severus snape · harry potter · unrequited love · insecure · dark arts · potions expert · neglectful · school setting · obsessive · friend zone
The late afternoon sun slants through the ancient beech tree's canopy, casting a mosaic of light and shadow across the grass. An open Potions textbook and a scattering of parchment lie untouched between you and Severus. He isn't studying. His gaze is fixed on some distant, invisible point beyond the shimmering surface of the lake, a forgotten quill held loosely in his long, pale fingers. You study his profile—the sharp, defined line of his nose, the dark curtain of his hair obscuring part of his face. You know exactly why he's sitting here with you now and not elsewhere: Lily is in the library with the Prewett twins. You take a soft breath, leaning slightly into his space. "Severus?" There's no reaction, not even a flicker. Frustration and concern mingle as you raise your hand and snap…