"Oh and Severus?"
"Hmm?"
She gave him a cheeky smile
"Your arse may be miserable, but it's damn fine"
The last thing he heard was her laughter rounding the corner, as she giggled her way up the stairs at the blush on his face from her words.
After a quick floo conversation with an old friend, Severus had made the executive decision to take them shopping in the muggle shops. It would be less busy than Diagon Alley in the middle of the day with most muggles at work, and less chance of Mr. Weasley being able to come upon them and risk adding breaking of the statuette of secrecy onto his already large list of criminal convictions.
Rose was nervous, and held onto her mother's hand tightly. She didn't like people, strangers or crowds. And despite her mother's heritage, she'd grown up purely in the wizarding world, and was unfamiliar with the muggle one. He had to clear his throat and wipe some sweat from his face when she reached to take his hand with her other one. As the small girl walked in the middle of them, with one hand from each of them clasped firmly in her smaller one, Severus was certain that it was definitely Sweat he wiped from his face. He wasn't crying dammit.
They went to one of the big muggle superstores, it would be easier to get a bit of everything they needed in once place, rather than having to overwhelm Rose with multiple superstore would easily provide a few basic clothes for the girls, more food for the house, along with some other necessities like toiletries.
Hermione, like Severus, had money in her muggle account as well as Gringotts so insisted on carrying her own basket (with an extension charm) and paying for her and Rose's clothing that they bought. Severus drew the line however at her paying for their food.
"You are my guests, and I will not have guests in my house paying for their food, it's simply uncouth" He'd stated with finality and she'd hugged him quickly, and placed a kiss on his cheek, which caused his face to flame once more as he cleared his throat and refocused his attention on what they were doing.
Hermione after tallying up her purchases grabbed some children's books to keep Rose entertained, and he saw Rose eyeing some muggle art supplies, though when she noticed that she'd been caught she deftly buried her face in her mother's side and peeked at him through her hair.
When Hermione was looking away at the books he deftly reached over and placed the art supplies in his basket, aiming a conspiratorial wink at the small girl, Rose smiled at him from her position tucked into her mothers side.
Shopping went as well as it could've been, even if it took them a rather long time. With all the things they needed, it was a good four hours before they'd finished in the shop. Rose managed to do most of the shop without issue, but by the time they got to the checkouts she was overtired and sniffling as she got more and more upset.
As they began to wait in line for the checkouts, Rose was getting more agitated by how close the people were to her and the unfamiliarity of the checkout tills and electronic beeping, having never been in such a store before. She started tugging on her mother's arm because she wanted Hermione to pick her up. Hermione was carrying her own basket, which was rather full and though the extension charm was holding, it was sapping her strength to maintain it on the basket temporarily. Unlike her bag, she couldn't leave the basket charmed for a muggle to find, so instead of anchoring the spell, she had to use her own magical strength to power it, so she could cancel the charm when they left. "Rosie, let's just pay for our things, then I can carry you alright sweetheart?"
She shook her head no and whimpered as a cashier called out over the tannoys, frightening the young girl. Fat tears built up in her eyes and she turned to Severus, holding out her hands desperately. At the sight of her distressed tears, and the way she so trustingly reached out to him, even though he was carrying his own charmed basket, he found that without hesitation he had quickly dropped to one knee allowing the small girl to wrap her arms around his neck. He stood, lifting her into his arms. One arm holding his basket and the other cradling the girl to his side, as her legs came around his hip.
Rose settled as some as she was safely in his arms. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes, burying her face into Severus's neck. The other hand coming up for her usual handful of hair, which she twirled around her small fingers.
Hermione rubbed the girls back softly, and thanked Severus, to which he simply inclined his head.
oOo
When they finally got back to Severus's home, he felt the thrumming of the wards that told him there'd been a visitor earlier, but they'd now left.
Leaving Hermione to unpack the groceries, after settling a sleeping Rose on the sofa he went upstairs to use the bathroom and then went to check on the spare room. Nodding in satisfaction, he rejoined the women downstairs. When he came down Hermione had already finished dishing up the takeaway they'd bought for the night.
"You didn't need to do that Hermione, I would've been happy to sort out the food, you already put all the shopping away" He chastised as he came to grab a couple of plates and take them to the table.
"It was no bother Severus, but if you don't mind taking the rest of the plates to the table and I'm going to go get Rose"
He nodded his acquiescence, and continued preparing the table as Hermione went to retrieve the slumbering Rose.
They ate dinner together amicably, Severus and Hermione made polite conversation and Rose would occasionally nod or shake her head at something when asked.
It was all so domestic. The conversation flowed between them as if it was something they'd been doing for years, which in a way he supposed they had. It once more reminded him of how much he'd missed her...and Rose as well.
When they were finished, they moved over to the living room where Severus despite his muggle upbringing didn't in fact have a television.
Hermione went up to the bathroom and gave Rose a quick bath, and when she returned with the girl now wearing clean pyjamas she grabbed a book to read to Rose, and took a seat on the sofa, with Rose upon her lap. Severus was Sat in his chair reading his own book, when he heard Hermione clear her throat.
He looked up to see an embarrassed Hermione looking at him, and a small girl gesturing to him. Raising his eyebrow at Rose he watched her for a second before realising what she was wanting.
"It's story time Severus" Hermione said with a joking lilt to her tone, as Rose continued to emphatically gesture to the stern man.
With a put upon sigh, Severus made his way over to the Sofa, placing himself on the other side as he continued to read his book.
Rose climbed off her mother's lap so she was sat in the middle of the two of them, holding her book open on her lap, as Hermione turned towards her and began to read it over the girl's shoulder.
It was only a few sentences into the children's story when suddenly a small hand appeared on his own that was holding his book, pushing it down and making him notice her other hand that had emphatically landed on the book in her lap, making a loud noise and her slightly frowning face.
"Rose!" Hermione scolded the girl at her actions, but Severus just chuckled.
"I apologise Miss Rose, it was rather rude of me to continue to ignore the both of you in favour of my own book, when I can now clearly see that this story time is in fact a group activity"
The girl nodded emphatically to his words, one hand still on his much larger one, but now the other was at her face with her thumb jammed in her mouth.
'Sorry' Hermione mouthed at him with an apologetic look, but he just shook his head and smirked at her in good humour.
He sat with the two of them, listening to Hermione's soft tones as she read the story aloud to the small girl. Severus could not help himself watching Hermione from the corner of his eye, as the firelight danced across her face. She was enchanting. By the time the story was finished, Rose was half asleep.
Picking the tired girl up, Hermione stood and Severus followed.
"I'm going to take her up to bed, say good night to Severus, Rose." She said softly.
"Do not say your good-nights just yet, I will come with you for I have something to show you"
Hermione and Rose both looked at him curiously, but he just smirked and led the way upstairs.
When they reached the landing, Hermione put Rose down and they took in the closed door of the spare bedroom.
Severus knelt on the floor so he was closer to the small girl.
"I have a gift for you Miss Rose, I hope it is to your liking" He said softly, and the girl watched him attentively as he pushed the spare room door open.
Hermoine gasped in shock and covered her mouth, as Rose wide eyed dashed into the room.
He chuckled as the young girl quickly examined the new room.
"Severus" Hermione said with a waver to her voice.
Gone were all the storage boxes and old furniture.
In their place was a new plush carpet, and freshly painted walls in neutral calming creams. There was a set of expensive looking wooden drawers, children's sized along with a matching desk, bookcase and toy chest at the foot of the bed, upon which sat Herman.
The bed was the centre piece though. It was a four poster with soft pink curtains and intricately carved mythical beasts, that matched the other furniture in the room.
Rose quickly grabbed Herman and proceeded to carry him around the room 'showing' him all the contents, much to Severus's amusement.
Though both he and Hermione were shocked when Rose jumped on the new bed and giggled, smiling at both of them.
"Do you like it then Miss Rose?" He asked with a chuckle, and he was rewarded with a winning smile as she signed 'thank you' to him three times.
"There's something else special about this bed though Miss Rose, come Hermione let me show you"
Rose moved to the headboard where Severus was gesturing, and Hermione followed him.
In the centre of the headboard was a crystal, and there were a few runes surrounding it, when the three of them sat on the bed and drew the curtains they saw that the runes were also hidden into the design of the curtains.
"This is a magic bed Miss Rose. Once you put your hand on this crystal here, and I say a spell. Only people that you want to will be able to get in."
Roses eyes widened at the implication.
"Here, let me show you."
He gestured for Hermione to get off the bed with him, which she did.
"Put your hand on this crystal" he pointed and Rose did what she was told, with wide eyed fascination.
He spoke the enchantment and they felt a low thrum go through the room.
"Now, you want to make sure your mother can get in too, so grab her hand and place yours on the crystal again"
Rose did as she was told grabbing her mother's hand and placing hers on the crystal, there was another thrum and Hermione went to sit on the bed.
"Now nobody other than you two can get in...see?"
He pushed both his hands forward, palms outwards, and was violently pushed backwards from the bed, but was unable to enter"
Rose whimpered but he quietly reassured her.
"I'm fine Miss Rose, but see? Nobody can get in here unless you want them too, and here..."
He passed her a small wooden bracelet, it had a unicorn carved onto it in the likeness of the bed.
She smiled and put it on straight away.
"You'll never lose this, it's charmed for safety...but If ever there's an emergency, if you're scared, or lost. Press this unicorn here, and think of your bed and it will take you straight there"
Rose looked wide eyed at him, and Hermione met his gaze.
"It's a portkey?" She asked, a little sharper than she intended.
"A conditional portkey " he answered "She cannot accidentally set it off, it's fuelled by intent, give me some credit witch"
She had the decency to look abashed. "Sorry Severus"
He waved it off. "You're a mother, it's your job"
Rose was busy looking between them, her bed and her bracelet.
She placed her hand forwards in the air, but was surprised when she nearly fell out, obviously expecting to come across resistance as he had.
He placed his hand forwards again to show her once more.
"It won't keep you in Miss Rose, just keep others out"
She nodded, once more looked straight into his eyes and then grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the bed.
He tensed a little in shock, and stilled her with hand on her arm.
"Miss Rose, this bed is a safe place for you, you don't need to give me permission"
Suddenly she gave him three quick signs, and pressed her hand against the crystal once more and he felt the thrum of magic accept him into her safe space.
"What did she say?" He quickly asked Hermione, still shocked at the small girl's actions.
Hermione offered him a watery smile, as tears streaked down her face.
"You are safe"