#severus fluff

Read on AO3 here | Words 623 Summary: An imagine of how I imagine Severus in an established relationship, his s/o (it’s a she and +18) always doing silly things because she wants him to take care of her. This time it will be y/n getting wet because it’s raining outside.

A/N: This is an imagine of how I would see Severus in certain situations while in an established relationship.

I will post more stuff that I am preparing, others darker than this. And please remember I am not a native english speaker!

Triggers / Warnings: I don’t see anything that should be mentioned, if you think, please let me know.  ----------------------------------------------------

November Prompt 20: Handmade

Words: 308 | Pairing: Severus Snape x reader

You aren’t sure what to expect when you receive a letter from your boyfriend inviting you over tonight, and on such short notice, but you waste no time throwing something nice on and disapparating outside of the tiny cottage he’s called home for decades. There’s a cool breeze that sweeps through the night once you arrive, dead leaves rustle across the cement ground and brush over your black leather boots as you approach the door and place a gentle knock.

On the other side, you hear instant shuffling, then the door swings open. In all the years you’ve dated Severus, you’d never seen him cook, let alone have an apron on. The sight brings a giggling burst from your lungs and he smiles nervously, whisking you in before any far off neighbors have a chance to bat an eye.

“What’re you doing?” You chirp and kick your shoes off before joining him through the dining room.

The candles set on the table don’t go unnoticed nor do the set up placemats or the herby aroma brewing throughout the cottage. He’s making you dinner and everything’s being handmade, and that brings tears to your eyes.

You soon join him in the kitchen, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your head against his upper back with a soft breath.

“I absolutely love you, Severus,” you hum against him.

The rustling of the recipe book in his hands comes to a stop and he turns in your arms. With a soft smirk, he uses the thick oven mitts to push the curls from your face before planting a soft kiss on your forehead.

“I love you too, my dear,” he breathes softly just before the timer rings to a buzz against the countertop letting you both know that it’s now time to enjoy what he’s spent all day preparing.

Please be sure to check out my other latest fics:

⚡︎ November Prompt Challenge (days 1-30)

⚡︎ For You Always - reader x Snape

~ Navi: masterlist (all fandoms) & (bts imagines/drabbles)

In which Severus has a bad day and Remus comforts him

Genre: fluff/angst

Warnings: mentions of stress

Masterlist

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"Rem, I'm fine."

"No you're not, Sev. You haven't had anything to eat all day."

Severus turned over to look at his boyfriend, who was sitting at the edge of the bed with a deep frown.

"I don't need your help, Lupin," Severus grumbled, looking away and burying his face into his pillow.

Remus sighed and scooted closer to Severus, laying down behind him. He snaked his arms around his waist and Severus stiffened in his hold.

"We've been dating for months and you still refer to me as Lupin," Remus murmured, pressing a light kiss to the back of Severus's neck.

"I'm sorry," Severus said, his heart dropping with guilt. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed and cranky and-"

Remus silenced Severus with a kiss, turning his head towards him. Remus slid a large hand under Severus's jumper and caressed his cold skin, humming lowly in his throat.

"It's fine, love. Don't apologize. I just want to make you feel better," Remus assured Severus, sitting up, "I'm going to grab you something to eat from the kitchen whether you like it or not."

Severus smiled timidly and watched his boyfriend leave the bedroom. He sat up in bed and propped himself up on the pillows, curling his knees up to his chest. He felt bad for being so cranky and taking it out on Remus; work was stressing him out beyond words and he was reaching his wit's end.

Remus returned minutes later with a cup of warm tea and a plate holding a thick slice of lasagna from last night's dinner, courtesy of his cooking.

"Tea and lasagna?" Severus questioned, his stomach growling loudly at the sight of the food. "That's an interesting combination."

"The tea will keep you warm because it's freezing and the lasagna will keep your tummy full," Remus explained lightly as he set the plate and cup on the nightstand. "Eat, darling."

Severus grumbled out a "thank you" and Remus smiled adoringly at him. No matter how grumpy Severus was, Remus would always find him adorable.

Remus slid into the space next to Severus and pulled him close, resting his head on his shoulder.

"You're cozy," Remus observed as Severus drank his tea, the liquid warming his insides pleasantly.

Severus felt a smile twitch at his lips. "I am?"

Remus nodded and lazily pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's neck. "The coziest."

Severus looked over so that the tip of his nose brushed against Remus's. His smile widened and he leaned forward slightly to kiss Remus, his lips tasting of vanilla lip balm.

"I'm proud of you for getting through this week," Remus said against his lips, stroking his cheekbone. "You've done so well, sweetheart."

Severus blushed deeply, averting the other male's gaze. "Rem, you're going to make me shy."

Remus smirked playfully and then laughed. "You're cute when you're shy."

Severus suppressed an eye roll and began to eat his lasagna. It was so good that Severus sighed contenty and shoved a forkful of it into his mouth.

"God, you're an amazing cook," Severus told Remus through a mouthful of cheesy lasagna. "You should create a cookbook and publish it."

Remus wiped a bit of sauce from Severus's bottom lip and shrugged. "I don't think so. These recipes are for my prince and my prince only."

Severus felt a frenzy of butterflies swarm his stomach; whenever Remus said things like that, it always left Severus feeling flustered.

"I want to make you something in return. You do most of the cooking," Severus offered, drinking more of his tea.

"You don't have to do anything. You already do enough by working with those...insufferable students of yours," Remus grinned cheekily. "I just want to take care of you in every way possible."

Severus grinned, wondering how in the world he got so lucky.

"You're lovely, you know that?" Severus said, looking down at Remus. Any other day, especially before he started dating Remus, he wouldn't have been so soft with his words.

"Not as lovely as you," Remus quipped, dotting tender kisses all over his sweetheart's face. "I love you."

"Not as much as I love you, Lupin," Severus retorted, a teasing tone to his voice.

Remus pressed one last kiss to his lips and smiled broadly, the corners of his eyes creasing, his heart bursting with nothing but love for Severus.

Trigger warning: Themes of depression, but no explicit suicide or self- harm details

Severus Snape + Hermione Granger drabble/one-shot; angst; fluff; enemies to lovers; happy ending; mental health first; adult Hermione as Hogwarts professor

Hermione turned the doorknob aggressively, stopping only when she heard his voice- the soft words that surely she had misheard. Inhaling slowly, Hermione closed the door and turned around.

“Wh...what?” she asked in disbelief. He, too, inhaled slowly. It was hard enough to say it once.

“I said...you’re right, Hermione. You’ve got it all right.” In any other situation, Hermione would have positively cheered. She would have gloated. She would have laughed and teased and celebrated. But this time was different. Hermione slowly meandered to the table, afraid he might explode again at any moment. But he didn’t.

“I have changed. I’ve seen how people look at me. I’ve heard what they say. But I can’t...I don’t know…” his words trailed off. He concentrated at the floor, feeling her knowing glance burning into him. Without realizing what she was doing, Hermione grabbed his hand and began to massage it with her thumb.

“Severus, tell me the truth. What’s going on?” A painful silence followed.

“I prayed that no one would find me, Hermione. After years of what I thought was the worst my life could get, I was ready to go. When Potter saw me at my weakest…I thought that was rock bottom. I passed out- from blood loss- I suppose and awoke hours later in my own blood and filth. My face was damp with tears and I...I wanted it to all be over. I closed my eyes and prayed for it all to end. The next time I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed.” Hermione’s eyes swam with tears and she intertwined her fingers in his.

“But it got worse. I was denied everything I knew. I couldn’t walk or talk for months...I couldn’t hold a wand, I couldn’t even cast a non-verbal spell. Do you know who visited when I was in the hospital those many months?”

Hermione’s thoughts conjured many guesses from McGonagall to Draco Malfoy, but she shook her head.

“No one,” he admitted, smiling grimly. “No one.”  Hermione burst into the tears she had been so desperately trying to repress. Laying her head on the table, Hermione sobbed tears of shame, guilt, empathy, and pity. Severus stroked the crown of her head as she wept bitterly for the man she had been convinced she hated.

“Severus, I’m so sorry...we didn’t...I mean...Harry told us you were dead. We thought you were....”

“It’s no matter. I didn’t want anyone to see me like that. And be honest, Hermione. No one would have come even if they knew.” Hermione longed with everything inside her to refute his claim. To assure him that he was loved and admired and that he would have had thousands of visitors. But she couldn’t escape the nagging, bleak reality that he was correct. Even as a hailed hero, he was still the bitter, nasty Potions master that everyone avoided.

“Recovery was brutal. I wasn’t able to perform the most menial tasks. It was humiliating...emasculating. Once again, I prayed for it to end. But...I was nearly healed after a year. I couldn’t bear to lay around and feel meaningless. That’s when Minerva informed me that my old job was open.”

Hermione nodded. She and Severus had been hired the same week, though he had years of experience and she had....well, books smarts and completed coursework through Hogwarts. She had anticipated his arrival, both in fear and excitement. She couldn’t wait to talk with him about his part as Voldemort’s right-hand man...about surviving the snake attack...about winning the war! The man that returned to Hogwarts looked as he did now, sitting before her: unkempt, emaciated, disheveled, and clothed with a disconcerting air of apathy. She had been too afraid to approach him about his past experiences. It wasn’t long before rumors began to swirl...Severus Snape had lost it. His assignments were far too simple, his language far too crude, his attitude far too lax.

“I remember,” she confirmed, softly. Her memory conjured the image from many months prior when she walked into his Potions classroom during her break. He hadn’t seen her. His standard black attire was filthy and buttons were only half done. His feet rested up on the desk and he drank from his black thermos while the students attempted a potion found in a textbook. One moment he was calm, the next he was screaming at a rather green-looking second-year because he asked to go to the hospital wing. Hermione had slipped out of the classroom unnoticed.

“I came to teach, but I learned a valuable lesson within the first month or two,” Severus admitted. Hermione raised an eyebrow. “The only thing worse than feeling meaningless is being in a place you call home and still feeling alone.”

For several moments, neither said a word. Hermione began to run her fingers through his raven hair, which was greasy even for him. She wondered if he was showering. Hermione looked around the living quarters again and concluded that he probably hadn’t been taking care of anything for a while.

“Severus, you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you...but I have to know what’s going on.” She looked up at him with eyes so full of sorrow and empathy that he began to lose his resolve. He closed his eyes.

“Hermione...I wake up and I feel the weight of everything. I lace my morning coffee with Firewhisky just to get me going. I go to work and it’s all I can do to get through the day. I know it seems like I put in minimal effort, but you have no idea how much effort it takes just to survive. I come home too exhausted to clean up. I have a nightcap and I go to bed, but I toss and turn. When I sleep, I have the most horrible, vivid dreams. I want to shower, but I can’t. I want to cook, but I can’t. I want to teach the way I used to but I...I can’t.” With this admittance, his eyes welled with tears and his lip began to quiver uncontrollably. He turned away, praying she hadn’t seen the tears. Hermione removed her hands from his and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. She stroked his hair wordlessly, occasionally dropping her hand to his back- caressing him gently. Though she could hear no sobs, Hermione could feel his far-too-thin body trembling against her.

Hermione released him from her embrace and found herself nose-to-nose with a tear streaked Severus Snape. For a moment, she gazed into his deep eyes and cursed herself for the realization that she had overlooked an incredibly handsome man. This was not the time, she knew. But she pondered how she could have missed that strong jaw, regal Aquiline nose, and cupid-bow lips. His obsidian eyes, still damp with emotion, looked more human than she had ever seen them. Close enough to smell the Firewhisky on his breath, Hermione resisted the urge to kiss his naturally pursed lips. Severus broke the gaze first. Could it be- or was he just flushed from crying?- that Severus Snape was blushing?

“Severus, you’re not going to be alone anymore. We are going to get you through this, no matter what it takes. In the Muggle world, this is called depression. It’s often triggered from a traumatic event or lifestyle change...and you’ve had more of those than I can count. We can find someone for you to talk to…” Severus’s eyes nearly bulged from his head.

“Hermione, I couldn’t…” he objected immediately. “It was hard enough opening up to you…”

This time Hermione interrupted. “I know. I could even go with you. But I want you to get help. I want you to find joy again- or even for the first time.” Severus looked as if he had swallowed a particularly nauseating batch of Polyjuice Potion. Hermione smiled softly and took his hand, noting the electric jolt it seemed to send through her veins. “It’s alright to ask for help, Severus. I know it’s hard, but it doesn’t make you weak.” He returned the smile this time, gently squeezing her hand. “I’m sure there are even Potions you could make to help…and Firewhisky doesn’t count!!!” she exclaimed as a mischievous grin flickered across his face. “We are going to get you back to where you were before all of this,” she added, determinedly. Snape shook his head.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be better than ever before. Dare I say...maybe even content?” He gave her hand another squeeze. “You’ve helped so much already.” Severus surveyed her hazel eyes, misty with elation. It seemed like an eternity before he began to lean in, his lips moving toward hers...

With a hand pressed again his chest, Hermione signaled him to stop.

“Severus….”

surprise! i haven’t written any fluff lately and i thought it’d be a good christmas gift from me to you if I wrote a little holiday drabble! this fluff was inspired by a post i saw earlier today on @dat-imagine-tho ‘s blog and i added on to it and decided to write more about it!! enjoy and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

// you and severus are married and have 2 children and are prepping for christmas day late at night \\

- - -

“severus why didn’t we start this a week ago?” you groaned as you attempted to wrap your third gift for your son and daughter.

for the past month, you and severus had put wrapping christmas gifts in the back of your mind because according to the two of you, it was the easiest part. well— you both were wrong.

2 and a half hours went by and you still weren’t done. wrapping the presents created so much useless anger.

“well someone decided we should wait till the last minute to do it” an annoyed severus groaned back as he struggled as well.

you rolled your eyes at his comment.

you had put your children to bed 4 hours ago and you still weren’t ready. you were determined to make this christmas a very special christmas. you spent hours on a sunday afternoon baking cookies and other sorts of treats with your daughter and severus and your son went christmas shopping for the two of you.

every night the 4 of you would sit on the couch and watch a christmas movie and eat cookies until bedtime.

for the first time in a long time, severus actually smiled as he watched you watch the movies with your children reacting like you were a small child yourself.

“just 2 more gifts!” you cheered as you hurried to wrap the two.

severus helped you with one of them and soon enough you were finished.

you sighed in relief as you laid on the floor, closing your eyes from exhaustion. severus did the same.

as you laid on the floor without saying a word, you suddenly felt a pair of soft lips rest on top of yours. you smiled as you kissed your loving husband back.

you opened your eyes and took in the wonderful sight.

your children were tucked into their beds fast asleep in hopes of santa clause and your christmas tree was lit with your finally wrapped presents spread out underneath it. 2 mugs of hot cocoa with half eaten cookies laid out on the coffee table and a happy christmas movie was playing on the television.

you looked into severus’ onyx eyes. you smiled as you realized how happy you were. all your life you wanted a happy little family to do cute things with and you finally had it. and although severus didn’t seem like it, he was even happier.

he leaned in to kiss you one more time, making your smile reappear. he glanced to his left at the clock hanging on the wall and then looked back at you

| Words 480 Summary: Not sure if this can be considered HC or not but well. To me these are HC of how I think Sev would be comforting his S/O.

A/N: I am not a English speaker. Also, this is my first time doing Headcanons but not sure if these can be considered as such. Please be understanding ;; Still it's something short but I hope you like it! ♥ Also, I have opened my ask, you can cask me or comment me there since I can not reply in comments!

Triggers / Warnings: Insecurity maybe? S/O is sad / upset / angry. If I am forgetting something let me know.

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Severus started to get used to comfort, love and kind words when he met you and despite of the time that has passed and all of the reassuring words and talk there is still that lingering feeling of him feeling unworthy of love

And that he is not able to comfort you or give you the love you deserve

That’s why you guided him multiple times about what you liked or disliked

Never pressured him and he went at his own pace

Still the first times he would panic trying to remember the talk the two of you had gotten in the past and going through the lists of how to comfort you

That’s why every time you arrived back from work or from anywhere and sensed something happened he would just take a few minutes to see you: if you kissed him, if you seemed off or if you seemed to feel annoyed or irritated

Summary: You spend your first Christmas with Severus after the war and make it unforgettable for him

Genre: fluff/implied smut

Gender neutral reader, post war, Snape!lives AU

Warnings: none

Link to masterlist

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"It's seven in the morning, Y/N. I am not waking up."

"Oh come on, Sev. I've made you coffee and pastries! They're in the kitchen and they're going to get cold if you don't wake up!"

You grabbed your husband by his arm and tugged hard, nearly losing your footing on the plush rug by yours and his shared bed. Severus groaned and buried his face further into his pillow, whining at you to leave him be.

You huffed indignantly, straightening yourself out before crawling into bed next to him. You snuggled closely and Severus cracked open one bleary eye to look at you, a smile threatening to pull at his lips when he saw the excited look on your face.

"It's Christmas, Sev," you told him, running a warm hand down his cold face. Severus seemingly melted into your touch, his tense shoulders relaxing and his eyes opening fully. You caressed his cheekbone, admiring his beauty; those dark, mysterious eyes that you loved to gaze in, and those soft, full lips that you loved to kiss and trail your fingers across. His gorgeous nose that you loved to peck and nibble on, those skilled fingers that you loved to play with and intertwine with your own. The long, jagged scar on his neck from Nagini's bite was a stark reminder of the war and how he had barely survived it.

Severus was beautiful, especially with the reflections of snow outside casting across his face. You stopped your hand at his cheek, your lips parted as you gazed at him. Severus raised his eyebrows in confusion at you, still not quite used to you finding him genuinely attractive.

"It's our first Christmas together after the war," you spoke softly, pressing a tender kiss to the corner of his mouth. The fear that you had felt when he had been in the hospital for months after Nagini's bite was indescribable; it was the worst time of both yours and Severus's life. It had only been two months since he was released from the hospital.

Severus's smile finally cracked and you smiled in return, pressing your lips to his this time. You slid a hand through his thick hair, knotting your fingers in the locks as Severus pressed himself into your, his lips moving in rhythm with yours.

"It is," Severus hummed as he pulled away, cupping your face and pecking the tip of your nose; his voice was still slightly hoarse from where Nagini had bit him. He sighed heavily, running delicate fingers across his scar and wincing like it had hurt him. "I'm glad I'm here and safe with you."

You grinned widely at him, feeling his hand trail beyond your face and down your chest, your breath hitching. Before things could escalate any further, you pulled back and mumbled, "Let's get ready for the day and eat breakfast. We can't fuck on empty stomachs."

Severus rolled his eyes and playfully pinched your cheek. He sat up in bed and pulled you along with him, the two of you stumbling into the bathroom to shower and get ready.

Twenty minutes later, you and Severus found yourselves in the kitchen enjoying coffee and treacle tart. Severus had insisted on eating on the couch for maximum comfort and that's exactly what you did, your legs draped across his lap as you merrily sipped from your coffee mug.

"Minerva wrote me last night saying that she had received our Christmas card," Severus told you as he wiped his mouth clean. "I still can't believe that you made me wear a Santa costume for that."

"You looked cute!" you defended, placing your mug down on the coffee table. "You look cute in anything."

Severus rolled his eyes so hard that they nearly disappeared into the back of his head. "You're only saying that because you love me," he retorted, his classic sardonic attitude never wavering over the years.

"And because it's the truth," you replied coolly, pressing your socked feet into his thigh. Severus placed a singular large hand around your ankles and gently pushed your feet away. Your heart fluttered at how easily his hand could fit around both of your ankles; he was so big all over and your size difference with him made you feel safe.

"You and your silly socks," Severus remarked in an amused tone, staring at your mismatching socks; one of them was black and decorated with golden snitches, while the other one was blue and decorated with snowmen.

"You're the one who bought them for me," you giggled, stretching your legs across his lap and eating your treacle tart.

"And you're the one who lost their matching counterparts, so now you have to wear the mismatching pairs," Severus deadpanned, although a faint smile was on his lips. He ran his hands across your legs, picking at the loose threads in your plaid sweatpants. He missed the simple moments like these, especially when he was in the hospital.

You set your plate to the side to sit up, sliding yourself onto Severus's lap unexpectedly. He hummed lowly in his throat, his hands instinctively landing on your waist and holding you there. He shifted his hips beneath you, heat rushing to his cheeks as you hooked your arms around the back of his neck and held him close.

"I have something for you," you said, trailing warm kisses along his jawline. Severus bit his lip, tightening his hold on your waist as he answered, "I have something for you as well."

Before you could respond, he hooked your legs around his waist and picked you up. You gasped and laughed, holding onto him tightly as he carried you towards the twinkling Christmas tree in the center of the living room. Numerous presents surrounded the tree and Severus set you down in the middle of the heap of presents.

Severus sat down next to you, crossing his legs as he reached for the nearest present. It was wrapped in maroon wrapping paper and tied together with a golden bow that glittered under the Christmas tree lights as Severus handed it to you.

"Merry Christmas, my love," Severus smiled as you excitedly tore open the present to reveal a beautiful amethyst necklace engraved with yours and Severus's initials, along with a Mason jar full of several small pieces of colorful paper that were all labeled with reasons that Severus loved you.

"Sev!" you gasped as tears of joy filled your eyes, pressing a hand to your chest as you beamed at him. "This is an amazing gift, I'm-"

You sobbed quietly into your hand, suddenly overwhelmed by the gift and Severus's love for you. He was home, he was safe, and it was all you could've ever asked for.

"Here, you open yours now," you sniffled as you hurriedly wiped away your tears. You handed him his present and watched as he curiously opened it, his eyes widening when he saw what was inside.

He pulled out an obsidian bracelet engraved with the words Bravest Man, along with a leather-bound scrapbook filled with photos of you and Severus throughout the years.

Severus's heart swelled with emotion as he stared at those words. You thought that he was brave, the bravest man for that matter.

"I love you," Severus said through tears, pulling you into his arms. He hugged you tightly, happiness coursing through him as you returned the embrace.

"I love you too, Sev," you smiled, kissing away his tears. You pulled back to admire his face, rubbing soothing circles into his cheekbones. "I love you more."

"That's not possible," Severus said, sniffling as he wiped his eyes. "I love you more."

You laughed, leaving kisses all over his cheek and jawline. "Prove it to me, then," you murmured, pressing yourself into his chest and sighing contently against his neck when he squeezed your waist.

"Oh, I'll prove it to you alright," Severus smirked, lifting you up. He pressed a kiss to the top of your forehead and securely held you as he carries you to the bedroom.

"What about the presents?" you asked as you glanced back longingly at the presents that had yet to be opened.

“Severus, open up. Now!” Hermione knocked furiously on the heavy, wooden door. Silence. The loud knocking persisted. She heard a slight rustling. A groan. She fidgeted anxiously, waiting for the door to open. She waited. And she waited. After what felt like hours, the door creaked open slightly and an exhausted, infuriated set of dark eyes met hers. “I certainly hope this is a life or death situation. No, I retract my statement. No life is worth disturbing my sleep at 3am. What do you want, Miss Granger?” he snarled. Hermione was undeterred and rivaled his anger with unrelenting joy. “I figured it out. The final step to our potion.”

Hermione had been pursuing a second degree at Hogwarts, much like a Master’s degree in the Muggle world. Originally she had been under Professor McGonagall’s tutelage for her thesis, but Hermione found herself more and more drawn to the subject of potions...and subsequently the Potions master. Not that she would ever admit it, of course. Now her final project was to invent a new potion and she had spent countless hours trying millions- perhaps more- combinations to create the potion. Hermione had decided to create a potion to cure arthritis. Sure, it wasn’t the most glamorous potion, but many older wizards suffered from it due to wand use. Hermione also hoped it would help her parents who suffered from it in the Muggle world...not that they would know who helped them after she had been forced to Obliviate them. Snape studied Hermione’s face intently. He wanted sleep more than anything at this moment. On the other hand, falling back asleep at this point would be an arduous task since the arthritis he himself suffered often kept him awake. He wrestled with his thoughts a bit more and finally opened the door. Getting Hermione to go away would be a harder task than simply letting her in. “It was wormwood. Of all things! Why didn’t we think of that? Actually, I think we did, didn’t we? But it was at the beginning. It didn’t mix well with the adder’s fork. After we got rid of that, it might have worked okay. Then again, without the dandelion root...” Hermione babbled endlessly and Severus simply put up a hand signaling her to stop. “Miss Granger, at this hour I’m interested only in whether the potion works or not. I do not need to know every variation attempted.” Hermione shot him a glare of annoyance but quickly sat down the beaker with the potion on his table. Even his dour manner couldn’t upset her now. “Wait a minute,” she began with a giggle. “Do you sleep in your teaching outfit or did you get out of your pajamas just to greet me at the door?” Even at 3am, the professor couldn’t stand to be seen as an ordinary, even vulnerable, human being. Severus smirked. “I prefer to keep the mystery alive, thank you.” Hermione thought she may have even seen a slight smile start to form at the edges of his upturned lips.

“Now, the potion, if you please.” Hermione nodded and poured the proper amount into a much smaller beaker from her bag. “Drink up!” she exclaimed and watched him bring the potion to his lips. “If this kills me, you’ll be in trouble, Miss Granger,” he teased. “And what will you do about it? You’ll be dead!” she laughed. There was a definite smile on his face this time, even if it was only slight. Hermione was relieved. After the words escaped her lips, she wondered if she had taken things too far. After all, they nearly lost him to Nagini in the Battle of Hogwarts. He’d only made a full recovery a year or so ago. Hermione shuddered at the thought and watched her professor finish the potion. He winced. “It’s dreadful,” he commented dryly. “I was a little busy trying to change the world, Severus. I didn’t have time to make it taste like butterbeer,” she retorted. Hermione relished these moments. She was allowed to call him Severus, yet he couldn’t quite bring himself to call her Hermione. Perhaps it was his way of keeping people at arms length. Nonetheless, their professional relationship was mostly congenial...or as congenial as Severus Snape could be. They traded witty, sarcastic comments and though he would never say it aloud, Severus enjoyed her humor and intelligence.

“It seems you’ve disturbed my slumber for nothing. My hands are still every bit as pained as ever,” Severus said grimly.

“Patience!” Hermione warned. “It takes approximately 30 minutes to begin working.” Severus huffed and furrowed his brow. Could this not have waited until morning? “Fine,” he muttered. “Then I’m breaking out the Firewhisky.” Severus made his way over to the cabinet and pulled out a goblet and a half-full container of the cinnamon flavored liquor. He lifted up a second glass and looked quizzically at Hermione, as if offering her a glass. She chuckled, “Severus, it’s 3 in the morning.” He nodded. “Yes, I’m quite aware of that. And if I’m going to have to stay up with you, I’m going to need some liquor. Now, do you want some or not?” Hermione debated but finally nodded. If the potion didn’t work after all, she’d need it. He poured the goblets to the brim and took a seat beside her at the kitchen table.

They made small talk. Did Severus know that Ginny and Harry were engaged? Did Hermione know that Flitwick was finally retiring? Did Severus have any “insufferable know-it-all” first years like herself? Had Hermione kept in contact with Ron Weasley? Not much, Hermione had admitted. And for good reason, since the foul git had cheated on her with a sixth year student. Severus hadn’t heard that piece of gossip and shook his head. “That imbecile didn’t deserve you on his best day.” Hermione’s eyes widened and her breath hitched. Had he just...complimented her? Maybe even hit on her? Surely not, she assured herself.

Severus cursed himself. “Control, Severus. Control,” he thought. The truth was, Severus thought Hermione was the ultimate catch. He was twice her age and knew he didn’t stand a chance- even if he wanted a chance- but it didn’t stop him from admiring her as a woman. She was charming, wise, and stunningly gorgeous for a know-it-all. He meant what he said. Ron Weasley certainly was no match for the ambitious, beautiful witch before him. Severus knew that he was no match for her, either. “Greasy hair, pale skin, deep scars, a large nose, and painfully skinny body. Every girl’s dream...” he thought sarcastically.

After the comment about Weasley, Hermione and Severus sat in silence for a few moments, both lost in thought and unsure of what to say next. Eventually, Hermione broke the silence and exclaimed, “I may need another!” and poured more Firewhisky in her glass. Severus nodded and re-filled his as well. The pair made more chit-chat until Severus felt a tingling sensation in his right hand. Hermione and Severus watched as his fingers straightened themselves out from their tense, curled position. He looked up at her with bewilderment. “I...I think it’s working!” he stammered excitedly before regaining his composure and resumed speaking at his slow pace in a deep, controlled tone. “Well done, Miss Granger.” Hermione couldn’t control her excitement. She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “We did it together!” she squealed. “And this doesn’t even hurt?” she gave his hand another small squeeze. He shook his head. His face was expressionless, but his eyes glinted with gratitude. She held his hand longer than she meant to. For a moment they locked eyes. Immediately, they both dropped hands, equally uncomfortable with the palpable tension between them. “Perhaps a toast to our hard work?” suggested Hermione. She was beginning to feel the effects of her beverage, but surely one more wouldn’t hurt. “I believe that would be acceptable,” he concurred. They filled their glasses. “To Hermione...for your hard work, determination, and for this damn potion working, even if you did wake me up in the dead of night,” he said with a raised glass. “To Severus...who...wait, did you call me Hermione?” He glanced down to the floor, annoyed his own slip of the tongue.“You cured my ailment, so I suppose you deserve as much,” he said without meeting her eyes. Hermione smiled warmly when he finally looked up. “To Severus, for all of your help. I couldn’t have done this without you. Behind that stern but handsome demeanor, I believe you really do have a heart of gold.” HANDSOME? This time it was Hermione who had the slip of tongue. Why had she said that? Was the it the glow of success? Was it the Firewhisky? She only hoped he wouldn’t think too much of it...

He would, in fact, think too much of it. Had she just said handsome? To him? Surely it was the Firewhisky. Or perhaps she had meant to say something else. That had to have been it.

“Handsome? I believe you have spent too long staring at books and your eyesight has been affected already. Perhaps you should see Madame Pomfrey about that,” he sneered. Hermione shook her head.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, sir. I wouldn’t exactly describe myself as attractive, either. My hair is too bushy, my thighs are too large. My pores are too big and…well, you yourself have commented on my teeth.”

She smiled after her comment, demonstrating that she held no resentment from the past. Severus was unsure how to continue. His heart screamed, “Tell her she is the most beautiful witch you’ve ever seen, you fool!” His insecurity told him to bite his tongue. The lack of confidence he harbored won out and he shifted in uncomfortable silence. Hermione was disappointed, yet not surprised. She shrugged off the perceived rejection and continued.

“Anyhow, I suppose our time together is drawing to an end. I will graduate in a month and our project is nearly finalized. But we are two misfits in this world, both intrigued more with knowledge than people. I see no reason that we couldn’t be friends.” She glanced up at Severus, who looked as if he had just swallowed an uncomfortably large pill. Friends, of course. He should have known that she viewed him as a friend, only. He debated the proposition. He would love to correspond with Hermione after she left Hogwarts, yet he found that friends had always led to trouble and heartache. He really didn’t need friends. Severus Snape did not need anyone. Nonetheless, he stuck out his hand. Hermione guffawed.

“A handshake? Severus, have you ever had a friend before in your life?” She stood from the table, wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind, and squeezed with her face touching the side of his cheek. He froze in place. Being touched was an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sensation. “You know, if we are going to be friends, you’re going to have to learn to hug better than that,” she said in a joking manner, although she was completely serious. He exhaled into a nervous laugh, unsure of what to do or say next. He wanted nothing more than to just whirl around and kiss her. He repeated his mantra again in his head. “Control, Severus. Control.”

Hermione was also unsure of what to do. If only he felt for her what she felt for him. He was unlike anyone she has ever known...strong, intelligent, charming in his own Snape way, mysterious, and to her, exceedingly handsome. Her thoughts were interrupted when he spoke. “It can’t surprise you that friends are few and far between for me. And we certainly don’t hug,” said Severus. Hermione furrowed her brow and looked at him long and hard. “Severus, can I ask you a personal question?” she inquired. “No,” he responded curtly, and even though his comment was followed with a smirk, he was only half joking. Hermione shook her head and laughed. She continued anyway. “Have you ever had a girlfriend? I mean, not that I think you couldn’t have one, you just seem to not get close to anyone.” His face blanched at the uncomfortable question. He thought for a moment about how to respond and answered vaguely, “I have had some...female encounters.” Encounters? What the hell did that mean? Had he dated or not? Then it hit her...Severus Snape was referring to sex. She wondered what it would be like to be with him intimately. Was he has rough as his personality or was he secretly gentle? What did he...look like? Hermione blushed at the thought. “Oh...I see...” she began, not sure how to proceed. All she knew is she envied those women. “But no relationships?” He shook his head slowly and Hermione thought she detected some slight embarrassment at the acknowledgment. “Have you ever wanted a relationship?” she asked boldly.