Hope For The Hopeless (Severus Snape x Reader)

The Importance Of Conversation

“Y/n.” Minerva eyed you oddly as she stood in the doorway to her quarters. 

“Good morning, Minerva. Do you have plans? I wondered if you’d like to join me for a walk this morning?” you asked, smiling hopefully.

“And the reason for this walk?” You frowned, a bit taken aback by her blunt reply, you had thought she’d take you up on the offer without hesitation. Maybe you had just caught her at a bad time.

“Er, I jus...just thought we should catch up. I’ve barely seen you all week.” Your answer was partly true, it would be nice to catch up but you were also hopeful of dropping in a few questions related to a certain Professor.

“Okay, dear. Come in.” She opened her door further and ushered you inside.

Minerva’s quarters were bright and airy compared to your own, you felt a little green with envy as you scanned your eyes over it. You watched as she put away a book and cleared up a cup of tea then slowly shuffled her cloak on.

“Okay, lead the way." Her face was a mix of confusion and concern as she looked at you.

You tried to ignore it and started heading towards the nearest exit. “How has your first week been, Minerva?”

“Much the same as every other first week back; a lot of lost first years to look after. We’ve had a few weepy ones, missing home, you know? And quite a few over-excited ones but they’ll soon settle down.” She didn’t look or sound worried. A seasoned teacher at Hogwarts, she’d probably seen everything there is to see.

As you exited the building, the fresh morning air hit you; it was a warm start to the day and it threw your memories back to being a first-year. You weren’t scared like some or tearful like others; not able to miss home as you should have.

“y/n,” Minerva’s voice pulled you out of your 11-year-old head, - “Is everything okay? You seem…” she paused looking for the word, “...a little out of sorts."

Worry muddied her eyes as she looked at you.

“I’m just tired. It’s been a hectic week.” You hoped the small smile would relieve the worry, but it didn’t.

“How has it all gone? I hear glowing reports from Pomona, and Lockhart, well, he never shuts up about you. Although not to offend you, I don’t think that’s because of your work ethic!" She cocked her eyebrow in your direction.

Rolling your eyes at the thought of him, you had to defend your position. “I can assure you, whatever Lockhart thinks, I have in no way given him cause to believe we’re anything more than colleagues. He...he gives me a bad feeling, if I’m honest, Minerva."

She nodded her head, “I understand completely."

Now would be a good time to bring him up.

“So, Pomona and Lockhart are happy with my work, ha..have you heard anything from Professor Snape?” You felt your heart immediately race at asking and you hoped it was paranoia that was warming your cheeks and not a bout of blushing. “He’s just very hard to read and I’ve really enjoyed the potions classes so far."

The Whomping Willow came into view, Minerva stopped and looked at it; its branches still wrapped in bandages after its scuffle with the Ford Anglia. She didn’t answer your question immediately which set a worry in your stomach.

“It’s not often that I find myself not knowing what to say, y/n.” You really had no idea where this was going as she sighed, “I suppose he didn’t tell me not to say anything to you…” She mused to herself.

He? Severus? 

“I don’t want to speculate about what is happening between you and Severus but he came to me last night."