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It’s not that all Slytherins were bad people. Many were absolutely fine, really. But most were rather nasty when it came to people outside their house. Or if you weren’t a pureblood. Or if you were poor.
So maybe a lot of people in the Slytherin house were bad.
But she wasn’t! No, no. She was one of the Slytherins who was rather nice to everyone, in every house, regardless of their blood status or income. That’s just how she was. Nice, polite. Proper. One of the most important lessons that a pureblood witch learned, after all, was to talk less and smile more. And that was exactly what she did. She didn’t take part in the taunting, in the harassment, in the bullying. She didn’t make comments about people to their face or behind their back. She played it safe; she played it smart.
For the first five years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, she blended into the shadows of the school and kept herself out of trouble. No matter what it was, she didn’t involve herself. It was truly better that way. Unfortunately, though, sometimes one had to do something when others wouldn’t. Or stop people when they were just being absolute assholes to others.
Such was the case during her 5th year at school.
She ignored James Potter and his gaggle of idiots as well as she could. She really did. They left her alone and so she had no reason to care what they did. However, during their break one day, James Potter and his stupid friends decided to pick on Severus Snape. While this wasn’t exactly uncommon, this day was different. This day seemed worse than usual. Severus seemed to already be in a sour mood, and the boys looked ready to cause serious trouble.
By the time she had joined the crowd around them, Severus was yelling about not needing a “mudblood’s help,” and Potter was threatening to pants him in front of the group. Lily Evans had stepped away, refusing to acknowledge the poor boy that was hanging upside down and struggling. And everyone, even members of Slytherin, were laughing at Severus. But she couldn’t just stand by anymore. This was too much, as far as she was concerned.
“James Potter, you despicable git, you leave him alone!” She yelled out, wand drawn. “Oppugno!”
From the tip of her wand, several swarming canaries appeared and went after Potter, who dropped his wand in surprise. Severus was freed from the spell, falling to the ground with a loud thud. Potter and his group of fools took off, cursing as the canaries followed after them angrily. The crowd dispersed and she put her hands on her hips, watching the four Gryffindor's run away.
“Bunch of bloody idiots,” she said, not really to anyone. Then she turned and held her hand out to her classmate, who was sitting on the ground with contempt written all over his face. “Well c’mon then, Severus.”
Severus looked up at her through his messy hair, frowning deeply as he considered his next move. Having just ruined his friendship with his only friend, he realized this was the only person willing to help him currently. And while the thought of Lily and what he said stung, he couldn’t help but appreciate her willingness to stand up for him. So he took her hand and hoisted himself up. She looked him over for any sign of injury before giving him a sweet smile. Severus didn’t particularly like the feeling he had in his stomach when she did that. He’d find that he actually quite liked that feeling soon, though.
*****
By their seventh year at Hogwarts, she and Severus had grown rather close. After that fateful day by the lake, they returned to the dungeons and spent the remainder of their day in a comfortable silence, working on various assignments. They didn’t talk about what happened that day. They never brought it up again, actually. The two weren’t inseparable by any means, but they were close and certainly considered themselves friends.
Sometimes, though, it felt like more. Their trips to Hogsmeade felt like dates. Their time spent in the common room felt more intimate than what would happen between two friends. When they were talking, they were often leaned in close whispering to one another as if their conversations were a secret.
But this was the closest either had to a friend. Was this not how they should act?
It was during their last year at school that she realized the passing butterflies she felt when he brushed up against her or touched her hand by accident were because of a crush. She probably should have realized it sooner, but she always pushed it off as stress or anxiety. She had crushes before, but none of which made her feel tingly all over. With Severus, though, she found herself looking forward to seeing him every morning. Hoping that she’d see him in passing in the hallway; waiting anxiously for him to join her in class or at breakfast or dinner.
She realized she was smitten when he grabbed her hand to yank her down the hall, away from James and Lily, who were now dating. Severus spent the remainder of their day talking about how disgusting the two were, complaining about everything related to them, and in general being sour. She wouldn’t have minded usually, but now that she had realized she had feelings for her closest friend --well, him complaining about Lily stung a little bit. But she kept herself from saying anything; instead allowing him to rant and rave. She followed her mother’s advice: talk less and smile more. Nod along in agreement but don’t let on anymore than that.
By the third hour of him complaining, she broke her mother’s rule though. “Why are you so upset, Sev? She’s shown her true colors.” She pointed out, leaning back on the chair she was in. Severus stopped and looked up at her with narrowed eyes. She put her hands up in her defense. “You may have said something cruel to her, but she’s spent the last two years being just as cruel and allowing her idiot boyfriend to pick on you. Anyone that cared about you, even after what happened, wouldn’t let that slide. She does.”
Severus sat up a bit straighter, considering what she was saying. Perhaps she was right. Lily had completely changed her tone with him, which he knew she did because of what he said. But one thing he did does not equate to dozens of actions against him over the span of two years. Slowly, Severus nodded as he came to the conclusion she had drawn.
“You’re right,” he admitted, tone soft but laced in disdain. “She and Potter are both cowards. I don’t need to worry myself with what they do.”
“Brilliant, Sev.” She clapped her hands together happily. She pushed herself upright, smiling at him. “Why don’t we go to dinner?”
Severus didn’t respond but stood, smoothing out his tie. Then, after a moment of what looked like him considering something, he held out his hand. Thinking nothing of the gesture, she took it and pulled herself up from the couch. As she went to pull away, though, his grip tightened as if to keep her from letting go. Confused, she looked up at him but he was looking ahead. Instead of questioning it, she went with it and allowed Severus to lead her out of the dungeons and to the Great Hall.
The entire time, their hands stayed clasped together, fingers intertwined. The butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t cease and she was certain she wouldn’t eat dinner tonight because of how she felt. But it would be worth it, in the end. Severus was holding her hand like someone would hold a lover’s and she didn’t want to lose this chance. Especially with how everyone was looking at the two. Classmates whispered as they walked by. Some people stared in surprise. Some of her friends looked very confused but others seemed to be thrilled that they were right all along about the two.
As they entered the Great Hall, though, the taunting began.
“Oh, look! Snivellus got himself a girlfriend!” James called out. Next to him, Sirius whooped and wolf whistled. “Shame the only girl that’ll date him is the same girl who has to protect him!”
It was with that comment that Severus dropped her hand, looking at James in disgust. She looked between the two, panic rising in her chest. Her eyes darted to Lily, who was looking between James and Severus as well though she seemed less alarmed. It made her blood boil.
“I do not need anyone’s protection, Potter,” Severus sneered, glancing at her briefly before he drew his wand. “Unlike you, who seems to need to have four idiots to help you take me down.”
Potter pulled his wand just as quick as Sirius, Remus and Peter stood next. Lily had her wand drawn, though she kept herself back. Considering that this could delve into an actual duel, she drew hers and gripped it tight.
“I would highly recommend we place our wands back where they belong.”
Everyone who had gathered froze, turning to look back at a rather annoyed Professor McGonagall. Peering over her glasses, the Head of Gryffindor house gave them all a serious look. The group around them quickly returned to their respective seats, but she didn’t need to say anything else to keep the offenders in their place. Severus and her both dropped their wands, looking at each other now. James and his gaggle kept theirs at the ready, though, earning themselves a dirty look from their professor.
“There is no dueling on the school grounds. More importantly, we do not duel in the Great Hall. You five,” she nodded towards Potter and his friends, “10 points each from Gryffindor and detention with me Monday and Wednesday.” The group groaned and started to argue but a quick silencing charm from McGonagall shut them up. Then she turned to Severus and her. “You two, detentions on Tuesday and Thursday. To make it even, 25 points each from Slytherin.”
“Are you kidding me!” She demanded but Severus grabbed her wrist, shaking his head. She made a sound of annoyance as McGonagall walked off to the teacher’s table.
Potter and the rest returned to their seats, leaving Severus and her standing beside the Slytherin table with their appetites ruined. His grip on her wrist slid to take her hand again, tugging her towards the doors once more. She didn’t question him and simply followed him through the castle until they were out at the edge of the Black Lake.
Severus pulled his robes off, dropping them to the ground before he sat down and loosened his tie. She hesitated for a moment before she took off hers as well, sitting beside him. She laid her robes beside her, then rested her hands in her lap. It was a couple long minutes before either of them spoke, but it was Severus who did first.
“Why do you stand by me?” He asked, though he was looking out at the lake.
She wasn’t sure what to say as she started playing with a string on the hem of her skirt. Of course, she knew exactly what to say. But to say it out loud felt embarrassing enough. “I...well…” She hesitated for a moment before finally sighing. “I fancy you, Sev. I have for a bit, I think.”
As she kept her eyes down, focused on her skirts, Severus finally looked at her. The butterflies she often felt were shared by him just as frequently; he just hated admitting it. He’d spent years pining for Lily that he just...never wanted to move on from what he once shared with his old friend. But here she sat, she who defended him and listened to him. Who stood by him even when everyone else didn’t. She hesitated before she risked glancing up at him, though when she caught his eye, she blushed brightly and looked away.
But Severus didn’t let her look away. He had reached out and gently took her chin in his hand, guiding her gaze back to his. Her blush only deepened at the motion as she bit her lip lightly. “I...think I have liked you for quite some time too. I should have realized it sooner, though.”
She looked at him with surprise, but a smile crept onto her face as what he said processed in her mind. “You do?”
He nodded some, a small but genuine smile lighting up his face. A smile was such a rare thing for Severus, and she wanted to remember it forever. She wanted to hold onto it and keep it close; but she wanted to keep him close too. She didn’t want to lose this moment. Severus wouldn’t lose this moment, either, he decided as he leaned in. She followed his lead, allowing his hand to guide their lips together.
The cliche of fireworks did no justice to their kiss. It wasn’t simply fireworks and sparks and butterflies that erupted in her stomach. It was like lightning struck and the only thing that was protecting her was this moment, with Severus’s lips against hers. With his hand slipping down to the side of her neck and his thumb grazing over her throat lightly.
When they finally pulled away, both had to take a moment to catch their breath. But the smiles they shared would be smiles that would last forever, it felt like. Severus didn’t have many reasons to smile, but she would bring them out now. And she’d hold them all close to her heart.
“I will always stand by you, Severus.”