Moments of peace were hard to come by in Hogwarts; with rowdy children swarming the halls, angry professors shouting at misbehaving students and the incoherent yelling of teenage boys all swarming the ears it was hard to find any quietness.

You and Severus had met in the quiet; both arriving at a quiet spot in the castle at the same time and neither of you cared enough to tell each other to leave so…you became friends.

It was hard to get along with Severus at first; he always seemed so angry, and you always wondered why.

Then eventually, after a couple months of quiet reading sessions, that developed into soft talking, which evolved into close friendship.

Severus unloaded his qualms onto you, which, more often than not, involved the marauders and his father— both of which weren’t particularly nice to the black haired boy.

Spring had sprung, and the Hogwarts grounds were pretty. Flowers blossomed in closed off corners, the sun speckled pathways to and from classes. Perfect weather for a walk.

So there you and Severus were, hand in hand, walking, talking, taking in the sun as it laid warm rays onto his pale cheeks. He looked pretty in the sunlight— happier, too.

“I’m not going home for spring break” Severus said softly, his bottom lip’s skin was peeling away from how often he nervously chewed at it.

“My dad will probably be…drunk” he sighed, “I don’t want to see my mother’s fresh bruises.”