Silent Treatment - Severus Snape x OC

fourteen

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‹ MiraaChe ‹ has posted a new chapter!- ͙۪۪̥˚

┊❛ welcome to chapter fourteen❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌

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The quiet of the dungeon was broken only by the soft sound of Ariana's footsteps as she walked down the familiar path toward Severus' office. Her heart was racing, though she wasn't sure if it was because of what she was about to say or because of her lingering thoughts about the day Severus had carried her off the Quidditch pitch. She had thought about that moment more times than she cared to admit, but that wasn't why she was here.

In her hands, she carried a small vial of potion—a thank you for Severus helping her when she had been injured. She knew it wasn't much, but she had wanted to show her appreciation in some way, even if it meant facing the cold demeanor he always wore around her.

When she reached the door of his office, she paused, her hand hovering over the handle. She took a deep breath before knocking lightly and pushing it open. The room was dim, the only light coming from the flickering flames of a nearby candle. Severus was seated at his desk, his back to her, one hand gripping his left forearm, his head bowed slightly as if lost in thought.

"Professor?" Ariana's voice was soft as she stepped into the room.

Severus immediately straightened, his hand dropping from his arm as he turned to face her, his expression cold and unreadable. "Miss Hart," he said, his voice sharp. "What are you doing here?"

Ariana hesitated, her eyes flicking to his left arm, where she had seen him gripping moments before. She didn't miss the faint mark on his forearm, though it was barely visible in the dim light. Her heart skipped a beat, but she pushed the thought aside for now.

"I, uh... I wanted to thank you," she said, holding out the vial. "For what you did during the Quidditch match. I know you didn't have to, but I appreciate it."

Severus glanced at the vial, his expression unreadable. He didn't take it from her, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "Is that all?"

Ariana shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, her fingers tightening around the vial. "Well... no, actually," she admitted, her voice faltering slightly. "There's something else."

Severus raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I saw you gripping your arm just now," she said quietly, her eyes flicking to his left forearm again. "It looked like it was hurting you."

Severus' expression immediately darkened, his hand reflexively moving to cover his arm. "That's none of your concern," he snapped, his voice cold.

Ariana flinched at the harshness of his tone but pressed on. "I've seen it before," she said, her voice steady despite her nerves. "The mark. I know what it is."

Severus' eyes narrowed dangerously, his entire body tensing. "You don't know anything, Miss Hart."

"I know enough," Ariana replied, her voice soft but firm. "You were a Death Eater."

Severus' expression shifted from cold to furious in an instant. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the stone floor as he loomed over her. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"I do," Ariana insisted, her heart racing. "I've seen it. I've seen you—your past, your choices. I know why. For her."

Severus froze, his entire body going rigid. "What did you just say?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the intensity of his tone sent a chill down Ariana's spine.

Ariana swallowed hard, knowing she was treading on dangerous ground. But she couldn't stop now. "Lily Evans," she said quietly. "You became a Death Eater for her. Because you loved her."

Severus' reaction was immediate and violent. His hand shot out, grabbing the edge of the desk as if he needed something to anchor him. His face twisted in fury, his dark eyes blazing with barely controlled rage.

"You dare—" he began, his voice trembling with anger, but Ariana cut him off.

"I'm not trying to hurt you," she said quickly, her voice trembling but determined. "I've seen it, Severus. In my visions. I know what happened. I know why you did what you did."

Severus' grip on the desk tightened, his knuckles white. "You've been spying on me?" he snarled, his voice shaking with fury.

"No!" Ariana exclaimed, taking a step back, her eyes wide with fear. "It's not like that! I can't control the visions—they just happen. I've seen things about you... things you've never told anyone."

Severus' chest heaved with the effort of controlling his anger, his eyes flashing with barely restrained fury. "You know nothing," he spat, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can waltz in here, pretend to understand me, and throw around things you think you know? You have no idea what I've been through."

"I do understand," Ariana said softly, her voice breaking. "I've seen it, Severus. I've seen your pain, your guilt. You're not as alone as you think."

Severus let out a harsh, bitter laugh, the sound cold and devoid of humor. "You understand nothing," he growled. "You're just a foolish, naive girl playing with things you can't possibly comprehend."

Ariana flinched at his words, but she refused to back down. "I'm not a child, Severus," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "I know more than you think. I know you're still hurting—still carrying the weight of what happened."

Severus' eyes blazed with fury, his face contorted in a mixture of anger and something else—something raw and vulnerable that he refused to acknowledge.

"Enough," he snapped, his voice shaking with rage. "This ends now. Whatever you think you know, forget it. You are my student—nothing more."

Ariana's heart broke at his words, but she pressed on. "You don't have to push me away," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I care about you—"

"You care about nothing but your own fantasies," Severus spat, his eyes narrowing. "You think you can fix me? That you can waltz into my life and make everything better?"

"I'm not trying to fix you," Ariana said desperately. "I just want to help—"

"I don't need your help!" Severus shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "I don't need anything from you!"

Ariana took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "You're scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're scared of letting someone in. But you don't have to be."

Severus' face twisted in fury, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "I am not scared of anything," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Ariana shook her head, her voice breaking. "I've seen you, Severus. I know you better than you think."

Severus' eyes flashed with anger, his chest heaving with barely controlled rage. "You know nothing!" he roared, taking a step toward her. "Get out."

Ariana's breath hitched as she took a step back, her heart shattering into pieces. She had known this would be difficult, but the raw fury in his eyes was more than she had expected. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let me help you."

But Severus had already turned his back on her, his body rigid with anger. "Get. Out. Before I make you."

Without another word, Ariana fled the room, the sound of the door slamming behind her echoing in the empty dungeon.

Severus stood alone, his chest heaving as the weight of everything crashed down on him. He had pushed her away—again. But this time, it wasn't out of anger or frustration. It was because he was terrified of what she might see next.