Harry Potter Imagines

The feelings you felt as you first spotted the infamous Hogwarts castle in the distance were indescribable. Excitement? Trepidation? Possibly a bit homesick? Maybe all at once? Whatever you wanted to consider it they filled you up as you approached through the aged, yet still immaculately maintained corridor. It was your first day at the school, and it was already filled with the curiosity to explore down every corridor you passed while following Professor Snape to the Great Hall, he had been the first one who’d seen you there and had (seemingly reluctantly) decided to bring you in while muttering under his breath orders about ‘keeping up so you didn’t get lost’ and that he ‘didn’t wait up for stragglers’.

You figured you had been doing a fair job so far following him. Keeping up in pace with the tall man, but still watching as his robes swayed in the wind as if carrying him like a bat in flight.

The both of you had finally made it to the Great Hall, the professor letting you inside with a sneer on his face. He definitely hadn’t been the best company to walk with, but you’d figured he had just been busy and stressed with this new term. You had watched the man motion over towards the front of the Great Hall where a group of other students were standing waiting to get sorted. Since you were a new student you still needed to be sorted along with the first year students.

While first-years had already been grouped together you did notice all eyes in the room having traveled over to you when the two of you entered. Being stared at and being the subject of the whispering students was a bit nerve wracking, but you managed your discomfort as you approached the group and watched Snape walk the other way to go sit in a seat between an empty chair on one side and a wizard with a purple hat on the other side. You guessed the empty seat beside Snape belonged to the only witch not seated, Professor McGonagall. She had been in front of the group of students helping with the sorting.

“(L/N), (Y/N).” The voice of the Transfiguration professor called out which pulled you out of your observations. You stepped up and went to sit on the stool, taking a breath to calm your racing heart. You felt the old hat placed on your head and suddenly heard it speaking. You weren’t sure why it did surprise you to hear the magic hat begin speaking, it was a magic school after all. You listened to the voice though as it guessed your house.

“Interesting choice, interesting indeed…” The hat hummed out as you let your gaze travel forward. As you thought to yourself all you were left thinking of was Snape surprisingly. You wondered why he had seemed so cold and yet been the one to offer to walk you back. “I see a cleverness and wish to surround oneself with peers like themself. A hearts desire to be in a specific house. Shrewdness to observe and judge the situations around them.” The hat spoke before yelling out the name Slytherin. You could hear applause coming from one of the tables and the hat removed from your head. You made your way over towards the house and let your eyes travel back towards the professors. Most were clapping before moving on with the proceedings, Snapes however we’re stuck on you with a muted face and yet a twinge of something unfamiliar in his expressions.

*—*Time Skip*—*

You sat in the potions classroom talking with Draco and Pansy quietly while Snape was examining the potions. You had done pretty well in potions since arriving to Hogwarts, so you didn’t worry much about messing up. The three of you were talking while measuring out your eyes of newt. You didn’t notice the professor being behind you until you heard his voice speak. “Well Ms. (L/N), I sure hope my lesson is not interrupting your conversation with Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Malfoy. The one that certainly couldn’t have waited until after class.” The man spoke from behind you. You turned back to face the man, seeing his his hands folded over each other as he stared down with his dark eyes through his curtain of dark hair. You stuttered over your words as you looked up at him, a warm and yet shamed feeling in your chest as you met his eyes.

“N-No Professor we were just talking about the history of the potion, sir.” You stuttered out a lie and watched Snake’s stern gaze leave your own and then travel blankly over to your cauldron.

“Is that so?”

“Yes sir-“ You spoke and felt a burning feeling on your arm, moving it closer towards yourself.

“Then why is it bubbling and overflowing Ms. (L/N).” Snape sneered to you, motioning to the cauldron.

You immediately shot your gaze over away from Snape and jumped up from your seat. You backed up from the table and watched as Snape took out his wand, waving it over the pot and stopping it from overheating and exploding further without a word.

Your face heated up as you looked back up at the Professor, watching him lift his own back towards you. He flipped his hair out of the way and glared at you. “Seeing as the lesson is ending and you simply won’t have time to craft another this lesson will simply be a failing grade.” The Professor scolded you. “As well as 5 points being taken from Slytherin due to your distraction you will be spending your detention helping clean up your mess.” Snape glared at you.

You felt both a feeling of shame and yet also excitement similar to when you first saw the castle. This time though it was learning about having detention with your favorite professor. You nodded to him and went back to take your seat, keeping your head down. You almost swore that you caught a hesitation in the professor before he shook his head and walked off instead.

You just sat in silence watching the other two finish their potions and then leaving when it was time to go. “Come straight here after dinner (Y/N)!” Snape called out from his desk as you walked out to which you looked back and nodded before heading out.

You headed out of the classroom and rushed to catch up with Draco who was walking while keeping silent mostly. “Would’ve expected him to be a whole lot madder (Y/N).” Draco said as he walked, holding his potions book up against his chest. You gazed up at the boy and shrugged.

“I don’t know maybe he’s starting to warm up to me a bit.”

“Doubtful.” He scoffed back in reply.

“What makes you so sure Dray-Dray?” You teased the boy playfully and watched his expression turn back to a cold disgust as he scoffed and rolled his own, obviously hating the nickname.

“He didn’t yell at Pansy and I for talking, did he? Only you, (Y/N). It’s pretty obvious you’ve got some kind of crush with Snape. I’ve seen you look at him that way before. If I notice, surely… he notices as well. So why do you think he constantly picks you out in every situation to scold or talk down to you?” The boys piercing gaze stared into your own.

You stuttered over your thoughts as you tried to collect yourself. Draco probably would be one of the people to know Snape the very best. Maybe he was right.

Regardless though you headed down to Potions that night and met Snape down there. He sat at his desk and watched you enter. “Do you know why you’re here Ms. (L/N)?” He called to you across the room.

“Yes sir. To clean up the mess from potions.” You replied back as you headed over towards the table you usually sat at. Obviously the majority of the mess itself had been cleaned up, but you could still see some standing left from before.

Snape had nodded and looked back at the papers, letting you go about the cleaning in silence. The silence brought out the shame in your actions as Draco’s words still rung in your head.

You weren’t sure why Snape had such a distaste for you, you had always tried to do well in his class. You tried to be on your best behavior in other classes as well to try to bring a good name to the house. Heck, even all of your other teachers enjoyed your presence and were grateful to have you around, but not Snape. That was the worst when Snape was the one opinion you did care about.

“Sir?”

A gruff ‘Hm?’ was let out in reply from the dark hunched over figure in front of you.

“What is your problem with me? I have always tried my best and yet I’m constantly met with criticism from you.”

Snape looked up at you, his eyes going cold as he was questioned. He huffed and stood up, making his way over finally.

“You (Y/N) are possibly the most annoying, distracted, and scatterbrained student I’ve dealt with this year.” Snape glared at you and then continued. “The potions you have gotten ‘right’ are appropriate for the work of an amateur.” He said and straightened himself up.

You felt frozen in your tracks as you stared up at Severus. You couldn’t tell, but your deer in headlights expression from the sudden onslaught of criticism was clear. You looked down finally, your face heating red in embarrassment as you backed up.

“Y-You’re right sir… I’m sorry, I’ll try harder next time. I promise.” You said as you backed out of the classroom anxiously. It all made sense. The reason you’d been so distracted had been because of him, but you couldn’t be in class and not focus on him. You finally stopped once you got to your dorm. Your roommates were asleep at the moment so you sat down on your bed and teared up.

What could you do at this point? Was there even a chance left at impressing him? You could try to prove him wrong, but would be even pay attention then? He found you annoying. Probably the only thing he’d noticed has been your staring. Yet, he still didn’t know the reason why.

*—*Time Skip*—*

Since your confrontation with Snape in the Potions classroom, you’ve definitely been different. You had woken up the next morning feeling the most apathetic you’ve ever felt. You didn’t know what to say anymore, or do. You had shut down. You only went to the Great Hall for dinner and even then, it was only a few bites before you gave up. Teachers were concerned about you, you weren’t your usual perky self you had been. No one had known about that fight with Snape though. In fact, at times you weren’t even sure if Snape remembered it.

You sat down outside to try to get some fresh air for once because your dorm had been feeling stuffy. You noticed Snape talking with Draco and finally stopping him. Draco had also been acting odd recently, but what were you to think? Everyone was stressing about grades with the end of term approaching.

Still the concern Snape had to be confronting Malfoy and not letting him leave without being assured he was alright did spark something in you. Snape really did prefer Draco didn’t he? He’d toss you to the side, yell at you for all the things Draco got away with. It was disturbing.

You grabbed your bag and stood up to storm back inside, pushing past Snape as you started to finally feel the wall you’d put up crumble. Tears were welling up in your eyes as you rushed over to a hidden corridor. You were sure Snape still probably didn’t notice you and at this point weren’t even sure if that hurt or not.

You did feel a hand clasp your shoulder though and gazed up to meet Snape’s gaze.

“What do you want?” You hissed at him coolly, it taking almost everything you had to not get up and storm out.

The man didn’t even flinch though, but his eyes were different. They weren’t necessarily cold this time, more so concerned.

“I’ve heard about what’s been going on with you (Y/N).”

“Yeah genius, a lot of people have.” You scoffed back and turned away.

A look of indignation crossed Snape’s face as he pondered whether to argue about that or continue on with his speech.

“I’m not very good at this apology stuff, but I was wanting to tell you I was sorry for what I said to you. It’s a difficult level of feelings (Y/N), one I’m not used to.” He explained to you softly.

You gazed up at him and frowned. You were unsure of where he was starting to head with this.

“Draco told me.” Snape said to you. “You are a bright student (Y/N), the more I thought of it. The more I realized what had been happening.”

“But Draco-“

“Draco had been telling me to try to make it up to you.” Snape said as he cut you off. He looked at you, gently pulling you closer and pecking your forehead. “Let me do so.” He said in a soft whisper.