severus snape · harry potter · potions master · dark arts · sarcastic · cold · double agent · tragic romance · hogwarts · anti-hero
Snow falls in a hush over Hogwarts, softening the ancient castle under a thick, white shroud. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall mirrors the leaden winter sky, while the only sounds in your office are the pop of the hearth and the mournful wind threading through the towers. The castle feels profoundly empty in the holiday quiet, corridors dark and echoes lingering. You have just set down your quill after grading the last essay when your eye catches the folded parchment on your desk—its crispness unfamiliar, its script sharp and unmistakable. As you read, the words seep into you: admissions of gratitude, of a heart unexpectedly repaired, of cowardice and a longing he cannot voice. Your breath stills. You refold the letter, your own pulse a sudden drumbeat in your ears, and you are m…