Part 1
People- watching
[June 1933]
“You’re here again, Mr Riddle?” Severus stopped in front of the young boy sitting on the park bench. Riddle just kept his eyes down and blushed.
“Hm.” Severus studied the scrawny child for a while, before seating himself next to him on the bench.
He sat back and silently watched as muggles strolled by. He knew that Riddle was staring up at him, mouth open wide, but he didn't wish to initiate a conversation. He never was inclined to do such things, even with other adults, unless it was necessary.
He saw the kid lean back and begin to watch the muggles as well. Severus glanced at Riddle, before going back to observing the muggles.
They sat together in silence.
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Reasons
[Late-June 1933]
“Do you have a reason to keep coming back to this place, Mr Riddle?” Severus asked one day while he was sitting next to Riddle on the park bench.
Riddle heard the question and flushed, stuttering a reply. “I— I, uhm—”
“It is quite alright if you do not wish to divulge that information.” Severus added, seeing how flustered the kid was. Riddle looked up at him, surprised.
“No, not at all sir! It’s just, sir, that I— uh, I…” he looked back down and began fiddling with his fingers.
“Yes?” Severus glanced at Riddle, raising an eyebrow.
“I…” Riddle sucked in a breath, as if bracing himself. “Ilikeseeingyousir!”
Severus blinked. He opened his mouth, not knowing how to reply to that. Instead, he said; “Ah. I see.”
There was a brief moment of silence. Severus knit his eyebrows together while contemplating how exactly to respond to Riddle.
He regarded the kid, who had suddenly found his shoes extremely interesting, and was evidently red from embarrassment. He smirked.
“Well,” He began, leaning back, “I suppose I do not mind our daily meetings either.”
Riddle looked up, surprised, mouth open. Severus raised an eyebrow. “Quite so. But remember that is only a temporary opinion, Mr Riddle, one that is not quite set in stone. There is still the possibility of me rectifying my opinion.”
Severus watched in amusement as Riddle furrowed his eyebrows, small features scrunching up in an attempt to understand Severus’ speech.
Eventually, his eyes lit up in understanding, and he looked up at Severus and replied with an enthusiastic, “Yes sir!”
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It’s just a Dessert
[July 1933]
Severus handed a container to Riddle.
“Take this, Riddle.”
The boy looked up at him in confusion, open mouthed, clearly unable to comprehend Severus’ reason for handing him an item.
Severus rolled his eyes.
“It’s not poison, for Merlin’s sake, Riddle,” Severus deadpanned. “It is a dessert called Blancmange. Quite good, I would say.”
Riddle continued to stare in silence.
“If you’re wondering why I am offering it to you, it is because you appear ridiculously skinny. I was starting to doubt that you are eating well enough at home.”
Of course, he knew that Riddle was receiving enough nutrition from his parents. He had personally ensured that.
It wasn't that he wanted to give Riddle a present, no. He just so happened to pass by the restaurant that sold this dessert, and made the fleeting decision to buy one and decided not to eat it after he bought it. Thus he decided to hand it to Riddle.
It wasn't a gift, certainly not.
Riddle had just gaped mutely at the box, occasionally glancing at Severus in bewilderment.
“Come now, Riddle. I don't exactly have all day.” Severus held the box closer to the kid.
There was a pause.
Eventually, Riddle slowly reached out and carefully took the box from Severus’ grip. He held on to it as if it were the most precious thing in the world, eyes shining. He looked up excitedly at Severus.
“Thank you very much sir! I will treasure this very much, sir!” Riddle said with too much enthusiasm.
Severus coughed and looked away.
“Ahem— Yes. Well, you are most welcome, Riddle,” he replied neutrally, tone revealing nothing. Then a thought occurred to him. He remembered the last time he had offered Riddle a piece of food to eat.
“Riddle.”
The boy raised his head.
“Yes, sir?”
Severus turned to face Riddle, narrowing his eyes at the child.
“You are going to actually consume the food, aren’t you?” He studied the child’s reaction.
As he expected, Riddle blushed and bowed his head. Severus tilted his head back with a sigh.
“Food is made to be eaten, Riddle, not kept perpetually on a shelf. Please try not to keep it until it decomposes.” Severus berated the child, mildly disgusted at the concept.
Riddle squeaked out a small ‘Yes sir!’. Severus pursed his lips.
He reminded himself not to get Riddle anymore food until they can rectify that concerning and mildly repulsive habit of his.
Severus glanced at Riddle, who was looking down at the box, beaming.
He smirked.
Alright, maybe he could get the kid something just one more time.
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An Interesting Gift
[Late-July 1933]
“Um, sir?”
“Yes, Riddle?”
“Uh, well…” Riddle hesitated, evidently wavering in his resolve. Severus waited. “I— erm, uh…” The boy tried again.
Severus watched Riddle from the corner of his eyes as he stumbled for a while, but eventually grew tired from waiting. It was getting rather hard to listen to.
He turned his head to face the child on the bench next to him.
“Yes, Riddle? What exactly is the problem?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Riddle blushed. “I, uhm, well, sir, I— I wanted to thank you for the de-ssert, sir, you see, sir, so I, uh, I got you a— a thing, sir,” he paused, seeming weary.
Severus furrowed his eyebrows.
“You did not need to reciprocate my action, Riddle. I assure you, there was no motive behind me handing you the dessert.”
Riddle looked panicked upon hearing his words, and immediately began apologising.
“Ah, I’m so sorry sir! I-it was wrong to think that Sir even wanted anything from me, sir. I— I should’ve known, sir, I— I’m so sorry, sir.” Riddle hung his head in shame, appearing completely dejected.
Severus sighed.
“I should tell you, Riddle, that you jump to conclusions far too quickly.” He held out his hand expectantly. “Come now, let us see this ‘thing’ that you have procured.”
Riddle looked up in surprise. Severus once again raised his eyebrow.
“Well, I suppose I do have all day to wait here, don't I?”
The child flushed, and hastily reached into his pocket, pulled out an object and placed it into Severus’ hand.
Severus stared blankly at the item.
“Riddle, what is this exactly?” He held it up between two fingers, scrutinizing it.
“It's, uh, a thing, sir, that I got from, uhm…” Riddle trailed off.
“I am not particularly interested in where you got this… thing, Riddle, but more so on what it is.” Severus knitted his eyebrows, still observing the object.
“It's a toy, sir.” Riddle supplied unhelpfully.
“Yes, I can see that.” Severus turned the object around, grimacing. “But what toy is this exactly?”
“It's a, uh, Kewpie, sir,” Riddle timidly answered.
“A ‘Kewpie’.”
“Yes, sir, a Kewpie, sir.”
Severus glanced down at the child beside him. Riddle was fiddling with his fingers again, nervously looking up at him.
“I… do not know what to say, Riddle.” Severus admitted, looking back to the object.
Quite literally, he thought as he examined the baby-like doll, I have no words to describe this.
“D-do you like it, sir?” Riddle asked hopefully. Severus pursed his lips.
“It certainly is an… interesting item,” Severus carefully replied non-committedly. Riddle seemed to take it as an answer anyway, beaming at him. Severus didn't feel like correcting the child.
A brief silence.
“Riddle, tell me,” Severus added after a thought, “why does this ‘Kewpie’ not have any clothing on?” He held up the doll in front of the kid.
“Um, b‘cause, sir, the package came like that, sir, I think, sir?” Riddle answered, unsure.
“Hm.”
“I, uh, the, erm, the heart, sir, in the middle, sir, I think, sir, that it came like that too, sir, I’m very sorry, sir,” Riddle continued, a futile attempt of trying to justify the doll.
Severus chose to ignore the unnecessary apology.
“I’m assuming that the recipient is supposed to dress this doll on their own,” Severus mused, frowning.
Riddle bit his lip. “If you don’t like it, sir, I can, uhm, take it back, sir, that is, sir, if you want, sir.” The kid looked downcast.
Severus regarded Riddle. He looked back at the doll. And back at Riddle. Severus frowned. He contemplated his options for a moment, and sighed.
“You have a habit of jumping to conclusions too quickly, Riddle.”
The kid jerked his head up. Severus pursed his lips.
“I shall hold on to the doll.” He grimaced inwardly as he pocketed the toy, careful to keep from touching as much as possible.
He glanced at Riddle, to see him smiling up at Severus, looking pleased. Severus smirked at the child, saying nothing.
Now, all he had to do was remember to locate the nearest fireplace.
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Romance 101; Part 1
[Early-August 1933]
“Alright, that should be the last of it. Good work, Snape,” Ashurn said as he packed up the last of the ingredients.
Severus nodded.
“Excellent. Then I shall take my leave.” He picked up his cloak and made for the door.
“Have fun with your girlfriend!” Ashurn called out behind him. Severus paused mid-step. He swiveled back to face the other.
What did he say?
“Girlfriend?”
“Of course!” Ashurn replied, as if nothing was wrong. “ Don't even try to hide it, Snape. I see how you rush off everyday after closing hours. So,” Ashurn wiggled his eyebrows at Severus, “who's the lucky gal?”
Severus frowned.
“I believe you're quite mistaken, Ashurn. I do not have a partner,” he replied flatly.
“Sure you don't,” Ashurn said, tone suggesting he believed otherwise. “Who are you off meeting then?”
“A mere acquaintance.”
“Really eh? An acquaintance you say? Come on, Snape, you can tell me,” Ashurn looked up from counting the day's earnings to smile— sincerely?— at Severus.
“Mr Ashurn, with all due respect, I do not have a romantic partner. The person that you so insist on being my ‘girlfriend’ is no more than an acquaintance, I assure you.” Severus said to Ashurn with the utmost seriousness.
And a boy of age seven years old, he thought, but Ashurn doesn't need to know that.
“Really?” Ashurn genuinely looked surprised now. He stared intently at Snape.
“What is the matter?” Severus asked, wondering about the sudden scrutiny.
“Well, with your looks you surely have more than a few people asking you out, eh?” Ashurn replied while adjusting his glasses, still examining Severus' face.
Severus scoffed.
“Me? People asking me on a…date? What a ludicrous suggestion. I hardly qualify as one of those ‘good looking’ men that women ask on dates.”
Ashurn paused his inspection, and instead looked at Severus in bewilderment.
“What is it now?” Severus asked again, getting annoyed.
“You?” Ashurn scanned the younger man up and down. “Not good looking?”
A beat.
“BAHAHAHAHA!” Ashurn burst out laughing.
Severus frowned, wondering what in Merlin's name could be so funny.
“Yes, quite.” He simply replied.
“Have you even looked in a mirror?” Wheezed Ashurn, looking at Severus with an incredulous expression.
“Naturally.”
“And you don’t see… this?” Ashurn vaguely gestured towards Severus in between laughs.
“If you are referring to my appearance, I do look presentable, yes. But I can hardly be considered as ‘good looking’.” Severus said, completely guileless.
Ashurn just doubled over, laughing even harder.
“You —gasp— think —gasp— that you're —gasp— only presentable? Oh,” Ashurn sighed, wiping tears from his eyes, “good joke Snape, good one.” He returned to counting the Galleons and Sickles on the counter. “Next thing you're gonna tell me is that you've never been on a date!”
…
Ashurn’s head whipped up to look at Severus.
“Seriously?” He asked, dubious.
“Is there an issue with that?” Severus retorted, suddenly defensive.
"Is there— for Merlin’s— no, there’s nothing wrong with that, obviously. But still,” Ashurn looked Severus up and down incredulously. “I would've thought that people were hitting on you left and right!”
Severus made a strange face. What was Ashurn insinuating?
“Hitting on me?” He repeated, perplexed. “Well, clearly not. I have met no witch or wizard who preferred muggle fighting to duels.”
Ashurn stared at him skeptically. Severus stared emotionlessly back.
Ashurn blinked. Severus did not.
Suddenly, the older man let out an exasperated sigh. Severus was nonplussed by the frustration that Ashurn was expressing. He narrowed his eyes on the other man. He must have misunderstood something.
“What is the matter with you,” Severus asked Ashurn, eyebrows furrowed.
“You, my dear employee,” Ashurn looked at Severus pointedly, “are the most oblivious wizard I have ever met—”
Severus gave Ashurn an indignant look.
“—when romance is on the table. Otherwise, Snape,” Ashurn raised an eyebrow, “I don't deny that you are usually quite brilliant, mostly in potions.”
“I shall take that as a partial compliment,” Severus said.
Ashurn shrugged nonchalantly. “Great for me, not so great for all those poor, young witches out there.”
Severus just rolled his eyes and turned around, once again preparing to leave.
“Although, I suppose it is my duty as your elder to at least try to help you out here,” Ashurn voiced out from behind him.
Severus paused. He knew that he could have just left the apothecary right then and there, but he was rather curious as to how this could go. He turned to face Ashurn.
“You want to… help me.” Severus deadpanned. Ashurn was stroking his golden-blond goatee thoughtfully.
“Hm… yes. How else are you going to experience the tragic wonder that is love?”
“That, I would rather go without.” Severus replied curtly, immediately regretting his decision and turning right back around to leave.
Ashurn surprisingly didn't stop him. Severus took the opportunity and swiftly exited the store, and instantly apparating away, leaving Ashurn to himself in the apothecary.
“Yes, that could work… Snape, come— oh.” Ashurn looked up to an empty shop. “Well, that’s quite alright. There’s always tomorrow.” He chuckled to himself.
Now he had something to look forward to tomorrow.
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Part 2 coming next week :D