A Change of Venue 2: Granger Services, Inc

Chapter 3 ~ The Appointment

"School Marm fantasy tonight, Hermione?"

"No!"

"You could have fooled me with that skirt and those shoes," Adam Sweetmeats said, crinkling his nose. If sexy were a test, you'd get a T for Troll."

Adam sucked his teeth for emphasis, but Hermione just ignored him. Adam was for 24 hour glitz and glitter. All beauty, all the time. Tonight, he wore a bit of blue shadow and had his nails painted baby blue to match his robes.

Well, at least your hair looks decent, thanks to me, although I would have preferred more curl," he added.

He artfully spritzed her hair and stepped back with a flourish, raising both of his manicured hands as a sign he was finished.

"I didn't want more curl, Adam. I want to look rather—ordinary. Like myself," Hermione told him as she stood up and walked over to the mirror.

"I just don't understand some women," Adam said with a scowl as he stood behind her with his spiky brown hair perfectly askew. He had no reflection, of course. He was a vampire. A Queen vampire, to be exact, and as gay as a day in Paris. He was the owner of Love Bites Beauty Shop, and Hermione's personal stylist. "You should all focus on looking fabulous!"

"If I looked too 'fabulous,' Adam, I'd probably scare my client off," Hermione told him, turning around.

"What man doesn't like fabulous?" the vampire inquired.

"I think this one. I have to be very careful with him. I'm relatively sure he has low self-esteem issues concerning his sexuality. I don't want him to feel pressured."

Adam batted his long lashes at her as he put his tools into his carry-all bag.

"Well, that's refreshing. Most men haven't got a clue they can't fuck," the Queen said. "As long as they're humping away, they're happy. The hell with their partners. That's why I'm glad I have my Victor. That vamp is a bloody machine—"

"I've heard you singing the praises of Victor from the rooftops before, Adam. He might be a love machine, but he gives me the creeping Fugwugs every time I see him. He always flashes his fangs at me," Hermione complained.

"Oh, that's just his way, Hermione. He wouldn't nip a drop of your blood. You know we don't hunt humans," Adam said.

"You don't. But I'm not sure about Victor. He doesn't seem as—well—domesticated. I don't care how nicely you dress him, Adam."

Adam smiled, showing his fangs as he did so.

"Yes, he still has a bit of the beast in him. That's the way I like him," he said. "Rough, randy and raw. Yummers."

Hermione patted her hair.

"Well, you'd better get going, Adam. He's going to be here shortly," she said as the vampire sashayed his way out of her bedroom, down the, through the living room and out into her office. Hermione followed him, marveling at his ability to runway walk so well.

As soon as she entered the office, the buzzer sounded and Hermione quickly looked into the mirror on her desk. It was Severus.

"Oh, bother. He's here already. Now, Adam, you just leave, okay? No flirting with him. And NO turning on the Vamp juice either. I mean it, Adam."

"You don't let a girl have any fun," Adam pouted as Hermione buzzed Snape in. The pale wizard entered the office, took one look at Adam and froze in place.

"What—is that?" he asked, pointing an accusing finger at the flamboyant individual before him. .

Adam looked Snape in abject fascination.

"He could pass for one of us," he said softly, bringing on hand to his heart. "He's beautiful. Look at those eyes, that nose—his hair is so awful, it's—it's amazing! I wouldn't change a thing about it!"

"Adam, it's tiiiime to goooo," Hermione sang to him softly, pushing him toward Snape, who didn't seem to appreciate it.

Adam's eyes flicked down to Snape's loins and widened.

"His goodies are—well—there's no other word for it. Bitable. Definitely nibble-worthy, " the Queen said, giving Snape a flirty smile.

Snape's eyes widened and he pulled out his wand and pointed it at Adam without hesitation.

"Professor! No!" Hermione cried, running and jumping in front of the vampire.

"SOLARIS!" the wizard cried, casting the sunlight spell on both Adam and Hermione. It wouldn't harm her, just that—that abomination behind her. Their clothing rippled, but nothing happened to either Hermione or Adam as Snape ended the spell.

Adam blinked his long lashes at Snape.

"I think I'm in love," he breathed.

Hermione whirled on him.

"Adam, are you all right?" she asked him as he continued to stare at Snape. Then his blue eyes shifted toward her.

"You must have forgotten I'm a Queen vampire, Hermione. My species can walk in sunlight. We just lose our vampire powers for a short while. If I had been Victor, I'd be ashes right now." He looked back at Snape. "He's positively dangerous. What a beast."

"Beast? I'm no beast you—you bloodsucker," Snape snarled. "I wonder if decapitation would work on you—"

He started to raise his arm.

"Severus! Adam is my friend, and harmless. Now, why do you even have your wand? You weren't supposed to bring it," Hermione said, her hands on her hips.

Snape looked at Hermione and reluctantly lowered his wand.

"I have my wand because I don't leave home without it," Snape replied. "I was of the mind I wasn't to have it when—when the situation became intimate. The document wasn't clear on that point."

Hermione frowned at him. He'd probably figured that loophole out before he arrived. . She was going to have to make the language in her contract clearer next time.

"Well, put it away. Adam is leaving. Now," she said pointedly to the vampire.

"I'm going. Gods," Adam sniffed, slowly walking past the professor, swinging his hips and batting his eyes at him. "If she doesn't work out, professor, feel free to come see me at the beauty shop. I mean, girls are fun to take on whirls, but it’s the boys that give all the joys—"

"Out, Adam!" Hermione hissed at him as Snape's face screwed up. Adam opened the door, stepped outside and turned back toward Snape.

"Bye-yi!" Adam said, twiddling his fingers at the Potions master, then blowing a kiss at him. Snape slammed the door in the vampire's face and turned on Hermione.

"A vampire?"

"What? He's perfectly legal. He does my hair," Hermione said to the still irate wizard.

"I see you haven't improved your circle of friends by much," Snape snarked. "Apparently, it's more deplorable than ever."

Hermione bit back the retort of "At least I have friends."

She had to remember her focus, despite the fact that he'd entered her domain and tried to murder her friend immediately.

"You're just a vampire-phobe. Really, Severus. It's the twenty-first century. Get with the program," Hermione responded.

"Vampires are dark creatures, Miss Granger," Snape responded. "Dark creatures should not be running about the wizarding world and—and doing hair."

Snape had to admit Hermione's hair looked nice. The bushiness of her younger years was gone. It was a healthy and slightly curly brown color. She was dressed nicely, too. A skirt and blouse. Very unassuming. He hadn't been sure what to expect when he walked in, but certainly not a vampire. A gay one at that.

"Hermione. Call me, Hermione," she told him. "I'm no longer your student. We're both adults now."

"Hermione," Snape repeated tightly, trying to indeed get with the program, at least with Hermione.

Hermione sighed.

"All right. That was a bit of a rocky start, but I have dinner waiting. Just a simple meal. Shepherd's pie, peas and carrots, chips and custard for dessert. I thought it would be nice for you to have a home cooked meal," Hermione told him.

"You cooked it yourself?" he asked her.

Hermione nodded.

"I did."

"I hope you're a good cook."

"I am."

Snape hadn't had a home-cooked meal since he was a child. He ate at Hogwarts and restaurants. A home-cooked meal sounded good.

"I am hungry," he admitted.

Hermione gave him a smile.

"Well, follow me," she said, warding the office door and walking to the door behind her desk. She turned off the lights and walked through the door.

Snape hesitated for a moment, then followed.

Snape entered the living room. It was nicely furnished, and a well-stocked bookcase rested against a far wall. A fireplace was opposite it, and there was a sofa, two armchairs, end tables and a coffee table.

"In here," Hermione called.

Snape walked into her kitchen and found Hermione putting food on plates from the stove.

"Sit down," she said, nodding her head toward the kitchen table.

This was very informal. Snape had expected something more, well, romantic? But again, this wasn't a truly romantic situation. He pulled out a chair and sat down stiffly. Hermione brought him a cup of tea, then returned to the stove to finish preparing their plates. It was quite a domestic setting.

Snape sipped the tea and found it delicious and just the right temperature. He drank it down as Hermione took the Shepherd's Pie out of the over. It was bubbling and the aroma was mouthwatering.

"I was expecting fine china, silverware and soft candlelight," Snape said.

Hermione smirked as she carefully placed a portion of the steaming pie on his plate next to the peas and carrots.

"I thought that kind of setting might be a little high pressure. Are you disappointed? I suppose I could serve the food like that in the living room, if you'd prefer it. I do have a tablecloth and candles—"

"Actually, I wouldn't. This—this is fine," Snape replied.

"Good. I thought it would be more comfortable," the witch said, setting his plate and utensils before him. "What would you like to drink? I have pumpkin juice, apple juice, milk, wine--"

"I would like wine, please," Snape replied.

Hermione already knew he would. .

"I have a red Rioja reserva that goes very well with Shepherd's pie."

"That's fine."

Snape watched as Hermione served him then herself, and joined him at the table. They began to eat, and the food was delicious.

"So, how are things at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked him.

Snape frowned.

"A bit dull," the Potions master admitted.

"I imagine it is, now that Voldemort's threat is gone," Hermione said.

"Yes," Snape replied shortly.

"But, there have been some wonderful educational advancements in the wizarding world. You know, I am taking an Advanced Potions class at university. It's being taught by Antoine Vargas."

Snape snorted.

"He's a poser. Not one of those potions attributed to him were created by him. They are the work of his apprentices, which he claims for himself because he's their master. They do all the research and development, he gets all the credit. He's nothing but a poser," Snape said bitterly.

Hermione looked surprised at this.

"Really? I've never heard about that."

"You wouldn't. They take an oath not to reveal what they've created as a part of the condition of apprenticeship. It's little more than four years of slavery for a little piece of paper. They still start out entry level."

"I never knew that," Hermione said, very interested.

"Despite how much you study, there are many things to learn that aren't in books," Snape replied, then he looked up at her. He reddened slightly before returning to his food.

Hermione didn't let him see her smile.

He was certainly right about that.

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A/N: Lol. All right, I put in Adam for a little bit of fun as requested. Now, we're moving on. Thanks so much for reading. ***