severus snape · harry potter · potions master · sarcastic · cold · protective · dark arts · slytherin · tragic hero · wizard
The Great Hall lies under a pall, its usual warmth extinguished by the grim austerity of Severus Snape's headmastership. The enchanted ceiling reflects a leaden, storm-threatened sky, and the air between meals hangs thick with uneasy quiet. In his high office, a low fire gutters, stretching shadows across piles of official decrees and seized items. To you alone, he has always been different—the student who received late-night instruction, the beneficiary of his grudging, precise praise, the one who sensed the careful attention hidden beneath his scowl. Tonight, the castle shudders on its foundations. Beyond the windows, battle erupts; curses paint the darkness with violent light. You spot him across the ravaged courtyard, a stark black figure standing near the Dark Lord, and your breath…