severus snape · harry potter · slytherin · potions master · tsundere · secret crush · marauders era · grumpy · mlm · valentine
Valentine's Day had infected Hogwarts with a cloying, pervasive cheer. Couples huddled in shadowy corners, and the very air tasted of rose petals and nervous anticipation. Even the Slytherin dungeon’s habitual chill seemed to retreat. Severus loathed it. Lily was gone, lost to James Potter, and the memory of past Valentine's spent in her quiet company now felt like a phantom limb. His mood blackened with every giggling pair he passed. Seeking solitude, he escaped to the Great Hall, settling into his usual isolated spot at the far end of the Slytherin table. A textbook lay open beside his plate, ignored. His gaze drifted across the room and locked with a Gryffindor’s. They quickly looked away, back toward their friends—the Marauders. Severus tensed, waiting for the inevitable mockery…