Chapter Text
Harry’s head jerked up at the sharp squeal and shaded his eyes from the bright California sun. He scanned the nearly deserted poolside, and his eyes lit on the source of the high pitched scream. A young girl of four was standing at the edge of the pool holding her hands up in a defensive pose, her freckled face scrunched in distaste, mouth open to emit another shrill cry. Her strawberry blonde curls hung limp and wet in her face and over her pale, freckled shoulders. Another wave of water crashed over her as two young boys stood in the pool laughing, their only commonality was their age. The slightly older child, by a mere ten days, was slender with dark hair and darker eyes. The normally wild hair was plastered to his head from the pool water and his tanned skin was a soft pink from the last three days of constant sun exposure. His slightly taller companion wore a tee shirt to protect his sensitive skin. His pale blue eyes nearly hidden behind the dripping mop of family inheritance. The muscled arms attached to the robust body moved over the water again, and Harry dropped the magazine he had been reading and flicked his wrist. A large wave crashed over the two boys who turned to him in shock.
“Daaad,” the dark haired boy cried out, and Harry smirked.
“Uncle Harry,” the younger boy whined.
“What did you do now?” Harry looked up at the gruff voice of his best friend to see Ron move to sit down in a lounger next to his, a burrito of some sort in his hand.
“Daddy,” the little girl came running up to them and Ron stuffed the burrito into his mouth to catch the small child. “Daddy. Frank and Brian are splashing me and I told them I didn’t want to be splashed.”
Ron rolled his eyes and swallowed down the last of his snack. “Frank Bilius Longbottom, what have I told you about antagonizing your sister?”
“But, Daad,” the redhead cried and Ron shook his head.
“How about another one?”
Harry chuckled and shook his head. “No thanks. Sev and I are handling it.”
Ron snorted and ruffled the wet hair of his daughter. “Where is little Lileen anyway?”
Harry waved his hand towards the far side of the deck where a small girl sat curled under the shade of an overhanging tree, a book opened in her lap. Harry sighed as he saw her dark braid had already come loose and hung in her face. As if sensing that she was being spoken of, the pale face lifted and wide green eyes met Harry’s gaze. He smiled at the small mirror image and a wide grin spread across the rosy cheeks. Harry sent another spell her way, not needing another lecture from Severus on her sensitive skin, although the make up sex was always nice. Harry looked up to see the two boys climbing out of the pool and make their way over to the two men. The dark haired boy hurried over to them and shook his head vigorously, spraying them with water.
“Brian Severus Snape-Potter,” Harry hollered, “consider yourself grounded for the foreseeable future.”
The boy laughed and reached down to wrap his wet arms around Harry’s neck.
“Dad,” Frank pleaded, “can we go get another one of them snowy cone things?”
The small girl jumped up and down gleefully and squealed. “Ooh. Please, daddy. Please. Please. Please.”
Ron reached up to grab the arm from its choking hold. “Molly Jean, calm yourself.” The little girl stopped jumping but continued to pout up at her dad.
“The men will be out of the lecture soon,” Harry offered. “It’s not far from here so even Sev could walk it.”
Brian threw his arms around Harry’s neck again. “Thanks, dad. You’re the best.”
Harry laughed and patted the wet arm attempting to choke him. “Go let your sister know.” The boy gave a small whoop and pulled away. “And if you get her book wet, you’ll have to deal with your father,” Harry called after him.
Brian held up a hand in acknowledgement. He stopped in front of his sister, and she smiled up at him. Harry watched as she nodded and closed her book before rising elegantly to her feet. Harry watched the two children head their way. Brian, so much like Severus with his dark eyes and angular face but with Harry’s personality through and through. Wild, vivacious, and into everything. Little Lileen, Harry’s own image with wild hair and emerald green eyes, was Severus’s daughter to a T. Always sticking her pert nose into any book she could find at the encouragement of her father and godmother, and her piercing green eyes made Harry thankful Severus hadn’t had eyes of another color, as he wasn’t sure he would be able to withstand two such bright, piercing gazes.
As Harry’s children neared, Molly pulled from Ron’s neck and went to grab at Lileen’s hand. Ron and Neville had waited until Severus was recovered from Lileen’s birth before approaching him about another conception potion. Severus had readily agreed, having formed a certain respect for the redhead over the years as their sons had become good friends and Severus and Neville had worked together. It was during the pre-pregnancy scan that it had been discovered Ron was already pregnant. Eight and a half months later Molly Jean had been born. At some point over the last four years, Lileen had determined it her duty to watch over the freckle-faced girl.
Molly chatted animatedly at Lileen as they walked, and Brian increased his pace to leave the two girls behind as he went to join Frank. The Longbottom heir was pulling his wet shirt over his wild hair as Ron held out a dry shirt. Frank pulled the dry shirt over his head with a Thanks. Harry eyed the Brewing it up in San Francisco shirt and shot a look at Ron. Ron shrugged.
“They were selling them in the lobby.”
“Didn’t Neville get one with his welcoming basket?” Harry asked as Lileen settled beside him on the lounger. He pressed a kiss to her dark hair.
Ron nodded. “Yeah. But I wanted to get the kids one.”
Harry nodded. “How are you enjoying your first convention?”
Ron shrugged. “It’s interesting. I wish the Herbology Guild did something like this. They just meet for tea once every six months.”
Harry laughed. “Severus enjoys the time with the other potioneers, and it gives us a chance to get away for a bit. With all his owl orders and experiments he stays fairly busy. Especially this last year with he and Neville working so hard on the invisibility potion. Plus the kids enjoy it.” Harry glanced over where the two boys were bent over some muggle hand-held video game Arthur had adapted for Frank.
Ron pulled Molly up into his lap. “I appreciate Severus getting that lecture spot for Neville. He’s been so excited about it since they wrote him.”
Harry shrugged. “He deserved it really. Without his innovation with the Chameleon Weed, Severus never would have perfected his potion.”
As if on cue, the back door of the hotel opened and three men stepped out. Harry took in the animated face of his friend as he spoke to the shorter of the three, a plump German with a thick brown mustache and a halo of brown hair circling a balding spot on the top of his head. Neville wore his olive green dress robes that denoted his status in the Herbology Guild, a stark contrast to the German’s yellow bermuda shorts and floral print button down. And towering over them both was the dark haired man that still graced Harry’s dreams and fantasies. Harry bit back a snort of laughter as Severus waddled beside them in navy blue lounge pants and a matching blue shirt with Brewing up Trouble! in bright red lettering over the large cauldron that covered his protruding belly perfectly. Severus held the robes he had worn to the lecture folded over one arm, the other swinging by his side as they walked.
“Papa,” Molly’s squeal drew the three men’s attention, and the small witch ran and launched herself into Neville’s waiting arms. He smiled brightly at his daughter and pressed a nuzzling kiss to her cheek. She squealed with laughter, and the German smiled indulgently.
Harry and Ron stood as the small group met them. “Did you gentlemen have a nice lecture?” Harry asked as Severus moved to stand beside him. He placed a hand in the small of Severus’s back and took the robe from him.
“It vas quite enlightening, Herr Snape-Potter,” the German replied. “Meister Longbottom is quite knowledgeable. I have it een mind to talk to the committee about bringing in Herbologists more often. They bring a unique perspective to our verk.”
Harry beamed at the rotund man he had come to know over the years. “I am glad you think so, Herr Gregori. Neville has been quite a boon to my husband's own works, and it is quite something to see the two of them with their heads bent over some project.” He ran a hand over Severus’s back as Lileen slipped her hand into Severus’s. “I’m afraid their lack of progress is my own fault. I tend to place time limits on their activities.”
The German laughed loudly. “And ve thank you, Herr Snape-Potter. Ve Vould all haf to throw in our cauldrons if Meister Snape-Potter were allowed many more freedoms. He quite outshines us all already.”
“My offer for a collaboration still stands, Herr Gregori,” Severus said, and the man waved a hand.
“Bah. Verk with you, Severus? Ve vould kill each other in a month.”
Harry laughed. “Trust me. If he hasn’t murdered me by now, you’re safe.” The boys had finally finished their game and stepped over to join them. Harry handed his father’s robe to Brian, and the boy took it eagerly.
“Good afternoon, Herr Gregori.”
“Ah,” the German smiled brightly. “Young Brian. And… Frank. Correct?”
Harry’s godson nodded eagerly, and Brian gave Harry a pleading look. Harry chuckled. “Herr Gregori, we were just about to take the children for snow cones at the little stand by the beach. Would you care to join us?”
The German shook his head. “Nein. Danke. But I am meeting Fräulein Adams for lunch, and I vouldn’t vish to keep the pretty American vaiting.” He gave a sly wink, and Harry and the other adults laughed.
“Very well. Have a nice lunch.” The man gave a short bow and turned to speak to Neville and Ron about getting together the following evening before the closing dinner. Harry turned to Severus and reached up to run a thumb over the scar high on Severus’s neck, a secondary marking Severus had been rewarded with shortly after Brian’s birth. Lileen’s marking spot had been chosen by a blushing Severus and was well hidden high on Severus’s inner thigh. They hadn’t discussed the next one, but Harry had caught Severus eyeing his naked, pregnant body several times in the large full-length mirror in their room. “Do you feel up to the short walk, love?”
Severus rubbed at his left chest absentmindedly and nodded. “I should be fine, Harry. It will actually feel nice to stretch my legs a bit. And I did enjoy their green apple flavored ices.”
“Can I have one like you, Father?” Lileen’s soft voice asked. The two men smiled down at her.
“Of course you can, love. Are you going to hold my hand on the way?” She nodded and smiled up at him.
Harry turned to the two boys and held out the small key card the hotel had provided. “Brian. Take your father’s robe to the room. Frank, take your wet shirt and game thing as well.”
“It’s a Game Boy , Uncle Harry,” Frank said as he took his own father’s robes that Neville had removed to reveal a matching Brewing it up shirt and jeans.
Harry waved his hand. “Whatever. You can just leave them in our rooms for now. We will meet you boys out in front of the hotel. Hurry now.”
“We will, Dad,” Brian promised before the two ran off.
The four men and two girls headed inside the hotel. “I overheard some witches talking about this muggle pizza restaurant,” Ron said as they walked. “It’s got a game room for the kids. I thought it would be a nice change from seafood and burgers. It’s got a buffet also.”
Severus gave a soft snort as they passed through the cool atrium of the hotel. “These Americans and their buffets.”
Harry laughed. “It’s really a good idea, Sev. And you know it.”
“Yeah,” Neville agreed. “It’s just like Hogwarts. Everyone gets what they want.”
“Not getting what I want,” Harry heard Severus mumble under his breath and laughed. Ever since they had stepped off the plane and been surrounded by the ocean-scented air Severus had been alluding to sex. Unfortunately Severus was in his seventh month, and the midwife had nixed penetrative sex. Harry and Severus had gotten each other off quickly by other means, but sharing a hotel suite with one’s children on the other side of the sitting area wasn’t conducive to much more.
“I’m not so sure pizza would be a good idea for Severus,” Harry said. “You know how sensitive his stomach can get this late in the pregnancy. Plus he doesn’t hold the concealment charms very well. I could give you my Gringotts card if you’d be willing to take the kids,” Harry offered.
Neville gave him a knowing look. “Are you sure you two will be able to handle a few hours away from the kids?” Ron gave a small snort. It wasn’t the first time either of the couples had taken all four children in order to give the other couple some time together, and Harry doubted it would be the last.
“I imagine,” Severus drawled as they stepped out into the humid California afternoon, “that my solicitous husband will drag me to bed and make me stay there the entire time. For my health, you understand,” he added with a smirk.
“Right,” Ron choked out. “Because Harry is so very concerned about your… health.”
“I’ll have you know, I am quite concerned about every inch of my husband. As his Alpha, it is my job to see he is well taken care of.” His two friends laughed as the boys finally rejoined them and they headed towards the local Wizarding Boardwalk and the snow cone stand.
Later, in the quiet of their hotel room, Harry pressed a kiss to the rounded belly of his husband as he settled the sated man into bed. He wrapped an arm around the distended stomach and pressed up against the man’s back with a soft sigh.
“I don’t think I could have made a better choice,” he whispered to the still panting man.
“Me either,” Severus whispered softly.