autumn | severus snape

thirty three

The flicker of candlelight cast shadows on the stone walls, the soft glow doing little to dispel the oppressive darkness that seemed to seep into every corner of the room. Snape sat in his armchair, his posture rigid as he stared into the fire. The embers crackled softly, but the silence pressed against him, heavy and unrelenting.

Halloween was the night of ghosts, and his haunted him mercilessly. They weren't the kind of spirits that could be exorcised. They didn't wander the halls or rattle chains. No, his ghosts were quieter, more insidious. They lived in the corners of his mind, in the memories he tried so desperately to bury.

And now there was Ophelia. A different kind of ghost, but no less relentless. She wasn't dead, not in the literal sense, but her absence gnawed at him, her anger and disappointment carving deep wounds he refused to acknowledge. The way she had looked at him when she had found out about her friends, half betrayal, half heartbreak, it was etched into his mind, replaying on an endless loop.

He tightened his grip on the glass in his hand, the firewhiskey inside untouched. He hated this night, hated the memories it brought, the truths it forced him to confront.

He was a man of shadows, of carefully crafted masks and hidden intentions. And yet, Halloween seemed to strip those away, leaving him raw and exposed to the things he couldn't escape.

The sound of distant laughter echoed through the walls, the students reveling in the Halloween Ball upstairs. He knew he would soon have to join the festivities, but the ghosts remained, as silent and unforgiving as usual.

𖠇

The Great Hall was transformed, glittering with floating jack-o'-lanterns, enchanted bats, and shimmering cobwebs that reflected the warm glow of candlelight. The air buzzed with excitement as students swirled around the room, laughter and music filling the space.

Draco entered the hall with Ana at his side, his posture exuding his usual cool confidence. But tonight, his demeanor was gentler, more protective. He rested a hand on Ana's shoulder as they walked, a subtle but clear message to anyone watching: she was under his watch tonight.

Ana quickly spotted a group of Slytherins she recognized. She gave Draco a beaming smile before hurrying off to join them.

Draco watched her go, his lips twitching in a faint smirk before his gaze shifted, landing on Ophelia across the room. She was sitting at one of the tables, scanning the crowd as she waited for Teddy, who had gone to fetch drinks.

Draco made his way over, his movements smooth and deliberate.

"Malfoy," Ophelia said when he reached her, humor in her eyes, "come to fight some more?"

"No," he said, his tone soft. "I came to reconcile."

Ophelia nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. "I'm sorry," she said, "for being so harsh on you." She continued, "you didn't deserve that. You were just trying to help, and I lashed out at you because..." She paused, searching for the right words. "I guess it was just easier to be angry and guilty than it was to be sad and considerate."

"Gone soft, Delisle?" Draco tilted his head, smirking.

Ophelia rolled her eyes, "I'm trying to apologize here."

Draco laughed. "I know, and I accept your apology."

Ophelia looked at him, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "So, Ana really likes you, huh?" She said, nodding toward Ana, who was now laughing with her group of friends.

Draco glanced at Ana and nodded. "She's a good kid," he said. "She's sweet. A little stubborn, but sweet."

Ophelia smiled faintly, the corners of her lips twitching upward before falling back into a neutral line.