Unexpected Fate (Severus Snape x Reader)

𝟎𝟔 - 𝓐 𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓶 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓶

The summer holidays passed by more quickly than I had anticipated. Since our conversation, Snape and I had scarcely crossed paths. Occasionally, we would nod to each other in the hallway or eat quietly at the same table, but the intense exchange we had shared remained unspoken. It felt like an invisible wall between us, a tacit agreement to let the past lie undisturbed.

A few days before the start of the new term, the atmosphere in the castle was a blend of anticipation and busyness. Teachers and house-elves prepared for the arrival of the students, while the last rays of summer sunshine streamed through the Great Hall's windows.

On one such afternoon, the tranquility was disrupted by the arrival of Gilderoy Lockhart. The flamboyant new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had decided to arrive early to "acquaint himself with his new surroundings," as he put it. His presence was immediately felt throughout the castle; his bright smile and even brighter robes were impossible to miss.

Lockhart wasted no time making his presence known. He strutted through the hallways, greeting everyone with exaggerated enthusiasm and leaving a trail of glittering autographed photos in his wake. I first encountered him near the library, where he flashed me a dazzling smile and began to regale me with tales of his supposed heroic exploits.

"You must be delighted to have such a distinguished colleague, my dear," Lockhart said, leaning in closer than necessary. "Perhaps I could share some of my adventures with you over dinner?"

Before I could respond, Snape appeared at the end of the hallway. His expression was one of utter disdain as he took in the scene. "Lockhart," he said coolly, "I believe the headmaster is looking for you."

Lockhart straightened up, clearly taken aback by Snapes icy tone. "Ah, Severus, always a pleasure," he replied, though his smile faltered slightly. "Another time, perhaps," he said to me with a wink, before sauntering off in the opposite direction.

As Lockhart disappeared around the corner, Severus's gaze lingered on me for a moment. "I see you've met our new celebrity," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Yes," I replied, feeling a mix of amusement and discomfort. "He's... quite something."

"Indeed," Severus muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Be careful around him. His vanity is only matched by his incompetence."

Over the next few days, Lockhart's attempts to charm me continued, each one more outlandish than the last. Severus, whenever he was present, observed these interactions with a mixture of irritation and bemusement. He never commented directly, but his disapproving glances and occasional barbed remarks about Lockhart's abilities spoke volumes.

As the start of term drew nearer, the castle buzzed with activity. Students began to arrive, bringing with them the usual chaos and excitement. The events of the summer and Lockhart's absurd flirtations began to fade into the background as the focus shifted to the new school year.

Little did we know, the calm and the minor irritations of Lockhart's presence were merely the prelude to far darker and more dangerous events waiting just around the corner.

Classes, homework, and Quidditch practices filled the days, and the students and teachers alike slipped back into their routines. However, the tranquility was short-lived. Whispers started to circulate through the corridors—hushed, fearful conversations about something ancient and sinister.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened."

At first, it was just a rumor, dismissed by most as mere superstition. But soon, strange things began to happen. Students were found petrified, frozen in a state of fear, and eerie messages were scrawled on the walls in blood-red letters. The atmosphere at Hogwarts grew tense, and fear seeped into every corner of the castle.