After All This Time - Book 2

Seven

A loud pop echoed through the forest followed by a deep voice bellowing from behind me.

"Get your hands off her Carrow."

Carrow's eyes flickered up at the person behind me for a moment before landing back on me. "I didn't realize you wanted her for yourself, Severus."

"What I do or do not want is none of your buisness Carrow" he growled, his deep voice echoing through the cold air. "You have no right to claim her as your personal property."

Carrow narrowed his eyes on Snape as I heard more footsteps approaching us.

"You will get your hands off the girl now Carrow."

I turned my head to see Lucius walking towards the two of us, his long white hair billowing behind him and his wand pointed directly at Carrow. Carrow promptly let go of me, shoving me away. I fell backwards, Snape reaching out and catching me before I hit the ground. He put me back on my feet and gently pushed me behind him, shielding me with his body from Carrow. Snape raised his wand at Carrow, Lucius' wand already jabbed into Carrow's neck.

"Now now now is this really necessary?" Carrow laughed, raising his hands mockingly in surrender.

Lucius pressed his wand farther into the side of Carrow's neck, eliciting a slight wince from him. "You will not lay another hand on her or so help me I will personally see to it you rot to death in Azkaban."

"How sweet, her lover and her daddy watching out for her." His mocking smile faded, turning into a menacing grin. "You can't protect the bitch forever, and I will see to it that she becomes mine."

Snape lunged at Carrow, death in his eyes. I tried to go after him too, but Draco grabbed me and pulled me back to he and Narcissa.

"Let me go" I sneered, trying to fight Draco's hold on me. "I'm going to fucking kill him I swear."

Draco grabbed his mother's hand and apparated us back into the walls of the manor before I could silently kill Carrow.

~

"Why the hell did you do that" I sneered at Draco, my whole body shaking with rage.

Draco walked up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders, staring straight into my eyes. "Snape and my father are taking care of him. You don't need to be going after him yourself-"

"HE TALKED AS IF I WAS A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR HIM TO CLAIM" I yelled at Draco.

As my anger grew, objects in the room began shaking violently, a nearby glass exploding into thousands of pieces. Narcissa stood from one of the couches and ran over to us, trying desperately to calm me. My fit of rage was interrupted by a loud pop ringing out in the parlor. I looked from Draco and Narcissa to see Lucius and Snape standing with Carrow. Before Draco could react, I shoved him off of me and pulled out my wand, raising it with the intent to kill Carrow right then and there. I was intercepted by Snape who grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder, Draco snatching the wand from my hand as I was carried out of the parlor.

Snape carried me into my old room in the manor, slamming the door behind us and putting me down on the bed. As soon as he stepped back from me I jumped back up, trying to get to the door and back to Carrow. Snape was faster than me though and grabbed me, throwing me back onto the bed and pinning me down.

"Let me go" I whispered through clenched teeth. I tried to bring my leg up to kick him off of me but he stopped it and pinned it down with his own. I felt my face slowly growing hot, realizing the compromising position we were in. I looked back at Snape, my anger immediately calming as our eyes met.

"Now listen to me" he said all too calmly, his face just inches above mine. "Carrow will not be bothering you anymore. If he does, Lucius and I will personally see to it. You are not to go after him yourself, understood?"

I nodded my head and Snape got off of me, pulling me up from the bed.

"I will give you a few minutes to compose yourself before taking you and Draco back to Hogwarts."

Snape turned and walked towards the bedroom door. As he was closing it, my eyes began welling with tears and a quiet sentence escaped my mouth.

"You came."

Snape paused, standing in the doorway for a few moments staring at his hand on the doorknob.

"Of course" he softly replied, gently closing the door behind him.

~

Snape's POV

I quickly made my way back down to the parlor, hearing the commotion caused my Lucius yelling at Carrow. As I walked into the parlor I noticed the complete disarray of the room. Paintings had fallen off the walls, furniture had been moved, and the coffee table was covered in shards of glass. I didn't have time to ask what had happened, but I had a pretty good idea of what did. I turned my attention to Carrow who was standing on the far side of the room, a sly grin crossing his face as we made eye contact.

"So Severus, have a little crush on the girl do you now?"

Before anyone could respond I pulled out my wand and pointed it directly at Carrow.

"Crucio"

Carrow immediately fell to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain. I walked over and bent down beside him, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him slightly off the ground.

"If you ever touch her or Draco again I will kill you" I spat, throwing Carrow back on the ground. Carrow let out another small cry of pain as I stood back up and walked out of the parlor, motioning Draco to follow me. I stopped as we reached the hall leading to Annalise's room, turning back to Draco.

"Keep an eye on Annalise as best as you can. I will alert Dumbledore, but there's not a doubt in my mind that Carrow might try something again."

As we started down the hall her door opened and she walked out, quietly closing it behind her and walking up to us. Even in the dim light of the hall I could see the dried tear streaks on her face. I felt my heart breaking as she reached out and took my hand in hers.

"Let's get out of here."