The Assistant || Severus Snape x Reader ||

Chapter 9: Snape's Office

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A/N: Just another reminder that this story isn't totally in line with the HP series. However, I do sort of put Harry, Ron, Hermione, etc. to be in their third year! 

"You're tense, Severus."

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After a successful session with Lavender, your schedule was free for the rest of the day. Although you had completed all of the tasks that Severus had assigned for you to do, you still wanted to peek in on him.

The halls trails behind you as you made your way to his office in the dungeons. Typically, he kept the door to his office closed to avoid being pestered and bothered by students in need of entertaining themselves. 

You ignored the closed door, opening it and wincing at the echoing creak that ensued. When you peered inside his office, you noticed that Severus wasn't around. The time on your watch let you know that it was late afternoon, meaning that Severus should've been there by now. Severus sometimes would stop by Dumbledore's office after classes, so you weren't concerned. 

His office wasn't exactly what you would consider a 'happy place'. It didn't have any windows, and it was never fully illuminated. The candles and lanterns gave it just enough light, but they could only do so much. He didn't bother to give the room any real personality. It was a bit...depressing. But Severus liked it this way, and it was his safe space after all.

The chair that was positioned behind his desk was tucked underneath neatly, which was disrupted when you took it upon yourself to sit in it. You propped your feet up on the desk, taking a glance around his office. The room was always so quiet. It was a wonder how he ever could get anything done when the silence was so loud. Surely he played music or something to drown out the silence.

It didn't take long for you to get bored. There wasn't exactly any real entertainment in his office. You remembered the rubber ball in your pocket, which was rightfully chosen to keep you busy until Severus showed up. Fred Weasley, another one of your dearest friends, had given it to you. There was no telling what the ball could really do. It hadn't spontaneously combusted yet, so it was safe to play with as far as you knew.

Your wrist flicked to toss the ball back and forth against the adjacent wall. You would catch it, toss it back, catch it again, repeat. With one bad throw, it hit the corner of one of his bookcases and caused the ball to shoot out the door and down the hall.

You scrambled from where you sat, racing to get it before it rolled away. You were abruptly stopped when you crashed into a tall, hard frame in the doorway. You caught your stumble, grinning when you saw Severus with a raised brow and your bouncy ball in hand.

"Does this belong to you?" He asked, obviously knowing it did.

"Yes," You said plucking it from his hand. "Thanks."

"If you were Mr. Weasley I would've taken it from you." He stated, brushing past you to enter his office.

"Which one?" You smirked.

"Any of them." 

You scoffed. You really didn't understand why he had it out for the Weasleys. Particularly Ron and his friend Potter.

"Well, let's be glad I'm not a Weasley then." You said casually, bouncing the ball on the floor and catching it as it rose back up.

A ghost of a smirk appeared on his face at the thought of you being a Weasley sibling. What an odd thought.

"You know I don't have anything for you for the rest of the day. Not that I don't enjoy your company, but I'm sure you have other things to be doing." He said, internally hoping you wouldn't leave.