In The Dungeon Deep And Dark

In the Dungeon Deep and Dark – 14





The next morning Severus woke Georgia early. He fixed them a simple breakfast of tea, toast and eggs. Georgia was nervous and excited at the same time about her first day in her new job. She decided to wear a simple knee length skirt and plain blue t-shirt under plain black robes. They were her old school robes, but she’d removed the Hufflepuff badge from the front. She decided to wear her school shoes too, as they were comfortable and she was bound to be on her feet all day.



The first thing Severus did after opening was to change the signage. Instead of ‘Slug and Jigger’s’ it now said ‘Snape Apothecary’. He seemed quite pleased with the sight and Georgia wondered if it had been a longstanding aspiration of his to own his own business. It was a quiet day on the alley, just a few customers, and so Georgia managed to get a fair bit of cleaning up done while she wasn’t busy. The old shop was quite dusty and neglected. She decided to take the opportunity to climb into the large shop window and give it a good cleaning to encourage sales.



Suddenly, two identical grinning faces appeared on the other side of the now gleaming glass. Georgia smiled back at the two redheads she remembered from school. She knew, as did all students who had matriculated at the same time as them, that the Weasley twins were mischief personified. She heard the door tinkle as they entered the shop.



“Good afternoon gentlemen, how can I help you?” she asked brightly as she wiped her dusty hands on her robes.



“Good afternoon miss, and may I say what a shame it is to keep a precious flower such as yourself in the dark of a dusty old Apothecary.” One said, bowing theatrically.



“That said, we are glad our favourite, and cheapest, apothecary is open again. Even though the new management was a bit of a surprise.” The other said.

What’s your name, my lovely?” the first asked.



“My name’s Georgia, now did you gents need anything in particular or shall I leave you to browse?” she asked, hoping they weren’t wasting her time.



“Another George, eh brother?” the first twin, now identified as Fred, said.



“Indeed, we Georges need to stick together you know.” George said cheekily.



“Really boys, are you just being friendly or do you actually want something because I have a lot to do you know.” She sighed.



“Actually, we do need a few things. We’re short on Doxy venom, Murtlap essence, Ashwinder eggs and Bubotuber pus.” George said.



Georgia rummaged through jars on the shelves to find what she needed. She hadn’t familiarised herself with where everything was yet and there was no rhyme or reason to the arrangement of products on shelves. ‘Typical wizards’ Georgia thought to herself. She would have to devise a new system. Plant based ingredients ought to be together for a start, same with animal and minerals.



The twins didn’t mind though. They seemed happy to tell Georgia jokes and feed her compliments while she climbed ladders and scoured dusty shelves for what they needed. Her giggling must have gotten quite loud because Snape soon appeared through the curtain from his workshop.



“Don’t you two reprobates have anything better to do than waste my staff’s time?” he grumbled, longing for the days when he could dispatch them with a stern telling off and loss of points.



“Actually Professor, we’re paying customers.” Fred said with a little too much satisfaction.



“Master Snape, these two need a quarter of Ashwinder eggs; I need you to sign them out for me.” She said, diffusing his temper.



“Very well, I’ll be one moment.” He replied, glaring at the twins as though they might wreck the shop the minute his back were turned. To be fair, he was justified. They had systematically and repeatedly destroyed his classrooms, storerooms and office as often as possible during their six and a half years at Hogwarts.



“Master Snape?” Fred asked with an amused face.



“He’s not a professor anymore, but he’s still a Potions Master. It’s his title and I am expected to use it.” She explained.



“It must be awful having to work for him.” George said sympathetically.



“It is only my first day, but he’s actually bad to work for. I like it here.” She replied.



“What do you two want with Ashwinder eggs?” Snape asked suspiciously when he returned with a jar of tiny grey eggs that were smoking like dry ice.



“Ah, now that would be telling our trade secrets.” George said.



“You know I am fully entitled not to sell you anything I believe to be harmful, or to be used to cause harm.”He said peevishly. “And good luck finding half the things I stock elsewhere because non-Masters aren’t qualified to stock them.” He added triumphantly.



“Fine, love potions. They’re mild, short lasting and Ministry registered.” Fred relented.



“I’ll leave you to it then Georgia.” Snape said, disappearing back into the workshop to continue testing the old potions that were stored there. He needed to make a note of what was out-of-date and needed replacing so he could begin brewing again.



“That’ll be four galleons and seven sickles please lads.” Georgia said as she rang up their purchase on the ancient till.



“A pleasure doing business with you Georgia, and you are more than welcome to pop into our esteemed establishment any time to say hello, perhaps on your lunch breaks?” George hinted hopefully as he handed over the gold and silver coins.



“Georgia!” Snape shouted.



“Sorry boys; looks like I’m needed right now. See you again perhaps.” She said as they

exited the shop and she joined Snape on the other side of the curtain.



“You’re supposed to be working, not flirting with the customers.” He complained.



“I wasn’t flirting. I was looking for what they wanted and they started talking to me.” She defended.



“I heard them and they were flirting with you.” He groused.



“Well I’m not interested. Are you really that jealous Severus?” she asked.



“No, not really. I just don’t like other wizards talking to you like that, or thinking about you like that.” He said.



“Do you perhaps want to re-establish your claim to me as Alpha Male?” she taunted. He glared at her.



“Don’t make fun.” He said in a voice that sounded decidedly not amused. Georgia leaned up quickly and kissed him softly, soothing his hurt feelings.



“I wasn’t joking.” She replied huskily. He pulled her robe from her shoulders and pulled her close for another kiss.



“We shouldn’t, you know.” He replied; his voice like honeyed silk as her intentions heated his blood.



“That never stopped us before.” She replied brazenly. Suddenly, he lifted her physically

onto the worktop.



“Wait, I should shut the shop and put up the wards.” She protested.



“Oh no, if a customer comes in you’ll just have to straighten yourself out and serve them quickly before you can hurry back.” He said with an evil smirk, pulling her t-shirt over her head so he could trail kisses down her throat to where he knew she appreciated it most.



“But...” she began to protest again but he cut her off.



“Maybe that will teach you not to flirt with the customers, but to come straight back to me.” He smirked, running his hands over her slim body to her hips and drawing her closer to him so she could feel his rising ardour.



“Oh Severus!” she gasped, pawing at his robes and kissing his jaw just above his high collar.



They were fortunate that they had no customers for a while as she swiftly undid his coat and shirt, stroking her hands up and down his bare chest teasingly while she hungrily drank in the sight of his pale body before her. It felt so naughty, fooling around at work, just like when they had sex in classrooms back at Hogwarts. She found herself getting very turned on by the idea that someone could come in at any minute and wondered if Severus had been thinking about this all day. His hands were busy also; stroking her thighs as he pushed them apart and reached under her skirt to remove her knickers to stroke her already damp curls and part her folds ready for him. She deftly unfettered him of his trousers and they shared a sigh of satisfaction as he slowly sank his rigid member into her soft depths. He alternated between fast and slow strokes, stoking her higher until she thought she could take no more, babbling his name and various endearments as she begged him to allow her release. He acceded her request, ploughing her deeper and harder and she clutched to him as her walls contracted around him and her world exploded in ecstasy. A few short thrusts more and he followed her into sweet oblivion, spilling his load into her and leaning on the counter, exhausted but satisfied.

_____________________________________________________________________________________



George Weasley had been intrigued by the fact that Snape had left Hogwarts, in the middle of a term no less, and started running his local Apothecary. Even more intriguing was his young assistant. He recognised her from Hogwarts, but had no idea which house or whose year she had been in. He decided to remedy his ignorance by writing to Ron for answers.



‘Dearest Ronnikins,

I discovered an interesting thing today. It seems yon Bat of the Dungeons, Snape, has set up as an Apothecary further up the Alley. How come the greasy git isn’t teaching anymore and why were Fred and I left uninformed? We could have thrown him a leaving party!

Also, we I wondered if you know anything about his shop assistant. She’s a fairly good looking little brunette by the name of Georgia something. I don’t know anything else. I was hoping you or one of your friends knew her.

Meanwhile, how’s the Hermione situation coming along? I swear, if you two don’t get your act together soon, I might have to dose you both up with Love Potion!



Love, (but not gay love)



Your extremely talented brother, George.’





_______________________________________________________________________________________



Late that night, when Georgia had gone to bed, Severus also found himself writing a letter headed to Hogwarts. This one however was addressed to Albus Dumbledore. It was proving exceedingly difficult to write and had taken him a few tries. He was asking a favour, one he had no right to ask, but there was no way Severus Snape was going to grovel, even in letter form. He had promised himself he would do his best by Georgia and to truly do that he needed Dumbledore’s help.

He sent Owl off with the meticulously planned missive that was in no way a begging bowl. He was merely asking the Headmaster if he would allow Georgia to sit her exams, provided Severus could get her up to speed with her classes. Surely the old man could have no objections to that? He doused the lamp and crawled into bed beside her. He smiled contentedly as she turned over and curled against him in her sleep, even in slumber needing him close to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head fondly. He hoped he’d done the right thing as he drifted off to sleep. He wouldn’t breathe a word of his request until he got an answer. No point getting the poor girls hopes up for nothing after all.