They didn't see each other till the next day, when Severus found her in the teacher's lounge late at night: Drinking.
Slowly, he advanced behind the green leather sofa she was sitting on and stared down at her. The roaring fire opposite her made her hair glow and accentuated the deep shade of brown.
''Care to join me?'' suddenly the clinking of ice against glass could be heard as she lifted her arm towards him with something in her hand. Looking closely at it, he saw that it was a crystal glass filled with what smelled like whiskey and a few ice cubes floated inside. Frowning at the drink, he took it and walked around the sofa so that he could face her, placing the drink on the coffee table next to him.
''Drinking won't solve anything.'' He said and walked a bit closer to her so that the light from fire was shielded away, covering her in his shadow.
Suzanne looked up at him through her lashes and gave a glare.
''Well, it seemed to work for him so let's give it a try, shall we?'' she said sarcastically and made her way to retrieve the abandoned drink but Severus sharply grabbed her wrist before she could.
''Don't do this to yourself.'' He said in a hushed tone and slowly moved her hand away from the glass and sat down next to her, placing her hand back onto her lap. Looking at her face, the fire reflected the shine from the wet trails that lay upon her cheeks caused by the tears that she'd shed. He spotted new ones forming at the brim of her eyes and watched as they travelled along her ivory skin. He'd never seen her like this before and it was strange to him seeing her at such a vulnerable state. She had a faraway look in her eyes and he wondered what she's thinking about.
Probably 'him' he thought and was instantly transported back to her secret memories of torture and pain. How she had stayed with that man for so long he would never understand, surely love had nothing to do with it?
Reclining back to the other end of the sofa, he watched the fire burn and eat-away at the wood causing it to crackle and spark. From the corner of his eye, he saw that she too was enhanced by the fire and so they sat in a comfortable silence.
''Why did you marry him?'' he finally asked and glanced her way.
She had her elbow positioned on the arm rest with her palm facing up, chin resting against it. Her eyes were closed and for a moment he thought she was asleep, but she slowly moved her head sideways so to face him.
''Why do you care to know?''
''Do I need a reason?'' he fired back and raised an eyebrow.
She stayed quiet for a moment before sitting up straight and crossing her legs. Looking down at her lap, she played with the dark emerald ring on her right hand, making it catch the light and sparkle.
''I… It was an arranged marriage, by my father.'' Lifting her eyes to look at him, her expression was that of a bored person, but he could see the misery and hurt in her eyes.
''He knew what Richard was like.'' Now he shot his head straight up and his eyes widened slightly before narrowing back. He wanted to ask more questions, he needed more answers about this woman, but she soon got up and straightened out her waistcoat before bending down to pick up the glass full of whiskey and downing it in one shot. He watched her every move as she slammed the glass back down, she turned her back to him and made her way to leave when suddenly a hand encircled her upper arm and pulled her back.
''You deserve better.'' he whispered in her ear.
The sudden contact made her uneasy and she bit back a gasp. The grip he had on her was released and when she turned around he was gone.