Chapter 6
The Big Easy
An unoccupied home takes on a certain-aroma-after a time. The severity of the smell is dependent on the contents of the rooms, the age of the home and on whatever was left in the refrigerator at the time of abandonment. The length of the abandonment is as equally important as the afore-mentioned contents, when considering the tear and nausea factor, which is the inevitable result of the aroma.
Hero's New Orleans apartment was located in the French Quarter, which was of course the oldest part of the city. Whilst the refinement of the architecture was pleasing to the eye, the mixture of old building and spoilt food made for a tear/nausea factor of plus twenty, on a scale of one to ten.
Or so Hero thought upon opening the front door to her home after a three-month absence.
'Thank Zeus it isn't summer!" she gasped aloud as the aroma laid siege to her nose, pricking her eyes with tears and causing her stomach to lurch.
Severus Snape merely stood beside her, an odd blank look on his face, muttering something about house elves and beheadings.
Hero dropped her bag on the couch and frantically began opening windows. Snape walked through the open French doors and out onto the fragrant patio, hoping that the fresh April air would cleanse his sense of smell. After a time he was joined by the mistress of the house, who placed a hand on his arm. She offered him an embarrassed smile and said,
"I'm sorry about that. I don't keep house elves and was so excited about going on the night you showed up that I didn't think to empty the fridge or the trash or do the dishes…" she trailed off as he scowled down at her.
"Why don't you keep a house elf?"
"I don't know, never really needed one I guess. Don't cock that eyebrow at me! Besides I'm usually never away this long."
They stood in silence for a moment.
"Look." she said "We can't eat here tonight, and it will take a few hours for the place to air out. Let me take you to dinner and then show you around!"
After a moments consideration he said, "We are here to work, not sightsee."
Rolling her eyes at the formality, she said " Well, Sev darling, it just so happens that the contact I need to see, won't be available until later tonight. Besides, all work and no play makes for a very dull Potions Master!"
"Really, Hero! I have no desire to traipse around New Orleans having fun."
"Gods! Don't you ever relax?"
This was answered with a snort.
"Very well then, I shall have to pull rank." She grabbed his arm and spun him to face her. "Severus Snape, I am in charge on this particular mission and I am ordering you to have dinner with me and do a little sight seeing. You will not bitch and moan about it and you will have fun! Understood?"
He raised his brows at her. "I should hex you for speaking to me in this manner." he growled.
Hero laughed up at him. "You should, but you won't. Come on! You don't even have to change clothes."
"And why is that, exactly?"
"It just so happens that your standard garb will be quite suitable here in the Quarter." she said, catching his doubtful look "Trust me."
"You sound too much like Albus, when you say that Hero."
'Thank you." she beamed.
"It wasn't a compliment."
"I know, but I choose to take it as one."
Severus suppressed the urge to sigh out loud. "Well, as you have said, you are in charge and I am under orders. Is it too much to hope that we will eat sooner rather than later?"
She smiled up at him again and grabbed his hand. "Let's go then, Sev."
A few security wards and a short walk later, they arrived at the restaurant. "A table for two, please" she requested of the hostess. "Let's go to the bar and have a drink while we wait for our turn." She led him into a dimly lit, smoke filled room.
"Let me order." she said as they took their seats at a small table, each letting go of the others hand. Both of them realizing that they had walked hand in hand since leaving the apartment, nether one of them wanting to think anything of it at that moment, but both feeling bereft of the contact.
They sat in silence, interrupted only by the waitress asking for their drink order. Hero ordered their usual Cuba Libras and silence fell over the table once more. Finally, Severus asked,
"What sort of food is served here?"
"Some French, but mostly Cajun. Trust me, you've never had anything like it. I think that we will start with the Turtle Soup…"
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Feeling replenished after their meal, they walked, Hero pointing out to him several interesting and historical sights. She dallied for a time with a palm reader, making Severus smile as she played muggle tourist, eyes wide in amazement at the gypsy's trite predictions of long journeys and the meeting of her soulmate in the form of a tall, dark and handsome stranger. Around midnight she led him to the bar so that they could meet with her mysterious contact. "You should feel right at home where we are going." she was telling him. " It's called The Dungeon."
'How droll" he rumbled, allowing her to grab his hand and lead him on.
"Yes, well there is something here for everyone. Besides, The Dungeon attracts all sorts of interesting people. Muggles, wizards" She paused. He felt a frisson of fear. " Vampires."
"Vampires?"
"Oh yes. New Orleans is full of them. What!"
Severus had stopped short, nearly causing her to topple backwards.
"Hero, I really don't feel like dealing with vampires." he said in a tired tone.
"Oh, that." she clicked her tongue and waived her hand in a dismissive gesture. "No dealing with them is necessary in The Dungeon, or in The Quarter for that matter. Unless you want Lestat to kill you."
"Lestat?"
"Don't tell me you've never read The Vampire Chronicles?"
"No, I've never had the pleasure."
"Well, they are passed off as muggle fiction but they really are a chronicle. Lestat is the master over the night here. No killing allowed whether by wizard or vampire. It's really quite nice."
"I'm sure." he quipped.
"He's also the man -so to speak-that one needs to see when one wants information on anyone from our world, the muggle world or theirs."
"So you have dealt with this Lestat, then?"
"Oh, yes. He's frightfully charming! Stop scowling! I know we are here to work, but, as I've said, there is no reason why we can't have a little fun at the same time. It's not called 'The Big Easy' for nothing."
They started walking again. "Besides," she continued "Lestat likes his fun. The trick is not to be too business like with him, unless he's in that sort of mood. When he's at The Dungeon he's anything but business like."
"I don't like the sound of this."
'Don't worry, Severus!" Just be polite, stay out of the way, try to hold your tongue and let me do the rest. This is my job after all."
They had stopped at a heavy wooden door that was studded with hammered bits of metal. Music boomed from behind it. "Here we are." she said 'Shall we go in?"
Severus opened the door and they entered.
The Dungeon was crowded a mass of bodies, writhing in time to the music. Hero gripped his hand tightly, lest they become separated in the throng. People bumped and jostled them along the way. He heard Hero's name cried ecstatically a few times and he waited patiently as she greeted each with a smile and a peck on the cheek. He didn't at all care for the lustful looks that were being thrown her way, or his way for that matter, but he ignored these too, as Hero led him on through the crowd until they reached a dimly lit alcove. This was being blocked by a rather large vampire.
"Hey DuBarry!" she said with a smile "Can we see Lestat?"
The vampire smile at her, sending chills down Seveus' spine.
"Darling, delicious Hero! You look positively eatable tonight."
'Thank you. This is my friend, Severus." she said pulling him forward. "Severus this is DuBarry." DuBarry eyed him up and down with an appreciative eye. Severus responded with a scowl.
"Why you go for wizards when there are vampires like me I will never comprehend." A silky French accented voice drifted from the alcove. A handsome vampire emerged. 'You could rule the night forever with me."
"I'm rather attached to my red blood cells thank you." she laughed. Severus felt even more un -comfortable. The way those vampires were staring at them both, put his defenses on alert.
But he did have to agree she was delicious looking tonight. Too delicious in that dangerously short chocolate brown leather skirt. On her feet she wore very sharp stilettos. The sleeveless silk shirt clung in various places, hinting at what lay beneath. Her perfume occasionally drifted to his nose and he wondered what her neck would smell like, as this Lestat creature did as well he was sure.
"Lestat, meet my friend, Severus Snape."
"Ah, the famous Potions Master in the flesh. I am delighted."
Each eyed the other warily. Sensing the vampires mistrust, Hero said
" He is most trusted by Dumbledore, You needn't worry."
"Ah. Haunted is playing, my favorite song. Come and dance with me then and we can talk." Lestat said. "DuBarry, see that this gentleman wants for nothing."
Snape frowned as the vampire led Hero to the dance floor and pulled her into his embrace.
'Long lost words slowly whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there.
His hands roamed her back as their hips swayed to the music.
Watching me! Wanting Me!
I can feel you pull me down!
Fearing you! Loving you!
I won't let you pull me down.
She arched backward against him as his hands ran down her sides and came to rest on her hips.
Hunting you I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
She slowly arched back up against his chest and his hands wove their way through her hair.
Watching me! Wanting me!
I can feel you pull me down!
Saving me! Raping me!
Watching me!
Severus gulped down his drink and motioned for another. The song giving him chills down his spine. With a deeper scowl he watched as Lestat held her tightly against him then kissed her, first one cheek, then the other. Knowing that Snape was watching, Lestat nuzzled her neck, licking the pulse point of his desire, his hands stroking down her back to her ass. They made eye contact and Lestat bared his teeth at Snape. He jumped to his feet and reached for his wand. DuBarry grabbed his hand.
"I would not do that if I were you!" he exclaimed, "Leave them be. Lestat will not harm her."
Looking into DuBarry's eyes he could not tell whether he was telling the truth or not.
" You have no trust of our kind I know, but, Lestat owes Dumbledore. Big time. Trust that."
DuBarry removed his hand as Severus sat back down. Lestat, who had watched the whole thing smiled at Severus, once again flashing his teeth. With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he lowered his mouth and placed his fangs on the crescent of her neck, slightly moving them back and forth. Hero shivered at the sensation. She pulled back, drawing Lestats' attention back to her. Severus could see that they were speaking but was unable to read their lips.
Hero gave him an arch look and laughed at something Lestat said as he bowed her into a slight dip. Bringing her up again he dropped her into a deeper one. Back up into his arms again, they moved in time to the music, his hands caressing her arms, which encircled his neck.
Severus could stand no more. He gulped down his third drink and was about to go and remove Hero from the vampire's embrace, when the song ended. Lestat, with a triumphant smile, returned Hero to Snape's side.
"Thank you beautiful Hero, for your company."
"Thank you, Lestat, for your friendship. It means a lot to me."
Lestat kissed her hand, and then turning it over he kissed her wrist. Hero gasped as his tongue caressed her pulse. Again Lestat made eye contact with Severus.
"We can count on you then?" she asked, slightly breathless.
"Yes, you may dearest one," Lestat stroke on finger down her face and across her bare neck. " Just let me know when and where." he said finishing the caress.
"We will be in touch then. Again, our deepest gratitude Lestat."
He smiled his teeth gleaming in the dim light, bowed then turned on his heel and retreated back into his alcove.
"What?" she asked peevishly, turning to face Severus who was frowning.
" Do you often play with fire in that manner?" he growled.
"Jealous much?" she quipped. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.
"Be careful Hero. You might get burned." he hissed.
"I doubt it!" she hissed back, wanting him to go further, angry with him.
"So you wish to dally with a vampire to feed your craving for danger?" he answered with a growl. "Do you actually think that I will allow that?"
"Allow it, Severus? she snapped "You don't own me!"
"We'll just see about that, Hero! "
He pulled her on to the dance floor, then roughly into his arms. He stroked one hand down her back, until it came to rest on her ass. The other stroked up into her hair, grabbing a handful. He pushed her hips against his and began to move with the slow rhythm of the song.
"Let me go!" she hissed. She felt a cold draft at her back. Feeling Severus stiffen, she glanced around to see Lestat glaring at Severus.
"You will not handle Hero that way," said Lestat anger leaping from his eyes. "One more move like that and all the magic in the world will not save you from us."
She turned facing Lestat. Standing between the two of them made her feel really short even in the heels she wore. She placed on hand on Lestat's chest to get his attention and wrapped the other as far as it would go around Severus to keep him there.
"What is this? Some sort of pissing contest? Lestat, darling, I am quite capable of handling Severus. Please allow me the pleasure. Severus darling, I am quite capable of handling Lestat. Both of you grow the hell up and stop this stupidity! I am no ones possession!" Deciding to just let them hash it out; she stalked off into the crowd, leaving them to stare after her in admiration. Not wanting to lose the opportunity Lestat said.
"I never explain myself to anyone or anything. But because I care for her like no other, I will tell you this. I would never harm her. And you had better never harm her either or else I will be coming for you Sev-er-us." In a flash he was on the other side of the room. Severus acknowleged him with a nod and followed after Hero.
He found her pacing the sitting room of her apartment, muttering obscenities under her breath. Staying in the shadow of the entryway he watched her in mute fascination. She crackled with anger, her aura flashing red and orange. He knew that he was more than a little tipsy, after gulping down so many firewhiseys, but he couldn't blame the drink for the surge of lust that swept through his blood. It wasn't the first time he had lusted for her, and tonight as he watched her hips undulate with each step she took in that skirt, he felt it afresh. He had wanted to kill that damn vampire for putting his hands on his Hero. ' My Hero?' he thought 'Yes, my Hero. Her blood runs with mine now.'
"What the fuck are you staring at?"
He snapped out of his reverie, and found her standing toe to toe with him, her eyes ablaze. He blinked once and raised his brow.
" And knock that brow crap off, Snape. I'm in no mood."
'Is that so, Hero?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Yes. Your behavior tonight at the club was insufferable! All you had to do was be nice, but nooo, you have to play cave man and piss off Lestat!"
"That vampire" he spat "had his hands all over you. Why didn't you just let him fuck him right there in the middle of the dance floor?"
Hero gasped her face flushing. She rose up onto her tiptoes, closing the distance between them and hissed "Well what the hell do you care who puts his or her hands on me. You are not my father, you are not my husband and you are not my lover! You don't own me, Severus Snape!"
Her further invasion of his personal space sent him over the edge, he could stand no more.
"Insolent girl!" he growled as he grasped her shoulders and pulled her to him as he brought his mouth down to meet hers. Her lips were hard, resisting him, furthering inflaming him. He roughly pushed her against the wall behind her, making her gasp against his mouth. It was all he needed to gain purchase of the soft inside of her mouth and his tongue plunged in and tasted.
Her heart was pounding against her chest, her breaths rasping as he explored her mouth, desire coursing through her veins. 'Finally!' she thought as she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer against her. He broke the kiss and his hands stroked down her sides; he grasped her hips and pulled her off of her feet.
"Bastard!!" she hissed at him as she wrapped her legs around his waist and thrust her hips against his arousal, eliciting a groan.
He thrust back against her, pinning her against the wall again, as his hands ripped the silk of her shirt apart in a fevered attempt to find the flesh beneath.
"Cock tease!" he hissed, his hands ripping the delicate fabric of her bra, his thumbs stroking over her hardened nipples. Fire exploded within her and a hot pulse began to throb between her thighs.
"I hate you!" she said as she dug her fingers into his hair and pulled his head to the side and bit into his neck. He moaned and a hand now snaked under her skirt to pull at her panties, effortlessly ripping them off of her.
"Pain in the ass Griffindor!" he rumbled as he slid two fingers into her tight, silken wetness. His thumb stroked her clit, causing her to scream.
"Insufferable bat!" she gasped meeting the thrusting against his fingers. She pulled him to her lips and thrust her tongue into his mouth. ' He tastes like whiskey' she thought absently as she sucked his lower lip into her mouth and bit it sharply, smiling as he hissed in pain. With the tip of her tongue she licked the blood she had drawn from his lip.
"Vampire bitch" he gasped, thrusting and stroking her harder with his hand. Her thighs were quivering against him. He smirked, as he felt her tighten around his fingers and scream his name. Panting, she pulled his head back and ran her tongue along the flesh of his neck as she pulled her self tighter against him and began to thrust against his fingers again.
"I have to have you now," he choked.
"Please, Gods, do it now…." she gasped releasing his neck from her teeth as she pushed at the waistband of his trousers with her feet.
He lowered her to her feet again, and with one hand she pushed him up against the opposite wall, while the other fumbled with the fastening at his groin. Then he was free and they fell to the floor in a heap, lips tangled with lips as he kicked off a pant leg and thrust himself inside of her, both of them crying out in pleasure. He held still for a moment, and then began to pull out very slowly, almost to the point of releasing her. He paused again for a moment, and then returned, as slowly as the first time. Hero stroked her hands down his back to caress his hips and cup his buttocks, urging him into her. He bent his head and nipped at her neck, sucking on it briefly. She screamed his name as he thrust insistently into her again. He kept up the rhythm of retreat and return, igniting and stoking flames of sensation throughout her body with each burning thrust.
"Oh yes," she choked "Yes! Severus Oh Gods, Severus!"
"Yes!" his velvet voice ripping through her as together, they fell into the fire between them and then through it into darkness.
When his head finally cleared, Severus realized that he still lay sprawled atop of her. Opening his eyes, he studied her face for a moment, feeling a fierce satisfaction at the sight of her kiss-swollen lips and the light sheen of perspiration that glistened in the dim light of the hall. He dipped his head and stole another, more gentle kiss from her. She opened her eyes, smirked up at him and sighed.
"Wow." she whispered eliciting a short chuckle from her lover.
"This isn't the most comfortable of places, you know Miss Charen." he murmured huskily as he began to push himself off of her. "I fear I must be squashing you."
She answered him by bringing her legs up around his back and pulling him toward her. "Not yet, Severus." she whispered "I want more." His lips met hers with another, deeper kiss. Her tongue snaking into his mouth before she found his lower lip with her teeth and softly bit..
…On trembling legs, they had somehow made it into her bed, where he promptly began to fulfil her request for more. Only this time, he was deliberate in his slowness, despite his desire to take her again as quickly as he had before. Her smell, her touch, her teeth in his flesh, her tongue, the taste of her was all perfect to him and he burned for her as he had never burned for another woman. He enjoyed sweet torture he was inflicting on her with the slowness in which he seduced her again. He gloried in the begging words that she cried, as he tasted every inch of her. She belonged to no one else, just to him and he was going to make that perfectly clear to her with his actions. She would want no other after this night.
Then she turned the tables on him as she seized him with her arms and legs and flipped him over onto his back then promptly took him into her mouth. Her hands stroking his body as she swirled her tongue around his throbbing cock. He sank into insanity with each stroke and flick of her tongue, each caress of her hand, each gentle nip of her teeth. She had nearly driven him to the edge when she stopped and quickly took him into her.
She sighed, and smirked down at him as he bucked his hips up to meet her, wanting to be as far into her as he could get. Her smirk faded into a look of tortured ecstasy as she slowly rode him, and he answered her thrusts with his thumb on her swollen clit. His free hand stroked her ass, and she gasped his name as she came.
He pushed her off of him, eliciting a startled moan of protest, and flipped her onto her back. "Tell me what you want, Hero." he whispered as he draped one of her legs on each of his shoulders, his thumb stroking her, his fingers invading her. "Tell me that you want me to fuck you or I will stop right now!"
She looked up at him and brought her hands to his chest, where she raked her nails down his flesh. His fingers thrust into her again and she gasped "Fuck me, Severus! Please Severus! Oh!" He thrust into her forcefully and groaned as she screamed in delight.
"You. Are. Mine. Hero." he muttered with each thrust "Tell. Me."
"Yes! Yours. Oh Severus!"
Her breathless words pushed him over the precipice and he emptied himself into her as he cried her name.
Much later, as they lay entwined with each other, she told him what she had learned from Lestat.
"There is a vampire in Voldimort's inner circle." she said quietly.
"What!" he asked, not believing his ears as he propped himself up on an elbow. She nodded up at him.
"It's true. Lestat went to Europe to confirm a suspicion I had. I was hoping that I was wrong."
He sighed. "This is bad, Hero. Very bad."
"I know." she sighed back. They lay in silence for a time before she said. "We have to get back."
He closed his eyes, opened them and then sat up. "I know, but there is something I have to tell you."
Hero closed her eyes, not wanting to hear the apology that she was sure would follow. Her heart couldn't stand it. She loved him and had for a while now. She knew that he didn't return her feelings, but she just didn't want to hear it aloud. "No need, Severus. " she interrupted as she sat up. " Tonight was just too much temper and Fire Whiskey. Don't apologize, I rather enjoyed it."
He watched her in brooding silence as she left the bed, walked into her bathroom and shut the door firmly behind her.