A/N: Hello, everyone! Sooo it's been a while. If you checked my Profile at all last month, you'll already know why I've been absent. I hope you all had a fantastic holiday and New Year's!

I'm officially back, with the intent of writing as frequently as I can (or as much as the Muse will allow for.) For those who intend to move forward with me on this and/or my other stories, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love my Unquestionable Love family, so I'll be writing them for quite a while.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I'm just playing in her sandbox and own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me.

Hark! A Wizard In Need

Severus employs the help of his children in tracking down the perfect Christmas presents for Hermione.

(Prompt from woodshark, who asked for a one-shot centered around Christmas and the scenario above. Although the holidays have come and gone, I hope you still enjoy this little piece!)

Severus had pondered his delimma relentlessly in the weeks leading up to the end of fall term. If he didn't come up with a solution soon, he may very well be looking at taking the notorious prize of Worst Husband #1 in all of Wizarding Britain. The rest of the world might not find that odious honor all that surprising—"It's Severus sodding Snape, after all!" they would probably snicker and sneer—but Severus was determined not to add anymore disreputable points to his name, if he had a choice in the matter.

How can you not have a bloody clue already? he chided himself whilst packing up his belongings for the short Apparation trip home, checking over his potions storage closest one last time to make mental notes of the ingredients he would be purchasing and potions he would be brewing over the Christmas break. Suddenly, he lost track of where he was at on his list of needed supplies. Damn it, Severus, now's not the time to get distracted! You can think on this when you get home.

Finally satisfied (after going over his potions list several more times in his head), Severus sighed and fastidiously secured his wards. At long last, he took his leave of the brisk, dreary dungeons. Every step led him invitingly closer to where he was most anxious to return.

Home...

A sliver of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he swooped up the spiral staircase and out the front doors of Hogwarts castle, greeting the icy, winter gust in a dramatic sea of black robes. While he was immensely looking forward to spending the holidays with Hermione and the girls—and what a warming, fulfilling time those few blissful weeks would be compared to holidays' past spent secluded and alone—this particular mini-break was starting out on a more stressful note than Severus would have preferred.

At the top of that list of reasons that the Head of Slytherin House was feeling the panic and nagging heart palpitations was that, at the moment, he still hadn't settled on any Christmas presents for his wife. In years' past, he would have been thoroughly prepared for what he intended to purchase by now, if not already had Hermione's gifts snagged and gift wrapped, ready to be placed under the ruddy Christmas tree. This year, however, he had nothing at all—Bugger shite!—and hadn't the slightest clue of what to buy.

Adding to the general unnecessary stressors that this time of year brought with them was that he was running out of time. Christmas was only days away, and Severus knew that the children would be occupying much, if not all, of his undivided attention over the holidays. As far as he was concerned, that was only fitting. He missed them terribly and was eager to make his free time their own. How Severus might manage to slip away unnoticed to purchase Hermione's gift items, however, particularly without heavy suspicion from his wife or his daughters catching him in the act, was going to be a trying task indeed, even for a former spy.

But what to buy her!

Severus certainly wasn't about to turn to the likes of Savior of the Wizarding Universe, also known as Harry bloody Potter, for suggestions. The two men may have grown relatively close after the war's end, what with Severus's involvement in Potter's overall safety and the lad's own subsequent maturity, but going to the Boy Who Had Been a Thorn In Severus's Side For Seven Years for help with gift ideas for his wife?

Absolutely not! He snarled aloud, trekking into the crunching snow en route to the school gates. I know her better than anyone, so that's out of the question! You can come up with something on your own, surely?

After making the considerable hike to the end of Hogwarts' grounds, Severus at once Apparated and materialized in the front yard of his quaint, cottage home, where the lights coming from within bathed the house in a warm, inviting glow. A light snow blew softly against the window panes, blanketing the yard like a fairytale-esque winter wonderland.

The girls will be pleased with all of this snow, Severus humored to himself as he tread towards the front door, thinking not only of three little witches who would be eager to play outdoors, but a certain full grown witch who would be just as thrilled as the children.

Severus spotted two fresh, young faces with their dainty noses pressed against one of the front windows, apparently avidly awaiting the wizard's return. Unbeknownst to them, not only did the notion warm their father's heart, but the visible validation sometimes left him emotionally astounded, such as now.

Eight-year-old Lily and seven-year-old Surina flashed Severus enthusiastic waves and dashed out of sight, a few seconds later throwing open the front door and trudging out into the freezing snow.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

"Hi, Daddy!"

"You're home! We've been waiting!"

"Quick, quick! Come inside!" Surina exclaimed, snatching Severus's hand before he could reach down to properly pull her and her sibling into one of his tighter hugs.

"Easy now," he chuckled and fiercely pecked each of their cheeks.

Both girls giggled unanimously. Suddenly realizing their bare feet, Severus let go of the children to swiftly extract his wand, ogling them as if they had grown into a pair of Grindylows.

"What the devil are you two doing out here without shoes?" He cast a warming charm, griping afterwards, "I haven't been here all but one minute and you're already driving me mad!"

"C'mon, Daddy!" Lily and Surina laughed and tugged him onward, disregarding his attempt to reprimand them.

Hermione and Hailey greeted Severus at the front door, too, all smiles as they exchanged affectionate kisses and hugs. "I see they're already causing problems?" Hermione prodded whilst taking the liberty of removing Severus's traveling cloak.

"For themselves. Only our children would be absurd enough to run out into the freezing snow in their bare feet."

Hermione reached onto her tip toes for another kiss, her lips snickering against his. "Welcome home, love."

"Daddy! Daddy!" Lily interrupted, as Surina and Hailey raced into the sitting room. "Come quick! We just started decorating the tree!" She turned on her heel and ran in after her sisters, leaving Severus and Hermione to admire them from the hallway.

"Ah, I see, so your mother couldn't wait for me to get started, could she?" he called after them, receiving no answer.

"Rubbish! I waited long enough for you to help us!"

Hermione nudged his side and shot him a sly grin. Severus Snape may have routinely been all grumbling and carping when it came to taking part in festive holiday activities, such as the annual decorating of the family Christmas tree, but Hermione knew better by now: he secretly enjoyed partaking in every ounce of it, and for private, highly sensitive reasons that his witch was also keenly aware of. It wasn't a topic breached often, but it wasn't unknown to Hermione, either: unlike her loving upbringing, her husband had never experienced a warm, memorable Christmas holiday, not only as a child but as an adult, too.

As a child, Severus's holidays were sabotaged by his father's heavy drinking, his mother's crippling depression, and a severe lack of gifts or general Christmas cheer. It was little wonder to Hermione that Severus grew to despise the holidays altogether. Most Christmases he had received nothing; not that he ever saw fit to complain. A toddler and later teenage Severus would have been content to pass Christmas in the company of a sober father and attentive mother, not to mention a loving household like the one he and Hermione had built for their children.

If Hermione allowed herself to get caught up in thinking on his wretched past for too long, it would crush her. These days, although he continued to gripe and moan about so much "ruddy Christmas cheer" and "ridiculous holiday shenanigans," Hermione understood that, deep down, Severus was quietly appreciative of all of her efforts, whether when it was just the two of them or since their brood had grown to a family of five, to brighten their home with such joyous revelry and warmth.

It was evident in intimate moments that made the true nature of Severus's feelings known to his family—when those rich, dark eyes grew soft and reflective at the sight of their children gathered around the Christmas tree, or when he gently thanked her or one of their daughters for bestowing him with a gift, no matter how small, or his tender reaction to the sight of the girls' feverish faces come Christmas morn.

Maybe Hermione hadn't converted Severus to enhancing his Christmas spirit, but he definitely took a certain pleasure around the holidays that was all but nonexistent before she came into his life. If he was going to keep up with the feigned bellyaching, however, Hermione would taunt him at every turn.

Thus, she watched him sidelong, secretly appreciating his intense study of the tender scene playing out before them in their cozy sitting room. Three little witches were gathered around a mostly unadorned spruce tree and emptying various boxes labeled in red ink with 'Christmas tree decorations'. A rather beat up radio that Hermione had held onto for ages leaned against the brick molding of a roaring fireplace, belting out holiday tunes that the children happily hummed along to. They chatted excitedly amongst themselves, designating which trinkets to place where.

"Well?" Hermione whispered into Severus's ear, rubbing circles on his back, "Get in there, Daddy. They've been waiting for you."

A faint smile twitched at Severus's mouth. He turned to Hermione, in all her wrinkle-clothed glory. To him, she was an entirely natural beauty, what with no makeup and her frizzed curls pulled back into a loose-fitted ponytail, which left a few attractive ringlets that fell about her face. She would have scolded him for saying so, though, so Severus merely returned her kiss with an amorous one of his own.

Panic over his dilemma regarding possible gift ideas for his wife still plucked at the back of his mind, but for his first evening home, Sod it. It can wait till morning. You'll come up with something by then. You bloody well have to!

Their screeching was reaching a new pitch, as far as Severus was concerned. He cringed and was half tempted to magically plug his ears, but it wouldn't solve anything; probably just earn him a scolding from Hermione.

Speaking of which...

Severus wasn't aware of the seriousness now marking his face, but Lily, Surina, and Hailey took notice. They were presently staring up at him, bewildered—their noses and cheeks bright red from the cold.

"Daddy, again!" his littlest demanded; apparently, it was the fourth time she had made that request.

Severus's preoccupied mind drew back to reality. He smirked down at his endearing Hermione look-alike, who, along with her sisters, was trying to shuffle onto her pink slide but with much difficulty. Hermione had bought the children new snow suits for the winter but, to Severus, his over-thinking witch might as well have had their children stuffed. They could barely move in the oversized suits, let alone chase one another in the knee-deep snow that had settled in overnight.

Currently, Severus had been tasked with pushing them each down a hill at the edge of their front yard, although, Hailey had missed stepping onto her slide entirely and ended up with her face planted in the snow.

"Perhaps you would like some assistance, your highness?" he suggested to the frustrated five-year-old, who huffed eerily like Hermione as she wobbled to stand.

"Yes!"

Severus paused as he reached down to hoist her onto her slide. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, please!" she corrected herself, smiling broadly up at him with snowflakes hanging off of her nose.

"That's more like it."

Lily and Surina were already patiently waiting aboard their slides, eager to go down the hill. Once all three were safely on their slides, Severus cast a charm and pushed them each down the hill, where, instead of slowing as they reached the bottom, their slides flew high into the air and hovered a moment before touching back down. All three squealed with delight, their shrieks of joy echoing up to where Severus stood, waiting to charm and push them all down again.

For two days, the girls had had their father's eyes and ears, allowing him not a moment's peace. Well, not until they went to bed anyhow. Diagon Alley was closed by then, so there would be no sneaking off to do his Christmas shopping once the children were tucked in and fast asleep. Not with an observant and still very much awake Hermione hanging about, demanding whatever was left over of his attention span.

Sure, he loved and worshiped his bright, sultry-when-she-wanted-to-be witch, but time was of the essence! He needed her to either chose to take the children off his hands, at least for a couple of hours, which would be long enough to (hopefully) sneak away or...

Damn it all. When the hell am I supposed to find the time?

He really didn't want to inform Hermione that he still had no present for her. He suspected she probably wouldn't care if he confessed either way, but Severus also knew how much of a sneak his own wife could be when it came to Christmas presents. He had caught her more than one holiday insidiously searching the house for his well-tucked away gifts, though she, of course, claimed that she was doing nothing of the sort.

No, he wouldn't inform her that he desperately needed to make a trip to Diagon Alley in search of what the hell to buy her. Oh, and if she would be so kind as to whisper some ideas in his ear, too, that would be most helpful. No, he wouldn't permit Hermione to think he was that pathetic that he couldn't come up with something for her, nor that he wasn't as prepared for the holidays as she.

Still, he needed to get away soon, or he never would.

"Again, Daddy!" the children disrupted him once more, each pulling their slides up to the top of the hill where Severus remained, stewing and stressing internally.

I need a miracle; or just a bloody opportunity.

"Severus?" she called to him from the hallway before he could disappear; reluctantly, he entered the reading room. "Where are you off to?"

"I thought I'd take the girls to the cinema this afternoon."

Hermione's eyes looked like they may bug right out of their sockets. "To the cinema?"

"Yes," Severus replied, impassively staring back.

"All three?"

"Yes."

Hermione paused, her mouth slowly falling open. "By yourself?"

That inquiry seemed to hit a nerve, for it earned her an animated snarl of aggravation. "Why is that so difficult a feat to believe? I can handle three children, Hermione!"

A puzzled Hermione threw up her hands. "All right, all right! I just... Well, this is most certainly unexpected is all!"

Severus felt the knot in his chest tighten marginally. "Is it?"

Hermione's expectant expression didn't help matters. "Well, when was the last time you went to the cinema?" she challenged.

Of course. Ten points to the know-it-all for noticing and furthering my aggravation, Severus wanted to groan aloud but refrained. He squared his shoulders and maintained a straight-face nonchalantness about his plans.

"I thought it might be good to get the girls out of the house for a while," he answered, thinking fast, though Hermione's suspicious-sounding tone continued not putting him at ease.

"All right, well, if you think the cinema is the place to take them...?"

"I trust you have something better in mind?"

Catching onto the hint of irritation in his voice, Hermione chose wisely to keep mum and shook her head. "No, no, the cinema is fine, dear."

"Very well." Somewhat relieved, Severus quickly turned to walk out and gather the girls when Hermione hesitantly cleared her throat, forcing him to halt in his tracks.

"Can I just ask...?"

Severus's shoulders tensed. "Yes?" he responded cautiously.

When he turned back to Hermione, there was a surprising level of discouragement written across her face that left him stunned. Was she emotionally wrought over something he had said? Her next words offered enlightenment as to the sudden grave frown she wore.

"Why didn't you ask me along?"

Severus's eyes flashed, his cheeks blushing, unprepared. "Oh, well, I..." he grunted awkwardly. "I just thought it might be an opportunity to give you some proper alone time."

Hermione evidently didn't follow. "Huh?"

"Give you a break from the kids."

Hermione's brow furrowed, unconvinced. "But the children haven't given you a break since you've been home, love. I would've thought you might be the one in need of a break by now?"

Severus smirked faintly between his curtain of long, dark hair. "I can manage."

He was pleased to see her relax slightly and return his assurance with a pleasant smile, though skepticism still lingered in her eyes. "Well, all right... If you're sure, Severus?"

"Yes, I am. Take the afternoon off, Hermione. Do whatever you like," Severus hesitated as he reached for the doorknob and eyed her more seriously, "within reason," he added sternly.

Hermione's smile extended at that. "I'll do my best."

Severus finally exited the room and shut the door behind him with a short sigh. I hope the children cooperate...

Hailey frowned up at her hooked-nosed father, her expression pensive and confused. She tugged at his gloved hand to get his attention.

"But Daddy, I thought we were going to the cinema!"

"If there's still time when we're done, munchkin, then we will, but right now, I really need your help."

"This will be fun, Hailey!" Lily giggled and skipped a step at her side. "We'll help Daddy find something really pretty for Mummy!"

"And something that's not too expensive, I hope," Severus muttered too low for the girls to overhear.

Understandably, the children were distracted by all the commotion, chaos, and extravagant holiday decorations that decked out Diagon Alley in festive green and red as far as their short heads could see. They didn't catch Severus's half-jumbled apprehensions, for the streets were spilling over with overly adrenalized, loud shoppers. Witches and wizards whisked this way and that, hefty shopping bags in tow, all in a mad dash to finish their last minute holiday spending before the start of Christmas Eve the following day. More than a handful of times, Severus and the girls, who all shuffled along down the cobblestone streets hand-in-hand, found themselves abruptly cut off by aggressive customers, or at a complete standstill, unable to inch this way or that around the swarming hustle and bustle.

This is why you get your Christmas shopping done weeks ahead of time, you daft idiot! Severus growled feebly to himself. He despised shopping this close to Christmas for this very reason: too many people to maneuver around. It was an added anxiety he couldn't afford; certainly not when he had a reason to be here and a goal in mind.

"Here, Daddy!" Hailey shouted above the buzzing to get his and her siblings' attentions. She pointed enthusiastically to the sign for Flourish & Blotts, and the four Snapes instantly ducked inside, only to find the cozy, well-established bookstore nearly as congested as the busy streets outside.

Damn it, Severus couldn't help but moan. Alas, there was no time to waste.

"Mummy should have something in here, Daddy."

Severus peered thoughtfully down at his youngest. Lily and Surina had already doddered over to a nearby stand of books, busying themselves with reading material more suited to their tastes.

"I think that's a very reasonable idea, Hailey," Severus concurred and Hailey grinned at him proudly, silently leading the way through the large crowd of dawdlers. Severus requested to his older children over his shoulder to stay where he could see them and followed Hailey along, though he had no idea where the five-year-old intended to lead him. Severus's eyes scanned the various book sections they passed, hoping that something might grab his attention. He knew he couldn't go wrong with a new book to add to their ever-prospering reading room collection, but Hermione wasn't exactly the easiest bibliophilic to buy for, considering that she had a tendency to consume nearly every text she could get her greedy fingers on. Severus wouldn't have been surprised if his wife had read every damned book in this store by now.

"Here, Daddy!" Hailey suggested, pulling him into a stack of Charms-related material near the cash register.

Ahhh, clever little toe rag, he found himself musing, quietly smiling down at his endearing, bushy-haired daughter, who was surveying the shelves of books with unmistakable pride. She was clearly on to something, and she knew it, for her mother was quite keen on all the latest Charms developments in the Wizarding world, studying up on their practices regularly, even if they were rarely used in her line of work.

Severus suddenly remembered Hermione recently expressing an interest in a brand new Charms magazine that would be coming out in the New Year, and it was then that he noticed Hailey jumping up and down on her tip toes in an effort to reach a high-standing sign that illustrated that very magazine's upcoming publication date.

Clever girl, indeed.

Severus drifted over to Hailey, currently hell-bent on reaching the sign, though she was far too short to get a hold of one of the magazine's subscription forms, and brought her into a warm hug, bending down to also kiss her forehead in appreciation. "Ten points to you, my quick-thinking brainiac. I think this will be a perfect gift for your mummy."

"I think so, too, Daddy!" she chimed happily and hugged him back.

Severus snatched a subscription form and, together, they made their way to the cash register to purchase a year's worth of issues. He could only hope that Hermione hadn't taken the liberty of buying a subscription herself.

Sneaky witch. If she has, then she's been around me for far too long.

Severus and Hailey made their way back to the front of the bookshop, where Lily and Surina were eying up wizardry legend books and Quidditch self-helper texts. Severus turned to his raven-haired, pretty-eyed Slytherin in-the-making and cocked his head curiously. She was scrunching her nose at his gift choice, but offering none of her personal views on the subject.

"Something on your mind, Surina?"

"I think Mummy needs something else, Daddy."

Severus arched both eyebrows. He didn't intend to make this his only stop for a present, but he was also still at a loss as to what else to buy for his wife.

"Such as?"

The rather crafty smile Surina projected made him rationally leery; it was far too similar to his own particular smirk when he was up to no good, or about to take unabashed delight in someone else's misfortunes.

"Follow me!" she exclaimed, and the four of them hustled out of the bookshop en route to wherever Surina had in mind.

Their destination wasn't far. She brought Severus and her sisters to the front of Magical Menagerie, where the wizard immediately halted in his tracks, staring from the sign to his look-alike daughter, wariness etched across his brow. "Why on earth are we here?" he demanded, not at all ready for the answer.

Surina rolled her eyes and scooped her smaller hand into her father's. "C'mon, I'll show you! Mummy needs one of these."

Severus would have readily turned on the spot and summoned them all as far away from the noisy pet shop as possible—any additional furry, four-legged creatures in their home would not boast well for his horrible allergies, let alone the general rowdiness and disruption of their lively family life—but his second eldest was evidently determined to show him this gift idea for Hermione. Thus, Severus would grudgingly comply—for now.

Magical Menagerie was clamorous and crowded like always, and the awful animal smells and unfriendly stenches that penetrated Severus's nose were enough to make his eyes burn. Thankfully, Surina escorted them down the center aisle of the shop as speedily as she could glide around various folks, all of whom were either gawking or petting different magical creatures of varying shapes and sizes.

Severus was beginning to fear the worst, that perhaps Surina was about to show them another bloody cat of all species, when she cease walking in front of a large crate filled with custard-coloured furballs.

Merlin... Puffskeins?

Surina pointed to one of the smaller creatures near the front. Lily and Hailey, too, admired them by sticking their hands in and stroking the soft fur. The Puffskeins reacted by purring contentedly, or sticking out their long tongues to lick the girls' fingers. Each daughter's reaction was to squeal with delight.

"Mummy's been complaining about wanting a house cleaning assistant for a while," Surina attempted to explain, staring up at her father in a manner that, to him, was a little too imploringly for the cunning youngster.

"Puffskeins aren't efficient housekeepers, Surina," he reminded her as gently as possible.

"Yes, they are!" Lily spoke up, nodding alongside her sibling.

"Yeah, they eat bugs and spiders; even dust! I think she'd really like one, Daddy. Plus, they're so cute! Look at 'em!"

Uglier than sin, Severus thought, smartly electing not to share that opinion.

Staring down at Surina, who was adamantly pushing for this beast to freely roam their house, he unfastened his hand from hers and crossed his arms over his chest. "I sense that this would be more of a purchase for you girls rather than your mother."

"No, it isn't!" they all whined in unison. "Mummy's mentioned them before! She has! We swear! She'd really like one! Please?"

Despite his firmness on the matter, Severus found it exceedingly difficult to deny the three adorable faces pleading up at him, their eyes so large and wondrous he would surely drown in them if he wasn't careful. He sighed heavily and slumped his shoulders.

"Very well. I hope you're right about this, Surina."

"I am, Daddy!" she insisted through a high-pitched squeal. With one hand, she reached in to remove the Puffeskein she had pointed out earlier as a potential candidate. "You'll see!"

I'm sure I will...

Severus grumbled and made his way to the front counter, leaving the children to argue over who got to hold the Puffeskein first. The shop owner, an older witch with thick, dark spectacles, greeted him cheerfully, but this was a highly reluctant, less enthusiastic purchase that Severus was making, and the woman would receive no merry greetings from him. He paid quickly and shooed his daughters out of the shop before they could start begging for yet another obnoxious creature to join their ranks.

Once back on the heavily crowded streets, Severus turned to Lily, who was placing the newly acquired Puffeskein carefully onto Hailey's shoulder. It purred against the child's ear, causing her to giggle mirthlessly.

"And you, Lily?" he asked more tentatively than he had to the previous two. "Did you have something in mind I could get Mummy for Christmas?"

"Yes!" she stated emphatically.

Severus frowned down at her. "That sounds expensive, whatever it is."

"I don't think so," she laughed lightly and gently took him by the hand. "C'mon, Daddy, I'll show you!"

Severus tensely followed, inwardly wondering what his eldest would have in store for him. He was most definitely grateful for his children's assistance in helping him track down Christmas presents for Hermione, but after Surina's less than desired suggestion, which still left him relatively unsure, he hadn't a clue what Lily might have up her sleeve as his last option. Granted, she tended to be more levelheaded than her younger sisters, but that didn't mean Severus wasn't about to receive an eye-full, as well as a cost that might mean emptying the remainder of his pockets.

He tread along beside a tight-lipped Lily, with Hailey holding tight to his opposite hand, and Surina holding Hailey's other free one. Together, the four of them made their way painstakingly slowly down the street, until they reached Twilfitt & Tatting's shop, where Lily slowed her pace and Severus's chest proceeded to tighten.

Twilfitt & Tatting's was undoubtedly the most upscale clothing store in Diagon Alley. Suddenly, Severus's brain was screeching, 'Expensive!' but the girls were already heading inside ahead of him.

With another cumbersome sigh, Severus trudged in after his children, not at all looking forward to what Lily had in mind. Whatever the children helped him decide on for Hermione, it would be indisputably more than he wanted to pay, and clothes shopping in general was, to this Slytherin, the equivalent to having his eyes gauged out by a gnome. He would rather drag his children back to the pet shop than deal with this monstrosity of a situation.

"Lily, I don't think—"

"Mummy should have something nice to wear, Daddy!" the eldest Snape urged, dragging him along the many clothing racks in front of them. "Maybe a pretty dress you could take her out in?"

"Um, well..."

"Or pretty jewels to wear out to dinner?"

"Sweetheart, this is all a very noble gesture, but I'm not sure I can afford—"

What happened next caused Severus to temporarily lose track of his thoughts, Lily and Surina to snicker behind covered mouths, and Hailey to duck behind a rack so that the Puffskein on her shoulder wouldn't be spotted. A familiar head of thick curls whirled around from speaking to the shop owner to collide with Severus. Her eyes widened in horror when she took in who was standing before her—a very unusual response to how she normally greeted her husband, with warmth and unmistakable affection.

"Hermione?"

"Severus?"

"What are you doing here?" they demanded at the same time, each turning a brighter shade of red.

"I..."

"I thought you were taking the girls to the cinema!"

"I am!"

"Oh? Decided to stop here along the way?" she challenged huffily. "Seems a pretty long distance from where you were headed."

"And what's your excuse?" he snarled back.

Hermione blushed to her roots and seemed to have difficulty coming up with an answer—at first. "You told me to take the day for myself!"

Severus eyed his rosining witch over dubiously. "You never shop here, Hermione."

"Well— I— Neither do you!"

Point taken.

Severus ran his fingers through his hair, wondering what on earth would prompt Hermione to frequent this costly establishment, when the cheaper clothing stores had always sufficed in the past. Had Severus gravely misjudged his frugal wife all these years? Did she actually prefer higher end items, though they had never been able to afford such luxuries?

A pang of guilt was caving in on Severus's chest, and he felt the sudden urge to sweep out of this lavish establishment as quickly as he could, only Hermione's stammering and less harsh words brought him crashing back to reality. "I... I was just browsing, that's all."

"What's that, Mummy?" Hailey inquired, pointing to a small bag behind her mother's back. She remained half-hidden behind a bunch of elaborately embroidered scarves and shawls.

"Oh! It - It's nothing," she stammered.

So, she did desire to shop here, Severus realized, the shame rippling through him exacerbating by the second. His pointed look set the blush lighting Hermione's cheeks ablaze. He had never seen her more seemingly guilt-ridden, and it brought forth a host of unpleasantness he wasn't prepared to handle at the moment. He opted for composure and to show no glimmer of humiliation. Instead, he emitted a burdensome sigh and stepped forward.

"This is not the time," he responded softly, and reached out to brush his thumb along Hermione's jaw. "We can discuss this when I get home."

"Very well," Hermione agreed a little too hastily for Severus; she leaned forward and pecked his cheek. "I'll - I'll see you in a bit then."

With a brisk goodbye to the girls, Hermione rushed out of the store and didn't look back. Severus watched her leave, increasingly puzzled and repentant with their tight financial restraints. What more could he do, after all? He was working enough hard, long, grueling hours as it was. Was Hermione more materialistic than she had ever led him to believe?

You'll surely have to get her something expensive now, Severus...

The squeaky voice of the elderly shop owner behind Severus interrupted his concerns. "Oh, bless that woman! It was about time I got rid of those cufflinks! Been trying to sell them for six sodding months now!"

Severus blinked, startled, and turned to the wizard with long, unruly white hair and a thick mustache. "Cufflinks?" he inquired as impassively as possible.

The wizard gave him a genial twitch of his mustache, apparently not recognizing Severus as the purchaser's husband. "Yes, indeed! Marvelous set; surprised they didn't sell quicker! Beautiful sterling silver. Engraved with serpents and outlined in emerald diamonds. Truly unique and one of a kind! Were you interested in ordering a set for yourself, Sir? You look like a gentleman that could use—"

"No," Severus interrupted, without an ounce of displeasure in his voice.

A handsome sliver of awareness crossed Severus's lips. So, that was why Hermione was here, he admired quietly, feeling a swell for his witch expanding in his chest, not for herself, but for...me. That sneaky chit!

Not only that, but Hermione apparently was not as prepared for the holidays as she led Severus to believe—at least, not this year. It was one more reason to smirk like the cat who had gotten the cream; or, at least, the goods on his wife.

Reassured, Severus made his way to the counter, the reluctance to spend what was left in his wallet thrown out of the penny-pinching window of his mind. "Perhaps you have an attractive necklace and earrings set I might acquire? Something fitting for an authentic, fiery witch who descends from the House of Gryffindor?"

The shop owner studied the pale, sable-cloaked man considerately a long moment, and then the three enchanting children that accompanied him. If any of these fetching little ladies resembled their mother in the slightest, than that witch was in luck. Very good luck, indeed.

The shop owner snapped his fingers and confidently nodded. "I think I know just what you're looking for, Sir. Please, come this way."

Feeling more certain about his Christmas purchases than ever, and with the infallible help of his smart daughters, Severus was now convinced that Hermione would be genuinely wowed with her presents this year. She would also—with much pleasure—be getting an earful from the snarky wizard on her lack of readiness for the Christmas holiday, something she always prided herself on. If the clever witch intended to taunt him over not knowing what to get her, as that confession was sure to come out upon his return (he had no proper excuse for being at that shop, after all), then, to Severus, it was only fitting that Hermione reap the consequences as well.

Severus followed the jolly, aged shop owner to a jewelry stand near the back of the store, with three small witches skipping gleefully behind him, humming holiday tunes as they awaited their father's gift decision. Whatever he chose, they all suspected it would surely be something spectacular and sparkly that would amaze their mother this Christmas.

A/N #2: Sorry, again, that this one-shot comes after the holidays, but I hope you still found it to be a fun and festive read!

Reviews are encouraging, and let me know that folks are still interested/reading...