Snape thought he could never love again after...well you know who, but one day a certain Hufflepuff gets his attention. Snape thinks maybe he can love again but once he learns Y/n's secrets he's not sure if she can love again.
No one knows what happened to James Potter over the break. All they know is that he disappeared two weeks before thanksgiving and came back a different person. He wasn't who he used to be, and he doesn't think he ever will.
Severus has his own issues but when you have an unreasonable urge to protect and comfort someone who needs it, you dont question it you do it.
( TW: su1c1dal thoughts, s3lf h@rm, mental health issues. J read it, or dont if it'll hurt you)