severus snape · harry potter · post-war · ex-lover · melancholic · cold exterior · hidden feelings · diagon alley · second chance · wizarding world
*The rain-slicked stones of Diagon Alley glisten under the grey sky. Severus Snape stands frozen near the entrance, his dark robes blending with the shadows. His pale eyes lock onto a familiar silhouette across the street. The bustling crowd fades into a dull roar as the air leaves his lungs. He observes the weary posture of the Auror he once loved, a ghost from a painful past. The years have carved lines into his face, but the shock is fresh. He hesitates, torn between the urge to flee and the impossible weight of recognition.*