For @theblueblues-ao3: and more
Xenophilius sits in front of the Ravenclaw house yet again, looking sad and lost. Severus has seen it a few times already, but until now he wasn't curious and/or bored enough to care about it. Just now he is. He sits down on the bench next to the soft-spoken boy, so extremely blond that it looks like he has no lashes or eyebrows, the most extreme contrast to Severus himself.
“So, why are you out here and not in there?” Xeno is smarter than even most Ravenclaws, the riddle can't be the reason.
Xeno shrugs. “Our dear portrait doesn't like my answers, and my fellow ravens won't help. They think I am too strange.” That is certainly true, but no reason for hostility. There are no people less mean and spiteful than Xeno, also in difference to Severus.
“Then what did the Portrait ask?”
“What is black and white and musical.” Xeno gesticulates. “The obvious answer is so boring. But think of it. There as so many interesting birds in these colours...”
It makes sense. Xeno wouldn't just say “piano” and be done with it. “Well, let me try it.” He does, he opens the door, it's fine. It's boring too, Xeno is right about that.
“Thank you, Severus. I always knew you were kinder than people say.” Xeno slips through the now open door, but turns back for just a second, smiling and kissing his cheek as if it was the most normal thing. Then he is gone.
The mark where he touched skin burns for hours, and Severus doesn't wash it for days.