Unexpected Fate (Severus Snape x Reader)

𝟑𝟒 - 𝓛𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓕𝓮𝓪𝓻

I braced myself for the start of my lesson. Rumors had been circulating that Umbridge was attending every class, meticulously taking notes. The prospect was daunting, especially after the alarming headlines in the morning's paper: "New Era Dawned at Hogwarts," accompanied by imposing photos of Umbridge.

The atmosphere at Hogwarts had been growing increasingly tense over the past few days. The wall where the new rules were posted had become cluttered with restrictions, each new regulation adding to the oppressive atmosphere. The once vibrant halls now felt stifling, as the students and staff grappled with the weight of Umbridge's presence and the draconian measures she was enforcing.

The thought of being scrutinized, of every word and gesture potentially being reported and judged, was unnerving. Nevertheless, I had to push these thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand.

Entering the classroom, I was greeted by the sight of anxious faces. The students settled into their seats with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, their eyes flicking towards the door as if expecting Umbridge to make an appearance at any moment. I took a deep breath, attempting to maintain my composure despite the knot of anxiety in my stomach.

"Good morning, everyone," I began, offering a reassuring smile. "Today, we'll be continuing our study of the founding of Hogwarts, focusing on the key figures who shaped its early years."

I turned to the blackboard, drawing a timeline of early magical history, and began explaining the significance of each figure and event. The students seemed attentive, though their unease was palpable. As the class progressed, the minutes ticked by quickly.

Just as I was about to delve into the details of Rowena Ravenclaw's contributions, the door creaked open. A hush fell over the classroom, and I looked up to see Dolores Umbridge standing in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room with an almost predatory gaze.

"Good morning," she said, her voice sweet but carrying an edge of cold authority. "I trust I'm not interrupting?"

The students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their eyes darting between Umbridge and me. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to maintain composure.

"No, Professor Umbridge," I responded, striving to maintain a composed tone. "We were discussing the early history of Hogwarts."

Umbridge walked into the room, her heels clicking sharply on the stone floor. She took a seat in the back of the room, her gaze never leaving me. The students seemed even more tense, their focus shifting between their notes and Umbridge's scrutinizing stare.

"Please, continue," Umbridge said, her tone suggesting that she was less interested in the lesson and more in evaluating my performance. "I'm keen to observe how well you handle the subject matter."

I nodded and turned back to the blackboard, my mind racing. The presence of Umbridge made it nearly impossible to concentrate, but I forced myself to push through the lesson, continuing to explain the intricacies of Hogwarts' history. Her eyes followed every movement, and I could feel the pressure of her gaze like a physical weight.

"Now, moving on to the creation of the Hogwarts houses," I began, trying to steer the class back on track, "each founder contributed unique traits to their houses."

I checked the time. "Since we're running out of time, we'll cover the details of each house's founding more thoroughly in our next lesson. Please come prepared with any questions you might have."

As I spoke, I could see Umbridge scribbling notes furiously, her expression inscrutable. The students tried to focus on the lesson, but their discomfort was evident. I knew that every word and gesture was being scrutinized, adding an additional layer of stress to an already challenging environment.