the day before you came - severus snape x reader

Chapter 29 - So Long

I could not NOT wrote smut. Look at the title. Smh. x

The game goes on, no real breather in sight, and the last few days before break fly by in the blink of an eye, silent, calm, serene; classes are more of a peaceful, cozy get-together now, and your detention plays along as well.

Your Potions Master is quiet in the evenings, and casual in his lessons. "A Christmas miracle", Harry whispers in your ear as you're hunched over your cauldron of bubbling Liquid Luck, and you chuckle and peep at your relaxed Professor. The unclenched jaw suits him well, and when he locks eyes with you and smiles, your knees get weak.

A Christmas miracle indeed.

Detention's good, an ongoing, calm workspace for both of you. He lets you do your last homework in peace, and you might as well be in the library during that time, it doesn't make a difference, except for the company – it's much nicer.

Although you exchange very little words, both still thinking about the secrets spilled and what if's of the future, some last lines of exhaustion grazing his face, you're happy and loosened.

On Wednesday, the first snowfall of the season covers the castle grounds in a soft, glittering white blanket, and the dancing snowflakes outside of the charmed dungeon window perform a hypnotizing ballet you're glued to, tumbler of exquisite fire whiskey in your left hand and Snape behind you, gaze flickering between your profile and the soft blizzard, caressing your lower back in steady, innocent silence.

On Thursday, you're both finishing the last remains of work for this schoolyear, the monotonous scratching of quills against bilging parchment playing a quiet duet with the crackling firewood when the deep rumbling baritone cuts through the stillness.

"I'm meeting Lucius tonight."
You've silently agreed on keeping a little distance after your talk, allowing each other to process everything in your own time, so you're looking up through your lashes in surprise and raise your brows.

"Oh?", you answer, and your voice sounds a tad more amused than it probably should, because Snape narrows his eyes, half playfully, half annoyed, and shoots you a warning look, clenched jaw and everything.

"He hopes to see the dungeon's finest again", he snarls after a few seconds, sounding a lot more strained now.

"I thought I was quite clear on the last encounter."

You chuckle and lay your feather down, homework forgotten at his almost adorable possessiveness.

"But you were unsuccessful", you state.

"Obviously."
His grimace turns your amused smile into right laughter.

"Not jealous, eh?", you tease him, and wink.

He rolls his eyes at you and stands up from his desk, stretching his arms up above his head and rolling his shoulders gracefully. He's not wearing his usual cloak tonight, so you have a perfect look at every bulging muscle through the tight-fitted, black fabric of his clothes, and you swallow softly as heat rises to your cheeks. He looks like a panther ready to pounce.

"Make of that what you want, little girl", he sighs. "I'm just trying to protect you."

You scoff and cross your arms over your chest as he lazily approaches you, and you lean slightly back into your chair.

"And I told you that I can very well protect myself."

He cocks his brow, and you blush at the sulking tone of your voice, sounding like a pouting child instead of an independent woman, and then you blush some more when he lowers himself on your table, casually leaning on his elbows over your parchment, intimidating and terribly attractive.