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◌ 𓂂 𓈒🌊📖❕
The dungeon air was cold, damp, and still. Y/N found it refreshing—the kind of chill that woke up their mind and made them feel sharper. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they made their way toward the Potions classroom after hours, carrying their satchel full of books. Potions homework always took them longer; not because they were bad at it, but because they couldn't help diving too deeply into the theory.
Tonight, they weren't alone.
At the farthest corner of the room, Severus Snape hunched over a simmering cauldron, his black hair falling like curtains around his face. His Slytherin robes, slightly frayed at the edges, looked softer and more worn under the flickering torchlight.
Y/N paused in the doorway, hesitating, before stepping forward with a burst of confidence that often took even them by surprise. "Burning the midnight oil, I see."
Severus's wand hand stilled mid-stir. Slowly, he turned, narrowing his eyes. "Y/N," he said, clearly unprepared for company. "This room is supposed to be empty."
"It was," Y/N replied, their tone calm and light. "I thought the same thing, but apparently we're both creatures of habit."
Severus studied them carefully for a moment, as though assessing whether they'd disrupt his work. "What are you doing here?"
Y/N lifted their satchel. "Trying to finish Professor Slughorn's essay before it's due tomorrow. The library's packed with people whispering about The Weird Sisters' new single, and I prefer quiet."
Severus scoffed softly, turning back to his cauldron. "Idiots."
Y/N smiled faintly. "So, what about you? I don't think Slughorn assigned cauldron work."
"I'm perfecting a Sleeping Draught," Severus said without looking up. His voice held no arrogance—just simple fact. "The ingredients Slughorn suggested are inefficient."
Y/N raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Inefficient how?"
For a moment, Severus seemed to forget himself. "The standard formula uses four drops of valerian root infusion, but it lacks subtlety. If you reduce the infusion and increase the sopophorous bean extract, the effect is deeper and longer-lasting."
Y/N, now thoroughly intrigued, set their books down on a nearby desk. "You've tested this already?"
"Several times."
"That's brilliant."
The compliment hung in the air, unexpected and disarming. Severus glanced at them briefly, his dark eyes shadowed with suspicion, as if waiting for the catch. When none came, he looked away, focusing on the simmering liquid. "It's just logical."
Y/N leaned on the desk, watching him work. "Logical, sure. But creative too."
Silence stretched between them, the sound of bubbling potion filling the space. Y/N took a moment to let it settle, unwilling to push him, then quietly began to work on their essay. From time to time, they glanced at Severus, who continued his brewing with careful, practiced movements. For all his brooding demeanor, there was an undeniable elegance to his work.
