Chapter Fifteen: Tis The Season
Stevie let out a deep and heavy sigh and groaned and rolled her eyes while she waited in line to see Santa Claus with her uncle and the rest of her family. Although she had to admit that it was better than getting beaten by her father. Severus tried to ignore all of the points and whispers at Harry while he moved up with everybody else in line.
When it was finally Harry's turn he bravely plopped down on top of Santa's lap. "So, what's your name little boy?" He questioned him and Severus figured that he knew who he was for real because of the obvious lightning bolt scar on his forehead but wanted Harry to tell him anyways.
"Awee." He replied with a rather large grin while Lily smiled rather warmly and lovingly at her son and Santa just simply nodded at him.
"Ah, I see,.. and how old are you Harry?" He inquired.
"Two." Harry told him proudly as this time it was Severus' turn to smile at him.
"Have you been a good boy this year Harry?" Santa asked him and he silently nodded.
"Yes, he's been a very good little boy this year." Lily told him.
"Excellent! That's what I like to hear." Santa began with a twinkle in his eye. "So, what would you like for Christmas then?" He questioned him.
"A puppy." Harry told him.
"Harry,.. we've already been through this we're not getting a puppy." Lily reminded him as he quickly glanced up at her and tears started forming in his eyes.
"I want a puppy!" He cried.
"Oh dear." Santa said.
"Now Harry, do you really think that it's a wise idea to start having a temper tantrum on Santa's lap?" Severus questioned him. "You're liable not to get anything for Christmas with that attitude." He warned him and that's when suddenly without warning Harry got up and started running away. "Harry James Potter you get back here right this instant!" Lily scolded.
"Don't worry, I'll get him and you take care of the baby." Severus told her as he started running after Harry and soon as he caught him, he smacked him on the bottom causing him to burst into tears. He squatted down and still grabbing his arm with one hand, he pointed his finger at him with the other hand.
"Don't you ever run away like that again! It's dangerous! Somebody bad could grab you and you would never be able to see your family again." He told him while his heart pounded frantically against his chest and Harry continued to sob. Before Severus knew what he was doing he threw his arms around him tightly and embraced him. "I'm sorry, you just really scared me and if something happened to you I don't know what I would do." He told him while hoisting him up inside his arms.
"Shh,.. it's alright now. Everything will be alright." He told him before kissing his cheek and brushing away his tears. "Just calm down." He told him as Harry stopped crying and sniffed. "Good boy, now maybe as soon as your sister finishes getting her picture taken with Santa Claus you can think of something else to tell Santa that you would like hmm?" He suggested questioningly.
"A toy twain." Harry told him as Severus smiled at him.
"That's a very good idea. As I already know how much you like trains. Do you remember what a train says?" He questioned him as Harry smiled at him.
"Yes,.. choo-choo!" He replied in a sing-songy voice.
"That's right, you're such a smart boy." Severus said with a grin while starting to tickle him a little bit making him smile and giggle. He gently kissed his head and then adjusted his grip on him before carrying him back over to the line.
…..
The next day Severus and Harry played in the living room while Lily started attempting to feed Sarah her first solid food, and Stevie watched from the window as some new neighbors were currently moving in a crossed the street.
"I sure hope that you're going to be finished making that antidote soon Harry as I don't feel very well at all." Severus pretended while he laid there on the couch and groaned, and Harry started adding pretend ingredients to his cauldron.
"Don't worry, I will." He assured him.
Meanwhile Lily finished making Sarah's baby food for her and pulled out a chair and sat down in it in front of her highchair. "Alright Sally, look what Mummy has for you." She said while the baby girl started sucking on and drooling all over her fist. "It's a lot better than your fist." Lily told her while gently moving it away from her mouth causing her to fuss.
"Come on Sarah, it's good. I promise you that." She reassured her daughter while meanwhile Harry pushed a button that made his pretend cauldron seem like it was boiling. As the baby continued fussing Lily heaved a sigh and then remembered something that her muggle mother used to do for her when she was her age.
"Look at Mummy princess." Lily began. "Here comes the airplane into the hanger." She told her and made noises with her mouth that sounded like an airplane engine while she moved her spoon around like one as well. Sarah giggled and finally opened her mouth allowing her mother to feed her. "Aw, that's my big girl." She said as she smiled at her and kissed her cheek before wiping off the bottom of her mouth with her bib.
As Harry finished pretending to brew his potion, he turned his head and looked out the window and screeched excitedly. "Snow!" He cried while he pointed towards it.
"Yeah I know, I see it snowing." Stevie said with a grin.
"Well, maybe after your nap you can go out and play in it as we should probably be getting you ready for it now." Severus said as he stood up.
"No." Harry replied.
"Yes." Severus began. "And if you start giving me a hard time about it then you won't be able to at all." He warned him as he bent down and picked him up. "And it seems like you need a diaper change as well. So, I will go ahead and put a fresh one on you and then you can pick out a story that you would like me to read to you before you take a nap." He told him as he kissed his cheek and then carried him down the hallway.
