"Come here!", Severus spit through clenched teeth. "Now!"
The twins were driving him mad. Why Hermione had not taken up her mother's offer to take them for the weekend, she didn't know.
Soter and Pistis obeyed, but not without cheeky grins on their faces.
"Sit down, and not another word, or I'll get your mother!"
Where was she anyway?
The two young boys were driving him crazy, but he just could not be strict with them. In fact, if anyone ever spotted how soft Severus Snape was around his two sons, they'd probably call a doctor. They had their mother's brown eyes, but much darker than hers, as well as her curls but also in a much darker shade.
The two boys sat down, and to Severus's utter annoyance he saw Guillaume winking at them cheekily from the other end of the church pew.
That damn, old, son of…
To his relief Hermione came hurrying down the side aisle of the church and Guillaume got up to let her past, so she could sit on the other side of the twins. By Merlin, how much he adored the sight. There was nothing in this world that he would have done for his family. Who would have every thought Severus Snape would have three children.
They had only the two boys at this point, six years of age, but there was already a noticeable bump under Hermione's pink dress. It would only be another three months and the two of them were looking forward to the latecomer.
She stretched her legs, and her exhausted face gave her away, just as always. She looked at Pistis bumping his feet against the bench in front of them, and he suddenly felt bad about always having her chide the boys.
"I will not warn you another time. Stop that right now or you have to clean the cauldrons tonight."
He immediately stopped and slid his hands under his thighs to keep still.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears as Clemency walked down the aisle. She looked pretty, but nothing like Hermione had looked at their wedding. Hermione had looked… Merlin, he had to stop thinking about or he'd cry as well.
Clemency and Draco had decided to get married in a muggle chapel and Hermione had arranged it for them. It came a bit as a surprise to Severus. He still wasn't on very good terms with the Malfoys. He had been meeting Draco occasionally, talking about his work at Hogwarts, and he has also visited Narcissa and Lucius, but overall he was just as unsocial as ever. He had known that they were dating, but when Hermione was head over heels after Clemency had told her about the wedding, Severus was a bit perplexed. He should probably pay more attention to his acquaintances.
He liked spending his time at home with the boys and recently he had started to visit Guillaume more frequently to give him a hand in the pharmacy. He got along well with his new potions master, whose name he could never remember, and the boys liked spending the summer with their grandparents in France.
After the ceremony there was a small drinks reception in the church grounds and Severus made it his mission to look after the boys whilst Hermione talked to some people. She had recently published extraordinary research results in the area of post-traumatic stress in post-war communities, and a few of the guests walked up to her to congratulate Dr Granger-Snape on her achievements.
"No, if you ask he'll be more likely to say yes!", he heard one of the twins say. He knew exactly what was coming.
"Uncle Severus?", Albus came running up to him, and Severus had to admit he'd grown to like the boy after his suspicious of him getting sorted into Slytherin had been confirmed by the Sorting Hat.
He raised his brows to make the boy speak.
"Erm… Lily asked if Soter and Pistis are allowed a sleepover at our house."
"I didn't ask!", the redheaded girl exclaimed.
"Please, daddy?", Soter begged him.
Of course he could never say no to them, but he wasn't going to make it easy for them.
"What does your mother say to that?", he asked Albus.
"She said… yes?"
Severus eyebrow vanished under his hairline. "Is that so?"
"She will say yes if you do", Pistis said matter-of-factly.
Slytherin.
"I say yes if your mother says yes", he replied, and they all ran off towards Ginerva Potter.
Despite the Potter children being a good bit older than their own sons, they were mad for one another. Whenever James and Albus came home from Hogwarts, Soter and Pistis went absolutely bonkers. Luckily they had the two younger Weasley children to play with. The youngest Weasley offspring, Rose, was just a few months older than the twins.
Potter had been Draco's best man, also to Severus's surprise. He had no clue what was going on in their circle of acquaintances, Hermione made sure he was spared from any unnecessary interaction and knew the important things. And he had to admit, it was nice not to give a single fuck.
"Uncle Severus said yes", he heard one of the kids say.
He looked over to them and saw Ginny Weasley's deadly face.
Yes, let her deal with the lot tonight.
He threw her an innocent but roguish look and turned to get a drink.
He had a quick chat with Lucius and Narcissa. He still didn't like the man, but he had to admit that he had been too harsh in his earlier judgement. He was still a pretentious pureblood wizard, but much less racist than he had been.
"I hear you've managed to get us a night off?", Hermione said, leaning against him.
"Don't celebrate to early, I have plans for you…", he growled.
Yes, he knew exactly how he would treat his wife that night.