You were crossing the school playground on your way to your common room when an unexpected sound stopped you in your tracks. It was laughter, but not just any laughter: warm, restrained, and for some reason, disconcertingly gentle. The first voice, deep and instantly recognisable, it was a teacher... Snape!? though laden with a tone almost impossible to imagine in him, like that of a man allowing himself to enjoy a rare and precious moment. The other voice, light and melodious, belonged to a girl, so full of life that it seemed to light up the space.

Curiosity got the better of you, and you strayed towards the Potions classroom. You barely peeked out, trying not to make a sound, and the scene stunned you. There stood Snape, next to a young woman with dark hair and turquoise eyes that glowed with a mixture of concentration and mirth. Their laughter was infectious, and the words they shared, though unintelligible from where you stood, flowed with a warmth you had rarely associated with the professor. They worked side by side among steaming cauldrons and glass jars, as if the outside world did not exist.

That instant, so intimate and human, made you flinch. Just as you took a step back to leave without being seen, the girl's voice stopped you.

"Hello! Hey... Shouldn't you be in your common room?"

Her tone was not one of reproach, but of genuine curiosity, tinged with a softness that, despite the obvious shyness, made you feel welcome at a time that was not your own.