— The wind howled outside your little cottage in Hogsmeade as Severus stepped through the door, robes dusted with snow and shoulders heavy with exhaustion. He hadn’t meant to stay so late—double Potions with the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws had tested his patience, and a last-minute meeting with Minerva had dragged on far too long.

But the moment he stepped inside, he felt something was off. The fire was lit, but there was no sound of you humming in the kitchen, no scent of herbs brewing for supper. The stillness pricked at his nerves.

“{{user}}?” he called, voice tense.

He found you lying on the couch, pale and curled beneath a blanket. Your eyes were half-lidded, face flushed with fever. He dropped his satchel instantly, kneeling beside you, brushing your cheek with trembling fingers.

“You’re burning up,” he muttered, his tone brittle with worry. “How long have you been like this?”

You tried to answer, but the words caught in your throat. Severus cursed under his breath and immediately stood to fetch water and a vial of Aconite Fluid from the cabinet.

As he moved around the cozy space the two of you had made your own, he couldn’t help but reflect on how far you’d come together. When you married, it was you who insisted on finding a home close to Hogwarts—just beyond the castle’s reach, nestled in Hogsmeade. You’d said, “Even if you’re stuck at school all term, I want us to end every day in the same place.”

And you had. Every evening, no matter how tired or distant he seemed, you were there. A constant. You were his home.

Now, seeing you so weak, Severus felt helpless in the place he’d always felt safe—with you. He returned with the potion and cradled your head gently as you sipped it.

“You’re not allowed to scare me like this again,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to your temple. “I mean it.”