Disclaimer: Own nadda.
Severus stood in the doorway, watching Gwendolyn as she slept. It was late, Severus had only just finished his letter writing for the day. He had to stop, as his hand was cramped and Severus had no quills that he could dictate to. Severus understood now, why Dumbledore's desk was always a mess of papers. Everyone and their godmother was writing Severus, about trivial things that Severus knew, would drive him insane before the term was over. With everything, like the Dark Lord... why didn't they just give up? What was the point of trying to change anything? Why fight that Mr. Hansen be allowed extra time on his assignments because he was dyslexic? What future is there for him?
For anyone...
Gwendolyn was sleeping on Severus's side of the bed.
It hadn't fully sunken in, Gwendolyn being his wife. Severus wasn't sure it had even now but the Dark Lord wanted reports about the new marriages and if Severus thought everyone was doing their part. From the Glamours covering the majority of his staff, Severus knew something was happening between the new couples but he and Gwendolyn... Granted, it had only been a day. A single day of marriage. 24 full hours. 1,440 minutes. 86,400 seconds. Severus didn't know what to think, only that he and Gwendolyn had to consummate their relationship soon. Their marriage contract required consummation to be valid. In a few days, the paperwork would go through the motions in the Records department and someone will notice his invalid marriage license. The Dark Lord would know in a matter of hours.
Gwendolyn was sleeping on Severus's side of the bed.
It was all a sham. The Marriage law. Severus's view of marriage was no way romantic but he did believe that two people needed a basis of respect. Gwendolyn was scared of him, he had felt her fear and Severus didn't know how to handle that fear anymore. Before, he had tried to use it to get into her head, to figure her out but now? Severus didn't want to be like his father. He didn't want to control Gwendolyn, to beat her, or rape her. He wanted her to be safe, safe from the Dark Lord and every dark thing in the world.
Gwendolyn was sleeping on Severus's side of the bed.
Severus didn't have any feelings towards this witch, besides what any man would feel when he was put in the position to protect a woman from harm. Severus felt he could protect her and he had. First during the fight, from the crazed Bellatrix and now the Dark Lord.
Only for Gwendolyn to be forced into being his wife.
Gwendolyn shifted on the bed, tucking her hands under her cheek as a pillow. Severus frowned, letting his thoughts fall away, as he went to the closet, kicking off his shoes and removing his clothing. Once dressed for sleep, Severus moved in beside Gwendolyn's body. The witch stirred, as Severus settled against her. Her lips parted, a soft exhale, before she closed her lips.
Gwen didn't think much about waking up beside Severus or that his arm was beneath her head. She slipped out of bed, rubbing her tired eyes and stood under the hot spray till she was fully awake. Gwen quickly learned that Severus didn't care about modesty, hers or his own. By Friday morning, Gwen was feeling more comfortable sharing her living space with Severus.
Her only troubled thought, or at least, the strongest, was knowing their marriage wasn't valid. If she and Severus don't consummate as husband and wife, Gwen feared she may be passed to another wizard, like Amycus. Someone who would gladly beat and rape her into submission. Someone who wouldn't open doors for her, walk with her on her patrols; who in his own way, seemed to be trying to help Gwen in her new situation.
She had never thought of Severus as kind but that was the only word that Gwen thought fit his behavior. He was being kind with her. True, it was small insignificant things but coming from a wizard who was known for his cruelty and coldness, Severus Snape was being very kind to his new wife.
Gwen was on her break, in the staff room grading when Severus came in looking for her.
"Gwendolyn."
She looked up, her quill tip tapping on the desk.
"Did you want something Severus?"
"The rest of your classes for the day have been canceled."
"What?" Gwendolyn put aside her grading and stood. "Why did you do that? What reason do you have for taking away my teaching responsibilities?"
"Because if we don't consummate our marriage within the hour, Lucius will be forced to inform the Dark Lord that our marriage isn't valid."
Gwen's eyes widened before she looked away into the fire.
"Gwendolyn, we must —"
"I know." Gwen stopped him, looking at him. "Neither one of us has a choice. It would only make things worse for you and your position, if the Dark Lord doesn't think you are following orders." Gwen swallowed, her hands smoothing her robes. "Lucius knows?"
Severus nodded, going to the fireplace and withdrawing a pouch of Floo powder from his robes. They Flooed to their rooms, Severus brushing the soot from his robes as Gwen just stood there.
"Lucius is my friend Gwendolyn."
His eyes told Gwen that he didn't want harm to come to Lucius or his family. Gwen nodded her understanding and stepped closer to him.
"Tell me what to do." she asked, opening her hands to him. Severus took both her hands in his, lacing their fingers together.
Gwen was tangled in their sheets, her shoulders chilled from the dungeon air. Severus was getting dressed, tucking in his shirt before pulling on his vest. He kept glancing at Gwen, like he was making sure she was alright. Severus had guided Gwen through their consummation process, taking care with each step. It had been awkward and embarrassing for them both but each had pushed through those emotions till the contract would be satisfied. Gwen had covered herself with their sheet, as their bed was in disarray and she still wanted her sense of modesty.
"As Headmaster, I created a rule that allows staff members to skip Friday's dinner. If you want, you don't have to attend."
Gwen grinned. "You always hated mandatory meals. Even when we were younger."
Severus had forgotten that Gwen had been one of his fellow classmates.
"After dinner, I have business in my office to take care of. I will met you here for the beginning of your patrol."
"You don't have to come with me. I can handle the dark by myself." Gwen sat up, still protectively wrapped in their sheet. Severus look like he wanted to say something but summoned his outer robes instead.
"I will met you all the same. Till then." Severus turned to leave.
"Severus?"
He stopped at the door, turning, a flash of annoyance in his expression. Biting her lip, Gwen stood and hurried over to him. Wrapped in only a sheet, Severus thought she seemed slightly ridiculous. On tippy toes, Gwen pressed a firm kiss to his mouth. In their hour together, Gwen had grown in her confidence to kiss Severus. She stepped back.
"Don't work too hard."
Severus thought this amusing but didn't say so. Gwen watched him leave before looking at their room. This morning, it had been tidied by the castle elves and now... Gwen's clothes were everywhere, the blankets and pillows scattered on the floor. Even the chair for the vanity was on it's side from when Gwen had retreated to it earlier, when Severus's kisses made it hard to breathe and she needed to gather herself. Severus had allowed her a few moments, Gwen's knuckles white from griping the chair's back before he turned her, putting her hands on his chest and waiting.
It was then that Gwen realized how gentle Severus could be. He had waited patiently, allowing Gwen to gain her emotions before she stepped into his embrace. Severus's kisses were confident and hot on her skin and Gwen had melted.
She blushed now, recalling how Severus had taught her how to touch him and that she should voice what she liked or didn't. The experience was a lot more pleasant than Gwen thought possible. But then, women slept with men everyday that they didn't care for, right? And still find some satisfaction from it?
Searching through her discarded clothes, Gwen found her wand and began to put the room to rights.
Gwen didn't know what she expected dinner to be like, as if it should of changed because she and Severus were officially married. As always, Severus was reading official looking letters, while Gwen sat silently beside him. The students were alive with excitement, as Severus was allowing them to go to Hogsmeade this weekend. Gwen was relieved to see the happy faces, despite the rumors that many students were still being tortured for simple errors in judgement. Gwen wondered briefly is Severus knew or supported this action. A part of her hoped that Severus didn't condone the Carrow's teaching methods.
Gwen's attention was drawn to the staff door, as the hall had quieted. Smiling, she watched as a healed Professor Pomona Sprout entered the hall with a cane for assistance. Pomona had been tortured by Bellatrix as well, which had lead to Poppy putting the witch in stasis still she was healed. Bellatrix had actually removed vital organs from the herbologist, putting them in jars as the witch's body began to die. Lucky for her, Severus had heard her screams and had brought Poppy to her. Pomona had been removed from stasis Monday morning and Poppy had mentioned to Gwen that Pomona should wake any day now. Without thought, Gwen stood, walking to Sprout and giving her a tight hug. Gwen didn't notice the students clapping before returning to their meals. Gwen only noticed Severus's hand touched her back.
"Professor Sprout, your chair is beside Professor Trelawney." Severus motioned to the empty chair. Gwen stepped back from Pomona, who determinedly went to her chair without assistance. Sybill gave her a one armed hug before the two fell into conversation.
Turning to Severus, Gwen read something in his eyes but was unsure as to what it meant. Taking her seat, Gwen finished her dinner before going to her office to work. The corridors had a faint echo of student's voices, as Gwen walked deeper into the castle. The otherwise silence, unnerved Gwen, putting her on edge.
Walking past the door that had once been her prison, Gwen took in a sharp breath, as her chest began to hurt. She was rubbing at the pain, when Gwen was pushed into a dark alcove. Screaming, Gwen turned to fight the hands that grabbed at her person. A large hand cut off her screams and Gwen struggled in her captor's tight grip.
"I don't want to Silence you."said Amycus cruelly.
Gwen struggled more, digging her nails into his hand and kicking her legs. Swearing, Amycus slammed Gwen into the castle wall, knocking her head hard. Gwen saw stars and while she was still dazed, Amycus pinned her in a way that she was powerless to him.
Gwen had never been in close proximity to Amycus Carrow before, so she had never smelt his horrible breath or had felt his hot, sweaty, hands. She tried again to free herself but could barely move her head to the side. Gwen's eyes had adjusted to the darkness and she could see Amycus's face close to hers. Feelings to disgust pulsed through Gwen and she tried to think how to get her wand.
"I know Snape's secret," taunted Amycus, close to Gwen's ear. Gwen's heart jumped inside her chest and she tried to free herself again. Amycus chuckled at her vain attempts. "I know that Snape hasn't fulfilled the marriage contract. When the Dark Lord finds out, you will be mine."
Gwen felt the bile in her throat and almost choked for want of air. Amycus's hand was still firmly clasped over her mouth as the other held her by the neck. He brought his face closer, so that his horrible smell filled Gwen's senses.
"I will have complete control over you. You will won't be able to resist my will." he pressed his forehead against hers and Gwen closed her eyes in repulsion and fear. "You won't be able to resist my want."
Amycus moved the hand from Gwen's throat and Gwen immediately found herself able to reach her wand. Yelling the first spell that came to mind, Amycus was suddenly wrenched from Gwen's person and flown across the corridor; knocked out from his impact with the wall. Gwen didn't stick around to see if she had hurt Carrow and ran to her shared apartment with Severus. Once inside, with the warded portrait between her and anything Amycus might do to her, Gwen crumbled to the floor, holding her chest.
Gwen felt like Bella's cold hand was pumping her heart in her hands. The pressure made it hard for Gwen to calm herself and she felt light headed. When Gwen did pass out, it was to find relief in the darkness.
A/N: Just an FYI, I am an English major, so yeah, you may see some literary stuff I'm trying out.
R&R