limerence . Severus Snape

VII

Peculiarly, the Slytherin common room was quiet and subdued for once. No jokes being played; no frivolous arguments; no one.

Y/n sat in the common room, alone.

A gray dreary Wednesday morning, fit for even drearier last-minute Herbology homework. How to chop up herbs effectively: crush for more even dispersal of juice; thinly dice to increase surface area; slice to make sure you can control portions and drop into a cauldron easily.

But Y/n was stuck on a question; 'which substance does Mimbulus excrete?'

It was safe to say Herbology was not Y/n's favourite subject. However, she didn't want to lose Slytherin any more points because she couldn't be bothered to do her homework. She'd get it in the neck later in the common room like Reagan Rosier.

"The answer is 'Stinksnap' " An older girl answered her blonde hair shimmering in the sun. The sudden voice slashing through the silence startled Y/n. "Oh! So sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!"

Y/n exhaled in relief. "No! Not at all!"

Y/n recognised the girl. She always dragged behind Lucius with Bellatrix.
What was her name?

"You are Y/n, the one from breakfast yesterday." The blonde girl timidly chucked. "I am Narcissa Black — Bellatrix' sister."

"Hello, Narcissa, it's nice to meet you!" Y/n greeted as Narcissa took a seat opposite to Y/n. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Oh, I'm more of an early bird!" Narcissa chuckled, "I like my things a certain way and it's better done first thing in the morning, and you?"

"Oh, I needed to finish my Herbology homework, I leave things very last minute." Y/n admitted sheepishly.

Y/n pencilled in 'Stinksap' into the designated box and she leaned back in relief.

"You're very close to Severus." Narcissa abruptly commented.

Startled, Y/n stammered. "Oh! Yes, haha, I met him— in..."

"Do you like him?" Narcissa interrogated.

Like him? How could she like someone like him?

"What?" Y/n questioned defensively. "Like him? I can barely stand him, let alone fancy someone like that!"

Narcissa raised her brow in confusion. "I meant do you tolerate him but evidently not."

Y/n sank back into the arm chair, her eyes sinking down to the Homework she was to complete.

There was a long awkward silence until nimble footsteps were heard by the boys dormitory stairs. A dark shadow fled the stairway.

Y/n had little time to react before Narcissa packed up her books into her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"Are you coming?" Narcissa beckoned, as she flipped her head back Y/n spotted black streaks running upon the top of her head. Very pretty.

Promptly, Y/n packed up her books into her bag before skipping to catch up with Narcissa.

*

Y/n pawed at her egg and mushroom roll, picking out the flecks of egg yolk — she only liked the whites.

It was still a dull morning, rain had begun to pitter-patter on the windows of the Great Hall as if a senseless and random beat of a song.

'Everything in nature has a rhythm, however, no matter if you yourself can decipher it.'

She had read that somewhere, perhaps in a boring charms class.

The chatter was quite, more so than usual as if the Great Hall lost all resonance and grand mystique on gloomy drizzly days like these.

Lucius placed down his knife and fork and reached out for a napkin. Delicately, he patted his lips of any remaining food as if he were fine china.

That man would eat himself if he could.

"Shocking; that breakfast." Lucius declared. "It seems they've got a new house elf in the kitchen!"
The table laughed at their leader's joke. A very derogatory thing to say about a house elf.

However, Y/n was too focused on the absence of Severus at the table.

"Pay attention, Snake Girl." Lucius snapped. "We have been thinking. On allowing you in on something we have been planning for sometime—"

"Do you reckon she is even up for it?" LeStrange questioned.

Lucius shot LeStrange a stern look. "Are you questioning me, LeStrange? That isn't a good idea considering your pusillanimity and failure."

He soon sank back into his seat.

"Yes, however, if she cocks it up, it's her head." Bellatrix added viciously. Her sudden jerking movements sent her wild curly hair to fall in front of her face like some deranged dog.

"Yes, quite, Bella." Lucius agreed, which was punctuated by an eye roll. He, presumably, was not amused at being interrupted. "One of our foolish comrades don't know how to transport objects discreetly—" Lucius shot Rodolphus LeStrange a piercing look. "—and we need you to retrieve a ring, perhaps with your snake magic."

"Oh, I do not control the Snakes. I can persuade them but I don't control them—" Y/n drifted off when she was met with an unamused look from Lucius.

"I don't care what you have to do. You will do as I say and get me the ring. Or it's all our heads."

Y/n leant back in her seat, trying to get away from Lucius' spit. "Alright. Where is it and what am I looking for?"

"It's a small ring, metal with a black gemstone in the centre, it's not at all abnormal looking. Gryfindor  prefect Gretel Abbott confiscated it for being not permitted 'because she said so'. Sour little half-blood."

"Right. I'll see what I can do. However, I will need you to provide me with a snake. Preferably a large one, not a grass snake; domesticated."

"What's wrong with a grass snake?" One of Lucius' goons replied.

"They aren't easily persuaded and are not reliable. They will do anything for food and even then it's no guarantee you won't be betrayed or bitten by one." Y/n explained. "If you want me to do it right, I need the correct snake."

Lucius looked towards his peers as if the gaul of Y/n asking for something was amusing to him.

Lucius finally answered. "I will see what I can do."

"So will I."