Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 101 - A Survivor's Reasons

Trigger warning: mentions of sexual assault

I fall against someone's chest as I am pulled back into the tower.  They clutch me to them tightly.  I struggle against the arms for a moment, quickly discovering that I am far too weak to escape their grasp.  Instead, my body goes limp as sobs overtake me.  As I scream into their shirt, I catch the familiar scent of cauldron fire, orange, and bergamot.

Snape doesn't attempt to talk to me, he just holds me as the emotions crash over me.  He pins my arms to my sides as I attempt to pull at my hair, silently protecting me from myself.

I sob until there is nothing left in me. Until my eyes dry up and my mind feels numb. At long last, I quiet besides the occasional sniff. Snape still doesn't say anything, waiting for me to choose whether or not to speak.

"I'm twenty now." I croak, my throat raw. His grip tightens for a second, like he's giving me a quick hug. Part of me wants to tell him. Tell him about Fred, tell him about Carrow. But I don't know how. So I stare at the wall, trying to figure out the words.

"Fred." I hesitate before continuing. "He's moved on. I shouldn't be surprised. I left him after all."

I hiccup loudly, my body trying to recover from my crying.

"And I'm not worth waiting for. Especially now. I'm too damaged."

My rescuer still stays silent, allowing me to work things out.

"Even Carrow says I wasn't worth it." I mutter. This seems to catch the headmaster's attention.

"What did he do, Hazel?" His voice is scarily calm. The type of calm of a man contemplating murder.

"He." I try to say the words, but they feel like taffy in my throat. "He... I don't want to say it."

"Did he rape you?" The man asks, saying the word that I had not allowed myself to think since it happened.

"I tried to fight back. But he had his wand, and I didn't. He laughed at my attempts." The words come out as barely a whisper.

Snape suddenly stands, pulling me to my feet as well.

"Come with me."  He commands, taking my hand and leading me down the steps.  I obey, not questioning.  I feel hollow inside, and it is easier to just go.

We end up outside of our room, and he leaves me outside while he goes in.  A minute later he returns, pressing my wand into my hand.

"I apologize for having not returned it sooner."  He murmurs, closing my fingers around the handle.  It's been so long, that it feels a bit unfamiliar.  But the headmaster isn't done.  He takes my hand once again, pulling me through hallways until we reach a plain wooden door.  He pounds on it loudly with his fist, awakening whoever is inside.  I hear a bolt slide and the door creaks open.

A tired and annoyed Amycus Carrow pokes his head out.  Snape instantly pins him to the wall, wand to his throat.

"You dare take what's mine?  You dare put your undeserving hands on her!" 

I stumble back, as the man who hurts me squirms under Snape's grasp.

"Did you think I would let this go?"  Snape snarls, and I watch with wide eyes.

"I- I was just borrowing her.  No harm done.  Don't know what you're all worked up about.  She was terrible anyway.  Cried the whole bloody time."

The man's words seem to break something inside Snape.  Some sort of self restraint.  Snape releases the man, taking a step back.