Chapter Three - Flirting

It wasn't Hermione's usual practice to mix with the clientele at S6x. Malfoy was a regular and she didn't even look in his direction normally. His mere presence made her shudder, but he regularly amused himself with the other girls. Hermione understood it. His Galleons were just as good as the next wizards after all, and some of the girls earned a bit extra for private dances, but Hermione wasn't so green that she didn't know what else went on behind closed doors. Dancing for money and even stripping had its perks, but Hermione was an old fashioned girl who believed that some things are not for sale. She usually kept her distance, but for some reason last night was different.

Professor Snape was the last person Hermione would have expected to see in S6x, but she had spotted him as soon as he walked down the stairs. He was still tall and brooding, and still dressed in black. Hermione had always found him fascinating and a bit sexy in a smouldering sort of a way, but she had never thought of him as handsome until last night. She couldn't help but put on a show for him, and knowing that he had no idea who she was had made her feel reckless and sexy. It had brought to mind some of the more lurid fantasies she'd imagined about him, and by the time she had finished her performance, she had been more aroused than she had been in a long time. The bewildered look on his face as she sat beside him just endeared him to her even more, and there was a small part of her that hoped he would be in S6x later that night so that she could dance for him again, and perhaps talk some more. He was by far the most interesting and intelligent man she knew, and Hermione had a thing for intelligent men. Unfortunately, one glass of champagne was usually her limit, but she was so enthralled by her conversation with Snape that she had finished a whole bottle without realising it. Now she had a pounding hangover as punishment, but it served her right for breaking her own rules. She resolved to stock up on a hangover potion the next time she was in Diagon Alley, and headed for the bathroom. She paid special attention to washing her hair, applying her make up and using an extra squirt of perfume, and tried hard to ignore the frisson of butterflies in her stomach as she closed the door of her flat.

Hermione knew deep down that it was unlikely Snape would visit S6x two nights in a row. But she could still hope.

Severus Snape lay in his bath surrounded by scented bubbles and humming to himself. He had just managed his second wank of the day and had come like a speeding train. A smug smile played around his lips as he lolled lazily in the steaming water. Whatever his demons were, he had managed to overcome them, quite literally. The only sticking point was that it was Granger that had brought him the solace he needed. The girl had blossomed, there was no getting away from that fact, but she was his former student and a reminder of the life he had tried to leave behind. God, the girl – no, woman- was delicious. The way she bent her curves around the pole, her supple flesh moving, stretching and undulating, and the way her breasts jiggled slightly as she danced; he could almost picture how she would move beneath him if he was shagging her senseless. As if someone had flicked a switch, Snape's cock sprung to life and bobbed up through the surface of the water. Snape laughed but ignored the urge to take himself in hand again. He had places to go, and people to see.

Well if he was being honest, one place. One person.

S6x was heaving with customers when Snape arrived. He had forgotten it was Saturday night, and he glared at the gathering crowds as they headed for the centre dance floor for the main event. He moved silently to a corner table that was hidden in the shadows and slipped into a seat where he could observe the room and the floor show without being observed himself. Raquel had spotted him as he crossed the room and brought a bottle of Ogden's and a glass without being asked.

'Mr Snape, how wonderful to see you again.' She flashed a row of dazzling teeth in Snape's direction, and he nodded curtly in acknowledgement. He could barely afford the Ogden's let alone any extras Raquel might have in mind, and although she was curvy in all the right places and had lips that any normal man would love to have wrapped around his bell end, she still left him cold.

Snape scanned the room as he sipped his whisky, and spotted Yaxley and Mulciber sitting at the table he and Lucius had been sitting at the previous night. They were the closest customers to the dance floor, and Snape scowled at the thought of either of them getting their filthy hands on Granger. He had no time to think about getting his wand ready, because the lights dimmed and the female voice called Hermione Granger to the dance floor in her animagus form. With a start, Snape realised he was sitting in the same corner where she made her entrance, and she had obviously seen him. As she passed past him on silent paws, she turned and flashed her teeth in what he assumed was a jaguar smile, and he allowed himself to smile slowly back at her. As she walked away, he was sure she was wiggling her bottom especially for him, and he relaxed back in his chair to enjoy the show. The music started, and as she transformed, Granger revealed herself in a catsuit of Slytherin green. She danced around the pole and made a point of looking at Snape with a wink and a smile. Snape chuckled to himself and poured another drink. Now he was sure she was dancing for him, and he was determined to enjoy it.

The crowd was a bit louder and more raucous than the previous evening, and while Snape was watching Granger closely as she started to strip, he was also aware of the audience and how they seemed to be closing in around her. As the catsuit disappeared, a loud cheer went up, along with some colourful and ribald comments that made Snape bristle. It was when the dance ended that things turned ugly.

Granger replaced her catsuit to a round of booing, and as she took her final bow and made to leave, she was roughly pulled back by Mulciber, who had leapt from his seat so quickly that Granger was struggling to break free before Snape was on his feet. He felt his anger bubbling, and he withdrew his wand as he ran over to them.

'Get off me, you bastard!' Granger screamed, and she slapped Mulciber hard around the face.

Yaxley joined in and grabbed her other arm. 'Come on, girl. There's plenty of money to be made by the likes of you.'

'I don't do that, as you well know.' Granger had a look of panic on her face as she fought to stay upright.

'Enough!' Snape's voice boomed around the room, and Mulciber yelped as a Stinging Hex hit him squarely in the face.

'Come on, Severus! Let your old mates have a bit of fun, won't you?' Yaxley was placating as he spoke to Snape. He knew it could be dangerous to cross him, even now.

'We are not, nor ever will be 'mates', Yaxley. Get your hands off her, before I hex you in the balls.' Snape pointed his wand ominously at Yaxley's nether regions, and sensibly, he let Granger go in an instant. Snape tried not to grin as the girl ran to him and hugged him tightly around the waist.

'Thank you, sir. Get me out of here, will you?' Granger was shaking; he could hear it in her voice.

'Back door?' he said, wrapping his free arm around her but keeping his wand arm focussed on Granger's attackers. They stepped away slowly, and Granger took Snape's fee hand and pulled him into the dark corner and out through a hidden door. She pulled him down the dimly lit hallway, panting in panic, and then stopped suddenly and pushed him back against the wall.

'Thank you, sir,' she said huskily, and then planted her warm, moist lips on his mouth firmly.

Snape decided that she could thank him as often as she liked.