Without a word, Professor Snape turned and walked into his bedroom, returning shortly with a gift for Miss Rhea Walker. It was a pitch-black box adorned with silver stripes and tied with a dark green ribbon. Holding the gift out to her, he said slowly, "Rhea, this is your Christmas gift."
Snape didn't even notice that the tips of his ears had turned a deep, telling red, betraying his nervousness and shyness. Seeing him like this only made Rhea more curious about what was inside, though her instinctive good manners told her it wouldn't do to open it right in front of him.
"Professor Snape, no matter what it is, I will love it. If it's from you, it's bound to make me happy. Now, I'm going to my room to unwrap it, Professor Snape~" With a delighted squeal, Rhea threw her arms around him, drawing out the final syllable with a teasing, sultry lilt.
Chapter 119