Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-69-

In the meantime, when I have just found the letter, Severus approaches the bridge that leads into the Forbidden Forest. There's no one there, so he waits. Every minute that passes by makes him feel more and more impatient. After waiting for fifteen minutes, familiar girl walks towards him with smile on her face. Potions Master composes himself a bit:"Miss McDowell. What are you doing out here?". The girl chuckles:"What you mean by 'what am I doing out here'? I asked you to be here, you silly.". His face turns into stone, like he just realized something. Miss McDowell smiles shyly:"I got something to tell yo..-", "So... You are the 'troublemaker'?" Snape interrupts the girl's confession moment. She raise her eyebrows, looking confused:"Wh..- Yes. Who else would it be?". Without a word, he walks away from the student. Miss McDowell is baffled:"Professor Snape? Wait..-!", he uses Apparate spell and vanishes.

Severus appears into Potions classroom, feeling extremely disappointed. He's all alone in the room and walks up to in front of the classroom. Right away, he notices there is something on his desk. It's a see-through bag that has a green and yellow ribbons wrapped around it. The bag is filled with little pieces of fudges. And right next to it is the pink letter that turned out to be made by Miss McDowell. Severus pulls out his wand and uses a spell to levitate the letter and burns it. The look on Severus's face is very neutral and cold. He feels nothing when it comes to ignoring the young girl's tempt of love confession. After destroying it, his focus goes to the little gift bag. Just when he's about to grab it, he stops himself. Severus crunches his hand into a fist and leaves the room.

"(Y/N) won't join other witches and wizards for the dinner?" Dongy asks curious why am I here in the kitchen, sitting on a small stool. The kitchen is filled with running elves. They are preparing the dinner for everyone in the castle, just like every day. Only today the menu is more 'Valentine's Day' - like, so to speak. I sigh deep:"No, wasn't feeling like it.". The elf frowns little bit worried:"Is (Y/N) feeling sick?". Both of my eyebrows raise:"What? Oh, no. No. I'm fine. I just didn't feel like being surrounded by other people.". "Well, Dongy is glad (Y/N) came to spend time with us elves. Not many witches or wizards visits here." he smiles softly and goes to continue his work around the kitchen. I offered my help as soon as I came in, but got turned down quickly. Guess they are really strict with who's doing what in the kitchen. So, I'm sitting in this small stool and watch them working. It's surprisingly calming, specially after busy work week that it has been so far... 'Love, Your troublemaker'

After I had read that letter, I rushed to the bridge to see if Severus was in there with the person whoever wrote it, but when I arrived, no one was there. I feel such a fool. Somehow I didn't feel like going back to my chamber, so I came here. Needed something else to think for change. My mind is all over the place. Don't know what to make out of this. There is this part of me that tells me to calm down and think this logically thru. Then there is this other part... I don't even wanna think about. But this unpleasant feeling keeps waving inside of me. I can't figure out who might have wrote that letter. The thought Severus possibly ended the class right after he had received this letter tells me he must've been very excited...

Suddenly, another elf appears right next to me with the Apparate spell which makes me jump. "Oh, Merlin's beard!" I gasp and brought a hand on my chest. The elf turns to me:"Oh, Dobby is terribly sorry! Didn't mean to scare a witch like that.". I chuckle softly:"No, that's alright. I wasn't just prepared anyone jumping out of nowhere.". Right away I notice the elf is holding a pink rose with him. Before I can think or say anything, Dongy sees the elf next to me and his face brightens:"Dobby came!". Huh? Dongy rushes other side of the kitchen to Dobby and they share a smile. "Dobby found this rose from the garden and it reminded of Dongy." he hands him the rose. Dongy blushes and takes it:"Oh, it's wonderful. Dongy loves it!". They share this soft and caring look with blushes on their tiny, bony cheeks. I just watch all of this from where I'm sitting. Can't even begin to describe how happy I am for my elf friend. Even the elves are having better Valentine's Day than I have.

Hours went by, and I finally went back to my chamber. It was late, so I didn't leave the room after I had taken Sniffy out for his evening walk. Had enough of running back and forth around the castle like headless chicken, so I decided to just let it be and spend rest of the Valentine's Day with my beloved niffler. After taking a shower, I made a cup of hot cocoa and sat down on the sofa, under the blanket. Sniffy enjoys the cozy and quiet evening as he's curled up against me. The fire flames in the fireplace while I dive deep in my own thoughts. There is this... Lingering sadness in me. I really thought him and I were going to spend our first Valentine's Day together. Talking, laughing, cuddling, kissing... But no. None of that happened today. I'm trying to convince myself he would never do anything to break my trust or such. But... Why I feel so... Neglected. A tear rolls down my cheek.

The next day comes. No difference to the other days - busy as always. After the lunch, I went to the library and gathered all kinds of books that I could find that even remotely talks about the First Wizarding War. Since Mr. McLaggen - who actually stopped coming to advanced History classes after the Yule Ball, had ask me to talk about the war in my class, other students were intrigued by the subject as well, so I finally found the time look into it. Guess I didn't consider how heavy and how hard it is to walk with pile of different sized books from the library to the History of Magic classroom... While struggling, I spot familiar Hufflepuff student other side of the hallway. "Oh, C-Cedric!" I call him. The boy turns to me with questioning look:"Yes, Professor?". Immediately he sees my struggle and rushes to help. "Need a hand?" he smiles. I try to respond to his smile, but end up grinning awkwardly:"Gladly.".

Cedric grabs few of them, making the pile lighter for me. "Phew! Thank you!" I sigh relieved and remove a piece of hair out of my face that has been bugging me ever since I walked out of the library. "Studying hard, I see?" he chuckles. "You have no idea..." I roll my eyes. As we are walking towards the History of Magic classroom, he tells me how his Valentine's Day went with his girlfriend. It seems that the place they went to was filled with other students it was almost impossible to get a table, so they decided to go Three Broomsticks for butterbeers instead. I feel envy they got the change spend time together like that. The way Cedric talks about Cho sounds so lovely, so respectful. Anyone can see they are madly in love with each other. I keep smiling while listening him talking.

Soon after, we get to the doorway of the classroom and I turn to him as a sing to place the books back in my arms. When he hands them to me, that piece of hair falls back down again on my face and I try to blow it away. Damn it... Cedric chuckles:"Hold on...". Before I could react, he moves the piece of hair behind my ear. "Oh, thank you." I nod with awkward smile. "You're welcome, Professor." he smiles gently back. Then, we both feel this cold breeze near us. Hm? As soon as we turn our heads towards the cold feeling, our faces drops. It's the Potions Master himself, glaring right at us other side of the hallway. My heart skips a beat. For some reason I feel like I haven't seen him in ages, even we literally saw each other yesterday. Without taking his eyes off of us, he walks closer in calm manner:"Mr. Diggory, you are dismissed.". What? Cedric is little taken aback by the sudden 'order'.

The Potions Master narrows his eyes on him and lift an eyebrow:"Weren't you listening? Or have you become deaf?". About to open my mouth to defend the student when Cedric quickly shook his head:"No, sir. Sorry, sir.", and he leaves. That was unnecessary. Third years starts slowly coming inside the classroom, ready for their next lesson of today. About to ask Severus what was that all about, he suddenly shifts his eyes on me and gives this dirty look before walking away. Huh?! Confused by this, I quickly hand the books I'm holding to the next student that happens to walk past me:"Put these on my desk, will you.". "Oh, okay." it's Vivian, who's now confused why she has been handed a pile of heavy books. While she struggles to get good grip on them, I rush after the Potions Master:"Hey!". Severus won't stop. He keeps on walking with long steps ahead. Damn it! I feel the urge to call him by the first name, but there happens to be other students walking, so I bite my tongue and keep on going after him. What has got into him?!