Disclaimer: Not mine.
The Uninvited
Chapter 17
Abigail had arranged with Molly to take up residence at the Burrow. Molly was to offer help with her studies, and in return, Abigail could help her with the housework. Molly's children were all on their own, or at school, and Arthur preferred not to have his wife alone when he was working.
Abigail grew quiet while living at the Burrow and in the embrace of the Weasleys, and soon gave up much of the anger that boiled just beneath the surface. She would sit by her mother's grave, hugging her knees in contemplation, or walk the lanes leading from the Burrow to the quiet fields, and later the snow covered lanes. Most of the time she enjoyed the solitude, retiring to her rooms on Sundays, when most of the Weasley clan came for dinner. She did not feel comfortable with so much noise and commotion, used to solitude, she felt more and more alone.
Her days took on the rhythm of the Burrow. She would rise with Molly and help prepare the morning meal, and then be free until early afternoon when again they would be in the kitchen. She made herself scarce in the evenings when the older couple sat together on the sofa and talked about the day, not wanting to be in the way of their looks and smiles at one another. One time, one of the older children bought a friend back with him . He had politely tried to drag her into their conversations and found ways to catch her alone. He made her self-conscious and nervous, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Molly.
"Now my dear, I am sure there is a wizard out there that would love to meet you," Molly purred. "You should give him a chance, it may lead somewhere."
"Now Molly, don't start with me, you know I will never marry," Abigail laughed at Molly's persistent match-making.
"Why ever not child?" Molly asked
"Molly you should put up a shingle and go into the match-making business," Abigail laughed, "Whatever will you do when all seven of your own are wed?"
"I thought to start on you," Molly shot back, chuckling. "Now why would you never marry? A pretty thing like you should have a house full of children?"
"Molly, please don't," Abigail became still.
"Dear me," Molly said putting an arm around the witch and leading her to the kitchen table. They sat together for a while, Molly looking at her the whole time.
Abigail could not hide the truth from this woman who had done so much for her. She slowly reached to her collar and started to unbutton her high-necked dress. When she had reached the final button at her waist, she shrugged the dress off her shoulders.
She looked up with tears as Molly gasped at the number of scars she saw. Abigail quickly covered herself and ran to her room taking the steps two at a time, and flung herself face down on her bed. Sometime later, she felt Molly's hand on her back. Then the bed sagged as the older witch sat down to soothe her.
"My dear, a man that loves you will not see those scars. He will only see you," Molly said gently as she stroked Abigail back. "I can contact Poppy. Once school starts after the hols she is only a call away. She may not be able to make them completely disappear, but perhaps Severus has a salve that would help. How would that be my dear?"
Abigail nodded her head and sniffed as Molly handed her a handkerchief.
"I know he has a salve, he was going to use it on me, but then something happened to make him mad, and I just never went back to get it." Abigail said in a rush.
"That's settled then, first the scars, then the husband."
"Molly there is so much more." Abigail sat up to look at the other witch, "Molly look at who I am. I can't read. I can't work. I do not even know the difference between the Dark Arts and everyday magic. I do not know how to act. I do not know the simplest things about the way you live. I am terrified just because your children are coming home next week."
"Now don't be foolish," Molly sighed. "I will talk to the twins and Ronald about being quieter."
"No, don't even think that. This is their home," Abigail became alarmed. "I am serious, if you say or do anything on my behalf I'll leave, I'll find something."
"Abby, you need to stop this…"
"Molly," she said lowering her eyes, tears running down the cheeks, "I cannot even complete the marriage bonding, they raped me, I …" she fell forward into Molly's lap sobbing.
"Oh my dear, who ever told you that rubbish? As long as it was against your will, it means nothing. My dear a decent wizard would not think twice about it. Anyway, we will start with Poppy, and you will talk to Arthur about the rest. He'll tell you just what I said."
"Molly!" Abigail sat up and looked at Molly horrified, "I could never!"
"Well, we will think of something, now get ready for dinner, Arthur will he home soon dear."
Molly was disturbed by the conversation, and horrified by the girl's revelations. She turned to Arthur for guidance and as she knew, he agreed with her. One thing at a time, he also said, and the first thing was Poppy.
During the cold months Poppy came to the Burrow once a week. After the sixth visit she conceded that she could do nothing more. Telling Molly that she would contact Severus, she returned to Hogwarts and headed directly to the dungeons.
When she opened the door to the potions classroom, she found class still in session. She slid along the back wall to wait as she often did , finding it relaxing and oddly enjoyable to mix with the students and staff. Her least visited classes were those of the Potions Professor as she found his methods abrasive and rude. After the class was over, and the students had gone, she waited until Severus tuned to her and motioned for her to come forward.
"I assume that since you are still here, that you want something," he said looking down his nose, arms crossed over his chest.
"I have need for your scar reduction salve. Abigail Haley has been staying with the Weasleys, and Molly has taken to her. You know how Molly is," she sighed. "Anyway, it seems that Molly is bound and determined to get the witch married off."
"She needs the salve to get married? What am I missing Poppy?"
"Severus, you know what she looks like, you have seen her."
"Do you think it would make any difference Poppy?" he smirked at her.
"Wizards see with their cocks Severus, we both know that. How many wizards do you really think would take her if they knew what she looked like? You know as well as I do how much looks matter."
"If Molly is finding her a wizard that is only interested in her looks I have greatly misjudged her."
"Really Severus, she has so many problems, getting rid of some of them won't hurt."
"Fine, come tomorrow and I will have it ready," he sneered then went back to his workbench to get away from her.
"Thank you, Severus, I am sure whoever Abigail has set her cap on will thank you also."
Poppy walked out of the classroom heading toward the infirmary. Severus was not even conscious of her leaving. He looked around seeing the classroom empty and walked though the storeroom to his personal office. He took up his personal potions book and went one room deeper into the labyrinth to his personal lab.
He laid out the equipment, and then went to retrieve the ingredients. The potion was not a difficult potion to brew, although it had taken Severus years to find the correct ingredients, the correct order to add them and the correct amount of each. He stood in front of the cauldron watching the last bit of ingredient disappear and the potion turn a light yellow colour. All Severus needed to do now was to put the salve in jars.
He closed his eyes in sudden fatigue. The image of his witch lying under a wizard came to him. Her skin was smooth, her breasts bare, and the way she moved under him…Severus raised his arm smashing the cauldron to the floor.
"Now my boy, you will just have to start over." Albus' voice came to him from the doorway.
"What do you want old man?" Severus asked wearily.
"I have come to help you with the potion. I suspect it is a very difficult potion to brew." Albus smiled.
"It is extremely simple, Albus."
"Yet you threw one out, to start again," Albus said walking to the stock room to get more ingredients.
Together the two wizards made another batch of the potion. Bottled it and sent it by elf to Poppy. Severus stood at the counter leaning on his hands his head bowed when Albus came up behind him and placed one hand on his shoulder. They did not talk, but they both knew what the other was thinking. Albus dropped his hand and left a very lonely man to face his demons.
Poppy collected the potion the next day to take to the Burrow, listening to Severus' detailed instructions and even made notes for Molly.
"How long should this take Severus?" She asked holding the potion to her nose.
"It would depend on your skill as a Medi-Witch. I assume that if you have properly prepared the scars, the potion should have an effect almost at once. Within a week most of the scars should be completely gone."
"I am sure Molly and Abigail will be thankful for this Severus." The Medi-Witch smiled at him.
"Indeed Madame," he sneered, "I must be going. The first years will be here shortly."
"Yes, yes." She went to the door, then in an afterthought turned to him. "Molly wants to invite you to dinner this coming Sunday. May I tell her you will be there?"
"You may tell her what you choose," he crossed his arms and glared at her. "However, I will not subject myself to a house full of Weasleys." He turned with robes billowing, and stalked to his classroom.
Severus lost himself in his work. When not grading papers he was in his private potions lab. He supplied the infirmary, and well as Voldemort's private stores, which was keeping him busier than he'd imagined.
The Dark Lord had only called him twice this term. Severus feared he was losing favour in the ranks. Without the favour of Voldemort, he would be of little use in gathering information for the Order. Severus felt useless and at odds with himself. He was not a man to sit idle.
The Holidays were fast approaching. The air had a crispness that told of snow on the way, and the students were anxious to be home for a time. He looked forward to the short respite that lay ahead, planning on reading and indulging himself with a trip to Flourish and Blotts. There was a book on ancient potions he had found a reference to, and needed to see they could procure a copy.
As the last of the students left for the holidays, Severus prepared for his own holiday. As was his habit, he stopped in to see if Poppy needed anything while he was at the Alley. He often would take a shot side trip to St. Mungo's for her. This time Poppy assured him, she had all the provisions that she needed, and he left with a sense of freedom.