Severus woke with a start at the sound of screeching, and nearly shot a hex out into the dark before remembering what had happened the night before. Groaning he rolled out of bed and opened the door to find a laughing Octavia running around the living room as she chased after a bouncing ball that had thankfully been spelled not to break anything. Smiling down at the girl he hurried into Edgar's room and found the babies face screwed up in anger and frustration. Picking him up he didn't have to wonder what the problem was for long, the smell alerted him. Muttering under his breath he quickly cleaned the child up, before dressing him in a blue onsie and a pair of pants. The child continued to howl until he went into the kitchen and made a bottle. He quickly stuck the bottle in the mouth before hurrying into Imogen's room. The toddler instantly stopped her crying when she spotted him and lifted her arms up. Rolling his eyes he scooped her up and carried her into the living room. Settling her down on the couch, he continued to feed Edgar, focusing on that task until the baby was completely done. He had been hoping the sobbing would end, but Edgar sobbed on, in full colic mode. Muttering under his breath he accioed a dummy and stuck it into the babies mouth, hoping for the best. Either the sight of the floating dummy, or the dummy itself, worked and Edgar was passive and complacent.
"What's for breakfast?" Octavia asked, pulling Imogen off the couch and showing her the ball that flew around. Giggling the pair chased after it together.
"I'm not sure, why don't we get you two dressed and then we'll head down to the great hall." Severus sighed, it was time for more staring. But the students would have to get used to it eventually, better it be over the weekend when they had time to adjust.
"Why's it called the great hall?" Octavia asked, narrowly missing being hit in the head by an endtable. "What's so great about it?"
"The ceiling is pretty fascinating." Severus explained. "It changes to show the weather outside." He smiled as Octavia stopped in her tracks and Imogen ran into her. "It's called the great hall because it is big."
"Can we go outside today!?" She asked. "Albus says there's unicorns in the big forest! And he says there's a big lake with a squid and-"
"We can go outside today, after you get dressed and after breakfast."
"Okay! I'll go get dressed!" She yelled, running off into her room with great haste before Severus could even ask if she needed any help. Figuring he'd find out soon enough anyways, he grabbed hold of Imogen's hand. "Come on, Immy." He led her into her room and opened the closet. "What color do you want to wear today?"
The toddler didn't answer, as usual, and instead pointed at a white shirt. Severus shook his head but grabbed the shirt. The girl would surely stain it by the end of their excursion outside, but... Slipping the shirt on he grabbed a pair of plain blue trousers. "There." He smiled, finishing placing socks on her tiny feet. "Immy's all dressed."
"So am I!" Octavia came into the room, sporting a purple dress and purple hairband. Severus smiled, pleased she was able to put together and ensemble- and quickly.
"Alright, let's go get breakfast." He grabbed hold of Imogen's hand. "Octavia- don't run to far ahead." He ordered, before opening the door and helping Imogen over the portrait opening.
"Okay." She promised, already quite far ahead as she skipped with her tabby cat. He let her skip on, knowing that no one or thing (Peeves) would be stupid enough to mess with one of his nieces. His only worry was that she would slip down the steps, but he assured himself she was quite steady on her feet. Eventually, as the neared the great hall, Imogen started tugging for her freedom and he reluctantly released his grasp. The girl ran on after her sister, several times stumbling over her feet and making his breath hitch. Miraculously the girl kept her footing, and laughed as she tagged her sisters back, a look of intense pride on her face. Turning Octavia laughed and tagged Imogen back by poking her in the forehead.
"Tag! You're it, Immy!" She yelled, before barreling into the great hall with tremendous speed. But Imogen was not deterred, she ran just as swiftly easily dodging the feet of the students as if they weren't there. Things were going swimmingly until Octavia ducked under the table of the Gryffindor's. Imogen, wanting to follow, ran faster. However, the toddler had clearly forgotten to duck and she smacked her head hard into the table. Severus flinched. That had to have hurt. To his slight surprise, and pride, she simply got back up and brushed herself off. He let out a breath, along with many in the great hall, as she took off after Octavia who had started running again after she was certain that her sister was okay.
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Albus looked down as Octavia climbed into a chair and helped Imogen up into the same chair. Both girls stood and leaned against the table, that being the only way they could see over the table. Smiling he spelled up the chair's height, watching vigilantly to make sure they didn't lose their balance.
"Albus, why is everyone staring at us?" Octavia asked, looking annoyed that the students were gaping at her and Imogen, along with Severus who was approaching the table with Edgar in his hands.
"They are just curious, Octavia. They've never seen someone your age around the castle." He explained kindly, conjuring a high chair and sticking Imogen in it.
"It's not polite." Octavia insisted, as Albus placed a plate of food in front of her and a plate of food on Imogen's tray.
"No, it is a bit rude." Albus agreed. "I'm sure if you ignore them, they'll stop."
"Why should I ignore them? I'm not the one being rude." Octavia insisted, before taking a bite of her scrambled eggs.
"Sometimes we have to do things we don't like to do." Albus smiled, taking a sip from his goblet.
"That's what Sev says all the time." Octavia explained, placing her tabby cat on the table beside her plate.
"Octavia? Does Imogen talk?" Poppy asked suddenly, leaning across the table to look at her.
"No. But Sev says Imogen will talk when she's ready to talk." Octavia answered. "She might not even talk at all and Sev says that perfectly okay."
"How does Imogen ask for anything then?" Hagrid asked.
"She points...or she just looks at me and Sev and we just know." Octavia answered dismissively, before turning to Albus. "We're going outside after breakfast." She announced happily.
"Oh, that does sound quite fun." Albus agreed, thoroughly enjoying his conversations with the child.
"Are there cats outside?" She asked hopefully, her blue eyes widening.
"You really do enjoy cats, don't you?" Minerva asked, wiping at Imogen's face.
"They're the best!" Octavia insisted.
"I'd have to agree with you on that one." Minerva smirked at the private joke, just as Severus made it to the table and slid into his seat beside Albus.
"Thank you." He muttered, immediately grabbing a cup of tea.
"It was no trouble, I so enjoy your nieces company." Albus ascertained.
"Now they're staring at you!" Octavia grumbled, looking at Severus.
"It's fine, Princess. Ignore them." Severus said kindly.
"Well...okay." She sighed dramatically, and it was easy to see the family resemblance to Severus. "But they better not stare when we go outside."
Severus seemed amused. "Oh, and what will you do if they stare?"
"Make the angry face till they stop." She said simply.
"Oh, and what is this angry face?" Minerva asked.
"It's this face!" Octavia grinned widely before turning to face the gawking students with a death glare that rivaled one of Severus's level five death glares. Dozens of students quickly turned away from the sight, some with amusement but most with fear as the girl continued.
"That's enough, Princess." Severus seemed almost proud, and Albus grinned as the girl's face erupted into a smile again.
"I can outglare you." She declared, her voice easily carrying over to all ears in the great hall. All eyes looked up at the challenge and Severus smirked.
"Oh really? You think so?" Severus asked, as Albus watched amused.
"I know so." Octavia said cockily.
"You've clearly been talking to Albus too long, that was a very Gryffindor thing to say." Severus retorted, a look of pride in his eyes as Octavia wore a smug look on her face.
"Maybe I want to be in Gryffindor!" Octavia retorted boldly, making Albus choke on his tea with laughter.
"Over my dead body." Severus insisted, glowering down at the girl with a level one death glare. Octavia quickly countered and bypassed several levels to stare at Severus with a level seven death glare. Severus rose a brow before going to eight, and Octavia mimicked the actions perfectly, her little eyebrow rose as well. Octavia made it all the way to nine, when Severus increased his all the way to ten. Octavia attempted to get her face to ten, but halfway through she lost it, and burst out in a fit of giggles.
"You win...this time." She smiled, her giggle blending in with the students. "I was just kidding though, I don't even know what a Gryffindor is!"
"You can't beat the master, Princess." Severus grinned. "But that was a valiant effort."
"Just you wait, Sev. I'll be the master soon!" Octavia promised, grinning her toothy smile.
"I'd have to put my money on Octavia here." Albus laughed, turning to Minerva. "What about you?"
"I don't know. It seems like quite the close call." She smirked. "Severus has had much more practice...but Octavia has someone to teach her, and at such an early age."
"If you'd please stop making baseless wagers..." Severus drawled, rolling his eyes at Albus who was chuckling along with Minerva.
"It's not baseless!" Octavia insisted. "You're only saying that because you're going to lose."
"You cocky little..." Severus stopped himself. "Do you want to go outside?"
"Yes!" The little girl smiled angelically, putting big puppy dog eyes on her face before turning back to her food. "How come you never eat?" She asked, eyes full of curiosity.
"I just ate some toast." Severus said simply.
"That's not really eating!" Octavia insisted. "Immy's eating more than you!"
"Immy eats more than everyone." Severus argued, not unkindly.
Albus turned to look at Imogen, who sure enough, had just devoured a fifth pancake amongst various pieces of bacon. The toddler clearly had an appetite.
"But you're bigger than Immy." Octavia continued.
"And so are you." Severus rebuttled.
"But you're biggerer."
"That is not a word." Severus said, wiping at Imogen's face. The toddler gave a slight growl before returning to her food.
"More bigger?" Octavia tried.
Severus shook his head. "Try again." He pressed kindly.
"Even bigger?"
"Good girl!" Severus praised, when Octavia finally arrived at the correct answer.
"Can we go outside as soon as Immy is done?"
"Yes, I promise." Severus assured.
"What do you teach?" Octavia suddenly turned from Severus to look at Albus.
"I don't teach." Albus responded warmly. "I'm the headmaster. I make sure that the professors are doing their jobs."
"What do you teach?" Octavia turned to look at Minerva. "And what's your name?"
"I'm Minerva, child. I teach transfiguration."
"That's where you make things out of other things!" Octavia clearly was a bright child.
"Quite right, child." Minerva smiled, turning back to her breakfast only to be bombarded with another question.
"Can I call you Min-Min for short?"
Several professors, Albus and Severus included, had to bite back laughs as Minerva blushed.
"If you must." She allowed. "But why don't you ask your uncle a few questions, I'd like to finish my breakfast." She smiled.
"But I've already asked him a bunch of questions." Octavia argued, before turning back to Albus. "Can I ask you questions?"
"But of course!" Albus smiled as Severus sighed in relief at not having to answer any more questions.
"Do you have a kitty?"
Albus smiled, and wondered if it would be a good idea to go out and get the small child a kitten. "No, but I have phoenix names Fawkes."
"Can I pet her sometime!?"
"Of course dear child!" Albus nodded. "Perhaps after you've played outside you can come and eat lunch in my office."
"Can Immy and Eddie and Sev come, too?"
Albus laughed. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Are you always happy?" Octavia asked on.
"I am mostly happy." Albus agreed. "When you get to be as old as I am you'll see that there is not much in this life worth getting upset about."
"You're not that old." Octavia said knowingly. "You're only about eighty."
"Why thank you!" Albus laughed along with Minerva as Severus scoffed.
"I think you're a few decades off, Princess." Severus smirked.