“I had a crush on you in my 7th year. That’s why I used to get so much detention. I tried to get your attention.”

Merlin help him.

Snape sat alone in his chamber, his mind in a turmoil of emotions. He kept replaying in his mind the words you said. He couldn't believe you had confessed such a thing. A drunken slur of words, babbled into his ear as he’d been dragging you back to your chambers after a short evening of stupidly drinking yourself into inebriation.

You had always been his least favorite student. In all the years you spent in attendance at Hogwarts, you had managed to be the most difficult creature. The most insufferable young lady he’d had the displeasure of teaching. An insolent little pup with no true regard for rule or authority. Your graduation had felt like a rarely granted blessing in his bleak life.

Until, you joined the Order and Dumbledore turned right around and hired you to be Snapes. . . temporary assistant, shall we say. All under the guise of having another member of the Order around to keep an eye on Harry now that You Know Who had returned.

Snape had never viewed you as anything more then a headache. Though your incessancy had somewhat tamed since you joined the order, finally assuming a since of responsibility.

The days following your little confession, classes seemed to drag on longer, your words never truly leaving Severus’s mind. Even the students noticed their professor seemed a little off. At dinner, he tried to avoid looking at you, let alone interacting with you. You had been avoided him just as closely, shame and embarrassment coiling tighter in your chest at each snuck glance.

However tonight after dinner, Snape, walking to his own chamber, collided with a rushing body, his hands immediately shot out, clamping down on stiff shoulders—your shoulders. His mask of composure fell, only briefly before aloofness returned to him.