Happily Ever After?

Hermione lay back on the soft mossy bank with a huge grin on her face. Who would have thought Severus Snape had it in him? 'Come to that, yesterday I wouldn't have imagined I'd have that in me.' She giggled at the thought, then sighed. She hadn't realised just how sensitive some spots on her arms and legs were, but Severus had spent time finding them to her unexpected pleasure. Not that he'd ignored the more usual pleasure points, either. She opened her eyes to see him gazing down on her face.

"I suppose that's something I'm going to have to get used to." Hermione raised her eyebrows in query. "Oh, not this," he said drawing a finger down her naked flesh, "I meant your laughter. You'll have to be patient; it will take a while for me to be comfortable with the idea that you laugh because of me, not at me." Hermione reached up and tucked his hair behind his ears so she could see his face.

"Don't worry, Severus. We have all the time in the world" He quickly looked away.

"A promise like that I would be glad to hear, once we are in the real world again, but I won't keep you to anything you say while we are stuck here together, Hermione." He sat up and looked across the meadow.

"I've remembered how to get out. It is a case of letting the story unfold to it's conclusion, at which point the enchantment ends too, but I'm at a complete loss as to how that applies to the situation we are in." He got up and fetched her clothes. Throwing him the t shirt, she was about to pull on her fleece when a thought came to her. The rhyme was the reason they were here, but what exactly was the last verse?

Suddenly it came to her, and she looked down at her fleece with mixed feelings. If she was right, then it would only be a matter of moments before they would be back at Hogwarts. Could she convince Severus that what they had shared here was worth pursuing in real life? She watched him bend over to pick up his shoes, and the sight of his naked arse was all the encouragement she needed.

"Severus, help me with this will you?" He held out her jacket for her to put on, then smiled as he turned her and carefully did up the buttons. As she felt him slip the last one into place Hermione just had enough time to reach up and kiss him before the world went dark.

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Madam Pince had returned from Hogsmeade in a very merry mood, which she lost rapidly when she found the Library still unlocked and lit. Sweeping through the stacks her annoyance evaporated as she came across both Professor Snape and Miss Granger unconscious on the floor. She Floo'd Madam Pomfrey for assistance, but by the time the two witches made their way to the stricken pair there had been a change in their condition.

Madam Pomfrey stood to one side and cast diagnostic spells just in case, but apart from a few bumps, bruises and a little oxygen deprivation the oblivious couple that were rolling round the floor with their lips locked were fine. Nudging Irma, Poppy made a motion of tipping a glass and indicated the hearth. The librarian nodded, casting a locking spell on the doors before stepping through after her friend.

A/N Here's where I spread the blame >:-} Ladyofthemasque set the 'Lost in a Book' challenge (details at the end of ch. 1). Liz Ayres (who was very pregnant at the time so can't be held responsible) and tubbles14 (who has no excuse) put forward the idea of Severus in a particular kids book over on the MoITWF group, which let loose the rabid plot bunny.

The peanut shells are from Terry Pratchett's Wizard Librarian, courtesy of L-Space (Ook!).

The idea of Remus as a Tex Avery style Wolf, complete with zoot suit (which inspired Wolf's appearance), the Slytherin/Goldilocks and a whole bunch of really 'good' ideas involving things like the seven Warwick Davis's plus Sirius White (which I didn't include but may or may not expand on some time in the very near future) are from my husband, who also did a little light beta work, child wrangling and food/drink fetching for me.

The version of Little Bo Peep I used:

Little Bo peep has lost her sheep

And doesn't know where to find them.

Leave them alone and they'll come home,

Bringing their tails behind them.

Little Bo peep fell fast asleep

And dreamt she heard them bleating,

But when she awoke, she found it a joke,

For they were all still fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook

Determined for to find them.

She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,

For they left their tails behind them.

It happened one day, as Bo peep did stray

Into a meadow hard by,

There she espied their tails side by side

All hung on a tree to dry.

She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye,

And over the hillocks went rambling,

And tried what she could,

As a shepherdess should,

To tack again each to its lambkin.

This whole thing has been written just so I can imagine Severus in frilly knickers.