Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Desperate Times

1981

"Harry Snape!"

Severus looked up just as he was about to place the small vial of Stomach Calming Draught onto the correct shelf in his storage cupboard at their newly secured Highlands Cottage. Fighting the urge to smile at his wife's exasperated tone, he walked into the parlour, still holding the vial. Lily looked up from where she was standing over their son; Harry was covered from head to toe in glittery, green Floo Powder. And instead of looking forlorn at his mother's stern demeanor, he was grinning impishly up at her.

Lily shook her head, pursing her lips and Severus knew she was trying not to laugh at the little boy's antics. Harry looked up to see what his mother was looking at and his smile widened; even his teeth were filled with the sooty powder.

"Daddy!" the little boy cried happily, holding up the little—now empty—box of Floo Powder for Severus' inspection. Severus attempted to direct a frown toward his little miscreant, but his lips wouldn't obey.

"What happened?" he asked, turning his gaze back to his wife. Lily sighed, putting her hands on her hips.

"He's been wanting that since we got here," she told him, pointing to the box.

"Bah," Harry explained happily, waving his trophy in the air. Severus fought down another smile. He took a few more steps toward his son. He crouched down and with a wave of his wand, the spilled Floo Powder was Vanished away. A quick Charm took care of the Powder ground into Harry's teeth. Severus shook his head in amusement at his son. He scooped him up as he stood back up.

"You, my son, are entirely too precocious for your own good," Severus informed him seriously. Harry just smiled at him as he pulled the little box into his chest.

"Sev, this entire house needs to be Harry-proofed," Lily told him, smiling a little. Severus nodded in agreement.

"I've finished with the Potions. I will attend to it," he assured her, but Lily shook her head.

"I'll take care of it. Why don't you take Harry outside? James is already out there—on his broom," she smirked. Severus shook his head. The other man was so childish sometimes.

"Would you like to go outside, Harry?" Severus inquired, smoothing his little boy's fringe out of his face. Harry nodded, still grinning and then his face fell as Lily plucked the empty box from his fingers. His lower lip began to quiver; he reached out for the box.

"Bahhhh," he cried, tears filling his previously mischievous green eyes. Lily shook her head at her son.

"No, Harry," she said firmly. "Go outside with Daddy, sweetie," she soothed. Harry began to cry in earnest.

Casting a quick Charm over the vial he was still holding so that it couldn't break, Severus then jiggled it in front of Harry's scrunched face. The bright liquid attracted his son's attention immediately; his lips formed a delighted O as he grasped it in his chubby little fingers.

Lily smiled as she stood on her toes to give Severus a kiss on his cheek while she ruffled Harry's dark hair. Severus smiled a little at her, enjoying the feeling of her delight in his care for their son.

"Both of you, shoo," she ordered, giving Severus a light shove toward the door. Severus turned his gaze to Harry, raising his eyebrow.

"We best do as we're told, then, Harry," he said gravely as he moved away from the fireplace and Harry giggled up at him, shaking his new vial with enthusiasm.

"Don't forget his jacket, Sev," Lily called as she fiddled with the box. Severus, with a quick wave of his wand, transferred Harry's jacket from the hook next to the door onto the little boy. Harry took no notice as he continued to talk to his vial.