''Severus, what is this about?'' asked Suzanne as Severus led her down the stone stairs to his potions room in the dungeons. Upon getting to the door her thrust it open and pushed her inside, before locking it with his wand.

He slowly advanced towards her, taking long strides before his face was mere inches away from hers.

''Sit.'' he hissed and took her by the shoulder and forced her to sit in the old wooden armchair behind her.

''I don't believe that you have been truly honest with us, Miss Rosewood.'' he turned his back to her started to do something on the table, but she couldn't quite see.

''What ever do you mean?'' she swallowed. Sitting straight, she rested her arms on the armrests casually and put on an emotionless look on her face.

He spun back around to face her, this time holding a small dark green vile between his thumb and forefinger. She looked at the vile, then at him. The blood disappeared from her face and she looked as pale as ever. That couldn't be what I think it is...

''Veritaserum.'' he simply said. ''As you know, the most powerful truth serum.''

Suzanne's breathing quickened but not from fear but anger, how dare he?!

''I don't have time for this.'' she and made her way to get up-

''Incarcerous.''

Suddenly, ropes circled around her wrists and tightened, binding her to the chair.

''What do you think you're doing?!'' she exclaimed, trying her best to free herself from the strong bonds.

''Taking precautions.'' he said, lazily walking to her.

''I have nothing to hide! Release me at once!''

''Oh really? If you didn't then why are you so strongly denying it? Surely if you didn't have anything to hide you would be willing to prove yourself…right.'' he was closer to her now and could practically feel her blood boil with fury. Suzanne glared at him but soon relaxed in the chair, receiving a slight eyebrow raise from Severus.

''So what are you going to do? Force it down my throat?'' the tone in her sarcasm was clear and he gave a slight smirk.

He swiftly moved behind her and bent down so that his lips were at her ear.

''Nonsense. That was merely a ruse to get your reaction.'' he purred, his voice deep and low that sent shivers down her spine. Swiftly getting up once more, he faced her and saw that her expression looked slightly frightened now. The gleam from her eyes had vanished, getting slowly replaced with sheer panic.

''You must of course have heard of... Legilimency?'' he slowly picked up his wand from the counter behind him.

''You wouldn't...'' she whispered.

''It's not that I wouldn't, it's more that I must. You see, I don't think you've told us -me- the honest...truth.'' as he finished he slowly lifted his wand and pointed it at Suzanne.

''Severus, don't-''

''Legilimens!'' he cried before she could finish. He heard a sharp gasp before his eyes were transported to her memories, different scenes flashed before him; slowly slowing down until eventually they started to fully show:

She was sitting in front of a dressing table in her nightgown, her face was tear stained and a large purple bruise outlined her right eye. Her bottom lip was cut at the side and blood was dripping down her chin. She slowly brought out a handkerchief and began dabbing at the wound.

Suddenly, a man walked up behind her and slid his hands on her shoulders, a contact that made her flinch. He bent his head down and kissed her cheek, his lips lingering upon her skin.

''I love you.'' he whispered, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb whilst a new tear fell.

...

''You're drunk.''

''So what?'' his words were slurred and he could barely stand, swaying on the spot, a near-empty whiskey bottle in one hand. The suit he was wearing was crumpled, his shirt was un-tucked and the tie he wore hung loosely around his neck, moving with the motion of his leaning body.

''What are you doing?'' he spoke again, shuffling forward slightly.

''Nothing.'' she whispered and shifted her body to conceal the objects behind her back.

All of a sudden the whiskey bottle shot towards her at a frightening speed and she covered her face with her arms but it was too late. The bottle smashed on the wall beside her and shards of glass mixed in with the remaining whiskey surrounded her and tore through her blouse before digging into her skin. Blood instantly covered the white fabric and she gasped in pain, falling to the floor.

''Don't lie to me!'' he roared and walked towards her.

''Richard, please-'' she was cut off with a sharp slap in the face, making her head fall sideways. Clutching her cheek, she noticed small cuts caused from the glass.

''Look at me!'' he grabbed her neck and roughly hit her head against the wall.

''There is to be no magic used in this house! Do you understand?!'' the grip on her throat tightened and she could barely breathe.

''Answer me!'' another slap hit her other cheek.

''Yes.'' she choked.

''What was that?'' his voice sounded menacing, his face was pulled into a snarl almost imitating a wolf.

''Yes.'' she said more loudly. Letting go of her throat, he lifted himself off the ground and towered over her blood covered body before making his way out the door.

The tears she'd been hiding now start to fall, small drops slide down her cut and now bruised face. Closing her eyes, she wept silently knowing that her nightmare will never end.

......

''Do you, Richard, take Suzanne to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?'' the aged priest spoke, facing the couple in front of him. They looked perfect for each other.

''I do.'' the confidence in his voice stood out, placing a smug smile on his face.

''And do you, Suzanne, take Richard to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?''

She hesitated and there was a short silence. Fingers suddenly encircled her upper arm and tightened slightly. Looking over to him, she gave a faint smile.

''I do.''

During the exchanging of the rings, the priest noticed the sad look in the bride's eyes but took it as wedding jitters and shook it off with a smile towards the woman as a sign of comfort.

''I now pronounce you man and wife, you may now kiss the bride.'' The priest said and grinned joyfully at them both, hands clasped over his bible.

Richard turned to Suzanne and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her close and before she could even blink he crashed his lips onto hers. She could hear the priest give a sigh of content and Richard finally broke the embrace.

''A happy marriage indeed!''

…

The full length mirror stood by the window.

She had to see them. All of them.

Getting up from the bedside, she took slow steps towards it. Her heart was pounding from fear; her body was shaking with adrenaline. Finally reaching the cheval glass she stopped in front of it. She stared at herself for a while before gently untying her dressing gown. It was difficult at first since her hands were trembling, but soon enough she got it undone. She turned herself around so that her back was to the glass and slid the gentle fabric off her shoulders so that it landed just at her elbows, which revealed a low cut back nightgown. Closing her eyes to try and calm herself, she shifted her head sideways to take a look at the reflection. The sight she saw nearly made her faint.

Long streaks glided on her back in all the directions possible. Still red and bloody from the nights before, and more deep than she could ever imagine. Her whole upper area just covered in the dark shade of blood, even parts of her uppers arms held miniature cuts. Lifting up her hair, she saw the large purple bruises that started at her neck and circled all the way around to her collar bone.

Tears were already falling from her horrified face and she let out a small whimper.

Letting her hair fall back down, she noticed the red marks around her wrists that were also covered in small bruises.

Falling to the floor, she fully broke-down. Tears turned to streams of liquid as she wept uncontrollably.

''Why?'' she whispered.

Suddenly, everything faded into black smoke and Severus's eyes adjusted back into the present. Suzanne gasped once more, and her body jolted in the chair from the shock.

''Are -you- happy- now?'' she said between her heavy breathing but her tone was as cold as ever.

Severus could only look at her, for the first time lost for words. He opened his mouth to say something but just closed it straight after. The things he saw were still spinning around in his head, finally figuring her out. Why she is like this. What caused it.

He realized that he still had her tied to the chair and instantly cast the reverse spell to unbind her. The ropes disappeared and she clutched her wrists, gently rubbing them, but still wouldn't look at him.

''Suzanne, I apologize for… doing this to you-'' before he could even finish, she was already up from the chair and practically ran out the room, slamming the door behind her.

Left alone, he reflected back to her memories.

With every second he thought, he despised this Richard even more.