I have a lot of pieces saved on my phone that I havenât posted yet. Iâm currently going through them, editing, and finishing them before sharing. Most of my work is Harry Potter-related (mainly Snape), but I also have a few for Marvel, Supernatural, Star Wars, and a few other fandoms!
Severus snape:
The Mirrorâs truth: Severus Snape has always prided himself on control, but when he stumbles upon the Mirror of Erised and sees you by his side, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek, he is shaken to his core
Snapeâs not so secret admirer: reader is a new professor at hogwarts. Sheâs always smiling at Snape and always stumbling on her words when they talk, often caught day dreaming. One morning Snape was curious about her and went into her mind.
Field trip: y/n and Snape have been secretly seeing each other for months, keeping their relationship under wraps. When a field trip to the Muggle world is planned, she convinces Snape to join her. As the trip unfolds, their secret becomes harder to hide.
The muggle wife: part one, part two: Snapes muggle wife comes to work with him for a day.
The Muggle Wife prequel: Y/N, a muggle nurse, stumbles upon an injured Severus Snape in an alley. Despite his gruff demeanor, she insists on helping him.
I was made for loving you: Snape catching you dancing in your chambers.
A date by the fire: Y/n and Snape have been dating in secret and y/n wants to go on a romantic date and asks Snape plan it.
Kindred Shadows: Reader being a new teacher at Hogwarts, and she's just as dark and gloomy as Severus
Teen Snape: request: May I have a teen Severus x muggle reader but they know about the wizarding world from him
A healing bath: You are sick and Severus surprises you with a bath to make you feel better
Remus Lupin:
A Ray of Sunshine: Remus Lupin finds himself drawn to you, a bright and outgoing professor who refuses to let him hide in the shadows.
Paws and Moonlight: Remus and Y/N have been dating for a few months, and for the first time, heâs coming to her place. But thereâs one small complicationâher dog
Bubble bath: Remus surprises you with a bubble bath
Sirius Black:
Bubble trouble: He surprises you with a bath.
Requests: Iâm happy to take requests! Since Iâm in school and working a lot, it might take me some time, but Iâll always try my best. At the moment, I donât write smutâIâve tried, but I havenât quite gotten the hang of it yet. Maybe in the future! Otherwise, Iâm open to just about anything.
Summary: Y/N, a muggle nurse, stumbles upon an injured Severus Snape in an alley. Despite his gruff demeanor, she insists on helping him.
Note: This is a prequel to The Muggle Wife! This is how they met and the beginning of their relationship. Iâm thinking of turning it into a series, so stay tuned for more.
It was nearly 2 a.m. when Y/N finally finished her shift. Sheâd stayed later than expected, tending to a particularly difficult patient who had needed more care than anyone had anticipated. Her colleagues, who were about to head home, gave her concerned looks as she gathered her things.
âAre you sure youâre okay to walk home this late?â one of them asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
âIâm fine,â Y/N replied, her smile reassuring. âI just live a few blocks away. Besides, I could use the walk to clear my head.â
Her colleague didnât look convinced, but Y/N waved them off and headed out into the chilly night air. The streets were quieter than usual, with only the occasional sound of a distant car passing. She pulled her coat tighter around her and began walking the familiar path home.
As she neared her place she passed an alleyway, a movement caught her eye. At first, she thought it was just a stray animal, but as she got closer, she saw a man slumped against the brick wall, looking like he was trying to gather the strength to stand. His clothes were disheveled, and he looked far too unkempt to be anyone she knew.
âHey, are you okay?â she asked, crouching down beside him. She wasnât sure if he was even conscious, but she figured sheâd try.
The manâs eyes flickered open, and Y/N was taken aback by the sharpness of his gaze. He was older, with dark, messy hair and an angry expression that made him look like he was perpetually annoyed.
Y/N noticed some blood and dirt on his clothes and the way his body was angled awkwardly, as if he were trying to avoid putting pressure on his side.
âOkay, well, you clearly need help,â she said, already rummaging through her bag for something. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her of the snack she had been meaning to eat earlier but had forgotten. âI have some Goldfish crackers,â she offered awkwardly, holding out the small packet.
The man stared at her, unimpressed. âI donât need your pity.â
Y/N wasnât fazed by his gruff response. âIâm not pitying you, Iâm offering you a snack,â she said, her voice gentle but firm. âYouâre hurt, and Iâm not just going to leave you here.â
He muttered something unintelligible under his breath, but he didnât push her away. Instead, he let out a slow, painful breath. Y/N took that as a sign to proceed.
Y/Nâs eyes softened with sympathy as the man winced, trying to sit up straighter. His attempts were futile, and she could see the pain was getting to him. But it wasnât until she took a closer look that the full extent of his injuries became apparent.
Blood was seeping through the dark fabric of his robes, and she could see the jagged tear in his side where heâd clearly been injured. The way he moved, favoring one side, told her he had likely hurt more than just his arm or leg. Her nurseâs instincts kicked in, and she immediately felt a rush of concern.
âYou need to go to a hospital,â she insisted, her voice firm but not unkind. âYouâve lost a lot of blood. I can helpââ
âNo,â he interrupted, his voice low and harsh. âIâm not going to the hospital. I donât needââ He cut off as he tried to stand, clearly struggling against the pain.
Y/N frowned, her heart racing as she assessed his condition. The blood loss was worse than she initially thought, and the injuries looked too severe to ignore. âYouâre hurt badly,â she said, moving closer. âYou can barely stand, and youâre bleeding. Iâm not letting you go anywhere like this.â
He glared at her, as if her concern was some personal offense, but he didnât make a move to stop her as she reached into her bag for anything useful.
âLook,â she said, her voice taking on a more soothing tone, âif you donât want to go to the hospital, at least let me clean you up. I have materials at my place. Itâs just around the corner.â
The man shot her a skeptical look, clearly not thrilled at the idea of accepting help from a complete stranger.
âYouâre out of your mind,â he muttered, though the way he was grimacing suggested he wasnât as confident in that statement as he appeared.
Y/N raised an eyebrow. âIâm a nurse,â she said, keeping her tone even. âI know what Iâm doing. If you donât want to go to the hospital, at least let me make sure youâre not getting worse. If youâre still determined to refuse help, then fine, but I wonât just leave you like this.â
There was a long silence, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to refuse again. But then, with a resigned grunt, he slowly nodded.
âFine,â he said, his voice barely audible as he allowed her to help him to his feet. âBut no funny business.â
Y/N almost smiled at the absurdity of his request. âI assure you, Iâm only interested in making sure you donât bleed out in the street.â
Y/N helped him through the door of her small apartment, which was dimly lit and smelled faintly of lavender. She gestured for him to sit on the worn armchair near the window, her hands moving with purpose as she gathered the supplies she would need. The entire time, Severus remained silent, his face locked in a permanent scowl as he slumped into the chair, clearly irritated by the situation.
Y/N set the first aid kit on the small table beside him and began unwrapping the materials. As she moved around, she stole a glance at him, noting how his robes looked out of place in her humble, modern apartment.
âYou know,â she said, trying to fill the silence with some sort of conversation, âyou really donât look like you belong in this century.â
His scowl deepened, but he didnât respond. Y/N, undeterred, continued her work.
âSeriously,â she went on, âthose robes⊠They look like theyâre from a completely different time period. Where did you get those? They look like something out of a historical drama.â She smiled at the thought of it, hoping to lighten the mood. âI almost expected you to say youâre a wizard from the 1800s or something.â
Severus said nothing, his eyes narrowed as he watched her move around the room. Y/N didnât mind the silence. It was strange, but sheâd learned early in her career that some patients preferred to be left alone to brood, and he clearly fit that category.
As she cleaned the gash along his side, Y/N glanced up at him again, trying to gauge his mood. He was still as tense as ever, but there was something almost⊠familiar about his stiff demeanor. Maybe it was the way he avoided meeting her eyes, or the way his posture suggested he was trying to make himself as small as possible despite his obvious height.
She continued cleaning the wound, occasionally glancing at him as she worked. âI donât even know your name,â she added, almost absently. âIâm Y/N, by the way. I know youâre not keen on talking, but itâs the least I can do to introduce myself.â
Severus didnât respond to that either, but Y/N didnât let it bother her. She was used to patients who kept to themselves.
Y/N worked with practiced ease, carefully wrapping the bandage around his side. Despite his silence, she could tell he was still watching herâhis sharp, dark eyes following every movement like a wary animal deciding whether or not to trust her.
âThere,â she murmured, securing the dressing. âThat should hold for now.â
Still, no response.
Y/N exhaled and stood up, stretching her arms over her head. âIâll get you some water,â she said, disappearing into the small kitchenette before he could refuse.
When she returned, she handed him a glass. âHere,â she said, âyou look like you could use it.â
He hesitated but eventually took it from her without a word, sipping slowly.
She plopped onto the couch across from him, tucking her legs underneath herself. âSo,â she began, leaning her chin in her hand, âyou going to tell me how you ended up bleeding in an alley at two in the morning, or do I have to assume youâre a time traveler who got into a sword fight?â
Severus let out a quiet huffâsomething that might have been a scoff.
âNo?â she teased, raising an eyebrow. âThen what, a robbery gone wrong? Did you offend a particularly aggressive tailor?â
He rolled his eyes. âHardly.â
Y/N smirked. âAh, so you do speak.â
He shot her a pointed look, but she just took a sip of her drink, looking entirely unfazed.
âYou donât talk much, do you?â she mused. âThatâs alright. I know a lot of people like that. Some patients just like to sit in silence and glare at me, so Iâm used to it.â
Severus sighed, setting the glass on the small table beside him. âYou are⊠persistent.â
She grinned. âIâve been told that before.â
He didnât respond, but he didnât seem as tense anymore. Just tired.
He felt Safe.
Something he hadnât felt in a long time.
Y/N leaned back against the couch, watching him curiously. âWell, whatever trouble you got into tonight, at least you ended up in the right place.â
Severus scoffed but didnât argue.
That, she decided, was progress.
Severus sat in silence for a while, his fingers absently tracing the rim of the glass Y/N had given him. The warmth of the room, the scent of lavenders, the quiet hum of the city outsideâit was strangely comforting. Too comforting.
He had lingered too long.
With a sharp inhale, he straightened and placed the glass down with deliberate care. âI should go.â
Y/N blinked, caught off guard. âGo?â She frowned, glancing at the fresh bandages she had just finished wrapping. âYou can barely stand.â
âIâll manage.â
âRight.â She snorted. âBecause thatâs been working out so well for you so far.â
Severus gave her a sharp look, but she only crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
âIâm serious,â she continued. âYou lost a lot of blood. You should at least rest for a bit before youââ
âNo.â His voice was firm. Final.
Y/N exhaled slowly, studying him. He was determined, that much was obvious. Stubborn, too.
âAlright,â she relented, standing up. âFine. At least let me help you to the door.â
âI donât needââ
She ignored him, stepping closer and offering her arm. âHumor me.â
Severus clenched his jaw, then, with clear reluctance, allowed her to help him to his feet. He was unsteady at first, his body protesting the movement, but he forced himself upright.
Y/N walked him to the door, releasing him once he seemed steady enough on his own.
âLook,â she said, leaning against the doorframe, âI donât know what your deal is, but if you ever need help againâŠâ She gestured vaguely to the apartment. âYou know where to find me.â
He stared at her, unreadable. Then, after a pause, he inclined his head ever so slightlyâa nod that almost went unnoticed.
Then, without another word, he turned and stepped out into the night.
Y/N watched him disappear into the darkness, shaking her head with a bemused smile.
âGrumpy bastard,â she muttered under her breath before closing the door.
Little did she know, that wouldnât be the last time she saw him.
âž»
Y/N was sleeping soundly when the sound of her bedroom door creaking open jolted her awake.
âY/N!â
She cracked one eye open, groggy and disoriented. âWhat?â
Her roommate, Sophie, stood in the doorway, arms crossed and an incredulous look on her face. âWhy is there so much bloody gauze in the bathroom trash?â
Y/N blinked, rubbing her eyes. âOh. That.â She yawned. âItâs from a guy I met last night.â
Sophieâs expression turned downright horrified. âA guy you met last night?â
âMm-hmm.â
Sophie gasped. âThere was a man in our apartment?â
Y/N waved a hand dismissively. âRelax, he was injured. I was just helping him.â
âHelping him?â Sophie threw her hands in the air. âWith what, murder wounds?â
Y/N snorted. âDramatic much?â She sat up, stretching her arms over her head. âI found him in an alley. He was bleeding, wouldnât go to the hospital, so I patched him up here.â
Sophieâs mouth opened and closed, at a complete loss for words. âYou brought him here?â
âIt was right around the corner.â Y/N shrugged. âSeemed easier.â
Sophie ran a hand through her hair, still trying to process the situation. âY/N, you cannot just bring strange men home from alleyways! Thatâs, like, the number one rule of not getting murdered!â
Y/N rolled her eyes. âHe wasnât a murderer. Just⊠grumpy.â She frowned slightly, thinking back to the way he had left. âIâm not even sure if he was homeless or not, but I hope heâs okay. He was kind of cute but in a weird way.â
Sophie stared at her, mouth agape. âYou hope heâs okay?â
âYeah?â
âOh my God.â Sophie sat on the edge of the bed, shaking her head. âYou are insane. No, worse. Youâre chronically single insane.â
Y/N snorted. âWhat does that even mean?â
âIt means you need to stop playing Florence Nightingale to brooding mystery men and go on an actual date with someone normal!â
Y/N laughed. âRight, because youâre such a great example of healthy dating?â
Sophie huffed. âAt least my boyfriend doesnât wander in from a back alley.â
Y/N smirked. âWell, thatâs boring.â
Sophie groaned and flopped back onto the bed dramatically. âYouâre going to be the death of me.â
Y/N grinned, lying back down. âNah. I patch people up, remember?â
Sophie just groaned louder.
âž»
A few days passed, and Y/N barely thought about the grumpy, bleeding man she had helped. Okay, maybe barely was a lie. She thought about him a littleâmostly wondering if he was alright. But she had no way of knowing, and honestly, he didnât seem like the type to send a thank-you note.
She had just finished grabbing a coffee on her break when she saw him.
It was one of those moments where her brain took an extra second to catch upâlike seeing a familiar face in a place they didnât belong.
Severus Snape.
Only, he didnât look like he had that night.
Instead of looking like a man who had just crawled out of a grave, he was⊠well, still pale and scowling, but noticeably put together. His dark robes were replaced with a long black coat that swayed slightly as he walked, and his posture was straighter, more purposeful. He looked out of place, like he didnât belong among the people bustling through the streets, chatting on their phones, sipping overpriced lattes.
Y/N froze, coffee halfway to her mouth.
What the hell?
She wasnât crazy, right? That was him.
Before she could think twice, she called out, âHey!â
Severus turned his head slightly, eyes flickering to her.
For a split second, she swore she saw something flicker across his faceâsurprise, maybe? Annoyance?âbut then, without so much as a nod of acknowledgment, he turned around and walked away.
âOh, you asshole,â she muttered under her breath, already moving after him.
She wasnât sure why she followedâcuriosity? Mild irritation? Both?âbut she wove through the crowd, keeping her eyes on his dark figure as he moved effortlessly through the busy street.
âHey!â she called again, quickening her pace. âSeriously? Youâre just gonna pretend you donât know me?â
Nothing.
He didnât stop. Didnât turn.
Y/N scowled. Oh, hell no.
She pushed through the last group of people between them and grabbed his coat sleeve.
Severus stopped abruptly, stiffening at the contact.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head to look at her.
Y/N raised an eyebrow. âOkay, I get the whole âmysterious brooding manâ thing, but seriously? You just walk away after I literally saved your life?â
Severus stared at her, his expression unreadable. âI did not require saving.â
Y/N let out a sharp laugh. âOhhh, right. Because bleeding out in an alley is just a minor inconvenience.â
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Y/N crossed her arms. âYou know, you could at least say something. âThanks for not leaving me to dieâ would be a good start.â
Severus glanced around, as if checking to see if anyone was watching. Then, lowering his voice, he muttered, âYou should not be speaking to me.â
Severus exhaled sharply through his nose, his patience clearly running thin. âBecause it would be unwise.â
Y/N tilted her head. âUnwise how? Am I in danger?â
He didnât answer.
Which was, frankly, a terrible answer.
Y/N narrowed her eyes. âAlright, look. You show up bleeding in an alley, refuse to go to the hospital, vanish without a trace, and now youâre lurking around town dressed like the worldâs most exhausted vampire.â She pointed at him. âThat is suspicious.â
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath that she didnât catch.
âOkay, fine,â she said, throwing up her hands. âYou donât want to talk? Whatever. But I just wanted to make sure you werenât, you know, dead. So, congratulations. Youâre alive. Great talk.â
She turned on her heel, fully intending to walk away.
But thenâ
ââŠI did not say I was ungrateful.â
Y/N paused.
Slowly, she turned back to him. âWhat?â
Severus didnât quite meet her eyes, his expression still guarded. âI merely meant⊠that it would be in your best interest not to concern yourself with me.â
Y/N stared at him for a long moment, then let out a quiet laugh. âYou know,â she said, âfor someone who wants me to forget about them, youâre doing a pretty terrible job of being forgettable.â
Something flickered in his expressionâjust for a secondâbut then it was gone.
He exhaled, shaking his head. âGoodbye, Y/N.â
And just like that, he turned and walked away.
Y/N stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the crowd. Then a thought struck her.
Wait a secondâŠ
she still didnât even know his.
âWait!â she called after him. âWhatâs your name?â
Severus paused mid-step, his back still to her.
For a moment, she thought he might ignore her again.
Then, without turning around, he said, âSeverus.â
You hadnât meant to sleep this long but you havenât been feeling the best. The weight of exhaustion still pressed against you, but something was different. The air was thick with steam, carrying the unmistakable scent of your favorite bath bombâwarm, soothing, familiar. In the distance, you heard the faint sloshing of water. Someone moving.
Severus.
You blinked slowly, your groggy mind piecing things together. He had been here before you drifted off, his hand cool against your forehead, his voice murmuring something indistinct. Now, as you sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you saw him standing in the doorway, arms crossed, watching you with that careful, assessing gaze of his.
He said nothing at first, simply tilting his head slightly, as if deciding whether you were awake enough to move. Then, without a word, he stepped aside.
Beyond him, the bathroom was filled with rolling steam, the water in the large tub shimmering under the flickering candlelight. The scent of lavender and eucalyptus mixed with something deeperâpotions, no doubt, carefully infused into the bath. It was deliberate. Thoughtful.
For you.
Before you could speak, he was already moving, reaching out with a touch that was firm yet impossibly gentle, his hand warm as it wrapped around your wrist, guiding you up. The sensation sent a pleasant shiver through you, one that had nothing to do with the fever lingering beneath your skin.
âThis will help.â
His voice was quiet, but certain, leaving no room for argument.
You hesitated, your lips parting, but the words never came. He had done all this for you. The bath, the potions, the warmth that filled the room like a silent promise.
Instead, you let him lead you forward, your body still heavy with fatigue, though a little lighter under his touch. When you reached the tub, you turned to him, your voice softer than you intended.
âYou didnât have to do all this.â
His lips twitchedâjust slightly. âYou are impossibly stubborn when ill. If I left it to you, youâd be suffering twice as much.â
A small, breathy laugh escaped you. âYou do realize this is the most romantic thing anyoneâs ever done for me, right?â
He scoffed, rolling his eyes, but there was something softer in his expression. âThen I fear for the kind of company youâve kept before me.â
You smiled, your heart warming in a way that had nothing to do with the bath. Slowly, you slipped into the water, sighing as the heat enveloped you, soothing the aches in your body. The potion-infused water worked quickly, easing your congestion, loosening the stiffness in your muscles. You let your head rest back against the rim of the tub, your eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment as you exhaled.
When you opened them again, you caught something rareâon Severusâs lips, the faintest smirk. Not one of amusement, nor sarcasm, but something else. Pleased.
âYouâre smirking,â you murmured, tilting your head to look at him.
He arched a brow. âAm I?â
âYou are,â you confirmed, a lazy smile pulling at your lips as you sank deeper into the warmth.
There was a pause, then: âGood.â
You watched him for a moment, taking in the way he lingered near the tub, his fingers resting on the edge as if debating something. The candlelight cast long shadows against his sharp features, softening them, making him look almost⊠at peace.
âStay?â The word slipped past your lips before you could second-guess yourself. It was barely more than a whisper, hesitant, uncertain.
Severus didnât hesitate.
Without a word, he pulled the stool from the corner of the room, settling beside the tub with practiced ease. His robes pooled around him as he leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees, close enough that you could feel his presence like a tangible weight in the air.
Your heart swelled at the quiet intimacy of it.
You shifted slightly, letting your fingers trail absentmindedly through the water before murmuring, âYou know, youâre a lot sweeter than you let on.â
He huffed, rolling his eyes. âDonât start.â
A lazy grin curled at your lips. âItâs true. Youâre taking care of me.â
âIâm ensuring you donât make yourself worse,â he corrected, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness. Instead, it was softer, quieter. âThat is hardly the same thing.â
You hummed, tilting your head. âMmm. Whatever helps you sleep at night.â
Another silence stretched between you, but it was a comfortable one. The soft crackling of the fire beyond the door, the faint dripping of water, the warmth of his presence beside youâit was enough.
After a moment, he spoke again, his voice lower now, quieter.
ââŠYou should tell me when youâre feeling unwell.â
Your chest tightened at the quiet concern in his tone.
âI didnât want to be a bother,â you admitted softly.
His gaze darkened slightly. âYou are never a bother.â
Something about the way he said it, so firm, so certain, sent warmth blooming in your chest. You swallowed, your fingers skimming idly across the surface of the water before you murmured, âIâll tell you next time.â
He studied you for a moment, then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. âGood.â
You smiled, reaching out to rest your hand on the edge of the tubâjust close enough to brush your fingers against his. He didnât pull away.
And in that quiet moment, with warmth surrounding you and Severus by your side, you realized you had never felt more cared for in your life.
Severus didnât move his hand away from yours. He didnât grasp it, either, but the weight of his fingers lingering near your own was enough. A silent acknowledgment. A quiet promise.
You let out a soft sigh, shifting in the water, the warmth still seeping into your aching muscles, soothing the heaviness in your limbs. âWhat are you thinking about?â
A pause. Then, softly, âThat you seem⊠better.â
There was something unspoken in his tone, something carefully measured.
You swallowed, glancing down at the water before looking back at him. âI feel better.â
Another pause. Then, quieter, âGood.â
His fingers twitched against yours, and this time, when you moved to entwine them, he didnât pull away. His hand was warm, rough with callouses, but steady. Always steady.
You squeezed lightly, your voice dropping to something softer. âSeverus.â
His eyes flicked to yours at the sound of his name, his expression unreadable.
âI mean it,â you said, watching him carefully. âThank you.â
His jaw tightened slightly, as if he were about to brush off your words, dismiss them the way he so often did with any kind of sentiment. But something in the way you looked at him must have stopped him. He exhaled slowly through his nose, his fingers tightening around yours ever so slightly.
ââŠYou neednât thank me,â he murmured, voice low.
You smiled. âI know. But I wanted to.â
His thumb brushed absently against your knucklesâa motion, so brief you might have imagined it. But you didnât.
The warmth in your chest had nothing to do with the bath anymore.
You let the silence stretch between you for a while, just soaking in the comfort of his presence, of the way he stayed beside you without question.
After a moment, you let out a small sigh, stretching again beneath the water. âI suppose I should get out before I turn into a prune.â
Severus hummed in agreement but made no move to leave. His hand remained lightly curled around yours, even as you sat up, droplets of water sliding down your skin.
You hesitated, glancing toward the towel rack, then back at him. âWould youâ?â
Before you could finish, he was already moving, standing fluidly and retrieving a towel with practiced ease. He didnât hesitate as he held it open, waiting for you to step out.
Your heart gave a little stutter at the gesture.
Carefully, you rose from the water, the cooler air nipping at your damp skin as Severus wrapped the towel around you in one smooth motion. His hands were firm yet gentle as they settled over your shoulders, steadying you, ensuring you didnât sway from lingering exhaustion.
You exhaled, leaning slightly into his touch, your damp skin pressing against the rough fabric of his robes. He stiffened for half a secondâjust a half-secondâbefore relaxing, his grip on you shifting, grounding.
Your voice was barely above a whisper when you spoke. âYou take such good care of me.â
Severus let out a slow breath, his fingers brushing briefly against your temple, tucking a stray, damp lock of hair behind your ear.
âYou make it difficult not to,â he murmured.
Slowly, you tipped your head up, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes held something unreadable, something softer than usual, something that made your breath catch.
âSeverus,â you whispered, the space between you charged with something quiet, something fragile.
For a moment, he simply looked at you. Then, with careful, deliberate slowness, he reached up, fingers ghosting along your jaw, his touch feather-light, as if testing the moment, testing you.
You didnât pull away.
Instead, you leaned in.
And just like that, the smallest barrier between you broke.
His lips met yours, soft but certain, the warmth of his breath mingling with yours. It wasnât hurried, nor desperate, but something far more intimateâunspoken words woven between the way his hand cradled the back of your neck, the way you sighed against his mouth, the way he stayed close even as he pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against yours.
A long silence stretched between you, the only sound the gentle crackling of the fire in the other room.
Then, quietly, almost too soft to hearâ
âYou should get some rest.â
You smiled, your fingers curling around the front of his robes. âStay?â
The moment you stepped through the door, you were met with an unmistakable silence. No barking laughter, no off-key singing, no Sirius dramatically complaining about something inconsequentialâjust quiet. And that, more than anything, put you on edge.
âSirius?â you called, cautiously stepping inside.
No response.
Your brows furrowed as you set your bag down, your body aching from a long day. Just as you were about to search for him, you caught the faint scent of something⊠floral? It was subtle, but undeniably there, curling through the air like an invitation.
Curious, you followed it down the hall and stopped in your tracks at the bathroom door. The warm glow of candlelight flickered from within, and when you peeked inside, your jaw nearly dropped.
Sirius stood beside the clawfoot tub, sleeves rolled up, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he tested the water with his hand. The tub itself was overflowing with bubblesâso many that a few had escaped over the rim onto the floor. Floating amongst them were delicate flower petals, a mix of roses and lavender, turning the water into something that looked positively luxurious.
As if sensing your presence, Sirius turned, flashing you that familiar mischievous grin. âThere you are, love.â
You raised a brow. âWhat⊠is all this?â
He feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. âDo you truly think me incapable of romance?â
You laughed, stepping forward. âNo, but I do think youâre incapable of drawing a bath without making a mess.â
Sirius glanced at the bubbles spilling onto the floor and shrugged. âMinor details.â
Shaking your head, you let out a sigh, feeling some of the dayâs tension melt away just from looking at the setup. âWhy did you do all this?â
His expression softened as he reached for your hands, pulling you close. âBecause youâve been running yourself ragged, and I donât like seeing you worn down. Thought you could use a bit of pampering.â His thumb brushed over your knuckles. âBesides, I quite like the idea of watching you lounge in a tub full of bubbles.â
You rolled your eyes but couldnât stop the warmth from spreading through your chest. âSo itâs a selfless act and a selfish one at the same time?â
He smirked. âThatâs the best kind, isnât it?â
With a dramatic flourish, he helped you out of your clothes, his fingers teasing over your skin as he guided you into the water. The warmth enveloped you immediately, drawing a satisfied sigh from your lips. Sirius, ever the doting troublemaker, grabbed a handful of bubbles and plopped them onto your head like a makeshift crown.
âThere. Now youâre officially royalty.â
You flicked some bubbles back at him. âAnd youâre officially ridiculous.â
He grinned, perching on the edge of the tub. âGuilty as charged.â
But, of course, Sirius Black was not a man who could be trusted to simply sit still. Not for long, anyway. His fingers trailed through the water absentmindedly, swirling the bubbles around you.
Then he sighed dramatically, stretching his arms behind his head. âYou know⊠itâs a bit of a tragedy.â
You tilted your head. âWhat is?â
He gave you a slow, lazy smirk. âThat I went through all this effort, set up the candles, added the fancy flower petals, even managed not to set anything on fireâand yet, here I am, completely dry.â
You shot him a knowing look. âSiriusââ
âNo, no, donât try to talk me out of it,â he said, already tugging his sweater over his head. âIâve made my decision.â
You groaned, sinking further into the bubbles. âThe bath was supposed to be for me.â
âOh, darling, but it is for you.â He winked, tossing his shirt onto the floor. âIâm simply here as⊠a humble offering.â
You barely had time to protest before he climbed into the tub behind you, settling in with a satisfied sigh. The water sloshed dangerously close to the edge, and you had to grab onto the rim to steady yourself.
âSirius!â you yelped. âThereâs barely enough room!â
He nuzzled against your shoulder, wrapping his arms loosely around your waist. âNonsense. This is cozy.â
You tried to glare at him, but it was hard to be annoyed when his lips were pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses against the curve of your neck.
âYou smell like lavender,â he murmured against your skin. âItâs doing things to me.â
You snorted. âEverything does things to you.â
He grinned, his fingers ghosting over your stomach. âOnly when it comes to you, sweetheart.â
You rolled your eyes but melted against his chest, letting him pull you closer. Despite his antics, you had to admitâit was nice, the feeling of his warmth against your back, the steady rise and fall of his breathing. His fingers trailed absentminded patterns over your arm, slow and soothing.
âSee?â he murmured. âTold you this was a good idea.â
You sighed, leaning your head back against his shoulder. âMmm. I suppose I canât complain.â
He kissed your temple, then chuckled. âGood. Now, be honest with meâŠâ
You hummed in question.
He leaned in close, his breath warm against your ear. âHow mad would you be if I accidentally kicked over one of those candles?â
Your eyes shot open. âSirius.â
ââŠToo late?â
The next five minutes were spent scrambling out of the bath as one of the candles tipped over, nearly setting a towel on fire. Sirius, for all his romantic gestures, was still Sirius, after all.
But later, when you were both dried off and curled up in bed, his arms tangled around you, his lips pressed lazily against your shoulder, you decided thatâeven with his chaosâSirius Black was absolutely worth it.
Summary: Remus surprises you with a bubble bath after a long day at work.
Note: I plan on making a couple versions of this prompt using different characters. So far Iâm working on Severus and Sirius but Iâm open to other suggestions.
As soon as you stepped into your shared home, exhaustion weighed on you like a heavy cloak. Being an Auror was rewarding, but after todayâs particularly grueling case, all you wanted to do was collapse into bed and forget about the world.
It had been a long dayâone of those days where nothing seemed to go right, where your patience had been tested to its very limit. Every muscle in your body ached, and all you wanted to do was collapse face-first onto the nearest soft surface.
You barely managed to kick off your shoes before a warm, familiar voice called from down the hall.
âLove? Is that you?â
Remus.
Just hearing his voice was enough to make your shoulders sag with relief. He always had that effect on youâcalm, steady, grounding. You followed the sound of his voice, noticing the flicker of soft light coming from the bathroom. When you stepped inside, your breath hitched.
The room had been transformed. Candles flickered from every surface, casting a golden glow across the walls. The scent of lavender and vanilla filled the air, curling around you like a warm embrace. The bathtubâlarge and invitingâwas filled to the brim with bubbles, the water shimmering in the candlelight. A fluffy towel sat neatly on the counter, along with one of Remusâs oversized sweaters, which you loved to steal.
Your heart swelled. âRemus⊠did you do all this?â
He stood by the tub, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater, a soft smile tugging at his lips. âI had a feeling you might need it,â he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. âYou looked absolutely wrecked when you left this morning.â
You let out a laugh, shaking your head. âThat obvious, huh?â
He stepped closer, his hands finding your waist, thumbs tracing soft circles over your hips. âI could hear it in your voice before you even left the bed.â His forehead dipped to rest against yours, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. âYou give so much to everyone else. I thought maybe you could use someone taking care of you for a change.â
Your chest tightened, the dayâs stress unraveling at his touch, at the warmth in his voice. You reached up, cupping his cheek, your thumb brushing over the faint scar just beneath his eye. âYouâre too good to me.â
He smirked, kissing the tip of your nose. âIâll let you get in before the water gets cold.â
With careful hands, he helped you out of your clothes, his fingers trailing over your skin as if memorizing every curve, every inch of you. But there was nothing rushed or heated about itâjust quiet reverence, an unspoken promise in every touch.
As you sank into the water, a sigh of pure bliss escaped your lips. The warmth seeped into your tired muscles, and the scent of lavender wrapped around you like a blanket. Remus crouched beside the tub, resting his chin on his folded arms atop the rim, watching you with nothing but fondness.
âYou look like youâre enjoying yourself,â he teased, reaching out to swirl his fingers through the bubbles.
You hummed in agreement, sinking deeper. âI might never get out.â
His lips twitched. âI suppose I could bring you meals in here, then. Keep you hydrated, read to youâŠâ
You chuckled. âAre you saying youâd take care of me forever if I refused to leave this bath?â
His expression softened. âYou never have to ask.â
Warmth bloomed in your chest, and you reached out, fingers brushing through his hair. He turned his head slightly, pressing a kiss to your palm.
âDo you want me to wash your hair?â he asked after a moment, voice quiet.
You blinked in surprise, then nodded. âThat sounds perfect.â
Remus rolled up his sleeves further and reached for the pitcher sitting on the edge of the tub. With gentle hands, he tilted your head back, carefully pouring the warm water over your hair. His fingers worked through the strands, massaging your scalp with a tenderness that sent a pleasant shiver down your spine.
Merlin, how did you get so lucky?
âMm,â you sighed, eyes slipping shut. âIf you keep this up, I really wonât ever leave the bath.â
He chuckled, his fingers still carding through your hair. âWell, I certainly donât mind spoiling you.â
You cracked one eye open. âWhatâs the occasion?â
His hand stilled for a moment before he leaned in, brushing his lips against your temple. âYou donât need an occasion,â he murmured. âI just love you.â
Your heart nearly melted into the water.
The rest of the bath was spent in quiet conversationâsoft laughter, gentle teasing, the occasional splash of bubbles when Remus got too smug about something. He stayed with you the entire time, never once growing impatient, never once making you feel like he had anywhere else to be.
And when you were finally ready to get out, he wrapped you in the fluffiest towel and pulled you against his chest, pressing lingering kisses to the top of your damp hair.
âLetâs get you to bed,â he murmured, his voice laced with affection. âI think a certain someone deserves a foot massage next.â
You laughed into his sweater. âYouâre making it very hard to believe youâre not a saint, you know that?â
He smirked, tilting your chin up to steal one last kiss. âAh, well. Donât tell anyone. I do have a reputation to maintain.â
And with that, he scooped you up in his armsâlaughing at your surprised squeakâand carried you off to bed, where the night would end the same way it always did.
The wind howled outside the small, dimly lit house on Spinnerâs End. Severus Snape sat in the worn-out couch near the fireplace, his dark eyes flickering with something unreadable as he stared at the flames. Across from him, Y/N watched him carefully, fingers curled around the chipped mug of tea she had brought over.
It had been months since they last saw each other, and even longer since they had spoken properly. Severus was in his final year at Hogwarts now, returning home only for the holidays. Y/N, bound to the Muggle world, remained stuck in the same dreary existence she had always known.
He looked thinner than before, more tired. The shadows under his eyes were deeper, and the tension in his jaw never seemed to fade. He wasnât the same awkward, sharp-tongued boy she had grown up with.
âYouâve barely said anything since you got here,â she murmured, breaking the silence between them.
Severus exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. âThereâs nothing much to say.â
Y/N frowned. âThatâs a lie.â
He scoffed but didnât argue. There was a moment of stillness before his gaze flickered to her. âDo you ever wish you were somewhere else?â he asked suddenly.
She blinked, surprised by the question.
âAll the time,â she admitted. âBut itâs not like I have anywhere else to go.â
Severus didnât reply right away. Instead, his eyes softened, almost imperceptibly.
Years agoâŠ
The summer air was thick with the scent of damp earth as an eight-year-old Severus sat cross-legged on the grass, plucking at a loose thread on his oversized shirt. Y/N sat beside him, knees drawn to her chest, their shoulders nearly touching.
âMy dadâs been in a foul mood again,â she muttered, poking at the dirt with a stick.
Severus didnât respond immediately, but she saw his fingers clench slightly. âMine too.â
They didnât have to say much to understand each other. That was how it had always been.
Y/N shifted, turning to face him. âTell me about magic again.â
That made him glance at her, a small spark lighting up his usually solemn face. âYou still donât believe me?â
âI do,â she said quickly. âI just like hearing about it.â
Severus hesitated for a moment before lifting his hand. âAlright. Watch this.â
With a flick of his fingers, the small flower in front of them slowly bent its stem, curling toward Y/N as if reaching for her. She gasped, eyes wide with amazement.
âThatâs incredible,â she whispered.
A faint, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips. âItâs not much,â he admitted, âbut itâs real.â
Y/N grinned. âWhen you go to Hogwarts, youâll be the best wizard there, I bet.â
Severusâs expression faltered slightly, and he looked away. âMaybe.â
Her smile faded. âYouâre still going to write to me, right?â
He hesitated before nodding. âOf course.â
âGood,â she said firmly. âJust because youâll be in some big castle learning magic doesnât mean you can forget about me.â
He scoffed. âAs if I could.â
Present Day
Y/N studied him now, wondering if the boy from her memories was still in there somewhere.
âYou never did write to me as much as you promised,â she finally said, breaking the silence again.
Severus smirked faintly but didnât deny it. âI was busy.â
âToo busy for your best friend?â she teased lightly, though there was a small edge of hurt behind it.
His smirk faded, and something passed over his expressionâregret, maybe. But then, just as quickly, he buried it beneath his usual unreadable mask.
âI didnât forget about you,â he said quietly.
She met his gaze, searching for the truth in his words.
âGood,â she murmured.
Because neither of them had anyone else.
â
The winter wind howled outside as Y/N sat curled up in bed, the dim glow of her bedside lamp casting shadows across the walls. She had tried to read, but the words on the page blurred together, her mind too restless to focus.
Then came the knock.
It wasnât loud, but it was urgent.
Y/Nâs heart stuttered. It was nearly midnightâthere was only one person who would come to her this late. She threw off the blankets and hurried to the door, barely pausing before pulling it open.
Severus stood there, his dark hair damp from the sleet, his face pale against the night. His breathing was even, too evenâlike he was forcing himself to stay calm. But she saw the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers twitched at his sides.
He looked exhausted.
She stepped aside immediately, letting him in without a word
The door clicked shut behind them, the warmth of the house wrapping around them both.
âSit,â she murmured, nodding toward the couch.
He hesitated only for a moment before sinking down, resting his elbows on his knees. His hands were clenched into fists, his long fingers pressing into the fabric of his robes.
She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with two cups of tea. She set one in front of him and curled up beside him, careful not to crowd him.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, finally, he exhaled. âHe was worse than usual.â
Y/N didnât need to ask who he was.
Severusâs fingers tightened around the cup. âCame home drunk. Started yelling at my mother. She justâstood there. Took it.â His voice was low, controlledâbut underneath it, she heard the anger. The helplessness. âI told him to stop. He turned on me instead.â
Her stomach twisted. âDid heâ?â
âIâm fine,â he said quickly, cutting her off.
But she saw the way he kept his weight slightly off his left side, the tension in his movements.
Y/N hesitated before reaching out, resting her fingers lightly on his sleeve. âYou shouldnât have to deal with this alone, you know.â
His shoulders stiffened at the contact, but he didnât pull away.
âI do, though,â he muttered.
âNo, you donât,â she said firmly. âYou have me.â
He scoffed, but it wasnât cruel. âYou canât fix this, Y/N.â
âI know,â she admitted. âBut I can be here. Thatâs something, isnât it?â
For the first time that night, Severus looked at herâreally looked at her. There was something unguarded in his expression, something vulnerable.
ââŠYeah,â he said quietly. âIt is.â
She gave him a small, reassuring smile. âGood.â
They sat there in silence, the tea growing cold between them. But for the first time that holiday, Severus didnât feel quite so alone.
â
The storm outside had settled into a steady patter of sleet against the windows. Inside, the small living room was warm, filled with the soft glow of the fireplace.
Severus hadnât moved from the couch, and Y/N hadnât asked him to leave. She wouldnât.
âYou should stay the night,â she said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
Severus glanced at her, hesitation flickering in his dark eyes. âI donât want to impose.â
âYouâre not,â she said simply. âBesides, itâs late, and I doubt you want to go back home.â
That, more than anything, seemed to make up his mind. He exhaled, nodding once. âAlright.â
Y/N grinned, pleased. âGood. Iâll grab some blankets.â
By the time she returned, Severus had shed his outer robes, leaving him in just a simple dark sweater and trousers. He looked oddly out of place in her small, Muggle homeâlike he belonged to a different world entirely.
But he didnât, not really.
Not with her.
She dropped the blankets onto the couch, plopping down beside him. âYou know,â she mused, tucking her legs under herself, âI think the thing I miss most is justâthis.â
Severus raised a brow. âSitting on an old couch?â
She rolled her eyes. âNo, talking. Just being here, with you. Like before.â
His expression softened slightly. âIt does feel⊠familiar.â
âRemember when we used to stay up all night in the summer?â she asked, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. âYouâd tell me about all the things you learned at Hogwarts, and Iâd pretend I wasnât insanely jealous.â
Severus smirked. âYou werenât very convincing.â
âHey, in my defense, it sounded amazing,â she said. âI mean, moving staircases? Floating candles? A library bigger than this whole neighborhood? How could I not be jealous?â
He hummed in agreement. âIt is impressive, I suppose.â
She nudged his knee with hers. âDonât downplay it, Sev. You love it there.â
A flicker of something passed through his eyesâsomething complicated. He hesitated, then murmured, âNot all of it.â
Y/N frowned slightly. âBecause of them?â
He didnât have to ask who she meant. The Maraudersâthe group of Gryffindor idiots who had spent years tormenting him.
Severus exhaled sharply. âThey donât make it easy.â
She shifted closer, her knee still resting against his. âI wish I could do something,â she admitted.
âYou already do,â he said quietly. âBeing hereâtalking to youâit helps.â
Her heart stuttered at the sincerity in his voice.
They sat there for hours, the conversation slipping between past and present, memories and dreams. They talked about potions, about the books they were reading, about the futureâwhat they wanted, what they feared.
At some point, she stretched out on the couch, resting her head against the armrest. Severus had turned slightly toward her, his arm draped lazily over the back of the couch.
The space between them felt smaller than before.
It was dangerous, the way her breath caught when his fingers brushed against hers on the cushion. The way her skin tingled with warmth at the contact.
They had always been close, but this felt different.
The hours slipped away, the conversation slowing into quiet, lingering glances. Neither of them moved. Neither of them pulled away.
Maybe, after all these years, they had finally started to realize what had been there all along.
â
Morning sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the living room. The fire had long since burned out, leaving only the faint scent of smoke in the air. The storm had passed, and everything outside was still, quietâexcept for the soft murmuring of voices from the couch.
Y/N was still curled up, her head resting comfortably in Severusâs lap as he absentmindedly played with the ends of her hair. They had fallen asleep sometime during the night, but neither of them had spoken about it yet. Instead, they had slipped into easy conversation, the way they always did, as if no time had passed at all.
âYouâre telling me that Slughorn still drones on about his âfamous studentsâ every lesson?â Y/N teased, shifting slightly to look up at Severus.
He smirked, rolling his eyes. âUnfortunately, yes. If I have to hear one more story about his connections, I might lose my mind.â
Y/N chuckled, stretching slightly before resting her arm across her stomach. âAt least he likes you.â
âHe likes talent,â Severus corrected. âAnd I just happen to be the most competent student in his class.â
âOh, obviously,â Y/N said, grinning. âNo competition at all.â
Severus gave her an unimpressed look, but the ghost of a smile was still on his lips. âNone worth mentioning.â
Y/N laughed, shaking her head. âGod, youâre insufferable.â
âYouâre the one who invited me to stay,â he pointed out.
âI was being nice,â she shot back.
He arched a brow. âA poor choice, then?â
Y/N narrowed her eyes, then, without warning, reached up and flicked his arm.
Severus recoiled slightly, feigning deep offense. âDid you just flick me?â
âI did,â Y/N said proudly. âWhat are you going to do about it?â
He said nothing. Instead, his eyes glinted with mischief as he suddenly reached down and pressed his cold fingers against her side, making her squeak in surprise.
âSeverus Snape, donât you dareââ
It was too late. He dug his fingers into her side just enough to make her squirm, a rare smirk pulling at his lips as she let out an indignant yelp.
âYouâreâsuchâa menace,â she gasped between bursts of laughter, trying to swat his hand away.
Severus only smirked wider. âAm I? How tragic.â
âYou neverâSeverus Snape, I swear toââ Y/N grabbed his wrist, trying to push him away, but in doing so, she moved too quicklyâ
And suddenly, she was much, much closer to him.
Her laughter died in an instant.
Somehow, in the midst of their playful struggle, she had shifted up slightly, her face now only inches from his. His smirk had vanished, his lips parted slightly as he stared down at her.
Neither of them moved.
Everything went silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Y/N could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, could see the faint freckles dusting his pale complexion. His dark eyes, always so guarded, had softened in a way she had never quite seen before.
Y/nâs heart pounded against her ribs, her breath caught in her throat.
She should move. But she didnât.
And neither did he.
Severusâs dark eyes flickered down to her lips for the briefest momentâso quick she might have imagined it. But then he leaned in, just slightly, just enough that the space between them all but disappeared.
And before she could think, before she could question itâ
His lips brushed against hers
It was hesitant, uncertain, as if he expected her to pull away at any second. But she didnât.
Instead, she pressed back, her heart hammering in her chest, her hands tightening their grip on the fabric of his sleeve. The kiss was soft, barely more than a whisper of contact, but it sent a rush of warmth through her, curling in her stomach like a secret she had always known but never dared to say aloud.
But thenâ
Reality hit her like a crashing wave.
She had kissed Severus.
What if he hadnât wanted that?
Panic surged through her, and she pulled back so quickly that she nearly knocked her head against the armrest of the couch.
âOh, Merlinââ Y/Nâs hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide as she scrambled to sit up. âSeverus, Iââ
He was staring at her, still slightly frozen in place, his expression unreadable.
âIâm sorry,â she blurted, her voice rising in pitch. âIâ I wasnât thinking, I justââ She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. âI shouldnât have done that, should I?â
Severus blinked at her, his lips still parted as if she had knocked the air from his lungs.
âI meanâ maybe you didnât even want that,â she continued, words tumbling out in a nervous rush. âI justâ we were so close andâ and then Iââ
âY/N.â
She froze.
His voice was quiet, steadyâbut there was something different about it.
Slowly, cautiously, she opened her eyes.
Severus was watching her, his expression softer than she had ever seen it.
âI wanted it,â he murmured.
Y/N felt her stomach drop. âYouââ
âIâve always wanted it.â
Her breath hitched.
Severus swallowed, his hand twitching slightly in his lap. âIââ He hesitated, glancing away for a moment, as if struggling to find the right words. âI never thought youâd⊠feel the same.â
Her heart pounded. âYou like me?â
He let out a breathy laughâhalf-disbelieving, half-nervous. âYes, Y/N. I like you.â He looked back at her, something vulnerable in his gaze. âI think I always have.â
Y/N stared at him, her thoughts spinning, her body frozen in place.
Severus Snapeâher Severusâliked her.
Had always liked her.
And suddenly, everything made sense. The glances, the quiet moments, the way he always seemed to stay just a little bit longer when they were together.
A slow smile tugged at her lips. âOh.â
Severus arched a brow. ââOhâ?â
She laughed, shaking her head. âI meanâoh.â
His lips quirked upward, ever so slightly. âIs that a good âohâ or a bad âohâ?â
Y/N grinned, reaching out to take his hand. âA very good one.â
Severus let himself smileâtruly, fully smile.
And this time, when he leaned in again, neither of them pulled away.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the cozy sitting room as you curled up on Severusâs worn yet surprisingly comfortable couch, stretching out after a long shift. Your legs ached, your shoulders were sore, but the warmth of the tea in your hands made it all feel worth it.
Severus sat in his usual armchair across from you, a book open in his lap, though he wasnât actually reading itâjust pretending to while subtly watching you.
âYouâre staring,â you murmured, taking a slow sip of tea.
His dark eyes flicked back down to his book. âNo, I am not.â
You smirked. âYes, you are.â
He let out a sigh through his nose but didnât argue. You knew him too well.
Setting your tea down on the table between you, you stretched, feeling the fatigue of the day settle into your muscles. âI was thinking⊠I should go back to Hogwarts this week.â
Severus didnât even look up. âNo.â
You blinked. âExcuse me?â
âI said no,â he repeated, flipping a page in his book.
Your lips parted, caught between shock and amusement. âI didnât realize I needed your permission.â
âYou do not,â he admitted. âBut I am still saying no.â
You sat up, crossing your arms. âAnd why, exactly, do you think you have a say in this?â
Severus finally glanced up, his expression unreadable. âBecause the last time you stepped foot in my classroom, you caused nothing but disruption.â
You gasped, placing a hand on your chest in mock offense. âI was adorable and charming, thank you very much.â
âYou distracted my students.â
âThey liked me.â
âThey worshiped you.â
âWell, I am rather wonderful.â
Severus exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose as if this conversation physically pained him. âY/NâŠâ
You bit back a grin, already sensing victory. âI told them Iâd come back.â
âThat was a mistake.â
âI donât want to be a liar.â
âThey will live.â
You pouted, leaning forward slightly. âCome on, Severus. You liked when I went with you.â
He scoffed. âDid I?â
You smirked, shifting to your knees and crawling across the couch toward him. âYes,â you said sweetly, settling at the edge of his chair. âBecause you have the worldâs biggest soft spot for me, and we both know it.â
Severus closed his book with an exaggerated slowness, setting it aside before looking at you fully.
âYou are intolerable,â he muttered.
âAnd yet, here you are, putting up with me.â You tilted your head, studying the faintest trace of affection in his otherwise sharp features. âBecause deep, deep, deep down, you actually like me being around.â
His gaze flickered to your lips, just for a moment.
You caught it.
With a small, knowing smile, you slid your hands onto the arms of his chair, leaning in ever so slightly. âLet me go,â you whispered.
Severus stared at you, his jaw tightening as if fighting some internal war.
And thenâjust like you knew he wouldâhe exhaled in defeat. âYou are insufferable.â
You grinned. âAnd?â
He rolled his eyes. âAnd you always get your way.â
Before he could say anything else, you pressed a quick, sweet kiss to his lips. His hand instinctively found your waist, fingers curling just slightly against your hip before you pulled back.
You beamed at him, triumphant.
Severus sighed. âI already regret this.â
âNo, you donât.â
ââŠNo. I do not.â
You kissed him againâslow, lingering this timeâbefore hopping up from his chair, practically glowing with satisfaction.
âWeâll leave first thing in the morning,â you declared, stretching your arms above your head.
Severus leaned back in his chair, watching you with an expression you couldnât quite place.
âI make no promises,â he murmured.
And for once, you had nothing clever to say.
âž»
The Hogwarts Express rattled along the tracks, the familiar scenery blurring by as the train headed toward the castle. You were already daydreaming about your return to the ancient halls, the familiar sights and sounds that always brought a sense of peace.
When the train finally came to a halt, you practically jumped out of your seat.
âCareful now,â Severus muttered, watching you with a bemused glint in his eye as you grabbed your bag. âNo need to rush.â
You shot him a look, but it was softened by a smile. âIâm just excited.â
Severus arched an eyebrow. âExcited to disrupt my classes again?â
âOh, please,â you teased, bumping your shoulder against his as the two of you exited the train and headed toward the castle. âI promise I wonât be a distraction this time.â
âNot a chance,â he muttered under his breath.
You caught the tail end of it, but before you could say anything else, Severus was leading you into the castle, guiding you down the familiar hallways until you reached his chambers.
âIâll leave you here,â Severus said, opening the door. âYou can stay here while I attend to my duties. I do not want you in my classes today.â
You cocked your head, grinning. âYouâre really worried Iâll be too distracting?â
âI am not worried,â Severus said curtly, though his eyes held a glint of something. âI simply donât trust you not to cause chaos.â
âWooow, Severus,â you said dramatically, stepping into the room. âIâm offended.â
He simply stared at you with that all-knowing gaze, one eyebrow raised. âTry not to cause anything. I love you.â
As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, you collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. It was still early afternoon, and you had the entire place to yourself, butâhonestlyâyou were already bored.
âToo much free time,â you muttered, rolling onto your back and staring at the ceiling.
It was quiet. Too quiet. You needed something to do.
After a few minutes of silence, your stomach let out a soft growl.
Snack time.
You pushed yourself up from the couch, grabbing your bag and heading toward the door. âJust a quick snack,â you promised yourself. âIâll be back in five minutes.â
The hallways were mostly empty as you made your way towards what you assumed would be the kitchen but you honestly had no idea where you were going. The school felt peaceful, calmâa far cry from the chaos of students when they were running between classes.
But as you rounded a corner, you froze.
There, standing in the hallway, was none other than the students you had spoke with last time you were here. You had just seen them a few days ago in Severusâs class, and they greeted you warmly as you approached.
âOh, hey!â Harry said, his eyes lighting up when he recognized you. âYouâre Snapeâs wife, right?â
You smiled and nodded. âYep, thatâs me. I told you guys Iâd come back and say hello.â
âIâm so glad you did!â Hermione said, giving you an enthusiastic wave. âWe were hoping weâd see you again.â
Seamus grinned. âIt was fun having you there. Donât tell Snape we said this, but heâs a bit of a hard ass in class.â
You couldnât help but laugh. âOh, donât worry, I wonât.â
âYou should totally hang out with us,â Ron said, his grin as wide as ever. âWeâve got some time between classes. We can show you around the castle if you want.â
Your stomach growled again, but you figured a quick detour wouldnât hurt.
âAlright, Iâll join you for a bit,â you said with a shrug. âBut only for a little while, then Iâll get back to Severusâs room.â
âOh, he wonât mind,â Hermione said with a knowing smile. âI think heâs used to your little surprises by now.â
The four of them led you through the castle, and you marveled at all the hidden places they showed you. Ron and Seamus were the most energetic, rushing ahead to reveal secret passageways, while Hermione offered detailed explanations about the history of certain rooms and objects. Harry stuck by your side, engaging in light conversation.
âFirst stop, the Trophy Room!â Ron said dramatically. âItâs not the most exciting, but thereâs always something weird in here.â
As you wandered through the castle, Seamus pointed out a painting of a wizard with a giant pumpkin. âWeâre not sure if itâs enchanted, but some say it moves when no oneâs looking.â
âReally?â you asked, amused.
âYeah, but try catching it and you might end up hexed,â Hermione added, smiling.
After the Trophy Room, Harry led you to the Room of Requirement. âThis place is one of the coolest. It only shows up when you need it.â
âNo way,â you said, impressed. âThatâs incredible!â
âItâs a bit of a mystery, but itâs always useful when we need something,â Harry explained.
The group made their way to the library, where Hermione couldnât contain her excitement. âThis is my favorite place in Hogwarts! There are books on every subject.â
Seamus chimed in, âSome books even move when youâre not looking!â
You laughed, feeling a growing connection to these students who clearly loved Hogwarts with all their hearts.
Eventually, they led you back toward the dungeons, and you couldnât help but smile. âThanks for the tour, guys. I had no idea Hogwarts had so many hidden gems.â
âNo problem!â Harry grinned. âWeâre glad you came back to visit.â
Before you could respond, the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Uh-oh.
You barely had time to turn before Severus appeared at the end of the hallway, his black robes billowing as he strode toward you with an expression that screamed unimpressed husband mode activated.
âMrs. Snape.â
Your stomach did a tiny flipânot out of fear, but because, despite his irritation, there was something undeniably attractive about him in full professor mode.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand, immediately stiffened.
âOh⊠hey, love,â you said sweetly, tilting your head like you werenât caught red-handed.
Snapeâs gaze flicked from you to the four students. âYou were meant to be in class five minutes ago.â
Hermione gasped, checking the time. âOh no, we completely lost track!â
Ron groaned. âBrilliant. Now weâre doomed.â
âIndeed,â Snape drawled. âTen points from Gryffindorâeach.â
âWHAT?!â Seamus yelped. âBut we were justââ
Snapeâs dark eyes silenced him instantly
Harry sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. âSorry, Professor. We got a little carried away showing Y/N around.â
At that, Snapeâs already formidable scowl deepened. His gaze snapped back to you. âAnd you. I told you to stay in my quarters.â
You offered a sheepish smile. âI got bored.â
His jaw clenched. âBored.â
âAnd hungry,â you added, as if that made it better.
A muscle in his cheek twitched. âSo rather than wait like a rational adult, you decided to wander the castleâcausing disruptions, I see.â
You bit back a laugh at how dramatic he sounded. âI wasnât causing disruptions,â you defended, âI was making friends.â
Snapeâs lips pressed into a thin line.
You took a step closer, lowering your voice just enough that the students probably couldnât hear. âCome on, Severus, donât be mad.â
His eyes flickered with something unreadable. He sighed, clearly waging an internal war.
Seizing the moment, you reached up and pressed a quick, affectionate kiss to his lips.
Instant regret for the students.
Ron made a disgusted noise deep in his throat. Seamus physically recoiled. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose like he was in pain, while Hermione let out a small, horrified squeak.
âOH, COME ON!â Seamus groaned. âDid we have to witness that?!â
âWe knew they were married,â Ron muttered, âbut seeing it is a whole other thing.â
Harry shook his head. âIâm going to need to bleach my brain.â
Snape exhaled sharply, clearly exasperated but no longer angry. His fingers ghosted over your wrist for just a second before he turned sharply on his heel. âCome along. Now.â
You smirked at the still-stunned students. âLovely seeing you all. Enjoy class!â
They didnât respond. They were too busy trying to recover.
âž»
The walk back to Severusâs quarters was silent. Well, mostly silent. You, of course, were still feeling playful despite his grumpy mood.
âYou know, you really should be thanking me.â
Severus didnât even glance at you. âFor what, exactly?â
You linked your arm through his, leaning into him slightly. âFor ensuring that your students respect your authority. If I hadnât kissed you, they wouldâve kept thinking youâre just some poor, helpless husband, bullied into submission by his charming wife.â
He exhaled through his noseâthe closest thing to a laugh youâd get from him while he was still pretending to be mad.
âYou are an insufferable woman,â he muttered.
âAnd you are a dramatic man,â you countered, stopping just outside his door. âCome on, Severus, I was just hungry. You canât honestly expect me to sit around doing nothing all day.â
âI expected you to follow my instructions,â he corrected, unlocking the door. âA foolish expectation on my part.â
You grinned. âVery foolish.â
The door clicked shut behind you both. The room was dimly lit, the warm glow from the fireplace making the space feel even cozier. You sighed in relief, flopping down onto the sofa.
âSo,â you began, ânow that youâve successfully dragged me back, whatâs for dinner?â
Severus raised a brow. âPardon?â
You crossed your arms. âYou stormed through half the castle to retrieve me, all while knowing I was starving. Surely, you had a plan for feeding your poor, suffering wife?â
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, likely questioning every life decision that had led him to this moment. Then, with a resigned sigh, he flicked his wand.
A moment later, a plate of warm stew and fresh bread appeared on the small table in front of you.
Your eyes lit up. âOh, Severus, you do love me!â
He rolled his eyes, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. âEat before I change my mind and vanish it.â
You didnât need to be told twice. You pulled the plate into your lap and took a bite, practically melting at the taste. âMerlin, this is good.â
Severus sat beside you, watching with an unreadable expression. âOne might think you hadnât eaten in days.â
âOne might be right,â you mumbled through another mouthful.
Severus shook his head but said nothing. Instead, he leaned back against the couch, resting his arm along the back, his fingers barely grazing your shoulder.
You looked up at him between bites. âSo, are you still mad at me?â
He exhaled slowly. âI was never truly mad, merely⊠irritated.â
You smirked. âMmm. And how long does irritation usually last?â
His dark eyes flickered with something fond, something familiar. He tilted his head slightly, brushing a stray strand of hair from your cheek.
âLess time than it used to.â
Your heart warmed at that. Setting your plate down, you shifted closer to him, resting your head against his shoulder.
ââGood,â you murmured, âbecause I fully intend on distracting you again.â
Severus sighed in that long-suffering way of his but didnât move away. Instead, his fingers traced lazy patterns along your arm, his touch lingering just a little longer than necessary.
You tilted your head up, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against the corner of his mouth. He stilled for only a second before turning fully toward you, his dark gaze heavy.
âYou,â he murmured, voice lower now, âare truly impossible.â
You smirked. âAnd yet, here you areâcompletely unable to resist me.â
His lips crashed against yours, his hand curling around the back of your neck, pulling you even closer. The firelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across the room, the warmth of it nothing compared to the heat pooling between you both.
You barely noticed when he flicked his wand again, vanishing the forgotten plate of food from the table.
Summary: Remus and Y/N have been dating for a few months, and for the first time, heâs coming to her place. But thereâs one small complicationâher dog.
Note: Honestly, itâs just pure fluffâRemus is too cute, and I have no self-control
It was a crisp Saturday afternoon, the kind where the chill in the air was balanced by the warmth of the sun as it filtered through the streets. The bustling city around them was a contrast to the quiet, solitary nature of Remus Lupinâs usual world, but today, he welcomed it. He had traveled to the city for one simple reason: to see Y/N.
They had been dating for a few months now, and each moment spent with her seemed to deepen the connection they had. The way she laughed at his silly jokes, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about things she was passionate aboutâeverything about her made him feel more alive than he had in years. Yet today was something different. It was the first time he would visit her place, and there was a nervous flutter in his stomach as he approached the little restaurant she had suggested.
Remus adjusted his scarf, hands a little colder than usual, and checked his watchâjust a few more minutes. He stood outside, gazing around, a small smile tugging at his lips as he spotted Y/N. She was standing near the entrance of the restaurant, looking effortlessly radiant. Her soft green sweater hugged her figure just right, and her hair, tucked behind her ears, framed her face perfectly. Remusâs heart gave an extra beat, his nerves slowly melting away at the sight of her.
âHi!â Y/N greeted, her face lighting up when she saw him. She stepped forward, a bright smile on her lips, and Remus felt his heart flutter at how natural it felt to be around her.
âHey, honey,â Remus replied, his voice warm with affection as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. The endearment slipped out without a second thought, and it made his cheeks blush just a little.
Y/N chuckled softly, her own cheeks tinged pink. âHey, Rem. You look good as always.â
âAlways?â Remus grinned, leaning in a bit closer. âI must be doing something right then.â
Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. âMaybe. Or maybe you just know how to charm a girl.â
âWell, I do try.â He smirked, straightening his scarf as they walked into the restaurant together.
The inside of the restaurant was cozy, a perfect balance of warmth and charm. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted vegetables wafted through the air, making Remusâs stomach growl softly. They sat down by the window, the sunlight streaming in and casting a soft glow around them.
As they perused the menu, the conversation flowed easily between them. Remus had always been comfortable with Y/N, but today, there was something about the way she looked at him, the way she smiled, that made him feel even more at ease.
âSo, howâs everything been at Hogwarts?â Y/N asked, her voice curious as she sipped her water.
âBusy, as usual,â Remus said with a half-smile. âThereâs always something happening thereâstudents to teach, trouble to sort out. But itâs rewarding. I enjoy it, despite the chaos.â
âI canât imagine working with students all the time,â Y/N mused. âThey must keep you on your toes.â
âThey do, definitely. Especially with a certain group of students. But itâs worth it when you see them grow.â
Y/N nodded, her eyes softening as she watched him speak. âYouâre really good with them, Remus. I can tell.â
He blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by her sincerity. âThank you, hon. That means a lot.â
There was a slight pause as they both smiled at each other, the weight of unspoken affection filling the space between them. Remus felt his pulse quicken, but he didnât break eye contact. He liked thisâliked the way she made him feel grounded, like he didnât have to hide any part of himself.
âSo, howâs life outside the wizarding world treating you?â Remus asked, shifting the conversation to something lighter.
Y/Nâs face brightened, a twinkle of mischief dancing in her eyes. âBusy, but itâs good. I work with a lot of Muggles, so itâs always a bit of an adjustment. But I like the challenge. Keeps me on my toes, just like you.â
Remus laughed softly, the sound deep and genuine. âIâll admit, it sounds like quite the adventure. How do you manage? Iâm sure itâs different than anything I could imagine.â
âI make it work,â Y/N replied with a shrug, but there was a small, proud smile on her face. âI like that it keeps things interesting. No two days are ever the same.â
They chatted for a while longer, exchanging stories about work, life, and the small things that made each day unique. As their food arrivedâfreshly grilled chicken for Remus, a hearty vegetable stew for Y/Nâthey settled into an easy rhythm, both of them enjoying the simplicity of being in each otherâs company.
âYou know,â Y/N said after a few bites, her voice playful, âI was thinking that maybe we should go to my place after lunch.â
Remus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. âYour place?â
âYeah. Youâve never seen where I live, and I thought it might be nice.â Y/N gave him a mischievous grin. âPlus, I think youâll like it. I have a dog.â
Remus blinked, a little surprised. âA dog?â
Y/N nodded. âYep. His nameâs Toby. Heâs a bit of a character, but Iâm sure heâll warm up to you.â
Remus hesitated for a moment, a nervous flutter in his chest. He wasnât sure how he felt about meeting her dog. He liked animals, sure, but he wasnât used to the idea of a dog, especially when he wasnât entirely sure how it would react to him. Would it like him? Or would it sense something about him that made it uneasy?
But then Y/N reached across the table, her hand gently touching his. âDonât worry,â she said, her voice soothing. âIâm sure you two will get along just fine.â
He met her gaze, her warmth and reassurance easing his nerves. âOkay,â he said with a smile. âI trust you, Lead the way.â
They finished their meal, and soon, they were walking out into the cool afternoon, hand in hand. Remus felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Meeting a dog wasnât exactly the most nerve-wracking thing heâd ever done, but the idea of stepping into her worldâseeing where she lived, where she spent her timeâfelt like a big step. It was like getting a glimpse into a part of her life that was separate from the wizarding world, and it made him feel both nervous and honored.
As they reached her flat, Y/Nâs keys jingled as she unlocked the door. She opened it with a smile, gesturing for him to enter.
âYouâre about to meet Toby,â she said, her tone teasing. âLetâs see how he likes you.â
Remus hesitated for a moment at the threshold, his nerves kicking in again. But then, Y/Nâs voice softened. âItâs okay, Rem. Just be yourself.â
With a deep breath, he stepped inside.
Remus couldnât help but feel a little out of his element. It wasnât just the apartment that was new to him, or the small, cozy space that felt like a slice of normalcy. It was the fact that he was about to meet Y/Nâs dog, Toby. And that, in itself, made him nervous in ways he hadnât fully anticipated.
He had spent most of his life keeping his werewolf identity hidden, careful about who he trusted with such a personal part of himself. Y/N knewâshe had learned the truth a few weeks into their relationship, and he had been amazed by her understanding and acceptance. But now, with her dog in the picture, there was a whole new layer of uncertainty. He was never sure how animals might react to him. Toby could sense things, just like Y/N, and the last thing Remus wanted was for the dog to pick up on his inner turmoil.
âDonât worry,â Y/N said, glancing over at him as they walked down the hallway to the living room. âTobyâs a bit of a drama king, but heâs a big softie underneath it all.â
âIâm sure,â Remus replied, trying to mask the nervousness creeping into his voice. He smiled at Y/N, but it was tight, unsure. He was trying to hide how the anticipation was making his palms sweat.
As they entered the living room, Y/N called softly, âToby, come here, boy.â
A large golden retriever raised his head from the couch, blinking sleepily before his ears perked up. His eyes flicked between Remus and Y/N, narrowing just slightly, and he lifted his body, as if assessing the new presence in the room. His tail swished lazily, but his posture was still wary, and for a moment, Remus froze, his breath caught in his throat.
âToby, donât be rude,â Y/N chided softly, but Remus could see the slight tension in her own face as she knelt down. She wasnât sure how the dog would react either. She had told him she was nervous about this exact momentâhow animals, especially dogs, could sometimes sense something different about him.
Toby took a slow, careful step forward, sniffing the air with curiosity. Remus instinctively held his breath, worried that Tobyâs scent would tell him something he didnât want the dog to know.
Y/N smiled, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes. âItâs okay, Rem. He just needs a moment to get used to you. Heâs protective, but heâll warm up.â
âI hope so,â Remus muttered under his breath. He couldnât help but feel that strange sense of unease. He wasnât used to being around animalsâespecially not in such a personal space. And the fact that Toby seemed so intent on getting a read on him only heightened his discomfort.
Remus bent down slightly, offering his hand cautiously to the dog. Toby sniffed his fingers before pulling back slightly, not quite trusting him yet. There was a deep, almost primal wariness in the dogâs movements, and Remus couldnât help but notice how Tobyâs body stiffened as though he could sense something deeper.
Y/N glanced at him, her gaze soft but tinged with concern. âHeâs just⊠not used to strangers, especially after Iâve had a few bad experiences with people before. And, wellâŠâ She hesitated for a moment, before letting out a quiet sigh. âI just hope heâs okay with you being here.â
âI understand.â Remus glanced at her, his expression softening. âIâm just nervous heâll⊠sense something.â
Y/N gave him a small smile, brushing her hand through her hair. âYou mean your, well - your lycanthropy?â She looked at him knowingly, and there was no judgment, just understanding. âI know, Rem. I really do. But donât worryâToby wonât care. Heâs just⊠cautious. It had nothing to do with that.â
Still, Remus couldnât shake the feeling of being under scrutiny. Toby was staring at him now, his eyes steady, unreadable, and it almost felt like the dog was seeing something he was trying to keep hidden, as if his very being was something tobyy could somehow sense.
Toby let out a low growlâa small sound, not particularly threatening, but enough to make Remus stiffen.
Y/N stood up, her smile faltering for a moment. She reached over to Toby, her fingers gently brushing over his fur. âToby, no growling. Be nice,â she murmured.
The dog reluctantly quieted but stayed in place, still staring at Remus with a gaze that sent a shiver down his spine. Remus stood awkwardly, unsure whether to back away or keep trying.
He looked over at Y/N, and she gave him an apologetic smile. âHeâs just⊠protective, Rem. Itâs not you. He just⊠well, heâs sensitive to new people. Especially men.â
âI understand,â Remus said again, though his voice was slightly strained. He forced himself to relax, but it was hard. He didnât want to seem like he was overreacting, but the growing tension in the room was starting to get to him.
For a long moment, Toby just stared at him, his tail rigid. But eventually, with a heavy sigh, the dog took a few tentative steps backward, glancing up at Y/N before lowering his body onto the floor, still watching Remus from under half-lidded eyes.
âGood boy,â Y/N said softly, and Remus couldnât help but feel a small amount of relief wash over him.
Y/N turned back to Remus, her eyes filled with concern but also reassurance. âSee? I told you heâd come around. It just takes a little time.â
Remus sighed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. âItâs just⊠Iâve never been around dogs like this. And you know whatâs going on with me, so Iâm not sure how heâs going to react.â
Y/N smiled gently, walking over to him. She placed her hand on his arm, her touch warm and comforting. âI know, honey. I know. And I promise you, you donât have to worry about him. Heâs just⊠a little protective. Itâs his job to keep me safe. Heâll get used to you, Iâm sure of it.â
Remus looked down at her, meeting her gaze. His heart thudded in his chest, but her words settled the nerves that had been gnawing at him since they walked through the door. It wasnât just Toby he had to convince. It was himself, too.
âI guess Iâll have to prove myself,â Remus said with a small grin. âBut, uh⊠Iâm happy to try.â
Y/N chuckled, her eyes soft. âYouâll win him over. You just need to show him youâre a good guy, Rem. Like I know you are.â
Remus let out a breath he hadnât realized he was holding. âI hope so, honey. I really do.â
Heâd faced full moons, fought against Death Eaters, and stood in front of classrooms full of skeptical studentsâbut here he was, standing in Y/Nâs cozy living room, feeling completely at the mercy of a golden retriever who clearly wasnât sure what to make of him.
Toby had stopped growling, but he was still watching Remus with a keen, assessing gaze, his body positioned just close enough to Y/N to be protective but not outright aggressive. Remus swallowed, shifting his weight.
âI think heâs decided to tolerate me,â he murmured, shooting Y/N a half-smile.
She grinned, reaching over to squeeze his hand. âThatâs a good sign! I think you might just pass his test.â
Remus chuckled, glancing down at their interlocked fingers. He liked the way her smaller hand fit in his, the way her thumb absentmindedly traced circles against his skin. It was grounding, a reminder that this was something normal. Something good.
âShould I offer him a treat?â Remus asked hesitantly. âOr is that bribery?â
Y/N laughed. âBribery is completely acceptable in this household.â She flicked her wand, and a small tin floated from a shelf, settling onto the coffee table. The lid popped off with a little click, revealing an assortment of homemade dog treats.
Remus raised an eyebrow. âDid you justâdid you enchant a biscuit tin?â
âObviously,â Y/N said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. âIâm not going to get up every time Toby wants a treat. That would be ridiculous.â
Remus couldnât help but chuckle. He loved this about herâthe way she seamlessly blended magic into her daily life in the most effortless ways.
She plucked a biscuit from the tin and handed it to him. âHere. If he takes it from you, it means he officially likes you.â
Remus took the biscuit, crouching slightly as he extended it toward Toby. The dog sniffed it cautiously, his ears flicking forward. For a moment, Remus thought he might reject it outright, but after a few seconds of tense silence, Toby huffedâthen leaned forward and took the treat from his palm.
Y/N beamed. âSuccess!â
Remus let out a breath, watching as Toby retreated to his dog bed with the treat, chewing happily. âI feel like I just passed some kind of test.â
âOh, you did,â Y/N said, grinning. âThe Toby Test is a very prestigious one. Not many men have passed.â
Remus gave her a knowing look. âSo I am special, then?â
She rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her expression. âOf course you are babe. You were special long before Toby gave you his grudging approval.â
He felt his heart stutter at the way she said babe. It was still new, the way they had started slipping affectionate names into their conversations, but he loved it.
As if sensing the shift in the air, Toby finished his treat and promptly trotted over, plopping himself down beside Y/N with a huff. He didnât rest against Remus, but he was close enough that it felt like a step in the right direction.
âWell, I suppose that means I can stay,â Remus said lightly.
âIâd hope so,â Y/N teased. âOtherwise, Iâd have to duel Toby for your honor.â
âMm, Iâd pay to see that,â Remus mused. âThough, I suspect heâd win.â
âOh, no doubt,â Y/N said. âHeâs a menace when he wants to be. Once, he stole my wand and refused to give it back. I had to Accio it out of his mouth.â
Remus snorted. âThatâs the most chaotic thing Iâve ever heard.â
âI live a thrilling life,â she said dramatically, leaning into him just slightly. He caught the faint scent of her shampooâsomething soft and floral, utterly her.
He tilted his head to look at her, his voice softer now. âI like it.â
She smiled, her fingers brushing against his on the couch. âYeah?â
âYeah,â he murmured.
They sat like that for a moment, comfortable in the quiet, the warmth of her home wrapping around him like a spell.
Then, Y/N perked up. âOh! I almost forgot.â She waved her wand, and two mugs floated in from the kitchen, steam curling in the air. They landed neatly on the coffee table.
Remus reached for his, inhaling the rich, spiced scent. âYou made butterbeer?â
âWell, I figured if I was inviting my handsome wizard boyfriend over for the first time, I should do it properly,â she said with a wink.
Remus felt warmth bloom in his chest. âHandsome, am I?â
âOh, terribly,â she said, taking a sip from her own mug. âDevastatingly handsome. Itâs a real problem.â
Remus chuckled, shaking his head as he took a sip. It was perfectârich, creamy, with just the right amount of warmth that spread through his chest.
âYouâre amazing,â he said, setting his mug down to reach for her hand again.
She grinned. âI know.â
Toby let out a long sigh, settling at their feet as if finally accepting Remusâs presence.
And for the first time that evening, Remus let himself relax.
Maybe, just maybe, this was exactly where he was meant to be.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The evening air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn leaves and a faint trace of chimney smoke from nearby houses. The city was quieter now, with only the occasional sound of footsteps on cobblestone and the distant hum of traffic.
Toby trotted ahead, his golden fur catching the glow of the streetlamps as he sniffed curiously at every lamppost and tree they passed. Remus walked beside Y/N, their hands brushing occasionally, though neither of them made a move to close the gap.
Y/N let out a contented sigh, tucking her hands into her coat pockets. âI love this time of year.â
Remus smiled. âI can see why. It suits youâcrisp air, warm drinks, leaves changing colors. Youâre veryâŠautumnal.â
Y/N laughed, bumping her shoulder against his. âIs that your way of saying I belong in a pumpkin patch?â
He chuckled. âNot at all. More like you make everything feel warm, even when itâs cold outside.â
Y/N turned to look at him, her expression softening. âThat was very smooth, Rem.â
âI do try,â he said, giving her a small, playful smirk.
âIâm really glad you came today,â she said quietly.
Remus glanced at her. âYeah?â
She nodded. âI know you were nervous about Toby. And I get it. ButâŠit means a lot that you still wanted to come.â
He exhaled slowly, watching his breath form a small cloud in the air. âI was nervous,â he admitted. âNot just about him, butâŠabout this. Us.â
Y/N slowed her pace, looking at him with curiosity. âWhat do you mean?â
He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. âYou have thisâŠlife. Your job, your friends, your magic woven into every little thing. And itâs wonderful. Youâre wonderful. But sometimes, I canât help wondering if Iâif what I amâwill ever fit into it the way I want to.â
Y/N frowned, stopping in the middle of the path. Toby, sensing the pause, sat at her feet and looked up at them.
âRemus,â she said firmly, reaching for his hand. âYou already do. I wouldnât have let you into my life if I didnât think you belonged in it.â
He swallowed, feeling the warmth of her fingers against his. âI suppose I just donât want to ruin something good.â
She squeezed his hand. âThen donât. Stay. Be part of it. I want you here.â
Remus searched her face, seeing nothing but honesty in her eyes. He felt the tight knot in his chest loosen just a little.
Before he could respond, a droplet of water landed on his nose.
Then another.
Within seconds, a light drizzle turned into a steady downpour, the rain coming down in shimmering sheets under the glow of the streetlamps.
Y/N yelped, laughing as she instinctively lifted her wand. With a flick, a shimmering, umbrella-like dome formed above them, the raindrops bouncing off the invisible barrier.
Remus grinned, pulling out his own wand and adding a second layer to their magical umbrella, making the charm stronger.
Y/N looked up at him, smiling. âLook at us, proper wizards and everything.â
Remus chuckled, tucking his wand away. âIt does feel a bit like something out of a storybook, doesnât it?â
She hummed in agreement, watching the rain fall just inches away from them, keeping them perfectly dry. Toby, however, was less impressedâhe shook himself, sending droplets flying everywhere.
Y/N groaned. âToby, come on, I just dried my coat.â
Remus laughed, reaching down to scratch the dogâs ears. âI think he enjoys the rain more than we do.â
âI think he just enjoys making a mess,â Y/N grumbled, though there was fondness in her voice.
They started walking again, still sheltered under the dome of their magic. Remus could feel the warmth of her beside him, the rhythmic patter of the rain blending with the steady sound of their footsteps.
It was simple. Quiet. Perfect.
After a while, Y/N broke the silence. âYouâre staying the night, right?â
Remus blinked, glancing at her. âIâif you want me to.â
She rolled her eyes. âOf course I do. Iâd hate for you to Apparate back in the rain after such a magical evening.â
He chuckled. âVery thoughtful of you.â
She bumped her shoulder against his again. âCome on, letâs get home before Toby decides to roll in a puddle.â
Remus let himself be pulled along, feeling, for the first time in a long while, like he had truly found a place where he belonged.
And as the rain continued to fall around them, he couldnât help but think that maybeâjust maybeâthis was exactly where he was meant to be.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The rain hadnât stopped by the time they got back to Y/Nâs flat. It had only grown heavier, drumming against the windows in a steady rhythm, filling the space with a comforting sort of white noise.
Somewhere in the living room, Toby was curled up in his bed, sound asleep after the long walk. The flat was quiet aside from the occasional creak of the floorboards and the soft, contented sighs coming from the two figures tangled up in the warmth of Y/Nâs bed.
Remus lay on his back, one arm curled around Y/Nâs bare shoulders as she rested against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along his stomach. The room was dimly lit, bathed in the golden glow of a single enchanted candle that flickered gently on the nightstand.
Y/N sighed, shifting slightly so she could press a kiss to his collarbone. âMmm. Youâre warm.â
Remus let out a soft chuckle, tightening his hold on her. âI suppose thatâs one benefit of being me.â
She hummed in agreement, draping a leg over his as she pressed herself closer, her cheek resting against his chest. He could feel the slow, steady rise and fall of her breath, the way her body fit so perfectly against his. It was new, all of itâtheir closeness, their comfort with each otherâbut it felt like something he had been missing all his life.
They lay there in the silence for a while, wrapped up in the warmth of each other and the lingering softness of the night.
Then, before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.
âI love you.â
Y/Nâs fingers stilled against his skin.
Remus froze. His heart lurched as he realized what heâd just saidâwhat he hadnât meant to say yet.
He felt her shift, her head lifting slightly so she could look at him. Her eyes searched his, and for a brief, terrifying moment, he thought he had ruined everything.
Then, she smiled. A soft, glowing kind of smile.
âYou do?â she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Remus swallowed, forcing himself to meet her gaze. He had two optionsâhe could backtrack, brush it off as a slip of the tongue, pretend it didnât mean anything.
Or he could be honest.
So he took a breath, let himself fall.
âI do,â he said, his voice quieter now, but steady. âI love you, Y/N.â
Her eyes softened, and before he could say anything else, she leaned in, capturing his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. It was gentle, but deep, filled with all the words she didnât need to say.
When she pulled back, her forehead rested against his. âGood,â she murmured. âBecause I love you, too.â
Something in his chest loosened at her words, and he let out a quiet laugh, brushing his fingers along her cheek.
âYeah?â
âYeah,â she whispered, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth. âTerribly, actually. Itâs quite inconvenient.â
He chuckled, tilting his head to kiss her properly this time, slow and sweet.
They fell back into the sheets, wrapped up in each other, in whispered laughter and soft touches, in the quiet certainty that neither of them had anything to be afraid of anymore.
And outside, the rain kept falling, as if the world itself was sighing in contentment.
You sat at the edge of Severusâs worn, dark green armchair, watching him intently. He, as usual, was at his desk, hunched over a stack of essays, his quill scratching away with meticulous precision.
You let out an exaggerated sigh. Nothing. Not even a glance.
Another sigh, this time louder.
Severus let out a slow exhale through his nose but didnât look up.
You narrowed your eyes. âYou do realize itâs been forever since weâve anything romantic, right?â
That got his attention. He set his quill down, lacing his fingers together as he finally regarded you with his usual unreadable expression. ââŠWhat?â
âYou heard me,â you said, folding your arms. âWe never go on dates. We never do anything cute. No one in this entire castle would ever suspect that you and I are together because we donât do anything.â
His brow furrowed. âWe are together. Why does it matter what other people suspect?â
âThatâs not the point,â you huffed. âI donât need some grand public declaration, but would it kill you to do something romantic? Take me somewhere, surprise me, try something new?â
Severus exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. âAnd what, precisely, would you consider romantic?â
âOh, I donât know,â you said, throwing your hands in the air. âA picnic, stargazing, something with candlesâliterally anything besides sitting in your chambers while you mark third-year essays.â
His dark eyes flicked to the parchment in front of him, and he sighed. âVery well,â he muttered. âI will⊠consider it.â
You narrowed your eyes. âYou say that, but will you actually do it?â
He pinched the bridge of his nose again, the closest thing to admitting defeat that he was willing to show. âI will come up with something,â he muttered.
You didnât quite believe him, but at least youâd planted the seed.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Severus regretted his decision almost immediately.
He had no idea what people did on dates. His understanding of romance was entirely theoretical, and while he had no doubt that you would find something simple meaningful, he did not want to make a fool of himself in the process.
Which is what brought him to the absolutely idiotic decision to ask his students.
It had started as an offhanded thought, but when his seventh-year class lingered after a lesson, he found himself, against his better judgment, clearing his throat and speaking.
âOut of curiosity,â he said, tone as neutral as he could manage, âwhat would one consider a suitable location for⊠a date?â
Silence.
Dead silence.
Three students had been halfway to the door and froze. One girl dropped her quill. A Slytherin boy sitting in the front row blinked at him, eyes wide in shock.
No one spoke.
ââŠWhat?â said a Ravenclaw girl near the back.
Severus resisted the urge to sigh. âI believe my question was clear.â
âAreâare you serious?â stammered a Gryffindor boy.
âDo I appear to be joking?â
The students exchanged bewildered glances.
âUhââ one of the students hesitated. âAre you⊠asking for yourself?â
Severusâ expression darkened. âThat is irrelevant.â
A Gryffindor girl coughed into her fist. âWell⊠I suppose it depends on the person. Some people like going out to dinner, others like stargazing, orââ
âGoing to Hogsmeade?â one student suggested weakly.
âTaking a walk somewhere romantic?â another added.
âBonfires can be fun,â the Ravenclaw girl said quickly, as if trying to hurry the conversation along. âYou know, somewhere privateâjust the two of you, maybe in the woods. Warm, cozy, good atmosphereâŠâ
Severus gave her a sharp look. âA fire⊠in the woods?â
âYeah,â she said, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. âJust a small one, of course. Itâs quiet, intimate. No distractions.â
Severus considered this. A fire. In the woods. Simple, quiet, private. He could manage that.
The students, meanwhile, were still frozen in a mix of disbelief and fascination.
âProfessor,â the Slytherin boy finally asked, ââŠAre you dating someone?â
âThat,â Severus said curtly, gathering his papers, âis none of your concern.â
He swept out of the room before they could ask anything else, leaving them in stunned, confused silence.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Later that evening, you were once again in Severusâ chambers, flipping through a book on his couch while he stood near his desk, appearing deep in thought.
âYouâve been quiet,â you observed, raising an eyebrow. âPlotting something?â
He turned to you, his expression unreadable. âI have decided on something.â
âOh?â You perked up, intrigued. âDo tell.â
âI will be taking you⊠on a date,â he said, the word foreign on his tongue. âTomorrow evening.â
Your eyes widened slightly. You hadnât actually expected him to act so quickly. âReally?â
He gave a small nod. âYes. You asked for romance. I believe I have found an appropriate option.â
A slow smile spread across your face. âAnd what exactly are we doing?â
âYou will find out soon enough,â he said smoothly. âWear something warm.â
You studied him for a long moment, the smallest flicker of amusement in your eyes. âSeverus, did you actually put effort into this?â
His lip twitched. âDo not test my patience.â
You grinned. âAlright, alright. I wonât push my luck. But I am looking forward to this.â
Severus merely hummed, watching you with a quiet, unreadable expression.
For once, he had done something right. And tomorrow, he would prove it.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The woods beyond Hogwarts were quiet at night, save for the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. The air was crisp but not uncomfortably cold, and above, the sky stretched dark and endless, speckled with stars. It was the perfect settingâsecluded, peaceful, and, most importantly, romantic.
And you knew damn well Severus had not come up with it on his own.
Still, you werenât about to complain. The fact that he had taken any initiative was a miracle in itself. So, as you sat cross-legged on a soft plaid blanket, watching the firelight flicker against his sharp features, you couldnât help but smile.
The fire crackled softly, its golden glow casting flickering shadows against the surrounding trees. The woods were quiet, save for the occasional whisper of wind through the branches. The air was crisp but pleasant, and for once, Severus didnât seem entirely out of his element.
You sat cross-legged on a soft blanket, your hands stretched toward the warmth of the fire. Across from you, Severus was seated with his usual composed posture, his dark cloak wrapped around him, making him look even more like a shadow among the trees. His face was unreadable, but the fact that he had brought you out here at all was proof enough of his effort.
âThis is nice,â you said, smiling as you glanced at him.
Severus gave a slow nod. âI suppose it is.â
âYou suppose?â you teased, nudging his knee with yours. âCome on, admit it. This was a good idea.â
His lips twitched, but he did not dignify you with a response.
Instead, he watched with mild suspicion as you pulled a small paper bag from your satchel and began rummaging through it. His brow furrowed when you withdrew a package of graham crackers, a bar of chocolate, and a bag of marshmallows.
ââŠWhat is that?â he asked warily.
You grinned. âSâmores.â
Severus blinked, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
âItâs a Muggle thing,â you explained, already unwrapping the chocolate. âYou roast the marshmallow, then sandwich it between chocolate and graham crackers. Itâs sweet, sticky, and ridiculously messy, so youâll probably hate it.â
Severus exhaled through his nose, watching as you skewered a marshmallow onto a thin stick. âAnd yet you fully intend to make me partake in this⊠experience.â
âObviously.â You shot him a cheeky grin. âI went through the trouble of sneaking all of this out here. The least you can do is humor me.â
He gave you a long, exasperated look before reluctantly taking the stick you held out to him. âThis is utterly ridiculous.â
âYou say that now,â you mused, turning your marshmallow slowly over the flames. âBut just wait until you taste it.â
Severus followed your lead, albeit with far more caution, holding his marshmallow at a calculated distance from the fire. He watched with sharp focus as the edges began to brown, turning a perfect golden hue.
Meanwhile, yours had already caught fire.
âShitâ!â You yelped, waving the stick wildly in an attempt to put out the flames.
Severus huffed out what might have been a laugh as he watched you frantically blow on your charred marshmallow. âYour technique is abysmal.â
âOh, shut up,â you muttered, carefully sliding the burnt marshmallow onto a piece of chocolate and sandwiching it between two graham crackers. âIt still tastes good.â
He eyed the sticky, melted mess with mild skepticism. âHighly debatable.â
Rolling your eyes, you held out the assembled sâmore. âHere. Try it.â
Severus hesitated but, after a moment, accepted it with the air of a man bracing for disaster. He took a small, careful bite, chewing slowly as if analyzing the flavors.
You watched expectantly. ââŠWell?â
He swallowed, dabbing a stray bit of chocolate from his lip with a handkerchief he had apparently produced from thin air.
ââŠIt is tolerable.â
You gasped in mock offense. âTolerable? Thatâs all?â
Severus lifted a single brow. âIt is excessively sweet.â
âThatâs the point,â you laughed. âItâs supposed to be indulgent and fun.â
He regarded the half-eaten sâmore in his hand before sighing and taking another bite. âI fail to see the necessity of combining this many ingredients.â
âYou mean flavor?â you teased.
He shot you a dry look. âYou are insufferable.â
âAnd yet you love me,â you said sweetly, nudging him with your shoulder.
Severus said nothing, but the faintest smirk played at the corner of his lips as he took another bite of his sâmore.
The fire crackled, the stars above shimmered, and in that quiet, intimate moment, you knewâdespite all his grumblingâthat Severus had, in his own way, enjoyed this ridiculous little date.
And that was more than enough.
The fire had burned down to glowing embers, the warmth still lingering in the crisp night air. You sighed contentedly, stretching your legs out as you leaned back on your hands, stealing a glance at Severus. He was watching the fire, his sharp features softened by the dim glow.
âThis was nice,â you murmured.
He hummed in agreement. âSurprisingly tolerable.â
You grinned. âI knew youâd like it.â
He turned to you, arching a brow. âI would not go that far.â
âYet you ate two sâmores,â you teased.
Severus huffed, shaking his head as he stood, brushing off his robes. âCome. We should return beforeââ
A noise.
A rustling in the trees.
You both froze.
Severusâ hand instinctively moved toward his wand, his entire posture going rigid as he turned sharply toward the sound. You held your breath, heart pounding, as voicesâstudent voicesâdrifted through the trees.
You barely had time to react before the figures emerged into the clearing.
Three studentsâseventh yearsâstopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide with shock.
âProfessor Snape?â one of them blurted out, as if they couldnât quite believe what they were seeing.
Severusâ expression remained carefully blank, but you could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
âMr. Whitmore,â he said smoothly, as if nothing were out of the ordinary. âMiss Patel. Mr. Wright.â
The students exchanged uncertain glances. Their eyes flickered between the dying fire, the half-eaten sâmores on a napkin, and, of course, you.
You kept your face neutral, resisting the urge to shift closer to Severus. They didnât know anything. Not yet.
ââŠAre you camping?â Patel asked hesitantly.
You had to bite back a laugh. Camping. Yes, that was exactly what the ever-dignified Severus Snape did in his free time.
Severus, to his credit, remained composed. âNo,â he said flatly. âI was merely ensuring that no students were out breaking curfew.â
Patelâs brow furrowed. âWeâre not breaking curfewââ
âYou are wandering the grounds past hours,â Severus cut in smoothly, his voice laced with the kind of authority that made students shrink in their robes. âWhich is suspicious at best.â
Wrightâs eyes flickered toward you again. âAnd⊠Professor Y/L/N?â
You opened your mouth, grasping for an excuse, when Severusâof all peopleâsaved you.
âProfessor Y/L/N had similar concerns,â he said crisply. âGiven the recent rule-breaking around the castle, it was wise to have more than one set of eyes ensuring student safety. Howeverââ He narrowed his eyes. âI would ask why you are here, loitering in the woods at this hour.â
The students hesitated.
ââŠWe were just taking a walk,â Whitmore mumbled.
Severus let out a slow, unimpressed breath. âA walk.â
He stared them down for a long, agonizing moment before flicking his wand toward the fire, extinguishing the embers instantly. The students flinched.
âThen I suggest you walk yourselves back to the castle,â he said icily. âBefore I begin assigning detentions.â
That did it. The three scrambled back into the trees, muttering hasty goodnights before disappearing into the darkness.
You waited until their footsteps faded before exhaling a breath you hadnât realized you were holding.
âWell,â you murmured, glancing at Severus. âThat was close.â
He turned to you, his expression unreadable. âToo close.â
You bit your lip, considering. âI donât think they suspect anything.â
His jaw tightened. âFor their sake, I hope not.â
You rolled your eyes, barely suppressing a laugh.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Ł
As you both made your way back toward the castle, the night air crisp and quiet around you, one question lingered in your mind, itching to be asked. You glanced up at Severus, watching his usually unruffled composure.
âSo, SeverusâŠâ you started casually, keeping your tone light. âHow exactly did you come up with the idea for a fire in the woods? Was that your idea, orâŠ?â
Severus glanced at you, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, he didnât answer, the muscles in his jaw tightening as though debating how much to reveal.
Finally, he sighed, his voice barely above a murmur. âIt was a suggestion.â
You raised an eyebrow. âA suggestion? From who?â
He hesitated just long enough to make you realize this was something he didnât want to share. âStudents,â he muttered, almost sounding embarrassed.
Your lips curled into an amused smile. âYou asked your students for date ideas?â
Severus shot you a look that was equal parts irritation and disbelief. âI was gathering suggestions, not⊠asking for them.â
You laughed, the sound light and teasing as you bumped your shoulder against his. âThatâs adorable. I can just picture itââHey, any ideas for an intimate date for me and my secret girlfriend?ââ
Severus made a disgruntled noise but didnât bother to respond, clearly wishing he could sink into the floor.
You grinned. âWell, whatever it was, it worked. Iâm glad you listened to your studentsâ advice.â
He gave a tight-lipped smile but didnât argue. âLetâs just get back to the castle, Y/N.â
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The rest of the walk back to the castle was unusually silent. You glanced at Severus every so often, noting the stiff way he carried himself, you knew exactly why he was upset.
You rolled your eyes. âSeverus, weâre fine. No one saw anything. No one knows anything.â
He said nothing, his jaw tight, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
You huffed, brushing some hair from your face. âLook, I get it. Youâre careful. Youâre private. You think no one can know. But I donât really care
That got his attention. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to you with a look so sharp it almost made you step back. âYou donât care?â
You shrugged, completely unbothered. âNot really. If people find out, they find out. Let them.â
His eyes narrowed like you had just suggested something absolutely ridiculous. âYou donât care about the consequences?â
You crossed your arms, biting back a smirk. âSeverus, whatâs the worst that could happen? People find out weâre together? Oh no, whatever shall we do?â You gasped dramatically.
He did not look amused. âIt is not a joke, Y/N.â
âTo you itâs not. To me, itâs hilarious that you think weâre some sort of forbidden romance.â
âWe are a forbidden romance,â he muttered.
You snorted. âOh, please. Itâs not like youâre my professor or Iâm some reckless student sneaking around behind the clock tower.â
Severus exhaled through his nose, clearly resisting the urge to roll his eyes. âYou are infuriating.â
âI know,â you said cheerfully.
He resumed walking, and you easily caught up, slipping your arm through his despite his continued grumbling.
âFor the record,â you added, tilting your head at him, âI donât plan on shouting it from the rooftops. But Iâm also not going to act like I donât know you when weâre around other people. If someone figures it out, Iâm not going to hide under a desk.â
Severus made a noise of clear disapproval. âYou should hide under a desk. You should deny everything.â
You laughed, tightening your hold on his arm. âYouâre the one who asked your students for date ideas, Severus. Pretty sure you blew your own cover there.â
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. âI knew I should have gone with the library.â
You gasped. âWait, that was an option? You had a list?â
âGo inside,â he muttered, ushering you toward the entrance of the castle.
You cackled, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before darting away into the corridor. âI knew it!â
Severus sighed heavily, rubbing his temple as he followed you inside. Perhaps, he thought, dating you was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
But as you turned back to flash him a mischievous grin, something warm stirred in his chest.
Remus Lupin had always been comfortable in the shadows. He was a quiet observer, blending into the background of Hogwarts with his worn robes and gentle presence. He didnât mind it, really. It was easier to remain unnoticed. But then, you arrived, and being unnoticed became impossible.
You were a whirlwind of sunshine, an explosion of color and laughter that brightened even the coldest corners of the castle. Your robes were never dullâtoday, they were a brilliant shade of yellow, yesterday a soft lavender. The staff table at meals felt livelier when you were there, always chatting, always smiling. You had an energy about you that reminded him of springtime, warm and full of life.
And you were beautiful.
Remus had noticed it the moment he met you. It wasnât just your appearanceâthough he certainly wasnât blind to thatâit was the way you were. The way you carried yourself, the way you made everyone feel as if they belonged, the way you spoke with such enthusiasm that even the most mundane topics became interesting.
You fascinated him.
And perhaps, you were also a bit fascinated by him.
âž»
âProfessor Lupin!â Your voice rang out cheerfully in the dimly lit corridor as you hurried to catch up with him. It was late, and most of the students had long since retreated to their common rooms, leaving the halls quiet. Remus had been enjoying the stillness, but he found he didnât mind the interruption.
âProfessor Y/L/N,â he greeted with a small smile. âYouâre out late.â
âSo are you,â you teased, falling into step beside him. âPatrolling?â
He nodded. âAnd you?â
You clasped your hands behind your back, swaying slightly as you walked. âCouldnât sleep. Thought Iâd take a stroll, see if I ran into any troublemakers. And lucky me, I found one.â
Remus chuckled. âIf Iâm the troublemaker, then I think Hogwarts is in good hands.â
âMm, true,â you mused. âYouâre probably the least troublesome professor here. But you are mysterious, you know.â
âMysterious?â He raised an eyebrow.
You stopped walking, tilting your head as you studied him. âYouâre quiet. You watch more than you speak. And you always look like youâre carrying a secret.â
Remus stiffened, but before he could react, you grinned. âI like it. Makes you intriguing.â
He exhaled, relieved that you hadnât pressed further. âAnd you,â he said, glancing at your robesâa shade of coral todayââare the opposite of mysterious. Youâre a walking burst of color.â
You laughed, twirling once so your robes flared around you. âThatâs the nicest thing youâve ever said to me, Professor Lupin.â
He huffed a soft laugh. âI mean it as a compliment.â
âGood,â you said, smiling up at him. âI like bright things. Lifeâs too short for dullness, donât you think?â
He hesitated. Life was shortâtoo short. And he had spent so much of it hiding, so much of it afraid. But here you were, living in a way he had never allowed himself to.
âYes,â he said at last. âI think youâre right.â
You beamed. âOf course I am. Now, letâs finish your patrol together, shall we? Unless, of course, youâd rather be mysterious and wander alone?â
He shook his head, smiling despite himself. âLead the way.â
And just like that, his night became a little brighter.
âž»
Remus wasnât sure when it started happening.
One day, you were just a fellow professor, a bright and cheerful presence in the castle halls. The next, you were someone he found himself looking for in the Great Hall, someone whose voice he could pick out even in a crowded room.
You had a way of getting to himâand perhaps what unsettled him most was that he didnât mind it.
It was in the way you brought him tea before staff meetings, always with a knowing smile. âYou look tired, Professor Lupin. Chamomile today?â
It was in the way you pulled him into conversations, even when he preferred to stay on the outskirts. âOh, donât sit all the way down there, Remus! Come closer!â
And it was in the way you laughedâunrestrained, joyful, as if you had never known sorrow.
Remus wasnât foolish enough to believe that was true. No one reached adulthood without some pain. But Merlin, you carried yourself as though the world had only ever been kind to you, and that was something he envied.
And perhaps, if he was being honest, something he loved.
âž»
It was a crisp autumn afternoon when you finally got him to go on a walk with you.
âI donât know how you always convince me to do things,â he muttered as you strolled across the Hogwarts grounds.
You beamed. âBecause Iâm charming. And persistent.â
âThat you are,â he murmured, hands tucked into his pockets.
The leaves crunched beneath your boots, and you let out a contented sigh. âDonât you love this time of year? Itâs so warm and cozyâwell, not warm warm, but you know what I mean.â
Remus glanced at your robes, which today were a lovely shade of burnt orange. He did know what you meant.
He also knew he was in trouble.
Because the way the autumn sunlight caught in your hair, the way your smile rivaled the golden leaves around youâit was dangerous.
And then you turned to him with that same, easy joy. âTell me something about yourself, Remus.â
He hesitated. âLike what?â
You shrugged. âAnything. Something happy.â
Happy. The word felt foreign on his tongue, yet you made it sound so simple.
He thought for a moment. âI had a friend, when I was a student here. James Potter. He had the worst habit of ruffling his hair whenever he saw someone he wanted to impress.â
You grinned. âDid it work?â
âNo,â he said, chuckling. âBut he never stopped doing it.â
âI like that,â you said. âItâs nice to have little quirks like that. Things that make people themselves.â
Remus looked at you, thenâreally looked. The way your eyes crinkled when you smiled, the way you gestured wildly when you spoke, the way you lived so unapologetically.
And he realized, in that moment, that he didnât just like you.
He was falling for you.
âž»
The realization haunted him for days.
Falling in love was not something Remus Lupin had ever allowed himself. Love, to him, was an impossible dreamâsomething meant for other people. Not a man with scars and secrets, not a man who carried the weight of a curse.
But you didnât seem to care about impossibilities.
And that terrified him.
âWhy do you do that?â he asked one evening when you plopped down beside him at dinner, grinning as if you had chosen that seat just for him.
âDo what?â you asked innocently.
âThis,â he gestured between you. âYou alwaysââ he hesitated, voice softer now. âYou always seek me out.â
You tilted your head. âBecause I like you, Remus.â
His breath hitched.
You smiled. âYouâre kind. And thoughtful. And you listen. Not just to words, but to people. I like being around you.â
Remus stared at you, unsure what to say.
You didnât seem to expect anything, though. You simply nudged his shoulder playfully and said, âBesides, you look at me like Iâm pretty. And I like that, too.â
His face burned, and your laughter rang through the Great Hall.
He was in so much trouble.
You laughed, the sound light and easy, as Remus stared at you, utterly lost.
âW-what?â he managed, though his face felt like it was on fire.
âI said,â you grinned, reaching for your goblet of pumpkin juice, âI like that you look at me like Iâm pretty.â
Remus didnât know what to do with that statement. He opened his mouthâthen shut it. Opened it again. Nothing.
You were still looking at him, amused but patient, waiting to see how he would respond.
And Merlin, what was he supposed to say to that?
âIâI donâtââ he fumbled, clearing his throat. âI donât mean toââ
âOh, donât apologize, Remus,â you interrupted, waving a hand. âI wouldnât have said anything if I minded.â
His brain short-circuited.
You liked it?
He knew you were teasing him, but there was something so matter-of-fact in your tone, so utterly unconcerned, like this was the simplest thing in the world.
Like it was normal.
Like he was normal.
He swallowed thickly, grasping onto the one part of the conversation he could control. âYouâerâlook nice today.â
Your eyes twinkled. âIs that so?â
Remus exhaled, running a hand over his face. âYou always look nice,â he admitted, voice quieter now. âThatâs the problem.â
You blinked. âProblem?â
He really needed to stop talking.
âNever mind,â he muttered quickly, reaching for his cup.
But you didnât let it go. Instead, you leaned in slightly, resting your chin in your hand as you studied him. âYouâre quite the mystery, Remus Lupin.â
âSo Iâve been told,â he murmured.
Your smile softened. âI meant what I said, you know. I do like you.â
His fingers tightened around his goblet.
âI know you think too much,â you continued. âThat you convince yourself of things that arenât true.â
Remusâ throat felt tight.
âBut for the record,â you said, giving him a little nudge, âI think youâre wonderful.â
And just like that, you turned back to your meal, as if you hadnât just set his entire world spinning.
âž»
Remus avoided you for the rest of the day.
Not because he wanted to. But because he needed to.
Because if he let himself near you right now, he might do something reckless. Something foolish.
Something selfish.
Because the thing wasâhe wanted to believe you.
He wanted to believe that you saw him as more than just a collection of scars and regrets. That you thought he was wonderful. That you liked him.
But the part of him that had spent a lifetime keeping people at armâs length wouldnât let him.
So he did what he always did.
He hid.
It didnât work.
Because the moment dinner ended, you caught up with him in the corridor, stepping in front of him before he could slip away.
âRemus.â
He stopped, sighing. âYou donât have toââ
âYouâre running away from me.â
He winced. âI wouldnât put it that way.â
You raised an eyebrow. âWouldnât you?â
He sighed again. âI justââ He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. âI donât know what to say to you.â
You crossed your arms. âYou could start with âhello.ââ
Despite himself, he huffed a quiet laugh. âHello.â
You grinned. âSee? That wasnât so hard.â
Remus shook his head. âYou make everything seem simple.â
Your expression softened. âIt is simple, Remus.â
He swallowed. âNot for me.â
You studied him for a moment, as if deciding something. Then, finally, you said, âCome on.â
He blinked. âWhat?â
âCome on,â you repeated, grabbing his hand before he could protest and tugging him down the hall.
Remus didnât know where you were leading him, but he didnât resist.
Because, Merlin help himâwhen it came to you, he never could.
You led him outside.
The night air was cool, the stars shimmering above, and the castle grounds stretched before you in quiet stillness.
You finally stopped near the lake, turning to face him with that same, unwavering confidence you always carried
âI like you, Remus,â you said simply. âAnd I thinkâno, I knowâyou like me, too.â
His heart pounded.
âIâm not asking for forever,â you continued, taking a small step closer. âIâm just asking you to let yourself have something good.â
His breath hitched.
Because Gods, he wanted to.
Butâ
âYou donât understand,â he whispered. âIâm notâIâm not a good bet.â
You frowned. âAnd why not?â
âI have too much baggage,â he said. âToo many things I canât change.â
âI donât care about any of that.â
âYou should.â
âBut I donât,â you said firmly. âAnd I need you to believe that.â
Remus clenched his jaw.
And then you reached for his handsâboth of themâlacing your fingers together in a way that made his chest ache.
âI like you, Remus Lupin,â you said again, softer this time. âAnd I think you should stop fighting so hard against being liked back.â
He swallowed.
Because that? That was the most terrifying thing of all.
But the warmth of your hands in hisâthe gentle, patient way you held himâit made him wonder.
What if�
What if he didnât fight this?
What if he let himself have this?
What if, just this once, he let himself be selfish?
You were watching him, waiting. Giving him the choice.
And for the first time in his life, Remus Lupin chose happiness.
He squeezed your hands.
And smiled.
Remus exhaled slowly, staring at your hands intertwined with his.
This was itâthe moment he had spent days, weeks, maybe even years convincing himself he would never have.
And yet, here you were.
And he had a choice.
He could let his fears win, let the doubts creep back in, let himself believe that thisâyouâwere something he could never have.
OrâŠ
He could try.
âAlright,â he said, voice quiet but steady.
Your brows lifted. âAlright?â
He gave a small, almost nervous chuckle. âAlright.â
A slow, radiant smile spread across your face. âSo⊠does that mean youâll let me take you on a date?â
His heart did a ridiculous little stutter at the word. Date.
It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him and seen that kind of possibility. But you did.
And, Merlin help him, he wanted it.
He wanted you.
âYes,â he said, and the weight of the word felt lightâfreeing. âIâd like that.â
Your grin widened, and without warning, you threw your arms around him.
Remus stiffened at first, but thenâslowly, hesitantlyâhe wrapped his arms around you, too. And for the first time in a long, long while, he allowed himself to just be.
With you.
When you finally pulled back, your hands still resting on his shoulders, you smirked. âSee? That wasnât so scary, was it?â
He shook his head, lips twitching. âNo. It wasnât.â
âGood,â you beamed. âBecause I already have plans.â
âOh?
âMhm. Dinner. Friday night. And before you try to argue, I know you donât have plans, because I already checked your schedule.â
He huffed a quiet laugh. âYouâre incorrigible.â
âAnd yet, here you are,â you teased, echoing the words youâd said to him before.
Here he was.
With you.
And for the first time in a long time, Remus Lupin wasnât looking for a reason to run.
Summary: Reader works for the Order of the Phoenix and uses their ability to move through shadows to infiltrate Death Eater meetings. Lucius Malfoy discovers their secret.
Note: This fanfic was written as a request for a Lucius Malfoy story where the Reader has the ability to move through shadows.
The air in Malfoy Manor was thick with candle smoke and tension. Hooded figures sat in a loose circle, their murmured conversations weaving through the grand drawing room like threads of an unspoken agreement. The Dark Lord was absent tonight, but his followers still gatheredâplotting, scheming, waiting.
And watching.
From the darkest corner of the ceiling, unseen and unheard, you lingered. The shadows curled around you like living things, shielding you from sight. The giftâor curseâof shadow-walking had made you an invaluable asset to the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore had been hesitant to use you at first, but war demanded sacrifices. Morality bent in the face of necessity.
You shifted, a silent movement in the rafters. A whispered incantation from your lips merged your body with the darkness again, allowing you to slide along the walls like smoke.
Tonight, you were here for information.
The voices of the Death Eaters drifted up to you.
âThe Ministry is weakening,â a deep voice murmuredâMacnair. âWith our influence inside the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, we can begin preparing for the next stage.â
âIf the fools in the Ministry were ever competent, theyâd have seen this coming years ago,â sneered anotherâLestrange. âTheyâre so desperate to maintain their fragile peace, they wonât dare to act until itâs too late.â
Your fingers itched. If you had your dagger, you could slit their throats before they even saw you. But that wasnât your mission tonight. You werenât here to killâonly to listen.
Then, a voice cut through the murmur. Lucius Malfoy.
âAnd what of the Order?â His voice was smooth, unhurried, but edged with something sharp beneath the surface. âThey are not as blind as the Ministry. If we underestimate them, it will be our undoing.â
You hated to admit it, but he was right.
Lucius was a man of strategy, not reckless bloodlust like some of the others. That made him more dangerous. He was one of the few Death Eaters whose moves couldnât be easily predicted, which made infiltrating his home all the more risky.
But risk was your specialty.
You shifted again, preparing to slide toward the far wall where the door stood ajarâan escape route ready if needed. But thenâ
A cold prickle ran down your spine.
Someone was watching.
Your breath caught, and you turned just enough to glimpse him. Lucius Malfoy stood at the far end of the room, his gaze tilted upward. Not searching, not guessingâknowing.
His grey eyes locked onto the space where you hid in the shadows.
Impossible.
No one had ever sensed you before. Even the best Aurors couldnât detect your presence unless you willed it. And yet, Lucius was staring directly at you, the corners of his lips curving just slightlyâamused, intrigued.
He knew.
Panic surged through you, but you forced it down. If you moved too quickly, youâd give yourself away. You needed to think.
Lucius didnât speak. He didnât warn the others. He simply raised a hand, swirling the wine in his glass, his expression unreadable.
A warning? A challenge? A game?
Your heart pounded. You had no choice now.
It was time to disappear.
You whispered the incantation under your breath, slipping fully into the shadows. The world blurred around you, and within seconds, you were goneâfading into the walls, slipping through the cracks, reemerging outside in the cold night air.
As you sprinted toward the edge of the wards, your mind raced. Lucius Malfoy had seen you. Not just seenârecognized what you were. And yet, he had done nothing.
That meant one thing.
This wasnât over.
àŒșàŒ»
The following night, you stayed away from Malfoy Manor. It was the only logical choice. Any other Death Eater would have raised the alarm the moment they saw an intruder. Lucius Malfoy hadnât. That unsettled you more than you cared to admit.
And yet, despite the danger, you couldnât ignore the way he had looked at youâlike a man who had just uncovered a secret he had no intention of sharing.
You should have reported it to the Order. You should have told Moody or Kingsley that Lucius Malfoy might have seen you. But something held you back. A gut feeling.
Or maybe, something more dangerous than that.
So instead of returning to the manor, you waited. Watched. Lucius was a creature of habit, and you knew where to find him when he wasnât playing loyal servant to Voldemort.
Borgin and Burkes.
He arrived at the shop just past midnight, stepping out of a black carriage drawn by thestrals. He moved with his usual measured grace, his long coat sweeping behind him, silver hair gleaming under the dim streetlamps of Knockturn Alley.
You melted into the shadows, slipping into the alley beside the shop. You could listen, waitâsee if he would mention you to anyone.
But then, as if he had expected you, Lucius turned his head slightly.
âI was beginning to think you wouldnât come.â
Your breath hitched. He was speaking to you.
Slowly, you emerged from the darkness, stepping into the alleyâs entrance. The space between you was small, but it felt charged, like a wire pulled too tight.
Lucius tilted his head, the ghost of a smirk playing at his lips. âYouâre very talented. I doubt even the Dark Lord himself has noticed you slipping in and out of our meetings.â
Your fingers twitched at your side, ready to summon your wand. âAnd yet, you did.â
âYou intrigue me.â He said it like a confession and a challenge all at once. His voice was low, smooth as silk, but with an edge that sent a shiver down your spine.
You hated how your pulse quickened. He was dangerousâtoo dangerous.
âWhat do you want, Malfoy?â
Lucius stepped closer. Not too closeâjust enough for you to catch the scent of expensive cologne, the faintest trace of firewhiskey.
âA proposition.â
You narrowed your eyes. âAnd why would I ever trust a Death Eaterâs proposition?â
Lucius chuckled, soft and amused. âOh, I donât expect you to trust me, my dear. But I suspect you will listen.â
He reached into his coat, moving slow enough not to startle you, and withdrew a small silver ring. He turned it between his fingers before offering it to you.
âWear this, and you will know when I wish to speak with you. No one else will recognize its magic.â
You didnât take it. Not yet. âWhy?â
Lucius smiled. âBecause you intrigue me. Because I think we both know you donât belong entirely to the Order, just as I do not belong entirely to the Dark Lord.â
You frowned. âYou serve Voldemort.â
His jaw tensed at the name. âI serve many things.â
There was something unreadable in his expressionâsomething calculating, something undeniably interested.
And damn you, you were interested, too.
Finally, you reached out and took the ring, your fingers brushing his for the briefest moment. The contact sent something sharp and electric through you.
Lucius watched you closely, his gaze flickering to your lips before returning to your eyes.
âI will be in touch.â
Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he turned and disappeared into Borgin and Burkes, leaving you standing in the cold night airâwondering what you had just gotten yourself into.
àŒșàŒ»
The ring burned cold against your skin. It had been days since youâd taken Lucius Malfoyâs offerâsince you had let him walk away without reporting him to the Order. You knew you should have thrown the ring into the fire, rid yourself of whatever twisted game he was playing.
And yet, when the metal warmed against your finger tonight, its magic pulsing in silent summons, you didnât hesitate.
You followed the pull to a secluded manor outside of London. Not Malfoy Manorâhe was too careful for that. Instead, he had chosen a forgotten estate, shrouded in mist and moonlight, its gardens overgrown and untamed.
You stepped through the gates, the night air humming with magic. He was waiting.
Lucius stood near the fountain, its stone cracked with age. His silver-blond hair gleamed in the dim light, his long coat hanging open over a dark waistcoat. He looked every bit the aristocrat, composed and elegant, yet there was something in his stance tonightâsomething looser, more indulgent.
âYou came,â he murmured, as if pleased.
You crossed your arms. âYou knew I would.â
Lucius smirked. âYes. I did.â
You wanted to hate the way his voice wrapped around you, soft and rich like velvet. Instead, you ignored the shiver trailing down your spine.
âWhy are we here, Malfoy?â you asked.
âBecause I wanted to see you.â
His answer was simple. Unapologetic.
Your heart stuttered, but you kept your expression cool. âYouâve seen me. Now say what you have to say.â
Lucius stepped closer. âMust everything be business with you?â His voice was lower now, softer. âYou slip into my home like a ghost. You walk unseen through war, through blood and secrets. And yet, you let me see you.â
You swallowed hard. âI didnâtââ
âOh, but you did.â He reached up, gloved fingers trailing just above your wrist, not quite touching. âAnd I wonder why.â
Your breath hitched. You should step back. You should pull away.
But you didnât.
Lucius tilted his head, his gaze heavy on yours. âYou intrigue me.â
You had heard those words before, but tonight, they carried something elseâsomething raw, unguarded.
Slowly, carefully, you reached for his wrist, your fingers curling over the fabric of his sleeve. âAnd if I said the same?â
Lucius exhaled, the sound almost a laugh. âThen I would say we are both in more danger than I thought.â
You had spent years slipping through the shadows, hiding behind duty, behind war. But here, now, with Lucius Malfoy looking at you like you were something more than an enemy, more than an allyâsomething he wantedâthe war outside didnât seem to matter.
His hand ghosted up your arm, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing the shape of you.
âThis is foolish,â you murmured.
âUndoubtedly.â
And yet neither of you moved away.
Lucius reached for your chin, tilting it up ever so slightly. His fingers were cold, the leather soft against your skin.
Your pulse thundered as his lips hovered just over yoursâso close, too closeâuntil finally, he closed the distance.
The kiss was slow at first, careful, like testing the weight of something fragile. Then it deepened, a clash of heat and restraint unraveling all at once. His hand slid to your waist, pulling you closer, as if he had already decided he would not let you go.
You werenât sure you wanted him to.
When you finally pulled apart, breathless, his lips lingered just near your jaw.
âYou should leave,â he whispered, though his grip said otherwise.
âAnd if I donât?â
Lucius smirked against your skin. âThen, my dear, you are playing a very dangerous game.â
But as his lips found yours again, you realized something.
A half-finished bottle of elf-made wine sat on the bedside table, next to a stack of parchment she had abandoned hours ago. But none of that matteredâbecause the room was currently vibrating with the sound of âI was made for loving youâ blaring from a charmed gramophone.
Y/N was lost in it.
We aring nothing but an oversized t-shirt and a pair of black lace panties, she moved freely, hips swaying, arms lifting above her head as she let the music take over. Her voice carried through the chambers as she sang along, eyes shut, heart pounding.
âTonight, I wanna give it all to youâŠâ
The sultry voice of Paul Stanley poured from the enchanted record player, filling the space with a hypnotic beat. The bass thrummed through her bones, driving her to move with reckless abandon.
Her movements were fluid, uninhibited. A rush of heat spread across her skin, exhilaration buzzing beneath the surface. It had been a long day of lectures, grading, and keeping up the ever-present façade of control. But hereâhere in her chambers, aloneâshe didnât have to be the strict, no-nonsense professor. She could just be herself.
She didnât hear the knock. She didnât hear the door creak open.
She spun on her heel, tossing her head backâ
And then she saw him.
Severus Snape stood frozen in the doorway, dark robes still swaying slightly from his sudden halt. Merlin, his expressionâwas caught between shock and something much harder to place. His dark eyes, sharp and piercing, flickered over her in a way that sent a jolt of something dangerous down her spine His eyes were locked onto her, his lips had parted slightly in what she could only assume was disbelief.
Silence.
Y/Nâs entire body went rigid, mortification crashing over her like a tidal wave. The music still played, the beat pulsing through the air, but the moment had shifted into something else entirely.
Severus blinked once. Twice.
âIââ she started, but words failed her.
One dark brow arched ever so slightly. âYou do realize your door was unlocked?â His voice was smooth, controlled, but there was an edge to itâsomething just beneath the surface.
Y/N swallowed hard. Heat rushed to her face, but she forced herself to recover. She straightened her posture, planting her hands on her hips. âIâI didnât think Iâd have company at this hour.â
Something flickered in his expression. âEvidently.â His gaze flickered downward for the briefest moment before snapping back up to meet hers. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
âYou werenât expecting company,â he repeated slowly, his voice like silk and steel. âYet you insist on subjecting the entire corridor toââ He gestured vaguely toward the gramophone, still blaring. âKISS?â
Oh, Merlin. She was still in her underwear.
A heavy silence stretched between them, the tension thick enough to slice with a blade.
Severus cleared his throat, though there was a slight roughness to it. âI came to discussââ He exhaled sharply, visibly forcing himself to refocus. âSomething that now seems considerably less urgent.â
Y/N bit her lip. Her heartbeat was erratic, though she wasnât sure if it was from embarrassment or the way he was looking at her.
Slowly, she reached for her wand and flicked it toward the gramophone. The music stopped abruptly, leaving only the sound of the crackling fire between them.
âIâum. Well. What was it you wanted to discuss?â she asked, attempting to salvage the situation.
Snape hesitated. Then, in a voice lower than usual, he muttered, âIt can wait.â
Severus was still looking at her.
Not in the usual way. Not in the way that suggested mild irritation or quiet amusement at her antics.
No. This was different.
His gaze was darker, heavier. His fingers twitched where they rested on his forearm, his breathing just the slightest bit shallower than usual.
It made something coil in her stomach.
For a wild, reckless moment, she wonderedâwhat if?
What if she stepped closer?
What if she didnât let him leave?
Her skin felt hot, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
And then, as if he sensed the direction of her thoughts, Severus straightened.
Whatever had flickered across his face vanished, replaced once more by careful indifference.
He turned on his heel, but not before she caught the slightest twitch of his lips.
And then, just as he reached the door, he added, âNice performance, by the way.â
The door shut behind him.
Y/N stared after him, stunned.
And then, despite the mortification burning through her, a slow smirk formed on her lips.
The encounter replayed in Y/Nâs mind for the rest of the night.
She tossed and turned in her bed, replaying every detailâthe way Severus had looked at her, the flicker of something dark and unspoken in his expression, the way his voice had dropped lower before he left.
It was maddening.
And she wasnât the only one thinking about it.
Severus sat alone in his dimly lit quarters, a tumbler of firewhisky in hand, staring into the dying embers of his fireplace.
He should have left the moment he saw her like that.
Bare legs, loose shirt, wild hair. Completely unaware of his presence, utterly unguarded in a way he had never seen before.
And the way she had moved.
Merlin.
Snape took a slow sip of his drink, letting the burn distract him. He had spent years mastering his control, perfecting the art of restraint. But tonightâtonight had chipped away at that self-discipline in a way that made him uneasy.
Because for a fleeting moment, he had wanted to stay.
To step closer.
To see what would happen if he didnât leave.
He exhaled sharply, setting the tumbler down with more force than necessary. This was absurd. Whatever had happened in her chambersâit meant nothing.
Nothing.
At least, thatâs what he told himself.
àŒșàŒ»
The morning bustle of the Great Hall was as lively as everâstudents chattering over porridge and toast, the hum of conversation filling the space.
Y/N entered like she always didâconfident, composed, her robes flowing neatly behind her. But the moment her eyes met his across the staff table, something wicked flickered in her gaze.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
Severus forced himself to keep his expression neutral as she made her way toward her usual seatâdirectly next to him.
âGood morning, Severus,â she greeted smoothly, pouring herself a cup of tea.
He inclined his head slightly. âProfessor.â
Her lips curled. âSleep well?â
His grip on his cup tightened. âAdequately.â
She hummed, stirring her tea leisurely. âI didnât.â
He shouldnât have asked. He knew he shouldnât.
But the words left him anyway. âAnd why is that?â
She turned to him fully, her voice just low enough that no one else could hear. âI had a rather⊠distracting visitor last night.â
Severus took a slow sip of coffee, pretending to be unaffected. âIs that so?â
âOh yes.â She tilted her head slightly, watching him with that same knowing look from the night before. âHe rather enjoyed my performance, from what I recall.â
He nearly choked.
But years of practice kept his expression perfectly unreadable.
âIâm sure you imagined that.â
She smirked. âDid I?â
There was a challenge in her eyes now, something daring, teasing. And Merlin help him, he wanted to rise to it.
Instead, he set his cup down with deliberate slowness.
âIf I recall correctly,â he murmured, voice silk and steel, âyour performance was somewhat⊠lacking in discipline.â
Her brows lifted, amusement flickering across her face. âOh?â
Severus leaned slightly closerânot enough for anyone else to notice, but just enough that she could feel the warmth of his presence.
âIf you truly wish to put on a show, Professor,â he said, his voice a dangerous whisper, âI suggest you try harder next time.â
Something in her breath hitched.
For the first time since last night, she looked momentarily caught off guard.
And Severusâwell.
He rather enjoyed that. This was a game to him, a game he was going to lose.
He stood smoothly, adjusting his robes. âEnjoy your tea.â
And with that, he swept out of the Great Hall, leaving her staring after him.
But as he disappeared into the corridors, he could still feel her smirk burning into his skin.
This wasnât over.
Not even close.
àŒșàŒ»
The air in Hogwarts carried a certain electricity that day.
It wasnât spoken about, wasnât acknowledged outright, but it was there.
Y/N felt it every time she crossed paths with Severusâduring staff meetings, in the corridors, even in the Great Hall. There was something simmering between them, something just beneath the surface. A tension that had existed for months, perhaps even years, but after last nightâafter this morningâit had become unbearable.
And she had no intention of letting it go.
The castle had settled into silence. Most students had retired to their dormitories, and the only sounds in the corridors were the distant echoes of moving staircases and the occasional shuffle of a night patrol.
Y/N was in her chambers again, sitting by the fireplace with a book in her lap. But she wasnât reading.
No.
She was waiting.
She expected him to show up again, to find some excuse to darken her doorway like he had last night. Or perhapsâperhaps she wanted to push him just a little further
The embers in the fireplace crackled softly as she rose to her feet.
With a flick of her wand, the gramophone clicked to life once more.
The opening chords of another KISS song filled the room, slow and haunting.
She knew this is what he wanted.
She let the sound wash over her, let it consume the space around her. It was bold, reckless, but she wanted to test him.
And if he didnât take the bait?
Well.
Then sheâd make him.
She let the music build, swaying slowly as she ran her fingers through her hair. The memory of his voice from this morning echoed in her mindâTry harder next time.
Oh, she would.
She was just about to lose herself in the rhythm whenâ
Knock. Knock.
A slow smirk curved her lips. Right on time.
She turned, making no move to adjust her appearance before flicking her wand toward the door.
It swung open with a whisper.
And there he was.
Severus stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the dim torchlight of the corridor. His expression was carefully schooled into indifference, but there was something sharper in his eyesâsomething unreadable.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound between them was the slow, sultry beat of the song filling the room.
Then, finallyâ
âI should be surprised,â she murmured, tilting her head, âbut somehow, Iâm not.â
Severus exhaled sharply, stepping inside without invitation. The door shut behind him with a soft click.
âMerlinâs sake, again with this infernal band?â His voice was low, irritatedâbut there was an edge to it, something darker beneath his usual exasperation.
Y/N took a slow step closer, her smirk widening. âWhy, Severus,â she teased, âI didnât take you for a music critic.â
His gaze flickered over her, just briefly.
She was still in her nightwearâthis time, a satin camisole and matching shorts. The firelight cast a warm glow against her skin, accentuating every curve, every inch of bare leg.
And Severus noticed.
He didnât reactânot outwardly.
But the way his fingers twitched at his sides? The way his jaw clenched just slightly?
Oh, he noticed.
Y/N took another step forward, closing the distance between them just enough to make him uncomfortable.
Or excited.
She wasnât quite sure which.
âI thought you didnât enjoy my performances,â she murmured. âAnd yet, here you are.â
Severus inhaled slowly, his dark eyes never leaving hers.
âI came to remind you,â he said, voice quiet but firm, âthat sound carries in these corridors. If you insist on blasting your music again, Iââ
ââYouâll what?â she interrupted smoothly, her voice dripping with challenge.
Severus stilled.
She arched a brow. âYouâll scold me? Deduct points?â She took another step, so close now that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. âOr will you just stand there and pretend last night didnât happen?â
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
âYou are insufferable,â he muttered, but there was no real bite to it.
She smiled. âAnd yet you came back.â
Another silence stretched between them.
This time, it was thick.
Dangerous.
Severus stood rigid, his breathing slow, measured. For the first time all evening, Y/N felt the shift in power. Because suddenly, it wasnât her testing him.
It was him testing her.
âTell me,â he murmured, his voice deceptively soft, âis this a game to you?â
Y/N blinked.
Her smirk faltered just slightly.
He tilted his head, his dark eyes searching hers. âDo you do this for amusement? Because you find it entertaining to see how far you can push me?â
She swallowed. âIââ
But she didnât have an answer.
Because she didnât know.
What had started as teasingâsomething playful, something harmlessâhad spiraled into something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
Severus took a single step closer. Not touching. Not yet.
But so close.
âYou should be careful, Professor,â he murmured, his breath ghosting against her skin. âBecause eventuallyâŠâ
His voice dropped even lower.
ââŠyou might win.â
The air between them crackled.
Her pulse was thundering, her skin burning.
Because Merlin help her, she wanted to.
She wanted to win.
And the worst part?
She had the feeling he wanted her to win too.
A silence stretched between themâthick, pulsing, electric.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
And then, in a blur of motionâ
Severus turned on his heel, his robes billowing as he strode toward the door.
Y/N let out a breath she hadnât realized she was holding.
But just before he disappeared into the corridorâ
He paused.
Didnât turn back. Didnât look at her.
But his voice, dark and smooth, cut through the thick silence like a blade.
âIâll be listening next time.â
The moment the door shut behind him, Y/N exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her chest.
She was burning.
Her heart was racing, her skin hot with the remnants of Severusâs presence. The way he had stood so close, the way his voice had wrapped around her like a promise and a warning all at onceâ
You should be careful, Professor. Because eventually⊠you might win.
Iâll be listening next time.
Her fingers curled against her palm.
Enough was enough.
She had spent too long denying the feeling she had coursing through her, pushing, seeing how far she could take it. But she wasnât playing anymore.
She wanted to win.
And tonightâtonightâshe wasnât going to let him walk away again.
Without a second thought, she grabbed her robe, slipping it over her nightwear, and stormed out of her chambers.
By the time she reached his door, her pulse was thrumming wildly.
A part of her wondered if he had been telling the truthâif he really had been listening after he left, if he had stood in the corridor, waiting for her to push him further.
Well.
She was about to find out.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand and knocked.
There was a long pause.
Thenâ
The door swung open.
Severus stood there, still dressed in his teaching robes, as if he hadnât even bothered to prepare for sleep. His dark eyes flicked over her, taking in the fact that she was barefoot, her robe barely covering the silk of her nightwear.
He said nothing.
Didnât move.
Didnât react.
And that only made her want to push him harder.
Y/N inhaled, tilting her chin up. âYou left.â
A muscle in his jaw twitched. âI did.â
She stepped closer. âWhy?â
His lips parted slightly before pressing into a firm line. âBecause I had no reason to stay.â
Liar.
She could see it in his expression, the war waging behind his carefully controlled facade.
âSay it again,â she murmured.
He stilled. âWhat?â
She took another step, toeing the very edge of the threshold. âSay you had no reason to stay.â
His breathing slowed.
Y/N arched a brow, waiting. Daring him to lie again.
But he didnât.
Instead, he stepped aside.
A silent invitation.
Her heart pounded.
Slowly, deliberately, she crossed into his quarters.
The door shut behind her with a soft click.
And in that momentâshe knew.
There was no going back. The silence between them was deafening.
Severus stood rigid, his hands curled at his sides. Y/N could feel the tension rolling off him, the weight of everything unsaid pressing into the space between them.
She was done waiting.
âSeverus.â
His gaze snapped to hers.
She stepped closer, slow and purposeful. âI donât want to play anymore.â
His breath hitched.
Y/N reached for himânot touching, not yet, but so close. Her fingers hovered near the fabric of his robes, waiting, giving him the chance to pull away.
He didnât.
âTell me to stop,â she whispered.
Nothing.
Silence.
His breathing had deepened, his jaw tight. But he still didnât move.
Didnât stop her.
Didnât walk away.
Y/N swallowed, her voice softer now. âTell me to stop, and I will.â
Still, nothing.
And thenâ
Ever so slowlyâ
Severus lifted a hand.
For a moment, she thought he was going to push her away.
But instead, his fingers ghosted against her wrist.
A silent permission.
And that was all it took.
The restraint that had held them apart for months finally snapped.
Severus moved first.
One sharp, deliberate motionâhis hand grasped her wrist fully, pulling her forward.
Y/N barely had time to gasp before his lips were on hers.
It wasnât soft.
It wasnât slow.
It was fierce, desperateâa collision of built up tension, of stolen glances and unsaid words. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, as if he was afraid she might vanish if he let go.
Y/N responded just as fiercely, her fingers gripping the front of his robes, pulling, needing more.
He groaned against her mouth, deep and low, his hands sliding down her back, gripping her waist, anchoring her against him.
She had wanted to win.
But he had wanted to lose.
To her.
The thought sent a thrill through her, and she broke the kiss just long enough to whisper, âI knew Iâd win.â
Severus exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against hers.
Then, in a voice rough with restraint, he murmured, âYou havenât won yet.â
Her breath caught.
Because that wasnât a rejection.
That was a promise.
And as his lips found hers again, as he backed her toward the nearest surface, as his hands slid beneath the edges of her robe, fingertips burning against her skin and she realized they had both lost.
Hi! I just read you're taking requests and I love your writings, so I was wondering if you could write something about Reader being a new teacher at Hogwarts, and she's just as dark and gloomy as Severus? You can choose where to go from there, sorry if it's too vague!
Kindred Shadows
Pairing: Severus Snape x prof reader
Note: I tried my best to make the reader dark and gloomy but thatâs not typically what I write so I hope this is okay and what you wanted.
The first whispers of Y/Nâs arrival at Hogwarts spread through the castle long before the term began. A new professorâstern, enigmatic, and as unapproachable as the dungeons themselves.
The students, ever eager for gossip, speculated wildly.
âSheâs worse than Snape,â a Gryffindor declared in hushed tones.
âNo way,â a skeptical Ravenclaw shot back. âNo oneâs worse than Snape.â
Yet when Professor Y/N arrived, their doubts turned to wary silence.
She strode into the Great Hall during the Start-of-Term Feast, a figure wrapped in shadows, her dark robes trailing behind her like a wraith. Her expression was unreadable, her presence quiet yet suffocating. She did not fidget, did not seek conversation. Instead, her sharp eyes flickered over the students, dissecting them as if they were pieces on a chessboard.
At the staff table, Severus Snape watched her. He was not pleased.
A new professor was bad enough. A professor who mirrored his own presenceâhis own reputationâwas far worse.
Albus Dumbledore, ever the orchestrator of chaos, introduced her with a twinkle in his eye.
âProfessor Y/N will be joining us as the new Ancient Runes professor. I trust you will all extend to her the same respect and courtesy you show your other professors.â
A few students exchanged knowing glances.
Snape smirked at the irony.
Y/N inclined her head in acknowledgment but spoke nothing.
The feast continued. She did not engage in small talk with her colleagues. Instead, she observed. She was used to being alone, to building walls high enough that no one could breach them. And yet, across the table, she felt the weight of Snapeâs gaze on her. Calculating. Measuring.
She met his stare with equal intensity.
No fear. No admiration. Just⊠understanding.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Her classroom, deep within the castle, was a reflection of herselfâdimly lit, filled with the scent of parchment and ink, lined with ancient tomes that whispered secrets long forgotten. She demanded perfection.
She ran her lessons with an ironclad discipline, leaving no room for foolishness.
When a Gryffindor laughed during a translation exercise in the first week, she fixed them with a stare so sharp it could cut steel.
âDo you find something amusing about misinterpreting a warding rune and accidentally locking yourself in a room for the rest of your life?â she asked, her voice calm but laced with quiet menace.
The student swallowed hard and shook their head. âNo, Professor.â
Word spread quickly.
Unlike Snape, she did not belittle students, nor did she play favorites. She was fair, but she was strict. She did not tolerate cruelty, nor did she tolerate incompetence.
She did, however, tolerate silence.
Perhaps that was why she and Snape fell into an unspoken understanding so quickly.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Late at night, Snape often prowled the halls, ensuring students were where they ought to be. He expected to be alone.
Until he wasnât.
One evening, he turned a corner and nearly collided with her.
She did not flinch.
Nor did she apologize.
Instead, she merely regarded him with those piercing eyes of hers before stepping aside, allowing him to pass.
For the first time in years, Severus Snape found himself momentarily unsettled.
He found her again in the library.
Seated in a secluded corner, surrounded by tomes most wizards had long forgotten, she read with the quiet intensity of someone who belonged in the company of books more than people.
âProfessor Y/N,â he murmured, his voice low as he approached.
She did not look up. âProfessor Snape.â
His lip curled. âYou are quite the enigma.â
She finally closed her book with a soft thud and met his gaze. âAnd you are predictable.â
His brow arched. âAm I?â
She tilted her head slightly. âYou think yourself the only one who understands solitude. The only one who walks the halls unseen except when necessary.â
He said nothing.
âYouâre not.â
The silence stretched between them, long and unyielding.
Yet, for the first time, it was not uncomfortable.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
It was now November.
The rain pounded against the castle windows, the sky dark and brooding.
The students had long since retreated to their dormitories, and yet, Y/N remained in the corridors, walking alone.
Snape found her there.
âYou enjoy the cold?â he asked dryly, arms folded across his chest.
She didnât turn to face him. âI enjoy the quiet.â
A pause. Thenâ
âYouâre avoiding something.â
She finally turned to him. âAnd youâre prying.â
She sighed, rubbing her temple. âThe staff insists on socializing. Minerva invited me for tea. Dumbledore for chess. Even Hagrid suggested a trip to see his⊠creatures.â
Snape smirked. âYou sound as though you were asked to suffer the Cruciatus Curse.â
She exhaled sharply. âI prefer to be alone is all.â
Another pause.
Then, with quiet understanding, Snape turned on his heel and began walking.
To her own surprise, Y/N followed.
They walked in silence, side by side, shadows trailing in their wake.
It became a habit.
Snape and Y/N often found themselves in the same places at the same timeânever planned, never spoken about, but always⊠expected.
A silent presence at the staff table.
A quiet nod in the corridors.
A book exchanged without words in the library.
Neither sought conversation, yet neither avoided it.
The other professors noticed.
âStrange, isnât it?â Flitwick whispered to Sprout one evening. âI daresay Professor Y/N and Severus seem⊠to be friends.â
McGonagall merely sipped her tea. âTwo solitary creatures will always recognize each other, Filius.â
Dumbledore, ever the observer, merely smiled.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
It wasnât until a staff meeting in December that something shifted.
The discussion had turned to disciplinary measures. A group of Slytherins had tormented a young Hufflepuff, and Y/N was the first to demand action.
âThis should not be tolerated,â she said, voice cold and sharp. âFavoritism should not dictate consequences.â
Snape stiffened. âYou believe me to be biased?â
âI believe you to be blind,â she countered.
Silence fell over the room.
The two professors stared at each other, tension thick in the air.
Snapeâs jaw tightened. He expected her to be like himâcalculated, logical. He did not expect her to challenge him so openly.
But Y/N did not back down.
It was, perhaps, the first time someone had ever met his glare without fear.
And for the first time in years, Severus Snape felt something unfamiliar coil in his chest.
Intrigue.
Respect.
Something deeper.
But beneath that, something far darker stirred, something more intense and difficult to ignore.
Lust.
He caught himself staring at the way her lips pressed together, the slight curve of her figure, her unyielding presence in the room. His pulse quickened, a tight knot forming deep in his gut. He wasnât sure if it was anger or something elseâsomething dangerous, something⊠uncontrolled.
The way her eyes locked with hisâsharp, knowingâmade his body feel warm in a way that was far more intense than any reaction heâd ever had before.
It unsettled him.
She stood there, calm and unflinching, but there was something in the air, something that made the space between them heavy with unspoken things. The longer their gaze lingered, the more his mind lost focus.
He quickly masked the heat rising in his chest, though it was useless to try and erase it. He knew she saw it, the shift in his demeanor, but he didnât care.
It was a fleeting moment, but it lasted long enough to change everything.
For a split second, Severus Snape was left standing at the edge of something darker than he had ever knownâsomething far more consuming than anything heâd ever been prepared for.
The meeting eventually moved on, the conversation shifting away from them. But Snape barely listened. His mind was elsewhere, replaying her words.
By the time the meeting ended, she had already left.
Snape remained seated, unmoving.
It took him longer than he cared to admit to realize something uncomfortable:
She had been right.
That night, Y/N found something walking intoher office.
A book.
She recognized it immediatelyâit was one she had been meaning to borrow from the library, one she had mentioned offhandedly weeks ago.
Beside it sat a single cup of tea, still warm.
And tucked beneath the book was a small piece of parchment.
She picked it up, her fingers brushing over the familiar, sharp handwriting. The note read:
âPerhaps I do have favorites. A wise person once said, however, that even the blind can be made to see. Drink the tea before it grows cold.â
There was no signature.
No explanation.
But she knew.
Y/Nâs lips quirked slightly at the unspoken apology. It wasnât muchâno grand gesture, no flowery sentimentâbut it was enough.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, a mix of surprise and something else she couldnât quite place.
As she settled back into her chair, her thoughts turned to the note and to Snape. There had been a shiftâsomething between them had changed. It was subtle, but it was there, in the way he had looked at her during the meeting, the way he hadnât been able to hide his reaction when she challenged him.
Her mind wandered. The attraction that had flickered between them was undeniable, even if neither of them had acknowledged it aloud.
Y/N set the cup down, the warmth spreading through her chest, and leaned back in her chair, considering the note once more.
She had always been careful with her feelingsâguarded, independent, unwilling to let anyone in. But Snape⊠He was different. Something about him made her feel things she hadnât felt in years.
And now, with the note, that unspoken connection between them felt even more potent.
She knew Snape wasnât the type to reveal his emotions easily. His pride and detachment were legendary. But she had seen through itâjust as he had seen through her.
The thought of him, however reluctantly, acknowledging something more than their usual interactions made her pulse quicken.
There was something dangerous about it, about him. But in a way, that only drew her in further.
Y/Nâs lips parted as she took another sip of the tea, the warmth settling deep within her, but her thoughts remained a swirl of uncertainty.
What did this mean? Would he act on it? Or was this just another of his cryptic gestures, meant to test her without revealing anything concrete?
She didnât know. But she couldnât ignore the feeling that things were changing. And the more she thought about it, the harder it was to push it aside.
Meanwhile, in the shadowed halls of Hogwarts, Severus Snape lingered in his own thoughts, trying to ignore the simmering tension rising within him. The note he had left herâit had been a gamble, but he couldnât help himself. The pull he felt towards her was far too strong, and for the first time in years, he didnât want to hide it.
His desire for control, for distance, was slipping. He couldnât hide the growing fascination, the undeniable need for something deeper. The way she had looked at him earlier that day⊠He could still feel the weight of her gaze, and it sent a shiver down his spine.
The question now was whether or not he could resist it.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
In the classroom, Snape turned just as the door creaked open. His gaze met hers instantly, that familiar, intense look flickering in his eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken words and hidden tension.
Then, Snape broke the silence, his voice low and measured.
âI trust you found the tea⊠to your liking?â
Y/N met his gaze, her heart racing, and nodded.
âIt was⊠perfect,â she replied, her voice steady despite the rapid beat of her heart.
Their eyes held for a beat longer than either intended, the space between them charged with something neither was willing to fully acknowledge.
But for once, neither of them looked away.
The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, like an electric current in the air, making it almost impossible to breathe. Snapeâs gaze held hers, the weight of his eyes seeming to dig deeper, as if he were seeing straight through herâinto the places she kept hidden even from herself.
Y/Nâs pulse quickened, her chest tightening as she fought the urge to speak. She didnât know what to say. The words felt stuck in her throat, like theyâd all been twisted together into something she couldnât untangle. The connection between them was undeniable, and it was starting to feel suffocating in its intensity.
Snapeâs voice broke the silence once again, this time a touch softer, though still laced with the same authority.
âYou didnât need to take my tea, you know.â His words were clipped, but there was an edge to them that hadnât been there beforeâa vulnerability barely masked by his usual cold composure. âI merely⊠thought you might appreciate it.â
Y/N stood still, holding his gaze, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk behind her. She wasnât sure what to make of his tone. There was something in it, something raw that she hadnât expected from him. Something that matched the storm swirling inside her.
She took a step forward, her body moving of its own accord. The gap between them seemed impossibly small now, her breath catching in her throat as she closed the distance. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it felt like it reverberated through the very air between them.
âWhy did you leave it for me?â she asked, her words both a question and a challenge. Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to stand her ground. She wasnât about to back down. Not now.
Snape didnât answer right away, his gaze flickering briefly to the floor before returning to her eyes. The cool, detached persona he wore seemed to waver for a moment, and in that brief instant, Y/N saw something moreâsomething that was so stark and raw it left her breathless.
âIâm not sure,â he admitted, his voice quiet, as if he were reluctant to speak the truth. âPerhaps I thought⊠you would appreciate the gesture.â
His words hung in the air, the vulnerability in them stirring something in Y/N that she hadnât felt in years. It was strange, this delicate shift between them. It was new, uncharted territory for both of them.
Before she could stop herself, she stepped closer to him. The space between them was now so small that she could feel the warmth of his body, a heat that seemed to mirror the rapid pulse in her chest.
Snapeâs lips parted as if he was about to say something, but he didnât. Instead, his eyes flickered down to her lips, and for a moment, everything seemed to pause. The tension in the room was almost suffocating, and Y/N felt as if the very air around them was charged with something unspoken.
Her mind screamed at her to step back, to stop whatever this was before it spiraled out of control. But her body betrayed her, taking another step closer, until their faces were mere inches apart. She could feel the heat radiating off of him, the faint scent of his cologne mixing with the lingering tension between them.
Neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved.
But the tension was unbearable.
The moment stretched, and Y/N could feel the magnetism between them pulling her in. It wasnât just physical. It was something deeper, something more primal. She had spent so long keeping her emotions in check, but now, with Snape standing so close, the walls sheâd built seemed to crumble. Her heart raced, her breath shallow as she struggled to make sense of the storm that had been set in motion between them.
Finally, Snape spoke, his voice barely a rasp.
âY/NâŠâ he began, but the rest of the sentence died on his lips. He wasnât sure what he wanted to say. He wasnât sure he could say it, even if he tried. The words felt like a weight on his tongue, too heavy to speak, too dangerous to acknowledge.
Y/N inhaled sharply, her mind in a whirl of confusion. Her fingers twitched, longing to reach out to him, but she held herself still. If she moved now, she knew there would be no going back.
His breath was warm against her skin, his presence overwhelming. She could feel the tension between them, thick and suffocating, making it nearly impossible to think clearly.
âI should go,â she said, her voice barely audible, though it wavered. She wanted to leave before either of them did something neither of them could take back. She stepped back, but she didnât make it far. Snapeâs hand shot out, almost instinctively, his fingers brushing her wrist.
Y/N froze, her body stiffening at the contact. The shock of it, the sheer electricity that seemed to course through her at his touch, nearly made her heart stop.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside the classroom seemed to fall away, and all that remained was the space between themâcharged, dangerous, and more intimate than anything either had experienced in years.
âI donât want you to go,â Snape muttered, his voice low and rough, though there was an unmistakable urgency to it.
Y/Nâs heart skipped a beat. She looked up into his eyes, and for the first time, she saw something more than the cold, aloof mask he wore. There was a flicker of something rawâsomething unguarded.
And in that moment, Y/N made her choice.
She didnât step back. She didnât pull away.
Instead, she took a step forward, closing the gap between them once more. And as she did, she saw Snapeâs breath catch, his eyes darkening with an emotion she couldnât quite name.
Whatever this was, whatever had shifted between them, it was undeniable. And neither of them was ready to walk away. Not yet.
Without a word, Snape moved, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek, his touch almost tentative at first, as if testing the waters. Y/Nâs breath hitched, and before she knew what was happening, she found herself leaning into him, her eyes fluttering closed.
The kiss came suddenly, without hesitation. It was fierce, hardâan explosion of pent-up emotions that neither of them had been willing to acknowledge until now. The taste of him, dark and familiar, overwhelmed her senses, sending a jolt through her entire body. His lips were demanding, taking control as though he could no longer fight the pull between them.
Y/N responded in kind, her hands reaching up to grip the front of his robes, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling in the heated space between them, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The years of silent tension, the guarded walls they both had built, seemed to vanish in an instant.
It wasnât just desire that filled the space between themâit was something deeper, something unspoken. Their lips moved together urgently, as if they both realized that this was the only way to truly understand the shifting current between them.
And as they finally pulled back, breathless and wild, neither of them spoke. The silence was deafening, but it didnât need to be broken. The connection was clear now, undeniable.
The room was still, the air between them heavy with the weight of what had just happened. Y/Nâs breath was unsteady, her pulse thrumming beneath her skin, but she didnât waver. Neither did he.
She had always been differentâsharp-edged, cold, a force that others avoided. She was not soft, not delicate. She did not giggle or blush or shrink beneath the weight of a manâs gaze. And Snapeâhe was the same.
Unyielding.
Perhaps that was why they had found each other in this strange, silent understanding. Two shadows in the same storm, drawn together not by warmth but by something deeperâsomething carved from the same jagged edges of solitude and restraint.
She met his gaze, unwavering, as if daring him to take back what had just happened.
He did not.
Instead, a slow smirkâjust the barest hint of amusementâghosted across his lips.
Something in her chest tightened.
Yes, she thought. He understood.
And perhaps, for the first time in a long time, she wasnât alone.
Summary: Snapes muggle wife comes to work with him for a day.
Word count: 3800
Warnings: None
Prequel Part two
Note: I am a nursing student so I couldnât help but make y/n a nurse. I wrote this mostly for myself but decided to share. Let me know if you guys want a part two.
The soft patter of rain against the window was the first thing Y/N noticed as she stirred awake, still nestled beneath the heavy warmth of the blankets. The second was the comforting weight of her husband beside her. Severus was rarely still in the morningsâhe was always up before her, always already halfway through a book or preparing for the day ahead. But today, he remained in bed, his breath slow and steady, one arm draped loosely across his stomach.
Y/N turned onto her side, propping herself up slightly to look at him. He was still asleep, his dark hair slightly mussed against the pillow. The deep lines of his face, usually so tight with concentration or irritation, were softened in rest. It was a rare sight. She smiled to herself, taking the moment to admire him.
Outside, the grey sky stretched endlessly, the steady drizzle promising a slow, quiet day. Sundays were one of the few days they had together, uninterrupted. No work, no obligationsâjust the two of them. Y/N treasured mornings like this, where she could pretend that their lives were simple, that they werenât so often pulled in different directions.
She reached out, running her fingers lightly over the back of his hand.
âAre you watching me sleep?â Severusâs voice was rough with sleep, his eyes still closed.
Y/N grinned. âMaybe.â
He let out a low sigh but didnât move away. Instead, he turned his head slightly toward her, finally cracking open one dark eye. âThatâs unsettling.â
âYouâll survive,â she teased, brushing her fingertips up his arm.
He hummed, letting his eyes fall shut again. âWhat time is it?â
Y/N glanced at the clock on the bedside table. âA little after eight.â
Severus exhaled heavily, his fingers flexing against the blanket. âToo early.â
She laughed softly. âFor what? Youâre usually up by now.â
âItâs Sunday,â he muttered. âEven I am entitled to a moment of peace.â
Y/N tilted her head, amused. âWho are you, and what have you done with my husband?â
He let out a low scoff, but she caught the faintest twitch of his lips.
She took the opportunity to shift closer, tucking herself against his side. His body was warm, and despite his usual complaints about being smothered, he didnât push her away. Instead, he lifted an arm, allowing her to rest against him properly.
For a long moment, they simply lay there, listening to the rain.
It was Severus who eventually broke the silence. âAre you working today?â
Y/N sighed. âNo, I have the next few days off.â
âHmm.â
She smiled, recognizing that small sound for what it wasâa quiet acknowledgment that he was pleased.
âWhich means,â she continued lightly, tracing a slow circle on his chest, âwe can actually spend the day together.â
Severus let out a noncommittal noise, but Y/N could tell he wasnât against the idea.
They spent so much time apart during the week. Between his responsibilities at Hogwarts and her long shifts at the hospital, their days often blurred past one another. It made moments like thisâlazy mornings wrapped in each otherâs warmthâall the more precious.
She hesitated for a second, chewing her lip. She had been thinking about something for a while now, and if there was ever a moment to bring it up, it was now.
âSeverus?â she asked, her voice quieter than before.
He opened his eyes again, glancing at her. âWhat is it?â
She bit the inside of her cheek before speaking. âCan I come with you to Hogwarts tomorrow?â
There it wasâthe immediate tension in his body, the subtle stiffening of his shoulders. His expression shifted, dark eyes sharpening with caution.
âNo,â he said flatly.
Y/N sighed, but she had expected this. âJust hear me out.â
âThere is nothing to hear,â he muttered, shifting to sit up slightly. âYou do not need to be there.â
âI want to see where you work.â
âI work in a dungeon surrounded by idiotic children. There is nothing remotely appealing about it.â
She huffed, sitting up properly now. âSeverus, Iâm not asking to stay forever. I just want to visit. I want to see the castle, your classroomâI want to understand what your life is like when youâre not here.â
He ran a hand down his face, clearly agitated. âIt is entirely unnecessary.â
She crossed her arms, tilting her head. âIs it really that bad? That I want to know more about your world?â
Severus let out a slow, measured breath, rubbing his temple. She could see the internal battle written across his face. He wasnât just being difficult for the sake of itâhe genuinely disliked the idea.
Y/N softened slightly. âLook⊠I know you like to keep your work and home life separate. I respect that. But I spend all this time telling you about my day-to-day life and I know almost nothing about yours, itâs a huge part of your life. I mean, I spend most of my days at the hospital, and you know everything about my job.â
Severus exhaled through his nose. âYes, and I like hearing about your day, thereâs not much about my job.â
Y/N laughed. âOh, please, Apparently you got staircases that move, a giant squid in the lake, and ghosts floating around like itâs normal.â
Severus gave her a look. âThat is normal.â
She smirked. âExactly. And yet, Iâve never seen it.â.â
He glanced at her but said nothing.
She reached for his hand again. âJust one day. You donât even have to introduce me to anyone. Iâll just sit quietly in the back of your class and watch.â
Severus let out a low groan. âThat is worse.â
Y/N smiled. âWhy? Are you afraid Iâll make you look soft?â
His scowl deepened. âNo.â
âThen whatâs the issue?â
âThe issue,â he said through gritted teeth, âis that my students are insufferable, and the last thing I need is them seeing me with my wife.â
She blinked. âSo⊠they donât know youâre married?â
Severus hesitated before looking away, his expression unreadable.
âOh my God,â she said, covering her mouth with a laugh. âYou never told them?â
âThere was no reason to,â he muttered.
She gaped at him. âSeverus! Thatâs kind of a big thing to leave out!â
He glared at her. âIt is none of their concern.â
âOh, Iâm definitely coming now,â she said, grinning. âI have to see their reactions.â
Severus let out a low sigh, rubbing his temple. âThat is precisely why you should not come. It is hardly a place forââ He hesitated before finishing the sentence.
âFor a Muggle?â she supplied, arching an eyebrow.
His expression darkened. âFor anyone with an ounce of common sense,â he corrected. âHogwarts is not a place for idle visits. It is a school, not a spectacle.â
Y/N rolled her eyes. âOh, come on, Severus. Please.â
He turned his head slightly to look at her, his dark eyes scanning her face. He saw the sincerity in her expression, the soft crease of her brow as she studied him, waiting for a response. She wasnât asking just out of curiosityâshe genuinely wanted to understand him better. And damn it, she knew he had a hard time saying no when she looked at him like that.
He exhaled sharply. âYou will hate it.â
âIâll be the judge of that.â
Severus scowled, his mind already running through all the potential disasters that could unfold. His students were incompetent enough on their ownâthrowing Y/N into the mix would only invite chaos. And worse than that, it would invite questions. His students had no idea he was married. He preferred it that way. He had spent years crafting an image of himself as the cold, unapproachable Potions Master, and the presence of his Muggle wife would shatter that illusion in an instant.
She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. âPlease, Severus?â
He stared at her, his jaw tightening. He should say no. He should put an end to this ridiculous idea immediately.
ââŠFine,â he muttered begrudgingly.
Y/N grinned, squeezing his hand. âI knew youâd say yes.â
He scowled. âYou are infuriating.â
âAnd you love me for it.â
Severus didnât respond, but the slight twitch of his lips gave him away.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
An hour later, after a quick breakfast and much grumbling from Severus about how she would regret this decision, they stood near the fireplace in their home, preparing to Floo to Hogwarts. Y/N smoothed down her scrubs, glancing down at them with a small frown. âMaybe I shouldâve worn something different.â
Severus eyed her attire critically. âYou look perfectly fine.â
âI donât exactly scream âProfessorâs wife,â do I?â
âYou certainly donât scream anything remotely intimidating,â he deadpanned.
She smirked. âThatâs your job, isnât it?â
He let out a long-suffering sigh before grabbing a handful of Floo powder. âJust stay close to me and, for the love of Merlin, do not engage with the students more than necessary.â
Y/N rolled her eyes but nodded. âGot it. No making friends with your little minions.â
âThey are not minions,â Severus growled. âThey are reckless, imbecilicââ
âChildren,â Y/N interrupted with a pointed look.
Severus sneered but didnât argue. Instead, he tossed the Floo powder into the flames, watching as they roared emerald green. He stepped inside and held out his hand. âCome.â
Y/N took a deep breath before gripping his hand tightly. âHogwarts, here we come.â
And with that, they disappeared into the flames.
There was a rushing sensation, the world blurring around her as they were pulled forward at an almost impossible speed. The swirling green light engulfed them, and before Y/N could even catch her breath, they landed in a grand, dimly lit room.
She stumbled slightly, but Severusâs grip on her arm kept her upright.
âJeez next time, warn me about what that feels likeâ she muttered, brushing off imaginary soot from her coat.
Severus ignored her, instead glancing around to make sure they hadnât landed in the middle of some unwanted company. The office they arrived in was old and regal, lined with countless bookshelves and moving portraits. An enormous wooden desk sat at the far end of the room, and a fire crackled warmly in the hearth.
Y/N looked around in awe. âWow. And this is just the entrance?â
âThis is my office,â Severus corrected. âWe are in the dungeons.â
She blinked, glancing at the dark stone walls. âYour office is in the basement?â
Severus gave her a dry look. âDungeons.â
âRight, dungeons,â she said, barely suppressing a smirk.
âCome.â He gestured for her to follow him toward a narrow doorway leading to a long corridor.
Y/N stepped out behind him, and the first thing she noticed was the cool, musty scent of the stone walls. The hallway stretched on, lit only by torches flickering along the sides. It was eerily quiet, save for the soft echo of their footsteps.
âThis is⊠very ominous,â she observed.
Severus merely hummed in response, leading her through a series of winding hallways. As they walked, the silence of the dungeons slowly gave way to the distant sounds of the castle waking upâmuffled voices, the occasional burst of laughter, the clatter of footsteps on stone.
Y/Nâs eyes wandered everywhere. The moving paintings, the candlelit chandeliers, the impossibly tall ceilingsâit was like stepping into another world.
Severus, of course, was entirely unfazed, walking with the same long, purposeful strides he always did.
She reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked. âAre you really that miserable working here?â
Severus glanced at her. âI never said I was miserable.â
She raised an eyebrow.
He sighed. âIt is⊠tolerable.â
She smirked. âThatâs the nicest thing youâve ever said about your job.â
âI am attempting to maintain my patience with you,â he muttered.
Y/N only laughed.
As they ascended a stone staircase, the sound of students became louder. The moment they stepped into the main hallways, the atmosphere shifted entirely.
The castle was alive.
Students in robes moved through the corridors, chatting and laughing, their voices echoing through the massive stone halls. Some carried books, others had cauldrons or parchment in their arms. It was a chaotic yet strangely organized scene, and Y/N found herself grinning as she took it all in.
However, as soon as students caught sight of Severus, the energy changed. Conversations hushed. Students moved aside instinctively, pressing themselves against the walls to avoid crossing his path. Their gazes flickered nervously between Severus andâ
Her.
It was subtle at firstâjust a few curious glances. But as they walked, the stares became more blatant.
Y/N could practically hear the thoughts running through their heads.
Who is that?
Why is she with Snape?
WaitâSnape has a wife?!
A few students even whispered to each other behind their hands, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright shock.
Y/N bit back a laugh. Oh, this is going to be fun.
Severus, on the other hand, was clearly unamused. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable. He didnât acknowledge the students gawking at them, though Y/N could tell he was very aware of it.
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. âDo they all think youâre a celibate vampire or something?â
Severus shot her a sharp look, his mouth pressing into a firm line.
She grinned. âThatâs a yes.â
He inhaled slowly through his nose, as if summoning every ounce of patience he had. âDo not engage.â
âWouldnât dream of it,â she said sweetly.
Severus led her through the halls, ignoring every wide-eyed stare and hushed whisper. It was clear that the sight of him with someoneâlet alone a Muggleâwas an event in itself.
Y/N, however, found it thoroughly amusing.
Eventually, they reached the entrance to the Potions classroom. Severus paused before pushing the heavy wooden door open, casting her one last warning glance.
âSit in the back,â he instructed. âDo not speak to the students. And under no circumstances are you to distract my class.â
Y/N placed a hand over her heart in mock sincerity. âI would never.â
Severus narrowed his eyes but said nothing, instead stepping into the classroom.
This was going to be interesting.
The moment Y/N settled into her seat at the back of the classroom, she felt the studentsâ stares practically burning into her.
It was obvious they were dying to know who she was.
Even as Severus swept into his usual lectureâhis voice sharp and commandingâthe students kept sneaking glances at her. Some whispered behind their hands, others tried to subtly turn in their seats.
Y/N smiled to herself.
Severus, of course, pretended not to notice. He moved about the room, giving instructions in his usual crisp, no-nonsense tone. âYour Amortentia samples are to be completed by the end of this period. Any foolishness will result in immediate expulsion from my classroom.â
A few students gulped.
Y/N had to resist laughing. Merlin, theyâre all terrified of him.
As the students got to work, the room filled with the bubbling of cauldrons and the soft scribbling of notes. The scent of Amortentiaâthe powerful love potionâlingered in the air, a strange mix of everyoneâs most beloved smells.
Y/N sat quietly at first, watching.
But it wasnât long before one of the studentsâHermione Granger, if she recalled the name correctlyâturned in her seat and whispered, âExcuse me, miss, but⊠who are you?â
Immediately, all the students nearby went silent, their attention snapping toward her.
A ripple of shocked murmurs spread through the room. Several students exchanged wide-eyed glances, some looking downright baffled. A few even turned to gawk at Severus, who was currently occupied with examining a studentâs potion.
âWife?â Ron Weasley whispered, looking scandalized. âSnapeâs married?â
âSince when?â someone else asked.
âWaitâhow does that even work?â
Y/N chuckled, resting her chin in her hand. âWhat do you mean?â
âWell, you just look so⊠nice,â a Hufflepuff girl said hesitantly, as if she wasnât sure whether she should be saying it out loud. âHow do youâumâhow do you get along with Professor Snape?â
Y/N grinned. âSev is an absolute sweetheart once you get to know him.â
A collective wave of disbelief washed over the students.
âSweetheart?â Seamus Finnigan repeated, looking as if heâd just heard the most absurd thing in the world.
Several students immediately turned to look at Severus, as if trying to reconcile this new information with the man theyâd known for years.
Y/N laughed at their stunned faces. âI know itâs hard to believe, but I promise you, once you get past all the scowling and dramatic cloak billowing, heâs actually really kind.â
A few students stifled their laughter at her description.
At that moment, Harry Potterâwho had been unusually quietâspoke up. âHow did you two meet?â
Y/Nâs smile softened. âAh. Thatâs a story.â
That got their attention.
The students leaned in, completely abandoning their potions in favor of hearing whatever ridiculous story had led to their feared Potions Master getting married.
Y/N rested her elbows on the table. âWell, it happened one night when I was walking home from my shiftââ
âShift?â Hermione asked.
âIâm a nurse,â Y/N explained.
That sparked more interest
âA Muggle nurse?â Dean Thomas asked.
Y/N nodded. âYes. I work in a hospital.â
A few students whispered among themselves. Clearly, this was fascinating information.
Severus, who had been preoccupied with monitoring cauldrons, finally seemed to sense something was amiss. He turned sharply, his eyes narrowing when he saw his students sitting in rapt attentionânot to him, but to his wife.
âWhat,â he asked slowly, his voice low and dangerous, âare you all doing?â
Silence fell over the room.
Then, almost simultaneously, every student turned back to their potions, stirring frantically as if they had been paying attention the whole time.
Y/N bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
Severus narrowed his eyes, then shifted his sharp gaze to her.
Y/N only gave him an innocent smile.
With an exasperated sigh, Severus turned away, resuming his usual rounds through the classroom.
The moment he was far enough away, the students subtly turned back toward her.
âSo?â one of them whispered eagerly.
Y/N smirked. âWhere was I?â
âYou were walking home,â Hermione reminded her.
âRight,â Y/N said. âSo, I was walking home after my shift, and I found Severus lying in an alley.â
Gasps.
âAn alley?â Ron whispered in horror.
Y/N nodded. âHe looked like a homeless man.â
That was too much. A few students actually gasped again, while others smacked their hands over their mouths to stifle laughter.
âWaitâso, what did you do?â Dean asked, his eyes wide.
âI went to help him, of course! He was hurt. I assumed he was a regular person, and Iâm a nurseâI couldnât just leave him there.â
âSo, you had no idea he was a wizard?â
âNone at all,â Y/N confirmed. âHe was just some grumpy, half-conscious man bleeding on the pavement.â
Seamus covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
A Ravenclaw girl raised her hand slightly. âAnd⊠what happened next?â
Y/N smirked. âI patched him up, brought him home, and he tried to be all moody and mysterious about it. But I wasnât having it. He was injured, so I made him stay.â
The students listened, completely enthralled.
âWhat did he say?â
âHe mostly just glared at me.â
âDid he at least say thank you?â
Y/N snorted. âOf course not. But, eventually, I found out he wasnât just some random man. He wasâwell, him. And, for some reason, he kept coming back.â
âAnd now youâre married,â a Hufflepuff boy said in amazement.
Y/N smiled. âCrazy how life works, huh?â
The students exchanged looks, still struggling to comprehend this new reality.
Before any of them could ask more, Severusâs voice cut through the air.
âGet back to work.â
The students instantly snapped to attention, scrambling to focus on their cauldrons.
Y/N bit her lip, glancing toward Severus. He was giving her a very pointed look, his dark eyes filled with something between exasperation and why did I let you come here?
She only winked.
Severus inhaled slowly through his nose, then turned away, resuming his lecture.
The moment he wasnât looking, one of the students whispered, âYou have to come to every class.â
Y/N grinned.
After the final bell rang, signaling the end of class, the students took their time packing up their things. Usually, they were eager to escape the dungeon and their intimidating Potions Master, but today, they lingered.
They werenât ready to say goodbye to Y/N just yet.
âThat was the best Potions lesson Iâve ever had,â Ron muttered to Harry as they gathered their books.
Harry nodded in agreement. âWho knew Snapeâs wife would be so cool?â
Meanwhile, a group of students had gathered around Y/Nâs desk, talking to her in hushed, excited voices.
âYou have to come back,â Seamus insisted.
âYes! Please?â a Ravenclaw girl pleaded.
Y/N laughed. âI donât think Severus will allow it.â
âWhy not?â Hermione asked. âItâs educational, isnât it? Learning about Muggle medicine? Iâm sure Professor Dumbledore would approve.â
Several students nodded eagerly.
Y/N smirked, glancing toward Severus, who was currently rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache.
âYouâre going to be the death of me,â he muttered.
âYouâre being dramatic,â Y/N teased, standing from her seat. âIt was fun, wasnât it?â
Severus gave her an unimpressed look. âFor whom?â
âThe students loved her,â Dean interjected. âHonestly, sir, she should come to every lesson.â
Severus fixed him with a cold stare. âWould you all prefer detention?â
Silence.
Dean shrank back slightly. ââŠNoted.â
Severus exhaled, clearly exhausted, and turned to Y/N. âCome. Weâre leaving.â
Y/N grinned, then turned back to the students, who still looked hopeful.
âWell, I suppose weâll see,â she said.
A chorus of disappointed groans followed.
âPlease?â a Hufflepuff girl begged. âEven just one more time?â
Y/N gave her a knowing look. âI doubt it will be just one more time.â
âExactly,â Seamus said. âThatâs why you might as well keep coming back!â
Y/N chuckled.
Severus, however, was at his limit. He grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door. âEnough. We are leaving.â
Y/N let herself be led away, throwing a final wave to the students as they called after her:
âSheâs coming back, right?â
âShe has to!â
âShe makes you bearable, sir!â
That last comment made Severus stop in his tracks.
The students froze.
Very slowly, Severus turned his head toward the direction of the voice.
Silence.
Thenâ
âGO.â
The students scattered, grabbing their things and rushing out of the dungeon in a chaotic blur.
Y/N couldnât hold back her laughter any longer.
âYou love them,â she teased, squeezing his hand.
âI loathe them,â Severus corrected, his voice dripping with irritation.
Y/N only smiled, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. âWhatever you say, sweetheart.â
He grumbled something under his breath, but Y/N didnât miss the faint pink dusting his ears.
Summary: Y/n is a new professor at hogwarts. Sheâs always smiling at Snape and always stumbling on her words when they talk, often caught day dreaming. Snape just thinks sheâs dumb doesnât think much . One morning at breakfast snape was curious about her and went into her mind to learn a little bit about
Severus Snape prided himself on being an observant man. It was a necessary skill for him. So, when the new professor arrivedâProfessor Y/Nâhe was quick to assess her.
She was young, bright-eyed, and entirely too cheerful for his taste. She smiled too much, stumbled over her words whenever they spoke, and seemed to have the attention span of a particularly dim-witted Hufflepuff. He had already dismissed her as just another incompetent hire, someone who would be gone within the year, unable to handle the pressure of teaching at Hogwarts.
Y/N had arrived at the start of the term to teach Charms, and Snape had dismissed her almost immediately. Too young, too bright-eyed, too smiley. She was not suited for Hogwarts, and he had no doubt she would crumble under the weight of her responsibilities within the year.
Yet, much to his irritation, she remained.
And worse, she seemed utterly fixated on him. He couldnât figure out why.
Every time their paths crossed, she would fumble her words, looking at him with wide, dazed eyes as though caught in some sort of trance. Her smiles were ever-present, unshaken by his cold demeanor, and she had a habit of staring at him for entirely too long during meals.
At first, he assumed she was simply intimidated by himâa common enough reaction from new staff. But that didnât explain the dreamy looks, the flustered stammering, or the way she seemed utterly absorbed in her thoughts whenever he caught her unguarded.
And so, on a particularly mundane morning in the Great Hall, he made an uncharacteristically reckless decision.
It started as an absentminded observationâhis gaze flickering toward her as she sat a few seats down, absently stirring her cereal. Her lips were slightly parted, her brow faintly furrowed as though lost in thought.
What on earth is going through that empty little head of hers?
Without truly meaning to, Snape let down his mental barriers and reached out with Legilimency, brushing the surface of her mind with practiced ease. A quick glimpse. A harmless curiosity.
He regretted it instantly.
The images flooded in at once, vivid and startling in their intensity. Him.
Not as he was now, stiff and scowling at the breakfast table, but him in the dim candlelight of her quarters, his fingers tangled in her hair, his lips ghosting over her throat.
Her mind was an unchecked storm of want, filled with fragmented, breathless thoughtsâ
His hands would be rough, but carefulâ
I wonder what heâd sound like if Iâ
What would his lips feel like pressed against my neck, claiming me as hisâ
Gods, last nightâ
Snapeâs breath hitched.
The scene shifted, and suddenly, it wasnât just idle fantasyâit was memory.
A replay of the night before.
Y/N was in her bed, twisted in her sheets, her skin flushed with heat. She was gasping softly, her body arching as she whispered his nameâhis nameâinto the quiet of her room.
Snape choked.
The taste of tea turned acrid as it went down the wrong pipe, and he coughed violently, drawing the attention of the entire staff table.
Minerva glanced at him in mild concern, while Dumbledoreâs ever-twinkling gaze lingered just a moment too long.
Y/N turned toward him as well, blinking in surprise. âProfessor Snape? Are you alright?â
Her voice was too sweet, too innocent, too unknowing of the absolute carnage she had just unleashed upon his mind.
Snape wrenched himself back into the present, setting his cup down with a shaking hand. He forced himself to nod, his throat still burning. âFine,â he managed hoarsely.
She smiled at himâof course she didâher cheeks tinged pink.
The very sight of her now felt different, dangerous, attractive almost. She had no idea what he had seen, no idea that her most intimate thoughts had just seared themselves into his memory.
Severus Snape had survived war, Dark Lords, and years of relentless suffering.
But this?
This was an entirely new kind of torture.
Y/n had a crush on Snape and he didnât know how to feel.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Y/Nâs thoughts still lingered there, unwanted and unshakable. Every time he blinked, he saw flashes of the memory he had glimpsedâher body, flushed and writhing in her bed, his name falling from her lips like a sinful prayer.
It was utterly unacceptable.
She was a colleague.
She was a foolish, starry-eyed girl.
And most importantly, he shouldnât be so turned on by her.
He would put this entire debacle behind him. He would bury it deep in the recesses of his mind, where it would never see the light of day.
And if she continued to smile at him? If she kept stumbling over her words and looking at him with those wide, adoring eyes?
Well⊠that was not his problem.
With renewed determination, he pushed open the doors to his classroom, his robes billowing behind him as he strode to the front of the room.
The students immediately quieted.
âPage two hundred and thirteen,â he said curtly, barely glancing at them as he flicked his wand toward the blackboard. âI expect silence.â
For once, his students obeyed without question. The only sound was the rustle of parchment as they flipped to the assigned page.
Good.
This was what he neededâstructure, routine, something to ground him.
And thenâ
âProfessor Snape?â
The voice sent a jolt through him, and he knew before even looking up.
Y/N stood in the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her, wearing that same flustered, hesitant smile.
Merlinâs bloody beard.
His grip on his quill tightened. Thinking about we he saw in her little mind. âProfessor Y/N,â he said smoothly, his voice carefully controlled. âTo what do I owe the interruption?â
If she noticed the sharp edge to his tone, she ignored it.
âOh! IâumâI just needed to borrow something from the potions stores,â she said, shifting on her feet. âIf thatâs alright?â
He exhaled slowly through his nose. âFine,â he bit out. âMake it quick.â
âOf course! Thank you, Professor.â
She practically skipped toward the storeroom, her robes swishing around her ankles as she disappeared behind the shelves.
Snape clenched his jaw, forcing himself to return his focus to his students, though his ears remained attuned to every faint rustle and movement from the storeroom.
It was infuriating.
She was infuriating.
And worst of allâhe could still hear her voice from her memories.
Breathless. Desperate.
âSeverusâŠâ
His quill snapped in his hand.
Several students jumped at the sudden sound, looking up in alarm.
Snape inhaled sharply, composing himself. He set the broken quill aside, steepling his fingers as he leveled the class with a withering glare.
âWell?â he drawled. âDid I suddenly instruct you all to stare at me like imbeciles instead of completing the assigned reading?â
They hastily returned to their textbooks, not daring to utter a word.
The storeroom door creaked open again, and Y/N reappeared, clutching a small vial of powdered moonstone.
âGot it!â she chirped, giving him a bright smile. âThanks again, Professor Snape.â
His responding glare was colder than the dungeons themselves.
She hesitated for a fraction of a secondâjust long enough for a flicker of uncertainty to cross her featuresâbut then she dipped her head and hurried out the door.
As soon as she was gone, Snape exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He needed to get her out of his head.
Immediately.
Because if he didnâtâŠ
He was going to lose his mind.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Severus had very little patience for frivolous conversation.
The Hogwarts staff, unfortunately, did not share his sentiment.
It was late afternoon, and he had just left his classroom, intent on heading to his office for some much-needed solitude. The day had been exhaustingâmade worse, of course, by her.
Y/N had spent the entire morning unknowingly testing his already frayed nerves. The way she smiled at him. The way she tripped over her words when they spoke. The way she lingered just a second too long when she passed by him in the corridors.
It was intolerable.
He needed distance.
Yet, as he strode past the partially open door of the staff lounge, a familiar voice caught his attention.
Y/N.
He should have ignored it. He should have kept walking, pretended he heard nothing, and continued on with his day.
But thenâ
âOh, come on, Y/N,â said a voice he recognized as Professor Sinistraâs. âYou have to play. Itâs just a silly game.â
âI donât knowâŠâ Y/N sounded hesitant but amused.
âOh, donât act innocent. We all know you have opinions,â said Professor Hooch.
Snape frowned, curiosity getting the better of him. He took a silent step closer, positioning himself just outside the doorway.
âWhat are the options again?â Y/N asked.
âFuck, Marry, Kill,â Sinistra repeated, barely containing her laughter. âYou have to choose one person for each.
Snapeâs stomach twisted.
They were playing that game?
He had heard students whispering about it beforeâsome ridiculous, childish activity meant for gossip and nonsense. But for the staff to be engaging in it? It was absurd.
Even so⊠he didnât move.
âAlright, alright,â Y/N sighed. âWho are my choices?â
âWell, we thought weâd make it interesting for you,â Hooch said slyly. âSoâLockhart, Snape, and Dumbledore.â
Snape stiffened.
Oh, absolutely not.
There was a moment of silence, and then Y/N groaned dramatically. âOh, you would pick those three.â
The other professors laughed. âCome on, Y/N. You have to answer,â Sinistra teased.
Snape waited, his jaw clenched.
âWell,â Y/N said slowly, âI think we can all agree that killing Lockhart is the only acceptable option.â
There were murmurs of agreement.
At least she had some standards, Snape thought dryly.
âAnd?â Sinistra pressed.
Y/N hesitated again, and for a moment, Snape thoughtâhopedâthat she might refuse to answer altogether.
But thenâ
ââŠI guess Iâd marry Dumbledore?â
Snapeâs eyes narrowed.
âI mean, heâs wise, powerful, and honestly, I think heâd be really fun to be around. Heâs got a great sense of humor,â Y/N reasoned. âI could see myself living a peaceful, happy life married to him.
There was a chorus of laughter. âSo that meansâŠâ
Y/N let out a dramatic sigh. ââŠI guess Iâd fuck Snape.â
Snape felt his entire body go rigid.
The room erupted into laughter and scandalized gasps.
âOh my God,â Sinistra cackled. âYou guess youâd fuck him?â
Y/N was laughing too now. âWhat?! I mean, come on. Look at the other options! Lockhart? Absolutely not. And Dumbledore? Heâs sweet, butâno, Iâm not his type.â
âAnd Snape is your first choice for a fuck?â Hooch teased.
Snape could practically hear Y/Nâs blush.
âI mean,â she said hesitantly, âheâs got to be good at something, right?â
The other women howled with laughter.
Snape felt heat rise to his face, an unfamiliar mix of mortification and something far more dangerous curling in his stomach.
âWell, well, well,â Sinistra teased. âSomeone has a thing for our dear Potions Master.â
âShut up!â Y/N groaned, but she was still laughing. âI was just playing the game!â
âOh, sure you were.â
Snape had heard enough.
He turned on his heel, stalking away from the staff lounge before he could hear anything else.
It should have been infuriating. It was infuriating.
But worst of allâ
As he stormed down the hallway, Y/Nâs words echoed in his head.
âI guess Iâd fuck Snape.â
A dangerous thought, indeed.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Snape had spent his entire life mastering the art of self-control.
It had kept him alive during the war, allowed him to endure years of servitude under both Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, and, most importantly, it had ensured that no oneânot a single personâever saw what lay beneath the surface.
But this?
This was testing him in ways he had not prepared for.
For days, Y/Nâs voice haunted him.
âIâd fuck Snape.â
It echoed through his mind at the most inopportune momentsâduring meals, in the middle of lectures, when he was grading essays and found himself scrawling across the parchment with unnecessary force.
It was intolerable.
And she wasnât helping.
Y/N still smiled at him in the halls, still stumbled over her words when they spoke, still lingered just a moment too long when they passed one another.
She had no idea what she had done.
And heâhe was coming undone.
That evening, Snape retreated to his classroom, hoping for some semblance of solitude. The dim glow of candlelight flickered over the rows of empty desks, and he inhaled deeply, reveling in the quiet.
He needed this.
Needed to regain control.
Thenâ
The door creaked open.
He knew who it was before she even spoke.
âProfessor Snape?â
His grip on his quill tightened. He didnât look up. âWhat is it?â
Y/N hesitated at the threshold, feeling like one of his students. âIâum, I left my book here earlier. For my third-years.â
âThen retrieve it quickly and go.â
Silence.
She didnât move.
Instead, she shifted on her feet, studying him. âYou know,â she said slowly, âyouâve been acting really weird lately.â
Snape continued grading, pretending he wasnât aware of her every movement. âYour powers of observation astound me.â
She ignored his sarcasm.
âI mean it,â she pressed. âYou wonât even look at me.â
He finally glanced up, leveling her with an icy glare. âAnd yet, here you stand, interrupting my work with baseless observations.â
That should have been the end of it.
But Y/N had never known when to quit.
She exhaled, stepping closer. âI know youâre mad at me.â
Silence.
âDid I do something?â
More silence.
âSeverus.â
His jaw clenched at the sound of his name.
Y/N took another step forward, the candlelight casting a warm glow over her face. âOkay, if you donât tell me whatâs wrong, Iâm just going to keep guessing.â
Still, he said nothing.
She sighed. âFine. Is it because I borrowed ingredients from the storeroom without asking? Because I did ask, and you said yesâgranted, you looked like you wanted to strangle me, but still.â
Nothing.
ââŠDid I say something offensive in our last conversation?â
Silence.
Her eyes narrowed.
âIs it because of the âfuck, marry, killâ thing?â
Snape froze.
Y/N gasped. âIt is!â
Y/N let out a disbelieving laugh. âOh my God, thatâs what this is about?â
âIt is not about that,â he snapped.
âOh, it definitely is.â She stepped even closer, tilting her head at him with a slow, teasing smile. âLet me guessâyou didnât like my answer?â
Snapeâs hands curled into fists beneath his desk. âI suggest you drop it.â
âWhy?â she pressed, her eyes glinting with amusement. âAre you upset that I said Iâd marry Dumbledore instead of you?â
His glare could have turned her to stone.
She bit her lip, barely containing her laughter. âOrâŠâ she continued, feigning deep thought, ââŠare you upset because I said Iâd fuck you?â
Snap.
In an instant, Snape was on his feet.
Before she could register what was happening, he had crossed the space between them, backing her against the edge of his desk.
Her breath caught, eyes wide as he loomed over her.
His voice was low, lethal.
âI know exactly the kind of fantasies you have about me.â
Y/Nâs breath hitched.
Snape leaned in slightly, the scent of parchment and spice surrounding her. âYou think I donât know?â he murmured, his tone silk and steel. âYou think I havenât seen?â
She swallowed. âS-Seen what?â
His lips curled into a dark smirk.
âYour mind,â he said softly. âIt is utterly shameless, Y/N.â
The way he said her nameâlow, deliberate, dripping with something dangerousâsent a shiver down her spine.
She exhaled shakily. âIââ
But before she could finish, his mouth crashed against hers. He couldnât help himself.
The kiss was fierceâhot, demanding, filled with frustration and something deeper, something raw.
Y/N gasped against his lips, but she melted into him instantly, her hands gripping the front of his robes, pulling him closer.
Snape groaned against her mouth, his hands finding her waist, gripping tightly as if he was losing himself. He should be liking this so much.
For weeks, she had smiled at him. Teased him. Dreamed of him.
And now, here he wasâkissing her like he had been on the edge of breaking for far too long.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard, the space between them charged with unspoken words.
Snapeâs dark eyes searched hers, his expression unreadable.
Y/N blinked up at him, lips still parted, utterly dazed.
ââŠWell,â she breathed. âThat escalated quickly.â
Snape groaned, pressing his forehead against hers. âMerlin, shut up.â
Y/N just grinnedâand pulled him back in for another kiss
Summary: Y/N and Snape have been secretly seeing each other for months, keeping their relationship under wraps. When a field trip to the Muggle world is planned, Y/N convinces Snape to join her. As the trip unfolds, their secret becomes harder to hide.
Note: I had a dream about this and decided to write about it because I thought it would be fun. Not sure if I like it or not yet but oh well. I hope you enjoy.
The dim candlelight flickered against the stone walls of the dungeons, casting long shadows across Severus Snapeâs private quarters. Outside, the castle was silentâeveryone asleep in their beds, unaware of the secrets unfolding beneath them.
Y/N wasnât supposed to be here.
She was supposed to be in her own chambers, sleeping like the rest of the professors, preparing for the staff meeting in the morning. Instead, she was sitting on Snapeâs desk, wearing his shirt, watching as he paced across the room. His usual composed expression was intact, but she could tell he was annoyedâthough whether it was at her or himself, she wasnât sure.
âYouâre scheming,â he muttered, not bothering to look at her.
Y/N smirked, swinging her legs idly. âMe? I would never.â
Snape shot her a pointed look. âDonât insult my intelligence.â
She stretched her arms lazily, letting his oversized shirt fall off one shoulder as she tilted her head. âFine, you got me. I do need something.â
Snape sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. âOf course you do.â
Y/N hopped off the desk and closed the space between them, sliding her hands up his chest. âI want to take some of the seventh-years on a trip,â she said sweetly.
âNo.â
âYou havenât even heard what it is yet.â
âAnd I donât need to.â
She pouted, leaning up to brush her lips against his jaw. âI want to take them to the Muggle world,â she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his neck. âA few days to experience Muggle life before they graduate.â
Snape scoffed. âHow utterly foolish.â
Y/N rolled her eyes. âSome of them want to live in the Muggle world after Hogwarts. Would it kill you to be supportive?â
Snape didnât answer, though his expression was one of clear disapproval.
She pouted. âYou donât even know where yet.â
Snape scoffed. âI assure you, that is not my concern.â
She stepped even closer, pressing against him, her lips barely brushing his as she whispered, âI need another professor to come with me.â
His dark eyes narrowed. âNo.â
âYes.â
âNo.â
Y/n tilted her head, trailing her fingers down his torso before slipping her hands beneath the waistband of his trousers. He inhaled sharply, his grip tightening on her hips.
âYouâre manipulative,â he muttered, his voice lower now.
âIâm resourceful.â She kissed him again, slowly, deeply, until she felt him relax beneath her touch. When she pulled away, she smiled triumphantly. âSo, youâll come?â
His grip on her waist tightened. âYou infuriate me.â
âBut?â
Snape sighed heavily, his forehead resting against hers for a brief moment. âIf I agree to this ridiculous excursion⊠I expect compensation.â
Y/n smirked. âI think we can arrange something.â
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The next morning, Y/N sat in the Hogwarts staffroom, confidently addressing the gathered professors.
âIâd like to propose a trip for our seventh-year students who are interested in integrating into Muggle society after Hogwarts,â she announced. âIt would be a short excursionâjust a few daysâwhere they can experience Muggle life firsthand.â
McGonagall pursed her lips. âThat would require significant supervision.â
âAnd resources,â added Flitwick.
âIâll take care of the arrangements, I have a lot of muggle contacts who are willing to help.â Y/N assured them. âI just need another professor to accompany me.â
Silence.
No one volunteered.
Y/N suppressed a smirk. Perfect.
âWell,â she said, glancing toward the other end of the table where Snape sat with his arms crossed, looking utterly uninterested. âProfessor Snape has graciously agreed to accompany me.â
Every head turned toward Snape. His dark eyes snapped to hers, glaring.
âIââ
âYes, Severus?â McGonagall prompted, amused.
Snape clenched his jaw, fingers tightening around the table. Y/N flashed him an innocent smile.
ââŠFine,â he bit out.
Y/N beamed. âExcellent.â
As the meeting continued, she leaned back in her chair, feeling his heated gaze burning into the side of her face.
Oh, he hated her right now.
She couldnât wait for him to get her alone later.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The moment Y/N and her group stepped into the Muggle world, the energy shifted. The students, a mix of excited and nervous seventh-years, looked around in awe as they took in their surroundingsâbustling streets, honking cars, and the ever-present hum of Muggle life.
Snape, however, looked as though heâd rather be anywhere else.
Fred and George had been thrilled from the moment they arrived, immediately elbowing each other and whispering about all the âMuggle mischiefâ they planned to get into. The rest of the students were more cautious, adjusting to the idea that they were, for the next few days, just another group of ordinary young adults.
Snape, meanwhile, stood rigidly by Y/Nâs side, arms crossed, eyes sweeping the street as if someone would jump out and hex them at any moment. He had agreed to dress in Muggle clothingâbut only if he was allowed to wear all black.
Which meant that, instead of looking like a normal Muggle, he still looked exactly like himself, just without the billowing robes.
Y/N had tried to convince him to loosen up, even choosing clothes that might make him look a little less⊠well, Snape-like, but he had refused. So now, he stood in a black wool coat over a black button-up and fitted trousers, looking every bit as menacing as he did at Hogwarts.
âYou do realize Muggles donât usually look like theyâre heading to a funeral every day, right?â Y/N teased as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Snape shot her a glare. âI compromised.â
âIf thatâs what you call this, sure.â Y/N smirked, tilting her head as she gave him a once-over. âHonestly, if you grew some facial hair, youâd look like John Wick.â
Snapeâs brow furrowed. âWho?â
Y/N sighed dramatically. âNever mind. Muggle reference. But trust me, youâd fit right in as a brooding action hero.â
Snape sneered. âI have no desire to resemble some ridiculous Muggle.â
Y/N grinned. âOh, I donât know. Dark, mysterious, always dressed in black, terrifying yet strangely attractive? You might have more in common than you think.â
Snapeâs eyes narrowed. âIf you continue down this line of conversation, I will deduct points.â
Y/N bit back a laugh. âFrom whom, exactly?â
He hesitated, clearly annoyed by the flaw in his threat. âIâll find a way.â
Y/N chuckled, falling into step beside him. âWhatever you say, Professor Wick.â
She, on the other hand, had no trouble blending in. She had picked out a casual but stylish outfitâjeans, a cozy sweater, and boots that wouldnât stand out in a crowd. Unlike Snape, she actually enjoyed this.
âAlright, everyone,â she said, turning to the students. âRemember, for the next few days, we are Muggles. That means no magic, no talking about Hogwarts, and no trying to pass yourselves off as wizards.â
A few of them nodded seriously, while Fred and George exchanged mischievous grins.
âI mean it,â Y/N added, pointing at them. âBehave.â
âWe always behave, Professor,â Fred said, all innocence.
âYes, impeccably,â George added.
Y/N sighed, knowing full well that was a lie.
Beside her, Snape muttered, âThis is a disaster waiting to happen.â
âRelax,â she murmured back. âTry to have a little fun.â
Snape sneered, but before he could argue, Y/N clapped her hands together and gestured toward the street. âLetâs get checked into the inn, and then weâll go over the itinerary.â
The inn was small and cozy, tucked between a bakery and a bookshop. It had the charm of an old-world Muggle establishment, complete with floral wallpaper and creaky wooden floors.
At the front desk, a kind older woman greeted them with a warm smile. âWelcome! You must be the group I spoke to on the phone.â
âThatâs us,â Y/N said, returning the smile. âWe have enough rooms for everyone, correct?â
âOf course. Two students per room. And for the professorsâŠ?â The woman looked between Y/N and Snape, hesitating.
Before Y/N could answer, Snape spoke in a sharp tone. âSeparate rooms.â
The woman blinked at his tone, but nodded. âOf course, sir.â
Y/N fought back a laugh. Snape had spoken way too fast, and it wasnât lost on Fred and George, who were already whispering behind them.
Once they received their room keys, Y/N turned to the students. âAlright, everyone pair up. Unpack, settle in, and meet back in the lobby in an hour.â
As the students grabbed their keys and headed to their rooms, Fred and George lingered, watching Y/N and Snape with far too much interest
âYou two sure do hate each other,â Fred mused.
âYes,â George nodded. âOne might say you despise each other a bit too much.â
Y/N narrowed her eyes. âWhat exactly are you implying?â
Fred smirked. âOh, nothing at all.â
Snape leveled them with a dark glare. âGet. To. Your. Room.â
The twins grinned at each other before heading off, whispering as they went.
Y/N sighed, shaking her head. âTheyâre onto us.â
Snape scowled. âI knew this was a terrible idea.â
Y/N just smiled, reaching over to straighten his collar before heading to her own room.
This trip was going to be very interesting.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Y/N had planned a full day of Muggle activities for the students, and she was absolutely thrilled about it. Snape, on the other hand, looked like he was suffering through some sort of medieval torture.
âYou could at least pretend to enjoy yourself,â she murmured to Snape as he stood stiffly beside her, arms crossed.
âThis is ridiculous,â he hissed back. âI have no interest inââ
âHereâs your coffee, love,â the barista said, handing Y/N her drink.
âThank you,â she replied with a bright smile before turning to Snape. âWhat about you? You do drink coffee.â
Snape sneered but muttered, âBlack. No sugar.â
Y/N arched a brow. âShocking.â
He glared at her, but a few minutes later, when the drinks were ready, she was surprised to see Snape hand over the money for hers along with his own.
The students noticed too.
A few of them exchanged glances, and one Ravenclaw, Sophie, raised an eyebrow. âProfessor Snape just bought you coffee?â
Y/N opened her mouth to reply, but Snape beat her to it. âSheâll find some way to make me regret this later,â he drawled, taking a sip of his own drink.
That seemed to satisfy the students, but Sophie still looked suspicious.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The museum was grand, its high ceilings and marble floors giving it an almost regal feel. Y/N couldnât contain her excitement as they entered, the scent of aged books, polished wood, and history filling the air.
âThis place is amazing,â she said to the group. âIt covers everything from Muggle history to science, but the art section is my personal favorite.â
Snape gave an unimpressed glance at the museum map she held. âOf course it is,â he muttered.
Y/N ignored his sarcasm and turned to the students. âEveryone, take a map. You have an two hours to exploreâstay in pairs at the very least. Meet back at the entrance hall when youâre done and remember, no wizard business.â
The students dispersed, some heading toward the history exhibits while others whispered excitedly about the dinosaur skeletons they had glimpsed down another hall.
Y/N, however, had only one destination in mindâthe art gallery.
She turned to Snape, grinning. âCome on. Youâre going to love this.â
âI highly doubt that,â he replied dryly, but he followed her nonetheless.
The gallery was quiet, filled with soft lighting that made the paintings glow as if they were alive. Y/N inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of oil paint and aged canvas. This was her favorite place in any museumâthe heart of human creativity, emotions spilled across canvas in brushstrokes and color.
Snape, predictably, looked bored.
Y/N elbowed him. âDonât look so miserable. This is beautiful.â
He raised a skeptical eyebrow. âItâs paint on canvas.â
She scoffed. âItâs more than that, and you know it. Look at this one.â
They moved through the gallery together, Y/N eagerly pointing out various stylesâBaroque, Impressionism, Realismâwhile Snape, though reluctant at first, listened with mild curiosity.
When they reached a large abstract pieceâa swirl of chaotic brushstrokes in deep reds and blacksâSnape finally spoke up.
âThis,â he said flatly, âis absurd.â
Y/N laughed. âItâs abstract expressionism. Itâs about emotion rather than realism.â
âIt looks like someone accidentally knocked over their paint.â
She rolled her eyes. âOh, come on, Severus. You understand potions. You know the way different ingredients come together to create something meaningful. Itâs the same with artâthough if Iâm being honest this one isnât one of my favourites. â
He exhaled sharply, clearly not convinced, but there was something amused in his gaze.
Y/N smirked. âI bet youâd love the Dark Romanticism section.â
Snape raised an eyebrow. âDark Romanticism?â
âDramatic, brooding, full of suffering and existential dread?â She grinned. âItâs basically you in art form.â
Snape scoffed, but she didnât miss the way the corner of his mouth almost twitched upward.
As they neared the end of the gallery, Y/N reached for a museum guidebook from a nearby shelf. It was heavier than expected, and she awkwardly tried to juggle it alongside her bag and coffee.
Before she could struggle further, Snape effortlessly took her drink and bag from her so she could grab the book.
Y/N blinked up at him smiling in surprise, but before she could say anythingâ
A student saw.
A Slytherin boy, Adam, was standing a few feet away, watching them with narrowed eyes.
Y/N cleared her throat, taking the book as casually as possible, with little space between then y/n backed up. âThanks.â
Snape gave a nonchalant shrug, but the damage was done. Adamâs gaze lingered for a moment before he walked off, suspicion evident in his expression.
Y/N sighed. âYouâre being too nice.â
Snape smirked slightly, voice low. âThen perhaps I should let you struggle next time.â
âRude.â
They continued through the gallery, but Y/N couldnât shake the feeling that their little secret was getting harder to keep.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
Their last stop before dinner was a shopping district, where the students had free time to explore Muggle stores.
Y/N and Snape walked together, keeping an eye on everyone, when she noticed something. âSev, look at this.â
It was a slip of the tongueâshe had gotten so used to saying his nickname in private that it just⊠happened.
Snape froze. The students definitely noticed.
Sophie, ever the observant Ravenclaw, turned around. âDid you just call him Sev?â
Y/N felt her face heat up. âItâs justââ
âSheâs gotten into the bad habit of calling all the professors nicknames,â Snape cut in smoothly, his tone sharp. âShe finds it quite amusing but I donât enjoy it. I wish youâd stop with that honestly.â
Sophie narrowed her eyes, but before she could question it, Fred and George reappeared, loudly declaring their victory in finding the worst Muggle clothing possible.
The subject was droppedâfor now.
But Y/N knew they werenât done being watched.
And, judging by the barely-there smirk on Snapeâs face, he knew it too.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The small Muggle inn was quaint, with narrow hallways and creaky wooden floors. After a long day of navigating Muggle London, the students had finally settled into their rooms for the night, exhausted from walking, shopping, andâmost amusinglyâwatching Snape suffer through every moment of it.
After supper, Y/N had bid the students goodnight, acting every bit the responsible professor. But the moment she was certain everyone was settled, her mind drifted elsewhere.
To him.
It wasnât unusual for her and Snape to sneak around, stealing moments behind closed doors, but tonight, it felt riskier. The walls were thinner, the students only a few doors down, but the thought of being alone with himâeven just for a short whileâwas irresistible.
So, she waited.
Once the inn had fallen into silence and the hallways were still, she slipped out of her room, her bare feet barely making a sound against the wooden floor. She didnât bother knocking when she reached Snapeâs doorâjust slipped inside and locked it behind her.
Snape was standing by the small window, his long black coat draped over the chair, his usual scowl in place.
âYouâre reckless,â he muttered, though his eyes darkened as they met hers.
Y/N smirked, stepping closer. âAnd yet, you still let me in.â
Snape exhaled slowly, watching her as she moved toward him.
âYou looked miserable today,â she teased, reaching up to undo the top button of his crisp black shirt. âI thought Iâd come cheer you up.â
His lips quirked. âIs that so?â
âMhm.â Her fingers trailed down his chest, undoing another button.
Snapeâs hands found her waist, pulling her against him. His breath was warm against her skin as he muttered, âThis is a terrible idea.â
Y/N only grinned, tilting her head up to kiss him. His grip on her tightened, his lips rough but eager against hers. The air between them grew heated quicklyâher fingers tangling in his hair, his hands wandering lower. He lifted her effortlessly, pressing her against the door as her legs wrapped around his waist.
Thenâ
A noise.
Footsteps. Voices.
Y/N froze.
Snape, always sharp, pulled back immediately, his eyes narrowing as he listened.
The voices were muffled but unmistakable.
Fred and George.
They were sneaking out.
Y/N scrambled out of Snapeâs grip, nearly tripping as she grabbed her discarded shirt from the floor and yanked it over her head. Snape muttered something about damn Gryffindors as she hastily straightened her clothes.
âYou owe me for this,â he murmured, amused despite his annoyance.
Y/N shot him a look before cracking open the door.
Sure enough, Fred and George were tiptoeing down the hallway, whispering excitedly about a late-night Muggle adventure.
Y/N stepped out into the hall. âAnd where exactly do you two think youâre going?â
The twins froze.
Fred turned first, eyes widening. âProfessor Y/N! What are you doing out here?â
George smirked. âMore importantly, why are you coming out of his room?â
Y/Nâs mind raced. âIâuhââ
âWe were⊠discussing disciplinary measures,â Snapeâs smooth voice cut in as he stepped into the doorway behind her.
Fred raised a brow. âIn the middle of the night?â
âWith the door locked?â George added, grinning.
Y/N forced a sigh. âYes. Because some of you cannot be trusted not to sneak out.â She folded her arms, trying to appear stern. âClearly, we were right to be concerned.â
Fred and George exchanged looks before bursting into laughter.
âOh, this is brilliant,â George said.
âAbsolutely brilliant,â Fred agreed.
Y/N rolled her eyes. âGo back to bed before I make you have a disciplinary meeting with Snape.â
Fred raised his hands in surrender. âAlright, alright. But just so you knowââ
George grinned. âWeâre definitely telling everyone.â
Y/N groaned as they hurried off down the hall. She turned back to Snape, who looked thoroughly unimpressed.
âWell,â she muttered. âThat couldâve gone better.â
Snape smirked. âIt could have gone much worse.â
Y/N sighed. âI should go before they actually wake up the others.â
She hesitated, glancing at him.
Snape reached for her wrist, pulling her back just enough to press a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth.
âNext time,â he murmured, âjust ignore them and stay with me.â
Y/N grinned, slipping away.
It was going to be very difficult denying things in the morning.
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The last day of the trip had gone surprisingly well. The students had enjoyed their time in the Muggle world, and despite his usual grumbling, Snape had survived it. But as the trip neared its end, Y/N found herself itching for just one last stolen moment alone with him before they returned to Hogwarts.
So, when she caught Snape lingering near the back of the inn entrance, away from the others, she saw her opportunity.
âWe have a few minutes before we leave,â she whispered, tugging him into a quiet hallway near an old stairwell.
Snape sighed, but there was no real resistance as he allowed her to press him against the wall. âYou are reckless,â he murmured, but his hands were already on her waist.
Y/N smirked. âAnd yet, youâre still here.â
His lips were on hers before she could tease him further. The kiss was slow, deep, filled with everything they could never say aloud. Y/N melted into him, fingers curling into his robes as his hands slid up her back.
They were so lost in each other that they didnât hear the footsteps approaching.
Didnât hear the whispering.
Didnât hear the muffled snicker untilâ
âOH MY GOD.â
Y/N and Snape ripped apart.
Fred and George stood in the doorway, identical expressions of sheer delight plastered on their faces.
âSNAPE HAS A GIRLFRIEND?â Fred practically shouted.
Snapeâs face contorted in horror. âLower your voice!â
George, still grinning, turned to Fred. âThis is historic.â
Fred nodded. âThis is unbelievable.â
Y/N, still breathless, held up her hands. âThis is not what it looks like.â
Fred and George exchanged glances.
âOhhh, so you werenât just snogging our professor against a wall?â Fred asked innocently.
âNo, no,â George said with mock seriousness. âIâm sure we imagined it.â
Y/N opened her mouth to argue, but the twins bolted.
Snape swore under his breath. âTheyâre going to tell everyone.â
Y/N groaned. âWe are so screwed.â
By the time they returned to the group, the damage had already been done.
Every single student was looking at them differently.
Some smirked knowingly. Others whispered to their friends, stealing glances at Snape and Y/N. The buzz of hushed excitement was almost unbearable.
âWhatâs going on?â Y/N asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
Lee Jordan grinned. âOh, nothing. Just discussing a very interesting development.â
Y/N forced a laugh. âOh? And whatâs that?â
âWeâre just curious,â Angelina said, barely holding back a smirk. âBecause rumor has itâyou and Professor Snapeââ
âAre madly in love,â Fred finished dramatically.
Snape made a noise that was somewhere between a scoff and a strangled groan.
Y/N crossed her arms. âThat is ridiculous.â
âSure,â George said, grinning. âItâs totally normal for two people who hate each other to disappear alone all the time.â
âAnd for Snape to buy you coffee,â Alicia Spinnet added.
âAnd to call each other nicknames,â Katie Bell chimed in.
âAnd to be caught full-on snogging,â Fred finished triumphantly.
The entire group burst into laughter as Y/N felt her face burn.
Snapeâs expression darkened. âThis is utterlyââ
âSo how long have you two been secretly dating?â Lee interrupted.
Y/Nâs mouth opened and closed. âWeâwe arenât.â
âOh, of course not,â George said, grinning. âYou just happened to be âdiscussing disciplinary measuresâââ
ââwith your tongues down each otherâs throats,â Fred finished.
The group howled with laughter.
Y/N turned to Snape, wide-eyed. âDo something.â
Snapeâs scowl deepened. âDetention. All of you as soon as we get backâ
Fred wiped away a fake tear. âOh, Professor, you wound us.â
Y/N groaned as Fred and George slung their arms around each other and started theatrically re-enacting what they imagined the kiss had looked like.
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. âI loathe them.â
đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§đĄŒ.đ€Łđ„§
The trip back to Hogwarts was filled with an air of tension, but the awkwardness mostly came from the studentsâ constant whispering and knowing glances. Y/N couldnât help but feel the weight of their stares, even though she kept her gaze down, trying to avoid catching anyoneâs eye. The train was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of students making theories and comments that were just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Every time she glanced toward Snape, he was staring out the window, his usual scowl in place. But this time, it seemed even more pronounced, as if he was trying to block out everything around him. Y/Nâs stomach flipped, the embarrassment of getting caught still fresh on her mind.
Then Fredâs voice broke the tension.
âSo, Professor Snape, whenâs the wedding?â he called from a few carriages ahead, clearly loud enough for the whole group to hear.
Y/Nâs face went beet red, and she quickly dropped her head into her hands, groaning. She could feel the heat of Snapeâs stare, but when she looked up, he was still staring straight ahead, not even acknowledging Fredâs comment. He didnât say anything, but Y/N could see the tightness in his jaw. Despite everything, there was something almost⊠amused about his reaction. Maybe he didnât care as much as he seemed to. Y/n was surprised to see snape let them talk to him this way at all.
âDid you make her a love potion?â George added with a mischievous grin, and Y/N could feel Snapeâs gaze flicker toward her for a moment, though he didnât respond.
She couldnât help but let out a nervous laugh. The teasing was non-stop, but it wasnât just the twinsâit was the whole group now. The students had their theories, and the awkwardness was palpable. As the carriage trundled on, it seemed like no one could stop themselves from whispering about the unexpected turn of events.
Finally, as they neared Hogwarts, Y/N decided she couldnât wait any longer. She walked over to Snape, who was still resolutely staring out the window, trying to pretend like he was unaffected.
âIâm so embarrassed,â Y/N said quietly, leaning toward him. âWhat should we do? This is⊠a disaster.â
Snape turned to look at her then, his gaze unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, he smirked just a little.
âNothing. Who cares what they think?â he muttered. âI donât even know why we were hiding it in the first place.â
Y/N blinked in surprise, and before she could say another word, Snape leaned in and kissed her right in front of the entire carriage. The students, who had been watching from every angle, went absolutely silent. Y/N could feel the shock and surprise from all sides, but she didnât care.
When they finally pulled apart, she looked at him, a little stunned, but Snape just shrugged nonchalantly.
âWell, that should clear up any confusion,â he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Y/N laughed, shaking her head. âYouâre unbelievable.â
As they disembarked from the train, the students were whispering among themselves, but this time it didnât bother Y/N. With Snape by her side, nothing else mattered.
Summary: Severus Snape has always prided himself on control, but when he stumbles upon the Mirror of Erised and sees you by his side, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek, he is shaken to his core.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The dungeon halls were empty, the torches flickering low as Severus Snape strode through the corridors, his black robes billowing behind him. His mind was a mess of contradictionsâthoughts he had spent weeks trying to suppress, emotions he had no business entertaining.
It was you. Always you.
He had done everything to push you awayâcold remarks, dismissive glances, and harsh words meant to cut and wound. And yet, you persisted. You were kind to him, patient, offering warmth where he had only ever known cold. That alone was dangerous. He could not afford to let someone in, not after a lifetime of loss and regret.
And so, as he wandered deeper into the castle, seeking solitude in the quiet depths of Hogwarts, he stumbled upon something unexpected.
The Mirror of Erised.
Snape had seen the mirror before, long ago, but he had never dared to look into it for long. He knew its power, its deception. Dumbledoreâs words rang in his mind: âIt shows not your face, but your heartâs deepest desire.â
What was left for a man like him to desire? He had spent years convincing himself that he wanted nothing. That he needed nothing.
But before he could turn away, something compelled him to step closer.
The surface of the mirror shimmered, and thenâthere you were.
Standing beside him.
But this was no ordinary reflection. No, this was something far worse.
The version of you in the mirror was radiant, your expression soft with affection, eyes gazing at him as though he were worth something, as though he were enough. And then, just as he thought the vision couldnât torment him further, you lifted a gentle hand to his face, brushing his cheek before leaning in to press a tender kiss there.
Snape stumbled back. His breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded so loudly that he swore the walls could hear it.
âNo,â he whispered, his voice barely audible. His hands clenched into fists. âNo. This is not real.â
The image did not change. You remained, smiling at him, your warmth unshaken by his denial.
Panic surged through him, thick and suffocating. This was not supposed to happen. He was not supposed to want this.
But his heart, traitorous as it was, had spoken.
With a swift turn, he tore himself away from the mirror, his breathing uneven. He needed to get away, to bury this deep where it could never resurface.
But the problem wasâyou were not just a figment in a mirror. You were real. And that meant this feeling, this longing, was real too.
And that terrified him more than anything.
The next day, Snape avoided you.
More than usual.
You had grown accustomed to his cold demeanor, but today, it was different. His avoidance was deliberate, almost frantic. He refused to meet your eyes in the halls, his words clipped and impersonal. Even when you lingered around his classroom after his lessons were over, hoping for a rare moment of conversation, he disappeared before you could utter a word.
It wasnât like him to run.
But Snape was a man at war with himself, and for the first time in years, he was losing.
That night, you found him in the library. He was hunched over a book, his fingers gripping the pages too tightly, as though trying to anchor himself to something solid.
You hesitated before stepping forward. âProfessor?â
His shoulders tensed. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, and for the briefest moment, you saw something raw flicker in his dark eyes.
But then, as quickly as it came, it was gone. His expression hardened. âYou should not be here.â
âI was looking for you,â you admitted, tilting your head. âYouâve been avoiding me.â
He let out a sharp breath. âNonsense.â
âIs it?â You crossed your arms, your tone laced with challenge. âBecause it feels like youâre running from something.â
Silence.
His lips pressed into a thin line. You knew better than anyone that Severus Snape was not a man who offered explanations freely, but something in the way he gripped the edge of the desk told you that he was unraveling.
You softened your stance. âDid I do something wrong?â
He flinched. As if the very idea of you blaming yourself pained him.
âNo,â he said, too quietly. Then, as if realizing how much he had given away, he pushed back his chair and stood, towering over you. âYou should not concern yourself with me.â
You frowned. âThatâs not your choice to make.â
His jaw tightened. âIt is.â
For a moment, neither of you spoke. You could hear the fire crackling in the hearth, the distant rustle of pages from some students at the far end of the library.
And then, very quietly, he said, âI cannotââ
But he stopped himself, shaking his head as though furious at his own weakness.
You stepped closer. âCanât what?â
His breath hitched. He looked at you then, truly looked at you, as if searching for somethingâdoubt, hesitation, fear. But there was none. You were simply standing there, waiting for him to tell you what he already knew.
And that was the most terrifying part of all.
He stepped back. âLeave.â
âSeverusââ
âI said leave.â His voice was colder now, harsher. A wall slammed down between you. His hands clenched at his sides as though physically restraining himself from reaching out. âForget this. Forget whatever absurd notions you have.â
You recoiled as if struck. âIs that what you really want?â
He did not answer.
Because if he did, if he said what he truly wanted, it would break him.
And so, with a final glance, he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving you standing there, heart aching with something unspoken.
Something unfinished.
But as he disappeared into the shadows, his mind echoed with the memory of the mirror. Of your touch. Of your lips against his cheek.
And he knew, no matter how hard he fought it, that he could not escape you forever.
ââââââ
Severus Snape was a man who prided himself on control.
Control over his emotions, his words, his very existence.
And yet, when he passed by the dimly lit corridor outside the library and saw you sitting on the cold stone bench, your arms wrapped around yourself, your expression drawn with hurtâhis resolve cracked.
He told himself to keep walking. To leave you be.
But his feet betrayed him.
He slowed, lingering in the shadows, his heart a traitorous thing in his chest. He had done this. He had pushed you away, thinking it was the right thing, the logical thing. And yet, seeing you like this⊠It twisted something deep inside him.
He let out a slow, measured breath.
And then, against his better judgment, he spoke.
âYou should not waste your tears on me.â
You flinched slightly at the sound of his voice but didnât look up right away. Instead, you exhaled, shaking your head. âI wasnât crying.â
Liar.
He could hear the weight in your voice, the frustration laced within it. And yet, you sat there, as if waiting for something. As if hoping he would stay.
Foolish girl.
Foolish, stubborn, wonderful girl.
After a long hesitation, he stepped closer, his usual distance forgotten. âYou are upset.â
You let out a bitter laugh. âYouâre very observant, Snape.â
His lips pressed into a thin line. He deserved that.
He should have left. He should have walked away and let the silence stand between you as it always had. But something about the way your shoulders slumped, the way your fingers clutched at the fabric of your robesâhe couldnât ignore it.
ââŠI did not mean to hurt you.â His voice was quieter now, rough around the edges. The admission tasted foreign in his mouth, as if he had never uttered such words before.
Your head lifted slightly, your eyes meeting his. âThen why did you?â
His breath hitched. You always did thatâforced him to confront things he would rather bury.
For a long moment, he said nothing. He wasnât sure how.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he exhaled sharply and sat beside you on the stone bench.
It was foolish. Reckless. But he did it anyway.
âI find myselfâŠâ He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He had spent a lifetime swallowing down his feelings, convincing himself they did not matter. That he did not matter. But you had made that impossible.
His fingers curled into a fist on his lap. âI find myself drawn to you. More than I should be.â
You stilled.
The world around you seemed to quiet. The distant footsteps of students, the flickering of torchesâit all faded.
It took you a moment to process his words, as if you werenât sure you had heard them correctly. ââŠMore than you should be?â
He clenched his jaw. âIt is wrong.â
âWhy?â
âBecause I am not the kind of man you should want.â His voice was sharp, almost angryâbut not at you. At himself.
You studied him for a long moment, your gaze searching his as if trying to find the truth hidden beneath all that self-loathing.
And then, softly, you said, âI think you let yourself believe that.â
He turned away, his black eyes staring at the opposite wall. He could not bear to look at you, not when you said things like that. Not when you saw something in him that he could not.
ââŠI have spent years ensuring that no one gets close to me,â he admitted, voice low. âAnd yet, despite my best efforts, youâŠâ He exhaled sharply. âYou refuse to be pushed away.â
You smiled faintly. âMaybe I just see something worth staying for.â
His breath faltered.
For a moment, he forgot how to speak, how to move, how to exist.
And then, you leaned in slightly, not enough to scare him away, but enough to make sure he couldnât avoid your gaze. âIâve always had a thing for you, you know,â you admitted with a small, nervous laugh. âEven though I never quite understood why.â
His heart lurched.
His fingers twitched as if tempted to reach for you, to pull you closer, to let himself have something for once in his life. But he couldnât. Not yet.
Instead, he shook his head, though there was no real conviction in it. âYou are too young. Too kind. Tooââ
âToo what?â You tilted your head. âToo willing to care about you? And five years younger at that.â
He flinched.
You werenât supposed to say things like that. You werenât supposed to make it so damn difficult to pretend he didnât feel the same way.
Silence stretched between you. And then, before he could stop himself, he murmured, âYou deserve more.â
You smiled. It was soft. Genuine. âMaybe you do, too.â
Severus swallowed hard. His walls were crumbling, but he wasnât sure he was ready to let them fall completely.
But for the first time in his life, he wonderedâŠ
Maybe, just maybe, he didnât have to be alone anymore.
The silence between you was thick, charged with something unspoken yet undeniable. Snapeâs breathing was uneven, his dark eyes searching yours as if looking for a way out of thisâout of you.
But there was no escape.
Not when his heart was racing. Not when your words still lingered in the air, wrapping around him like a spell he could not break.
Maybe you do, too.
Your voice echoed in his mind, soft yet powerful, tearing down every excuse he had built to keep you at armâs length.
He swallowed hard, his fingers twitching at his sides as if restraining himself from reaching for you. But thenâslowly, hesitantlyâyou lifted a hand to his cheek, your touch featherlight, just as it had been in the mirror.
He froze.
It was barely a touch, yet it set his entire body alight with something foreign and overwhelming. He should pull away. He should stop this. But he didnât. Instead, he let himself lean into your palmâjust slightly, just enough to betray everything he had been trying to suppress.
Your lips parted as if to say something, but before you could, Snape did what he never thought he would have the courage to do.
He closed the space between you.
The kiss was hesitant at first, as if he didnât quite believe he was allowed this, as if he expected you to pull away at any moment. But you didnât. Instead, you melted into him, your hands slipping to his collar, your fingers curling into the fabric as if anchoring yourself to him. And that was his undoing. A low, desperate sound rumbled in his throat as he deepened the kiss, one hand moving to cup your jaw, the other sliding to your waist. He kissed you like he had spent years denying himself thisâbecause he had.
You gasped softly at the intensity, and he almost pulled backâalmost. But then you pressed closer, your fingers tangling in his robes, and whatever restraint he had left shattered.
He poured everything into the kissâhis longing, his frustration, his fear. Every moment he had spent fighting this, every time he had told himself he shouldnât, couldnât,âit was all meaningless now. Because you were here, kissing him like he was somethingâlike he was worth it.
And Merlin help him, but he wanted more.
When you finally broke apart, both of you breathless, he stayed close, his forehead resting against yours. His chest rose and fell unsteadily, his grip on you still firm, as if afraid you might disappear.
Your lips were slightly swollen, your eyes bright, and when you whispered his nameâSeverusâin that soft, breathless way, he closed his eyes, exhaling shakily.
âThis is dangerous,â he murmured, his voice hoarse.
You smiled. âI donât care.â
His lips twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile back, but instead, he sighed, pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead.