Chapter 17: Dark Allure

Mature Content Ahead

The Brothel, Knockturn Alley, Wizarding World...

A low growl escaped the pale lips of Regulus Snape as he towered above a less experienced working girl. The headboard beat again the wall and the old brass bed squeaked as a result of his actions.

This was the third prostitute in a row as none of the other girls seemed to be able to sate his seemingly insatiable lust.

Regulus had his eyes closed, his mind venturing to the one woman in which he desired without reason and knew he couldn't have.

He supposed he had been a lot like his father in this aspect. His mother had told him that Severus Snape often buried his pain in lust.

"Fuck!" shouted Regulus as his mind became bombarded with images of Hermione Granger.

He couldn't control his release and once the wave of intense pleasure had ceased, he quickly climbed off the gasping whore and got dressed.

Hermione had been plaguing his mind quite a bit lately especially with her being laid up at St. Mungo's.

The raven haired wizard quickly dressed and made his way out into the street. He had been thinking about hitting the local pub but found himself inexplicably pulled into another direction.

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St. Mungo's Hospital, Muggle World...

Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley found herself unable to take the evident boredom she was forced to endure due to her status as a very influential wizarding world hero. Ron had come by with the children but his idiotic antics caused them to have a row and he cleared out quickly.

Harry had stopped by briefly to tell her that he had been wrong about Lucius Malfoy's connection to the strange dark wizard faction.

He had been determined to find the true leader and presented her with a new list of potential suspects.

Just when the bed bound witch believed she was going to go out of her mind with boredom, there was a knock at the door and Regulus Snape entered.

"Regulus." She said pleased to see him once more.

"Just came by to see how you were doing." He said with his hands in his pockets.

"Well, have a seat...it's not like you'll get any taller." said Hermione.

Regulus sat down in the chair next to the bed. Hermione sat back against the pillows and their eyes met.

"You must be so fucking bored here." He said looking around.

"Does it show that easily?" she asked.

"Not really, but I'd be bored out of my fucking mind in a cramped box like this." He said.

"I am." admitted the amber eyed witch. "I am so bored that it feels like I'm going mad just sitting here while the rest of the world moves on without me."

"Well, I don't see anything wrong with you." said the raven haired American wizard. "Outside the fact that your husband is a sack of shit for cheating on you and that you need to get more fun out of life."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. She had come to note his vulgar wording as endearing, so long as he was the only one with a mind to speak in that manner. It had the same kind of admirable quality of honesty she had come to know from her former Potions Professor just without the accent and veneer of charm.

After about several minutes, Regulus got to his feet. Hermione believed he was going to leave again but he simply shut and locked it. She had been curious at this point as to what he had been up to given his natural inclination for the vulgar and obscene.

"Stand up." he instructed her.

"I don't think that's a good..." she began.

Before she could get any further Regulus motioned for her to come to him and she found herself levitating and moving toward him.

"H-How are you...?" she began before noting he had been using wand-less magic.

The amber eyed witch floated right into his arms as he moved them both toward the window.

"Close your eyes." he said with a serious expression on his face.

Hermione had been about to protest when he sighed.

"Close your eyes for a moment Gorgeous, there is someone I want you to meet." he said.

Still skeptical, she did as he asked but only to satisfy her own curiosity.

"Icarus." said Regulus out the window. "You can come out now."

Hermione heard a loud shrill call and it made her jump causing her to bump into Regulus' chest. He wrapped his arms around her to steady her as they both stood at the window. He smelled of herbs and fresh earth with a bit of leather and a hint of sweat.

Unable to help herself, she found her body pressed hard against his. The tense muscles of his torso pressed into her back as his large pale hands kept her steady as she regained her balance as they rested on her hip with a strong but considerate grip.

The amber eyed witch bit her lip as the image of this strange wizard thrusting into the common whore the first time she met him came flooding back and making her uncomfortable. Regulus didn't seem to have a problem with being so close to her. It seemed to last forever before he instructed her to open her eyes.

Once she had, the large blue eye of what she had not known to be a Leviathan Thunderbird had been staring back at her.

"W-What is he?" she asked stunned by the sight of such a strange creature.

"Hermione meet Icarus, a Leviathan Thunderbird." said Regulus making the introductions. "Icarus this is Hermione, a nice but formidable British witch."

Icarus let out another shrill call shaking the hospital with his excitement.

"I suggest we go before he knocks the whole building down or somebody sees him." said Regulus with a smirk.

"Go?" asked Hermione coming to her senses as he moved from her toward the window.

"Yes." replied the raven haired wizard. "Unless you wish to stay bored for the rest of the day?"

Hermione sighed.

She didn't know much about this wizard or the strange creature he brought with him, but she wasn't going to sit in a boring hospital room when a magnificent discover like this was begging for her to get to the bottom of it.

Regulus expended his hand and they both jumped out of the magically altered window and onto the back of the great bird.

With a low flap of his wings, the Leviathan Thunderbird, and both magically inclined individuals were gone.

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Open Sky, Wizarding World...

It had been an altogether exhilarating experience for Hermione Granger as she sat on the back of the fast flying Thunderbird. Regulus had been behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist. His arms strong as he held her despite the speeds in which they flew. Her heart was pounding in her chest with the rush of adrenaline filling her, although she had not known if it was from the flight or from the wizard being so close to her.

As they flew and she discovered a great many wonders about the world she lived in, Hermione couldn't outright deny the attraction she felt for the younger Snape. He had been like his father in more ways than one, a constant figure of change and indecisiveness. He lived close to the edge but wished to be centered. He played the role of a tough bloke but had been so vulnerable and in need.

Hermione felt terrible that her Potions Professor had died alone and scorned by the world he had shed his blood for, while his wife and son wished for his safe return elsewhere. She admired the strength the older wizard showed in completing his mission despite all that he lost.

Now here was Regulus, the only son of that incredibly brave wizard unsure of what to make of his life and haunted by the unanswered questions of his past. He had been angry at his father for leaving but he knew not why it had been done.

The amber eyed witch wished to know more about this strange American son of her former Potions Professor and why he had been here instead of his own home country. What had been more impressive was how he had come into the possession of a very rare and normally wild magical creature.

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Open Sky, Wizarding World...

Regulus had been holding Hermione Granger since they left the hospital. He could smell the fresh jasmine scent of her bushy hair and the lingering fragrance of whatever perfume she had put on. It was difficult to keep his lust in check given his well noted desire for her. When they landed on a small island far from the view of prying eyes.

Hermione seemed excited and intrigued not only by Icarus but by him as well.

"I've only ever flown on the back of a hippoguff before." she said still amazed form the flight.

"And was it as fast as a Thunderbird?" asked Regulus.

"Not nearly." she replied. "But he was a dear friend."

Regulus smiled and made his way toward a small rock formation and sat down. He seemed more at ease when out of the main land. The sea that surrounded them had been calm for the most part despite the thunderous sky and flashing lightening.

"She who rides the lightening." he said seemingly at random as he gazed upon the beautiful witch before him.

"What?" asked Hermione catching his words but not fully understanding them.

"Nothing." said Regulus "Just the echo of some story my father use to tell me when I was a kid."

The amber eyes of the now inquisitive witch met those of unreadable obsidian on the pale wizard before her.

"You know it's strange, some times I look at you and I can't help but see him." she said. "I know you have your own opinion when it comes to him, but he saved my life...and the lives of countless others."

"A deed which did little to comfort his long suffering wife who wanted him to come home in one piece." said Regulus unable to hid his bitterness.

"That's another thing, I never knew Professor Snape was married." said Hermione. "Quiet frankly I never knew much about him at all."

"But you remained attracted to him." said Regulus getting to his feet with a handful of stones.

"I-I didn't say that." said Hermione.

"You didn't have to." replied the raven haired wizard. "It's written all over your face when you look at me, it's part of the reason you are so drawn to me, even with my many issues and vulgar speech...you find that part of the old man and you hold on for dear life."

"W-Well...I." Hermione's cheeks turned red.

Regulus got a good laugh at her apparent embarrassment.

"It's alright Granger." he said in a surprisingly understanding tone. "I am a lot like him...I've recognized as much, I have his intellect, his looks and obviously his keen sense of self-awareness."

"A-Are you reading my mind?" she asked with a wide eyed expression.

"And apparently I have his skill at Legillimency." said Regulus with a wicked smirk.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the raven haired wizard.

"You are reading my mind." she said putting her hands on her hips. "You bloody git!"

Regulus continued laughing only to find himself giving chase as Hermione attempted to hex him for invading her private thoughts.

"It's rude to intrude upon other people's thoughts!" she shouted.

"It's not intruding if it's about me." called Regulus as they zipped across the island's coastline.

Hermione didn't find his jokes very amusing as he ran and she chased after him.

"It's not funny git." she said as he dodged her hexes.

All had been seemingly counter productive until Regulus did a back flip into the air stunning Hermione to a stop and ended up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her as she struggled against him causing them both to collapse onto the sands of the beach.

Hermione looked up at Regulus as the impressive wizard towered above her. Their eyes met for what seemed like hours but it had only been a brief few minutes. Like the waves crashing against the edge of the sands, their lips met.

A feeling of comfortable heat and heightened exhilaration filled them as they shared a long and intensely passionate kiss on the largely forgotten island.

"Hermione." said Regulus unable to contain his need for her.

The amber eyes of the mother of two widened as she felt his ill-contained need. The reality of it seeming to shatter the moment as she attempted to get him off her.

"Regulus...stop." she said as she got a hold of her senses.

The raven haired wizard blinked noting the serious expression on her face. He wanted so badly to continue but pulled away quickly adjusting his rather aroused appendage and attempted to catch his breath.

"I-I'm sorry." he said apologetically. "I didn't mean for..."

"It's alright." said Hermione attempting to catch her own breath. "We both just caught up in the excitement of a grand adventure."

Regulus arched an eyebrow at this.

"Listen...I can still take you back if..." he began not truly sure if he wanted to let her leave.

"I should be getting back." said Hermione reasonably. "But this must be understood, I am a married woman with two children to consider, and you are admittedly attractive and all together fascinating...sadly I am not available for your flirtatious and charming antics."

Regulus couldn't help but smile.

"So you admit I am charming." he said amused.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'm trying to be sensible about this you arrogant vulgar American git." she said annoyed.

"I know." he replied evenly. "I just don't take rejection well."

"I'm not rejecting you...per-say...not a person." she said honestly. "But as far as romantic advancement is concerned...you should find someone available."

"Translation...let's just be friends." he said not at all surprised by her rational.

"Yes." she replied relieved. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Regulus sighed.

"Alright." he said.

Hermione had been surprised that he would agree so easily.

"Really?" she asked stunned.

"Yeah sure why not?" he replied. "I think we should be getting you back before geek boy sends out a search party."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. She had appreciated Regulus' dry humor. It reminded her so much of Professor Snape but vastly uncensored.

"You know you're right about that." she said.

"Icarus." said Regulus turning his attention to the enormous Thunderbird.

Icarus beat his great wings nearly causing a hurricane in his excitement. He seemed to take a liking to Hermione as she stroked his beak and he gave a shrill call.

Regulus and Hermione climbed onto his back.

"Alright, friend." he said. "Let's get you back to the hospital."