CHAPTER 12
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 12 ~ Hermione Visits Diagon Alley
The next morning, Hermione awoke raring to go. She took a shower, dressed in comfortable jeans and a t-shirt, pulled her robes over it and tied her hair back in a pony-tail. As she picked up a hair tie off the dressing table, she noticed the stack of galleons, the note and the coupon. Her eyebrows rose as she looked at the amount of money. It was easily a week’s salary at her old job. She picked up the note.
Miss Granger,
Here is your weekly personal allotment. I will leave this amount for you in this area each Sunday evening for your weekly needs unless you tell me you need more in which case I will accommodate you. This money is ONLY to be spent on your personal needs. Any items used for your research are to be purchased from my accounts, which I have temporarily set up with permissions for you to use. I keep careful tabs on spending however, so save all receipts and place them in the top drawer of my writing desk in the living room.
I have also left you a coupon. Please utilize it. It is good at anytime and has no expiration date.
SS
Hermione’s mouth formed an “O” as she read the coupon for Cedric’s Sexual Symposium. At first she started to tear it up…but after a moment’s thought…stuck it in her pocket. It wouldn’t hurt to browse the store, particularly since the Potions Master’s performances might be few and far between and, well, rather one-sided when they did engage. A witch had to look after her needs, and since she was cut off from other male companionship during Severus’ patronage, something from Cedric’s might come in handy. She changed her robe, choosing one that had a hidden hood tucked down in the collar. If she went to the sex symposium, she’d be sure to be wearing it.
Hermione decided she would look for the “Harmonics” book before asking the Professor what he knew about it. It didn’t classify as a book of Dark Magic and might be available in reprint or in the Ministry Library where she could have it duplicated for a few galleons. She also needed to purchase some staff-lined parchment, a metronome, pencils, erasers and a small child’s piano to tap out notes and chords. She also needed a compass, protractor and star charts. Most of all she needed Harry’s birth information
Eli knocked on Hermione’s door and informed her breakfast was ready.
Hermione followed him to the kitchen and found he had made her a hearty breakfast of sausage, eggs, bread and jam, coffee and pumpkin juice. It was perfect.
“Thank you, Eli” Hermione said as she sat down and pulled the plate toward her.
“It is Eli’s pleasure to serve,” the elf said, sitting down opposite her and watching her eat with a look of satisfaction on his face. There was also a bit of curiosity.
Hermione couldn’t help but notice it. She stopped eating.
“Is there something you want to ask me, Eli?” Hermione asked the elf.
Eli’s ears lay back and he looked very nervous.
“It is not Eli’s place, Miss,” the elf said, “Too nosey, Miss.”
Now Hermione was curious.
“You can ask me, Eli. I won’t get mad,” she replied soothingly.
The elf stared at her for a moment.
“Does the Miss wants a wizard?” the elf asked, his green eyes whirling in his head because of his own audacity.
Both of Hermione’s eyebrows rose.
“A what? Wizard?” she repeated.
“Mate,” Eli said by way of clarification.
“Oh,” Hermione said, looking a bit taken aback. It really was a personal question. “I suppose I do, one day.”
Eli’s face lit up.
“Oh, that is very, very good Miss! My master needs a mate too,” he responded enthusiastically, then he looked a bit sad, “But he needs help. Help to see he needs a mate.”
Then the elf’s face lit up.
“You and he could be mates. Very good in-outie. Nicer Master,” the elf smiled.
Hermione’s mouth dropped open.
“In-outie? What in the world is that?” Hermione asked the elf, feeling a bit nauseous at the elf’s suggestion that she be the ‘mate’ of Severus Snape.
Somehow the term “mate” sounded more natural than being the “witch” of Severus Snape, or the “woman” of Severus Snape. He was the kind of wizard that seemed as if he’d have a mate. The designation of “mate” intimated there was only a physical sexual bond. A mate sounded perfect for the Potions Master needs.
But not her. Not in a million, billion years.
In answer to the “in-outie” question, Eli made a circle with his scaly thumb and forefinger, then thrust his other thumb through it very quickly several times. Apparently, house elves had very vigorous sex.
Hermione made a face.
“Sorry Eli…your Master and I are not compatible that way. I want a mate…er…wizard that is human,” she said, “Someone with feelings, emotions, settings other than mean and meaner. I want a wizard who is kind. Your Master is not kind, Eli.”
Eli swelled visibly.
“My Master IS kind. He took Eli away from the bad place and brought him here, gave him much work,” the elf argued.
“Getting himself a slave to take care of his home for free is hardly kindness,” Hermione shot back at the elf, her brow furrowed.
Eli pushed away from the table and stood up, highly affronted. The elf was fairly shaking with rage.
“Eli is no slave. I is bonded to my Master and would die for him. He is hard, but good. If not for my Master I would be in Hogwarts very unhappy like the others. You is a bad witch,” the elf said, magically clearing the table although Hermione had not finished her breakfast. The elf scourgified the dishes and put them away magically.
“I’m not a bad witch, Eli,” Hermione said, somewhat surprised at the elf’s demeanor. Most house elves wouldn’t dare say something like that to a human. “I just…”
Eli turned on her, scowling.
“My Master takes you in, gives you money, gives you freedom, saves you, and you says cruel, nasty things about him. You is a bad, unthankful witch,” he said, pointing a long clawed finger at her and shaking it furiously.
“Saves me? What do you mean? He’s not saving me,” Hermione said to the house elf, “This patronage works distinctly in his favor. He can have my body when he wants.”
Eli stared at her a long moment.
“You thinks that is more than he gives you? You has access to everything! Things my Master does not shares with anyone. You is not only a bad witch, you is a blind witch too,” he said quietly, shaking his head and winking out.
Hermione stared at the empty space Eli had occupied only seconds before. She had just been told off by a house elf.
As Hermione prepared to apparate to Diagon Alley, she thought about Eli. He had to be the only living creature on earth that felt so strongly about Professor Snape.
She found that a little sad.
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When Severus woke up the next morning, it was business as usual. Getting his shower, having breakfast, gathering the dunderheads’ parchments, looking over his lesson plan. Then on a whim, he did something different.
The wizard walked into his study, then over to his writing desk. He pulled out the main drawer, took out the items in it, then lifted the false bottom. Underneath it was a small mirror. He took it out, sat down in his swivel chair and held it up.
“Focus: Hermione Granger,” he said to the small piece of glass, which immediately clouded up then showed Hermione at breakfast and Eli sitting across from her. Unfortunately, the mirror did not provide sound so the Potions Master couldn’t hear what was being said.
Severus had Eli set up small disillusioned mirrors in every room of the house, including Hermione’s bedroom, bathroom and both labs before the witch arrived. They were positioned so they covered every area of space and worked like security cameras. He could only see Hermione when she was in his home. When she left the premises he had no idea what she was doing and the mirrors only captured live action. They couldn’t record.
Yes, it was sneaky of the Professor, but he was a Slytherin. Sneakiness was part of the package. The wizard told himself he was just “being careful” and “watching over” the witch. But such extremism suggested there was more to it. Severus was not used to sharing his home or any part of his life, and felt as if he were losing control of part of it with Hermione’s presence. She could be doing anything in his home, with his funds. She might even sneak a wizard into her bed. Severus didn’t like the helplessness he felt. Watching the witch made him feel less vulnerable. More on top of things.
If the wizard caught Hermione dirty, his wrath would be great. He wasn’t certain if the patronage bond would cover her infidelity. Some arrangements were open and fidelity was not a normal part of the bond. He had insisted on Hermione keeping herself pristine for his use, but there was no way to tell if the bond would defend his extra condition. So he had to count on his own methods of protection. Hence the mirror.
Severus watched as Eli made a rather vulgar motion with his fingers. What in the world were they talking about? It had to be sex-related. Then he saw Eli slide back from the table and magically take Hermione’s unfinished breakfast away, scowling fiercely at the witch as he did so.
The Potions Master had no idea Eli could or would be so rude to a human as he looked at the stunned Hermione. This was a trait the wizard appreciated. More words passed between them, the elf shaking his finger at the witch as if scolding a child…then he said something else and winked out, leaving Hermione looking bewildered.
Severus didn’t know if Eli would reveal their conversation. He was magically bound to keep Hermione’s secrets as well. But the wizard certainly was curious as Hermione disapparated.
He’d try and find out later what transpired. The dunderheads awaited.
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Hermione arrived at Diagon Alley’s public apparition point and immediately drew up her hood and drew her wand. She had decided to go to Cedric’s Sex Symposium first, figuring most perverts slept in late exhausted from their nightly activities, and there would be less customers. Cedric’s was located in Knockturn Alley. Originally, the owner Cedric had a shop directly on Diagon Alley, but there was a public outcry because so many Hogwarts students shopped their before starting term, and parents felt that seeing huge double-headed dildos and knickers made of sweets dangling in the windows was a bit too much education. So Cedric had to move his shop to Knockturn Alley, which actually improved his business, since customers were leery of entering his shop out in the open. No one cared if you wanted something to twiddle your diddle in that location.
Hermione strode through Knockturn Alley with a strong “I’m-not-a-victim-and-will-blast-your-ass-to-kingdom-come” walk and wasn’t bothered a bit by the dark characters loitering there. She often came to Knockturn Alley to get potions ingredients and knew her way around. There had been an incident or two. The Knockturn Alley regulars soon learned it wasn’t wise to fuck with a Spells Mistress, even if she was only five foot three.
Hermione walked up to Cedric’s Sex Symposium. A few wizards leered at her as she approached, trying to see into her hood as she passed. In the shop window were round mouthed joy-witches complete with tall black pointed hats, a smattering of vibrators and dildos, and a few painful looking clamps that went gods knew where.
Hermione walked into the shop, which held three well-stocked aisles of every kinky doodad you could imagine: Vibrators, dildos, erotic books, phallix glass toys, steel toys, bondage and fetish items, lubricants, gifts and gags, toys for boys, harnesses and butt plugs to name a few.
Behind a counter by the door stood a rather small, bent, glassy-eyed wizard. He was an unhealthy pale color, his black hair slicked to his head, his face pockmarked with craters and he had very full, thick and rather wet lips. He licked them compulsively and rubbed his fingers over his knuckles quite slowly as if caressing them.
This was Cedric.
“Ah, an early bird,” he purred, in almost a conspiratorial whisper. The timbre of the shopkeeper’s voice made Hermione get goosebumps all over her body and not in a good way as he looked at her rather lasciviously. Cedric embodied the word: Pervert.
“What can I do you for today? Nipples clamps? A Hands-Free Vibrator? Ah, a clitorial piercing, perhaps?” he asked breathily, his eyes dropping to Hermione’s thighs for a moment before returning to her face. He smiled, showing gapped brownish teeth. Hermione shuddered.
“I’m just browsing, thank you,” Hermione replied in a very high voice, hurrying away from the creepy proprietor.
“Just call me if you need any assistance. Any at all,” he called after her.
Hermione didn’t reply as she darted down the dildo aisle.
“She wants me,” Cedric breathed, rubbing his knuckles even harder, his eyes going half-lidded. “They all want me. I have so many fun toys.”
Still hooded, Hermione did her best to shake off the effects of Cedric and tried to focus on the sex toys in front of her, but it was difficult raising her libido high enough to decide what she would enjoy sexually with Cedric perving behind the counter. Gods…she was going to hate paying him. She hoped he wouldn’t actually touch what she purchased. If he did, it was going to undergo a very intense purification spell.
There was a large assortment of clownishly colored dildos in all sizes. Hermione liked large. She noticed a sign.
“Hands Free Wicked Wheezer, the Witch Pleaser. Just Invoke and let it Smoke!”
Interested, Hermione eased down to the display. A number of flesh colored dildos of various sizes with scrotums on the ends lay on the table, looking quite realistic. There were tags wrapped around each shaft that gave a further description of what the dildo could do.
“The Wicked Wheezer warms, stiffens and moves like a real penis independent of any physical manipulation on the part of the user. It is invoked by a simple command, has three settings of sexual intensity, gentle, normal, and wild and self-scourgifies at the end of each session. Satisfied customers claim it is as good as the real thing.”
Hermione looked over the dildos and picked up a rather large one. She was a small witch but had a thing for big cocks and strong wizards. One of the reasons she didn’t use sex toys was because they were so much work. The self-engaging Wicked Wheezer sounded just perfect. Of course, there was no galleon back guarantee.
She began to make her way back to the counter, and the disturbing Cedric when she heard the door open and a familiar voice. She hurried back down the aisle and dipped around the corner.
“Hey there, Cedric,” a bright female voice called out.
“Ah, Miss Weasley, my best customer…what can I do for you today?” Cedric said in his creepy voice.
Ginny looked up at the handsome blonde-haired wizard on her arm, and the little brunette clutching his other arm rather hotly.
“Oh we know what we want already, don’t we John? Gail?” she said to them, grinning sexily, throwing back her red hair.
John’s blue eyes glittered at her.
“That’s right, Ginny. I certainly know what I want,” he growled at her. Then he looked at Gail, who fluttered her lashes at him, her brown eyes fairly glowing. Then she looked at Ginny and nodded, winking at her.
“Gail’s the quiet one…at least until we get behind closed doors,” Ginny informed Cedric who nodded, his eyes washing over the curvy witches.
“You’re a lucky young wizard,” he purred at John, who gave him a rakish smile.
“Luck had nothing to do with it. I’ve already had to prove myself to these little beauties,” he said, kissing Ginny, then Gail lightly on the lips. The witches smiled at him. “Good thing I make my own hours at work, or I’d be in big trouble.”
“Come on John, let’s get it and go back to your flat,” Ginny purred, leading him and Gail down the dildo aisle. She stopped in front of a huge display of long, double-headed dildos. She picked up a bright blue one.
“This is a cheery color,” she said, turning it over in her hands, testing the rigidness. “What do you think, Gail? We can give him a little breather with this.”
Gail nodded and John grinned as they walked back up the aisle to the counter and paid for the item. Hermione noticed Cedric didn’t touch it. He just took the galleons and passed them an opaque bag. Ginny put the dildo in and the trio left.
Hermione shook her head. Ginny was obviously as uninhibited as ever.
She made sure they were gone, then approached the counter, placing the Wicked Wheezer on it and pulling out her purse, avoiding looking at Cedric. She was so put out, she completely forgot about the coupon.
“Ah, a good choice. You won’t even need a wizard with one of these. I’m told they’re that good. I haven’t tried one yet, but intend to,” Cedric said, accepting the galleons from Hermione. She dropped them into his hand, not wanting to touch him. Ew, ew, ewwww.
Cedric made change and offered it to her. The witch quailed at the coins in his pale palms which looked as if the fish-belly colored flesh was covered in fine black hair. What put hair on palms?
“Keep it,” Hermione said quickly.
“So generous,” Cedric purred, sliding a bag over. “I hope you continue to patronize my shop.”
Hermione didn’t reply as she bagged the dildo, reduced the bag and put it in her pocket.
“Have a good day and an even better night,” Cedric said to her as she exited the shop quickly.
“Yeah, she definitely wants me,” the shopkeeper breathed as he watched Hermione hurriedly exit Knockturn Alley.
“They all do.”
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A/N: Well, Severus has his eye on Hermione. Hermione’s been chastised by Eli and bought a pretty cool sex toy. Cedric make me squicky. Lol. Please review.