Age of Innocence

~~~~Age Of Innocence~~~~

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~~~~Belladonna Club, Piccadilly, London - 1908~~~~

It's not that he minded stopping over to see his old friend Remus, not at all. Over the last two months he sometimes, on his time off, would try to catch up with him and have a cuppa or a pint if possible. Belatedly he realised now it had been a fortnight since he'd seen him last, so Petey was determined to have time tonight to catch up on events. The nature of the task tonight however made him worry, and if he was honest with himself, he was a touch afraid. Not for himself, he knew the full moon had passed over close to a week ago now so Remus wasn't dangerous, but for the person he was calling on Remus about.

Petey had been more than surprised actually to find Sirius in the Three Broomsticks, and had felt bad now that he'd allowed himself to lose touch with his other best friend the past few months. His job with Lucius had kept him busy true, and if he hadn't accidentally found Remus he realised guiltily he probably would not have gone searching for his friends at all right after James and Lily's death. At that time he had his own set of problems to deal with, and taking on the others issues hadn't been priority. Sometimes things were better left unsaid until the proper time anyway, unfortunately the 'proper time' wasn't always the best idea either.

He had grieved for Lily, James and Harry's deaths, even shed more than a few tears in private after the funeral. To think that a small innocent child had been the victim of such a horrible murder almost sickened him, but he knew that to dwell on it would only make matters worse. It had been pure luck that Lucius had heard of his talents with the adding books, and decided to seek Petey out. He was getting paid almost nothing at the Knockturn Alley wizards counting house he had been working in till then, it was truly a horrid place all told. Long hours, not enough heat in the winters to really keep warm, and the pay was only 3 Knuts a week.

Lucius's offer had seemed like a godsend for him. He still didn't know why Lucius had picked him over the other people who might have had more talent, but Lucius didn't need to give reasons why, he just did things. Lucius was more than generous oddly enough, and gave him the Muggle flat to live in, a palace compared to the sharing house he had been staying in over in Diagon Alley. He gave him a pay rise of a Galleon a week as well, and it was a fortune to Petey.

Through all of it though one thing he knew was still missing in his life, something he truly ached for but until today hadn't even realised he had missed...wanted even. He was missing simply what everyone round him already had...companionship. Not a wife, for Petey had known for a very long time that woman were not his cuppa at all. It was the heart of a man he wanted, and one man in particular. One man that he had observed since he was 15 years old, but it was a man that he knew could never be his, and he'd spent his share of star gazing nights back at Hogwarts wishing upon broken dreams and fallen hopes.

With a sigh he bundled his robes round him until he realised he couldn't very well walk into Muggle London with them on. Thankfully Lucius had also seen to that little problem, and in a small cove in the alleyway, which was heated magically during the wintertime, was a small bin. Inside the bin were Muggle clothing of all sizes, colours and styles...just for the sole purpose of entering Muggle London and any of Lucius's business's. It was a perk really, and each item of clothing was tagged, and a log of the names of the 'borrowers' were listed magically as well, so the bin checkers would know what did and didn't make it back after a period of time. Usually the threat of losing far more than their own clothing was a good deterrent however, and the borrowed items always managed to come back where they belonged.

Petey opened the bin now and sorted through the winter clothing. In the end he decided to keep on the same clothes, instead he opted for a small sized blue jacket only. Putting his own robe into the bin and shutting the lid, he put on the borrowed jacket and wrapped it firmly round him, not even bothering to button it up. The club was only a block away from the alleyway, and the cool air right now would help Petey clear his mind and concentrate on what he was going to say to Remus.

Walking out of the alleyway he turned left to the club, arriving a few minutes later outside a small non-descriptive white brick 3 storey building. Over head hung a sign that said, "Belladonna Club"in brightly painted gold letters and underneath that it read, "Catering to the more exotic tastes of London, EST. 1899". The club had been bought out by Lucius six months back, and he'd turned it into quite the place in that short time. It was the type of place however that Petey would never have gone to under usual circumstances if it wasn't for the fact of who it was inside he enjoyed visiting.

On the surface the Belladonna Club was really nothing more than an elaborate nightclub. Exclusive, yes, no question there. The man at the front door made sure that the club was exclusive, and those who entered had to show proof of an 'invite' by Lucius or any of the gang members. It was the 'type' of nightclub however that had drawn attention since Lucius got his hands on it.

Modelling it after the New York Citystyled 'baudy clubs' that were now springing up in America, it was not your family oriented place like most London Nightclubs. It offered a more 'burlesque' and 'gaudier' side of night life most of the time, usually with painted woman dancing in their skivvies (or sometimes nothing at all even). Now and again it also offered up the more updated types of entertainment as well, including the famous jazz music of the day which had taken Europe by storm. It was also a place of bootlegged liquors of any type, and to put it bluntly, prostitution at it's finest.

Courtesans, or lady-birds as they were sometimes called, showed some of the male clientele a 'good time' in the upstairs rooms if the price was right. It certainly was not a place to bring the wife by any means, more a place for the weary traveller or local even who wanted an evening 'away' from it all. And the lady-birds made damn sure that anything could be 'forgotten' for the price. Usually you paid upfront for an hour's worth of services, or if you were feeling particularly 'interested', you could 'buy' your lady-bird for the evening exclusively.

With another slight sigh Petey realised he was growing colder and walked up to the front door, nodding at the man on duty. 'Evening Andy, all right with you?'

'Evenin' Master Pettigrew. All right. Go on in gov, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you today, he seemed a bit down earlier I'd wager for some reason,' Andy said giving Petey a smile.

'Well I hope I can cheer him up than Andy,' Petey said with another nod, not a smile, he learned quick you never smiled in public. It was a sign of weakness, and as a top associate of Lucius Malfoy he couldn't afford that weakness. You could sneer, smirk and give a twist of the lips, but never smile. You never said 'thank you' either, to do so was showing you weren't the one in charge. People in Petey's position should just 'expect', never have to 'thank' for anything.

Walking into the club now he removed his jacket and stopped at the girl at the coat room without a word. He was in no mood to tonight to deal with the blonde, even if she was giving him an appraising eye as always. He was 20 years old now, his birthday just being last month, and stood at a modest 5'5. He was sporting a new pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez specs, slicked back wavy brown hair, expressive chocolate brown eyes, and though not 'beefy', he certainly had his muscles in the right places. He quickly handed the girl the jacket before she could chat him up though, and headed into the main salon of the club.

He briefly scanned the room, looking for the person he'd come to find but didn't see him right off. For a moment he admired the fact that in the few months since Lucius had bought the place it had undergone quite an interesting change. Every time he came there something new was added from the rebuilt 'stage' to new booths and assorted lounging chairs. Sometimes he stopped in to visit and catch the 'shows', but tonight the small stage that had been erected to one side now only had a Victrola on it. Petey could hear a soft tune emanating from it, and though there were no words being played, he remembered them because of how it reminded him of his friend.

"Shine on, shine on harvest moon up in the sky

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July

Snow time ain't no time to sit outdoors and spoon

Shine on, shine on harvest moon for me 'n' my gal

 

C'mon, shine on harvest moon way up there in the sky.

Don'tcha know I ain't had no lovin'since January, February, June, or July?

Now, looka here - don't you know better than to set out there in the snow 'n' spoon?

C'mon, I don't want no half moon, I want a full moon.

 

Oh, won't you shine on, shine on harvest moon up in the sky?

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July

Don't you know you're gonna freeze to death

Settin' out there in the snow tryin' to spoon?

So shine on, shine on harvest moon for me 'n' my gal"

A burst of applause from one of the booths drew Petey's attention, and looking over he smiled a touch as he saw what had caused the outburst. A group of five girls, for they were hardly just past 16 if that, were crowded round a particular man, one who had been apparently quietly singing the words along with the Victrola tune. Now that Petey thought on it, he remembered hearing a slight baritone voice, but he hadn't connected it to the person in question.

Walking over to the table he chuckled and said in a louder voice than he usually did, 'And here I remember you being a soprano back at school!'

The man turned to Petey surprised for a moment, then recognising him grinned broadly. 'For your information mate....I was never a soprano. More an alto back then if I remember correctly,' the man said airily and got out of the booth, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.

Petey laughed and nodded in agreement. 'I do believe you're right there Remus. I think it was James who was the soprano eh?' he laughed, mentally kicking himself as he saw a shadow pass across his friends eyes at that name. Walking over he gave his friend a quick hug which was returned, then he sat down in the booth sliding over so his friend could sit down next to him. 'Oh, Happy Christmas Remus, girls. All's well?' he said now, giving his friend the once over. Despite the festive mood of his friend, Petey could almost sense something wasn't quite right with Remus.

'Hope so, all right there yourself Petey?' one of the girls said with a dreamy smile whilst leaning over the table to give him a peck on the cheek.

'Better now that I'm with you lot Anna m'girl!' Petey said smiling back at her coyly. He didn't like women as for bedding purpose, but he certainly didn't mind flirting occasionally with them. This was the one place Petey could actually smile though and not have to worry of the consequences, for the girls by now had gotten to know him well even if he never partook of their services.

'Was hoping you'd show tonight Petey, wasn't sure you'd have err...business or not,' Remus said quietly and took a swig of his Muggle alcohol. From the looks of it Petey guessed it was gin, but the 'good stuff', not the swill that some of the nightclubs offered.

The laws had revoked any and all liquor in the American Muggle world, and in an act to show Britain as a force to be reckoned with, Parliament too had followed suit. Wales, North Ireland and Scotland also fell under that bill of rights, though Petey was grateful at the moment the wizarding world had not followed in their footsteps. He wasn't sure he wanted to nor could give up butterbeer anytime soon.

That's why 'exclusive' places like the Belladonna Club were sought after so widely. Not just for the woman but for the booze plain and simple. Piccadilly had grown to be the 'hot spot' of Londonfor these speakeasy clubs, and Lucius had jumped on it with gusto. Smuggling in wine from France, gin from wherever he could get it, and vodka from Russia had been relatively easy actually. Of course what none of the Muggles knew was that Lucius was simply going through wizarding routes to get all his liquor, so of course it was all too easy.

Since wizards by and large drank nothing but butterbeer as their choice of drink, Lucius found a way to import the liquor from wizards for nearly nothing. Exporting it of course was another matter, and he made a fortune smuggling it across the seas to America and the other countries for it's illegal usage. At current wizard/Muggle exchange rates Lucius had trebled his fortune in no time.

Another area that Lucius easily made a killing in was the opium and morphine trades. Wizards had no need of the Muggle drugs, having enough potions of their own to get 'high' off if they so chose, though few wizards rarely needed to. Opium and morphine were cheap, easy to produce in large quantity, and the Muggles absorbed it like sweets. In a place called 'Hollywood' in America is was all the rage, and had started taking off even here in London as a 'habit of choice'.

Petey was shocked now when his friend drew out a small bottle he recognised instantly and inhaled deeply from it for a moment, then passed it along to the girls. They each took a long sniff themselves, then the last girl, Petey remembered her name as Beatrice, handed it back to Remus with a dazed look on her face. In fact all the girls had now a dazed and contented glaze to their eyes, and looking at Remus, Petey was startled to see the same in his.

'Remy? W-what's that? What are you doing?' he said in concern now.

'Ah Pete...Petey, Petey, Petey....' Remus said now with a slight drawl in his voice, his eyes unfocused even more for a moment as the drug sank fully in, 'don't you be worrying your pretty little head 'bout it mate. It's only a pinch, won't hurt nothing...not me anyway,' he said wrapping his arm round Petey's shoulder and gave him a knowing wolf-like smile that sent one of the girls into a fit of giggles.

'Cor blimey luv, don't ya be smiling like that at eh? Keep that up and nancy-boy or not I'll just have to drag ya upstairs and have a bit of rumpy pumpy with ya!' the girl cackled, a few of the other girls laughing along with her.

'Put a sock in it Miranda and stop being such a slapper will you?' another girl, Sarafina, said in a huff. She was the oldest of the group at 22 if Petey remembered right, and was like a mother figure for them now and again when they got into 'troubles'. 'Now don't you be minding them Remus duck, as if you don't know it already.' Turning to Petey with a soft smile she said, 'They just have had a bit too much of the swill I'd wager. Had a piss up they did, obviously Remus was the winner as usual,' she said now with a slight grin.

'Ah Miranda m'dear, I just know how to hold my liquor that's all doll,' Remus said winking at her and giving Petey another knowing grin.

The man who ran the club for Lucius of course was a wizard, however everyone else in the club including these women were all Muggles, and hadn't a clue that Remus was a werewolf, nor that half their 'clients' were wizards even. It was a strict rule that any wizards going into Lucius's Muggle clubs never revealed that fact or they'd be in front of Lucius by morning. Anyone knowing anything bout werewolves though like Petey did, knew that they could drink anyone, Muggle or wizard alike, under the table. Something to do with the incredible healing rate of the werewolf metabolism Remus once explained years ago when Sirius had challenged him to a piss up back at Hogwarts. Remus of course had been the winner even back then, and Sirius learned a rather painful lesson after that never to challenge him again.

Petey however wasn't worried on the alcohol in the least, it was the opium that had him concerned. Werewolves were spot on with alcohol, but he didn't know if it worked with drugs as well. With a watery smile he nodded his head towards the staircase and said, 'Think we can go upstairs and have a quick chat Remus? Hate to drag you off from these err..lovely ladies, but I need to talk with you mate....on some business.'

'Business!' the last of the girls, Sharra, said in with a high pitched squeal. 'It's Christmas duck, why would you wantin' to talk shop now eh? Don't drag off our only decent male in the joint now will you?' she said with a pout.

'Ah Shara m'dear, 'fraid business waits for no man...or woman of course. Even on Christmas,' Petey said with a sigh, nodding briefly at his friend.

Remus understood and got out of the booth, steadying himself on the table edge. The opium was obviously not covered in the werewolf metabolism, and Petey could see Remus was more staggering towards the stairwell than walking. With a quick nod to the girls he quickly went over to help his friend, scowling at what was going on.

'Now don't you keep him too long Petey Pettigrew! We want him back in jolly good time you hear? There's still plenty of Christmas cheer to still have, and a few more rounds you know!' Beatrice called out as they headed up the stairwell.

Petey declined to answer that however, and Remus apparently was too busy concentrating on getting up the stairs to answer back for himself. Thankfully they managed to climb up the stairs in one piece and get to Remus's room which was unfortunately the last one on the floor and furthest from the stairs. Manoeuvring Remus into the room gently, Petey managed to get his 6'1 well built friend onto his bed to lie down, and closed the door behind him making sure to lock it.

He pulled his wand out and cast a silencing charm on the room as well as an extra locking spell, then walked back over to the bed to look down at his friend. Remus was definitely a bit off-colour now, and Petey realised that one sniff of opium wouldn't have done this to him so quickly. Looking at Remus with a tinge of sadness he said in a tight voice, 'How many?'

Remus groaned a bit and looked up, trying desperately to find a way to not acknowledge that he knew what Petey meant. 'How many what Pete?' he said in a thick voice now.

'Don't be cheeky Remus, you know bloody well what I mean! How manysniffs have you had tonight?' Petey said angrily now, and before Remus could do anything, he lifted his wand and said, 'Accio bottle!' Within a second the small murky brown bottle was firmly grasped in his hand, and he could see the panic in Remus's eyes now.

'Give it back Pete...damn you to hell...give it back!' Remus growled and tried to fling himself off the bed at Petey, however thankfully he barely got his head off the pillow. Groaning at the effort he now pleaded, 'Please...please Petey...just give it back won't you mate? It's not hurting anything...honestly...'

Petey sighed and sat down with a thud in a chair near the bed, looking hard at his friend. He was torn between regret, anger and guilt, never a good position to be in. Shaking his head he said in a soft voice, 'Oh Merlin Moony, what have I done to you?'

Remus turned his head and look at him for a moment with a still unfocused, dilated and dazed expression. 'What do you mean Pete? You haven't done anything....just give it back to me...won't you?' Remus begged in a choked voice, perilously close to tears.

'Dammit Remy...this is what I'm talking 'bout mate!' he said holding out the bottle and giving it a shake. 'You...opium....selling yourself to any man that pays for you...it's my fault...all my fault!' he said in a voice that showed he too was close to tears. 'What have I done to you? What have I done!' he sobbed, allowing finally the tears to fall.

'Petey...oh Pete...it's not your fault. You saved me, had me a job when no one else would ...you helped me Pete...you and Lucius...wonderful Lucius...' Remus said softly, a strange dreamy smile crossing his lips now.

'No Remus, I've condemned you! I've dragged you into a life you never should have been in. You're not the sweet, kind, intelligent bloke I knew at Hogwarts anymore, you've been tainted, degraded...and I'm the reason. You won't even touch your wand, that beautiful wolf hair white birch wand. You held onto it so tightly at school because you alone of all the werewolves were allowed to have one thanks to Albus convincing the Ministry to bend the law for you. I know it's now hiding in dust at the bottom of the wardrobe, forgotten even. You refuse to even set a foot back into the wizarding world as well. And now look at you...you're a fucking drug addict! How bloody long have you been taking this shite Remus?' he said harshly, gripping the bottle tightly and shaking it in front of Remus's face again.

Remus closed his eyes and made a move to grab for the bottle, but Petey pulled it back before he could even come close. Sighing he turned his head away from the accusing glance he was now receiving and said in a weak voice, 'A fortnight, give or take.'

'A fortnight? A fucking fortnight?' Petey screamed out in agony now. The last time he'd seen Remus was around then too, so now he blamed himself even more for not stopping in sooner. He knew full well that after only a few days opium had a way of creeping into one's body, soul and mind, twisting reality and making anything appear like a dream. Using the white powder after that meant it was virtually impossible to get one off the stuff. He'd see some of the other girls at Lucius's other clubs round town addicted, and the ending results were never good. 'Tell me it's not true Remy...tell me it's not been that long...' he said now in a panicked voice.

Remus sniffed back a few tears and silently nodded, turning his head back to his friend. 'I have to use it Petey...it's the only thing that takes it all away. Takes away the pain every day...takes away the torture of what I'm doing. It takes away missing Jamie and Lily and Harry...and Sirius and...it keeps the wolf at bay...even during the full moon. Don't you get it Pete? I need it...it's the only thing that my blood can't process out quickly. The morphine was good at first, but it wasn't enough...' he said shakily.

'Morphine? You were taking that shite as well?' Petey said in shock now. 'Remus...Remus...no...this can't be happening! Why? Tell me why for Merlin's sake Moony! If it was too much...being here...doing this....you could have come to me...I'd have found you something else...I'd have talked to Lucius...anything!' he said in a small voice, choking back another sob.

'Pete....Wormtail...please...don't. I know what I've done....what I'm doing to myself, I'm not daft. But I need it so badly...you've been so good to me. It doesn't matter anymore Petey, I am used to this life now. I need the money, and the safety that I have during the moon that Lucius has provided for me. I need it all...I need the men touching me, making me feel at least alive for that time...I need it Petey...' Remus said in a dull tone.

'Oh Remus...this isn't fair,' Petey said with a sigh. 'You're like a brother to me, it's tearing me up what's happening to you.'

Remus turned his head back round to face his friend, tears still glittering fresh in his eyes. 'I love you Petey, you know that? I really do...you're my brother in arms...my marauder...my friend. I wish it could be the way it was...I wish we never left Hogwarts...I miss them all so much Pete! So much!' Remus cried.

'Oh Remy...' Petey said, and taking his specs off and setting them down on the side dresser, got up and slid into the bed next to Remus, holding him tightly against him. this was something that even during Hogwarts days they had done when one or the other needed comfort for whatever reason. His heart was in pain but he knew that it was worse for Remus in all ways. Gently he said, 'It's all right mate, it'll be all right. I miss them too, you're not alone here. If it really helps you take it, just promise me Remy...promise me...if it gets worse you'll come to me?'

Remus sniffed again and nodded, grateful when Petey leaned over and put the small bottle down next to his specs on the side dresser. 'Promise Pete...I swear to Merlin...to Godric even, I will. Thank you...thank you...' he sighed deeply, and snuggled himself into Petey's warm arms.

Petey stroked Remus's hair lightly, trying to comfort his friend as best as possible till his mind brought back other issues of the day. 'I saw Siri today by the by...' he said quietly.

Remus turned in surprise at hearing those words, questions burning in his eyes now. 'You did? Where? Is he well?'

Petey shook his head and gave a frown. 'Three Broomsticks, and no, I'd say he's far from 'well' Remy. He's...to put it blatantly...a fucking mess. I can't believe in two months he's done what he's done to himself,' he said with a heavy sigh.

'Is...is it that bad?' Remus asked quietly.

Petey nodded sadly. 'He's a shell Remus, nothing but a walking shell of himself. I'm...I'm worried 'bout him. He's destroying himself Remy, and I feel so helpless. I want to help him but he won't listen to me....'

Remus nodded in understanding and put his hand on Petey's chest. 'You still love him don't you,' he said.

Petey sighed and nodded his head slowly. Remus had been the only one back at Hogwarts who had figured out the truth, and exactly how much Petey had liked...hell, adored, worshipped and loved...Sirius Black. 'Yeah, as if I could ever stop loving him? Pipe dreams mate, that's all it is though. He'll never love me back.'

Remus's drug addled brain began to do cartwheels now, and he turned to look his friend deep in the eyes. 'Do you even know what it's like to be snogged Petey...let alone shagged? Do you even know what it is you'd be getting yourself into if it wasn't a dream?' he asked.

Petey looked back at his friend in astonishment. Of all the conversations he could imagine at the moment, this wasn't one of them. "W-what are talking 'bout Moony?'

'Just answer the bloody question Petey. Yes or no mate. Have you?' Remus argued.

Petey knew there was no getting round this, Remus in his state was probably stronger than normal, barring the normal strength even of a werewolf. If he wanted an answer he could easily get it from Petey whether he wanted to give it or not. Slowly shaking his head he said in a quiet voice, 'No Remus, never. Nothing more than a peck on the cheek.'

Remus swore under his breath and then oddly enough began to laugh. It was a strange, deep, wolf like laugh, and suddenly Petey felt a bit apprehensive. 'Well then my dear marauder friend, it's high time someone enlightened you. After all, a man like Sirius will never think much of you unless you have a few notches on your bedpost....so how 'bout it Petey? You want to help cheer me up mate...I can think of a bloody good way to do just that....' he said smiling seductively, and before Petey could even react Remus was now on top of him, pinning him to the bed roughly.

'Remy....Remy? Wait....Remus what the hell are you...?' Petey tried to say, but before he could get another word out Remus's lips were on his silencing him, and for the first time in Petey's life he didn't know what to do. This was his friend, his best friend since he was 11, but right at that moment the drug induced almost brutal kiss that Remus was giving him ignited a fire within Petey. And he found he wanted more....much more....

Nearly two hours later, sweaty, tired and wrapped in arms, legs and sheets, Petey was lying against Remus's chest in a strange yet blissful contentment. 'Remus?' he said quietly now, trying to regain some semblance of order.

'Yeah Petey?' Remus said back in a sated but tired voice.

'Thanks...' he said.

'For what?' Remus asked.

'For showing me what I've been missing out on I suppose,' Petey said with a satisfied sigh. Then sadly added, 'No offense mate but...I still wish it had been Siri instead of you.'

'None taken mate, and who knows...perhaps one day it will be eh? Never stop dreaming Petey. Even if you think there's no hope left 'cause you never know,' Remus said thoughtfully. 'What was it you really came here for tonight anyway?'

Petey blinked and for a moment had to think hard on that reason, then suddenly it all came back in a flash. The Three Broomsticks, seeing Sirius, the chat with him, then Macnair's orders. 'Well...to be honest...it's going down like this...'

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A few A/N's:

A 'slapper' is a tart or rather a 'loose woman'

A 'piss up' is a drinking contest.

The song is real. It's called Shine On Harvest Moon and was written and preformed by a vaudeville couple who were sweethearts. Jack Norworth wrote the words, and Nora Bayes wrote the music. The song was introduced in their act during a show called 'The Follies of 1908'. I thought how appropriate the song was however for Remus and it fit right in the timeline.

Opium and Morphine were widely used drugs of the time. It was a trade that was lucrative to say the least, and made many 'dealers' very rich. Morphine today is watered down from back then when it was raw, and had a higher concentration. Opium however was used for other reasons, including the common practise of 'white slavery'.

Young and fresh country girls would come from all over at the tender ages even of 15 to London for jobs, and 'procurers' would be waiting with the promise of a good paying jobs. Before the girls knew it they were drugged with the opium in their tea or food, and either sent to the 'madames' of the bordellos or shipped abroad to be sold. The girls would by the time they got to understand what was 'expected' of them, be so drugged and addicted to the opium that they wouldn't fight back or argue. This was a very common trade, going back decades even and wasn't put an end to until nearly WW2.

The UK far as I know never did affect the US's ideas of prohibition. I just needed to use it for plot sake in this case. Bootlegging was also profitable, and even in England during the late 1800's when it was wartime they would smuggle wine and other liqueurs from France. Cutter Revenue boats were commonplace along the Dover shorelines and most of the eastern board to catch the 'rumrunners' as they were called. Usually if the Cutters found smugglers they would fire at will, and sink the cargo. If you lived you went to the gaol simple as that.