A Change of Venue

Chapter 5 ~ Going to Gringotts

Severus walked obediently alongside Agatha until they reached the public apparition point. The witch looped her arm through his and together they apparated into the dark, dingy environ of Knockturn Alley, Agatha pulling up her hood. Witches and wizards lined the alley walls, plotting and eyeing passersby, trying to get a bead on the foolish or inexperienced. Most only gave Severus a passing glance and paid no attention to the hooded witch walking beside him. Hiding one’s face here was nothing new.

They turned down a side alley and stopped in front of a battered, weather-beaten door at the back of what appeared to be a rundown flat. This was where Agatha lived. She took out a key and opened the door.

”Follow me,” she said to Severus, who did as she asked, all the while trying to fight off whatever spell he was under.

They walked up a corridor with several doors on either side. Agatha stopped at the last door on the right, took out another key and opened the door, entering, Severus following behind her. Agatha closed the door and looked up at him smiling.

”We’re home for the moment, my love,” she said to the wizard, lowering her hood and removing the glamour charm, “Tomorrow, we will go to Gringotts and you will withdraw a large amount of galleons and exchange them for notes. We are moving to the muggle world. How much do you have in Gringotts?”

Protesting inwardly, Severus told her.

Agatha smiled in delight.

”We’re going to be well off, that’s for certain” she said, unbuttoning her robes.

Her room was so tiny Severus felt he couldn’t turn around, not that he could if he wanted to. He watched as Agatha removed her robes, a brown skirt, white blouse and brown shoes underneath.

“Now we’re going to get reacquainted,” she breathed, stepping into him, “Kiss me.”

Severus leaned forward and kissed her rather mechanically.

Agatha frowned when they broke the kiss. That hadn’t felt right.

“I want you to kiss me like you do when I come to visit you. Kiss me with love,” she demanded.

Severus kissed her again, and although he moved his mouth correctly and held her properly, something was missing…but Agatha wouldn’t be thwarted.

“It’s…it’s just new for you right now, Severus. All those other women have put you off your game is all. Well, undress. You’ll get familiar with me again,” she said, beginning to undress herself.

The Potions Master did undress, did take Agatha down to the tiny twin bed mattress and did fuck her several times that night, but the witch was aware he didn’t contain the passion and fire she had experienced with him when she visited him at his shop. Under the spell, the Potions Master’s body performed…but his mind nor his heart was in the act. He had no desire to please Agatha and that came through. But the witch was still determined. The sex was still good even if she wasn’t lifted to the full height the wizard was capable of.

Finally she fell asleep, tucked uncomfortably against Severus, who lay there in the dark, a prisoner in the tiny twin bed, his back pressing against the wall.

No one knew where he was or who he was with. He didn’t see any way out of this unless the spell wore off, and Agatha was far too certain that they would be together always. Had she cast the Imperio on him wandlessly? No. It had to be sustained and Agatha had been quite distracted. He would have come out of the spell at least when she orgasmed. Possibly some kind of potion or draught. Something that worked through the skin. She had grasped his hand before he’d gone under. That must be it. But he was unfamiliar with any potion that had such power of control over an individual.

Suddenly he had to relieve himself and found he couldn’t get out of the bed. But he could wake Agatha. He did so.

”I need to piss,” he said stiffly, unable to voice anything other than his need.

“Out the door, to the left, third door down on the right. Go use the loo and come right back,” Agatha said sleepily.

Severus rose, pulled on his boxers and exited the room, smelling of sex. He couldn’t even scourgify himself. A wizard staggered past him in ragged robes and smelling of old booze.

”You reek of pussy!” the wizard slurred at him, bumping against the wall as Severus passed.

Severus looked longingly down the hall but found he couldn’t pass the loo. He went in. It was filthy and stunk of urine. He was barefoot too. He quickly relieved himself and left the dirty toilet unflushed. He wasn’t about to touch that handle.

He exited the bathroom and walked back to Agatha’s room. To his horror, the snaggle-toothed witch was awake and still randy.

”One more time, lover,” she purred and he instantly got an erection he didn’t feel.

One again Severus fucked her, cursing the day he ever decided to exchange sex for pay.

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Her hair shining and well-scrubbed from head to toe, Hermione made her way to Severus’ shop, feeling like a boulder was resting in her belly. She entered and the little chime went off.

She waited for Severus to appear, and when he didn’t…she sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. After half an hour she got up and walked to the counter.

“Professor Snape! I’m here!” Hermione called loudly.

There was no response. She looked at the door that led to his consultation room, then the mysterious door that he walked through with the older witch the last time she saw him. Could he be with another customer and run into overtime?

Hermione doubted it. He was quite adamant she show up on time. He wouldn’t have her do that to make her wait, would he? Hm.

Maybe he would.

Hermione called him again and still received no answer.

She took a deep breath and walked behind the counter. First she opened the consultation room. It was empty. Then she looked at the other door.

“Well, maybe he’s asleep or something,” she said to herself in order to drum up the courage to go through that mysterious door. She instinctively knew it was there that Severus worked his magic.

She tried the door and found it locked and warded. Well, that was no problem. Hermione had excellent spell breaking skills and after about ten minutes was in. She looked down a long corridor that had five evenly spaced doors on either side.

”Hello? Professor?” she called loudly.

Still there was no answer.

Hermione approached the first door and knocked on it. There was no answer and it was locked. She cast a simple Alohamora spell and opened it. Inside the room was an enormous four-poster bed, deep shag carpet, several armchairs and ottomans and a black marble fireplace with a nice roaring fire. Soft candlelight illuminated it. It was very romantic.

But he wasn’t here.

She closed the door and went to the next room, her eyes going wide as she opened the door. This was no romantic setting. The walls were made of stone and several torches blazed on the wall. There was a table with restraints at either end, some kind of leather harness hanging from the ceiling, and on the walls were mounted chains, whips and very frightening looking sex toys. There was also some kind of wheel mounted on the far wall. It also had restraints on it, and looked as if it spun. She noticed a black mask, black gloves and a riding crop resting on the table.

“Good gods,” she breathed, her heart pounding.

Had the Professor planned on bringing her in here? She really didn’t think this was what she needed.

She closed the door and walked to the next room. It was a classroom setting with tables, student desks and a huge mahogany teacher’s desk. There was a blackboard, pointer, chalk and erasers. Maybe a schoolroom fantasy. Hermione felt herself go a little warm. She had a crush on Severus when he was a teacher. Maybe he would have brought her in here.

Hermione stepped into the next room and staggered as the floor rocked too and fro. She could smell sea air and see the ocean. She was on the deck of a ship. Wow. This had to be like the room of requirement at Hogwarts. She looked up. A skull and crossbones standard was flying, whipping in the wind, the skull grinning horribly. This was a pirate ship. She could imagine the dark wizard as a pirate.

She exited that room, catching her balance as she walked in to the stable corridor. She explored all the rooms, amazed at the varying scenarios. There was a deserted island, a cave, a jungle area, a prison, a kind of office, and one room that was completely empty. Perhaps he kept that for special scenarios.

Damn, the Professor certainly had it going on. No wonder witches were gah-gah over him when he offered all that. But where was he? Hermione was more than ready to turn herself over to him.

Hermione did one more search, then left his shop perplexed and a bit angry. Did he purposely stand her up? He had to be somewhere on the premises…his shop was open after all. He wouldn’t leave it open.

Maybe…maybe this had all been a ruse to humiliate her and he had no intention on dealing with her at all. Some kind of payback for the years at Hogwarts when she was such a know-it-all.

Hermione didn’t really believe that. Fucking her would be a much better payback in her estimation, then he could punish her good.

Hermione felt a dark pulse at the thought.

“Damn him,” she hissed to herself as she headed for home.

He had gotten her all excited about a night with him, then left her out in the cold. No matter how good a lover he was supposed to be, Professor Snape was still and would always be a bastard.

******************************************

Hermione found herself at the ten AM meeting of Snape Anonymous. The same crowd was there that attended when she went to the first meeting. She was welcomed back with open arms. But Hermione had a reason for being here. After listening to the preamble and other readings, the chairwitch asked if anyone had a burning desire to share. Hermione stood up.

“Um…I don’t want to share really. I have a question,” she said slowly.

A few people frowned.

“The meetings don’t work that way. There are no discussions unless they are scheduled,” the jowly Alice said, frowning.

“I just want to know if Severus Snape is known for standing witches up,” Hermione pressed.

Everyone fell silent. Alice’s jowls quivered as she fought to keep from breaking the rules and asking her own question of Hermione. She failed.

“Did…did he stand you up, Hermione?” she asked, amazed.

Hermione nodded.

Murmuring broke out among the members, who all were shaking their heads. Severus had never stood up a single one of these women or rescheduled. He was always available for his appointments. They all told her so.

Hermione left the meeting immediately, not waiting for it to end. Furious, she headed for Gringotts to deposit the five hundred galleons she had taken out of her account. Fuck Severus Snape…and not in a good way either. He was history.

As Hermione walked, she didn’t register the people she passed, she was so angry. Ahead of her, a glamoured Agatha and Severus walked toward Gringotts, the witch giving him instructions.

”You are to take out one hundred thousand galleons and have them converted to pound notes,” the witch instructed, “Then we’ll go to London and get ourselves a little love nest. We’ll make love around the clock, Severus. It’s going to be a beautiful life, you’ll see, dearest.”

Hermione looked up sharply. Severus? She had distinctly heard a woman say the name Severus. She looked around and saw him. It was the back of him, but there was no mistaking that smooth, cat-like stride. A woman was walking beside him, talking animatedly.

Scowling, Hermione hurried up and appeared on the other side of him.

“Where were you last night?” she demanded of the Potions Master, who looked straight ahead and didn’t respond. But Agatha did.

“Get out of here. Can’t you see he’s with me?” she spat at Hermione who looked at the witch with hard eyes.

”I have some questions for him. He stood me up last night, I had an appointment,” Hermione said, assuming this woman was another client of his.

”He won’t be meeting with you or any other witches any longer. He’s retired,” she snapped at Hermione, “So you can just leave us alone.”

”Retired?” Hermione responded, looking up at the wizard. Why wasn’t he responding to her and letting this witch do all the talking?

“Are you retiring, Professor?” Hermione asked him.

“Tell her yes, Severus,” Agatha said to the wizard.

Severus looked at Hermione, his eyes unnaturally bright.

”Yes,” he said, then looked straight ahead again.

Hermione knew something was wrong.

“Professor, what’s wrong with you?” she asked the wizard as they stopped at a corner together. Gringotts was just ahead.

”Nothing’s wrong with him. Tell her Severus,” Agatha said to the wizard, who looked at Hermione.

”Nothing is wrong with me, Hermione,” he said, starting to walk again, Agatha holding his arm possessively and wishing Hermione would just go away.

“Now, will you go away? Severus and I are an item now. There won’t be any more paid sex…he’s mine. All mine. Now get out of here before I summon an Auror,” Agatha threatened.

Hermione studied the woman and looked at the necklace she wore. Hermione knew what that was. It was a glamour necklace.

”Why are you glamoured?” Hermione demanded of Agatha.

”That’s none of your business,” Agatha replied, tucking the charm inside her robes.

Hermione looked suspicious. Too suspicious. Agatha tried to save the situation.

”I have a rather nasty scar on my face. I wear this charm to keep it covered,” the witch lied.

Hermione wasn’t buying it.

“Severus, tell this witch to leave you alone and go away,” Agatha said to the wizard.

”Go away, Hermione,” the wizard said. There was none of the usual silk in his voice. It was stiff and unnatural.

Hermione thought he could be under the Imperious curse, but Aurors would have come immediately if that was the case. Use of the Unforgivable curse anywhere in the wizarding community immediately set off a powerful alarm at the Ministry and the wizards could appear at the source within seconds. Maybe a love potion? No, he would still act relatively normal…just be madly in love with the witch. He wouldn’t be unresponsive like this. Something was very wrong.

She was going to find out what the fuck it was. Severus had said nothing about retiring from his vocation. He seemed to enjoy it very much. This made no sense.

“Fine. I’m out of here,” she snapped at the wizard.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard you say yet. Now, go away and leave me to my wizard,” Agatha said, tightening her hold on Severus and scowling at Hermione.

Hermione fell back into the crowd. Agatha looked behind to see where she went, her eyes sharp. She didn’t see her. Hermione watched as they entered Gringotts bank and waited for almost an hour. When they exited, Severus was carrying a satchel with a small chain that was attached to a kind of cuff around his wrist. Hermione’s eyes widened.

Something quite valuable had to be in that bag. She pulled out her wand and cast a “Notice-Me-Not” spell on herself and got behind them. Then she created a slender, nearly invisible thread, attaching it to the Potions Master’s robes and her own. If the couple disapparated, she’d be taken with them.

She was going to get to the bottom of this.