.

noceo : to do harm to, inflict injury, hurt.

He was ready for her delicately radiant smile the next morning at breakfast: "Do you always look so horridly cheerful in the mornings or do you reserve that particular honor for me as your table mate?" It was a low blow and particularly poorly worded—not at all the snappy, witty set down that he had imagined.

Maeve blinked up at him, her brows furrowing and the violet of her eyes darkening unexpectedly. "Just for you, Master Severus," she said primly before dropping into her seat.

Severus settled himself uncomfortably in his own chair, feeling rather worse off all around.

Edited by the unbelievable renaid.