Trigger warning for this chapter - attempted non-consensual relations.
Chapter 46.
Severus didn't come back that morning, or that day, or the next… or the one after that. The Carrows seemed suspicious of his absence… it appeared the headmaster had informed nobody of his whereabouts.
"Where your master wench?" Amycus asked, slamming his fist down next to Astrid's dinner plate in the Great Hall. He leant over her in her chair, a hand either side of her on the table, his lips hissed in her ear, "I've been four times to see him… and he's nowhere to be found… he's supposed to inform us if he ever leaves the grounds…"
"He's… been popping in and out of the forbidden forest, conducting business for… the Dark Lord." Astrid lied. She lied to protect the students, and to protect herself, as long as the Carrows believed Snape to be in Hogwarts, on the grounds, he was still in charge and they were kept muzzled.
"What business?" Amycus spat. Eyes were starting to be drawn to the pair, of staff and students. The great hall was already in silence at meal times, and now it was like you could drop a pin and still hear it from the other side.
"You think he'd tell me?" Astrid scoffed as she cut up her meat pie. Amycus sneered at her before pulling himself away and retreating back to his seat next to his sister, who shot Astrid evils down the table.
Neville, Luna and Ginny watched the confrontation out of the corner of their eyes.
"Mr Finnigan, please make sure you bring your essay to tomorrows lesson, I'm trying to be relaxed as I can with the rules and with negative enforcement but I need that essay." Astrid sighed as she passed his desk. She had made the decision to return to the classroom before the week was up, moping alone in her chambers was not doing her any help.
"Yes, professor, you'll have it tomorrow I promise." The boy sighed.
"Alright everybody you're dismissed, to your common rooms," Astrid announced as she rounded her desk and sat at her chair. She watched carefully as the students formed lines out of the classroom and marched to their houses, something Snape had introduced the previous week to keep order.
A couple of students had hung back, and Astrid correctly guessed which two it would be.
"Miss Lovegood, Mr Longbottom, something I can help you with?" Astrid asked as she neatened a pile of essays on her desk.
"We were just wondering…" Neville started.
"Is it true the headmaster is away?" Luna asked in her usual dreamy tone.
"We heard Carrow speaking to you yesterday… in fact I think the whole school did…" Neville said awkwardly, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Astrid looked about for spying eyes before whispering:
"I have no idea where he is, I haven't seen him for days," she told the duo. Neville and Luna looked at each other, a small smile on their face.
"There's something we need, in Snapes office." Neville whispered.
"Whatever it is, he will notice it missing, I assure you." Astrid breathed, trying to disparage them from breaking in and taking whatever, it was they wanted.
"He most certainly would notice, it's the sword of Gryffindor… but it's for Harry," Luna whispered with a small smile.
"For Harry? You've heard from him?"
"No, but Ron got word to Charlie who gave word to Arthur, who got word to us…" Neville explained, he knew it sounded stupid, like hearsay but he was confident to his bones that Harry needed the sword of Gryffindor.
Astrid sighed and nodded, if it was for Harry, Severus probably would not care, he wanted to help the boy as much if not more than anyone. Of course, she couldn't say that… She couldn't reveal Snape's true allegiance…
"Okay then," Astrid nodded, "I can't be involved, I need an alibi for when it's going to be stolen… Your best bet is during dinner tonight, remember it's not just Snape that could catch you, the Carrows are always down that way, especially at the moment. Go at dinner when they're stuffing their faces. Be quick about it." Astrid told them firmly. The duo nodded silently and took their leave.
Astrid graded papers until dinner time, and with a sigh she stood up and made her way to the great hall. She passed a train of marching Ravenclaws heading glumly from their tower to the feast and sighed. What had this once great school become? Astrid didn't notice the white blonde hair of Luna among them, she must already be on her way to Snapes office with Neville…
Astrid sat down in her seat and began to nibble at her roasted vegetables, she glanced up as she saw the twins skulking into the Great Hall, their faces twisted with disgust as usual. They didn't look mad though, which was a bonus… as it signalled to Astrid that Neville and Luna hadn't been caught. Amycus and Alecto split off to walk around opposite sides of the staff table, and when Amycus approached Astrids chair he stopped and leaned down to her ear with a whisper.
"Wormtail sent word… Headmaster Snape will be spending the evening with the Dark Lord… just thought you'd like to know." He slithered, his voice was far too happy about Snape's absence from the castle, it sent shivers down Astrid's spine. She said nothing to the Carrow, and eventually with a smirk he went away, seating himself at the centre of the table in the headmaster's chair. The entire Great Hall almost dropped their forks when he did. As much as the students and staff loathed Snape… Hogwarts under Amycus Carrow would be an even worse place.
As Amycus started tucking into his food everyone lowered their heads and got busy with their own plates. Astrid picked at her chicken nervously, as she kept glancing down to the twins. They shovelled food into their mouths disgustingly, washing it down with goblets of red wine. She glanced over to the Gryffindor table, Neville was no where to be seen, he was a tall boy now, his head usually poking out above the rest, but he was not there. And upon second glance she noticed a certain redheaded girl was absent too… Astid cursed mentally, the three of them would be caught if they were not careful, two slipping out was risky but doable… but three… it was a higher chance that one of the Carrows would notice. When everyone had finished eating Amycus stood lazily, leaning on the table with both hands.
"Everybody! To bed!" He ordered, and like robots all the students stood up from their benches, turned to face the rear of the hall and filtered out like army cadets. Amycus smirked at the sight, enjoying the power. The staff began to make their way out too, Astrid stood and headed towards the giant doors of The Great Hall.
"Professor Moody!" Amycus called after Astrid. He strolled towards her casually. She ignored his call and quickened her pace to the exit, slipping out with the last of the marching students. She thought she's gotten away with it but the male Carrow chased after her, shouting her name down the halls.
"Professor Moody! I'm fuckin' talking to you! Ignorant bitch!" Amycus shouted furiously, firing off a warning spell that landed in green a few meters away from Astrid's feet. She swallowed and turned obediently, with no wand to defend herself with.
"Are you fuckin' deaf?" He asked, pushing her against a wall roughly, trapping her in with his arms. "Or just fuckin rude?"
Astrid didn't answer she lowered her gaze and hoped he'd grow bored of intimidating her, like he usually did. A sharp stinging pain suddenly shot through her cheek as he slapped her hard across the face.
"I'm talking to you." Amycus spat, grabbing her chin hard and forcing her to look at him. Her skin stung, a large red mark blooming on her freckled cheek. Tears formed in her eyes, but she would not give him the satisfaction of letting them go.
"I'm tired… professor," her small voice said, "please just let me go to bed."
Amycus smirked as he looked in her eyes. He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek and sucked his teeth, making them squeak disgustingly. He nodded with a small smile playing on his cracked lips.
"Okay… yeah, if you're tired… let's get you to bed then princess." He smirked, Astrid's heart practically stopped as he grabbed her roughly and hoisted her over his shoulder easily.
"No! Get off of me!" Astrid screamed as she beat her fists on his back and kicked her legs frantically, but her fight only spurred him on. He laughed in response to her feeble attempts. One of his arms held her legs down tightly to his chest, the other reached up her skirt slowly. She screamed louder, tears now falling down her face.
"Put me down!" She cried and she tried to slap his hand away.
"Feisty one, aren't you? can see why everyone has so much… fun with you," His hand rested on her arse cheek, he gave it a rough squeeze, his nails digging into her soft skin, making her cry out. Amycus' hand then pulled away before returning with a sharp spank. Astrids tears fell to the stone floor as Amycus walked to the headmaster's office.
"I'll tell Snape and he'll-" Astrid choked out.
"Snape won't do shit, 'cause he can't do shit… he's under the Dark Lords thumb just like the rest of us," Amycus spat, "Thinks he's fuckin special, but he ain't shit. The Dark Lord don't give a fuck if I take you or not… threaten me again and I'll cut off your fuckin tongue."
Amycus arrived to the stone gargoyle minutes later with Astrid in tow over his shoulder, kicking and screaming. Upon entering the office Amycus faced a bit of an unexpected surprise.
"What the fuck are you three doing here?" Amycus spat, throwing Astrid to the floor roughly. She landed painfully on her side, and clutching her ribs she turned to see Neville, Luna and Ginny caught red handed with the sword of Gryffindor in their hands. "And what do you think you're doing with that?!" Amycus sneered drawing his wand. Neville dropped the sword instantly and held up his hands in surrender. Luna and Ginny contemplated whipping out their wands and seeing if they could fight off the Carrow, but Astrid shook her head no, knowing that they were thinking of fighting back. The two girls sighed and held up their palms too.
"You three are in for a fuckin world of torture." Amycus spat. "Go to your houses, NOW!" Amycus shouted, prodding his wand at the three students, who hesitantly stepped around the death eater. "I'll deal with you three tomorrow, after I've dealt with this one." He snapped nodding his head to Astrid on the floor. The three students paused, realising what the Carrow planned to do with their professor.
"Did you not fuckin hear me?! Get to your houses NOW!" Amycus yelled, when the three didn't move, he jabbed his wand at Neville and yelled: "Crucio!"
Neville dropped to the floor instantly, crying and screaming in pain. Astrid crawled to the writhing boy and grabbed him gently. Ginny and Luna screamed, covering their mouths they jumped back against the shelves in shock.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Astrid sobbed as she held a shaking, crying Neville. Amycus did stop, not because of her cries… but because of the figure in the doorway.
"What… is going on here?" Severus Snape asked slowly, his voice furious. Ginny and Luna dropped to their knees by Neville, Luna taking his hand in hers lovingly.
"I'm punishing some dirty, little thieves' headmaster." Amycus sneered as he pocketed his wand quickly.
"Thieves?" Severus asked with a cocked brow as he looked down at Astrid and the students.
"The three of 'em were trying to steal the sword!" Amycus spat, pointing the Sword of Gryffindor discarded on the floor.
"And my Astrid?" Snape asked, glancing down at the girl, he noticed a bright red angry mark on her face, and her eyes were red with tears. "Did you lay your hand on her, Carrow? She has been struck!" Severus hissed, he whipped his wand out of his sleeve and clutched it tightly.
"I don't know about the wench sir." Amycus lied through gritted teeth.
"He lies!" Ginny yelled with furrowed angry brows. "He was going to rape her!"
"You dirty fucking Weasley I-" Carrow moved to grab Ginny's arm but Severus prodded his wand at him, halting him in his tracks.
"Is this true?" Severus asked, glancing down at Astrid, she looked up at him with trembling lips and nodded. Severus' head snapped backed to the Carrow and narrowed his eyes on the man.
"Longbottom, Weasley, Lovegood, you are to report to Hagrid's every night this week and next for detention in the forbidden forest," Snape hissed, "Now go to your common rooms… immediately!" Snape yelled. The two girls pulled Neville to his feet, wrapping their arms around his back and holding him up they quickly retreated from the headmaster's office. Carrow tried edging towards the door too, but Severus stopped him. "Not you Carrow, you're not going anywhere…" Severus hissed. "Astrid, go upstairs to bed, I will be up as soon as I've dealt with… this."
Astrid did what she was told, she went straight to bed and curled up under the sheets. She could not sleep however, for the screams of Amycus Carrow would surely keep her awake, instead she listened… listened to every scream, cry and groan from the man who had hurt her, and tried to do worse…
Eventually the screams stopped and there was silence for a period of time… and then the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs. Severus appeared through the drapes, and his eyes focussed on the girl curled up in the bed, she was wide eyed, staring at him. With a sigh he approached the vintage screen and undressed down to his white shirt and boxers, when he emerged, he went straight to the bed, slipping under the covers. He shifted over to Astrid and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. She yielded to him and allowed him to drag her into his arms, despite her anger at his unannounced absence. He held her tightly, pulling her legs over him he pressed a kiss to her forehead gently.
"Where were you? He tried to… he almost…" Astrid breathed shakily.
"He didn't though… I got here, just in time... I had business to attend to, I'm sorry I wasn't here… Why did you tell him I was gone?" Severus asked against her skin.
"I didn't… He told me Wormtail sent word from the Dark Lord that you were… indisposed."
"Why were those three here? Trying to steal the sword?" Severus asked.
"They said it was for Harry… they were supposed to be in and out quickly during dinner…. But they must have struggled to find it." Astrid explained, she began to choke up as she thought about the next part: "And then Amycus… he grabbed me on my way back… hit me…"
"You are okay Astrid, I stopped him," Severus hushed her as he noticed how her breathing began to get more rapid. "How is your heart?"
"It hurts, but… it's okay." She sighed, closing her eyes and resting her head under Severus' chin.
"So, Potter needs the sword?" Severus asked, he was mostly pondering to himself. "I will get it to him when I see the time is right, the one downstairs is a replica anyway so Longbottom's plan whilst brave, was a foolish endeavour. The real one I have hidden away for safe keeping…"
He looked down for a response off the girl, but she was already asleep in his arms.