Title: Need to know

Rating: T

Severus/Serena. Romance/Humor. Fluffy eeky goodness. And dare I say it?! A slightly OOC Severus Snape. Slightly, or a copious amount – either way, he's partially OOC. You have been warned!

I was reading a yaoi version of something similar to this, and it comes nowhere close, and the formatting is very different. But I wanted it to be different, so I hope it's still good.

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There are a few things that you need to know about Severus's relationship with Serena Moon.

Severus is not whipped into submission by Serena. He is not eerily in love with her, they are not boyfriend/girlfriend, and they are not going steady or are heavily committed to one another.

They're not!

Severus simply does small, inconsequential favors for the girl. So small that it doesn't faze him! He just gives the girl small back rubs, her favorite chocolates, stuffed animals, and the like whenever the need strikes him. And he only goes with her to her friends' houses, and stays by her side because she does go with him to his Potions conventions.

This doesn't mean that he's whipped, at all! Even though he does apologize in the privacy of his room, when he does something to upset her...

And who the hell said that they were in love and are committed to one another?! It's simply ludicrous!

It's just a beneficial relationship on both parties. They just happen to not be seeing anyone else, and have no intention of seeing anyone else. Severus could care less if Serena chose to date and bed anyone other than him. (Sans the events when any man even dared to look at Serena bordering beyond platonic. Of course it no longer poses a problem, seeing as Severus dealt with them in a more discreet matter... via poison.)

And this beneficial relationship that they hold has nothing to do with being boyfriend/girlfriend! They simply talk, sometimes - more like she talks and he pretends that he's listening. And sometimes he replies back. They also hold hands - but only because he doesn't want her hand to get cold, or for her to get lost. It wouldn't do, seeing as she needs her hands for her job as a Mediwitch in Hogwarts. And she easily gets lost - the girl really has no sense of direction!

And no! He does not feel a small thrill crawl up his spine from holding her hand! He does not!

Severus simply feels that it is necessary to hold her hand when she's close. Like what he said earlier, Serena gets lost easily, and her hand gets cold. Yes, even with her mittens on!

And so what if they kiss from time to time? Their beneficial relationship works that way! They kiss and they have sex! It works on both parts - they satisfy their urges just fine! It has nothing to do with being in love and being committed to one another.

Of course he does admit that he likes to kiss her more than he has to. And he holds her close when he does so, reveling on how smooth her skin feels against his. How soft her lips are...

And after they have sex, he cuddles her. And no it has nothing to do with the fact that he feels the need to keep her close! It's just that, she's already snuggling up against him, and he's too tired to push her away. Although, he does sort of think that she looks adorable when she's asleep.

And right before she goes to sleep, she says, "I love you."

He feels something inside of his chest - his heart beating fast against his ribcage, his breath quickening, and a small contented smile appears on his face.

It's always then that he feels the need to say it back, but he doesn't. He never does.

But he does hold her a little bit tighter, and he does place a chaste kiss on top of her forehead.

And right before she completely falls asleep in his arms...

He says, "I know."

Because Severus does know that Serena loves him.

And because somewhere in his heart, though he refuses to admit it, Severus does too.

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I warned you, didn't I? That it's fluffy! Bwahaha!