Albus had originally been planning to make the boys wait until after lunch to go outside, but he had quickly found his resolve being worn down after Sirius had begged for the eighteenth time, within an hour of breakfast ending, to go outside. Having found it impossible to ignore the puppy-dog eyes and pleading voice, Albus had caved and told each boy to grab any toys they'd like to bring with them.
Sirius, of course, had been quick to rush off into his room. Severus, however, stood rooted to the spot with an upset look displayed on his face. Clearly the boy still wasn't comfortable claiming anything inside his room as his, toys included. But there was something else bothering Severus. The quiet boy had immediately become even more withdrawn after breakfast, when a house elf had come to clear the table and ask how the meal was.
"Severus, dear, is something bothering you?" Albus asked, not fully expecting an answer from the stoic boy.
"I could have cleared the table." Severus whispered, staring at his shoes in shame. "It's not right to make somebody else do your work."
"Severus, they like to help out." Albus reasoned. "They tell me so."
"That's what they have to say." Severus frowned. "Even if they don't like it."
"Severus, would you like to speak to the house elves after we come back inside?" Albus questioned. "Would that make you feel better?"
"But you're still going to make them do your work." Severus complained.
"What if I start helping?" Albus smiled.
"Can I help, too?"
"I don't see why not." Albus asked, figuring no harm could come from allowing Severus to play housekeeper. "But why don't you go and grab some of your toys?"
"I don't have any toys." Severus explained, staring at Sirius who held a child's broomstick in one hand and a container of magical, non-popping bubbles in his other.
"All the toys in your room, are your toys." Albus smiled. "They're a gift to you from me. I know you'll be helping me a lot, and hard workers need to be paid."
"Come on, Severus!" Sirius grinned. "Grab some toys and then we can go!"
Severus looked like he'd wanted to argue about Albus giving him toys, but sighed when Sirius started to jump. Clearly not wanting to upset his new friend, Severus shuffled into his room and returned with a bucket of miniature cars in one hand and a rugby ball in his other. Clearly Albus had made the right decision in giving Sirius mostly wizarding toys and Severus mostly muggle toys.
"What's that?" Sirius asked, pointing at the ball.
"It's a rugby ball." Severus clarified.
"What's rugby?" Sirius pestered.
"It's like American Football, only better and rougher." Severus said.
"I don't know what that is either." Sirius frowned.
"I'm sure Severus can explain it to you on our way outside." Albus comforted.
"Yeah, let's go!" Sirius cheered. "I want to play!"
"Then let's get going." Albus grinned, holding the door open his office door for them.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Albus had absolutely no idea how Severus had managed to get himself caked in mud, nor did he have any idea where his trainers were, but he kept calm and allowed the boy his rambunctious play. Boys would be boys after all, and Molly and Arthur had warned him that he'd be hard pressed to keep them perfectly clean for anything more than an hour or so. And while Sirius had at first been terrified to get even a speck of dirt on him, given his strict, aristocratic upbringing, Albus had assured him that he was allowed to get as filthy as he wanted. And even though the mini-Gryffindor had remained hesitant for another twenty minutes, Severus grew tired of new mate being 'ridiculous' and 'accidentally' pushed him into a puddle of mud.
Of course, Sirius had been livid at such 'undignified' behavior and had looked close to tears, but when Albus assured him all was still well Sirius relaxed and allowed Severus to show him how to make mud-castles. An activity there were both still engrossed in, having been given ample amounts of mud due to the recent heavy downpours.
"Your parents let you play like this all the time?" Sirius asked Severus.
"They don't care what I do." Severus frowned. "As long as my chores are done and I don't get the police called."
"What are police?" Sirius asked, scratching his nose and leaving the clean skin muddy.
"They're like aurors." Severus explained. "Except they use guns instead of wands."
"What're guns?"
"They're like wands but they can only stun you or kill you." Severus elaborated.
"Oh." Sirius nodded. "I'd still rather be an auror."
"I'd rather be a pirate." Severus argued.
"What's a pirate?"
"They live on boats and have swords and cannon balls and they do whatever they want to do." Severus explained, excitement softening his voice. "And they get lots of treasure, too."
"Can we be pirates?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, but we have to have a big boat first and find a pirate." Severus sighed. "We could pretend though."
