Chapter 25

Recollection

Taya was in her study when Severus arrived pale faced and obviously perturbed. She looked up from what she was doing and turned around.

With unfettered access to both quarters both of them could gain entrance freely without the annoyance of asking admittance or waiting at the threshold to be let in.

"I had another nightmare," he said coldly. Taya looked at him with surprise. She felt or sensed no indication that he had a bad dream.

"Oh Severus, I'm sorry. I must have been concentrating so hard that-"

"There is no need to apologise," he said with a sigh and slumped down on an easy chair close to the desk. Taya smiled and clasped her hands together. The professor sneered at her and let his rage extinguish any control he had over him in the given circumstances.

"This feels like a god damned doctor's office," he growled as he got up and began pacing the small room.

A hand clasped around his upper arm and he spun around.

"Then perhaps we better go into the other room?" She enquired.

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "My temper you see seems to have a will of it's own lately."

"Come on then." The stepped into the living chamber. "Do you want to sit or lie down and let the 'doctor' examine you?"

"Don't be stupid," he spat. "This isn't the time or the place. It's serious."

"I know," she soothed.

"I... think I want to tell you what happened to me out loud."

"Okay."

Taya sat down on the couch near the fire, the one she had enlarged from a chair months before. She patted the cushions with her hand indicating him to sit beside her. Severus did so and slumped bodily beside her then twisted to pull his cloak free. With an annoyed grunt he yanked it from under him then flung it onto the chair next to the sofa.

"Lay back," said Taya as she pushed herself hard against the arm rest and made room for his head to rest against her body. Severus moved, curling his long form into a foetal position and lent his head and shoulders against her breasts.

There was silence. He became aware of her stroking fingers on his face. For a long moment he closed his eyes relishing her touch. He suddenly felt quite warm and comforted. He realised he could very well fall asleep in that position but that wasn't the reason why he came to see her.

Severus opened his weary eyes when he heard the whisper of her voice calling his name. He stirred and realised that he had indeed fallen asleep. He shifted his position so that he could curl one arm around her and that she could lay down on her side as well. Pressed against each other in such close proximity made him feel cherished. He lent his face into her warm bosom breathing in her scent. He felt ever so drowsy.

"Severus?" She called again.

He looked up at her for an instant then once again eased his head against her warm soft curves.

"I had just finished my lesson and the children had gone," he began. "I was annoyed with them for leaving the classroom in such a state but felt to weary to do anything about it that night. As I came down the stairs I sensed a forbidding presence. The next minute Lorsekruker appeared and before I could do anything he had grasped my throat. I struggled to free myself.'

"I told him that he should have been in Azkaban. I asked him why he was here. He never answered me, but I already knew the answer. It was a silly question really, because it was so plainly obvious. Then he insulted the Headmaster." Severus swallowed.

"It's okay," she said. "Go on."

"I told Lorsekruker that he didn't have a chance in hell before he was recognised. He told me he escaped and made it out of the country. Spent years abroad, biding his time I suppose." Taya nodded.

"Yes. That bit you told the Headmaster."

"I tried to retaliate but Lorsekruker was too strong. I was still feeling unwell from that morning."

"When you were sick?"

"Yes." Severus paused as if debating his next words. "Then he said some stuff about you. You realise he was only trying to make me react."

"I understand Severus.

"Of cause I did react trying to defend your honour and he snapped my wand, rendering it into two useless pieces of wood. Next he asked me where my classroom was."

"You had no choice you know," she whispered.

"I wish I had run, but-"

"We all think of alternatives after things happen."

"He thrust his wand against my chest. I tried to scare him by threats of death if he didn't remove it. Instead he laughed. I contemplated my next move and summoned various scenarios. All pretty useless. At that moment I knew what I had to do. Kicking him in the... the balls probably wouldn't give me enough time to get away or extract his wand form him. I was under a rather substantial amount of stress at the time so the only feasible choice remaining open to me was to try and force Lorsekruker to give up the wand by force."

"That's when you burnt your hands?"

Yes. Quite correct. He carried on about the classroom again. I realised that I had no way out and he already shocked me with a bolt of electricity. At that point it was quite painless, but just to prove the point again he administered another jolt as he pushed me back up the stares. This time it wasn't so painless. I think he did the 'aortiraica curse.'

Taya moved against him. Her hand rested against the right side of his chest over his heart. "Bloody hell Severus, that must have been-"

"Quite. Gradually the pain did subside enough for me to open the door and he pushed me inside the darkened room which abruptly lit up from the 'Lumos 'spell.'

"Lorsekruker pressed the crystal ball into me and said a few nasty words."

"About me?"

"I called him a lying pervert."

"Do you think he really saw us ...?"

Severus looked repulsed and fearful. "I don't know," he said. "I hope not. If he did..." his jaw clenched. It was a familiar reaction to stress for him. Severus sat up on the edge of the sofa, now unable to face her. He felt her move and slide beside him.

"I love you," she traced. Severus looked down at her hands as they clasped his and enjoyed the feeling of her thumbs rubbing against the fleshy mounds of his slightly closed palms. He turned his head to look at her. She was smiling. He reached out and took a coil of her dark hair between his fingers then let go. It sprang back, dangling seductively against her face. He leaned close and they gently kissed. Only when she heard a stifled sob did she pull away. Tears slid freely without restraint down his sallow cheeks. Severus curved over, leaning forward and he squeezed his eyes shut.

"I was scared witless and could no longer defend myself. He then used the 'Imobilus Totalus' curse so that my body wouldn't be ridged when-"

"I know. I know," she soothed.

"That is when I fell and hit the floor with such force that it collided with my coccyx, twisted my shoulder and shattered my right shoulder blade to smithereens. I knew that I was dangerously close to shock. All Lorsekruker did was laugh and say 'not so tough now are we?''

"My whole body was numb including my tongue and I nearly suffocated. He said that he didn't want to, um have... he said 'Resumaus,' but he kicked me for it all the same."

"That's why you were gagged when I found you." For a moment his eyes seemed glazed and vacant. Inside a new memory resurfaced. It was Taya gently pulling off the gag and wiping his mouth of the blood and spittle.

He looked back at her in the present. Severus glowered dangerously and stood up. Making a quick grab for his cloak he headed towards the door only to stop when her arms slid around him and she had pressed herself against his back. He moaned in defeat and submission as her hands came to rest against his stomach then he slumped and let her take him over to the bed. She sat him down and Taya herself sat cross legged beside him.

"Sorry," he moaned wiping his wet face on the cuff of his jacket. He already knew that he had no reason to be sorry but wanted Taya to tell him anyway.

"There's no reason to be," she said. "You know that." He nodded.

"He told me that I had a lot of debts to pay because I left the Death Eaters and returned to the good side. I told him he was mad. He pushed my head up so all I could see were the beams in the ceiling." He swallowed. "Then I passed out." He was about to say something more but stopped, frowning at the floor. He felt suddenly so very tired. A second later his eyes flickered closed for a moment then opened them again when he heard Taya call him.

"What is it Severus? How do you feel now?"

"Bloody awful."

"Come on. Get yourself undressed and rest. I'll still be here only in my office if you need me."

"What is the time?"

"Half past three," she replied looking at her watch. Taya stepped over to the window and drew the curtains closed, blocking out the sunlight that flood into the room.

I feel bloody crapping, terrible more like, thought the professor as he lay down against the soft sheets and closed his eyes.