A Potion for Two (Snape x Reader)

Apprehensions for the New Year

The low train whistle woke you up from your nap as the Hogwarts Express arrived at its destination. Stretching and rubbing the sleep from your eyes you look around to see that the students you had shared the train compartment with had already left to disembark. You thanked them for waking you up in your head with no small amount of sarcasm. Grabbing your things, you paused as you picked up an empty Chocolate Frog container. You patted your bag where your new (House Founder) card was tucked away safely. What a great start to the year!

As you walked down the corridor of the train and out onto the platform, you smiled at the familiar hustle and bustle of your fellow students. Excited chattering and the voices of the Prefects calling for the first years invigorated you as you followed the swarm of people to the carriages. Hopping aboard one, you greeted the other passengers and talked with them during the ride to the castle.

Entering the Great Hall, you headed over to the (h/n) table and find some familiar faces before sitting down. You all chat about your summers until the headmaster rises and you all quiet down to listen to his speech. It was the usual stuff: the forest was off limits as well as a few places in the castle. These warnings wouldn't really keep people away, you knew that very well. After a bit, his speech came to an end and the sorting of first years began. Clapping as students got put into your house, your stomach growled from being denied the delicious food right in front of you. As soon as everyone was settled you began to dig in. After all, it'd been a while since you had eaten. You didn't have enough money to freely buy some snacks from the trolley and one chocolate frog wasn't enough to hold you over.

"You're so lucky, (f/n)!" Elizabeth said from across the table as she stretched back. The others around you nodded jealousy. 

"How's that?" You replied, uncercertain of what they were talking about.

"Repeating a grade of course!" She exclaimed, leaning forward to look at you over the table with enthusiasm. "You already know everything from last year, you got good grades, right?" You nodded your head in affirmation as you listened to her. "Well now it's like a free year. You can basically get away with doing nothing for a whole year!" 

You thought for a minute before responding, you hadn't really thought of the implications of repeating a year. "Won't I be bored all year? I still have to go through the next two years after this one. It's just a boring, extra year." You shook your head as you said that. You liked being productive, or at least trying to be. A year of the same stuff would kill you.

"It's not like she could mess around in all of her classes," Simon, who sat next to her added, nudging his head towards the professors' table.  "Professor Snape would be furious." He whispered. You all looked towards the front. Professor Snape was calmly eating and occasionally looking up to survey the students below with his usual cold and disapproving expression that bordered on condescension. Noticing a large group of students staring in his direction he looked towards you to figure out what you all were doing. The others in the group quickly turned their heads to their plates and shivered in fear while you barely managed to pull your eyes away from his face.

"On second thought, having to spend another year under Professor Snape who could kill with a stare... oof." Elizabeth shuddered. "At least you're good at potions. You won't annoy him too much."

A thought came to you and you half rose from the table, slamming your palms down. The others jerked back wide-eyed in shock and you attracted a few other glances from around the room. You didn't register any of that, however, as you blurted out, "you don't think they'll make me write new essays, right!?" The others took a few seconds before doubling over in laughter. "I'm not kidding, those were the most annoying essays I've had to write and I spent so long on them. What if they give me new topics to write on?"

George, who sat on your left clapped you on your shoulder and said with pity, "I promise to go visit you at your funeral." You gave him a glance and collapsed back into your seat, burying your head in your arms. Being a good student doesn't mean you have to like studying or doing your homework. You had suffered through those essays last year, procrastinating until the week they were due and then pulling a few all nighters to get them written. You'd gotten a good grade, but the cost was enormous. You didn't want to have to go through that again.

"Yeah, on second thought maybe it's not as lucky as I thought. I wouldn't want to write those essays again. We've still got a lot in these last two years." The Elizabeth said, rubbing the back of her neck. "Good luck."

You managed out a groan as you wallowed in self pity.