Blood Stones (Snarry)

Separation

The next morning the scent of sweet oatmeal, bacon and eggs wafted up to Severus's nose, the sun barely streaming in the window. He could hear Albus's peculiar, almost ghostly humming reverberating as he sat on the top step directly outside the bedroom door, a small sleepy burst of a giggle escaping him followed by an admonishment aimed at his equally peculiar cat about playing on the banister. A low muggle radio could be heard playing some rock and roll and morning radio shows from the washroom and someone looking through the washroom drawers. The telly was on downstairs to some disgustingly cheerful sounds, cartoons most likely. All of this seemed superimposed as Severus laid there, the normally soft rumble of snores and the rich scent of kiwi shampoo absent from his nostrils. He sat up however when a quiet knock came at the door, and a stumbling little Lily wandered in but a few moments later, most likely deeming him asleep judging by her next sentence.

"Severus..." yawned the unusually haggard little girl.

"Breakfast is almost done... time to wake up." She said blearily, stumbling much like her father in the morning to the bed... and flopping faced down upon its covers. It seemed Snape was not the only one in need of a wake-up call.

She had gone to bed earlier than everyone else had, but her hair was a knotted bramble, her pastel green nightgown was rumpled, and her cheeks were red beneath crusted eyes.

"Time to wake up." came the muffled order from the still burrowed little tyke, as she snuggled deeper into the cover top, her rabbit hanging limply from one hand with her legs over the bed-swaying as its ear remained in a loose grasp. He managed a sleepy smile as he reached for his wand and effortlessly undid the knots from her hair and braiding it at the back as his mother had done for him at her age.

"Go on and get dressed and wash your face with some nice cold water, it will help to wake you up." He nudged at her. She nudged back and allowed her eyes to open some clearly trying to oblige but physically unable. He thought to himself for a moment.

"How about... we race to see who can get dressed the fastest?" He offered again. At this her eyes shot open, and she smiles wide.

"Okay, ready? One, two, three!" She ran into her room enthusiastically. Severus threw on his clothes quickly but left a sock in hand for when she returned. Surely he couldn't beat her time.

"Ha! Haha!" She gleamed and giggled and danced to the bathroom. Severus put on his other sock and headed downstairs where the heavenly smell of breakfast became more potent.

When he reached the kitchen he found Harry there slaving over some more eggs. He went to wrap his arms around him from behind and got no reciprocation whatsoever... but wasn't pushed off right away either. What he could usually tell by the stone was not there. Harry turned in his arms, but not all the way around. instead, he started walking to the cupboards without a word to acknowledge that he had a grown man wrapped around him. Glancing at the other plates, these eggs seemed to be the only ones with the vaguely orange powder in them. Then he placed the plates on a tray and with a noticeably faltering route, levitated it to the table. The tray returned and was being filled with different jugs, one of milk, one of tea, and one of the juice of some kind. In all this time Harry had not raised his eyes or shown any reaction whatsoever to Severus's presence. The curry-flavored eggs and blackberry oatmeal were on the far end and to the side of the bowl of plain honey oatmeal.

"Kids!" Came the gentle warning tone he normally used for Severus in the morning,

"Finish washing up and have Breakfast! It'll get cold!" And like that he walked over to the table, not showing any reaction to Severus' hands limply sliding off his hips, the kids coming in with varying degrees of excitement.

"James, wipe your face please." Harry chuckled to the still sleep dazed boy and gestured to a very long slash of toothpaste stuck to his cheek.

"But good job on tidying this morning!" He teased, grinning as the mark looked truly like the boy had missed his mouth entirely with the first swipe.