Meeting Patronus | A Severus Snape Love Story

Chapter 15 Shantay, you stay."

Finals roll around and stress is at an all-time high. You spend most of your time studying in the library alone, then studying some more in your room, pulling all-nighters more nights than not. The twins sometimes join you in the library, but they're too stressed themselves to ever start up a non-study related conversation. You used to daydream all the time and happily go wherever your mind took you, but now you've set a strict regimen for yourself until the end of 'hell' week which involves limiting daydreams of Severus to only 15 minutes before bed. The thought of him is the only thing that puts you at ease enough to fall asleep these days. You've been dealing with insomnia and nightmares about the assault, like no matter how much you try to force it out of your mind, your body relives it like a defense mechanism.

You kissed Severus and you replay it in your head over and over again, trying to relive every sensation, every thought. The feeling of home. You badly want it to happen again, but right now is not the time to lose yourself in a romantic fantasy. You're saving that for Christmas break, you comfort yourself with that thought (even if it may never happen).

You walk as you turn the corner on your way to your Dark Arts class. You spot Linden at the end of the hall and you're giddy at the sight of him. Even though you see the twins all the time, you still miss having fun with them.

"Linden!" You call out. He turns and waves you over. You see him putting up something on the wall.

You get close enough to read the poster.

"You could not have picked a worse time for Auditions." You laugh, remembering the Yule ball music auditions Linden suggested at the past committee meetings.

"If you don't audition, [y/n], I'll be so pissed." He nudges you.

"Me!? Why me?" You push him back.

"Truth is, I held off auditions for you." He sighs.

"What? Why? You've never even heard me sing!"

"I mean... that's the point! You never sing for us, so I'm making you, at the auditions."

You face drops. "Linden. I don't even know that I still can. I haven't tried since... you know..."

Linden pulls you in for a hug. "How will you know if you don't try?" He asks, earnestly.

Severus turns the corner and sees the two of you embracing. He watches from a far, a jealousy bubbling in him, but a bigger part concerned for you, worried something else has happened.

You lean silently on his shoulder. He pulls away and smiles. "Fine, if you don't want to audition you don't have to. But you have to at least help me hold them."

You roll your eyes, smiling at him. "Pleaseeeee" He pleads. "Be the Michelle Visage to my Ru Paul." He spins you as he says it theatrically.

You scoff, laughing, lovingly pushing him. He ducks his head in front of you, trying to be cute and pleading for you to join him.

"Alright! Alright! I'll help you." You laugh. Linden lights up with joy as he links arms with you and drags you down the hall like his little ragdoll sidekick. You swear he's grown another three inches in the two weeks you were gone.

Severus warms at the sound of your laugh. He'd do anything to hear you laugh like that all the time. He'd try to make you the happiest girl in the world just to hear that laugh, but is he even capable of that? He can't even make himself happy, even though you seem to do it to him with ease. He puts the tips of his slender fingers lightly on his lips, remembering the kiss you shared not too long ago. If he closes his eyes, he can still feel your softness, taste your sweetness, autumn spices filling the air and warming his heart.