It had been another long evening spent, not slaving - because work undertaken with wholehearted willingness could never be counted slavery - but researching over a hot cauldron.
At the sound of Al's voice, Severus withdrew the rock-crystal stirring rod from the potion. Drops of potion as blue as a summer sky swelled and fell softly from the rod's tip; he dared not shake them loose, knowing that a potion so delicate would resent such rough treatment.
He lifted his mind free from the deep unity with the potion that sometimes left him dizzy, as if his whole soul had spent hours gyring within the curved belly of the cauldron. He lifted his gaze away from the surface, his face away from the fumes; he waved a stasis charm over the potion and set the crystal rod aside, abandoning the work of the day and giving Al his full attention.
One of his wry, dry, fond smiles curled the corner of that thin mouth as he tilted his head and regarded Al with a dark, glittering gaze.
"I've learned that it's possible to spend an entire year intrigued, absorbed... happy, all because of the company of one other man."