Chapter 13

After the psuedo-somersalt that nearly exposed my less-than-Lopez underdrawers, Snape had deftly taken my arm and led me up the stairs to the "VIP" section. According to what I knew about the club, ChinaWhite was a private club that only the super A-list could get into. What I saw when arrive at the private bar was a bit disconcerting. Old businessmen indulging what I hoped were at least 16 year olds (although I wasn't really going hold my breath) in the most expensive champagne that I had ever heard of. We moved past these rather disgusting individuals to stairs that lead downward, which I thought was strange because we had just come up, but Snape, the ever present vice on my arm gave me a look that implied "Don't say a word, just keep walking". I was surprised that Snape didn't pull his wand on my with that look, and that fact made me very nervous.

We headed down several levels, of course moving quite slowly since I was still getting my "heel legs". During the ride over, Snape had been shooting me looks that would make most women run in terror, because they seemed to be rather lusty gazes. Now, after the jaunt up the steps into the first bar, Snape's jaw had tightened into its more familiar scowl and his eyes had lost that little bit of sparkle that I had thought I saw in the car. He was sinking into his own "Snapeiness" and helping me down the stairs had become more of a drag-Tonks-around contest. Not good.

At the landing of the decent into decadence, the maitre-de motioned us to a dimly lit dance floor where music pulsed and the primped and pampered gyrated as the spotlights flashed above them. I was in desperate need of a table, and started to lead the way to an empty booth (which looked a lot like a bed) in a rather dark corner away from the booming speakers. I did have to say, I liked the dark red background and the whole "oriental" thing, and the bed/booth was quite comfortable as I settled in. As soon as our rears had touched the silk of the bed, a waiter appeared to take our drink orders. I was about the order when I looked over at Snape. He was barely sitting on the edge of the bed with his arms folded and the clenched jaw that could probably bend tempered steel.

Crap, he's going to make walk again.

Standing gingerly but trying to make it look natural, I told the waiter to give me a moment and I walked over to Snape.

"What's the deal, 'Adrian'?"

He turned to look at me and his eyes flashed with anger.

"That scene as we were entering. The decadence of those wretched old men and those poor girls. It's disgusting. I have a mind to go up there and let them all have it….

There goes the cool and collected Snape. Time for drastic measures..

"I don't think that there was anyone in that party that was there against their will. Yes those girls could have been students at Hogwarts, but they knew what they were doing. Honestly, with the crowds that you have hung out with in the past, I wouldn't have thought that would have shocked you…"

He shot me a look.

"Yes, and that is how many young witches and wizards were seduced to the dark side."

I giggled and he smirked..

"Did I just quote what I think I quoted?"

I outright laughed

"If anyone says that you are a snob about muggleness, I'm going to stand up and say you are a HUGE Star Wars fan."

That loosened him up a bit and he smiled.

"Now, what would you like to drink.."

He ordered mimicked mine to the tee and I also requested that we see some menus. The waiter hurried off to fill our drinks. I sank back down into the almost too comfortable bed/booth/table that was our private hideout in this world of strobe lights, deep reds and…. Wait…. does that girl have her top off?

I was staring with my mouth open when I heard a deep chuckle as Snape moved closer to me on the bed.

"Who are you gaping at, 'Jennifer'? Do you mean to tell me that with all your experience that you are new to this whole thing?"

I shrugged

"I've been to clubs, sure, and I've had a good time. I'm just not familiar with all this nonsense, and further more…"

The waiter returned with our drinks and menu's. We both reached for our drinks and immediately grabbed the limes and squeezed them within an inch of their lives. Of course, I squeezed mine just a bit too hard.

"OUCH! WHAT DID YOU DO?"

I looked over and saw Snape clawing at his eye. Crap, I sprayed him with limejuice. I thought that this was only behavior for a grapefruit.

"Errr…Sorry?"

Snape huffed and grabbed a napkin.

"I'm heading for the bathroom, please obtain more limes and have the bartender put them in the drinks for us. You are obviously not to be trusted."

Thank goodness I turned away as he got up and headed to the loo, I was laughing so hard. As soon as he was out of earshot, I retrieved the vial that Albus gave me. I rolled the glass vial back and forth in my fingers. This was my opportunity but I wasn't sure if I should take it. He was so open and sultry and…well…fun in the car, but his old self came back like a shot and THAT was not going to hold our cover. I only had a few more minutes to decide. The waiter returned with some extra limes and my decision was made. I dumped the vial into his glass and squeezed more lime into his drink, stirred it quickly and sat back to tend to my own drink. I took a drink and sank back into the bed. Man, these weren't bad. Of course, they were SO not worth what we were paying, but Lopez and Brody wouldn't care, right?

I turned my attention to the menu and Snape returned, without even a squint to betray his citrus attack. The appetizer menu look fabulous, when the waiter informed me that "the management" was sending something special over for the "the two of us".

Ok.

By now word had spread through the club that two top celebrities were "canoodling" (how in the hell did that word come into existence anyways) in the back of the club. Through the darkness and from the dance floor I saw several people craning their necks to get a look and I think I saw a few small red flashes from what I could only assume were cameras. Par for the course, I suppose.

Snape sat down at the bed and grabbed his glass and started stirring up his drink. I clenched my fingers and watched as he sniffed his drink and was about to take a sip when his eyes turned to me and he lowered his drink.

Oh shi…

"May I ask what is so interesting about my taking the first sip, Jen?"

Thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthink

"I just wanted to know what you think. If you don't like it all we have to do is snap our fingers and they'll fly to Cuba to get us whatever type of rum we want…"

He smirked

Shew!

"This will be fine, Jen, Thank you."

He downed the whole glass in one gulp.

Was that stuff supposed to be sipped? I can't remember..

Then he raised his hand to get another one.

I have GOT to go to the bathroom and figure something out…