Severus Snape Oneshots

Life Is Certainly Strange

Summary: Despite his frustrated attempts at turning you away, you refuse to let him struggle on his own.

lululikeshogwartsyea

Here is your request! <3

Severus Snape sits at his desk, his face resting in his hands and his eyes remain closed. The clock ticks ever so quietly, the only other sound being the crackling of flames that dance around in the fireplace.

He had stopped grading assignments long ago, unable to focus as worrisome thoughts swirl around in his mind. The man was truly amazed with his sense of patience (despite the occasional nitpicks and insults hurled at students). Not to mention his way of remaining standing, despite the challenges thrown at him in life.

But it was inevitable to have days like this-
where the shadows from the back of your mind crawl to the front and invade your conscience. For him, it was mostly feelings of anger, grief, sadness, and fatigue. Firewhiskey can't always take the edge off.

So now, here he sits at his mahogany desk, shielding his expression from the world as his elbows rest on top of the wood.

He shakily breathes in and out, an attempt to keep an approaching anxiety attack at bay.

His hands shake as he slowly drags them down each of his cheeks, rubbing his temples as he feels a migraine creeping up. His eyes glisten with unshed tears, reflecting against the flames of the fireplace. He closes his brownish onyx eyes and shakily exhales through his long, hooked nose.

He drops his left arm flatly against the table top, his forehead pressing against the palm of his right hand.

A knock is heard on his office door and the professor exhales, not caring that it sounded more like a whimper.

"Professor?" A voice asks in a concerned tone.

"Go away. If you need help with homework, Merlin be with you because I am not going to help. If you are bleeding out or on fire, I suggest you take that up with Madame Pomfrey. Goodbye." The man harshly croaks out, trying to keep his deep voice steady.

"Professor, it's just me, Y/n.. I-I just needed someone to talk to... But I suppose you need it more." The voice softly says.

He doesn't reply and instead covers his eyes with his calloused hand, his lips grimacing as he tries to push his tears away. He doesn't even hear the door open, his mind too occupied with building thoughts. It was a few days after Halloween- he was still missing Lily, Dumbledore was pressuring him, and he had been attending several meetings with the Dark Lord.

The man just wanted to have a nice cry with a firewhiskey in hand and read a book.

~

"Professor." You softly say, frowning at the man as he turns his head away from you, his black hair shielding his expression.

You take a seat in the chair that sits on the opposite of his desk, across from him.

He rubs his index finger and thumb against his eyelids, before dragging them to connect at the bridge of his nose.

He sighs, and you watch as the man's figure slightly shakes.

"Now isn't the most idealistic time, Miss
Y/L/N." The man snaps, his hard eyes finally meeting yours. He tries to look as irritated as he possibly could, but instead, you only see the flicker of sadness and desperation lingering behind his eyes.

"I'm not judging you, Professor." You whisper, leaning forward in your seat as you clasp your hands together at the top of his desk.

A pause of silence goes by and the room stays mostly silent, the loudest sound being Professor Snape's breath quickening.

"Do you know that feeling of conflict building up, until you finally reach your limit.. and it suddenly feels as though the world is crumbling beneath your feet?" You quietly muster out, your eyes tearing up. That's why you had come to him. Seeking guidance. Maybe you both needed help.

The man dryly chuckles with a sad shake of his head as he sniffles.

"You have no idea." He lowly mutters, sniffling again.

His shoulders shudder as he exhales. He looks back up at you as a tear falls down his cheek. You see the subtle vibration taking over his body as his muscles tense, trying to hide what is going on within him.

"Why are you here? You have quite literally anyone else to go to... Minnie is much better at this... Hell, even Flitwick is." He quietly asks in a frustrated voice. It wasn't in a judgy tone, but rather he wanted- no, needed- to know what made him so special. A man that hides behind sarcasm and stoic expressions to keep his trauma and suffering from showing.

"Well, Professor... Truly, I do like you. You have no idea how much I appreciate you." You whisper, leaning back in your seat as you look at him with soft eyes.

Tears fall down his cheeks as he sits there with a pained expression, unable to breathe at a steady rate.

"Please talk to me." You quietly say.

A moment of silence passes by, until he speaks up.

"Everything is just.. creeping up on me all of a sudden. I pray to Merlin that you will have a successful life- though I am not afraid for you. You are a bright young witch." He whispers, shaking his head in thought.

He holds his hand up to his mouth and lightly traces his bottom lip with his index finger as he stares off to the side.

"I have gone through things in my life. Dome things that I certainly am not proud of.. but I do not pity myself. I suppose it is just one of these days where my brain simply cannot handle all of this pressure." He states, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.

He had stopped crying by now and his breathing had evened out. His brown eyes simply look tired as his forehead crinkles in thought.

"What is it you wished to speak with me about?" He asks in his low voice.

You stare off to the side, numbly wiping a tear off of your cheek.

"Nothing now, I suppose... I was just thinking that.. Moments like these make me confused with life- just the things we go through.... It has a funny way of beating us up." You whisper, letting out a watery chuckle.

The professor nods his head in a silent agreement.

"I try not to think about how miserable our lives can be. I've just accepted it. It may have escaped your notice, but life isn't fair." He nonchalantly shrugs, a hint of a sad smile.

The two of you spend the rest of the time together talking, seemingly forgetting that your professor had been having an anxiety attack and you a depressive episode when you entered the room.

Life and the things that happen in it are certainly strange.