Chapter 41. Reward
"Muggle studies? You're joking?" Alecto spat.
"The Dark Lord see's it fit that you teach the students of Hogwarts how lesser Muggles are than us." The voice of Severus Snape drawled. Astrid was listening carefully from behind the drapes up the stairs.
"What's he get?" Alecto asked, her voice laced with attitude and distaste.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts." Snape said with a sigh.
"What!?" Alecto spat. Amycus could be heard laughing in the background.
"Look sis, maybe if you were less of a cockroach you'd get the good jobs," Amycus sneered with humour on his tongue. The two siblings started bickering and that's when Astrid lost interest in the happenings of the headmaster's office down the stairs. She dropped the beaters bat on the bed and padded over to the marbled bathroom where she stared at her reflection. She still had some mascara stains on her cheeks, her lips dry and cracked, her hair greasy. Her skin felt uncomfortable, unclean.
With a long sigh she stepped out of her red dress, balling it up and throwing the dirty garment in the sink, she undressed further and threw her underwear in the sink too. With a sigh she pumped some hand soap onto the soiled clothes and filled the sink with water, allowing them to soak.
She looked over her body in the mirror, a few silvery stretch marks scorched her skin below her belly button, only visible in some light but they were there. Her ribs were lightly visible, her collarbone jutted out more than ever. She had abused and mistreated her body in her recent dark times, eating very little had caught up with her, and she was beginning to look almost poorly. The thought of eating though… made her sick to her stomach. How could she indulge in food in a time like this?
Astrid slipped off her emerald ring, carefully setting it aside on a small dish and stepped in the shower, she allowed the hot water to run over her head and down her body. Washing away the dirt and sweat that clung to her. But even here she felt guilty, enjoying the way the water fell on her skin, caressing it.
When she got out, she wrapped a white towel around herself tightly and re-entered the chambers. Opening the armoire, she wasn't quite sure why she expected to find her own clothes in there, instead she was faced with a lot of black robes, trousers and jackets, and the odd white shirt, Snape had clearly claimed the hanging space. Astrid sighed as she realised her trunk was still at the Weasleys, and in it all her possessions, and by extensions, her clothes.
She sat for a moment on the bed as she contemplated putting on her now soaked red dress. She could hear conversation down the stairs, something about how the Carrows couldn't be bothered hosting quidditch this school year, and they should host duels in the Great Hall instead. Astrid switched off to it, the more she heard the more annoyed she grew.
With a huff she moved back to the armoire and took a white shirt from a hanger, and in the drawer below found a pair of black boxer shorts. She groaned inwardly as she stepped into the shorts, pulling them up under her towel. Whilst she felt disgusting for wearing his clothes, it was the most comfortable of the options available to her. Behind the vintage screen she allowed the towel to eventually drop whilst she pulled the ironed shirt over her body. She buttoned it up quickly and glanced to the mirror, it was ridiculously oversized, and more like a dress on her petite frame, the hem reaching her mid-thigh and completely covering the loose boxers that she covered her pride with. Still, it was better than the other two alternatives: towel or soaking red dress. She pulled her still dripping hair out of the neckline and allowed it to trail down her back in soft wet waves, the damp hairs clung to the crisp white shirt.
"It's cosier than I remember in here," Astrid could hear Amycus speak.
"Don't touch, Carrow. Some of these items are incredibly rare and dangerous… unless you wish to lose a hand keep them to yourself," Severus scolded.
"The old fool had it good," Alecto chimed.
"So does Severus now," Astrid detected an annoyed tone in Amycus as he spoke, "Where is your wench by the way?"
Astrid clenched her fists at Amycus' words as her stomach did angry flips. She tiptoed over to the drapes and spied from behind them, only seeing the top of Amycus' head as he paced about the office. Alecto was presumably sat in the chair in front of the headmaster's desk, out of sight.
"Upstairs, in the chambers." Severus replied with boredom after a moment's hesitation.
"I might go get her," Amycus laughed as he began walking towards the stairs. "See how she's… settling in."
"No," Severus called out firmly, stopping Amycus in his tracks. "Do you really think I want the likes of you in my private chambers?"
"Order her down then?" Amycus proposed. "It's only polite since she's going to be teaching alongside us, just want to a proper introduction to the young professor,"
"What does she teach again?" Alecto asked Severus. Astrid's heart began to beat more rapidly as she listened to the death eaters discuss her. The feeling of nervous and uncomfortable nausea rose from her stomach to her throat.
"History of Magic," Amycus replied before Snape could. "So, are you going to call her down Severus? Or… will I have to meet her in her classroom when term starts?"
Severus narrowed his eyes on the pointy featured man, he was obviously trying to establish himself, show Snape he wasn't going to be ordered around like the other professors. Amycus knew he couldn't push Snapes buttons too far though, being the Dark Lords favourite, so he made his threat beneath the surface. Snape inhaled deeply through his nose as he sat back in his chair. Alecto and Amycus looked at Snape with testing eyes.
"Astrid," Severus' deep voice called out. "Come here girl."
Astrid took a sharp intake of breath at his call, as much as she needed and enjoyed her shower, she regretted it now. She furrowed her brows and scrunched up her nose as she thought about what the Carrows, especially Amycus's, reaction would be to see her dressed in such attire. She shook her head and pushed back stray face framing hairs that stuck to her temples.
"Now." Severus' tone was more intense, it read as annoyed, if not angry, at her hesitancy. Taking a deep breath and running her hand across her heart briefly she stepped through the drapes onto the balcony that overlooked the office. On trembling legs, she made her way down the stairs, each movement carefully watched by the twins. Severus didn't even look in her direction, indifferent to her presence.
"Staking a claim already, you move fast Severus," Amycus smirked with a disgusting wink. Severus moved his head slightly to spy Astrid stepping off the last stair, dressed in one of his white shirts he often wore under his black buttoned jacket, her hair was wet and spiralled in soft mermaid waves. He'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't appreciate the sight, in fact it made him feel a ping of desire inside. A feeling he quickly buried deep at the back of himself.
Astrid hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for something, but she didn't know what. Astrid avoided looking in the direction of the Carrows, their smug little faces were enough to make her sick. She made eye contact with Severus, and felt him push against her mind, trying to access her thoughts. In that moment she allowed him.
Come to me, now. Don't speak.
With a deep breath Astrid did as he said and approached his desk wearily. She stopped at his side and clasped her hands together in front of her, her fingers fidgeting against each other nervously.
"Astrid… I believe you've already encountered these two… but apparently formal introductions are required," Snape sneered. "Alecto and Amycus Carrow, brother and sister, they will be taking up teaching positions here in Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Pleasure," Amycus slithered, licking his lips. He approached the desk and held out his hand. His face was unpleasant, a sly grin plastered on his lips.
"I fail to see what all the fuss is about with this one," Alecto sighed in a bored tone as she looked Astrid up and down with a sneer from her arm chair.
"You would say that, you old hag." Amycus rolled his eyes at his sister's blatant jealousy of the girl. He leaned against the side of his sister's arm chair, skulking his arm around the back of it. "I for one…" he looked over the girl, his eyes trailed over Astrid's body, undressing her mentally. She felt as if she needed to shower all over again as she felt his disgusting gaze. "… can definitely see why she's so… coveted." Amycus licked his lips and pressed his tongue to his cheek as he smirked at the words he was about to say… "I'll be taking a slice of her when you grow bored Severus… maybe she can pop me a baby or two."
Snape slammed his palms down on the desk, and rose out of his seat, leaning towards the Carrows, who were now stoney faced. Astrid closed her eyes and pushed down the sickly disgusted feeling inside of her as she processed Amycus' words, she told herself she wouldn't cry, she would be strong, but her eyes began to sting at the sickly thoughts that entered her head.
"The girl is mine!" He spat with a growl. Severus calmed and slowly slunk down into his seat again, but he never took his eye off the male Carrow. "If you even think about touching her… Azkaban will be a distant fond memory." Snape snarled. Amycus gritted his teeth and tensed his jaw in defiance. Snape reached out quickly, grasping Astrid's arm he pulled her roughly to his lap, knocking the air out of her. She whimpered in fear as Snape wrapped a strong hand around her thigh, the other smoothed down her wet hair before gently wrapping around her neck. "She is my reward, bestowed upon me by the Dark Lord for my loyalty and dedication… perhaps when you do something of significance Carrow you will get your own reward." Snape hissed as he caressed Astrids thigh. Amycus averted his gaze, his face tense with disdain. Alecto smiled at her brothers put down, her tongue running across her yellow teeth.
"Now, leave us. There's still much for you to do in securing the castle… go," Snape sneered waving them off. Alecto got up on command and slinked to the door, Amycus was more hesitant, eyeing snape distastefully he turned slowly and followed after his sister.
"If you have a problem being under my command here Amycus, you can always take it up with the Dark Lord." Snape called after the retreating man. When the door has closed and sufficient time had passed for the Carrows to slither back to the hole they came from, Astrid pushed herself from Snapes hold.
"Get off me," she hissed removing his hand and jumping from his lap, moved to the end of the desk and leaning against it pressed her hand to her heart where it beat like piston in her chest. Her stomach faired no better, she was sick to the pit of it.
"I apologise for that, but it was necessary." Severus sighed as he stood. "Are you alright?"
"No," Astrid hissed as he came to stand in front of her, she shook her head. "That was… I feel disgusting."
"Calm yourself, you're overreacting as usual." Snape sighed, he reached out a hand and tugged at the cuff of the shirt she wore. "Care to explain this?"
Astrid looked away, embarrassed by her attire. She tried to keep a blush from appearing on her freckled cheeks, why was she even blushing in the first place?
"I don't have any clothes," She murmured, crossing her arms over her chest. "My trunk is at the Burrow."
"Ah, yes…" Snape's dull voice breathed, "an oversight on my part, I apologise. For… obvious reasons… your trunk is not likely to be fetched. But… I will arrange something."
"Thank you," Astrid grumbled, she didn't want to thank him for anything, but her father brought her up to be well mannered, even when he himself lacked basic ones sometimes.
"Other than clothing and basic… toiletries, is there anything else you need that I can fetch you?" Severus offered, he was actually showing a rarely kind and thoughtful side to him, a side that was always there, just buried, deep beneath the surface.
"Everly." Astrid said, she was completely serious.
"Astrid, I cannot, you know that," Severus sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, mirroring her stance.
"Will I ever get to see her again?" Astrid asked breathily, her voice was brittle. Her stomach flipped wildly causing her fingers to tremble lightly.
"In time… I will tell the Dark Lord of your… good behaviour, I will try earn you some time with her, rewards to keep you… sweet. But I cannot make any promises that this will come into fruition; the Dark Lord can be… unpredictable in nature." Severus sighed. Astrid nodded, thankful at least that he would try.
"Where is your ring?" Severus asked, noticing her empty finger.
"Upstairs, I took it off to shower…" She sighed as she rubbed her ring finger.
"Good… this will be hard, but you cannot wear it, not when you are supposedly meant to be mine… I will keep it safe, lock it away until you can be reunited." Though his words were far from what she wanted to hear, Astrid nodded in agreement, he was right of course. And he was oddly not harsh about it, his words were almost tender.
"Now, has your heart slowed? Do you feel improved?" Severus asked. She nodded slowly as she felt her heartbeat. It definitely was not resting, but it wasn't dangerously racing either.
"Yes, it's fine… but I feel…" Astrid hand left her chest and fell to her stomach, "… I feel uneasy, a little nauseous."
"When did you last eat? I'll summon a house elf from the kitchens."
Astrid's nausea rose up from her stomach at the thought of having to eat, and she swiftly found herself moving for the stairs, her bare feet bouncing up them as quickly as they could. Snape, concerned by her sudden departure followed after her with stern furrowed brows. Astrid covered her mouth as she ran for the bathroom, and making it just in time she fell to her knees at the toilet bowl and emptied her stomach into its depth. Snape arrived just in time for the first heave, and against his better judgement he knelt down on knee and held back the girls soft damp waves with one hand and patted her back with the other.
"S-sorry." She stammered, pushing herself away from the bowl Severus gently released her and watched as she pressed her back up against the cool marble. The headmaster raised his hand to her forehead, feeling her temperature, but she pushed his hand away weakly.
"I'm not sick," She sighed, leaning her head back against the hard cold surface, she closed her eyes and shook her head, a small tear escaped her right eye and trailed down her cheek "I think… I'm with child."