Snape's POV
"Lucious? Where are we going? This isn't your home is it? I thought you lived in the manor house."
"You are quite right, Severus. This is not my home. This is where I work, though I do spend several nights here. Come let's sit down in a private room and have a chat."
Lucious walked me to what appeared to be a bedroom suite. It was decorated with high end furniture and was quite elegant. In the middle of the bedroom was a king size bed, which appeared to be made of iron. It had a delicate sheer curtain hall along all sides. There was a large dresser against the wall, several mirrors hanging along each wall, and above the bed. The lounge area had large leather chairs, a leather couch and a fire place. There was a small kitchenette to the side. Behind the bedroom area was the largest bathroom I had ever seen. The shower could easily hold 6 people, and had various shelves, bars and a bench inside. The standalone tub was so large, you would have to wade from one end, in order to touch the other side.
Lucious guided me over to the lounge chairs and then clapped his hands twice. A house elf immediately appeared.
"Shimmy, please bring up some tea, biscuits, and fire whiskey."
"Yes, Master Malfoy" she bowed low and disappeared with a crack.
"Lucious. Why am I here? Where am I? What is with all the mystery? Please, for fuck sake tell me something!" I was getting quite impatient at this point.
"Watch your mouth, young man." Lucious' jovial mood quickly turned a bit dark as he looked at Snape. "All your questions will be answered in due time. There is a lot to cover, and I will not rise to your pestering and blatant disrespect"
There he was. There was the cool and calm Lucious I have always known. Well, close to him at least. He seemed so different, yet the same. Something happened to him in the last two years, and I'm honestly not sure if it was a good change or bad. I closed my mouth, and I know my face was at least a little red. I don't understand it, but he has got this hold on me, and can make me feel ashamed when I lash out. I've never been one to hold my tongue, which is a big part of why I lost Lily's friendship. I need to learn to behave and keep my mouth shut, as I don't want to lose Lucious too. If nothing else, he's the only "family" I have left.
Shimmy brought in the tea and fire whiskey and set it down on the table between the us. She bowed gracefully and popped out of sight. Lucious began slowly and purposefully pouring out tea and placing a handful of biscuits on each plate. He handed me the tea and said "Drink" in a tone that gave no room for argument. I drank and quickly began to calm. My muscles relaxed and he was able to sink more comfortably into the chair than I was before. It was at this point that I realized just how tense I was. My neck and back released their holds and I felt at ease. This was quite foreign for me, as I have never been able to relax in my entire life. The only times I have come close are when I was with Lily.
"Now" Lucious started. "I brought you here, because I am under the assumption that you don't have any plans for the future. Am I correct?"
"Well...I do in a sense." I replied, not wanting to sound unprepared for my adult life.
"Well, what is this plan you have?"
"I...um...well..." Now I was nervous. I had become so relaxed and comfortable with having Lucious here, I didn't know how to answer. Telling him I planned to hide out in my home and live off my family fortune alone seemed somewhat childish, and a waste of my education.
"So, you don't have a plan." He said shortly. His tone was almost sarcastic and I could feel the heat rush to my face.
"I do so! It's not like I have nothing going for me. Damn Lucious, I'm not a child!" I said a bit to loudly.
"Yell at me again, and see what happens." He stared at me with those calm grey eyes. "Now, I'm not here to berate you. I'm here to help you. As you know, I work as a political figure at the ministry of magic, however that is not my only occupation. My primary source of income, is from working here. I would like for you to be trained here and work along side me. Not only do I believe that this will be good for business, but I believe that it will be beneficial to your wellbeing."
"Are you going to tell me what this place is or what? Why are you dragging this out?" I was getting annoyed now.
"Severus, I have warned you twice now to watch your tone. You will be silent, and let me finish."
I nodded and closed my mouth. How? How does he have this power over me? Is there some magical connection or something?
"You are sitting in what I hope you will consider to be your new home away from home. Obviously, Spinner's End is your true home, but I don't want you living there, by yourself, putzing around with potions for the rest of your life. You need purpose, and people around you."
How could he have known my plan? What is he playing at? I want to ask, but I'm also too intrigued to learn more and don't want to test his patience.
"I work for a wizard, named Tom Riddle, or as we all know him as, "My Lord". I met him shortly after I graduated from Hogwarts when I started at the ministry. He needed a lobbyist for his cause, and believed I could help him. You see, this club partakes in a rather taboo sort of lifestyle. It's not illegal, but it's frowned upon in general society. This is Imperium, a BDSM club. Are you familiar with this term?"
I thought for a moment. I had read something about this is The Daily Prophet a few weeks ago, but didn't pay much attention to the article. I had never heard of Imperium either, which was odd. I knew a lot about London, even muggle London. I spent a fair amount of time there to get away from my father.
"No, I don't believe I know the term, though it sounds familiar" I replied.
"BDSM is an acronym for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadochism and Masochism..."
"Wouldn't that be BDDSSM?" I interrupted, smirking.
"Don't be smart." He snapped. He was beginning to get irritated, but closed his eyes, took a breath, and continued calmly. "As I was saying, we are in Imperium, which is currently the only BDSM club that is accessible to wizards. BDSM is seen, by the general populous, as a negative relationship. Most people are simply uninformed, others are willfully ignorant. That being said, I am working on a lobbying effort that will allow BDSM to continue to be practiced legally, here in London. As I mentioned, it's not currently illegal, but there are those who would see it be so. Those on the outside, see this lifestyle as an unequal power dynamic, that is detrimental to those who maintain a submissive role. However, this is an incorrect assumption. When BDSM is practiced correctly, the submissive holds the power. The submissive must agree to be dominated, and relinquish their power over to the Dominant. There are several aspects of of BDSM, with varying degrees of sexuality and relationships." Lucious paused and looked at me.
"So, what does this have to do with me? I'm not in this sort of lifestyle, so how can I help?" I was really confused as to why Lucious thought I would want to be apart of this or how I could help in anyway.
"I believe, that you should learn about this lifestyle before you decide not to join it. I spent many years with you, watching you grow, seeing the way you handle life and your emotions. I believe you would benefit greatly from training. Aside from that, we need a potions master to work for us, as it is harder to find anyone willing to sell to us, once they find out what we do. I know you are not at a potions master level, and correct me if I'm wrong, but that is your ambition, correct?"
Potions was the only thing I was ever truly gifted with. I always exceeded Slughorn's expectations, and knew this is something I wanted to practice for the rest of my life. BDSM sounds so interesting, but also intimidating.
"Yes, this is what I want to do. However, I'm not sure that I am the right person for you. Why would I want or need BDSM? I'm not looking for a romantic relationship, kinky sex, or anything." I looked at Lucious slyly, wondering if this was his way of coming onto me. We were never romantically involved in school, but we were very close. There was always a hint of something in the air when we spent time together.
"I never said you needed a romantic relationship or, as you say, kinky sex" he winked and my cheeks went beet red. "I am merely suggesting that you give the lifestyle a chance." He poured me a shot of fire whiskey. "Drink this, and I will give you a tour, and there are some people I want you to meet. If you decide not to move forward, I understand. I will take you back to Spinner's End, and pester you no further."
I glanced at the fire whiskey. I didn't really want to drink it, because it made me relax my guards, and then I really can't control my outbursts. I never drank, because I didn't like losing the modicum of control I did possess.
"Drink, Severus."
I obeyed. The liquid burned my throat and I immediately felt the release of control.
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