A/N: thank you to all who read/reviewed. Your feedback is super helpful :-)
Severus and Sirius James had sat down to dinner when Hermione and Holly arrived, with Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall in tow, their two children following them.
"Headmaster...?" Severus asked, frowning down at his two children in distaste. Albus merely smiled as he took a seat.
"I always take an interest in the children of my staff members. This is no diffrent, Severus." Albus said as he moved his hands in sign language, for the benefit of Sirius James. Severus watched Albus with a suspicious air about him. Albus smiled at Minerva as she shooed their children to the bathroom to wash. The boy was around twelve, and the girl was about nine. Not too young for people like Albus and Minerva, Severus decided as he reached for a goblet of wine. He was smacked by Hermione, who had sat by his side.
"Severus, wait for everybody to be at the table, and ask in sign language." Hermione said waspishly as her hands moved slowly. "This is to help us learn quickly and to help Sirius to get used to his new home. Think of it as an welcoming feast." At that, Severus grumbled under his breath. "Holly and I have been praticing for dinner, we've even been teaching Hale and Erin some signs so they can play with Sirius." The mentioned children had taken their seats in between Albus and Minerva, the two staring up at Severus and Sirius.
"Very well." Seveus said with a sigh, consulting his book with a frown on his mouth, not liking having to wait for his meal. "Drink, please."
"Thank you, Severus." Hermione said with a smile as she handed Severus his goblet. Albus and Minerva both smiled at Severus, pleased that he hadn't begun snapping at the other patrons of the table, nor become snarky. This evening could be pleasant, if Severus behaved himself. What they didn't count on was the behavior of the children.
"Mama Mione, can I have some lemon drops? Grandpa Albus said I can have some." Holly replied, her hands moving in sign language as well as speaking with her voice. Hermione frowned at Albus as she shook her head.
"Later. When you and the other children finish your dinner, then you can ask Albus." Holly frowned and glanced at Erin, who shrugged and returned to her meal. Hale shook his head at Albus and pushed his plate away, indicating he was done. Snippy appeared to clean up the plates and remains of the meal, as the adults conversed lightly about the upcoming day, which was September 1st, the first day of term for the professors.
"So I'll be Sorted, then?" Hale asked with excitement as he fidgeted in his seat, turning from the game he and the other children had been playing. "I shall be in Gryffindor!" Hale said with a smile. Severus smirked.
"For all you know, you could be a Slytherin."
"Am not!" Hale said with a frown as Holly glared at Hale and bopped him upside his head .
"Not all Slytherins are bad beople. Auntie Cissa and Uncle Drakkey aren't so bad, and Mum says Severus Snape--"
"Apologize to Hale, Holly." Hermione hastily interrupted, waving her hand at Holly, who stuck her lower lip out at her mother. "Now."
"Fine. Hale, I'm sorry I bopped you." she replied sulkily, scowling at the older boy as Erin giggled madly, and Sirius sat there, bored, since everyone had abadoned the novelty of signing. Severus scowled at Hermione, wondering what she had been saying about him behind his back. Holly then turned to Sirius, her hands moving rapidly and giggling. Hale, Erin, and Sirius all burst out in racocous laughter, snickering and throwing down their cards, abadoning their game and choosing to huddle around each other, Holly translating for Sirius. All of the adults glanced at each other uneasily, Albus lost for once, not understanding the behaviour of his own children.
"Don't look at me, Severus. Holly just remarked that Hermione remarked that you could give her detention any day. I don't think there's.." Albus remarked as Minerva jabbed him in the side with her sharp elbow, silencing the old man at her side.
"I think it is time for us to go, we have a busy day tomorrow with the arrival of the new students, and Hale needs to pack his things. Come on, Hale, Erin."
"but, Minerva.." Hale said with a sigh. "Things were getting good, too!"
"Come on, it's past Erin's bedtime. And I'm sure Holly and Sirius need to go to bed." Albus said with a twinkle in his eye. "They can see each other tomorrow at the Day Centre." Albus said, referring to the center recently established next door to Hogwarts, for the professors' children to go to school if they were too young to go to Hogwarts, and for the younger ones to be watched. Erin smiled at Severus and Hermione as she headed over to Albus and Minerva, taking the deputy headmistress's hand into hers. "Good night, Severus, Hermione."
After Albus, Minerva, and their children had left, Severus glanced at Hermione, Holly, and Sirius. The children were giggling and chasing each other around the room, ceasing occasionally to sign to each other. Hermione was sitting on the couch, blushing furiously. Suddenly, the implications of the earlier conversastion hit him. He wasn't dense or slow on the uptake, but he knew an innuendo when he heard one. He was just not used to having them aimed at him.
"Miss Granger." Severus purred, arching an eyebrow. "If you wanted detention with me, All you had to do was ask." At that, Severus was pleased that Hermione had turned twenty additional shades of red, red enough to rival a Weasley's red hair. Severus smirked as he rose from his spot on the couch and glided over to his son, waving his arm to get his attention. The boy turned, but was tackled by Holly in his moment of distraction. After the children had finished their tussle, Severus scowled down at the two children.
"It is time for him to go to bed. You should be off to bed, also." Severus said sharply at Holly, who only grinned up at him mischievously. Severus didn't like that look.
"Well, don't you and Mama Mione have a bedtime too?" Holly replied gracefully, her hands moving slowly as Sirius James laughed, shaking his head and his hands moving rapidly.
"What did he say?" severus asked, suspicion written on his face. Holly innocently looked up at him, her hazel eyes large and angelic, her brown hair coming loose from it's horse's tail.
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"No." Holly said, sticking her tongue out at Severus. "Kids have their secrets too, just like you and Mama Mione have your secrets." At that, Severus's eyes glided over to Hermione, who was still blushing furiously, her head in her hands at the crazy remarks of her not so angelic daughter. Severus remained silent, for the first time in his life, he had no snarky comeback. A five year old girl had gotten the best of him. And worst of all, she was the know-it-all's daughter. Will wonders ever cease, Severus thought dryly as he scowled down at the mischievous pair of Sirius James and Holly Granger.
"GO. To. Bed. Now." Severus said, his hands moving surely and slowly. Both children knew it was time to listen to the Potions-Master, he seemed at the end of his rope. After all, it had been quite a day for everyone in the room.
"Holly, why did you have to be so cheeky to Severus?" Hermione snapped as they reached their own rooms, having used Severus's fireplace for the floo. Holly giggled, looking up at her mother with her almond-shaped eyes, radiating innocence from every pore.
"He was cheeky to you. So he deserved it." Holly said, as Hermione blushed. She didn't want to explain the nuances of flirting with Severus Snape, and their awkard, sudden relationship, so she just sent her daughter off to bed. As she listened to Holly brushing her teeth, Hermione sat on the couch, wondering what had gotten into Severus Snape. He was still stern and staid, yes, but something in him had been looseneed, ever since Sirius had arrived. Perhaps the responsibility of Sirius had given Severus something to do with his time, other than brood in his dungeons. With thoughts of Severus's change in behavior, Hermione slipped into her pyjamas and slid into her bed, slowly drifting off to sleep.
A/N: sorry, I know i promised a longer chapter, but wanted to update quickly.. Next chappy will be longer and kind of dark, about Sirius James's history at the Orphanage, and Snape's time as a Death Eater. Just warning you ahead of time.... Plus, Dumbledore knows everything, so I would assume he already is fluent in sign language. More SS/HG interaction will come up, I promise... as well as AD/MM...
Severus and Sirius James had sat down to dinner when Hermione and Holly arrived, with Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall in tow, their two children following them.
"Headmaster...?" Severus asked, frowning down at his two children in distaste. Albus merely smiled as he took a seat.
"I always take an interest in the children of my staff members. This is no diffrent, Severus." Albus said as he moved his hands in sign language, for the benefit of Sirius James. Severus watched Albus with a suspicious air about him. Albus smiled at Minerva as she shooed their children to the bathroom to wash. The boy was around twelve, and the girl was about nine. Not too young for people like Albus and Minerva, Severus decided as he reached for a goblet of wine. He was smacked by Hermione, who had sat by his side.
"Severus, wait for everybody to be at the table, and ask in sign language." Hermione said waspishly as her hands moved slowly. "This is to help us learn quickly and to help Sirius to get used to his new home. Think of it as an welcoming feast." At that, Severus grumbled under his breath. "Holly and I have been praticing for dinner, we've even been teaching Hale and Erin some signs so they can play with Sirius." The mentioned children had taken their seats in between Albus and Minerva, the two staring up at Severus and Sirius.
"Very well." Seveus said with a sigh, consulting his book with a frown on his mouth, not liking having to wait for his meal. "Drink, please."
"Thank you, Severus." Hermione said with a smile as she handed Severus his goblet. Albus and Minerva both smiled at Severus, pleased that he hadn't begun snapping at the other patrons of the table, nor become snarky. This evening could be pleasant, if Severus behaved himself. What they didn't count on was the behavior of the children.
"Mama Mione, can I have some lemon drops? Grandpa Albus said I can have some." Holly replied, her hands moving in sign language as well as speaking with her voice. Hermione frowned at Albus as she shook her head.
"Later. When you and the other children finish your dinner, then you can ask Albus." Holly frowned and glanced at Erin, who shrugged and returned to her meal. Hale shook his head at Albus and pushed his plate away, indicating he was done. Snippy appeared to clean up the plates and remains of the meal, as the adults conversed lightly about the upcoming day, which was September 1st, the first day of term for the professors.
"So I'll be Sorted, then?" Hale asked with excitement as he fidgeted in his seat, turning from the game he and the other children had been playing. "I shall be in Gryffindor!" Hale said with a smile. Severus smirked.
"For all you know, you could be a Slytherin."
"Am not!" Hale said with a frown as Holly glared at Hale and bopped him upside his head .
"Not all Slytherins are bad beople. Auntie Cissa and Uncle Drakkey aren't so bad, and Mum says Severus Snape--"
"Apologize to Hale, Holly." Hermione hastily interrupted, waving her hand at Holly, who stuck her lower lip out at her mother. "Now."
"Fine. Hale, I'm sorry I bopped you." she replied sulkily, scowling at the older boy as Erin giggled madly, and Sirius sat there, bored, since everyone had abadoned the novelty of signing. Severus scowled at Hermione, wondering what she had been saying about him behind his back. Holly then turned to Sirius, her hands moving rapidly and giggling. Hale, Erin, and Sirius all burst out in racocous laughter, snickering and throwing down their cards, abadoning their game and choosing to huddle around each other, Holly translating for Sirius. All of the adults glanced at each other uneasily, Albus lost for once, not understanding the behaviour of his own children.
"Don't look at me, Severus. Holly just remarked that Hermione remarked that you could give her detention any day. I don't think there's.." Albus remarked as Minerva jabbed him in the side with her sharp elbow, silencing the old man at her side.
"I think it is time for us to go, we have a busy day tomorrow with the arrival of the new students, and Hale needs to pack his things. Come on, Hale, Erin."
"but, Minerva.." Hale said with a sigh. "Things were getting good, too!"
"Come on, it's past Erin's bedtime. And I'm sure Holly and Sirius need to go to bed." Albus said with a twinkle in his eye. "They can see each other tomorrow at the Day Centre." Albus said, referring to the center recently established next door to Hogwarts, for the professors' children to go to school if they were too young to go to Hogwarts, and for the younger ones to be watched. Erin smiled at Severus and Hermione as she headed over to Albus and Minerva, taking the deputy headmistress's hand into hers. "Good night, Severus, Hermione."
After Albus, Minerva, and their children had left, Severus glanced at Hermione, Holly, and Sirius. The children were giggling and chasing each other around the room, ceasing occasionally to sign to each other. Hermione was sitting on the couch, blushing furiously. Suddenly, the implications of the earlier conversastion hit him. He wasn't dense or slow on the uptake, but he knew an innuendo when he heard one. He was just not used to having them aimed at him.
"Miss Granger." Severus purred, arching an eyebrow. "If you wanted detention with me, All you had to do was ask." At that, Severus was pleased that Hermione had turned twenty additional shades of red, red enough to rival a Weasley's red hair. Severus smirked as he rose from his spot on the couch and glided over to his son, waving his arm to get his attention. The boy turned, but was tackled by Holly in his moment of distraction. After the children had finished their tussle, Severus scowled down at the two children.
"It is time for him to go to bed. You should be off to bed, also." Severus said sharply at Holly, who only grinned up at him mischievously. Severus didn't like that look.
"Well, don't you and Mama Mione have a bedtime too?" Holly replied gracefully, her hands moving slowly as Sirius James laughed, shaking his head and his hands moving rapidly.
"What did he say?" severus asked, suspicion written on his face. Holly innocently looked up at him, her hazel eyes large and angelic, her brown hair coming loose from it's horse's tail.
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"No." Holly said, sticking her tongue out at Severus. "Kids have their secrets too, just like you and Mama Mione have your secrets." At that, Severus's eyes glided over to Hermione, who was still blushing furiously, her head in her hands at the crazy remarks of her not so angelic daughter. Severus remained silent, for the first time in his life, he had no snarky comeback. A five year old girl had gotten the best of him. And worst of all, she was the know-it-all's daughter. Will wonders ever cease, Severus thought dryly as he scowled down at the mischievous pair of Sirius James and Holly Granger.
"GO. To. Bed. Now." Severus said, his hands moving surely and slowly. Both children knew it was time to listen to the Potions-Master, he seemed at the end of his rope. After all, it had been quite a day for everyone in the room.
"Holly, why did you have to be so cheeky to Severus?" Hermione snapped as they reached their own rooms, having used Severus's fireplace for the floo. Holly giggled, looking up at her mother with her almond-shaped eyes, radiating innocence from every pore.
"He was cheeky to you. So he deserved it." Holly said, as Hermione blushed. She didn't want to explain the nuances of flirting with Severus Snape, and their awkard, sudden relationship, so she just sent her daughter off to bed. As she listened to Holly brushing her teeth, Hermione sat on the couch, wondering what had gotten into Severus Snape. He was still stern and staid, yes, but something in him had been looseneed, ever since Sirius had arrived. Perhaps the responsibility of Sirius had given Severus something to do with his time, other than brood in his dungeons. With thoughts of Severus's change in behavior, Hermione slipped into her pyjamas and slid into her bed, slowly drifting off to sleep.
A/N: sorry, I know i promised a longer chapter, but wanted to update quickly.. Next chappy will be longer and kind of dark, about Sirius James's history at the Orphanage, and Snape's time as a Death Eater. Just warning you ahead of time.... Plus, Dumbledore knows everything, so I would assume he already is fluent in sign language. More SS/HG interaction will come up, I promise... as well as AD/MM...