The Assistant || Severus Snape x Reader ||

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"I'm getting the notion that's not why you're really here." 

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"Professor Lupin?" Your voice called out as you pushed open the door to his office.

Unlike the door to Severus' office, Lupin's didn't make a hideous creaking noise when you opened it. You had ventured down to his office on the off chance that he was up and going this early in the morning. 

Lupin's head popped out from a storage closet in the back corner of his office, his expression of confusion shifting into delight. He gave a friendly smile.

"Ah. Good morning, [Y/N]." He greeted, exiting the closet with his hands full and closing the door with his foot.

Lupin's office was polar opposite of Severus'. Lupin's actually had bits of color splashed around and it actually had light coming in from the windows. It wasn't like a dark hole with the occasional inhabitant here and there. Although, you had grown to love Severus' little bat cave.

You had been in Lupin's office a time or two before, but it still was shocking at how different it was. That's when you noticed how unusually warm it was inside of his office. It was the end of January, approaching early February, so there was no way his office should be this warm.

"Hi, Professor." You greeted, still standing in the open doorway.

"Please, do come in. Forgive me for how warm it is. I left a fire going for much too long this morning," He said referring to the now empty fireplace; "I must say, I've never had a student show up at my door this early in the morning."

That was also when you noticed his flushed complexion and slightly sweaty skin. He was cooking alive in here. You entered the office, gently closing the door behind you. You gripped the straps of your school backpack nervously, watching as Lupin unloaded the things in his arms onto the bookshelf. 

"I know. I'm sorry for coming by at such an early hour, I wasn't even sure if you'd be here." You apologized.

Lupin paused what he was doing and turned to look at you from the shelf. He raised a brow.

"Don't ever apologize for that. My door is always open," He smiled warmly; "What can I help you with?" 

"I was hoping we could talk about something." You stated.

He stepped away from the bookshelf and walked around behind his desk to sit down. He ushered towards the empty chair in front of his desk.

"Absolutely. Have a seat." He offered.

You slipped your bag off of your shoulders and set it against the wooden material of the desk. The heat in the room didn't help with your nervousness, you fanned your face with your hand. You sank into the plush cushion of the chair, smiling politely. Lupin's hands were folded over the top of his desk, eager to hear what you wanted to talk about.

"What would you like to discuss? Surely not about your grades. You've been performing very well this term, despite your leave." Lupin complimented.

You would admit that you were proud of yourself for maintaining perfect grades while stuck with Madam Pomfrey. It felt nice to have a professor acknowledge your hard work. 

You shifted in the chair. He noticed you were uneasy.

"I'd like to talk about Professor Snape." You confessed.

Lupin's smile faded into more of a smirk. Remus was one of the very few people who knew about your relationship with Snape, and how your assistant's position had quickly changed into something new. The two of you stared at each other silently and rather blankly for a few seconds before erupting into laughter. You knew that you were both remembering the night of the Halloween dance and how you had used Lupin to make Severus jealous.