Novus Orbis | Fred Weasley x Insert | ON HIATUS

Chapter 28 - Place Your Bets, Folks

Towards the end of the week, Y/n is finally able to talk to Snape, when he asks her to stay after Potions class on Friday.  She nods to Fred and George and they nod back, a silent agreement that they will wait, per the usual, outside of the classroom for her.

"Hello, Professor," she says, setting her bag next to her chair and sitting down across from him.

"L/n," he greets. To Y/n, at least, there's been some sort of new warmth in the gesture, but she can never be sure. It's kind of a distanced caring–like he can't get too close. "I trust you are doing well with your preparation for your N.E.W.T.s?"

"As well as anyone is, I suppose," she says. "The workload is exhausting."

"As ever," he agrees. He pours out their regular cups of tea. "The nightmares?"

"They've kind of–well, sir, they've kind of become routine at this point," Y/n admits. "I'm just used to them. They're not any less bothersome than before. Well–except for the occasional one. And to add to it, the events from the World Cup have kind of been messing with my head, too."

"Have you used the potion I gave you at all? Or brewed any more of it?" She's sure he can tell the answer even before he asks the question.

"...No," she says honestly. "I think I've been so busy that it's still buried somewhere in my bag or put in a drawer somewhere. I haven't used it at all."

"I don't give out resources lightly, Miss L/n," the professor says, sipping his drink. "I suggest you use them, or I will change my mind."

"Yes, sir."

"Did you ever write anything in a notebook or a journal of sorts?" Severus asks. "To log the...happenings."

"No, sir." Y/n confesses she hadn't thought of that at all. "I don't think I've ever really been one for journals. Besides class notes, anyway."

"It may be a good idea to start, then. I'm positive one of the shops in Hogsmeade would have one. Tomes and Scrolls, most likely." He gazes at her with his ink black eyes, from which she can never seem to pull any kind of emotion other than when he is chiding a student. "Notes are useful for more than homework."

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

Y/n considers her question carefully, taking a long, slow drink before deciding against it and instead asking, "Is there anything else you suggest?"

"Not for the moment, other than the two things already mentioned. Make sure this doesn't interrupt your studies, lest it should get in the way of your acceptable grades."

And just like that, the conversation is over. They finish their tea in silence, and Y/n bids him a good evening and gathers her things, heading out into the hall where the twins are waiting.

"What do you even talk about?" Fred asks, as they jog up to the common room to relax a bit before dinner. "You're either in there for an hour, or it's fifteen minutes."

"Usually he asks me how my studies are going, and I tell him that, and we have a cup of tea, and then he asks if anything new has come up with the nightmares, good or bad." Y/n shrugs. "I don't really know what the point of it all is. It's oddly nice, though," she adds after a minute. "It's just...part of the routine. When it happens, it's like a good thing. I know my days are still moving along...sort of? I don't really know how to explain it," she sighs.

"It's weird that he's taken such a liking to you," George says. "Even the Slytherins know it."

"They can't even be jealous," Fred says. "They're just as confused as the rest of us."