The slow circular swirls of Severus' hands paused. It felt as though a planet had halted in its orbit, as though time had stood still.
When Severus resumed the slow, patient rubbing a moment later, his expression was unchanged, but there was an unfamiliar note of hesitation in his voice as he murmured, "I am aware of standard practice in wedding ceremonies."
He continued in a voice barely quieter than a whisper, "Did this standard practice have any more... personal application?"