Severus, Severus!” You exclaimed, running up to your tree where he sat making notes in his potions book.

“And why are you so excited?” He asked, not looking up from his book. You flopped down next to him, your shoulder hitting against his, knocking him to the side.

“Quidditch tryouts are today you gotta come see me try out.” You stared at him until he took his nose out of his book. He huffed and closed the book, turning to face you. When he still didn’t agree you put your chin on his shoulder and sat nose to nose with him, staring at him.

“Alright, alright, stop staring.” He rolled his eyes and poked your nose with his larger one.

“Why don’t you try out with me?” You suggested.

“Oh yes, good idea, so your brother and his friends who hate me can have a “healthy way” to take their anger out on me. I’ll pass.” He glared at you. Not an angry glare but a serious one.

“I guess you’re right…For once.” You tease.

“I made one wrong choice.” He rolled his eyes.

“You almost blew us up.” You were talking about yesterday in potions class when you and Severus were brewing a polyjuice potion and Severus almost threw in the wrong ingredient that would have blown the whole cauldron up. Luckily you caught him in time.

“You were distracting me!” He shot back.

“I didn’t do anything, we were talking about the potion. How is that distracting?”

“Your presence in general is distracting.” He mumbled.

“Is it my charming beauty?” You teased.

“Oh of course.” He chuckled. “Is it that obvious that I think you're the most beautiful creature in the world?” He thought to himself.

“So will you come to watch me tryout?” You begged. “Please!”

“I don’t know, I don’t think you really want me too.” He teased, turning his head the other way.

“What do you want me to do, crawl on your lap and give you puppy dog eyes?” You huffed, running out of ideas.

“You won’t.” He challenged. You raised an eyebrow at him.

“Do you really wanna make that bet?” You challenged. He raised his head high in a challenging manner. “Okay, you asked for it.” You crawled onto his lap facing him and gave him a fake pout. “Pleeeease!” You pouted, wrapping your arms around his neck. His hands unintentionally went to your hips to steady you. His cheeks were tinted pink and he couldn’t meet your eyes.

“What time are tryouts?” He asked, looking at the ground. You put your finger under his chin and raised his face to look at you.

“In half an hour.” You smiled at him.

“I think my heart is going to beat out of my chest. I can’t believe she’s this close to me. Maybe she has feelings for me too.” He thought. He could feel his heart thumping in his ears.

“And what do you want to do until then?” He asked, his head falling back against the prickly tree bark.

“Sit here with you. Like this. Unless you want me to get my fat ass off you.” You joke.

“Don’t.” His demeanor turned serious before you could even blink. “Don’t talk like that, do you understand me? You are not fat, you are perfect just the way you are.” He gripped your hips tighter.

“I’m sorry, I was only joking.” You looked away from him.

“I know, but eventually you start to believe the things your joke about. You already believe those things. The last thing you need is to make those beliefs stronger. Get them out of your head, don't even joke about them.” He told you. You absentmindedly combed through the hair on the base of his neck. He hummed feeling your fingers massage his head and neck.

“Does that feel good?” You smiled when you saw his eyes roll back in pleasure.

“Mmhm.” He moaned. He squeezed your hips. You pulled your hand away and rubbed his shoulders.

“Why are you so tense? Still thinking about how you almost blew us up?” You teased again.

“You’re never gonna let it go are you?”

“Never.” leaning forward you rested your forehead on his shoulder wrapping your arms around his shoulders. He moved his hands to your waist, letting you get as close as you wanted. “Holding me like this I might fall asleep.” You warned him.

“That’s okay, we still have 20 minutes before we have to be on the quidditch field.” His chin laid on top of your head and he rubbed your back.

“10 minutes then we’ll walk down to the quidditch field.” You mumbled.

“Don’t fall asleep on me, you need to be fully awake for your tryout.” He gave you a little shake.

“Mm why do you care you don’t even like quidditch.”

“No but it’s important to you. I want you to make the team.” Your legs were wrapped around his waist and your face nuzzled into his neck as his hands rubbed circles on your back. “Are tryouts what have you so stressed today or is something else going on?”

“There’s just a lot going on.” You mumbled into his neck.

“Tell me, you know you can tell me anything.” He rubbed firmer circles on your back in encouragement.

“It’s just everything. Between quidditch tryouts and classes and trying to eat like a normal person would, it’s a lot… I don’t like that I have to eat so much, I haven’t eaten this much in 2 years. By the time I finish dinner I have a stomachache, I constantly feel fat and everytime someone looks at me I feel like they’re looking at my stomach which makes me insecure and makes me want to run and hide.” You confessed. You felt warm hands cup both your cheeks.

“You are not fat. You’re finally getting yourself back up to the weight someone of your age and height should be at. You were ridiculously underweight. Just because someone is looking at you doesn’t mean they see your weight. As for classes you are doing perfect, your grades couldn’t be more perfect give yourself more credit. You are about to kill these tryouts and you will be the best player out there. I can already tell you that you are going to be a starting player.” He meant every word of it.

“Do you really think that?” You placed your hands over his.

“I do. I believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself. Let’s get you to tryouts then we can go to the great hall and have dinner.” His thumbs caressed your cheek.

“Can I sit with you?”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Your brother and his friends may not like that too much, I don’t want to give them a reason to go back on their word. Come on, let's get you to tryouts.” He changed the subject and stood up, never moving you from his lap he just stood straight up, causing you to tighten your legs around his waist until he was on his feet. Then he let you drop down to your feet.

“Okay, I think I’m ready.” You straightened your clothes. “Come with me.” You held your hand out to him. Snape hesitated but gently placed his hand in yours and you dragged him behind you to the quidditch field. You thought you would see your brother and his friends there since they were both on the quidditch team the year before but when you got there they were nowhere to be found.

“Alright, welcome to quidditch tryouts. These tryouts are for the new students who have never played before. Tryouts for former players were yesterday so today are all the new witches and wizards. Get your gear on and we’ll get started.

************************************

“So what’s your plan?” Peter asked.

“I want to ask Y/N out on Friday which means I need Snivellous out of the picture by tomorrow night.”

“Are you sure Y/N has a crush on Snape, he doesn’t seem like her type.” Peter chimed in.

“Are you blind Peter? Do you not see the way she looks at him, more importantly the way he looks at her. Snivellous has never been kind or gentle to anyone except Lily and Snivellous was in love with Lily. I will not let that little halfblood be with my sister. We gotta get rid of him.” James warned.

“Where’s Moony?”

“He’s not here, he won’t like this plan.” Sirius commented.

“So what are you thinking?” James asked.

“Snape helps Madam Pomfrey collect herbs and other ingredients she needs for potions and medicines on Thursdays. Tomorrow is Thursday which just so happens to be a full moon. We lead him to the shrieking shack and Remus will handle the rest. We all take off in our animagus form and no one will even know we were there.” Sirius explained.

“For Merlin sake Sirius you're talking about getting him killed, and Remus will never forgive you if he ends up killing him.” Peter exclaimed.

“Snivellous should have stayed away from Y/N when he had every chance! Now he’s going after my girlfriend and James' sister! He needs to go!” Sirius snapped. “Remus will get over it as long as he never finds out we had this conversation, understood? You better keep your mouth shut Peter.”

“Y/N will never forgive us for this. She’s the only person outside of us that knows Remus is a werewolf. If Snape comes back dead or hurt due to a werewolf attack she will know it was Remus. Guys think of what this could mean for them. Not Snape but for Remus and Y/N. Y/N could tell everyone at school about Remus, she could tell the ministry and have him arrested, sent to Azkaban. And Remus will have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life. Think about what this will do to them, and we will be killers.” Peter tried to reason. Sirius was pinned against the wall by his shirt.

“This is happening tomorrow Peter, with your help or without. So either help us or keep your mouth shut. Y/N and Remus won’t find out.” Sirius threatened. Peter coward, and nodded his head in agreement. “Good.” Sirius smirked as he set Peter down on his feet. “Now that that’s settled let’s get to the great hall, I’m starving.”

********************************

“I did it!” You yelled jumping off your broom onto the bleachers. Your broom fell to the floor and you tackled Severus, making him fall back against the bleachers behind him with you on top of him.

“Merlin Y/N.” He rolled his eyes but they immediately softened when he saw you were straddling his lap with a wide smile on your face.

“I made the team! The coach said I’ll be the starting beater for our first game in a week!” You jumped up and down on his lap.

“Okay, okay.” He grabbed your thighs and firmly stopped your movements while trying to even out his breathing. “Don’t do that.” He saw the confusion on your face. “Such a sweet innocent girl. Has no idea what movements like that do to a man.” He thought.

“I am very proud of you, but I can’t say I’m surprised, I knew you could do it. Now let’s get you to the great hall so we can have dinner.” He sat forward with you on his lap and wrapped his arms around your waist holding you so you wouldn’t fall back. He didn’t realize how close you were. Your noses were almost touching, your chests were touching. You instinctively wrapped your arms around his shoulders again playing with the hair on the back of his neck.

“I want to sit with you. I’m still not comfortable eating in front of people and I know right after I finish eating I’m not going to feel good.” You pouted.

“I know it’s hard, but you can do this, you're doing so well.”

“It’s hard.” You lowered your head looking down at your lap but when you lowered your head your forehead rested against Severus’.

“I know, I know it’s hard but it will get easier. Come on, you can sit with me today and after that we can get some ginger ale and take you to bed.”

“Ginger ale?”

“It’s a muggle soda, people take it for upset stomachs. Come on.” He led you to the great hall. You waved as you passed your brother and his friends at the Gryffindor table. Severus glanced at them as well and once you turned away they all scowled at Snape. He quickly averted his gaze and sat with his back to them at the Slytherin table.

You were sitting with some of Severus’ friends. Lucius, Narcissa, and Regulus, Sirius’ brother. You had hung out with them before and they were very nice. They didn’t treat you the way Gryffindors treated them but you figured that was mostly because of how close you were with Severus.

“Nice to see Snape finally worked up the courage to ask you to sit with us.” Regulus teased, Severus rolled his eyes and you giggled.

“Have you been wanting to ask me, Sevy.” You continued to tease him.

“Now I’m beginning to regret it.” He mumbled loud enough for you to hear. You pushed him with your shoulder making him chuckle. When the food appeared he watched to make sure you put enough on your plate. You didn’t put much on your plate but he knew you were still working on your appetite. As long as you were eating 3 times a day, and more than just a few bites he knew you would start to work up a better appetite with time.

“So has my brother asked you out yet?” Regulus asked.

“Not yet and I hope he doesn’t.” You turned your eyes back to your plate. Severus noticed how uncomfortable the conversation made you and placed his hand on the small of your back. Narcissa smirked as she watched how gentle Snape was with you. To her the feelings he held for you were clear as day.

“I know my brother, he isn't going to give up that easily. Especially when he hasn’t even asked you yet.”

“I know. I don’t want to hurt his feelings but I don’t like him like that. He’s just… Not my type.” You confessed.

“What is your type?” Narcissa chimed in.

“Tall, dark, handsome, smart, mysterious.” You joked.

“Come on.” Narcissa encouraged.

“I don’t know. I guess someone who cares about the simple things. Like if I’ve eaten, someone who will go out of their way for me, send me love notes even if they know they’ll see me in a few hours. Someone who wouldn’t judge me for some of the weird things I do or say. Someone who is gentle and caring but not afraid to stand up for me.” You replied.

“Well, that excludes my brother.” Regulus laughed. Dinner continued and so did the friendly chatter. Severus noticed after a while you started to push your food around the plate, not actually eating any of it. You were about to push your plate away signaling you were finished when Severus pulled your ear close to his lips.

“Try to eat a couple more bites. You have hardly touched your food.” He whispered.

“I can’t, it’s too hard.” You whined.

“I know it’s hard but you will never build your appetite if you don’t force yourself to eat a little more everyday. Please try to eat a couple more bites.” He rubbed gentle circles on your back. You managed to eat 3 more bites before your stomach started hurting. Once the pain started you put your forehead on Severus’ shoulder and held firmly onto his upper arm.

“My tummy already hurts.” You complained.

“Your tummy?” Severus raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t make fun of me.” You whine.

“I’m not, I’d never judge you like that.” He promised you. “I think I should get you a ginger ale then take you to your common room so you can lay down.” He suggested.

“Please don’t leave me.” You moved closer to his side. All his friends were smiling at him and he just rolled his eyes.

“You know I can’t stay in your common room with you, I’m not in your house.”

“Then I’ll go to the hospital wing and you can stay with me there.” Your voice was muffled by his shirt.

“Okay, you start walking down and I’ll catch up with you.” He hugged your side for half a second before releasing you to go to the hospital wing.

“She likes you. 100% You need to make your move.” Lucius insisted the moment you were out of earshot.

“Oh please.. She’s my friend. I don’t think she feels that way about-”

“She basically described you right to your face, Severus.” Narcissa rolled her eyes. “Gentle, loving, someone who won’t judge her, someone who makes sure she eats. What has been your #1 goal since the day you met her? To make sure she eats enough, to make her love herself and to build her self esteem. Don’t be stupid, she likes you and she’s a good person unlike that other one you liked. Don’t let her slip away because you waited too long to tell her. You don’t have to tell her right now, but you can’t wait forever.”

“Now go, your girl is in pain.” Regulus practically shooed him away. Snape scoffed as he stood from the bench and walked away

When he got to the hospital wing you were sitting there and Madam Pomfrey was giving you some potion. He watched you drink it slowly and lay back on the bed. He pulled a chair forward to sit next to your bed. He placed the back of his hand on your forehead to check for a temperature.

“You came.” You said tiredly.

“Of course I did.” He took your little hand in his. You were very dazed and giddy.

“Ah Severus, good to see you. Are you still coming tomorrow night to help me collect ingredients?” Madam Pomfrey asked as she approached with some water.

“Yes I am. What have you given her? She seems very… Loopy.” He asked, you were now playing with his fingers like they were the most interesting thing in the world.

“A relaxer. I think her stomach pains are stress related. The more stress she’s under the sooner the relaxer starts working and it seems to have worked very quickly. Y/N how’s your stomach?”

“Hm? Fine. My hands are so small.” You held Severus’ hand against your own, noting just how small your hands really were.

“She’ll be okay. I’ll start brewing her an anxiety potion for her to take and it should help with the stomach pains. The relaxer should wear off in an hour or so then put her to sleep. Until then she will be very giddy, silly and honest. However she won’t remember any of this when she wakes up.” Madam Pomfrey explained.

“Thank you.” He nodded at her as she left for her office. You were the only two in the hospital wing.

“Y/N, how are you feeling?” He moved his fingers a little to the side then closed your hand in his interlocking both your fingers so you would stop playing with his hands.

“You have really pretty hair.” You said, you looked so dazed. “And your eyes, they’re so black like your hair. I wish I had eyes like yours mine are shit brown.” You pouted with tears in your eyes. “My eye’s look like shit!” You cried dramatically. He was trying so hard not to laugh but you were probably the most adorable thing he’d ever seen right now.

“Darling, your eyes are beautiful just like every other part of you. They are not shit brown they are a sweet caramel brown and when the light hits them just right they look like pools of honey. They are gorgeous.” He soothed you. He wasn’t worried about you remembering any of this. The compliments the pet names. You pulled his hand so he would get closer. He got up from his chair and sat at your bedside.

“You really think that? You think I’m pretty?” You asked as you crawled up to his side putting your arms around his waist.

“I do, I think you’re gorgeous.” He smiled gently down at you.

“Please don’t ever leave me, you’re too important to me.” You pleaded.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere, pretty girl. I promise.” He assured you. You were very sensitive in your current state.

“Will you lay with me? I’m the only one here and it’s dark… You know I’m afraid of the dark and- what if Peeves comes to find me? I don’t want him to.” You started to sob as you coward against Snapes chest, hiding your face in his robes.

“I’ll stay, hey look at me.” He looked in your teary eyes. “I promise Peeves is not going to bother you here and if he does I’ll take care of him.” He cupped your cheeks trying to get you to focus on him.

“Don’t leave me.” You repeated.