A Change of Venue

Chapter 3 ~ The Consultation

Craven Wormwood’s tight, unpleasant face screwed up even more unpleasantly as he filled a bottle with potion very carefully. He wore thick, liquid proof gloves made of sea dragon hide, but he’d rather not take any chances with this stuff. It was powerful.

The alchemist stoppered the bottle then scourgified it clean several times, insuring no potion clung to the outside.

“There she is,” he breathed, his hazel eyes studying the small bottle. He limped out of the back room to the counter where Agatha waited and set the bottle out of reach on the counter.

“There you go. My own brew. I haven’t come up with a name for it yet, but it’s potent. If I could, I’d give it the name ‘Liquid Imperio.’ It’s odorless. Get a little on somebody’s skin and they will do whatever you say until they are given the antidote. I haven’t registered it with the Ministry because it would instantly be banned. It’s almost an Unforgivable in a bottle. I’ll give it to you for one thousand galleons,” he said, arching a bushy eyebrow at the unattractive witch.

“But…but I’ve only got seven hundred and fifty galleons,” she said desperately, “Would you take the rest out in…in trade?”

Craven eyed the witch.

“What you offering?” he asked.

”Me,” she said.

She’d do anything to get that potion for Severus.

Craven looked at her consideringly and shook his head, picking up the bottle.

“Ain’t no one witch worth a two hundred and fifty galleon fuck,” he said, “I could stick my cock in twenty-five different whores for that price. You go get some more money. I’m open until midnight.”

Shit. Agatha knew one wizard worth five hundred galleons easily. Damn. How could she get two hundred and fifty galleons before midnight?

The witch glumly headed for the Three Broomsticks. She had to work tonight.

Agatha had begged, stole and borrowed to get up that money…hitting up her family with all the desperation of a drug addict, even selling her wand.

She walked into the inn and saw Rosmerta counting money then placing it into a box and placing it behind the bar. Her cash box.

Agatha waved a half-hearted hello, the wheels turning. Usually she was the last one out and no one watched her leave. It would be a simple matter to steal the box since she was an employee. The wards behind the bar only went off when someone who didn’t work there slipped behind it. Normally, this was good protection, but in Agatha’s case, the wards were enablers.

If she were found out, it would mean jail…but she had moved to another location in Knockturn Alley without informing anyone, not even the Ministry official she reported to each week with her signed SA slips.

The establishment she stayed at now didn’t have a permit for roomers so was quite clandestine. Those of very low moral character resided there, each resident staying to themselves. They wouldn’t question anything she did, wanting to protect their own asses. It would do for the time being, until she and Snape slipped away. There would be no money issues. The wizard must have plenty.

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Hermione stood on the street corner down from Severus’ office, trying to muster up the courage to go in for a consultation.

”This is business,” she told herself as she paced back and forth, bumping into a couple of passersby and apologizing before resuming her pacing again. “I just have to look at it that way.”

It was more than an hour before the witch walked down to the office, took a deep breath and opened the door. A chime sounded and Severus appeared instantly out of the back room. He saw who it was and arched an eyebrow.

“Ah Miss Granger. Back for more tea?” the Potions Master asked her silkily, walking around the counter and gliding up to her, his black eyes drifting down her person.

Hermione’s hair was carefully brushed and he could tell she had taken some care dressing, wearing nice blue robes and matching nail polish. She didn’t have on much makeup…just a little mascara and lip gloss. Severus bet it was flavored.

No. She wasn’t here for tea…possibly a shot of something else.

Hermione lifted her chin.

”No. I am here for a consultation,” she announced, meeting his eyes courageously.

Severus almost chuckled at her exaggerated display of bravery, a sure sign she was nervous as hell. Gryffindors always went into “display” mode when facing something they feared.

“Very good. As I have a free hour I can take you immediately,” he said, walking around the counter and pointing to a box with a slot in the top of it.

”Please deposit your fifty galleons in the cash box,” he purred at her.

Hermione pulled out her purse and carefully counted out the fifty galleons in ten galleon coins and dropped them into the box as directed, she returned the purse to her pocket as Severus opened the door that led to the consultation area and swept his arm up in an exaggerated gesture.

“Enter my parlor, Miss Granger,” the wizard said silkily, leaning in slightly as Hermione passed by him so she brushed his robes. He wanted to see…or rather feel her reaction.

As he thought, she colored, hurrying to one of the armchairs and sitting down quickly, her eyes on her hands and her hands in her lap twisting nervously. The table between the chairs once again held a light repast. Severus studied her briefly.

“Slightly repressed,” he noted to himself, “No eye contact. Guilt. Hm.”

Severus sat down opposite her and looked at her quietly until Hermione finally looked up.

”Looking at me is the first step, Miss Granger. Now…may I call you by your first name or would you prefer me to use your surname?” he asked her.

”Um, my first name will be fine,” Hermione said awkwardly.

”Hermione,” he said softly.

Hermione felt a shiver run up her spine at the way her name sounded on his lips. So sexy.

”In turn you will refer to me as Severus. We are no longer teacher and student, but man and woman,” he said to her.

Hermione nodded, feeling as if her tongue were all tied in knots.

Severus continued.

“In order to evaluate your ‘needs,” Hermione, I require honesty from you. You can tell me anything…or if you find it difficult to talk to me, you can answer my questions. Do you understand?” he asked her.

”Yes,” she said rather hoarsely.

”Would you prefer to tell me what you want sexually or would you prefer me to ask you questions and come to my own conclusions?” he asked her.

Oh dear gods. She couldn’t tell him what she wanted…she didn’t know. Well, she could say she wanted the same thing that drove all those witches to SA, but that sounded terrible. Then Hermione felt a burst of bravado.

”Can I ask you a few questions first?” she said to the wizard.

“Certainly. Ask away,” Severus replied, settling back and taking in the curiosity in her eyes.

“Are you aware there is a group of women who meet several times a week because of their obsession with you?” she asked him.

Severus nodded.

”Yes I am aware of that. SA or Snape Anonymous,” he replied, “I’ve tried to get them to give me a list of the witches attending those meetings so I can stop providing service to them, but was blatantly refused…the reason being their identities have to be protected. So there is no way for me to tell who is obsessed with me to that degree.”

Hermione frowned a little.

”But Severus, surely you have to know if a witch returns to you time and time again,” she said.

”The fact that she returns does not mean she is obsessed with me, but likes the service I provide. Some witches are just randy, Hermione. They don’t empty out their accounts for me. If I do become aware of a woman resorting to spending galleons she doesn’t have with me, I stop seeing her. But I can’t take responsibility for their actions when they aren’t with me. In fact, every witch I am with signs a contract that absolves me of any responsibility beyond the service I provide and that she is of clear conscience concerning what we do,” he said evenly.

“Do you at least find out if they are married?” Hermione asked him.

“Again, that is not my responsibility. Have any of the paid wizards you utilized ever asked you if you were married?” he shot back at her.

Hermione colored.

“No, they didn’t,” she replied guiltily.

”No, because it was not their concern. I am not a moral compass, Hermione. A witch the age of consent and above is considered able to make her own decisions. I ask no personal questions about their lives. If they want to tell me, which many do…I give no advice or pass any judgments on them. My job is to make them feel…feel what they need to feel when with a wizard. To give them an experience to remember. And I do that,” Severus said coolly.

It seemed as if Hermione were challenging him morally. She still had a little “holier-than-thou” attitude. He’d take care of that nicely if she made an appointment.

“Do you have any more questions?” he asked the witch.

“No,” Hermione said, feeling a bit stupid at trying to take him to task for those witches.

She realized that was what she was doing, trying to get him to admit he was doing something wrong. But he wouldn’t…because as far as he was concerned, he wasn’t. Still, a nagging part of Hermione thought he should feel some responsibility despite the signed releases he had. These were human beings he was dealing with. Women with emotions and needs that he fed then basically abandoned.

Well, that wouldn’t happen with her. Even if he were good, she certainly wouldn’t give up everything to continue seeing him. She wasn’t that weak-minded. If it got that affecting, she would certainly go the obliviation route. That would be the most expedient method of getting over him. But she wasn’t even sure she would do that yet.

”Good. Now it is my turn to ask the questions, and they will be most direct. You must be sure to be honest with me, Hermione…and just to remind you…I was your teacher for six of your seven years at Hogwarts. I can tell when you are lying,” he said silkily.

Hermione lifted her chin again, refusing to be cowed. Severus gave her an approving look…she was still a brave little witch, which most likely translated to she would be adventurous in the bedroom to prove to him she wasn’t afraid to try new things.

“What was your most stellar sexual encounter, Hermione?” he asked the witch.

Hermione blinked at him. She hadn’t had many stellar encounters, nothing that she remembered with great fondness or passion. Severus studied her, seeing that she was searching for something she didn’t have

“I…I don’t know,” she admitted.

”Not one is worth remembering?” he asked her, cocking his head slightly.

”I…I remember them, just not as being ‘stellar.’ Fairly good sometimes, but…well…not earthshaking,” she replied, her voice quavering.

”Earthshaking. Is that what you’d like to experience, Hermione? Something earth-shaking?” he asked her, his voice dropping low, “An experience that would…as the muggles are fond of saying, ‘rock your world?”

Hypnotized by the wizard voice Hermione nodded, swallowing. Yes…yes she would like to know what an experience like that would be like.

“The definition of ‘earthshaking’ is varied, Hermione. It means ‘loud’ which is characterized by or producing a sound of great volume or intensity; it also means an occurrence that is extremely significant,” the wizard said, leaning forward, his eyes taking on an even deeper darkness.

“It is also quite…violent, Hermione…the shaking of the earth dislodges things that have been in place for ages, opens up new vistas, new areas to explore. It exposes things that have been hidden in the dark and puts them up to scrutiny. Are you prepared for the possibility of the exposure of your deepest, darkest secrets and desires? With me, Hermione, you might find out things about yourself that you never knew, things you never dreamed because once I expose them…I will explore them,” he said to her, a hint of delicious danger in his voice that struck her right between the thighs.

Hermione shifted in the armchair slightly, and Severus leaned back, studying her.

”I know what you need, witch,” he said darkly.

Her lip quivering and body heating up, Hermione said one word.

”What?” she asked him, longing to hear the answer.

Severus gave a little smile.

“And here, Hermione…is where salesmanship comes into play. You see, I never tell a witch what she needs…I show her,” he said softly, their eyes meeting, “So now, it is left to you. Do you want to find out what it is you need, or go your way…never knowing, never finding out…never…experiencing it.”

Hermione stared at the wizard.

”You know something? You’re still as cruel as you were in Hogwarts,” she said to him, fighting the desire she was feeling.

Gods, yes she wanted to know and know immediately.

Severus merely folded his arms and quirked his sensuous mouth at her.

”Be that as it may, Hermione, the Quaffle is in your pitch now. Do you wish to make an appointment with me?” he asked her, his face carefully neutral.

Hermione looked at him. Those eyes seemed as if they knew the very secret to Life itself.

”Yes,” she said in a whisper, “I do.”

Severus had been keeping a Friday clear in case Hermione decided to use his services, scheduling his clients around it. Normally he allotted four hours to a witch. But Hermione was going to pull an all-nighter. This was not going to be work.

“Very good,” he said in a business-like manner, totally different than his demeanor before. This served to help snap Hermione back to reality. “I have one opening a week from Friday, starting at 7:00 pm…until. If you take it, be sure you have nothing scheduled for early Saturday morning. You may be…late.”

“It will take all night?” Hermione asked him, her stomach flipping over.

Severus gave her a small smile.

”Each witch is different, Hermione, however, I believe in your case, it will take the entire night,” he replied.

Gods, was the wizard saying he could fuck all night long? No wonder witches were going to meetings about him.

”Do I need to leave a deposit?” she asked the wizard, who shook his head.

”Normally, I do require the client to leave half up front, but I know you well, Hermione. You wouldn’t ‘stiff’ me. It is I who will be ‘stiffing’ you…and thoroughly,” he purred at her, rising and offering his hand.

Hermione stood and took it. It was warm and strong as he curled his fingers around her own. His touch was electric and sent thrills up her arm and down her body.

”Circe,” she sighed, her eyes going half-lidded for a moment as Severus pressed his lips against the back of her hand, then turned it over, pressing them softly against the pulse on her wrist, sending waves of pleasure washing over Hermione. Her legs nearly buckled. He could do her on top of the scones and she wouldn’t give a damn.

“It is time to leave, Hermione,” Severus purred at her, thinking the same thing she was, that he could fuck her right now and not get a single complaint. But he stuck to a strict rule.

No freebies.

He led Hermione through the door and back into the outer office. An older witch was sitting there and her eyes lit up at the sight of the wizard, ignoring Hermione completely.

”I will be right with you, Helen,” Severus said smoothly as he escorted Hermione to the door. The witch practically squirmed when he spoke to her.

Severus opened the door for Hermione, his eyes glinting slightly.

”Next Friday, Hermione…and be punctual. I charge a late fee,” he said with a wry smirk as Hermione silently exited, still unable to voice anything.

He closed the door behind her, locked and warded it, then walked over to the waiting woman and offered her his arm. She rose and took it, both of them disappearing through another door.

Hermione seemed to regain composure then. She found she didn’t feel any negative response to Severus walking away with that witch, only excitement that the following Friday it would be her walking through that door.

Gods…he really was addictive, and he hadn’t even touched her yet.

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A/N: Another chappie. We are going to celebrate my birthday belatedly tonight so no more writing. A few drinks and a couple of good dvd’s surrounded by my family. That’s nice. Thanks for reading all.