Precarious (Severus Snape x Reader)

Chapter 17: We Need to Talk

"Listen to him. Let him tell you."

-

You couldn't tell what time it was when you first began to stir, because there were no windows in Severus' quarters, like your own. There wasn't a clock to be found in his bedroom, either. You only guessed it was morning when you reached a hand back behind you and felt only warm sheets where a body once laid. You smiled, basking in the moment, feeling quite proud of yourself for holding together long enough to get into his bed. Then, you heard the quiet latch of a door, and gentle footsteps padded toward his wardrobe. You decided to feign sleep in order to simply watch Severus for a moment. He was still without a shirt, and you drew a slow, deep intake of breath at the sight of his near-nakedness. You watched as the muscles of his back flexed beneath the pale skin, and you were delighted to see faint pink linear marks across his shoulders. Your markings from last night.

He reached an arm out to withdraw a shirt from the wardrobe, and you lay admiring the motion of his body until you caught sight of a bold, inky marking on the inside of his forearm. You instinctively squinted, despite the fact that you had slept in your contacts, and you found that this mistake did you well.

How did I miss that he had a tattoo?

You realized too late. The marking was shaped like a snake wrapped around a skull, and you began to quake from your depths.

No way. No fucking way.

Death eater.

You jumped up from the bed, still nude, tears beginning to well up in your eyes with disappointment and fear.

"What the fuck?" you cried, startling him.

"What's the matter?" he asked, unaware.

You pointed a shaky finger toward his arm.

"You're...you're a...death eater," you sobbed, and you watched as he hurriedly threw his shirt over his blackened arm.

How could you have been so utterly stupid? You realized you had fallen for a monster, someone dangerous, associated strongly with the dark arts, and it made you horribly nauseous.

"(Y/N), trust me, it's not what it looks like," he said quietly, strained.

"It's exactly what it looks like. You serve the Dark Lord!" you shouted, tears obscuring your vision.

"Please -" he began, and you cut him off.

"I can't do this. I can't do this!"

You swiftly grabbed your discarded clothes from the floor and backed into the corner nearest his door. You were genuinely scared of him. Scared of what he could do to you. Did he seduce you in order to use you for the Dark Lord's wishes? Your stomach lurched at the thought.

You dressed hastily, continuing to sob, and he slowly, carefully approached you. You thought you might be able to see the glassiness of a few tears developing in his eyes.

"Don't touch me!" you said, wiping your eyes with your shirt before ungracefully attempting to button it around you.

He backed away quickly, as if he had been slapped, and stood, brows furrowed, hands shaking in front of you. As soon as you were clothed, you swung his bedroom door open and ran from his quarters, headed straight for yours. When you entered, you were startled by a tiny house elf filling Brew's bowl with food. Your heart sunk.

I forgot about her.

"Sorry, miss," the elf said, ears lowering. "I hears that Brews was hungry, elf magic, you knows. My names is Penny."