Life was lonely after Lily left.

Severus found himself brooding more often than usual, hyperfixating on his schoolwork and completely ignoring the tormentors he usually fought back against.

Severus was completely numb.

At least he had you, he supposed.

His last friend, the final strand of sweetness Severus nurtured in his soul was reserved for you and you alone. He was sure, however, if you left too that strand would be cut and he would be nothing but cold.

For now, severus supposed, he’d dedicate himself to you.

Currently, severus had his head on your shoulder, leaning against you as he annotated that potions book he kept clutched by his side.

He flipped the page, giving a small groan, “whoever wrote this is an imbecile.” Severus muttered, scribbling rather violently on the instructions and writing edits atop them.

“Can you believe this has been used for the last hundred years?” He added, a small, disbelieving laugh escaping his lips.