Re: Harry and Ginny's arrival
Snape had worked his way steadily through his meal as Al's parents pressed furniture on him: really, their reaction so far - apart from that heartless remark - had been more moderate than he'd feared.
Still, to Snape's eyes, Al's bolt-upright posture was as good as a sign in firewriting floating over his head: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. It made him itch with the need to do something.
He knew how well this would almost certainly not go across with Al's parents, but he abruptly decided, to hell with it. Far better for Snape himself to draw their ire, than to risk Al having one of his outbursts, and then having to face the consequences.
So he set aside his cutlery on the near-empty plate, rose to his feet, and crossed to stand behind and beside Al's chair. Then he leaned down to nuzzle at Al's hair, hoping the familiarity of the gesture would be calming. "It'll be fine." he murmured. "If you'd like, you could always send for catalogues, pick what you want." Adding control and predictability to the process would likely help.