Concealed Affections | Severus X Reader|

4.

Snape embraced y/n tightly, the warmth and solace of the moment stretching on, feeling almost eternal. The comforting silence was suddenly interrupted by a sharp knock on the classroom door, causing both Snape and y/n to startle. Reluctantly, Snape released y/n and retreated to his desk, his expression masking the reluctance of the separation.

"Come in," Snape's voice was measured and calm, yet there was an underlying tension.

The door creaked open, and Professor McGonagall entered, her presence commanding and formal.

"Professor Dumbledore needs to speak with you," McGonagall announced crisply, her eyes briefly meeting y/n's before she turned her attention back to Snape.

As she began to close the door, she offered a brief nod towards y/n. "Oh, hello Professor L/N," she said, her voice tinged with mild surprise.

"Hi..." y/n responded softly, her gaze lingering on Snape before the door clicked shut.

"Well, I suppose I should head to Professor Dumbledore's office," Snape said, his voice betraying a hint of reluctance. He rose from his chair and began making his way toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room.

Before he could exit, Snape paused beside y/n, his face softened by a rare, gentle expression. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

He started to move away, but y/n reached out, her hand clasping his arm gently. With a hesitant smile, she drew him into a warm embrace. "Goodnight," she whispered into his ear.

Snape's lips curled into a faint, appreciative smile before he allowed her to step back. He nodded once more before slipping out of the classroom. Y/n watched him go, a mixture of concern and affection in her eyes. As soon as Snape was gone, she turned to leave herself.

Back in her own classroom, y/n tried to refocus on grading the stack of papers in front of her. She glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly 9:00 PM. Her thoughts, however, were consumed by Snape's meeting with Dumbledore. She realized with a jolt that she had completely forgotten about the detentions she had assigned.
____

Snape arrived at Dumbledore's office and found the headmaster seated behind his cluttered desk, his face etched with a serious expression.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Snape asked, his tone carefully controlled.

"Ah, yes," Dumbledore said, looking up from a stack of papers. "I need to discuss the Resurrection Stone with you."

Snape took a deep breath, steadying himself. He approached the desk with measured steps, every muscle in his body tense with anticipations.

Snape moved a step closer to Dumbledore, his curiosity evident. "Why do you need to talk about the Resurrection Stone, Professor?" he inquired, his voice steady but tinged with underlying concern.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles, and he allowed a small, enigmatic smile to play across his lips. "I wanted to inform you that Harry Potter will be coming to Hogwarts next year," he said.

The news struck Snape like a physical blow, and he let out a barely audible gasp, one so faint that it went unnoticed by Dumbledore. He opened his mouth to speak, but Dumbledore preempted him.

"That's not the primary reason for this meeting," Dumbledore continued, rising from his chair with a fluid grace. He began to pace slowly, his robes sweeping behind him. "I'm saving the Resurrection Stone for Harry, for when he's old enough to understand his past."

Dumbledore stopped pacing and faced Snape directly. "I am relying on you, Severus, to protect both Harry and the Resurrection Stone," he said firmly.

Snape's face betrayed a flicker of surprise. "Sir? May I use the stone one last time?" he asked, taking a hesitant step backward.

Dumbledore turned away momentarily, his expression thoughtful as he considered Snape's request. After a brief pause, he responded, "One last time, Severus. But that is all."

He walked back to his desk and rummaged through a drawer. Finally, he retrieved the Resurrection Stone and placed it on the polished wood surface. "Here," he said, extending it towards Snape.

Snape approached the desk, his hand trembling slightly as he took the stone into his grasp. He felt the weight of its significance as he held it, his mind racing with the implications of Dumbledore's instructions.

Meanwhile, y/n glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was exactly 9:00 PM. She turned to her students, who were shuffling their belongings. "You can go now," she said, her voice carrying a note of relief as they packed up and exited the room.

Sighing deeply, y/n muttered to herself, "I need a shower." She rose from her desk and moved towards the door, but a knock interrupted her plans.

"Come in," she called lazily.

The door opened, and Snape stepped into the room, his expression serious.

"Oh, hey, Prince," y/n greeted him, closing her notebook with a snap.

"Y/n/n," Snape began, his voice slightly hesitant, "I need to ask you something."

Y/n looked up from her desk, her curiosity piqued. "Which is?"

Snape took a deep breath, his brow furrowing as he gathered his thoughts. "Well, the weekend is coming up, and-" he started, but his voice trailed off uncertainly.

"And?" y/n prompted, raising an eyebrow.

Snape's mouth opened, but no words came out. His discomfort was palpable.

"Severus," y/n said with a small laugh, "you're acting like a teenager asking out their crush."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Snape's lips. "Yes, we can talk this weekend," y/n said, walking toward him. "Maybe you can give me some ideas on what to teach."

For the first time ever, Snape's smile broadened. It wasn't a grand smile, but it was genuine.

"Yea-" Snape began, but his sentence was abruptly cut off as Argus Filch burst into the classroom, followed by the Weasley twins, Fred and George.

"These two were wandering around outside your classroom," Filch announced, his voice laced with annoyance.

"What d-" Filch began to explain, but Snape cut him off.

"I can handle this," Snape said, his voice icy.

"Fifty-" Snape started, but y/n interjected.

"Now, now, Severus, were they doing anything else?" she asked, her tone diplomatic.

"Just walking around," Filch replied gruffly.

"Well, then," y/n said with a smile, "five points each from Gryffindor. Now you two better get back to your dorms." She directed her attention to the twins, who nodded vigorously before dashing away with Filch in pursuit.

Turning back to Snape, y/n offered him a warm, affectionate smile. "Goodnight," she said softly, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek before walking out of the classroom.

Snape watched her leave, a contemplative expression on his face. As y/n disappeared down the corridor, he felt a rare moment of peace, knowing that despite the challenges ahead, he had someone he could count on.