Authors note- I write from personal life experiences and decided to turn some of it into a fanfic. Writing, and art are my escapes from depression since getting sober. All mistakes are my own, I am the only one who over sees the stories, no beta or anything, so sorry if things aren't perfect. Like I said this is my escape, and I just now decided to publish something. I can't guarantee updates will be on time, but I will update as soon as a chapter is done. Oh and I don't own this shit, or make profits, disclaimer blah blah. :) Rated M for language, drug use, and talks about self harm, and future chapters. Enjoy.

A small, dingy one bedroom one bathroom flat above what looked like the front of a whore house, or an unattractive locals only pub in the middle of Knockturn Alley. In the small living room of the flat sat a cardboard box with a square piece of glass acting as a make shift coffee table. Next to that was a 70's style, mustard yellow torn up couch, on it sat a thin woman bent over the coffee table snorting loudly a few times. After all the white lines were making their way through her system she laid her head back, staring at the ceiling enjoying her high.

Beep, beep, beep.

"Fuck!" She got up in a hurry at the sound of her alarm letting her know she needed to get ready for work. Tossing her stained white tee to the side, grabbing a black corset tank top, quickly putting it on. She starred at a mirror adjusting her cleavage. "Perfect." She grabbed her dark wash jean shorts, pulled them on over her red lace thong. "I cannot be fucking late again, where the hell are my boots!" She yelled out loud in her empty flat. Rummaging around her things she found her faux combat boots, and slipped them on with ease. She grabbed her wand, small beaded bag, and her cloak. She warded her flat, through her cloak on a went for the door. Just as she went to turn the door handle, she grabbed a chunky cross necklace and put it around her neck. Throwing the hood of her cloak, she walked out of her flat and ran down the alley.

She made her way out of Knockturn Alley, and into Diagon Alley, crowded with families shopping for the start of the new school year. Smiling happy faces being shoved out of the way without so much as a sorry from the speedy witch. As she retreated from the crowd and made her way out of the alley, and into muggle London, a pair of stern black eyes followed her.

"Miss Granger?" Severus Snape starred in shock. Quickly regaining his composure he went after to follow her. As he made up ground and almost caught up to her, she was gone in a blink of an eye. Reacting quickly he casted a tracking spell at the place she was last seen at, it quickly picked her presence and melted the coordinates in his brain. He smirked knowing exactly where she was, and he was gone just as quickly.

Hermione walked into the muggle bar, White Horse, smiled and said hello to Sean the bouncer. Walking past the bar Kaitlyn yelled for her to grab two cases from the back, on her way back up. She kindly agreed. Hermione made her way to her locker in the staff room, through her belongings in, readjusted her cleavage and grabbed the boxes making her way to the bar.

"You're late, again!" Kaitlyn told her taking one of the boxes.

"Only a minute or two, I'm sorry it's been chaotic where I'm at." She replied while clocking in.

"I can't always make up an excuse for you, but to make it up to me, you can take my Sunday night shift." Kaitlyn said with a pleading grin.

"Yeah, of course. Sam didn't give you it off?"

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes, "No, he'll let me switch shifts on our busiest nights but won't let me go on our slowest. He's losing his damn mind."

Hermione laughed at this, enjoying the banter between her and her co-worker. Kaitlyn was thin in the waste, round in the bum and breast department, and had blonde platinum hair falling down her back. Her eyes were perfectly ice blue. She was sweet, but stern, and Hermione could always trust her for anything. They continued setting up the bar for the upcoming shift. Thursday nights weren't busy, but not completely dead either.

A muggle clothed Severus walked through the doors and sat at the bar, and ordered a lager from Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn poured the beer quickly and handed it to him with her 'big tips smile'.

"Hey girl, can I get a bump before the suits come in?" Kaitlyn asked Hermione.

"Yeah, I haven't re-upped yet so don't be too greedy." She responded while taking off her cross necklace and handing it to Kaitlyn. Severus listened, while appearing to watch a football that was playing on the tv behind the bar.

"Thanks girl." Kaitlyn walked to the bathroom. Hermione grabbed a bottle of fire whisky she kept stashed for people she knew were wizards, she poured two shot glasses full, and placed one in front a Snape. He looked up at her, and they made real eye contact for the first time since he came in.

"It's on me." She smiled at him, and held her shot glass up towards him, waiting for a cheers. They clanked their glasses and shot the liquid back. It burned all the way down until the pit of their stomachs, but Hermione loved it. She looked at Snape again, smiled softly. He looked at her as stoney as a statue.

"Why are you here, Professor? Shouldn't you be getting ready for classes?" She asked him curiously as she poured two more shots of fire whisky.

"I'm just having a beer, is that a-"

"Oh rubbish, don't try to play this bull shit game with me. Why did you follow me?

"Miss Granger, for someone who acts so formal to a prior teacher, you are quick to drop the facade." He smirked at her, "Besides, I don't teach anymore, so please Severus."

"Very well, Severus, why did you follow me?" She asked again. Kaitlyn made her way back behind the bar, handing Hermione her cross. She gave her a questioning look but Hermione waved her off, and she went to helping a couple that walked in.

"I did not-"

"Please don't lie to me, I saw you at the apothecary in Diagon Alley. I know you saw me, and I know you followed me. No one knows I work here, or where to find me. Please, who put you up to following me?" She asked pleading look in her eyes.

She finally took the second shot she had poured, as did he.

"No body, Ms. Granger. You have my word I won't tell anyone. I was just curious why one of the golden trio members would be walking out of Knockturn Alley."

"That's a little too personal. I like to be wine and dined first." She said with a laugh and winked at him. He stared at her plump lips, shaking his head.

"Nobody has seen or heard from you in over a year, why?"

She shrugged. "Needed a break from everything, I guess."

"Now who's lying, Hermione." He raised an eyebrow at her, saying her first name for the first time ever. She held back a small shiver that hearing it caused.

"Look, sir, it's been swell seeing you, but I need to cater to other patrons, the ones who will tip me well enough to make rent easier this month. Feel free to hang out, but this conversation is over." She smiled at him pouring him and herself one more shot of fire whiskey. "I really am glad you came out of the war well, seeing you almost die tore my heart up." With that she went around the bar taking a drink to other patrons sitting at the high top tables.

He watched her casually, admiring how much she had grown. Making note of her numerous times she would sniff or rub her nose, he noticed the scars on her shoulders, and hands from the war, then he notices a few razor thin scars on her wrist. Something's not right with her.

He asked Kaitlyn for the bill, paid his tab, and left separate tips for the two pretty girls behind the bar. He said his thanks, and started to walk out the bar, as he passed by the table Hermione was at, he noticed the man rubbing her bum she took their order. His blood started to boil, he had to leave immediately before he did something he'd regret.

Hermione saw out of the corner of her eye he left, releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She took the gentleman's order and went back to the bar to fulfill it. Hours passed, and the bar stayed pretty even through out the night. Finally closing came, Sean locked the front doors and took a seat at the bar, in front of the two girls. They finished their cleaning, and pulled out three bottles of beer.

"Hey H, who was that guy you were talking to at the bar?" Sean asked her after taking a much need drink of his beer.

"My old teacher, I guess he moved to the area." She shrugged it off, taking a long sip.

"He was very interested in you, by the way he was looking at you while leaving you'd think it was an ex of yours." Kaitlyn said, Sean nodded in agreeance.

"Really? Cause he's definitely not an ex." She laughed at that thought. Handsome yes he was, but still it's Professor Snape, she could never actually see him like that.

Hermione took off her cross, unscrewed the top pulling out a little spoon with white powder. She put it to her nose and snorted. Passing it to Kaitlyn, and then to Sean they all shared a few snorts.

"Why'd you give him some of that special whiskey you have? Is he from your past?" Kaitlyn asked curiously.

Hermione steeled up for a moment, "yeah he was one of my teachers there."

"Why did you leave that world?" Sean asked.

Hermione told them the truth after working with them for six months, they were her only friends, and she trusted them with everything. They didn't believe it at first, but once she pulled her wand out and showed them both a few simple spells they believed her instantly. They knew to not talk about it unless it was them three, and not to talk about it without her there. She enjoyed having friends that didn't fully know her past, and didn't judge her for what she did, or what happened to her.

"I needed a break, I'm still in it. My flat is in it, and I still shop there. I just don't like to keep in contact anymore, or fully immerse myself in that world anymore. Too much happened my short time there."

"Oh! I completely forgot your friend left you this." Kaitlyn handed her a white envelope. She opened it and saw 400 pounds and a letter in it. "He's a great tipper, he can come by any shift." Kaitlyn said with a laugh. Hermione ignored her and opened the letter.

"Hermione,

Take care of yourself, the wizarding world is always here for you.

Severus"

She rolled her eyes, "He's trying to get me to come back, fully."

"Why?" Sean asked.

"Because I was labeled the brightest witch of our time, and apparently it doesn't look good if I just up and left."

Kaitlyn snorted, "that's adorable."

"Shut it bitch, or you won't get anymore free bumps at work." Hermione laughed at her friend.

"Alright ladies, let's go home. I'll see you two tomorrow. Have a good night dolls." Sean said walking them to the door. They double checked the door, took the trash from the day to the dump and went their separate ways.

Hermione made a detour picking up her weekly package. She made her way into Diagon Alley around 4:30 in the morning, no body was there, so she didn't feel rushed. Little did she know a disillusioned Severus was waiting for her, he followed her into Knockturn Alley, and saw her go up to her flat. Gotcha.

He saw her walk in to an upstairs flat, waiting a few minutes he went up to her front door, and knocked. A disgruntled Hermione opened the door. "The fuck do you-" She stopped when she saw who was at her door. She stared shell shocked at Severus.