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braveclementine · 22 days

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Chapter 21

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖚𝖕 early, fed Remus, changed his diaper and clothes and then left him with Severus while I hurried out of the room, dressing myself in the process and hurried down the stairs towards the Hufflepuff Common room.

Susan was just waking up as I entered the dorm and she quickly woke Hannah and they dressed at top speed.

Something kept twisting in my stomach, something I couldn't particularly pinpoint. Perhaps nerves was the right word.

I carried the drawing in my arms. It stuck out nearly eight feet in both directions, making it a great way to keep people away from me.

Most of the Hufflepuff house was already up and they made room for me so that we could get it out the door. We hurried up towards the Great Hall where breakfast was only just starting.

For some reason, I got pushed to the front of the line and so, holding the drawing in my arms, I walked through the door and found that the three House tables were already full. There wasn't a single Hufflepuff though, it seemed as though they were all behind me.

My cheeks were bright red as we walked up the two center tables. To my surprise, the other students- including the Slytherins- started to join us, adding to my embarrassment. The teacher's faces looked apprehensive except for Dumbledore's. He was smiling.

I was thinking random things including, 'Is this to weird of a gift' or 'perhaps they'll hate it'. But before I could even think of changing my mind, I was already walking up the steps and presenting the large rolled up drawing to Professor Dumbledore.

"This is a present, for. . . for all of you." I barely whispered. Dumbledore took it from my hands and unrolled it and then with a wave of his wand, it attached itself to the wall behind the teachers. All of the teachers turned to look at it.

I had been wrong. Even in my eyes, the drawing was perfect.

Dumbledore turned back to me and winked and said, "Thank you, everyone."

There were cheers and whooping and other noises of happiness (even from the Slytherins) and everyone went back to the tables and the strangest thing happened. Everyone sat at random tables with random people. It was disorienting. I went to a table I'd never sat at-the Slytherin table- with Harry and Hermione and Ron, my Hufflepuff friends, and Trang. Other Slytherins sat around us, some I knew like Pansy and others I didn't know.

Hermione leaned over and whispered to me, "I think you did it, Elizabeth, I think you might've achieved house unity."

Had I? Would that change the future? Would that make Draco call off the attack?

I glanced down the table where Draco was sitting alone, staring down at his breakfast bowl, seemingly unaware of the talk going on around him. He looked up and our eyes met and I gave the slightest nod and then turned back to the others.

I looked up at the table. Many of the Professors were out of their seats, trying to get a better look at the drawing that I had drew. It covered most of the length of the wall, though not all of it. The Professors were pointing and motioning. The only people who were not standing were Dumbledore, Severus, and Firenze.

Firenze lifted his glass to me before drinking. I wondered what he was drinking, and if he would have drunk it in the forest, and what he was drinking to. I smiled, regardless.

I would've loved to have stayed and chatted all day, but I wanted to get back to Remus. I stood, leaving with Trang because that way, others wouldn't follow. There were cheers and people stood up to congratulate me on something that I really didn't need congratulating on. I wondered for a moment, why people thought this was such a big deal, why people seemed to be acting as though this was the last day of school, why people seemed to think that today was a party day or something.

Perhaps it was because I knew what was going to happen in three days. Maybe, if I couldn't see the future, I would've been able to understand other peoples' attitudes. But I couldn't and maybe I never would.

"They're quite excited aren't they?" Trang asked once we reached the peace and quiet of Severus' office.

"Yes." I said. "I'm not sure I understand it."

"From what I understand." Trang said slowly, "There's never been a gift for the teachers before. You kind've made history which means that every name written on that drawing is history."

"I should put protection spells on it." I mumbled, "So it doesn't get ruined during the attack."

"Good idea." Trang said in a downcast voice. She didn't want to talk about the attack because I wasn't allowing her to participate in it which she thought was stupid.

She rocked Remus in her arms and I said, "I would let you fight, you know. I just don't think you've learned enough."

"No." Trang said, "I haven't, your right. I just wish I could do something."

"But you can." I said softly.

Trang looked at me, her arms going still.

"You can stay with Remus." I said softly. "In Madam Pomfrey's office because Hermione and Luna will be staking out Severus' office during the attack. I'll meet you in there after the attack."

"Okay." Trang said, swallowing hard, "It feels. . . it feels like the world is ending in a way."

"Yes." I said softly, "But it isn't. I mean, we're all going to go home in one piece. Physically anyway, though our hearts may be broken. But there'll be two weddings. Dad and Tonks and then Bill and Fleur. You'll be invited to both, mark my word."

Trang smiled, "That's good."

I smiled too. "Dad and Tonks are going to have a baby, you know?"

"Really?" Trang asked softly.

I nodded, "Teddy Lupin. They'll name him after Tonk's dad."

"That's nice." Trang said with a smile. I hadn't told her that Dad and Tonks died only a few months later. She didn't need to carry my worry and pain and secrets and so I smiled too and prayed that my plans were going to work.

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"𝕳𝖊𝖞 𝕳𝖊𝖗𝖒𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖊." 𝕴 said, joining her in the library though my talk was only going to be brief. She was sitting at a table going through a stack of old Daily Prophet articles.

"Elizabeth." Hermione said, sounding distracted, "What's up?"

"What are some good protection spells to put on the drawing in the Great Hall?" I asked in what I hoped was a causal voice, "Long lasting ones."

Hermione thought carefully for a moment and then grabbed a piece of parchment and started to speed write. I watched her apprehensively, not sure if the words were for her own lead on whatever she was researching, or for me. Then, she handed me the piece of parchment.

"Thanks." I said, pocketing the parchment and then hurried down the steps and around a few corners and entered the Great Hall. It was between lunch and dinner so there was next to no one in the room except for a pocket of four-year Ravenclaws discussing a Transfiguration assignment.

I stopped in front of the drawing and pulled out the list Hermione had written for me. There was the imperturbable charm and the Protego Maxima charm amongst some others but those were the only two I needed. I cast the spells nonverbally, feeling strange. Dumbledore was going to die tomorrow.

I looked at the drawing for a long time, looking mostly at Dumbledore's face and then my eyes moved to Uncle Moody. I should've made him smile. I would've liked to have seen him smile again. Maybe I could get him to smile before he died.

Tears fell down my face and I wiped them away quickly.

I went back to Severus, feeling sick with worry. I probably felt as sick as Draco did, lying in bed, eyes open, everyone else in the dorm (or in this case Severus and miraculously Remus), trying to foresee what was going to happen tomorrow.

I wondered how many students would show up to fight. I wondered if it would be only students from D.A. or if other students would overhear and try to fight.

But more importantly and the thing that sickened me most was wondering if I was going to have someone killed. I had gotten people involved that would not have been involved originally and just because they'd drank a little Felix Felicis didn't mean they couldn't get hurt.

I woke Severus up.

"Whaswong?" He mumbled sleepily and I bent down to kiss him. He woke up slowly, kissing me back and then asked more clearly, "What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Tonight's our last night together for. . . for a while."

He understood what I meant immediately. Our clothes were off in seconds, our bodies tangled in minutes. We'd never moved so carelessly, so fast before. I wondered if maybe we'd have a second child, if we could have a second child before he died. I wondered if our son would ever retain memories of Severus and I wondered how I was going to be able to live with his death if I couldn't save him.

But I didn't share these thoughts tonight. Oh no, tonight was the two of us and our bodies and our love and all of the other emotions that fit in with marriage. We'd probably both be really sore tomorrow and it was going to be completely worth it.

I gripped him with some strength hidden inside of me and he did the same. There was a small pain in my head as his hands buried themselves into my hair, clutching. My nails dug into his back. Our lips clashed along with the movement of our bodies. It was different than any other time. Tonight was bittersweet.

The next morning, we were both subdued.

Severus hands shook as he held Remus, rocking back and forth and holding him in his arms. I watched, feeling depressed. I'd never seen Severus' hands shake. Not when he'd saved me in my fourth-year, or when I got brought back from the Ministry in my fifth-year. He was always so calm, making sure that I was the one that was alright. But now, his hands shook badly, trying to get a grip on himself so he didn't drop his son.

"I'll be back." I whispered as evening approached. Neither of us had left all day, taking turns holding Remus while the other ate. "I just have to find out when I need to bring Remus to Trang, okay?"

Severus simply nodded, taking Remus from my arms and kissing his forehead, bouncing him gently and rocking back and forth.

I left so I was determined not to cry and made my way to the Gryffindor common room. Trang was already there and I gave the password and we went in. Harry and Ron were sitting on a couch by the fireplace. Harry was staring out the window and Ron was working on his Herbology homework.

"Hey!" I said as brightly as could be managed in my state.

"Hey." Ron said without looking up, "You wouldn't happen to want to tell me how many properties Roses have?"

"30." I said, sitting down in an armchair nearby, "Would you like me to list out all the properties?"

"Umm. . ." Ron said, scratching his head with a quill. "Yes, at least until I stay stop that is."

I took a deep breath and said, "eye diseases, cataracts, burns, influenza, stomach problems, diarrhea, chronic finger sores, snow blindness, sore throats, nosebleeds, kidney stones, headaches, coughing, colds, dry skin, grief, stress and anxiety, scurvy, fevers, puffy skin, blood thinning, acne, muscle pain, depression, menstrual issues, inflammation, constipation, colic, insomnia, and viral and bacterial infections."

Ron stared at me, "Is there anything roses don't help with?"

"Cancer?"

Ron snorted.

I felt better, having recited something off the top of my head. Reciting facts had always calmed me down in the past.

Hermione came into the Gryffindor common room at that moment and made room between Harry and Ron and stared at Harry with a purposeful look on her face, "I want to talk to you, Harry."

"What about?" Harry asked, drawing his attention from the window.

"The so-called Half-Blood Prince." Hermione demanded and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, not again. Will you please drop it?" Harry groaned.

"I'm no dropping it until you've heard me out. Now, I've been trying to find out a bit about who might make a hobby of inventing Dark spells-"

"He didn't make a hobby of it-"

"He, he- who says it's a he?"

"We've been through this. Prince, Hermione, Prince!" Harry said in a cross voice, starting to get annoyed.

Red patches appeared on Hermione's cheeks and she threw down a piece of newspaper from her pocket and slammed it down on the table, "Right! Look at that! Look at the picture!"

I saw that it was Eileen Prince, Severus mother, and I moved uncomfortably in my seat. The girl had long black skin and she had heavy brows and a pallid face. Her nose was long and she was no beauty. She looked quite unhappy. The caption of the newsprint read that she was the Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team. I wondered if Severus ever liked playing with gobstones.

"So?" Harry asked, putting the newspaper clipping back down on the table.

"Her name was Eileen Prince. Prince, Harry."

Harry and Hermione stared at each other for a short minute and then Harry burst into laughter and said, "No way."

"What?"

"You think she was the Half-Blood. . .? Oh, come on." Harry said, grinning.

"Well, why not? Harry, there aren't any real princes in the Wizarding world! It's either a nickname, or made-up title somebody's given themselves, or it could be their actual name, couldn't it? No, listen!" Hermione said as Harry scoffed, "If, say, her father was a wizard whose surname was Prince, and her mother was a Muggle, then that would make her a 'half-blood Prince'!"

"Yeah, very ingenious, Hermione. . ." Harry said in a patronizing voice.

"But it would! Maybe she was proud of being half a Prince!"

"It would make sense." I interjected. "Pure-bloods consider themselves royalty, don't they? So maybe she considers a Half-blood as being a prince, a step down from being a King."

Hermione seemed to think I had a valid point but Harry said, "Listen, Hermione, Liz, I can tell it's not a girl. I can just tell."

"The truth is that you don't think a girl would have been clever enough." Hermione said in an angry voice.

Harry looked stunned and protested, "How can I have hung round with you two for five years and not think girls are clever? It's the way he writes, I just know the Prince was a bloke, I can tell. This girl hasn't got anything to do with it. Where did you get this anyway?"

"The library. There's a whole collection of old Prophets up there. Well, I'm going to find out more about Eileen Prince if I can."

"Enjoy yourself." Harry said, his irritability back.

Hermione stood up, "I will. And the first place I'll look is records of old Potions awards!" She stormed out of the portrait hole and Harry scowled after her before returning his gaze to the night sky.

"She's just never got over you outperforming her in Potions." Ron said unexpectedly.

"Liz has always outshone her in everything." Harry grumbled, "You don't think I'm mad, wanting that book back, do you?"

"First off," I interjected, "I am not better than her in everything! Though, admittedly, I will claim flying."

"Your O.W.L.s say otherwise." Ron pointed out and I glared at him. "Fine." Ron threw his hands up, "You're completely stupid, happy?"

I cracked a reluctant smile and Ron turned to Harry, "Nah, your not crazy wanting the book back. He was a genius, the Prince. Anyway. . . without his bezoar tip. . ." He drew a line across his throat imitating death. Trang moved anxiously beside me. "I wouldn't be here to discuss it, would I? I mean, I'm not saying that spell you used on Malfoy was great-"

"Nor am I." Harry said quickly, shooting me a look.

"But he healed all right, didn't he? Back on his feet in no time."

"Yeah, Thanks to Snape. . ."

"You still got detention with Snape this Saturday?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, and the Saturday after that, and the Saturday after that. And he's hinting now that if I don't get all the boxes done by the end of term, we'll carry on next year."

"Don't you think it's a bit unfair?" Trang interjected. "You get detention for almost killing Draco but Draco doesn't get detention for almost killing Lizzy?"

"Yeah." Ron said, "but since when has Snape ever been fair with Slytherins and Harry?"

But Trang, Harry, and I exchanged a glance. Severus had been furious with Draco for hurting me, yes, but he couldn't act on it.

"I think he would have." I said slowly. "If it wasn't for the Unbreakable vow that he had made with Draco's mother."

"Nah." Ron said, scratching out something on his homework. "Snape's evil, he wouldn't have done anything."

One of Harry's beaters from the Quidditch team came over, holding out a roll of parchment and both Trang and I stiffened as Harry took it, "Thanks, Jimmy. . . Hey, it's from Dumbledore!" Harry unrolled it and sped read it and looked up and said, "He wants me to go to his office as quick as I can!"

"Blimey." Ron whispered, "You don't reckon. . . he hasn't found. . .?"

"He has." I said, voice nearly choking in my throat.

Harry jumped to his feet and left the room. Trang stood too and I shook my head just the slightest and she sat back down.

Ron continued working on his homework, mostly in silence though he asked the occasional question. I had picked up a book to pretend to read though my stomach was now churning. Perhaps I was going to be sick. Trang looked sick.

The sun was starting to set. Hermione came back and asked where Harry was. Ron excitedly told her that Dumbledore might've found a horcrux but Hermione was paying attention to Trang's face. As the hours had passed, she was finding it harder to keep a stoic expression.

"Are you alright Trang?"

"Yes." Trang's whisper was barely loud enough for me to hear. "Fine."

A few minutes later, Harry came hurrying into the common room and the four of us looked up. "What does he want?" Hermione asked immediately, "Harry, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Harry said in a short voice, racing past us and up to the dorm. He came back downstairs shortly, breathing hard as though he had run a sprint. Perhaps he had. "I've got be quick. Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen I'm going with Dumbledore to find a horcrux-"

"Where is it?" Ron asked.

"-and Malfoy was whooping in the Room of Requirement which means that he finished whatever he was supposed to have started. So you see what this-"

"But what does that have to do with us?" Hermione asked.

"-means? Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me! I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here-" Harry shoved the Marauder's Map at me. Stunned, I took it. "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the D.A., Hermione, those contract Galleons will still work, right? Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protection is, and how to avoid it- but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?"

Harry's eyes were searching mine, trying to figure out if I was going to betray his trust. I gave the tiniest of nods.

"Harry-" Hermione began.

"I haven't got time to argue." Harry said, thrusting Ron a pair of socks saying, "Take this as well."

"Thanks. Er- why do I need socks?"

"You need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say good-bye to her for me. I'd better go, Dumbledore's waiting-"

"No!" Hermione said, "We don't want it, you take it, who knows what you're going to be facing?"

"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore. I want to know you lot are okay... Don't look at me like that, Hermione, I'll see you later..." Harry was gone, disappearing through the portrait hole.

I swallowed hard. "Get the D.A. coin. I will be back soon."

"You foresaw this?" Hermione whispered and I nodded.

"We should all be fine but I have. . . I have to do something first, alright." I handed over the map. "Keep on eye on Draco. I'll take care of Professor Snape."

Trang was on my heels as we dashed towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts office. Severus was inside, holding Remus tightly to his chest. Trang waited down in the classroom while I hurried towards him.

There were a few tears dripping down Severus' cheeks and I felt my heart wrench. "Don't. . ." I whispered softly, wiping them away, my own tears dropping down my cheeks, "Everything's going to be fine. . . alright?"

"I'm not going to see him in a long time." Severus whispered. "Perhaps not ever."

I didn't tell him that he was right.

"Of course you will." I said, nearly choking on the lie. "Just a few months." Never. We kissed, a long deep kiss, tears running down both of our faces.

"I love you." Severus said gruffly, pulling me into a hug.

"I love you too." I whispered, tears dripping down his back and then I pulled away, wiping the tears away. "You'll stay in the room until Professor Flitwick comes to get you." I cleared my throat. "Hermione and Luna will be waiting outside the door. Harry told them to keep an eye on you."

Severus smiled bitterly. "Of course. Potter's thorough."

"You'll stun Flitwick and tell them he collapsed and for them to take care of them. Then you'll be able to make your way to the tower. . ." I hesitated, gripping his hand.

Severus and I didn't say another word, just staring into each other's eyes and then I picked Remus up in my arms and walked quickly out the door, closing the door gently behind me. I handed Remus over to Trang.

"Take care of him Trang." I choked out.

"Of course I will." Trang said gently. "You take care Lizzy. I'll kill you if you die."

I laughed, hiccupped, and headed back up to the Gryffindor Tower. Ron and Hermione were up there. Ginny and Neville were with them too. Dean and Seamus were hurrying down from the boy's dorm.

"Eliza what do you suggest we do?" Hermione asked immediately. She had the D.A. coin in her hand. Parvati and Lavender came through the portrait hole joining us.

"From what I saw." I said slowly, taking careful command, "Ron, Neville, and Ginny went to the Room of Requirement to stake out Malfoy while Hermione and Luna went to watch guard over Professor Snape's room. I also think we should move this conversation somewhere else, where others like Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws can join in on the discussion."

We left the Gryffindor Tower, moving our way to the Great Hall. Ernie, Susan, Justin, and Hannah came tearing up the hallway. I was not terribly surprised, though disappointed, to see that Zacharias was not with them.

"Zacharias?" I asked out of the corner of my mouth to Ernie. He simply shook his head, looking a bit disgusted.

"Harry wanted us to divide this between the fighters." Hermione said, holding up the half-bottle of Felix Felicis, "But there's no way that we can all-"

"Don't worry." I said, "I took care of that." I motioned to the Ernie who took the two bottles out of his pocket. Katie Bell from Gryffindor joined us, her D.A. coin in her hand. Moments later, a group of Ravenclaws joined us.

"We already drank the luck potion." Padma said, going to stand next to Parvati. Anthony handed over the extra vials and I handed it to Dean who drank some, and it got passed around.

"I don't know whether we're all here or not." I said, taking a swig myself. "There's no point, considering there's so many of us, to all go and wait outside of Professor Snape's office or the Room of Requirement. I suggest the the groups I mentioned before go, each taking an extra member I didn't mention before, while the rest of us patrol the corridors around the Astronomy tower and Great hall."

"Alright." Hermione said nervously. "Luna and Hannah can come with me."

Ron looked between Neville and Ginny. "Er- Seamus, you want to come with us?"

Seamus nodded. The two groups went off in their respective directions while the rest of the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors looked at me.

"Alright, we need two equal groups down here and around the astronomy tower." I said, thinking hard. "Ernie, Susan, you're definitely with me. Justin you stay here." I looked at the others, thinking, "The rest of you can divvy yourselves up between the two groups."

Ernie, Susan, and I stood to one side while the others divided themselves up as asked.

"Alright." I said, noticing that I had Anthony, Padma, Terry, Lavender, Katie, and Leanne- who I hadn't noticed- had joined us.

We took off to the astronomy tower, letting the others station themselves throughout the Great Hall and lower floor, waiting.

We waited too, pacing back and forth, keeping guard around the corners. The time ticked by, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five. Every minute that passed added more strain to our nerves. Our ears picked up every little sound. An hour passed. Then five minutes past an hour there were running footsteps.

Our wands were up immediately, everyone was near the middle of the hallway. Ernie was peering round the corner and hurried back towards us, "They're coming, quite a few of them too."

My stomach nerves were horrid but I raised my wand, trying to push all fear away. "Get ready then." I said as the footsteps grew nearer and nearer. There were shouts and then they turned the corner.

Some of them faltered, obviously not expecting us and we threw our spells immediately, not giving them the chance to attack first.

Some spells hit, throwing Death Eaters backwards. The others, on the other hand, drew their wands and started to attack too. Ernie was on one side of me and Katie was on the other. The Death Eaters drew nearer, our spells were thrown quicker and faster. A full on battle had engaged.

We got separated, sometimes fighting with a Death Eater next to us. There were more footsteps running down the hall and I jumped and rolled, dodging a killing spell out of nowhere. I supposed it could only be the potion.

Greyback took up fighting me, his smile easy, his pointed teeth gleaming. The footsteps I had heard could no longer be heard, and I wondered if I had made them up.

Then Dad, Bill, and Tonks came tearing around the corner. I dodged as Greyback lunged at me and started the duel up all over again as he tried over and over to stun me. Dad came tearing towards us, Bill on his heels.

I could hear Bellatrix laughing somewhere and I wondered who she was dueling. I saw one of the Death Eaters moving up the astronomy staircase, and I ducked another of Greyback's spells and then dove to the side, ducking behind Anthony, turning into a black cat, and hurried up the stairs after the Death Eater.

I crept into the shadows, watching as the Death Eater fired the Dark Mark into the sky. I knew he'd be killed upon exiting the room and so I let him go without killing him myself.

I stayed in the shadows, knowing that Harry and Dumbledore would arrive any moment now. One minute, three minutes, six minutes and here came two brooms, landing. Dumbledore dismounted first, a second broom with an invisible rider landed next to him. I drew further back into the shadows.

"What does it mean?" Harry asked, noticing there was no dead body in the tower. "Is it the real Mark? Has someone definitely been- Professor?"

Professor Dumbledore was clutching at his chest. In a weak voice, Dumbledore said, "Go and wake Severus. Tell him what has happened and bring him to me. Do nothing else, speak to nobody else, and do not remove your cloak. I shall wait here."

"But-"

"You swore to obey me, Harry- go!"

There were steps towards the door and then there were running steps on the other side, running up towards us.

"Expelliarmus!"

Dumbledore's wand flew from his hand. "Good evening, Draco."

"Who else is here?" Draco asked, looking around suspiciously. My hindquarters were pressed up as far back as I could go.

"A question I might ask you. Or are you acting alone?"

"No, I've got backup. There are Death Eaters here in your school tonight."

"Well, well, very good indeed. You found a way to let them in, did you?"

"Yeah, right under your nose and you never realized!" Malfoy panted.

"Well Miss Kane did alert me a few days prior, but I was inclined to disagree. But ingenious, yet, forgive me, where are they now? You seem unsupported."

"They met some of your guards and some kids. They're having a fight down below. They won't be long. . . I came on ahead. I- I've got a job to do."

"Well, then, you must get on and do it, my dear boy." Professor Dumbledore said calmly. It was like watching a horrible movie.

After a long moment where Draco did not attempt to kill Dumbledore, Dumbledore said, "Draco, Draco, you are not a killer."

"How do you know?" Malfoy asked childishly. "You don't know what I'm capable of, you don't know what I've done!"

"Oh yes, I do. You almost killed Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley. You have been trying, with increasing desperation, to kill me all year. Forgive me, Draco, but they have been feeble attempts. . . so feeble, to be honest, that I wonder whether you hear has really be in it."

"It has been in it! I've been working on it all year, and tonight-"

There was a loud yell, a man's yell. Who's was it? Terrys? Ernies? Rons? Nevilles? Seamus? Dads? Bills? Malfoy glanced over his shoulder.

"Somebody is putting up a good fight. But you were saying.. yes, you have managed to introduce Death Eaters into my school, which, I admit, I thought impossible, one of the reasons I did not believe Miss Kane. . . How did you do it?"

Malfoy did not answer.

"Perhaps you ought to get on with the job alone. What if your backup has been thwarted by my guard? As you have perhaps realized, there are members of the Order of the Phoenix here tonight too. And after all, you don't really need help. . . I have no wand at the moment. . . I cannot defend myself."

Malfoy did not answer, merely gazing at him.

"I see, you are afraid to act until they join you."

Was Dumbledore trying to goad him?

"I'm not afraid! It's you who would be scared!"

"But why? I don't think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe. . . So tell me, while we wait for you friends. . . how did you smuggle them in here? It seems to have taken you a long time to work out how to do it."

Malfoy looked like he might throw up. I figured he would not answer again but instead he replied, "I had to mend that broken Vanishing Cabinet that no one's used in years. The one Montague got lost in last year."

"Aaah." Dumbledore meant to sigh but it came out more like a groan. "that was clever. . . There is a pair, I take it?"

"In Borgin and Burkes and they make a kind of passage between them. Montague told me that when he was stuck in the Hogwarts one, he was trapped in limbo but sometimes he could hear what was going on at school, and sometimes what was going on in the shop, as if the cabinet was traveling between them, but he couldn't make anyone hear him. . . In the end, he managed to Apparate out, even though he'd never passed his test. He nearly died doing it. Everyone thought it was a really good story, but I was the only one who realized what it meant- even Borgin didn't know- I was the one who realized there could be a way into Hogwarts through the cabinets if I fixed the broken one."

"Very good. So the Death Eaters were able to pass from Borgin and Burkes into the school to help you. . . A clever plan, a very clever plan.. and, as you say, right under my nose." Dumbledore said.

"Yeah, yeah it was!" Malfoy said and I realized that he was drawing courage and comfort from Dumbledore's high praise.

"But there were times weren't there, when you were not sure you would succeed in mending the cabinet? And you restored to crude and badly judged measures such as sending me a cursed necklace that was bound to reach the wrong hands. . . poisoning mead there was only the slightest chance I might drink. . ."

"Yeah, well, you still didn't realize who was behind that stuff, did you?" Malfoy sneered. I watched as Dumbledore slid down the ramparts just slightly.

"As a matter of fact, I did." Dumbledore said. "I was sure it was you."

"Why didn't you stop me, then?" Malfoy demanded.

"I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping watch over you on my orders-"

"He hasn't been doing your orders, he promised my mother-"

"Of course that is what he would tell you, Draco, but-"

"He's a double agent, you stupid old man, he isn't working for you, you just think he is!"

No, I thought. You're the stupid one Draco.

"We must agree to differ on that Draco. It so happens that I trust Professor Snape-"

"Well, you're losing your grip, then! He's been offering me plenty of help- wanting all the glory for himself- wanting a bit of the action- 'What are you doing?' 'Did you do the necklace, that was stupid, it could have blown everything-' But I haven't told him what I've been doing in the Room of Requirement, he's going to wake up tomorrow and it'll all be over and he won't be the Dark Lord's favorite anymore, he'll be nothing compared to me, nothing!"

"Very gratifying, we all like appreciation for our own hard work, of course. But you must have had an accomplice, all the same. . . someone in Hogsmeade, someone who was able to slip Katie the- the- aaah. . . of course. . . Rosmerta. How long has she been under the Imperius Curse?"

"Got there at last, have you?" Malfoy taunted. I was ready to jump out and claw him up but kept my cool, my tail twitching against the stone.

There was another yell from below, a louder one. I could only imagine someone getting hurt, someone I'd led into battle. Malfoy looked nervously over his shoulder again and Dumbledore continued to speak saying, "So poor Rosmerta was forced to lurk in her own bathroom and pass that necklace to any Hogwarts student who entered the room unaccompanied? And the poisoned mead. . . well, naturally, Rosmerta was able to poison it for you before she sent the bottle to Slughorn, believing that it was to be my Christmas present. . . Yes, very neat. . . very neat. . . Poor Mr. Filch would not, of course, think to check a bottle of Rosmerta's. Tell me, how have you been communicating with Rosmerta? I thought we had all methods of communication in and out of the school monitored."

"Enchanted coins." Malfoy said. He sounded how Barty Crouch Jr. had been under the Veritaserum. Compelled to answer. Compelled to tell the truth. "I had one and she had the other and I could send her messages-"

"Isn't that the secret method of communication the group that called themselves Dumbledore's Army used last year?" Dumbledore asked, slipping an inch lower on the wall.

"Yeah, I got the idea from them." Malfoy said with a twisted smile. "Kane is to smart for her own good. I got the idea of poisoning the mead from the Mudblood Granger as well, I heard her talking in the library about Filch not recognizing potions."

"Please do not use that offensive word in front of me." Dumbledore said politely.

Malfoy gave a laugh that was harsher than Greyback's. "You care about me saying 'Mudblood' when I'm about to kill you?"

"Yes I do." Dumbledore said, "But as for being about to kill me, Draco, well first, Miss Kane alerted me that you would not be the one to kill me and I'm determined to take her word on that. And for a second, you have had several long minutes now, we are quite alone, I am more defenseless than you can have dreamed of finding me, and still you have not acted. . ."

Malfoy's smile contorted into one of a person who had bitten involuntarily into a lemon. I wondered why Dumbledore kept mentioning me telling him who would kill him.

"Now, about tonight. I am a little puzzled about how it happened. . . you knew that I had left the school? But of course, Rosmerta saw me leaving, she tipped you off using your ingenious coins, I'm sure."

"That's right." Malfoy said. "But she said you were just going for a drink, you'd be back. . ."

"Well, I certainly did have a drink. . . and I cam back. . . after a fashion. So you decided to spring a trap on me?" Dumbledore mumbled.

"We decided to put the Dark Mark over the tower and get you to hurry up here and see who'd been killed, and it worked!" Malfoy exclaimed.

"Well. . . yes and no. . .but am I to take it, then, that nobody has been murdered?"

My back was starting to ache from being in such a cramped position. I angled my body carefully and laid down, my tail twitching.

"Someone's dead. One of your people." Draco's voice went up an octave. "I don't know who, it was dark. . . I stepped over the body. . . I was supposed to be waiting up here when you got back, only your Phoenix lot go in the way. . . and Kane seemed to have pulled quite a few students to meet us."

"Yes, they do that." Dumbledore said with a slight smile.

People were fighting on the staircase now, the shouts were louder. I wondered who was dead. If it was any of the students. . . it was my fault.

"There is little time, one way or another. So let us discuss your options, Draco." Dumbledore said, pulling Draco's attention back from the staircase.

"My options! I'm standing here with a wand- I'm about to kill you-"

"My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for this pleasant chat about ways and means. Miss Kane told me the future, you do not kill me."

"I haven't got any options!" Malfoy said, turning sheet white. I wish Dumbledore would stop bringing up my name. What was the point of it? "I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!"

"I appreciate the difficulty of your position. Why else do you think I have not confronted you before now? Because I knew that you would have been murdered if Lord Voldemort realized that I suspected you."

Malfoy flinched at the sound of Voldemort's name.

"I did not dare speak to you of the mission with which I knew you had been entrusted, in case he used Legilimency against you. But now at last," Dumbledore continued, "we can speak plainly to each other. . . No harm has been done, you have hurt nobody, though you are very lucky that your unintentional victims survived. . . I can help you, Draco."

"No, you can't." Malfoy said, his wand hand shaking terribly. I watched it with my cat eyes, almost wanting to jump on it. "Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice."

"He cannot kill you if you are already dead." Dumbledore said logically. "Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Nobody would be surprised that you had died in your attempt to kill me- forgive me, but Lord Voldemort probably expects it. Nor would the Death Eaters be surprised that we had captured and killed your mother- it is what they would do themselves, after all. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban. . . went he time comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, Draco. . . you are not a killer. . ."

But it did not matter and Dumbledore knew it was an empty promise. Severus would show up any moment now and kill him.

"But I got this far, didn't I?" Draco asked slowly, but I knew he was sincerely considering it. "They thought I'd die in the attempt, but I'm here. . . and you're in my power. . . I'm the one with the wand. . . you're at my mercy. . ."

"No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now." Dumbledore said quietly.

The wand that was being held at Dumbledore's heart was dropped a few inches. Then there were footsteps thundering up the stairs and all suspense was gone.

"Dumbledore cornered!" A lumpy man with a twisted smile exclaimed.

His sister was beside him and was grinning, though her features were slightly more perfect and exclaimed, "Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone! Well done, Draco, well done."

"Good evening, Amycus. And you've brought Alecto too. . . Charming. . ." Dumbledore said calmly.

"Think your little jokes'll help you on your deathbed then?" Alecto jeered with an angry titter.

My wand was between my paws. I could transform, kill all of them, let Draco decide about hiding. I could change the future, couldn't I?

"Jokes? No, no, these are manners." Dumbledore replied.

"Do it." A raspy voice from the shadows said. My cat instincts shivered. Fucking dog.

"Is that you, Fenrir?" Dumbledore asked.

"That's right, pleased to see me, Dumbledore?"

"No, I cannot say that I am."

Greyback grinned, blood trickled down his chin and he licked his lips, probably for show. "but you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore. Especially Lupin's daughter. . . but I'll bite her under a full moon."

"If Remus lets you live first." Dumbledore said coldly. "Am I to take it that you are attacking even without a full moon now? This is most unusual. . . you have developed a taste for human flesh that cannot be satisfied once a month?"

"That's right. Shocks you that, does it, Dumbledore? Frightens you?" Greyback leered. My tail twitched, all instincts telling me to take off down the stairs.

"Well, I cannot pretend it does not disgust me a little. And yes, I am a little shocked that Draco here invited you, of all people, into the school where his friends live. . ."

"I didn't. I didn't know he was going to come-" Draco said.

"I wouldn't miss a trip to Hogwarts, Dumbledore. Not when there are throats to be ripped out. . . future-seers to kidnap and turn. . . delicious, delicious. . ."

My cat fur was standing up on end. Lavender's body flashed into my mind. I had to kill Greyback now. "I could do you for after's, Dumbledore."

"No." said the Death Eater that hadn't spoken yet. "We've got orders. Draco's got to do it. Now, Draco, and quickly."

Malfoy was looking more terrified than previously. Suspense was building up in the room. I couldn't even remember where Harry was standing.

"He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me! Look at him- what's happened to you, then, Dumby?" Amycus said.

"Oh, weaker resistance, slower reflexes, Amycus." Dumbledore said. I wondered how he could stay so calm at a time like this. Was his heart pounding in his chest? Was there any fear in him at all? "Old age, in short. . . One day, perhaps, it will happen to you. . . if you are lucky. . ."

"What's that mean, then, what's that mean? Always the same, weren't yeh, Dumby, talking and doing nothing, nothing. I don't even know why the Dark Lord's bothering to kill yer! Come on, Draco, do it!"

"They've blocked the stairs-Reducto! REDUCTO!"

Was that dad's voice. One of my cat's ears twitched.

"Now, Draco, quickly!"

"I'll do it." Greyback said, moving toward Dumbledore with an outstretched hand. Dumbledore simply wrinkled his nose.

"I said no!" The fourth death eater whose name hadn't been revealed yet shouted, blasting Greyback into the ramparts. Greyback stood up, looking furious.

"Draco, do it or stand aside so one of us-" Alecto screeched but there were running footsteps up the stairs and Severus burst through the door.

Severus looked from the three Death Eaters, to the werewolf that was holding his arm, to Dumbledore leaning against the wall, and his eyes unwillingly flicked down, meeting my green ones and quickly snapped back to the Death Eaters before drawing notice to me.

"We've got a problem, Snape, the boy doesn't seem able-"

"Severus. . ."

I closed my eyes, tears spilling over somehow, matting into my black fur. It was a frightening sound, Dumbledore pleading.

Severus said nothing, walking forward, pushing Malfoy out of the way. The Death Eaters had fallen silent, even Greyback. Severus gazed at Dumbledore and I watched the silent conversation pass between their eyes. Severus still didn't want to do it.

"Severus. . . please. . ."

Severus raised his wand, his own eyes pleading, begging Dumbledore not to make him do this. Dumbledore shook his head the tiniest fraction, so tiny I bet I was the only one who picked it up. Severus seemed to pull in a big breath and said, "Avada Kedavra!"

Dumbledore fell backwards, over the battlements and out of sight.

⬅️➡️

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honeymoon2011 · 1 year

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Professor Sharp or Professor Snape 🧪

Hello , I hope you're well ! 💚

Which one do you prefer ?

I wish you a magical day 💚🧪

Thanks Half-Blood-Slytherpuff for the GIF !

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starlight-sev · 5 months

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Joy Looks Good on You (Snape x Artist!Reader)

Request: Snape with an artist reader- she makes gorgeous paintings, teaches an art class at Hogwarts (Bob Ross style, for reference). Doesn't have many students, but when he comes into her classroom its such a calming atmosphere. Maybe a short drabble about how he falls in love with her and her skill with paintings?

Requested by: anon

Warnings: none

A/N: this is more platonic than I had initially intended it to be, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

Oh! Gender neutral reader as I always try my best to write 💕

Hogwarts was home to many secrets, one of them being that the school offered painting classes as an elective for those in third year or higher.

Even you were shocked when you first heard about the job posting. You always figured art would be just a hobby of yours. When it came to jobs in the wizarding world, anything to do with art and painting was quite rare to find.

So when you were finally offered the job for art teacher at Hogwarts, to say you were overjoyed would have been an understatement. You never thought you’d be able to turn your love of painting into your career.

Dumbledore had placed you in the North Tower, just below Professor Trelawney’s Divination classroom. Compared to her room, yours was rather small: you only had to walk ten steps and you’d already be at the other side of the room. A handful of round tables with matching wooden chairs had been crammed into the tiny space. There was a small desk nestled in the corner for you to work, along with a shelf against the wall to store your paints and supplies.

Your favourite feature about the room, and perhaps one of its only redeeming qualities, was the large window in the middle of the wall. It was rounded at the top, with an ornate stained glass inlay that covered almost half the window. It was the source of your inspiration on sunny days.

It certainly wasn’t the nicest classroom, and sometimes a theory crossed your mind that your classroom had once been a generously-sized storage closet, but anything was better than being down in the dungeons of the castle.

You glanced up from your own painting to quickly sweep your eyes over the paintings your students were finishing up. You never had more than ten students a year, painting certainly wasn’t a common interest for wizards (much to your disappointment), but it didn’t matter. It gave you the opportunity to grow closer to your students, to get to know everyone’s individual art style. It made you all the more proud when you were able to see how much they progressed over the course of the year.

“Professor?”

You glanced over to see Luna Lovegood, one of your students with the biggest imaginations, waving politely to catch your attention.

“Yes?” You asked softly.

“We won’t have time to finish our paintings this class. I know we’re not supposed to, but since it’s Friday, could we leave our supplies out? We’ll be back first thing on Monday.”

A few other students murmured their agreement. You smiled apologetically, silently cursing that you had given them an assignment far bigger than they had time to complete.

“Of course. That’s fine.” You dismissed everyone with a wave of your hand. “Go on. Enjoy the weekend. And don’t worry about handing in your still life sketches this week, you’ve got enough on your hands with the landscape painting I assigned.”

A handful of cheers erupted among the students, and you smiled as each one nodded and murmured their thanks before leaving.

You stood up from your desk, walking across the room to collect everyone’s paintbrushes one by one.

“Letting your students go without cleaning up after themselves?” A deep voice murmured softly from the doorway. “I’m surprised Y/N, I thought you were more disciplined than that.”

It never failed to startle you, how Severus had this uncanny ability to sneak up silently on you. Usually you’d be able to hear students’ footsteps echoing as they made their way up the stairs to your classroom, but Severus seemed to be able to glide noiselessly around the castle like a ghost.

You set your paintbrushes in the small sink that rested in the corner of your room, smiling in acknowledgement and beckoning the professor to come in.

“It’s Friday,” you answered, grabbing a paintbrush and using your fingers to work the paint out of the bristles. “They’ve got enough going on, I figured I’d give them a bit of a break.”

You heard Severus scoff as he approached you from behind.

“You’re too easy on them.”

“And you’re too hard on your own students, but you don’t see me waltzing into your classroom to nag.”

That earned a soft chuckle from the professor as he stood beside you.

“You can use magic to clean those.” Severus observed, nodding toward your fingers as you worked the leftover paint out of the brush.

“I know I can,” you shrug, watching the water beneath the brush turn a bright turquoise. “But I prefer not to. Helps me clear my mind a bit.”

“Hm.” Was the small response you got in reply. To your surprise, Severus reached into the sink and grabbed a paintbrush, mimicking your movements as he began cleaning it.

“Oh,” you exclaimed softly. “It’s okay, I can do that-”

“Too late,” Severus retorted, casting a quick glance at you out of the corner of his eye. “I’ve already started.”

The two of you scrubbed brushes in silence, and you just barely caught Severus let out a small, tired sigh. As you placed your final brush to the side to dry, you glanced at him.

“Rough day today?”

You had to hold in your giggles as he answered your question with the biggest eye roll you’d ever seen.

“That’s putting it lightly,” he muttered.

“Come,” you beckoned as you sat down in one of the empty seats in the middle of the class. You nodded for Severus to join you as you crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in your seat. “Tell me about it. What happened? Was it Potter again?

You smirked at the eye roll Severus gave you in response before tiredly making his way over to the seat across from you.

“Someone’s been stealing supplies for a Polyjuice potion,” he grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I have reasons to believe it’s Potter and his dunderhead friends.”

You bit back a smile, and raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think it’s him? Do you have evidence?”

“Trouble follows him wherever he goes, isn’t that evidence enough?”

You had trouble holding in a giggle, and Severus glared at you.

“He’s brewed Polyjuice potion before.” Severus continued. “It’s the only thing he can actually do well. And those specific ingredients keep going missing.”

You frown a little and shook your head.

“Really, Severus. I don’t know what you have against that boy, but you’ve got to give him a break,” you encouraged gently. “He’s got enough on his shoulders right now, with the Triwizard Tournament going on.”

“And what if he is stealing from my supplies?” Severus retorted.

“What if he isn’t?” You challenged calmly. Severus sighed again, shaking his head as he gazed at you.

“Should we place bets on whether it’s Potter who’s stealing from you?” You asked jokingly, leaning forward in your seat with a smirk. Severus pressed his lips together in a thin line.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because every damned time we make a bet, you win.”

You snickered at Severus’ remark, before standing up from your seat and placing your hand reassuringly on the professor’s shoulder. He looked up at you with dark eyes that warmed very slightly at your touch.

“I truly do not know how you always manage to see the good in people.” He murmured, sighing tiredly. You squeezed his shoulder lightly.

“I just… see the good in everything I guess.” You shrugged. “Even things that seem terrible can be beautiful, if they’re in the right lighting.”

Severus let out a little snort at your comment, shaking his head.

“C’mon grumpypants,” you teased lightly, patting your friend on the back. “I know what’ll cheer you up.”

You walked over to your desk and opened the far left drawer. Upon hearing the dull scrape of wood as the drawer pulled open, Severus looked over at you with the tiniest smile.

“Have you added any teas to your collection?” He asked. He kept a somewhat level expression, but you couldn’t help but grin at the hint of a hopeful tone in his voice.

“I went to Hogsmeade last weekend and got a few more. Some just for you. Come over here and pick one, I’ll put the kettle on.”

Severus stood up just as you moved to the corner of the room to fill the kettle. You noticed out of the corner of your eye how shadow-like he was: the way his cloak billowed slightly as he almost seemed to glide over to your desk.

You heard a few papers rustle as you filled the kettle, and that’s when your heart stopped.

Oh no, oh god no.

You forgot to move your sketchbook, bloody hell.

Maybe Severus was looking at something else, you thought to yourself. Maybe you misheard and he was only rifling through your tea stash-

“Is this… me?”

Nope. He found it. Shit.

You set the kettle down slowly, your hands trembling as you felt a rush of heat fly up to your cheeks.

“S-Sorry?”

You kept your eyes glued to the teacups on the small wooden countertop, trying your best not to cringe as you continued to hear pages being flipped over gently.

“Y/N…” Severus murmured. “You drew these?”

You chewed your lip, just about ready to sink through the floorboards at this point.

“Y-yes.” Your voice came out as a small squeak, barely even intelligible.

You squeezed your eyes shut as you heard gentle footsteps approach you from behind.

“Turn around,” Severus encouraged softly. Clenching your jaw, you tried to ignore the burning heat in your cheeks as you shuffled around to face Severus.

His dark eyes were swirling with so many emotions, you genuinely couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It terrified you. You looked down, and saw that he was holding one of your sketches in his hand.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered. “I don’t show those to anyone, they’re just for me to practice with…”

“This is how you see me?”

You heard Severus‘ voice catch in his throat, and you looked up to see his features had softened into a gentle and almost sad expression. You lowered your gaze to his hands again, taking a closer look at the sketch he brought over.

It was from the Yule Ball a few months ago. You had sketched Severus during dinner after you saw him throw his head back in a hearty laugh, thanks to a dirty joke Professor Sprout had casually dropped at the staff table that night. You couldn’t remember the joke for the life of you, but you’d never forget the way Severus’ eyes lit up with a rare joy few ever saw. Nor would you forget the way his hair curled that night, perfectly framing his face and making him look almost angelic.

“Joy looks good on you.” You explained in the tiniest whisper, pressing your lips together nervously. “I… that was one of my first times seeing you laugh, and I just…”

You trailed off, silently cursing the fact that your face was still as red as ever. Finally, to your relief, Severus set your sketch down. But when you looked up at him, you noticed his eyes were glassy.

Was he… crying?

“Oh.” You gasp softly. “Oh no, I’m sorry. It’s a terrible drawing, I know-”

Severus shook his head. “Stop bloody apologizing. It’s beautiful. All your sketches are. I had no idea.”

“Well, you weren’t supposed to find out.” You muttered, laughing your nerves out softly. Your heart nearly stopped as Severus reached out, gently cradling your hands in his.

“Thank you.” He murmured quietly. “For… what you said.”

You frowned. “What did I say?”

“About… seeing the joy in me,” he replied. “That’s perhaps the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Your heart sank as you took in Severus’ words. You looked up, your soft eyes meeting his dark ones.

“It’s true.” You said simply. “It doesn’t take an expert to see you’ve been through some real shit, Sev. You deserve to be happy.”

Severus froze at your words, unsure of what to do or how to react. Then, to your surprise, he took one more step forward and closed the distance between the two of you. He wrapped his arms around you, and you nearly gasped at how tightly he held you to him. You returned his embrace without hesitation, finally calming after the initial scare of Severus finding your sketches. He was warm. You could get used to this feeling.

“Thank you, Y/N.” You heard Severus whisper.

“For what?” You asked back just as softly.

“Showing me how you see the world. How you see… me.”

#snape x reader #harry potter #severus snape #snape imagine #snape x y/n #severus snape imagine #severus snape x reader #harry potter imagine #harry potter imagines

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bibbityboppitybillyharvgrove · 3 months

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A Rocky Start - S.Snape

Summary - The new librarian and the potions master spend so much time together until they don't. They start off rocky but things get better.

Pairings - Severus Snape x Librarian!Reader

Warning - Fem reader, use of Y/N

Based off a request by an anon

Expect delays in my posting! My semester has started and I am taking 4 classes! Please be patient with me!

My requests are open!

my masterlist

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged!

Enjoy!

If the students couldn’t find their potions professor in his classroom or store, they knew just where he was, the library. The boys didn’t blame him and neither did the girls, not only was it quiet and serene but the new librarian was breathtaking. The boys swooned over her and the girls in pure awe of her beauty and kindness. She was never one to kick a student out of the library, nor scold them for talking, in fact she encouraged them to talk, dedicating a section of the library just for study groups or students who wanted to chat with each other in between studying. Even going as far as allowing the students to call her by her first name rather than Madame Y/L/N, that just made her feel old.

It didn’t take much to realize the feelings the potions master had for this new librarian nor the librarian with the potions master. It seemed that the only two who hadn’t figured it out just yet were themselves. The pair spent as much time together as their schedules allowed, either at the library, in his classroom or the astronomy tower. She had a knack for astronomy so the tower was one of her favorite spots in the castle.

After the students had returned to Hogwarts after the Christmas vacation, they were met with an odd sight. The librarian alone and the potions master sulking in his classroom. The students were shocked to see the pair of them avoiding each other, even going as far as skipping meals just to keep to themselves.

“Y/N, are you okay? You haven’t seemed yourself since holiday,” Luna Lovegood asked one day.

“Oh, I’m fine honey, I promise,” She replied with a gentle smile on her face.

“Are you sure? Even Professor Snape hasn’t seemed like himself either.”

“That’s not good, but I’m sure. Did you enjoy your holiday?”

“Yes, I got to spend a lot of time with my father, I even helped him with the next issue of The Quibbler. Did you?”

“That sounds fun! I’ll have to check it out once you guys release it. Mine was pretty boring, just putting books back and fixing some of them up.”

The two continued to chat until they were startled by the sound of the door opening and a cloak swishing in the breeze created by the door. The potions master made his way to the desk where Luna and the librarian stood.

“Can we talk? In private preferably,” He requested.

“Of course, we can catch up later, Luna,” She told the student before heading to her office right behind the desk, Severus right behind her.

“I’m sorry,” Severus said wholeheartedly as she was shutting the door.

“What for? You were just telling me the truth,” She shrugged off, trying to act as if his offensive words didn’t hurt her.

“I was lying. I don’t think you’re stupid, I don’t think you’re desperate, I don’t think you’re clingy. I think you are so smart and beautiful and kind and loving and exactly what I want in my life. You are my favorite person here and you always will be, I have so much admiration for you.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not, I brought veritaserum just to prove to you that I’m telling the truth. I made amortentia for the 6th year’s and all I could smell was you. I was scared of how I felt for you so I tried to ruin it.”

“How do I know you’re not lying to me? Just trying to make me feel better?” Severus dug into his pocket and poured some veritaserum into his mouth, swallowing it down.

“Ask me,” He told her.

“How do you feel about me, truly, Sev?” She asked him shyly.

“I love you, I think of you so much it drives me crazy. I care about you so deeply, I’d do anything for you. I think you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, inside and out. You are so kind to not only me but everyone. You drive me crazy in the best way,” he ranted to her.

“You love me?”

“I do. If you’d like, I want to take you on a date this weekend.”

“I’d love to.”

#harry potter #severus snape x reader #professor snape #pro snape #severus snape #snape #request

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thatfanficstuff · 8 months

Text

Broken Souls - Severus Snape

Pairing: Severus Snape x Soulmate!Reader

When Harry Potter was four years old, Dudley Dursley demanded a sibling. A sister to be precise. Petunia and Vernon immediately fell in love with the idea of a daughter to spoil as much as their perfect son and headed off to the orphanage, Dudley in tow. And while Dudley got a new sister that day, Harry got a cousin that didn’t treat him like shit.

Then in one of life’s great ironies, shortly after your sixth birthday (which was the day before Harry’s) you proved to be just as much of a ‘freak’ as your cousin when Dudley wouldn’t stop picking on Harry. Your hands fisted at your sides and your brother found himself suddenly twenty feet away as you screamed at him to stop.

Of course, your new family refused to believe that you had been the cause and blamed poor Harry even when you told them it was you. When one too many unexplained things occurred when he wasn’t around, they were forced to admit the truth. You, their baby girl, their sissy, were a ‘freak’. When your so-called parents tried to treat you with the same level of love and affection they showed their nephew, Dudley forbade it. You were still his sissy even if you had caught Harry’s freakishness. And wasn’t that a fantastic theory? Harry was to blame for it all. As such, it only made sense that he pay the price for your freakishness.

It was no surprise then that by the time the two of you received your Hogwarts’ letters that Harry hated you almost as much as the rest of your family. All in all, it made life rather lonely. Even when you came to Hogwarts, Harry immediately became part of the trio while you remained a loner. Then in your second year Luna Lovegood joined you in Ravenclaw and the two of you became instant friends.

At the beginning of your fourth year, Harry had been particularly nasty to you one afternoon. His hatred of the fact you’d spent most of your summer with the Lovegoods’ seeping into his sharp words. As usual, you said nothing in response, simply standing there and taking his abuse. Suddenly, Harry’s tirade cut off and a heavy hand fell on your shoulder.

“Twenty-five points from Gryffindor for verbally attacking another student, Potter.” Professor Snape’s rumbling deep voice eased some of the tension from your shoulders. Potions was your favorite class and you’d always liked the prickly professor for some reason. “Fifteen more for your language.”

Harry glared and his mouth twisted as he prepared to argue, but Hermione tugging on his arm stopped him. Giving you one last nasty look, he turned and stomped away.

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “Thank you, professor.” Your voice was soft, barely there as you tried desperately not to give into the threatening tears.

He made a sound of agreement before squeezing your shoulder gently. “Come with me, Ms. Dursley.” He left his hand on your shoulder and steered you to his office in the dungeons. Once you’d made it inside, he led you to chair. “Sit. Are you comfortable with me shutting the door?”

You nodded your head. “Of course, professor.” Not only did you trust the man implicitly, there were wards on the castle that immediately alerted the headmaster if a student should be attacked. Not that they seemed to do much good half the time, you admitted to yourself.

As he took the seat behind his desk, a tea service appeared and he poured you a cup before passing it over for you to prepare it to your taste. “Now, explain to me, Ms. Dursley, where this animosity between you and Harry Potter comes from.”

That was the first of many meetings you would have with Severus Snape over the years. At first they were infrequent, once a month or so but by the time you returned to Hogwarts for your fifth year, it had become a weekly occurrence. Now you were three weeks into your final year and you were avoiding Severus like the plague. He was bound to notice, of course he was. He wasn’t an idiot. But you had no idea how to go about having the conversation you needed to have with him.

While your seventeenth birthday had brought the expected magical maturity, it had also brought an unexpected creature inheritance. It had taken the rest of the summer for you to learn how to hide your ears and tail. Just as you thought everything was going to be fine, school resumed and it took exactly one half of a potions class to realize Severus Snape was your mate. Merlin. Sometimes you swore Magic hated you.

He should have come to the same conclusion when you did, if not before, but he’d said nothing to you about it. Maybe he wanted to ignore it, to pretend you weren’t his mate. The thought hurt more than you thought it would.

You were cleaning up at the end of another potions lab when the professor passed by your desk. “Remain after class, Ms. Dursley.”

You sucked in a breath and his heady scent swamped your senses. “Of course, professor.”

Once the room emptied, Severus headed toward his office as he motioned you to follow. He didn’t spare a glance in your direction. You sat in your usual chair and watched him prepare your tea the way you liked it. It was only after he leaned back in his seat with his own cup that his gaze met yours.

“Now, why are you avoiding me?” That smooth, sultry voice wrapped around you offering a comfort you didn’t realize you needed.

You coughed a little on your drink and shook your head. Your cheeks heated as you denied his words. “I’m not.”

He snorted. “Bullocks.”

You crinkled your nose in distaste at the expression which made him smile ever so briefly. You sighed and sat your cup on the edge of his desk. “Do you really not know?”

His brows lifted at that. It was obvious he had no idea what you were referring to.

Your hands tangled together in your lap as you cleared your throat. You tore your gaze from him as you revealed your cat ears and tail. He came to stand beside you in the long stretch of silence that followed. “May I?” he asked quietly.

You nodded in agreement though you weren’t entirely sure what he was asking permission for. That question was answered when his long fingers ran over the tips of your ears. They twitched beneath his touch. In a swirl of robes, he was back in his seat and you risked a glance at him. There was nothing but curiosity in his gaze. You bit your lip, drawing his gaze before he met your eyes again.

“Neko?”

“Shadow neko,” you corrected.

He sucked in a breath in surprise. “Those are incredibly rare.”

The corner of your lips lifted slightly at the awed tone. “I’m aware.”

“What did Gringotts say?”

You leaned back in your seat and crossed your legs. This wasn’t a discussion you wished to have with him. With anyone. Eventually, yes, but not when you were still coming to grips with it yourself. “Those tests are incredibly expensive. Well beyond the ten pounds in my pocket.” The only way you had even been able to attend Hogwarts had been through their fund for indigent students.

His brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you say? I would have paid for it. You need only ask.”

Your cheeks heated again. “You know why.” You were too proud to beg or even ask for help from a friend. It was a trait shared with the professor so you knew he’d understand.

“Very well,” he agreed after a moment. “None of this explains why you are avoiding me, however.”

You took a deep breath and dug up the little Gryffindor bravado you kept buried under your Ravenclaw smarts. “You’re my mate.”

If you hadn’t been watching when you said the words you would have missed the brief flash of warm hope in his eyes. As fast as it came, it was gone to be replaced with cold hatred. Your chest grew tight and your stomach sank.

“Get out.” His voice was so soft you barely heard it.

Fear flooded through you. He couldn’t reject you. He just couldn’t. You had anticipated him being unhappy. After all, you were student even if you were of age. And you were just you. There was nothing special about you. But the two of you had the greatest conversations. You got along well. You had thought – hoped – he liked you at least a portion of how much you liked him.

“Sever—”

“It’s professor, Ms. Dursley. Now, get out.”

You were frozen in your shock. “But, professor, I don’t understand. Please.” You hated the plea in your voice, the tremor in your hands.

“I had a mate and lost her many years ago the same night your idiot cousin somehow survived.” He gave you a moment to process his words. It couldn’t be true. He was your mate. You knew he was. Your head spun in confusion.

He fisted his hands on the desk and pushed himself to his feet to scowl down at you. “I thought better of you than to resort to such cruelty. I am unsure what you hoped to gain other than your own entertainment at my pain at being reminded. I feel no connection to you. No bond. At this moment I can’t even say I like you. In fact, I wouldn’t be your mate for all the galleons in Gringotts after this little stunt.”

With that, he swept from the room, obviously too impatient to wait for you to leave. You sucked breaths into your tight chest hoping for some relief. Hot tears flowed down your cheeks and dripped into your lap as a sob wracked your body. You stumbled to your feet and into a shadowy corner of his office. With a thought you found yourself in your room where you immediately collapsed on the bed and cried yourself to sleep.

In the days that followed you became another specter in a castle full of them. Your quiet figure would move from class to class, keeping yourself pressed against the walls as you went doing your best to stay out of the way. Luna stayed your constant companion but you didn’t seem to be talking to her either. You sat at the table during meals but pushed the food around on the plate, eating the minimum required to keep you functioning.

After a week you no longer bothered to conceal your ears and tail. It took so much energy. So much more than you could spare. Your scent also changed to the sweet scent of an unmated submissive to signal to alphas you were available. Not that you would pick any of them. Snape may be certain you weren’t his mate, but he was yours. Your neko wanted no one else. Would accept no one else.

You were on your way to class when you found yourself surrounded by five Gryffindors. Two of them were alphas but you couldn’t place any of them. You didn’t care enough to. One of the alphas stepped closer while his friends hemmed you in. “Hello, little neko.”

You curled in on yourself even more than usual. Your shoulders hunched in an effort to make you seem smaller than you already were and your arms wrapped around your waist. “Hello. Please move. I’ll be late to class.”

“Oh, you’ve got plenty of time. Don’t be like that. We just want to get to know you.” He kept his voice sweet, coaxing but the vibes you picked up from him were anything but nice.

When you ignored him and tried to push past, he grabbed one of your wrists and tugged you into him. You pushed against him, but his grip was too firm. “Let go.”

Before he could respond, a deep voice interrupted. “I believe she told you to release her.” Severus Snape to the rescue.

The boy immediately released you and took a step back, his hands up in a gesture of faux innocence.

“Twenty points from Gryffindor for harassing another student. A submissive at that. Each.” They groaned but dare not say anything as Snape would only make it worse. “And a week’s detention with Filch. Two for you, Thomas. Go.”

The boys scattered as you wrapped your arms back around yourself. You kept your back turned to the professor, unable to look at him.

“You must know that as much as the use of magic in the halls is frowned upon, you are allowed to defend yourself,” he finally said.

You gave a nod though you still didn’t face him. “Yes, sir.”

“Next time I expect you to do so.”

“Yes, sir.” You hurried off then, needing to get to your class and away from the man that already haunted your every moment.

In your potions class that afternoon, you kept your head down and focused on your brewing. The potion, while complex, was one you had brewed before. Professor Snape moved through the students, checking their work and lecturing when needed. He came to stand by your desk and you did your best to ignore him until he’d been there for several minutes without saying anything. “Can I help you, sir?”

“What. Is. This?” he bit out as he tugged back the sleeve of your robe to reveal the dark bruising around your wrist from your earlier encounter.

Your face heated as you covered the mark. “It’s from before. It’s fine.”

“It is not fine.” He swept away from you in a twirl of his robes. “Detention tonight, Ms. Dursley. Immediately after supper.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the end of the class, Severus’ gaze followed you as you left the room. He was still furious that you’d been injured to the point of bruising. His reaction was out of proportion to the injury. He knew that but couldn’t seem to do anything about it. It was taking everything in him to not track down Dean Thomas and teach him a lesson about how to treat a submissive. Especially one as precious as you.

The potions master groaned and dropped his head into his hands. He hadn’t lied when he told you that he felt no bond with you. There was no connection there. There couldn’t be. While some creatures may get the opportunity for another mate should the first die, Vampires weren’t one of them. One life mate for the longest lived species of them all. Oh, the irony. Of course, once the bond was complete, one mate wouldn’t outlive the other anyway, their lives and souls intertwined completely.

He had been less than truthful about his feelings for you, however. He’d always had a soft spot for you from the moment you first walked into his class. As you grew and changed, so did his feelings for you. For a time, he’d thought about pursuing you after you left the school but then you’d turned out to have an inheritance which meant you had a mate. He wouldn’t rob you of that. He couldn’t be that selfish. Not with you.

When you’d told him that he was your mate, he’d had a brief moment of happiness before he remembered that was a possibility that was taken from him many years ago. You weren’t the first student that thought it would be amusing to tell the dungeon bat he was their mate. Ha, isn’t that funny? But you…Merlin, that had hurt more than he thought possible. At the very least, he’d imagined the two of you were friends. But friends weren’t cruel to one another. The didn’t play with one another’s feelings.

He sighed and cast a quick tempus realizing he’d been brooding longer than he intended. Realizing the meal was nearly over, Severus requested a light dinner from a house elf. Once he’d finished eating and started brewing a batch of pepper-up potions for the infirmary, he realized you were late.

Leaving the potion under a stasis spell, he started for Ravenclaw tower. He was interrupted by the arrival of Dumbledore’s patronus summoning him for a meeting. He clenched his jaw in irritation but headed for the old man’s office. He arrived to find the other three head of houses but no headmaster. Severus rolled his eyes. Albus would be late for his own meeting.

He shifted his gaze to the diminutive Charms master. “Filius, one of your eagles failed to show for detention.”

Flitwick frowned. “Who?”

Severus crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. He didn’t wish for you to be in trouble with your head of house, but he was concerned for your wellbeing after the incidents of the day. “Dursley.”

“Ah, just who we’re all here to discuss. Thank you for bringing her up, Severus,” Albus said as he swept into the room and took his seat. “Lemon drop?” he offered and everyone shook their heads.

The Ravenclaw head of house bounced in his seat a little. “What about Ms. Dursley?”

Albus hummed. “Ms. Dursley has left Hogwarts for the time being. Hopefully she will return before winter break.”

There was a stunned silence until McGonagall broke it. “Left? What do you mean she left? It’s her NEWTs year, Albus.”

He folded his hands together on his desk and peered over the top of his glasses. “I am aware, Minerva. However, it was brought to my attention by a concerned classmate that Ms. Dursley’s mate has rejected her. As she is a submissive neko, you are all aware of the issues this can cause. Myself and Ms. Pomfrey felt it in her best interest for her to take some time to recuperate.”

Severus snorted in disbelief.

Albus arched a brow. “Is there a problem, my boy?”

“Ms. Dursley is operating under the mistaken belief that I am her mate.”

“Are you certain you aren’t?” Pomona Sprout asked.

“Of course, I’m certain. Do you think I would risk refusing her if I wasn’t?” Really, did his colleagues think so little of him?

“Severus Snape, what did you do to that girl?” Minerva snapped at him, but Severus didn’t answer her.

His attention was currently locked on the old man behind his desk. The one who winced when Severus said he was certain. The man who now wore a look that was a cross between shame and calculation. Albus pursed his lips and stared at his desk rather than meet anyone’s gaze.

“What did you do?” Severus asked. His voice was low but lethal.

Dumbledore’s eyes jerked up to meet the potion master’s. “Now, my boy, you must realize that I was only trying to help.”

“What did you do?” he asked again, drawing the words out this time.

The headmaster licked his lips nervously. “You have to understand that you were so distraught by the time I found you after the attack. I did what I thought best.”

“Albus,” Minerva said with a sour expression, “answer the bloody question.”

Severus gave her a nod of thanks before turning his attention back to Dumbledore.

Albus sighed. “I placed a block on your mate bond.”

Everyone in the room was deathly silent as they stared at the man in fervent disbelief.

He rushed to explain himself. “You were devastated after Samhain. Weeks passed and you were barely functioning. I thought if I blocked the link so you couldn’t feel it, it would ease some of your pain. And it did. You weren’t yourself, but you were so much better.”

“My mate died! Of course I was devastated. I had every right! You had no right to take my grief from me. No right.” Severus had never felt more disgusted at this old coot than he did at that moment.

The other three heads of house made noises of surprise. “Lily was your mate?” Sprout asked.

He closed his eyes and shook his head before looking back at them. “No. Cassiopea Lestrange. Bella and Rodo’s daughter. Aurors attacked and burnt the cottage they were living in the same night the Potters died. Cassie was a babe. She was in her crib on the top floor, right where the fire started. They couldn’t get to her. It’s why they attacked the Longbottoms. They were part of the raid that killed their only child.”

Albus winced and dread filled Severus. He didn’t want to ask but he had to know. “What?”

The headmaster cringed and curled in on himself as he tried to hide. “We couldn’t allow the child to grow up on the Dark side. For the greater good, she couldn’t be allowed to remain in that house.”

Snape staggered back as a feeling of absolute betrayal swamped him. “You ordered them to kill my mate?”

Albus’ brows shot up and he held his hands up. “No, of course not, my boy.”

“I think you better explain, Albus,” Filius stated with a furrowed brow. None of them were liking what they were hearing from their headmaster.

The old man sighed again. “Alice and Frank were working with the order. They took the child to a safe location and started the fire to make the Dark believe she was dead. Unfortunately, they were driven insane before they told anyone where they placed the girl.”

Severus’ knees went weak and he fell into a chair some conjured up beneath him. His hands trembled as he felt true hope for the first time since he’d lost his mate. “Are you telling me she’s been alive this whole time? She’s been alive and alone for sixteen years?”

“Initially I believed your grief to be for Lily Potter. It was much later when I discovered your mate was someone else. By then, it had been much too long. There was no hope of finding the child. I felt it was better to allow you to continue to believe she was completely beyond your reach.”

Tears fell from onyx eyes. “That wasn’t your choice to make.”

“You would have obsessed over her,” Albus argued. “You had other matters you needed to focus on. It was for the greater good.”

Snape snarled. “Fuck you and your greater good, old man. I’m not your puppet anymore. I quit. And get this bloody block off of me.”

“My boy—”

He shoved himself back to his feet. “I am not your boy. Remove it or so help me I will have you up on charges with the Ministry and the vampire council for interfering with a mate bond.”

Albus’ sigh was completely defeated. “Of course.” He moved his wand in a complex pattern and muttered several phrases in Latin. After a moment, Severus suddenly felt lighter, freer. Whole. Even if he could feel that annoying persistent ache telling him his mate was too far away. But that meant she was alive. Alive and very much his. Merlin, he was going to kill this old fool.

“Where is she?” he asked.

Dumbledore furrowed his brow. “I told you, we don’t know.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “Dursley.”

“She went home.”

He shook his head immediately. “She wouldn’t. She hates it there.”

“Perhaps Miss Lovegood would know,” Filius suggested. “I’ll ask her and get back to you as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.” And in a flash, Severus was gone, using his enhanced speed to take him to his rooms. He wished to be packed and out of Hogwarts as soon as possible.

He was surprised to find your best friend sitting on the floor outside of his office. “Miss Lovegood?”

She gave him a dreamy smile as she got to her feet. “Hello, Professor. Or should I not call you that any longer?”

He had long ago ceased questioning how the blonde knew the things she did. “Where is she?”

Luna tilted her head and looked him over. Her eyes shone with a clarity she rarely possessed. “Why?”

“Please.” His voice broke with the word. He couldn’t explain this to her. Couldn’t get out the words through the knowledge that he may have irrevocably injured his mate. He just needed to find you. To confirm you were who he now thought you to be. He couldn’t let another day go by without you in his arms.

She hummed and shrugged. “She went home.”

He shook his head. “She wouldn’t return to the Dursleys.”

“That was never her home.”

“Your place then?” It had to be. There was nowhere else for her to go.

She gave another soft smile and shook her head. “She’s always welcome but daddy’s in South Africa looking for whumplesnuffles.”

Snape blinked. What in Merlin was a whumplesnuffle? “Then where?” He sounded desperate, he knew it, but he didn’t care.

“Daddy was most curious when her creature inheritance came through. Took her to Gringotts himself.”

His brow furrowed. “She told me she hadn’t been tested.”

“Did she?” she said before heading down the hallway. Severus could only watch her go as he tried to recall the conversation with you in his office but the exact words escaped him. Damn it. He huffed a breath and entered his rooms to pack. He had no desire to return here if he didn’t have to.

Mere hours had passed when Severus found himself standing in front of the gate to Lestrange manor. He hesitated, staring at the once familiar home. It had always been overly large in his opinion. Of course, Bella had thought so too. That’s why the family had been living in their cottage rather than here with Rodo’s father. Severus shook the thought away.

He hoped this is what Luna had been trying to tell him. That you were his Cassie and you’d come home. But what if he was wrong? That’s why he hesitated. What if you weren’t her? What if he never found her? But why else would you claim to be his mate? It was the only thing that made sense.

After taking a deep breath for courage, he laid his hand against the gates. Evidently, he was still keyed into the wards as the gate silently swung open to admit him. He made his way to the door which opened as he neared it. A familiar looking house elf watched him with a tilt of its head. “What cans Mopsy bes doings for you, Mr. Snapsey man?”

The corner of Severus’ mouth twitched. “Hello, Mopsy. I am hoping your mistress made her way home. I need to see her.”

The elf’s eyes narrowed. “They said Mistress Cassie was dead. Hows she come home if she dead?”

He hummed in agreement. “That is what they said. Is she here?”

“I thinks you better come in. Youse not well thinking dead peoples be here.” With that she stepped back to allow him in the house. “Youse waits here.” The elf disappeared with a pop.

Severus closed his eyes and tipped his head back with a groan. Mopsy hadn’t explicitly stated you weren’t here, but it wasn’t looking good. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Maybe you were just another student and his mate would be forever lost to him.

“Why are you here, professor?” Your soft, sweet voice startled him from his contemplation.

His eyes flew open and his spine straightened. He looked you over from top to bottom. How was it you looked so much worse than you had even that afternoon? His heart ached at the knowledge that he was the cause of your unhealthy appearance. But now that you were here in front of him, there was no question that you were his mate, his Cassie.

When the silence stretched, you wrapped your arms across your stomach and hunched your shoulders as if that could protect you from the world around you. Protect you from this man in particular. You kept your gaze turned from him, not wanting to see that look of hatred and sadness he seemed to don whenever you were around lately. And it would probably be worse as he’d obviously been sent to “fix” you.

You rolled your eyes at the thought and took a step back. “There’s no reason for you to be here, professor. I assure you, I will be fine in time. You can return to your duties.”

“Wait,” he said, his voice sharp, quick.

You jerked your head up in surprise and met his gaze. You couldn’t place the emotion on his face as he gave you a crooked smile. “Why?” you asked with a tilt of your head. If he was feeling guilty, you didn’t want to hear it. You had no interest in making him feel better when you still felt like shit.

He ran a hand through his hair and took a step toward you. When you made to move again, he held his hands up in a placating gesture. “Why did you tell me you hadn’t been tested?”

“I didn’t. I merely stated that the tests were expensive. Xeno paid when he realized what sort of creature I was. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to discover who my parents were. As if Harry needed another reason to hate me.” You shrugged and turned to head toward the sitting room. Severus could either follow you or not. When you arrived you made a beeline for the small bar at the side of the room and poured yourself a healthy serving of Dragon Brandy. “Help yourself,” you told Snape as you took a seat.

He lifted the bottle you’d used and sniffed it. He nodded in appreciation and poured himself a glass before sitting in the chair across from you. His tongue traced his bottom lip as he studied you for a moment. “You had to know I wouldn’t care about your parentage.”

“I had a feeling you wouldn’t and I intended to tell you after we’d dealt with the issue of you being my mate, and…well, you know how that went. Why are you here, Sev—professor?”

He shook his head. “Not professor. Not anymore. I tendered my immediate resignation.”

You arched a brow at that. You knew he hated his job but were surprised he’d leave it so abruptly. “Why?”

Severus took a deep breath and licked his lips before launching into the story of his mate and Dumbledore’s unwanted, bumbling interference. You were horrified by the time he finished.

“You thought me dead for fifteen years?” You’d been suffering thinking he’d rejected you but you couldn’t fathom thinking he was gone forever. The heartbreak you would feel.

“Sixteen.” His voice nearly broke and he cleared his throat. “It’s been sixteen years.”

He crossed the room in long strides and knelt in front of you, taking your hand in his. “When you told me that I was your mate, I had a brief moment of happiness before I realized it was impossible. My mate was gone. And as much as I might wish for you to be her, I thought it impossible. If I could chose anyone to be tied to for eternity it would be you.”

He lifted your hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of your wrist before laying your hand against his cheek and closing his eyes. “I am so sorry for the things I said. For not finding you all those years ago. I can only hope to make it up to you.”

You studied him for a long moment. “You hurt me, Severus.”

He winced as if the words physically pained him. “I know.”

You lifted your free hand to cradle his face. “Don’t do it again.”

Then your lips found his. You smiled against his mouth as pure euphoria flooded through you. If there had been any lingering question as to your identity it was long gone. There was no doubt you were the potion master’s mate.

With the connection between you affirmed, all the broken pieces of your heart settled back into place. It was still tender, still fragile, but for the first time since his rejection, you believed it could be healed. Severus deepened the kiss as he pulled you from the chair and into his arms. A moment later he was sitting on the floor with you straddling his thighs as the two of you desperately tried to get closer.

Finally, you pulled back and rested your forehead against his. “You can’t hurt me again, Sev. Not like that. I won’t survive it a second time. I thought I’d lost you before I’d even had you.”

He leaned back and lifted your chin so you were looking in his eyes. “I will cherish you every day for the rest of our lives. Just love me and I will give you everything you desire.”

You grinned. “The only thing I need is you. Just you.”

He kissed you again, short and sweet. “And you have me, body and soul.”

#severus snape x reader #severus snape fanfiction #severus snape soulmate au #severus snape x soulmate #harry potter fanfiction

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theyraylovehate · 2 years

Text

Wheel of Fan Fiction Masterlist

Smut 🔥

Fluff 🌸

Angst 💧

*This is like brand new so most of the characters won't have anything just yet*

•Stranger things

-Billy Hargrove

-Steve Harrington

-Eddie Munson

-Robin Buckley (Fem/NB only)

-Argyle

-Johnathan Byers

-Nancy Wheeler

-Jim Hopper

-Joyce Byers

-001/Henry

-Will Byers (No smut)

-Mike Wheeler (No smut)

-Max Mayfield (No smut)

Hateful Cuddling - Female reader 🌸

-Dustin Henderson (No smut)

-Lucas Sinclair (No smut)

-Eleven (Jane) Hopper (No smut)

•Marvel

-Iron Man/Tony Stark

-Captian America/Steve Rogers

-Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff

-Hawkeye/Clint Barton

-Hulk/Bruce Banner

-Thor

-Loki

-Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes

-Black Panther/T'challa

-Doctor Strange/Steven Strange

-Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff

-Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff

-Starlord/Peter Quill

-Gamora

-Spiderman/Peter Parker

-Falcon/Sam Wilson

-War Machine/James Rhodes

-Valkyrie (Fem/NB only)

•X-Men

-Professor X/Charles Xavier

-Magneto/Erik Lensherr

-Wolverine/James Howlett

-Quicksilver/Peter Maximoff

-Rogue

-Jean Grey

-Storm/Ororo Munroe

-Cyclops/Scott Summers

-Mystique/Raven

-Beast/Henry "Hank" McCoy

-Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner

-Havok/Alexander Summers

•DC/Young Justice

-Batman/Bruce Wayne

-Superman/Clark Kent

-The Flash/Barry Allen

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•Harry Potter

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•Marauders

-James Potter

Friendly Love - Male reader 🌸

-Lily Evans

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•Greek Mythology

-Zeus

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-Dionysus

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•Divergent

-Beatrice "Tris" Prior

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Zip line of Love - Nonbinary Reader (Requested) 🌸

-Uriah

•Star Wars

-Anakin Skywalker

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-Dean Winchester

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-Rick Grimes

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IT (2017)

-Richie Tozier

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•Maze Runner

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isbreulla · 7 months

Text

𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚢𝚞𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎

Who wants some Yule Ball headcanons?

Sarah was planning to invite Luna to spend some time having fun in her father's quarters, since they were both 13 and wouldn't be going to the Yule Ball.

Her plans were ruined when Luna was invited to the ball by some Ravenclaw dunderhead. This also ruined her mood, as she was clearly annoyed with Luna.

As a revenge, Sarah who had already been invited by Draco to go to the ball (but she had refused because she couldn't stand him and because she wanted to spend time with Luna) decided to accept his invitation.

When Luna found out that Sarah was going to the ball with Draco she was a little confused. She knew Sarah didn't like Draco (she didn't like him at all either). This made her a little insecure and… jealous.

During the dance, both danced with their partners only once. Sarah was very grumpy the entire time she spent with Draco, and her father wouldn't following her around. It was making her crazy.

Luna on the other hand, realized that her partner wasn't as fun as her best friend. So after the first dance, she ran to find Sarah, and asked her to dance.

Sarah tried to keep her frown on when Luna asked her to dance, but she couldn't resist. After a few minutes the two were already having fun together, as planned.

BONUS

Snape was completely against Sarah going to the ball in the first place. That's the only reason he allowed her to take Luna into his private quarters. So that they both stayed away from the Yule Ball, and away from trouble.

His plans were also ruined when Luna showed up with a partner for the ball, and Sarah told him that she would accept Draco's invitation.

He tried to say no, but Sarah just won the argument by saying that her only friend was going, and that she didn't want to be alone. She knew how to soften her father's heart.

Snape, however, gave her rules. "No revealing dress. No makeup. Curfew at 11pm. And for the millionth time, you will not pierce your ears."

When Sarah was ready to go to the ball, Snape couldn't believe how grown up his little girl was. Tears formed in his eyes. Sarah of course, found it extremely embarrasing.

During the dance he didn't stop following her, just to make sure she was okay and following the rules. She hated every single second of it.

#THAT'S A HUGE ONE your're welcome #dad snape #sarah snape #luna lovegood x oc #luna lovegood #severus snape #severus snape x oc #snape #snape community #pro snape #snape x oc #professor snape #snape fanart #snape content #parent snape #snape fandom

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dhr-ao3 · 1 month

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AU Hetalia x Harry Potter

AU Hetalia x Harry Potter https://ift.tt/h0UDoSz by Mablir17 ¿Que pasaría si lo que ha visto no es lo que crees?, lo que has visto es una historia mal contada de los luminosos, ven y conoce la verdardera historia de los oscuros quienes doman el mundo mágico a su manera y que hace años hubo dos guerras entre luminosos y oscuros. De como aquellos seres demoniacos que representan a los países son los encargados de ser los titiriteros del mundo mágico y domar en silencio al mundo muggle. Words: 75, Chapters: 1/?, Language: Español Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Hetalia: Axis Powers Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi, Other Characters: Harry Potter, Hetalia Original Character(s), Original Malfoy Characters (Harry Potter), Original Nott Family Characters (Harry Potter), Original Hogwarts Professors, Amelia Bones, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, George Weasley, Fred Weasley, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, Weasley Family (Harry Potter), England (Hetalia), America (Hetalia), France (Hetalia), Canada (Hetalia), Spain (Hetalia), China (Hetalia), Austria (Hetalia), Finland (Hetalia), Belarus (Hetalia), Scotland (Hetalia), Female Wales (Hetalia), Ireland (Hetalia), Isle of Man (Hetalia), Northern Ireland (Hetalia), North Korea (Hetalia), Latin Hetalia Esemble, Draco Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Luna Lovegood, Narcissa Black Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, Tom Riddle | Voldemort, Scamander Family (Harry Potter) Relationships: Pansy Parkinson/Harry Potter, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Fred Weasley/Original Female Character(s), Angelina Johnson/George Weasley, Fleur Delacour/Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley/Original Female Character(s), Luna Lovegood/Theodore Nott, Daphne Greengrass/Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape/Original Female Character(s), Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks, Sirius Black/Original Female Character(s), Ginny Weasley/Blaise Zabini, Gabrielle Delacour/Original Male Character(s), Tom Riddle/Original Female Character(s), Hannah Abbott/Original Male Character(s), Arthur Weasley/Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley/Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: Post-Battle of Hogwarts, Battle of Hogwarts, Historical Hetalia, Hetalia Countries Using Human Names, Human & Country Names Used (Hetalia), Slytherin Harry Potter, Bad Albus Dumbledore, Bad Weasley Family (Harry Potter), Bad Molly Weasley, Alternate Universe - Harry Potter Setting, Italian Mafia, Russian Mafia, Latin Hetalia, Dark Harry Potter, Dark Magic via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/aGvZAei May 02, 2024 at 06:30PM

#IFTTT #Dramione #Draco x Hermione

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thatravenpuffgirl · 1 year

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✨ Requests are open✨

Hi everyone! I'm a new writer on Tumblr, but I wanted to let you guys know that I am taking requests for one-shots, headcanons, etc. Below are details on what characters & ships I'll write, what I will and won't write, request guidelines and stuff like that. Please read this before you request, and if you see one of my posts before this and want to make rest, I'll be linking this post to each of the other posts I make, but anyway, let's get to it.

Characters I'll write for (at the moment, I'll update this when I become more comfortable writing about other fandoms):

Harry Potter, Golden Era Characters:

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley Ginny Weasley, Percy Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Billy Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Lavender Brown, Cho Chang, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, Padma Patil and Parvati Patil, Terry Boot, Colin Creevy, basically any other characters that I might have forgotten to list or minor characters.

Harry Potter, Maurders Era Characters:

young Remus lupin, young James potter, young Sirius black, young regulus black, young lily Evans, young Severus snape, young mary Macdonald, young Dorcas meadows, young Marlene Mckinnon, young pandora Lovegood, young Narissa Malfoy, young Bellatrix Lestrange, young Andromeda tonks, young molly Weasley, young Arthur Weasley, Fabien and Gideon Prewett, young Alice Longbottom, young Frank Longbottom, Fleamont Potter, Euphemia Potter, pretty much all of the Black family, and any other characters I might have again, forgotten.

Now, onto request guidelines:

I will write oneshots, headcanons (general or based on a specific prompt, like a character's hobby or relationship with another character) fluff, and angst. I can write some level of smut, but only something like making out, kissing, etc. Please don't be afraid to ask, but please don't be upset if I turn down the request, it's usually only because I'm not comfortable with writing it. I also won't write anything about rape, abuse, incest, anything that's racist, anything smutty that involves a minor and an adult, etc.

2. There are certain ships I will not write about as well, I won't list specific ones, but I will not write about ships that involve an adult and a minor, a student and a professor, polyamorous ships, etc. I get that everyone has their preferences, and that's fine, but I'm not comfortable writing those types of ships. Any other ships, though, are totally fine! I will also write platonic ships, not just romantic ships.

3. Be kind. if you don't like the request I've written, please be polite. Although I am by no means transphobic, racist, etc, I do not have much experience in writing characters that are part of the LGBTQIA+ community or characters with different cultures, and this may reflect on my writing. But, with that matter and just in general, I try my best, so I will not accept any hate on this blog, towards me or others.

4. Be patient. Please take this as a friendly remember that, like the rest of us, I do have a life, and while I'll try to get back to you on a request as soon as possible, I can not write 24/7. So please don't be offended if it takes a while for me to finish your request, I will try to finish it as quick as possible. And, please don't be offended if I choose not to write your request. There are a lot of things I really don't feel comfortable writing about, and that's okay. It's not my intention to offend you if I don't write your request, it's just my preference. And, sometimes it has nothing to do with the content of your request, but simply because I don't have the energy to write sometimes, and I just have to turn down some requests.

5. Please be detailed. This is very important! Please specify in your request, what character you want me to write about, the ship you want me to include if you just want it to be a character x y/n thing, or a nonshipping request, a clear summary of your idea, the type of writing you want it to be (headcanons, one shot, fluffy, angst etc), that type of thing. It doesn't have to be super long, just enough so I know what you actually want me to write. And please only submit your requests via my asks, not in the comments of my posts or anything like that.

And I think that's all! I really appreciate you taking the time to read this, and just an extra note, if you would like to submit anything via my asks, that's not a request, just a question or to share your own thoughts on Harry Potter, please feel free to do so! I would love to hear from you guys. Anyways, thank you again, and I look forward to you submitting any requests you might have!

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braveclementine · 23 days

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Chapter 15

Warnings: 18+ readers only

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

"𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖉𝖎𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 and Dumbledore argue about?" I demanded as I got ready for the day. Severus yawned, running a hand through his unkempt hair and waved his wand so that the shades opened, light streaming into the windows.

I slipped out of bed, stretching. Severus' shirt was very warm and I didn't feel like getting out of it.

"It was nothing." Severus said, throwing his nightgown into his wardrobe and pulling on his uniform black robes. My eyes flicked from his body to my bag where my secret drawing was being kept.

"Uh huh." I said, unconvinced.

"Don't you already know anyways?" Severus asked, disgruntled.

"No." I replied honestly. "Well, I know that you argued about Dumbledore taking too much for granted and also not wanting to do something anymore."

"I don't want to kill him." Severus said.

"You want Draco to kill him?" I asked in slight disbelief. "You know Dumbledore is trying to save Draco's soul."

"And what about my soul?" Severus asked fiercely. "Apparently it means nothing to Dumbledore!"

I sucked in my cheeks. I shouldn't have asked. I should've let it stay between Dumbledore and Severus. Why had I intervened?

I turned away, grabbing my bag, switching out Friday's books with Monday's books. I hated that it was going to be so cold during Care of Magical Creatures class. But I couldn't skip, not with me being the only student in the class.

I heard Severus grumbling behind me and I said, "I think all this business about souls is stupid."

He didn't answer,

"Your killing him out of mercy." I replied. "And to show your last act of loyalty. That you were always Dumbledore's and never Vol-"

"Don't say his name Elizabeth." Severus said sharply.

Now I said nothing.

Severus sighed, sounding frustrated and knelt behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, "Sorry." he muttered.

"You should be used to it." I muttered, "Dumbledore uses his name."

"Dumbledore is a great wizard." Severus argued, "The only one the Dark Lord fears."

"Well what would you want me to call him?" I said, very close to snapping at him as I stood up, hoisting the bag onto my shoulder.

"Anything else." Severus said.

I tried not to grin as I turned around, picking up my quill and said, "Then the last act of loyalty is killing Dumbledore, showing that you were always Dumbledore's and never anything else's."

There was a bit of awkward silence and I figured I was going to leave now when Severus grabbed me by the shoulders, spinning me around, and kissing me fiercely, "Smartass." He whispered through our lips, moving one hand down to my ass to smack it lightly.

I laughed lightly, kissing him back hungrily. I'd always thought that being in love, you eventually got tired of each others' presence. Perhaps we just hadn't been together long enough. Either way, I was going to savor every moment I was with him. He pulled away and said, "Also, that's my shirt you're wearing."

"And you're not getting it back." I teased as I pulled it off so I could get dressed in my Hogwarts robes.

"Looks better on you anyways." He said, pulling me back towards the bed.

Needless to say, we were both running late.

We made our way down the stairs together, sneaking kisses until he set his book down on the desk, and I made my way out the door, grinning broadly.

The news that Ron had been poisoned had spread throughout the school quickly by noon, but there was no fear about the occurrence. Rather, most were regarding the incident as an accident because he had been in the potions office. He must've picked up the poison on accident. Plus, he'd been healed almost immediately, therefore, it wasn't that big of a deal.

What was a bigger deal with the Gryffindors animosity towards the Hufflepuffs. This was because of Zacharias' commentary during the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match, something I wished had never happened.

I was actually quite excited with the idea of the Quidditch match since I had never played against Harry captain v captain. This would certainly be interesting, especially since we were both seekers as well.

However, we still had a week before that happened.

Over the next few days after attending classes I would spend time in the common room, helping with the first-years questions and such. I also upped Rose and Grace's private lessons with me from just Friday to Wednesday and Friday.

I also spent time in the common room in the corner, working on the mid-draft for the drawing, adding more details. I wanted there to be something that connected each Professor to their job. Now, instead of Trelawney having her hands clasped in front of her, she was now holding out a crystal ball. Professor McGonagall had a tabby cat by her feet. Firenze was holding a bow, a sling of arrows across his back.

But before the Quidditch match could approach in full, Severus cornered me one night into the discussion.

"Hufflepuff is playing Gryffindor this week?" Severus asked casually, dipping his quill into his ink and writing a 3 out of 10 on one of the papers.

"Yes." I replied casually, adding detail to Dumbledore's glasses. Severus did not know what I was working on but I would not let him see it and he was respecting my privacy.

"Zacharias is the captain, right?"

I thought maybe he was joking and I laughed casually, "Of course not. I am."

"You are?" Severus asked strangely and I looked up from the drawing.

Severus seemed mad, but he didn't look mad.

"Yes. . ." I said slowly, frowning, "You did know that, didn't you?"

Severus' face flushed and he said, "I thought you would have given it up!"

"Why would I do that?" I frowned, trying to figure out what I was missing here.

"Because you're pregnant!" Severus exploded and I felt the blood drain from my face when I realized what his problem was.

"Oh." I whispered, setting my drawing utensil down and quickly put the drawing away. "But Sev, I'll be fine. I'm a good flier, I'm not going to get hurt."

"You don't know that!" Severus said fiercely, shoving the homework aside, throwing the quill down. Ink splattered on the pages.

He shoved the chair back, standing up quickly and I looked at him in amazement and somewhat fearful. He was angry, extremely angry. I had to say something.

"Sev!" I stood up now, holding a hand out to touch his chest. "Breathe, alright?" I said this as lightly as possible. He closed his eyes, his hand reaching out and taking mine, keeping my hand against his chest.

"Look." I said softly, reaching up, touching his cheek softly with my other hand. "The match is going to be smooth. I foresee Hufflepuff winning."

Severus breathed in deeply and then said, "I don't want you to get hurt and even more, I don't want the child to be harmed either."

"You've watched me fly for five years Sev." I said gently. "I usually come out unscathed."

"Right." Severus said, "But there have been close calls."

"I'm playing against Gryffindor, remember, not Slytherin." I said this as gently as possible. "They're not going to be trying to seriously harm me."

Severus gritted his teeth, most likely because he had no way of defending the Slytherins and also me at the same time and he said, "If you get hurt-"

"I won't." I said firmly.

We stared at each other for a moment, almost like a staring contest and he relented, sitting back down in his chair.

I sat back down on the bed, pulling out the drawing and started to work on Hagrid's character.

"What are you working on?" Severus asked curiously and I lifted the paper slightly so that he couldn't see.

"You'll see when it's time for you to see." I said, methodically adding tiny bristles to Madam Hooch's broom.

Severus sighed in an exaggerated way before turning back to his work. I was worried that things were going to be bad between the two of us. I wasn't sure he'd completely let go of the idea of me not playing at the game this Saturday.

When we finally went to bed, there did seem to be space between the two of us that wasn't usually there at night. I didn't say anything though. It was my choice about whether or not I was going to play at the game this week. Nothing was going to happen and there was no reason for him to be upset with me.

I tried putting myself in his shoes. The baby was his child too and as such, he really should have a say in the child's safety. He had to try and get me to keep the baby safe.

I wondered what Trang would say if she knew that I was playing in the game this week. Would she agree with me? I had promised not to participate in any fights. But that had been with Death Eaters and students. Did Quidditch count?

If I did stop, what was my excuse? I certainly couldn't say an overload of homework, because the others were more overwhelmed than I was. There was nothing I could say that was an adequate excuse for giving the captain ship over to Zacharias.

I shifted uncomfortably onto my side, my back facing Severus, looking out at the dark room. I certainly couldn't tell the Quidditch team I was pregnant for goodness sake! Even Hermione didn't know.

Severus breathing turned into soft snoring and I slipped out of bed, unable to sleep. I went over, sitting by the window, looking out at the dark grounds. Then I shifted my eyes, turning my head so that I could look up at the sky.

The moon wasn't full yet, though it was getting to that point. I wished I could talk to dad, but that wasn't possible. The little girl in my stomach kicked me, though it felt like a feather kick. I put a hand on my stomach, wishing for the millionth time that I knew the countercharm to Dumbledore's spell. I would've liked to see the bump.

I fell asleep at the windowsill, looking up at the sky, but woke up in bed, Severus arm wrapped tightly around my shoulder, my cheek resting on his nightgown. His breathing was uneven, I wondered what he was dreaming about.

I rolled over, his arm flopping to the side so that I could check the time. It was a few hours till sunrise, but I no longer felt tired.

I pulled out a new piece of paper and a pencil and though there was almost no light, I started on a drawing that I had wanted to draw for a very long time.

Severus always looked quite peaceful when he slept and it was a good muse for the drawing. Of course, I didn't know how the drawing was going to turn out, considering there was no light. I halfway let my subconscious take control, and halfway not.

I couldn't see the finishing piece, but I finally felt that I could sleep properly and without putting the artwork away, I fell asleep, my head resting on Severus' legs.

"You were restless last night." Severus murmured after he had shaken me awake so that I wasn't late for class.

"Couldn't sleep." I murmured, rolling out of bed and grabbing my robes.

"What's that?" Severus asked, leaning down and picking up a piece of paper. It was the drawing I had drawn last night.

I blushed, wondering how it had come out. Severus' eyes scanned the paper and his mouth curled into a smirk.

"Give me that." I muttered, reaching to snatch the piece of paper out of his hand. He held it out of my reach and I glared at him.

"Great detail." Severus said, openly grinning now. "I hope you weren't planning on selling this one?"

I jumped, grabbing the paper, and turned the drawing to face me. It'd come out better than I had thought. He was right, there was great detail to this drawing, though no where close to the detail I'd give the mystery drawings or the Professor drawings.

I blushed deeper, folding the sexual drawing up, and handed it to him. "No, I wasn't going to sell it. You can keep it if you want."

I grabbed my bag, pulling it over my shoulder. I kissed him on the cheek and hurried out of the office so that I could grab breakfast before class.

Trang met me halfway to the Great Hall and I felt the impending doom of the Quidditch questions coming.

Indeed, the minute we sat down, refreshingly at the Ravenclaw table, she started with, "You're not playing the Quidditch game are you?"

"I've already discussed this with Severus and we feel that there is no danger if I play." I said as firmly as possible while pulling over chocolate muffins.

Trang dropped her mouth, her fork dangling carelessly from her fingers. I wondered if I was starting to see everything as art, each moment a pause in time, a drawing that could be captured. I wasn't so sure Trang would like if I drew her at this exact moment though.

"You're kidding, right?"

I sighed, peeling away the wrapper. I wasn't supposed to have chocolate or muffins or chocolate muffins but I was feeling rebellious this week, and I figured my little girl needed to taste sugar so she grew a sweet tooth anyways.

"No. Trang. I'm not kidding. Especially since we're playing Gryffindor, I'm in no danger and neither is the child." I bit into the sugary mess and was immediately satisfied. I should eat like this more often. Oh wait. . . no I couldn't.

"You promised-"

"I promised not to get into fights with Death Eaters and I extended that to duels in school." I replied, a bit sharper than intended. "I did not promise to stop flying or hand over my captainship. I kept my captain ship all last year despite Umbitches attempts to 'dethrone' me. I don't plan on just handing it over for no reason!"

"But the baby!" Trang complained.

"Trang!" I said sharply, putting my muffin down. "I've already told you that I've talked it over with Sev. If he's okay with it, then it's okay."

Trang hands were clenched into fists on the table, quivering. I got up abruptly from the table, storming off to potions where Harry was star boy and Hermione and I were second-hand for the first time in our lives. Bloody frustrating.

Saturday approached. Trang and I hadn't spoken since our spat at the Ravenclaw table. Severus seemed almost nervous this morning and eventually, his nerves became my nerves because I couldn't help it.

I went down to the Quidditch pitch early so that I could sit by myself in the Hufflepuff locker room. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall.

An hour later, the other teammates started to come in, chattering quickly and excitedly and I quickly started to get into my own robes.

The match time drew closer and I looked out the door. "Alright Anthony, James, you'll want to fly out of the sun." I commanded and I was glad my voice was sound and sure, "That way the other team won't see the bludgers coming. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry told his own beaters to do that so be on the lookout. Susan, up to your post."

Susan flew up to the Keeper's post on our end. I noticed McLaggen was already in his spot. I walked out with the rest of my team.

Harry and I stood opposite each other and shook hands cordially, grins on both of our faces. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and we all streaked upwards. My nerves turned into adrenaline and I shot up higher than any of the other players, looking down for the snitch.

Harry was looking for the snitch so that he could get back to the castle and find out what Draco was doing. That was the wrong mindset for the game.

"And that's Smith of Hufflepuff with the Quaffle. He did the commentary last time, of course, and Ginny Weasley flew into him, I think probably on purpose, it looked like it." A dreamy voice echoed through the stadium and I pulled up short in amazement, right next to Harry, and looked towards the commentator post. "Smith was being quite rude about Gryffindor, I expect he regrets it now he's playing them-oh look, he's lot the Quaffle, Ginny took it from him, I do like her, she's very nice. . ."

While I had foreseen Luna commentating Quidditch, I hadn't quite expected this. I noticed all the Quidditch players had frozen for a moment, looking at Luna before moving into motion again. Harry and I exchanged a glance, and we both shook our heads in amazement before we darted off in opposite directions.

Luke took the Quaffle from Ginny. It was a good play too. I ducked a bludger but it didn't come to close. I really needed to keep any eye on the bludgers as well as the snitch.

". . . now that big Hufflepuff player's got the Quaffle from her, I can't remember his name, it's something like Chaddle- no Clartin-"

"It's Cholderton!" Professor McGonagall shouted from behind Luna, loudly enough to be heard through the magical megaphone. The crowd laughed. It was an entertaining commentary.

A moment later, Luke scored. I looked over just long enough to see that McLaggen had been shouting at Ginny, rather than watching where the Quaffle was.

"And Harry Potter's now having an argument with his Keeper. I don't think that'll help him find the Snitch, but maybe it's a clever ruse."

Below, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins were jeering at the Gryffindors. Imagine Slytherins being on your side.

Both Ginny and the other girl chaser on the team whose name started with a D scored a goal and then Luke scored a second one. The game continued on though Luna was trying to draw attention to shapes in the clouds. Zacharias hadn't taken possession of the Quaffle once since his fumble in the beginning and Luna was starting to mention that he might have Loser's Lurgy.

While entertaining, I certainly couldn't have Zacharias with any condition and I zoomed over on my broom.

"What's going on?" I asked while McGonagall shouted that we were up thirty points after Rose scored a goal.

"I just can't seem to play." Zacharias said through gritted teeth. "That Luna-"

"It's all in your head." I snapped, "You're one of my best chasers. Now get out there and show me that you are."

"And now Elizabeth's yelling at Zacharias. Or maybe they're just talking, I'm not sure. I like Elizabeth, she's very popular. It's also rumored that she's working on a surprise for the Professors, but it might not be true."

I blushed. "Bloody hell Luna."

Zacharias grinned, "I think I can score some goals now."

We both sped off into different directions.

"Oh look! The Gryffindor Keeper's got hold of one of the Beat's bats." Luna announced dreamily.

I pulled up short and watched as Harry pelted towards McLaggen. Cormac took a swing, mishit, and the bludger collided with Harry who started to fall.

At that moment, I caught the sign of gold and I dropped, diving after the snitch. I no longer had to compete against anyone to catch this snitch (though I wasn't particularly glad about it). I just hoped that Harry's teammates had enough sense to catch him.

The Gryffindors were moaning and the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins were cheering. I reached out, grabbing the snitch. While originally, I'd seen us winning three hundred and twenty to sixty, the real score under my captainship was two hundred and forty to fifty.

I landed, the rest of the Hufflepuff team catching up to me and we headed off to the lockers amongst the cheers of the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.

"Brilliant game everyone." I said cheerfully, wanting to find Trang and shake an apology from her but also wanting her to come herself and apologize herself.

"Loser's Lurgy." Rose chortled. "Zacharias has Loser's Lurgy."

"What a little brat." Zacharias muttered under his breath and Rose stuck her tongue out at him, skipping to the locker room.

"McLaggen is unbelievable." Susan said, shaking her head as the rest of us entered the locker room.

"He's in some of my classes." Luke said unexpectedly. He reminded me of Malcolm. He was usually very quiet- I'd only ever heard him say a few words. "Because he knows people in high places he automatically thinks he knows everything."

"Including how to play every Quidditch position apparently." James piped up, putting his beaters bat into the locker.

"You're coming to the party right?" Susan asked as we walked up the slop. Anthony and James were ahead. Rose and Zacharias walked on either side of her. Luke was somewhere behind us.

"Yes." I said. "But I'll be a few minutes late. I want to go and check on Harry on the hospital wing."

"Alright." Susan said as we entered the castle, "See you then."

We split off into opposite directions and I found my way to the hospital wing and stepped inside. Ginny was already there, sitting in a wooden chair between Harry and Ron's beds and was telling Ron what had happened.

"How is he?" I asked, pulling up a chair and sitting next to Harry.

"Cracked skull." Ginny said, looking worried. "I think the rest of the team is going to kill McLaggen. Well-" She sucked air up her nose and spat out, "except Dean."

I looked away, not wanting to get into the middle of everyone else's love business. "Dean laughed?"

"Yes!" Ginny said hotly. "Actually, I think I'm going to go kill McLaggen now!"

She got up, storming out of the hospital wing. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Did McLaggen really do that bad?" Ron asked, sounding hopeful.

"Yes." I said honestly. I would much rather play Gryffindor with McLaggen as Keeper than Ron at this moment. "He kept trying to act as captain and tell the others what they were doing wrong rather than paying attention to what he was supposed to be doing himself."

Ron looked happy about that and then said, "I hope Luna commentates from now on."

I chuckled. "So do I."

I got up, kissed Harry's cheek, and then left the room to go and join the party.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞, I joined Hermione, Harry, and Ron as they were walking down to the Great Hall for breakfast. I was quite glad that Hermione and Ron were friends again and this felt more normal- the four of us.

"Ginny and Dean rowed last night." Hermione mentioned as we walked down the marble staircase.

"What did they row about?" Harry asked casually. A small girl dropped heavy brass scales as we approached. I glared at her, keeping my mouth shut.

"It's all right! Here. . ." Hermione said, hurrying forward the repairing the brass scales.

"I swear they're getting smaller." Ron said after we'd passed the small girl.

"Never mind her, what did Ginny and Dean row about, Hermione?" Harry asked, sounding impatient.

"Oh, Dean was laughing about McLaggen hitting that Bludger at you." Hermione said.

"It must've looked funny." Ron consented.

"It didn't look funny at all! It looked terrible and if Coote and Peakes hadn't caught Harry he could have been very badly hurt!" Hermione replied hotly.

"Yeah, well, there was no need for Ginny and Dean to split up over it, or are they still together?" Harry asked, the casualness not so casual.

"Yes, they are- but why are you so interested?" Hermione asked sharply.

"I just don't want my Quidditch team messed up again!"

"Harry!" A dreamy voice called.

"Oh, hi, Luna." Harry said, turning to face her.

"I went to the hospital wing to find you but they said you'd left. . ." Luna said, thrusting a green onion, a spotted toadstool, and possibly cat litter into Ron's arms. "I've been told to give you this." She handed Harry a roll of parchment that was most likely from Dumbledore.

"Tonight." Harry said to Ron, Hermione, and I after he unrolled and skimmed through it.

"Nice commentary last match!" Ron said to Luna as he handed her stuff back over to her.

Luna smiled at him vaguely, "You're making fun of me, aren't you? Everyone says I was dreadful."

"I loved it." I said sincerely.

"No, I'm serious!" Ron agreed. "I can't remember enjoying commentary more! What is this, by the way?" he added, holding up the onion which wasn't an onion.

"Oh, it's a Gurdyroot. You can keep it if you like, I've got a few of them. They're really excellent for warding off Gulping Plimpies."

She walked off, leaving Ron behind to laugh contentedly.

"You know, she's grown on me, Luna. I know she's insane, but it's in a good-" Ron started happily before he was cut off by Lavender Brown. "Hi?"

"C'mon." Harry muttered to Hermione and I and we sped up.

I distinctly heard Lavender murderously question Ron, "Why didn't you tell me you were getting out today? And why was she with you?"

"Oh yeah," Hermione said as we sat down at the Gryffindor table. "What was Luna talking about during the match yesterday Elizabeth?"

"Which part?" I asked, grinning.

"The thing for the teachers." she clarified.

I moved uncomfortably in my seat, "Oh well, it was supposed to be a surprise. I suppose Luna didn't know about that part."

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.

"I'll show you guys later." I said, slicing an apple into small pieces so I didn't have to bite into the apple.

"When?" Hermione asked.

"How about later today in the library. I'll be with a group of Hufflepuffs." I said.

"Sure." Harry said. "But it better be good considering all the suspense."

"It's not suspense." I said scornfully. "It's a secret. Students talk, you know? If we keep it amongst a few people, it'll stay quiet from the teachers. Not that Luna helped with that."

"Had you told Luna?" Hermione asked.

"No. It was only discussed amongst a few Hufflepuffs. Perhaps Ernie or Zacharias said something." I suggested, shrugging. "Or perhaps Rose told Grace and Grace spread it around."

"Rose plays well." Harry complimented.

"She does, doesn't she?" I smiled, sliding a piece of apple into the back of my mouth. "I was pleasantly surprised. She has a knack for dodging bludgers."

The rest of the conversation carried out onto the Quidditch matches and Hermione disappeared behind her newspaper. Gryffindor was most likely to win the cup this year, something I was both pleased and disappointed about. I wondered if the difference in the two scores would change things.

Around noon, I went to the library to partly work on my Herbology essay and partly to add some new details to the drawing before I showed it off the Hufflepuffs and Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

I was nowhere near finished, not even close. There were so many more details that needed to be done, especially with the Professors I either hadn't met like Kettleburn, Professors I didn't see any more like Quirrell, Lockhart, and Umbridge, or Professors I simply didn't have like Burbage from Muggle studies.

To top it all off, besides Hagrid, Severus, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Uncle Moody, Firenze, and Dad, I didn't really have the details memorized from all the other Professors which made things quite difficult when trying to call up specific details. Moles, wrinkles, stress lines, the lights of their eyes, the skin deformities, the shapes of their eyes, noses, mouths, ears, hair, their height, crooked shoulders, bent knees, etc.

I knew that the sketch would never be perfect. What I needed to do was to get it to a point of satisfaction for everyone except for me. Only the artist sees the flaws in their own work where others don't. (Except perhaps art critics).

I decided to work on the Herbology essay first because that didn't need to be as perfect as the drawing and would take less time.

Halfway through however, there was an interruption in the form of a person: Trang.

She sat down across from me, red eyed, and with a stuffy nose. I knew she'd been crying and though we'd fought, I immediately set aside my essay to talk to her. I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry." Trang whispered, "You were right. There was no danger after all."

I sighed. "Look, Trang, I'm sorry. In a way, you were right. Something could've gone wrong, something could've happened. At the same time, I don't want to live my life in a safety box, you know?"

Trang smiled hesitantly, "Yes, I know. You never could do that."

I smiled, pulling back the essay and finishing off the last paragraphs. Then I pulled out the art drawing.

"What more do you need to do on this?" Trang asked, frowning at the drawing.

"Lots and lots of details." I said, not taking my eyes off the drawing and pulling out my pencil. "I'm going to have to find and excuse to see some of these Professors. I've got a picture of Lockhart and Umbridge, but Quirrell is going to be harder. Plus I've never met Kettleburn and Grubby-Plank is hard to pull up as well. Not to mention the Professors I've only had for a year like Burbage. I have to do these people justice, and the details are quite difficult." I paused for a second and then said, "Plus, I'd like to add myself into the drawing."

"Like an artists mark." Trang stated in a matter-of-fact way.

"Exactly." I said, my voice rising in excitement. "I think I'm going to do it in cat form. No one will find that weird because McGonagall has a cat on her shoulder, Filch is holding Mrs. Norris, and Fang is by Hagrid's feet. I just don't know where I want myself to be, you know? I was thinking by Firenze's feet but I'm also Severus' wife, but I Severus doesn't exactly show his um. . . what do you call it. . . emotional side to anyone else and him holding a cat isn't as realistic as the drawing could be. So I'm not entirely sure where-"

"In your dad's arms." Trang said and it was such a simple suggestion and the obvious one that I kind've just stared at her for a moment. "What? It'll bind the love that you two have between the two of you in a symbolic and permanent way even after we're all dead."

"Your completely, totally right." I whispered. "Though of course, I'll have to take out the tank under his arm."

"Not necessarily." Trang suggested, tilting the paper slightly to the left instead of getting up and coming around the other side of the table to look at it. "The cat could be drawn by his feet. Or he could be holding you to his shoulder with one hand."

"Of course. . ." I whispered, picking up the paper and holding it up to the light. "Genius Trang! Genius!"

"What's genius?" A new voice said and I quickly rolled the paper automatically, feeling stupid when I saw that it was Ernie, Justin, and Zacharias.

"Is that the drawing?" Justin asked.

"Yes." I said. "I'm just waiting for the others to show so I can show all of you at once."

"Let's go over here." Zacharias said, jerking his head. I carried the drawing while Trang picked up my things and we headed to a corner of the library.

It was circular shaped, bookcases all around. I stayed with my back to the wall so that no one could appear from behind us. There were chairs that were angled around a small coffee table. Ernie, Justin, Zacharias, and Trang all took seats nearest to me. Very soon, Susan and Hannah entered and hurried over.

Rose followed by herself some moments later.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry came in last, settling around with us.

"So what is it?" Ron asked bluntly.

I gave the credit where it was due. "Susan came up with the idea, at least to the best of my knowledge, I wasn't paying attention to the conversation. Anyways, they said we should come up with a graduating present. A token of appreciation to our teachers. I took this a bit literally. . ." I carefully unrolled the drawing, facing it towards them on the coffee table.

"When you meant all of them. . ." Harry said slowly, observing Professor Moody's details.

"All of them." I said solidly. "None of us had Kettleburn, granted, but he was still an incredibly important teacher and he was technically here when we were here."

"This is amazing!" Rose declared. She'd left her seat, kneeling by the coffee table.

"Thanks Rose." I said gently.

"I can't believe you're done already." Zacharias said, his neck cinching a little as he turned his head to look at the drawing rather than stand up to look at it.

Trang snorted, "Done? You should've heard her earlier. Going on about details. She's apparently nowhere close to done."

Hannah's face was quite impressed. She came back after Christmas break with the rest of us. She'd been unusually quiet, but I didn't blame her in the least.

Ernie was also being unusually quiet, observing the drawing as though he had to take a test on it later. I was slightly amused.

"So?" I asked, "How's the rough draft?"

Ernie chuckled. "Rough draft."

"It's wonderful Elizabeth." Hermione said, practically glowing with happiness. "You've captured all of them so well."

"You should make Professor Snape grumpier." Ron pointed out. "He looks to kind in this drawing."

My eyes met Harry's for the briefest second and I said, "Well, I was trying to make them all look a bit nicer."

"Yes, I can tell with Mrs. Norris." Susan said, "Even Filch looks a bit happy in this one."

"That was inspirational." I said honestly. "After Mrs. Norris was unpetrified, I saw him holding her and he looked quite happy."

"I would definitely pay to see a drawing of Professor Snape smiling." Justin said with a laugh.

"Oh, one second." I said, giddy with pleasure. I was human after all and I did like compliments to my drawings. "I was doing some portraits. Pay me for this."

I handed him the artpad, page already up of Severus smiling, standing by the window, holding out his hand.

"Wow." Justin said, laughing and passing the artpad around. "That's. . . wow."

The drawing brought on laughs. After all, no one had ever seen Severus smile before. Harry met my eyes again and gave me a slight nod. I gave him a small smile before sticking the art pad into my bag. Trang gave me a smile as well.

"Well." I said. "I must admit that's all I had. I just wanted opinions, criticisms. I'll take into account of S- Professor Snape looking grumpier. I was also hoping you guys could give advice on what each Professor could be holding or wearing that might contribute to their subject. For instance, Professor Lupin was holding the Grindylow tank or Professor Burbage holding the rotary telephone- that's a Muggle thing. Anyways, I don't need suggestions now but if you guys write down a list or something I can utilize it in the final drawings, deal?"

"Deal." Came multiple responses.

"Great." I said with a broad grin and we all left the library at different times.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

"𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 tell stories?" Severus asked sleepily late that night.

"Through my art, you mean?" I asked, rolling over so I could see part of his face in the moonlight.

"No, I mean physical stories. I know you wrote a couple before giving up the hobby." Severus said, putting an arm around me to pull my closer though he was looking up at the ceiling rather than at me.

"No." I said softly, looking at the wall. "I've never told an adequate story without artwork."

"So if you had a piece of artwork, you could tell a story." Severus said.

I got up on my elbows to get a better look at him, "Why?"

"Something I was simply curious about." Severus said smoothly, pulling me down to the bed again. I gave in, pressing my lips to his warm bare skin.

I looked at him for a moment and then rolled over out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Severus asked. I heard the bedsprings creak and knew he was probably sitting up.

"I'll be right back, I promise." I said gently, turning into a cat and padding out of the room.

I made my way to the Hufflepuff common room. I probably should've put clothes on, I realized too late. I morphed, quickly entered the password and turned back into a cat before anyone could see me. I slinked upstairs to the dorm.

The other girls were asleep and I padded over to where I'd locked the drawings. I morphed again, pulling the blanket off my bed and draping it over me while I unlocked the drawer, pulling out a specific drawing.

It was the drawing of a shop filled with keys. Keys in jars, keys hanging from the ceiling, keys hanging in the garden, keys under class cases and such. There was an old man, rearranging jars on a shelf, his face turned away so that only the back of him could be seen.

I locked the dresser again, turning back into a cat and, carrying the drawing in my small mouth, made my way back to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office.

After my long black tail slipped through the thin opening of the office door, I turned back into a human and closed the door behind me. Severus was grinning from where he was sitting on the bed and I rolled my eyes.

I lit a candle as I passed by, carrying it over near the bed. I handed Severus the drawing.

I touched the drawing too, wondering if this would work. But if I could believe Severus' hypothesis to be true, then if I reached into my subconscious, this could work.

I closed my eyes, the image of the drawing appearing into the back of my mind and I almost back out of the experiment. This was too weird, to much magic for a magical world. But was it? I took a deep breath and then started to speak in a voice that was my own and yet, also not my voice.

"Once there was a man who collected keys. Old keys and new keys and broken keys. Lost keys and stolen keys and skeleton keys. He carried them in his pockets and wore them on chains that clattered as he walked around the town. Everyone in the town knew the key collector. Some people though his habit strange but the key collector was a friendly sort and had a thoughtful air and a quick smile. If someone lost a key or broke a key they could ask the key collector and he would usually have a replacement that would suit their needs. It was often faster than having a new key made. The key collector kept the most common shapes and sizes of keys always at hand, in case someone was in need of a key for a door or a cupboard or a chest."

The man almost seemed to move, walking from the jars to the counter where the large tubs of keys were kept. His face was in view now.

"The key collector was not possessive about his keys. He gave them away when they were needed. (Though often people would have a new key made anyway and return the one they had borrowed). People gave him found keys or spare keys as gifts to add to his collection. When they traveled they would find keys to bring back with them, keys with unfamiliar shapes and strange teeth. (They called the man himself the key collector but a great many people aided with the collecting.)"

Severus fingers trailed up and down my spine, distracting me momentarily.

"Eventually the key collector had too many keys to carry and began displaying them around his house. He hung them in the windows on ribbons like curtains and arranged them on bookshelves and framed them on walls. The most delicate ones he kept under glass or in boxes meant for jewels. Others were piled together with similar keys, kept in buckets or baskets."

As I spoke, I saw each thing that was talked about. Keys hanging in windows though I'd never drawn that. Clearer details of the keys under the glass boxes then from the angle originally drawn. I finally knew what some people talked about drawings coming to life though I thought mine had more sustenance.

"After many years the entire house was filled near to bursting with keys. They hung on the outside as well, over the doors and the windows and draped from the eaves of the roof. The key collector's house was easily spotted from the road.

"One day there was a knock upon his door.

"The key collector opened the door to find a pretty woman in a long cloak on his doorstep. He had never seen her before, nor had he seem embroidery of the sort that trimmed her cloak: star-shaped flowers in gold thread on dark cloth, too fine for travel though she must have traveled far. He did not see a horse or a carriage and supposed she might have left them at the inn for no one passed through this town without staying at the inn and it was not far.

"'I have been told you collect keys,' the woman said to the key collector.

'"I do,' said the key collector, though this was obvious. There were keys hanging above the doorway where they stood, keys on the walls behind him, keys in jars and bowls and vases on the tables.

"'I am looking for something that has been locked away. I wonder if one of your keys might unlock it.'

'"You are welcome to look,' the key collector said and invited the woman inside.

"He considered asking the woman what manner of key she sought so he might help her look but he knew how difficult it was to describe a key. To find a key you had to understand the lock.

"So the key collector let the woman search the house. He showed her every room, every cabinet and bookshelf line with keys. The kitchen with its teacups and wineglasses filled with keys, save for the few that were used more frequently, empty and waiting for wine or for tea.

"The key collector offered the woman a cup of tea but she politely refused. He left her to her searching and sat in the front parlor where she could find him if she needed and he read a book.

"After many hours the woman returned to the key collector.

"'It is not here,' she said. 'Thank you for letting me look.'

"'There are more keys in the back garden,' the key collector said, and led the woman outside.

"The garden was festooned with keys, strung from ribbons in a rainbow of colors. Keys tied with bows hung from trees and bouquets of keys displayed in glazed pots and vases. Birdcages with keys hung on the tiny swings inside with no birds to be seen. Keys set into the paving stones along the garden paths. A bubbling fountain contained piles of keys beneath the water, sunken like wishes.

"The light was fading so the key collector lit the lanterns.

"'It is lovely here,' the woman said. She began to look through the garden keys, keys held by statues and keys wound around topiaries. She stopped in front of a tree that was just starting to blossom, reaching out to a key, one of many hanging from red ribbons.

"'Will that key suit your lock?' the key collector asked.

"'More than that,' the woman answered. 'This is my key. I lost it a very long time ago. I'm glad it found its way to you.'

"'I am glad to return it,' the key collector said. He reached up to untie the ribbon for her, leaving it hanging from the key in her hand.

"'I must find a way to repay you,' the woman said to the key collector.

"'No need for that' the key collector told her. 'It is my pleasure to help reunited you with your locked-away thing.'

"'Oh,' the woman said, 'It is not a thing. It is a place,'

"She held the key out in front of her at a height above her waist where keyhole might have been if there was a door and part of the key vanished. The woman turned the key and an invisible door unlocked in the middle of the key collector's garden. The woman pushed the door open.

"The key and its ribbon remained hanging in midair.

"The key collector looked through the door into a golden room with high arched windows..."

I drifted off and Severus looked at me sharply, bringing me back to reality. For a moment, seeing the images play inside my house, it felt real.

"What?" Severus asked.

"I drew the place that the man is describing." I said softly, mad at myself for breaking the spell. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to finish the story. But Severus prodded me and I closed my eyes again.

"Dozens of candles stood on tables laid for a great feast. He heard music playing and laughter coming from out of sight. Through the windows he could see waterfalls and mountains, a sky brightly lit by two moons and countless stars reflected in a shimmering sea. The woman walked through the door, her long cloak trailing over the golden tiles. The key collector stood in his garden, staring. The woman took the key

"on its ribbon from its lock.

"She turned back to the key collector. She raised a hand in invitation, beckoning him forward.

"The key collector followed.

"The door closed behind him.

"No one ever saw him again."

⬅️➡️

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