Severus Snape x student LOVE STORY

Chapter 13 - the Truth

Summer was slowly coming to an end... But tension was as high as ever.

It was late in the evening, Snape handed Adeline a steaming cup of tea, his expression unreadable as he offered it to her. "I made too much," he said, his tone casual. "You should drink it before bed. It will help you relax."

Adeline smiled softly, unaware of any intent behind the gesture. "Thank you, Professor," she replied, taking the cup from his hands. The warmth of the tea seeped through the porcelain, soothing her as she took a sip. The taste was slightly bitter, but she didn't mind. As she drank, a heavy drowsiness began to settle over her, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing second. Snape watched her carefully, noting the way her movements slowed, how her grip on the cup loosened as she struggled to stay awake. "You're looking tired," he remarked, his voice soft. "Let me help you to bed."

Adeline nodded, barely conscious, her head already starting to droop. Snape guided her to her feet, his hand gentle on her arm as he led her to her room. She was almost entirely out of it by the time they reached her bed, and she collapsed onto the mattress, her body sinking into the soft sheets.

"Goodnight," she mumbled, her voice slurred and distant. Her eyes fluttered closed as the effects of the sleeping potion took hold, pulling her swiftly into unconsciousness.

Snape waited, his breath held as he watched her succumb to the potion he had slipped into her tea. Once he was certain she was almost completely asleep, he allowed himself to move. He didn't have much time; he had to act quickly before her mind fell into slumber.

Stepping closer to the bed, he leaned over her, placing his hand on the girl's forehead gently. What he did next was unforgivable, but he saw that he had no other choice. Snape performed Legilimency, his magic diving into her mind, delving into the depths of her memories. And at first, there was only darkness, the void of unconsciousness. But then, the memories began to surface, one after the other, like fragments of a shattered mirror slowly piecing themselves together.

The first memory was of a young girl, no older than thirteen, standing in an orphanage. Her green eyes, the same ones as Malia's, were filled with a blend of sadness and determination. Her hair was brown, cascading down her back, and her features were soft but striking. Snape recognized those eyes immediately—they were her eyes. He watched the memory of her with many other children it looked like it was happening in an orphanage, and so he saw the girl, Adeline, as she ran to help a young boy who had gotten hurt, crying. She was gentle, caring, as she inspected his bruised cheek, her smile warm despite the bleak surroundings. But the moment was shattered when a stern woman, presumably the head of the orphanage, stormed over. She grabbed Adeline by the hair, yanking her away from the boy with a vicious tug. Adeline cried out in pain, but the woman only yelled at her, berating her for acting out of place.

"You're not his mother!" the woman shouted, her grip cruel as Adeline struggled. "It's not your place to help him!"

The memory faded as quickly as it had come, replaced by another. Snape saw Adeline, now a little older, sitting under a bridge in the pouring rain, only one bag next to her. Her clothes were soaked through, and tears streamed down her face as she stared up at the dark, stormy sky. The weight of loneliness and despair was palpable.

The scene shifted again, and Adeline was in a cafe, even older now, bustling around with a tray of drinks in hand. She was smiling, her demeanour bright despite the mundane nature of her work. But then, a customer—a man, slightly drunk and leering—grabbed her from behind, his hands rough and unwelcome. Adeline reacted instinctively, pushing him off, but the tray she was holding fell, drinks spilling across the floor. Her manager stormed over, anger flashing in his eyes as he reprimanded her harshly, blaming her for the incident. Adeline stood there, her head bowed, taking the scolding in silence, though Snape could see the humiliation burning in her green eyes... as the scene faded to black.