Chapter 29
Severus was incensed; having Nichol back at Hogwarts was like rubbing salt into an already aching wound. He was pleased to see her again, what man wouldn't be pleased to see a woman as striking as Nichol – but knowing she had chosen Malfoy over him. Actually she had not even known that he was there for her, because he had been too much of a damn idiot to tell her, and that's what frustrated him most of all. Because of his own cowardice he had once again lost out, she was going to be married and to of all people, Malfoy!
Of course it did not help that Nichol had her powers now, and she obviously knew that he had known and kept this from her – oh she had not said anything, but she was definitely icy towards him now. Maybe he should try to explain to her his reasons for helping keep her past hidden from her?
Nichol was enjoying being back at Hogwarts, she had had missed her students. As a rule she was not usually a fan of children, but their excitement and exuberance was contagious and made her feel useful when they asked her questions and actually appeared interested the answers. She knew that Severus had been trying to speak with her. But she did not trust him now, he had known everything and had not told her, she had thought he was her friend and she felt he had betrayed her, so she avoided him.
To be honest Nichol had very little time for anything, she was popping home to spend evenings with Lucius – often arriving back at school for her classes the next day. She also had dates with her new friend Madame Malkin, they would sneak off and act like muggles for the night, going to the cinema or restaurants. She had also not been feeling so well and had been to see Madame Pomfrey and her own muggle doctor and was awaiting the results of a few tests. So avoiding Severus was not difficult.
Severus had been trying to speak with Nichol for weeks now, but he never got the chance. She always ignored him if they passed in the corridor, he might as well have been invisible to her. When she was in her classroom she was never alone, there were always damn students hanging around wishing to speak with her. Severus had also discovered that her private rooms were no longer next to his own and no doubt Lucius had aided her in warding them, as he could not even open the doors and if she herself had gone through the door he found that he was unable to follow even through the open door.
The Potions Master was in turmoil and he was growing more and more desperate and angry with her. He needed a way to get to her and to punish both her and Lucius. He tried once more to speak with Nichol, but once again she had students with her after the class had ended. He was extremely frustrated as he swept from her classroom. After visiting his potions lab to collect something her headed towards her rooms, checking the corridor was empty before moving aside the tapestry on the wall and slipping silently into the hidden corridor to wait.
It was about 15-20 minutes later that he heard her heels approaching down the corridor. As she passed the tapestry Severus silently checked that she was alone, and she was. Without even thinking straight, he crept out of his hiding place and quickly grabbed her from behind. With one hand over her mouth to stop her screaming and his other arm around her waist, he lifted her off her feet and carried her back into the secret passage. Once inside the darkness he didn't move, he had not planned on doing this, or had he? He had no idea what to do next, but the feel of her body against his trying to catch her breath and trying to wriggle out of his grasp was exciting him. Holding her closer he considered letting her go and trying to explain, but something dark inside him told him not to be a fool; with her like this he could take want he desired and at the same time hurt both her and Lucius.
Formulating a plan in his mind Severus dragged Nichol with him down the corridor towards his own rooms. Slipping through the door into his lab he closed and warded the door behind him. Heading for the bookshelves he let go of Nichol briefly and reached for one of the older books and a section of the bookshelves opened up, beyond them stone steps led down into the darkness. He reached back for Nichol but she was gone, he turned and she was trying to open the door to leave his rooms. Knowing she would never get the door open he reached into his cloak and took out a small bottle, heading to Nichol by the door he grabbed her once again; opening the bottle with one hand he held it under Nichol's nose. Feeling her sway he held her tighter and then she collapsed completely into his arms, he could not help but smile a little; now she was his …
When Nichol woke she recognised the room she was in as Severus'. Trying to sit up she saw that she was laying on his bed, the room swam before her eyes. 'Oh gawd…' she sighed 'my head is killing me – would it kill these bastards to stop bloody drugging me!'
Severus walked into the room as though nothing was amiss 'Ah, you are awake I see. Good morning, I brought you some tea.'
'How the hell did I get here Severus?' Nichol asked.
'I brought you here of course…'
Nichol ignored the tea Severus had put down for her and climbed from the bed. On unsteady legs she headed for the door.
'It's locked Nichol' Severus smiled.
'What are you playing at Severus, let me out of here.'
Nichol banged on the door and yelled, hoping to draw the attention of anyone passing.
'The door is warded with a silencing charm no one will hear you. Besides, no one comes down here' he shrugged 'now come and drink your tea. Would you like some breakfast now or would you prefer to wait a while?'
'Severus let me out of here immediately!'
'I'm sorry Nichol, but I cannot do that' he walked over to her and stood in front of her, leaning towards her he placed his palms flat against the door either side of her head. 'No one knows you are here, I sent a note to Dumbledore in your hand and name saying you were leaving and going back to … him.' The venom in his voice was more than evident when he spat out this last word. Leaning closer it seemed that he was about to kiss her, but instead he grabbed her wrist and dragged her back towards his bed. 'I tried to be patient Nichol, I tried to win your heart, I saved you from that man … but you, you chose to go back to him.'
Nichol tripped and fell as he was dragging her, but he did not stop, he held her wrist tighter and continued towards the bed 'please, Severus, stop this …'
Once at the side of the bed he lifted her as though she were weightless and threw her onto the bed 'you were meant to be mine Nichol, not his, I will not let him take another thing from me. He cannot have you!'
'Severus…' she pleaded 'you are sounding like a madman, please, let me go.'
'You don't understand Nichol; I have always been in his shadow, as a child, as a young man, even the dark lord chose him over me!' Nichol could not bear to look at him, the obvious hatred towards Lucius was contorting his face into that of a lunatic 'he does not care about you - you know that don't you? He just saw you as a challenge and then as a way to get to me. Did you know he intends to turn your over to Voldemort? No, I don't suppose he ever mentioned?'
With Nichol flat on her back upon his bed, Severus knelt astride her and tore open her robes 'I tried so hard to be … nice' he almost gagged on the word 'but you wanted the bad guy eh?' he reached to the bedside cabinet and took a knife from the drawer 'I am the bad guy too Nichol, and I will not lose out again to Lucius Malfoy!' He slipped the knife under the neckline of the simple dress she wore under her teachers robes, slitting the dress by a couple of inches, just enough to expose her bra. 'I have wanted you for so long' he leant down and kissed her neck gently before biting her, causing her to scream. He reached for her dress where he had cut it and tore the fabric apart in several sharp tugs. 'Sit up!' he ordered her, when she did not move he grabbed her hair and dragged her so that she was sitting. Sliding her torn clothes down her arms and then letting her drop back onto the bed. Running his palm down from her neck, between her breasts and then over her stomach.
'He took her from me too you know … Narcissa would have been mine but for him.' Grabbing her clothes he ripped them from beneath her, the friction burning her. Kneeling back over her he placed his hands onto her hips and then stroking inwards towards her stomach once more, running his fingers over her stomach and smiling maniacally. 'You know the little bastard is not his don't you?' He waited for her to realise what he meant before continuing 'Draco, is not Lucius' son …' he sneered. 'Narcissa is and always was a slut; she has no idea who his father is, but it is not Lucius'. To be honest I am not even sure that the perfect Lucius Malfoy is even capable of spawning an heir.'
'Don't be ridiculous of course Draco is Lucius' son …' Nichol spat back.
'No, he is not, she came to me for help, when the bastard was born, she knew, she wanted – no needed – Lucius and was afraid that he would want rid of her. She came to me for a potion; this would make the wretched little creature take on the features of another. She brought me some of Lucius' hair; this was added to the potion and then fed to Draco, which is why he looks like Malfoy …'
'Why would you even help with such a plan?'
'Why?' he laughed 'Why? Because I hate him, he has always come first in everything and by helping Narcissa I would always know this one truth and know that he has never managed to sire an heir.'
'But what do I have to do with this?'
'You are here because I care about you Nichol' he stroked her cheek 'I will not let Malfoy corrupt you; you are too pure to be with a man like that.'
'You call this caring? Severus you are insane!'
'No, I am not!' he grabbed Nichol around the throat 'he used to call me that, and his group of moronic friends called me that, but I will show him …'
Nichol was gasping for breath, convinced that she was about to die. Severus bent over and kissed her, releasing his grip on her throat slowly so that she could breathe again.
'Severus, please, let me go – I will not mention any of this' she said pleading with him.
'I cannot do that. By the time anyone looks for you, you will be mine.' Picking up his discarded knife once more he cut through the straps of her bra and then cutting through the centre and then throwing the shredded bra onto the floor. 'Ohhh' he sighed, running his palms over her now naked breasts and then pinching her nipples as they grew erect in the cool air of the room. 'You have no idea how long I have waited for you to come to me like this.'
'I did not come to you, you bloody maniac! You kidnapped me!' she managed to reach out and scratched his cheek. Severus slapped her across the face. Picking up his wand he pointed it at her and said 'imobulus!' Nichol found that she could not move or speak.
Severus stood and slowly unbuttoned his robes, All the while speaking with her as though they were in conversation … 'I have given your suggestion some thought my love. I believe it would work – no one would standing in the way of our marriage once you are carrying my child – I know you wished to come to me on our wedding night a virgin bride – let us hold this to be our wedding bed and plant a seed within your womb that will quicken into life.' He stood before her – now totally naked, his manhood standing proud. Nichol knew there was now nothing she could do to stop this and she could see the insanity that lie behind Severus' eyes. Still unable to move or speak, she wept silent tears. Severus raised her hands towards the head of the bed and secured them there – then he saw her tears 'oh my love, you weep your last virginal tears on this our wedding night, don't fear me, I will be gentle …'
He pointed his wand to her once more 'finite incantatum.' Nichol was once again free.
'Please, Severus, don't do this – you will not hurt Malfoy, just me … you cannot want that?'
'Oh it will hurt him, once we are married and you are carrying my child, then I will let Malfoy know that he is the end of the Malfoy line – he has let down his ancestors by providing no heir to the line, it dies with him!'
'I will not marry you Severus!'
He grinned at her, but it was a cold grin that turned her blood cold.
'You will marry me my love, tonight we will consummate our marriage and you will be staying here until my child is growing within you …'
He gripped her throat once more and squeezed, 'I will have you Nichol, or no one will!'
Nichol had no idea what happened next as she could not breathe and slipped into unconsciousness.
Professor Dumbledore was in his office when both Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall both bustled in to see him, both speaking at once. 'Ladies, ladies, please calm down I cannot hear you both at the same time…'
Professor McGonagall indicated that Madame Pomfrey should speak first, and so she did, telling both the Professors that she had done some tests for Professor Reynard and that she now could not contact her with the results.
Dumbledore reminded her that Nichol had sent him a message indicating her wish to return home to Malfoy Manor for a while and told Madame Pomfrey to contact her there.
He then spoke to Professor McGonagall, 'Minerva, you also have a problem?'
Professor McGonagall then spoke telling Dumbledore how an owl had been repeatedly coming back to the school for Professor Reynard, despite the owl and sender being informed that she was not at the school. Now she had a visitor – Madame Malkin was here claiming she was to meet Nichol, they were apparently going to Nichol's muggle home to spend the night watching something call moofies.
'Hmm, strange' said Dumbledore 'the owl seems insistent that she is here? And so does the sender? Who is sending this owl Minerva?'
Professor McGonagall looked concerned 'Lucius Malfoy Headmaster …'
At this point Dumbledore realised that there was a big problem, if Lucius was looking at Hogwarts for Nichol then she must not be at Malfoy Manor with him, also owls know where there recipient is, and they – except in the case of a certain owl owned by the Weasleys – are very rarely wrong, so if the owl believed Nichol was here at Hogwarts then this is where she must be.
The castle was huge and it would take forever to search for a missing person. Then inspiration struck him, 'Minerva, please get Mr Potter for me urgently and have him bring his map of Hogwarts with him!'
When Minerva returned with Harry in tow, Dumbledore had his open and activate his map, he asked for the map to locate Professor Reynard and there she was, in Severus' rooms 'how very strange' he mused. He thanked and dismissed Harry, sending him back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey he asked to accompany him.
Later that day Dumbledore was sitting beside Nichol's bed in the school infirmary. He felt so very old, it had taken both him and Minerva over 15 minutes to break through the wards Severus had placed on the door to his rooms. They had finally found him slumped over the naked body of Nichol who appeared to be dead.
Severus had now been dispatched to St Mungo's; he had been rambling about Nichol being his wife and something about his child being inside her now. It was more than apparent to both Albus and Minerva that Severus had lost his mind and that he had raped the poor girl. The one thing in his favour was when Nichol moaned and tried to move … he was lucky that she was alive.
Now here she was in the Infirmary, she had woken just once and spoken with Madame Pomfrey, they had spoken briefly before he saw Poppy nod and Nichol had sobbed and fallen unconscious again. When he had spoken with Poppy she had declined to tell him what they had spoken about, claiming it to be a personal medical matter.
So here he sat watching over his unconscious professor, wondering how he had not noticed Severus slipping into insanity and how he had not been able to protect this you woman from him. The door creaking alerted him to the arrival of someone else into the Infirmary and he had the feeling he knew who it was, and prepared for the onslaught of anger from him.
'DUMBLEDORE!' Lucius raged as he marched over to Nichol's bedside 'what in Merlin's name happened here?'
'Ah Lucius, I have been expecting you…' the old man replied wearily.
Lucius was furious and his eyes blazed with anger and also triumph. 'How could you not realise that a member of your staff was so, so unstable?' he hissed. Leaning over he picked up Nichol's limp form and held her over his arms and tightly against his body.
'Where are you taking her?' Dumbledore queried.
'I am taking her home where I can keep her safe, unlike here … you can be assured that the Ministry and Governors will be hearing about this. If you cannot protect your Professors how can you protect our children?' Turning on his heel 'I will have you removed as Headmaster or Hogwarts closed before the end of the week!' he then swept from the room taking Nichol with him.