Tangled Heartstrings | Severus Snape X Reader

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Severus stares at me and I smile stupidly at him, I try to dispel my feeling of embarrassment, I have no reason to feel embarrassed in front of him.

"I'm just looking for something," my expression goes sour, "Peeves threw a gift Hagrid had given me over the stair banister." I say bitterly and stand up from my hands and knees, brushing them off.

I look at him, the last time we really talked was when he scolded me for letting Wenry run around the corridor. His gaze is just so cold. I look anywhere but his eyes, he really doesn't seem to like me much anymore.

"Well, I really hope I can find it." I say in a discouraged tone. Severus gives me an odd look, raising his eyebrow. "Wouldn't the Accio charm be more effective than attempting to scour the staircase on all fours?" He asks cooly but with a slightly snarky tone.

I process what he asked me, and I suddenly feel heat rush to my face while simultaneously frowning at his subtle rudeness.

And scratch my previous statement, it seems I will continue to embarrass myself in front of him.

I've been around Muggle towns and cities for too long and I never felt the need to use a lot of magic while out in the Alaskan wilderness studying magical creatures, really the only exception being my Animagus form.

Magic usually alerted the animals I was trying to study and of course, magic would very much alert the muggle towns. I completely forgot that The Summoning Spell was a thing.

"Right, of course," I hesitate, "Been a bit long since I've used many charms, or even just magic in general." I admit sheepishly and walk to the edge of the banister, Severus following me.

I take out my wand and revise over the wand movement for the Accio charm in my head. "Accio gift." We wait a moment, till the gift comes flying towards me from a few stairs below us and into my hand.

I smile as I grab it and see that nothing besides the careful wrappings are a bit damaged from the fall. Seeing the gift just makes me immensely happy, it's been so long since anyone has given me anything.

I turn to Severus and flash a large and truly genuine smile while Helena hovers around my head. "Thank you! I'm glad you reminded me of that spell, would've been terrible to lose this." I thank him enthusiastically despite the rude way he reminded me of the spell, and to my surprise, I watch as his cold gaze falters at my cheerfulness. It's a look I can't place.

His eyes move from my face to the gift in my hand and his stiff posture seems to relax a bit. "Your birthday..." He says quietly with his eyes still trained on the gift in my hand. I feel my stomach squirm at this. He remembered.

I feel stupid at the fact I'm feeling giddy over Severus remembering my birthday, but I can't help it. He was my best friend for so long, someone who I cared about dearly.

"Sunday, correct?" He asks me carefully and slowly. I just simply nod with a dumb, lopsided smirk on my face. He nods as well, his eyes linger on the gift in my hand again, staring thoughtfully at it.

A noise above us makes us both look up and there's Peeves, once again stalking the same stair he threw my gift from. I don't want to see him again.

I quickly swerve around Severus quietly. "C'mon." I whisper to Severus while pocketing the gift. I reach out from behind him and grab the hem of his sleeve carefully to pull him into the closest corridor with me, keeping my eyes on Peeves the whole time.

We continue to walk backwards and Severus gives me a slightly annoyed look while I pull him along. Once we're out of earshot, I sigh. "I hate that stupid poltergeist, could never stand him." I groan out while still trying to look past Severus' shoulder in case Peeves came along.

"You may let go now." I hear him say. I look at him, confused, only to look down at my hand still clutching his sleeve. "Right." I pull away and for a moment, we both seem to listen for Peeves in the dark, quiet corridor. Helena let's off a few sparks that make me cringe, afraid Peeves might've seen them.

But nothing.

I look to Severus who has a serious look on his face and I begin to chuckle. He turns to me and frowns, I laugh more. "Sorry, just reminds me of when we were kids. I was always dragging you into odd situations like this."

He almost rolls his eyes. "It was always something new with you and somehow I would give in to your insistent nagging. You once practically dragged me out of the boys' lavatory to try and find some absurd creature you found out on the grounds." I continue laughing and the tiniest of smirks pulls at his lips.

"I'm lucky I always dragged you along on my little adventures, without you, I'd probably be dead by now." I joke, but as quickly as I had said it, I wished I could take it back. Upon my words, Severus's face went grim.

"Forget I said that." I blurt out. He just watches me, it's almost as if he didn't hear me. His eyes trail my face and I realize he's looking at my scar. I'm instantly a bit uncomfortable.

"You know, I hardly notice it anymore! It doesn't hurt or anything." I sort of blabber out to try and reassure that harsh look on his face.

I turn my body away from him. "I wonder if Peeves is still out there." I say, just trying my best to change the subject. I'm not sure I want to talk about what happened, it almost feels like it was a dream, something I should just forget if it wasn't for the very physical reminder of it etched into my skin.

"Why did you come back?" He asks in a sort of austere tone that takes me aback, it sounded more like an accusation than a question. I turn to look at him and I frown.

"I feel I could ask you the same question, you were always going on about wanting to leave Hogwarts with your little Death Eater friends." I spill out a bit abrasively. He glowers at me in response and begins to turn back to the corridor Peeves was previously in.

"That's none of your concern." My blood simmers at that. "So my reasons for coming back are none of your concern either." I tell him sternly, he glances at me before fully turning and starting back down the corridor. "Goodnight, Professor."

He says cooly as he walks off, not bothering to look at me. I fight the urge to call him back over, the conversation feeling very neglected, but I hold my tongue while staring after his disappearing figure. I never was very good with my temper, I should try not to make things worse.

Severus Snape, just as difficult as ever.

I turn down the opposite end of the corridor and begin to walk, twiddling with Hagrid's gift in my hand and Helena following close behind me. My stomach feels tight, I have no idea how to talk about what happened with him, he's too closed off and my temper is too good at getting the best of me.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I even want to be friends with him again. I'd rather forget about everything. But I'm not stupid and neither is he, I think we both know we'll have to talk about everything sooner or later.

I just hope it happens later than sooner.