Precarious (Severus Snape x Reader)

Chapter 12: My Quarters

"Unfortunately, you are a poor Occlumens."

-

Saturday rolled around, and you were feeling dejected. You didn't have any lessons with Severus for two days, and you weren't sure how appropriate it would be to spend time together on the weekend. You were tempted to go to the Potions classroom just to see if he was there, and if he was, you'd ask him for "extra practice", although you both would know it was a lie. You wanted a day free of class, and he knew that you didn't need the practice.

You chose to spend some of the day practicing Occlumency, as it was growing to be a very important skill with Severus. You tried to strengthen your ability, to work your mind like a muscle, but there wasn't much you could do alone. You gave up after only twenty minutes. You decided, instead, to wander around the castle and grounds for a while, subconsciously seeking Severus out. Dressed in a light t-shirt and denim shorts, you left your quarters and slid your wand into your waistband.

It was almost uncomfortably hot again today, so you decided to explore only the shaded areas to avoid sunburn. You walked along the corridors languidly, admiring the fine architecture and paintings in motion. You absentmindedly let your feet lead you up and down the winding staircases, finding patches of warm sunlight streaming through the massive windows, gradually healing the chill of the dungeons. Beyond your awareness, you had arrived at the entrance to the library, and were instinctively drawn inside. There wasn't a single thing in the world that enticed you more than endless shelves of books you had never read before.

Except for Severus.

The thought abruptly removed you from your stupor, and you anxiously wondered where you might find him in the castle. You acknowledged that the possibility of stumbling across him was your motivation for your lengthy walk, but weren't sure if he even stayed at Hogwarts during the weekends. The books stole your attention from thoughts of him, and you headed for the nearest shelf, dragging your fingers along the spines lined perfectly in their places. You simply strode through the aisles at first, soaking in the peaceful air, before finding a title that sparked your interest. It was another fiction, slightly similar to the one you were currently reading, but romance instead of a historical novel. You found it quite ironic given your current situation, and chuckled a bit before withdrawing the book from its shelf. You read the first few pages, then allowed yourself to be sucked into the plot, unable to relinquish it long enough to bring it back to your quarters. You sat on the floor, leaning your back against the shelf, and crossed your legs in front of you. You turned page after page until you were interrupted by a dark figure.

You glanced up reflexively and your eyes met a pair that were now very familiar. Severus stood before you, shock and a slight blush written upon his face. You smiled, feeling the rush of excitement to have run into him outside of lessons without your prompting. His smile seemed forced, and you wondered why he would have such a reaction to you after spending the morning together yesterday. You then remembered that you were dressed so scantily compared to your normal attire, and assumed that he was taken aback by all of the skin on display in front of him. You blushed in return, and were the first to speak a greeting.

"Hi," you said quietly, allowing the book to rest gently against your bare legs.

"Hello," he replied, his voice tense. "What are you doing sitting in the middle of an aisle in the library?"

You gestured to your book. "I read the first page and couldn't control myself enough to take it back with me to read. So I figured I'd enjoy the peace and quiet here."

He gave a nod. "Muggle clothes," he commented, averting his gaze briefly.

You looked down at your attire. "Yes, it's far too hot for robes today."