Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling

Life For Rent

Chapter 26

You may not think I'm pretty

But don't judge on what you see

I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts sorting hat

and I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor

Where dwell the brave at heart

Their daring nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs

Are true and unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

Each founder was so different

Their talents were so unique

But together they were mighty

And their qualities were complete

Who says Slytherins can't be loyal

Or Ravenclaws brave and true

Why can't Gryffindors be cunning

And Hufflepuffs witty too.

Look across your table

To members of another house

For this year they are your teachers

And will verify what I espouse

So put me on your head and I will look inside

To see what you will offer others

The qualities of your house do not define you

It is merely something to offer your sisters and your brothers

"The first part of that was really similar to what I heard in my first year." Hermione whispered in Severus' ear as the students applauded the Sorting Hat's song. "Everyone looks so confused. This is so exciting!"

Severus chuckled lightly and patted Hermione on the knee underneath the table. He could feel her quivering with excitement as the students were sorted into their new houses. As each name was called Hermione tapped a piece of parchment finalising that student's schedule. At the end of the sorting she banished the schedules to her office with a triumphant flourish of her wand. The year was off to an excellent start.

After Hermione and Severus' talk the little bit of tension that had grown between them disappeared and was replaced with Hermione's bubbling energy as she anticipated the new school year. Severus didn't say as much but he understood where her excitement came from. She loved school had been a dedicated student. He also knew that she would be a dedicated teacher as well. He himself could remember the first few days before each term when he was a child. In his early years he would arrange and rearrange his books and supplies in his trunk. Even after all his years teaching at Hogwarts there was a satisfying sense of renewal he felt each year when he purchased new parchment and potion ingredients.

Sitting to Hermione's right was the newest member of the staff besides herself, Robert Glitch. She met him at the last staff meeting but hadn't really talked to him at all. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him looking from her to Severus, who was greeting the students, with a hint of disdainful amusement in her eyes. Hermione turned toward him with one eyebrow raised. She could vaguely recognize him, Ravenclaw about five years older than her, she believed.

"Oh now I see it." He commented with just a hint of sarcasm.

"See what?" Hermione hissed back under her breath. She sensed more than heard Severus pause in his speech when she spoke so she turned her attention back toward the podium and her husband. Severus finished his speech and the food appeared on the tables. Under the cover of the now noisy Great Hall Hermione turned back toward Robert.

"Well?"

Robert casually licked a bit of gravy off of his fork. "I was just trying to figure out how you ended up with him."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Hermione deadpanned as Severus resumed his seat beside her. "Great speech, Severus."

Severus looked first at Hermione and then past her to Glitch who was watching with feigned disinterest. "The parts you heard, you mean?"

Hermione scowled at Glitch who was smirking at them both now.

"For future reference, Professor Glitch, it would be prudent for the staff to remain quiet at the Head Table while the Headmaster, or anyone for that matter, speaks. It sets a poor example for the students when their teachers lack decorum."

Glitch's smirk immediately slid into a scowl and he turned his attention back to his plate. Hermione, feeling equally chastised, took a sip of her wine.

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After the feast Hermione rushed to the Head's quarters to spend some time with Caris while Severus returned to his office. He still had to meet with the Head students and the prefects and he also asked Glitch to meet with him as well. He wanted to make the meetings quick so he could get back to Hermione and Caris.

The meeting with the students was over quickly. The Head boy and girl both remembered him from his previous and unsuccessful year as Headmaster and he could sense they still feared him considerably. He was going to have to make concerted effort to change the fear to respect. Surely they did respect him after everything they had learned about him since the war but it was going to take some getting used to for all parties involved. Glitch, on the other hand, was a whole different story. Something about that man rubbed him the wrong way. And to top it all off, now he seemed to be taking an interest in Hermione. At the knock on the door Severus schooled his features into the classic unreadable mask he wore through all his years as a professor.

Robert entered Severus' office and settled into the chair across from him. Severus took in his dirty blonde and spiky hair, the curve of his lips that betrayed his amusement with the situation and his cockiness, and his sky blue eyes. Severus realized that he was a quite good looking young man and that made him hate him all the more. He reminded him of what David would probably be like if he was a wizard. Severus shook the thought from his head. Hermione's ex-boyfriend was the last person he wanted Glitch to remind him of.

"You wanted to see me, sir." Robert said casually.

"Obviously." Severus said, unable to help himself. "I will get right to the point. I have been reviewing your past lesson plans for Defense Against the Dark Arts and I believe they are lacking. The books you use are appropriate enough but there is room for more outside reading. It also appears that you only teach what is going to be on the OWLs or NEWTs and the rest of the class time is, in my opinion, wholly wasted."

Robert straightened in his chair defensively and glared at Severus.

"Not all of us know the Dark Arts as well you, Headmaster." Robert sneered.

Severus stood from his chair and advanced on Glitch. "That is quite right. Therefore I am the authority on the subject. And if you don't think you know enough to teach beyond a study guide for qualifying exams than maybe we should reconsider your post here."

"So you're going to sack me?" Glitch said incredulously.

"No." Severus sat back in his chair and pulled a parchment in front of him. "But you are on probation. Here is a list of topics you do not cover that you should. I will be periodically visiting your classroom and reviewing assignments after you have graded them. Good evening and good luck."

Robert snatched the list from Severus' hand and skimmed through it. "Why do I feel like you are targeting me? Just because I used to be your student does not mean I will let you intimidate me."

"Intimidate you? I think not. I am merely doing my job and how I deal with other members of the staff is not your business. I said good evening."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed as Robert shut his office door slightly harder than necessary. He was going to be difficult to work with, that much was clear. He certainly was not 'targeting' him. His wife was on probation for pity's sake. Of course, for her it was because it was her first year teaching. Thoughts of Hermione cheered Severus considerably as he cleared his desk for the night.

When he entered their rooms he saw Hermione walking around the living room holding Caris. He smiled warmly at them both and walked over to give them both a kiss, Caris on the top of her little head, and Hermione a slow deep kiss on the lips.

"Mmm, it's good to see you too." Hermione murmured. "Meetings go well?"

Severus shrugged out of his robes and unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt. Hermione thought he looked incredibly sexy like that. She looked down at the baby in her arms and wished for a brief moment that she was asleep already.

"Well enough. What were you and Glitch talking about at dinner tonight?" Severus took Caris from Hermione. "Hello my little darling." He murmured as Caris smiled and squirmed with happiness at being in her father's arms.

Hermione walked into their little kitchen to put on the kettle for tea. Severus followed behind still talking quietly to Caris. Hermione didn't think she would ever get used to her hard husband being so gentle and loving. He turned into absolute putty whenever Caris was around and she would probably be the only person who would ever successfully manipulate him. All she would have to do is bat her eyelashes and smile and Severus would give her whatever she wanted.

"I don't really know what Glitch was trying to get at. Actually, I do but it's not important, really." Hermione fixed a bottle for Caris and handed it to Severus.

"Are you sure? You seemed annoyed with him." Severus was pressing for details as if to find one more reason to dislike the DADA professor.

Hermione settled down in the chair next to Severus with her tea and shrugged. "He made a snide and offhand remark about us being together. I wouldn't read anything into it. He seems like an arrogant berk if you ask me. Good, she's falling asleep."

Severus rose from his chair to go put Caris to bed. It was a good thing the child was falling asleep because he could feel his irritation growing and he didn't want Caris to sense it. Hermione kissed her daughter before Severus could lay her in the crib and waited for Severus to say good night. He followed his wife into their bedroom before he said anything.

"He has a lot of nerve." Severus huffed.

Hermione shrugged out of her own robes and pulled her blouse over her head completely oblivious to what she was doing to her husband. "I mean honestly, Severus. He was being a complete arse."

Hermione, dressed in only her bra and underwear, took Severus' hands in hers. Pulling him close she trailed kisses from his ear down his throat. "If he can't see why I would want to be with you, then he is shallow, and ignorant, and not worth anybody's concern."

Severus hummed in appreciation of her words and the movement of her hands as she deftly removed his shirt and tie. "Whatever you say, my love."

Hermione backed up pushing him away slightly with a hand on his chest. "That is what I say."

Severus pulled Hermione back toward him and kissed her deeply, tasting the tea she'd just had and a hint of the strawberries she'd eaten at dinner. He unclasped her bra and pulled it off in one smooth movement as he pushed her onto the bed. Hermione sighed with pleasure and relief as her breasts, still larger than usual because of Caris, were freed from the confines of her bra.

Hermione dragged her hands down the length of Severus' body letting them rest on the bulge in his pants. "Make love to me, Severus."

"Always."

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The following morning Hermione awoke fresh faced, satisfied, and nervous. It was finally her first day of teaching and she wanted it to be just as perfect as the night before had been. She was eager to instill her knowledge and love of potions into the students and looked forward to her classes with the first years most. She was not naïve enough to think that the students who had Slughorn would be so easy to influence. But she resolutely refused to believe that she wouldn't be able to convince the majority of her first years to love learning as she did. Severus laughed when she voiced those thoughts.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It's just your expectations for the dunderheads are so high. It's really endearing." He smirked.

"Ha ha. You have very little faith in me." She retorted.

Severus laughed again. "In you, I have all the faith in the world. It's the children who tend to disappoint."

"Eh, if there is at least one who wants to learn I will be quite happy."

Severus wrapped her in his arms. "I will concede you that point. It only takes one eager student to make your job worthwhile."

Hermione reached the breakfast table in the Great Hall after Severus had already finished and left for his office. She passed out the Gryffindor schedules before tucking into a bowl of porridge. She felt oddly lonely at the Head Table without Severus and Caris there. Hermione was looking forward to when Caris was ready to start eating solid foods. Severus had already agreed that she would join them at the Head Table when that time arrived.

She wasn't alone for long, however, because Robert Glitch soon filled the empty seat next to her.

"Good morning, Granger."

"Snape." She corrected biting back her annoyance. She wasn't going to let him spoil her good mood.

"Whatever." He said pulling a rasher of bacon toward him.

Hermione dropped her spoon and turned to face him. "Pardon me?"

Robert smirked. "I remember you. You got here my sixth year, or was it my seventh? No matter, you were bushy haired and buck toothed, and all the kids in Ravenclaw that were in your year were surprised you weren't in our house. They also said you were quite an annoying know-it-all."

"What is your point? If you have one, get to it; otherwise let me eat in peace." Hermione snapped.

"You certainly have changed. Physically at least, and I am sure you are still the teacher's pet. Or in this case, the Headmaster's." Robert drawled as he looked deep into Hermione's eyes, challenging her.

"What are playing at Glitch? Are you jealous of me? Do you want to be the Headmaster's pet? Because I don't recall ever doing anything to offend you and I'm sure Severus hasn't either, so if you don't mind, leave me alone." Hermione threw her spoon in her bowl and left the table.

She exited the side doors and stalked down the hallways toward the Headmaster's office. Initially, Hermione was just going to head straight down to her classroom and await her first class there but she decided to go to Severus' office first. He deserved to know what was going on with Glitch both on a personal and a professional level. She was also concerned about something that else Glitch said, or more likely something she inferred from what he said.

"Come in." Severus called through the door as Hermione knocked.

Hermione turned the doorknob slowly. It felt strange knocking on the door of her own husband's office but now that term had officially begun she was a Professor during the day. Severus made it really difficult for her to maintain that persona though especially when he kissed her hello and had their daughter laying in the bassinette with a mobile whirring above her head.

"What are you doing up here? Class starts in fifteen minutes I figured you would be in the classroom already." He said.

"I needed to talk to really quickly. I will just floo into my office from here." Hermione walked over to Caris and tickled her. "Where is Winky?"

Severus smiled sheepishly and came very close to shuffling his feet on the floor. "I sent her away for awhile. I didn't see why Caris couldn't be in here with me for the time being."

"That's really sweet, Severus. I kind of wish I could bring her to class with me. Anyway though, I don't have a lot of time so I will get to the point. I spoke with Glitch again this morning and he seemed to be under the impression that I am the 'Headmaster's pet' and it got me thinking. What if the other professor's, as well as Glitch, think that I am going to get special treatment?"

"I do give you special treatment." Severus said as he kissed Hermione's neck. "I'm sure you don't want me doing this to Professor Flitwick."

Hermione laughed and slapped his shoulder. "You know what I mean. Why is it that when I need you to be serious, you aren't?"

"Well, I did put Glitch on probation last night. I really don't think he liked that very much."

"I'm on probation too," Hermione mused out loud, "but he doesn't know that, does he?"

Severus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I would think he would know because you are new. Either he thinks you aren't because you are my wife, or his ego was too bruised by critique of his teaching to realize that you are on probation as well. As far as the other professors are concerned I don't think you have a thing to worry about. They all know the both of us very well and I am sure Glitch will see it eventually. I don't know what his problem is but I am keeping an eye on him."

"Good. I don't want any issues with him to spoil my year. I really better go."

"Hermione, thanks for telling me."

Hermione kissed her husband on the cheek before reaching for a handful of floo powder. "Of course. I love you and I will see you at lunch. Kiss Caris for me."

"It's never an uneventful year at Hogwarts is it, Severus?"

Severus turned toward the voice nodding his head in agreement. "It seems that way doesn't it Albus? What do you know about Robert Glitch? Did Minerva have any troubles with him? I certainly don't see her tolerating that kind of behavior and she didn't mention anything about him that was unusual beyond the fact that his curriculum was not up to snuff."

"I think you know about as much as I do Severus. I do know that he was the only person who applied for the position the year after the war and nobody else has applied since. Perhaps you and Minerva should visit about him a while longer. I do believe that you both would probably agree that he is not a qualified teacher but unfortunately she was desperate to find a teacher for that position. You Severus were the best Defense teacher this school had and I am sorry that I couldn't give you the post." Albus fished into his painted pocket for a packet of sweets. Unsticking one he popped it into his mouth and savored it with his eyes close. When he opened them, he saw Severus watching him curiously.

"One of the beautiful things about these magical portraits is that we can still enjoy the flavors of our previous lives." Albus quipped.

"Interesting." Severus replied. "Do you think Hermione's worries about the other professors are founded?"

"No Severus, I don't. I think everyone here is really happy to see you together. You are two of the most professional and intelligent people I know and the school has suffered without the both of you here. I know you will find an acceptable solution to your problem with Glitch and you have nothing to fear from the other professors."

Caris began to whimper slightly as the charm revolving her mobile wore off. Severus picked her up and held her close breathing in her scent. Hermione bathed her in a lavender and vanilla concoction that she created herself. It calmed Caris at night and made Severus want to bury his nose in her head all the time.

"It is such a joy to see you enjoying your life, Severus. She truly is a wondrous child to behold. I believe we can expect great things from her, just like her parents." Albus said softly from his perch on the wall.

"Perhaps we could expect great things from her Albus, but I just want her to be a child for now."

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A/N: I want to start by immediately apologizing for a glaring error that I made in the last chapter. I wrote Occlumency when I meant Legilimency and on top of that I misspelled it. I am horribly embarrassed and hope you can forgive me!!! I will try to keep my errors down in the future. English is my first language but that clearly doesn't mean I know how to use it properly. And don't blame my beta either, she was in a cabin with crappy internet going through my chapter when she should have been having 'family time.'

As always thanks for your reviews, they are like little rays of sunshine in the cloudy skies that constantly cover the city I live in lately. I saw the Half Blood Prince and have lots and lots of thoughts on it so if anyone wants to discuss the movie please leave a review and let me know what you thought. For those of you who are boycotting, go ahead and continue. I won't try to change your mind.

Wonderful thanks to my beta whoopsydaisy!