Concealed Affections | Severus X Reader|

5.

"Quiet, please!" Y/n's voice rang out over the clamor of her unruly classroom, but the din of her students' chatter barely wavered. It had been a few weeks since she and Severus had a chance to catch up. The demands of her teaching schedule had left her little room for personal time.

Y/n sighed in frustration as she struggled, once again, to get her class under control. She raised her wand with a flick and sent a burst of green sparks into the air, hoping the dazzling display would grab their attention. The fourth-year students finally ceased their talking and looked up, their curiosity piqued by the shimmering lights.

"Now that I have your attention," Y/n began, her tone firm as she scanned the faces of her students who were now staring at her with the realization that class was about to start.

"I can finally begin," she continued, walking purposefully to the chalkboard. With a wave of her wand, she began to write the day's lesson on the board in neat, flowing script.

An hour later, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Y/n sank into her chair, her exhaustion evident as she rubbed her face with her hands while students filed out of the classroom.

A knock on the doorframe jolted her from her reverie. Looking up, she saw Severus leaning casually against the doorframe, his dark eyes meeting hers with a hint of amusement.

"Hey, Prince," she greeted him with a tired but genuine smile.

"Hello," Severus responded, his tone measured as he stepped into the room.

"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch lately," Y/n said, her voice tinged with apology as she waved her hand dismissively. "I've been so swamped with students that-"

A sudden crash interrupted her as she knocked over an ink bottle, sending a small puddle of ink sprawling across her desk. Y/n yelped in frustration and scrambled to clean up the mess.

Severus let out a soft chuckle and with a swift flick of his wand, the ink was magically mopped up, the mess vanishing before her eyes.

"Calm down, (y/n/n)," he said gently, catching her arm before she could knock a stack of parchment off her desk.

Y/n groaned and leaned back in her chair, grateful for the brief respite. Thankfully, it was lunch hour, giving her a chance to relax before her next class.

"I came to bring you this," Severus said, placing a book on magical creatures down on her desk. He met her gaze with a steady look. "I thought it might be useful for your lessons."

Y/n glanced at the book, reading the title before her eyes returned to Severus. "Thanks, I've been-" She broke off mid-sentence, her attention caught by something on Severus's sleeve.

Severus noticed her gaze and looked down at his arm, realizing that the cuff of his sleeve had ridden up slightly, revealing a glimpse of the Dark Mark. His eyes widened in alarm as he quickly pulled the sleeve back down.

"Severus," Y/n said softly, leaning slightly forward in her chair.

"Y/n, I-" Severus began, but Y/n interrupted him gently.

"Severus..." She repeated, her voice filled with concern.

Yes." Severus's voice was barely audible, almost a whisper. He avoided making eye contact with Y/n, his gaze shifting to everything but her as if he could find solace in the objects around him. Y/n, however, remained focused on the slight, revealing glimpse of his Dark Mark, a visible sign of something he had long kept hidden.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Y/n's voice was firm but laced with hurt. She was now looking directly at him, her eyes searching his face for answers. Severus's face was a mixture of guilt and apprehension as he struggled internally. He had intended to confide in her eventually-he knew he couldn't keep it from her forever. However, he had been uncertain about the right moment and how to broach the subject without causing her pain. The fear of her reaction and whether she would ever forgive him weighed heavily on his mind.

"Severus?" Y/n's voice was softer this time, pulling him from his turbulent thoughts. When he finally met her gaze, his expression was a mix of resignation and anxiety.

"I was going to tell you, but-" His sentence trailed off as the bell rang, followed by the cacophony of students bustling in the hallway. A few curious students peeked into the classroom, eyeing the scene with growing interest.

Y/n stood up, brushing off her robes with a sense of finality. "Well, I have a class to teach," she said, her tone resolute. "We'll talk later."

"Right, yes," Severus replied, nodding distractedly. He turned to leave, his shoulders slightly hunched as he walked away. Some students watched him with puzzled expressions, whispering amongst themselves.

By the time Severus had departed, Y/n's classroom was filled with a mix of fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Y/n took a deep breath and offered a bright smile as she turned to face her students. "Good afternoon, class!" she said warmly, her voice cutting through the murmur of student chatter.

"Good afternoon, Professor!" the students responded in unison.

Y/n turned to the chalkboard and began writing a word. Her students craned their necks to see what she was writing. After she finished, she underlined the word and turned to face them.

"Dementors," she announced. "Some of you may be familiar with them, and some of you might not be." She began to walk between the rows of desks, her hands clasped behind her back as she moved with purpose.

"They are among the foulest dark creatures to exist, known primarily for guarding Azkaban," she continued, her voice steady as she made eye contact with various students.

A red-haired Gryffindor, who had been whispering to the student beside her, was caught by Y/n's gaze. "Since you're so keen on chatting, perhaps you could tell us why Dementors are considered so vile?" Y/n asked with a gentle smile, encouraging her to participate.

The girl, suddenly the center of attention, looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "No? Alright then," Y/n said with a slight nod, turning away from the girl. "Please pay attention."

"Dementors drain all peace, hope, and happiness from wizards and witches until they are left empty and dark, much like the creatures themselves." Y/n stopped beside a student who was covertly sticking gum under his desk. "Mr. Johnson," she said, folding her arms and tilting her head slightly, "can you tell us what spell can be used against a Dementor?"

The student looked down, mumbling, "Um...the Patronus Charm, Professor."

"Yes, exactly. Five points to Slytherin," Y/n said with a approving smile as she walked back to her desk.

She continued the lesson until the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. As her last class left, Y/n leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and resting her hands on the desk, allowing herself a moment of respite. A sudden knock on the door startled her, and she opened her eyes to see Severus standing there.

"Severus...hi," she greeted him, her voice softening as she saw who it was.

"Hello," Severus said slowly, stepping into the room with a touch of hesitation. "I knew you'd still be here."

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Bye for now