𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚘 𝚁𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

☞ 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 12𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 1996

The morning air was crispier than usual today, as Draco, Blaise, Theo and I walked along the dungeons to the Great Hall. The trio were acting stranger than usual. All morning they've been exchanging soft whispers since we left the library. I'm not too sure why. I'm not sure if I'd like to know why.

The three of them followed behind me, making the whole situation far more awkward. We would usually walk together, but having them trailing after me made me feel out of place. Suddenly they caught up to me, surprising me for a moment.

"What on earth was that in the library yesterday?" Blaise questioned me as we walked up the stairs. Quickly I glance at the boy, with my brows furrowed.

"Whatever do you mean, Blaise?" I thought back on our conversation in the library with Y/n. From what I can recall, I didn't say or do anything out of the ordinary. Just a normal conversation.

"You and Snape." Theo added, making me feel even more confused. Me and Y/n? What about me and Y/n? When I asked them what they meant, Theo rolled his eyes with an amused smile. What is so amusing? What am I missing?

"Mate, the way you were looking at her... you made it seem as though you are in love with her!" Draco laughed as he threw his arm over my shoulders as we rounded to the final corridor leading to the Great Hall.

"Yeah, right." I huffed as we took a seat at the table. Before I could begin to eat away at my full English breakfast, I noticed Adrian Pucey. Quickly I approached him. "We are back on the team, and I'm reclaiming my role as Captain." I ordered the boy who perked up at my words.

"Really! Bloody hell, you lot gave me such a fright when you quit the other day. Slytherin has no hope of winning without you. Without any of you." He spoke as he glanced back at my friends, who didn't pay any mind to us.

"Yeah well, we decided to return. Tryouts are this weekend." With that, I walked back to my group and informed them that it was official. We have rejoined the team. They all stressed their worry that we simply won't have enough time to manage quidditch and our tasks. Despite how true that may be, we will manage.

"Good morning, boys." A sweet voice spoke to us, making our heads snap towards her. Y/n Snape stood there with a soft smile on her lips as her head tilted to the side. "May I sit with you? I can't seem to find Astoria." She spoke once more.

Without a second thought, I nodded and offered her the seat beside me. She smiled at me and sat beside me. Turning back to face my friends, their eyes were narrowed while staring at me, they were all giving me a pointed look. Confused I furrow my brows and roll my eyes, choosing to ignore them. Next to me, I notice Y/n looking around the hall, worried.

"Have any of you seen Astoria?" She asks us. I thought for a moment, realising how absent she's been as of late. Slowly the boys shook their heads and also began looking around, clearly realising how little they'd seen the girl.

"I'm sure she's alright." I try and reassure Y/n as her face falls into a more panicked state, although it helps a bit, it's not enough. We all fell into quiet conversation until Longbottom approached us with a nervous posture that almost made me laugh.

"H-hi, Y/n." The pathetic Gryffindor began, earning Y/n's attention as she smiled warmly at him.

"Neville! It's been a while. How are you?" Y/n greeted him as the boys and I stared silently at the two of them.

"I'm good! U-um I was wondering if you are okay." Longbottom began, the concern in his voice making me raise a brow at the boys. They shrugged in return. "I heard what happened the other day with Cormac McLaggen." Longbottom's timid voice continued.

"Ah yes. I'm fine thank you." Y/n laughed off the uncomfortable feeling she got when Longbottom mentioned McLaggen. What the fuck happened with Cormac McLaggen? "He's nothing more than a pathetic git. Nothing I can't handle."

"Well, lately he's been cursing out you and your father in the common room. And he's planning on slipping you a love potion to humiliate you." Longbottom whispered to the girl, in hopes no one from Gryffindor would overhear him. "Ron and Harry have already found and taken three love potions from Cormac's dormitory. But he keeps getting more." He shook his head, clearly feeling down about not being able to protect his friend.

"What?" I butted in, not being able to comprehend what Longbottom was saying. I was furious at McLaggen for even thinking about laying a hand on Y/n. Longbottom coward at my voice as his eyes widened in shock.

Y/n quickly finished her conversation with Longbottom with a small smile, not nearly as bright as when she first greeted him. "Tell me what happened." I spoke to Y/n as softly as I could while pure anger flowed through me, fueling my desire to put Cormac McLaggen in the hospital wing.

She sighed. "It's nothing much..." she began, but my silence made her continue. "He asked me out on a date. When I rejected him, he began being more forceful and well, my father got involved and he gave McLaggen detention every week until the end of term and embarrassed him in front of everyone." Y/n finished with a small frown, disliking having to remember the event.

"What a dick." Theo grumbled as he looked at Cormac smiling and laughing with his friends on the Gryffindor table. Draco and Blaise join in cursing out Cormac and making fun of him, making Y/n smile and laugh. Her discomfort washed away.

Soon the five of us were in potions, reviewing the potion we brewed last week. The work was excruciatingly boring, but somehow Y/n kept us on track, making us focus on the task at hand. It was extraordinary how quickly she's become a part of our small group, and how easily she calms our abrasive personalities.

All of us easily fell into a relaxed conversation once more, discussing our favourite foods and drinks we love to buy in Hogsmade. Until Astoria walked in forty minutes late to our one-hour lesson. Y/n immediately tensed up hearing her friend's voice and our conversation died. Draco, Blaise, Theo and I watched as Astoria's dishevelled self took a seat beside Y/n as her hands ran through her unkempt hair. "What have I missed?" She asked Y/n quietly as she pulled out her pristine potion book.

"Depends which lesson you are referring to." Y/n huffed as her eyes never left her book, using all her energy to focus on her book. I peel my eyes off the girls and turn to look at the boys. They too were looking right at Astoria and Y/n, watching their uncomfortable interaction.

"Excuse me?" Astoria raised a brow at Y/n's, in her eyes, unexpected attitude. However Y/n didn't respond, rather she stood up abruptly, silently casting a spell, making her belongings pack themselves away. Y/n walked up to Professor Slughorn with a smile and handed in her parchment.

Once I realised she was leaving I followed after her, handing in my essay and grabbing her bag and slinging it over my shoulder with my bag in hand. The grateful smile she gave me warmed my heart as we both left the classroom, with the boys trailing behind us.

Walking to the common room was rather easy, fortunately, as we had left potions early, the corridors were bare. Y/n immediately sat beside the fire as we followed her.

"Sorry for leaving so abruptly." Her voice was small but still audible. Her beautiful eyes never strayed from the fire to the right of her. I sat beside her as Blaise, Draco and Theo sat on the sofa opposite us.

"It's fine, Snape." Draco replied as he leaned back with a sigh, stretching his arms behind his head. "None of us wanted to be there anyways." Draco smirked as Nott snickered at the blond's comment.

Although Y/n didn't laugh. "Talk to us." I muttered to the girl, finally managing to pull her attention away from the dancing amber flames. Y/n shook her head, ready to detest, however I spoke up before she could say anymore. "I insist." I smiled at her as her eyes searched mine, perhaps looking for a sign of malice or dishonesty. I hate that she expects that from me.

"It's just very frustrating that I have barely seen Astoria these past two weeks, and she finally attends class and all she asks is 'What have I missed'. No greeting, no apologies, no explanations, not even a single lie about where she has been!" Y/n huffed as she gripped the end of her skirt. Tears threaten to escape her eyes as she runs a hand through her hair. This sweet girl has done nothing but worry about Astoria for days, and Astoria has been nothing but rude towards Y/n by neglecting her only friend.

"I'm going to take a nap or something. I'll see you all for charms." With that, Y/n left with a smile. Without her presence, it felt as though something was missing, her now empty seat was very apparent in my mind as I glanced between the empty seat and the doorway she disappeared behind.

"He has got it bad." Theo laughed. My head shot towards them, pulling me from my thoughts. All three of the dickheads were grinning at me from their sofa.

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about, Nott?" I spat at the boy, finally having enough of their strange behaviour and secretive whispers.

"It seems to be obvious to everyone but you and her." Blaise grinned as he shook his head in amusement. Once again I felt myself being left confused. I demanded to know what they were talking about. My voice was low and threatening, although my threats have never fazed these bloody idiots.

"Mate! You are in love with her!" Draco smirked as he fell into the seat beside me. The blond ferret threw his arm over my shoulders, giving them a playful squeeze. I huffed and shrugged him off, making Draco and the boys laugh like a bunch of banshees.

"What on Merlin's beard do you mean?" I demanded again, their amused smiles and knowing looks irritating me further by the minute. I rattled my brain, attempting to comprehend what exactly where they getting at. I don't love Y/n. I don't love anyone. It's not possible for me to feel love, that's what I have always been told. I am the Dark Lord's son. I have responsibilities that I must see through... love is pathetic, meaningless, and weak. I have no time for such trivial feelings. Love is not made for someone like me.

"Have you not noticed that you've been acting differently around her?" Theo grinned at me as Blaise nodded and pointed at Theo in agreement. I sat there for a moment, thinking over his words again and again.

"Different? I've always acted the same way with Y/n." I grumbled as I fell back into my seat. Blaise let out a huff of disbelief as he abruptly stood up, mumbling to himself 'he's clueless'. Little did they know they were the clueless ones. Whatever fucking pathetic notion they've brewed in their head isn't real. I do not feel love. I simply find the girl... amusing.

"Tell us what you think of her." Draco spoke in a small voice, almost sounding soft. I rubbed my temple, contemplating the blond's question. What do I think of Y/n Snape? As I thought about her, about all our petty arguments over the years, how I craved to see her eyes furrowing at me, I craved to annoy her, I craved our arguments.

"Y/n Snape is... she's different." I began, not sure of the right words to say. Blaise encouraged me to go on, as he and Theo leaned in closer. "She makes me... feel things... no one else has managed to do. I like being around her when most other people annoy me. Her successes make me want to be better than her, so I can prove something to her. Not to mention the way she carries herself with such elegance and grace. Her eyes are just..."  I paused, a tense silence clouding around me. My own words sounded foreign to me. Why did I think this way about one girl? Why have I always thought this way about a girl I barely know...

"Yep. He's got it bad." Theo laughed with the rest of the boys.