Aurelia's class had wrapped up their electricity lessons and was now moving into a new topic: muggle sports. For today's lesson, she had enlisted Professor McGonagall to transfigure a few items on the field, while she ordered the rest of the supplies herself.
The crisp autumn air greeted the students as they gathered outside in their jumpsuits, shuffling slightly in the cooler weather. They turned their attention to Aurelia as she emerged from the castle, carrying a bag of volleyballs slung over her shoulder. She wore grey sweatpants paired with a white shirt and an open matching grey hoodie, her milk-brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail that swayed as she walked.
"Today," she began, setting the bag down with a soft thud, "we're learning all about volleyball."
She quickly outlined the rules, her voice clear and confident then guided the students into warmups. Striding over to the speakers McGonagall had transfigured for her, Aurelia hooked up her MP3 player. A lively beat filled the field as she led them through jumping jacks, laps, and stretches.
"Warmups are essential in muggle sports," she emphasized, moving through the group to check their form. "Injuries are common when you skip these steps, so don't underestimate them!"
Once the warmup was complete, Aurelia held up a volleyball and began the demonstration.
"To set the ball, form a triangle with your thumbs and index fingers," she explained, lifting the ball with precision and pushing it upwards with her fingertips. "It's about control, not power. Watch."
The ball arced cleanly into the air and came back down into her waiting hands.
"Once you get the hang of it," she continued, scanning the group, "we'll start setting to one another. Has anyone played volleyball before?"
A single hand shot up—a muggle-born student standing near the back.
"Perfect," Aurelia said with a smile. "Come here."
The student approached hesitantly but caught the ball Aurelia tossed their way. She demonstrated a set, and the student returned it seamlessly.
"Nice!" Aurelia praised, clapping her hands together. "Alright, everyone grab a ball and practice. Remember: control is key."
The students scattered across the field, volleying the ball back and forth with varying degrees of success. Aurelia moved among them, offering tips and encouragement.
"Keep your fingers soft, not rigid—yes, like that!"
"Good effort, but try angling your hands upwards more."
"Don't worry if it doesn't go perfectly—it's all about practice."
"Professor," one student called out as they fumbled a set, "are we going to learn all the muggle sports?"
Aurelia chuckled, retrieving the runaway ball. "That would take forever," she replied with a wry smile. "We're just covering a few. But if you're interested, I can give you a list to explore on your own."
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the field, Aurelia noticed something unusual. Her eyes darted toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where movement caught her attention.
A dark shape emerged from the trees—a wolf, larger than any she'd seen in books, its fur matted and its yellow eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
She froze for a split second, then shouted, "Everyone, back to the castle! Now!"
The students turned, panic spreading as they saw the wolf creeping closer, its growl low and menacing.
"Go!" Aurelia yelled again, grabbing a stick from the ground. "Get help!"
The students scattered, but one—a young Hufflepuff—tripped and fell, clutching their ankle. The wolf's eyes locked on the fallen child, and it charged.
"No!" Aurelia screamed, sprinting toward the student. She threw herself between them and the wolf just as it lunged. The beast's claws raked across her shoulder, ripping through her hoodie.
The Hufflepuff whimpered in pain, clutching their ankle and struggling to crawl backward. "I—I can't move!"
"Get up!" Aurelia shouted, planting herself firmly in front of the student. She snatched up a volleyball and kicked it hard, hitting the wolf square in the muzzle. It stumbled back, snarling, and turned its attention to her.
"Run to the castle! Now!" she barked at the student, who hesitated before limping away as fast as they could.
"Come on, you beast," she muttered, gripping the stick tightly. She waved it, trying to keep the wolf's focus on her as the students disappeared toward the castle.
The wolf growled, muscles tensing, and then it charged. Aurelia spun on her heel and bolted into the Forbidden Forest, her heart pounding. Branches tore at her clothes and hair as she ran, the wolf's snarls growing louder behind her.
Suddenly, it tackled her from behind, knocking her to the ground. She cried out, thrusting the stick into its jaws to block its bite. Its teeth clamped down on the wood, splintering it as she desperately searched for something—anything—to fight back. Her hand closed around a jagged rock.
With a scream, she swung it, striking the wolf's temple. It yelped and recoiled, giving her just enough time to scramble to her feet and start running again.
The wolf recovered quickly, its growls now filled with rage. Aurelia tried to climb a tree, but before she could pull herself up, sharp teeth sank into her leg, dragging her down.
She screamed, thrashing wildly. The wolf pinned her, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her face. She blocked its bite with her forearm, crying out as pain shot through her. Her fingers brushed something on the ground—a sharp object, smooth and cool. A horn?
With a desperate cry, she stabbed it into the wolf's eye. The beast howled in agony, thrashing violently before stumbling back.
Panting and bleeding, Aurelia struggled to her knees, only to hear a familiar voice cutting through the chaos.
"Sectumsempra!"
An invisible force struck the wolf, slashing its body open. Blood sprayed across the forest floor as the wolf let out a final, pitiful whimper before collapsing, lifeless.
Behind the fallen creature stood Severus Snape, his wand still raised, his dark eyes scanning the scene with cold precision. He ran toward her as Aurelia, shaking and barely able to stand, clutched her injured arm and limped toward him.
Tears streamed down her face as she reached him, practically collapsing into his chest. His arms came around her, steadying her as she trembled uncontrollably.
"T-the students," she choked out, looking up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Are they okay?"
"One is injured," Snape said, his voice low but steady, though his jaw tightened slightly. "But alive. Thanks to you."
Relief washed over her as her head fell against his chest, her breath ragged. Snape hesitated, his expression unreadable, before his arm wrapped around her firmly, grounding her trembling form.
"Come," he said, his voice softer now. "Let's get you to Madam Pomfrey."
Before she could protest, he slipped an arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly.
Aurelia gasped softly, startled by the sudden movement, but the adrenaline coursing through her body had already begun to fade, leaving her too weak to resist. Her leg throbbed with every beat of her heart, and her arm burned where the wolf had bitten her.
She clung to his robes instinctively, her trembling hands clutching the fabric as she buried her face in his chest. She could feel the warmth of his body through the heavy layers of his black coat, and hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.
The forest blurred around her as he strode purposefully toward the castle. "I think it was a stray," she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible. "Most likely kicked out of the pack… starving."
"Don't speak," Snape commanded, his voice clipped but not unkind.
Aurelia pressed her lips together, trying to stop the trembling in her limbs. She wanted to appear strong, to hide the lingering fear and vulnerability threatening to overwhelm her. But her body betrayed her; her breathing hitched, and she blinked rapidly to hold back tears.
"Pathetic," she thought bitterly. "You're supposed to be stronger than this."
But her mind kept replaying the moment the wolf had dragged her down, its snarling jaws inches from her face. The memory sent another shiver through her, and she pressed herself closer to Snape as if his presence alone could shield her from the horrors of the forest.
When they reached the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey rushed over, her expression shifting from concern to alarm as she took in Aurelia's condition. "Put her down here," she instructed, motioning to one of the beds before bustling away to gather potions and supplies.
Snape lowered her gently onto the bed, careful not to jostle her injuries. Aurelia winced as she touched the mattress, her hands loosening their grip on his robes.
Snape straightened, his movements measured, and turned to leave but her fingers caught the edge of his top.
He stopped, glancing down at her hand, then turning slightly to meet her gaze. But she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were downcast, her lips trembling as she fought to steady herself.
"I…" she began, her voice breaking. "Sorry."
Snape's expression softened for the briefest of moments, his dark eyes flickering with something she couldn't identify. Then, with his usual restraint, he inclined his head and pulled away.
Her working arm cradled the injured, and she leaned back, wincing. Aurelia closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. Madam Pomfrey returned with a tray of potions, her tone brisk but comforting. "Drink these, dear. They'll help with the pain and speed up the healing."
Aurelia nodded faintly, her mind still reeling. She wasn't sure if it was the pain, the fear, or the memory of Snape's steady arms around her that made her feel so utterly fragile.
But one thing was certain: she would never forget the way he had held her, nor the way his presence had made her feel, even for a moment, safe.
When Snape turned to leave, his cloak billowed behind him as it always did, but his steps faltered briefly outside of her curtained room, Aurelia's faint "Sorry." repeating in his mind. Her trembling voice, the raw vulnerability in it, tugged at something deep within him.
He glanced back, the curtain slightly ajar, watching as her hand fell weakly to her side, her fingers curling as if trying to hold onto some semblance of strength. Her head turned away from him, and her shoulders shook slightly, though no sound of crying escaped her.
Snape clenched his jaw, his usual mask slipping for the briefest of moments. He had seen fear in others countless times—students cowering under his sharp reprimands, adults faltering under his piercing glare—but this was different. Why wasn't she crying? Anyone in her situation would have broken down. Yet she, a squib with no magic to defend herself with, nearly took down a wolf defending her students.
Madam Pomfrey bustled by, her sharp but kind demeanor snapping him out of his thoughts. "Severus, if you're going to loiter, you might as well be useful," she said, setting down the tray of potions.
"I am not loitering," he replied curtly, but he didn't leave. Instead, he stepped back, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall as Madam Pomfrey began her work.
"Here, drink this," she said, helping Aurelia sit up slightly to swallow a pale blue potion. Aurelia winced but obeyed, the bitter liquid burning her throat before spreading a warm, numbing sensation through her body.
"That's for the pain," Pomfrey explained, moving swiftly to examine Aurelia's leg. "You've got some deep punctures here, but nothing that won't heal. Severus, hand me that bottle—yes, the green one."
Snape handed it over without a word, his sharp eyes still fixed on Aurelia. She avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the ceiling as Pomfrey applied a thick, glowing salve to her wounds.
"And this arm," Pomfrey muttered, tsking softly as she inspected the bite marks. "You were lucky. A little deeper, and it might've severed tendons."
Aurelia flinched as the salve was applied to her arm, she bit her trembling lips, in a desperate attempt to stay composed.
"You'll need to rest here for the night," Pomfrey said firmly. "No arguments. And no more heroics."
"I wasn't trying to be a hero," Aurelia murmured.
Pomfrey smiled gently, her sternness softening. "You were protecting your students. That's more than enough."
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly at that, his mind replaying the scene he'd stumbled upon in the forest. The image of Aurelia standing her ground, injured but defiant, the blood, the wide eyes, all of it flashed before him.
"I'll fetch the headmaster," Pomfrey said, wiping her hands on a cloth. "He'll want to know what happened." She gave Snape a pointed look. "Keep an eye on her, will you?"
Snape didn't respond, but he didn't leave either. He watched as Aurelia sank back onto the pillow, her body finally succumbing to exhaustion.
"You came back," she stated suddenly, her voice so quiet and raspy it was almost a whisper.
Snape hesitated, the question catching him off guard. "You should rest," he said finally, his tone neutral.
Aurelia's eyes fluttered shut, her breathing evening out as the potion began to take full effect. Snape lingered for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her pale face.
"Foolish woman," he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone. He turned on his heel and left the infirmary, his mind already spinning with questions he had no intention of answering—not yet, anyway.