In The Dungeon Deep And Dark

A/N: Thank you to DarklessVasion for the encouraging review. This was never intended to be anything more than a PWP one shot, but with encouragement from my readers it grew to something more. Anyone who fancies a change to a more serious Snape story, check out my other WIP; Another Dark Star Shineth.



No lemons this time I’m afraid. This chapter needed doing as a serious effort, sorry. More smut to come I promise. And for those of you who were asking, sorry I didn’t make it clearer but I implied that Snape has been providing her with a contraceptive potion since she got the all-clear from Mme. Pomfrey.

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In the Dungeon Deep and Dark – chapter 12





Severus and Georgia woke at 6:30 next morning. However after breakfast and a shower, they decided returning to bed would be a better idea. It wasn’t until 8:30 that they checked out of the Leaky Cauldron and entered Diagon Alley. They didn’t have far to go. Slug and Jigger’s Apothecary was one of the first shops on the alley; prime property and one of the first stops for most shoppers. When they got there, a thin wizard in nondescript brown robes with thinning light brown hair and horn rimmed glasses was waiting, looking at his watch and huffing to himself.



“I believe we arranged to meet at eight am precisely Mr Snape.” he said in a wheezy voice.



“My apologies Mr Hawthorne, we were delayed.” Snape said smoothly. Georgia blushed self-consciously as Hawthorne’s gaze passed over her critically.



“Indeed. Well, here are the keys to the shop and these are to the rooms upstairs. Do you wish me to give you the tour or shall I leave you to settle in?” the Estate Agent asked irritably.



“I believe we have taken up enough of your precious time Mr Hawthorne. I’m sure we can find our own way about the place, thank you.” Snape replied.

Hawthorne was glad to be about his business and Snape and Georgia cut down a narrow alleyway to the back of the shop where steps led to the separate entrance to the flat above the shop.



“Welcome to our new home.” Snape said disdainfully, opening the door to reveal a rather musty flat. By the smell of the place the previous occupant had been elderly and a smoker.



“It just needs a bit of work.” She said with an encouraging smile. “But it’s our home.” She added, brushing her lips against his briefly before she went to explore the place with Severus in tow.



He thanked whatever gods there were for her youthful enthusiasm because he felt rather ashamed of the place. Spinner’s End had been a state, but it was bigger than this, and had a small garden of sorts in the back. Thankfully, the area was undergoing a renewal program so he’d got a remarkably good price for the old heap. The proceeds of the sale, along with a large portion of his savings, converted into enough Galleons to buy the business as a going concern. Still, it needn’t be for long. If the business did as well as he suspected, and with careful management of the profits, they would be able to buy a house and let out the flat, increasing their income. He wondered when ‘me’ and ‘I’ became ‘us’ and ‘we’, but it felt good to be part of something more. Still, underneath it all, a tiny part of his psyche wondered when he would fuck it all up like he did with everything good in his life.





The first door off the hall opened into the bedroom which, despite the state of disrepair, was quite large. Next was a small bathroom, then a reasonable sized living room that would also serve as a dining room. Georgia was disappointed when they got to the kitchen however. It was dreadfully tiny, barely much bigger than the potions store cupboard at school. At least it was an all wizarding area. She didn’t know how she would have coped trying to fit Muggle appliances in there as well.



The whole flat was decorated in shades of brown and beige



“The decorating needs doing before we unpack.” She decided. He raised a brow at her forthright attitude but assumed it was due to some female instinct, nesting or some such thing and left her to it. She stripped the ugly, peeling wallpaper with a simple charm and conjured colour onto the wall; similar to painting it, but not quite the same. The carpets she attacked with a few vigorous cleaning charms and transfigured into more pleasing colours. The curtains were infested with Doxies and there was a Bundimun in the bathroom but they were soon taken care of after Severus had harvested what he wanted from them of course. No point wasting good, fresh ingredients after all!



As soon as she finished clearing and decorating a room, Severus went about furnishing it. He had shrunk all the furniture from his old house and put it in his trunk when he approved the sale. There wasn’t much in the way of furniture, just a tatty sofa and chair and a rickety coffee table, but the book collection he had brought was magnificent. Despite the lack of electricity, and therefore TV, Georgia knew she would never get bored with such a library at her disposal. The hall and living room she decorated in a soft aquamarine colour, closer to green than blue. The kitchen, her domain she assumed, she made a bright cheery Hufflepuff yellow to make the small room look larger. The bathroom became deep marine blue with white tiles. She hoped to put some nice shells and pictures in there to make it beach themed when she got the time.



Finally, the bedroom. Unsure of what colours Severus would like, she opted for a House and Gender neutral soft lilac and cream. He made no complaint when he saw it in any case. When they finished, they both lay on the bed.



“Wow, who’d have thought moving was so tiring?” Georgia yawned.



“We aren’t finished yet, we have the shop to put in order next.” Severus reminded her.



“Can we have some lunch first? I’m starving.” She begged.



“Yes, I think that would be best.” He agreed.



They had lunch in a small cafe near Florean Fortescue’s. Diagon Alley was quiet today, there were few people milling about so they were safe from being gawked at by anyone who recognised them. Severus seemed somewhat distracted. She thought it best to leave him to it although he was looking at her strangely. She hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts about being with her. She had given up a lot to be with him and it frightened her a little to know that she was reliant upon him for everything now. He was no longer her teacher, not just her lover, he was also her employer and his home was hers too.



When they finished their meal, he started off down the Alley, leaving her to trail behind him in confusion. He stopped outside Eeylop’s Owl Emporium, turning with a smirk to see her puzzlement.



“I came to the conclusion that it would be best for the business if we had our own owl.” He explained. Georgia waited outside, fascinated by the Fruit Bat on a perch by the door. When Severus emerged he was carrying a cage holding a handsome Eagle owl.



“Aww, he’s lovely Severus. Does he have a name?” She asked. He sighed and almost rolled his eyes at her reaction.



“No, he’s just an owl.” He replied. “If it’s that important, why don’t you name him?”



“Just an owl indeed!” She huffed playfully as they walked back up the Alley towards the shop. “What do you say to that, Owl?” She asked. He hooted softly, blinking his large yellow eyes at her.



“There we have it; He’s Owl.” She decided. Severus stared at her, his hand poised at the keyhole to the shop.



“You’re naming it Owl?” he asked.



“Why not? He likes it. Besides, I always loved Winnie the Pooh.” She explained.



“Winnie the Pooh?” he repeated in a whisper, perplexed.



“A Muggle children’s story Severus.” She clarified.



“I suppose I should be thankful that you didn’t name it anything stupid like..... Fluffy, or some such rot.” He conceded.





The shop was dark and smelled awful, but Georgia was happy. Back in first year when she’d been first introduced to the wizarding world, this had been her favourite shop, full of fascinating boxes, barrels and jars of myriad ingredients, drawing her eye and it interested her as much now as it had when she was eleven.



Severus smiled to himself when he saw her reaction, full of childlike wonder. He had thought she only wanted to work with him to stay close to him, and to avoid uncomfortable questions from potential employers as to why she had left mere months before NEWTs, but she seemed to have genuine interest in the work. He was glad his assistant was going to be capable of the work without being bored, and he felt a little pride too. She was a capable student and perhaps, in time she would be competent enough to make a full partner in the business, possibly even apprentice to him, if she was willing. But he couldn’t apply for her apprenticeship to the Society without her NEWT. He was going to have to give that more thought in the future.



Behind the counter, a small archway led to the back room, a workshop where Severus would be spending most of his time. One wall was full of shelves with more restricted ingredients and completed potions ready for sale, on the opposite wall was a large sturdy workbench, scuffed and pitted from years, possibly centuries of use. In a corner there was a large, Victorian Butler’s porcelain sink with big brass taps and on the back wall there were steps leading to the cellars, where more stock was held no doubt.



Georgia sat on the workbench, swinging her legs childishly while Severus made a mental note of what was contained therein, from feathers and Herbs, to Brass scales and the various sized cauldrons of many different materials. Different brews required different cauldrons, from the tiny, pure gold one on the counter, no bigger than a crucible or egg cup, to the huge iron one on the floor, large enough to fit Georgia in whole.



“Well?” she asked impatiently.



“Everything seems to be in order here.” He replied. He pulled out two rings of keys, one with more on than the other, and laid them on the workbench. He tapped them, both with his wand creating copies. He put the originals back in his coat pocket and handed her the copies.



“You’re making me a key holder?” she asked in surprise.



“Yes, I trust you. Don’t make me regret it.” He replied.



“I won’t I swear.” She assured him. “So, work’s done, can we play now?” she asked, pulling a seductive pose and giving him an unmistakeably lustful look.



“Insatiable witch.” He admonished, without much ire. “You still have work to do, something about a letter to your parents I believe.” He reminded her. Her face fell; she wasn’t looking forward to it.



“Georgia, I have been accused of many things in my life, most of them with good reason, but I will not have my girlfriend’s parents believe I seduced and kidnapped their daughter. Dumbledore will have already told them you have left, and I was sacked. They deserve to hear the truth.” He warned her.



“I’m sorry Severus. I just have a hard time putting my feelings into words. I’ll write it now.” She said, suitably chastised. He nodded his approval and brought a quill, parchment and ink out of a drawer. She got to work immediately while Severus took stock in the shop, and the cellar. She was a little surprised and amused at how his attitude towards her had reverted to that of teacher and student. She supposed that was how he intended things to be while they were in the shop, to differentiate between home and work life.



After one hour, several inches of wasted parchment and a thoroughly chewed quill, Georgia was finished. Severus could be heard coming back up the stone steps of the cellar, sneezing all the way.



“I don’t think anyone’s cleaned down there in years.” He griped, washing his grimy hands in the sink. Georgia came over and briskly brushed the dust out of his hair with her hands with a smile.



“Never mind, I’ll help you clean it up.” She said, fondly kissing his cheek. “I’ve finished my letter; do you want to read it before I send it?”



“I suppose I’d better check you haven’t written anything too incriminating.” He teased, straight faced. She handed him the parchment and watched expectantly as he read it. She felt like a first yea, having him mark an essay, waiting for the proclamation of doom, that it was no good and she must write it again.





‘Dear Mum and Dad,

I know Professor Dumbledore has already written to you, but I know you need to hear it in my own words. I have fallen in love with my Potions Professor, Severus Snape. We have left Hogwarts together and are living in the wizarding part of London. Severus has bought a successful business, an Apothecary, and I am working with him as his assistant. I am sorry I never told you before about our affair but I wasn’t sure how serious it was and I knew you would take the news badly. I know you will be concerned about the age difference and the fact that until recently he was my teacher but he is as in love with me as I am with him and he treats me with respect and devotion. I hope with time you will come to respect my choice and know that being with him is what makes me happy. Severus is a good man, a hero in our world, and you can be sure he will take good care of me. I love you both and will see you soon.

Love Georgia.

Ps. You can send a reply with this owl if you want, he’s ours.’





Severus handed it back to her with an odd look.



“Acceptable.” He said in his usual unreadable manner. She frowned at him, not understanding, but wrote the address on the front of the parchment, sealed the back with wax and tied it to Owl’s leg, letting him out the front door.



“Severus, are you alright?” she asked tentatively. “You seem a little off with me. Have I done something wrong?” He looked round into her big soft eyes and it stopped his heart.



“Georgia, you have done nothing wrong my sweet.” He said softly, stepping closer to her. “If I seem distracted, it is because there is so much work to be done. Your letter touched me, in your defence of me. I should have said more perhaps but bear in mind I am a solitary man by nature and am becoming accustomed to your presence slowly. Please be patient with me, I am trying, because I care for you.”



Georgia smiled a little and wrapped her arms around his waist in the gloom, laying her head against his chest.



“I suppose you think I’m a silly little girl for getting upset over something so trivial.” She said, a little embarrassed at her behaviour, especially as her lover was a mature wizard. She didn’t want to give him second thoughts about engaging a much younger witch.



“Silly? Only sometimes my dear.” He replied with a slight smirk. She looked up at him in mock indignation just in time to see his head dip to hers for a soft, gentle kiss. “But I wonder what your parents will reply.” He added.



“Come on, we’re finished here. Let’s hop through to Muggle London, pick up some shopping from Sainsbury’s. That kitchen is empty and it’ll be dinnertime soon.” She said brightly.



“You can cook?” he asked, laying the sarcasm on thick.



“Severus, you’ve seen me make complicated healing draughts, follow your recipes and measure and prepare ingredients. You must know I can cook.” She said, admonishing him.



“We’ll see.” He said with a wry smirk.