Chapter 24: Days Like This
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...
Hermione's amber eyes opened to find the onset of dawn had already come and the day had begun, a sense of panic filled her as she noted she'd possibly overslept. The panicked woman scrambled out of bed, nearly fumbling over the tossed about pillows as she rushed toward the door and into the rooms of the children hoping to get them ready for school with the little time they had left. Knowing that dressing Silas and Sidney Jr. would be an absolute chore, she had hoped Sidney Sr. could lend a much needed hand given how easily they always listen to him.
Once she burst into the bedrooms of the children one by one, Hermione found their bed's had been strangely empty and that they were no where to be found despite the neatness of each of their rooms. It had been as if they hadn't slept in them at all given how tidy they remained. Once more panic filled the amber eyed woman as she moved toward the end of the staircase and rushed down to search the sitting room.
She had been overcome with relief when she heard the voices of the little ones and then the voice of their father as they seemed to be having a pleasant time in the kitchen much to her chagrin.
Hermione sighed before making her way inside to find them all still in their pajamas and happily enjoying a bit of story telling with the added bonus of hot chocolate to soothe them further. Even Padfoot had been at peace lying about on the floor near their chairs hoping to take part in the container of fresh scones that had been before them, whenever he could draw attention to himself.
Eileen had been the first to take notice of her, given that the boys and the dog couldn't be bothered by her presence when listening to more stories about the peculiar place known as"Hogwarts".
"Good morning Mummy." she said with a bright smile.
"Good morning, Ellie...boys...Padfoot...Sidney." said Hermione looking at them all.
Snape paused in his story telling to give Hermione a quick kiss hello.
"What are you lot up to?" asked Hermione curious as to why no one had bothered to awaken her to get the children to school on time.
"We've decided to take a day off." said Snape turning his attention to presenting his young "wife" with a mug of hot chocolate. "As a family, and quite naturally that includes you and we decided to let you rest given how much you do on a daily basis."
"Look Mummy Daddy made scones." said Eileen happily as she offered her mother one.
"You don't cook." said Hermione skeptical about trying one.
"I do now." replied Snape with something of a satisfied smirk. "I figured I'd try a lot of new things this go around."
Hermione shook her head smiling before taking up a scone and braving the potential for an upset stomach by eating one. Much to her utter surprise, he had been very good at cooking compared to what she'd recalled about him years prior.
"You might be a wizard after all." replied Hermione teasing him as she saw her way to grabbing another scone from the table. "Because only something as mysterious as magic could improve your cooking this much without my notice."
Snape smirked amused about how perceptive his wife seemed to be despite her not knowing even half of the reason for his "changes" in lifestyle.
"You weren't always home." he reasoned. "Left plenty of time for practice."
"Practice for what I wonder?" asked Hermione with an arched brow.
"I suppose you'll have to wait to find out." teased Snape.
He had learned from their daughter that Sidney and Hermione's apparent anniversary had been on the horizon and he had made a great many plans to ensure she enjoyed it immensely.
The rather interesting little family continued their collective breakfast content in each other's company for a time, unbeknownst to the group, the eyes of the ever watching enchantress had been on them.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...
Worn out from the day events running about the house and amusing their three children, Hermione and Snape found themselves alone for the time being as the little ones had been down for a nap leaving the adults to sort themselves out in the quiet atmosphere of the household. They had all gone from building mud castles in the shape of Hogwarts in the backyard to sack races on the lawn to pillow fights before a subsequent food fight following lunch and every member of the Sinclair household had been beat.
At the moment, Snape had been lying on his back once more in bed with Hermione lying beside him as spent as he had been following their play day with their children.
"Remind me to invent a stamina potion for such an occasion as this." panted Snape looking up at the ceiling.
"I'd love to see that." agreed Hermione none to spry given her own exhaustion.
"Do you think the children had fun?" asked Snape with an arched brow after a few moments of relative silence.
"Of course, they were playing together with their father." replied Hermione in something of a proud tone. "It's been so long since any of us had a moment to really enjoy spending time with you...I was beginning to think those days had been long past."
Snape arched a brow at this.
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well you've been kind of in a mood as of late...and it seemed to have began before the accident." admitted Hermione. "You didn't seem to want to be bothered most days and then...suddenly you were all worked up about Christmas and it was like you were your old self again...until."
"Until the accident." Snape finished for her. "I apologize for making you worry...I was more or less stuck in some kind of a rut and I didn't know how to get myself out...the last thing I wanted was to bring you and the children down with me."
Snape took Hermione's hand in his seemingly examining it before bringing it to his lips and kissing it softly.
Hermione closed her eyes enjoying the easy feel of his kiss. It had been so long since they shared an intimate moment that had not ended in immediate disaster that she was determined to relish it while she could.
"I love you so much Sidney." she said meeting his gaze as she stroked his cheek with her now free hand.
Snape stared at her for a moment, unsure if he could or if he even had the right to express the swelling emotion that seemed to overtake him in the wake of her heartfelt plea for his understanding.
"I...I love you too." he replied knowing all too well that it was what she wanted to hear.
Content, Hermione treated him to another smile and a heartfelt kiss before resting her head on his chest. Snape stared at the ceiling wondering if he'd made the right decision in belaying her fears about her late husband.
"As exhausted as I am, I wish there could be more days like this one." said Hermione as Snape drifted off into an exhaustion driven slumber.
It was possibly for the best, given that she had no idea how many days that were left with her rather sickly "husband".
