Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its affiliates. In fact JKR probably pays in taxes in one year more money than I will see in my lifetime.

Life For Rent

Chapter 13

Severus led Hermione to the bedroom and pushed her down on the bed. Hovering over her body he covered her mouth with his. He'd told her they should wait but when she replied that they shouldn't, Severus allowed his baser instincts to take control. His hands wandered over her breasts, across her ribcage, settling on her taut belly. He deepened the kiss for a moment before pulling away slightly to unbutton her shirt.

Hermione reached up to unbutton his shirt as well. She was burning with an urgent desire to feel him inside of her and divested him of shirt quickly. Sitting up slightly she helped Severus remove her shirt and then reaching around she unsnapped her bra and threw it on the floor. Severus' lips turned in appreciation at the sight of Hermione's round and perky breasts before him. Wasting no time he pushed Hermione back down and trailed kisses from her earlobe to the small flat plane of her breastbone. He brushed his thumb over one erect nipple and flicked the other with his tongue. Hermione arched her back as he pulled as much of her breast as he could into his mouth and sucked deeply. Moaning with pleasure Hermione grabbed his hair and pulled.

Severus' was reveling in the beauty of her body and he wanted to explore it more but at the moment he needed more. He was rock hard and her mewling as he attended to her breasts weakened his control even more. Severus pulled his wand out of his pocket and used it to remove the rest of their clothing. Hermione's body was flushed with desire and her eyes widened at seeing Severus naked for the first time. He was long and lean, with hard angles and clean lines. His body was like a work of art and Hermione gasped at the sight of his erection, dark and throbbing. She could feel the heat emanating from it as he hovered over again to kiss her deeply.

Reaching between them Severus slid his hand up her thigh. Hermione parted her legs instinctively as Severus cupped her warm, moist heat. He flicked his thumb over her swollen clitoris and Hermione bucked against his hand. Sliding one long finger Hermione inside her Hermione cried out with pleasure.

"Now, Severus. More, now!"

He didn't need to be told twice; in one swift movement he entered her to the hilt. They both moaned with pleasure as he filled her. Hermione's head swam as he buried himself balls deep into her. He was thicker than she was used to and he filled her completely. She bucked her hips against his needing him to move. Severus moaned again when she ground against and started moving. She was so tight and he could feel her muscles quivering around him already. Hooking one of her legs over his shoulder he thrust into her with a fervor that could only come from years of abstinence. It took only moments for the quivering in her muscles to turn into quakes as he she began to orgasm around her, crying out. God, he loved a vocal lover. Unable to hold out any longer Severus plunged into her faster and moaned loudly as he felt his own release build up and finally explode out of him.

Severus sagged down next to Hermione and lay facing up next to her, their chests rising and falling in unison as they struggled to catch their breath. The whole episode had lasted only minutes but they were both drained from their release. As Severus' body came down from its high the realization of what they had just done finally hit him and he inwardly cursed himself. He was not under any delusions that their first time would be perfect but he didn't want it to be so fast and feverish. She wasn't some trollop of the street that was there to treat him to a good fuck without any concern for foreplay. As hard as it was to admit to himself he was hoping that it would have been slower with Hermione, not this desperate meeting of carnal wills. Severus turned his head to look at Hermione and was surprised to see her looking at him. Her eyes were shiny but the pupils were still dilated with her desire and her irises were darkened to the color of dark chocolate.

"Forgive me if I hurt you. I should not have behaved so hastily." Severus said brushing his hand down her cheek.

Hermione rolled her eyes so forcefully that Severus could swear he heard her ocular nerves snapping. "You did not hurt me and we were both acting hastily. I was just as eager as you were. Stop apologizing." Hermione was annoyed with his constant worry about how far they were going. Up until that point he was practically treating her like a virgin.

"Well, then…" Severus sighed slightly taken aback that she was clearly not uncomfortable with the situation. "I just wasn't planning on having our first time be so rushed."

Hermione pulled herself up to a sitting position so that she could look down on Severus. "Listen Severus, I set the pace just as much as you did here, so stop worrying about it. Second, I am not naïve nor inexperienced with sex, so while I have to admit I was not expecting to hear choirs singing or see fireworks I did enjoy that immensely. The first time with someone is always a little awkward and I admit that was slightly fast but with time I am sure we will find a perfect rhythm that suits us. I'm not going anywhere so we will have plenty of opportunities to take our time and enjoy each other's bodies. You're acting as if this was the only time we are going to do this."

Severus had the grace to blush at her last comment. Normally when he had sex with someone it was only once so this exploring of bodies was something he was unfamiliar with and he was hoping to do it with Hermione the first time. She was right; he did go into it with the unconscious idea that it would be their only time. Hermione reached down and pushed his hair off of his forehead looking deep into his eyes. She wished she knew Legilimency right then but she knew he would just block her if she tried to access his mind anyway. Instead she kissed him long and slow, tracing the insides of his mouth with her tongue tasting him.

"It was wonderful. I would say for a first time, it was a smashing success." Hermione laid back down next to him settling her head on his shoulder. She'd only slept with two people before Severus and she could honestly say that the first time with both of them was just as heated and fast but it was raging hormones that made it that way. She remembered bumping teeth and noses and being unsure of how much noise to make or where to put her hands but it wasn't like that with Severus at all. They were obviously sexually compatible and she had felt perfectly at ease doing what instinct told her. Despite how rushed he thought it was, his hands were gentle and his kisses were passionate. Hermione knew that he was going to be a wonderful lover and it pained her a little to think that he might not have a lot of self-esteem in that area. When she fell in love with David there was a shift in their lovemaking that made it better and Severus had just made her feel the way David did at the peak of their relationship. And she wasn't even in love with Severus. Not yet, anyway.

Severus relaxed. He thought that it was a smashing success as well but he wasn't quite as comfortable talking openly about sex as Hermione was. He was willing to discuss the more boring aspects of their marriage contract with her but when it came to matters of the heart and sex he was finding it difficult to even find the right words let alone say them. He was such an intensely private man it was a struggle for him to open up to her. He harbored a secret fear that she would expect declarations of love or some other such sentiment once they had consummated their relationship. Severus metaphorically kicked himself as his own naiveté and his lack in Hermione's ability to separate sex from love. She'd already made it clear that she wasn't expecting choirs and fireworks. But she had still enjoyed it and so had he and although he wasn't ready to make any of the sentimental declarations that he thought she might want to hear, he could show her with his actions how much he had enjoyed her.

"What do you say we start exploring right now?" Severus said catching her earlobe between his teeth.

Hermione moaned and pressed her body into his, "Oh yes. Now would be perfect."

*************************************************************************************

"So all you really need to know is that my parents are dentists. They aren't really conservative but they might balk a little at our age difference. We are really close but after Australia they kind of feel like they don't know me at all sometimes so they might not be that surprised that I chose you over David. I know they like David but they will like you to." Hermione was coaching Severus on what to expect when he met her parents as they walked the long street leading up to their house.

"What happened in Australia?" Severus asked. She had mentioned Australia several times but he never got the impression that anything bad had happened. He knew that her parents were in Australia during the war but he did not know the circumstances behind how they got there. Hermione sent him subtle signals that she didn't like to talk about it so he had never pressed the issue. He had his own reasons for not pushing the issue. If her parents were in England, the Death Eaters surely would have gotten to them. He didn't want to tell her that though.

Severus felt Hermione stiffen beside him slightly. "Nothing." She said quickly. "It's just that they are Muggles you know and sometimes they don't really understand everything that goes on in our world."

She was still being kind of evasive and Severus was beginning to get really curious about what secrets she had to keep. After all, keeping secrets was more Slytherin than Gryffindor, and so far Hermione had been an open book.

"Oh and by the way as far as my parents are concerned there is no marriage law and you are with me because you want to be. So, don't be surprised if my parents question your intentions."

Severus chuckled a little and reached for her hand. She was obviously nervous about the meeting with her parents. While he wasn't looking forward to it, he was not particularly worried about it. "Duly noted, but I am confident all be well. I have faced far worse adversaries than your parents, I assure you."

"I just want them to like you. Since they don't know about the law it will make them more likely to, but they did like David and we broke up so suddenly I think they were a bit shell shocked." Hermione said.

Severus frowned at the mention of David again but did not bring it up. "Why aren't you telling your parents about the law? Don't you think it would be best to be honest with them?"

This time Hermione did stiffen beside him. Hermione had done a lot of dishonest things for her parents' own protection but in this case who was she protecting, them or her? To be truthful, Hermione knew it was more for herself. Her parents would not understand the law and would be deeply disappointed if she followed it and that would burn some of the delicate bridges they had managed to build over the years and she didn't want that. Hermione did not like to lie but she had lied to her parents about so many things over the years that it was a wonder she could keep up with it all. If they really knew how dangerous her years at Hogwarts had been they never would have allowed her to be there.

"Severus, they wouldn't understand. I have been dishonest with my parents about a lot of things since I got to Hogwarts so if they say something about my years as a student that don't jibe well with your memories just play along. If they knew how dangerous it was for me they never would have let me go back." She replied squeezing his hand. "We're here."

Severus looked down the winding driveway to the large white house at the end of it. Apparently the Grangers had done well for themselves. His own home did not even compare and for a brief moment Severus was slightly ashamed that what he had offered Hermione was not as nice as what she was used to. But that was something he would think about later. He was more curious as to why Hermione had a strained relationship with her parents.

Severus stayed a step behind Hermione as she entered the house calling for her parents.

"Mum? Dad! We're here." She said as she walked through a comfortable looking sitting room. Hermione's parents both stepped through a door that Severus presumed led to the kitchen.

"Hermione! It's so good to see you, it's been ages." Hermione's mother wrapped Hermione in a quick but strong hug before pushing her away to look at Severus appraisingly.

Severus felt awkward under her gaze but he made no move to greet her. He just stood letting her appraise him and after a moment the corners of her mouth turned up and she gave Severus a smirk. He raised one eyebrow at her which drew out a full on laugh from her.

Hermione turned toward the pair of them curiously. "Severus this is my mother Jean Granger, and my father Mark Granger."

Severus extended his hand to both of them turn, "Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger, a pleasure to meet you."

It was very weird addressing her parents as Mr. and Mrs. when he was clearly not more than ten years younger than the pair of them. Mark Granger smiled weakly as he shook Severus' hand. Hermione was looking at her father with a look of apprehension on her face. Based on Severus' quick evaluation of the situation her mother was going to be more receptive but it was her father that he was going to have to win over to make Hermione happy.

"Please call us Mark and Jean." Hermione's mother said congenially over her shoulder walked into the kitchen. She re-emerged a moment later with a tray of drinks in her hands. "Sit down everyone and have a mimosa. We have a lot to talk about so let's relax."

Hermione and Severus sat next to each other on the loveseat while her parents both settled onto the couch. Hermione's mother was being unusually nice. Hermione was frowning at her mother as she sat there smiling at them all. Her father caught her eye and motioned to the mimosa raised to her mother's lips. He held up three fingers than made a motion as if drinking to tell Hermione that her mother had already drunk three of the fruity yet alcoholic beverages. The strange laugh and the smirk she was giving Severus all clicked into place. Hermione's mother was drinking and she only drank when she wanted to avoid uncomfortable situations so maybe she wasn't going to be receptive as she thought.

Hermione leaned over and whispered in Severus' ear what she thought.

"Don't worry." Was all he said.

"So Severus," Mark said. "You are a potions brewer is that right?"

"Yes, I am." Severus replied glancing at Hermione out of the corner of his eye.

Mark smiled and put down his drink. "Hermione tells us you used to be a teacher at Hogwarts. One of her favorite teachers, I might add."

Now it was going to get uncomfortable because her father was subtly bringing up the age difference.

"Hermione was a dedicated student." Severus said simply. She was most definitely not one of his favorites when she was a child but he was not about to say that.

Mark looked at Severus critically for a moment but then cracked a genuine smile. "She can be a bit precocious in a classroom. I have heard that many times over during her educational career."

Hermione groaned inwardly and flushed with embarrassment. Severus leaned back casually in his seat and returned the smile. "Yes, she was inquisitive almost to a fault but her intelligence, talent, and eagerness to learn more than was necessary set her apart from her peers."

Hermione smiled at Severus for the compliment but she was annoyed with the way talking about her. "You don't have to talk about me as if I'm not here, you know." She said.

Severus reached for hand and smiled at her. "Sorry."

For the next half hour or so Hermione's parents grilled Severus on his career, why he quit teaching, and he came to be dating Hermione.

"I went to put in a book order at Flourish and Blotts and Hermione happened to be the person who helped me. We have been seeing each other ever since." Severus lied smoothly.

"I have to ask then, since this relationship is coming on the boot heals of Hermione's three year relationship with David, are you two serious?" Hermione's mother asked. "You do know my daughter just got out of a very serious three year relationship don't you?"

Severus squeezed Hermione's hand and looked down at her. Hermione gave him a look that clearly said 'she wants you to answer that' so Severus took a deep breath and looked each of her parents in the eye before speaking.

"We are very serious. I am happier than I have been in a long time." Severus said. Hermione's heart soared because although she knew he was initially in it for the marriage law, what he said was still true.

Hermione's mother was not satisfied. "Hermione said she broke up with David because he wasn't prepared to commit to marriage and family and that he wasn't willing to raise children in the Wizarding world even if he did want them. Have you both discussed these issues? I would hate to see Hermione jump from one unfulfilling relationship to another. David, I believe has learned from his mistakes and is willing to compromise now. Where do you stand on this Severus?"

"Mother!" Hermione interrupted angrily. "Leave David out of this. It is over between us and you'll just have to get used to it."

"You'll have to forgive us Severus. David became very close to us over the last few years. He is a muggle so we could relate with him very well on what it was like to be so close to a witch. He was very supportive of Hermione when we were still recovering from having our memories modified in Australia and we are just so surprised that things didn't work out." Mark said trying to diffuse the situation. Hermione's mother did step slightly out of line and he could see Hermione getting worked up. Severus didn't look to pleased the line of questioning either.

Severus turned toward Hermione frowning. "Memory modification?"

Mark looked taken aback at Severus' irritation. Apparently this was a little history that Severus knew nothing about that.

"Yes, memory modification." She said with an expression that clearly said 'later Severus.'

Severus looked at Hermione like he had never seen her before. He reached out and wiped a stray tear be her ear. "That was very brave of you. But you were right. Death Eaters would have come after your parents." He said knowingly looking deep into her eyes. After a moment Hermione gasped at the implications of what he just said. Severus could have been one of the Death Eaters that might have been sent to kill her parents if they didn't leave.

Turning toward her parents Severus changed his tone from awe to sternness. "I am perfectly aware of what Hermione wanted from David that he wasn't willing to commit to at the time. I am most definitely prepared to offer marriage and a family. My father was a Muggle so I have a solid understanding of both worlds and you need not fear that Hermione will disappear into the magical world altogether. As for what she did in her seventh year not only took an outstanding amount of courage but she performed magic that was far beyond her years. She is a remarkable witch and I consider myself privileged to enjoy her company."

Jean and Mark looked at each other and then at Severus. Hermione was holding her breath and squeezing Severus' hand so hard it had to have hurt but he made no motion to pull away. Finally, Jean looked at Severus with narrowed eyes, eyes that were brown and shaped just like Hermione's. "Do you love my daughter? I have to know. I want to know everything that is going on in my daughter's life because I feel her slipping away and that means knowing if you love her."

Hermione's sucked in her breath and looked at Severus. His eyes betrayed no emotion but his jaw was clenched slightly. He realized in the last few moments that there was a lot about Hermione he really didn't know and they were going to have to talk about what kinds of secrets they were keeping from each other. What her mother wanted him to say out loud though, was something else entirely. Of course she could not know that he had never said it to Hermione before, but this isn't the way he wanted her to hear it.

Sighing deeply he looked Jean in the eye and said, "Yes, I love her." And then he turned to a wide eyed Hermione and said more tenderly, his eyes softer, "I love you."

Hermione found herself wishing that he really meant it, and that it wasn't just for show.

*************************************************************************************

A/N: Okay major props to my beta who got this back to me super fast and with great comments!!!!

I got twenty reviews on my last chapter holy cow!!!! That is awesome so thank you all for your wonderful support. The big move is coming up this weekend so sorry for the delays that are about to happen.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!