'Not Your Fault.' 18+ [a Severus Snape fanfiction]

1

Noah had been battling an intense pain through the night. Eventually, he felt suffocated by the enclosure of his dorm and made his way in a daze out to the garden for fresh air; an expedition that was short-lived when he heard the deep rumble of the infamous potions master behind him.

"Are you aware that it is well past curfew, young Noah?" the man intoned bitterly.

Noah regarded the professor for a moment then glanced off to the side, nodding once in admission that he did indeed know the time. His hand came up to rub his arm awkwardly and he took a few steps closer to the man, his black eyes cast downwards at the ground. Professor Snapw looked at the younger boy, observing his body language. It was easy to tell that the boy was nervous.
Maybe he was afraid of being punished, after all, Snape had a reputation of giving difficult detentions.

He took a step closer to the boy, tilting his head to look into his eyes. "Out of bed at night isn't something to be taken lightly."

Noah swallowed thickly and nodded again before meeting eyes with Snape. The boy continued rubbing his arm up and down slowly in nervous habit, silently regarding the man before him and biting his bottom lip.

Snape took a few more steps closer and reached out, gently grabbing the boys chin to hold his head up. Snape studied the boy's expression, trying to figure out what could be going in his head. "I don't think I ever caught your name." He spoke up, his voice slightly softer than before.

Noah's eyes widened ever so slightly when the professor touched his chin, his nervous moments coming to a halt and his body relaxing slightly. The boy was used to his classmates regarding him as a freak, avoiding him, no one had ever touched him so easily before. He blinked his eyes a few times before bringing his hand up with his palm facing upwards, using his finger to trace his own name in it letter by letter; 'N-O-A-H'.

Professor Snape watched the younger boy trace his own name into his palm, his eyes widening slightly in realization. "Oh, you're mute..." Snape said softly, his eyes softening more as he recognized the boy's difficulty with communication.

He moved his hand away from the boys chin and thought for a moment. After a moment he held out his hand slightly, waiting to see how the boy would react.

Noah glanced down at the hand extended to him curiously, doing nothing at first as he wasn't sure what the professor's intentions were in doing such a thing. However, after a moment, the boy brought his own hand up and cautiously touched Snape's palm with his fingertips, letting it linger there timidly. Snape's heart ached at the way the boy timidly touched his hand, the way he seemed to hesitate was just as endearing as it was worrisome.

After a few moments, he gently wrapped his fingers around the boys smaller hand, giving it a light squeeze. He wanted to show the boy that he wasn't going to be hurt by him. "Well, now that I know your name, care to tell me why you're awake so late?" He asked, his voice still gentle as he spoke.

Noah allowed his hand to relax into Snape's hold, his own fingers curling around the edge of the man's palm before returning the gentle squeeze. He looked up to the man and wiggled his nose in thought before bringing his hand up to touch his stomach, and his chest, trying to indicate that he wasn't feeling well.

Snape listened intently to the boys nonverbal communication, nodding in understanding as he indicated his stomach. "I see. Did you get sick after supper?" He asked softly, his tone of voice still tender. He carefully took his free hand and gently rested it against the boys forehead, checking his temperature.

Noah closed his eyes for a moment when the Professor checked his temperature. His skin was somewhat hot to touch. The boy pulled his hand out of Snape's to guide it open, before spelling his reply put against the professor's palm this time, his touch gentle and slow so that the man would have time to process each letter. "didnt eat. sick before too" he spelled out.