The Great Hall buzzed with a festive energy, yet a chill settled over me as I sat alone, picking at my Christmas dinner. The warmth of the holiday season seemed to evaporate with the absence of my father, who was consumed by the ministry's relentless pursuit of covering up the incident with Ron's father. Harry and Hermione, meanwhile, had chosen to spend Christmas with the Weasleys, offering their support to the family in their time of need.
Draco Malfoy, ever the thorn in my side, materialized before me, his smirk as icy as the winter wind. "Spending Christmas alone, are we? I bet your dear old Dad is off doing some dirty work again!" he sneered, his voice dripping with malicious glee.
"As long as he's not like your father, who doesn't do a clean job," I retorted, my voice laced with icy disdain. I rose from my seat, my gaze catching sight of Professor Snape entering the hall. I had been avoiding him for days, the weight of our argument and the unsettling power within me pressing down on my heart. The thought of unintentionally harming him, of losing control, sent a shiver of dread down my spine.
"Miss Michel!!" Snape's voice, sharp as a whip, cut through the festive chatter. I froze, my heart sinking.
I turned to face him, his dark eyes piercing me with a mixture of annoyance and concern. "I need a word from you," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
My stomach twisted with apprehension as I followed him out of the Great Hall. He led me to the viaduct courtyard, a secluded spot near the fountain. The air hung heavy with the scent of pine and the crispness of winter.
His gruff demeanor softened as he spoke, his voice a low rumble that sent a surge of warmth through me. "I miss you," he confessed, his words catching me off guard.
"You do?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, a mixture of disbelief and hope swirling within me.
He nodded, his expression a mix of vulnerability and longing. "It kills me inside when you try to act cold and ignore me all the time... Just to protect yourself from me... I know... B-but knowing that you have the sweetest soul trying to be cold, Broke me... Please don't be mad at me?!"
"How can I? When you start to become soft-spoken... Where we all know that you are not like that but only to me. How could I be angry?" I replied, a genuine smile gracing my lips.
"Would you like to spend your Christmas with me?" he asked, his gaze searching mine.
The corner of my lips curled into a playful smile. "Sure," I said, my heart fluttering with anticipation.
He extended his hand, but I recoiled, the memory of Grindelwald's chilling presence still fresh in my mind.
"Let me show you something, so you can calm down," he said, his voice soothing. He gently wrapped his arm around my waist, and in a blink, we were transported to the top of a cliff overlooking a snowy, misty forest. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, a winter wonderland bathed in an ethereal glow.
I gasped in awe, my eyes widening as I watched the snowflakes dance in the air and the fog engulf the trees below. He wrapped me in his coat, his warmth radiating through the fabric, and pulled me close. His body pressed against mine, sending a wave of warmth through me.
"What do you think?" he whispered, his voice a husky murmur against my ear.
"Everything feels dreamy," I whispered back, my heart pounding with a mixture of joy and confusion. "What about you?"
"Romantic," he murmured, his chin resting on my head. I held back the thrill bubbling up inside, refusing to let myself hope again.
"So tell me, what happened to you that night?" he asked, burying his head in my neck.
YOU ARE READING
Love In The Midst Of Darkness
Fanfiction"Who Will Save the Savior?" Severus Snape devoted his life to saving others, even when it meant being hated and reviled by the very people he protected. He died believing he was despised, and branded as a traitor to Dumbledore. But what if, at the l...
