Family Doesn't End With Blood

Chapter 6: Shopping Part 2

Once the family arrives at the shops they split up. It'll be faster and much easier for them to tackle everything at once. There's also a lower of a chance of Harry becoming too overwhelmed with everything going on.

After they paid for all of Harry's new clothing, Severus and Harry started to head to Mothercare, where the man's wife and sons were hopefully still looking around for necessary items instead of waiting on them.

Once they got there, after putting the shopping in the car and Severus lifting Harry onto his hip due to the boy not liking strangers or crowds, they grabbed another shopping cart for him. Making sure he was settled, Severus pushes him around in search of the rest of their family.

They had started off with looking for booster seats and high chairs, which were much needed as neither Severus or Charity wanted Harry to be moving around in the back of the car or getting a rash from the seat-belt rubbing on his neck. Severus spots Oliver, Thomas, and Charity in the pacifiers, bibs, and nappy section. He gives a quick wave as Oliver calls for him, making Harry hide his face in Severus's chest.

Severus starts to walk down the aisle, but stops when he spots a suitable high chair for Harry. It was white on the outside and dark grey inside, and the foot rest seemed to be quite low so his little boy wouldn't feel all cramped up.

He then went to where the booster seats were and looked to Harry to ask him what color he preferred. "What color would you like, Harry? They have it in red, black, or blue," Severus asks cheerily, pointing to each one as he spoke the color.

Harry simply shrugs, looking down at his lap. "You're not sure? Well, how about the red one?" Severus suggests as he encouraged the boy into choosing a color. He doesn't get the child to speak, but in the end he points at the one he wants. "The black one?" Severus questioned, and Harry nodded

As he sticks his thumb into his mouth again."Well, there's just one more thing we need, and then we can go find the others and help them out, yeah?" the boy nodded, smiling a little when he spotted a cute blue penguin on the shelf next to him.

However, he does not speak up. Severus notices the longing on his face, though, and shakes his head, amused though rather sympathetic.

"You like the penguin, Harry?" Severus suggests. Harry shrugs adorably, though he really does want it he would never ask. Severus sighs and picks the penguin up off of the shelf. He hands it over to Harry, and the boy instantly begins to snuggle it to his chest.

The man then pushes the cart down the aisles in search of Charity and the boys. He soon finds them in the clothes section. They were looking at a set of pajamas for Harry. Charity hears the cart and turns.

"How cute," she smiles warmly.

"Hm?" Severus raises an eyebrow, confused.

Charity pointed at Harry. Following his wife's finger, he glanced down to find Harry sound asleep hunched over and snuggling the stuffed penguin.

Severus looks down at the boy. He hadn't realized that he had nodded off. He guesses that nap time is near enough. He checks his watch, which reads 11:47am.

It was indeed nearing nap time.

"Take him out, Sev. I don't think he'll be comfy sleeping in the trolley," Charity fusses. It was good that she had managed to find a suitable pushchair. They would be more convenient for times like these. Severus does as he's told and carefully lifts the boy out of the trolley. "Shhh, go back to sleep," he coos as the boy opens his eyes at the sudden movement.

He lays his head on the man's broad shoulder, shoving his face into the crook of his neck before falling back asleep, cuddling the penguin under his chin with one arm, the other wrapped over Severus' shoulder lazily. "Oh, he's so sweet. Thomas, do you mind pushing the trolley while your dad carries Harry, please?" Charity requested, giving the sleeping boy's cheek a loving stroke.