Silent Treatment - Severus Snape x OC

twenty-four

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‹ MiraaChe ‹ has posted a new chapter!- ͙۪۪̥˚

┊❛ welcome to chapter twenty-four❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌

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The leaves had started to turn shades of orange and red, signaling the arrival of Ariana's final year at Hogwarts.

The start of Ariana's final year at Hogwarts felt like a bittersweet blur. The warmth of summer had begun to fade, replaced by the cool breeze of autumn sweeping through the ancient stone halls. The chatter and laughter of students echoed throughout the corridors, but for Ariana, it felt distant, as though she stood behind an invisible wall, watching the world move around her without truly being part of it.

She had returned, but something was missing.

Her once playful energy had dulled, though she managed to keep up appearances. The side of her that used to tease and joke, to make light of everything, was back in full force, but now it served a different purpose—it was her shield. The cracks of her sadness still lingered beneath the surface, hidden behind well-timed sarcasm and forced smiles.

There were no visions anymore. She hadn't had one in weeks, no matter how hard she tried to control or summon them. It left her feeling unanchored, like a part of herself had gone missing along with the darkness she had endured.

No one had noticed the change in her more than Leo. He had watched her over the last few months, growing increasingly worried. He knew her too well to be fooled by her antics, and though he hadn't said anything, he could feel the distance between them. Still, he had made a decision—to finally tell her how he felt, before it was too late.

It was late in the afternoon, and the sun had begun to dip behind the hills, casting long shadows over the grounds of Hogwarts. Ariana sat by the Black Lake, absentmindedly running her fingers through the grass as she stared at the calm surface of the water. The serenity of the moment was a stark contrast to the storm swirling inside her mind.

She didn't hear Leo approaching until he was right beside her.

"Ari," he said softly, his voice pulling her from her thoughts.

She glanced up, offering him a small smile. "Hey, Leo. What's up?"

He hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other before sitting down beside her. His usual confidence seemed to falter as he struggled to find the right words. "I... I need to tell you something."

Ariana raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in his voice. "What is it? You're not dying, are you? Because if this is a dramatic goodbye speech, I'm not prepared for it." She grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but Leo didn't smile.

"No, it's not that," he muttered, glancing at the ground. "It's just... I've been thinking about this for a while. And with everything that's happened—everything you've been through—I just... I want to be there for you."

Leo took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair before turning to face her fully. "I... I promised your dad that I'd take care of you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Before everything happened, he made me swear that I'd be there for you, that I'd protect you no matter what."

Ariana's heart tightened. The mention of her father made the air between them feel heavier. She blinked, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Leo, I—"

"I'm not just saying this because of that promise," Leo interrupted, his eyes pleading with her to understand. "Ari, I care about you. I always have. You mean more to me than just a friend. I've wanted to tell you for so long, but with everything you've been through... I didn't want to add to the weight on your shoulders."

Ariana swallowed hard, her chest aching. She cared about Leo, she truly did, but not in the way he wanted. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off again.

"I know you're still hurting," Leo continued, his voice shaking slightly. "I know you've been through hell, and I'd never ask you to move on from that before you're ready. But I just... I need you to know how I feel."

Ariana's heart broke at the vulnerability in his voice. She had always known that Leo cared about her deeply, but hearing him confess like this only made the situation more painful. She turned to him, her voice soft but steady.

"Leo... you've always been there for me, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that. But... I don't feel the same way. Not like that."

Leo's face fell, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I see," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ariana reached out, placing a hand on his arm, trying to soften the blow. "I don't want to hurt you. You're one of the most important people in my life, but my heart... it's not yours to have."

Leo stared at her for a moment, as if trying to process her words, before he asked the question she had been dreading. "Is it... is it him? Is it Snape?"

Ariana opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Miss Hart."

Both of them turned to see Severus standing a few feet away, his dark eyes fixed on Ariana, though his gaze flicked to Leo briefly. His expression was unreadable, but the air seemed to grow colder with his presence.

Leo's jaw clenched as he stood, his fists tightening at his sides. "Of course," he muttered under his breath, his frustration bubbling over. "Professor Snape, always lurking around."

Severus raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but laced with danger. "Mr. Lewis, I suggest you watch your tone."

Leo's frustration boiled over. He took a step closer, his eyes blazing with defiance. "This isn't professional. You know that, right? You're a professor. She's a student."

Severus' eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "I suggest you tread carefully, Mr. Lewis."

Ariana quickly stood, stepping between them before the situation could escalate. "Leo, don't. It's not like that."

But Leo wasn't backing down. He turned to Ariana, his voice rising. "You're defending him? You've been through hell, and he just swoops in like nothing happened?"

Ariana's gaze softened, and she shook her head, her voice firm. "I'm not defending him, Leo. I'm telling you the truth."

Leo's eyes flickered with hurt and confusion as he looked between her and Severus. "But... why? Why him?"

"I'm the one who pursued this, Leo," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Severus didn't ask for this. I'm not some victim here. I know what I'm doing."

Leo's expression softened, but the hurt in his eyes was clear. He looked at her, his voice quiet now. "Ari, I just... I don't want you to get hurt."

Ariana's heart twisted, but she stood her ground. "I know you're worried. And I appreciate that. But this is my choice. You have to trust me."

For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, the tension palpable. Leo's shoulders slumped in defeat, and he finally nodded, stepping back.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice heavy with resignation. "If that's what you want."

Ariana watched as he turned and walked away, his figure growing smaller as he disappeared into the distance. She exhaled slowly, feeling a weight lift from her chest, though the ache of the moment still lingered.

Severus, who had been silent through the latter half of the confrontation, stepped closer to her. His dark eyes studied her, his expression unreadable.

Severus, who had been silent through most of the confrontation, stepped closer to her. His dark eyes studied her for a moment before he spoke, his voice low and measured. "You didn't have to explain anything to him."

Ariana glanced up at him, offering a small, weary smile. "I know," she said softly. "But I needed to."