Disclaimer: I'm not JKR

Life For Rent

Chapter 12

Hermione and Severus were sitting in Hermione's office at work wrapping up a quick lunch. Hermione had a lot of book orders to finish and Severus had brought something for her since she wasn't able to get away. Hermione had thought it was very sweet of him but she refrained in telling him so. If she pointed out that his halo was showing he would probably cast it aside and replace it with his horns faster than she could bat an eye. The fact that he brought her lunch when she was stuck in her office spoke volumes about his feelings toward her. Hermione realized that even if Severus didn't. He was just not the type to do the little things for people.

"Thanks for lunch, Severus. I would've had something brought over from the Leaky Cauldron but this was much better." Hermione said appreciatively as she cleared up the remains of tomato bisque. "Today has been so crazy, I am surprised that we have made it the last half hour without someone bar—"

Hermione was cut off by a loud rap on the door. Before she could answer the knock the door burst open and Rita Skeeter of all people barreled into the office practically shouting.

"I demand to know why you only ordered twenty-five copies of my latest book!"

Hermione just rolled her eyes but Rita stared at Severus dumbfounded when she saw him. He was sitting way back in his chair his legs crossed, sipping on tea, and obviously very at home in Hermione's office. Severus looked from Hermione to Rita with mild amusement etched on his features. Hermione had mentioned how much she hated the reporter and Severus reminded himself to tell her the 'Rita' story she had mentioned she was saving for a special occasion.

"Well, well, I seem to be interrupting something don't I?" Rita said sarcastically as she moved around Severus and pulled up another chair.

"You think?" Hermione said impatiently. She had no inclination to be polite to the insufferable woman and she was certainly not going to ask Severus to leave on her account so she answered Rita's question right away. "I ordered twenty-five copies because there was no reason to order more. The market for your conspiracy theories and gossip has gone down over the years since the war. And if I am correct," Hermione paused to shuffle through some paperwork, and then finally lifting a sheaf of parchment up for Rita to see, she tapped it. "There are no special orders for you and in the week that those twenty-five books have been on the shelf not one reader has bothered to pick it up."

Rita scowled but Hermione continued trying to laugh at the humorous glint in Severus' black eyes. He was clearly enjoying this.

"Your books are tired, no one is interested in the lies you print, particularly since your biography of Dumbledore, I suggest you stick with your gossip rag Witch Weekly and leave the bookstores to sell the actual literature." Hermione said with just a hint of nastiness in her tone.

Rita's face purpled in anger for Hermione and embarrassment for being humiliated in front of Severus that way. "Why you insufferable know-it-all. I bet you think you are really important sitting there with your—" But Rita stopped talking as Hermione took a paperweight off of her desk and transfigured it into a small glass jar.

"Infragilis." Hermione said tapping the jar. Rita's eyes widened and then narrowed. Severus continued to look at Hermione curiously.

"Severus, would you mind waiting outside for just a moment? You probably shoudn't be in here when I discuss work matters."

That piqued Rita's interest. "When you discuss work matters? So, you are here on personal business?"She finished disbelievingly.

Severus just stood gracefully and picked up the basket he had carried her lunch in. "I really need to go anyway, I have potions brewing." He said smirking at Rita. He loved it when that woman was uncomfortable. Leaning close to Hermione's ear he whispered, "You better explain the unbreakable jar to me the moment you get off work."

Hermione just smiled at him and winked. Severus kissed the corner of Hermione's mouth before shrinking the basket and putting it in his pocket. "I will see you at dinner," and then turning toward Rita whose mouth was gaping, "have a good day."

Hermione and Rita both watched Severus exit the room. Rita rounded on Hermione as soon as the door had shut behind him. "You have got to be joking."

Hermione just shrugged. "Was there anything else you wanted from me?" She said tapping the jar lightly with her fingertips.

Rita just scowled and straightened her shoulders. "You won't be able to use that against me this time missy. This story is just too good."

Hermione eyed Rita wearily. Deciding to call her bluff Hermione put the jar in her desk drawer. "Write whatever you want then. We'll see if it's worth it after you print it. I will order more of your books if and only if the ones we have are sold. I think we are done here."

Rita left in a huff. Hermione shook her head in exasperation. That woman was going to drag her through the mud far worse than she had to date. Their mutual grudge was unlikely to disappear under any circumstances but now that Rita knew Hermione was with the man she wanted, this time whatever dribble she found to write about was going to be exceedingly caustic.

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Severus had barely made it out the front door of Flourish and Blotts when Rita caught up with him. Cursing himself for browsing the books on his way out he turned toward her and gave her his old half sneer half smile in greeting.

"I can't, you- her-, I" Rita sputtered with indignation. "You can't possibly be serious?"

"I assure you, I am quite serious. Now if you'll excuse me." He started to walk away from her a smile on his face.

"You won't get away with slighting me Severus Snape." Rita yelled like an idiot at his retreating back.

Unfortunately, Severus thought as he walked away. His darker side was still gleeful that she had seen him with another woman even though it was only briefly. He knew that they would be reading about this in one rag or another within the next few days.

Severus was positively cheerful by the time he got home though. Hermione had shown him all the colors she liked for the walls in his home so he was going to start on the painting that afternoon. Thanks to magic he would have the whole place done before she came over that night. With any luck he would be able to get at least the library expanded as well. Magically increasing the space of a house took a considerable effort but it would be worth it in the end. Severus thought back to the morning almost a week ago when Hermione had woken in his arms. It was the first time he had ever woken up next to a woman before and it had surprised him at how much he liked it. They hadn't even had sex and yet it felt more intimate than anything he had ever experienced. Severus had the idea that if Hermione liked the house and saw what he was doing to fix it up she would want to move in sooner. That was the sort of grand gesture he could do for her. Offering her a house she likes and a future trumped flowers and paltry intentions any day.

The only thing Severus wasn't sure about yet was a ring. He kept asking himself whether he should get her one or not. Whether he should make a formal proposal or not, and when he should do it. They were already betrothed so to speak, but it was on a technicality of a contract. They were down to just a touch over ten months before they were supposed to be married and he wasn't sure how they should go about it. The only thing he knew was that he was beginning to love her. He wasn't willing to say that he was deeply in love with her but he definitely loved her and was on the brink of feeling more. The thought terrified him and excited him at the same time.

Severus had just finished putting the final touches on the library when he heard Hermione downstairs. When he got to the bottom of the stairs he saw Hermione running her hands along the walls of the living room.

"Wow, Severus, the place looks great. It's amazing what just a little color can do to a room." Hermione eyed the walls appreciatively, or at least the bookshelves considering the room was full of them, but instead the sea of eggshell white the room was done in lovely earth tones that were subdued yet pretty at the same time. Hermione was very careful when she picked the colors because she didn't want to pick out anything that was overly Gryffindor or Slytherin in nature but she also wanted avoid anything girlish.

"I really like the colors you pick out. I never really considered how the place would look with new colors having hated it for so long. I don't hate it so much now though." He said walking over to her and taking her in his arms.

Hermione looked up into his dark eyes. He always felt so tall to her and she loved it. Reaching up to touch his face she smiled at him. "Good, you really shouldn't hate your home."

Severus looked back into her brown eyes. Her eyes were so warm and mature. He knew that she had seen many horrible things throughout her youth and they made her eyes look old in a way that contrasted with the youthful vivacity of her face. Hermione stood on her toes so that she could reach up and kiss him. The kiss was soft and slow at first but then Severus lifted Hermione off the floor and held her up as he parted her lips with his tongue. Hermione could feel him hardening against her hip as the kiss deepened. After a moment Severus reluctantly placed Hermione back on her feet but she grasped onto him to keep herself upright. The kiss had left her breathless and her knees weak. She could feel her own desire coursing through her and warming the insides of her thighs.

Once Hermione was stable on her feet Severus released and backed away a few steps. He had let his emotions take control of him just then and it was taking every ounce of his self-discipline to not take her right there on the living room floor. Hermione was flushed and she straightened out her skirt and shirt before she spoke.

"Well then. I am happy to see you too." She said trying to make light of the situation. Hermione could feel the sexual tension hanging in between them like a thick fog that she knew would not go away until they finally gave in to their more carnal desires.

Severus smiled sheepishly which made Hermione laugh a little. The look was acutely out of place on his normally stoic face.

"What?" He said feigning innocence.

"Nothing, let's just eat, I'm starved and I want to see the rest of the house." She said leading him to the kitchen.

Severus helped Hermione cook dinner, using magic this time to get it done faster. Once they were settled with a plate of steaming lasagna placed in front of them, Severus adopted a serious look on his face. Hermione paused with a fork halfway to her mouth and looked at him disconcerted.

"Are you alright?"

Severus was fine he was just about to ask her what she thought about engagement rings but at the last second changed his mind. "I want to know why you put an unbreakable charm on a jar in your office today. And I especially want to know why it made Rita Skeeter turn white."

"Oh." Hermione laughed. "I thought we were going to save this conversation for a special occasion." Hermione teased.

"I am to have brunch with your parents tomorrow. Consider this my last request." Severus replied, a twinkle in his eye that Hermione was pleased to see was appearing more and more. He was not nearly as sarcastic as he used to be but he was still just as funny to her.

Hermione appeared to be thinking his request over. "I don't know Sev, this is one of my proudest moments and of my favorite secrets. You have to understand how much I am giving up by letting you in on it. The fact that Draco hasn't already told you speaks volumes because he knows part of this story too."

Severus' eyebrows lifted. "Draco knows?"

"He only knows one part and that's this. Rita is an unregistered animagus. She takes the form of a beetle and that's how she gets information in unlikely places. The fact that she distorts that information so much is probably what keeps people from being suspicious about her methods."

Severus snorted. "I'm surprised Draco never told me that since he knew, but it's hardly newsworthy."

Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Of course it's not a big deal by itself. It's what I did to her when I found out. I don't know if you paid any attention but in fourth year she printed all kinds of nasty stories about how I was basically a tramp going and breaking hearts left and right. She even overheard Viktor Krum and I on several occasions and would write about it. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how because Dumbledore had banned her from the school grounds."

"I remember those stories; they were a large part of why she was banned." Severus interjected.

"Anyway," Hermione continued, "I noticed Malfoy talking into his hand one day and then the next there was more slander against me in the Prophet, and also more reports on what a horrible teacher Hagrid was. Harry and Ron said they saw a beetle on an ice statue when they were hiding from you at the Yule Ball because you were talking to Karkaroff. They overheard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime that he was a half-giant, next thing you know that's in print too."

"I knew they were spying on me." Severus said fixated on Harry and Ron.

Hermione rolled her eyes yet again. "Oh let it go. Finally, after the second task Krum was asking me if I would visit him in Bulgaria and he noticed that I had a beetle in my hair. It only took a little bit after that to figure out what was going on. So, I kept looking for her in her beetle form. I finally saw her on the window ledge of the hospital wing after the maze. We were visiting with Harry when I saw her. I caught her and I stuck her in an unbreakable jar with holes on the top. I knew it was her because she was green like her quill and the markings around the eyes matched her glasses. I kept her that way for the whole summer. I threatened to out her to the Ministry if she ever wrote one negative word about me, Ron, or Harry again. That's why when we did the interview for the Quibbler it was printed exactly word for word with none of her nonsense embellishments. Every now and then I have to remind her who has the upper hand."

"You kept her in an unbreakable jar for a whole summer?" Severus said reverence in his voice.

"I may be sweet Gryffindor Hermione, but you don't want to piss me off." She said pointedly.

Severus was pretty sure he had just officially fallen in love with her. "That was very Slytherin of you." He said.

"You have no idea." Hermione said mischievously. "And coming from you, I will take that as a compliment. Can I see the upstairs now?"

Shaking his head in awe of his fiancé's mean streak he led her up the stairs. He couldn't believe that she had done that to someone. Hermione was usually so benevolent and forgiving; she had trusted him after all. Hermione must have sensed where Severus' thoughts were going because she stopped him.

"I don't know if I would do something like that again. I was only fifteen at the time. There are two people in this world I would gladly set fire to though and she is one, Umbridge is the other." Hermione said.

Severus considered her words for a moment. "I don't know, you put a nasty hex on Marietta Edgecombe."

Hermione blushed deeply, "Okay maybe I am a little on the evil side sometimes."

"I like it." Severus said honestly.

Hermione spent a few moments commenting on how much she liked the colors of the walls. She was really pleased that Severus was flirting with her over her more Slytherin tactics. If she was trying to ingratiate herself on him even further that probably would have done the trick. But more importantly, she was trying to shift through that fog of sexual tension that was between him and the more he laughed and smiled at the thicker it got. It was if the fog was trying to block him from her sight so that she would be forced to touch him so she could see him clearly again.

"Hermione, I have a surprise for you." Severus said leading her to the library door and disrupting her thoughts. Severus opened the door and nudged her through ahead of him. The simple touch of his hand on the small of her back sent electricity throughout her body.

"Severus," Hermione breathed. "I don't know what to say."

Hermione looked around the room in awe it was twice as large as it used to be with two walls of completely empty bookshelves.

Severus took her hand and looked deep in her eyes. "It's for your personal collection when you feel like you are ready to bring it here."

His voice was quiet but his eyes were boring into hers with an intensity she had never felt before. He was expressing his commitment to her through this gesture and Hermione realized how lucky she was to be matched with him. She could have been stuck with some jerk that didn't care about her at all and here Severus had done the one thing that could have won her heart if it wasn't already starting to become his anyway. Her heart still wasn't her own to give but she didn't realize when it had stopped being David's and had become Severus'. She floundered for something to say but his eyes were sucking her in and taking away any sense of rationality she might have had.

Instead she let him sweep her up into another kiss that ripped the air from her lungs. This time Severus pushed her up against the bare wall of the hallway. He pulled his mouth away when he needed air and after taking a breath starting trailing kisses on her jaw. He nipped her earlobe with his teeth and then sucked on the spot ever so gently in a way that left Hermione's insides quaking. Severus laced the fingers of one hand in her hair and the other started roaming across her ribs down her stomach and finally he found purchase on her breast.

Hermione gasped with pleasure as Severus brushed his thumb over the hardened peak of her breast. He continued to give attention to her breast as he brought his mouth up from her neck to her lips once again. She moaned as his tongue explored her mouth with more fervor than he had ever shown. She arched her back in pleasure and pressed her hips into his. Severus backed up a step so their hips weren't touching anymore and then slowly broke the kiss.

Hermione fell against the wall, the fog of tension settling between them thicker than before so he was completely obscured from her. The only thing visible to her was the desire that was darkening his eyes.

"We should stop." He said throatily.

"No, we shouldn't." She said her voice hoarse with yearning. Hermione took a step forward reaching for him.

Severus needed no further encouragement. He whisked Hermione up into his arms and led her to the bedroom.

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A/N: okay, now they are getting somewhere. I don't know how long this fic is going to be so if you think they are moving too fast, sorry.

Thanks a bunch to whoopsydaisy for the beta thing.

Many thanks to all my readers and reviewers your support is great. I am going to try to get at least two more chapters written this week but I am moving Saturday so that is going to slow things down. I am moving far…. So I will be out of service for maybe a week?