Concealed Affections | Severus X Reader|

3.

Weeks had passed since the unexpected kiss between Y/N and Severus Snape, and the once burgeoning connection between them had grown increasingly strained. Snape had become markedly distant, a shift that left Y/N feeling unsettled and confused. Each time she passed him in the hallways, he would avert his gaze or turn his head as if she were invisible. This change in behavior was both baffling and disheartening, leaving her to question whether she had misinterpreted their shared moment or done something to cause this rift.

As the days dragged on, the weight of unresolved tension between them became unbearable. Y/N's initial confusion had turned into a deep sense of regret and concern. She needed to understand why Snape had suddenly withdrawn and whether their brief moment of closeness had inadvertently driven him away.

One chilly morning, Y/N noticed that she had a few spare minutes before her next class. The clock on the wall read 8:44, and she decided it was the perfect opportunity to confront Snape and seek answers. Gathering her resolve, she made her way to his classroom, her footsteps echoing softly in the deserted corridor.

Approaching the door to Snape's classroom, Y/N saw it slightly ajar, just enough for her to see the dim interior illuminated by the flickering light of the torches on the walls. The room was filled with the scent of potions and the faint rustling of parchment as Snape moved about, preparing for the day's lessons.

She reached out to knock but hesitated when she heard Snape's voice from within. "No need to knock. I know you're there."

Surprised by his immediate acknowledgment, Y/N pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Oh, well, I need to talk to you," she said, her voice betraying her nerves.

Snape glanced up from his desk, his expression inscrutable. "About?"

"About that night," Y/N said, her gaze dropping to the floor as she struggled to find the right words. The memory of their kiss felt like a phantom hovering between them.

Snape's eyes remained fixed on his work, a frown creasing his brow. "And why do you want to talk about that?"

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "I feel like you're avoiding me because of that night," she admitted, her eyes still on the floor, unable to meet his gaze.

Snape paused, his quill hovering above a stack of parchment. He seemed to gather his thoughts, but before he could respond, Y/N interrupted with a desperate urgency. "And I'm really sorry that I kissed you."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Snape stopped what he was doing and looked up, a mixture of surprise and something akin to relief crossing his face.

"Y/N," he said slowly, his voice softer than she had heard in weeks.

But Y/N, caught in the swirl of her emotions, did not notice the change in his tone. She continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I wasn't thinking, and-"

"Y/N," Snape repeated, more insistently this time.

"Yes?" Y/N looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time since she entered the room.

"That's not why I'm avoiding you," Snape said, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity that stopped her in her tracks. "It's because-"

Before he could finish, the sharp clang of the bell interrupted them, signaling the start of the next period. The noise of students pouring into the hallway grew louder, and Y/N could hear the distant chatter and footsteps as they made their way to their classes.

"Well, you should get back to your classroom," Snape said, glancing at the clock on the wall, his expression softening with the urgency of the moment. "You and I have a class to teach."