Summer Cuts (Snape x Reader)
A/N: Short story about Snape x Reader in the summer time at Hogwarts :). I will NEVER do a Teacher x Student dynamic as that is NOT appropriate whatsoever! This is in the perspective of two ADULTS, (Like a Professor x Professor)
C/W: Romantic, maybe abit out of character? I haven't seen any HP content in a long time so I apologize if it is. Also quality gets bad at the end D:
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June 1st, 1992,
Over the months, the weather has grown to be disgusting. The consistent heat, a pollen count so high you might as well live in Professor Sprout's garden, and the constant cries of how terrible it is outside. The humidity stuck to your skin as a reminder, prompting you to shut the windows for the night as quietly as you could. Today was busy like any other day, filling the infirmary with students from all houses with a variety of cuts and concussions. However, a common pattern throughout the school year that the files cannot ignore is the number of injuries reported by a particular professor, Professor Snape.
With the amount of time that has passed, one would assume the children would have learnt their lessons in the potions classroom, but of course, those are only dreams as you bandaged at least 5 different students today from either glass shattering, or an explosion from unsupervised mixing of ingredients. You couldn’t begin to start tallying up how many points Gryffindor has lost from Snape, let alone taking the other houses into account.
At the same time, from the number of students that have been sent down your way into the infirmary, you could have gotten a galleon each. An extra galleon for every reprimand the older man has given, quoted in response to the “stupidity” the child has caused.
Though you can’t deny, the stares Snape gives even make you nervous, despite them not being for you. With his flat voice and cold demeanor, it makes your hands shake just slightly when applying a bandage wrap as if he were looking down at you in shame. But they never could be for you, after all, if they were, you wouldn't retreat to his chambers after your long days beside Madam Pomfrey, especially considering the risk of rumors spreading around the castle.
Despite the way Snape presents himself in front of the students and staff, you’ve grown to learn in private that he isn’t the coldhearted man you once grew to believe. Admittedly, it was difficult interacting with the professor at the start. With closed walls, the only conversations were passersby in your wing, indirectly through the injured student. It didn’t help that other staff members had warned you about him: rude, selfish, all the things you hate. But now, you make the final step in front of the professor's chambers, tapping on the door with your knuckles. The door opens a tad, only to see the brown iris of the man you’ve grown to form a soft spot for. Reaching out for the handle, he pulls out the door for a way of entry, a soft smile forming at his lips.
No words had to be exchanged as you gently placed your bag at the side of the door, letting your body go, falling into the older man's arms. Feeling his hands snake behind your back, you can't ignore how cold the tips of his fingers are compared to your hot, sweaty back. With his black robe, you’re surprised he isn’t drenched, but he always has something up his sleeve. Sliding his hands up your back to your shoulders, he gently pushes you away from him, enough to be able to look at the man. “Hello, love.” A few giggles leave your lips, only to be stolen from Snape momentarily. “I assumed the weather would have taken its toll upon you, though nothing ever seems to take you down.” Lacing his fingers in your hair, he lets go and turns you ever so slightly towards the bathroom door. “I took it upon myself to run you a bath, lilac oil dropped in to help relax your muscles.” Before you could protest, you were already being guided towards his bathroom to be met with a candlelit bath. Towels laid out, and clothes to be assumed are his. Your excitement through your tired demeanor must have shown, as a low chuckle is heard behind you. “I’ll be outside waiting for you.”
The lilac oil must have contained a few extra ingredients, which wouldn’t be a surprise from Snape's storeroom, as you feel flowy. Almost as if you didn’t have any muscles at all, with no areas for aches to hurt you. You would question the true nature of this “oil”, but this opportunity of peace is too good to waste on investigation towards your boyfriend. Speaking of the secret, there you found him lying in those silky sheets you bought him this past holiday. Though he swore there was no reason, the eye bags he once carried had seemed to fade with this newfound sleep he’d been achieving. But he’d argue the newest addition to his bed was better than anything, you. His fingers tapped on the empty space beside him with a knowing look, ready to swarm you in. “Come here.”
It feels almost unreal being beside him, but with his fingers on your waist, it grounds you back to the moment shared only with you two. “How was your day? I hope not torturous.” “Between the heat and your students,” You tease, pointing a finger at his chest, “I would say..unbearable.” You feel his grip tighten around you. “It’s not my fault they have comprehension skills of a troll. For Merlin's sake, it's June, by now, at least a small ounce of understanding should resonate within them.” You tried to stuffle your laugh but failed as you chackled into his clothed chest, feeling the vibrations of his own against you. “They all leave shortly, Severus. Until then, you’ll have to deal with the hooligans within your classroom.” Without missing a beat, the raven-haired man replies, “And in particular, do you mean the Weasley twins, the Gryffindor house, or the rest of the frustratingly dense students I’ve been assigned?” It's a shocker, none of the other staff haven’t heard you guys yet as your laugh comes deeper from the chest this time, trying to wrap your arms around him but failing as your arms only flail due to your laughing. Of course, he is always there to catch you, pulling you in perfectly.
Eventually, you catch your breath, little gasps for air entering your lungs as you feel a pair of lips reach your forehead. “I’m not quite sure why I invite you to my chambers, when it seems you distract the pair of us from resting.” Adjusting yourself slightly up to reach the man's lips, you follow: “Despite your appearance, you seem to enjoy my incessant talking.” “It appears so.” A comfortable silence falls between you two, filling any space that you could have left open between your cuddling. Closing your eyes, you let your tiredness take over in his embrace.
“Goodnight.”