𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 - 𝑨 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒖𝒔 𝑺𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Distance

🍓 Let us all pretend the winter break is longer then it actually is. These hard working wizards deserve some leeway.

And sorry if this chapter seems rushed. I couldn't write it any other way.

Happy Reading 💋
_______

Mia stood in the kitchen, a small smile of excitement on her face as she prepared breakfast. She was preparing his favorite for him, stuffing some fresh berries and syrup between each pancake as she piled them up, finishing up with a swirl of whipped cream on top.

She had fixed up the kitchen a bit to make it look more homely, and popped the kitchen window open to let in some cool air. She hoped that he would be in a better mood this morning, and perhaps they might be able to talk a bit.

The kettle starts whistling. Once she had set the table, she turns the stove off and begins preparing a hot coffee. She then hears the pitter of footsteps behind her.

Turning around, Mia sees Severus standing at the opening of the kitchen, his seemingly sleepy eyes taking in the sight before him.

Mia took this opportunity to admire his very casual appearance now that he was at home, no longer having to do as much work as before. He was dressed in a nightshirt, and a pair of grey flannel pants, his hair unkept and slightly fluffy.

"Good morning!" Mia pipes up, making her way over to him with the cup.

"I made you coffee, with pancakes too." His gaze flickered down to her, slowly moving to the cup in her hands before curtly accepting it.

Moving past her, he sits down at the breakfast table.

"....Lovely morning, isn't it?" She added, hoping to start some kind of conversation. She went to the window, peeking her head out to watch the neighborhood children playing in the snow with each other. "Does coming back bring you memories?"

"I am in no mood for such useless conversations." He stabbed into the soft pancake as he spoke, his tone full of irritation.

Mia was taken aback. She stood there for a moment, just staring at him as he ate his breakfast silently, a frown etched across his features as it he wasn't even enjoying it.

She thought that perhaps he would loosen up more now that they were away from Hogwarts, but his temperament seemed worse.

Severus would never take his frustrations out on Mia. Maybe during the first month she started working for him, yes, but other than that, she didn't remember the last time she heard him speak to her like that.

"What's gotten you so worked up? I thought that you'd be more relaxed now that-"

"Did I stutter, you silly maid?" He slammed his hand down against the table. Mia flinched, as the sound of cups and plates rattling reverberated through the room but she wouldn't stop there just yet.

"No, no you did not, but don't I have the right to ask why you're suddenly behaving this way? I didn't even do anything Severus!" She raised her voice the slightest bit.

She was ready to say more, the words were resting right there on the tip of her tongue but they immediately jumped back down to the depths of her throat when Severus suddenly rose to his feet, his fingers releasing the cutlery from his hands, letting them drop to the wooden floor with the loudest clank.

She nearly choked on said words and her dry lips slightly parted as he took a single step towards her.

".....Your right, you say?" He raised his brow, but his eyes held a hint of anger, while he repeated her words back to her calmly, and almost mockingly. "You've forgotten your place, haven't you? You're talking about rights before me? Your master?"