Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Full Circle
Author/Artist: Sakura-chan79
Theme(s): #26 - Frozen moment at the first sight
Pairing/Characters: Severus Snape/Hermione Granger
Rating: T
Disclaimer/claimer: Nothing Harry Potter related belongs to me in any way, shape, or form.
Summary: There are seven moments where she stands frozen because of him, and it's the last night that the circle closes. DH compliant.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to black ice, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes. His eyes narrowed and his lips curled up oh so slightly in a sneer she would come to know so well. His nostrils flared a tiny bit as his gaze settled on her for the first time. She felt a little bit intimidated then because really, how else ought an eleven-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. Her heart was pounding so loudly against her ribcage that she was surprised he couldn't hear it. Maybe he could hear it; she had no way of knowing. If he could, he certainly gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips.

Those eyes intimidated her so much back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to a starless winter night, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes, that second year. She knew by then what to expect of him yet even so, she felt terribly inadequate under his unwavering gaze. His lips curled in a sneer almost immediately, and it took all her Gryffindor courage to keep from dropping her head and hurrying past him into the dungeon classroom. She felt so terribly inadequate under his judgmental gaze and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a twelve-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. Her mind was spinning so quickly, coming up with all sorts of things he might say and how she might feel when he said them. Was it written on her face? Could he read her thoughts on her face as easily as words on a printed page? If he could, he gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips.

Those eyes judged her so much back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to a frozen lake, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes, that third year. She knew by then what to expect of him yet even so, she felt terribly juvenile under his unwavering gaze. His lips began curling into their customary sneer almost as soon as he set eyes on her, and it took all of her strength to stand up at her full height (which, admittedly, wasn't that much, but it was surely better than nothing) instead of flinching and ducking forward as she went on her way. She felt so terribly young under his cold gaze and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a thirteen-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. Her legs felt like they were shaking uncontrollably, so much so that she might fall to her knees at any moment. Did he notice that? Did he notice and know exactly why they were shaking so hard? If he did, he gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips.

Those eyes belittled her so much back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to a blizzard night, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes, that fourth year. She was ready for what was inevitable of him yet even so, she felt terribly awkward under his icy gaze. His lips began curling into their customary sneer almost as soon as he set eyes on her, and it took all of her confidence to look him right in the eyes. She felt so flustered under his gaze and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a fourteen-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. Her palms were suddenly sweaty, but perhaps he didn't notice that, what with all the books in her arms. Surely he couldn't see that. Surely he had no idea that her nerves went so haywire when he looked at her that it made her palms sweaty. If he did, he gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips.

Those eyes made her feel so awkward back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to a winter wind, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes, that fifth year. She fully expected it yet even so, she felt subdued under his cold gaze. His lips curled into their customary sneer when she appeared, and it took all of her determination to stand tall and confident under such a gaze. She felt so frivolous under his gaze and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a fifteen-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. She blinked a little more often than normal when he looked at her. Was it obvious? Did he notice? Did he care? If he did, he gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips. (That same sneer).

Those eyes made her feel so subdued back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes were cold back then, something akin to a jagged piece of ice, she thought.

That gaze made her stop in her steps, the first time he looked her in the eyes, that sixth year. She was ready for it yet even so, she flushed pink under his cold gaze. His lips curled into their customary sneer when she appeared, and it took all of her pride to continued towards him with her head held high. She felt so suddenly nervous under his gaze and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a sixteen-year-old girl feel when a full-grown man looks at her like that?

The moment seemed to stretch into eternity. For what seemed an age, neither one moved so much as a muscle. Her breathing was a little faster, a slight bit more ragged than normal. Was it obvious? Did he notice? Did he wonder why? If he did, he gave no sign of it. His eyes remained cold, his face impassive except for the curling sneer on his lips.

Those eyes made her feel so silly back then that they made her freeze in place.

His eyes are cold even now, something akin to obsidian jewels, she thinks.

That gaze makes her stop in her steps, the first time he looks her in the eyes, this seventh year. She is always ready for it, and yet even so, she finds herself feeling cold dread as she returns his gaze. His lips curl so very slightly into their usual sneer at her approach but it takes what little strength he has left to manage even that. It takes all of her self-control not to fling herself over his limp form and really, it's not so surprising: how else ought a seventeen-year-old girl in love feel when the one she loves looks at her like that (and has always looked at her like that)?

The moment doesn't stretch into eternity this time. There is no age left for them, not now. She can feel her eyes welling up with tears; she waves her wand uselessly, calls his name uselessly, but nothing works. It's too late, far, far too late for them now. Her heart was racing, her mind was spinning, her legs were shaking, her palms were sweaty, she blinked too quickly to force away her tears unsuccessfully, and her face became a blotchy red mess from the whole mix of emotions raging inside her.

Does he see all of this, even as he lays dying? Does it mean anything to him as it so obviously does to her? Does he care that she cares? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps he does see it all and maybe, maybe, maybe it means something to him, too. Even though everything she tries is useless (because he's already too far gone, and she's no Healer) he looks to her and for once in her life his gaze is a little bit warm and his sneer is more of a half-smile full of regret for what is now lost.

Those eyes that always made her feel so intimidated, judged, belittled, awkward, subdued and silly oh so long ago now make her feel so full of a sorrowful happiness that she can't quite explain even to herself how much those two small gestures mean to her.

It's his last night and she hates that it must be his last night where everything ends before it's hardly even begun.

A/N: This is a series of oneshots written for the 30 Nights community on LiveJournal. They may or may not be updated regularily, and may or may not end up containing adult content. Also, there is sure to be non-canon themes and ideas and the like, so if any non-canon stuff is...absolutely horrible to you, this probably isn't the best thing for you. Otherwise, do enjoy :)