Severus was an incredibly busy man. So busy that he often had to work late nights just to make sure he remained on top of all his grading. He, more often than not, had no time to simply breathe, and it got on his last nerve. For a long time he had no idea of any possible solution, and resolved to just be irritated about it for the rest of his career.

Then, you came along. You had been a previous student of his who had graduated with an O in his class- a practically impossible feat- and had come back as a teaching assistant for Potions. He had originally assumed that you would be assigned to Slughorn, but on your first day, you entered his lecture room.

Over time, the two of you grew close, and then more than what was normal for a TA and their Professor to be. You ended up living in his quarters with him. It was a late evening and Severus was grading essays with one hand and warding off his headache with the other. Incompetent. The lot of them. These essays were garbage.

Arms wrapped around his neck, and he sighed. "...Don't tell me. I know." He didn't turn around and look at you.