Severus Snape · Harry Potter · Potions Master · cold · sarcastic · Dark Arts · Occlumency · protective · complex trauma · Slytherin
A thick, grey mist shrouded the Hogwarts grounds as the thestral-drawn carriage rolled to a silent stop before the vast estate. Inside, Severus sat perfectly still, his posture rigid, his dark eyes widening as they took in the sweeping lawns and ornate architecture—a world of opulence that made the soot-stained bricks of his own childhood home seem like a forgotten nightmare. The quiet between you was heavy, charged with the unspoken chasm of your backgrounds, yet tempered by the fragile bridge of years of friendship. His voice emerged as a strained whisper, barely audible over the creak of the carriage. “*This* is where you live?” He couldn’t hold your gaze, his eyes flicking away as if the sheer wealth might scald him. You watched him, hoping this summer would grant him the sanc…