Disclaimer: There are only so many ways I can say I am not JKR.
Life For Rent
Chapter 10
Previously on Life for Rent:
Hermione gasped as she walked into the living room. Sitting on her coffee table just next to the paint samples was a large and lovely arrangement of all of her favorite flowers. There were daisies, lilies, and tulips of varying colors nestled into a crystal vase with vines etched into the glass. Hermione looked at Severus with glowing eyes. "You shouldn't have!"
Severus scowled as he took in the arrangement. "I didn't."
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"What?"
Severus was scowling at the flower arrangement situated on Hermione's coffee table. No, he didn't buy her the flowers, he hadn't even thought of buying her flowers and he wasn't sure which made him angrier, that fact that somebody else did or the fact that he hadn't considered it. I'm going to make a mockery out of this relationship the whole way through aren't? He reproved himself. Maybe they're from her mother for a special occasion I don't know about.
Hermione was looking at Severus curiously to see if he was being serious. He was looking at the flower arrangement with an obscene amount of distaste and then it dawned on Hermione who the flowers might be from. Very few people in the world knew what Hermione's favorite flowers were. Hermione approached the bouquet with a loudly thumping heart and rocks tumbling around in her stomach. If they were from David she didn't know what she was going to do. She didn't want to upset Severus but she would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about David's intentions. With a shaking hand Hermione snatched the card off of the little plastic holder sticking out of the middle of the flowers.
Severus took two long quiet strides behind her so that he was close enough to read the card over her shoulder. He realized that he was being impertinent but his curiosity was getting the better of him. He was beginning to feel the tide of fury boiling low in his belly and he wanted to know what he was up against. Hermione was a good match for him and didn't want to lose her. He might not have professed his love or even kissed her yet but even he was clairvoyant enough to see they had a future.
Dear Hermione,
I hope you are doing well. I realize that big and pretty flower arrangements are a cliché way of apologizing to someone but without actually seeing you in person it's at least a start. I made a terrible mistake letting you go that night. If you would be willing to see me again I think we would have a chance at working things out.
I realize that you are with someone now who is prepared to give you all the things I should have offered but you really don't know him, do you? We have almost three years of history together and I am an idiot for letting it go to waste.
Please call me.
Yours always,
David.
Hermione had read the letter twice through before she realized that Severus was standing over her shoulder. Quickly folding the card and stuffing it in her pocket, she turned on him glowering.
"I apologize. That was absolutely none of my business." He said trying to keep the anger out of his voice. Severus was not upset with Hermione by any means but with this parsimonious weasel who thought he could write on note and send flowers to win his Hermione back. He was also frightened that it would work.
Hermione's expression softened after a moment. Severus' nebulous eyes were deadpanned and unreadable. Hermione could tell by his clenched hands and jaw that he was fighting fiercely to reign in his temper. She was angry that he had read the card over her shoulder but she had to see it from his perspective.
"No, it's alright. If I hid something like this from you it would be very dishonest of me." She said blandly sitting down on the couch.
Severus couldn't take it anymore. "What are you going to do?" He snapped with just a little more venom than he intended.
Hermione narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't know. Ignore them? Cut them up and send them back? What do you think I should do?"
She said the last bit sarcastically but Severus couldn't help but think of a few creative things for her to do so that David would get the hint that she wasn't interested. Then again, he really didn't know if she wasn't interested.
"Do what you think is right."
Hermione was expecting a lot of responses but none of them came close to the one he just offered.
"I mean, he is right, you do have a past."
"Severus, I may have a past with him but it was a short three years. What is that compared to the next eighty or hundred years that is our future? And, we have a contract together." Hermione said. She was calm on the outside but her insides were twisting and turning in spiral of agonizing indecision. A part of her really wanted to see David again just so she could reject him but another part of her knew that she might not. She had a contract with Severus and she would honor it. Cripes Hermione, it's more than a contract and you know it, when did you become so callous?
Severus laced his fingers through Hermione's and stared at there entwined hands for a moment. Soon his gazed moved to the flowers and his expression darkened again. Seeing it Hermione whipped out her wand and vanished the flowers.
"Gone. Done." She said.
"I hope so." Severus replied honestly. The mood for the night was spoiled for him. He promised himself that he wasn't going to leave her side that night until he'd gotten a kiss but now he didn't want to kiss her when she was thinking about David. But maybe it would take her mind off of David.
"Look Severus, I'm not going to lie to you. If David continues to pursue me I am going to have to see him to tell him that it is over. You need to know that." Hermione had made her decision to stay with Severus pretty easily because she knew in soul that was the right thing to do but she wasn't expecting the decision to break her heart all over again. She thought she was finished saying good bye but apparently she wasn't. Hermione really hated herself for having those feelings, too. David had really hurt her and it made her angry that she he could still get to her.
"I hate not being able to control how I feel." She spat out unexpectedly. Cringing at her comment she shook her head as if doing so would somehow lay all her jumbled thoughts into some sort of rational and discernable order.
Severus didn't say anything for awhile. In a rare moment of what he considered weakness he allowed his feelings and emotions to wash over him completely so that he might make heads or tails of the situation. If he gave Hermione her freedom it would hurt him but it would be the right thing to do. That didn't mean he was going to stand idly by.
"I won't prevent you from seeing David. I realize that what we have is more of a contract than anything else, but I won't allow our contract to be broken so effortlessly." Severus said staring into her eyes trying to convey it was because he was willing to fight for and not just because of the contract. He fought down the urge to use Legilimency on her and bit the inside of his cheek while he waited for a response.
Hermione let out a long slow breath. Severus appeared willing to fight for her and David was too little too late. With all the emotional strength she could muster Hermione immured her feelings for David into an alcove in the recesses of her heart. She was sure that those feelings would escape from time to time until the memories weren't so fresh, but for now she just wanted to explore what could be with the strong, intelligent, and most importantly, magical man in front of her.
Hermione reached out a tentative hand and stroked the crest of his jaw just below his ear where she could see the muscles clenched tightest. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his. Her lips were warm and soft just as he'd expected and the desire to probe further nearly overwhelmed him but he kept it simple. Just one short soft kiss and she pulled back.
Hermione eyes had fluttered halfway closed the moment her lips touched his. His lips were a little dry but they were soft as well. Hermione watched for Severus' reaction through half-closed eyes. Severus' lips were tingling for more and before he realized what he was doing before she realized what he was doing he leaned forward and captured her mouth with his.
This time Severus leaned into the kiss and moved his lips over hers. He brushed her top lip with the tip of his tongue and Hermione responded by opening her mouth to him and gently tasting him. He tasted like tea and something unfamiliar that Hermione was sure was his uniqueness, his flavor that she would only be able to describe as Severus. Severus reached with both hands, one to wrap in her hair and the other he used to caress her face as he deepened the kiss briefly before pulling away so they could breathe.
"Yeah, so uh… no competition." Hermione said stupidly. She was floored by the kiss, it was intense and passionate and it felt more adult than any kiss she had ever had. That was the only way she could explain it, everyone she had kissed up to that point seemed so immature in comparison to the kiss she just received from Severus.
Severus twisted a lock of Hermione's hair around his fingers. Her eyes were blazing and she had a shocked look on her face as if she was surprised at the kiss. Severus could sympathize he hadn't expected it to be that good either and he could feel the effects of it lingering in his nether regions.
"I really like your hair." He said surprising them both. "When you were a kid it was the way I remembered you, the bushy haired know-it-all. I would never tease you about your hair now though, it suits you."
"I'm pretty sure you still think of me as the bushy haired know-it-all," Hermione said tugging at her hair and pulling a piece of it in front of her eyes. "You can't honestly say you like it like this better than how I had it the day I first met with you. David would always call my hair…"
Hermione trailed off at the dark look in Severus' eyes at the mention of his name. That was the second time she had referred to him on top of the flowers being sent. That was a little too much for one night.
"Damn it. I'm sorry." Hermione said sadly as Severus removed his hand from her hair.
"Don't be. Whatever he said about your hair was probably wrong. I like it." Severus said standing up and stretching.
Hermione sighed dispiritedly. "You don't go round mentioning Lily every two seconds. I would probably get annoyed if you did that, and you are annoyed, I can tell."
"Well, I wasn't annoyed, but I was on my way. Now that you mention Lily I would say I have reached that point."
"Why is that?" Hermione asked in shock.
Severus debated for a moment before answering her. This conversation would probably end badly but in the light of recent events with David it was best if he laid his past bare and get it over with.
"A few weeks ago when you said you kind of understood how I felt about Lily you had something in your tone that said you really didn't. I would like an explanation." Severus said perching himself on the edge of the couch at an angle so he was looking at her, and sitting, but still managed to tower over her.
Hermione was slightly intimidated but if they were going to fight about this eventually there was no point in waiting. "Fine, I'll tell you what I meant. I understand that you have never been in love with another woman because sometimes that happens. But you were just a child. You never gave anyone else a chance. And no offense to Lily or anything but don't you think it was ridiculous that she never forgave you for calling her a Mudblood? You were fifteen and angry! I have forgiven Draco for calling me that name and we were never even friends. She ran off and married James, your enemy and never spoke to you again. I think she was being obstinate and I think your obsession with her memory is just a little unhealthy."
Hermione crossed her arms and stared at him in defiance as if daring him to disagree. She believed that she was right and nothing would change her mind. Inside she was a mass of trembling jelly but on the outside she maintained her calm and cool exterior. He was not her potions master anymore and she was free to share her opinions as she saw fit.
Severus stood up once more and turned away from Hermione. The girl had done it again. She made him feel ridiculous for harboring those feelings for Lily all those years. And then she had the nerve to stare him down as challenging him to argue. Well, he wouldn't argue with her. He couldn't argue with her.
"I don't mention Lily because I don't think about her as much as I used to. I don't like hearing about David because I know he can swoop in take you back at any moment. I actually enjoy your company Hermione, and it is turning into more. I am not always the confident man that you see. When it comes to matters of the heart I fear I am as weak they come." Severus admitted still not looking at her.
Hermione had felt a small explosion in her lower belly at the mention that something more he mentioned. She also felt profoundly relieved that he wasn't going to start arguing with her. Hermione believed that she had suffered enough drama to last several lifetimes just in the last four years alone. She was prepared to fight with him but really didn't want to. His confession astonished her though and she really had no idea what to say.
"We are all fools in love." Hermione quoted absentmindedly.
Severus turned to look at her for a moment a perplexed expression on his face. And then he let out a sharp burst of laughter at the expression on her face.
"What?"
"Nothing. I have no idea why I am laughing." He said pulling her off the couch into a hug. "I just don't understand why I never feel compelled to argue with you. I really want to; I just can't bring myself to."
This time Hermione laughed, "Oh you will. I haven't had a chance to show you those paint colors yet."
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The next day Ginny and Hermione were sitting outside of Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor waiting for Harry to join them for lunch. Ginny had insisted they have dessert first.
"My mum was telling me that when she was pregnant with Fred and George she craved sweets and salty snacks all the time too. She said that was the one pregnancy she couldn't gain weight on because those boys would eat her from the inside out if she didn't constantly have something going down the hatch. Now that I know its twins I wonder if they will be just like Fred and George." She said taking a huge bite of her triple chocolate cherry meltdown.
Hermione just sipped on her raspberry soda and giggled.
Ginny watched Hermione carefully for a minute and then she threw her spoon back in the bowl. "Hermione Granger! You got some last night!"
"I did no such thing! What makes you say that?" Hermione said.
"Oh, I don't know the dreamy expression, the smile that hasn't left your face, maybe that's why?" Ginny said picking up her spoon again.
Hermione took a long drink of her soda preparing for the interrogation. "When Severus and I got to my house last night we found a huge arrangement of flowers in my living room."
Ginny's eyes widened and she beckoned for her to continue.
"They were all my favorites and it was a really gorgeous bouquet." Hermione said purposely dragging out the details. "And they were from David."
"What? Are you telling me that you're happy because you threw Severus over and went back to David?" Ginny practically shrieked. That was exactly the reaction Hermione was hoping for. And Harry had chosen that exact moment to arrive.
"You didn't Hermione! I told David yesterday that—"
"You talked to David yesterday?" Hermione demanded angrily, "And you didn't tell me? You knew he was going to try to win me back?"
Harry shuffled from foot to foot. "Well, he sort of asked me if you liked Severus and if he still had a chance."
"And you said yes?" She temper rising. Hermione could feel the heat rising in her face centimeter by centimeter.
"Not exactly!" exclaimed Harry holding his hands up innocently. "I just told him not to be surprised if you turn him down, that's all! But I see that you didn't so…"
"Harry James Potter! I can't believe you would hide that from me. I was confused enough as it is and now this. You should have just told him to leave me alone."
"Wait Hermione, so you didn't get back together with him?" Ginny asked.
"No, Ginny. I ignored the card and I vanished the flowers. Severus and I had a long heart to heart last night and we got a lot of things out in the open. I was thinking about him just now, not David. Severus and I finally kissed last night." Hermione said still seething at Harry for talking to David about her.
"Ooh! I want all the juicy details." Ginny said scooting closer to Hermione.
"Hermione, I don't need to hear about that. And I can't believe you're mad at me for not telling you about David. I didn't know what he was going to do. I was trying to keep from complicating things." Harry insisted trying to get Hermione to look at him.
"Fine Harry I believe that you were trying to protect me in your own injudicious way but it would have been nice to have some warning you know? Like "Hey Hermione, David wants you back so if you start seeing signs of it be prepared' would have been nice. Do you how hard it was to read a letter from David with Severus looming over my shoulder reading my every reaction? He was actually jealous!" Hermione was fighting to keep her voice down.
Ginny was thrilled at this new development. "He was jealous? Did you guys get in a fight? Is that why you kissed, to make up? You really didn't do anything more than kiss? What did the note from David say? What did Severus say? What did you say?"
Hermione laughed at Ginny's barrage of questions. "I don't want to get into details but I will tell you this, Severus said that he was willing to fight for me and that made my heart melt. That's why we kissed."
"So you aren't going back with David?" Harry asked tentatively.
"No and since you're obviously chums with him still why don't you run along and tell him for me." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Geez Hermione. I said I was sorry. But seriously, what are you going to tell David?" He asked.
Hermione sighed in frustration. "I don't know Harry. I think I'm going to just ignore it and hope it goes away. I have no idea if that's the right thing to do. Severus hates it when I slip and mention David and if I see him again it will just make it worse."
"I don't know if that's the right thing to do, Hermione." Ginny offered, "but I understand. What else did you talk about?"
"Nothing really." Hermione wasn't going to reveal his confession about being weak when it comes to matters of the heart, not that she really agreed with him on that point, and she wasn't about to mention what she said about Lily to Harry. Somehow Hermione didn't think that he would like it and it was a conversation for another time and place.
"I want details on the kiss." Ginny said plaintively, and turning to Harry she said, "and you can just sit there and deal with it."
Hermione giggled at Ginny's no-nonsense tone. "Well, at first it was just a quick kiss, nothing more than a peck really but then we really kissed and, I don't know Ginny, it was just different. It was like the difference between kissing a boy and a man is the only way I can describe it. I mean there was so much emotion there."
Hermione's eyes clouded over again at the memory.
"Wow, maybe I need to find a brooding and mysterious older man to try that out on." Ginny said seriously.
"Hey! I'm right here!" Harry said ruefully.
"Yeah, so?" Ginny said seriously again, and then the two girls both broke out in laughter at Harry who sat there scowling at them both.
"Oh, you know I love you." Ginny said leaning across the table to give Harry a quick kiss.
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A/N: Thanks to my beta whoopsydaisy she was a big help in this chapter. Your reviews are great and I appreciate the advice you all have for me as well.
