Another (more innocent) drabble inspired by the Ron's Terrier Patronus.

Era: Post-Hogwarts (Domestic fluff)
Rating: k+

Coming Home

You can't give the kids an otter, when they're expectiing a puppy. It's not the same.

As soon as I arrived back home, I was nearly tackled right back onto the fireplace. Four tiny arms wrapped around my hips and legs. I was defeated, and immobilized. Just where I wanted to be.

"Daddy!"

I spent the last week away on an Auror trip, and I hadn't gotten a full night's sleep in six days, nor had I had access to regular meals. It reminded me way too much of the war, and I was bloody well ready to return to my family, get some sleep, and eat some food. But I forgot all about that when I saw my family.

"What are you two doing awake?" I reached for Hugo and pulled him up to my hip. I could help but smile when he gave me that toothy lopsided grin that I recognized from my own baby pictures. "It's late, you should be in bed!"

"Mummy said we could!" Rosie still had her arms wrapped so tightly around my hips that she was cutting off my circulation, but I didn't mind.

"Did she now?" I asked as I crouched down, still holding onto Hugo to return Rosie's hug.

"I did," Hermione then entered the room, beaming at me. She looked exhausted, which is probably why she lost the bedtime battle this evening. Rosie and Hugo could wear anyone down, I knew that well enough. "They were too excited to see their daddy. They really missed you."

"I missed them too." I gave the kids one more squeeze, before lowering Hugo back to his feet and turning to my wife with open arms. "Get over here, Hermione."

I met her halfway, enveloping her in my arms. She seemed to melt right into them. "Were they terrible?" I whispered into her hair.

She laughed. "No, they were wonderful. They just missed you a lot." She pulled back to look at me, and lovingly brushed my fringe out of my eyes. I loved it when she did that. "As did I."

I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. Her grip tightened around my shoulders and I lifted her off her feet. She smiled against my lips.

"Ewww! Gross!"

I laughed and slid her back to the floor. "I think it's time for bed, isn't it?" I said to the kids.

"Nooooo!" I knew from experience that if Rosie wasn't in bed by a certain hour, she would never be. She could stay awake all night if she was determined, and she kept Hugo up too. Unfortunately, Hugo couldn't maintain the same energy level, he would just get crankier by the hour.

"Mummy said if we stayed up late, we could play with Sparky!"

I turned toward Hermione, who was smiling sheepishly. "Did you tell them that?"

She nodded. "Sorry, I was desperate! And I missed Sparky too…"

I groaned. I was too tired to produce my terrier patronus now, but I didn't want to disappoint the kids. "Why, Hermione?" I groaned.

"Ollie's not the same! I tried. You can't give the kids an otter when they're expecting a puppy," she said with a shrug.

I turned to the kids. "I'm sorry, Daddy's too tired right now-," I began.

'NO!" shrieked Rosie. "Mummy you promised!"

Rosie began to sob, which prompted Hugo to do the same. I looked back at Hermione, who simply pleaded at me with her eyes. It was the same tactic Rosie used, and both knew I was helpless.

"Ok, ok. I'll give it a try!" Rosie and Hugo both ceased crying and excitement washed over their faces. "But go easy on me! I might not be able to keep him around for very long, ok?"

"Promise!" said Rose.

"Pwomise," Hugo repeated.

"And you have to promise to go to bed right after," I negotiated. "Deal?"

Rose and Hugo exchanged a look before subtly nodding at each other. "Deal."

My heart swelled with affection for my two incredibly smart little negotiators. and I didn't have to think too hard about where that trait came from. I looked back at Hermione, who was beaming. Thank you, she mouthed.

I could pull up the happy memories effortlessly, that's just how it was these days. I thought hard about those adorable little arms engulfing me in a hug upon my arrival from the fireplace, and their excited shrieks. I recalled their tiny voices calling me "daddy", a name I now responded to more quickly than "Ron". I saw Hermione smiling at me, hugging me, and kissing me.

"Expecto Patronum." The silver terrier sauntered from my wand into the living room, wagging his tail as he trotted up to the kids.

"Sparky!" In a sudden burst of energy, Rosie bolted forward toward the holographic puppy, prompting him to chase her. Hugo stumbled behind them, laughing and smiling.

Turns out I didn't have to work very hard at all to keep Sparky around. The happiness that fed him was already abundant in the room.

I was busy watching the kids chasing Sparky around the living room when I felt Hermione slide her hands around my waist. "Thank you," she said, leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Of course," I told her, before pressing a kiss to her temple. "I missed you like crazy." I placed my arms around her, returning her hug. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she muttered. Then she looked up at me, raising an eyebrow. "Now really, how tired are you?"

I laughed. "Depends on why you're asking."

"I think you know why," she said before placing her lips on mine. I paused waiting for the familiar chorus of disgusted protests from the kids that I came to expect whenever I kissed Hermione in front of them, but they were too distracted by Sparky to notice us.

I pulled away and smiled down at her. "Maybe Sparky can help us convince the kids to go to bed?"

She grinned at me. "I think it's worth a shot," she said, before pulling me back in for another kiss.