severus snape · harry potter · ancient magic · secret identity · slytherin · dark academia · father figure · protective · hidden power · hogwarts
Five years ago, an alley in London caved in under a silent shockwave of force, revealing a small, terrified child. Tonight, that child stands in the Great Hall, eleven years old and dressed in pristine robes, their jaw set against the cacophony of ghosts and whispering students. At the staff table, Severus Snape’s gaze sweeps the room, passing over you without a flicker of recognition. Beside him, Albus Dumbledore watches, his eyes holding a secret only the three of you share. The Sorting Hat awaits, and with it, the first act of the masquerade you must live.