Chapter 9:

Slughorn, feeling restless and uncertain of what to do next, begins to contemplate his options. He considered hiding out in a secluded cabin, or even finding a new muggle home to live in. But as he thought about it, he couldn't shake the curiosity he had always held about the famous wizarding brothel, "The Veela's Vice Room." He had heard rumors and whispers about it for years, and had always been intrigued by the thought of seeing it for himself.

Veela's are a magical creature that are known for their beauty and charm. They are said to have the ability to enchant and mesmerize those around them, particularly men. They have long, flowing hair that is often described as being the color of gold or silver, and their skin is said to be as white as snow. Their eyes are large and almond-shaped, and they have long, slender fingers and toes. They are also known for their grace and elegance, and are said to move with a fluid, mesmerizing motion. They are often associated with sensuality and seduction, and are said to be able to use their charm and beauty to manipulate those around them. However, Veelas are also known for their fierce and unpredictable nature, and can be dangerous if angered. A description that greatly intrigued the old potions professor.

Making a decision, Slughorn sets out towards the brothel. He arrived there rather quickly as he knew the address, it had been established by the uncle of a former student. As he approaches the entrance, he sees a tall, imposing wizard standing guard. The wizard looks him up and down, sizing him up before asking for payment.

"3 Galleons entrance, all other fees will be taken inside," he barked in a deep raspy voice.

"Just to get in?" Slughorn inquired.

"Must have an entrance fee, too many voyeurs otherwise."

Slughorn, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness, hands over the required amount and is granted entry.

As Slughorn walked through the entrance of The Veela's Vice Room, he was immediately enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke and the strong scent of various potions and elixirs. The smoke was a mix of different flavors, some sweet, some pungent, and it hung heavy in the air, making it hard to see. The room was dimly lit, but Slughorn could make out various shapes and forms through the haze. The walls were adorned with dark velvet curtains, and the floor was covered in a plush red carpet. The room was filled with various wizarding patrons, most of them men, all dressed in dark, rich clothing. They sat at small tables, drinking and chatting, some with Veela's on their laps. The Veela's themselves were dressed in revealing clothing, some topless, their beauty was captivating, but their eyes were cold and calculating.

As he wanders, he begins to realize that the Veela's Vice Room is not the seedy, dark place he had imagined it to be. Instead, it was a place where people could let go of their inhibitions and be free. Slughorn begins to consider the idea of staying here for a while, using this place as a sanctuary where he can escape the outside world. As he continues to explore, he can't help but feel a sense of belonging among the other patrons, all of them seeking refuge in the brothel's forbidden pleasures.

Slughorn approaches the front desk slowly, keeping his head on a swivel to observe as much as possible. As he approaches, the distinct scent of cheap perfumes and alcohol hits his nose. He can hear the muffled moans and cries of pleasure from within the building.

At the front desk, he is greeted by a topless Veela, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. She looks up at him with a seductive smile, "Welcome to The Veela's Vice Room. How can I help you today?"

Slughorn clears his throat, feeling a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. "I was wondering about room pricing," he says, trying to keep his voice steady.

The Veela's smile widens, "We have a variety of options for you. You can purchase by the hour, day, or week. It's essentially a hotel, but for more...sinful activities," she says with a wink.

Slughorn nods, feeling a mix of disgust and intrigue. He asks for a room for the week, and how much might this cost?"

The Veela quoted a price, and Slughorn nodded, pulling out his coin purse to pay. He couldn't believe he was actually going through with this, but the thought of hiding out here for a while, away from the Death Eaters and his past mistakes, was too tempting to resist.

"And the name I should put the room under?" She inquired.

"Uh…" Slughorn hesitated not wanting to give his real name. "Cadmus."

"Well then, right this way Cadmus."

As the unnamed Veela led him to his room, Slughorn became very impressed by the luxurious decor of the brothel. The walls were adorned with rich, velvet curtains and gilded frames that housed paintings of scantily-clad women in various suggestive poses. The floor was covered in plush, red carpeting that felt soft and inviting under his feet.

As they approached his room, Slughorn couldn't help but notice that it was small, but still very nice. The bed was covered in silken sheets, and there were several pillows piled up against the headboard. A small table sat next to the bed, with a candle and a bottle of wine on it. The room was dimly lit, with several flames suspended magically in the air casting a warm, inviting glow.

Veela opened the door and gestured for him to enter. "This will be your room for the duration of your stay," she said. "A complimentary girl will come around shortly to keep you company." Slughorn nodded, not quite sure what to say, and stepped into the room. As the Veela closed the door behind her, Slughorn started to relax. He paced the room for a few minutes, trying to shake off any remaining feelings of stress. He knew that he was here to forget about everything that was happening, but the guilt of what he had done weighed heavily on his mind. He poured himself a glass of wine and sat down on the bed, trying to push the thoughts out of his head and enjoy the moment.

There is a knock on the door. It is soft but insistent, and Slughorn calls out for the visitor to enter. The door creaks open and a half Veela steps into the room, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves. She is tall and slender, with curves in all the right places. Her skin is a warm golden hue, and her eyes are a deep, seductive green. She is completely naked, and Slughorn can't help but stare at her for a moment, taking in every detail of her body.

She smiles at him, her full lips curving upwards in a way that makes his heart race. "Hello, Cadmus," she purrs, her voice low and sultry. "My name is Isadora, and I've been sent to keep you company for the evening." She takes a step closer to him, her hips swaying suggestively as she moves. "Is there anything in particular you would like me to do for you?"

Slughorn's mouth goes dry as he tries to think of a response. He's never been in a brothel before, and he's not sure what the protocol is. "I, uh, I don't know," he stammers, feeling like a fool.

Isadora chuckles, a soft sound that makes Slughorn's heart skip a beat. "Don't worry sweety," she says, her voice soothing. "I'm here to make sure you have a good time. Just tell me what you're in the mood for, and I'll take care of the rest."

Slughorn's mind races as he tries to think of something to say, but before he can form a coherent thought, Isadora steps closer to him and takes his hand in hers. "Come on," she says, her voice husky. "Let's get to know each other a little better."

Slughorn's heart continues to race as Isadora leads him to the bed, and he can't help but wonder what he's gotten himself into. But as she lies down beside him, her warm body pressed against his, he realizes that for the first time in a long time, he doesn't want to think about anything else.

Slughorn lay still in the comfortable bed, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. The Veela next to him, her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders, was running her fingers through what little gray hair he had and whispering sweet tantalizing incantations in his ear. His eyes blurred under the spells, he felt weightless and heavy at the same time. A full body high that he had never before experienced. Despite all this there was still some feelings of guilt for being here, in a brothel, but he pushed it aside. He had been on the run for so long and this was the first time he felt truly safe and relaxed in months.

"Tell me, dear," Isadora cooed, "What brings you to our beautiful establishment?"

Slughorn hesitated for a moment before answering, "I've been on the run for quite some time and needed a place to lay low," details a clear minded Slughorn would never be careless enough to share.

Isadora nodded understandingly, "You've come to the right place. We pride ourselves on discretion and secrecy here," she says as her hand moves down his chest.

Slughorn couldn't help but feel the pull of the Veela's seductive spell, he knew that it was part of her nature as a Veela but he didn't care, he wanted to stay in this moment of calm and pleasure for as long as possible. They talked for a while longer, the Veela asking him about his past, his travels and he shared only the superficial details, not wanting to reveal too much about himself. He knew that this moment was temporary, but for now, he was content to let himself be enchanted by the Veela's spell… his perception of reality slowly fading away.

Slughorn wakes up the next morning with a hazy memory of the previous night, his mind still foggy from the Veela's enchantments. As he opens his eyes, he finds himself alone in the room, the bed sheets tangled around his legs and his clothes scattered on the floor. He struggles to sit up, his head pounding with a dull ache. As he looks around the room, he notices that the door is slightly ajar and he can hear the muffled sounds of activity from outside.

Curious, he gets out of bed and makes his way to the door, opening it to find a tray of food and a copy of the Daily Prophet sitting just outside. He picks up the tray and brings it back to the bed, noticing that it contains a variety of delicacies including freshly baked croissants, smoked salmon, and a pot of coffee. He sits down and begins to eat, his hunger finally getting the better of him.

As he eats his breakfast, he ponders about the events of the previous night. He knows that he had been under the spell of the Veela, and that he had let himself be seduced by her charms, but he doesn't regret it. He realizes that he had needed the escape, the distraction from the guilt and the fear that had been consuming him.

Slughorn then picks up the paper, propped himself up in bed and begins to read. His heart sinks as he sees the headline: "Death Eaters Arrested in Department of Mysteries Scandal." He scans through the article, his eyes widening as he takes in the details of the fight between Hogwarts students and Death Eaters, and the news that Sirius Black had been killed in the battle.

Slughorn's mind races as he thinks about Yaxley, the man who had been hunting him for so long. He hopes that Yaxley was one of the unnamed Death Eaters who had been captured, and that he was no longer in danger. He quickly gets dressed and hurries out of the room, determined to find out more about the situation. He makes his way to the front desk and asks Veela there if she knows anything about the arrests, but she only shrugs and tells him that she doesn't pay attention to the news.

Slughorn is undeterred. He heads to the exit. The bare breasted Veela at the front desk calls out, "Cadmus you booked the whole week!" She was shocked that anyone could have the willpower to leave early and fight off the Veelas spells.

"Gotta go," he shouts over his shoulder. "Very important business to inquire about!"

A/N

The paper article in the daily prophet shows that the events in the canon story at the department of mysteries has unfolded. Lucious Malfoy has been arrested and Sirius Black killed. Use this moment as a timestamp to understand where on the canon timeline we are, remember, this story is intended to run concurrently with the canon story.