Author's Note: I apologize for the gap between chapters. Life has been particularly busy. Though in a good way, I suppose. I have been recommended for a position with White Wolf/CCP to work as a writer on their new World of Darkness MMO, so I have spent the last few weeks gathering material for my application. But today after being in a rather abysmal mood I decided to turn to the therapy that writing has always granted me.
WARNING: This chapter contains non-consensual sex. Though it is not particularly graphic as it exists for the purpose of illustration and not for shock value (which is something I am adamantly against), but if such things offend you, you will wish to avoid the last flashback of this chapter, marked by italics
Additionally, up until this chapter this story has been fairly tame in terms of language. That will be changing. Ligistra is a very hot-tempered individual and you will see that Severus seems to bring out the worst in her. Again, if that type of thing offends you, this is your warning that it exists here.
Chapter Four: A Vile Retaliation
Ligistra Silvirin was seething. There were few times in her life in which she had granted anyone the power to make her feel completely humiliated, but today certainly ranked high. Her face was still flushed from her flustered state as she moved over to the basin of water resting unceremoniously on her dresser. As the water - rendered freezing from the miserable temperatures of her dungeon room – splashed her face she was thankful for the location of her private quarters. Not only was it secluded, but the frigid nature of her isolation was an even match for the fire that burned within her.
There was of course a significant drawback. His quarters, and the quarters of his ungrateful little clutch, were far too close for her comfort. She raised her head, letting the water drip down the contours of her face and back into the basin. Her eyes met their reflected companions, staring back through the mirror; grey depths behind which danced a dangerous flame. The longer she stared, the darker they became, until they were nearly black. She felt her own brow crease, but her reflection made no such movement. Allowing her gaze to widen she noticed skin that should be a bronzed tan had lost all color, now maintaining a sickly, sallow look. Her lips curled in disgust. She was staring into the face of Severus Snape.
Common sense escaped her, replaced by impulse and anger. She drew her arm back and struck the face squarely in its large, hooked nose, certain she would break it.
And break it she did; into at least ten different pieces, all sliding downward with the rest of his face. She smirked, quite pleased with herself, but the expression did not last long. Whether because of her disconnect from reality, or perhaps just a cruel joke played by the fates, the pain of her actions finally caught up with her, searing from her knuckles up through her arm. She ventured a glance downward and was not surprised to see her poor hand in such a battered state. Her knuckles were ripped open and bleeding profusely, shards of glass embedded in her skin. It seemed as though at least one bone might be broken, and when she attempted to flex her fingers she was answered in affirmation by the burning pain that shot up her arm.
"Fuck!" She growled, stalking into the lavatory and slamming the door behind her. Though there was certainly no one to intrude upon her privacy had she just stayed in the bedroom of her dungeon chambers, she suddenly felt the need to enclose her shame in as small a space as possible.
As she began to run warm water over her hand, her teeth grinding together at the intensified pain blinding her gaze with a flash of red, she was unable to stop her mind from wandering back to the events that had caused such frustration.
"I am your colleague, Professor. You can't treat me like one of your students."
They stood in the empty hallway, Ligistra dangerously close to the man clad all in black. If he was at all intimidated, he made no show of it. In fact he seemed altogether bored with her.
"Perhaps when you begin acting as a colleague, you will be treated as such." He drawled on before she could answer. "I will, however, allow you the dignity of finishing your class."
"How very gracious of you."
His lips curled into a smirk, his dark eyes burning into hers. "Indeed. Though I would surmise that you have likely lost the respect of your students. Interestingly, I was assuming it might take at least two days for you to do so."
"I suppose you're quite pleased with yourself."
"Whatever could you mean by that, Professor?"
Her hands balled into fists, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms. "I don't care if you like me, because I certainly hold no level of fondness for you. But I will not be humiliated."
"It would seem you are perfectly capable of humiliation all on your own."
"Merlin, you grew into a right bastard of a man!"
He quirked a brow, genuine interest igniting in his coal-burnt eyes.
"I always felt bad for you. I hated James while everyone else adored him. But he and Sirius were right about you. You showed your true colors then, and you've certainly not shed your skin now." She knew she was being unfair even before the words escaped her lips, but her wounded pride did not allow her to behave tactfully.
Severus' eyes burned with utter hatred, and for a moment Ligistra felt as though her safety might best be preserved by taking a step back. Before she could make any sort of movement he spoke, his icy voice welding her in place. "You will finish your class, and then I will escort you to the Headmaster's office at which time you shall be appropriately disciplined for your cavalier attitude and the actions perpetuated by it."
He spat out the words, his gaze locking hers in a threatening manner. Though she pulled open the door to her classroom with far more force than was needed, she did acquiesce to his demands, finishing her first class as though nothing were amiss. All the while Severus' eyes remained fixed on her from the back of the room.
Severus Snape was tired of waiting. After Professor Silvirin had finished her class he had done as promised, leading her up the winding stairway to Dumbledore's office. When they arrived, however, he had suddenly excused himself, asking them to wait for his return. That had been over fifteen minutes ago by Severus' count, and he was past the point of being mildly inconvenienced. The only fortunate part of the whole thing was that Ligistra had remained more or less silent, though her scowl was perpetually locked upon him.
Ligistra opened her mouth to give some manner of quip, likely regarding the absence of her 'punisher' as she had done before, but before she could get the words out the doorknob clicked as it was turned, Albus Dumbledore finally returning to grace them with his presence. Severus made certain the old man could see the withering glare he had kept for the last – Severus looked to confirm – twenty-two minutes.
"I apologize for my absence, there was something I needed to tend to, and interestingly the two of you reminded me of what it was." He paused, looking over his guests. "My goodness, have you been standing this entire time? Please, take a seat, I insist."
Ligistra did so, leaning back in the chair with an indignant huff. Severus' lip twitched into a scowl. He would not play the old man's game. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the wall, keeping surveillance over the office.
"Lemondrop?" He extended a decorative glass candy jar.
"Well, given the circumstances, I think I will indulge." Severus watched as she selected a candy from the jar, popping it into her mouth. The smirk she gave him before she did so did not go unnoticed.
Albus leaned forward, his elbows on his desk, propping his chin up as he surveyed the professors before him. When he continued to do so, refusing to speak, Severus could no longer stand it.
"I have brought Professor Silvirin before you to discuss her behavior. Her teaching methods have already passed far beyond unconventional, and I do not wish to think of the harm the students may be in should she continue in such an undisciplined manner." He could tell she was trying very hard to keep her eyes from rolling skyward.
"Severus, I find it hard to believe one of our professors would intentionally place the students in harm's way."
"Lack of intent is not an excuse for such behavior."
"A fair assessment, I suppose. Very well. I will hear the events that brought you to my office."
Severus began to recount the petulant behavior of Professor Silvirin when he was stopped by Albus' raised hand. "Thank you, Severus, but I would like to hear from Ligistra."
He knew the woman's smirk was meant specifically for him and against his own measures of composure, his hands balled into fists. His anger continued to rise as she gave her rendition of the events involving Draco Malfoy. If he were honest with himself, he would admit Malfoy annoyed him quite enough to do something altogether similar for lesser infractions, but that was not the point. She needed to learn her place.
"Draco's behavior is certainly unacceptable, but your manner of dealing with it is equally as such. I must say I am rather disappointed, Ligistra. You came so highly recommended, and your father was such an honorable man."
As he continued on, Severus couldn't help the satisfied smile that twisted his lips. Finally she was feeling his humiliation, evidenced by the light flush in her cheeks. It was a satisfying feeling, to spoonfeed her a dose of her own foul medicine. His gaze settled on her face, reveling in her crestfallen expression, when suddenly his stomach constricted in memory of another time he had completely humiliated a woman.
"The fact of the matter is, my pet, that every good bitch must be broken, lest she get it into her pretty little head that she has an inordinate amount of worth in my presence. You are replaceable, you are expendable, and you are useable."
The Dark Lord looked down upon the woman called Vera kneeled deeply at his feet. She was newly initiated and only a year past being of age. Her Death Eater mask rested firmly on her face, concealing her features and any emotion that might be fluttering behind the cold, formal exterior.
"Severus."
Severus approached from his place in the circle surrounding the Dark Lord and his newest follower. He knew what was going to be asked of him and it took all of his skill in Occlumency to hide his utter disgust. It was tradition to 'break' new members, which generally consisted of liberal use of the Cruciatus curse. But for women, especially those the Dark Lord felt might make fine breeding stock, he preferred a more vile form of humiliation.
She didn't cry, and he was glad for it. He wasn't sure he could maintain his façade if her desperate sobs pierced through his barriers. No, she remained perfectly still, wincing at the roughness that was goaded on by Severus' fellow Death Eaters. He had found comradery in these men, and yet at times like these they made him wish to vomit until he could purge himself completely of everything he had ingested since his own initiation.
She was planted on her hands and knees before him, yet still she held her head high. His long, bony fingers dug into her hips as he brought her to meet his thrusts. He could feel himself moving, feel his body reacting to his actions, but his mind was desperately trying to focus on something, anything to keep from fleeing as he was so wont to do.
Severus felt physically ill as his body gave into its arousal, but at least it was a confirmation that the nightmare would soon be over. Without thinking of the possible consequence, he removed himself from her, stepping back. Her whole body was shaking. She was wracked with sobs, and yet there was no sound emitting from her lips, no tears falling from her eyes. This, Severus reasoned, was far worse. The deep, personal sobs that were shed from one's soul.
"You're a disgrace to your blood, Severus. Though I suppose that's what happens when your whore of a mother is allowed to fuck anyone she wishes."
He could feel the Dark Lord prying into him, attempting to catch his rage. But Severus had buried it deep below the surface. These were the things he thought on when he was ordered to perform an Unforgivable. It was ridiculously easy to become consumed with hatred when pushed to such extremes. And still his barrier was impenetrable.
"Continue. And if you even consider stopping before I allow you to do so, I assure you that you will live to regret it."
Severus hadn't heard the rest of Albus' speech. It took all of his willpower to push back the bile that welled in the back of his throat. And for a moment he was struck by a harsh sense of guilt. His gaze settled on the downcast gaze of Ligistra Silvirin. He was watching yet another spirit being broken, her pride and independence violated by his insistent intrusion. Was it really any different?
Hours later he stared into the dying fire within his personal chambers. He could not help the sickening feeling that it was not any different at all.