Chapter 6. Refuge.
The warmth of summer was fading now and there was a breath of autumn chill in the morning air, as Snape made his way up to Hogwarts School.
He felt apprehensive as he thought of the forthcoming meeting with the one man he had unswerving respect and admiration for. The Headmaster had given him so much and now he was to repay him by jeopardising his own safety and maybe a great deal more.
But first he went to the dungeons, to his office and began sifting through the many ancient and weighty tomes for some remedy to Annia's curse. It was clearly a most vile and powerful spell, one that possible only two wizards alive could perform but only one would even consider.
Snape thought of the method used to inflict this curse. He felt a sickening revulsion every time he imagined Voldemort preying on that innocent child. And as he did, he saw his own act of brutality played over and over. Why couldn't he recall any of those beautiful, pure moments when she had been his willing partner, not the coerced victim?
And there it was.
"The coitus curse: can only be administered by a wizard possessing the highest forms of Dark Arts. If inflicted over a number of years and with such overwhelming force against the victims volition, then there is no know remedy."
He read further.
"Any future acts inflicted without consent, will enhance the curse and increase its effectiveness."
His sat with his head in his hands as those last words smashed into his conscious mind He had contributed to her agony and suffering.
Was that why she so readily forgave him? And had she even wanted his assault, or at least that part of her mind taken over by Voldemort, to increase his hold over her?
Snape sat stunned for sometime his head spinning with images of Annia, and of Volemort and how he would use and abuse anyone in his desire to obtain ultimate power.
His nightmarish visions were broken by a faint knock at the door and Dumbledore entered the dungeon office.
Snape shot to his feet as he saw the old wizard cautiously move towards him.
"Headmaster, I've been meaning to come and see you, I" But the Headmaster interrupted seeing Snapes discomfort.
"Now Severus, what was if you wanted to tell me?" His words were spoken with such benevolence that Snape felt more culpable than ever. He couldn't look into those perceptive blue eyes as he spoke.
"Sir, I don't know where to begin. I've betrayed your trust and I've left myself vulnerable to Voldemort." Only as he said that name did he confront his mentor's gaze.
"You must consider you actions carefully, my boy, but I feel sure you will do what has to be done." Dumbledore stood before him now and as their eyes locked Snape knew what he had to do.
"Thank you Sir," he said as an unspoken agreement passed between the two men.
"Well off you go, and Severus, take care" And he slowly turned and left Snape standing alone to comprehend the Headmasters carefully chosen words.
In a few more days the castle would be filled with children starting a new year, but for now it was silent and Snape realised how tired he was as he sat and contemplated how he could help Annia. He collected up a number of bottles and phials, something to reduce the fever if it returned and also for the contractions she seemed to suffer during that last attack.
If he had considered bringing Annia to the castle before, that thought was thoroughly dismissed from his mind by those few words with the Headmaster. It was clear that was not what he should do, especially so close to the beginning of term. No, he had to face whatever was thrown at him alone, with Annia.
As he approached the village, the sun shone onto Snape's face sending comforting warmth though he weary frame. The road was dry and dusty from the unusually long, dry summer; a summer spent in complete contentment.
But far ahead on the mountain road leading out of Hogsmeade, Snape caught sight of two dust clouds and the riders who's horses had disturbed the dry uneven surface. Instinctively his stride lengthened and his heart quickened a beat, as he thought of Annia alone in her rooms. Why did he leave her, even for a minute, he berated himself. He should have been there with her.
"Annia!" he called out as he pushed the unlocked door open, then he saw her huddled figure, sitting by the empty grate.
"They were here, weren't they, the riders. I saw them Annia tell me, what have they done."
He crouched before her, demanding a response. His stomach churning as he thought of what they could have done to her. She nodded.
"Yes, they want you to follow them. They said it was your last chance to go freely. Severus you must go." She was trembling as she spoke, pleading with him she took his hands.
"They'll come back I know it, they won't let you stay alive if you refuse to join them, they said they'd be back, to take you by force. They'll kill you, Severus."
There was desperation in her voice now, but Snape held her round the waist and helped her to her feet.
She put her arms around his neck and then he saw her wrists, bruised and sore.
"What have they done to you? Annia, you're hurt." His eyes flashed at the painful marks and his head pounded at the thought.
"It's nothing, please, if you go, then they'll leave me alone, I'm sure. Go back to the castle." Her voice was calmer now, more measured as she tried to reason with him. But he knew the ways of the Death Eaters only too well; they wouldn't leave her alone until he either returned or was killed.
"No Annia, I must stay here, don't you understand. I'll always be here to protect you. I won't let them harm you again." And he gently moved her arms down from round his neck and caressed her as she stood limply, leaning into his steadfast frame.
They stood like that for some time, locked in an embrace that seemed too precious to break, he wanted to tell her what she had done for him, despite it all, but the words weren't there, they never had been. He had never heard those vital loving words spoken to him in the past and he felt unable to utter them now.
So they remained in silence, he kissed her hair and breathed in her very essence, the mix of herbs he had concocted still evident, a sweet heady aroma he couldn't place but it was her smell and he wanted to suffocate in it
But then Annia lifted her head away from Snapes chest and tossed her hair from her face.
"Are you hungry?" And she broke away from him to go to the larder. I haven't got much, I'm afraid, I."
"Here I've brought some food from the castle, I thought we might something." He picked up the bag he had dropped earlier and placed it on the wooden table. He took out the bottle of tonic and the one of potion used to ease muscle spasms, then the food he had grabbed from the Hogwarts kitchens on his desperate flight to get here.
"It's not much, but the kitchens are quiet at this time of year."
As Annia took out the cold chicken, bread and cheese she interrupted him.
"It's fine Severus, thank you. I'm not very hungry anyway, but please have something yourself."
She sat with him and cut some bread as they both picked at the food and he thought of what was to come, soon, maybe tonight. He got up and walked round the two rooms, his wand out, muttering a charm to protect the door and the two small windows and one in their bedchamber
"Will we be safe now?" Annia asked as she watched him perform this task.
"It should at least give us time to be ready, for when they come back, but it won't hold for long."
"If, they come back. They may decide to forget about you, if you won't go willingly. He wants your mind Severus not just your flesh."
Her words were more hopeful now than earnest, clearly she too realised their desperate plight, but needed to maintain her positive spirit.
"No Annia they will come back. I know it, Voldemort will never let me live freely again. I will always be waiting for him, watching for a sign that he is near, whatever happens."
He stood before her and she felt the anguish he had been trying to suppress, to save her from the torment he endured.
"Sit and have some wine, I need to rest for a while." She stood up sharply and went into the bedroom and shut the door.
Annia flopped onto her bed, she curled up, squeezing a pillow to her face and began to cry bitterly. If only he would keep away, then he would be safe and she could face whatever the Death Eaters brought without the guilt of hurting him anymore. She should never have fallen for him, truly loved him but used him as she had been manipulated to do. But here he was and clearly he would not leave. So she dried her face and prepared herself for him.
Snape went to the door but then sat back down. She wanted to be alone, he understood, it would be worse for her if the curse took hold once more. But it was getting dark now and he began to feel perturbed by the silence from her bedchamber, but then the door opened. Annia stepped out, she had changed into a plain white night dress. He had never seen her look so enchanting, that simple garment seemed only to reflect her stunning features and shimmering silver hair, falling over her neat shoulders.
"Come here Severus, I want you to hold me."
He desired her more than ever, despite the dire situation, maybe, because of it. So as he stood up he pulled off his shirt, which he had worn for the last two days, and walked towards her, a vision of delusional purity. He gathered her up with one arm round her waist and swept her hair back from her face as she looked up at him.
His breathing was heavy and he wanted to absorb her with every deepening breath until he dropped his face onto her neck and let his mouth take in her sweet tasting skin.
She grabbed on to his arms as he leant over her and she felt herself being overwhelmed by his physical presence. It was all she had yearned for and she let him take all of her weight as she dropped her grip and succumbed to his will.
Then he scooped her up and took her the couple of paces back to their bed, where she dropped lightly onto the deep burgundy bedding. He knelt down beside her and caressed her face and neck then worked down the long row of pearl buttons on her nightgown.
With the garment undone but still in place he slipped down off the bed to remove the rest of his own clothes. As he stood naked before her, she sat up and let the loose cotton nightdress slip from her shoulders to reveal her softly curved breasts and she held out a hand.
Snape took her outstretched hand and knelt in front of her, his phallus hardening as he noticed a bead of perspiration run between her breasts, down her stomach. He leaned forward to halt the drop with his tongue and then traced its path back up to her neck, until she was forced to submit to his tongue's demands. She fell back onto the bed as his tongue moved to her breasts and circled each erect nipple in turn. His weight was supported by his bent arms either side of Annia and she held on to his taut biceps as he sucked harder and licked her glistening flesh. She pushed her nightgown down and as she lifted her body his tongue felt the soft mound under her pubic hair and it reached down to taste her moist quim. And he licked greedily at the undulating folds and she gripped his arms tighter, digging her fingernails into the hard muscles.
Then she freed her feet from the constraining garment and manoeuvred her legs either side of his rigid frame.
Her legs wrapped round his, and pulled him down from his supported position so that he was pressed hard into her warm body. He shifted slightly to direct his cock into the moist depths of her cunt, and as the suppressed air from his chest let out, he mouthed close to her face,
"Annia, I love you."
The warmth of summer was fading now and there was a breath of autumn chill in the morning air, as Snape made his way up to Hogwarts School.
He felt apprehensive as he thought of the forthcoming meeting with the one man he had unswerving respect and admiration for. The Headmaster had given him so much and now he was to repay him by jeopardising his own safety and maybe a great deal more.
But first he went to the dungeons, to his office and began sifting through the many ancient and weighty tomes for some remedy to Annia's curse. It was clearly a most vile and powerful spell, one that possible only two wizards alive could perform but only one would even consider.
Snape thought of the method used to inflict this curse. He felt a sickening revulsion every time he imagined Voldemort preying on that innocent child. And as he did, he saw his own act of brutality played over and over. Why couldn't he recall any of those beautiful, pure moments when she had been his willing partner, not the coerced victim?
And there it was.
"The coitus curse: can only be administered by a wizard possessing the highest forms of Dark Arts. If inflicted over a number of years and with such overwhelming force against the victims volition, then there is no know remedy."
He read further.
"Any future acts inflicted without consent, will enhance the curse and increase its effectiveness."
His sat with his head in his hands as those last words smashed into his conscious mind He had contributed to her agony and suffering.
Was that why she so readily forgave him? And had she even wanted his assault, or at least that part of her mind taken over by Voldemort, to increase his hold over her?
Snape sat stunned for sometime his head spinning with images of Annia, and of Volemort and how he would use and abuse anyone in his desire to obtain ultimate power.
His nightmarish visions were broken by a faint knock at the door and Dumbledore entered the dungeon office.
Snape shot to his feet as he saw the old wizard cautiously move towards him.
"Headmaster, I've been meaning to come and see you, I" But the Headmaster interrupted seeing Snapes discomfort.
"Now Severus, what was if you wanted to tell me?" His words were spoken with such benevolence that Snape felt more culpable than ever. He couldn't look into those perceptive blue eyes as he spoke.
"Sir, I don't know where to begin. I've betrayed your trust and I've left myself vulnerable to Voldemort." Only as he said that name did he confront his mentor's gaze.
"You must consider you actions carefully, my boy, but I feel sure you will do what has to be done." Dumbledore stood before him now and as their eyes locked Snape knew what he had to do.
"Thank you Sir," he said as an unspoken agreement passed between the two men.
"Well off you go, and Severus, take care" And he slowly turned and left Snape standing alone to comprehend the Headmasters carefully chosen words.
In a few more days the castle would be filled with children starting a new year, but for now it was silent and Snape realised how tired he was as he sat and contemplated how he could help Annia. He collected up a number of bottles and phials, something to reduce the fever if it returned and also for the contractions she seemed to suffer during that last attack.
If he had considered bringing Annia to the castle before, that thought was thoroughly dismissed from his mind by those few words with the Headmaster. It was clear that was not what he should do, especially so close to the beginning of term. No, he had to face whatever was thrown at him alone, with Annia.
As he approached the village, the sun shone onto Snape's face sending comforting warmth though he weary frame. The road was dry and dusty from the unusually long, dry summer; a summer spent in complete contentment.
But far ahead on the mountain road leading out of Hogsmeade, Snape caught sight of two dust clouds and the riders who's horses had disturbed the dry uneven surface. Instinctively his stride lengthened and his heart quickened a beat, as he thought of Annia alone in her rooms. Why did he leave her, even for a minute, he berated himself. He should have been there with her.
"Annia!" he called out as he pushed the unlocked door open, then he saw her huddled figure, sitting by the empty grate.
"They were here, weren't they, the riders. I saw them Annia tell me, what have they done."
He crouched before her, demanding a response. His stomach churning as he thought of what they could have done to her. She nodded.
"Yes, they want you to follow them. They said it was your last chance to go freely. Severus you must go." She was trembling as she spoke, pleading with him she took his hands.
"They'll come back I know it, they won't let you stay alive if you refuse to join them, they said they'd be back, to take you by force. They'll kill you, Severus."
There was desperation in her voice now, but Snape held her round the waist and helped her to her feet.
She put her arms around his neck and then he saw her wrists, bruised and sore.
"What have they done to you? Annia, you're hurt." His eyes flashed at the painful marks and his head pounded at the thought.
"It's nothing, please, if you go, then they'll leave me alone, I'm sure. Go back to the castle." Her voice was calmer now, more measured as she tried to reason with him. But he knew the ways of the Death Eaters only too well; they wouldn't leave her alone until he either returned or was killed.
"No Annia, I must stay here, don't you understand. I'll always be here to protect you. I won't let them harm you again." And he gently moved her arms down from round his neck and caressed her as she stood limply, leaning into his steadfast frame.
They stood like that for some time, locked in an embrace that seemed too precious to break, he wanted to tell her what she had done for him, despite it all, but the words weren't there, they never had been. He had never heard those vital loving words spoken to him in the past and he felt unable to utter them now.
So they remained in silence, he kissed her hair and breathed in her very essence, the mix of herbs he had concocted still evident, a sweet heady aroma he couldn't place but it was her smell and he wanted to suffocate in it
But then Annia lifted her head away from Snapes chest and tossed her hair from her face.
"Are you hungry?" And she broke away from him to go to the larder. I haven't got much, I'm afraid, I."
"Here I've brought some food from the castle, I thought we might something." He picked up the bag he had dropped earlier and placed it on the wooden table. He took out the bottle of tonic and the one of potion used to ease muscle spasms, then the food he had grabbed from the Hogwarts kitchens on his desperate flight to get here.
"It's not much, but the kitchens are quiet at this time of year."
As Annia took out the cold chicken, bread and cheese she interrupted him.
"It's fine Severus, thank you. I'm not very hungry anyway, but please have something yourself."
She sat with him and cut some bread as they both picked at the food and he thought of what was to come, soon, maybe tonight. He got up and walked round the two rooms, his wand out, muttering a charm to protect the door and the two small windows and one in their bedchamber
"Will we be safe now?" Annia asked as she watched him perform this task.
"It should at least give us time to be ready, for when they come back, but it won't hold for long."
"If, they come back. They may decide to forget about you, if you won't go willingly. He wants your mind Severus not just your flesh."
Her words were more hopeful now than earnest, clearly she too realised their desperate plight, but needed to maintain her positive spirit.
"No Annia they will come back. I know it, Voldemort will never let me live freely again. I will always be waiting for him, watching for a sign that he is near, whatever happens."
He stood before her and she felt the anguish he had been trying to suppress, to save her from the torment he endured.
"Sit and have some wine, I need to rest for a while." She stood up sharply and went into the bedroom and shut the door.
Annia flopped onto her bed, she curled up, squeezing a pillow to her face and began to cry bitterly. If only he would keep away, then he would be safe and she could face whatever the Death Eaters brought without the guilt of hurting him anymore. She should never have fallen for him, truly loved him but used him as she had been manipulated to do. But here he was and clearly he would not leave. So she dried her face and prepared herself for him.
Snape went to the door but then sat back down. She wanted to be alone, he understood, it would be worse for her if the curse took hold once more. But it was getting dark now and he began to feel perturbed by the silence from her bedchamber, but then the door opened. Annia stepped out, she had changed into a plain white night dress. He had never seen her look so enchanting, that simple garment seemed only to reflect her stunning features and shimmering silver hair, falling over her neat shoulders.
"Come here Severus, I want you to hold me."
He desired her more than ever, despite the dire situation, maybe, because of it. So as he stood up he pulled off his shirt, which he had worn for the last two days, and walked towards her, a vision of delusional purity. He gathered her up with one arm round her waist and swept her hair back from her face as she looked up at him.
His breathing was heavy and he wanted to absorb her with every deepening breath until he dropped his face onto her neck and let his mouth take in her sweet tasting skin.
She grabbed on to his arms as he leant over her and she felt herself being overwhelmed by his physical presence. It was all she had yearned for and she let him take all of her weight as she dropped her grip and succumbed to his will.
Then he scooped her up and took her the couple of paces back to their bed, where she dropped lightly onto the deep burgundy bedding. He knelt down beside her and caressed her face and neck then worked down the long row of pearl buttons on her nightgown.
With the garment undone but still in place he slipped down off the bed to remove the rest of his own clothes. As he stood naked before her, she sat up and let the loose cotton nightdress slip from her shoulders to reveal her softly curved breasts and she held out a hand.
Snape took her outstretched hand and knelt in front of her, his phallus hardening as he noticed a bead of perspiration run between her breasts, down her stomach. He leaned forward to halt the drop with his tongue and then traced its path back up to her neck, until she was forced to submit to his tongue's demands. She fell back onto the bed as his tongue moved to her breasts and circled each erect nipple in turn. His weight was supported by his bent arms either side of Annia and she held on to his taut biceps as he sucked harder and licked her glistening flesh. She pushed her nightgown down and as she lifted her body his tongue felt the soft mound under her pubic hair and it reached down to taste her moist quim. And he licked greedily at the undulating folds and she gripped his arms tighter, digging her fingernails into the hard muscles.
Then she freed her feet from the constraining garment and manoeuvred her legs either side of his rigid frame.
Her legs wrapped round his, and pulled him down from his supported position so that he was pressed hard into her warm body. He shifted slightly to direct his cock into the moist depths of her cunt, and as the suppressed air from his chest let out, he mouthed close to her face,
"Annia, I love you."
