title: Honeymoon's Over

author: lisa roquin

rating: eh, 13-15

fandom: BtVS/HP

series/sequel: sequel to "Rewards"

characters/pairings: Snape/Cordelia

disclaimer: all copyrighted characters and their "universes" belong to their respective authors, writers, creators, production companies, producers and long lists of people that are so very much not me. Quite simply, if you recognize it, it isn't mine. No profit made, no harm intended, just having fun.

summary: Getting ready for a Scooby family reunion.

author's note:

wordcount:

A full month of peace and quiet. The little miscreants that inhabited Hogwarts ten months of the year were back with their parents. It had been idyllic. To put an absurdly sappy turn of phrase to it, it had been the best month of Severus Snape's forty-two years. The outrageous Muggle who had haunted him as a ghost for a year returned to the living, to him, and was now in his bed.

A full month just to the two of them. Sheer heaven, even with the fact that they had been working parts of it--brewing the stores for the hospital wing, some of Severus' personal research, several rather obnoxious functions that were necessary with the final defeat of Voldemort and a few trials he had to testify at.

She was absolutely correct. Her "family" had known she was back amongst the living for a month now and were waiting impatiently for her to return to them, for at least a visit. They were gathering for the first two weeks of August at a manor house in Devon. Certainly not impossibly far, even by Muggle means, and just a matter of a short series of apparition hops since he would be apparating Cordelia with him instead of just himself.

Cordelia was adamant they were going, and staying the entire two weeks. After all everyone not permanently dead was going to be there. Even Oz, who they had laid in tranquilizer darts and chains for--just in case because of the Willow factor.

When he'd asked--demanded--who was going to be in attendance the answer had horrified him. Two Vampires, a Werewolf, Wiccans, Slayers, Scoobies. He would go. It was...unavoidable. But this was too much.

"Change."

"You cannot expect me to wear that!" Severus snarled.

"Put them on if you expect me to put out tonight."

Severus blinked. The woman truly needed a translation dictionary at times but that was clear enough. He snarled but grabbed for the offensive items she held out and stalked to the bathroom.

She smirked when he returned. "Turn" she demanded. "Slowly"

Severus growled but did as he was ordered.

"Your butt looks fantastic in those" she grinned.

Muggle trousers, TAN Muggle trousers, and a navy SHORT-SLEEVED button down shirt. She was demanding he dress like this for the "Scooby Family Reunion". He couldn't simply wear his robes. He was truly irked since her own concession to wizarding fashion was an open robe over her own outrageous Muggle attire.

"Hair"

"What?"

"Wand, hair. NOW. Get the gunk out of it that keeps it from falling in potions. Now."

Severus snarled and did as he was told. "You are the most infuriating, irritating, obnoxious creature on the face of this planet."

She smirked. "You haven't met my friends yet, but even if I am, that's why you love me."