AN: This is just a little one shot I thought of for Valentine's Day. I ahd time to write, so why not do so?

Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

The month of February could not end soon enough.

Severus' tongue ached from having bitten it so much these last few days. Was there a law which stated that the second the candy hearts came onto the store shelves was the second everyone needed a love potion? Was it such a huge affront to human decency that he refused to hang a Cupid from his apothecary ceiling? Was it too much to ask that customers read the signs saying he was out of amortentia and beauty enhancing potions?

Thank Merlin he wasn't working today. He could sleep with Hermione in his arms, oblivious to the world around him….

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Severus groaned. Of course his children wouldn't sleep in. Merlin knew he loved his children, but some lessons on timing were in order.

"Say, 'Happy Valentine's Day,' Violet," Rose cooed.

Wait, what were they saying?

"Haway, ay Wawnen-ines Ay!" Violet cheered.

"Happy Valentine's Day to all of you too," Hermione replied.

Now Severus was wide awake and sitting upright. Beside him, Hermione was helping a black haired, onyx eyed toddler onto the bed. Rose and Victor plopped on, pink and red construction paper hearts in hand.

"Are these for me?" Hermione gushed as they extended out their cards.

"Huh huh," Rose nodded vigorously.

"We made them yesterday," Victor held out his card.

Severus' stomach sank. Was today really Valentine's Day? No, it had to be tomorrow, or was it next week?

"We got them finished just in time for Valentine's Day," Rose said.

How in Merlin's name could he forget Valentine's Day?

"We wanted to make you cereal so you could have breakfast in bed, but Violet kept trying to stick her hand in the box for the toy inside," Victor added.

"What kind of mess have you made on the kitchen?" Severus asked.

"None," Rose grinned, exposing the two teeth she had lost a week ago. "The elves shooed us away when they saw us."

Thank Merlin for small miracles.

"Oh these cards are so nice," Hermione stared at the red heart before her. "Did you all make this together?"

"No, Violet made it," Victor replied. "But she couldn't cut it out or paste on the doily so we did that for her."

"She kept trying to eat the crayon too," Rose added. "So we took it and colored the card for her."

"So I guess we did it for her," Victor said.

Violet giggled before sticking her thumb in her mouth.

"Here are the cards we made for you, Daddy," Rose handed the paper hearts over to him.

"Thank you," he muttered before taking them.

A smile crept across his face as he looked at the pink heart. The white doily on the borders added a nice touch, as did the picture of a black heart in the middle. It was signed, "I love you Daddy, Love, Victor." Then, he set it down and looked at the second heart. It too was bordered by a doily, this one straighter than the previous. In the middle it read, "Rosses are red, Violetts are blue, You are really grate, and I love you. Love, Rose." The third heart was purple with black scribbles all over it. He was pretty sure he could tell exactly where the crayon was before Violet attempted to put it in her mouth, which made the card all the more endearing.

"Do you like them?" Victor asked.

"I love them." He embraced his two oldest children. "They are very lovely cards."

"Dada!" Violet cried.

"Yes, I love you too," he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Her face lit up.

"What did you get Daddy, Mum?" Rose asked.

"Oh you know, we were just shopping around…" Hermione winked before opening her bedside drawer. Then, she handed her husband a box with black wrapping paper. "Happy Valentine's Day, Love."

"Indeed," he muttered before examining it. Once he found where it was taped together, he carefully opened it, not ripping the paper. Once it was off, he examined the box.

He felt his stomach churn.

"Well, do you like it?" Rose was practically bouncing on the bed.

"I love it." He pulled out one silver vial from a box of five. His name was engraved upon it.

In that moment, he knew his wife was too good for him.

"What did you get Mummy?" Victor asked.

Severus' chest went cold.

"You always give Mummy such nice gifts," he continued. "What did you give her this year?"

"Yes, this year," Severus drawled. His eyes fell on his wife, her eyes glistening in anticipation.

"Dada pwenet," Violet squirmed in her mother's arms.

The light in Hermione's eyes died as the realization of their situation sunk in.

"Yes," Severus drawled. "I do have a nice surprise planned for your mother…"

"But not right now," Hermione cut in.

"Why not?" Rose asked.

"Because there are some presents children don't want to see their parents give each other," Hermione took her husband's hand. There was a mischievous spark in her eyes.

"Indeed there are," Severus purred as he relaxed.

"What kinds of presents don't you want us to see you give Mummy?" She raised her eyebrow in a perfect imitation of her father.

"Things which would bore you to tears, but which your mother and I find fascinating."

"Like a Quidditch book?"

"No, much more fun than that."

"Like what?"

"Who wants some Valentine's Day candy?" Hermione released Severus' hand.

"Me!" Rose and Victor raised their hands.

"Let me go get it." Hermione picked up Violet. "Here, please take her."

"Canny," Violet cheered as Severus took her in his arms.

"Yes, your mum is getting us candy."

"Canny?"

"No, candy." His kissed her forehead.

The girl laughed.

"Have you eaten already?" Hermione left the bed and headed for the closet.

"No, because the elves got mad that Violet was trying to get the toy and we weren't able to clean up the mess," Rose followed her.

"I thought you said there was no mess," Hermione frowned.

"There wasn't after the house elves cleaned it all up." Victor followed his mother and sister.

Severus wondered if Hermione's tongue was bleeding from how hard she was biting it.

"Anyway, the mess is cleaned up, so it isn't a problem," Rose replied.

"I suppose it isn't," Hermione replied, with more than a hint of defeat in her voice.

Severus stared at his wife, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

How could he forget Valentine's Day?

Severus only made a halfhearted effort to eat his cereal. Truth be told he wouldn't have eaten it at all if he didn't need to set an example for his children. If he didn't model healthy eating, they would believe their Valentine's Day gift bags constituted a healthy breakfast. The last thing Hermione needed was someone skipping a meal and further undermining her.

It didn't make breakfast any less awkward, even after their chatting children left.

"I'm not upset."

Severus glanced up from his mushy Cheerios.

"I'm not angry with you." There was not a hint of deception or disappointment in her expression of voice. "It's fine that you forgot the date."

"I should have known it was Valentine's Day." He leaned back in his chair. "All anyone's been talking about is bloody Valentine's Day. I thought it would never end, which must be why I thought it was next week."

"It isn't a huge deal. I'm not upset. These things happen."

"But they shouldn't. I'm sorry Love." He shook his head. "I truly am."

"It's fine," she gestured towards his dish. He nodded, so she took it. "I would rather you forget Valentine's Day and be an amazing husband every other day of the year than remember Valentine's Day and be an arse most days of the year."

"You still deserve better than someone who forgets one of your favorite holidays."

"I deserve the man I love to be happy." She kissed his cheek. "And I love you."

"I love you too." He brushed his lips against hers.

"Don't sulk all day." She walked towards the kitchen. "I don't need anything. I'm just happy to be married to such a wonderful man."

Severus nodded, still trying to suppress the shame welling in his chest.

He was going to tear his hair out if he didn't think of something.

Severus stopped pacing in his office. He put a hand on his leather chair and sighed.

There were a few ways of resolving this problem. He could brave the crowds of other hapless shoppers and give Hermione a bouquet of roses and some piece of jewelry. The problem was that any flower arrangement he received ran the risk of appearing as if they'd been thrown together in five minutes, which would be accurate enough. Severus had given jewelry to his wife before, but it was always in the context of seeing something he believe she would love, not some attempt to atone for missing a holiday. Whatever he gave her needed to be something he gave to Hermione because she would love it, not because she needed to help him fix his inferiority complex.

"Daddy?"

Severus spun around and forced himself to smile. "Hello, Rose."

"What are you doing in your office?" She stepped inside. "Are you making a potion?"

"More or less."

"Can I help?"

"I don't think so." He exhaled.

"You aren't upset about any potion, are you?"

"My emotions are none of your concern."

"You forgot Valentine's Day, didn't you?"

He groaned and put his face in his hands.

"That's okay!" Her face lit up. "I can help you with that. I'm the Valentine's Day expert!"

He raised an eyebrow as he stared at her.

"I helped Violet make her Valentines, and I helped Mummy find her present for you. Looking back, you probably should have asked me sooner to help you."

"I don't need your help." He argued. "I need you to go play with your toys and forget about my problems."

"I'll play with my toys once I help you with Mum."

"My marriage is none of your concern."

"But I want to help with this, and I can do it."

"How?" Severus drawled.

"By helping you get her the perfect present."

"And what would you suggest I give her?" Had he sunk so low that he was now taking advice from an eight year old?

"You need to give her a homemade Valentine." Her blue eyes glistened as if she'd just gotten free access into his lab.

"A homemade Valentine?"

"Yes, and I can help because I'm an expert in making Valentines."

"I do not know if that would be advisable."

"Why not?"

Oh if only Rose knew how little her father actually knew about arts and crafts. It was doubtful she'd ever look at him the same way if she knew he couldn't stay in the lines when he colored, much less cut out an object.

"You like our homemade Valentines, right?"

"I love them." His lips curled up. "I already hung yours up in our bedroom so we can look at them whenever we want."

"Then why won't it work for you?"

Because the last time he'd made a homemade card was at the tender age of eleven. He'd strutted through the halls of Hogwarts, prepared to give it to Lily. Just his luck, the marauders got to him first. After calling him a series of what Severus now considered uncreative names, they disintegrated the heart. To add insult to injury, James gave Lily the most expensive Valentine he could find the following day. Severus had seen the way she had looked at it.

His never stood a chance.

"Why won't making a Valentine work for you?" Rose repeated.

"I don't want to give your mother anything she will only pretend to like," he replied.

"But you don't pretend to like our Valentine's, right?"

"Of course not," Severus' expression lightened. "I love everything you make for me."

"Well then she's going to like it to because it came from you."

"Yes, but you and your siblings are far more artistic than I am…."

"It isn't about art." Rose said. "It's about effort and showing you care. I think if you're so upset about this, you really care."

"I suppose making a Valentine with you is more productive than sulking," he muttered. "It would get your mother off my back about being so forlorn anyway."

"See, this is already working."

"Fine, we will make a Valentine together, and hope your mother enjoys it."

"She'll love it, I promise!"

He hoped his daughter was right.

Within minutes, Severus' lack of artistic skills was obvious.

To begin with, he was having difficulty making a heart on the construction paper. First it was too wide, then too long, then too circular, and then unclear what it was supposed to resemble. At first, Rose had been amused, but soon even she admitted his lack of artistic skills was a problem.

"How about you draw a heart for me?" Severus asked as he shifted his position on the yellow picnic bench clearly designed for a child. What he wouldn't have given for shorter legs at that moment.

"It doesn't work that way unless you're a baby," Rose answered. "You have to make the card yourself or else it isn't your Valentine."

So they attempted another four times to make a heart Severus liked. Upon completing this task, Severus had to cut it out, which was more of an adventure than he would've liked to have admitted.

"This looks nothing like a heart." Severus stared at the pink oddly shaped object before him.

"It looks exactly like a heart," Rose argued. "It looks like your heart."

If this is what Severus' heart looked like, he was surprised blood could circulate through his body.

"Now," Rose took a box of crayons and set it before him. "You need to use these to write a poem."

"I would prefer to use a quill." Severus began to stand.

"No!"

He startled at the passion in his daughter's voice.

"Quills aren't colorful! It has to be colorful!"

"Why?"

"Because then it isn't fun," her voice sounded like that of a professor. "If it isn't fun it isn't a good homemade card. Mum says fun always comes first with art."

"I see."

"Anyway, you can use a black crayon because you like black." She pulled one out from the box and handed it to him."

"Indeed," he muttered as he sat back down.

"No, you need to start, 'roses are red…'"

"Does it have to begin that way?"

"Yes," she sounded like him when he was teaching a class who was paying attention. "It has to begin that way because that's a Valentine's Day poem."

"I have no idea how to write poems," Severus admitted.

"You already have two lines, so think of two more and you'll have a complete poem."

"Fine." Severus took the crayon and began to write. It was easier to write than he'd expected. Perhaps he wasn't so hopeless in art after all.

"What are you writing?" Rose leaned over the table.

"Your poem."

"I know, but what are the next two lines?"

"I love you very much, and I'm sorry I'm not a poet."

She smacked her head.

His shoulders sagged. If he'd been told ten years ago a child would be lecturing him about Valentines he would've thought that individual was insane. Even more insane was that he was growing increasingly despondent that he couldn't meet her surprisingly lofty standards. This day kept getting better and better.

"The lines have to rhyme," she said.

"Why?" He asked. "It's more fun if they don't."

"We have to have standards, and that includes rhyming lines."

"I suppose we do."

"Now," she began. "We need to think of some words that rhyme with red."

"There's bed," he drawled, knowing the poem could become less than child-friendly if he was allowed to continue down that train of though.

"Okay, but what about fed, or said, or dead…"

"Or wed."

"Wed is good," Rose smiled.

"Yes," he continued to write. "I think I have a poem."

"That figure right there is Cupid."

"Ah," Violet put her right hand on the angelic figure in her picture book.

Victor shifted her so he could better see the words and he could be more comfortable on the dark green carpet. "Cupid makes sure everyone's true love gets shot in the heart so they get together."

"Oh?"

"Yes, but it doesn't hurt," Victor glanced up at his mother. "Right Mum?"

"No," Hermione glanced up from the journal she'd been reading. "Cupid's arrow doesn't hurt, at least not usually."

"Did you get hurt when he shot you when you fell in love with Dad?" Victor looked over at his mom.

"First of all, Cupid never shot me, but even if he did," Hermione set the book down. "Nothing hurt about falling in love with your father."

"Hermione?"

She turned around towards her husband, who stood before her with his hands behind his back.

"Yes," she said. "Do you need something?"

"He wants to give you something!" Rose announced.

"Oh?"

Severus handed her the construction paper heart. It was bordered by doilies which Severus admitted could've been glued on more neatly. There was purple and red glitter strewn about the Valentine, with his poem in the middle.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I am thrilled we are wed

For I truly love you.

"Oh Severus." Tears misted in Hermione's eyes.

"I love you," he replied. "And I apologize for forgetting the date."

"I told you not to worry about it, but this," she wiped her eyes. "This is one of the most beautiful things you've ever given me."

"It is?"

Hermione nodded.

"I told you she'd like it," Rose replied.

"It's so beautiful and thoughtful. I love it."

"I love you, Hermione," He took her into his arms. "You are an amazing witch I am fortunate to have as my wife."

"I love you too, Severus." She kissed his lips.

Usually, Rose would note their lack of decorum, but today she could not help but smile. She had saved her father from a Valentine's Day disaster. He deserved at least a few kisses with Mum.

"Cwupid!" Violet pointed to her sister. "Cwoopid."

"I guess I am like Cupid only without the arrows," Rose grinned.

"How did you know how to help Dad though?" Victor asked.

"It's like I told everyone, I'm a Valentine's Day expert!"

"Cwupid!" Violet cheered.

"Indeed she is." Severus broke away from Hermione and kissed his daughter on the top of the head. "Indeed she is."