Dancing in the Dark - A Severus Snape Love Story

1| The Potions Apprentice

a/n

Hello! This is my first attempt at a fanfic, so please be kind. None of the images, characters or the story this inspiration is taken from belong to me. This is loosely based on characters and events but does not follow the actual storyline. 

I am posting just a few chapters to test the waters. If anyone is interested I do have more and will release the nAuGhTy chapters should they be requested. 

All lines in italics are the inner thoughts of our main character.

If you do not stan Snape, I respect you entirely. Please don't go out of your way to put down those of us who love him.

Mature audiences only. Drink some water. I love you.

- SincerelySlytherin

I believe every person comes into your life for a reason. I believe my entire life is shaped the way it is today because of the lives that have intertwined with mine. Because of these lives, I am now one step closer to who I am meant to be.

I'm still a long way off from knowing who exactly that is. However, beginning my new position as the Potions Apprentice is a pretty damn good start. Especially under the mentoring of Severus Snape, a man I deeply admire and occasionally crush on.

My interest in Potions began innocently enough. It was a place to push myself and really hone in on a craft that would take many lifetimes to perfect. It seemed as though Snape had already travelled a couple of lifetimes to get to where he is in his work. I was captivated immediately by the immense skill and discipline he held with the classes he taught.

Seven years later and I was top of the class. I could always feel the slight envy from my classmates when I produced near perfect potions. They all thought Snape favoured me, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact he was the hardest on me, it was like he wanted me to fail. 

But I honestly didn't care. 

Failure was only temporary and I always learned quickly from it. I started to get a kick out of his dark scowl, deepened by the fact that I had proven him wrong in both my wins and losses in class. I believe it was my unshakeable drive that convinced Snape to take me on as his Potions Apprentice, at least I wouldn't give up like most students.

I could have handled this position had it been left to just the work. But now that I'm 22, my brain has started allowing him into all kinds of thoughts. I admit I used spend more than one evening lying in my dormitory imagining his hands tracing my waist as I stir a potion. His lips brushing against my neck. Merlin... my thoughts went many places once I really let them get going... But enough of those, I realize now that I've been standing outside the classroom door for a good 15 minutes while being stuck in my thoughts.

How long Snape had been watching me stand there? I have no clue.

"Do you plan on entering within the millennium or shall I just close the door and get back to my work?" Snape spat, my hazel eyes blinking rapidly in shock. I adjusted my hair and silently walked past the tall, cloaked man into the classroom. This was not how I wanted our first day to go.

Failure is temporary

I could wallow forever, or just move on and make the most of this.

~~~

Before class we went over what would be expected of me, what my daily duties would be and the time I would have to dedicate to this position. I secretly jumped for joy when Snape told me I would have to spend a considerable number of hours in the classroom to get the marking, cleaning and planning done. However, I would take a break at 6 and he would break at 6:30 every night for dinner in the Great Hall. "Aww. Does that mean we won't be eating dinner together?" I said with a wink. His frown informed me that now was not the time for joking.

The first class went as expected. The first years were terrified, supplies were spilled across multiple work stations and a lengthy assignment due the following day was given.

As the disheartened students sulked out of the classroom I decided to speak up and inform them that I was available for extra help any time they needed. A few of the faces shot back a weak smile to me as they cleared out of the room. 

"Doing their work for them will teach them nothing Miss Cross" the slow voice said from the back of the classroom. 

"Sir, there is nothing wrong with asking for a little help." I retorted. 

"You cannot possibly expect them to learn if they do not figure it out for themselves." He shot back, his long hair falling over his eyes as he glided over to me. "We can all stand to learn something from each other, sir. Even you could learn something from me." 

Was he serious? How could anyone go through their lives figuring things out all on their own? Before I could even begin to question his logic, he disappeared into the back room with a huff.

This really wasn't my day.

I took my dinner in the Great Hall as instructed. However, I dined alone. I chose a seat at the end of the staff table and avoided anything more than the quick, polite exchanges regarding my day. There was way to much on my mind to even pretend to be present among my now co-workers.

That encounter left me rubbed the wrong way. I had half a mind to find him and apologize. But I didn't do anything wrong. Why am I so quick to say sorry even if it means I'm wrongfully letting the other person be right? 

Knowing I had only half and hour or so left of tidying up, I decided to just get my work done as quickly as possible and leave without another word to Severus. Upon returning to the classroom, I found that he was still absent. But I didn't mind, I needed time to figure out how we could work together without going for each other's throats.

As I finished up, I did a final scan of the room before leaving for the night. In my usual, passive and conflict dreading way, I left Severus a peace offering. Clearing a space in the middle of his desk, I carefully placed my slice of chocolate cake from dinner time. Surely the man didn't hate chocolate too? Remembering his rule about food being left behind in the classroom, I quickly scratched onto a piece of parchment 

"Maybe we can start with just dessert?"