Chapter Text
Golden rays of light came in through the high oval windows and reflected upon a number of objects in your office of ends and odds. One particularly pesky pendant was illuminated with the glowing sun and shined directly into your resting eyes, waking you up with a slight groan. You blinked a bleary eye, glaring at the swirling blue eye that woke you. On the shelf next to it, smoke curled lazily from the incense burning. Looking around, there were some embers still glowing in the hearth.
‘Why did I light a fire in the hearth last night-’ You thought, scrubbing your face before you turned and saw your answer. You nearly freaked out to see a serene pale face framed with long black hair right next to yours, highlighted from the rising sun. You had hoped last night to be a weird fever dream.
You checked the time, rubbing your eyes and yawning. You lightly shook Severus’s shoulder. He groaned and turned around, showing his back to you.
“Severus,” You spoke softly, your voice clouded from your recent sleep.
He ignored you and shifted further into the pillow pit.
“Severus.” You repeated, firmer. He ignored you still. You grabbed a stray maroon cushion and started hitting him with it. “I know you’re awake!” You accused him in a lighthearted tone.
He started laughing, a raspy and choked sound, and held up his arms in defense.
You stopped hitting him, laughing, too. You sat up, pushing his shoulder to urge him up. “It’s nearly time for breakfast, you need to get changed and go back to your dorm-”
He clocked you in the head with the sapphire pillow that was resting under his hip. You gaped, catching yourself with your hands on the cushions beneath you. He looked at your incredulous face, laughing.
“Oh, so that’s how you want to play?” You grinned, grabbing another pillow and bringing it above your head before slamming it down on him. He rolled out of the way just in time. You cursed underneath your breath, much to Severus’s laughter. “Get back here so I can hit you!” You called out after him. He laughed even louder, his face bright with mischief. He rolled behind you and hit you with a pillow from behind, making you fall into a lying position on the cushions. You gave a startled yelp and a disappointed groan. “That’s not fair!” You gave a playful scowl at him as he kneeled over you, grinning.
“Life’s not fair.” He chortled with a half-hearted grin.
“Tell me about it,” You laughed, sitting up. “Alright, enough lollygagging, we have to get you to breakfast. If anyone asks why you left my office we can say you had early detention.” You stood up, looking for your discarded boots. One was next to a jar of rose oil, and the other somehow landed on the couch. You sat on the couch and pulled them on as Severus sat next to you, his shoes already on.
“Who was that?” He asked you, his face serious.
“Who was what?” You asked, tying your shoelaces.
“The person last night, the one that the boggart turned into.”
You froze, your hands still holding your half-done laces. You swallowed thickly and spoke, your voice suddenly sounding hoarse, “It’s no one important.”
“Your voice sounds like mine.” He raised an eyebrow.
You cleared your throat a few times and finished tying the loops into your boots. “It’s fine, I might need to drink some water. You definitely need to drink some water. Do you have a headache?” You turned to him, concerned. “You must be dehydrated from yesterday.” You stated, holding a hand to his warm forehead.
“I’m fine, thank you.” He recoiled from your hand as if it burned him.
You huffed, and summoned a glass of water and gave it to him.
“Drink.”
He sighed, and brought the cool water to his chapped lips, downing the whole thing in one go. You stared at the glass, refilling it with a barely-noticeable flick of your wand. He glared at you, and you nodded your head at the glass in his hand. He groaned, the raspy sound breaking in the middle. He rolled his eyes and drank more. You gave him an overly-cheery and oh-so-fake grin before patting his shoulder and standing up. You found your shawl sprawled among the soft stockpile of quilts. You wrapped it around your shoulders, adjusted your hair in a hanging mirror, and grabbed the wide-brimmed hat you placed next to Severus’s robes last night. You handed the robes to him and sat in the butterscotch upholstery at your cluttered desk. You started revising your lesson plan for the day.
“Aren’t you coming to breakfast, professor?” He queried, straightening his robes.
You looked up from the parchment, your quill paused in air. Your nose twitched and you bit the inside of your mouth. “I’ll think about it.” You stated simply, thinking about the frightening figure from last night instead.
He nodded, sucking his upper teeth and looking down for a moment. He met your gaze. “What about the bones? We didn’t finish them last night.”
You suddenly remembered the animal bones and turtle shells scattered across your classroom and sighed to yourself, thinking about how you’d have to organize a whole room before your first class of the day came in. You set your quill in its inkwell and sat back in the chair. “We can postpone the lesson for tomorrow, I guess. Today will just be a review.” You thought aloud, thrumming your fingers against the scratched wood.
“Professor,” He started.
You hummed in response.
Severus raised a dark brow, “tomorrow is Saturday. ” Severus put his hands in his pockets and gave you a sideways glance.
You gazed at the calendar on the wall of weird widgets and whats-its. He was correct. Today was Friday. You rubbed a hand to your face, scowling. “Monday it is, then.”
“If you’re not going to breakfast,” Severus deduced, “I’ll see you in class, then.”
“Yes. Make sure to drink something at breakfast-”
He rolled his eyes and walked away. Before he opened the door, he paused and turned around. “Oh, and Professor-?”
You looked up.
“Thank you again for last night.” He nearly whispered, hunching his shoulders again.
You gave him a little smile,
“Anytime, Severus.”