Title: Footsteps
Rating: G – There is almost swearing, but barely even that…
Genre: Humour and a smidgen of Romance (if you look really carefully)
Summary: The following day after the 'conversation'. The entire student population is amazed when it is announced that Snape has fallen ill, and that his lessons are cancelled for the day. Severus, Diana and their family go off to a semi-uneventful picnic somewhere in the highlands…
Disclaimer: Guess what I am about to say … I only own characters and (tiny) plot that is not mentioned in the Harry Potter Series. Ownership goes to JK Rowling. No point suing … I am now officially a penniless student. Gulp.
A/N: Thank you to Savannah – in reply to your review, I don't know what came over me when I made Dumbledore's granddaughter, Sev's mother. And for the scenario about the hidden corridors it is just a place for the kids during the day. Some embarrassing questions would be posed if kids were running about the castle, not to also mention the disruption they could cause! And another big thank you to One of Grace (I must say, I do enjoy a good bracket) … that was terrible, wasn't it. ::groan from audience::
A/N2: I know that Severus might appear a little OOC – but with family, everyone acts differently
A/N3: I should rename this fic "A Very Family Affair", but I don't feel bothered ^_^
Chapter IV – The Madness That Is the Over-Excitable Nature of Children
Carrying a large wicker basket, Severus tried to remember the last time that he had actually taken a sicky … the last time must have been at least seven or eight years ago. And even then he hadn't been truly sick – again, Diana had ordered him to take the day off – it had been their tenth anniversary. He smiled inwards as he recalled the events of that day – and the after-effects of those events, and at this turn of thoughts, looked towards his daughter, Kai.
"What's the matter, Dad?"
"Nothing, just don't know when your mother will find the 'perfect spot'."
Diana glared at her husband. "The location of a picnic is almost as important as the actual picnic itself, Sev. You should know that!"
"If you say so, dear." That familiar flash of red halted him. "Sam!" He shouted. "Samuel! Put down that rabbit!"
Sam, who was currently levitating a brown and white rabbit two feet off the ground, blushed red. "But, Daddy … I'm sure that Bernard is enjoying himself…" The rabbit, if understanding the situation, starred at the man of the Snape household with longing.
"Oh, for goodness sake…" Severus trailed off, and looked towards his wife for support. All the reply he got was a small shake of a head. "Da … darn it," he muttered and strode towards the tiny boy. Bending to his knees and setting down the hamper, he told Sam quietly, "I don't think that Bernard appreciates being two feet off the ground. There is a reason why we don't all float. If Bernard wants to stay with us he will hop behind us, okay?"
Sam, still looking a little bit unsure, settled the rabbit to solid earth. You could tell that the rabbit was happy with the situation as he tested his feet against the soil. "But … why don't we all fly?"
Markus and Kai groaned, and Diana rolled her eyes. They all knew what was going to happen. But Sam – knowing that his father was the centre of his universe, and therefore, always right, was ignorant as he waited for his answer.
There was a reason why Severus had become a teacher (although students like Neville Longbottom sometimes made him regret the decision) was a very simple one. He loved to teach. He absolutely hated ignorance; and what Sam wasn't to know that by the end of the day he would know all about the mystery that is gravity. And not just in relation to planet Earth.
"Well, Sam, you stay on your feet because of a force pulling you down."
"Like Star Wars? Because Luke's cool!"
"Not really. Anyway…"
"That's prob'ly good. Han is better." Sam imitated Luke Skywalker (as it was difficult for him to imitate Han Solo) by waving his imaginary lifesaber.
"Right." Severus looked towards Diana, with amusement written all over his face. "You know, Diana, I think we have to start to detach Sam from the television."
"Never! Never, never, never…" Sam started to repeat like a mantra, skipping around in circles, as Kai and Markus ran towards a small brook shouting at the top of their voices – constantly pushing the other out of the way, and (hopefully, according to each of them) into the water. Diana, stirred by the sudden noise disturbing all the birds within a two-mile radius, ran after her two eldest, shouting,
"You two come right here before you drown! I don't care if I have to knock your heads together!…"
"Anyway," Severus repeated patiently to the ever-attentive Sam, who suddenly stopped his mantra at the sound of his daddy's voice. "This particular force is called gravity…"
Basically your average family day out.
A/N4: I know that this chapter is a tad shorter than my other chapters, but it just felt right, you know?