Summary: Getting the shop ready.

A/N: Thanks for reading. For those of you who like a Ron who's an arse, here it comes.

Chapter 8

Severus and Hermione worked hard to get the shop ready. Along with setting up books and decorating, Severus spent a lot of time brewing items he thought would sell well: Creams, lotions, hair products, and especially medicinal potions.

Hermione wandered into the lab he'd set up in the back of the store.

"Did you figure out a name yet?" she asked.

Severus shook his head.

"You're sure you don't want your name on it?"

"Merlin, no. I want your store to thrive, not be shut down because you let a murderer sell potions in it."

She came up to him and grasped his arm. "You're not a murderer, nor do you know that will happen."

He stopped stirring and looked down into the cauldron.

"You're considered a war hero by many. You know that."

He gave a curt nod to her but didn't look up.

"Despite that, there are many who deem me a murderer and traitor." His head snapped up and his gaze pierced her. "I won't ruin your chance to be successful."

"But you are part owner of this shop. You will be visible. Everyone will know these are your potions."

He sighed. "I can take an invisible role so as not to be detrimental."

"No!"

He looked shocked at her adamance. "Hermione."

"No, Severus. We are partners. I won't have you hiding from customers. Either they accept you or they don't shop here. We can find plenty of people who will want to get their books from us."

Severus frowned as he mulled over what she said.

"Fine," he said finally.

"Good. And I want your name somewhere on that label, mister."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied as he watched her leave the lab.

He stared at the door for a while. Her insistence that he use his name had warmed his heart. He wouldn't have blamed her if she had agreed with him to hide away, but she was willing to put the success of her store on the line to see to his visibility. It was a heady feeling that she wanted him to feel comfortable.

Turning, he focused his attention back on his cauldron. The brew was ready–a headache remedy. He took a few minutes to bottle it up. He picked up the bottle and let it sparkle in the light. He'd chosen this bottle–thinner on the bottom, gradually getting wider–for its uniqueness. He pictured his label on it. Essential Elixirs sounded like a good brand name. He put the bottle down on the table and left his lab. Coming up to Hermione, he caught her attention.

"How about Essential Elixirs?" he asked.

She thought about it for less than two seconds.

"Oh, I like that, Severus."

He waved his wand and created a picture with the logo on it: a small cauldron with a curl of smoke rising from it. It was set below the brand name.

Hermione nodded. "That's nice, but it's missing one thing."

"What's that?" he asked with an arched brow.

She pointed to the lower part of the label. "You need to put 'by Severus Snape' down here."

"Hermione," he groaned. "My name shouldn't be on this! We've discussed that."

She closed the distance between them and placed her hand on his chest. Her other arm snaked around him and pulled him close to her.

"I am not ashamed of you, Severus Snape. As I said before, if people don't want to come into our store because of you, they can stay out of it."

"But…"

Her finger came up and shushed him, covering his lips so he couldn't speak.

"This is our store. Ours. We will share in it equally, and your name will be on your products."

"Okay," he replied simply.

"Okay? Really?"

"Yes. But if this store tanks, I will have to say I told you so."

She chuckled at him. "All right. I can agree to that."

Her other arm came around him, and she kissed him lovingly.

"We're in this together," she told him.

His heart was full with the loveliness of her statement. This woman was someone who was on his side, and who believed in him. The feeling was heady.

She moved in to kiss him more, but there was a horrible pounding on the door. Hermione moved back and glared toward it.

"What in the world? We're not even open yet. Who could that be?" she asked as she untwined herself from Severus and headed toward the shop door.

Severus followed. They could see through the door that it was Ron. Hermione huffed as she moved to the door to open it.

Severus stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"We will face him together," he advised.

She smiled at him and grabbed his hand. moving with him toward the door. She opened up to a scowling Ronald Weasley.

"Hi, Ron! You didn't need to break the door down," Hermione greeted.

He barged past Severus and her, glowering at Severus.

"What's he doing here?"

"He wanted to become half-owner of my bookstore, so I guess you could say he's my partner."

"Harry said you'd run off with him. Are you mad? Why would you be partners with this git?"

"I'm standing right here, Weasley," Severus ground out.

"Shut up, Snape, this is between me and Hermione."

Severus took a step toward him. "Whatever you say to Hermione, you will say it in front of me."

Ron sneered at him but turned back to Hermione.

"Why would you want to be partners with him?" he demanded.

Hermione straightened. "For one thing, Ronald, we are a couple, and besides that, Severus is going to sell his potions here too."

Ron's eyes bugged out. "You're what?" he cried, ignoring the rest of what she said.

Hermione wrapped her arm around Severus possessively. "We are a couple, and I don't want to hear any nastiness from you, Ronald Weasley. You obviously didn't come here to wish me luck. If you can't say anything nice, just get out!"

"'Mione, we were supposed to be together. Why would you… how could you even imagine choosing Snape over me?"

Hermione bristled. "For one thing, Ronald, Severus is loyal. If he had been on the run with us, he'd have never run out like you did. To be honest with you, he's superior to you in every way."

Ron's hands clasped into fists as he took a step toward Hermione, lifting one of his fists. Instantly Severus' wand was pressed against his neck and Hermione's wand was pointed at his face.

"You've overstayed your welcome, Weasley. Get… out," Severus sneered.

Ron's eyes shot from Hermione to him and back to Hermione.

"You're going to let him do this to me?" he demanded.

Hermione's eyes narrowed, and she glowered at him. "You were about to strike me, Ronald. Yes, he can definitely protect me, and don't forget I can protect myself."

She made a small circle with her wand menacingly. "Now leave!"

Ron sneered at her. "You deserve what you get with him!" he snarled and turned, storming out of the shop.

Severus sent a hex after him, purposely just missing him, which sent the younger man sprinting away and Apparating as soon as he was clear of the shop.

Hermione was tempted to scream and stamp her foot, but she reigned her emotions in.

"I will not let him make me insane!" she cried.

She found herself surrounded by Severus' arms. He pulled her close.

"He's a twat."

Hermione chuckled at his comment about her ex.

"Why were you even attracted to him?" Severus huffed.

She pulled back. "It stemmed from a long time ago. I've put up with his jealousy and his spitefully throwing Lavender Brown in my face, but I still wanted to be with him. When he left us, though…"

She buried her head in Severus' chest.

"He left us, and it all became clear. He was walking on thin ice when he came back, and I have to admit, we kissed, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. And then his jealousy ran rampant. Anyone I looked at was suspected of trying to flirt with me. It was ridiculous."

She breathed in deeply as she buried her head into his cloak.

"Merlin, you smell fantastic," Hermione crooned.

Severus chuckled. "Do I, now?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Wanting to change the subject, I see," he jibed.

"Yes, but that doesn't negate the fact that you smell good."

He buried his nose in her hair. "You also have a very pleasing scent."

She giggled into his coat. "Very eloquent, Severus. You have a way with words."

He huffed, though not really upset. Breathing in another whiff of her hair, he reveled in her closeness and just the scent of her. His heart filled with a need to be close to her and protect her. His arms pulled her closer.

He wasn't sure why this feeling had suddenly taken him over, but he suddenly felt his feelings for Hermione increase tenfold.

"Hermione…" he murmured.

She pulled her head up and looked at him searchingly.

"He doesn't deserve you, you know. You are too precious to be treated so harshly."

Hermione's eyes grew wide as Severus caressed her face with the back of his hand. Her voice broke as she said his name before her lips crashed into his. His tongue invaded her mouth, and he enjoyed her fully. When they finally separated, Hermione smiled at him shyly.

"Thank you, Severus. That was the most wonderful thing to say."

"I meant every word."

He couldn't say anything more because Hermione had captured his lips again and was showering him with passion. He groaned as her tongue entered his mouth. At long last, he pulled away from her and rested his forehead on hers.

"Hermione… if we go on like this, I won't be able to control myself."

"I was hoping you'd say that…"

He moved his head back so he could look her in the eye.

"Are you sure?"

"Oh yeah," Hermione murmured.

She took his hand, and not looking away, drew him into the back room. Silently casting a transfiguration spell on the back counter, she turned it into a bed. He smirked at her as his eyes moved to the bed and back to her.

"You think of everything."

"I'm determined when I want something."

He pulled her to him and kissed her some more. Slowly they moved toward the bed, not separating their lips from one another. The back of Hermione's legs hit the bed, causing her to sit down on it. Severus looked down at her, missing her lips on his already.

Leaning down, he braced himself with one hand while his other reached into her hair and caressed her, kissing her passionately as they leaned back. Hermione held herself up with her elbow and took her other hand and ran it through his hair as well. They continued passionately, kissing one another wildly. Severus' hand came down from being wrapped in her hair, and he fondled her breast. She gasped at his touch and he increased his ministrations.

She pushed him slightly so she could sit up. Giving him a saucy look, she slowly reached down and pulled her jumper off. Severus admired her black lace bra, tracing the edges with his finger before reaching around and unsnapping it, smiling slightly as he viewed her chest.

"Hermione, you are so beautiful," he murmured before kneeling down and taking her nipple into his mouth and suckling. His eyes moved up to her face, and he was excited to see her head thrown back in ecstasy. Unable to control himself, he moved back up and captured her lips again.

Her hand snaked down and massaged his groin. His erection was already struggling against his trousers, but this was too much. With a silent spell, his trousers and pants disappeared, leaving him naked below the waist. Hermione glanced down at him, her eyebrows arching at his length.

"Severus, you are gorgeous," she muttered before he captured her mouth again.

Reaching down once more, she grasped him and stroked him twice. He groaned and pulled back from her.

"Not yet."

"Oh yes," she said as she pushed him over and onto the bed.

Moving between his legs, she took him into her mouth and started to suck.

"Hermione… please. I won't…"

She made a noise signifying he should shut up. Deciding to follow her lead, he let her continue her ministrations, writhing slightly as she sucked his length. She kept moving her tongue on him until he could hold himself back no more.

Gasping, he sat up and extricated her from his member, turning her and laying her down on the bed. Then it was his turn to move between her legs. Giving her a wicked look, he moved down and began to lick her.

"Oh, God!" Hermione exclaimed as she felt his tongue touch her sex.

He intensified his movements and Hermione grabbed the sheets as he lathed her.

"You are incredible!" she cried out.

He smiled before getting serious with her clit. She moaned.

"I'm close… Severus, I'm so close."

Lifting his head, he moved over her and took a few moments to suckle each of her breasts before heading back up to her mouth and kissing her passionately. He settled himself between her legs, his cock poised at her entrance.

"Now, Severus! I need you in me."

Entering her, he groaned within himself as he felt her surrounding him. She was so wet and soft and tight. He could stay within her forever if that were possible.

"Hermione…" he gasped. "You feel amazing."

"Harder," Hermione cried. "I need you deeper."

Thrusting into her, he reveled in the feeling of moving within her. He increased his speed and drilled himself into her over and over again. They found their rhythm and moved together furiously, both getting closer and closer to fulfillment. Feeling her tighten around him, he knew she was about to come.

"Hermione!" Severus cried as he threw his head back and thrust deeply into her.

"Severus!" Hermione called out as her legs wrapped around him, pulling him even deeper within her. She came then, trying to keep him within her. He held himself there, enjoying her spasming around his cock as he released into her.

Severus moved down and gave her a lazy kiss. Her hand laced into his hair again. Moving aside, he slipped out of her and pulled her to him. Laying her head on his chest, she squeezed him tight.

"That was incredible," Hermione murmured.

"Mmmhmm," was all that Severus was capable of saying for the time being.

With a silent spell, the two of them were cleaned up. They lay there for a long while, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Severus moved to get up, but Hermione grasped him and pulled him to her.

"I need the loo, woman," he admonished.

She released him. "Don't be long," she called after him.

Hermione lay on the bed waiting for him. He hurried so he could get back to her, finishing up quickly and washing his hands. It wasn't long before he had eased himself into the bed with her again. He kissed her forehead and then her lips.

"That was a lovely diversion. I must say, I've always wanted to have sex in my potion's lab."

Hermione lifted her head and looked at him.

"You're kidding right?"

He shrugged. "What can I say? It's been a secret fantasy of mine since I started working at Hogwarts."

Hermione smiled at him. "We should sneak into the castle and have a go. We could even play professor and student," she said with a wicked grin on her face.

His eyes grew wide as he looked at her in shock. He kissed her then.

"Minx."