cinnamon and chocolate. | severus snape

『 ↳𓆙･ﾟ 𝟏. 𝟑: 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞.

I enter the common room I've become so familiar with, the aroma of books, coconut candles and dust fills the air. My friends follow behind me. They sit around on the couch, leaving Neville to the one across. I take Cricket out of her carrier and hold her in my arms, petting her soft head. I sit on the couch Neville is sat at and place Cricket on my lap. Gabriella gives Cricket a small smile and reaches over to stroke her fur.
"Okay, Julie. We had an..idea-" George starts
"Here we go.." I sigh. George clears his throat.
"Anyways, we were going to pull a sort of beginning of the year prank," I tilt my head in curiosity. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.. "Okay- stay with me here.. we sneak into Snape's office, nick the Vertiaserum and pour it in his morning cuppa and-"
"Hold on, you're telling me we are basically going to drug him?" I furrow my eyebrows. Fred nudges George with his elbow.
"I told you she won't like it," He mutters. George ignores him.
"It's not like that! Also he won't know it's us, come on! The bloody knob deserves it anyway!"
"It seems kind of dicey.." I cross my arms and watch as Neville scoots closer to me.
"It 𝘪𝘴 dicey and I don't want to do it, it's a bad idea.." He whispers in my ear. "They want me to be the one to steal the veritaserum!" I nod and look back to Fred, George and Gabriella.
"Okay, fine." I force myself to say, despite my negative feelings towards this idea. Fred pumps his fist. "Under one condition, I get to steal the vertiaserum." I say. Everyone gives me a surprised look, I'm honestly surprised myself but if I don't volunteer Neville will be forced to do something he doesn't want to do. Neville looks dumbfounded at me, I give him a wink. He frowns before giving me a appreciative smile, realizing my intention.

*** *** ***
Time was never kind towards me. It seemed like I always managed to come late in every occasion, not noticing how fast the clock was ticking, and I knew my careless attitude was going to be the death of me. I had to run towards the potions classroom, panting hard as soon as I arrived there, trying to catch your breath. I was not born to run, that was for sure. I find my seat and nearly ran into it, shifting uncomfortably. Usually I look forward to this but all I can think about is how my friends are counting on me to steal the potion.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" I look to up to see a floating pen above my head, I shrug it off since this 𝘪𝘴 the norm for my peers. My thoughts are interrupted by a slam of the windows. Everybody's heads whip around in shock. Apparently Professor Snape's dramatic entrances haven't dulled over the break.
"There will be no foolish wand waving," A silky, brooding fills my ears. "..or silly incantations in this class." The entire classroom is hushed in an instant. "For today's lesson, we will brew the antidote to Veritaserum. As you should know, Veritaserum is the most powerful truth potion in the wizarding world. Its antidote isn't nearly as complex, so there will be no excuse for anything short of perfection." 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. Snape's eyes fall on me, he probably notices my unsettled expression. I look down at my desk, breaking eye contact. After a while, when he finished explaining what we'd need for the potion. I found myself overthinking the vertiaserum prank. Of course, I've pranked professors and faced the consequences for it however this involves making someone consume a potion against their own will. It feels wrong to me but if I speak up about it, I'd get ridiculed. I finish chopping the Valerian sprigs and drop them into my cauldron, picking up my wand to stir the potion.
"Did you have a bad day?" Snape's question caught me by surprise, and suddenly a wave of emotions washed over me, and I wanted nothing but to tell him everything. I had been taking extra lessons from the Potions Master this year, and I always helped him with his work, even if he did not need me to. He could handle his tasks perfectly alone, although I could tell he likes the company.
"The worst." I almost whined. My day was fine, I just needed a coverup for my very apparent upset expression..
"Fight with your boyfriend, I see?" He guessed, a hint of amusement was twinkling in his dark eyes, knowing that his question would anger me. I glared daggers at him, realising that he was trying to tick me off intentionally.
"You know well that I do not have a boyfriend, Professor." He nearly laughed at my answer.
"Of course you don't, you reject every boy who likes you including the one who confessed his undying love to you during sixth year." Russel.. "I pity that boy, so blinded by love it is truly woeful ." My face flushed at his words, reminding me when Russel Fenrin decided it was a smart move to confess to me in front of Snape, during the Potions class. I cringed at the memory, and Snape could not help but let a small smile cracked on his lips. I would be surprised to see his smile a year ago, but now I could say that it was a familiar sight to see him smiling around you, only when others were not watching. "If you keep rejecting every boy who fancies you, you will die alone Miss Doves." I cocked my eyebrow, turning towards him more.
"If that's the case, you're dying alone as well Professor." I retort, surprised he hasn't stopped me yet. "It is good to socialize, you know." He scoffs and cross his arms over his chest.
"What happened today, Juliet?" Snape said, referencing to my day. I think up a quick excuse.
"Just stressed with- er, school starting. But i'm fine now." He nods to that.
"School can be stressful. Luckily for you, you've got only one more year here. I assume you're looking forward to be leaving school behind." I slightly tighten my grip on my wand.
"School can be stressful but here you are, teaching in a school. How do you cope?" I joked, receiving a knowing look from him. I gulped and nodded weakly, tearing my gaze from him and to my cauldron.

*** *** ***
I flatten myself against the wall of the potion room storage closet, the moment I've been dreading all third period is happening now. I slowly creep into the closet, looking through the shelves. 𝘐𝘵'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦, 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. I comfort myself as I search for the potion. Anti-Paralysis, Fire Protection, Everlasting Elixirs, Felix Felicis..Vertiaserum. I grab the small green bottle, feeling the urge to run out of here fill my brain. Although, I know the smarter thing is to be quiet and take my time while getting out. I cautiously step out of the closet and out of the classroom, meeting with my awaiting friends.
"Did you get it?" Gabriella said eagerly. I hold up the bottle, causing an eruption of silent cheers from my friends (except Neville)
"Brilliant, now can we just do it already?" Neville whisper-shouted, his nervousness clearly taking over his senses. I nod, looking over to Fred and George. They lead us to Snape's office after making me give the potion to George so he can slip it in Snape's coffee. We're about to go in when they stop.
"What?" Gabriella asks.
"Juliet should go in first." Fred turns to me.
"Why me?"
"He won't be happy if he sees us go into his office. It makes it look like you've dragged us along." I sigh, switching places with Fred and George. Twisting the doorknob slowly, we all step inside his office. Snape looks up, a curious smirk on his face when he sees me.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Doves." His smirk seems so fade when he notices the rest of my group.
"We just wanted to ask a few questions, if you don't mind." Fred nods, a small smile on his lips. Snape sighs and leans forward in his chair.
"What on earth for?" He responds. My eyes trail to his coffee, right as George discreetly pours 3 drops of the vertiaserum in.
"We're just wondering." Fred smiled, showing all his teeth. Snape rolled his eyes and picked up his coffee. We all watched in anticipation as he brought it to his lips and take a sip.
"You've got 5 minutes, so ask away, I suppose." He waves his hand, giving me a tired look. We never got as far in the conversation about this to discuss what questions we'd ask him, I stare at Snape as George thinks up a question.
"Uh- oh, do you happen to fancy a teacher at this school?" George flashes a smirk at Snape. Snape furrows his eyebrows.
"No."
"Not a single one?"
"No."
"Are you s-"
"𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵..waste your time on one question, Weasley." George clears his throat, looking over to Gabriella. She thinks of something to ask.
"What about a student? Do you fancy a student?" She raises an eyebrow. I look over to her, confused.
"That's a strange ques-"
"Yes." Snape answers, covering his mouth with a hand quickly after. His gaze falls on me. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦? "That's enough, leave my office."
"But-" A small clink comes from below George's sleeve. The potion. Snape looks down at the potion.
"Is that-" He begins.
"Juliet, I told you it was a bad idea!" Gabriella blurts out. 𝘞𝘏𝘈𝘛?  I whip my head around and frown at Gabriella.
"I'm sorry- I.." Why am I apologizing?
"You shouldn't have given it to him!" She yells. Anger takes over me, I clench my fist. I'm not sure why, but instead of shouting back I just stand there and take it. I'm about to apologize once more when Snape slams a hand down on the table.
"Imago, Weasley's, Longbottom. Leave my office, now." They quickly hustle out the office, leaving me and Snape alone. "Miss Doves, have a seat." He points to the seat in front of him. I sit, a frustrated huff coming from me as I do. "Miss Doves, you've just earned yourself a months detention." I hold back a retort and nod politely.
"Yes, Professor."
"Why?" I look up at him.
"What?"
"Why did you take the blame?" 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸..
"I didn't, Professor. I-" I look down, breaking eye contact. Abruptly, his hand comes up to hold my chin up and make me look at him.
"Don't make me force this potion down your throat, Juliet." My face heats up. God, why did that make my face heat up?
"I didn't want my friends to get in trouble."
"That was dead foolish, Miss Doves." I nod. "Don't think so less of yourself. You deserve more." He lets go of my chin. "I'll see you in detention." Snape says, before sending me off.