Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-17-

I wake up around seven am after a bad night sleep:"Mmhm...". These beds aren't the comfiest ones... Waiting for the cure potion to affect takes time, so I spent the night at the Hospital Wing. Madam Poppy Pomfrey kindly arranged me a bed back of the room and put on some space divider curtains to give me some privacy, so none of the students who might visit won't even notice I'm in here. Just the thought of one of them seeing me in this position... I can only imagine all of the rumors that would start go around the school like a wildfire. There is a gauze going over my chest where the scar Remus - or the werewolf - gave me. To avoid constant taking a shirt off and putting it back on anytime the Matron wants to check up on the wound, I'm only wearing this light grey robe with some loose pants.

Everything that happened yesterday is still kind of hard to comprehend. Madam Pomfrey told me I got lucky that it was only a scar and not a bite. Otherwise, I would have turned into a werewolf as well, or died. Wonder where Remus is, and if he's alright... Knowing werewolves won't remember anything at the moment they turn into the beast, but after they turn back to themselves... They are going to remember everything what they did. The thought of him curled up in somewhere hidden, blaming himself about all of this makes my heart ache. Wish I could see him and tell him everything's alright. That I'm not upset with him or anything that sort. After all, he can't control it. No matter how hard he'd tried. Poor Remus.

Later that day, I hear someone approaching the bed I'm in. My eyes widens out of surprise when familiar head peeks around the curtains:"...Headmaster!". Dumbledore smiles gently:"Hope I didn't disturb your sleep, (Y/N).". Quickly as I can, I raise myself to sit:"N-no, not at all, sir.". I can feel how the scar aches as I move. He lift his hand up as he walk up beside the bed:"Please do go easy. We do not wish your wounds to reopen.". Then, he sits on the bed next to my feet:"Heard you had a little... Adventure, in the Forbidden Forest last night.". My heart drops and I get nervous. How..-?! "Curious to know how did that happen." he raised those blue eyes on my (e/c) eyes. I lied to him once. Think I cannot do it twice. So, I ended up telling him everything about Buckbeak being in the forest, how I asked help from Remus and how he turned into werewolf.

Dumbledore gives compassion look at the end of my confession:"It must have been scary when you found out. Remus had always kept it as a secret.". My head snaps right back up to meet eyes with his:"So... You knew he's a werewolf?". "Yes. Me, and couple other professors." he admits. "Snape being one of them?" I ask. He nods:"Severus is the one who's been making Wolfsbane potion for Remus every fortnight.". Oh... Now those little comments about 'walking in the moonlight' and the 'dog whistle' Snape liked to jab with, makes sense. I shook my head a bit:"But... Why didn't Remus just tell me? Thought we're friends.". It actually makes me feel sad he hasn't been able to feel comfortable enough to share a thing like that with me.

Dumbledore sees the sad look on my face and puts his hand on my shoulder:"It took him years to even tell his long time friends about it. No need to feel bad about it, (Y/N). I bet he wanted to tell you about it, but wasn't just able to.". I keep nodding to his words with a shy smile:"Yeah, I guess...". He keeps looking into my eyes under his glasses:"Sometimes, people are afraid they will be viewed differently if they'll tell the truth to someone. Especially if it is someone they care about.". His words oozes warmth and care. It makes me think about my own past. "Thank you, Dumbledore." my voice sounds like a whisper. We share a gentle smile. He's truly an amazing boss.

Then, a dark figure appears behind the curtain. My heart skips a beat when I realize who it is. Dumbledore sees my stare going over his shoulder and he turns to look:"Severus. What brings you here?". Snape stands there head high, looking down on us for a moment longer before he spoke with the usual deep voice:"Lupin wishes to speak with you, Headmaster.". Hearing Remus's name and that he's alright makes me happy, and a wave of relief going through my whole body. "Oh, why of course. I shall leave then..." Headmaster takes some support from his knees to get up from the bed and walks away. And for my surprise, Snape won't follow him. Instead, he stays put.