As days went by, my duel with Ares faded into the background, lost among the constant whirlwind of drama at Hogwarts. Today was another Legilimens lesson, a ritual that always sent a tremor of anxiety through me. Despite my progress, I still found it nearly impossible to keep Snape out of my mind.
As I entered the dimly lit office, I was enveloped by the familiar atmosphere. The air was thick with the scents of potions—sharp, acrid notes mingled with something sweet and herbal. Shelves lined with dusty, labeled jars stretched to the ceiling . A large cauldron simmered in the corner, casting shadows that danced across the stone walls, while the flickering candlelight illuminated Snape's stoic figure at his desk.
"Miss Blackwell, you are late."
"I'm sorry, sir. I had to finish Charms and—"
He cut me off, his tone sharp. "I do not accept unpunctuality. Let's begin before I have to spend my entire evening dealing with your excuses."
We stepped into the small, suffocating room filled with the musty scent of old parchment. The heavy curtains blocked out the light, giving the room an oppressive feel. The walls were adorned with dark, foreboding portraits, their subjects seemingly judging my every move.
"Concentrate. I will begin to penetrate your mind."
I braced myself, trying desperately to block him out, but I couldn't help it. As he delved into my thoughts, I felt a rush of memories flooding to the surface: the late-night study sessions where I often fell asleep with my face buried in heavy tomes, the satisfaction of mastering a complex Charms spell, and the bittersweet moment of the kiss Ron and I shared. Then came the memories of my duel with Ares and how ashamed I felt afterwards.
"Focus!" he barked, thrusting deeper into my mind until I fell to my knees, overwhelmed.
"Why did you do this?" I gasped, fury boiling within me. My head throbbed with the aftermath of his invasion.
"That is your practice," he replied coolly.
"No, no, no. The first time, perhaps. But the second time, you wanted to see more. What was so interesting to you, hmm? Was it how I felt detached after humiliating my own brother? Or perhaps the fleeting moments of happiness? Must be terrifying for you to witness someone else's joy."
He turned his back on me, his indifference palpable. "You are ridiculous if you think I care about irrelevant things like your life."
"Then why are you so eager to dive into it?" I shot back, rising to my feet despite the ache in my head.
Silence hung in the air, thick with tension. I could feel the weight of my words, a challenge to his detachment.
"Leave," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.
I hesitated, torn between the urge to confront him and the overwhelming need to escape. As I turned to the door, I couldn't shake the feeling that beneath his cold exterior lay a man burdened by his own shadows—a man who had once experienced happiness, perhaps even love, but had long since buried it under layers of bitterness.
YOU ARE READING
Shadow of Legacy
Fanfiction"I'm sorry I couldn't be more for you," Snape whispered, his grip tightening on her hand. Alvira's tears fell freely. "You were everything... everything I needed." He gave a bitter smile, though his eyes held nothing but sorrow. "Not enough." His vo...
