The Hufflepuffsation Of Severus Snape
It all started during Christmas break in fifth year, when Emily Diggory asked Severus to tutor her in potions. He was sitting in a remote corner in the library, obviously hoping no-one would find him.
– I don’t do tutoring, he grumbled and turned away.
But the fact was, he did. For a price. The girl wearing yellow didn’t need to know that, however. He hadn’t tutored anyone outside Slytherin, except Lily.
Diggory rounded the Slytherin’s table and looked him in the eye.
– Oh, I think you might want to reconsider, she said, smiling. – There could be… unexpected benefits to helping a Puff.
– Like what?
She took out a chair and sat. – Oh, I don’t know, she said, smiling wider and leaning on the table. – Maybe safety?
– Safety, Severus repeated, sceptically.
– We could keep those Gryffindors away from you.
– Really.
– Really.
She was grinning now.
– If you don’t believe me, why don’t you try it? It’s not like you could lose anything.
– I don’t think I will, he sneered and turned back to his book.
Or:
Somehow, the Hufflepuffs get Severus to tutor them. Or to be more precise, Emily Diggory gets Severus to tutor her, and seven other yellow menaces tag along.
At first, they study in the library, but the Marauders keep bothering them, so they relocate in the Hufflepuff common room.
Once there, Severus feels an inexplicable feeling – he feels safe. For once he is in a space where no-one wants to prank or harm him, and it is absolutely overwhelming – and addicting.
So he starts to hang out there, even when not tutoring. The Puffs don’t seem to mind – actually they are smiling every time Severus comes there, and it feels a bit… weird.
Then, on one windy Saturday, Professor Sprout sees him, playing Exploding Snap in the middle of the Hufflepuff common room. Instead of getting angry, she smiles.
– Oh, I see you got yourself adopted, she says to Severus. – It’s rather rare these days, with all the tension.
– What do you mean, adopted? Severus asks, a bit flustered. He hears Emily giggle to his right.
– You’ll see, is all the Head of House answers. She turns then to the Hufflepuffs in the room and raises a single brow. – Have you prepared Severus a room yet?
– Actually, yes, he hears Emily say.
OR:
A sweet tale of badgers that adopt a lonely snake and teach him how to Puff.
Because a person is just as kind as you let them to be.