Euphoria

Severus stepped through the threshold of Nott Manor, only to be greeted by what could only be described as immaculate Christmas decorations leftover from the week before. The grandfather clock standing at the end of the entrance hall, flanked by two flights of stairs, showed 6:11 as the time, later than Severus had hoped. He'd been busy bottling the mulled wine he and Miles had been preparing for the evening, something that everyone (save the children) would be enjoying as they counted down the seconds to 2011.

Severus could hear a multitude of voices emanating from a sitting room off to the side, which (knowing Nott Manor) was large enough to contain his house. Despite the noise, he could easily pick out who was speaking and when; while a majority of voices were those that he expected, there was a handful that came as a surprise, and he wondered how Theodore had ever managed to invite them, of all people.

The clicking of heels echoed through the house, which pulled Severus out of his mind and in the direction of Alice-Marie, who had dressed in an elegant dark blue dress Lily and Mary had given her as a wedding gift.

"Papa!" Alice-Marie smiled as she hurried to Severus and planted a kiss on each cheek. "Did you bring it?"

Severus gestured to the enchanted bag in his hand. "Courtesy of Snarky."

Alice-Marie took the bag and practically pulled Severus along into the kitchen (which was too large to properly call a kitchen), where a handful of house-elves (including Snarky, Kreacher, and Dobby, the latter surprising Severus and explaining the unexpected voices) and Miles were working.

"There you are, sir," Miles said, drying his hands.

"You're not with the others," Severus remarked.

"Ginevra and Hermione are in there," Miles replied dryly.

"The wine's here," Alice-Marie said as she placed the bag on the counter.

Miles pulled out the bottles, staring down into the bottomless bag with concern on his face.

"What is it?"

"... I'm not used to that," Miles muttered.

Alice-Marie rolled her eyes and pulled the remainder of the bottles out. "Let me know when the hors d'ouevres are ready."

Severus was led out by Alice-Marie as Miles plated what looked like escargot, and the two made their way up one of the staircases and down a corridor. Reaching the third door on the right, Alice-Marie turned and said, "They've been waiting for you since they got here. Mama's inside."

Severus smiled and hugged Alice-Marie. "You have a party to host, dear."

Alice-Marie nodded primly, returned the smile, and walked back down the corridor, her heels clicking once more.

Severus turned the knob of the door and opened it, and before he could see who was in the room, he heard several young voices scream, "GRANDAD!"

Gloria, Helena, and Sharon were the first to rush to Severus, the first two latching onto each of his legs while he lifted the third. Arthur and Samuel turned their heads from where they sat with Peter (the younger Peter), Scorpius, Regulus (the younger Regulus), and Arcturus.

"OI!" Peter exclaimed, "UNCLE SEV'S HERE!"

Samuel led the six boys as they rushed over and crowded around Severus, each of them saying something that would probably be exciting if they spoke one at a time. Not far behind came Lucinda (the younger Lucinda), Lyall, and Hope, and after them came the multitude of Weasley children (that weren't Arthur, Samuel, or Molly Joanne). Molly Joanne was sitting with Lily and Thomas II on one of the couches, the two youngest children building a LEGO set with their grandmother.

Severus looked down at the children surrounding him, then back to Lily. He didn't have a mirror, but the swelling in his chest and the expression on the childrens' faces told him he had the most dunderheaded smile on his face.