It was beautiful || Hogwarts x Reader insert

Chapter 2 - "The Good Ones"

Note: Sorry for not posting my friend committed suicide 

02/09/1992

Most green students cherished the belief that Salazar Slytherin was one of the greatest and most powerful wizards. The rest, however, would rather think of him as the coldest wizard of all time. The man's hatred for muggle-borns ran deep. It was no secret that he had wanted to purge so-called "Mudbloods" out of Hogwarts.

The cold dungeon air pierced your skin in the most uncomfortable way and many Slytherin students coming out of their dorm eyed you. Yet, you marched in the halls with nothing but excitement.

It was only until your eyes landed on a familiar entrance that you finally let yourself grin. The Potions classroom was by far one of the places you missed the most. It was mundane, but it still held a special place in your heart. Your books clutched anxiously in your grasp, you knocked on the wooden door. You were not even sure if Snape would be there this early, but a familiar voice quickly made relief flood through you.

"Come in," Snape said on the other side, as monotone as ever. He sounded vaguely annoyed. You let out a sharp exhale before pushing the door and entering. A violent smell of powder and herbs kicked your nose. If you did not know any better, you would have loved nothing more than to make a u-turn, but you were there for a reason.

"Hello, Professor Snape," you greeted, walking up to his desk. Dust flew everywhere in the classroom, practically blinding you. The man looked up from what you assumed was the Daily Prophet. "I've come to give these back to you." You kept the Potions textbook in your dorm for the time being, but you placed the rest gently on the older man's oak desk. Snape, with an uncharacteristic delicacy, took them in his own hands and got up, not bothering to thank you. He stopped midway as his eyes glanced over a specific book. His book. The one he made himself. He trailed his thumb over it and, in an excruciatingly sedated motion, brought it up for you to see.

"How did you find this?" he slowly questioned. He looked down at you, as if getting ready to reprimand you in case you did not enjoy your reading, or worse, if you did not read it at all. Much to his surprise, you smiled.

"I really liked it," you answered in full honesty. "It brought a new perspective, I think." Inquiring Snape for mildly personal information never left students satisfied, yet, you tried yourself. "Is this published?" you said, your voice getting stuck in your throat as the older man's gaze pierced through yours.

"Don't pose any more sordid questions" he sneered. You snapped your mouth shut, allowing the professor to place the books back in his library. "For this year, I am asking you and Mr. Nott to find other partners, preferably Slytherin pupils as they seem to be the only ones interested in the art of Potions," he said, his voice grim flat as he spoke over his shoulder. He turned around, his cape flying behind him as he suddenly came close to you. "I do not want to see you two sticking to each other. It would not benefit anyone. Additionally, I wish to give you a recommendation," he muttered, piquing your attention. He put his hands on a newspaper laying on his desk and held it up for you to see. On the front page, you recognized Ron's car as it was flying in the sky. "I saw your friends are quite the troublemakers... I suggest you stop sticking to the wrong kind. It taints the good one."

You took a moment to catch your breath.

"Stop sticking to the wrong kind. It taints the good one."

His figure loomed over yours in the dark classroom and you could not help but feel intimidated. You were displeased by the way he talked down to your friends, but somewhat joyful by being called "good", you, a Muggle-Born. The man has never shown great prowess in flattery as his comments were always backhanded. Nonetheless, you took the compliment. "Yes, professor," you agreed, although you were not to adhere to his advice, "I'll pass the message to Nott, and thank you for your... recommendation." Snape curtly nodded.