Slytherin Love - Harry Potter One Shots

Severus Snape: Father and Husband (Severus Snape x Female Harriet Potter)

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy!
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Severus Snape scowled as he stared into the bubbling cauldron that cooked atop the heated stove.

Thin, wispy trails of condensation danced through the small kitchen around him as the soothing scent of ginger and echinacea permeated the humble cottage.

Having grown so accostumed to the thundering silence solitude provided, it still made Severus's dark eyes widen whenever that familiar little cry cut through the air, even after three blissful years.

"......Daddy! Daddy!" Came the happy laugh as a very small, very dark-headed little girl pulled excitedly on Severus's long, black cloak, "Daddy!.....Daddy!"

Severus glanced down at his little girl and gazed into her bright, green eyes.

"Are we going to see Mummy soon?" The little girl asked with an excited smile, "Do you think she'll eat dinner with us tonight?"

"I will take your mother her medicine shortly." Severus replied, his baritone voice impossibly cool, "And you will stay outside the door, like a good girl, yes? We can't have you sick too."

The little girl's happy smile faded into a frown as she pouted, ".......But do you think Mummy will eat dinner with us tonight, Daddy?"

"Your mother will take her soup in bed as she did last night and the night before." Severus grumbled.

As he looked over and caught the expression of pure disheartenment on his little one's face, he cleared his throat and added, "As soon as she's able, I'm certain she'll eat with us once more."

"And I'll hug her again?!" The little girl gasped.

"........Of course." Severus drawled.

Affection was still something he often struggled with, but after he did one last check on the mixture in the cauldron, he silently bent down, scooped his small daughter into his arms, walked through the kitchen, and playfully tossed her down onto the sofa.

A torrent of laughter and giggles erupted from her throat as Severus frowned down at her.

"Now, where do good little girls stay while their fathers tend their mothers?" Severus drawled, as seriously as if he were handing out an assignment to one of his classes.

"On the sofa!" His little daughter giggled.

"And why do they stay there?" He demanded.

"So they won't get sick too!" She laughed as she rolled about on the cushions.

Severus raised an eyebrow at her, which invited an entirely new fit of giggles as a response before he turned, swept back into the kitchen, collected the things he needed on a tray, and headed for the stairs.

On his way up to the second level of the humble cottage, he glanced over at the sofa and found his little daughter peering at him over the back of the furniture.

As soon as they made eye contact, the little girl ducked behind the cushions with a giddy little squeal, amused at her father's scowl of disapproval.

Severus's scowl softened into a frown of concern as he reached the top of the stairs and gently pushed open the door that waited there.

"Hey, Sev......." a weak, raspy voice called out.

Worry etched into Severus's features as he stepped into the room.

A gentle mist hung in the air from the magical humidifier that had been placed on a small table a few feet from the bed.

Situated propped up on a pile of pillows, tucked safely under a plethora of heavy blankets lay Harriet Potter, er, Snape.

Her glasses were off, her skin was pale, except her cheeks, that burned red from her fever.

Although her dark hair fanned across the pillows behind her, the usual bright glow in her green eyes had been temporarily extinguished.

It broke Severus's heart to see his wife so ill.

"It's time for a bit more elixir." He drawled as he approached and bravely sat on the side of the bed.

"You could have just left it at the door." Harriet croaked as Severus took a small, ceramic ladle on the tray he carried, scooped a bit of the mixture from the small bowl on the tray, and gently fed it to her.

"You can hardly stand." He scoffed as he watched his wife swallow thickly, "Don't be ridiculous."

Harriet looked at him as she tried to laugh, but a deep, wet crackle from deep inside her chest cut her off.

Severus already knew what would come,

As Harriet lifted her arm to shield him from the onslaught of violent coughing that immediately followed, he gently held her steady.

Harriet's eyes were closed, which kept her unaware of the sympathetic grimace that clouded Severus's face as he listened to her fight for breath.

The sound echoed throughout the house, but eventually with one last, rattling bark, Harriet flopped back against the pillows, as Severus gently guided her back.

She took a shuddering breath as she fought to regain colour in her face.

"I'm alright, Sev." She groaned as she glanced up at him, "You shouldn't be in here though, the healer said it could be catching."

"Pneumonia can kill one who's otherwise healthy." Severus astutely observed, "As your husband, it's my duty to see to your wellness. Rest, my love........Sleep if you can."

As Harriet exhaled, Severus's concoction began to take effect and she found herself slipping into a deep, restful sleep.

Severus didn't stand from the bed until he watched her chest rise and fall peacefully.

If it hadn't been for their child downstairs that needed tending, he would never have left his-

Severus's face twisted into a deep scowl the instant he looked over and realized his small daughter peered through the crack in the door.

With the elegance of a prowling cat, he stood from the bed, glided out of the room, and closed the door gently as he towered over his little one in the hallway.

The little girl began to explain as she gazed up at Severus, "I.......I was on the sofa, Daddy, I......You see...."

"Eileen, don't.....lie.....to....me." Severus snapped as he bent down towards his daughter, "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you to be in your mother's room now? And after I specifically told you not to-"

"-I just wanted to help Mummy." Little Eileen frowned, "I miss her very much and I know she's very sick."

His small daughter melted the icy walls Severus tried so hard to build around his heart.

Without another word, he moved his tray to one hand and scooped Eileen up in the other to carry her downstairs.

As they went back to the living room, Eileen laid her small head on her daddy's chest.

"Mummy will be better soon, little one. I'm looking after her." Severus promised his daughter in a low drawl.

"And you'll keep looking after her, Daddy?" Eileen asked worriedly.

Severus gazed into his little girl's green eyes as he gave her his solemn vow, "........Always."