Disclaimer: Same old story, different day.

Life For Rent

Chapter 15

Hermione felt slightly awkward as she entered Severus' house, now her house as well, after work. It was really strange going in without him being there, and it was even more bizarre to see her things neatly mixed in with his. Despite how absurd it felt, she felt oddly comfortable. Living with Severus was something she could quickly get used to. Their relationship was progressing smoothly, David had not bothered her again, Rita had not written any nasty articles, and they had professed their love for each other. They had eight months left before it was necessary they marry and Hermione wanted to bring up the subject of the wedding. At first she didn't think they would have an actual ceremony because she wasn't sure how he would feel about it but now that she was actually happy with him, she wanted to have a real wedding. Severus didn't seem like the type of person who would so she would just have to convince him. Hermione also wanted Ginny to be her made of honor, or matron of honor, which meant that they would have to wait at least three months for the babies to be born. It would give Severus plenty of time to come around to the idea.

Hermione went into the kitchen to start dinner. Severus had owled her at work to tell her that he was going out and that he would be home in time in for dinner. She reread the note several times like a lovesick school girl. It was not the first note she had received from him but it was the first one that hinted at their cohabitation and it was also the first time he had warned her that he would not be at home. Severus didn't strike Hermione as the type of person to concern himself with such things. He didn't say where he was going, probably somewhere for work, she just hoped that he was in a receptive mood when he got home. It was strange; she knew they were getting married, so why should the prospect of talking about a wedding with him make her so nervous? Glancing at the clock she saw that if she hurried she would have just enough time to make him his favorite meal before he got back.

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Severus strolled slowly along one of the streets in his neighborhood looking casually in the shop windows. The neighborhood had been renovated as part of some Muggle beautification project for the area but he had to admit that some of the places were actually quite quaint. There was a really good used and rare bookstore and a particularly nice antique shop which is where he was heading at that particular moment. Severus had gone over Minerva's offer in his mind all afternoon. He had no doubt that the idea of training to become a potions professor would appeal to Hermione but he was genuinely worried that being released from the Marriage Law would appeal to her more. He would be telling her that the teaching positions would unbind them. Briefly he had considered not telling her and letting her find out on her own, hopefully after it was too late. He realized how childish that was but he couldn't bear the though of losing her. Losing Lily had hurt, and if it was possible he loved Hermione even more, which meant that losing her would be akin to agony.

So, he was going to tell her about the offer, and about how it would release them from the obligations of the Marriage Law. That did not mean he wasn't going to do whatever it took to keep her if she had any inclination to leave. He knew that she cared for him but when it came to matters of the heart Severus' confidence was built upon a shaky foundation. Severus finally arrived at the shop he was looking for and went inside. It was dark and smelled of moth balls but he still loved it. The place was full of furniture, statues, and knick knacks, but it was the jewelry counter that drew his attention.

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Severus arrived home and walked into the kitchen to see Hermione sorting through the evening mail. Dinner was already laid on the table and it smelled wonderful. When she saw him she greeted with a large and warm smile and Severus truly felt his heart melt. It's obvious that she wants to be with you, grow some balls and have a little faith in your relationship, Severus chastised himself. She was so beautiful, and he was really lucky.

"How was your day?" Hermione stood up to give him a quick kiss. Instead of answering her Severus deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue until her knees went week and she was slightly dizzy. Hermione had to grab onto Severus' arms to keep from losing her balance.

"It was good, but better now." He said in a low voice. "Dinner smells great and I am starving."

Hermione was flushed from the kiss. She was also significantly turned on but incredibly pleased that he was in a good mood. Bringing up a wedding just got a lot easier. Trying to ignore the warm ache that was growing between her legs Hermione went back to the mail. Severus smirked at her as she handed him a couple of letters. He recognized that look. She wanted him but was trying to ignore it and go about her business.

Severus didn't say anything else but sat down and read through his mail. They were mostly potion orders with the exception of one from Narcissa inviting them both to dinner. He was wondering when that invitation was going to come.

"The Malfoys have invited us for dinner next Friday evening." Severus said casually but eyeing her carefully for her reaction. He understood that Lucius Malfoy was not one of her favorite people and he wasn't going to force her to attend but he wasn't exactly open to the possibility of giving up what few friends he had either.

Hermione just smirked and folded up the letter she was reading. "The Potters have invited us over for dinner this Saturday."

Severus groaned. So far he'd managed to get out of most visits with Potter but he knew this one was going to be nonnegotiable if Severus was to convince Hermione to go to the Malfoy's.

"So, I suppose we will do both then."

Hermione just smiled at him. "Yes, I suppose if you can at least attempt to befriend Harry, I can tolerate Lucius Malfoy for an evening. Don't expect me to keep my mouth shut if he insults me though."

"Don't worry." Severus took a long sip of his wine. He was tired of the small talk and wanted to get down to business before he lost his nerve. "Hermione, today I went to visit with Minerva McGonagall and she had a very interesting proposition for me."

Hermione put her fork down on her plate to give him her full attention, her curiosity piqued.

"She plans to retire in a year and offered me the position of Headmaster if I want it. They also asked me to assist them in selecting a new potions master."

Hermione jumped up from the table practically squealing with delight. She wrapped Severus in a warm embrace. "Congratulations! You said yourself that you wanted to go back to Hogwarts as headmaster to try again. Here's your chance!"

Severus hugged Hermione back for a moment before pushing her gently back into her chair. "That's not the entire offer. I am in a position to select the potions master and I was going to ask you if you would be interested." He held up a hand to stop her from speaking, "I would be required to train you as my apprentice between now and through your first year teaching in order to properly qualify you."

Hermione was practically bouncing up and down in her seat just like when she was in school and dying to answer a particularly difficult question. The prospect of leaving her boring desk job to make and teach potions was what she had always wanted as well. Teaching at Hogwarts was her dream and she couldn't believe that it was an actual possibility. And the real icing on the cake was that she would be taught by the most brilliant potions master in the country, and he was hers.

"That sounds wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.

"There is one other thing you need to know before we discuss this further. By taking a teaching position at Hogwarts we are no longer bound by the Marriage Law. The Ministry does not require full time teachers to participate although they are more than welcome to, of course." Severus carefully watched Hermione's eyes for her reaction but her expression was blank.

Hermione was shocked. Did that mean he didn't want to marry her anymore? She fought to keep her voice calm and her tone matter-of-fact. "What are you trying to say? Are you saying that we shouldn't pursue our relationship anymore if you or both of us take the position at Hogwarts?"

"No, that's not what I am saying. I am telling you so that you have the option of backing out of the relationship now if you wish."

"Is that what you want?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Severus moved his chair around the table so that he was closer to her and reached for her hand. "I do want to void the contract."

Hermione gasped. She felt her heart breaking into a million little pieces and each shard fell like a knife into her stomach. Breaking up with David had not felt like this at all. A tear fell unbidden down her cheek and as she reached it up to wipe it away another fell. She looked away from Severus, embarrassed that he would see her so weak and outraged that he would say he wanted to end things so easily.

"Don't cry, Hermione. I do want to void the contract because," Severus got out of his chair and bent down on one knee. He pulled gently on Hermione's chin to get her to look at him. "I want you to marry me because you want to, not because you have to. I love you, Hermione Granger. Will you marry me?"

Hermione continued to cry but this time they were tears of relief and happiness. She wanted to hit him for leading her on like that even if it was only for a moment. Severus was down on one knee holding out a ring. It was a ruby ring with little diamonds surrounding the square cut stone. It was set in a band made of dark silver with tiny runes embossed around it. It was beautiful and completely nontraditional, just like their relationship.

"Stop trying to read the runes and answer me, Hermione. Will you marry me?" He asked again.

Hermione looked at him guiltily and then leapt from her chair and into his arms. "Yes Severus. Of course I will marry you. I was going to anyway you know." She joked lightly before kissing him deeply.

Severus broke the kiss and placed the ring on her left hand. "I was going to give you this ring whether we got married for the contract or not but I am glad to give it to you freely. I have one more thing I want to do."

Severus reached into another pocket and pulled out two sheets of parchment that Hermione recognized as their marriage contract. Tapping them with his wand he set them to fire. "There. Now it is official."

Hermione was at a loss for words. This was a side of Severus that she didn't think she would ever get to see. It felt wonderful having a real proposal, which was something she thought she was going to have to give up. Talking to Severus about a wedding just got much easier but first she wanted to show him she loved him in an entirely different way. Picking up the bottle of wine and their glasses Hermione started walking out of the room raising her eyebrows at him suggestively.

Severus immediately leapt after Hermione and practically dragged her up the stairs. He had wanted her before but this time was different. This time he was aching to taste her in ways he had yet to taste to her. Once they were in the bedroom Severus pulled her shirt off of her and pushed her down on the bed in one swift movement. He pulled his own shirt and pants off quickly before bending over her and capturing her mouth with his. Even through her skirt and his underwear Hermione could feel the heat of his cock as he pressed against her. After a couple of minutes Severus had to pull away so they could breathe. When he did he immediately divested Hermione of her the rest of her clothes and stared at her body hungrily for a moment.

"Aren't we in a hurry?" Hermione teased in a husky voice.

"I want you, Hermione." Severus growled in a low voice as he took off his boxers and bent over her again. Hermione felt liquid heat pool in between her legs at the sound of his desire.

"Then have me." She said looking into his fathomless eyes. Severus kissed her again quickly and then moved his mouth further south and started suckling her nipples. He left little love bites around her areolas that left Hermione gasping for air. Severus had never been so rough before and her body was responding to his touches as if she had never been touched before. Severus roughly pulled away from chest and moved to kiss her again.

"I love your body, Hermione." He said silkily as he kissed his way back down her body again. This time he didn't stop until reached the apex of her legs and he quickly buried his nose in her pubic curls breathing in her sent. Hermione's hips bucked at the contact even though he hadn't done anything yet. In fact he had never touched her that way before and Hermione felt her body start quivering in anticipation of what was to come. After a moment of grazing his nose against her curls he lapped out with his tongue to taste her slick folds. She tasted like ambrosia and Severus couldn't believe he had waited this long to fully savor her. Hermione's hips ground into his face as he continued his ministrations.

"Severusss," She moaned sibilantly. "I want more."

Eager to comply Severus lapped up her juices one last time before pulling away and repositioning himself over her. His cock was as hard as steel and throbbing. Hermione reached down and wrapped a warm hand around his member eliciting a loud moan from Severus. He couldn't recall ever having been that hard before. He grasped Hermione's hand and gently pulled it away placing it over head.

"Easy Hermione, or this 'more' you are asking for will be woefully short-lived."

Hermione ground her hips against him, her eyes darkened wantonly. "Then fuck me now Severus!" She ground out.

Severus felt himself harden even more at her words. He quickly grasped her other hand and pulled it over her head as well. Hermione spread her legs wider and scooted her body as low as she could to press herself against Severus' erection. He grasped both of her wrists with one and used the other to hook her leg over his shoulder and then he drove himself in as deep as he could. He moaned loudly as the velvety feel of her enveloped him tightly. After a moment of savoring the sensation he started to slowly move in and out of her. He was already close to coming and he wanted to make the moment last as long as possible.

"Harder, Severus!" Hermione demanded trying to free her hands but he held fast.

"It won't last Hermione, if I give you what you want."

"I don't care!" She yelped meeting each of his strokes with force of her own.

Severus released her wrists for support, hooking her other leg over his other shoulder he drove into her, pounding her into the mattress. Severus couldn't tell whose shouts of pleasure were whose as he continued to thrust inside of her. Just as soon as he knew he was going to explode he felt her walls constricting around him, massaging his cock and adding to his already intensifying bliss. He said her name over and over again as his own frenzy overtook him and he climaxed inside of her. Severus flopped on top of her without pulling out breathing heavily.

Hermione was gulping in great breaths of air trying to regain her composure. Her vaginal muscles were still contracting around Severus' cock even as it softened inside of her sending little waves of continued ecstasy through her body. When he made to move off of her she grasped him to hold him still. She wasn't ready for him to pull out yet.

After a few minutes when both of their breaths had returned to normal Severus finally rolled off of her. She felt an overwhelming sense of loss as his limp penis exited her body. When he was in her she had felt more complete than she ever had before. Without him inside her she missed him already, even though he was lying right next to her.

"So that is love then." Hermione mused out loud.

Severus rolled on to his side and began tracing circles on her stomach around her belly button.

"What is?" He asked, although he had an idea.

She turned her head to look him in the eyes, not sure how he was going to take her sappy comment. "Wanting you. Not just wanting to live with you or marry you, or work with you, but wanting you inside of me, all the time."

Severus laid there quietly contemplating her words. He had never tried to define what he felt for Hermione beyond simply saying he loved her. If he really thought about it he would say that love entailed all those things she had just mentioned, but for him it also meant wanting to teach her, wanting children, wanting to be a little less sarcastic and mean, and a little more nurturing. For him it meant not being able to remember the last time he had thought about Lily. Severus would do anything for Hermione and he only hoped he didn't disappoint her.

"Yes, Hermione. It is all of those things and much more."

Hermione leaned over and gave him long but chaste kiss. "Good, I'm glad you said that because I want to talk about the wedding. As in, I want a real one with the dress and the reception; nothing too fancy, but a wedding all the same."

"Oh, here we go." Severus said with a hint of sarcasm. They were officially engaged for less than an hour and it was already time for him to start perfecting his 'yes dear.' He was hoping to stand up in front of an official and maybe two witnesses to do their 'I dos.' He should have known Hermione might have a different plan. I can add that to the list of things that mean I love Hermione, he thought as Hermione rambled on about colors and guest lists, I will attend the first wedding I have ever been to, just for her.

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A/N: Special thanks to Whoopsydaisy for being my clever beta. So this story is about at its halfway mark give or take a chapter.

Thanks for all of your reviews! I am almost at 200 woo hoo! Lets see if we can get there after this chapter. I love hearing your opinions and trust me I do take them into consideration as I write the story. Thanks for reading!!!