Honestly, if you don't know already - JKRowling is rolling in dough for Harry Potter (more importantly, Severus Snape) and I am a mere fanfic lover.
By the meals end, Theo was a limp sleeping form draped over Severus's shoulder, as Elizabeth held Melee's hand in hers. She smiled as Melee talked about her day and all the things she and Theo did. Elizabeth was surprised the girl was so talkative, as she already knew that Severus wasn't fond of chit chatting. She herself wasn't overly fond of idle conversation. She smirked, she must get it from Grandma Minerva Dumbledore then. That's the only logical explanation.
"Mummy, will you tuck me in?" asked Melee once they were home in their apartments.
"Of course. Go change into your pj's."
"Pj's? Daddy and Theo wear pj's. I'm a girl - I wear princess nightgowns."
"Melee, go get ready for bed." said Severus firmly but gently. Melee hurried to her room. Elizabeth, frowning because she couldn't even remember what her own child slept in, watched as Severus followed their daughter. Wiping at the tears that threatened to fall, she slowly followed after them.
Melee was wearing a pink nightgown, jumping on her bed when Elizabeth arrived. Severus was tucking a blanket around a still sleeping Theo, now dressed in his own pj's. Melee smiled at her mommy.
"Will you read two books?"
"Melee, it's late and you need to go to sleep." Severus caught her in mid jump and hugged her. Melee smiled hugging his neck.
"But Daddy, I like books."
"I know baby but it's late and the sooner you go to bed, the sooner morning will come and you can read books with Grandpa."
"Grandpa! Yeah!"
"Now. Bed." he released her and Melee wiggled to get under the covers. Severus smiled at Elizabeth.
"She's all yours now."
Elizabeth smiled sitting down on the small little bed and meeting Melee's smile.
"Alright princess, tell me how I tuck you in."
"First you make the blankets tight."
Elizabeth tucked the blankets around her small body. "Like this?"
Melee nodded. "Then you read a story—"
"Melee." said Severus from the door frame. Melee giggled.
"Then you give me a kiss good night and turn the lights out."
Elizabeth pressed a kiss to Melee's forehead before she gently touched her nose with hers, with a smile. Melee giggled before turning onto her side to sleep. Elizabeth watched her daughter for a moment before she stood and met Severus in the hallway after dimming the light from the candles.
She turned to Severus, who quietly closed the door. He grinned at her.
"Melee with fall asleep quickly. She had a fun day with Minerva and a promise to spend the day with Albus is a miracle at getting her obedience."
Elizabeth giggled.
"I'm not surprised she loves him so much. I always wished he was my grandpa as a child."
They went into their room and Elizabeth glanced at the pictures on the wall. Now that she really looked, she found others with more then just her and the kids. There was some with her mother, with babies in her arms that she could only assume were her own. They had a picture of Albus and Minerva together. Other people that she didn't recognize. Her eyes stopped at a wedding picture. Her wedding picture.
She wore a white flowing gown and held a beautiful arrange of white roses, baby's breath and orchards. Severus was dressed smartly in a black muggle tux — they both wore bright smiles and the picture Elizabeth blushed as picture Severus would whisper something into her ear.
Severus opened the dresser drawer, pulling out soft black pj pants. Elizabeth swallowed before she took the nightgown he held out for her. With a blush, Elizabeth disappeared into their bathroom, locking the door.
When she was dressed and ready for bed, Elizabeth opened the door slowly to see that Severus wasn't in the room. Slipping into bed, she pulled the covers to her chin and snuggled in with a sigh. She had slept all day yet she felt exhausted. She opened her eyes, hearing what sounded like scratching coming from the living room. Curious, Elizabeth pulled on her robe and silently went to the living room. Sitting on the couch, his ankles crossed on the coffee table, Severus's head was bowed over his grading.
She winced at all the red that covered the finished essay that he set aside.
"Do you want any help?"
Severus popped his head up.
"Oh... I thought you went to bed."
She nodded before she moved to sit on the couch next to him. Severus rubbed his neck.
"Albus doesn't like grading and since I left instructions on what to do in my classes, the paperwork has stacked up."
Elizabeth picked up a finished essay and scanned it.
"An essay on how to properly prepare sleeping potions?"
He nodded. "Albus is horrible at brewing so I thought it best to do more of the rhetorical reasoning while I was away instead of him blowing up my classroom."
She smiled at that.
"Can I help? I know some things about potions..."
"I really think you should rest Elizabeth."
She met his eyes. "I already rested today. You haven't. Please, let me help you."
Severus thought it over before he nodded. Smiling Elizabeth picked up a stack and pulled her legs beneath her and began to read. Hours later, she giggled.
"This students wrote that it doesn't matter how you prepare the potion, as long as you 'boil' it right."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Mr. McNott. He has an odd look to potions and blows up my classroom at least twice a month."
Elizabeth smiled, slashing red ink over the essay. She looked up to find Severus staring at her. He looked away after a moment.
"I'm sorry but... we often grade together and well, it's... very familiar."
She wrote a score on the essay before reaching for another.
"Lately...since the accident...not much has been familiar or comforting." He admitted, putting a jagged F on top of his essay. Elizabeth didn't know what to say and found herself scouting closer to his side. His arm came up and around her shoulders, as her head rested on him. It seemed to natural. So familiar. "Thank you." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She looked up at him.
"Severus, tell me more. Tell me more about my life, our life and how we live together. I want to remember."
Moving to get comfortable, he charmed the essays in their laps to stack nicely on the coffee table before he wrapped her inside his arms. Elizabeth felt slightly awkward but since Severus only held her gently, she let herself relax into him.
"Where should I start? Ten years is a lot to recall."
"Tell me about how we got together."
Severus opened an eye to look at her.
"Why that?"
She shrugged. "Probably because you are the only one who can. Accurately, anyway. I am sure Minerva will tell me something about it and I won't know if I can trust it or not. Hearsay is hardly ever partly true."
"Such a smart woman." He kissed her hair, inhaling her curls. "It actually started on your very first night here." He smirked in remembrance. "Albus introduced us at dinner and afterwards, I think you got lost or something for you wound up in the dungeons. I was in my office and you asked me how to get back to your rooms."
"I'm sorry to interrupt your evening, but I appear to have made a wrong turn or something." Elizabeth blushed in embarrassment. "Would you mind telling me how to get back to my rooms?"
The dark man was frowning in distaste at her, his arms crossed from where he sat at his desk.
"I doubt you'd be able to find you way without making yet, another wrong turn." His tone was harsh and Elizabeth felt her own temper inside her at his rudeness. "It would be best I take you there myself. Maybe then you won't be bothering me at late hours of the night."
"I apologize at the inconvenience Professor Snape."
Her tone was barely civil and he raised a brow at her before standing, motioning her into the corridor. They walked the deserted corridors in silence, Elizabeth pulling her arms close to her body in the cold. She jumped, when the cold man put his heavy black frock around her shoulders.
"Thank you." she whispered and he merely nodded once. They were on the magical staircase when there was a loud banging above their heads.
"PEEVES!" roared Severus before he pulled Elizabeth towards his body, shielding her from the impact of the suit of armor that came crashing down on them. Elizabeth screamed at the movement before the wind was knocked out of her, as Severus's body landed right on top of hers. The annoying poltergeist's laughter filled the corridor as he zoomed over head them, knocking painting askew as he went. Severus groaned, moving onto his hands and knees. Elizabeth inhaled.
"Is he always like that?"
"Yes." Was his reply. Elizabeth moved to sit up but realized that the man hadn't moved from above her yet. A warm puddle formed in her stomach as she was able to smell a pleasant scent come from him. Her eyes met his, as she found it difficult to think.
He pulled away suddenly, getting to his feet.
"Are you hurt?" He offered her a hand up. She shook her head, taking his hand. He pulled her gently but firmly to her feet. He turned to the staircase again. "We are almost there professor."
Elizabeth woke to a gently poking to her rib cage. Blinking, she frowned at Melee.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know." whispered Melee. "I can't read the clock yet."
Elizabeth sat up, feeling her neck was sore. Severus sifted beside her on the couch, his arms still loose around her. She checked the time and blinked at seeing how early it was. She looked down at Melee.
"Baby, what are you doing up?"
"There's dwarfs under my bed!" she sobbed, as if she now remembered what had woken her and burst into tears. The little girl burrowed herself into her mother's lap, in effect awaking her father. He blinked at Elizabeth before looking at the little crying girl.
"What's the matter?"
"Apparently, we have a dwarf infestation."
Severus grinned, taking Melee into his arms and standing.
"There are no dwarfs under your bed."
"Are too." She insisted. Severus kissed her forehead, carrying her to her room.
"No there aren't."
"Yes they are!"
Their voices faded away and Elizabeth stood with a stretch before going to their bedroom to finish sleeping. A few minutes later, as she laid curled up with her pillow, Severus slide in beside her, his arms moving to hold her close. Elizabeth opened her eyes, nervous at his touch as his face nuzzled her neck and his hand stroked her waist. It was very intimate and she definitely was not prepared for such an act.
"Severus..?" Even to herself, she sounded scared.
"Go to sleep beautiful." He whispered, kissing her head before he merely snuggled closer and went to sleep. Elizabeth found herself snuggling into him and her eyes growing heavy.
If case you already forgot, I know Severus Snape is very OOC. I addressed this in the first chapter. Again it's because we don't really know how he would act once the war was over, he's married and has his own kids. Besides, OOC is fun to write too!