Forever Yours

Chapter 24: A Family Christmas Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Serenity, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick and any name you don't recognize, and isn't from the HP universe) are entirely my own.

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The first couple of days at home past by quickly enough. Between the Fuerst family flickering between households and Katherine now joining Severus back in the lab, life fell into an easy pattern for all of them.

Helena often stopped by to help Katherine with Serenity, as the young witch was eager to babysit the new baby. This gave both Katherine and Severus the much needed rest they both craved after the first three weeks since their daughter's arrival. Septimus usually perched himself on the couch during those time, quietly observing his girlfriend coo over his baby sister, while the two girls laid together on the living room floor.

Katherine also returned to her daily exercise routine; running with Septimus before breakfast, which left Severus and Serenity home alone. Needless to say, it left the elder wizard paranoid for the first few days. Every little sound or movement the infant would make, Severus would be at the bassinet's side in a heartbeat. He became so paranoid to the point that on the second day, Katherine and Septimus returned home to find him sitting in his chair, in the living room, just staring at the child, unblinking.

"Severus," Katherine smirked lightly, as she and Septimus removed their shoes at the backdoor. "What in Merlin's name are you doing, love?"

"You instructed me to watch our daughter whilst you were away," Severus murmured, as he finally broke eye contact with the crib.

"When I asked you to watch her, I didn't mean to sit and stare at her for the entire hour," Katherine stated, as she planted herself on the arm of Severus' chair.

"Every time I walk away from her, she moves or makes a noise," Severus grumbled. "Do you realize how much she truly does that?"

"About probably the same as you do when you sleep," Katherine replied with a smirk. "Do you know that I only slept about a half hour the first night I was back in a bed with you? I had forgotten how much you moved and grumbled in your sleep." Severus' only retort was the roll of his eyes, as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

"Mom?" Septimus asked, as he joined his parents in the living room. "Can we please talk about this again?"

"Septimus," Katherine sighed irritably. "We discussed this throughout the entire run this morning, and my answer's still no."

"But mom..." Septimus whined lightly, as he crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking his father's actions.

"No," she stated again. "Sept, we went over this. Town is too busy this time of year for you to go in by yourself. If something would happen, you would have no way of defending yourself since you are not of age."

"I'm only five months out of being seventeen though," Sept huffed. "And the law states that I can use spells to defend myself if something happens."

"Be that as it may," Katherine said, glaring lightly at the boy. "But I do not want to see it come down to that. Plus you only know a handful of spells that will help defend you. The answer is still no. Now end of story."

"But..."

"Your mother said 'no' Septimus," Severus stated sternly, glaring up from his seat to where the boy stood. "End of discussion."