“That sort of language is very unbecoming.”
“Do you intend to do anything about it?”
“That depends on if you decide to accept your duties.”
“Just because I married a death eater does not mean that I will consort with his death eater friends. I am not your inferior, you have no right to order me around you greasy git!”
Severus turned his attention to the glass of brandy in his hand, “if you were a student that sort of disrespect would earn you a detention.”
Morgan glared at him, hands on her hips, “I am not your student anymore, I am your wife!”
“Then attempt to act in a manner befitting that position. If you keep acting like a spoiled brat you may find that I will treat you like one.”
Morgan threw the shoe she was holding at him. She couldn’t stop the triumphant smile that spread across her face as it hit his shoulder and part of his drink sloshed over the edge. It felt very empowering.
Severus slowly set his glass down and turned to face his wife, his eyes were glittering dangerously.
Morgan’s eyes grew incredibly large. She had a feeling she had just crossed a line of some sort. She wasn’t sure what the consequences would be, but she was pretty sure it would not be good. She gave in to her first instinct and turned to run.
But she didn’t get far. Severus had caught up with her in a few long strides, he caught her around the waist and easily lifted her off the ground and tossed her over his shoulder.
Morgan found she did not like this undignified position. She used her balled up fists to beat at her husband’s back and vocally made him aware exactly what she thought about being treated like this. But it didn’t seem to make any difference.
Other than his arm tightening across the back of her knees to keep her from wiggling her way off his shoulder and falling to the ground Severus made no response as he carried her up the stairs and to their bedroom where he unceremoniously dumped her into a chair next to their bed. He leaned over her menacingly, pinning her to the chair by placing his hands on either arm rest. “You pull a stunt like that again, and being carried over my shoulder will be the least of your worries.”
Morgan tried to glare up at him, but from the position she was in it was rather difficult. “Just because you can physically overpower me does not mean that I am attending a dinner party hosted by the Malfoys. I will not go.”
“You will.”
“I will not.”
“You will do as I tell you.”
“I’m not a child to be ordered around…”
“Listen to me,” Severus caught her chin in one calloused hand, forcing her to look up at him, “I will only tell you this once, so you will do well to remember it. If you do not show up at this function tonight hanging on my arm like the little devoted wife of a death eater you are supposed to be there will be talk. My position is already suspect among their ranks, gossip can lead to assumptions that may reveal my true position.”
“Tell them I’m sick.”
“The wife of a potion’s master too sick to attend a dinner party? I think not. You will stay close by my side tonight, unless I give you permission to leave it, which I doubt will happen. You will be silent unless asked a direct question, but I may still feel the need to answer for you. If you are unsure as to how to answer, defer to me. You are to try and avoid making eye contact with the men. You are a Gryffindor, and although you are a pure blood, you are also a woman and an inferior. Am I making myself clear?”
“If you think…”
“You will speak respectfully, none of this insolence that you feel the need to show me.”
Morgan wrenched herself out of his grip, “and if I refuse to do as you say?”
Severus leaned in close so that their faces were nearly touching, “Lucius Malfoy looks for any and all reasons he can fathom to acquire whatever piece of flesh entices him. If you stand out tonight, give them a reason to talk, his attentions will most certainly turn to you.”
Morgan looked up at her husband, her eyes large and looking a bit lost.
Severus thought for a brief instant about going a bit easier on his wife, the girl was precisely that, a girl, still only seventeen. But she had to learn her place… “You bring attention to yourself then you bring attention to me. Our movements will be watched more closely than you can understand. It will be discovered that I am working for the Order; I will be tortured and killed. You will be handed over to the highest bidder. Most likely Lucius. He will have his way with you. Rape you in more ways than you can probably imagine, he will torment you until you wish yourself dead, but that he will not allow. You will be his plaything until he grows tired of you. Only then will you be allowed to die, if you are lucky. He’d most likely pass you on to the monstrosity that is his son.”
All the color had drained from Morgan’s face. She felt dizzy and was afraid she might actually be physically ill. She looked down, feeling defeated, “I will do as you tell me.”