Severus Snape x student LOVE STORY

Chapter 20 - the Locked Secret

Adeline stood over the simmering cauldron, carefully measuring and mixing the ingredients for Baruffio's Brain Elixir. The potion required precision, and she was determined not to let anything go wrong, especially after her previous mishap with the Veritaserum. The memory of that failure still stung, especially since Snape never let her forget it.

The string of potions Snape had her brewing all began with the letter "B," from Babbling Beverage to Burning Bitterroot Balm. It seemed like a punishment, but Adeline was secretly thrilled to work with new ingredients and learn more about these lesser-known concoctions. So, as the girl stirred the cauldron, a light aroma of herbs and something vaguely metallic filled the room. She was so focused on her task that she barely noticed Snape entering the room. He walked past her, his sharp eyes assessing her work with that usual critical gaze. "You're doing this because of your last failure with Veritaserum," he reminded her, his tone stern. "I will not let you forget that blunder." She didn't reply, instead letting the rhythmic motion of stirring the potion calm her nerves.

Adeline did find his comments often frustrating, but she kept her focus on the potion. She had come to expect these remarks from Snape, though they never failed to irritate her. She knew he was a demanding man, and that just because they were now together did not mean that he took potions or brewing lightly, on the contrary, he seemed to become even more demanding of her when the topic concerned her studies. But for some reason, she liked it.

Snape moved towards the door, pulling on his black coat, preparing to leave. "I'll be back later," he stated flatly, his voice echoing in the quiet room.

Without looking up from her work, Adeline said, "Tell the Malfoys I said hello."

Her words made Snape freeze in his tracks. He turned slowly to look at her, surprise flickering across his usually unreadable features. "Was that written in the book?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of unease.

Adeline nodded, still focused on the cauldron. "Yes. This is the summer of many Death Eater meetings," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

Snape sighed deeply, the weight of his dual life pressing down on him. He walked over to her, his expression softening as he wrapped his arms around her in a rare display of affection. "I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair.

Adeline chuckled softly, turning her head slightly to glance at him. "You have nothing to apologize for. I know where your loyalties truly lie," she said. Snape allowed a small smile to cross his lips before he leaned in to give her a soft, lingering kiss. It was a tender moment, a quiet promise of his return. Then, with a final glance, he turned and left the house, his black coat billowing behind him.

Left alone in the quiet of Snape's home, Adeline returned to her brewing. The Baruffio's Brain Elixir was nearly complete, its surface bubbling gently. She watched as the potion changed colour, signalling its readiness. The elixir was known to increase the taker's brain power, and she couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement at the thought of testing it out. But as the room settled back into silence, the reality of her situation pressed down on her, and whenever Snape left, Adeline always had this sinking feeling of fear like there was a chance he'd never return.

Snape returned to his home in the dead of night, his mind haunted by the horrors he had just witnessed at Malfoy Manor. His eyes were cold, and his gaze was filled with a vile darkness that reflected the death he had seen. Voldemort had killed an old friend of Snape's, a wizard who had once shared many of his beliefs, right on top of the table where everyone had feasted. The memory of Draco Malfoy's pale, blood-splattered face lingered in his mind, the young wizard visibly shaken by the gruesome event.

Stumbling into his library, Snape pressed his fingers against his temples, trying to alleviate the pain throbbing in his head. He scanned the room, searching for a place to sit and gather his thoughts, but then he saw her, and his mind went quiet.