Younger Potter sibling reader!

The reader is in Hufflepuff due to their typically timid and sweet nature. Basically the reader is a year or so younger than their brother James and is kind of in his shadow so no one really notices them. Compared to James they're pretty shy so for the most part, they don't mind. They hang out with the marauders occasionally when they're not causing disaster after disaster.

Whenever you do hang with them though, James had to make it clear that you were off limits because while he was pretty much unaware about how much of an arsehole he was, he was very aware about the reputation of his friends, mostly Sirius though. Regardless, you were good friends with Remus and Sirius, they basically your  brothers. And while you did like James and his friends, you did not appreciate the way he treated a certain someone. You weren't entirely sure why James bullied Severus, as far as you knew he never even really talked to James. You, however, knew Severus personally and he was genuinely nice to you, so it confounded you as to why James was being such a prick. Sure, Severus can be spiteful in response to foul words or behavior, and sometimes says things he doesn't mean when angry but if left alone he leaves you alone in return. You couldn't see him outright starting something with James. Then, one day out of nowhere, when you were talking to Severus at lunch, he got distracted and began staring at Lily Evans, and then it all clicked. While you were not completely sure of the reason as to why James treated Severus the way he did, part of it became very evident. He had a crush on Lily, hell they both did. And while James was utterly oblivious at least 98% of the time, he'd figured this out. A pang of jealousy hit you as you thought to yourself, then faded into pure unbridled rage for your older brother. I can't fucking believe him! That immature little-! You were seething, your rage was practically radiating off you, snapping Severus out of his daze, sensing your sudden change in mood. Now, unbeknownst to Severus, you had liked him, -for a while now- so while you were jealous at your new revelation, this made you just that much more angry. The fact that the reason your obnoxious older brother was bullying your crush, and friend, was because of some girl. Oh, you were gonna rip him a new one. You got up and stormed over to James, startling and confusing both Severus and James. You grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of the great hall. Once you were outside and assumed no one else was around, you began. "I'm going to loose my temper now." At this moment, James knew he did something horribly wrong. It was a rare and terrifying event when his sibling got genuinely angry at him, so he was understandably scared for his life. "Now, I rarely get up in your business and shit but let me get this straight," You began, pinching the bridge of your nose in pure annoyance. "the reason you have been bullying Severus, my friend mind you, is because you have a thing for Lily?" His eyes widened. He was surprised, not too much by the fact you knew, but because you said Snape was your friend. "You know how fiercely loyal I am towards the people I care about so I'm going to assume you didn't know, but honestly I don't give a rats ass. You have no right to treat him the way you do, nor Lily for that matter; like she's a prize to be won. So," You see him gulp and shrink in on himself as you continue. "I want to know what broke in your tiny brain that makes you think that what you're doing is okay." You say, pointing to your head still utterly furious, waiting for his pathetic excuse for an explanation. Slightly calmer now that you'd begun to get the anger out of your system. "I-I-I um..." James stuttered, as he failed to think of some kind of justification for his actions. You sigh disappointedly. "While I know Sirius, Peter, and Remus took part in this, which I'm far more disappointed in Remus than Sirius -I expected better of him and I'll talk to them later- I know that you're the reason they tagged along." I sigh again as he still tries to string together any kind of defense. "I hope you've learned your lesson, cause if not, next time I'll tell Dumbledore, who'll sick Minerva on your asses. Or better yet, just go straight to her!" You say as you turn to walk away back into the castle, only to see Remus, Sirius, and Peter a few feet away looking completely shocked and rather scared. As well as Severus peaking his head out from behind a tree several feet away from the boys. I look back at them shocked and kind of embarrassed that they heard all that. I glare at the three boys and growl at them as they straighten up in fear, "That wasn't all for you lot but it goes for you too, and while I'm sorry you had to hear all that," I say turning back to James, narrowing your eyes at him. "I am not sorry for what I said." I then walk over to Severus hiding behind a tree, grabbing his hand. "Come on." You whispered and lead him to our next class.

————-•~ Short Time Skip~•————

As me and Severus head to our next class I blush in embarrassment, and let go of his hand realizing I was still holding it. "I-I'm sorry you had to hear all that." He looked at me shaking his head. "N-no, thank you. No one has ever stood up for me like that before." I look back at him sheepishly. "I just... feel kind of responsible for his nonsense especially since it was directed at you..." Severus looks me in the eyes as we get to the classroom and sit down. Then he does something I've seen a very few times before, he gives me a small, genuine smile. I can practically feel my heart fluttering around, like a damn cornish pixie. "Geez, what would I do without you."

-•~Time Skip to Professor Snape~•-

I was talking with Severus in his classroom, sitting on the side of his desk positioned away from him, swinging my legs as he was on the other side of it grading papers. It was a Friday, after his classes were done for the day, and I decided to pay him a visit.
"Hey Severus, do you remember when I told James off for messing with you in your 6th year?" I said leaning back to look at him in his seat. He chuckles, still looking at the papers. "How could I forget, it's one of my only good memories of school." You go back to your original position and smile softly to yourself at his response and giggle lightly. Then ponder whether to say something. "Do you um..." Severus looks up at you with a quirked eyebrow. You swallow thickly, trying to decide whether to retract the statement. "Do I what?" You chuckle sheepishly, feeling his eyes on you, before finishing your thought. "Do ya' want to know why I was so mad? I mean I was livid, I was ready to kill him on your behalf." He looked confused still but slightly intrigued. "I assumed I already knew but sure, why?" You take a deep breath. "I mean, yeah, it's partly what you're thinking b-but also because- at the time, I had a crush on you." As soon as you said that, you heard something fall. You stand up and face him, seeing it was his quill. His face in udder shock. "Wh- What?" He clears his throat, in a attempt to regain his composure. "You- had a crush, on me?" It was almost funny to see your stone faced friend in such disarray, if you weren't super embarrassed and terrified. "Yeah kind of silly right? I mean especially when it was so very obvious you liked Lily, and still do." You said as you looked down at your feet solemnly, no longer meeting his gaze. You two never really talk about it much to begin with so it's a difficult topic. "Hell, I'd almost go so far as to say you loved her even more than James did." You didn't see his reaction but noticed he was closer, now on his feet. "I still do." You chuckle sadly to yourself, your feelings all coming back to you. "I know you do." Then he puts his hands on your shoulders. "You said you 'had' liked me, in the past tense, do you still-" I interrupt him. "Yes... unfortunately." You say as I look up at him hesitantly. "Why unfortunately?" He says stoically. You look back down and chuckle sadly. "Why?" You say exasperated, playing with your fingers. "Because that day, I found out how you felt about her, and it only got worse. I-I always loved you, and after that, I decided that was enough, and that I could never tell you. I planned to keep my feelings close to my chest until I died. I knew how much you loved her, and still did after she got married. I couldn't bring myself to talk to you about it because I knew how crushed you were when you found out. I say unfortunately because even- even after- now that she's gone, you still love her and I... I can never compare. And that's the truth." You say defeated and now that you're done, realize that you were now sobbing. "Pretty pathetic right?" You say smiling at your feet, tears streaming down your face. The worst part though, was that since you'd started, he hadn't said a word. "You're right. I love her..I always will." You feel your already cracking heart begin to break. "....However," You half look up at Severus, confused and wanting to hear what he was going to say. He then delicately grabs the sides of your face so you'd look at him. "I also love you." You look him dead in the eyes shocked and started crying harder than you already were. "Y-y-you can't be serious.... there's n-no way...You mustn't play with my heart this way." You say whimpering, weakly trying to free yourself from his gentle grasp. You stare into his dark eyes, seeing the gentleness he's only ever shown to Lily and you, and stop struggling. You hold his hands on the sides of your face. He takes his hands away from your face and holds yours tightly, kissing your forehead. "I promise you, I am." Resting his forehead against yours. You then practically knock him over with an embrace. He chuckles slightly and holds you close as you nuzzle into him.

——•~Time Skip to a few hours later~•——

You and Severus walk out of his classroom, only to find Harry about to walk in. "Aunt/Uncle (Y/N), I heard from Hagrid you were in the castle, what are you doing here? Were you crying? What did he do?!" Harry says getting all defensive seeing your face. You giggle at Harry's response, feeling nostalgic, hearing him sounding so very much like your brother. "Nothing at all Harry, don't worry about it." You say ruffling his hair and you turn to give Severus a kiss on the cheek. You then walk away from the two and transform into a bird, taking flight. Leaving your nephew utterly confused, and the love of your life shocked and incredibly flustered; as you'd just left them in a Hogwarts hallway.