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.

A/N~ Well this chapter didn’t exactly go as I had planned, but at least we see that new relationships are forming and old ones are reinforced. And Harry is a conniving little submissive husband…LOL, well that will be in the next chapter. Thank you all again for reading. I hope you enjoy this episode of ‘Harry’s World’, yes it is a soap opera to me, but that’s okay, I rather enjoy writing it.
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Later that day, Harry was feeling quite restless and kept roaming the house looking for some way to entertain himself without being rude to their guests. If it had been left up to him, he would have asked his husband to call Allie and see if she wanted to do something. Severus watched the young man wander from room to room and shook his head. He hated seeing Harry bored, inevitably a bored Harry came up with trouble to get himself into.

On his third trip through the living room, Harry found Draco planted in the recliner his husband had bought to relax in. Giving the blond a thoughtful look, Harry decided he may have found some entertainment after all. When all else fails, annoying a Malfoy was worth a few minutes distraction, and there was no way Draco would try to hex him in Severus’ house. With a self-satisfied little smirk, Harry plopped down on the sofa and stared at Draco.

“Did you want something Harry?” Draco asked as he looked up from the magazine he was reading. He was still feeling overly stuffed from his morning meal and just couldn’t be assed into getting upset that Po..no, Harry was obviously in a mood to irritate him.

“I’m bored,” Harry said flippantly as he reached over and took the magazine from Draco. The blond closed his eyes and took a deep breath, Harry was definitely asking to be hexed and he knew he couldn’t do it.

“Go clean something,” he shot back while snatching his reading material away from the pregnant wizard.

“I already did, and I am still bored,” Harry huffed as he stretched out on the sofa and stared at Draco.

“Go find Severus to annoy,” Draco growled and tried to ignore Harry. It was like trying to put toothpaste back in its tube, a futile exercise guaranteed to drive him insane in the long run.

“He’s busy with Lucius.”

“Then find Damon and Grant.”

“Grant has patients to see and Damon is setting things up at his bar,” Harry whined as he reached out and nudged Draco with the toe of his foot. He had just found a way to amuse himself. He was going to see how long it took to truly annoy the younger Malfoy. Draco looked up at Harry and glared while putting his magazine to one side.

“Okay Harry, I’ll talk to you, but just because I don’t want to have to answer questions about your disappearance after hexing you into next week,” he ground out with a put upon sigh worthy of the saints. Harry just gave him a cheese eating grin and wiggled his toes.

“What do you want to talk about?” Harry asked, entirely too perky at the prospect of a conversation with his childhood arch enemy. Draco groaned at this and rolled his eyes, hoping someone would cast an Unforgivable on him so that he could be doing something besides this.

“Let’s talk about the baby; it’s a nice safe topic.” Draco said. He really did have some questions about male pregnancy that just were not answered by reading. Harry shrugged in answer and waited.

\"Do you know if the baby is a boy or girl yet?\" Draco asked as he made himself comfortable in the recliner he had claimed for his visit. A smug little smile passed over Harry\'s face before he answered.

\"We are having a little girl,\" he said with a smile as he put one hand protectively over his tummy and felt the gentle swell that was their daughter.

\"I cannot even imagine being pregnant. I mean your body changes right?\" Draco asked as an undetectable shudder ran through his body. He couldn\'t imagine having the girly bits. Harry figured that that was what had Draco uncomfortable with the idea of carrying a child. \"When do the changes happen?\"

\"They already have,\" Harry said softly, biting on his lower lip, now wishing he’d found something else to do besides talk to Draco. He had come to terms with his body changes now, but this was the first time he had been faced with seeing someone putting all the information together for themselves. He watched as an incredulous look passed over Malfoy\'s face as the blond stared pointedly at Harry, in particular staring at his groin.

\"You mean... you have... there?\" Malfoy stammered as realization dawned on him. Harry quickly crossed his legs and placed his hands in his lap. Neither man had heard Severus enter the room until he cleared his throat.

\"That Draco, is none of your concern,\" the tall wizard said as he came to stand behind Harry and placed his hands on the shoulders of his young husband. Harry stiffened for a moment and then relaxed as he felt the gentle circles being rubbed on his skin by the thumbs of his husband.

“I didn’t mean any offense, Sev. We were just talking,” Draco said with a shrug. “Harry seems to have decided that I am his source of entertainment while you are busy.”

Severus came around the end of the sofa and sat down next to Harry, who immediately curled up next to him. “Are you bored, love?” Harry nodded and sighed while he picked at Severus’ hands.

“I would love to get out of the house for a little while Husband,” he said quietly while avoiding the gaze of Draco. “Could we go for a ride?”

“Of course Harry, let me get the truck keys,” Severus said as he started to stand and stopping as he felt a tug on his shirt. “What is it?”

“Could we take the bike?” Harry asked. Despite being ill the last time he rode, he missed the closeness he’d come to love of riding behind his husband. “I promise I won’t get sick.” He added hopefully as he felt Severus’ weighty gaze fall on him.

“We can take the Harley out if you’d like to, we’ll make it a short ride if you start to feel nauseous,” the older man said as he stroked his hand through Harry’s unbound hair. “You need to go braid this up so it doesn’t get tangled.”

Harry pulled a hair tie out of his pocket and deftly braided his hair as if he’d been doing it his whole life. Draco watched him and felt something akin to a pang of envy after the mention of the bike. It was something he’d always wanted to try, he’d known his godfather rode a motorcycle and often wished to be offered a ride.

“Okay, all ready. Let’s go now,” Harry said with a grin as he stood and grabbed his husband’s hand. Severus just shook his head and laughed as he picked up the keys to his bike from the mantle above the fireplace. Turning to Draco, he gave him a grin.

\"Your father is up in his room if you get bored. Harry and I will be back in little while.\"

\"Hey Sev,\" Draco began as he picked up his magazine. \"Would you teach me how to ride while I\'m here?\" Harry stopped what he was doing and just looked at Draco.

\"I don\'t know about teaching you to ride a bike, but I wouldn\'t mind taking you out for a ride or two,\" Severus said oblivious to the stiffening of Harry\'s body. If he had turned around at that moment he would have seen a look passed from Harry to Draco that held nothing but insecurity. Harry didn’t want anyone else behind his husband. That was his place, and his place alone.

Even if Severus had missed the pained look on Harry\'s face, Draco hadn\'t. \"You are going to be busy with getting all of paperwork in order for you to open your potions shop, Severus, you aren\'t going to have the time and that\'s okay.”

“I’ll ask Damon to take you out, Draco. I’m sure he won’t have any trouble with it, he’s always looking for a reason to ride,” Severus said with a shrug and turned toward the door. Harry gave Draco a little smile and mouthed ‘thank you’ at him as he followed his husband out. Draco just nodded and smiled in return before he turned back to his magazine. Even though he would like to have time to spend alone with his godfather, he was man enough to realize that it would cause distress to Harry.

Standing outside on the front porch, Harry waited in the late summer sunshine as Severus went to the detached garage to bring out the Harley. The young wizard closed his eyes, tilting his head back to let the breeze play over his face and through his hair as he listened to the sounds of rustling leaves and birds singing. He did like it out here, he liked the quiet and what was proving to be an unhurried pace of life, it was so different without the chattering noise of students and teachers alike. Harry opened his eyes, smiling as he heard the loud rumble of the bike when Severus started it. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that sound. Even though riding behind his husband was a new experience, it was one he was missing and felt a need to have again.

Sev pulled up in front of the porch and waited as Harry came down the steps to stand at his side so he could buckle his helmet onto him before climbing up behind his husband. Once Harry’s arms were wrapped tight around his husband’s waist, Severus pushed off and they slowly tooled out of the yard and over the makeshift bridge. Harry waited for the first signs of sickness with trepidation, he didn’t want this outing to be cut short, but he was happily finding that his stomach was behaving itself as they wound their way down the long drive to reach the blacktop. At the top of their road, Severus stopped and turned to look at his little husband to see how he was faring and was met with a huge grin and kiss.

Severus was enjoying being back on his bike, the fact Harry was nestled behind him made it all the sweeter as they roared down the mountainside. He hadn’t regretted buying the truck while out in South Dakota, but he had missed the trip back on his toy. The longer they rode, the more aware Severus became of Harry’s body behind him, and he fancied he could even feel the swell of their unborn child between them as Harry pressed against him tighter. Smiling to himself, the older wizard squeezed the throttle and sped up a little just to hear Harry’s laughter over the wind that rushed past.

A quarter of an hour later Severus turned the bike into the carpark outside Cutty’s and parked between Allie’s car and Damon’s bike. He had an idea that seeing his friend would do Harry a world of good, but he had to wonder if the world was ready for the two of them together. After shutting the bike down, he helped his husband dismount and unbuckle his helmet before doing the same, leaning in to kiss him repeatedly.

“Allie’s here, babe,” Severus murmured as he put his hand on the small of Harry’s back and guided through the employee’s entrance. He squinted in the darkened hallway and waited a moment for his eyes to adjust with Harry firmly at his side before going further in to find everyone.

“Who’s there?” a male voice rung out. Severus recognized it as Damon’s and replied before his foster father could yell again, the old man really hated people just walking in, but he always made exceptions for family.

Harry was quick to find Allie at one of the tables rolling silverware for the coming evening. Pulling out a chair, he plopped down across from her and reached into the tub to give her a hand. Meanwhile, Severus had been collared by Damon and pulled into the small office to go over some paperwork that had come in on his asylum case the day before. Allie was tickled pink to have time to spend with her friend before she had to go pick up her child from the daycare.

“Hey Bit, are you doing okay?” she asked as she poured him a soda from the pitcher on the table. He shrugged and grinned, he was just glad to be out of the house for awhile. She gave him a knowing smile and let him have time to get his thoughts together. She knew what it was like to have houseguests that didn’t exactly approve of you. Max’s mother still didn’t care much for her, but each time the woman visited, Allie was the perfect daughter-in-law.

“I’m glad Lucius is here. Severus needs his friends around him. It’s his son that makes me uneasy,” Harry said as he picked up a fresh stack of napkins and began rolling up more cutlery. “Draco and I were never friends and now it’s like we are dancing around each other trying not to step on the other’s toes.”

“You know Max wanted to be there to help Sev,” Allie said quietly in reference to the day before. “He had an emergency at the hospital and just couldn’t get anyone to step in for him.” Harry nodded; his husband had mentioned that the healer had called to let him know what was going on.

“It’s okay, I don’t think Sev really wanted him to see what was going to happen,” he said with a smile that told her there were no hard feelings from the Snape family.

“So he…” she began as Harry interrupted her. “He won’t be bothering anyone again Allie.” She reached out and squeezed his hand before turning back to her task. They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes before speaking next.

“Are you going to work tomorrow night?” she asked with a grin. Harry looked at her with a blank expression, trying to remember what he was supposed to be doing that evening. The woman across from him just laughed at the look on his face and went on. “You know, waiting tables here at the bar. It’s one of the busiest weekends for Damon and Grant, and they never have enough help. The guys are going to be working the door and bouncing.”

“I’d like to, but I have to talk to Severus first to make sure it’s okay first,” Harry replied, he really did think he’d have fun working with Allie and the rest of his new family.

“Talk to me about what, brat?” came a rumbling voice from behind him. Harry tilted his head back and smiled up into the face of his tall husband. Severus bent down and captured the younger man’s lips with his own, not releasing him until he had Harry arching out of the chair with a whimper. “Now what did you need to talk to me about?” he smirked.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment, feeling his face flush with want and desire from his husband’s touch, after he had his feelings in check he replied. “I wanted to ask you if I am going to be waiting tables here with Allie tomorrow night or not.”

“I don’t see why not, in fact we may as well put Draco to work too. Keep the little prat out of trouble,” Severus said with a grin as he pulled out a chair to sit down next to Harry. “Damon got a call from Jo Velden this morning. She’ll be here early tomorrow afternoon and staying in town through Wednesday to take depositions from people to show that I could be a productive member of society here in Echo.” Harry started giggling at that and received a glare for his trouble.

“Oh Husband, you are so fucked. They aren’t going to let you stay,” Harry laughed, leaning into his mate and kissing him gently. “I am just teasing Husband, you are a wonderful person.” Allie however continued to snicker at the older wizard until he flicked a strawful of soda at her face.

“Hush you two ungrateful brats, you would think you both might have a clue as to what manners are,” Severus said in mock indignation before he too began to laugh. Harry leaned back against his husband and smiled as he felt Severus’ strong arms encircle his waist and draw him onto his lap. Allie watched them both and sighed as she saw how happy the two were, she had been so worried about her new friend. Worried that his past would sabotage his future before it even began.

“Where is Ms. Velden staying?” Harry asked as he slowly recovered from his laughing fit. He really didn’t want any more houseguests, but he knew he really couldn’t turn away the woman that was working so hard to keep his husband in the country. It was a good thing that Severus didn’t want another person in his house either, he’d made her a reservation at the small bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Echo.

“We are taking care of her accommodations at an establishment outside of town Harry. She will be much more comfortable there than at our house with a bunch of men,” Severus said with a shrug, women still made his head hurt if he thought about them in any context other than colleagues, acquaintances or family. He had no idea how to make one comfortable in his home and further more he was not inclined to try at all.

“I think that would be for the best as well Husband, after all, we are barely equipped to offer anything but the barest essentials to the Malfoys,” Harry agreed.

Damon joined the small group at the table then, bringing with him a fresh pitcher of soda and a small tray of sandwiches. He made sure Allie and Harry were served first and then he and Severus dug in as they discussed the coming weekend.

“I am getting too old for this shit Sev,” Damon sighed as he drained his glass and waited as Harry refilled it before drinking again. “This just grows bigger each year, you know. This year we are having a barbeque on Sunday afternoon. The whole damn town is invited.” He grumbled. Severus paid him very little attention though; the younger wizard knew how proud his foster father was of his establishment and the things that they did for the community.

“Just let us know how we can help, Damon. I’m here this year and Harry said he’d be happy to help as well,” Severus said as he picked up the other man’s clipboard and looked at the lists of things that had yet to be done. Merlin, how on earth did the old man do it every year? The raven haired man then remembered the conversation he’d had with the other man about his health the other morning. “I’m serious Damon, what is there on this list can I take care of now?”

Harry caught the worried undertone in his husband’s voice and quickly glanced at Damon to find him sitting in his chair looking impossibly old and drawn. His face was slack with exhaustion as he ran his hand over his eyes and thought of what needed to be done first. Harry slipped off of Severus’ lap and gave his husband a look before he walked quietly behind the bar and started to wash the glasses that were setting in crates against the shelves. He knew Damon and Grant preferred the glassware to be washed by hand rather than use magic to do the job; too many things got broken with sloppy wand waving. It didn’t take Allie more than a few minutes to join Harry in the washing up, leaving Severus to talk to Damon.

His eyes still closed, the older wizard began to tick things off on his fingers. “The liquor distributor is late, he needs to be called and dealt with. The sound system needs to be checked for the bands. The lights need to be strung up out on the deck and the back lawn. The front windows still need to be washed. The men’s has a busted toilet and I can’t get the damn plumber out here to fix it, he’s on vacation,” he sighed as he simply stopped speaking and let his hands fall to the table. Opening his eyes once more, he looked around and noticed that he and Severus were alone. “Where are Bit and Allie?”

“Doing the glasses Da, don’t worry about them,” Severus said as he pulled his mobile out of his back pocket. “The distributor’s number is this one, yeah?” he asked pointing to something scribbled on the paper he was holding. Damon nodded; still stunned from the way Severus had addressed him. In the twelve years he’d known the school teacher and acted as a father figure for him, not once had he ever been referred to as Dad or any other variant of the honorific. The old man patted the younger on the shoulder as he heard him begin to speak to someone on the mobile about the missing delivery, and then stood up to go check on the two young ones.

“Are you two okay back here?” he asked as he stood to the side and watched as Harry and Allie made short work of the first crate of glassware and had it drying on towels laid on top of the bar. Allie looked up and smiled at him and Harry did the same as Damon moved forward to kiss them both on the top of the head. “Thank you both.”

“It’s our pleasure Sir,” Harry said softly as he began to wash the second set of glasses.

“What time do you need us here tomorrow?” Allie asked, she wanted a good idea for when she needed to head to the Overlook to help Harry pick out something to wear so he’d make more than a few tips.

“Four o’clock will be fine sweetie,” Damon answered, looking up as Severus shouted something rude and angrily slapped his mobile shut.

“What is it son?” he asked, he could already tell that whatever it was, it had Severus pissed. Merlin help the boy if he ever had to run this place alone, he’d never be able to deal with the customers and suppliers without hexing someone with something awful.

“I have to go pick it all up, their truck is broke down,” he grouched as he picked the clipboard back up and looked at the next thing on the list. Damon just shook his head and sighed, it was always something. “Are there any other plumbers in town?”

“I can go pick it up when Grant gets here and no, only one plumber,” Damon said as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot that was always brewing behind the bar. Severus ran one hand through his hair and thought for a moment before he looked at Damon.

“Will you let me charm the damn thing to work until the arse gets off his holiday?”

“At this point Sev, I don’t give a flying fuck if the men shit in their hats this weekend,” Damon snorted in laughter. At that, the two working behind the bar started giggling at the sight of Severus drawing his wand and stalking off to do battle with the recalcitrant commode. After a few minutes of weighty silence, Harry turned to Damon, he just had to ask.

“Why don’t you just use magic to do most of the things on the list?”

Damon looked down at Harry and smiled gently as he patted the young man’s cheek. “Why use magic if it can be done with other means?” Harry wanted to reply that it would be easier, but he wasn’t sure if the answer would be perceived as flippant and that was the last thing he wanted. Damon saw that he wanted to say something and continued. “If we used magic to do everything Harry, then some of the muggles and squibs that lived around here would be out of work, we wouldn’t need them. So I suppose by doing things in this backwards fashion is our way to contribute something to the economy around here.”

Severus rejoined them with the clipboard in hand, ready to tackle the next task on the list when Grant shuffled tiredly into the open front doors of the bar with Max right behind him. Damon smiled as his husband crossed the dance floor and straight into his waiting arms.

“Hey angel of mine,” he murmured with his lips pressed against Grant’s hair, his arms wrapped securely around him, pulling him close. “How did your afternoon go?”

“I’m ready to retire Damon, I really and truly am,” the other man sighed as he pulled away and reached down into the beer cooler to retrieve a cold bottle of ale. Damon cocked one eyebrow at his lover and took the bottle from him before he could open it.

“You don’t need that, Grant,” he said gently, soft enough that only his husband could hear his words. Grant nodded in agreement and took out a bottle of water instead. “Baby, you know that I have been telling you for years to retire. If it’s what you want to do, then you know I am going to be okay with it.”

“Then what would you do with me underfoot all day, old man?” Grant asked with a gentle smile for the man in his life. He was ready to take down his shingle and retire, but he wasn’t sure what he’d do instead and didn’t want to end up pestering Damon all day long.

“Finally spoil you rotten like I keep saying I am going to,” Damon said as he pulled his mate close again. He hated seeing him this disheartened and really did wish he would actually retire and just spend the time with him here at the bar. “You could always keep me company here, maybe spend a couple of days in the office if you get too bored here.”

The rest of the group had noticed the conversation between the old couple and had moved back to the table where Harry and Allie had been rolling silverware. Severus in particular looked at the two men with a thoughtful look on his face. He really didn’t like thinking of the two men that were now his parents as old. Harry looked up at his husband and noticed the way he watched the pair, and he had an idea as to what the man was thinking.

“Severus would you help me hang the lights outside on the deck please?” Harry asked as he looked at the list of things to do that was resting on the table. “Allie, do you think you could spell the front windows clean before you guys leave to pick up Sarah?”

“No problem Harry,” the little witch said as she pulled her wand out of her tote bag and moved in front of the windows to take care of the job. Severus led Harry out onto the deck where they found the box containing the party lights on top of one of the tables. Taking up one end, Harry started to climb up on a chair to hook them over the nails in the eave from previous years.

“What do you think you are doing?” Severus asked as he plucked Harry off of the chair and stood him back on the wooden floor. Harry just rolled his eyes and held up the strand of lights for an explanation. Severus shook his head with a small sneer and took the lights from him. “We are wizards Harry.”

“Really?” the younger man asked with smirk and stood back to allow his husband to take care of the task. He rather thought he was getting the hang of this husband business, Allie and Jamie had both clued him in on how to get Severus to do what he wanted him to do without outright asking. Simply start to do whatever odious task you want them to do yourself, and let them decide to step in and rescue you from yourself.

“Harry, don’t even think about doing to me what those two women do to their husbands, it won’t work,” Severus said as he fixed his gaze on his young husband and drew his wand again. With a flick of his wrist and a murmured spell, the lights were hung and the deck space was neatly tidied up for the following evening. Harry just gave him a lop-sided grin and leaned up on his tip toes to kiss the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you Husband, you know you are my hero, right?” he said softly as he pressed himself against the man’s lean, hard body. Severus kissed his little husband tenderly, keeping him safe in his arms. “Grant and Damon will be okay, Husband, we’ll be there to help them this weekend and afterwards.” Harry whispered softly, feeling the tense arms around him start to relax a little in their embrace and heard Severus snort in derision.

“Am I that bloody obvious? Wearing my heart on my sleeve like a silly Gryffindor?” Severus asked as he ran his hands up under Harry’s shirt along his spine. The younger wizard closed his eyes and just enjoyed the attention from his husband.

“No love, but I know you and can tell when you are worried,” Harry answered as he wrapped his arms around his husband’s waist. The two stood outside in the afternoon sun for a little while, giving Damon and Grant some privacy after hearing Allie’s car start and drive off.

“I am thinking about offering to go pick up the liquor for Damon so he doesn’t have to mess with it. I think Grant just wants to go home anyhow,” Severus said after musing for a bit, looking down at Harry to gauge his reaction.

“How far do you have to go?” Harry asked, he thought it was probably a good idea as well; Grant just looked so tired today. Severus thought for a moment before he answered.

“It’s about seventy miles from here, I’d have to leave pretty soon to get there before they locked up for the day,” he said looking at his watch. With a sigh, he pulled away from his husband and with his hand on the small of his back, the pair walked back into the bar.

Inside they found Grant busy with some of the invoices from the grocery delivery and Damon fiddling around with the sound system. Grant seemed to be in a better mood as he looked up and motioned for Harry to join him at the bar. As soon as Harry was at the old man’s side, he was pulled into a hug.

“Thank you Harry, you and Allie saved me quite a bit of work this evening,” he said releasing Harry and giving him a smile. Harry blushed shyly and moved back behind the bar to start putting beer mugs down into the reach in freezer for the bartender. He was trying to remember what Allie had told him about where everything was stored and thought he was doing a pretty fair job of it.

Severus spoke to Damon for a few minutes and then came for Harry, taking his hand and leading him from behind the bar. “We need to get home Harry, I have to get the truck.” Grant looked up as Severus spoke and looked at them both over the tops of his glasses. Severus noticed the look and answered the unasked question. “I am going to pick up the delivery Grant. I want you guys to have an early evening if you can.”

“Thank you baby,” Grant said as he reached up to pat Severus’ cheek in thanks. He knew his adopted son was a good man, but sometimes he did little things that made the man even prouder of the British wizard.

“I’d like to ride along with you, Sev,” Harry said as they stopped to pick up the directions before they left. The young man really didn’t want to stay cooped up in the house with the Malfoys if he had any other alternative. His husband just gave him a little smile and pulled him outside into the sunlight.

“If we hurry, we might have time to go out for a little while tonight,” Severus said as he buckled his husband’s helmet and then his own. Harry climbed up behind and wrapped his arms around him as the bike was started and they roared out onto the highway. Harry closed his eyes and pressed himself closer to his husband’s back and thought about what he’d rather do that evening than go out, and then he started planning on how to get what he wanted.