Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Russie and Mya, they are sort of my babies.
Wee note: Please don't take my stories literally to the details in the book...it is not story compliant. If I say Severus for example, has a dog called Jimmy with 3 balls it's because I think it will fit my story better. Smile, breathe and relax.
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As the foursome arrived at Edinburgh Zoo, each person had mixed feelings about the trip.
Severus was determined to guilt Mya and Russie into an apology but spoiling them rotten, Hermione was unsure if they should be spoiling the children in order to get them to apologise. Mya was feeling nervous, for two reasons; to see what Hermione and Severus had in store and what type of stunt Russie would pull in retaliation. And Russie, well Russie was apprehensive to say the least. His little mind was working overtime thinking about what Severus had in store for them, especially since his Uncle Severus sounded so smug and sure of himself when he spoke to Aunt Hermione earlier.
They spent most of the day walking around the grounds. Mya was fascinated by the reptile house, marveling in the scaley creatures. Severus and Russie both looked incredibly uncomfortable as they passed the snake enclosures. Hermione grabbed Severus's hand and gave him a reassuring squeeze when she saw him absentmindedly grasp his neck where Nagini had bit him.
"Love, if this is too…difficult, we can move on. Even Russie is uncomfortable…I keep forgetting that although he's a child, he has all your memories."
Severus gave Hermione a small smile, "I'm ok, it's just…strange. It's a strange fear Hermione. I hope you don't think me weak for flinching whenever I see snakes in the flesh. Brings up too many bad memories."
"You're my war hero...there's nothing weak about you Severus Snape. Don't you ever forget that!" She kissed him on the cheek.
He looked over to Mya and Russie and recognized Russie's discomfort. Like himself, Russie was too proud to admit he was scared shitless of the snakes, the memory of Nagini's attack was still painfully fresh in his mind as well.
"I forget that Russie has seen all my memories too. It is difficult enough to have my memories play in my head at this age, never mind seven years old. Perhaps…perhaps my whole plan to get one over on the children is in bad taste. Mya would go along with anything Russie asked her to so I'm sure he was the instigator; however they caused no harm, not really. Perhaps we should just enjoy the day as a family? It's not like I ever got treats or days out like this when I was his age. What do you think?" He turned to Hermione who was smiling at him with such love and adoration, his breath caught in his throat.
"I think that's a wonderful idea. I never liked this plan to guilt the kids into feeling bad in the first place. I know you possess the Slytherin cunning but perhaps you can use that skill towards something else. Something that may result in a more...postive ending."
They walked from the reptile house and along to the penguin parade area, the children squealing in excitement as the music began and the little penguins began to march in front of them.
"Something else?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes love, something else. Say, for example, you used your Slytherin cunning to trick me into your bed or have me dress up in a particularly sexy way…I wouldn't be opposed to that." She gave him a cheeky wink and turned her attention to the parade in front of them.
"You wanton little minx." He grabbed her roughly and kissed her with all the passion he could muster.
The couple were far too caught up in one another to notice Russie smiling like the cat that got the cream as he zipped up his back-pack. Little Mya was staring at him with wide, worried eyes.
"Russie, we're going to get into so much trouble! Please don't do this." She pleaded.
"Mya, trust me. This is going to be fantastic. Think of their faces when they see!" Russie smiled gleefully.
Severus and Hermione finally broke apart to find that they had missed the whole Penguin Parade. The pair had the decency to blush and ushered the children towards the gift shop.
"Now you're both allowed one toy each. Nothing too expensive remember, Christmas is coming soon." Hermione smiled. Her heart leapt as she saw the shock and glee expressed in Russie's face.
"We…we can have a present? A-a toy?" He asked as though he didn't believe her.
Severus blushed slightly, embarrassed for his younger self. "Yes Russie. Any toy you want. Expensive or not…go on, but don't take all day about it, we need to leave for the castle before it gets dark!"
Hermione smiled warmly up at her lover as the children ran towards the toy section in excitement.
"I thought we weren't going to spoil them darling?" She raised her eyebrow in a Snape-style with a smirk.
"Hermione, love, I never…he's never had a day out like this. Please…let me spoil him just this once." His dark brown eyes pleaded with her.
She rolled her eyes good naturedly and sighed, "Of course I don't mind silly. You deserve everything good in this life. If you wanted the moon, I'd sling a lasso around it and give it to you." She kissed him gently.
"You're quoting It's a Wonderful Life?" He asked with a snort.
"Damn… I forget you're half muggle. I can't steal movie one liners and pass them off as my own as much around you."
They both laughed and kissed each other gently while the children selected their desired toy.
As Russie and Mya browsed the toys, Mya elbowed him in the ribs after making sure Hermione and Severus were not close by.
"Russ, please now…don't do this. It's obvious that they're not planning anything against us now so just putitback. We've had a fabulous day and they're even getting us a present. Does it not make you feel bad? This silly Slytherin cunning of yours has gone too far. They will go ballistic when they find out!" Her whisper grew louder towards the end of her lecture.
"Look Mya, yes I feel bad. It's too late though. I can't undo this now, we're going back to the castle shortly. I'll figure out a way to put things right. We just have to try our best to hide this from Uncle Severus and Auntie Hermione until I can get rid of it."
Russie felt horrid. He should never have done what he did. He just had to hope that Severus and Hermione wouldn't find out what he'd done. They would be greatly disappointed and embarrassed, that's for sure.
Well done Snape, you've managed to create trouble again! I only hope Uncle Severus won't throttle me when and if he finds out. Russie thought with a grimace.
a/n: what has Russie done?
I had intended for Severus to be more of a bastard to the kids but I just didn't think that'd be his style, especially now that he is in lurve. lol
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