Chapter 5 ~ Purity

She looked up at him when he said that. He had such a genuine look of sympathy in his eyes, and she melted against him. She wasn't afraid of him. He only looked intimidating. It was an air, a cover up, to keep people away; at a safe distance. But Moira had seen past it, and she wasn't afraid.

And as for Lord Voldemort…sure, she was nervous. But she knew that if the worst was to come, she'd go into hiding, and wait for the storm to pass. It was something she was willing to do for love. It was something that she was willing to do for the man standing in front of her. She reached down and took his hand in hers.

The skin was aged, experienced. The digits were nimble, laced with talent and passion. Her hand fit so perfect against it, like they were meant to intertwine. Severus folded her hand over his, bringing the back of it to his lips. He caught her eyes in a stare, and her mouth twitched, forming a small smile.

"The great Severus Snape is a charmer, I see? A real…romantic?"

The voice was neither of theirs. It was foreign, to Moira at least. A deep male voice, harsh from what seemed like years of use. She turned to face the man who owned the voice, and was met with a familiar sight. The man looked like Matilda's cousin, Draco Malfoy. Only older, with longer hair and harder eyes. High cheekbones matched with an angular chin and elegant eyebrows. Even though he was a handsome man, she was frightened. She pulled her hand away, and clung to Severus.

"Lucius. Since when do you barge into my chambers unannounced?" Severus said, a threatening tone coating his words. Lucius grinned.

"Since when do you romance your students, Severus?" he retorted.

Severus averted his gaze. He had no answer. Moira looked up at her love, searching his hematite gems for stability. When she found none, she decided to supply him with some. She stepped in front of Severus, confronting Lucius head on.

"I really don't see how this is any of your business. You came in when we were in the middle of a discussion. It would be ideal if you left. I doubt I need to show you to the door." She spoke disdainfully, holding her head up to feign confidence. Lucius did nothing but grin. His eyes were anything but playful, though. They looked sinister…blue orbs of hostility. Even after everything that had happened to her, Moira had never seen such evil eyes. Most of the men who had abused her were in a drunken haze. But the man in front of her was soberly sinful. She was shaking, and all from a stare.

Severus put a hand on her stomach, stepping in front of her.

"Lucius…leave her alone. Just leave, she's…she's only a shag. I have to get my frustrations out somehow." He lied. Moira understood what he was doing. She didn't object. In fact, she played along.

"That's what I meant by…discussion." She added. Lucius approached her. The sin in his eyes was painted over with hunger, and he grabbed her by the shoulders, yanking her forward.

"Let's share her then. Cissy's been sick lately…and I, too, have frustrations." He pulled her against him.

Those thirteen horrible nights overrode Moira's logical thinking. Andrew…David…Ben…Johnathen…Anthony…Jem…Don…Christopher…Michael…Mitch…Carson…Jim...Will… Everything they did to her came flooding back, and she shut down. She reverted to her survival tactics. She detached herself from reality. She became a ragdoll in Lucius' hand. His breath assaulted her senses, it smelled of cigarette smoke. She fully left her body then.

Severus knew that this was the only way to shut Lucius up. It was this, or risking the Dark Lord discovering Moira. He only prayed. He watched the events unfold in front of him. He didn't want to watch, but he wasn't about to leave Moira alone with this crazed animal. He felt like clawing his own eyes out, he felt like running away with her. Felt like killing Lucius. He only prayed this didn't break his beautiful painting of leaves upon the water.

Moira was floating over her own body. She'd learn to do this long ago, around her tenth birthday. She'd realized that her mind and body were two different things, and each could be independently controlled.

She didn't hate Severus for this. She could tell he was powerless against Lucius. He had some kind of authority. It most likely had something to do with Voldemort. Sure, she had thought that this abuse was over, that she'd escaped it. But she wasn't mad with Severus. Lucius on the other hand…she would never be able to look at Draco Malfoy ever again, that was certain. They had the same eyes, and once she'd seen them, they were implanted in her mind.

Before she knew it…it was over. As she came back to herself, she was in Severus' arms. Lucius was gone, and Severus was weeping. They were a crumpled heap on the floor, and Severus was visibly shaking. Moira put a hand on the side of his face.

"Don't cry, Love." She said sweetly. For some reason, he only cried harder. His eyes were screwed shut, and he squeezed her so tightly it almost hurt. Almost. They stayed like that for a long time. Severus' weeping didn't cease, and Moira was consoling him. It was a bit like role reversal, but Moira didn't mind. After a few minutes, Moira spoke.

"Severus. Please, stop crying. Your tears are killing me. It's over. We're safe." She said softly.

"I…I let him rape you." He whispered. He looked close to suicide. She leaned up, and pressed a kiss to his mouth.

"Then fix it. Make up to me. Make love to me. Erase his touch. Make me yours again." She mumbled against his lips.

He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her like his bride to his bedroom. He lay her down gently on the black Egyptian cotton. He shed his long black cloak, wearing only his slacks and undershirt. He lay down next to her, touching her bare stomach softly.

"I'm sorry our first time is so sudden…under such atrocious circumstances." He muttered. He looked deep into his favorite painting, and noticed that the water of his pond was darker than ever before.

"I'm…I'm so sorrythat I'm not pure for you." She whimpered.

Only then, did she start to cry.