jadedsirius @ 2002-08-01 04:29:00

Current music:

Def Leppard - Foolin'

Another session of "quality time" with Snape. This time, however, I got to pick the venue. Snape of course wanted a chess rematch (he still couldn't accept that he couldn't outright beat me, and frankly, it amazed me as well) but I decided Snape needed to get out. Out, as in Muggle London.

After reminding Snape that Dumbledore said I was to choose, he settled down, resigned to his fate. So I told him to come to my rooms at six, dressed in Muggle clothes. He didn't like that, of course, but he and I both knew he had no choice. Not like I was enjoying his discomfort at all...

But I digress. I couldn't wait to see what Snape would wear, of course. Figuring that he would assume I would wear my usual provocative attire, I decided to prove him wrong. Plain, though perfectly tailored black pants and a simple blue silk shirt, and that was it. No leather. Snape almost fainted I'm sure. He couldn't come up with one sarcastic remark about what I was wearing. I'm sure that annoyed him greatly.

As for Snape, he was wearing a very conservative black suit that looked about as close to his robes as you can get and still look Muggle. Once again, I'm convinced the man has no skin. It looked surprisingly good on him, though.

Then the best part... he knew we were going to London, but then I told him how we would get there. On my motorbike. He looked like he would have an aneurysm. I reminded him of Dumbledore's instructions. He was most displeased. But he knew he had no choice. The motorbike is practical anyway; it's small enough that I can apparate it, and it's easy to park once we're there.

So we went to my motorbike. Snape eyed it with obvious distaste. I got on, and eventually so did he. I told him he would have to hold on to me, but he refused. Damn the man and his pride. So I decided to give him a reason to hang on...

I do so love flying. We tore off into the night, Snape hanging on to the seat. I could almost hear him clench his eyes shut. I laughed, and I'm afraid I may have showed off a bit... I was doing a loop or two when he decided to finally give in and hold on to me.

Then, he made me put my hair in a braid because it kept getting in his face.

Finally, I apparated us the rest of the way, much to Snape's relief I'm sure.

The place I had chosen for our dinner is called "Yo Sushi." Some of you who come from Muggle families may have heard of it. It's quite popular. Filled with a young, trendy, beautiful crowd. I knew it would annoy Snape. Plus, I hadn't had sushi for ages.

Snape of course had no idea what to do. Really, for all the man's accomplishments and intelligence he can be really inept in social situations. I naturally took charge, and got us a seat right at the revolving bar. It's much more fun that way. All the selections come by on a miniature conveyor belt, and you just choose the ones you want as they go by.

I hadn't counted on the fact that Snape had never even had sushi before. In fact, he seemed dead set against it. He sat there like a black lump, complaining about everything from the fluorescent lights to the stools to the decor. So I chose for us.

After picking out a few dishes that I thought would be a good introduction, I began to explain what they were. I added a few Kirin for good measure (a Muggle alcoholic drink, something like butterbeer but stronger) and began to explain the food.

Well, though Snape didn't want to try the sushi, he seemed to have no problem with the beer and quickly knocked back several of them. I tried to warn him that they were stronger than butterbeer but as usual he ignored me. This had one good effect, however; I finally got him to try some sushi. I started him out with some toro. It's my favorite, rich and tender and the best part of the tuna. I could easily see the surprise on his face as he tried it. He had to admit it was good. With the liberal application of several more Kirin, Snape was persuaded to try some anago, keppamaki, hamachi and quite a few others. I was quite impressed. We even managed a conversation.

I knew things were going too well.

I had offered Snape the last toro, and tried to hand it to him with my chopsticks. Of course, Snape didn't know how to use chopsticks, and accused me of being a showoff. So to keep him from going off again, I simply shoved the piece of sushi right in his mouth. He looked surprised and affronted, but he ate it. I tried not to laugh too much.

Then I noticed an older couple standing next to us. I looked at them and so did Snape. The old lady positively beamed at us. I said, politely, "Can I help you?"

Then, to my and Snape's amazement, she launched into a long speech about what a cute couple we are, and how young love makes her so happy, and how she thinks it's so wonderful for us to be comfortable enough with each other to show our love in public...

Well, you can imagine how that went over. Snape was apoplectic. I thought he was going to explode right there. I couldn't help but laugh at the remarks and at Snape's discomfiture. That may have been a mistake too. Snape issued a vehement denial, and got up as if to go. But the beer must have hit him hard, because he stumbled, and I tried to help him, and that just made him even more livid. He flailed about and managed to knock a beer onto himself. And he accused me of doing it all on purpose. As usual.

So I left him to his own devices and paid the check. We left with all due haste. I was feeling badly for Snape's misfortune, and I knew the last place he would want to be was with me, so I offered to let him out of his obligation to go back to the school with me. I told him I wouldn't tell anyone he had apparated back. But Snape, to his credit, refused.

I decided what I really needed was a real drink, so I suggested we go to a pub I knew just down the street. One with comfortable chairs and no fluorescent lights. To my surprise, he accepted.

After several Guinness, we decided to play a few games of pool. Snape insisted on betting, to make it interesting. That was a bad idea. Lets just say that Snape plays chess much better than he plays pool. But he is too stubborn to give in.

After I had won from him all the money he had with him, Snape insisted on one more shot, double or nothing. I tried to refuse, be he wouldn't hear of it. Of course, he lost.

Snape was furious of course, and embarrassed. I didn't want his money, though.

I settled for first choice on the next "Quality Time" session.

I think I did well.

Finally we managed to drag ourselves back to the motorbike. It was lucky that it relies mostly on magic to fly, because I was rather tipsy. As it was, I'm afraid my flying may have been a bit unsteady. Snape was certainly hanging on tightly. A bit too tightly.

But I got us back to Hogwarts safely. That's what matters.


~Sirius

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