In Need

The usual disclaimer. Obviously, the Harry Potter universe is not mine and these characters, save for the OC's, are not mine. I appreciate the ability to play in JKR's universe. Thank you to my wonderful beta StoryWriter813. I greatly appreciate your help and critical eye! Thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope you enjoy. Please check out my other fics! Also, please read and review. I would love to hear what you think – what you like or don't like (even if you don't intend to keep reading). Title: Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

Chapter 2: Here I Go Again

When he woke the next morning, his stomach was clenched with hunger and his eyes felt as if they were full of sand. His mouth was dry and it felt like Taffy had used his tongue to clean the loo. He was disoriented and looked at the clock curiously. It said 7:22, but light was streaming into the window. It took a moment for him to realize that it was morning.

Taffy popped into his room with a tray full of food. He thanked her and ate greedily. He realized that he was wearing his nightshirt. The little elf must have changed him and tucked him in. She was gone before he could give her further thanks.

His stomach grumbled happily, and he sighed. It took very little to fill him, and his stomach protested at the gorging he had participated in recently. He slipped out of bed gingerly and took a long, hot shower and the first solid bowel movement he had had in years. He promised himself that he would never again deny himself good food or long, hot showers. He had lived most of his life denying himself simple pleasures; no more.

Dressing again in his familiar armor, he felt more himself. His frock coat was brushed and ready thanks to Taffy, and he slipped on the black garment and buttoned himself up snugly. He made his way down the narrow stairwell and heard a swift knock on the door. Taffy was in the kitchen, and he heard the water in the sink cut off as she popped away.

He sighed wearily, walked through the kitchen to the small entryway and opened the door to find a young man standing there with a dog. He grinned boyishly up at Severus, who was unmoved and glared at him stonily. "You look like somtin' right outta' tha movies!" The boy exclaimed.

Severus drew his brows down angrily and sneered at the rude young man, "While your wit is most amusing, it would please me even more to discover exactly . . . why - you- are here?" The very temperature of his deep voice chilled as he punctuated his question in a stiff staccato.

The young man swallowed visibly, "Sorry 'bout tha. I'm here 'bout tha room." He shifted nervously and the scruffy dog whined and slunk behind his master.

"No pets." Severus sneered as he slammed the door in the boys face.

He heard the slack faced youth exclaim, "Well he was a creepy bastard, wasn't he Scout?"

Severus heard Scout bark in assent as they made their way back up the walk and down the sidewalk. Truly, he didn't care where they went as long as they didn't loiter about in his yard.

Just as he sat down in his comfortable chair with a book on reclaiming one's magical garden, there was another knock at the door. Severus heard Taffy exclaim rudely, and he smirked at her foul language.

He walked into the kitchen where the elf stood covered in suds. He arched a brow at her, and her ears drooped guiltily. Taffy snapped her fingers and both she and the mess disappeared with a pop.

Severus composed himself and opened the door. Two young busty girls looked up at him and stepped back warily as he glared down at them. "We ... we're here about the room," one of the pretty, young blonds said.

The other moved slowly behind the girl that had spoken. Her blue eyes were filled with caution and distrust, as if he would eat her right there on the doorstep.

Severus smiled down at them, but his eyes did not reflect the emotion. He saw the timid girl pull on her friends arm. She whispered in her ear, "Let's go."

Her friend turned her head to the side and urged her to be quiet, "No, let's at least have a look at the room."

"I'm not going in there," Timid said.

"Then go," Adventurous said to her and turned back to smile up at him flirtily. He could see the wheels turning in her head. She thought she would have the run of the place, wrap him right around her privileged little finger. Surely the old fart would love having a bunch of scantily clad young women running around drunkenly.

Severus visibly shuddered at the thought of having to deal with vapid, drunken young people barely old enough to wipe their own asses properly. His head throbbed painfully at the very notion of listening to their loud music and incessant giggling.

To punctuate his point, Adventurous giggled.

"There is only one room available," he said to discourage them. He actually had two empty rooms. They were smaller than the master, and the third was actually very tiny. He was not about to tell them this; he was begrudgingly going along with Lucius' plan anyway.

"That's ok, we don't mind sharing," Adventurous twirled her finger in her hair.

Severus briefly entertained the idea of being squished between their large breasts. He smirked and his eyebrows rose, "Is that so," he leaned forward and feigned interest. As entertaining as the notion of a face full of breasts seemed, the bodies and dearth of brains they were attached too was a definite deterrent. Not to mention, neither of them had any intention of sleeping with him. It was a game, a game he had seen many times as a potion's professor; however, he had had a few serious offers. He had never taken any of them, of course. That would be despicable . . . sleeping with a student.

These young girls were little better. No, if he was going to sleep with someone it would be a full grown woman.

He sighed, "I'm afraid the vacancy has already been filled." He slammed the door in their shocked faces.

This had just begun, and he was already tired of dealing with idiots. He stood by the door listening to their outraged voices. Adventurous was about to bang on the door and give him what for, but Timid pulled her away quickly.

After lunch he slammed the door six more times. The most interesting interlude had involved a prostitute, who had clearly been Imperiused. She asked about the room in a rather monotone voice, and when he told her that there was no vacancy, she handed him a letter. He had used a handkerchief to grab it from her hands. She had left, glassy eyed and slack jawed. He was willing to bet that she was heavily drugged as well.

Severus glared cautiously at the letter. He brought out his wand and held it between trembling fingers. He swished his wand over the letter . . . nothing. He was incapable of casting the most mundane detecting spell.

"Taffy," He called for the little elf, who popped into the kitchen brightly.

"Is somebody be's moving in master?" She asked eager-eyed.

Severus held the handkerchief wrapped letter out to her. "Taffy, can you examine this for dangerous spells or substances?"

Taffy took the letter gingerly between her long, thin fingers. She flipped it to and fro and closed her eyes momentarily. "No, master. There's be nothing on it." She handed it back to Severus and waited.

He opened the cheap paper and pulled out the note within. There was no discernible odor, and when he opened it to view the script, he did not recognize the handwriting.

It was addressed: Traitor.

The note read: "Traitor. Don't think that you will get away with what you have done. You will pay with your LIFE."

There was no signature at the bottom, but Severus smirked at the attempt at a threat. Who sent such a letter? Who warned their intended target? Fools. However, even fools were known to be lucky now and then. He would tread carefully. He crumpled the note and walked briskly into the sitting room and tucked the letter in his book.

He needed to do something, so he doffed his jacket and went into the lab. Once again, he had no luck producing even the simplest charm. He sighed worriedly and began stacking cauldrons. By the time he was done, his muscles ached, and his back refused to cooperate. Taffy had made more of her soup, but what he was discovering as his body returned to a moderate state of health was that Taffy's food had begun to taste . . . less than optimum.

He didn't want to complain. Most of the house elves that had cooked for him at Hogwarts had been very talented cooks. Taffy wasn't terrible, but she wasn't the best. This morning, the eggs had been chewy and the toast just a little over done. He hadn't eaten eggs with toast in years. Who was he to complain, but the little disappointments seemed to hit him worst.

Perhaps he could find a renter with culinary talents? He would be willing to knock a few quid off the rent if he or she would consent to cooking on a daily basis. Even two meals a day would be fine if they worked and couldn't be here to make lunch. He would just have Taffy make him a sandwich.

He ate Taffy's soup, again, without complaint but was unable to stomach the bread. It was worse than Hagrid's rock cakes. He had donned his frock coat once again, and he sighed when the doorbell rang again.

This was becoming tiresome.

However, when he opened his door, he was gazing at a full head of dark hair. The woman turned around quickly, and her curls bounced playfully. She wore a bulky coat, so it was difficult to gauge what she looked like. But, her face was round and sweet, her eyes large and dark, and her lips were full and lush. Those lips were painted a most unseemly red. Unseemly in that he was quite use to the way that prudish witches tended to dress. You would never catch Narcissa Malfoy in that color before evening.

He was so taken with her lips, he didn't notice her reaction as she looked up at the tall, imposing picture he presented.

Victoria's eyes grew large as she turned to see who had opened the door. She had recently been ousted from her apartment and her job. Her ex, Rick, had kicked down her apartment door and caused quite a scene. He had received the final divorce papers, and in a last bid for control, he had showed up at her place of work and followed her home. He had stayed at the office all day browbeating the other employees and telling off the office manager.

He did not disguise the fact that he was her ex, and he accused every man she worked with of sleeping with her in rather lewd terms. She had only been there several months, and it was a nice little doctor's office. The office manager seemed reluctant, but the Physicians said it was a family business. They couldn't have such distractions in the work place. They urged her to leave and promised her a good reference.

It had been a great job. She loved what she had done there, and she was just beginning to get to know the families that patronized the office. She even had a great benefits package, and with a child that was desperately in need of insurance, it had been a godsend.

Sasha peeked her dark curly head around her mother at that moment and looked up at the dark man. Victoria smiled as she heard her little toddler gasp and huddle quietly behind her.

There were several nice shops in the area, and she intended on applying at the beauty shop as she had the training necessary. However, Rick could still be a problem, she mused. She had hoped that the landlord at this house would be a sweet, old lady who wouldn't mind a little one running around. She was a little worried that this man wouldn't care to have a young child in his home. He seemed very much the reclusive bachelor. It would be wonderful to have a house with a small yard where Sasha could play.

The apartment had been expensive and very small, and the landlord had been a real piece of work. He began hounding her the last week of every month for the rent, and lately, he had begun a series of suggestive comments as to how she could pay him. He believed that she was some dumb bimbo who had got herself knocked up. Victoria mused, she may have a child, but she was hardly stupid, and she was not about to spread her legs just to get a free pass. Honestly, the man had been repulsive.

Victoria had admired the house; it looked lovely from the outside. It was small, but that was not a problem. The ad said that there was over 1300 square feet. That was plenty of room for two adults and a toddler. There was only one room for rent, so she and Sasha would have to share. There were no men in her life, so she couldn't imagine this being a problem. The men were not exactly climbing out of the woodwork to date a plump, thirty something divorcee with a toddler.

She had found a sitter in the area, a nice old lady only a few blocks down, who kept her grandson and was happy to keep Sasha. It would cut a dent in her savings, but she had managed to put some by.

Victoria stared up at the tall man who had opened the door. He looked like something out of a gothic novel. Actually, he looked like Dracula, but he had the bearing of Prince Charles, only not as awkward . . . ok maybe Prince Phillip. He was wonderfully tall but very thin. He looked as if he had recently suffered an illness. He had long, silky, dark hair and the most mesmerizing eyes she had ever seen. His face had a distinct aristocratic cast. His nose was large and hooked and his eyes were heavily lidded. This might trouble some women, but from a young age, she had adored vampire movies. Christopher Lee had nothing on this man. She shivered with pleasure and imagined what it would be like to be caught by him in a dark hallway . . . with his cool lips on her neck.

Severus noticed her shivering and stepped back to invite her in. "Are you here about the room?" He enquired. When she nodded he entreated, "Please, come in," as he gestured for her to enter.

Victoria could only think in one syllable words at the moment mainly, "ohgodohgodohgodohgod."

His voice was amazing. She smiled nervously up at him as she walked into the room.

Severus' eyes were drawn to her ruby lips as she smiled at him. He was fascinated by the way her pink tongue darted out and moistened her lips.

As she entered, he noticed the dark little shape that followed her and frowned. 'No children,' he thought. He turned to shut the door and then moved to follow her into the sitting room where she was removing her coat. The little one was now standing quietly in front of her mother, whose bottom was now prominently displayed, as she was bending over to set her coat on a nearby chair.

The trousers she was wearing were positively indecent. They were jeans and they looked as if they were painted on that glorious, round bottom. When she turned around to face him, his face was devoid of emotion, but it was clear that he had been staring at her bottom. Severus waited for the explosion of indignation, but it did not come. She merely blushed prettily and smiled.

Victoria was more than a little flattered when she caught him staring at her bottom. It wasn't every day that she caught men looking her way; in fact, it was quite rare. It seemed that they were all interested in svelte, young blonds. She had tried to lose the weight, and she still worked out daily. Nothing seemed to make a difference, and with a child, she really didn't have any more time to devote to exercising. She kept telling herself that she would drag Sasha along when she got a little older, but really, with all of the drama in her life, she had grown a little lax and complacent.

She was to the point that she was comfortable with the way she looked, and she found more joy in playing happily with Sasha than she did in the pursuit of being thin. She knew that men were visual creatures, and she didn't take it personal when they either ignored her or stared, which was rare.

Severus extended his hand, "Severus Snape," he offered.

Victoria took his hand gingerly and blushed, "Victoria Smith, nice to meet you. This is Sasha." She said as she patted the little girls head gently.

Severus met the little girl's dark, intense stare before she slipped back behind her mother's legs. It wouldn't be so terrible living with a child who was quiet and seemed deathly afraid of him, he mused. Such is the misconception of men who do not have children . . .

Severus showed her the living area and explained that, should she decide to move in, they would share the common areas. Though he had planned on dismissing her as a possible tenant, now that he had gotten a good look at her he began to reconsider. "Why deny himself the opportunity?" he asked himself. "If she were interested, why should he not pursue this? Surely it would do no harm?" He gestured up the stairs and watched her gently usher the child before her. The young girl held her hand tightly as they ascended, but Severus lagged behind so that he could take a better measure of her assets. Though she had a child, she neither looked nor behaved strictly matronly. Her low-heeled, high, black boots fig snugly up to her knees, and her black sweater fit her like a glove. Her waist nipped in nicely, but she was thick through the middle. She reminded him a great deal of the young woman apothecarist he had seen long ago.

As she turned to examine the small empty room just to the left at the top of the stairs, he admired her profile. She had a bit of a double chin, but her arms were nicely plump. The outline of her shirt clearly showed the soft flesh that bulged a little over the top of her trousers. He followed closely behind her and explained, "There are three rooms." He gestured through the doorway at the closed door on the other side of the hall, "That is the master bedroom; it is where I sleep." He hesitated a moment and his eyes flitted over her face. She was not perfect, but he did find her most enticing. It had been a very, very long time since he had been drawn to a woman this way.

Most of his life had been spent pining after Lily, and he had been unable to fantasize about any other woman. As the years passed, she had grown more into sainthood so that even the thought of masturbating to her image and fantasies of her became repulsive to him. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had even felt the stirring he had this morning while watching Victoria's bottom swish to and fro.

It felt as if he were waking from a nightmare, coming alive. His hand slid on the door frame and he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. If her daughter took the smaller room, then she would have her bedroom to herself. That presented a host of wonderful opportunities, should she be amenable to his advances.

"Though the advertisement only listed one room as being available, I am sure that we can come to some sort of arrangement, if you would care to take this room for your daughter." He said slyly.

"Arrangement," she thought. Victoria dearly hoped he wasn't implying what she thought he was. She wanted very much to like him. She bridled slightly and her voice came out sharp and speculative, "What do you mean arrangement?"

A blush suffused his cheeks as he realized just how that sounded. He had no wish to force her into his bed. He wanted her to come willingly. He imagined that part of the fun would be the merry chase that she would lead him on, and he was quite looking forward to it.

He arched his brows imperiously and continued without a hitch, "Only that I detest cooking and would prefer not to worry with cleaning. If you were to help along these lines . . . say provide two meals a day and tidy the common rooms, I would allow you to use both of the available rooms."

Victoria looked at him skeptically. "Did you want me to do the shopping as well, and will that come out of my pocket?"

Severus regarded her carefully. She was no pushover that was for sure. "Of course not, we would share the food budget, and as I work from home, if you would agree to help me with projects when I have need, I would be willing to pay you for your help as well." Severus wasn't sure what on earth had let him to make such an offer, but the idea of working close to her in the basement on a hot, summer day seemed too tantalizing to pass up. She need only know that he was a chemist. She would be none the wiser.

"So," she smiled and ticked off her fingers as she went, "you would like me to do the grocery shopping, and I assume this entails all the necessities that you will need on a daily basis?" She arched a questioning brow.

Severus mulled it over. It would be nice to have her purchase his necessities. He nodded his assent.

"So, shopping, preparing and cooking two meals a day, and cleaning all common areas. So I would clean up after meals, maintain the kitchen, living area and bathroom?" She asked. "What about your laundry?" He cocked her head curiously.

"I can manage my personal laundry," he rejoined.

"What about linens?" She asked, "Towels, sheets, and the like?" Her head cocked to the side curiously.

Severus knew that if he allowed her to do too much, Taffy would become upset. He knew that she would already be irritated that the woman was cooking most of his meals and cleaning as well. The cleaning would be unnecessary for Victoria, as Taffy would likely clean during the night or when she and the child were away. However, it would allow her some bartering room to feel as if she had made the better end of the deal. He looked forward to watching her bustle around the kitchen and tidying the living area while he propped his feet up in his chair.

While he was amusing himself with scenes of domestic bliss, Victoria was planning a coup. "It sounds as if you should be paying me to stay here by this point." She tapped her foot and gazed at him speculatively, waiting for his offer.

"I'll knock the rent down to $400 and you can have both of the rooms." He smirked knowing that she would likely be infuriated.

She narrowed her eyes at him and turned to look at the room adjacent to the one her daughter would occupy. It was a little bigger. Both of them had basic furniture. The bed in the small room was actually suited to a toddler. It was a twin and low to the floor. The second bedroom housed a find four-poster bed draped with heavy brocade curtains and matching comforter. The fabrics were in shades of green and gold with matching curtains on the narrow windows. The rug on the floor featured a medieval scene of a knight facing a dragon. He had charmed it to remain motionless. The furniture, and armoire and a dresser, fit into the room without taking up too much space. He hoped that she would not notice the subtle enlarging charm on the interior of the armoire. There was nothing to do for it. Lucius, the idiot, must have been brain dead when he purchased the rug and the armoire.

As she inspected the lovely furnishings,Victoria realized that she would never find an apartment that came with furnishings. She had been forced to leave the mismatched pieces she had acquired. She only had room for Sasha's bed. They had brought all they could carry and had even strapped boxes to the roof of her car. She looked at him calculatingly, "$400? You must be joking. I'm not paying over $150 if I'm going to act as your cook and maid." She put her hands on her hips and tapped her neatly booted foot lightly.

Severus scoffed "$150? You must be mad" He folded his arms across his chest and looked at her through narrowed eyes. He admired the stubborn set of her chin, but mused that she could use a nice lotion to help with her dry skin. She had fine lines beginning to start around her eyes and laugh lines around her mouth and where she must squinch up her nose. The fingers on her hips sunk into the ample flesh, and he knew that he wouldn't be nearly as attracted to her if she lacked those aspects that made her real and unique.

"$350" He lifted his chin and glared down at her.

She thrust out her lip in a pout and looked up at him through her painted lashes. She drew closer to him and he could smell the coffee on her breath. He wondered what she would taste like, bitter dark chocolate?

Her small, pointed finger thrust into his chest, "$250, and that's my final offer Mr. Snape." She waited almost paralyzed while the tall, stern man attempted, and almost succeeded, in reducing her into a small puddle of lust.

He looked at her sternly and took her finger between his and moved it from his chest, "Severus," he said, "And, you will refrain from poking me in such a manner in the future. I will expect you to move in promptly. I'm hungry." He said as he walked down the stairs and back into the sitting room. He made himself comfortable, propping up his feet, and began reading his book.

Victoria looked down at Sasha and grinned cheerfully. "Let's go get our things!" The little girl smiled back at her mother, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to the car.