Bookworm
"I have something special for us, Alice-Marie," Severus said as he sat Alice down on his lap. He picked up the book on the side table and showed her. "It isn't quite like what we've read before."
Alice looked up at Severus with curious eyes, and then turned her attention to the book in his hand. She pointed at it and tried to grab it with her tiny hands.
"Gentle," Severus said gently, allowing her to hold the book.
Alice looked it over, her tiny brow furrowing as she looked at the words on the front cover.
"Would you like me to tell you what it says?" Severus asked.
Alice looked back up at him. "Yeah," she answered, nodding her head.
Severus gave her a small smile and continued. "This is called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I read it to myself when I was small."
"Baby?"
"No," Severus answered. "Not quite. I was a bit naughty when I was younger, and I found myself in possession of it."
"Oh."
"Your mother helped me fix this up," Severus said. "It was slightly damaged."
Alice looked down at the book once more, gently slapping the cover before looking back up at Severus.
"Shall I read it?"
"Yeah."
"Yes, please."
"Yep."
Severus turned to the first page and cleared his throat. "'Chapter 1: Lucy Looks Into A Wardrobe'."
"Lucy?"
"A different Lucy, dear."
"'Diffen'?"
"Not the same."
"Oh."
"'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy'."
"Peter?"
"A different Peter."
"Oh." Alice looked at the first sentence and furrowed her brow harder than Severus had ever seen, her tiny hands curling up into fists as her forehead all but touched the page. She began to recite the sentence in what Severus assumed was a language, but he managed to hear the names 'Peter', 'Susan', 'Edmund', and 'Lucy'.
"'This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids'."
Alice once more repeated what Severus said in a very clear, enunciated manner, or at least Severus assumed that was the case.
As they continued reading, Severus noticed that Lily had entered the room, now standing off to the side. Her belly had rounded out quite a bit, showing just how much of a difference there was between carrying a single child and carrying twins. She gave him a small smile as Alice energetically finished the sentence she was on, only to realize Severus had stopped reading.
"Papa." Alice reached up and tugged on Severus's nose. "Boog."
"Of course, dear," Severus said, giving Lily one last smile before continuing. "'Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tumnus'."