"Amy, that's wonderful!" Remus said. He wanted to hug her, but restrained himself. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, he knew Amy still flinched back from any physical contact. Sometimes, even from Jason. Jason was worse, though, he struggled from any contact, avoiding humans as much as possible. He refused high fives, and shuddered when somebody accidently brushed up against him. He flinched back when somebody reached towards him, and he ducked down every time somebody tousled his hair.
"Yeah, it's great. Things are going to start turning around for us, finally." Amy's eyes had lit up. Remus smiled warmly at her. She was excited.
"And, I've got just the thing too." He left his perch on the counter, and disappeared down the hallway. Jamie and Jason, who were deep in a new chess game, were dead silent. Teddy was quietly coloring in the living room. Addaline was quietly playing with a doll. RJ had fallen asleep long ago, as he was not feeling well. Remus came back, followed by Addaline and her doll, with some crayons (a fascination to Jason and Amy. Jamie looked thrilled.) and coloring books. He put a stack of books on the table and sat across from her, putting Addaline in her high chair, and spreading the books out. He also had quills, ink, and parchment.
"You need lesson plans, right?" Amy nodded. "Well, as a former teacher, I'd be more than happy to help you out. See, McGonagall has given you your classes timetable." Amy looked it over. "Seeing as the seventh years are the hardest, I'd say knock out the easier ones first, then that way the first, second, and third years are already done." She nodded. They worked together for a few hours, until Dora came in. Teddy padded out into the kitchen then, grabbing hold of Dora's leg, and not letting go. She tiredly lifted him into her arms, and kissed his forehead.
"What are you guys working on?" Dora asked.
"Amy got hired to teach McGonagall's old Transfiguration lessons." Remus said. Amy blushed. Dora smiled.
"That's amazing, Amy, congratulations." Dora put Teddy in his chair, and sat down. "She's got tough shoes to fill, though. Have you ever taught?" She yawned. "Sorry, it's been a rough day. It seems like you know what you're doing when it comes to teaching."
"I taught a group of kids whose parents didn't want to send them to Hogwarts." Amy said. "Especially with the war going on."
"Yeah, that's never an easy thing to do." Jamie and Jason came into the kitchen, giggling and red in the face. Remus gave them an amused look.
"What's so funny, you two?" Amy asked. Jason slipped and fell, landing on his butt. The two laughed harder. Jamie sat down next to him.
"He…he scared me." She forced out. Jason was grinning, wiping his streaming eyes. After he calmed down, he looked at his mother.
"She had gone to the loo, and when she came back, I had hidden behind the door. She's like 'Jason?' And I said, real quietly, 'boo.'" His voice had dropped an octave, and went eerily quiet.
"Yeah, that would scare me too." Amy said. Jason giggled. Jamie smiled. James Flooed in then.
"Awww, man!" They said. Teddy grinned and held his arms out to James, who scooped the kid up and greeted him.
"Hi sweetheart. Why are you two sitting on the floor?"
"Jason fell." Remus said quietly, his amused expression still in place. Amy giggled.
"Did he now?"
"Yeah, we were laughing." Jamie said. "Is it time to go, Daddy?"
"Sure is, sweetheart." He said, putting Teddy down and kissing Addaline on the forehead. "Hi, honey." She giggled. Shy and quiet, she whispered "hi" back. He smiled and stood up straighter. Dora yawned again.
"Go to sleep, love, I'll get the kids in bed." Remus said. She nodded and walked away.
"It's your bedtime to, Jason." Amy said. Jason pretended to groan in pain.
"Ouch, I can't get up, I think I broke my ankle." He said, clutching it. Jamie giggled. Amy looked amused.
"All right, wise guy, get up." He grinned sheepishly, and stood up, helping Jamie up to.
"Come on, Jamie, I'll help you get your things." He said. They went off into his room. Amy rolled her eyes.
"His ankle is broken my left shoe." She muttered. "More like 'I've got a crush on her.'" Remus snickered. James cleared his throat. Amy turned to him and laughed, blushing slightly. "Sorry, James, didn't realize…" He smiled.
"Don't worry." HE said. Remus yawned and closed the books they were using. He scooped up Addaline, threw a giggling Teddy over his shoulder, and was off. In ten minutes, he was back.
"Kids are in bed, now to see what Jason and Jamie have gotten up to." Remus said. They came into the room then, Jason carrying her cloak, book, and chess set. She was fascinated by what he was saying. While they were barely out of earshot, Amy said quietly to James, "It's not totally far-fetched. She's the first girl that's ever treated him like that. He's probably loving every minute of it." James nodded, noticing that himself. He helped her put on her cloak, and gave her back the chess set. They hugged goodbye, and Jason went off . She smiled at James. He took her hand, and they Dissapparated into the night.
Severus was brewing Potions, preparing Poppy's store for her future patients, and restoring his needed potions for Amy and Jason. He also was working on his research later. Then, he figured a shower would help clear his mind, as he often stressed about research, and wound up having zero sleep. He added the last few ingredients, and pushed up the horn-rimmed, gold-framed reading glasses that had slid down his sweaty nose. He finished the Anesthetic Draught, and poured it into vials. He noticed he was running low on some of his more basic ingredients, from making all of these potions. He'd stocked up about a month ago, but he realized they were starting to run low again. After carefully Flooing the potions to Poppy, he Apparated to Diagon Alley. He made his purchases in the Apothecary, and left, carrying the brown paper bag out of the store. Suddenly, he realized the Florean Fortescue's ice cream shop was surrounded by people. His stomach dropped when he recognized the two people standing in the middle of the crowd; Draco and Pansy. Draco's face showed no emotion, which was dangerous.
"Lave, now. You were banned from seeing our son, now go." He said calmly. Severus went up there, putting his bag in a magically expanded inner pocket of his cloak. Draco hadn't seen him yet.
"I have every right, Draco, I gave birth to him."
"Yes, while that is correct, you also tried to brainwash him into thinking it was his fault you became a cheating little liar." His voice had dropped a few degrees. Pansy glared.
"I never said-"
"LIAR!" Draco shouted. Scorpio, who was hiding behind Draco's long legs, peeked out from behind them to glare at his mother.
"It's not nice to lie, Mummy." He said. "Remember?" She was furious. Draco struggled not to laugh. One American tourist wizard said, "she told him." Severus smirked.
"Son, don't talk like that to your mother." Draco said, his voice surprisingly steady. Pansy's boyfriend showed up then. Draco stiffened.
"Who are you?" Scorpio asked curiously.
"ME? I'm your mummy's boyfriend." Sheldon said. "My names Sheldon. Are you Scorpio?" The boy nodded bashfully. Sheldon knelt down and offered Scorpio a hand to shake. A slight flinch had Draco glaring at Pansy in milliseconds.
"What did you do to him?" Sheldon, who had spotted Severus, picked up a nervous Scorpio and took him over to Severus.
"I know you." Scorpio said quietly to Severus. Severus nodded.
"Keep him here, I may need to save a life." Sheldon grinned.
"Nothing? Liar, he's terrified of human contact." Draco turned to them. "Oh, hello Severus. Sheldon, come here." He brought the boy to Draco, who took him. "Son, did your mother hit you? Hard?" He nodded, tears in his eyes.
"That's because he's an insufferable jerk who can't stop showing off." Oh, the irony; Hermione was walking down the street at that moment, and Severus had always thought the same about her. Of course, she was different now, more mature. But when she was eleven….
"Look, Pansy, I'm not the one who got a boyfriend while I was still married." Scorpio wrinkled his nose.
"Ew, that's icky." He said. Draco and Sheldon both burst out laughing with the rest of the crowd.
"You are a horrible parent. You said you could be a better parent than me? Look, he can't even control his actions." Who's the two year old, Scoprio or her?" Severus thought. "It's not like I don't know what was really going on at those law offices of yours, Draco." He gave her a puzzled look.
"You mean… defending guilty people because it's my job?" He asked, sounding lost.
"No, that little office romance you had going on?"
"With who, my secretary? My secretary is a 35 year old man who has a family to support, and is no longer allowed to pay Quidditch due to a severe injury by Bludger. What makes you think we could…do anything?" Draco asked, now really lost.
"I'm talking about you and Granger." Draco froze, angry. He silently put Scorpio down, and bent his head, in thought. Hermione looked furious. She was in her direction when Draco looked up and stopped her.
"I can handle her, Hermione. Get Scorpio to my parents." He was calm. Scorpio ran over to Severus instead, clinging to his leg. He blushed furiously, and gave an unsuccessful attempt at pulling Scorpio off his leg. Draco looked at Pansy, calm and collected.
"You think that, just because she's another woman, that I had an affair with her?" He asked quietly, coldly. "You must be mistaken, love, because I'm not the cheating horrible liar you are." He struggled to keep his language G-rated, as he didn't want his two-year-old copy cat saying anything…vulgar. "Im sorry, but you have no reason not to trust me. I made those vows for a reason, and it wasn't because I felt like it. No, it was because I thought I could trust you. If I knew then, what I know now, we would never have gotten married. You can get your sorry butt out of here, before something else happens. Or I will be forced to call the Auror's." Everyone applauded his courage, his clean language.
"See, not everyone has to swear about it, Ronald." Hermione muttered to Ron, who rolled his eyes. Severus had finally pried Scorpio off his leg. At that time, Draco had walked over to them, and tried not to either punch someone or laugh.
"Let's get out of here." He muttered to Scorpio. "We've got better things at home, right kiddo?" Scorpio was confused.
"Can I say bye bye to Muma?" He asked bashfully. Draco saw the pained look in his son's eyes. He silently nodded, and took him over to the fuming woman. Scorpio ran at her and wrapped his legs around her.
"Bye Mummy." He said quietly. She kicked him off. He fell to the ground and burst into tears. Draco scooped him up, and passed him to Severus, before the man could protest. Scorpio buried himself into Severus' cloak, while he awkwardly stood there, unsure of what to do. He caught Amy and Dora coming out of Eyelops, and flushed dark red.
"Thank you." Draco said, before walking off at a too-fast pace. As if appearing from nowhere, Harry was blocking Draco from barreling past him.
"Go get your kid; I'll be over in ten." Severus was blushing crimson. Amy took the boy from him suddenly, and handed him to Draco. The fuming man Disapparated. Harry was silent as Pansy approached him.
"Why do you feel the need to get into my business all the time, Potter?" Harry's face was emotionless, his brow furrowed, yet nothing betrayed across his features.
"Am I intruding, or are you making to ig of a deal of things in public places?" HE asked quietly. "Draco happens to be a very close friend, as weird as that may sound." Something wasn't quite right with Harry. Cho, who was giggling with Lily bashfully, stopped when she saw Harry. "Look, Parkinson, I don't understand why you married Draco, or what made him come to the decision he wanted you, but he's gone." I said. "And he took the kid you never wanted. Draco may not have wanted him either, but he adores that kid." Harry said his voice cold. "He would never hurt his own son, physically, mentally, nor emotionally." She stared him down. He remained motionless. "I suggest you watch where you kick your kid." Strong arms had Pansy's arm pinned to her back. Kingsley Shacklebolt, head of the Auror's Department, held tight to her. She fought. He took the screaming woman away. Harry turned and caught a glance of Cho. He froze. Cho hadn't moved either. As she started to approach, he turned on his feet and was gone. Cho turned white. Lily approached Severus.
"I have no idea what's with these two, but they need to be fixed." She said. Severus cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Hello to you too, Lily." She ignored his comment. Amy giggled.
"I have an idea." Dora said. "Come on, lets get her home. I'll plan with you tonight."
"I'll take Amy home." Severus said, realizing the innuendo behind that. "I have tutoring later with Jason."
"Actually, it would be good for him to get out, do something besides study." Amy said. "Why don't we take him to the park, let him do his own learning and exploring?" Severus nodded, and held his arm out to Amy. They Apparated to the Lupins' where Remus was watching as Teddy played Jason in a chess match. Addaline smiled shyly at them when she saw them, and buried her face into her dad's chest. Remus stroked her hair absent-mindedly. Teddy looked Jason in the eye, smirked in the most Remus-like fashion, and said, "Checkmate." Jason looked puzzled. Severus couldn't even see the move.
"What? Teddy, that's not possible, you haven't…" Jason stopped looking lost. Teddy silently picked the knight up, and moved it three down, one across. It blocked the king from going anywhere saf. In a matter of six moves, Teddy had beaten Jason.
"Wow." Amy said. Jason looked up.
"Hi." He said, looking defeated. "Man, I can't believe you beat me."
"I can, Ron taught me." Remus rolled his eyes.
"Figures." He muttered.
"Who?" Jason asked, confused.
"An old student of mine." Jason nodded. He suddenly had a glint in his eyes. "Can I play you?" Severus blinked. Remus looked surprised.
"I play loser." He said slowly, still stroking his daughter's hair. She looked up shyly. Severus took Teddy's seat, setting up the four pieces he'd used. Jason was white, so he moved first. His first pawn had control of one of the four squares. Severus met his pawn with the other one. Jason studied the bored. Addaline looked at Remus.
"I'm sleepy." Severus glanced in her direction.
"So go to sleep." He muttered. "It's all right, honey." She snuggled against him, and was soon asleep. HE continued to stroke her hair. Jason pulled another pawn up, this time one square behind the first paw. Severus copied the move. Jason furrowed his brow. Amy sat down next to Severus. She watched his face, instead of the game.
"Be warned, Jason." Severus and Jason looked at Remus, who spoke softly. "He's ruthless. I've never seen anyone beat him. Even me, and you've seen me play." Jason nodded, and studied the board. Severus watched his bishop move to protect his blocked king. Severus pulled a pawn two steps forward, freeing his right bishop. Jason moved his second bishop forward. Severus pulled his bishop two spaces forward, trying to clear it's path. Jason pulled another pawn out, searching for Severus' plan. He was distracted by Severus pulling his knight out onto the board. Jason moved his leftmost bishop to take it out. Severus caught the cocky smirk. Severus' bishop was in front of Jason's unprotected king. "Check." Jason captured Severus' bishop. Oops, too far. Within twenty tense minutes, Jason had beat Severus. Remus laughed silent;y.
"You made history son." Severus watched as the boys face lit up.
"Really? I'm the first person to have ever beaten you?" Severus bit back a wince at the irony behind that statement, and nodded. "Cool." He shook Severus' hand.
"Hold on, Severus, let me get her on the couch, and I'll play you." He left with the sleeping toddler, looking innocent and sweet. Remus looked at her, and visibly melted.
"How about a rain check, Lupin." Severus stood up.
"We're taking Jason out for a little." Teddy was quietly playing with a pair of Dora's fuzzy socks, making sock puppets out of them, and holding a far too intelligent conversation with them for a four year old. Remus chuckled.
"All right." He stood in one fluid motion, never jostling his daughter. "Naptime Teddy." The boy ran off to his room, where Severus knew he didn't sleep, but looked through books and took pictures with the children's camera he had received for his fourth birthday. Remus went to stretch out on the couch, where he soon fell asleep, Addaline curled up right on top of him. They left as silently as possible. They went to the park.
"Go play, sweetie." Amy said. "Have an adventure, do whatever. Just be nice to the kids." He ran off to play. He met a little girl there, and they took a liking to each other. Severus realized she was a friend of Jamie Potter's.
"He's going to be fine, right?" When he tumbled to the ground off the monkey bars, sat up, and burst out laughing, she relaxed and whispered, "Don't answer that, Severus." He smiled internally.
"I hear you received the position of Transfiguration Professor." He said. "Congratulations." She didn't look happy. "Amy, what is it? I thought you needed the job?"
"I do… it's just that…" She sighed. "Will Minerva let me bring Jason? What would I do with him during the day?" Severus stopped her.
"Look, Lily had a lot of the same questions for Minerva before she accepted Flitwick's position." Amy looked surprised. "With James being stationed in Hogsmede for security at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, which opens up in the fall, she needed a job, and somewhere to call home. If Jamie is welcome, I'm sure Jason will be too." She looked uneasy, but at least she wasn't panicking.
"What if the kids don't like me?" She asked. Severus refrained from rolling his eyes.
"You asked the wrong person that question, Amy." HE replied. "I've never been liked by my students. If not, it doesn't matter. According to Harry Potter, he didn't care about that, but the fact that I taught class, and I taught it well."
"That's better, I guess." She said. Severus turned to her.
"Besides, I don't like a lot of people, Amy. And I like you." He said. "You've seen a lot of the same things I have. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one." Something told Amy she wasn't going to ever get to see this side of Severus, his sincerity, his honesty, his open minded thoughts, and opinions.
"I…" She blushed bright red. "Thanks." He nodded, turned back to watch Jason. He was shaking is head, and said something to the girl. She looked at him funny. He suddenly looked at the ground and said something. Instead of shying away, like he thought the girl threw her arms around his neck and held him in a hug. He took it gladly.
"Jason's got himself a little girlfriend." Amy said quietly. Severus chuckled. Something in him loved getting what he had off his chest. It had bothered him sense Draco's episode with Pansy earlier, and he hadn't understood until Amy triggered it with the words "what if they don't like me?" How, he wasn't sure. She smiled at him tentatively, and he smiled back, for the first time in years. They watched Jason and the girl play a round of tag. The girl's father watched too, curious about Jason, who was a newcomer to the park. Severus and Amy sat there, legs crossed contentedly silent and matching their crossed arms. Lily and James, who rarely had time to themselves, snuggled together on the ground seventy feet away, entangled together, but watching Jamie run up to Jason and the girl, hugging them both tightly. They ran around, continuing to play Hippogriff tag (A/N It's a lot like freeze tag, but you have to pose like a hippogriff. It's something silly for the kids to play. What other games should they play?) James and Lily burst out laughing as Jason tried to stad on one leg, but toppled over and sat up, looking like he wasn't sure how he got there. Severus and Amy laughed quietly. He looked at Amy's face, noticing her beautiful face was carefree, and relaxed. It was the first time he'd seen her like that. She glanced at him, and blushed. They leaned back, and watched the kids play. James and Lily shared a deep, slightly heated kiss.
"I love you." He whispered against her forehead, pressing his lips there.
"I love you too." She said. Severus knew, at that moment,there was one thought he couldn't avoid, one Lily had pointed out to him countless times, but was dead wrong.
No, he didn't like Amy….
He loved her.
Ooh, cliff hanger! Sorry, I know this is moving a bit fast, but I wanted Severus to realize his own feelings a bit before things happened. Hopefully my updating will pick up the pace. It's been an insane time, I've been stressed and tired and overly-busy. Oh, and I finished all of the Gallagher Girls books that are out. If you've read them, let me know what you think! I'll be coming out with a fanfiction on that, but for now, I'll focus more on this one. Oh, and Severus plays piano, Remus plays a variety of instruments, James plays guitar and piano. What should Jason learn to play? Thanks!