Heredity vs. Solidarity (S. Snape)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Students were mingling in the Entrance Hall, saying their last goodbyes for Christmas Break. Selena rolled her luggage bag into the Great Hall, spotting her target almost instantly. His black eyes were lowered towards the table, where he focused on writing something onto a long piece of parchment, his black hair hanging low over his work.

Selena finished her trek, and placed her luggage bag down, smiling softly at his preoccupied form.

“Hey,” she greeted softly, causing him to jump and mess up on his writing. A long line smeared straight across the parchment, and despite the fact that he sighed heavily, he turned his gaze towards Selena and shot her a small smile.

“Hey,” he said, equally as quiet.

“What are you writing?” she asked, peering over his work with intrigue. He carefully placed his hand across the top of it, and folded it before she could so much as catch even a small glimpse of the words. Frowning, she eyed him with a guarded gaze. “Why can’t I see it?”

“It’s nothing important,” he responded, and changed the subject strategically before she could press on any further. “Do you have to leave? We could spend everyday with each other. Avery is leaving for the holidays. Most of the Slytherins are, too. It could be the two of us. Everyday. Together.”

“You know I can’t stay,” she whispered sadly. “I promised my guardians at the beginning of the year that I would be returning home to see them during the break.”

“I know,” he sighed.

A silence, and Severus pressed Selena’s cold hands into his own, squeezing them affectionately. His black eyes sought hers, but she refused to look up at him, choosing instead to keep her steady gaze focused on the table before her.

“I will miss you, Severus,” she whispered, and turned, giving him a weak smile before leaning up to kiss his cheek. Last second he turned his head, and captured her lips with his own, rendering her both speechless and silent. They broke away quickly, and while Selena gaped at the very public gesture, he merely smirked. “We’re in public!” she hissed. “And you just…”

His fingertips grasped her cheek, and very slowly he leaned in, their lips brushing in a slow, sentimental stroke. His fingers trailed across her cheek, sliding to her neck and down to her shoulder, before finally stopping at her arm that he stroked with the tantalizing touch of his thumb.

“I will really miss you,” she reiterated, causing his lips to tug into a small grin, a sight that she could only sigh at. “I have to go. I promise to write to you. And I’ll make sure to come visit you right after break – promise. Even if I have to hex some nasty Slytherins to do it.”

“Selena–“ he warned.

“Nothing will stop me from seeing you when I return, Severus,” she said firmly. “So you best warn them of that when I come back.”

Reluctantly, she moved out of his grasp, taking the handle of her luggage bag and shooting him an amused smile. He nodded regretfully in response, fingertips unraveling his parchment that he once more began to hunch over. It was grudgingly that Selena walked away, leaving the studious Slytherin behind who she wouldn’t be seeing for a good two weeks.

The groups in the hall were slowly dispersing, meaning that most were heading down towards Hogsmeade. Marcy’s head suddenly bobbed into sight, and Selena couldn’t help but smile at her very enthusiastic friend.

“He apologized!” she gushed, grinning, and landing beside her fellow Ravenclaw. Selena’s eyes squinted, attempting to figure out the meaning towards her words, but just as quickly realization donned on her, and she frowned.