Hiya! If you stuck with this after that last chappie, thank you. I love getting feedback and thank you for your kind words. I was pretty nervous about posting last chappie (the most heavily edited and carefully considered chapter I've ever written) but I'm happy that no one thought Remus was too aggressive. Cheers, y'all!
WARNING: Attempted rape.
To the well organised mind, death is but the next great adventure - JK Rowling
Chapter Twelve
'Where have you been?' Severus frowned, startled when Ashlin walked through his front door.
'Doing my job,' she replied, walking past him to sit on the couch. 'You've received word from the Eastern pack?'
She saw him nod then cast a Silencing Spell on the room.
'A few hours ago,' he said, sitting next to her. 'The wolf, Sythe, contacted us to let us know Chamir was dead and that the pack would be fighting with us. The Dark Lord is pleased with you. ' His dark eyes searched her face. 'Are you alright?'
She sighed and put her head in her hands. They were going to fight. She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed that she had escaped possible death. 'No. I don't think I've been alright for a very long time,' she said softly.
She leaned over, surprising him by resting her head on his shoulder. They touched only when they wanted sex or after they had just had sex and they were both softer, more open to affection. He wasn't accustomed to her reaching out simply for comfort, but rose to the occasion. Somewhat hesitantly, he put his arm around her and stroked her matted hair. They stayed like that for several minutes, Severus startled than he found her touch as reassuring as she appeared to find his.
His eyes were drawn to a long scar that ran from elbow to wrist and he frowned. He knew her body well, knew every scar on the too-thin frame and this was new. 'Did Chamir fight?' he asked softly, running a finger along the freshly healed wound.
'No,' she replied simply and suddenly, Severus knew exactly what had happened.
'Lupin healed it?' he said and she nodded against his shoulder.
'I was weak,' she whispered. 'Just for a moment.' Severus swallowed and nodded, letting it drop.
Finally, she lifted her head and looked at him. 'How is Albus? How is Draco's task progressing?'
'I cannot talk in detail about the task but I believe he is nearly there,' he replied, standing and pouring two glasses of mead. 'Dumbledore…he won't tell me what he is doing with Potter but…he has given me some information…' He looked troubled. 'He is getting weaker.'
He handed her a glass then sat down again. They drank in silence for a few moments then, 'The Dark Lord wants to see you.'
Ashlin sighed. 'I know,' she said, finishing the drink quickly. 'I should go.'
She put the glass down as she stood up. Looking down at Severus, she leant over and kissed the top of his head.
'You'll do what you have to,' she said softly and he looked up.
'Yes, I will,' he said firmly.
Ashlin moved to the bathroom, taking a change of clothes.
'I'll burn these tonight,' she thought, stripping fast and throwing her clothes into the corner of the bathroom., unable to stand looking at the bloodspots Remus couldn't remove.
She washed her face quickly and couldn't stop her mind drifting back an hour in time.
As he comforted her, reassured her, Remus held her close, his cheek against hers. He kissed her cheek once then again then his lips brushed over hers. She wasn't sure if it had been accidental or a deliberate act but the second she'd felt it, she'd jumped up like a snake had bitten her, her chair falling to the floor with a loud clatter.
'God, I'm sorry,' he said quickly, running his hand through his hair as he stood. 'That was a completely sleazy thing to do and I don't know…'
'It's ok, Remus,' she said, shaking her head.
It had been deliberate contact and for a split second, she regretted her reaction, wondering what it would be like to be kissed with her consent and participation once again.
He apologised again. 'Remus, it's fine. Really. I don't think you're a sleaze. I know it was just…the moment. That's all. You wanted comfort.' She sighed. 'So did I.'
He still looked regretful and she smiled, picking up the chair.
'Remus, I haven't been kissed since the night before Sirius left …I'm a little jumpy about it. It wasn't you I was reacting to... It's me. I'm not someone who… gets kissed anymore. Just fucked.'
A deep crease appeared in his brow and he opened his mouth. 'Ash…'
'Don't,' she said, shaking her head. 'This is me now. Death Eater. Ash…Ash is someone who died a long time ago. Thanks for your help last night. Take care of yourself, Remus.'
She hid the memory deep in her mind, not wanting the Dark Lord to find it when he next invaded her mind.
'That one's for me,' she mumbled as she dressed.
Lord Voldemort was very pleased with her, deciding not to punish her for not returning promptly to him. The wolf, Sythe, had told him how she had killed Chamir, that she had slit the alpha's throat, and that she had framed an Order member, Lupin, for his death. Ashlin almost sighed when she was congratulated for her success, a drink of Firewhiskey forced into her hand. She hadn't thought when she took Remus last night that he'd probably be blamed for Chamir's death and felt a shot of guilt for not being able to prepare him for the backlash he would now receive. News would travel fast amongst the packs. He wouldn't be able to step foot in any of the werewolf camps again.
'I'll meet Dumbledore tomorrow,' she thought. 'I'll tell him to warn Remus. They'll kill him if he goes back.'
There was a strange energy in the Malfoy Mansion tonight. The undercurrent of anticipation and excitement had made Ashlin nervous and she called for Severus when she got back to his house, hoping he'd know what was going on.
'He's not here,' Wormtail said, startling her as he appeared from a darkened staircase. 'What do you want?'
She glared at him as she hung her coat up. 'Nothing you can give me, Peter,' she said, moving to the kitchen and checking the time. It was late. Severus should have been back from Hogwarts by now. 'Where is he?'
She rummaged in the cupboard, pulling out the bread. Turning, she jumped when she saw how close Peter was standing to her.
'Move,' she snapped in annoyance, wishing the man would stop following her. It was bad enough he spied on her and Severus in bed…now he was underfoot. She pushed past him when he didn't shift, looking for the jam.
'Well?' she asked, twisting her head around to see him watching her. 'Where is he?'
'Still at Hogwarts,' he replied, looking her over with a hungry gleam in his eye.
She missed his expression as she turned back to spread jam on the bread, and almost leapt out of her skin when she felt his body press against hers.
'Get away from me,' she said irritably then gasped when he spun her around and put his silver hand to her throat.
'You'll touch him but not me?' he hissed, pushing his rodent like face into hers. 'You'll open your legs for Snape but look at me with disgust?'
The hand was tightening and Ashlin making a choking noise as she struggled for air, her hands desperately scrabbling at his, trying to break his grip. His other hand was tugging roughly at her shirt now, tearing the buttons off. She kicked out at him - for the first time since she began this, not accepting this as her fate. For the first time in a long time, she fought back.
He looked surprised and for a moment, she thought he might back off but then his face screwed up in anger.
'You've fucked every man who looked at you and you've just taken it but you fight me?' he spat at her, hand working on the fly of her jeans now. 'You find me that repulsive?' He tore the zip down. 'You go ahead and fight me all you like, Ashlin but I am going to take my turn.'
He threw her down onto the floor hard and Ashlin both felt and heard her wrist snap. The excrutiating pain made her dizzy but then, as she felt his hands on her legs, panic gave her strength and she scrambled to get up. Wormtail was stronger though, and she screamed in agony as he pulled her back down, her useless arm getting caught under her.
A dark haze spread across her line of vision and she lay still, stunned from the force of the burning pain that was ripping through her body. He had her jeans halfway down when suddenly, he stopped, falling limply to the ground beside her. Ashlin rolled over, her strangled breathing sounding loud in the now silent room and the last thing she saw before she passed out, was a dishevelled Severus staring down at her.
When she woke, it was in an unfamiliar room. She blinked, her eyes the only part of her that moved. The ceiling was high and the crystals in the ostentatious chandelier glittered as the lit wicks within burned. Her gaze shifted down and she saw the ornately carved mahogany dresser with a silver urn upon it, a serpent etched into the front. She knew where she now -- she was at Malfoy Manor. Now, her other senses awoke, and she became aware of faint screaming. Struggling to sit up, she let out a little gasp of surprise when small hands helped her. Turning, she saw Narcissa Malfoy, the pure blood haughtiness gone from her face.
'What's happening?' Ashlin asked, her voice rough.
'They are celebrating,' she told her, pale face getting even paler.
'Celebrating?' Ashlin said in confusion. 'That sounds like torture. Who is it tonight? Another Muggle?'
Her lip shook and her blue eyes filled with tears. 'My son,' she said faintly. 'He is...torturing my son. He did not complete his task.'
Ashlin frowned but before she could say anything else, the door opened and Severus appeared.
'Leave us, Narcissa,' he said abruptly and the blonde scurried past him, her huddled shuffle a far cry from her usual stately gait.
Severus closed the door behind him and cast locking and silencing spells. 'Do you remember what happened to you?' he asked and for the first time, she thought about the events leading up to her awakening here.
'Yes,' she said, her voice darkening. 'Did he…?'
'No,' he said, sitting beside her. 'He didn't rape you. I arrived in time. I have not punished him - not too much. I'll allow you that pleasure.'
She noticed for the first time how weary he looked; the slight tremor that made his hand unsteady. 'What's happened?' she asked, putting her hand on his. 'Narcissa said…'
'Dumbledore is dead,' he interrupted, standing up and letting her hand slide off his. 'They entered Hogwarts tonight and he is dead.'
'But Narcissa said…' she began in shock and he shook his head.
'Draco did not complete his task,' he said softly then looked her straight in the eye, his own dark and fathomless.
'I did it,' he whispered, his voice full of self loathing. 'I killed Dumbledore.'