Chapter 24 Roderick Returns
"You didn't really think you could sneak past my wards, did you?" Severus snarls at Roderick as cords fly from his wand, binding the deatheater tightly. "What was it this time, Roderick? Intend to kill me off in my sleep?"
"You insult me," Roderick sneers. "I would never be that merciful!"
"No, you insult me. I would never be foolish enough to give you the opportunity. Come, if I'm going to be awake at four in the morning, I'm going to need a firewhiskey to keep me satisfied with turning you back over to the ministry rather than killing you and turning your corpse over to the ministry."
With another flick of his wand Severus sends Roderick's form floating into his parlor, letting him fall on the floor next to the couch. Severus opens a mahogany cabinet in the corner of the room and pulls out a bottle of firewhiskey before sitting down in a chair across from his prisoner.
"It shouldn't take long for them to get here. I sent an owl as soon as I realized it was you who my wards were alerting me to. I don't remember giving you an invitation to anywhere other than that warehouse, but I'm glad you've come." Severus continues casually. "I've been rather curious as to how you escaped the ministry."
"That auror friend of yours, Markus, was very useful. I stole his wand and hexed him to bits." Roderick sneers in an effort to provoke him.
Severus raises an eyebrow before replying. "Then I'm sure you'll be interested to know that he survived. I spoke to him just today, actually. He's the one who warned me that you might be coming to visit. He's working on your case. While we're on the subject of our dear friends, did you know that it was a bottle very similar to this one that your daughter used to put your friend Donovan into St. Mungo's?"
Roderick just glares at him.
"No?" Severus continues lightly, "To be honest it was actually half of a bottle like this one. Apparently she hit him so hard with it that when the bottle shattered a piece of the glass was jammed into his skull. I'm told it has mentally scarred him."
"Speaking of my daughter, did you really think forcing her to live with you would get you into her knickers?" Roderick counters forcefully. "I taught her better than that years ago. She was sixteen when she first gave it up. It only took me ten galleons to get a boy called Gage to seduce her and then go around telling everyone that she had been the worst fuck he had ever had. You see, I wanted to make sure scum like you would never be able to break through to her. Granted, I had to kill the boy afterwards, when he realized he really did have feeling for my girl. I couldn't have him taking back what he'd said. That would have defeated the purpose…but you should have seen the look on her face when she realized Daddy would be the only man who could ever love her. I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't touched another man since!"
Severus had caught the emphasis he'd placed on 'my girl' and remembered what Cadence had said about Roderick thinking he owned her. A rage came over him, but years of practice kept it in check.
"Surprise," Severus replies silkily, letting a smug look grace his features, "I may not have shagged her while she was here, but she threw herself at me just before she left. You couldn't possibly image the pleasure I got from that…the way she tasted as I held her body against mine. I'd have shagged her right then and there if aurors hadn't been pounding down the door, and judging by the way she moaned my name it wouldn't have taken much to get her out of those clothes."
"She didn't moan your name out of pleasure, Snape. It was out of disgust. She felt sick to her stomach after kissing you, as anyone would. You wouldn't have been able to please her if you had had all night to do it. No woman in their right mind would ever want you. You wouldn't have been able to pay Melinda to fuck you!" Roderick snarls angrily.
"I'm afraid you don't know your daughter well enough to be able to convince me of that." Severus sneers stiffly, "You hadn't seen her for two years before she came to me."
Roderick smirks as he notices ager flashing in Severus's eyes. "No, I know Melinda. Gage knew Melinda…but you? You will never know Melinda." Roderick returns mockingly.
Severus quickly stands up, grabbing his wand and moving to stand over the deatheater, breathing hard.
"Don't let him provoke you, Severus." Markus warns, appearing in the doorway to the parlor.
"How did you get in?" Severus frowns at his sudden appearance. "How long were you standing there?"
"I let myself in, and long enough to know what he said." Markus answers. Before Severus can reply, he adds, "There are three other aurors waiting just outside. I didn't think you'd appreciate them coming in without your permission. If you'll give your consent, they'll come in and take Roderick."
"They can have him," Severus sneers, taking a couple of step s away from Roderick.
Markus lifts his wand and send a bear patronus back to the other aurors. Within seconds they enter the room and immediately take Roderick into custody, nodding politely at Severus before escorting the deatheater out.
"I appreciate that," Severus tells him, once the others are gone.
Markus bows his head in acknowledgement before looking back up at him. "He's wrong, you know. Lorelei fancied you. I could see it in the way she looked at you. She may not have wanted to admit it, but-"
"I don't need a speech, Markus!" Severus snaps defensively, cutting him off. "Especially in regards to something that ended six months ago."
Markus studies him for a moment before replying, "I miss them, too."
Before Severus can object, Markus turns around and disappears out of the room.