Chapter 1: The Secret Alley

Historical Note: This story takes place after The Battle for Hogwarts, with Hermione aged twenty-one. The events of the Epilogue from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows does not happen in this version of Hermione's life.

She could feel her very soul being eaten away as she looked down at the three rolls of parchment she had spent the past several hours on. Hermione Granger rubbed her tried eyes and allowed herself a brief rest bite for the nightmare of the numerous reports the Minster had requested. Life had taken a very dark turn for the twenty year old witch. Former member of the now dismantled Dumbeldore's army, One of the three members of what the papers had called The Golden Trio and now a member of the newly createdDepartment Of Dark Magical Intelligence, which Kingsley himself had created in response to the Auror program to bring in the remaining members of Voldemort's Death Eater group. It was also Kingsley's way of keeping Hermione in the action, while keeping her away from her former lover Ronald Weasley. There relationship had ended within months of starting. Where Harry and Ron's sister Ginny had been able to make their relationship work. Hermione had found life with Ron to be much more of a challenge than she first thought. When their sex life became as dry as a dragon's breath, Hermione knew that their sorry state of a relationship had run it's course. The two were now in the awkward friends area and the whole Weasley family had become cold towards Hermione. But time would heal, and Hermione found herself office bound and waiting for time to heal the wounds between her and Ron.

"Hermione?"

Ethel Chadwick, a short woman with hair, that reminded Hermione of her own, stuck her head around the office door and smiled. "It's almost ten. You really should get home and get some sleep".

Hermione felt her stomach drop. Since breaking up with Ron, she had returned to empty family home. She had not been able to track down her parents due to them living only a short time in Australia, before moving on to a new location. The house therefore felt like a prison of memories, with Hermione only being allowed out once a day for work.

"Thanks" Hermione said with a nod as she decided that maybe catching a few hours sleep would be best for her.

"The network is down for…."

"Yes" said Hermione cutting Ethel off as she collected her dark brown leather bag and her long black coat. "I will catch the train".

Taking the stairs that ran through the rare of ministry's underground complex. Hermione came out through a doorway that lead onto Diagon Alley. She decided to find herself a nice bar to go, before forcing herself back to that shell of a building she had grown up in. As she set off for the entertainment area of the alley, Hermione wondered if losing herself in her work was really a healthy way of deal with the end of her relationship with Ron and the cracks in her friendship with Harry and the Weasley family. So lost in thought, Hermione had found herself walking into the much more risky part of Diagon Alley. The neon lights and sounds of the adult section of the alley seemed to be intoxicating to her. Feeling slightly hypnotised, and feeling that spark of excitement of a new adventure return deep inside her. Hermione decided to explore this once off limits part of the alley.

The first thing Hermione felt about this part of Diagon Alley was some Knockturn Alley vibes. All the clubs and adult bookshops had their fronts painted black with the only brightness coming from the windows and the neon signs above the shop doors. Hermione wondered if they were muggle neon signs, or was some kind of potion or spell that was being used to light them. Some of the names of the establishments she passed gave her a pretty big clue to what was happening with in.

The Peaking Goblin. The United Kingdom's Number One Goblin Strip Club

The Broomshed. A Pub for Gay Wizards

The Dancing Elves. A Magical Lap Dancing Club With VIP Bar

Hermione noticed that a few people were giving her strange looks. She then remembered that she had a goody-two-shoes image, and that her being in such a vibrant area would indeed look very out of place, like a house elf at a job interview.

Deciding to pick one of these clubs to escape the gazes of the public. Hermione picked one that had the image of a cell door being closed above it's actual door. Under the flashing image was a large sign reading:

THE DUNGEON CLUB!

Entering the club, Hermione found herself inside what looked like a traditional pub. In fact it could have easily been for The Leaky Cauldron if it wasn't for all the BDSM paraphernalia being displayed on the walls. The barman, who had spotted Hermione the moment she come in, was dressed head to toe in leather robes. He had no facial hair or hair on top of his head. He looked frightening, and gave her a dark long look, which made Hermione a little uneasy.

"Submissive or Dominant?" he asked in a gruff voice.

"I...I don't" said Hermione. "guess Sub…."

"Hermione there you are".

Turning around. Hermione saw the familiar face of the wizard who worked a few offices down from her, William Charles Mayweather. He was a tall man with a chiselled jaw and jet black hair. He was wearing his ministry robes, but had removed his neck tie to give himself an air of relaxation. She looked at him as he gave her a little play along wink.

"Gilbert. My girl has arrived. We have a dinner date and then I shall be back. I don't want these mouth breathers eyeing up my property".

The barman simply nodded.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mayweather asked as he guided Hermione towards the door. "Hermione this is pretty much the worst….."

"I got lost" she said suddenly. "I was looking for a place to have a drink. I didn't mean to enter a BDSM bar".

"You…" he stopped suddenly. "...you know what BDSM is?" he asked as they exited out onto the street.

"Well yes. We do have it in the muggle world" said Hermione. "I have also read The Story of O and The Witch Who Was A Slave"

"And?" asked Mayweather.

"And I found them to be very enlightening. It was something I turned to when my sex life dried up and I need some self relief".

"Hermione?" asked Mayweather who was becoming more confused by the second. "Are you? do you? I mean do you think this is a lifestyle you would like to explore in the real world. Not by words printed in a book?"

Hermione thought for a moment. She did like The Story Of O and pictured herself as The Witch Who Was A Slave, but she never had thought about seeking the lifestyle of a submissive before. She looked at the club then back at him. Mayweather's silvery-grey eyes were firmly locked on her eyes, the grip on her shoulder was slightly more relaxed now. The tone of surprise was very much noticeable after hearing Hermione's confession.

"Is it wrong to say yes?"

Mayweather's look of surprise seemed to increase. His hand was now shaking on her shoulder as he looked up and down the street, which was packed with late night foot traffic.

"No it's not" he whispered. "But your...your Hermione Granger. You're famous".

"And?" Hermione said.

"Listen. You're a friend of Harry Potter. If you got a Master who was in contact with The Death Eaters. You would be risk to Harry and everyone" he said. "You need to tread lightly here Hermione. You need the right educator".

She watched as a smile spread across his face and she saw twinkled in his eyes

"And I think I know just the right person for the job".

Author's Note: This is my first Fan Fiction project in FIVE YEARS! I apologise in advance if I am a little rusty and my spelling is a little off. I am still trying to find my feet back in the Fan Fiction world.