Hope For The Hopeless (Severus Snape x Reader)

The Potion

Christmas preparations had begun at Hogwarts. Minerva had, as usual, taken names of all the students staying at school for Christmas. Sweeping your eyes over the list you noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione would all be here for the holidays; you were glad Harry wouldn't be alone. For 7 years you were on the list, it would never be the same as the family Christmases your friends would talk about but you were well accustomed to Hogwarts festivities. You were looking forward to the break, not that you were going anywhere, but to step back from work to pursue your own interests easier.

The teaching staff would also be down to a skeleton crew. Albus, Minerva, the ever aloof Sybill Trelawney, and yourself. You would be occupying the dungeons alone for two weeks; the thought was both relieving and saddening. Relieving because you would no longer have to carefully time leaving your quarters to avoid Severus and saddening because he wouldn't be there. What a ridiculously confusing situation you found yourself in.

Made even more confusing by being lumped on Hogsmeade duty with him at the weekend. It wasn't a difficult job, you just had to make sure the students weren't running amok in the village but after a full week of teaching, you didn't want to be freezing your arse off and trudging through snow. Not that the lessons were difficult either, they had started to wind down somewhat for the holidays, teachers becoming laxer and the pupils losing their attention span thinking of home or presents. Unsurprisingly, Severus was not one of those teachers, nor did he let the pupils relax. He did, however, allow you to teach the sixth years in their last period on Friday; you couldn't be sure of his motivations but you surmised it was to get a free period after some Bicorn Horn and Boomslang skin had gone missing from his stores. Sounded like someone was trying to make Polyjuice Potion, in your opinion.

When Saturday came it was freezing and the sky completely grey. The only reason it was remotely bright out was the blanketing of snow on the ground, which continued to fall elegantly from above. It had laid thick and slogging through it made your leg ache but you distracted yourself enough by making small talk with a couple of your students.

"What's Professor Snape doing on the trip, Professor l/n?" Sidney had asked.

"Well, he's doing the same as I am, making sure you rowdy lot don't upset the townsfolk," you replied jovially, hugging yourself for warmth.

"But he's never come before, Professor. Rumour has it that Dumbledore doesn't ever make him. Probably because he's so bloody grumpy!"

You raised your eyebrows to the boy, "You should probably watch who you say that in front of."

"Idiot," his friend muttered from Sidney's other side, - "Imagine saying that in front of another teacher."

"Yeah, but Professor l/n is actually alright. She's not as old and boring as all the rest," he replied huffily to his friend.

You laughed, "I can assure you I am very boring. Watch your mouth from now on, I might be younger but I'm still a teacher and Professor Snape is my colleague. I can't let you bad mouth him, I'm afraid." Even if it is true.

Sidney rolled his eyes, "Yeah alright, Miss, sorry."

"Anyway, stop talking to this old, boring woman now. I think Felicity Goodstone would like your attention," you said as you tilted your head in the direction of the blonde-haired girl. Sidney blushed and hurried off in front, saying a quick goodbye as he went. You looked behind to see if there were any stragglers as you entered the village but there didn't appear to be any, you quickly scanned through the shops to make sure no one was making a fuss or needed you and then started to browse for yourself.

The shops were adorned with Christmas decorations and windows were full of goods to entice custom. The students mainly congregated at Honeydukes and Zonko's joke shop for obvious reasons. You did want to go to Honeydukes yourself, knowing Harry Potter wasn't going to receive many gifts, you'd decided you would buy him a selection of sweets to gorge on over the holidays. You'd try later though when the crowds had died down.