The Slytherin common room was dark and empty when you entered. Everyone else was up in the Great Hall for dinner, right where they ought to be, but you had noticed one of your house mates was conspicuously absent. And that he had been absent for the last three days. Your heart felt heavy as you scanned the common room, and it only fell further when you spotted him, crammed into a one of the window seats at the furthest end. You approached quietly, but made an effort to scuff your feet along the stone floor, so he wouldn't be startled when you stopped before him.
And indeed, he didn't look startled at all as he steadfastly ignored you, staring down instead at his Advanced Potions book. He was clutching it too tightly, the pages crumpling under his ink stained fingers. His eyes weren't even moving. He looked like a stone statue of a very lonely boy.
"You can't just keep skipping meals, Severus," you stated flatly, your hands propped on your hips as you used your best 'big sister' voice that was usually reserved for Regulus. Snape's entire body twitched as he turned his face away from you, but you could still see his reflection in the watery window.
"Sure I can," he spat, snapping his text book shut, as if that was somehow the signal for the end of this conversation. As if you were going to let him off that easy.
You rolled your eyes then, letting out an exasperated huff as you crossed your arms over your chest. "No. You really can't. Look, I know what happened-"
"Of course you do!" he bellowed as he rounded on you, and you were so shocked by his outburst that you were forced back a step. "You and the entire bloody school know what happened, Maria! That's the damn problem!"
The ensuing silence was deafening, but for the crackle of the fire and Snape's labored breathing, but all you could do was stare back at him. At the pain etched in the anguished lines of his face. He was heartbroken; whether over what he himself had done, or what had been done to him, you didn't know. Maybe both. But you understood that the pent up anger he was lashing out at you, wasn't really for you. So you set your features back into place and continued, your voice calm and even.
"-I know what happened wasn't fair but starving yourself just so you don't have to see her isn't going to make anything better."
Severus deflated at that, the ridged lines of his body going slack, before his face crumpled. He tilted his head forward, greasy black curtains covering his tears as he seemed to curl in on himself, and you felt your heart break too. You thought desperately for something to say, to do, to help…
Moving slowly, you squeezed onto the bit of stone bench that he wasn't occupying and dug into your bag, pulling out a squashed Chocolate Frog box, and plopping it down into his lap.
"At least eat something," you admonished. You didn't want to embarrass him further by saying anything about his outburst. Your concern remained firmly with his wellbeing, and you gently placed your hand on his knee as he finally lifted his head. His face was still drawn and red, his brows pressed together as he rubbed at his eyes with the sleeve of his robe, before looking down at the rumpled Chocolate Frog package. He snorted softly, but didn't object, taking up the box and peeling back the wrapper. You smiled.
"Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow morning?" you asked tentatively, watching as he discarded the Dumbledore card and fished around in the box for the rather unruly frog within.
He closed his eyes a moment, sighing through his nose before peering back up at you. "Yeah. Alright."