Title: Yuletide Cheer
Author: veritaserumMaster / PageNotFound404
Rating: T (Rating might go up in the future.)
Pairings: JPSS
Warnings: AU, Language.
Summary: Marauder Era. 7th year. Severus's life was a routine: wake up, eat, study, get bullied, study, eat, study, get bullied, study, eat, and sleep. Getting asked out by his Tormentor (with a capital letter T) though, was not on his itinerary.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Please don't sue me.
A/N: This story is slash, so if you don't like that, then why are you reading this in the first place?
I've got a lot to apologise for. And I regret everything but the chapter was too long and I had to separate it in to 2. I am so sorry, there is no excuse for being tardy and I know I promised that Severus and James would be okay in this chapter but I can't stop torturing Severus. I'm so sorry. I'm excited for some cutesy stuff, too. And I promise we'll get there, please be patient. I love you all! :D
*JP*SS*
Three days. Severus has managed to avoid any human contact for longer; he thinks he can survive until school ends. He threw himself into his studies, only stopping when he needed to sleep. He wanted to forget everything that happened in the last few days. He didn't want to think about Potter or anything involving him. But he can't stop. Every now and then he finds himself thinking about him, about their kiss. Realization hits him and he either shakes his head to clear thoughts of him or lightly slaps himself on the cheek.
He was currently sprawled on his bed, papers strewn everywhere, drapes on his bed tightly shut and held by a spell. He was studying for things that don't even need studying. He just wanted to be busy. His stomach growled and he rolled over on his stomach to bury his face in his pillows. He had also managed to avoid the Great Hall completely, only going to the kitchens and pleading for the elves to give him some food, they were always so nice. But he can't do that now. Last night a Hufflepuff Prefect caught him sneaking off to the kitchens and deducted a few points off and told him never to set foot there again.
He didn't want to risk getting caught again because they were already losing the House Cup, they needn't lose more points.
He grudgingly trudged to the Great Hall. It was still early and Severus thinks he can get a few bites before people start flooding in.
He reached the Great Hall and sat in the farthest corner of the Slytherin table, his back towards the door. He was munching on a muffin with haste but still careful.
"Well, what do we have here?" Severus turned around to see a Ravenclaw girl, judging by the robes, standing in front of him with her arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
Severus sighed internally, There goes that plan for a quiet meal.
She seemed familiar though but he can't seem to remember where he saw her. His eyebrows furrowed, "May I help you?"
"You can by disappearing."
"Pardon?"
"You heard me. You should go back to the hole where you belong with your pitiful, disgusting snakes with you," she sneered at him.
By now, Severus felt more than saw the others moving towards him, not because they wanted to see what was going on but because their house was insulted. This house may not be known for their bravery, but they're known for loyalty to their house. They were snakes, they protect their own.
Severus stood and turned to walk away, shooting looks at his housemates who were looking back at him in understanding. They knew Severus didn't like to cause a scene.
He didn't have to sit there and take this from someone he didn't even know. Who was obviously just trying to get attention.
"That's right," she shouted after Severus, "Run away. Isn't that what you're good at? How can you even think that James would be interested in you? You're ugly."
It hit Severus that this was the girl that time in the locker room and he stopped.
There's a shuffle as the professors tried to stop the girl but she just barreled on, apparently thinking that she was winning because Severus was leaving.
"You're nothing but a coward and a lying, untrustworthy snake."
As soon as the words left her mouth, bright light erupted from Severus's wand and hit her in the chest. She was sprawled on the floor, coughing, but Severus wasn't done yet. Taking advantage of everyone's shock, Severus strode forward and pointed his wand on her throat. His eyes were on fire as he spoke, voice dangerously low.
"Want to know something? You can do whatever you want, I don't really care. You can sleep with whomever you want to, but the moment you insult who I am, then the line has been crossed." She trembled as he spoke.
There was movement behind him and he knew he had to move fast. He stood up.
"One thing you should remember is that cowards fight back."
Severus stepped backwards and the professors took over. As he was pulled backwards he expected to be swept away to the Headmaster's office, he was surprised to be surrounded by his housemates and the other girl by her own. The other houses looking on in confusion and intrigue.
Their Head of House along with Ravenclaw's stood in between the two houses.
"What is going on here?"
Everyone started talking at the same time.
"SILENCE!" their Head shouted over the noise.
"Thank you, Professor. 50 points from Ravenclaw and detention with Mr. Filch for the rest of the school year for verbally attacking another student. Honestly, I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be the clever ones. What made you think it's right to just insult someone and their house out of nowhere. And after the Prefects escort you to the infirmary and Madame Pomfrey says nothing is wrong with you, you will proceed to my office where you will wait for me for however long it takes and then we'll both send a letter to your parents about what you did, yes? 50 points from Slytherin, too, for attacking another student and making threats."
"That's it?" The Ravenclaw girl asked incredulously. "That's the only punishment he gets? He's the one who pulled and used his wand. I was just being honest. It's not my fault he can't handle the truth," she sneered.
"And for that, another 50-point deduction for Ravenclaw," Professor Slughorn intervened. "Might I remind you, that you were the one to provoke my student? He chose to walk away from you, which was very smart of him, but you continued your assault. However, if you deem his punishment not enough, I'll willingly add to it. We can't have favoritism now, can we? So as an added punishment, Mister Snape shall serve detention until the end of the school year, too," the girl looked triumphant as Severus's face fell, "with me," Professor Slughorn finished. "He shall have detention with me. Every day after class."
Severus tried not to look too happy about that and the fact that the girl went back to sneering.
The prefects cleared everyone and with a nod from their Head of House, Severus was out of the Great Hall. He caught sight of Potter and his bunch looking at him but Severus paid them no mind. He had enough drama for a night.
*JP*SS*
Severus was back in his dorm, sitting on his bed. He lost a couple of points for their house but no one gave him shit for it. And the detention didn't sound so bad if it's with Professor Slughorn. That just means he gets extra hours in the potions' lab and maybe a couple of extra lessons from the Professor as well. But Severus was still angry. He was angry at the girl for calling him a coward; he was angry at Potter for being such a dick; he's angry because he can never have what he wants; he's angry because no matter what he does it seems that happiness is not for him; he's angry at himself because he is a coward; he's angry because everything just refuses to fall into place; he's angry because he's tired of fighting for things to go his way even just once. Severus is tired and angry and he just wants it all to go away. So arranged all of his books on the bottom of his bed and sent his owl to deliver a message to Lily saying he's ill and he shut his drapes tightly. With his wand lighting the dark, Severus closed his eyes and thought of his mother. The way she looked, the way she smiled, the way she would hug and kiss him on the forehead whenever she got the chance, the way her voice would sooth everything the way she makes everything better, the way she prepares milk and cookies for him. He remembered her and he longed for her embrace. He cocooned himself in his own blanket, thinking that it was his mother's arms encircling him. It had been such a long week and Severus just wants to go back to a simpler time. He wants to go back home.
Severus turned a bit and buried his head into his pillow where he let his tears finally fall.
He's mad at himself for falling for Potter. It's hid biggest mistake and Severus will rectify that by doing everything he can to forget him. Potter doesn't deserve his tears, doesn't deserve anything from Severus. He broke his heart. Trusting Potter was Severus's moment of weakness, he won't let him in again. Ever.
Snuggling tighter into his blankets and letting his tears fall, Severus let exhaustion pull him into a deep slumber.
