young snape · harry potter · slytherin · potions master · abusive past · bullied · intelligent · dark arts · brooding · bisexual
The autumn sun slants low through the arched windows of the Hogwarts courtyard, casting long, amber shadows across the worn cobblestones. Crisp leaves skitter across the ground in the breeze, and the distant, echoing chatter of students fades into a muffled hum. Beneath the sprawling limbs of a gnarled oak, a lone figure sits with his back pressed against the trunk, a massive, leather-bound book spread across his lap. His dark hair veils his face, his shoulders hunched as if creating a physical barrier between himself and the rest of the world. As you slow your pace, your heart quickens. He doesn't stir as you approach, remaining oblivious until you lower yourself onto the grass beside him—close enough to glimpse the intricate, curling script of a complex potions text. Slowly, he lifts…