Ten Years Later

Title: Ten Years Later…
Author: InnocentImp
Pairing: SS/HP
Rating: R/NC-17
Summary: Ten years down the line with Severus and Harry. A quick little one shot about their family. Fairly light and fluffy.
Disclaimer: Don’t own anything you recognize.
Beta: LydiaCarol

Note: Hi all! I wrote this when I needed a little break not too long ago. It’s fairly short and kind of fluffy, appropriate for the holidays I suppose. On that note I hope everyone has a very Happy Season!

Harry walked through the front door of the summer cottage he and Severus had purchased nearly ten years ago. The smell of roasting chicken and potatoes had his mouth watering before he’d even managed to hang up his cloak.

“Daddy!” Zachary came running around the corner and before Harry could really brace himself, he had an armful of his nine-year-old son. They’d adopted Zach when he was nearly a year old. He had been orphaned by the war and placed with Muggle relatives who were familiar with the wizarding world. However, at the first sign of magic they’d dumped him back at the Ministry, claiming they couldn’t raise such a child. Harry had been both incensed with the situation and taken with Zachary.

“You’re getting to be too big for this, Zach.” The gentle admonishment didn’t stop Harry from giving him a huge hug before setting Zach back on his feet. “Did you have a nice day?”

“Oh yes, I went over to Aunt Hermione’s this morning to play with Ronnie. She let me stay for lunch and then we made forts outside!” Zach continued to ramble on about his summer day while following Harry into the kitchen. He greeted his husband with a quick kiss on the cheek before moving to help set the table for dinner.

“You’re late, again.” It wasn’t accusing, merely enquiring. Harry did his best not to work too much during the summers so they could spend as much time together as a family as possible.

“I’m sorry. I’ve had a really tough caseload this week. I’ll probably have to go in tomorrow as well.” Harry’s voice must have conveyed his distress, because Severus turned to face him with an assessing look.

“Zachary, please go wash up for dinner.” It was clear it wasn’t a request.

“Yes sir.” Zachary was barely around the corner before Harry felt soft lips pressing into the side of his neck and gentle hands leading him to a chair at the table.

“You’ve been distant and moody all week. What’s wrong?” Severus brushed the fringe out of his husband’s eyes. He was disturbed by the weariness he saw there.

“It’s just been a tough case this week, I’m still not happy with the placement I’ve arranged but I don’t know what else to do.” Harry leaned into the palm cupping his face. Severus had grown more affectionate over the years in response to Harry’s easygoing care. Though it hadn’t been until Zachary came along that Severus had become tender, at least outside of the bedroom.

Zachary came back into the room and took his seat at the table. Severus stood from his crouched position in front of Harry, giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze. “We can catch up on your week later. Zachary, please help me finish setting the table for dinner.”

Dinner started out well enough. Zachary continued to fill his parents in on his day and Severus told Harry about some of the new research he’d managed while their son had been off wreaking havoc in the Granger-Weasley household. Dinner was going smoothly until Harry noticed Zach hadn’t touched his vegetables.

“Zach, you have to eat your peas.” There had been a growing pattern of discord at the dinner table. Zach had been protesting vegetables for weeks now and Harry hoped tonight wouldn’t be the night he chose to push the issue. Luck wasn’t on his side.

“I hate peas.”

“Zachary …” Severus turned his son’s name into a warning. Harry was worn thin enough as it was. The last thing he needed was a fight over dinner.

“Peas are stupid.” Zach pushed his fork back and forth through the peas on his plate, a pout forming on his lips.

“You still have to eat them if you want pudding.” Harry was finding it difficult to be pragmatic with his son. He didn’t understand where this sudden extreme dislike for vegetables he normally tolerated came from, but it was wearing thin.

“Ronnie doesn’t have to eat stupid vegetables.” The pout turned to a frown.

“I happen to know that your Aunt Hermione makes Ronnie eat his vegetables too. She makes your Uncle Ron eat them as well for that matter.” Harry tried for a halfhearted smile.

“I don’t care! I hate them and I won’t eat them!” Zach slammed his fork down on his plate.

“Then you will go to bed without pudding.” Harry sighed; he really wasn’t up to a tantrum tonight. Hopefully Zach would just accept the consequence for not eating the peas.

“Fine! I don’t want the stupid pudding either!”

Severus had had quite enough. “Watch your mouth or you won’t be visiting Ronnie anymore this weekend. As it is, you are going to miss out on the strawberries and cream I have set aside for tonight, unless you eat those peas.” Severus watched his son’s expression morph from petulant to considering. He loved strawberries nearly as much as his daddy did.

“Just eat your peas, Zach. Then you can have the strawberries.” Harry rose to take his and Severus’ dishes to the sink. His son just had to choose this evening to stage his revolution over vegetables.

Zach picked up a forkful of peas and shoved them into his mouth. His face immediately expressed his distaste. Severus was certain that not even strawberries would forestall this fight. His glare did little to help.

“Yuck! I don’t care about stupid pudding; I am not going to eat those. They suck!”

“Watch your language, young man. Clear off your dishes and go to your room.” Severus could only assume he’d picked up such a charming expression playing with Ronnie.

“I don’t care. I’d rather starve than eat those stupid peas!” Zach rose with his plate and began to stomp over to the sink. The two glasses Harry had been clearing exploded in his hands. Severus hadn’t seen Harry lose control of his magic like that in years, and he wasn’t entirely sure what had set him off. Usually he was the one to temper Severus when Zachary misbehaved.

“Sit down.” The icy quality to Harry’s voice invoked immediate compliance. “You are not to move from that chair until you’ve eaten those peas.” Zachary took his seat but judging by the firm set of his jaw, Severus realized it was going to be a very long night.

Three hours later found Harry and Zachary still at the kitchen table. Harry was reading over case reports and Zachary was still pushing peas around his plate, what was left of them anyway; they were more mush than actual peas. Severus had tried to convince Harry that this wasn’t the best way to handle the situation and that there were other consequences, but something had set off Harry’s temper and he refused to allow their son to leave the table. Zachary had remained firm in his refusal to eat the peas. If Severus hadn’t known better he would have sworn that Zachary had inherited both of his fathers’ stubborn streaks.

At least the shouting has stopped. Although when Severus glanced into the kitchen, he knew that they were both prepared to sit there for the rest of the night. He, however, was not. It was past time for both his son and his husband to be in bed. He stalked into the kitchen and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Go to bed, Zachary. We will discuss your behavior in the morning.” He shot Harry a look when he began to protest. “Brush your teeth and straight to bed. I don’t expect to see light from your room.” Zach wasted no time in moving towards his room. Severus was sure he’d be asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

“I can’t believe you did that! We agreed we wouldn’t contradict each other when it came to him!” Harry was obviously still angry, though Severus was sure it had little to do with their son. Gripping his husband by the elbows, he pulled him to his chest. Harry bristled and tried to pull away but Severus ignored it. “We also said we would temper each other and I don’t think this is about peas anymore.” Harry went limp in his arms with a sigh and Severus took the opportunity to slip an arm around his waist to lead him to their room, dousing the lights as he went.

Twenty minutes later and Severus had Harry sitting between his legs, wrapped in his arms in a hot bath. Harry still seemed unprepared to discuss what was bothering him so Severus focused solely on relaxing his husband. Firm hands massaged the nape of Harry’s neck before moving down to his shoulders. Severus was gratified when Harry released a sigh and sank into him, head lolling back onto his left shoulder. Encouraged, Severus continued to knead his way down Harry’s arms, brushing his ticklish sides on the way back up.

“Severus …” His name was an exalted whisper on his husband’s lips.

“Shhh.” Severus shifted Harry slightly, pulling his right arm up to drape around his neck, lightly trailing fingers along the underside of his arm as he went. With his arm safely ensconced behind his neck, Severus reached back down to lightly tease Harry’s right nipple. Enjoying Harry’s reaction, he overlooked the awkward angle to fasten his lips to the side of his neck that Harry left exposed to him. Despite his obvious exhaustion Harry was delightfully responsive. He was panting by the time Severus slid his leg over his, caressing every inch of skin as he pulled the leg to the side of the tub, effectively pinning Harry’s legs open. Severus moved his left hand to pay proper attention to Harry’s other nipple, his right hand moving down the flat planes of Harry’s stomach towards his waiting cock. He ran his hand just over Harry’s length, not enough to touch but enough to move the water over it, eliciting a long hiss from Harry.

“Please …”

Severus passed his thumb over the slit before moving to grip the length. He started a slow slide up and down through the water, occasionally venturing lower to caress and fondle. It didn’t take long before Harry was whispering breathy commands of “more” and ”faster” and ”harder”. Severus was only too happy to oblige, and it only took a few quick moments before Harry went rigid, moaning as he came. Severus had little difficulty manipulating his limp husband so he could kiss him thoroughly. As Harry came back to himself, he began to reach for Severus’ neglected cock.

“No. I can wait; let’s move to the bed.” They stood together, with a whoosh of water running down their bodies. They quickly helped each other towel off before moving towards the bedroom.

The fire in the grate cast long shadows on the walls of their room and Harry shivered a little, not having dried completely from the bath. But before he had a chance to get too cold Severus was on him again, insistent lips pressing him down into the mattress. Severus continued in the gentle pattern he’d established in the bath. Long slow caresses and kisses, bringing Harry back to full hardness before his hands moved to uncork a vial and venture lower.

Harry was panting by the time Severus removed his fingers, and downright moaning when Severus finally entered him. Their lovemaking was tender and slow, with exactly the sense of familiarity and security that Harry needed. When it was all over Harry was finally able to organize his thoughts from the comfort of his husband’s embrace. It didn’t take long before he just started talking.

“We picked up a little boy this week. His mother died when he was a baby and he was sent to live with her cousins. There was no record of a father. Our division was contacted when neighbors reported seeing the boy eating out of the trash.” Harry paused, clearly upset.

Severus waited patiently, knowing from experience that Harry would eventually tell him everything. Sometimes, like tonight, it was hard. He was proud of the division within the Ministry Harry had created for child welfare, but sometimes it just took too much out of him emotionally. Severus began to run his hand up and down Harry’s side, waiting for him to continue.

“When we visited the residence his living conditions were appalling; he was seriously underfed and had a multitude of bruises. We removed him immediately. His family isn’t contesting the removal. Turns out they’re squibs and were quite resentful when he started to show signs of magic early on. He didn’t speak for the first 48 hours we had him in custody.” Harry sighed again and Severus began to see why he’d been so upset. The similarities to Harry’s childhood were startling.

“He’s so shy and withdrawn. I know he’s overwhelmed in the group home where he’s been placed, but I don’t have any single family placements available right now. I went to check up on him this afternoon. It’s why I was late. It broke my heart to leave him.”

“It’s also why you lost your temper with Zachary.” It wasn’t really a question, but Harry responded anyway.

“I know I shouldn’t have, but this little boy was so grateful when he realized he’d be getting regular meals, and you should have seen his face when I took him a chocolate frog this afternoon. To come home to Zach throwing tantrums over vegetables was just too much.” Harry sounded truly defeated now. He so rarely lost his temper with their son that he was extra hard on himself when he did.

“What is the boy’s name?”

“Christopher. I’m going to go in to work tomorrow to see if there are any small families I can move him to.” Severus pulled Harry closer, tucking his head under his chin.

“I’m sure you’ll find a solution for him. You always do.”

“Yeah.” Harry didn’t sound too sure, but he said no more on the subject. Eventually, he fell asleep under Severus’ soothing ministrations. It would be hours before Severus joined him.

When Severus woke it was to find himself alone in bed. Judging by the darkness from the windows, it was still very early. He rose quietly to go in search of Harry. He found him standing in the doorway of Zachary’s room, silently watching him sleep. Harry must have heard him approach because he didn’t jump when arms wrapped around his waist.

“I owe him an apology. I should never have let things get so out of control.”

“I think he will understand if you explain things to him. The perspective couldn’t hurt him.”

“Still, I shouldn’t have lost control the way I did.” Severus didn’t think he’d win the argument so he dropped the issue and moved on to another one.

“I had tea with Hermione when she brought Zachary back this afternoon. Seems Zach is a little envious of Ronnie. Mentioned that he wouldn’t mind having a little brother. Hermione was attempting to subtly support the idea.” Harry stiffened and turned to face Severus. They’d discussed the possibility of adopting again a few times but they’d never made a move to do so.

“Severus?”

“We have the room, Harry, and I’ve never seen you so taken with a charge before. If you think it best, if it will help him, I’m sure we can change the guest room to suit him.” Harry’s face was so open and expressive in that moment that Severus would have promised him anything.

“But, Zach - I don’t want him to think we’re replacing him or something. Especially after tonight.” Harry turned his gaze back towards his sleeping son, clearly distressed at the possibility of upsetting their family.

“Zachary is nearly ten; next year he will be attending Hogwarts. Besides, I think you will find that while Zachary may have inherited our stubborn traits, he has also inherited my capacity for reason, and your exceedingly large capacity to love.”

Harry turned hopeful eyes back on him. “Really?”

“Really. We’ll talk to Zachary in the morning, see what he thinks about expanding our family.” The hug he received was well worth any sleep he’d lost that night.

“Now come to bed. If we’re to be adding another child to this household, I think I’d like to practice the traditional method of doing so at least once more before the sun comes up.”

~Fin~
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