Defence against the dark arts was a subject Severus had been after for years. Dumbledore kept him confined to Potions— not that he was complaining too much, he was an incredible potions professor.

Hogwarts couldn’t seem to hold down a teacher; Quirrell, Lockhart, Lupin. One a year so far, only one of which was remotely capable but ended up being a werewolf and didn’t think himself safe enough to teach here.

So, here Severus was, sat next to this years newest teacher. Of course, they picked a rather interesting year to start teaching— considering the Yule Ball and the Triwizard Tournament coming up within the next couple months.

He couldn’t help but stare. He knew he shouldn’t- it would probably scare them, after all he was no Lockheart in terms of looks. But they were the most magnificent creature he’d laid his cold eyes upon in the last decade. They weren’t Lily- of course, nobody would be- but he couldn’t deny their beauty.

Severus was truly infatuated.