Chapter Text
"I expect all of you to hand out your assignments by Monday morning and I don't wanna hear your excuses about wasting your weekend"
The classroom was filled with adults, all grumbling, but no one objected. The young adults began grabbing their belongings to leave for their next lecture before their time was marked late.
"Professor can I hand it in by the end of the day instead?"
Severus raised a brow before seeing the familiar head of dark hair and cheetah print framed glasses "Handing in assignments early won't get you extra credit Miss Dysis"
The girl smiled politely and walked closer to his desk, her skirt swishing side to side with each step "Oh no I'm not looking for extra credit professor, I simply won't be attending Monday's lecture, I have plans...family plans" She rubbed her hands nervously together before putting them behind her back.
Severus stares at the girl for a solid thirty seconds, he makes her nervous, and he knows it.
And without missing a beat he says "I expect it at my desk, no later than 2:30 and no earlier, I have more important things to attend to, young lady"
Her stance visibly relaxed before nodding "Yes sir"
Severus watched her leave, a little too eager in his opinion.
Severus Snape, 54 years of age, in his prime according to wizarding world standards, had chosen to live his life very quietly and peacefully.
His earlier years were spent in books, research, and trying to squeeze as many pieces of information as possible into his brain, he was always a bookworm who stayed back in the library before supper during his school days, books were a haven for him.
And Severus cherished a few things along with those books, his wand, the reputation he built for himself, and most importantly, his wife.
Lily Evans, the woman who stole his heart and never gave it back.
Severus met Lily when he was in his last year of school, 17 years of age, it was platonic he was the neighbor boy who showed her the cool spells and taught her magic theory till she got bored.
He thought she was a clever little girl, nothing more nothing less, the next time they met was when he was 35 and she was 28, she had grown into a beautiful young lady.
He didn't ask her out first, he kept things professional and distant, Lily didn't take any of that, the redhead was headstrong and after their third encounter, she asked him out and didn't take a no for an answer.
He still remembers their first date, a distant cafe where she talked and talked about spell work, she sounded confident, leading and a ball of fire.
They dated for a year before Severus proposed and they've gone strong ever since, she was his number one supporter and he was hers, they stood by each other throughout thick and thin.
Going on 18 years, he doesn't regret a thing.
"At least someone is punctual" He mumbled picking up the assignment left by Miss Dysis.
He scans the neat handwriting, almost rolls his eyes at the gel glitter pen colors, he couldn't even complain, his only rule was as long as it's written in a manner he could read he didn't care if it was written on a tombstone.
He tucked the papers into his suitcase and grabbed his walking cane.
Some would think Severus would hate public transportation and he does but what they don't know is that Severus hates public wizarding markets even more.
So he forces himself each day, after operating to a few streets away from his home to get a cab, he pretends he has problems with hearing so he would be left alone, it usually works, if not he casts a silent spell to make the driver cough whenever they intended conversation, nothing harmful.
His favorite part of the day is walking home and hearing the footsteps of his wife in her office on the second floor, clearly busying herself with a new reassure paper she's planning to publish.
"Lily I'm home!" He announces.
The feet stopped before her voice came ringing back "Welcome back honey! I'll be down in a minute I'm just sending off mail" He heard an owl hooting impatiently after.
He took off his coat and hung it on the wall, took his shoes off, and dragged himself to his favorite armchair by the fire.
A few minutes of comfortable silence followed before Lily came downstairs, winter sweater heavy on her petite body with a warm pair of wool pants.
She padded closer till she came close to his chair and sat on his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"You came just on time, how was work?"
Severus let out a contented sigh "Same as always, adults waving their wands and failing to spell ancient texts"
She chuckled "That's a productive day in your dictionary"
They stayed cuddled up for a while, relaxing in the warmth of their living room that's filled with memories.
Lily's hand rested on his chest, head lying on his shoulder "You know... and Martha I went out shopping the other day and...we talked and she told me about this thing" Lily moved her finger across his chest, drawing random shapes.
Severus looked down at her "Hm, I know that look, what did your friend say that you now are very curious to try"
Lily lifted her head off his shoulders and moved to straddle his lap, she placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him her most determined expression.
"Martha and her husband Phil have given each other a hall pass"
Severus blinked, he repeated the word in his head multiple times but nothing she just blurted out made any damn sense "What are you talking about?"
Lily sighed then kissed his lips softly, he leaned in but she pulled away quickly "A hall pass is when you give your partner permission to be with someone else sexually"
Silence followed, Severus stared at her, pupils wide-eyed and hands gripping the armrests of his chair tightly, almost making his knuckles white.
Severus used all that was left of reason in him and spoke calmly "You want...to sleep with someone else?"
"Severus let me explain-"
Severus stopped her before she could bang and sat up straight, holding her by the waist firmly and staring her right in the eye "Why would you suggest such a thing? Are you tired of me?"
He knows ever since his injury things haven't been as smooth in the bedroom but he's been going to physical therapy, she had sworn before up and down that it didn't change a thing but why now?
"Severus no!... I just..." She sighed "I just thought it would be...an experience? I mean I never really experimented with anyone in my twenties, I was buried under my academic work and don't you start thinking I wasn't satisfied in our sex life I was and still am!... I just feel...like I'm missing out sometimes"
Severus stays silent for a moment, he takes a deep breath before gently pushing her off his lap and grabbing his cane "It seems I'll be skipping supper tonight, I've lost my appetite"
"Severus please-"
"No. I would rather not talk right now, I am tired"
Lily watched helplessly as he climbed upstairs and she stood alone in their living room that felt suddenly cold.
Severus lay in bed for what felt like forever, thinking about what had just happened downstairs.
A hall pass? She was basically asking for permission to cheat on him...how...degrading.
He's given her everything, everything she ever wanted that he could give and now she's admitting she feels like he's holding her back from experiencing things? Is that what his life came into?
"Hey...I'm sorry, didn't mean to upset you" Lily whispered wrapping her arms around him from behind after lying down, he didn't push her, he couldn't, even when he was angry he couldn't.
He slept with an empty stomach that night, repeating her words again and again in his mind, with no amount of magical walls of mind control that could block them.
The next day felt like a blur, she pretended like everything was fine, that she didn't just say the most bizarre idea known to mankind.
His sweet bright lily was...bored with him.
But this...this won't be, he needs to find a solution, anything but that, anything but having to share his wife with another man.
Severus was on a mission after that thought settled.
He spent the afternoon between archives he hadn't touched in years, women's anatomy, he understood the concept of pleasure and orgasm in women, he wasn't some fool, he was experienced, he knew how to satisfy his wife...but there had to be something he could use.
He even pulled out an old book from when he was a teenager, filled with magazines from the 70s and 80s, Playboy, witch on your broom, dark arts of pleasure, all bought by him shamelessly when he was still figuring things out, he didn't want to embarrass himself.
At exactly 6:30 at night, he knew what to craft, he took one of his energy posting potions, left his cane near his office, he showered, put on the cologne he knew she liked most, and went downstairs to the living room.
Lily was reading by the window, she looked up from her book when she saw him coming down, and before she could speak he held up his hand.
"Let me" Severus came to her side, took her hand with his, and held close to his chest "This tired old heart is only beating for you, i would do anything to make you happy and I hope you know that"
Lily's eyes softened "Severus...are you, really considering my suggestion?" She asked hopefully, which hurt but he chose to ignore it and proceed with what he had in mind.
"I don't want to share you and you said you felt like you're missing out on things, so how about I put in my annual leave earlier this year, you pick where we go, what you want to do, anything, I'll do anything you ask of me, anything but letting another man touch you"
Lily opened her mouth then closed it, she looked conflicted but then she dropped the bomb "Severus I was thinking about...divorce actually"