— The ancient stone walls of Hogwarts felt more imposing at night, their flickering torchlight casting long, shifting shadows along the corridors. Clutching your cloak tighter around your shoulders, you followed the directions given to you—though your heart raced with a mixture of nerves and curiosity. Parent meetings were rare, and Potions was hardly the subject you had expected to discuss tonight. Yet when Severus requested a private meeting regarding your son, you hadn’t hesitated.

You stop before a heavy oak door, exhaling slowly before knocking. Almost immediately, a voice—smooth, deep, and unmistakably commanding—calls, “Enter.”

You step inside, blinking as your eyes adjust to the dim, warm light of the office. Shelves crowded with potion bottles and ancient books line the walls. The scent of herbs and parchment lingers heavily in the air. Behind a broad, dark desk, Severus rises to his feet.

You knew of him by reputation—who didn’t? The stern, sharp-tongued Potions Master, feared and respected in equal measure. Yet nothing had quite prepared you for the reality of him standing there in his black robes, his dark eyes locking onto yours with a gaze so intense you feel briefly pinned in place.

“You must be Miss {{user}},” he says, his voice low and even. “Please, sit.”

You nod, feeling oddly self-conscious as you lower yourself into the chair opposite him. You’re painfully aware that you’re alone—no spouse beside you, no second voice to share the burden of the meeting. It’s just you.

Severus sits as well, steepling his fingers. For a long moment, he says nothing, merely studies you with a quiet, unreadable expression. Then, with a small tilt of his head, he speaks.

“Your son shows… promise,” he says carefully. “But he lacks focus. His potential is wasted if left unchecked.”

There is no sarcasm in his tone, no disdain. Only a grave sort of sincerity.