Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-48-

Rest of the summer went well. I did visit my aunt and her husband on the last week of the vacation. They loved their time in Italy and were over all really happy. Seeing them made me happy and glad, but coming back to the castle once again made me feel like I can breath again. Hard to explain, but that seems to happen anytime I leave Hogwarts and come back. I needed to remove all my belongings from Greenhouse's chamber into a new chamber that is close to the History of Magic classroom, so Professor Sprout can get her stuff in there. The new chamber looks almost identical, except there aren't any vines going over the ceiling. Sniffy was little bit confused at first, but soon settled in well. Guess giving him some food and shiny things made him feel home again and forget that we moved into new room. Funny little rascal.

The night before all of the students and rest of the professors are going to come back to the school, I lay in bed and snuggle up with the niffler. Sniffy's short fur tickles side of my cheek as he tunnels the crook of my neck. Can't wait this semester to start! Seeing all the old and new faces, new classroom that I can decor the way I like, just everything about tomorrow makes me feel excited. And most of all I'm going to see him again. Severus. It's been over a month last time I saw him. Tomorrow, I get to see him again. Goofy smile creeps up on my face just thinking about it, followed by a blush. Why I feel like a little school girl just thinking about him?! There is something badly wrong with me. But I can't help it. Just thinking about him and everything we have gone thru makes my heart flutter. But there is still part of me that is scared. Scared of the rejection. So I better play it cool and see what happens.

The day has come. I have felt giddy all morning. The students are going to be here in the evening, so I have time to put last finishing touches around the History of Magic classroom. Feels like I'm getting rid of everything that even remotely reminds me of Lockhart. Even there isn't much I can do regarding the desks placements and such, I can still reorganize all the books and add my own personal decors around the classroom here and there. While putting things neatly on my desk, I hear how someone steps into the room. "Good to see you again, (Y/N)." familiar voice says. My head snaps to glance over my shoulder:"Professor Dumbledore!". "Making the classroom more like yourself, I see." Headmaster hums pleased while looking around where he's standing.

"Yes. Thought it would make me feel more confident when the classes starts tomorrow." I nod with shy smile. He then looks at me:"Hope you don't feel odd being here after everything that happened.". "To be quite honest, I don't. At first I thought I would feel uneasy, but it does make me feel like I got the change to clear the air. If that makes any sense." I let out a small awkward chuckle at the end. Dumbledore nods and walks towards me:"Yes. I suppose it does.". After that, we start talking how our summer went. We keep the conversation light and cheerful from the start to finish. Of course, I didn't tell him anything that happened at the festival or such. When we had nothing else to say, Dumbledore continued his way. Probably went up to next classroom to see other professors and ask how their vacation went.

As the evening started to come closer, I went to my chamber to change my clothes and do my hair. Need to look good to make great first impression for the new faces! When the evening finally arrives, it starts raining quite hard and some thunder can be heard somewhere in the distance. Minerva and I are at the entry of the Great Hall to greet the students and guide them if needed. Most of the students greet us with smiles on their faces as they walk past by us. "Minerva, I need to ask you something." I lean little bit towards her as she's standing right beside me. "Yes, dear?" she keeps her gaze towards the direction where all of the students are coming from. "Do you know who's our new D.A.D.A. teacher?" I ask.

Minerva gives a tiny wave at one of the students who spot her further away:"Didn't Dumbledore told you?". I raise an eyebrow at her:"Well, I wouldn't be asking if he had told me, now would I?". "Alastor Moody." she tells. "Hmm... Why does that sound familiar?" I wonder out loud. "Hard to say, but he used to be an Auror. Quite famous too." Minerva gives me a knowing smile, since I have told her how much I idolize Aurors in the past. My eyes starts to sparkle and my head snaps right at her:"Really?!". "Perhaps he could tell you more about his adventures and life as an Auror in general." she encourages. Can't wait! Just then, Minerva spots how there are some students that are already up to no good further away. "Oh..-! No, no, that'll not do." she quickly leaves by my side to intervene. Watching her go just makes me laugh a little.