his hands. Harry stood nervously, watching the man's face intently for any signs of displeasure, then startled slightly when Snape's head shot up and stared at Harry.

"You made this?" Snape asked with a raspy voice, like he hadn't spoken for hours.

"Yes Sir. If you don't like it it's fine sir-" Harry stopped when Snape held up his hand to halt him.

"Harry, this is... this is perfect. Thank you Harry, it is very thoughtful of you." Snape's face softened as he spoke and pride welled up inside Harry, his face sporting a wide happy grin.

"This is why you kept asking me questions when my old one disintegrated. Thank you Harry, this will be very useful." Snape said softly, allowing a small smile to play at his lips as Harry beamed up at him.

"Okay well, I'd best leave you to your marking Sir. Bye!" Harry said, cheerfully sauntering out of the office to go find his friends.

Harry found his friends in the paved courtyard playing gobstones and happily joined in. After an hour or so, the three boys grew bored and decided to take a walk around the grounds. Even though it was quite chilly, they were reluctant to go indoors as it was rather noisy and crowded. It wasn't long before they came across Hermione Granger sitting on a bench in a secluded corner of the transfiguration courtyard with her nose buried in a book.

Draco and Teddy rolled their eyes knowingly at each other as they approached her, Harry smiled as he got nearer and greeted the girl warmly. Hermione startled badly and slid across the bench slightly, as if concealing something she didn't want them to see.