Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-7-

A ball flew over my aunt's high hedge fence. "What are you waiting for, (Y/N)? Go and get it!" my cousin - who's three years older than me, ordered. "Why me? You were the one who kicked it!" I snapped back. "Do I have to remind you?" she raised her eyebrow. Defeated, I go and get it. This wasn't the first time the ball had flew over neighbors yard. Luckily, they were nice people and didn't mind whenever it happened. After stumbling through the spiky fence, I finally made it to the other side. Knees and arms full of tiny scratches and scars, I look around the yard. Where is it? "Oh, is this yours?" one of the most gentlest voice asked. Huh? My head snaps right towards the voice. It's a boy. Around about my age. He's holding the ball in his hands with sweetest smile on his face. A Muggle.

I'm too shy to say anything back. Can't remember when was the last time I talked to a Muggle, let alone someone my age. My parents always got so upset if I ever did... The boy approaches:"I'm Edward. Edward Woods.". I'm just staring at the ball, hoping he'd give it soon, so I could be on my way. "What's your name?" he ask. My (e/c) eyes meets with his. He has beautiful blue eyes and ginger hair. "...(Y/N)." I answer. Edward hands me the ball:"How many times can you bounce the ball on top of your head?". And right there... In that moment, our fingers touch underneath the ball. Almost like an electric wave had just passed me. What magic is this? My cheeks turned red and mouth felt dry:"I..-", "(Y/N)!" my mother yelled in the front of the neighbors yard. Oh, no! She looks half furious, half worried of what she's seeing. "C-coming, mom!" cold sweat slides down my cheek, and I rushed out of the yard - leaving him stand there all alone. After that day, I couldn't think of anything or anyone else, except that boy. Edward...

"Sneaking in middle of the night! With a MUGGLE?!" my father screamed at me. We are standing in the living room. Fire keeps moving furiously in the fireplace as my father keeps walking back and forth. My mother on the other hand, is standing in the corner, giving the crocodile tears, muttering to herself how ungrateful I can be. I'm just standing there, staring at the fire. "How long has this been going on?!" my father finally snaps, his voice roaring around the house. I slowly swallow and answered with shaky voice:"...ar.". "What was that?" he steps really close to me. I can smell the whiskey in his breath. "...A year." I repeat. My mother bursts into tears even louder. This is the second time I glance at her direction during this whole conversation. Father scoffs and turn to lean against the fireplace. For a moment we stand there in silence.

My heart is pounding hard in my chest and I gather all my bravery to finally come clean:"I'm in love with him.". "In love?" my father repeat while still watching the flames. The mood changes immediately in the room. Maybe I should've never said that. But, that's how I feel. I love him. "You're sixteen, (Y/N). You don't even know what love is!" my mother snaps. "And you do?" I snapped back with a glare. She gasps out of horror. Quickly, my father turns around with angry eyes:"Don't you talk to your mother that way! You filthy little brat!". Before I could even open my mouth, he continued:"Wasn't it enough to disappoint us by getting sorted to the wrong House?!". My heart sinks. Then there was a moment of silence again. Then, my father sighed and pushed back his hair. "You leave me no choice, (Y/N)..." he approaches the table where he keeps the alcohol. No. Then, he gently takes the wand that's been laying there in his hand, and stares at it, each of its carving like many times before:"Maybe this will teach you to respect your parents.". Knowing what's about to happen, my eyes widens. No-! He swings the wand at me:"Crucio.".

Sunlight is coming through a window - right in my eyes as I start slowly opening my eyes. H-huh..? First thing I see are the vines that are entangled all over the ceiling of the chamber. Wha..-? Immediately, my head starts hurting and I feel weak again:"Ouff..!". It's not as bad like back in the pub, but still... I feel awful. "You were in luck I happened to be the one who found you, stumbling around Hogsmeade's alley like a lost creature." familiar voice scoffs other side of the room. "What..?" weakly, I turn to see who it is. It's Snape! First thing I noticed about him was how he isn't wearing the long cloak he always had on, which lets me see his figure better. I haven't noticed how wide back and shoulders he has before. He has his back facing me, so I'm not sure what he's doing. But it looks like he's preparing something in the tiny kitchen corner I usually like to make my morning coffee or afternoon tea. What is he doing in here?! How..- How did I get in here? I have so many questions about last night, I don't even know where to begin.

Despite the awful feeling, I raise myself to sit. Nice and slow. "What happened?" I finally ask. "I'm afraid you were poisoned, Miss (Y/L)." Snape answered with his usual monotonic tone, still having his back on me. I frown confused through the pain:"Poisoned?!". What?! I comb my hair back through my fingers, trying to take this all in. There is still that taste of bitterness in my mouth. "But, how did I end up here? And not in Hospital Wing, for example?" I asked while peeking under the blanket. Luckily, I'm still wearing the same clothes I had. None of them has been removed. Even the shoes are still on. "Thought it would be an embarrassment to bring you to Hospital Wing for students to see their teacher after a night out." he explained and finally turns around. Oh...

He's holding a cup of tea in his hands. Or something that looks like it. Then I look around the room:"Where's Sniffy?". "If you are referring to your niffler, he is in Grounds Keeper's capable hands." he calmly walks beside the bed. I sigh deep and muttered quietly:"Great. Bet Hagrid has given him all of his treats by now.". Snape sits down to the chair next to my bed and offers the cup:"Drink this.". My eyes goes quickly between the cup and him. An awkward chuckle came out of me:"Ooh... No, no, no, no. Last time I drank something, I got poisoned. Thank you very much.". With the tip of my finger, I push the cup further away. Snape stares deep into my (e/c) eyes with very threatening look on his face:"Drink it. Or else I shall shove it down your throat.", once again, using that smooth, yet scary tone. I let out a sharp exhale:"Fine.".

Just when I'm about to take the cup, with slightest move, he pulls it out of my reach:"However... You must tell me every single detail about your night; how you got drugged in middle of public place like that.". "Why? Nothing special happened." I try to argue and reach for the cup. He pulls it further away:"It's the least you can do, since I saved you from that alley. Talk about when you covered my footwear all over with your vomit, I believe my request is reasonable.". I vomited on him?! My face goes full on red out of embarrassment, which actually makes me feel sick again. Oof, my head. Snape sees this and hands me the cup, and I take it. Can feel his eyes burning on me while I carefully drink the antidote.

Right when my lips separates from the cup, Snape snatches it away. Little by little, I actually feel a lot better. Amazing! He puts the cup on the bedside table:"Now tell me, what happened. Spare no detail.". I glance at him with side-eye:"Why you need to know? I already told you, nothing..-", "Not just anyone goes their way and tries to poison a professor of Wizarding school like that." he says almost without any pauses. I just stare back at him confused. What am I supposed to say? There is nothing to tell, since I really don't know what happened, honestly. "I have you known, I'm skilled Legilimens. I could enter your mind and see the memory of last night to figure out what happened, Miss (Y/L)." he reveals with semi-threatening tone. Instead of getting intimidated, my face brightness up:"What?! Really? That's incredible!". Guess he got taken aback by this as he leaned away slightly. I do want to know what happened!

All excited, I start to bubble and do as I speak:"So... How we do this? Do I just sit right here? Do-do I close my eyes like this?". Without a word, Snape stares at me confused. "Or..-! Or do I look straight into yours?" I opened my eyes and came close to the edge, so I'm on my knees on the bed, upper body leaning towards him. Then I stop myself after realizing how close I've brought my face to his. In that quick pause as we both stare into each others eyes, I can see all the different shades of colors of Snape's black eyes as the sunlight through the window hits just right. They are quite beautiful. Then, I lean back away from him:"My apologies.". After all, out of all of the people, Snape isn't the type of person who'd be ok with this kind of proximity.

Snape stays quiet for a moment, then gets up:"Perhaps, another time. You need a rest now.". My gaze follows him while he's heading to the door:"But..-", "I recommend to stay away from unfamiliar beverages, Miss (Y/L)." he opens the door and leaves the chamber. Says the man who was about to forcefully shove the antidote down my throat... It got all quiet after Snape left. I tossed myself back in the bed with a heavy sigh. What really happened? No matter how hard I try go through the whole night, detail by detail, none of this makes sense. We were all having a good time. The only time things got tense, was when Lucius Malfoy came in the picture. Could it be..? No. But how? He left after Minerva told him and his friends to leave. For a moment, I keep my stare at the ceiling. Eventually, I narrow my eyes. Slytherins.