A bit late...



Winter came swiftly to Hogsmeade, and Severus was beginning to get a little twitchy, drinking all that tasty coffee from his little Starbucks franchise. After only a week and a half of drinking nothing but hot cocoa, his spirits lightened and he found himself happier than he'd ever been in his life. He'd even completely stopped badgering Evlpez and had genuinely offered assistance with her lesson plans. She still didn't trust him though, and had abandoned his tutelage completely. As a result, the kids up at Hogwarts weren't learning much in Potions Class other than how to make some most excellent soup.

His cup of cocoa in one hand, Severus waved his wand at the door to the coffee shop, unlocking it. The Open sign flickered on and he began his Saturday. Immediately, the Patil twins came in, bickering loudly.

"I said [i]non-fat, half-caf latte," chided Padma.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're skinny. You do not need non-fat. And half-caf? What's the point of caffeine at all if you're only going to get half of it?" Parvati was shaking her head incredulously.

Severus tossed back the last of his hot cocoa, the bitter sediment of cocoa washing over his tongue pleasantly.

"My dear girls. Why argue over such a silly thing? Miss Patil, let your sister enjoy her morning cup however she likes it. There's no need to press your taste in coffee upon her. Here," he said as he finished making them both their favorite concoctions, "On the house."

The girls looked at each other with more than a little fear and hurried away. Severus poured himself another hot cocoa.

The bell above the door jingled once again as the Weasley twins came in. Fred was holding George's shoe in his hand, a mess of green goo dripping from it.

"But once we get the timing right on the third and fourth charms, it'll be better. The wearer will transfigure into a polar bear. It will be perfect," Fred was saying.

"Yes, except for the part where that isn't my shoe. Use your own next time," George pouted as he took his shoe back and performed a thorough Evanesco on it."

"Two large lattes, Sevvie," Fred sang. They'd begun apparating to Hogsmeade from their store in Diagon Alley just to have him serve them their morning coffee. It was their favorite way to start the day.

Severus couldn't be bothered to sneer at them. He sipped his hot cocoa as he held the milk jug in his other hand to the steam wand of the espresso maker.

"Little wonder then, little wonder. You little wonder, little wonder, you," he sang absently. He'd had that David Bowie song stuck in his head ever since he'd heard it the other day on the Wizarding Wireless.

George put his shoe back on and promptly transfigured into a polar bear and five penguins.
Rather than gloat over the twins' latest failure, Severus chose to make five more lattes for George, free of charge. All six of him were very grateful as they waddled and padded out of the cafe behind Fred.

Severus drained his cup and frowned. He'd definitely have to go back to coffee.


This was..
Cassirin's Dare:
*The Patil twins must fight over something silly.
*There must be a polar bear and five penguins.
*Someone is addicted to hot cocoa and/or soup.
*Someone says "Except for the part where that isn't my shoe."
*Include lyrics from your favorite song in some way.
Due Jan 18