the day before you came - severus snape x reader

Chapter 13 - Why Did It Have To Be Me

You make your way to the classroom the next morning, where your beloved cauldron awaits you, a bit relieved that it's your last tutoring for this semester after all. As interesting as it is, it eats up a good chunk of your time.

"Good morning, Professor", you chant when you enter the classroom.

"Good is a matter of perspective", he frowns. Oh, it's one of those moods today.

Still, you sit down in front of him and reach for your potions book while asking: "Is everything all right?"

"It is not", he growls and massages his temples.

"You got a headache?"

His eyes snap up at you. "I will if you keep talking. Now, open your book to page 394."

You raise your eyebrows, offended at his answer, but don't talk back.

You went over the basics once again in the last two hours, and your brain is exhausted. You thought that maybe, for the sake of this lesson, Snape would be in a better mood and you would actually do something fun, but his iron grip is impossibly harder than ever.

It's just like the other lessons – repeating theory, then brewing a concoction.

You sigh, completely knackered, but a glance at the clock reveals that you have yet another hour with him.

"Now", Professor Snape says and closes his book with a loud smack, tearing you out of your drowsy state.

"Let's test that little brain of yours. I hope that you've been attentive." He emphasizes the last word comically, stands up and enters the cramped storage next door. You lean back in your chair and try to catch a glimpse of the colourful phials that shimmer in the candlelight, but Snape shields his stock with his black coat and comes back with a small ampulla that contains a clear liquid, and a round bottle. Its shimmering fluid swirls around in all colours of the rainbows.

He puts it on the desk in front of you.

"Veritaserum and Amortentia."

You've heard of them and try to remember what you've read about these potions.

"Veritaserum - A Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for everyone to hear, though there are certain methods of resistance", you remember, awestruck. Your fingers gently graze the small bottle. But you can't remember what the other potion is for. Lust? Envy?

You look up at your Professor, a curious look in your eyes. "Can I try the Veritaserum?"
He tilts his head, astonished. "Excuse me?"

He looks truly surprised.

"Well, it would be fun, wouldn't it? We'd have something against each other, that's spicy", you joke.

Snape snorts, but he still looks slightly amazed. You're growing anxious, did you say something wrong?

"Are you teasing me?", he slowly asks. You frown, surprised.

"No, why would I?"

He hums. "No student ever asked me to try one of my potions, especially one this strong."

You laugh relieved. "Well, I also did not grow up with magic, so I think I am not a fitting comparison."

"Right...", he answers thoughtfully.

"So? Can I try or should I brew it first?"

Snape silently hands you a faded parchment and steps over to a shelf filled with different tubes.