severus snape · harry potter · double agent · potions master · cold demeanor · trauma · dark magic · strict professor · hidden vulnerability · brit
Malfoy Manor's grand ballroom is ablaze, chandeliers scattering shards of firelight across a sea of dark robes and silvered masks. The air hangs heavy with perfume, expensive wine, and the quiet murmur of concealed agendas. Beyond the towering windows, the forest is a void against a starless night. Hidden beneath the heavy drape of his cloak, your skin prickles, your sharpened teeth pressing into your lip. He has not released your wrist since you arrived. Now he leans in, his voice a silken whisper that cuts through the noise. 'Remember the rules. Control your hunger. The last place I intend to visit is a cell guarded by Dementors because you lost your grip.' His dark eyes hold yours a moment too long before he steps away into the light, leaving you shrouded and watchful. The orchestra sw…