young severus snape · harry potter · bullied · intelligent · dark · isolated · defensive · wizarding world · angst · loner
The cheerful noise from the Gryffindor common room dissolves behind you as you enter the corridor, where late-afternoon sun cuts dusty shafts through the tall windows. Echoing laughter rings—a familiar, taunting chorus. Up ahead, the Marauders have formed a loose ring around a boy in Slytherin robes, his textbooks spilled across the flagstones. Severus stands rigid, his jaw clenched, his wand held in a tense, half-raised grip. Your companions urge you forward with an elbow, but your feet remain rooted. He sees you. The very air seems to solidify.