How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

DISCLAIMER: JKR owns everything that is in reference to the Harry Potter world if it is in one of my works of fiction. If it is not found in one of her creations, then it is mine unless otherwise stated. I am not making any profit from the writing of this story.


Severus led them all back into the house trailer and out of the heat. He knew the upcoming ceremonies were making him nervous, but he didn’t want to let his emotions affect Harry. He could tell by simply looking at the younger man that he was exhausted, he needed to rest and most likely Allie did as well. The heat and excitement were just a bit harder on the pregnant members of their group.

“Aunt Maggie, is there somewhere Harry can lie down for awhile, and maybe Allie as well?” he asked the older woman before the noise level rose back up again as everyone discussed everything that needed to be done before the wedding took place.

Harry shook his head, and tugged at Severus’ arm, he didn’t want to be a burden and really didn’t want to miss out on any of the preparations. Allie on the other hand looked as though she was all for a pillow and some quiet time.

“Sev, I’ll be okay,” he said as he pulled at the older man’s arm, trying to get him to listen. Severus turned and looked down at his love, noting the half closed eyes and the slight darkening of the skin under them. He smiled gently down at him and cupped his cheek in the palm of one hand, caressing it softly. Harry leaned into the touch and sighed softly, all the emotional turmoil had been trying for him, in all honesty, he just wanted to lie down and wrap up in Severus.

“I want you to rest baby, you have a couple of ceremonies you will have to go through this evening that you need to be awake for.” He said as he guided Harry down the narrow hallway after Maggie.

Harry allowed himself to be led docilely and then to be sat on the edge of the bed while Severus fussed over him. The older man lifted each foot and removed his trainers, and then unbuttoned the short sleeved shirt he was wearing and stripped him down to his sleeveless undershirt. Severus carded his fingers through Harry’s unruly hair in affection and then laid him back to rest on the pillows of his grandmother’s bed.

“What am I going to have to do Master?” Harry asked as he yawned and held onto his lover’s hand that was resting on his belly. It was so quiet back in the bedroom, must be silencing charm on it he thought, he could just barely hear the others talking and the sounds from outside.

Severus sat up a little more and thought for a moment before he answered.

“Well I know there is the purification ceremony; we both have to do that. When one of the cousins got married there were celebrations for passing into adulthood, fertility, prosperity, happiness, and thanks. I am not sure exactly what Grandmother will have us do, or really what even pertains to us, I know this is really short notice though, so I doubt there will be anything really elaborate happening.”

Harry thought for a moment and then spoke again, his fingers tracing over Severus, much like Severus had done with Grant that morning.

“How many relatives are Ron and Mione going to have to get things for and what do they get? Is there a list or something?”

“Last wedding I attended here, there were eighty people, that was four years ago and the family has increased some since then.” Severus sighed, he really did feel bad about the custom and the fact it would be a hardship on Harry’s friends. “They’ll get them little things, nothing overly fanciful. Things like blankets, kitchenware, and useful things, art supplies and games for the children, just a few dollars each. Harry, I am so sorry about this. Do you think Ron would allow me to help him with the costs? He didn’t know about the custom when he said they’d do it.”

Severus picked idly at the sheets as he spoke, he was trying to find a plausible way to allow Ron to save face, but not overtax their budget. He and Harry could afford to help; Grant and Damon were taking care of everything for his side of the family. He’d never imagined he’d be married or have to deal with the customs of his adoptive family, but he was thrilled he was actually given the chance.

The two sat there thinking for a moment, Harry thinking of Ron’s issues with growing up poor and Severus turning over different solutions in his mind on how to help the situation. Suddenly the older man smiled, he figured it out, he’d just have to talk to Grant to see if it were possible. Harry looked at him and smiled as Severus leaned down to kiss him and then stood.

“Harry, I am going to keep the room cool for you and bring Allie back so you can both rest.” He said and pulled out his wand. Harry smirked and stretched lazily as he watched the lean figure of his soon to be husband. Severus looked at him and smirked.

“What are you looking at?” Sev asked as he raised his wand again.

“Sev, I want to..” Harry began as he tugged at his shirt. Severus looked at him with wide horrified eyes and started shaking his head.

“Are you insane Harry? This is my GRANDMOTHER’S bed Harry. No way am I doing anything in this bed, hell I am not doing anything in this house.” Severus exclaimed as he watched Harry tease him with a glimpse of bare tummy. “Do you have any idea what that woman would do to me?”

Harry laughed at Severus’ loss of composure, he figured it was a good way to pay him back for attempting to force feed him broccoli the night before. He’d taken a chance though; he had no idea what he would have done if the other man had been game. Severus scowled at him and swatted his thigh before he cast a cooling charm.

“Ought to bloody well let you melt, you little blighter,” he muttered as he felt the air around him cool and Harry laid back against the pillows again and closed his eyes.

“Thank you Sir,” he sighed and rolled onto his side. Chuckling to himself, Severus left the small bedroom and let Allie know it was cool enough for her to come back to lie down now. As he sat down in the living room, he looked around for Maggie.

“Where is Maggie? Does anyone know where she went?” he asked as the others were pouring over papers and different pieces of clothing. Damon looked up and replied.

“She’s gone out to the shed son, what do you need?”

Severus thought for a moment and then smiled as his plan came together.

“Would you come with me to talk to her? I need to talk to you too.” He said as he stood and waited for the older wizard to join him. As they closed the front door behind them, the younger man turned to his adoptive father and spoke.

“You know that Harry’s friends are going to stand up for him, right?” he asked and waited.

“Yes, they were talking about it while you were back with Harry, I think the girl is a little worried about the gifting though.” Damon answered as he led the way behind the trailer to an old shed, the door missing for many years now.

“I want to give them a bride price on Harry. I can do that, can’t I?” Severus asked, he was referring to the custom of paying a price for the worth of the bride to the parents or family of the bride. Traditionally among the people it is paid with livestock or household goods. Severus had an idea on how to let Ron save face and still fulfill his part of the ceremony.

Damon thought for a long moment, reflecting back to his own wedding and the amazingly high bride price he’d paid the Rainwalkers for Grant’s hand. He knew what Severus was trying to do and he was very proud of him for being that responsible, he’d help him if he could.

“What did you have in mind?” the older man asked as they entered the shed to speak with Maggie about the feasibility of Severus’ brilliant plan. Severus wasted no time in explaining his idea and the reasoning behind it, and after the other two stopped laughing, they set out for another family members home.

Almost an hour later, Ron and Hermione were sitting out on the porch talking with Grant and his mother when they noticed a small procession coming down the dirt path. Hermione stood and looked closely, her mouth opening in wonder as she finally worked out what it was she was seeing.

“Oh my Ron, you are not going to believe this.” She breathed as the dusty parade came close enough to make out.

There were five large steers coming at them at a fair clip, and right behind were Severus and Damon swinging long sticks, keeping them together and moving where directed. Severus moved around to the front of the small herd once they arrived at his grandmother’s, effectively stopping the docile beasts.

Grant and his mother chuckled at the sight, Grant having a good idea of why Severus was doing it and Rachel simply proud of her little bird following family traditions. She believed in the keeping of the old ways whenever possible.

Ron and Hermione stood there in shock as they looked at a hot, dirty, sweaty Severus Snape, still brandishing his long stick at any wayward steer that considered wrong doing. Severus took a deep breath and approached the porch, stopping in front of the Weasleys.

“I, Severus William Raven Rainwalker Wolffe Snape, offer you these five fine steers as bride price for the hand of Harry James Potter.” He said solemnly and waited. Max stood up next to Ron and nodded his head in approval, and then put his hand on a very confused Ron’s shoulder.

“Huh?”

“Say thank you and that you accept,” Max prompted as he leaned down to speak in the younger man’s ear.

“We accept and thank you,” Hermione said clearly, she had been doing some reading of a few books Maggie had loaned her and this didn’t surprise her too much. The one thing she had wondered about and asked Maggie, was what Harry would present to Grant and Damon. The older woman had smiled and replied that the gift was already given in that Harry was carrying Severus’ babe.

Severus gave a small bow and turned to help Damon herd the cattle to a pen down the road at a cousins’ house. Ron turned to Hermione, almost speechless.

“Mione….the Professor gave us cows. He gave us cows for Harry.” The red head said and turned to watch them drive the steers down the road.

A/N~ a winkte is how the Lakhota refer to a homosexual, they are considered to be the embodiment of both male and female spirits. In my story it will also include males that can become pregnant.