Pomona changed into a cream-colored chiffon dress, the sort suitable for visiting. As she turned around in the shop, the fabric kept rustling, and the skirt bloomed like a flower.
"How do I look?" she asked Severus happily.
He smiled, apparently quite pleased with what he saw, then looked at the clerk. "Wrap that up as well."
"Yes, Professor," the clerk said delightedly, but Pomona hesitated. This was the sixth outfit she had tried on, and the sixth one he had had wrapped up without asking the price.
"How much is it?" Pomona hurriedly asked.
"Let me worry about the money," he said in a tone that was plainly smug despite his attempt at composure.
"I can't..."
"Do you want to wear that to Borgin and Burkes?" he suddenly asked.
Pomona looked down at her dress. She wanted to wear it to the Smith family gathering, but not to Borgin and Burkes. The place was dusty and filthy.
"Go change into something else," Severus said.
She was reluctant. She rarely had the chance to look like this now. What was the point of buying so many clothes?
Snape, who had been about to pay at the counter, seemed to notice her hesitation and led her into a corner.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"It's too wasteful," she muttered.
"You've already worn all these clothes," he said, as if stubbornly arguing his case.
"I only tried them on," she protested. "It's not like they become secondhand after being worn once."
He looked unhappy.
Eileen had not made Severus wear secondhand school robes. She had only made him wear the floral shirts she had worn...
"Did you bring enough money? We haven't bought anything for you yet," she said quietly.
Only then did his expression improve somewhat.
"Which one are you picking