Compassion

Huge thanks to my wonderful, anonymous beta! Please review, I'm addicted to reviews! This was one of a couple disturbing chapters I had to write. I want to place an extra warning on this chapter. I did not put down Abuse/Rape as a warning, but rather Dubious Consent because the interaction takes place between Snape and a prostitute. He does pay her; however, I do believe that prostitutes can be taken advantage of, and in this case, I believe it to be true. Snape is not a nice person to be around and won't be for the next couple chapters. However, I shall make sure warnings are placed when needed. I don't want to spring anything on anyone unawares.

It is not my intent to make light of rape or the mistreatment of prostitutes. Any woman violated, regardless of her life choices, is a crime. Snape will not come out of these next couple of chapters unscathed.

Chapter 11 – Compassion

Spring, 1994

Lupin nervously sat around a small table at the Hog's Head. He had something he desperately needed to tell the wizard who had reluctantly become his friend. He sipped on his firewhiskey as he glanced periodically at the door. Finally, he noticed the black-clad figure of Severus Snape walk through the entrance. He stood to alert Severus to his table, and the wizard calmly made his way towards him.

As he reached the table, the dark wizard sat down gracefully. "Well, Lupin, this ought to be good since I can't have all and sundry know that I even remotely approve of you," he snarked.

Usually, Lupin would have smiled and laughed at his friend's backhanded attempts at friendly conversation. But things had changed...for good. He did not know how Severus would even take the news, let alone accept what he had to tell him.

Lupin swirled his firewhisky around in his glass before swallowing it down. Best to have some liquid courage in him for this conversation! He looked at Severus. He was sitting stiffly, glowering, and growing impatient. He crossed his arms around his chest, looking decidedly put out. Yet, there was concern etched on his face.

Lupin circled his tumbler around with his fingers, watching the amber liquid swirl. "Severus, you and I have had quite the year, haven't we?" he said, testing the waters.

Snape rolled his eyes. "What is this, Lupin? A stroll down memory lane? I haven't the time." He rose to leave.

"Sit." Lupin didn't even look at the wizard, but his tone was unmistakable. Lupin only used that tone when it was absolutely necessary. Snape sat back down and took off the sardonic mask he normally wore. Whatever it was, it was serious.

Lupin looked at him and whispered darkly, "Severus, I need you to listen very carefully at about what I am to tell you and not react. It could be potentially dangerous for anyone to know something was amiss. I have some very disturbing news, and you and I need to discuss it and try to come to a reasonable decision. Agreed?" he asked forcefully.

Snape nodded curtly and remained silent.

Lupin continued. "I was rather fortunate to come across an old artifact from our old school days. You recall, Severus, a bit of parchment that you confiscated from Harry that insulted you when you tapped it with your wand. I perused the parchment. It held a great deal of sentimental value for me. It was in fact a map. A map that James, Sirius, Peter, and I created. This map was not like any ordinary map. It is a magical map showing the whereabouts of every person on Hogwarts grounds. It cannot lie. It's important that you understand that, Severus, because I have seen the name of Peter Pettigrew on the map."

The mentioning of Pettigrew's name made Snape's head snap to attention and his eyes to narrow.

"No," he insisted. "Black killed him. He killed him, just like he tried to kill Lily and Harry!" he hissed.

"I know it's mad!" Lupin whispered in reply. "Unfortunately, it doesn't change the fact that Sirius has been working awful hard to get into Hogwarts. And for what? Why after all these years would he now come here to Hogwarts if were not for the fact that Pettigrew is alive?"

"You're raving!" Snape said condescendingly. "I saw with my own eyes, Black did everything except drag Lily out of our rooms. He was completely mad, I tell you! He had gone round the twist. I'm sure Azkaban has done nothing to improve his temperament! He's trying to kill Harry, I know it! Now, what is this really about?" he hissed. "Are you secretly helping your old friend for old times sake?" he accused the werewolf.

Lupin was undeterred. "Severus, I only want the truth. What if...no, listen! What if Pettigrew had been the betrayer? What if Pettigrew had been responsible for all those deaths in Muggle London and pinned it all on Sirius? What if it had been Sirius who had confronted Pettigrew and not the other way around?" he questioned.

"Lupin, I think I need to rethink your Wolfsbane Potion. Obviously, it has addled your brain!" Snape seethed. "Sirius Black is the vicious monster that tried to kill Lily and Harry and is responsible for turning against his so-called best friend and murdering him!"

He leaned in and threatened the wizard. "Lupin, we have made strides I never thought possible in our relationship out of our mutual love for Harry. However, my patience only goes so far. If I even smell a hint of a conspiracy between you and Black, I shall have no other recourse than to bring you both to the attention of the Dementors! Do not test me, wolf!" he growled.

He stormed out of the Hog's Head, and Lupin ordered another firewhiskey. That had gone badly. There seemed to be nothing he could do to stop the coming confrontation between the four of them. He only hoped Harry would not get hurt in the process.

***

Snape was enraged at the audacity of Lupin to suggest that Black had been wrongfully imprisoned all these years. All because of a bloody map! Well, at least he knew the secret behind all their near escapes from the professors! They'd had a detailed map of the comings and going of every witch and wizard at Hogwarts!

He was getting too old for all this. He was drinking heavily and eating less and less. He probably was an alcoholic like his thrice-damned father! Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Look at how he had failed at fatherhood and love for that matter! He needed to get laid. He was drunk enough to get himself a willing whore and fuck her brutally. He made it a source of pride to hurt his whores in direct proportion to how much pleasure he had given Lily. He had let more than one whore walk away in pain after an encounter. He was getting quite the reputation for being a hard and cruel wizard. Not many whores wanted to fuck him anymore, but he could always find a desperate hag who would take his money. A cunt was a cunt. If a whore was resistant to his brutality, it was all the better for him! Fear made cunts tighter. The crying and whimpering was music to his ears. It was the truth. He had been lied to by Lily. She had only endured and suffered his touch. If she had been honest, she would have screamed and begged him to stop rutting on her. So, he went in search for the truth.

He found a plain, young whore on the outskirts of the Alley. She was filthy. He had hood of his cloak over his head, obscuring a part of his face and offered her more Galleons than she could ever hope for in a week's work of peddling her pussy. Once the agreement struck, he lowered his hood, and a look of terror crossed her face. He smiled coldly as he spun her around and yanked up her skirt.

"This is going to hurt, but I think after the money I've paid for your favors, you can take it," he whispered evilly.

She shuddered as he cast a cleansing spell on her privates. The women could be as ugly as sin, but he wanted his pussies clean. He tore into her viciously, and she choked and screamed as he pounded into her. He grunted and panted into her ear. He didn't touch her except to keep his arm around her waist. He continued for a long time, her blood creating the lubrication he needed to make it easier. He finally came and withdrew from her. She cowered as she slid to the ground.

"I know you hate me, but I paid you well, whore," he sneered.

She was crying. No whore had ever broken down before. It unnerved him.

"What is wrong with you? If you can't take a cock, you need to take on a different occupation!" he snapped viciously.

"It's j-just it was my first night selling myself. I never had...sex...before," she whimpered.

He bowed his head in defeat and threw a bag of Galleons in her lap. "Get to a Healer and get some potions for the pain. Next time, be more aware. Wizards such as myself are not interested in virgins," he sneered.

He wanted to not care. He wanted to walk away and forget her, but his feet wouldn't move. She looked so helpless and broken. His conscience hurt him. He knelt down and took the witch's arms in order to help her up from the ground. She flinched, but when she saw he wasn't going to hurt her, she relaxed to his touch.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Moira," she answered.

"Moira, get the hell out of here. You don't need to spend your life doing this. You don't have to do this."

"I don't have anything. Death Eaters killed my brother, and he was the only family I had. My parents were too poor to send me to Hogwarts, and now they are dead. I had to learn my magic at home. I don't have an education. I don't know how else to survive!" she admitted desperately.

Snape felt his chest clench at the mention of Death Eaters. As far as he knew, he could have been the one to cast the Killing Curse! He cleared his mind and focused on the girl. "Well, I've given you 100 Galleons. That's a start. Meet me here at this time, this day, every week, and I shall give you more, and don't worry, you don't have to give me anything in return. I don't want to see you whoring ever again. Have I made myself clear?" he ordered.

"Yes, sir," she said. "What is your name?" she asked.

"I'm no one, Moira. I'm of no account," he answered darkly as he withdrew from her. Then he stood, turned sharply on his heel, and left.