Possession

A/N: Warning: this chapter contains disturbing acts of a sexual nature. Some may classify it as rape, some may not, so I leave it up to you, the reader, to judge. Nevertheless, I have tagged a Abuse/Rape warning on this chapter, because whatever it is, it is not appropriate, healthy, behavior. There is nothing gratuitous about what is occurring here. It is pivotal to the plot of the story. It is sad and dark, but such is the psyche of Severus Snape. That said, HUGE thanks to my beta, MadBrilliant, and to all of those who take the time to review. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter. It was very difficult to write, and I want to hear from you whether it is good or bad! I can take it.

***

Diana and Severus walked into their private rooms. He was visibly upset.

"Go shower," he said.

"What?" she asked.

"Just do it!" he snapped.

She showered and came out with her towel covering her. She went to look for a clean robe and was enveloped from behind.

"Come to bed."

"Now?" she asked.

"Yes, I need you now," he said huskily. He was naked and shaking with need. He pulled her over onto the bed and kissed her passionately, running his hands all over her. Diana was uncertain about what was driving him. She seemed not to really be there to him. Her body, yes, not her...her person, her self. He finally entered her. It didn't hurt, but she was taken by surprise by the detachment of it. She gasped. He took her face in his hands, his dark, bottomless eyes piercing hers. "You're mine, mine, no one else's! You'll be with me forever, is that understood? You will never leave me, will you? WILL YOU?" he roared.

"No," she whispered, feeling a bit scared of the man to whom she had given herself.

He closed his eyes and began to thrust inside her, but she was not feeling the usual passion he normally showed. She felt as if he needed to reassert his claim on her as his territory, his possession, a belonging. He was terrifying her.

"You're scaring me," she whispered. She wanted to run away from him. A feral possessiveness was taking over him. He was truly frightening her.

He didn't register her words. He kept thrusting with increasing force. He is going to hurt me if he doesn't stop! she thought hysterically.

"Severus, please stop!" she cried out. "You're hurting me!"

She tried to push him off her, but he grabbed her hands and held them down on either side of her head. He continued thrusting, but in controlled movements.

His eyes snapped open and pierced hers. "I'm not going to lose again! I won't be a fool! You are mine. You belong to me: body, mind, and soul. Tell me you're mine!" he thundered.

Diana couldn't believe what was happening to her. She didn't know what to think or what to do. Then she remembered the baby.

"Diana, say it!" he ordered.

"Severus...the baby!" she yelled.

He stopped thrusting and looked at her, really looked at her. Horror crossed his face, and he withdrew from her, turning away and putting on his clothes. He kept his back to her. It was apparent he was ashamed. He spoke to her but kept his back to her.

"I apologize, Diana. I only know what I know. I just don't want to be alone anymore." He was breathing hard now and was shaking. She could sense his terror and fear.

He was repulsed. How could I act in such a manner? Surely she'll leave me. I have become my father and let all the insecurities in me loose on my last chance for happiness, damn it! I've become everything I've always hated about men!

She finally spoke to him.

She kept still on the bed, afraid to move, but spoke firmly with a voice she didn't recognize. "I'm not going anywhere. Trust me, I'm here because I want to be here." She realized it was true. She had made her decision to stay with this man. She would not back down now. She would give him the opportunity to prove himself.

He looked into her face. Huge tears were falling from his dark and penetrating eyes. "Do you love me, Diana?"

"I want to. I know I respect you...at least I did. I don't know what happened to you that would make you try to dominate me in such a manner. I won't live with violence. I can accept your insecurities, but not your violence," she replied sternly.

"Understood," he whispered, and he left the room.

***

Severus hated their weekly visits to The Burrow. He hated that Potter was so protective of Diana. He hated that the boys were touching her, hugging her. Now, every time they came back he would politely ask her to shower, and he would have sex with her. He would gently take her. He never repeated what he had done to her the first time, but it was still a surreal experience that concerned her because he was so compulsive about it all. To Diana, who really knew nothing about healthy sexual relationships, it had just been a strange request at first, but now into her seventh month, she realized this ritual had indeed become a compulsion. What was especially disturbing was his need for her to tell him she belonged to him and she was his...and only his...while he made her climax.

Because of the first way he had treated her in regards to this activity, she had felt reluctant to accept his request. He had waited for her answer, pacing back and forth, making jerky movements with his neck and shoulders. He had looked as if he were in some sort of psychological pain. It bothered her that he was trying to be so humble about it, when it was clear he didn't want to be. So, she had agreed that as long as he kept being polite and gentle with her, she would indulge him. He had been relieved and grateful for her acceptance. Although he was gentle, there was a detachment that made her feel used. Many times after having sex, she would curl up on her side of the bed and cry. He would wrap his arms around her, tell her he loved her, and would wipe the tears off her face. He kept telling her he would try to be more worthy of her.

What added to the confusion was every other time they made love, it was just that: they made love. It was everything she enjoyed about sex, and she reveled in his passion for her. But once a week a different man would take her to bed, and she would experience all the insecurities of a very powerful wizard.

Diana was starting to become increasingly concerned about their relationship. Surely by now since she had finished school and was now officially the intended of Severus Snape, his insecurities would just go away. They did not. His possessive nature over who spoke to her, where she went, and how long she was away from him worsened. But throughout, he continued to keep his temper towards her in check and never physically attacked her again.

In his mind, he just wanted her to be with him. He didn't want to share her, and he was terrified of losing her. He loved listening to her stories about growing up in the Highlands. She'd sing the songs her mother had taught her, the old haunting melodies that would lull him to sleep. It was better than any Sleeping Potion he had ever taken. She was incredibly intelligent, not in a bookish way, but in a very earthy and humble way. It was a unique type of intelligence Snape found he could respect. He was starting to respect so much about her. First, she had attracted him with her body, but now she was enticing him with her mind and her sweet voice that held a slight brogue. She also wasn't bothered by his rages towards others. He'd rage about his students, or a meeting, basically anything that inconvenienced him...she'd let him fume. She didn't care. He literally would be shocked that she would sit and read a book while he raved and yelled. She would just keep on reading! What Snape did not know was that her father was the same way. More bluster than bite. So, when his tantrum was over, she would put down her book and smile at him. He would sit down exhausted next to her and let her rub his neck and hum one of her songs. But whenever he got too snarky with her, she'd tell him what her mother always said to her father, "Hold your wheest, old man!" It made Severus laugh.

He was scared of her leaving him; of all the attentions she received at the hands of Potter and those damned Weasleys! He couldn't compete with all of them. So, the only way he could feel secure was to claim her in this way. He didn't understand why he needed to dominate her so, and it pained him that she always cried. He hated the crying. He hated that he made her cry. He never was rough with her. He was tender and always made sure she was ready to receive him, so it must be that she was struggling with her decision to stay with him. He wondered which one of the Weasleys she would throw him over for. Or maybe Potter would take her away, just like his goddamn father took Lily from him!

Diana understood possession. She had seen how her father's possessiveness had stolen her young mother away from her family and placed her in isolation in the Highlands. She was determined not to end up like her mother and push her family away. It took her a while to see what Severus was doing to her, but once she opened her eyes, she refused to close them and ignore the problem. She would have to be tough with this man who was so difficult by nature. But it would not be easily done. When it came to sex, she was completely at a loss. He knew how to use sex for his advantage. He knew what to say to her to make her weak as water in his hands. It would have to change, she decided. If she could hold her own in any other situation with his temper, then surely she could stand up to his sexual compulsions.

She analyzed the situation and it seemed that the further the pregnancy progressed, the worse his compulsion became. But was it the baby or was it just because as each day passed, by refusing to put her foot down, his behavior became worse and worse because he had nothing to fear from her?

This is enough! she decided. She wasn't going to indulge his insecurities anymore. She was going to break this cycle of insanity or she would leave. She decided to test him. They went to their next visit to The Burrow. They all decided the wedding would take place after the birth (due in September) during the Christmas Hols so time could be made for the new couple and family to get to know one another. Severus sulked in a corner as Bill and George patted Diana's belly. The girls also touched it too, but Severus hated it when the men got too close. Then, when Harry would begin his (what Severus called) "fawning" over her, with his side-stepping Snape, making her sit near him so he could "talk" and attend to her needs, Severus could only take so much and then he would assert his role as father and fiancé and take over matters. That meant no more hugging from the men folk and no talking in anything other than necessary conversation. And he made damn sure that "necessary" for Potter meant someone had to be dying.

Severus' jealousy and possessiveness was not lost on the Weasleys. It was actually hilarious to George and Ginny, who were amazed at the depths of Snape's paranoia. But Hermione and Fleur were adamant that they all should be more patient and understanding with the professor. After Severus and Diana left to return to Hogwarts, they gathered around to talk about the situation.

"After all," Fleur said. "What doz 'e know of luv and familee? Eee'z been alone and izolated 'ez 'ole life!"

Hermione piped up. "Fleur is spot on! We should be encouraging Diana to stand up for herself!"

"Hermione," whined Ron, rolling his eyes. "This isn't a cause...like SPEW!"

"I am quite aware, Ronald, what is at stake here!" she spat icily. "And I think a little more support and understanding is what is called for here!" She rounded on Harry next. "I also think you need to consider Professor Snape's feelings, Harry. Every time they come here, you take over as if she is your intended instead of his!"

"That's ridiculous, Hermione! Do you know what I think?" snapped Harry.

Ginny groaned.

"I think a little toughness is what's required. Diana needs to shake some sense into him before he gets her so under his thumb she won't be able to say 'boo' to a garden gnome! Then, all the wonderful things that he claims..." he stopped speaking as if he had been Petrified.

"Harry, what is it?" asked Ginny concerned.

"THAT WANKER!" Harry screamed.

Harry jumped up and ran outside. Ron, Charlie, and Bill dashed after him with Percy and George at their heels. They tackled him to the ground and tried to get him to calm down before he could Apparate to Hogwarts and make a huge cock-up of everything! The women huddled around the fray screaming at them to calm down.

Finally, someone got him in a half nelson, and Percy started talking. "Right, Harry...you need to tell us what's got you upset. Okay? Just let it out, old man."

"Oh sod it, Perce, you big prat!" yelled George as he tried to hold Harry still.

Harry was breathing hard, but was finally forced to calm down. "He wants her because of how she is. Don't you understand? She's uncomplicated, easy-going, unobtrusive, unquestioning, never gets in the way. She won't challenge him, won't be anything but a bed-warmer, a POSSESSION!"

"Harry...that's mental," said Ron. "You really think it's bad as all that?

"I want to know how she got pregnant!" Harry demanded as he pointed at Ginny. "How does an 18-year-old girl get pregnant by her 40-year-old professor when she barely knew him before? It's not like she's been around him like we were for seven whole years! And it's not like he's the most attractive man she could have come across!"

"Well, Harry, isn't that perhaps the reason?" asked Hermione. She started counting off on her fingers. "They meet first year. The second year, he's Headmaster, not teaching, so no contact, and then she's taken away during the war. No contact. Third year, he's in Azkaban. Again, there is no contact. Then she sees him fourth year. She's fifteen. She was already maturing. Maybe when he saw her...it was like for the first time. And he stayed away until she was of legal age, almost done with school, and perhaps feelings were revealed, reciprocated, got out of hand, and it just happened!"

"Still, that's pretty sick!" George said darkly.

"No, Hermione, we need to know for sure. I just don't trust him." Harry insisted.

"Harry, just because you can't deal with Snape doesn't mean that no one else on this earth could love him!" yelled Ginny. "Look at your Mum!"

Harry threw Ginny a look of pure venom.

"Okay, that's it! That is it. We'll get to the bottom of it all. Somehow," said Bill.

They all stood silently not knowing where to go from there.