julesnoctambule (julesnoctambule) wrote in lupin_snape, @ 2008-05-26 00:32:00 |
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Current location: | new laptop! |
Current music: | Magnolia Electric Co., 'No Moon on the Water' |
Fic: 'The High Cost of Living' (14)
Title: The High Cost of Living (14)
Author: Jules Noctambule (werewolf_lib)
Rating: Hard R/soft NC-17 for sexual situations, language and referenced violence.
Pairing(s): Lupin/Snape, past Lupin/Black & Lupin/Tonks, Snape/others
Summary: After the war ends, a disgraced Snape turns to the world's oldest profession to make ends meet.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, the books wouldn't be suitable for children.
Warnings: Prostitution and some of the associated risks.
Notes: Written pre-DH, but I got a few things right so there are some minor spoilers.
Link to Part 1
Link to Part 2
Link to Part 3
Link to Part 4
Link to Part 5
Link to Part 6
Link to Part 7
Link to Part 8
Link to Part 9
Link to Part 10
Link to Part 11
Link to Part 12
Link to Part 13
Thanks to attic_plan for the beta! All remaining errors are either me being lazy or stubborn.
Lupin blinked, his confusion evident. ‘I. . .I thought you’d be pleased.’
‘Pleased?’ Severus snarled back. ’Pleased? Oh, nothing pleases me quite like being treated as a piece of property to be owned. Why be an individual when you could be some rich man’s fancy toy?’ He pushed back from the table with an abrupt gesture, almost toppling his chair.
‘Severus, that isn’t why I did it! Look --’ He held up the contract by one corner and touched the bottom of it with his wand. Blue flames quickly devoured the parchment, leaving a small pile of ash on the table. ‘See? It’s gone. I bought it to free you from it, not to hold you to it! I couldn’t bear the thought of you going to waste in that place.’
‘My circumstances are not yours to control, Lupin,’ he hissed. Even Severus was sometimes
known to admit that nothing drove and, truthfully, hindered him as much as pride; even at his best times, it niggled him and being at his most desperate had only ever made the feeling more keen. This was certainly no exception. ‘Exactly how was this supposed to help me?’
Lupin‘s voice was as frosty as his own. ‘Well, I would have thought no longer being bound to working as a common prostitute might be a start.’
Severus‘ eyes narrowed in a vicious glare as he fought the urge to slap the sanctimoniousness right out of Lupin. The restrictions on his magic might prevent him from administering a most deserved hex, but there was nothing preventing a good, solid punch. ‘I realise you might be a little out of touch with everyday things, up here in this rarefied air you’re breathing now, but in case it has escaped your notice, the Ministry has decreed that I am not currently allowed to work. I do, however, still require the daily ingestion of food to live and shelter would certainly be a positive. Now, thanks to you, I have neither income nor shelter and I’m certain food will be on its way out before long. Of course, I’m sure you expect me to fall all over you in gratitude. As far as I’m concerned, you can go fuck yourself.’
He didn’t wait for Lupin to respond but instead Apparated to the room where he stayed. Severus dressed in a hurry, clothing himself in the Muggle garments Lupin had provided, not out of any sentimental reason but because they would help him to blend in once he left. He had no particular destination in mind and no plan to speak of, but that was no matter. What mattered was getting out of Lupin’s house and away from his particularly stifling version of charity. In his pocket, he secured his wand and the money he’d earned concocting Lupin’s potions, hoping one or the other would do some good. Finally, he cast another glamour on himself, turning himself average and unnoticeable.
There was an impatient knock at the door. ’Severus? Open the door, will you?’
The only reply was the sound made as he Apparated out of the house.
Severus arrived in Market Close, where he found a Floo without much trouble. From there he went to Diagon Alley, where after a few errands he made his way into London. If nothing else, the masses of people and the ease of travelling made the city an ideal place for someone who wanted to get lost. Making his way down the pavement, he mulled over whether or not a person could be considered lost as long as they were where they cared to be.
At a small neighbourhood café he stopped to rest. Over a ploughman’s lunch and a cup of halfway decent coffee, Severus watched the city bustle past outside the pristine window. It was a Muggle celebration today, something he recalled having to do with treason and the burning of straw men in effigy.
‘Fitting,’ he said to his reflection in the sparkling glass.
Sipping his way through another cup of coffee Severus perused the adverts in a discarded paper, looking for cheap accommodation. Though the amount of Muggle money his Galleons had been changed for was quite a useful sum, Severus thought it best not to squander any of it on rich living. He had enough for at least a month and perhaps two if he was careful. After that. . .well, he would worry about it after he got present concerns out of the way.
The listings in the paper proved fruitless but a guidebook set out for tourists had some
handy listings of hostels and similar, which would do for the time being. There was still the matter of a new identification to sort out, of course, something with which he had more than a little experience. Perhaps, Severus considered, his time as a spy hadn’t been a complete waste after all.
There was a bookshop next to the café and there, he purchased a bottle of ink and a sheet of paper. Tucking himself in a private corner, Severus pulled out his wand, poured the ink over the paper and whispered a familiar spell. In a matter of moments he had a fresh, new identification card of the sort Muggles were apt to carry complete with false name and an imagined address in Newcastle.
Back out in the blur and hurry of the city, he occupied himself by wandering around in whatever direction took his fancy, something he’d done often as a child. It had been easy to imagine himself into a better world then, to pretend he was on his way to something greater and less complicated than the life he knew. Now, he knew better. His wanderings did go a surprising way toward removing the sting and shock he’d felt when Lupin had first revealed his actions. The feelings weren’t entirely eroded, but the sharp edge of betrayal dulled somewhat and Severus began to let himself acknowledge the man’s misguided attempt at good intentions as well as his own growing sense of relief of being out of the job. It hadn’t been all bad, of course, but he had come to the conclusion that though there might be far more unpleasant options than prostitution, there were undoubtedly superior ones as well.
As the sky became tinged by twilight and the lights came on one by one, sparkling like urban jewels, Severus made his way to one of the hostels listed in the guidebook to get a room for the night. It wasn’t in the most choice of neighbourhoods but nor was it all that down at heels; all in all, it was a nice location for a man who wished to go unnoticed. According to the guidebook, a place down the block did an excellent fish and chips. After a sampling of the lauded dish, Severus had to agree. It wasn’t the fancy food of Lupin’s table but it was simple and properly done, two things that seemed difficult to obtain in eating.
There was also a pub not far from the hostel. He made his way there, noticing that as the night grew darker the number of young, gaudily dressed ladies lingering about increased. More than one young man was standing about as well.
‘An equal opportunity pick-up spot,’ Severus muttered to himself. In a way he found it appalling, as the risks of working the streets far outweighed even the smallest benefit. Even so, a small part of him thought it would be a bit of a lark to hire some company and return to Lupin’s just long enough to taunt the man with scent of others all over him. He ignored that part and walked on to the pub.
It was a simple place with low ceilings, clouds of cigarette smoke and everyone keeping their attention on their drinks, the sort of pub that was rapidly becoming an endangered species in trendier neighbourhoods. Severus ordered a pint of bitter and a neat whisky, then made himself as comfortable as he could in an austere wooden booth tucked in a corner by one of the two windows. It was soothing, being able to look outside and see the world around him. He’d been secluded too long. There was a Muggle song he’d heard before, something about freedom meaning you had nothing left to lose. Lily had loved the song, but Severus had always thought the singer hadn’t run out of as many options as she thought she had. Freedom meant to him that there was at least one way around anything that blocked his path, no matter how unpleasant the escape.
The bottom of his pint held no revelations and when the tumbler was empty of whisky, it also offered no advice. Severus decided his best bet was to consult another round of drinks.
He was considering a third when a pint appeared before him as though summoned, set down by a familiar hand. A second one joined it, accompanied by the rest of the body attached to the hand.
Picking up his drink, he took a few mouthfuls before acknowledging his companion. ‘I suppose I should be impressed.’
‘I wouldn’t think so, Severus,’ Lupin replied. ‘Even a competent schoolboy can figure out a locating spell. Figuring out which person you’d be was harder, what with you being so fond of glamours these days.’
‘And what gave me away?’
‘I recognised the clothes I gave you.’
‘It’s always the details, isn’t it?’ He gave a dry laugh and continued to drink.
Lupin looked at him, insistent on making eye contact. His face was tense and he sat with a stiff posture. ‘Would you be willing to hear me out?’
‘Depends on what you have to say.’
‘What if I began with an apology?’
‘Wouldn’t matter. I know you aren’t sorry.’
‘About the contract? No, I’m not. I am sorry about the way I sprung it on you, though. I wasn’t thinking.’
‘That seems to be a hobby of yours lately.’
Lupin nodded, looking somewhat abashed. ‘I have to agree with that, and not just because I want you to keep listening to me.’
‘Go on.’ Severus found that he wasn’t nearly as annoyed by the man as he had anticipated.
‘I don’t expect anything from you -- let’s make that clear now. That said, I do have an offer for you.’
‘I’m charging double now that I’m freelance,’ Severus informed him in as crisp a tone as he could muster.
‘It isn’t that kind of offer, and you know it. I want you to work for me, making potions.’
‘I don’t need charity, Lupin, especially not yours.’
‘It isn’t charity. Before, I had to make do with what I could afford. Now I can have the best of anything, and the best is what I want. There’s no sense in pretending you aren’t that, not when it comes to the kinds of medications I need.’
‘Must I again remind you that, thanks to the Ministry, I am not available for employment?’
‘But you are available for trade. Don’t make that face, Severus. You know what kind of trade I mean. I can offer you a place to live, a place to work and a generous stipend as well as an open account with the apothecary. You don’t have to sit around all day and make Wolfsbane, you know. You can do other things, on anything you like.’
‘And what makes you think I would be interested in this offer of yours?’ He was, no doubt about it. The chance to work, to create new things and to experiment to his heart’s content. . .here at last was his dream, only there was as usual a catch.
‘The fact that you have yet to hex me sideways is a good indication that I might have a fighting chance.’
‘I haven’t hexed you because, also thanks to the Ministry, I cannot.’
Lupin’s face relaxed into a grin. In the dim lighting, it was almost charming. ‘I’ll just pretend you’re doing it out of kindness.’
‘Do as you like. Makes no difference to me.’
‘Will you accept?’
‘What -- now you’re proposing?’ Lupin frowned and made as if to rise; Severus stayed him with a wave of his half-empty glass. ‘Fine, fine. I will, but on some conditions.’ He was surprised with himself even as he said it, but perhaps by now he was more used to forgiving Lupin than he once had been.
He eased back into his seat, interest on his face. ‘And what are they?’
‘That my work is my business.’
‘Of course.’
‘That I can leave whenever I like and if I do, you won’t go looking for me.’
Lupin hesitated, but then accepted that as well.
‘That this is the only kind of work you want from me.’
‘Agreed.’
‘Fine.’ Severus stood, only needing the table a little for balance. ‘I may or may not add more conditions as it suits me, but for now, you have a potion-maker.’
‘Correction,’ Lupin said, steering him gently by the elbow to the door. ‘I have the best potion-maker. Come on, Severus; the car’s waiting a few blocks away.’
He felt both giddy and confused, as if he’d done something that could be terribly foolish or terribly brilliant but without knowing it either way. Having served many a master, all of whom wanted only what they could get out of him while pretending to care far more than they did, Severus couldn’t help but think he was making a mistake. Still, Lupin had proved himself so different from most; perhaps this would be no exception.
On the way to the car, they passed a young man huddled uncertainly beneath a streetlamp. He glanced up and caught Severus’ eyes. His face was a mixture of determination, fear and hopelessness, one Severus knew well. Whatever he had planned, whatever he had hoped for, this situation was not his intention and yet the road back looked so much darker that what lay ahead.
He pushed Lupin’s hand off his elbow. ’Wait.’ Digging in his pocket, he pulled out the brochure for the hostel with the key, his created Muggle identification and a few bills. Turning back a few steps, he pressed them into the young man’s hand. ’Here. Go be someone else for a while -- it’ll do you good.’