Hermione had met up with a few of the girls Wednesday afternoon before the show. Flora, Pansy, and Beatrice wanted to go over some new moves, and the newer girls were there. Nerissa was stretching out her legs while Hermione was squatting with a gallon water jug in her hands. They had been working for about an hour and taking a moment to recover. Pansy was chatting with Flora about a maneuver as the backdoor sounded.
"No, I totally agree. This right here isn't ideal for them," Remus's softer voice announced.
Hermione nearly dropped her water as she pivoted. Sirius, Regulus, Remus, and Gilderoy filed through the doorway. Jesus, now her life was utterly consumed? When did Remus become a piece of the operation?
"Oh, look, it's your hot bartender, your professor, and our soon to be boss," Pansy snickered.
"I also think from a safety perspective. You should have some low lights at this step. We don't want them to turn an ankle," Remus gestured to the staircase.
Hermione set down the bottle and placed her wild hair in a scrunchie. "Are we ready to continue?" She asked.
Pansy smirked and nodded. "So, I was thinking of doing a drop roll with legs out, but with a twist. Want me to show you?"
Hermione tried to ignore the men walking through as Pansy climbed the other staircase to reverse the chatting men. Pansy tapped the phone on the stage, and it played some bumming backbeat over the speakers where she strutted to the edge of the stage. When she pivoted, she fell into a tumble on the ground and stretched her legs open while touching her torso down to between her legs.
Flora stepped toward the platform and huffed. "No, that's too gritty, Parkinson. It needs to be a slow touch like you want to facefuck them."
Charlotte turned to Hermione as Pansy went to turn off the music before waving the phone. "Doesn't that hurt?"
"No, if you're careful with how you tumble. Remember, you're not falling into bed, your falling on the ground, so if you scrunch your body, and gain your support, then it's just as easy as a large pushup," Hermione explained.
Flora turned to one of the tables and sat down. "I still think we should work on more crowd work. The stage is great, but we don't do enough table fucking. We could have a bit more intensity with our shows."
Beatrice nodded. "Yes, we really don't. How many girls get out here and turn into shy kittens? They want to touch you, let them touch you; at least with your permission."
"Well, except for me," Hermione sighed.
Pansy jumped from the stage and nodded. "Yes, we really don't need what happened last year."
"What happened?" Nerissa questioned.
Hermione rubbed her neck and breathed. "I don't like talking about it."
"One of our former members tore at her clothes before yanking her to his lap. He wasn't wearing boxers if you know what I mean." Flora noted.
Nerissa's eyes grew as Hermione blushed. "It wasn't as big of a deal as they make it out to be. There wasn't any completion of the task."
"Of course not, you slapped his face and finished your routine," Pansy snickered.
"How often does that happen?" Sirius's voice was higher over the room.
Hermione turned to see them walking toward the girls. "Sirius, don't," Hermione sighed.
"No, I want the truth. How often do you girls have to deal with members not obeying the rules?" Sirius pressed with a frown.
Pansy shifted and shrugged her shoulders. "All of us girls that have been here for over a year have had some sort of cock pressed against our ass or fingers near our pussy."
"Some more than others," Flora nodded toward Hermione.
Hermione waved and huffed. "Okay, this is ridiculous. A bulk of the time, the members are fine. It's usually a new member or guest, and they don't understand the rules."
"That's bullshit," Sirius hissed. "We need to make sure this doesn't happen, Reggie," Sirius snapped.
Hermione approached him and patted his shoulder. "It's alright, Sirius. We took a self-defense class together after what happened."
Sirius breathed and touched her cheek. "Love, you shouldn't have to protect yourself. We protect you. Alright? I'm going to make sure we have a few more men on the floor."
"Sirius, not to put a damper on your prospect, but this business is full of grit. The women know what they applied for when working here," Lockhart declared.
Hermione shuddered at his words. "Yes, we do."
Sirius clenched his jaw as he closed his eyes. "You have a good practice," He told Hermione and touched her cheek.
Hermione smiled and nodded. "Alright, Sirius."
Remus tilted his head and nodded toward the rooms. "We could remove some from the doors. It wouldn't be enough to hear the conversation over the speakers, but if someone was screaming or scared, it could be noted by a bouncer."
"That's an excellent suggestion, Remus. I want our ladies' safe," Regulus declared and waved at his brother. "Let's take a look at the rooms."
Sirius thumbed her cheek and clicked his tongue in his mouth while smiling. "You do your work. We'll check in soon."
Hermione beamed and nodded. "Okay, Sirius."
The men disappeared down the hall, and Pansy whistled. "You have your hands full."
"What do you mean?" Hermione grumbled.
Pansy pulled Hermione by the arm away from the other girls and glared. "Why haven't you told them what Lockhart did? You wouldn't be so quiet about what happened if he wasn't objectifying you in the first place. That was one of his friends. How often does he serve you on a platter when you don't listen?" She whispered.
Hermione glanced away and breathed. "It's not going to matter soon."
"Really? Don't you think they want to know? He's your employer. He got you drunk and tried to fuck you. When you said no, that's when all this started. That possessive fuck wants you under thumb. You didn't leave so you could protect the other girls. What they do on their own is their business, but you stayed to protect them," Pansy whispered as she caressed Hermione's cheek.
Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "It doesn't matter."
"Well, I'll leave it alone then, but if he keeps showing up here after next week, I'm going to," Pansy warned.
She tossed her curls and breathed. "Fine." Hermione brushed by her and waltzed over to the stage. "Okay, girls, you want to see a floor number, for example? This one is fucking simple. Sit."
The girls shuffled to the tables as Pansy grinned. There was a piece of her that loved goading the woman into acting. Hermione simply wouldn't stand up for herself if it meant it would shelter the others.
The men filed into the room just as Hermione cuffed her yoga pants. She rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone, connecting it to the speakers. She turned to the song and slid it to the floor.
Hermione rolled her neck as the guitar started to Do You Want to Touch. Yes, she was a bitch, but he wouldn't know it. This song he would whistle when he frequently did try touch. She turned on her shoes and smirked as she touched herself and santered off the stage, approaching Charlotte at the table. She caressed her arm, dragging it down her torso.
Pretending that your oh so shy.
Charlotte's eyes grew as she pivoted and ground into her lap while placing her hand over her chest. It was a moment, and then she jutted her ass at the woman. Hermione tossed her hand aside and waltzed over to Flora and Pansy's long table, relaxing on the wood, arching and dragging her hand down her body before turning and climbing on her hands and knees, swinging her hair.
Do you want to touch? Yeah!
Hermione smirked as she slid to Pansy's lap, touching her cheek before lifting her leg as she stood. Pansy laughed and patted her calf before Hermione moved on to the last table. The boys. Lockhart looked greedy, and she was going to make him jealous as fuck.
Don't it make you feel so fine?
The woman wandered around them, stroking chests, pressing her tits in view. She crawled on the table as the song was building to end at a steady pace. The woman shook her ass a bit while on her knees and touching her hair. Hermione placed her knees on Sirius's shoulders and arched as she felt herself. She manipulated once more, sliding into his lap while her legs rest on his arms. Hermione rocked and leaned back to moan before stroking his cheek.
When the song concluded, she slid from his grip and was on her feet. "And it's that easy, girls," Hermione declared.
Beatrice smirked and waved her index finger. "We worked on that routine four years ago."
"Yes, we did. It's an easy routine that makes the floor have a little more love," Hermione mused as she wandered over to her water. "You can cut down your tables, give a little more stage time, but that's it. Make them want to stick the bills in your knickers."
"Do you know how easy you make that look?" Nerissa questioned.
"It's not that hard, trust me. The fact that for someone who exudes so much sexuality doesn't have it ever. Now, that's the real shocker," Flora mused.
"It's not about sex," Hermione snapped. "It's about making someone believe you want it," she said while tossing her hair.
Sirius stood up and skipped over to the woman. "Question, real question," he declared.
"Yes, Sirius," Hermione sighed.
"How do you feel about me recording some of your lessons? It would be a good reference for later shows," Sirius asked.
"Record me?" Hermione blushed.
Sirius nodded as he shifted toward the other girls. "Don't you think it would be good? All of you would have a reference on what you look like performing, so you have an idea."
Pansy grinned and stood up. "I think you're onto something, Bartender. We should be recording our practices so that we can look back on them."
Hermione groaned and waved a hand. "And who do you suppose would be good for that job?"
Sirius scowled and pointed to himself. "Me. I can do it."
"Now, wait a minute, why would you do it?" Hermione moaned.
"Because I can?" Sirius laughed.
Hermione sighed and waved her hand. "I suppose if you think it would be beneficial."
Sirius clapped and nodded. "You won't be sorry. I'll have the iPad ordered today, and we can start with the next scheduled practice."
Hermione grumbled and waved. "Who wants to try the routine?"
Nerissa jumped up and waved. "Oh, me, me!" She glanced at Sirius with a smile. "You're going to stick around, aren't you?"
Sirius rubbed his chest and glanced back at his table. "I think we're going to check out some financial stuff, love. Sorry," he mumbled.
"By all means, Sirius, come sit. I'm sure we can give the girls a bit of time for our input," Gilderoy called out.
Nerissa clapped and squeaked. "Oh, yes!"
Beatrice glanced over at the retreating Black. "He's pretty fucking hot," she whispered to Hermione.
Hermione breathed and walked off to fetch her phone. It was going to be a long practice.
The weekend came with a vengeance. Hermione knew she should be happy with everything going on, but she was sour. Harry told her that they were having another baby. Ginny was in a great mood, and James was excited. Hermione was miserable. Another critical area that she wasn't successful with.
She finished her wig and strolled out to the floor, placing her issues to the back of her mind. Strawberry Champagne didn't worry about these things. She was confident and sexy. There was no need to feel inept because all these men wanted the fantasy.
It was a packed house, and she felt like she needed a drink before her first routine. It gave the members a chance to see and talk to her. Pine for her. Desire her. After the schmoozing was done, she walked over to the bar and scowled. That was not Blaise serving spirits.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione questioned.
The man in the black mask smirked and slid her a whiskey sour. "Filling in because, unfortunately, your friend is out sick."
Hermione sighed. Of course, he was, Pansy was off tonight. "Now, why would you fill in for him?"
He leaned over the bar and grinned as she took the drink in hand. "I get to see the show, of course. Plus, I get to observe the members."
A hand cupped her ass, and she turned her face to see Lockhart was pursing his lips. "You didn't tell me you got here earlier, Strawberries."
"Sorry, boss, I needed a refreshment," Hermione murmured.
Lockhart cupped her face before gripping it between his fingers. "That's alright, my lovely. You have a decent show planned for me tonight?"
What the fuck was this alpha bullshit trait showing up now? It was embarrassing her, and she could sense Sirius's eyes watching them with scrutiny. "Yes," she huffed.
"That's my Strawberry Champagne. Go make yourself pretty, and I'll be watching," He declared while smacking her ass.
Hermione pulled from his grasp and snatched her drink before pacing off toward the backroom. Sirius scowled as he cleaned the counter, watching the man in front of him adjust his pants. He may not be as smart as Remus, but he got the jest of that.
"You know she doesn't want to fuck you, why keep trying," Sirius mused.
Lockhart snapped his vision to Sirius and narrowed his eyes below the golden mask. "Who's to say we haven't? She has stayed at this club for me. She'll stay after I'm gone because she's good at this."
"You haven't fucked," Sirius voiced.
"You remember who owns this place for the next week, Black. I'd prefer it if you didn't meddle in my private life."
Sirius ducked over the counter and smiled. "You remember who she's friends with, Lockhart. I don't take kindly to people abusing my friends, as you know," he whispered.
Gilderoy cast a hand in the air and laughed. "Oh, Sirius, you're ridiculous. It was all in good fun," he chuckled and walked off.
Sirius put the towel in the bucket and glared after the man. Something wasn't right about this whole thing. He might have to press for it if Lockhart continued. The way he touched her sparked anger deep in his gut.