Taylor blushed nervously as the tailor began to take her measurements and scribbling down numbers in a tattered notebook.
"Hmm, average height…small waist…arms in proper proportion…should take two hours to make the seven uniforms, and one hour for the formal robes you want." The tailor mumbled, facing Charlotte. "And what color do you want the dress?"
"Light green," answered Severus, not caring that the tailor was obviously not talking to him.
"And the robes?"
"Orange."
"Pardon?"
"He said orange. Trust me, he knows what he's talking about. He's a color professional." Smiling, she hugged his arm and patted his chest with her free arm, causing Severus to grimace. The tailor nodded once, ignoring the awkward mood in the room.
"Very well. Come back in four hours, everything will be done." With that, she turned on her heel.
"Oh how exciting!" Charlotte cooed as she helped Taylor off the platform. "Come on, we'll have lunch and then shop for school supplies and then we'll go get your clothes and then we'll bring you home."
"Riveting," murmured Severus, absent – mindedly stroking the baby's cheek as he held the basket that he conjure up for easy carrying.
"Sev! Be more energized, would you? It's her first year at Hogwarts and you'll be there so you might as well get to know her before all the boys swarm to meet her." Charlotte babbled quickly as she lead them out of the store and toward a restaurant in the far corner of the street.
"What boys?" Immediately, his head snapped up in attention.
Taylor's eyes widened at the "and you'll be there" part. Why was he going to Hogwarts?
Charlotte giggled, which Taylor had learned to be a regular occurrence. "I knew that would get you to listen." Suddenly, she turned to Taylor. "Which reminds me that that's all you've been doing. Why don't you tell us about yourself?"
"Does…umm, Severus work at Hogwarts?" Taylor stammered, refusing to call him Father or Dad.
"Yes, I do. I am the potions master so I am sure that you will have to take my class." His eyes bore into her and at once, she felt guilty for not asking him directly. His voice had barely concealed his irritation.
Charlotte frowned slightly. "Quit being so moody, Severus. You're obviously scaring her to death."
He didn't comment in return, just looked straight ahead and groaned as he read the title of the restaurant. The Child – Cordial Chinese Cuisine Café. In small print, he read, "Try saying that five times fast." Well, he thought, I hope they know how to cook better than they know their grammar.
