"Pet Project"

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the narrow, grimy windows of the Slytherin common room, casting weak, faded light onto the stone floors. Severus awoke with a sharp, jolting breath. His mind was clouded, and the remnants of last night’s ordeal clung to his thoughts like a thick fog. His body ached, though he couldn't remember exactly how it got that way. The sensation of Lucius's touch was still fresh in his mind, still making his skin crawl, despite the robe he had been hastily thrown back into.

He sat up, legs hanging over the side of his bed, feeling as though the weight of the world had crushed him from all sides. His breath came in shallow gasps, and for a moment, Severus wished he could disappear, sink into the floor, escape it all.

The whispers from last night echoed in his ears, his thoughts torn between fury and humiliation. He had let Lucius in. He had... let him do that.

“A child is like a pet to some. Sometimes, people do things to pets. Horrible, horrible things. But do the pets resist? No. They learn. Learn to listen. Learn to follow. After a while, they’ll be conditioned. They'll just do it.”

The words, cruel and manipulative, lodged themselves in his brain, gnawing at him. They were true, weren’t they? He had learned, hadn’t he? He hadn’t resisted; he had submitted.

He didn’t want to look at his reflection in the mirror, but he did anyway. His eyes were hollow, heavy with unshed tears. His hair, usually slicked back neatly, was a mess, and the robes hung off his body like they were someone else’s.

Severus forced himself to stand and make his way to the bathroom, feeling the cold stone of the castle beneath his feet. He splashed cold water on his face, staring at his reflection as if he could somehow wash the shame away. But it lingered. It was in his very skin.

First Class: Potions with Slughorn

Severus dragged himself into the Potions classroom, the familiar smell of cauldrons and herbs doing little to settle his roiling stomach. His classmates were already gathered, laughing and talking among themselves, but Severus didn’t have the strength to engage.

Lucius had warned him yesterday to behave. No more resistance, Lucius had said, his voice like ice. You will learn your place.

As he sat down at his usual spot, a glance at Lucius across the room made his blood run cold. Lucius’s pale eyes caught his, and the look that passed between them was loaded with meaning, a silent command that made Severus’s heart race and his fists clench.

Severus couldn’t look away. He didn’t dare. He wanted to. But Lucius was everywhere now—his presence, his power, it suffocated him.

Slughorn’s booming voice cut through the tension, calling them to start the lesson. The rest of the class proceeded in a haze for Severus. He followed instructions without thinking, his hands working mechanically, his mind spiraling. Every now and then, he'd feel the pressure of Lucius’s gaze on him, like a weight on his shoulders.

“You’re distracted, Severus,” Slughorn said, his voice smooth. “Something on your mind?”

Severus froze, the words grating against his fragile resolve. He forced a smile, though it felt wrong, like his face was made of stone. “No, Professor. I’m just focused on my work.”

Slughorn nodded, but Severus could feel the eyes of the class on him now. He hated it. He hated how everything felt like it was under a microscope. He hated how his own thoughts felt foreign to him.

Lunch in the Great Hall

By lunchtime, Severus’s body had already betrayed him. He hadn’t eaten a bite. His stomach was in knots, but even the thought of food made him sick. His classmates sat around him, talking about their plans for the coming break, but Severus barely heard them.

James Potter, laughing and joking with his friends, glanced over at Severus, a typical sneer playing at his lips. “What’s the matter, Snivellus? Lost your appetite?” James’s voice was sharp, filled with mockery.

Severus’s stomach twisted, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t want to make a scene. He didn’t want to fight. Not today. Not after last night.

He stared down at his plate, his fork barely moving.

“Severus?” Lily’s voice came from across the table, soft and concerned. “You’re not eating. Are you feeling alright?”

Severus’s breath caught in his throat, but he managed to force a smile. “I’m fine, Lily. Just not hungry.”

Lily didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press. She turned back to her conversation with the others. But Severus felt the weight of her gaze, and it made him feel even more isolated. She didn’t understand. None of them did. No one could.

Afternoon Class: Defense Against the Dark Arts

The afternoon dragged on, the minutes stretching into eternity. Defense Against the Dark Arts was one of the few classes that had the potential to distract Severus, but today it felt hollow. Professor Merrythorne’s voice was a blur, her lesson on shielding spells lost to the pounding in his head.

Lucius was absent from class, and for a brief moment, Severus allowed himself to breathe a little easier. But the absence of his tormentor didn’t bring peace. It only reminded him that he was always waiting for the next time. The next encounter. The next instruction.

By the time the bell rang, releasing them to their next class, Severus felt exhausted—not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Every part of him was on edge. Every part of him was waiting for the inevitable.

End of Day

As the last class of the day ended and the students shuffled out, Severus didn’t feel the usual sense of relief. The corridors were quieter now, and it was easier to think, easier to feel the weight of the last 24 hours.

His footsteps echoed through the empty hallways as he walked back to the Slytherin common room. Each step felt heavier, the darkness of the castle swallowing him whole. He passed the familiar statues and suits of armor, but none of it felt comforting anymore.

He reached the common room, greeted by the low murmurs of his housemates, but he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge them. He needed solitude. He needed space to think. To feel the silence pressing down on him.

His robes were still a little rumpled, his hair a little messier than usual. He didn’t care. He didn’t have the energy to care about appearances anymore.

Severus collapsed onto his bed, pulling his blankets around him like a shield. He wanted to cry. He wanted to scream. But he couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

Instead, he lay still, staring at the ceiling, feeling the numbness seep into his bones. His thoughts circled back to Lucius. To the control. To the way his body had betrayed him.

“A pet,” Severus whispered into the darkness, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. “I’m nothing more than a pet.”

And in that moment, he believed it.