Eye of the Beholder

Author’s Note

Chapter 23. Severus Scrooge
Snape came back from his walk much later than he expected. It was past midnight, and technically, Sasha was done her shift half an hour ago. He was tired, but the walk had helped clear his head and let him sort out some issues. He realized he had been spending too much time cooped up in the dungeons, too focussed on his work, and he should get out more often. He also realized that it was now the 24th - Christmas Eve. How this could have snuck up on him so quickly, he didn’t know. Then again, he never really bothered with the holiday before, so he was not too sure why it was an issue with him this year. Probably because you’ve never had anyone to share it with Snape, you greasy git, he thought sourly.
 
He strode over to his desk and removed his outer cloak and scarf, hanging them on the back of his chair to dry. He heard a soft sigh, and noticed Sasha was asleep on his couch. He quietly walked over and sat on the arm, looking down on her sleeping figure. He face was so relaxed, so peaceful. He restrained himself from reaching out to brush away the stray strands of hair from the corner of her mouth. One of the things he loved to do was watch her, unobserved, while she slept. He noted the dark circles under her eyes, and realized she was probably as tired as he was.
 
Snape reached out his hand lightly and shook her shoulder. She made a sound of protest, and tried to shoo his hand away. Her actions made him smile, and he tried again. She groaned and opened her eyes, looking at him blearily.
 
"Sasha, is everything OK with the potion?" he asked softly.
 
"Mmmmm... Yesh, no problems," she mumbled, closing her eyes again.
 
He shook her once more. "Sasha, did you want to go back to your dorm room?" he asked.
 
"Mnnnn... No... Imfinehere..." she muttered, not making too much sense. Snape just smiled and shook his head. He went back to his room and picked up the spare blanket from his armoire. He brought it back and tucked her in, trying not to wake her again. He went into the lab to check on the potions.
 
***
 
Sasha woke up and looked at her watch. It was seven thirty in the morning. Her heart stopped - she missed the start of her shift! She was not even sure Snape had made it back after he left last night.
 
Snape heard a screech from the other room, and saw Sasha run into the room full speed. She skidded on the stone floor, then stopped short when she saw him. He hair was disheveled, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. She looked surprised to see him there. He couldn’t help but laugh at her appearance, and the look of panic on her face.
 
"I am so sorry!" she started. "I didn’t wake up at all, and I thought I missed my shift, and I didn’t hear you come in, and, and…" she was slowly calming down from her panicked awakening.
 
"It is all right, Sasha," Snape said reassuringly. "You were pretty tired, so I let you sleep in."
 
He stood anretcretched, feeling the toil of being up for the past few hours. "I, on the other hand, am heading off to bed now," he said wearily. "No issues with the potions. I will see you at noon." With that, Snape slowly walked past Sasha towards the door. Pausing for a moment, he stopped, turned, and came back to stand just before her. He reached out and took her chin in his hand, and tilted her head up to look in her eyes. Slowly, he leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her mouth.
 
"Goodnight, Sasha," he said pleasantly, as he turned and left.
 
She stood there, staring at the door for a while after he left. Her hand came up and touched her lips where he had kissed her. She realized that was the first time he had made the initial advance towards her, rather than her initiating things between them. A wide smile crossed her face. She liked it when he did that.
 
She walked over and checked the potion. She figured it would be better for her to stay there for the next half an hour, check it again, and that way she would have almost a full hour before she had to be back again. That would give her time to go back to her room to get cleaned up.
 
She was awake now, and was not too sure what to do for the next while. She figured she had better check up on their stock of ingredients, as it would not take long to do so. She walked over to the charmed cabinet, and removing her wand, she reversed the locking charms as Snape had taught her. The door opened. She opened the top two drawers, where the raw ingredients were kept.
 
She took her time looking over the inventory of potions, and wrote down the ones that they were low on. Before she closed the cabinet, curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the lower drawers. These held the pre-prepared potions. She noted the names of these were labeled in Snape’s carefully scrawled, tiny handwriting. Some of the more mundane ones were there, such as Pepper Up, Increased Alertness, and Dreamless Sleep potions, but she noted with surprise there were others. The Invisibility potion, which she assumed Snape had perfected without blasting off his eyebrows. Polyjuice potion (she wondered if it already contained the essence of someone, and if so, who). Erotic Moments (why would Snape need something like that, she thought), and Walking Death. There were others, but she was becoming a bit frightened of touching these, since she had never heard of some of them, and she did not know what they could do. She carefully placed the vials back into their places, and closed the drawer, locking the cabinet again.
 
She checked on the potion one last time, then headed out the door to horm orm room. She desperately needed a shower and some breakfast.
 
**
Snape woke up before noon. He had slept like the dead, and felt much better, alth heh he could still use a few hours more of sleep. He showered and dressed, and was in the lab just before noon. Sasha was there, looking much more presentable than earlier on this morning, he thought to himself.
 
She greeted him with a warm smile. "Everything OK so far?" he asked indicating her potion, simmering in the fireplace.
 
"Just fine."
 
Snape took a wooden spoon and briskly stirred the viscous, bubbling liquid. "It could use more bat’s broth, it is getting too think," he noted. Sasha immediately brought over the vial and added some, thinning the potion. Snape supervised this, and stirring it once again, nodded his approval. "Very good."
 
They were distracted, discussing the potion, when they heard someone clear their throat by the door. Both of them turned to see Dumbledore standing there in his crimson robes. He had been watching them at work. He noted with a grin the way they stood so close together, comfortable within each other’s personal space. So, I guess nature is taking her course with these two after all, he thought happily.
 
"Everything proceeding well I hope?" he asked pleasantly. Sasha smiled at the older wizard.
 
"So far so good," she replied.
 
"Good!" Dumbledore replied heartily, as he entered the room. "Well, I won’t hold you up. I just wanted to extend an invitation to the both of you. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and I thought it would be appropriate if both of you joined me and the others, for dinner this evening. I realize you are concerned about the hourly monitoring, but I can open the floo network to include the fireplace in your office, Severus, and that way as soon as are are ready, you may join us. If necessary, you can floo back here for a quick peek at how things are coming along." He peered at the two of them through over the top of his half-moon glasses. "How does that sound?"
 
Dumbledore noted the way Sasha smiled and peered up at Severus for approval. Severus maintained his detached look of indifference, but nodded at Dumbledore.
 
"Good, well then it is settled. Dinner will be at six sharp in the dining hall. We will expect both of you then." Dumbledore took his leave, and headed back out the doors.
 
They both watched him go. Sasha turned to Snape.
 
"I had completely forgotten about Christmas," she said solemnly.
 
Snape looked back at her. "It is just another holiday," he said unconcerned. She furrowed her eyebrows at him.
 
"You mean to tell me you don’t celebrate Christmas?" she asked incredulously. Snape regarded her with distain.
 
"No, it has never been a big deal with me. Besides, it is a Muggles holiday more than anything else," he said coolly. Sasha peered up at him uncertainly.
 
"I think you are being a Scrooge," she said haughtily. Snape looked at her with raised eyebrows.
 
"What did you just call me? A Scrooge? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he said suslyusly. Sasha just looked at him, smiled, and rolled her eyes.
 
"It’s a Muggles thing," she replied. "You wouldn’t believe me if I told you."
 
On that note, Sasha collected her notebook and headed for the door.
 
"I’ll see you here at six?" she asked. Snape regarded her with a puzzled look on his face. He nodded acknowledgement, and she left.
 
He still wanted to know what a Scrooge was.