Year 7 Part 3
TW: Mentions of torture (Cruciatus)
Severus Snape has been Headmaster for almost four months. And he has hated every second of it, still does.
He's currently doing paperwork. Utterly boring paperwork. He has no idea how Dumbledore could do all of this without going insane.
Being Headmaster is terrible. There's always so much to do…
Severus deeply wishes he could get help. Of course, he already has a candidate in mind, but it won't happen.
The Carrow siblings would most likely tell the Dark Lord that he's so incompetent of being a Headmaster that he needs help with it. From a student, nonetheless.
Also, people would know if Y/N's helping him, which would be bad for her reputation. "The nice Slytherin is helping the traitorous Headmaster". No, he can't and won't do that to her. He will just have to survive…
Giving up on doing all the papers, Severus decides to take a short break, thinking about the previous months.
It turns out it was a group of sixth-year Gryffindor boys who had the Amortentia potion in their possession. Apparently, they were going to prank the Carrows in hope of getting new Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers.
That was a big mistake. Those students are lucky that they are still alive.
Speaking of the Carrows, their teaching method is worse than Umbridge's.
They make the older students practice the Unforgivables - on first-years. If they refuse, which most of them do, the Carrows will merely just use the curses on them instead.
If the students break any rules, the Carrows will use the Unforgivables on them.
All in all, those stupid siblings use the Unforgivables a lot. Of course, only the Imperius Curse and the Cruciatus Curse.
Nobody has been killed - yet.
Sadly, Severus can't do anything to stop them. If he did, the Carrows would just report it to the Dark Lord. Severus has come this far, the feared wizard cannot question his loyalty now.
His train of thoughts is interrupted as a man in one of the paintings clears his throat.
"I have found Potter and his friends, Headmaster. They are in the Forest of Dean" he tells him.
Severus widens his eyes, forgetting all about the papers in front of him. He looks at the guy in the painting.
"Very well. By the way, do not tell anyone. No one can know" he says, looking serious.
The guy nods. "Understood, sir" he assures him.
Severus then grabs the Sword of Gryffindor. It's in his possession as he is now the Headmaster.
He concentrates as the sword disappears in his hands. He has made sure the sword is hidden near the three Gryffindors' location.
He mutters a spell, casting his Patronus so it can tell the teenagers where the sword is hidden.
Severus is however confused once he casts his Patronus - it has changed just like the smell of his Amortentia has changed.
It's no longer a doe - it's an owl. It specifically looks to be a brown owl.
Shaking of the thought, he watches as the Patronus leaves the office.
Just as it does so, he hears voices outside his office. He slowly walks towards the door, listening to the conversation.
"You can't talk to the Headmaster, he's busy. Why don't you be a good Slytherin and go back to your common room?" Alecto suggests, sounding irritated.
"I just want to make sure he's okay. It will only take a second" the voice pleads.
Severus can recognise that voice anywhere. It's Y/N's.
Amycus gives an evil laugh. "Isn't that adorable? She's worried about the Headmaster. Well, let me tell you, you are the only one. Everybody else hates him. You know what? Sure, you can talk to him…" he says.
However, Severus recognises his tone. The Headmaster immediately walks down the stairs.
"Cru-" Amycus starts just as Severus stops him.
"That's enough. You do know this is Y/L/N's daughter, right? I'm sure the Dark Lord wouldn't want you to harm a fellow Death Eater's child" Severus says, glaring at the siblings.
"My, my. So protective of your Slytherins" Alecto taunts. Severus ignores her.
"Both of you, leave" he warns.
Huffing, the Carrows do as he says. As they pass Y/N, Amycus whispers in her ear.
"The Dark Lord should have killed you and your father as well. Y/F/N has been utterly useless" he whispers, smirking evilly. Satisfied with the girl's terrified look, he follows his sister.
Sighing, Severus motions for Y/N to follow him up the stairs. She immediately does so.
"I hope I'm not interrupting… I just wanted to know how you are" Y/N shyly says, fidgeting with her fingers.
"I'm fine" he lies, ignoring the big stack of papers on his desk.
As Y/N notices it and is about to say something, Severus stops her.
"How have you been?" he asks.
Y/N sighs. "Not too good. Draco and I will get married once the war is over if You-Know-Who wins" she says, voice cracking.
His expression softens at that. "He won't win, Y/N. I will do everything in my power to make sure of that" he assures her, whispering in case the Carrows are listening by the door. He doesn't feel any presence, but just to be sure.
"How are your classes going?" he questions, hoping the Carrows haven't hurt her.
"It's going fine… Except for Defence Against the Dark Arts. The Carrows are… horrible" she whispers.
"Did they hurt you, Y/N?" he quietly asks, dreading the answer.
"They wanted us to practice the Cruciatus Curse on first-years… I refused, just like most of the others did. I'm sure you know what they do if you refuse" she slowly tells him.
Severus can't help but let his anger show. He won't let them get away with it.
"Severus?" Y/N asks, putting a hand on his.
Severus blinks a few times. He must have been lost in thought.
"I apologise… Do let me know if they ever hurt you again, Y/N" he says, looking into her eyes.
She slowly nods at that, giving him a shy but reassuring smile.
He then clears his throat. "I take it you have told your owl to visit me quite often, huh? He's here every day now. And he still nuzzles my arm every time" he says.
At first he thought it was annoying, but now he truly feels grateful. It is nice with some company, and he definitely prefers Y/N's owl over the Carrows or the men in the paintings.
Y/N giggles. "Yeah, I told Y/O/N to visit you and cheer you up. I thought you would like some company" she says, smiling.
Severus nods at that. "I do. Thank you" he says.
When Y/N finally realises that her hand is still on his, she blushes before slowly retrieving it. Much to Severus' dismay.
A question then pops into his head.
"By the way, I was just wondering. What is your Patronus?" he questions.
"Oh, it's an-" she says just as one of the men in the paintings interrupts.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Headmaster, but it is curfew soon" the man reminds them.
Y/N widens her eyes. "Right! I should probably leave now if I don't want to get punished. It's so good to see you again, Severus" she says, giving him a bright smile.
She doesn't get to take any steps before he unconsciously hugs her. A bit shocked, she hugs him back immediately.
As they hug, Severus inhales her scent. It seems familiar, he however ignores the feeling. It's probably nothing .
"You should go now" he says, however not wanting to let go of her.
Y/N slowly nods as she leaves his arms much to his dismay.
"Be careful, Severus" she pleads.
"You as well, Y/N" he says. Nodding, she waves at him before walking down the stairs.
Once she's out of sight, Severus sits down in his chair. He can feel someone smirking at him.
"What?" he snaps.
The man in the painting chuckles. "Oh, nothing. "What is your Patronus?"" he mocks, imitating Severus.
The Headmaster huffs at that. "I was merely curious" he says.
"Yeah, right, Mr. Oblivious. You looked rather shocked when you saw your Patronus. Has it changed?" the man questions, tilting his head.
"That is none of your business. And why are you referring to me as oblivious?" Severus asks, raising an eyebrow.
The man snorts at that. "Oh, don't you worry about that. Anyway, you have got work to do, Headmaster" he says as he points to the stack of papers.
"Dunderhead" Severus mutters under his breath, getting back to work.
He however can't help but be curious. What is Y/N's Patronus?