A Change of Venue

Chapter 6 ~ The Rescue

Agatha and Severus walked to the public apparition point, Hermione close behind.

”Disillusion the satchel, Severus. It will attract unwanted attention in Knockturn Alley,” Agatha said to the wizard, who pulled out his wand and did as she asked.

”Knockturn Alley?” Hermione mouthed.

Why were they going to such a disreputable area? And why were they apparating there? It was in walking distance. Maybe they didn’t want anyone to see where they were going. Or maybe the witch didn’t. Severus wasn’t saying much of anything.

Hermione crowded closer as Agatha took hold of Severus’ arm and disapparated with him.

All three reappeared in Knockturn Alley. Undesirables rested against the alley walls and gave Severus and Agatha a passing glance as they walked toward the small alley, followed by Hermione. Agatha opened the back entrance and walked through, followed by Severus. Hermione covered her nose as they entered the hallway with doors on either side. The air was so close, she felt she couldn’t breathe. Didn’t they ever let fresh air in here? She smelled the distinct aroma of urine as she passed a door on her left and gagged slightly.

”Oh, what is this place?” she thought.

Agatha opened the last door on the right with another key and walked in, followed by Severus and Hermione. She turned to the wizard and removed her glamour charm. Hermione started. She had seen this witch at the first SA meeting. She remembered her because she had such a look of hatred on her face as the other witches talked.

“All right, take off the satchel and let’s have a look,” Agatha said, greed on her face.

Severus had done the transaction privately as Agatha waited, with the instructions to answer the goblins properly and fill out the necessary forms, but not to tell what the money was needed for.

With Hermione standing by the door, Severus pulled out his wand, made the satchel reappear, then detached it from his wrist, handing the bag to Agatha, who put it on the tiny bed and opened it.

She dug her hands inside and pulled out a handful of notes.

”Oh yes! Yes! This is perfect Severus,” she said, her eyes shining, “We are going to live the good life…and there’s more where this came from I imagine.”

Severus stood there, sick to his stomach watching the witch running her hands through all his hard-earned money. He couldn’t say anything. Presently, Agatha put the money back and closed the satchel.

“I just have to pack a few things,” she said, pulling out a small suitcase from under the bed as Severus just stood there, “Then we can go and start our new life in London.”

”New life?” Hermione said to herself, staring at the Professor.

Hermione watched as Agatha removed a small bottle out of her nightstand drawer and set it on top. It had an application sponge on it…and an alchemist’s symbol carved into the glass. Her eyes narrowed.

“You know Severus, I think we should tie the knot while in London. Make us 'official' so in the unlikely event you come out of the Imperio potion’s influence…you’ll be married to me…for life,” she said.

“Not if I kill you,” Severus thought bitterly.

This witch was insane. Marriage? Well, possibly when they went to register her name would set off alarms. The Ministry and the Home Office were well connected and any magical records immediately available. Agatha was wanted for stealing. She might get arrested and expedited back to the wizarding world. They could add kidnapping and extortion to her crimes as well.

Hermione stared at the witch. Imperio Potion? The Professor WAS under some kind of magical influence. Hermione removed the “Notice-Me-Not” spell.

“You have him spelled!” she yelled at Agatha who spun around shocked. Severus was delighted.

“Get her witch!” he cheered in his mind.

Severus was quite glad Hermione was so nosey and hadn’t backed off.

“What are you doing here? Get out!” Agatha screeched as Hermione drew her wand.

“You’ve potioned him and kidnapped him against his will,” Hermione cried.

”He’s mine! I love him and he loves me!” Agatha screamed at Hermione.

“If he loved you, you wouldn’t have to keep him like this,” Hermione shot back, aiming the wand at Agatha.

“Severus! Hex her!” Agatha cried to the wizard.

Severus slowly went for his wand and Hermione hit him with a Petrificus Totalus spell, the wizard going rigid and falling back on the bed as Agatha screamed and lunged for Hermione, catching her by surprise and tearing the wand from her hand. Agatha pointed it at the witch.

“Crucio!” Agatha cried insanely, not thinking that casting such a spell would immediately summon the Aurors.

Fortunately, Hermione’s wand wouldn’t work for her. Agatha threw it down and looked at Hermione desperately. She had six inches and a few pounds on the short little witch.

Hermione, wandless, crouched defensively her hands curled, ready to grab and punch. If this bitch wanted to dance…they’d dance. She just tried to Crucio her with her own wand! That deserved an ass-kicking.

“Why couldn’t you just leave us alone?” Agatha said to her, frowning, “He’s mine. He loves ME not you!”

”He doesn’t love anybody. He just fucks them for pay,” Hermione said coldly, knowing that would most likely hurt the witch and make her vulnerable.

“That’s not true! Not me! You and the rest maybe…but not me!” Agatha cried, tears starting to fall. She glanced over at the nightstand and the bottle of Imperio potion. She could touch the witch with it, and then order her to walk off the edge of a high building. That would take care of her. Agatha grabbed the bottle.

Hermione knew that was probably what was controlling Severus. The witch was going to try and use it on her. By the application sponge, Hermione realized she only had to get it on her skin.

“You put that down!” Hermione said with a snarl, “You’re already in enough trouble.”

”I’ll put it down all right, after I’ve dealt with you,” Agatha snarled back, charging at Hermione the bottle raised, sponge down.

Prone on the bed, Severus watched as Hermione caught the larger witch’s wrists and they tussled, bumping into the walls, Hermione’s fear and anger giving her much more strength as she fought the bigger witch. They struggled around the room, then fell on him and wrestled, Severus getting hit with elbows as they grappled, Hermione managing to roll on top of Agatha, who was partially on top of Severus. Hermione forced the bottle down toward Agatha’s face, which was contorted with rage and horror. Hermione’s lips were pulled back from her teeth and her eyes narrowed with purpose as she used every bit of strength to bring the sponge in contact with the witch struggling desperately under her. Finally Agatha couldn’t hold her back any more. Hermione was too determined to win this fight.

”You little bitch!” Agatha screamed at Hermione as the bottle touched the tip of her nose.

Immediately Agatha stiffened. Hermione climbed off of her and stood up, running her hand through her wild hair, pushing it back and panting loudly as she looked at the stricken witch, then the bottle in her hands.

“Get off of Severus,” she said to Agatha, who stiffly moved over and stared at Hermione blankly, her eyes glittering unnaturally.

“Where did you get this potion?” Hermione demanded.

”From Craven Wormwood, the Alchemist,” Agatha replied.

“How do you break the spell?” Hermione asked her.

”You have to buy the antidote from him. It is expensive. Much more than the potion,” Agatha said.

Hermione looked from her to Severus. He lay on the bed, still stiff and his nose was bleeding from them fighting on top of him. Hermione walked over to her wand and picked it up. She removed the spell from the stricken wizard, then healed his nose.

Severus still lay there, unable to sit up because he wasn’t ordered to.

Hermione looked back at Agatha.

“Tell him to listen to me,” she said to the witch.

“Severus, listen to her,” Agatha said hollowly.

Inside, she was screaming “No! No! He’s mine…you can’t have him!” But there was nothing she could do. She was under Hermione’s control.

Severus’ eyes shifted toward Hermione gratefully.

“Sit up, Professor,” the witch said to him.

The wizard did as he was ordered.

“I’m going to go summon the Aurors. We’ll get you back to rights, don’t worry,” she said to the wizard then walked toward the door.

She opened it, then paused…looking back at him.

”You owe me big,” Hermione said to the wizard.

Sitting on the bed next to Agatha stiffly, Severus heartily agreed.

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Alchemist Craven Wormwood and Agatha Windelforth were arrested, tried for their crimes and sent to Azkaban. Agatha received ten years and Craven Wormood three years for not registering such a dangerous potion and making it available to the public. He couldn’t be held responsible for how it was used however, so got off relatively easy.

Severus Snape was given the antidote and restored. The first thing he did was contact the clients he was to meet with and cancel their appointments. The second thing he did was close up shop. He wanted no more Agatha Windelforths coming out of the woodworks. He had learned his lesson. Witches were crazy.

Well, maybe not all witches. Some were quite courageous.

Hermione testified in court against Agatha and helped put her away, then exhausted from all the excitement, returned home. She hadn’t talked to the Professor but read in the Prophet that he was closing his operation and returning to Hogwarts. Albus had kept his position open in the hopes that the Potions Master would return.

Well, there went her chance to experience Severus Snape’s sexual skills. Ah well. At least he was out of the business now and back where he belonged.

She made herself a cup of tea and sat down in the kitchen, sipping it thoughtfully, when she heard a tapping noise on the window. She looked up and couldn’t see anything at first. Then she saw two glittering orbs.

Hermione stood up and walked closer. On the windowsill with a message tied to its leg was the Professor’s raven. Hermione opened the window, but instead of coming in…the bird just stuck out its leg. Hermione removed the message and the raven flew away quickly. It wasn’t very social at all.

She walked back to the kitchen table, sat down and opened the letter. Yes, it was from Professor Snape. She read it.

Dear Hermione,

I have rescheduled your appointment for this upcoming Friday if you are still interested in my services. The time frame and requirements are still the same, although the waiver is now null and void since I have closed the shop. I am sorry to say I will also be unable to charge you because of my status as an everyday wizard and this is not actually business.

Still, I know what you need…and would deem it an honor to give it to you, particularly since you saved me from what would undoubtedly have been a living hell. I believe a bit of heaven for you is in order and I have the wings to get you there.

You do not need to respond to this letter. Be at my shop at seven pm promptly and I will know you have accepted my invitation and this final appointment.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape
Potions Master
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hermione stared at the letter for several minutes. He still wanted to see her…and without a fee.

“I have the wings to get you there.”

Hermione shuddered a little. No doubt the Professor felt he owed her something, and Hermione agreed heartily.

She’d be there Friday.

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Alice stood before the members of SA looking solemn as she addressed them from the podium, a parchment in her hands.

”Before we start this meeting, I have an announcement to make. Severus Snape Services LTD has been closed permanently,” she said.

This announcement was met with stunned silence.

“And there’s more. Severus Snape has created a fund that will pay for partial obliviation for members of Snape Anonymous in full. Only memories concerning Severus Snape will be removed. Simply make an appointment at St. Mungos. You will be examined and given an appointment for the procedure,” Alice said, her jowls quivering.

Murmurs went up around the room.
Alice removed a small piece of parchment from her pocket and opened it, reading it over…her eyes glistening a bit as she addressed the group.

”Also, he sent us a letter. I can’t…can’t read it directly right now…but he wants all our members to know…he is sorry to have put you all through this. It was never his intention to ruin our lives…just to provide us with what we needed. He apologizes and promises no one else will go through what we have concerning him,” she said.

Silence fell over the group. He apologized. Severus Snape apologized. For some, this was the closure they needed. The rest of the meeting was rather subdued, and the next day St. Mungos was filled with former SA members wishing to be obliviated.

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Friday night arrived and so did Hermione, stopping outside of Severus’ shop. The sign outside was taken down and the office was very dim as if closed. She tried the door and it opened, the small chime went off.

This time the wizard appeared, striding from the back room, immaculate in black dress robes, his hair shining as he stopped a foot from the witch, lifted her hand and kissed it gently.

“Hermione,” he said softly to the witch, who turned a bit crimson.

“Severus,” she managed to croak.

The wizard smirked at how hoarse her voice was. He knew it was nerves.

”Thank you for saving me from Miss Windelforth,” he said silkily.

”Actually, if she hadn’t been so pushy when I approached you, she might have gotten away with you,” Hermione replied, relaxing a bit.

Severus’ face contorted slightly then relaxed, his eyes filling with a bit of mirth.

”I believe you mean if you hadn’t been so angry I missed our appointment, she might have gotten away with me,” he purred at her, “Why were you in the vicinity any way, Hermione?”

”I was going to redeposit my five hundred galleons back into my account. The bank closes at twelve on Saturdays,” she replied.

“That was very good for me,” he said softly, “If not for you, my life would be a living hell. I would have been forced to serve another master most likely for the rest of my days.”

Hermione didn’t say anything as the wizard looked at her intensely. Severus gently took her hand.

”Come, let me show you how grateful I am for my freedom,” he breathed, directing her to the doorway that led to his world.

Hermione let him lead her where he would.

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A/N: Whoo hoo! Hermione to the rescue! Tough little witch there. Now…we all know what’s next, don’t we? Lol. Thanks for reading. I told you it wouldn’t be long. ***