Suffering Part 6: No Longer

Chapter 27

The next morning, you wake to the soft sounds of Severus moving about the room. He cradles a very hungry Baron in his arms, the baby fussing slightly. Severus glances over at you, his expression apologetic but gentle.

"Good morning, Princess," he says quietly, not wanting to startle you. "I'm sorry to wake you, but Baron is quite hungry and needs you."

You sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. Despite the lingering tiredness, you feel a bit better, more grounded. "It's alright. Thank you for letting me rest, Daddy."

You stretch and make your way over to Severus, taking Baron into your arms. The baby immediately latches on, his fussing turning into contented murmurs. Severus watches with a tender smile, his eyes filled with love and admiration.

"How are you feeling, Princess?" he asks, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from your face.

"A bit better," you reply, adjusting Baron to a more comfortable position. "Still tired, but I feel more rested than I did last night."

Severus nods, his expression softening with relief. "Good. You needed the rest. Perhaps tonight you'll join us in bed where you belong," he said before leaning over to kiss you on the head.

Lucius stirs in the bed, blinking his sleepy blue eyes awake as he notices the two of you. "Good morning," he says, his voice still thick with sleep. "How's everyone feeling?"

"Morning, Daddy" you respond, offering a small smile. "I'm ok, just feeding the little bear."

Lucius sits up, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm glad to hear that. Today, we'll focus on making sure you're taken care of as well. We have a lot to address, but your well-being is our priority."

As Baron finishes feeding, you gently burp him, his tiny hands gripping your shirt. The sight of his peaceful face brings a wave of calm over you. Despite everything, these small moments of normalcy are precious.

"Thank you, Daddies," you say, looking between them. "I don't know what I would do without you both."

Severus, looking down at your spellphone and then meeting your eyes again. "What were you up late reading?" he asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

You feel a flush of embarrassment rise to your cheeks. "Oh, um... I was on SpellboundScrolls," you admit, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "Reading a smutty monster fiction."

Both Severus and Lucius burst into laughter, their amusement filling the room. The sound is warm and comforting, a reminder of the lighter moments you can still share despite the challenges you're facing.

"SpellboundScrolls, huh?" Lucius says, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "That is interesting."

Severus chuckles, shaking his head. "Well, at least you found a distraction. Everyone needs a bit of escapism now and then."

You manage a sheepish smile, the tension easing slightly. "I guess so. It was just... I needed something to take my mind off everything. I needed a mutant monster with a crazy set of.. ahem. He's got 2 of them."

Lucius raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Two of them, you say? Now that is intriguing. And here I thought we were enough to keep you entertained."

Severus smirks, leaning in a bit closer. "Perhaps we've underestimated your taste in bedtime reading, Princess. Should we be concerned about competing with fictional monsters?"

You laugh, the sound light and genuine. "Oh, you two have nothing to worry about. It's just... fantasy. A fun, ridiculous fantasy."

The day had been surprisingly peaceful, considering the recent chaos that had turned their lives upside down. The children played happily on the Hogwarts grounds, their laughter echoing through the ancient walls and bringing a sense of normalcy back to the castle.