When Muggle Studies Met Potions

An Awkward Dinner

It pretty much did in your opinion. You sat there, wondering what to say to the man you just bumped into who made you weak at the knees in both a good and bad way. It was awkward, with professors engaged in conversation on either side of the both of you while you had to sit there in silence. The tension was thick enough to cut through, thick enough for everyone to see it surround you two. You couldn't believe your sense when you realised it was Snape who tried to end the silence. He was not one for talking, let alone talking for the sake of talking. "How are you feeling after your little bump? I know the floor is awful to fall onto" He practically whispered while staring forwards out to the hall. He just wouldn't look at you even when you replied, "I may get a bruise but it's not like anyone would see it" You chuckled. Snape didn't know what to say so you added, "Thank you for the concern, Professor Snape". You had to admit, it was incredibly awkward. "It's Severus, unless you want to sound like an annoying student" He replied. "Anyway, what was that infernal thing you were wearing when you were being careless in the hallway?" You thought about how you'd tell him what on earth phones and headphones were, but you had an idea. "After dinner, come to my classroom and I'll happily show you how it works and tell you what it is?" You didn't receive an answer, but you thought his curiosity had been piqued enough to warrant a visit from him. You didn't poke for a response and just ate your dinner.

Once you'd finished you walked back to your office to tidy both the room and yourself up. You felt nervous, you didn't want to be nervous. Yes, he was mysterious, yes, he was passive-aggressive, but you could not hide your desire to get to know him, and find his soft side. You started to mark some of the last papers in that pile you abandoned to go to dinner; if anything was going to distract you from the nerves and worry, you'd be stood up, and it'd be that. Just as you had finished the last essay, you heard the door open. He showed up. Why did he show up? You couldn't help but think it; he hated your chosen field of interest and yet, here he was. "Oh, Severus, you came..." You half muttered to him. "You did tell me to come, Professor Y/L/N" he replied "And contrary to everyone's gossiping and beliefs, I'm not that rude. I wouldn't ignore an invite extended in kindness, to learn" he whispered, seemingly feeling somewhat hurt by his reputation. "If I am to call you Severus as to 'not sound like an annoying student', then you simply have to call me Y/N; I think it's only fair," you told the man who looked rather handsome in the candlelight. "If you insist" Severus hissed in his usual way. You smiled slightly and told him all about smartphones and headphones and what their purposes were, and you enjoyed teaching him.

After what was probably seen by Snape as a lecture, you put the headphones over his ears much to his dismay. You then got the phone and opened Spotify to play your favourite song; safe to say, it made him jump just a little bit, which you thought was quite cute. Once the song was over, he asked to look at the phone to see what other songs were on there; he wanted to see if there were any songs he knew, maybe some musicians from the wizarding world put their music on there or made muggle music too. You then told him "You can listen without the headphones, Severus, let the music play out the phone" He took the headphones off and gave them to you so you could do whatever it was you needed to do. A song starts playing through the phone and you turn it up, moving towards him you place the phone on a table and ask for his hand. You were feeling brave at this point and practically forced him to dance with you to the music. "Why are you dancing with me, Y/N?" Snape asked tentatively. "Why not?" You replied, already sad before hearing the answer. "No one ever wants to dance with me, no one here even likes me," He whispered, clearly worried about the response "Everyone thinks I'm just mean, evil even, when I'm just too used to being alone". You tightened the grip on his hand, wanting him to know that not everyone thought that. "I don't think that, not everyone thinks that. Not really," You said, trying to comfort him "In fact, I quite like you".

He didn't know how to react. He had never been on the receiving end of something like that. He wanted to say something but didn't know what. He could tell his silence was making the situation even more uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Severus, forget I said anything if that makes it easier" you shyly offered him. He liked being liked especially by someone like you. "No, I appreciate the sentiment and am glad I have at least one friend by the sounds of it" He thanked you. "I have always had a soft spot for you, your kindness, your naivety, you never let anyone feel alone or silly for anything" He admitted. You blushed, feeling embarrassed and nervous. "Right, well, thank you but it's getting late so we should be going to bed so that we can be ready for our lessons tomorrow," you said, trying to pack up. You tried to walk past Severus and he grabbed your arm to stop you, "At least let us finish this conversation at some point tomorrow?" he asked. "Okay," you said, "but only if you bring me some food and butterbeer when you do". Giggling, you walked away to your room ready to dream about your potential growing relationship with Severus Snape.