Knight in Tarnished Armor

She was brought out of the turbulent sea of memories by the sound of the door opening. He handed her a vial of murky bluish liquid. She half smiled as she took it “of course a dreamless sleep potion. But, why would I take this if I’ve already taken to potion in the tea. Combining the two I could sleep for a week and…..” She stuck the tip of her finger into the vial and without removing her eyes from his dotted a single drop on her tongue.

Before she had the chance to become outraged he held up his hands in protest. “Now just wait. This is not a precaution just for you; I’ve done it for all the girls who have come into my care.”

“Your care? All the girls?” she placed the vial down and crossed her arms and legs. “Do start explaining.”

He nearly chuckled at her resemblance to an angry lover but his sense of dignity stopped him. “Perhaps this explanation should wait for a more appropriate time.”

“This is appropriate enough for me.”

Severus sighed and pulled the chair from the desk next to the bed. “The men who kidnapped you were deatheaters.”

“Deatheaters? But don’t they stay in Britain and why were you there?” Severus felt a pang of sympathy for the poor girl. Her plainly confused expression faded as she simply shrugged. “Explains all the accents though.”

Using the premise of a deep breath as cover, he studied her once again cool expression. “Every so often the deatheaters kidnap a random muggle girl. A lot is then cast to see who will win her when they’re through with the… uhm ritual.”

“Gang bang is more like it but go on.”

“Yes, well, after the uhm, event, whoever won the lot would then keep the girl thus on and do whatever he wished with her. I rarely even attempt to participate in the lots but every now and then when the others raise a question I throw in. Usually I lose but when I do happen to win a girl I bring her home allow her to bathe try to soothe the usually terrified mess of a girl into taking the potions and let her sleep. Then I return her to her home and allow her to forget everything.”

“I see so basically your goons and you molest her and violate her in every way possible and then send her back as if it’s nothing more than a bad dream. How chivalrous of you.”

“It may seem cruel but believe me its more humane than what my cohorts do. None of their girls ever return home and they face more than just a bad dream.”

“I find it difficult to find compassion for a man who admittedly keeps this kind of company. As far as I see it you get home and feel guilty and try to ease your conscious by drugging the poor girls when none of your friends can see. You’re just a coward who refuses to publically abstain for fear of ridicule and bullying by your peers.”

“I’ve dealt with ridicule my entire existence its more than just my reputation but my life at stake. No not even that because if it was only my life I could stand to lose it but there is much more going on here than you could possibly imagine.”

She was silenced and stared into space for a bit. “Let me see it, your mark.” Slowly he raised his arm and lifted his sleeve. She stared at the mark as he watched the way her hair fell about her face in gentle curls. He felt her cool palm come to rest on his mark and a tingle shot up his arm through it. She gasped softly and withdrew her hand.

“Now, I believe would be a good time to tell me who you are.”

“Fair enough. My name is Adraya, I live alone in rural New Jersey, America. I lived there with my mother and grandmother until both passed away. We made a bit of profit mainly on magical herbs and potions. I keep to myself, like classical music, puppies and long walks on the beach.” She paused for a breath. “Would you like to know my star sign as well?”

“No I don’t put much stock in such nonsense. You dabble in potions?”

She snorted “Dabble hardly.” Adraya attempted to stifle a yawn but failed. “I’m a full fledged Master of Potions. I’ve been published in several papers and journals. Before I was taken I was in the middle of working on an updated potion to curb the effects of lycanthropy.” She yawned again.

“Really? What would have inspired that, especially given the abysmal rate of success of such improvements? What did you use as the basis for your potion?” Snape found himself becoming so carried away that he nearly missed her next yawn. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t be discussing this right now, how insensitive of me.”

Adraya lifted her head and quirked an eyebrow and with a lilt of humor in her voice replied, “Insensitive? Of course only the British.”

“What is so amusing?” Snape snapped. “I don’t appreciate being ridiculed even if it is only inside your head.”

“I merely find it silly that you feel it’s so insensitive to discuss potions however you addressed the whole previous discussion with cold almost businesslike demeanor. It’s so typically British that it amuses me.”

“Yes well you must be tired. Get some rest and if you need anything simply call for the house elf. “He turned his back to her and strode to the door. She watched him and before he could turn the knob and leave she stopped him.

“Severus, thank you, for being honest with me. Thank you for being a knight in tarnished armor.” Severus stared at her as she kneeled on the bed. At first he was stunned then awed at how beautiful she looked. It was as if she was a rare treasure that fell into his lap.

“Yes, well. Any self-respecting gentleman would do just the same. Goodnight.” And before he could no longer fight the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her he swung open the door and left.

Once he was safely in the hallway he took a moment to savor the vision now imprinted on his mind before proceeding to his own room. Adraya collapsed on the bed as soon as the door shut behind him. “Knight in tarnished armor, what the hell? That’s it Adraya no more romance novels for you. No sir stick to Steven King.” Yawning she rolled onto her side to pull the silk covered comforter around her. “And why is he so obsessed with silk?” Soon though she embraced its softness and slid into a dreamless sleep.

Severus on the other hand was not so lucky. He paced around his bed room unable to keep still. There was too much to be resolved to many pieces of the puzzle missing. Why had they grabbed her? Sure it was not wholly uncommon to grab an American every now and again but for the deatheaters to take an American witch. That was something entirely different. An obviously intelligent, incredibly gorgeous witch at that. “Stop it Severus you have no need for this sort of thing right now.” With a frustrate growl he went to his potions cabinet and downed a dreamless sleep potion hoping to settle his frazzled mind.