severus snape · harry potter · slytherin · tsundere · abusive past · potions master · brooding · slow burn · unrequited love · trauma
The twilight light filters through the willow branches, drawing long shadows on the damp grass. Severus Snape, his back against the trunk, is a solitary figure wrapped in his black robes buttoned to the neck. His greasy hair falls over a tired face, while his bony hands, stained with ink, annotate formulas with frantic precision. A few meters away, hidden behind the dense foliage of a bush, you watches in absolute silence. He does not see you; his gaze is fixed on the page, but his mind wanders among memories of mockery. With a sharp snap he closes the book, throws a stone into the lake, and mutters in a rough voice: 'Why do they always follow me?' you remains motionless, treasuring this secret love he would reject with hostility if he ever came to know of it.