Hogwarts, The Room of Requirement
Hit after hit, Severus didn't stop. He had much more to do before breakfast and no time to waste.
He had woken at 5 AM, two hours before breakfast, just so he could train. He had already run a lap around the Great Lake and done some pull-ups, and now he was on the heavy bag in the Room of Requirement. The room had transformed into a small gym, complete with everything he needed for his training regimen.
Each punch, each strike, was a release of the pent-up frustration and anger he had been carrying. The rhythm of his fists against the heavy bag was almost meditative, a way to clear his mind and focus on his goals.
"One, two, three, four," he muttered under his breath, counting his punches. Sweat dripped down his face, soaking his shirt, but he didn't care. This was his sanctuary, a place where he could push himself without distractions.
The door creaked open, and Severus glanced up, his rhythm faltering for just a moment. He wasn't expecting anyone this early, or at all. To his surprise, it was a cat. "The hell..." He wiped the sweat off his forehead and took off his gloves before walking closer to the cat, who was quite busy pawing at his water bottle.
Severus couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight. "What are you doing here, little guy?" he muttered, crouching down to pick up the curious cat. The cat purred, nuzzling against his hand as if it belonged there.
"How'd you get in here?" he asked, scratching behind the cat's ears. As he held the cat, he noticed a small tag hanging from its collar. "Mrs. CuddleCakes?" He frowned, not recognizing the name.
He put the cat down gently and watched as it lazily stretched and padded over to a corner of the room. With a sigh, Severus picked up his gloves and returned to the heavy bag, determined to finish his training.
Severus frowned as he made his way towards the dungeons, hearing the soft padding of paws behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the cat—Mrs. CuddleCakes, apparently—trailing after him with an air of nonchalance.
"You're persistent, aren't you?" Severus muttered under his breath, picking up his pace a little. He wasn't used to animals following him around like this, especially not cats with peculiar names.
Turning a corner, he descended the stairs leading to the dungeons. The cat followed him down, its movements graceful and silent on the stone steps. Severus couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, even though it was just a cat.
Reaching the dimly lit corridor that led to his dormitory, Severus stopped outside the door. He glanced down at the cat, which sat a few feet away, regarding him with curious eyes.
"You're not coming in," he said firmly, looking around as if expecting the owner to appear at any moment. Satisfied that they were alone, he opened the door and slipped inside, leaving Mrs. CuddleCakes in the hallway.
Inside his dormitory, Severus sighed heavily, tossing his training clothes onto his bed. He glanced at the clock—it was still early, but he needed to shower and change before breakfast. He couldn't afford to be late for his first class.
As he stripped off his sweaty shirt, he noticed a faint scent lingering in the air—a mix of sweat and something else. He wrinkled his nose and grabbed a fresh set of clothes from his wardrobe.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Severus felt more like himself again. Severus stood in the doorway of his dormitory, his eyes widening as he saw Mrs. CuddleCakes lounging comfortably on his bed, purring contentedly as she kneaded his pillow with her paws. He sighed heavily, torn between annoyance and amusement at the cat's persistence.
"You again?" Severus muttered, his voice a mixture of exasperation and reluctant fondness. He knew he should probably shoo her away, but there was something oddly comforting about the cat's presence.
Mrs. CuddleCakes lifted her head and regarded Severus with bright eyes, as if she understood his words. She stretched lazily, showing no signs of leaving her newfound spot on his bed.
Severus shook his head, chuckling softly despite himself. "Fine, have it your way," he said, resigned. He knew arguing with a cat was futile. Instead, he grabbed a spare blanket from his wardrobe and carefully draped it over Mrs. CuddleCakes, creating a makeshift bed on the floor next to his bed.
"There," Severus said, satisfied with his compromise. "Just stay out of trouble, okay?"
Mrs. CuddleCakes blinked at him, as if to say she made no promises. With a final pat on her head, Severus left the dormitory once more, making his way back towards the Great Hall. He was halfway there when he heard the sound of paws behind him.
Severus pushed open the heavy doors to the Great Hall, the familiar scent of breakfast wafting through the air. The hall was mostly empty at this early hour, save for a few early risers grabbing a quick bite before others.
He made his way to the Slytherin table, Mrs. CuddleCakes trotting faithfully behind him. As he settled into his seat, he noticed a few curious glances from his fellow students. A few Slytherins raised their eyebrows in surprise at the sight of a cat following Severus.
Ignoring the whispers and stares, Severus focused on his breakfast. He helped himself to some toast and scrambled eggs, occasionally glancing down at Mrs. CuddleCakes, who had settled herself comfortably under the table, tail wrapped neatly around her paws.
As the hall began to fill up, more students began to notice the cat, who was now on the table trying to knock the toast out of Severus' mouth. Severus gently pushed Mrs. CuddleCakes away, trying to keep his toast out of her reach. The students around him started to chuckle and whisper, amused by the cat's antics.
"Who's this little troublemaker?" asked Lucius Malfoy as he took a seat across from Severus, eyeing the cat with mild interest.
"Mrs. CuddleCakes," Severus replied, glancing down at the feline, who was now batting at a piece of bacon on his plate. "She decided to adopt me this morning."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "A cat named Mrs. CuddleCakes? How charming," he said with a smirk, clearly amused.
Before Severus could respond, the wind was knocked out of him as a blur of blonde and yellow leaned over him shouting. "Mrs. CuddleCakes! There you are!"
Catching his breath, Severus glanced at Charity who was baby-talking Mrs. CuddleCakes. "I assume she's yours?"
Charity nodded, gently scooping up Mrs. CuddleCakes into her arms. "She's a wanderer, that one. Always finding new friends." She glanced at Severus with a smile. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I was worried sick when I couldn't find her."
Severus shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the warmth he felt as Ms. CuddleCakes licked his arm "Hm, She's quite the character."
Charity nodded, her eyes lingering on Severus for a moment longer as she turned to leave when a voice spoke up behind her. "And who do we have here?"
Severus turned as Bellatrix stepped in between Charity and him, taking a seat in his lap while keeping her eyes trained on Charity. His heart raced suddenly as Bellatrix's closeness sent a wave of tension through him. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure. "Bellatrix, what are you doing here?"
Bellatrix smirked, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his shoulder. "Just checking in, Severus darling. Wouldn't want you getting too cozy with just anyone, now would we?"
Charity watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, a mixture of confusion and curiosity crossing her features. Before she could respond, Bellatrix leaned in closer, her voice low and dangerous. "You should go, sweetie. This isn't a conversation for outsiders."
Charity hesitated, her gaze shifting between Bellatrix and Severus. She offered Severus a small smile, tinged with concern, before silently turning and walking away.
Severus watched as Charity walked off, her figure disappearing into the crowd. He felt a twinge of regret, wishing he had handled the situation differently. Before he could dwell on it further, Lucius's chuckle filled his ears, pulling him back to the present.
"You always did attract trouble, Severus," Lucius drawled, amusement dancing in his eyes as he sipped his tea. "Bellatrix seems rather possessive today."
Severus nodded curtly, his head tilted forward slightly as Bellatrix brushed his hair, her other hand trying to feed him a piece of bacon. He accepted it automatically, though his thoughts were elsewhere. "It's nothing I can't handle, Lucius."
Lucius smirked knowingly. "Ah, but handling Bellatrix isn't always straightforward, is it? She's like a blast-ended skrewt—dangerous and unpredictable."
Severus chuckled softly, a rare moment of levity breaking through his troubled thoughts. "You have a way with comparisons, Lucius."
Bellatrix leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "You're not paying enough attention to me, Severus," she whispered, her tone both playful and demanding.
Severus turned to meet her gaze, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features before he masked it with a practiced neutral expression. "I'm sorry, Trix. I just have a lot on my mind."
Bellatrix's smile turned knowing, her fingers tracing a playful pattern on his chest. "Aren't you going to feed me as well?"
Severus sighed inwardly, trying to maintain his composure as he gently removed Bellatrix's hand from his chest. "I think you've had enough bacon for now, Bellatrix."
Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a hint of disappointment. "Always so serious, Severus," she pouted, leaning back in her chair with a sultry glance. "You used to enjoy my company more."
Before Severus could respond, Narcissa intervened smoothly, placing a hand on Bellatrix's arm. "Why don't you give Severus some space, dear? He needs to eat before class, just like you."
Bellatrix's expression darkened for a moment, but she remained seated, her eyes fixed on Severus with an intensity that bordered on possessive. She ignored her sister's attempt to coax her away, determined to stay close to Severus.
Severus felt the weight of her gaze, a reminder of the tangled web of alliances and rivalries within Slytherin's inner circle. He kept his composure, though his mind raced with ideas for potions and when he would next train.
Narcissa sighed softly, recognizing her sister's stubbornness. "Very well, Bellatrix. But don't forget our family obligations," she said pointedly, her tone carrying a veiled warning.
Bellatrix merely smirked, her attention still focused on Severus. "I know my priorities, Cissy."
Severus cleared his throat, redirecting the conversation. "Narcissa, how was your—"
Before he could finish, Bellatrix interrupted with a sly grin. "Oh, Severus, why don't we skip class and you can show me what you've been doing over the summer?"
Severus stiffened slightly, his eyes darting across the Slytherin table as nearby students turned to look, some stifling giggles while others exchanged curious glances. Lucius, sitting nearby, suppressed a laugh behind his hand, finding Bellatrix's boldness both entertaining and risky.
Narcissa rolled her eyes at her sister's antics but couldn't hide a small blush. "Bellatrix, really? We have more important things to do, like eat."
Bellatrix waved a dismissive hand, still grinning. "Oh, but Severus is always so serious. He could use a bit of excitement, don't you think?"
Severus shifted uncomfortably, feeling increasingly exposed under the scrutiny of their peers. Without a word, he gently slid Bellatrix off his lap and stood up. "I'm heading to class."
But before he could take a step, Bellatrix swiftly attached herself to his arm, her grip surprisingly strong for someone so slight. "We can make a detour," she purred, her voice low and dangerously enticing.
Severus glanced around, aware of the eyes on them but also mindful of Bellatrix's wandering hands. "Fifteen minutes, only," he replied tersely, trying to set clear boundaries while not entirely dismissing her.
Bellatrix's grin widened, a victorious gleam in her eyes as she steered him away from the Slytherin table, their classmates watching with a mixture of amusement and speculation. They slipped out of the Great Hall and into a hidden corridor, where Bellatrix wasted no time in pressing him against the stone wall, her lips dangerously close to his.
"Severus," she murmured, her breath hot against his skin. He wasted no time in pulling her closer gently but firmly. "Bellatrix, we agreed," he reminded her, his voice low but firm. "15 minutes."
"15 minutes."
