The eagle owl closed the eye on the be-skritched side and leaned blissfully into Al's hand.
Snape arched an eyebrow at Al's other hand and watched until it retreated back into Al's pocket. At least he hadn't looked too inclined to peck at it.
"Pickled?" Snape blinked, "In what?" He took the offered bag of beans with a speed just short of actual eagerness, pocketing it at once.
But it was the mention of their experiment that really made Snape's eyes light up. He began firing off questions with the speed of genuine interest. "How are your symptoms, cognitive and physical? Any easier to concentrate? Sleeping patterns improved? Any progress on identifying and coexisting with your emotional states?"