Severus & Serena One Shots

That First Week

Set very early, as in a week after they met because I feel as if I didn't explain a lot of the day to day of their relationship in my original story. And I like a bit of dialogue. I hope you all enjoy my little world <3

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Severus walked around the room inspecting the cauldrons. He didn't expect to see anything wrong. These seventh years knew what they were doing. It was a small class, four students but that was no surprise. Most dropped his class as soon as they took the required courses. His classes were rigorous, demanding, and highly structured. And, he was not an entertaining teacher. He stuck to the books and written knowledge. But the students that wanted to learned and they learned well. Highly prepared and ready to enter the world.

"Your work is satisfactory. Everyone passes for today. Bottle up your brews and have your roll of parchment ready for next class on your chosen herbal subjects. Dismissed" he drawled, highly pleased with their work but still thinking as if he needed to preserve some image of a stone faced man who couldn't care less.

"Where are you going next?" Carter, a Slytherin asked his friend Cyril, a Ravenclaw

"Professor Barrett's class. She's teaching us how to detect the presence of a love potion with a spell that she invented!" Cyril replied enthusiastically

"I wish I had taken OWL level charms too. You'll have to teach me" Carter replied, disappointed.

Severus' ears had perked up when the students mentioned Serena. It was the beginning of the second week of school and he had spent five nights after dinner with this new witch. He couldn't tell what it was about her, but he felt a kinship.

This was unusual. He had never trusted anyone. Not that he trusted her yet, but he was oddly comfortable in her presence. She gave off warmth, and his cold soul turned its face like a flower to the spring time sun. He had acquaintances, colleagues, and perhaps a friend in Minerva. Making friendships required vulnerability and the truth; which he hadn't been able to give before or when he had been able prior to the wars, they were turned on him.

Friends. What could a friendship consist of? Speaking about each other's days? Different theories of magic? Family? He could easily fake a friendship, he could fake anything. Because deception involved distance. He was great at distance. The ability to disassociate from his surroundings was a switch. But, engaging deeply in life and with people; that was an activity in which he was a novice.

Women were not high on his priority list. As friends or as romantic interests. He spent years in solitude and that became a way of life. Given, he didn't want to interact with anyone who was shallow, or had no use for intellect. That was true for both sexes. He was seen differently now, especially by women. The Daily Prophet had run that dreadful piece about his unending devotion to Lily, but they glossed over the guilt and heart hardening truths. He was not a romancer, nor was he too keen on acquiring a relationship. But, he knew that this new stage of life required change. And this seemed a good place to start.

He didn't want to make it obvious that he wanted to spend time with Serena. He couldn't put himself out there yet. She seemed to have no qualms about speaking her mind or letting him know she enjoyed his company.

He walked to the door, then back to his seat. To the door. To the desk. Four times. Then to his stores, then a few laps around the corridor before he decided to walk to her classroom. The students chatter surrounding her relaxed teaching methods had been positive, and he wanted to witness it.

Rounding the corner, he smelled sage and lavender. The calm lavender immediately relaxed his shoulders while the sage cleansed him. The door hung open as the students milled around inside, practicing wrist movements in pairs.