A/N: Thank you ALL for the kind reviews and for the new follows and favorites. You all rock!

~o0o~

"Good morning Hermione."

Hermione didn't open her eyes, just rolled over in bed and sighed, her eyes scrunching in confusion when she felt the indent next to her empty and the sheets cold.

"Sirius?"

"Sorry to disappoint you," Neville laughed as she finally became aware of her surroundings and saw that she was alone in bed and Neville had just finished setting her breakfast up by the window.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry Neville," she laughed despite herself. She couldn't hide for very long the fact that she was upset that Sirius was once again gone. Sometimes he seemed like a very good dream because things would happen but then he would disappear.

"I don't know where he is Hermione, I'm sorry. He's the most secretive man I've ever met," Neville shrugged his shoulders and gave her a sorry smile before leaving her room and allowing her some privacy.

Hermione grabbed the book she had been reading last night before Sirius had ravished her and curled up on the window seat, starting to eat the delicious breakfast Fleur had cooked. It was amazing to have food, and to actually enjoy the way it tasted because she knew another meal would come. The food and the book helped relieve the pang in her heart that she had wished she had woken up next to Sirius-so when Fleur came waltzing into her room, looking gorgeous as ever, she was glad for the distraction.

"Let's get you dressed, the only thing Sirius told us is that we should expect a visitor for you this morning…and I know who it is…" Fleur motioned for her to move off the seat and flung open the armoire to peruse her outfit choices, "Hmmm…we need something sophisticated…"

"Who is coming?"

"Mrs. Malfoy."

"Oh… is she as awful as the rest of her family?"

"Thank goodness no, but she is rather picky about things," Fleur continued and pulled out a simple pale pink dress with an empire waist, handing it to Hermione.

"This is all so intimidating," Hermione admitted as she looked over the dress in her least favorite color.

"Just wait until you meet the rest of Sirius' friends and family. He's having a Salon in a few weeks and everyone who is anyone will be here. Baudelaire, Degas, Matisse…Sirius loves art…they are always amazing parties…but they are a pain in my ass, I mean the food alone has me cooking a week ahead," Fleur carried on to herself mostly as Hermione listened in awe and changed into her dress. Fleur fixed her hair into a pretty chignon and told her she would send Mrs. Malfoy to her room when she arrived.

Not a half an hour later, Narcissa Malfoy was striding into Hermione's large bedroom wearing a gorgeous scarlet dress and matching hat. Her blonde hair was pinned up underneath the headpiece and her lips were ruby red. Hermione noted that she was the only true society woman she had seen that could dress like that and not look like a harlot—no easy feat, and it was impressive.

"Well I'm glad to see you have not attached yourself to my cousin for his money," Narcissa drawled with a raised eyebrow as she contemplated Hermione who was quickly putting away her book and standing up.

"Pardon?"

"If you were after his wealth you would be luxuriating in something other than a book," the blonde woman smirked and then stuck out a gloved hand for Hermione to shake, "I'm Narcissa. Sirius asked me to come and give you etiquette lessons."

"Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Malfoy, I'm Hermione Granger."

"My cousin speaks highly of you. And I am pleasantly surprised to see that you hardly look like you came from the Bergére," Narcissa looked Hermione over—who felt an unpleasant jolt in her stomach when she had remembered that last night she was supposed to have worked…but instead she had spent the evening in bed with Sirius…

"I only started working there recently. If I may be honest, I figured that Mr. Black was wealthy—it is plain as day, but he made me this offer so that I wouldn't become Monsieur Riddle's mistress. Apparently he is an awful man and I am very grateful to be living here. I wouldn't take advantage of that, I'm just happy that he lets me read his books," Hermione told her and the woman looked a bit taken aback that she had spoken so much and so eloquently at that.

"I agree, Monsieur Riddle is quite despicable," Narcissa sighed. Her sister Bella had had her sights on him for a while now, but she thought her insane if she couldn't notice the man favored nameless whores who he could easily dispose of in the sewer and no one would ever miss. She shuddered at the thought, "Are you my cousin's lover then?"

"I…I don't know what we are. Or what I am supposed to do now that I am here," she admitted to Mrs. Malfoy.

"I can help you with that, have you and Sirius consummated your agreement?"

"Yes," Hermione lowered her eyes, trying not to think of the delicious ways he had touched her the night before.

"Then that makes you his lover. You aren't as hopeless as I imagined you would be, but we still have much work to be done," she clapped her gloved hands together happily before removing her hat, said gloves, and taking off her coat. She then had Hermione turn around slowly and then strip to her underthings. The entire time, Hermione didn't ask questions. She knew better than to question anyone of a higher class than her.

"Darling you are…" Narcissa began, running a long finger down her pronounced spine.

"Too thin, I know. Mr. Black told me," Hermione finished for her, embarrassed. She had been eating all she could since she had come to his house, but it had only been a few days.

"Other than that, you are quite the perfect specimen," Narcissa smiled, noting that she was worlds better than the classless woman Sirius had previously brought to live with him, "You just need to be healthy to keep up with him."

"Keep up with him?"

"Do you not find his boudoir activities strenuous?"

Hermione blushed, unbelieving that she was divulging this information to his cousin no less, "I thought they were…well, I was able to keep up…"

Narcissa looked puzzled, "And where did you make love?"

Hermione simply pointed to her bed.

"Ah, so you are special then," she mused. Thoughts were flying through Cissy's mind. She and Sirius were very close and she had questioned his change in demeanor after his first love Marlene had died. He had been such a sweet and doting lover with that girl, but from then until recently, he had garnered a reputation that their family was eager to leave behind. He had gotten several women pregnant, and was known to be rather experimental sexually—doing things with his mistresses that were considered unorthodox. There was a time when Cissy would have even called him a sadist, but now considered him at the least: insatiable. And she knew for certain he kept his fucking contained within the last room on the second floor. It was something about the intimacy of a bed that reminded Sirius of Marlene, but she didn't push the issue. She knew he had problems. Sirius had regaled her about his conquests over the years, urging her to go out and experiment herself since her husband had his own mistress, but she had of course refused; just hoping one day her beloved cousin would change his domineering ways.

"Mrs. Malfoy, I know nothing of him. I'm living with a complete stranger, having to piece him together by myself. Please help me understand him," Hermione turned to face Narcissa and the older woman couldn't refuse.

She had always wanted a daughter, but instead received a son that was a carbon copy of her husband. She knew she was picky about whom she associated with, but Hermione seemed so small, so lost, and so innocent, that she couldn't help but care. All of her time spent at her lonely home left her in need of a pet project anyway.

"If you can help my cousin, I promise you I will do anything to help you," Narcissa gave her a genuine smile, reaching out to hold her hands that were physically shaking from nerves.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered; thoroughly grateful and Narcissa waved her hand over to the pale pink chairs in the corner of the room where both women took seats.

"I am not going to lie to you and tell you that even though I think you are a different, obviously intelligent girl, that you are going to marry my cousin," she started and Hermione's eyes went wide.

"Marry? It wasn't even on my mind, to be honest. I mean, I left everything behind to be here…I'm only eighteen," Hermione divulged, mostly referring to Remus. He had crept into her thoughts more recently and she wondered how he was doing.

"Oh yes, the man who gave Sirius that lovely bruise," Cissy chuckled. One thing that Sirius couldn't do was hold his own in a fight, and it amused her to no end.

"Unfortunately yes…"

"But…what I will tell you is to take advantage of this, not too much because I will make sure you don't use him, but better yourself. Show us that you deserve this. No one knows you, and you can make a name for yourself here if you wanted. I'm only telling you this because damn it, it is frustrating to stand behind Lucius when I know I have more sense in my head than he has in one finger! You are clearly bright. Sirius will not hold you back, so take yourself as far as you can go," she told Hermione slowly and seriously. She would never be a girl of good breeding, but she could make a better life and she now had the opportunity to. Sometimes Narcissa wished she had done more with what she had, and now she could help someone that had all the potential in the world to be Paris' best courtesan.

"Pardon my asking, but does Mr. Malfoy have a mistress?" Hermione blurted out, knowing that she was too blunt for her own good but Narcissa just smirked.

"Of course. Every well-off man does, and you know what? Sometimes I wish I could be like you. You girls are the ones that have all the power, if you know how to use it. But hell, Lucius is a dreadful man, so I'm happy to not have to fuck him," Narcissa laughed like they were girlfriends in a school yard and Hermione felt comfortable with her. Under her perfectly coiffed hair and intimidating class, was a real woman. Hermione was starting to realize that all of this just wasn't about society, or sex; it was something all of them had in common—as women.

"What should I be doing with my time then…as a mistress?"

"Preparing yourself to have mind-blowing sex when your Mr. comes home. And of course, walking about the boulevard and having tea with other mistresses. You'll get to know others, and you'll stick together. I will come visit and bring my sister Andromeda, and I'm sure you have other friends too. It's not so bad, it's just like being married—but with sex," she laughed again and Hermione blushed.

"You mentioned before that Mr. Black got some of his previous mistresses pregnant? Well…I wasn't very careful with my previous lover and I really don't know…" Hermione began nervously and Narcissa's face fell.

"Oh God Sirius…he's such a naïve little boy sometimes. For a man in his mid-thirties you would think he'd have some common sense by now…" she scolded him under her breath, "I'll procure some things for you…a diaphragm, we'll start with that-because God forbid my cousin be responsible with anything. And trust me, the last thing you want to do is become pregnant. You'll lose everything," Narcissa warned her. Hermione knew she was right, but when she and Remus were together they couldn't afford protection less it was in replacement of food. She knew Dora and Ginny were taken care of but had never bothered to ask how; and now she was realizing her folly.

"What happened to the others?" Hermione asked, knowing she shouldn't torture herself like this, but finding any tidbit about Sirius' history fascinating.

"One died and he paid the other off," the blonde replied with sadness in her voice, "It was necessary to prevent the scandal from ruining his career entirely, but it is still an awful thing."

"Of course," Hermione nodded, hoping that she didn't face a similar fate in the future. Cissy saw her moping expression and touched her hand.

"Come on now, let's move on-dinner etiquette perhaps?" she asked gently and Hermione nodded, both women getting up from the chairs to head down the stairs.

~o0o~

"Miss Granger, are you unaware that this is not a come and go as you please arrangement?" Monsieur Snape asked her, looking down his nose at her when she walked into the club around six o'clock.

"I am so terribly sorry. Mr. Black…."

"Mr. Black already came and talked to me this morning, apologizing for keeping you indisposed. But- I hired you and as far as I am concerned, your arrangement with him has not resulted in a termination with your arrangement with me. Am I right?" he asked haughtily.

"Absolutely. I want to work, I want to be here. It will not happen again," Hermione said seriously and he cracked a half-smile.

"Perfect. I'll collect all of your tips at the end of the night, to make up for the business you lost me yesterday," he told her and Hermione couldn't help but hate him for a second. She knew deep down he was a nice man, otherwise Dora would not think so highly of him, but he could be so unflinchingly cruel.

"Understood."

"Good. On your way then, I think there is something you and Nymphadora need to discuss," he added the last part lowly, his voice full of concern and whisked off, his black tailcoat flapping behind him.

Confused, Hermione made her way quickly to the dressing room and found Dora on one of the chaise's, braiding Ginny's hair.

"How's life at the top of the golden hill?" Dora asked, not looking up.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I really am. I lost track of everything…" Hermione started to apologize and Dora's face softened. She hadn't meant to be so harsh, but she was in a dire situation.

"We all need to talk," Ginny said, her pretty eyes looking from one friend to another and Dora released her hands from her ginger hair.

"You first Hermione, do tell us all about how someone very handsome kept you from us," Dora lightened up to her usual raunchy and funny self, looking completely engrossed as Hermione sat down on one of the floor pillows in the room and started to tell them.

"I have never had sex like that…" she giggled, embarrassed for gossiping like that.

"Oh if Remus could only here you," Ginny smirked and Hermione gave her a glare.

"Wait, is he alright?" Hermione stopped the girlish banter and both Dora and Ginny exchanged looks.

"He moved out of the apartment after you moved in with Sirius. Haven't heard from him. Harry and Ron have seen him at their studio but they aren't saying a word. Men," Dora sighed loudly.

"He's just plainly jealous…" Ginny added.

"Well I still feel awful…"

"Awful? The only thing you should feel awful about it the fact that you haven't invited us over yet!" Dora laughed, trying to hide the news that Snape made her promise she would tell her friends.

"I'll ask Sirius in the morning," Hermione vowed and silence took of them again; an awkward one mostly because of Dora's fidgeting.

"What's wrong?" Ginny turned to the oldest of the three who looked on the verge of tears.

"There is something I need to tell you both, and I don't want any tears okay?" Dora asked of them, although she was struggling to keep hers inside. Both of her friends nodded and urged her to continue.

"Since Riddle couldn't have you," she looked at Hermione, "And Ginny needs a written request, he wants to take me as his mistress when he comes back from London next week…and there is nothing that can be done…"

The dressing room was once again silent and Hermione moved to hug Dora as she broke down in tears. Ginny closed her small, pale arms over both of them and they all held each other for a long time until Dora's sobs became sniffles and she was ready to talk again.

"There is nothing Monsieur Snape can do?" Ginny asked, stroking Dora's hair.

"No. He's trying to think of something, anything…but girls…it's more than just being taken away from here and from you both and more than likely dying…it's that I have to leave him…" she wiped her nose and eyes.

"Who?" Hermione asked naively. She knew Dora had been sneaking off to see someone ever since they had met, but she never asked who it was—she hadn't felt it was her place.

"Isn't it obvious 'Mione? I'm madly and deeply in love with Severus, and there is nothing I can do."

~o0o~

Hermione stood up in front of the packed house of the Foiles Bergére for the first can-can line of the night. She was in between Dora and Ginny, arms linked and as the music started, they all stepped out on the stage and did their routine—kicking their skirts high and showing off their frilly underthings to all the men in the front row. She laughed and threw her head back as they all danced. Maybe Narcissa was right…she thought…maybe I do have all the power. Despite the wolf whistles from the crowd, that thought was only fleeting. She thought of the beautiful woman to her left that in a week's time could be dead. She had no power.

After the number, Ginny stayed on stage to do a strip tease and Hermione walked off the stage, feeling rather depressed. The roar of the club didn't even bother her anymore. The flash of color and light was all a blur. Dora scampered off in the opposite direction and Hermione made her way through the crowd back to dressing rooms when she felt someone grab her ass.

"If you don't..!" she started, not in the mood to be handled by a strange pervert, whipping around to fall into Sirius Black's arms. He was laughing hysterically.

"Sorry love, I couldn't resist," he smirked, snaking his hands around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

"I'm glad you are here," she found herself saying, finding herself becoming bold in his presence.

"As am I," he whispered seductively into her ear and she practically melted as the low, sexy growl of his voice spoke only to her, and his lips then planted light kisses down her neck, "Can we find somewhere more private?"

"Can't you wait a few hours until I am off of work?" she giggled back but had a hard time keeping a straight face as his hands roamed over her. He didn't much care what other people thought-as far as he was concerned, she was his.

"Of course I can. But can you?" he teased, pulling away from her to look her in the eye. She couldn't look away, it was absolutely captivating. It was like he was telling her everything he wanted to do to her body with just one look and when he had finished thoroughly mind-fucking her, he smirked and walked away.

Hermione was left a quivering mess and stomped in the opposite direction to get ready for her next number.

A/N: I know this chapter is a little bit different, but I hope it provides a lot of history and answers. I also hope it was enjoyable! I know there wasn't a lot of Sirius in this one, but he will be back next round! As always, please review, they make me SO happy!