Ancient Magician (Severus x Reader)

Chapter 33: Worrywarts

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𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 33: 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠

"𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦"

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"Y/n Grimblehawk!"

Snape's voice sliced through the haze clouding my mind like a well-aimed spell.

I didn't even bother opening my eyes. "Hi, Sev," I murmured with a small smile. My head was pounding, but at least his voice meant I was still conscious. Small victories.

Before I could even try to sit up, another voice joined in—sharper, worried, but unmistakably familiar.

"Good heavens, child, you look like you've been through a war."

"Minnie?" I blinked up at her, stunned. The lines of concern etched into her face softened slightly as she knelt beside me.

"Yes, it's me," she confirmed, brushing a stray strand of hair off my forehead. "You've given us all quite the scare."

"I'm fine," I insisted, although my limbs ached and my back throbbed where the bludger had struck. I tried to sit up again but immediately regretted it.

"Fine, my foot," she scoffed. "We're taking you to the hospital wing. Severus, would you be so kind?"

"Of course," Sev said without hesitation.

Before I knew it, he crouched down in front of me and helped me onto his back, which felt both ridiculous and oddly comforting. My arms looped lazily around his shoulders.

"Alright," he muttered, adjusting his hold on my legs. "Try not to fall off."

"No promises," I quipped, my voice muffled as I leaned my cheek against his shoulder. "So... where's my team?"

"We told them to give you some space," he said, his tone careful but firm. "You needed medical attention, not a crowd of panicked teenagers."

I winced a little. "Fair point. But... did we win?"

Professor McGonagall's expression shifted instantly, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yes. Gryffindor won. By quite a bit, actually. Your stunt, though reckless, turned the tide."

I couldn't help grinning despite the pain. "Let's gooo! Though I guess that's awkward for you, Sev, seeing as you're basically Slytherin's Head."

"Don't push your luck," he said dryly, but I caught the faintest smirk on his lips.

Then his tone changed—lower, serious. "Y/n... why didn't you tell anyone that something was wrong with the bludger?"

I stiffened slightly. Of course he'd noticed. Nothing ever got past Severus Snape.

"I didn't want to make a fuss," I muttered. "It's just... I didn't want anyone worrying unnecessarily."

"Unnecessarily?" Professor McGonagall cut in, her voice unusually sharp. "You nearly fell off your broom after that hit. That was no ordinary bludger."

"That's exactly why we should have been told," Sev added, his brow furrowed.

I sighed. "Okay, okay, maybe it wasn't the brightest move, but I didn't expect it to go so far. I thought I could handle it."

"Y/n," McGonagall said softly, "you don't have to handle everything on your own."

Before I could respond, we reached the entrance to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was already waiting, arms crossed, face etched with the same disapproving expression she always wore when I landed myself here—which was far too often.