When Lions And Snakes Play Together: A Cautionary (But Funny)Tale

e.le.v.e.n: Open Negotiations

Severus

The MACUSA sanctioned marriage license sat on the table between them as they stared at like a foreign appendage. In all his years, he had never magically bonded to a witch before, so why did it have to be this one and a former student of his no less? Hermione folded her arms across her chest, a challenge in her eyes.

"If we sign this, I want complete freedom in my career," She asserted. "Once that is established, only then will I even entertain the idea of children."

"You make it seem like I want more of them around me," He stated plainly. "Besides, my temperament is not conducive to that level of patience as you are aware."

"And yet you have a protective streak as fierce as a Gryffindor's," She argued. "Any boy would live in fear of what curse you would cast on him should he harm a daughter of ours."

"That is true. There is the age gap."

"It didn't stop you from sleeping with me. It didn't stop your cousin either. I'm not concerned about that."

Severus rubbed at his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Noted. Still, I would be remiss in not including that in our negotiations."

Her smile was enchanting, just like the rest of her. He hated that even now, he found it difficult not to gaze at her obvious charms on display for him, even though she was fully dressed in a light blue tank top and dark blue jean shorts that were quite short, indeed.

"We can live apart if you wish."

"Call me a traditionalist, but I would prefer we did not. However, it might be helpful should friction occur between us."

"I'm impressed. I half expected you to contest this completely and tell me to fuck off," She lightly teased.

He found himself smiling despite his best efforts. "I'm choosing to look at this from a practical point of view. There is no sentiment here."

She rose an eyebrow. "Oh? Do go on."

"Well, as I see it, the damn Ministry finally restored what has rightfully belonged to my family ever since it was taken from us due to our ties to Gellert Grindlewald's regime. They called it my reward," He made quotation marks with his fingers, "For my service to the wizarding world. I call it bribery. However, I am under no illusions that should anything befall me, the Ministry would simply repossess what was restored to the Prince family name. If I wed a witch not entirely insufferable, the pureblood families would not be able to foist their daughters upon me."

Hermione listened intently, nodding in agreement. "You have called me insufferable before. I hear you say that we understand one another in reality. I think you like me a little."

He scowled. "Typical witch, always seeking poetic romantic nonsense in such an institution as this."

"Mmhm. I accept your gracious offer then. Oh, what about your cousin? He would like an answer as to whether or not he is a part of this arrangement."

Severus rose and paced a bit before sitting back down and deciding, "I am a possessive wizard. I would prefer to be only with you."

She seemed to truly think it over, and it took a while for her to weigh the pros and cons of each outcome before she decided, "I am possessive as well. I want only you."

"That is agreeable. Ladies first."

She took out a pen from her purse, a black fountain pen, and signed wherever the line was marked under Bride. She handed him the pen, and he considered contesting this whole affair, but couldn't deny that there was a certain element of fate in this that he did not mind for once. He signed his name under the lines marked for Groom, and the magic glowed for a moment before sealing itself as they both knew it would.

Their eyes met, and before either of them had planned it, they had grabbed one another and were kissing so passionately it was almost painful. His...now and until the bond between them lasted, this witch was his fully and completely.

"Take me to bed," She whispered against his lips as they kissed. "Please, my Prince."

"Yes, lioness."

They took their time touching one another, exploring, seeing what made each other tick. When they came together, it had a real feeling of finality, of certainty that no matter what happened, they would have each other no matter what. His bride, his lioness, his Hermione, as it perhaps was meant to be all along.

Magic was thick in the air around them when they finished, and he withdrew out of her, collapsing to the side on the bed. One could almost see the magic of binding. It felt so intense. They merely gazed at one another and kissed almost lazily as they snogged.

"I have always wanted this," He found himself admitting. "Completion, unity with a worthy companion."

"Now, who is waxing poetic?"
"The occasion warrants it."

"I agree. I want this as well. No one else is worthy to share... this."

He kissed her. "We should sleep."
She reached between them, and stroked him to readiness once again. "You're killing me, witch."

"No, not that. Just, I need you inside me, to hold me close."

He understood, and it was something he never did before, just snuggle a woman in this way, but he had to admit that he enjoyed this simple intimacy. He moved slowly, languidly inside her as they prepared to sleep. Hermione's whimpers of pleasure delighted him as he moved his hips to bottom out inside her. She grabbed his cheek and kissed him. He responded in kind, and slanted his mouth over hers, their tongues sliding over one another as he moaned, finishing inside her. He moved to slide out of her, but she whispered, "Don't. I like it."

"But you could...We may have just.."

"Shhh, my love," She soothed. "Stay inside me. If I am, I am. Nothing would be able to change that fact now.."

He did, and soon he fell into a languid, peaceful sleep with no nightmares for the first time in his life. He was safe, he had a worthy companion and mate, and he felt complete. Little did they both know of the antics that would be involved in finding out just what transpired on this Vegas holiday of theirs after all, and what needed to occur to fix things as they stood...