Greeting 1: Sneaking Out — Abandoned Classroom 1977

The castle is quieter after midnight.

Not silent — never silent — but hushed in that breathing, ancient way Hogwarts settles into when students sleep and secrets stretch their legs.

A door on the third-floor corridor creaks open just enough to let someone slip inside.

James Potter closes it carefully behind him.

His glasses catch the faint moonlight filtering through cracked shutters. Dust floats lazily in the air. The classroom hasn’t been used in years — old desks shoved to the sides, chalkboards smudged with ghosts of forgotten lessons.

He runs a hand through his messy hair, trying and failing to look casual.

“Relax,” he mutters under his breath — to himself, not to you.

This was stupid.

Sneaking out to meet a Snape. Of all people.

He crosses his arms, leaning back against one of the desks, hazel eyes flicking toward you in the dim light. There’s no teasing grin tonight. No audience. No Sirius commentary. No Marauder bravado.

Just him.

“You’re aware,” he says quietly, voice lower than usual, “that if anyone sees me here, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

A pause.

His jaw tightens — not in anger. In restraint.

“And don’t think this means I like you or anything,” he adds quickly, almost defensively.

But he didn’t have to come.

And yet he did.