Tags - Angst, crying, confessions of love, sneaking out, slight panic attack, and I think that’s it.
Word Count - 684
Beta - None. All mistakes are my own.
The Prompt I Chose - “Y/N! Open the door!”
Written for - My 200 follower celebration drabble challenge!
Nights at Hogwarts were often calm. While the rest of the students slept peacefully in your dorm, you sat in the windowsill with your thoughts. It was nearly spring, and even closer to the day when you’d have to say goodbye to the place you practically grew up in.
You’d miss so many people and things about this castle, but there was one person you’d miss more than anything else. Falling in love with Professor Snape hadn’t been your intention, but it’s what your heart decided.
Most nights, you would look out across the grounds and let your mind race until you were tired enough to sleep. Other nights, much like this one, you knew it wouldn’t be enough. Quickly and quietly, you slid your shoes on and stepped out into the chilly dungeon corridor.
Navigating these halls was something you’d grown accustomed to over the years, and you managed to get to your destination without using Lumos once. Once you were sure you weren’t followed, you slipped inside and breathed a sigh of relief.
Unaware that Professor Snape watched you disappear behind the door, your eyes zeroed in on the one thing that brought you peace. The Mirror of Erised sat near the back of the room, and you felt as if you were drawn to it.
Slowly, you walked up and ran your fingers along the grooves of its frame. The detail in its design was beautiful, but that wasn’t why you came here. The floor beneath you was cold, but you sat anyway. Your knees were folded up to your chest and your eyes glistened with fresh tears as you took in the sight before you.
It was you in an embrace. A hand coming up to cradle your face as obsidian eyes gazed lovingly into your soul. You were so enraptured by how real it all looked that you didn’t hear the door open behind you. “I could have you expelled for being out of bed, you know.” You felt the color drain from your face. Out of all the people to find you in here, why did it have to be him? “P-Professor Snape! I … I can expl-”
Instead of taking points away from Y/H, he asked a question you weren’t expecting. “What do you see?” You wiped a few stray tears and shook your head. “You wouldn’t understand…” Snape crossed his arms, his expression becoming impossibly more impatient. “The fact that you think I wouldn’t understand only intrigues me more, Y/L/N. Either tell me what you see when you look in that mirror, or I’ll take you to Dumbledore myself.”
Panic pricked at your skin. There was no way you could tell him, and he’d know if you lied, so you did the only thing you could at that moment. You ran. He called after you, but all you could think of was finding somewhere to hide. A closet caught your eye and you hurried inside, barricading yourself against the back of the door.
Sobs racked your body and even though you knew the noise would lead him straight to you, nothing could stop them. His deep voice was muffled by the thick wood of the door, but you still heard him clear as day. “Did you really think you could hide from me in my own potions closet?” He muttered the unlocking spell and tried to get in, but you pushed back keeping him from entering. “Professor, please, just … let me go back to my room! Don’t break my heart anymore than it already is!”
“Y/N! Open the door!” Snape never called you or any other student by their first name, and that was enough to get you to ease up on the door just enough. He opened it slowly and stepped into your space, his hand tilting your face up to meet his just like in the reflection you saw. “Tell me, what do you see?” Your lip quivered as you finally told him your secret. The welfare of your heart now laying completely in his hands.
Pairing - Professor Severus Snape x Fem Student Reader
Chapter One Rating - T for Teen
Tags - Angst, some fluff, flashbacks to an abusive childhood, mentions of past abandonment, mention of magic, mute reader, no sexual relationship with Professor Snape yet… since ya know… the reader is still a child…, and I think that’s it.
Beta - @winecatsandpizza
Word Count - 1.5k
Fic Aesthetic - Yours Truly
A/N - Hello, all you lovely people ♥! I have been writing fanfiction for a long time, but I am just now posting my fics that are related to the Harry Potter fandom. I mainly write for Severus Snape, but I wouldn’t be opposed to writing for other characters. Send me an ask if you would like me to write for you. Feedback is gold and my fuel to put out more chapters/new fics.
A/N 2 - **** Each chapter will have its own rating!!!! Heed all the warnings I post!! My work is NOT to be copied, posting anywhere else, or saved without my express written permission! **** The text in italics are flashbacks and the owl’s name is pronounced Air Uh Dell. If you’d like to be tagged in future chapters, please send me an ask or message. :)
Chapter One: A New Beginning
From the moment you turned six years old you’d known you were different. Something inside you stirred, aching to be released.
On the day it broke free you’d been outside playing with your friend Sara in the grass. The new dolls you’d been given for your birthday scattered around the two of you as you laughed and carried on. Before you knew it, your older brother Nathan snatched the one Sara was playing with from her hands.
He mockingly held it above his head just out of her reach making tears well in her eyes. You felt your blood boil as you stood in front of him, your hands on your hips. His mocking figure towered over you by at least a foot but had been determined to get the doll back in one piece to Sara. “Give it back to her, Nate!” You seethed. He cocked an eyebrow and clicked his tongue. “Aw, does cry baby Sara want the dolly back? C’mon then, let’s see you try and get it, Y/N!”
He laughed at your efforts to reach it before tossing it on top of the garage. “Oops!” Nathan shrugged before giving a sarcastic smirk. “Looks like your precious doll is gone forever.” The coil of rage inside you seemed to snap. All your anger focused on Nathan as you lunged at him, but before you could reach him something extraordinary happened. Your gaze alone seemed to propel him into the trunk of the big oak tree growing in your front yard.
His body fell to the ground with a thud and he groaned in pain before picking himself up. His eyes rose to yours in a fearful stare only for a moment before he took off towards the front door to your house.
If you’d only known that from that day forward your life was going to change forever.
Now, here you stood, five years later in Y/H’s common room. It was your first year at Hogwarts, and you couldn’t have been happier. This ancient castle was to be your home now. Outside in the muggle world, you didn’t have a real place to go. Ever since that fateful day when you’d done that to your brother your parents abandoned you without hesitation.
They were both muggles and no one in your immediate family had any trace of being a witch or wizard. You were dropped off at an orphanage with no education on the wizarding world you belonged in.
It wasn’t long before the Headmaster heard about you. Underage wizards weren't allowed to use magic outside of school and things were happening around you that you couldn’t explain. Immediately, he’d made plans for Professor McGonagall to take you in.
Even though you didn’t know Minerva very well, being with her felt right. It felt like you were where you were supposed to be. It felt like home.
Professor McGonagall helped you unpack your belongings in your dormitory to make sure you settled in okay. She’d known what you’d been through and knew the repercussions that came of it. The constant nightmares, the panic attacks, and not to mention the fact that you hadn’t spoken since the day everything went down. Only her and the Headmaster knew, and she didn’t want to push you.
Once you two were finished, she gave you a soft smile taking your hand in hers. “There we go, Y/N. It feels good to be all settled in, hm?” The nervous look on your face didn’t go unnoticed and she sighed before leading you to sit on your bed. “Y/N, I know this is a new place with people you don’t know, but I promise you you’re safe here. Albus, Professor Dumbledore, won’t let anything happen to you or any of his students. Hogwarts is a safe place where you won’t be alone in your abilities. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your voice while you’re here.”
She gently rubbed your shoulder and kissed the top of your head before standing to smooth out her robes. “You have class early tomorrow so don’t stay up too late. Professor Snape doesn’t like it when his students are late.
Goodnight, Y/N and remember should you need anything don’t hesitate to send me a message via your owl.”
You listened as the sound of her heels clicked down the stone stairs. Once she was gone, the only thing you could hear was the muffled voices in the common room. Even though you were a first-year, the other people in your house knew that you were a mute. They didn’t treat you differently, but you were still hesitant to make friends nonetheless. Honestly, you were afraid to get to close to someone for fear of something bad happening like what happened to your brother.
The soft chirp from your owl lifted you from your thoughts. Aradeyl tilted her small head to look at you through the bars of her cage and you suddenly felt sorry for her having to be cooped up all this time. Slowly, you padded across the room and opened her cage. She stepped onto your arm and sidestepped up to your shoulder letting out another shrill chirp. Your fingers softly caressed her feathers as she lovingly nipped at your earlobe. You brought her down to your lap so you could stroke the feathers on the top of her head.
The two of you stayed like that for a few moments before your eyes started to get heavy. Once Aradeyl was safely back in her cage, you climbed beneath your covers and tried your best to get a good night’s sleep.
The next morning you were the first one awake. Streams of sunlight seeped through the curtains as you blinked away the sleep in your eyes. Quickly, you changed into your robes and padded downstairs towards the entrance of your common room. The crackling of the fire filled your ears as you slipped on your tennis shoes.
It was still slightly early as you entered the corridor towards Potion’s class, but you were always early. It was in your nature. Being late to anything gave you anxiety, and that led to panic attacks.
The door to Professor Snape’s classroom was unlocked and the lights were on, but he was nowhere in sight. You figured he was either in the Great Hall still or was gathering ingredients for your class. Either way, you took the unlocked door as an invitation and strode inside silently. The back row of desks looked inviting and you took the desk in the far corner. Placing your parchment, ink bottle, and quill on your desk, you chewed on your lip waiting for the other students to file in.
Fifteen minutes later, the class was buzzing with life. Students chattered back and forth with one another and occasionally a paper airplane would fly across the room. You sat silently in your seat knowing full well that Professor Snape wasn’t to be messed with. You’d never met him but from the stories Professor McGonagall told you, he wasn’t one to tolerate students goofing off.
The door slammed open and the most daunting looking man strode in. His long black robes swished behind him like a cape, his shoulder-length black hair bouncing with each footfall. He stopped at his podium and glared at the shocked eyes staring up at him. “Silence! I will not tolerate talking out of turn in my classroom! I would expect you to have your parchment and quills out already, but alas I see none of you are that bright.” His low booming voice had you in awe as you continued to stare at him. Sure, he was intimidating, but something about him intrigued you.
Snape folded his arms across his chest and tapped the toe of his shoe on the concrete floor. “It would seem that the only one here ready to learn is Miss Y/N. Five points to Y/H. The rest of you hurry up and get your quills ready because I am only going to say this once.”
The rest of the day went pretty quickly for you, but one thing was constant in your mind. There was something about Professor Snape that kept him at the forefront of your thoughts. Why was he so angry? Sure, you’d seen anger before, but no one was ever angry all the time. Not like him. Maybe you could ask Minerva about him after supper.
As you walked towards the Great Hall the feeling of being watched grew stronger by the second. It wasn’t until you caught a glance of the vast forest outside the school grounds that you felt the goosebumps prickle your skin. The sun was beginning to set, and the trees seemed to make everything darker. A lone shadow-like figure with big red eyes made you gasp. It’s gaze seemingly bore into your very soul the longer you looked at it.
The sound of your name being called made you jump and you turned to see Professor McGonagall. She gave you a concerned look, but you smiled reassuringly before walking the rest of the way to the Great Hall with her.
The figure you saw at the edge of the forest treeline distracted you from eating. Question upon question flooded your mind as you pushed your food around with your fork. Should you write down what you saw and show someone? Would they think you were insane? Has anyone else seen anything like what you saw?
As a thank you to all my amazing mutuals, I will be writing an array of different drabbles! A total of 75 drabbles will be posted over the next few weeks 😊.
Later on tonight, I'll post a Masterpost with all of the prompts I plan to write. Of course, Alan in some form or another (one of his characters etc.), will be a main character and these will all be reader insert. 💚
The first 25 will be angsty
The second 25 will be fluffy
The third 25 will be smutty
If you would like to be tagged in the drabbles as I post them, please message me or send me an ask. The main tag to look out for will be #seducedbyseverus200followercelebration 🥰.
Thank you for all the follows, likes, comments, reblogs, asks, and messages 💚. I love all of you. Always.
Below you will find all my writing related to the Harry Potter fandom! ♥ This will be updated as I post new works/chapters :) Enjoy!
One Shots
Forbidden Love - Severus Snape x Reader - After receiving your Hogwarts letter late, you get thrown into a world that’s greatly unfamiliar to you. When something goes wrong on a routine job at Hagrid’s will you succumb to the trials of the Forbidden Forest, or will love find a way to save you? (Coming April 8th, 2020)
Series
Amor Vincit Omnia - Severus Snape x Mute!Reader - Y/N had known nothing but the Muggle world around her. From the moment she turned six years old, her life turned upside down and she became immersed in the world of magic. A life filled with memories from previous traumas rendered her mute. Can a certain Potions master help her find her voice, or will she remain trapped by her past?
Below you will find my Bingo Card for this year’s Harry Potter Bingo. I am accepting requests for the squares, so please send me an ask if you’d like to request something. If the prompt below the cut is bolded, that means it’s already been requested. Once I have written the fic, they’ll become links. Enjoy my loves ♥!
Tags: Acromantula, mentions of blood, death of a mythical creature, gore, angst, fluff, smut, bullying, broken bones, hippogriffs, unicorns, fluffy, centaurs, syringes, major character injury, near-death experience, age gap, teacher/18-year-old student relationship, unprotected sex, fingering, begging, forced reveal of feelings, forbidden forest, family drama, and I think that’s it.
Beta: @winecatsandpizza
Written for: @snapebang and @harrypotterbingo
Square Filled: Acromantula
A/N: I altered the timeline a little to make this flow better. I realize that Gilderoy lost his memory during the Chamber of Secrets era. I also realize that Severus didn't take on the DADA teaching position until Harry's 6th year. I just wanted to make that clear for everyone. :) Enjoy!
"Hmm…difficult, very difficult. Mmm yes, lots of ambition and very loyal too. A hint of creativity, but you seem to mask it well with your bravery...” As the sorting hat’s voice echoed throughout the Great Hall, your mind began to flood with the past week’s events.
It was the day after your eighteenth birthday when you discovered your Hogwarts letter. Your grandmother had been a great witch and even taught at Hogwarts after she finished her seventh year. From the moment you were born, she knew you were destined for good things. Your parents had forbidden her from using magic around you and even went so far as to hide your letter of acceptance on your eleventh birthday. It wasn’t until you were going through some of your childhood toys in the attic that you came across it.
The letter was stuck to the back of an old photo album, and the writing had nearly faded completely. You ran your fingers over the yellowing parchment, the tip of your index finger raising slightly as it slid over the sealing wax. You recognized the symbol immediately. Your grandmother had it all over her house, and you’d thought it to be your family’s crest. The wax gave way easily and you pulled the letter out as carefully as you could. Your heart began to race and your breath caught in your throat. The letter was for you! You had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You blinked and brought yourself back to reality, the hat seemed to be finishing up his assessment. “...better make it...Slytherin!” The table full of students to the far-right of the hall erupted in cheer as you walked towards them. You took your seat and after the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses, the Headmaster approached the podium. He raised his hands and without saying a word, the whole room went silent.
“Welcome! Welcome, everyone! It is my great pleasure to start off a new school year with a few minor changes. As many of you know, Gilderoy Lockhart is no longer capable of teaching. It seems a memory charm backfired and he’s lost all memory of who he is. Be that as it may, I am very pleased to announce that our own Severus Snape will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Your eyes scanned the teachers at the head table and stopped when they landed on a man who looked slightly younger than the others. He stood and nodded ever so slightly before taking his seat again. Your gaze lingered on him as Professor Dumbledore continued on with his speech.
“Thus it’s only fitting that the one and only Professor Horace Slughorn takes Severus’ place as Potions teacher.” Another professor stood up from the table and smiled as a round of applause reverberated off the walls. “Now that we’ve determined who will be teaching what subject, I have an additional announcement to make. All students will refrain from entering the forbidden forest. Anyone who isn’t experienced enough to handle themselves will most certainly die a very horrible death. Now, without further interruption, let the feast begin!”
With a wave of his hand, the empty plates filled with a delicious looking meal. You ate quietly as the other Slytherins talked and carried on. Every so often, you turned to look at the mysterious man with the all-black attire. Mysterious didn’t even begin to describe him. Even though it wasn’t classified as magic, you had always found yourself skilled in reading people. He looked particularly confident, his shoulder-length black hair bouncing slightly as he talked among the other teachers. There was just something you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Was it pain? The very moment you thought the word to yourself, his eyes snapped up to yours. Horrified that you were caught staring, you quickly turned your attention to your plate. Had he read your mind?
Deciding not to dwell on it any longer, you continued eating your meal thinking about the new chapter in your life. Though you didn’t know much about Hogwarts and the world of magic, you did know that this house, in particular, had a bad reputation. Your grandmother was a Ravenclaw, and would sometimes divulge knowledge about the other houses. The one thing you remembered about Slytherin was that its founder believed only certain people should be allowed to attend this school and practice magic. Purebloods.
You were the farthest thing from being a pureblood. In fact, you were what other witches and wizards would call a Muggle. That was another thing you learned from your grandma. Muggle was a term used to describe someone who had non-magic blood, or the less liked derogatory name, mud-blood. The fork in your left hand scraped across your plate as you pushed your food around aimlessly. Why on Earth would the sorting hat put you in Slytherin?
Soon, dinner was over and the prefects led the students back to their respective common rooms. You followed the other female students to the girl’s dormitory and found your trunk and owl had already been brought in. Nova chirped and tilted her head when she saw you, and you couldn’t help but giggle. “Miss me already, sweetheart? Well, I missed you too.” The soft feathers on her head slid between your fingers while you talked to her. Even though she didn’t talk back, it was always nice to feel like someone was listening.
You settled on your bed and began drawing in your sketchpad as the other girls in your room talked among themselves. Their conversation hardly registered with you, your focus solely on the drawing of Nova you were currently working on. It wasn’t until one of the other girls tapped you on your shoulder that you noticed they were talking to you. “Hellooo? Were you even listening to us?” You set your sketch pad next to you on the bed and looked up at the three girls staring at you intently. “S-Sorry, I didn’t realize you were talking to me. I was um … I was focused on my drawing.”
The girl closest to you rolled her eyes and huffed impatiently. “I said, why aren’t you eleven like the other first years?” There it was, the question you knew would be asked eventually. You just didn’t think you’d have to answer it this soon. “My um… Well, I suppose it’s because my parents hid my acceptance letter from me.” The one with the blonde hair began to laugh. “Why that’s absurd. Why anyone would hide a Hogwarts letter from their child is beyond me. Unless… wait… are you not a pureblood?”
A sudden feeling of shame overtook you and your gaze wandered to your lap, a loose string on your blanket became instantly more interesting. “I-I… Well, no… I’ve got non-magic parents actually.” The third girl scoffed. “Daphne, can you believe they let scum like this into our house?” Blondie, who you presumed to be Daphne, snatched your sketchbook off the bed and tore it in two and laughed. “Serves her right. Mud-bloods don’t belong in Slytherin.” She drew her wand and pushed the tip into the skin of your throat making your whole body quake in fear. “Listen up you vile little wretch, you’d better not lose us any house points if you value your life at all. Understand?”
Tears pricked your eyes as you nodded quickly. “Y-Yes… Yes, I-I understand.” She removed her wand and the two other girls followed close behind as they left the room. Closing your eyes, you took a few deep breaths trying to slow the rapid beating of your heart. A few minutes later, you let out a shaky breath and began to clean up the remnants of your sketch pad. Luckily, this was a brand new one and Daphne hadn’t torn up anything too valuable.
Once you were finished, you slipped on your shoes and held out your arm to Nova. She chirped happily and sidestepped to your shoulder. Staying in your room anywhere near the other Slytherin girls was the last thing you wanted to do, so you decided to explore the castle grounds a little before bed. After all, it was only Friday night, and classes didn’t start for another two weeks.
The crisp fall air licked at your skin the moment you stepped out in the courtyard. It felt good to breathe the fresh air and you suspected that Nova felt the same. She immediately took flight and let out a happy screech. Part of you envied her. Being able to soar as high as the clouds away from all the negativity was something you could only dream of doing.
You wandered around the castle grounds until you spotted a hut nestled at the edge of a tree line. The stone exterior and the pointed roof reminded you of the fairy tales your parents used to read as bedtime stories when you were little. Light grey smoke billowed out of the chimney and you could faintly hear someone humming. Curiosity got the better of you, and you soon found yourself at the foot of the steps.
Before you could knock, the front door swung open and none other than Hagrid looked down at you. “Why ‘ello there, lass! Teh what do I owe yeh the pleasure?” You’d only known him for a few hours, but you could tell that Hagrid had a big heart and good intentions. “I just needed some fresh air that's all. Things are… a bit much in my house.” Hagrid studied you as you spoke. It didn’t take a genius to know something was bothering you, and he saw right through the fake smile plastered on your face. “Why don’t yeh come in fer a spot of tea? I can tell something is troublin’ yeh.”
It became a sort of routine, the evenings you’d spend with the Hogwarts groundskeeper. After Hagrid had learned the way the other Slytherins were treating you, he’d made it clear that you could spend the night in his spare room any time you needed to. You insisted on paying him for his hospitality, but he always refused. All he had ever asked in return was help taking care of the mythical creatures. Most would probably view it as a chore, but you found it extremely therapeutic.
Friday evening before school started, you noticed Hagrid was missing from the teacher’s table. After dinner, you jogged along the path to his house and noticed the lights inside his hut were off. Hmm...that’s weird, you thought to yourself. Normally, he’d be making a pot of tea right about now. Tentatively, you walked up the steps and lightly knocked on his door. “Hagrid? Hey, are you home? It’s Y/N…” You tried the door, and it opened easily. “Hagrid? I’m coming in…” Fang peeked at you over his paw and yawned lazily. Other than the glow of the fire, nothing showed signs that he was home. As quietly as you could you walked to the back towards his bedroom. There, wrapped up in blankets and looking beyond miserable, was the half-giant himself.
“Oh, Hagrid… what’s the matter? You look like you feel awful.” He coughed and sneezed a few times before blowing his nose into a hankey. His skin was clammy, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “I’m sick, lass. Yeh shouldn’t come near me if ye know what’s good fer ya.” Out of instinct you put the underside of your wrist against his forehead and grimaced. “Hagrid, you’re burning up! Come on! We have to get you to Madame Pomfrey.”
You helped him stand and carefully started to lead him towards the castle. It took nearly fifteen minutes, but finally, you were able to get him to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey motioned to a bed and helped you lay him down. She insisted that she keep him overnight so she could monitor him, but Hagrid was having none of it. “No! Absolutely not! I can’t stay ‘ere overnight. Who’ll feed Fang an all me other beasts? Buckbeak ain’t the nicest Hippogriff when he’s missed a meal yeh know.”
Your hand came down to cover his as you looked him in the eyes. “Hagrid, please...stay here and let Madame Pomfrey take care of you. I’ll take care of feeding them tonight, okay? It’s not like I haven’t helped you make your rounds for the past week and a half.” The groundskeeper sighed with defeat and nodded. “Alright Y/N, I’ll stay an let yeh take care o’ my pets, but yeh have ta promise me you’ll be careful.”
You gave him a soft smile and stood to smooth out your robes. “Don’t worry, Hagrid. I’ll be quick and efficient just like you taught me. I even made myself a list so I remember which animal eats what as well as where they’re all located. I’ve got this!” Before he could change his mind, you hurried out of the room and back to his hut to grab what you needed. According to the list, you had five different species to feed tonight. The unicorns, Buckbeak the hippogriff, Fluffy the three-headed dog, the centaurs, and Aragog the acromantula.
None of these mythical beasts ever acted like they were harmful, but they weren’t to be taken lightly either. Not to mention you were with Hagrid every time you’d fed them before. After loading up the bags with their food, you made sure you had your wand before approaching the edge of the forest. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, the shadow from the trees always made the forest dark and a thin layer of mist lingered near the forest floor.
Fluffy was first on your list. His doghouse was about fifty feet within the forest. Brandishing your wand, you cast Lumos Maxima and took the trail to the west. A few minutes later, you could hear light snores echoing off the trees. Making sure you had the three slabs of meat at the ready, you whistled to get the giant beast’s attention.
"Fluffy! I got you some dinner!" The dog's left head yawned enthusiastically and you couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, that's enough sleeping. It's time for some yummy meat!" The middle head began to growl and bare its teeth at you while the one on the right shook its head back and forth violently. "There we go, nice and easy…" You slowly got closer and gently set the slabs of meat within his reach before backing off."
You stuck around long enough to make sure he saw the food and then walked north towards the part of the forest where unicorns made their homes. It surprised you to learn that they preferred witches over wizards. Hagrid had told you that they were very fast, so much so that they could outrun a werewolf.
Instead of trying to seek them out, he set up feed pails around their homes and filled them with food. As you were filling the pails, you saw a golden blur out of the corner of your eye. It startled you at first, but then you remembered Hagrid telling you that unicorn fouls were gold in color.
Staying completely still, you waited until it poked its head out from behind the tree. "Hi, sweetheart. You want some food?" At the mention of food, the foul whinnied and slowly approached your outstretched hand. It broke your heart that these beautiful creatures were nearly extinct. You gave light scratches to the tufts of fur behind its ears, the serene moment nearly making you forget where you were.
After hand-feeding the baby for a few minutes, you quickly filled the rest of the pails before heading towards the centaurs. Hagrid always made sure you remembered how proud the centaur breed was. They didn't like to be classified as "beasts" along with thestrals, merfolk, or werewolves. They also ate both human and equine food.
It was a good thing you remembered to grab both types. You didn't want to upset them at all, let alone do so without Hagrid around to protect you. As you approached their den, a familiar face came to greet you. "Good evening, Y/N." Firenze stood tall as he looked down at you, his unwavering gaze making you a bit nervous. "H-Hey! Sorry, it took me a bit to get here. Hagrid isn't feeling well, and I had to take him to the hospital wing."
The creature nodded and uncrossed his arms. "That's quite alright. I see you brought my colony dinner." You offered a smile and held out two big knapsacks of food. "I did! I wasn't sure what you would prefer so I came bearing a variety of things...I-I hope that's okay." Firenze chuckled and placed one of his large hands on your shoulder. "That's very kind of you, Y/N. Please give Hagrid my best. I do hope he recovers quickly." With a nod and a wave, you watched him until he was out of sight.
Adjusting the bag on your shoulder, you turned east and walked in the direction of the area Buckbeak frequented. You’d come to love the Hippogriff ever since Hagrid introduced you to him. It only took you about five minutes to navigate the trail before you could hear the excited bleats coming from a group of trees. Making sure to stop the moment you crested the hill, you made eye contact with Buckbeak and bowed low. The Hippogriff turned and tilted its head momentarily and then bowed in return. You took the dead ferrets out of the bag and tossed them in the air for him to catch. When you ran out he nudged the side of your face and chirped happily. “Yes, I love you too, Beaky. You’re a good boy!” Kissing his beak sweetly, you bade him goodnight and walked south toward the heart of the forest. Time to feed the final species on your list. Aragog.
Even though they were capable of human speech, acromantulas were the one beast you had a fear of. As you approached Aragog’s lair, hundreds of tiny spiders crawled on the ground next to you. Taking a few deep breaths to compose yourself, you crept into the pitch-black den with your senses on high alert. At the heart of it sat the beast himself. “Who dares to come into my home?” With a shaky hand, you reached into your bag and quickly pulled out a dead fox as an offering.
“A-Aragog? It’s um…it’s Y/N, the one who has been coming with Hagrid to feed you. I have umm… I have some birds and foxes for you.” The large arachnid stalked closer to you, it’s eyes like black holes as it seemed to stare into your soul. “Yes… the young fleshy girl who claims to be a friend of Hagrid. Tell me, where is my keeper? What have you done to him?”
The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and your fight or flight instincts began to kick in. “I-I-I didn’t do anything to him. He… he isn’t feeling well and I told him I’d come and bring you dinner…” You hadn’t realized you were backing up until your heel caught a crooked root poking through the ground. Pain shot through your ankle as you fell against the floor of the den. Aragog clicked his fangs together and you flinched as his voice boomed around you angrily. “I don’t believe you! I’ve known Hagrid for over fifty years, and not once has he gotten sick!”
As graceful as your sprained ankle would allow, you scrambled to your feet and dumped the dead birds and foxes on the ground in front of you. “H-Here’s your food… I… I’m just gonna go…” The venom from his fangs began to drip on the ground as he moved even closer to you. “Go? Oh, I don’t think so, friend of Hagrid. Those foxes and birds may sate my son's and daughter's hunger, but they won't satisfy me."
Ignoring the throb in your injured foot, you clambered out of the den as fast as you could. Branches swatted you in the face as you sprinted toward Hagrid's hut. Aragog was hot on your heels as the castle grounds became more and more visible. Just a few more feet and you'd be safe.
A rotted tree trunk caught your eye, but it was too late for you to avoid it. You hit the ground with a sickening thud, your wrist that broke your fall was surely broken. Turning to face the fast approaching acromantula, you pleaded for him to stop. "Aragog, please! ….I...I didn't do anything to Hagrid… please don't hurt me!"
The giant spider loomed over you, it's fangs clicking together violently. "Goodbye, friend of Hagrid…" You let out a blood-curdling scream as its pincers tore into your flesh, the moonlight fading away until you slipped into unconsciousness.
Nights were usually the time Severus took to think. It was his free time, save for the occasional disobedient student wandering the corridors. He'd just walked past the open courtyard when a small owl flew down to land on his shoulder. "Get off me you insolent bird!" It let out a screech and circled him before settling on his other arm.
"Merlin’s beard, what is it that you want?!" Just as he was about to send it away, he noticed a small charm bracelet attached to the owl's left leg. Curious, he cast Lumos and read the inscription.
Name: Nova Jane
Property of: Y/F/N Y/L/N
"I see...you're the property of the new Slytherin girl. Go on then! Go back to the dormitory." Nova nipped at the buttons on his sleeve and screeched loudly. Just as Severus was about to scare it off, your scream echoed throughout the castle grounds.
"Take me to her! Now!" Nova took flight and soared in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. Severus ran as quickly as he could, his robes flowing behind him like a cape. His heart thundered against his chest as he broke through the treeline.
The moment he saw Hagrid's acromantula towering over you, he drew his wand and aimed for its head. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" The spell sent Aragog catapulting backward, its body falling lifeless against the base of a large tree.
Seeing you lying there motionless made his blood run cold. "Oh, Merlin…no no no..." He sank down in the mud and put two fingers against your neck, a breath of relief falling from his lips when a faint pulse fluttered against them. His eyes scanned your body, worry prickling his skin at the number of deep cuts you had. He knew you wouldn't survive if he didn't act now.
With a shaky hand, he pointed his wand to the deep gash in your abdomen. "Vulnera sanentur…" A glow illuminated from it and within seconds it was as if the wound never existed. He did the same for the other large wounds as well as your wrist and ankle before lifting you into his arms. He may have stopped the bleeding, but you still had the acromantula's venom flowing freely in your veins. He only had a few minutes to reverse the toxins.
Closing his eyes, he apparated to his sleeping chambers and gently laid you on his bed. Severus worked quickly to mix up the antivenom. Once it was mixed properly, he used a syringe to inject it into all of your main arteries.
It became a waiting game. You'd lost a lot of blood, nearly too much, and all Severus could do now was hope you'd wake up. He found himself pacing, checking your pulse every so often to make sure you were still breathing. Eventually, the adrenaline in his body wore off, and it made him realize how tired he was.
He shed his robe, toed his shoes off, and with a snap of his fingers, a fire began to crackle and pop in the fireplace. He sat and pondered to himself. What was he supposed to do with you? It wasn't like he could take you to Madame Pomfrey now. Not after he'd healed you the best he could. Plus, he was sure the other Hogwarts staff would question him on why he took you back to his chambers. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why he'd done it. He acted on pure instinct.
His gaze wandered over to where you were laying. Severus felt himself relax upon seeing your chest rise and fall. He'd done it. He'd saved you. His eyes began to get heavy as he listened to your soft breathing. Unable to stay awake any longer, he let sleep consume him.
The smell of tea filled your nostrils as you tried to recall where you were. Last night's events flooded your mind and your eyes immediately snapped open.
Scanning the room, your brows furrowed in confusion. This wasn't the hospital wing, and it definitely wasn't Hagrid's. You sat up, your back against the headboard, and scanned your exposed skin. Other than a few bruises, there wasn't any sign of injury on you at all. Had it all been a dream?
The sound of the door opening brought you out of your thoughts. Your eyes widened at the sight of your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher carrying a teacup and saucer. "Oh, you're up. Good." He strode over and set the cup down on the nightstand next to you. "Drink this. It'll help you feel better."
You blinked up at him, your eyes staring into his obsidian ones. Even though he wore a scowl ninety percent of the time, your professor wasn't bad looking. In fact, you found him quite attractive. His form-fitting robes with all those buttons and his confidence drew you in almost immediately.
It was then that you remembered he'd spoken to you. Forcing your brain to form words, you stuttered out a response. "I...um…th-thank you, Professor…" His stone-faced expression didn't waver as he sat down on the comforter next to you. "Why, Y/N? Why would you put yourself in danger like that?! You could have been killed! Merlin, if it wasn't for your insolent bird, you would have been!"
You focused on your lap, your cheeks red with shame. "M'sorry… I was just t-trying to help Hagrid fe-" You slapped your hand over your mouth and internally cursed yourself. Hagrid made you promise not to tell anyone you were helping him, and here you've almost told none other than Professor Snape!
"Go on…" Shaking your head, you moved to get off the bed. "I… I can't… Thank you for saving me, Professor. I'll just be going…" His firm hand came to rest on your thigh and with little force, he pushed you back down onto the bed. "Listen to me, Y/N. I'm your Head of House. Either you tell me what you were doing in that forest, or I'll make you tell me.
The demand in his tone sent shivers down your spine. It really should be a sin to have a voice like his. "I-I...um…" Severus rolled his eyes and stood to walk across the room. He came back with a vial, a small amount of liquid in the bottom. "Know what this is?" You shook your head. "This is Veritaserum. Three drops of this, and it'll make you spill your darkest...of secrets…"
You watched as he poured the small amount of liquid into a glass of butterbeer. "Drink…" Instead of obeying his orders you grabbed the teacup off the saucer and swallowed its contents. "Thank you, Professor, but I’m no longer thirsty and I don't like butterbeer."
For the first time since you arrived at Hogwarts, his lips gave a hint of a smile. "It's no matter. What do you suppose I did with the rest of the serum, hm?" All the color drained from your face, your mouth opening and closing like you were a fish out of water.
"The tea…" Your professor chuckled, "Yes, the tea. Now, tell me, what were you doing in the Forbidden Forest after curfew?" You couldn't stop them. It was as if you were possessed. The words came flowing out of you on their own accord. "I was helping Hagrid feed his mythical creatures. He's in the infirmary sick and I offered to do it so he didn't have to."
Severus narrowed his eyes. "How long have you been doing this?" You swallowed thickly. “Since the first day of school. Some of the other Slytherin girls were bullying me so I went for a walk. It was then that I formally met Hagrid. He offered me his spare bedroom, and I’ve been sleeping there ever since…” He rose to his feet and began pacing again, his hands behind his back. “And he lets you stay...for free?”
“I can stay as long as I help him tend to the mythical creatures that live in the forest. He taught me everything he knows and I help him with feedings.” Severus stopped and turned to face you. “Did you ever think of coming to me for help with the bullying? I am the Head of Slytherin you know.”
Oh, how you wished you could hold back the words threatening to escape. No matter how hard you tried, it was no use. “I was too nervous to come to you, Professor.” He raised an eyebrow, his hands fidgeting out in front of him. He knew his presence intimidated most of the children attending Hogwarts, but he decided to use this to his advantage. “Obviously...And why, do you suppose, I make you so nervous, Y/N?”
“I suppose it’s because I’m in love with you.” Your response came out just above a whisper, but he still heard every word. Out of every scenario in his mind, Severus did not expect you, a young woman, to say that. For a rare moment in his life, he was rendered speechless. It took him a moment to collect himself, but once he did he noticed your face was buried in your hands. Merlin, help him, you were crying and it was all his fault.
He slowly moved to where you were laying and sat down so he was at your level. Without giving it any thought, he pulled you into his chest and began rubbing small circles on your back to soothe you. “Merlin, what was I thinking? I shouldn’t have forced the truth out of you like that. Please...forgive me.” You clutched at his robes and moved your tear-filled eyes to his. “I forgave you the moment it happened, Professor.” A few silent moments passed between the two of you and he continued to hold your gaze. Severus was the first to move. Ever so slowly, he leaned down to capture your lips.
His mouth melded with yours perfectly, and he didn’t stop until his lungs demanded it. Your eyes closed, your forehead coming to rest against his. “Professor I-” He silenced you with another chaste kiss. “Severus…Call me Severus, Y/N.”
“Please Severus…make love to me.” His resolve broke the moment the plea fell from your lips. Severus gently laid you back and gently rid you of your tattered robes. His calloused hands slid over your smooth skin making your breath hitch. He peppered kisses down into the crook of your neck, his path moving to the valley between your breasts. “S-Severus...please…need you…” He nipped playfully at your jaw and sat up slightly to take his shirt off. “Patience, Y/N… I’ll take care of you.”
Once he was bare before you he made his way between your legs. His touch was tentative, his fingertips brushing your folds gingerly. He circled your clit making you arch off the bed. “Oh, Merlin!... Fuck!” Severus chuckled and slid two of his fingers inside you curling them upwards. “Bloody hell, you’re soaked, Y/N…” He easily found the sensitive spot inside of you, the coil in your core winding tighter and tighter with each passing second. “Please! Oh…shit… Se-Severus! M’gonna cum… please… please make me cum!” His cock twitched at your words, precum leaking from the tip. “Let go, Y/N...cum for me…” With a cry of his name, you fell over the edge. Your chest heaved as you pulled him up for a heated kiss.
“Need you, Sev. Need you inside me. Please…” As carefully as he could, Severus lined himself up and pushed into you. “Merlin, you’re so tight!” His thrusts were steady and his kisses were fervent as he made love to you. “Oh, fuck! Sev! Oh, you’re so good… so good, baby…” Both of you wanted it to last, but it was clear you both needed the release more. “Y/N, I won’t last much longer like this… you feel amazing...so amazing.” You slid your fingers through his thick hair and pulled his mouth down to yours. “Cum with me, Severus…”
A moment later, both of you soared into bliss together. His lips rested against your own and his body shook as he spilled into you, your own walls clenching around his cock. Severus was spent as he settled behind you, his arm wrapped protectively around your waist. “Y/N, I need to know you’re okay with this...with us…” Threading your fingers with his, you planted a sweet kiss to the back of his hand. “Severus, our love may be forbidden, but I’d choose you no matter what it cost me. I’ll take you as you are. Your highs, your lows, all of it. I’ll love you until my last breath.”
He turned you in his arms and cupped your cheek. “I never thought I’d ever love another. Not after Lily, but seeing you in the forest like that sparked something in me. Something I haven’t felt for nearly fourteen years. I’ll spend forever protecting and loving you.
As your eyes grew heavy, you felt a new sense of worth. Coming to Hogwarts was something you’d only dreamed of growing up. The moment you found your acceptance letter, you knew your life would change. You never thought you’d find someone to love here, but for once you were happy, and that’s all you’d ever wanted.
